will@cvradio.com CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) Three New Jersey police officers have been put on leave over a video showing one officer appearing to punch a suspect multiple times in the head. Edward Minguela told NJ.com he was standing outside a liquor store in Camden on Thursday when he heard police screaming at him to put his hands up. He complied but was tackled. He said he also was punched about 12 times in the head. Camden County spokesman Dan Keashen called the video troubling and said Tuesday the county prosecutors office is investigating. He said hes unable to release the officers names because it is a personnel matter. The grainy, black-and-white video shows Minguela with his hands in the air as police officers close in on him with guns drawn. As one officer apparently attempts to cuff him, they both topple to the ground. The officer gets to his knees as two others swarm Minguela, and the first officer begins repeatedly punching Minguela as he lay on the ground. Keashen said the officers were responding to reports of a man with a gun and Minguela matched the description. Police never found a weapon in Minguelas possession. Minguela collected the surveillance video recording himself, shown first on WCAU-TV. He took it to the department when he filed an internal affairs complaint last week. He said the officers took him to a hospital emergency room and released him there with two summons for resisting arrest and obstruction. He suffered a fractured wrist. He said that was the first time the officers told him they had approached him because they believed he had a gun. I was like, All right, you all could have just searched me, you didnt have to beat me,' he said. Minguela said he is due in court Thursday to address the charges. I just dont know what was going through their minds, Minguela told NJ.com. They shouldnt be working if thats how they treat the people theyre supposed to be protecting. LOS ANGELES (AP) The Latest on a lawsuit alleging the U.S. government is unfairly revoking work permits from some immigrants (all times local): 7:30 p.m. A U.S. judge has barred the government from revoking work permits of immigrants without giving them a chance to defend themselves. The judge ruled Monday after hearing arguments in Los Angeles. The American Civil Liberties Union is suing to block a Trump administration policy it claims arbitrarily targets people for deportation who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children and had some permission to remain and work under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez issued a wide-spread injunction barring the government from revoking DACA status without providing previous notice and an explanation. Those whove already lost their DACA status must have it reinstated. The hearing came the same day the U.S. Supreme Court refused to take up the Trump administrations appeal of a court order requiring it to keep accepting DACA renewal applications. 5:10 p.m. A U.S. judge says he may allow a nationwide class-action lawsuit to proceed that alleges the government is unfairly revoking work permits from immigrants without giving them a chance to defend themselves. U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez on Monday said he might block the government from yanking the permits without notice from immigrants in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. Gutierrez said he had reached a tentative decision before hearing arguments in Los Angeles from lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union and the Trump administration. He has yet to issue a final ruling. The ACLU alleges work permits have been revoked after recipients had run-ins with law enforcement but werent convicted of serious crimes. Government lawyers say immigrants suspected of criminal activity but not convicted can still lose their permits because officials have discretion over participation in the program. 12:20 p.m. Immigrants who say their work permits have been unfairly revoked by the Trump administration plan to make their case in a California courtroom for a chance to have them restored. A hearing is scheduled Monday in a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union alleging the U.S. government arbitrarily canceled immigrants work permits without giving them a chance to defend themselves. They got the permits and protection from deportation under the Obama-era program known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The suit alleges that immigrants had their participation in DACA revoked in many cases after run-ins with law enforcement, though they werent convicted of serious crimes. Justice Department lawyers say government officials have discretion in these cases and that the immigrants whose permits were revoked were put into deportation proceedings after being arrested. NEW YORK (AP) An American citizen from California who was radicalized by online propaganda traveled overseas to try to join a branch of the Islamic State group in Libya, U.S. prosecutors said Tuesday. A few days before he left in 2016, Bernard Augustine texted an unidentified relative, If I ever get lucky enough to live in the khilafah, Ill burn my own passport, lol, according to a criminal complaint. He made it as far as Tunisia but was detained by authorities there before he could carry out his plan, the complaint said. Augustine, 21, is from the town of Keyes in Californias Central Valley. He was jailed without bail on Tuesday during an initial court appearance in federal court in Brooklyn. His lawyer, Samuel Jacobson, declined comment. An examination of Augustines laptop turned up evidence that he had been viewing Islamic State group material on the Internet, including a video showing the beheadings of Ethiopian Christians who were kidnapped in Libya, the court papers said. He also searched for jihadology and how to safely join isis, it said. In addition, Augustine viewed sermons by fiery American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a leader of al-Qaida in Yemen who was killed in 2011, the papers said. The online videos of Al-Awlaki have been cited in several U.S. cases as being a dangerous influence on self-radicalized terrorists. Records show Augustine took a Turkish Airlines flight from San Francisco to Tunisia via Istanbul, Turkey, using a one-way ticket. Once there he emailed the same relative in California, telling that person, Im not mad or mentally ill, I really truly am on a path to fight for justice, the papers said. UNITED NATIONS (AP) Russia vetoed a British-drafted U.N. resolution on Monday that took aim at Iran over a report by U.N. experts that said the country violated an arms embargo by failing to prevent missiles and drones from being supplied to Shiite rebels in Yemen. The vote in the Security Council was 11 in favor, Russia and Bolivia opposed, and China and Kazakhstan abstaining. Britain sought to focus attention on a report in January by the U.N. panel of experts monitoring sanctions against Iran that examined missile remnants fired into Saudi Arabia by Houthi rebels last year and said many are consistent with those of the Iranian designed and manufactured Qiam-1 missile. It concluded that Iran was in non-compliance with the 2015 U.N. arms embargo on Yemen because it failed to take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply of missiles and drones to the Houthis. Britains deputy U.N. ambassador Jonathan Allen urged council member not to shy away from calling out those whose actions undermine international peace and security. This council needs to stand firm in the face of state non-compliance and send a clear message that it will not be tolerated, he said. To try to get Russian support, Britain first dropped a condemnation of Iran in the text. And during last-minute negotiations it dropped a promise of additional measures against violators of the arms embargo, and it also softened language from expressing concern to taking note with particular concern of the experts findings. But Russias U.N. Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia wasnt satisfied. He accused Britain of sowing discord at a time when the Security Council is in dire need of closing its ranks by bringing the resolution to a vote knowing it would be vetoed. Nebenzia called the panels selective and contentious conclusions unverified and uncorroborated. And he warned that the resolutions adoption would have dangerous, destabilizing ramifications in Yemen and the region. This will inevitably escalate regional tensions and lead to conflicts among key regional players, he told the council, warning of the grave danger in toying with geopolitical maps and antagonizing relations in the Middle East between Sunnis and Shiites. Yemen, the Arab worlds most impoverished country with a population of 26 million, plunged into war in 2014 after the Houthis took over the capital Sanaa and forced the internationally recognized government to flee and seek support from neighboring Gulf countries. In March 2015, a Saudi-led, U.S.-backed coalition began what has turned into a devastating war that has killed more than 10,000 people, displaced 2 million, and created the worlds worst humanitarian disaster. Saudi Arabia views the Houthis as an Iranian proxy. Kelley Currie, the U.S. ambassador for economic and social affairs, said the councils failure to pass the British resolution set back our collective efforts to promote peace in Yemen. Today, Russia accused the majority of this council of attempting to destabilize the region by supporting the UKs text, she said. This is perverse when, in fact, Russias veto today serves only to protect Irans efforts to destabilize the region and spread its malign influence. Instead of demanding accountability from Iran, Currie told the council that Russia, Bolivia, China and Kazakhstan decided to shield Tehran from responsibility. U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who was flying to Central America, warned in a statement: If Russia is going to use its veto to block action against Irans dangerous and destabilizing conduct, then the United States and our partners will need to take actions against Iran that the Russians cannot block. Irans U.N. Mission reiterated Monday that it categorically rejects allegations regarding arms transfer to Yemen. Today, U.S. and UK attempted to misuse Security Council procedures to advance their political agenda and put the blame of all that has happened in Yemen on Iran by pushing an unwarranted draft resolution, the mission said in a statement. Iran accused the U.S. and UK of being the major military supporters of the war of aggression against Yemen. The British-drafted resolution would also have extended sanctions on Yemen, which expired Monday, and the mandate of the panel of experts. Immediately after the British draft was vetoed, a rival Russian draft was put to a vote. It made no mention of Iran or the panel of experts report but simply extended sanctions against Yemen until Feb. 26, 2019 and the mandate of the panel of experts until March 28, 2019. That resolution was adopted unanimously. BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Colombias army says that an attack by leftist rebels along the South American countrys volatile eastern border with Venezuela has left at least five soldiers dead and another 10 wounded. The army said that the attack took place early Tuesday when a homemade explosive ripped apart a passing truck carrying the soldiers near the rural town of Tibu. The army attributed the attack to the National Liberation Army, the largest remaining rebel movement following a peace deal in 2016 with the much-larger Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia. The ELN, as the group is known, announced Monday it would unilaterally suspend all offensive operations March 9 in time for congressional elections. Long-running peace talks with the ELN have been faltering this year as the rebels step up attacks across Colombia. BEIRUT (AP) The Latest on Syrias civil war (all times local): 4:15 p.m. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says a Syrian rebel leaders remarks concerning a humanitarian pause raise questions about the insurgents sincerity in honoring a U.N. cease-fire resolution. Mohammed Alloush, head of the largest insurgent group in eastern Ghouta, argued that a daily humanitarian pause introduced by Russia is aimed at displacing civilians rather than protecting them. Speaking after talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Lavrov countered by saying that the U.N. resolution specifically calls on all combatants not to put any obstacles in the way of those seeking to leave besieged areas. No civilians have left eastern Ghouta since the humanitarian pause began Tuesday. Russia accuses the insurgents of preventing people from leaving, allegations denied by the rebels. 4 p.m. France has cautiously welcomed a humanitarian pause to the fighting in Syria declared by Russia, but is demanding that all sides commit to a U.N. cease-fire resolution. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Moscow that the five-hour pause that started Tuesday is a real advance. We support this advance, but it is one step. Le Drian held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to press Russia to use its influence with Syrias military to enforce the U.N. cease-fire. Lavrov said the humanitarian pause will show how serious Syrian opposition forces are about the cease-fire. Russia proposed the daily pause to allow aid groups into eastern Ghouta, a rebel-held enclave near Damascus, and to allow civilians to flee. But no civilians have left the embattled area so far, and aid groups say the pause is insufficient. France is stepping up efforts to engage Russia diplomatically in hopes of finding common ground on a political solution for Syria. 3:30 p.m. The leader of the main insurgent group fighting in an embattled region near Syrias capital says a daily humanitarian pause announced by Russia is aimed at displacing civilians rather than protecting them. Mohammed Alloush, head of the largest insurgent group in eastern Ghouta, on Tuesday called on Russia to stop bombing the area and commit to a U.N. cease-fire resolution. He said: If Russia is concerned about civilians in eastern Ghouta, it should halt its planes immediately from bombing towns and residences and should stop the regime of (Syrian President Bashar) Assad from its war of extermination. Russia, a key ally of the Syrian government, proposed a daily five-hour pause to allow aid groups to deliver assistance and civilians to flee through so-called humanitarian corridors. No civilians have left the area since the humanitarian pause began Tuesday. Russia accuses the insurgents of preventing people from leaving, allegations denied by the rebels. 3 p.m. The Red Cross says Russias humanitarian pause in an embattled rebel-held enclave near Damascus offers little time for aid delivery and provides no guarantees of safety for besieged residents. Ingy Sedky, the spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Damascus, said Tuesday that any respite from the fighting in eastern Ghouta is welcome, but that five hours is very limited and there is little that we can achieve in such limited time. Sedky says aid was last delivered to eastern Ghouta in November, when the situation was already very critical and very dire. The area has been surrounded by government forces since 2013. Russia ordered a five-hour daily pause starting Tuesday, urging civilians to leave as Moscow-backed government forces step up their offensive. Sedky says many civilians will be afraid to use designated humanitarian corridors unless their safety can be guaranteed. 9:40 a.m. A Russia-ordered humanitarian pause has gone into effect to allow civilians to leave a rebel-held enclave near Damascus but there were no immediate signs of any corridors set up for people to use. Rami Aburrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that no violence was reported on Tuesday in the enclave, known as eastern Ghouta a collection of suburbs just east of the Syrian capital. Aburrahman says only a few artillery shells hit Douma, one of the suburbs. Civilians caught in the violence have mocked Russian President Vladimir Putins order of a five-hour open corridor. Ingy Sedky with the international Red Cross says that for a humanitarian corridor to work, it needs to be well planned and implemented with the consent of all parties in the conflict. Credit: Claude GassianTo promote The Rolling Stones' just-announced European leg of their No Filter Tour, guitarist Ronnie Wood and drummer Charlie Watts will take part in a special Facebook Live event on Tuesday, February 27, hosted by Clash magazine's official Facebook page. Fans who want to ask the two Rock & Roll Hall of Famers questions can do so by tweeting #CharlieandRonnieClash. An exact time that the Q&A event will take place will be revealed soon at Facebook.com/ClashMusic. As previously reported, the 2018 leg of The Stones' No Filter Tour gets underway May 17 in Dublin, Ireland, and is plotted out through a July 8 concert in Warsaw, Poland. It also will visit six venues in the band's U.K. homeland, as well as Berlin; Marseille, France; Stuttgart, Germany; and Prague. Visit RollingStones.com for ticket information and to check out the full itinerary. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. PRAGUE (AP) A Czech court ordered the release of a Syrian Kurdish politician on Tuesday, angering Turkey, which had requested his extradition. Salih Muslim, former co-chair of the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, was detained in the Czech capital on Saturday based on a Turkish request for his arrest. Municipal Court spokeswoman Marketa Puci said the court found no reason to keep Muslim in detention. She said he promised to remain within European Union territory and to be available for any further hearings in the extradition case. No date for the extradition hearing was set. Turkey considers the PYD a terrorist group because of its links to outlawed Kurdish insurgents fighting within its own borders. Muslim was put on Turkeys most wanted list earlier this month, with a $1 million reward for his capture. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu described Tuesdays ruling as a scandal. He told reporters during a visit to Algeria that his ministry had lodged a formal protest and would follow the case closely. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said the court ruling would have a negative effect on ties between Turkey and the Czech Republic. This decision very clearly amounts to support for terrorist groups, Bozdag said. The Czech Foreign Ministry issued a statement saying it strictly rejects any accusations of supporting terrorism. The government strictly refuses any claims that todays decision by an independent court would be in breach of the Czech Republics obligations in the fight against international terrorism. Ahead of the Prague ruling, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the courts decision would be a test for the Czech Republic on its sensitivity toward the fight against terrorism and its solidarity toward a NATO ally. Whatever the outcome, these terrorist ringleaders will not be able to walk free, Yildirim said. We will continue to make life unbearable for them. The PYD is the leading political Kurdish force in northern Syria, and Muslim remains highly influential in the party, even after stepping down as co-chair last year. On Jan. 20, Turkey launched an incursion into northern Syria, seeking to rout the U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militia, known as the Peoples Protection Units or YPG, from the enclave of Afrin. The YPG is the armed wing of the PYD. Fraser reported from Ankara, Turkey. | BY Ricki Green | Havas Melbourne has announced its expansion with two new senior appointments across media and strategy. The hires of Sarah OLeary and Asier Carazo will boost the agencys capabilities across creative and media business units. Sarah OLeary joins as business director in the media team. She will work across Melbournes portfolio of clients including World Vision and Momentum Energy. OLeary has a background in integrated marketing having worked both as a client side marketer and in senior roles in media agencies. Asier Carazo has been appointed as strategist, working across both media and creative clients in the Melbourne Village. He brings a wealth of experience from working as a brand, channel and digital strategist in Spain, France and the US. This is his third role with Havas, most recently working at Havas Media Spain as a global strategist. Says Matt Houltham, group managing director, Havas Melbourne: Its fantastic to bring Sarah and Asier into the business and expand our senior bench. The two bring a wealth of domestic and international expertise, fresh perspectives and a tonne of energy to our growing team.. After a successful 2017, we are excited to continue to build our proposition as Melbournes most progressive communications agency. To support the growing team, Joey Newton has also joined as an art director and three further hires have been made in the media team including Kate Gurran as senior account executive and Eva Chen and Toni Penny as account executives. All new team members have now commenced their roles. | BY Ricki Green | The Editors has bolstered its senior roster with the signing of Mark Burnett who returns home to Australia after nine years of cutting in London, most recently at The Whitehouse. Launching his career in Sydney, working at The Post Office before joining The Editors back in 2007, Burnett moved to London in 2009 to edit at Speade, joining The Whitehouse in 2014 alongside legendary editors John Smith and Russell Icke. Burnetts distinctive style and comedic timing have seen him win metal at the Clios, BTA Arrows, Cannes Lions and APA Crystal Awards. Last year he won a Bronze Kinsale Shark Award for his work on McCains We Are Family and his quirky approach has seen him cut for comedy directors such as Jim Hosking, Zach Math and Hamish Rothwell. Says Burnett: After nine years in the UK and after many long winters, many teas, many pints, many new friends, a child, a lot of travel and a bit of whinging, the time felt right to head home. It made sense to head back to the company that has always been a home away from home and I am stoked to be welcomed back to The Editors and to be surrounded by not only amazing talent, but amazing people. Also behind this years Sundance film An Evening With Beverly Luff and Palm Springs Film Festival 2017 opening film Edmund The Magnificent, Burnett is no stranger to longform and has delivered on past Sundance hits The Greasy Strangler (2016) and LCD Soundsystem documentary Shut Up and Play The Hits (2012). Says Nicoletta Rousianos, executive producer, The Editors: We are ecstatic to welcome back home one of our finest editors and cant wait to get stuck into exciting local projects with him at our side. For any local enquiries email nicoletta@theeditors.com.au. Burnett continues to be represented through The Whitehouse across the UK and America. | BY Ricki Green | NewsMediaWorks has today announced a new look for the annual news publishing awards, combining the former PANPA Newspaper of the Year Awards and the Advertising and Marketing Awards, to create the News Media Awards. An important evolution in the awards criteria, that reflects audience engagement across print and digital, is a new emphasis on platform agnostic news brands. And for the first time, relevant categories are open to advertising creative developed either in-house by advertisers, by publishers, or by a third party, such as an agency. The awards recognise excellence in cross platform news publishing in Australia, New Zealand and the Asia Pacific. Says Peter Miller, CEO, NewsMediaWorks: Our awards have been a highlight on the publishing calendar since their inception some 49 years ago. As the news media sector evolves to embrace new ways of connecting quality, trusted journalism with audiences across platforms, so too must the awards program evolve to remain relevant to the publishers and products it represents. Successful news media organisations have always been a collaboration between both content and commercial teams one cannot survive without the other. To reflect this, we are returning to a combined awards program to recognise and celebrate these equally important aspects of our sector. We are excited to launch a fresh awards program that continues to recognise excellence in the people, the products, the purpose and performance of news media brands today. The new-look 2018 News Media Awards gala dinner will be held on September 14th at the Hilton Sydney, at the conclusion of the annual INFORM News Media Summit. Entries open on March 12th and close on April 27th. The News Media Awards are sponsored by Media Super, Norske Skog, AAP, DIC and UnLtd. The 2018 categories will now be: News Brand Categories News Brand of the Year (Daily, Weekend, Regional, Community and Overall winner) News Story of the Year Advertising Categories Best Execution of Print Advertising for a Client Best Execution of Digital Advertising for a Client Best Execution of Native Advertising for a Client Best Execution of Integrated Advertising for a Client Best Innovation for an Advertising Client Marketing Categories Best Trade Marketing Campaign Best Consumer Brand Campaign Best Subscriber Acquisition Campaign Best Community or Social-Purpose Initiative Product Innovation Categories Best Use of Print Best Use of Digital Best Use of Mobile Innovation of the Year Photography Categories Portrait, Feature or Lifestyle photography Sport Photography News Photography Photographic Essay Technical Categories Best Run of Press Print Centre of the Year Executive Excellence Categories Hegarty Scholarship for Best Young Executive (under 35) News Media Executive of the Year | BY Lynchy | whiteGREYs joint CEO Paul Worboys has stepped down from his position for family reasons and, as a result, the agency will continue to be led by fellow CEO Miles Joyce. Worboys joined Grey Group Australia in 2010 initially as Managing Partner, then moved to Chief Operating Officer. He was appointed as whiteGREY joint CEO with Joyce when Grey merged with The White Agency last year. WPP AUNZ CEO Mike Connaghan said while Worboys had played an important role in building the merged whiteGREY business, he respected his decision to take time out for family: Says Connaghan: Paul has been strong leader that has seen the business through a period of change and success. We appreciate that its now time for him to focus on other areas of his life. Fortunately, we are in a position where whiteGREY has two CEOs, allowing the business to continue as usual under Miles leadership following Pauls departure. Paul leaves the agency in a good place and we wish him all the very best in this next chapter of his life. Worboys said of his departure: I began thinking about making a life change back in October last year and because of the decisions I made, I am both sad and excited to be stepping down from my position at whiteGREY. I am extremely excited to have zero plans for 2018, other than to spend more time with my family and re-discover the joys of waking up late, getting time to spend at the beach and re-discovering what life looks like outside an office Notice for the Postmedia Network This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. news, latest-news A Canberra businessman has been slammed by animal rights groups after posing with the body of a slain baboon dressed up for the camera during a hunting trip in Africa. The photos feature Nick Haridemos, who is vice president of the Hellenic Club in Canberra and whose family own the fenced off building at the Curtin shops, posing alongside animals he has shot and killed on safari. The images appear to have been taken over a number of trips between 2010 and late 2016, and were posted to an online forum where hunters report their kills on the continent, as well as on a public Photobucket account belonging to a "nickha1". This month, they also surfaced on Twitter. Along with images of bloodied hyenas and dead elephants is a photo of a baboon posed behind the wheel of a jeep in sunglasses and a hat, as Mr Haridemos smiles from the passenger seat. "Absolutely funny as hell!" the user "nickh" wrote in the accompanying post, referencing a video that was also taken of the dead baboon at the wheel. "The new driver gig was a blast....We did a video clip with Blake wired into the microphone talking and we actually drove off!" In 2016, the same account posted photos of Mr Haridemos on another hunt in Namibia shooting elephants and posing with ivory. "It is truly the place to hunt the biggest ivory in Africa, especially with Botswana now closed," nickh wrote. Through his lawyer, Mr Haridemos did not deny posting the photos but stressed all hunting trips were legal. "Mr Haridemos has, on occasions, engaged in the activity of 'conservation hunting'," his solicitor said. "This is a regulated activity, which is undertaken in accordance with licences and quotas issued by the relevant country, and is conducted in a manner that does not pose a threat to any endangered species." The Canberra Times understands that the 2016 hunt was run through Nyae Nyae Conservancy, which was a granted a hunting quota from the Namibian government that same year, and has a history of running legal hunts in the country since 1998. Nicola Beynon at the Australian branch of Humane Society International said trophy hunting had no place in modern conservation. "Most people are repulsed by trophy hunters posing for pictures with slaughtered wildlife," she said. "The ivory trade is sounding the death knell for African elephants." The baboon pictured appears to have been shot in 2010 on a trip to Zimbabwe run through Charlton McCallum Safaris, which charges up to $2000 a day and up to $15,000 for trophy kills. On the forum, photos were accompanied by detailed reports of numerous hunts, signed off by "Nick", including flying business class into Namibia to hunt multiple elephants, and putting a bull elephant that had already been shot by poachers "out of its misery". In a post detailing the 2010 hunt, nickh refers to shooting "a big old baboon as we had stopped to change a flat tyre". "He was a cocky old guy, thinking he was out of range at 171m, but he stopped to look back and the new Blaser R8 416 quickly 'made my day'," the post said. A spokeswoman for animal rights group PETA Australia described the images as appalling. "With boundless opportunities for amusement, it speaks volumes that such people get a thrill from gunning down, and turning into objects of ridicule, other individuals who ask for nothing out of life but the chance to live it," she said. Carolyn Drew, spokeswoman for Animal Liberation ACT, said the images appeared to reflect the disturbing trend of "hunters trying to one-up each other". "Hunters get a kick out of both the power they feel when killing an animal and then through posing or showing off to the hunting community, they get a thrill," she said. "All hunting, including that [by] Australians, puts pressure on wildlife and, whether inadvertently or not, enables the poaching trade. While both trophy hunters and poachers keep hunting, each gives the another the excuse to keep going. "It all makes me feel very sad... that wildlife are treated with such disdain and contempt." After Fairfax Media put questions to Mr Haridemos, images of him posing with slain animals were removed from the Photobucket account. In 2016, a landmark study found elephant populations across Africa had fallen by 30 per cent in just five years and were continuing to decline. On average, one elephant is killed every 15 minutes for its ivory, according to IFAW, spearheading global efforts to end the trade. Ms Beynon said the Australian government also needed to legislate against the domestic trade of ivory within its own borders. "Every loophole in global efforts must be plugged to give elephants the very best chance of surviving," Ms Beynon said. The Canberra Times is not suggesting Mr Haridemos is himself involved in the illegal ivory trade. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/fb077463-cf4e-4e5f-8a78-3da3b439823a/r0_48_460_308_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Good morning, Canberra. Happy hump day! Some good news, the sun and warm weather is back. We're in for a top of 31 degrees. There will be some light winds in the morning. Here's what's making news. Two families who bought a former Mr Fluffy block have been stung with thousands of dollars of unexpected fees after remnants of the deadly loosefill asbestos were uncovered onsite. Anthony and Clare Steve purchased the $1.6 million block in Griffith last March with friend Mark Jeffcott, intending to build a duplex for their families to live in. Read more from Katie Burgess here. The Australian Pesticides and Veterinary Medicines Authority was up at Senate estimates yesterday, and it was revealed that the agency will spend nearly $1 million on fitting out its temporary home in Armidale before the permanent building is ready in 2019. APVMA boss Chris Parker told the hearing "real progress" had been made on the controversial move to Armidale, in the electorate of former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce, and that 15 staff were now working in the office. Doug Dingwall and Sally Whyte have the story here. A mother and her two young children have been remembered as dearly loved members of their local church after they were found dead following a tragic and suspicious house fire last week. Anne Muhoro, her son Ezvin, and her daughter Furaha, were found by fire crews inside the house in Bonner following the blaze on February 19. Neighbours painted a picture of a reserved family who lived a quiet life in Canberra, while others spoke of the family's close ties to the Northside Life Church in Harrison. Read Steven Trask, Emily Baker and Alexandra Back story here. Patty Mills hopes taking the high road in the fallout of an NBA racism incident will encourage young indigenous Australians and minority cultures to be proud of their heritage, admitting "I've been called a lot worse". Mills was racially taunted in the San Antonio Spurs' clash against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with audio emerging of a fan yelling: "Hey, Jamaican dog, they want their bobsledder back. It was followed by: "Hey Mills, Jamaica just called, they want their bobsledder back." Read the story from Chris Dutton here. And finally, Jil Hogan has your weekend covered with seven things to do in Canberra. You're welcome. Get the guide here. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/f2fe4cb6-aba2-499a-9ee8-4dbdfda4d4cf/r0_131_2000_1261_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Former Cape Coral city council member Erick Kuehn died Monday. He was 74. He served from March 2010 November 2011 after being appointed from among 17 applicants to fill the District 5 seat in the wake of the suspension of the seats elected member, Eric Grill. A City Hall regular and prolific letter writer, Kuehn came to Cape Coral in May 2003 after he retired from a career in insurance sales in Elkhart, Ind. He was an insurance agent for 32 years, following a five-year stint as a German teacher. He said in a 2010 interview after his appointment that he attended his first council meeting to speak out against a proposal the city was floating about metered irrigation systems, and it simply piqued his interest on the local political scene. Kuehn became what he described as a self appointed community activist, admitting that council meetings almost became his obsession. But it was an obsession that paid off, as he was appointed to council, partially, on the strength of his attendance at council meetings. Flags in the city will be lowered to half-staff in Kuehns memory, officials said. Service information will be posted when available. When my kids were growing up there was always a plan for that stranger that may ask them to go with them. Stranger danger doesn't always work. Teach your child a password, dogs name, colour, house number, anything, the instructions are easy. The child does not go with anyone who does not know the password no matter what they say, a lost puppy, get them some candy etc. Remember to tell a person you need to pick up your child the password in case of an emergency. I did this with all my kids and never had an issue. One person tried but didn't know the password so my child ran. May seem old school but it works, this was taught in schools way back. Don't forget to change the password every so often and keep your kids safe. aEileen aWaugh Many people cannot recognize the difference between cause and effect and address the effect while the cause continues unabated (and also seem to forget that they are Canadian). Yes the premier of Alberta is acting in desperation to protect the Alberta and Canadian economies and apparently violating interprovincial trade agreements (wine; not Site C dam). That is the effect, the cause is the premier of this province violating Canadian law by trying to stop a project under federal jurisdiction that has already been approved to proceed to construction by the federal and BC governments during the time for approvals. Premier Horgan needs to decide if he is Canadian or if he wants to hold a referendum on separation from Canada so that he can have sovereign control over a new country; or if he wants to be the premier of a province in Canada and follow Canadian law. Like so many activists, he has no regard for the rule of law and breaks it. He is a politician and so is immune to penalties for breaking the law that we, the people, are subjected to. Activists who try to stop approved construction projects can get arrested. I wonder what premier Horgan would do if he faced that now. The premier of Alberta is violating a trade agreement that has lawsuit as a remedy, not arrest. I dont know what qualifications Mr. Stupka has in this field, other than having lived in Burnaby and Kelowna, or what zebra muscles have to do with this issue. He also writes like a non-Canadian, but a sovereign BC. I would like to know where he gets his information from. As for daylight in an emergency, during the flood of the century in Manitoba they built kilometers of dike around the clock with military helicopters holding flares in the sky all night. I have the book, A Red Sea Rising 1997. But then, for a spill, floodlights could be set up on the ground like for highway paving during the night. Again, here is an activist exclaiming that the sky is falling and saying whatever to justify it. During my career I did work in the oilsands and they support a lot of Canadian jobs and spinoff industry jobs, just as pipelines do to construct and permanent jobs to operate (pumping stations, maintenance and patrols). Note that I state my qualifications (Feb 9) as an engineer who worked in these industries, personal experience, and references; not just exclaim things. I worked on the initial feasibility study for the Northern Gateway pipeline. Had I been aware at the time that it was going to open up the Great Bear Rainforest with access roads, I would have refused the work. I did refuse work more than once during my career and ended up looking for a new job. The federal government rightly refused that pipeline to protect the BC pristine environment. I think that most people can accept that Canada has to find new markets for our petroleum and not be getting ripped off by the USA for it in a single customer market; just as BC needs to ship products east (through Alberta) that also supports the Canadian economy. Winnipeg is a major transportation hub (Symington Yard), and BC products go there by rail and then south to the central and eastern USA and provide Canadian jobs in shipping. Mr. Stupka also states that the pipeline should export useful (refined) petroleum products if it is about Canadian jobs. Does this mean that he would support an upgrader in Burnaby? As I said in my Feb 9 letter, shipping bitumen/oil to China will replace dirtier coal that they burn now and pollute our coast. Yes we are practically giving away our product now to the USA because they are our only customer. Then they ship gasoline back to the lower mainland. Every time the USA industry hiccups, our prices go up (now). As for the Canadian Chamber of Commerce reference in his letter, please take the time to look at point 3 under Access to Customers located here http://www.chamber.ca/advocacy/policy-wins/ . I cannot find his quote in their website. I did find this blog when searching for his quote, http://www.chamber.ca/media/blog/Chamber-Welcomes-Positive- NEB-Recommendation- on-Trans- Mountain/ . Now do you believe Mr. Stupkas arguments? Note that he was the Green Party candidate for the Kelowna West bi-election. As for Mr. Colemans letter, its tone is extremely confrontational down to the personal level and espouses hateful actions against fellow Canadians who live and travel here and support the BC economy. These actions sound more like war mongering against a foreign country. There have been a lot of people living in the Okanagan and paying into its economy and working in the oilsands who Im sure, would agree that more sensible actions should prevail to end this issue and who support the BC wine industry. If Mr. Horgan wants to be the prime minister of BC, rather than the premier; then perhaps he should run in the next election on a platform for a sovereignty referendum if elected. The best alternative for BC was approved in following an existing pipeline in an existing route. Extremists will say no to everything, except our right to ship BC products east. Jerrilynn DeCock Photo: Sue Hohertz Moose spotted at Buckerfield's in West Kelowna. A moose that has been spotted around West Kelowna was caught stealing a bite to eat on Monday. Buckerfields Country Store employees were shocked when they spotted the large moose inside their warehouse on Main Street in West Kelowna. It was inside the warehouse eating hay, said Stephanie Illig whose husband works at the store. "They have chickens in the back there." The moose has been named Millie by some locals and has been spotted stopping into their yards. "Oh my gosh, don't get too close," she told her husband. A family living on Yorkton Road told Castanet back in February that a moose charged at their dog. Residents living in the area should be aware of the moose and never approach the animal. Photo: Melissa Rainkle Guess who's back for more! Millie the moose was spotted earlier Monday grabbing a meal at Buckerfields Country Store but apparently, she was still hungry so she hit the drive-thru at the West Kelowna Dairy Queen! Maybe she heard about the mango pineapple smoothie special! Melissa Rainkle spotted Millie cruising through the drive-thru and snapped this photo of her looking right at her as if to say "what are you looking at?" Earlier in the day employees at Buckerfields Country store said Millie spotted inside their warehouse on Main Street in West Kelowna. It was inside the warehouse eating hay, said Stephanie Illig whose husband works at the store. "They have chickens in the back there." So far Millie has been minding her own business stopping in various yards around the region to nap and eat. But be careful with your pets as she gets defensive around dogs, big or small. A family living on Yorkton Road told Castanet back in February that a moose charged at their dog. Conservation officers say moose confuse domestic pets with wolves and can react by kicking out. Photo: CTV Former White House intern Monica Lewinsky says the affair that led to impeachment proceedings against President Bill Clinton "was not sexual assault" but "constituted a gross abuse of power." Lewinsky writes in "Vanity Fair" that she is "in awe of the sheer courage" of women who've been confronting "entrenched beliefs and institutions." She says she was recently moved to tears when a leader of the #MeToo movement told her, "I'm so sorry you were so alone." She lauds the "#MeToo" movement for providing "the safety that comes from solidarity." Lewinsky says she's been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress from being "publicly outed and ostracized." Clinton initially denied the affair before admitting to it in 1998. The Democrat was acquitted by the Senate. A representative for Clinton did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday. Photo: The Canadian Press Italian organized crime figures may have been involved in the shooting death of an investigative journalist in Slovakia, a Canadian reporter said Tuesday as the country's newspapers printed black-and-white front pages to honour the slain journalist. The bodies of 27-year-old Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend Martina Kusnirova were found Sunday evening in their house in the town of Velka Maca, east of the capital, Bratislava. Kuciak is the first journalist to be killed in Slovakia. The government is offering 1 million euros ($1.23 million) to anyone who helps authorities find the people responsible. Slovakian police say the slayings were likely linked to Kuciak's reporting. In an interview Tuesday with the Sme daily, Slovak-based Canadian journalist Tom Nicholson said Kuciak told him before his death that he was working on a story about possible Italian mafia involvement in fraud linked to EU subsidies in eastern Slovakia. Aktuality.sk, a news website that Kuciak was working for, made the same claim as Nicholson in their own story Tuesday based on Kuciak's reporting. Nicholson said he was ready to testify but has not been approached by police yet. "I'm not sure what caused Jan's death but I bet my life that this is so," Nicholson said. Making the story more explosive, Sme said two Italian businessmen with possible ties to the mafia operating in Slovakia did business with a senior adviser to Prime Minister Robert Fico and through her to officials from Fico's leftist Smer-Social Democracy party. The opposition has called on national police force President Tibor Gaspar and Interior Minister Robert Kalinak to resign and was planning a protest rally in Bratislava for Wednesday. Addressing reporters on Tuesday, Fico dismissed the reports. "You link innocent people to a double murder without any evidence," Fico said. "Don't do it." Fico also blamed the opposition for misusing the case against his government. Standing alongside Fico and Kalinak, Gaspar said Tuesday that investigators are taking media reports of possible mafia involvement as seriously "as any other version." Kalinak said Slovak investigators have been co-operating with the Czech and Italian authorities on the case as well as with Europol officials. Analyst Milan Zitny said the slayings place Slovakia in the company of undemocratic countries such as Ukraine or Russia where "the murders of journalists are nothing exceptional." But government officials disagreed. "We will spare no effort in investigating this criminal act and in bringing the perpetrators to justice," Slovakian envoy Ivan Korcok told the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Photo: The Canadian Press FILE - In this Nov. 15, 2016 file photo, Brad Parscale, who was the Trump campaign's digital director, waits for an elevator at Trump Tower in New York. President Donald Trump has named former digital adviser Brad Parscale as campaign manager of his 2020 re-election campaign. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) President Donald Trump has named former digital adviser Brad Parscale as campaign manager of his 2020 re-election campaign. In a statement, the Trump campaign said Parscale will lead "advanced planning" for the 2020 effort, and that the campaign will also be engaged in the 2018 midterm elections which are shaping up to be a challenging environment for Republicans. Trump has left little doubt about his intentions to seek re-election. He filed the paperwork to organize his re-election committee on the same day as his inauguration, held his first campaign rally on Feb. 18, 2017, in Florida, and has mused publicly about would-be Democratic challengers. Parscale, an Austin-based digital consultant and ally of Trump son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, ran the Trump campaign's digital operations in 2016, which included sophisticated social media targeting. He previously worked for the Trump Organization. Parscale has long been close with the Trump family, a priority for the president as he begins planning his re-election strategy, according to a person familiar with the campaign planning but not authorized to speak publicly about private discussions. Starting in 2011, Parscale had done some web design work for the Trump family including the president's real estate firm and his son Eric Trump's charity before Kushner hired him for the campaign. The two men helped craft the 2016 team's digital strategy, which has been widely credited for helping Trump pull off his upset victory. Paracale also established close ties with Eric Trump and his wife, Lara, who in turn was hired by Parscale's Texas-based digital firm. Working with Kushner, Parscale and Katie Walsh, then the chief of staff of the Republican National Committee, served as de-facto campaign managers, overseeing nearly all aspects of campaign. Photo: Google Maps A Calgary developer is looking to bring a new shopping centre to the area around Reids Corner, in Kelowna. West 18th St Enterprises Inc. has applied to the City of Kelowna to amalgamate and rezone four properties on the southwest corner of Old Vernon and Rutland Road. Plans for the development submitted to Kelownas planning department show a shopping centre consisting of approximately 10 buildings, surrounded by more than 200 parking stalls. For more on the developer's plans, check out the full story on Castanet's sister business news website, Okanagan Edge. Lena Chang Sheeran peacefully passed away in the early hours of August 13th at home surrounded by her loving family. Far more than an award-winning actuary and co-founder of both CURE and NJ PURE,... remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The lasersystem developed by the LMU physicists is the first one worldwide, that produces infrared lightpulses with a power of 19 Watt and wavelengths of about 20.000 nanometres. Laser physicists from the Laboratory of Attosecond Physics at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat and the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics have developed an extremely powerful broadband infrared light source. This light source opens up a whole new range of opportunities in medicine, life science, and material analysis. Infrared light has a keen sense for molecules. With the help of this light, researchers are able to go in search of the small particles which shape and determine our lives. The phenomenon, in which infrared light sets molecules in vibration, is pivotal in this search. Scientists are exploiting this phenomenon by using infrared light to analyze the molecular makeup of samples. In the hope that this analysis can become even more exact, the laser physicists from the Laboratory of Attosecond Physics (LAP) at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat (LMU) in Munich and the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics (MPQ) have developed an infrared light source that has an enormously broad spectrum of wavelengths. This light source is the first of its kind worldwide and can be used to help detect the smallest amounts of molecules in liquids like blood. When infrared light encounters molecules, they begin to vibrate. In this process, each particular type of molecule is brought into motion by a very specific set of different wavelengths in the range from 3 to 20 micrometers. By examining the wavelengths of the light being emitted after this excitation, researchers are able to derive the molecular composition of the sample. The more powerful the source of infrared light and the more wavelengths utilized, the higher the chance of determining the sample composition, in for example breath or blood. The LAP physicists have set themselves this challenge. They use an infrared light source which is based on a new disc laser that has a wavelength spectrum spanning from 5 to 20 micrometers (in comparison a person is able to see light in a range between 0.35 and 0.7 micrometers). The new system consists of a short pulse laser that emits 77,000 pulses per second. The pulses themselves are mere femtoseconds long (a femtosecond is one-millionth of one billionth of a second). With this system, which has an output power of 19 Watt, researchers have achieved the broadest simultaneous infrared coverage from a solid state laser. Moreover, the infrared laser pulses emitted should correspond to a sub-cycle pulse in time domain. This new light source opens up countless opportunities for the physicists of better understanding the fundamental properties of solid and soft matter. The analysis of light spectrums after interactions with material with infrared spectroscopy and microscopy allows the more precise and accurate conceptualization of research methods. The LAP team utilizes these methods for driving the so-called Broadband Infrared Diagnostics project. In the framework of this project, the scientists are interested in assessing the molecular makeup of blood and breath. Should particular molecules be present, like the kind that appear in cancer patients, this could prove to be a reliable indicator that further examination is needed. A new diagnostic tool for the early detection of diseases might just have been developed. Guest Commentary Fair maps for our children, for our Hispanic communities, for our futures My son will vote for the first time next year. And for his first time, the state of Indiana will have brand new legislative and congressional districts. It should feel like a clean... Voice of the People During the 13 years I have called Chesterton my home, there are few small-town activities I have come to enjoy quite like the high schools homecoming parade. It is always a beautiful moment of celebrating our students, gathering for an afternoon of fun and seeing... Voice of the People I find it hard to believe that the majority of Town employees will put their self-interest over the GREATER GOOD which is, the viability of the Town of Chesterton by not getting vaccinated. Our town tried to save money by self-insuring itself. We could be... 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... Pedestrians pass in front of Gap and Old Navy stores in New York's Times Square on Dec. 13, 2017. (Mark Kauzlarich / Bloomberg) In addition to signing the deal for the State Street store, Macys is working with Brookfield to redevelop as many as 50 other properties. On Tuesday, Macys said it has agreed to terms on nine of those properties, which Brookfield will redevelop once approvals are completed. All nine stores would remain open, and two furniture stores would be consolidated into the main Macys stores in those malls, Hoguet said. Other area hospitals have made similar moves for similar reasons in the last year. Amita Health Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village in October stopped accepting children who need overnight care because, on average, only two children occupied its 16 beds a day. Mount Sinai Hospital on Chicagos West Side last year stopped seeing pediatric trauma patients and offering pediatric inpatient services because, on an average day, only six children occupied the 24 beds designated for them. In Chicagos case, most of these laws were eventually struck down by the City Hall lawyers who warned the aldermen they couldnt single out individual types of restaurants for special rules. Still, in 1911, the City Council was able to pass the ordinance to refuse construction and remodeling permits to people of Chinese descent around 23rd and Wabash. The rationale? That the Chinese of the city of Chicago are invading said neighborhood and if they are permitted to settle in said neighborhood it will materially affect and depreciate the value of the property. Oak Park filmmaker Steve James and Chicago producer Mark Mitten are nominees for Abacus: Small Enough to Jail, a documentary about the only U.S. bank to face criminal charges related to the 2008 financial crisis. James is a longtime fixture at Kartemquin Films. The Chicago documentary houses Edith+Eddie, a film about an interracial couple in their 90s, is up for best documentary, short subject. James is also an executive producer on that project. Now the band is hitting the road for a short string of dates that includes Chicago with a show at Aragon Ballroom May 29, to mark the 15th anniversary of their seminal debut album, Fever to Tell. In a filing with the Federal Election Commission, "Dash to DC" is listed as the former actress' Newport Beach, California-based operation. Earlier this month, Dash, who was a commentator on Fox News, asked her Twitter followers whether she should run. "A number of people online and off have suggested I run for political office," she wrote. "I wanted to see what my online community thinks of this idea as I mull the possibilities. Thoughts?" When del Toro approached him about The Shape of Water, Jones said the director explained that he would be playing this romantic interest that becomes involved in a consummated relationship. And he said to me, I know youre a good Catholic boy, so I want to make sure this is going to be OK with you. And I was like (voice rises an octave), Oh, hahaha, how far do we go? And he said, Well, theres a bathtub involved. And I thought, Oh, for dear sakes. How about you start at the beginning and just tell me the whole story and get me to the bathtub and then Ill tell you how I feel about it! Because he didnt even have a script yet; this was in 2014 when he was telling me about this, we were working on Crimson Peak together, I was two of his ghost ladies in that. The cast excels at transcending its material. The script by Justin Haythe matches Francis Lawrences direction; its workmanlike and steady and pretty flat. This may be a matter of a director having made one too many Hunger Games movies (he handled three) to clear his head sufficiently before tackling something different. I took minimal pleasure in the guessing games of the later stretches; I took zero pleasure in the lingering skin-graft torture sequence endured by one of the major characters. (Youd be an idiot to let anyone under 16 see it.) Half of the Red Sparrow audience will spend at least part of the running time fighting off memories of Salt and Atomic Blonde and the Black Widow storyline from The Avengers. When I started the company. I wanted to create something of our own, he said. I never thought that we would tour around the world. Life is strange. In the 70s, Cloud Gate was the only professional dance company in Taiwan the first contemporary dance company in any Chinese-speaking country. With a prolific career including more than 90 works, Lin developed his own choreographic style blending Western dance with Eastern ontology. He is an ambassador of sorts, bringing concert dance to Taiwanese people through free public performances hosting up to 30,000 at a time, and bringing Taiwan to us by sharing his work internationally through extensive touring. And at the end of 2019, Lin will take his final bow as artistic director of Cloud Gate, retiring after 45 years at the helm. "It was hard to raise a child and not know where your next check was going to come from ," Hardy told Variety. "It was a better deal all the way around, even if I was being abused. It's sick to say, but it was true." This year marks the 200th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, so we can expect a flurry of tributes, almost inevitably focusing on the iconic monster rather than the actual novel. Fortunately, John Kessel treats Shelley's story with great respect, while introducing characters from another classic published only five years earlier Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. That might sound like the formula for a lightweight mash-up, but Kessel, though not lacking in wit, is more interested in how the themes of these very different novels resonate with each other. Weve seen studies say that 3 percent of teens are sexting, to studies suggesting that 65 percent are sexting. When this happens, parents dont understand the extent of sexting in teens. We wanted to be able to understand what is causing this variation and come up with metrics that people can use to have a clear understanding. It doesn't really matter who has the money. CheapOair, as your travel agent, should have tried to help you. I'm surprised that someone tried to charge you an $850 fee to reschedule your flight to a random date. Normally, when you make it clear that you have to cancel a flight for circumstances beyond your control, like an emergency hospitalization, an online agency will work with a special "waivers and favors" department to secure a compassionate refund. While no one thinks that taking away a few discounts will cause NRA members to start dropping out of the organization in droves or lead to the downfall of the organization, the sudden rash of companies no longer willing to do business with the NRA does seem to indicate a change of tide. The more the NRA is ostracized by the public, the easier it will be to loosen its grip on state and local lawmakers. "When someone's life is saved by the use of naloxone, it gives us, the Health Department, and other partners, one more chance to get them into care, to get them on the path to a healthier life," Pfister said, referring to close to 250 lives saved in Lake County through the use of the antidote since Christmas Day 2014. That will be followed by an Ives "Trio," which includes snippets from such traditional American tunes as "My Old Kentucky Home" and "Rock of Ages." "It's really an exciting piece," Li said, "especially the second movement. It has a lot of fun tunes in it that a lot of Americans might recognize. And the third movement is really beautiful. I think it's the meat of the whole piece." So they are thinking about who am I? What do I want to become? And they are doing that within their context in their countries of origin theres poverty, theres violence, lack of opportunity, lack of jobs, maybe family is not there because they are here, Diaz-Strong said. And so they are trying to explore these questions with very few opportunities there, so in order for them to sort of reach these development milestones, something very normal that all adolescents do, prompts them to migrate. A man in a job-training program for parolees who was the first in the program to get a permanent job has been charged with murder after prosecutors say he gave another man a gun and urged him to kill someone they saw in the Roseland neighborhood Thursday. Records show the 55-year-old man was arrested at the scene and initially charged with misdemeanor battery, but the charges were later dropped. The man was questioned again when detectives initially classified the case as a homicide early this month, but he has not been charged in Cannons death. At the time of his arrest, Sawyer, who in some records is identified as Delonta Sawyer, was on probation after pleading guilty Feb. 2 in a robbery about 1:35 a.m. April 4, 2017, robbery in the 800 block of West Roscoe Street, according to records. He was given credit for 301 days he already had spent in jail in that case, according to court records. At the time of his arrest, Sawyer also was free on a signature bond after being accused of retail theft from a department store in the 100 block of North State Street about 3:45 p.m. on Feb. 7, according to police and court records. The man saw it occurring, went inside his home to grab a weapon and thwarted the stabbing with only the threat of force from the rifle, the news release said. The robberies both took place Thursday morning, one just after 8:25 a.m. in the 1400 block of East 71 st Street in the Grand Crossing neighborhood, the other about 8:20 a.m. in the 400 block of East 79 th Street in the Chatham neighborhood. Watch this vote, and if the legislators do not back up the public safety, do not back up the police officers in the primary and in this general election, you must hold them accountable, Emanuel said, pounding a podium as he addressed Chicagos latest class of police recruits. Trust me, if they think they can get away without having any political pressure, theyre going to do the bare minimum rather than what is the appropriate thing. This is not about their political safety, this is about our public safety. And dont let them get away with doing the bare minimum to take the issue off the table. "The fees that will back this up come out of the future in terms of what use will be there. It does not require federal money," Emanuel said. "The increased traffic, in a positive way, the increased traffic at O'Hare that is going to give us the resources. We will bond that, use it to make all the investments today, because we see the growth that is coming in the future. And that's not going to require the federal government." We believe that achieving the level of independence we are committed to requires us to fund this effort ourselves, the three said. To that end, we will establish an independent funding mechanism to pay for the staff, research, legal and human resources expertise necessary to develop an effective and fact-based set of recommendations. We will hire our own staff without input from the Democratic Party of Illinois. WINGATE, N.C. A North Carolina man was charged Tuesday with a fatal shooting captured live on Facebook not far from a town's police department. Her father, Park Chung-hee, took power in a military coup and was president during the 1960s and 1970s. He oversaw South Korea's astonishing economic transformation from an agrarian backwater emerging from the ashes of war to an industrial powerhouse famous for building ships and electronics. But this came at the expense of civil liberties, as Park ruled with an iron fist. Rick Gates, former deputy campaign manager for Donald Trump, exits federal court in Washington on Friday. Special counsel Robert Mueller has moved to drop some of the charges against Gates in exchange for his cooperation. (Andrew Harrer / Bloomberg) He developed a wonderful reputation with the kids and he was a great storyteller for them about things that had happened in the past, said former Glen Ellyn Village President Michael Formento, a friend and political ally. And he always seemed to have gold-covered chocolates in his pocket that he gave the kids as rewards. In the case of Trump, his empty bravado has another ramification, a legal one. Trump faces a real confrontation that could end his presidency and land him in a heap of legal trouble, namely an interview with the special counsel about Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and Trump's actions after the investigation began. The president has bragged he'd love to talk to Mueller, but for now is hiding behind his lawyers' skirts. His lawyers think he is so dishonest that he will lie under oath or is so foolishly loquacious that he'll implicate himself in wrongdoing. They have resorted to silly excuses. (Too busy!) But, of course, Trump could override his lawyers; he is the client. He does it to fire up his base when he talks about immigration it was a staple at his campaign rallies in 2016 and he still pulls it out of his trick bag on occasion. His fans eat it up, horribly mistaking the meaning of the poem, which was written in 1963 by Chicago activist, poet, playwright and musician Oscar Brown Jr. and is based on an Aesops fable about mistrust and deceit. Trump invites his followers to believe that the snake in the poem represents immigrants entering the United States. And what about a T-shirt with a pristinely unpolitical message (e.g., I despise cocker spaniels) that might disturb some sensitive souls in a polling place? The Supreme Court can try to enunciate what is unimaginable clear standards concerning every conceivable language use in a hypersensitive America. Or the court can give its squint of strict scrutiny to all such polling place laws, many of which will not pass muster. Otherwise, polling place officials will have broad discretion to lay down the law, if it can be dignified as law, on an ad hoc basis concerning what is and is not a recognizable political view or undue influence. President Donald Trump calls out as he walks across the South Lawn to the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Friday, Feb. 23, 2018, as he arrives on Marine One from speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), in National Harbor, Md. (Carolyn Kaster / AP) Max Boot, a Post columnist, is the Jeane J. Kirkpatrick senior fellow for national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. He is the author of "The Road Not Taken: Edward Lansdale and the American Tragedy in Vietnam." OK, the second way isnt on the districts website. But it apparently exists. A new report by CPS Inspector General Nicholas Schuler found that thousands of students were improperly enrolled in elementary schools, including magnet schools, meaning that many others were stranded on waiting lists. Why? Policy loopholes. Confusion over the rules. And educators who ignored rules to favor some students over others. In other words, clout. Parents who dont have the time or energy to fully dive into the admissions processes at all these different places will just come away feeling its too confusing, its too byzantine, and theres real danger theyll lose heart in CPS, Schuler told the Tribune. Who are the better schools open to? 49th District: GOP voters in this west suburban district cant go wrong. Two capable Republicans want to replace retiring Rep. Mike Fortner, a moderate Republican who has held the seat since 2007. Nic Zito of Wayne is an entrepreneur and Wayne Township trustee. He says high property taxes are the No. 1 concern in the district and Zito, who has been pounding the pavement for months, understands the concerns of homeowners overwhelmed by government spending. At the same time, he defends township government, a contributor to the property tax burden, and hedges on whether voters should be allowed to shrink it. DuPage County Board member Tonia Jane Khouri, of Aurora, offers a more hard-line approach toward taxes. She supports the elimination or consolidation of Illinois unnecessary layers of government. A longtime business owner, she also has a more sophisticated perspective on Illinois unfriendly business climate and policies needed to correct it. Zito is a candidate the Republican Party should continue to embrace. But Khouri is the stronger candidate in this matchup. She is endorsed. Republicans in Congress refuse to even discuss gun restriction policy after every American gun massacre. Instead they pin the blame on mental health. If these Republicans were truly concerned about preventing further mass shootings wouldn't they be investing in Americas mental health infrastructure? Wouldn't they pour millions, if not billions, of dollars into local community and school mental health systems? Eating hogdogs can shave 36 minutes per dog off one's life, but peanut butter and jelly can put all but three of those minutes back, according to a new study out of the University of Michigan's School of Public Health. He said he was also proud of the district's personalized learning program initiatives, that include turning libraries into new learning commons in each of the district's six schools, and the development of the one-to-one iPad program in the districts fifth through eighth grades. "It's pretty simple," Wozney said. "If you see pit crews at race tracks, everyone has one job and they do it, whether they're changing a front tire, checking the oil or whatever. They know what their task is. Transfer that to CPR, and that what pit crew CPR is." Eight years later: Do you remember the Colorado flood of 2013? There has been much hand wringing in the Western media concerning the decision by the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party to abolish the two-term limit for the President and Vice-President. However, like much in Chinese politics, it could easily have been predicted. The four main issues that will have prompted the change are easily understood: A wariness of the US democratic Presidential electoral system, which has seen several presidencies turn into lame ducks two years ahead of their actual expiry date, as everyone knows there will be a change; The example set by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who along with Vice-President Dmitri Medvedev, has remained in de facto power since 2000 and is expected to remain until 2024; The viewpoint that the current strategic course set upon by China is the best option at this stage of its development and requires consistency to implement; The relative young age of Xi Jinping compared to other world leaders. Country President Age Now Potentially In Power Until United States Donald Trump 71 2024 India Narendra Modi 67 Russia Vladimir Putin 65 2024 China Xi Jinping 64 Germany Angela Merkel 63 In fact, several other countries, including democratic nations such as India and Germany, have no limits on individuals holding their most senior political roles. India has no term limit for its prime minister, a position that is granted by the Indian president, typically following national elections. Normally this means the leader of the winning party. The same is also true of the German chancellor, who can also remain in power with no term limits. Angela Merkel has already been Chancellor for ten years; Helmut Kohl was chancellor for more than 16. In short, the outcry over China changing its constitution doesnt make it at odds with other nations, nor does it necessarily promote a so called Cult of Personality. Is Xi Jinping likely to use it? Yes, but not indefinitely. Other Chinese leaders are being fast tracked, with one to watch among many being Liu He,widely tipped to be the next head of the Peoples Bank of China and a potential safety net as cover for Xi. With HSBC saying that the Belt & Road is likely to add US$2.5 trillion to the investment spend, China is engaging globally over the next decade, and with that kind of money at stake, it appears a wise move by China both financially and politically to aim for the type of economic sustainability that arguably, Angela Merkel has bought Germany. No one appears to begrudge her the ten years she has been in power, while the criticisms of lame duck US presidents seem to ring true. Another way to look at it is the possibly for global stability, an issue that along with Vladimir Putin, certainly Angela Merkel and quite possibly Narendra Modi will wish to see translate into greater, rather than less political and government policy sustainability. With the US media now contemplating the prospect of a second Trump term, this, if realized, will see the current US president finish his term aged nearly 80 in a country with an average median age of 38. By then, President Xi Jinping will be 71, the same age as Donald Trump is now. Chinas median age by then will also be 38. But their President will be six years younger than the man responsible for the US, to some extent that of the global economy, and in possession of far more experience and global connections. Who is to argue against the presidential logic of that? Its often noted that the Chinese wish to emulate the Americans. If so, allowing Xi Jinping a further few years of power is certainly going to achieve this objective in terms of political ageism. Time will tell how prescient that decision will be. A Chinese translation of Jim Rogers' book A Gift to My Children: A Father's Lessons for Life and Investing has just been published. For Jim Rogers, an investor from the United States, investment is not just about money. His approach also reflects in how his children are educated. For example, he has encouraged them to learn Mandarin at a young age. Recently, videos of Rogers' two daughters sending Chinese New Year greetings and singing in Chinese went viral online, with many Chinese viewers appreciating their accent-free Mandarin. China is going to be the next great country, he says, which is why he wants his daughters to stay invested in it. "They are already one step ahead of others," says Rogers, 76. "And I wrote, lectured and broadcast that people, everybody, should teach their children, grandchildren Mandarin." He sees letting his daughters learn the language as one of his most important "investments", as he believes it will give them an advantage in achieving success in their future. According to him, as China's economic, political and cultural influences keep growing and it becomes a key player internationally, Chinese will become a world language like English. Rogers hired a native speaker to teach Mandarin to his daughters, aged 14 and 10, at home since they were babies. He moved his family from the US to Singapore partly because he wanted his daughters to go to Chinese-language schools there and use the language often, while being able to experience both Asian and Western cultures. Rogers co-founded the Quantum Fund with George Soros in the 1970s, and made his fortune even before turning 40. As a traveler, Rogers has visited China several times from the early 1980s to the late 1990s, including making a motorcycle tour of the country, from the eastern city of Shanghai all the way to China's western border. And, the experiences helped him gain a global perspective and he learned to evaluate prospects in rapidly developing economies such as China, he says. Rogers sensed China's potential way back in the 1980s, when most analysts were highly skeptical of its prospects for growth. While many people thought he was "crazy", Rogers trusted his own judgment, he says. He tried to search for all the information he could find to learn about China. "But the most valuable research and study were my experiences of traveling through this truly huge country and observing it with my own eyes," explains Rogers, who started to make monetary investments in China in the late 1990s. He was impressed by the hardworking nature and entrepreneurship of ordinary Chinese people he encountered during his travels, he says. "If I hadn't been to China and put myself in Chinese society, I would have ignored those changes like many other Westerners," Rogers recalls. "I left with the thought, 'How could a country like this not develop?'" You are here: China The China Coast Guard participated in 272 maritime rescue operations in 2017, saving 62 ships and 425 people. The coast guard said that it had also conducted patrols to safeguard China's maritime rights, with total voyages reaching nearly 1 million nautical miles last year. The patrols covered all the sea areas under China's jurisdiction as well as the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean, according to the coast guard, under the State Oceanic Administration. Formed in 2013, the coast guard has accomplished a series of tasks for safeguarding China's maritime safety and stability, and maintaining the country's territorial sovereignty. Flash South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday night reshuffled the Cabinet, relieving some of their duties while assigning some to new portfolios. Ramaphosa announced the reshuffle at a press briefing in Pretoria on Monday night. Ramaphosa appointed the African National Congress (ANC) deputy president David Mabuza as the country's deputy president. The Finance Minister Malusi Gigaba was moved to Home Affairs. Jeff Radebe, Minister in the Presidency responsible for Monitoring and Evaluation was assigned to the Energy portfolio. The former AU Commission chairperson Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma replaced Radebe. The former Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene resumed his previous post. Zweli Mkhize, former treasurer general in the ANC is now the Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister. "In making these changes I have been conscious of the need to balance continuity and stability with the need for renewal, economic recovery and accelerated transformation, " said Ramaphosa. The South African Communist Party general secretary Blade Nzimande was also appointed Transport Minister. He was axed last year by the then President Jacob Zuma. Ramaphosa said, "these changes are meant to ensure that national government is better equipped to implement the mandate of this administration. " Pravin Gordhan, former Finance Minister was assigned to the Public Enterprises Minister which is facing governance challenges. The ANC chairperson Gwede Mantashe was also appointed the Mineral Resources Minister. The new ministers and their deputies will be sworn in Tuesday. Flash Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered daily "humanitarian pauses" in Syria's Eastern Ghouta to allow evacuation of civilians from the zone held by militants, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Monday. He said in a statement that the humanitarian pause will be in force from 9 a.m (0700 GMT) to 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) every day starting Tuesday. The location of the humanitarian corridor is to be announced later, the statement said. Moscow also proposed creating in the nearest future an international humanitarian appraisal commission under the aegis of the United Nations, "which could assess what is happening in Raqqa, to which neither mass media nor humanitarian organizations have access." The United Nations Security Council adopted on Saturday Resolution 2401, which requires all parties in Syria to immediately cease clashes and provide a sustained humanitarian break for at least 30 days. Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the ceasefire in Syria could be possible if all parties involved came to terms, but he also admitted that there are many obstacles. Flash Analysts say there are hopes a visit to the United States beginning Tuesday by a high-ranking Chinese official will ease trade tensions and maintain steady bilateral ties. Liu He, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the General Office of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs, will visit the U.S. through Saturday, the Foreign Ministry said. The two sides will exchange views on China-U.S. ties and economic and trade cooperation, ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Monday. Liu put his background in economic policy research to work at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last month and spoke about China's economy, reform and opening-up. Liu's U.S. trip comes roughly two weeks after State Councilor Yang Jiechi visited Washington, where his trip showcased successful high-level exchanges between the two nations, experts said. Trade issues are expected to be a major agenda item for Liu. Officials from both sides have spoken in the past month about several U.S. trade cases targeting commodities from China. Jin Canrong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China, warned that as the U.S. midterm elections in November near, both major US political parties may pick more trade fights with China. Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, said Liu's visit shows Beijing's plan to boost contact with Washington in an effort to ease trade tensions. Talks between Liu and major economic policymakers and advisers will be designed to discourage the Trump administration from initiating major trade issues, and Beijing and Washington have found a way to boost trustchiefly by letting key government officials meet more often, Wu said. Teng Jianqun, director of the Department for American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said Liu's visit will help reduce U.S. anxiety over China's policies when key financial and trade policy insiders of both sides meet, review differences and misunderstandings, resolve some and move forward. Trade between the world's two largest economies exceeded US$580 billion last year. Liu's trip will help Washington to better know its great benefits from working with China. Further, the visit may help expand two-way cooperation in areas such as markets, technologies and top-quality international workers, Teng said. Flash A high-ranking official from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) has again said that doors are open for talks with the U.S., according to Yonhap, which cited an official from the Republic of Korea's (ROK) presidential Blue House. Kim Yong Chol, who led his country's delegation to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Olympics, made the remark during a meeting on Monday with Chung Eui-yong, chief of the ROK's National Security Council and the top security adviser to President Moon Jae-in. The comment reiterated what Kim told President Moon on Sunday, that the DPRK was willing to hold bilateral talks with the U.S. The lunch meeting, which was said to be held in an unidentified hotel in Seoul, was a follow-up to the closed-door meeting Sunday in PyeongChang, east of Seoul. Moon told the DPRK delegation that talks between Pyongyang and Washington should be held as soon as possible to improve inter-Korean relations and fundamentally resolve the Korean Peninsula issues. In response, the DPRK side said that they would like to hold talks with the United States. The offical Blue House said in a press release DPRK and ROK agreed to cooperate, after the Olympic period, in making a balanced advance to build a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula, and enhancing inter-Korean ties in a sustainable manner, . Along with Kim was Ri Son Gwon of DPRK, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland. On the ROK side were Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung and Deputy Director of the National Security Office Nam Gwan-pyo, as well as Lee Do-hoon, a special representative for the Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs at the foreign ministry. The DPRK officials arrived in the ROK on Sunday as part of an eight-member delegation to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. They were scheduled to stay until Tuesday. You are here: World Flash Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud replaced several top military commanders in a series of royal decrees, the state media reported Monday. The military's chief of staff and the heads of ground and air forces were terminated. Fayyad al-Ruwaili had been appointed as Chief of Staff in replacement of Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, who was retired. The king also named new personnel at several ministries, including selecting a woman as deputy minister for labor. The major shakeup was carried out on recommendation of Minister of Defense Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne and the son of the monarch. The changes came in the midst of an ever-worsening conflict in Yemen. A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government has been fighting the Huthis since 2015. You are here: World Flash Turkish police and gendarmerie special forces have entered the Afrin region in Syria in "new phase" of operation against People's Protection Units (YPG), Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesman Bekir Bozdag said Monday. The deployment is a sign of preparations for a new struggle looming ahead, Bozdag said on a television interview, adding that Turkey's operation will move to urban areas from rural villages. Bozdag said the special forces from police and gendarmerie are deployed in Afrin to avoid civilians casualty. They have experience on conducting anti-terror fight in residential areas without harming civilians. A total of 2,059 militants had been neutralized by Turkish army since the beginning of the operation, Turkish military said on Monday. On Jan. 20, Turkey launched "Operation Olive Branch" to clear YPG militants from Afrin in northwestern Syria. Turkey considers the YPG to be the Syrian affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Flash Dozens of people are believed to have been killed in the 7.5-magnitude earthquake that hit Papua New Guinea (PNG)'s central highlands region early Monday, local media reported Tuesday. The quake hit the provinces of Southern Highlands and Hela, a heavily forested region about 560 km northwest of the capital, Port Moresby, at around 3.45 a.m. local time (1545 GMT Sunday), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. "Although communication network into the two provinces have been cut off, reports through satellite communication by Hela Provincial Administrator William Bando said there had been unconfirmed reports of more than 30 deaths," the PNG's Post Courier newspaper reported. More than 300 people were reportedly injured, most of whom are local villagers. The death toll from the quake could be as high as 20, Acting Director of the Department of Mineral Policy and Geo-hazards Management Chris McKee was quoted as saying by local newspaper The National. Prime Minister Peter O'Neil said "I have ordered the chief of the Defence Force to initiate an immediate response to the earthquake." "There are communities that have suffered from this natural disaster, and we are sending our soldiers and other government agencies to support our people in their time of need," the prime minister said in a statement. The energy-rich region is home to oil and gas production. Energy giant ExxonMobil Corp has shut its liquefied natural gas plant in the wake of the powerful earthquake. Papua New Guinea is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, to the east of Indonesia. Earthquakes are common in the country, which sits on the Pacific's "Ring of Fire", an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean. Flash Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been criticized after telling a six-year-old girl that she would be honored if "martyred" in fighting, with the remarks regarded as "child abuse" by some. "Her Turkish flag is in her pocket ... If she's martyred, she will be wrapped with it, God willing," he told the weeping child during a congress of his AK Party in Southern city of Kahramanmaras over the weekend. In the broadcast event, the girl dressed in military uniform and was invited by Erdogan to the stage. It remains unclear who she is and why she was wearing like a soldier. "Glorifying children's deaths? Promoting child soldiers? Sick." Andrew Stroehlein tweeted. Russian TV network RT called Erdogan's remarks "a bizarre act of patriotism". Erdogan made the speech in the party event attempting to boost confidence in the fight in Syria, as Turkish forces have been in mire on the battle ground. Last week, Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin rejected the possibility of any political dialogue between Ankara and Damascus, which is suggested by Russia. On Saturday, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution demanding a ceasefire for at least 30 days across Syria to allow humanitarian access and urgent medical evacuations. On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear Kurdish militia People's Protection Units (YPG) from Syria's Afrin. Ankara sees the YPG to be the Syrian affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a terrorist organization listed by Turkey, the United States and the EU. DEDZA, Malawi - Armed with fish soup and neem leaves, as well as chemical pesticides, Malawi's drought-hit farmers are fighting a caterpillar that is devouring their crops and putting them at risk of hunger. The fall armyworm, an invasive Latin American species that is harder to detect and eradicate than its African counterpart, has attacked maize plants covering one fifth of Malawi's arable land, according to the Malawi's Ministry of Agriculture. Researchers and farmers are fighting back with both imported and local approaches, while also attempting to combat the effects of a prolonged dry spell. Spectacular lantern show adds color to festive New Year ( chinadaily.com.cn ) Updated: 2018-02-26 A spectacular lantern parade was staged in Yingdu town, Nan'an, Southeast China's Fujian province on the ninth day of the first month of the lunar Chinese calendar, which falls on Feb 24 this year. The parade, named Ba Ba Deng, is a traditional folk activity in the region marking the most important festival in the country and has been listed as a national intangible cultural heritage item. Every year, lanterns in all shapes and sizes are strung up onto thick ropes, nearly 100 meters long each, and pushed forward by local villagers, circling the town at a slow pace. The parade procession, roughly 10,000 meters in length, is accompanied by drums, lion dances and firecrackers. Thousands of lanterns are lit up as people parade, making the night just as bright as the day. The lanterns are usually patterned with Chinese characters like "", or "prosperity", and express the local residents' best wishes for the upcoming year. This year, the event is scheduled to run throughout the Lantern Festival until March 2. Ba Ba Deng, a lantern show in celebration of the Spring Festival, is held in Yingdu town, Nan'an, Southeast China's Fujian province on the ninth day of the first month in the lunar Chinese calendar, which falls on Feb 24 this year. [Photo/Xinhua] Members of a U.S. charity organization are divided over Pope Francis' $25 million request, as the money will reportedly go to a hospital in Rome with a history of a financial scandal. LifeSiteNews received leaked documents from the Papal Foundation that revealed some of the donors threatened to resign if the pope's request would be fully granted. The organization, which was established 30 years ago, primarily exists to support causes of importance to the papacy. However, this particular grant has become a cause for concern. The pope requested $25 million from the Papal Foundation after the Vatican assumed management of the problematic Immaculate Institute for Dermatology (Istituto Dermopatico dell'Immacolata or IDI). The previous management of the Rome hospital was indicted on 24 counts of money laundering and fraud cases last May after prosecutors learned that billions of dollars in its funds had been misused. The Vatican absorbed and retained the hospital for the sake of its staff. To keep its operations running without anyone losing their jobs, however, the Vatican needed to find new sources for funding, thus Pope Francis asked for the Papal Foundation's help. The foundation reportedly already shouldered part of the request, which has been turned over to the Vatican. Members, however, began to hesitate supporting this new cause following a latest audit. "I found this grant to be negligent in character, flawed in its diligence, and contrary to the spirit of the Foundation," an unnamed foundation member who also served as the chairman of its audit committee stated in the leaked documents. "Instead of helping the poor in a third-world country, the Board approved an unprecedented huge grant to a hospital that has a history of mismanagement, criminal indictments, and bankruptcy." The chairman also warned of how this donation would impact future membership or stewardship to the Papal Foundation. When asked about the leaked documents, the Papal Foundation reportedly did not dispute its authenticity. The Vatican, on the other hand, has not yet made a comment on the said matter. Following the issue, the foundation's executive members proposed a new guideline that would require the approval of the majority of its lay and clerical members for requests amounting to $1 million and above. The Papal Foundation has been instrumental in helping build schools, churches and seminaries, as well as granting scholarships around the world. In return, donors receive a special audience with the pope every year. Jesus Christ's real image might not be what most people have come to know based on the pictures that referenced him over the years. Joan Taylor, a historian, tried to study what the Messiah really looked like while delving into historical records. Taylor analyzed several documents to uncover the truth. Apparently, Jesus' appearance had never been mentioned in the Gospels despite numerous depictions of what he could have actually looked like. The historian first studied the Letter of Lentulus, which a Roman solider who personally met Jesus allegedly wrote. In it, the latter was described as being tall with a hair color akin to "unripe hazelnut." The authenticity of the Letter of Lentulus, however, has been disputed for centuries for a number of reasons. Scholars tagged the existence of Lentulus as fictitious, which discredited the meeting and description of Jesus. They also learned that the letter had been written during the Middle Ages or centuries after Jesus' actual time during the Roman period. In her book titled "What Did Jesus Look Like?" Taylor was able to establish a more realistic image of Jesus. She wrote that he was actually around 5 feet 5 inches in height and had Middle Eastern features. "What I have learnt is that Judeans of this time were closest biologically to Iraqi Jews of the contemporary world," Taylor told the Irish Times. "In terms of a color palette then, think dark-brown to black hair, deep brown eyes, olive-brown skin," Taylor added. "Jesus would have been a man of Middle Eastern appearance." In 2001, BBC reconstructed the image of Jesus Christ in a documentary titled "Son of God" as they used current technology but based it on historical records as well. As with Taylor, the show concluded that Jesus had olive skin tone with dark short hair. The image of Jesus Christ for centuries had been that of a man with fair skin and blue eyes, as well as long and light brown hair. 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. Reprinting a theology book by a former slave offers a window into the underexplored vista of African-American theology, says the Southern Baptist Convention officer who has rediscovered the work. Originally published in 1890 by Charles Octavius Boothe, Plain Theology for Plain People was reprinted last year by Lexham Press at the prompting of Walter Strickland, SBC first vice president and associate vice president for Kingdom diversity initiatives at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. African-American theological heritage is a mystery to many because the sources that comprise the tradition are limited, Strickland, who is African-American, told Baptist Press via email. "Sources are scarce because historically black Christianity is a largely oral tradition and the written resources that have been produced have been obscured because of racial bias. Booth's work is important today because it positions black evangelicals in the broad spectrum of the evangelical tradition, Strickland said. In a preface to Plain Theology for Plain People, Boothe noted that all the theology books in his day supposed some educational attainment in their readers and seemed unsuitable for laypeople and emerging leaders in churches. His book attempted to explain the doctrines of our holy religion with simplicity of arrangement and simplicity of language. In less than 150 pages, Boothe explained the doctrines of God, man, salvation, Christ, the Bible, the church and more from a distinctly Baptist and moderately Calvinistic perspective. The work quoted Scripture extensively in addition to journalists of the day, Shakespeare and contemporary theologians like J.M. Frost, who founded the SBCs Sunday School Board (now LifeWay Christian Resources) in 1891. Image: SBHLA photo Boothe presented defenses of doctrines like believer's baptism by immersion, perseverance of all true believers and salvation by faith alone. Yet other Bible doctrines, he wrote, are more mysterious and must be believed without full explanation from God. ... So those who are raised from spiritual death and made partakers of spiritual life, should not spend any moments of that new life in asking useless questions, but rather busy themselves with devout thanks for the gift, and in earnest efforts to make the most of their life for the glory of the gracious Giver, Boothe wrote. Born an Alabama slave in 1845, Boothe learned to read beginning at age 3 and was taught by several teachers who boarded at the estate where he was enslaved, Strickland wrote in an introduction to the book. Boothe professed faith in Christ in 1865 and went on to establish and pastor two churches following the Civil War: First Colored Baptist Church in Meridian, Miss., and Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala., where civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. pastored in the mid-20th century. Boothe died in Detroit in 1924. Interracial cooperation, Strickland told BP, was a trademark of Boothe's life and ministry despite his most fruitful years coinciding with the onset of Jim Crow segregation and the height of lynching terror. Strickland hopes modern readers will read Boothe's work and capture something of his passion for racial reconciliation. He also hopes Boothe will help modern readers achieve greater understanding of African-Americans importance in the formation of evangelical thought. Boothe offers a window into an underexplored vista of theological expression, and offers black evangelicals a deep sense of belonging in a tradition that has historically overlooked their voice," Strickland said. ... The reprint of Plain Theology for Plain People is indicative of progress among evangelicals to engage theological voices that affirm unity in Christ yet demonstrating an openness to sharpen each other in the theological task. David Roach is chief national correspondent for Baptist Press, the Southern Baptist Convention's news service. This article originally appeared in the Baptist Press. Even Americas most gun-friendly religious group agrees with the rest of the nation on certain proposals to limit access. | Image: George Frey / Getty Images White evangelicals hold the same views as most Americans on many proposals to restrict access to guns, but are also among the biggest advocates for a more divisive idea that has come up following the Parkland, Florida, school shooting: arming classroom teachers. Along with Americans across religious groups, white evangelicals strongly support laws to prevent people with mental illnesses from purchasing guns and to require background checks to purchase firearms at gun shows or through private sales, according to 2017 Pew Research Center data provided to CT. Nearly 9 in 10 (89%) of both white evangelicals and Americans overall endorse mental illness restrictions, while about 8 in 10 white evangelicals (80%) and Americans overall (84%) favor the expanded use of background checks. Though white evangelicals tend to be less eager to see the government adopt stricter gun laws, they actually show similar levels of support for individual policy measures as the rest of the country. White evangelicals resemble Americans on average when it comes to banning gun sales to those on federal no-fly or terrorist watch lists (86% vs. 83%) as well as banning assault-style weapons, such as the AR-15 used in several recent mass shootings (63% vs. 68%), Pew reported. (Though two-thirds of black Protestants identify as evangelicals, Pew could not break them out on many questions due to small sample size.) Last week, Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN) founder Pat Robertson spoke out in favor of banning automatic weapons and using background checks to screen for mental illness. A group of 15 evangelical leaders has launched a petition urging fellow believers to call for common-sense gun laws in addition to praying over the threat of gun violence. Weve been actively reaching out to evangelical leaders, mostly behind the scenes, and are finding many that are distressed by our seemingly unrestrained enthusiasm for easy gun access, Rob Schenck, the pastor behind the Prayers and Action petition as well as an acclaimed 2015 documentary on gun policy, told The Huffington Post. The perception that all evangelicals have a kind of bloodlust for firearms, thats not true, particularly when it comes to under-40 evangelicals and their pastors. A Politico/Morning Consult poll conducted just days after the February 14 mass shootingthe deadliest high school shooting in American historyfound that a majority of all self-identified evangelicals (not just whites) favored stricter gun laws. Evangelicals (58%) were more likely than conservatives (46%) and Republicans (45%) to support gun control reform, with 1 in 3 strongly supporting stricter laws, the poll found. But its multiethnic evangelical sample was still less likely than voters on average (64%) to back stricter laws, with nearly a quarter strongly opposed (more than any other religious group). Further Politico/Morning Consult polling showed similar trends as last years Pew data. Self-identified evangelicals and voters overall were further apart on broad sentiments about guns than specific reform measures. In the poll, conducted in the past week, evangelicals were less likely than American voters overall to support stricter gun laws (60% vs. 68%) or making gun law reform a congressional priority (57% vs. 64%). They resembled Americans on average on issues such as universal background checks (87% of evangelicals vs. 88% of all voters), bans on sales for those on the no-fly and watch lists (82% of both groups), and efforts to prevent sales to people reported as dangerous to law enforcement by a mental health provider (88% of evangelicals vs. 89% of all voters). Its wise to examine existing gun laws and ask if there changes or additions that need to be made, and also ask whether the myriad of relevant laws already on the books are being adequately enforced, Jim Daly, president of Focus on the Family, wrote in a blog post Tuesday. This is the role of our legislature. He went on to say that gun reform would not be enough to prevent mass shootings. The current debate has to be about more than guns, Daly said. Whats being protested is a symptom of a much larger problem. You cannot legislate away evil. No laws on the books can change the human heart. Despite their support for various restrictions, Pew found that white evangelicals still stand out on policies related to gun owners rights. They are significantly more likely to endorse policies to expand concealed carry locations, with 28 percent wanting to see concealed carry allowed in more places, compared to 19 percent of mainline Protestants or unaffiliated Americans and 17 percent of Catholics, according to Pew. White evangelicals are also the religious group most likely to get behind the idea of allowing K-12 teachers to carry guns in the classroom as a protective measure, with 31 percent in favor. Just 18 percent of Americans on average want to see teachers armed. This proposal, endorsed by President Donald Trump, has generated a lot of discussion on both sides after the Parkland shooting. I am a teacher, and I am a Christian. If our government wants to force me to carry a gun, they can call me a conscientious objector, Seattle-area teacher Ryan Morey wrote. Some trust in horses and others in chariots, I will praise the Lord. I will not live by the sword, but I will trust in God. I will love my neighboreven my enemies. Supporters believe that educators with firearms could deter would-be school shooters or stop them before they kill students; at least eight states currently permit some teachers to carry firearms on school property. As CT reported in its examination of Pews data on who loves God and guns, evangelicals themselves are more likely than members of other faith groups or the average citizen to own a firearm. But the most faithful arent packing the most heat: Americans who attend religious services weekly were less likely to own a gun than those who attend less frequently (27% vs. 31%). And Americans with a high level of religious commitment were less likely to own a gun than those whose commitment is low (26% vs. 33%). Meanwhile, churchgoing gun owners are more likely to belong to the National Rifle Association (NRA), which has been targeted in the latest round of advocacy for stricter gun laws: Fitzpatrick: Monroe County Sheriff's Deputy Recalls 2010 'Madisonville Hoax' as 'Good for Training' Massive Law-Enforcement Presence to Stop 'MILITIA Extremists' Revealed as Unnecessary Contact: Sharon Rondeau, Editor, The Post & Email, 203-987-7948, editor@thepostemail.com ATHENS, Tenn., Feb. 27, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- In an interview with LCDR Walter Francis Fitzpatrick, III (Ret) on February 25, 2018, The Post & Email was informed that former Monroe County, TN Sheriff Bill Bivens is seeking election to his former position this year. Fitzpatrick said he had learned that Bivens had again declared his candidacy after he observed signs promoting Bivens's campaign on Friday morning in Madisonville. Most notably to Fitzpatrick, Bivens was Monroe County Sheriff in April 2010, when "The Madisonville Hoax" was staged by the FBI, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), seven sheriffs' departments, Tennessee Highway Patrol and local police on the pretext that militia members with bombs and guns were planning to "take over the courthouse." The gathering of hundreds of law enforcers on April 20, 2010 resulted from one or more false threats called in to then-Madisonville Mayor Allan Watson's office to quell the alleged "takeover" plot and make any necessary arrests. However, no arrests were made that day, nor did law enforcement name anyone carrying a gun illegally or acting in a threatening manner. On April 26, 2010, FBI Special Agent Mark A. Van Balen signed and submitted a sworn affidavit to Federal Judge C. Clifford Shirley in Knoxville which paved the way for the April 30, 2010 arrest, then trial and eventual imprisonment of Navy veteran Darren Wesley Huff for three and one-half years based on what the federal government claimed he had been thinking about doing. In addition to misstating Huff's position in relation to the courthouse on April 20, 2010, Van Balen's affidavit contained other significant, provable errors. At the time, Robert S. Mueller, III, now Special Counsel in the "Russia" investigations, was FBI director. In December, as corruption was reported to have been discovered within the Russia probes and many Americans questioned Mueller's impartiality to conduct them, Fitzpatrick told The Post & Email, "As I've said before, Mueller's actions, including Darren Huff's conviction, cannot stand. It was a thought crime. Darren wasn't at that location, he didn't have a gun, and Mueller prosecuted Darren while working shoulder-to-shoulder with Eric Holder, the AG, and Janet Napolitano of Homeland Security, and of course, President Obama." Fitzpatrick reminded us on Sunday that Bivens testified falsely at Huff's trial and is undoubtedly aware that there was no legitimate need for the enormous local, state and federal resources deployed into Madisonville on the day of "the Hoax." In contrast, eyewitnesses with exculpatory information were not summoned to testify for the defense. Following Huff's conviction on one count of the two-count indictment, in a rare public Internet podcast dated 22 May 2012, two FBI employees, Scott Johnson and Mollie Halpern, spoke with pride about the operation the agency conducted on April 20, 2010 by allegedly stopping a "militia extremist" plot to take over the Madisonville courthouse. In the wake of recent perceived FBI failures, missteps, politicization and corruption, some have opined that the "premier law enforcement agency" is in need of a major overhaul. "Bill Bivens should be in prison," Fitzpatrick said, rather than seeking elected office. After learning of Bivens' newest candidacy, Fitzpatrick went to the Monroe County Sheriff's Office (MCSO) and met a group of MCSO employees standing outside, enjoying the weather. Fitzpatrick was asked: "Can we help you?" Fitzpatrick then asked to speak with someone in Internal Affairs. Captain Chris White then directed Fitzpatrick to follow him inside. Fitzpatrick began to lodge his complaint against Bill Bivens. Captain White adroitly pointed out that Bill Bivens no longer worked for the Sheriff's Department. Fitzpatrick then asked White if he knew whether or not there are current MCSO officers who were serving in 2010. "I don't know that," White answered. "You're going to have to go to the personnel office, which is up the street. Submit a Freedom of Information Act request to them" Fitzpatrick then related that by seeking an appropriate response to White's challenge he easily located a deputy who was working for the MCSO in 2010 and revealed a shocking revelation. "I walked two-tenths of a mile away to the main courthouse, where Madisonville Mayor Tim Yates's office is. Yates was mayor in 2010 as well. I spoke with his receptionist and asked to speak with Yates. He wouldn't come out to meet with me, so I told her why I was there: that I was sent from Captain White's office with a question about personnel. "Walking around town, I was able to obtain names of about five people working for the sheriff's office in 2010 who are still there. Within 20 minutes, I was back in Capt. White's office. "Walking back to Captain White's office, I spotted MCSO Sheriff's Deputy R. Moses, ironically, standing guard at the entrance to the R. Beecher Witt "trailer park" Courthouse. Deputy Moses recognized me. Moses was smoking a cigarette, and as we were talking, I remarked remembering Moses working for the MCSO back in 2010, and Moses acknowledged, 'Yes.' I then asked Deputy Moses if he remembered the huge law-enforcement call-up in April 2010, and he said he did. In remembering the occurrence, Moses pointed to a window on the second story of the brick-and-mortar courthouse two blocks away. Moses said: 'I was up there.' I said, 'Nothing happened that day; do you remember that?' and he said, 'Yeah, but it was good.' And I said, 'How? Good in what way?' and Moses said, 'It was good for training.' "About 20 minutes before I had the exchange with Moses, I was in White's office telling White that the whole thing with the FBI was a hoax; it was all made up. I said, 'You have officers now who know that there was never any plot to carry out any kind of violence. None of that happened.' And I told him about the podcast and Van Balen's perjured statement, just as a perjured statement was used against Carter Page last October. "That got White's attention, and he stood up to see me out. When he returned to find me back there, I told him, 'I've got names. These are the names of the people who are here now and were there in 2010.' "Captain White then took my criminal complaint." Bill Bivens had sought a third consecutive four-year term in 2014 when he was defeated by Republican Randy White. However, Bivens filed suit against White, claiming he was ineligible, with which a judge ultimately agreed. White was removed from office, and the Monroe County Commission voted to replace him with Tommy Jones II out of a host of eight candidates, including Bivens. According to the Advocate & Democrat, Jones hired White to be his chief deputy but fired him after reportedly finding that White's renewed run for sheriff this year "was affecting his duties." In 2016, a special election was held in which Bivens competed but did not prevail against Jones, who is now the incumbent. Patrick Upton, currently a Loudon County detective, is also a declared candidate, and Tonia Norwood may also seek the office. Share Tweet The National Library of Israel has given the public online access to a George Washington "thumb Bible." The rare 200-year-old sacred writ contains paraphrased texts from the Old and New Testaments. The Bible measures 2 by 1.375 inches, and on its pages are woodcut illustrations of key scenes and figures from the Scriptures. Only a dozen copies or less of this miniature book exist today since its printing in 1813 to 1815. John Taylor, an English poet from the 16th-17th century, created the miniature Bible which also had a dedication to Washington. The inscription on the first page reads: "To his Excellency G. Washington, President of the United States of America. Most hopeful George, into thy hands we give, The sum of that which makes us ever live. And tho' the volume and the work be small, Yet it contains the sum of all in all." Thumb Bibles were popular in the early 19th century as way to teach children to read and appreciate literature. The George Washington thumb Bible is part of the Valmadonna Trust Library that consists of over 13,000 Hebrew books and manuscripts. The National Library of Israel acquired the collection in 2017 with the help of avid collectors David and Jemima Jeselsohn, as well as the Haim and Hana Solomon Fund. The library will eventually showcase the whole collection once its new building opens its doors to the public in Knesset, Jerusalem, in 2021. Other notable items from the Valmadonna collection include a Pentateuch scroll from the 12th century, which has been written in Samaritan alphabet; a Hebrew Bible from 1189; a Pentateuch from Constantinople that dates back to 1547; a prayer book from Fez in Morocco that dates back to 1516; and a newspaper article from 1666 about Sabbatai Zevi, who was believed to be the Messaiah. Meanwhile, the online version of the George Washington thumb Bible can be read online at the library's website. Picassos musketeer leads the charge in London Impressionist and Modern Art and Art of the Surreal Evening Sales realise a combined 149.5 million, while the Day and Works on Paper sales achieve the highest combined total in London The curtain was raised on 20th/21st Century Week, a series of auctions at Christies London, with the Impressionist and Modern Art Evening Sale, which totalled 113,863,000 / $158,952,748, and was 92 per cent sold by value, and 81 per cent by lot. Twenty-eight lots sold for more than 1 million, with the top lot of the auction being Pablo Picassos Mousquetaire et nu assis, painted in Mougins on 11 April 1967, which realised 13,733,750 / $19,172,315. Having variously imagined himself in his art as the melancholic harlequin, monstrous minotaur and courageous torero, it was the character of the adventurous and virile musketeer that Picasso adopted in his final decade. Mousquetaire et nu assis is among the first musketeers that appeared in his work, and depicts the artist alongside the voluptuous figure of Jacqueline, his last great love, muse and wife. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Apel de exprimare a interesului privind intentia de participare la serviciile de suport la formarea/consolidarea grupurilor de femei pentru accesarea granturilor din cadrul Proiectului de Rezilienta Rurala AKRON, Ohio - Alicia Hopkins advocates for people with disabilities like it's a full-time job. She has hosted art workshops at the Hub Community Center in Copley, volunteered to help Medicaid & Medicare recipients navigate MyCare Ohio and administrates the National Resource & Networking Room, offering help with transportation, child care and home repairs. Now, the Stow resident is planning Akron's first All Abilities Art Expo, an art show designed for artists with disabilities. "I really just want to help people with disabilities get their art out there," Hopkins said. "There's a lot of hidden artists that are trying to put their artwork out there and having a hard time. Sometimes shows are in places that are inaccessible for disabled people." The All Abilities Art Expo will take place from 10 to 2 p.m. April 7 at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Akron at 3300 Moorewood Rd., Fairlawn. The event will also feature various vendors and booths with exhibitors. Artists must submit three pieces of their work and attend the event. Deadline to apply is March 24. Photos of the art submissions can be emailed to Hopkins here. Entry fee for the event is two canned food items, which will be donated to the church for its food pantry. Hopkins, also an artist, suffers from dysautonomia, which involves the autonomic nervous system, causing fainting, cardiovascular issues and breathing problems. She uses a wheelchair in public. But it doesn't seem to slow her roll. Hopkins was told years ago she should not attend college, but she went anyway and earned a journalism degree from Malone University. She also competed in the 2017 Ohio Miss Amazing, a pageant for girls and women with disabilities, and won the title Senior Miss Queen. According to Jane Hash, who met Hopkins while volunteering to help patients navigate MyCare Ohio, Hopkins is gifted networker. "Alicia is an awesome advocate for people with disabilities," Hash said. "When a problem is brought to her attention, she quickly organizes a plan of action and seeks the support of those who can be of service. She is also excellent at connecting people who share the same values and passions so that we can better move forward together." The idea for an art show started when Hopkins recently participated in an show put on by some friends she made through Miss Amazing, submitting art she makes from recycled materials. But it was after her art workshop in Copley that she realized she wanted to host something bigger, which led to the All Abilities Art Expo. "I believe everyone has a story to tell through art," she said. "It also helps people get outside of their disability, to focus on the talent inside the person." Hopkins volunteers for ArtSparks in Cuyahoga Falls, an educational outreach program that uses dance to encourage children to develop discipline, a standard of excellence, and a belief in themselves. She is also building a resource directory for disabled people. Recently, Hopkins celebrated four years of managing the National Resource Networking Room. "I just love information. I can do it even when I'm having a bad day or in the hospital and need to pass time," she said. "I think it's helpful when people know there are resources out there to help them." Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.com's Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Bank of America Corp. plans to open 500 branches across the U.S. during the next four years, including an expansion of its retail business into Ohio. Consumer-banking services will be available in Cincinnati, Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, the Charlotte, North Carolina-based firm said Monday in a statement. The bank plans to hire more than 5,400 workers as part of the expansion. It had 4,470 U.S. branches and a workforce of 209,000 at year-end. The firm already offers commercial and business banking, as well as wealth management, in Ohio. The bank cut its U.S. branch count by more than 600 offices in the four years ended December 2017. "We continue to deploy significant resources to meet the changing needs of an expanding client base," Thong Nguyen, co-head of consumer and small-business banking, said in the statement. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A sex offender from Chardon is charged with receiving child pornography after federal investigators uncovered a series of sexually explicit text messages between him and a 13-year-old from Pennsylvania that he met on Facebook, according to court filings. Joshua O'Brian, 28, sent and received thousands of messages from the girl, authorities said. He has been in custody for some time after being arrested while on probation for a 2009 conviction for gross sexual imposition involving a victim under 13 years old in Geauga County. Federal prosecutors say O'Brian admitted to meeting the girl on Facebook and having the girl send him sexually explicit photos and videos. He sent explicit videos of himself in return, according to court documents. O'Brian is charged with receiving images of child pornography. He made his initial appearance in federal court Monday. A detention hearing is scheduled for Friday in federal court in Cleveland. State parole officers visited O'Brian at his job on Nov. 3 and found that he had violated the terms of his supervision, including having a cellphone with video and photo capabilities and using the internet, according to an affidavit by FBI agent Charles Sullivan. They also found that he may have been talking to children through Facebook. The parole officers took the cellphone and O'Brian was subsequently arrested. A forensic analysis of the phone showed that O'Brian sent 6,558 text messages with the girl between March 10, 2017 and May 9, 2017. At the time, the girl was 12 years old, and the messages were sometimes about sexual activity, the affidavit says. Investigators also found 43 photo and video messages, some of which showed the young girl in sexually explicit poses, the FBI says. O'Brian's phone also had images of him and the girl on his phone, in addition to an image depicting bestiality. Agents interviewed the girl at her home on Jan. 31. She and her parents gave consent to search her Facebook account, where they found similarly explicit conversations between her and O'Brian, according to the affidavit. A call left for O'Brian's federal public defender was not immediately returned. If you would like to comment on this story, please visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments section. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Saturday, Democratic members of the House Intelligence Committee released their memo rebutting the already rebuked Devin Nunes memo. The Nunes memo was a blatant attempt to undermine the ongoing Russian Investigation being conducted by special counsel Robert Mueller. Mueller blew the Nunes-Dem memo battle out of the sky and news headlines by bringing new indictments against 13 Russians and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, along with a guilty plea from former deputy campaign manager Rick Gates. New charges in the Russian investigation are another reminder that the now discredited House Intel Committee is nothing more than a sideshow compared to the work Mueller and his team have been doing. While Devin Nunes and Adam Schiff play wiffle ball, Mueller and his team of all stars are playing major league hardball, driving in indictments and guilty pleas. So far Mueller investigation has resulted in more than 100 charges being brought, with many more likely to come. Manafort indictments, Gates plea, further tie Russia to Trump campaign. According to the superseding indictment against him, Manafort owed a Putin allied oligarch $17 million when he joined the Trump campaign. It appears from the indictment, that Manafort sought out the position as campaign manager,in part, to leverage campaign access as a way to make himself "whole" with the oligarch seeking the $17 million back. Manafort allegedly owed the Putin associate $17 million as he staged the Republican Convention in Cleveland, securing Trump's nomination. At the convention, the GOP platform's position on Ukraine was changed to mesh with Vladimir Putin's. Manafort allegedly owed the Putin associate $17 million at the time he participated in the now infamous Donald Trump Jr meeting in Trump Tower with Russian operatives promising dirt on Hillary Clinton. Manafort allegedly owed the Putin associate $17 million at the time he's alleged to have offered the oligarch private campaign briefings. Rick Gates, who had long been Manafort's deputy when he was a private political consultant, became deputy campaign manager under Manafort. When Manafort left the campaign, Gates remained on the campaign staff, past the election. In pleading guilty to conspiracy against the United States, Gates has agreed to cooperate with the Mueller investigation. Mueller would not have accepted a plea deal without first knowing Gates had substantial information to offer to advance the investigation. Just Gates wanting to avoid the expense of trial defense and stress on his family, would not have gotten him a plea deal where he could reduce jail time. Manafort looking for a pardon from Trump and Putin-Ukraine thugs? Manafort's statement on Gates guilty plea seems as to be a message to both Trump and Gates. "Notwithstanding that Rick Gates pled today, I continue to maintain my innocence. I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. For reasons yet to surface he chose to do otherwise. This does not alter my commitment to defend myself against the untrue piled up charges contained in the indictment against me." Manafort's statement is being interpreted by many as designed to put Trump on notice that Manafort will keep his mouth shut in anticipation that Trump will return the favor by pardoning him. Even Republican lawyers have conceded that the case against Manafort is virtually rock solid. The DOJ's record of winning criminal cases is so high that just being indicted is like being convicted. Manafort can just ask Jimmy Dimora. Being in his late sixties, even a sentence of 13 years can amount to a life sentence for Manfort. The pressure on him to plead out and cooperate will be extremely high. But so to might be the pressure to keep quiet. Manafort not taking a plea deal may end up having less to do with concerns about getting a Trump pardon and more about fears over what the Russian-Ukraine thugs he got into bed with will do to him or his family if he talks. Manafort's in the unenviable position of being stuck between Mueller, Trump and Putin associates. Mueller puts people in jail, Putin and his associates have been known to put people who pose a risk to them in a grave. MAYFIELD HEIGHTS, Ohio -- The city's leaders are considering seeking an increase to Mayfield Heights' 1 percent income tax rate -- and hiring a communications firm to deliver the message of why more money is needed and how the new tax structure would work. A look at the somewhat complicated changes being considered shows that a careful explanation might definitely be needed. Here is what is being considered: If City Council decides to put an issue on the November ballot, it would actually seek to do two things -- ask voters to increase the city's income tax rate from 1 percent to 1.5 percent, and, by legislative action (a ballot issue would not be needed) make a change to the income tax credit paid by residents who work in another community. The city now offers a 0.50-percent income tax credit. In conjunction with a voter-approved income tax increase, City Council would increase the income tax credit to a full 100 percent of the first 1.5 percent in income tax a resident pays to another community. Under the new income tax credit plan, the only time a resident of Mayfield Heights would have to pay Mayfield Heights while working in another community is if that community's income tax rate is less than 1.5 percent. "I could not find any community in this area with a rate less than 1.5 percent," Finance Director Robert Tribby stated in an email to cleveland.com. "Right now, most residents working in another community would owe Mayfield Heights 0.50 percent. "Using taxable wages of $40,000 (as an example), a Mayfield Heights resident currently working in Solon, Highland Heights or Mayfield Village (all communities with a 2 percent income tax rate) pays $800 to these communities and $200 to Mayfield Heights. "With a tax and credit increase, this resident would pay $800 to Solon, Highland Heights or Mayfield Village, and nothing to Mayfield Heights, hence a tax reduction (would result)." Tribby goes on to state that if the income tax rate is increased to 1.5 percent, "a Solon, Highland Heights or Mayfield Village resident, also having taxable income of $40,000 and working in Mayfield Heights, would pay $600 to Mayfield Heights and $200 to their communities." These out-of-town residents, Tribby explained, would still pay a total of $800 in taxes. Currently, that $800 is split -- $400 apiece -- between their city of residence and Mayfield Heights. "In essence, Mayfield Heights is giving away $200," Tribby stated. "With the tax and credit increase, Mayfield Heights keeps the full $600, but the Solon, Highland Heights and Mayfield Village residents still do not incur a tax increase. "The only (Mayfield Heights) residents that would realize a tax increase are those currently working in Mayfield Heights, which is estimated to be 30 percent (of Mayfield Heights' working population). A resident earning taxable wages of $40,000, currently paying $400, would see an increase of $200 to $600. "Of course, the income tax is not levied on Social Security or pension income." "Most of our residents (70 percent) would actually receive a tax reduction," Tribby said after Monday's City Council meeting. "We're exporting money to every city around us now, and this would remove that from happening." Mayfield Heights' income tax rate, among the lowest in Greater Cleveland, has not changed since it was instituted nearly 50 years ago. The city has never asked for the tax rate to be increased. The city last adjusted its income tax credit, from 0.75 percent to the current 0.50 percent, in 1982. That year -- Tribby's first as the city's finance director -- the added money was used to construct the current police station. In all, Mayfield Heights is hoping to raise $5 million to $5.25 million annually to make capital upgrades. "I think it's something the city needs to do to solidify our future," Mayor Anthony DiCicco said of the income tax rate/tax credit increases. "We need to make park improvements and our roads need a lot of repairs. Our roads are in very bad shape." At Monday's council meeting, an ordinance was approved without opposition that will have Mayfield Heights issue bonds in the amount of $4 million. The borrowed money will be used later this year to improve roads. Commonwealth Avenue is to be rebuilt this year at a cost of $2 million. Other work in 2018 will include the resurfacing of Fruitland, Belrose and a portion of Maplewood roads. Also to be resurfaced is Lander Road, from Ridgebury Boulevard to Marnell Avenue. This year's road work, Tribby said, is just the start of a five-year, $20 million road repair plan, meaning there will be $16 million still to be funded over the next four years. Meanwhile, City Council heard the first reading of legislation that could have it hiring the firm Melamed Communications to aid in a possible income tax increase campaign. The company's president, Alan Melamed, a former Shaker Heights councilman, told of how his firm has worked successfully on campaigns in Shaker Heights, Cleveland Heights, Lyndhurst and South Euclid. Melamed has proposed a four-month contract that would have the city pay up to $8,700 for its services. The company would help council and the administration assess the situation and develop goals, and create a plan for outreach to the community. A key aspect of Melamed's plan is holding two "tele-town hall" meetings. To set up these "meetings," the city would contact its residents via landline phone and tell them of the next day's upcoming town halls, which are actually phone sessions. Residents would then receive a call on the day of the town hall and press a number on their phone to take part. On the other end of the phone would be a council member, who would personally answer all questions. Melamed said tele-town halls are the best methods of reaching the most possible residents, as most residents don't turn out for traditional meetings at city hall. Still, one actual, in-person meeting at city hall would be held. AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron man was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison for a 2016 drunk driving crash that killed a 17-year-old boy and injured two others. John Bird John Bird, 51, pleaded guilty last month to one count of aggravated vehicular homicide, two counts of aggravated vehicular assault and one count of drunken driving in the Dec. 23, 2016 crash that killed Grant Wilson. The boy was a student at Chagrin Falls High School. Bird's sentence also includes a lifetime ban on his driver's license, the Summit County Prosecutor's Office said in a news release. The crash happened just after 7:30 p.m. at the intersection of North Portage Path and Sunnyside Avenue. Bird was northbound on North Portage Path in a 2015 Jeep Cherokee when he hit a 2014 Audi that was turning left onto Sunnyside Avenue, prosecutors said. Grant, who was a passenger in the Audi, died after paramedics took him to Cleveland Clinic Akron General. A man and his 15-year-old daughter were also hurt in the crash. Bird was driving more than 90 mph and had a blood-alcohol level of .292 percent, more than three times the legal limit of .08 percent, prosecutors said. To comment on this story, please visit Monday's crime and courts comments page. AKRON, Ohio -- An Akron man involved in a break-in that ended in his accomplice's stabbing death was sentenced Monday to eight years in prison. Kesean Brown, 25, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and aggravated burglary in the Oct. 5 break-in that ended in the death of Decarlos Powe Jr. A Summit County judge sentenced him immediately after he pleaded guilty Monday, the Summit County Prosecutors Office said in a news release. An Akron homeowner fatally stabbed Powe during the break-in at the home on Girard Street near Archwood Avenue, police said. Brown and Powe were armed with guns when they broke into the home about 12:30 a.m. by removing a window air conditioning unit, police said. The homeowner grabbed a knife and stabbed Powe in the chest. Powe and Brown ran out of the home, got into a 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix and drove away, police said. The pair drove nearly five miles to Blanche Street before they called 911, police said. Rowe, 21, died after paramedics took him to Cleveland Clinic Akron General. The homeowner was not charged in connection with the stabbing, Summit County Prosecutor's Office spokesman James Pollack said. Brown has been sentenced to prison at least two other times in Summit County , court records show. He served two years following a 2011 robbery in Akron in which he stole two televisions, a diamond watch and two phones. An Akron police officer injured his ankle chasing and catching Brown in that case, records show. Brown was also sentenced to one year in prison in 2015 after he bought a gun reported stolen in Los Angeles in 1985. Brown then used the gun in a failed attempt at retribution against a man he accused of stealing $900 from him, records show. To comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio - A worker at Cleveland's garbage transfer station has accused the city in a lawsuit of muzzling her free-speech rights by forbidding her from talking publicly about attacks by feral cats and other hazards and harassment on the job. Crystal Jones, a construction operator at the transfer station on Ridge Road sued in federal court on Tuesday, contesting policies that forbid employees from talking with the media and restrict use of social media. The lawsuit contends that the threat of disciplinary action for speaking out violates her constitutional rights. The lawsuit is the second time in less than a week that the city has been accused in court filings of violating workers' speech rights. In the suit, Jones states she has until now feared publicizing workplace issues, including: Problems with raccoons, feral cats and rats getting into the office space at the transfer station and in some cases dropping through the ceiling and attacking workers. Exposure to dangerous and toxic materials, including asbestos, chemicals and animal carcasses. Other conditions that threaten worker health and safety, including inadequate ventilation that causes workers to be exposed to airborne toxins. "Because the city's speech restrictions threaten employees with disciplinary action, any reasonable person would be reluctant to put her job in jeopardy by publicly disclosing information of public concern," the suit says. "Only now, after securing legal counsel, has she concluded that she may safely communicate this information publicly without compromising her livelihood." Jones also contends that she has been subjected to sexual harassment, race-based abuse and denied privileges that male co-workers have enjoyed. After raising her concerns and complaints to supervisors, she was subjected to retaliation, the suit says. A spokesman for Mayor Frank Jackson's administration, Dan Williams, declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing the city's policy of not discussing pending litigation. You can read the lawsuit below, as well as notices to employees about the city policies and a letter Jones drafted that all were filed with as exhibits. Mobile users click here. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for Northern Ohio, names the city and two of Jones' supervisors, Anthony Ludwig and Paul Alcantar, as defendants. Ludwig is the general superintendent of operations for the Division of Waste Collection. Alcantar is the commissioner of that division. Jones asks the court to bar the city from enforcing a 12-year-old policy forbidding employees from talking to the media. She also wants the court to bar enforcement of a citywide social-media policy from 2013 that bans employees from posting "false, harmful, inappropriate, confidential, or proprietary information/media about the City of Cleveland and/or any of the Departments and Divisions." Jones is represented by the Chandra Law Firm. It's founder, Subodh Chandra was Cleveland's law director during Mayor Jane Campbell's administration. That firm also represents Sean DeCrane, who sued in 2016 shortly after leaving the fire department. DeCrane, a former battalion chief, contends the city passed him over for promotions and targeted him for retaliation based on a mistaken belief that he had leaked information about then-Fire Chief Daryl McGinnis lacking the training hours required for him to hold his job. McGinnis was reassigned to non-supervisory duty after cleveland.com reported in 2013 he was short the training hours. He resigned two weeks later. In a motion filed last week, DeCrane's lawyers sought to amend his lawsuit, complaining that after the damaging material was made public, the city enacted policies that barred DeCrane and other fire personnel from talking with the media. The motion contends those policies violate the employees' rights to free speech by barring them from discussing issues of public interest or from criticizing supervisors. Follow me on Facebook. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- An Ohio judge ordered Cuyahoga County to release to cleveland.com a redacted copy of body camera video showing a jail guard attacking a naked female inmate in May 2016. Ohio Court of Claims Judge Patrick McGrath on Thursday adopted a special master's January recommendation that found the county's efforts to shield the video from public release violated the state's open records laws. "We have felt from the start that for the sake of accountability, the public has the right to see this video showing the abusive treatment of a prisoner," Chris Quinn, president and editor of cleveland.com parent company Advance Ohio, said in an emailed statement. "We have never understood the county's refusal to follow the records law in this case and hope this decision reminds the county of its duties involving transparency." A Cuyahoga County spokeswoman said cleveland.com could receive a copy of the video as early as Monday afternoon, and said in an emailed statement that the county refused to release the video "to protect the dignity of the victim of excessive force by a jail corrections office.[sic]." Cleveland.com previously offered to accept a version of the video with the woman's face and body blurred. The county has not released the woman's name to cleveland.com. She was in jail awaiting an order from Lakewood Municipal Court to have her metal competency evaluated, county officials said. "Although the Court of Claims has ordered us to release the video, we are asking you to exercise discretion to protect this unrepresented individual from the possibility of any public humiliation from those in the public who may recognize her despite our efforts to conceal her identity," the statement said. The order is a final rebuke to the months-long effort by Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish's law department to keep the public from seeing the video, which depicted the second of two uses of force that sheriff's department investigators deemed excessive. Corporal Brendan Johnson was fired after the investigation, but ultimately won his job back through arbitration. The county has appealed that decision to the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court. Cleveland.com requested copies of videos from the two use-of-force incidents. The county denied the requests, so cleveland.com brought a lawsuit through a records dispute process established within the Court of Claims in late 2016. The county subsequently gave the organization a redacted copy of one of the incidents, but continued to refuse to release video from the second incident, which the arbitrator found the more troubling of the two. The county has maintained that its efforts to shield the video were to protect the privacy of the inmate, and not Johnson. Cleveland.com offered to accept an edited version of the video blurring the woman's face and body. But lawyers for the county responded to the special master's recommendation by offering cleveland.com a shortened clip of the redacted video. The county lawyers then filed an objection to releasing any of the video when cleveland.com demanded the full video. McGrath said he found "unpersuasive" the county's attempt to use a bill introduced in the Ohio House of Representatives in November -- a bill that has been neither debated or voted out of committee -- to bolster its claim that state lawmakers back the county's position. McGrath also ordered the county to repay a $25 fee a cleveland.com reporter paid to file the pro se lawsuit. To comment on this story, please visit Monday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A brawl Sunday ended with a man being shot in the parking lot of an Old Brooklyn bar, police said. The shooting happened about 1 a.m. Sunday at the Cinema Lounge on Memphis Avenue and West 52nd Street. A 32-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his torso and was listed in critical condition at MetroHealth as of Sunday, according to police reports. No arrests have been made in the case. A fight broke out inside the bar between seven people, according to police reports. Bar employees kicked everyone out and closed the bar for the night, according to police. Once in the parking lot, someone pulled out a gun and fired about five shots, police said. Witnesses reported that people in the parking lot ducked behind their cars when the gunfire erupted. The 32-year-old man yelled: "I'm hit, I'm hit" and staggered to his friend's car, according to police. The man's friends drove him to MetroHealth, according to police reports. An off-duty police officer inside the bar told on-duty officers that he broke up a fight and that one of the people involved stayed inside to get ice for his injuries. He and the bar's owner told investigators they did not hear the gunshots outside the bar, police reports say. To comment on this story, visit Tuesday's crime and courts comments page. MADISON COUNTY, Ohio -- The state of Ohio sued four opioid distributors Monday, accusing them of engaging in unsafe practices that brought a glut of powerful painkillers into a state that is now struggling with an opioid epidemic. The lawsuit filed in Madison County Common Pleas Court claims drug distributors ignored a responsibility to provide effective controls against opioid diversion. The distributors knew the number of painkillers being brought into Ohio far exceeded the number needed for legitimate medical purposes -- an indication some of the drugs were being used improperly, the lawsuit says. "[The distributors] knew the amount of opioids allowed to flow into Ohio far exceeded what could be consumed for medically-necessary purposes, but they did nothing to stop it," Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine said Monday in a news release. "And much like the drug manufacturers who continue to fail to do the right thing, these distributors are doing precious little to take responsibility for their actions and help pay for the damage they have caused." DeWine announced the lawsuit nine months after the state filed another suit that accuses five pharmaceutical manufacturers of fraudulently marketing opioids. The earlier lawsuit is among hundreds of similar suits that states, counties and cities across the U.S. have filed against manufacturers. The 117-page lawsuit filed Monday names McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health and its subsidiaries, AmerisourceBergen Drug Corp. and Miami-Luken as defendants. Prescription drug manufacturers package drugs and send them to distributors. The distributors provide the drugs to hospitals, pharmacies and other healthcare providers who supply patients. Federal and state laws say distributors must take steps to prevent potential abuses of the system -- also known as drug diversion. Diversion could occur through lost or stolen drugs, or fraudulent prescriptions, the lawsuit says. Distributors were negligent and allowed an abundance of drugs to flow into Ohio, despite evidence suggesting drug diversion, the lawsuit says. Statistics show that in 2016 the average Ohio county received 65 painkillers per person, with several counties receiving more than 100 pills "for every man, woman, and child," according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit seeks punitive damages and compensatory damages for the costs Ohio has incurred to address the opioid epidemic. Those costs include spending for healthcare, criminal justice, social services and education, the lawsuit says. The state of Ohio's prior lawsuit targeted drug manufacturers but did not name distributors as defendants. Ohio counties and cities have also filed lawsuits against drug manufacturers. Cuyahoga County officials previously filed a lawsuit that accuses drug companies of intentionally misleading the public about the dangers of opioids to sell more painkillers. Similar lawsuits have been filed in Lake and Lorain Counties. Officials nationwide have said prescription drug abuse is inextricably linked to heroin and fentanyl abuse, and the opioid epidemic that claimed thousands of lives last year in Ohio. In 2016, more than 4,050 people died of unintentional drug overdoses across the state, with many of those being caused by opioids. In 2016, the state led the nation in opioid overdose deaths, with one of every 11 deaths nationwide happening in Ohio, the lawsuit says. To comment on this story, visit Monday's crime and courts comments page. BRECKSVILLE, Ohio--It will take three years and a whole lot of pavement to reunite two bustling highways. The Ohio Turnpike and Infrastructure Commission voted unanimously this morning to award a $56.9 million contract to remake the turnpike's long, complex interchange with Interstate 77 in Brecksville. Work should start in April and end in 2020 on Interchange 173, named for its location 173 miles east of Indiana. Traffic will be squeezed here and detoured there, but no connection will be totally blocked meanwhile. The Elyria office of Kokosing Construction Co. won the contract as the lowest of three bidders, coming in about 11 percent under the projected cost. CT Consultants of Mentor and Solar Testing Laboratories of Brooklyn Heights will also work on the project. Kokosing will start by replacing 2.34 miles of the turnpike's westbound left lane and shoulder. Then it will resurface all lanes and left shoulders in both directions over distances from 5.24 to 8.95 miles. Later this year, it will replace the ramps between the turnpike and southbound I-77, then resurface all the other ramps. End to end, the ramps would run nearly four miles. Next year, workers will replace the turnpike's eastbound center lane, right lane and right shoulder over 4.6 miles. In 2020, they'll do the same work over the same distance westbound. At this morning's meeting, Kokosing's Columbus office, the lower of two contestants on the project's second time out for bids, won a $5.7 million contract, put out to bid for the second time, to repair the Quarry Road bridge and remove a defunct railroad bridge about 1.5 miles west of the Vermillion Valley and Middle Ridge plazas in Lorain County. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Facilities offering addiction treatment programs are among nearly $20 million in Cuyahoga County projects included in the $2.62 billion state capital budget bill introduced Monday. The capital budget funds improvements to roads, schools and public buildings, but community projects tend to hog the spotlight despite comprising a small portion of the budget. In the proposed 2019-20 capital budget, roughly $147 million has been earmarked for theaters, museums and other cultural improvement projects. Of that, $18.3 million were appropriated for projects in Cuyahoga County. The budget also sets aside $222 million for infrastructure to support programs for opioid addiction treatment and related services. "There's some real substance to what we have here in the community projects portion," Senate President Larry Obhof, a Medina Republican, said Monday. Among those earmarked in the bill: $350,000 for Applewood Jones Home renovation and $1 million for a Bellfaire JCB expansion. Sen. Matt Dolan, a Chagrin Falls Republican, said it was important to support those facilities as well as Cleveland's arts community. "If we're going to spend public dollars, I thought this was the year we do the traditional economic programs and the arts but we also look to make sure if we can help out with the opiate crisis, that we do that," Dolan said. Thirteen projects totaling $11.65 million recommended by the Greater Cleveland Partnership made it into the bill: Phase II of Restoring the Irishtown Bend: $2.5 million ($5 million requested) MetroHealth West 25th Street neighborhood innovation: $750,000 ($1.25 million requested) El Mercado business incubator: $100,000 ($250,000 requested) Karamu House $700,000 ($2 million requested) Glenville Arts Campus: $300,000 ($350,000 requested) Cleveland Clinic outpatient children's therapy: $750,000 University Hospitals Harrington Heart & Vascular Institute Advanced Interventional Cardiology Suite: $350,000 Severance Hall Transformation: $1.25 million Reshaping History campaign for Cleveland Museum of Natural History: $2.5 million Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum 2.0 "Remixed and Remastered": $400,000 Playhouse Square Theater improvements: $850,000 Cuyahoga County Mental Health Jail Diversion Treatment Facility: $700,000 Flats East Bank Development (performance stage): $500,000 The capital budget also allocates $13 million for renovations at Cleveland State University and $13.5 million for structural concrete repairs at Cuyahoga Community College. Overall, Senate Bill 266 contains: $600 million for school construction projects $483 million for college and university projects $514 million for local infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges and water-supply systems through the Public Works Commission. $202 million for youth services, developmental disabilities, mental health, addiction treatment and women's health initiatives. $20 million competitively awarded for construction, renovation or expansion of spaces for serving individuals with behavioral-health issues, especially middle and high school-age youth. Obhof said the budget was crafted together with the House and Gov. John Kasich's administration, which he said requested the competitive grants for youth programming. The bill is expected to change little. A companion bill will be introduced in the House. Hearings begin Tuesday, and Obhof expects the legislation to clear both chambers by the end of March. TOLEDO, Ohio -- The suspect in the murder of four people Monday morning in Detroit shot himself after leading police on a chase that ended just outside of Toledo. According to the Detroit Free Press, police say George Anthony Davis Jr., 27, shot and killed two women in their 20s as they sat in their vehicle at a Sunoco gas station in Detroit. One of the victims was the mother of Davis' child, police tell the Free Press. Davis also is accused of shooting and killing a man in his 40s as he pumped gas at the station, reports say. Reports say when Davis ran out of bullets, he reloaded and continued firing. WXYZ Channel 7 identifies the victims at the gas station as Ralphael Hall, a deacon at a Detroit church, his daughter, Cierra Bargineer, 26, and Kristen Thomas, 21. Police tell the Free Press that Davis got into his vehicle, a silver Ford Fusion, and drove to the home of his adult male cousin, shooting and killing him. He then left the area in a different vehicle, a 2007 Nissan Altima. He later changed vehicles again, carjacking a black 2014 Ford Fusion, according to WXYZ. The Ohio State Patrol tells the Toledo Blade that troopers spotted the black Fusion on U.S. 20 near Ohio 420 at 1:38 p.m. The Fusion drove off at a high speed with troopers following. Davis crashed on Interstate 280 near a Pilot Flying J truck stop. Troopers say he ran from the crash, then shot himself. Davis died just before 4 p.m. at Mercy Health St. Vincent Medical Center, the Blade reports. The Free Press reports Davis was released on parole in October 2016 on a conviction for second-degree home invasion in 2008. To comment on this story, visit the crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Two FBI agents and an investigator from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor's Office on Monday afternoon took possession of two computers and a phone from the sixth-floor offices of the Cuyahoga County administration building. The computers and phone were used by two IT administrators named in a recent grand jury subpoena. Mary Louise Madigan, a spokeswoman for County Executive Armond Budish, confirmed late Monday that the items were taken from the offices of Scot Rourke, the county's transformation officer and information officer, and Emily McNeeley, the IT department's general counsel and director of special initiatives. Madigan said the county continues to cooperate fully with investigators. Rourke and McNeeley were named in the January 24, 2018, subpoena and placed on paid leave last week. Corruption investigators are seeking documents dating to Jan. 1, 2016, including emails or letters Rourke and McNeeley may have exchanged with Hyland Software and other companies with county contracts. The subpoena requested "any and all paper or electronic records of access by Scot Rourke and Emily McNeeley to documents related to any contract between Cuyahoga County and the following entities: OneCommunity , OneCleveland, Everstream, DigitalC and Hyland.Software, including, but not limited to Server Access Logs." The subpoena does not say what the investigators suspect nor does it identify specific contracts. Cleveland.com has identified contracts handled either by Rouke or McNeeley, including a $371,570 no-bid contract for Hyland and a $370,975 no-bid contract for OneCommunity. Several years before working for the county, Rourke served as CEO of OneCommunity. McNeeley's spouse, Lisa McNelley, works for Westlake-based Hyland as manager for proposal services and government contracts, according to her LinkedIn page. Rourke and Emily McNeeley have not responded to requests for comment about the investigation. The chief executive officer of Everstream, one of two successor companies to OneCommunity, disclosed Monday that his company has received two subpoenas related to the investigation. Hyland has said it is cooperating with the investigation. NORTH RIDGEVILLE, Ohio -- Roxann Ramsey-Caserio was humble when describing being chosen to head the North Ridgeville City School District. "I was pretty surprised. I know a few of the candidates and they are awesome and talented. It was a surprise, just awesome. I feel blessed and lucky. I thank the Board of Education and the entire community of North Ridgeville for providing me this amazing opportunity," she said. Ramsey-Caserio will officially begin her tenure as superintendent on Aug. 1, as she leaves her position as assistant superintendent in Lakewood. In the meantime, she has a 15-day contract that runs April through July to allow her to have transition activities before Aug. 1. When asked what she will do with that time, she said, "I intend to get in and meet one-on-one with board members, administrators, union leadership and as many people in the community that I can get to get their views on the strengths and challenges and what I need to do to support them in my roles. "A great deal of committees are meeting now for staffing and facilities. I am trying to get a sense of those committees and their work and how I will work with them when I come on board." She was asked if she thinks she might be coming into a situation in which the district personnel are a bit weary from the year-long struggle for a teachers' contract. "No," she said. "I have the opportunity to come in and work with what is in place. No one can predict what things will look like. With collaboration, we can go through things in a positive manner." Going from an assistant superintendent position to her first superintendent's job, she said the tasks remain pretty much the same. "In any position, the challenge of meeting people and building relationships and finding a means to collaborate has to be the priority. As superintendent, collaborating now with board members who may have different views due to being more in touch with everyday people in the community makes it different than for an assistant superintendent. We need to build trust," she said. On differences between the Lakewood school district and North Ridgeville, Ramsey-Caserio said she has done her homework. "I have researched and talked with people, too. It is hard to compare school districts, but I got a good sense throughout the search process. The community is involved and supportive of schools and kids in both districts." One major difference, though, is declining attendance numbers in Lakewood--about 100 students per year, she noted. Attendance in North Ridgeville is on the increase. "This is one of the reasons I was drawn to the opportunity," she said, "for the future." Part of the decline in Lakewood, she said, was the recession, people having fewer children and students transferring to other schools during a massive building process in the schools. "I believe the increase will come around again, though," she said, "but it has helped prepare me to take the next step as a superintendent." Columbus, Ohio - A new bill before the Ohio General Assembly would more than double the state's Motion Picture Tax Credit and would make some Broadway shows eligible for the benefit. Currently at $40 million year, the credit would increase to $100 million annually under House Bill 525, according to Capitol Letter, cleveland.com's daily Statehouse tip sheet. The money is aimed at making Ohio more competitive than other states when Hollywood and Broadway producers scout locations, said the measure's sponsor, Rep. Kirk Schuring, a Canton Republican, who recently visited Broadway with leaders from the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. Schuring is interested in economic development that can come from large film, television and theater productions. Broadway plays and musicals that run in Ohio for at least five weeks, with at least six performances a week, would qualify for the credit under HB 525. So would productions known as "adaptive versions," which show off-Broadway to work out kinks before opening in New York City. Only New York, Chicago and New Hampshire have tax benefits for Broadway productions, said Ivan Schwarz, president and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Film Commission. "What's really nice about this is we will probably have the best incentive in the United States, which will make us more competitive than anybody," he said. Schwarz was on the New York trip with Schuring at the end of last year. They spoke to four Broadway producers who each encouraged the tax credit. If the General Assembly adopts the bill, Cleveland - with the country's second largest theater district, after New York - could get shows that run for up to five months, Schwarz said. Schuring also hopes his bill will create a permanent Ohio workforce in film, TV and live theater - jobs such as lighting experts and stage techs. The tax credit would be distributed twice a year, instead of the current annual award. Schuring said a twice yearly distribution allows the credit to be more flexible to award money as new projects arise. The bill requires applicants to show the positive economic impact their production would have on the state, and productions will receive money based on their impact. As the No. 2 in GOP House leadership, Schuring has an influential role that boosts the bill's chances of being adopted by the General Assembly. Schuring hopes some producers will testify in favor of the bill. "I think we can see more and more of these productions land in Ohio, in particular the Northeast Ohio area," he said. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- One account teases a Democratic governor candidate for his quirky, idiosyncratic tweets. Another, purporting to be run by a state representative candidate's dog, frequently encourages his owner to set him free. They're parody political Twitter accounts, and they're increasingly a semi-official part of the campaign playbook for races across Ohio. Occasionally, a parody Twitter account can be an effective part of a cross-platform campaign strategy. U.S. Sen. Rob Portman's 2016 campaign created an account for "Retread Ted," an anthropomorphic tire that poked fun at Ted Strickland, the former governor and that year's Democratic Senate nominee. Corry Bliss, who ran Portman's campaign that year, said he came up with the idea during a brainstorming session before Strickland had officially declared. "We launched that website literally the day he announced -- the moment he announced," said Bliss, who now runs a national Super PAC backing congressional Republicans. "I think it did a very good job at playfully capturing his candidacy that he was rewriting history, and he was hoping people had forgotten his record." But more often than not, parody accounts are unsanctioned, and are competitive politicos' way of amusing themselves by trolling the opposition. They rarely attract many followers, although those who do follow them tend to be political professionals and journalists. Every so often, like in the case of a top Ohio Republican Party staffer who during the 2016 presidential campaign apologized for making a crudely named account mocking the state campaign director for then-candidate Donald Trump -- the author is uncovered and forced to explain their actions. "They're humorous, and they're ultimately a way for frustrated campaign staffers to blow off some steam," said Matt Borges, the former Ohio Republican Party chairman who himself has been parodied with a fake Twitter account -- and been accused of creating them. "But why anyone would let that get to them is beyond me." Jamie Callender, a former Lake County state representative who's running for his old seat, recently got a call from county Republican Party Chairman Dale Fellows about a fake Twitter account. The account, @BimmerPuppy, is a send-up of Bimmer, the chocolate pitbull-mix owned by Callender's Republican primary opponent, Willoughby Hills Councilman John Plecnik. Its mocking -- and sometimes offensive and vulgar -- tweets often include the hashtag #freebimmer. Arf! Arf! People are starting to see what I have to endure. Im working on trying to understand, @plecnik #TaxProfessors Willoughby Hills LawDirector legislation is antithetical to conservative values. #standby. #FreeBimmer Bimmer the Puppy (@BimmerPuppy) February 25, 2018 The real Bimmer makes frequent appearances in Plecnik's campaign materials. In fact, Plecnik's website describes Bimmer, pronounced "Beamer," as Plecnik's "best friend," and touts "Puppy Polka," a song Plecnik wrote and performed with a local band. "He asked me if I had seen it. I had not," Callender said. Callender said he asked a handful people helping with his campaign, including people working for State Rep. Larry Householder, about the account. (Householder is backing Callender in a primary that's part of a larger battle to pick the next Ohio House speaker.) Callender said making fun of an opponent's pets is "way out of bounds," similar to bringing in an opponent's family. "I think it makes me look bad as much as it makes him look bad," Callender said. "Someone who sees it and doesn't know might think that it's a political thing that my campaign was involved with, and that's bad for my reputation." Plecnik said he suspects Callender or someone close to him is responsible for the account. "I take a little humor in it, because if the best thing they can come up with is 'your dog hates you,' even though there are so many pictures of you taking him for a walk and him hanging out with you... I think it shows they have pretty much nothing to go on," Plecnik said. Another recent brushfire over parody Twitter accounts broke out last week among operatives working for State Rep. Christina Hagan and Anthony Gonzalez, two leading Republican candidates running for Ohio's 16th District congressional seat. Officials with Hagan's campaign posted tweets accusing her primary opponent's campaign manager of running a "sexist" parody account mocking her. They produced a screenshot -- which cleveland.com could not independently authenticate -- showing the account tweeting a selfie featuring Gonzalez campaign manager Tim Lolli and several of his young family members. The account, @Hagan_Not, had been posting messages for weeks mocking Hagan. Among its followers was the official account for Dave Joyce, a Republican congressman from an adjacent district and Ryan Stenger, a politically connected Republican lobbyist from the 16th District. It since has been deleted, as has another account, @hagantwoface. Lolli strongly denied posting the photo, pointing out anyone could have lifted it from his personal Facebook account. He also pointed out the tweeted message that accompanied the photo described it being taken "almost two years ago," when the actual photo was taken and posted nearly three years ago. "Christina Hagan's staff should spend more time trying to revive her failing campaign and less time photoshopping fake tweets," Lolli said in an email. And then there's @JackCordray. The account is a reference to Jack Handey, a humorist made famous in 1990s-era Saturday Night Live segments in which he shared nonsensical aphorisms presented as inspirational, thought-provoking observations. The account pokes fun at Democratic governor candidate Rich Cordray's idiosyncratic, sometimes meandering tweets. Have you ever thought about the word "diner?" It can mean a place, but also a person - and to me, that's a powerful idea. When people think of Ohio, I'd like them to think of the place, but also a person, and I'd like that person to be all of us. Jacques Cordray (@JackCordray) January 9, 2018 Ohio has a unique and pleasing shape, I have always thought. Kind of a pentagon or home plate, with straight sides, a meandering river boundary below, and a partly straight top with a friendly bite mark out of it on the northeast side from Lake Erie. Rich Cordray (@RichCordray) January 9, 2018 A Cordray campaign manager didn't respond to a message seeking comment. But the parody account's 88 followers include Bob Klaffky, a lobbyist who is among Gov. John Kasich's closest advisers, Scott Borgamenke, who plays a similar role with Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted, who now is running for lieutenant governor, and Bill O'Neill, the campaign account for former Ohio Supreme Court justice who's now running for governor as a Democrat. Kevin Bingle, a Republican political consultant who manages Kasich's digital operations, said fake Twitter accounts can be a real problem, like in the instance of Russian-controlled bots that caused havoc during the 2016 presidential campaign. There's also the issue of enthusiastic supporters who claim an affiliation with a campaign while posting unsanctioned content that goes against campaign strategy, like by attacking opponents. "There are people who think they're supporters out there with this kind of stuff, but they're really not being helpful at all," Bingle said. But when it comes to parody Twitter accounts run by political operatives trolling their opponents, Bingle said he barely pays attention. He said fake accounts are allowed under Twitter's policies -- as long as they clearly identify themselves as parodies. "My guess is that these are [run by] younger people who haven't been in the trenches of the campaign enough to know these things hurt more than they help," Bingle said. "I don't know who these people are, but from my vantage point, I generally completely ignore them." Bingle recalled @LegoJohnKasich, which was first active in 2015. "I don't pay attention to it. Although sometimes they're funny," he said. PARMA, Ohio - Mayor Tim DeGeeter's seventh State of the City address was held Monday evening at the Sheet Metal Workers Local #33 Cleveland Training Center on Corporate Drive. "I'm proud when I think of our city's reputation as one of the safest cities for our size, when I think of our diverse and livable neighborhoods, our quality of life, our businesses and our great residents," DeGeeter said. "I'm also proud when I think of what we do here in Parma -- everyone working together for the common purpose of making our city an even stronger community. In difficult times, we've worked together to pull through them." DeGeeter mentioned the rebounding housing market; over the past three years, home values have increased by 25 percent. He said that just last year, they increased 6.6 percent, with the median sales price nearing $107,000. "If you're a prospective home buyer here, you need to act fast," DeGeeter said. "Many homes are on the market for only five days or less. Part of the reason for our improving housing values is that our city had a strong foundation from which to rebuild. "While the home mortgage crisis hit us hard, we still have held a strong 74 percent owner occupation rate. That high percentage of vested homeownership prevented the recession from having an even more devastating impact on our community. This is a testament to our hardworking residents who invested their savings into their homes," DeGeeter said. In terms of financial challenges for the city, DeGeeter referenced Parma losing more than $27 million in state funding since 2009. While the mayor acknowledged a financial challenge to maintain and improve streets and sewers, he touted City Hall's fiscally disciplined and systematic approach, which annually leverages state and federal dollars through low-interest loans and grants. The mayor noted various 2017 projects, which included the city spending more than $6 million. Among the nearly 29 streets resurfaced were West 54th Street, Pleasant Lake Boulevard, Grovewood Avenue and Hoertz Road. "The $1.7 million resurfacing of Day Drive was the most expensive improvement undertaken by the city last year," DeGeeter said. "An example of how we try to leverage outside dollars, the city secured more than $1 million for the project through a grant and a zero-interest loan, saving valuable capital dollars." Toward the end of his address, DeGeeter discussed the Parma City Schools' new-money levy on the May ballot. "As mayor, I'm not only concerned about whether our students receive the resources they need, but I worry about what it means for our city," DeGeeter said. "We're only as a strong as our schools. And we will face significant hurdles in keeping and attracting families to Parma if our district doesn't have adequate resources for educating our kids for the 21st century. "This levy is critical for the future of our schools and our city. Let's continue to provide our kids with the education they deserve." ROCKY RIVER, Ohio - The lakefront, creek and park are the three elements of the "Preferred Plan Review" recently shown to Rocky River residents for the repair and renovation of Bradstreet's Landing. The plan was unveiled Feb. 22 by SmithGroupJJR, the architectural and design company engaged by the city. About 30 residents attended. Jason Stanley, a landscape architect, and David Wolmutt, a civil engineer, were the principal presenters. "Our mission," Stanley said, "is to improve and enhance Bradstreet's Landing." He went on to stress that the goals of the plan are to "clean and preserve the lakefront, maintain visual access to the lake, and improve Spencer Creek and the park." The plan, he said, can be useful to the city in applying for funds for the project. One of three proposed plans for repair and renovation of Bradstreet's Landing in Rocky River. Stanley noted that the creek area is an overgrown woodland with poor water quality in the stream and erosion that has caused the banks to become too steep. "Our strategy is to do some clearing out, opening up more space to the park," he said. The plans include narrowing the creek, with flatter land on each side, which will mean less erosion, he said. On the pedestrian bridge, Wolmutt said there are weak welds, poor erosion control, poor deck attachment and the bridge itself is steeply sloped and needs replacing. Further, it was noted that the bridge, approximately 560 feet in length, has two sections. The one near the shore is older; the farther-out portion of the bridge, built in about 1989 or 1990, is in better shape. Both consultants cautioned that, between the fact that the concrete walkway is not supported underneath and the slope and railings are not Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, there is no choice, in their opinion, but to replace the bridge. The order of events if the goals and strategies are followed would be to obtain the required permits for the bridge and move to preserve the existing beaches without impacting the adjoining properties. Permits, they said, would take about six months to secure. The team then presented renderings of three possible layouts of the overall improvements. The primary additions would include restrooms, parking spaces, trails and open space. A transparent building for meetings and events would border the beach and not interfere with the view of the lake. Questions from residents revolved mainly around aesthetics, access, parking and how certain elements would be accomplished. The overall cost for the project is estimated to be $5 million to $7 million. Mayor Pam Bobst said the landing will stay closed for now, because it is not structurally sound. She said there is already a $350,000 grant that has been received for improvements but "we still need additional resources." In the next several weeks -- probably before summer, she said -- the city should know something more about funding. She also noted that the permitting process can be done at the same time to save time. The next step is for the plan to be presented for City Council approval. Bobst said a guesstimate of a time frame for a realistic reopening of the area is spring of 2019. SHAKER HEIGHTS, Ohio -- City Council has approved a $100,000 Vision Fund forgivable loan that will allow a consulting and engineering firm to move into Tower East. The Mannik & Smith Group, with 30 employees currently in Beachwood, has signed a 10-year lease with E2G Properties for about 8,100 square feet of space on the fifth floor of the tallest building in the city. City Economic Development Director Tania Menesse said that the local income taxes from MSG should cover the $100,000 up-front cash infusion within three years. From there, the city expects to collect another $240,000 in wage taxes over the next decade. The city established the Vision Fund in 2010 as a response to market imbalances and competitive lease rates. So far, there have been 11 loans, although two -- Le Chaperon Rouge and Shaker Rocks -- have not been disbursed yet. "The Vision Fund is the catalyst that made this deal possible," MSG Senior Vice President and Cleveland Office Principal in Charge Mark Smoley told City Council Monday. "You're bringing quite a value to us, and we really like what's happening in the Van Aken District." Resident Sara Schiavoni expressed concern that only $105,000 remains uncommitted in the Vision Fund -- especially if the city is trying to entice a grocery store into the Van Aken District after The Fresh Market pulled up stakes. Menesse explained that the Vision Fund targets businesses that will bring wage taxes to town, while a project on the former Qua site -- where the new Fresh Market was proposed -- would qualify as a Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) and for Tax Increment Financing (TIF's). "We're using different tools there," Menesse said. Shaker Chief Administrative Officer Jeri Chaikin noted that the city still has about $2.3 million in its Economic Development fund. So far, the nine Vision Fund loans made for a total of $262,000 have stabilized office buildings and yielded $555,000 for the city to date, "so we've seen a 2:1 return on the city's funds," Menesse added. Councilman Sean Malone, who chairs the Finance Committee, said that some of the Vision Fund loans will generate positive returns for the city when portions of the Van Aken District start opening up later this year. At the same time, the arrival of MSG will bring Tower East close to maximum capacity, Malone added. Smoley said there are also plans for the company to build out another 3,000 square feet there and add seven more employees in three years. Mayor Earl Leiken called it a "two-for-one deal, with a great new business coming to Shaker, as well as strengthening Tower East." Smoley said that his firm is paying more to move into Tower East and Shaker, "but it's specifically for the neighborhood," with walkability, restaurants, retail and transit options. The company offers a full array of consulting services for both the public and private sectors, with more than 310 employees across 11 offices in Ohio and Michigan. The measure was passed unanimously on first reading Monday (Feb. 26) as an emergency, so that building plans can be submitted as soon as possible. LAKEWOOD, Ohio - Buckeye Beer Engine in Lakewood is celebrating its 11th anniversary by giving back to the community. From March 1-18, patrons can purchase individualized taps, mugs, growlers and kegs to paper the walls of the draft beer bar. Prices range from $1 to $100. Purchases of growlers and kegs include a chance to win one of four $50 Beer Engine gift cards. Beer Engine will donate all money raised during the anniversary campaign to Lakewood Charitable Assistance Corp. and, in addition, pledges to match the week's earnings up to $4,000. Located at 15315 Madison Ave., Lakewood, the Beer Engine has two beer hand pumps, also known as a beer engine, hence its name. The beer is pumped from a cask in the basement cellar to the bar upstairs. I'm not a beer drinker or expert, but Beer Engine management says that cask beer is naturally carbonated and unfiltered. In addition to the casks, there are 27 quality drafts and a variety of bottles available. LCAC's volunteer board, assisted by hundreds of event volunteers, provides food and cleaning supplies for more than 750 disadvantaged families and seniors each year. Since its inception, LCAC has provided more than 5,000 Lakewood families with holiday food bags at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Visit lcac.info for more information on the nonprofit organization. Wearin' of green: Margaret Lynch, a resident of Cleveland's West Park neighborhood and executive director of the Irish American Archives Society, will share the story of Cleveland's St. Patrick's Day parade during a special program at 7 p.m. March 5 at the Fairview Park Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library. The parade, which has taken place on St. Patrick's Day for more than 175 years, was the subject of a book that was produced last year by the IAAS and the United Irish Societies of Greater Cleveland, "The Day We Celebrate: 175 Years of Cleveland's St. Patrick's Day Parade." Registration is requested for Lynch's program. To register, visit cuyahogalibrary.org or call the Fairview Park Branch, 440-333-4700. Chili champ: Lakewood resident Jim Mattson took the best chili honors at the Feb. 24 chili cook-off at the new Good Soil Lutheran Ministries' Rocky River campus (formerly Our Savior's Lutheran Church). Mattson tells me this is the second time he has entered the chili cookoff and his first win. His award-winning entry was "2-Alarm Chili." It was one of nine chili recipes available for tasting and voting after the inaugural service celebrating the consolidation of Faith Lutheran Church in Lakewood and Our Savior's in Rocky River as Good Soil Lutheran Ministries, They're back: Dover Players are back on stage after a 15-month hiatus. The popular community theater group lost its performance space at North Olmsted's Old Town Hall and has been searching for a new venue ever since. The group will present an original interactive jury trial murder mystery by Greg Lavelle, "A Question of Guilt - State v. Davis," March 2-4, 9-11 and 16-18 at North Olmsted United Methodist Church, 4600 Dover Center Road, North Olmsted. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 3 p.m. Sunday matinees. Lavelle also directs the show. Admission is $5. For more information, call Linda Little, 440-782-0095, or email doverplayers@gmail.com for reservations. A new start: Two printing firms -- Cleveland-based American Speedy Printing Center and Curry Copy Center of Lakewood -- have merged under a new name, Allegra Marketing Print Mail. The combined businesses are consolidated at the new Allegra location, 23545 Lorain Road, North Olmsted. The firm provides expanded strategic marketing planning, graphic design, printing and web-based marketing solutions. Leigh Ann Romaine is Allegra's business development manager, She said in addition to marketing consultation and graphic design services, Allegra features advanced printing technologies including full-color printing, signs, posters and banners, complete finishing services, mailing services, variable data capabilities, promotional products and print management solutions. The firm is independently owned and operated and is a member of Alliance Franchise Brands network. For more information about Allegra, visit allegraclevelandwest.com or call 440- 777-7375. Monthly meeting: The Cleveland Police First District Community Relations Committee will have its monthly member meeting at 7 p.m. March 1 in the cafeteria at St. Ignatius of Antioch School, 10205 Lorain Ave., Cleveland. Those attending are asked to bring canned goods or household products such as toilet paper peroxide to donate to St. Ignatius. For more information, call Tammy L. Hanna, Community Relations Board, 216-664-6634. Artwork sought: North Olmsted Arts Commission is seeking about 25 pieces of original artwork with a nature theme for the City Hall Art Gallery exhibit in May. Any two-dimensional work in oil, watercolor, pastel, colored pencil, ink, paper and photography will be considered. Submissions are due March 9. Contact James Aspery, 440-716-4135, for more information. Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Fairview Park, Lakewood, North Olmsted and West Park for the A Place in the Sun column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- First Rajai Davis, now Mike Napoli. The Indians really are putting the band back together again. Napoli and the Indians have agreed to a minor league deal based on him passing a physical. It appears this is more of a favor to get the popular Napoli into camp and possibly get him a job with another team because he currently does not fit on the Tribe's roster. In 2016, Napoli helped the Indians reach the World Series by hitting .239 (133-for-557) with 34 homers and 101 RBI. He set a single-season strikeout record for the Tribe with 194. Napoli, 36, was scheduled to arrive in Phoenix on Tuesday to take his physical. If he passes, he could begin workouts as soon as Wednesday. Last season Napoli played for Texas. He hit .193 (82-for-425) with 29 homers and 66 RBI. He struck out 166 times. As much as Napoli is respected throughout the Indians' organization, unless there is an injury in camp, it's hard to see him winning a spot on the 25-man roster. The Indians signed first baseman Yonder Alonso to a two-year $16 million deal in December. Alonso, a left-handed hitter, might not play against all left-hander, but DH Edwin Encarnacion is expected to replace him in those situations. It would be a similar situation as 2016 when Napoli and departed Carlos Santana shared the DH and first base roles. Napoli is one of many free agents who have been frozen out of big league camps this winter. In the last several days, the Indians have signed relievers Carlos Torres and Matt Belisle, who were in a similar position. In 2016, Napoli set career highs in homers, RBI and strikeouts. He was an all or nothing swinger and made no apologizes for it. He once told Cleveland reporters, "I'm not up there trying to hit singles." Napoli also set career highs in games, at-bats and plate appearances that year. That seemed to take a toll on him as he hit .173 (9-for-52) in the postseason as the Indians lost the World Series to the Cubs in seven games. On Feb. 19, the Indians signed Davis to a minor league deal. Davis and Napoli were teammatesa on the Indians in 2016. Davis led the AL in stolen bases that year with 43. Ballston Spa, N.Y. Sean P. Flaherty, the former executive director of the Clifton Park Senior Citizens Center, was indicted last week by the Saratoga District Attorneys office on four felony charges related to alleged monetary thefts from the organization totaling more than $50,000. Flaherty was arrested by New York State Police on many of the same charges in March of last year. He appeared in Clifton Park Town Court at that time facing misdemeanor charges for the alleged thefts. At his first appearance in town court on April 6, 2016, Flaherty pleaded not guilty to the charges before Clifton Park Town Judge Robert Rybak. At the time, Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen said due to the amounts alleged to have been stolen she did not foresee the case being settled in town court. The Feb. 20 indictment is the result of the investigation by her office. The district attorneys indictment charges Flaherty, 42, with grand larceny in the second degree, three counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, four counts of offering a false instrument for filing in the first degree, and four counts of criminal tax fraud in the fourth degree. All four charges are felonies of varying degrees. Flaherty is to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Feb. 28 in Saratoga County Court. He is being represented in his court appearances by attorney Ryan Cooke of Troy. In the original law enforcement complaint that triggered his arrest, Flaherty was accused of providing 15 falsified balance sheets to the senior centers board of directors between January 2013 and September 2016 in order to conceal the theft of funds. In depositions given to the state police as part of the initial investigation, Senior Center board officials in December 2016 said in early December of that year they discovered a number of financial irregularities in the management of the center. Those irregularities, they told the state police, included payroll payments not clearing banks, vendors going unpaid, and unauthorized withdrawals from the centers bank account from 2013 to 2016 totaling $140,637.71. Letters to the center from the U.S. Treasury Department were also discovered indicating the center had incurred approximately $50,000 to $100,000 in payroll tax liens. In a later balance sheet review, the boards treasurer, Roger Greenwood, told state police he had not found a single balance sheet provided by Flaherty that matched the banks statements. Among the unauthorized charges noted in the deposition to the state police by Greenwood were car payments to Wells Fargo, Time Warner Cable for a private home, Priceline hotels, personal credit card payments, Southwest Airlines, Carnival Cruise lines, Sprint, Stub Hub, ATM withdrawals, and ATM withdrawals at the Saratoga Racino. The building which housed the senior center has long been owned by the town. The centers operation and programming was taken over by the Town of Clifton Park in December 2016. The name has been changed to the Clifton Park Senior Community Center, 6 Clifton Common Court, Clifton Park. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. Respiratory Inhaler Devices Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023 Global Respiratory Inhaler Devices Market: By Product Type (Metered Dose Inhaler, Nebulizer, Dry Powder Inhaler), By Technology (Manually Operated Inhalers, Digitally Operated Inhalers), By Disease Indication (Asthma, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension, Others), By Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacies, Retail Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies), and Geography Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2023 Market Outline: Respiratory Inhaler Devices Market Respiratory inhaler devices are the medical devices that deliver the medication to prevent or control the chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and other respiratory disorders. Various types of respiratory inhaler devices are available in the market such as metered dose inhaler, dry powder inhaler, and nebulizer. Market Dynamics: Respiratory Inhaler Devices Market Increase in the prevalence of COPD, asthma, and other respiratory disorder, technological advancements in respiratory inhaler devices, rapid industrialization and rise in smoking population are anticipated to fuel the market. Moreover, ease of administration of drug with respiratory inhaler devices, cost-effective of the products, and growing newborn babies and geriatric population who often exposed to one or the other respiratory disorders are anticipated to boost the respiratory inhaler devices market over the forecast period. However, adverse effects associated with drug inhalation, product recalls, lack of single effective inhalers for all types of disease, and lack of awareness about respiratory inhalers in underdeveloped countries expected to hamper the growth of respiratory inhaler devices market over the forecast timeframe. A sample of this report is available upon request @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/respiratory-inhaler-devices-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx Market Scope: Respiratory Inhaler Devices Market Respiratory inhaler devices market is segmented based on the product type, technology, disease indication, and distribution channel Based on the product type, the market is segmented into the following: Metered Dose Inhaler Nebulizer Dry Powder Inhaler Based on the technology, the market is segmented into the following: Manually Operated Inhalers Digitally Operated Inhalers Based on the disease indication, the market is segmented into the following: Asthma Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Others Based on the distribution channel, the market is segmented into the following: Hospital Pharmacies Retail Pharmacies Online Pharmacies To view TOC of this report is available upon request @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/respiratory-inhaler-devices-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu Market Summary: Respiratory Inhaler Devices Market Escalation in the number of industries led to an abnormal increase in environmental pollution that causes respiratory diseases such as COPD and asthma might propel the respiratory inhaler devices market. According to World Health Organization approximately 3 Mn deaths were observed in 2015 around the globe. Increase in the tobacco consumption majorly in middle and low income countries may causes respiratory disorders and which in turn drive the respiratory inhaler devices market. Moreover, most of the market players are focusing on the development of newer respiratory inhaler devices which are more convenient for drug administration. Furthermore, acquisitions and mergers, product approvals, and product launchings are the strategies followed by market players for garnering larger revenue share in respiratory inhaler devices market. For instance, in April 2016, AstraZeneca received FDA approval for Bevepsi Aeresphere (glycopyrrolate and formoterol fumarate) inhalation aerosol used in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In addition, in January 2016, Novartis AG collaborated with Qualcomm, Inc. for the innovation of digital technology for Breezhaler inhaler used in the treatment of COPD. Regional Analysis: Respiratory Inhaler Devices Market Geographically, global respiratory inhaler devices market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East and Africa. North America respiratory inhaler devices market is growing due to increase in the prevalence of respiratory disorders such as COPD (according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2014, approximately 15.7 Mn Americans were diagnosed with COPD), high awareness about the respiratory inhalers, and technological advancements in the devices are anticipated to fuel the market. Europe respiratory inhaler devices market driven by increase in the prevalence of respiratory disorders such as COPD and asthma majorly in Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, and Portugal, adoption of newer respiratory inhaler devices, and expansion of business by market players in the region. For instance, in November 2015 Sandoz launched AirFluSal Forspiro in UK. Asia Pacific respiratory inhaler devices market has a lucrative growth, which is attributed to increase in geriatric and newborn population, rise in health awareness, and growing pollution due to rapid industrialization in the region. Latin America respiratory inhaler devices market is poised to grow at significant rate owing to product approval in Latin America region. For instance, in August 2014, Sandoz received Mexicos Health Authority (COFEPRIS) approval for the marketing of Airflusal Forspiro used in COPD. Middle East and Africa respiratory inhaler devices market driven by product launchings by the market players in Africa region. For instance, in January 2017, Cipla launched respiratory inhaler Synchrobreathe in South Africa. Moreover, increase in tobacco consumption and increase in pollution due to increasing the number of industries are anticipated to boost the market in the region. Need more information about this report @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/respiratory-inhaler-devices-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 Competition Assessment: Respiratory Inhaler Devices Market Some of the players in the global respiratory inhaler devices market include: Cipla Ltd. (India) Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (Bangladesh) Merck & Co., Inc. (U.S.) GlaxoSmithKline plc (U.K.) AstraZeneca plc (U.K.) Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH (Germany) Koninklijke Philips N.V. (Netherlands) Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (Israel) OMRON Healthcare Europe B.V. (Netherlands) Novartis AG (Switzerland) PARI Medical Holding GmbH (Germany) Get access to full summary @ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/respiratory-inhaler-devices-market/ 100% Website saotn.org uses latest and advanced technologies like: WebFonts. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 185548 bytes (181.20 kb uncompressed) and 27737 bytes (27.09 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2020-11-28, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. Profits from bloodshed The military-industrial complex is beginning to dominate Australias national policy, just as it does in the United States. Last month the Turnbull government announced a massive $3.8 billion funding injection for Australias arms industries. Carefully avoiding the word profit, Malcolm Turnbull claimed this strategy is all about job creation and the funding will make Australian defence exports among the best in the world. The announcement received widespread condemnation. Tim Costello, CEO of World Vision, said it was inexcusable for Australia to export death and profit from bloodshed. Fairfax journalist Zac Rayson commented: By selling arms we do not build peace but undermine it. Author and interfaith minister Reverend Stephanie Dowrick commented: ... the issue here is far less about job creation than it is about which industries the government ... wishes to support. ... This is where a government ... most accurately reveals itself. ... The weapons industries lack accountability, transparency, moral and social value. They thrive in the ... expectation of deadly conflict. Their cost to the worlds social or environmental environments is incalculable. There are many sectors in Australia ... that produce jobs and social benefits ... [Major investments] in land and agricultural regeneration, ... high-tech research and manufacturing, ... renewable energy, the arts, community development, health and education ... would undoubtedly pay employment dividends while ... boosting our social and moral well-being. Under the governments plan, the budget of the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC), which to date has boosted non-military industrial production and export, will now quadruple to facilitate the development of weapons production. The EFICs rarely-used National Interest Account, which to date has involved international loans with financial commitments ... too large for our balance sheet, and risks too high for normal commercial transactions, will receive $3.8 billion for loans to weapons producers. Thats more than 77 times bigger than last years $49.2 million loan from EFIC to One Steel Manufacturing for upgrading its Whyalla iron ore mines. Bisalloy condemned for supplying armour steel for Israeli military vehicles Protest outside of Bisalloy company on February 23, a combination of Wollongong University Students, Greens, Pro Palestine Groups and CPA Maritime members gathered to condemn this company for assisting the Israeli military to oppress the Palestinians. The company has been given a boost by the federal governments new fund to assist selling weapons to foreign companies. The 51st state Last week US President Donald Trump announced that his administration will name a new warship The Canberra, as a tribute to the close military relationship between the US and Australia. US warships are usually named after a revered historical figure or a place in the US. Giving the new warship the same name as Australias national capital indicates that the United States in effect regards Australia as a new state of the union or perhaps a subject territory. The servile attitude of successive Australian governments has contributed to this. No Australian Prime Minister has refused to participate in US-instigated wars since Gough Whitlam unilaterally withdrew Australian troops from Vietnam in 1973 and was subsequently ejected from office with the connivance of the CIA. Last month, in a 180-degree policy shift, Trump launched the buy American plan, which involves redrafting US legislation to permit sales of weapons to states with appalling human rights records and the open participation of the Pentagon, the State Department and US embassies in arms sales. An administration official said: We want to see those [embassy] guys, the commercial and military attaches, unfettered, to be salesmen for this stuff, to be promoters. US national security analyst Ralph Stohl commented: Human rights have taken a back seat to economic concerns. So have democracy, diplomacy and peaceful international relations! Beset by massive debts, the US government also wants to transfer the burden of military expenditure to its allies. In a masterpiece of euphemistic spin, an administration official recently declared the buy American plan gives our partners a greater capacity to help share the burden of international security ... Our partners includes Australia. But the obscene growth in Australias military expenditure and the massive subsidy for the arms industry will impoverish the nation. Moreover, the Turnbull governments servile relationship with the US is threatening our relationship with China, which has replaced the US as our major trading partner, but which the US regards as one of its principal enemies. The US wants weapons production to dominate the Australian economy, and in this has the Turnbull governments full co-operation, as demonstrated vividly in the obscene super-funding of the EFIC to transform it into a major instrument for weapons production. The remodelling of Australia in the image of the US, devoted to arms production and never-ending warfare, is Australias role as US deputy sheriff in the region as former PM, the war criminal, John Howard so succinctly put it. As a first step, at the coming federal election, which will be called, ahead of schedule, later this year, the Turnbull government needs to be given the boot. Booklet Review The Great October Socialist Revolution This lavishly illustrated full colour booklet celebrates the 100th anniversary of the revolution in Russia. It says of this great event, which marked a turning point in world history that: The revolution changed forever our understanding of what ordinary men and women can and did to achieve in building a nationalised planned economy, liberating women and oppressed minorities, providing employment, education, health, housing and cultural opportunities for all members of society. An alternative to capitalism had emerged as it proved possible to run society without capitalists, without inequalities, without exploitation and poverty. At packed meetings in Sydney and Adelaide addresses were given about the revolution by Comrades Warren Smith, Paul McAleer and Hannah Middleton. These have been collected along with a joint statement by the Communist Party of Australia and the Communist Party of Australia Marxist Leninist. The volume is rounded off by an article written in 2007 about the impact of the revolution on Australia. In the darkest hour of World War II, the 25th anniversary of the revolution fell. Urged to drop the commemoration Soviet leader Josef Stalin persisted that it had to go ahead. A group of Soviet partisans living behind enemy lines in the forests of Ukraine celebrated by blowing up a Nazi train and a bridge. They then retreated to their forest hideout and erected an aerial so their radio could pick up the broadcast of the commemoration. The revolution has continued to inspire to this day. Such a significant event in world history cannot be treated lightly and the CPA Maritime has done us proud in producing this book A Contribution to the 100th Anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution. It is an impressive publication with full colour illustrations and historical photos. This a booklet to purchase and cherish. It costs $10 plus p&p and can bought by contacting peace@mira.net Taking Issue Rob Gowland The future of war In his documentary feature film about the Vietnam War, Far From Vietnam, Chris Marker observes that the US was waging a rich mans war while the Vietnamese were waging a poor peoples war. Aircraft launched from fleets of carriers located off-shore or from bases in Japan, pounded the country indiscriminately. Bombers flying so high people on the ground couldnt hear them simply flew to positions fixed by radar and released their enormous loads of bombs on targets they couldnt even see. If we think that remote warfare is the way to go because it kills neither our people nor innocent civilians, then we are deluding ourselves. They were supported by tens of thousands of boots on the ground and fleets of attack helicopters. The Vietnamese, however, dug tunnels and sheltered in caves, emerging to strike at the invader with deadly effect. To the irritation of US imperialism, despite their overwhelming fire power, there was a constant parade of body bags arriving in the US from the Vietnam conflict. The Pentagon has sought ever since for ways to destroy the people the USA deems its enemies without visibly putting lots of Americans into body bags. Not from humanitarian concerns you realise, but purely because it is bad PR: it makes it difficult to openly pursue the goal of developing the American empire. Instead, the Pentagon has insisted with only limited success that the countries it is defending put their own troops in harms way and it has also insisted that its allies play a bigger role in the conflicts it undertakes. But most importantly, it has enthusiastically taken up the concept of waging remote warfare. As Paul Rogers, professor in the department of peace studies at Bradford University, in northern England explains, This has mainly involved a much more intensive use of air-power, including armed-drones; the utilisation of long-range artillery and ground-launched ballistic-missiles; and the much wider use of special-forces and privatised military corporations. Why the emphasis on special-forces and the private sector? Because casualties among special-forces are seldom if ever reported while casualties among the personnel of private security firms are largely ignored. This effectively limits the possibilities for negative coverage in the mass media. This is most welcome by capitalist governments anxious to pursue offensive wars, their preferred method of ensuring they have a level playing field in which to get on with the job of continuing to accumulate profits. Already the media coverage were getting seriously downplays or disguises the scale of present military activity. George W Bush effectively declared victory in Afghanistan on January 29, 2002, yet the war in Afghanistan has just entered its 17th year, making it the USAs longest-running war. Whats more, did you know that the US Air Force is on track to triple the number of bombs dropped in Afghanistan this year compared with last year (Rogers again)? No, neither did I. And yet, a three-fold increase in the US bombload being dropped on any country is surely significant news? In fact, from the lack of media coverage, you would have thought that that particular conflict was actually dying down somewhat. Foolish? Well, not really, but definitely gullible. In actual fact, there has been a substantial build-up of US forces in Afghanistan accompanied by an equally substantial increase in the US use of air-power and armed-drones in that country since Trump took office. Professor Rogers notes that Operation Jagged Knife, a recent offensive by the US air-force, included B-52 strategic bombers and for the first time in Afghanistan the advanced F-22 stealth strike-aircraft. Once again it seems we have a rich mans war being waged against poor people in a Third World country. There the similarity ends, of course, although the US appears to be having as little success in Afghanistan as it had in Vietnam. On May 1, 2003, George W Bush (again) gave his mission accomplished speech after the overthrow of the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq. The US however was more interested in seizing control of Iraqs oil than in establishing a popular democratic regime there. (After all, Saddam had been the USAs man in Iraq until he started to seriously consider retaining the countrys oil revenue for Iraq itself.) The result was invasion and the execution of Saddam, which led to an insurgency that has caused much death and destruction and enabled US creation ISIS to break loose and take over a large part of the country. Ironically, in 2008, when Barack Obama was elected, the war in Iraq looked sufficiently under control for him to order wholesale troop withdrawals. But since 2014, the US has again been at war in the country. Similarly, in 2011, NATO chiefs bombed Libya into the ground and murdered its leader Muammar Gaddafi but the forces they supported then now engage in a three-way civil war while patriotic forces seek to organise resistance. Meanwhile, the Pentagon has quietly increased its forces in Somalia [yes, US forces are also waging war in Somalia] by adding several hundred special-forces troops and lots more airstrikes. Pentagon propaganda points to the more recent defeat of ISIS as proof that its policies work, but the most powerful blows against ISIS were struck by Russia and the Syrian army. The Pentagon claims that it has killed over 60,000 ISIS fighters since 2014, every victim of its military action in the region apparently being classified as an ISIS fighter. Tellingly, however, despite inflicting carnage on such a scale, the Pentagon acknowledges fewer than 500 civilian casualties, a laughable figure. The high-tech rich mans war that failed in Vietnam is not only still being pursued by the US but has been rendered even more high-tech and is being touted as the future in warfare (oh, boy!). It will certainly generate huge profits for the armaments and aero-space industries, while its dependency on private or semi-private special forces opens up yet another source of profit for private enterprise. In this Trumpian worldview, clean wars will be the order of the day. But a closer look exposes the dangerous myth of the clean war. Professor Paul Rogers notes that Airwars, the monitoring group, finds the US-led wars in Iraq and Syria have involved over 28,000 airstrikes, split more or less evenly between the two countries, using over 103,000 bombs and missiles. Airwars has done its best to assess the likelihood of civilian casualties, and currently puts these at a minimum of around 6,000 far larger than any Pentagon figures. Professor Rogers also notes that, Where Iraq is concerned, Iraq Body Count says that over 179,000 civilians have died in the last 15 years. In November 2017, The New York Times published a long report by Azmat Khan and Anand Gopal titled The Uncounted, that also sought to ascertain the real extent of the casualties caused by US operations in Iraq. Over a 14-month period to July 2017, they visited 150 sites of attacks across northern Iraq, and interviewed hundreds of witnesses, survivors and family members. We found that one in five of the coalition strikes we identified resulted in civilian death, a rate more than 31 times that acknowledged by the coalition. It is at such a distance from official claims that, in terms of civilian deaths, this may be the least transparent war in recent American history. Professor Rogers warns, If we think that remote warfare is the way to go because it kills neither our people nor innocent civilians, then we are deluding ourselves. But capitalism thrives on self-delusion. It is what enables capitalists and especially their dependent politicians to say with total conviction that they stand for democracy and free speech, or that cutting corporate taxes will create jobs for ordinary people. However, there is an old saying that applies to capitalisms fondness for deluding the people: You can fool some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time! A US epidemic Donald Trump has been short and sweet in his response to the tragic shooting in Parkland Florida that saw 17 students and teachers gunned down by a right-wing white supremacist. First he repeated his long-held opinion that it isnt yet time to discuss gun control. That opinion is probably much to do with the huge stream of funding coming to him and his supporters from the National Rifle Association (NRA). They are busy campaigning to arm and train teachers in gun use. They say more guns in schools would make schools safer. Their slogan is, The best way to stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun. Trump supports the NRA as much as it supports him. He says the shootings are not a gun problem but a mental health problem. He ignores the fact that, in countries where guns are far more difficult to obtain, the mentally ill find it far more difficult to actually kill and injure people. This is the same kind of demented Trump logic that says anyone attacking civilians with guns or bombs who is black or Muslim is a terrorist whereas, if they are white, Christian and even a white supremacist, then they cant be a terrorist, just mentally ill. Our comparative figures for school shootings in Britain and the US are remarkably revealing. On one hand the history of school shootings in Britain is very short. On March 13, 1996, the Dunblane massacre took place at Dunblane Primary School, near Stirling, Scotland. Thomas Hamilton killed 16 children and one teacher before committing suicide. The Dunblane shooting led to the banning of handguns in private possession in Britain. There have been no school killings and only one spree killing, in Hungerford on August 19, 1987, since Dunblane. In contrast here is a list of shootings at elementary, middle and high schools in the US that have resulted in fatalities in the last 20 years. This list does not include suicides, gang-related incidents or deaths resulting from interpersonal conflicts. February 14, 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Florida. Expelled student white supremacist Nikolas Cruz kills 17 and injures 14 more with an AR-15 rifle. January 23, 2018 Marshall County High School, Benton, Kentucky. A 15-year-old student shoots two dead and injures 18 others. The suspect is arrested. December 7, 2017 Aztec High School, Aztec, New Mexico. William Atchison, a former student, shoots and kills Casey Marquez, Francisco Fernandez and himself. September 13, 2017 Freeman High School, Spokane, Washington. One student killed and three injured by a second-year student. April 10, 2017 North Park Elementary School, San Bernardino, California. Eight-year-old special needs student and his teacher killed by a teachers estranged husband. Two other students injured and the gunman kills himself. September 28, 2016 Townville Elementary School, Greenville, South Carolina. A 14-year-old opens fire in playground after shooting his father dead. One student dies, two pupils and one teacher are injured. October 24, 2014 Marysville-Pilchuck High School, Marysville, Washington. Freshman Jaylen Fryberg shoots five people in the school cafeteria, killing four. Fryberg shoots himself at the scene. June 10, 2014 Reynolds High School, Troutdale, Oregon. Jared Padget, 15, shoots Emilio Hoffman, 14, in the school gym. He later takes his own life. December 13, 2013 Arapahoe High School, Centennial, Colorado. Karl Pierson, 18, opens fire inside, critically injuring one student, who dies eight days later, then killing himself. October 21, 2013 Sparks Middle School, Sparks, Nevada. Twelve-year-old Jose Reyes takes his parents handgun to school and shoots three. Two students are injured, one teacher killed. Reyes then kills himself. December 14, 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School, Newtown, Connecticut. Adam Lanza guns down 20 children aged six to seven and six adult staff before turning the gun on himself. Police later find gun collector Nancy Lanza, Adams mother, dead from a gunshot wound. The final count is 28 dead, including the shooter. February 27, 2012 Chardon High School, Chardon, Ohio. Student Student TJ Lane, 17, kills six, with others wounded when another opens fire in the school. Lane gets a life sentence but has already escaped once. January 5, 2011 Millard South High School, Omaha, Nebraska. Seventeen-year-old Robert Butler Jr opens fire on principal Curtis Case and vice-principal Vicki Kasper. Butler then kills himself. Kasper later dies. February 5, 2010 Discovery Middle School, Madison, Alabama. Fourteen-year-old Todd Brown dies after being shot in the head in a school hallway by fellow ninth-grader Hammad Memon. August 21, 2008 Central High School, Knoxville, Tennessee. Fifteen-year-old Jamar Siler shoots and kills 15-year-old Ryan McDonald. January 3, 2007 Henry Foss High School, Tacoma, Washington. Student Douglas Chanthabouly, 18, fatally shoots another student. October 2, 2006 Georgetown Amish School, Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. Thirty-two-year-old Charles Roberts IV goes to a small Amish school and takes at least 11 girls hostage. Five girls were killed and six others wounded. Roberts then kills himself. September 29, 2006 Weston High School, Cazenovia, Wisconsin. Eric Hainstock, 15, shoots and kills the school principal. September 27, 2006 Platte Canyon High School, Bailey, Colorado. Fifty-four-year-old Duane Morrison takes six female students hostage. When Swat teams enter the school, Morrison shoots 16-year-old Emily Keyes. Morrison then kills himself. Keyes later dies at the hospital. November 8, 2005 Campbell County Comprehensive High School, Jacksboro, Tennessee. Fifteen-year-old Kenneth Bartley Jr opens fire on a principal and two assistant principals, killing one of them and critically wounding another. He is already out of jail. March 21, 2005 Red Lake High School, Red Lake, Minnesota. Sixteen-year-old Jeff Weise kills his grandfather and another adult, five students, a teacher and a security officer. He then kills himself. September 24, 2003 Rocori High School, Cold Spring, Minnesota. Fifteen-year-old Jason McLaughlin shoots and kills 17-year-old Aaron Rollins and critically injures another student. The second student dies in October. April 24, 2003 Red Lion Area Junior High School, Red Lion, Pennsylvania. Fourteen-year-old James Sheets brings a revolver to school and kills his principal Eugene Segro and then himself. March 5, 2001 Santana High School, Santee, California. Fifteen-year-old Charles Andy Williams kills two classmates, a 14-year-old and a 17-year-old, and injures 13. May 26, 2000 Lake Worth Community Middle School, Lake Worth, Florida. Thirteen-year-old Nathaniel Brazill, after being sent home for misbehaving, returns to school and shoots and kills his teacher. February 29 2000 Buell Elementary School, Mount Morris Township, Michigan. An unnamed six-year-old boy shoots and kills a six-year-old playmate, Kayla Rolland, at school. He is removed from his mothers custody and put up for adoption. November 19, 1999 Deming Middle School, Deming, New Mexico. Twelve-year-old Victor Cordova shoots and kills a 13-year-old classmate. April 20, 1999 Columbine High School, Littleton, Colorado. Eric Harris, 18, and Dylan Klebold, 17, kill 12 fellow students and one teacher before killing themselves. May 21, 1998 Thurston High School, Springfield, Oregon. After killing his parents the previous day, 15-year-old Kip Kinkel returns to Thurston High armed with a rifle. He kills two students in the school cafeteria, a 16 and a 17-year-old. April 24, 1998 James Parker Middle School, Edinboro, Pennsylvania. Fourteen-year-old Andrew Wurst shoots and kills science teacher John Gillette at a school dance. March 24, 1998 Westside Middle School, Jonesboro, Arkansas. Eleven-year-old Andrew Golden and 13-year-old Mitchell Johnson ambush fellow students and their teachers, killing five. Johnson is incarcerated in a youth facility. August 11, 2005. Golden is released on his 21st birthday, May 25 2007. Morning Star Gaza women stand strong Randa Harara is adamant that she will stand up to Israels forces of occupation again once she has made a recovery. On December 11, Randa aged 21 was shot by a sniper hiding at Nahal Oz, a military checkpoint separating Gaza from Israel. She was taking part in a protest against the announcement by Donald Trump, the US president, that he recognises Jerusalem as Israels capital. My injury will not prevent me from taking part in further clashes [with Israel], said Randa, who was wounded in the left leg. This is our duty towards Jerusalem. An accountancy student at Al-Azhar University and a campaigner with the Progressive Student Action Front in Gaza, Randa knows that the cost of confronting Israel can be high. But that doesnt mean that women should be absent from the battlefield especially when it comes to the issue of Jerusalem. Randa has the backing of her family. Cause headaches for Israel I have given my daughter full freedom to do what she believes in, said her father Kamal, who has accompanied Randa to some of the protests at the boundary area between Gaza and Israel. We cant give up our land. It is important to put pressure on and cause headaches for Israel. Ahed Tamimi, who turned 17 on January 31, has come to epitomise the courage of women and girls who challenge the Israeli military. Here in Gaza, many people admire Tamimi for demonstrating her anger at soldiers who suffocate her home village, Nabi Saleh in the occupied West Bank, by slapping one of them. Leila, a 14-year-old from Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, used to mainly check social media websites for fashion tips. More recently, she has been searching the Internet for updates on the detention of Tamimi and her trial in an Israeli military court. She has also begun to read more widely about Palestinian politics. Ahed is my hero, Leila not her real name said. I wish I could be like her an influential person in our struggle with Israel. Leila wishes to take part in the protests held along Gazas boundary with Israel each Friday. Yet she does not have parental permission to do so. My mother says it [protesting] is like suicide, Leila added. With Israeli forces frequently opening fire on protesters, confronting the occupier can be fatal. Eight protesters from Gaza were killed by Israel along the boundary area in December 2017 alone. More than 480 were injured during that month, according to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights. It would be wrong to claim that people in Gaza are generally enthusiastic about the idea of women and girls confronting the Israeli military. I asked a sample of 26 people equally divided between men and women their views on female participation in such confrontations. Around 80 percent of respondents were opposed to women taking such direct action. These women are mothers, wives, daughters and sisters, one person responded. We dont want to lose more people for nothing. Others pointed to the conservative and patriarchal nature of society in Gaza. Theres no need for female participation in clashes with Israel, said Mahmoud Abu al-Eish, a 56-year-old Gaza resident. This should be limited to men who can handle such tough situations. Female participation [in protests] is outside our customs and traditions. Motherland for everyone That view is disputed. Iman al-Haj, a journalist, recently pointed out that women have long been involved in the Palestinian struggle. Female participation is a national duty at a time like this, al-Haj said. Al-Haj noted that she had shared my anger with other protesters by directly confronting the Israeli military on a few occasions. I will participate again and again, she added. Mariam Abu Daqqa, a prominent figure in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), argued that women have stood side by side with men since the Nakba, the 1948 ethnic cleansing of Palestine. The motherland is for everyone, she said. Abu Daqqa has suffered hugely for her political activities. She was the first woman living in Gaza to be forced out by Israel because of her involvement with armed resistance. After being arrested in 1969, she was detained for two years and then exiled to Jordan. In 1975, she moved to Lebanon, where she joined the PFLP. It would be 1995 before she could return to Gaza. By then, her parents were dead. I had not been able to see them since 1969, she said. I only had my sister left. And she was sick with cancer and died after about two years. More recently, Abu Daqqa has set up a studies and training program for former female prisoners. She notes that women who confront Israel have to overcome a number of barriers. Such barriers have become higher due to the siege Israel has imposed on Gaza, as well as the three major Israeli bombardments the coastal strip has suffered within the past decade. The losses incurred by each of those attacks all place an extra burden on women and this burden restricts their ability to take part in confrontations and have a vital role, she said. Daring Women played an important role in the first intifada, which began in Gaza 30 years ago. Hania Aqel, a 64-year-old woman from Rafah, near Gazas border with Egypt, made a number of daring attempts to rescue Palestinians after they had been captured by Israel. Each time 25 to 30 women would assemble like a human fence, she said, and grab the men who had been arrested from Israeli vehicles. The efforts were sometimes successful, albeit at a price. Once, Hania managed to help her son Talaat then aged 18 to escape. I poured hot water on the soldiers who were arresting him, Hania said. I was able to save him but I was shot in my leg by another soldier. Samira Mousa, a resident of Jabaliya camp, was active in the Union of Health Work Committees during that rebellion. Along with many other women, Mousa provided practical support to families of people imprisoned or killed by Israel. That included giving food to families in need. One of the first people killed by Israeli troops in that intifada, Hatim Abu Sisi died in front of my house, Mousa now aged 57 recalled. His blood filled the entrance of my house, she said. That scene affected me a lot and motivated me to provide any help I can to my neighbourhood. I planted a tree at the place he was killed. And Im still taking care of this tree. The Electronic Intifada Film Review by Bill Myer The Young Karl Marx Watch out! A spectre is returning to haunt the capitalist world! Its Karl Marx! In the year of his 200th birthday we get to witness the timely release of a remarkable film about one of historys foremost and complex thinkers, depicting his early activist life leading up to the creation of one of the worlds most iconic political publications, The Communist Manifesto. Marx and Engels, with their youthful revolutionary zeal, crafted a political work of art that defined the course of history. Haitian director Raoul Peck, coming off his success with the Oscar-nominated documentary on James Baldwin, I Am Not Your Negro, now has another stunning debut to his credit debut meaning the first time Karl Marx is seen as a character in a (more-or-less) English-language film in the capitalist world! The Young Karl Marx features French, German and English languages interacting seamlessly with indispensable subtitles that open a world of wondrous discovery of Marxs early years. This is the film Ive been waiting for most of my life and it didnt disappoint for a second. Many of the historical figures Marxists have gotten to know about only in print, are finally in the flesh, with thoughts and feelings fleshed out in humanistic portrayals. For those who have forgotten that there are alternatives to the Democratic and Republican parties will be enlightened and inspired to witness The Communist Manifesto in-the-making, involving exciting ideological debates during the politically fertile decade of the 1840s. Marx and Engels, with their youthful revolutionary zeal, crafted a political work of art that defined the course of history. Marx is arguably the worlds most prominent philosopher, economist, historian, political theorist, sociologist, journalist and revolutionary socialist who ever lived, and the Manifesto was his first best seller. Opening credits proclaim, In England, the industrial revolution transforms the worlds order and creates the new proletarian class. Workers organisations are founded based on a communist utopia in which all men are brothers. Two young Germans will disrupt this notion, thus transforming the struggle ... and the future of the world. The opening scene appears as almost in a fog as desperately poor peasants gather deadwood in a silent forest. Military horsemen suddenly charge at the group slaying them to the last victim. This unsettling symbolic vision sets the groundwork for the rest of Marxs work, the introduction of class struggle. The prophetic voiceover during the opening massacre scene reads: To gather green wood, one must rip it violently from the living tree. Yet gathering dead wood removes nothing from the property. Only what is already separated is removed from the property. Despite this essential difference, you call both acts theft and punish them as such. Montesquieu names two kinds of corruption: One when the people do not observe the laws. The other when the laws corrupt them. You have erased the difference between theft and gathering. But you are wrong to believe it is in your interest. The people see the punishment, but not the crime. And, as they do not see a crime ... when they are punished, you should fear them, for they will take revenge. Peck chose to show Marx as a human being with all his natural flaws. He was unfaithful, unhealthy and underpaid. He was often extremely critical of other opinions and challenged most of the contemporary intellectuals, anarchists, socialists and Young Hegelians for example, but luckily bonded with his literary partner for life, Frederick Engels, who ended up funding most of the remainder of Marxs career as a writer. Many characters are brought to life in this jubilant retelling of political history Proudhon, Bakunin, Weitling, Marxs wife Jenny, Engels companion Mary, The League of the Just, French Left Radicals, and many more we know only from books. We find that middle class Marx married up to aristocracy, while son of an industrial capitalist Engels partnered down to the working class. But the film shows the depth of love they had for each other, often demonstrated in tender interactions. They all embraced the struggle of the working class and fought for a just and peaceful world. Workers are humanised while capitalists are shown for the money they worshipped. The film follows Marx through his many run-ins with the police, being kicked out of one country to the next, mostly as a result of his radical writings, starting with his work at the Rheinische Zeitung in Germany. While exiled in Paris in August of 1844, he meets Frederick Engels (Stefan Konarske); there they spend 10 glorious productive days together and cement their lifetime relationship. Engels joyous letter to Marx on his return back to Germany is featured in the film. We get to see revolutionary Marx responding with one of his famous quotes, Philosophers have only interpreted the world in various ways the point however is to change it. Peck goes to extra lengths to cast actors who look uncannily like the real characters. Keep in mind, despite the commonly accepted image of bushy bearded overweight Marx, he was once young, and the magnetic August Diehl captures the essence of this young intelligent revolutionary as seen in pictures of him in his youth. The story brings alive the historical interchange between two giants of philosophy Marx and French anarchist Pierre-Joseph Proudhon. Proudhon presented his new booklet, The Philosophy of Poverty, to Marx, who disagreed with its approach and wrote a full-length rebuttal entitled The Poverty of Philosophy. This unexpected critique is marked by many as the beginning of animosity between the two tendencies of anarchism and communism. In another scene depicting one of Marxs feisty ideological sparring matches, he challenges the League of the Just for their altruistic slogan All Men are Brothers, while urging a better understanding of the concept of class struggle and revolutionary communism, resulting in the eventual renaming of the group as The Communist League. The film ends ironically with the capitalist printing presses rolling out the pages of Marx and Engels world-altering book. Over the pictures, the closing text reads: The weapons with which the bourgeoisie felled feudalism are now turned against the bourgeoisie itself. The 1848 revolution broke out one month later. Class confrontation in Western Europe overthrew the old regimes. The international workers movements arose from these ruins. The Communist Manifesto is being translated and reprinted to this day. Exiled in England, supported by Jenny and Friedrich, Marx would keep writing his key work Capital until his death. An open, immeasurable work, unfinished because the very object of its critique is in perpetual motion. Hopefully this is a film that will resonate and inspire young activists starving from a lack of viable revolutionary alternatives. This impressive re-creation of a time passed is not severed from the present day. The struggle still continues, but with different players. Peck always works in the present day, and Marxs writings support the understanding that the past is intimately connected both to the present and the future. In the closing credits, Bob Dylans Like a Rolling Stone is accompanied by a breathtaking montage of select photos of political movements and figures influenced by the Manifesto in the 170 years since its publication. Peoples World Culture & Life Human rights groups slam Trump Two major human rights groups, Amnesty International and the Southern Poverty Law Centre (SPLC), slammed the US record and its decline in human rights in annual reports released on February 21. Both reports singled out Donald Trump as a top cause. Key reasons for both: Trumps encouragement of racism and xenophobia, his Muslim travel ban, his rollbacks of protections for LGBT people, and his anti-immigrant policies, including cuts in the number of refugees allowed into the US and his detentions at the Mexican border. The reports slammed Trumps record despite one big positive development Amnesty cited: US citizens willingness to fight back, particularly for womens reproductive rights and against Trump efforts to yank health care from millions of people. The travel bans aimed at mainly Muslim countries and a new climate of permissiveness of xenophobia and hatred, arising from Trumps failure to condemn it when he saw it, help account for that comparison, Amnestys executive director Salil Shetty said. Trump wasted little time in putting his anti-rights rhetoric of racism and xenophobia into action, threatening a major rollback on justice and freedoms including a series of repressive executive orders that threatened the human rights of millions, at home and abroad, Amnestys report added. Meanwhile, the SPLC, the nations prime tracker of hate groups, said President Trump in 2017 reflected what white supremacist groups want to see: A country where racism is sanctioned by the highest office, immigrants are given the boot and Muslims banned, said Heidi Beirich, director of the SPLCs Intelligence Project, which produced the annual report. When you consider that only days into 2018, Trump called African countries shitholes, its clear hes not changing his tune. And thats music to the ears of white supremacists. It was a year that saw the alt-right, the latest incarnation of white supremacy, break through the firewall that for decades kept overt racists largely out of the political and media mainstream, SPLC said. It added Trump thrilled white supremacists with his executive orders, policies and advisers with ties to the radical right, led by alt-right Breitbart News guru Steve Bannon. As a result, reinvigorated white supremacists staged their largest rally in a decade the demonstration in Charlottesville, Virginia, that left an anti-racist counter-protester dead and Trump equivocating over condemning racism, SPLC said. Former Klan boss David Duke called the rally a turning point and vowed white supremacists would fulfil the promises of Donald Trump to take our country back, SPLC added. Though SPLC did not say so, Duke endorsed Trump in 2016 and Trump did not repudiate him. SPLC also noted hate group numbers rose in Trumps first year, to 954, the highest number in six years and the second-highest ever. The only exception was a decline in Ku Klux Klan chapters, from 130 in 2016 to 72 last year. Neo-Nazi groups overtook them, rising from 99 in 2016 to 121 last year. And, for the first time, there were hate groups in every state, SPLC said. Going into detail about the Americas in general and the US in particular, Amnesty said the politics of demonisation and division increased, Indigenous peoples are still denied fundamental rights and governments made little headway in protecting the rights of women, girls and LGBT people. But Trump took up a lot of space in its report on the US, and not just for the Muslim ban and his plans to build a wall along the US border with Mexico. Failures to uphold economic, cultural and social rights caused widespread suffering. A reversal of political rhetoric under Trump reduced the chances of Congress passing legislation to lift the economic embargo on Cuba and so perpetuated the embargos adverse impacts on Cubans, Amnesty said. Trumps specific anti-human rights practices included increased abusive detention of at least 43,000 asylum seekers at the border and extreme restrictions on access to sexual and reproductive health services in the US and elsewhere. It also termed his termination of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program for the 800,000 Dreamers a human rights violation. Amnesty also criticised Trumps broad and multi-faceted attacks on rights of women and girls, and not just anti-reproductive rights moves at home and abroad. At home, Trump dumped Obama administration policies requiring universities to treat sexual violence as gender discrimination and suspended initiatives to encourage equal pay for equal work. And besides trying to kill funds for reproductive rights here notably money for Planned Parenthood Amnesty criticised Trumps global gag rule. Thats a ban on US funds for any international reproductive services group whose services include abortion, even if its funded from other sources. The global gag rule harms 766,000 women in Latin America alone. Left unsaid: Prior Republican presidents imposed the global gag rule, while Democratic President Barack Obama revoked it. Amnesty also criticised Trumps executive order to repeal protections for LGBT workers and transgender students and Trumps approval of the controversial Dakota Access pipeline, overriding the Standing Rock Siouxs right to free, informed and prior consent to the project and threatening the tribes water. But the positive development is the US people fought back, Amnesty said, though it did not use the word fight. Massive grassroots and political opposition in the US resisted some of the Trump administration policies and decisions that undermined human rights, including resistance to his Muslim ban, opposition to his plans to cut the number of refugees entering the country, protests of his planned increases in Guantanamo Bay detainees and the campaign against his an attempt to take away health care coverage from millions. The Trump administration did not comment on either report. A former Fox analyst, writing for a right-wing magazine which calls itself Reason, labelled the SPLC report a scam. Peoples World CultNews101.com: news, links, resources. Cults101.org: resources about cults, cultic groups, abusive relationships, movements, religions, political organizations and related topics. CultMediation.com: offers resources designed to help thoughtful families and friends understand and respond to the complexity of a loved ones cult involvement. Intervention101.com: to help families and friends understand and effectively respond to the complexity of a loved one's cult involvement. CultRecovery101.com: assists group members and their families make the sometimes difficult transition from coercion to renewed individual choice. Despite his numerous weaknesses and failings, Jeremy Corbyn has, for decades, offered one admirable quality to voters. That of being a politician of undoubted authenticity. This has meant that, by the admittedly dismal standards of modern politicians, he has stood out as a man of principle. Indeed, that is one of his main attractions to young voters. However, all that was blown to smithereens yesterday. His speech about Labours Brexit policy was, I believe, one of the most cynical, calculating and amoral pieces of so-called oratory I have ever heard from a politician. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn made a keynote speech as he sets out Labour's position on Brexit in Coventry on Monday (pictured) Several times as I listened, I had to pinch myself as he made the case for Britain to stay a member of an EU customs union. Here was the neo-Marxist, who has made it his lifes work to fight capitalism, placing himself in the same camp as the bosses organisation (the CBI), the Financial Times and the Bank of England. Corbyns sudden alliance with big business goes against every bone in his body. For, as recently as December, he railed against City speculators and gamblers who are part of a damaging and failed system thats rigged for the few. Not only does his new policy of cosying up to big business betray his own personal principles, it is a slap in the face of those millions of Labour voters who want Britain to break from the Brussels straitjacket and who voted Brexit in the EU referendum. Undoubtedly, they will see Corbyn as a traitor. That is surely the view of Labour MP Frank Field regarded by many as the most honourable MP in Parliament. Field warned at the weekend that if Corbyn said a Labour government would keep Britain in an EU customs union after 2020, he would rat on the peoples decision to leave. How ironic that Corbynistas hate Tony Blair for what they say is his hypocrisy and two-facedness. And yet, those are the same characteristics their hero showed yesterday. The brutal truth is that on the great issue of our time, Jeremy Corbyn has played Judas to democracy. This, remember, is the same man who voted for Britain to leave the European Economic Community (which preceded the EU) in 1975; who opposed the creation of the EU under the Maastricht Treaty (turning the EU into more of a superstate); who voted for a referendum on our membership of the EU, and the day after the vote itself called for the immediate invocation of Article 50 the two-year notice to leave the EU. Of course, Corbyns screeching U-turn is down to dirty politics rather than principles. He is positioning himself, as leader of the Opposition, to try to bring down the Government. Labour MP Frank Field (pictured) warned that if Corbyn said a Labour government would keep Britain in an EU customs union after 2020, he would rat on the peoples decision to leave In sum, he has sacrificed his reputation for integrity in the hope he can destroy Theresa Mays premiership. Central to his calculation is that if he succeeds in getting rid of Mrs May and becomes prime minister himself, Labour supporters who voted for Brexit would forgive him. They would do so, he thinks, because they would prefer a Labour government (albeit still shackled in part to Brussels) than a Tory government that has broken free from Brussels. This, I reckon, is how Corbyn hopes his plan will work out. Later this year, MPs will have to vote on the Governments deal on leaving the EU. Corbyn believes he might be able to muster the support of sufficient rebel Remainer Tories to defeat Mrs May. Already, one, Anna Soubry, has tabled a potentially deadly amendment calling for Britain to remain in a customs union precisely the policy adumbrated yesterday by Corbyn. For her part, Soubry makes no secret of the fact that her desire to see Britain still shackled to the Brussels-based trading bloc is stronger than her loyalty to Mrs May. Thus, Corbyn is cynically calculating that he can form an anti-democratic alliance with Europhile Tories and the Scottish Nationalists (who have 35 MPs) to topple the Tory Government. This is a life-and-death gamble. Of course, there are precedents. In some ways, it is similar to the way the then Labour leader John Smith behaved over the Maastricht Treaty in 1993. Although a passionate Europhile, Smith joined Prime Minister John Majors Tory anti-European bastard rebels in an attempt to bring down his government. Tory MP Anna Soubry (pictured) has tabled a potentially deadly amendment calling for Britain to remain in a customs union Although Smith narrowly failed, Major was so badly damaged that he never truly recovered. Corbyn hopes to go one stage further, take down Mrs May and be in 10 Downing Street by Christmas. I believe, however, that his audacious gamble will backfire. Principally because the British people wont let him unseat a government which is nobly carrying out the democratic wishes of the majority of the electorate. Also, because people will see through Jeremy Corbyns amoral sell-out. On the specifics of the argument, too, the Labour leader is intellectually flawed. He misunderstands the details. For example, if Britain retains some trading rights with the EU, we would have to accept the terms put forward by Brussels and that almost certainly would mean allowing practically unrestricted immigration from other European countries. In any case, each of the remaining 27 EU countries would have to vote to accept the terms of a deal that a Corbyn-led British government would ask for with regard to a customs union. Undoubtedly, countries such as Poland and Hungary, which want their peoples to travel freely across continental Europe, would try to force Britain to allow their citizens to come here freely. This would mean that the UK would not regain control of its borders and immigration levels would remain high. Yet countless studies have shown that it was worries about high levels of immigration from EU countries which were a key factor in so many Labour supporters backing Brexit in June 2016. For them, Corbyns speech yesterday was a betrayal and one which they will find hard to forgive. There is another issue. This is that a trigger for the Brexit vote was that people wanted Britain to be free from Brusselss crippling tariffs on non-EU goods. These mean that foods imported from outside the EU are artificially priced much higher than they ought to be. Similarly, Brussels keeps prices high by paying billions of euros in subsidies to French and German farmers, leading to higher costs for European consumers including, of course, hard-pressed Labour voters and making it much more difficult for farmers in the Third World to get access to the European market. Ultimately, Jeremy Corbyns speech may prove to be a momentous one in the history of the Labour Party but not for the reason he would have wanted. I believe that he risks losing from the party a hardcore of its traditional supporters, particularly in the Midlands and North around 30 per cent of its total support who voted Brexit but feel they could never vote for a party that wants to keep Britain locked into parts of an EU superstate. Never mind Jeremy Corbyns cynical conversion to Britain staying in the EUs customs union straitjacket, essentially Brexit in name only. Something like this was always on the cards. Ive been telling you for the past 18 months that the great betrayal began the moment the referendum result was announced. With a few honourable exceptions, virtually the entire political class has been plotting to either overturn the Leave vote, or water it down so significantly that it becomes meaningless. Neither of the main parties manifesto commitments, to implement properly the wishes of the 17.4 million people who voted to take back control of our laws, trade deals and borders, was worth a brass farthing. Jeremy Corbyn urged Remainer Tory rebels to join him in the parliamentary voting lobbies when the question of a customs union comes up Just look at that angels-dancing-on-pinheads fiasco at Chequers last week, nitpicking over the meaning of the word divergence. Were asked to believe that all is now sweetness and light around the Cabinet table when it comes to agreeing a Brexit strategy. Pull the other one. And anyone who seriously thought that Labour would support any measure which cuts mass immigration from Europe or anywhere else for that matter is suffering from an advanced case of delusion. So forgive me if I dont waste any more words on Corbyns set-piece speech yesterday. He was always going to sell out millions of pro-Leave Labour voters, if he thought he could get away with it. No, what concerns me far more is a story which made fewer headlines Corbyns decision to sue a Tory MP who accused him of selling state secrets to the Soviets in the Eighties. While it is undoubtedly true that Corbyn was, and still is, the credulous stooge of any state, organisation or terrorist group with an anti-British, anti-American, anti-Western agenda, the idea that he was flogging classified material to our enemies is unlikely. For a start, he was so far down the food chain, he wouldnt have known any state secrets. Frankly, the news that Corbyn had been consorting with Czech agents would have come as no great surprise to anyone who spent time around Labour and the trades unions in the Eighties. The TUC and party conference were crawling with Communists, both home-grown and foreign spies posing as attaches, seeking to influence policies and plant stories sympathetic to their cause in the newspapers. Corbyn has never hidden his admiration for the old Eastern Bloc. So why would he react so aggressively to a single tweet from Ben Bradley, Conservative MP for Mansfield? Why did he feel it necessary to seek legal redress? OK, so the allegation was defamatory, but couldnt the Labour leader simply have denied it and sought an apology? Labour has a sophisticated, well-staffed media department, with journalists, radio and TV producers on speed dial. There are 24-hour rolling news channels only too happy to give him airtime. Corbyn himself has 1.7 million followers on Twitter, where he could have posted his rebuttal. Conservative MP Ben Bradley (pictured) apologised to Jeremy Corbyn for posting a 'seriously defamatory' tweet claiming the Labour leader sold British secrets to communist spies Last week he put out a video dismissing stories about him passing information to the Czechs and threatening retaliation against newspapers which published them. Why couldnt he have treated Bradleys tweet in the same fashion? If he felt further sanction was necessary he could have asked Speaker Bercow to demand that Bradley apologised to him in the Commons. There really was no need to instruct lawyers, even though Bradley backed down immediately. Libel is a rich mans weapon, for the few not the many. Britains draconian defamation laws have been exploited down the ages by wealthy crooks like the late newspaper magnate Robert Maxwell to hush up their nefarious activities. By and large, though, theres a tradition that MPs dont sue each other for libel. Corbyn has now broken with that tradition. His lawyers not only sought an apology and retraction, they also demanded that Bradley paid a substantial sum to two charities of Corbyns choice, as well as full costs. They claimed Bradleys allegation had caused Corbyn distress and upset. If Corbyn is so sensitive that he can get distressed by a lone tweet, hes probably in the wrong line of work. Its not as if Labour supporters are above hurling vile, and often inaccurate, accusations at opponents on social media. Just about every time shadow chancellor John McDonnell opens his mouth he seems to spew out unpleasant invective against individual Tories, such as Esther McVey. The internet is awash with false allegations of racism and homophobia aimed at causing reputational damage to those who dare to disagree with the modish Leftist agenda which dominates the public discourse. Whats most troubling about Corbyns action is his willingness to use the law to silence an opponent and impose a financial penalty upon him. The urge to punish those who express non-approved opinions is part of the current chilling assault on free speech from several quarters. Labour is committed to resurrecting Part 2 of the ludicrous Leveson inquisition into the Press. Corbyn last week hinted that there would be further shackles placed on newspapers if he ever becomes Prime Minister. Unelected peers are trying to pervert legislation designed to regulate data protection in an outrageous attempt to hobble the Press by forcing papers to pay the legal costs of anyone who brings a complaint against them, regardless of merit. Mr Bradley's statements came after allegations that Mr Corbyn had been in contact with a Czech intelligence agent in the 1980s Max Mosley, the ex-Formula 1 boss, is also trying to use data protection laws to compel papers to erase details of his sordid sexual past. The same Max Mosley bankrolls the state-recognised Press regulator, Impress, which is stuffed with embittered failed journalists, Left-wing lobbyists and professional Press-haters. No self-respecting publication of note has signed up to Impress, preferring instead to submit voluntarily to an independent regulatory body called Ipso, chaired by a distinguished and impartial former Appeal Court judge, which has the power to order front-page corrections and impose fines of up to 1 million. On top of all that, companies are coming under intense pressure from Left-wing losers with laptops to withdraw their advertising from papers that publish material of which they disapprove. If they dont comply, the implication is that these companies will suffer organised customer boycotts. The intention is to hit newspapers financially, to either bring them to heel or force them out of business. In the Seventies and Eighties, the unions used an early version of these tactics by picketing customers and suppliers of firms with whom they were in dispute. Secondary picketing was outlawed by the Thatcher government. A Corbyn government would almost certainly bring it back. Much of the anti-Press agitation comes from die-hard Remainiacs, who have convinced themselves that it was the evil newspapers which conned gullible Northern voters into backing Leave. Labour MPs who supported Corbyns libel action were similarly motivated. Richard Burgon, MP for Leeds East, wrote that Corbyn was right to sue because Bradleys tweet was designed to dupe decent people into not voting Labour. They really do believe that people are too stupid to think for themselves and make up their own minds, whether that involves deciding how to vote or making a considered judgment about the character of a man like Max Mosley. Of course, none of the restrictions these anti-Press zealots seek to impose on newspapers would apply to social media, favourite playground of Momentum, deranged fantasists, outright liars and conspiracy theorists. The crusade against free speech makes for some strange bedfellows. Who would ever have thought wed see a socialist throwback like Corbyn climbing under the duvet with multi-millionaire Max Mosley, son of Britains most notorious fascist? If they succeed, it will be as much of a mortal blow to democracy as the disgraceful, politically motivated efforts to betray the decision of the 17.4 million who voted for Brexit. An 11-month-old girl has taken out the top award in the ladies section at a festival celebrating the mighty mullet. The event, held on the weekend, was a first for Kurri Kurri, a regional town in NSW's Hunter Valley about 150km from Sydney. Speaking to FEMAIL, event organiser Laura Johnson said the festival was a hit with around 800 attendees on the day. And while it garnered plenty of interest from men willing to show off their best hair do's, she said the ladies were a little less keen. Baby Sylvie (pictured) was the only female who pre-registered for the ladies category of the competition Ms Johnson said the event had 150 registrations across the different categories: best everyday, ranga (red hair), junior and grubby. She explained there was a category for ladies, however registration was notably low, except for one brave soul. 'Of the five women registered, only one showed up, 11-month-old baby Sylvie,' she said. Amid the fanfare of the day, 11-month-old Sylvie (pictured left) took winning the award for best ladies mullet in her stride (Sylvie pictured right being held by a volunteer) Sylvie (pictured right) with her mum Melissa who said her 11-month-old daughter's mullet was 'all natural' Ms Johnson revealed the young girl's mullet - combined with her effortless attitude - made her an easy victor in the ladies category despite the fact other women decided to enter on the day. Sylvie's mother, Melissa Thornton of Cessnock told Daily Mail Australia that her daughter has never had a haircut, and her mullet was 'all natural'. 'She was born with really thick black hair. It didn't fall out, it fell off.' Sylvie's mullet has taken little effort to create, however her mum revealed it would only be around until the end of the week While the family were pretty certain of Sylvie's win, late registrations on the day had them concerned they may have been up against some stiff competition 'Everyone always comments on her mullet so we thought she'd be in with a chance to win.' While Ms Thornton admitted Sylvie's mullet win will be short-lived - she's scheduled for a haircut this week - her moment is one the family are celebrating. 'Everyone takes it as what it is - we've all had a good laugh about it, except my sister, who was horrified,' she continued. After the day's festivities the winner of ladies category takes a few moments to come to terms with her award There's some debate as to whether the photos - and the story will stay under wraps until Sylvie's 21st, or if the family will encourage her to grow up embracing her iconic Aussie look. 'I am pretty sure she will be quite embarrassed by it all but I suspect she will be very proud too because she did this all by herself,' Ms Thornton concluded. There's no word yet whether Sylvie will try to hold on to her trophy at next year's event. Two grieving mothers have formed a unique friendship from opposite sides of the globe after bonding over their campaigns to stop their daughters' killers being released from prison. Marie McCourt, 74, of Billinge, Wigan, and Margaret Dodd, 61, formerly of Lancaster who now lives in Perth, Western Australia, both had a cherished daughter brutally murdered. Yet they have never been able to lay them to rest as their killers refuse to disclose where their remains are. Now both women are fighting for No Body, No Parole laws to be passed in their respective countries, which would deny parole to killers for as long as they refuse to co-operate with police. Marie's daughter Helen, 22, vanished on her way home from work on February 9 1988 and local pub landlord, Ian Simms became the first person in the UK to be convicted of murder without a body being found. He is currently in an open prison and has made two failed applications for parole. Marie McCourt, 74, of Billinge, Wigan, with a shrine to her late daughter Helen who was killed in 1988. Her body has never been found Helen and Marie celebrating the last Christmas they spent together before Helen was abducted and murdered on her way home from work In Western Australia, Margaret's daughter Hayley, 17, vanished in July 1999. Her killer, rapist Francis John Wark, 61, was only convicted of her murder in January 2018 when one of her earrings was found in his car ending one of Western Australia's most baffling missing person's cases. Now, Margaret's No Body No Parole is set to be adopted by Western Australia in March making it the fifth state in Australia to adopt the law. Meanwhile, with more than 418,000 signatures on her petition, Marie is also hopeful that 'Helen's Law' backed by her campaigning Labour MP Conor McGinn - will make it onto the statute books in the UK. Marie and Margaret first came into contact when they discovered their almost identical campaigns for 'no body, no parole' on the website change.org. They have now become close friends, and speak for up to three hours a week on the topic and support each other both in their grief and campaigns for justice. They have also been struck by the similarities between their daughters and their tragic deaths, and Marie remembers being stunned when Margaret first sent her a photograph of Hayley. 'She is astoundingly similar to Helen,' she said. 'In fact, they could be sisters. Margaret Dodd, 61, of Perth, Western Australia had to wait an agonising 19 years for her daughter's killer to be brought to justice Hayley Dodd was abducted in Australia while hitching lifts. Her disappearance remained a mystery until 2013 when police discovered one of her earrings in her killer's car 'Hayley was only 17 when she disappeared. Our favourite photo of Helen which has been used in our appeals was also taken when she was just 17. 'They both have exactly the same thoughtful expression and their whole lives ahead of them which were so cruelly cut short. 'When we first spoke, it was as if we'd always known each other,' Marie recalled. 'We chat for up to three hours at a time. 'Despite the thousands of miles between us Margaret is going through exactly the same pain as I am and is also fighting to change the justice system to prevent any other family joining us in our nightmare.' Both Helen and Hayley were dream daughters, say their mothers polite, hard-working and devoted to their families. Hayle's killer, rapist Francis John Wark, 61, was only convicted of her murder in January 2018 when one of her earrings was found in his car ending one of Western Australia's most baffling missing person's cases THE MURDER OF HAYLEY DODD Hayley, pictured as a child. Her grieving mother says she will not be able to move forward until she can hold a funeral for her daughter 'Hayley was a quiet, shy, girl who hated confrontation,' said her mother Margaret. 'When she told us she was heading off to work and travel around Australia with her friend we thought she was joking. It was just so unlike her. 'But she still rang me every single day to let me know she was safe.' After two days working on a sheep farm, Hayley set off for a friend's farm in Moora, 200 miles away to start a new job when she she was snatched by Wark while walking along a road in Badgringa, Western Australia. When Hayley failed to arrive at work, the alarm was raised. 'The police kept saying 'maybe she's met a boy and didn't want to tell you' but I said 'that's nonsense something has happened.' While Hayley remained a missing person Margaret harboured hope she would be found alive. 'You hear stories of youngsters being found years after being abducted. I thought 'maybe she's being held captive. That hope was always there.' But it was only when Hayley's case was re-examined in 2013 that police found crucial found an ear-ring caught in the car-seat cover that had been recovered from Wark's vehicle. They extradited Wark from Queensland, where he was serving a sentence for raping a hitchhiker, to stand trial. The trial heard that he lured Hayley into his car, murdered her and then disposed of her body within a two hour window. Wark, now 61, was jailed for life with a minimum of 21 years. Advertisement And being denied the chance to lay them to rest has plunged them into a 'living hell'. For Margaret, the lowest point came in April 2000 when some of Hayley's belongings were returned in a brown paper bag with 'garbage disposal' printed on it and she made an attempt to take her own life. 'It was just too much. I didn't want to be here anymore. I tried to kill myself. I wasn't thinking. Losing Hayley has destroyed us. It has created a huge, huge wound which has grown bigger every day. 'We go to bed with pain and we wake up with pain. You learn to live with it. 'Maybe now, with a conviction, that wound might start healing. But we'll always be left with the scars.' THE MURDER OF HELEN MCCOURT Helen McCourt went missing in February 1988 after phoning her mother Marie to let her know when she would be home from her job as an insurance clerk in Liverpool. She was just 400 yards from home when she disappeared during a storm. Helen is thought to have been abducted and battered to death in the George and Dragon pub. Her disappearance sparked a police investigation which led to the conviction in 1989 of Ian Simms, a local landlord and married father-of-two, who became the first person to be convicted on DNA evidence when no body had been recovered. The former pub landlord has made two failed attempts to apply for parole in 2007 and 2009. In 2013, police exhumed a grave behind St Aidans Church in Billinge, near St Helens, in the hope of finding her body underneath it. A tip-off had suggested she could have been placed into an open grave ahead of a burial at the church in February 1988, but the search found no trace of her remains. Helen McCourt, left, disappeared on her way home from work in February 1988. Local pub landlord Ian Simms, right, was convicted of her murder the following year but refused to tell detectives where he buried her body Advertisement Marie's experienced a similar low point when police showed her an ear-ring identical to ones Helen had been wearing that had been found in the car boot of Simms' car. 'I knew then that Helen would never come home,' she says. 'What I didn't know was that I'd still be looking for her three decades on.' The remarkable friendship between the two women has brought them both comfort in their grief. Marie presenting her petition at 10 Downing Street. She is hopeful that Helen's Law backed by her campaigning MP Conor McGinn - will make it onto the statute books 'We just have so many things in common. 'I couldn't believe it was Helen's birthday on the day that Hayley went missing,' says Margaret. 'And the girls were so alike they could have been sisters. They both have the same freckly face and features. 'We are both in the same situation. We are both in a lot of pain, both looking to find some rest, that peace that will come from laying our daughters to rest. 'Marie is obviously a fighter in the same way I have fought all these years. We have good chats that go on for hours.' Marie agrees that their friendship is unique and special in that they truly understand the pain of having a 'murdered missing' child. Marie with a photo of her daughter two years after she was murdered. She has never been able to lay her daughter to rest 'I am so happy we have found each other,' she explained. 'We are able to console each other and lift each other when we are having "bad" days. 'Because this isn't something that ever goes away. Our pain will go on until the day we die. 'These killers not only took our children they took our lives too. Not being able to lay our children to rest is a never-ending torture. 'All we want is to bring them home and keep them safe. We don't want to see killers locked up forever,' she stressed. 'All we ask is that they co-operate with the police in enabling our loved ones to be recovered.' Margaret Dodd with her husband Raymond. The couple had to wait almost two decades for their daughter's killer to be brought to justice but they are still in turmoil as her body hasn't been found And she insists that a murder conviction does nothing to ease the pain. 'Yes, justice has been done in catching our daughters' killers. But we can only start to move forwards when we've held their funerals,' she said. Heartbreaking similarities that link Helen and Marie In a series of astonishing co-incidences that link the two mums: Both Helen and Hayley bear such a striking physical resemblance that their mums agree they could be sisters Hayley went missing on July 29 Helen's birthday. Helen went missing on her way home from work; Hayley vanished on her way to work In each case, a solitary ear-ring and DNA belonging to each girl was found in the killers' vehicles providing crucial evidence which secured a conviction in the absence of a body In both trials, witnesses reported hearing a female scream in the distance just after the girls were last seen. Each mum has a memorial dedicated to their daughters where they lay flowers on special occasions but no grave Both murdered girls share the same Christian initials H M (Hayley Marie and Helen Martha). Both mums simultaneously launched identical campaigns in 2015 to deny parole to killers who refuse to co-operate in the recovery of victims' bodies Before emigrating to Australia in 1990, Margaret lived in Lancaster - just 40 miles from Marie Advertisement 'It's just a shame we didn't know about each other years ago. We could have been a great help to each other. 'Everyone says to me 'you are amazing, really strong'. No you are not but you just have to be. You wake up each day and have to get on with that day. 'Yes, I am fighting more than I ever thought I could have done. But it is my determination to change the law and prevent any other family going through this ordeal. 'People who commit a crime like this are monsters. To take a life is bad enough. But to prevent a family from laying their murdered loved one to rest is a heinous crime. The law must be changed to reflect that.' Next month, Western Australia will become the fifth area in Australia to introduce the No Body No Parole law following Southern Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria and Queensland. Neither mother has a grave to tend or lay flowers on. Marie has a memorial marble seat in the churchyard where Helen should be buried. Margaret has a plaque at a missing person's memorial in her local town plus a wishing well memorial at the roadside spot where Hayley was last seen. 'We unveiled it on her 18th Birthday. During the ceremony we played Yesterday by the Beatles and Hayley's favourite song My Heart Will Go On from the film Titanic that she loved and went to see 11 times.' To mark the 30th anniversary of Helen going missing, devout Catholic Marie held a commemorative mass for her daughter at her local church in Billinge. Guests included Conor McGinn MP, retired police officers who worked on the case and continue to support Marie and old schoolfriends and colleagues of Helen's. Helen is campaigning for her daughter's killer to remain behind bars until he reveals where her daughter's body is buried The Steve Prescott Bridge, in St Helens, was also lit up in a shade of sunshine yellow, to mark the anniversary. 'Helen was the light of our lives so it was significant to remember her in such a way,' said Marie. 'Yellow was Helen's favourite colour; she was such a bright, positive, sunshiny person who still had so much to give the world. 'The illumination not only symbolised my love for Helen, but offered hope that, one day, justice will be served.' A jet-setting international author says that she's had 100 per cent success in bagging a flight upgrade to first class - by uttering two crucial words. Briton Tilly Bagshawe says that many of her 100,000 miles a year have been flown in the best class of airline cabin - all because she knows how to play the upgrade system. And, says Bagshawe, it all comes down to two little words: 'revenue management'. Scroll down for video Sitting pretty in first class: According to jet-setting British author Tilly Bagshawe bagging an upgrade is completely achievable, if you know exactly what to say to the airlines reservation team in the days before a flight (Pictured: stock image) The corporate-sounding phrase is apparently the key to ensuring that airlines release seats in First Class that would otherwise go empty. The 44-year-old told Bloomberg she's yet to pay for an upper class seat with the airline she uses most, Virgin Atlantic. Tilly Bagshawe says the words 'revenue management' regularly see her upgraded to first class on flights with Virgin Atlantic Ahead of her flight, she'll call the reservations team and say: 'Have revenue management released any first-class seats for miles upgrades yet?' She explains: 'When they say no, ask them to check or just be put through to revenue management so you can ask when they will release some, as well as how many seats are left.' Bagshawe says the trick is to 'politely respond like this: "You have 20 seats unsold? Why arent you releasing them?"' She says that by the end of the conversation, the person on the end of the phone has almost certainly released an upper class seat for her. However, it seems the airline favours the most loyal customers. A Virgin Atlantic spokeswoman told Business Insider: 'Each year we release thousands of reward seats for our Flying Club members and customers can check availability online and through our contact centre.' Devout Nutella fans will soon be facing an internal dilemma as to which chocolate hazelnut spread should reign supreme. Costco recently released their own version of the Nutella product under the Costco brand name Kirkland and chocolate-lovers now have a new product to obsess over thanks to the grocery store warehouse. But for those thinking that the spread is identical to the well known Italian-based product, the main difference lays in the price discrepancy. The new spread: Costco just released its own version of the chocolate hazelnut spread Cheaper price: Costco's Kirkland version comes in a package of two 35.2-ounce jars for $7.99 in store Costco's hazelnut spread is being sold in a package of two 35.2-ounce jars for $7.99 in store and $9.99 online, while the Nutella product is being sold in two 33.5-ounce jars for four dollars more on the brand's own website. Kirkland Hazelnut Spread is also cheaper than Walmart and Amazon prices for Nutella, with two 33.5-ounce jars being sold on Amazon for $21.08 and one 33.5-ounce jar for $5.98 on Walmart's website. Last week, word of the new product got out when Reddit user, Cliffzig, posted a photo of the Costco spread to his profile where people left comments and their thoughts on the two versions. Reddit user, ricardoalonzo, commented: 'Made my Nutella and marshmallow grilled "cheese" style sandwich with this instead of Nutella. My girlfriend didnt even notice the difference. It taste the same!' And another, StraightUpBruja, wrote: 'I'll probably end up buying some and then hating myself for eating too much of it. Eight bucks for two jars is cheap.' Compare and contrast: Both products look the same but Nutella is two serving less than Kirkland Hazelnut Spread Not until 2020: One person tweeted that they wouldn't need to buy Nutella again for another two years Own version: Another tweeted said that, in true Costco form, their spread would be sold by the gallon Overload: Someone shared on social media that the Kirkland Hazelnut Spread was too much While another user, Marthalameu, couldn't contain their excitement over the new product and commented: 'I couldn't stop the drooling and didn't look at the picture long enough.' People also took to Twitter to share there thoughts on the product. One tweet said: 'Bought Kirkland hazelnut spread at Costco today. First time to see it, made with sunflower oil instead of palm oil. It's a close Nutella dupe. And since it comes in a pack of two jars, I will not be buying Nutella until 2020. Another person shared a similar tweet and said: 'So Costco now has its own version of Nutella and I assume they'll only sell it by the gallon.' And someone else asked in a tweet what they were going to do with all the 'Nutella' their mom bought them from Costco. And then there were those that though the Costco brand was better while some disagreed and thought the idea of Costco having their own hazelnut spread was unnecessary. And Perez Hilton even voiced his opinion in social media that seemed in favor of Costco's hazelnut spread. He tweeted: 'I'm so disappointed in my mom for not bringing this home.' Better: A Twitter user also shared that they thought Costco's 'house brand' was better than Nutella No improvements: Another person wasn't behind Costco's spread and tweeted about the unnecessary product Disappointed: Perez Hilton even voiced his opinion in social media that seemed in favor of the hazelnut spread Recipe change: Nutella recently announced that it slightly changed he recipe of its chocolate and hazelnut spread And while both products look delicious and somewhat identical to each other - other than the amount of hazelnut spread per jar - fans of Nutella will have to taste for themselves to see if there is a difference although it does appear that the Kirkland spread uses sunflower oil instead of palm oil. They also both have 200 calories whereas the serving for the Kirkland hazelnut spread is 27 and Nutella is 25 - both at two tablespoons (37grams) - but that's only if the entire jar isn't eaten in one sitting. And while Nutella enthusiasts may feel a little guilty about potentially jumping ship to a new hazelnut spread, they may have a reason to do so as the brand confirmed that it has changed the recipe of its chocolate and hazelnut spread. The announcement sparked a huge backlash among fans of the brand. They announced that a jar of spread made by the Italian chocolate firm, Ferrero, now contains 8.7 per cent powdered skim milk, as opposed to 7.5 per cent previously, based on an analysis of the product label. But the company assured that the quality and 'all other characteristics' would remain the same. This is the heartbreaking moment a father-of-two was told he has a brain tumour, before being later diagnosed with the same cancer that Dame Tessa Jowell is battling. Richard Powell, 54, from south London, was rushed to A&E with a suspected stroke after suffering a seizure in the middle of the night. It later emerged that he had been suffering episodes where he would struggle to speak, which he had believed was down to stress. However, a CT scan later revealed that he had a mass on his brain, with further tests showing he had a Grade 4 glioblastoma. Speaking on Channel 4's 24 Hours in A&E, his wife Mary said: 'I'm just devastated, absolutely devastated. Richard Powell, 54, from south London, was diagnosed with a bran tumour after being rushed to A&E following a seizure 'There's no point saying it's going to be alright. All you can do is say that you're going to be here, whatever happens.' Richard, who works in the aviation insurance industry, added: 'In my early days, I took the view that I'd live into my 70s and 80s. 'To suddenly say Richard, that may not even be an option to you, that's a real shock. It's something i'm still coming to terms with.' The father-of-two was later diagnosed with glioblastoma, the same brain cancer that former Labour Cabinet member Dame Tessa Jowell, pictured, is battling In Tuesday's episode of the show, Richard is seen being rushed to A&E with a suspected stroke. His wife Mary described how she'd woke up in the middle of the night to him having a seizure, with his whole body shaking uncontrollably. Describing what happened, Richard added: 'I just opened my mouth and I couldn't really get my words out. I just couldn't, I couldn't come out with any. I feel it's stress.' Mary explained how a similar thing had happened during a trip to Inverness, when her husband became emotional and struggled to speak. Richard, who works in the aviation insurance industry, is seen visibly struggling to speak when the doctor asks him if he can say anything Richard and his wife Mary (pictured together) were later told the devastating news that he had a Grade 4 glioblastoma Later in the show, Richard is seen having one of these seizures before having his CT scan. A nurse asked him whether there is anything that he's allergic to, but he was unable to reply. The doctor was then called, who asked Richard to attempt to speak - but he was seen visibly struggling to do so. About a minute later, Richard was able to talk again, saying: 'I'm fine, I'm okay'. Richard was told that it was the mass on his brain that was affecting his speech, rather than his stress or anxiety as previously believed His wife Mary said she was 'absolutely devastated' by the news, adding that 'all you can do is say that you're going to be here' However, the doctor diagnosed that the father-of-two was having focal onset seizures, with the CT scan showing that he had a mass on his brain that was affecting his speech. Later in the episode, Dr Vijay Nar is seen breaking the bad news to Richard and his wife Mary. 'On the scan, there is a small mass that we have found. 'Sometimes it's very difficult.. it can sometimes be like stress, and it can like anxiety,' he explained. Richard had previously put down his struggles with speech down to stress, but they had in fact been seizures caused by his brain tumour Further tests showed he has a Grade 4 glioblastoma, which is fast growing. He is currently undergoing intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy Dr Vijay Nar (pictured) was seen breaking the bad news to Richard and his wife Mary on 24 Hours in A&E WHAT IS A GLIOBLASTOMA? Glioblastomas are the most common cancerous brain tumours in adults. They are fast growing and likely to spread. Glioblastomas' cause is unknown but may be related to a sufferer's genes if mutations result in cells growing uncontrollably, forming a tumour. Treatment is usually surgery to remove as much of the tumour as possible, followed by a combination of radio- and chemotherapy (chemoradiation). It can be difficult to remove all of the growth as glioblastomas have tendrils that extend to other regions of the brain. These are targeted via chemoradiation. Glioblastomas are often resistant to treatment as they are usually made up of different types of cells. Therefore, medication will kill off some cells and not others. The average survival time is between 12 and 18 months. Only 20 per cent of patients live longer than a year and just three per cent survive over three years. Source: The Brain Tumour Charity Advertisement 'What you're having is real. It's related to abnormal electric activity created by a small mass.' It is later revealed that Richard has a Grade 4 glioblastoma, a type of brain tumour, that was fast growing. He is now undergoing intensive chemotherapy and radiotherapy, with the tumour currently stable. It comes after it was revealed that former Cabinet member Baroness Tessa Jowell was diagnosed with a brain tumour in May 2017 after suffering two 'powerful' seizures in a taxi. Her diagnosis came as a complete shock as she had previously suffered no symptoms. Her daughter Jess Mills told FEMAIL in an interview: 'Just the day before she had been telling me how great she felt. 'Two days after she was rushed to hospital they found a tumour. 'Mum was serene and composed and totally grounded, we were all in pieces as you can imagine. 'She was resolved that whatever it was we were going to fight it tooth and nail, optimistic and bold in her outlook as she always is.' During a candid interview on BBC's Today programme, Baroness Tessa, 70, revealed she had 'no idea' how long she has left. Stumbling over her words several times, she added that 'the tumour bloody well does this to you'. 24 Hours in A&E airs on Channel 4 on Tuesday at 9pm A mother of a child with Down's syndrome has shared how she and her husband came to embrace the diagnosis despite initially struggling with it. Together for 12 years, Amy and Chris Joy from California married seven years ago but waited before trying for children as they wanted to save money so Amy would be able to give up her job as an elementary school teacher to be a full-time stay-at-home mom. 'When it came time to start a family, it didn't come easily. After years of trying, many doctors, starting the adoption process, adding our rescue dog Ozzie to the family, countless prayers, acupuncture, chiropractors, our last embryo actually took,' Amy shared on her Instagram page. Scroll down for video Joyful: Amy and Chris Joy from California have revealed how they initially struggled when they found out their daughter Emerson, who was conceived through IVF, had Down's syndrome Early bird: The couple welcomed their daughter six weeks early on July 21st 2016 and and she spent 19 days in the NICU Long journey: Starting a family didn't come easy for the family and they tried many doctors, acupuncture, chiropractors and even considered adoption before trying IVF 'We found out 20 weeks into the pregnancy that our baby would be born with a little extra and then found out our baby is a girl. We did not take the news of her Down syndrome well. We cried more tears than I care to remember,' she admitted. Amy also shared that she thought the diagnosis meant their 'lives were over' and that they would never be a 'normal family again'. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in extra genetic material from chromosome 21. Many children with Down syndrome are also born with heart, intestine, ear, or breathing problems. And while many IVF couples have the option to have their embryos tested for genetic defects before it is implanted in the mother, it seems Amy and Chris chose not to do this. However, although offered a termination by doctors, the couple had no doubts about proceeding with the pregnancy and Emerson's arrival six weeks early on July 21, 2016 has brought immeasurable joy to their lives. 'Despite a few small medical challenges she has been rocking this thing called life,' Amy shared. Despite spending 19 days in the NICU before being allowed to go home and needing around the clock oxygen for the first nine months of her life, Amy added that Emerson or Emmy as she's known, has never let her disability get in her way despite continuing to suffer from sleep apnea. 'She is the most joyful and hardworking person I know. Watching someone work so hard for the things we take for granted makes you a better and more appreciative person. This is our journey in raising the most incredible human. We truly are #theluckyfew'. Side effects: Emerson or Emmy as she's known, needed around the clock oxygen for the first nine months of her life and also suffers from sleep apnea Unconditional love: Amy shared that although she was offered a termination at her 20 week scan when the couple received the diagnosis, that was never an option for them Informative: The Joys want to educate and inspire others about Down's syndrome through Amy's Instagram page Heart breaker: Amy added that she wants the world to know that Emmy has 'so much to offer' Amy also shared how a year before Emmy's birth, she took a screenshot on her phone of an online article about a couple with Down's syndrome getting married and believes Emmy has been brought into their lives for a reason. She explained: 'I don't remember why but I did. I remember reading the article but why I wanted to save it is a mystery. This was almost one year to the day before Emmy's due date. God was preparing me the whole time to be the mother of our amazing Emerson.' And she now hopes to inform and inspire others about Down's syndrome, and shed some light on the condition through her Instagram page. 'Once Emerson was here I realized life is more than good and I wanted to share that with the world. I have already received several messages from pregnant women who enjoy seeing how Emmy is doing as it encourages them during a nerve racking pregnancy,' she said. 'The main reason I post is because so many people have the wrong impression about DS as I once did. I want everyone to know that she is just as worthy of life as any person and she has so much to offer this world. #equality I want to shout her worth from the rooftops until every human sees her the way I do.' A mother, who was rushed to hospital in the late stages of labour, gave birth in a storeroom after her husband missed hospital's main entrance. New Zealander Essy van Blerk, 36, delivered first-born son Blake on February 20 at Christchurch Hospital - but because of confusion over directions, his birth didn't go to plan. Although Mrs van Blerk had been scheduled to meet the couple's birthing team at the front of the Christchurch Women's Hospital, her husband Deon panicked after he couldn't find parking and missed the hospital's main entry. Essy van Blerk (pictured left) with her new son Blake who was born in a hospital storeroom Missed directions to the main entrance to the hospital meant this wee bub made an unintentionally dramatic entrance to the world 'We couldn't find any parking, and I was screaming in the car because I could feel his head coming out,' Mrs van Blerk told FEMAIL. 'We parked wherever we could - we didn't know the entry wasn't directly linked to the Christchurch Women's Hospital.' The pair, who had made their way inside another part of the hospital, were found by orderlies manager and Alan Heney and trainer Daniel Meyer. The two quickly made alternative arrangements for the baby's imminent birth. Baby Blake (pictured) made a dramatic entrance into the world after being born within five minutes of arriving at hospital Mr Heney and Mr Meyer steered the couple to an empty room normally used for wheelchairs and set about making the space a little more private by tacking up sheets as curtains. Other hospital staff were also alerted and within minutes a team of midwives and nurses gathered to help the new mum deliver her baby who was born in under five minutes. The mother and child were then taken straight to a birthing suite where baby Blake was washed and weighed. Baby Blake with his father Deon (pictured) left. The well-meaning dad panicked after his wife revealed she could feel the baby's head coming on the drive to the hospital Recalling the event, the new mother said she woke up 2am that morning with cramps ahead of her waters breaking. She said not long after she started having intense contractions and a decision was made by the pair, under the guidance of her midwife, to head to the hospital. The couple set off from their home at around 9am, Mrs van Blerk explained. But what should have been a 27-minute ride from their home on a normal day took much longer because of peak hour traffic. Blissfully unaware: The van Blerk's son is now a week old and has fully recovered from his unusual birth 'I was in the back seat and it was really painful,' she said. The proud mother said her baby has recovered well from his unusual birth and both are at home and doing well. 'He's a week old today, and he's feeding well. The midwife has already come to check him three times this week and everything is fine.' More people are travelling than ever before, but at the same time, people are using travel agents less and less. Marie Sulda, founder of Australian website Kaleidoscopic Travel, said she has people telling her that they often prefer to organise trips themselves online. But what about those who need help finding the perfect trip for them? This is when a travel designer comes in - a niche service her website is filling. 'We are now moving into an era of travel by design. Every traveller is looking for a unique holiday experience,' she told FEMAIL. Marie explained that most often consumers will end up paying the same price when they direct it with the travel designers, sometimes even less (stock image) 'We don't charge a fee to design, we get paid a commission from the suppliers we use, from hotels and airlines,' Marie said. She explained that most often consumers will end up paying the same price when they direct it with the travel designers, sometimes even less. Marie said travel designers take it a step further than a traditional agent as they take into account the personality of the individual. They figure out their likes and dislikes and their budget and orchestrate a package accordingly. Marie Sulda, founder of Australian website Kaleidoscopic Travel, said she has people telling her that they often prefer to organise trips themselves online (pictured) Travel design takes it a step further than an agent as they take into account the personality of the individual At the moment Marie has 13 different travel designers available, each with different interests and skill sets. 'By sitting down and having a relaxed conversation about the experience someone wants to have on their travels, an experienced travel designer will be able to match the right products so they will have the best holiday or business trip,' Marie said. 'A good travel designer is like a chameleon, they will be able to put themselves in your shoes and design a holiday that is about you,' she continued. TIPS ON PICKING A TRAVEL DESIGNER 1. Check the designer's social media accounts and blogs - do you like what you see? 2. Has the travel designer been to the destination you're travelling to? 3. What does the travel designer specialise in? Luxury, active holidays, cruising or family holidays? 4. What will suit your initial holiday needs? Advertisement Your personal travel bundle will vary in price depending on where you want to go and what you want to do. The website has also thought about those who might be too time poor to sit and talk with a travel designer so they have organised bundles which provide a taste of their services. Each one ranges in price depending on what kind of adventure you want to undertake, ranging from $529 per person if you want to visit Seminyak in Bali to $2745 if you want to see the pyramids in Egypt. The Bali package includes a six night stay in a resort and spa, private airport transfers, a 15 minute welcome massage and 200,000 Rupiah credit to spend in the spa. If you would rather a taste of adventure the pyramids package will see you exploring Egypt and Jordan for 14 days with a degree-qualified Egyptologist. You will stay in four or five star accommodation, sleep on an overnight train journey and experience a 'deluxe' desert camp experience. The website has also thought about those who might be too time poor to sit and talk with a travel designer The site has also considered those who want to travel but have a baby in-tow, with travel designer, Alicia Wilson, sharing her expert tips with FEMAIL for travelling with a baby. 'The thought of a holiday with a baby can be overwhelming. Let's face it it feels like you need to take half the house with you just to go for bread and milk,' she said. Having a baby doesn't mean you have to stop exploring the world, so Alicia has shared how you can make it as easy as possible. 'On the flight, request a bassinet and bulkhead seating. Aside from the extra leg room, most airlines are also happy for little ones to be set up to play at your feet there during the flight,' she explained. The site has also considered those who want to travel but have a baby in-tow, with travel designer, Alicia Wilson, sharing her expert tips with FEMAIL for travelling with a baby (pictured) TIPS FOR TRAVELLING WITH A BABY 1. On the flight, request a bassinet and bulkhead seating. 2. Take your usual baby bag. 3. Pack individual nappies in a snap lock bag. 4. Pack a dummy and bottle to help with your babies ears when flying. 5. A baby carrier will help settle your baby. 6. Limit your hand luggage as much as possible. 7. Take a stroller if your airline allows it. 8. Or buy a cheap stroller on arrival and then donate it when you're done. 9. Ask hotels to provide a cot. 10. Check the age limits at resorts and the availability of baby sitters. Advertisement Often people will be on a flight and will be able to hear a baby screaming, which is often thanks to the cabin pressure. 'You can help little ears with the cabin pressure by having a dummy or bottle ready during take-off and landing,' she recommended. Alicia also explained that most hotels will provide a cot if booked in advance. 'Going the extra mile, a gorgeous hotel in the Philippines has a baby amenities menu in the room forgot to pack the baby bath, steriliser, pool floaties or bouncer? They have it covered,' she said. 'There is even a company in Bali who hire out temporary fencing to protect little guests from unfenced villa pools. 'Chances are if you need it, someone has thought of it.' You won't be the first one travelling with your bundle of joy, so there are an abundance of services that can help with what you need. 'Go get that first stamp in their new passport and enjoy the adventure.' An Australian designer has just launched a new swimwear range made entirely from fabric that recycles old fishing nets and bits of plastic. Isobel Campbell, 27, heads up label Okay Pretty - a label she founded after she returned from a three-year design stint in London. Her new line is a playful mix of quirky design and edgy cool. It's one she said was both inspired by the ocean as well as a by a sense of duty to protect it. Okay Pretty designer 27-year-old Brisbane-based Isobel Campbell (pictured) 'The brand is called Okay Pretty because it leaves the planet a little bit prettier after every purchase,' she told FEMAIL. The effusive Ms Campbell explained that her new line uses a fabric called Econyl which is made from a recycled waste material such as recovered fishing nets and other scraps of nylon. 'The actual fabric is super soft and you'd never have guessed it was made from old fishing nets,' she said. The designer's nine-piece range has been created from a fabric which uses regenerated material Although Okay Pretty is a new business venture, the budding entrepreneur said she had always wanted to launch her own line. 'It was never a question of do I want to do my own label but more of when do I want it and how big will it be? 'I chose to express myself through swimwear because its like a uniform for the fun, freedom and frivolity of holidays. Ms Campbell's off-beat designs are a hit among those with an eye for swimwear that's a little more unique 'Okay Pretty is my release for the creativity that bubbles in me.' Her debut collection, called Sweat Peach, she revealed was a 'pink-hazed tribute to my Australian roots, evoking summer days I enjoyed while living in Noosa, Byron Bay and Bondi.' The 27-year-old, who studied Fine Arts and Fashion at the Queensland University of Technology, revealed she has been designing for the past eight years. The designer's first swimwear line is called called Sweat Peach and is a tribute to her 'pink-hazed Australian roots' She said spending three years working in London at Lazy Oaf - a clothing company that embraced a more quirky aesthetic - sharpened her own abilities for creating more interesting designs. Ms Campbell said growing up near waterways around the Sunshine Coast instilled an appreciation and respect for the environment, and forged a passion for helping to protect it. 'The ocean has always given me such joy and there was no way that I was going to create something that would damage it.' 'I began researching alternatives that would reduce Okay Pretty's impact on the environment and came across Econyl. The 27-year-old studied Fine Arts and Fashion at the Queensland University of Technology and has been designing clothing for the past eight years 'The material not only reduces our impact on the environment, it actually improves it by cleaning up existing seafloor rubbish!' The designer's range consists of nine piece collection including bikinis, and one-piece bathers - and so far she said the response has been 'overwhelming.' 'There has been so much love for the collection particularly the banana print - everyone loves how fun it is.' Part of the swimwear range's appeal is that it's designed to help women feel about themselves while wearing it Ms Campbell said part of the appeal of her swimwear range is that it's designed to help women feel good about themselves when wearing it. And she credits this for why the range been so popular, so much so she has already had to reorder some sell-out styles. 'Women should feel alive and beautiful in swimwear with absolutely zero self-doubts, I like to think that Okay Pretty helps us with this,' she concluded. Love her or hate her - Kylie Jenner has become one of the most influential stars for her famous plumped pout. And it's no wonder the reality star - who confessed she had lip injections at the age of 17 - has fuelled a spike in the number of people turning to cosmetic surgery in recent years. Here, two Australian women reveal the real reasons behind why they made the decision to get their lips surgically enhanced from such a young age. Summer Wilson was just 17 when she got lip injections after her mother gave her consent Now aged 19, Summer said she has no regrets over her decision to get lip injections so young Summer Wilson, from Victoria, was just 17 years old when she got lip injections after her mother gave her consent. 'I remember I was in Year 9, I started realising I didn't have an upper lip - it was very small, almost non-existent,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'I know it seems weird but that's how I felt. I had a reason for wanting it, I wanted to boost my confidence.' She revealed she first became interested in cosmetic fillers at the age of 15 when she noticed her thin upper lip. 'I was interested in lip fillers at a young age,' Summer said. 'I know it wasn't a phase but it was something I felt quite insecure about. People would say to me: 'You don't have a top lip' - the comments actually hurt me. 'I was very sensitive because my lips were something I didn't like about myself. I got quite self conscious about them.' She explained how she would try to get her lips to appear bigger naturally - from rubbing them together or sucking on a lip enhancement tool. But eventually she nixed that fix, opting to undergo cosmetic procedure to enhance her lips at the age of 17. 'I loved it,' she said. Reality star Kylie Jenner has become one of the most influential stars who confessed she had lip injections at the age of 17 Now aged 19, Summer said she has no regrets over her decision to get lip injections so young. 'I've been back to the clinic around five times now,' she said. 'My lips are exactly where I wanted. I started off with half a ml because you don't want to shove too much fillers into your lip at once. 'It's a natural look. It's taken me two years to get the desire look I want.' And while Summer said she believed celebrities such as Kylie Jenner normalised lip injections, she made the decision to undergo needles on her own. 'There was no inspiration behind why I get them done,' she said. 'It was more encouraging me after seeing young people getting them done, and realising "okay, it's not a bad thing if I do it too".' After going public about her lip fillers two years ago, Summer said she felt like 'I'm empowering young women' who have turned to her for advice. Before and after: Madison, from Sydney, said she started getting lip injections at the age of 18 Madison, who lives in Sydney's Marayong, said she started getting lip injections at the age of 18. 'I didn't hate my appearance before, and was aware that I didn't "need" any cosmetic surgery, but bigger lips fit my personal aesthetic ideals more,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'Celebrities like Kylie Jenner were never motivators for me to get cosmetic surgery, I've always wanted it for myself. 'The only people who I looked to as realistic inspiration for my work were the patients featured on Dr Naomi's Instagram, but that was only after I'd already decided what I wanted done.' After undergoing three lip injections, the now-19-year-old woman said she doesn't think the procedure suits everyone. 'I firmly believe that cosmetic surgery is not something that can be "recommended" to anyone,' she said. 'You have to want to do it for yourself and make your own decisions about it. It's all about bodily autonomy.' The now-19-year-old woman said celebrities never motivated her decision to get lip injections Sydney cosmetic surgeon Naomi McCullum (pictured) said her clinic only treats people over the age of 18 with injectables Sydney cosmetic surgeon Naomi McCullum told Daily Mail Australia her clinic only treats people over the age of 18 with injectables. 'We occasionally get some get some requests, but we just tell them to wait until their 18th birthday,' she said. 'For our clinic, it is just a matter of policy that we choose to only treat over 18s. When we create an age policy, the line has to be drawn somewhere, and I suppose the lowest risk comes from taking this conservative option.' Astonishingly, Dr Naomi explained women's 'beauty mindset' remains the same no matter what the age. 'A beauty achieving mindset, is something that may start from a young age, and is often present forever,' she said. 'I can definitely see the unfairness in our policy, as I know when I was 16, if lip fillers or Belkyra were available, I sure would have wanted them. 'I also would have been capable of making informed decisions such as understanding the risks and more. 'However, one good thing about our policy is that it gives teens something to look forward to. I think that's what's happening now.' Advertisement The Duchess of Cambridge joked that her husband is 'in denial' about their third child yesterday after sharing an emotional embrace with her former midwife as she celebrated nursing worldwide. Kate's lighthearted comment came as she visited a leading London hospital to launch the Nursing Now global campaign, aimed at raising the status and profile of nurses, and praised the health workers who 'look after us in our happiest and saddest times'. Earlier she visited the London headquarters of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) as she was named patron of the organisation and gave her former midwife, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, a hug. Before launching the Nursing Now campaign Kate met Lauren Kedwell, 36, and Jamie Parsons, 33, from Upper Beeding, West Sussex, whose daughter is being treated on the Snow Leopard ward at St Thomas' Hospital where nurses, not doctors, take the lead in patient care. Mr Parsons said: 'I said 'congratulations, best of luck with the third one' and she said 'William's in denial'.' Scroll down for video Blast from the past: Kate, who is currently expecting her third child, spotted Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent among a crowd of guests during a visit to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in Marylebone today Growing family: The Duchess joked that her husband is 'in denial' about their third child after sharing an emotional embrace with her former midwife as she celebrated nursing worldwide (pictured with Charlotte, two and George, four) Caring Kate! The Duchess meets ten-month-old Amara Kedwell- Parsons who was born prematurely and is a patient on the children's 'Snow leopard' ward of St Thomas' hospital in London The Duchess of Cambridge is led by five year old Bella Kedwell- Parsons along a corridor of the children's 'Snow leopard' ward of St Thomas' hospital in London while talking to director of nursing Janet Powell (right) and followed by Bella's brother Bobby His 10-month-old daughter Amara Kedwell-Parsons has never been home but has been treated in six hospitals for Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a brain injury caused by oxygen starvation. Kate put the couple at ease and made silly noises at the infant as she sat in a chair. Ms Kedwell said: 'She was 'going at my daughter,' while her partner added: 'She was just very understanding but also you could tell that she did have empathy and could see it was just a scenario that was challenging for us.' The duchess spoke about her family connection with the health profession when she addressed nursing organisations and medical leaders from a range of countries including Norway, Uganda, Bahamas and Thailand, as she launched Nursing Now. She said: 'This campaign means a lot to me personally. My great-grandmother and grandmother were both volunteer nurses. They would have learned first-hand from working with the Voluntary Aid Detachment and the Red Cross about the care and compassion that sometimes only nurses can provide.' Kate, who wore a two-piece blue Jenny Packham dress and coat, praised nurses for their 'awe-inspiring' dedication and professionalism adding: 'I was surprised to learn that to keep pace with the rising global demand, the world will need an additional 9 million nurses by 2030. 'In simple terms, that's about 2,000 more nurses every day for the next 12 years. This shows that we must act now to support and develop nurses with the skills and talent to cope with the future global health needs.' The duchess, who earlier was named patron of the campaign, added: 'Nursing Now is a call to raise the profile of nursing internationally and to help grow the profession further so it can play a key role in meeting real health challenges across the world.' As she left, Kate thanked RCOG president Lesley Regan and added: 'It was so great to see Jacqui as well.' Professor Regan also appeared to let slip that Kate would be giving birth to her third child at St. Mary's Hospital - as she did with George, four, and Charlotte, two - during a speech on Tuesday morning. Kate talks with nurses during a visit to St Thomas' Hospital, London, on Tuesday to officially launch a campaign to promote nursing worldwide Reunion: The Duchess, who is due in April, seemed delighted and hugged the midwife as they exchanged a few brief words on Tuesday afternoon The Duchess of Cambridge collapsed into fits of giggles as she chatted to staff at RCOG in London's Marylebone on Tuesday. Kensington Palace announced yesterday morning she had become the college's new patron - along with the Nurse Now campaign All smiles: The Duchess looked to be in excellent spirits as she chatted to staff at the RCOG this morning - the first engagement in a busy day for Kate who will later learn about the Nurse Now campaign at St. Thomas' Hospital Kensington Palace declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. Kate, wearing a two-piece blue Jenny Packham dress and coat, met trainees and professionals during her visit to RCOG, which works to improve healthcare for women. It was announced today that Kate has become patron of RCOG and the Nursing Now campaign, a global initiative to raise the status and profile of nurses. She watched with interest as trainees demonstrated how they would perform keyhole surgery and stitch up skin following a caesarean and congratulated those nearing the end of the training. As she was shown around, Kate paused to observe a painting of the Queen opening the building in 1960. Presenting Kate with a certificate to mark her patronage, Professor Regan said: 'On behalf of everyone here present, I would like to extend our very best wishes for the birth of your third child. 'I'm confident that you will receive excellent care from the wonderful team at my own hospital, as indeed you received for the births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. 'Thank you once again for visiting the college today, becoming our patron and for showing such passionate interest in our work. 'We look forward to a very long and fruitful relationship with you and your family.' The 36-year-old royal's visit today came just hours after Kensington Palace announced the Duchess had become RCOG's new patron. Kate paired her bespoke coat with a pair of suede Jimmy Choo pumps, a 8,400 Tanzanite pendant and matching earrings from G. Collins & Sons, and a Stuart Weitzman clutch as she touched down in Marylebone on Tuesday. Kate wore a collarless blue coat and matching dress with white piping for her visit to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists on Tuesday, just hours after it was announced she had become RCOG's new patron Painted lady: The Duchess was still sporting traces of a henna tattoo she had during a visit to a community centre in Sunderland last week (pictured), having evidently struggled to scrub the semi-permanent inking off The Duchess, sporting a bouncy blow dry, was glowing as she arrived at the RCOG this morning after being announced patron. During her visit today she will discuss maternal mental health, a subject close to her heart The Duchess learned about the college's global health programmes this morning, designed to reduce maternal and newborn mortality worldwide, and also attended a discussion on tackling the stigma around women's health - in particular, maternal mental health, a subject on which she has spoken extensively in the past. And her vibrant blue ensemble has caused bookies to rate it an equal chance that Kate's outfit is a nod to her third child - despite odds previously being in favour of her having a girl. Still visible on Kate's right hand was a henna tattoo she got during a visit to Sunderland's new Northern Spire bridge six days ago, which she had evidently had trouble scrubbing off. During today's visit, the Duchess heard about the RCOG's education and training programmes for doctors wishing to specialise in this field, and how practical examinations fit into the training process. The Duchess could be seen clutching a colourful bouquet of flowers as she left the RCOG in London this morning - marking the end of her first ever visit to the colleague as patron. She appeared to have handed her clutch to an assistant The Duchess, dressed in head to toe blue, breaks into a smile as she watches a presentation at the RCOG today. The 36-year-old royal learned about the college's global health programme during her visit on Tuesday She then learned how the college's workshops and continued training support trainee doctors to develop safe surgical techniques and essential clinical skills in obstetrics and gynaecology. The Duchess also learned more about the work carried out by the RCOG's Centre for Women's Global Health, which supports communities across the world with women's maternal and gynaecological health, and aims to reduce maternal and newborn fatalities. Kate is particularly interesting in hearing about the Leading Safe Choices programme, which operates in South Africa and Tanzania, according to Kensington Palace. Her visit today kicked off with a discussion focused on exploring how the stigma which surrounds women's health, and in particular maternal mental health, can be challenged. Important cause: Kate was keen, in particular, to learn about maternal mental health, a subject on which she has spoken extensively in the past during her visit to the RCOG on Tuesday morning. She will later head to St. Thomas' Hospital The Duchess is flanked by RCOG staff including president Lesley Regan (second right) following her visit this morning. Kate opted for a bespoke blue Jenny Packham ensemble, teamed with a 8,400 necklace and matching earrings The Duchess was keen to learn more about women's health, and in particular maternal health, during her visit today Subtle clue? Her vibrant blue ensemble has caused bookies to rate it an equal chance that Kate's outfit is a nod to her third child - despite odds previously being in favour of her having a girl Blooming lovely: Kate was all smiles as she bid farewell to her hosts, including Professor Lesley Regan (left), at RCOG in London's Marylebone this morning, accepting a pretty bouquet of flowers at the door Commenting on Kate's new appointment today, Prof. Lesley Regan (left) said: 'We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness whose support will help to raise our profile as a medical charity that champions the provision of high quality women's healthcare at home and beyond' The Duchess's decision to dress in head-to-toe blue was taken by some as a hint about her impending arrival in April The Duchess's decision to wear head to toe blue - from her jewellery to her bespoke Jenny Packham coat - has sent bookies into a frenzy, as punters speculate on whether her ensemble is a nod to the impending arrival of a little boy Kate was deep in conversation with Lesley Regan (left) as they left the centre today. The professor said she was 'absolutely thrilled that The Duchess of Cambridge has graciously accepted our invitation to become the RCOG's second Patron' Old favourite: Kate turned to one of her preferred designers, Jenny Packham, for her outfit today -pairing a coat with a bespoke maternity dress and matching Tanzanite jewellery from G. Collins & Sons The Duchess looked to be in good spirits as she left the RCOG today after meeting with staff and attending a discussion Head to toe blue: The Duchess paired her vibrant coat with a pair of blue suede pumps, a sapphire pendant and matching earrings as she touched down in Marylebone on Tuesday morning The RCOG works to improve healthcare for women everywhere, by setting standards for clinical practice, providing doctors with training and lifelong learning, and advocating for women's healthcare worldwide. Founded in 1929, the College now has over 16,000 members worldwide, and works with a range of partners both in the UK and globally to encourage the study of obstetrics and gynaecology and advance its science and practice. Following a lunch break, Kate travelled to London's St Thomas' Hospital to help launch a campaign to promote nursing worldwide. She is launching the three-year Nursing Now campaign with a hospital visit and talks with nurses from different nations about the value of the work they do. The scheme aims to support nurses to become leaders so they can play a greater role in health policy decision-making, helping countries meet the pressing health challenges of the modern-day world. Kate is set to visit the Snow Leopard ward during her visit, to get a first-hand look of the work the nurses do in caring for children who need help breathing to stay alive. Important cause: During her visit today, royal is set to learn about the college's global health programmes designed to reduce maternal and newborn mortality, and will attend a discussion on tackling the stigma around women's health Body art: Still visible on Kate's right hand was a henna tattoo she had during a visit to Sunderland's Northern Spire bridge - a new community project - six days ago The nurse-led team trains carers and relatives how to use the children's ventilation equipment to prepare them for going home. Kate will then join a roundtable discussion with nurses across the career spectrum, from trainees to consultant nurses, and from a range of different countries to find out what it means to be a 21st century nurse and what impact the Nursing Now campaign could have on the profession. Finally, The Duchess will join a launch event in the Main Hall to deliver a speech to mark the launch of the Nursing Now campaign. Nurse Now is being run as a programme of the Burdett Trust for Nursing, in collaboration with the International Council of Nurses and the World Health Organization (WHO). The three-year global campaign was founded by nurses and other health experts based on the findings of the 2016 Triple Impact report, produced by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health. It found that empowering nurses boosts health globally and also helps improve gender equality and build stronger economies. Kate, who is expecting her third child in less than two months, was beaming as she arrived in Marylebone this morning Guest of honour: During her visit today, the Duchess will firstly hear about the RCOG's education and training programmes for doctors wishing to specialise in this field, and how practical examinations fit into the training process Pregnancy glow: Kate kept her makeup to a minimum, sporting just a hint of blusher along with her signature smoky eye Kate paired her blue ensemble with an 8,000 pendant and matching earrings from G. Collins & Sons this morning Kensington Palace announced this morning that the Duchess has officially become Patron of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), as well as Patron of the Nursing Now campaign. The Duchess has seen first-hand the impact of front-line medical professionals during visits to hospitals and hospices, and through her work in support of children's mental health and early intervention. The Duchess' patronages at RCOG and Nursing Now provide an opportunity to shine a light on these vital professions, both in the UK and internationally. Professor Lesley Regan, President of the RCOG, said: 'I am absolutely thrilled that The Duchess of Cambridge has graciously accepted our invitation to become the RCOG's second Patron, after Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. It is a great honour for the College, now in its 89th year, and its 16,000 members in the UK and around the world. Paired to perfection: Kate teamed her blue coat and dress with a small suede clutch, G. Collins jewellery and pumps Kate, who was sporting a slightly darker shade of chestnut brown, showcased a bouncy blow dry this morning The Duchess, who is just weeks away from welcoming her third baby, was showcasing an unmistakable pregnancy glow During her visit today, Kate will see how the college's workshops and continued training support trainee doctors to develop safe surgical techniques and essential clinical skills in obstetrics and gynaecology The Duchess looked to be in excellent spirits as she chatted to Lesley Regan, President of the Royal College of Obstretitians and Gynaecologists During her visit today, the Duchess will learn about the work carried out by the RCOG's Centre for Women's Global Health, which supports communities across the world with women's maternal and gynaecological health While meeting staff at the RCOG this morning, Kate will also hear about the Leading Safe Choices programme, which operates in South Africa and Tanzania She may be seven months pregnant, but Kate was looking incredibly svelte as she arrived at RCOG this morning, flanked by Lesley Regan (left). She teamed her bespoke Jenny Packham coat with Jimmy Choo heels and a Stuart Weitzman clutch While Britain is being battered by the 'Beast from the East', Kate appeared unaffected by the blustery conditions, donning a thin blue coat and a pair of sheer tights 'We are very grateful to Her Royal Highness whose support will help to raise our profile as a medical charity that champions the provision of high quality women's healthcare at home and beyond. 'We know that maternal health and mental wellbeing is an issue close to The Duchess's heart, as a young mother herself. We hope that this new relationship will build on our work to improve healthcare for women everywhere, and ensure that women's views on the care they receive are at the heart of everything we do.' Lord Nigel Crisp, Co-Chair Nursing Now Campaign, said: 'On behalf of Nursing Now supporters across the world I am delighted to welcome HRH The Duchess of Cambridge as our Patron. 'Our campaign aims to improve health globally by raising the profile and status of nurses worldwide influencing policymakers and supporting nurses themselves to lead, learn and build a global movement. 'We are delighted to have a Patron with such a strong commitment to nursing and a history in her family of volunteer nurses. We look forward to working with Her Royal Highness as we support nursing and nurses across the world.' Moment eminent professor accidentally let slip Kate's birth plans Professor Lesley Regan appeared to accidentally let slip that Kate would be giving birth to her third child at St. Mary's Hospital - as she did with George, four, and Charlotte, two - during a speech this morning. Presenting Kate with a certificate to mark her patronage, Professor Regan said: 'On behalf of everyone here present, I would like to extend our very best wishes for the birth of your third child. 'I'm confident that you will receive excellent care from the wonderful team at my own hospital, as indeed you received for the births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.' She added: 'We look forward to a very long and fruitful relationship with you and your family.' The Cambridge children were born in the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital, Paddington, where the 5,000-a-night suites have the latest technology and access to St Mary's next door in the event of an emergency. Kensington Palace declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline. A transgender woman has revealed her shock at scooping 10,000 worth of plastic surgery after entering her first beauty pageant. Make-up artist Samantha Gooding, 26, from Southend, who was born a man but has been living as a woman since she came out at 19, impressed judges at the Miss Transgender UK contest in Brighton in November - scooping an award for the best speech on the night. Looking on were representatives of a Thai hospital that specialises in plastic surgery, who selected Samantha as their 'dream girl' - and presented her with a voucher for 10,000 worth of procedures. Now Samantha is set to travel to the luxury five-star hospital in Thailand where she plans to spend the vouchers on getting her 'boobs and face done'. Samantha Gooding, 26, from Southend was presented with 10,000 worth of cosmetic surgery vouchers by a Thai hospital after impressing at the Miss Transgender UK contest in Brighton Life-changing: While Samantha says she's not yet ready for full gender reassignment surgery, she says the opportunity to have breast implants and surgery on her face is hugely significant She said: 'When I won, I was over the moon. I am in a place now where I would like to consider gender reassignment surgery, too. She explains: 'Not yet, though. It's a huge decision and I want to talk about it really thoroughly with my counsellor first. 'But I'll happily settle for a boob job and having my face tweaked in Thailand first that alone will change my life.' Samantha says the victory is a far cry from when, aged just 19, she told her parents she could no longer live as a boy called Stephen. She says: 'Mum just asked me what was up one day in the kitchen. 'I replied, 'I don't want to be a boy anymore. 'I guess, I blurted it out, as I was concerned about how they would react. 'But, immediately, they sat me down and we talked about it. They were shocked, of course, but they have been incredibly supportive saying that as long as I'm happy and know what I'm doing, then they'll be happy.' Living and working full-time as a woman since June 2016, Samantha has been referred by her GP to London's Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust the interim provider of the Gender Identity Clinic. Samantha as Stephen; the make-up artist first came out to his parents in his kitchen at just 19 Samantha, who first came out as trans at just 19, says winning the pageant has helped her confidence to 'skyrocket' While she is yet to start hormone treatment, she has had counselling with her parents also attending some sessions. She continued: 'The first thing I did was go to my GP. I just said, 'This is who I am and I don't know what to do about it.' He referred me to a counsellor, who confirmed I am transgender and to Tavistock and Portman, but there's a huge waiting list. Mum just asked me what was up one day in the kitchen. I replied, 'I don't want to be a boy anymore'. Samantha Gooding 'With my previous job, people knew about me being transgender. but it was mainly a social thing, so I wouldn't dress as a woman at work. 'I got a new job in June 2016, working for a big cosmetics brand in a department store, and decided to take the opportunity to go into it all guns blazing. Since then, I've been living as a woman full time, every single day. It is just my normal now.' And, since finding the courage to join the pageant circuit and competing in the Miss Transgender competition last year, as well as winning plaudits, she has won 10,000 worth of surgery. After raising money for LGBT charities in Brighton, Samantha won a place in the finals of Miss Transgender UK but says she never expected to win Pictured chatting to one of the pageant's judges, Samantha says she's finally comfortable in her own skin Stephen has been under London's Tavistock clinic since being referred by his GP 'All guns blazing:' Samantha decided to live as a woman full-time after starting a new job and says it's now her new normal Of the night she won, Samantha says: 'My friend recommended doing pageants when I first came out, but I wasn't ready. Then she suggested it again last year and I agreed. 'I was a finalist, as it was judged on how much money you could raise for the charity Wish Me Well for LGBT teens in Brighton. East Sussex, and I raised just under 1000. She said: 'Being in the pageant has helped my confidence to sky rocket. I am now with a new cosmetics brand, in a new location and they have been amazing. 'It's never an issue at work and it's helped me grow in confidence even more.' Piers Morgan has slammed a headteacher who says he has banned his pupils from playing with snow. Ges Smith, who runs the Jo Richardson Community School in Dagenham, East London, doesn't let children have snowball fights because he has a 'duty of care' to stop them from getting hurt. Piers, 52, called Smith a 'killjoy' and jokingly compared his school to a 'prison camp' on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday. He accused the teacher of keeping the pupils wrapped in 'cotton wool' as viewers said 'the world has gone' mad for banning children from snowball fights. Piers Morgan, 52, said a teacher who banned pupils from touching snow and having snowball fights was a 'killjoy' Smith said there was a danger of pupils putting grit or stones into snowballs to deliberate injure each other. He said: 'We've got a duty of care and that duty care has got to be extended. He went on: 'The rules are don't touch the snow, if you don't touch the snow you're not going to throw it. 'There's a thing about being fit for work, being ready for school. If you're soaking wet and you're hands are cold you've been involved in a fight, you've had something thrown at you, if the last thing you did before go.' Piers was clearly outraged at the school's rule, saying children should be free to enjoy a snowball fight on the rare occasions the UK has snow. Ges Smith, who runs the Jo Richardson Community School in Dagenham, has banned snowball fights to protect his pupils from injury Twitter users were shocked by the headteacher's rule, with one joking that they'd like to set up a snowball fight outside the school He said: 'I just think this is way too killjoy. Kids love snow we only get snow three, four days a year maximum the ideas kids can't have a snowball fight or just fall in the snow. 'My daughter came home, six-years-old, she was just so happy to be in snow but old killjoy Ges there ''Oh no can't have you in snow enjoying yourself, you come in here into your prison camp!''' Piers also accused the teacher of wrapping his pupils in 'cotton wool', and questioned what kind of adults they would turn out to be. He continued: 'Do you think there's a slight danger of putting them in so much cotton wool they're completely unprepared for real life? Other said banning snowball fights was stopping the pupils from enjoying their childhoods 'When I grew up I played conkers, I had snowball fights, I got occasionally a bit wet and went to school in my wet clothes. I didn't die I'm fine it toughened me up.' Viewers sided with Piers in the debate, with many saying 'let kids be kids'. One tweeted: 'Can't believe they are debating on banning snowball fights in schools .. what ever next! .. let kids be kids they take too much of their childhood already [sic]!' 'Most ridiculous thing Ive ever heard, How do they get into school? Levitation??' another posted. Piers accused the teacher of wrapping the pupils in 'cotton wool' and leaving them 'unprepared' for adult life Heated: The journalist even jokingly compared the teacher's school to a 'prison camp' A third said: 'How does that protect a child in anyway. You cant stop a child from touching the snow, thats ridiculous!' Smith faced journalist Amy Nicholl, who joked that his rule must come from a bad experience with snow. She said: 'I feel like youve had a very unsavoury experience with a snowball as a child, that can be the only explanation here something must have gone wrong. She described her first cover shoot with Vogue India this week as 'beautiful'. But Kim Kardashian has sparked fury by wearing a traditional lehenga skirt in her latest glossy fashion spread. The 37-year-old reality star was dressed in a patterned skirt, dupatta (shawl) and blouse from Anita Dongre - the Indian label that went stratospheric after the Duchess of Cambridge wore one of its designs in 2016 - for the shoot in LA. And readers were not only angered by Kim's choice of outfit - labelling it 'tragic' - they also questioned the magazine's decision to feature the star on the cover rather than an Indian woman. MailOnline has contacted Vogue India for comment. Scroll down for video The reality star turned businesswoman posed on the cover of Vogue India for its March issue, but her casting - along with her choice of outfit - has angered readers on social media Posing for photographer Greg Swales, Kim spoke about growing up in her famous family, documenting her everyday life on camera, and building her business empire. But one reader wrote: 'Umm Kim K for Vogue India? Wearing a lehenga?' Another reader blasted: 'I can't believe @VogueIndia featured Kim Kardashian on their cover as if we don't see her featured on a different magazine every day. 'India's Vogue should embrace and feature their own south Asian women instead of choosing someone from pop culture.' One even accused the fashion bible of 'perpetuating a detrimental cycle of underrepresentation', adding: 'Stop white washing your own damn culture.' Backlash: Readers were not only angered by Kim's outfit - labelling it 'tragic' - they also questioned the magazine's decision to feature her on the cover rather than an Indian woman However not everyone was upset by the cover; The Quint praised the 'stunning' images, writing: 'Kim Kardashian in an Indian label - yes, it finally happened.' Others were quick to point out that Vogue India only feature international models 'once in a blue moon' - with the majority of their cover stars being Indian. Actresses Deepika Padukone and Kareena Kapoor were Kim's predecessors - with one notable exception being Kim's half-sister Kendall Jenner, who also raised eyebrows when she graced its cover in May 2017. One reader blasted: 'I can't believe @VogueIndia featured Kim Kardashian on their cover as if we don't see her featured on a different magazine every day' In her Q&A with Vogue India this week, the reality television star admitted that she 'didn't actually' imagine her incredible empire growing to the size it is today. 'I thought I was just going to run my clothing store,' Kim said. 'I didnt think [the show] would go beyond season 1 or 2. And then as things were happening, my mom and I were so excited.' 'We didnt even know what we were starting, but we knew we were in it together,' she added. 'We definitely made so many mistakes. At first, we would be involved in anything. But it helped us work our way up to now, to launching a beauty brand completely by myself, and funding it all.' Presidente Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, es recbidopor presidente de Colombia, Juan Manuel Santos, en Cumbre Iberoamericana de Cartagena de Indias. Sacha Parkinson has revealed how she collapsed from 'excrutiating' pain while exercising - but didn't know she was secretly battling endometriosis. The Coronation Street star, 25, had suffered with heavy and painful periods for years but thought they were normal symptoms, and it wasn't until she collapsed that she was diagnosed with the condition. Speaking on ITV's Lorraine today, Sacha, who is originally from Salford, revealed how she crawled across the hotel room floor to get into bed and worried that no one would find her until it was too late as she thought she might be dying from some unknown cause. Sacha, who played Sian in Corrie, revealed her battle with the condition in an emotional Instagram post in which she could be seen lying in her hospital bed after a having an operation on her ovaries. Coronation Street star Sacha Parkinson, 25, revealed that she collapsed from pain she didn't know was from endometriosis As well as her painful periods, Sacha would have a 'dull ache' in the bottom of her stomach throughout the month and she would experience pain during sex. But it wouldn't be until she collapsed in her Los Angeles hotel room after exercising that she knew something was wrong. Sacha explained: 'I started doing burpees, which is the most horrendous movement ever, and I was on the third one and I just dropped to the floor. I've never had that in my life so I didn't know what was happening. 'I immediately started pumping with sweat and I was boiling. I just remember army crawling from one side of the hotel room to where the bathroom was because it was tiled floor and I knew it would be cool. The pain was so bad I couldn't even keep still so I crawled onto the bed. She recently revealed her battle on Instagram saying she'd had an operation on her ovarie Viewers praised Sacha for raising awareness of the condition, with one offering her 'hugs' WHAT IS ENDOMETRIOSIS? Endometriosis occurs when cells in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body. Each month, these cells react in the same way as those in the womb; building up, breaking down and bleeding. Yet, the blood has no way to escape the body. Symptoms include pain, heavy periods and fatigue, as well as a higher risk of infertility, and bowel and bladder problems. Its cause is unknown but may be genetic, related to problems with the immune system or exposure to chemicals. Treatment focuses on pain relief and improving quality of life, which may include surgery or hormone treatment. Source: Endometriosis UK Advertisement 'It felt like forever, but I imagine it was only a couple of minutes. I remember thinking, ''No one knows I'm here and I don't know what this is'' and eventually it went.' Sacha then visited her doctor who sent her to have scans that lead to her diagnosis, and doctors later informed her that the pain after the burpees she did was a cyst on her ovary twisting. Twitter users praised Sacha's interview, with many thanking her for raising awareness of the condition. One tweeted: 'Watching Sacha Parkison on Lorraien talking about endometriosis!! It is an horrendous pain!! Here's a hug from one sufferer to another!!' Endometriosis occurs when cells in the lining of the womb are found elsewhere in the body, which causes pain and bleeding. Sufferers will often have heavier and more painful periods, and also suffer period pain throughout the month. Sacha revealed her battle with endometriosis on Sunday evening in an emotional Instagram post to raise awareness of the condition. She wrote: 'In April of last year I had surgery to remove endo cysts from inside both of my ovaries, that had taken up the entire space! Along with endo spots from around my womb. My surgery, though small in comparison to others, changed my life massively. Others shared their stories about their struggles with the condition, which can cause heavy bleeding and painful periods Sacha played Sian in Coronation Street, Sophie Webster's first serious girlfriend 'I had excruciating period pains growing up, often resulting in me taking days off school. I had constant lower back pain and for the last 3 years, a constant dull ache that felt like I had period pains every single day.' She also revealed that her mother had the condition, but had a hysterectomy at the age of just 24-years-old to end her suffering. She went on: 'I have been familiar with Endometriosis since being a child. Sadly my beautiful, amazing momma had to have a hysterectomy at just 24 YEARS OF AGE!! Can you believe that?! Fortunately she already had me! (Though she may say unfortunately). 'My mum had no choice but to have surgery as it had been undiagnosed for years and her condition became too severe. I'm saddened every day for her but THIS IS WHY WE NEED TO SPREAD THE WORD! IT'S AN INVISIBLE CONDITION BUT IT IS VERY MUCH A REAL ONE!' Phillip Schofield was left blushing when he watched a group of fitness experts perform squats and other glute-busting exercises on This Morning. The #GirlGains trio were on the ITV chat show on Tuesday to show off exercises that viewers can easily do at home. One demonstration saw the women lying on the floor and thrusting their hips in the air, which appeared to leave Phil feeling somewhat uncomfortable. The presenter admitted that he prefers Pilates workouts to strengthen the muscles in his own behind at, saying: 'There's a lot of butt work!' Zanna Van Dijk, Victoria Spence and Tally Rye started their movement after they forged a close bond through their shared passion for fitness, and set about finding a way to share it with other women. anna Van Dijk, Victoria Spence and Tally Rye performed exercises on This Morning on Tuesday Phillip Schofield looked embarrassed as he watched the women perform the exercises Zanna and Victoria performed the squats and hip thrusts as well as press ups, to demonstrate how the exercises can easily be done in front of the TV in quick, 30 second bursts. When it came to doing the glute-targeting moves Phil appeared embarrassed as he watched the women thrust in the air. He revealed he attends a Pilates class every Tuesday after filming for This Morning, but admitted he isn't as advanced as the #GirlGains team. 'I haven't quite done this but there's a lot of butt work,' he said. The fitness experts said they were hoping to inspire other women to get fit with their friends THE #GIRLGAINS TOP TIPS Speaking on ITV's This Morning, the #GirlGains fitness group gave their top tips for busy women to get fit. Exercising with friends make you less likely to cancel Posting about it on social media can make you force yourself to go Schedule a treat for yourself afterwards to get yourself through it Moving around doesn't require a gym membership Use the free workout videos on YouTube Advertisement After meeting through Instagram, the three women started to hashtag pictures of their workouts together, and it was soon picked up by other women with a similar idea. Tally said: 'We were hanging out and were like, ''This is really cool I've met two other girls who completely get me and we have this common interest in health and fitness.'' 'We thought it would be awesome if other girls could meet women with similar interests and they could have this friendship because we soon became each other's biggest cheerleaders.' Each of the women have had their own unique journeys to becoming experts in health and fitness; Tally once weighed 12 stone and found that she had a passion for exercise when she tried to lose weight, Victoria had an eating disorder and began documenting her recovery on social media, and Zanna started off as someone who hated exercise but learned to love it. Phil admitted he goes to Pilates class every Tuesday after filming for This Morning ends to stay in shape The women also pracitised squats before giving their top fitness tips, which included going to the gym with friends so you enjoy it more They started their own website posting their workout videos online and now run events to get women across the UK exercising together. Victoria explained: 'We used the experiences that we've been through and we're really empowered by those experiences and we want to now empower other women to live a healthier and happier lifestyle.' This Morning airs weekdays at 10:30am on ITV Hope Hicks cut a striking figure as she arrived to her meeting with the House Intelligence Committee wearing her favorite $555 blazer dress on Tuesday morning. The White House Communications director, a longtime aide of President Donald Trump, arrived shortly after 10 am in the navy belted dress by Theory, which she wore bare legs and paired with black stilettos. Hicks appears to be especially fond of the navy dress, and she has worn it to the White House twice already over the course of the month. Testimony: Hope Hicks cut a striking figure as she arrived to her meeting with the House Intelligence Committee wearing a $555 blazer dress on Tuesday morning Meeting: The White House Communications director, a longtime aide of President Donald Trump, arrived shortly after 10 am in the navy belted dress by Theory Belongings: Hicks, who came in through a rear entrance, was carrying a black purse Look: While Hicks did not answer questions from reporters, she glanced at the cameras as she walked in to testify in front of the House Intelligence Committee She donned the same dress with knee-high boots on February 9, when she was pictured with Kellyanne Conway in the Oval Office while the president spoke to reporters. A week prior, on February 2, she wore the dress in the Oval Office once more, this time during a meeting with North Korean defectors. Hicks, who came in through a rear entrance and did not answer shouted questions from reporters, was carrying a black purse as she walked in for the meeting, with her long hair in a blowout. Her interview, which was to be conducted behind closed doors, comes as part of the House Intelligence Committee's Russia investigation. The panel is investigating contacts between Trump's campaign and Russia, as is special counsel Robert Mueller. Hicks has also been interviewed by Mueller. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, a close ally of President Trump, was also seen on Tuesday preparing to meet with Hicks. As one of Trump's closest aides, Hicks is a key eyewitness to his actions over the past several years. She was his spokeswoman during the 2016 presidential campaign before becoming the White House communications director. It's unclear how much Hicks will tell the committee. Some of its members told reporters they did not know before her testimony whether she would answer their questions, or refuse by invoking executive privilege. No comment: Hicks did not answer shouted questions from reporters as she arrived Important: As one of Trump's closest aides, Hicks, who was his spokeswoman during his presidential campaign in 2016, is a key eyewitness to his actions over the past several years Probe: Hicks' interview, which was to be conducted behind closed doors, comes as part of the House Intelligence Committee's Russia investigation Strategy: Members of the committee told reporters they did not know before her testimony whether she would answer their questions, or refuse by invoking executive privilege Break-up: The meeting comes two weeks after Hicks stopped dating former staff secretary Rob Porter after his two ex-wives accused him of domestic violence Favorite: Hicks appears to be fond of the navy dress, and she has worn it to the White House twice already over the course of the month. She donned it with knee-high boots on February 9 Outfit: A week prior, on February 2, she wore the dress in the Oval Office once more, this time during a meeting with North Korean defectors Others who have worked at the White House, including former adviser Steve Bannon, have refused to answer questions, citing limits on what they can say. The House is now considering whether to hold Bannon in contempt. In the hours before Hicks' arrival, Trump tweeted twice, quoting cable news commentators who said they hadn't seen evidence of collusion between Trump and Russia. Another tweet encouraged investigations of his Democratic presidential rival, Hillary Clinton. And a last tweet simply said 'WITCH HUNT!' The meeting comes two weeks after Hicks stopped dating former staff secretary Rob Porter after his two ex-wives accused him of domestic violence. Hicks and Porter had been dating since November 2017, but the relationship came to an end after his first spouse Colbie Holderness and his second wife Jennifer Willoughby told the DailyMail.com Porter had been abusive towards them. Porter resigned earlier this month after his two ex-wives came forward with their accusations. Queen Mathilde and King Philippe were treated to a traditional folk dance performance during a busy day of royal duties on Tuesday. The Belgian royals watched the show while on a visit to St. Vith, part of the country's German-speaking community. Dancers dressed in traditional costume lined up to meet the special guests and beamed as they posed for photos. The royals also met with children at a nearby local hospital during another stop on their tour of the region. Queen Mathilde and King Philippe chatted to folk dancers during a visit to St Vith on Tuesday The Belgian royals looked in excellent spirits as they posed for photos with the performers Queen Mathilde stopped to speak to a group of young girls who waited in the cold for the royal Queen Mathilde (pictured right) spoke with children who crowded the streets Queen Mathilde (pictured left) coordinated her pink printed dress with a belted coat Queen Mathilde, 45, brought a touch of colour to the grey winter's day in a vibrant floral-print dress. The royal paired the fuchsia and dark grey frock with a pair of semi-sheer tights and finished the look with a grey suede clutch. Outside wrapped up in an equally eye-catching pink and grey coat featuring a striking geometric striped print. Meanwhile Prince Philippe, 57, looked dapper in a suit and tie. The Belgian Royals (pictured centre) were also entertained by a local school choir Members of the all boy vocal group were given the opportunity to speak with the Queen The royals beamed as they spent time taking photographs with music group Analog Queen Mathilde paired her stylish dress with subtle diamond earrings and natural makeup King Philippe (pictured left) spoke with individual members of Analog during their meeting The stylish royal wore her trademark bob cut with a slight curl for a relaxed appearance Crowds gathered on the streets to catch a glimpse of the Belgian royals as they arrived in the town. Queen Mathilde, a mother of four, demonstrated her warm and caring nature as she stopped to speak to schoolchildren wearing traditional costumes. She was presented with a brightly coloured posy and was happy to answer questions as she passed. At the local hospital, the Belgian royals met with young patients and their families. Queen Mathilde and King Philippe also met patients and staff at a local hospital, pictured The Belgian Royals (pictured left) met with children and staff at St Josef Klinik hospital A Married at First Sight star is determined to figure out what turns her shy husband on in the bedroom, but her attempt at seduction has left him in a fit of laughter. Jephte Pierre, 26, and his wife Shawniece Jackson, 29, went from sleeping in separate beds to sleeping with each other, and while things appear to be better than ever between them, she is making it clear that she wants to turn up the heat in the boudoir. In a preview clip for Tuesday night's episode of the Lifetime reality series, Shawniece surprises Jephte by installing a stripper pole in their kitchen, but he finds the whole thing more amusing than sexy. Scroll down for video Turning up the heat! Shawniece Jackson, 29, surprises her husband Jephte Pierre, 26, with a stripper pole in their kitchen on Tuesday night's episode of Married at First Sight Say what? Jephte immediately bursts into laughter when he walks in and sees Shawniece decked out in a skimpy firefighter costume while posing next to the pole He bursts into laughter as soon as he walks into the door of his home and sees Shawniece holding on to the pole while modeling a skimpy black firefighter costume and a matching helmet. 'Jephte is the quiet type to say the least, so to get him to open up is tough,' Shawnice explains in her testimonial. ' 'As silly as a stripper pole in our kitchen may seem, I am going to try everything until I figure out what my husband likes,' she adds. Shawniece admits that her husband is 'super shocked' by her surprise gesture, but he is actually downright amused by the scene in front of him. Added touch: Shawniece even leaves dollar bills on the counter for him Affectionate: Even though he finds the whole thing a bit amusing, he makes sure to give his wife a kiss to show appreciation for the surprise gesture Not only did his wife install a stripper pole in their kitchen, she also left dollar bills on the counter for him. 'The whole scene is hilarious and I can't stop laughing,' he says in his testimonial. 'I'm just like this is too much.' Shawniece seductively tells him that she is 'ready to put the fire out,' but he is having trouble taking her seriously. 'I don't need this to get me going,' he tells the camera with a laugh. While she offers to show him her 'tricks' on the pole,' he seems to be more concerned with her pulling a muscle. Laughing it off: Jephte can't resist asking if she stretched properly when she offers to show him her 'tricks' on the pole Getting to know each other: Shawniece is determined to find out what her husband likes in the bedroom, but he insists that he doesn't need that to get him going 'Did you stretch first? You are going to pull a hammy,' he jokes. 'It's going to mess up the fantasy.' When Shawniece asks if he likes her outfit, Jephte tells her 'it's sexy.' However, she admits that she wanted it to be a lot racier. 'I wore shorts [under my dress] because it's being documented,' she says with a laugh. 'But I would have rather had less than shorts under.' This isn't the first time Shawniece has gone above and beyond to impress her husband. She happily gave him a surprise lap dance at their wedding, leaving him feeling a bit uncomfortable while his mom and other wedding guests watched the sexy display. Not shy: Shawniece gave Jephte a lap dance at their wedding after knowing him for just a few hours Progress: The two went from sleeping in separate bed to sleeping together, and they couldn't keep their hands off each other at their house party on last week's episode Happy as can be: Shawniece confirmed to her friends that she and Jephte had finally consummated their marriage On last week's episode, Shawniece revealed to her friends that she and Jephte had finally consummated their marriage. When they asked how it was, Shawniece did a little dance to show that it was good, but she refused to go into detail about her new husband's genitalia. 'I ain't sharing with the world what he is working with,' she joked. 'But let's just say he's not minute.' The two were incredibly affectionate that night, and at one point Shawniece was sitting on his lap. They shared a few hugs, and he even caressed her backside every now and then. Both of them admitted to the cameras that they were starting to grow strong feelings for each other. Ice cream fans have been sent into a frenzy by the launch of two new Ben & Jerry's flavours in the UK - one of which allows you to celebrate your birthday all year round. The gourmet US-based ice cream makers have launched a 4 Birthday Cake flavour that contains real pieces of sponge. It's also launched a new addition, Pretzel Palooza, to its Topped range: tubs that all contain a spoonable topping. The new flavour contains chunks of chocolate-covered pretzels. Ben& Jerry's has launched two new flavours. Its Birthday Cake variety is only available at Sainsbury's stores for now for 4 a tub. It has also launched a new addition to its Topped range called Pretzel Palooza The new varieties have sent fans of the ice cream brand wild online - with many hailing the Birthday Cake flavour in particular a 'gamechanger'. The Birthday Cake flavour, which is currently only available at Sainsbury's for 4 a 500ml tub, is a vanilla 'cake batter' ice cream that also contains with streaks of pink icing. strawberry swirls and cake pieces. Fans have gone wild for the new flavours online One fan called it 'top tier dairy' while others on social media are simply desperate to get their hands on the newest flavour. Ben& Jerry's has also added Pretzel Palooza to its Topped range. As well as the pretzel chunks, the vanilla malt ice cream also contains a chocolatey hazelnut swirl, chocolatey chunks, and a chocolatey topping. The range, which launched last year, also includes: Chocolate Caramel Cookie Dough, Salted Caramel Brownie, and Strawberry Swirled. The world is about to get a movie about Flamin' Hot Cheetos, and it's not as cheesy as it sounds. According to Variety, Fox Searchlight just announced that it will be putting out a film called Flamin' Hot, which will tell the real story of how Flamin' Hot Cheetos were made. Now, if this were some run-of-the-mill narrative of team meetings and product pitches, it would be pretty boring but the story behind Flamin' Hot Cheetos is a rags-to-riches tale about a janitor who invented the product by accident. Who's bringing the popcorn? A movie about the origins of Flamin' Hot Cheetos, called Flamin' Hot, is in development Rags to riches: It will tell the story of Richard Montanez, a Mexican immigrant who worked as a Frito-Lay janitor when he came up with idea for Flamin' Hot Cheetos DeVon Franklin will produce the movie, which will be written by Lewis Colick and executive-produced by Samuel Rodriguez. It will tell the story of Richard Montanez, who emigrated to Southern California from Mexico as a kid. After dropping out of school due in part to his struggle to learn English, Montanez worked on a farm where he picked grapes before snagging a job as a janitor at the Frito-Lay Rancho Cucamonga plant in 1976. One day, he was eating a cup of corn when he had an idea. 'I see the corn man adding butter, cheese and chile to the corn and thought what if I add chile to a Cheeto?' he told Fox News in 2012. Movin' on up! He is now no longer a janitor, but the head of multicultural sales and community promotions across PepsiCo's North American divisions He tried it at home first. He went into his mother's kitchen, where he added spices to some regular Cheetos. When he tried the recipe out on friends, it was met with approval so he made a bold call to get in touch with the president of Frito-Lay to pitch his idea. While the move certainly showed a lot of chutzpah, Montanez had a history of taking advantage of opportunities. As a kid, he sold burritos to his non-Latino classmates at school for 25 cents each. And the president of Frito-Lay had encouraged employees to take initiative. Montanez said once, in a company-wide video, the president had shared words that inspired him. 'He told us to act like an owner, I looked around and didnt see a lot of reaction from my co-workers, but for me it was the opportunity to do something different,' he said. Phew! Thankfully, the movie is not about mascot Chester Cheetah One obstacle for the pitch meeting was that Montanez still spoke limited English. He spent two weeks preparing before meeting with executives, copying out a marketing strategy he found in a library book. And the rest is history and a soon-to-be movie. The president of the company loved the idea, and Frito-Lay began selling Flamin' Hot Cheetos, which is its best-selling snack. Montanez was rewarded, too. He is now no longer a janitor, but the head of multicultural sales and community promotions across PepsiCo's North American divisions. He has also contributed ideas to KFC and Taco Bell. 'Many times, greatness will come in ridiculous forms, a ridiculous idea might be a billion dollar idea,' he said. Hearing problems could be a warning sign for memory loss in older people. People with hearing loss caused by the brain's inability to hear sound are twice as likely to suffer forgetfulness, according to a study. However, there is hope for older people with the beginnings of deafness who are afraid of losing their memory and potential dementia. Those who have hearing loss caused by problems in the inner ear, not the brain, have no greater risk of becoming forgetful. Researchers looked at more than 1,600 people with an average age of 75 to determine the link between hearing and memory. People with 'central age-related hearing loss' were twice as likely to have mild cognitive impairment as those with normal hearing. People with hearing loss caused by the brain's inability to hear sound are twice as likely to suffer forgetfulness, according to a study These are the people who struggle to make sense of sounds, who say: 'I can hear, but I can't understand.' However, those with 'peripheral age-related hearing loss', caused by inner ear and nerve problems which make it hard to hear, had no greater risk of mild cognitive impairment compared to people with normal hearing. The link is important because mild cognitive impairment, which includes problems with judgement and memory, can increase someone's risk of dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The study's lead author, Rodolfo Sardone, from the University of Bari in Italy, said: 'These preliminary results suggest that central hearing loss may share the same progressive loss of functioning in brain cells that occurs in cognitive decline, rather than the sensory deprivation that happens with peripheral hearing loss. 'It's a problem with perception. Tests of hearing perception should be given to people who are older than 65 and also to people with cognitive impairment.' The study, which will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology's annual meeting in April, involved 1,604 participants of the Great Age Study in the south of Italy. IS THERE A LINK BETWEEN HEARING LOSS AND DEMENTIA? in recent years, several studies have highlighted a link between hearing loss and dementia. Researchers in December claimed that a hearing aid could help prevent cognitive decline and dementia by improving verbal communication and keeping the brain healthy. The Trinity College Dublin study found a small association between age-related hearing loss (ARHL) and increased risk for cognitive decline. This includes executive function and episodic memory autobiographical events such as times, places. Hearing loss was also linked to slower processing speed, cognitive impairment and dementia. It is estimated two-thirds of the over 65s suffer hearing loss and previous studies have shown ARHL precedes the onset of dementia by five to 10 years. Experts have suggested the lack of mental stimulation experienced by those who are hard of hearing may play a role in declined cognitive function. Advertisement Just over a quarter of the over-75s involved had peripheral hearing loss, with around one in eight suffering from central hearing loss. Of the 192 people with central hearing loss, three-quarters had mild cognitive impairment which includes problems with memory, language, thinking and judgment. Of the 609 with no hearing loss, 60 percent had mild cognitive impairment, showing a link between central hearing loss and memory problems. In contrast, people with peripheral hearing loss were no more likely to have mild cognitive impairment than people with no hearing problems. Dr David Reynolds, chief scientific officer at Alzheimer's Research UK, said: 'Investigating a link between hearing loss and a decline in memory and thinking is an active and growing area of research. 'Recent studies have implicated hearing loss as a potentially important dementia risk factor, and one that we may be able to counter with existing strategies. 'This population-based study appears to show a contrast between two types of hearing loss and the development of mild memory problems, but we will have to wait to see the full findings from this and other studies before making any firm conclusions.' Vaitheki Maheswaran, audiologist for Action on Hearing Loss, said: 'Hearing loss and dementia are linked with ageing and often occur together as we get older - the majority of people with dementia are over 70 and nearly three quarters of people over 70 have hearing loss.' She added: 'However, hearing loss can occasionally be misdiagnosed as dementia or make the symptoms of dementia appear worse.' Years of depression can cause brain inflammation that has been linked to degenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, a new study revealed. About 1.5 percent of all American adults suffer from persistent depressive disorder, a long-lasting form of the mental condition. Another 16.1 million face major depressive order, but the treatment approaches to the two are largely the same. But an analysis of brain-changes among people whose depression lasted more than 10 years, done by the Canadian Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, suggested doctors may need to treat both depression itself and inflammation in these patients. Depression lasting more than 10 years was linked to significant brain inflammation in a new Canadian study The average, untreated bout of depression typically lasts a few months, according to Harvard University. Everyone's symptoms vary in type, severity, and duration. Depression may look like irritability or simply a 'low mood.' But the staying power of depression may make it even more difficult to diagnose, as years of the disorder come to be seen as 'normal' for the person suffering the symptoms. This may be why the average age of diagnosis for persistent depressive disorder (PDD) is relatively late, at 31 years old. Most research on the physical consequences of depression - no matter how long its episodes are - has pointed primarily on its effects on the experience of pain and the likelihood of developing other mental illnesses. The condition is also known to affect eating habits and experiences. Some tend to overeat when they are depressed, others lose their appetites, and still others will experience upset stomachs. A high number of physical complaints may also be, in some cases, a warning sign that someone is depressed or in the throes of another mental health issue. Depression typically involves a shortage of serotonin, a neurochemical that nerve cells use to communicate a command for blood vessels to constrict. This is particularly important to the way that the digestive tract functions, as well as to the experience of pain. ARE MENTAL-HEALTH CONDITIONS PHYSICAL ILLNESSES? Depression is a physical illness that could be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs, a Cambridge University professor stated in September 2017. An overactive immune system may trigger the mental-health condition by causing widespread inflammation that leads to feelings of hopelessness and unhappiness, the expert believes. The immune system may fail to 'switch off' after an illness or traumatic event, he adds. Previous research suggests people who suffer severe emotional trauma have signs of inflammation, which implies their immune systems are constantly 'fired-up'. Until recently, such a process was denied as a cause of depression as scientists believed the brain and the immune system operated separately. Yet, recent studies suggest a link between nerves in the brain and immune function. Professor Ed Bullmore, head of the department of psychiatry at the University of Cambridge, said: 'In relation to mood, beyond reasonable doubt, there is a very robust association between inflammation and depressive symptoms. 'In experimental medicine studies if you treat a healthy individual with an inflammatory drug, like interferon, a substantial percentage of those people will become depressed,' The Telegraph reported. Previous figures suggest around 60 per cent of people who visit a doctor with chest pain are actually suffering from anxiety. Professor Sir Robert Lechler, president of the Academy of Medical Sciences, said: 'Youre not just a little bit miserable if youve got a long-term condition, there is a real mechanistic connection between the mind, the nervous system and the immune system.' Experts add the outdated approach of separating mental and physical health conditions is holding back medical advances. Advertisement Inflammation, too, is thought to destroy serotonin, leading some scientists to suggest that inflammation itself may be the cause of depression. But whatever the answer to the 'chicken or egg' question may be, researchers from the Center for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) found evidence that longer bouts of depression increased brain inflammation. To determine whether or not the duration of depression made a difference for its inflammatory effects, the research team, led by senior study author Dr Jeff Meyer of CAMH's Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute recruited three groups of 25 people. The first group had experienced more than a decade of depression, the second had experienced less than a decade, and the third had never experienced any depression, by their own reports. The difference between the PDD sufferers and the other two groups was dramatic. Those who had been depressed for more than 10 years had 30 percent more of a protein marker of brain-inflammation than those who had experienced depression, but for shorter amounts of time. Unsurprisingly, their inflammation levels were also higher than the control group that had never been depressed. This was the first study to show that depression has significantly different effects depending on how long it lasts, and the different effect was a worrisome one. 'Greater inflammation in the brain is a common response with degenerative brain diseases as they progress, such as with Alzheimer's disease and Parkinsons disease,' and suggested that perhaps long-term depression should be treated with some of the same medications given to prevent these other serious diseases. Printing calories on menus can reduce how much diners eat by up to 12 per cent, a major review has found. Restaurants and cafes should specify the number of calories in each dish to help combat obesity, researchers said last night. Professor Susan Jebb, the Governments former obesity tsar and co-author of the review at Oxford University, said politicians should consider making calorie information mandatory in light of the findings. This review should provide policymakers with the confidence to introduce measures to encourage or even require calorie labelling on menus and next to food and non-alcoholic drinks in coffee shops, cafeterias and restaurants, she said. The review, which was led by the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, examined all existing studies on calorie labelling. Printing calories on menus can reduce how much diners eat by up to 12 per cent, a major review has found (stock photo) The authors said far too little research had been done on the subject and that, of the 28 studies they looked at, only three were of high quality. These three showed calorie labels could reduce consumption by about 12 per cent per meal. Professor Theresa Marteau, the reviews lead author and head of the Behaviour and Health Research Unit at Cambridge University, said: This evidence suggests that using nutritional labelling could help reduce calorie intake and make a useful impact as part of a wider set of measures aimed at tackling obesity. There is no magic bullet to solve the obesity problem, so while calorie labelling may help, other measures to reduce calorie intake are needed. Statistics show that about a quarter of our calorie intake now comes from meals out. Professor Susan Jebb said politicians should consider making calorie information mandatory in light of the findings (Pictured: A Wetherspoon menu that already has calories displayed) Experts say this is due to a booming fast food industry and sit-down family meals becoming rarer. The rise in dining out could be driving up obesity levels by making it harder to judge how much we eat, as there are no food labels in front of us. Professor Ian Caterson, president of the World Obesity Federation, said: Energy labelling has been shown to be effective people see it and read it and there is a resulting decrease in calories purchased. Combined with a suite of other interventions, such changes will help slow and eventually turn around the continuing rise in body weight. Caroline Cerny, of the Obesity Health Alliance, said: Too often food in restaurants or cafes can be a large portion size and packed with hidden ingredients such as salt or sugar. It makes sense that when we know the nutritional content of the food were eating, the more likely it is that well make healthier choices. This important research shows that clear labelling of the food we eat out of home, as is increasingly on display on supermarket products, is an important step to empowering people to make informed choices. Azerbaijan again distorts the reality. The European Parliament has not adopted any document over Khojaly. February 27, 2018, 09:27 Azerbaijan again distorts reality European Parliament has not adopted any document over Khojaly STEPANAKERT, FEBRUARY 27, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: 22 MEPs representing the Club of Azerbaijan`s Friends in the European Parliament have signed a declaration where nothing is mentioned about genocide, or Armenians or Armenia. A day before the Azerbaijani mass media spread information that alegedly the European parliament has adopted a declaration over the Khojaly events. Earlier, in a meeting with Azerbaijanis in the Georgian city Marneuli, President of Georgia Giorgi Margvelashvili did not yield to the provocation of one of the participant young men, who asked the President to honor the memory of the victims of the so-caled Khojaly events with a minute of silence. Azerbaijani media outlets note that the ceremony of the one-minute silence did not take place, instead Margvelashvili noted that he folows Nagorno Karabakh conflict settlement process. Georgia is against the escalation of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, he said Women with breast cancer are twice as likely to die early in some areas of England than in other areas, a damning report warns. It also reveals how four in ten patients are being diagnosed late in certain health trusts, partly because GPs are missing symptoms. Experts blame a lack of awareness among family doctors, who mistake the early signs for back pain, depression or even heavy drinking. One woman said she was made to feel like a hypochondriac for repeatedly going back to her doctor only to be sent away again. Women with breast cancer are twice as likely to die early in some areas of England than in other areas (stock photo) MPs on the All Parliamentary Group on Breast Cancer warn of a postcode lottery in diagnosis and care. In Newark and Sherwood Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), in Nottinghamshire, an average of 31.9 people per 100,000 die from breast cancer before they reach 75. This is more than twice as high as in Tower Hamlets CCG in East London where the rate is 13.3 per 100,000 people. Although there are many reasons for this variation, health officials in Tower Hamlets have been working hard to improve early diagnosis and screening. Disease was misdiagnosed as tennis elbow Jill Goodrum (pictured with her daughters Amy, 8, and Grace, 3) died three years after doctors misdiagnosed her breast cancer as tennis elbow A mother of five died three years after doctors misdiagnosed her breast cancer as tennis elbow. Jill Goodrum, 46, went to her GP in 2011 when she was unable to lift her arms above her shoulders. Doctors initially dismissed her symptoms, until she discovered a bone-like lump near one of her breasts in 2013. By the time the grandmother, from Plymouth, was diagnosed with terminal breast cancer, the disease had spread to her lymph nodes and liver. She started chemotherapy in October 2013 and continued to receive treatment until she died of septicaemia in May 2014. Writing on her blog, she said: Being diagnosed with cancer was horrendous. Im never going to get old. The fact that I have two small children is very hard to deal with too. Im never going to see them grow up. They are going to lose their mummy. My older children are obviously traumatised, but they are very supportive. Advertisement In Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group 38 per cent of breast cancer patients were diagnosed late, at stage 3 or 4, the groups report found. These late stages are when the tumour has spread to the surrounding tissue or organs and is much harder to treat. Yet in Rushcliffe CCG, in Nottinghamshire, only 12 per cent of patients were diagnosed at stage 3 or 4, with the majority diagnosed at stages 1 or 2. Across England, up to 21 per cent of women who previously had breast cancer were initially overlooked by GPs when the illness returned. One woman was sent to an osteopath for back pain while others were diagnosed with depression or indigestion. The report also raises concerns that the number of women attending breast cancer screening has dropped to its lowest level in decade. Only 71 per cent of patients aged 50 to 70 took up their invitation for a mammogram in 2016/17, down from 74 per cent in 2006/7. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK and up to one in eight women will develop it. There are 55,000 new cases a year and 11,500 deaths. But despite a dramatic improvement in survival rates, the report claims that many women are still being denied the best care. Some health trusts are failing to offer patients cheap bisphosphonates pills which prevent the cancer spreading, due a lack of awareness. In a joint statement, Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire, Tory MP Craig Tracey and SNP MP Dr Philippa Whitford said: Our inquiry has uncovered a concerning postcode lottery in screening uptake, early diagnosis and access to breast cancer services. This variation in NHS services can have a devastating impact on patients lives and must be addressed. NHS England said: Cancer survival rates have never been higher with more than 7,000 people now surviving after successful NHS treatment compared to three years ago and were already addressing the issues raised by this report. Prime Minister Theresa Mays sudden decision last week to review official responses to women left crippled by implanted surgical mesh is of little comfort to Dorothy Byrne. Dorothy is one of thousands of women who have suffered life-changing problems as a consequence of the use of the little-tested plastic mesh, introduced to treat incontinence or support pelvic organs, typically following damage related to childbirth. While many women have had no problems with the mesh, in others, for reasons unknown, its disintegrated, forming splinters that migrate, setting up chronic inflammation and causing infection around affected tissue. Prime Minister Theresa Mays made a sudden decision last week to review official responses to women left crippled by implanted surgical mesh In some women the material has damaged bladder and bowel function, or even their ability to walk. Just before Christmas, Canadian Christina Brajcic, 42, who chronicled her struggle with mesh-related infections that were proving resistant to treatment, died from sepsis. Dorothy is now seriously ill with heart failure that shes been told is linked to the chronic infections she suffered as a result of the mesh. A former NHS psychotherapist, she says she reported her problems to the devices watchdog, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). But like others who say reports of their problems were ignored and never recorded, Dorothy, 65, maintains she has never even received a reply from the body. Its not just the authorities many women say doctors insisted they were imagining their problems. In a victory for the Mails seven-year campaign highlighting problems with the mesh, Mrs May announced a review into handling of complaints about it. The review, to be led by former Conservative health minister Baroness Julia Cumberlege, will also look at similar patterns of official inertia in response to concerns about the drug sodium valproate, prescribed for epilepsy, bipolar disorder and migraine. An estimated 7,000 women have given birth to damaged babies since the Seventies as a result of being prescribed the drug, and campaigners claim the authorities knew about the risks but failed to warn women. In a victory for the Mails seven-year campaign highlighting problems with the mesh, Mrs May announced a review into handling of complaints about it The review will also take in the response to a third crisis, involving Primodos, a defective hormone-based pregnancy test used by 1.5 million women in the UK throughout the Sixties and Seventies, now being linked to catastrophic damage to foetuses of those who were pregnant. Campaigners have called it the hidden thalidomide. The common thread between mesh and the two drug scandals is a long-term unwillingness by health authorities to acknowledge a problem, with the consequence that more women became victims. Last week the Prime Minister acknowledged this, saying: We do need to see a faster, more understanding response to patients when they raise concerns. The review is set to be led by former Conservative health minister Baroness Julia Cumberlege (pictured) But these three scandals reflect a greater problem with repeated controversies surrounding defective medical devices and drugs in the UK, such as industrial silicone being used in breast implants, defective metal hip joints that poisoned patients and faulty heart defibrillators. These scandals have raised serious questions about how such devices are monitored and licensed in the first place. The MHRA, along with other healthcare regulators around Europe, relies on a network of 59 commercially run notifying bodies to approve the safety and efficacy of medical devices. But as Good Health has reported, the notifying bodies are paid by manufacturers to win approval for their products and the requirements for scientific validation are vague, say experts. Baroness Cumberlege has said she looks forward to undertaking the nine-month review. Its essential voices are properly heard and that the system learns lessons and makes changes, she says. But for some women whose lives have been destroyed by the mesh, its too little, too late. Not least because their cases have dragged on for so long that theyve run out of time to seek legal redress. Although she welcomes the review, Kath Sansom of pressure group Sling the Mesh, which has 5,600 members, says many of the women on her database were fobbed off for years by mostly male gynaecologists, who told them their health problems were nothing to do with the mesh. Hundreds of women are suffering after mesh transplants however many reported that the NHS ignored their complaints which are now being looked into by watchdogs These women are now time-barred from making legal claims, she says. Meanwhile, this material is still being used and women are continuing to suffer. In the past hour, Ive been contacted about a woman rushed into A&E with life-threatening sepsis and another begging for help who says she is on the verge of taking her own life because of the pain. Sadly, the review wont help Dorothy Byrne. My heart has continued to deteriorate because of a series of chronic infections as a result of the mesh, she says. They started about a year after I had the surgery, in 2009, and continued more or less continuously until 2013 when I had it taken out. By then the damage was done. Dorothy, a mother of two adult children from Seaford, East Sussex, has heart failure caused, shes been told by her doctors, by the infections shes suffered. She is currently in hospital waiting for a heart valve replacement. Like any surgery, it carries risks an awful irony, given that shes only in this situation because of her mesh procedure. Unlike most of the other women who have been victims of the treatment, Dorothy says she did not even need the mesh: I did not have stress incontinence I had a prolapsed bladder. My consultant said I should have the mesh in case I developed incontinence. By the time Dorothy had the mesh removed in 2013, she had endured long periods of treatment for repeated infections linked to the mesh. Shed also developed heart problems in 2012 she had needed specialist treatment for sepsis in a high-intensity cardiac care unit. But doctors dismissed her suggestion that her heart problems could be related to the mesh. Her heart continued to deteriorate, and after she switched cardiology teams, she was told her problems were linked to her infections By the time I found a specialist surgeon with the skills to remove the mesh, I was profoundly ill. The surgeon described my reaction to the tape as one of the most toxic she had ever seen. I reported all this to the MHRA but I never even received a reply. For veteran anti-mesh campaigner Teresa Hughes, 66, from St Helens, Lancs, the new review is a hollow promise. She has been left crippled and unable to walk after having the mesh implanted almost 14 years ago in 2006. Repeated attempts to remove the fragmented material from her body have been only partially successful. I have been trying to get this issue on the agenda for such a long time, she says. I went to medical conferences to tell doctors about the damage being done. I was moved on by police from outside the MHRA in 2011. I lobbied David Cameron in 2012. I doubt the review will go back far enough to include the damage to people like me. Some campaigners also fear the review could end up as a whitewash, pointing to the example of previous reviews. It is estimated 92,000 women have had the mesh implants since they were introduced in the early Nineties as a cheaper alternative to pelvic repair operations, which involve the patients own tissue. Studies have suggested anything between 10 and 40 per cent of patients have suffered damage. However, a review of the issues by NHS England published last summer did not discuss the safety of the mesh itself, but merely said doctors without special training should no longer use it. A similar review was carried out in Scotland, where 1,500 women claim they have been damaged by the mesh. The findings of that review, announced last April, that the mesh was essentially safe was dismissed as a whitewash by campaigners. A new review is now underway in Scotland. Kath Sansoms concern about the review announced last week is that the bigger problem is that the mesh was approved by an MHRA which is not fit for purpose while many of the womens complaints have never even been recorded by the MHRA, which is largely funded by drug and device manufacturers. When asked, an MHRA spokesperson said: We protect and improve the health of millions of people every day through the effective regulation of medicines and medical devices, underpinned by science and research. Our role is not to protect industry interests. We have a full and transparent conflicts of interest policy which means that our staff cannot hold any interests in the pharmaceutical industry during their employment with MHRA. Kaths views are echoed by Mark Harvey, a lawyer for Hugh James solicitors in Cardiff who is representing more than 100 of the 600-plus women expected to launch multi-million pound claims for mesh-related injuries. MHRA chief executive Dr Ian Hudson told Good Health: It is important to review and learn from how the healthcare system and regulators have handled these three issues, including how we ensure the patient voice is carefully heard. We will work closely with DHSC, the NHS and the wider healthcare system on this review. By all parts of the healthcare system working together, we can ensure patients are listened to and their concerns are addressed. Family doctors are fuelling the superbugs crisis with up to eight million inappropriate antibiotics prescriptions a year, according to a report today. It reveals that one in five antibiotics prescriptions given out by GPs in England are to patients who do not need them. Overuse of antibiotics means many germs have evolved to resist them and some dangerous strains have become untreatable. The more antibiotics are used, the stronger superbugs become. Family doctors are fuelling the superbugs, a new report has revealed today Yet doctors continue to hand out antibiotics for minor conditions against which they do not even work. Nearly a third of patients registered with a GP in England were given antibiotics at least once a year, yet in 20 per cent of cases they were unnecessary, the study from Public Health England reveals. The researchers, who monitored 349 GP practices between 2013 and 2015, found 41 per cent of patients with a cough were given antibiotics. How GPs are getting it wrong: Doctors are over-proscribing antibiotics Experts estimate only 10 per cent of coughs will benefit from antibiotics the rest are caused by viruses or irritation against which the drugs do not work. For bronchitis, 82 per cent of patients were given antibiotics, of whom only 13 per cent would have benefited. And 59 per cent of those with sore throats were given antibiotics when only 13 per cent should have received them. They are proscribing up to eight million inappropriate antibiotics prescriptions a year If national prescriptions data reflect the findings, published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, it suggests nearly eight million of the 38.6million antibiotics given out by GPs in England each year are not required. Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said last night: 'Drug-resistant infections are one of the biggest threats to modern medicine and inappropriate prescribing of antibiotics is only exacerbating this problem. 'We are leading the world in our response since 2012, antibiotics prescribing in England is down by 5 per cent. 'But we need to go further and faster otherwise we risk a world where superbugs kill more people a year than cancer and routine operations become too dangerous.' The Government has pledged to cut inappropriate prescriptions in half by 2020. Dame Sally Davies, the chief medical officer, wrote in a commentary article in the same journal: 'The fact that the UK consumes 1.9 times as many antibiotics in primary care as the Netherlands a country with similar climate, demographics and wealth indicates overuse in the UK and suggests a 20 per cent rate of inappropriate prescribing is likely to be a conservative estimate.' Professor Paul Cosford, medical director of Public Health England, said: 'Using antibiotics when you don't need them threatens their long-term effectiveness and we all have a part to play to ensure they continue to help us. Now the Government has pledged to cut inappropriate prescriptions in half by 2020 'This publication highlights the role GPs can play and I urge all practices to look at ways they can reduce inappropriate prescribing levels to help make sure the antibiotics that save lives today can save lives tomorrow.' Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'If GPs do prescribe antibiotics, it is because, in their expert opinion, they are the most appropriate treatment available. 'However, we are coming under considerable pressure from some patients who need to understand that antibiotics are not a 'catch all' for every illness. 'Today's figures are extremely disappointing but they must not be used as an excuse for criticising GPs who are working their hardest to reduce antibiotic prescribing, whilst grappling with countless other workload pressures and a shortage of GPs.' A nurse has been left looking like she is 'crying all the time' due to a condition that causes cysts to grow inside her skull and risks turning her blind. Sofia Jingsater, 26, from Sweden, battles with chronic pain and constantly has watery eyes because the masses block her tear ducts. She has battled polyostotic fibrous dysplasia caused by McCune Albright syndrome since birth, where abnormal tissue and cysts form in and around her bones. The condition, thought to strike just one in a million, has caused her left eye to swell, due to the growths beneath her eye socket, nose and jaw - putting extreme pressure on her face. Last year, Miss Jingsater had numerous cysts removed in a six-hour operation in a bid to stop her from going blind due to the strain on her optic nerve. Despite having many of the masses removed, they can grow back, often causing her eyes to water due to her blocked tear-ducts and battling pain. Scroll down for video Sofia Jingsater, 26, from Sweden, battles with daily pain and constantly has watery eyes because the masses block her tear ducts (pictured after an operation to remove her cysts) She has battled polyostotic fibrous dysplasia caused by McCune Albright syndrome since birth, where abnormal tissue and cysts form in and around her bones (pictured, a scan from last year shows how cysts have formed across her face) Miss Jingsater, from Vaxjo, said: 'I have cysts that grow in my face, mostly on the left-hand side so my jaw bone, under my eye, in my arms, ribs, back and hips. 'They vary in size and grow with my bones, the ones behind my eye could cause blindness or the loss of my hearing if it grows too large. 'It's really putting a lot of pressure on my face, it was constantly swollen and tearing up as my tear ducts are blocked. 'The cysts make my left eye pop-out more, as well as swelling the skin beneath it, making it much bigger than my right one, so people often notice when I'm out in public.' She added: 'I think that I'm more aware of my condition when I'm out in public and thinking people can see that my face is not normal. 'There were multiple cysts under my eye, to the side of it and in my nose, in my recent surgery they took out as many as they could in six hours. The one in my jaw was the size of a grape. 'I had the cysts removed from under and around my eye to make my eye fit into the eye-socket better. 'It was swollen, constantly red and tearing-up the whole time before, almost every day, then when I had a cold it was even worse running more and more.' Despite having many of the masses removed, they can grow back, often causing her eyes to water (pictured) due to her blocked tear-ducts and battling pain The condition has caused her left eye to swell, due to the growths beneath her eye socket, nose and jaw - putting extreme pressure on her face (pictured now) WHAT IS MCCUNE ALBRIGHT SYNDROME? McCune Albright syndrome strikes between one in 100,000 and one in a million people, according to medical estimates. The disorder causes sufferers to have a build-up of scar-like tissue in their bones - known as polyostotic fibrous dysplasia. The US National Library of Medicine states that it often happens to just one side of a victim's body, and can lead to their bones becoming weaker. Patients tend to reach puberty early and may also have hyper-pigmentation, which cause cafe-au-latte spots to appear on skin. Advertisement Her condition was induced by McCune Albright syndrome and diagnosed at the age of five, after years of doctors struggling to discover the cause of her symptoms. One of the many indicators included the early onset of puberty after hormones swept through her body. It also made her bones weaker, meaning they break more easily and she has hyper-pigmentation, which causes cafe-au-latte spots to appear on her skin. Miss Jingsater said: 'When I was born doctors noticed something wrong with me but didn't initially understand what it was, I wouldn't be diagnosed until the age of five. 'As well as the hyper-pigmentation, they realised my hormones were overloading my body, I started menstrual bleeding as a young child. 'I did get medication for menstrual bleeding from the age of five to eight. After that I started to get my menstrual bleeding, before the age of five I did have bleeding on and off.' By the age of ten, Miss Jingsater said the early onset of hormones meant she physically matured much quicker than classmates her age - often leaving her a target for bullies. She added: 'Due to the hormone imbalance by the time I was ten-years-old, I had grown breasts, pubic hair and was as tall as the teachers in my class. Her condition was induced by McCune Albright syndrome (pictured in hospital after undergoing an operation to remove her cysts, left, and pictured using walking sticks in 2009 because of her weaker bones, right) By the age of ten, Miss Jingsater said the early onset of hormones meant she physically matured much quicker than classmates her age - often leaving her a target for bullies (pictured after her six-hour operation) The fragility of Miss Jingsater's bones means that she struggles with daily chronic pain, which is exacerbated by sickness. She said: 'The pain is something I deal with daily, some days are better than others' (both scans show how cysts have grown in her skull) 'I was taller than the other kids, like maybe twice their size. Doctors often explained it to me that in my head I was ten but in my body I was 14-years-old. 'I was so mature for my age that people thought I was strange, disgusting and weird, it went on for years. 'Because of the bullying I was facing I would race to the showers and dress as quickly as I could in baggy clothing, so that no one could see my body shape.' The fragility of Miss Jingsater's bones means that she struggles with daily chronic pain, which is exacerbated by sickness. She said: 'The pain is something I deal with daily, some days are better than others. 'If I have a cold, the bones in my ribs and back will hurt if I cough or sneeze, as well as making it difficult for me to sleep.' Miss Jingsater will have more surgery in the future to reduce the pressure caused by the cysts around her left eye and save her sight later this year. Until then she hopes to raise awareness of the condition, chronic illness and to explain to others why it appears that like she is 'always crying'. Miss Jingsater said: 'The cysts are near the optic nerve, so if they keep pushing it could make me blind. 'You can see how deformed my skull looks in scans and the overgrowth of the bone around my eye, it's a weird mess. 'Future surgeries will remove more of the cysts I have more underneath my left eye, once removed it should hopefully stop my eye tearing up all the time.' To read more visit: www.instagram.com/soetmango Miss Jingsater will have more surgery in the future to reduce the pressure caused by the cysts around her left eye and save her sight later this year (pictured in 1992). The condition also made her bones weaker, meaning they break more easily and she has hyper-pigmentation More than half of prisoners have suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which may fuel violent crimes, scientists claim. Up to 60 per cent of those in custody have experienced a severe blow to the head, whether from falls, assaults or road accidents, according to UK researchers. Such injuries, which affected serial killer Fred West and the notorious Kray twin gangsters, are thought to alter the brains structure, making individuals less capable of regulating their behaviour and more at risk of psychiatric disorders. The researchers are calling for prisoners to be screened for head injuries to help reduce their risk of reoffending. Just one in 200 members of the general public have suffered a head injury that required hospitalisation, according to the charity Headway. Over half of prisoners have suffered a traumatic brain injury, which may fuel violent crimes Notorious serial killer Fred West suffered head injuries from a motorcycle accident when he was 17 and after falling two floors Which well-known prisoners suffered brain injuries? Fred West, who murdered at least 12 young women between 1967 and 1987, suffered a fractured skull that left him unconscious for seven days after being involved in a motorcycle accident shortly after his 17th birthday. Two years later, he suffered another head injury when a girl he groped on a fire escape punched him, causing him to fall two floors. Ronnie, one half of the The Kray twins, almost died in 1942 at just nine years old after suffering a head injury while fighting with his brother Reggie. The pair were involved in robberies, arsons, assaults and murders in Londons east end during the 1950s and 60s. Brain injuries are linked to reoffending and worse prisoner behaviour Results of the study further reveal TBI-suffering prisoners are more likely to behave badly in custody, reoffend and engage poorly with any treatment they receive. Those who have experienced TBIs are also more likely to have endured abuse, neglect or trauma, or battle mental health or substance-abuse problems. The studys authors state 10-to-20 per cent of people in custody have complicated mild TBI or moderate-to-severe head injury and another 30-to-40 per cent could have milder TBI. They add people with TBI are incarcerated at high cost in facilities that might not be well placed to address their needs. Previous research suggests the lifetime cost of TBI is 155,000 for a person aged 15 with mild-to-moderate injuries, which is made up of 95,000 in healthcare costs and 60,000 for additional offending. The figures are much higher for young people who are already in the criminal justice system. Ronnie Kray (believed to be pictured left) almost died in 1942 at just nine years old after suffering a head injury while fighting with his brother Reggie (believed to be on the right) WHAT DAMAGES THE BRAIN MORE OUT OF ALCOHOL AND CANNABIS? Alcohol damages the brain more than cannabis, research suggested in February 2017. Unlike booze, marijuana does not affect the size or integrity of white or grey matter in the brain, even after years of exposure, a study found. Grey matter enables the brain to function, while white controls communication between nerve clusters. Study author Professor Kent Hutchison from the University of Colorado Boulder, said: 'While marijuana may also have some negative consequences, it definitely is nowhere near the negative consequences of alcohol.' The scientists add, however, research into cannabis' mental effects are still very limited. Lead author Rachel Thayer said: 'Particularly with marijuana use, there is still so much that we don't know about how it impacts the brain.' In the US, 44 percent of those aged 12 or over have used cannabis at some point in their lives. Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska and Colorado have legalised marijuana for medical or recreational use. Advertisement Addressing traumatic brain injury offers a means to reduce crime Lead author Professor Huw Williams from the University of Exeter said: Addressing traumatic brain injury offers a means to not only improve the lives of those who offend, but also to reduce crime. A range of measures could reduce the risk of crime following traumatic brain injury. These could include any form of neurorehabilitation, and better links between emergency departments, community mental health services, GPs and school systems that might lead to early identification and management of traumatic brain injury in children and young people, particularly in areas of socioeconomic deprivation. On a persons entry into the justice system, there is an opportunity to deliver routine screening for traumatic brain injury and provision of treatment options. Another beneficial step could be brain injury-link workers in prisons to enable screening and support for those with traumatic brain injury. The researchers, which also included scientists from the universities of Manchester, Oxford, Glasgow and Sheffield, and the London-based Centre for Mental Health, conducted their study by analysing various trials investigating the link between head injuries and imprisonment. The findings were published in the journal The Lancet Psychiatry. A woman has regained the use of her hand after it was completely severed by a coconut-chopping machine. Known only as Santha, 58, she was working in a coconut-oil factory on January 12 when her left arm slipped into the machine and her hand was chopped clean off. Her quick-thinking colleagues rushed Santha, and her hand, to hospital where surgeons spent seven hours reattaching the appendage. Six weeks after the incident, Santha, from Iiritty, India, has regained 80 per cent of her hand's functionality. After spending 12 days in hospital, she is expected to make a full recovery. Dr Krishnakumar, senior consultant at the head, plastic and reconstructive surgery department, at Aster MIMS hospital said: 'It was the presence of mind displayed by Santha's colleagues to bring the cut off palm in a bag of ice along with the patient [that] was the crucial thing in this case.' A woman has regained the use of her left hand after it was completely severed by a machine Santha (pictured in the wheelchair surrounded by the medical staff who treated her) was working in a coconut-oil factory on January 12 when her hand slipped and was chopped off WHY SHOULD SEVERED LIMBS BE KEPT ON ICE? Severed limbs should be kept on ice to maximise hopes of reattaching them. This is due to ice helping to save the tissue from further damage. In the US, nearly two million people are living with limb loss. Full arm reattachment, for example, only occurs around twice a year in each of the UK's approximate 50 plastic surgery centres. Severed limbs, such as hands, should also be wrapped in clingfilm and kept in a container, preferably with a lid. Limbs should not be kept in water as this can cause them to shrivel and become unsuitable for reattachment. All parts of the limbs should also be gathered up as the body is unable to regrow certain tissue, such as a nail beds. 'Smooth' cuts are easier to reattach due to limited tissue damage. Source: BBC Advertisement Man born without hand received deceased donor's This comes after a man born without a hand was given one from a deceased donor in what surgeons claimed was a world first back in December 2016. The 32-year-old, who spent his life without his left hand, underwent a 13-hour procedure to have the new limb attached. Dr Adam Domanasiewicz, who headed the operation at Wroclaw Medical University, Poland, said: 'It is the first graft in the world of an upper limb onto an adult with this congenital defect. 'We are talking about a man who lived 32 years without this member. 'This is an important breakthrough in neurophysiology and the practice of transplants because up to now it was thought that - in the case of this type of congenital defect - such grafts could not be done.' According to Dr Domanasiewicz, the operation could open up new possibilities to the hundreds of thousands of people born without hands whose only option has been prostheses. Surgeons spent seven hours reattaching the appendage after it arrived in hospital on ice After spending 12 days in hospital, Santha is expected to make a full recovery Doctors called in a bomb squad to help them remove an unexploded firework that had lodged itself into a man's leg. The unnamed 44-year-old, from San Antonio, Texas, assumed the device was a dud because it failed to go off. But an X-ray revealed the gadget, which had impaled his right thigh, could explode at any moment and he was told to remain still. Surgeons went public with the bizarre case amid fears the scenario could crop up again in light of recent terrorist attacks. An X-ray revealed the gadget, which had impaled his right thigh, could explode at any moment and he was told to remain still Writing in The Journal of Emergency Medicine, a team headed by Dr Andrew Murtha advised doctors what to do in such situations. He told LiveScience: 'This has the potential to be, unfortunately, an event that may be encountered by a provider in an emergency room setting. 'Understanding how to manage the patient without risking harm to other patients and the medical team is something that's important to recognize.' Doctors believed they were dealing with a usual case of trauma upon first glance. But closer inspections revealed his fractured femur was caused by a mortar-type firework and he was sent to San Antonio Military Medical Center. HAS THERE BEEN OTHER GRUESOME INJURIES FROM FIREWORKS? A man has been left completely blind in one eye after a firework exploded in his face, a case report revealed last June. The unnamed man, 44, from India, had firework fragments punctured deep in his right eyeball after the gruesome accident. This caused the eye to be so severely damaged that it shrunk and no longer functions. Doctors managed to restore vision in his left eye, which was also affected by the blast. The report's authors advise people use protective eyewear when handling fireworks. It was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. Advertisement The patient, whose name is unknown, explained how he was unsure which part of the device had impaled him - or if it could explode. It lodged inside his thigh when he was reloading the device. Concerned hospital staff urgently called a team of Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians and the local fire department. The patient was ushered off to an isolated room and was asked to remain as still as possible to slash the risks of setting the firework off. Doctors drowned the fuse by irrigating the wound with water, advice issued to them by the fire department. To avoid an explosion, they were also urged to avoid any form of surgery that would heat the patient's tissue. It is unsure what eventually happened to the firework, but it was removed without exploding and the patient was allowed home two weeks later. Dr Lane Thaut, who also treated the patient, confirmed that everybody was 'on edge' when reality of the situation was laid bare. The killer flu outbreak is to blame for a 42 per cent spike in deaths across England and Wales, statisticians claim. Government figures reveal 64,157 people died in January - significantly higher than the death toll of 45,141 recorded in December. It is the highest number since records began in 2006 - and only the second time it has breached 60,000. 'Circulating influenza' was blamed in the report, released today and compiled using data of deaths from each region. It showed deaths were higher than levels recorded during the Swine flu pandemic in 2010 - considered the worst outbreak in recent years. Government figures reveal 64,157 people died in January - 42 per cent higher than the death toll recorded in December. The Office for National Statistics report showed a similar trend in deaths was seen in all nine regions of England and Wales itself. It read: 'Circulating influenza is likely to be a contributing factor in the high number of deaths registered in January 2018.' Some 10,011 deaths were recorded in the South East, followed by 8,625 in the North West and 7,110 in the East of England. At the other end of the scale, 3,503 people died in the North East in January, 3,945 in Wales and 5,401 in the East Midlands. Latest figures show the flu outbreak has killed at least 271 people, but this is likely to be an underestimate because it only counts for confirmed hospital deaths. WHAT FLU STRAINS ARE IN THE UK IN 2018? There are many different types of flu circulating around the world, but four main types are being seen in Britain this winter. H3N2 - Dubbed Aussie flu after it struck Australia hard last winter, this strain is more likely to affect the elderly, who do not respond well to the current vaccine. This is one of the most common strains seen so far this winter, with at least 63 confirmed cases seen in official laboratories. H1N1 - This strain known as swine flu - is generally more likely to hit children, who respond well to vaccination. This has been seen nearly as often as H3N2 so far this year, with at least 50 cases confirmed in labs. In the past it was commonly caught from pigs, but that changed in 2009 when it started spreading rapidly among humans in a major global pandemic. B / Yamagata - This is known as 'Japanese flu'. Only people who received the four strain vaccine - which is being slowly rolled out after it was introduced for the first time last winter - are protected against the Yamagata strain. Those who received the normal three strain vaccine are not protected. This strain has been seen in at least 63 lab cases so far this winter. B / Victoria - This strain is vaccinated against in the normal three strain vaccine, but has hardly appeared so far this winter, with just around four confirmed cases. Advertisement The outbreak, fuelled mainly by an aggressive B/Yamagata strain (Japanese flu) and H3N2 (Aussie flu), has now tailed off. However, it is currently still more prevalent in England and Wales than it was back in December, when the outbreak began to take off. Why do deaths spike in winter? Deaths usually spike in the winter because of the cold weather - which forecasters expect to last for another couple of weeks. But the last time more than 60,000 people died in a month was January 2015 - when an aggressive flu outbreak triggered a surge of deaths. Around 16,000 deaths were blamed on the killer virus across that winter. In contrast, only 577 fatalities were recorded in the previous winter. Not all of the excess deaths this year will be down to influenza, but it is likely to have played a role in a significant amount. Why was this year so severe? The rocketing number of flu cases in the UK and across the world was put down to a surge in four aggressive subtypes attacking the population simultaneously. One included H3N2, which triggered triple the number of expected cases in Australia during the country's winter. It had one of its worst outbreaks on record. Experts feared the virulent strain could prove as deadly to humanity as the Hong Kong flu in 1968, which killed one million people. The flu season in the UK and the rest of the Northern Hemisphere tends to mirror what has happened in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. The same strains of the virus circulate north in time for the British flu season, which typically begins in November and lasts until March. However, the UK was also hit by B/Yamagata, which has been blamed for the majority of cases so far this winter. Its rapid spread has raised concerns because it is not covered in a vaccine given to the elderly. However, experts claim it is less severe. REVEALED: SIX OF THE UK VICTIMS WHO DIED FROM FLU DURING THE WINTER OF 2017/18 Melissa Whiteley, 18, passed away from flu on January 27 - after falling ill on Christmas Day. The engineering student, from Hanford, Staffordshire, could barely walk when she was admitted to hospital. She was placed in an induced coma but did not recover, her heartbroken twin sister revealed. Miss Whiteley passed away at Glenfield Hospital in Leicester surrounded by her loved-ones - including her twin sister Megan - on January 27. Coby Simons, nine, from Exeter, passed away on January 24 - two days after being struck down with the killer virus. His parents initially asked for his identity to be hidden. Public Health England at the time confirmed the gifted maths pupil tested positive for flu. He becomes the sixth victim across the UK to have been named. Tributes have flooded in for the year 5 pupil, who was shown to have influenza B in his post-mortem. He was described as 'absolutely perfect' by his parents. His mother Louise told DevonLive: 'He was just such a lovely boy. He was absolutely perfect; I wouldnt have changed anything about him, not even when he was in a bad mood.' Dylan Day, 12, died from flu, his heartbroken parents revealed. The schoolboy, from Stoke-on-Trent, passed away after developing sepsis, triggered by a a strain of influenza B he was fighting, on January 20. Tributes flooded in for the keen footballer, with family and friends describing him as an 'amazing' and 'cheeky' young boy who will be 'greatly missed'. Dylan's mother Sarah announced his death in a poignant Facebook post, revealing he had 'really suffered' before his eventual death. Bethany Walker, 18, died after taking ill at home - initially from flu symptoms which later developed into pneumonia. Miss Walker, of Applecross, Scotland, was airlifted to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness but died later on January 5. Tributes poured in on social media. Her mother Heather Teale wrote on Facebook: 'My beautiful Daughter Bethany Walker was taken from me. Miss Walker wanted to study midwifery and was due to head for Aberdeen University later this year. Melanie Coombs, 56, who defied her death sentence and beat terminal cancer three times died from 'Aussie flu'. Ms Coombs, from Hailsham, East Sussex, eventually succumbed to pneumonia and passed away in hospital shortly after Christmas. Her grieving son, Anthony Butler, 30, believes the deadly H3N2 strain of influenza A, dubbed 'Aussie flu' was responsible for his mother's eventual death. Speaking about his 'inspirational' mother's ordeal for the first time, he told Mirror Online: 'She said, "cancer won't kill me" - and she was right. Owen Hardy, 95, from Chichester, lost his battle to the bug on January 4. His family said his death is a huge loss for the nation. The World War II Spitfire veteran died after contracting one of the killer flu strains that is currently circulating the UK, his grieving daughter revealed. During his time serving for the RAF in the war, the wing commanders heroics saw him be awarded the top medal for valour the Legion dHonneur. His heartbroken daughter, Debbie Elliott, told the Chichester Observer: Its a huge loss. Were all devastated. He has left a huge gap in all of our lives. Sean Hughes, from Dublin, died from the 'flu' on January 12, his heartbroken parents revealed days after. The 15-year-old, who was an aspiring rapper, passed away in hospital after being rushed for emergency treatment the evening before. Doctors were adamant Sean, known to his friends as Lil' Red, had the flu when they saw him on Wednesday. Tributes flooded in for Sean, who was 'loved by everyone' and described as a 'larger-than-life young man' who was 'way ahead of his years'. Advertisement Usually, just one subtype, of either influenza A or B, is responsible for the majority of cases. The bug spreads easily in the cold weather. Avoiding detection Flu viruses are constantly changing proteins on their surface to avoid detection by the body's immune system - making it more deadly. This transformation is called an 'antigenic shift' if it's large enough, and can lead to a pandemic. This was responsible for the swine flu outbreak in 2009. Health agencies for each of the home nations monitor 'excess deaths' - how many more people die than expected - to give a rough estimate of flu deaths. However, Public Health England, Health Protection Scotland and Northern Ireland's Public Health Agency all provide data on how many have died in intensive care. Deaths have risen to a 'statistically significant' amount across the UK already this winter - and remain above expected in England and Northern Ireland. How badly is the UK being hit at the moment? Officials announce an epidemic when flu symptoms reported in GP consultations breach an amount per 100,000 patients, with each country having its own level. In England, 29.1 GP consultations per 100,000 reported flu symptoms last week. An epidemic would be defined as breaching 108.9 per 100,000. In Scotland, 42.8 GP consultations per 100,000 reported flu symptoms last week. An epidemic would be defined as breaching 418.9 per 100,000. In Northern Ireland, 39.4 GP consultations per 100,000 reported flu symptoms last week. An epidemic would be defined as breaching 142.4 per 100,000. In Wales, 25.2 GP consultations per 100,000 reported flu symptoms last week. An epidemic would be defined as breaching 75.4 per 100,000. A simple urine test could measure how much our bodies have aged and even how long left we have to live, new research suggests. Scientists discovered a certain substance, known as 8-oxoGsn, which indicates cell damage, increases in people's urine as they get older. By determining people's 'internal age', it may be possible to assess their risk of suffering age-related illnesses and even premature death, according to the researchers. The efficient urine-analysis technique used by the scientists, which assessed the samples of up to 10 individuals in an hour, may be useful in future studies investigating the link between 8-oxoGsn and biological ageing, they add. Critics argue, however, ageing alone does not accurately indicate the onset of diseases, adding the study did not investigate a link between 8-oxoGsn and conditions associated with the elderly, such as Parkinson's. Study author Dr Jian-Ping Cai, from the National Centre of Gerontology in China, said: 'Urinary 8-oxoGsn may reflect the real condition of our bodies better than our chronological age, and may help us to predict the risk of age-related diseases.' A urine test could measure how much our body has aged and how long left we have (stock) HOW OLD CAN HUMANS LIVE TO? Humans may live to 120 in just 60 years time, a leading expert claimed in May 2017. Research reveals it is possible to slow down our biological, or 'inner', ageing process, which could help us to live decades beyond the current life expectancy of 81. Drugs that interact with our DNA maintain the function of our bodies for longer, the research suggests. Experts stress, however, this must be combined with a healthy lifestyle for full effect. Yet, how a 120-year-old life expectancy may impact people's quality of life is unclear. The side effects of such treatments are also unknown. Several European countries are in talks to start drug trials within the next three years. Professor Vladimir Khavinson, head of the St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, said: 'It is important to understand that nobody would want to live a long and unhealthy life. 'The main goal for us now must be to allow people to stay healthy for as long as possible into their old age.' Six of these drugs are already available in Russia. These include Thymalin to maintain immune system function and Cortexin to preserve brain activity. The drugs work on the so-called 'peptide technology theory', which states that interacting with DNA increases protein production that prolongs lifespan. Speaking at the international symposium on longevity in Geneva, Professor Khavinson added: 'One of the key indicators of ageing is the reduction of protein synthesis. 'We have come to the conclusion that it is possible to restore it to a normal level with the use of peptide bioregulators and have found an optimal way to maintain natural peptide production of a sufficient quantity. 'The technology developed by our scientific institute is based on the extraction of peptides from the tissues of young healthy animals that have the same structure as human tissues.' A similar study conducted by researchers at the GLMED medical center in Moscow assessed 60 age markers throughout such drugs' treatment in participants aged 31-to-72 years old. Results suggested that, when combined with a healthy lifestyle, the drugs reduce a person's biological age by an average of up to two years over 12 months. Advertisement 'Urinary 8-oxoGsn is promising as a marker of ageing' Previous studies suggest 8-oxoGsn levels increase in the urine of animals as they age. The researchers therefore analysed urine samples from 1,228 Chinese residents aged between two and 90 years old. Dr Cai said: 'We found an age-dependent increase in urinary 8-oxoGsn in participants [aged] 21 years old and older. 'Therefore, urinary 8-oxoGsn is promising as a new marker of ageing.' Results suggest levels of 8-oxoGsn were roughly the same between the men and women participating in the study, except in post-menopausal females, who demonstrated higher levels. Speaking of the findings, Ilaria Bellantuono, professor of musculoskeletal ageing at the University of Sheffield, who was not involved in the study, said: 'This paper shows that it is possible to detect 8-oxoGsn in human urine and its increase correlates with increasing age. 'However, ageing is not a disease but a risk factor for age-related diseases, in the same way smoking is for lung cancer. 'Therefore it is not possible to say whether this could be used as marker to predict the occurrence of disease. 'For example, this paper does not show whether this marker is present at higher levels in people affected by diseases such as osteoporosis, diabetes, Parkinson's or whether it is present at higher level in people who then go on to develop those diseases in longitudinal studies.' The findings were published in the journal Frontiers in Ageing Neuroscience. Internal ageing may begin post-menopause in women Changes in the level and function of oxygen is thought to reflect people's internal age. Dr Cai said: 'Oxygen by-products produced during normal metabolism can cause oxidative damage to biomolecules in cells, such as DNA and RNA. 'As we age, we suffer increasing oxidative damage and so the levels of oxidative markers increase in our body.' This may occur after the menopause in women due to oestrogen having a known antioxidant effect. Having children ages women's DNA by 11 years This comes after research released earlier this month suggested having children ages women's DNA by 11 years. Giving birth shortens women's telomeres, which 'cap' the end of DNA strands and are associated with health, by around 4.2 per cent, a study found. Longer telomere lengths are linked to slower aging, longer lifespans and improved overall health. Such an extent of telomere shortening is greater than the effects of smoking or obesity demonstrated in previous studies. Study author Dr Anna Pollack from George Mason University, Virginia, told the New Scientist: 'We were surprised to find such a striking result. It is equivalent to around 11 years of accelerated cellular ageing.' The researchers believe this may be due to the stress of raising children, particularly in countries without mandatory maternity leave, such as the US. They stress, however, more research into the link between motherhood and genetic ageing is required, with Dr Pollack adding: 'We're not saying 'don't have children'. Pregnant women who take a common diabetes drug face a higher risk of having overweight children, research suggests. The study, which contradicts previous trials, found youngsters had a BMI of 0.7 points higher if their mother used metformin. Norwegian scientists concluded the drug - which lowers blood sugar - can cross the placenta and reach the growing foetus. Children whose mothers used metformin during pregnancy also tended to weigh more when they turned four, by around 1lb 12oz (0.8kg). Dr Liv Guro Engen Hanem, who led the study, described the results as 'surprising' because of an array of trials that showed the opposite. 'Past research in this area had suggested metformin would have a protective effect on the children's metabolic health,' she said. The study, branded 'surprising', found youngsters had a BMI of 0.7 points higher if their mother used metformin It is the world's most commonly prescribed diabetes drug and is given to millions of patients with type 2 - widely dubbed a silent killer. But metformin is also dished out to polycystic ovary syndrome sufferers - a condition that strikes 10 per cent of women of reproductive age. In this study, the mothers of around 160 children used in the study had all taken the drug to control their PCOS - a common cause of infertility. It is not licenced for treating the condition, which raises the chances of developing diabetes, in the UK or US. But it is known to boost ovulation. WHAT IS METFORMIN? Metformin is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes and sometimes polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Type 2 diabetes is an illness where the body doesn't make enough insulin, or the insulin that it makes doesn't work properly. This can cause high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia). PCOS is a condition that affects how the ovaries work. Metformin lowers your blood sugar levels by improving the way your body handles insulin. It's usually prescribed for diabetes when diet and exercise alone have not been enough to control your blood sugar levels. For women with PCOS, metformin stimulates ovulation even if they don't have diabetes. It does this by lowering insulin and blood sugar levels. Metformin is available on prescription as tablets and as a liquid that you drink. Source: NHS Choices Advertisement Some 161 children were measured by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim. Their body weight and BMI were recorded when they turned six months old and on their fourth birthday. Head circumference and height were also tracked. However, no differences were found for the latter features, according to the study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. Children in the group of mothers who had taken metformin weighed, on average, 2st 12lbs (18.3kg) at four years old. Their counterparts weighed, on average, 2st 10lbs (17.5kg). In terms of BMI, children in the group of mothers who had taken metformin had an average of 16.6. In comparison, their counterparts BMI was 15.9 on average. Dr Hanem added: 'Few studies have examined the long-term health of children born to women with PCOS who took metformin. 'Our findings indicate more research is needed to determine its effects on children who were exposed in the womb.' The findings are in stark contrast to what scores of diabetes patients claim - that metformin actually aids weight loss. Diabetes.co.uk, a support website for sufferers, recognises that the drug can lower the appetite of patients and help them shed the pounds. Metformin, sold as Glucophage in the UK and US, stops blood sugar levels from rising too high by blocking its release in the liver. In turn, this means the body doesn't have to produce as much insulin - which 'acts on the brain to cause hunger', Diabetes.co.uk states. The front-runner for the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is requesting equal time from CBS after Gillibrand's recent appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." Chele Farley submitted her request to CBS Monday. Her campaign said Gillibrand's appearance on Colbert's show last week is a "clear trigger" of the equal-time rule. The rule requires licensed broadcasters to provide equal air time to political candidates. "All we are asking for is CBS and all mainstream media to follow the law, respect the voters and treat the race fairly," Farley said in a statement. Gillibrand, D-N.Y., was a guest on the Feb. 20 episode of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert." Her appearance lasted nearly 10 minutes. Dain Pascocello, Farley's campaign manager, said they are requesting "comparable time" in markets beyond New York, including affiliates in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Vermont. A 27-year-old mom who went to the hospital for what she thought was the flu has been diagnosed with a rodent-carried Hantavirus that leads to organ failure and death in more than a third of patients. A month ago, Kiley Lane was planning a trip to Costa Rica and today she is fighting for her life at a hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The rare virus enters the bloodstream after contact with infected deer mice causing hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) that extensively damages the lungs, heart and other organs, killing 36 percent of those infected. There have been fewer than 1,000 cases of the virus reported in the US since it was first identified in 1993. Kiley Lane, 27, went to the hospital for what she thought was the flu but was diagnosed with a rare rodent-carried Hantavirus on February 5. She is pictured right with her daughter In its early stages, hantivirus typically presents with flu-like symptoms, making it easy to misdiagnose. In early January, Lane was experiencing nausea and sharp stomach pains, so her husband Kevin convinced her to go to the hospital in Farmington, New Mexico, thinking that she had the flu. Doctors told her that she had a blockage and sent her home with laxatives, but a few weeks later she returned to the hospital complaining of shortness of breath. Lane was tested for pneumonia, the flu virus, hepatitis, and other possible causes for her symptoms but everything came back negative. 'She was getting sicker and sicker and nobody seemed to want to listen,' Lane's mom, Julie Barron, told Fox News. 'At one point they thought she might be faking it.' Her condition continued to deteriorate to the point that she was put on a ventilator. Finally, a test for Hantavirus came back positive, and Lane was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. HPS causes infections in various organs that weaken blood vessels, making them leak. The body attempts to fight the virus by creating inflammation, which combines with the organ infections and leads to intense damage throughout the body. In the lungs, leaky blood vessels cause flooding in the air sacs, making it difficult for patients to breathe. When the virus infects the heart, the damage reduces its ability to circulate blood through the body causing critically low blood pressure and a lack of oxygen throughout the body. This can rapidly lead to organ failure and death. Hantavirus typically enters the bloodstream after contact with infected deer mice (pictured) or their feces and urine While there is no known cure for Hantavirus or HPS and nearly four in 10 people infected are killed, those who do recover do so rapidly with the help of supportive care, according to the CHEST Foundation. Supportive care includes oxygen therapy, fluid replacement, and use of blood pressure medications to support blood pressure. In some cases, antiviral drugs are used to treat strains of hantavirus, but no large trials have proven them to be effective. Lane has been hooked up to an Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) machine for 21 days, which takes on the duties of the heart and lungs by pumping and oxygenating a patient's blood. 'This virus starts attacking your body, it damages your organs,' Barron said. 'The first thing that happened with Kiley is her lungs. They're in real critical shape.' 'A month ago, she was planning a trip to Costa Rica with her best friend from college. Now she can't even go to the bathroom by herself,' Barron said. 'She hasn't seen or talked to her daughter in a month. She can't even watch TV.' Sherri Hull, a family friend, set up a YouCaring page to raise money for Lane's medical bills. More than 160 people have already donated to the cause, raising $23,720. Through Facebook the family was connected with a couple who had experienced the virus years ago. 'We had an awesome God-thing happen,' Barron wrote on the YouCaring page. 'Cam and Angie Dockery drove several hours round-trip to come visit Kiley. 'Cam survived this virus 12 years ago and came to give us hope and encouragement. I am certain we will now be friends with Cam and Angie for life. 'It is a humbling thing to see Gods hand at work each day.' While Barron patiently waits for small signs that her daughter's health is improving, she said she's going to devote her time to spreading awareness for the deadly virus. 'We can't sit back and let things like this be swept under the carpet,' Barron said. 'I want people to know about the virus and to keep the name in open communications, so that nobody else has to go through this. Not one person.' As of January 2017, a total of only 728 HPS cases had been reported across 36 states, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The majority of cases were reported in states west of the Mississippi River. Barron said that she wants people to know how they may be at risk. 'It's not like [Lane] was digging through a dumpster or around infected rodents. She was doing her normal, everyday routine sweeping the porch, wiping off a box with a paper towel,' Barron said. 'Everyone has the impression: "That's never going to happen to me".' A growing telephone scam that originated in Japan could be catching out unsuspecting Britons, leaving them with hefty bills. Called the Wangiri scam, it works by a fraudster calling a victim's mobile phone number and hanging up after one or two rings. They then hope the victim will return the missed call. Wangiri scam: It essentially relies on people to ring back an overseas number after seeing a missed call But when the victim phones back, the fraudster uses technology to reroute the call to a premium rate number overseas, which can cost a fortune for every minute that the call is connected. Victims are often placed on hold or played a long pre-recorded message to keep them on the phone and rack up higher bills. Some have even reported being billed for calls that are several hours long, although they had hung up much sooner than this. We received an e-mail from a This is Money reader saying: 'I keep getting repeat calls at 2 in the morning from a variation of a number I already blocked from Mali. What is this?' It is likely that this is a Wangiri scam call. The scam is called Wangiri as it is the Japanese word for 'one ring and cut'. In the past, Ofcom have warned about the scam after a spate of cases. Fraudsters use automated systems to continuously dial multiple mobile numbers at a rate of up to 3,000 numbers a minute. There have been reports of customers being charged for a 12 hour premium rate conversation after dialling the number. Mobile phone users on all networks are urged to watch out for the scam. Mobile network Three recently said that it was hard at work tackling this scam by 'taking the necessary measures to protect and maintain security on our network, by for example, hunting for patterns to the Wangiri scam numbers.' It says if you get an unexpected call from an unknown international number, you should not answer the phone, call the number back or share any personal information. It is believed the phone numbers are bought on the dark web. Some examples of countries where these calls have originated from include Comoros (+269), Cook Islands (+682), Liberia (+231) and Tunisia (+216). According to the Fraud & Technology Wire, Wangiri fraud amounted to $2billion worth of losses globally in 2014. Almost half of the 204.7million income generated by the Dartford Crossing came from 92million issued in fines, official accounts reveal. Highways England confirmed that more than 2.7 million penalty charge notice (PCNs) were issued to drivers for failed Dart Charge payments, though many of these couldn't be enforced and had to be written off. Profits made would have been more substantial had more than 42 million in irrecoverable fines not been stricken from the annual earnings. Dart Charge disgust: Almost half of all income generated for the Government by the Darford Crossing last year came through enforcement of fines, new stats revealed The AA said the high level of fines suggests there is 'clearly a problem with the scheme'. Enforcement revenue was up 54 per cent on the year previous, when operators at the crossing issued 60 million worth of PCNs. However, Highways England confirmed it had wiped off more than 42.4 million worth (46 per cent) of fines from its profits that it was unable to enforce. These irrecoverable fines were blamed a combination of factors, including penalties not being issued in a timely basis, service provider errors and drivers' vehicle keeper's details not being available. It also noted that some of the fines related to 'aged debts resulting from historic issues' that pre-dated the Dart Charge, which was introduced in December 2014. 'Write-offs were exceptionally high this year as management dealt with a legacy population of debts built up prior to the system improvements,' the accounts document for last year stated. Another 31.6 million was deducted from proceeds as 'movement in allowance for doubtful debt', which translates to outstanding PCNs Highways England will continue to pursue, it confirmed to This is Money. Total profit for the Dartford Crossing over the financial year was 64.1 million,the report released by Highways England showed. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras used to enforce the crossing registered 55.8 million crossings made by drivers during the 12-month period, with a 94 per cent Dart Charge compliance rate. Non payment resulted in almost 2.3 million UK PCNs being issued - down from 2.6 million the year previous - along with another 430,700 cases that were forwarded to European debt recovery agencies tasked with tracking down non-compliant overseas motorists. The Dart Charge was first deployed more than three years ago - replacing manned toll booths with ANPR cameras. Highways England's Dart Charge stats since it was first introduced in 2014. Compliance rates last year were marginally higher than the year before Had all PCN fines been collected, the government would have been set to pocket more than 92 million last year, up from 60 million the year previous Some 42.4 million in unenforceable fines were written off, along with 31.6 million in PCNs that are still being pursued today This is Money has been contacted in the past by readers who have seen fines escalate to the point of bailiffs getting involved after non payment due to simple mistakes spiralled out of control. The AA said the escalating revenue through enforcement and higher volume of fines being written off was a clear sign that something is amiss with the scheme. And these concerns are more prominent in the knowledge that the same ANPR-camera-enforced system is currently being used - and criticised by motorists - for the charge on the Mersey Gateway, which opened in October. Commenting on the high fine rates, Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said there is 'clearly a problem with the scheme'. 'Income from non-compliance would have been more prominent in the accounts had another 42 million not have been written off as irrecoverable fines,' he said. 'It seems that while drivers are still getting it wrong, there is little desire to rectify the reasons why people do not pay and simply reap the fines.' The AA questioned how well the system, which relies on ANPR cameras, is working and raised concerns for the same scheme being deployed at the Mersey Gateway charge Highways England disagreed with the AA's suggestion, saying the system was working 'efficiently and effectively' and that funds would be used to improve the nation's transport network. 'Dart Charge has successfully removed a significant source of congestion at the Dartford Crossing and is giving drivers more flexibility about how and when they pay the Dartford Crossing road user charge,' a spokesperson for the government agency said. 'These latest set of accounts for the Dartford Crossing show that Dart Charge is being administered efficiently and effectively, collecting net proceeds of 64.1m during the 2016-17 financial year to be ploughed back into UK transport. 'The number of people paying on time has continued to increase, from 93.8 per cent in 2015-16 to 94.3 per cent in 2016-17. 'By March 2017, road user compliance averaged at 95.2 per cent.' The Government said the net proceeds of 64.1m generated during the 2016-17 financial year would be ploughed back into UK transport But the AA said compliance rates shouldn't even be a consideration, as it was time the Government removed fees for the crossing altogether - like the toll to cross the Severn Bridge that's being abolished at the end of the year. Back in February 1999, the government announced the Dartford Crossing would be free of toll charges by the end of 2003. But in 2001, it backtracked out of the agreement and allowed the continuation of the crossing fee, which officially became a charge and not a toll on 1 April 2003. Cousens added: 'Locals are getting the message, but for drivers further afield it simply isnt clear that a toll is due. 'There still isnt a Payzone at the Dover ports or the services immediately around Dartford which would help increase the number of drivers paying the toll. 'In reality though, the toll should not be in place. 'The infrastructure was paid off years ago and we would like the Crossing to follow in the footsteps of the Severn Bridge and remove the charge altogether.' Takeover-target GKN's annual statutory pre-tax profits increased by 125 per cent to 658million last year, it said today. But, underlying pre-tax profits made for grimmer reading, falling 16 per cent to 572million, partly due to a 112million hit from its North American operations. FTSE 100 listed GKN, which currently employs 6,000 staff in the UK across its aerospace and automotive divisions, is embroiled in a 7.4billion hostile takeover tussle with investment group Melrose Industries. Fighting: GKN's boss Anne Stevens is battling against a takeover bid by Melrose The Redditch-based engineering group has announced it will separate its aerospace and automotive divisions by the middle of next year. The two divisions, known as GKN Aerospace and GKN Driveline, will become two separate companies via a demerger, with the aim of creating 'two strong companies with investment grade balance sheets that can support their share of the group's pension liabilities.' In the last year, GKN has reduced its UK pension deficit by 44 per cent to 675million, adding that its deficit recovery payments had fallen to 36million a year from 2018. The group's sales broke through the 10billion mark for the first time, rising 6 per cent to 10.4billion. GKN's net debt grew to 889million, up from 704million a year earlier. Adding more detail to a previous announcement, GKN said its turnaround plan, Project Boost, would deliver recurring annual cash benefits of 340million from the end of 2020 and 2.5billion in returns to shareholders over the next three years. The group is urging its investors to back Project Boost in a bid to fend of Melrose's proposal. Prime Minister Theresa May has come under increasing pressure to block Melrose's takeover bid. Former business secretary Vince Cable has written to Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Greg Clark, urging him to intervene. Mr Cable said in the letter: 'It is totally unsuitable to have a short-term turnaround company operating one of Britain's major strategic engineering companies that has a 20-year horizon. GKN, which can trace its origins back to the Industrial Revolution, employs 6,000 staff in the UK in its aerospace and automotive divisions 'There is a national security interest intervention or the government could take a golden share. I would strongly urge them to do that.' Anne Stevens, GKN's chief executive, said: 'GKN has fantastic businesses which have grown organically above our key markets, demonstrating once again our strong positions and leading technology. 'However as I set out two weeks ago, we now need to change our emphasis and ensure that those orders deliver world class financial performance with a renewed focus on strong margins and cash generation. 'With Project Boost, I have laid out how we plan to achieve this, through detailed product segment strategies and an emphasis on manufacturing and functional excellence. We are excited about delivering these plans.' Nicholas Hyett, an equity analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown, questioned whether Ms Stevens' plan will be sufficient to win over investors. He said: 'Significant write-downs in the US aerospace business have hit profits and margins. Even excluding those, margins are heading in the wrong direction. 'It's these problems, and scope for improvement, that attracted serial acquirer Melrose in the first place. 'Revenues are actually climbing quite nicely, and ahead of the wider market. If margins can be got back in line profits should get a double boost. '(Ms Stevens') turnaround plan is comprehensive, and flesh is being added to the bones on a weekly basis, but it still might not be enough to convince investors.' In response to GKN's results, Melrose chairman, Christopher Miller, said: 'Today's statements are full of long-term promises and more short-term actual misses. 'They include a rushed plan to demerge Aerospace and Automotive, which begs the question whether the priority of Project Boost has been superseded by the dismemberment of GKN in the next 15 months. 'At the heart of this is a plea for the incumbent team to embark on an unproven and risky plan which we believe is wrong for all GKN stakeholders and UK plc as a whole. GKN deserves better than this: we believe Melrose is the only team with the ability to unlock its true potential.' GKN's share price is down 0.42 per cent to 428.20p. In its results, the group announced its dividend for the year will be 9.3p per share, an increase of 5 per cent from the 8.85p per share figure seen a year earlier. GKN has a 259-year history and can trace its roots back to the Industrial Revolution. The old 10 note has been phased out. As of today, retailers and banks no longer have to accept them as legal tender. Two weeks ago, estimates from the Bank of England showed there was still 2.2billion worth of the paper tenners featuring Charles Darwin in circulation - or more than a quarter of the total number of notes issued. However, those who find the old paper 10 notes in the future will be able to deposit them into UK bank accounts at the Post Office. New tenner: The polymer 10 note with Jane Austen has replaced the paper style ones featuring Charles Darwin This is also true of old 1 coins and old 5 notes which have not been legal tender for some time. The Post Office says any of its 11,500 branches will deposit them but not exchange them. Furthermore, if you have found old round pounds, you can donate them to Pudsey's Round Pound Countdown for BBC Children in Need and Post Office branches accept these too. Martin Kearsley, banking services director at the Post Office, said: 'We want to remind customers that, even if they don't have a bank branch nearby, they can come to the Post Office to access their bank account and bank their tenner. 'Thanks to an agreement with all UK high street banks, everyone can deposit cash and cheques, including any old notes, into their usual high street bank account at their local Post Office branch.' Old vs new: The Post Office will allow customers to deposit old pounds and 5 notes into current accounts at its 11,500 branches If you want to exchange old notes from March, this can only be done at the Bank of England either in person or by post. Some banks, building societies and even retailers may accept the paper notes from March onwards, but there is no guarantee, meaning it is far easier to spend or exchange them before the deadline. The new tenner came into circulation in September 2017. It saw dozens of people queuing outside the Bank of England to get their hands on the first issues. The polymer notes feature Jane Austen and at a charity auction in October, one with the serial number AA01 000010 sold for 7,200. On online marketplace eBay, 10 notes with a serial number starting AA01 can fetch tidy sums. The polymer 10 note came after the successful launch of a plastic 5 featuring Winston Churchill. Bank of England chief cashier Victoria Cleland says the new notes were needed to combat fraud and that they last longer than the paper style ones. A new 20 note will come out in 2020, featuring artist J.M.W Turner. Advertisement It used to be something millions of women dreamt to have: a pair of tiny feet no longer than four inches. Girls as young as five would have layer after layer of bandage wrapped over their toes every single day for a decade to get the desirable 'lotus feet'. Although such feature is considered deformed and shocking in the modern eyes, less than 100 years ago in China it could not only gain its female owner respect from their family, but also secure her a decent husband. Zhang Yun Ying (pictured), born in 1927, was the first woman Jo Farrell found in 2006. She had her feet bound aged seven In 2010, Ms Farrell met a 103-year-old woman, also called Zhang Yun Ying, who showcased her proud tiny feet (pictured) Zhang Yun Ying (foot pictured), 103, insisted she was only 99 years old so people wouldn't think she was too old Gong Xiu Ying (pictured), born in 1929, had her feet bound aged 15 and was carried by sedan chair when she married aged 17 Apparently, tiny feet could also help satisfy Chinese men in the bedroom in the feudal era. Li Yun, a 17th century Chinese author, wrote in his lifestyle guide 'Sketches of Idle Pleasure' that palm-size feet on a woman were 'extremely sexy' and 'irresistible', and a man could get 'mind-blowing' experience by just touching them. On the other hand, women who didn't have their feet down-sized would be considered 'too manly', 'too strong' and 'not delicate enough', as an ancient Chinese saying goes. 'It's hard to imagine women had to subject themselves to such a painful process just to be accepted by the society and to be loved,' said Jo Farrell, a photographer and anthropologist who has spent the last 13 years documenting the last living women with bound feet in China. 'But it was the standard of beauty at the time, just like some women prefer being skinny or having tattoos nowadays,' added London-born Ms Farrell, 51, who now lives in Hong Kong. Ms Farrell found Ping Yao Lady (pictured) in 2007 outside the ancient city of Pingyao in Shanxi Province. The woman, who was 100 years old at the time, removed her shoes and posed for Ms Farrell, the first foreigner she had seen in real life Li Shi (pictured) was born in 1902 and had her feet bound when she was 11. She said she used to unbound them secretly Si Yin Zhen (pictured) had her feet bound at the age of seven and never unbound them. Ms Farrell described her as 'feisty' A best pair of bound feet, called 'golden lotus feet', should measure three cun (four inches) in length by Chinese measurement; while the next in the rank, 'silver lotus feet', should be four cun (5.2 inches). Women with such feat would wear beautiful embroidered shoes to show off their tiny feet. The controversial custom dates back over 1,000 years to China's Tang Dynasty and reached its peak in the Qing Dynasty which lasted from the 17th to the early 20th century. It was largely abolished - together with feudalism - after the founding of the Republic of China in 1912. However in rural areas, the custom carried on existing until 1940s. Today, there are very few women in China who have had their feet bound. Most of them are in their 90s and live in remote villages. Since 2005, Ms Farrell has photographed and interviewed around 55 such women in the provinces of Shandong, Yunnan and Shanxi. She said she started out on the project because she has always been interested in exploring traditions that are dying out. Ms Farrell called herself lucky in finding bound feet women because 'I seemed to be meeting the right people'. The photographer met her first interviewee through a taxi driver in Shanghai in 2005. 'At the time I thought all of these women were dead. When my taxi driver heard me saying that, he said his grandmother was one.' Ms Farrell then travelled to the taxi driver's hometown in Shandong to meet his grandmother Zhang Yun Ying. 'The first time I met Zhang Yun Ying and held her foot in my hand it was just incredible - so soft and so incredibly formed,' she recalled. She then found some other women through her translators or even random people she chatted to on the bus. 'Their grandmothers all seem to have bound feet.' These are the bound feet of Wang Chun Rong. The woman said her grandmother bound her feet to make her more beautiful Pictured, 87-year-old Cao Mei Ying and her feet. Ms Cao had her feet bound aged three and had them unbound 74 years later Pictured are the shoes belonging to Su Xi Rong, who was born in 1933 and had her feet bound when she turned seven Su Xi Rong (right) showed her unbound feet (left). Ms Farrell said Ms Su was once the most beautiful women in the village In the past, Chinese women were only allowed to show their bound feet bare to their husbands. However, Ms Farrell said most of her interviewees were happy to remove their bandage and reveal their squashed toes and soles in front of her Hasselblad camera. 'At their age, it's easy for them to feel neglected. Maybe because my project makes them feel they are useful again,' said Ms Farrell. Surprisingly, objections usually came from the women's children who were afraid of criticism from the Chinese public. Ms Farrell said once she took a picture of her translator Blake and her grandmother who had bound feet. The picture showed Blake and her grandmother's bare feet next to each other. Blake's parents were apparently concerned about the picture - not because it captured her grandmother's 'lotus feet', but because it showed Blake's bare feet. 'They said if the picture was published 'they would say bad things',' said Ms Farrell. 'When I asked 'who are they', her parents said the people on the internet.' For more than a decade, the dedicated photographer has shuttled between Hong Kong and mainland China whenever possible to visit her existing and new interviewees. She described them as 'incredible', 'lovely' and 'generous'. She said: 'They all treat me like their granddaughter. They make me dumplings and introduce me to other bound feet women.' Although most of the women were supportive of Ms Farrell's project, some did hesitate at the beginning. There was once Ms Farrell was trying to convince four bound feet women from the same village to be photographed, but they were too scared and declined. However when Ms Farrell returned to the village, they saw the photos featuring other women's feet. They were touched by the beautiful images and asked if they could be a part of the project. Yang Jing'e (pictured) was 87 years old when Ms Farrell visited her in 2010. Her feet were bound by her grandmother in 1928 Hou Guan Yu, who was born in 1921, learnt how to bind her own feet (pictured) after her sister taught her when she was six These are some of the last women in China with bound feet. Ms Farrell said these women deserve to be known as who they are There are a few theories on why the bound feet are called 'lotus feet' in China. According to a popular one, a perfectly bound foot should resemble the shape of a closed lotus blossom - with the woman's toe pointing forwards and the rest of her toes firmly folded underneath the sole. To achieve this, young girls would have to have their four toes bent under their sole and the front part of the sole bent towards the heel by force. They would have to wear the bandage way into their teenage years to make sure their 'lotus feet' would stay in shape. Apart from the supposed aesthetic purpose, a pair of 'lotus feet' could prove a woman faithfulness to her husband. The belief was that because she wouldn't be able to run quickly with her tiny feet, it'd be hard for her to have an affair or escape from her husband's family. 'Naturally no girls would want to undergo foot-binding, but it could prove that they came from a good family and were accepted by the society. 'Sometimes, the girls were not forced, instead they wanted to have their feet bound because they knew it was the only way forward,' Ms Farrell noted. In most cases however, it was the girl's mother or grandmother who forced her to go through the painful procedure 'for her own sake'. Ms Farrell said finding and meeting these lasting living bound feet women has completely changed her perception of life. 'I suddenly realised why we have to change ourselves to be loved. Why can't we be loved for who we are? 'That is also why I am not a fan of new beauty trends, such as the thigh gap, because who's there to say who's beautiful and who's not?' Jo Farrell is pictured with Yang Jing'e, who was born in 1923. Ms Farrell has photographed women with bound feet since 2005 Ms Farrell (pictured with one of her interviewees) said the project has completely changed her perception of life and beauty In 2014 nine years after Ms Farrell began her project, she started to raise funds through Kickstarter so she could continue with the endeavour. In the same year, Ms Farrell turned her research effort into a book 'Living History: Bound Feet Women of China', which she sells through her website. With the launch of her book, her incredible black-and-white portraits of the women and their 'lotus feet' won recognition instantly. Ms Farrell is currently working on a second edition of her book with new pictures. She is also documenting two other disappearing female customs in Asia: the Kayan women from Myanmar who have their neck stretched by wearing heavy brass coils and the Chin women, also from Myanmar, who wear full-facial tattoos. 'It hasn't been easy working on the projects because I am self-funded. But I will carry on because I've got to do things that matter to me,' she concluded. See more photos from Ms Farrell's of China's bound feet women on her website or in Hong Kong's Blue Lotus Gallery from March 18 to 31 in exhibition 'Bound'. Two students who allegedly set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for ammunition to carry out a high school shooting have been arrested. The pair are accused of preparing to 'shoot up' Combs High School in San Tan Valley, Arizona, according to the Pinal County Sheriff's Office. Police attended the campus last week after a student told school officials they had overheard two other pupils talking about bringing a gun in, abc15 reported. Two students allegedly set up a GoFundMe account to raise money for ammunition to carry out a shooting at Combs High School in San Tan Valley, Arizona (pictured) Deputies say a 15-year-old student had threatened to file off a gun's serial number then take it to school. A second pupil, who deputies say had access to weapons at his home, reportedly helped set up the GoFundMe account to raise money to buy ammunition. Deputies say a 15-year-old student had threatened to file off a gun's serial number then take it to school and the other helped set up the fundraising account (stock image) Pinal County Sheriff's Office said in a statement: 'The site explained that ammunition was expensive and they needed help to shoot up Combs High School.' The second student reportedly told deputies he didn't know who created the GoFundMe account but was present when it was set up. The account has since been removed, according to deputies. Both students have been charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism and interference or disruption of an education institution. GoFundMe said in a statement: 'The campaign raised no funds and has been removed from the platform. 'Additionally, the campaign organizer has been banned from using the GoFundMe platform. 'It is against GoFundMe's terms of service to raise funds on our platform to buy ammunition or firearms.' The Alabama man charged with killing his wife, who was living a double life as an online provocateur, claims he is innocent and 'heartbroken' over her death. William Jeffrey West's attorney said released a statement Monday from the husband, which were his first public comments since the death of Kathleen Dawn West, 42, in January. Defense lawyer John Robbins said the 44-year-old man, who is charged with murder, has maintained his innocence since the beginning. 'We are going to do everything that we can to establish that he is not guilty of this crime,' said Robbins. 'It appears that the state's case is based on circumstantial evidence.' William Jeffrey West's attorney said released a statement Monday from the husband, which were his first public comments since the death of Kathleen Dawn West, 42, in January A court document alleges West used a liquor bottle to kill the woman. Police have said she died of a head injury in what they described as a domestic argument Defense lawyer John Robbins said the 44-year-old man, who is charged with murder, has maintained his innocence since the beginning. He says he is heartbroken over the death of his wife, who posted risque photos on social media, and she had a paid site where people could see more revealing images A court document alleges West used a liquor bottle to kill the woman. Police have said she died of a head injury in what they described as a domestic argument. Kathleen West was found partially nude on the street in front of the couple's suburban home in Calera, located about 35 miles south of Birmingham on January 13. Kat, as she was known to her friends, was found dead lying face down in a pool of blood by a neighbor on their way to work. She had her cell phone placed beside her lifeless body and an empty bottle of absinthe balanced on top of it. Mr West, a former US military policeman and campus security guard, was arrested five weeks later. The woman posted risque photos on social media, and she had a paid site where people could see more revealing images. West knew about his wife's activities and wasn't jealous or angry, said the lawyer. 'We will be looking into his wife's double life, among other things, to see how her 'other' lifestyle is connected to her death,' Robbin said. West, who was fired from his job as an unsworn police officer at Birmingham-Southern College, is 'heartbroken' over the loss of his wife and is worried about their daughter and how the loss is affecting her, Robbins said. Kat, as she was known to her friends, was found dead lying face down in a pool of blood by a neighbor on their way to work. She had her cell phone placed beside her lifeless body and an empty bottle of absinthe balanced on top of it The woman posted risque photos on social media, and she had a paid site where people could see more revealing images. West knew about his wife's activities and wasn't jealous or angry, said the lawyer And in conversations with friends the heavy-set, balding father-of-two insisted the death was purely an accident and he never had a problem with his wife's online activities. One close confidante, Mike Waters, wrote in a now-deleted Facebook post seen by DailyMail.com: 'I was able to talk to my friend Jeff last night in length. In the upcoming days true facts will be coming out. 'And everybody will find out that this was a terrible accident, that involved excessive alcohol consumption .... Absinthe!' Another friend who spoke with DailyMail.com on condition of anonymity insisted West knew his wife was an online seductress and even 'got off' on the notion she was desired by countless men. 'She was a sweet lady who was fun, playful and loved to tease either sex,' dished the source. 'I know Jeff was well aware of whatever it was she or they were doing.' Kat and her husband were last seen together the night before her death buying the absinthe at a local liquor store. West, who was arrested last week and remains in jail, filed a motion Sunday claiming his $500,000 bond is excessive. The request said the man poses no threat to the community and has friends and relatives who want to help pay his bail. The White House announced Monday that the Trump administration's first state dinner will take place on April 24. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders had previously confirmed that the first state dinner guest would be French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Trogneux. President Trump had bucked tradition by not hosting an official state dinner during his first year in office, though has invited a number of world leaders to the White House for meals. The White House set the date Monday for the Trump administration's first state dinner, to be held April 24 with French President Emmanuel Macron (second from right) and his wife Brigitte Trogneux (right) President Trump (second from left) marveled at the Bastille Day parade that French President Emmanuel Macron (second from right) and his wife Brigitte Trogneux (right) invited the president and first lady Melania Trump (left) to last July The Trumps' first state dinner comes exactly five months later than President Obama (right) and first lady Michelle Obama (second from left) had theirs, inviting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh (second from right) and his wife Gursharan Kaur (left) to the White House on November 24, 2009 The fact that the November 2009 dinner with India marked the Obamas' first was eclipsed by the news that two wannabe reality television stars, Michaele Salahi (left) and her then-husband Tareq Salahi (right), crashed the event's cocktail hour An official state dinner has to satisfy a specific set of parameters. With the date set, Trump's first state dinner comes exactly five months later to the day than President Obama's first state dinner. President Obama had invited then Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the White House on November 24, 2009. That specific state dinner was memorable beyond that it was the Obamas' first one, when two wannabe reality television stars, Michaele and Tareq Salahi, got through White House security and hobnobbed with dinner guests, only to be later outed for crashing the event by the Washington Post. President Trump hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the White House early in his administration too, hosting an elaborate dinner for the world leader in June. That meal, however, didn't qualify as an official state dinner. In his selection of France, Trump is repaying the kindness of the Macrons for hosting he and first lady Melania Trump to the country's Bastille Day parade last July. The president was so impressed by the parade which featured, among other things, a marching band playing Daft Punk hits that he now wants the Pentagon to put together its own military parade, tentatively scheduled for mid-November or the Fourth of July. Trump brought up the Bastille Day parade, and the American military parade, during his conversation with Fox News' Judge Jeanine Pirro, on Saturday night. 'It was quite something,' Trump said of the French effort. 'It's just preliminarily being discussed,' Trump said of the American version. 'But we're talking about probably Veterans Day. I like July 4th because July 4th in Washington, D.C., would be beautiful. It would be up and down Pennsylvania Avenue.' The Obama state dinners attracted a number of A-list guests, including director Steven Spielberg, who attended the state dinner with India on November 24, 2009 So many guests were invited to the Obamas' first state dinner that the administration had to erect a giant tent in the White House's South Lawn to accommodate the crowd Guests at the Obamas' Canadian state dinner held March 10, 2016 included actor Ryan Reynolds (left), who is Canadian, and his American wife, actress Blake Lively (right) Actor Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan were also guests of the Obamas' at the state dinner with Canada in 2016; while comedian Aziz Ansari brought his mother Fatima to the Obamas' Nordic state dinner during May of 2016 The president said having the parade would also depend on cost. 'But the generals would love to do it, I can tell you, and so would I,' he said. 'I think it's great for our country in terms of being a cheerleader and in spirit.' In the past, Trump has been less enthusiastic about the idea of hosting a state dinner. When campaigning for the White House in 2015, the populist candidate Trump mocked President Obama for rolling out the red carpet for Chinese President Xi Jinping. 'I would not be throwing [Xi] a dinner,' Trump said at the time. 'I would get him a McDonald's hamburger and say we've got to get down to work.' The Obamas' thirteen state dinners would often feature hundreds of attendeess, including Hollywood stars and high-profile musical acts. At the first state dinner with India, songstress Jennifer Hudson performed. At a state dinner for Mexico the next year, Beyonce was the starring act. First daughters Malia and Sasha attended the March 2016 dinner with Canada's Justin Trudeau, and posed for photos with Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds, who attended the fete with his wife, actress Blake Lively. A number of the Obama dinners called for the White House to erect a massive tent in the South Lawn to accommodate all the guests. Despite President Trump coming from the reality TV world, he has often struggled bringing star power to his events, including the Republican National Convention and the 2017 inauguration, which attracted the likes of Scott Baio, Antonio Sabato, Jr., and Jon Voight. New York's top two elected officials have a pitch for Delta Air Lines: Move your corporate headquarters to the Empire State. Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul tweeted the invitation Monday and Gov. Andrew Cuomo followed with a statement Tuesday afternoon. They are urging Delta to move its corporate headquarters from Georgia after that state's lieutenant governor, Casey Cagle, said he would "kill any tax legislation" that benefits the airline unless it reinstates its contract with the National Rifle Association. Delta announced over the weekend that it would no longer provide discounted rates for travel to the NRA's annual meeting. Cagle's comments come as Georgia state lawmakers are considering a bill that would eliminate a tax on jet fuel. Delta, which is based in Atlanta, would benefit from the legislation. After Cagle's tweet Monday, Hochul who said she is one of the Delta's "most frequent flyers" tweeted her suggestion that the airline move its headquarters to New York "where you're appreciated." Cuomo echoed that sentiment Tuesday. A transgender recruit has signed a contract to join the U.S. military for the first time since a federal court ruled late last year that the military would have to accept openly transgender people, the Pentagon said Monday. Military officials do not know how many transgender people have begun to enlist since Jan. 1, when the Defense Department began accepting openly transgender recruits. This is the first time a transgender person has officially signed a contract to join the military. Defense Secretary James Mattis provided his recommendations to the White House on transgender people serving in the military last week. Now the military has confirmed that a transgender person has signed up to serve '[The Pentagon] confirms that as of February 23, 2018 there is one transgender individual under contract for service in the US Military,' Major David Eastburn, a Pentagon spokesman, said. The person has signed a contract but not yet started basic training. In a move that appealed to his hard-line conservative supporters, President Donald Trump announced in July that he would prohibit transgender people from serving in the military, reversing former President Barack Obamas policy of accepting them. Trump said on Twitter at the time that the military 'cannot be burdened with the tremendous medical costs and disruption that transgender in the military would entail.' A number of federal judges - in Baltimore, Washington, Seattle and Riverside, California - issued rulings blocking Trumps ban. The judges said the ban would likely violate the right under the U.S. Constitution to equal protection under the law. Late last year, transgender people were allowed for the first time to enlist in the U.S. military, after the Trump administration decided not to appeal the rulings. Last week, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis provided his recommendations to the White House on transgender people serving in the military. Advocates have said they believe dozens, if not hundreds, of transgender people will seek to join an estimated 4,000 already serving. A fireball tore across the front of a block of flats after a home-made bomb detonated in Greater Manchester. The fireball was captured on shop CCTV around 300 metres from the scene in Lancashire Hill, near Stockport town centre, in the early hours of Monday morning. Police were called to Stonemill Terrace, Penny Lane, shortly before 2.10am today and cordoned off the area. Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said the incident, attended by a hazardous materials officer, was not terror-related. A garage door was left damaged following the blast. It is believed that although the device created a significant explosion it was crude and home-made. A GMP spokesman said: 'Police and the fire services attended and what is believed to be a home-made explosive device was found on the street. 'The device had partly exploded. An investigation has been launched and enquiries are ongoing. 'There was minor damage to a garage door, but luckily no one was injured during the incident.' Officers took the CCTV footage from the Best One supermarket, which is at the junction of Penny Lane and Lancashire Hill, around 300m from the explosion. Manager Sunny Ram said: 'A staff member rang me and told me to get in early as the police had arrived and wanted the footage as my cameras cover the whole of Lancashire Hill. The fireball can be clearly seen in the footage, which was taken on a Best Buy shop's CCTV 300 metres away on Lancashire Hill, Stockport 'When they saw the footage the police were shocked. It's not good having an explosion so close on Penny Lane but no one was injured, that's the main thing.' Miraculously there was only a small amount of damage caused, with a garage door left dented and charred. A fire crew from Whitehill station was sent to the scene following reports of a fire. Firefighters from King Street station were then scrambled. A fire brigade source said: 'Crews turned up to a fire in a car park, and it turned out to be an improvised explosive device which had gone off.' A Sydney man is due to face a NSW court over the alleged online exploitation of a nine-year-old girl located in Canada. The man, 42, was arrested at Riverwood in Sydney's south on February 8. His arrest followed an investigation by NSW child abuse and sex crimes detectives after a referral from the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A Sydney man is due to face a NSW court over the alleged online exploitation of a nine-year-old girl located in Canada 'Shortly after the arrest, a search warrant was executed at a nearby home unit, where investigators seized laptops, mobile phones, electronic storage devices, and an extendable baton,' NSW Police said. It is alleged the man communicated online with the girl's mother before having sexually explicit conversations about the girl and requesting photos of her. He's also alleged to have engaged in an explicit video call with the girl, police say. He will appear in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday. Investigations are ongoing. A father was walking his dog in a quiet street in Melbourne when he was brutally bashed and left for dead by a gang. Hamish Layton, 44, was set upon in Whittlesea, in north Melbourne, is confined to a wheelchair and has brain damage after the savage assault. A passer-by found Mr Layton in a semi-conscious state mumbling as blood poured from an open wound to his head onto the pavement. Hamish Layton (pictured) was set upon by a gang while walking his dog and left for dead Mr Layton was found in a semi-conscious state with an open wound to the head and has no memory of the lead up to the assault The passer-by rang 000 as soon as he came across Mr Layton about 11:30pm, but had no idea how long the father had been lying unconscious on the ground. Mr Layton has no memory of the lead up to the assault which occurred in August last year, so little is known about the minutes before the attack or who his . He now lives in 24/7 care and is paralysed - only able to move his right arm. Mr Layton's mother, Joan Sparkes spoke to 9News and said she was consumed by what happened that night. 'He'll never walk, it's just devastating. It's consumed me,' Ms Sparkes said. Mr Layton's mother, Joan Sparkes (right) said she is consumed by what happened that night and the incident not only changed her son's life, but hers as well Detectives have revealed they have received information suggesting more than one person is responsible for the assault on Mr Layton. Police are unsure whether a weapon was used, but Mr Layton's injuries suggest they are a result of blunt force trauma. 'We believe that there are a number of people who may be involved or have information to assist police,' Detective Senior Sergeant Christine Lalor said. 'He had serious injuries to his head and spine.' Police are appealing for anyone with information to come forward. School children had to watch helplessly as Tyson, a staffy cross blue heeler, was viciously mauled in front of them and his owner. Two dogs attacked Tyson about 11.30am Monday in front of a Perth kindergarten where Lorraine Bryant was walking him. Dozens of children witnessed the vicious attack and were left horrified and crying, with the commotion attracting the attention of one of the teachers who jumped the fence and ran after one of the attacking dogs. Dozens of children saw Tyson the blue Staffordshire blue heeler cross viciously attacked by two other dogs in front of their Perth school, leaving them horrified and crying The vicious mauling lasted for five minutes and the owner of the attacking dogs was nowhere to be seen. Mrs Bryant was left in shock while the attack took place. 'One was at the top around his neck and his mouth and the other one was at his legs and inside his groin,' she told 7 News. 'They were just biting, biting, biting and they wouldn't leave him alone.' Tyson needed emergency surgery and may never be able to walk again after the vicious mauling which lasted five minutes Mrs Bryant said the situation could have been even worse had it not been for her and Tyson inadvertently drawing the attention of the vicious dogs. 'If I hadn't been here and they'd gone further down, they can get on to the school oval there, I don't know what they could've been capable of,' she said. Tyson had to undergo emergency surgery and may never walk again after the vicious mauling. Mrs Bryant said all she wanted now was to see the owner of the two dogs held accountable for what happened. However, rangers have not yet confirmed if the dogs responsible have been seized. Eli Ball woke up on Saturday morning gearing himself up for his 19.7-kilometre ocean race across a stretch of shark-infested waters in Western Australia. While his choice to swim the race in the energy-sapping stroke of butterfly attracted 'quizzical looks', it may be the reason he is still alive after a close encounter with a great white shark. The 34-year-old lawyer was competing in Rottnest Channel Swim from Cottesloe Beach to Rottnest Island on Saturday when he spotted a four-metre great white underneath him. Scroll down for video Keen butterfly swimmer Eli Ball, 34 , competed in the 19.7 kilometre Rottnest Channel Swim on Saturday in Western Australia Eli Ball, 34, was swimming butterfly Western Australia's ocean swim until his close encounter with a great white shark The 34-year-old lawyer's choice of butterfly was a factor in his survival because the stroke keeps the head still looking downward into the water, which allowed him to see the shark. It was 12 kilometres into the race that he saw the predator underneath his support boat just in front of him. 'I stopped and yelled out 'there's a shark',' he told SMH. 'I'd been swimming between five and ten metres away from the boat, you better believe I made my way hastily to the side of the boat. 'My skipper came over to the window and asked me, 'where?' and I said 'right under the boat, right under the boat,'' he said. Mr Ball tread the waters nervously while his skipper revved the boat's engine in a bid to scare the shark away. Eli Ball, 34, was swimming butterfly until he spotted a four-metre great white shark under his support boat 12km into the race Race officials were alerted of the Great White shark and 100 swimmers were evacuated from the ocean race on Saturday Race officials were alerted of the shark sighting and 100 swimmers were evacuated from the water. For Eli Ball, the shark encounter didn't throw him off - instead it had the opposite effect. With the adrenaline kicking in, Mr Ball continued swimming until the finish line at Rottnest Island and broke the Rottnest Channel Swim for solo butterfly. Eli Ball broke the record with a time of seven hours and 20 minutes. America's worst mom: Eric Macke, of Iowa, has entered an Alford plea to four counts of child endangerment A mother who left her four children, ages six to 12, at home alone with a gun while she went sightseeing in Germany has taken a plea deal in a bid to avoid jail time. Erin Macke of Johnston, Iowa pleaded guilty to four counts of child endangerment - a firearms charged will be dropped at sentencing in exchange for her plea. Macke, 31, entered an Alford plea at her hearing - in legal terms, this means that the accused person isn't pleading guilty in a true sense, but admits that the prosecution has sufficient evidence for a conviction, according to the Des Moines Register. She could face up to two years in prison on each charge. Court records say Macke filed a written plea last November to four counts of child endangerment and one of transferring a firearm to a person under 21. Police said the latter charge was filed because a firearm was left at home within the children's reach. Police have said Macke tried but failed to make child care arrangements for her kids - two 12-year-old twins, one child aged seven and another aged six - before leaving on September 20 for a vacation in Germany. Police say the father of one of the children was called by his child the next day, and he called police. The children were alone for 24 hours before family members took them in, reported KCCI. Macke's four children are pictured above on the first day of school in August. Her 12-year-old twins are on the left, and her seven- and six-year-old daughters are on the right The 31-year-old is accused of leaving her children alone in September to travel to Germany Macke took a picture of bratwurst during her first day in Germany in September Police in Johnston, Iowa conducted a welfare check on Macke's house on September 21, 2017 after receiving a tip that her kids were without any adult supervision. They found that not only had the children been left alone, but that they had been left alone with a gun out in the open. According to the criminal complaint, Macke left an unloaded Glock 9MM handgun on top of her dresser, next to two magazines - one fully loaded and one partially loaded. The children told police that their mom had left for Germany the day before, and didn't plan to return until October 1. When police called Macke abroad, she said that all of her babysitters fell through so she decided to leave the kids home alone. 'Investigators confirmed that Macke had made no arrangements to provide adult supervision or care for the children while she was away,' the police department said. Camera shy: Macke (left and right) tried to hide her face from KCCI cameras following her arrest in late September Bold statement: She was accompanied by a burly, bearded man sporting a T-shirt that read: 'Snitches end up in ditches' Police told Macke that was unacceptable and ordered her to return home immediately. But she only cut her trip short by four days, returning to the US in September 27. She was arrested the next day. Photos posted on Macke's Instagram in late September showed her touring Bavaria with a female friend and a baby, eating bratwurst and sight-seeing. Iowa Department of Human Services took custody of Macke's children, and they have since been placed with extended family members. The two eldest children are with unspecified family members while the two younger children are with their father. Public records indicate that Macke filed for divorce from her ex, Matthew, in 2013. A judge ordered Macke not to contact her children at the time of her arrest - she's now allowed to have supervised phone calls with them. Macke - seen here in court, could face up to two years in prison to all the charges she used her Alford plea on Macke is pictured here with her two youngest children Macke is pictured above with her two oldest children, 12-year-old twins, In May, Macke competed in a bikini competition, according to a post on her Instagram (left) Another photo from the competition shows the 30-year-old mom-of-four on stage in a bikini The Florida deputy who failed to confront the shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School said he thought the gunfire was coming from outside the school. Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson's attorney has said his client has been unfairly described as a 'coward' for following protocol when he didn't race to confront Nikolas Cruz during his fatal rampage on Valentine's Day. Peterson, the school resource officer, resigned last week as he faces severe criticism both from Sheriff Scott Israel and President Donald Trump. Broward County Deputy Scot Peterson (pictured, right, with Principal Thompson) who failed to confront the shooter at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School said he thought the gunfire was coming from outside the school Peterson has defended himself and claimed the initial report was of firecrackers, not gunshots, in the 1200 building, where Nikolas Cruz fatally shot 17 and wounded 14 others The sheriff said Peterson should have 'went in. Addressed the killer. Killed the killer.' 'What I saw was a deputy arrive take up a position and he never went in,' the sheriff said at a news conference. President Trump called him a coward. On Monday, he told a White House gathering of governors, 'Look at Peterson. Look what he did in Broward where he thought he was probably a brave guy, but he wasn't a brave guy under pressure.' 'He choked and other people choked,' he added. But Peterson has defended himself and claimed the initial report was of firecrackers, not gunshots, in the 1200 building, where Cruz fatally shot 17 and wounded 14 others. When he reached the building, he heard gunshots, but 'believed that those gunshots were originating from outside of any of the buildings on the school campus,' the statement said, in a quotation attributed to Peterson. When Peterson reached the building, he heard gunshots, but 'believed that those gunshots were originating from outside of any of the buildings on the school campus,' the statement said, in a quotation attributed to Peterson (pictured) In the event of outdoor gunshots, sheriff's office training calls for deputies to 'seek cover and assess the situation in order to communicate what one observes to other law enforcement,' the statement said (Pictured, students flee Marjory Stoneman High School) Peterson, the school resource officer, resigned last week as he faces severe criticism both from Sheriff Scott Israel and President Donald Trump (Pictured, students flee Marjory Stoneman High School) In the event of outdoor gunshots, sheriff's office training calls for deputies to 'seek cover and assess the situation in order to communicate what one observes to other law enforcement,' the statement said. 'Consistent with his training, Mr Peterson 'took up a tactical position between the 700-800 buildings corridor/corner,' the statement said. Joseph DiRuzzo, Peterson's attorney, has called the sheriff's account a 'gross oversimplification.' 'Let there be no mistake, Mr Peterson wishes that he could have prevented the untimely passing of the 17 victims on that day, and his heart goes out to the families of the victims in their time of need,' he said. 'However, the allegations that Mr Peterson was a coward and that his performance, under the circumstances, failed to meet the standards of police officers are patently Granfather cyclist Kelvin Tennant is bravely back on his bike a year after he was almost killed when he was randomly shot in the head three times. Detectives are still investigating the mystery shooting of Mr Tennant, 72, on the Myrtleford-Everton Rail trail in Victoria on February 18 last year. The cyclist was found lying injured on the bike trail by two passing cyclists and was airlifted to The Alfred Hospital with multiple gunshot injuries. A hospital scan showing damage from the fragmented bullets to his skull. Had they penetrated slightly further, Mr Tennant believes he would have slurred speech, bad balance and a frozen skull Mr Tennant told Daily Mail Australia he thought his 'days were over there' at one stage. 'I actually think I lost consciousness twice, it was all in a matter of milliseconds. 'I thought my days were up but we really, they were not up.' He still gets the occasional heart-stopping flashback while riding on the track but overall just has 'always enjoyed riding'. 'I saw a car on the track, that made my heart jump a bit, he said. Mr Tennant said the bullet fragmented when it hit the skull and he 'wouldn't be here' if the bullet had stayed in one piece. 'Senior doctors made the comment they'd never seen a scan like this before,'he said. Kelvin (pictured), 72, thought his days were over when he was shot in the head and chest by an unknown gunman last year as he rode his bicycle on a country bike track in northern Victoria 'If the bullet had penetrated my skull just a little further, I may have been frozen on one side of the face, have slurred speech and bad balance. He still has some physical issues that are 'going to stay' including damaged hearing in his right ear, eyesight damage and a balance issue. Police are confident that identification of the shooter will only take 'a bit of information' and the 'whole thing will unravel' in Mr Tennant's opinion. 'They say that it's likely someone who knows the area,' he said. While Mr Tennant is back on his bike, he knows others who won't venture out on the track and another who will never go back to the area again. 'I just hope they find this fellow, it's scaring a few people off from going up to that area,' he said. Detective Senior Constable Elise Douglas said over the past year of their investigation they've been unable to find out why Kelvin might have been targeted. The grandfather (pictured) was taken to hospital with pellets lodged near his eyes and upper body which he believes 'He's incredibly lucky to be alive, if not more seriously injured', he said. 'We re-traced Kelvin's movements within town and he appears to have had minimal contact with anyone from the time he arrived in Everton, which leads us to believe there wasn't an incident that immediately sparked the shooting. 'I really is a mystery as to why this shooting happened.' The grandfather will celebrate his 50 year wedding anniversary in April. Police are urging anyone with information in the community to come forward. A man accused of being part of a group that attacked Brock Prime and left him for dead on the side of the M1 appealed for courts to get tougher on violent offenders following the shocking death of his daughter. In February last year - a year to the day of Mr Prime's alleged assault - Jonathan Lawrence stood on the steps of the Victorian Supreme Court and condemned the nine-and-a-half-year sentence given to the killer of his three-year-old girl Bella. 'I feel that today's sentence will never be enough to put my family at peace with what has happened', Lawrence said. Jonathan Lawrence, 26, is accused of being part of a group that bashed Brock Prime and last year called for tougher sentences on violent offenders after the murder of his daughter The 29-year-old (pictured) is believed to have been attacked with a tyre iron or crowbar by a group of people who were travelling in a white van at Yatala about 9.30pm on Saturday 'My daughter never made it to his minimum term, which just makes me sick. 'We will never see her face again, never hear her voice again, he took my daughter who I always knew was an angel in disguise.' Lawrence's daughter was murdered by her stepfather Harley Woodford, then 22, who deliberately stepped on her in Horsham, Victoria, in September 2015. Lawrence, 26, along with Jordan Baklas, 27, are due to face Beenleigh Magistrates Court after being charged with grievous bodily harm. The pair are accused of being part of a group of people which took part in a vicious road rage assault on Mr Prime, a 29-year-old tradie, on the side of the busy M1 motorway near Yatala on Saturday night. Neither Lawrence or Baklas appeared in court on Monday when their matters were briefly mentioned, with duty lawyers informing the court the pair were seeking legal representation. Lawrence, 26, along with Jordan Baklas, 27 (pictured) are due to face Beenleigh Magistrates Court after being charged with grievous bodily harm Jonathan Lawrence's (pictured) daughter was murdered by her stepfather in September 2015 A third man, 28, from Upper Coomera was charged with the same offence on Monday evening and is also expected to face Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Tuesday. Mr Prime suffered a skull fracture and a broken leg in the assault and has been placed in a medically-induced coma at the Gold Coast University Hospital. He is undergoing more scans today to determine whether the swelling on his brain has subsided after operations over the weekend. Mr Prime (left) suffered a skull fracture and a broken leg in the assault and has been placed in a medically-induced coma Doctors have told Mr Prime's family his head injuries are life threatening and his recovery will be a day-by-day proposition. The news is doubly traumatic for Mr Prime's family after his father Darren died six weeks ago. 'Our family has been through a lot in the past month losing Darren and now Brock is fighting for his life,' Mr Prime's mother Donna posted on Facebook on Monday, thanking people for their support. Mr Prime (pictured) had recently survived a stabbing, and his father Darren died six weeks ago A GoFundMe page set up by Mr Prime's friend Mia Cole has received more than $18,000 to support the family. Police say the incident began when a van, carrying up to 13 people, and Mr Prime's black Subaru Forester came close to colliding on the M1 around Coomera. It's been reported the group in the van were on a buck's party when the attack happened. Police say the incident began when a van, carrying up to 13 people, and Mr Prime's black Subaru Forester came close to colliding on the M1 around Coomera The two vehicles then began a 'cat and mouse' game, weaving and ducking through traffic in wet conditions before finally pulling over. 'The actions of both of these vehicles were extremely dangerous,' Detective Inspector Mark Thompson told reporters. Detectives have called for anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has dash cam footage taken around the M1 between Pimpama and Yatala from about 9.30pm to the time of the incident to contact them. It's been reported the group in the van were on a buck's party when the attack happened Mr Prime's lawyer Campbell MacCallum told Daily Mail Australia he 'felt sick' when he received the news about his long standing client and friend on Sunday morning. 'He's in a bad way,' Mr MacCallum told Daily Mail Australia. 'From the information his mum has told me, he was attacked from behind with a tyre iron. He has lost 20 per cent of his brain function and will be operated on again on Monday. He is expected to be in a coma for a number of weeks and is at risk of suffering a significant brain infection.' Mr Prime's mother Donna said his left side will be like a stroke victim and will be in coma from anywhere between four days to three weeks, The Gold Coast Bulletin reported. 'His left side will be like a stroke victim because he'd already had to take a quarter of his brain,' Ms Prime said. 'Five centimetres of his skull was crushed into his brain with dirt and concrete so they removed all of that to clean it out so they know it's already damaged. 'The quicker he gets out of a coma, which depends on the infection and swelling, gives him more of a chance of surviving.' Five centimetres of Brock's skull (right) was crushed into his brain with dirt and concrete Doctors have told Mr Prime's family his head injuries are life threatening and his recovery will be a day-by-day proposition Mr MacCallum said Mr Prime had shied away from any violence since the stabbing. The family's plea has been shared on Facebook. 'What was done last night could have only been done by a psychopath and a gang of disgusting people,' the said. 'Our boy was left for dead on the side of the road and is now fighting for his life and will be permanently injured as a result of this attack.' Brock Prime (pictured left) had been working 60 hours a week to support his younger siblings and mother following the recent death of his father Darren Family and friends took to social media on Sunday to appeal for help so police can track down his attackers Mr Prime's sister also made a teary appeal for information, saying the attack came at a terrible time for the family. 'My family needs all the help we can get as my father passed away 5 weeks ago, and my brother Brock was working 10 hour days 6 days a week just to put a roof over our head and dinner on the table,' she said. 'So we'd really appreciate any information that we can get.' Brock Prime was left for dead on the side of the M1 freeway between Pimpama and Yatala on Saturday night U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik examined national security issues and met with military service members during a week-long visit to three Eastern European countries. Stefanik, R-Willsboro, and U.S. Rep. Anthony Brown, a Maryland Democrat, were part of a congressional delegation that traveled to Estonia, Latvia and Ukraine last week while the House of Representatives was not in session. The trip was announced by Stefanik's office Monday. Stefanik is a member of the House Armed Services Committee and chairs the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities. "I was pleased to lead this delegation visit to meet first-hand with partner nations in the Baltics and Eastern Europe," Stefanik said in a statement. "The CODEL focused specifically on national security issues and partnership engagement activities within the areas of information warfare, cyber operations, irregular warfare and special operations, and Defense programs designed to strengthen partner nations and NATO capabilities." In Latvia, Stefanik and the delegation met with Nancy Pettit, the U.S. ambassador to Latvia, and embassy staff. Briefings were held at the Latvian Ministry of Defense and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They also met with Inara Murniece, speaker of the Latvian Parliament, and held a roundtable discussion with Latvian journalists. A mum whose premature baby was born smaller than an iPad has thanked nurses for battling to save her miracle daughter's life. Little Roux is now five months old and healthy, despite being born three months early weighing just 1lb 13oz. After six miscarriages, Emma Maskery, 26, of Bourne, Lincolnshire, and her wife, Ayisha, 28, were left fearing the worst. After being diagnosed with preeclampsia, an emergency C-section was performed and the couple's daughter, Roux was successfully delivered on September 16. Little Roux Maskery is now five months old and healthy, despite being born three months early weighing just 1lb 13oz Emma Maskery had had six miscarriages before falling pregnant with Roux and described her daughter as 'my miracle' Immediately, the newborn was placed into neonatal intensive care where her condition deteriorated to the point where she was critically ill and the two mums faced an agonising wait to see if their child would pull through. 'When we were told her condition was critical, we didn't know if she would make it,' said Emma, who also has a son, Jack, 2, with her partner. 'The hardest part was not knowing and waiting. I had six miscarriages before falling pregnant with Roux, so she was my miracle. 'I didn't know anything about prematurity in babies and they [the medical staff] had tried to prepare us with books - but I didn't read them. 'I prepared myself by staying positive and telling myself she would be ok. 'The nurses were great as well - they were constantly reassuring us and were really, really positive.' After coming through the worst, Roux made a remarkable recovery and began to grow bigger and stronger. After nine weeks, the baby - small enough to fit in the palm of her mother's hand - was deemed healthy enough to go home for the first time. However, the emotional roller coaster ride continued as after three days, her mum began noticing she had a cough and what she thought was a cold. After six miscarriages, Emma Maskery, 26, of Bourne, Lincolnshire, and her wife, Ayisha, 28, were left fearing the worst At five months old, Roux is now the size of an average newborn baby and her parents are incredibly proud of their little fighter She immediately called an ambulance, but by the time the family had reached A&E, Roux had stopped breathing completely. Emergency resuscitation was performed to try and bring the baby back around. 'That period is all a massive blur,' said Emma. 'All I know is it felt like a lifetime. 'I have never felt so much worry - I was completely in bits.' After being diagnosed with preeclampsia, an emergency C-section was performed and the couple's daughter, Roux was successfully delivered on September 16. Doctors were successful in their attempts help Roux recover, though her parents were told that she had developed bronchitis, but her weak immune system meant that it was incredibly dangerous. At five months old, Roux is now the size of an average newborn baby and her parents are incredibly proud of their little fighter. 'Roux has been through so much already - up until she was three weeks old, she couldn't breathe on her own. 'We are so proud of the progress she has made.' The pair also eternally grateful for the work of the nurses who have ultimately kept their daughter alive. 'The nurses have all been great and we could never thank them enough,' said Emma. 'We even asked two of them to be Roux's godmothers - and they said yes.' The couple now want to recognise the nurse's on the neonatal ward at Peterborough hospital with a special hamper for Mother's Day. A number of gifts including clothes, vouchers and chocolate have already been donated - and Emma is hopeful the gifts will be seen as a small token of gratitude for the great work the NHS does. 'It seems to be that the parents are the only ones who are celebrated on these wards,' she said. 'Nobody ever seems to think about the nurses. 'For the first twelve weeks of Roux's life they were her mum and provided care when we couldn't. 'They work 12 hour shifts and many will be in work on Mother's Day so won't get to spend time with their own children. 'Therefore we thought it would be nice to give the something back and show just how appreciated they are.' Theyre happier and more satisfied with their lives than men but women are also more anxious. A study designed to chart Britains well-being has revealed a feel-good gap opening up between the sexes. Figures suggest women are taking more satisfaction from the recovery of the economy after years of recession. A new study has revealed that women are happier and more satisfied than men, although they are also more likely to admit their anxiety (file photo) However they remain much more likely to admit that their well-being is undermined by anxiety. The Office for National Statistics has been taking happiness measurements for six years following former prime minister David Camerons push for statistics that would describe the state of the nation in emotional rather than numerical terms. Over that time, the figures show, all of us are generally happier. In the five years between the late summer of 2012 and September last year, the general level of happiness went up by more than 3 per cent, they indicated. ONS statisticians linked the general rise in happiness last year to economic improvements, but gave no reason why women should have been cheering up more than men. Nor could they explain why the improvements in well-being were detected in England while there was no noticeable change in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. The well-being ratings are produced from questions asked of more than 300,000 people in the ONS Annual Population Survey. The four well-being questions ask whether people felt happy, if their lives were worthwhile, whether they were satisfied with their lives, and how anxious they felt on the day before they took part in the survey. In the year to the end of September, women on average put the level of the worth of their lives at 7.99 out of ten compared to 7.76 for men; happiness rated 7.54 for women and 7.50 for men; and women assessed their life satisfaction at 7.72 as opposed to 7.67 for men. But women rated their anxiety level at more than three out of ten 3.07 while men put their anxiety at only 2.75. The ONS report said: Over time, women have consistently reported higher levels of life satisfaction and worthwhile every year, but have also reported higher levels of anxiety since we first began collecting data in 2011. Security footage of a man police say may be able to help them with an investigation into an act of indecency on a train in Sydney's south have been released. Between Hurstville and Wolli Creek railway stations a man exposed himself and committed an act of indecency to a 31-year-old woman in January this year. The woman was traveling towards Sydney and boarded the train at Sutherland Railway Station between 2.50pm and 3.20pm on Sunday January 14. During the trip, a man boarded the train from either Jannali, Como, Oatley, Mortdale, Penshurst or Hurstville stations and sat opposite the woman. CCTV images of a man police say may be able to assist them with an investigation into an act of indecency on a train in Sydney's south have been released. The man (pictured) is described as being of Asian appearance, in his late 30s or early 40s, about 160 to 165cm tall, with a chubby build He later exposed himself and an act of indecency occurred while the train was between Hurstville and Wolli Creek railway stations, a total of six stops. The woman confronted the man, before he walked away and later exited the train. The incident was reported to police from the Police Transport and Public Safety Command and an investigation started. Police have released CCTV stills of a man they believe may be able to assist with inquiries. Between Hurstville and Wolli Creek railway stations a man exposed himself and committed an act of indecency to a 31-year-old woman on the Sunday afternoon of January 14, 2018 The man depicted in the photos is described as being of Asian appearance, in his late 30s or early 40s, about 160 to 165cm tall, with a chubby build, short spikey black hair and distinctive acne and scarring on his face. He is wearing a white and red t-shirt, dark shorts, dark sandals, with a black backpack and white shopping bag. Police are urging anyone with information, or anyone who knows the identity of the man to come forward and call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page at https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au/. This is the heart-stopping moment a thrill-seeker scales the 500ft-high Humber Bridge and does a handstand on the top of it. The Polish daredevil filmed himself performing the death-defying stunt before uploading the shocking footage to YouTube. The video, which captures his entire journey to the summit of the bridge's south tower, has been viewed over 75,000 times. The 15-minute-long edited clip begins with the stuntman travelling by car over the Humber Bridge, near Kingston upon Hull, in the dead of night. The man, wearing a black hooded coat to hide his identity, is seen taking a swig of herbal tea before starting his summit. He then attaches himself to a cord and begins the vertical climb using just his hands and feet to hang on. The Polish daredevil filmed himself performing the death-defying handstand on top of the Humber Bridge He follows it up with a series of nerve-shredding acrobatics while balancing on two wires With cars passing by below him, the thrill-seeker then stops on a ledge and watches the sun rise while pouring a second drink before uttering the words 'beautiful English morning'. He goes on to say: 'Hello viewers. I'm sure if you know, but I do know now what is cool in UK. In UK, among other nice bridges, and I'm just standing on top of one of them. 'It is not a skimpy bridge. It's the tallest bridge in this country. The show off stops mid-climb to pour a cup of herbal tea and watch the sun rise The video was uploaded to his Youtube channel and has more than 75,000 views The masked climber started his ascension in the dead of night to avoid being seen 'Seriously, I shouldn't be here. First of all, climb up here is forbidden and also I don't have a time. I ain't got time for being here.' After apologising to his friends for his absence while making the film, he then plays down the feat. 'To be honest to get on top of this bridge, it wasn't hardcore, to get here I walked up lightly on that long thick wire but I think it could be done harder and climb on that longer vertical wire. The 500ft-high bridge, near Kingston upon Hull, 'was easy' according to the thrill-seeker Not for the faint hearted! He grabs hold of two wires before showing off his gymnastic skills 'Someone may think it is impossible, but it is possible, maybe not on a single one,' he said. After his piece-to-camera the climber performs a series of death-defying acrobatics on wires at the very top of the bridge. He then packs up and begins his descent saying: 'All good things come to an end, let's go down then. Catholic church officials helped one of their priests avoid murder charges for six decades after her raped and strangled a teacher and dumped her body in a canal, a shocking new investigation has revealed. Former priest John Feit, 85, was convicted of murdering 25-year-old Irene Garza in a South Texas court on December 7, 2017, and was sentenced to life in prison the next day, more than 57 years after her body was found in McAllen. The 48 Hours investigation, broadcast on CBS in the episode titled 'Sins of the Father,' revealed the numerous ways the Catholic church officials protected Feit from justice in the intervening years between the murder and his 2016 arrest. Scroll down for video A 48 Hours investigation revealed how the Catholic church helped former priest John Feit (in court in November 2017) escape justice for six decades. Feit, now 85, was found guilty of murdering a Texas woman in 1960 Father Feit, at age 28, pleaded no contest to a charge of aggravated assault against another Texas woman, and was ordered to pay a $500 fine. The church then sent him to a monastery According to the report, the church moved Feit around the country and even allowed him to obtain a position of authority over troubled priests, including Massachusetts' James Porter, who would later plead guilty to molesting 28 children while authorities continued to investigate him. On April 16, 1960, Father John Feit, then a visiting priest from Chicago, was deemed a person of interest in the disappearance and murder of Garza. Feit, then 27, had taken Garza's confession at the rectory of McAllen's Sacred Heart Church on the Holy Saturday before Easter. It was the last time the school teacher and former beauty queen was seen alive. Garza was found five days later, on April 21, in a canal. Her autopsy revealed that she had been raped while she was unconscious and that she had died of asphyxiation, according to My San Antonio. At the time of Garza's death, Feit was also the prime suspect in a case involving Maria America Guerra, 20, who was violently attacked from behind while attending a church near Sacred Heart. Guerra identified Feit as her attacker. In August, less than four months after Garza's body was found, authorities investigating Guerra's attack issued a warrant for Feit's arrest, but were unable to locate him until he surrendered himself a week later. Feit was found guilty of the 1960 murder of school teacher and former beauty queen Irene Garza, 25, in a South Texas courtroom in December 2017. He was given a life sentence Guerra was last seen alive the day before Easter, confessing to Feit at Sacred Heart Church in McAllen, Texas in 1960. She was found five days later, dead in a canal Feit pleaded no contest to assaulting Maria America Guerra, 20, in 1962, one years after Guerra's murder It turned out he had checked himself into an out-of-state hospital in an attempt to 'try and get some rest and peace of mind' after the stress of his legal issues, Feit said in a statement at the time. He also denied being a fugitive, claimed that he was innocent of the charge against Guerra and said he had nothing to hide. Church records, obtained by 48 Hours, indicated that Feit had spent two weeks in August 1960 at the church-run medical center Alexian Brothers Hospital & Dispensary in St. Louis, Missouri. Catholic priest Thomas Doyle, who is an expert witness in clergy abuse cases, told 48 Hours that, from the 1960s through the 1980s, 'when Bishops had bad actors among the priests, including sexual abuse, they would send priests to specialized healthcare facilities,' such as Alexian Brothers. 'They took in priests and promised anonymity,' Doyle said. In September 1960, an official at Feit's former religious order, The Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, sent a letter to Alexian Brothers, requesting that Feit be sent back to the hospital. A year later, in 1961, Feit was tried for the assault and attempted rape of Guerra. The trial ended in a hung jury. In February 1962, five months after the Guerra trial, Feit was sent off to the New Melleray Abbey - a monastery for Trappist Monks - in Dubuque, Iowa. Hiding amongst Trappist monks, who are known for living a life of simplicity and discipline, was the ideal place for Feit to avoid gossip. Doyle noted that while Feit was at New Melleray Abbey, he would 'have no access to the outside world' and said that it was unlikely that the monks would have known why Feit was sent to live among them. Places like New Melleray Abbey, Doyle said, are 'like maximum security monasteries, and it was not uncommon if a priest was going to be punished they'd send them there.' Just one month after Feit's arrival at the Abbey, on March 28, 1962, he returned to Texas to plead 'nolo contendere' to a reduced charge of aggravated assault in the Guerra case, with his legal team insisting that the deal was not an admission of guilt. According to Darrell Davis, a TV reporter who covered the Guerra case at the time, prosecutors apparently offered Feit the opportunity to plead no contest and receive a $500 fine instead of being prosecuted for Garza's murder. Davis told 48 Hours that the prosecutor, told him and other reporters, during an off-the-record meeting, that the church was aware of Feit's involvement in Garza's death and that 'the Church is going to put him in a monasteryand he will be kept there for the rest of his life.' And, indeed, after pleading 'nolo contendere,' Feit returned to the Iowa monastery. Although there are apparently no records of Feit's stay at the monastery, it appears that he was there until at least June 1962. In early 1963, the church relocated Feit again, to The Assumption Abbey in Ava, Missouri, another Trappist monastery. While he was there, Feit was counseled by Dale Tacheny, a young monk who was serving as a Novice Master at the time. In a 2002 interview with police, Tacheny said that his superior instructed him to counsel Feit and told him that 'Father Feit had murdered a young woman,' without providing any other details. During the six months that Tacheny counseled Feit, Tacheny said that Feit admitted to attacking Garza after her confession, keeping her captive overnight and then letting her suffocate before dumping her into a canal. Feit also allegedly told Tacheny that the sound of high heels clicking on the floor gave him a strong desire to attack women from behind. Tacheny said that he kept quiet about what Feit said because his role was to determine whether Feit had a vocation for monastery life - which, it seemed, Feit did not have. Feit (right), pictured in 1961, walking with his lawyer, on his way to turning himself in to Texas authorities on an indictment for assaulting with intent to rape Guerra Feit (center), pictured in 2017, during his trial in Edinburg, Texas, for Garza's murder in 1960 Towards the end of 1963, Tacheny said his superior decided that Feit was ready to 'go back into the world.' At which point the church allowed him to enroll as a graduate philosopy student at Loyola College in his Chicago hometown because, as former priest and victim advocate Patrick J. Wall noted, 'It's pretty common, you can't put him back in a parish, so they stuck him in a school.' Feit made it through one semester from September 1963 to January 1964, before leaving the college. He then moved to Servants of the Paraclete in Jemez Springs, New Mexico, a monastery for troubled priests suffering from issues ranging from substance abuse to sexual abuse. Wall told 48 Hours that he likened the monastery to 'a Supermax because there's really nowhere else to go if you want to stay in the Church.' Feit would go on to spend seven years at the monastery before joining The Servants of the Paraclete. During his time there, he rose to the position of 'Superior' at the Via Coeli facility and supervised more than 80 priests - including James Porter, who was sent to Jemez Springs in 1967, on the tail of multiple child abuse complaints in Massachusetts, which were later exposed by the Boston Globe's Spotlight team. Feit allowed Porter to travel to multiple locations around New Mexico and Texas, and sending him to a parish near Nevis, Minnesota. Porter was later accused of abusing children during his assignments away from Via Coeli. Feit claimed that he did not know about Porter's abuse allegations until after he had left Jemez Springs. Eleven years after Garza's murder, in 1971, Feit requested to leave the church and be granted dispensation from his clerical duties. His wishes were granted in 1972. Feit then went on to marry a woman and start a family in New Mexico. He then moved throughout the Midwest for several years, before finally setting down roots in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1979, where he would live for more than 20 years, raising his family, welcoming grandchildren and working at the St. Vincent de Paul Catholic food bank. In 2016, Feit was escorted into a Phoenix police holding room and presented with an arrest warrant for Garza's 1960 murder in Hidalgo County, Texas. Justice finally took its course in December 2017, when Feit was sentenced to life in prison for Garza's murder. He is now serving out his sentence in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice prison for men in Huntsville, Texas. Feit will be eligible for parole in 2028, when he is 95. When contacted by 48 Hours about allegations that the church's role in covering up Feit's actions, the Rev. Thomas Coughlin, OMI Assistant to the Provincial Superior, said in a statement that 'The Oblates of Mary Immaculate respect the judicial process, with which we have fully cooperated. We continue to pray for Irene Garza and her family and for John Feit and his family.' An accountant accused of sexually assaulting a colleague at a fancy-dress party claims he is a victim of age and race discrimination. The man was dressed as a lumberjack when he allegedly put his hand up the skirt of a woman in an Elvis Presley costume and touched her bottom. He was forced to quit as a partner of top accounting firm PwC, but denies the accusation and says he was unfairly dismissed on grounds of age and race. He is suing the firm for 5million, claiming bosses tried to portray him as a 'dirty old Indian man' to force him out. The man was forced to quit as a partner of top accounting firm PwC, but denies the accusation and says he was unfairly dismissed on grounds of age and race The incident allegedly took place on a three-day trip to upmarket ski resort Cortina D'Ampezzo, in Italy's Dolomite mountains, attended by 50 staff members in January 2016. Other women at the 'wild' party were dressed as prostitutes and 'deliberately over-flirting', a tribunal heard. Large quantities of wine were drunk at dinner and some people downed Genepi a strong liqueur similar to absinthe straight from the bottle, the man said. The assault allegedly happened later in the evening, when the workers visited two nightclubs. The man, who is in his 60s but cannot be named due to an order that is routine in employment tribunal cases of alleged sexual assault, claims PwC's investigation 'was tainted by bias'. 'I felt I was trapped in a Kafka-esque nightmare in which I was forced to defend myself against ill-founded allegations and whatever I said, and whatever evidence PwC had before it that supported my innocence, was ignored,' he told the London South Employment Tribunal. 'It appeared to me that a presumption had been readily made that I was some dirty old Indian man who had behaved in a predatory way.' The woman confronted the man a week after their return to the UK, the tribunal was told. Recalling the party, the man said: 'It was already quite wild before all the wine somehow being in fancy dresses gave everyone a form of a mask to behave in a wild way.' He said he had no memory of the second part of the night, including the second club where the assault allegedly occurred, after suffering a drink-induced 'blackout'. PwC's barrister, Caspar Glyn QC, asked: 'During that period of blackout you're still saying you were in your senses and although you can't remember anything, you still didn't do what you're accused of doing.' The man replied: 'I didn't do anything she is claiming I did.' He said he found the trip a 'culture shock', with colleagues viewing it as 'an opportunity to escape and get drunk'. The incident allegedly took place on a three-day trip to upmarket ski resort Cortina D'Ampezzo, in Italy's Dolomite mountains Disciplinary procedures began against the man in March 2016 and he was sent a letter from PwC's legal team on April 25 that year. During PwC's investigation, the man initially denied going to the second club, but remembered it after treatment with a counsellor. In June 2016 he learned he was being fired and took forced retirement the next month. But he claimed: 'In fact, PwC had already decided to retire me well before the disciplinary process had concluded. I believe this was because of my age and because my face did not fit Having a senior, confident Indian beyond retirement age did not fit with the profiles at the level of seniority within the firm as it was creating tensions.' PwC, formerly PriceWaterhouseCoopers, has a 'strict retirement age' of 60 for partners, but the tribunal heard the man had been able to stay as part of a deal when his old firm was bought out. He was due to receive four instalments of nearly 700,000 between 2015 and 2018 relating to shares and entitlement. But he claims efforts were made to stop him pursuing certain lines of work. 'It suited [PwC] to remove me under the pretext of potentially bringing the firm into disrepute because my age and profile was causing them embarrassment, and now they could get rid of me cheaply,' he added. The tribunal continues. A 15-year-old girl has been sexually assaulted as she took a bus through Hampton Park in Melbourne on February 17 An unknown male sat next to the girl and wrapped his arm around her and then assaulted her. The girl was able to move away from the man and sit closer to the bus driver. He then got off the bus. An image of the person police say could help with their inquiries The man is described as being in his late teens to early 20s, slight facial hair above his lip, 175 cm tall, medium build and with slicked-back black hair. He is also described as being of Middle Eastern appearance. The offender got on the bus about 4pm on Hallam Road outside a shopping centre. He then got off the bus about 4.20pm on Overland Drive in Narre Warren near another shopping centre. Police have released an image of a man that may help their investigation. The offender got on the bus around 4pm on Hallam Road before assaulting the girl In the 12 months before October 2017, 350 sexual offences have been reported on Victorian public transport, according to the ABC. A new police unit dedicated to investigating these assaults that range from assault, obscene exposure and up-skirting was set up in response to the rising number of assaults. The police are asking any one with information on the sexual assault to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or submit a confidential report here. A well-known Black Lives Matter leader who was slain in New Orleans earlier this month is believed to have been the victim of an attempted robbery, police have revealed. Muhiyidin dBaha, 32, was found shot in the early morning hours of February 6 while riding his bicycle on Bienville Street, with his bicycle at the end of a six-block trail of blood, the NOLA Times-Picayune reported. The activist died later that day from blood loss related to the gun shot wound in his thigh, his relatives wrote in a GoFundMe campaign launched to raise money to bring his body home to Charleston, South Carolina. Police are asking anyone with information to contact the NOPD Police Department. Scroll down for video Well-known Black Lives Matter leader Muhiyidin dBaha, 32, who was slain in New Orleans earlier this month is now believed to have been the victim of an attempted robbery d'Baha, whose legal last name was Moye, achieved notoriety for jumping through caution tape set up by police to take a Confederate flag away from a protester on live television at the College of Charleston in February 2017. Though the nation took notice of d'Baha then, his family and loved ones, who referred to him simply as 'Moye' or 'Moya,' said his work within the Black Lives Matter movement ran much deeper than that isolated incident. d'Baha referred to his activism as 'putting in work,' his girlfriend, Erica Veal, told the NOLA Times-Picayune at the time of his death. d'Baha, whose legal last name was Moye, achieved notoriety for jumping through caution tape set up by police to take a Confederate flag away from a protester on live television at the College of Charleston in February 2017 Though the nation took notice of d'Baha then, his family and loved ones, who referred to him simply as 'Moye' or 'Moya,' said his work within the Black Lives Matter movement ran much deeper than that isolated incident Thomas Dixon, a North Charleston pastor who often worked side by side in activism with d'Baha, who practiced the religion of Baha'I, echoed what a great loss this was to their community. 'They'll never know it. Whether it was accidental or intentional, that person, at least in this realm, will never know what they took away from the world,' Dixon said of d'Baha's killer. d'Baha was in New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras, and connect with local musicians, Veal said. d'Baha was in New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras, and connect with local musicians The percussionist, guitarist, flutist, pianist and marimba player, who is said to have loved drums the most, had arrived to the city on February 2, and four days later, he was dead The percussionist, guitarist, flutist, pianist and marimba player, who Veal said loved drums the most, had arrived to the city on February 2. Four days later, d'Baha was dead. Camille Weaver, his niece who was responsible for creating an account to raise money for the transport of his body and a memorial service, said the family learned of his passy at around 9.30 am the next day, through a phone call from an official 'saying that he had died due to excessive blood loss.' The updated information about the suspected robbery was revealed by the NOPD on Wednesday. NOPD Homicide Detective Brett Mathes is in charge of the investigation into d'Baha's death, which remains ongoing at this time. NOPD is offering a cash reward of up to $5,000 for anyone who can provide information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case. Mathes can be reached at 504-658-5300 with any information. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crimestoppers by calling 504-822-1111 or toll-free 1-877-903-STOP (7867). A man is dead after being run over by a car in Melbourne, after his vehicle was involved in an accident with another vehicle. The man was travelling south along Mickleham Road before 10pm on Monday night, when the car in front of him slowed down to avoid hitting a kangaroo. His car rear-ended the car in front but the driver of the other vehicle was uninjured in the crash. A man is dead after being run over by a car in Melbourne, after his car was involved in an accident with another vehicle The man was travelling south along Micleham Road when the car in front of him slowed down to avoid hitting a kangaroo The man then got out of his car to inspect the damage when he was hit by a third car that was travelling in the same direction. Victoria Police spoke to Daily Mail Australia and said the victim is a 35-year-old Craigieburn man. 'The deceased is a 35-year-old Craigieburn man,' the Victoria Spokesperson said. Police and emergency services rushed to the scene but were unable to save the man, who died at the scene. The drivers of all cars involved are assisting police with their enquiries. Victoria Police also report that there is no further update on the incident. The drivers of all cars involved are assisting police with their enquiries and there are no further updates on the incident Leisa Kenney was found dead in her car near a Perth shopping centre in early February The heartbroken family of a mother found unconscious behind the wheel of her vehicle in a supermarket car park, say claims she died from choking on a chicken burger are false. Leisa Kenney, 47, was found dead inside her car outside Waterford Plaza, at Perth, earlier this month, with initial reports suggesting a half-eaten burger had been found alongside her. But family members of the mother-of-one say they were told by staff at Royal Perth Hospital an initial autopsy suggests Ms Kenney actually died of a heart attack, after facing a number of health battles in recent years. Scroll down for video The heartbroken family of Ms Kenney, a mother-of-one, say claims she died from choking on a chicken burger are false. Her sister Renae revealed hospital staff believe she suffered a heart attack Ms Kenney's sister Renae told Daily Mail Australia their family had a history of health problems and says they are devastated by the suggestion she choked to death. 'We haven't got the official results yet, but we have been told it was a cardiac arrest,' Renae Kenney said. 'She was on her way to one of her very good friend's house for lunch and just went to the shops to grab a few bits and pieces. 'Two young boys walked past the car and saw her slumped over the steering wheel. 'She didn't respond so they called Triple Zero and paramedics tried to revive her but they couldn't - she was dead on arrival at the hospital.' Renae said her family was searching for answers on where the story of Ms Kenney's unusual death had initiated, but had so far received no answers. Tributes have flowed for Ms Kenney, with her shattered brother-in-law remembering her as a hard worker and a loving mum, who had a very close bond to her only son. Ms Kenney was found slumped over the steering wheel of her vehicle in the Waterford Plaza car park (pictured) A spokesperson for Western Australia police said a report was being prepared for the coroner and Ms Kenney's (left and bottom right) death was not being treated as suspicious 'She was always there with a smile, she was always the life of a party,' Mark Bonini said. 'Leisa was very well loved, she would do anything for anyone - that is just the kind of person she was. 'She was a finance manager for a car yard here in Perth. She loved doing that and in recent years had made it her career. She had such a special bond with her son which was always great to see.' A spokesperson for Western Australia police said a report was being prepared for the coroner and Ms Kenney's death was not being treated as suspicious. A Chronic Disease Self-Management Program will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, March 20 through May 1, at the Auburn YMCA, 27 William St., Auburn. The free six-week program was developed by Stanford University to give participants the tools they need to improve their quality of life and health. It is ideal for adults with chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes, hypertension and more. There will be no class April 17. The devastated parents of Stuart Kelly have revealed they received a disturbing phone call just days after their son's suicide. Kathy and Ralph Kelly are now calling for a coronial inquest into the teenager's death, saying he was exposed to 'criminal' hazing rituals at Sydney University. They said their son Stuart, who took his own life in July 2016, became a different person overnight after attending prestigious St Paul's College at the university. Stuart's death came less than five years after his older brother Thomas was killed in a one-punch attack while walking with his girlfriend in Kings Cross in July 2012. Scroll down for video The devastated parents of Stuart Kelly (pictured) have revealed they received a disturbing phone call just days after their son's suicide Kathy and Ralph Kelly are now calling for a coronial inquest into the teenager's death, saying he was exposed to 'criminal' hazing rituals at Sydney University (pictured are university hazing rituals) Kathy and Ralph Kelly (pictured) said their son Stuart, who took his own life in July 2016, became a different person overnight after attending prestigious St Paul's College at the university Stuart's death came less than five years after his older brother Thomas was killed in a one-punch attack while walking with his girlfriend in Kings Cross in July 2012 (pictured are students at St Paul's College) 'I received a call from a very senior person in the college who passed on his condolences to our family, and then said he'd been contacted by someone in the media about Stuart not sleeping in the college that night,' he told 7.30. 'And he also then said, "I have no interest in investigating what happened on the night of the 22nd of February 2016, when Stuart was at the college." And with that, he just hung up. 'And as a dad who'd just lost his second son, I was... not ruffled. I was in shock that anybody, not least a senior person within the college, could make a phone call like that to a father who was in grief.' At Stuart's funeral the Kellys were told their son had been held down by a number of boys and had alcohol poured down his throat at the college before he was able to break free, his father Ralph Kelly said. At Stuart's funeral the Kellys were told their son had been held down by a number of boys and had alcohol poured down his throat at the college (pictured is Stuart Kelly, centre, with his parents) A 200-page report, released on Monday, reveals the long-running sexual humiliation and hazing rituals at Sydney University's residential colleges (pictured are students at St Paul's College) 'The rest of the night we have no idea what happened to him or the following day,' Mr Kelly told 2GB radio on Monday. 'We don't know the full story ... we know he didn't sleep in his room that night.' A 200-page report, released on Monday, reveals the long-running sexual humiliation and hazing rituals at Sydney University's residential colleges with Mr Kelly saying the culture is 'ingrained'. 'It has been going on for a very long time and I think we were oblivious or naive to what happens during orientation week,' he said. 'It's well known by all the university that the culture is ingrained and can take many, many years to transition, but it's definitely not acceptable, in many ways its criminal activity.' Following his big brother's death, Stuart (pictured, left) went on to campaign heavily against alcohol-fuelled violence and to support the work of the Thomas Kelly Foundation (pictured, right, is Thomas Kelly) Police have been investigating Stuart's (pictured, left, with his parents and sister) death, but Mr Kelly is calling for a coronial inquest so they can find out what happened to his son that night at college Police have been investigating Stuart's death, but Mr Kelly is calling for a coronial inquest so they can find out what happened to his son that night at college. 'We know there would have been young men who either saw or later heard what happened to Stuart,' he said. 'I lay there at night wondering how they sleep at night with this knowledge and we hope that more of them may come forward.' Mr Kelly hopes the inquest will lead to recommendations for colleges that will help keep students safer. Last year Kathy Kelly told the Nine Network's 60 Minutes that Stuart changed overnight from his first night at the elite college. Last year Kathy Kelly told the Nine Network's 60 Minutes that Stuart changed overnight from his first night at the elite college (pictured are students at St Paul's College) 'He went off to university at Sydney, for one night at a college, and he came home a different person the following day ... He was broken,' Kathy said. She said Stuart had called them the following day asking them to pick him up and take him home. They found him sitting in the gutter with his head in hands at the nearby Prince Alfred Hospital. 'He didn't cry at [Thomas's] funeral. It was the first time I'd seen him cry since,' said Ralph told Nine. When they arrived at the family home, Stuart told his parents that he was 'never going back' to St Paul's. 'He went off to university at Sydney, for one night at a college, and he came home a different person the following day ... He was broken,' Kathy said (pictured are students at St Paul's College) Following his big brother's death, Stuart went on to campaign heavily against alcohol-fuelled violence and to support the work of the Thomas Kelly Foundation. 'The University would support a coronial inquest into Stuart's death,' said Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence. 'We would do anything in our power to help the Kelly family find answers.' A spokesperson for St Paul's College said in a statement: 'The College reiterates its deepest sympathy to the Kelly family in their distress and supports their desire to understand the causes of Stuart's tragic death.' 'Stuart Kelly was briefly in College in February 2016 and died in July 2016. 'The University would support a coronial inquest into Stuart's death,' said Sydney University Vice-Chancellor and Principal Dr Michael Spence (pictured is Stuart Kelly's funeral) 'Since then, in an attempt to support the Kellys attempts to find answers, the College has undertaken its own serious and comprehensive investigations into Stuart Kelly's brief time in College, including using external lawyers, and has provided that information to the NSW Police. 'These investigations involved interviews with College staff, senior students and Stuart Kelly's fellow first year students. These investigations found that the allegations previously made were not substantiated. 'We understand that investigations being undertaken by the NSW Police and Office of the State Coroner into the circumstances surrounding Stuart Kelly's death are yet to be completed. 'The College will continue to co-operate fully and openly with those investigations, as well as with any other further process that may be helpful. 'We have advised the Kelly family that the College is always available to provide any form of assistance that we can or further information related to Stuarts time at the College, should it become available. 'In relation to other allegations, there is not a culture of hazing at St Paul's College. It is a very positive, warm and welcoming community in which students achieve outstanding academic and extra-curricular results. 'The College is committed to the values of respect and dignity, including equality of respect for women and men, and actions inconsistent with these values are not tolerated. 'As part of the Colleges commitment to respect and dignity for all, a review of college culture, led by Elizabeth Broderick, is being undertaken. It provides a significant opportunity for the College as a community to learn and improve.' Jamie Luner is not being investigated for a 1998 incident during which she allegedly performed a sex act on a minor male. A spokesperson with the Los Angeles Police Department tells DailyMail.com that the Robbery Homicide Division, who handles all celebrity and high profile cases, has not opened an investigation at this time into the Melrose Place star. This comes after TMZ reported that the alleged victim filed a report with the LAPD, and that Luner might be facing a charge of oral copulation with a minor child. The victim claims that he was 16 at the time of the alleged incident, while Luner was 26 and at the height of her fame. The actress, 46, has yet to respond to these allegations. Scroll down for video Allegation: Jamie Luner (left in 2009, right in 2001) has been accused of performing oral sex on a 16-year-old boy back in 1998 reports TMZ Soap stardom: Luner was already one of television's biggest stars when she nabbed the role of Lexi Sterling in the final two season of Melrose Place (clockwise from top left: Luner, Rob Estes, Heather Locklear, Jack Wagner, John Haymes Newton, Kelly Rutherford, Thomas Calabro, and Josie Bisset) Luner first rose to fame with her role on the Growing Pains spin-off Just the Ten of Us (Top row, left: Brooke Theiss, Matt Shakman, Bill Kirchenbauer, Luner, JoAnn Willette; on steps, left: Deborah Harmon holding Riquel Kyle Shane, Heidi Zeigler (holding Jason/Jeremy Korstjens (Harvey), Heather Langenkamp) Even if Luner had been found guilty, she would have liklely only been charged with a misdemeanor if the sex act was consensual due to the fact that the victim was over the age of 16 at the time of the incident. Oral copulation with a minor child can be charged as a felony or a misdemeanor under California state law, with the former largely reserved for instances in which the victim is under 16. It can also be charged as a felony, however, if the victim is over 16 but was incapacitated or forced into the act at the time of the incident. The misdemeanor charge carries a maximum prison sentence of one year, while the felony charge can carry up to 10 years behind bars. There is also a chance the statute of limitations has run out on this case - with California law requiring that a report be filed within one year of the offense if the act was consensual. It is also stipulated that the offense must be reported before the victim turns 28, which could be a problem for the 36-year-old man who has reported Luner to police. In some non-consensual cases however, criminal charges can be filed within one year of a victim making a report to police. Ex-files: She would have been dating personal trainer John Braz (couple above circa 1998) at the time of the alleged incident, who she split with in 1999 after four years together Kids incorporated: Luner was already a household name before her Melrose days thanks to roles in such shows as Just the Ten of Us and Growing Pains (above with Pains co-star Jeremy Miller) Enlightened: In 2015 she received a degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica (above at commencement with her parents) Luner would have been in a relationship with John Braz at the time of the alleged offense. She and the personal trainer began dating in 1995 but went their separate ways four years later around the time Melrose Place ended its run. That is Luner's only known relationship, with the actress having always been incredibly private about the details of her love life. This despite getting her start in commercials while still a child and attending the famed Beverly Hills High before landing her first big role in 1988 on the popular television series Just the Ten of Us. She then made memorable guest appearances on Growing Pains and Married With Children before snagging her next big part in 1996 on Savannah. It was while auditioning for Savannah that Luner first met Aaron Spelling, would would give her the role on Melrose that made her an A-list television star. Bagging a Baldwin: Luner and Stephen Baldwin at the premiere of their film Friends & Lovers in 2000 (above) Chameleon: Luner on All My Children in 2009 (left) and in a recent Instagram post (left) Marcia, Marcia, Marcia: Luner with Marcia Gay Harden (above) while filming a guest spot on the series Code Black Luner was one of television's biggest stars in the late 1990s thanks to her role as Lexi Sterling in Melrose Place, joining the cast in the sixth season and staying on until the show ended its run. She immediately picked up an even bigger role as she took over for Ally Walker in the fourth season of Profiler, starring on 20 episodes of the NBC series before it was cancelled by the network. Luner has made a number of guests appearances on television shows over the past 20 years and been featured in numerous Lifetime movies. She also appeared in over 300 episodes of the popular soap opera All My Children from 2009 to 2011 in the role of Liza Colby, becoming the third actress to play the character. Her recent work includes a ten-episode run on the TNT series Murder in the First back in 2016 and the lead role in the 2017 Lifetime film A Lover Betrayed. She also recently wrapped work on two films slated fort release later this year, Tell Me I Love You and Deadly Runaway. In 2015 she also received her degree in Spiritual Psychology from the University of Santa Monica. Looks like somebody had a late night. President Trump's policy adviser Stephen Miller showed that the tough executive branch job sometimes requires a daytime nap on Monday. The 32-year-old aide just couldn't manage to feign interest or even keep his eyes during Trump's speech about the Florida school shooting to governors meeting at the White House. Photos from the afternoon speech show Miller rubbing his eyes and yawning with exhaustion, but at least attempting to stay awake. But eventually his head falls forward and his eyes shut and he takes a brief afternoon cat nap during the important policy meeting. President Trump's policy adviser Stephen Miller showed that the tough executive branch job sometimes requires a daytime nap on Monday Photos from Trump's speech about the Florida school shooting Monday show Miller rubbing his eyes and yawning with exhaustion, but at least attempting to stay awake But eventually his head falls forward and his eyes shut and he takes a brief afternoon cat nap during the important policy meeting And unfortunately for Miller, this may have been a speech worth paying attention to, because as senior policy adviser he will play a major role in the president's legislative response to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14. During the speech Trump claimed he would have stormed the high school even if he had been unarmed. He also blasted the local law enforcement as 'disgusting' and called for teachers to be allowed to carry concealed firearms at school. Last week it was revealed that the armed guard at the school, Scot Peterson, stayed outside the school while the shooting was happening. And on Monday Trump said Peterson and any other deputies were at fault, noting that they 'weren't exactly Medal of Honor winners.' 'The way they performed was frankly disgusting,' he noted. Unfortunately for Miller, this may have been a speech worth paying attention to, because as senior policy adviser he will play a major role in the president's legislative response to the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14. He is pictured speaking with Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker During the speech Trump claimed he would have stormed the high school even if he had been unarmed He also blasted the local law enforcement as 'disgusting' and called for teachers to be allowed to carry concealed firearms at school Trump has supported raising the legal age to buy assault rifles, but has yet to lay out specific legislation suggestions. Luckily for Miller, he had likely heard the president's speech already, and potentially played a part in writing it. Miller is Trump's senior policy adviser and speech writer, with hard-right political views. He claims he has been a staunch conservative since reading the book: 'Guns, Crime and Freedom,' which was written by National Rifle Association CEO Wayne LaPierre in opposition of gun control. The Duke University graduate was described in Michael Wolff's book Fire and Fury as 'a 55-year-old trapped in a 32-year-old's body.' He also noted that Miller didn't have any clear observable role in the White House. 'Other than being a far-right conservative, it was unclear what parciularly abilities accompanied Miller's views,' Wolff wrote. 'He was supposed to be a speechwriter, but if so, he seemed restricted to bullet points and unable to construct sentences. 'He was supposed to be a policy adviser but knew little about policy. 'He was supposed to be the house intellectual but was militantly unread. He was supposed to be a communications specialist but he antagonized almost everyone.' So many Comanchero bikies have been deported from Australia that members have set up the first chapter of the club in New Zealand. Tough immigration laws which have seen hundreds of Kiwis thrown out of the country on character grounds have led to the 'black and gold empire' spreading across the Tasman. New Zealand police had warned for years that returning bikies would bolster the numbers and criminal professionalism of local gang ranks. Now some of the 14 patched members of the Comanchero booted out of Australia have formed their own chapter in their homeland. Scroll down for video Comanchero bikies shown wearing 'New Zealand' colours have appeared on Instagram Members of the Comanchero bikie gang have started the first New Zealand chapter this year The Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gang is the latest Australian club to infiltrate New Zealand Other big gangs found in Australia including the Rebels and Bandidos were already established in New Zealand but this is the first time the Comanchero have had a foothold. The gang, which engaged in a gunfight with Bandidos at Milperra in 1984 in which seven people died, has vowed to get 'stronger and stronger'. Photographs posted to Instagram and Facebook show Comanchero members wearing their black and gold colours with 'New Zealand' below the club's condor logo. In two pictures, half a dozen bikies are standing around or sitting on gold-detailed motorcycles. 'All done and sworn in... welcome aboard to my brothers in New Zealand,' one Instagram post by an Australian Comanchero said. 'Another Comanchero chapter opened up. We growing stronger and stronger.' New Zealand Comanchero bikies pose behind two gold-detailed machines for Istagram posts Hundreds of New Zealanders have been deported from Australia on character grounds This Facebook post showing men in Comanchero and 'Comos' gear appeared in December The post addresses Immigration Minister Peter Dutton who has vowed to keep deporting Kiwis his department deems to be of bad character. 'F*** Peter Dutton,' it said. 'But you made this possible #lol.' One of the Comanchero members pictured is Pasilika Naufahu, once a senior member of the gang in Sydney, who was deported two years ago, according to the New Zealand Herald. Naufahu, who lived in Australia for 27 years, has said he did not want to go back to the country of his birth. A 2015 police intelligence report released under the Official Information Act estimated the cost of criminal offending by deportees arriving in New Zealand over five years would exceed $100million. Another report from January 2017 predicted 200 members of Australian gangs which did not have chapters in New Zealand would be deported in the next two years. New Zealand has its own well-established outlaw motorcycle gangs but police there are concerned about the arrival of the Comanchero, a group considered to be involved in sophisticated drug dealing. New Zealand police are concerned about the arrival of the Comanchero in their country Pasilika Naufahu, (left) was once a senior member of the Comanchero in Sydney and was deported to New Zealand; Australia's Immigration Minister Peter Dutton is pictured right Commanchero members visiting graves of bikies killed in the Milperra Massacre of 1984 The Comanchero also have a reputation for violence including their involvement in a brawl at Sydney Airport in 2009 in which a Hells Angels associate was bashed to death with a metal bollard. The gang's former national president Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi was shot dead outside a gym at Rockdale, in Sydney's south, on February 15. Hundreds of Kiwis have been deported since December 2014, with 664 visas cancelled in the last financial year. Among those sent home has been Shane Martin, a Rebels member and the father of premiership-winning AFL star Dustin Martin. Martin was exiled to New Zealand in March last year under 'character grounds' in the Migration Act and was stopped from entering Bali on a planned holiday before Christmas. In November, Jesse Johnston, a heavily-tattooed member of the Finks, was kicked out of Bali and Australia and deported back to New Zealand. In October Rebels bikie boss Aaron 'AJ' Graham was deported to his native New Zealand after his visa was cancelled for a third time. In October Rebels bikie boss Aaron 'AJ' Graham was deported to his native New Zealand Jesse Johnston of the Finks was deported to his native New Zealand in November last year Rebel Shane Martin, father of AFL premiership winner Dusty Martin, was deported last year New Zealand police are concerned about the Comanchero's propensity for lawlessness including brazen shootings and other public displays of extreme violence. Last December a picture was posted to a Gangs of New Zealand social media page showing a group of five men, two of whom were wearing Comanchero paraphernalia. A caption below the picture read: 'Comanchero New Zealand. Making moves here in Aotearoa. Respect.' At that time Police Association president Chris Cahill told radio station Newstalk ZB the picture was 'very likely linked' to deportations from Australia. 'We know the Australian government targeted senior gang members that are New Zealand citizens and have deported a number of them,' Mr Cahill said. 'New Zealand's a relatively small place, there's only so much criminal activity and money that can be made out of drugs - which is a gang's main form of money - so that leads to competition and with these gangs that can lead to violence and sooner or later that will spill over into the public.' Mark Buddle (left) succeeded Mick Hawi (right) as national president of the Comanchero Police from Strike Force Raptor raid a Comanchero clubhouse on the NSW Central Coast Detective Superintendent Greg Williams, the head of the National Organised Crime Group, confirmed to the New Zealand Herald earlier this month the Comanchero had formed a New Zealand chapter. He said it had been inevitable the gang would branch out to New Zealand when so many Comanchero members had been deported. 'It's concerning,' Detective Superintendent Williams told the newspaper. 'Like the other Australian gangs, the Rebels and the Bandidos, we expect the Comancheros will attempt to establish themselves in the drug market within New Zealand.' Detective Superintendent Williams said the Comanchero appeared to be aligning themselves with the notorious Mongrel Mob and the Filthy Few. 'The reality of gang life, whether it's seen by the public or not, is one of violence,' he said. 'When dealing with the gangs, we're finding people with all sorts of firearms. 'And there is friction when gangs try to move into an established drug market. So there may be [violence] that comes out of this. To date, there hasn't been. 'It will be interesting to see what happens.' The Comanchero already has overseas chapters in Russia, Spain and Bosnia. Hawi's successor Mark Buddle is believed to be living in Europe Under a major shake-up to be announced today, the double-jabbed (pictured inset: Library image of a woman being vaccinated) will no longer have to take costly PCR tests when they return from abroad (pictured centre: Library image of a holidaymaker heading abroad). Instead, they will need only a cheaper lateral flow test. The 'pre-departure tests' that travellers are forced to take before flying home are also likely to be scrapped. As part of the radical shake-up of the Government's Covid travel policy, there will also be changes to the controversial 'traffic light' rules - which will be cut to a two tier 'go' and 'no go' system. However those who are unvaccinated face even tougher restrictions. They will have to quarantine on their return from all countries, even though on the 'go' list (pictured left: How the list will look). Insiders hope the strategy will help to drive up vaccination rates. The changes are part of a long-awaited review of the travel restrictions that will also see the controversial 'traffic light' rules radically redrawn. Instead of the 'green, amber and red' system that was introduced in May, there will be a simplified 'go/no-go' regime. All current 'amber list' countries will effectively become green - or 'go' destinations -while the number of 'red list', or 'no-go' countries, will be slashed in half. This means popular holiday destinations such as Turkey are likely to open up to fully jabbed Britons next month. A budget hotel close to Melbourne's affluent cultural precinct has been slammed online for its filthy, smelly and dysfunctional rooms. At just over $100 a night Redan Apartments, in St Kilda East, claims to offer 'clean and comfortable accommodation' but according to its reviews the hotel is anything but. Disgusted guests took to TripAdvisor with their criticisms, many complaining of horrendous odors, copious amounts of mold, broken showers, and blood-stained furniture. One traveler claimed the hotel used fake photos in a third party ad, and was horrified to find a graffiti-clad bathroom, littered with rubbish and covered in feces (pictured) Guests have slammed the hotel for it's 'disgusting' rooms, including broken shower heads (left) and abundant mould (right) One guest said there was a giant penis spray-painted on the carpet in the living room of her apartment, and another sprayed onto the bathroom door - but it got worse. During her November 2017 stay, she explained while she was willing to ignore the 'strong stench of urine' in the corridor, other things she couldn't get past. 'The toilet seat was unusable without putting toilet paper on it first so that one could sit on it with a degree of cleanliness because it was filthy. The cracks in the seat were ingrained with dirt, and the toilet bowl smelt... it looked like it hadn't been cleaned for a very long time,' she wrote on Tripadvisor. The reviewer was most horrified at her husband being electrocuted by one of the power outlets. Stains believed to be blood were prominent in the bedroom, with one photo showing a large drip down the side of a base and another showing a penis spray painted on the carpet Guests also claimed they found blood spattered up the walls inside their apartment (pictured) Dirty dishes were left out in a dirty drying rack (right), and dead cockroaches were found in the kitchen (left) Redan Apartments (pictured), in St Kilda East, claimed to offer 'clean and comfortable accommodation', but according to its reviews, it was anything but 'Mr A received an electrical shock strong enough to throw him back on the bed, and take a few minutes to recover himself. He did not receive burns, but he did suffer shock, after 'tingles', and was most upset,' she said. The microwave was also completely covered in grime and mold, according to the woman, as was the shower, which also had an arm so limp it was unusable. 'The smoke detector did not have a battery, and has hung decoratively over the existing light fitting,' she added, saying she also found used syringe and wipes packets inside a bedside table. Another patron described his stay as 'the worst experience of my life' and said he had never felt so concerned for his family's health and safety. Broken cupboard doors and graffiti tags were consistent in TripAdvisor criticisms One woman said the smoke detector was hanging from the ceiling, while used syringe packets were found inside bins in the room Another patron described his stay as 'the worst experience of my life' and said he had never felt so concerned for his family's health and safety Photos showed abundant mould covering bathroom walls (left) while liquid stains, believed to be urine, were splashed across walls in the toilet The white walls appeared to have a number of different coloured marks and stains in photos shared to TripAdvisor 'Rooms were filthy, stained beds and floors. Killed 13 cockroaches. Slept with lights on to keep them away. Patrons talking loudly at 04:00. It was disgusting and I'm embarrassed that my family had to endure that night. We cut our losses and moved to another place,' he wrote online. Someone else had similar complaints, detailing the presence of human bodily fluids - including blood - throughout the room. 'I arrived at my room to find blood splatter on the door, fridge and a dried dribble down my bed. No hot water, and mould in the bathroom. About 11pm I was woken to someone being beaten in the next room.' 'Blood splatter on the blinds, cigarette burns in the carpet, a stench of chlorine and cat piss, broken fire alarm hanging from the light fixture, needle in the car park and a kicked in door,' another guest wrote. Guests shared photos of graffiti on walls throughout the rooms 'Rooms were filthy, stained beds and floors. Killed 13 cockroaches,' one traveler wrote A photo from inside one bathroom showed cracked tiles, rusted hinges and mould caked into a corner One of the doors looked to have been kicked in, with it sporting a large crack and appearing to have broken away from its hinges One traveler accused the hotel of using fake photos to advertise its rooms on a third-party site, sharing a picture of a bathroom covered in graffiti, with faeces smeared down the back of the toilet. Other photos show small amounts of grubby utensils in kitchen drawers, food-encrusted pots and pans, broken cupboard doors and a fridge shelf make-shifted out of sticky tape. Out of 87 reviews written for the hotel, 74 of them rated their experience as 'terrible' Daily Mail Australia has contacted Redan Apartments for comment. One traveler accused the hotel of using fake photos to advertise its rooms on a third-party site Other photos show small amounts of grubby utensils in kitchen drawers and cupboards A review described her disgust on discovering the old food that had caked onto the microwave tray (right) One photo showed a fridge shelf that had been make-shifted out of sticky tape Sue Tilley, the 20st Job Centre worker who became the subject of the world's most expensive painting by a living artist when she sat nude for Lucian Freud, was not entirely pleased to be reunited with the master's work at a Tate Britain show. 'It's horrible, he made me look lumpy,' she complained after posing in front of Sleeping By The Lion Carpet, another work she inspired. Their relationship had its ups and downs. 'I came back from a holiday in India and he was horrified at how brown I was. He gave me a year off while the tan faded.' Tilley once blew up at Freud, when the notorious gambler left her naked on the couch while he disappeared to the bookies. 'I said: 'Am I supposed to just sit here while you waste your money?' The next day he gave me 500.' Freud must have backed a winner. Sue Tilley (pictured) was photographed sitting in front of Sleeping by the Lion Carpet, a portrait of her by Lucian Freud Ms Tilley talked with David Dawson, Lucian Freud's assistant in Tate Britain for the 'All Too Human' exhibition She became the subject of the world's most expensive painting by a living artist when she sat nude for Lucian Freud She was angry when Freud (pictured) left her naked on the couch while he disappeared to the bookies The Queen remains above the political fray so let's hope the appointment of Reverend Canon Geraldine Pond as Her Majesty's chaplain does not cause any problems. Rev Pond appears to be very political, judging by her social media account and has retweeted an anti-Jeremy Hunt tweet posted by an organisation called Stand With Our NHS. 'Cherry-picked facts are not the same as facts,' it proclaims above an image of the Health Secretary carrying a basket of cherries. 'Please RT [retweet] if you too are fed up with Hunt constantly cherry-picking facts.' BBC DJ Zoe Ball's house move from bustling Brighton to the sleepy East Sussex village of Ditchling is already creating a stir after the local postman had to act as Sir Galahad when the presenter fell off her bike. Postman Chris Medhurst revealed on his social media page: 'You stop to help a female cyclist who has fallen over (an unclipping pedal issue). Next thing you know it turns out it was Zoe Ball (disguised by shades and a helmet) training for Sport Relief.' Zoe, 47, who now lives in a 970,000 18th-century home in the village after splitting from Norman Cook, aka musician Fatboy Slim, is training for a 300-mile five-day bike ride to raise awareness of mental health. It follows the death of her boyfriend Billy Yates, who suffered from depression and was found dead at his home last May, aged 40. She has now found new love with construction firm boss Michael Reed. Zoe Ball has given up her 2.5million beachfront mansion in Brighton (pictured) Zoe, 47, who now lives in a 970,000 18th-century home in the village after splitting from Norman Cook Line Of Duty star Vicky McClure, who plays cop Kate Fleming in the BBC drama, wants to prove she has other strings to her bow. The 34-year-old actress has designed a new 95 jumpsuit for womenswear brand, Finery. 'It was all just about making it really easy to wear, really comfortable and really sexy,' says Vicky. At 5ft 4in and a size 10, she adds: 'I'm quite thigh and bum heavy. 'You know with jumpsuits you've got to be quite confident to wear them because that area is really exposed.' Devastating effects have been predicted as a result of Australia's rapid population growth - making backyards a thing of the past, blowing out commuting times and causing intense crowding. Sydney's population is set to rise by 2.6million in the next few decades according to a government report. The report, titled 'Future Cities: Planning for our growing population', also details how Melbourne will add 2.8million people by 2046 and is expected to leapfrog Sydney as Australia's largest city. Australia is set to gain 11.8 million residents over the next 30 years, ballooning to 36 million as the country continues to accept a high number of immigrants. Sustainable Australia party president William Bourke told the Today show Australia's current immigration levels desperately needed to be slashed. Australia is set to gain 11.8million residents over the next 30 years, ballooning to 36million in total (report did not include data for other cities) Experts are warning of the devastating effects Australia's rapid population growth will have - making backyards a thing of the past, blowing out commuting times and causing severe crowding 'Our permanent annual intake has been 190,000 a year for probably a decade, plus humanitarian refugees. So, it is over 200,000 total. Now, the long- term average over the 20th century was about 70,000. That's the normal level. That was the sustainable level. 'The level that worked so well for Australia in the 20th century has made our country great.' Mr Burke said current immigration levels were leading to 'less secure jobs and lower wage growth, less affordable housing, overdevelopment and serious environmental impacts'. 'If you flood the market with workers, you only have to look at your 7-Elevens. If you flood the market with migrant workers, it pushes down wages and migrants are exploited. We have to take migration back to the sustainable level and get the settings right.' Self-made billionaire Dick Smith told Daily Mail Australia the report's findings were a concern. 'If the population goes to the figure they're talking about it will be all downhill for working Australians,' he said. 'We're past the sweet point now.' He said Australia could support 1 billion people but the cost would be living in 'huge skyscrapers' and living like 'battery hens'. Sydney's population is set to rise by 2.6million in the next few decades according to a government report He said immigration levels should be cut to 70,000 a year, the level 'that made Australia great'. 'If we went back to that it would stabilise the population under 30 million people.' The Infrastructure Australia report focused on Melbourne and Sydney, and did not include information for other cities. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for Australia to drop its immigration numbers from 190,000 to 110,000 a year. 'It's a basic law of economics that increasing the supply of labour depresses wages, and that increasing demand for housing boosts price.' Sustainable Australia party president William Bourke told the Today show Australia's current immigration levels desperately needed to be slashed Meanwhile, Labor has accused the government of dog-whistle politics as the Home Affairs department considers a new plan to use spies to covertly vet potential migrants. The Turnbull government is considering a tougher vetting system with three assessment points - in the potential migrant's home country, once they arrive in Australia and upon applying for citizenship. 'It wouldn't surprise me that this government would use whatever dog whistle it can against potential refugees, potential migrants to this country,' Labor senator Doug Cameron told reporters in Canberra on Tuesday. Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has called for Australia to drop its immigration numbers from 190,000 to 1110,000 a year 'Nothing would surprise me what [Home Affairs Minister] Peter Dutton would do.' Home Affairs department boss Michael Pezzullo told The Daily Telegraph the new assessment procedure would scrutinise people's previous behaviour to ensure they were honestly answering questions when applying for Australian citizenship. 'Prior to you even getting citizenship, before you even migrate, the government is looking at how do you make an assessment using intelligence, using all sources of information,' he said. He denies it was a way to exclude non-Anglo or non-white people, saying it would embed the Australian values framework in law. More than 50 abuse or neglect cases have been uncovered in illegal faith schools in the last three years but no one has been prosecuted over them. Pupils were being indoctrinated by extremists and exposed to danger in underground religious schools. In one case, an Islamic school in Birmingham was allowing children to read a book which claimed all gay people should be murdered. In another, a staff member at a Jewish school was filmed striking a pupil over the head. A staff member at a Jewish school was filmed striking a pupil over the head in footage recorded by the BBC Many of the other schools were keeping children in filthy conditions, with no regard for health and safety law. Ofsted said it has identified more than 350 illegal schools, and since 2014 has issued safeguarding alerts concerns of abuse or neglect regarding 50 of them. However, despite the findings, the Department for Education has been unable to carry out prosecutions because of a loophole in the law. Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman said the law was not strong enough because it did not allow Ofsted to gather the evidence needed for a prosecution. We cant even pick up evidence that we find there, she told a BBC news investigation. If we find unsuitable teaching material we cant even take that away. Schools must register with the Government, but some small faith schools are refusing to do so because they do not want to comply with the national curriculum. Parents are able to take pupils out of mainstream schooling by claiming they are being home-schooled when really they are attending these secret institutions. Ofsted has been hunting down these schools for several years amid fears some may be breeding grounds for religious extremism. Ofsted Chief Inspector Amanda Spielman (pictured), said that the law isn't strong enough The BBC team filmed in a suspected unregistered ultra-orthodox Jewish school in Westcliff-on-Sea, Essex, where they caught on camera a teacher appearing to hit a pupils head. Anne Longfield, the Childrens Commissioner for England, told the BBC investigation the footage showed huge safeguarding issues. The synagogue, on whose grounds the school is based, said it was not aware of any incidents, but asked for more information. Photographs from inside two other suspected unregistered schools show shocking conditions, including poor food hygiene, dangerous wiring and dirty rooms. And in the case of a Birmingham Islamic school, material was discovered advocating killing gay people. Of the unregistered schools where a religious ethos was known, half were Islamic. The Department for Education said: The secretary of state has to consent to a prosecution. This happens at the end of the process. So far no case has reached that stage. Snow job. With the white stuff blowing in from the North Sea, a faintly downbeat Jeremy Corbyn went to Coventry to signal capitulation to Brussels. His speech was a flurry of contradictions. He opposed spending cuts, yet wanted the national deficit to drop faster. He moaned about 'jingoistic posturing' and 'xenophobia' by Conservatives, yet won a round of kneejerk applause from a smallish crowd simply by attacking America. He fulminated against 'the global corporate elite'. Eh? They're just the sort of people who most adore the EU. A faintly downbeat Jeremy Corbyn (pictured with a fan) has travelled to Coventry to signal capitulation to Brussels If there had been any logic to Mr Corbyn's speech yesterday he would have attacked the Labour core voters whose views on immigration he so blithely ditched. And in making this policy change on Brexit, he deplored what he said was the Tory tendency to 'agree something at breakfast' only to 'abandon it by teatime'. Oldest rule in politics: accuse your opponents of your own worst characteristics. The moment Mr Corbyn shuffled into the university science-block venue, he glanced left, then straight ahead, briefly unsure how to reach the lectern. That moment of indecision arguably symbolised his uncertainty over which way to face on the EU. Likewise, he was using an autocue and its two screens meant his head kept moving from side to side. The text nearly torpedoed him. 'Join us,' he said, 'in supporting the option of a new cake... a new UK customs union with the EU.' There was something melancholy in the air and not just because this was a cold Monday mid-morning in the Midlands. The one rather admirable thing about Mr Corbyn used to be that he stuck to his beliefs and wasn't just another Westminsteer careerist say-anything-for-power politico. He was a bold insurgent. He was different. Mr Corbyn used hold one card, that he stuck to his beliefs and wasn't just another Westminsteer careerist Yesterday, I'm afraid, he looked just as Establishment, as scheming and insincere, as the rest of them. So much for his claim that 'change is coming'. Stodgy, boring Mrs May is now the more radical of these two party leaders. Mr Corbyn has squandered his 'USP'. Having found his way to the small stage, he stood in front of prototypes of Pod Zero driverless, gas-powered cars. 'Ultra high-tech that's the modern Labour Party,' he quipped. The audience of about 100 (many of them men in the 30s and 40s) heard this in silence. 'You're supposed to laugh,' said Mr Corbyn mournfully. He was rewarded with a feathering of obedient chuckles. Yesterday, I'm afraid, he looked just as Establishment, as scheming and insincere, as the rest of them 'We respect the result of the referendum,' he claimed, before proceeding at length to disown that principle. The speech lasted about 40 minutes. The longer it continued, the less enthusiastic he sounded. The crowd sparked a little when he mentioned the NHS, when he attacked the selfish rich and when he stood up for immigration. In the front row sat Blairite London lawyer Sir Keir Starmer, the party's Brexit spokesman. He had his legs crossed and his left ankle was rotating hard while he fingered his chin and stared at the ceiling. Alongside squiffy-quiffed Sir Keir sat shadow minister Barry Gardiner, who until recently called a customs union 'deeply unattractive'. It made for a dispiriting day but Conservatives should be emboldened And beside our Barry (he went to the same public school as me) perched robotic Rebecca Long-Bailey, a grim little operative wearing more make-up than the late Zsa Zsa Gabor. Mr Corbyn claimed Labour's message had been 'consistent' yet a moment later he admitted 'we have developed our understanding'. Translation: 'I've been got at by the Brussels lobby who persuaded me our voters in the North of England are never going to vote for anyone else. We can ignore their peasant views.' Questioned by a Channel 4 reporter about his political scheming, Mr Corbyn said, 'thank you for coming along'. A dispiriting day. One's already weak belief in our politics takes another dent. But Conservatives should be emboldened. Labour's contempt for the public is now as naked as a fat Fraulein glistening with Piz Buin on the nudie dunes of Borkum. Brrrrr. March is American Red Cross Month, a time to recognize our heroes who help those in need in our community. These selfless individuals donate blood or platelets, deliver comfort items to military members in hospitals, take a first aid or CPR class to help in an emergency, and volunteer to help people impacted by a disaster. March was first proclaimed American Red Cross Month in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to raise awareness of the organization and our humanitarian mission. This year, the American Red Cross salutes all the heroes who make a difference in their communities. The Red Cross, through our strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in time of need. In central New York, more than 700 volunteers ensure that we can fulfill our mission. Last year, they collected nearly 40,000 blood donations from volunteer donors, trained about 12,000 people in first aid, CPR and water safety skills, reconnected more than 400 military families through emergency communications services, installed 1,200 free smoke alarms to make homes safer, and responded to 143 local disaster incidents to assist 210 families. Advertisement 'Wasted' Heather Locklear has joined the likes of Tiger Woods, Blac Chyna and Aaron Carter in the celebrity Hall of Shame with an awful mugshot that will haunt her forever. Locklear was arrested for allegedly biting her boyfriend's nose in a drunken rage, and then attacking three cops who came to break up the fight late Sunday. A source in the Ventura police department told DailyMail.com that Locklear 'was wasted' when she and Chris Heisser, the high school sweetheart she recently reconnected with, 'got into a physical fight' at her house in Thousand Oaks, California. The former Melrose Place star, 56, 'practically bit the tip off of Heisser's nose,' the source said, before instructing a woman who works with her to call police. When cops showed up to arrest her, the source claims the actress snapped and 'attacked three of' the four officers - all in front of her 'mortified' 20-year-old daughter Ava. Because she had claimed to have been beaten by Heisser, Locklear was first taken to the hospital for evaluation. She was booked into the Ventura County Jail around 1am on a felony count of domestic violence and three counts of misdemeanor battery on a peace officer. Now, Locklear has joined a growing list of celebrities with awful-looking mugshots, including Tiger Woods, Aaron Carter and Blac Chyna. Heather Locklear (left) was arrested for allegedly biting her boyfriend's nose in a drunken rage, and then attacking three cops who came to break up the fight late Sunday. She joins a growing list of celebrities with awful-looking mugshots, including Tiger Woods (right), Aaron Carter and Blac Chyna Divergent series star Shailene Woodley (left) was arrested for trespassing and engaging in a riot while protesting the controversial Dakota Access pipeline in October 2016. Shia LaBeouf (right) was last arrested in July 2017; however, the Transformers star has been arrested five other times Reality TV star Blac Chyna (left), 27, was arrested in Austin, Texas, for public Intoxication and possession of a controlled substance after being removed from a departing flight in January 2016. Actor Judge Reinhold (right) was taken to jail following a confrontation with security agents at Dallas airport in December 2016 Retired World Cup soccer champion Abby Wambach was arrested for a DUI in Oregon in April 2016. Aaron Carter (right) was arrested for a DUI in July 2017 Pawn Stars' Chumlee Russell (left) was arrested on March 9, 2016, on suspicion of 20 felonies, including drug-possession and possession of a firearm by a person using or under the influence of a controlled substance. Bachelor star Chris Soules was arrested on April 24, 2017, after he rear-ended a farm tractor driven by Kenneth Mosher in Iowa. Mosher died a short time later White House Communications Director Hope Hicks is expected to testify before the House Intelligence Committee, in the latest chapter in a standoff over what top White House officials will be allowed to discuss. She will appear behind closed doors, after her January scheduled appearance got postponed, CBS News reported, citing multiple sources. Her appearance follows a heated clash between the committee and former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon. White House Communications Director Hope Hicks is expected to testify before the House Intelligence Committee Hope Hicks' position in the White House came under additional scrutiny amid the Rob Porter scandal The panel's top Democrat, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, said it was 'likely' Bannon would face contempt of Congress after failing to answer numerous questions in his last appearance. 'I think it's likely that he will face a contempt citation,' Schiff said after Bannon only agreed to answer 25 questions authorized by the White House. White House lawyers are attempting to declare off-limits questions from the transition, although so far the White House has stopped short of declaring executive privelege. 'I suspect that Mr. Bannon has been informed that [the White House] will only stonewall so far,' Schiff said at the Council on Foreign Relations. 'They will never allow him to be fined or go to jail, but they do wish to draw the process as long as they can,' Schiff added. Hicks was aboard Air Force One when the White House drafted a statement in response to a New York Times report that Donald Trump Jr. had met in Trump Tower with a Kremlin-linked lawyer. Additionally, the New York Times reported that Mark Corallo, a former spokesman for the president's legal team, planned to tell Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team that Hicks had said that the emails that Donald Trump Jr wrote about the infamous Trump Tower meeting with Russians 'will never get out.' Hicks is one of the president's longest-serving political aides, having joined the campaign at its genesis. Before that, the former teen model handled public relations for Ivanka Trump within the Trump Organization. Hicks' position in the White House came under additional scrutiny amid the Rob Porter scandal, as she had been dating the White House staff secretary at the time that he resigned in disgrace after DailyMail.com revealed allegations of abuse from two of his ex-wives. She and Porter are no longer dating, according to people with knowledge of the former relationship. Dame Barbara Stocking, 66, president of Murray Edwards College, was head of Oxfam when charity staff in Haiti used local prostitutes during the 2010 earthquake relief effort Cambridge students have accused a former Oxfam chief who heads their college of having a 'cavalier attitude' to sexual misconduct. Dame Barbara Stocking, 66, president of Murray Edwards College, was head of Oxfam when charity staff in Haiti used local prostitutes during the 2010 earthquake relief effort. She has been accused of covering up the misconduct and of withholding details of the episode from the Charity Commission. Now students at the college are revolting against her, saying she did not take allegations of sexual impropriety seriously enough while at Oxfam, which she left in 2013 to take up her Cambridge post. They also questioned her ability to guard the welfare of ethnic minority students at the women-only college because of the 'colonial' way in which she had handled the scandal.The student union criticised the college president for 'smirking and smiling' while discussing the allegations on TV, 'signalling a complete lack of regard for the victims of sexual exploitation'. The students said in a statement that to say 'these things happen' in places 'where there is no rule of law' moved the burden of responsibility away from the culprits. This attitude bought into the 'colonial narrative' as those responsible were white, they added. The statement continued: 'Unfortunately, Dame Barbara's conduct has had a serious impact on students' ability to feel at home in college, where we must brush up against her in corridors and dining spaces every day. 'We believe Dame Barbara's lack of regard for black women's lives in Haiti is impossible to disentangle from her conduct in college and the welfare of BME (black and minority ethnic) students.' It criticised a decision by the college authorities to express support for Dame Barbara before asking students what they thought, and then implying in public statements that the student body was 'universally supportive'. It was unlikely that trust could be rebuilt between students and the college authorities while Dame Barbara remains in charge, the statement said. It described the situation as 'unconscionable'. Students at the college say Dame Barbara did not take allegations of sexual impropriety seriously enough while at Oxfam The college is currently standing by Dame Barbara. Dr Juliet Foster, senior tutor at Murray Edwards, has now apologised for failing to communicate with students before issuing a formal response to the row, according to the Cambridge University newspaper Varsity. International Development Secretary Penny Mordaunt has been one of Dame Barbara's strongest critics, suggesting she deliberately withheld details of the scandal to preserve Oxfam's reputation. Yesterday she told a conference the entire overseas development sector had lost sight of its duty to put the beneficiaries of aid first. Barbara Stocking said: I am very sorry if students at Murray Edwards feel that I was at all dismissive about sexual exploitation in Haiti and that the language I used in that meeting caused upset to any student. I certainly do not believe Haiti to be uncivilised. I was trying to discuss honestly some of the challenges faced by international organisations seeking to respond to terrible human suffering caused by a major natural disaster. I was so shocked when the sexual exploitation in Haiti was reported to me that I immediately assembled an investigation team and, when the allegations were found to be true, all seven men involved lost their jobs. I have always taken these issues extremely seriously. Throughout my career I have championed the rights of women and black and ethnic minorities. I have fought hard to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse of women of all races and backgrounds across the world and I am committed to bringing those concerned to justice. Here in Cambridge I have supported students who have suffered sexual harassment and rape. I would be horrified to think that any student at the College feels that I might not listen to her complaint of harassment; I assure them that this is not the case. I will continue to engage with students to listen to their concerns and assure them that their safety and welfare are of paramount concern to me. An assistant principal and mother-of-three in South Carolina has turned herself in to face charges of sexual battery related to having intercourse with a student. Dawn Diimmler of Airport High School in Lexington County has been accused of having sexual intercourse multiple times with a 19-year-old student over the course of three months in 2017. On Monday, Lexington School District Two released three letters from school district officials to Diimler, dated earlier this year, that claimed the authority figured was heard on a recording telling the student's mother that she was in love with her son. Diimmler now faces felony charges of sexual battery in the cities of both Cayce and Columbia, City of Cayce spokesperson Ashley Hunter confirmed to DailyMail.com on Monday. If convicted, each of the two charges carries with it a potential penalty of up to five years in prison. Dawn Diimmler, an assistant principal in Columbia, South Carolina has been charged over the weekend with sexual battery for allegedly having sex with a 19-year-old student Diimmler's husband is apparently standing by her side, as he was seen still wearing his wedding ring as he walked her out of Lexington County Detention Center with his arm around her, shielding her from cameras, in footage captured by The State. Diimmler was fired from Airport High School earlier this month. The high school released a statement on February 13 regarding its termination of Diimmler. 'Ms. Diimmler was terminated following the districts investigation into allegations that she might be involved in an unprofessional relationship with a student,' school spokeswoman Dawn Kujawa said in the statement. 'During that investigation, the district became aware of facts indicating the possibility of criminal activity. In response, the district notified law enforcement that same day, January 30, 2018, of those facts and has continued to cooperate with law enforcement during its investigation.' Diimmler's husband is apparently standing by her side, as he was seen still wearing his wedding ring as he walked her out of Lexington County Detention Center with his arm around her, shielding her from cameras, in footage captured by The State . Diimmler is seen here in a photo shared to social media The Cayce Department of Public Safety issued the following statement on Saturday: 'In a collaborative effort and investigation between the Cayce Department of Public Safety and the Columbia Police Department, Dawn P. Diimmler will face charges of sexual battery in both jurisdictions. 'Between the dates of March 10, 2017 and June 2, 2017, Dawn P. Diimmler was engaged in an alleged relationship with a 19-year-old student enrolled at Airport High School while she was assigned as the school's Assistant Principal. 'Dawn Diimmler further had direct supervision over the student as part of her duties and engaged in sexual intercourse with the student on two (2) occasions while at the school which is located at 1315 Boston Avenue in the City of Cayce.' Diimmler is also accused of having sex with the student at least on other time, in a hotel room she rented on April 28, 2017 in the Harbison area, according to an incident report recorded by Columbia Police. Even though the student allegedly involved in a sexual relationship with Diimmler was 19 at the time of the accused activity, she still faces felony charges based on her position of power over the student, under South Carolina law. Her official charge is for 'sexual battery with a student 18 years of age or older, where there is direct supervisory authority, no aggravated force or coercion.' Diimmler turned herself in on Saturday morning at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center to face the charges from the city of Columbia. Diimmler is a mother of three; She is seen here with her husband and their children The detention center is located in Richland County, where her bond was set at $30,000 cash surety. She was order not to have contact with the victim, and was released. A warrant for her arrest was also issued by the City of Cayce, where Airport High School is located, in Lexington County. Diimmler first faced her charges with the Cayce Department of Public Safety on Sunday morning. Diimmler had worked at Airport High School since 2012. She is currently married with three children, ages 7, 9 and 11. The school's principal, Brad Coleman, has been placed on paid administrative leave. Dame Sally Davies, Englands chief medical officer, said she still suffers from incontinence 20 years after giving birth to her daughters The countrys most senior doctor has told how her body still hasnt recovered from childbirth more than 20 years after having her daughters. Dame Sally Davies, Englands chief medical officer, said she still suffers from an embarrassing side effect that left her housebound as a new mother. She added that her struggle with incontinence gave her great sympathy for other women experiencing intimate problems. We women, after weve had babies, can be damaged so that we get incontinence, said the 68-year-old, who has two daughters Olivia, 26, and 22-year-old Isa. And actually Ive never gone public about this after my first child I could walk three yards before I peed in my pants. During the discussion with Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt about medical errors, she added: For six weeks I could not the leave the house. Im still not as I would wish to be. So I have every sympathy with these women. Her comments come a week after a review was launched into a series of health scandals, including the use of vaginal mesh implants to repair damage caused by birth. Campaigners are calling for a ban on the treatment, while hundreds are suing the NHS saying the implants left them in agony. Dame Sally said her heart goes out to women left in pain by post-natal surgery. She said she had been flooded with tragic letters and emails from women affected by the issue. She added that while the treatment was appropriate for some women, too many had not been warned of the side effects. Her comments come a week after a review was launched into a series of health scandals, including the use of vaginal mesh implants to repair damage caused by birth (Pictured: Her first daughter, Olivia Davies) Its quite clear for a selected group of women that the best treatment if you have got a good doctor is a type of mesh that lifts the bladder up and supports the uterus and makes it all right, she told the Daily Telegraph. But even if you have a good surgeon and the right patient, there are quite a lot of side effects. Fifteen to 20 per cent get side effects. I have a post bag that is tragic from women who have had the operation and are worse off. My heart goes out to them. Dame Sally married her third husband, Dutch-born academic Willem Ouwehand, in 1989. Her daughter Olivia works for a left-wing think tank, while Isa is a medical student. Last week Prime Minister Theresa May ordered a landmark probe into problems surrounding the pregnancy test drug Primodos, vaginal mesh implants and epilepsy drug sodium valproate. It will investigate why patients concerns were ignored for years. Primodos was given to around 1.5million British women in the 1960s and 1970s, and was last month linked to serious birth defects by scientists. Mr Hunt said much stronger advice would be published. He also said immediate action will be taken on vaginal meshes, with an audit of 100,000 women fitted with the implants in the last decade. Saudi Arabia's most senior generals were sacked last night in a major shake-up on the eve of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Britain. King Salman yesterday replaced top military commanders including the chief of staff, state media said. The monarch replaced the heads of the ground forces and air defences, as well as civilian officials including several deputy ministers, in a series of late-night royal decrees. No official reason was given for the sweeping overhaul, but it comes as Mohammed bin Salman pursues military reform and a bloody campaign against Yemen's Iran-aligned Huthi rebels nears the end of its third year. King Salman (pictured) yesterday replaced top military commanders including the chief of staff, state media said Al-Bunyan (pictured) was retired after he inaugurated an arms exhibition this week in Riyadh by the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the state-owned defence company, which has drawn several global defence firms 'Termination of the services of General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, Chief of Staff,' the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) announced, adding that Fayyad al-Ruwaili had been appointed as his replacement. It comes just a week before Mohammed bin Salman is due to tour Britain, France and the USA. He is expected to meet Theresa May, Boris Johnson and senior members of the Royal Family. But protests have been organised to attack the Saudi government's role in Yemen, as well as Britain for being an ally of the monarchy's. Al-Bunyan was retired after he inaugurated an arms exhibition this week in Riyadh by the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the state-owned defence company, which has drawn several global defence firms. 'A military transformation is underway in Saudi Arabia,' Theodore Karasik, a senior advisor at the consultancy Gulf States Analytics, said. No official reason was given for the sweeping overhaul, but it comes as Mohammed bin Salman (pictured) pursues military reform and a bloody campaign against Yemen's Iran-aligned Huthi rebels nears the end of its third year The Yemen conflict has led to what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. More than 9,200 people have been killed in the conflict and another nearly 2,200 Yemenis have died of cholera. Pictured: People walk at the site of an air strike in the northwestern city of Saada 'The changes come on the heels of the SAMI exhibition, which is a critical part of the Prince Mohammed's reform plan to create an indigenous defence program,' he added, Crown Prince Mohammed, the son of the monarch and heir to the throne, is the country's defence minister and has been consolidating his grip on power in recent months while pushing major economic and social reforms. The young prince has pursued an assertive regional policy, including leading a military intervention in neighbouring Yemen since 2015 that is seen as a proxy war with arch-rival Iran. Prince Turki bin Talal, the brother of billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal (pictured), was appointed deputy governor of the southern Assir Province The Yemen conflict has led to what the UN describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. More than 9,200 people have been killed in the conflict and another nearly 2,200 Yemenis have died of cholera, according to the World Health Organization. King Salman also decreed a series of civilian appointments that saw younger officials being elevated to key positions as deputy ministers, deputy provincial governors and royal court advisors. Tamadar bint Yousef al-Ramah was appointed the deputy minister of labour and social development, a rare senior government post for a woman in the conservative kingdom. Prince Turki bin Talal, the brother of billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, was appointed deputy governor of the southern Assir Province. Prince Al-Waleed, dubbed the Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia, was among princes, ministers and tycoons detained in Riyadh's luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel in an unprecedented crackdown on what the government calls elite corruption. The Ritz-Carlton reopened for business on February 11, more than three months after becoming a gilded prison for Saudi elites. A thrill-seeker has surfed a body board down the wild rapids of New Zealand's Huka Falls in a stunt labelled as reckless and irresponsible. Timothy Nator, 34, said he was 'not afraid of dying' before leaping off a bridge in front of a crowd of spectators , according to the Bay of Plenty Times. Onlookers on the bridge above the falls were stunned as Nator, dressed in a wetsuit and flippers and carrying a fluorescent green body board climbed the railing and took the plunge into the raging waters on February 21. Scroll down for video 'There is a chance of dying doing anything,' he said. 'I would much rather die doing something like that and go out with a bang than walking across the road to the dairy and getting hit by a car.' When asked just before jumping why he was doing this Nator, who filmed the event on a Go Pro camera attached to his helmet, replied 'because I f****** want to.' Chief Executive of Water Safety New Zealand Jonty Mills said Nator's life and the lives of potential rescuers were put at risk. Timothy Nator, 34, stuns onlookers by jumping from a bridge into Huka Falls on February 21 The stunt was 'like playing Russian roulette, and the roulette could have won, and we could have easily been talking about a body recovery.' A photo Timothy Nator posted to Facebook directly after emerging from the waters of Huka Falls 'It's the sort of dangerous act that young thrill-seekers do so they can have their 15 minutes of fame. The reality is young men make up a significant chunk of our drownings toll in this country'. After emerging from the waters Nator, an architect in his day job, was shaken and said he would not recommend anyone else try his stunt, explaining he was held under the water for longer than he expected. Describing being under the water as turbulent and pitch black he said the ride down the falls was something he would never forget. Although police have confirmed the stunt was not illegal, Richard Barnett, Waikato Regional Council maritime services team leader, said the act 'could encourage people less capable to do something similar. ' 'He got away with a dangerous act through sheer luck, because it's clear he had no control as he travelled through the water,' said Barnett. The Huka Falls are a major natural tourist attraction in New Zealand located on the Waikato River. The falls are 11 metres at their highest and roughly 220,000 litres per second of water is pushed through the falls area of the river. Three men facing charges for killing and butchering another in a drug-fuelled attack have appealed against the length of their sentences. 32-year-old Brendan Bernard was savagely dismembered in his own North Melbourne flat in January, 2015. In the days following, parts of Bernard's body were found floating in the Maribyrnong River, in northwestern Victoria - including a tattooed forearm that police used to identify him. His head was never found. Brendan Bernard was dismembered and dumped in the Maribyrnong River, Victoria, in 2015. Police used a tattooed forearm to identify him The Victorian Court of Appeal revisited the details of the murder on Monday, with convicted killers Constantinos Spaliaras, Edward Hill and Matthew Brennan all claiming that their sentences were unfairly severe. The men received prison terms of 17, 20 and 22 years respectively in February 2016. But Brennan's lawyer, Colin Mandy, is now arguing that his client's sentence should either be reduced to manslaughter or thrown out. Mandy claims the jury found it 'difficult' to separate themselves from the fact that Brennan cut up the victim's body and threw it in a river, despite the fact they were instructed not to consider what happened after his death. The court also heard about the 'hyper-violent' details of the crime, which the judge described as a 'protracted, brutal and cowardly assault.' The three killers, all of whom were drug affected at the time, entered Bernard's home to retrieve some money owed to one of their girlfriends. They violently beat Bernard, threatening him with a cutthroat razor before choking him to death with a rope in a bathtub. A court heard on Monday of the violent moments immediately before and after Bernard's death, as his killers appeal their lengthy sentences 'He kept crying and screaming out,' Justice Christopher Maxwell told the court. 'They put pillows over him to try and muffle his cries.' In the moments after his death, the three men cut Bernard into pieces, dumping some body parts in a wheelie bin and others in the Maribyrnong River. While the court previously heard that the attackers had never intended to kill Bernard and that it was simply a matter of money, Justice Maxwell dismissed this claim. 'If you're concerned about the money, why not let the poor bloke go?' he said. 'This is a vicious, joint assault.' The hearing was continuing. A lawyer for one of the convicted killers has appealed his sentence as unfair, claiming the jury couldn't get past the fact that he had chopped Bernard up and dumped him in the Maribyrnong A nurse practitioner and the star of Netflix's 'Stranger Things' share a bond that very few people do - and the pair were able to meet to talk about plans to help others with their condition. Kelly Wosnik, 41, works as a medical professional in Utah, suffers from a bone growth disorder called cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD) - those affected are born without collarbones and have problems with their teeth, often requiring painful and expensive surgeries. 'Stranger Things' star Gaten Matarazzo also has the condition, which is written into the story of the show, bringing awareness to the rare disease. When Gaten's parents found out about Wosnik's desires to start a charity to help others with CCD, they got in contact and set up a meeting between the two. 'I wondered what a 14-year-old would see in a 41-year-old,' said Wosnik to the Deseret Times. 'Then I opened the door and it was an instant connection. He saw me and just hugged me. And when I finally let go, he didn't.' Kelly Wosnik and Gaten Mattarazzo (above) share the rare bone condition cleidocrainal dysplasia, or CCD The disorder affects just one in a million people - Wosnik, a nurse practitioner in Utah, hadn't met anyone else with the disorder until she was 33 years old The two first met last year on Presidents Day weekend. They sat down and drew up plans to start the organization that became CCD Smiles - taking note of what awareness can do to help those that suffer from a condition. 'He wants to do anything he can to help,' Wosnik said of Matarazzo. 'He's wise beyond his years. He's very empathetic.' Wosnik, who had never met anyone else with CCD until she was 33, appeared with Matarazzo last month on the ABC show 'The Doctors'. To date, their appearance has garnered over two million views on YouTube. Together with Matarazzo, Wosnik helped found CCD Smiles, an organization that brings awareness in the public about the condition (Pictured here with other sufferers of the disease) Like Matarazzo, Wosnik reported that there bullying was an issue in her childhood, with many referring to her dental issues. 'Teeth are a big deal,' said Wosnik. 'To a teenager especially. You feel so isolated, so alone. So you lose confidence.' What is CCD? Cleidocrainal dysplasia affects about one in a million people - the disease is characterized by problems with development in the bones and teeth. A hallmark of the disease is underdeveloped or absent clavicle bones, and delayed development of the skull is often present. Abnormalities with teeth are also very common - primary teeth often take longer to fall out, secondary teeth take longer to appear, and the teeth are often misshapen. The disease can also often go undiagnosed due to individual who exhibit minor symptoms. Advertisement Wosnik decided to study medicine in college, eventually attaining a doctorate in nurse. Her course of study included a thesis on CCD - and eventually, she hopes her foundation will help pay for dental surgeries for those afflicted that can't afford them. At one in a million, we really could help every single person with CCD, she said. Wosnik and Mattarazzo recently appeared on the ABC show 'The Doctors' - their appearance has gotten over 2 million views on YouTube Unfortunately Red Bull did not give this thirsty lizard any wings. The curious lizard found itself stuck after squirming its way into a Red Bull can for an energy-hit in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. A police officer took a break from his usual duties to help his scaly cold-blooded friend in what became a struggle between wiggling the lizard and making sure his little head was not sliced on the sharp can. A curious lizard found itself stuck after squirming its way into a Red Bull can for an energy-hit in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Eventually the officer wiggled the trapped lizard free, rescuing him from his fizzy tin prison. With an encouraging nudge on the tail, the lizard was free to once again roam free. The lizard's desperate quest for a drink could be in-part due to Kalgoorlie's semi-arid hot summer climate. Social media erupted with people glad to see the lizard was saved and scolding the 'litter bug' who discarded the can in the first place. 'Our police go above and beyond, what a great copper - hat off to you officer,' one person wrote on Facebook. Another became quite enamored with the officer and simply replied: 'My hero.' A Clyde man who led police on a high-speed chase through Elbridge and Weedsport in May was charged with burglarizing an Auburn power tool retailer prior to the chase, the Auburn Police Department announced Tuesday. Danny Hollier, of 171 Lock St., Clyde, turned himself into police Monday after DNA evidence linked him to stolen merchandise found in the back of the stolen vehicle he was driving on the night of the chase, police said. The 39-year-old was arrested and charged with one count of third-degree burglary, a felony. According to police, Hollier forced entry into Auburn Chainsaw & Mower early in the morning on May 24 and stole numerous pieces of merchandise. Shortly after the burglary, Hollier was involved in a high-speed pursuit with New York State Police after fleeing a traffic stop in Elbridge. He led police through Weedsport, where he abandoned the stolen pickup truck and fled on foot. He was charged with two felonies and two misdemeanors from that incident. Following his arrest Monday, Hollier was arraigned in Auburn City Court and released on his own recognizance, police said. He was the subsequently taken back into custody on a bench warrant from the Elbridge Town Court. He is being held pending arraignment in Elbridge. In a press release, the Auburn Police Department expressed thanks to the state police for assisting the burglary investigation. Anyone with information regarding investigation is asked to contact detective Bryant Bergenstock at (315) 258-9880 or the APD at (315) 253-3231. Love 0 Funny 3 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 A young mother-of-three died days after giving birth by Caesarean section after receiving grossly inadequate medical care. Michaela Perrin was just 26 years old when she died from sepsis at Lismore Base Hospital, New South Wales, in October 2014 while her newborn baby slept nearby. Deputy State Coroner Harriet Grahame on Tuesday found Ms Perrin's death was potentially avoidable. A young mother-of-three (pictured) died days after giving birth by Caesarean section after receiving grossly inadequate medical care She said that with appropriate and timely treatment the young mother may have survived. Coroner Grahame referred Dr Cristina Penaneuva for investigation by the Health Care Complaints Commission, Nine News reported. Ms Perrin was discharged from hospital three days after giving birth to her daughter Brittany, but returned a day later in pain from the wound. Dr Penaneuva sent her home with painkillers but she was admitted to hospital a day later when her symptoms got worse. Michaela Perrin was just 26 years old when she died from sepsis at Lismore Base Hospital, New South Wales, in October 2014 while her newborn baby slept nearby (pictured is Ms Perrin's mother Cathy) A day after that Ms Perrin was found dead of septic shock - associated with a serious bacterial infection - in her room. Dr Penaneuva, who the Coroner called an unreliable witness, did not identify the infection despite conducting a series of tests. The doctor suggested Ms Perrin take a vaginal swab herself despite her being in serious pain, and told her mother she had a skin infection. Ms Perrin's mother Cathy said outside court she was happy with the decision to refer the doctor to the HCCC for investigation and the Coroner's findings. An American man visiting Japan lead police to the arms and torso of the Japanese woman whose head was found in a suitcase where he was staying. Yevgeniy Vasilievich Bayraktar allegedly told police on February 25, 'I abandoned the dead body of a woman who was with me,' local newspaper the Asahi Shimbun reported. Bayraktar is currently being held on suspicion of murdering the 27-year-old woman, who has not been identified, but has not yet been charged with a crime. The 26-year-old from Long Island, New York, was detained Thursday after police found the woman's head in his suitcase. He was about a month into his Japanese vacation at the time. Scroll down for video Yevgeniy Vasilievich Bayraktar (pictured with his face covered as he is taken into custody) is suspected of murder after leading police to the arms and torso of the Japanese woman whose head was found in a suitcase where he was staying Bayraktar is currently being held on suspicion of murdering the 27-year-old woman, who has not been identified, but has not yet been charged with a crime. He apparently told police on February 25, 'I abandoned the dead body of a woman who was with me' On Sunday he apparently lead the police to the victim's unclothed arms, legs and torso, all buried in separate locations in parts of Kyoto and Osaka The arms were found laying side-by-side under a light covering of soil about 1,800 feet from where the torso was buried in the mountains of Shimamoto (pictured), a town in the Osaka Prefecture, according to the newspaper Police said all of the body parts came from a woman from Sanda City who has been missing since February 16 On Sunday he apparently lead the police to the victim's unclothed arms, legs and torso, all buried in separate locations in parts of Kyoto and Osaka. The arms were found laying side-by-side under a light covering of soil about 1,800 feet from where the torso was buried in the mountains of Shimamoto, a town in the Osaka Prefecture, according to the newspaper. The two legs were found about 15 feet apart from each other in a wood area of Kyoto's Yamashina Ward. The arms and legs looked like they were severed with a sharp knife, Tokyo Reporter said. Police said all of the body parts came from a woman from Sanda City who has been missing since February 16. Bayraktar, 26, was last spotted with the woman, 27, on security footage at the JR Morinomiya Station in Osaka Bayraktar was seen on the on security footage later that day leaving the apartment several times with a suitcase. The woman did not ever appear on the camera again leaving the apartment She and Bayraktar were last spotted together on security footage that night at the JR Morinomiya Station in Osaka around midnight, just hours before she went missing. The pair reportedly met on a 'social networking site' before making plans to arrange a trip, the woman informed one of her friends prior. Bayraktar was seen on the on security footage later that day leaving the apartment several times with a suitcase. The woman did not ever appear on the camera again leaving the apartment. The woman was last seen before that by co-workers when she left work on February 15, according to Ashai. An examination of the body parts is now being conducted to identify the victim, Japanese authorities said. Bayraktar has visited Japan several times, according to the newspaper. On Monday reporters from a flurry of news stations from around the world were on the block of Mastic Beach in Long Island where Bayraktar lived Hyogo prefectural police (R) are pictured at the scene as they investigate an apartment (L) where a decapitated head was found in Osaka on February 24 On Monday reporters from a flurry of news stations from around the world were on the block of Mastic Beach in Long Island where Bayraktar lived. He moved there with his mother and her husband about a decade ago, neighbor Luanne Pisano told the New York Daily News. 'He seemed OK, I didn't really talk to him,' Pisano said, explaining that she was stunned by the allegations. 'It scares me. I have a daughter... These days you can't tell who's who.' Nippon TV reported that the man's parents denied allegations, and said Bayraktar had always dreamed about marrying a Japanese woman. Another neighbor John Motovidlak said Bayraktar's family was friendly, and 'beautiful people.' 'They wave, they smile and say "good evening,'" he told NBC 4. Mr Stunt said he was as rich as ever, but claimed he lost his standing after marrying the Formula One heiress Tamara Ecclestone and her father Bernie have today hit back at James Stunt's tell-all interview where he claimed he 'lost his public standing' by marrying 'a C-list celebrity's daughter'. Mr Stunt, 36, whose bitter 5.5billion divorce battle with Formula One heiress Petra Ecclestone ended last year, dubbed his former in-laws Bernie and Slavica Ecclestone that dwarf and Lady Macbeth respectively in an interview with Tatler magazine, in which he also spoke openly about an addiction to prescription drugs. But speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Mr Ecclestone claimed drugs were partly to blame for the breakdown of the marriage and said: 'He got heavily into drugs and that has changed him and they have taken their toll. It is a great shame as James was a nice man when he got married. 'I hope he stands out as an example to young people who can see the damage that drugs can do.' Mr Ecclestone also hit back at his former son-in-law for labelling him a dwarf. He said: 'He can say what he likes as every man is entitled to their own opinion, and if that is his opinion of men that is good. 'But it is a pity that he is like that. He was a nice guy when he got married.' Writing on Instagram today, Petra's older sister Tamara, 33, slammed Mr Stunt for making the jibes 'on his daughter's birthday'. She wrote: 'What kind of "man" does this on his daughter's birthday? Unless he stops telling lies about my family we will have to start telling the truth about him.' In his tell-all interview, Mr Stunt said he was as rich as ever and still gambles, although he said his '5million-a-night losses' were now down to 20,000. But he also claimed he lost his standing after marrying the Formula One heiress. He described Miss Ecclestone as the best girl I ever met, but said she is now like this girl whos had a lobotomy and gone to Jonestown. This is a horrible human being. The billionaire spoke of how he struggled with an addiction to morphine and Valium for months after moving to Los Angeles with Petra following their wedding. Tamara Ecclestone hit back on Instagram, criticising Mr Stunt for making the comments 'on his daughter's birthday' In happier times: James Stunt, pictured with his Petra Ecclestone at a party in London in 2014, completed divorce proceedings with his wife last month He told Tatler: I think, Theyre from a doctor, theyre fine. And being the addictive personality I am, I start taking them like Smarties. Suddenly, Im addicted, Im a great fat bloated porker. Mr Stunt said he got off the drugs in world-record time and claims reports of overdoses were wrong, blaming one medical episode on taking morphine while he had pneumonia which was like giving Kryptonite to Superman. Another overdose was actually a tropical disease from a mosquito bite, which he said stopped my heart after I fell to the floor. Thats not an overdose. Mr Stunt denied being a coke addict in the interview, though he admitted to taking the drug about five times in his life when he was a teenager, adding people often mistake his ADHD for drug use. He also claims he dated a member of the Royal Family for four years but managed to 'keep it out of the public eye', while he also has corresponded with Prince Charles. Despite Mr Ecclestone calling him an idiot, Mr Stunt said he had no hard feelings towards the tycoon. He said: I have no animosity towards him hes just very cut-throat, he has no empathy. Mr Stunt also revealed his godfather Terry Adams, former leader of London's most notorious modern crime family, telephoned Mr Ecclestone during the divorce to offer advice. He said: 'He's like a father to me, and he never called Bernie in any other way than as a concerned friend'. Tamara posted this Instagram snap with Petra today with the caption 'celebrating your princess' Petra and Tamara Ecclestone arrive at The Family Court, Holborn, on January 11, 2018 But Mr Stunt added he would never ask Mr Adams if the 'ghastly' things he is accused of are true. Referring to his collection of 200 supercars he boasted before he got married, he added: Ive been doing that since I was 19. And then I marry a C-list celebrity's daughter. Even though Mr Stunt bears no ill will towards Mr Ecclestone, he told the magazine his father Geoffrey blames Miss Ecclestones father for the marital breakdown. The divorce proceedings were not short of controversy and Mr Stunt was even accused of making a 'gun gesture' to Mr Ecclestone at one point. Mr Stunt recently claimed a 90million haul of gold and diamonds had been stolen from his home in Britains biggest ever burglary. Mr Stunt told police that thieves had emptied the safe in the basement of his 12million Georgian townhouse in Belgravia last month while he slept upstairs. Cash, gold and diamond jewellery was stolen in the raid, according to the Sun on Sunday newspaper. Mr Stunt was said to be devastated at the theft, which happened just a fortnight after his belongings were seen being moved into the townhouse. Mr Stunt met Miss Ecclestone in 2006 and married in 2011 in a 12million ceremony in Rome. Bernie Ecclestoneis pictured with daughters Petra and Tamara A source told the newspaper that Mr Stunt initially suspected he was the victim of an inside job as there were no obvious signs of a break-in. Police, however, believe it was a burglary. Mr Stunt has a team of security men and domestic staff including a butler, but had not yet installed a high-tech CCTV system at the house. James had only been in the house a short while and did not have time to get CCTV installed, a source told the newspaper. Police were apparently surprised there were no cameras anywhere inside the house. 'He is devastated by the loss. Its a lot of money even for him - though luckily hes insured. Mr Stunt, however, has said he was not insured for every item taken. Police confirmed they were investigating the burglary, but refused to comment on what had been taken, or its value. Mr Stunt made the comments in the latest issue of Tatler, pictured Mystery remains over the source of Mr Stunt's wealth, although he told the magazine he did a 4million oil deal aged 16, was given 1million by his father on his 21st birthday and 'made 45million on the biggest bet in the world'. He has also claimed to have made hundreds of millions of pounds through the shipping industry, with his personal wealth believed to be between 3billion and 4billion. Mr Stunt met Miss Ecclestone in 2006 and married in 2011 in a 12million ceremony in Rome. The couples assets include a 100million Chelsea mansion and a 158million home in Los Angeles. But in June they began their court battle which saw Mr Stunt evicted from the Chelsea property. Mr Stunt then moved in to his Belgravia property. He retains a collection of classic cars including a Lamborghini and two Rolls-Royce Phantoms. The couple announced a divorce settlement had been reached last October. Afterwards, Mr Stunt said in a statement: I am devastated that my marriage has broken down. I love Petra and our children. Miss Ecclestones father, 86, told MailOnline: Im just glad its over. Petra is too. She has been very tolerant and has been concerned about James. Now we are going for a family meal. No champagne, no big celebration. Bernie Ecclestone after winning a multimillion-pound High Court fight with German media company Constantin Medien in 2015 Her sister Tamara, 33, posted her support on Instagram, saying: Youre a diamond dear, they cant break you. No details of the settlement were revealed. Mr Stunt signed a prenuptial agreement worth 16million. During a bad-tempered hearing, details of their marriage were laid bare, including allegations that he was abusive, violent and took overdoses. Mr Stunt now lives in a 12million house in Mayfair, West London, and boasts a security detail of 25. Choosing a care home is more stressful than buying a house or deciding where your child goes to school, according to the NHS watchdog. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) says determining who should look after your loved one is one lifes most difficult experiences. Many adults are concerned that they are abandoning their own caring responsibilities or placing a relative in a failing home. Research shows that people selecting a care home rank it up there as one of the toughest decisions they've had to make Others worry that they wont be able to afford the fees - the move is often made at a time of crisis, such as following a fall or stroke. Research by the CQC found that 52 per cent of adults who had previously chosen a care home found it to be one of lifes top three most stressful decisions. Another 70 per cent said it was more stressful than buying a new home, determining where their child goes to school or nursery and picking a wedding venue. The CQC wants to make the public aware of its own detailed inspection reviews of care homes which are published on its website. Each care home is given an Ofsted-style award of excellent through to inadequate and the worst reports are highly critical. The research of 1,000 adults also found that 30 per cent said choosing home help for a relative was one of the top three most difficult decisions. Andrea Sutcliffe, CQCs Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care said: Choosing care can be a real worry for people, their families and carers, wondering who or where to turn to - but CQC can help. The public needs to know about the quality of care services available and they also need to be reassured that if there are any problems, these are being identified and tackled. The research also revealed that 70 per cent of adults said it was more stressful than buying a new home Caroline Dinenage, minister of state for care said: Decisions around care for loved ones are daunting and often made under a lot of pressure. Making the right choice can feel challenging and sometimes overwhelming. Emily Holzhausen OBE, director of policy and public affairs at the charity, Carers UK, said: Being able to quickly access information to help you make the right decision about the best care for a loved one makes a huge difference in what can be an immensely stressful time. Decisions about long term care are often made at a time of crisis and have important consequences not only for the health and wellbeing of the person with care needs but for their families too. CQC ratings are a simple way of seeing the quality of care being provided by a service and give families confidence in choosing care. Figures from the CQC last July found that a third of nursing and residential homes were either inadequate or requires improvement. In the worst homes elderly residents were left doing nothing all day and struggling to feed themselves at mealtimes. A woman has been unable to smile for 34 years after suffering from a rare facial paralysis disorder. Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome is a rare condition which affects only 8 in every 10,000 people in the UK. Cate Wallwork, 51, lost the ability to grin when both sides of her face succumbed to paralysis during her late teens. Ms Wallwork, from Rochdale, Greater Manchester, has spoken out about thesymptoms which have blighted her life in an effort to raise awareness. Pictured: Cate Wallwork as a child, pictured left, and pictured in 2018, right She was just three when her family noticed her face had dropped. She was diagnosed with facial palsy and her face slowly recovered. But she went on painful cold sores and swellings throughout her childhood - symptoms which masked the true identity of her condition. By the age of 17 both sides of Cate's face were affected by facial paralysis, leaving her unable to smile. But it wouldn't be for another two years, after her GP asked her to meet with a friend who was a Professor of Virology, that the condition which had blighted her life was correctly identified. 'He took one look inside my mouth and immediately diagnosed Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome as causing all my symptoms', Cate said. 'He prescribed acyclovir and immediately I started to have less flare ups. 'From the age of 19 I have had no further specialist follow-up for this condition. I now work as a theatre nurse and one of my colleagues is now trying to help me access specialist help for the facial palsy.' Cate, 51, recalled the cold sores she has as a child: 'I got them all around my mouth, up my face and in my nose. My self-confidence was badly affected, I was shunned because of the scabbiness and called a lot of names. 'My eyes watered every time I ate, I called it 'salivating out my eyes'. I had painful sores and swellings and I couldn't smile or frown. 'You spend most of your life trying to explain why you are like you are. You hear people discussing what has happened to you, fantastical theories that aren't true. I was in a club when I was 17 and an older man called me 'Quasimodo'. 'When I did more online research into Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome I found that it could be linked to Sarcoidosis. My father died at 57 of Sarcoidosis so I was quite worried. My dad also suffered a lot with cold sores as a child and I wonder now if he had the same condition but was never diagnosed.' The charity Facial Palsy UK believes more more education is urgently needed about facial paralysis - and say many patients are being let down by delayed diagnosis and insufficient care. Patients with facial palsy are often not taken seriously as the condition is mistakenly believed to be cosmetic, the charity says. According to a Freedom of Information request made by them, only 12 per cent of clinical commissioning groups routinely fund surgery for facial palsy. As part of Facial Palsy Awareness Week - from March 1 - Facial Palsy UK is calling for more awareness and better care for those affected Charles Nduka, the consultant plastic surgeon who founded the charity, said: 'Patients across the UK are suffering from delayed diagnosis, a lack of awareness of suitable treatments amongst some health professionals, and a poor appreciation of the psycho-social implications of losing the ability to smile and the use of one or both sides of the face. 'Clearly there is a need for more awareness of all causes of facial palsy given the life-changing consequences. It's important that patients are treated holistically by experts because often other symptoms are missed.' Investigators in Maine say a mother and stepfather beat the woman's 10-year-old girl daily and staged a scene in their home to make it appear that her death was an accident. An autopsy indicates Marissa Kennedy was a victim of battered child syndrome whose injuries included bleeding on the brain and a lacerated liver. A state police affidavit indicates 33-year-old Sharon Carrillo and 51-year-old Julio Carrillo took turns beating her on a daily basis for the past five months. Scroll down for video Parents charged: Sharon Carrillo, 33, and Julio Carrillo, 51, have been charged with murdering Sharon's biological daughter, 10-year-old Marissa Kennedy The child was found unresponsive at this condo complex on Harbor View Drive in Stockton Springs, Maine, on Sunday According to court documents cited by WTSP, Julio told police he and Sharon would punish Marrisa by forcing her to knee on a tile floor in the kitchen because it hurt more than other surfaces - and raise her hands above her head while they repeatedly whipped her with a leather belt. They also said they would hit the 10-year-old with open hands and first in her abdomen and sides, or use a metal mop handle until one day it broke from the force of the blows to the girl's ribs. When they parents were not beating her, they would lock Marissa in a closet for long periods of time. Sharon reportedly told police the girl would scream nonstop during her punishments. The abuse began in October 2017 and continued until February 22 or 23. By that point, Marissa could no longer walk or talk without slurring her words. Her stepfather told police his wife thought Marissa was faking her condition, so she beat her at least one more time. The pair were arrested on Monday at state police offices in Bangor, where they had been interviewed by detectives. Marissa Kennedy was found unresponsive at the condo complex on Harbor View Drive in Stockton Springs. Sharon later told police that after Marissa's death, her husband carried her body to the boiler room and staged the scene to try and cover up the crime. After calling 911, Julio carried Marissa to an upstairs bedroom, where she was found by police lying on the floor under a blanket. The family, which includes the Carrillos' two other children, ages one and two, had been staying at a condo owned by the mother's parents. State police say the younger children were present in the home at the time of their older sister's death. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services took custody of them on Sunday. An autopsy conducted on Monday determined the girl's death to be a homicide. The post-mortem examination found that the child had a laceration on her liver and bleeding on the brain. Her body was covered with injuries, including bruises on the head, stomach and legs, open wounds on her knees and a swollen left eye. The case began unfolding at 2.30pm on Sunday when one of the adults living at the condo called 911 to report an unresponsive child, reported Bangor Daily News. Responding paramedics pronounced Marissa dead at the scene and summoned Maine State Police Detectives to investigate the death. The Carrillos were interviewed by the police in Bangor, after which they were arrested on depraved indifference murder charges and booked into the Waldo County Jail in Belfast. BREXIT CONFUSION What he said: 'Our message has been consistent since the vote to leave. We respect the result of the referendum.' What he meant: 'After months of confusion we've made up our minds, sort of.' Since the referendum in June 2016, Labour's Brexit policy has been all over the place. By one estimate they've changed positions nearly 20 times. He's tried to appeal to Remainers in London and Leavers in the Midlands and the North. He points to Tory divisions and claims Labour is united. But it is split between hard-core Remainers like Chuka Umunna and the Eurosceptic hard Left. CUSTOMS UNION U-TURN What he said: 'We have long argued that a customs union is... viable for the final deal.' What he meant: 'We're performing a screeching U-turn, but pretending otherwise.' Six months ago international trade spokesman Barry Gardiner said it would be a 'disaster' to agree a post-Brexit customs union with the EU. Mr Corbyn a lifelong Eurosceptic has changed his spots for cynical political reasons. Jeremy Corbyn (pictured) has tried to appeal to Remainers in London and Leavers in the Midlands and the North TRADE DEALS What he said: 'A new customs arrangement would depend on Britain being able to negotiate agreement of new trade deals in our national interest.' What he meant: 'We want to have our cake and eat it.' Any customs union between the UK and the EU would force the UK to accept EU tariffs on imports from outside the EU. It would be the end of any independent trade policy, with deals negotiated by Brussels. Boris Johnson says Britain would become an EU 'colony'. NHS PRIVATISATION What he said: 'Labour is implacably opposed to our NHS or other public services being part of any trade deal with Trump's America or a revived Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership-style deal with the EU, which would open the door to a flood of further privatisations. What he meant: 'We love the NHS.' But Mr Corbyn's customs deal would cut ministers' power to set trade policy, making it more likely that the NHS would be part of a trade deal with the US or other nations. SUBSIDIES What he said: 'In our transport networks, energy markets and digital infrastructure, too often Britain lags behind. We would seek to negotiate protections, clarifications or exemptions... in relation to privatisation and public-service competition directives, state aid and procurement rules and the posted workers directive.' What he meant: 'We want to hurl vast subsidies at nationalised industries.' To do so, he needs an exemption from EU rules that prevent 'state aid'. Labour intends to borrow around 500billion to 'invest' code for huge bungs to favoured industries, IMMIGRATION What he said: 'Labour would design our immigration policy around the needs of the economy based on fair rules and the reasonable management of migration. We would not do what this Government is doing, start from rigid red lines on immigration and then work out what that means for the economy afterwards.' What he meant: 'I have no intention of reducing immigration.' He said the Government's immigration target to cut net numbers to the tens of thousands was 'bogus'. The new line saying Labour has 'no red lines' on immigration suggests he might trade away immigration controls, even though that's why millions of Labour voters backed Brexit. Any customs union between the UK and the EU would force the UK to accept EU tariffs on imports from outside the EU UNION POWER What he said: 'It is not migrants that drive down wages, it is bad employers that cut pay and bad governments that allow workers to be divided and undermined, and want unions to be weak. To stop employers being able to import cheap labour to undercut pay and conditions, collective agreements and sectoral bargaining must be the norm.' What he meant: All power to the unions. He refuses to restrict numbers but government economists point to evidence that mass migration has suppressed wages, particularly among the low-skilled. Instead, he will hand huge power to unions barons to negotiate pay rates across industries. FORCING AN ELECTION What he said: 'I appeal to MPs of all parties prepared to put the people's interests before ideological fantasies, to join us in supporting... a new UK customs union with the EU that would give us a say in future trade deals. Labour respects the result of the referendum and Britain is leaving the EU. But we will not support any Tory deal that would do lasting damage to jobs, rights and living standards.' What he meant: I will do and say anything to bring down the Government and get into power. This sentence reveals the real reason for his speech: A cynical bid to win support from Tory Remainers and force a General Election. By backing a customs union, Labour opens up a potential alliance with rebel Tories. So despite a lifetime of Euroscepticism, Mr Corbyn is softening his position because it could take him a step closer to No10. A Sydney karaoke bar manager who allowed a female patron to become so drunk she vomited into a bucket provided by venue staff has copped a 10-year ban from the industry and nearly $50,000 in fines. David Trinh, who ran Replay Karaoke in Bankstown, received some of the heaviest sanctions imposed for liquor licence breaches in recent years, the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) said on Tuesday. In May last year, the venue was shut down for 48 hours after undercover inspectors observed patrons drinking directly from full bottles of spirits and shots being served contrary to licence conditions. David Trinh who ran Replay Karaoke in Bankstown has received some of the heaviest sanctions imposed for liquor licence breaches in recent years A severely intoxicated female patron was seen unable to stand without assistance, vomiting into a bucket provided by venue staff A severely intoxicated female patron was seen unable to stand without assistance, vomiting into a bucket provided by venue staff. Inspectors were also able to buy a full bottle of whiskey, consume alcohol outside of approved areas and buy two beers after 12am, outside the venue's approved trading hours. Trinh also refused to supply the venue's CCTV and alcohol sales data to Liquor & Gaming NSW. ILGA has ordered Trinh pay a $10,000 fine and more than $14,500 in investigation costs. His company, Koi Corp Pty Ltd, has also been ordered to pay a $25,000 fine. Ryan Hadjimihalakis was the Western Australian media adviser behind the meme mocking Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce emailed to journalists on Monday. The 29-year-old Liberal staffer worked for Forrest MP Nola Marino, in the South West town of Bunbury, and resigned from his position shortly after the blast was sent. Sent without a subject line, his email contained a photo of Mr Joyce sitting next to Mr Abbott in August last year during a division in the House of Representatives. Ryan Hadjimihalakis (pictured), 29, was the Western Australian media adviser behind the meme mocking Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce emailed to journalists on Monday A caption above the photo read, 'when you get in trouble in class and you get sat next to the weird kid no one likes', and was sent about 5am. The email was understood to have been sent to several journalists before being recalled minutes later. Ms Marino's office confirmed Mr Hadjimihalakis had offered his resignation after the accidental email, and it had been accepted. Liberal MP Nola Marino's office accidentally sent out an email trolling former deputy PM Barnaby Joyce The 29-year-old Liberal staffer (pictured) worked for Forrest MP Nola Marino, in the South West town of Bunbury, and resigned from his position shortly after the blast was sent Mr Joyce resigned as deputy PM and Nationals leader on Friday, following a fortnight of saturation media coverage of his affair with his former media adviser Vikki Campion. His replacement Michael McCormack, who is Veterans Affairs Minister, was elected as the new Nationals leader in Canberra on Monday morning, beating off a challenge from maverick Queensland MP George Christensen. Mr Abbott has put his former cabinet colleagues offside by campaigning to reduce Australia's net annual immigration rate from 190,000 to 110,000, earning a rebuke from Treasurer Scott Morrison. President Donald Trump will finally head to California in mid-March to view potential border wall prototypes and learn more about the possible construction of the wall. The president will also visit Los Angeles to attend a Republican National Committee fundraiser, according to The Washington Post. Trump's proposed border wall with Mexico has been a hard and fast campaign pledge. The president still maintains that Mexico will pay for the wall eventually, adding that American taxpayers will front the cost until they do. President Donald Trump will finally head to California in mid-March to view potential border wall prototypes and learn more about the possible construction of the wall All eight wall prototypes have been completed on the US border of Mexico Trump's trip to view the prototypes has been put off a few times, mainly because some of his aides have been leery of a trip to the border that may prompt protests. More recently, Trump and Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto postponed plans for the Mexican leader's first visit to the White House, after a testy phone call involving Trump's push for the border wall, a senior US official said on Saturday. 'The two leaders agreed now was not the immediate right time for a visit but that they would have their teams continue to talk and work together,' the official said. Mexican officials had been talking about a summit between Trump and Pena Nieto in the next few weeks, without specifying when. The two leaders spoke for about 50 minutes on Tuesday, according to the Washington Post, which first reported the delay earlier on Saturday. But the discussion led to an impasse when Trump would not agree to publicly affirm Mexico's position that it would not fund construction of the wall along the US-Mexico border. A Mexican official said Trump lost his temper during the conversation, the newspaper reported. But it said US officials described Trump as frustrated and exasperated, because he believed it was unreasonable for Pena Nieto to want him to back off his campaign promise of forcing Mexico to pay for the wall. DailyMail.com obtained a drone's view of the fully completed border wall prototypes in October 2017. Maryland's ETLA North America Inc is an Israeli defense company. This wall by ETLA uses a concrete at the base with the top two-thirds featuring blue metal panels Caddell Construction Co, LLC, of Montgomery, Alabama created two walls, this one features metal bars for the first half, narrowly spaced and resembling the bollard-style fencing which allows CBP to see to the otherside, the top half has solid concrete panels Caddell Construction Co, LLC, of Montgomery, Alabama, was awarded a contract for this concrete structure with a slope on the US side and a flat surface towards the Mexican border Arizona's Fisher Sand & Gravel structure was among the first to be completed with concrete blending with the desert it sits in Texas Sterling Construction Co. of Houston built this prototype of concrete with fencing at the top pointing towards Mexico A total of eight border wall prototypes have been erected by several companies. The companies who built the prototypes include Maryland's ETLA North America Inc, Caddell Construction Co, LLC, of Alabama, which built two, one wall by Texas Sterling Construction Co. of Houston, one wall by Arizona's Fisher Sand & Gravel and a wall by KWR Construction of Sierra Vista of Arizona. Two others that sit furthest west were constructed by W. G. Yates & Sons Construction Company Mississippi. Of the eight contracts doled out in the Customs and Border Protection search, they awarded four to be made of concrete and four to be made of material other than concrete. The walls all have striking features ranging from slats that allow CBP to see through to the other side, another has a slope on the US side and a completely straight wall facing Mexico, while another has a fence jutting over its Mexican side. Another has blue metal on its top portion. The wall prototypes were constructed in the California desert, near San Diego abutting the run down neighborhood of Tijuana, Mexico. Roy Villareal, acting chief patrol agent of the San Diego border sector said the requirements to adhere to Trump's vision call for 'a fence that is impenetrable and unscalable'. This is a full shot of how the walls during construction in October 2017 This graphic shows how President Donald Trump (pictured centre right) is planning the US/Mexico wall 'They can't dig under it. They can't cut through it,' Villareal added. ustoms and Border Protection may pick several winners, or none. Villarreal said another contractor will evaluate each model, which will be up to 30 feet high and 30 feet long. 'It may not result in a singular winner. It may be a combination of designs being implemented,' Villarreal said. Construction began at the end of September, after being stalled three months when firms that didn't win contracts protested. Announcing the start of construction in September Vitiello, said in a statement: 'We are committed to securing our border and that includes constructing border walls.' 'Our multi-pronged strategy to ensure the safety and security of the American people includes barriers, infrastructure, technology and people.' A man peeks through a hole in the existing border wall from the Mexican side at several border wall prototypes being built in San Diego in October 2017 The cost of the eight contracts ranges from $320,000 to $480,000. Funding to extend the current wall beyond its distance of 654 miles, however is in doubt. Democrats have balked at Trump's $1.6 billion request to replace 14 miles in San Diego and build 60 miles in Texas' Rio Grande Valley, the busiest corridor for illegal crossings. Most of the prototypes seemed to be concrete-based, contradicting Trump's original comments that the wall would be see through. CBP will take a few weeks to test each prototype, determining how quickly and easily they can be breached, and analyzing how effectively the companies incorporated anti-climbing mechanisms, see-through capabilities and other security features. The DNC is suing the state of Arizona. Let me take a moment to tell you why.Currently, in Arizona, there is a law that makes it a felony to deliver a mail-in ballot on behalf of another person -- even if it's signed and sealed. As it turns out, this law disproportionately disenfranchises people of color -- especially Latinos across the state and Native Americans who live in rural communities where neighbors rely on neighbors to drop things in the mail for them.Republicans insist that Arizona's law will reduce voter fraud -- but there are no instances of fraud due to ballot collection in Arizona. Trust me, I study this sort of thing for a living. The only effect of this law is to limit the ways voters can submit their ballots and make it harder for Arizonans to vote.Here's the thing: This effort isn't about Democrats winning elections. It's about making sure that every voter is afforded their constitutional right. Every voter deserves a voice and the opportunity to make sure it is heard at the ballot box.Thanks for your support,GeorginaGeorgina CannanDeputy Director and Counsel, Civic Engagement and Voter ProtectionDemocratic National CommitteeP.S. -- If you've ever wondered what kind of work your donation is going toward, this is it. Without your support, we would not be able to take these kinds of concrete actions to protect voters. That's why we need your help today -- if you're able, Two Los Angeles police officers will spend the next 25 years behind bars after pleading no contest to sexual assault charges where the pair attacked women who were either acting as informants or were recently arrested on drug charges. The pair was charged with sexually assaulting multiple women - with one officer committing the attack in their unmarked squad car as the other served as a lookout. Officers James Nichols, 46, and Luis Valenzeula, 45, both entered no contest pleas on charges of forcible rape and forcible oral copulation. Scroll down for video James Nichols (left) and Luis Valenzuela (right) will spend 25 years in prison after pleading no contest on sexual assault charges in Los Angeles Monday The officers wore orange jumpsuits and were shackled during their court appearance. If they were tried and convicted, the two could have faced life in prison. 'This hurts,' said Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ronald Coen as he handed down the sentences. Coen himself served as a law enforcement officer. The judge also required the pair to register as sex offenders. The crooked cops originally faced more than a dozen charges related to assaults on four women. Valenzuela was also arrested on a charge related to assault with a gun. Most of these were dropped as part of a plea deal. Valenzuela (above) and Nichols assaulted at least four women - these women were either informants or arrested on drug charges The pair (Nichols pictured above) would assault women in an unmarked police car as the other member of the squad would stand as a lookout The victims were all between the ages of 19 and 34 and were either informants for drug investigations or were recently arrested on drug charges. The pair of officers had been on unpaid leave from the police department since 2013 and jailed since 2016. Their plea deal clears the way for their formal termination from the force. 'We do believe there may have been additional victims who chose not to cooperate with the investigation,' said Deputy Dist. Atty. Ann Marie Wise to the Los Angeles Times. The LAPD's Police Protective League, the union for police officers, also called the acts of the disgraced officers 'disgusting'. "We are sorry these women were let down and hope they are healing as best they can,' the union said in a statement. A past member of the Colombo family crime organization was sentenced on Monday in federal court in Brooklyn to time served after ratting out the big boss, and his own brother. Sebastian 'Sebby' Saracino could have been imprisoned for up to 70 years for the crimes for which he was convicted, but escaped with a much lighter sentence, at least in the courthouse. 'I never wanted this life,' Saracino told Brooklyn Federal Judge Brian Cogan, the New York Daily News reported. 'Somehow, it seems like this life found me.' Saracino, who was born in Sicily, was busted in 2010 for lying on immigration documents, and after several months in custody, he started talking. Sebastian 'Sebby' Saracino was sentenced on Monday in federal court in Brooklyn to time served after ratting out the Colombo family street boss Thomas 'Tommy Shots' Gioeli (right), and his own brother, Dino 'Little Dino' Saracino (left) Sebby 'took no glory' in a life of crime, 'and that makes him a better person,' Cogan said. In 2012, Saracino publicly implicated his younger brother, Dino 'Little Dino' Saracino, while on the stand. Little Dino was there when it happened, and yelled out, 'Dont call me your brother no more!' in the middle of the court room. Cogan called those events the most intense courtroom scene he's ever witnessed, according to the Daily News. 'It was the stuff you think youre going to only see in the movies,' he said. Saracino's cooperation reportedly helped authorities build the case against mafia Colombo crime organization leader Thomas 'Tommy Shots' Gioeli. Both Gioeli and Little Dino were convicted on racketeering charges, but acquitted of the murder of New York Police Department officer Ralph Dols (pictured) Both Gioeli and Little Dino were convicted on racketeering charges. The two were acquitted, however, in the murder of New York Police Department officer Ralph Dols, who married the ex-wife of another mobster. Dols was killed while he was off duty in 1997. Assistant US Attorney Jim Gatta said Sebby has been a major source of continuous information about the criminal dealings of the Colombo crime family. Historically, former mafia informants have been able to ask for an exemption to avoid testifying against blood relatives, but Sebby apparently didn't seek one out. '[He] turned his back on the mob. But he also turned his back on his family, and they turned their back, really, on him,' Gatta said. Dols was killed while he was off duty in 1997, alleged because he was married to a mobster's ex Dols' car is seen here in Brooklyn on August 28, 1997 Sebby, who has now finished his time behind bars, said he would 'always love' his bother, Little Dino. 'Will God be with you,' he said. In addition to the time he's already served, Sebby was ordered to forfeit two Brooklyn properties, pay $75,000 for an insurance-related arson, and also pay $18,500 for the funeral expenses of a killed mob associate. Sebby testified that this slain associate, Richard Greaves, was shot in the back of the head by Little Dino. He said the murder occurred at their parents' home on 76th Street in Brooklyn, in the basement. Sebby, who has a wife and two children, may still face deportation back to Italy, Gatta said. The Colombo family is one of five families known to be associated with organized crime in New York. A judge will allow DNA evidence and a videotaped confession to be admitted into the upcoming trial of a man accused of murdering Queens jogger Karina Vetrano in 2016. Queens Supreme Court Justice Gregory Lasak announced that all evidence will be admitted when the trial begins for accused killer Chanel Lewis, according to the New York Daily News. Lewis' attorneys previously questioned the validity of his DNA sample and the method by which they obtained his confession, suggesting neither were strong enough pieces of evidences to be used against him in court. Queens Supreme Court Justice Gregory Lasak announced that all evidence will be admitted when the trial begins for accused killer Chanel Lewis, according to the New York Daily News Lewis has been accused of beating and strangling Karina Vetrano on August 2, 2016, while she was jogging alone on an empty path near her home in Howard Beach, New York The 21-year-old has been accused of beating and strangling Vetrano on August 2, 2016, while she was jogging alone on an empty path near her home in Howard Beach, New York. Last year, his lawyers filed a separate lawsuit, bringing into question the method the police used to obtain his DNA sample, which is known as familial DNA searching. Familial DNA searching uses genetic material, such as skin cells or hair, to see if it matches the DNA of another convicted offender. They can then see if the relative of a convicted offender is the potential suspect. His lawyers also questioned how the confession, which was videotaped, was obtained - suggesting he was coerced into confessing. 'From day one, we believed this gentleman was coerced into a confession. We are sticking by that 100 percent,' Family spokesperson Reverend Kevin McCall said outside court while flanked by Lewis' mother Veta. 'We are committed to making justice is being served.' But on Monday Justice Lasak said he would allow all of that evidence to be used in the upcoming trial against Lewis. Vetrano's parents supported the move outside court. Her father Philip said: 'We are very pleased at the outcome today. Anyone trying to say that that animal is not guilty is either delusional, in diminished mental capacity or they're looking to prosper from this.' His wife Kathy added: 'This isn't a racial thing - we dont want it be like that. This hurts me so much, this would hurt my daughter so much. She was such a beautiful, beautiful person. she was violently murdered - the evidence is there. 'His own father came out on the news and said he brought him to the hospital the day after with a hand injury. This is crazy, this hurts us so much and it makes people look foolish that they're not looking at the evidence. 'I'm glad we got one step further towards justice that has to be served. My daughter was a representative of love and peace and we want a violent person off the streets. My daughter must not be disrespected by this and must get her lawful justice.' Lewis' attorneys previously questioned the validity of his DNA sample and the method by which they obtained his confession, suggesting neither were strong enough pieces of evidences to be used against him in court. Vetrano is pictured jogging on the day she went missing Lewis was arrested eight months after her body was found when DNA evidence found at the crime scene linked him to the murder 'This is DNA, a confession, facts,' Vetrano's mother Cathy said on Monday. She and Philip Vetrano are pictured outside of court Lewis was arrested eight months after her body was found when DNA evidence found at the crime scene linked him to the murder. A trial date has not yet been set. In the video confession Lewis can be heard saying: 'I was mad, I saw red.' He also told police he grabbed Vetrano as she was jogging past him and that he beat her five times, knocking her unconscious and breaking her teeth, after she started clawing at him. 'She didn't yell,' the accused killer said in the video, with not even a flicker of emotion on his cold face. 'She was finished. I finished her off, I strangled her. She fell into the puddle and drowned. I got up and wiped off the blood. And she was calm, she was in the pool of water.' He then gestured at his face and explained that her head was completely submerged in the water. In the video confession Lewis can be heard saying: 'I was mad, I saw red.' He also told police he grabbed Vetrano as she was jogging. His mother Veta supported him in court yesterday, pictured Veta Lewis, mother of accused killer Chanel, is pictured outside court. She has previously insisted her son is innocent Shockingly, as he finished telling cops how he ended her life, he asked if there was a 'restitution program.' He seemed to think he could pay his way out of murder charges. 'I can straighten out my stuff?' he asked the prosecutor. 'Well you're the DA right? Where do we go from here? Is there a restitution program or something?' In the tape he also insisted he didn't molest her - as was suggested by cops, who found her with her jogging shorts around her ankles. Lewis told the police in the interview that he killed Vetrano because 'a guy moved into my house and neighborhood.' Police weren't sure what that meant. Lewis confessed to the crime after watching cartoons in a precinct all night. He was arrested on February 4, and initially refused to speak to police, asking instead to watch TV, a detective said in court on Monday, according to the Daily News. 'He said he wanted to see cartoons, so we put cartoons on him through the night. He said he couldn't sleep,' Detective Barry Brown explained. The Prime Minister's Sydney mansion is getting super-fast speeds on the NBN, despite many Australians struggling with shoddy connections and long waiting periods. A Senate hearing on Monday night was told Malcolm Turnbull's NBN connection is costing taxpayers $120 every month, and he is enjoying connection speeds of up to 100 megabits a second. Turnbull's home in Sydney's exclusive Point Piper was connected to the network 'quite quickly' on December 8, Paula Ganley, the first assistant secretary in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, told Estimates. Malcolm Turnbull is receiving speeds of up to 100 mb/s on the NBN - four times the speed he claims average Australians are receiving Senate Estimates heard the Prime Minister specifically requested the NBN be rolled out in Point Piper, where the waterfront mansion he calls home (pictured) is located She said the Department had been in negotiations 'to make sure there would be no interruption to any of the security facilities or anything else when it was connected'. 'The connection went ahead quite quickly after that and it was on the 8th of December that the connection actually took place.' Ms Ganley also revealed the Prime Minister had asked the Department to 'make sure it was connected to Point Piper'. During Question Time on Tuesday, Bill Shorten questioned the average speeds for regular customers, and Turnbull claimed the majority had speeds of only 25 megabits a second. Speaking to the Labor Caucus on Tuesday morning, Mr Shorten made his anger at the Prime Minister's response clear. 'There are whole suburbs of western Sydney and Melbourne and Brisbane, having to make do with second rate copper network, operating at one quarter of this speed,' he said. 'Mr Turnbull says Australian families and businesses do not need a first rate NBN, but he's happy to use taxpayer money to look after his own suburb and make sure they do.' The NBN has been blasted for low speeds and long connection wait times by average Australians The Prime Minister said the NBN rollout in his electorate used copper HFC cables, which have been criticised for their poor speeds. 'This is the premium service that I and 411,000 other customers are receiving,' Mr Turnbull told parliament on Tuesday. The Prime Minister said he and 411,000 others had access to the high speeds on the NBN 'This is the one the Labor Party said was second-rate and outdated and should be dropped ... they can't have it both ways.' Kirribilli House in Sydney also has the high speed NBN connection, but the Lodge in Canberra won't be connected to its premium 100 megabit service until after July. Independent MP Andrew Wilkie said the copper network roll out was stalled in Tasmania and businesses were being quoted up to $20,000 to upgrade to fibre connections. But Mr Turnbull said almost 60,000 premises in Mr Wilkie's Denison electorate were able to connect to the NBN, but there was a cost associated with choosing to go with more expensive technologies. Just last month, it was revealed Australia's internet speed was 55th in the world, behind Guam, Lithuania and Macau. In November, the NBN announced there could be an additional nine month delay for customers awaiting their connection as they were ''introducing new initiatives aimed at raising the standard of service quality'. 'There will be a delay of the current rollout timing of new HFC areas while the company undertakes this work in both the existing footprint and areas not previously declared ready for service,' a statement read. A social media feud between former Hells Angels and Bandidos bikies has escalated, with members of the opposition Rebels MC joining the saga with their own threats. Ben 'Notorious' Geppert, a former Hells Angels enforcer, and ex-Bandidos West End president, Brett 'Kaos' Pechey, kicked off the stoush with a vile Instagram encounter on Friday evening. Geppert, 26, and Pechey's, 31, falling out followed numerous friendly showings over recent weeks alongside their partners, glamorous Instagram star cousins Allaina and Rikki-Louise Jones. But in the wake of Daily Mail Australia's story on Tuesday the online bikie war appears to have erupted again, with high-profile members of the Rebels MC trading barbs on Instagram with Geppert and his girlfriend. Scroll down for video A social media feud that started with former Hells Angels bikie Ben 'Notorious' Geppert (left) and ex-Bandidos West End president Brett 'Kaos' Pechey (right) has escalated, with members of the opposition Rebels MC joining the saga with their own threats Daniel Lula (centre) joined in the Instagram feud on Tuesday morning, accusing both Geppert and Pechey of running away from a recent fight and also talking to police about the incident In an Instagram post (pictured), Lala called the pair 'weak dogs' and said one had been sent to the 'boneyard' Their girlfriends are Instagram stars and cousins Allaina and Rikki-Louise Jones Sydney-based Rebels bikie Daniel Lala led the war on Geppert and Pechey, labelling the pair 'weak dogs' - a name Geppert had aimed at Pechey during last week's rant. Lala's accusation the pair had run away from a recent fight came after Geppert and Pechey last week posted photos of their bloodied faces and knuckles to Instagram. 'How embarrassing, my boys put it on both these weak dogs,' Lala claimed online. 'One gets bashed and sent to the boneyard and one jumps in lakes like a fish to get away from getting beat up by c***s from one of the 100 clubs he jumped from.' His references to 'jumping clubs' appears to refer to Pechey's move from Bandidos to the lesser known Brothers 4 Life, and Geppert's switch from Hells Angels to Finks. While Pechey - once the most wanted bikie in Queensland - went quiet online in the wake of Friday's fight, its been a vastly different approach from Geppert and Allaina. The pair were quick to hit back as they were bombarded with abuse from a number of Sydney-based Rebels, sharing a number of private messages between the group. Leading the charge was Allaina - who has a child with ex-Bandidos national sergeant at arms John Fahey - claiming her boyfriend hadn't backed down from a recent fight. While Pechey - once the most wanted bikie in Queensland - went dormant online in the wake of Friday's online blue, Geppert and Allaina Jones (pictured) took up the fight on Tuesday Geppert and Allaina were quick to hit back as they were bombarded with abuse from a number of Sydney-based Rebels (pictured), before sharing multiple private messages between them Geppert even shared direct messages between him and Lala in an effort to show the Rebel had once been friendly towards him 'Ben never went for swims dumb f***. He smashed Chris and the huge c*** jumped in the lake... it's no secret what happened,' she wrote in defence of her partner. Geppert then joined the online feud himself, calling out Lala and his associates and offering to meet them face-to-face to settle their disagreement. 'I'd eat your faces off. You ain't done f*** all in your lives, that's why you're jealous and hating,' the Hells Angel turned Fink wrote. Geppert, Allaina Jones, Lala and multiple other Rebels bikies traded countless online barbs across dozens of photos in the space of just a few hours. It comes as fears grow of an all-out bikie war across Australia following the unrelated shooting death of ex-Comancheros national president Mick Hawi at a Sydney gym this month. In the two weeks since the father-of-two was gunned down, a tattoo parlour owned by the MC's president Mick Murray has been targetted in a drive-by and a member of the Queensland branch shot dead after threatening police with a knife. Brett 'Kaos' Pechey (right), the ex-president of a Queensland Bandidos chapter, is dating Rikki-Louise Jones (left) the cousin of Geppert's partner Allaina Jones Geppert (left) launched an abusive and vile rant at his one-time friend Pechey on Friday night Geppert called the heavily-tattooed bikie a 'weak dog' and accused him of 'speaking to the task force'. Just weeks earlier they posed for photos on a beach with Allaina Jones' daughter Geppert and Allaina themselves made headlines recently after being kicked out of a luxury resort by police while on a recent holiday to Hamilton Island. Just weeks later, in his since deleted post to his online story, Geppert abused Pechey by posting a photo of his Instagram account with the words 'weak dog' written on it. 'Kaos you weak boneyard dog... don't hide behind me for protection. Ya know where I live so come be a man,' he also wrote in a subsequent post. It has been reported that Pechey has been interview by police in recent weeks about his knowledge of the Brothers 4 Life gang. Just weeks earlier the pair shared pictures together and commented as mates, with Pechey going as far as to write: 'Nothing but love for u [sic] always brother'. Their Instagram war follows the shooting death of ex-Commancheros national president 'Mick' Hawi (right) outside a Sydney gym Pechey (left), who was among 18 charged over the 'Broadbeach bikie brawl', fled to Asia in the aftermath Geppert is an ex-Hells Angels bikie but is believed to have recently patched over to the Finks But more than 8,000 social media users - including their girlfriends, whose father's are brothers - had a front row seat to the weekend's falling out. Both bikies have amassed large Instagram followings in recent years, but their social followings pale in comparison to their partners. Allaina Jones boasts 158,000 followers and Rikki-Louise Jones more than 30,000, but the pair no longer follow each other. Pechey fled to Thailand when he became the most wanted man in Queensland after a wild fight in 2013, became known as the 'Broadbeach bikie brawl'. That incident saw dozens of bikies surround police officers before attacking, hitting a number with punches. Rikki-Louise Jones (left) and Allaina Jones (right) are not only both Instagram stars but cousins Allaina and Rikki-Louise's link comes through their respective fathers, who were brothers Both girls have amassed large Instagram followings in recent years, with Allaina (left) boasting more than 158,000 followers and Rikki-Louise (right) 30,000 Pechey, who was among 18 charged over the attack, fled to Asia in the aftermath but was forced to return to face court a year later after running out of money. He was also charged with being involved in an extortion ring where he use standover tactics to extort money from gym goers on the Gold Coast. At the time of the extortion racket he was sergeant-at-arms of the Bandidos chapter. Just last month Pechey pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court to a charge of unlawful possession of a weapon. A mother and daughter sunbaking session was rudely interrupted by a flying drone, which had managed to hover above the unaware pair for half an hour. Melissa Rays and her daughter Morgaine Halligan, 23, were enjoying an evening in the sun at Ms Rays' home in Auckland, New Zealand when they noticed an unwanted visitor in their backyard. Ms Halligan told the New Zealand Herald she was changing inside a fenced-off backyard about 7pm when she saw the drone. Scroll down for video Morgaine Halligan, 23, was sunbaking when she noticed a drone hovering overhead Ms Halligan said she was changing inside a fenced-off backyard about 7pm when she saw the drone She was worried the drone was being used by thieves to scout potential break-ins, as there had been a spate of burglaries in the area 'My mum was in her bikini in our private area also. It hovered above us for another 15 minutes. It is just creepy as you don't know what the purpose may be,' she said. 'We are worried now. When I come around to my mum's house we spend a lot of time outside, and now we don't know if a drone will be there.' Ms Halligan said the drone was seen flying around other properties in their Mt Wellington neighbourhood. She was worried the drone was being used by thieves to scout potential break-ins, as there had been a spate of burglaries in the area. Ms Halligan said the drone was seen flying around other properties in their Mt Wellington neighbourhood Melissa Rays was also sunbaking when the drone was flying overhead A neighbour called police and was referred to the Civil Aviation Authority, according to Ms Halligan A neighbour called police and was referred to the Civil Aviation Authority, according to Ms Halligan. 'It's a private area - there should be repercussions. They can't just go and film in people's backyards. I don't want myself filmed getting changed in the backyard, it is not right.' Drone users are required to gain permission before using them over private residences, as per CAA rules. Waleed Aly's wife Susan Carland insists Islam is compatible with feminism. The Muslim-convert academic, who is married to the host of The Project, also described as 'lazy' the suggestion women were oppressed in Islam. In an interview with the Diversity Council of Australia, Dr Carland declared Islam was a feminist religion. 'I don't really feel a sense of contradiction,' she said. Waleed Aly's Muslim-convert wife Susan Carland insists Islam is compatible with feminism While women in Iran are protesting against being forced to wear the hijab, Dr Carland argues there are versions of Islam that are compatible with feminism 'But I guess the thing to keep in mind is that feminism is a very broad church. 'There are many different approaches to feminism. 'Similarly, with Muslims. There are 1.6 billion Muslims in the world and there are 1.6 billion ways to be Muslim.' Dr Carland, who is based at Melbourne's Monash University, described as a 'lazy trope' the idea that Islam was inherently hostile to women, adding people should switch off their TVs and instead speak to Muslim women. While Muslim women are often free to express their faith in Australia, the story is very different in Iran where 29 women were arrested earlier this month in Tehran for removing their hijabs in protest at oppressive modesty laws in the Islamic theocracy. Dr Carland says Islam is compatible with feminism, but the version practised in Indonesia's Aceh province is anything but secular punishing adulterers with caning The dress code of women is also heavily policed in the Indonesian province of Aceh, which operates under a strict Islamic Sharia law legal system where people are flogged for adultery. Dr Carland last year argued Sharia law could be used to promote women's rights during a launch in Sydney of her book 'Fighting Hislam: Women, Faith and Sexism'. The hijab-wearing writer argued an American lawyer had used sharia law to criticise Pakistan's punishment for adultery and having sex outside of marriage. 'For those of you that don't know, if a woman is raped she can be punished for adultery,' Dr Carland said. 'The woman I interviewed said, "I could go to them with these human rights justifications for why it's wrong but I know that if I do that, they will double down on this law because they will feel it's an insult to their culture and their tradition and their religion', so she said, "Why would I just not use the sharia to make the argument this is wrong?".' Former Comanchero chief Mick Hawi has been pushing up roses if his lavishly decorated final resting place is anything to go by. The murdered one-time bikie boss, 37, was buried last week after being gunned down by hitmen outside his local gym 12 days ago. But while the notorious airport brawler may have been much-feared as a gangster, it's clear he was well-loved as a 'reformed' father-of-two. Final resting place: Family and friends have lovingly decorated the grave of once-feared gangster Mick Hawi, 37, with a huge collection of flowers, a hookah and a teddy bear A framed photograph of the former bikie looking happy and contented sits atop his burial plot in the Islamic section of Sydney's Rookwood cemetery One of Hawi's favourite past-times was smoking a hookah. One went with him to his grave (left) - as did a brown teddy bear (right) Hawi was buried in a traditional Islamic ceremony last Thursday. There was no sign of bikie colours. Family had asked guests NOT to arrive by motorbike as a sign of respect Photos show Hawi's grave site, in the Islamic section of the citys Rookwood necropolis, resembles a field of flowers. The expertly-crafted flower work was accompanied by a brown teddy bear wrapped in plastic, a black hookah and a framed photograph of Hawi smoking. Hawi's grieving widow, Carolina Gonzalez, has been bombarded by vile trolls since her husband's death. She fired back at one: 'My husband wasn't a criminal. He left that life behind. Typical of people like you to talk without facts.' Hawi's body was removed from its coffin and placed in its grave during Thursday's ceremony Loved ones have gone to great effort to beautify Mahmoud 'Mick' Hawi's final resting place A large group of men at the Hawi's funeral service at Arncliffe 's Al-Zahra Mosque last week Trolled: Friends and family are rallying around widow Carolina Gonzalez after the murder of her husband Mick Hawi But the slew of negative commentary has continued - with concerned friends taking drastic action, warning trolls their 'IP addresses are being logged'. Hawi rose to infamy in 2009 for his involvement in the Sydney Airport brawl which resulted in the death of Hells Angel associate Anthony Zervas. The crime led to a nationwide crackdown on motorcycle gangs. Hawi was jailed over Zervas' death was eventually freed on parole after his charge was downgraded to manslaughter. He has two children with Ms Gonzalez. Immediately following his death, she applied to the Supreme Court to obtain his sperm, as she desires child another via IVF. A mother has slammed claims she dated a man 20 years her junior in a bid to steal his welfare payment after she was publicly branded a 'Centrelink Cougar' - and claims he broke her heart when he dumped her with a text message. Leisa Atkinson, 44, from Caboolture in Queensland, met Andrew McInnes when he was 19 they started dating 'the next day' and were together for three-and-a-half years before he 'went to visit his mother and never came home'. Two years later the couple's relationship has been put under scrutiny after his mother Suzy publicly claimed Ms Atkinson lured him into her home with the promise of alcohol and cigarettes because she wanted to claim his disability pension. Scroll down for video Leisa Atkinson, 44, has hit back at claims she lured vulnerable teenagers into her house with cigarettes and alcohol before ripping off their welfare benefits The woman was publicly accused of trying to take her former fiance's disability pension - but she insists the relationship was real and loving and not about money She shared Facebook messages between the two from during their relationship which appear to back up her claims Ms Atkinson is pictured here with her daughter and then-partner Andrew - she deleted all of her couple photos after the breakup Since then the mother-of-two has been the subject of cruel jokes, has received 'hundreds' of death threats and taunting messages and has been abused in the street. 'Someone sent me a message saying they wanted to slit my fat throat, others have told me to die that I won't be missed,' she said. The 'Centrelink Cougar' story aired on A Current Affair, with Andrew's mother and sister making teary appearances even though the couple broke up two years ago. Ms Atkinson told Daily Mail Australia her life 'has been ruined'. She is also upset that she has been portrayed as a predator when the couple had a 'meaningful' longterm relationship. 'I really thought we were going to make a go of it, spend our lives together,' she said. 'He went to his mum's house one day, before he went to sleep that night he was telling me how much he loved me, then the next day he sent me a text saying it was over - that he loved me but couldn't be with me anymore. 'It was a shock and I was hurt, it broke my heart. The mother of two said the young man proposed to her after they had been together for a year. 'He even asked my kids for permission first then he got down on one knee and asked me to marry him, I was so happy.' She says she thought she would spend the rest of her life with the young man She was left devastated after he broke up with her via text three and a half years into their relationship - and while they were planning their wedding More messages exchanged between the couple - Andrew's mother and sister claimed he was 17 when he met Ms Atkinson - she says he was 19 She said she will continue to slam claims she was with him for his money and revealed it was his sense of humour and the way he could 'turn a bad day around' that made her love him. 'He was an adult, I know he was younger but I do feel more comfortable with younger men and that's okay but for people to be messaging me and calling me a paedophile well that hurts because I'm not.' Another woman, Tayla, also spoke on the program claiming her boyfriend had also fallen victim to the mother-of-two. Since the program aired, highlighting the relationship, many people have criticised her 'It has ruined my life' she said and claims she is scared to leave her home alone She has also slammed claims she had seven children living with her - and was claiming welfare payments for all of them 'Blake did live here he had been living at his friend's first then he came to stay with me he knew my kids. 'I took him in after I saw him at a shopping centre he came up to me and asked for food and said he was hungry. 'I felt sorry for him. If my kids needed a place to stay or were starving I would want someone to take them in but I feel like I have been betrayed. 'I never took money from him.' It has been claimed that Ms Atkinson had seven teenagers living with her at once, and she was taking all of their welfare payments. 'That is untrue I have Centrelink records that show I have only ever claimed for a maximum of two children my two children,' she said. The mother-of-two does currently have a 15-year-old boy in her care, and is receiving payments from Centrelink for him, but it is an arrangement agreed to by both of the boy's parents The mother says she initially assumed A Current Affair were doing a piece on her current boarder and was shocked when they focused on her past relationship with Andrew She said she will continue to slam claims she was with him for his money and revealed it was his sense of humour and the way he could 'turn a bad day around' that made her love him The mother-of-two does currently have a 15-year-old boy in her care, and is receiving payments from Centrelink for him, but it is an arrangement agreed to by both of the boy's parents. 'When Tayla says on there that I tried to take her Centrelink money without her knowing but her mum got a notification she was telling a lie. 'I have just had to go through the process of claiming Centrelink for the boy living with me at the moment and you need all of their paperwork and birth certificates. 'Then both the person wanting the payment and the person currently receiving it get a letter and they have to approve it and send the letter back in.' 'I am not a paedophile and it makes me sick that people really think that' 'When they told me I had been under surveillance for four weeks I was terrified' The mother hopes she will be able to get back to her life again soon without being 'abused' in the street The mother says she initially assumed A Current Affair were doing a piece on her current boarder and was shocked when they focused on her past relationship with Andrew. 'When they told me I had been under surveillance for four weeks I was terrified. 'I hadn't noticed they were there and now with all these death threats I am afraid of who else is watching I am afraid to go outside. 'People have called me a predator and a paedophile and made fun of my appearance it makes me feel like c**p,' she said. 'I am not a paedophile and it makes me sick that people really think that. 'My daughter has been getting text messages telling me I shouldn't be allowed near her daughter. The people also claimed the mother 'lived in squalor' but in an attempt to prove them wrong the mother opened up the doors to the home 'My own granddaughter - that is just devastating - my whole family has been turned on by the community.' The people also claimed the mother 'lived in squalor' but in an attempt to prove them wrong the mother opened up the doors to the home. 'My house is always immaculate. 'Someone sent me a message saying they wanted to slit my fat throat, others have told me to die that I won't be missed,' she said The messages are hurtful - it makes me hang my head in shame 'And as for the wild parties I haven't had a party since my daughter's 19th which is where those photos they used were taken. 'That's me with her friends in one, and me her and Andrew in the other - all adults no children.' The mother hopes she will be able to get back to her life again soon without being 'abused' in the street. She has not been charged with anything relating to the allegations against her. Andrew begged his mother Suzy to 'give Leisa a chance' The mother said she will think twice before opening her home up for children in the future The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's omission of the 58 people killed during the Route 91 Harvest Festival massacre in their annual report, has raised questions about the way the department handles their violent crime stats. On October 1, 2017, 58 men and women were gunned down by shooter, Stephen Paddock, in what is now known as the worst mass shooting in modern American history. 'We began last year committed to reducing violent crimes, and we were able to deliver (on) that promise,' Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo said in a January press statement. The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department's omission of the 58 people (pictured) killed during the Route 91 Harvest Festival massacre in their annual report, has raised questions about the way the department handles their violent crime stats 'We still have more ground to cover, but we're headed in the right direction.' But the deaths of those 58 concertgoers were omitted from the department's 2017 violent crime report. 'Overall, the total number of violent crimes, which include Murder, Robbery, Rape, and Aggravated Assault went down by 0.9 per cent,' the department said in the statement. On October 1, 2017, 58 men and women were gunned down by shooter, Stephen Paddock, in what is now known as the worst mass shooting in modern American history The department did say that the statistics 'did not include the 58 people murdered on October 1'. And according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the reason for that omission has been blamed on federal reporting guidelines. 'Federally, you don't have to report because it's a mass casualty event,' Metro spokesman Larry Hadfield told the Journal. The FBI said in a statement to the newspaper that 'the final responsibility for data submissions rests with the individual contributing law enforcement agency'. Patrick Baldwin, Metros director of crime analysis, also told the Journal that the department did in fact count the 58 people killed in the submission to the FBI. 'The intent was always to submit them,' Baldwin said. 'What we got clarification from the FBI on was how to report an incident like that.' But the omission still stands in local stats because 'of the anomaly of the one event'. 'It didn't help us look at homicide trends for the rest of the valley,' Baldwin said. FBI submissions showed that homicides from the Virginia Tech mass shooting, the Aurora, Colorado, theater mass shooting, the Sandy Hook mass shooting, and the Pulse nightclub mass shooting were all submitted by their respective law enforcement agencies, according to the Journal. The Sandy Hook death toll was submitted to the FBI, but police in Newtown omitted the numbers from their local homicide count. Michael Kehoe, who served as Newtown's chief of police at the time, told the newspaper that the town typically saw a murder once every five to seven years, and the shooting 'obviously would have skewed' the statistics. The reason for the omission has been blamed on federal reporting guidelines. 'Federally, you don't have to report because it's a mass casualty event,' Metro spokesman Larry Hadfield said. Pictured is a scene of the horrific shooting Former Baidu vice president's startup Kuandeng completes RMB 100 million series A financing Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Recently, Kuandeng, a China's high definition map (HD map) startup, announced that the company has closed a RMB 100 million series A capital raising, which was led by IDG Capital and followed by Chengwei Capital and LanTing Capital. According to relevant information, Kuandeng is a tech startup focusing on crowd-sourced HD map that provides the service of underlying data for the autonomous driving ecological chain. Many core members of its R&D team are from Google and BAT (Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent). The startup has made some of innovative technology breakthroughs in industry since its foundation. For instance, it utilizes pure visual mode instead of LiDAR to resolve the contradiction between high precision and low cost and make crowdsourcing a true business model of performability. Besides, its all-new map processing craftsmanship based on AI technology solves bottlenecks of large-scale map production. Liu Jun, the founder and CEO of Kuandeng, stated that map service, as a basis of autonomous driving industry, has become one of pain points in industrial progress. After this capital raising, the company will continue to work on the R&D and large-scale production of intelligent HD map. Meanwhile, it will join hands with its partners to explore more cooperative modes. Liu Jun is one of the talents who had served for Baidu. In September 2013, it was confirmed that Liu Jun, the founder of China's social search engine yunyun.com, had joined Baidu as vice president of technology and would be responsible for the operation of Baidu's Technology Strategy Board and directly reported to Robin Li, chairman and CEO of Baidu. Before Liu established yunyun.com, he had worked at Google China engineering institute as vice dean and director of global engineering technology, taking charge of Google's Chinese-language search service as well as the team building and R&D of the engineering team. A Montana man has been accused of killing one woman and injuring two others in a brutal attack with a frying pan. James Brien, 22, has been charged with deliberate homicide and assault for targeting the three women on February 8 in Hardin, Montana. One women called police, the second woman had a bloody face and a third slipped in and out of consciousness after the beating, according to the Billings Gazette. Brien is being held on $1 million bail. Scroll down for video James Brien, 22, is accused of killing a woman and assaulting two others with a frying pan in Montana The woman who was knocked unconscious was put on life support at Saint Vincent Healthcare in Billings. She died last Saturday. No names for the victims have been released. The woman who died has been described as a resident of Hardin in her 40s. The woman who was killed by the blow was reportedly found conscious when law enforcement arrived, but fell into a state of unconsciousness on a couch while police were at the scene of the crime, according to KRTV. Brien told authorities that he was swinging the frying pan, but denied striking anyone. Matt Lauer made a joke in 2009 about sleeping with interviews to a potential guest for the Today Show that left her so 'queasy' that she declined the opportunity to appear on the morning show. Nell Scovell, former writer for The Late Show with David Letterman, wrote about this and other issues women face in media, in her memoir, 'Just the Funny Parts And a Few Hard Truths About Sneaking into the Hollywood Boys Club,' which comes out next month. An excerpt was published by Vanity Fair on Thursday that reveals how Lauer turned her off from discussing 'gender in the writing room' on NBC. Nell Scovell wrote in her forthcoming memoir that Matt Lauer 'joked' in 2009 about sleeping with interns, which helped her decide not to discuss gender discrimination in the workplace on the Today Show Scovell said that the conversation took place when she was invited to appear on the Today Show to discuss the article she wrote for Vanity Fair about Letterman's unfair treatment of his female staff, shortly after he admitted on air that he had slept with women who worked for him. Scovell had already declined one offer to come on the show, when Lauer called her to try to convince her to change her mind, she said. The woman who had just written a noisy article about sexual discrimination in the workplace wrote that she told Lauer that she had decided against discussing the topic on television because'people want to hear about interns in the bedroom, and I want to talk about gender in the writers room.' The opportunity to appear on the show that Matt Laur hosted came after Scovell wrote an article about hostile work conditions for women during her time writing for The Late Show with David Letterman In considering the option to take the offer to be on the show, Scovell wrote that she asked Lauer, 'Youre OK if I dont discuss Dave sleeping with interns?' To that, she wrote, that Lauer replied with a laugh, 'Hey, I couldnt be held to that high standard.' Scovell was not amused. 'Matts "joke" made me queasy,' she wrote. 'With apologies, I passed a second time.' The conversation came about, in the first place, because Letterman was being blackmailed. He was a married man, who was having affairs with staffers, and someone had found out. Scovell recounted what happened, back in October 2009, that led to her article about her six months of employment on Letterman's show. '[On] October 1, 2009, Dave sat at his desk and informed his TV audience that hed been the victim of a blackmail attempt. The crowd thought it was a joke and laughed. Dave continued, dead serious,' Scovell wrote. 'He explained that "a guy," Robert "Joe" Halderman, had threatened to expose him for doing "terrible, terrible things" and also "some creepy stuff." '"And the creepy stuff," Dave elaborated, "was that I have had sex with women who work for me on this show. My response to that is, yes, I have."' Scovell wrote that the audience in that taping applauded wildly for the comedian, in that very serious moment. She also wrote about how his actions were so openly accepted, even normalized, by the likes of media icons, like Barbara Walters. No one who worked on the show was surprised by this news, although we were shocked that Dave admitted publicly what wed been whispering about for decades. 'Dave pretty much got a pass for his own underlying misconduct [that prompted the blackmail],' Scovell wrote. 'No one seemed to think the "terrible things" hed done were terrible at all.' Lauer (left) 'joked' to Scovell in 2009: 'Hey, I couldnt be held to that high standard,' in reference to her unwillingness to discuss Letterman's (right) affairs with interns It would be eight years later, almost to the day, when Lauer would be ousted from his role as the proverbial King of the Today Show, when women came forward alleging improper sexual interactions and abuse of power against him, for actions he's accused of committing while working for NBC. Lauer is just one of the prominent men in media to be forced to reckon with decades of the kind of treatment that Scovell wrote about in 2009, and has further explored in her forthcoming memoir. Her book comes now at the height of what has come to be known as the #MeToo movement, where women have felt empowered to share their experiences of sexual harassment and unfair treatment due to gender discrimination in the workplace. The social media aspect of this campaign kicked off in October, when producer Harvey Weinstein was first accused publicly of decades of these types of transgressions. The first iteration of the Me Too, however, was started offline, 12 years ago, by activist Tarana Burke. Now, Burke and Scovell are in good company, as they continue to advocate for transparency and parity in the workplace. Scovell's 'Just the Funny Parts' is scheduled to be released on March 20 by Dey Street. A Christian activist says the Bible deserves more recognition as an educational text - regardless of whether a person is religious or not. American philanthropist and founder of the Bible Literacy Project Chuck Stetson sung the praises of the religious text after speaking at a forum in Sydney on Monday. He claimed that the Bible was the origin of many modern Western values, and should therefore be acknowledged as an invaluable part of any young person's education, The Australian reports. American Christian activist Chuck Stetson believes Bible studies should be a mandatory part of the education system 'I argue that if you don't have knowledge of the Bible you can't understand the English language, literature, history, art, music or culture fully,' Stetson said. Stetson went on to say that there is substantial support among Australian policymakers to get Bible studies into public and private schools around the nation. As it stands, the Australian states and territories set their own curriculums and approaches to religious education. But Education Minister Simon Birmingham, for one, agrees that the Bible is a 'key text', and believes it's had a 'fundamental impact on the Australia we live in'. Stetson argues that the Bible is the foundation of modern Western knowledge, and that if you don't have knowledge of the Bible you can't understand the English language, literature, history, art, music or culture fully' 'The states and territories, who apply the curriculum in their jurisdictions, need to ensure students develop the expected understanding of Australian values and beliefs, including the historical and modern role of Christianity as well as other faiths of influence,' he said. The idea that Bible studies should become a cornerstone of the curriculum is typically panned by secular critics, who claim there's no place for Bibles in public school classrooms. But Stetson insists he's not interested in preaching to the uncoverted. 'This is not about religion; we don't get devotional, not in public schools. This is about learning the basics so we have students that can decode words and phrases, so many of which we get from the Bible. If you're not, you're not getting a full education. And that's unacceptable.' Alexander Pugmire, 33 (pictured) has been charged with stalking, burglary and attempted assault after he installed hidden webcams in his ex-girlfriend's apartment after she ended their relationship A former financial adviser at Goldman Sachs has been charged with stalking for installing hidden webcams in his ex-girlfriend's apartment. According to court documents, Alexander Pugmire, 33, began stalking Thien-Kim Tran after she dumped him in December 2016, reported the New York Post. After a month of appearing at her home uninvited at all hours, Tran 'discovered webcams hidden in her apartment, which the defendant had placed there to monitor whether she began to see other men after their breakup,' the documents say. She also suspected that he had gained access to her social media accounts. After their relationship ended, Tran began chatting with another man, Benjamin Timsit, online and Pugmire allegedly began to stalk him, too, the court documents say. In January 2017, he even attacked Timsit with a hammer and blasted him with pepper spray. The complaint alleges that Timsit was sent to the hospital where 20 stitches were needed to close the wounds. In January 2017, Pugmire (pictured) even attacked a man she was seeing, Benjamin Timsit, with a hammer and blasted him with pepper spray. He later appeared at Timsit's apartment wearing a ski mask and fake mustache and tried to gain entry And less than two weeks later, Pugmire appeared at Timsit's apartment wearing a ski mask and fake mustache, claiming 'he was a maintenance worker who needed to check the inside of the apartment,' the documents say. After Timsit managed to push Pugmire out and call 911, he started to receive emails from a fake email address, insisting he break off his nonexistent relationship with Tran, prosecutors said. A spokesman with Goldman Sachs told The Post the Pugmire was fired from the company 'about a year ago' after working there for almost two years. Pugmire, whose father is noted crime writer John Pugmire, is charged with stalking, burglary and attempted assault. He's out on $50,000 bail, according to court records. Salim Mehajer has pleaded guilty to assaulting a taxi driver just days after being convicted for attacking Channel 7 journalist Laura Banks. The disgraced former Auburn Council deputy mayor and property tycoon yelled: 'I go crazy in seconds. I am getting angry you f***ing dog' before he smashed the driver's face in with an EFTPOS machine after a boozy night out. Mehajer was leaving Sydney's Star Casino at 4.30am last April with work friends when he began chatting to a group of four women. Salim Mehajer (pictured) has pleaded guilty to assaulting a taxi driver just days after being convicted for attacking Channel 7 journalist Laura Banks Mehajer was leaving Sydney's Star Casino at 4.30am last April with work friends when he began chatting to a group of four women He told one of them 'I wasn't talking to you. I wouldn't talk to you if you were the last female on earth,' according to court documents. One of her friends took offence and started arguing with Mehajer while another friend filmed it on her iPhone. Mehajer in a fit of rage smashed her iphone on the floor before jumping into a taxi with his friends, throwing $200 at the driver and shouting 'just drive'. But then he changed his mind, ordered the taxi back to the casino before getting out, opening the passenger door and demanding some of his money back. As he and the driver argued, Mehajer grabbed the EFTPOS machine and the driver's phone and told him: 'If you give me $50 back, you will get back these items.' He then battered him with the machine leaving him with a bloody nose. On Monday, Mehajer pleaded guilty in Sydneys Downing Centre Local Court to assault occasioning actual bodily harm. He made the plea in a deal which saw prosecutors drop a charge of larceny. He is expected to be sentenced on Thursday, reported the Daily Telegraph. Last Friday the tycoon was found guilty of assaulting TV reporter Lara Banks (pictured together) by slamming a car door onto her outside a Sydney police station last year Last Friday the tycoon was found guilty of assaulting a female TV reporter by slamming a car door onto her outside a Sydney police station last year. The 31-year-old was found guilty of assault occasioning bodily harm against Channel 7 journalist Laura Banks, in an incident that left her with hand and back injuries. In sentencing, Magistrate Joanne Keogh criticised the behaviour of a media pack at the police station but still ordered a conviction with penalty to be recorded against Mehajer. Ms Keogh also criticised evidence given by Ms Banks calling her 'a witness of little credit' and 'not a witness that has stood up to the scrutiny of cross-examination'. The incident took place outside Day Street police station on April 2 last year, where Mehajer had been taken early that morning after allegedly assaulting a taxi driver. The court heard Mehajer had traded insults with Ms Banks, who teased him about his height, after he asked if the jewellery she was wearing was a ring or a key ring In court on Monday to enter a not guilty plea, Mehajer said he felt 'cornered, bullied and harassed' by a media pack moments before he slammed the door on Ms Banks. The court heard Mehajer had traded insults with Ms Banks, who teased him about his height, after he asked if the jewellery she was wearing was a ring or a key ring. 'It all happened very quickly and my only thought was to leave,' Mehajer said of the door slamming. 'As selfish as this may sound I wasn't aware of the extent of the impact.' Ms Banks had been standing in the doorway of the Porsche trying to quiz Mehajer on the incident when the assault occurred. The court heard the pair had been trading verbal barbs before the incident, with Ms Banks asking the disgraced property developer if he had hit 'rock bottom'. Ms Banks, a former newspaper turned TV reporter, claimed her back was 'still quite sore' almost 12 months on from the incident. She denied deliberately provoking Mehajer during their confrontation prior to the alleged assault. The 31-year-old journalist even suggested Mehajer had been flirting with her when he asked: 'Why are you attached to me?' 'It was almost suggestive, flirtatious,' Ms Banks told the court. 'He was suggestive in some of his comments. Asking me to get in the back of his car felt like that was suggestive and had innuendo behind it.' An Australian businessman has been scolded by animal rights groups after posing with the body of a dead baboon dressed in a hat and glasses on an African hunting trip. The photos feature Nick Haridemos, the president of the Hellenic Club in Canberra, posing next to animals he has killed on safari, the Canberra Times reported. The images are believed to have been taken on different trips spanning from 2010 to late 2016. One photo features a slain baboon wearing sunglasses and a hat posed behind the wheel of a jeep (Nick Haridemos also pictured) They were posted to an online forum in which hunters discuss their kills, as well as a public Photobucket account. One photo features a slain baboon wearing sunglasses and a hat posed behind the wheel of a jeep. 'Absolutely funny as hell!' the user 'nickh' wrote in a post alongside the image. Other pictures show dead elephants and hyenas. A photo posted on the same account in 2016 shows Mr Haridemos on a hunt in Namibia shooting elephants and posing with ivory. 'It is truly the place to hunt the biggest ivory in Africa, especially with Botswana now closed,' user nickh wrote. Other pictures show dead elephants and hyenas (Nick Haridemos also pictured) Mr Haridemos did not deny posting the photos, he said through his lawyer, but urged all the hunting safaris were legal. 'This is a regulated activity, which is undertaken in accordance with licences and quotas issued by the relevant country, and is conducted in a manner that does not pose a threat to any endangered species,' his solicitor told The Canberra Times. Nicola Beynon who works at the branch of Humane Society International condemned trophy hunting. 'Most people are repulsed by trophy hunters posing for pictures with slaughtered wildlife,' she said. The online photos were removed after Mr Haridemos was questioned by Fairfax. Dirt cheap flights for less than $100 to Bali are being offered by Jetstar for Australians hoping for a spring escape to the popular holiday destination. The airline is offering return flights for just $143 leaving from Darwin between October and November, pedestrian travel reported. Perth residents can return from just $171, while Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney travelers can all go to Bali for less than $350. With Jetstars cheap deals, you could be hanging by the pool side soaking up the afternoon sun Jetstar is offering return flights for just $143 leaving from Darwin between October and November From Perth there are return flights from $171 and Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydneysiders can get there form $350 The cheap flights to Bali are just part of a massive international sale the airline is holding. The other destinations offered up at a hot price are all beloved by Australians. From Sydney you can get return flights to Phuket, Ho Chi Minh and Honolulu for under $250. 'Whether it be picturesque New Zealand, inspiring Indonesia, vibrant Ho Chi Minh City or sparkling Hawaii, there is a great deal for everyone,' said a Jetstar spokesperson The airline is hosting a massive international sale and Bali is just one of the destinations on offer The sale ends at 11.59pm on Friday the 2nd of March unless seats sell out beforehand Is it time to grab your passport and go? Other destinations on sale include Tokyo and New Zealand There are three sale periods, May to June, July to September and October to December giving you plenty of time to pack those bags. The news of the cheap flights comes as it was recently revealed the amount of Australians visiting Bali has dropped in the last year, as Chinese tourists continue to flock to the Indonesian island in huge numbers. Figures from Bali's statistic agency reveal China had a 24 per cent share of visitors to the picturesque tourist destination compared to Australia's 19 per cent. Chinese people visiting Bali spiked by a whopping 40 per cent, while Australia's visitors dropped by 4 per cent. A 15-year-old Auckland student who was asked to remove a colander on his head for a school photo believes he is being discriminated against. The teenager claims he is a part of the Pastafarian religion - a movement started in the United States which is known in Australia and New Zealand as the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. The church was launched in response to 'creationist nonsense ... being taught in American schools as alternative science', according to its website. A 15-year-old Auckland student believes he is being discriminated against after being told he was not allowed to wear a colander on his head for a school photo (stock picture) Taking to social media, the teen vented his frustration that school officials were breaching his human rights by blocking him for wearing the strainer on his head and said other students were allowed to wear religious head wear in their photos. Pakuranga College however refused to change their minds, asking the student to take off the pasta apparatus. Principal Michael Williams said the situation had 'been resolved amicably and happily', however the student refuted the claims saying there has been 'no resolution whatsoever,' the NZ Herald reported. The teenager claims he is a part of the Pastafarian religion - a movement started in the United States which is known in Australia and New Zealand as the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster The student said he will still be complaining to the Human Rights Commission to sort things out, although he admits he went too far with his Facebook post. 'I'm doing this to honor the hard work of people who fought for my rights, I'm doing this because I am a being discriminated and that's not OK,' he said. The teenager said Pastafarians have 'fought hard' to become a recognised religion and believes the group are still not respected. 'New Zealand is one of the most supportive countries in the world of pastafarianism yet this still occurs. All religions should get equal rights or they don't get any rights at all.' This a popular artistic interpretation of the so-called 'Flying Spaghetti Monster', who is hailed as a diety in the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster - which is generally seen as a light-hearted parody of religion In 2015 Australia's Road and Maritime Services were forced to revoke the license of a 20-year-old who was photographed for his licence wearing a spaghetti strainer on his head. Preshalin Moodley initially asked licensing staff whether it was OK to wear a religious symbol and was pictured wearing the strainer. The western-Sydney man then received a letter from Service NSW, March 3, and was informed he would have to have his licence reissued so a 'photograph can be retaken without any item on your head'. 'Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) have advised that this photograph does not meet the current requirements, as you were wearing a colander on your head,' the letter to Mr Moodley said. 'The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster is not a recognized (sic) religion and as such the wearing of the colander in this photograph does not meet current requirements.' Preshalin Moodley, 20, was issued a provisional driver's licence in 2015 while wearing a spaghetti strainer on his head, which he said is a symbol of his religion A Roads and Maritime Services spokeswoman confirmed this letter, sent to Mr Moodley, was legitimate A Roads and Maritime Services spokeswoman confirmed Mr Moodley was sent the letter. 'Followers of the Flying Spaghetti Monster movement, known as Pastafarians, are not part of a religion recognised in NSW or other areas of Australia.' It is legally recognised as a religion in New Zealand and the Netherlands, where Pastafarian representatives have been authorised to celebrate weddings. Disturbing footage has emerged of a defenceless teenager being beaten to the ground before she is repeatedly kicked in the head by two festival-goers. The girl was attending community festival Creekfest in Porirua, 30kms north of Wellington, when the two attackers set upon her. Others watched on as she was then savagely beaten and hospitalised in the attack which was caught on camera, NZ Herald reported. Scroll down for video Disturbing footage has emerged of a defenceless teenager being repeatedly kicked in the head by two festival-goers at Creekfest in Porirua, 30kms north of Wellington In the video, a woman wearing a black sweatshirt closes in on the teenager alongside another wearing a red t-shirt and skinny white jeans. The woman wearing the black sweatshirt punches the teenager in the side of the head with her right hand. She attempts to fight back but is quickly overpowered by the two women who deliver a flurry of punches and a knee to the head. The teenager is then hurled to the ground before the woman wearing a red t-shirt kicks her in the legs. In the video, a woman wearing a black sweatshirt closes in on the teenager alongside another wearing a red t-shirt and skinny white jeans An onlooker tells the teenager to 'get up, bro', while she continues to show no sign of resistance Before the teenager is given a chance to get up, one of the attackers savagely boots the back of her head three times She can be seen lying on the ground and protecting her face, as her two attackers hover over her, threatening further attacks. An onlooker tells the teenager to 'get up, bro', while she continues to show no sign of resistance. But before she is given a chance to get up, one of the attackers savagely boots the back of her head three times. The video was posted to social media by a concerned woman, who said she 'needed to show everyone what is happening in our streets'. Police labelled the attack as a 'disgusting act of violence toward a young woman' at a family-friendly event (pictured) The girl was attending community festival Creekfest (pictured) when she was attacked 'These kids are getting out of hand. And this is only one of many MANY incidents where they have bullied another person. This is f***ing disgusting,' she wrote, according to the publication. 'The poor girl on the video isn't even fighting back and they are constantly booting her in the head... what is it going to take for this s**t to stop someone dying?' Police labelled the attack as a 'disgusting act of violence toward a young woman' at a family-friendly event. Police confirmed they have launched an investigation into the video. Florida lawmakers sot down a bill that would have banned semi-automatic 'assault' weapons such as the AR-15 used in the Parkland school massacre. However, they did agree to raise the legal age for purchasing a firearm to 21 as well as approve legislation that would give teachers the right to carry guns in school. The amendments were introduced as part of a packaged set of bills following Nikolas Cruz's shooting spree that left 17 students and faculty at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School dead on Valentine's Day. The Florida Senate shot down a bill that would have banned semi-automatic 'assault' weapons such as the AR-15 (pictured) used in the Parkland school massacre used to kill 17 According to NBC-2, Florida's Senate Rules Committee spent more than two hours debating the gun-control issues before eventually casting their votes. In addition to raising the legal purchase age and giving teachers the right to carry, senators also agreed to confiscate guns from people with mental health issues. The assault weapons amendment, was rejected by a seven-to-six vote with senators voting along party lines. However, it did agree to raise the legal age for purchasing a firearm to 21 as well as approve legislation that would give teachers the right to carry guns in school (Pictured, an AR-15) A similar packaged set of reforms is scheduled to be taken up by the House Rules Committee on Tuesday. The Senate's proposed legislation is slated to go through its second and final committee on Tuesday before being voted on later in the week. Both the House and Senate versions have to be identical to go to Florida Governor Rick Scott to be signed into law, reported the Sun Sentinel. Baidus former autonomous driving chief Wang Jing said to leave his own startup Shanghai (Gasgoo)- On February 26, local media reported that Wang Jing, the founder and CEO of China's autonomous driving startup JingChi, has already left the company he set up. The media guessed that Wang Jing's leaving may have something to do with Baidu suing him and JingChi for allegedly stealing in-house technology. Less than one month ago, JingChi just started a normal trial operation of driverless vehicles in Guangzhou. In December last year, Baidu, China's largest search engine provider, sued JingChi, led by its former autonomous driving chief Wang Jing, in the Beijing Intellectual Property Court for being infringed business secrets. Baidu wanted RMB 50 million in compensation and requested the startup to cease using any purportedly stolen technology. The causes of action mainly included three issues. The accused breached the non-compete clauses to recruit Baidu-related employees and registered JingChi during his tenure in Baidu. Besides, the accused stole business secrets from Baidu by refusing to return computer and printer. Faced with the accusation, Wang Jing stated that Baidu's lawsuit was entirely untenable. His lawyers would respond factually and legally. In addition, Wang Jing revealed that JingChi's headquarters would move back to China. Indeed, on December 28, 2017, JingChi announced that its global headquarters settled in Guangzhou Huangpu Development District. On January 30 this year, the startup started a normal trial operation of its autonomous vehicle fleet to the general public in Guangzhou. According to local media, this is the late time Wang Jing showed up in public as CEO of JingChi. Up to now, Wang Jing has not delivered any reply about his leaving. Women in Syria have reportedly been sexually exploited by men delivering aid on behalf of the UN and international charities. A new report has revealed that the abuse is still going on in the south of the country, despite warnings aid bosses three years ago. Aid workers said the men would ask for sexual favours in return for food and lifts and that the exploitation has led to some Syrian women refusing to go to distribution centres. It is the latest in a growing list of allegations which have rocked the charity sector, since the Oxfam sex scandal came to light. Charity humanitarian adviser, Danielle Spencer, held a focus group of Syrian women at a refugee camp in Jordan three years ago Charity humanitarian adviser, Danielle Spencer, held a focus group of Syrian women at a refugee camp in Jordan three years ago. She heard that male council workers in Dara'a and Quneitra were offering aid to women in exchange for sex. Ms Spencer believes the humanitarian agencies have been turning a blind eye to the exploitation because they need third parties and local authorities to get aid into the most dangerous parts of war-torn Syria. She told the BBC: 'They were withholding aid that had been delivered and then using these women for sex. 'Some had experienced it themselves, some were very distraught. 'I remember one woman crying in the room and she was very upset about what she had experienced. 'Women and girls need to be protected when they are trying to receive food and soap and basic items to live. 'The last thing you need is a man who you're supposed to trust and supposed to be receiving aid from, then asking you to have sex with him and withholding aid from you.' Ms Spencer believes the humanitarian agencies have been turning a blind eye to the exploitation because they need third parties and local authorities to get aid into the most dangerous parts of war-torn Syria 'It was so endemic that they couldn't actually go without being stigmatised. It was assumed that if you go to these distributions, that you will have performed some kind of sexual act in return for aid. 'Sexual exploitation and abuse of women and girls has been ignored, it's been known about and ignored for seven years,' she said. 'The UN and the system as it currently stands have chosen for women's bodies to be sacrificed. 'Somewhere there has been a decision made that it is OK for women's bodies to continue to be used, abused, violated in order for aid to be delivered for a larger group of people.' UN agencies and charities said they were not aware of any abuse by partner firms in the region and that they had a zero tolerance on exploitation of this kind. But the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) commissioned a report which revealed abuse in various parts of Syria. The report, entitled 'Voices from Syria 2018', said: 'Examples were given of women or girls marrying officials for a short period of time for 'sexual services' in order to receive meals; distributors asking for telephone numbers of women and girls; giving them lifts to their houses 'to take something in return' or obtaining distributions 'in exchange for a visit to her home' or 'in exchange for services, such as spending a night with them'.' It added: 'Women and girls 'without male protectors', such as widows and divorcees as well as female IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons), were regarded as particularly vulnerable to sexual exploitation.' Another report, by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) found 40 per cent of 190 women they surveyed had said sexual violence was taking place. Both reports were presented at a meeting of UN agencies and international charities in Amman in July 2015. A few months later, in June 2015, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) surveyed 190 women and girls in Dara'a and Quneitra. Its report suggested about 40% had said sexual violence took place when they were accessing services, including humanitarian aid. An IRC spokesman said: 'The assessment concluded that sexual violence was a widespread concern, including when seeking access to various types of services across southern Syria. These services included the distribution of humanitarian aid.' The reports - both of which have been seen by the BBC - were presented at a meeting of UN agencies and international charities hosted by the UNPFA in the Jordanian capital, Amman, on 15 July 2015. As a result of this meeting, some aid agencies tightened up their procedures. The IRC said: 'Within our own operations, we launched new programmes and systems to better protect women and girls in southern Syria. Those programmes continue to be funded by a range of donors, including DfID (the UK's Department for International Development).' The charity Care expanded its monitoring team in Syria, set up a complaints mechanism and no longer hands over aid to local councils. It also asked various UN agencies, including the UN Office for the Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), to investigate further and set up new reporting mechanisms. But Care was refused permission to carry out studies in Jordanian refugee camps. Ms Spencer claims the aid sector turned a blind eye to ensure that aid still got into southern Syria. The UNFPA, Unicef and UNHCR all admitted that they were aware of various allegations of exploitation in Syria. Doctors in Berlin successfully delivered the baby of a brain-dead woman whose life support machine was switched off 48 hours later. Widower Dominik Lemke, 29, is now left to bring up newborn daughter Leonie-Franziska with his other children Elias, three, and Louis, two. Mother Franziska Lemke, 25, threw a party for friends and family two weeks before her daughter was due, unaware of the tragedy that was about to befall her. Joy and tragedy: Franziska Lemke, 25, suffered meningitis as she was about to give birth, but despite her rapid deterioration and brain death, doctors delivered a healthy girl (stock image) Last week she went into hospital in the German capital ready to give birth when she complained of head and neck pain. The doctors diagnosed an infection with meningitis inflammation of the brain - a very rare complication which antibiotics failed to treat. 'Franziska had a rapid deterioration, and after a quarter of an hour in the hospital she did not recognize me,' says Dominik. Only a few hours later it was clear: the doctors could do nothing more for Franziska and she was pronounced brain dead. But machines kept Franziska alive because the doctors wanted to save the baby. 'On Friday my daughter came into the world by Cesarean section. We actually wanted to call her Leonie-Fabienne, but now she's named after her mama Leonie-Franziska, 'says Dominik. 'The little girl is healthy. I kept her happy in my arms, but at the same time I cried for my wife, who could not share this moment with me.' Forty eight hours after she was born Dominik gave doctors permission to switch off the machines keeping his wife alive. He told Germany's Bild newspaper: 'I caressed her and told her I would always be there for the children, but I had to let her go. 'We don't know yet how to get back into everyday life. I explained to my children that 'Mama is now an angel.' Dominik has had to give up his training to become a locomotive driver 'as I have to be both mother and father now.' A fundraising campaign has been started to help support the family. A grandfather-of-eight who was shot three times at point blank range while riding on a popular cyclist trail in rural Victoria has revealed how he played dead to save himself. Kelvin Tennant, 72, was targeted in an apparently random shooting on February 18th last year. He was riding his motorised bicycle along the Myrtleford-Everton Rail Trail when a man got out of a dark sedan and stated unloading rounds into his face and chest. Scroll down for video Kelvin Tennant, 72, was shot at point blank range. He was hit twice in the chest and once in face As the attacker fired bullets into Mr Tennant's body, he asked the gunman 'what are you doing to me?' After he was struck three times he thought he would die there. 'I remember going down and thinking, this is it, I'm finished. I thought my day had come,' he told the ABC. 'I took in a deep breath and let out a big sigh and just lay perfectly still, deliberately.' Thinking quick, he let out a big sigh and pretended to be dead, lying still in his own blood till the gunman ran off and four cyclists came across him He was riding a his motorised bicycle along the Myrtleford-Everton Rail Trail when the man got out of a dark sedan and started shooting him 'I thought, in my mind, that if I played dead he would think I'm dead and wouldn't come and finish me off,' he said. Tennant's quick thinking saved his life. As he lay silently on the ground, bleeding from the gun shot wounds, the gunman fled. Four cyclists came to his aid and he was quickly airlifted to Melbourne where he spent the next 20 days in hospital. A year since the shooting, Mr Tennant, a retired school teacher, has joined with police officers in asking the public for any information they may have. Who targeted Mr Tennant, and why, has baffled police since the shooting happened and a year later, they're still looking for leads. 'It is one of the most frustrating and one of the most peculiar investigations that I have seen in my time as a detective and certainly in my four-and-a-half years at armed crime,' Detective Senior Constable Elise Douglas said. A year since the shooting, the identity of the gunman remains a mystery and police say they are baffled by the case The isolated location of the shooting has been a particular challenge for police. They said there was nothing to indicate that he was followed but that more likely, the shooting was tied to a particular time. Detective Douglas urged anyone with any information, despite how insignificant it seemed, to come forward. Police are particularly looking for anyone who passed by the Burgoigee Creek rest area on the Great Alpine Road around the time of the shooting and two cyclists who stopped to help Mr Tennant but left before emergency services arrived. Despite taking two bullets to the chest and one to his face, Mr Tennant is back riding his bike one year after the shooting. Accused Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz has been given permission to meet his lawyer to pursue his late adoptive mother's reported $800,000 inheritance. The 19-year-old is alleged to have opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland earlier this month, killing 17 people and injuring 14 others. Now it has emerged he signed a retainer agreement with lawyer Audra Simovitch on December 13 to pursue his share of Lynda Cruz's estate, the New York Post reported. Accused Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz tried to secure a reported $800,000 inheritance weeks before his alleged killing spree, court records have revealed. He remains locked up at the Broward County Jail after being charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder Broward County Probate Division Judge Charles Greene granted Simovitch authority to meet with Cruz. Greene also ruled that the county Public Defender's Office, representing Cruz, 'shall not interfere' with the lawyer's efforts to meet him. The teenager is currently locked up at the Broward County Jail on murder charges after the shooting at his former high school. The brothers are pictured above holding the ashes of their adoptive mother Lynda Cruz who died from pneumonia in November aged 68 Zachary Cruz, the 18-year-old brother of Florida high school gunman Nikolas Cruz, was seen skateboarding near his home in Lake Worth in southern Florida on Friday The order, signed Friday, was in response to an emergency petition in which Simovitch accused the Public Defender's Office of 'obstructing justice' by denying her access to Cruz. Florida law does not allow Cruz to have a free defense lawyer if he has or expects to have more than $2,500 in assets other than a home and a vehicle. Simovitch filed court papers on behalf of Rocxanne Deschamps - who is raising Cruz's younger brother Zachary - the day after the high school slaughter. They stated that Deschamps 'has an interest' in Lynda Cruz's estate because she cares for her adopted son Zachary, who turned 18 on Wednesday. Lynda died jn November aged 68 and her late husband Roger passed away in 2014 aged 67. According to the filing, both sons are each entitled to 50 per cent of her estate. Before the massacre Nikolas was living with the family of Kimberly and James Snead and told them he would inherit at least $800,000, the New York Post reported. Simovitch could meet with Cruz as early as March 1. An engineer who was fired for calling colleagues f***ing c***s then reinstated on appeal will have his case reviewed again. Matthew Gosek was sacked from Illawarra Coal in New South Wales after sending threatening texts and making offensive phone calls to seven colleagues after a drinking session. He insulted them, threatened to expel them from their union of which he was president and said he would hunt them down and destroy them, the Fair Work Commission heard. Matthew Gosek (pictured) was sacked from Illawarra Coal after sending threatening texts and making offensive phonecalls to seven colleagues after a drinking session Mr Gosek later apologised, saying he made the comments after drinking a 'few beers' and that he was suffering from depression. In November, Commissioner Bernie Riordan reinstated Mr Gosek, saying 'f**king c**t' was a common expression 'across all walks of life'. Mr Riordan found Mr Gosek's behaviour was mitigated by mental health and alcohol issues. He said his physical threat to colleagues was not likely to be carried out. But today, deputy presidents Anne Gooley and Peter Anderson granted Illawarra Coal's right to appeal in order to have Mr Gosek sacked. They said the main issue was not the swearing but the threat of violence, which they believed Mr Riodan had downplayed in his judgement. They said: 'We accept that by focusing on the language and not the totality of the conduct the Commissioner downplayed the character of the conduct,' they said in a ruling. 'The problem was not that Mr Gosek swore at this work mates. The conduct involved an expletive-filled tirade which included threats directed at employees because they participated in an investigation.' Commissioner Bernie Riordan (pictured) reinstated Mr Gosek, saying 'f**king c**t' was a common expression 'across all walks of life' Mr Gosek's unfair dismissal claim will be redetermined next month, reported news.com.au. A spokeswoman for South32, Illawarra Coal's parent company, said: 'We are working hard to create a culture where people are treated fairly and with respect, and we welcome the Fair Work Commission's decision to grant the appeal.' When he was reinstated, Macquarie Group director Patricia Cross took to Twitter to express her disappointment at the Fair Work Commission's decision. 'Shameful to normalise intimidating and obscene language in Australian work places,' she said. Workers have [the] right to feel safe.' A similar case emerged in August 2017 after a judge ruled it was legal to call former Prime Minister Tony Abbott a c**t because Australians don't find the swear word as offensive as other English-speaking countries. Well-known Sydney identity Danny Lim who is often seen wearing bright sandwich boards with political messages was seen with a sign reading 'Tony you c**t'. The court ruled the 75-year-old's sign was 'essential political comment' and the word 'c**t' was 'prevalent in everyday language'. Parents of a newborn have been charged after their baby was found in the trash. Thelma Kirkland, 30, and Carl Hall, 31, of Alexandria, Louisiana, were arrested Friday and charged with attempted first-degree murder. Police say the child is on life support. Thelma Kirkland, 30, was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder after emergency workers said they found her newborn baby in the trash on Wednesday Carl Hall, 31, was also arrested and charged with attempted first-degree murder. An Alexandria police statement said officers were called to a house on February 21. They spoke with emergency personnel who had been summoned to the house earlier by a report of a miscarriage, according to The Town Talk. They told officers that when they arrived, they began treating the mother and then discovered the newborn baby in the trash. Detectives learned the baby was placed in the trash after it was born and according to the investigation, the parents waited over an hour to call for help. It's unclear if the parents have lawyers. Kirkland and Hall are booked into the Rapides Parish Detention Center, each on a $500,000 bond, according to Corrections Division records. Brussels escalated a furious row over the future of Northern Ireland tonight as leaks suggested the EU will demand permanent control over the province after Brexit. A draft of a 'legal text' based on December's political agreement suggests Northern Ireland should continue to obey all EU rules after Brexit as the easiest solution to keeping the border open. The document - revealed tonight by Irish broadcaster RTE - brands the idea of a 'common regulatory area' the 'default' option in the event no deal can be agreed by the UK and EU. The controversial idea will not specify Northern Ireland stays inside the EU Single Market but will re-ignite a massive row that almost collapsed the Brexit negotiations in December. Any attempt by the EU to treat Northern Ireland differently to the rest of the UK will be resisted by the Government and rejected outright by the DUP, Theresa May's allies in Northern Ireland. The UK's preferred options for an open border controlled under a free trade agreement and using technology will not be set out in the draft treaty. Brussels deems they have not been spelled out in enough detail by UK ministers. Britain accepted continued 'regulatory alignment' if trade talks fail during December's tense talks but making it the default choice will enrage Brexiteers. The incendiary leak comes after Boris Johnson triggered a new row over the border by comparing it to London's congestion charge zone. Downing Street played down the Foreign Secretary's suggestion, insisting he was not proposing a specific technical solution to the conflicting demands for the only UK-EU land border. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (pictured in Downing Street today) has dismissed EU efforts to turn the screw in Brexit negotiations by demanding domain over Northern Ireland if Britain leaves the customs union EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier (pictured in Brussels today) has adopted an aggressive attitude in the latest stage of the Brexit talks The EU is set to adopt the draft legal text at a crucial meeting tomorrow, before EU Council President Donald Tusk visits London on Thursday for talks with Theresa May. Keeping Northern Ireland inside EU rules sparked a major row in December and risked collapsing the entire Brexit negotiation. The DUP, Mrs May's Northern Irish allies in Westminster, are likely to react with horror at what will be seen as a renewed attempt to ensnare Northern Ireland after Brexit. Both London and Dublin have repeatedly insisted they want an open border in Ireland after Brexit but the two sides are far apart on how to achieve it. Asked about the EU stance on Northern Ireland this morning, Mr Johnson said: 'We don't think that is the right way forward. 'As you will recall the PM said very clearly in December... that we want a different solution.' 'As you will recall the PM said very clearly in December... that we want a different solution.' DUP leader Arlene Foster almost collapsed the Brexit negotiation over the Irish border issue in December and is likely to react with anger to the new EU draft Both London and Dublin have repeatedly insisted they want an open border in Ireland after Brexit but the two sides are far apart on how to achieve it (file image) Mr Johnson compared the Irish border to the lines between London boroughs - pointing to the use of camera technology to impose the congestion charge on drivers. 'We think that we can have very efficient facilitation systems to make sure that there's no need for a hard border, excessive checks at the frontier between Northern Ireland and the Republic,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'For people listening, there's no border between Camden and Westminster, but when I was mayor of London we anaesthetically and invisibly took hundreds of millions of pounds from the accounts of people travelling between those two boroughs without any need for border checks whatever.' Guy Verhofstadt, who is leading on Brexit for the European Parliament, said Northern Ireland obeying Brussels rules after the UK leaves the bloc was the best solution (file picture) Labour ridiculed Mr Johnson for comparing connections between London boroughs to the Irish border. Backbencher Chris Leslie said the Foreign Secretary had shown he 'simply doesn't understand' the issue. In a statement on behalf of the pro-EU campaign Open Britain, he said: 'To compare the border between two sovereign states, the UK and the Republic of Ireland, to the boundaries between different London boroughs is not only patently ridiculous but also shows staggering insensitivity and a stupefying ignorance of a conflict in which over 3,000 people died between 1969 and the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. Ex civil servant warns quitting the EU is like swapping a banquet for pack of crisps Sir Martin Donnelly, the former top civil servant in the International Trade Department, will ridicule his former boss' plans to quit the EU customs union and single market The former top civil servant in Liam Fox's department has warned quitting the EU is like swapping a three-course meal for a packet of crisps. Sir Martin Donnelly ridiculed his former boss' plans to quit the EU customs union and single market. And he warned dire economic consequences could lie ahead for Britain. His remarks risks overshadowing the International Trade Secretary's own address later today. Sir Martin told the BBC's Today Programme: 'You're giving up a three-course meal, which is the depth and intensity of our trade relationships across the European Union and partners now, for the promise of a packet of crisps in the future if we manage to do trade deals outside the European Union which aren't going to compensate for what we're giving up. 'You just have to look at the arithmetic - it doesn't add up I'm afraid.' Advertisement 'Boris Johnson's tenure as Foreign Secretary and Brexit cheerleader shows he has the reverse Midas touch: everything he touches turns to muck.' Mr Verhofstadt stirred up the row by telling fellow MEPs today: 'It is for us key that that there will be in future, whatever the outcome of the negotiations will be, that there is no divergence in norms, rules, standards between the north and Republic of Ireland. 'That is our goal... the best way to solve the problem.' EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier made clear the terms of the divorce deal had to be laid out before any further progress could be made. 'We cannot leave the Irish question pending,' he told a press conference in Brussels. The PM's spokesman said: 'The Foreign Secretary was making a comparison to demonstrate the overall approach. '110 million people cross the border annually and will continue living their lives as before. 'He was not offering a technical solution.' During the frenzied divorce talks in December, Theresa May committed to keeping enough alignment with EU rules to avoid a soft border as a 'backstop' if no other solution could be found. But she also vowed to the DUP that there would be 'no new regulatory barriers' between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK. In a phone call with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar last night, Mrs May reiterated her commitment to avoiding a hard border 'between Northern Ireland and Ireland or between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom'. 'The PM and the Taoiseach both agreed that it was their preference to achieve this through the overall future relationship between the UK and the EU,' Downing Street said. 'The PM advised that she would say more on this future relationship in her speech on Friday.' Brussels has drawn up a plan to put the post-Brexit customs border in the Irish Sea in a move which sets it on a collision course with Theresa May (pictured in Downing Street yesterday) In his interview, Mr Johnson also took aim at the CBI business lobby group and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, saying they were 'wrong' to back a customs union with Brussels, as it would leave Britain a 'colony' of the EU and create the 'worst of all worlds'. WHEN WILL BRITAIN BE OUT OF THE EU? Britain triggered Article 50 on March 29, 2017, starting a two year process for leaving the EU: March 2018: Outline transition deal agreed, running for about two years June 2018: EU summit that Brussels says should consider broad principles of a future trade deal. October 2018: Political agreement on the future partnership due to be reached Early 2019: Major votes in Westminster and Brussels to ratify the deal March 29, 2019: Article 50 expires, Britain leaves the EU. Transition is expected to keep everything the same for about two years December 31, 2020: Transition expected to come to an end and the new relationship - if it has been agreed - should kick in Advertisement 'You can't suck and blow at once, as they say, we're going to have to come out of the customs union in order to be able to do free trade deals,' he said. The Foreign Secretary also gave short shrift to the former top civil servant in the Trade Department. Sir Martin Donnelly said leaving the EU customs union was like giving up a banquet in favour of a packet of crisps. Mr Johnson said he disagreed 'very strongly' with Sir Martin 'of the Brussels commission', arguing that there is an 'insatiable' market for UK services outside the EU. He rejected reports that the EU is set to demand the European Court of Justice is the ultimate arbiter in treaty-related disputes as it would not amount to 'taking back control'. The European Commission has deleted the other options from its legal document putting the divorce deal down in writing. They have also drawn up a last resort option which would see Northern Ireland stay under EU rules and regulations if no free trade deal is done. Jeremy Corbyn threw Labour's support behind a customs union in a major speech yesterday This would mean Northern Ireland could accept the rules of the customs union, single market and continue to be bound by EU courts after Brexit - even while the rest of the UK is not. The dispute has been intensified by Jeremy Corbyn's decision to endorse membership of a customs union with the EU after Brexit - encouraging Brussels to think it can force the issue. The Irish border is one of the trickiest questions abound up in the Brexit negotiations. Currently the UK and Ireland are both in the EU so there is freedom of movement and goods and no hard border there - which help to underpin the Good Friday Agreement which brokered peace. There are fears that new customs checks and border guards would reignite sectarian divisions and could spark fresh violence. Under the divorce bill, Britain promised to maintain a soft border in Northern Ireland to avoid the peace being imperiled. She promised Northern Ireland would maintain enough alignment with EU rules and regulations so that a hard border can be avoided. British officials accused the EU of picking and choosing the bits they liked from the divorce deal to put into the treaty. They see the commission as having a 'tin-ear' when it comes to Belfast politics. Amazon made $5.6billion in US profits last year but reportedly paid absolutely nothing in federal income taxes. The online retail giant's latest financial statement suggests that various tax credits and tax breaks for executive stock options are the reason behind the company paying zero tax in 2017, the Institution on Taxation and Economic Policy (ITEP) reports. According to ITEP, Amazon reportedly US profits of $8.2billion but paid an effective income tax rate of just 11.4 per cent protecting more than two-thirds of its profits from tax during the period. Amazon made $5.6billion in US profits last year but reportedly paid absolutely nothing in federal income taxes. Pictured, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos The company owned by Jeff Bezos, who is the richest man in the world with a personal net worth of $108 billion - is also projecting a $789million one-time tax break it will receive due to the new tax law implemented by the Trump administration. Although the corporate tax cuts came into effect on January 1, the law includes a grandfather clause for companies that have managed to defer tax liabilities from previous years, according to ITEP. This means that instead of paying deferred taxes at the previous 35 per cent rate, Amazon gets a discounted rate of just 21 per cent the source of the $789million windfall. Amazon's global headquarters are located in Luxembourg a tiny nation that the European Union has accused of giving illegal tax breaks to the company. Amazon's global headquarters are located in Luxembourg (pictured) a tiny nation that the European Union has accused of giving illegal tax breaks to the company The company is also projecting a $789million one-time tax break it will receive due to the new tax law implemented by the Trump administration. Pictured, Bezos (right) and Donald Trump (left) at a meeting in June 2017 Now, Amazon is looking for a US city to build a second headquarters, a move which has prompted state and local governments to compete with each other by offering tax incentives. 'From a decades-long strategy of exploiting state sales tax loopholes to its ongoing 'HQ2' sweepstakes, Amazon's leaders have rarely turned down a chance to use the tax system as the source of their competitive advantage,' ITEP's Matthew Gardner said. 'The online retail giant has built its business model on tax avoidance, and its latest financial filing makes it clear that Amazon continues to be insulated from the nation's tax system.' DailyMail.com has contacted Amazon for comment. The Syrian government violated its own five-hour 'humanitarian pause' in the Syrian rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta near Damascus. A boy was reportedly killed by Syrian regime rocket fire four hours in to the ceasefire agreed to by the government and ordered by its Russian ally. Seven people were also injured during the shelling in the town of Jisreen in eastern Ghouta, The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said. A fledgling 'humanitarian pause' announced by Russia in Syria's rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta was rattled by fresh air strikes and rocket fire long before the five hours were over The truce had been set up to allow civilians to leave eastern Ghouta, after a week-long government offensive killed more than 500 people, including more than 120 children, according to reports. It began at 9am this morning local time (7am GMT) was meant to last for five hours, but the Syrian regime appears to have broken their own agreement. The Russian defence ministry said on Monday the measures, decided in agreement with Syrian forces, were intended to help civilians leave and to evacuate the sick and wounded. But the spokesman for Failaq al-Rahman, one of the main rebel groups in the eastern Ghouta, accused Russia of presenting people with the choice of forced displacement or being killed in bombardment and siege, and called this a 'Russian crime'. A spokesperson for the international Red Cross said that in order for a humanitarian corridor to work, it needs to be well planned and implemented with the consent of all parties in the conflict. The airstrikes and rocket fire reportedly killed one boy and injured seven others just four hours in to the ceasefire agreed to by the Syrian government 'Pause': Children receive treatment after a gas attack in Eastern Ghouta on Sunday, where the government allegedly broke their agreement to a five-hour ceasefire on Tuesday Syrians inspect the debris of buildings destroyed by Syrian forces' missile strikes in eastern Ghouta, where some 500 people have been killed in Russia-backed government attacks The five-hour respite announced by the Syrian government's Russian ally, is nowhere near the month-long ceasefire ordered by the UN this weekend. After days of diplomatic wrangling, the United Nations Security Council on Saturday adopted a resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria 'without delay' to allow for aid deliveries and medical evacuations. Eastern Ghouta is a rebel stronghold on the edge of the capital Damascus which has been outside government control since 2012 and is thought to be home to some 400,000 civilians. It is held by a mish-mash of rebel and jihadist factions. Since the near total collapse of the Islamic State group's once sprawling 'caliphate', Damascus has looked bent on completing its reconquest and Eastern Ghouta is a key target. The regime intensified its air campaign there early this month with devastating results - the United Nations estimates three quarters of private housing has been damaged. Syrian children and adults receive treatment for a suspected chemical attack at a makeshift clinic on the rebel-held village of al-Shifuniyah in the Eastern Ghouta on Sunday Much of the population has moved underground, with families pitching tents in basements and venturing out only to assess damage to their property and buy food, a trip that frequently turns deadly amid the falling shells and bombs. Residents trapped in the wreckage of their own homes have bled to death as even rescuers were targeted. On Sunday, a child died and 13 others suffered breathing difficulties and showed symptoms consistent with a chlorine attack after a regime air raid struck the town of Al-Shifuniyah, the Observatory and a medic said. Russia dismissed reports of a chemical attack as 'bogus stories.' In response, the Hague-based Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) opened an investigation into reports of the repeated use of chlorine bombs in eastern Ghouta, diplomatic sources told Reuters. The latest OPCW mission is seeking to determine whether chemical weapons were used in violation of the international weapons convention which Syria signed in 2013 after hundreds died in a massive sarin gas attack in Ghouta. The OPCW will not assign blame. Syria and its close ally Russia, which provides military support to Assad's forces, deny using chemical weapons and blame insurgents. A U.N.-OPCW Joint Investigative Mechanism say government forces used chlorine as a weapon at least three times between 2014 and 2015 as well as a sarin gas attack in 2016. In November Russia used its veto power twice to block the renewal of a UN investigative panel tasked with identifying those responsible for the deadly gas attacks. Political leaders in France, the United States and United Kingdom said this month they would back targeted military action against Damascus if there were proof of chemical weapons use by forces under President Bashar al-Assad. The final Saint Stephens College student who was in a critical condition after a drug overdose on the private school's grounds has been released from hospital. Police have confirmed a toxicology report identifies the drug the Gold Coast students ingested was Russian 'wonder drug' Phenibut. Five year 10 boys were left fighting for their lives and two others had to be hospitalised after overdosing on the drug at school on Wednesday, February 21. The final Saint Stephens College (pictured) student has been released from hospital after overdosing on Phenibut Saint Stephens headmaster Jamie Dorrington (pictured) said the next step will be to deal with the issue while taking into consideration the school's policies and procedures The 'Russian wonder drug': What's phenibut? Phenibut is a central nervous system depressant used to treat anxiety and insomnia. It was first made in Russia in the 1960s and is marketed in the US as a dietary supplement designed to 'help keep you calm'. On February 1 Australia became the first country to make it illegal due to health concerns. It is said to be highly addictive with side effects including headaches and depression. Before the ban, it was easy to buy online without a prescription as a nutritional supplement in powder. Advertisement Six boys aged 15 and one aged 14 were rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital after falling ill at the college. Originally four of the seven were fighting for their lives, however the condition of another later worsened. Sources told the Gold Coast Bulletin that one student was so ill that 'he was taken off life support but had to be put back on'. In a letter to parents on Tuesday, Saint Stephens headmaster Jamie Dorrington said the seventh teenager had 'recovered and returned home,' Newscorp reported. 'It goes without saying that the last few weeks have been very challenging for every member of the SSC community. I thank the people who have actively supported the students, their families and the school through these difficult times,' he wrote. 'I ask each of you to put yourself in the shoes of these boys' parents. They are good parents who do their best to care for their children, but their sons have done something that they all regret.' The next step, he said, will be to deal with the issue while taking into consideration the school's policies and procedures, and without 'reference to public opinion'. Four teenage boys were in critical condition and three others were hospitalised Mr Dorrington said he had spoken with Queensland Police and did not believe other students had used the drugs at school, but believes the illicit substance was going around the wider community and was being used socially. The teenagers were 'giddy and nauseous' and one was having 'trouble with consciousness.' Reportedly taking the drugs on their lunch break, the group filmed themselves swallowing the pills and posted the footage to Snapchat. Paramedics were called to the school in Upper Coomera at 12.48pm on Wednesday and staff reacted quickly, possibly saving the lives of some students. Saint Stephen's College teaches students from Kindergarten to Year 12. Five year 10 boys were left fighting for their lives at Gold Coast University Hospital (pictured) and two others were hospitalised after the mass drug overdose on school premises Paramedics were called to Saint Stephen's College on Wednesday February 21 Nine leaders from automakers elected as deputy to 13th NPC Shanghai (Gasgoo)- A total of 2,980 deputies to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, has been elected. Among them, there are many deputies from China's auto enterprises. It may indicate that the reform of stated-owned auto enterprises will become a hot topic to be discussed during two sessions (NPC and CPPCC) this year. Hereby, the reporter lists 9 deputies who are core leaders of their auto companies. From the list, four of them became the deputy of NPC for the first time. They are Xu Liuping, Party Secretary and Chairman of FAW Group Corporation (FAW Group), Yin Tongyue, Party Secretary and Chairman of Chery Automobile Co., Ltd. (Chery Auto), Zhu Huarong, President of Chongqing Changan Automobile Co.,Ltd (Changan Auto) and Li Shufu, Chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely). Among these four entrants, Li Shufu is the only deputy who comes from non-state-owned enterprise. Recently, Geely has become the largest single shareholder of German automotive manufacturer Daimler. This was another big move after it became the owner of Swedish automaker Volvo Cars and the largest shareholder of the commercial vehicle manufacturer Volvo Trucks. Xu Liuping, taking the helm as FAW Group's chairman in September last year, set off a big reform within the group which involved a number of aspects, like organizational structure and human resources, etc. Meanwhile, he announced that the group will concentrate its resources on supporting its Hongqi brand and products. Chery Auto, led by Yin Tongyue, also had frequent actions recently. In December, 2017, Chery announced that the company had reached a strategic agreement with Baoneng Group in terms of investing in Qoros. In addition, Chery transfered its 51% of stakes in Cowin Auto to Yibin Auto Industry Development Investment Co., Ltd and Sichuang Yibin PUSH Group Co., Ltd. Both Chen Hong and Zeng Qinghong, have been elected as deputy to NPC for three times. SAIC Motor and GAC Group both had outstanding performances in self-owned PV sales. According to relevant statistics, the sales of SAIC Motor's self-owned PV brands surpassed 520,000 units in 2017, surging 62% year on year. Besides, GAC Group delivered a total of 509,000 vehicles under its self-owned PV marques, leaping 36.7% from a year earlier. Liam Fox today insisted Brexit will slash costs of clothes and food for families - after his former trade chief warned that leaving the EU is like swapping a banquet for a 'packet of crisps'. The International Trade Secretary dismissed calls for the UK to stay in a customs union with the EU - saying it would stop the UK lowering tariffs on day-to-day products. He warned that giving up control over trade would leave Britain as 'rule takers' and 'sell out' the public's verdict from the referendum. And he launches a scathing attack on Jeremy Corbyn's backing for a customs union with the EU - saying this amounts to a 'betrayal' of voters. Liam Fox today delivered the latest in a series of Brexit speeches by Cabinet ministers during which he warned that the UK must not stay in a customs union with the EU after Brexit - warning this would leave Britain having to swallow rules from Brussels for years to come Dr Fox warned that giving up control over trade would leave Britain as 'rule takers' and 'sell out' the public's verdict from the referendum Dr Fox also lashed out at Sir Martin Donnelly, the ex-top mandarin at his own department, who has ridiculed his former boss's plans to quit the EU customs union and single market. Sir Martin compared giving up access to the single market to 'rejecting a three course meal now in favor of the promise of a packet of crisps later'. Ex civil servant warns quitting the EU is like swapping a banquet for pack of crisps Sir Martin Donnelly, the former top civil servant in the International Trade Department, will ridicule his former boss' plans to quit the EU customs union and single market The former top civil servant in Liam Fox's department has warned quitting the EU is like swapping a three-course meal for a packet of crisps. Sir Martin Donnelly ridiculed his former boss' plans to quit the EU customs union and single market. And he warned dire economic consequences could lie ahead for Britain. His remarks risks overshadowing the International Trade Secretary's own address later today. Sir Martin told the BBC's Today Programme: 'You're giving up a three-course meal, which is the depth and intensity of our trade relationships across the European Union and partners now, for the promise of a packet of crisps in the future if we manage to do trade deals outside the European Union which aren't going to compensate for what we're giving up. 'You just have to look at the arithmetic - it doesn't add up I'm afraid.' Advertisement 'It is unsurprising that those who have spent a lifetime working within the European Union would see moving away from the European Union as threatening,' he said. But Dr Fox hit back: 'The particular choice I heard Sir Michael Donnelly outline was a choice between the EU and trade opportunities elsewhere and the continuation of EU trade agreements. 'I don't believe that is the choice we face. We are already trying to secure a full and liberal partnership with the EU, we are already having discussions about expanding our trade agreements beyond the EU. 'And we are also talking about rolling over those EU agreements into UK law so we get no disruption in terms of market access at the point of exit. 'So it's not a choice of one or the other. 'So I think the UK's Brexit process is a little more complex than a packet of crisps.' Boris Johnson also lashed out at Sir Martin's comments, which he disagreed 'very strongly' with. He argued that there is an 'insatiable' market for UK services outside the EU. He rejected reports that the EU is set to demand the European Court of Justice is the ultimate arbiter in treaty-related disputes as it would not amount to 'taking back control'. Critics of Labour accused the party of betraying its Brexit-backing voters in the party heartlands by changing their policy. And today, Dr Fox joined in the criticism - warning the move would strip Britain of its ability to decide its own police. He said: 'If you sign up to a customs union you will have to accept the agreements that are reached by others without you having any say in it. 'And if you don't like what they decide, that's tough. 'So, my message to the incoherent, inept and clueless performance of the Labour Party in recent days is, you can't wish the outcomes without wishing the means to deliver those outcomes. 'And, there doesn't seem to have been much thought given to what could be imposed upon the United Kingdom through a customs union if we didn't want it. Liam Fox (pictured today) insisted Brexit will slash costs of clothes and food for families - after his former trade chief warned that leaving the EU is like swapping a banquet for a 'packet of crisps' 'The approach that I set out is UK control over UK trade policy. 'What the Labour Party is setting out is a dive into the unknown and having to accept rules that are made by others and not by themselves.' What did we learn from the roadmap to Brexit speeches delivered by May and her Cabinet? Theresa May's Munich Speech The PM made the case for the UK to continued to have a strong security partnership with the EU. She said the UK will stay in the European Arrest Warrant and owuld 'respect' rulings by the European Court of Justice. Boris Johnson's Valentine's Day address The Foreign Secretary outlined his vision for a 'liberal Brexit' which would see Britain be a leading free trading nation. He urged for Remainers and Brexiteers to unite and urged the country to be more upbeat about the looming departure. David Davis The Brexit Secretary made a pitch for an ambitious trade deal which would see the UK and EU have 'mutual recognition' of each others rules and regulations. And he insisted gloomy predictions of Britain's future outside the EU w ere wrong - saying the country will not descend 'into some Mad Max-style dystopia'. David Lidington The Cabinet Office Secretary hit out at SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon for trying to use Brexit to tear the UK apart. And he reassured devolved governments across the UK that most of the powers repatriated from Brussels will go back to them rather than Westminster. Liam Fox he hit out at calls for the UK to stay in a customs union with the EU - warning this would amount to a betrayal of voters. He said staying in a union would leave Britain having to take EU rules without being able to make them. And he said Britain should embrace new opportunities to strike trade deals with growing economies outside the EU. Advertisement He told an audience at Bloomberg's headquarters in the City of London today that Britain would be foolish to stay in an EU customs union as it would allow Brussels to carry on dictating British policy after Brexit. He said: 'As rule takers, without any say in how the rules were made, we would be in a worse position than we are today. 'It would be a complete sell out of Britain's national interests.' And he warned that staying in a customs union would leave the UK having to take EU rules but without having a say in what they should be. He said: 'First of all, for goods, we would have to accept EU trade rules without any say in how they were made, handing Brussels considerable control of the UK's external trade policy.' 'Secondly, it would limit our ability to reach new trade agreements with the world's fastest-growing economies.' 'And thirdly, it would limit our ability to develop our trade and development policies that would offer new ways for the world's poorest nations to trade their way out of poverty.' 'As rule takers, without any say in how the rules were made, we would be in a worse position than we are today. It would be a complete sell out of Britain's national interests.' 'A customs union would remove the bulk of incentives for other countries to enter into comprehensive free trade agreements with the UK if we were unable to alter the rules in whole sectors of our economy, as Turkey has now discovered.' Dr Fox, one of the Cabinet's leading Brexiteers, will warn this would put other countries off from striking trade deals with Britain after Brexit. He said: 'The inevitable price of trying to negotiate with one arm tied behind our back is that we would become less attractive to potential trade partners and forfeit many of the opportunities that would otherwise be available to us.' The Cabinet Minister pointed out that the economies of China and other eastern countries are growing - creating new opportunities for trade. Meanwhile the amount Britain sells to the rest of the EU has been declining over the past few years. Dr Fox said: 'We cannot allow the practices and patterns of the past to constrain the opportunities of the future.' He added: 'The pattern of our trade is changing - 57 per cent of Britain's exports of goods and services are now to outside the EU compared with only 44 per cent in 2005. Liam Fox (pictured heading into Cabinet at No10 today ) will today blast Jeremy Corbyn's bid to keep the UK in an EU customs union after Brexit as a 'sell out of Britain's national interests'. Dr Fox's scathing attack on staying in a customs union with the EU comes just a day after the Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn performed a dramatic shift in policy to back staying in an EU customs union 'What is more, while our EU exports are still dominated by goods, our non-EU exports are evenly split between goods and services.' William Hague warns Tory rebels not to be pawns in Labour game by voting against PM on customs union The former Tory leader urged backbenchers not to rebel against the PM in case they topple her government and install Jeremy Corbyn at No10 William Hague today warned the Tory backbenchers not to be used as pawns by Labour by voting against the PM on an EU customs union. Tory rebels, led by Anna Soubry, have tabled an amendment to try to keep the UK in a customs union. And they could unite with Labour to vote for it and inflict a humiliating Commons defeat on the PM. If they do then commentators have warned they could end up toppling the Government and installing Mr Corbyn in Number 10. The former Tory leader said: 'Their aim is to use Tory rebels as human torpedoes, gloriously sacrificed in an attack on the battleship May.' He said some Tory rebels are so ardently pro EU they would 'vote for their motion even if the devil himself was walking through the voting lobby by their side'. But he urged them not to, saying: 'So if I were an MP minded to rebel on a customs union, I would state my case of course. 'But then I would draw back, rather than be used as a means of installing a ruinous socialism in the leadership of Britain.' Advertisement 'Our approach should not be premised on simply identifying how much of our current relationship we want to keep, but what we need to prosper in a rapidly changing global environment.' He said Britain needs to radically change its trading policy to take advantage o the new opportunities globally. Dr Fox said: 'There is a tendency among some nations to cling to the known trading mechanisms more suited to the structures of the past than the digital age of the future.' 'Flexibility and agility, then, are the key to any future trade policy. 'The ability to react quickly to new developments, to explore new opportunities and to nurture fledgling industries that will be the key to growth and prosperity in the coming years.' He added: 'To do this, we need the ability to exercise a fully independent trade policy. 'We have to maximise overall trading opportunities for the UK and secure the prosperity of our people.' Dr Fox's speech is the penultimate address by Cabinet minsters in the 'roadmap to Brexit' series - with Theresa May set to finish it off with her address on Friday. And as ministers are trying to flesh out their hopes and plans for Britain's looming departure, the UK's Brexit plans stand at a crossroads. Tory rebels led by Anna Soubry, have tabled an amendment to try to keep the UK in a customs union - and could unite with Labour to vote for it and inflict a humiliating Commons defeat on the PM. If they do then commentators have warned they could end up toppling the Government and installing Mr Corbyn in Number 10. William Hague today warned the Tory backbenchers not to be used as pawns by the Labour leadership. The former Tory leader wrote in The Telegraph: 'Their aim is to use Tory rebels as human torpedoes, gloriously sacrificed in an attack on the battleship May.' Jeremy Corbyn, pictured having a selfie after yesterday's Brexit speech in Coventry, was accused by critics of betraying voters in his party's heartlands by announcing his change in policy He said some Tory rebels are so ardently pro EU they would 'vote for their motion even if the devil himself was walking through the voting lobby by their side'. But he urged them not to, saying: 'So if I were an MP minded to rebel on a customs union, I would state my case of course. 'But then I would draw back, rather than be used as a means of installing a ruinous socialism in the leadership of Britain.' Two masked robbers stole 200 from a Marks & Spencer store in Mill Hill after trying up staff using cable ties Masked robbers have been caught on camera tying up staff in Marks & Spencer using cable ties before stealing 200 from the till. The robbery, which took place at the M&S in Mill Hill in north London, was just yards from the spot where a shopkeeper was killed after refusing to serve under-age customers last month. Armed raiders herded staff into an area of the food hall and one suspect, wielding a knife, tied up staff. The second masked suspect then took a staff member to the tills where she was forced to open them to allow the robber to grab the cash. They stole 200 from the store. The suspects then left the store via the rear doors walking along The Broadway toward Hale Lane and Bunns Lane. The incident took place just before 6.30am on November 27 last year. Detectives have now released the footage in the hope of catching the suspects. Detective Constable Dan Levy, of Barnet CID, said: 'This was a frightening experience for store staff at the scene. 'The suspects put the victims in a brief, but highly threatening situation in order to steal 200. 'It is very important that we identify and apprehend these suspects as quickly as possible and I urge anyone who knows them or has information to come forward.' The incident took place just before 6.30am on November 27 last year at this M&S in Mill Hill The robbery happened just yards from where father-of-two Vijay Patel, 49, was attacked outside his Rota Express store. He was knocked to the ground and suffered a fatal head wound in the late-night attack on January 6 this year. Father-of-two Vijay Patel, 49, was attacked outside his Mill Hill store, in North London. He died in hospital two days later It is said he was attacked after he and a colleague refused to serve Rizla papers to three youths because they looked underage. He was put on life support but died two days later at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, West London. Mr Patel had moved to London with his wife Vibha and their two sons, Dhruv and Neel, from their native India in 2006 to create a better life for his family. His brother, Prakash, 47, said: 'He was the greatest man in the world. He died trying to protect the shop. 'He worked all hours to fund [his sons' education costs] and worked very hard to support the family.' At the time, his wife was visiting relatives near the family home in Vadodara, Gujurat, west India. Anyone with information should call Barnet CID by dialling 101, tweet @MetCC, or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. This is the moment a professional gambler brought the house down by betting his entire 43,000 poker tournament prize on one spin of the roulette wheel - and won. Jake Cody scooped a pay-out of 42,670 at the Dusk Till Dawn casino in Nottingham after finishing top of the 2,200 entry high roller event. But the daredevil poker player decided that this was small fish and headed to the roulette table for a 50-50 chance of doubling his money by betting on black. WARNING: CONTAINS GRAPHIC LANGUAGE Phone footage shows the moment Cody sparked pandemonium by successfully betting on black and bagging 86,000 for one night's work. The clip shows the crowd chanting in support of Cody and Dusk Till Dawn owner Rob Yong spinning the ball himself. The ball fell on Black 22 and absolute bedlam ensued for the poker player from Rochdale, who burst on to the European tournament scene in 2010 with major wins. Daredevil poker Jake Cody brought the house down in Nottingham by betting his entire 43,000 poker tournament prize on one spin of the roulette wheel - and won. So far in his career, the 29-year-old has won big at the European poker tournament event in Deauville, Normandy where he won almost 750,000. And again in London where he pocketed a cool 273,000. It's thought he has so far scooped more than 2.8million in poker prize winnings since dropping out of university in 2010 to pursue gambling. This isn't the first time a British gambler has risked it all on one spin of the wheel. So far in his career, the 29-year-old has won big at the European poker tournament event in Deauville, Normandy where he won almost 750,000. And again in London where he pocketed a cool 273,000 In 2010, poker player Ashley Revell, from Maidstone in Kent, sold everything he owned including his home and clothes and gambled 76,840 all on red. Thankfully, his risk at the Plaza Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas came in and he doubled his money to 153,680. Revell spent his winnings on a poker business and a motorbike to travel across Europe on - where he ended up meeting his future wife. A minister has gone public with a demand for more cash for defence, saying the current budget is just not enough. Tobias Ellwood broke ranks and said Britain could not continue to lead the fight against extremism in the Middle East without extra resources. The defence minister, also a former Army Captain, cited concerns over a potential training backlog and the financial pressure the equipment programme is under. Tobias Ellwood told the Commons last night (pictured) that Britain could not continue to lead the fight against extremism in the Middle East without extra resources His comments pile the pressure on Chancellor Philip Hammond to cough up more money for the cash-strapped Ministry of Defence. His appeal came after Tom Tugendhat, chair of the foreign affairs select committee, said size matters when it comes to the military. Speaking at a briefing in London, Mr Tugendhat, the former Army officer added to calls for more money for the MoD, saying: We simply cannot maintain the ambitions that we hoped to. Addressing MPs in the Commons last night during a debate, Mr Ellwood said: If we want to continue playing an influential role on the international stage with full spectrum capability, if we want to provide the critical security-post Brexit trade deals will demand, if we want to remain a leading contributor in the fight against extremism in the Middle East and elsewhere. You cannot continue to do this on a defence budget of just 2 per cent. Two per cent is just not enough. Mr Ellwood's comments pile the pressure on Chancellor Philip Hammond to cough up more money for the cash-strapped Ministry of Defence (file picture) Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has allowed the military chiefs and his ministers to make the case for defence over the next few months (file picture) He went on: This is a question not just for this government, not just for Parliamentarians, but for Britain what status, what role, what responsibility do we aspire to play as we seek to trade more widely in a world that is becoming more dangerous. His public comments are the strongest yet by a minister on the issue of the defence budget. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has allowed the military chiefs and his ministers to make the case for defence over the next few months. Their bid for more cash comes as the department undertakes a mini defence review amid fears the current budget is not enough to pay for spending plans. John was jailed indefinitely in 2010 and told to serve a minimum of five years in jail Her back was broken, her jaw and eye socket smashed as she was left in bushes for dead Kyle John was given an indefinite sentence for a sex attack on a 15-year-old schoolgirl A prisoner given an indefinite sentence for a horrific sex attack is being allowed out of jail every day to run a taxi service. Kyle John, 26, drives a minibus ferrying other prisoners to work placements and universities. John was branded a danger to society for brutally stripping a schoolgirl, beating her unconscious and leaving her for dead in the snow. Her back was broken, her jaw and eye socket smashed and a doctor said they were the worst assault injuries he had seen in 28 years. But just seven years later John drives out of the prison gates every day, clocking up hundreds of miles in the white minibus. Other days he drives the prison's nearly-new 20,000 silver Skoda Estate on his rounds in South Wales. MailOnline pictured him picking up a prisoner from a university campus where hundreds of young women are potentially at risk. The former carpentry student, now 26, was jailed for a minimum of five years for the attack. But now almost every day he is allowed out of jail to work as a prison service taxi driver John, responsible for one of the worst sex attacks the police and CPS said it had ever seen, is allowed to drive prisoners unsupervised to hotels and universities in Cardiff city centre Four days later we saw him dropping off an inmate outside Cardiff's plush Holiday Inn. A prison insider said: 'Kyle John spends his days driving prisoners to and from work placements. 'He was given an indeterminate sentence but he has landed one of the most privileged jobs for prisoners. 'The public has no idea that a man like him is circulating in society while serving their prison sentence. 'His victim and her family would be horrified.' The insider said John spends more daylight hours out of prison chauffeuring inmates around than he does locked up in the Category D jail. MailOnline pictured monster John dropping off a fellow prisoner at Cardiff's Holiday Inn hotel He has been given a prison-issue mobile phone which is a perk of the job. John was carpentry student when he attacked the 15-year-old girl after boozing with his mates two days before Christmas. She was stripped, beaten and sexually assaulted in the attack which left her 'unrecognisable'. John, 19 at the time, dragged her unconscious into the undergrowth and left her for dead, close to the town centre of Aberdare, South Wales. John is currently serving his sentence at HMP Prescoed, near Usk in South Wales Cardiff Crown Court heard she would have died from hypothermia but was found in the nick of time. Her face and body were cut and swollen and John left his calling card on her forehead - the imprint of his shoe. John, of Barry, South Wales, pleaded guilty to grievous bodily harm with intent, and sexual penetration. Charges of rape and attempted murder were allowed to lie on the file. Judge John Curran gave him an indeterminate sentence with a minimum term of five years. The judge told him: 'You carried out a brutal, sustained and violent assault on a 15-year-old girl with sexual motivation.' John is currently at HMP Prescoed, near Usk in South Wales. He is given the keys to the white two-year-old Renault Master minibus most days to take prisoners to and from their placements. John was also pictured picking up a prisoner from a university campus where hundreds of young women are potentially at risk Of John's trips around the city centre, a source told MailOnline: 'His regular nightly run is to Cardiff Metropolitan University where he picks up a prisoner who goes there to study' John drops prisoners at a branch of Timpsons in South Wales and at a Newport charity which helps people cope with substance abuse. The prison insider said: 'He is totally unsupervised with a van load of prisoners who have committed various offences, some of them serious. 'He drops them at hotels and restaurants, where they work in the kitchens, and at even at call centres. 'His regular nightly run is to Cardiff Metropolitan University where he picks up a prisoner who goes there to study. 'There is always a risk of him absconding but it's a cushy number so he's probably better off seeing out his sentence.' Beast John, who was 19 at the time of the attack in south Wales is given the keys to the white two-year-old Renault Master minibus most days to take prisoners to and from their placements A Prison Service spokesperson said: 'Any individual released on temporary license will be rigorously risk assessed and subject to a thorough set of conditions. 'GPS trackers are kept in all prison issue vehicles to closely monitor offenders, with strict driving routes enforced by a dedicated member of staff. 'Where we can safely use prisoner labour to reduce cost to the taxpayer, we do so but offenders face being returned to tougher, closed prisons if they fail to comply with their release conditions.' Charlotte 'Lottie' Paluszak passed away while in the care of Carinity Fairfield Grange rest home in Queensland on November 11 last year, shocking those closest to her. Her daughters Petra Anderson and Monika Simpson are now trying to piece together clues in search for answers about the 84-year-old's untimely final days. As clues emerge, including a photograph of a nurse taking a photo of Lottie's coffin and claims the staff member - who has since been dismissed, was seen doing a 'happy dance' at the funeral, the heartbroken family members are only left with more questions. Charlotte 'Lottie' Paluszak (pictured) passed away in the care of Carinity Fairfield Grange at 84 years old Her daughters Petra Anderson (left) and Monika Simpson (right) are trying to piece together clues to comprehend their mother's final days 'I've taken some photos because I'm sending those to family overseas so I don't know why anyone else would want to take a photo of mum... mum's coffin?' said Monika. The family are desperate to learn the truth surrounding the cherished great-grandmother's untimely death but each new piece of information fails to pinpoint one thing - why their mother is dead. 'To die of her diabetes you know - dementia complicated diabetes - that was the bit that floored us, (it) didn't make any sense,' Monika told Channel 9. A former staff told A Current Affair off-camera that a senior nurse at the centre of the investigation allegedly gave Lottie an injection of Schedule 8 drugs the day before she died. When Carinity officials became aware of a breach of procedure they immediately sacked those involved and called the police, 9 News reported. A photograph (pictured) of a nurse taking a photo of Lottie's coffin has raised even more questions But it wasn't until receiving the final bill that the Paluszak family began to think that something may have gone wrong. 'There were large amounts prescribed for her, I'm not sure how much she was actually given of that, but there was large amounts, which I thought was quite unusual,' Petra said. A number of investigations are currently underway into the suspicious deaths of five people, including Lottie, at the Baptist-run aged care home in Townsville. It wasn't until receiving the final bill that the Paluszak family were given a hint that something was wrong Carinity says one of its own staffers raised the alarm last November, sparking the immediate removal of three registered nurses for failing in their duty of care at its Fairfield Grange home. Assessors from the federal government's Australian Aged Care Quality Agency arrived to carry out a six-day audit of the home two weeks after the nurses were sacked. The deaths are the subject of ongoing probes by police and the coroner. Sydney weather records will tumble on Wednesday, as parts of the city prepare for their hottest final day of summer in more than 20 years. Temperatures will soar past 35C in western Sydney, including in Penrith which is set for its hottest last day of summer since records began in 1995. The record-setting temperatures are also forecast for Richmond, in the city's north-west, which hasn't reached more than 35.2C on the last day of February in 30 years, according to Weatherzone. Scroll down for video Sydney weather records will tumble on Wednesday, as parts of the city prepare for their hottest final day of summer in more than 20 years Temperatures will soar past 35C in western Sydney, including in Penrith which is set for its hottest last day of summer since its records began in 1995 The record-setting temperatures are also forecast for Richmond, in the city's north-west, which hasn't reached more than 35.2C on the last day of February in 30 years The scorching weather will cap off one of the hottest summers ever for Sydney's western suburbs. Based on Wednesday's forecasts, Penrith will endure its hottest on record, in terms of maximum temperatures. Meanwhile, this summer will be in the top three hottest for Richmond and Bankstown. Sydney's eastern suburbs are only forecast for a top of 29C on Wednesday, but the region will still experience a summer in its top five hottest, based on maximum temperatures. This year saw Penrith record the second highest temperature ever in the Sydney basin of 43.7C. The suburb also registered the basin's second four-day spell of 40C weather on record. The scorching weather will cap off one of the hottest summers ever across Sydney Sydney's scorching temperatures will come just three days after the city was battered with its heaviest downpour since winter. Almost 70mm of rain was recorded at Observatory Hill while more than 85mm fell at Sydney Olympic Park. The wet weather cleared on Monday afternoon, but is set to return on Sunday, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Up to a further 30mm is forecast to fall in Sydney over three consecutive days from Sunday. Sydney's scorching temperatures will come just three days after the city was battered with its heaviest downpour since winter Almost 70 millimetres of rain was recorded at Observatory Hill while more than 85 millimetres fell at Sydney Olympic Park Wet weather also struck Queensland where a number of rescues had to be conducted on Monday night due to floods. More than 80mm of rain was dumped onto parts of Queensland and 150,000 lightning strikes were recorded, cutting power to thousands of homes, The Courier Mail reported. Firefighters rescued a car load of people from a flooded causeway, west of the Gold Coast, after the car became trapped by the rising water level. Swift Water Rescue successfully saved the people who had reportedly been stranded on the causeway for two hours. Wet weather also struck Queensland where a number of rescues had to be conducted on Monday night due to floods (pictured is Gold Coast Airport) More than 80mm of rain was dumped onto parts of Queensland and 150,000 lightning strikes were recorded A transgender model, who was sacked by L'Oreal over a race row has been enlisted as an adviser to the Labour Party. Munroe Bergdorf, 29, was dropped by the cosmetics giant after she branded all white people 'racist'. And she sparked fresh controversy in December when she repeatedly used the n-word during an appearance on Good Morning Britain in December. But it has emerged that she has got a new role advising Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party on LGBT issues. The role will see her work with Labour's shadow secretary of state Dawn Butler on equality issues. Transgender model Munroe Bergdorf, 29, who was sacked by L'Oreal over a race row has been enlisted as an adviser to the Labour Party on LGBT issues Munroe Bergdorf, 29, was dropped by the cosmetics giant after she branded all white people 'racist' in a Facebook rant (file pic) She announced the news yesterday on Twitter alongside a picture of her with the Labour leader. She tweeted: 'Thrilled to announce that I've been asked to be part of an LGBT+ advisory board for The Labour Party - To advise Shadow Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, Dawn Butler MP, on issues affecting the LGBT+ community...' A spokeswoman for Dawn Butler MP said: 'Dawn is proud to stand with those challenging discrimination. Dawn will consult with the LGBT+ advisory group on a wide-range of LGBT+ issues.' What controversial comments has former L'Oreal model Munroe Bergdorf made? On all white people being racist: 'Honestly I don't have energy to talk about the racial violence of white people any more. Yes ALL white people.' On the suffragettes: 'FYI - The Suffragettes were white supremacists who were fighting for WHITE women's rights - they specifically left black women out of the movement. 'It is not 100 years since women got the vote it's 100 years since WHITE women got the vote. Black women couldn't vote until MUCH later.' On homosexual Conservatives: 'Gay male Tories are a special kind of d**khead. It's actually quite astonishing.' Advertisement The 29-year-old British star appeared in its recent '#allworthit' campaign with Cheryl Cole and Katie Piper. But she hit the headlines when she was dropped from her lucrative new role, after branding 'all white people' racist. Tory party vice-chair Helen Grant has written to Ms Butler urging her to revisit the appointment. 'There really is no excuse for these abhorrent slurs and, fundamentally, they damage the campaign to promote equality and diversity across public life,' she wrote. 'When Jeremy Corbyn was elected Labour leader, he promised a kinder politics. 'Yet it seems every day we seem some new example of abuse from the Labour Party. 'The kind of language Bergdorf has used has no place in public life, and ought to be condemned by all those who are serious about promoting equality.' James Cleverly, vice chairman or the Tory Party, told MailOnline: 'Monroe has said deeply unpalatable things about 'white people', gay Tories and even the right to vote, yet Labour has now appointed her as an equalities adviser. 'Many people in the Labour Party will have serious concerns about this appointment.' Ms Bergdorf, who was born a boy called Ian, works as a DJ and trans activist as well as modelling. She began living as a woman at the age of 18 but was prescribed hormones by a doctor only four years ago. In a lengthy Facebook rant earlier this year, she wrote: 'Honestly I don't have energy to talk about the racial violence of white people any more. Yes ALL white people. 'Because most of ya'll don't even realise or refuse to acknowledge that your existence, privilege and success as a race is built on the backs, blood and death of people of colour. 'Your entire existence is drenched in racism. From micro-aggressions to terrorism, you guys built the blueprint for this s***. 'Come see me when you realise that racism isn't learned, it's inherited and consciously or unconsciously passed down through privilege. Munroe Bergdorf has sent a string of offensive tweets which critics say are racist The role will see the model work with Labour's shadow secretary of state Dawn Butler (pictured) on equality issues. 'Once white people begin to admit that their race is the most violent and oppressive force of nature on Earth then we can talk. 'Until then stay acting shocked about how the world continues to stay f***** at the hands of your ancestors and your heads that remain buried in the sand with hands over your ears.' She also branded the suffragettes 'white supremacists' in a tweet posted earlier this month during the centenary celebrations of women's right to vote. She wrote: 'FYI - The Suffragettes were white supremacists who were fighting for WHITE women's rights - they specifically left black women out of the movement. 'It is not 100 years since women got the vote it's 100 years since WHITE women got the vote. Black women couldn't vote until MUCH later.' She has also attacked homosexual Conservatives, writing online: 'Gay male Tories are a special kind of d**khead. It's actually quite astonishing.' A Sydney lawyer has been charged with almost $10million in fraud offences. The 35-year-old fraudulently diverted $9.75million from a financial institution to a personal bank account between June 2016 and August 2017, police allege. The man was arrested in Sydney on Tuesday and charged with eight counts of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception. Among the alleged victims is the owner of Win, Bruce Gordon (pictured) and his son Andrew He allegedly transferred the money from the bank accounts of his his high end clients. Among his alleged victims is the owner of Win, Bruce Gordon and his son Andrew, 7News reported. It was allegedly a very simple scam, he transferred the money out of their bank accounts and into his own and if questioned by the bank he impersonated his victims over the phone. He was refused bail to appear before Sydney's Central Local Court on Wednesday. A deadly spider was found just centimeters away from a baby in a Queensland home before it was captured. The mouse spider was seen creeping towards 11-month-old Noah's face in the Gold Coast suburb of Elanora. It was scooped up in a jar by his father Andrew Baston who saw the spider just seconds before it could have crawled towards Noah. Scroll down for video The mouse spider was seen creeping towards baby Noah's face in the Gold Coast suburb of Elanora Mouse spiders are often confused with the funnel web but despite matching their appearance and deadliness their bites are uncommon 'It was up against the wall and it's fangs were out and it just didn't look like it was a very friendly spider at all,' Mr Baston told Nine News Gold Coast. 'I grabbed a newspaper and was ready to hit it,' he said. Instead he quickly put the spider in a jar so it could be identified. At that moment it was found to be the venomous Australian mouse spider. 'I'm going to take it for a long drive as far away as possible,' he said. Mouse spiders are often confused with the funnel web but despite matching their appearance and deadliness their bites are uncommon. They are often seen across mainland Australia and tend to move inside after wet weather. The freaked out father posted on social media about the terrifying discovery of the mouse spider Sokon to launch intelligent NEV brand in March Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chongqing Sokon Industry Group Stock Co., Ltd. (Sokon) announced on Feb. 23 that the company's intelligent NEV brand will be launched in March. Besides, the new NEV brand will also release its cutting-edge core technologies and concept sample models globally. It is revealed that Sokon will release three NEV models in 2018, which are priced at RMB 250,000, RMB 400,000 and around RMB 600,000. The vehicle products will be introduced in the American market first and will return to the Chinese market later. After the brand was released, Sokon's NEVs will be put into mass production and sales in 2019. It is known that Sokon has been deploying the new energy passenger vehicle for a long time. It was after June, 2016, Sokon was listed in Shanghai Stock Exchange that it began to deploy in NEV field. In July, 2016, Sokon transferred the whole stake of Chongqing Dongkang New Energy Vehicle Co., Ltd. to Chongqing Ruichi Automobile Industry Co., Ltd., and added Dongkang New Energy's registered capital to RMB 300 million to invest in pure electric passenger vehicles. In October, 2017, Sokon acquired the whole stakes of AC Propulsion Inc, e.motor Coporation Limited and E.Motor Advance Corporation Limited. On Oct. 17, 2017, Sokon's wholly-owned subsidiary, SF Motors, acquired the whole stake of InEVit for $33 million. Moreover, Martin Eberhard, founder of InEvit, as well as his team also joined SF Motors. On Nov. 2, 2017, SF Motors announced that the acquisition of AM General's commercial assembly plant ("CAP") had closed. AM General, American leading vehicle solution provider, is famous for manufacturing Hummer. On Dec. 12, 2017, Sokon announced that it planned to build up a power battery project of high-performance vehicles at the Science and Technology Industrial Park of Chongqing College Town. To start construction on Jan. 23, 2018, the project, with a total investment of RMB 2.026 billion, will achieve an annual production capacity of 5.2GWh after the operation starts. At the same date, Sokon also announced that it planned to invest RMB 400 million to set up two companies, Chongqing Jinkang Power New Energy Co., Ltd. and Chongqing Jinkang Electric Vehicle Sales Co., Ltd., of which, Chongqing Jinkang Power New Energy Co., Ltd. will be the implementers of power battery project of high-performance vehicles. These haunting pictures document people who tried to escape Soviet-controlled East Germany - before being forced to re-enact their ordeal for the Secret police. Not content with mug shots of the failed escapees, the Ministry of State Security - better known as the Stasi - insisted on mocked-up pictures of the escapes to be used as 'evidence' in show trials against those who were caught. The pictures, obtained from the Federal Stasi Records Agency, show elderly people ordered to hide in the trunk of cars and mothers forced to pose with their children. Images collected by the Ministry of State Security for East Germany show failed escapees forced to reenact their attempts. Here, a woman with a young child poses underneath the bonnet of a car The Berlin Wall was erected in 1961 after the numbers of people leaving East Germany for the West reached record highs. With guards told to shoot escapees on sight, those wanting to leave were forced to resort to covert tactics Images like this were used as 'evidence' during show trials of the accused but were also thought to be used for training new border guards They are also thought to have been used to train border guards and agents, showing the lengths people would go in order to escape the 'Workers' Paradise' of the German Democratic Republic. The faces were blurred out for privacy reasons by the Federal Stasi Records Agency. But despite the faces being missing, the desperation of these people caught trying to escape the GDR is still clear. For 28 years, communist-controlled East Germany was cut off from the West by the Berlin Wall and the heavily-armed guards that defended it. A family of three and their driver are forced to reenact their failed attempt to sneak past the Drewitz crossing point from the German Democratic Republic In the 28 years that the Berlin Wall stood, some 75,000 East Germans were caught attempting to cross over to the other side and at least 140 people were killed by Soviet guards The driver watches as photographers capture how the family of three were able to squeeze inside the boot of this car in an attempt to escape East Germany A woman is watched by Stasi guards as she if forced to climb into the boot of a car after she tried to escape These images were collected by the Federal Stasi Records Agency for use in show trials and border guard training The wall was erected by the Soviets in 1961 after the number of East Germans leaving the GDR via West Berlin reached record heights. Border guards around the Berlin Wall were under strict orders to shoot men, women or children trying to flee. That meant escapees had to adopt covert tactics - sneaking through checkpoints, hiding in vehicles and tunnelling under the concrete to get to West Berlin. In total 75,000 East Germans were caught attempting to escape and imprisoned and at least 140 people were killed by Soviet soldiers. The Revolutions of 1989 resulted in the end of communist rule in Central and Eastern Europe and the demise of wall. An elderly couple stand next to the vehicle they tried to use to escape from East Germany. The image was taken some time in the 1970s The woman is forced to climb into the back of the car, while the man - who was driving when they were caught - is pictured standing alongside A young man and a child are pictured in a Stasi prison after being found guilty of trying to escape from East Germany Sandeep Rehal had filed the case with Manhattan Federal Court in New York, in which she also claimed she had to deal with the aftermath of Weinstein's (pictured) 'frequent sexual encounters' A former assistant of movie executive Harvey Weinstein who alleged her day-to-day tasks involved cleaning up her boss' semen has had her lawsuit dismissed. Sandeep Rehal had filed the case with Manhattan Federal Court in New York, in which she also claimed she had to deal with the aftermath of Weinstein's 'frequent sexual encounters'. But today, Judge Jesse Furman threw the suit out, after the claimant's attorneys conceded they could not prove the Southern District of New York had the proper jurisdiction to oversee the case, according to Page Six. Weinstein, The Weinstein Company are all named in the file, as well as the firm's executives. The lawsuit can be filed elsewhere, and Rehal told The Post she intends to do so tomorrow. Initially, she filed it in January, complete with gory details of her alleged two years of torment at the hands of Weinstein. The movie mogul allegedly made Rehal pick up discarded syringes which she said he used to inject a Viagra-type substance straight into his penis. She is quoted in the file as saying she was asked on a regular basis 'to clean up the semen on the couch in Harvey Weinsteins office'. As well as the grotty cleaning work, Weinstein also allegedly rubbed his 'large belly' against her and touched her buttocks and thighs. Additionally, she claims she was forced to 'take dictation of his emails while he was naked', according to the papers. When she refused to cooperate, Weinstein would make vile and derogatory comments towards her in front of other staff. The aide left The Weinstein Company after two years. His lawyers did not comment on the assistant's case when approached by Page Six. Last week it emerged Weinstein has reportedly been paying for an expensive lifestyle in Scottsdale, while he spends time in Arizona for addiction treatment. Harvey Weinstein (right), who has been accused of sexual assault by more than 80 women since October, has been spending lots while undergoing sex addict treatment in Arizona Weinstein, who has been accused of sexual assault by more than 80 women since October, has been spending time, and money, undergoing treatment at Gentle Path at the Meadows, a pricey sexual addiction rehabilitation facility located in Wickenburg, according to The Los Angeles Times. He's also been racking up costs at multiple fancy restaurants and receiving hypnotherapy, while staying at exclusive locations. The tab for his way of life is adding up, while legal expenses loom, from both his ex wife's worry over child support, his pending divorce from his current wife, and the possibility of legal action from his accusers. Weinstein's legal costs related to his many accusers could range anywhere from $500,000 to more than $1 million each month, Pasadena attorney D. Jason Lyon, with Hahn & Hahn, has estimated. 'If these [cases] go to trial, then you're talking numbers significantly above that,' the laywer, who does not represent Weinstein, said. 'Litigation gets expensive fast.' To add to that, his wife, Georgina Chapman, is divorcing him, and they two have two children together. Weinstein and Georgina Chapman attend the Positif Planet gala dinner during the 70th annual Cannes Film Festival at Palm Beach on May 24 in Cannes, France That may be less of a financial issue at this time, as a spokesperson for Weinstein had said, 'Any matters with Ms. Chapman have been settled.' But his first wife, Eve Chilton, feels less settled, as she filed court documents in New York in January that there was 'real and present danger' that defendant [Weinstein] would default on his financial obligations, meaning his hefty child support bill for the children from their marriage, which ended in 2004. Chilton had asked for $5million as security for the payments that would come due over the next year, but her request has been denied. Even as Weinstein finds himself emptying his wallet at every turn, he hasn't left his appetite for fine dining behind. As recently as January, he was seen near Phoenix at the Paradise Valley restaurant Elements, where he was slapped in the face by another customer. At Elements, he had been joined by Joe Polish, an exclusive life coach who works with the wealthy as they battle addiction and other issues. 'When I work with billionaires and celebrities, I operate like an air traffic controller,' Polish said. 'I operate more like a sponsor would in a 12-step program,' Polish said. 'In December 2017, I was asked to meet Harvey and support him in completing his rehab program,' Polish said. 'I want it absolutely clear that I do not condone or support any of his behaviors. I agreed to help him in his recovery because I believe that the opportunity for healing could play a role in shifting the cycles of abuse in our culture so that no other women are abused again.' A worker at another nice restaurant near Phoenix, Chestnut Fine Foods and Provisions, also said he was in that establishment, eating alone, last month. Weinstein was photographed at that trendy American, Mexican and Asian eatery in November, dining in a blonde wig. That outing was eventually documented on TMZ. An exterior seating area is shown here at The Meadows in Wickenburg, Arizona An exterior view is shown at The Meadows, which houses its own sexual addiction rehabilitation facility, called Gentle Path at the Meadows A scene of the dining room at the Paradise Valley restaurant Elements, near Phoenix, is shown Paradise Valley is home to some very extravagant residences, like the one shown here Gentle Path at the Meadows is located about an hour northwest of Phoenix, by car. 'If he's in Arizona, he's probably been to the Meadows,' said AW Richard Sipe. Sipe is a well-known counselor and psychotherapist who has done considerable work in the field of sex addiction. Sipe's experience includes with related to the Catholic Church abuse scandals. By his account, sex addiction therapy is usually a 30-day-in-patient process, including both individual and group counseling. Those working in the addiction rehabilitation industry estimate that the Meadows would charge a minimum of $1,000 per day for that type of treatment. However, health insurance may pay for part of that. But people in the addiction rehab industry estimate that the facility charges at least $1,000 per day for in-patient treatment and that health insurance would typically cover part of that. The Meadows would not confirm whether Weinstein was a patient, or the amount they charge for their services. If he is there, the locals wouldn't be likely to know it. Wickenburg residents of Wickenburg told the Times they haven't seen Weinstein, and that they don't usually see anyone receiving treatment at the Meadows. 'They sure don't come in here,' an employee at a Safeway store down the road from the facility said. For at least part of the time since Weinstein left his home in New York in late 2017, he's had a home base at the lush Optima Sonoran Village in Scottsdale. The gym alone at the complex has its own indoor basketball court, spas and a concierge. Optima representatives didn't respond to the Times' request for comment, but two people who work there confirmed Weinstein had a residence there, at least temporarily, in the last few months. One employee who works at Kaleidoscope Juice, which sells health-food snacks and drinks and is located on the lower level at the Optima, said she had last seen Weinstein in the store in late 2017. Other works at the Optima said they'd notice Weinstein undergoing hypnotherapy while staying there. Hypnotist Pattie Freeman, who treats alcoholism, drug and sex addiction, and anger management, said of the afflictions, 'It's a habit in your head and we correct that habit.' Weinstein is seen here at Crosby Street Hotel on September 7 in New York City She added: 'The subconscious mind takes over and corrects whatever in your lifestyle needs to be corrected or freed.' She said she charges $150 per 90-minute session for the service. A spokesperson for Weinstein denied that he stayed at the Optima or underwent hypnotherapy. Even so, if Weinstein were staying else, like perhaps The Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort & Spa, he'd still be paying a pretty penny. The Sanctuary, which is where the Elements restaurant was Weinstein was seen getting slapped is lcoated, can cost its guest as much as $3900 each night. It's also known, according to the Times, that the accused man stayed at the Phoenician luxury resort in Scottsdale in October, where the most economical option carries a $500 a night price tag. And to top it all off, the former executive of the Weinstein Co. has hired PR crisis management firm Sitrick and Co. Access to the public relations team at Sitrick is estimated at a monthly minimum of $50,000, according to an industry insider. Sitrick told the Times that estimate was inaccurate, but did not provide additional comment on their rates. As all of these costs continue to add up, the now-unemployed producer has taken to unloading his land. He and his soon-to-be-ex-wife Chapman recently sold a property in the Hamptons for $10 million. In February, Weinstein also let go of two other properties in Connecticut for a total price of $16 million. It's also been reported that he's now hoping to rent out a property in California, for the asking price of just under $7,500 each month. While Weinstein has seemingly been shedding his ties to both coasts, he has repeatedly denied all accusations of nonconsensual sex and workplace retaliation against those who turned down his sexcual advances. In a statement in late 2017, he said: 'I appreciate the way I've behaved with colleagues in the past has caused a lot of pain, and I sincerely apologize for it.' The Hindu festival Rama Navami is an annual celebration part of the spring Navratri, or nine-day period and typically occurs during the Gregorian months of March and April, around the same time as Holi. Marking the birthday of Lord Rama, Hindus would read stories from the Ramayana, the epic that also tells the tale of Diwali, visit temples or pray at home and take part in religious singing during a bhajan or a kirtan. Rama Navami celebrations take place at locations in India that are associated with the Lord Rama like Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh and Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu that usually attract a lot of devotees, but who is Lord Rama and when is Rama Navami in 2018? The Hindu festival Rama Navami is an annual celebration that marks the birthday of Lord Ram What is Rama Navami? Rama Navami celebrates the birthday of Lord Rama, the son of King Dasharatha of Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh, and the event has origins in an ancient Hindu story. King Dasharatha had three wives but no children and in order to appease the Gods, he conducted a prayer ceremony, called a yagna, believing this would give him an heir to the throne. During the yagna, a sage offered Dasharatha a bowl of holy dessert, called payasam, of which he offered his eldest wife Kausalya the first portion. A few days later, Kausalya conceived a son who was named Ramarama. The Hindu epic Ramayana that tells the story of this God and claims that he was an incarnation of the creator of the universe, Vishnu, who transformed into a human to end evil on Earth. Rama only became a god after he achieved this triumph of good over evil when he killed Ravana, the ten-headed demon who had kept his wife Sita captive during Ramas 14 year exile from Ayodhya. After Ravanas death, the community welcomed Sita, Rama and his brother Lakshman back and lit the way back into the city with a multitude of lights. This day is celebrated on Diwali, or the Festival of Lights. Hindu devotees hold rallies on Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti in South Kolkata, India When is Rama Navami? Rama Navami, or the birthday of Lord Rama will be celebrated on Sunday, March 25 2018. As Lord Rama is thought to have been born in the middle of the Hindu day, or the Madhyahna period, the day may be occasionally marked over two days because of when the lunar calendar shifts or when the sun rises on the ninth day of the nine day period, also referred to as Chaitra Navratri. Despite Rama being one of the most revered Hindu gods, Rama Navami is a relatively minor festival in comparison to Diwali or Holi. It is also not a national holiday but is an optional restricted holiday in India. Folk artists participate in a procession on the occasion of the annual Ram Navami festival How is Rama Navami celebrated? Rama Navami was not celebrated in the second century, during the time when the Ramayana is thought to have been written. Festivals only started to be marked in India in the 16th century when the devotional movement, or Bhakti, gained momentum and Sufi saints and scholars popularised epic tales such as the Ramayana with literature, poetry and religious songs. During this time, the Ramayana was translated from Sanskrit to other regional languages including Hindi, Bengali and Malayalam which ensured that Rama was regarded as the supreme deity that he is today. Rama Navami is now celebrated by fasting in the nine days, or Chaitra Navratri, in the lead up to the day as well as prayers in temples where idols of Lord Rama are worshipped and excerpts from the Ramayana are read out loud by priests. The Indian Hindu diaspora also celebrate Rama Navami, notably the Indian servants who arrived in colonial South Africa before 1910 to work in British plantations and mines, lived through the Apartheid regime and mark Lord Ramas birthday by reciting the Ramayana and singing religious songs. The same happens with Hindus living in the Caribbean countries and Fiji. A threefold increase in the demand for exorcisms has prompted the Vatican to hold an international conference in a bid to train more priests to carry them out. The church is concerned that the skills of some of its current exorcists have declined and is worried priests are no longer willing to learn the techniques. According to Friar Beningo Palilla, one of the organisers of the conference, which took place in Sicily, there are now some 500,000 cases requiring exorcism in Italy each year, Vatican Radio reported. Pope Francis laying his hands on the head of a young man after celebrating Mass in St Peter's Square, Rome The Vatican says there has been a three-fold increase in demand for exorcisms in Italy alone He blamed the increase on a growing number of people seeking the services of fortune tellers and Tarot readers in recent years. Such practices 'open the door to the devil and to possession,' he claimed. Many of the cases are not actually related to demonic possession, but to spiritual or psychological problems, he said, but they nonetheless must be investigated. Palilla, a priest in Palermo, is calling for an across-the-board improvement in training. 'We priests, very often, do not know how to deal with the concrete cases presented to us - in the preparation for the priesthood, we do not talk about these things,' he said. Pope Francis addressing crowds from the balcony of St Peter's in Rome. Friar Beningo Palilla is calling for an improvement in training for priests carrying out exorcisms Palilla is particularly concerned about some priests conducting exorcisms without proper training. He called for 'a period of apprenticeship, as happens for many professionals' and said priests wanting to train as exorcists 'should work alongside an expert to learn in the field.' Palilla said the aim of the conference, billed as the first in the world on exorcism, was to 'to offer a rich reflection and articulation on a topic that is sometimes unspoken and controversial'. Exorcism can only performed with high-level permission from within the church. Four years ago, the Vatican backed the International Association of Exorcists, which was founded in 1990 and has licensed some 200 members on six continents. Advertisement The Royal Navy's 3.1billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has returned home to Portsmouth after a month of sea trials. The 65,000-tonne vessel arrived back in Britain this morning after a series of helicopter exercises, while motoring around the Bay of Biscay, and a short trip to Gibraltar. HMS Queen Elizabeth was greeted with clear blue skies as she slowly made her way into port, with a small crowd assembled at the harbour to wave at crew members as they arrived home. Scroll down for video The Royal Navy's 3.1billion aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth has returned home to Portsmouth after a month of sea trials HMS Queen Elizabeth, a 65,000-tonne vessel, dwarfs pubs on the edge of Portsmouth harbour as it comes into dock HMS Queen Elizabeth was greeted with clear blue skies as she slowly made its way into port, with a small crowd assembled at the harbour to wave at crew members as they arrived home 'Big Lizzie', as she is affectionately known, was launched in December but is yet to have its F-35B fighter jets on-board, with deck trials due to begin off the East coast of the US later this year. The pearl of the British fleet, which boasts a four-acre deck, has suffered a troubled start to its service, with a leak found as a result of a faulty seal around a propeller shaft just weeks after the vessel was commissioned. However, defence minister Gavin Williamson was quick to reassure the public that repairs would not cost the 'British taxpayer a penny'. The arrival of the Merlin MK 2 helicopters allowed Royal Navy personnel to train with the aircraft at sea as well provide search and rescue cover 24 hours a day. HMS Queen Elizabeth's helicopters also provide protection from potential threats and can send information back to the ship from hundreds of miles away. Crews can detail exactly what is in the water space for thousands of square miles around the ship, presenting the war fighting team on board with all the information they need to keep the ship safe. A woman waves to crew on Big Lizzie as the giant air craft carrier arrives home this morning following a month of sea trials A man takes a picture of the pearl of Britain's navy as she is pulled by tugs into port this morning, following trials in the Bay of Biscay and a visit to Gibraltar HMS Elizabeth, which boasts a four-acre deck, has returned home to Britain after trials with Merlin MK 2 helicopters A troop of Royal Marines also took part in exercises while Big Lizzie was at sea. Members of 42 Commando, based in Plymouth, executed drills in her helicopters to prove the process of launching them by helicopter to conduct operations ashore. Speaking before HMS Queen Elizabeth left Portsmouth earlier this month, the carrier's commander Captain Jerry Kyd said: 'After the excitement of our commissioning ceremony in December, my ship's company and our industry partners are looking forward to taking the ship to sea to conduct first of class rotary wing flying trials. 'These trials will involve operating different types of helicopter from the ship in all weather conditions and fully testing the myriad of on board systems that are designed to support aviation. 'This is an important milestone in the ship's progression towards embarking the F35-B Lightning jets later this year, and ultimately the achievement of carrier strike capability.' Stan Lee has told police that he's had $1.4million stolen from his bank account weeks after someone swindled him out of $850,000 and used it to buy a condo. Detectives from the LAPD's specialized unit dealing with elder financial abuse visited the 95-year-old's home in the Hollywood Hills on Friday, TMZ reports. They spent more than two hours with the Marvel Comics legend. During that time, they asked him exactly who had access to his bank accounts and when the money went missing. Stan Lee (pictured) told police he's had $1.4million stolen from his bank account weeks after someone swindled him out of $850,000 and used it to buy a condo Lee reportedly turned over his financial records to help police find the perpetrator. The theft comes just weeks after it emerged that someone had used $850,000 of Lee's money to purchase a condo in West Hollywood. It only came to light after Lee's team carried out a full audit after it was discovered that a check had been forged in his name for $300,000. Lee filed a report with the Beverly Hills PD in December saying someone had forged the check from his bank account to the merchandising company Hands of Respect. Detectives from the LAPD's specialized unit dealing with elder financial abuse visited the 95-year-old's home in the Hollywood Hills on Friday Lee recently reassured fans that he is 'doing great' after a short spell in hospital. He was taken to hospital in Los Angeles last after suffering shortness of breath and an irregular heartbeat. His stay in hospital came just days after he appeared at the Black Panther premiere in Los Angeles. Lee is the former editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics who created superheroes included Spider-Man, the Hulk, Iron Man, Captain America and Thor. More than two million of Lee's comic books have been published in 75 nations and in 25 languages. He is responsible for creating or co-creating 90 per cent of Marvel Comics' characters. Marianne Rafaelova is one member of a family accused of trafficking slaves in Britain to use them to claim benefits handouts A Romany gang trafficked slaves into UK before using them to claim benefits which they pocketed themselves, a court has heard. Homeless people were picked up by associates of the Rafael family on the streets of Slovakia and the Czech Republic and brought to Newcastle where they were forced to live in cellars or sleep several to a bed in cramped rooms. The Rafaels allegedly arranged National Insurance numbers for the EU nationals and used them to claim benefits, which they kept for themselves, prosecutors claim. Slaves, who changed hands for 200 to 300, were fed stale bread and goulash while the family of nine enjoyed expensive alcohol and food, one of their alleged victims told a jury. The family also claimed housing benefit and one had an SUV car under the Government's mobility scheme, a court was told. Prosecutor John Elvidge, QC, told Teesside Crown Court: 'The defendants were running a family business and the business was slavery. Each defendant knew what was going on and each played a part in it.' The Rafaels ran their slavery empire from terraced houses in the run-down West End of Newcastle upon Tyne between 2010 and last year, a jury was told. There was a plan to marry them to Africans so the women could remain in the UK, the court heard. The family also used government agencies to find work for the people they enslaved, it is claimed. Victims were allegedly paid 400 per week, but they were given just 60 by the family, who took the rest. Mr Elvidge told the court: 'This case is about people involved in what can be described as the modern slave trade. 'The victims in this case were people with no independent means and limited or no understanding of the English language. 'The defendants in the case knew how to use government and recruitment agencies to exploit them. That exploitation involved the systematic targeting of homeless and destitute people in Slovakia and the Czech Republic. 'These people were transferred to the UK and on arrival taken to Newcastle upon Tyne where the defendants housed them in bare or basic conditions. Roman Rafael poses with Angelika Chec. Victims were allegedly paid 400 per week, but they were given just 60 by the family, who took the rest The victims were picked up from the streets of Bratislava in Slovakia, the court heard 'The defendants sent them out to work and their earnings were paid into accounts controlled by the defendants, for the benefit of the defendants and their family. 'Even though they might earn hundreds of pounds a week the victims were given a tiny fraction of their income as an allowance while their true earnings were taken by the Rafaels. 'The rest was taken to cover their transfer to the UK or their rent, when the truth is that the defendants were making their living from them while they were sharing beds or living in a cellar. 'But taking their wages was only part of this criminal scheme. 'National Insurance numbers were arranged for those trafficked and the acquisition of these meant they could claim state welfare benefits and credits which were paid into accounts controlled by the defendants rather than the victims. 'Likewise, loans were taken out using their NI numbers and addresses. The loan applications were not for the intended recipients but were a way of making more money for the Rafael family from bringing these people into the country and keeping them here.' The gang allegedly operated out of the back-to-back housing in Newcastle's West End Mr Elvidge said the victims were trapped in the UK; with no papers and no money of their own they were entirely reliant on their slavemasters to keep them. Two men escaped from their basic lodgings in Newcastle and fled to Manchester Airport but were forced to return. Mr Elvidge said the family were from Slovakia, part of a Romany community which had its own dialect. The family used the cash they brought in for a better lifestyle, splashing out on cars and holidays, it was claimed. Mr Elvidge said: 'A victim of trafficking may generate thousands of pounds but receive just a fraction of that. 'It was a professional criminal enterprise designed to generate money to enable the Rafaels to enjoy a better life with better cars and better holidays.' The court heard that while taking cash from their slaves for rent the family had successfully applied for housing benefit, so their homes were being paid for by the council. The family members also face accusations they applied for working tax credits in the names of their victims and kept the money for themselves. Almost 14,000 was scammed using a father and his son's details over six years, the jury was told. One of the gang, Stefan Rafael, drove a Kia Sportage 4x4 which he qualified for under the mobility car scheme, a jury was told. The seven defendants on trial Stefan Rafael, 62, Juraj Rafael, 38, Ruzena Rafaelova, 57, Ruzela Rafaelova, 37, Marianne Rafaelova, 34 and Angelika Chec, 29, are on trial. They deny conspiracy to traffic with a view to exploitation, money laundering and causing forced labour. A youth aged 17 faces the same charges. Kim Jong-nam, the half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un, told a friend his life was in danger six months before he was assassinated, a court heard. Indonesian Siti Aisyah and Vietnamese Doan Thi Huong are on trial accused of smearing his face with the poison VX at Kuala Lumpur Airport. Four North Korean fugitives were also charged with murdering the 45-year-old dissident on February 13 last year as he waited for a flight to Macau. Scroll down for video Vietnamese woman Doan Thi Huong is escorted to her trial for the murder of Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un Indonesian woman Siti Aisyah was also on trial accused of smearing his face with the poison VX at Kuala Lumpur Airport on February 13 last year Mr Kim (pictured) died in agony minutes after the poison was put on to his face at the airport Defence lawyers said the two women thought they were playing a prank for a Japanese YouTube channel, as they had been paid to do elsewhere at airports and shopping centres, and didn't know they were poisoning Mr Kim. The court heard they were paid 72 ($102) after being approached by a man called 'James', later identified as alleged spy Ri Ji-U, on January 5, 2017. The pair aged in their 20s have been held in the Southeast Asian country since their arrest soon after the assassination and face the death penalty if convicted. Mr Kim arrived in Malaysia on February 6 last year and was picked up at the airport by the driver of friend Tomie Yoshio, lead police investigator Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz told the Shah Alam High Court in Shah Alam on Tuesday. The driver was instructed to take Kim to his lodgings and other places he wanted to go after Mr Kim told Yoshio his 'life was in danger' during an earlier visit to Malaysia. 'Six months before the incident on February 13, Kim Jong Nam said "I am scared for my life and I want a driver",' Mr Wan Azirul said, citing police interviews with Mr Yoshio. What is believed to be the moment one of the women approaches Mr Kim (circled) at the airport Mr Kim raises the alarm with airport security minutes before he collapsed and died He did not give any other details about Mr Yoshio or his whereabouts. Gooi Soon Seng, Siti Aisyah's lawyer, argued the killing was politically motivated, with key suspects linked to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, suggesting his client was being made a scapegoat. Mr Kim had criticized his family's dynastic rule of North Korea, some South Korean officials said. Under questioning, Mr Wan Azirul agreed with Mr Gooi that the two women had no motive for the killing, but denied accusations police investigations were 'lopsided'. Defence lawyers said the two women thought they were playing a prank for a reality show and didn't know they were poisoning Mr Kim The pair aged in their 20s have been held in the Southeast Asian country since their arrest soon after the assassination and face the death penalty if convicted Security footage of one of the women at the airport on February 13 last year Mr Gooi earlier asked about Hong Song Hac, a North Korean who paid Siti Aisyah to act on a prank show and was caught on airport video recordings fleeing the country on the day of the killing. Hong, one of the four North Koreans charged with the murder, was an official with the North Korean embassy in Indonesia from 2016 to 2017, Mr Gooi told the court, citing records obtained from Indonesia's foreign ministry. Mr Wan Azirul could not confirm Mr Gooi's assertion, admitting he had not looked into Hong's background despite naming Hong as a suspect. 'I state that the investigation towards the four suspects is not deep,' Mr Gooi said. 'Yes, correct,' Mr Wan Azirul conceded. The trial resumes on March 14. Siti Aisyah's lawyer, argued the killing was politically motivated, with key suspects linked to the North Korean embassy in Kuala Lumpur, suggesting his client was being made a scapegoat A small town in southwestern Germany has decided to keep a church bell dedicated to Adolf Hitler ringing - but as a memorial to encourage dialogue about violence and injustice. The Herxheim am Berg council voted 10-3 to preserve the bell, which carries the inscription 'Everything for the Fatherland - Adolf Hitler' above a Nazi swastika, as a memorial in its Protestant church. State church authorities had offered to fund replacing the bell, which were widespread during the Nazi era but mostly removed after the war. The church bell with the inscription 'Everything for the fatherland Adolf Hitler' and a swastika Jakobskirche village church in Herxheim am Berg, where the bell is located But a study had concluded removing it would be akin to 'fleeing from an appropriate culture of remembrance' and recommended either leaving it in place with an explanatory plaque, or putting it in a museum. The village of just 700 people has repeatedly caught national attention for the controversial 'Hitler bell'. The bell was cast in 1934 and went unnoticed until church organist, 73-year-old Sigrid Peters, discovered that it featured the dedication to Hitler. It was decided that the bell would serve as a means of encouraging discussion about the violence and injustice of Adolf Hitler's rule Some church-goers were dismayed to find out that they had got married, baptised their children or joined other religious ceremonies and events under the Hitler bell. Last year the former town mayor, Roland Becker, resigned over comments that appeared to defend not just the bell but the Nazi era. Amid the controversy, the bell was silenced last September and a second one used, pending the municipal decision in the southwestern village near the university city of Heidelberg. At a meeting in the village, mayor Georg Welker said that 'the community needs clarity which way we should go'. He presented an expert's opinion that judged the bell had heritage value and should either stay in place or be taken to a museum. Disposing of it would represent 'an evasion of a reasonable and enlightened culture of remembrance', the expert's opinion found. The decision by the council to keep the bell was greeted with applause from many community members, DPA reported. More than 170 Qantas passengers are stuck in Perth overnight after their flight to Sydney had to turn back due to a mechanical fault. Flight 566 took off from Perth Airport at 3.30pm on Tuesday. Everything was normal until 40 minutes into the flight when the pilot noticed a warning light come on in the cockpit. He turned back and landed in Perth where engineers found that one of the plane's sensors was broken. More than 170 Qantas passengers are stuck in Perth overnight after their flight to Sydney had to turn back due to a mechanical fault Because certain flights are not allowed to land in Sydney after 11pm, the passengers were unable to get another flight. Qantas has put them up in a hotel and given them food vouchers. The passengers will get another flight on Wednesday morning. Nicola Sturgeon took a step closer to triggering a major constitutional crisis today warning it was 'very likely' the Scottish Government would refuse to agree flagship Brexit laws. The First Minister said Westminster's current offer on devolution after Brexit was still not good enough. The Scottish Parliament must normally pass a 'legislative consent motion' for the EU Withdrawal Bill to become law and Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly warned she will not move a motion without new safeguards. Ministers in Westminster can technically press ahead with the laws - which copy EU rules into British law ahead of exit day - without Scottish permission. But doing so would be unprecedented since devolution and would trigger a major row between London and Edinburgh. Ms Sturgeon has separately launched her own set of laws in Scotland that would mirror the Westminster legislation with extra safeguards for devolution. The First Minister has done so despite the Scottish Parliament's presiding officer - the equivalent of Commons Speaker John Bercow - saying it is outside Holyrood's powers. Ms Sturgeon has the support of Scotland's top law officer. Nicola Sturgeon (pictured today in London) took a step closer to triggering a major constitutional crisis today warning it was 'very likely' the Scottish Government would refuse to agree flagship Brexit laws. The First Minister (pictured at the Association of British Insurer's conference today) said Westminster's current offer on devolution after Brexit was still not good enough Cabinet minister David Lidington on Monday said the UK Government had committed to the devolved administrations the 'vast majority' of powers returning from Brussels will start off in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast rather than Whitehall. Downing Street today it had made a 'considerable offer' to the Scottish Government and would continue to work on finding an agreement. But Ms Sturgeon said Holyrood is simply trying to protect the powers that the Scottish Parliament already has over areas such as agriculture, fishing, environmental policy, food standards, justice and health. She told BBC Radio 4: 'After Brexit, in terms of the devolution settlement, those powers should return to the Scottish Parliament and it should be up to us how we exercise them. 'What the Withdrawal Bill seeks to do is restrict and constrain the ability of the Scottish Parliament or the Welsh Assembly to legislate in these devolved areas . 'Westminster effectively wants to be able to impose uniformity in these areas and that's not acceptable in terms of the broad sweep and fundamentals of the devolution settlement.' Theresa May (pictured in Maidenhead on Sunday) can technically press ahead with the laws - which copy EU rules into British law ahead of exit day - without Scottish permission Speaking later at the Association of British Insurers's Conference, Ms Sturgeon insisted: 'We've been trying to avoid getting into the position where we can't recommend consent to the Withdrawal Bill, which the devolved administrations have got to do. 'We've put down amendments, we've been talking for months to the UK Government to try to get a compromise, we even drafted what that compromise looks like and they've failed to really do what needs to be done to get an agreement.' Ms Sturgeon welcomed Jeremy Corbyn's announcement on Monday that Labour would seek to form a 'new and comprehensive' UK-EU customs union to ensure tariff-free trade after Brexit as 'movement' and said she hopes Labour is on a journey towards embracing a single market/customs union outcome. She said there is a chance of seeing a majority in the House of Commons that could keep the UK in the single market and the customs union. However, she said there is equally a 'very real risk' that the UK could 'crash out' of the EU without a deal. This is the hilarious moment a group of penguins are mesmerised by a yo-yo performer. As the man swings the yellow toy around on a string the penguins' heads can be seen moving around in unison to follow the yo-yo's path. A gathering crowd of penguins stands at the edge of their enclosure to gaze at the performer through a glass pane. The adorable footage was filmed at Awashima Marine Park, south of Tokyo in Japan. The video was posted online on Sunday by Twitter user @ninayukisan, and has been viewed almost three million times. At the start of the clip the man is waving the yo-yo on the end of a long string, making large circles and watching as the penguins' heads rotate to follow it. He then pulls it closer to him and performs various tricks, with the toy moving too fast for the penguins to keep up. As he entertains the crowd one of the flightless birds moves around the back of the audience to get a better view. The man then switches style again, almost causing the penguins to crick their necks as he moves the yo-yo up and down. In another video the penguins shuffled as fast as they could to keep up with the yo-yo as the same man moved round the enclosure. As the man swings the yellow toy around on a string the penguins' heads can be seen moving around in unison to follow the yo-yo's path He then pulls it closer to him and performs various tricks, with the toy moving too fast for the penguins to keep up Two Russian women have made the shocking discovery that they were swapped at birth by Soviet doctors in the 70s. Veronika Shevetsova and Tanya Savelyeva, both 39, from Pozhva, Perm region, say their mothers always had their suspicions - but it is only now that DNA tests have proved they were raised by the wrong families. Further adding to the drama of the baby swap is that one of the women grew up with a doting and devoted father - and the other's tried to murder her as a child. Swapped at birth: Tanya Savelyeva, left, and Veronika Shvetsova, right with her son, were handed to the wrong mother at a hospital in Pozhva, Perm in Russia Ms Shevetsova's 'father' Anatoly was convinced that his wife Rimma had given birth to a lover's child as baby Veronika did not look like him. As a result, he tried to suffocate an 10-year-old Veronika by holding a pillow over her face, and Rimma and Anatoly split up. Ms Savelyeva on the other hand grew up as the beloved daughter of a policeman yet is now devastated to learn that he was not her real father. 'I'm shocked,' she said. 'And my family is, too. I have only my parents, no-one else, I love them very much, they love me. 'My children already have a grandmother and grandfather. I do not understand how this could happen, I refuse to understand. 'I grew up as the favourite daughter of my father. I still cannot believe it' Sad start: Veronika Shvetsova's father was convinced that her mother Rimma had conceived Veronika during an affair and never accepted her Attempted killer: When Veronika was ten, her 'father' Anatoly, pictured with her 'mother' Rimma, tried to smother her with a pillow Beloved: Tanya Savelyeva was loved by bother her 'mother' Yulia and her 'father', a policeman, and was devastated to learn that she was not their biological daughter There were only four women in the small maternity hospital in Pozhva, Perm region on 7th March 1978. Against the normal rules, the newborn babies were not tagged. Rimma Shevetsova asked to see her baby's face right after birth because she feared the child would have a birthmark - like her elder daughter. She remembers didn't. In hospital, Rimma recalled she was once given the wrong baby to feed, and she swapped with a mother whose daughter had been born on a train. When she took Veronika home, her husband Anatoly noticed a small birth mark and challenged her angrily: 'You told me there were no marks. Why did you cheat me?' At eight months, Veronika had blonde hair and blue eyes when both parents were dark. Suspicious: Rimma Shvetsova says she always suspected that she had gotten the wrong child as Tanya looked like her older daughter Anatoly was convinced she had been unfaithful. 'He was very offended,' she said. Before Veronika was a year old, she went to see Tanya's mother, Yulia Savelyeva. 'I looked at their Tanya - and she was totally like my oldest daughter, Zhenya,' said Rimma. Yet there were no DNA tests at the time, and nor did the Soviet state easily accept challenges to its wisdom. It would take her another 38 years to prove the painful truth. Yulia Savelyeva recalls: 'Rimma came to us with Veronika, and she said that our children must have been swapped in the hospital. 'She said her husband did not like their daughter, and that she does not look like them. But I did not give up my Tanya, of course. 'My husband loved her. And how could I give away my child, who was already big and smiling? No, I could not. 'And it was hard for me to believe that doctors could do this, swap our children.' Much later, when the girls were at school together, Yulia now also began having doubts, she asked a friend to snap a picture of Veronika. 'We looked at photos of the girl, all our neighbours, relatives, everyone decided that she was like us, our oldest daughter,' she said. 'But still it was hard to believe, and how could we prove it? 'There was no scientific analysis then and the children were already big.' Odd one out: Tanya Savelyeva, right with Yulia Savelyeva, middle, and Yulia's daughter Olya The attempt on Veronika's life by her 'father' Anatoly came around a decade after the swap. 'He thought my daughter was from a different man,' says Rimma. Anatoly tried to smother her with a pillow, and only stopped when Rimma threw a hot iron at him. 'So we broke up. I could not refuse that she was my daughter.' Veronika Shevetsova remembers asking her mother at 11 why they were nothing alike. 'She then answered with a smile - 'probably you were swapped in the hospital'. 'I took it as a joke, but I remembered for a long time, and I kept asking my mother whether I was her daughter or not.' The nagging feelings haunted them all. Several years later, after Veronika had gotten married, she made an unannounced visit to Yulia Savelyeva - her biological mother. 'Everything shrank inside me,' said Yulia. 'We hugged. Then just looked at each other for five minutes, hugged each other again. 'We sat and looked at the photos and drank tea. I showed her Tanya's photos. She said that Tanya was like her aunt. 'No DNA test was necessary to understand that this was my child. She has my hair, my eyes, even voice.' Truth will out: After Veronika, left, visited Yulia Savelyeva, the woman Tanya, right, had called her mother her whole life, the families were prompted to take a DNA test by her mother Rimma Tanya was devastated, however. She was in tears, smashed things around the house, and could not accept her real parents were not those who raised her. Veronika, also stunned after the discovery, said: 'Tanya shouted that I want to take her mother from her, that all this could not be true 'Of course, I'm hurt and sad, too. 'I love my mother, she loves me, I do not complain about how my life turned out, but maybe it could have been so different.' The four women then had a DNA tests, prompted by Rimma Shevetsova, and she wrote to Russian Channel One's Let Them Speak show. The story - the latest of dozens of swaps by Soviet hospitals to come to light later - will be broadcast next month. Veronika said that Tanya later calmed down and they spoke. 'Of course, we talked, and understood that there was nothing to divide. 'Nothing can be returned, we must somehow learn to live with this, now we have two mothers, two grandmothers.' Both women have two children. Veronika works in Perm as a inspector at a major industrial plant and is happily married. Tanya split from the father of her children and they are raised by her ex-husbands parents. She is unable to work because of an illness. It Is too late under Russian law for criminal charges against the staff of the maternity home. But lawyer Igor Savvin representing both mothers and both daughters, is seeking moral damages for them all in a court action. Terrified villagers are forcing their husbands to wear women's clothing and makeup to bed in fear an evil widow ghost will kill them. Other residents of the remote hamlet in Nakhon Phanom, northeast Thailand, are hanging scarecrows with huge penises outside their homes. The village of 90 people flew into a panic after five fit and healthy young men died suddenly in their sleep in recent weeks. They believed a widow's ghost was terrorising the village by seducing men in their sleep and taking their spirits to the afterlife for her to have her way with them. Scroll down for video Terrified villagers are hanging scarecrows with huge penises outside their homes in fear of an evil widow ghost 'killing their husbands' Deeply superstitious locals in response put scarecrows wearing red clothes with giant 80cm erect penises with a painted red tip outside their homes. Some also have labels on them saying 'there is no man here' and others made their husbands wear women's clothes and makeup to bed. The makeshift solution appeared to have worked as not a single man died since the scarecrows were made about a week ago. Relieved pensioner Nong Ayu, 68, said everyone was afraid of the widow ghost and there were rumours men in neighbouring villages had also died. 'Nobody knows why and the village elders are afraid that the young teenagers will die next. There could be no more men left here,' she said. The five deaths of the otherwise healthy men started earlier this month. They died in their sleep shortly after having a bath and going to bed. Villagers believed large penises were a symbol of masculinity and strength which defended against the ghost widow - drawing her to the scarecrows instead of their men Relieved pensioner Nong Ayu, 68, said everyone was afraid of the widow ghost and there were rumours men in neighbouring villages had also died Villagers believed large penises were a symbol of masculinity and strength which defended against the ghost widow - drawing her to the scarecrows instead of their men. Some wives even made their husbands wear makeup and women's clothes when they went to bed, in the hope that the ghost widow would mistake them for a female and stay away. 'The deaths first started with two men in their 40s who were physically strong. They didn't have any diseases,' Piyatida Wai, 36, said. 'They had been bathing then went to bed like normal. Their relatives found them dead in the morning. 'Now my son is afraid that his father will die. We have put the scarecrows up outside the homes. They also have a label on them which says "there is no man here". 'The penis symbolises masculinity. Since hanging in front of the house, no man has died. The villagers do it and we're comforted by our faith.' 'The deaths first started with two men in their 40s who were physically strong. They didn't have any diseases,' Piyatida Wai, 36, said Other residents said the village was always a very normal place to live but the recent deaths shook them. Johnny, 53, who has a Thai mother and American father, said: 'I believe that the ghost of the widow is causing healthy men to die. There have been five deaths already here. 'My wife and child are afraid that I could die and they wanted the scarecrow to protect me. Every house has done the same. 'The long penis about 80cm long with threaten the ghost when she arrives and she will not dare to pass it and enter. It will keep her away and keep the men safe.' Rebecca Zahau, who died back in 2011 The family of a woman who was found dead in a San Diego mansion have launched a $10million civil case against her millionaire boyfriend's brother accusing him of her murder. Rebecca Zahau was found naked and hanging from a balcony at the mansion owned by her boyfriend Jonah Shacknai, the CEO of a pharmaceutical company. It happened just two days after Shacknai's six-year-old son Max from a previous marriage had fallen to his death from a second-story balcony at the mansion. The family claim that Mr Shacknai's brother Adam, a tugboat operator from Tennessee, blamed her for the tragedy because she was responsible for the boy at the time. They allege that he killed Rebecca in revenge and have filed a wrongful death lawsuit. It is claimed that he was the only other person in the house when she died and also that Rebecca's legs and arms had been bound. Investigators recorded her death as suicide in 2011. The trial started on Monday and jurors were selected for the civil case. Forty-five potential jurors spent Monday filling out questionnaires. They will return Tuesday with their filled-out and questioning will continue. Scroll down for video The family of a woman who was found dead in a San Diego mansion (pictured) launched a $10million civil case against her millionaire boyfriend's brother accusing him of her murder Zahau's was found hanging from this second-floor balcony (left). It happened just two days after Shacknai's six-year-old son Max (right) had fallen to his death from a second-storey balcony at the mansion Max Shacknai, aged six, was in Zahau's care when he plunged to his death off a staircase and was found on the first floor, next to a shattered chandelier (pictured) Other views of the staircase that allegedly claimed Max's life at his family home If all runs smoothly, the jury could potentially be sat by the end of the day with opening statements expected as early as Wednesday. The family of Zahau filed the $10million wrongful death suit claiming that she was murdered in 2013 - almost two years to the day after her death. Authorities ruled Rebecca Zahau's death July 13, 2011 a suicide. It was the second bizarre tragedy in days at the multimillion-dollar Spreckels Mansion in Coronado, California, which belonged to Zahau's boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai - the twice-divorced CEO of Medicis Pharmaceutical, which makes Restylane and Dysport for treating facial wrinkles. Just two days earlier, six-year-old Max Shacknai, Jonah's son by his second wife, Dina, fell off a staircase in the home and was found mortally injured next to a shattered chandelier. He died days later in the hospital. Rebecca Zahau was found naked and hanging from a balcony at the mansion owned by her boyfriend Jonah Shacknai, the CEO of a pharmaceutical company. They are pictured here together Zahau was the only adult at the house at the time of Max's fatal fall. His father was at the gym Implement of death: A red rope is seen tied to the leg of a bed on the second floor of the mansion. The other end of the rope was tied to Zahau's neck The rope that Zahau allegedly used to hang herself is seen hanging over the balcony railing A knife is seen in the second-floor bedroom after Zahau's suspected suicide Zahau was the only adult present at the time of the boy's injury. Zahau's sister and her mother are alleging in the lawsuit that Zahau did not kill herself - but was murdered. The court filing doesn't provide any specific evidence, but alleges 'defendants planned and prepared to batter and murder Rebecca and did thereafter brutally, and with malice aforethought, stalk, attack, choke, bound and hang her.' Other Shacknai relatives were implicated by the Zahaus in 2013, including Max's mother Dina and her sister Nina Romano, but last year the family's attorney Keith Greer dismissed the sisters from the lawsuit and publicly apologized to them, reported Town&Country at the time. Jonah Shacknai, the billionaire founder of Arizona-based Medicis Pharmaceutical, which he sold in 2012 to another company for $2.6billion, is not named in the lawsuit. Shacknai and Zahau, an immigrant from Myanmar, had been dating since 2008. An extensive investigation by the San Diego County Sheriff's Office found no criminal wrongdoing in either death and no charges were ever filed. A San Diego Sheriffs Department diagram showing the northeast bedroom at the Spreckels Mansion on the day of Zahau's death, alongside scene photos A diagram of the Spreckels Mansion courtyard on the day of Zahau's death, alongside photos from the scene of the incident The family claim that Mr Shacknai's brother Adam (pictured) blamed her for the tragedy because she was responsible for the boy at the time Adam Shacknai was staying in a guesthouse at his brother's mansion (pictured) Authorities said Zahau killed herself because she was distraught over the fall that Shacknai's son suffered on her watch. Max's death also was ruled accidental. Adam Shacknai, then aged 48, was staying in a guesthouse at his brother's historic Spreckels Mansion on Ocean Boulevard at the time of Zahau's death, the U-T reported. Adam told police he found Zahau hanging naked from a red rope from a second-story balcony at the mansion, and cut her down. The other end of the rope was tied to the leg of a bed. Her hands were bound behind her back, her feet were bound and a T-shirt was wrapped around her lower face. In a deposition, Adam said he felt sorry for Rebecca after Max's fatal fall, and that on the eve of her death he told her she could seek him out if she wanted to talk. He then retired to the guesthouse, took an Ambien and went to sleep. Rebecca spent the night alone in the 27-room mansion. Early the next day, Adam walked over to the main house to get a cup of coffee and found Zahau's naked and bound body hanging from the balcony, after which he placed a 911 call. Lavish property: The remodeled mansion was sold last month for $9million to the owner of a private aircraft company in Utah Officers who responded to the scene found a pair of knives, black paint, brushes, and a cryptic message painted on the door that read: 'She saved him can you save her.' Dina told Town&Country last year that she and Jonah were at Max's bedside as he lay dying at the hospital when the call came in about Rebecca's suicide. She recalled asking her ex-husband why she would do that, he allegedly mimicked the motion of stabbing himself in the stomach and replied, 'Asian honor.' Dina Shacknai told the magazine she is convinced that Max's and Rebecca's deaths are intertwined, but she she does not believe that the woman had attacked the six-year, nor does she believe that she then died of a suicide, nor that Adam was the culprit. In both cases, Dina Shacknai suspects that there was someone else whom police never investigated. The remodeled Spreckels Mansion was sold last month for $9million to the owner of a private aircraft company in Utah. An angry mother threw her young son out from a third floor window after having a quarrel with her ex-husband on the phone in south China. Her four-year-old son survived plunging 30ft from a hotel as he hit on foam box filled with fertiliser before falling on the ground. The 35-year-old mother, surnamed Zhang, is detained for intentional bodily harm. Her son is now recovering in stable condition. A four-year-old boy in China is thrown out of a window by his mother and plunges 30ft down He luckily survived with a head injury and is treated at a hospital immediately (left). Ms Zhang, the mother, is detained by the police for intentional bodily harm (right) According to Wugang Police, officers received an incident report at a hotel in Qingfeng road, Wugang city, Shaoyang of Hunan Province at 11am on February 24. Ms Zhang, who had divorced with her husband just a day ago, were arguing with her ex-partner on the phone as they tried to settle a way to take care of their two sons, aged six and four years old respectively. Local media, Shaoyang First Time, reported that the couple agreed that Ms Zhang to take care of the eldest son and the ex-husband to take care of the second son. The report mentioned that Ms Zhang asked to spend her last night with her younger son and brought the two sons to a hotel in Wugang. The mother spent a night of stay at a hotel on the third floor with her two sons The boy lands on a foam box filling with fertiliser before hitting onto the ground from the fall It's said that Ms Zhang refused to send the four-year-old to her ex-husband and had an argument with her ex-spouse the next morning. She ended throwing her son out of the window from third floor. The boy is said to have head injury as he fell on a foam box before hitting onto the ground. He was taken to the hospital immediately and is now recovering in a stable condition. Wugang police officers arrested Ms Zhang for intentional bodily harm. The case is awaiting for further information. A new report shows that cops were called to Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz's home more times than originally thought. When the 19-year-old was apprehended after killing 17 in a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School two weeks ago, early reports indicated that Broward County Sheriff's deputies had been called to Cruz's home 39 times in the last several years. Sheriff Scott Israel later downgraded that figure to 23, amid increasing criticism that his office should have seen the numerous warning signs. 'Since 2008, BSO responded to 23 incidents where previous contact was made with the killer or his family. STOP REPORTING 39; IT'S SIMPLY NOT TRUE,' a statement from the sheriff's office said on Saturday. But according to new documents obtained by CNN, cops were actually called to the Cruz family home a total of 45 times in the last decade - before his adoptive mother died in November and he and his brother moved in with family friends. Scroll down for video Documents obtained by CNN show cops were called to Nikolas Cruz's (left) home more times than originally thought. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel pictured on the right Above, the Parkland, Florida home where the 45 911 calls originated from. Cruz lived here with his brother and mother until 2017, when they moved just a few months before her death At least 19 of the calls were related to Cruz while 25 were in connection to his younger brother Zachary. The final call was ambiguous as to which boy it was related to. The calls related to Cruz include reports of him fighting with his brother, cursing at his mother and even throwing her against a wall when she took away his Xbox. The severity of the calls get worse over time, culminating in a neighbor, Joelle Guarino, calling officers in 2016 over a worrying Instagram post in which Cruz threatened to 'shoot up a school'. Guarino sat down for an interview with CNN to describe her years living alongside the Cruz family. She says she knew Cruz was a bad egg even when he was a baby, when she caught him hitting her son repeatedly with a plastic toy. She said she was always troubled by Cruz's behavior - especially the way he wouldn't look her directly in the eyes. A few years after the hitting incident, she says Cruz locked himself in one of her rooms and destroyed a train set after he spilled soda on himself and the other kids told him it looked like he urinated. Meanwhile, former neighbor Joelle Guarino (pictured) is speaking out to detail Cruz's disturbing behavior growing up His outbursts grew more and more violent over time. When Cruz was 10, Guarino says he threw a rock at her son which hit him in the eye. When she visited the Cruz home, she also noticed holes in the walls from where Cruz would get angry and punch the wall. Then she started noticing Cruz killing toads on her lawn and dissecting them. But it was one incident in the eighth grade that led Guarino to order her kids to stay away from Cruz. One day she said she noticed Cruz standing over her dog Max while he was convulsing and foaming at the mouth. Cruz had on a chilling expression, she said. 'His face was excited that it was happening - with this wild satisfaction look,' Guarino said. 'As soon as he saw me his demeanor changed.' After that, she told her sons to keep their distance from Cruz and to avoid making him angry. Meanwhile, the situation at the Cruz family home only seemed to deteriorate, with Lynda regularly calling police to deal with her son. Guarino says she called cops in 2016 when she saw some of Cruz's disturbing Instagram posts Guarino says that anytime police would show up though, Lynda would change her story and say that Cruz hadn't been violent and they would let him go. 'Lynda always denied it. She would blame it on everyone else,' Guarino said. 'She would excuse him for everything.' Despite her orders, Cruz continued to stay in contact with one of Guarino's sons, sending him a text at one point saying he 'got 12 kills today' after going paint-balling. Guarino says that Cruz would use BB guns to shoot squirrels, birds and other small animals. Guarino says she eventually decided to call 911 in 2016, when her son showed her some of Cruz's Instagram posts, including one showing an AR-15-style assault rifle with a caption about how he couldn't wait to turn 18 to buy one. In another post, he wrote about he wanted to 'shoot up a school'. Lynda Cruz pictured above with her son in this throwback picture. She died in November of pneumonia and Cruz and his brother were sent to live with family friends But when Guarino called cops to report him, they said there was nothing they could do. 'There is nothing I can do,' she said the deputy told her. 'Until he does something there is nothing I can do.' Guarino was so afraid of Cruz getting a gun when he turned 18 that she was prepared to move her family out of the neighborhood before Cruz became a legal adult. Luckily, just before he turned 18 last year, the Cruz family moved first. The families fell out of contact then, with Lynda Cruz dying later that year from pneumonia. But as soon as news of the shooting broke, Guarino says she immediately knew who the shooter was. 'I had no doubt he was going to do this,' Guarino said. 'My husband and I both knew that we would eventually see him one day on the news, wearing an orange jumpsuit being charged with murder.' A 68-year-old woman was chased down the road with a running chainsaw in a town where children as young as 11 are addicted to ice. Mandy, who declined to give her last name, told Nine News she lives on a street in Murray Bridge, South Australia, with eight ice dealers. 'There was (also) an argument between two families, and the male member of one family smashed a bottle and aimed it at the head of a six-month-old baby that its mother was nursing,' she said. Over the past 10 years, Mandy says she has made more than a thousand reports about the dealers to police. Mandy, 68, says she was chased down the street by someone holding a running chainsaw in Murray Bridge, where she lives on the same street as eight ice dealers Murray Bridge, about an hour south-east of Adelaide, has been decimated by a scourge of ice, with young children becoming hooked on the drug Murray Bridge, located about an hour south-east of Adelaide, has been destroyed by a scourge of methamphetamines, and Superintendent James Blandford says it's affecting residents of all ages. 'Murray Bridge has a significant issue with drugs, particularly methamphetamine,' he told the network. 'People who aren't even in their teenage years, 11, 12 years old, right through to grandparents [are becoming addicted].' One shop owner says she sees children as five or six entering a home belonging to an ice dealer 'to collect drugs for their parents'. Another resident claims she has seen children as young as five picking up the drug from dealers on behalf of their parents The problem came to light after the brutal and fatal bashing of Sally Rothe, 54, in her Murray Bridge home. When Major Crime detectives raided more than 100 properties in the area as they searched for suspect Travis Kirchner, they were left stunned at the conditions they found people living in. But the community has been battling its drug problem for years - during a community forum in 2015, Sergeant David Hunt of SAPOL's Serious and Organised Crime Branch said there was 'no doubt' Murray Bridge had a problem with drugs. Sergeant Hunt also recognised the rising use of methamphetamine in the area, Power FM reported at the time. Children as young as 11 are addicted to ice, the area's police Superintendent has said Supt Blandford told Nine News all of Australia needed to begin talking about what drove the demand for the drugs in order for any police action to be effective. 'It breaks your heart when you see these families and you see these kids believe that's normal. 'I'm not quite sure what normal is anymore, but that's not normal.' SA Best leader Nick Xenophon told Nine he wants to see South Australia's level of ice use halved by 2020 through the use of mandatory rehab. Advertisement Naples has seen its heaviest snow in half a century as a blast of Siberian weather continued to send temperatures plunging across Europe. The snowfall led to the closure of the city's airport and transport in the city was severely disrupted while schools were forced to close. The city's record snowfall came as at least 12 people died during the blizzard in four European countries and temperatures plummeted well below zero across the continent. A couple brave the snow in Piazza del Plebiscito in Naples. The city has seen its heaviest snowfall in half a century Snow is clear from a street in the Camaldoli's Hill, Naples. Residents have been told not to leave their homes unless it is 'strictly necessary' Neapolitans taking part in a snowball fight at Maschio Angioino during the cold snap that has hit the southern Italian city Polish police said five people died from hypothermia in freezing cold as low as minus 22C - bringing the number of deaths from hypothermia in the country to 58 this winter. Another three died in Romania where snowdrifts closed dozens of roads and stranded drivers all night, and three died in France where snow piled on the beaches of Corsica for the first time in 30 years. In Lithuania, temperatures dropped to as low as minus 26 degrees Celsius overnight, and one suspected death of a man from freezing was reported in the capital Vilnius. One of the coldest temperatures is Europe was recorded at minus 30.4C on Germany's highest peak, the Zugspitze, with minus 10C common across the country. Even colder was at Glattalp in Switzerland, where the temperature fell to minus 38C - extreme even for the 1,850m altitude area. The historic ruined ancient Roman city of Pompei with a snow covered Mount Vesuvius in the background Snow lies on the ground in Pompei. The blast of cold air has now hit the southern Mediterranean Snow covers the area around Maschio Angioino during cold weather in Naples An inaccurate forecast in Naples meant that the city's civil emergency department did not initially order the closure of its schools. Naples' education department said the inaction was in contrast to the 'copious snowfall', which has 'whitewashed the city', the Italian Insider reported. The city's mayor has advised residents of the southern Italian port only to leave their homes 'if strictly necessary'. Naples' Capodichino airport was closed for around 90 minutes on Tuesday morning due to poor visibility caused by the snow, while bus, tram, and train traffic was also affected. A rare snowstorm brought Rome its first snowfall in six years and disrupted transport, shut down schools and prompted authorities to call in the army to help clear the streets. The Italian capital's first snowfall since February 2012 saw about three to four centimetres settling on the ground on Sunday. Schools were closed in the city on Monday as local authorities opened several train stations as emergency shelters for the homeless. A driver in Naples fitting snow chains to his car (left) while others (right) walked through the snow that fell in the Camaldoli's Hill area of the city A blanket of snow forced the closure of Naples' Capodichino airport, which was forced to close for 90 minutes Local people came out to glimpse the unusual site of snow on the city's seafront People playing in the snow in Naples. Schools across the city were forced to close because of the weather A woman out in the snow taking a picture in Piazza del Plebiscit. Schools in the city will be closed for nine days because of the snow and Italy's general election British and American students were captured on camera as they took part in a snowball fight, singing their respective national anthems as they pelted each other with snowballs in St. Peters Square in the Vatican. Elsewhere in Italy, the snow led to the closure of many schools and daycare centres, to the consternation of parents already preparing for closures next week linked to this weekend's general election. Public anger was also growing over the disruptions to rail services across the country, as travellers learned that many track switches did not have defrosting equipment, meaning they had to be dug out by hand. And a driver in Turin got a fright when a stalactite broke off from an overhead bridge and shattered his windshield - though he managed to keep control of his vehicle. Sculptor Francesca Antonello moulds snow into a face as people look out towards the ancient Roman Forum covered in snow A view of Rome's snow-capped skyline, with the Monument of the Unknown Soldier seen at right, after snowfall on Monday Tourists from across the world came together to play with the snow in the iconic St. Peter Square in the Vatican on Monday The icy weather is in stark contrast to conditions in the Arctic itself, which is experiencing an 'off-the-charts' heatwave this week, according to the European Geosciences Institute. Meteorologists have documented temperatures above freezing in some parts of the Arctic, causing astonishment among many scientists. Temperatures in Poland were expected to remain below minus 12C across the country on Tuesday, with the cold made worse by a biting wind. Authorities in some cities and towns, especially in the east where temperatures are lowest, will be placing coal heaters in the streets to help people keep warm. Dutch authorities banned boats from some of Amsterdam's iconic canals to help them freeze over so that residents can lace up their skates and glide over the frozen waterways for the first time since 2012. As well as banning boats, the local water authority said it is closing sluices and locks to help ice growth by slowing the movement of water. 'We are doing everything we can to allow residents and visitors to hopefully be able to skate on the canals,' Alderman Udo Kock said. The Holsten Gate, a landmark of the northwestern German city of Luebeck, is covered in snow as vast parts of the country shivered through minus 10C temperatures A worker removes snow from a railway switch point close to the North Station in Bucharest as three people froze to death across the country during the blizzard Snowdrifts closed dozens of roads and stranded drivers all night across Romania In France, which has remained frigid but dry during the cold snap, forecasters warned of heavy snow across much of the country starting Wednesday - though spring-like temperatures would soon follow. On Tuesday, residents of Ajaccio on the French Mediterranean island of Corsica woke up to some 15 centimetres of snow on the beach, something not seen since 1986. In the makeshift camp set up along the banks of a canal that runs through north-east Paris, a group of largely Afghan migrants lit a small fire on to warm up their hands after a sleepless night which saw temperatures drop below minus 5C. Across the continent, authorities have been opening emergency shelters and increasing relief efforts for the homeless. The mayor of Etterbeek in Belgium said those sleeping rough would be forcibly detained if they refused to go to shelters, citing the 'major risk' from exposure to the cold. In Berlin, rising fears for homeless people led officials to open an additional 100 beds, with the city's shelters, now with a total of 1,200 beds, more than 90 percent full, RBB public radio reported. The German chancellery said the weather would force the cancellation of a display of military honours planned for Wednesday in Berlin for the arrival of Ghana's president, Nana Akufo-Addo. Chief of Staff John Kelly was not initially 'enthusiastic' about sending first daughter and top White House adviser Ivanka Trump to South Korea as the leader of the American delegation for the closing ceremony of the Olympic games. CNN reported that Ivanka Trump's unique position in the White House is ruffling feathers, with Kelly getting increasingly frustrated over the first daughter having it both ways she'll play the role of White House adviser when it best suits her, and first daughter when being an official doesn't get her what she wants. Kelly has said privately that Ivanka Trump is merely 'playing government,' CNN said, with the chief of staff calling one of her main policy proposals, the child tax credit, 'a pet project.' Scroll down for video Chief of Staff John Kelly (left), according to CNN, was not enthusiastic about sending first daughter and top White House adviser Ivanka Trump (right) as the U.S. delegation's leader to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders (left), who accompanied Ivanka Trump (right) on the South Korea trip, said that both Chief of Staff John Kelly and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster were ' supportive of the trip since the planning process began' It was President Trump's idea, according to a senior official from the White House, to send his daughter on the trip. Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders was quick to push back on the narrative that there's a kids-versus-adults dynamic playing out in the White House. It's been long reported that Kelly's arrival in the West Wing in late July of last year was greeted as a positive development by Ivanka Trump and her husband Jared Kushner, but CNN's new reporting suggests that enthusiasm has waned. 'General Kelly and General McMaster were supportive of the trip since the planning process began,' Huckabee Sanders told CNN. 'We all thought it was a great success.' 'Ivanka was a great representative for the administration,' she added. But CNN's reporting comes a day after Politico reported that Secretary of State Rex Tillerson was annoyed that Kushner was encroaching on the top diplomat's turf. 'We can't have four secretaries of state,' Tillerson reportedly fumed, pointing out how Kushner, along with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley and National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster were all working on issues traditionally in the secretary of state's portfolio. Kushner is working on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as policy with China and Mexico. When Kelly tried to intervene as he's reportedly tried to quash staff 'freelancing' Kushner got perturbed. 'No, but we need a secretary of state who is supportive of the president,' Kushner reportedly said. Tillerson's beef with the couple seemingly goes back months, as he had hung Ivanka Trump out to dry when she headed to India, at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, last November. The secretary of state refused to send a high-level delegation from the State Department along with her. 'Rex doesn't like the fact that he's supposed to be our nation's top diplomat, and Jared and now Ivanka have stepped all over Rex Tillerson for a long time,' a source told CNN back then. 'So now, he's not sending senior people from the State Department to support the issue. He's not supporting Ivanka Trump.' On her more recent foreign trip, the White House made very clear that Ivanka Trump was there as a member of the administration, and not as some sort of figurehead like a first lady. Senior administration officials pushed back on a report in the South Korean press that said Ivanka Trump would receive a red carpet welcome when she arrived in Seoul. 'I think Ivanka and the members of the delegation will be treated as members of the presidential delegation and nothing different than that. That is how she is going,' an official told reporters on a press call last Wednesday, the day before Ivanka Trump would fly commercial to the Asian country. The White House also suggested that Ivanka Trump wouldn't wade too deeply into foreign policy, noting that she wouldn't be meeting with the North Korean delegation nor any defectors from the so-called 'hermit kingdom.' In Seoul, however, Ivanka Trump dined with President Moon Jae-in and passed along the latest information on new sanctions against the North Korean regime. She 'discussed the continued effort on the joint maximum pressure campaign against North Korea,' one White House official said. Asked if this was an appropriate role for her to play, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin told reporters, 'Ivanka Trump has been briefed on this. She's part of the team.' 'She had dinner with President Moon. They had a private discussion in advance about this occurring,' Mnuchin said of the new sanctions. And in light of Kelly having to decide what to do about Ivanka Trump's husband security clearance, Mnuchin said of the first daughter, 'Yeah, she has the appropriate access to brief President Moon.' A cruel Dolphinarium exposed by MailOnline in the swimming pool of a hotel complex in Armenia has been forced to shut down. The British marine mammal charity which led the fight to rescue bottle nosed dolphins kept as a tourist attraction announced the news today. The stressed and lonely creatures in buildings adjacent to the Best Western Paradise Hotel Dilijian - not far from the Armenian capital of Yerevan - saw little natural light or heard other creatures in their captivity. A pair of bottlenose dolphins held captive in a indoor swimming pool under the Best Western Paradise Hotel Dilijan Armenia to be used for dolphin therapy The Dolphinarium promises swimming with dolphins can help with a variety of illnesses but experts say other animals can have the same effect They swam endless laps of the pool built originally to accommodate humans and were offered up as a dubious form of 'therapy' to 'cure' sick children. The Best Western Hotel was not the operator of the facility, although several guests complained on its website about the dolphinarium. Now the charity Marine Connection in the UK has announced the Dolphinarium was closing and the dolphins would be relocated to Russia. Margaux Dodds, director of the charity, said: 'I am thankful for MailOnline's role in exposing this facility. 'After working hard with my colleagues in Armenia to convince the authorities that this place should close they have now instructed it to cease operation and we are now awaiting the relevant permits from CITES to allow the dolphins to be taken back to Russia. Dolphins are not healers but smart sociable predators and they shouldn't be used to 'cure' the ill, said one expert There is no scientific evidence for dolphin assisted therapy and at best it can have a placebo effect, say experts 'Sadly, as they are owned by the Russians, obtaining the dolphins was never an option, but this is a step in the right direction as it means once these dolphins leave, Armenia will again be a country with no captive cetaceans. 'Marine Connection will continue to work with colleagues in Armenia once these dolphins have gone, to ensure that remains the case in the future.' The dolphinarium operators boasted that children suffering from a range of illnesses - from autism to delayed development and even cancer - benefited from swimming with the creatures in their underground aquatic prison. But 'dolphin assisted therapy', as it is termed, has been widely debunked by global experts. 'Dolphins are not healers but smart sociable predators and they shouldn't be used to 'cure' the ill,' Lori Marino, a neuroscientist at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, who has been studying dolphins and whales for 25 years, said. 'Thousands of families visit DAT facilities and end up gaining nothing that they could not have gained from interacting with a puppy. Captive dolphins spend their lives under tremendous stress as they struggle to adapt to an environment that is drastically different from the wild 'Hidden behind their smile, and therefore largely invisible to patients and vacationers, captive dolphins spend their lives under tremendous stress as they struggle to adapt to an environment that, physically, socially and psychologically, is drastically different from the wild. 'The results are devastating. Stress leads to immune system dysfunction. Often they die from gastric ulcers, infections and other stress and immune-related diseases, not helped by their sometimes being given laxatives and antidepressants that are delivered in their food. 'The worst of it, perhaps, is that there is absolutely no evidence for DAT's therapeutic effectiveness. 'At best, there might be short-term gains attributable to the feel-good effects of being in a novel environment and the placebo boost of having positive expectations. Nothing more. 'Any apparent improvement in children with autism, people with depression, and others is as much an illusion as the "smile" of the dolphin.' The filtration system of the pool would not be able to cope with the amounts of waste these dolphins will expel The day MailOnline visited the dolphins late last year the creatures, estimated to be about four or five years old, were once again the star attraction for a group of visiting children who indeed were delighted by their permanent grins. But they were not a 'smile' at all, but a result of their jawbone development which gave the false appearance of endless happiness. Dolphinariums of the sort at the hotel were permanently banned in the UK two decades ago thanks chiefly to the efforts of the Marine Connection charity concerned with all aspects of dolphin and whale welfare. Director Margaux Dodds, who led that campaign to shut down the UK sites, was appalled when she saw the photos and videos of the dolphins - creatures that came from Russia under dubious circumstances. A CITES certificate - Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora - that the operators held testifying to the provenance of the dolphins appeared to be false. The certificate said the dolphins came from the Morskaya Zvezda Dolphinarium in Sochi on Russia's Black Sea. Guests who stayed at the hotel have angrily hit out at the keeping of dolphins in the swimming pool and called for a boycott But Ms Dodd said a close inspection of the CITES permit showed that CITES did not have its number, nor the security stamp on it. 'My concern, given that there is a zero capture quote from the Black Sea, would be that these dolphins were wild caught, taken into captivity briefly and then listed as captive source - this is not uncommon,' she said. 'Wherever they came from, a swimming pool built for humans is no place for them to be. The filtration unit of the pool alone could not cope with the amounts of waste these dolphins expelled. 'These are wild sea mammals, not pets. There is no benefit to children or others derived from swimming with them. Captive dolphins live shorter lives and sadder lives.' Ms Dodds, whose charity's website - www.marineconnection.org announced the closure - added: 'We are grateful for all the support we have received to shut this place down.' Taiwan's premier was forced to call for calm on Tuesday after people began panic-buying toilet roll amid rumours of a major price hike. Supermarket shelves were stripped bare and online retailers cleaned out amid what has been dubbed the 'toilet paper apocalypse'. One popular internet store, PChome, said it had sold five millions packs of toilet tissue in just three days. William Lai, the premier of Taiwan, has been forced to call for calm after people started panic-buying toilet paper amid rumours of a major price hike Shoppers began loading up on toilet tissue after manufacturers warned supermarkets that prices could go up by 30 per cent from mid-March Panic set in after manufacturers warned stores that prices could rise by up to 30 per cent from mid-March because of a rise in the cost of pulp. Customers currently pay around 4.89 for a 12-pack of toilet tissue, but could end up paying 6.35 if the rises go ahead. William Lai, the premier of Taiwan, issued a statement on Tuesday asking the public 'not to panic and not to rush to buy.' 'The supply is sufficient and everybody will have toilet papers,' he said. Shoppers currently pay around 4.89 for a 12-pack of toilet roll in Taiwan, but could end up paying 6.25 from next month if the hikes go ahead Online retailer PChome said it sold five million packs of toilet tissue in just three days as supermarket shelves were emptied out Taiwan's government has also asked the Fair Trade Commission to look into allegations of price fixing by manufacturers and major retailers. The investigation will seek to find out whether toilet paper vendors have colluded to raise prices without just cause, which would 'undermine market order'. YFY Inc., one of the island's largest tissue suppliers, said the cost of short-fibre pulp used in the production of toilet paper has risen 50 percent since mid-2017. An 'imbalance in supply and demand' caused the production cost per tonne of pulp to rise from 467 in February 2017 to 571 just a year later. Retailers had already adjusted prices by 5 to 8 per cent last year, but they are now set to hike the prices even higher to reflect the current market situation. Advertisement Luxury flats, where literary giants HG Wells and Arnold Bennett lived and met to debate their favourite novels, has gone on the market for 2.35million. The four-bedroom family home is in London's Chiltern Court and the building has plaques commemorating both men on the outside. The Baker Street building in the Marylebone area of London was home to Wells for six years from 1930 and Bennett lived there in 1930 and 1931 until he died from typhoid. Literature lovers do not need to wage a War of the Worlds to buy this stylish apartment in the block of flats that was home to author HG Wells - but they will need to stump up 2.35million The four-bedroom family home is in London's Chiltern Court and the building has plaques commemorating both men on the outside The Baker Street building in the Marylebone area of London was home to Wells for six years from 1930 and Bennett lived there in 1930 and 1931 until he died from typhoid During the 1930s, the large reception room hosted high-brow events, including an analysis of the content of Wells' work The Shape of Things to Come, Bennetts Riceyman Steps and a look at Lows political cartoons for The Star, The New Statesman and Punch Magazine Luxury flats, where literary giants HG Wells (right) and Arnold Bennett (left) lived and met to debate their favourite novels, has gone on the market for 2.35million During the 1930s, the large reception room hosted high-brow events, including an analysis of the content of Wells' work The Shape of Things to Come, Bennetts Riceyman Steps and a look at Lows political cartoons for The Star, The New Statesman and Punch Magazine. It was also the venue for heated debates about developments in Stalins Russia, Hitlers Germany and Mussolinis Italy. The club ran up to the outbreak of the Second World War, with guest speakers including Beatrice Webb, Emmeline Pankhurst and Frank Podmore. This flat on the second floor is now on the market with Kay & Co with a 94-year leasehold. Chiltern Court was commissioned by the Metropolitan Railway and built between 1911 and 1914. It served as the company's headquarters and a luxury hotel before it was converted into one of the best apartment buildings in London in 1929. It had 180 high-class apartments that, at the time, were advertised for between 175 and 750 a year, which would be about 11,500 to 50,000 in today's money. It was also the venue for heated debates about developments in Stalins Russia, Hitlers Germany and Mussolinis Italy The club ran up to the outbreak of the Second World War, with guest speakers including Beatrice Webb, Emmeline Pankhurst and Frank Podmore The flats boasted many different services, including central heating, refrigerators and wireless telephones and a luxury restaurant for residents. Wells, who is best known for The Time Machine (1895) and The War of the Worlds (1898), lived and worked in the building from 1930 to 1936. The author, who was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times, became increasingly political in his later works and wrote little science fiction when he lived here. Bennett was best known for his novel A Man from the North, which was published to critical acclaim in 1898, and as a journalist for Woman magazine. He died at home here in March 1931. He had returned from a trip to Paris where, in defiance of the waiter's advice he had drunk tap water in a restaurant. This flat on the second floor is now on the market with Kay & Co with a 94-year leasehold Chiltern Court was commissioned by the Metropolitan Railway and built between 1911 and 1914. It served as the company's headquarters and a luxury hotel before it was converted into one of the best apartment buildings in London in 1929 It is believed his death was one of the last occasions when the practice of spreading straw in the street to dull the sound of traffic outside the home of a dying person was carried out in London. The apartment offers 1,685 sq ft of accommodation with a spacious kitchen, two reception rooms, four bedrooms and a bathroom. The building has a 24-hour concierge and a lift, but the new owner will have to pay 13,000 a year in service charges. It had 180 high-class apartments that, at the time, were advertised for between 175 and 750 a year, which would be about 11,500 to 50,000 in today's money The flats boasted many different services, including central heating, refrigerators and wireless telephones and a luxury restaurant for residents Wells, who is best known for The Time Machine (1895) and The War of the Worlds (1898), lived and worked in the building from 1930 to 1936 Martin Bikhit, managing director at Kay & Co, said: 'Chiltern Court has been a desirable luxury address for notable residents for decades' It is in a desirable location close to Regents Park and near Chiltern Firehouse, a popular celebrity hangout with A listers including David Beckham, Kate Moss, Bradley Cooper and Orlando Bloom It is in a desirable location close to Regents Park and near Chiltern Firehouse, a popular celebrity hangout with A listers including David Beckham, Kate Moss, Bradley Cooper and Orlando Bloom. Martin Bikhit, managing director at Kay & Co, said: 'Chiltern Court has been a desirable luxury address for notable residents for decades. 'Completed in 1935, the stylish mansion apartments offer lateral living in a fantastic central location. 'The building has two brown plaques to commemorate famous authors HG Wells and Arnold Bennett and we know that literary enthusiasts will love its fascinating history.' Britain's longest serving ice cream seller is celebrating serving more than three million cones in his lifetime. Frank Penna, 85, has been selling ice cream since he was seven years old and is yet to hang up his scoop. The grandfather-of-nine can be still be found manning the kiosk at Hull's Pearson Park where he and his family have dished up the treat for seven decades. Mr Penna said: 'I have sold ice cream since I was seven-years-old - penny, tuppence and threepence cornets. 'I don't do as much as I used to - my knees are going now. The family do most of it now.' Frank Penna, 85, has been selling ice cream since he was seven years old and is yet to hang up his scoop Mr Penna has been selling ice creams at the kiosk at Hull's Pearson Park (pictured) since 1959 Frank Penna's grandfather, Francesco, sold ice creams in Hull after arriving in the city in 1889 Mr Penna's Italian grandfather, Francesco, arrived in Hull in 1889 having learned about the ice cream trade in New York. He then started making his own ice cream to sell on the streets of the port city. 'Back then there wasn't much going for business in Italy', Mr Penna explained. 'You either worked in oranges or lemons. In Hull, the opportunities were many.' He added: 'Because we made our own ice cream, it was always vanilla. 'Over time they did introduce ice lollies and such but we never added any other flavour ice cream. 'Vanilla is the best selling flavour, I do sometimes get asked for others but nobody ever seems disappointed when we say we only have the one flavour. 'It might not be your favourite...but it is not disliked.' The grandfather-of-nine can be still be found manning the kiosk at Hull's Pearson Park Mr Penna has been serving at the same kiosk in Hull (pictured in the 1990s) since 1959 Mr Penna's grandfather developed his business and opened up a store in the 'Little Italy' area of Hull, in North Street. He made ice cream which would be sold to vendors and hired out in Penna's ice cream barrows on a daily basis. The family's fortune rose, with the Pennas owning 15 barrows, three Tricycles and three horse-drawn ice cream carts, stables and horses. Mr Penna pictured serving ice creams in Hull aged 17 - he is still going strong today During the Second World War, when Mussolini declared Italy allies to Hitler, Winston Churchill responded by announcing that the head of every Italian family living in Britain be interned. Worried that Francesco was too frail, Mr Penna's father volunteered to take his place. Four months later, he was returned to his family as a naturalised citizen and, having fought in the East Yorks Corps in the British Army in the First World War, was deemed as no threat. The family was back together but life was still difficult, as rationing meant the ice cream trade had ground to a halt. Instead Mr Penna's father bought a sawmill and, for the next few years, the family survived by selling kindling on barrows. By 1944 the vital ingredients needed for ice cream were made available again and the Penna family were back in business. Mr Penna, pictured with his van aged 28, is still selling ice creams at the age of 85 Mr Penna split from the family business when his father died in 1959. He said: 'My cousins continued running the factory while I got a few vans of my own and started up myself. 'Eventually I got the contract for the kiosk and the rest is history. We have been running this as a family, with my wife, Anne, also 85, and most of the children, by my side.' He added: 'There's nothing better than a cool ice cream shared with the family on a hot day.' Technology addicted teens are being sent to boot camp to kick their social media and gaming habits with ex-service men and women. Australian teenagers are stepping away from their screens and spending nine days at a boot camp ran by Australian defence force veterans. But the boot camp isn't cheap at $4000 dollars for the technology detox. Scroll down for video The program caters for 12 to 17 year old addicted teens. The boot camp is also targeted to teenagers that are demonstrating poor behaviour, low self-esteem and a lack of respect The ex-service men and women are using their both physical and mental military resilience to help high-school students step out of the virtual world and in to reality The ex-service men and women use both physical and mental military resilience to help high-school students step out of the virtual world and in to reality. Any means of technology is taken off them and bagged up for the nine-day camp in the Springbrook on the Gold Coast. 'The second they get on our bus we take their phones and any technology they have off them straight away,' Glenn Filtness from Veteran Mentors told Seven News. 'We have kids coming in that are lacking self-confidence and addicted to technology,' he said. Any means of technology is taken off the teens and bagged up for the nine-day camp Veteran Mentor was designed by the Australian Defence Force is made up of veterans from the front line of Afghanistan and Iraq. The temporary army cadets polish boots, are put through fitness routines and learn coping mechanisms for real-life obstacles. The program is based around a military ethos of self-discipline, teamwork, moral and physical courage. Australian teenagers are stepping away from their screens and spending nine days at a boot camp ran by Australian defence force veterans The program is based around a military ethos of self-discipline, teamwork, moral and physical courage It is designed for an average teenager who might struggle with low self-esteem or confidence, they may be disobedient, disrespectful or rude. The program can also help teenagers who find it difficult to make friends, if they are disengaging from school or failing to achieve their full potential. Veteran Mentor is not the only Australian course running a military style boot camp for troubled teens with Veterans 4 Youth operating a ten day course in South East Queensland that also caters to primary school students. The camps both disclose they aren't designed to take in teenagers who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, have been in detention or have a history of violence. The family of Megan Evans, pictured, have demanded answers from her school over bullying claims before her death aged 14 The heartbroken parents of a bullied teenage girl who 'was driven to suicide by cruel Snapchat taunts' are demanding answers from her school, an inquest heard. Megan Evans, 14, was allegedly bullied on the social media app in the weeks leading up to her tragic death. The family have also asked to see CCTV footage which may show an alleged assault on the teenager by a male teacher the gates of Milford Haven School, Pembrokeshire, Wales. Dyfed-Powys Police investigated the incident but said there was insufficient evidence to take any further action. But solicitor Kirsten Heaven, representing the family at the hearing, said the family should be allowed to see it and questioned whether the school had kept the recording. She said: 'Who viewed it? It seems to have just disappeared.' Mrs Heaven added there were 'long-standing concerns' about what was happening between Megan and the member of staff. A police spokesman said: 'Dyfed-Powys Police has investigated an allegation of assault against a 14-year-old girl in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire. 'A full investigation has been carried out and there was insufficient evidence to support any kind of prosecution. This information has been shared with the family.' But her parents were never told she was offered counselling in school and issued with a 'time-out' pass when she was struggling to cope in class. Parents Nicola Harteveld and Shaun Evans had even consulted a solicitor four days before her death over the 'extreme' situation. The inquest heard Megan died at her home in Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, in February last year. The inquest heard evidence retrieved by police from Megan's phone could be made available for the hearing. The family are trying to get data held by social media giant Snapchat - but were warned it was unlikely the company will agree. Coroner Paul Bennett said: 'I just don't think you're going to get it.' An inquest hearing was told she was bullied over Snapchat while police also investigated an alleged assault against her at school by a male member of staff The school, pictured, and local council are not commenting on the assault allegation because the inquest has not concluded but police said there was insufficient evidence to take action Witnesses expected to be called when the inquest resumes include members of Megan's Snapchat group and staff at the school. Speaking after her death, Ms Harteveld, of Milford Haven, said: 'Be careful what you say, words can't be taken back. 'They may seem trivial or may be said in anger or jest, but they can't be taken back. 'You don't know how that person will take it so be mindful of someone else's situation. 'I don't want her death to be in vain. I want to raise awareness to parents to keep an eye out for the signs. I just had no idea.' The inquest in Milford Haven was adjourned for another hearing to be held in three months. President Donald Trump labeled a congressional probe that's looking into the possibility that his campaign colluded with Russia a 'WITCH HUNT' on Tuesday as one of his top aides prepared to testify behind closed doors on Capitol Hill. White House Communications Director Hope Hicks testifying before the House Intelligence Committee today in the latest chapter in the standoff between associates of Trump and Congress. The president in four tweets on Thursday morning attempted to redirect focus from his campaign's alleged collusion to accusations that former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is a criminal. The last one simply said: 'WITCH HUNT'. President Donald Trump labeled a congressional probe that's looking into the possibility that his campaign colluded with Russia a 'WITCH HUNT' on Tuesday as one of his top aides prepared to testify behind closed doors on Capitol Hill White House Communications Director Hope Hicks is testifying before the House Intelligence Committee today TALK TO THE HAND: Hicks' position in the White House came under additional scrutiny amid the Rob Porter scandal. Porter is the former staff secretary who was accused of abusing two ex wives Hicks will testify behind closed doors today after a scheduled January appearance was postponed. Her appearance follows a heated clash between the committee and former chief White House strategist Steve Bannon and will renew a fight with lawmakers over what top White House officials are allowed to discuss about actions they took while they were in Trump's service. Trump came out swinging on Tuesday morning as Hicks headed to Capitol Hill for what promised to be an hours-long grilling. ' Ive been skeptical about the collusion and obstruction claims for the last year. I just dont see the evidence....in terms of the collusion, its all a bit implausible based on the evidence we have, " ' Trump tweeted, repeating a statement that George Washington University professor and constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley made Sunday morning on Fox News. The president also quoted Ken Starr, the government-appointed lawyer who investigated Bill Clinton in the '90s, in a tweet that asserted that there has been 'NO EVIDENCE OF COLLUSION' between Trump's campaign and the Russian government to swing the 2016 presidential election. ' "I have seen nothing, the firing of James Comey and all of the aftermath, that suggests that the President has obstructed justice because hes exercising his power as the President of the U.S. I just dont see it," ' Trump pointed to Starr having said. Highlighting Fox News judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano's comments on 'The Story,' Trump tweeted: ' "Hes got a very good point. Somebody in the Justice Department has a treasure trove of evidence of Mrs. Clintons criminality at her own hands, or through others, that ought to be investigated. I fully agree with the President on that." ' Trump tied them all together with his claim that the Russia probes are a 'witch hunt.' White House lawyers are attempting to declare off-limits questions for Hicks and other aides who worked for Trump during the government transition in an extension of executive privilege. The House Intel panel's top Democrat, Rep. Adam Schiff of California, has said it was 'likely' Bannon would face contempt of Congress after failing to answer numerous questions in his last appearance under that veil. 'I suspect that Mr. Bannon has been informed that [the White House] will only stonewall so far,' Schiff said at the Council on Foreign Relations after Bannon only agreed to answer 25 questions that were authorized by the White House. Schiff added, 'They will never allow him to be fined or go to jail, but they do wish to draw the process as long as they can. Hicks is under scrutiny now for the role she played in a White House statement that was drafted aboard Air Force One in response to a New York Times report that Donald Trump Jr. had met with a Kremlin-linked lawyer at Trump Tower. Additionally, the New York Times reported that Mark Corallo, a former spokesman for the president's legal team, planned to tell Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team that Hicks had said that the emails that Trump Jr wrote about the infamous Trump Tower meeting with Russians 'will never get out.' The president's son has already had his turn in the hot seat in the House, as has Jared Kushner the president's son-in-law. Kushner also attended the meeting in Trump Tower. Hicks is one of the president's longest-serving political aides, having joined the campaign at its genesis. Before that, the former teen model handled public relations for Ivanka Trump within the Trump Organization. Hicks' position in the White House came under additional scrutiny amid the Rob Porter scandal, as she had been dating the White House staff secretary at the time that he resigned in disgrace after DailyMail.com revealed allegations of abuse from two of his ex-wives. She and Porter are no longer together, according to people with knowledge of the former entanglement. The stepmother of a missing five-year-old Kansas boy has been charged as the hunt for the child stretches into a second week. Emily Glass, 26, was charged with endangering a child on Monday following the disappearance of her stepson Lucas Hernandez. Lucas has been missing since February 17 when Glass reported that he disappeared while she showered and took a nap in their Wichita home. Scroll down for video Five-year-old Lucas Hernandez has been missing since February 17 when his stepmother Emily Glass, 26, reported that he had disappeared while she showered in their Kansas home Emily Glass, 26, was charged with endangering a child on Monday following the disappearance of her stepson. Glass was originally booked into jail last Wednesday on two counts of child endangerment, with police saying the counts related to Lucas and a one-year-old child. It is not clear if the charge on Monday was related to Lucas or the other child. Police did say the charge faced by Glass was related to information they had obtained during their investigation into the boy's disappearance. Relatives had reported possible child abuse to authorities back in May after seeing a photo of Lucas that appeared to show marks on his arms and cheeks. Other family members had also expressed concerns Lucas had Oi 0been mistreated. Extensive searches involving more than 100 officers, along with dogs and helicopters, have been conducted in parks, nearby streams and the neighborhood where Glass lived. Glass reported that Lucas disappeared on February 17 while she showered and took a nap in their Wichita home Relatives had reported possible child abuse to authorities back in May after seeing a photo of Lucas that appeared to show marks on his arms and cheeks Police conducted extensive searches in parks, nearby streams and the neighborhood where the family lives before locals joined the search on Monday (pictured above) Citizens groups joined the search on Monday but have found no sign of the boy. Investigators have said they found no evidence the boy was abducted. Police reports show officers have been called to the family's home in the past when the boy's father and stepmother fought. Lucas has brown hair and brown eyes, is about 4-feet tall and weighs about 60 pounds. He was last seen wearing black sweats, white socks and a gray shirt with a bear on it. Glass made a brief appearance via video conference from the Sedgwick County Jail to hear the charge against her on Monday and will continue to be held on $50,000 bond. She said she planned to hire her own attorney before her next court appearance March 13. The Bronx District Attorney's Office has been described as a seedy cesspool of philandering prosecutors who turn up to court drunk and cheat on their spouses by a disgruntled former staffer. Crystal Rivera, who worked for the office for 11 years before being suspended last August, made the accusations in a lawsuit against DA Darcel Clark who she is suing for $15million. Rivera was working as a crime analyst when the District Attorney's Office was sued along with NYPD cop, Officer David Terrell who is also Rivera's boyfriend. They were sued by a man who says he was wrongfully arrested and prosecuted over a shooting he had no part in. He was acquitted at trial and filed complaints against both the DA's office and Terrell afterwards. Suspended criminal analyst Crystal Rivera (pictured leaving court on Monday) is suing the Bronx DA's office, where she has worked for 11 years, for $15million Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark is being sued by a disgruntled former staffer who claims she enabled a culture of seedy sex-fused parties and allowed assistant district attorneys to drink on the job. She has not responded to the allegation In response, the DA's office launched an investigation into Terrell who has been described by others as a 'monster' who routinely 'roughs up' witnesses to get their statements. They told Rivera not to have any contact with the cop but she continued speaking to him and in January, was suspended without pay because of their contact. She has since been charged with misconduct. Now, Rivera is claiming the DA's investigation into her boyfriend was part of an elaborate ruse cover up its own incompetence which she describes in detail in her complaint. Along with its apparent failure to prosecute cases adequately, she alleges drunken misconduct and 'unethical' issues too. 'The Office of the Bronx District Attorney is rife with employees engaging in utter incompetence, serious misconduct and unethical practices. 'They routinely shop, consume alcohol in the office and engage in sexual activities in the office and other improper activities instead of investigating and prosecuting crimes against accused criminal defendants,' she claimed. Rivera says the prosecutors began by blaming their hard drinking on tough, emotional cases. 'We would have a party every week. At first it was because, Oh, we had a hard day. We had a hard week. 'We had a hard case." Then it just became routinely popular and our office in our floor was known for partiers,' she told The New York Daily News as she left court on Monday. Rivera says they held 'narcotics parties' where prosecutors would sleep with officers and detectives from the NYPD's drugs units. 'Weve had incidents where ADAs are having sex with each other and they're married,' she said. She alleged that she had seen prosecutors go to court drunk and then return to the bars where they had been drinking once a hearing was over. The former crime analyst says there is 'rife' incompetency within the DA's office (above) but that she and her boyfriend, a notoriously tough NYPD cop, have been scapegoated to cover it up '(The ADAs) would drink and wed page them. They would answer their pagers, go to court physically and mentally intoxicated do their job and come back,' she said. She alleges that Clark is responsible for their alleged misconduct and that she enabled it. 'She is their bureau chief and shes their officer. She should be aware of whats going on in her building. This is her territory,' she said. The District Attorney's Office did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment on Tuesday morning. Terrell, Rivera's boyfriend who she says is being wrongfully targeted by her employers, has been profiled as one of the 'worst' cops in New York City. Shaun King, the prolific anti-corruption New York journalist, quoted Bronx families who he spoke to for an August 2017 article in which they called Terrell 'the terror' and 'a monster'. 'In the Bronx, NYPD Detective David Terrell is called the terror. Ive heard him called a monster, a terrorist, evil, and have had multiple families tell me hes the worst human being theyve encountered in their entire lives. 'Earlier today I was meeting with a family he has terrorized and the mother almost started crying at the very mention of his name. 'I believe them. Ive written nearly a thousand stories on police brutality and David Terrell is one of the top three worst people Ive ever profiled. 'The other two cops are in prison. Terrell should join them,' King wrote. Russian Oligarch Farkhad Akhmedov, 61, is at the centre of Britain's biggest divorce A Russian oligarch ordered to hand his wife 453million in Britain's biggest divorce today claimed he had received 'no justice' after his lawyer was forced to disclose full details of his multi-billion pound fortune. Gas and oil tycoon Farkhad Akhmedov, 61, has shown a 'naked determination' to keep his immense fortune out of the reach of his former wife, Tatiana. He was hit with a worldwide asset freezing order two years ago by a divorce judge who condemned his 'cavalier attitude' to the English courts. But Mrs Akhmedova's lawyers say that, apart from a few relatively low value trinkets, she has 'to date received nothing' from her ex. Now three Court of Appeal judges have come to Mrs Akhmedova's aid in her worldwide quest to track down her ex-husband's fortune. They ruled that the oligarch's former solicitor had rightly been ordered to reveal the whereabouts of his art collection, worth more than 90 million. Tatiana Akhmedova, pictured arriving at an earlier court hearing with her divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton, was awarded 453million in her divorce settlement from her former husband Although communications between Mr Akhmedov and the lawyer would normally be secret, the Court decided the case exceptional. But the tycoon today said the British courts were 'wrong' to intervene in their divorce in the first place as he had already provided for his ex-wife. His spokesman told MailOnline: 'I'm neither surprised nor disappointed by this ruling, even though I had hoped that the higher court might have shown some impartiality. 'Instead its decision proves again that there is no justice for in British courts. That is why I withdrew from the original divorce proceedings. 'The British courts should never have sought to interfere in a former marriage which took place in Russia, between two Russian citizens and which had long been dissolved in that country with generous provision for my ex-wife. 'In seeking a new settlement of that marriage both my ex-wife, for whose lavish lifestyle I have always provided, used the British courts in an opportunistic bid for financial gain. 'It is wrong that the British legal system gave her and her lawyers the opportunity to do so. 'I shall continue to defend all my rights in other jurisdictions, as will those responsible for the trust holding my family's wealth. I believe other courts will act in a more reasonable and less partial manner than the British courts have done.' But Mrs Akhmedova's lawyers say that, apart from a few relatively low value trinkets, she has 'to date received nothing' from her former husband Mr Justice Haddon-Cave awarded Mrs Akhmedov 453,675,152 from her ex-husband, believed to Britain's biggest ever divorce payout in December 2016. She was handed the contents of the couple's former home - worth almost 2.5million - his 350,000 Aston Martin and the 90 million art collection. Mr Akhmedov and a Panamanian company that held most of his assets were also ordered to shell out a 350 million lump sum. But Hodge Malek QC, for Mrs Akhmedova, said she has 'to date received nothing from the husband save for some de minimis assets in the UK.' She had managed to lay her hands on 'some sporting guns and a valuable motor car' and her lawyers had 'arrested' his helicopter and plane. In his ruling, Mr Justice Haddon-Cave described Mr Akhmedov's attempts to salt away his assets as 'seriously iniquitous'. 'He has displayed a cavalier attitude to these proceedings and a naked determination to hinder or prevent the enforcement of his ex-wife's claim,' he added. In particular, he had 'taken steps to hide' the modern art hoard - then worth 90,581,865 - although it had been awarded to Mrs Akhmedova. As part of the asset freezing process, the judge controversially ordered top solicitor, Anthony Kerman, to reveal the whereabouts of the art collection. Under cross-examination, he had to disclose that the collection and other assets were held by 'entities in Liechtenstein'. At the Court of Appeal, Mr Kerman's lawyers argued that forcing him to divulge the billionaire private affairs was fundamentally wrong. The solicitor had been 'ambushed' into revealing privileged information given to him by a former client, argued his barrister, Phillip Shepherd QC. And he was then ordered not to 'tip off' Mr Akhmedov and others about his ex-wife's plans to freeze his assets worldwide. But Sir James Munby, Britain's most senior family judge, ruled that forcing Mr Kerman to divulge his ex-client's dealings was 'justified'. He was no longer instructed by the billionaire in the divorce proceedings and was 'the most obvious potential source of the needed information'. Mr Akhmedova says he pays his former wife to 'live like royalty' and has given her the family home in Weybridge (above) The tycoon's vast fortune includes a sprawling estate in St Jean Cap Ferat, France The gas and oil trader's fortune is estimated to be worth 900million including this superyacht It was also 'hardly surprising' that Mr Akhmedov was not notified of the bid to freeze his assets and that Mr Kerman was ordered not to tip him off about it. It was 'a very plain and obvious case' in which it had been necessary to keep the oligarch in the dark. And Mr Kerman had not in fact been forced to disclose any legal advice that he gave Mr Akhmedov or any instructions that he received from him. Mr Justice Haddon-Cave's award to Mrs Akhmedova represented 41.5% of the 'staggering' family wealth. During their marriage, the couple enjoyed a glitteringly lavish lifestyle, with a 39 million mansion in Surrey, as well as a 27.8 million holiday pad. Mr Akhmedov, who bought a 300m super-yacht from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich in 2014, split from the mother of his two children after 20 years of marriage. The court heard that Mrs Akhmedova, 41, was just 17 when she met her ex, and 21 and pregnant when they married in 1993 and moved to England. 'Mr Akhmedov had nothing like the wealth now enjoyed by him - substantively their wealth was made during the marriage,' Mr Malek said. The billionaire - who started out selling sable furs - made his fortune when he sold shares in Russian company, ZAO Northgas, in 2012 for $1.375 billion. Since the marriage ended in 2014, Mr Malek claimed Mr Akhmedov had 'embarked on a deliberate campaign of trying to defeat the wife's claims by any means possible.' He had shifted almost all of his wealth offshore and 'stripped cash' out of Britain to stop his wife getting hold of it, added the QC. Since the divorce, Mrs Akmedova's lawyers have been trawling the globe in search of her ex-husband's assets, and Sir James Munby's ruling today delivered an important boost to their campaign. More than 2.3 million cars on Australian roads will be compulsorily recalled, as the Turnbull Government looks to protect drivers from exploding airbags. The Federal Government will recall cars with the defective Takata airbags, which have been linked to 23 deaths worldwide, including one in Australia. Assistant Minister to the Treasurer Michael Sukkar will make the announcement at 9am on Wednesday, when he will detail the airbags and particular car models affected. Takata, a Japanese safety-parts manufacturer, had the airbags installed in 100 million cars worldwide. At least 7 million of those have already been recalled. Scroll down for video Stephanie Erdman suffered a serious eye injury (pictured) when the Takata airbag in her Honda Civic deployed and emitted shrapnel from the device Pictured is the Honda Civic driven by Stephanie Erdman, who suffered a serious eye injury when the Takata airbag deployed 2.3 million Australian cars are driving on the roads fitted with potentially deadly airbags. Starting Wednesday, the Government will implement a forced recall of every car The defective airbags were made by Japanese company Takata and shoot shards of metal into the faces and throats of car occupants when released 'The sad thing about this is that this has been waiting in the wings for months and months,' Labor's consumer affairs spokesman Tim Hammond told reporters in Canberra. 'It is an indictment of this government that they have taken them so long to pull the trigger on a compulsory recall.'. Labor called for a recall in August last year. Manufacturers Ford, Holden and Volkswagen are among the carmakers that will be expected to urgently replace the airbags, which can explode. 'We put the safety of Australians first and foremost at all times,' Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters. The Australian compulsory recall is one of the largest of its kind and follows voluntary recalls by car makers last year impacting 1.7 million vehicles. The airbags use ammonium nitrate to inflate, a chemical compound that degrades when it is exposed to moisture. In the defective Takata airbags, the ammonium nitrate burns aggressively, exploding its metal canister and shooting out shards of metal. Since 2013 the defective airbags have been responsible for a series of gruesome injuries across the world What happens when the defective Takata airbags explode? - Certain types of airbags made by Takata Corporation use a chemical called phase-stabilised ammonium nitrate (PSAN) as a propellant - An Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) investigation concluded that Takata PSAN airbags without a desiccant (or drying agent) or with a calcium sulphate desiccant have a design defect - Due to the defect, as the airbag ages and is exposed to high temperatures and humidity, the PSAN propellant is exposed to moisture and degrades - If this happens, when the airbag is triggered and deploys (in a collision), it may deploy with too much explosive force, rupturing the airbag inflator housing so that sharp metal fragments shoot out and hit vehicle occupants, potentially injuring or killing them - Globally, ruptures of defective Takata airbags have been associated with at least 23 deaths and 230 injuries. - In Australia, one person has been killed and another seriously injured in separate incidents involving defective Takata airbags - The defect is located in the airbag inflator and so it may not be necessary to replace the entire airbag system to eliminate the safety risk Source: The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Advertisement Since 2013, the defective airbags have been responsible for a series of gruesome injuries across the world. In 2014 a heavily pregnant Malaysian woman, Law Suk Leh, 43, was killed after her airbag ruptured and sent a shard of metal 2.5cm long into her neck. Her daughter was delivered alive but died two days later. In 2017 a Sydney man, 58, was the first Australian killed by the airbags after he collided with another car in Cabramatta. Everyone else involved in the crash suffered minor injuries but the driver of the Honda CRV was pronounced dead at the scene after the Takata airbag ruptured and sent a small fragment of metal into his throat. Stephanie Erdman, of Florida in the US, said her life 'changed forever' when she lost part of her vision after a minor accident in her 2002 model Honda Civic in 2013. In 2013 Shashi Chopra (pictured) was left completely blind when a passenger side airbag deployed Across the world the deadly airbags have killed 23 people and injured 230 more 'My accident involved moderate frontal impact. The headlights of the vehicle weren't broken. My passenger had mild scrapes and bruises,' she said. Erdman suffered severe injuries to her face when her airbag exploded, leaving a piece of shrapnel embedded in her right eye and neck. In Minnesota in 2013 Shashi Chopra was left completely blind when the passenger-side airbag in her 2002 BMW deployed. Across the world, about 230 injuries inflicted have included the loss of eyesight, severed vocal cords, spinal damage and head injuries, including brain damage. A voluntary recall of 1.7 million vehicles last year by makers Toyota, Mazda and Honda only managed to replace a small amount of the airbags. And while one in five potentially deadly cars were refitted, the process has been largely ineffective. The recall also found 90,000 alpha airbags, a higher risk subset of the Takata models that weren't made to design standards and certain not to deploy in the correct way. The diagram pictured shows a Takata redesign made for car manufacturer Honda in 2009 Pictured is a Takata airbag that was removed from a 2001 BMW vehicle under a factory recall program in the US The alpha airbags were installed in certain Honda, Toyota, Nissan, BMW, Mazda and Lexus cars, in models sold between 2001 and 2004. 'It is critical that owners of cars with alpha airbags installed take steps to have the airbags replaced because of the significant risk of injury or death involved in using cars with these airbags,' The The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said in a statement last September. Despite this, 25,000 alpha versions of the airbag are still in cars on Australian roads. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission will release a full list of makes and models with the potentially deadly airbags installed later on Wednesday. In March last year Takata pleaded guilty to criminal wrongdoing and payed $1billion US dollars in penalties for providing fraudulent testing reports to car-makers on rupture-prone airbags. In June the company filed for bankruptcy. Consumer group Choice have warned that some people may have to wait up to six months for a replacement. Takata airbag Australia recalls *Takata alpha airbags require immediate replacement* BMW BMW 3 Series E46 ALPHA, 12/2001 - 03/2003, PRA: 2013/13576 BMW 3 Series E46, 9/1999 - 8/2006, PRA: 2013/13576 BMW 5 Series E39, 3 Series E46, X5 E53, 2002-2005, PRA: 2016/15581 BMW 5 series E39, 3 Series E46, X5 E53, 2000-2004, PRA: 2017/15881 BMW E70 X5, E71 X6, 2007-201,2 PRA: 2017/16230 BMW E70 X5, E71 X6, 2007-2012, PRA: 2017/16298 BMW E70 X5 & E71 X6, 2013, PRA: 2018/16566 Chrysler Chrysler 300(LE/LX), 2005-2012, PRA: 2016/15516 Chrysler 300, 300C, 2005-2010, PRA: 2015/14742 Chrysler 300, 300C, 2013, PRA: 2018/16617 Dodge Dodge RAM 2004-2010 PRA: 2016/15516 Ferrari Ferrari 458, California, FF, 2008-2011, PRA: 2016/15430 Ford Ford Mustang, 2006-2014, PRA: 2015/14924 Holden Holden Astra MY2005-2009 Holden Astra MY2014-2017 Holden Trax MY2013-2018 Holden Barina MY2012-2018 Holden Cruze MY2010-2016 Holden Cascada MY2015-2017 Honda Honda Accord, CR-V ALPHA, 2001-2002, PRA: 2009/10969 Honda Civic ALPHA, 2001, PRA: 2010/11785 Honda Accord ALPHA, 2001-2002, PRA: 2011/12633 Honda Civic, Accord, Accord Euro, CR-V, Jazz, MDX ALPHA, 2001-2003, PRA: 2013/13549 Honda Jazz ALPHA, 2004, PRA: 2014/14438 Honda Accord Euro, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Civic, Jazz, 2003-2004, PRA: 2014/14498 Honda Accord Euro, CR-V, Civic, Jazz, City, 2002-2009, PRA: 2015/14703 Honda Jazz, CR-V, 2005-2007, PRA: 2015/14702 Honda MDX, Accord, 2001-2007, PRA: 2015/14737 Honda City, CR-V, Insight, Jazz, Jazz Hybrid, 2006-2012, PRA: 2015/14819 Honda City, CR-V, Insight, Jazz, Jazz Hybrid, 2011-2014, PRA: 2016/15197 Honda Civic, Legend, Jazz Hybrid, 2006-2012, PRA: 2016/15198 Honda Accord Euro, City, CR-V, Jazz, Insight, 2007-2011, PRA: 2016/15496 Honda Legend, Odyssey, Accord, MDX, 2003-2011, PRA: 2016/15495 Honda Civic, Accord, 2006-2011, PRA: 2016/15494 Honda Accord Euro, City, Jazz & Insight, 2012, PRA: 2017/15856 Honda Legend, 2012, PRA: 2017/15857 Honda Accord, 2012, PRA: 2017/15859 Honda Civic, 2001, PRA: 2017/15860 Honda Jazz, Jazz Hybrid, Insight and Accord Euro, 2013, PRA: 2018/16523 Jeep Jeep Wrangler JK, 2007-2012, PRA: 2016/15516 Jeep Wrangler, 2013, PRA: 2018/16617 Lexus Lexus SC430, 2000-2003, PRA: 2013/13545 Lexus IS 250, IS 250C, 350, IS F, 2005-2011, PRA: 2016/15425 Lexus IS 250, IS 350, IS 250C, IS-F, LFA, 2011-2012, PRA: 2017/15846 Lexus IS250, IS250C, IS350 & IS-F, 2013, PRA: 2018/16536 Mazda Mazda2 (DE), 2010, PRA: 2016/15522 Mazda2, 2007-2015, PRA: 2016/15521 Mazda RX-8, 2008-2012, PRA: 2016/15521 Mazda6, BT-50, 2005-2011, PRA: 2015/14761 Mazda6, RX-8 ALPHA, 2002-2007, PRA: 2015/14761 Mazda B2500 & B2600, 2002-2011, PRA 2015/14760 Mazda6, CX-7 & CX-9, 2006-2012, PRA: 2017/16232 Mitsubishi Mitsubishi GA & GB i-MiEV, 2010-2011, PRA: 2017/15990 Mitsubishi Lancer, 2003-2008, PRA: 2015/14936 Mitsubishi ML & MN Triton, 2007-2014, PRA: 2016/15523 Mitsubishi Pajero NS, NT, NW, NX, 2007-2016, PRA: 2016/15617 Mitsubishi Pajero NS & NT, 2006-2009, PRA: 2017/15991 Mitsubishi Pajero NT & NW, 2010-2012, PRA: 2017/16025 Mitsubishi Pajero NW & NX, 2013-2017, PRA: 2017/16465 Nissan Nissan N16 Pulsar, Y61 Patrol, 2001, PRA: 2010/11761 Nissan N16 Pulsar, Y61 Patrol, 2001, PRA: 2017/15940 Nissan N16 Pulsar, Y61 Patrol, D22 Navara, T30 X-Trail ALPHA, 2000-2004, PRA: 2013/13542 Nissan N16 Pulsar, D22 Navara, Y61 Patrol, T30 X-Trail, A33 maxima ALPHA, 2001-2003, PRA: 2014/14182 Nissan N16 Pulsar, D22 Navara, Y61 Patrol, T30 X-Trail, J31 maxima, 2003, PRA: 2015/14751 Nissan N16 Pulsar, D22 Navara, Y61 Patrol, T30 X-Trail, J31 maxima, 2004-2007, PRA: 2015/14752 Nissan D22 Navara, T30 X-Trail, J31 Maxima, Y61 Patrol, 2007-2008, PRA: 2015/14821 Nissan D22 Navara, Y61 Patrol, 2009-2012, PRA: 2016/15769 Nissan D40 Navara, 2008-2014, PRA: 2016/15228 Nissan D40 Navara, 2006-2015, PRA: 2017/16363 Nissan Tiida, 2006-2012, PRA: 2016/15383 Nissan C11 Tiida, 2006-2012, PRA: 2017/16363 Opel Opel Astra MY2012 - 2013 Opel Cascada MY2014 Opel Mokka MY2014 Opel Zafira MY2013 Peformax Peformax Silverado, Sierra, Mustang, 2007-2008, PRA: 2015/14789 SAAB SAAB 9-3 MY2006-2011 SAAB 9-5 MY2006-2011 Subaru Subaru Impreza, 2004-2007, PRA: 2015/14715 Subaru Tribeca, Liberty, Outback, 2004-2013, PRA: 2016/15507 Subaru Impreza, Forester, 2008-2013, PRA: 2016/15766 Subaru Exiga, 2010-2014, PRA: 2017/16012 Subaru Liberty & Outback, 2010-2014, PRA: 2017/16013 Toyota Toyota Echo, BETA, 1 July 2003 - 25 Oct 2005, NCP10, NCP13 Toyota Rav 4, BETA , 31 Jul 2003 - 25 Oct 2005, ACA22, ACA23 Toyota Echo, ALPHA OR BETA, 19 Dec 2002 - 18 Dec 2003, NCP10, NCP13 Toyota Rav4, ALPHA OR BETA, 29 Jul 2003 - 19 Aug 2003, ACA22, ACA23 Toyota Corolla, ALPHA, Jul 2001 -Nov 2003, ZZE122 Toyota Avensis, ALPHA, Oct 2001 - May 2003, ACM20 Toyota Corolla, BETA, 23 May 2003 - 1 Mar 2007, ZZE122, ZZE123 Toyota Avensis, 23 May 2003 - 01 Oct 2003, BETA, ACM20 Toyota Corolla, 05 March 2007 - 30 Sept 2013, BETA, ZRE15# Toyota Avensis, 01 Oct 2003 - 25 Dec 2009, BETA, ACM21 Toyota Yaris, BETA, 19 Aug 2005 - 25 Dec 2013, NCP 90/91/93 Toyota Rukus, 26 Feb 2010 - 25 Dec 2015, AZE151 MOTORCYCLES American Honda Motor GL1800, PRA: 2016/15440 Honda GL1800 Goldwing, 2012-2015, PRA: 2017/15906 Honda GL1800 Goldwing, 2012-2015, PRA: 2017/16006 Source: Product Safety Australia - 28/02/2018 Advertisement The Border Force boss accused of employing his mistress allegedly sent dirty texts to the much younger woman while she was applying for a job with his organisation. Roman Quaedvlieg has been off work for nine months amid an investigation into allegations he helped his girlfriend secure customer assistance work with the Border Force at Sydney Airport. The 52-year-old, who has earned about $500,000 while on paid leave since May, denies the allegations. Roman Quaedvlieg has been off work for nine months amid an investigation into allegations he helped his partner secure customer assistance work with the Border Force at Sydney airport He says his relationship with the much younger woman only started after she got the job in December 2016 and claims the texts have been taken out of context. At the time of the woman's application for casual work, he was still married to his wife of 11 years before they separated in January 2017. A report by the head of the public service, Martin Parkinson, is said to have found that Mr Quaedvlieg breached the public service Code of Conduct, according to The Daily Telegraph. Attorney-General Christian Porter is now deciding whether he should penalise Mr Quaedvlieg. He has the power to demote or even sack him. An investigation conducted by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity was handed to the immigration department late last year. Immigration boss Michael Pezzullo then referred the matter on to Mr Parkinson, who compiled a second report. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has asked Mr Porter, rather than Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, to make a final decision. The 52-year-old, who has earned about $500,000 since taking paid leave in May last year, denies the allegations. Pictured: Immigration Minister Peter Dutton and Australian Border Force commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg Mr Porter said he was given the task of deciding Mr Quaedvlieg's fate to avoid perceptions of bias, given the border force boss's reporting obligations to Mr Dutton. The attorney-general requested legal advice from the Australian Government Solicitor to confirm he could make the call, and was given the go-ahead. Executives from the Attorney-General's Department and the Australian Government Solicitor were quizzed about the long-running inquiry at a Senate inquiry in Canberra on Tuesday. Under questioning from Labor senator Penny Wong, the high-ranking officers were unable to say why or when the attorney-general became the decision maker. Nor were they able to say whether Mr Quaedvlieg's associated legal costs were being paid or by whom, taking most questions on notice. Mr Quaedvlieg, who declined to comment on Mr Parkinson's report, stepped aside on May 27 last year. A Nebraska man who was initially questioned for filing a false police report wound up getting himself into even more trouble. Thomas Hartman, 25, was seen on surveillance at the Omaha Police Headquarters in October taking a chair and placing it on an interrogation room table in attempt to stash crack cocaine in the ceiling. The suspect had been questioned for filing a false police report about his brother, Trentell Clifton, who Hartman accused of robbing him of several hundred dollars in cash and a smartphone, according to the incident report. Meanwhile, in the next room, Hartman's girlfriend, 17, was telling details about her experience as a sex trafficking victim under her boyfriend's direction. The age of consent in Nebraska is 17. Scroll down for video Suspect Thomas Hartman, 25, was captured on surveillance attempting to stash crack cocaine in a ceiling in newly-seen surveillance footage The suspect found himself in more trouble as he waited in the interrogation room by himself Hartman was at the Omaha Police Headquarters in October, when he was initially being questioning for filing a false report about his brother robbing him Hartman apparently had not realized he was being watched on video at the time of the incident 'Hey! I think they're going to take me to jail,' Hartman is heard shouting out to his girlfriend through the wall in the surveillance footage obtained by KETV. The officer is heard telling the suspect during questioning: 'You just need to come clean... because I have evidence of him, from the time of this robbery... he's on the other side of town.' Hartman was charged with false reporting after his girlfriend informed police the robbery never occurred. Hartman also admitted to lying about it. 'Babe, babe!,' Hartman is heard screaming out to his teen lover, while waiting in the interrogation room alone afterward. Hartman is shown above on Facebook prior to the October incident which led to him receiving further charges While charging Hartman with false reporting, his 17 year old girlfriend was in another room talking with detectives about sex trafficking (couple shown above) Roughly an hour and a half later, Hartman hopped up on the table to try and hide the drugs - without realizing he was being watched on surveillance - leading police to believe he was attempting an escape. An officer who saw him searching in the ceiling walked in and told him: 'You're at the frickin' police station, man... you just tried to put a chair on the table to get up in the ceiling.' The drugs dropped on the ground and were not found until later on, when a technician was clearing out the room and came across a bag including the white substance. Here, a technician afterward is seen finding the bag of crack cocaine and picking it up 'Mother...,' the technician said in the surveillance footage after finding the drugs. Aside from the false reporting charge, the suspect has been charged with possession of a controlled substance. It's currently unclear whether Hartman is facing charges for the possible sex crimes revealed by his teen partner. DailyMail.com has reached out to the police department for further information. Hartman has been booked to the Nebraska Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln. Hartman is seen above in his mugshot. He has been booked to the Nebraska Diagnostic and Evaluation Center in Lincoln A man shot dead while on Facebook Live had been outing suspected drug dealers online. Prentis Robinson, who is aged in his 50s, was filming himself as he walked down the street near Wingate University's campus, in North Carolina, on Monday morning. Footage streamed live to his Facebook page from his cell phone showed him being shot by a man, identified by police as Douglas Colson. Colson has since turned himself in and has been arrested. Prentis Robinson was filming himself as he walked down the street (left) when he was shot dead by a man identified by police as Douglas Colson (right, in an arrest mugshot after turning himself in) Sources told Fox 46 Robinson had been outing people on Facebook who he believed were selling drugs in his local neighborhood. He would even sometimes work with the cops to help them track down and arrest drug dealers. 'Walking and talking. Just walking and talking. If somebody messed with him he'd definitely go on Live,' a relative said. Cops say that the victim had also visited the police station to report a stolen cell phone just five minutes before he was shot. Prentis Robinson was shot dead while he was filming a Facebook Live video as he walked past Wingate University's campus in North Carolina on Monday Video shows Robinson briefly exchanging words with the suspected gunman (pictured on right) before multiple gunshots rang out and he fell to the ground Wingate police were alerted at about 10.15am on Monday about a man shot on Jerome Street. When they arrived, they found Robinson dead with several gun shot wounds. Robinson's Facebook video captured the final moments of his life before he was murdered. The footage shows him briefly exchanging words with the gunman and Robinson telling him that he is 'on live'. Seconds later multiple gunshots can be heard and Robinson falls to the ground. The gunman was captured on video walking over Robinson and the camera as he fled the scene. Robinson, who is aged in his 50s, was found by police suffering multiple gunshot wounds. The nearby university campus was temporarily placed on lockdown during the search The university was immediately placed on lockdown as police searched the campus for the shooter, who has since come forward. It is not yet clear whether Robinson knew his killer. The university lockdown was lifted at about 1pm on Monday. Robinson had multiple Facebook Live videos on his profile from the past few days. Just prior to being shot, Robinson had stopped in at Wingate Police Department to talk to the chief about his phone being stolen. The police station is moments away from where he was shot. Michel Barnier today drew battle lines in the Brexit talks as he threatened to block a transition unless Britain bows to demands on free movement. The EU's chief negotiator said citizens arriving in the UK during the implementation phase must get permanent residency rights. He also warned that Irish border issues must be resolved immediately, and urged David Davis to come to Brussels for crisis talks to break the deadlock. For good measure, he flatly dismissed the UK's blueprint for future trade ties. The combative appearance, at a press conference in Brussels, will fuel fears that the negotiations could collapse entirely over the coming weeks. EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier told a press conference in Brussels today that citizens arriving in the UK during the implementation phase must get permanent residency rights. European Council president Donald Tusk tweeted about his meeting with Mr Barnier today Mr Barnier is due to publish a legal text tomorrow spelling out the terms of the Brexit divorce deal struck before Christmas. But it is already the subject of a major spat as Brussels has effectively ignored the UK side of the bargain. Gove hits out at Tusk over plastic bottles Michael Gove today hit out at Donald Tusk and Michel Barnier for using disposable plastic bottles. Mr Tusk, president of the EU Council, tweeted a photo of himself meeting with the Mr Barnier on a desk littered with the bottles. Alongside it he wrote: 'Meeting Michel Barnier in critical week of Brexit talks. 'Will meet PM Theresa May in London on Thursday.' But Mr Gove - who has carved himself out as an eco warrior - hit back on Twitter. Mr Gove said: 'Donald Tusk Why the plastic bottles @eucopresident? 'You should be aligning with us in ditching this environment-damaging habit... #greenbrexit' Advertisement The draft lays out plans for Northern Ireland to stay 'fully aligned' with European laws and regulation, without referring to British proposals for technological solutions and other arrangements to avoid a hard border. The high-stakes move is said to be driven by an increasingly tough stance in France and Germany. But it was angrily rejected by Boris Johnson this morning. 'We don't think that is the right way forward,' the Foreign Secretary said. 'As you will recall the PM said very clearly in December... that we want a different solution.' Mr Johnson compared the Irish border to the lines between London boroughs - pointing to the use of camera technology to impose the congestion charge on drivers. At his press conference this afternoon, Mr Barnier was unrepentant about omitting the British ideas. He made clear the terms of the divorce deal had to be laid out before any further progress could be made. 'We cannot leave the Irish question pending,' he said. Mr Barnier said he agreed with European Council president Donald Tusk's assessment of the UK idea of 'three baskets' - with Britain aligning with EU rules in some areas and not in others. Mr Tusk branded the proposal an 'illusion'. 'We cannot possible imagine a situation in which we would accept cherry picking,' Mr Barnier said. 'We are responsible for guaranteeing the integrity of the single market. The UK knows what the rules are which underpin that integrity because they have been helping us put them together for the last 40 years.' Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson (pictured in Downing Street today) has dismissed EU efforts to turn the screw in Brexit negotiations by demanding domain over Northern Ireland if Britain leaves the customs union Brussels has drawn up a plan to put the post-Brexit customs border in the Irish Sea in a move which sets it on a collision course with Theresa May (pictured in Downing Street yesterday) Mrs May has said EU citizens who arrive during the transition should not get ongoing residency rights. But Mr Barnier said: 'Citizens who have arrived before and during should be treated equally.' Mr Barnier voiced concern that no real progress had been made over recent weeks, saying 'in the light of these disagreements we have not achieved the transition yet'. He added: 'For all of these points of disagreement I am quite happy to discuss these straight away with David Davis. 'It is essential that we make progress by means of political discussions, political negotiations, above and beyond all the technical points of clarification.' Civil rights law prevents employers discriminating against workers based on their sexual orientation, a New York federal appeals court has ruled in a landmark case. The national victory for gay rights was a setback for the Justice Department, who had argued that Title VII of the 1964 Civil Rights Act failed to cover sexual-orientation discrimination in the workplace. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit is now the second appeals court to rule in such a way, with a third in Atlanta ruling in opposition, the New York Times reported. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in New York ruled that employers couldn't discriminate against sexual orientation. Pictured is Chief Judge Robert Katzmann In 2010, skydive company Altitude Express dismissed instructor, Donald Zarda. While he was preparing to take a dive with a female student, he explained to her that he was '100 per cent gay.' Her boyfriend later complained to the school about what Zarda had said and Zarda was dismissed. In an attempt to explain himself, Zarda asserted that he was attempting to soothe the woman who seemed uncomfortable being so tightly strapped to him. Filing a lawsuit, he claimed that being fired violated Title VII. Initially, two courts in New York ruled against him. In 2015, Zarda died in an unrelated sky-diving accident. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, then under President Barack Obama, ruled in a separate case that 'sexual orientation is inherently a "sex-based consideration"' and should be protected by the law. Donald Zarda was fired from sky-diving company Altitude Express after he told a female diver that he was '100 per cent gay.' He died in 2015 But, more recently, the Justice Department began arguing that Title VII protections didn't cover sexual orientation. The Justice Department added that the EEOC was 'not speaking for the United States.' The Justice Departments intervention in Mr. Zardas case led to sharp criticism from groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, which called the brief a 'gratuitous and extraordinary attack on L.G.B.T. peoples civil rights.' In the majority opinion for the Second Circuit's ruling, Chief Judge Robert A Katzmann wrote, 'Since 1964, the legal framework for evaluating Title VII claims has evolved substantially,' including 'sex stereotypes' as new factors. Sexual orientation was included in the opinion. Skydiving instructor Donald Zarda has won a posthumous victory in his battle for gay rights to be covered by civil rights law. Pictured it the now closed sky diving facility where he worked 'Sexual orientation discrimination is a subset of sex discrimination because sexual orientation is defined by ones sex in relation to the sex of those to whom one is attracted,' Judge Katzmann asserted, 'making it impossible for an employer to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation without taking sex into account.' Just last March, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta determined that Title VII's reference to sex didn't cover sexual orientation discrimination. An appeal by the plaintiff was denied for the Atlanta case back in December Saul Zabell, lawyer for Altitude Express, commented that he was pleased the ruling addressed 'a glaring legislative gap in fundamental human rights.' He added that he was 'disappointed that the panel chose to ignore the facts of underlying matter' and 'exceeded their judicial mandate.' 'No one should face discrimination because of their sexual orientation and I am pleased that the Second Circuit has sent a clear statement in support of equal justice today,' said attorney general, Eric T. Schneiderman. Bill Moore, co-executor for Mr. Zardas estate, felt reassured by the ruling. 'Todays victory is a wonderful step forward for the country as a growing number of Americans take a stand against anti-L.G.B.T.Q. employment discrimination,' Moore said in a statement. 'I wish Don were here to see how he and his case have advanced the movement for LGBTQ equality.' Iranian women protesting the compulsory headscarf by taking off their hijab in public could be facing up to a decade in jail for 'inciting prostitution', police has warned. Authorities in Iran are desperately trying to stem the growing protests across the country against the dress code enforced on women since the Islamic revolution of 1979. More than 35 women have been arrested in the capital Tehran alone in the past two months, with several reportedly subjected to torture while in custody. Risking jail: Shaparak Shajarizadeh, who was arrested last week, is facing charges of 'inciting corruption and prostitution' for taking off her hijab in public At least two of the arrested protesters, Narges Hosseini and Shaparak Shajarizadeh, are being charged with 'inciting corruption and prostitution', Amnesty International reports. Ms Shajarizadeh was arrested last Wednesday and has reportedly been subjected to beatings in prison. Activists claim she was also 'injected with an unknown substance by the prison authorities' upon her arrest. Ms Hosseini was arrested just over a month ago and has since been in custody in unknown conditions. Jailed: Narges Hosseini, pictured, was arrested just over a month ago If they are found guilty of inciting corruption and prostitution, they could face up to ten years in prison. 'This is a deeply retrograde move by the Iranian authorities in their ongoing persecution of women who dare to speak out against compulsory veiling,' said Magdalena Mughrabi, Deputy Director for the Middle East and North Africa at Amnesty International. It places many women at serious and immediate risk of unjust imprisonment while sending a chilling message to others to keep quiet while their rights are being violated. 'In compelling women and girls to cover their hair, the Iranian authorities have violated women's human rights in Iran for decades and also deeply hurt women's dignity. 'Rather than threatening women with jail terms for claiming their human rights, the authorities should immediately abolish the discriminatory, abusive and degrading laws and practices of compulsory veiling.' 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 A clip published on social media last week shows a woman is raising the headscarf above her head by a set of traffic lights in Tehran The protest turns nasty when a police officer climbs onto the podium and pushes her to the pavement, earning jeers from spectators The recent wave of defiance started with Vida Movahed, a 31-year-old mother-of-one whose protest and subsequent arrest on December 27 became headline news all over the world. 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. Ms Movahed, who became known as The Girl In Enghelab Street, was released over the weekend, after spending a month in custody with her 20-month-daughter. 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. Two for one: Two young women are seen holding out their headscarves at an unknown location Big step: Another Iranian woman with bright turquoise hair has taken off her head scarf and holds it out while standing in silence Brave: A woman stands on a snowy street, holding her white scarf out in protest Ms Movahed was protesting Iran's Islamic law, which requires women to wear a headscarf and long clothes that cover the arms and legs. 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. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' son Levi has officially announced his run for office, as he vies for the U.S. House seat in New Hampshire 1st Congressional district. 'After much thought and consultation with my family, friends, and the people of New Hampshire, I am excited to announce today that I am running for Congress in New Hampshires 1st District,' the 48-year-old Sanders said in a statement sent to DailyMail.com. 'This is a unique opportunity to listen to the hard working men and women of New Hampshire about the issues that matter to them.' On Thursday Vice News first reported that the younger Sanders was looking at the seat being vacated by Democratic Rep. Carol Shea-Porter, who is retiring, considered one of the most competitive districts in 2018. Sen. Bernie Sanders' (left) adult son Levi Sanders (right) said in a statement Monday night that he was indeed running for a New Hampshire U.S. House seat Levi Sanders (left) has the same political positions as his dad, Sen. Bernie Sanders (right), suggesting the only notable difference between the two is that he's a vegetarian Levi Sanders (pictured) served as a senior policy strategist for his father's presidential campaign. Here he attends a campaign event in April 2016 in New York 'Oh absolutely, I'm definitely considering it. I'm excited, motivated, and interested in the race,' Levi Sanders told Vice. 'I'm just dotting my 'i's and crossing my 't's.' Levi Sanders told Vice that his politics are nearly identical to his dad's. 'The basic difference is that Im a vegetarian and hes not,' Levi Sanders said. The elder Sanders launched what looked like it would be a long-shot presidential bid in 2016, but captured the enthusiasm of liberal Democrats, forcing the establishment candidate, Hillary Clinton, to compete in a four-and-a-half-month primary race. Sanders' platform was well known: healthcare-for-all, free college and taking on the billionaire class. Levi Sanders served as a senior policy adviser to his dad's campaign. In his opening statement to reporters, the younger Sanders touched on his dad's signature issues: Medicare For All, tuition-free college and income inequality. 'It is time to demand that we have a system which represents the 99 per cent and not the 1 per cent who have never had it so good,' Levi Sanders said. He also told voters he backed a higher minimum wage, pay equity between men and women, and 'sensible gun legislation.' In this 1995 photo Sen. Bernie Sanders (left) and his son Levi Sanders (center) attend a birthday party for the late Sen. Paul Wellstone (right) The elder Sanders got hit from the left by Clinton during the 2016 campaign for being more supportive of the Second Amendment than most Democrats. 'It is urgent that we address the opioid problem which is at a crisis level in New Hampshire,' Levi Sanders said as well, as New Hampshire has one of the highest death rates from opioid overdoses in the U.S. In his announcement, Levi Sanders channeled some of his father's phrasing as well. At campaign rallies, Sen. Sanders would often say, 'what this campaign it about,' and go into his stump speech. 'This campaign is about each and everyone of us, who strive each and everyday, to make this great state and country a better place in which to live,' Levi Sanders told voters. His campaign launched a website too. Sen. Bernie Sanders' run rattled some in the Democratic Party, and it looks like Levi's potential bid could have the same effect. Establishment Democrats are supporting Chris Pappas, a former state House rep and fourth-generation restaurant owner who serves on the New Hampshire Executive Council, Vice said. Additionally, the Bernie wing of the party already had a candidate to back: Rep. Mark MacKenzie, one of Sen. Sanders' earliest supporters from the Granite State. The state political director of the Sanders campaign is already working for MacKenzie, Vice pointed out. Beyond Pappas and MacKenzie, five other Democrats are already vying for Shea-Porter's seat. The younger Sanders may also get some flack for being a carpet-bagger. While he resides in New Hampshire, he doesn't live in the 1st Congressional district. He does point out in his campaign announcement that he's been a Granite State resident for 15 years. The younger Sanders could follow in the footsteps of Sen. Rand Paul, whose father ex-Rep. Ron Paul had a unique ideology and a national following thanks to his presidential bids. While Ron Paul represented Texas in the Congress and Rand Paul resided in Kentucky, the elder Paul's libertarian-leaning base swept in helped fund the younger Paul's campaign, giving him enough momentum to take out the Kentucky GOP's establishment pick, Trey Grayson, Kentucky's secretary of state. For Sanders both the primary and the general election could be challenging, though most generic ballots are showing Democrats with an advantage going into the fall, and history is on the party's side. Presidents' parties tend to lose Congressional seats during their first set of elections after inauguration, so an invigorated Democratic base should be able to keep a Republican candidate at bay. Advertisement Dramatic images from the Spanish Civil War have been rendered in colour for the first time, bringing home what it would have been like on the front lines of the bloody conflict. The bitter war was fought between 1936 and 1939, pitting the leftist Republicans in support of the democratic government against the right-wing Nationalist rebels and their fascist allies in Italy and Nazi Germany. At least 250,000 people were killed during the fighting, though there is still huge controversy over the exact toll due to assassinations and mass executions, and some historians have estimated it to be more than 1million. Images from the Spanish Civil War have been rendered in colour for the first time. The conflict pitted the Republicans, who supported the democratically elected left-wing government, against the right-wing Nationalists and their fascist allies in Italy and Nazi Germany. Here, a Republican volunteer is seen (left) and Republicans fire at Nationalists during the siege of the Alcazar fortress in Toledo (right) Germany was one of the first foreign powers to involve itself in the conflict as Hitler spotted a potential ally in the Nationalists and sent troops and weapons to reinforce them. Here, a German commander gives instructions to troop from the Condor Legion, which was made up of volunteers from the Luftwaffe and German Army Nationalist troops aim their rifles near Navacerrada, outside Madrid, during December 1936. In October Franco had launched an offensive against the city, the seat of Republican power, forcing the government to shift to Valencia as his troops stormed in. But their offensive was eventually repulsed, leading Franco to try and cut off supply routes into the capital in what became known as the Second Battle of the Corunna Road (pictured) Thousands of volunteer fighters from America joined the conflict and were followed by journalists looking to cover the fighting. Among them was Ernest Hemingway, pictured here speaking with German intellectuals Ilya Ehrenburg and Gustav Regler. Hemingway had traveled to the country with filmmaker Joris Ivens, who supported the Republican cause Francoist artillery positions to the west of Madrid in November, 1939. These guns participated in Franco's first assault on Madrid, with troops initially making their way into the city before being pushed back. That began a three-year siege of the capital that ended with its capture and brought the conflict to a close The conflict also drew in fighters from across the world and journalists keen to cover the conflict first-hand, including the likes of Ernest Hemingway. The famous writer is captured in these images speaking with German intellectuals Ilya Ehrenburg and Gustav Regler. The picture has been rendered in colour by Joel Bellviure, 17, who lives between Mallorca and Barcelona. 'Usually, I colourise pictures which might have an impact on the observer,' he said. 'A colourised war casualty can raise awareness that, although being nearly 100 years old, the essence of war will never evolve, that death doesn't need to be romanticised because it is on black and white.' Ultimately it was the Nationalists, led by General Francisco Franco, who claimed victory in the conflict. Franco ruled Spain as a dictator from 1939 until his death in 1975, abolishing all other political parties and making himself the Head of State and Government under the title El Caudillo - a typically insulting term meaning 'dictator' or 'strongman' that he proudly claimed as his own. Spanish militia volunteer standing on a howitzer cannon in Barcelona in mid-August 1936. At this point the city was deep inside Republican territory, though it was later captured by Franco in a lighting offensive in the early weeks of 1939 that forced the governments of Britain and France to recognise Franco's Nationalists as the legitimate government Commander of the Republican women's squad on the Western Front of Madrid, January 1937. At this point the city had been under bombardment for months with key supply routes cut off. Sensing weakness Franco launched a second assault on the city, but was again turned back by entrenched Republican troops Francoist artillery battery, most likely Condor Legion soldiers, firing against Republican resistance, probably near Amposta during the last steps of the Battle of the Ebro, Autumn 1938. The battle was launched by Republicans attempting to reconnect their strongholds in Catalonia, to the north, and in Valencia, to the south. It ultimately ended in their defeat, and spelled the beginning of the end for their cause Republican soldiers crossing the Spanish-French border in the Pyrenees, March 1938, to escape the fighting. At the start of this month the Nationalists began the Aragon Offensive which smashed Republican troops, saw the province of Aragon fall under their control along with parts of Catalonia and the Levante Italian tankettes advancing with an Italian L3 Lf flame thrower tank in the lead at the Battle of Guadalajara, Spain, 1937. The battle, which marked yet another attempt by Franco's forces to surround Madrid, was the only registered defeat of Nationalists during the war During his rule up to 400,000 dissenters and political opponents are thought to have died through the use of forced labour camps, concentration camps, and executions. Hemingway's involvement in the conflict began in 1937 when he was asked to report on it for the North American Newspaper Alliance, arriving in Spain in March with Dutch filmmaker Joris Ivens. Ivens was filming The Spanish Earth, a propaganda film in support of the Republican side. He wanted Hemingway to replace John Dos Passos as screenwriter, since Dos Passos had left the project when his friend Jose Robles was arrested and later executed. The incident changed Dos Passos' initially positive opinion of the leftist republicans, creating a rift between him and Hemingway, who later spread a rumour that Dos Passos left Spain out of cowardice. These images are featured in British author Michael D. Carroll's new book, Retrographic on the colourisation of historical images. It is available on Amazon now for 16.85 Fifty people have been arrested and 165 birds seized after a large-scale cockfighting operation was exposed in suburban Houston, the authorities have said. Some 50 dead birds believed to have been killed in the deadly fights were also found, according to Brazoria County sheriff's officers. Deputies responded to a call on Sunday about a possible cockfighting operation in an unincorporated area of Pearland south of Houston, abcNews reported. Fifty people have been arrested and 165 birds seized after a large-scale rooster fighting operation was exposed in suburban Houston, the authorities have said (stock image) Sheriff's Lt. Varon Snelgrove said they found scores of vehicles and people at the scene when they arrived. He said 47 people have been jailed on pending misdemeanor charges of cockfighting. Felony cockfighting charges are pending against the other three suspects. Deputies responded to a call on Sunday about a possible cockfighting operation in an unincorporated area of Pearland south of Houston (stock image) It is not clear to what time period the charges relate. The birds seized by officers are being cared for at the county's animal control division. Cockfighting is illegal in all 50 states in the US. Last year 7,000 birds were seized from a remote compound in Los Angeles, a raid which authorities claimed was the largest bust of its kind in American history. Makayla Grote, 19, was stabbed to death with a hunting knife in her apartment in Longmont, Colorado in November last year A 15-year-old boy charged with murdering a 19-year-old girl in Colorado may be planning to blame the acne drug Accutane for his actions. The boy is accused of killing Makayla Grote with a hunting knife in her apartment in Longmont in November last year. During a hearing in Boulder on Friday, the suspect's lawyers hinted that they might try using the acne drug, which has been linked previously to erratic behavior, as part their defense. One of the witnesses his lawyers are trying to call for an upcoming hearing is Dr Doug Bremner who is a psychiatrist known for his studies on Accutane, the Times-Call reports. The boy's lawyers haven't previously disclosed if the suspect was taking the acne drug but said they plan to question the psychiatrist to see how Accutane could potentially cause aggressive behavior. Makayla Grote was allegedly murdered by a 15-year-old boy who police believe had intended to kill her younger who was on an alleged 'kill list' The suspect's lawyers have hinted that they might try using the acne drug Accutane, which has been linked previously to erratic behavior, as part their defense Prosecutors are trying to charge the boy as an adult and need to convince the judge during an upcoming week-long hearing that the case should be transferred out of the juvenile court. The boy's attorneys will also argue during that hearing if there is enough evidence for the case to proceed to trial. Boulder Deputy District Attorney Adrian Van Nice objected on Friday to Bremner being called as a defense witness for that specific hearing. The judge agreed with prosecutors, saying the role of the drug may or may not have played wasn't relevant to that referral hearing. The brutal stabbing occurred in Makayla Grote's apartment (pictured above) while her younger sister was in the shower at the time and managed to lock herself in the bathroom Grote, an aspiring race car driver, was stabbed in the chest with a hunting knife Bremner could, however, be called to testify if it goes to trial. The boy is accused of stabbing the 19-year-old to death in her apartment. Police believe he had intended to kill the victim's younger sister. Her younger sister's name was written on a 'kill list' that the suspect had allegedly made. The sister was showering when the boy allegedly stabbed Grote and was able to lock herself in the bathroom until he left. They had all attended the same Green Mountain High School at some point together. The suspect was charged with first-degree murder and 10 other counts. A passenger has described the terrifying moment he noticed flames erupting from his Southwest Airlines flight and alerted flight attendants that the aircraft was on fire. Che Cullenbine was aboard flight 604 from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Los Angeles, early Monday morning when the plane suffered a serious engine malfunction. Less than 20 minutes after take off, passengers reported hearing 'explosions' and witnesses on the ground saw flames erupting from the aircraft's right engine. Cullenbine, who was sitting in the fifth row, said he was shocked to look out the window and see 'sparks and flames coming from the outside from the engine area'. Scroll down for video Flight 604 from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Los Angeles, suffered a serious engine malfunction on Monday, and flames began to erupt from its right engine Witnesses on the ground saw flames erupting from the aircraft's right engine 'I heard what sounded like small little explosions,' Cullenbine said on GMA. 'Almost like somebody had an assault rifle and they were firing three round bursts like duh-duh-duht. Duh-duh-duht. Really loud. 'So I looked out the window and I noticed that at the same time the sounds were happening there were flames coming out the back of the engine on the right side.' Cullenbine, who filmed the flames from his window, said he immediately rang the flight attendant button and informed her of the fire. 'I said "There's a problem with the engine", and then she ran up to the front', he said. Che Cullenbine filmed from his window as flames burst from the engine of the plane Cullenbine (pictured) said he immediately rang the flight attendant button and informed her of the fire Within minutes, the pilots were calling air traffic control to return to Salt Lake City International Airport. Audio between the pilot and Air Traffic Control, records the pilot calmly saying: 'We have an engine malfunction right now. We'd like to go somewhere and hold'. 'We'll declare an emergency and we'll climb and maintain 10,000,' he added, according to Deseret News. The pilot reportedly came on the loudspeaker to announce that the plane was going to land. The plane landed safely back at the airport, where it was met with fire engine crews. None of the five crew or 100 passengers were hurt, although many were left badly shaken by the experience. Mace Brasher (left) feared he was going to die when he saw the flames, while Craig Johnson (right) said he'd been sitting in the row closed to the engine, when it began 'exploding' Travelers said there was 'lots of praying' aboard until the plane landed safely back at the airport at around 7.20am 'I thought we were going to die,' said Mace Brasher, another passenger on the flight. 'So I was a little bit scared but I was holding it together. Yeah it was the most scared I've ever been in my life.' Craig Johnson said he'd been sitting in the row closed to the engine, when it began 'exploding'. 'That's the best way I can describe it. Saw balls of fire and it got pretty tense for a few minutes.' Travelers said there was 'lots of praying' aboard until the Boeing 737-700 landed safely back at the airport at around 7.20am. Witnesses on the ground heard an explosion before seeing flames erupt from one of the engines. A Southwest Airlines flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Salt Lake City after flames erupted from one of its engines (pictured) The Boeing 737-700 took off from Salt Lake City International Airport, in Utah, bound for Los Angeles at around 6.50pm on Monday Al Oshiro, who had just parked up ready for work, said he heard a sound 'so loud that a lot of people came out of the building because people thought the building was getting hit'. 'All of a sudden I started seeing these orange flames just coming off the right side of the engine,' said Oshiro, an aerospace engineer for Moog Inc. Video footage, shot from the ground, showed what appears to be flames coming from the engine in the right wing. Southwest Airlines have since apologized for the 'inconvenience' and blamed a 'performance issue'. 'The pilots elected to return to SLC after receiving a cockpit indication of a potential performance issue with one of the aircraft engines,' Southwest said in a statement. The passengers were put on another plane to Los Angeles which arrived at 11.43am local time. Juan Thompson (pictured) was sentenced to five years in prison after he admitted cyberstalking Francesca Rossi and terrorizing Jewish groups with bomb threats A cyberstalking victim has described the years of torment she endured at the hands of her ex-boyfriend who harassed her to the point where she feared for her life but the police refused to do anything about it. Francesca Rossi called law enforcement nearly two dozen times to complain that Juan Thompson was harassing her online, sending notes to her bosses that she had a sexually transmitted disease and making it appear she was running guns and trafficking in child pornography. But they couldn't make the harassment stop and even began to investigate her when Thompson made threats in her name. Police only arrested him when he set off a national panic by posing as Rossi to make bomb threats against Jewish centers across the country. That turned it into a major federal case that ended with Thompson arrested within days and eventually sentenced to five years in prison. In her first interview since the criminal case ended in December, Rossi told the AP: 'It went on for months. I thought I was going to die and no one could help me. 'In the end, the only way that my abuse was legitimized is because he went after such a large community of people, and because there was so much hysteria over it.' Police officials didn't comment on Rossi's criticism, except to say her case was closed due to insufficient evidence to support a charge. Rossi said she met Thompson through an online dating site in late 2014. He worked as a journalist with The Intercept; she as a social worker. They bonded over their commitment to reform. For a while, their relationship was great but by the spring of 2016, he'd moved into her Brooklyn apartment and trouble came with him. Rossi said she called law enforcement nearly two dozen times to complain that Thompson was harassing her online and sending notes to her bosses that she had a sexually transmitted disease. Stock picture She started getting harassing texts from ex-boyfriends. The wife of another ex-boyfriend sued, saying she'd given him a sexually transmitted disease, a lawsuit that turned out to be a hoax. Another posted a naked picture of her online. Rossi panicked and contacted Carrie Goldberg, a lawyer specializing in online harassment and she quickly figured out that Thompson was behind the harassment. He'd been posing as her exes for months. Rossi believes he was trying to make her feel bad so he could intimidate and control her. 'Juan was going through all of my stuff and I had no idea,' the 33-year-old said. 'He somehow gained access. I never gave him access to any of my passwords. But he had everything on me. He had been reading my texts and my emails for at least a year.' Rossi broke up with him, but then things got worse. Thompson telephoned, emailed and texted her relentlessly, she said. Sometimes, he posed as others, terrorizing Rossi and her family, including her 92-year-old grandmother. A growing threat: How police are ill-equipped to handle online crime Legal and policing experts say her experience is an extreme example of how law enforcement is ill-equipped to handle the growing threat of online crime, even though laws have recently been passed in 38 states addressing cyberstalking and revenge porn. 'The response by and large is: Ignore it and turn off your computer,' said Danielle Citron, a University of Maryland law professor and author of 'Hate Crimes in Cyberspace.' Four in 10 internet users are harassed online and women disproportionately suffer, according to a Pew Research Center report. But only about five per cent report it. 'Fran is a strong resourced individual, and she barely made it out of this,' said her friend Sarah Mikhail, 33. 'Imagine if she were someone less strong, if she had no money. Imagine some of the women who experience this who don't have the emotional wherewithal, the family, the support. What happens to them?' Part of the complexity in the Thompson case, for example, was that Thompson used 25 different devices that allowed him to mask his identity. That made gathering evidence difficult, officials said. There are no fingerprints, no DNA, no surveillance footage. The nonprofit Police Executive Research Forum recently issued a report on the subject that recommended, among other things, that law enforcement agencies hire more people with more technological expertise. 'The internet is like the Wild West of technology,' said Chuck Wexler, the group's executive director. 'It has no speed limits and no cops.' Advertisement He called and wrote her office. He used every major social media platform to trash her. He even posted her information on a website where men promote violence against women. 'Technology gave him utter access to me,' she said. 'Every time my phone buzzed, I felt sick. I mean, I thought he was going to kill me. I felt like my life was over.' But since she didn't know his physical address, she couldn't get a permanent restraining order. Police at her local precinct closed Rossi's harassment case in October 2016. The FBI was still slowly looking into the case. Meanwhile, other NYPD divisions kept investigating Rossi after someone phoned in a tip that she was going to shoot up a police station. A detective notified her they'd gotten a threat against her life. The police showed up again after an anonymous report she was running guns. Police officials noted it was imperative to probe any threats made against police stations or public institutions. 'Detectives will thoroughly investigate that claim until we determine there is no threat,' said Lt. John Grimpel, a police spokesman. Rossi said she told anyone who would listen that Thompson was behind it. 'They said they couldn't help me until it got worse.' Eventually, it did get worse. More than 150 bomb threats were reported against Jewish community centers and day schools in 37 states and two Canadian provinces. Authorities blamed most on an 18-year-old Israeli-American Jewish hacker arrested in Israel last March. But federal officials said Thompson made a dozen of the threats. Thompson was arrested in his native St. Louis early last March. By June, he'd pleaded guilty to making hoax threats and cyberstalking. His lawyers didn't respond to calls for comment. During his hearing, Thompson apologized, conceding: 'There are wounds ... that will probably never heal.' A composed Rossi wearing a T-shirt that read: 'Believe women' captivated the courtroom. 'I know there are other Juans out there, doing this to other women,' she said. 'The police diminished my abuse because my life-threatening attacks came from phones and computers. This is what domestic violence looks like now.' A 22-year-old woman has been mauled to death by a lioness at a private game lodge in South Africa. Bystanders battled to save the young womans life after she was savaged by the big cat just outside Dinokeng Nature Reserve in Hammanskraal at about 11am. But the unnamed victim had suffered 'severe injuries' in the attack and died at the scene, according to medics from South Africas Netcare 911 team. The 22-year-old woman was killed by a lioness at the reserve. Pictured is a lioness from the reserve The woman sustained 'severe injuries' in the attack and died at the scene Netcare 911 spokesman Nick Dollman told Rekord North: 'When Netcare 911 paramedics arrived at the scene, bystanders had initiated CPR. 'Tragically, the victim had sustained severe injuries and she died at the scene.' He said the Cullinan police were on scene to investigate but was unable to reveal the name of the lodge where the incident occurred. According to its website, the reserve is one of the first free roaming parks featuring the 'Big 5' species of African animals - lion, leopard, rhino, buffalo and elephant - 'in Gauteng - and probably in the world next to an urbanized area'. It offers 'self-drive routes' for visitors to view the wildlife that live on the reserve. In April last year, a herd of eight elephants broke out of the reserve, which is 30 miles north of the Pretoria but they were soon recovered. Earlier this year a big cat poacher was killed and eaten by the pride of lions he was hunting at a private game reserve in South Africa. Paramedics from Netcare arrived at the reserve but were unable to save the woman's life The hunter was heard screaming for help as he was attacked at the Ingwelala Private Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit outside Phalaborwa. But the lions quickly killed their victim and devoured most of his body before being chased off, leaving his head untouched. In 2015, an American tourist, who was mauled to death by a lion in South Africa, took pictures of the cat which killed her just seconds before it pounced. Police examined the last haunting photographs taken by the woman as evidence that she had ignored warnings to keep her windows closed as she toured the South African safari park. Traumatised tourists watched as the nine-year-old lioness killed the 22-year-old holidaymaker. Rev. Franklin Graham, a top counselor and spiritual advisor to President Trump, says the president is a 'defender' of the Christian faith, even if he isn't always the 'greatest example' of it. Graham embraced Trump during the 2016 elections, giving powerful endorsements and rallying evangelicals across the country. But he has cast aside his father, the late Bill Graham's, cautions about binding himself too closely to a president. 'In my lifetime, he has supported the Christian faith more than any president that I know,' Graham told the New York Times. 'That doesn't mean he is the greatest example of the Christian faith, and neither am I, but he defends the faith. There's a difference between defending the faith and living the faith,' he said. 'In my lifetime, he has supported the Christian faith more than any president that I know,' Rev. Franklin Graham told the New York Times. 'That doesn't mean he is the greatest example of the Christian faith,' he added His position is consistent remarks he made last Month, after the Wall Street Journal reported Trump lawyer Michael Cohen had set up an LLC to pay $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels, who has claimed she had an affair with Trump. 'These alleged affairs, they're alleged with Trump, didn't happen while he was in office,' Graham told CNN. 'This happened 11, 12, 13, 14 years ago,' he said. 'And so, I think there is a big difference and not that we give anybody a pass, but we have to look at the timeline and that was before he was in office.' Graham's father, Rev. Billy Graham, is set to lie in state in the Capitol on Wednesday, and died this month at 99 after counseling presidents for decades. Graham acknowledged late in life that he had become too close to Richard Nixon, who he became close with even through Watergate. 'These alleged affairs, they're alleged with Trump, didn't happen while he was in office,' Graham told CNN. Adult film actress/director Stormy Daniels hosts a Super Bowl party at Sapphire Las Vegas Gentlemen's Club on February 4, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada 'Looking back I know I sometimes crossed the line, and I wouldn't do that now,' he told Christianity Today in 2011. Graham strongly criticized his own conduct after he was exposed on the Nixon tapes to have made harsh anti-Semitic comments about Jews in a conversation with the president. He told Nixon in the Oval Office: 'They're the ones putting out the pornographic stuff,' and said: 'the Jewish stranglehold has got to be broken or the country's going down the drain.' Donald Trump pictured with Stormy Daniels, who has claimed the two had an affair Karen McDougal, a former model who has recently found God and regretted parts of her past, spoke to the New Yorker for a story about the nine-month affair she had with Trump in 2006, shortly after his marriage to his third wife Melania The episode appeared to provide a lesson to Graham about going to far to ingratiate himself. 'If it wasn't on tape, I would not have believed it,' he told Newsweek after the tapes came out. 'I guess I was trying to please. I felt so badly about myself - I couldn't believe it. I went to a meeting with Jewish leaders and I told them I would crawl to them to ask their forgiveness.' The younger Graham defends Trump on other fronts and also joined him in fueling the birther conspiracy about President Obama. 'People say that the president says mean things. I can't think of anything mean he's said. I think he speaks what he feels,' Graham told the Times. 'I think he's trying to speak the truth.' Asked if Trump had told any lies, he said: 'I don't know of any.' Exit polls show Trump got support of 80 per cent of evangelical voters. Adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, poses for pictures at the end of her striptease show at Gossip Gentleman club in Long Island, New York, U.S., February 23, 2018 Franklin Graham, son of the Rev. Billy Graham arrives at the Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, N.C., Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. Rev. Billy Graham's body was brought to his hometown of Charlotte on Saturday, Feb. 24, as part of a procession expected to draw crowds of well-wishers Former U.S. presidents, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Jimmy Carter, pose with evangelist Billy Graham (C) and his son, Franklin Graham before the Billy Graham Library Dedication on the campus of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S., May 31, 2007 He also defends Trump on Russia, employing some of the same language put forward by Trump and the White House press office. 'I'll be honest with you. This whole thing on Russia? I don't believe it. I don't believe he has collusion with the Russians,' Graham said. 'And I think if somebody in his campaign was involved, the president would have fired him.' Weeks after the election, Franklin Graham credited the 'hand of god' with Trump's stunning victory. 'For these states to go the way they did, in my opinion, I think it was the hand of God,' Graham said. 'It wasn't hacking. It wasn't Wiki-leaky or whatever. It was God, in my opinion, and I believe his hand was at work, and I think he's given Christians an opportunity.' A couple's last hope of remaining together in Wirral has been denied, after the Home Office said the husband must return to the USA. Clayton Murwin, 53, who is originally from North Carolina, is being forced to leave his wife of 18 years, Collette, after the Home Office ruled he does not fit the criteria to remain in the country. The couple, from Liscard, Wallasey, had hoped the Home Office's decision would be overturned after being contacted by their local MP Angela Eagle. Clayton Murwin, from North Carolina, hoped the Home Office's decision would be overturned after being contacted by their local MP Angela Eagle A petition against the Home Office's ruling also gained more than 10,000 signatures, meaning it would be reviewed by Parliament. However, this week the devastated husband and wife received a letter from the Home Secretary upholding the Home Office's decision that he must leave. Clayton, who has documented his struggle to remain with his wife and her children online, let his followers know of the heartbreaking news. He wrote on Facebook: 'Well, I am at a loss for words. The 53-year-old and his 56-year-old wife had lived in the UK together from 2000 to 2003 - but then moved to America for 13 years to care for Clayton's ill mum Mrs Murwin cannot go to the US with her husband because she didn't return to the country within a year and so her green card has expired and is unlikely to be renewed 'The UK Home office stood by the decision of the UK immigration denial, stating that we could carry on our lives together outside the UK, which is not possible. 'We have run out of options, really only one thing left to do. 'I will be returning to the USA next month.' The 53-year-old and his 56-year-old wife had lived in the UK together from 2000 to 2003 - but then moved to America for 13 years to care for Clayton's ill mum. However, in 2016, the couple moved back to the UK and after his six-month visa ran out Clayton applied to stay. Letter from Home Office refusing Clayton Murwin leave to stay in the UK, which is signed by Immigration Minister Caroline Nokes MP But his application was refused and certified, which meant he had no chance to appeal. The only option Collette and Clayton have is to apply for a judicial review, which costs 4,000, but he still has to leave the UK in the meantime. If Clayton does not leave voluntarily he will be deported and then banned from entering the UK for 10 years. Collette is also unable to go to the USA with him, as she did not return to the US within a year, so her Green Card has expired and is unlikely to be renewed. Clayton told the Liverpool Echo: 'We have run out of options. The only thing I know is I won't leave my wife and kids - and I won't go without a fight.' If the 53-year-old does not leave voluntarily he will be deported and then banned from entering the UK for 10 years The couple lived in the UK from 2000 to 2003 but then moved to America for 13 years to care for Mr Murwin's sick mother. In 2016 the couple returned to the UK and after his six-month visa ran out, Mr Murwin applied to stay, which was when his application was denied. Mrs Murwin cannot go to the US with her husband because she didn't return to the country within a year and so her green card has expired and is unlikely to be renewed. She said last year: 'I've found my soulmate and it is not often someone in life does that. 'But then to be told you have to leave them against your will? How can we have a relationship over Skype, after being together all this time? 'It was hard enough doing that with my family while I was over in America and I wasn't happy, which is why we moved back. 'I just want to be able to enjoy my grandchildren, with my husband.' Home Office spokesperson said: 'After entering as a visitor, Mr Murwin applied for leave to remain under Human Rights grounds but his application was refused. 'Mr Murwin is able to appeal the decision from the United States, or make an application for a Spousal Visa as the spouse of a British Citizen.' A man from Maryland has been sentenced to a three-year suspended sentence after being convicted of trying to kill himself. The 56-year-old was detained in Baltimore 2016 when a relative called police to say he was suicidal, was armed, and had been drinking. Law experts have criticized the prosecutor for booking the defendant with the rare charge, which is believed to stem from British common law dating back to the founding of the US which deems suicide a crime. The 56-year-old was detained in Baltimore (pictured) back in 2016 when a relative called police to say he was suicidal, was armed, and had been drinking While Joe Riley, the Caroline County's interim top prosecutor, told The Baltimore Sun he would not use the charge in the future, it was claimed it was never their intention to send the 56-year-old to prison. It is understood the man has mental health issues for which the state claimed it wanted to A University of Baltimore law professor, David Jaros, told the paper he disagreed with the prosecutor's 'poor use of discretion.' 'I find it hard to believe saddling this guy with a record and probation that could result in jail time is the best way to resolve what is clearly a mental health problem,' he said. 'This is a classic example of how the criminal justice system can ultimately create hurdles for a person trying to get the help they need.' The man's complete rap sheet included attempted suicide, reckless endangerment and endangering his safety and the safety of his brother while intoxicated. It was reported the state's plea offer relied on him pleading guilty to one of the counts - and the man picked the attempted suicide charge. For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255. Four robbers were caught on CCTV using sledgehammers to smash their way into an upmarket home in broad daylight before threatening two teenagers inside. Footage shows the masked gang reversing a black BMW 3 Series up the driveway of the property in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands. CCTV from the property shows the gang raiding the house at 4.30pm on February 16. A gang of armed robbers were seen running around a house they smashed their way into After scouting the front of the house, the gang sneak round the back where another CCTV captures one raider smashing the kitchen door with a sledgehammer. The rest of the crooks then enter the property through the broken door. A security camera inside the hallway shows the intruders quickly going into each room before carrying out armfuls of valuables. Two teenagers, who were in the house at the time, were made to lie on the floor whilst the offenders demanded money and jewellery. Chilling footage shows the gang converging on the house in a black BMW earlier this month Having taken jewellery, the robbers then made off in a getaway car which was seen speeding towards Lichfield Road nearby 15 minutes later. Detective Constable Nigel Box, of West Midlands Police, said: 'This was in broad daylight at a busy time of day when many people would have been returning home from work or school. 'I would urge anyone who might have seen the BMW or has any information to get in touch. 'The boys in the address at the time are understandably upset and shaken but luckily they were not hurt. Help us find these individuals.' A rare car once owned by the aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart (pictured) who mysteriously vanished in 1937 has been found in Los Angeles after being reported stolen A rare car once owned by the aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart who mysteriously vanished in 1937 has been found after being reported stolen. Earhart, a 40-year-old American, was the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. She and her navigator Fred Noonan disappeared while attempting to fly around the world in a Lockheed Model 10 Electra plane. They had completed 22,000 miles of the journey when they arrived at Lae in New Guinea, as the country was then known. Just 7,000 miles across the Pacific remained before they were due to land back in the U.S. It is widely believed they crashed near Howland Island in the central Pacific. Theories as to what happened to the pair include that they were executed by the Japanese government. Scroll down for video Now - nearly 80 years after their disappearance - a rare car that once belonged to Earhart has been found, CBS News reported. The distinct vehicle, estimated to be worth between $250,000 and $500,000, was reported stolen on Friday then found on Monday night in Los Angeles. It was reportedly recovered from a street corner in the El Sereno neighborhood and towed away by officers so it could be returned to its owner. She and her navigator Fred Noonan (pictured together) disappeared while attempting to fly around the world in a Lockheed Model 10 Electra plane. Theories as to what happened to the pair include that they were executed by the Japanese government Earhart, a 40-year-old American, was the first female pilot to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean A CBS Los Angeles viewer rang police after seeing the story about the car being reported stolen and tipped them off to the green and black vehicle. The 1932 Hudson Essex Terraplane is very rare and only 14 models are known to still exist. The 1932 Hudson Essex Terraplane is very rare and only 14 models are known to still exist (above: Earhart with hers) Jim Somers, from the city of Orange who now owns the car, said it was locked up in a trailer in an industrial complex when it was taken. He had moved it from his shop to the industrial center ahead of a car show the next day. A couple were murdered in front of their three kids on Sunday while doing a good deed for a neighbor. Anthony Ray Strait, 27, and Tiffany Leann Strait, 30, were helping a neighbor move some furniture on her property in Seguin, Texas around 11:40am when her 56-year-old son, Dr Robert E. Fadal II, came out and shot them dead with a rifle. Mrs Strait's three sons, who her new husband was raising as his own, witnessed the shooting and are now in the care of family members. They range in age from seven to 10. Scroll down for video Anthony and Tiffany Strait (pictured above) were shot dead by a neighbor on Sunday, while trying to help the family move furniture Dr. Robert E. Fadal II was arrested for shooting the couple dead, and now faces the possibility of the death penalty Anthony died at the scene while his wife was rushed to Guadalupe Regional Medical Center, where she later died. Fadal was taken into custody on a charge of capital murder of multiple persons. He is being held on $2million bail at the Guadalupe County Jail. Investigators still don't know what prompted the double murder. 'At this time, there are no indications there was a feud, disturbance, or anything precipitating or justifying the shooting,' Lt. Craig Jones, Guadalupe County Sheriff's Office spokesman, told MySanAntonio.com. Jones said police had been called to the Fadal family's gated compound, where Dr. Fadal also has his general medical practice, before but never for 'serious' crimes. A sign outside the compound reads: 'Peace, love, health and happiness to all who enter here.' The couple were helping Fadal's mother on the family's gated compound around 11:40am when they were shot dead The Strait's three sons were present and witnessed the whole thing. They are now in the care of family members A sign outside the Fadal's gated family compound reads: 'Peace, love, health and happiness to all who enter here.' 'In cases like this, where we don't always understand the why of what goes on in our communities, it's a reminder that evil exists out there,' Jones said. The Straits and the Fadals had lived in the neighborhood for years and knew each other well. 'These people are friends of the family,' Anthony's brother James Strait told KSAT. 'I mean, they're not people that are violent or angry toward us. We've done stuff for these people. I mean, I'm not angry at these people.' James says he's baffled as to why Fadal would want to kill his brother and his sister-in-law. 'If he sees this, I mean, I want to know. Just tell me. I just want to know why,' James said. Anthony Strait's brother James (pictured) says that the Fadal and Strait families have been friends for years James said his brother and Tiffany married about a year ago after several years of dating. A joint Facebook page for the couple shows they ran Strait 'A' Landscaping together. According to HealthGrades.com, Fadal has been practicing family medicine for 28 years and is a graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. A GoFundMe has been started to raise money for the couple's three sons. President Donald Trump will unveil a set of 'school safety' recommendations later this week, the White House says, that will include specific policy initiatives. The president is already supporting legislation that would incentivize states and agencies to fully comply with existing federal background check mandates. His White House also endorsed a bill this week that funds gun violence prevention training for teachers, law enforcement and students. Other suggestions the president has made have been just that, with the White House pledging hardened stances at the end of a string of listening sessions. A proposal to raise the minimum age for some gun purchases was losing steam on Capitol Hill on Tuesday even as the White House reaffirmed Trump's support for the measure. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO President Donald Trump will unveil a set of 'school safety' recommendations later this week, the White House says, that will include specific policy initiatives A proposal to raise the minimum age for some gun purchases was losing steam on Capitol Hill on Tuesday even as White House Press Serecretary Sarah Sanders affirmed Trump's support for the measure The president appeared to be softening his support for legislation that would bar teens from purchasing semi-automatic weapons this week as Congress returned to Washington. Senior congressional aides otherwise suggested the legislation would be a non-starter. A top GOP congressional aide told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that the prospects are 'pretty dim,' and that could be why the president is backing away from it. 'That proposal won't get a lot of traction in Congress,' the source said. Trump did not put forward the proposal during at Friday speech before conservative activists, and he did not bring it up Monday at a bipartisan meeting with governors at the White House, where gun violence was the top talker during a televised session. Sources familiar with the White House's discussions with leadership on Capitol Hill told CNN later that Trump was seemingly moving away from his position. A senior congressional aide told DailyMail.com that discussions about the president's proposals, like allowing teachers to pack heat, were still in their early stages, with Congress having been out of session last week and only just returning on Monday to Washington. Furthermore, the House will be out from Wednesday on as the late evangelical pastor Billy Graham lies in honor in the U.S. Capitol. The source said that the basic posture of the House is to see what can pass in the GOP-controlled Senate, which is focused this week on nominations. House Republicans have already passed legislation to strengthen the existing background check system that it paired with a concealed carry provision. The Senate version of the background check bill has lingered in the Senate. Trump's administration has cautiously endorsed the Senate legislation that's sponsored by Democrat Chris Murphy of Connecticut, who says he'll be joining the president this week at the White House, and GOP whip John Cornyn of Texas. On Monday the bill hit a roadblock in the upper chamber, though, as conservative senator Mike Lee opposed the measure and Democratic senators pushed for more aggressive gun control legislation. The NRA does not support new age restrictions on firearms sales and its spokeswoman suggested Sunday that Trump was not firmly committed to his position Democrats want to Congress pass legislation requiring background checks on all firearms sales, eliminating the so-called gun show loophole. Trump has said he favors comprehensive legislation, but the White House has refused to take a position on universal background checks. 'We'd have to see what it looks like and review that before we make that determination,' press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday. Sanders was equally non-committal on Tuesday in her daily briefing when questioned about the president's support for a bill put together by Sens. Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, and Pat Toomey, a Pennsylvania Republican. 'The President, as I've said, expects to meet with a number of lawmakers tomorrow from both sides of the aisle, and we'll have some more information about specifics after that,' she asserted. The Trump spokeswoman insisted Tuesday, as she did Monday, that the president remains supportive of a proposition to make sales of the AR-15 and other automatic rifles 21 and over, despite the National Rifle Association's adamant opposition to the measure. 'He knows that everybody doesn't necessarily agree,' Sanders explained. 'We're not going to get into the details on the specifics of what we will propose, but we expect that to be part of the conversation tomorrow.' Yesterday, Sanders said that Trump had not 'downgraded' his proposal. 'The president is still supportive of the concept,' she said, as a weekend meeting with the National Rifle Association that was kept off Trump's public schedule came to light. The NRA does not support new age restrictions on firearms sales and its spokeswoman suggested Sunday that Trump was not firmly committed to his position. 'These are just things that hes discussing right now,' spokesman Dana Loesch said during an appearance on ABC News. Sanders told reporters on Monday that it 'would be ridiculous' to intimate that Trump had been influenced by the powerful gun group that opposes the restrictions 'considering the number of individuals he's met with that come from both the far left to the far right, and a lot of those in between.' She said Trump plans to continue his talks with a lawmakers this week in meetings at the White House and would ultimately base his decision on what is outlined in legislative text. 'In concept, the President still supports it, but in terms of legislation, we'd need to see what that looks like before we weigh in further,' Sanders said. An 'easy-on-the-eye' teacher has become a viral sensation after listing his ten suggestions for improving schools - which includes 'wipe board pens that last for a week' and 'decent wifi'. Lee Parkinson, who goes by the name Mr P online, was angered by Donald Trump's idea of arming teachers following the Florida shooting, so he filmed a response on what classrooms actually need. The video has amassed 1.1 million views since Friday, and watchers were impressed not only by his suggestions, but also by his appearance. Paula Burnett commented: 'Hey you Mr P, who I must say is an easy on the eye teacher, number seven and nine I completely agree with.' Michelle Ribak said: 'Well said and spot on every time Mr P, from Mrs R.' Steph Harvey responded: 'I LOVETHIS MAN! What is it with whiteboard pens - cant be that hard to make them last longer.' In the video Mr Parkinson, who works part time at Davyhulme Primary, in Trafford, Manchester, takes a jibe at the current education system, which he believes 'obsessively measures progress through standardised testing'. Lee Parkinson, who goes by the name Mr P online, suggested 'ten things teachers want' in a monologue uploaded to Facebook Mr P, who lives in Urmston with his wife Claire, their triplets and his stepson (all pictured) has become an internet sensation following the video His most wanted list for teachers includes everything from 'wipe board pens that last longer than a week', to glue sticks and 'decent wifi'. But he makes the more serious points of teachers needing more support, better pay, proper funding and to be trusted to do their jobs without a constant regime of tests. Users commended him on his more serious points too. Tasha Clemitshaw said: 'Oh my god! I swear you can read my mind and the minds of many. You are totally correct, you speak for us all.' Joan Silver wrote: 'I love this so much! As a teacher (deputy head) who burnt out in the system and retired early, I agree with everything you say.' His video was in response to Donald Trump's idea of arming teachers following the Florida shooting Julie Norman commented: 'Mr P you need to become one of the Government advisors so that education in the UK can move forward with the right support. You would certainly have a following. Or just become education Secretary, do it.' In the monologue, which has been shared 19,000 times on his Facebook page ICT With Mr P, he says: 'How about giving teachers some trust, how about trusting them to be the professionals that they're trained to be, rather than creating a toxic system which is obsessed with accountability, where teachers just waste so much time proving that they're doing the job that they're doing.' Mr P, who lives in Urmston with his wife Claire, their triplets and his stepson, said he decided to do the video after reading an article about the call to arm teachers in the States. He said: 'I just thought, surely teachers wouldn't want that. There are so many other issues within education. Most schools can't afford pens and supplies let alone guns. That's why I put together the video. 'I know it would never affect us in the UK however what I have found, especially through social media is that teaching is universal. The majority of comments and feedback has been positive and agree with the sentiment of the video but there has been some negative comments.' A church in central Stockholm, Sweden has expressed outrage after a nude night club opened up down the road. Klubb Naket encourages guests to 'come naked, come as you are', and if guests leave all their clothes in the cloak room, entry is free. The concept has upset a church located just a few hundred yards down the road, with the church pastor declaring the pro-nudity event 'a hotbed of depression'. The Swedish Sin: Klubb Naket in Stockholm encourages guests to 'come naked, come as you are' - a concept which has upset a nearby church (pictured) Klubb Naket's organisers describe their weekly club event as 'an electronic club aimed at the queer and fetish community where openness and sexual freedom is part of our manifesto. 'It is a plus if you come naked - if you take your clothes off in the cloak room = free entry. 'At Klubb Naket there are dark corners and hideaways - or 'make out rooms' as we call them - where you and your friends can do what you feel like there and then... 'We serve up the best music for you, you feel at home and let what happens happens. Come naked. Come as you are. Do what you want. It all stays here. ' Klubb Naket's manager David Cakir told local newspapers that Saturday's launch night had been 'a full house, around 400 people'. 'There was a nice level of nudity over all, but clearly it got more and more naked the later the hour. It got pretty hot in there as well,' Mr Cakir told StockholmDirekt with a laugh. At the club there are 'dark corners and hideaways' and 'make out rooms' where people 'can do what [they] feel' However, the nearby Sodermalmskyrkan were not as pleased with the sell-out success of the nude night club on their doorstep. What is happening now on Sodermalm can have serious consequences, the club becomes a hotbed of depression and humans having their souls broken down,' Pastor Lennart Torebring told the website. 'Everyone knows children need boundaries, doing what you want is not good for you. We don't need less boundaries just because we get older.' Representatives for Klubb Naket said security and 'safe zone guards' circulate the club throughout the evening, adding that they actively work to prevent sexism, and have a 'zero tolerance' policy against racism and harassment. Christopher Bathum was found guilty of 31 counts in total A man described as a drug rehab mogul has been convicted of sexually assaulting seven patients at his centers. Christopher Bathum was found guilty of 31 counts in total including forcible rape, sexual penetration by foreign object, forcible oral copulation and sexual exploitation. Prosecutors in Los Angeles said he gave drugs to those battling addiction and assaulted them while they were under the influence. Bathum ran 13 drug treatment and rehabilitation facilities in the Los Angeles and Orange counties as well as six in Colorado. Los Angeles County district attorney's office told the Connecticut Post a jury deliberated for a day before finding the mogul guilty. He was charged with 15 more, but the panel acquitted him on 12 counts and failed to reach a verdict on three more. Bathum was arrested at his home in Agoura Hills and booked on several counts of sexual assault back in 2016. After police began investigating, one of the women who filed a lawsuit against Bathum Amanda Jester told ABCs 20/20 that Bathum sexually assaulted her in a sweat lodge at his Malibu facility. I have no credit card, no money, no cellphone, she told the program. I felt like I had no choice. Bathum denied the allegations saying people say all kinds of crazy things. A man accused of decapitating his mother before taking her severed head with him to a grocery store is planning to rely on an insanity defense when his case goes to trial. Joshua Webb, 37, allegedly killed his mother Tina Webb, 59, and their dog in their Oregon home in a Mother's Day attack last year. Webb is accused of then taking Tina's head to the Harvest Market Thriftway grocery store where he allegedly stabbed a worker. Joshua Webb, 37, (left) allegedly killed his mother Tina Webb, 59, (right) at their Oregon home in a Mother's Day attack last year before taking her severed head to a nearby grocery store His defense attorney Maryann Meaney filed a notice in Clackamas County Circuit Court on Friday saying Webb was suffering a 'mental disease or defect' at the time of the attack. The notice added that Webb 'lacked the substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality of his conduct or to conform his conduct to the requirements of law', according to OregonLive. Webb is currently being held Clackamas County Jail without bail on charges of murder, attempted murder, first-degree abuse of a corpse and first-degree aggravated animal abuse. Police said Webb turned up to the grocery store covered in blood while carrying her head and a knife. After arriving at the store, Webb allegedly stabbed the store employee but was quickly subdued by other employees who held him until police arrived. Webb is pictured above on video link during a court appearance Webb is accused of taking his mother's head to the Harvest Market Thriftway grocery store in Oregon (above) where he then allegedly stabbed a worker Police described him as 'catatonic' after his arrest. His father, David Webb, said soon after his arrest that his son had vision problems and received Social Security payments but never showed any signs that he might be capable of the crime. 'I never foresaw a problem. If I had I would have stopped it,' David told the Associated Press. The mother had told her husband that she believed their son was depressed, but the father said he never saw any indications of that when he spoke with his son. The parents recently bought him a dog because he wanted one. 'I just can't believe I lost my wife and son in one day... I wish I had some answers, but I don't. I waited all my life to retire with my wife, and now I can't. That's all I know,' David said. A Russian boy aged four has tragically died after sleepwalking out of his village house into savage -20C cold in the middle of the night. He wore only thin pyjamas, and his grief-stricken mother Maria, 27, found his lifeless body after following his tiny footprints in the deep snow when she woke at 6am. The Siberian child, called Bogdan, had set out towards a neighbours house. The tragic Russian child called Bogdan had set out towards a neighbours house The Russian authorities have launched an investigation into his sad death. Pictured: Bogdan He had gone sleepwalking before, but in summer when the temperatures in Krasnoyarsk region are warm. Maria woke at 6am and could not find her boy in the house. She discovered he had unlatched the door and gone out into the severe cold with nothing on his feet, and no hat. She followed his tiny sleepwalking footprints and soon saw his frozen body. He had gone sleepwalking before, but in summer when the temperatures in Krasnoyarsk region are warm The Russian authorities have launched an investigation into his sad death. The boy lived in the village of Yaga in the Uzhursky district of Krasnoyarsk region, The Siberian Times reported. A Pottsville, Pennsylvania, man has been arrested after allegedly shooting a friend's dog in the face this weekend because it was barking. The incident happened Saturday night, around 8:20pm, when the dog's owner, Anthony Holmes and two other men were hanging out at a residence on West Market Street. Police say Holmes, 30, shot the dog in the face when he got angry about the dog's barking and then fled the home. WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES A man was arrested in Pottsville, Pennsylvania this weekend after shooting a friend's dog named Diddy in the face Anthony Holmes, 30, was arrested and charged with aggravated cruelty to an animal, possessing instruments of crime, recklessly endangering another person, cruelty to animals and discharging a firearm in the city The dog - a 10-year-old German Shepherd mix named Diddy - also ran away from the residence but was tracked down and taken to a veterinary hospital where he continues to recover from the serious injuries sustained in the attack. It's unclear if the dog will be able to see out of its right eye again. Diddy's owner can't afford to pay the dog's medical bills so the local branch of the SPCA is raising funds. 'They said that he was very lucky to even be alive,' Hillside SPCA Assistant Manager Tricia Moyer-Mentzer told WNEP. 'He was shot in his face. The bullet is still lodged in his face.' 'It's gruesome,' Moyer-Mentzer added. 'I just can't understand what goes on in someone's mind to just think it's OK to just shoot an animal directly in the face. It's animal cruelty. That's what that is.' The dog, a 10-year-old German Shepherd mix, survived the shooting but still has bullet fragments lodged in his head The local SPCA is raising money for Diddy's medical bills since his owner can't afford to pay them Holmes, pictured in another mugshot, is being held at the Schuylkill County Prison on $15,000 bail Holmes was later tracked down by police and he admitted to shooting the dog with a .38 caliber revolver and then hiding the gun at the home of an acquaintance. He has been booked into the Schuylkill County Prison on charges of aggravated cruelty to an animal, possessing instruments of crime, recklessly endangering another person, cruelty to animals and discharging a firearm in the city. So far he has been unable to post the $15,000 bail. A North Carolina woman who spent 21 years in prison for a crime she says she did not commit has died, two years after former president Barack Obama granted her clemency allowing her to leave jail. Ramona Brant died suddenly in her sleep surrounded by family at her Charlotte home on February 25, just eight days shy of her 55th birthday, her family and friends announced on Facebook Family members have not released details surrounding the death but said more information wwould be announced at a later date. Ramona Brant died on February 25 at her Charlotte, North Carolina home Brant was granted clemency by former President Barack Obama in February 2016 after serving 21 years in prison for a crime she says she did not commit Brant, pictured in prison with her two sons Dwight and DaJon, was convicted of conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine after she and her then-boyfriend were arrested on drug charges It saddens me to announce that Ramona Brant died in her sleep,' friend Sabrina Greenlee posted on Facebook. 'I had the honor of being on a domestic violence panel at the 47th Annual Congressional Black Caucus with Ramona Brant. I will cherish the time I spent with this strong sister and continue to carry the torch for women like us. Rest in Peace my sister. Brant was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in February 1995 after she and her then-boyfriend, Donald Barber, were arrested on drug charges. The couple was accused of running a drug ring in Charlotte and selling more than $30million worth of cocaine. A jury found them guilty on conspiracy to possess and distribute cocaine. Brant said Barber ran the drug business and although she was aware of what he did she did not personally participate in helping him deal or distribute drugs. Despite her denial, they both received life sentences. Brant would spend more than two decades of her life behind bars before Obama commuted her sentence in December 2015 as part of his reform to challenge what he believed was overzealous sentencing laws for non-violent drug offenses. She was released from prison on February 1, 2016. If you wanted to sentence me because I was in a relationship with someone who dealt drugs, and I knew about it, that I was present okay, I am guilty of those things, she told CNN in 2016 about her strict sentence. A life sentence is not warranted for the minor role that I played in this conspiracy. She added: It takes someone with compassion like the President to see the injustice and right the right that committed to so many of us. And there are so many more that are in the prison system we want to reach back and pull them out.' Brant was among 61 people who were commuted for drug sentences. During his time as president, Obama granted clemency to nearly 250 people, more than the past six presidents combined. Following her release, Brant spent her time working as an office assistant in the human resources department for the city of Charlotte to help newly released prisoners find work. Brant said she did not commit the crime she was accused of but was punished because her boyfriend was a drug dealer. She's pictured second from left at a lunch with Obama (left, center) and other former prisoners who were granted clemency Following her release, Brant (pictured above with Obama, dedicated her life to fighting for the rights of former inmates Her family has not yet announced funeral details and said more information would be released at a later date She also became an advocate for the formerly incarcerated and fought to get fair housing and jobs for people she said had already paid their debt to society. Ramona Brant was the kind of person who touched the hearts of every individual who had the pleasure to meet her, a GoFundMe to raise money for a funeral stated. The true definition of an incredible woman. She was a beautiful spirit who excused love, patience, and determination. Aside from dedicating her life to doing the Lords work, she advocated for change in the justice system for the formerly incarcerated. She believed that those who paid their debt to society should not continue to be punished after their release. Obama has yet to comment on Brant's death and a request for comment by the Daily Mail was not immediately returned. Brant is survived by her two sons, Dwight and DaJon, her husband and grandchildren. The family has not announced funeral plans yet. Veteran comic Sir Ken Dodd has left hospital surrounded by his Diddymen after spending six weeks battling a severe chest infection. The much-loved star, 90, was visited by Diddymen played by children from Liverpool Theatre School as he prepared to leave hospital earlier today. Sir Ken praised the staff at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital who cared for him during his illness and vowed to return to his comedy career. He said: 'I'm going to teach my legs how to work again, they've forgotten you know, and once I've recovered myself I'll get back to doing the job, which is the only job I've ever had. 'While I was in here I wrote some new jokes, so it should be alright.' Scroll down for video Sir Ken Dodd, 90, spent more than six weeks at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital battling a severe chest infection The veteran comic, surrounded by his Diddymen, finally left the hospital today. He said it was 'wonderful' to be going home He added: 'What a wonderful day to be going home, but I have to say in all sincerity that I have been so very, well-treated and I can't praise the staff at the hospital too highly. They have been absolutely wonderful. 'And the kindness and, dare I say it, affection I have been shown by everyone has been absolutely amazing.' The Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital Twitter page shared a video message recorded by Sir Ken that praised NHS staff for their hard work. In the 27-second clip he said: 'Thanks to the NHS and thanks to all the people here, all the nurses. 'The porridge here is remarkable.' He added: 'The doctors have punctured me in so many different places that I will have to get the AA in.' Sir Ken said: 'I have to say in all sincerity that I have been so very, well-treated and I can't praise the staff at the hospital too highly. They have been absolutely wonderful' He vowed to return to his comedy career after leaving the hospital, saying: once I've recovered myself I'll get back to doing the job, which is the only job I've ever had. While I was in here I wrote some new jokes, so it should be alright' Sir Ken was admitted to hospital on January 12 and his spokesman, Robert Holmes, said at the time: 'He's one of the most sprightly 90-year-olds I'll ever know. 'He does have a chest infection and is being monitored for that. He's on antibiotics and, God willing, he will be fit and well again soon. I was told that flu has been ruled out. 'He's always had chest problems and is a little bit asthmatic. They are just checking that they are no infections. At this time of year there is a lot of it about. 'There are so many people at his gigs. It's like being on an aeroplane.' Sir Ken was knighted last year. A man has been sentenced to 40 years in prison for dismembering his girlfriend with a chain saw and dumping her body parts in bags and boxes behind a Target store in Alabama. William Lewis Payton, 44, of Huntsville, Alabama, was convicted of corpse abuse after charges for the murder of Tonya Lynn Amerson, 27, were dropped for lack of evidence. Amerson's dismembered body was found behind a Target store at Huntsville's Valley Bend Shopping Center in October 2015. Amerson was Payton's girlfriend and the mother of two of his eight children, AL.com reported. William Lewis Payton, 44, was sentenced to 40 years in prison for corpse abuse after investigators said he dismembered the body of his girlfriend, Tonya Lynn Amerson, 27, in 2015 Investigators said that Amerson had been killed at Payton's apartment. Payton was then accused of having killed Amerson before using a chain saw to cut up her body and placing the pieces in garbage bags and dumping them behind the nearby Target. Her body was said to have been found three days after she died. At the time of Amerson's death, Payton was on probation and had been given a five-year suspended sentence after having been convicted of two counts of drug possession. Payton and Amerson had been arrested in September 2012 and charged with drug possession and trafficking, but charges against Amerson were dropped when Payton pleaded guilty to lesser charges,AL.com reported. In February 2016, the Madison County District Attorney's office dropped the murder charge against Payton after a judge ruled that there was a lack of available evidence regarding the cause of her Amerson's death. Payton was initially charged with Amerson's murder but those charges were dropped due to a lack of evidence regarding the cause of her death Amerson's dismembered body was found in boxes and garbage bags, dumped here, behind the Target in a Huntsville, Alabama shopping center Although Payton denied killing or dismembering Amerson, a jury found him guilty of dismembering her corpse in early February. During Payton's sentencing hearing on Monday, Prosecutor Joshua Ballinger said that Payon's actions showed 'a level of depravity you see in a horror movie,' illustrating his statement with a description of what Payton had done to Amerson's body. 'He took a power saw, chopped her in half, cut her arms off, stuffed her in trash bags, stuck her in boxes and dumped her behind Target,' Ballinger said, according to AL.com. Payton's family and defense attorney asked for leniency, citing his health problems - he is said to have high blood pressure and sciatica - as well as his love of his eight children and having devoted a large portion of his life to being a layperson Jehovah's Witness. Payton was ultimately sentenced to 40 years in prison on the corpse abuse charge. He is due back in court on April 30 to face charges of child abuse and sodomy in a neighboring county. He has been charged with one count each of sodomy and sexual abuse of a child under 12. ISIS murderers tied up and blindfolded a man accused of adultery before encouraging a crowd to stone him to death in Afghanistan, pictures circulating online appear to show. The images, reportedly released by ISIS's Khorasan Province branch in Central and South Asia, show a group of bearded men standing in mountainous terrain with an ISIS flag behind them. Another image shows a blindfolded man in black down on his knees while, behind him, dozens of men stare at him with stones in their hands. The next image in the series shows the man lying down and surrounded by stones as the group of killers continues hurling the projectiles. Another image shows a blindfolded man in black down on his knees while, behind him, dozens of men stare at him with stones in their hands The images, reportedly released by ISIS's Khorasan Province branch in Central and South Asia, show a group of bearded men standing in mountainous terrain with an ISIS flag behind them The next image in the series shows the man lying down and surrounded by stones as the group of killers continues hurling the projectiles The final picture shows what appears to be the man's dead body covered in fabric. Men and boys, one of whom is armed with a Kalashnikov rifle, look on at the corpse as it lies on a stretcher. Users posting on Twitter using hashtags associated with ISIS's Afghanistan branch said the man had been killed because he was accused of adultery. At the end of last month, gunmen and suicide bombers launched a pre-dawn attack on a military compound in Kabul, killing 11 soldiers in an attack claimed by ISIS. A series of recent assaults, including one of the deadliest bombs in Kabul in recent years, have left already war-weary citizens grief-stricken and angry as the Taliban and ISIS escalate their offensive. 'Two bombers detonated themselves and two were killed by our forces and one was detained alive,' a defence spokesman, Dawlat Waziri, said after the attack on January 29. The final picture shows what appears to be the man's dead body covered in fabric. Men and boys, one of whom is armed with a Kalashnikov rifle, look on at the corpse as it lies on a stretcher Officials said the men, armed with a rocket, two Kalashnikovs and at least one suicide vest, had attempted to breach an army battalion near the Marshal Fahim military academy, where high-ranking officers are trained. 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 troops and police in recent months, sapping morale already hit by desertions and corruption. Afghan troops have taken what the UN describes as 'shocking' casualties since international forces ended their combat role at the end of 2014, though troop casualty figures are no longer released. Giselle Taylor, 27, began fighting with her in-home fiance at their Tarpon Springs, Florida, residence on Friday after he wouldn't crack her back A Florida woman fatally shot a dog after her boyfriend refused to crack her back, police say. 27-year-old Giselle Taylor began fighting with her in-home fiance at their Tarpon Springs, Florida, residence on Friday. She ran out to the garage to grab her pistol out the glove box, in an effort to spook her partner. But failing to 'provoke a response' Taylor grew enraged. 'When the defendant did not get the response she was hoping to achieve, she pointed the firearm at their dog and fired one round,' the case affidavit details. The bullet hit the two-year-old Boxer in the chest, killing it almost immediately. Authorities reported that the woman fled the scene but was soon detained by police. She was arrested and charged with aggravated cruelty towards animals. Taylor was booked at the Pinellas County Jail and released on a $5,000 bond. A Tennessee school bus driver was on his cellphone and driving 20mph over the speed limit when he caused the wreck that killed six elementary school students, a prosecutor said in court on Tuesday. Prosecutor Crystle Carrion said Johnthony Walker, 25, was doing 50mph on a narrow, winding Chattanooga road when the bus ran off the pavement, hit a pole, and then flipped the bus into a walnut tree on November 21, 2016. 'It all could have been avoided if Johnthony Walker would have just slowed down and gone the speed limit and stayed off his phone,' Carrion said in opening statements. Prosecutors says Johnthony Walker, 25, was doing 50mph on a narrow, winding Chattanooga, Tennessee, road when the bus ran off the pavement, hit a pole, and then flipped the bus into a walnut tree, killing six on November 21, 2016. He is pictured in court on Tuesday They also say Walker (seen with his head down in court on Tuesday) was on his cellphone just before the fatal crash The prosecution argued that Walker was on his cellphone and driving 20mph over the speed limit when he crashed this school bus carrying 37 elementary school students The bus ran off the pavement, hit a pole, and then flipped into a walnut tree, causing the roof of the vehicle to cave in She argued that Walker was driving too fast to navigate a tight curve safely and drifted into the oncoming lane, then over-corrected, leading to the deadly crash shortly after 3.20pm. Walker is being tried on 34 charges, including six counts of vehicular homicide, 18 counts of reckless aggravated assault, and one count of use of a portable electronic device by a school bus driver. Defense attorney Amanda Dunn said in opening statements that police made assumptions and came to their conclusions before getting all the facts in the case, reported the Chattanooga Times Free Press. 'There is also no justice in convicting a man based on conjecture, and that is exactly what the state seeks to do,' she said. 'One of the most important facts in this case that the state still refuses to acknowledge is that there were eyewitnesses to this accident.' D'Myunn Brown, six (left) and Cor'Dayja Jones, nine (right) were among the deceased kids Also among the dead were Keonte Wilson, eight (left) and Zyanna Harris, ten (right) Zoie Nash, nine (left) and Zyaira Mateen, six (right) lost their lives in the wreck Dunn said Chattanooga police never investigated a witness who said her client swerved to avoid another vehicle while driving 37 students home in 2016. The wreck claimed the lives of D'Myunn Brown, six; Zyaira Mateen, six; Zyanna Harris, ten; Keonte Wilson, eight; Cor'Dayja Jones, nine, and Zoie Nash, nine. In the run-up to the trial, Hamilton County Criminal Court Judge Don Pool ruled that jurors will not hear testimony that Walker hurled expletives at students and had prior issues. In late December, Durham School Services settled a lawsuit for $323,000 on behalf of a 9-year-old crash survivor who suffered a concussion, a broken arm, cuts to his liver and permanent scarring on his arms. Prosecutors said during a pre-trial hearing last year that Walker received a call at 3.17pm that lasted almost four minutes. The first 911 call about the crash came in at 3.20pm. Prosecutors said during a pre-trial hearing that Walker (left and right) received a call at 3.17pm that lasted almost four minutes. A witness on Tuesday insisted the call was much shorter But witness Takeisha Nixon said from the stand on Tuesday that she was not on the phone with the driver when the crash happened, arguing that their conversation was much shorter than 4 minutes, contrary to the prosecutions version of events. Nixon, who worked with Walker at his second job, told the court she called Walker on November 21 and asked if he was driving. He said, Yes. She told him, 'Drive carefully,' and hung up. Nixon testified that as a rule, she does not use the phone while driving and does not like to talk to other people while they are behind the wheel, reported The Chattanoogan. Addressing the duration of the phone call presented by the opposing side, Nixon floated the possibility that Walker had failed to hang up the phone on his end. Chevy Chase frequently made racist remarks to his Community costar Danny Glover, according to the show's creator. Dan Harmon, who was also a writer on the hit TV series, claims that Chase, 74, was intimidated by Glover's talent and would make the snide racially charged comments between takes. 'People think you're funnier because you're black', Chase allegedly once told Glover, 34, Harmon told the New Yorker. Chevy Chase (left) allegedly made racist remarks to his Community costar Danny Glover (right) because he was jealous of his talent 'Chevy was the first to realize how immensely gifted Donald was, and the way he expressed his jealousy was to try to throw Donald off,' he explained. 'I remember apologizing to Donald after a particularly rough night of Chevy's non-P.C. verbiage, and Donald said, 'I don't even worry about it.' Glover told the publication that he'd seen Chase as an actor who was very unhappy with his fading stardom. 'I just saw Chevy as fighting timea true artist has to be O.K. with his reign being over,' he said. 'I can't help him if he's thrashing in the water. But I know there's a human in there somewherehe's almost too human.' Dan Harmon, who was also a writer on the hit TV series, claims that Chase was intimidated by Glover's talent Chase responded to the claims, saying he was 'saddened to hear that Donald perceived me in that light'. He did not specifically react to Harmon's allegations. National Lampoon star Chase and Harmon, who is also the creator of hit adult cartoon Rick and Morty, famously clashed on the set of Community. The feud escalated into Chase leaving a profanity-laced message on Harmon's voice mail. Harmon eventually left the series he created after the third season but Chase's outburst reportedly continued on set. In 2012, the veteran actor reportedly used the N-word on set - to the shock and dismay of his fellow cast members. Chase (with Glover in Community) would make snide racially charged comments between takes, Harmon said In 2012, the veteran actor reportedly used the N-word on set - to the shock and dismay of his fellow cast members. The Community cas tin 209: Donald Glover as Troy, Alison Brie as Annie, Gillian Jacobs as Britta, Yvette Nicole Brown as Shirley, Danny Pudi as Abed, Chevy Chase as Pierce He was reportedly getting increasingly frustrated about the way his character Pierce Hawthorne, an out of touch, bigot, was being portrayed and snapped suggesting that if the character was made any more racist, he might next be required to call the black characters on the show the N-word, Deadline reported. Chase returned for the fourth season of the show but made his feelings about it abundantly clear, telling The Huffington Post UK that it was a 'big mistake' and that he'd only agreed to come back because he had a wife and three daughters and needed to make some money. He dropped out later that season. Glover dropped out of Community at the end of season four and went on to win two Emmys and Golden Globes for his show Atlanta. He also won a Grammy for his song 'Redbone' in Best Traditional R&B Performance at the 2018 Awards. Last month, he welcomed his second child with girlfriend Michelle. Harmon recently made his own headlines when he was accused of sexually harassing Community writer Megan Ganz. Harmon has since admitted the misconduct and apologized. A major investigation by the Mail today reveals the racist and thuggish past of ex-Formula One boss Max Mosley. And we ask whether the tycoon, who has handed more than 500,000 to Labour Party deputy leader Tom Watson, lied at his orgy privacy trial. Among thousands of documents we have unearthed from his past is a vile pamphlet saying 'coloured immigrants' spread 'tuberculosis, VD and other terrible diseases like leprosy'. It says they should be sent 'home' because 'coloured immigration threatens your children's health'. Under oath at the High Court, Mr Mosley, who had been suing the News of the World for reporting his participation in what the newspaper alleged was a 'Nazi-themed' orgy, categorically denied such a leaflet existed. But the Mail has tracked down the hateful pamphlet in a historical archive. It states: 'Published by Max Mosley.' It was written for a 1961 by-election at which Mr Mosley, the youngest son of Oswald Mosley, leader of the pre-war British Union of Fascists, was the agent for his father's post-war political party, the Union Movement (UM). A major investigation by the Mail today reveals the racist and thuggish past of ex-Formula One boss Max Mosley Asked about the leaflet at the High Court in 2008, he initially said 'if there was such a leaflet, you would be able to produce it'. He said he could not recall the leaflet, and then said it was 'absolute nonsense' to suggest such a pamphlet was put out. The UM, at whose demonstrations Mr Mosley was twice arrested, is the inspiration for the banned British neo-Nazi group National Action, which borrowed the Mosley party's symbol. Not only that, when Thomas Mair, who murdered the Labour MP Jo Cox in 2016, shouted in court 'Death to traitors, freedom for Britain', the white supremacist organisation took the words as its slogan. Earlier this week, the retiring head of counter-terrorism policing in the UK, Mark Rowley, warned in a major speech that the far-Right menace was growing. The Metropolitan Police assistant commissioner revealed four terror plots were disrupted last year and said of National Action: 'We have a homegrown white supremacist neo-Nazi terror group which seeks to plan attacks.' The discovery of the Mosley pamphlet arguably one of the most racist official leaflets ever published in a modern British parliamentary election raises the question of whether Mr Mosley committed perjury, which carries a prison sentence of up to seven years, and whether the trial might have had a different outcome if the judge had known of its existence. Max Mosley, left, with what appears to be a cut on his right knuckle and a plaster on his left, stands next to his clench-fisted brother Alexander during the Notting Hill riots in 1958 This week, the Mail offered Mr Mosley an opportunity to explain his past beliefs and evidence at the trial. He refused to answer a series of detailed questions, claiming none of them were 'relevant today'. The Mail will hand its dossier over to the Crown Prosecution Service and Mr Watson. Our investigation also reveals that: Mr Mosley led a group of neo-fascists including a convicted Holocaust-denier on a road trip across Europe, stopping en-route at the Dachau former Nazi concentration camp; In Venice, he sat at the top table of senior neo-fascists at a far-Right conference also attended by former Waffen-SS officers including Otto 'Scarface' Skorzeny, Hitler's favourite commando who ran 'rat lines' to South America for fleeing Nazis; Mr Mosley was at a violent UM counter-demonstration against a peaceful vigil in Trafalgar Square to mark the first anniversary of the Sharpeville massacre in South Africa when scores of black protesters had been killed by apartheid regime security forces. He was subsequently convicted of obstructing a policeman; Mr Mosley was arrested again after swinging a punch at a 'Jew-baiting' fascist rally in a Jewish quarter of London before insisting in court he 'couldn't be described by any stretch of imagination as a fighting person'; Mr Mosley vociferously supported apartheid the South African political and legal system that reduced the black majority to second-class citizens then with Bernie Ecclestone did business under the regime which laid the foundations of a 6billion global Formula One motor racing empire. At his privacy trial, Mr Mosley mocked the defence, saying he did not regret anything he'd said in 50 years: 'I was very impressed at the way your people have trawled through every conceivable paper and local papers all over the country. 'And equally impressed with myself, I have to say, that they have not been able to find one single thing which I regret saying even now however many years, 50 years, later.' Earlier this month, the tycoon cited his victory in the orgy court case to demand newspapers erase the past by scrubbing his sex party from public record. He is attempting to use the Data Protection Act to prevent the media from ever mentioning it again. The Mail investigation reveals that Mr Mosley has consistently erased controversial events in his life, either by not referring to them in his self-serving 2015 autobiography or by glossing over them when giving evidence to parliamentary committees. The former F1 motorsport chief uses his millions to buy high-level political access and fund his pet crusade to muzzle Press freedoms launched after the News of the World filmed him in the sadomasochistic orgy with five prostitutes. Mr Mosley via a family trust is almost single-handedly bankrolling Impress, the controversial state-approved regulator of the Press that is shunned by every national newspaper. This has led to questions about Impress's independence. And he has given more than half a million pounds to Labour's deputy leader a sum that is one of the biggest political donations in modern British history. Mr Watson who, as shadow culture secretary, would be in charge of overseeing media regulation if Labour came to power, makes no secret of his quest for greater curbs on the Press. Mr Mosley via a family trust is almost single-handedly bankrolling Impress, the controversial state-approved regulator of the Press. He appeared on Channel 4 News tonight The revelations about Mr Mosley's racist past raise troubling questions about whether the senior MP 30 per cent of whose constituents in West Bromwich East in the Midlands are from ethnic minorities was right to accept 540,000 in donations to date. Mr Watson has said he is 'proud to call Mr Mosley a friend' while Mr Mosley, who tried to become a Tory MP under Margaret Thatcher in 1983 but was rejected by the Conservative Party, has lauded the Labour frontbencher as a 'very admirable politician, a fearless campaigner against injustice and a good man'. Last night Tom Watson said: 'My views on Press regulation are well known and have not changed. The views expressed by Max as a young man are not the views he holds now, just as the Rothermere family no longer uses its newspapers to support fascism.' The Mail put 24 detailed questions to Mr Mosley on Sunday. In response, he said: 'This was all more than 50 years ago. None of these obviously slanted questions are relevant today. Like the Daily Mail, my political views have changed since the early 1960s. 'My record in motorsport demonstrates that I do not tolerate racism. It appears that this historical investigation is yet another misconceived attempt to intimidate and deter me and others from supporting the vital reforms needed to protect ordinary people against the bullying of newspapers like the Daily Mail.' Mr Mosley also denied having any conviction for neo-fascist disorder. Now Corbyn's deputy Tom Watson is under pressure to return 540,000 from Max Mosley Tom Watson is under intense pressure to return more than 500,000 given to him by Max Mosley after the Mail exposed the former F1 tycoon's racist past. This includes the disclosure that Mr Mosley published an appalling racist pamphlet during a by-election campaign which claimed 'coloured immigrants' spread 'terrible diseases like leprosy' and should be sent 'home'. Our revelations are hugely embarrassing for Mr Watson, the MP for West Bromwich East where around 30 per cent of constituents are from ethnic minorities. And they could trigger a new round of infighting in Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party about the deputy leader's funding arrangements with the multimillionaire. Comrades: Labour's deputy leader with Jeremy Corbyn In 2016 Mr Watson, who has described Mr Mosley as a 'friend', said after visiting a memorial in Israel to the millions of Jews murdered by the Nazis: 'I wanted to come back to Israel to pay respects on behalf of the UK Labour Party... 'We remembered those who died in the Holocaust and renewed our determination to fight racism and anti-Semitism whatever form it takes and wherever it exists.' Yet three months later, in February 2017, he received 300,000 from Mr Mosley, who has previously sought to play down his links to his father's far-Right Union Movement political party, set up following the demise of the British Union of Fascists. The 300,000 donation (five times the amount given to Mr Watson in February 2017 by the GMB union) followed a 200,000 donation by Mr Mosley registered in June 2016 and 40,000 in August 2015. In the House of Commons register of members' interests, Mr Watson said the two biggest donations from Mr Mosley were donated via the Labour Party to support his office. The smallest one was to help fund his campaign to be Labour deputy leader. Mr Watson is a founding member of the advisory committee for Hacked Off, the anti-Press pressure group. Via a family trust, Mr Mosley is almost single-handedly bankrolling Impress, the Press regulator set up to offer 'independent' regulation under a State-approved scheme. In February last year, ITV political editor Robert Peston suggested during an interview that Mr Mosley had 'bought' Mr Watson's 'influence' through his donations. Mr Watson replied that the Press and privacy campaigner had 'given a donation to the Labour Party which has allowed me as deputy leader to increase our policy and research capacity'. Earlier last year, when news of Mr Mosley's 300,000 donation to the Labour deputy leader emerged, Mr Watson said: 'I'm proud to call Max Mosley a friend and I'm delighted he has made a financial contribution to Labour.' Mr Mosley has previously defended his donations to Mr Watson, calling him a 'very admirable politician'. The ex-Formula One boss has been a key figure in the campaign to impose State-sponsored regulation on the Press after he sued the News of the World for printing photos of him taking part in a sadomasochistic orgy with prostitutes one of whom was dressed in a German military uniform. Impress is the only regulator approved under the Royal Charter, which was agreed between the three main political parties and Hacked Off after the Leveson Inquiry recommended 'voluntary, independent self-regulation'. Both he and Impress officials have insisted the regulator is independent. Advertisement Vile leaflet that damns Mosley: Sorry Max, but the Daily Mail has unearthed your pamphlet and it's sickening Richard Pendlebury and Bill Akass for the Daily Mail Late morning, July 7, 2008, and motorsport tycoon Max Mosley is undergoing cross-examination at the Royal Courts of Justice. Mr Mosley, the youngest son of the British Union of Fascists leader Sir Oswald Mosley, has brought a breach of privacy action against the News of the World. Three months earlier, the newspaper had published a front page account and online video footage of a sadomasochistic orgy in which the multi-millionaire had taken part with five prostitutes. The newspaper claimed the orgy had a 'Nazi' or 'concentration camp' theme. Because of the Mosley family history, the report was in the public interest, it argued. The Nazi allegations were denied by Mr Mosley. And so the 68-year-old was in the witness box being questioned by the Murdoch newspaper's defence counsel, Mark Warby QC. Mr Warby wanted to explore Mr Mosley's own participation in the far-Right politics of his parents, Sir Oswald and Diana, Lady Mosley, at whose marriage in Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels' home Adolf Hitler had been guest of honour. This pamphlet was produced in support of one Walter Hesketh. In November 1961, Mr Hesketh was the Union Movement's parliamentary candidate for Moss Side. The pamphlet an identical copy of which can also be found in the Working Class Movement Library in nearby Salford makes for instructive reading. The QC was particularly interested in a by-election held in Moss Side, Manchester on November 7, 1961. Sir Oswald's Union Movement (UM) the post-war reincarnation of his Jew-hating Blackshirts of the British Union of Fascists had fielded a candidate. A new minority had been identified as their racial scapegoat: Afro-Caribbean immigrants, of whom Moss Side an area of considerable deprivation had a significant community. Max Mosley, a married Oxford graduate and student barrister, was the Party's local election agent. Mosley's evidence at orgy trial QC: 'You were out on the streets putting out leaflets 'urging the voters to send the blacks home'?' Mosley: 'I have no recollection of doing any such thing. If there was such a leaflet you would be able to produce it' QC: 'Were leaflets put out alleging that coloured immigrants brought leprosy, syphilis and TB?' Mosley: 'That is absolute nonsense.' Earlier he had told the court . . . 'I was very impressed how your people trawled through every paper and local papers all over the country. And equally impressed with myself that they have not been able to find one single thing which I regret saying even now 50 years later' Advertisement That meant he was legally responsible for the conduct of its campaign. Questioned under oath by Mr Warby about whether he had distributed leaflets 'urging voters to send the blacks home' Mr Mosley answered: 'Not as I recall.' Mr Warby then asked: 'Is there any truth in the suggestion . . . that leaflets were put out [by the Union Movement] alleging that coloured immigrants brought leprosy, syphilis and TB [tuberculosis]?' This time Mr Mosley under oath could not have been more emphatic. 'That is absolute nonsense,' he said. But the truth is there had been appalling racial slurs about disease in those leaflets and they had urged that blacks be sent 'home' to their countries of origin. A Mail investigation has established that this incendiary material had been printed and distributed, in a constituency with thousands of black residents, under Max Mosley's name. At the time of that trial in 2008, the News of the World's defence team had been unable to find a copy of the pamphlet and challenge Mosley's recollection. The defence QC suspected that the pamphlets had existed only because they had been referred to in a Guardian newspaper article a number of years earlier. Walter Hesketh, unsuccessful British Union Movement candidate in the Moss Side Parliamentary by-election, pictured with Max Mosley, then his agent As a trained barrister, Mr Mosley very well understood his interrogator's difficulty. 'If there was such a leaflet you would be able to produce it,' he had observed coolly. Indeed, he even mocked the defence's ability to explore his past. 'I was very impressed at the way your people have trawled through every conceivable paper and local papers all over the country,' he said. 'And equally impressed with myself, I have to say, that they have not been able to find one single thing which I regret saying even now however many years, 50 years, later.' The fact that the pamphlet wasn't produced did not mean that it did not exist: it simply had not been unearthed by the defence. But it did exist. It does exist. And now it has been discovered by the Mail. In an envelope in a box marked 'rare material issue under close supervision', in the local history archive at Manchester Central Library there is a sheaf of election literature. Most of the documents are relics of mainstream party campaigns fought in the city in the 20 years after World War II. But there is another pamphlet. It was produced in support of one Walter Hesketh. In November 1961, Mr Hesketh was the Union Movement's parliamentary candidate for Moss Side. The leaflet was produced in support of 'Union Movement' candidate Walter Hesketh in 1961 The pamphlet an identical copy of which can also be found in the Working Class Movement Library in nearby Salford makes for instructive reading. Under the heading 'A Personal Message', Mr Hesketh is quoted as saying: 'If enough people vote for me . . . the Government will be sending coloured immigrants home instead of bringing more in.' That, of course, was the policy pledge which his agent Max Mosley failed to 'recall' under oath. Inside the pamphlet, other key aspects of the Union Movement's manifesto are set out. Number one on this list is a call for the 'complete Union of Europe'. Britain and the Continental nations would exist under a common central government. Certain British colonies would also form part of a racially pure superstate. 'We can enter Europe with the (British) Dominions, but not with the old black colonies,' the UM pamphlet states. The 'coloured people in Britain' would be sent back 'home' and given 'help to develop their own civilisation'. But to maintain those colonies as part of the new economic bloc would be to 'ruin our economy because they [blacks] have an altogether different standard of life,' and would undercut European industry. Mosley outside the Royal Courts of Justice following the court case in 2008 The overtly racist nature of the UM by-election campaign is made even more explicit on the pamphlet's back page. Beneath the injunction: 'Protect Your Family' and beside a drawing of a besuited white man making a phone call the pamphlet reads: 'This man is telephoning his wife to say what he would like to 'digest' is a good British dinner in a good British home. 'Remember that . . . the Conservative candidate said you would have to 'digest' the coloured immigrants who are here already, and then 'digest' some more . . . To stop coloured immigration vote Hesketh.' On the same page another headline warns 'Protect Your Health'. There is a drawing of a blond boy in a hospital bed being examined by a doctor. Mr Mosley at the High Court in 2008 The accompanying copy states: 'There is no medical check on immigration. Tuberculosis, V.D. and other terrible diseases like leprosy are on the increase. 'Coloured immigration threatens your children's health.' Who published this white supremacist tract, four years before the first Race Relations Act made such incitement to racial hatred a criminal offence? The answer lies at the bottom of the pamphlet's front page: 'Published by Max Mosley.' In other words, the pamphlet was produced by the same man who would tell the court under oath that the idea of it ever having existed was 'absolute nonsense'. It is difficult to understand the failure of Mr Mosley, who even his critics say has a brilliant legal mind, to recollect his publishing one of the most racist pieces of parliamentary election literature produced in postwar Britain. If he did lie, he would have been committing perjury an offence which is punishable by a prison sentence of up to seven years. It is difficult to calculate the effect this memory lapse had on the outcome of his landmark orgy privacy trial in which Mr Justice Eady awarded Mr Mosley 60,000 damages. If the defence had been able to produce that devastating pamphlet, would it have damaged the credibility of both Mr Mosley's testimony and his integrity? One thing is certain: Max Mosley's victory against the News of the World at the High Court in 2008 and the failure to expose the extent of his racist past provided him with both the platform and moral justification to pursue his critics in the Press. If, however, his activities with the UM had been exposed, he surely would not have been able to assume the self-righteous mantle of victim and crusader, using the Mosley family millions to become one of the most influential figures in today's Britain. He has bankrolled Labour deputy leader Tom Watson and Impress, the State-approved media watchdog which critics say opens the door to statutory control of the Press not to mention currently using the Data Protection Act to try to 'airbrush' his orgy from history by bringing legal actions against newspapers which refer to it. 'I can afford to cause trouble,' he boasted in a 2015 GQ magazine interview, conducted by sympathetic former Labour propagandist Alastair Campbell. Mosley added: 'If I want to be friends with the Prime Minister and I give a million pounds I will get access and invitations. 'It may be wrong, but it is not illegal.' Between August 2015 and February 2017, Mr Mosley gave no less than 540,000 to support Labour Party deputy leader and shadow culture secretary Tom Watson, who says he is 'proud' to call Mr Mosley a friend. Mr Mosley has also pledged 3.8 million via a family trust to fund Impress, the controversial State-approved Press regulator which is underwritten by statute and supported by Mr Watson and the pressure group Hacked Off, but shunned by the newspaper industry which views it as a threat to freedom of expression. The Moss Side by-election is merely one unwritten chapter in Max Mosley's secret past. In recent months, the Mail has examined public and privately held archives and interviewed several of Mr Mosley's contemporaries, including senior figures from the UM who have never spoken before. We compared these accounts with the testimony Mr Mosley has given as a witness at Parliamentary select committees, under oath at both the privacy trial and the Leveson Inquiry into the Press, and as the author of his 2015 autobiography Formula One And Beyond. Again and again, as we shall reveal, one is reminded of criticism levelled at his father on the 1975 publication of Sir Oswald's authorised biography, written by Max Mosley's university friend Robert (now Lord) Skidelsky. By orchestrating an 'entirely unconvincing whitewash of his career' which allowed him 'a modicum of social and political rehabilitation' Sir Oswald had shown himself to be an 'expert forgetter,' said one reviewer. It seems that forgetfulness runs in the family still. Tom Watson is under intense pressure to return more than 500,000 given to him by Max Mosley after the Mail exposed the former F1 tycoon's racist past. This includes the disclosure that Mr Mosley published an appalling racist pamphlet during a by-election campaign which claimed 'coloured immigrants' spread 'terrible diseases like leprosy' and should be sent 'home'. Our revelations are hugely embarrassing for Mr Watson, the MP for West Bromwich East where around 30 per cent of constituents are from ethnic minorities. And they could trigger a new round of infighting in Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party about the deputy leader's funding arrangements with the multimillionaire. Comrades: Labour's deputy leader with Jeremy Corbyn In 2016 Mr Watson, who has described Mr Mosley as a 'friend', said after visiting a memorial in Israel to the millions of Jews murdered by the Nazis: 'I wanted to come back to Israel to pay respects on behalf of the UK Labour Party... 'We remembered those who died in the Holocaust and renewed our determination to fight racism and anti-Semitism whatever form it takes and wherever it exists.' Yet three months later, in February 2017, he received 300,000 from Mr Mosley, who has previously sought to play down his links to his father's far-Right Union Movement political party, set up following the demise of the British Union of Fascists. The 300,000 donation (five times the amount given to Mr Watson in February 2017 by the GMB union) followed a 200,000 donation by Mr Mosley registered in June 2016 and 40,000 in August 2015. In the House of Commons register of members' interests, Mr Watson said the two biggest donations from Mr Mosley were donated via the Labour Party to support his office. The smallest one was to help fund his campaign to be Labour deputy leader. Mr Watson is a founding member of the advisory committee for Hacked Off, the anti-Press pressure group. Via a family trust, Mr Mosley is almost single-handedly bankrolling Impress, the Press regulator set up to offer 'independent' regulation under a State-approved scheme Via a family trust, Mr Mosley is almost single-handedly bankrolling Impress, the Press regulator set up to offer 'independent' regulation under a State-approved scheme. In February last year, ITV political editor Robert Peston suggested during an interview that Mr Mosley had 'bought' Mr Watson's 'influence' through his donations. Mr Watson replied that the Press and privacy campaigner had 'given a donation to the Labour Party which has allowed me as deputy leader to increase our policy and research capacity'. Earlier last year, when news of Mr Mosley's 300,000 donation to the Labour deputy leader emerged, Mr Watson said: 'I'm proud to call Max Mosley a friend and I'm delighted he has made a financial contribution to Labour.' Mr Mosley faced questions over his past when he appeared on Channel 4 News tonight Mr Mosley has previously defended his donations to Mr Watson, calling him a 'very admirable politician'. The ex-Formula One boss has been a key figure in the campaign to impose State-sponsored regulation on the Press after he sued the News of the World for printing photos of him taking part in a sadomasochistic orgy with prostitutes one of whom was dressed in a German military uniform. Impress is the only regulator approved under the Royal Charter, which was agreed between the three main political parties and Hacked Off after the Leveson Inquiry recommended 'voluntary, independent self-regulation'. Both he and Impress officials have insisted the regulator is independent. The world's ultra-rich have flocked to Italy after the country revealed new low tax rates for top-tier earners last year. Millionaires from Russia, Norway and the US have upped sticks looking to take advantage of the nations flat-rate tax of 100,000 a year. The measure lets wealthy individuals taking up residency pay a flat tax regardless of their income. Millionaires have moved to the glamourous Italian cities of Milan (pictured) and Venice looking to take advantage of the nation's flat-rate tax of 100,000 a year, which top-tier earners pay regardless of income The bid appears to have worked with around 150 people, including some with wealth in the 'hundreds of millions,' inquiring about the measure. This was revealed by Fabrizio Pagani, head of the office of the Minister of Economy and Finance, during an interview in London, Bloomberg reports. The country has also seen an influx of millionaires from Norway and Holland as well as from the UK, Switzerland, Russia and US. We are talking about very, very rich people,' Pagani said. Countries such as Portugal have already used similar tactics to lure high-net-worth individuals from abroad, offering tax benefits. However, under the tax measure, individuals are expected to move their residencies to Italy. The influx was revealed by Fabrizio Pagani, head of the office of the Minister of Economy and Finance (pictured with his wife, Katharina Eikenberg) Many millionaires have reportedly chosen to settle in Milan, Venice and small towns around the base of the Alps, Pagani added. The number expected to take up the offer will grow 'exponentially' as was the case in Portugal, he added. The figure of '150 is a very good number for the first year,' he concluded. The scheme is part of a plan to boost the economy with investments, consumption and fresh capital and it comes as Italy struggles to accelerate its economic recovery after years of recession. A corrupt baggage handler who helped a gang smuggle 10m worth of unadulterated cocaine through Heathrow Airport is facing jail. Mohammad Ali, 41, moved drug-laden suitcases flown from Brazil from the international arrivals carousel onto the domestic arrivals carousel to avoid security checks. Michael Sutherland, 48, and his assistant Leoina Townsend-Bartley, 32, helped coordinate internal flights for couriers arriving at the airport to pick up the cases as they landed. Francisca Archer, 26, and Felicia Kufour, 66, were all recruited as couriers on at least one occasion, Southwark Crown Court heard. Corrupt staff in Brazil loaded bricks of unadulterated cocaine into ordinary bags stored in the planes hold, which crooked staff in London sent descriptions of them, a court was told Ali, Sutherland, Townsend-Bartley, Archer and Kufour were convicted of conspiring to import cocaine between September 2015 and December 2016 following a three-month trial. Judge Michael Hopmeier adjourned sentence until April 9. Earlier Timothy Probert-Wood, prosecuting, had told jurors: It is proper organised crime. And when it works it is phenomenally lucrative. Mr Probert-Wood said the plot centred around the daily 1pm flight into Terminal 5 from Rio de Janeiro each day. Corrupt staff in Brazil loaded bricks of unadulterated cocaine into ordinary bags stored in the planes hold. Crooked workers in the UK were then sent photos and descriptions of the bags to look out for through Blackberry Messenger. Rather than join the rest of the luggage going through security on the international arrivals carousel, bags were ripped off and placed on the domestic arrivals carousel before being collected. Joysen Jhurry (left) switched the loaded suitcase from international arrivals carousel to the domestic arrivals carousel, while Wilfred Owusu (right) organised couriers to fly to UK cities If you think about it, the obvious reason for doing this is because security at domestic arrivals is far, far less, said Mr Probert-Wood. There is no customs, no immigration, you just pick up your bag and there you go. It was far, far less and so much easier to do that. The existence of this conspiracy came to the attention of authorities in the National Crime Agency and they mounted an operation to try and bring the thing to an end, to intercept drugs and arrest those involved and to stop the conspiracy operating, Mr Probert-Wood told jurors. Indeed, in the course of that operation, the National Crime Agency, together with the UK Boarder Agency, were able to intercept at Terminal 5 at Heathrow consignments of cocaine. There were two seizures of cocaine at the end of 2015 and both were intercepted. There were further importations of cocaine in 2016 which were also intercepted. In total, over 100kg of very pure cocaine which started in South America and was intercepted by authorities worth millions on the street. You will hear a relatively conservative estimate of 1kg of cocaine is worth about 30,000 wholesale. So, it is a very lucrative trade, which is the reason, obviously, people agreed to be involved in doing it. But the real key to the plot was the recruitment of corrupt baggage handlers at Heathrow Airport, the court heard Undoubtedly, on occasions some consignments inevitably got through and were never intercepted by the authorities. When they did, some people made enormous amounts of money. The court heard the conspiracy involved a method known as ripping on and ripping off whereby bags loaded with drugs were first placed in specific containers by staff in Brazil. But the real key to the plot was the recruitment of corrupt baggage handlers at Heathrow Airport. Crooked staff including Preetam Mungrah, 43, of Thornton Heath, Damion Goodhall, 30, of Tooting, and Wilfred Owusu, 30, of Stoke Newington, were convicted of organising the importation of consignments last October. Corrupt baggage handler Joysen Jhurry, 40, of Banstead, Surrey, switched the loaded suitcase from international arrivals carousel to the domestic arrivals carousel. He earlier admitted conspiracy to import cocaine. Owusu organised couriers including Danovan Bull, 45, and Moses Awopetu, 38, to fly in from UK cities such as Aberdeen to then pick up the lucrative luggage and walk without any customs checks. Jurors heard Sutherland was high up in the plot, organising couriers and therefore involved in the onward distribution of cocaine. We say Mr Sutherland organised Mr Awopetu and monitored him and was in contact with Jhurry and Mungrah in so doing, said the prosecutor. Townsend-Bartley assisted Sutherland by booking Awopetus hotel and flight from Edinburgh into Terminal 5 before a load was intercepted on November 12, 2016, the court heard. Couriers including Danovan Bull (left), 45, and Moses Awopetu (right), 38, were arranged to fly in from UK cities such as Aberdeen to pick up the luggage and walk without customs checks Ali at different times, in different ways, assisted Jhurry ripping off the bags which would be collected by couriers said to include Archer and Kufour. Sutherland, of Sunny Bank, South Norwood, Croydon, Archer of Stanford Hill, Townsend-Bartley, of Organ Close, Camberwell, Ali, of Spackmans Way, Slough and Kufour, of Ashburnham Court, Bedford, all denied conspiring to import cocaine but were found guilty. Gurmit Singh, 56, of Wimborne Avenue, Hayes and Princewill Nwankwo, 28, of Nile Close, Hackney, were cleared of the same charge. Danovan Bull, of Hickmore Walk, Clapham, admitted possession of class A drugs with intent to supply at Isleworth Crown Court in January 2016 and was sentenced to six years in prison. The rest of the gang face sentence on April 9. NCA regional head of investigations Brendan Foreman said: This was a sophisticated plot and at the centre of it was a man who used his privileged access to Heathrow and insider knowledge of the airports systems for criminal purposes. This kind of corruption threatens the security of the UK border and the public at large which is why the NCA and its partners are tackling it as a priority. Working with Border Force, Airport authorities and the airline community we were able to stop this organised crime group in its tracks and pull together evidence which demonstrated their guilt to the jury. Border Force Heathrow Director Phil Douglas said: Our officers played a pivotal role in this investigation, helping to bring these individuals to justice. Officers worked closely with the National Crime Agency, gathering vital intelligence before arrests were made. They also used their expert knowledge of the airport and its staff on the day arrests took place. This case demonstrates that Border Force officers are on constant alert at all times of the year to keep restricted and prohibited items out of the country and prevent them getting into the hands of organised crime groups. Late morning, July 7, 2008, and motorsport tycoon Max Mosley is undergoing cross-examination at the Royal Courts of Justice. Mr Mosley, the youngest son of the British Union of Fascists leader Sir Oswald Mosley, has brought a breach of privacy action against the News of the World. Three months earlier, the newspaper had published a front page account and online video footage of a sadomasochistic orgy in which the multi-millionaire had taken part with five prostitutes. The newspaper claimed the orgy had a 'Nazi' or 'concentration camp' theme. Because of the Mosley family history, the report was in the public interest, it argued. The Nazi allegations were denied by Mr Mosley. And so the 68-year-old was in the witness box being questioned by the Murdoch newspaper's defence counsel, Mark Warby QC. Mr Warby wanted to explore Mr Mosley's own participation in the far-Right politics of his parents, Sir Oswald and Diana, Lady Mosley, at whose marriage in Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels' home Adolf Hitler had been guest of honour. This pamphlet was produced in support of one Walter Hesketh. In November 1961, Mr Hesketh was the Union Movement's parliamentary candidate for Moss Side. The pamphlet an identical copy of which can also be found in the Working Class Movement Library in nearby Salford makes for instructive reading. The QC was particularly interested in a by-election held in Moss Side, Manchester on November 7, 1961. Sir Oswald's Union Movement (UM) the post-war reincarnation of his Jew-hating Blackshirts of the British Union of Fascists had fielded a candidate. A new minority had been identified as their racial scapegoat: Afro-Caribbean immigrants, of whom Moss Side an area of considerable deprivation had a significant community. Max Mosley, a married Oxford graduate and student barrister, was the Party's local election agent. Mosley's evidence at orgy trial QC: 'You were out on the streets putting out leaflets "urging the voters to send the blacks home"?' Mosley: 'I have no recollection of doing any such thing. If there was such a leaflet you would be able to produce it' QC: 'Were leaflets put out alleging that coloured immigrants brought leprosy, syphilis and TB?' Mosley: 'That is absolute nonsense.' Earlier he had told the court . . . 'I was very impressed how your people trawled through every paper and local papers all over the country. And equally impressed with myself that they have not been able to find one single thing which I regret saying even now 50 years later' Advertisement That meant he was legally responsible for the conduct of its campaign. Questioned under oath by Mr Warby about whether he had distributed leaflets 'urging voters to send the blacks home' Mr Mosley answered: 'Not as I recall.' Mr Warby then asked: 'Is there any truth in the suggestion . . . that leaflets were put out [by the Union Movement] alleging that coloured immigrants brought leprosy, syphilis and TB [tuberculosis]?' This time Mr Mosley under oath could not have been more emphatic. 'That is absolute nonsense,' he said. But the truth is there had been appalling racial slurs about disease in those leaflets and they had urged that blacks be sent 'home' to their countries of origin. A Mail investigation has established that this incendiary material had been printed and distributed, in a constituency with thousands of black residents, under Max Mosley's name. At the time of that trial in 2008, the News of the World's defence team had been unable to find a copy of the pamphlet and challenge Mosley's recollection. The defence QC suspected that the pamphlets had existed only because they had been referred to in a Guardian newspaper article a number of years earlier. Walter Hesketh, unsuccessful British Union Movement candidate in the Moss Side Parliamentary by-election, pictured with Max Mosley, then his agent As a trained barrister, Mr Mosley very well understood his interrogator's difficulty. 'If there was such a leaflet you would be able to produce it,' he had observed coolly. Indeed, he even mocked the defence's ability to explore his past. 'I was very impressed at the way your people have trawled through every conceivable paper and local papers all over the country,' he said. 'And equally impressed with myself, I have to say, that they have not been able to find one single thing which I regret saying even now however many years, 50 years, later.' The fact that the pamphlet wasn't produced did not mean that it did not exist: it simply had not been unearthed by the defence. But it did exist. It does exist. And now it has been discovered by the Mail. In an envelope in a box marked 'rare material issue under close supervision', in the local history archive at Manchester Central Library there is a sheaf of election literature. Most of the documents are relics of mainstream party campaigns fought in the city in the 20 years after World War II. But there is another pamphlet. It was produced in support of one Walter Hesketh. In November 1961, Mr Hesketh was the Union Movement's parliamentary candidate for Moss Side. The leaflet was produced in support of 'Union Movement' candidate Walter Hesketh in 1961 The pamphlet an identical copy of which can also be found in the Working Class Movement Library in nearby Salford makes for instructive reading. Under the heading 'A Personal Message', Mr Hesketh is quoted as saying: 'If enough people vote for me . . . the Government will be sending coloured immigrants home instead of bringing more in.' That, of course, was the policy pledge which his agent Max Mosley failed to 'recall' under oath. Inside the pamphlet, other key aspects of the Union Movement's manifesto are set out. Number one on this list is a call for the 'complete Union of Europe'. Britain and the Continental nations would exist under a common central government. Certain British colonies would also form part of a racially pure superstate. 'We can enter Europe with the (British) Dominions, but not with the old black colonies,' the UM pamphlet states. The 'coloured people in Britain' would be sent back 'home' and given 'help to develop their own civilisation'. But to maintain those colonies as part of the new economic bloc would be to 'ruin our economy because they [blacks] have an altogether different standard of life,' and would undercut European industry. Mosley outside the Royal Courts of Justice following the court case in 2008 The overtly racist nature of the UM by-election campaign is made even more explicit on the pamphlet's back page. Beneath the injunction: 'Protect Your Family' and beside a drawing of a besuited white man making a phone call the pamphlet reads: 'This man is telephoning his wife to say what he would like to "digest" is a good British dinner in a good British home. 'Remember that . . . the Conservative candidate said you would have to "digest" the coloured immigrants who are here already, and then "digest" some more . . . To stop coloured immigration vote Hesketh.' On the same page another headline warns 'Protect Your Health'. There is a drawing of a blond boy in a hospital bed being examined by a doctor. Mr Mosley at the High Court in 2008 The accompanying copy states: 'There is no medical check on immigration. Tuberculosis, V.D. and other terrible diseases like leprosy are on the increase. 'Coloured immigration threatens your children's health.' Who published this white supremacist tract, four years before the first Race Relations Act made such incitement to racial hatred a criminal offence? The answer lies at the bottom of the pamphlet's front page: 'Published by Max Mosley.' In other words, the pamphlet was produced by the same man who would tell the court under oath that the idea of it ever having existed was 'absolute nonsense'. It is difficult to understand the failure of Mr Mosley, who even his critics say has a brilliant legal mind, to recollect his publishing one of the most racist pieces of parliamentary election literature produced in post-war Britain. If he did lie, he would have been committing perjury an offence which is punishable by a prison sentence of up to seven years. It is difficult to calculate the effect this memory lapse had on the outcome of his landmark orgy privacy trial in which Mr Justice Eady awarded Mr Mosley 60,000 damages. If the defence had been able to produce that devastating pamphlet, would it have damaged the credibility of both Mr Mosley's testimony and his integrity? One thing is certain: Max Mosley's victory against the News of the World at the High Court in 2008 and the failure to expose the extent of his racist past provided him with both the platform and moral justification to pursue his critics in the Press. If, however, his activities with the UM had been exposed, he surely would not have been able to assume the self-righteous mantle of victim and crusader, using the Mosley family millions to become one of the most influential figures in today's Britain. He has bankrolled Labour deputy leader Tom Watson and Impress the State-approved media watchdog which critics say opens the door to statutory control of the Press not to mention currently using the Data Protection Act to try to 'airbrush' his orgy from history by bringing legal actions against newspapers which refer to it. 'I can afford to cause trouble,' he boasted in a 2015 GQ magazine interview, conducted by sympathetic former Labour propagandist Alastair Campbell. Mosley added: 'If I want to be friends with the Prime Minister and I give a million pounds I will get access and invitations. 'It may be wrong, but it is not illegal.' Between August 2015 and February 2017, Mr Mosley gave no less than 540,000 to support Labour Party deputy leader and shadow culture secretary Tom Watson, who says he is 'proud' to call Mr Mosley a friend. Mr Mosley has also pledged 3.8 million via a family trust to fund Impress, the controversial Press regulator which is underwritten by statute and supported by Mr Watson and the pressure group Hacked Off, but shunned by the newspaper industry which views it as a threat to freedom of expression. The Moss Side by-election is merely one unwritten chapter in Max Mosley's secret past. In recent months, the Mail has examined public and privately held archives and interviewed several of Mr Mosley's contemporaries, including senior figures from the UM who have never spoken before. We compared these accounts with the testimony Mr Mosley has given as a witness at Parliamentary select committees, under oath at both the privacy trial and the Leveson Inquiry into the Press, and as the author of his 2015 autobiography Formula One And Beyond. Again and again, as we shall reveal, one is reminded of criticism levelled at his father on the 1975 publication of Sir Oswald's authorised biography, written by Max Mosley's university friend Robert (now Lord) Skidelsky. By orchestrating an 'entirely unconvincing whitewash of his career' which allowed him 'a modicum of social and political rehabilitation' Sir Oswald had shown himself to be an 'expert forgetter', said one reviewer. It seems that forgetfulness runs in the family still. A few years ago, Brad Parscale was running a little-known digital media firm in Texas. Today, hes in charge of making sure President Trump is reelected. Parscale was recently tapped as the manager for the presidents 2020 reelection bid. The announcement seems like the capstone for the unlikely rise of the social media maven, who until several years ago had been working in anonymity for Trumps business and other clients. But just who exactly is Brad Parscale? What is his affiliation with Donald Trump? Heres everything you need to know about who Brad Parscale is, what he did before Trumps campaign, his role in the 2016 presidential election, net worth, age and marital status. Brad Parscale will be in charge of President Trump's reelection efforts for the 2020 campaign Who is Brad Parscale? Brad Parscale is a political and digital media consultant. He helmed President Trumps digital media strategy during the 2016 presidential campaign and was recently named as the campaign manager for the presidents reelection campaign in 2020. Parscale was born in Topeka, Kansas on January 3, 1976. He became interested in technology at a young age and attended the University of Texas at San Antonio and later Trinity University in San Antonio, graduating in 1999 with a degree in finance, international business and economics. After a stint in sales and marketing, he launched his own digital media firm and began working for the Trump Organization in 2011. He was later brought aboard as director of the Trump campaigns digital media operations, utilizing Facebook and other social media platforms extensively and often in groundbreaking ways. On February 27, 2018, he was named as the campaign manager for Trumps 2020 reelection campaign. What did he do before Trumps campaign? Parscale initially worked in marketing and sales in California after graduating college, selling CGI software to companies for several years. He then relocated back to San Antonio in 2004 to establish his own digital media and advertising company, Parscale Media. His company grew and eventually merged to form Giles-Parscale in 2011. Parscale has also worked independently as a technology entrepreneur, establishing the San Antonio-based TechBloc organization dedicated to training and supporting technology professionals. What was his role in Trumps campaign? Parscales affiliation with Donald Trump predates the current presidents 2016 campaign. Giles-Parscale began working with the Trump Organization in 2011 to assist with its digital marketing strategy and web development efforts. In early 2015, he was brought aboard Trumps exploratory campaign to design its website, charging just $1,500 (1,077). It was his first time being involved in a political campaign. Parscale was subsequently named as the campaigns digital media director and played a key role in Trumps election. Although officially focused on digital media strategy, he had a hand in much of the campaigns marketing and media efforts, including TV advertising, direct mail to potential voters and grassroots fundraising. He used Facebook extensively, even bringing in employees from Facebook and other social media platforms to help master them. Parscale spent heavily on digital advertising on Facebook, targeting swing voter demographics in key states like Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. Though Trump was at times skeptical of the value of investing so heavily in social media advertising, Parscale stuck with his strategy. He also utilized Facebook to set up a successful grassroots fundraising campaign, bringing in new revenue to a campaign that often ran on a lean budget. His mastery of social media and targeting of key demographics in the 2016 presidential election campaigns final days has led many observers to believe he played a critical role in Trumps upset victory. Trump recently named Parscale as the manager of his upcoming 2020 reelection bid. During the 2016 election, Donald Trump relied on both raucous rallies and Parscale's social media mastery to defy the critics and polls and defeat former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton What is Brad Parscales net worth? According to CNBC, Parscales net worth could be as much as $94 million (67.5 million). After launching the Trump campaigns website for a modest fee, his company was paid $94 million for their efforts by the end of the campaign, including money spent for campaign advertising. How old is Brad Parscale? Brad Parscale is 42 years old. He was born on January 3, 1976. Who is Brad Parscale married to? Parscales wife is Candace Blount. They have one child together. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes Arizona GOP primary frontrunner Steve Montenegro has conceded the race to his rival after his campaign was rocked by a sexting scandal. Debbie Lesko, a former state Senator, had a comfortable lead in unofficial returns for the the Republican primary race for the vacant West Valley congressional seat before Montenegro conceded. Montenegro's campaign was hit by scandal in the final days of the race, after The Arizona Republic detailed his yearlong flirtatious texts with junior legislative staffer Stephanie Holford. Holford admitted to sending Montenegro topless photos of herself and engaging in sexually charged chats with him on multiple occasions. Montenegro described the first accounts of the cyber affair as 'false tabloid trash' but later admitted the texts were his. Arizona GOP primary frontrunner Steve Montenegro has conceded the race to his rival former state Senator Debbie Lesko (pictured, right, on Tuesday with former Arizona Governor Jan Brewer) after his campaign was rocked by a texting scandal Democrat primary winner Hiral Tipirneni and Lesko (pictured, left, on Tuesday) with her husband Joe), who had an early lead going into the ngiht, will face off in an April 24 special general election Montenegro's campaign was hit by scandal in the final days of the race, after the media detailed his yearlong flirtatious texts with junior legislative staffer Stephanie Holford (Pictured, Montenegro in March 2015) Holford, said in a statement provided by her lawyer: 'Over the months, we began to flirt. I felt comfortable enough with the relationship that I began to send pictures of myself in various states of undress.' 'Sen. Montenegro asked me to send them on Snapchat instead. We engaged in sexual conversation about these pictures. These conversations were detailed and intimate,' she added. Hiral Tipirneni was declared the winner of the Democratic primary. Tipirneni and Lesko will face off in an April 24 special general election. The race will settle who finishes the current two-year term for Trent Franks, who resigned in December after being accused of sexual misconduct by some of his female staffers. Two aides say Franks approached them about surrogacy, and the AP reported Franks offered an aide $5 million to carry his child. Holford (pictured) admitted to sending Montenegro topless photos of herself and engaging in sexually charged chats with him on multiple occasions. Montenegro first denied, and then admitted to, the affair Due to my familiarity and experience with the process of surrogacy, I clearly became insensitive as to how the discussion of such an intensely personal topic might affect others,' Franks said in a statement last year. 'I have recently learned that the Ethics Committee is reviewing an inquiry regarding my discussion of surrogacy with two previous female subordinates, making each feel uncomfortable. I deeply regret that my discussion of this option and process in the workplace caused distress,' he said at the time. Montenegro, the leading candidate, won Franks's backing, and boasted about his relationship with him during an online chat with Holford. In between texts about workouts, colleagues, and showering, Montegro told Holford: ''I work w a US Congressman. Trent Franks,' azcentral reported. Later on the same night as that February text, Holford texted him at 10:16 pm: 'Anyways let me know if you stay late tomorrow It's ok I know you're at home No worries.' 'If you're free let me know' she added. At 12:15am, hours later, she wrote him: 'Well I just woke up but if you're free tomorrow evening let me know. I'll text you while I'm at work. Night' ending with a half moon emoji. In another exhchange, Montenegro said he 'got all worked up' at a hearing, then complained about another senator. 'Yup. He is a pain,' Montenegro wrote. 'Painful on the eyes too,' chimed in Holford. 'Lol. I know I am,' he responded, modestly. 'No, that's not true is all I'll say lol,' Holford responded. Montenegro wrote back: 'Well you are kind. But you work for the senate so you have to be nice.' Montenegro and Lesko were fighting to fill the seat left by Rep Trent Franks (pictured, March 2017) who resigned in December after being accused of sexual misconduct by some of his female staffers Two aides say Franks (pictured, December 2017) approached them about surrogacy, and the AP reported Franks offered an aide $5 million to carry his child Montegro told the Washington Examiner he 'never had inappropriate relationship with her or anyone else.' He said in a statement after her lawyer released the texts: 'I have already made clear that Ms. Holford and I were friends, that while I allowed our friendship to become too familiar, and that she did, without solicitation from me, send me an inappropriate picture, I never had inappropriate relationship with her or anyone else.' Holford did seven years in state prison on drunk driving related charges after she ran through a red light and plowed into an airport shuttle van while impaired. He insisted he didn't know where the artwork had gone and couldn't help their A wheelchair-bound mobster, who was the final suspect in the Gardner Museum art heist, has been jailed for four and a half years for an unrelated gun charge. Robert 'Bobby' Gentile, 81, had been in a stand-off with the FBI since he was named as a suspect, in 2010, in the worlds most costly art heist. Gentile is not believed to be one of the two suspects who stole $500 million of artwork from Bostons Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990 but agents believe he had knowledge of where the 13 masterpieces were hidden. Since 2010, when the elderly mafioso was caught in a couple of police stings, the FBI have been charging him with successive gun and drug crimes, perhaps in the hope the threat of lengthy jail terms would persuade him to tell them the location of the artwork. Robert Gentile, 81 at federal court in Hartford, Connecticut on Tuesday to face sentencing in an unrelated weapons case The wheelchair-bound mobster, who was the final suspect in the Gardner Museum art heist, has been jailed for four and a half year But the technique appears to have failed and on Tuesday. Gentile was sentenced to four and a half years for drug and gun charges. With time served, it's likley he'll serve just a year before he is released, the Hartford Courant reports. Shortly before his sentence, Gentile - who almost died from medical complications in jail - gave an emotional plea for leniency. 'I wish you could see in your heart to let me go home, so I could be with my wife,' he said. 'My wife, that's all I want, please.' Gentile's name first arose in connection with the art heist, after the widow of another suspect told the authorities that her late husband Robert 'Unc' Guarente, had given two of the stolen paintings to Gentile before he died in 2004. Prosecutors argued that Gentile tried to sell the stolen Gardner paintings for $500,000 to an undercover FBI agent posing as a drug dealer in 2014. Gentile's lawyer refutes that account and the alleged deal fell through before his arrest. 'He doesn't know anything about the whereabouts of the paintings,' said his attorney, A. Ryan McGuigan. 'My goal is to get him home so he can die in his own bed.' Gentile was initially sentenced to 30 months in prison for gun and drug charges, in 2012. He was initially cooperative but when he took a polygraph, he failed questions about whether he had knowledge of the heist before it occurred, and if he knew where the artwork was. A year after his release, he was caught up in another FBI sting. Gentile has been in custody since that 2015 arrest. He pleaded guilty to possession of three guns and ammunition and illegal possession of an unregistered silencer. He had been due to be sentenced in September, but the hearing was postponed over fears about Gentile's mental competency. The FBI and the museum are now offering a $10 million reward for information leading to the return of the stolen artwork in good condition. The other security guard, who the Boston Globe identified as Rick Abath, is seen unlocking one of the museum's doors with a buzzer to let in a man who had pulled up in a car outside The FBI has released the video, calling on the public's help to identify the mystery man who was let into the museum (pictured above). The man is seen getting out of a car parked in the same location where a group of St Patrick's Day revelers saw two police men parked the night of the heist Authorities said that on March 18, 1990, two men dressed in Boston police uniforms, gained entrance to the museum by telling the security guard at the watch desk that they were responding to a report of a disturbance. Against museum policy, they allowed the men into the museum who then handcuffed the two guards on duty and put them in separate areas of the museum's basement. The thieves stole 13 masterpieces, including three Rembrandts, and works by Flinck, Manet, and Degas. Police report that the two men who masqueraded as cops to break into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum will now never stand trial - because they're already dead. The investigation focus is now on returning the precious artworks Anthony Amore, the museum's security director, said: 'This continues to be an active and ongoing investigation. Mr. Gentile is but one piece of the puzzle. The FBI revealed that the two men who broke into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990 have since died. 'The focus of the investigation for many years was: Who did this heist? And we have through the great investigative work identified who did this heist, and both those individuals are deceased,' Peter Kowenhoven, the FBI's assistant special agent in charge in Boston, said. 'So now the focus of the investigation is the recovery of the art.' Authorities have released grainy surveillance video from the eve of the heist and appealed anew to the public for help in finding the artworks. The low-resolution video - captured by museum security cameras - shows a security guard, identified by the Boston Globe as night watchman Rick Abath, appearing to hit an intercom button, then to grant access to a man who can be seen in the museum's reception area at about 12:49am on March 17, 1990, almost exactly 24 hours before the heist. The man is also seen getting out of a car matching the general description of one reported to be parked outside the museum minutes before the theft. 'Every lead, every tip, everything that comes in we're tracking down, no matter where it is in the area, in the country or overseas,' Kowenhoven said. 'These are cultural masterpieces that we are trying to recover.' Surveillance footage appears to show a suspicion leveled at Abath, who is seen letting the mystery man into the museum in the night before. Authorities said that on March 18, 1990, two men dressed in Boston police uniforms, gained entrance to Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum (pictured) Abath, the security guard who allegedly opened the door the night before and of the heist, is now 49, and living in Vermont, according to public records While the FBI didn't name any of the people in the video, the Boston Globe reports that the security guard who let the mystery man the night before the heist was Abath, a rock musician who was moonlighting as a security guard at the museum at the time. Abath was a center of suspicion 25 years ago, since he broke protocol by letting the intruders in. He has repeatedly denied the allegations that he had anything to do with the plot. The museum had a strict policy that stated security guards could not open the doors for anyone, including cops and firemen, without first getting permission from a supervisor. The night of the robbery, Abath admitted to opening the doors, saying he was under the impression that it was his duty to check the security of the doors - something that higher-ups at the museum contested. In the latest video, he is seen opening the doors yet again, shortly after the other security guard on duty appears to leave to go on his rounds. More importantly, Abath never told investigators about letting anyone in the night before the heist. It's unclear whether Abath has since been questioned by police about the incident. After the heist, Abath went on to lead a quiet life, most recently working as a teacher's aide. He is now in his late 40s and living in a Vermont. A woman at an address registered to him said he did not live there when Boston Globe reporters went knocking on Thursday. It's not immediately clear why the surveillance video had not been released before. Lyle Grindle, who was head of security for the museum at the time, said the FBI took the tapes right after the heist and he never saw them again. 'Someone has to explain why the security protocol was broken two nights in a row now, and I think only Rick can answer that question now,' Grindle told the Boston Globe. Missing piece: In this March 11, 2010 file photo, the empty frame, center, from which thieves cut Rembrandt's 'Storm on the Sea of Galilee' remains on display at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston In this March 21, 1990 file photo, a security guard stands outside the Dutch Room of the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, where robbers stole more than a dozen works of art by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Degas, Manet and others, in an early morning robbery March 18, 1990 Authorities admitted that they had not analysed the tapes until 2015. No tapes of the actual night of the heist exist, as the robbers took the footage with them. In all the years that the fine works of art have been stolen, none of have surfaced in any legal art dealing channels. Even if the suspects were still alive, it would be be too late to charge them with theft since the statue of limitations has expired. However, authorities may still prosecute for possession of the stolen works. U.S. Attorney Carmen M Ortiz said she is considering offering immunity to anyone who possesses the paintings in order to secure their return to the museum. The FBI has taken a renewed interest in the heist in recent years. In 2013, authorities announced that they believed they knew who took the art, saying the paintings made their way through underground organized crime channels from Boston to Connecticut and on to Philadelphia where they were last believed to be seen. Here we go again. A 1991 report from the New York Daily News about Donald Trump heroically stopping a mugging has gone viral amid controversial claims from the president about how he would have handled the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. The details of the widely circulated article, which claims that Trump stopped a bat-wielding thug on his way to a concert with Marla Maples, have been widely refuted in the past. A 1991 report about Donald Trump preventing a mugging is making its rounds on the internet According to the initial report, the 71-year-old, 26 years younger at the time, was riding in a limo to a Paula Abdul concert when he saw one man attacking another on a New York City street. Trump ordered his driver to pull over and got out to confront the attacker. Per the piece, Trump who told reporters he wasnt looking to play this thing up was able to talk some sense into the assailant before he ran off. The guy with the bat looked at me, and I said, Look, youve gotta stop this. Put down the bat, Trump recalled. I guess he recognized me because he said, Mr. Trump, I didnt do anything wrong. I said, How could you not do anything wrong when youre whacking a guy with a bag? Then he ran away. Information within the story seems to contradict that claim, however. Remember the time Donald Trump saw a bat wielding mugger and ran after him and stopped him: pic.twitter.com/MLqZlwpvti MARK SIMONE (@MarkSimoneNY) February 26, 2018 A named witness, who was neither Trump nor then-wife Marla Maples, told authorities the mugger was long gone by the time Trump got out of his vehicle. The witness added that when Trump did exit the vehicle, it was only to join a crowd of onlookers that had assembled nearby. Kathleen Romeo, the aforementioned witness, said the incident occurred in front of Smilers deli. She said people gathering were cheering, Theres Trump! as he arrived on the scene. A lot of people were surprised that he got out to see what was happening, she told the paper at the time, adding that Trump just looked around and went back into his limo. Trump said he would have run into that school building unarmed to stop the shooter. And he really would have if it werent for those bone spurs. George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) February 26, 2018 An anonymous witness supported Trumps recollection of the incident, however. The person said Trump told the aggressor in the situation to drop the bat and he complied. Police were not able to confirm this, or any other information about the incident because it wasnt reported to them. All of a sudden, a big long limousine pulls up on an angle, and Donald Trump pops out with the blond, too, the anonymous witness said. There was a guy with a bat, hitting a guy over the head, and Trump yelled, Put that bat down. What are you doing? The guy dropped the bat, came over and started talking to him. Donald Trump the man who once joked about turning away in disgust when he thought an elderly man was dying in front of him at his Mar-a-Lago resort just said he wouldve run into Stoneman Douglas High School to protect the students even if he didnt have a weapon. pic.twitter.com/NaDlU7RZTX J. Dice (@jdice03) February 26, 2018 The article also noted that Trumps alleged heroism occurred just one month after his own mother was mugged Due to the fact the mugging was never reported to police, Snopes was unable to confirm nor deny that the mugging took place. Conflicting eye witness reports only make matters more difficult. Many arent buying the story, which continues to crop up from time to time. A proscribed British neo-Nazi terror group many of whose members have been arrested draws its inspiration from Oswald Mosley's Union Movement (UM) in which his son Max was a key activist. Sir Oswald was cited by the founders of supremacist National Action (NA) as a major influence on their beliefs, and the group even copied the UM symbol under which Max demonstrated. In 2014, it was reported that a Hitler-loving university graduate, identified as the then leader of National Action, was also a fan of Oswald Mosley. The founders of supremacist National Action (NA) as a major influence on their beliefs, and the group even copied the UM symbol under which Max demonstrated. The group is pictured in a file photo from 2016 Benjamin Raymond, then aged 25, had a Facebook picture which featured him posing in front of a Union flag and holding a signature of Mosley Snr. Raymond, who was living in Bognor, West Sussex, was reportedly pictured performing Nazi salutes and posted on Facebook that he wanted to exterminate Jews and non-whites. He also posted quotes from Hitler and said the German leader's book Mein Kampf changed his life. Earlier this week, Britain's most senior counter-terrorism policeman warned of the growing threat of far-Right terrorism. Met Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said four violent far-Right plots were blocked by police operations last year. Mr Rowley, who retires next month, warned that a 'significant' proportion of anti-terrorist work involves tackling an 'organised' white neo-Nazi threat. Several of the conspiracies investigated by police involved suspected neo-Nazis aligned to the banned National Action underground group. Referring to National Action, Mr Rowley said: 'For the first time we have a home-grown proscribed white supremacist, neo-Nazi terror group, which seeks to plan attacks and build international networks.' Met Assistant Commissioner Mark Rowley said four violent far-Right plots were blocked by police operations last year National Action, a highly secretive organisation, used the slogan 'death to traitors, freedom for Britain', after racist loner Thomas Mair shouted those words in court during his trial for the savage 2016 murder of Labour MP Jo Cox. The same phrase appeared on National Action's website. After Ms Cox was shot and stabbed to death by Mair, the group posted messages of support for him, stating 'only 649 MPs to go' and calling for his 'sacrifice' not to be in vain. Last September, two serving British soldiers were sensationally charged with being members of NA. The pair, who deny the allegations, will stand trial and full details of the case cannot be revealed for legal reasons. Home Secretary Amber Rudd has called National Action 'a racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organisation which stirs up hatred, glorifies violence' Another NA member who idolised Hitler and had a Swastika tattoo was jailed for five years in February 2017 for having bomb-making instructions on a laptop. Sean Creighton, 45, worshipped the German fascist leader and posted an image of Hitler with the message 'kill the Muslims' online. The prosecution came after NA became the first far-Right group to be banned and placed on the Government's blacklist under the Terrorism Act in December 2016. The Home Office stated it was 'virulently racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic', and eager to 'condone and glorify' those who use violence for political ends. It was launched in 2013, and it was not long before its leaders learned how social media could attract impressionable youngsters. At one point it had eight Twitter accounts, produced numerous videos on YouTube, and ran a variety of Facebook accounts. But their tactics landed supporters in jail. Police said that 22 suspected members or associates of NA were arrested in 2016. While it is estimated NA had only 100 members, the support it attracted online suggested there were many more sympathisers. Banning the group, Home Secretary Amber Rudd said: 'National Action is a racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic organisation which stirs up hatred, glorifies violence.' The entry for NA in the official list of proscribed groups says it is a 'racist neo-Nazi group' that was established in 2013 and has branches across the UK which 'conduct provocative street demonstrations and stunts aimed at intimidating local communities'. The Home Office said: 'The images can reasonably be taken as implying that these acts should be emulated and therefore amount to the unlawful glorification of terrorism.' NA also claimed that Hitler's major fault was showing 'mercy', while its spokesman, Jack Renshaw, called for Jews to be 'eradicated' during a secret meeting of far-Right nationalists. Far from being merely the victim of an accident of birth into an 'unusual family' his phrase Max Mosley was a prominent figure in the final years of the far-right Union Movement (UM). It is a role that he has consistently underplayed in public. Along the way he acted as its propagandist, street activist, public speaker, party agent, legal adviser and proposed parliamentary candidate. He disrupted rival political meetings, fought Jewish anti-fascists, advocated apartheid across the whole continent of Africa, opposed interracial marriage and, along with former officers of Germany's Waffen-SS, was present in the inner sanctum of one of the largest conferences of European neo-fascists after World War II. Toxic legacy: National Action founder Benjamin Raymond displays the signature of fascist leader Sir Oswald Mosley Under cross-examination at his 2008 News of the World privacy trial about his role in his father's party, Max Mosley called the matter 'completely irrelevant' to the case and said it was 'a waste of time' to bring it up. Whether or not it would have made a difference to the case, many would argue that the activities of the UM have left a malign legacy, insidiously undermining many areas of life in modern Britain. Where it is indisputably relevant to the public interest is in relation to Max Mosley's substantial funding of Labour deputy leader Tom Watson and the regulation of the Press. In his 2007 book about the revival of post-war British fascism entitled Very Deeply Dyed In Black, the academic Graham Macklin wrote 'The Union Movement acted as the guardian of the 'sacred flame' [of 1930s racist politics]'. It was 'an ideological conveyor belt transmitting its own particularly malignant set of political and cultural idioms . . . to a new generation of activists'. After Sir Oswald Mosley retired from politics in 1966, that 'sacred flame' was passed first to the National Front formed in 1967 and then the British National Party. Jailed: National Action member Sean Creighton, posing in front of a swastika, had bomb-making instructions on a laptop The BNP leader Nick Griffin was inspired as a boy by the writings of Sir Oswald and would later make the far-Right's biggest political breakthrough when elected as a member of the European parliament, a post he kept until as recently as 2014. Last September, two serving British soldiers were charged with membership of a proscribed neo-Nazi organisation called National Action (NA). Sir Oswald Mosley is cited by NA's founders as their inspiration and the group copied his Union Movement symbol for their own insignia. When loner Thomas Mair shouted 'death to traitors, freedom for Britain' in court after being charged with the 2016 murder of Labour MP Jo Cox, NA adopted Mair's slogan. When loner Thomas Mair shouted 'death to traitors, freedom for Britain' in court after being charged with the 2016 murder of Labour MP Jo Cox, NA adopted Mair's slogan The group's founder Benjamin Raymond has posted pictures online of himself apparently holding up the signature of Sir Oswald Mosley. Another NA member, Sean Creighton, who idolised Hitler and had a Swastika tattoo, was jailed in February last year for having bomb-making instructions on his laptop. The soldiers' arrests have a historical parallel. In late 1963, the War Office instigated an investigation into alleged Right-wing extremism in the Chelsea-based 44 Independent Parachute Brigade of the Territorial Army. Max Mosley and several other colleagues in the UM including convicted Holocaust-denier Keith Gibson had joined the unit, albeit separately, as part-time soldiers. Mosley did not breach any Army regulations but as a result of the investigation, he was warned by his commanding officer not to engage in political activities while in uniform or training camps, while Gibson and another UM HQ official 'resigned'. Two months later Gibson, who described Max Mosley as 'my friend' (and even named his dog after him), was jailed for politically linked violence. Sir Oswald Mosley is cited by NA's founders as their inspiration and the group copied his Union Movement symbol for their own insignia A personification of the Mosleyite 'ideological conveyor belt' is one David Ashton. A teenage Mosley sympathiser, he says he was recruited by Max while they were both at Oxford, to help with Sir Oswald's writings. Ashton did so for almost two decades. He would contribute to the UM's vehemently racist Action newspaper and assist with the research and refinement of two of Sir Oswald's books as well as a hagiographic biography of the fascist leader by Max's Oxford friend, Robert Skidelsky, published in 1975. Max Mosley, pictured in 1962 Max had introduced David Ashton to Skidelsky. Sir Oswald would later describe the pair as his own 'young literary friends'. Now a retired teacher, Ashton told the Mail he was approached by Max Mosley 'out of the blue'. He said: 'Soon after my arrival at Oxford (in 1958), Max asked me if I would like to earn some vacation money by typing and editing 'Dad's proposed paperback'. 'Mosley had told Max to ask if I would help with what became Mosley: Right Or Wrong? and Max came across from Christ Church into Pembroke to find me with a financially tempting bonus.' The undergraduate Ashton went to stay at Sir Oswald's Paris home to complete the task. Why is this significant now? In the Action newspaper in September 1961, only weeks before such sentiments were echoed in Max Mosley's racist Moss Side election pamphlet, Ashton wrote: 'We should stop the introduction of contagious disease into Britain by immigrants.' He also advocated that 'coloured doctors' should also be sent 'home'. But he did not stop there. Today Ashton, now 77, is a regular presence on white supremacist and neo-fascist website forums. In 2015, he cast 'doubt' on the widely accepted total number of Jews who died in the Holocaust, using the term '"six million" cliche'. In May last year, he posted in an anti-Semitic discussion thread 'Ordinary Jews . . . don't make their money by burglary or mugging, nor do they get into drunken brawls; their anti-social activities are more "sophisticated".' In August, he was referring to the 'JQ' shorthand among the far-Right for the 'Jewish Question': the alleged Jewish desire to have world domination. Mr Mosley has had numerous opportunities, not least in his autobiography, but also in court and Parliament, to express his remorse at his own involvement in the UM Hitler decided that his 'Final Solution' to the Jewish question should be the genocide of the Holocaust. Ashton posted only a few months ago: 'I still think there are effective and counter-productive ways of dealing with the JQ.' Although he would not meet us, the Mail engaged in an email conversation with Ashton. He remains unrepentant. He still reveres Sir Oswald, who used Max to draw him closer to the cause. Max himself has had numerous opportunities, not least in his autobiography, but also in court and Parliament, to express his remorse at his own involvement in the UM and distance himself from his father's racist creed. Yet in his written evidence at his 2008 privacy trial he made his refusal to do so quite plain. 'I supported his political activities, as a son would naturally support his father. Since his death I have neither rubbished his views nor defended them.' Loyalty to one's father is understandable and usually even to be applauded. But Max Mosley was talking about a father who was the white supremacist, anti-Semitic confederate of Adolf Hitler and admirer of Nazi propagandist Joseph Goebbels. Advertisement A South Carolina gubernational candidate who spoke proudly about her ancestors fighting in the Civil War, not because they had slaves but on the principle of state's rights, was surprised when a reporter confronted recently and revealed that she was in fact descended from slave owners. Republican candidate Catherine Templeton, 47, has been outspoken in her defense of southern culture and the Confederacy. At a speech in August 2017, Templeton was asked about her views on Confederate monuments being taken down around the country and said she thought it was 'rewriting history'. 'Im proud to be from South Carolina,' she said. 'Im proud of the Confederacy.' South Carolina gubernatorial candidate Catherine Templeton says she had no idea her ancestors owned slaves. Templeton is pictured above visiting Trump Tower in December 2016 The Anderson Independent Mail obtained this historical record, showing the valuation of Hiram Clark Brawley's 66 slaves on his death in 1862. Templeton is a descendant of the South Carolina plantation owner through her father, William Scott Brawley The politician, who is among four Republicans challenging incumbent Gov. Henry McMaster for the party's nomination in the race, went into further detail about her Confederate heritage in a speech at Bob Jones University earlier this month. 'I think its important to note that my family didnt fight because we had slaves. My family fought because the federal government was trying to tell us how to live,' Templeton said. 'We didnt need them to tell us how to live way back then, and we dont need them to tell us how to live today.' She went on to say that her father, William Scott Brawley, had been named after an ancestor who fought in the Civil War and even lost an arm in the Battle of the Seven Pines - Judge William Huggins Brawley. While her comments didn't explicitly state that her family had not been slave owners, it certainly insinuated such. And it turns out that Templeton's forebearers were indeed slave owners, and had one of the largest slave populations in their county at the time. A reporter with the Anderson Independent Mail approached Templeton after a recent speech and confronted her with the fact that Judge Brawley's father, Hiram Clark Brawley, was a plantation owner who owned 66 slaves at one point. Templeton said she had no idea. 'This campaign is about the future, not about the past,' Templeton said, adding: 'I embrace my family, warts and all.' The number of Brawley's slaves was pulled from census records for Chester County, South Carolina in 1860 - two years before his son William lost his arm in the Civil War - the act that Templeton boasted about in her speech. When Brawley died two years later, his slaves were valued at $32,200 - or $900,000 today. Joseph McGill, a Charleston historian and founder of the Slave Dwelling Project, told the Anderson Independent Mail that the number of slaves the Brawley family owned was 'pretty substantial'. In 1860, there were 909 slave owners in Chester County, which mainly produced cotton, and Brawley's 66 slaves put him in the top 35 of slave owners. While Templeton's ignorance about her own family history may be embarrassing, it's perhaps not as negative as the current governor being a member of a 'white's only' country club. Templeton, who ran two state agencies under former Gov. Nikki Haley, is believed to have the best show at challenging Gov. McMaster for their party's nomination. Three Democrats are also competing to represent their party in the November 6, 2018 election. Max Mosley threw his weight and his millions behind calls for stricter Press controls after the News of the World filmed him at a sadomasochistic orgy with five prostitutes. He took the Sunday newspaper to court in 2008 and won a landmark privacy case. He successfully sued the News of the World for claiming his five-hour bottom-spanking, whipping and fantasy session with women in striped prison pyjamas had a 'Nazi theme'. For five days over the summer that year, the High Court in London heard evidence from Mr Mosley and four dominatrices about their S&M party. The fifth dominatrix had secretly filmed the orgy for the News of the World, and did not appear in court. Max Mosley threw his weight and his millions behind calls for stricter Press controls after the News of the World filmed him at a sadomasochistic orgy with five prostitutes On the afternoon of March 28, 2008, Mr Mosley calling himself 'Mike' walked to a 2 million riverside flat which he rented for a year on London's Chelsea embankment with 2,500 cash in his pocket to pay the five prostitutes. The main dominatrix, a blonde referred to as Woman A, had arrived earlier with whips and uniforms including a modern Luftwaffe jacket. Dressed in her German military uniform, she gave Mr Mosley a 'judicial' which Mr Justice Eady explained in his judgment is a 'very common form of role-play on the S&M scene'. Mr Mosley's 'sentence' involved him being ordered to undress and given a 'medical inspection', including his head being examined for lice. In his judgment, Mr Justice Eady quoted from the News of the World's report of what happened, which was headlined 'F1 Boss Has Sick Nazi Orgy With 5 Hookers'. It said Mr Mosley lay naked and trussed up in chains as one of the women beat his backside with a cane until he bled. Mr Mosley's masochistic punishment over, he then proceeded to take a turn as a sadist. He beat two prostitutes wearing striped prison uniforms, counting out the lashes in German. One of the 'prisoners', Woman D, told the court it was painful 'but in a nice way'. The main dominatrix, Woman A, said that, after receiving whatever number of strokes she had set herself as a target, it was 'the best feeling in the world'. Mr Mosley at the High Court in 2008 Mr Mosley and one of the other women barked orders in German during the S&M session because it suited their prison scenario, it was explained to the court, the language being 'harsh and guttural'. Mr Justice Eady said it was clear that Mr Mosley 'threw himself into his role with considerable enthusiasm'. The judge said it was all 'no doubt interesting to the public', but he concluded Mr Mosley's 'unconventional' sex life which he had indulged in for some 45 years was not genuinely a matter of public interest. And he ruled that there was no Nazi element to the orgy, as the newspaper had claimed. Mr Justice Eady said: 'The newspaper accused [him] of playing a concentration camp commandant, but he was dressed (if at all) only in white shirt and the dark trousers of a business suit.' And while Mr Mosley was shaved during the orgy, it was not his head that was shaved, as were those of concentration camp victims. The judge said Mr Mosley, 'for reasons best known to himself, enjoyed having his bottom shaved apparently for its own sake rather than because of any supposed Nazi connotation'. The judge ruled that although the young women 'victims' wore striped pyjamas, these were akin to a generic prison uniform, with nothing to specifically identify them as being clothing from the Nazi era. Nor, the judge ruled, did a reference to 'the Aryan race' make any difference. This remark came during a similar orgy on an earlier date, which had been videotaped for Mr Mosley's private use. After watching it, Mr Justice Eady said: 'There was, of course, plenty of spanking, and references to "judicial" penalties . . . [and] some sort of game involving rivalry between blondes and brunettes. 'At one point, the dark-haired woman lying on the sofa raises her head and cries out "Brunettes rule!" Mosley outside the Royal Courts of Justice following the court case in 2008 'Within a moment or two, a voice from off-camera can be heard (accepted to be that of Woman A, who is indeed blonde) gasping out words to the effect: "We are the Aryan race blondes."' Asked about this, Mr Mosley claimed he had not heard it at the time blaming his hearing aids. The judge ruled the remark was 'unscripted and occurred amid a good deal of shouts and squeals (of delight or otherwise)' and was not therefore Nazi-related. Mr Justice Eady concluded: 'Beatings, humiliation and the infliction of pain are inherent to S&M activities. So, too, is the enactment of domination, restraints, punishment and prison scenarios. Behaviour of this kind, in itself . . . does not entail Nazism.' He said anyone indulging in sexual activity between consenting adults was entitled to privacy, adding: 'Even if one happens to agree it was "depraved", it by no means follows they are matters of genuine public interest . . . the private conduct of adults is essentially no one else's business.' He said there was 'nothing landmark' about his ruling, but critics said it would have a 'chilling effect' on freedom of speech. The year 1958 provided an unhappy landmark in the history of British race relations, as the country witnessed its first race riots. Violence between white teddy boy gangs and black residents of the Notting Hill district of West London broke out over the August Bank Holiday weekend and continued for several nights. The homes of West Indians were firebombed and black passers-by 'savagely assaulted', reported the local Kensington News. Sir Oswald Mosley's Union Movement mobilised its membership to take full advantage of such febrile scenes. On September 4, while the riots were continuing, the Daily Sketch published a photograph - carried later by the New York Times - of Max Mosley and his brother Alexander in Bramley Road, Notting Hill. Max Mosley, left, with what appears to be a cut on his right knuckle and a plaster on his left, stands next to his clench-fisted brother Alexander during the Notting Hill riots in 1958 The pair look grim-faced, purposeful, aggressive. Max is wearing a similar jacket to the one he wore at a fracas that unfolded when neo-fascists invaded a speech by Tory grandee Lord Hailsham in North London. It is also noticeable that the knuckle of one of Max's fists appears to be cut while the knuckle of the other fist is covered by sticking plaster. The Sketch report said that the police had banned a UM meeting that was due to be held nearby. Letters in the Mosley family's Birmingham University-held archive suggest that their very busy solicitors took legal action against the Sketch over a perceived suggestion by the report that the brothers had been party to the violence by the teddy boys. The next day, the Kensington News gave a graphic account of how UM members had encouraged a lynch mob in Bramley Road. Under the headline 'Kill the Niggers' a cry from the crowd the reporter told how a UM speaker whipped up an 'excited audience'. The newspaper reported: 'Within half an hour the mob had broken scores of windows and set upon two negroes who were lucky to escape with cuts and bruises. Women from top-floor windows laughed as they called down to the thousand-strong crowd: "Go on boys, get yourselves some blacks". ' Max's fists fly amid Nazi salutes in the Jewish East End On July 31, 1962, Sir Oswald and his Union Movement neo-fascists marched in the Jewish quarter of Ridley Road, Hackney, where his Blackshirts had demonstrated in the 1930s. Time magazine reported that the anti-Semites chanted 'Jews Out' as they had done before the war. As we'll describe in more detail tomorrow, the location was a deliberate provocation and they met with serious opposition. In the violence which followed, Sir Oswald (centre) was briefly floored and his son Max (circled) was among dozens arrested from both sides. Max was charged with threatening behaviour, but acquitted at magistrates' court the next day when he argued that he was simply defending his father. Pathe film footage suggests he did rather more than that. When Sir Oswald spoke at the rally, he was introduced by convicted Holocaust denier Keith Gibson and greeted by his supporters with Nazi salutes. Advertisement Large-scale street violence subsided after several days. Some white racists were jailed, but the social wounds festered and were exploited by the UM. The following April, Sir Oswald announced he would stand as a parliamentary candidate for the Kensington North constituency which included Notting Hill in the General Election later that year. He opened an office opposite the local synagogue. Leaflets were distributed in the area calling for a halt to 'coloured immigration' and showing a cartoon of West Indians wearing native costume and carrying spears. The UM leader's language at the street corner meetings he held in the constituency was often of the most vile racist kind. Author Trevor Grundy, who was then a young fascist sidekick of Max's, recalled in his 1998 memoir that Sir Oswald would tell the crowd: 'As they say, my friends, "Lassie (a dog food) for dogs, Kit-E-Kat (cat food) for wogs."' This was a reference to the racist slur that impoverished immigrants were eating cat food. Grundy also recounted: 'He repeated several times that he was in Notting Hill Gate to "call a spade a spade" ' a pun on the derogatory term for a black person. This abuse was recalled by Sir Oswald's 'horrified' son Nicholas in his own family memoir. But it was not referred to by Max, who did however confirm at his privacy trial and in his 2015 autobiography that he had been active for the UM at this time. He also wrote in his memoir that he wished Nicholas had not gone about 'raking up' the past. (He recalled that Nicholas paid for their brother, Alexander, to 'get away from what was happening' by moving to Chile). The situation in Notting Hill reached a tragic nadir late on the night of May 16, 1959 when a young West Indian carpenter named Kelso Cochrane was stabbed to death by a gang of white youths as he made his way home around midnight. Revealed: Mosley brothers in action at election rally This is the Daily Mail photograph from May 1958, which shows Max Mosley's early participation in the thuggish street politics of his father Sir Oswald's Union Movement, which had been founded ten years earlier. For the first time, we can identify the two young men seen on the right of this picture engaged in a 'tussle' with an opponent at a by-election rally. They are the future motorsport tycoon (far right) and his older brother, Alexander, immediately to the left. The picture was taken in a hall in the Islington North constituency now represented by Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn. The Conservative Party grandee and former chairman Lord Hailsham was to address a public meeting in support of his party's candidate. Trouble was anticipated from the Union Movement's neo-fascists. A number of journalists, among them a reporter and photographer from this newspaper, were in attendance. The resulting Mail article was headlined 'Hooligans Wreck Hailsham Rally'. As chaos reigned, Lord Hailsham told his audience: 'Keep your seats, ladies and gentlemen. I am told these are fascists. Take no notice of this organised hooliganism. 'Up with free speech.' When the piece was published, neither the picture caption nor the report identified Sir Oswald's sons. As we will show later in the week, when a newspaper at Oxford University, where Max went to study, tried to republish the photograph and identify him, it was banned by the authorities. Mosley later denied the picture showed him fighting, but future Tory MP Iain MacDonald Sproat claimed Max had said in front of witnesses: 'It was a beautiful straight left.' Advertisement Cochrane was saving money in order to study law. His funeral attracted more than 1,000 mourners and the international Press. The murderers were never caught though Peter Dawson, a leading figure in the UM, would later wrongly boast that one of its members was responsible. The Cochrane killing unmentioned in Max's book has been likened to the 1993 murder of black teenager Stephen Lawrence, whose white racist killers were named as 'MURDERERS' by the Daily Mail after the justice system had failed to secure convictions. Was Sir Oswald embarrassed by the Notting Hill killing? Hardly. That July, he held a UM rally on the very spot the murder had taken place. It was an egregious act of blatant provocation and defiance. 'The election was fun, as all elections are,' Max was later quoted as saying of the Kensington North campaign, which came to be more widely known as 'the ugly election'. Black Notting Hill resident Eddie Adams, now in his 80s, does not recall the 'fun': '[Oswald Mosley] had his thugs with him. [When I challenged their views] in the street they chased us. I wasn't going to fight six or seven of them on my own. 'We know the people who murdered Kelso Cochrane were fascist minded.' Sir Oswald would lose his deposit at the poll that October: 'A pity,' commented Max in his 2015 memoir. Robert Ale (pictured) was shot at a Melbourne tattoo parlour last week The Comanchero bikie gunned down at a Melbourne tattoo parlour has been revealed as high-profile member Robert Ale - the right-hand man of the gang's jailed national president. Ale, known as the 'Cry Baby Comanchero', is fighting for life in hospital after he was shot nine times during the attempted execution at Nitro Ink in Melbourne's south-east last week. Police believe the shooting may be linked to the murder of former Comanchero boss Mick Hawi, who was killed outside a Sydney gym on February 15. Ale, 35, was shot at the same time Hawi's family and friends gathered for his funeral at a Sydney mosque on Thursday. Ale is a close associate of Mick Murray - current Comanchero boss and former owner of Nitro Ink - who was secretly jailed about a month ago. Police believe the shooting may be linked to the murder of former Comanchero boss Mick Hawi (pictured with his wife) Ale, 35, is fighting for life in hospital after he was shot nine times during the attempted execution at Nitro Ink Police in Melbourne said Ale's (pictured) shooting is being treated as a targeted hit Police are probing whether rival gangs the Rebels or Bandidos are behind the assassination attempt. But it is understood an internal dispute between Victoria and New South Wales Comanchero factions may be fuelling the violence, The Age reported. The internal squabble was sparked after a wild brawl at a Canberra strip club in August last year. CCTV footage showed bikies, who later refused to cooperate with police, smashing glasses on their own heads and ripping off their shirts. Murray was seen standing in the background watching the violence unfold, making no attempts to stop it, according to the paper. Meanwhile, anti-gang police in Melbourne have said Ale's shooting is being treated as a targeted hit. Ale (second from left) is a close associate of Mick Murray (right of Ale) - Comanchero national president and former owner of Nitro Ink Ale (pictured centre) stands beside jailed Comanchero president Mick Murray (second from left) and other gang members Ale was allegedly a major player in a crime syndicate which trafficked drugs and plotted arson attacks on a strip club, a court heard last year, Herald Sun reported. During a bail hearing at the time, Con Heliotis, QC, said his client was not coping with his first stint in custody. Mr Heliotis said when Ale was visited by another lawyer in jail, 'he broke down and cried like a baby', according to the paper. 'If left in there, he'll break down,' Mr Heliotis said at the time. Ale was charged with threatening to kill, drug trafficking, conspiring to commit arson and possession of an unregistered handgun. He was on bail when he was shot. Inspector Michael Daly, who called Ale's shooting 'very concerning', said police were investigating whether it was gang-related. The gunmen's bullets went through to neighbouring buildings, but no-one else was hurt. Asked if the shooting was linked to Hawi's murder, Inspector Daly said detectives for the anti-biker Echo taskforce were probing the possibility. Murray (pictured) - the national president of the Comanchero and former owner of Nitro Ink - was secretly jailed about a month ago Police at the scene of a burnt out car in Hampton Park, near the scene of a shooting at a tattoo parlour in Melbourne Hawi rose to infamy in 2009 for his involvement in the Sydney Airport brawl which resulted in the death of Hells Angel associate Anthony Zervas. The crime led to a nationwide crackdown on motorcycle gangs. Hawi was jailed over Zervas' death but was eventually freed on parole after his charge was downgraded to manslaughter. Around three years after his release, Hawi was shot dead outside the Fitness First gym in Rockdale in Sydney's south. A week later, two masked men stormed into Nitro Ink and opened fire on Ale. Family and friends of slain former bikie boss Mick Hawi gather at a Sydney mosque on Thursday Hawi, a father-of-two, was killed in a hail of bullets outside a Sydney gym on February 15 One witness said there were so many gunshots he couldn't count them. When questioned at the scene, one man who appeared to work at the parlour told a Herald Sun reporter to 'f*** off'. Daily Mail Australia's calls to the parlour went unanswered on Thursday evening. There is no suggestion the parlour is still linked to Murray or the Comancheros and police said they were not aware of any bikie link. Hawi (left) rose to infamy in 2009 for his involvement in the Sydney Airport brawl which resulted in the death of Hells Angel associate Anthony Zervas (right) Hawi was shot dead outside the Fitness First gym in Rockdale in Sydney's south. Mourners are pictured during his funeral service last week As we have noted, forgetfulness seems to run in the Mosley family. We can now reinstate a number of the episodes and utterances that Max Mosley, who inherited most of his fathers wealth, has forgotten or chosen to write out of his history for what one might think to be obvious reasons. But first let us return to that 1961 Moss Side by-election and his role as that campaigns commanding officer, as one newspaper then described him. Such deference had long been the Mosley clans due in the city. For several centuries, the aristocratic family owned what is now central Manchester. There is a Mosley Street in the city centre today. Walter Hesketh, unsuccessful British Union Movement candidate in the Moss Side Parliamentary by-election, pictured with Max Mosley, then his agent In 1846, the 2nd Baronet sold his manorial rights to the land to the local corporation for todays equivalent of 22 million. But the histories of family and city would continue to be intertwined. At Manchesters Free Trade Hall in September 1935, Sir Oswald made one of his most unequivocally anti-Semitic public utterances. In a speech attacking Britains critical response to fascist Italys colonial intervention in East Africa, he said: Over the whole of the Abyssinian dispute rises the stink of oil; and stronger than even the stink of oil is the stink of the Jew. The Mosleys in Manchester made headlines again in the autumn of 1961 with the death of the Tory MP for Moss Side. The constituency had a large black population. This made it a prime electoral target for the Union Movement, Sir Oswald Mosleys post-war party. Having been on the shortlist of candidates Max Mosley, 21, was announced as the UM election agent. It was his first job after graduation. That summer Mosley had been advertised in the UMs virulently racist Action newspaper as being One of Our Great Team of Speakers. Indeed, two weeks before the Moss Side polling day, Max had spoken at Sheffield University. A newspaper cutting held at The Wiener Library for the Study of the Holocaust & Genocide the worlds oldest Holocaust archive reports what he told his student audience: that sending black UK residents back to the West Indies seems to me such a simple and reasonable solution, adding coloured people have a different standard of living. This pamphlet was produced in support of one Walter Hesketh. In November 1961, Mr Hesketh was the Union Movement's parliamentary candidate for Moss Side. The pamphlet an identical copy of which can also be found in the Working Class Movement Library in nearby Salford makes for instructive reading Giving evidence at the 2008 privacy trial, Max was dismissive of the Moss Side episode, saying: My father offered it to me as a holiday job after leaving Oxford. It was quite entertaining. In his 2015 autobiography, he wrote that it was a short but interesting new diversion. But aside from telling the reader that his candidate attracted a respectable vote (in fact, he lost his deposit), Mr Mosleys book says little more about that campaign. To discover the reality of the by-election, you have to go to the archives. For the black population of Moss Side, which was the focus of Maxs racist election literature with its calls for deportation, the experience was rather less entertaining. At the 2008 privacy trial, Mr Mosley described his candidate Walter Hesketh as quite a respectable man . . . a nice enough man. In his 2015 autobiography, Mr Mosley recalled Hesketh as an entirely reasonable person. In 1961, the Guardian reported that the UM candidate answered most Press questions through Mr Mosley. And Mosley rather than Hesketh even represented the UM at a debate of candidates at Manchester University. But on October 24, 1961, the Manchester Evening Chronicle carried an interview with Mr Hesketh in which the candidate set out the Partys policies. Hesketh told the paper: There is no doubt that the question of coloured people over here is the main issue . . . We suggest that those who came to live here after 1945 should be sent home. The leaflet was produced in support of 'Union Movement' candidate Walter Hesketh in 1961 He added: Coloured men who have married white women would either have to take their wives back home or leave them here. On the subject of the children of interracial marriages, the entirely reasonable Mr Hesketh volunteered that the matter was a special problem which would have to be looked further into. On October 30, 1961, eight days before the poll, Sir Oswald Mosley himself arrived to tour Moss Side. According to a report which appeared in the Guardian the next day, the fascist leader was approached by a black resident and told: I didnt meet with any troubles here at all until you came along. The Guardians sister paper, the Manchester Evening News, also quoted Max Mosley, at the local campaign HQ. Speaking about the UM policy towards black residents, Max is reported by the newspaper to have said he wanted a law to send them all back where they came from thats what we advocate. You wouldnt call it deportation; they would just be told to go. At the polls a week later, Moss Side told the Mosleys where to go. Sir Oswalds Party lost its deposit having secured only 5.2 per cent of the vote. But they and their followers were not to be daunted. In 1962, the respectable Hesketh and three other UM members were fined for causing malicious damage to a local police station which had confiscated their shotguns. Hesketh told the police inside the station: Have you heard of Mosley? I am in a position to bring 100 men here and tear the place apart if necessary to find the guns. A major investigation by the Mail today reveals the racist and thuggish past of ex-Formula One boss Max Mosley The same year, Hesketh stood unsuccessfully for the city council, using for his election literature a version of the Max Mosley-published pamphlet containing racial slurs. Meanwhile, Max was at the city magistrates trying and failing to have a Labour councillor bound over to keep the peace after he had allegedly threatened the neo-fascists. Walter Hesketh continued to have trouble with the law. He wanted to set up a Blackshirt private army but was eventually jailed for fraud in 1967. Such was the lot of this assiduous follower of Sir Oswald Mosley. According to his 1983 family memoir, Nicholas Mosley Maxs older half-brother had told their father to his face that what he was doing was not only wrong, it was squalid. Nicholas recalled Sir Oswald replying to his own criticism: I will never speak to you again. Nor did he, for many years. Max for his part remained loyal to his father and his memory. Nicholas Mosley claimed that following the publication of his 1983 memoir, a furious Max circulated to his mother Diana Mosley and other family members a dossier of reviews of the book, and a letter accusing Nicholas of a hatchet job. Maxs letter indeed showed the passion of resentment against me: but was this not a mark of the familys own reluctance to look at any truth about my father? Nicholas wrote in his subsequent 1994 autobiography, Efforts At Truth. Before a Parliamentary select committee investigating privacy in 2009, Max Mosley was given an opportunity to disown his fascist fathers views. But all he would concede was that perhaps his father overdid it whatever that meant. He was far less critical in an interview he gave in 1997 when his media profile was more modest than today. Speaking about his fathers opposition to Britain fighting Nazi Germany, Max said: He would have made a deal with Hitler to protect the Empire and he might have been right. He added: When the dust settles and the awful things are forgotten, well see. Challenged on the chilling idea that such awful things could ever be allowed to be forgotten, Max Mosley added: The most terrible things do fade with time. Mika Brzezisnki issued a scathing indictment of both First Lady Melania Trump and White House advisor Ivanka Trump on Morning Joe on Tuesday morning, saying the two women have 'fake jobs.' It was a brutal teardown of the women, which came after she and co-host Joe Scarborough discussed Ivanka's refusal to engage with NBC reporter Peter Alexander over the weekend when asked about the multiple women who have accused her father of sexual misconduct. Ivanka said it was unfair to pose such a question to her as the daughter of President Trump. Brzezinski responded to that statement with a few remarks of her own, delivered in a very even tone but filled with some very sharp criticism. Scroll down for video 'Well it's not like she's transportation secretary. She came in there to fight for women and she can't handle a question like that,' said Brzezinski. 'The whole thing is a joke. An utter joke. Just like Melania's role on cyberbullying, which I think is an insult to women, completely.' She went on to say that she also expected Chief of Staff John Kelly would be 'forced to put out a nice statement about Ivanka and how effective she is' in the wake of a CNN report that claimed he was annoyed with the decision to have her travel to South Korea on state business. Brzenski noted that this would just 'add to the joke.' Scarborough then jumped in and said: 'And Melania Trump continues to speak about cyberbullying...' Brzezinski was still in a state of befuddlement however, cutting him off to mutter: 'It's beyond comprehension.' Scarborough continued: 'When you have her husband saying that a New York senator, actually implying that the New York senator would be willing to do sexual favors for campaign donations, and a thousand other attacks against women - you -- and other people on Twitter.' That is when Brzezinski really went after the pair, stating: 'And furthermore insulting to women when you have women, these women, have been given fake jobs.' Scarborough then said Melania 'needs to call out the president, or needs to stop talking about cyberbullying.' He went on to explain: 'Again, just choose, it's fine. If you want to continue saying it's okay for him to attack with his Twitter feed and online, that's her choice. She has to live by it, but don't say you are going to be a champion of cyberbullying.' Then he too went after the First Daughter. 'And Ivanka can't play the daughter card if she's the top diplomat representing this country,' said Scarborough. Brzezinski then again muttered: "It's beyond comprehension.' Willie Geist, who was in South Korea when Ivanka made her trip to the country, then chimed in, pointing out that she was the top diplomat because there has still not been an ambassador appointed to represent the United States in South Korea. 'It's beyond comprehension', said Brzezinski once again. 'And as you say, Ivanka can't have it both ways. If you're a white house senior advisor, she's tough enough and smart enough to answer those questions. You can't throw up the daughter card,' said Geist. Brzezinski then just laughed as the show went to commercial. A few hours later, Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner's communications man Josh Raffe quit his White House post. President Trump's son in law Jared Kushner will have to push diplomacy on Middle East peace and China without benefit of a top-level security clearance. Kushner, a senior White House advisor, had his security clearance downgraded following a review ordered by White House chief of staff John Kelly. Nevertheless, he remains a 'valued member of the team,' White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday. The downgrade took place along with other aides who were working on temporary or interim security clearances at the Top Secret/SCI-level level, Politico reported Tuesday. It also followed the discovery of efforts by foreign government including Mexico and China to try to manipulate Kushner, the Washington Post revealed. The foreign governments sought to capitalize on Kushner's novice status to the world of politics and foreign policy armed with knowledge his family business was anxious to find financial partners to ease overwhelming debt. As part of the downgrade, he will suffer the loss of access to the president's daily intelligence briefing. President Trump's son in law Jared Kushner is having his top-level security clearance downgraded following a review ordered by chief of staff John Kelly He will now have to work through his extensive portfolio relying on information only at the top secret level. The change comes after Kelly ordered a new review of clearance policy, following DailyMail.com's report that former White House staff secretary Rob Porter had stayed on staff with interim clearances despite abuse allegations by two ex wives. Both women had told the FBI information about the allegations during the extensive background check process, but it did not prevent Porter from ferrying top secret information to the president's desk on a daily basis. The downgrade comes as the Post reported at least four countries privately discussed ways to manipulate Kushner who was new to government in 2017 and oversaw a real estate empire that took on massive debt. Among nations trying to work the angle in some cases by dealing directly with Kushner were United Arab Emirates, China, Israel and Mexico, according to the report. The issue of Kushner's foreign meetings was raised with National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster, who learned that the contacts were not lined up through the NSC. A former White House official told the Post people in the building were concerned Kushner was 'naive and being tricked.' According to a previous statement issued by Kelly: 'I will not comment on anybody's specific security clearance situation or go beyond the memo released last week. As I told Jared days ago, I have full confidence in his ability to continue performing his duties in his foreign policy portfolio including overseeing our Israeli-Palestinian peace effort and serving as an integral part of our relationship with Mexico.' LIGHT READING: Jared Kushner, senior advisor to President Donald Trump, departs his home at 7:12 am EST, in Washington, D.C., Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 'Everyone in the White House is grateful for these valuable contributions to furthering the Presidents agenda. There is no truth to any suggestion otherwise,' he said. The statement did not mention Kushner's work with China, but an official said 'he's involved in the economic dialogue but that's been his role on it for months.' Meanwhile, Josh Raffel, the spokesman for Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump, is leaving the White House, Axios first reported Tuesday. Raffel, who was promoted to the position of deputy communications director in the fall, had become the White House's go-to crisis communications guy, while also having his hand in a number of policy areas. A senior administration official said Tuesday: 'The president said the other day ... he has great faith and confidence in Jared. He feels like he's being treated very unfairly he never gets any credit, he works for nothing and we all know Jared works on major pieces of the president's portfolio, foreign and domestic.' FALLOUT: Kushner's downgraded clearance is yet more fallout from the DailyMail's report of abuse allegations against former White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter. Here Porter (L) reminds U.S. President Donald Trump he had a bill to sign after he departed quickly following remarks at his golf estate in Bedminster, New Jersey U.S., August 12, 2017 FALLOUT: Kushner's downgraded clearance is yet more fallout from the DailyMail's report of abuse allegations against former White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter. Here is an image of Colbie Holderness, the first wife of Rob Porter, who came forward with abuse allegations Jenny Willoughby speaks to DailyMail.com about her relationship with White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter, who worked in the White House on a series of temporary security clearances despite abuse allegations against him A Hollywood public relations executive, Raffel was brought on to lead the communications team for the Office of American Innovation, which Kushner heads. His position evolved to becoming the spokesperson for the first daughter and her husband, both top White House advisers. News of Raffel's departure comes as Kushner's ability to tend to his vast portfolio is being questioned, while White House fault lines are spilling into the press, with Kelly reportedly saying privately that Ivanka Trump is merely 'playing government.' CNN reported that Kelly called one of her main policy proposals, the child tax credit, 'a pet project.' It was President Trump's idea, according to a senior official from the White House, to send his daughter on the trip. In another bad break for Kushner, a quote attributed to him that was included on a Trump campaign release Tuesday is in apparent violation of the Hatch Act. The release naming Brad Parscale as campaign manager for 2020 issued a quote from Kushner praising him under the official government title 'assistant to the president' which is prohibited. 'Brad was essential in bringing a disciplined technology and data-driven approach to how the 2016 campaign was run. His leadership and expertise will be help build a best-in-class campaign,' Kushner is quoted as saying. On the business front, Kushner Cos, which Kushner used to run, is in talks to buy the remainder of its stake in flagship property 666 Fifth Avenue White House Senior Advisor to the President Jared Kushner speaks during a conversation with Haim Saban at Saban Forum, December 3, 2017 in Washington, DC After the AP asked the campaign about the title, it was removed from the online version Tuesday. According to a statement by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, 'Two weeks ago we sent a complaint to Chief of Staff John Kelly outlining why it was a national security risk to allow Jared Kushner to continue accessing top secret information while his full security clearance has still not been adjudicated after more than a year, and requesting that his temporary clearance be revoked. We are glad that Kushner and the rest of the White House officials still on interim clearances have now lost access to top secret information.' The statement continued: 'There continue to be serious questions as to the Trump administrations handling of secure information; failure to at least downgrade Kushners temporary clearance would have set a dangerous precedent by signaling a willingness to tolerate unacceptable national security risks.' President Trump ignored questions about Kushner during a White House event Tuesday afternoon. But on the business front, Kushner Cos, which Kushner used to run, is in talks to buy the remainder of its stake in flagship property 666 Fifth Avenue, Reuters reported. Vornado Realty Trust owns a 49 per cent stake in the Midtown building. Kushner Cos got the building in 2006 for $1.8 billion, but has been investors to inject cash for a major redevelopment project. A former Qatari prime minister is among those who considered investing millions in the deal. In the fallout from the Porter scandal, Kelly released a memo telling aides to discontinue the use of interim clearances for people with applications pending since June 1 a group that included Kushner. On Monday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders wouldn't reveal whether Kushner or others had lost clearances. 'As we've said many times before, we're not going to discuss individual clearances. That goes to a broader number or an individual number so I'm not going to get into that today just as I haven't in the past,' she said. On Tuesday, minutes before the news broke, Sanders said: 'He is a valued member of the team and will continue to do the important work he has been doing since he started in the administration.' Chief of Staff John Kelly (left), according to CNN, was not enthusiastic about sending first daughter and top White House adviser Ivanka Trump (right) as the U.S. delegation's leader to the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games In yet another blow, chief of staff Kelly was not initially 'enthusiastic' about sending first daughter and top White House adviser Ivanka Trump Kushner's wife to South Korea as the leader of the American delegation for the closing ceremony of the Olympic games. CNN reported that Ivanka Trump's unique position in the White House is ruffling feathers, with Kelly getting increasingly frustrated over the first daughter having it both ways she'll play the role of White House adviser when it best suits her, and first daughter when being an official doesn't get her what she wants. Kelly has said privately that Ivanka Trump is merely 'playing government,' CNN said, with the chief of staff calling one of her main policy proposals, the child tax credit, 'a pet project.' A woman who filed a police report against Steve Wynn is claiming that she gave birth to a daughter after becoming pregnant when she was raped by the casino magnate. The alleged victim, whose identity is not being revealed, filed her report with the Las Vegas Police Department earlier this month, claiming that she was sexually assaulted by Wynn some time in the 70s while living in Chicago. That incident occurred in the woman's apartment according to the report, in which she stated that Wynn raped her against a refrigerator and then took a call before kissing her and leaving the residence. The year is given as 1973 or 1974, and the woman claims she later gave birth in a gas station bathroom. Wynn was married to his first wife Elaine at that time, and had two daughters. In a statement released on Wedmesday, a spokesperson for the billionaire said: 'Mr. Wynn has never been supplied with these unsubstantiated accounts or the names of these accusers by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department. 'Its revolting that the media repeated such inflammatory claims from events that supposedly occurred four decades ago without the slightest bit of fact-checking or skepticism. This is not journalism, it is the peddling of smut and it is atrociously unfair to Mr. Wynn, his family and friends. 'Mr. Wynn is left to ask this simple question: When did we abandon such fundamental fairness, due process and decency?' Allegations: Steve Wynn (above in 2016) is accused of raping a woman inside her Chicago apartment in 1973 or 1974 according to a police report Pals: Wynn was married to his first wife Elaine at that time, and had two daughters (l to r: Roberto Cavalli, Elaine Wynn, Steve Wynn, Melania Trump, Eva Cavalli and Donald Trmp) A second report was also filed with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department around that same time by a woman who claims she was fired from her job at one of Wynn's casinos when she decided to end their sexual relationship. That incident is not being investigated at this time due to the fact that the statue of limitations on any possible charges has expired in the case. The police report claims that the incident occurred in 1976 while the woman was working at the Golden Nugget. The rape case meanwhile has been passed along to authorities in the Windy City. Wynn has been accused of sexual misconduct by a number of female employees at his Las Vegas hotel and casino. The Wall Street Journal spoke with 150 people who currently work for Wynn or have in the past, and a number of the women who no longer work at one of the billionaire businessman's properties were incredibly forthcoming in describing the lengths they would allegedly go to in order to avoid being alone with their boss. Some scheduled fake appointments to make sure they would not be chosen to give Wynn spa treatments, while others went so far as to hide in bathrooms when he came into the salon. One worker said that she was coerced into performing a sex act on Wynn, 76, with her hand at the end of his massages, adding that Wynn asked at one point if she could use her mouth rather than rubbing his penis to climax when they were done with the session. That woman refused, but in 2005 another employee was not able to decline Wynn's advances when he ordered her to disrobe and lie on a table so they could have sex. Chomping at the bit: Wynn (above in 2014) has denied all the allegations being made against him She reported Wynn and received a $7.5 million settlement, which was revealed by Wynn's ex-wife Elaine in court papers. It was that court filing which led to the Journal's investigation. The masseuse who brought Wynn to climax with her hand said she refused to do the same with her mouth, while also detailing how the casino magnate slowly groomed her over the course of their relationship. Wynn booked multiple appointments a week with the woman several years ago, and at one point threw his towel off and never wore it again claims the former employee. Then, he began to rub her legs while she was massaging him, which led to the session when he allegedly asked her to finish by massaging his penis until he had achieved full release. At the end of every session, the woman said that Wynn paid her $1,000 in cash, regardless of any extra services that may have been provided for the client's added pleasure. When she told Wynn that his requests made her uncomfortable he stopped requesting her for massages, and she finally told a co-worker. She said that she did not go into specifics and just told the woman there had been inappropriate behavior. That woman recalled the conversation, and added that she did not mention to the female employee that Wynn had also stopped requesting her when she balked at his demands for her to rub his genitals. Shawn Cardinal, a former personal assistant to Elaine, said that in the late 1990s Wynn began contacting her outside work and demanding the two spend time together alone. 'What are you wearing? Why dont you hang out with me after work?' he would ask according to Cardinal. 'I was not brave enough to say, "How dare you?" I just joked my way out of it and I made sure I was never alone with him.' Wife two, marriage three: A former employee at the Golden Nugget also claims she was forced to resign after refusing to sleep with Wynn (Wynn and wife Andrea in July) Wynn also paraded around the casino in short shorts and no underwear at time according to several employees, with workers in the spa stating that his genitals would be hanging out and on full display at times. And he is accused of trying to get intimate with female workers he could not get alone in a room with him by kissing them in what they describe as sudden attacks that came out of nowhere. Two women who Wynn allegedly demanded kiss him said that he made these requests after they had been working for him for years, though one did also note that she had been sexually harassed multiple times before that incident. That woman said Wynn once ribbed his partially exposed genitals while detailing what sex acts he wished to perform on her and another time called and asked: 'So when are you going to come into my office and f*** me?' 'The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous,' said Wynn in a statement. 'We find ourselves in a world where people can make allegations, regardless of the truth, and a person is left with the choice of weathering insulting publicity or engaging in multi-year lawsuits. It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation.' He then accused his ex-wife of spreading false reports because of the 'terrible and nasty lawsuit' she has filed in hopes of getting a 'revised divorce settlement.' Elaine is trying to get more control over the $1.9 billion in stock she received after the pair split, while her ex is trying to keep the strong restrictions detailing what she can and cannot do with that money in place. She wrote in her court filing that it was in 2009 when she learned of the incident involving Wynn and the manicurist, which possible led to their second divorce the following year. Her argument is that by not telling his board about the payout, Wynn put the company at jeopardy. That argument is problematic however given that Elaine never said anything during the five years she was on the board after learning about the lawsuit. Wynn is the most famous, and successful, casino owner in the world, having been behind countless properties in Las Vegas and Atlantic City including the Golden Nugget, the Mirage, the Bellagio, Treasure island and now the Encore and Wynn resorts an casinos. He is also an avid art collector and owns or has owned works by Picasso, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Monet, Jeff Koons. In 2006, he famously put his elbow through Picasso's La Reve while showing it to friends, just before he was set to sell it to hedge fund manager Steven Cohen for a then record-breaking $139 million. The sale was cancelled when the story of what happened broke, and the painting was repaired at a cost of $90,000. Wynn also later sued his insurance company for failing to pay out what he claims should have been a $54million claim for lost value after he damaged the painting. Wynn married his first wife Elaine in 1963, divorced her in 1986, remarried her in 1991 and divorced her once again in 2010, with Elaine remaining on the board of his company until 2015. The two are still locked in a contentious court battle however, with Elaine, 73, filing papers last month asking that her husband give her access to more than $900million worth of stock she received in their divorce. Elaine, who is worth $1.9billion, said she had handed the shares over to her husband to control after she was awarded them in the divorce 'to help her partner of 41 years and the father of her children.' The couple has two daughters, Kevyn and Gillian. Keyn was kidnapped in 1993 when she was 27 years old and Wynn paid $1.45million in cash from the casino vault for her safe return. Police were later able to apprehend the kidnappers as one tried to purchase a Ferrari. In 2011, Wynn married socialite Andrea Hissom, 54, the mother of model and singer Nick Hissom. The pair are incredibly close with President Trump and the First Lady, and rang in the New Year at Mar-a-Lago, where Hissom wore a $13,000 Gucci dress In a compelling interview on Channel 4 News on Tuesday night, a blustering Max Mosley admitted the bombshell election pamphlet uncovered by the Mail was racist. He told host Cathy Newman: 'Yeah I think that probably is racist, I'll concede that.' An unflappable Miss Newman, one of TV's most respected interviewers, had put a series of incisive questions to the tycoon. Yet he protested it was 'nonsense' to say he should apologise and 'stupid and offensive' to suggest he hadn't told the truth in his 2008 High Court case. At one point he even suggested the leaflet was a hoax, then conceded it might be genuine but denied it was racist, and finally admitted it was racist. The Mail shared its Mosley dossier with Channel 4 News and reporter Michael Crick who retraced our steps to find the original leaflet in a Salford archive. Last night one watching BBC journalist described Miss Newman's forensic examination of Mr Mosley as 'a contender for interview of the year'. Below is an abridged version of the dramatic confrontation. In a compelling interview on Channel 4 News last night, a blustering Max Mosley admitted the bombshell election pamphlet uncovered by the Mail was racist Cathy Newman: Mr Mosley you said in the News of the World trial in 2008 that the claim that leaflets were put out alleging immigrants brought disease to the UK was absolute nonsense. Did you get it wrong or did you lie under oath? Max Mosley: I wouldnt dream of lying under oath thats a very offensive suggestion which you shouldnt make. Absolutely shouldnt make. The truth is that I was asked about that leaflet and I said to the barrister if that leaflet existed, if you had it youd produce it. And of course they should have produced it if it existed. I never ... no, no listen to the answer. CN: Well, you actually said you didnt recall it. MM: Ive never seen that leaflet, the original, and Id like to see it. Thats a photocopy, Id like to see the original. CN: This is a photocopy of the original, which you saw in Michael Cricks report. Im happy for you to have a look at that just to look through it but Im also happy to quote from it. Walter Heskeths by-election leaflet says coloured immigration threatens your childrens health. MM: Weve already had that CN: All those terrible suggestions. Well why did you publish it? Your name is on ... MM: They asked me in the trial, no they asked me in the trial whether that leaflet existed and I said it was absolutely true, that it was complete nonsense and that was my recollection, it still is my recollection. Im not even sure if its genuine, but if it is genuine it doesnt reflect my views today and this entirely red herring put out by the Daily Mail and Im astonished, I am astonished. He told host Cathy Newman: 'Yeah I think that probably is racist, I'll concede that.' CN: So you think this might be a hoax, this leaflet here that Im trying to get you to have a look at? MM: Ive never seen the original. We would have to, my lawyers have actually asked the Mail for the original and it would be interesting to give it some forensic ... CN: The original is in two public libraries and your name is on the bottom of it, you are legally responsible for it. Do you accept that? MM: This is what you say. Wed like to look at it, but in the meantime, assuming it is true, that does not reflect my view, absolutely. And this was 60, no 56 years ago and its an attempt by the Daily Mail to distract from what the real issue is, which is whether they are breaching the Data Protection Act. CN: Did you at the time in 1961 believe in sending immigrants home to Jamaica? Did you believe that? MM: No as your quote already said I believe that financial inducements should be offered, to persuade them to go home. That is now completely academic because were 50-odd years on and its no longer a possible question. This was in 1961. I ceased to have any involvment with my fathers movement in 1963 ... you are entitled as you get older to change your view. CN: Did you believe that immigrants brought disease to the UK in 1961, is that a belief you held? A major investigation by the Mail today reveals the racist and thuggish past of ex-Formula One boss Max Mosley MM: I have no reason to believe that at all. Then or now. CN: Would you admit that those statements are racist? MM: I dont know about racist, they are deeply offensive and CN: You dont think its racist to say that immigrants bring disease to the UK? MM: They might be an immigrant from somewhere like Canada or exactly the same, its nothing to do with race its to do with immigration. CN: Coloured immigration threatens peoples health is your claim in the leaflet that I put before you. MM: It doesnt say coloured immigrants bring leprosy. CN: This is the direct quote from the leaflet coloured immigration threatens your childrens health. MM: Absolutely, but thats not ... CN: Youre saying thats not racist? MM: Yeah that probably is racist, I will concede that completely but that ... This pamphlet was produced in support of one Walter Hesketh. In November 1961, Mr Hesketh was the Union Movement's parliamentary candidate for Moss Side. The pamphlet an identical copy of which can also be found in the Working Class Movement Library in nearby Salford makes for instructive reading. CN: So, would you issue an apology to the West Indians in Manchester who must have been absolutely terrified by this? MM: I have no reason to apologise to anyone. CN: A lot of people might be really shocked that you cant apologise for a leaflet that has your name on the bottom, which makes statements that you admit now are racist. MM: If the that leaflet is shown to be genuine, then I would certainly say it should not have been given ... absolutely CN: So you accept that the views in this leaflet are racist? When did you stop endorsing racist views? MM: I stopped in 1963. CN: So you admit that you were a racist in the past? MM: No I dont. You said endorsing racist views. If thats racist, I cannot say I didnt endorse it because I signed it. But Ive never been a racist ... never will be a racist. CN: But you published a racist leaflet? MM: In your view, yes. I mean, I think, you know its very disagreeable but racism is where you are sort of attacking people because of their origins. That was an offensive statement about people bringing disease. Not quite the same thing. CN: You keep on changing your tune; you admitted it was a racist statement and now youre trying to back track and say its merely offensive. MM: Well I think that you could argue that its racist but thats not really what this is all about. And I mean ... now, 56 years later, and trying to distract from the Daily Mail and their activities. If you want to do an investigation, investigate the phone hacking, computer hacking, abuse of people like the Dowlers, the McCanns, why not do that? The leaflet was produced in support of 'Union Movement' candidate Walter Hesketh in 1961 CN: This is a Daily Mail story but we have checked it out independently. But is this leaflet one of the reasons that youre battling newspapers over their use of the Data Protection Act to erase your past because you havent fully owned up to your past? MM: Obviously not, because I didnt even know the leaflet existed when I had the News of the World case. CN: Well, so you say MM: Are you calling me a liar? CN: Im asking you if you lied in court. MM: Obviously not. CN: Do you believe you perjured yourself? MM: That is a most offensive question. CN: Did you perjure yourself in the High Court? MM: That is a most offensive question. I said that ... I denied that leaflet. I challenged the leading counsel to produce it. If I hadnt been absolutely certain that leaflet didnt exist I wouldnt have challenged him to produce it. CN: Now the leaflet has been produced though, are you worried that you may have perjured yourself in court? MM: Oh dear. Perjury is saying something which ... you know is untrue. I said something which I knew in my own mind was true. Theres no question of perjury. Its a really stupid and offensive question and to suggest that Ive perjured myself is really stupid and offensive. CN: Are you a fit and proper person to be funding the office of the deputy Labour leader, Tom Watson? MM: Absolutely. Absolutely. CN: Will you give them more money? MM: Why should I not support Tom Watson, who is probably one of the most honest and courageous politicians we have got. Two men have been stabbed to death in separate attacks in quiet Melbourne suburbs as the city's horror stretch of violent crime continues. A 48-year-old man was found dead with stab wounds after a fight with his flatmate in Heidelberg Heights while a man in his 70s was found dead at a home in Meadow Heights. Both men were found early on Wednesday morning. The 48-year-old was found by emergency services at 12.50am and was unable to be revived. He is yet to be formally identified. Scroll down for video Two men have been stabbed to death in separate attacks in quiet Melbourne suburbs as the city's horror stretch of violent crime continues A 48-year-old man was found dead with stab wounds after a fight with his flatmate in Heidelberg Heights The two stabbings continue a spate of violent crimes in Melbourne in recent days The 48-year-old was found by emergency services at 12.50am at a house on Southern Road (pictured), and were unable to revive him His 48-year-old housemate has been arrested, and is helping police with their investigation. Meanwhile a 57-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman have been arrested in relation to the stabbing in Meadow Heights. Emergency services were called to a house in Malmsbury Drive just after 5.30am. Upon entering they house they discovered a man in his 70s dead at the scene. Homicide Squad detectives are investigating the man's death. The two stabbings continue a spate of violent crimes in Melbourne in recent days. A woman had a knife held to her throat by three African men wearing face coverings during a home invasion in Albion in the early hours of Tuesday morning The woman's fiance - known as Ed - woke to the sound of her screaming and chased the offenders out of the house A woman had a knife held to her throat by three African men wearing face coverings during a home invasion in Albion in the early hours of Tuesday morning. The woman's fiance - known as Ed - woke to the sound of her screaming and chased the offenders out of the house. The intruders managed to steal an iPad and two sets of keys. Their neighbours also had their property broken into. The intruders managed to steal an iPad and two sets of keys On Monday, two men were bashed in the head with weapons after four African teenagers wearing masks broke into a house in nearby Taylors Hill. Later that day, a McDonald's restaurant in Essendon was the target of armed robbery. A preliminary report delivered to Victoria Police earlier in the week showed residents in Melbourne want police to focus on youth crime, home invasions and gang activity. Inspector Martin Allison told The Australian the main theme identified was 'a lot of adverse publicity... around youth issues and in particular African youth'. On Monday, two men were bashed in the head with weapons at a home in Taylors Hill For someone who has just been publicly labelled a 'dwarf' and a 'C-list celebrity' not to mention being compared with a 'melon' Bernie Ecclestone remains remarkably unruffled. Because when it comes to James Stunt, his former son-in-law, the billionaire businessman has grown all too used to his bile, bluster and bombast. 'I am, as you well know, a little bit shorter than the average person, so if he wants to call me a dwarf, that's all right,' says the ex-Formula 1 supremo. 'I am shorter than most people there's nothing I can do about it. I am not going to grow to please him. To be honest, I don't take any notice I feel sorry for him.' Nonetheless, following Mr Stunt's latest outburst an eight-page interview with Tatler magazine, in which he hurls insults at the Ecclestones it is clear that the battle lines are, once again, being drawn. Which, given the extraordinary content of the piece, is hardly surprising. Stunt describes Petra, mother of his three children and his wife of six years until their divorce last year, as 'this girl who's had a lobotomy and gone to Jonestown. This is a horrible human being'. He describes her mother, Slavica, Mr Ecclestone's ex-wife, as 'the worst of them all . . . she's like Lady Macbeth'. James Stunt, pictured leaving court during his divorce hearing, called his former father-in-law a 'dwarf' and a 'C-list celebrity' and later compared him with a 'melon' And he makes it clear to the interviewer that he is none too fond of Petra's sister, Tamara. Her men, Stunt says, rarely had any money allowing the Ecclestones to control them. 'Petra knows what he [Stunt] is like and that this is what he says and what he does,' says 87-year-old Mr Ecclestone. 'And Slavica can look after herself and, if necessary, will look after herself.' Which leaves Tamara who, yesterday, was the first to make her feelings known. Posting an image of a report of the interview on her Instagram feed, she wrote: 'What kind of a 'man' does this on his daughter's birthday? Unless he stops telling lies about my family we will have to start telling the truth about him.' And, talking to Mr Ecclestone, it is clear that there is plenty he would like to say. For starters, he claims that Mr Stunt changed during his marriage to his daughter after he started taking drugs. 'He got heavily into drugs and that has changed him and they have taken their toll,' he said. 'It is a great shame, as James was a nice man when he got married. I hope he stands out as an example to young people who can see the damage that drugs can do.' Mr Ecclestone is also intrigued to learn that in the Tatler article which is published on Thursday, but which the Daily Mail has seen in full Mr Stunt boasts about his enormous wealth. He claims to have made hundreds of millions from a shipping venture, to have won 45 million in the 'biggest bet in the world' and to own more than 200 high-performance cars, as well as paintings by Rubens, Warhol, Constable and Velazquez. Given that, asks Mr Ecclestone, why is it that two years ago, Mr Stunt got him to guarantee a 10 million bank loan? 'I don't know why he needed me to fund his business if he had all this money,' he said. 'Obviously, he was married to my daughter, so anything I could do to help him, I did. Bernie Ecclestone, pictured with daughters Petra (left) and Tamara, has returned fire saying he has grown all too used to his bile, bluster and bombast 'He wanted someone to guarantee that he would pay the money back to the bank. So that is what I did, I guaranteed that he would be sound and be able to pay back the money and whatever which he forgot to do. So I got stuck with the bill of paying for it. 'If he had all this money, why am I stuck with this money as the guarantor? You'd think that out of these millions he's making daily, he'd be happy to pay that back.' A mischievous shot across the bows, perhaps (and one that Mr Stunt did not respond to a request to comment about). But, given the acrimonious breakdown of Mr Stunt's relationship with daughter Petra, very much par for the course. Having wed in a lavish, 12 million Italian ceremony in 2011, the couple enjoyed an extraordinarily extravagant life together, splashing out on a 100 million Chelsea mansion and a 123-room, 158 million home in LA. But their marriage hit the rocks, sparking a bitter divorce battle last summer. During a bad-tempered hearing, details of their marriage were laid bare, including hotly disputed allegations that Mr Stunt was abusive, violent and took overdoses. During one courtroom confrontation, it was claimed Mr Stunt had made a gun gesture with his hand at Mr Ecclestone, abused him verbally and tried to punch him, before storming out of the building. Speaking to Tatler, for the first time Mr Stunt attempts to set the record straight about these matters. Mr Stunt's latest outburst is an eight-page interview with Tatler magazine, in which he hurls insults at the Ecclestones To begin with, he claimed that he never struck Petra, saying: 'I'm no Ike Turner. I would never hit a woman; for me, a man who hits a woman is not even a man.' As for drugs, he claims that he took cocaine a handful of times as a teenager, but that he had become addicted to prescription morphine and Valium for about seven months when he went to live in Los Angeles after their wedding. 'I think: 'They're from a doctor, they're fine,' ' he told journalist David Jenkins. 'And, being the addictive personality I am, I start taking them like Smarties. 'Suddenly, I'm addicted, I'm a great fat bloated porker. I ask the doctor why and he says: 'Well, it could be to do with the morphine and Valium you're taking.' I got off it in world-record time.' He says he did overdose, but that it was an accident he was suffering from pneumonia and took two leftover morphine tablets that he had, only to wake up in hospital. On another occasion when he collapsed, he claims to have been bitten by a mosquito, which gave him a tropical disease that caused him to drop to the floor. 'That's not an overdose,' he said. He denied ever having made a gun gesture at Mr Ecclestone, but admitted that he had called him a 'c***'. 'I didn't whisper it,' he said. 'You could hear it in Wales. Because [Bernie] is one.' He says that he and his former father-in-law had originally got on well, as Mr Ecclestone recognised in him someone who could 'make a pound coin'. But he described him as having no empathy and being very 'cut-throat'. In the interview, Stunt was pressed about his own wealth something that has mystified Mr Ecclestone and other observers in the past. Surrey-born and privately educated, his father is a publishing director but nowhere near the Ecclestone league. In the interview, Mr Stunt claimed to have made 4 million on an oil deal when he was just 16. But he says it was in shipping that he earned his fortune. He said: 'When people say: 'He made a few millions' well, hmmm. Put a few hundreds in front of that.' Tamara Ecclestone posted an image of a report of the Tatler interview with James Stunt on her Instagram feed, slamming him for 'telling lies' Further wealth came from the 45 million bet, while he also made the 'biggest amount of money' he had ever made investing in Twitter and Bitcoin. He claims that he is so rich, he does not have to work even though he recently lost 80 million in a financial investment. 'It cost me a fortune, but nothing you don't come back from,' he said. Indeed, despite the divorce and these other setbacks, outwardly, Mr Stunt's extravagant lifestyle seems to have continued undiminished. Having been forced to leave the family home by his ex-wife, at the beginning of December he purchased a recently converted 12 million, Grade II-listed Georgian property in Belgravia. He and the property subsequently hit the headlines after it emerged that, two weeks after moving in, he had apparently been the victim of a 90 million burglary the biggest-ever heist in British criminal history. It was reported that items had been stolen from a safe in the property and that none of the stolen goods were insured. Until now, there have been scant details about the raid. The police have not issued any images or details of the stolen items, as would be normal in such a crime. As for Mr Stunt, his only words on the matter were to dismiss online speculation about how thieves could have possibly got away with such a haul, given the fact he is protected wherever he goes by a 25-man security detail. 'I lose 90 million, have no insurance and am getting attacked,' the 36-year-old said in his one public comment on the matter. 'It's not nice. My mother is reading this stuff. I've nothing to hide. 'I'm a victim with no upside to this embarrassment of having no insurance. It's disgusting how people are commenting that I'm a criminal. It's not true or fair. I just want whoever did this arrested and my things back.' But, in the Tatler article, more details emerged about what was taken described in a text to the interviewer as '60 mill low estimate to 90 mill US dollars theft'. Describing him as 'oddly bubbly' in the wake of the raid, the interviewer said Mr Stunt told him four blue diamonds, a pink diamond, two yellow diamonds and a white diamond had been taken. 'He got heavily into drugs and that has changed him and they have taken their toll,' Bernie Ecclestone said of James (Pictured: Petra Ecclestone and James Stunt at the F1 part in 2014) A number of set diamonds by Cartier, Graff and Moussaieff had also gone. Also taken were four 'pretty rare' Audemars Piguet watches which can be worth up to 500,000 each and six one-kilo bars of gold. Mr Stunt said that he believed the gold would have been melted down and the set stones removed from their settings and sold on. 'So I'm pretty much s*** out of luck,' he said. He added that he believed that he had fallen foul of an 'inside job' but 'not an inside job I can benefit from'. 'I'm no Darius Guppy,' he said, apparently with a laugh, referring to the convicted fraudster who was jailed for his part in a fake gems robbery. 'And no Lord Brocket there are no Ferraris buried in South Eaton Place.' Mr Stunt also touched on the fact that, as revealed by this newspaper, his godfather is Terry Adams the jailbird boss of Britain's most notorious crime family. The Mail told how in the wake of his divorce, Mr Stunt had been receiving 'emotional support' from Terry Adams, who had phoned up Mr Ecclestone offering to help sort out the divorce. 'He's an absolutely amazing guy,' said Mr Stunt. 'He's very intelligent, very principled. He's like a father to me, and he never called Bernie in any other way than as a concerned friend. There were no threats. Nothing like that.' Which is perhaps all to the good, given the way the article concludes. Mr Stunt and his business partner, Alex Tulloch, are talking to the interviewer about a magician called Drummond Money-Coutts and how good he is. 'Do you think Drummond Money-Coutts could make Bernie disappear?' asks Mr Stunt. His partner replies: 'Well, he made a melon disappear.' 'About the same size,' says Mr Stunt, apparently with a smile. 'About the same size.' The final word, though, goes to Mr Ecclestone. Asked if he would be reading the interview when it is published, he told the Daily Mail: 'I think I have to, don't I? I know one thing is for sure one of our solicitors will probably do that. Because they like to do that. Because they'd like to sue him for something because that is what solicitors do.' Which suggests that the saga of Mr Stunt and the Ecclestones has some distance yet to run. The full interview can be seen in the April issue of Tatler, which is on sale from Thursday. Mariam Moustafa, 18, was attacked outside the Intu Victoria Centre in Nottingham on Tuesday, February 20 at around 8pm A young woman has been left in a coma after being savagely attacked on a night out in Nottingham. Mariam Moustafa, 18, was beaten outside the Intu Victoria Centre in Nottingham last Tuesday. Mariam, who is studying engineering at college, ended up in a coma with a bleed on the brain on the same day she was released from hospital following the attack. She had just been offered a place at university in London and was shopping in the city centre when she was attacked by what police describe as 'a group of women'. Mariam, from Nottingham, had agreed to meet her mum and sister later that evening - but she never showed up. Her family were told about the incident and quickly made their way to the Queen's Medical Centre. Her parents, Mohamed Moustafa and Nessrin Shehata, were shocked to find she had been punched several times before she was later verbally assaulted after getting onto the number 27 bus. Her sister, Mallak, 15, speaking on behalf of the family, said: 'We are very upset about what has happened - she is such a kind, ambitious person and one who was running after her dreams of being an engineer. 'We don't understand who would do this to her, she is very quiet and never gets involved in any problems. She was originally released from hospital on the same day and once we got her home she started to deteriorate and so she was rushed back to hospital. 'We were told that there was a bleed on her brain and she had suffered a stroke, one side of her body is now not responding. She is now in a coma and has been in that way for a week since the night of the attack. 'We never got to find out what happened from her because she didn't get a chance to tell us before she fell unwell. Mariam, who is studying engineering at college, was left in an induced coma after the violence last week. Pictured: The Intu Victoria Centre in Nottingham 'We are hoping that her brain is recovering while she is in a coma and until that happens we will continue to be by her side every day at the hospital. We are all very shocked and upset and don't know what to do. 'We just want those who did this to Mariam to be found as what has happened is wrong.' Detective Sergeant Kayne Rukas, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'We know there were a lot of people walking in the street and standing at the bus stop at the time of the assault who may have information that could help us with our investigation. 'There were also a lot of people on the bus who may be able to help us with our enquiries. 'The victim is now very unwell and in a serious condition in hospital. We're urging anyone with any information about the assaults to please get in touch with us.' A spokesman for Nottingham City Transport said: 'Our thoughts are with the family and friends of this young lady at this very difficult time. 'CCTV from the bus has been provided to Nottinghamshire Police as part of their investigation in to this appalling attack and we continue to support their efforts to identify the culprits. 'We would also like to publicly recognise our driver, who went upstairs to intervene and acted as a barrier between the attackers and the young lady, after he asked them to leave the bus.' Anyone with any information is asked to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 335 of 21 February, 2018, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Terrifying footage has been released of a bloodied tourist writhing in pain after slipping and falling off a 115ft cliff in Bali on Tuesday. The Mexican holidaymaker, named Reinier, reportedly fell down the cliff as he was trying to recover a drone. Footage shows him clutching his arm and moaning in pain after splitting his head open in the fall off the cliff in Uluwatu, south of Kuta. Paramedics arrived and he was then carried up the cliffs to be rushed to hospital in the Uluwatu district of the island. Shock fall: The man, a Mexican holidaymaker named Reinier, reportedly fell down the cliff in Uluwatu, south of Kuta, as he was trying to recover a drone Terrifying footage shows the man writhing in pain, and covered in blood Video footage, which was posted to Facebook, shows at least eight local men working together to carry the seriously injured tourist down the rest of the steep cliff to a boat waiting at the shoreline. The men can be seen navigating their way down large rocks while carrying the tourist on a stretcher. Large waves are heard smashing against the rocks as the group works its way down to the swelling tide. Luckman Angga said: ''The man was looking for his drone that fell down the cliff. He was desperate to find it. 'He kept going until finally he slipped down. He was badly hurt with a lot of blood coming from his head. A rescue team was filmed carrying the injured man on a stretcher from the bottom of the cliff Recovering: The Mexican tourist is seen in hospital recovering from his injuries The man is believed to have fallen near Ulu Cliffhouse (pictured) in Uluwatu, south of Kuta 'Thanks to the local citizens and emergency workers. Without their work it would have not been possible to evacuate the man so quickly from the extremely difficult surroundings.'' The tourist was transferred to a hospital in the Kuta region of Bali where he is still recovering today. Friend Julia Rosa, who has started a GoFundMe page for him, said: 'Our Mexican friend Reinier fell off a cliff in Uluwatu, Bali yesterday. 'He is severely injured and was rescued by the lifeguards boat in Padang Padang and was then brought to BIMC Hospital in Nusa Dua. 'He needs three major surgeries as his scalp is open, his arm is severely damaged and he has broken facial bones. The former Tory leader urged backbenchers not to rebel against the PM in case they topple her government and install Jeremy Corbyn at No10 William Hague today warned the Tory backbenchers not to be used as pawns by Labour by voting against the PM on an EU customs union. Tory rebels, led by Anna Soubry, have tabled an amendment to try to keep the UK in a customs union. And they could unite with Labour to vote for it and inflict a humiliating Commons defeat on the PM. If they do then commentators have warned they could end up toppling the Government and installing Mr Corbyn in Number 10. The former Tory leader said: 'Their aim is to use Tory rebels as human torpedoes, gloriously sacrificed in an attack on the battleship May.' He said some Tory rebels are so ardently pro EU they would 'vote for their motion even if the devil himself was walking through the voting lobby by their side'. But he urged them not to, saying: 'So if I were an MP minded to rebel on a customs union, I would state my case of course. 'But then I would draw back, rather than be used as a means of installing a ruinous socialism in the leadership of Britain.' Norway will spend close to $13 million to upgrade its doomsday seed vault that's designed to protect crops against the cataclysms of nuclear war or disease. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault was constructed in 2008 to protect the world's food supplies. If a nuclear disaster or global warming kills certain crops, governments can request certain crops from the vault to rebuild their supplies. The revamp would cover the construction of a new, concrete-built access tunnel, Norway's Agriculture Ministry said in a statement. Scroll down for video Pictured, the entrance to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault. It was constructed in 2008 as a place that could house the world's food supplies in case of nuclear war or global warming It would also go toward creating a service building to house emergency power and refrigerating units, as well as other electrical equipment that emits heat through the tunnel, they added. Jon Georg Dale, Norway's minister of agriculture and food, said that construction would begin soon. 'It is a great and important task to safeguard all the genetic material that is crucial to global food security,' Dale explained. The vault is meant as a natural deep freeze to back up the world's gene banks in case of disasters. It holds more than 5,000 species of cop plants, such as beans, potatoes and grains, though it's equipped to hold more than that. The vault is capable of holding 2.25 million seeds from over 4.5 million crop varieties, according to Mashable. The vault is aimed at providing humans with a 'Noah's Ark' of food in the event of a global disaster. Pictured, people walk into the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which is now ten years old A $13 million investment from Norway's Agriculture Ministry will help fund the construction of a new, concrete-built access tunnel, as well as the creation of a new service building As of Monday, just over 76,000 new seed samples were added to the vault, which means that it now holds more than 1 million seed samples from gene banks worldwide. Crops including the Estonian onion potato and barley are among those added to the vault. THE SVALBARD DOOMSDAY VAULT The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is buried on an island off of Norway's northern coast. It already stores nearly one million samples of seeds, which represent 13,000 years of agricultural history. The vault provides a last resort back-up to a network of seed banks around the world, which store seeds but can be threatened by war, accidents and natural disasters. Permafrost and thick rock ensure seed samples remain frozen even without power. The vault aims to secure millions of seeds representing every important crop variety available in the world today. Advertisement The vault also holds some of the world's most precious books in digital form. Storing them in digital form allows them to survive the most extreme conditions, including nuclear war. The data is stored as film, rather than on hard drives or other storage techniques. The film is stored deep inside a mine called Mine 3 that is frozen in permafrost, ensuring that it keeps a constant temperature. The vault is located on the island of Spitsbergen, in Norway's Svalbard archipelago. An unexpected thaw of permafrost meant some water flowed into the entrance of the tunnel to the vault in late 2016. A decade ago, Norway said that it had cost $9 million to build the facility. In 2015, researchers made a first withdrawal from the vault after Syria's civil war damaged a seed bank near the Syrian city of Aleppo. The seeds were grown and re-deposited at the Svalbard vault last year. 'This demonstrates that the seed vault is a worldwide insurance for food supply for future generations,' Dale said in a statement. The Land family shares a special moment at the Emmas Bayou Bash event Saturday. The event raises funds for Emmas Hugs, an organization that provides free parking chips for those with family who are patients at the Texas Medical Center. From left are Haidin Land, Tamie Land, Emmas Hugs Board President Brenda Nikirk, MaKenna Land and Chris Land. The 'virtual nation' Asgardia has successfully launched its first satellite into space, established its own parliament and counts close to 200,000 people as citizens. Now, Asgardia is about to name its own space currency. The world's first space kingdom has launched a global competition to create financial and economic systems for the sovereign nation. Participants in the Future of Finance and Economics Competition are tasked with submitting proposals that outline a payment instrument for goods and services, savings functions and liquidity of national currency. Scroll down for video It might seem like an idea taken straight out of science fiction, but a nation of people living in space could soon become a reality. The ambitious plans, first announced in 2016, were hatched by an international group of scientists. Artist's impression pictured Asgardia, which formed in 2016, has a constitution that's already been accepted. The constitution calls on the space nation to create a 'sustainable and robust economy, rich in financial opportunities and incentives, as crucial to our long term success.' The kingdom is now seeking ideas for what kind of financial ecosystem should exist in Asgardia. 'It is history in the making,' said Igor Ashurbeyli, Asgardia's head of nation, in a statement. 'Everyone has an opportunity to help create the Asgardian economy,' he added. Participants can take part in the competition as individuals or in teams of up to five people. They can submit text proposals, animations, videos or infographics describing their ideas. After the competition closes, proposals will be judged by a panel of global finance, economics and digital technology experts to choose the winner. Participants in Asgardia's Future of Finance and Economics Competition will have to make it through two rounds of judging in order to win the $10,000 prize The name 'Asgardia' comes from the city of the skies ruled by Odin from Valhalla in Norse mythology. Asgard is also the name of a fictional realm and its capital city within the Marvel Comics universe The Norse city of Asgard, from the film Thor is pictured There are then two stages of the competition. Judges will select 25 of the best submissions in the first round 'based on the quality of their argued practicability, ingenuity and comprehensiveness.' From there, the top rated proposals will be presented at an in-person roundtable discussion where the presenters will answer questions from the Asgardian community. The 'incumbent Asgardian administration' will announce the winner and they will receive a $10,000 prize. If the Asgardia Parliament supports the winning proposal, the participant will be offered employment with Asgardia's NGO to help implement their ideas. Asgardia already has its own cryptocurrency called the Solar, which is registered at the European Union Intellectual Property Office. But it seems that the nation is also considering other digital financial systems. The competition announcement goes on to explain what the 'guiding principles' for the financial ecosystem are, as outlined by Asgardia's constition. These include 'non-interference in Earthly affairs or violation of Earth laws.' WHAT IS THE 'FIRST SPACE NATION'? Asgardia will be the first 'space nation'. The name comes from the city of the skies ruled by Odin from Valhalla in Norse mythology. It is described as 'a fully-fledged and independent nation, and a future member of the United Nations'. The Asgardia Project Team is made up of experts from around the globe. The project team is being led by Dr Igor Ashurbeyli, a Russian scientist and founder of the Aerospace International Research Center (AIRC) in Vienna. Conspiracy theorists claim that the Eye of Horus symbol (shown in white), pictured in the Asgardia logo above, is linked to Freemasons and the Illuminati By creating a new space nation, the experts behind the project hope to develop future space technology free from the restrictions of state control. Alongside its announcement, Asgardia opened up applications for virtual citizenship via its website, and so far almost half a million people have pledged their allegiance. The first Asgardia satellite will launch in September this year. One of Asgardia's first projects will be the creation of a protective shield to protect humankind from space debris, including asteroids. Advertisement Asgardia-1 launched to the International Space Station last year with the Orbital ATK Cygnus spacecraft, and remained there until it deployed to low-Earth orbit in December Additionally, the system only taxes businesses registered in Asgardia's jurisdiction. It won't tax any individual citizens of Asgardia. The deadline for submissions is March 27, 2018, according to Asgardia's website. The competition comes after the so-called virtual nation successfully launched a small satellite, roughly the size of a loaf of bread, into space last November. The team is led by Dr Igor Ashurbeyli, pictured, founder of the Aerospace International Research Center Called Asgardia-1, the satellite aims to establish Asgardia's sovereign territory, carrying half a terabyte of data into orbit. Doing so satisfies the last condition necessary for Asgardia to be admitted to the United Nations. Asgardia also has a flag and a coat of arms. The virtual nation was launched by an international group of scientists and backed by a Russian billionaire Dr Igor Ashurbeyli. However, it seems some more human problems are getting in the way of this vision. Dr Ashurbeyli told Wall Street Journal the biggest issue is 'self-organisation'. 'No one has ever tried organisingwhat is today 100,000 citizens from 200 countries who dont know each other and live in different places on Earth', he said. Future Asgardians speak many different languages and also have different political systems, which could lead to political unrest. There is also debate as to whether the new nation should accept refugees from Earth. Potential inhabitants have raised concerns about the constitution and how power will be shared among the space-dwellers. There is also concern about how taxation will work - which according to the constitution is voluntary. Europe has been buffeted by freezing temperatures in recent days and experts say this is the result of freak warming in the Arctic. The Arctic is experiencing one of its hottest winters on record, with temperatures at the North Pole surging above freezing. These unusual conditions, which scientists say have 'never been this extreme', are causing a disruption to the Arctic polar jet stream. The jet stream carries winds east to west across the planet, at speeds of up to 200mph (320kph), in the upper atmosphere. Warmer air in the Arctic has sent them off their usual course, blasting cold air over Europe - something likely to happen more often thanks to man-made global warming, researchers say. Scroll down for video The North Pole has surged above freezing despite it being the dead of winter, stunning scientists. This graphic shows global forecast system data of temperature difference from normal (in C) on Sunday over the Arctic On the northern tip of Greenland, the Cape Morris Jesup meteorological site has had a record-smashing 61 hours of temperatures above freezing so far in 2018. This is linked to a rare retreat of sea ice in the Arctic winter darkness. 'It's never been this extreme,' said Ruth Mottram, a climate scientist at the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI). Warmth was coming into the Arctic both up from the Atlantic and through the Bering Strait, driving cold air south. Around the entire Arctic region, temperatures are now about 20C (36F) above normal, at -8C (17.6F), according to DMI calculations. The Arctic is experiencing one of its hottest winters on record, with temperatures at the North Pole surging above freezing. This graphic shows declining sea ice concentrations since February 20, 2018 HOW DO RISING TEMPERATURES IN THE ARCTIC CREATE COLD WEATHER IN EUROPE? As long ago as 1973, a study suggested that an ice-free Arctic Ocean could make regions further south colder. That 'warm Arctic, cold continent' (WACC) pattern is sometimes dubbed 'wacc-y' or 'wacky' among climate scientists. When unusually warm air enters the region, it melts ice covering the waters of the Arctic Ocean. This ice normally serves as an insulator, stopping the flow of thermal energy from the waters surface into the atmosphere. Without the ice in place, the oceans can transfer a huge amount of this energy into the air above. This in turn increases air temperatures and this warm air rises up into the upper atmosphere, where it reaches the jet stream. Jet streams are fast flowing, narrow currents of air that carry warm and cold air across the planet, much like the currents of a river. They cover thousands of miles as they meander near the tropopause layer of our atmosphere. The strongest jet streams are the polar jets, found 30,000 to 39,000 ft (5.7 to 7.4 miles/ 9 to 12 km) above sea level at the north and south pole. In the case of the Arctic polar jet this fast moving band of air sits between the cold Arctic air to the north and the warm, tropical air to the south. When uneven masses of hot and cold meet, the resulting pressure difference causes winds to form. During winter, the jet stream tends to be at its strongest because of the marked temperature contrast between the warm and cold air. The bigger the temperature difference between the Arctic and tropical air mass, the stronger the winds of the jet stream become. The Arctic polar jet, which can reach speeds of up 200mph (320kph), flows over the middle to northern latitudes of North America, Europe, and Asia and their intervening oceans. It moves from East to West, although its exact route varies and can be affected by various factors. With the ice melt in the Arctic and the introduction of warmer air, the route of the jet stream becomes wavier and more erratic. That means that the colder air it carries from the Arctic can penetrate further south and warmer airs from the tropics is carried further north. If the jet streams meander buckles south of the UK, it attracts cold air from the Arctic. Conversely when it swings north, it sucks warm air from the tropics. Advertisement To the south, a rare snow storm hit Rome on Monday and some Brussels mayors planned to detain homeless overnight if they refused shelter with temperatures set to fall as low as -10C (14F) in the coming week. Hit by easterly winds from Siberia, cities from Warsaw to Oslo were colder than -8C. As long ago as 1973, a study suggested that an ice-free Arctic Ocean could make regions further south colder. That 'warm Arctic, cold continent' (WACC) pattern is sometimes dubbed 'wacc-y' or 'wacky' among climate scientists. 'Wacky weather continues with scary strength and persistence,' tweeted Professor Lars Kaleschke, a professor at the University of Hamburg. The Cape Morris Jesup meteorological site has had a record-smashing 61 hours of temperatures above freezing so far in 2018. This graphic shows global forecast system data of temperatures (in C) on Sunday over the Arctic Warmth was coming into the Arctic both up from the Atlantic and through the Bering Strait, driving cold air south. This is linked to a rare retreat of sea ice in the Arctic winter darkness. This image shows the current extent of sea ice in the Arctic Scientists say a long-term shrinking of sea ice on the Arctic Ocean, linked to global warming, exposes warmer water below that releases more heat into the atmosphere. This graphic shows sinking levels of ice since the 1980s 'The question is whether this weather will happen more often. This is just one event so it's hard to make a causal relationship,' he told Reuters. Scientists say a long-term shrinking of sea ice on the Arctic Ocean, linked to global warming, exposes warmer water below that releases more heat into the atmosphere. That in turn may be disrupting the high altitude jet stream. 'The jet stream becomes wavier, meaning that colder air can penetrate further south and warmer air further north,' said Nalan Koc, research director of the Norwegian Polar Institute. Arctic Ocean sea ice is at a record low for late February at 14.1 million square kilometres (5.4 million miles), according to the U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center. That is about a million less than normal, or roughly the size of Egypt. Erik Solheim, head of the U.N. Environment, said the rare weather fits a wider pattern driven by a build-up of greenhouse gases, mainly from burning fossil fuels from cars, factories and power plants. The last ten days have seen a series of swings near and above freezing at Cape Morris Jesup. This graph shows Danish Meteorological Institute data showing hourly temperature reading in C historically, in 2017 and in 2018, and on average The freak warming around the North Pole is sending a blast of Arctic cold over Europe in a sign of 'wacky' weather that may happen more often with global warming. This image shows Nasa satellite imagery of a storm near Greenland that drew a major pulse of warm air into the Arctic The Cape Morris Jesup is found on the northern tip of Greenland, 442 miles (711.8 km) from the geographic North Pole 'What we once considered to be anomalies are becoming the new normal. 'Our climate is changing right in front of our eyes, and we've only got a short amount of time to stop this from getting significantly worse,' he told Reuters. Under the 2015 Paris climate agreement, almost 200 nations agreed to limit a rise in temperatures to 'well below' 2C (3.5F) above preindustrial times, while pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5C (2.7F). 'The risk of an ice-free Arctic in summer is about 50 per cent or higher' with warming of between 1.5 and 2.0 degrees, according to a leaked draft of a scientific report by a United Nations panel of scientists, obtained by Reuters. The World Meteorological Organization said the chill in Europe was caused by a 'Sudden Stratospheric Warming' above the North Pole that led to a split in the polar vortex, a cold area of air above the Arctic that spilled cold south. A big problem in figuring out whether the Arctic warmth is driven by human activities or natural variations is a lack of measuring stations. There are no thermometers at the North Pole and satellite measurements go back only to the late 1970s. On the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, temperatures were just above freezing, with rain, and about 13.4C (24F) above the long-term average on Sunday. 'There have also been recent winters with similar deviations,' said Rasmus Benestad, senior scientist at the Norwegian Meteorological Institute. U.S. President Donald Trump, who plans to quit the Paris Agreement, has often expressed doubts about mainstream global warming science during cold spells, such as at New Year in the eastern United States. And Mottram at DMI said Europe's winters had become less severe. 'It's not actually that cold. Its just our perceptions have shifted from a normal winter.' Police forces across the world can now gain access the contents of any iPhone, reports concerning a mobile forensics firm have claimed. Cellebrite says it can unlock handsets like the iPhone X running on any version of iOS 5 or above, including the latest. The firm is said to have developed techniques to crack iOS 11 and is advertising them to law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, as well as private companies. Apple previously hit the headlines for refusing to help the bureau bypass the passcode on the handset of a then suspect in the 2016 San Bernardino shootings. Scroll down for video Police forces across the world can now gain access the contents of any iPhone, reports concerning a mobile forensics firm have claimed. Cellebrite says it can unlock handsets like the iPhone X (pictured) running on any version of iOS 5 or above, including the latest Anonymous sources told Forbes that the Israeli firm, based in Petah Tikva, has developed unlocking techniques for iOS 11 in the past few months. The firm has not made an official announcement on the issue, but marketing materials claim it can break the security of iOS devices and operating systems. This includes 'iPhone, iPad, iPad mini, iPad Pro and iPod touch, running iOS 5 to iOS 11', according to their advertising. Writing in the firm's sales brochure, a spokesman said: 'Technology moves fast, and Cellebrites commitment to world-class research ensures we keep pace with complex, new device locking and encryption methods. 'Cellebrite advanced unlocking services provide law enforcement agencies with sensitive, cutting-edge abilities directly from the Cellebrite security research labs. 'These customized services are delivered by digital forensic technology experts through a network of secure Cellebrite forensic labs located around the world.' Released in September 2017, iOS 11 was included protections against forced unlocks with fingerprints, a tactic used by some US police. Anonymous sources speaking out about Cellebrite's capabilities claim that these security features can be bypassed. It is not clear what version of iOS 11 Cellebrite can crack and it's possible that Apple has patched this vulnerability in recent updates. The ability of police to unlock iPhones was highlighted during the conflict between Apple and the FBI in San Bernadino. The bureau wanted Apple to help them access the iPhone 5C of the San Bernadino murderer Syed Rizwan Farook. The firm has not made an official announcement on the issue, but marketing materials claim it can break the security of iOS devices and operating systems like the iPhone X (pictured). This includes 'iPhone, iPad, iPad mini, iPad Pro and iPod touch, running iOS 5 to iOS 11' Released in September 2017, iOS 11 was included protections against forced unlocks with fingerprints, a tactic used by some US police. Anonymous sources speaking out about Cellebrite's capabilities claim that these security features can be bypassed The ability of police to unlock iPhones was highlighted during the conflict between Apple and the FBI in San Bernadino, who wanted Apple to help them access the iPhone 5C of the San Bernadino murderer Syed Rizwan Farook (right) In order to use the Cellebrite service, which 'can determine or disable the PIN, pattern, password screen locks passcodes on the latest Apple iOS and Google Android devices,' police have to send the device to one of the firm's labs. The company then unlock the device in its labs and hands it back to police and investigators so they can inspect the data on the device, or Cellebrite can do that for them, and it can cost about $1,500 (1,000) per unlock. Cellebrite could put its latest unlocking technology into the software it sells to customers, but that would mean Apple could test the tool and potentially find a way to prevent it from working, says Don Vilfer, a partner at a private forensics firm Vand Group, who welcomes the new services. Police have already tried out Cellebrite tech on the iPhone X, according to a search warrant in Michigan. The warrant discusses a probe into Abdulmajid Saidi, a suspect in a weapons trafficking case. His iPhone X was sent to a Cellebrite specialist at the DHS Homeland Security Investigations Grand Rapids labs, and the data was extracted on December 5, 2017. It was not clear from the warrant how the police gained access to the contents of the iPhone X, or what data was contained inside. Neither Applen nor Cellebrite provided comment to Forbes, and the DoJ prosecutor declines to comment and the DHS didn't respond. Even a legend of the technology world can fall foul of fraud, with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak admitting he has been stung by a Bitcoin scam. The multimillionaire had seven coins stolen, with an estimated worth of $71,400 (51,100), as part of a credit card racket. A growing number of people have been duped by criminals offering to purchase the cryptocurrency, only to cheat them out of payment. In Wozniak's case, the scammers in question cancelled their payment from a stolen credit card at the last minute. Scroll down for video Even a legend of the tech world can fall foul of fraud, with Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak (pictured) admitting he has been stung by a Bitcoin scam. The multimillionaire had seven coins stolen, with an estimated worth of $71,400 (51,100), as part of a credit card racket Wozniak made the confession at the Economic Times of India's Global Business Summit, held in New Delhi. He spoke about how he became involved in Bitcoins as an experiment, rather than as an investment opportunity. The inventor and philanthropist says he was attracted to the cyrptocurrency as it's free from government manipulation and based purely on maths. But this intellectual curiosity was not enough to save him from falling victim to the scheme. About the experience Wozniak said: 'The blockchain identifies who has bitcoins, that doesnt mean there cant be fraud though. I had seven bitcoins stolen from me through fraud. 'Somebody bought them from me online through a credit card and they cancelled the credit card payment. It was that easy! 'And it was from a stolen credit card number so you can never get it back.' Wozniak says he invested in eight of the coins when they were worth $700 (500) a piece, selling all but one. One Bitcoin is currently worth $10,655 (7,624), according to CoinDesk, but at their height in December 2017 they reached $17,900 (12,800). That means a potential loss of around $120,000 (85,900). Cryptocurrencies are the internet's version of money - unique pieces of digital property that can be transferred from one person to another. Bitcoin is one of the most well-known. They are generated using an open-source computer program to solve complex math problems. This process is known as mining. Wozniak isn't the first to warn over the dangers of dabbling in Bitcoin. Bitcoin is one of the better known cyrptocurrencies available. The virtual money is made up of lines of computer code which are digitally signed each time they travel from one owner to the next (stock photo) Legendary investor Warren Buffett claimed in January that Bitcoin backers face disaster and suggested the online currency craze will come crashing down. Bitcoin surged as much as 1,900 per cent in 2017 before dipping sharply at the start of the year. Regulators, bankers and experienced traders have all warned it is a toxic bubble that will eventually ruin many of the people involved. Buffett known as the Sage of Omaha for his incredible moneymaking skills said: 'In terms of cryptocurrencies, generally, I can say with almost certainty that they will come to a bad ending.' 'When it happens or how or anything else, I don't know', he said in an interview with CNBC's 'Squawk Box'. The Chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway refused to take a short position on Bitcoin. 'We don't own any, we're not short any, we'll never have a position in them,' he said. Legendary investor Warren Buffett (pictured) has warned Bitcoin backers face disaster and suggested the online currency craze will come crashing down. Regulators, bankers and experienced traders have all warned it is a toxic bubble 'I get into enough trouble with things I think I know something about', he said. On January 2, 2018, the price of Bitcoin increased by 13.5 per cent to $15,017 (11,071) after a report found billionaire Peter Thiel, an early investor in Facebook and co-founder of Paypal, had heavily invested in the cryptocurrency. Thiel's venture capital firm, Founders Fund, bought around $15 to $20 million (11 - 14.7m) in Bitcoin in mid-2017, the report said. Bitcoin bought by Thiel's firm are now believed to be worth hundreds of millions after the currency's surge last year. Most mainstream investors have not bought large sums of Bitcoin over fears about cybersecurity and liquidity. Buffett's cryptocurrency warning came as it was revealed he had set up two top lieutenants to one day take over his 56-year-old business empire Berkshire Hathaway. He gave board seats to long-serving executives Gregory Abel and Ajit Jain, in a move that sees them taking on responsibility for day-to-day running of the business. Buffett said that one of the pair will eventually take over as chief executive of Berkshire but insisted he has no plans to step down. The 87-year-old said: 'I will be as interested as ever, there's not a drop of Berkshire blood that's leaving my body. 'I'm at the office on Saturday every Saturday I'm home, unless there's something unusual going on. 'I couldn't have a better job than the one I have.' Asked if he might stay on for another decade, Buffett hinted that might be too long. Bitcoin is what is referred to as a 'crypto-currency'. It is the internet's version of money - unique pieces of digital property that can be transferred from one person to another However, he stressed he remains in good health and does not intend to leave any time soon. Indian-born Jain, 66, has worked for Berkshire since 1986 and runs its insurance businesses. Buffett has lavished him with praise over the years, describing Jain's importance as 'impossible to overstate'. The chief executive once said that if the pair were in a sinking boat together and shareholders could only save one of them, they should pick Jain. He said that Jain and 55-year-old Abel, who runs Berkshire's energy businesses and has a reputation as a ferocious dealmaker, 'would probably be under-described as world-class'. Although Jain has perhaps been feted more over the years, Wall Street consensus is that Abel will win the tussle because he is younger and his rival has such an irreplaceable grasp of the specialist, complex insurance industry. Both men will now assume the title of vice chairman the sale role held by Buffett's long-time business partner Charlie Munger, 94. Although it sets the pair up for a protracted scrap over who will one day run the business, Buffett insisted he does not expect any trouble. 'There will be no horse race,' he said. 'These two fellows know each other well, and they like each other. 'They're really of pretty equal importance.' Water on the moon may be widespread rather than clustered at the poles. That's the conclusion of a new study that has found water in the form of OH - a more reactive relative of H2O - all over the lunar surface. The discovery could mean future lunar colonies could harvest water on the moon without having to bring it with them from Earth. They could also convert it into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel or oxygen to breathe, scientists claim. Scroll down for video Water is widely distributed on the moon and could be used as drinking water or as rocket fuel to sustain future explorers, scientists claim 'We find that it doesn't matter what time of day or which latitude we look at, the signal indicating water always seems to be present,' said Joshua Bandfield, a senior research scientist with the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado, and lead author of the new study published in Nature Geoscience. 'The presence of water doesn't appear to depend on the composition of the surface, and the water sticks around.' Previously research suggested the strength of the signal changed according to the lunar day, which is equivalent to 29.5 days on Earth. Now researchers believe it is abundant across the entire satellite. The main evidence has come from remote-sensing instruments that measured the strength of sunlight reflected off the lunar surface. When water is present, instruments like these pick up a spectral fingerprint at wavelengths near three micrometers, which lies beyond visible light and in the realm of infrared radiation. But the surface of the moon can also get hot enough to 'glow,' or emit its own light, in the infrared region of the spectrum. The challenge is to disentangle this mixture of reflected and emitted light. Future explorers could convert it into hydrogen and oxygen for rocket fuel or oxygen to breathe which could make space exploration much easier, scientists believe. Pictured is an astronaut on a moon landing mission In 2017 researchers also found evidence there is water present across the whole surface of the moon, at all times of the day. The main evidence has come from remote-sensing instruments that measured the strength of sunlight reflected off the lunar surface. Pictured is a map of water on the moon's surface around midday To do this, researchers incorporated temperature information and created a detailed model from measurements made by the iviner instrument on Nasa's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Researchers applied this temperature model to data gathered earlier by the moon Mineralogy Mapper, a visible and infrared spectrometer that Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, provided for India's Chandrayaan-1 orbiter. The new finding of widespread and relatively immobile water suggests that it may be present primarily as OH, a more reactive relative of H2O that is made of one oxygen atom and one hydrogen atom. OH, also called hydroxyl, doesn't stay on its own for long, preferring to attack molecules or attach itself chemically to them, according to the paper, published in Nature Geoscience. Hydroxyl would therefore have to be extracted from minerals in order to be used. The research also suggests that any H2O present on the moon isn't loosely attached to the surface. Pictured is a map of water molecules on the moon in the morning and midday, crafted by reading how certain wavelengths of light are reflected or absorbed at its surface. The warmer colours show where there is more water on the lunar surface, according to research published last year (credit: TU Dortmund) SCIENTISTS DON'T AGREE ON HOW THE MOON FORMED BUT MANY BELIEVE IT WAS THE RESULT OF AN IMPACT BETWEEN EARTH AND ANOTHER PLANET Many researchers believe the moon formed after Earth was hit by a planet the size of Mars billions of years ago. This is called the giant impact hypothesis. The theory suggests the moon is made up of debris left over following a collision between our planet and a body around 4.5 billion years ago. The colliding body is sometimes called Theia, after the mythical Greek Titan who was the mother of Selene, the goddess of the moon. Many researchers believe the moon formed after Earth was hit by a planet the size of Mars billions of years ago. This is called the giant impact hypothesis But one mystery has persisted, revealed by rocks the Apollo astronauts brought back from the moon: Why are the moon and Earth so similar in their composition? Several different theories have emerged over the years to explain the similar fingerprints of Earth and the moon. Perhaps the impact created a huge cloud of debris that mixed thoroughly with the Earth and then later condensed to form the moon. Or Theia could have, coincidentally, been chemically similar to young Earth. A third possibility is that the moon formed from Earthen materials, rather than from Theia, although this would have been a very unusual type of impact. Advertisement 'By putting some limits on how mobile the water or the OH on the surface is, we can help constrain how much water could reach the cold traps in the polar regions,' said Michael Poston of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas. Sorting out what happens on the moon could also help researchers understand the sources of water and its long-term storage on other rocky bodies throughout the solar system. In a paper published in Science Advances in 2017, researchers from the Technical University of Dortmund, Germany also found there is water present across the whole surface of the moon, at all times of the day. 'Possible sources are, amongst others, hydrated minerals or a reservoir at large depth,' Professor Christian Wohler, lead author of the study, told Wired. Earlier this year Professor Stephen Hawking said mankind could have a station on the moon within 30 years, saying it will be a useful stopping off point to other planets. But one of the biggest problems for any human settlement is the difficulty in transporting vast quantities of water from Earth. There may be alien life hiding in our solar system, according to new research. Microbes can thrive in the warm, underground ocean on Enceladus, an icy moon that orbits Saturn, the sixth planet from the sun, a study has found. The scientists, who describe Enceladus as a 'hot spot' in the search for extraterrestrial life, found that some species of methane-producing microbes on Earth can survive the harsh conditions on the satellite. Scroll down for video There may be alien life hiding in our solar system, according to new research. Microbes can thrive in the warm, underground ocean on Enceladus, an icy moon that orbits Saturn, the sixth planet from the sun, a study has found They say methane around the satellite's surface could be produced by microbial life tucked just beneath its crust. The team, from Universitat Wien in Vienna, Austria, said they hope their study encourages more research into potential colonies of microbes living on the moon. Enceladus harbours many of the ingredients needed for alien life, making it a focal points in humanity's search for potential extra-terrestrials. The moon holds a watery ocean beneath its icy crust, as well as strange, warm fractures at its south pole that fire out plumes of liquid. The plumes contain compounds like methane, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide, all necessary for life as we know it on Earth. Microbes on our planet either produce these compounds or use them for growth, leading some to speculate that tiny organisms live in Enceladus's hidden ocean. Specifically, some scientists believe that methane-producing microbes known as 'methanogenic archaea' might thrive under the predicted conditions on Enceladus. The scientists, who describe Enceladus as a 'hot spot' in the search for extraterrestrial life, say methane around the satellite's surface could be produced by microbial life tucked just beneath its crust in its subsurface ocean The microbes use carbon dioxide and molecular hydrogen for growth, releasing methane as a by-product. To test this theory, scientists at Universitat Wien in Vienna, Austria, grew three of these microorganisms in the lab. Two of the organism used were initially isolated from hydrothermal vent systems on Earth - one from near Iceland's sea floor, and another near Okinawa, Japan. Enceladus orbits Saturn (file photo), and harbours many of the ingredients needed for alien life. The moon holds a watery ocean beneath its icy crust, as well as strange, warm fractures at its south pole that fire out plumes of liquid WHAT IS ENCELADUS AND COULD IT HOST ALIEN LIFE? Enceladus (pictured) is Saturn's sixth largest moon, at 313 miles wide (504 kilometres) Enceladus is Saturn's sixth largest moon, at 313 miles wide (504 kilometres). It is an icy satellite with hydrothermal activity - a rare combination - with vents spewing water vapour and ice particles out from a global ocean buried beneath the moon's frozen crust. A handful of worlds are thought to have liquid water oceans beneath their frozen shell, but only Enceladus sprays its ocean out into space, where a spacecraft can sample it. According to Nasa observations, the plume includes organic compounds, volatile gases, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, salts, and silica. Microbes on our planet either produce these compounds or use them for growth, leading some to speculate that tiny organisms live in Enceladus's hidden ocean. This means that while Enceladus may look 'inhospitable' like Saturn's other moons, it is a prime candidate in our search for alien life. Advertisement The third, a control species not designed to survive harsh conditions, came from a sewage treatment plant. They then subjected the microbes to a number of different severe conditions, including extreme temperatures, pressure and chemical stress that microbes would experience on Enceladus. The team found that at least one type of methanogenic archaea can still grow in the presence of harsh chemicals such as formaldehyde and ammonia. Scientists think these compounds are found in abundance in Enceladus, and have previously suggested this means microbes could not grow on the moon. The team also found that a geothermal process thought to occur at Enceladus's core may generate enough hydrogen gas to support methanogenic microbes. Known as low-temperature serpentinisation, the process chemically alters rocks under extreme heat to produce hydrogen and methane. Microbes exposed to the amount of hydrogen gas expected to arise from this process on Mars were able to thrive in experiments, the scientists said. Lead researcher Dr Simon Rittmann told MailOnline: 'If you know where these microbes survive on Earth, the results are not that surprising. The team found that a geothermal process thought to occur at Enceladus's core may generate enough hydrogen gas to support methanogenic microbes. Pictured is an image taken by Nasa probe Cassini of hydrothermal vents on Enceladus firing water from its subsurface ocean 'These organisms have a very special and ancient physiology - they are one of the first evolutionary developments on this planet.' 'Our results suggest that these organisms or similar could exist on Enceladus.' The scientists warned that as methane can also be generated by geochemical processes on the moon, their study is not conclusive. 'We have just confirmed that organisms from Earth can survive in these conditions, but it is impossible for us to say whether or not anything actually lives there,' Dr Rittmann told MailOnline. The battle to place a microphone in every home has intensified. Samsung today confirmed that its long-rumored Bixby smart speaker will be out sometime in the second half of this year. The 'premium' speaker is set to take on Apple's 319 ($349) HomePod - although the company has yet to reveal its exact features. Scroll down for video Samsung is releasing a 'premium' Bixby smart speaker that will listen to your every word as soon as this autumn. Details about how the speaker might look have not been announced. Pictured is the Samsung Radiant 360 speaker DJ Koh, president of Samsung's mobile division confirmed the rumours at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Mr Koh said the company is going to 'focus on more premium', for the new speaker, writes Wall Street Journal. This suggests it will be competing with high end smart speakers such as Apple's HomePod rather than entry level devices such as Google Home Mini and Amazon Echo Dot. It is believed the speaker will connect to Samsung's SmartThings network which will mean all smart home devices could be controlled through voice commands. The report suggested the speaker could have different pricing tiers and that affordable versions might be available alongside a premium device. 'In December last year, we began taking applications for the public beta version [of Bixby 2.0]. So far over 800 companies have applied and are testing it,' Mr Koh said, writes Android Authority. 'At this speed, I think we will be able to unveil Bixby 2.0 when we launch the Galaxy Note 9', which is due to be released this autumn, he said. Able to control all smart devices in the home, the luxury speaker is tipped to take on Apple's 319 ($349) HomePod (pictured), avoiding bargain wars with Amazon and Google The race to create a smart home assistant has seen a range of virtual assistants released, from Apple's Siri to Amazon's Alexa and Facebook's chatbots, as firms compete to access to your private conversations. Pictured is Samsung's Bixby Just last month Samsung revealed plans to make all devices intelligent and part of the 'Internet of Things' by 2020. The firm wants to seamlessly connect all all IoT devices using a SmartThings 'ecosystem'. Bixby will roll out across far more devices, meaning everything from your TV to the refrigerator will answer to voice commands and 'understand what you need before you even ask.' MailOnline has contacted Samsung for comment. Google could be making Big Brother-style smart home technology to discipline your children so you don't have to. Pictured is a Google Home, the tech gianta's voice-controlled smart speaker DO SMART SPEAKERS LIKE APPLE'S HOMEPOD LISTEN IN ON YOUR CONVERSATIONS? Like every home speaker, the HomePod has an 'always-on' mic that has the potential to hear private conversations. But it may come with a way to turn it off. Experts recently discovered icons in the latest version of iOS that suggest always-listening microphones on Apples Homepod speaker can be disabled. The delayed 350 ($349) Echo-killer, which actives when it hears 'Hey Siri', released February 9 2018. The microphone mute feature assuages privacy concerns raised over smart speakers eavesdropping on conversations. The find was reported by Apple expert Filipe Esposito, based in Londrina, Brazil, who discovered Homepod icons with microphone off symbols in the developer build of iOS 11.2.5. The icons were found buried in the assets for Apples Home app. Some of the microphone mute icons also contain the text 'Siri-off' in their filenames, lending further support to his conclusion. As with other smart speakers, like Amazon's Echo and Google's Home ranges, command phrases are used to trigger voice activated services. But some users are uncomfortable with the idea that the devices are always listening out for these vocal prompts. Users previously uncovered a quirk in some models of the Google HomeMini which meant that the gadget was constantly monitoring and recording their speech. Due to what Google has called 'phantom touches', the Home Mini was in a constant state of anticipation, listening for and awaiting verbal instructions, even before the 'Ok Google' vocal prompt was given. While this in itself is a fairly minor inconvenience, it has major implications for the privacy of users and could, in theory, let Google monitor everything that is said in your home. This information is also transmitted to the Mountain View firm's servers, raising the possibility of the information being recorded. The ability to switch off the microphones until they're needed may go some way to addressing similar privacy concerns in the Homepod. Advertisement Samsung is not the only company looking to get access to your private life. Earlier this month, Google released a patent suggesting their Big brother-style smart home technology could be used to discipline children in the future. The dystopian patent detailed cameras, microphones, motion sensors and thermal imaging to monitor members of the household. The Google Home system could use this real-time information to decide if the person in question is misbehaving and needs telling off. In another patent Google described a device that would give advice to parents for 'areas of improvement' such as spending more time with their children at supper. At the CES press conference in Las Vegas, Samsung's Head of Consumer Electronics HS Kim revealed the firm's new 'integrated IoT strategy.' The system will have three core elements, Mr Kim said: seamless connectivity between any connected device through a single path, a single cloud to manage the devices, and intelligence 'powered by your voice that allows your device to work smart and better for you.' Samsung's SmartThings app, which will funnel the many different IoT apps into a single platform, is set to launch in the spring of this year. By 2020, the firm says all of Samsung's devices will be compatible with the Open Connectivity Foundation and the SmartThings cloud, which the firm says is the 'backbone of our connected system.' 'Intelligence will make your life easier, that was our vision with Bixby,' Kim said. 'To make your device better, to help you do things faster and easier fewer steps, less menus, more actions, all with a single voice command.' The moon could get 4G mobile phone network next year, 50 years after the first Nasa astronauts touched down on the lunar surface. Vodafone Germany, Nokia and Audi said today they were working together to support the mission that could allow lunar rovers to communicate with each other. If it goes ahead this would also enable high-definition live streaming from the lunar landscape back to Earth. It is part of a project to eventually make trips to the moon commercially viable. Scroll down for video Vodafone Germany, network equipment maker Nokia and carmaker Audi said today they were working together to support the mission that could allow lunar rovers to communicate with each other (pictured, artist's impression of an Audi rover) Vodafone said it had appointed Nokia as its technology partner to develop a space-grade network which would be a small piece of hardware weighing less than a bag of sugar. The plan is to connect two Audi lunar rovers to a base station in the Autonomous Landing and Navigation Module (ALINA). The 4G network will enable the Audi lunar rovers to transfer scientific data and HD video while they study Nasa's Apollo 17 lunar roving vehicle that was used by the last astronauts to walk on the Moon. Researchers said the two rovers would also send live HD pictures to Earth as they travel to within 200 metres (656 feet) of the rover. The companies are working with Berlin-based company PTScientists on the project, with a launch scheduled in 2019 from Cape Canaveral on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, Vodafone said. 'This project involves a radically innovative approach to the development of mobile network infrastructure,' Vodafone Germany Chief Executive Hannes Ametsreiter said. One executive involved said the decision to build a 4G network rather a state-of-the-art 5G network was taken because the next generation networks remain in the testing and trial stage. This means it might not be stable enough to work from the lunar surface. Eugene Cernan walks toward the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) near the U.S. flag at the Taurus-Littrow landing site of Apollo 17. The 4G network will enable the Audi lunar rovers to transfer scientific data and HD video while they study the rover The rovers will travel to the moon on board one of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets, before navigating to the Apollo 17 buggy site Last year Audi said it would be getting a private lunar lander on the moon's surface carrying two Audi lunar rovers. The private company creating the rovers hopes their budget mission will eventually make trips to the moon commercially viable. The rovers will travel to the moon on board one of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rockets a place on which cost 100 million ($130 million). In comparison, the average cost for Nasa to launch a space shuttle is 350 million ($450 million). It is hoped the probes will be able to scan the Apollo vehicle and assess its condition, including any possible damage caused by intense radiation, extreme temperatures, and micro-meteorites. According to the engineering team behind the rover, Audi has helped it to perfect a 3D-printing process to manufacturer the vehicle from titanium and aluminium. WHAT WAS THE APOLLO 17 MOON ROVER? The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) was an electric vehicle designed to operate in the low-gravity vacuum of the moon and to traversing the lunar surface, allowing the Apollo astronauts to extend the range of their surface extravehicular activities. Three of them were driven on the moon - one on Apollo 15 by astronauts David Scott and Jim Irwin, one on Apollo 16 by John Young and Charles Duke, and one on Apollo 17 by Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt. The Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) was an electric vehicle designed to operate in the low-gravity vacuum of the moon and to traversing the lunar surface, allowing the Apollo astronauts to extend the range of their surface extravehicular activities On Apollo 17 the rover went 35.9 km in 4 hours 26 minutes total drive time. The longest traverse was 20.1 km and the greatest range from the LM was 7.6 km. The Lunar Roving Vehicle had a mass of 210 kg and was designed to hold a payload of an additional 490 kg on the lunar surface. The frame was made of aluminum and the chassis was hinged in the center so it could be folded up and hung in the Lunar Module quad 1 bay The frame was 3.1 meters long with a wheelbase of 2.3 meters, and was 1.14m high. The frame was made of aluminum and the chassis was hinged in the center so it could be folded up and hung in the Lunar Module quad 1 bay. It had two side-by-side foldable seats made of tubular aluminum with nylon webbing and aluminum floor panels. An armrest was mounted between the seats, and each seat had adjustable footrests and a velcro seatbelt. A large mesh dish antenna was mounted on a mast on the front center of the rover. A T-shaped hand controller situated between the two seats controlled the four drive motors, two steering motors and brakes. Harrison Schmitt of Apollo 17 said, '....the Lunar Rover proved to be the reliable, safe and flexible lunar exploration vehicle we expected it to be. 'Without it, the major scientific discoveries of Apollo 15, 16, and 17 would not have been possible; and our current understanding of lunar evolution would not have been possible.' Advertisement Deadly wildfires that consume hundreds of thousands of acres and cause billions of dollars of damage are becoming more prevalent, scientists have warned. The amount of acreage destroyed by these fires each year in western North America will multiply by five, at least, in the next few decades, according to a new report. Wildfires have extreme costs on human life and the local economies, forcing many to have to rebuild. And, researchers now warn the effects could soon be even worse. Scientists have found that the amount of land consumed annually by wildfires in North America is set to increase in the coming decades. Areas labeled red on this map will see the greatest increases while dark blue areas will see the smallest Scientists from the University of Arizona, the University of California and Argentina's Universidad Nacional del Comahue contributed to the new report, published in the journal Plos One. The team examined how much land had been burned by wildfires in western North America over 34 years for the new analysis. They did this to flesh out the ways seasonal climates regulate regional fires, taking into account temperatures and snowfall levels. The key measurement in the research was the annual area burned. Scientists looked at how many fires happened in certain areas each year to figure the annual area burned, but they also took into consideration the sizes of wildfires. The report noted the area burned is not necessarily a reflection of a fire's severity. The researchers found rainfall levels combined with spring, summer and winter temperatures influenced the annual area burned measurements. Winter and spring temperatures regulate the amount of snow left sitting on the ground, which dictates the time of the onset of fire season. The researchers created a model that could estimate the amount of area that would be burned by wildfires in each of the geographic locations the team focused on. They tested this model by plugging in statistics from the past seven years to make sure it estimated the correct amount of annual area burned. But the model cannot make predictions about events to come after the mid-21st century because researchers do not know about vegetation changes that might take place beyond the coming decades. More than half of the US Forest Service's budget is spent responding to wildfires, leaving the government agency with little funding for restoration and public education initiatives (file photo) The model predicted that half the territories the researchers studied will see the total annual area burned multiplied by five, at the least, in the coming decades. The largest increases will be seen in the interior western areas, the researchers said. According to University of Arizona professor Don Falk, changes in the climate are prolonging fire seasons, allowing for more time for acreage to burn. He said: 'Wildfires act as a multiplier of other forces such as climate change, exposing more and more areas not only to the immediate effects of fire but also to the resulting cascade of ecological, hydrological economic and social consequences.' These devastating fires will take a toll on the economy as well as the community, the study warned. 'These will be billion-dollar fires. We're just not ready for fire impacts of this kind, including post-fire effects from flooding after fire,' Professor Falk said. Wildfires in 2017 cost California alone more than $180 billion, according to the analysis. It said: 'This [figure] includes not only the immediate costs of firefighting, but also the much larger costs of landscape rehabilitation; medical and hospital costs; insurance losses and the costs of replacing thousands of homes and other buildings; lost economic productivity from the destruction of businesses; repair and replacement of key infrastructure such as roads, power lines and dams; and weeks of lost income by employees.' The researchers responsible for the new report are hopeful their study can help land management agencies plan for the future. HOW ARE WILDFIRES STARTED? The amount of land in North America devastated by wildfires each year is set to rise, according to new research (file photo) The 'Thomas Fire' destroyed 281,893 acres in California in December 2017. Additionally, British Columbia's Nazko Complex Fire last year consumed more than a million acres, making it the largest ever recorded in the province. But the amount of land destroyed by wildfires each year will only go up in western and northern North America in the years to come, according to a new report published in the journal Plos One. Up to 90 percent of US wildfires are caused by people, according to the Insurance Information Institute. These fires can be initiated by unattended campfires, piles of burning debris, haphazardly discarded cigarettes or arson. The remaining tenth of wildfires not started by humans are attributed to either lighting or lava. Advertisement Such agencies are currently being stretched thin by the costs of destructive wildfires. For example, the US Forest Service shells out more than 50 percent of its budget responding to wildfires. This leaves the agency little wiggle room to maintain ecosystem restoration and public education initiatives. The report said: 'In years when seasonal climate drives lengthy fire seasons, fire management resources may be stretched to the limit. 'Knowing about future regional variation in the projected annual area burned can help land managers and policy makers prepare for the possibility of extremely large fire years.' Falk explained: 'Ultimately, this means that the large fire seasons of recent years, such as the one just ending, are likely to occur more frequently, affecting ecosystems, communities and public safety. 'We hope that this research will be a wake-up call to public agencies and legislatures at all levels of government that the fire problem is not going to get any smaller in coming decades. 'If anything, we need a serious, fact-based national dialogue about how to sustain our forests and woodlands through smart management and policy.' Scientists are one step closer to bringing back an extinct species of bird, not unlike what's depicted in Jurassic Park. The little bush moa, a flightless bird that inhabited parts of New Zealand, went abruptly extinct in the late 13th century as a result of overhunting. Now, a team of researchers from Harvard University have assembled a nearly complete genome of the extinct moa. To do so, they extracted ancient DNA from a single toe bone of a moa specimen held at the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto. Scroll down for video Little bush moa went extinct over 700 years ago as a result of overhunting when humans arrived in New Zealand. Scientists believe they may be able to bring it back from extinction Harvard scientists then slipped the DNA into the egg of a living species. The DNA was highly fragmented, so the scientists worked to piece together 900 million nucleotides and match them to specific locations on the genome of the emu, Statnews noted. Researchers used a new form of DNA sequencing called high-throughput sequencing to determine the little bush moa's nuclear genome Pictured is an engraving of the giant moa, a variation of the little bush moa. There are nine species of moa and all of them are extinct 'High throughput sequencing has revolutionized the field of ancient DNA (aDNA) by facilitating recovery of nuclear DNA for greater inference of evolutionary processes of extinct species than is possible from mitochondrial DNA alone,' according to the study. Studying the nuclear DNA of the little bush moa gave scientists an even deeper look into the bird's evolutionary history. The little bush moa is a part of the palaeognathae clade of birds and counts kiwi, ostrich and emu as its cousins. In total, there were nine species of moa, each ranging in size but now all are extinct. Little bush moa were the smallest and most common variation of the species. They roamed forests in the North and South Islands of New Zealand before they and other moa species were hunted to extinction following the arrival of Polynesians in the late 700s, the NZ Herald said. Most were, on average, roughly four feet tall and weighed about 66 pounds, surviving off of twigs and other plant material. Experts say that the Harvard researchers' work could make it easier to bring other long lost species back from extinction. 'The fact that they could get a genome from a little bush moa toe is a big deal, since now we might be able to use their data to do other extinct bird species,' Ben Novak, lead scientist at nonprofit conservation group Revive and Restore, told Statnews. Bird genomes have similar structures, making it possible to reconstruct other species using the little bush moa's genes. Left, paleontologist Richard Owen stands next to a skeleton of the largest of the nine extinct species of moa in 1879. Right, a depiction of the extinct giant moa WHAT SPECIES ARE SCIENTISTS WORKING TO BRING OUT OF EXTINCTION? De-extinction, or the process of bringing vanished species back to life, is becoming more and more common among researchers. Cloning is the most common form of de-extinction, but scientists can also slip ancient DNA sequences into the eggs of live species. Harvard researchers believe they may be able to bring the little bush moa back from extinction using this method. Scientists are also close to bringing the dodo out of extinction. A scientist holds up a reconstructed model of the dodo (right) next to a skeleton of the extinct bird in 1938. The flightless bird went extinct in the late 1600s The dodo is a flightless bird that went extinct from Mauritius, an island east of Madagascar, in the late 1600s. Aside from the dodo, scientists are also trying to revive the passenger pigeon, a wild pigeon that went extinct in the early 1900s. The passenger pigeon primarily resided in North America, primarily around the Great Lakes. Scientists have also reconstructed the genome of the Tasmanian tiger, which is native to Australia, Tasmania and New Guinea. It's believed to have gone extinct in the 20th century and is known for its striped lower back. Advertisement However, some scientists have countered the idea of bringing back giant birds from extinction, believing that they'd be poor candidates for revival. In other cases, opponents of de-extinction believe scientists should focus on newer species that are under threat of extinction. 'De-extinction could be useful for inspiring new science and could be beneficial for conservation if we ensure it doesn't reduce existing conservation resources,' University of Queensland scientist Hugh Possingham said in a statement. 'However, in general it is best if we focus on the many species that need our help now,' he added. As scientists scour the skies in hopes of one day making contact with an intelligent alien race, there always remains the glimmer of uncertainty about what kind of reception well get. The common alien-doomsday scenario paints the picture of hostile invasion, with looming motherships and a firefight for the fate of Earth and all of humanity. But, according to new research, the reality could be far more sinister. In a new paper, a team of astrophysicists suggest aliens could transmit complex messages to hack and wipe out Earth-based computer systems or, they could simply send panic-inducing threats that would cause society to crumble on its own. Scroll down for video According to the researchers, a threat from aliens could come in several forms. These could be signals received by our radio telescopes, or even probes sent directly to our planet. According to the researchers, aliens could also transmit complex messages that embed viruses The argument focuses on the possibility of malicious messages sent to Earth by extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI). These could be signals received by our radio telescopes, or even probes sent directly to our planet. In the new paper published to arXiv, the researchers argue that the possibility of harmful intent must be considered, despite its low likelihood. And, they say cyberattacks could be the aliens best shot at taking over. After all, it is cheaper for ETI to send a malicious message to eradicate humans compared to sending battleships, the astrophysicists note. According to the researchers, a threat from aliens could come in several forms. On the most basic level, a message might represent a statement like We will make your sun go supernova tomorrow, the authors explain. True or not, it could cause wide-spread panic. More realistically, a longer text could have a demoralizing cultural influence. According to the researchers, aliens could also transmit complex messages that embed viruses onto our computers or cause technical problems. Such a disaster could be contained if it were only received at one facility, they note. But, if picked up by several locations and even amateurs, containment is impossible. The common alien-doomsday scenario paints the picture of hostile invasion, with looming motherships and a firefight for the fate of Earth and all of humanity. But, according to new research, the reality could be far more sinister. A still from Countdown Alien Invasion is shown To prevent these scenarios, the researchers argue that any complex messages received by extraterrestrial intelligence should be destroyed, as they cannot be decontaminated with certainty. This includes any code, the team notes. The only messages that can be considered safe, they argue, would be easily printable images, plain text, or music, which can be interpreted offline. Anything more complex would be too difficult to adequately assess. We may only choose to destroy such a message, or take the risk, the authors write. The risk for humanity may be small, but not zero. Still, not all experts are convinced that this type of scenario is likely. Writing for NBC News, astronomer Seth Shostak from the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) Institute says this type of attack on humanity would be like us threatening Neanderthals. Instead of cyberattacks or blackmail-style threats to force humans to do aliens bidding, the most disruptive type of message could instead be a gift, Shostak says the gift, for example, of advanced knowledge. A still from the movie Arrival is pictured WHEN WILL WE FIND ALIEN LIFE? Nasa scientists have claimed alien life could be found within the next few decades. Experts say the search is heavily guided by characteristics of our own planet, helping scientists to weed out inhospitable worlds from those that may have promise for life, such as the icy moons Enceladus and Europa. Nasa scientists are looking for environments that contain both oxygen and methane. When these two gases are found in the same atmosphere, 'you've got something special,' the space agency says. 'There are ways to build up oxygen and methane in a planetary atmosphere, but the only way you could have both in the same atmosphere at the same time is if you produce them both super rapidly,' said Shawn Domagal-Goldman, of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center. Advertisement Its hard to think of things that we could do for agile, technically sophisticated aliens that they couldnt accomplish more easily on their own, the SETI expert argues. Imagine modern humans threatening Neanderthals with nuclear war unless they washed our cars. Would that make any sense? According to Shostak, the technology currently used is equipped to take on the possibility of malicious messages and, the receivers would turn these into digital goo. The expert also notes that an alien species originating many light-years away from our planet would have no way of knowing about the prevalence of computers on Earth, or the operating systems we use. Instead of cyberattacks or blackmail-style threats to force humans to do aliens bidding, the most disruptive type of message could instead be a gift, Shostak says the gift, for example, of advanced knowledge. If humanity is deprived of the opportunity to learn things on its own, much of its impetus for novelty might evaporate, Shostak notes. In a society where invention and discovery are written out of the script, progress and improvement would suffer. Archaeologists have discovered parts of a statue of one of its most famous pharaohs in the southern city of Aswan. The Antiquities Ministry said today that the head and chest of the statue of Ramses II were found in the Temple of Kom Ombo during a project to protect the site from groundwater. Egypt hopes the find, along with other recent discoveries, will help revive its tourism sector, which has been battered by years of unrest since the 2011 uprising. Egypt's Antiques Ministry announced today the discovery of parts a statue of Ramses II. The head and chest of the statue of Ramses II were found in the Temple of Kom Ombo during a project to protect the site from groundwater Ramses II, also known as Ramses the Great, ruled Egypt from 1279 BC to 1213 BC. The pharaoh is credited with expanding Egypt's reach as far as modern Syria to the east and Sudan to the south. Last Thursday, many tourists gathered at Aswan's Great Temple at Abu Simbel to see the sun's rays illuminate sculptures inside, among them a separate statue of the pharaoh, Ahram Online reported. The sun's rays shine on the sculptures twice a year. For the better part of the year, the main temple's inner sanctum is covered in darkness. But on February 22 and October 22, sunlight illuminates the statues inside. February 22 marks Ramses II's birthday, and on October 22 his coronation is celebrated. Ahram Online reported that archaeological and state officials from Egypt as well as other countries attended the ceremony last Thursday amid strict security measures. Sunlight exposes the statues of sun gods Amon-Re and Re-Horakhte along with one of Ramses II. Last Thursday, many tourists gathered at Aswan's Great Temple at Abu Simbel to see the sun's rays illuminate sculptures inside, among them a separate statue of the pharaoh. The sun's rays shine on the sculptures twice a year WHO WAS RAMSES II? The sun's rays illuminate statues (pictured) inside the Great Temple at Abu Simbel in Egypt twice a year Ramses II lived from 1279 BC to 1213 BC. The pharaoh was known to Egyptians as Userma'atre'setepenre, meaning 'keeper of Harmony and Balance, Strong in Right, Elect of Ra', according to the Ancient History Encyclopedia. Ramses II was the 19th Dynasty's third pharaoh, who reportedly declared a decisive victory at The Battle of Kadesh over the Hittites. Ramses II supposedly flaunted the result of this battle to elevate his reputation. However, the battle ended in somewhat of a tie, and was not exactly a win for either party. In fact, it resulted in the earliest known peace treaty, composed in 1258 BCE. Ramses II is commonly linked to the pharaoh depicted in the book of Exodus in the Bible. But there is no archaeological or historical evidence associating the two figures. Ramses II fathered more than 100 children before his death in 1213 BC - more than any other pharaoh. Advertisement Their figures are seated, and they are near to the Egyptian god of the underworld named Ptah, who stays covered in darkness all year. The discovery of the new statue comes on the heels of the emergence of the lost temple of Ramses II. News of the 3,200 ruins broke last fall, and researchers discovered among them motifs devoted to ancient Egyptian sun gods, which gave scientists a unique insight into who Ramses II worshiped. The temple, uncovered in the Abusir Necropolis in Giza, measures around 110 feet in width and 170 feet in length and was constructed during Ramses II's 67-year reign. Inscribed on one of the temple walls are the different titles of King Ramses II along with inscriptions of solar deities. The newly-discovered statue of Ramses II was found in Aswan, Egypt. Parts of the statue were discovered in the Temple of Kom Ombo during a project to protect the site from groundwater The lost temple of Ramses II shed light one of Egypt's most revered leaders who built more temples than any other pharaoh. Pictured is a view of the temple from the north Archaeologists found fragments of engravings depicting solar gods, confirming that King Ramses II worshiped the sun god 'Ra'. Ra was often considered to be the King of the Gods, patron of the pharaoh and creator of everything. The complex was built in an area between a terrace of the Nile and floodplain of Abusir. At the back of the temple, researchers found a staircase that led to a raised stone chamber which was divided into three parallel rooms. On either side were three long storage buildings. Experts say Ramses II understood visibility was central to the success of his reign, and built bombastic structures to project his strength as a leader. The cannabis market is almost completely dominated by the dangerous super-strength 'skunk' variety blamed for triggering psychotic disorders, a major study has found. The potent strain has all but forced out the lower-strength form of the drug, and made up 94 per cent of all cannabis seized in 2016. In 2005, just 51 per cent of cannabis seized was skunk. The cannabis market is almost completely dominated by the dangerous super-strength 'skunk' variety blamed for triggering psychotic disorders The study led by King's College London analysed nearly 1,000 samples of cannabis seized by police in drug raids in London, Kent, Derbyshire, Merseyside and Sussex. Psychiatrists have warned that smokers of the 'high-potency' cannabis have a greatest risk of spiralling into mental illness, with young people especially vulnerable. A series of cases have highlighted the link between the potent drug and mental health problems. Dr Marta Di Forti, a clinician scientist at King's College London, said: 'In previous research we have shown that regular users of high-potency cannabis carry the highest risk for psychotic disorders, compared to those who have never used cannabis. The increase of high-potency cannabis on the streets poses a significant hazard to users' mental health, and reduces their ability to choose more benign types.' The study, published in the journal Drug Testing and Analysis, found that the rise in skunk's popularity had been mirrored by a fall in availability of weaker cannabis resin, which has a THC content of 6 per cent, up from 4 per cent in 2008, but a lot lower than the 14 per cent found in skunk. THC is the compound which gives users a 'high'. Resin's share of the illicit drug market fell from 43 per cent in 2005, to 6 per cent in 2016. In London it is even lower, with 99 per cent of cannabis seizures comprising skunk. One of the reasons skunk is so harmful is that it contains very low levels of a compound called CBD, which prevents psychosis. CBD content is 0.29 per cent, compared to 6 per cent in resin. Dr Di Forti, a practising psychiatrist, said: 'If the availability of skunk goes up, there is a risk we will see a greater number of people developing psychosis.' She added that based on previous research, if young people smoke skunk daily they push up their risk of developing psychosis from one in 100 the risk for non-drug takers to one in 20. Dr Di Forti said: 'We know that saying 'Don't do this, don't do that' to teenagers can have the opposite effect, but my advice is that important changes are happening to your brain and substances that can have an effect on your brain can alter it. 'No drugs should be used when the brain is developing.' Colleague Dr Tom Freeman said: 'This valuable study... clearly shows that the illicit UK cannabis market is more dominated by harmful forms of cannabis than ever before. This data may help to explain why an increasing number of young people are now seeking professional treatment for cannabis problems.' Professor Valerie Curran, professor of psychopharmacology, UCL, said: 'Evidence from our own previous research at UCL suggests that high-potency varieties are more likely to lead to addiction, so if the market is dominated by these varieties, then this inevitably puts more people at risk of addiction.' Blessed with balmy temperatures and a beautiful coastline, Lisbon makes a great destination for both a cultured city getaway and a relaxing beach holiday. Here we take a look at how to get the most out of its sublime sandy stretches, from choosing which beach suits you best to knowing when to go and what to pack. Escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a peaceful trip to one of these beautiful beaches Choosing a beach to visit Lisbon is truly spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches and there are many different options depending on who youre with, what you want to do and how far youre willing to travel. Family fun at Cascais The beaches around Cascais, just west of Lisbon, are a popular choice for families and couples alike thanks to their natural beauty, great facilities and ease of access. While the beach in the main town is a popular choice due to its restaurants, shops and sunbeds, smaller beachside towns like Carcavelos and Estoril dotted along the coastal road from Lisbon are also great options for a family day out at the beach. Lisbon beaches can be found along the Lisbon coast all the way to the resort towns of Estoril and Cascais and beyond Surfing along Serra de Sintra Rugged rock formations and big waves make Serra de Sintra the place to go near Lisbon for a spot of surfing. Just north of the popular Cascais and at the foot of the Sintra hills, beaches in this area like Praia do Guincho attract people from around the world looking to test out their skills on a surfboard or try their hand at windsurfing. Socialising and sunbathing at Costa de Caparica Dotted with beach clubs and bars, Costa de Caparica offers more than 10km of beautiful golden sands and a friendly atmosphere with plenty of facilities. Just over the 25 de Abril Bridge from the city centre, its a stretch of coastline thats easy to get to and its a popular choice for revellers looking to enjoy one of Lisbons popular sunset beach parties. Picturesque views at Serra da Arrabida Surrounded by a backdrop of luscious mountains and boasting spectacular scenery and plenty of secluded spots, Serra da Arrabida is a prime option for a beach day if youre willing to travel a little further from Lisbons centre. Located 40km south of the city, the beaches of Serra da Arrabida are best visited for a whole day or an overnight trip, and there are plenty of hotel options including a handful of resorts in Sesimbra. When to go to the beach While Portugal may enjoy sunnier climes than the UK, it still has an off season for beachgoers. The best time to go to the beach tends to be between May and September when the temperatures begin to soar. July and August tend to be the busiest months for holiday makers due to the very low rain levels and clear blue skies. Weekends in the high season can see the coastlines packed as locals love to spend their free time on the beach too, so plan your beach day mid-week if you want to avoid the crowds. Getting to Lisbons beaches Luckily most of the beaches around Lisbon are easy to get to by public transport, especially if youre heading west of the city centre towards Cascais. A commuter train leaves directly from the city centre and travels along the coast, with stops at various towns and inlets before you reach the picturesque shores of Cascais. Other more southerly beaches such as those on Costa de Caparica are reachable by bus, while those even further afield like the coves of Serra da Arrabida and Serra de Sintra are only accessible by car. Enjoy a relaxing day at the beach - your very own piece of city paradise What to take with you to the beach While many of Lisbons surrounding beaches are close to restaurants and facilities, there are a few that are a little more remote. Youll want to make sure you pack plenty of water, snacks and sun cream if you opt for one of these sandy stretches, and take some form of parasol as the Portuguese sun is often strong and unrelenting. Bringing your own towel is also a must unless you go to one of the many great beach clubs (there are a few on Costa de Caparica) where theyll often let you hire towels, sunbeds and cabanas. If you love to swim or youre planning on surfing, taking a wetsuit with you is a sensible idea as the Atlantic waters around the Portuguese coast are surprisingly chilly. If you go for one of the beaches dotted with restaurants or beach clubs, youll want to pack a change of clothes too, in case you decide to stay for the evening and take in one of Lisbons legendary sunsets with a cocktail or two. Safety at the beach Just like visiting any beach around the globe, there are a couple of safety tips youll want to bear in mind when sunning, surfing or swimming on Lisbons sands. Firstly, some of the waters around the coast can have quite strong currents and hidden rocks under the surface so be cautious when swimming and try to only go in areas monitored by a lifeguard. Look out for warning flags on beaches too, especially the surfing ones, as they be unsafe to swim at during certain times of the year. Lastly, some of the more popular beaches may also be targeted by pickpockets so its best to never leave your belongings unattended when you go for a swim. Nights run late in Barcelona the city never sleeps. Youll find restaurants busiest around 2200, and clubs dont start to fill up until around 0200. But if youre feeling acquisitive, youll find your schedule a bit more constrained. Most shops in Barcelona are open from Monday to Saturday from 0900 to 1330 and again from 17002000 (some small shops are closed on Saturday afternoons, however). Shopping centres and malls are allowed to stay open until 2200 from Monday to Saturday, and almost everything is closed on Sunday, but some shops in tourist areas can open from 1200 to 2000. Old Arena building, Arenas de Barcelona, now a shopping centre Shopping malls and department stores Arenas de Barcelona A former bullring built in 1900 in traditional Neo-Mudejar style, Arenas de Barcelona was reopened in 2011 as a shopping centre. The new design has left the original facade mostly intact and added a dome-shaped roof offering some of Barcelonas most spectacular views. The interior is stunning, with six floors of shops, eateries, cinemas and a rock museum. The mall is open daily 10002200 (JuneSeptember) and 09002100 (OctoberMay). Metro: Placa d'Espanya Les Glories Found near the intersection of Gran Via and Avinguda Diagonal, Les Glories is a recently remodelled open-plan shopping mall spread over three floors. It will have a total of 130 shops and new services including a huge supermarket and a cinema complex. The mall is open daily 09002100. Metro: Glories Avinguda Diagonal Lilla Diagonal Lilla is one of the most upmarket shopping centres in Barcelona and was one of the first to be built, in the 1990s. Because of its size, it was known as the superblock; it has a continuous 1,148ft (350m) facade and was inspired by the Rockefeller Center laid down on its side. It is home to more than 170 shops and restaurants ranging from high-end to fast food. The mall is open daily 09302200 (JuneSeptember) and 09302100 (OctoberMay). Metro: Maria Cristina Diagonal Mar Diagonal Mar is one of the largest shopping centres in the city, found at the end of Avinguda Diagonal where it meets the sea. Youll find large range of high-street and designer labels, home ware, cosmetics and accessories as well as cinemas, a well-varied food court including a Biergarten and a bowling alley. The mall is open daily 09302200 (JuneSeptember) and 09002100 (OctoberMay). Metro: El Maresme/Forum Diagonal Mar district Maremagnum Maremagnum has the honour of being the only shopping centre in Barcelona authorized to open 365 days a year. Its located in Barcelonas old port and while not the biggest, it packs a lot into its 236,806 sqft (22,000 sqm). The mall is open daily 10002100, all year round. Metro: Drassanes, Barceloneta La Maquinista Found on Barcelonas outskirts, La Maquinista is Catalonias largest mall and one of the largest in Europe. The enormous three-level complex houses 242 shops, ranging from top-rung designers to ready-to-wear fashions. There is also a cinema, a bowling alley, a Carrefour hypermarket and an Apple Store. The mall is open daily 09002100. Metro: Sant Andreu, Torras i Bages, Bon Pastor El Corte Ingles El Corte Ingles is the biggest department store group in Europe and Spains last remaining department store chain. There are numerous locations across Barcelona; the Placa de Catalunya store is spread over nine floors and offers everything you might imagine from clothing, electronics, homeware and jewellery to groceries and tyres. The mall is open daily 09302100. Metro: Placa de Catalunya, Urquinaona Shopping streets and areas Passeig de Gracia The Fifth Avenue of Barcelona, Passeig de Gracia is where youll find all the exclusive designers and brands like Louis Vuitton, Prada and Tiffanys. Barri Gotic, Raval and the Born Carrer de la Portaferrissa, Carrer de la Boqueria, Carrer de Ferran and the area around Placa de Sant Josep Oriol are full of shops, boutiques and handicraft stores. Portal de lAngel just off Placa de Catalunya is packed with shops, mostly name brands but also some locally owned shops. The Born offers a labyrinth of luxury designer shops, charming little boutiques and unique shops tucked down narrow alleys and back streets. Start from Carrer de la Princessa and Carrer de lArgenteria and work your way in for the real gems. Night scene in the Gothic Quarter Avinguda Diagonal The upper end of Avinguda Diagonal, above the Diagonal metro station, is the place to look for popular international brands like Calvin Klein, Giorgio Armani, Gianni Versace and Gucci. Rolls of cloth for sale in the most famous flea market in Barcelona, also known as Els Encants or Els Encants Vells Markets Els Encants Vells Els Encants Vells (Old Charms), also known as the Mercat de Bellcaire, is one of the oldest flea markets in Europe it dates back to the 14th Century. In 2013, it was moved to a stunning new structure with a mirrored canopy and its opening hours were changed to match the rest of the citys flea markets, but now its open in the afternoons until 2000. The market is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 09002000. Metro: Glories Originally a market square named for a Russian Tsar, Alexanderplatz became the centre of a new socialist city during the GDR-era when this was the heart of East Berlin. It remains a popular destination for Berliners and visitors alike, who come for the shopping and nearby attractions, such as the TV Tower and Museum Island. On and around the square there are numerous places to eat and drink, so we pulled together our favourites to help you choose a spot for lunch or dinner. Alexanderplatz is home to the iconic Fernsehturm, with its own Restaurant Sphere The Grand The glamour of Berlin in the 20s comes to this quiet side street north of Alexanderplatz in the shape of The Grand, a fine dining establishment that has also quietly built an excellent reputation for the quality of the cocktails in the bar. The menu is classic French-German cuisine, with a particular emphasis on the quality of the meat. This is the place to treat yourself, and your special someone. The restaurant is open 12002300. S+U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz Prince Restaurant Fine dining meets crossover Asian cuisine at the funkily decorated Prince Restaurant on Rosa-Luxemburg-Strae. This is the modern Berlin culinary scene, serving up a range of dishes to be jealously guarded or generously shared. Menu favourites include the baked pork belly, grilled duck, dumplings and curries, and Prince is a great place to start your night out dont miss the special gin cocktails, created in-house. The restaurant is open daily 1200-2400. S+U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz Madami Moms Vietnamese Kitchen Berlin has countless Vietnamese restaurants, thanks to a long history of Vietnamese migration to the German capital. One of the best is Madami Moms Vietnamese Kitchen, where its built a reputation on classic curries, soups, rolls and more. If youre in town during the week, the lunch specials are great value, and every item on the menu can be made with tofu, giving vegans and vegetarians plenty of choice. The restaurant is open daily 12002300. S+U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz Dolores California Burritos California comes to Berlin at Dolores, where its been serving a menu of Cali-Mex cuisine, featuring burritos, quesadillas, soft tacos and salads for over a decade. Dont be put off if theres a queue, as that just hints at how great it is. Dolores is a fantastic option for lunch or an early evening dinner, and although not strictly a vegetarian restaurant, theres an excellent range of vegetarian options available. The restaurant is open MondaySaturday 11302200 and Sunday 1300-2200. S+U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz Hofbrau Wirtshaus Berlin The great Bavarian beerhall tradition has come to Berlin in recent years, and the most famous of them all Munichs Hofbrauhaus has opened its doors right on Alexanderplatz. Its everything youd expect, as the spirit of Oktoberfest is invoked year-round via huge foaming beers and plates of tasty, traditional South German cuisine, and the daily specials make it a great lunchtime option. The restaurant is open SundayThursday 10000100 and FridaySaturday 10000200. S+U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz Zur letzten Instanz What began life as a gin mill back in the 17th century is still going strong as Berlins oldest restaurant almost 400 years later. Zur letzten Instanz is a Berlin institution, committed after all these years to classic Berlin and Brandenburg cuisine, served in a cosy, friendly atmosphere. Highlights of the menu include traditional Berliner pork knuckle served with cabbage, or meatballs in caper sauce, all washed down with a glass of local beer. The restaurant is open TuesdaySaturday 12000100 and Sunday 12002200. S+U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz Brauhaus Lemke am Alex The craft beer scene in Berlin has exploded in recent years, with countless new breweries and brewpubs opening. One of the first of the new breed was Brauhaus Lemke, which opened its original brewery pub-restaurant in 1999. One of the newest additions to its stable is the Brauhaus Lemke am Alex, right across the street from the railway station. As well as its range of beers, it offers a food menu of regional classics, including schnitzels, stews and pot roasts. Open daily 12002400. S+U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz The menu of Brauhaus Lemke am Alex includes regional classics, such as schnitzels Restaurant Sphere im Berliner Fernsehturm Rising high above the city streets, there can be few better views for your dinner than the Sphere Restaurant on the upper floor of the observation deck of the iconic Fernsehturm Berlins landmark TV Tower. The restaurant is open throughout the day, so you can enjoy early morning views with your breakfast or sundown drinks and a meal. Booking your table in advance will not only guarantee you a window seat, but also ensure you jump the queues at the towers base for the elevator ride up to the observation deck. The restaurant is open daily 0900-2400. S+U-Bahn: Alexanderplatz Advertisement More than 16 years on from the first Lord of the Rings film release in 2001, hordes of fans still flock to New Zealand, where it was filmed. One such fan, Bry Voydatch, decided to venture there from Massachusetts for her 21st birthday in a bid to photograph herself at some of the exact locations used in the fantasy trilogy - and the results are very impressive. The physics student told MailOnline Travel that she spent two weeks venturing around the North and South islands of New Zealand and managed to visit almost every filming site from Lord of the Rings. She said it was a little stressful trying to pack so much in: 'Trying to see as many locations as I could within a couple of weeks took some really careful planning. 'On the South Island I found that WiFi was sparse and things like Airbnbs and rental cars needed to be booked well-ahead of time.' Scroll down for a journey into Middle-earth... Slide me Bry Voydatch decided to venture from Massachusetts in the U.S. to New Zealand in a bid to reenact scenes from The Lord of the Rings for her 21st birthday. Above, she takes on the roles of Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee in The Return of the King as they journey to Mordor. Many Mordor scenes were filmed around New Zealand's largest active volcano, Mount Ruapehu Slide me Bry strikes a pose, trying to emulate Frodo Baggins as he leaves the Shire with the soul-destroying Ring (left). At this point in The Fellowship of the Ring, the hobbits are being chased by the evil Ringwraiths - also known as the Nazgul (right). The movie set was located close to the New Zealand capital city of Wellington Slide me With a bit of help from Photoshop, Bry takes on the roles of Frodo and his three companions - Merry, Pippin and Sam (left). This is the hobbits' first close encounter with the Nazgul, who go on to chase them on terrifying black steeds (right) Slide me Bry said it was a little stressful trying to pack so much in. Above, she stands on the spot where the great fortress of Isengard - also known as the Iron Fortress - is located in The Two Towers (left). In The Lord of the Rings, Isengard is a great fortress located within a valley at the southern end of the Misty Mountains near the Gap of Rohan. In the centre of the Ring of Isengard stands the stone tower of Orthanc (right) Slide me Bry took this shot (left) while travelling towards the Putangirua Pinnacles in Aorangi Forest Park. It was used as a scene in The Return of the King. These eroded pillars make up the Dimholt Road that Legolas, Aragorn and Gimli take when they first encounter the Army of the Undead in The Return of the King (right) The pivotal battle at Pelennor Field in The Return of the King and scenes involving the Eastemnet Gullies were filmed on the tussock fields of the Mackenzie Basin, near Twizel. Above, Bry stands on the spot holding a still from the movie Bag End - the Hobbit hole that was the home of Bilbo Baggins, then Frodo Baggins, and later of Samwise Gamgee and his wife Rosie Cotton. It is located in Matamata in New Zealand, which is about a two-hour drive from Auckland Bry (pictured above with a friend) says Matamata is a must-see if you're a Lord of the Rings and Hobbit fan. The movie set has more than 44 unique hobbit holes, including Bag End Mount Ngauruhoe, on New Zealand's North Island, was digitally transformed to create the fiery Mount Doom, where the One Ring was forged and finally destroyed Hundreds of jobs are under threat after budget airline Ryanair announced it is to close its base at Glasgow Airport. The number of routes operated from Glasgow will be reduced from 23 to three, with five being transferred to Edinburgh. For travellers who have booked flights in advance, the changes will take effect in November and this summer's schedule will operate as planned. Hundreds of jobs are under threat after budget airline Ryanair announced it is to close its base at Glasgow Airport Ryanair said it had run out of patience waiting for the Scottish Government to reduce Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax. Glasgow Airport said it was bitterly disappointed by the move. Chief commercial officer David O'Brien said 300 indirect jobs could be lost at Glasgow due to the move with a potential fall of around 500,000 passengers. He said: 'Sadly the weaker Scottish market is even weaker still in Glasgow which simply can't bare the burden of APD at 13. 'This should not come as a surprise to the government, we did say that our growth in Glasgow was based on their promise to abolish APD, which morphed into a promise to half APD which suddenly has disappeared into the ether and quite frankly we don't have any more patience, there are other markets in the UK and Europe which offer a more compelling proposition.' Ryanair Boss Michael O'Lear at a launch of the Glasgow service in autumn 2014 Mr O'Brien added: 'Passengers mean jobs and around 500,000 passengers will be lost at Glasgow pressurising around 300 jobs which will probably be lost. 'The flipside is that you're looking at around 700 jobs being introduced to Edinburgh.' Ryanair said Brexit was also a background factor threatening Scottish tourism and the airline industry. The airline opened a new base at Glasgow Airport in autumn 2014, one of several new bases opened across Europe that year, but it will only fly to Dublin, Krakow and Wroclaw from Glasgow in its winter 2018 schedule. It will host 45 routes from Edinburgh including 11 new routes. Mr O'Brien said APD also disadvantages Edinburgh but that the Scottish capital was a better inbound destination for the airline. 'The sense would be that there is more disposable in the Edinburgh area than there is in the Glasgow area,' he added. .@Ryanair chief com officer David OBrien explains why airline is closing its @GLA_Airport base pic.twitter.com/SRs7MO5gnA Paul Ward (@paulward21) February 27, 2018 'It's a more fertile market.' A spokesman for Glasgow Airport also hit out at APD. He said: 'Despite clear and repeated warnings from both airports and airlines about the potential impact of this policy not being implemented, we are now faced with a stark scenario that includes the loss of 20 services and a significant number of jobs. 'This is the second example in as many months of an airline cutting capacity in Scotland because of the lack of movement on ADT. The reality is this capacity will be reallocated elsewhere in Europe to countries with more favourable aviation taxation policies to Scotland's detriment.' Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar said: 'I find myself torn between the pleasure of the new routes and the relief really that these cuts being seen at Glasgow are not being suffered in Edinburgh. 'I think that's a wake up call for the government. 'We'd hoped our growth would be incremental to Scotland but it would appear at last half of this year's growth is actually at the expense of Glasgow and that can't be god for the Scottish market and he economic development of our country.' He popped the question to his fiancee Becky Miesner on a romantic holiday in Greece last year. And Mario Falcone, who turned 30 last week, revealed he has had 'enough of partying' and is 'ready to settle down' with the Essex make-up artist in a candid interview with OK! Magazine. The smitten TOWIE star has spoken about his excitement for the upcoming nuptials and plans to have kids. Smitten: Mario Falcone has spoken about his excitement for his wedding with fiancee Becky Miesner (R) as he celebrated turning 30 with McFly's Tom Fletcher (L) and his sister Giovanna 'The next ten years are going to be so exciting. Im getting married, then were going to have babies,' he said. 'Im excited about going for weekends away with our families and our children. I had enough of partying in my twenties; Im ready to settle down. The couple have been busy planning their wedding since getting engaged last summer, with reports they are set to have two ceremonies- one in Italy and one in London. Cute couple: The smitten TOWIE star, who turned 30 last week, revealed he has had 'enough of partying' and is 'ready to settle down' in a candid interview with OK! Magazine However, Mario has kept coy over the rumours, and told the publication: 'I said at the start that Becky gets the final decision on everything I want her to have everything she wants. As long as shes happy, Im happy. The reality star celebrated his 30th birthday in style, with Becky organizing a surprise party. Mario was joined by his sister Giovanna and her McFly star husband Tom Fletcher, who he decided will be one of his three best men. He added: Ive grown up with Tom, hes an idol of mine. 'Hes achieved all his dreams and taught me so much about how to be in the public eye too, so it was a given that he would be my best man. Set to wed! Mario took to Instagram to share his engagement news, captioning the sweet snap: 'She said YES!! Very very happy and lucky' The couple have reportedly budgeted for 50,000 for a London wedding, likely to take place at the Savoy, while sources say they've put 30,000 away for the Italian shindig. MailOnline have contacted Mario's representatives for comment. Mario's interview: Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out on Tuesday Despite having previously proposed to ex-girlfriend Lucy Mecklenburgh, Mario has been keen to make the point that his engagement to Becky is for real this time. The Essex lad told The Sun: 'This engagement is real the other one wasn't. It was on national TV and planned. This one is the One. 'I love this girl and I want to spend the rest of my life with her' Mario previously revealed they had already begun planning the wedding and he was hoping to make a grand entrance. The TOWIE heartthrob explained that he wants to arrive in a helicopter and plans to have 10 ushers with pal Charlie Sims and brother-in-law Tom Fletcher leading the troops. Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out on Tuesday. He's been trying to rekindle his romance with Tracey Jewel after cheating on her with Davina Rankin. But Married At First Sight's Dean Wells appears to have moved on from his TV wife, putting on a very affectionate display with a mystery woman at Sydney's Belgrave Hotel earlier this month. The petite beauty could be seen offering Dean a very warm greeting, jumping into his arms and wrapping her legs around the controversial Married At First Sight contestant. Where's Tracey? Married At First Sight 'villain' Dean Wells puts on a VERY affectionate display with a mystery woman Dean and the mystery woman greeted each other enthusiastically, the petite blonde giving the red headed contestant a hug. Their affectionate exchange continued with the woman putting her hands on Dean's cheeks and gazing fondly at him. The pair joined a group of friends by sitting at a table at an outdoor table where Dean and the woman were continued their enthusiastic conversation. Hello there! Dean and the mystery woman greeted each other enthusiastically Happy to see each other? The petite blonde gave the red headed contestant a hug Who's that girl? It is not known who the mystery woman is and Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dean for comment Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dean for comment. Dean's affectionate display comes as he tries his best to mend his fractured relationship with Tracey on recent episodes of Married At First Sight. Despite getting off to a good start on their honeymoon, the couple hit rocky territory when Dean started an affair with Davina, who was then 'married' to Ryan Gallagher. On rocky ground: Dean's affectionate display comes as he tries his best to mend his fractured relationship with Tracey Hands on: Their affectionate exchange continued with the woman putting her hands on Dean's cheeks and gazing fondly at him After a series of flirty meetings Dean and Davina vowed to come clean about their relationship and leave their TV spouses at the next commitment ceremony. However after Dean slept with Tracey following the dinner party, the 'alpha male' contestant confessed he had been seeing Davina and begged his 'wife' for forgiveness. Dean has since tried to win Tracey back by taking her on a skateboarding date and performing a cringeworthy rap. Where's Tracey? Dean put on an affectionate display with the mystery woman while his TV wife was nowhere in sight Catching up: The pair joined a group of friends by sitting at a table at an outdoor table where Dean and the woman were continued their enthusiastic conversation But he has since bizarrely denied cheating on Tracey during a homestay visit in her hometown of Perth during Monday night's episode. Refusing to apologise, Dean told Tracey he wasn't sure why her friends would give out to him. 'Why would (your friends) be shocked? Why is it such a big stretch that we've worked things out and you've decided to stay with me?' he defiantly told Tracey. Helping hand: The barefoot beauty appeared to offer Dean a bit of her meal Under pressure: On current episodes of MAFS Dean is trying to win back Tracey after having an affair with Davina Meanwhile both Channel Nine and Married At First Sight's producers have been forced to deny Dean and Davina were paid actors. MAFS executive producer Tara Williams told The New Daily this week that the pair were not paid to have an affair, explaining that had simply told producers 'there was an attraction'. Tara laughed off speculation Dean and Davina were paid to cheat, saying: 'I heard a rumour we paid them to have an affair, if only my job was that easy.' Had a change of heart? But he has since bizarrely denied cheating on Tracey during a homestay visit to her home town of Perth during Monday night's episode Reality bites: Meanwhile both Channel Nine and Married At First Sight's producers have been forced to deny Dean was a paid actor 'They came to us and told us there was an attraction, we purely followed it,' Tara added. Meanwhile Nine also denied Davina and Dean were paid actors. 'How ridiculous you couldnt actually dream this up,' a Nine spokesperson told the Herald Sun on Saturday. Also denying Davina and Dean were actors was the bikini model's 'husband' Ryan, who left the experiment during Sunday night's episode. 'People cheat every day in real life. It is still a common thing. So just because it is on camera doesnt mean it is anything different,' he told News Corp. Chatting away: Dean as also seen catching up with another female friend My how the tables have turned. Teresa Giudice has been through the ringer in the last few years. The reality star went from building her empire to wasting her days in a prison yard after she and husband Joe Giudice were found guilty of multiple counts of fraud in 2014. Teresa, 45, was released on December 23, 2015, and since then has hit the ground running. The mother of four immediately dove back into her work, releasing a book written while she was serving 11 months of her 15-month sentence and appearing on Real Housewives of New Jersey. She continues to hustle hard to support her family while her hubby, once the main breadwinner in the Giudice family, serves his own prison sentence. Teresa Giudice has hit some major bumps along the path to success, but she hasn't given up Teresa has brought fans along for much of her journey, but one thing she doesnt often discuss is her finances. So what is Teresa Giudices net worth? Who is Teresa Giuidice? Teresa Giudice (nee Gorga) was born May 18, 1972 in Paterson, New Jersey. Her parents immigrated to the United States from Italy before she and younger brother Giuseppe 'Joey' Gorga were born. Before she was a reality star, Teresa studied fashion marketing at Berkley College. She worked as an associate buyer for Macy's for an unknown period of time. In 1999, Teresa married Giuseppe 'Joe' Giudice. The pair are still married today and share four daughters. The ups and downs of their relationship have been captured on Real Housewives of New Jersey since season one. Teresa Giudices net worth According to Celebrity Net Worth, Teresa Giudices net worth is -$11 million (-7 million). How did Teresa Giudice make her money? Teresa Guidice no longer works a traditional job, instead starring on the hit Bravo reality show and authoring cook books and memoirs. Her first cookbook, 'Skinny Italian', was released in 2010. The book contained recipes passed down from her mother, Antonia Gorga, who died in March 2017. All four of Teresa's books, including her prison memoir titled Turning the Tables: From Housewife to Inmate and Back Again, have been featured on the New York Times best sellers list. She started a line of bellini cocktails called Fabellini as well as a dessert line called Fabulicious. While it appears Fabellini is still up and running, a site for Fabulicious could not be found. In addition to her role on Real Housewives of New Jersey, Teresa has appeared on The Celebrity Apprentice. While competing on the show, she raised $70,000 (50,000) for the charity of her choice. Teresa Giudice legal troubles In October 2014, Teresa and Joe Giudice were sentenced to 15 months and 41 months, respectively, in prison after being found guilty of fraud. An indictment obtained by E! News accused Teresa, who filed for bankruptcy with her husband in 2009, of failing to disclose her income from Bravo in her filing. The complaint stated that Teresa and Joe both signed contracts agreeing to appear on Real Housewives of New Jersey for $110,000 (78,000) but didn't declare that income in their bankruptcy filings. Joe was accused of failing to report his income of close to $1 million (717,000), which he made between 2004 and 2008. He was charged with five counts of failure to file a tax return in addition to bankruptcy, mail and wire fraud charges stemming from a failure to report up to $75,000 (50,000) worth of assets. Amid the legal proceedings, Teresa and Joe were asked to appear in court with probation reports detailing the worth of all the items they own. The judge presiding over the case told the couple's lawyer there were 'glaring omissions and inconsistencies' in the reporting, according to People. Items not listed by Teresa and Joe include ATVs, a 1997 Corvette and close to $25,000 (17,000) in home furnishings. Although both were sentenced to prison time, the judge allowed the couple to serve their time consecutively. Teresa went first, entering prison in January 2015. She was at the Federal Correctional Institution in Danbury, Connecticut, for 11 of the 15 months she was sentenced to, serving the remainder of her time on house arrest. Joe reported to the Federal Correction Institute Fort Dix in New Jersey on March 23, 2016. He faces the possibility of deportation to Italy, where he was born. Teresa Giudice and Joe Giudices kids Teresa and Joe Giudice share four children together. Their eldest daughter, Gia Giudice, is 17. Gabriella Giudice, their second daughter, is 12; Milania is 11; and Audriana is seven. The girls are a big part of Teresa and Joe's lives and often appear on Real Housewives of New Jersey. He's the British actor known for his star turn as Finn in the new Star Wars franchise. And John Boyega is gearing up for the release of the all-new Pacific Rim Uprising as both leading man and producer. Making an appearance on Channel Seven's Sunrise on Tuesday, the 25-year-old spoke about filming in Sydney and revealed hints about the impending Star Wars sequel. Scroll down for video May the force be with you! Star Wars sensation John Boyega appeared on Channel Seven's Sunrise on Monday, ahead of the all-new Pacific Rim Uprising as both leading man and producer Filmed alongside Scott Eastwood, Pacific Rim Uprising was largely shot in Sydney, with John living in the Australian city for more than four months during production. 'I like the best Raman spots in town. In Sydney, I like George Street and how loud it is, it reminds me of central London so you could catch me walking around there while we were filming,' he revealed. John also offered fans an update on the next Star Wars film, but was careful not to reveal any spoilers. Aussie local! 'I like the best Raman spots in town. In Sydney, I like George Street and how loud it is, it reminds me of central London so you could catch me walking around there while we were filming,' John said of his time while filming in Sydney 'It was recently announced that the script is done. I haven't seen the script yet but when I do I'll forward that over to you in a private email directly absolutely, no problem,' he joked. John also gushed about what it was like the first time he saw himself in a Star Wars trailer. 'It was just nostalgia it's just insane to be in real movies with real budget,' he recalled. Ready, set, action! On acting in big-budget blockbusters, John said: 'It was just nostalgia it's just insane to be in real movies with real budget' John also revealed that there isn't a certain date for when filming will commence but it will roughly be in July. While he doesn't know exact dates that the Star Wars movie will be released, he predicted the new flick will hit cinemas in early 2019. Meanwhile the action-packed Pacific Rim Uprising film is set to hit screens Australia wide on March 22 this year. They're reality TV royalty after appearing on separate seasons of The Bachelor franchise. But both appearing on soon-to-air show Bachelor In Paradise has apparently brought Tara Pavlovic and Davey Lloyd together - with the alleged couple all but confirming it with a selfie on Instagram. 'Special friends,' the brunette beauty captioned a particularly sweet snap of the duo pulling funny faces. Scroll down for video 'Special friends': Bachelor In Paradise star Tara Pavlovic fuels rumours she's dating Davey Lloyd with a very sweet selfie after their stint on the dating show together This isn't the first time they've been seen together since filming wrapped on the new Network Ten series. They originally sparked rumours they'd struck up a romance after sharing a series of playful Facetime snaps together. And Tara did little to stop the speculation, as she dedicated a playful message to Davey Lloyd on Instagram on the weekend. The 27-year-old Bachelor reject shared an image of a kettle with a banana emoji, and wrote 'Miss you' while tagging Davey in the caption. The pair are due to star alongside each other in dating series, Bachelor In Paradise, on Channel Ten later this year - which they filmed last year. Cheeky: Tara Pavlovic dedicated a playful message to Davey Lloyd on Instagram on Saturday as she continued to fuel romance rumours And Tara hinted that she was keen to return to the idyllic shores of Fiji with her wistful caption. It comes after the brunette beauty shared a private photo of the duo chatting on FaceTime, using the word 'couple' to caption the screenshot. Clearly comfortable with each other, they both pulled silly faces as Tara jokingly wrote: 'Couple of tens.' Davey's screenshot displayed the time of 7.59pm, as he shared a similar comedic post, writing: 'same same but kettle.' Hmm: The 27-year-old Bachelor reject shared an image of a kettle with a banana emoji, and wrote 'Miss you' while tagging Davey in the caption Tara was wearing a low-cut white dress, while Davey appeared to be in the car in a black T-shirt. But Bachelorette reject Davey Lloyd was pictured passionately kissing another brunette beauty at Cosmopolitan & Tinder's Bachelor of the Year 2018 Awards in Sydney on Thursday evening. The reality star posted two steamy snaps of the intimate lip lock on his own Instagram account. That's not Tara! The Bachelorette's Davey Lloyd passionately kisses tattooed bikini model after being romantically linked with Pavlovic on Bachelor In Paradise In the images Davey kisses busty bikini model Sarah Turner, who is seen lifting up his shirt to expose his stomach. Another snap shows Davey holding her face while he kisses her on the lips. The Bachelor In Paradise casting announcement was made as part of Channel 10's annual Upfronts in November. The debut season of Bachelor In Paradise is already living up to the hype, with the likes of Apollo Jackson, Keira Maguire, Laura Fleure, Michael Turnbull and Sophie Monk's 'stage-five clinger' runner-up Jarrod Woodgate joining the cast. Magician Apollo previously claimed he was keen to strike up something with nanny Tara, who also lives in Queensland. Hey girl! Tara was wearing a low-cut white dress, while Davey appeared to be in the car in a black T-shirt 'From what I've seen of Tara, she seems like so much fun, and I can definitely see the two of us getting on,' he told The Daily Telegraph. Meanwhile, Tara claimed she was looking for fun on the reality show and not necessarily a man. 'I think Paradise is going to be a bit like schoolies week: getting lit with my mates around a pool why not?' The official launch date has yet to be announced, but Channel Ten's Bachelor In Paradise is due to air over the next few months. The Married At First Sight cast participate in a weekly dinner party catch up, where they socialise and drink from wine glasses. But MAFS stars Nasser and Gabrielle have revealed the couples often disobeyed producers by enjoying secret after parties in their hotel rooms. Speaking to KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie 'O' on Tuesday, Nasser revealed: 'we used to have it (parties) at Justin's apartment, because Carly would be like 'quick, we've got Champagne, come upstairs!'' Scroll down for video 'Carly would be like 'quick, we've got Champagne, come upstairs!'' MAFS stars Nasser and Gabrielle admit to secret after parties and dish on hook-ups between couples Gabrielle said 'it was like being nine years old in some ways, because you had curfews and we weren't allowed to interact with other couples. But we did anyway.' Shock jock Kyle asked if people were hooking up with other people's partners at the party. 'Not that I saw', Gabrielle said, repeating the sentence again with the emphasis on 'saw' to hint it may have happened. Nasser agreed, adding: 'Yeah, but there was quite a bit of drinking.' 'I remember being on some veranda behind a curtain sitting on top of three people trying to be hidden so we wouldn't get caught mixing and socialising,' Gabrielle confessed. 'There was quite a bit of drinking': The couple claimed they didn't see any hook-ups in Justin's (pictured) apartment, but said there was plenty of drinking and socialising as they hid the secret party from producers The radio hosts had pried for more information after MAFS stars Tracey Jewel and Dean Wells told them about wild after parties that happened off-camera. Tracey had said there was a lot of 'stuff' happened after hours. When Kyle asked Dean whether couples were 'swapping around' and having sex with each other, he added: 'All I'll say is a lot of stuff happens in the hotel rooms that no-one really knows about.' '20 extrovert nymphomaniacs in a hotel room together. That was a bad idea,' he stated. 'All I'll say is a lot of stuff happens in the hotel rooms that no-one really knows about': Dean previously told the radio show putting ''20 extrovert nymphomaniacs' in a hotel room together was a bad idea Meanwhile, the controversial social experiment's fifth season has been billed as the most explosive Married At First Sight ever. And it appears the controversy on-screen is nothing compared to the shenanigans that have been occurring off-screen. According to Woman's Day, producers were forced to step in and take action over one incident - which involved a 'wild night of sex, booze and brawling' and was deemed 'too X-rated' for television. Booze, brawls and wild sex and wife swapping!: Claims Married At First Sight producers were forced into one of TV's biggest cover-ups after a controversial incident was deemed 'too X-rated for television' The publication alleges that night of debauchery kicked off when the entire cast decided to go bar-hopping in Sydney. After becoming sufficiently lubricated, the cast 'stumbled' back to their hotel suit at North Sydney before a party soon broke out in one couple's room. One contestant described the moment they arrived at the party saying they were greeted at the door by a groom 'who was off his face.' The scandalous accusations continued with the same contestant telling the magazine that the groom's bride was ' in the next room in bed naked' with another groom from the show. Big night: The publication alleges that night of debauchery kicked off when the entire cast decided to go bar-hopping in Sydney The on-air wife of the guilty groom then 'completely lost the plot' and 'blew up in a fury'. Meanwhile in the hotel hallway another couple began a booze-fueled brawl which prompted the hotel manager to call MAFS producers. Cheers to that: After becoming sufficiently lubricated, the cast 'stumbled' back to their hotel suits at North Sydney before a party soon broke out in one couple's room When producers and a camera crew arrived the contestant's were separated and had their phones confiscated. The identity of the specific contestants involved has not been revealed and Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting any of the contestants pictured were involved. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Channel Nine for comment. One day after returning to social media for the first time since announcing his split from Jennifer Aniston, Justin Theroux was spotted out and about on the streets of New York City. The Leftovers star, 46, who has an apartment in the West Village, was snapped riding his bike to the gym for a workout session on Monday. The bearded actor wore a beanie and shades with a dark green jacket over a black hoodie. Newly single: Justin Theroux was spotted out and about on the streets of New York City on Monday for the first time since his shock split from Jennifer Aniston He wore black jeans and boots and carried a rucksack on his back. Theroux and Aniston, 49, issued a joint statement last week confirming the end of their two and a half year marriage. The pair said the decision to part 'was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year.' They said they would continue to be friends. It has since been reported that the actor broke up with the former Friends star because she refused to live in his New York pad, instead of her lavish Bel Air home. His neighbor Norman Resnicow, of New York City, claimed to TMZ that Theroux tried to force Aniston to move to the Big Apple but she 'hated' it. Low key: Theroux wore a beanie and shades with a dark green jacket over a black hoodie along with skinny black jeans and boots Exercise: The Leftovers star, 46, who has an apartment in the West Village, was snapped riding his bike to the gym for a workout session Moving on: Theroux and Aniston issued a joint statement last week confirming the end of their two and a half year marriage, describing the decision as 'lovingly made at the end of last year' Theroux and Aniston often spent long periods apart with the actor continuing his New York-based life when not with his wife in Los Angeles. And while Aniston did stay with him at his East Coast hangout, their different lifestyles played a part in their decision to end their marriage, according to People. 'During his relationship with Jen, Justins life in N.Y.C. was always very different from his L.A. life,' an Aniston source told the magazine. 'In N.Y.C., he acted more like a single guy. He went out with his single friends and sometimes would have very little contact with Jen for days,' the source revealed. Catching up: Theroux also met up with a male pal for coffee as he hung out in NYC Long distances: It's been reported that his love of living in Manhattan rather than in Los Angeles was a factor in the breakup of his marriage to the former Friends star Free-wheeling: It's claimed Theroux prefers the simplicity of life in New York City to the luxury and protected world Aniston enjoys at her Bel Air estate On Sunday, the actor broke his social media silence following his marriage split, taking to Instagram to share photos from his day at an animal shelter in Texas. Sharing a number of adorable selfies with an array of puppies, the Girl On The Train star praised the 'inspiring' Austin Pets Alive shelter. He shared a number of snaps of himself kissing and cuddling tiny puppies, as well as images of loving pets without homes. Encouraging his fans to help save a number of abandoned animals, he wrote in the caption: 'Texas!!! Another very inspiring visit with the incredible people and pups @austinpetsalive. 'I cannot understand how they do what they do, day after day, so consistently and lovingly to save so many dogs and cats. I HIGHLY recommend going in and getting your nose bit by a toothless baby pitbull.' Dogs are a man's best friend: Theroux broke his social media silence Sunday by documenting his day at a dog shelter in Texas, with an array of sweet selfies Hollywood actor Scott Eastwood has applauded Australian's for what he says is a relaxed attitude to breaking rules. Proving to have the same maverick style as his famous father Clint Eastwood, the 31-year-old said he appreciates the 'healthy disrespect' people have Down Under. Speaking on KISS FM to the Kyle and Jackie O Show on Tuesday, the star said he admires the relaxed vibe in Australia. Scroll down to video 'Healthy disrespect for rules': Hollywood actor Scott Eastwood, 31, has praised Australians for their easygoing nature towards regulations 'What I love about Australians the most is that they have a healthy disrespect for the rules,' he said. Shock jock Kyle Sandilands said: 'I've heard you say that before,' he said, 'It's true.' Jackie 'O' Henderson added that she was surprised how Americans 'follow the rules over there.' 'I hate rules': Showing he shares the libertarian leanings of his father, Oscar-winner Clint Eastwood, the actor said he was open about his views Scott said: 'I hate the rules, I hate following the rules.' The interview, comes after last year's controversy of the film star jumping off Wattamolla rock, a 9-metre high water fall near Sydney. Despite the Fast and the Furious star not saying much in the video, the Go pro footage captures his toned torso and he seems exuberant after completing the jump with friends. Daredevil: Last year, the 31-year-old filmed himself jumping off Wattamolla rock, a 9 metre high waterfall near Sydney He captioned the video: 'Just Just wait for it...... #Australia #daysoff.' It is signposted as illegal, a number of tourist and local risk the jump - that comes with a hefty $300 fine in NSW. Taking to Instagram to film the daredevil act, The Daily Telegraph reported in January last year the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) were reviewing the footage. Breaking rules (and hearts): The Fast and the Furious star is known for his love of the outdoors, particularly on the water Last year, a spokesperson for the organisation said: 'Jumping off Wattamolla Falls is not safe and the NPWS has put a range of measures in place to manage public safety,' a spokesperson told the publication. Daily Mail Australia reached out to the NPSW to confirm if the star received a fine. She underwent a boob job in December to take her to a 34D cleavage, after years of feeling 'insecure and uncomfortable' as a B cup. And TOWIE star Amber Turner oozed confidence as she flaunted her sensational figure in a sizzling Instagram snap on Monday. The blonde beauty, 24, put on a very cheeky display in a skimpy thong as she saucily knelt on a leather sofa and smiled while grabbing her tresses. Cheeky: TOWIE star Amber Turner oozed confidence as she flaunted her peachy posterior in a skimpy thong on Monday Flashing a generous glimpse of her perfectly peachy posterior, the star wowed in the red and white thong, which was emblazoned with the slogan Lounge. She slipped her newly enhanced assets into a matching bralet, flaunting her slender waist and her toned legs. Opting for a typically glamorous make-up look, she enhanced her pretty features with metallic shadow and fluttery lashes while her plump pout was slicked with a berry gloss. The star has been showcasing her newly ample chest since going under the knife at the end of last year, with Amber flaunting her pert cleavage in a plunging lacy white bodysuit as she posed on a bed. Toned: The star has been showcasing her newly ample chest since going under the knife at the end of last year, with Amber flaunting her pert cleavage in a plunging lacy white bodysuit as she posed on a bed Her blonde tresses were styled in soft waves with the star seductively pouting as she revelled in her new body confidence. Last month Amber gushed she felt '100 times more confident' with her new 34D cleavage, adding that going under the knife has 'changed her life'. The Essex native, who was recently dumped by her TOWIE co-star Dan Edgar, admitted however that her newly ample chest hasn't attracted much attention from men. Transformed: Last month Amber gushed she felt '100 times more confident' with her new 34D cleavage, adding that going under the knife has 'changed her life' (pictured, left, after and right, before) 'I love them, I'm so happy with them,' she told The Sun at the National Television Awards on Wednesday. 'I got them for me, not anyone else, and I feel more 100 times more confident. They've changed my life.' The reality star added: 'I haven't really got much more attention from blokes, I just feel better about myself.' Meanwhile her TOWIE sidekick Megan McKenna said she was 'embracing' her 'small t*ts' and resisting having surgery. Amber confirmed she had gone under the knife earlier this month, as she flaunted her enhanced chest in an Instagram clip. She wrote: 'As I'm sure you all know 4 weeks ago today I had a breast augmentation.' Amber said the decision to undergo cosmetic enhancing surgery was not a quick or easy one, explaining it was 'something I had been researching and wanting for years' due to her body insecurities. She added: 'Every time summer came round the one thing that I felt so so insecure and uncomfortable with was my boobs. I was a 34B so I did have a bit of boob but I felt not in proportion. 'I also had one boob that was slightly smaller than the other (this is very common) & I wanted them both to to be even size'. Content: 'I love them, I'm so happy with them,' she told The Sun at the National Television Awards (pictured) on Wednesday Loving it: 'I got them for me, not anyone else, and I feel more 100 times more confident. They've changed my life,' she added The starlet said she's now 'confident' in her new physique, continuing: 'I am so so happy 4 weeks later with the results. I am now a 34D. 'They are settling more and more every day and I can't recommend them more I am now super happy and confident In my body and that truly is all that matters!' Rumours of Amber's secret breast augmentation began to swirl at the beginning of December after she announced she was flying to Turkey for an undisclosed surgery. Sources then reported the starlet underwent a secret boob job. At the beginning of December, Amber teased her surgery, taking to Instagram as she jetted out of the country, writing: 'Airport vibes. Super excited for the week ahead with elite cosmetic surgery'. He's the Hollywood superstar who insists on living in Australia. And with the setting Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky wake up to every morning, it's little wonder why. On Tuesday, the pair showcased their incredible bikini bodies in a pristine rock pool, Elsa ensuring to slip in a humble brag about the proximity of the natural wonder to her Byron Bay home. Scroll down for video 'We Keep discovering amazing places in our neighbourhood!': Chris Hemsworth and Elsa Pataky showcase their impressive beach bodies as they take a dip in a Byron Bay rock pool 'Just 10 mins from home,' she said of the breathtaking landscape snap, 'We Keep discovering amazing places in our neighbourhood!' Meanwhile, her other natural wonder - hubby Chris - was seen flaunting his impressive shirtless physique in the distance. Elsa looked equally stunning in the foreground, posing in a busty white bikini. The pair reportedly have a paid promotional deal with Tourism Australia - Elsa tagged the organisation in her post. Bikini bods! On Tuesday, the pair showcased their incredible bikini bodies in a pristine rock pool, Elsa ensuring to slip in a humble brag about the proximity of the natural wonder to her Byron Bay home. Recently, Chris' appearance in a too-good-to-be-true Crocodile Dundee sequel trailer was eventually revealed as a Tourism Australia Super Bowl commercial. The advert, which cost $36 million, took the form of a fake movie trailer for a new Dundee film, and featured many of Australia's most famous exports. Natural wonders: Meanwhile, her other natural wonder - hubby Chris - was seen flaunting his impressive shirtless physique in the distance (pictured here last year) Chris told News.com.au that he'd be interested in turning the advert into a full-length feature film. 'Hearing such a positive response from a fan point of view, I would definitely be open to it,' the 34-year-old Thor star said. Paul Hogan, who starred in the original films, initially shutdown any chance of a fourth Crocodile Dundee film eventuating. Busting out! Elsa looked equally stunning in the foreground, posing in a busty white bikini But according to media mogul Kerry Packer, Paul may have already reconsidered in the wake of the commercial's international success. This week, the 77-year-old told NT News that Paul, 78, is keen for a remake, but wants Chris to be the leading man. 'I spoke to Paul Hogan about that...he would like to produce it now but not act in it. Pass on the mantle,' Kerry said. He's in a heated feud with Dean Wells, having recently slammed him for cheating on his on-screen wife Tracey Jewel. And on Tuesday, Nasser Sultan unleashed yet again, telling Today Extra hosts David Campbell and Sonia Kruger that his cheating co-star takes no accountability for his actions. On the propelling feud between Nasser and Dean following the cheating scandal, Today Extra's David and Sonia informed Nasser that his villain co-star had recently been on air, slamming him and calling him a bad person. Scroll down for video Dean-ying it again! MAFS' Nasser Sultan slams Dean Wells yet again, saying: 'He never takes accountability, never' Addressing this, Nasser said: 'I think he said that because I stood up to him. It's a tit for tat I'm not a terrible person, I didn't cheat on my wife, I didn't cheat on anybody and I didn't try and get on to anybody.' Clearly on team Nasser, David was quick to share that he was dumbfounded by Dean's accusations. 'He never takes accountability. He never takes it, never!' Nasser added. To be or not to be? Nasser is under scrutiny for more than one reason, having recently friend-zoned his on-screen wife Gabrielle Bartlett, admitting that he wasn't 'sexually attracted' to her before the home-stay episode But Nasser is under scrutiny for more than one reason, having recently friend-zoned his on-screen wife Gabrielle Bartlett, admitting that he wasn't 'sexually attracted' to her before the home-stay episode. When asked about his relationship, Nasser shared that there is hope for the two, despite Monday's episode. 'There is hope there I really believe there is. I have a lot of work to do on this relationship and it is my fault for making her feel friend-zoned. It's my fault, she really tried and honestly, I stuffed it up.' Giddy up! 'There is hope there I really believe there is. I have a lot of work to do on this relationship and it is my fault for making her feel friend-zoned. It's my fault, she really tried and honestly, I stuffed it up,' Nasser said of the couple's relationship He went on to explain that his heart dropped and felt broken when Gab wrote 'leave' during the commitment ceremony. Comparing the situation to a prison, Nasser explained that the decision then left him feeling as though he went from being on probation to being in a prison cell. He further explained that the experience was both confusing and hurtful, admitting that he couldn't figure out how to go forward from there. An all-new episode of Married At First Sight is set to hit screens on Network Nine at 7:30 pm tonight. He enjoyed massive financial success in the nineties with hit songs Ice, Ice Baby, Play That Funky Music, and Ninja Rap. But Vanilla Ice, 50, has been accused by his estranged wife, Laura Van Winkle, of 'failing to reveal all of their assets and property in the divorce', according to The Blast. 'She has found out Vanilla transferred a substantial portion of their assets into his companys name, Van Rap, LTD.,' says the gossip site. Happier times: Vanilla Ice, 50, has been accused by his estranged wife, Laura Van Winkle, of 'failing to reveal all of their assets and property in the divorce'. Seen here in 2007 The rapper - whose real name is Robert Van Winkle - 'failed to disclose all of the assets, including not turning over all pay stubs and other income' according to the website. 'In the newly filed docs, she is seeking an injunction against him selling or transferring any other assets until the divorce is over.' The couple share two children: Dusti Rain, 21, and Keelee Breeze, who's 18. Cold as ice: He enjoyed massive financial success in the nineties with hit songs Ice, Ice Baby; Play That Funky Music; and Ninja Rap. Seen here in a recent Instagram post According to Miami-Dade County records, Rob married Laura Giaritta on March 30, 1997. Records show a notary public performed the ceremony at their Star Island mansion in Miami Beach two days after they obtained their marriage license. At the time, the Van Winkles ran a sporting goods store named after one of Rob's early albums, 2 The Xtreme. Laura, who was from nearby Pembroke Pines, worked in the store alongside her new husband. Cute couple: The two met at a Fourth of July party in 1994, Laura said, well after Rob's pop star status faded. Seen here in 2012 The two met at a Fourth of July party in 1994, Laura said, well after Rob's pop star status faded, long after Vanilla Ice dated Madonna, and soon after he survived a suicide attempt with a heroin overdose. Laura claimed in a 2016 interview with DailyMail.com that their daughters welcomed the news she filed for divorce. 'They wanted it, trust me,' Laura said. Over the years, there was violence in the relationship. Rob was arrested three times in incidents involving Laura. She's the Married At First Sight contestant who's faced an online backlash over her affair with Dean Wells. And it seems the backlash could be getting all too much for Davina Rankin, who has listed her entire wardrobe on website Buy My Clothes. As of Tuesday, Daily Mail Australia can reveal the 26-year-old model has already sold a number of racy ensembles which she listed just before Married At First Sight started airing. Is she fleeing Australia? MAFS' Davina Rankin has listed her entire wardrobe online amid growing backlash over her 'affair' The controversial star appears to be seeking a fresh start by clearing out her glamorous wardrobe, amid criticisms over her behaviour on the show. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Davina for comment. The busty brunette has garnered two positive reviews from buyers. On the website, the raven-haired vixen lists herself as owner of Infamous Physiques Australia and clothing brand Soleil Luna The Label. Seeking a fresh start? The busty brunette appears to be eager to turn over a new leaf after being bombarded with hate mail from viewers, stemming from her pursuit of another woman's husband The Brisbane socialite has listed a number of figure-hugging outfits, including a mix of playsuits, slinky dresses, and of course, skimpy bikinis. Davina, however, appears to be taking a break from her social media accounts and from public life, given the intense backlash she's received from fans of the reality show. On Saturday, an Instagram post featuring her handle surfaced. In it, Davina appeared to dispute Tracey Jewel's claims she had sent groom Dean Wells 'filthy' messages. Raunchy! This is just one of the items for sale from embattled Married At First Sight star Davina Rankin. The embattled reality star has listed her wardrobe for sale on the website, Buy My Clothes Sold! On the website, the buxom starlet offers a mix of racy outfits, including slinky dresses and skimpy bikinis Not shy! The Brisbane-based starlet also offered this figure-hugging red dress which flaunted plenty of cleavage Davina's mother, Barb, hit out at the show on Monday, with New Idea reporting she's refusing to watch it after the way her daughter is being portrayed. 'It's absolute trash and it makes us all angry to see how it's all been played out,' she was quoted as saying in the publication. Admitting her daughter could be outspoken at times, Barb argued she is 'by no means manipulative and spiteful.' 'She built a career on empowering women and I'm disgusted with the way she has been portrayed,' Barb also said. Batting for her daughter! This week, Davina's mother Barb has hit out at the show, saying she was refusing to watch it because of how it was portraying her daughter And it would seem Davina isn't the only one shocked by how they've been made to look on screen, with the contestants allegedly starting a Facebook group to discuss the show. According to a 'source', sentences said on a different day to a completely different person are being strung together in unrelated scenes to create drama. Some Married At First Sight contestants have reportedly sought legal advice over the matter. Barb was quick to point out the 26-year-old didn't even apply to the dating series and now that she'd fielded significant backlash the producers had offered to send Davina on a free holiday. The chosen one? Barb was quick to point out the 26-year-old didn't even apply to the dating series and now that she'd fielded significant backlash the producers had offered to send Davina on a free holiday The 'affair': Davina and Dean Wells were seen sneaking around together on MAFS, behind their partners' backs 'How could you?' Dean's wife Tracey confronted Davina about the 'cheating scandal' in very heated scenes During Sunday night's commitment ceremony,Tracey had seemingly forgiven Dean for his 'affair' with Davina, and the pair seemed stronger than ever. However Davina put Ryan out of his misery and said she wanted to leave their relationship, and the show. Ryan was furious at the 'cheating scandal,' and said he hoped he would meet the woman of his dreams one day. Fiery! According to a 'source' sentences they said on a different day to a completely different person are being strung together in unrelated scenes to cause drama Time to move on: Ryan was furious at the 'cheating scandal,' and said he hoped he would meet the woman of his dreams one day Flagship BBC drama McMafia received a secret 2.4 million taxpayer subsidy, it can be revealed. The series, which starred James Norton, as the son of an exiled Russian oligarch living in London, was a critical success and is to be shown around the world. But accounts filed just before its release show how the filming cost a little more than 18 million and 2.4 million will come in the form of a huge tax let-off. Details are revealed in documents for CPL Godman Ltd a subsidiary of Cuba Pictures, which set up Godman to make McMafia after it was commissioned by the BBC. The series, which starred James Norton, as the son of an exiled Russian oligarch living in London, was a critical success The company is named after the surname of star James Norton's character Alex Godman in the eight-part programme, and was originally also called McMafia. The paperwork shows the company made a loss of 2.38 million and that it will receive high-end tax relief of exactly the same amount to cover the shortfall. It also confirms: 'Turnover relates to the production of the television series entitled McMafia.' The high-end tax credits for film were set up by former Chancellor George Osborne to encourage commercial producers to film in Britain. Much of McMafia is filmed outside the UK, with locations in Russia, Mumbai, Qatar and Croatia. A BBC source said the Corporation had agreed to license the Cuba Pictures production in the UK and was not a beneficiary of the tax break. Much of McMafia is filmed outside the UK, with locations in Russia, Mumbai, Qatar and Croatia However Variety magazine reported that BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the Corporation, was acting as distributor for the film around the world, meaning the BBC would earn significant commissions. It was bought by Amazon Prime to be shown in 200 countries and deals are to be struck to sell it elsewhere around the world including China. A separate deal was struck for the U.S. A spokesman for BBC Worldwide said: 'Like many premium British dramas, the financing of Cuba Pictures' McMafia includes an element of production tax credit as is entirely standard, and wholly legitimate and exactly what the credit was set up for.' There's no holding back Michelle Mone, aka Baroness Bra. In the latest example of braggadocio, David Cameron's former business tsar tells fans on social media: 'I never thought I could go from being one of the best technical lingerie designers in the World, No 1 woman entrepreneur to one of the biggest experts in cryptocurrency & Blockchain.' Mone, 46, is launching a virtual currency with billionaire lover Doug Barrowman, 52. But the self-styled expert omits to mention that since she tipped Bitcoin last year it has plunged in value. Ex-Labour MP Tristram Hunt's segue from politics into art he is now director of the V&A must be a relief to Tory MP Zac Goldsmith (left). 'I used to get mistaken a lot for Tristram. Even since he resigned I'm still mistaken for him by Labour MPs,' Zac tells me. Both 43-year-olds are 6ft 3in, boast broad shoulders and chiselled jaws. 'I've had a few confusing conversations where I haven't realised the mistake and after a few minutes, when they start talking about Labour politics, I have to awkwardly correct them.' Ex-Labour MP Tristram Hunt's (right) segue from politics into art he is now director of the V&A must be a relief to Tory MP Zac Goldsmith (left) Old habits die hard so do old clothes. Actress Celia Imrie loves a particular blue cardigan she has owned for nearly two decades. 'I remember being in a rehearsal room with Hugh Bonneville not so long ago, when he turned to me and said, 'Celia I think you were wearing that same cardigan when I last saw you 15 years ago!' He thought it was highly amusing.' My family is a Who's Who of Doctor Who! Ex-Doctor Who star David Tennant's stepson Ty picked up his best actor award at the WhatsOnStage Awards for Don Juan in Soho. Wearing a black and gold sequined jacket, Ty, 15, arrived with his grandmother Sandra Dickinson, ex-wife of his grandfather Peter Davison. Davison played the Time Lord in a previous incarnation. Ty's mother is actress Georgia Moffett. Ex-Doctor Who star David Tennant's stepson Ty, right, picked up his best actor award at the WhatsOnStage Awards for Don Juan in Soho. Victoria's Secret Angels Sara Sampaio and Jasmine Tookes - who both earned their 'wings' in 2015 - reunited for a casual lunch at celeb favorite The Ivy in West Hollywood on Monday. The Portuguese 26-year-old wore white denim co-ords while the 27-year-old SoCal native was dressed for action in head-to-toe black athleisure. The strong-browed Lions Model - who relies on stylist Mimi Cuttrell - looked leggy in her mini-skirt featuring corset detail at the hips and gleaming white sneakers. Scroll down for video Both earned their 'wings' in 2015: Victoria's Secret Angels Sara Sampaio (L) and Jasmine Tookes (R) reunited for a casual lunch at celeb favorite The Ivy in West Hollywood on Monday Gal pals: The Portuguese 26-year-old (L) wore white denim co-ords while the 27-year-old SoCal native (R) was dressed for action in head-to-toe black athleisure And while Jasmine wore her hair in a tidy top-bun, Sara opted for a perky ponytail for the meal on the bustling patio. The Wild 'N Out guest star - who boasts 9.7M social media followers - Insta-storied her plate of greasy French Fries and ketchup captioned: 'Healthy healthy, not so healthy.' Meanwhile, the quarter Caucasian IMG Model - who boasts 2.7M social media followers - Snapchatted a healthier-looking artichoke salad as well as a car selfie with a dog filter. Despite her tiny skirt, Sampaio was actually feeling so cold in LA's winter weather she decided to share two side-boob snaps from her recent trip to the Caribbean. Brunette beauty: The strong-browed Lions Model - who relies on stylist Mimi Cuttrell - looked leggy in her mini-skirt featuring corset detail at the hips and gleaming white sneakers Cat-eye shades: And while Jasmine wore her hair in a tidy top-bun, Sara opted for a perky ponytail for the meal on the bustling patio The Wild 'N Out guest star - who boasts 9.7M social media followers - Insta-storied her plate of greasy French Fries and ketchup captioned: 'Healthy healthy, not so healthy' Nom nom: Meanwhile, the quarter Caucasian IMG Model - who boasts 2.7M social media followers - Snapchatted an artichoke salad as well as a car selfie with a dog filter The Clapper actress lamented: 'Throwback to Bahamas because it's cold In LA!' Missing from Sara's side Monday was her millionaire boyfriend since 2016 - Ocean Group CEO Oliver Ripley - who's reportedly fluent in six languages. And missing from Jasmine's side Monday was her boyfriend since 2016, Snapchat's Senior Partnership Manager Juan David Borrero. Fans can catch more of the David Guetta 2U video vixens and their scantily-clad campaigns for the San Francisco bra brand shot by lensman Russell James. Putting on a sideshow! Despite her skirt, Sampaio was actually feeling so cold in LA's winter weather she decided to share two side-boob snaps from her recent trip to the Caribbean The Clapper actress lamented: 'Throwback to Bahamas because it's cold In LA!' 'To the moon and back!' Missing from Sara's side Monday was her millionaire boyfriend since 2016 - Ocean Group CEO Oliver Ripley - who's reportedly fluent in six languages She's currently owning the runway at Milan Fashion Week. And Kaia Gerber just upped the ante on her It girl brand as she unveiled her first campaign for Chanel on Monday. The 16-year-old daughter of Cindy Crawford posed in glorious black and white photos for the famed French fashion house's Spring 2018 handbag collection. It girl: Kaia Gerber, 16, unveiled her first campaign for Chanel on Monday The young ingenue showcased her natural beauty in a white satin ruffled cocktail dress. She changed into another light colored party gown that had a strapless feature and ruched fabric. The third photograph had the darling cover girl wrap herself in a floral embroidered a jacket as she lay on a couch. Her trademark brunette tresses were pinned back in a messy bun as the loose tresses cascaded over her petite shoulders. Covered up: One photograph had the darling cover girl wrap herself in a floral embroidered a jacket as she lay on a couch And Kaia has made a huge name for herself in fashion and told Vogue last year: 'I think it was always something that I knew that I wanted to do. 'My favourite thing about being a model is the people that I meet. 'I dont think theres any other job where you get to learn so many things about so many different people. I just love forging new relationships.' Whilst she has been jetting around the world for various Fashion Weeks, the teen hasn't been compromising her education and keeps up with her studies through an online program. In an interview with Harper's Bazaar, Kaia said that in a typical day, she'll usually complete her homework at around 3:30pm. Party time: Daring to impress, the young ingenue showcased her natural beauty in a white satin ruffled cocktail dress 'I usually use the afternoon to catch up on homework. Im completing my diploma at Malibu High School through an online program, and its difficult to get much done during the week, as the WiFi on planes is really annoying,' she admitted. 'My favorite class this year is AP Calculus because I just like math. Its definitely super hard to teach yourself derivatives, though!' The rising star made her catwalk debut during New York Fashion Week in September 2017 after she rang in her 16th birthday. Kaia has already walked down glamorous runways for Chanel, Versace, Yves Saint Laurent and Isabel Marant. The model also landed her first solo edition of the French fashion bible at the tender age of 16 while her mother had secured her first Vogue cover aged 20 in 1986. Jennifer Lawrence has revealed that her ex-boyfriend Darren Aronofsky played 'hard to get' for nine months as she pursued a relationship with him. During an interview on Marc Maron's WTF podcast on Monday, the Oscar-winning actress, 27, also admitted that she 'still loves' the 49-year-old film-maker, despite their two-year romance having come to an end back in October. Recalling their meeting over the 2017 movie Mother!, she said: 'I was like, hes hot... I remember I was holding my dog and I shut the door and when the door shut [after Darren left] I went, "Pippy thats called sexual tension." He played hard to get for like nine months, maybe longer, which just killed me.' 'Darren's wonderful': Jennifer Lawrence revealed Monday that she 'still loves' and still texts her ex-boyfriend Darren Aronofsky despite their break-up in October. Pictured on Monday During the gushing interview, she also admitted that she still has feelings for the director, who has an 11-year-old son with his former fiancee Rachel Weisz. She continued: 'I mean, if we count everything, like two years. I had been saying two years for so long and he was like, "Its been like, six months!" I think two years. I mean, I was in love with him for like, two years. I still love him very much.' 'Darren's wonderful,' the Hunger Games star added. 'We're very friendly exes.' The Dior muse then boasted that she's still friends with 'all' of her exes like her on/off British beaus - Coldplay frontman Chris Martin and X-Men co-star Nicholas Hoult. 'I still love him very much': During the interview, the Oscar-winning actress revealed that she and Darren Aronofsky dated for two years. Pictured in September 'I have a theory, I think it's because I'm blunt,' Jennifer said. 'I don't think that you can have any sort of bad relationship with anybody if you're just blunt. 'Everybody always knows how you feel at all times and there's no lying. It's just honesty. All of my boyfriends have been wonderful.' When Marc Maron asked Jennifer if she had ever had her heart broken, she said no. 'Um, no. Broke other stuff, I didn't mean it like that, I meant like confidence,' the blonde beauty claimed. 'I mean, my heart breaks every time I go through a break-up. Chemistry: The Kentucky-born beauty knew there was chemistry after he pitched his 2017 movie Mother! to her. Pictured on the set of the film Impressed: She said of her first meeting with Darren, 'I remember I was holding my dog and I shut the door and when the door shut I went, "Pippi that's called sexual tension"' 'It's not like my heart isn't broken. They never did anything to, like, devastate me. They're just good people, maybe that's the secret. I'm attracted to good people. It's really weird.' Meanwhile, Jennifer previously admitted she thinks she is going to be 'devastatingly lonely' in the next few months as she is now in 'single mode'. She said in an interview published by The Mirror: 'I am in the single mode where I am like, "Cool, I can do whatever I want and I can be alone and watch terrible TV." 'And then, of course, in a few months I will be devastatingly lonely and feel like I'm on some long waiting list. But I am not there yet. People think my life must be different but it's actually pretty normal. Friendly exes: She also revealed that she's still friends with 'all' of her exes, who include her former British beaus - Coldplay frontman Chris Martin (L) and X-Men co-star Nicholas Hoult (R) 'I've always been a homebody and my social life has always been very boring. I sit around outside my house with my friends and drink wine, and that hasn't really changed. I don't like to go out.' The three-time Golden Globe winner's comments come shortly after she blasted rumors she was the reason behind the separation of her Passengers leading man Chris Pratt and his wife Anna Faris. 'I never had an affair with Chris Pratt on Passengers. That's a good [rumor],' Jennifer told KISS FM UK on Monday. 'I mean, they got a divorce like two years later and everybody was like, [shouting] "Jennifer Lawrence!" And I was like, "What the...what, I'm in Montreal two years later."' It was clear Famke Janssen was the star during Monday's screening of her new film Louisiana Caviar in NYC. During the event, the How To Get Away With Murder actress, 54, commanded attention in a flirty white dress scattered with a celestial pattern. The Dutch darling covered her statuesque figure with an elegant high-low skirt that showcased her long, thin legs. Heavenly! Famke Janssen commanded attention in a flirty white dress scattered with stars during Monday's screening of her new film Louisiana Caviar in NYC An off-the-shoulder bodice and ribbon belted center further accentuated the The Black List actress's Famke added a pair of Mary Jane kicks and a rectangular clutch for accessories. She let her long, raven tresses cascade over her shoulders in romantic curls. Glamour: The Dutch darling covered her statuesque figure with an elegant high-low skirt that showcased her long, thin legs while styling her dark tresses into romantic waves Flower power! Real Housewives of New York City castmate Kelly Bensimon, who got a jump start on Spring in short, empire-waisted floral which put her tan, toned legs at the forefront Beaming beauty! The 5foot10 former model framed her face with flowing caramel tresses while glamming things up with well-hydrated skin and a bright smile For beauty, the Columbia University alum added thin, arched brows, an all around glow, and glossy, natural lips. At the event Real Housewives of New York City castmate Kelly Bensimon, 49, got a jump start on Spring in short empire-waisted floral which put her tan, toned legs at the forefront. The 5foot10 former model added a pair of red silk flats with shiny buckles on foot. Red carpet fashion: Tara Westwood (left) turned heads in a black leather dress while Kea Ho (right) was well-suited in a plunging plaid wrap top and matching trousers Tickled pink! Model Nichole Galicia oozed elegance in a hot pink body-con dress which fit her 5foot8 figure like a glove She framed her face with flowing caramel tresses while glamming things up with well-hydrated skin and a bright smile. Kelly added a bit of sparkle with layers of charm necklaces and a matching bracelet. Actress Tara Westwood turned heads in a black leather dress, thigh-high boots and a fluffy white coat paired with chandelier earrings. The Gooding life! Louisiana Caviar was directed, co-written and stars the talented Cuba Gooding Jr, above Model/actress Kea Ho was well-suited in a plunging plaid wrap top and matching trousers. Model Nichole Galicia oozed elegance in a hot pink body-con dress which fit her 5foot8 figure like a glove. She teamed the frock with cute ankle boots and straight hair with blunt fringe. So sweet: He posed affectionately with Famke for a few snapshots, draping his arm warmly around his leading lady Filmmaker chic: Gooding cut a stylish figure at the screening in a bulky grey coat, dark faded jeans, black dress shoes and an attractive scarf Louisiana Caviar was directed, co-written and stars the talented Cuba Gooding Jr. According to IMDB, the peculiar picture follows 'a feared Russian-Israeli oligarch' whose 'banishment from the U.S. sets into motion a spiraling chain of events involving a boxer, a plot to blackmail an Orthodox Jewish real estate developer, a Hollywood sex scandal and copious amounts of gefilte caviar.' The film stars Famke as lesbian photographer Nic while Richard Dreyfuss plays the Russian ex-pat and Gooding takes the role of boxer Rodney Jones. Warmth: Gooding was also snapped sharing a hug with the grinning Gregg Bello, who is another one of the stars of the film Laugh it up: Bello appeared to be roaring with mirth as he and his director shared a chat Gooding cut a stylish figure at the screening in a bulky grey coat, dark faded jeans, black dress shoes and an attractive scarf. He posed affectionately with Famke for a few snapshots, draping his arm warmly around his leading lady. Gooding was also snapped sharing a hug with the grinning Gregg Bello, who is another one of the stars of the film. These two men posed flanking Famke for one snapshot. Louisiana Caviar has yet to set an official release date, but is set for theaters sometime this year. What a trio: These two men posed flanking Famke for one snapshot Bit chilly?: Bello was decked out in a jacket and beanie Premise: The film stars Famke as lesbian photographer Nic while Richard Dreyfuss plays the Russian ex-pat and Gooding takes the role of boxer Rodney Jones She's preparing for her debut on spin-off Bachelor In Paradise. And Lisa Hyde narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction as she arrived at a Melbourne studio on Tuesday, to film Celebrity Family Feud. Joined by co-stars Tara Pavlovic, Apollo Jackson, Davey Lloyd and Michael Turnbull, the brunette's black blazer dress flailed in the wind, showing off more than she bargained for. Gone with the wind! Bachelor In Paradise' Lisa Hyde narrowly avoided a wardrobe malfunction, as she arrived with her co-stars to film Celebrity Family Feud, in Melbourne on Tuesday Lisa was pictured arriving at the television studios in a plunging black blazer dress that revealed a significant amount of cleavage. However a gust of wind caused the beauty's dress to fly open, showing off more than she bargained for. Lisa accessorised her frock with black strappy heels and carried her belongings in a shoulder bag and a generously-sized tote. Black to basics: Lisa sported a black blazer dress that showed off a significant amount of leg Details: The socialite accessorised with black strappy heels, a shoulder bag and tote All smiles: Despite narrowly avoiding a wardrobe malfunction, Lisa waved for the cameras All swept up: The brunette's locks were piled up in voluminous curls on top of her head Her locks were piled up in curls on top of her head and her makeup palette consisted of a flawless complexion, a set of false eye lashes and a matte colour on her plump pout. Also making an arrival was Tara Pavlovic, who failed to find love with Matty Johnson on last year's season of The Bachelor. The 27-year-old cut a casually chic figure in a black T-shirt with a bold graphic on the front, tucked into a white maxi-skirt. Casual chic: Also making an arrival was Tara Pavlovic, who failed to find love with Matty Johnson on last year's season of The Bachelor Looking good: The beauty wore a black T-shirt with a bold graphic emblazoned on the front, tucked into a white maxi-skirt Low-key: Tara accessorised with hoop earrings and swept her locks into an effortless ponytail Ensuring she was comfortable, Tara donned white sneakers and accessorised with hoop earrings and silver jewels. The brunette's locks were swept into an effortless ponytail and she carried her belongings in a tan shoulder bag and a Country Road weekender bag. Magician Apollo Jackson showed off his buff frame in a snug pastel pink T-shirt and ripped black jeans, accessorised with brown leather boots. Bold look: Magician Apollo Jackson showed off his buff frame in a snug pastel pink T-shirt and ripped black jeans, accessorised with brown leather boots On the move: The 25-year-old hunk who wore a cap turned backwards, appeared to have just come from the airport, wheeling a medium-sized suitcase High spirits: Apollo warmly greeted a female companion Ready for his close-up? Davey Lloyd, who rose to fame after starring on Sam Frost's season of The Bachelorette, opted for a pastel pink dress shirt left undone, skinny-leg jeans, black sneakers and tinted sunglasses The 25-year-old hunk who wore a cap turned backwards, appeared to have just come from the airport, wheeling a medium-sized suitcase. Carrying a water bottle and his trusty iPhone, Apollo appeared in high spirits and hugged a female companion. Davey Lloyd, who rose to fame after starring on Sam Frost's season of The Bachelorette, opted for a pastel pink dress shirt left undone, skinny-leg jeans, black sneakers and tinted sunglasses. Prepared: Davey carried a white dress shirt as he made his way into the studios Content: The reality star flashed the peace sign for the camera Familiar face: Standing behind Davey's car, was Michael Turnbull, who starred on Sam Frost's season of The Bachelorette Unique look: The 36-year-old sported a blue check shirt, white cropped skinny-leg jeans and brown loafers Davey carried a white dress shirt as he made his way into the studios. Michael Turnbull, who appears to be making a career resurgence of late, looked to show off his style credentials. The 36-year-old sported a blue check shirt, white cropped skinny-leg jeans and brown loafers. Carrying a garment bag in one hand, Michael checked his iPhone, later making a call. In demand? Carrying a garment bag in one hand, Michael checked his iPhone, later making a call Groomed: Michael looked to have worked product in his tresses Host of the show: Celebrity Feud host Grant Denyer, 40, arrived in a double-denim ensemble Need a refresh? Grant looked to be holding papers with the contestant's faces The Bachelor In Paradise co-stars were preparing to film an episode of game show Celebrity Family Feud, hosted by Channel Seven's Grant Denyer. The reality stars are just months away from their debut on the dating spin-off, that's scheduled to air on Network Ten later this year. A preview for the series aired earlier this month promises tantrums, tears and even a marriage proposal. Former Bachelor star Keira Maguire is seen begging to be loved, as the other contestants clash over a love triangle and 'love square'. Cool and casual: Grant paired his double-denim look with a crisp white round-neck shirt Gaze: The Channel Seven personality appeared focused as he made his way into the studio Jennifer Lawrence tore into Harvey Weinstein on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Monday night, branding him 'an ass boil that does not go away'. The movie executive's lawyers had previously used Lawrence as an example of a woman who supposedly had a good relationship with the accused sexual predator. Lawrence disagreed: 'He's an ass boil that does not go awayhe's just the worst, when is it going to end?' ssked the 27-year-old actress, who had kicked off her shoes and downed several shots of rum during the chat show interview. The worst: Jennifer Lawrence blasted Harvey Weinstein during an appearance on Monday on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 'This awfulness is still happening,' raged The Hunger Games star. Lawrence also described her experience as talk show host, when she took over from Jimmy Kimmel while his son went into hospital. 'It's not that hard,' she joked, before recounting how she was left with far too much time when interviewing Kim Kardashian. 'She's just shooting me down like a Congresswoman and cutting it down, so I look at my list and I'm out of questions, and the clock's like ''five minutes'' and I'm like ''do you wear like socks to sleep or?'' I didn't know what to ask'. Worked together: The actress is shown with Weinstein in April 2013 in Los Angeles On Lawrence's request Colbert brought out some booze. 'This will help bring my soul back, I know it!' she exclaimed before knocking back her first shot. The Passengers star has announced she will take 'a year off' from acting soon. Drinking up: Jennifer enjoyed some rum served up by Stephen 'It's because I'm so miserable,' she joked. Adding: 'It's not like a big dramatic thingI'm going to be developing things and talking to kids about corruption'. 'When Trump got elected my head really spun off,' she explained. Late show: Stephen welcomed the Oscar-winning actress onto the show 'I got all these books and really learned myself good about our government and economic system,' she joked, before recalling how she was stumped by her first question from a student. As she hit the rum Lawrence talked about her alter ego 'Gail' who emerges when she is on vacation. 'I love vacation me,' she admitted. Vacation version: Jennifer said she has an alter ego named Gail when she's on vacation Colbert flashed a photo of the Joy actress at the wedding of comedian Amy Schumer. 'Amy said I scared some people,' she confessed. 'I was flirting with Larry David all night, which was very one-sided, I'm obsessed with Larry David,' she added. Flirting away: The actress said she was flirting with Larry David at Amy Schumer's wedding On her new movie Red Sparrow, where she plays a Russian spy, she said: 'It's entertaining, don't put any political weight on it'. 'If you're a hater and you have a blog, don't go,' urged the actress, who was wearing a crushed velvet top and flared black trousers. Lawrence said it was becoming increasingly difficult to stay incognito when spending time with her family in Kentucky. Ballet training: Jennifer did three months of ballet training for Red Sparrow 'Because Christmas wouldn't be the same without a stalker,' she sighed. Her niece and nephews apparently had some ideas to protect her. 'They wanted to put bubble wrap at the end of the driveway,' she recalled. Adding: 'I think they were going through that Home Alone phase'. Red Sparrow opens on Friday. The infamously rumoured 'Brussels sprout incident' between Studio 10 co-stars Denise Drysdale and Ita Buttrose was FINALLY confirmed earlier this month. But Comedian Dave Hughes has revealed he quickly found out the food fight between the female presenters was no joking matter. Speaking to News.com.au, the radio star said when he began mentioning the incident on-air, he appeared to be subtly silenced. No joking matter! Comedian Dave Hughes claims his microphone was cut when he began to poke fun at Ita Buttrose and Denise Drysdale's infamous Brussels sprout feud The publication claimed his decision to discuss the topic had upset Ita in the process, who he hosts on Hughsey, We Have A Problem this week. 'I mentioned Brussels sprouts and it was like my microphone had been cut off,' Dave claimed. 'I got the message that it was not to be discussed on air. Its not a joking topic as far as I can tell,' he said. Daily Mail Australia have reached out to Channel Ten for comment. 'I got the message that it was not to be discussed on air': The publication claimed his decision to discuss the topic had upset Ita in the process, who he hosts on Hughsey, We Have A Problem this week Rumours of bad blood had been brewing between Studio 10 co-stars Denise and Ita after the infamous 'Brussels sprout' incident. And three weeks ago, Denise, 69, finally broke her silence about the whispers of a 'feud' between the pair. Speaking to The Herald-Sun, the TV personality said that while she and Ita are now on good terms, the in-fighting speculation arose from a real incident that involved Denise throwing vegetables at the former magazine maven. 'I did the wrong thing, so it is totally my fault': Studio 10's Denise Drysdale (right) broke her silence on the rumoured feud with co-star Ita Buttrose (left), admitting to The Herald-Sun she threw Brussels sprout at her 'I threw the Brussels sprout at her (Ita) I have to admit that at the Christmas party and I did the wrong thing, so it is totally my fault,' Denise told the publication. 'I was in a jovial mood. The (official Studio 10) Christmas party was that night and I could not go, so I had a couple of glasses of champagne towards the end of the day and I threw the Brussels sprout and I shouldnt have.' Explaining that she respects her co-host, Denise added: 'I rang Ita for Christmas; we talk, we all get along. I did the wrong thing, it was totally my fault, I am sorry it happened.' 'As Donald Trump would say, it's fake news': Studio 10's Ita Buttrose DENIES feud with Denise Drysdale We all get on well. I mean we've been getting on well ever since we all started': Ita denied there was any feud when mentions of the Brussels sprout incident came to light For her part, Ita previously vehemently denied she has an ongoing feud with her cast mate Denise. Speaking to The Kyle & Jackie O Show, Ita insisted: 'There's no feud, it's rubbish. Well, as Donald Trump would say it's fake news!' But when pressed on the infamous 'Brussels sprout incident' she refused to elaborate further. Kyle and Jackie decided to call the Studio 10 panelist on-air after an insider had claimed tension between Ita and Denise was so bad the pair were 'no longer talking'. 'We all get on well. I mean we've been getting on well ever since we all started,' Ita told the hosts. 'I don't know where all this nonsense is coming from, it's just someone beefing up something that happened last year.' 'I don't know where all this nonsense is coming from, it's just someone beefing up something that happened last year': Ita refused to elaborate on the incident to Kyle and Jackie O Is this the feud that will END studio 10? Insider claims tension between Ita Buttrose and Denise Drysdale was so bad the pair were 'no longer talking off camera' In a statement to Daily Mail Australia at the time, Network Ten strongly denied claims there was tension between Ita and Denise, labeling the allegations 'offensive'. 'Ita and Denise are consummate professionals and these unsubstantiated allegations are offensive,' a spokesperson said. 'Ita and Denise have the highest respect for one another and thoroughly enjoy working as part of the Studio 10 family together. To suggest otherwise is nonsense and deliberately mischievous.' Ita currently appears on Studio 10 three days a week after joining the panel show in 2013. Meanwhile Denise is contracted to appear one week a month, joining Studio 10 in 2015. They are two of the most beautiful women in the world. And Salma Hayek and Eva Longoria proved worthy of the title as they commanded attention on the red carpet in Los Angeles on Monday. The Freida star, 51, rocked a black leather ensemble as the pregnant Desperate Housewives alum, 42, was sophisticated chic for the premiere of A Wrinkle In Time. Scroll down for video Lovely ladies: Salma Hayek, 51, and Eva Longoria, 42, commanded attention on the red carpet in Los Angeles on Monday Daring to impress, Salma turned heads in the all black wardrobe that swathed her enviable figure. She sported a black turtleneck tucked into a leather skirt as she wrapped her top in a tailored jacket. The skirt featured beaded strips of leather covering the intricate patterned fabric as it cut just above her ankles. She added to the rock and roll glamour by stomping the red carpet in a pair of high heeled leather boots. Back in black: Daring to impress, Salma turned heads in the all black wardrobe that swathed her enviable figure Stunner: She sported a black turtleneck tucked into a leather skirt as she wrapped her top in a tailored jacket Throwing caution to the wind, the From Dusk Til Dawn star went virtually makeup free with just a dab of berry lip. Her trademark raven tresses were left long and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders. Salma let her natural beauty speak for itself as she went with nary an accessory save a set of hoop earrings. Beaded: The skirt featured beaded strips of leather covering the intricate patterned fabric as it cut just above her ankles Makeup game:Throwing caution to the wind, the From Dusk Til Dawn star went virtually makeup free with just a dab of berry lip Eva covered her growing baby bump by wearing a solid olive green couture number that featured a high rise neckline. The simple chic gown was wrapped in a dark blue trench coat that held a silver pin on the wide lapel. She sported a pair of open toed high heels that matched the dark fabric of the coat. Covered up: Eva covered her growing baby bump by wearing a solid olive green couture number that featured a high rise neckline Simple chic: The simple chic gown was wrapped in a dark blue trench coat that held a silver pin on the wide lapel Her makeup game was on point as she highlighted her perfect skin tone with a subtle smokey eye and mauve lipstick. Always one to showcase a lovely coif, Eva kept her classic brunette locks long, loose, and wavy. The two Latin ladies arrived at the El Capitan theatre to support the celeb-stacked premiere of the Disney movie adapted from Madeleine L'Engle's 1962 novel of the same name. A Wrinkle In Time features Oprah Winfrey's Mrs. Which, Reese Witherspoon's Mrs. Whatsit, and Mindy Kaling's Mrs. Who. The movie will be released nationwide on March 9. Au natural: Her makeup game was on point as she highlighted her perfect skin tone with a subtle smokey eye and mauve lipstick Shoe game:She sported a pair of open toed high heels that matched the dark fabric of the coat Hair story: Always one to showcase a lovely coif, Eva kept her classic brunette locks long, loose, and wavy Famous friends: She hugged Reese Witherspoon Dairy queen: Later in the day, Eva went shopping for yogurt He's been doing a number of uncomfortable interviews over the last week, ever since admitting to 'cheating' on his on-screen wife Tracey Jewel with co-star Davina Rankin. And even though Karl Stefanovic previously labelled Dean Wells 'soft' and 'weak' for not coming on the Today show, the part-time rapper decided to bite the bullet and speak to Georgie Gardner and Ben Fordham on Tuesday. Just, without Karl present. Scroll down for video He's back! Even though Karl Stefanovic previously labelled Dean Wells (C) 'soft' and 'weak' for not coming on the Today show, the part-time rapper decided to bite the bullet and speak to Georgie Gardner and Ben Fordham on Tuesday 'Thanks to these guys for having me on this morning. And thanks to the viewers for their questions and not going too hard on me,' he captioned a photo from set. Karl's feud with the reality star escalated on Tuesday, with the TV host labelling the 'alpha male' contestant 'soft' for refusing to come on Today and discuss his cheating scandal. The Channel Nine personality revealed that Dean declined the offer to be interviewed by him, after Karl previously called his behaviour 'sexist at worst and offensive.' War of words: Karl 's feud with the reality star escalated on Tuesday, with the TV host labelling the 'alpha male' contestant 'soft' Karl and co-host Georgie Gardner were concluding their interview with MAFS couple Charlene and Patrick when they revealed Dean refused to come on the show. 'We have repeatedly asked Dean to come on the show and the invitation stands,' Karl told viewers. 'Has he turned us down?' an incredulous-sounding Georgie asked her co-host. '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 'He's turned me down,' Karl clarified. 'That doesn't necessarily mean he is going to turn the offer down.' 'What did you do to him?' Patrick jokingly asked. 'I'm not going to say too much, but the guy is soft if he doesn't want to come on our show,' Karl fired back. Karl's co-host Georgie offered to do the interview herself, adding: 'Come and have a chat to me if you're watching Dean!' 'At the moment it is just weak': Karl issued a stern challenge to his reality TV nemesis Dean Slammed him: Karl has since labelled Dean 'two-faced' for cheating on wife Tracey Jewel with Davina Rankin However Karl appeared unwilling to let his co-host do the interview solo, issuing a stern challenge to his reality TV nemesis. 'Come on the show and explain yourself because at the moment it is just weak,' he said. The feud between Dean and Karl has been escalating since the 'alpha male' contestant first made an appearance on the Channel Nine breakfast show last month. Karl has since labelled Dean 'two-faced' for cheating on wife Tracey Jewel with Davina Rankin, also telling the 39-year-old to stay away from him and fiance Jasmine Yarbrough. The Pitch Perfect star appears to be enjoying an adventure-packed holiday in New Zealand this week with her sister, Liberty. And after zip-lining on Monday, Rebel Wilson took to the skies on Tuesday for a picturesque 'fully sik copter' ride. The Australian actress treated her younger sister to her first ever helicopter flight, with the pair flying over dormant volcanoes. Scroll down for video 'Pretty epic!' Rebel Wilson treats sister to a 'fully sik' helicopter ride over New Zealand's dormant volcanoes 'Okay, it's Lib's first helicopter trip, woohoo! Yeah, here it starts,' Rebel could be heard saying as she filmed their take off. Wearing a headset over her blonde locks, she appeared in high spirits as she shared the experience with her 5.1 million social media followers. She captioned one clip: 'Seeing New Zealands dormant volcanoes from the air is pretty EPIC!' 'It's Lib's first helicopter trip, woohoo!' The Australian actress treated her younger sister, Liberty(RIGHT), to her first ever helicopter flight, with the pair flying over dormant volcanoes during their New Zealand trip What a view! Wearing a headset over her blonde locks, she appeared in high spirits as she shared the experience with her 5.1 million social media followers The siblings had previously gone zip-lining high above the tree tops the day priot, with Rebel posting a video screaming in delight. In the video, the siblings can be heard squealing as Rebel bravely reaches out to touch her sister, who is on a parallel line. 'Zip lining in New Zealand with my sister Liberty and family friends Noelene and Geoffrey,' the Hollywood star wrote in the caption. Despite being rather reserved about her political views, Rebel then praised the country's new progressive Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern. 'I had to go because they have such a cool female Prime Minister Jacinda and check out all the fun stuff they have here,' she added. True to form, the Bridesmaids star couldn't resist throwing in a joke for fans, writing: 'Plus they have Burger Rings but they are different to Australian Burger Rings.' Rebel's turn as action-adventurer comes after she tried her hand at snorkelling in French Polynesia earlier this month with unexpected results. They're the blonde bombshells who appeared on season Married At First Sight last year. And Michelle and Sharon Marsh showed off their busty assets in a snap shared to Instagram on Tuesday. The 32-year-old twins displayed their trim pins in tiny denim cut off shorts as they posed near the ferry dock at Rottnest Island, in Western Australia. 'Totes twinning!' Michelle and Sharon Marsh showed off their busty assets in a snap shared to Instagram on Tuesday Sharon, now with sporting blonde brunette ombre locks, she was clearly ready for a dip in the sea in her orange swimsuit that accentuated her ample assets. She showed off her trim pins in a pair black denim daisy dukes, a plaid long sleeved shirt around her waist and toted a cross body bag. Meanwhile her blonde sister flaunted her slender hourglass physique in an almost matching outfit to her twin. All dressed in white: The duo appeared on the last season of MAFS The stunner wore a pink swimsuit that showed off her cavernous cleavage, with a pair of light wash denim mini shorts that highlighted her long legs. Both sisters accessorised their outfits with a pair of dark tinted sunglasses and matching flip flops. Sharon shared their snap, along with the caption: 'Mishy & I at Rottnest Island supporting the annual swim from city to Rotto in those shark infested waters!!!' Sister, sister: Sharon shared their snap, along with the caption: 'Mishy & I at Rottnest Island supporting the annual swim from city to Rotto in those shark infested waters!!!' She then went on to inform her followers that half the crew were forced to pull out of the race after a four metre shark was spotted int he waters. Despite this she congratulated them team, saying: 'Mighty good effort to all!! And what a ripper night we had!' Fan loved their 'totes twinning' outfit of the day post, including one who wrote: 'Two seriously gorgeous girls.' Meanwhile others complimented Sharon on her new hair, a fan commented: 'Loving the new hair colour.' Seaside stunner: Fan loved their 'totes twinning' outfit of the day post, including one who wrote: 'Two seriously gorgeous girls' Bikini babe: Meanwhile others complimented Sharon on her new hair, a fan commented: 'Loving the new hair colour' Their busty look comes after an insider told Woman's Day last year the Marsh sisters had both undergone breast augmentation surgery. 'The twins have both had their boobs done,' an alleged insider told the magazine. 'But there is one difference between them: Sharon has had her eyebrows tattooed as well!' Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Michelle and Sharon, as well as their management for comment. She returned to Australia in May last year, after serving time at Indonesia's Kerobokan Prison for drug trafficking. And Schapelle Corby looked to be enjoying the taste of freedom, in a snap shared to Instagram on Tuesday. The 40-year-old looked radiant as she embraced her pet dog while posing on a beach surrounded by pelicans. The taste of freedom! Convicted drug trafficker Schapelle Corby, 40, looked radiant as she posed on a beach in an Instagram snap, nine months after her release from prison Schapelle sported a plunging abstract top teamed with a blue and white sarong, tied around her hips. The former beautician had her brunette locks styled into a chic top knot, with a side fringe adding a glamorous touch. Schapelle looked to have enhanced her facial features with a matte complexion, defined brows, and a pink gloss on her plump pout. Embracing her pet dog while surrounded by pelicans on a beach, the Queenslander captioned the shot: 'Everyone likes a Pelican Australia,' alongside two love heart emojis and the hash-tag #stormgirl. Online: Since her return to Australia, it appears the former felon has put the past behind her - and established herself as a social media influencer Schapelle served nine years behind bars in Kerobokan Prison and was released on parole in February 2014. After three years in Bali, she returned to Australia in May last year. Schapelle's life was forever changed the moment a customs officer lifted 4.2kg of top-quality marijuana from her boogie board bag the afternoon of October 8, 2004, in Indonesia. However since her return to Australia, it appears Schapelle has put the past behind her - and established herself as a social media influencer. Sharing snaps with her 196,000 Instagram followers, the former felon has been seen sipping champagne for her 40th birthday and soaking up the sunshine in coastal locations. And earlier this month, Schapelle revealed that she had finally gotten her learner's licence and can now legally drive. Channel Nine reportedly planned to take Seven to court over claims the network had 'copied' the idea for Australian Spartan from its own Ninja Warrior. Daily Mail Australia first reported fans had identified the alleged similarities in January, after a trailer for Seven's obstacle course show premiered. On Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph claimed Nine saw the similarities too, and intended to launch legal proceedings before abandoning those plans on Monday morning. Channel Nine reportedly planned to take Seven to court over claims the network had 'copied' the idea for Australian Spartan from its own Ninja Warrior. Pictured: Australian Spartan 'There has been at least three occasions where one Australian network has initiated legal proceedings to stop another network making a copycat version of their show. In each case the network lost or dropped the court case,' an insider told The Daily Telegraph. 'Its very hard to win these cases - and very expensive to litigate.' Channel Nine's decision to drop the case followed reports that Australian Spartan's premiere episode received disappointing viewing figures on Sunday. Taking over from Channel Seven's usual Sunday night offering, My Kitchen Rules, Spartan was beaten in the ratings by Nine's Married At First Sight. On Tuesday, The Daily Telegraph claimed Nine saw the similarities too, and intended to launch legal proceedings before abandoning those plans on Monday morning According to OzTam, 1,536,000 viewers had their eyes glued to MAFS on Sunday - nearly double the 816,000 average metro audience for Australian Spartan. Last week, News Corp claimed that Channel Nine was 'waiting' for the ratings to come in to decide whether they should bother with legal proceedings. Nine confirmed its decision to drop the case on Tuesday. Channel Nine's decision to drop the case followed reports that Australian Spartan's premiere received disappointing viewing figures on Sunday. Pictured: Tim Robards on Ninja Warrior Taking over from Channel Seven's usual Sunday night offering, My Kitchen Rules, Spartan was beaten in the ratings by Nine's Married At First Sight. Pictured: Married At First Sight Meanwhile, News Corp suggested that Australian Spartan may soon be replaced by My Kitchen Rules on Sunday nights after its poor performance in the time slot. In January, several Twitter users were gobsmacked after Channel Seven released its first trailer for Australian Spartan. 'So, basically, Australian Spartan is exactly the same as Australian Ninja Warrior but with teams instead of individual athletes. Yay,' one viewer tweeted at the time. She's the former Bachelor Australian contestant who recently finished competing on the American spin-off Bachelor Winter Games. And despite not finding love on the show, Tiffany Scanlon has revealed the juicy behind-the-scenes gossip from the US production. Taking to her blog The Tiffany Times, the 31-year-old described some of the more X-rated moments - which didn't always make it to air. 'We called it the bang bang room': Despite not finding love on the show, Tiffany Scanlon has revealed the juicy behind-the-scenes gossip from US spin-off Bachelor Winter Games While the show had a chilly setting, Tiffany hinted that things would be heating up between the cast after long days on the slopes. The former flight attendant, who hails from Perth, confessed that her co-star Ben Higgins gave 'orgasmic massages'. 'He gave me a massage... that put me to sleep on his lap,' she wrote on her blog. Good with his hands! The former flight attendant, who hails from Perth, confessed that her co-star Ben Higgins (pictured) gave 'orgasmic massages' ABC's Bachelor Winter Games brought together a group of former Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants from around the world to compete in winter sports-themed challenges ABC's Bachelor Winter Games brought together a group of former Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants from around the world to compete in winter sports-themed challenges. Tiffany was joined by former Bachelor Australia contestant Courtney Dober as well as stars from the New Zealand version of the franchise. She went on to explain that the stars nicknamed the spare bedroom in their chalet the 'bang bang room' and also revealed they would play late night spin-the-bottle. Spilling the secrets! While the show had a chilly setting, Tiffany hinted that things would be heating up between the cast after long days on the slopes However, Tiffany admitted that Winter Games didn't have the same hookup culture as the franchise's other spin-off, Bachelor in Paradise. 'We were all pretty respectful of other people,' she wrote. Tiffany concluded: 'I'm pretty sure this was the best version of the Bachelor everyou should probably watch to decide for yourselves!' In light of the #MeToo movement and Time's Up initiative, both Jeff Daniels and Peter Sarsgaard revealed Monday they will never work with controversial director Woody Allen again. Daniels acted in two of the 82-year-old filmmaker's movies Radio Days (1987) and The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985), for which he scored his first Golden Globe nomination. 'It's a difficult decision because of Purple Rose of Cairo,' the 63-year-old Emmy winner said on MSNBC's Meet the Press Daily. Scroll down for video Times are changing: In light of the #MeToo movement and Time's Up initiative, both Jeff Daniels (L) and Peter Sarsgaard (M) revealed Monday they will never work with controversial director Woody Allen again 'That movie will always be a great experience, a great movie for me, and he will always be a great American filmmaker. I got to work with him at the age of 30 and it changed my life. All of that and I believe Dylan Farrow. Would I do another one with Woody? The difficult decision would be to turn him down because of Purple Rose.' And Sarsgaard - who has two daughters with wife Maggie Gyllenhaal - memorably played wealthy widower Dwight in Blue Jasmine (2013). 'I've already done a Woody Allen movie. No,' the 46-year-old Golden Globe nominee told host Chuck Todd. 'It's such a complicated question. I mean, I believe people when they say, "I was assaulted or molested" or something like that because I don't think you really have any other choice. Because if we start not believing people, it's a slippery slope. They say that it's very, very rare for somebody to make something like that up, so I would rather err on that side.' 'He will always be a great American filmmaker': Daniels acted in two of the 82-year-old filmmaker's movies Radio Days (1987) and The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985) The 63- year-old Emmy winner said on MSNBC's MTP Daily: 'I believe Dylan Farrow. Would I do another one with Woody? The difficult decision would be to turn him down' On set: And Sarsgaard - who has two daughters with wife Maggie Gyllenhaal - memorably played wealthy widower Dwight in Blue Jasmine (2013) The 46-year-old Golden Globe nominee told host Chuck Todd: 'I've already done a Woody Allen movie. No. It's such a complicated question. I mean, I believe people when they say, "I was assaulted or molested"' Still a fan: However, Peter noted that Woody (born Allan Konigsberg) is a 'fantastic filmmaker' and revealed that he would still 'go back and watch some of [his] movies' However, Peter noted that Woody (born Allan Konigsberg) is a 'fantastic filmmaker' and revealed that he would still 'go back and watch some of [his] movies.' Many celebrities choose to look the other way when it comes to the four-time Oscar winner, who married his ex-partner Mia Farrow's daughter Soon-Yi and allegedly molested her daughter Dylan. On January 16, 32-year-old Dylan repeated her 'credible' allegations on CBS This Morning, and Woody's son Ronan penned the New Yorker's expose on another alleged sexual assaulter Harvey Weinstein. But Dylan's 40-year-old brother Moses denied she was ever abused and shockingly revealed that his 73-year-old adoptive mother Mia had actually abused him in a January 4 WordPress post. Outrage? Many celebrities choose to look the other way when it comes to the four-time Oscar winner, who married his ex-partner Mia Farrow's daughter Soon-Yi and allegedly molested her daughter Dylan (pictured in 1988) 'It simply never happened': But Dylan's 40-year-old brother Moses denied she was ever abused and shockingly revealed that his 73-year-old adoptive mother Mia had actually abused him in a January 4 WordPress post 'Which of Mia's kids got the honesty gene?' It's mainly for this reason that Alec Baldwin - who worked with Allen three times - repeatedly defends his To Rome with Love helmer 'I continue to believe him': Also fervently in Woody's corner is his ex-girlfriend Diane Keaton, who's been directed by him seven times since Sleeper (1973) It's mainly for this reason that Alec Baldwin - who worked with Allen three times - repeatedly defends his To Rome with Love helmer in hot-tempered tweets. The 59-year-old Oscar nominee wrote that he needed 'a lot more' than 'persistance of emotion' from Dylan and wrote: 'To say that @RealDylanFarrow is telling the truth is to say that @MosesFarrow is lying. Which of Mia's kids got the honesty gene and which did not?' Also fervently in Woody's corner is his ex-girlfriend Diane Keaton, who's been directed by him seven times since Sleeper (1973). The 72-year-old Oscar winner tweeted last month: 'Woody Allen is my friend and I continue to believe him. It might be of interest to take a look at the 60 Minute interview from 1992 and see what you think.' Yikes! His upcoming 48th feature A Rainy Day in New York ominously concerns a 44-year-old man (Jude Law) seducing a 15-year-old 'concubine' (Elle Fanning)(pictured October 18) Reaction: A Rainy Day in New York's Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Hall, and Griffin Newman have vowed to donate their salaries from the comedy to support sexual assault organizations According to Page Six, his upcoming 48th feature A Rainy Day in New York ominously concerns a 44-year-old man (Jude Law) seducing a 15-year-old 'concubine' (Elle Fanning). A Rainy Day in New York castmates Timothee Chalamet, Rebecca Hall, and Griffin Newman have vowed to donate their salaries from the comedy to support sexual assault organizations. Jeff and Peter can next be seen as FBI agent John O'Neill and CIA agent Martin Schmidt in the 9/11-themed 10-episode series The Looming Tower, which premieres this Wednesday on Hulu. She stole the heart of Sam Wood on the third season of The Bachelor in 2015. And Snezana Markoski has spoken about the intense audition process that led her to meeting the love of her life. The 37-year-old told Show & Tell last week that producers made female applicants act out imaginary scenarios before revealing what they liked and didn't like about one another. Lifting the lid: Snezana Markoski (pictured) has spoken about the intense audition process that led her to meeting the love of her life on The Bachelor The first part of the audition process saw Snezana fill out a lengthy questionnaire, complete with philosophical questions such as, 'What are you passionate about?' 'I was like "a Whopper with cheese, I'm passionate about a Whopper with cheese!"' the brunette giggled. Producers were clearly impressed with the single mother's sense of humour, and Snezana subsequently made it to the group audition in her home city of Perth. It was all worthwhile! Once she made it onto The Bachelor, Snezana fell head over heels for her Melbourne personal trainer Sam Wood 'It was a group audition with all the other girls... They get you to stand up and do things. They ask you questions like "What would you do in this situation?", "What would you do in that situation?''' Snezana explained. 'You have to look at the person next to you, give them a compliment. The person on the other side, you have to tell them something you don't like about them!' Show & Tell Katie 'Monty' Dimond replied in shock: 'Oh my god, that's so intense!' One of the lucky ones! Snezana (third from left, back row) made it onto the series alongside 20 other women In the candid chat, Snezana revealed that she only applied for the show at the behest of her sister and her young daughter Eve. She said: 'I obviously wasn't serious about getting on (the show) or anything... I was like, "I'm going to fill this form out but then both of you zip it!"' As fate would have it, the audition changed both Snezana and Eve's lives forever, with the couple relocating to Melbourne with Sam after filming The Bachelor. Last October, Sam and Snezana welcomed their first child together, daughter Willow. She turned 47 on February 16. But Amanda Holden has spread out the celebrations for nearly two weeks, revealing her lavish gifts and surprises on her Instagram page. The mother of two was spoiled by her family on the day itself, before jetting to Dubai for a luxury break. Many happy returns! Amanda Holden has spread out her 47th birthday celebrations for nearly two weeks, revealing her lavish gifts and surprises on her Instagram page since February 16 The Britain's Got Talent host started her 47th with her daughters Lexi, 12, and Hollie, 6, sharing a rare photo of her mini-mes on Instagram on February 16. The girls are seen cuddling up to their mother in bed in one black and white snap captioned 'Couldnt ask for a better #birthday #present than my two #beautiful #girls and #husband #feeling #happy #healthy #ancient #16 #February #photo by #Chris.' Shortly after the proud mum shared a photo of Lexi and Hollie holding balloons with their grinning mum behind a table filled with roses and an elaborately decorated cake. All about family: The Britain's Got Talent host started her 47th with her daughters Lexi, 12, and Hollie, 6, sharing rare photo a of her mini-mes 'Spoiled': Shortly after the proud mum shared a photo of Lexi and Hollie holding balloons with their grinning mum behind a table filled with roses and an elaborately decorated cake When the half term holidays hit, Amanda, her daughters and husband Chris jetted off to one of their favourite haunts in the United Arab Emirates. Enjoying the break after a busy start to the year working on the new series of Britain's Got Talent, Amanda and her family headed to Dubai, from where she posted a long line of glam holiday snaps. Enjoying days by the Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort's infinity pool in an array of bikinis, Amanda also shared a fun snap of her and Chris sporting sombreros as they enjoyed dinner in a Mexican restaurant. This is the life: When the half term holidays hit Amanda, her daughters and husband Chris jetted off to one of their favourite haunts in the United Arab Emirates Me and my man: Amanda also shared a fun snap of her and husband Chris sporting sombreros as they enjoyed dinner in a Mexican restaurant Soaking up the sun: Amanda bought an array of colourful swimwear with her on her break, modelling her looks on Instagram After returning home the celebrations continued with the star sharing a snap of herself holding a stunning three-tiered blue and silver cake as she gushed: 'Still being #spoilt a week later #birthdaygirl #drinks with #friends #family amazing #cake made by my friends #cousin.' Finally on Monday the popular presenter received yet another birthday cake - a delicious looking yellow and brown Marmite cake decorated with her name. Amanda joked in the caption: 'My #birthday is going on #forever !! Thank you to @beaslondon for this @marmite #cake. #youknowmesowell.' She opened up about being subjected to 'heartbreaking' racial abuse by vile trolls earlier this week. But Gabby Allen returned to social media on Monday night as she pined for the sunshine amid the freezing winter weather front currently blighting the UK. The Love Island star, 26, showed off her incredible figure in a white two-piece in a sizzling bikini snap from her recent trip to Mexico with boyfriend Marcel Somerville, 32, after revealing she had been left 'in tears' by sick online comments. Pining for the sunshine? Gabby Allen posted a sizzling bikini snap to her Instagram page on Monday night after revealing she had been targeted by vile racist social media trolls The TV personality looked sensational as she worked her magic in front of the camera, teaming the look with tinted red sunglasses and wearing her blonde hair slicked back. She wrote: 'Sorry, I know Its only been a day but I have the holiday blues. Its b****y freezing so heres a pic of me clearly worshipping the sun.' Gabby was out to show off her amazing body, after revealing to fans that despite both loving to keep fit, she and beau Marcel aren't the kind to enjoy gym sessions together. She told Now magazine: 'Marcel and I have worked out together, but not often. He knows exactly how to get his body banging by doing his own routines in the gym, so I just leave him to it!' Horrific: The Love Island star, 26, returned to Instagram after revealing she was 'heartbroken' about the abuse she had received over her relationship with Marcel Somerville, 32 Gabby added that one part of her body she never has to work out is her perky derriere, joking: 'I don't mind it being chunky. I think it's from dancing!' It's been a difficult few days for the Love Island finalist, with the Liverpudlian beauty telling fans she had been left 'in tears' by horrific racial abuse she had received online. Gabby took to Instagram on Monday to write: 'I've been reading comments on an article and I won't even say which one cause to be honest, they're just too cruel and I'm embarrassed to publicise it further. It actually move me to tears. 'I don't know why I looked but after reading one comment, I was intrigued. I find it baffling that people feel that have the right to write mean comments about someone else. Tough: It's been a difficult few days for the Love Island finalist, with the Liverpudlian beauty telling fans she had been left 'in tears' by horrific racial abuse she had received online 'Do they not have friends or family that if they received abuse of the same kind, they would be heartbroken by it? 'I hope all these keyboard warriors get found out one day and hurt as much as the upset they have had the audacity to put strangers through. 'I was so upset I had to acknowledge it. These idiots shouldn't get away with everything. But it's not all negative! 'The support and love from the majority of people is so unbelievably heartwarming and 100% outweighs the bad. Loved up: Gabby and Marcel met during the 2017 series of Love Island, finishing in fourth place in the final 'I thank each of you that writes any sort of support, even a little love doesn't go unnoticed xx' This came after Gabby first confessed she had Marcel had suffered similar abuse last year, saying on Lorraine: 'Ive grown up in multicultural cities and had have lots of different friends... and to have to deal with that it felt like a personal attack.' Clearly distressed by the shocking comments, Gabby added: 'We dont hear about it as much as it's hidden but it's still going on and we need to hear about it.' Their united front came after Gabby took to Instagram to reveal: 'Right guys so I have been reading through some of the messages I've received over the past few weeks and I'm absolutely horrified at the amount of disgusting racial abuse due mine and Marcel's relationship. 'It completely unacceptable and to know that this is still goes on in 2017, it breaks my heart. I've grown up in multi-cultural and LGBTQIA environments all my life. To know that this is still a thing, I'm mind blown.' Gabby shared a couple of screenshots of messages on her Instagram stories, the contents of which were extremely distressing. Some of the shocking comments included 'N****r lover', 'No morals dirty b****', and 'You f**king n****r lover commit genocide against your own race u filthy pice of s**t'. Gabby continued: 'Hopefully it doesn't, but if it continues I'll have to choice but to publicly name and shame every single one of you. I will show you one or two just so you can see how disgraceful it really is. Disgusting: Speaking about the shocking messages she has received, Gabby revealed: 'I just couldnt believe in this day and age that I was ever going to come out to that' 'Sorry for any distress this might have caused anyone, as you can see, behind the scenes isn't always that pretty. But thanks for the support, aside from this. I get to see my boy tonight and that's all that matters.' Gabby and Marcel met during the 2017 series of Love Island, finishing in fourth place in the final. Amber Davies and Kem Cetinay were crowned winners of the series, but parted ways in December 2017, just four months after their triumphant win. Second-place Camilla Thurlow and Jamie Jewitt remain a couple, but third place Olivia Attwood and Chris Hughes have also split since the show ended, announcing they had parted ways earlier this month. He's America's 'Human Ken Doll' who famously posed for a selfie with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during a visit to the country last year. And Justin Jedlica is heading Down Under once again. The 37-year-old - who is famous for undergoing 550 surgical procedures - is set to appear on the Today show this coming Friday, before attending Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras the following evening. Scroll down for video Down Under: 'Human Ken Doll' Justin Jedlica is heading to Australia for Mardi Gras this coming weekend, less than a year after his last visit to country where he met PM Malcolm Turnbull Justin's visit to the country was announced via Facebook on Tuesday, with the entrepreneur hoping to find a last-minute spot on a Mardi Gras float. A friend of Justin's shared a status which read: 'We're looking for spots on a fabulous float for this year's Mardi Gras after our previous float fell through a few days ago. The float includes a Drag Queen and three celebrities.' They added: 'Justin Jedlica - The Human Ken Doll - is flying from the States to celebrate Mardi Gras. He has reached international fame for having the most cosmetic surgery of any male on the planet. Justin will be on the Today show on Friday and will promote the float!' Breaking news! Justin's visit to the country was announced via Facebook on Tuesday, with the entrepreneur hoping to find a last-minute spot on a Mardi Gras float Famous! Justin has reportedly had 'the most cosmetic surgery of any male on the planet' The post went on to reveal that Justin will join The Real Housewives of Sydney's 'Botox queen' Matty Samaei and Real Housewives of Melbourne's Christa Billich at the gay pride parade. Justin was in Australia last May and, for reasons that have not been adequately explained, attended a Liberal Party budget night function while in the country. He even posed for pictures with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop. Let me take a selfie! Justin was in Australia last May and, for reasons that have not been adequately explained, attended a Liberal Party budget night function while in the country Friends in high places! He even posed for pictures with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop (centre) According to a statement from his publicist, Justin was invited by a political representative as a guest to tour Parliament House and meet and greet political figures. Since his last Australian visit, the surgery aficionado has continued to go under the knife. Last October, the star spent $26,750 on a procedure to replace the wing implants in his back. Justin's surgery list includes chest, back, cheek, and buttock implants along with four shoulder surgeries, three bicep surgeries, various liposuction surgeries, five nose surgeries, and an eyebrow lift. She's constantly flaunting her sensational figure at red carpet events and social media. And Rachel McCord exuded her sex kitten persona as she bared all for a glamorous gown and swimsuit photo-shoot in Los Angeles on Monday. The model beauty, 27, left very little to the imagination in a range of sheer lace ensembles, and stunned in a barely-there cutout swimsuit, with her toned stomach on full display. Striking beauty: Rachel McCord left little to the imagination in a racy cut-out swimsuit as she posed up a storm for an ultra-glam photo shoot in Los Angeles on Monday The Atlanta-native slipped her enviable figure into the strappy look, with a plunging neckline that showcased her ample cleavage. Clad with block tan heels, Rachel threw the camera a sultry stare while kneeling seductively on the floor. The blonde beauty let her sun-kissed tresses fall past her shoulders in a natural wave. Rachel injected a pop of colour with a chic deep berry matte lip and sweeping eyeliner. The model bombshell changed up her poses to get the most out of the slinky design, flaunting some serious side-boob and her perky derriere in a side-on sexy snap. Drop it like it's hot: The model bombshell changed up her poses to get the most out of the slinky design, flaunting some serious side-boob and her perky derriere in a side-on sexy snap Legs for days: Rachel's enviable pins got their chance to shine as she displayed her statuesque frame while standing in the racy look Seductress: The Atlanta-native slipped her enviable figure into the strappy look, with a plunging neckline that showcased her ample cleavage Rachel's enviable pins got their chance to shine as she displayed her statuesque frame while standing in the racy look. Slipping her lithe figure into the first of two decadent gowns, the American heiress star continued to show off her toned physique in a daring emerald feathered gown with saucy sequined bust and sheer paneling to get the most of her gym-honed stomach. Dressing to impress, Rachel's endless legs peeped out of her long feathered skirt, with a small train for extra drama. All eyes on her: Clad with block tan heels, Rachel threw the camera a sultry stare while kneeling seductively on the floor Red carpet ready: The American heiress star continued to show off her toned physique in a daring emerald feathered gown with saucy sequined bust and sheer paneling Flashing skin: Rachel made the most of her gym-honed stomach with decadent sheer paneling Still adding height with her sophisticated tan heels, Rachel made the most of the alluring ensemble, shooting the camera another seductive pout. Making the most of her eye-catching garb, Rachel beamed as she paraded her pert posterior in the lacy black paneling. The Getting That Girl star didn't stop there with her red carpet-ready styles, pouring her enviable shape into a nude pink jewel-encrusted gown, with vintage net lace falling delicately to the floor. Feather features: Rachel's stunning look boasted a decadent feather and sequin design Dressing to impress: Rachel's endless legs peeped out of her long feathered skirt, with a small train for extra drama The sheer backless design boasted an elaborate beading design in a stunning dusk pink colour, complementing the starlet's complexion perfectly. Rachel oozed sex appeal in the curve-hugging dress, giving her eye-popping derriere the chance to catch the eye. The blogging entrepreneur playfully smiled for the camera in one sweet snap, before throwing a serious seductress look. Smiles: The Getting That Girl star poured her enviable shape into a nude pink jewel-encrusted gown, with vintage net lace falling delicately to the floor Sheer beauty: The sheer backless design boasted an elaborate beading design in a stunning dusk pink colour, complementing the starlet's complexion perfectly Back in 2008, Rachel's sister -Annalynne McCord - was propelled to fame when she starred as Naomi Clark in the reboot of 90210. Rachel initially moved to West Hollywood to support her older sister as her 'biggest cheerleader' but she went onto carve her own career in the acting sphere. The socialite starred as Casting Girl #4 in the movie Sirens of the Caribbean and three episodes of MyNetworkTV's American Heiress. Aside from acting and modelling, the socialite founded the blog The McCord List which claims to be a network of influential women who mentor and entertain girls. Rachel lives happily with her husband of three years Rick Schirmer, their two Chihuahuas Giggles and Munchkin. Turning heads: Rachel oozed sex appeal in the curve-hugging dress, giving her eye-popping derriere the chance to catch the eye They were one of the strongest couples at the beginning of the experiment. But things have gone from bad to worse for Nasser and Gabrielle, after the pair had TWO massive fights on Tuesday's episode of Married At First Sight. The drama kicked off after Nasser continued to complain about living with Gabrielle in Sydney's Northern Suburbs, instead of staying in the inner-west where he resides. Scroll down for video Is this the end? Things have gone from bad to worse for Nasser (left) and Gabrielle (right), after the pair had TWO massive fights on Tuesday's episode of Married At First Sight 'I'm way over this stuff!' he complained. 'I'm nowhere near a shop, I'm nowhere near anything. I don't have a vibe.' Gabrielle then expressed her frustration that Nasser didn't want to spend time with her at the home, and only seemed interested in having fun when they had elaborate activities planned like 'snorkeling or horse riding'. 'You're not even trying to hear me!' she said as Nasser talked over her. 'I'm nowhere near a shop, I'm nowhere near anything. I don't have a vibe': Inner-west local Nasser was not happy living with Gabrielle in Sydney's Northern Suburbs 'I don't wanna hear you because it's always the blame on me!' he replied. 'I find it really quite hurtful,' said Gabrielle as she tried to explain her side of the story to him. When Nasser started interrupting her again, she raised her voice and snapped: 'You ARE treating me like that and don't tell me how I'm thinking alright, sweetheart!' He's not listening! 'You're not even trying to hear me,' said Gabrielle as Nasser spoke over her 'Don't tell me how I'm thinking alright, sweetheart!' Gabrielle finally lost her cool, prompting Nasser to storm out of the house With that, Nasser lost his cool and stormed out of the house. 'See ya!' he said. 'I'm not gonna stay here and deal with this s**t!' Like a petulant child, he added: 'Good on ya. See ya mate.' Speaking to the camera after the fight, Gabrielle said: 'He mistakes my kindness for weakness, and when I rise up and show strength it's not something he can handle.' Nasser later returned to the apartment, which prompted yet another explosive fight before he packed his bags for good and rode off on his moped. Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine Out! 'See ya,' said Nasser as he stormed off. 'I'm not gonna stay here and deal with this s**t!' With an acclaimed acting career that spans three decades, she is every inch the successful working mum. And Salma Hayek looked absolutely radiant as she arrived at the premiere of the Disney flick A Wrinkle In Time with her daughter Valentina, 10, on Monday night. Stepping out at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles, the Mexican actress, 51, commanded attention in an edgy, all-black ensemble which served to accentuate her petite frame. Stunning: Salma Hayek, 51, looked absolutely radiant as she arrived at the premiere of A Wrinkle In Time at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday night Like mother, like daughter: The stunning actress posed for a picture with the flick's star Rowan Blanchard as well as her sweet daughter Valentina, 10 Always one to look much younger than her years, Salma didn't disappointment as she arrived in style on the blue carpet. Wrapping up warm in a structured, tailored jacket, the mother-of-one sported a chic black turtleneck tucked into a leather skirt. The sensational skirt featured beaded strips of leather covering the intricate patterned fabric as it cut just above her ankles. Salma added to the rock and roll glamour by stomping the red carpet in a pair of ruched high heeled leather boots. Glam: The Mexican star commanded attention in an edgy, all-black ensemble which served to accentuate her petite frame Chic: Wrapping up warm in a structured, tailored jacket, the mother-of-one sported a black turtleneck tucked into a leather skirt The age-defying star accentuated her gorgeous features with a contoured make-up look and a dab of berry lip. Salma's trademark raven tresses were left long and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders. The Latin beauty took to Instagram to share a snap of her with the Disney flick's star Rowan Blanchard, as well as her sweet daughter Valentina. The trio were seen cuddling up for the snap outside the venue, which she captioned: 'With @rowanblanchard making a Valentina sandwich at the "A Wrinkle in Time" premiere// haciendo un sandwich de Valentina con Rowan en la premiere de.' Hayek shares her daughter Valentina Paloma Pinault with husband Francois-Henri Pinault. Stylish: The sensational skirt featured beaded strips of leather covering the intricate patterned fabric as it cut just above her ankles Edgy: Salma added to the rock and roll glamour by stomping the red carpet in a pair of ruched high heeled leather boots Earlier this month, Salma admitted to Oprah Winfrey that she felt too ashamed to come forward and talk about Harvey Weinstein's sexual harassment at first because she didn't want her daughter Valentina to know. Hayek has accused the disgraced producer of sexually harassing her a number of times throughout their longstanding professional relationship - something which he vehemently denies. The Frida star told Winfrey, 64, that she decided it was important to speak out because her pain was 'so small' compared to other people's. She said: '[The New York Times] contacted me to be a part of the first story and already by this contact, there was all this turmoil and I started crying when they asked and I ended up not doing it. Beauty: The age-defying star accentuated her gorgeous features with a contoured make-up look and a dab of berry lip Mane attraction: Salma's trademark raven tresses were left long and loose as they cascaded over her petite shoulders 'And then I felt ashamed, that I was a coward. I was supporting women for two decades but I couldn't do this ... I thought of my daughter ... I thought of the shame. 'When it came out, then I was ashamed that I didn't speak up and then when so many women came out, it was a strange sensation. I felt like my pain was so small [compared to others]. I thought, ''There's no point for me to talk because it happens to everyone''.' Hayek, after declining to take part in the NYT story, later wrote a first-person piece for the newspaper detailing sexual harassment allegations against Weinstein. The alleged harassment occurred when they were making the 2002 biopic Frida together and Hayek claimed Weinstein tried to thwart the project because she refused to grant him sexual favours. They've been flirting with each other since arriving in the South African jungle for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! And after four weeks living in close quarters, Josh Gibson and Simone Holtznagel finally revealed the TRUTH about their relationship on Tuesday night's episode. The moment came after model Simone, 24, was presented with a newspaper article from home, in which her mother had said that former AFL star Josh possessed all the attributes her daughter was looking for in a boyfriend. 'Margaret Holtznagel reserves her right to give her blessing only after she's met the former Hawthorn player. He's easy on the eye, and says her daughter looks for a fella who is tall,' read the newspaper article. 'Mum!' an embarrassed Simone squealed as she read the story. Meanwhile, Josh watched the scene unfold with a rather cheeky smile on his face. A rumble in the jungle? After four weeks living in close quarters, Josh Gibson and Simone Holtznagel finally revealed the TRUTH about their relationship on Tuesday's I'm A Celebrity 'That is the biggest fake story ever. We're like brother and sister!' Simone stated, confirming the truth about her relationship with Josh. However, her campmates appeared far from convinced, as I'm A Celebrity producers aired a highlight reel of the pair's most flirtatious moments. At one point in the montage, Josh was seen walking over to Simone with a flower in his mouth before romantically presenting it to the blonde. Interested? Josh (right) watched eagerly as Simone read aloud a newspaper article in which her mother Margaret was asked about her thoughts on a potential romance between the pair In another snippet, Simone was seen complaining when Josh had gifted another female campmate a present. 'But Josh is my boyfriend!' she said. Meanwhile, it appears the genetically-blessed twosome already have the blessing of their fellow I'm A Celebrity campers. Flowering romance? I'm A Celebrity producers aired a highlight reel of Josh and Simone's most flirtatious moments, including the time when the former AFL star gifted the model a flower Comedian Peter Rowsthorn remarked: 'Out of the park hot as a couple. Boom, A1, hot couple. Hey, have some babies, they'd be good-looking!' Vicky Patterson added: 'I am romance starved, I've not seen a good one in years. And I'm hooked with Josh and Simone.' I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Ten The Bachelor's Noni Janur led the celebrity arrivals at the End of Summer Party at Upper East Side in Sydney's Bondi on Tuesday. The 27-year-old looked simply stunning in a wrap dress as she joined Lana Jeavons-Fellows and Tim Dormer at the star-studded soiree. The dress code for the evening was white, and Noni certainly brightened up the room when she arrived in her flirty ensemble. A bit of all white! The Bachelor's Noni Janur led the celebrity arrivals at the End of Summer White Party at Upper East Side in Sydney's Bondi on Tuesday Noni white dress was embellished with mini diamond cut-out shapes. Her style highlights included a pair of camel ankle strap heels and a large woven clutch bag. The reality TV star nailed the brief by sweeping her lightened hair into a high ponytail. Slender star: The 27-year-old looked simply stunning in a wrap dress as she joined Lana Jeavons-Fellows (pictured) and Tim Dormer at the star-studded soiree Fellow Bachelor alum Lana Jeavons-Fellows showed off her svelte figure in a midriff-baring two-piece outfit, which she paired with a black heels. She showed off her slender waist in an asymmetrical crop top, and accessorised with a pair of trendy black sunglasses which she tucked into her neckline. Lana completed her effortlessly chic in a pair of flared trousers and casually threw a black chain purse over her shoulder. Looking good! Former Bachelor runner-up Lana showed off her svelte figure in a midriff-baring two-piece outfit, which she paired with a black heels Meanwhile, Tim Dormer showed off his trademark curly hair as arrived at the event in a suitably summery ensemble. The former Big Brother winner opted for ripped tight jeans, a button-up shirt and brown boat shoes. Tim was also seen at the party with Hollywood correspondent Richard Reid. White hot! Tim Dormer showed off his trademark curly hair as arrived at the event in a suitably summery ensemble She was vying for another shot at love during the American spin-off Bachelor Winter Games. And despite not succeeding, Tiffany Scanlon, 31, looked like she was doing just fine on her own as she took to her Instagram platform with a sizzling bikini-clad snap. The beauty, who famously embarked on an affair with fellow contestant Megan Marx on The Bachelor Australia in 2016, displayed her rock hard abs in a skimpy white two-piece as she soaked up the sun in Bali, Indonesia. Bikini babe: Tiffany Scanlon, 31, displayed her rock hard abs in a skimpy white two-piece as she soaked up the sun in Bali, Indonesia A keen gym bunny, Tiffany displayed the fruits of her labour in the barely-there swimwear as she got comfortable on a sun lounger. Her bikini top plunged perilously to display her ample assets and chiselled torso, while her matching bottoms put emphasis on her bronzed pins. The blonde bombshell shielded herself from the glaring rays with a pair of white-rimmed sunnies as she giggled away. 'Laughing is a form of ab exercise...I pretty much laugh all day long,' she cheekily captioned the snap. 'You need motivation': Echoing the importance that a gym is not needed, Tiffany went on to admit that she has managed to keep her abs despite being being in Bali for a month Echoing the importance that a gym is not needed to stay in shape, Tiffany went on to admit that she has managed to keep her abs despite being being in Bali for a month. This comes after Tiffany revealed the juicy behind-the-scenes gossip from the US production of Bachelor Winter Games. Taking to her blog The Tiffany Times, the reality star described some of the more X-rated moments - which didn't always make it to air. While the show had a chilly setting, Tiffany hinted that things would be heating up between the cast after long days on the slopes. 'We called it the bang bang room': Despite not finding love on the show, Tiffany recenrly revealed the juicy behind-the-scenes gossip from US spin-off Bachelor Winter Games Good with his hands! The former flight attendant, who hails from Perth, confessed that her co-star Ben Higgins (pictured) gave 'orgasmic massages' The former flight attendant, who hails from Perth, confessed that her co-star Ben Higgins gave 'orgasmic massages'. 'He gave me a massage... that put me to sleep on his lap,' she wrote on her blog. ABC's Bachelor Winter Games brought together a group of former Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants from around the world to compete in winter sports-themed challenges. Tiffany was joined by former Bachelor Australia contestant Courtney Dober as well as stars from the New Zealand version of the franchise. Love: ABC's Bachelor Winter Games brought together a group of former Bachelor and Bachelorette contestants from around the world to compete in winter challenges Spilling the secrets! While the show had a chilly setting, Tiffany hinted that things would be heating up between the cast after long days on the slopes She went on to explain that the stars nicknamed the spare bedroom in their chalet the 'bang bang room' and also revealed they would play late night spin-the-bottle. However, Tiffany admitted that Winter Games didn't have the same hookup culture as the franchise's other spin-off, Bachelor in Paradise. 'We were all pretty respectful of other people,' she wrote. Tiffany concluded: 'I'm pretty sure this was the best version of the Bachelor everyou should probably watch to decide for yourselves!' Last week, she unveiled her surgically-altered nose during a shopping trip in London, after undergoing a mystery procedure at a private Essex hospital. And Danniella Westbrook appeared to be back in fine form on Monday night, when she stepped out for her first DJ gig of the year at a nightclub in Epping, Essex. Putting on a healthy and happy display, the former EastEnders star, 41, was joined by her 21-year-old son Kai Jenkins as she partied up a storm between hitting the decks. Girl about town: Danniella Westbrook stepped out in style for her first DJ gig of the year at a nightclub in Epping, Essex, on Monday night The embattled TV personality stepped out in style for the occasion, wearing a semi-sheer black layered dress, which she teamed with towering nude heels. Accessorising with a black leather Gucci handbag, the mother-of-two also showed off her new choppy honey-blonde bob, which perfectly framed her famous face. Danniella, who is expecting to start her own DJ tour next year, unveiled her newly-enhanced nose on Thursday afternoon, during an impromptu visit to British brand Burberrys flagship store in the English capital. She nose what's up: The 44-year-old former EastEnders star appeared to be in an upbeat mood as she showed off her surgically-enhanced nose She's got the moves: As she hit the dancefloor, the embattled actress showed off her moves Lip service: As her 21-year-old son Kai Jenkins posed for a snapshot in front of her, Danniella was seen getting a friendly kiss from one of the partygoers Her outing came several days after was seen leaving a private hospital in Essex, where she wore a large bandage across her nose, 17 years after cocaine abuse resulted in her septum collapsing. The television personality underwent a face lift, as well as a breast augmentation in a bid to rejuvenate her appearance last year. And while it was unclear what procedure she underwent, it seemed as though the Faith, Hope And Clarity author was keen on continuing her quest for perfection. Dress: She wore a semi-sheer black layered dress, which she teamed with towering nude heels Tress-ed to impress: Accessorising with a black leather Gucci handbag, the mother-of-two also showed off her new choppy honey-blonde bob, which perfectly framed her famous face Dancing up a storm: Danniella danced up a storm as she took pride of place in an elevated spot The mother-of-two recently released her own revenge porn photos to defeat a stalker she claims stole the photos and threatened to kill her and her children. Danniella was driven to release the personal photos after claiming the stalker had made threats against her life and that of her two children Kai, 21 and Jodie, 16, and to take control back reports The Sun. She claimed the stalker's two-year campaign of harassment worsened after they threatened to release the intimate photos stolen from her iCloud account - sent during a sexting session with a 21-year-old personal trainer she met on a dating app. Specs appeal: She was seen briefly sporting a pair of dark-rimmed spectacles as she partied Money moves: East London-born Danniella is expecting to go on her first DJ tour next year Social butterfly: She mingled with a host of fellow partygoers, posing for snapshots with them The star said she was 'petrified' by the messages, is unable to sleep at night and has become ill due to the stress of the harrowing messages. 'Rather than let someone hold me over a barrel... I thought it's just easier to put these pictures out [myself] - and say 'This is what I'm up against.' 'I've been f****** petrified of this woman. It started in 2016. It's been constant, for two years... week in week out.' MailOnline has contacted Danniella Westbrook's representative for comment. Back: Danniella has slowly emerged back on the social scene after her recent mystery surgery Cosmetic surgery enthusiast: The television personality underwent a face lift, as well as a breast augmentation in a bid to recapture her youth last year Telv Williams called Dean Wells a 'c**khead' when they aggressively clashed on Married At First Sight last week. And it appears the rival TV husbands are set for another showdown when they meet again on Wednesday's episode of the show. In an explosive trailer, Dean asks Telv to step outside for a chat during the dinner party - and the pair's feud appears to escalate with Telv bluntly stating: 'I think you're an arrogant a**ehole!' At last week's dinner party, Telv slammed Dean for cheating on his wife Tracey Jewel with Instagram model Davina Rankin. And things seem to go from bad to worse on Wednesday, with the possibility of the pair physically clashing. 'I'm just not going to forget what happened,' a fired-up Telv says, hinting at a fight. Will it turn physical? It appears rival TV husbands Dean (right) and Telv (left) are set for another showdown when they meet again on Wednesday's episode of Married At First Sight A fight at the dinner party? 'Security get ready!' a groom is heard saying in a trailer for the episode, before a distressed Tracey (pictured) screams, 'Are you kidding me?' 'Security get ready!' another groom is heard saying, before a distressed Tracey screams: 'Are you kidding me?' The next episode of MAFS will also see Gabrielle Bartlett breaking down in tears as her marriage to Nasser Sultan appears all but doomed. In the trailer, the 44-year-old mother-of-one looks emotional as she arrives at the group dinner party on her own. Alone in the crowd: The next episode of MAFS will also see Gabrielle (centre) breaking down in tears as her marriage to Nasser Sultan appears all but doomed 'I'm looking on at the dinner party, and I'm alone again,' she weeps. It seems Nasser may end their marriage during the episode, as he says in the preview: 'I'm not gonna fight for anybody. I don't even fight for my f**king sister!' He then declares, 'You know what? I'm gone!' as his co-stars look on in shock. Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine Snow may be falling across Europe, but that didn't stop Gigi Hadid from living up to her fashion icon status on Tuesday. The US beauty looked sensational in a super chic nude dress as she exited the Royal Monceau hotel to prepare for Paris Fashion Week. Gigi, 22, showed off her trim figure in the midi length dress which did little to keep out the winter chill. Exiting in style: Snow may be falling across Europe, but that didn't stop Gigi Hadid from living up to her fashion icon status on Tuesday as she exited the Royal Monceau hotel in Paris The runway queen chose an off-the-shoulder number for the first official day of Paris Fashion Week. While she has yet to grace a catwalk during the Paris Autumn/Winter 2018 season, Gigi turned the pavement outside the hotel into her own runway. The blonde strutted outside in her nude number, which showed some skin on her chest and shoulders. Nude number: The US beauty looked sensational in a super chic nude dress as she left the hotel to prepare for Paris Fashion Week, which kicked off on Tuesday She accessorised perfectly, with knee-high cream boots, and a camel-coloured bag. A pair of on-trend shades completed her look, while her long locks were styled into cascading waves over one shoulder. Tuesday marks the start of another Paris Fashion Week, following on from London and Milan. Fashionable exit: While she has yet to grace a catwalk during the Paris Autumn/Winter 2018 season, Gigi turned the pavement outside the hotel into her own runway Hardly weather appropriate! A smiling Gigi ignored the flakes of snow falling as she completed her outfit with knee-high cream boots, and a camel-coloured bag VIP coming through: Gigi headed out for appointments before getting driven back to her hotel Gigi and her model sister Bella showed no signs of stopping their busy modelling schedules on Sunday, as they jetted out of Italy and made a tired arrival in Paris. The girls walked in a number of high-profile catwalk shows during Milan Fashion Week, including Roberto Cavalli, Missoni, Versace and Moschino. The duo then rounded off their appearance at the Tommy Hilfiger show on Sunday night, with Gigi the worldwide ambassador for the brand. Cold shoulder: Gigi was surrounded by security and cameras for her outing in the city Elegant: The blonde is preparing for another busy week of runways and shows for PFW He has worked hard to step out of the shadows of his famous father, Clint Eastwood. And Scott Eastwood has admitted that his globally recognised last name didn't help him in the slightest when it came to the dog eat dog world of Hollywood and he didn't know the 'struggle' of the business until he began his acting career. Reflecting on his rise to the top, the American actor told Be: 'It's hard. Hollywood's a tough place. You've gotta keep going and keep trying and I did that for years and years. It's tough. It can be discouraging.' 'It was a struggle': Scott Eastwood, 31, has admitted that his famous last name didn't help him in the slightest when it came to making it in Hollywood Scott's father Clint rose to fame in the sixties following the success of the Western TV series Rawhide. And while the acclaimed actor served as inspiration for his son's career path, Scott has now explained that it was immensely difficult to carve out his path in the acting business. Scott, who has been temporarily residing in Sydney's Bondi Beach during the filming of the hotly anticipated second film in the Pacific Rim Uprising franchise, admitted that the industry was all a 'number's game.' 'It can be discouraging': Despite growing up with his famous dad, Scott revealed he didn't know the 'struggle' of the business until he started he began his acting career Iconic: Scott's father Clint served him with the initial inspiration to get into the business after rising to fame in the sixties following the success of the Western TV series Rawhide 'There's so many great actors out there and there's so many talented people but it's a lot of a number's game. You've gotta just keep going on auditions.' Scott also stressed that he worked hard to get to the top without the help of his dad Clint - which led him to undertaking various unfulfilling part-time jobs. 'Did I know anything about the industry really? Not until I started working in it. Not until I had to go and bar tend, and valet park cars and work construction while I auditioned for films. 'Then you know what hard work is to get into a film and try to be an actor,' he proudly confessed. Struggle: While the acclaimed actor served as inspiration for his son's career path, Scott has now explained that it was immensely difficult to carve out his path in the acting business 'I had to go and bar tend, and valet park cars and work construction': Scott also admitted he undertook various unfulfilling part-time jobs Scott has now cemented his rising status in Hollywood and will be next be seen in the all-new Pacific Rim Uprising which was shot in Sydney. The action-packed Pacific Rim Uprising film is set to hit screens Australia wide on March 22 this year. The flick will also star John Boyega, Adria Arjona and Tian Jing. Upcoming: Scott has now cemented his rising status in Hollywood and will be next be seen alongside John Boyega in the all-new Pacific Rim Uprising which was shot in Sydney They play lovers in the new spy thriller Red Sparrow. And now, Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton have been romantically linked off-screen as well. On Wednesday, The Daily Telegraph claimed 'rumours are swirling throughout Hollywood' that the 27-year-old Oscar winner is dating the Australian actor, 43. 'Rumours are swirling throughout Hollywood': According to The Daily Telegraph, Red Sparrow co-stars Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton are rumoured to be dating Jennifer and Joel have been seen putting on a series of flirty displays in recent weeks as they promote their new film together. According to the Sydney newspaper, 'the co-stars are often seen having private moments, chatting and giggling together'. During their latest public appearance in New York on Monday, the pair looked cosy as Joel wrapped his arm tightly around Jennifer's waist. New power couple? During their latest public appearance in New York on Monday, the pair looked cosy as Joel wrapped his arm tightly around Jennifer's waist The NYC sighting came after Jennifer and Joel were seen smiling and holding hands at the European premiere of their film in London on February 19. In Red Sparrow, Jennifer appears nude and the movie also features sizzling sex scenes between the pair. Speaking with the Herald Sun on Tuesday, Joel said of his co-star: 'Jen's a machine. She's up for anything and (is) game to wrestle with whatever demons she needs to for the sake of the movie.' 'Jen's a machine': Joel praised his co-star in an interview with the Herald Sun on Tuesday. Pictured together in London on January 20 Jennifer split with her director ex-boyfriend Darren Aronofsky, 49, last November. Joel was previously linked to stunning French model Dayan Reeves in late 2016. The Sydney-born actor was engaged to Balinese fashion designer Alexis Blake before they split in 2013. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Jennifer and Joel's representatives for comment. Kim Kardashian is in Tokyo with Kourtney and Khloe to film Keeping Up With The Kardashians. And the city seems to bring out the zany side of the reality TV maven as she was seen pulling a crazy face on Snapchat Monday evening. The 37-year-old mother-of-three stuck her tongue out as she posed with her makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic. Scroll down for video Wild: Kim Kardashian is in Tokyo with Kourtney and Khloe to film Keeping Up With The Kardashians. And on Monday she shared this zany clip Kooky Kimmy: The city seems to bring out the zany side of the reality TV maven as she was seen pulling a crazy face on Snapchat Monday evening; in the background is Kourtney The star captioned the clip, 'Glam Masters shoutout. Kim & Mario in Tokyo.' She was still in a white bathrobe as her pink hair was parted in the middle and flowed down her shoulders. 'We are in Japan,' said Kim after Mario asked her if he could reveal their location. He then continued, 'Hey guys Mario and Kim here. Today is the premiere party of Glam Masters in New York. We're so sorry we can't be there. It airs on Wednesday. Have a great time tonight guys.' Her guru: The 37-year-old mother-of-three stuck her tongue out as she posed with her makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic Arigato: 'We are in Japan,' said Kim after Mario asked her if he could reveal their location Kim sticks out her tongue then pouts as she has fun with the camera. 'We love you guys,' said Kim as she blew a kiss. Kourtney is in the background saying, 'We love you so much.' She is in a makeup chair and is fully glammed. Love is in the air: 'We love you guys,' said Kim as she blew a kiss. Kourtney is in the background saying, 'We love you so much.' She is in a makeup chair and is fully glammed This comes after Kim finally debuted a photo of her third child, daughter Chicago. The TV star shared a sweet image to Instagram where she was holding the little girl, born on January 15. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star added a filter with pink round ears and a white nose as she captioned the image, 'Baby Chicago.' Here she is! Kim finally debuted a photo of her third child, daughter Chicago, on Monday Kim wore a white robe and had her hair pulled back in a ponytail as she puckered up for the camera. Little Chicago had on a white top with a burping cloth around her neck. She already has a good head of hair and long eyelashes just like mom. A swaddled Chicago was already seen in Kylie Jenner's 11-minute baby reveal video shared on Super Bowl Sunday. But her face could not be seen. Love at first sight! A swaddled Chicago was already seen in Kylie Jenner's 11-minute baby reveal video shared on Super Bowl Sunday. But her face could not be seen Kim and husband Kanye West already have daughter North, aged four, and son Saint, aged two. Their first photos were very different as neither had a filter on them. West shared the first glimpse of North when she was 10 weeks old, unveiling a candid shot of the baby girl looking over her moms shoulder on the Kris Jenner Show in August 2013. Their first photos: West shared the first glimpse of North when she was 10 weeks old. And Kim posted this photo of Saint when he was three months old Baby Chi: Chicago was the only one to get a filter with ears and a little nose Saints first photo was shared when he was three months old, when Kim showed him in a onesie while asleep. This comes after Sunday's episode of KUWTK where she said she's been over the moon since welcoming Chicago. But the star confessed she was anxious that she might 'not care as much' about the little one. During the conversation recorded last fall, the social media starlet reassured herself everything would be the same, explaining: 'Everyone says it's like no different' to her sister Khloe. Before the big news! Kim with husband Kanye West in LA on January 12, just three days before Chicago was born Kim weighed the pros and cons of the surrogacy during her chat with her younger sis, who is currently expecting her very first child with fiance Tristan Thompson. 'Even though I will appreciate not having to gain the weight and then lose the weightI so would have rather have done it on my own,' Kim said. The 5foot3 star gained 52 lbs during her first pregnancy and 60 while expecting son Saint, hence her apprehension about the extra baby weight. She continued, admitting she was worried she would feel differently about this little one than their two older siblings. What's on your mind? Kardashian admitted she was worried she 'might not care as much' about her third baby during a chat with sister Khloe on Keeping Up With The Kardashians 'I just hope I care as mucheveryone says its like no different,' the star confessed. All things considered, Kim told sister Khloe: 'I still would have rather done it myself.' It appears that Kim's worries were nothing to lose sleep over, though. Kim gave fans a glowing update about her little one Saturday on Twitter after a fan asked 'How is Chi doing?' Ups and downs: Kim weighed the pros and cons of the surrogacy during a talk with her younger sis Khloe, who is currently expecting her very first child with beau Tristan Thompson New: Also on Monday, a new teaser for KUWTK aired. In it, Kim is heard saying during her San Francisco trip with Khloe and Kourtney that her surrogate is 'in town' The reality star replied: 'The sweetest! Best baby! She looks a tiny bit like North and a tiny bit like Saint but definitely her own person!' Also on Monday, a new teaser for KUWTK aired. In it, Kim is heard saying during her San Francisco trip with Khloe and Kourtney that her surrogate is 'in town.' Season 14 of KUWTK continues next Sunday on E! Advertisement She began her career on the catwalk before changing lanes and focusing on acting following her stellar performance in Paper Towns. Despite focusing on her cinematic efforts, Cara Delevingne, 25, proved she's still got her model moves as arrived to the Christian Dior AW18 show in Paris on Tuesday. The style star, who is the face of Dior's new anti-aging line, showcased her incredibly taut stomach in a tiny black bandeau boob tube which she offset with a pair of high-waisted navy tailored trousers for the ready-to-wear presentation. Model behaviour: Cara Delevingne, 25, proved she's still got her model moves as arrived to the Christian Dior AW18 show in Paris on Tuesday Adding an edge to her ensemble, she teamed the look with a pair of Christian Dior branded underwear which rest above her chic pants. Continuing to up the style ante, she donned a matching navy blazer while she draped a statement knee-length tweed jacket over her svelte figure. The Suicide Squad actress added inches to her look as she slipped on a pair of pointed boots while she sported an on-trend train driver hat over her newly-dyed dark pixie crop. Not the only one to put their best fashion foot forward, Cara was joined by fashionista Olivia Palermo and her husband Johannes Huebl as well as French-Canadian actress Charlotte Le Bon in a head-turning red trench, model Winnie Harlow and Lottie Moss. Top of the crops: Cara took off her blazer once inside the show to display her Christian Dior branded crop top All in the details: The Suicide Squad actress added inches to her look as she slipped on a pair of pointed boots while she sported an on-trend train driver hat over her newly-dyed dark pixie crop Waist not: The style star, who is the face of Dior's new anti-aging line, showcased her incredibly taut stomach in a tiny black bandeau boob tube which she offset with a pair of high-waisted navy tailored trousers for the ready-to-wear presentation Getting chic done: Continuing to up the style ante, she donned a matching navy blazer while she draped a statement knee-length tweed jacket over her svelte figure Picture perfect: Cara posed up a storm as she arrived to the event Camera ready: Cara posed with Dior designer Maria Grazia Chiuri backstage Having fun: Cara stuck her tongue out as she posed with a young fan backstage Fashion forward: Cara appeared on the FROW for the colourful catwalk show Follow the fashion leader: The FROW had their phones out in force as they captured the models walking down the catwalk for the last time Snap happy: Cara was busy recording the show on her phone Abs-olutely: Cara highlighted her many intricate inkings in her stomach-grazing top Hats on: Cara accessorised her look with a number of rings alongside Pietro Beccari In the navy: She looked incredible in her statement look Style: Cara smoldered down the camera as she arrived to the show Strike a pose: Dylan Penn and Winnie (R) caught up ahead of the show Model moment: Canadian model Winnie Harlow stunned in a thigh-grazing tweed dress Check her out! Winnie looked incredible as she posed outside the Dior show in her stylish ensemble Legs eleven! Winnie looked phenomenal in her plaid coat dress that skimmed her tights-clad thighs Skin-flashing: Lottie Moss showcased plenty of skin as she arrived to the show in her wraparound skirt with colourful print Upping the style stakes: Keeping to her all black theme, Lottie donned a black shirt with her head-turning skirt Cara's outing comes as she has raised a number of eyebrows over the status of her relationship with Paris Jackson, 19. The pair first set tongues-wagging after they were seen were sneaking out of the fire escape of a nightclub hand-in-hand in November. The duo were then spotted embarking on Christmas celebrations together, amid reports they have become close friends in recent weeks. According to The Sun, Paris has visited Cara in Italy and the Czech Republic while she films new TV project Carnival Row, and has enjoyed a number of other city breaks with the model in Europe. Fashion friends: Winnie attended the vibrant show alongside French actress Lola Le Lann (R) Effortless: Zoey Deutch (L), Olga Kurylenko and Isabelle Huppert (R) attended the fashion event Style savvt: Fashionista Olivia Palermo and her husband Johannes Huebl looked sensational in their complementing looks Red alert: Not the only one to put their best fashion foot forward, Cara was joined by French-Canadian actress Charlotte Le Bon (L) in a head-turning red trench alongside some fashionable attendees including Dylan Penn (R) Striking: Olivia was striking in a vintage inspired grey dress which accentuated her slender frame Signature style: Influencer Kristina Bazan, French art director Julia Restoin Roitfeld and YouTuber Tanya Burr arrived in their signature style for the event (pictured L-R) Moving on up: As well as being a social media star, Tanya is breaking into the world of acting and has been keeping her fans posted about her latest projects on Instagram Burr-illiant: Tanya looked fashion forward in her ornate Dior dress and stiletto heels as she walked down the red carpet Catwalk ready: Gabriella Wilde (L) and Bianca Jagger arrived to the event Stepping out: Sofia Sanchez de Betak, Yasmin Le Bon and Selah Marley arrived to the event (Pictured L-R) Class act: Italian actress Eugenia Costantini showcased her petite frame at the event The pair are also believed to have bonded over their love of music - with the supermodel fascinated by Paris' father, the King of Pop. A source said: 'They really hit it off at the MTV Movie and TV Awards in LA in May and have been hanging out since. 'She invited her as guest of honour to her Christmas Burberry X bash in London, before whisking her away to Venice then Prague the weekend after, where they celebrated Christmas early at the markets. Showing them how it's done: British model Adwoa Aboah donned a sheer number for the catwalk which was embellished with floral detailing Seventies chic: Edie Campbell and Adwoa Aboah posed together backstage ahead of the show Splash of colour: The ready-to-wear collection was filled with colour and a mix of textures Making a splash: The collection featured clashing prints and colours which were sure to pop on the catwalk Inspiration: The catwalk was covered in old magazine covers including one from Vogue Fancy footwear: The boot proved to be a big star on the runway, heavily featuring in an array of styles and leathers Stepping out: Italian fashion designer Maria Grazia Chiuri stepped out following the runway show 'It's early days, and Cara doesn't really have time for a proper relationship due to her non-stop filming commitments with Carnival Row, but there's no denying there's a spark.' MailOnline has contacted both Paris and Cara's representatives at the time for comment. The unlikely pair first caught attention when they were spotted leaving a nightclub in Dalston together via the fire escape. The outing came three months after Cara's breakup from St Vincent, while Paris split from boyfriend Michael Snoddy in February last year. Vibrant: The catwalk and seats were a feast of colour for the eyes Nasser Sultan and Gabrielle Bartlett are certainly going through a turbulent time in their relationship on Married At First Sight. And Gabrielle's twin sister Kerrie immediately sensed red flags when she spent time with the couple on Tuesday night's episode. Speaking with The Fix on Wednesday, Gabrielle confessed the meeting left Kerrie feeling 'panicked', before going onto reveal the reason why. That sinking feeling! Married At First Sight's Gabrielle Bartlett says her twin sister Kerrie was left feeling 'panicked' after she met Nasser Sultan for the first time on Tuesday's episode During the encounter, Kerrie watched on awkwardly as the couple aired their grievances with one another. 'I think my sister was really feeling for me because she could see I was putting in a lot of effort because he's not someone who would normally be my type,' Gabrielle said. 'Kerrie was, I think, quite panicked that I possibly completely wasted my time'. On the defensive: Nasser publicly aired his grievances at the lunch as Kerrie watched on Following the tense lunch, the sisters were seen having a heart-to-heart. Kerrie told Gabrielle that she had a problem with the way her husband had treated her, saying: 'I found you very spoken to... a little bit dictated to. That just spoke volumes to me.' Later in the episode, Gabrielle and Nasser once again became embroiled in a fiery clash. Her sister's keeper: Following the tense, lunch Gabrielle had a heart-to-heart with her twin 'I found you very spoken to... a little bit dictated to': Kerrie was left feeling as if Nasser was too controlling Gabrielle expressed frustration that Nasser didn't want to spend time with her at home, and only seemed interested in having fun when they had elaborate activities planned like 'snorkeling or horse riding'. Nasser then stormed out the house, leaving to go back to his own inner-city pad. After the fight, Gabrielle confessed: 'He mistakes my kindness for weakness, and when I rise up and show strength it's not something he can handle.' Married At First Sight continues Wednesday at 7:30pm on Channel Nine Confrontation: Later in the episode, Gabrielle expressed frustration that Nasser didn't want to spend time with her at home Joy-Anna Duggar and her husband Austin Forsyth have debuted their baby boy. On Tuesday the couple shared a first photo of the child, named Gideon, as they posed at home. Their caption read, 'We are so blessed by the arrival of our son, Gideon Martyn Forsyth! He was born on 02/23/18 @ 3:39pm, weighing 10lbs. 3oz. and was 22 inches long!' Pride and joy: Joy-Anna Duggar and her husband Austin Forsyth have debuted their baby boy Sweet child: Their caption read, 'We are so blessed by the arrival of our son, Gideon Martyn Forsyth! He was born on 02/23/18 @ 3:39pm, weighing 10lbs. 3oz. and was 22 inches long!' Joy-Anna is in a peach colored short-sleeved shirt and her spouse has on a black shirt with jeans. They are seated near their kitchen. The two coo over the little boy who wears a light blue and white top and is bundled up in a fake fur blue blanket. The Counting On star gave birth to son Gideon on Friday. Happy guy: The two coo over the little boy who wears a light blue and white top and is bundled up in a fake fur blue blanket Hello world: The Counting On star gave birth to son Gideon on Friday which makes him only four days old 'We are blessed beyond measure with the arrival of our son, Gideon Martyn Forsyth. Looking at our child for the first time was such an incredible moment! God is so good, and we are so thankful,' the couple told People. It is likely that she may have gotten pregnant on her wedding night, which was 36 weeks and five days ago. A full term pregnancy is 40 weeks. RadarOnline claimed last year that she was pregnant before she was married, breaking the courtship principles the family holds so dear. Young newlyweds: Joy-Anna and Austin wed at Cross Church in Rogers, Arkansas, in May after a three-month engagement Eyebrows were also raised when Joy-Anna moved up her wedding date by several months. It was speculated she had to get married quickly before she started showing. Joy-Anna, 20, and Austin, 24, wed in May 2017 at Cross Church in Rogers, Arkansas. They announced their pregnancy in August. 'Were so happy and thankful to announce that were expecting a baby!' Joy-Anna told People at the time. 'Every child is such a precious gift from God.' Surprise: In August they revealed that they are expecting their first child together. 'Were so happy and thankful to announce that were expecting a baby!' Joy-Anna told People at the time. 'Every child is such a precious gift from God' The Counting On star added: 'Im most looking forward to watching Austin as a dad and raising children together with him.' The Duggar family also shared the exciting news on their website, writing: 'We are so blessed to share that Joy and Austin are expecting! 'We know they will be such wonderful parents! We can't wait to meet this little one!' Joy-Anna met Austin when he moved to Arkansas and started attending the same church as her family. Like his wife, Austin was raised in a strict Christian home, and the two were expected to abstain from sex before marriage and wait until their wedding day for their first kiss. Abstinance: Joy-Anna and Austin were both raised in strict Christian homes, and the two were expected to wait until their wedding day for their first kiss Jet setters: Following their honeymoon in Switzerland, the couple spend their one-month anniversary in Israel The two were engaged for just three-months before they exchanged vows in front of their family and friends. Following their wedding, Joy-Anna and Austin traveled to Switzerland for their honeymoon. While sharing a scenic photo from their trip on Instagram, Joy-Anna wrote: 'Married life is going great, I feel so blessed to be married to my best friend. I can't wait to spread joy and the word of god to all of you out there.' Joy-Anna shared photos of herself dirt bike riding with her husband on their joint Instagram account. 'I always love getting to do new things & go on new adventures with my man! #firsttimedirtbiking #loveyouforeverandalways,' Joy-Anna captioned the images. Fun cravings: The star enjoyed ice cream from this bowl that read, 'Eating for two' And Joy-Anna isn't the only Duggar who has a growing family. Joy-Anna's older brother Josh Duggar and his wife Anna had their fifth child after a series of scandals, including serial infidelity and a stint in faith-based rehab. Meanwhile, their sister Jill Duggar, 26, and her husband, Derick Dillard, welcomed their son Samuel Scott Dillard in 2017. He is the second child for the couple, who also has a two-year-old son named Israel. Jessa Duggar, 24, shares two sons, Spurgeon and Henry, with her husband Ben Seewald, and Jinger Duggar, 23, tied the knot with Jeremy Vuolo last November. Joy-Anna famously has 18 siblings, but when it comes to the size of her own family, she told People: 'We want as many [children] as the Lord thinks we can handle'. She has followed in her famous father's footsteps and forged a successful showbiz career. And Sean Penn's daughter Dylan turned heads at the Christian Dior show for Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday. The model, 26, cut a chic figure in a sheer full-length navy lace skirt which showed off her leggy frame. Scroll down for video Stunner: Dylan Penn turned heads as she showed off her endless pins in a navy lacy skirt at the Christian Dior show for Paris Fashion Week on Tuesday Dylan, who is the daughter of Sean and Robin Wright, ensured all eyes were on her lithe limbs in the racy skirt, which she teamed with a ribbed grey polo neck. The American beauty added a boost to height with navy sling-back heels and accessorized the look with a embossed black bag. She styled her long blonde tresses in soft curls and complemented her sophisticated ensemble with deftly touches of make-up. American beauty: She styled her long blonde tresses in soft curls and complemented her sophisticated ensemble with deftly touches of make-up Wow factor: The model, 26, cut a chic figure in a sheer full-length navy lace skirt which showed off her leggy frame Dylan stepped into the limelight in 2013 when she modeled for Gap and then went on to star in GQ, W and Elle. Penn has previously said she only models for the money and really wants to write and direct films. Her father Sean was married to Dylan's mother, House Of Cards star Robin Wright, from 1996 to 2010. The couple also raise son Hopper, 24, together. Figure-hugging: Dylan, who is the daughter of Sean and Robin Wright, ensured all eyes were on her lithe limbs in the racy skirt, which she teamed with a ribbed grey polo neck Effortlessly stylish: The American beauty added a boost to height with navy sling-back heels and accessorized the look with a embossed black bag Working the cameras: The model posed alongside Winnie Harlow who looked equally as stylish in a grey checked mini dress Dylan has previously spoken out about the similarities she shares with her father, admitting the pair 'both have an ego'. Speaking to the New York Post in November 2015, she explained: 'I've always said I'm more like my dad. We both have an ego. 'We're both like very opinionated and, I don't know, sometimes confident in a way that could be annoying. Both of us have realized recently we need to kind of chill out. 'He's taken a little bit longer than me. In his old age hes come to realize it's just not very attractive anymore.' Fashion forward: Cara Delevingne appeared on the FROW for the colourful catwalk show Splash of colour: The ready-to-wear collection was filled with colour and a mix of textures Follow the fashion leader: The FROW had their phones out in force as they captured the models walking down the catwalk for the last time Kim Kardashian used to step out for a night on the town in sexy plunging evening gowns with sky high stilettos. But these days the 37-year-old KKW Beauty entrepreneur is all about the Eighties aerobic workout look from husband Kanye West's Yeezy season seven. The mother-of-three debuted the stretchy top and bicycle shorts with YEEZY 500 Blush sneakers and thick socks - a look Olivia Newton-John and Jane Fonda made famous almost 40 years ago - as she headed to the red light district in Tokyo with sister Kourtney. Ready for jazzercise: Kim Kardashian wore Yeexy workout attire designed by husband Kanye West as she headed to dinner in Tokyo on Monday evening Fresh look: The looker wore a stretchy top and bicycle shorts with YEEZY 500 Blush sneakers and thick socks; she also held on to a cute pink Ferrari flip phone The siren added a puffy silver jacket that stopped at her waist to stay warm. The Instagram favorite also held on to a cute pink Ferrari flip phone. The only thing that looked modern-day were her long pink locks which has been a style favored by millennials. Kim looked to be in a shy mood as she kept her head down while modeling the zany attire. Someone has been working out: The Calabasas native showed off muscular legs Wild look: The siren added a puffy silver jacket that stopped at her waist to stay warm Plug! The savvy California-born wore the look to promote husband West's new Yeezy line The savvy California-born star wore the look to promote husband West's new Yeezy line - this is the first look at the outfit on her. Fans looked amused as they gathered on the street to catch a glimpse of the Keeping Up With The Kardashians siren as she made her way into a restaurant. The looker was also followed by an big entourage. Her inspiration? Jane Fonda wore shiny blue with thick socks and sneakers in the Eighties Thinking pink: The only thing that looked modern-day were her long pink locks which has been a style favored by millennials Red hot sib: Also there was her older sister Kourtney, 38. The beauty had a more conventional look, though it was a departure from her norm Also there was her older sister Kourtney, 38. The beauty had a more conventional look, though it was a departure from her norm. The ex of Scott Disick had on red shiny leather slacks with a sheer shirt that read Open 24 Hours over a black bra. Fashion forward: The ex of Scott Disick had on red shiny leather slacks with a sheer shirt that read Open 24 Hours over a black bra Keanu, someone took your coat: The workout addict added a long black leather rain coat that must have been straight out of the film Matrix The workout addict added a long black leather rain coat that must have been straight out of the film Matrix. And for sex appeal the 98lb looker added pointy black heels with fishnet stockings. There was no sign of pregnant sister Khloe. After dinner they hit the red light district. Kim was seen exiting the Adult Shop Joyful which appeared to sell sex tapes. She and Kourtney also stood by a row of vending machines. XXX: After dinner they hit the red light district. Kim was seen exiting the Adult Shop Joyful which appeared to sell sex tapes Looking for a Diet Coke? She and Kourtney also stood by a row of vending machines Norwegian model Kat Hessen is the face of Yeezy Season 5 and muse of Kanye West. Kanye's Muse: The other K in his life, Kat hessen is the face of season 5 and muse of Kanye West That same day Kim appeared in a clip on Snapchat. Thee city seems to bring out the zany side of the reality TV maven as she was seen pulling a crazy face during the video. The mother-of-three stuck her tongue out as she posed with her makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic. Wild: Kim on Monday she shared this zany clip where she acted wild Kooky Kimmy: The city seems to bring out the zany side of the reality TV maven as she was seen pulling a crazy face on Snapchat Monday evening; in the background is Kourtney The star captioned the clip, 'Glam Masters shoutout. Kim & Mario in Tokyo.' She was still in a white bathrobe as her pink hair was parted in the middle and flowed down her shoulders. 'We are in Japan,' said Kim after Mario asked her if he could reveal their location. He then continued, 'Hey guys Mario and Kim here. Today is the premiere party of Glam Masters in New York. We're so sorry we can't be there. It airs on Wednesday. Have a great time tonight guys.' Here she is! Kim finally debuted a photo of her third child, daughter Chicago, on Monday Kim sticks out her tongue then pouts as she has fun with the camera. 'We love you guys,' said Kim as she blew a kiss. Kourtney is in the background saying, 'We love you so much.' She is in a makeup chair and is fully glammed. This comes after Kim finally debuted a photo of her third child, daughter Chicago. The TV star shared a sweet image to Instagram where she was holding the little girl, born on January 15. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star added a filter with pink round ears and a white nose as she captioned the image, 'Baby Chicago.' Kim wore a white robe and had her hair pulled back in a ponytail as she puckered up for the camera. Their first photos: West shared the first glimpse of North when she was 10 weeks old. And Kim posted this photo of Saint when he was three months old Baby Chi: Chicago was the only one to get a filter with ears and a little nose Little Chicago had on a white top with a burping cloth around her neck. She already has a good head of hair and long eyelashes just like mom. A swaddled Chicago was already seen in Kylie Jenner's 11-minute baby reveal video shared on Super Bowl Sunday. But her face could not be seen. Kim and husband Kanye West already have daughter North, aged four, and son Saint, aged two. Their first photos were very different as neither had a filter on them. West shared the first glimpse of North when she was 10 weeks old, unveiling a candid shot of the baby girl looking over her moms shoulder on the Kris Jenner Show in August 2013. She was unlucky in her quest for lasting romance in the Love Island villa. Yet fast-forward ten months and Montana Brown appears to have found more success as she has reportedly found love with hunky model Elliott Reeder, with whom she is said to share a love of fitness and travelling. Insiders told The Sun that the 22-year-old that the couple met at Christmas yet made things official in recent weeks - after the stunning star 'fell hard' for the hunk, who previously shared a saucy picture of the pair with his 10,900 followers. Loved-up: Montana Brown appears to have found more success as she has reportedly found love with hunky model Elliott Reeder, with whom she is said to share a love of fitness and travelling Montana was a popular addition to the Love Island villa, on the third series of the show which kicked off in June last year, where she found love with Alex Beattie. After failed attempts at love with Dom Lever and Sam Gowland, she eventually left the villa with the model in fifth place. Their relationship soon deteriorated however and she has since been single since departing the house - reportedly until meeting Elliott. The insider revealed: 'Montana and Elliott met before Christmas, but they've only been officially seeing each other for the last few weeks. Smouldering: Insiders told The Sun that the 22-year-old that the couple met at Christmas yet made things official in recent weeks - after the stunning star 'fell hard' for the hunk, who previously shared a saucy picture of the pair with his 10,900 followers Hot stuff: Montana was a popular addition to the Love Island villa, on the third series of the show which kicked off in June last year, where she found love with Alex Beattie 'It's early days but they've got loads in common - they're both really into fitness and travelling. They want to keep things quiet but it's all going really well. He seems smitten!' In a show of their blossoming romance, Montana made an appearance on Elliott's Instagram profile - embedded among his sizzling shirtless shots. Proving his model prowess, Elliott is on the books at W Model Management, which also boasts Rosie Huntington-Whiteley's brother Toby as a signing. Stunner: In a show of their blossoming romance, Montana made an appearance on Elliott's Instagram profile - embedded among his sizzling shirtless shots MailOnline has contacted representatives for Montana for comment. Before the demise of her relationship with Alex, the then-loved up star told Now: 'Things are really good. You know weve both had so many opportunities so its a bit of a whirlwind, but you know hes literally smashing it. 'Im really proud of him. We get to see each other quite a lot because hes down in London quite often, so thats fine. She slammed her former brother-in-law James Stunt for making jibes about the Ecclestone family in a tell-all interview released 'on his daughter's birthday' on Tuesday. And Tamara Ecclestone put the drama of the dispute behind her later that day as she joined sister Petra to celebrate little Lavinia's fifth birthday in style. Posing for a glamorous snap against a backdrop of vibrant pink balloons Tamara, 33, looked stunning as she rang in the special day with family and friends. Family time: Tamara Ecclestone joined sister Petra to celebrate her niece Lavinia's fifth birthday in style, after slamming Petra's ex James Stunt for making jibes about the Ecclestone family in a tell-all interview released 'on his daughter's birthday' The devoted aunt and socialite captioned the snap: 'Celebrating our beautiful princess Lavinia happy birthday beautiful kind girl.' (sic) Her brunette tresses were styled in her signature soft waves, parted in the middle while her glamorous make-up look featured metallic eyeshadow, fluttery false lashes, liquid liner and a slick of peach lipstick. She later joined her beloved 28-year-old sister Petra for a sizzling photo, with the siblings looking relaxed and content as they stood in front of the baby pink backdrop, which was adorned with flowers. Petra wore her platinum locks in tumbling waves, while statement eyebrows, fluttery lashes and candied pink gloss completed her make-up look. Glamour: The devoted aunt and socialite captioned the snap: 'Celebrating our beautiful princess Lavinia happy birthday beautiful kind girl.' (sic) Showing the strength of their bond, Tamara captioned the shot: 'Celebrating your princess.' As well as Lavinia, Petra also shares twin sons James and Andrew, two with ex husband James. Earlier in the day Tamara took to Instagram to slam James for criticisms levelled at her family in his tell-all interview with Tatler, in which he labelled their father F1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone a 'dwarf' and called Petra a 'horrible human being. She wrote: 'What kind of "man" does this on his daughter's birthday? Unless he stops telling lies about my family we will have to start telling the truth about him.' Fun times: Tamara shared a sweet snap of her daughter Sophia, three in the snow on Monday In his tell-all interview, Mr Stunt also said he was as rich as ever and still gambles, although he said his '5million-a-night losses' were now down to 20,000. But he also claimed he lost his standing after marrying the Formula One heiress. He described Miss Ecclestone as the best girl I ever met, but said she is now like this girl whos had a lobotomy and gone to Jonestown. This is a horrible human being. The billionaire spoke of how he struggled with an addiction to morphine and Valium for months after moving to Los Angeles with Petra following their wedding. He told Tatler: I think, Theyre from a doctor, theyre fine. And being the addictive personality I am, I start taking them like Smarties. Suddenly, Im addicted, Im a great fat bloated porker. Slammed: Earlier in the day Tamara took to Instagram to slam James for criticisms levelled at her family in his tell-all interview with Tatler Mr Stunt said he got off the drugs in world-record time and claims reports of overdoses were wrong, blaming one medical episode on taking morphine while he had pneumonia which was like giving Kryptonite to Superman. Another overdose was actually a tropical disease from a mosquito bite, which he said stopped my heart after I fell to the floor. Thats not an overdose. Mr Stunt denied being a coke addict in the interview, though he admitted to taking the drug about five times in his life when he was a teenager, adding people often mistake his ADHD for drug use. Even though Mr Stunt bears no ill will towards Mr Ecclestone, he told the magazine his father Geoffrey blames Miss Ecclestones father for the marital breakdown. Anger: She wrote: 'What kind of "man" does this on his daughter's birthday? Unless he stops telling lies about my family we will have to start telling the truth about him (pictured with Stunt in 2014) Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, Bernie claimed drugs were partly to blame for the breakdown of the marriage and said: 'He got heavily into drugs and that has changed him and they have taken their toll. It is a great shame as James was a nice man when he got married. 'I hope he stands out as an example to young people who can see the damage that drugs can do.' He also hit back at his former son-in-law for labelling him a dwarf. He said: 'He can say what he likes as every man is entitled to their own opinion, and if that is his opinion of men that is good. 'But it is a pity that he is like that. He was a nice guy when he got married.' Over: Mr Stunt met Miss Ecclestone in 2006 and married in 2011 in a 12million ceremony in Rome The divorce proceedings were not short of controversy and Mr Stunt was even accused of making a 'gun gesture' to Mr Ecclestone at one point. Mr Stunt met Miss Ecclestone in 2006 and married in 2011 in a 12million ceremony in Rome. The couples assets include a 100million Chelsea mansion and a 158million home in Los Angeles. But in June they began their court battle which saw Mr Stunt evicted from the Chelsea property. Mr Stunt then moved in to his Belgravia property. He retains a collection of classic cars including a Lamborghini and two Rolls-Royce Phantoms. The couple announced a divorce settlement had been reached last October. Afterwards, Mr Stunt said in a statement: I am devastated that my marriage has broken down. I love Petra and our children. Miss Ecclestones father, 86, told MailOnline: Im just glad its over. Petra is too. She has been very tolerant and has been concerned about James. Now we are going for a family meal. No champagne, no big celebration. Hitting back: Their father and F1 tycoon Bernie Ecclestone also hit back at his former son-in-law for labelling him a dwarf Tamara posted her support on Instagram, saying: Youre a diamond dear, they cant break you. No details of the settlement were revealed. Mr Stunt signed a prenuptial agreement worth 16million. Mr Stunt now lives in a 12million house in Mayfair, West London, and boasts a security detail of 25. Anne Hathaway would have made the Devil Wears Prada villain Miranda Priestly proud on Tuesday. The 35-year-old looked elegant in a white dress and sky-high heels when she stopped by a photo call for AHC Cosmetics in Seoul, South Korea. This comes just months before the Oscar winner will be seen in the highly anticipated Ocean's 8 movie with Sandra Bullock and Cate Blanchett. Scroll down for video Stunning: Anne Hathaway dazzled in white at a photo call in Seoul as the brand spokesperson for South Korea-based beauty line, AHC Cosmetics on Tuesday International beauty! Hathaway was all smiles as she showed off her gorgeous complexion at the promotional event The Les Miserables star smiled as as she showed off her style at the promotional event. Hathaway kept her look minimal by donning a classy white dress with chiffon-like sleeves, and white Christian Louboutin pumps. She casually wore her shiny brown tresses down and seemed to direct attention to her gorgeous face with rosy lipstick, light blush, eyeliner, and long lashes. Damsel in white: The Les Miserables star wore a sophisticated dress with classy Christian Louboutin pumps Gorgeous: The 35-year-old looked every bit the star she is during the event, 'Sharing the Joy of Beauty with Anne Hathaway' Flawless makeup: Hathaway proved why she was chosen to be the AHC's brand ambassador, as her makeup looked effortless Minimal: The Devil Wears Prada actress kept her look minimal by donning few embellishments This year, Hathaway has been busy wrapping up numerous films, including Serenity, The Hustle, and Ocean's 8. She has kept fans in the loop on social media with frequent updates, including an Instagram photo she shared on Thursday with The Hustle co-star Rebel Wilson. The Princess Diaries actress wrote: 'The Hustle stars this genius lady and me, but dont let the smiles (or the new title) throw youwere still nasty to the core. @rebelwilson and I are coming for your money June 29th #itsgoodtobebad #stillnasty #thehustle.' Classy gal: The actress gracefully made her way to the stage during the glamorous event Thumb's up! Meryl Streep as nasty fashion magazine editor Miranda Priestly in 2006's The Devil Wears Prada The latest reincarnation of the Ocean's Eleven series hits theaters June 8. Under the tagline, 'Every con has its pros,' the new film stars Sandra Bullock as ringleader Debbie Ocean, the sister of George Clooney's Danny. After getting out of jail, she recruits seven women - Hathaway, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Awkwafina and Helena Bonham Carter - to help her pull off a jewelry heist at the annual Met Gala in New York. Starring on The Bachelor worked wonders for his career. But Sam Wood insists there's a right and wrong way to find fame as a reality star, throwing subtle shade at the direction the genre is heading. 'If you're not doing it for the right reasons, I think you're going to come unstuck,' he told MSN in an interview published Wednesday. 'You're trying to create an outcome that's fabricated': The Bachelor 2015 star Sam Wood has slammed reality stars who just want to be famous, warning 'it never really works' He told the publication the key to success for himself and 2015 series winner Snezana Markoski was that the pair signed up for an adventure. 'She didn't take it too seriously, she didn't go in with pre-conceived ideas or expectations to become a celebrity,' he said. Sam said the pair often find themselves laughing at the fact they met on The Bachelor. The personal trainer stopped short of criticising the show format, but argued the reason they got together is because they were being their true selves on the show. 'Unstuck': 'If you're not doing it for the right reasons, I think you're going to come unstuck,' he told MSN in an interview published Wednesday 'Whereas if you go into those things and you try and be someone you're not, you're trying to create an outcome that's a bit fabricated... It never really works,' he said. Going in with a fame-hungry mindset may result in short-term media attention, but rarely results in anything meaningful. Sam and Snezana, on the other hand, welcomed their first child in October - The first Australian Bachelor couple to do so. Adventure! He told the publication the key to success for himself and 2015 series winner Snezana Markoski was that the pair signed up for an adventure No ideas: 'She didn't take it too seriously, she didn't go in with pre-conceived ideas or expectations to become a celebrity,' he said There's more on the way, but Sam insisted getting married was first on their agenda. He also dished the dirt on the recent 'sugar-free parenting' trend championed by social celebrities such as Michelle Bridges and Rachael Finch. REALity love: Going in with a fame-hungry mindset may result in short-term media attention, but rarely results in anything meaningful Sam is well-aware of how to live a healthy lifestyle - in fact he's copped his fair share of social media criticism for at times appearing 'too focused on fitness.' But he said if you're a parent who doesn't have any chocolate or snacks in the house whatsoever, 'you've gone too far with it.' 'Let kids be kids,' he said. Her wedding to Peter Stefanovic was shrouded in secrecy last year, to protect her privacy. But it seems Sylvia Jeffreys expects differently from royals, with the Today star admitting she's 'disappointed' that Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle will be private. During Wednesday's show, co-host Tim Gilbert took a swipe at the presenter while pointing out that she too had a private wedding. Pot meet kettle? Sylvia Jeffreys admitted she's 'disappointed' that Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle will be a private affair. Tim Gilbert (R) then pointed out that she too had a private affair Sylvia kicked off the conversation by complaining that the public won't get to see the Spice Girls reunite at the royal wedding. 'Can I just get something off my chest very quickly. Royal related. If there's going to be a Spice Girls reunion, should it not be for the people of the world and not just for the royals?' she said. 'I just - I'm just a bit disappointed. You know, we have been waiting for months, for years, for this to happen and all of a sudden, it is happening but just at an exclusive party for royals and rich people. The rest of us want to see the Spice Girls.' Frustrated: 'If there's going to be a Spice Girls reunion, should it not be for the people of the world?' Sylvia asked on Today Tim then pointed out: 'Hang on a moment, you had a very special wedding. This is their very special wedding.' Last year, Sylvia tied the knot with her Channel Nine colleague Peter Stefanovic at the exclusive Ooralba property in NSWs Kangaroo Valley. A select group of 160 guests witnessed the nuptials, which was a strictly private affair. Wedding bells! Last year, Sylvia tied the knot with her Channel Nine colleague Peter Stefanovic at the exclusive Ooralba property in NSWs Kangaroo Valley Invite only: A select group of 160 guests witnessed the nuptials, which was a strictly private affair Sylvia took to Instagram to complain after a paparazzi photographer tried to 'crash' her big day. 'Shout out to the determined pap who was this keen to crash our wedding (no pun intended),' she captioned a snap of the photographers car in a ditch. 'Not sure how you managed to drive into a dam... but hope you've dried out. Peace. #weddingcrasher #whatamelt.' It's been one year since a 72-year-old man was shot in the head and chest while riding his motorised bicycle along a rail trail in regional Victoria and police are no closer to tracking down his attacker. Kelvin Tennant was lucky to survive after being shot three times while riding on the Myrtleford-Everton Rail Trail in Everton at about midday on February 18 last year and police say they still don't know why the grandfather of eight was targeted. Police want to speak to anyone who passed by the Burgoigee Creek rest area on the Great Alpine Road around the time of the shooting, as well as two cyclists who stopped to help Mr Tennant but left before emergency services arrived. Tasmania's Liberal Party looks set to be returned to government at Saturday's election, according to the latest poll. An EMRS poll of 1000 voters released on Tuesday has the state's Liberal government with a 46 per cent approval rating after being neck-and-neck with Labor in December. "The opposition vote appears to have stalled with four consecutive polls at 34 per cent while the Greens have fallen to their lowest level of support in more than eight years at 12 per cent," EMRS chief operations director Sam Paske said. A Sydney karaoke bar manager who allowed a female patron to become so intoxicated she vomited into a bucket provided by venue staff has copped a 10-year ban from the industry and nearly $50,000 in fines. David Trinh who ran Replay Karaoke in Bankstown has received some of the heaviest sanctions imposed for liquor licence breaches in recent years, the Independent Liquor & Gaming Authority (ILGA) said on Tuesday. In May last year, the venue was shut down for 48 hours after undercover inspectors observed patrons drinking directly from full bottles of spirits and shots being served contrary to licence conditions. A severely intoxicated female patron was seen unable to stand without assistance, vomiting into a bucket provided by venue staff. Inspectors were also able to buy a full bottle of whiskey, consume alcohol outside of approved areas and buy two beers after 12am, outside the venue's approved trading hours. Trinh also refused to supply the venue's CCTV and alcohol sales data to Liquor & Gaming NSW. ILGA has ordered Trinh pay a $10,000 fine and more than $14,500 in investigation costs. His company, Koi Corp Pty Ltd, has also been ordered to pay a $25,000 fine. New polls appear to show the Barnaby Joyce scandal has had an impact on voters, with the coalition losing the ground it made up at the start of the year. An Essential poll released on Tuesday shows the coalition's two-party preferred vote is at 47 per cent, compared to Labor's 53. Another poll, released by ReachTel on Sunday, show the coalition at 46 per cent, and Labor at 54 per cent. It means the gains the government made in climbing up to 48 per cent in the first Newspoll of the year three weeks ago have been wiped out by Mr Joyce's scandal. The former Nationals leader resigned on Friday after 16 days of scandal over his affair with now-pregnant former staffer Vikki Campion, jobs she was given in political offices and his use of travel expenses. Mr Joyce played down suggestions new leader Michael McCormack was just warming his seat under he came back. "I never rule anything in or anything out, because otherwise later in life you look like a hypocrite ... (but) I don't expect to ever return," Mr Joyce told reporters on Tuesday. The Essential poll also found 60 per cent of voters thought Mr Joyce should have resigned as leader. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull revealed he ordered an investigation of whether Mr Joyce broke the ministerial code of conduct, but it was canned when the deputy prime minister resigned. Opposition leader Bill Shorten said government MPs had spent the last three weeks fighting among themselves, while Labor was campaigning for new jobs and training. "We are talking about real projects, real jobs, real sustainable jobs," Mr Shorten told caucus on Tuesday. "We are determined to put TAFE back at the centre of vocational education." For much of the 2000s Perth was awash with money and in party mode thanks to the mining boom. For those lucky enough to be in the mining industry as well as the Western Australian government, which collected soaring resources royalties, there was more money than many knew what to do with. It is not news that the boom and the party ended several years ago and some undisciplined tradies overcomitted on houses and toys and couldn't pay their debts. But what many cannot fathom is how the state government was just as undisciplined, leaving WA with record budget deficits and debt set to pass $40 billion in the aftermath of the greatest economic boom in its history. A major inquiry into WA's fiscal crisis released last week by former Treasury boss John Langoulant was scathing of the former government's financial management. Colin Barnett's Liberal National government of 2008-17 is portrayed as arrogantly ignoring the advice of Treasury to urgently curb spending as if the mining boom and high iron ore prices would go on forever. Among the standout culprits, the report found, was the multibillion dollar Royalties for Regions program in which far too much of the mining royalties - 25 per cent - was wasted, "shovelled" for the last decade to rural areas at the expense of the city for projects with no business cases. One of the most damning criticisms was a $4.3 billion contract awarded to global company Serco to run Perth's new Fiona Stanley Hospital in Perth without a business case, and which has been beset with problems since, but there were many examples. Mr Barnett refused to meet with Mr Langoulant for his Special Inquiry into government programs and projects, telling The West Australian newspaper last week it was a "nasty political" act. Mr Langoulant was appointed by the current Labor government, which instructed him on the projects to probe - of which most were poorly rated. The terms of reference only covered the Liberal National government - not Labor before it - and gave Mr Langoulant had $1.5 million to spend, of which he says $1.1 million was used. The Liberals and Nationals fiercely defended the legacy of Royalties for Regions in building infrastructure in rural WA. They rejected Mr Langoulant's description of it as "the main factor that caused difficulties for the government, it destabilised financial management, the system clogged up the cabinet process". But how do Mr Barnett or current Liberal leader Mike Nahan defend the fact that when the WA government's revenue more than doubled to $28 billion during 2013 - before iron ore prices fell - debt ballooned in the same period by more than 400 per cent to over $20 billion? Debt is currently at a record level above $30 billion and forecast to peak at $40 billion-plus in the next few years, while the the current record budget deficit is about $3 billion and WA has not had a triple-A credit rating since 2014. WA's per capita expenditure was more than 20 per cent higher than NSW and Victoria's last year. Mr Langoulant rejects Mr Barnett's excuse for the debt as being due to WA having the nation's lowest GST share, instead saying the problems go beyond that, adding Treasury had warned the ex-premier about GST but he kept the economy on "full throttle" anyway. He also rejects the Liberals and Nationals argument that they had to award massive public servant pay rises during the boom to avoid a brain drain, driving the budget into deficit because the pay hikes could not be unwound. "The problem was the government spent too much and took its eye off its risk management responsibilities ... our royalties were what needed to be managed," Mr Langoulant said of the Barnett government. "I feel for the current government, they have been dealt an impossible hand ... they have got a set of finances which are beyond belief." Dr Nahan said no-one, including Treasury, Labor or Mr Langoulant had predicted the iron ore price in 2013-14 and WA Nationals leader Mia Davies said "everyone can look back with the benefit of hindsight". One of Mr Langoulant's key recommendations - of 107 - is to be more fiscally conservative in the good times and build strong, recurrent surpluses for when things inevitably come back as happens in the boom-bust cycle of mining-exposed economies. The Barnett government did good things for WA, especially building infrastructure such as the Elizabeth Quay river development, new stadium and major roads, but it should have been done with recurrent surpluses so the debt level would have been sustainable, he said. Premier Mark McGowan said future generations and governments had been saddled with enormous debt and deficits and his government broadly endorsed Mr Langoulant's recommendations to ensure future governments avoid the same mistakes. Veteran WA political commentator Peter Kennedy said the challenge for the Labor government was to follow those recommendations, as it had major capital works to complete such as the multibillion dollar Metronet rail project and $400 million-plus new museum. A crossbench senator is worried the classification of pornography in Australia is misleading women about what is "normal" about their bodies. Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm used a Senate committee hearing in Canberra on Tuesday to question the Communications Department about what defines hardcore and softcore porn. Senator Leyonhjelm asked whether the department was aware of the airbrushing of female genitalia in softcore porn. Officials said they were not personally aware. "Are you aware of the argument of this airbrushing, which is said to be occurring, has contributed to a misunderstanding amongst women as to what is normal," he asked. The senator said he had also heard airbrushing was leading to plastic surgery - something members of the department again said they weren't privy to. "You must move in sheltered circles," Senator Leyonhjelm said. The department agreed to look into the matter and report back to the committee. Australian Federal Police want to speak with federal Nationals MP George Christensen after he posted a photo of himself on Facebook holding a handgun with the caption: "Do you feel lucky, greenie punks?" The AFP is looking to chat to the Queensland politician as it works out exactly what has occurred and which criminal offences may apply. "We're assessing it, and as part of that assessment we're talking to a range of people including complainants," AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin told a Senate committee in Canberra on Tuesday. Greens senator Nick McKim asked the commissioner whether the possibility Mr Christensen "tried to pretend he was joking" was of any consequence. "I think everything around the post and the individual's intention or otherwise is germane to the investigation," Mr Colvin said. The man who has guided $3.5 billion of federal government investments in new renewable energy technology is stepping down after six years in the job. Inaugural Australian Renewable Energy Agency chief executive Ivor Frischknecht has told the government he will step down in August rather than seek a third term in the job. Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg thanked Mr Frischknecht for his contributions since 2012, saying he had helped to make ARENA a success with his expertise in energy, innovation and early-stage investment. Residents and businesses in three Melbourne suburbs will soon be banned from buying, selling and using balloons, water bottles and other single-use plastics at council events, in a move to help the environment. The City of Darebin, which takes in the suburbs of Preston, Northcote and Thornbury, has voted unanimously to ban the plastic items from being sold or used on council land and at events run by the council. The policy will have a two-year transition period and will provide exemptions for health and safety reasons, a council spokesman told AAP on Tuesday. Local economies are being devastated and the Tasmanian brand is at risk because of a catastrophic fruit fly outbreak, federal Labor MP Justine Keay says. Her Tasmanian electorate of Braddon is being hit hard by the outbreak that she says is the result of biosecurity failures through funding and staff cuts at both state and federal levels. The outbreak, first identified in January, is hurting local economies, jobs and businesses, she said. China won't accept produce from within a fruit fly exclusion zone in the state's north, while Taiwan has locked out Tasmanian fruit. "Farmers are forced to sell their product in other markets and are receiving half the price they would have if they could export to China," Ms Keay said. "Worse, the Tasmanian brand is being damaged and potentially Tasmania's fruit fly free status has been compromised because of systemic failures by this government and the Tasmanian state Liberal government." Former agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce rolled his eyes while Ms Keay targeted federal biosecurity standards, before rising to take aim at cuts by Labor. "The Labor Party decimate the agricultural budget which, through the $4 billion agricultural white paper, we had to refurbish our investment in biosecurity measures," he said. He also praised government agencies for containing outbreaks of Panama disease TR 4 and white spot. Plans to drug test welfare recipients are back on the federal government's agenda after the coalition party room endorsed new proposed laws. The Turnbull government had hoped to drug test 5000 Newstart and Youth Allowance recipients across three trial sites in NSW, Queensland and Western Australia from January, but the plan was scrapped in December when the Senate rejected it. But on Tuesday the proposed new legislation received strong support from the coalition party room, as the government plans to try to get the laws through again. Labor says it will consider a royal commission-like inquiry into the NSW government's $2.5 billion splurge on sporting stadiums if elected in 2019. Opposition Leader Luke Foley on Tuesday declared he was putting Premier Gladys Berejiklian "on notice" over plans to knock down and rebuild stadiums at Sydney's Olympic Park and Moore Park. It follows a leaked cost-benefit analysis by consultants KPMG that suggests demolishing and rebuilding Allianz Stadium would merely "break-even". While a simple refurbishment would deliver "significantly negative net economic outcomes", the economic return on a rebuild would be no greater than the investment, according to the analysis obtained by News Corp Australia. Mr Foley said the proposal was untenable and questioned the government's haste to commit to the projects ahead of the state election in March 2019. "If you want to rush indecently here and bypass public scrutiny, parliamentary scrutiny, the proper planning system, proper due process, then an incoming Labor government will reserve the right to establish a special commission of inquiry with royal commission powers into this stadium scandal," he said. "I've just put the government on notice." Sports Minister Stuart Ayres in a statement said: "The NSW government is awaiting the final business case for Allianz Stadium and Infrastructure NSW is developing a strategic business case for ANZ Stadium." Meanwhile, Liberal MP Matthew Mason-Cox criticised the government for prioritising "a couple of sporting stadiums before the welfare of the most vulnerable children and families in our community". The former Baird-government minister said the party room hadn't yet been told where the business case stood but "all the evidence points to it being difficult to justify". "The party room hasn't had time to reflect on this, we haven't seen a business case, and I think the government needs to be more transparent in its decision-making," he told Fairfax Media on Tuesday. A tribunal charged with reviewing federal government decisions has witnessed a 24 per cent rise in applications in the past year, and its workload continues to climb. The Administrative Appeals Tribunal scrutinises decisions around Centrelink, child support, disability payments and paid parental leave. But its largest and most politically-charged area of work centres on migrants and refugees. The AAT received 51,426 applications to review decisions in 2016-17, a 24 per cent increase on the previous year. In the last six months of 2017, the total number tracked even higher, with 29,537 applications. The AAT experienced a 12 per cent increase in social security related matters in the past financial year and a modest rise in general applications. But over the same period, it received a whopping 41 per cent increase in migration and refugee applications, with 26,604 coming in. "The level of increase has accelerated during the first half of this financial year as well," AAT registrar Sian Leathem told a budget estimates hearing on Tuesday. In the last six months of 2017, the tribunal received more than 19,000 applications to its migration and refugee division. It set aside just five per cent of the immigration department's decisions on refugee cases over the six months. Ms Leathem said overall rate of decisions set aside was impacted by a high volume of recent applications brought forward by Malaysian individuals. "There's a significant number of people in that category who often will not turn up for a hearing, so the set aside rate has been effectively a lot lower for that cohort of cases," she said. "So I expect that is impacting on the overall set aside number." Labor is backing plans to name and shame bosses who exploit sponsored migrant workers. Government legislation would give the Department of Home Affairs the power to publicly identify those migrant sponsors who have been sanctioned for failing to meet their obligations. Shayne Neumann, the opposition's immigration spokesman, says that means workers will be better informed about the companies they might work for. "There are unfortunately unscrupulous bosses in Australia who take advantage of vulnerable workers, often temporary or overseas skilled workers, and they exploit them," he said on Tuesday. "These abhorrent and disgusting acts not only exploit the most vulnerable workers in Australia but they're also to the detriment of the pay and conditions of all Australian workers." Labor is backing the bill but Mr Neumann has called on the scope to be widened to include other migrant workers, including seasonal workers. He also pleaded the opposition's case again for tougher labour market testing rules to ensure Australians get the first shot at local jobs. Malcolm Turnbull says MPs should keep secret the identities of people who make sexual harassment allegations. Labor's Tanya Plibersek asked the prime minister about the issue after the identity of a woman who alleged Barnaby Joyce had sexually harassed her was leaked to the media. "Members of parliament privy to those complaints should not disclose the identity of the complainant. If the honourable member wants to make an allegation against any member of parliament, she should stand up and do so," Mr Turnbull told parliament on Tuesday. A young Melbourne man allegedly shot in the legs as part of an ongoing family feud claims a car followed him and his friends before they were attacked. Suhayl Omran, 19, told Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday he had only seen his alleged attacker, Zakaria Zaatiti, about "twice in my life" before the alleged shooting on August 11 last year. Zakaria Zaatiti, 23, is accused of shooting Mr Omran and a 16-year-old at Roxburgh Park. The father-of-two allegedly made terrorism-related Google searches, including for "rocket propelled grenade launcher" and "Islamic State" in the days before the shooting. It's also claimed he visited his victims in hospital and offered them money to withdraw their police statements. Suhayl Omran told the court he had a phone conversation with Zaatiti's cousin Omar Zaatiti before the shooting, demanding $4000 over a family dispute. The teenager became agitated during cross-examination from Zakaria Zaatiti's lawyer Shaun Ginsbourg on Tuesday, saying his questions were "stupid". He said he was concerned when he realised he and his friends were being followed. "I was worried. Why wouldn't I be worried if a car is following me?" he said. Zaatiti is facing a committal hearing to determine if he will stand trial over the charges. The parents of two missing girls have made a tearful plea after the pair disappeared days ago from Queensland's Wide Bay area. Police believe Imogen Steer and Samara Hadley could be with two men travelling in a car with the Queensland registration 639 XSQ after the 14-year-olds were last seen in the Hervey Bay area late on Sunday. "Please come home. Just contact us as soon as possible. We need something, give us something, we need answers. It's gone on for too long, 40 hours is too long for our girls," Imogen's mother Peta told the Seven Network. He may be the poster boy of this week's Gold Coast Commonwealth Games swim trials but Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers claims he is flying under the radar. A household name after his shock Rio 100m freestyle win, the 19-year-old Chalmers will be one of the most recognisable faces when he makes his official return to the pool along with ex-world champions Cate Campbell and James Magnussen at the four-day meet starting on Wednesday. Yet the young gun reckons he has kept a low profile in his comeback from 2017 heart surgery and now wants to create waves in the selection trials' opening blue riband event - Wednesday night's 200m freestyle final. Chalmers' pet event is still the 100m but he has also set his sights on the 200m ahead of Tokyo 2020, bolstering an already stacked domestic field that the Rio champ believes will produce the fastest four-lap heat in Australian swimming history on Wednesday morning. "I haven't done a lot of media before the meet, I think I am almost flying under the radar if I can say that but it is good," Chalmers said. "This is probably the best mental and physical spot I have been in to race well since Rio and I will need to be. "Tomorrow morning will probably be the fastest heat we see in the history of Australian 200m freestyle - I have to be on." Besides Chalmers, the 200m field will also feature last year's shock winner - Rio 400m gold medallist Mack Horton - multiple national champ Cameron McEvoy, No.1-ranked Clyde Lewis, veteran Dave McKeon and rising stars Elijah Winnington and Jack Cartwright. Only three individual 200m spots will be on offer for April's Games. Chalmers said he wasn't feeling the pressure - unlike the 2017 trials. Chalmers was still buzzing from his Rio success when he came crashing back to earth at last year's world titles trials when he was upstaged by McEvoy in the 100m final. He still qualified for the 2017 world titles but withdrew for surgery to rectify an irregular heart beat condition that had plagued him since childhood. "I think life has started to get back to normal (after Rio)," Chalmers said. "This is probably the first comp without the pressure and I have been able to do my own thing. "I am now excited about racing. That was probably something I wasn't experiencing last year because I felt there was a lot more pressure on me and I probably put that pressure on myself. "Now it is getting back to basics and swimming the way I know works." Former dual world champion Magnussen will return from a shoulder reconstruction and line up against Chalmers in Thursday night's much anticipated 100m freestyle final. Ex-world record holder Campbell will also make her official return after taking a 2017 sabbatical following her disappointing Rio campaign. A man has been charged with the attempted murder of a relative after he allegedly attacked the victim with a hammer at a house in NSW's Lake Macquarie region. Police allege the 54-year-old used a hammer to smash through a glass door and then to assault another man at Mount Hutton on Monday night. The 59-year-old victim suffered suspected skull fractures and was taken to John Hunter Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The alleged offender was arrested and later charged with attempted murder and aggravated break and enter. He was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday. The private operator responsible for running one of the state's most scandal-plagued prisons will not have its contract extended, the NSW Government has confirmed. The GEO Group, which has operated Parklea prison since it was privatised in 2009, failed to make the shortlist to operate the facility from April 2019. NSW Corrections Minister David Elliot on Tuesday confirmed G4S, Serco and joint venture partners MTC/Broadspectrum were the final three bids for the contract. The prison has been dogged by problems, with inmates managing to smuggle drugs, weapons and mobile phones behind bars. A video uploaded to YouTube showed an inmate wielding a knife and boasting about his stash of drugs last year. The inmate at the time described the security arrangements at the prison as "a dead-set joke" and alleged guards were involved in the mobile phone smuggling. In December an inmate was stabbed at the prison, while another inmate set fire to a blanket in his cell in January. The Public Service Association is calling on the state government to hand back the prison to public management. "Gladys Berejiklian and David Elliott should have learnt their lesson from the Parklea experiment, prisons in NSW should not be run for private profit," PSA general secretary Stewart Little said in a statement. The prison was privatised by the NSW Labor government in 2009. Labor fears a potential $1 billion tender to privately process Australia's visas could go to a company run by one of Malcolm Turnbull's former employees. But the government says a competitive tender process is being run, and the prime minister has no responsibility for choosing who gets the deal. Labor's Mark Dreyfus asked if Mr Turnbull had a conflict of interest in relation to reports Pacific Blue Capital was planning to bid for the visa processing privatisation. The firm is run by Mr Turnbull's former employee and friend Scott Briggs, who reportedly put together a consortium of companies including Qantas and NAB in a bid to win the visa contract. "Given it's reported the prime minister launched Pacific Blue Capital and that Mr Briggs worked for the prime minister's private investment firm, does the prime minister have a conflict of interest in relation to this $1 billion government contract, and if so, how will he manage it?" Mr Dreyfus asked in parliament on Tuesday. The government called it "a slur and a smear" of Mr Turnbull. "The prime minister has no responsibility for public tenders in other ministers' portfolios," Leader of the House Christopher Pyne said. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said the "normal probity arrangements" were in place for the tender process. "The prime minister, myself, we are not decision-makers in relation to this particular tender," he told parliament. "They are dealt with by the appropriate officers within the respective departments." A 2017 briefing by the former Immigration and Border Protection Department said Australia's visa applications were set to rise to 13 million a year in 2027, up from nine million in 2016. The department called for expressions of interest in designing, building and operating a "global digital platform" to run visa processing. Greens senator Nick McKim said the privatisation would be "a corruption of the integrity of our visa system". "We are deeply concerned about the conflicts of interests that come with giving such power to corporations, especially given Dutton's enthusiasm for it to be sold part-and-parcel with commercial services like finance, travel and banking," Senator McKim said in a statement. The Australian screen industry has been dominated by "badly behaved" alpha males, representatives from the sector's government agency have told senators. From April 2, everyone working on a production funded by Screen Australia have to be made aware of a new code of conduct to assist the prevention of sexual harassment. Under the changes, which follow the "me too" movement and Harvey Weinstein allegations, producers will be required to nominate a trained staff member to be a contact to address any complaints. At the end of a production, they will also have to submit a code compliance report, in the form of a statutory declaration, confirming all obligations were met. "We're not asking for much," the agency's chief operating officer Fiona Cameron told a Senate committee in Canberra on Tuesday. "We're a significant partner for television, feature film and online and we believe our money should come with some strings attached." Ms Cameron said it's been illegal to sexually harass and assault women for over 30 years, if not longer. "What has been happening, or not happening is that it's not highlighted, it's not championed, it's not easy to establish how you make a complaint and in fact in our industry it has been dominated by alpha males being badly behaved," she said. "So we have this opportunity to make a difference." Communications Minister Mitch Fifield commended the organisation for their leadership on the issue. Australian performer Linden Furnell has been fired from his role in rock opera American Idiot over a comment he made to a female co-star which breached the theatre company's zero tolerance to inappropriate behaviour. The shake & stir theatre company released a statement on Tuesday confirming Furnell's dismissal from his role as Johnny before the show's Melbourne opening this week. "Mr Furnell's dismissal was a consequence of breaching the company's 'Statement of Zero Tolerance to Inappropriate Behaviour' previously communicated to him and all other company members by company management," the company said. The company released the statement hours after Furnell wrote a Facebook post explaining his alleged behaviour. While he accepted his wrongdoing, Furnell wasn't happy at not being given a chance to explain himself. "I wasn't asked to explain, give my account, dispute it or attempt resolution," he wrote. "The producers had a knee jerk reaction, probably as a form of damage control/ prevention and I found myself fired without so much as a conversation." The performer acknowledged he made his colleague uncomfortable with a comment while the pair were on stage in the background of a scene. "Some off-mic character banter takes place between us in the background," he wrote. "One night I wasn't careful and made a mistake. It was a particularly hot night in an old theatre without suitable aircon and we were both comically sweaty. Without thought, I made a crude allusion to menstruation amongst the banter. It was in poor taste and a lame attempt at humour. The kind of thing you say to make your friends go "euugghhh gross. "I found out later that same night via a text conversation with her that it had made her very uncomfortable and thrown off her show." Furnell says he apologised over text message but his colleague had also told management who fired him. Criminal charges for sharing revenge porn could be included in proposed laws after Malcolm Turnbull said there was an "intense" concern in the community. The Senate amended the government's proposed laws, which levy heavy fines on people and corporations who share intimate images of people without their permission, to include provisions for criminal charges. The prime minister told the coalition party room on Tuesday he was open to keeping the amendments, due to the level of community worry about the issue. Mr Turnbull said while civil penalties can be effective, the concern in the community is so intense that he is looking carefully at all proposals to control revenge porn. He said he will speak to Attorney-General Christian Porter and Communications Minister Mitch Fifield about the next steps for the new laws. The government's bill included penalties of up to $525,000 for corporations and $105,000 for individuals who share intimate images of people without their permission. But the Nick Xenophon Team, with the support of the opposition and the Greens, passed an amendment making revenge porn a criminal offence. Those changes were set to be opposed when the bill went back to the House of Representatives, with the government arguing it was already covered by existing laws. Mr Turnbull's intervention means the government could be prepared to include the criminal provisions when the bill comes back to the lower house. Under the civil penalty regime, a victim or someone authorised to act on their behalf could complain to the eSafety Commissioner. The commissioner could then act swiftly - armed with the hefty penalties for perpetrators, social media services and content hosts - to have the images removed and to limit any further sharing. An alleged three-week crime spree across Brisbane, which included the theft of 15 vehicles, has come to an end for a 22-year-old man. Police on Tuesday charged the man with 126 offences at bedside hearing in hospital after he was pursued in a stolen Mercedes and arrested by the dog squad at Mount Gravatt Showgrounds. They allege he stole 15 vehicles between February 5 and 26 when he would often break in to houses and take keys, as well as wallets. Police say he took cars from residences in Carindale, Hope Island, Rochedale, Mansfield, Mount Gravatt East, Kenmore, Yeerongpilly, Burbank, Chelmer and Graceville. It's further alleged he used stolen bank cards at fast-food outlets and service stations, resulting in 64 charges of fraud. His dramatic arrest came on Sunday after he was tracked by Polair allegedly driving the stolen Mercedes-Benz dangerously and evading police in Brisbane's south. He suffered an arm injury when detained by the members of the dog squad. The Mount Gravatt man has been remanded in custody and is due to appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on March 28. COMMONWEALTH GAMES SWIM SELECTION TRIALS TO WATCH Men's 200m freestyle It has already been described as the fastest 200m freestyle field assembled in Australian swimming history. Rio 400m gold medallist Mack Horton is the defending champion but will be the hunted in a star studded field boasting fellow Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers, multiple national champ Cam McEvoy and young guns Elijah Winnington and Jack Cartwright. Women's 100m freestyle She's back. Cate Campbell will make her official return to competition after a 2017 sabbatical following her Rio Olympic disappointment. But the former world record holder won't have it all her own way thanks to her sister, former world champion Bronte, and young gun Shayna Jack. Men's 100m freestyle Chalmers may be Olympic 100m champion but he has never won a national title. He hopes to rectify that anomaly on the Gold Coast but it will be easier said than done. He will line up against the world's fastest man in a textile suit in Cam McEvoy and ex-dual world champion James Magnussen, back in action after a 2017 break to recover from a shoulder reconstruction. Women's 100m backstroke Australia's sole gold medallist at the 2017 world titles, Emily Seebohm, will be out to extend her remarkable dominance at the titles with an eye on a third-straight Commonwealth 100m backstroke title in April. A national team regular since the age of 14, Seebohm, now 25, won't be taking anything for granted in a field featuring Madi Wilson and former world junior champion Minna Atherton. Women's 200m freestyle Australian swimming's golden girl Emma McKeon will launch her bold bid to contest seven events including relays at the Gold Coast Games when she tackles her pet event on the trials program's opening night. The Olympic bronze medallist and world titles runner-up will be kept honest by 17-year-old Ariarne Titmus, a distance gun who announced her 200m intentions by anchoring Australia's 4x200m relay team to 2017 world titles bronze on international debut. The Turnbull government has declined to publicly release any details relating to Nick Xenophon's job in the office of a senator, despite questions from Labor. Mr Xenophon, who is now contesting the South Australian state election having resigned from the Senate, said in January he had finished his job with Nick Xenophon Team senator Rex Patrick in December. In November, a media report revealed Mr Xenophon had taken up a $1500 a week part-time adviser role with Senator Patrick. Labor senator Don Farrell asked Finance Minister Mathias Cormann in a Senate hearing on Tuesday a series of questions relating to Mr Xenophon's employment and whether he could properly fulfil his duties as a staff member while leading a state and federal party and campaigning for a state seat. But Senator Cormann said he could not comment on individual senators' staffing arrangements. A senior departmental official, Jason Ford, said officers from the department did not conduct checks on whether the staff of members and senators were meeting their requirements. However, Senator Cormann said as a matter of principle it would be a "breach of relevant rules and requirements if activities outside the workplace prevented the proper fulfilment of the functions and responsibilities a particular staff member is paid for". The minister said there was nothing stopping a staffer from being involved in a political party, so long as there was "no inappropriate overlap". A man accused of trying to kill a relative with a hammer in his home in NSW's Lake Macquarie region will remain behind bars. David Irvine Shearer allegedly used the tool to smash through a glass door and then assault a man he was related to at Mount Hutton on Monday night. The 59-year-old victim suffered suspected skull fractures and was taken to John Hunter Hospital with non-life threatening injuries, police said. Shearer, 54, was arrested and later charged with attempted murder and aggravated break and enter. He did not apply for bail and it was formally refused during a brief mention at Toronto Local Court on Tuesday. His matter will return to court in Newcastle on March 7. Senior government officials have struggled to explain why Attorney-General Christian Porter has been given responsibility for deciding the fate of the benched Australian Border Force commissioner. Roman Quaedvlieg has been off work for nine months amid an investigation into allegations he helped his partner secure work at Sydney airport. Mr Quaedvlieg, who has earned about $500,000 since taking paid leave in May last year, denies the allegations. An investigation conducted by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity was handed to the immigration department late last year. Immigration boss Michael Pezzullo then referred the matter on to Martin Parkinson, the overall head of the public service, who compiled a second report. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has asked Mr Porter, rather than Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton, to make a final decision. Mr Porter said he was given the task of deciding Mr Quaedvlieg's fate to avoid perceptions of bias, given the commissioner's reporting obligations to Mr Dutton. The attorney-general requested legal advice from the Australian Government Solicitor to confirm he could make the call, and was given the go-ahead. Executives from the Attorney-General's Department and the Australian Government Solicitor were quizzed about the long-running inquiry at a Senate inquiry in Canberra on Tuesday. However, under questioning from Labor senator Penny Wong, the high-ranking officers were unable to say why or when the attorney-general became the decision maker. Nor were they able to say whether Mr Quaedvlieg's associated legal costs were being paid or by whom, taking most questions on notice. A new watchdog has been established to keep tabs on Victoria's most dangerous sex offenders. The Post Sentence Authority is headed by former Chief Magistrate and State Coroner, Judge Ian Gray, to further protect the community from violent crime. The authority came into effect on Tuesday, taking over the Adult Parole Board's responsibilities for sex offenders on supervision and detention orders. Alongside the post sentence scheme, the authority will monitor the delivery of services to offenders with disabilities, housing or mental health issues. Its creation was among the recommendations from a review of supervision of serious criminals following the 2015 stabbing murder of teenager Masa Vukotic. Former Adult Parole Board member Carmel Arthur is on the authority's board alongside sessional members including crown prosecutor Peter Rose QC. The authority will report to Victoria's parliament every year and its monitoring role will later be expanded to cover other violent criminals. Businessman Geoff Cousins says Bill Shorten told him he would revoke the licence for the Adani coal mine if the environmental evidence didn't stack up. Anti-Adani campaigner Mr Cousins told the ABC's 7.30 program Mr Shorten was preparing to take a strong position against the proposed mine in regional Queensland. "The key statement was that 'when we are in government, if the evidence is as compelling as we presently believe it to be, regarding the approval of the Adani mine, we will revoke the licence'," Mr Cousins told the ABC on Tuesday. Victoria's police chief has moved to quash a "rumour" of inappropriate relationships between senior police officers and other staff members. "I am aware of a rumour that three Victoria Police Assistant Commissioners have self-reported inappropriate conduct ... This is not true. It is pure rumour and has the potential to damage reputations," Chief Commissioner Graham Aston said in a statement on Tuesday night. The comments came a day after Assistant Commissioner and Professional Standards Command boss Brett Guerin resigned over racist and graphic remarks made online. A Gold Coast man bashed in a road rage attack on a Queensland motorway will undergo brain scans in the next two days to determine his chances of recovery. Brock Prime, 29, suffered a severe head injury and a broken leg when allegedly assaulted by a group of up to 13 men on the side of the M1 motorway near Yatala on Saturday night. Mr Prime remains in a medically induced coma, with doctors having told the family his brain injury is life-threatening. One of three men accused of the attack, Ryan Hallifax, appeared in Beenleigh Magistrates Court on Tuesday after being charged with grievous bodily harm. A bail application for the 28-year-old Upper Coomera man has been adjourned until Friday given the uncertainty over Mr Prime's health. Police prosecutor Sergeant Karen Friedrichs told the court charges against Hallifax could be upgraded if tests on Mr Prime's brain indicate he will not recover. "The result of the brain function test may not be positive," Sgt Friedrichs said. "The charge may be subject to an upgrade ... it's not appropriate for an application for bail to be considered at this time." Magistrate Jim Keogh agreed saying the court had a duty to inquire on the nature of Mr Prime's injuries and whether he is likely to recover. Hallifax has been remanded in custody and his matter adjourned to Friday. The two other men charged over the incident also had their matters mentioned in the same court on Tuesday. Jordan Baklas, 26, did not appear, with lawyer Jon Ide also adjourning his client's matter until Friday. Outside court an unnamed family friend of Mr Baklas told reporters his family was "as well as can be". The third man charged, Johnathan Lawrence, also made no appearance as his matter was adjourned until May 2. The 27-year-old has been remanded in custody, just over a year after he slammed the sentence given to a man who killed his daughter as "disgusting". Lawrence's three-year-old daughter Bella died after she was stomped on by the ex-partner of her mother at a Horsham home in September 2015. Harley Woodford was sentenced in February 2017 to a minimum of six and half years' imprisonment for the crime. "My daughter never made it to his minimum term ... which makes me sick," Lawrence said at the time. Gaye Matthews remembers the time her daughter made a hospital doctor cry when the young physician could not understand what was wrong with her patient. "(The hospital) wouldn't let either her father or myself go in with her and I kept going and saying she cannot speak, she can do nothing for herself," Ms Matthews said. When she was allowed to see Charissa 45 minutes later, Ms Matthews found the doctor sitting on the bed in tears. "I said what are you crying about and she said, 'I can't get her to tell me what's wrong." Ms Matthews shared her experience at a parliamentary inquiry examining end of life choices and the need for voluntary euthanasia laws in Western Australia. Charissa, who died in 2011 aged 41, had Rhett syndrome, a genetic neurological disorder which reverses a person's development between six to 18 months of age. Ms Matthews said many people, including doctors, devalued her daughter as a person because she was unable to speak, feed herself or move. "I think on the part of doctors there's ignorance on the understanding of the being of a person," she said. IdentityWA chief executive Marina Re told the inquiry the group feared people with a severe intellectual disability could be made vulnerable under laws which allowed voluntary assisted deaths. The service provider supports about 150 people with a disability to live independently. "The decision (to access voluntary assisted dying) would rest in the hands of others, and in some cases, those others may have limited exposure to people with disabilities or understanding of the health complexities faced on a daily basis," the group said in its inquiry submission. "The involvement of people who know the individual well is absolutely paramount," Ms Re said. "My feeling is very much that people with a serious intellectual disability just cannot be put into that position," Ms Matthews said. The Joint Select Committee inquiry is set to hear from the Australian Medical Association and Catholic Healthcare Australia on Wednesday. An estimated 425,000 Australians will be living with dementia in 2018, prompting calls for families and carers to reach out for support. Updated estimates on the prevalence of dementia in Australia have been released by Dementia Australia and show every day 250 people will be diagnosed with the brain disease. The figures are based on a reported released in 2017 by The National Centre for Social and Economic Modelling NATSEM (2016) Economic Cost of Dementia in Australia 2016-2056. That report predicted dementia rates would soar to 536,000 people by 2025 and more than 1.1 million people by 2056. With no cure, Dementia Australia CEO Maree McCabe says the right support can make a life-changing difference to people living with the condition. "There is a perception in the community that nothing can be done following a diagnosis of dementia," Ms McCabe said. This is far from the truth, says Ms McCabe. "Good support and services can help people cope better with the uncertainty and changes that come with dementia," she said. The right services can also help people to reconnect and re-establish relationships, improving their emotional well-being, says Ms McCabe. "Social engagement and keeping physically and mentally active are also key in contributing to better health and lifestyle outcomes following a diagnosis of dementia." A fire at a south Sydney granny flat, which killed a man, may have been deliberately lit, police now think. Jeffrey Lindsell, 39, died in hospital after a fire ripped through his Gymea home early on Saturday, October 7, 2017. Police believe the fire was deliberately lit, and along with Mr Lindsell's family, will appeal to the public for help in their investigation. Mr Lindsell had earlier been at a local pub with friends and left alone shortly before midnight. Footage of him walking home has been released in the hope someone will come forward with information. Tasmania's two major party leaders will go head-to-head for the final time ahead of Saturday's election. Premier Will Hodgman and Labor Opposition Leader Rebecca White will make their pitch to voters at a Hobart Town Hall Peoples' Forum on Wednesday night. The Liberal government is on track to win a slender majority, according to an EMRS poll of 1000 voters released on Tuesday. Their popularity is at 46 per cent, compared to Labor's 34. Political analyst Kevin Bonham believes it will translate to 13 Liberal seats - the amount required to form a majority government - on March 3, with Labor winning 10 and the Greens two. Mr Hodgman is the state's preferred leader, with 48 per cent of support compared to Ms White's 41 points. Greens support has dropped off, with the party likely to lose one of its three seats. Backing for the Jacqui Lambie Network (JLN) - no longer rated a chance of picking up a seat in the state's north - has halved from eight per cent to four. Universities are raising the spectres of Donald Trump and Brexit in a bid to tap into global fears about rising inequality as they fight a federal funding freeze. The peak higher education body is urging politicians to keep the doors of opportunity open to all Australians, warning the effective end to demand driven funding could lead to a growing chasm in society. "We can see how social and economic fault-lines trigger cultural and political earthquakes," Universities Australia chair Margaret Gardner will tell the National Press Club on Wednesday. "How, as with Brexit or the most recent American presidential election, the outcomes can be unexpected. And how in their wake, sometimes voices at the far extremes of community sentiment grow louder." The Turnbull government has frozen per-student funding in universities for 2018 and 2019, saving the budget some $2 billion and bypassing parliament to do so. Earlier plans to cut funding in a different way were held up in the Senate after intense lobbying by the sector. But Prof Gardner will say the opening up of universities through the demand-driven system in place since 2012, under which government pays for as many undergraduate students as institutions want to enrol, has led to tens of thousands more young Australians getting a university education who would not otherwise have done so. She calls the funding freeze "a cap on opportunity". "Having opened the doors of opportunity, our nation cannot afford, socially or economically, to slam them shut once more," she will say. "Opportunity for all is our greatest insurance policy against despair and disaffection." Earlier in the year, Universities Australia estimated there would be almost 10,000 fewer places offered to new undergraduates this year as a result of the funding freeze. The government has disputed these figures, saying universities should be able to absorb the cuts by tightening non-teaching parts of their budgets. The findings of an investigation into the neglect of residents at Adelaide's failed Oakden nursing home are set to be released in a report that could shape the result of the South Australian election. Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Bruce Lander has been investigating if any maladministration was involved in the running of the home, which was shut down last year after the mistreatment of residents was revealed. He will release his report on Wednesday morning with his inquiry including the roles played by government ministers and senior departmental officials. Opposition Leader Steven Marshall says it's time for the government to "face the music" over Oakden and has continued to criticise Labor for refusing to allow Mr Lander to conduct public hearings. "Labor have done everything they can to keep their scandalous inaction to protect older citizens living with mental health problems from the public gaze," the opposition leader said on Tuesday. The release of the report also comes just over two weeks out from the March 17 election and just weeks after former mental health minister Leesa Vlahos announced her decision to quit parliament. Ms Vlahos said while she expected no adverse findings, she did not want the timing of the report to become a distraction. But Premier Jay Weatherill said he welcomed the release of the report. "This is an important work of government and we're looking forward to the report, looking forward to responding to it and discussing it," he said. The ICAC investigation followed failures in clinical governance at Oakden as well as incidents of rough handling of patients, excessive use of restraints and a high level of injuries. Spending on health is almost out of control in Western Australia and had more than doubled in the last decade representing nearly $1 in every $3 the government spends, a new report has found. The biggest driver is wages, particularly WA's doctors and nurses, with salaries for staff 15 per cent higher across the health sector than the rest of the nation, an interim report by senior Australian public servant Robyn Kruk found. The report comes a week after former Treasury boss John Langoulant's inquiry into WA's financial crisis cited soaring spending in public sector salaries and health particularly as the nation's highest and contributing significantly to massive debt and deficit problems. Health is the biggest cost for the state budget: employing 30,000 staff, representing almost $9 billion, or 30 per cent, and accounting for more than half of every new dollar spent between 2013/14 and 2016/17. It is on track to reach 38 per cent of the budget in 2026. Health only represented 24.9 per cent in 2008/09, so the growth in costs occurred under Colin Barnett's government and during the mining boom, which pushed up wages and prices. Yet the health of West Australians has not improved, with one in two suffering from a chronic condition and two out of three adults and 20 per cent of children obese or overweight, Ms Kruk said. Other major issues were a growing and ageing population, inequity in health outcomes, wealth disparity, mental health, and drug and alcohol issues, all of which impact upon the sustainability of the health system. WA had nearly 20 per cent less GPs than the national average - 77 per 100,000 people compared to 95 - had less residential aged care beds and received a lower share of funding for the Medicare Benefits Schedule and Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. "The rate of growth is scary, a 49 per cent increase in emergency department attendances (2005-15) and 39 per cent per cent in hospitalisations," Ms Kruk said. "So many of those are avoidable and more has to be done to shift focus of healthcare back to prevention. "Business as usual is not an option, the rate of growth is not sustainable." Only 2.7 per cent of the health budget was spent on prevention of health problems, which the report said was too low and compared to seven per cent in New Zealand. It recommends a greater focus on prevention to keep people out of hospital, expanding the emergency telehealth service model for remote patients using telecommunications to save travel and keeping salary rises down. Health Minister Roger Cook welcomed the report and said WA health staff would get flat $1000 pay rises in line with the rest of the public sector. Ms Kruk said WA's health system was strong and sound and well placed to improve, having had $7 billion of investment in infrastructure such as new hospitals under the Barnett government. United Voice WA, the union for enrolled nurses and hospital support workers, said the health department wasted money and resources through using agency and casual staff. The widespread and unnecessary use of antibiotics has put Australians at risk of life-threatening sepsis infections caused by superbug E.coli, a report warns. Analysis of surveillance data, released by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, shows the bacterium Escherichia coli (E.coli) is the most common bacterial cause of bloodstream infections, otherwise known as sepsis, in Australia and has become more resistant to the antibiotics doctors rely on to treat it. The Australian Group on Antimicrobial Resistance Sepsis Outcomes Programs: 2016 report states E.Coli accounted for 37 per cent of the total 11,163 cases of bacterial sepsis reported over the year. Of those, an increasing number had become less susceptible to the antibiotics used to treat them, with nearly one in eight (12.7 per cent) susceptible to cefriaxone and ciprofloxacin. Alarmingly, resistance to 'last resort' antibiotics fluoroguinolones had also increased. The "potentially excessive" use of other types of antibiotics within the community, namely cephalosporins and penicillins may be to blame, the authors suggest. One thing is clear; Australia is loosing the battle against E.Coli, says Professor John Turnidge, Senior Medical Advisor for the Commission's AURA Surveillance System. "We are on the verge of losing a class of drugs, fluroquinolones, that Australia has put a lot of effort into protecting over the past 25 years," said Professor Turnidge. "If these drugs lose their effectiveness, then many more people will end up being hospitalised, because only injectable drugs given intravenously will be effective," said. E.coli is a bug that lives in the gut and most of the time is harmless. Most commonly it is responsible for a urinary tract infection but can also cause kidney infection and this is when patients are at high risk of it reaching the bloodstream, explained Professor Turnidge. "That's when you are seriously ill, you need to be in hospital - probably in intensive care to make sure you recover quickly and that's where we really need the antibiotics to work," he said. Professor John Turnidge, the commission's senior medical advisor, said this drug-resistant E.Coli is a growing threat and the overuse of antibiotics needs to be taken seriously by everyone. "The surveillance in this and other reports has identified that the very high use of antibiotics in the community is helping to drive this problem, and reducing the unnecessary use of antibiotics in the community is a national priority," Professor Turnidge said. TIMELINE OF EVENTS IN 40 YEARS OF SYDNEY'S MARDI GRAS 1978: On June 24, several hundred gay and lesbian activists and supporters march up Sydney's Oxford Street, marking the anniversary of the Stonewall riots in New York. Police stop the march as it approaches Hyde Park, confiscate a truck leading it and go on to forcefully arrest 53 people. Later that week, the Sydney Morning Herald prints the names, occupations and addresses of those arrested - leading to some being fired. Other protests and arrests follows in months after. 1979: About 3000 people march on June 20, with no arrests made. Mardi Gras expands to two weeks. 1980: The festival has its first official post-parade party. 1981: The event is moved to summer. 1985: The festival is the first with homosexuality legal in NSW but the parade is reportedly almost cancelled after the head of Australia's AIDS Task Force is quoted as appealing to 'the gays to be responsible enough to cancel the Mardi Gras activities'. 1989: In October, Reverend Fred Nile gathers hundreds of followers for a march up Oxford Street opposing Mardi Gras. A counter-protest draws several thousands of people. 1993: The parade attracts a crowd of about 500,000 and has 118 floats. 1994: A petition signed by 90 federal MPs to reschedule the first TV broadcast of the Mardi Gras on ABC fails and it goes ahead, prompting hundreds of calls to the ABC. 1999: More than 1000 people carry red flags in the parade for HIV/AIDS remembrance. 2002: Mardi Gras posts a $500,000 loss, due to higher insurance costs, a high cost base and reduced tourist numbers after the 2001 World Trade Center attack, and moves into voluntary administration. A group of community organisations intervene to fund a new organisation, New Mardi Gras, to ensure the continuity of the event. 2008: The NSW government contributes funding to Mardi Gras for the first time. 2012: Kylie Minogue is honoured for her music and support for the LGBTI community with a show in the parade, featuring about 140 dancers, and performs at the post-parade party. 2013: Footage emerges of a teenager being forcefully arrested at the parade, sparking community outrage. It results in NSW police and Mardi Gras signing an accord the next year to ensure a safe event without conflict. 2014: Sydney's controversial lock-out laws begin on a Mardi Gras weekend. 2016: Participants of the first parade receive messages of regret from the NSW government, Fairfax and the police for how they were treated in 1978. 2017: The festival's theme is 'creating equality', before the national survey on same-sex marriage which in November results in a 61.6 per cent 'yes' vote, leading to same-sex marriage becoming legal in December. 2018: A record 2300 participants and 200 colourful floats are expected to take part in the 40th anniversary parade, which is tipped to attract 500,000 onlookers. Red Sparrow director Francis Lawrence was so confident Jennifer Lawrence and Joel Edgerton would sizzle on screen together in the spy thriller he did not worry about bringing the actors together to test their chemistry before filming began. "No, I knew it would work," Lawrence told AAP in a recent video interview in West Hollywood. The director was well acquainted with the best actress Oscar winner after shooting three Hunger Games movies with her. He has watched Edgerton's career grow rapidly from afar and describes the Australian as one of Hollywood's top leading men. "I think he's at the top of his game for sure," director says. "I think he's probably the best male actor of his age working today. "I think he's just phenomenal. "He had done a movie, Black Mass, with a friend of mine and I was just really, really impressed. "I have known his work since Animal Kingdom, but Black Mass really impressed me and Loving I thought was a standout. "He should have won the Academy Award for that movie." Red Sparrow is based on author and 33-year CIA veteran Jason Matthews' spy novel of the same name. Lawrence plays Russian Bolshoi ballerina turned spy Dominika Egorova and Edgerton is CIA operative Nate Nash. Matthews used his knowledge of the Soviet Union's "honeypot" school that taught young women, called sparrows, the art of entrapment, seduction and blackmailing intelligence targets. After suffering a ballet career-ending leg injury and becoming entangled in other issues, Egorova is sent to the school and is then dispatched to engage with Edgerton's character. The role required the actress to perform graphic nude and sex scenes, something the director thought she might balk at. "I wasn't honestly sure she was going to do the movie because of some of the content in it," the director said. "I would talk to her as we developed the screenplay and started to fill her in more and more so it wasn't a complete shock when she read the screenplay. "Then she decided she wanted to do it. "She felt like she was ready, but we then started having detailed discussions about how to approach the violence, sexuality, the nudity to make sure it was never gratuitous and always really showing the themes and tone of the narrative." Red Sparrow opens in Australia on Thursday (March 1). Staff at Woolworths-owned pubs are being accused of profiling poker machine users in an effort to encourage them to stay longer and gamble more. Federal MP and anti-pokies campaigner Andrew Wilkie says he's obtained screenshots of data being kept on gamblers, which is being shared on a Google drive file among the supermarket giant's 400 pubs. The information indicates staff were being rewarded with gift vouchers for meeting betting targets and certain players were being induced to stay with drink cards and other promotions, Fairfax Media reported. Mr Wilkie, a Tasmanian independent MP, intends to raise the issue in federal parliament on Wednesday. "No company has the right to engage in behaviour designed to increase addiction," he told Fairfax. Another man will face court over the alleged staged car crash involving controversial Sydney businessman Salim Mehajer, who is behind bars. The 27-year-old man was arrested at a home at Greystanes earlier this month and charged with conspiracy to cheat and defraud, police said on Wednesday. He was granted strict conditional bail to appear at Burwood Local Court on Wednesday. Mehajer, 31, was on his way to face charges related to the assault of a taxi driver in October last year when his Mercedes AMG collided with a Mitsubishi Outlander at an intersection in Lidcombe. He was freed by firefighters and taken to hospital, while his passenger and the occupants of the other vehicle - two women aged 31 and 32 - were not injured. The former Auburn deputy mayor, who was arrested at the end of January, remains in custody after being denied bail accused of staging to delay the hearing. The female driver who allegedly collided with Mehajer faced court on February 15 with her husband and two other relatives. They're all charged with one count of conspiring with each other, Mehajer and his business associate, Ahmed Jaghbir, to cheat and defraud an insurer. A total of seven people are before courts, following a police strike force set up to investigate the crash. Police are investigating how the contents of two confidential reports into the conduct of the sidelined Australian Border Force boss ended up in the media. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says he was "very disappointed" to see the material published in newspapers, as ABF commissioner Roman Quaedvlieg insists "there are always two or more versions of events". Mr Quaedvlieg faces an imminent decision by Attorney-General Christian Porter on whether he should be sacked over abuse of power allegations. Mr Porter is weighing up two reports - one from the corruption watchdog and one from the head of the public service - into allegations the commissioner abused his position by helping his partner secure work at Sydney Airport. The Daily Telegraph reports the two reports contain allegations Mr Quaedvlieg sent salacious text messages to the younger woman while she was applying for a job in his organisation. Mr Turnbull is unhappy the contents of the reports found their way onto the front page. "I was very disappointed to see that material in the newspaper today, and I understand that the AFP are already investigating that," the prime minister told reporters in Canberra on Wednesday. "You know, we take confidentiality in these matters very seriously, and we will see what the AFP is able to turn up." Mr Turnbull is also disappointed with how long the investigation has taken, but expects a final decision within weeks. "As you can understand it's a matter that has to be dealt with by public service processes," he said. Mr Quaedvlieg was given nearly four weeks over Christmas to respond to the report produced by the head of the public service. "I've had fair opportunity to provide a response, yes, absolutely. And I'm also assured that my response has gone to the attorney-general in an unabridged form," he told Fairfax Media. "My view of this, as it has always been, is that there are always two or more versions of events, or different interpretations of information." He declined to say what he had said in his response "other than to point out that I have always strenuously denied the allegations". Mr Quaedvlieg has been on paid leave since May last year, earning roughly $500,000 while off work. The deputy Nationals leader denies she has a conflict of interest as regional health minister despite her party accepting donations from the tobacco industry. Philip Morris Limited gave more than $15,000 to the National Party in 2016-17, but Bridget McKenzie insists donations are a matter for the party organisation. Asked whether she had a conflict of interest given she has responsibility for rural health, Senator McKenzie told a committee: "I don't ... I know the work that we're doing to decrease tobacco usage in this country". One man was shot and injured in Kinshasa during a protest called by the Catholic Church, later dying of his injuries The deaths of two people during banned weekend marches in the Democratic Republic of Congo deepened public outrage Monday after authorities put down the latest in a series of demonstrations against the rule of President Joseph Kabila. Rally participants were horrified to learn that activist Rossy Mukendi, a father of two in his 30s, had died after being shot by security forces -- a shooting the Congolese Association for Access to Justice pressure group condemned as a premeditated "assassination". AFP reporters in Kinshasa witnessed him being taken still alive to the capital's Saint Joseph de Limete hospital by a Red Cross team, but he later succumbed to his wounds. Bishop Donatien Nshole, as the Catholic Church supported the rallies, told AFP another man was shot dead by a guard in the northwestern city of Mbandaka. The Church-backed protests came after months of tension sparked by Kabila's prolonged rule and a long-delayed election in the vast and chronically unstable central African country. Supporters on Monday shared over social media an image of Mukendi with the legend "the people will always win." Bienvenu Matumo of the Struggle for Change (Lucha) protest movement told AFP by email he was aghast at the news. "I am shocked by the murder of our colleague Rossy Mukendi of the Collective 2016 citizen movement. Kabila's barbarity has gone too far. How far will this man go? I can't believe it." The head of the UN's DR Congo mission Leila Zerrougui said in a statement she "regrets that at least two people were killed... despite instructions given to security forces to show restraint." She urged "the Congolese authorities to conduct credible investigations into these incidents and to hold those responsible accountable," and stressed the "importance of upholding the rights of the Congolese people to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly." Prominent activist Christian Lumu vowed in a posting to Facebook that Mukendi's death would not go unavenged while rally organisers insisted that they would keep up pressure on Kabila "until we have regained our dignity and our freedom. - 'Troublemakers ' - The Congolese police, after first insisting there were no fatalities, changed tack Monday, saying two "troublemakers" had died. Colonel Rombaut-Pierrot Mwanamputu said on Okapi radio that one of the "troublemakers" had sought "to create disorder" and was injured by a rubber bullet. A group linked to the influential Catholic Church said that as many as three million people had taken part in rallies nationwide, though the figure could not be independently verified. In DR Congo's second city Lubumbashi, youths set tyres on fire before being dispersed by riot police. The anti-Kabila sentiment stems from his refusal to stand down from office in December 2016 at the end of his second elected term. He has controversially stayed on under laws enabling him to retain power until his successor is elected. In January, Kabila accused the Catholic Church of interfering in politics. Previous protests on New Year's Eve and January 21 saw a total of 15 people killed by security forces, according to tolls given by organisers and the United Nations. The government said just two people died. - Unrest in east - In a separate development on Monday, local authorities said nine people were killed in an attack blamed on a Hutu militia in the troubled eastern province of North Kivu. "Four civilians were killed in an attack at Bwalanda by Mai-Mai Nyatura (a Hutu militia). Five militia were killed in response," local administrator Jeannot Makasi told AFP. Eastern DR Congo has been fought over for more than 20 years by various ethnic groups battling for control of its mining resources. Saudi King Salman, pictured in 2017, ordered a sweeping overhaul of the defence establishment Saudi Arabia has replaced top military commanders, including its chief of staff, in the latest move to bring fresh blood into the kingdom's upper ranks. The changes, announced in a string of royal decrees late Monday, come a month before the third anniversary of a Saudi-led military intervention in the Yemen war which has killed thousands and triggered a humanitarian crisis. Saudi Arabia for decades has been home to some of the world's most restrictive policies, banning women from driving or mixing with men and outlawing cinemas and other forms of entertainment. But since King Salman named his son, Prince Mohammed, as heir to the throne in June, the kingdom has witnessed a string of reform, launched at breakneck speed and aimed at moving Saudi Arabia away from its economic dependence on oil. The monarch on Monday replaced the heads of the ground forces and air defences as well as several deputy ministers, and in a rare move named a woman to the government. "Termination of the services of General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, Chief of Staff," the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) announced, adding that Fayyad al-Ruwaili had been appointed as his replacement. No official reason was given for the sweeping overhaul. State media said, however, the decisions were taken "upon the recommendation" of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also defence minister and widely seen as the power behind the throne. - 'Indigenous defence' - Al-Bunyan's retirement comes after he inaugurated a global arms exhibition this week in the Saudi capital Riyadh by the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the state-owned defence company. Tamadar bint Yousef al-Ramah was appointed the deputy minister of labour and social development, a rare senior government post for a woman in the conservative kingdom. Prince Turki bin Talal, the brother of billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, was appointed deputy governor of the southern Assir Province. Prince Al-Waleed, dubbed the Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia, was among the 200-some princes, ministers and tycoons detained in Riyadh's luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel over what the government calls elite corruption. The crackdown is widely viewed as a mark of Prince Mohammed's consolidation of power. The 32-year-old has pushed major economic and social reforms since his appointment. Women will be permitted to drive come June and have been recruited to work ground service in airports. Yemeni tribesmen from the Popular Resistance Committees, who support forces loyal to the Saudi-backed Yemeni government, fire at Shiite Huthi rebels on the eastern edges of the capital Sanaa on February 2, 2018 The young prince has also pursued an assertive regional policy, including leading a military intervention in neighbouring Yemen since March 2015 against the Iran-aligned Huthi Shiite rebels. Analysts say the changes point to a strategy to create a self-contained defence industry. "A military transformation is underway in Saudi Arabia," Theodore Karasik, a senior advisor at the consultancy Gulf States Analytics, told AFP. "The changes come on the heels of the SAMI exhibition, which is a critical part of the Prince Mohammed's reform plan to create an indigenous defence program," he said. Monday's reshuffle also came hours after six Yemeni soldiers, allied with Riyadh, were killed in friendly fire by the Saudi-led military coalition fighting in Yemen. Saudi Arabia and its military allies last year landed on a United Nations blacklist over the killing and maiming of children in Yemen, which the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian disaster. More than 9,200 people have been killed in the conflict and another nearly 2,200 Yemenis have died of cholera since the 2015 intervention, according to the World Health Organization. The Saudi-led military intervention in Yemen is seen as a proxy war with Riyadh's regional rival Iran. On Monday, Russia vetoed a UN draft resolution presented by Britain and strongly backed by the United States that would have pressured Iran over its failure to block supplies of missiles to the Huthi rebels. burs/ny/hkb Lindsay Brown, a 29-year-old Republican web developer, is contesting, as a feminist and a progressive, fifth-term incumbent Congressman Leonard Lance in her New Jersey district From a retired Navy pilot to a millennial web developer and an award-winning romance novelist -- US women are running for office in record numbers, propelled by anger against Donald Trump to redress chronic inequality in political representation. Women, who currently make up only 20 percent of Congress, will be a driving force in November's mid-term elections, as Democrats are determined to flip the Republican majority and deliver a bloody nose to a president they detest. "I have been active for 30 years, I've never seen anything like it," said Patti Russo, executive director of the Women's Campaign School at Yale University, which has been training women to run for office for a quarter of a century. "It's exhilarating." From Trump's shock win in November 2016 and the women's march on Washington in 2017, to the #MeToo sexual harassment watershed, state ballots last year and Trump's State of the Union this January, the phone has been ringing off the hook. The Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University says twice as many women are on track to run for Congress in 2018 compared to 2016 -- 437 for the House of Representatives and 51 for Senate. Most of them are Democrats. They are outraged that a man with zero political experience who boasted of groping women could win the highest office in the land. They are angry that Hillary Clinton, often reputed to have been the most qualified candidate in history, could lose. Women, particularly Democrats, say women's rights are under attack, mobilized by efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, fired up by Trump policies on everything from gun control to the environment to throw off shy, retiring stereotypes and step forward. - 'Shocked' - Emily's List, which works to elect Democratic women who support the right to abortion, says more than 30,000 women have contacted them about their interest in running for office since Trump's election. They've hired new staff and knocked down a wall in their office to make room. A generation ago, women were typically in their mid-40s before contemplating a run for office. Today, the median age is early 30s. Lindsay Brown, a 29-year-old web developer, may buck the trend in being a Republican but otherwise personifies much of the mood -- contesting, as a feminist and a progressive, fifth-term incumbent Congressman Leonard Lance in her New Jersey district. "My mom was just shocked," said Brown. "But she's so excited and so proud." A year on, with just a handful of unpaid volunteers, no campaign manager and $3,300 in donations, she needs to collect 200 signatures to file her candidacy for the Republican primary in April. So far, she has just 20. By comparison, Democratic candidate and former Navy pilot Mikie Sherrill from a nearby New Jersey district has raised $42,000 online this month alone. "Pragmatic" about her chances just eight years out of college, Brown is no less driven. If she manages to pull off the impossible, she will be the youngest person ever elected to Congress. If she doesn't, she'll run next time. "I'm way too entrenched now, there's no way there's ever going to be a normal life again." - 'Not represented' - "Millennials," she told AFP at her home in Clark, New Jersey, surrounded by her two rescue dogs and three cats, "are the largest voting bloc right now and we are not represented in most levels of government." Nearly 80 women are expected to run for governor this year, smashing the previous record of 34 in 1994. Only six of the current 50 governors are women. In Georgia, Stacey Abrams, a businesswoman, lawyer and author of eight suspense novels, is hoping to break the gubernatorial glass ceiling for black women. But not all newly politically engaged women are running for office. Black women voters were instrumental in Democratic victories in Alabama and Virginia last year, galvanized by national discourse around race and nativism. Women are also focused on fundraising for the mid-terms. "It's literally the only thing we can talk about and how we can squeeze every single dollar out," former model Carin van der Donk told AFP in New York. A mother of two, she used to have a fair-trade organic business for children, but kept out of politics -- convinced that, like money, it was not conversation for polite society. When Trump won, Van der Donk said she "went on a hunger strike for 10 days." Now, she is out four nights a week at political meetings. "We haven't been forceful enough as women. We need to literally push our way to the front for things to happen," she said. The site of an archaeological discovery north of the city of Sakaka in Saudi Arabia's northwestern Al-Jouf province, with a carved sculpture of a camel's legs seen in the foreground (R) Squinting in the Saudi desert, Hussain al-Khalifah points at his unprecedented archaeological discovery -- camels carved on russet-hued rocky spurs that could shed new light on the evolution of rock art. Around a dozen humped sculptures, some of them damaged from erosion and vandalism, are possibly around 2,000 years old and were recently found in a private property along a desert crossing in the northern province of Al-Jouf. Chiseled on three rocky spurs, the sculptures, which also depict equids, or hoofed mammals, show a level of artistic skill unseen in other rock art forms in the Saudi desert. They could help unravel the mysteries of ancient life in the Arabian peninsula. "They are a work of artistry and creativity," Khalifah said, giving AFP a tour of the desolate area in Al-Jouf, now well known in archeological circles as "the camel site". Khalifah, part of a Franco-Saudi research team that explored the site in 2016 and 2017, said he accidentally discovered the carvings some years ago when a local friend told him about a "camel-shaped mountain". "Instead when I visited the area, I found camels were carved in the mountain outcrops. This is truly unique," he said. Camels -- for centuries venerated as the "ship of the desert" -- are a familiar motif in artworks from the kingdom. But the three dimensional engravings in Al-Jouf, some featuring only part of a camel's body such as the hooves, differ from those discovered at other Saudi sites. Many are perched high on the outcrops and would have required ropes or scaffolding. One engraving in particular stands out -- a camel facing what appears to be a donkey, mule or horse, animals that have rarely been represented in the region's rock art. "The three dimensional carvings show great skill in their level of naturalism and their sheer size," Maria Guagnin, from the Germany-based Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, told AFP. "This may potentially change our understanding of prehistoric population dynamics and cultural traits." But the site is shrouded in mystery, with little information on who created the carvings or the tools they used. Khalifah said the closest may be the Nabateans, a nomadic Arab tribe known for founding the city of Petra in modern-day Jordan that was carved out of sandstone desert cliffs. - Rich past - The discovery has shone a spotlight on Saudi Arabia's rich bedouin heritage. The kingdom is endowed with thousands of examples of painted rock art and ancient inscriptions. Archaeologists last year used Google Maps to find hundreds of stone "gates" built from rock in a remote Saudi desert, which may date back as far as 7,000 years. A Saudi man walks at the site of an archaeological discovery in the northwestern province of Al-Jouf with a carved sculpture of a camel's legs seen in the foreground (R) They also discovered evidence of 46 lakes that used to exist in Saudi Arabia's northern Nefud desert, which experts say has lent credence to the theory that the region swung between periods of desertification and a wetter climate. The carvings in Al-Jouf may be the most significant recent discovery. "This is an important scientific discovery which reminds us of the important pre-Islamic history of Saudi Arabia," archaeologist Guillaume Charloux, from France's Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), told AFP. "I can only hope that it will lead people to discover the variety and richness of the Saudi Arabian past," said Charloux, who led the research team with Khalifah. The carvings have different styles, which suggests there was more than one artist behind them. It is possible, archaeologists say, that the Al-Jouf site was one of veneration or on a caravan route used as a resting place or boundary marker. "My hypothesis today is that the sculptors are local people, and that the site is an emblematic place on the regional and caravan routes towards Mesopotamia," said Charloux. - Unanswered questions - More fieldwork is now needed to find the answers. Many of the eroded sculptures are hard to date, but archaeologists estimate they were possibly completed in the first centuries BC or AD. "If they pre-date the domestication of the camel, then they represent wild specimens who may have been hunted, and a successful hunt may have been vital for the survival of the local human populations," said Guagnin. For now, Saudi authorities are closely guarding the Al-Jouf site from any treasure hunters, amid local speculation of hidden gold. The government is also seeking ownership of the site from the local landowner. Saudi officials who gave AFP the tour pointed out how one of the rocky spurs seen from an angle appears like a human face, with a nose-like protrusion. The site of an archaeological discovery of ancient rock art in Saudi Arabia's northwestern Al-Jouf province Also visible alongside the engravings were painted art forms, which showed human and mythological beings and an object that appeared to look like a chariot. Khalifah, however, dismissed some of the art as amateurish, "like a child drawing on paper", with no indication whether they came before or after the sculptures. "There are so many unanswered questions," Khalifah said. Simon Bridges (2nd R), a former minister under the last National government, campaigned on a platform of generational change New Zealand's opposition National Party installed its first Maori leader Tuesday, selecting 41-year-old former lawyer Simon Bridges for the top job as it looks to reinvigorate its image after losing last year's "Jacinda-mania" election. Bridges campaigned on a platform of generational change after former prime minister Bill English, 56, announced earlier this month that he was leaving the conservative party. National had faced calls to revamp its leadership after losing last year's general election to the centre-left Labour Party, led by 37-year-old Jacinda Ardern. The son of a Baptist minister, Bridges has described his family as "deeply religious" and he unsuccessfully voted against allowing gay marriage in 2013. He spoke to Maori TV before the vote about the importance of his indigenous roots. "It's a part of what makes me and I hope Maori New Zealanders see that and are excited about that," he said. "It shows them that actually they can achieve and they can do interesting things with their lives and there's a lot of opportunity in this country." Bridges won a leadership ballot of National's 56 lawmakers by an undisclosed majority, with Paula Bennett retaining her position of deputy leader. He said he would hold Ardern and her government to account, accusing it of "muddling along". "(It) is big on lofty intentions, but struggling to turn that into real gains for New Zealanders," he said. "That's why we will continue to present an ambitious and strong alternative government, heading into 2020 (elections)." Bridges, a former prosecutor, was elected to parliament in 2008 and had stints as communications, economic development and transport minister when National was in office. Almost half of the 42 women held in this prison outside Bangui have been accused of practising witchcraft Among the bunk beds in a dimly lit cell deep inside a women's prison near the Central African Republic capital Bangui, religious murmurs take on an almost mystical aura. Huddled around a cluster of icons, inmates jailed for "practices of charlatanism and sorcery" (PCS) pray the rosary, mustering the last of their strength as if the only recourse left to them is the divine. Almost half of the 42 women held in the Bimbo prison facility have been accused of PCS, listed as a crime on the statute books in the poor central African country. "It's because of my sister Nina that they brought me here. I don't recognise the deed for which I'm in prison," said Sylvie in the jail's main courtyard, where detainees prepare meals, dry their washing and watch over their children. In the absence of hard evidence, simple accusations are often enough for a conviction "My sister's husband died because he was poorly cared for and my sister caused trouble for me," Sylvie told AFP in the shadow of walls topped with barbed wire. Her innocence is not in doubt. Nina even came to apologise for what she had done, but that was insufficient. Sylvie is still awaiting trial after more than a year behind bars. Her story is like that of many others when death or illness afflicts a family. Whether out of sincere conviction or with malicious intent, a family member accuses a relative, a neighbour or someone else of practising witchcraft to cause trouble. "Sorcery always poses a problem in Central African law," says Nadia Carine Fornel Poutou, head of the Association of Women Jurists in Bangui, which runs public awareness workshops on the thorny topic. - 'The vulnerable people' - "The vulnerable people -- women, children and the elderly -- are always accused of sorcery," said the head of the Association of Women Jurists "It's always mystical, so it's difficult for a judge to reach a verdict," Fornel Poutou told AFP, noting that proof is difficult or impossible to obtain. Women are always first in the line of fire. In the absence of hard evidence, simple accusations are often enough for a conviction. Some people abuse this judicial flaw to vent their jealousy or settle scores, Fornel Poutou said. "The vulnerable people -- women, children and the elderly -- are always accused of sorcery," she said. Bimbo prison director Roger N'Gaka-Passi confirmed that women are primary targets. "You'll find perhaps a score of those women here... There are few PCS cases among men." The phenomenon may result from women entering direct competition with men and challenging the prevailing patriarchal order, argues anthropologist Louisa Lombard in her book "Making Sense of CAR" (Central African Republic). Even if women accused of witchcraft get out of jail, they are often ostracised by their community Sylvie is more fortunate than fellow detainees accused of sorcery. After her sister's visit and apology, she can dare hope to return to home once released. "In general, even if women accused of PCS (offences) get out of jail, they run the risk of being rejected by their community, if they escape popular condemnation," Fornel Poutou said. With resigned sorrow, the jurist called up on her computer a photo taken in 2015 at Boali, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) northwest of Bangui. It shows the body of an elderly woman accused of witchcraft who was atrociously mutilated and cut into pieces. General Kim Yong Chol (2nd R) made a rare visit to the South to attend the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics A powerful North Korean general Tuesday wrapped up his visit to the South as part of an Olympics charm offensive by Pyongyang that has drawn angry protests calling for his arrest. General Kim Yong Chol, who is in charge of inter-Korean affairs for the ruling Workers' Party, made a rare trip to the South to attend Sunday's closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics. Seoul has sought to use the Pyeongchang Games to open dialogue between the North and the US in the hopes of easing a nuclear standoff that has sparked global security fears. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un sent his sister to the opening ceremony before sending Kim Yong Chol, although both had no known interaction with US delegates including Vice President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka. The general, wrapping up his three-day visit, had a meeting with Seoul's intelligence chief Suh Hoon and unification minister Cho Myoung-gyon on Tuesday morning, Cho's ministry said. "The two Koreas ... agreed to continue joint efforts to improve bilateral relations and establish peace on the Korean peninsula (during the meeting)," it said in a statement. TV footage showed the general leaving a Seoul hotel where he and seven other delegates had been staying and getting into a sedan on their way to the border. President Moon Jae-in, in a meeting with Kim Yong Chol on Sunday, urged Pyongyang to open dialogue with the US as soon as possible -- to which Kim responded by saying the North was "very willing" to hold talks. But Washington ruled out any possibility of talks before Pyongyang - which last year staged multiple missile and nuclear tets -- takes steps towards denuclearisation. The US also announced last Friday what Trump hailed as "heaviest ever" sanctions on the isolated regime. Moon, who advocates dialogue with the North to defuse tension, said on Monday that Washington needs to "lower the threshold for talks" with the North. Analysts say the North's overtures are intended to loosen sanctions imposed over its weapons programmes, and to weaken the alliance between Seoul and its security guarantor, the US. Kim is accused of masterminding several attacks on the South including a 2010 sinking of a South Korean warship that killed 46 sailors, for which the North has denied responsibility. His visit drew angry protests by conservative lawmakers and activists in Seoul, with some ripping up portraits of the general and burning North Korean flags outside the hotel where he was staying. China's propaganda machine kicked into overdrive Tuesday to defend the Communist Party's move to scrap term limits for President Xi Jinping as critics on social media again defied censorship attempts. The country has shocked many observers by proposing a constitutional amendment to end the two-term limit for presidents, giving Xi a clear path to rule the world's second largest economy for life. The rubber-stamp National People's Congress (NPC) is certain to endorse the move next week, meaning that Xi - already China's most powerful leader in decades - can stay as president beyond 2023. Xi Jinping's (right) tightening grip on China had already earned the leader comparisons to Mao Zedong (left), but they came into even sharper focus after the party paved the way for him to assume the presidency indefinitely Xi was formally handed a second term today as the President of China the 19th Communist Party Congress last October. He is seen voting at the closing ceremony of the congress Li Datong, a former editor at the state-run China Youth Daily, posted a draft letter urging legislators to vote against the move - which would abolish term limits set in 1982 under Deng Xiaoping to prevent a return to the decades of chaos under Mao Zedong. 'It was the highest and most effective legal restriction meant to prevent autocracy or putting individuals above the party and the state,' said the letter. It was not sent to legislators but shared with hundreds of people in a private group on China's WeChat phone messaging app. 'Lifting the term limits of national leaders will be ridiculed by civilised nations all over the world and also sow the seeds of chaos for China,' said the text posted on Monday. WeChat users trying to share screenshots of the letter saw their posts blocked. The two-term limit was inserted into the Constitution in 1982 to prevent future leaders from potential dictatorship. The change was made after Mao's (right) one-man rule for some 30 years. Xi, pictured at the Belt and Road Forum last year (right), could be in office beyond 2024 From Mao to Xi: The timeline shows the nine key top leaders of China since 1949 Censors have scrambled to delete all dissenting comments on social media - even the word 'disagree' is blocked - but users of the Twitter-like Weibo website kept speaking out Tuesday, two days after the party Central Committee announcement. 'So pathetic, we have 1.3 billion people, no one can resist,' wrote one user. Another lamented the lack of political reform: 'I once believed that I could see a president elected by one man, one vote in my lifetime.' Scores of terms have been blocked, according to a list of dozens of words compiled by US-based internet tracker China Digital Times - including 'my emperor', 'ascend the throne', 'I oppose', 'lifelong', and 'Winnie the Pooh' - the portly cartoon bear to which Xi has been compared. The NPC, at its annual full session starting Monday, will also formally approve a second five-year presidential term for Xi, who is Communist Party chief and head of the armed forces in addition to being head of state. Legislators will add his eponymous political philosophy to the state constitution. Xi Jinping (centre) with members of the Politburo Standing Committee meet the press during the 19th Communist Party Congress. The Committee holds the ultimate power in China Communist Party delegates listen to President Xi Jinping giving a 3.5-hour-long speech during the opening ceremony of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China State media defended the amendment in editorials that lavished praise on the communist party's overall leadership. The English-language China Daily said the lifting of the presidential term limit 'has been necessitated by the need to perfect the Party and the State leadership system'. The party has always proposed amendments that 'have injected new ideas and concepts about where the country will go and how it will achieve its goal of rejuvenation and ensure people live happier lives,' it said. The Global Times, a nationalist tabloid, was even more profuse in its praise of the amendment in an editorial entitled 'Constitution change responds to new era'. Since Xi took power, it wrote, 'the new ruling team has not just been muddling along under the leadership of General Secretary Xi Jinping. Instead, it quickly started to deepen reforms in a comprehensive and magnificent way.' The newspaper took a shot at the political systems of the United States and Europe. 'It has shaped and affected quite a few Chinese people's mindsets. But some key parts of the Western value system are collapsing. Democracy, which has been explored and practised by Western societies for hundreds of years, is ulcerating,' it said. 'China cannot stop and take a break... our country must not be disturbed by the outside world or lose our confidence as the West grows increasingly vigilant toward China.' The administration of President Donald Trump, who has called Xi a friend but regularly clashes with Beijing over trade, had a guarded reaction to the Communist Party's move. 'The president has talked about term limits in a number of capacities during the campaign and something that he supports here in the United States, but that's a decision that's up to China,' said White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders. The protests were sparked by government plans to reform the military pension system, part of a wider pension cutbacks programme which triggered mass protests last year Protesters including senior military veterans pushed down a gate to Taiwan's parliament building Tuesday and clashed with police as they tried to storm in over pension cutbacks. One former colonel was in a critical condition in hospital after attempting to climb a wall and falling. The protests were sparked by government plans to reform the military pension system, part of a wider pension cutbacks programme which triggered mass protests last year. Legislators passed a pension reform bill last June, cutting civil servants' generous pension packages as the government warned it could no longer pay out on the high-interest deals. A separate bill targeting military pensions is expected to be discussed in the current parliament session. The backlash over the cuts is a major challenge for President Tsai Ing-wen, who has seen her popularity rating fall since her election two years ago. Dozens of protesters Tuesday pushed down a gate to the parliament compound in downtown Taipei as police attempted to stop them from rushing in. Retired general Wu Sz-huai fainted in the skirmish while former colonel Miao Te-sheng was seriously injured. Video footage showed a police officer trying to break Miao's fall as he slipped from the second storey of a building, landing on his back. "We have spent more than a year protesting on the streets. The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) government has completely ignored us, our petitions and protests," one protester said in a video posted on the organising group's Facebook page. It called for the bill passed last year to be halted and for government negotiations to be held over the military pension plan. The presidential office appealed to protesters to remain calm and said the government had taken account of veterans' concerns in drafting reforms. "Military pension reforms are to ensure the pension system can develop sustainably," it said in a statement. "Within the limits the state finance allows ... we hope to offer the best solution," it added. Taiwan's pension schemes vary for different occupations and public sector retirees typically receive more generous packages than workers from other sectors which fall under a different labour pension system. The government has warned that various pension funds could go bankrupt as early as 2020 if the system is not overhauled. Among the reforms is the phasing out of a preferential 18 percent interest on savings for civil servants and military personnel. More than 500 people have been killed in the latest strikes on rebel held Eastern Ghouta The battered residents of Syria's Eastern Ghouta rebel enclave were waiting Tuesday morning for the start of a "humanitarian pause" announced by Russia after days of carnage wrought by artillery and air strikes. More than 550 civilians, almost a quarter of them children, have been killed in the last week after Syrian government forces launched a renewed offensive on the rebel enclave in one of the worst episodes of bloodletting in Syria's seven-year-old conflict. A UN Security Council resolution passed on Saturday calling for a 30-day truce has been a dead letter with Moscow, the Damascus regime's main backer, setting its own truce terms instead. On Monday, after days of building international pressure, Russia said it would organise a daily five hour pause in the fighting to allow civilians to escape through "humanitarian corridors", the first of which is due to start at 9:00 am (0700 GMT) on Tuesday. The public would be informed with leaflets and text messages, and buses and ambulances would be waiting at a crossing to evacuate the sick and wounded, Moscow said. Carnage in Eastern Ghouta The short truce could be the first opportunity in days for Eastern Ghouta's brutalised residents to escape from their underground shelters after a relentless bombardment that has sparked growing international outrage. "Five hours is better than no hours, but we would like to see an end to all hostilities extended by 30 days, as stipulated by the Security Council," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Washington, which has backed Syrian rebel forces fighting Damascus, hit out at Moscow's partial truce Monday night. "#Russia has the influence to stop these operations if it chooses to live up to its obligations under the #UNSC ceasefire," US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert tweeted. "The United States calls for an immediate end to offensive operations and urgent access for humanitarian workers to treat the wounded and deliver badly needed humanitarian aid." The rebel group Faylaq al-Rahman also criticised the initiative. "Forcing civilians to leave or face death under bombardment and siege constitutes a Russian crime," its spokesman Wael Alwan said on Twitter. - Bleeding to death - Eastern Ghouta is a rebel stronghold on the edge of the capital Damascus which has been outside government control since 2012 and is thought to be home to some 400,000 civilians. It is held by a mish-mash of rebel and jihadist factions. Seven-year-old Manar was injured in an air strike on her home in Eastern Ghouta that killed several members of her family Since the near total collapse of the Islamic State group's once sprawling "caliphate", Damascus has looked bent on completing its reconquest and Eastern Ghouta is a key target. The regime intensified its air campaign there early this month with devastating results -- the United Nations estimates three quarters of private housing has been damaged. Much of the population has moved underground, with families pitching tents in basements and venturing out only to assess damage to their property and buy food, a trip that frequently turns deadly amid the falling shells and bombs. Residents trapped in the wreckage of their own homes have bled to death as even rescuers were targeted. The intensity of the bombardment on Eastern Ghouta had eased somewhat in the past 48 hours but deadly strikes and shelling have not stopped. At least 22 civilians, including seven children, were killed in new raids and artillery fire by the regime, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said Monday. On Sunday, a child died and 13 others suffered breathing difficulties and showed symptoms consistent with a chlorine attack after a regime air raid struck the town of Al-Shifuniyah, the Observatory and a medic said. Russia dismissed reports of a chemical attack as "bogus stories." The Syrian government has repeatedly denied using chemical weapons, a stance repeatedly supported by Moscow. But UN investigators say government forces used chlorine as a weapon at least three times between 2014 and 2015 as well as a sarin gas attack in 2016. In November Russia used its veto power twice to block the renewal of a UN investigative panel tasked with identifying those responsible for the deadly gas attacks. Txikon (L) posing for a photograph with other climbers after scaling Nanga Parbat in 2016 A Spanish climber has abandoned an attempt to make the first winter ascent of Mount Everest for 25 years, the expedition organiser said Tuesday, after "lethal weather" forced him to retreat. It was the second time in as many years that the unpredictable Himalayan weather had stymied Alex Txikon's attempt to scale the world's highest peak in winter without the use of tanked oxygen. The last successful winter summit was in 1993 by a Japanese team. But only one climber has previously reached the peak in winter without using supplemental oxygen: a Nepali mountaineer in December 1987. "Alex has ended his expedition. He reached up to Camp Four but the weather did not favour him," Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks, which managed the logistics of Txikon's Everest bid, told AFP. Txikon, 36, and his team reached 7,950 metres (26,083 feet) at the weekend, roughly 900 metres below the summit. Weather forecasts had indicated that strong winds would calm early Sunday, allowing them to press on to the summit. But winds up to 100 kilometres (62 miles) per hour forced the team, which included experienced Pakistani climber Muhammad Ali Sadpara, to return to base camp. "We are back at base camp from C4 (Camp Four). Very strong winds and lethal weather made it almost impossible to go for the summit," Sadpara posted on Facebook. - Poor weather - Txikon remains at Everest base camp and in a Facebook post on Tuesday afternoon said he was "considering different possibilities" -- suggesting he may make another bid for the summit. "Everything indicates that the weather forecast will not be favourable until mid-March," he added. For Txikon's Everest climb to be classed as a winter summit, he must reach the peak before the spring equinox on March 20. But his climbing permit issued by the Nepal government expires on February 28 and he would have to buy a new one -- at a cost of $11,000 -- if he wants to continue. Sadpara has already returned to Kathmandu, Txikon confirmed. The temperatures near the summit of Everest in winter regularly plunge below minus 40 celsius (-40 Fahrenheit), while the wind chill makes it feel even colder. In those conditions exposed skin freezes in less than five minutes, putting climbers at serious risk of frostbite. Limited oxygen at high altitudes also increases the risk of frostbite. Txikon was climbing without supplemental oxygen used by many climbers to reduce the effects of Everest's extreme altitudes. The five Nepali Sherpa guides climbing with the Spaniard were used tanked oxygen. It is not clear if Sadpara was too. In 2016 Txikon and Sadpara became the first climbers to summit Pakistan's Nanga Parbat (8,125 metres) -- nicknamed the "Killer Mountain" -- in winter, a feat they achieved without using additional oxygen. Txikon (R) pictured in December 2016 with climbing partner Carlos Rubio Hundreds of climbers flock to Everest each year but most attempt the climb during a narrow window of calm weather between late April and May. Mountaineering is a major revenue-earner for impoverished Nepal, which is home to eight of the world's 14 peaks over 8,000 metres. Former president Park Geun-hye has been held in custody for almost a year South Korean prosecutors on Tuesday demanded a 30-year-jail sentence for former president Park Geun-hye, sacked over a wide-ranging corruption scandal which exposed shady links between big business and politics and prompted massive street protests. The 66-year-old daughter of a former dictator was dismissed in March 2017 and has now been in custody for almost a year. "We ask the court to hand down 30 years in prison and (a fine of) 118.5 billion won ($110 million) for the accused, who must take ultimate responsibility for the scandal as the 18th president of this country," prosecutors said in a statement. They said Park, in collusion with her secret confidante and long-time friend Choi Soon-sil, took or was promised bribes totalling 59.2 billion won ($52 million) from three South Korean companies, Samsung, Lotte and SK, in return for policy favours. Park has also been charged with coercing 18 large firms to "donate" a total of 77.4 billion won to two dubious foundations controlled by Choi. The Seoul Central District Court earlier this month found Choi guilty of abuse of power, bribery and interfering in government business and sentenced her to 20 years in prison. The verdict and sentence was seen as a potential pointer to the decision in Park's separate trial in the same court, because 15 of the 18 charges Choi faced mirror charges against the ex-president. The verdict on Park is expected on April 6. "The accused (Park) abused her power delegated by the people for private gain for Choi and herself... violated core constitutional values on the protection of the market economy and free democracy," the statement said. "Consequently, the accused became the first president to be sacked through impeachment, leaving an indelible scar on the country's constitutional history." The prosecutors also rebuked Park for "allying with the chaebol instead of the people", in reference to the country's family-controlled large conglomerates, accusing her of strengthening "unhealthy ties between political power and economic power". They also decried her attitude toward justice. - 'Cover up' - When allegations about Choi's misdeeds started surfacing in news media, Park tried to mislead public opinion and denounced the reports as "political offensives", prosecutors said. "When the court issued an arrest warrant for the accused Park, she tried to cover up the true picture of the case by describing the move as political revenge." Park since October has stopped attending the court, which she denounces as politically biased. Some legal experts believe she is in an even worse position than Choi was, noting that the judge who sentenced Choi had denounced Park for having "delegated" presidential authority to a private individual. Park's lawyers denied all the charges, asserting there was "no solid evidence" to back them up. "The allegations that the accused has obtained material gains are mere speculations", Lawyer Kim Hae-Yeong said at the court. The conservative opposition Liberal Korea Party reacted angrily as hundreds of pro-Park supporters took to the street to protest. "This is more cruel than demanding a death sentence," a party spokesman said in a statement. Park, daughter of late dictator Park Chung-Hee, was brought up in Seoul's presidential Blue House. The scandal sent her once-bulletproof approval ratings to record lows, with tens of thousands taking to the streets for months calling for her ousting. But she retained a loyal following from groups of mainly older rival protesters. Her downfall gave the left-leaning Democratic Party the upper hand in the presidential election last May, which was easily won by Moon Jae-in. Approval ratings for Moon remain high, mainly due to his down-to-earth image, pro-poor policies and pursuit of dialogue with North Korea, as well as the success of the just-ended Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. President Emmanuel Macron hosting Donald and Melania Trump during the Bastille Day military parade in Paris on July 14, 2017 French President Emmanuel Macron will make his state visit to the United States on April 23-25, his office announced, the first by a foreign leader since Donald Trump assumed the presidency last year. "This invitation reflects the long-standing historical friendship and alliance between our countries, and the strength of relations between the two presidents," Macron's office said late Monday. Trump extended the invitation in January after he was hosted by Macron in July for the Bastille Day national holiday -- when the US leader was impressed by the huge traditional military parade on the Champs-Elysees. This month the White House said Trump is seeking a similar military parade, an unconventional move that would showcase American muscle and underscore his role as commander-in-chief. Although Trump and Macron have professed good relations and met several times, they disagree on a range of fundamental issues, not least Trump's decision to pull the US out of the 2015 Paris agreement on fighting climate change. The programme for Macron's visit has not yet been finalised, but will include a joint press conference and a state dinner, his office said. Diplomatic sources said Macron may also use the occasion to visit New Orleans, which this year celebrates its 300th anniversary since its founding by the French in 1718. Civilian casualties surged in recent months as militants from the Taliban, as well as Islamic State group, unleashed a wave of bloodshed in urban areas and on security forces The Taliban has called for direct talks with the US to find a "peaceful solution" to the conflict in Afghanistan, in an apparent policy shift after months of escalating attacks. Civilian casualties surged in recent months as militants from the Taliban unleashed a wave of bloodshed in urban areas and on security forces in response to a new open-ended military policy by US President Donald Trump. In a statement posted late Monday, the Taliban said it "calls on American officials to talk directly to the Political Office of Islamic Emirate regarding a peaceful solution to the Afghan quandary", using the name it calls itself. The statement referenced local reports that said US envoy Alice Wells had suggested during a recent visit to Kabul that a window was still open for talks. It came days before the second round of a regional peace conference in Kabul, where representatives from 25 countries will discuss counter-terrorism and conflict resolution strategies in the war, which US officials have described as a stalemate. Washington has long called for talks with the Taliban, but historically insisted that any dialogue must include the Afghan government in Kabul. There has been no response to the Taliban's offer from US officials. Kabul urged the militants to take "practical steps", with government spokesman Haroon Chakhansori adding that "all doors for peace talks are open". "If they are Afghans they should come and talk to the Afghan government, the US will not talk to them," he told a press conference. But a senior Taliban commander told AFP Tuesday that the group had little interest in including the Afghan government -- or Islamabad, the militants' historic backers -- in the potential sit down. "We are the real parties, so let's sit and talk directly, without the presence of any third party, either Pakistan or Afghanistan," the commander said. The apparent openness to negotiations is unusual for the militant group, which has repeatedly stated that it will not enter talks until foreign troops leave the country. Afghan political analyst Abdul Bari said increased US pressure on the Taliban and on Pakistan in recent months had forced the militants' hand. But he urged caution, saying that both the US and the Taliban have used such carrot and stick policies for years. "It is too soon to know whether they are very honest this time. The group has always rejected any talks offer in the past," he said. - Escalation - More than 16 years since the US invasion, less than 60 percent of Afghanistan's territory is under the Afghan government's control or influence, NATO figures have shown, with the rest controlled or contested by the Taliban and other militant groups. Unveiling his new Afghan strategy last August, Trump said the US presence in Afghanistan would remain open-ended, as Washington dramatically stepped up strikes on militant strongholds. The US has also increased pressure on neighbouring Pakistan, which it accuses of supporting the Taliban, freezing millions in aid in January and last week pushing to have the country included on a terror financing watchlist. Analysts have suggested that the pressure may be driving a surge in attacks on soft targets including a spate of deadly assaults in Kabul in January, including on a luxury hotel and a massive ambulance bomb which detonated in a crowded street. Trump ruled out holding talks with the Taliban in the wake of those attacks, though State Department officials have insisted they still hope to bring the insurgents to the negotiating table. The Afghan capital will host the latest Kabul Process conference Wednesday, with President Ashraf Ghani vowing Tuesday his government will "present a comprehensive peace plan for Taliban and Pakistan". The closest Kabul has come to direct peace talks with the Taliban was in 2015 in Pakistan. But the nascent dialogue was scuttled days later when Afghan officials announced that Taliban supremo Mullah Omar had been dead for years. Singapore plans to give police power to block communications during militant attacks Singapore Tuesday proposed expanding police powers so they can block all communications from the scene of a terror attack to avoid jeopardising security operations, amid fears militants may target the city-state. The interior ministry, which supported a bill in parliament putting forward the measure, said live broadcasts of attacks in other parts of the world had unwittingly revealed police positions and other tactical details. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has said an attack on the wealthy island, home to thousands of multinational corporations, is not a matter of if but when. Fears have been heightened by support for the Islamic State (IS) group in Muslim-majority neighbours of the financial hub. In 2016 police foiled a plot to fire a rocket at Singapore from an Indonesian island. The bill authorises police to stop everyone in the vicinity of an incident from taking photos and video or transmitting them. It also bans the sending of text and audio messages about security operations and authorises police to take down or disable any drones in the area, regardless of their intention. The ministry said the proposed new powers were necessary as the city-state "continues to face a clear and present security threat" from self-radicalised individuals at home and from "foreign terrorists who view Singapore as a prized target". Singapore is one of the world's most wired countries, with high ownership of mobile devices and fast internet speeds. The ministry cited live media broadcasts of security operations during the Mumbai terror attacks in 2008 and a 2015 attack on a kosher supermarket in Paris, saying they had allowed attackers to anticipate moves against them. Those who contravene a police order to stop communicating could face up to two years in jail or a fine of up to Sg$20,000 ($15,000), the Straits Times newspaper reported. More than 500 people have been killed in the latest strikes on rebel held Eastern Ghouta A humanitarian "pause" announced by Russia in Syria's deadly bombardment of Eastern Ghouta took effect Tuesday, offering a short window for the enclave's traumatised residents to emerge from their basements. The daily five-hour respite, which began at 9:00 am (0700 GMT), was announced by Russia under pressure from international powers anxious to stop more than a week of air strikes, artillery fire and rockets that killed more than 500 people. Moscow said it would allow some of the nearly 400,000 people living in the rebel-held area to leave the battered enclave through safe corridors. Russia hinted regime forces had not ruled out targeting certain areas or groups. Rocket fire was reported at least once after the start of the truce but no major breaches were immediately recorded. A spokesman for the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs in Geneva said it was not yet clear when aid could be sent in. "We cannot send people on a convoy in any area on the promises of whomever. We have to see a ceasefire actually taking place on the ground" before aid trucks can be deployed, Jens Laerke told AFP. The "pause" falls short of the month-long ceasefire the United Nations had supported in a bid to stop one of the bloodiest assaults in Syria's seven-year-old conflict. "Five hours is better than no hours, but we would like to see an end to all hostilities extended by 30 days, as stipulated by the Security Council," UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Map of Damascus locating areas of the besieged rebel enclave in Eastern Ghouta hit by regime strikes since February 1 According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group, more than 550 civilians -- almost a quarter of them children -- were killed in nine days of bombardment. Air strikes, barrel bombs dropped by regime aircraft and heavy artillery shelling have turned several towns in Eastern Ghouta into fields of ruins. Rockets and shells fired from the enclave -- which lies within mortar range of central Damascus and is controlled by Islamist and jihadist groups -- have also claimed around 20 lives in regime-controlled areas in recent days. - 'Truce is a farce' - Residents in the enclave were relieved to have some respite from the bombs that have rained on their homes since February 18, but many remained defiant and reluctant to leave the enclave. Seven-year-old Manar was injured in an air strike on her home in Eastern Ghouta that killed several members of her family Some residents left the basements they had been cowering in for days to check on their property and buy food despite skyrocketing prices in the enclave, besieged since 2013. "This Russian truce is a farce. Russia is killing us and bombing us every day," said Samer al-Buaidhani, a 25-year-old resident of Douma, which is the main town in Eastern Ghouta. "I don't believe it's safe for me or my family to leave by this system," he told AFP, when asked about the Russian pledge to open humanitarian corridors. A statement by Russia's Centre for Reconciliation of Opposing Sides in Syria said the decision to enforce a "humanitarian pause" was made jointly with Damascus. "The Syrian government forces will cease combat actions against terrorists during this pause," it said, adding however that the measure was effective only in certain areas of Eastern Ghouta. "The required number of buses and ambulance cars has been prepared" at a checkpoint to evacuate the sick and wounded, said the statement by the centre, a Russian body monitoring humanitarian efforts and peace initiatives in Syria. According to the United Nations more than 700 people need urgent medical evacuation from Eastern Ghouta. Syrian state television aired live footage of the checkpoint area but no civilians could be seen boarding the waiting buses. In Hammuriyeh, another town in the sprawling semi-rural enclave, Mohammed Abdullah said the pause left civilians with a choice between two evils. "The truce is not in the people's interest, we have two options: death or displacement," said the 30-year-old. "The campaign we were targeted with was an extermination campaign, not a simple bombardment. What we want is a full and permanent ceasefire for all of Ghouta," he said. The scenario put in place by the regime and its Russian ally was reminiscent of the deal that saw civilians bused out of the northern city of Aleppo in late 2016. Pattaya has a reputation as a destination for sex tourists Thai police have arrested 10 Russians who allegedly organised sexual training courses for their compatriots in the seaside resort city of Pattaya. Police said 33 Russian tourists in total attended the class held at a hotel. But only 10 "instructors" were arrested late Sunday on immigration charges, including working without a permit. "The hotel management said they had no details on the event but they booked it for a seminar and training," Pattaya tourist police official Piyapong Ensarn told AFP. "Some participants told police that they had to pay 20,000 baht ($640) but some said they attended for free." One of the suspects was identified as Alexander Kirilov, 38, whom police described as an organiser. Police also found white t-shirts with the words "sex animator" and certificates intended for those who took part in the course. Pattaya, located just two hours from Bangkok, emerged as a raucous party destination during the Vietnam War when it attracted American GIs on leave. Its sex tourist industry thrives despite prostitution being illegal in Thailand and occasional crackdowns on the trade. But Thailand remains sensitive to its seedy reputation. On Tuesday officials said they had sent a letter to the government of Gambia after an official there reportedly described the kingdom as a destination for sex tourists. Hundreds of students at the Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Nigeria, fled after the armed raid Boko Haram's abduction of more than 100 schoolgirls in Dapchi, northeastern Nigeria, shows the Islamist group still has the ability and means to stage major attacks. Since the raid last Monday, questions have been asked about how heavily armed fighters were able to storm the town in Yobe state without encountering any resistance, then disappear. Nigeria's military claims to have the region locked down, as part of a counter-insurgency effort against the group whose nearly nine-year campaign of terror has killed at least 20,000 people. But witnesses in Dapchi and analysts told AFP that it was a "well-planned attack" that specifically targeted the state-run boarding school. Residents in the dusty town near the border with Niger described seeing a convoy of at least 10 to 15 vehicles just as most people were at the mosque for evening prayers. Civilians were not harmed and the armed men instead asked for directions to the girls school. Hassana Mohammed, 13, scaled a fence to escape the Boko Haram attack on her Government Girls Science and Technical College in Dapchi, Nigeria Hundreds of students at the Government Girls Science and Technology College fled in the dark into the surrounding bush; 110 have yet to return. - Tip off? - The attack and the confusion that followed recalled the abduction of 276 girls from Chibok, in neighbouring Borno state, in April 2014. That brought Boko Haram -- whose name translates from Hausa as "Western education is forbidden" -- worldwide notoriety at a time when it controlled swathes of territory. Since early 2015, that strength has disappeared. Map locating Dapchi in northeastern Nigeria But Yan St-Pierre, a counter-terrorism specialist with the Modern Security Consulting group, said: "If they kidnapped more than 100 girls, that shows they have sizeable means at their disposal and a secure place to take them." Another worrying indication, according to the Yobe state governor Ibrahim Gaidam, is that soldiers stationed at strategic checkpoints in Dapchi, were redeployed last month. That left ordinary uniformed police as the town's only defence. One resident, Mohammed Adam, 27, said they were not effective: "They ran into the bush." Another Dapchi resident, who asked not to be identified, said he was concerned that Boko Haram sympathisers had secretly infiltrated the town. "I believe informants tipped them off that the troops had withdrawn that allowed them to come in because this is the first time that we have come under attack from Boko Haram." - 'Tactical rapprochement' - Boko Haram's longtime leader Abubakar Shekau Until last week, Dapchi had been spared from Boko Haram, even though the group repeatedly attacked Yobe. On January 5, at least nine soldiers were killed in an attack on a military post. That attack was claimed by the Boko Haram faction headed by Abu Mus'ab al-Barnawi, whose leadership is recognised by the Islamic State group. Barnawi's breakaway faction operates over a vast territory in and around Lake Chad and Niger, including Yobe state. Fighters loyal to Boko Haram's long-time leader, Abubakar Shekau, are more active in Borno state and along the Cameroon border. Some analysts said Barnawi, rather than Shekau, was behind the Dapchi attack and may have taken hostages as human shields to mitigate military operations against them. Anger erupted in the remote northeastern Nigerian town of Dapchi after what analysts say was a "well-planned attack" targeting the Government Girls Science and Technology College Boko Haram split because of Barnawi's objection to Shekau's use of violence against civilians in the Muslim-majority region, including suicide bombings in mosques and markets. "No civilians were harmed (in Dapchi), which is likely a mode of operation of the Mamman Nur faction," said one member of the civilian militia. Nur -- Shekau's former right-hand man and the mastermind of the 2011 UN office bombing in Abuja -- is seen as the Barnawi faction's de-facto leader. "Even in the villages they attacked in the area before Dapchi, they touched no-one, they only looted food supplies," he added. - Blurred lines - Kidnapping remains commonplace for both Boko Haram factions, said St-Pierre. "It's very difficult to know who is behind this attack because the factional divisions aren't what they used to be," he added. Both groups had had "tactical rapprochements" and even conducted "joint operations" in recent months, he said. Nigeria media on Monday quoted unnamed local security sources as saying that half of the hostages had been taken to Niger to prevent the Nigerian military from following them. AFP has not been able to verify the claim, although the border is just over 100 kilometres away to the north. Nur, who is believed to have links with Al-Qaeda affiliates in north Africa, is said to have bases on the islands of Lake Chad. Movements of men, arms and equipment have been seen in the border region, without the intervention of either country, making the Boko Haram convoy difficult to detect, said St-Pierre. "Whatever the reason, Boko Haram needs women in its ranks and will look to put them in a secure location," he added. "The women have a high value as hostages". The coup was thwarted by street protesters and support from the army More than 80 people went on trial before a military court in Burkina Faso on Tuesday over the failed 2015 coup in a case being seen as a test for justice in the West African country. Two top generals accused of masterminding the plot, Gilbert Diendere and Djibrill Bassole, were cheered by supporters as they arrived at the court in the capital Ouagadougou. Security was high, with forces guarding a 200-metre (yard) cordon around the military tribunal. Traffic was blocked, mobile phones banned and people entering the zone were searched. Bassole and Diendere -- key allies of former president Blaise Compaore who was chased from power in October 2014 -- are among a total of 84 people on trial, including 66 military officials and 18 civilians. Djibril Basole (L) and Gilbert Diendere are accused of involvement in a failed 2015 coup which was thwarted by street protesters They face a variety of charges including treason, undermining state security and murder over the coup launched in September 2015 by Compaore's old presidential guard against the transitional government that took power after the veteran leader's fall. The elite unit known as the RSP briefly took the country's leaders hostage before the coup was thwarted by street protesters and support from the army which attacked the plotters' barracks. Fourteen people died and 270 were injured in the unrest in the former French colony. The defendants risk heavy penalties, including the death sentence, which has not been used in Burkina Faso for 30 years. The Burkinabe Movement for Human and People's Rights (MBDHP) described the case as a "life-size test of the credibility of the Burkinabe judiciary", often accused of being under the control of those in power in a country blighted by numberous coups and mutiny since independence in 1960. Some analysts say the trial could also shed light on other non-resolved high-profile cases in Burkina Faso, such as the assassination of Thomas Sankara in 1987 or journalist Norbert Zongo in 1998, where the names of Diendere or Campaore's presidential guard often come up. The painting had belonged to Kojiro Matsukata, a businessman who collected Western art A painting by French Impressionist master Claude Monet that belonged to a Japanese collector but was lost for decades after WWII is now back in Tokyo, a museum official said Tuesday. The oil painting, around two metres long and 4.2 metres wide, was unearthed in the Louvre Museum in Paris in 2016 but the discovery had not been made public until now. "The painting was recently returned" to the National Museum of Western Art in the Japanese capital, a spokeswoman told AFP. The painting -- entitled "Water Lilies: Reflections of a Willow Tree" -- is dated 1916 and depicts bright flowers floating on a lake. The museum said it was a study painting for his famous series "Water Lilies" but the work is severely damaged with half of it destroyed. It will be necessary to restore the canvas "with extreme care", the museum said in a statement. "But the remaining painting is still very large. It has the potential to show Monet's wonderful work if handled with the proper care," it said. The painting had belonged to Kojiro Matsukata, a businessman who collected Western art between 1916 and 1927 with the proceeds amassed from a shipbuilding fortune. It is said Matsukata directly purchased the piece from Monet at his atelier in 1921, according to the museum. His art collections including the painting were moved to Paris for safekeeping during WWII and later requisitioned by the French government at the end of the war as enemy property. In 1959, the French government returned to Japan the majority of 400 pieces in the Matsukata collection. "The existence of the painting might have been forgotten given the tremendous damage caused by bad storage conditions during the war," the Tokyo museum said. The museum plans to show the painting to the public in June 2019 following restoration work. Shelves usually stacked with toilet paper, kitchen paper and boxed tissues stood empty in many supermarkets Taiwan's premier called for calm Tuesday following a desperate run on toilet paper on the island, sparked by speculation of imminent price hikes. Shelves usually stacked with toilet paper, kitchen paper and boxed tissues stood empty in many hypermarkets and supermarkets as residents stockpiled supplies. Major online retailers had also run out, including PChome which reportedly sold five million packs of toilet paper in three days. "We ask the public not to panic and not to rush to buy," Premier William Lai told reporters. "The supply is sufficient and everybody will have toilet papers to buy," he said. The panic buying started after major hypermarkets were informed by toilet paper manufacturers of a 10 to 30 percent price hike from mid-March due to rising international pulp prices. The Fair Trade Commission said it had looked into the matter and met with representatives from three major toilet paper suppliers and five top retailers to warn them against price-fixing on Tuesday. There was online anger as some accused the government of ignoring price fixing by manufacturers. "The government wouldn't have paid attention if people were not snatching up toilet paper. The lousy government is only saying price-fixing is illegal after the media reported it," read one post on Apple Daily's website. Of the 276 girls kidnapped from Chibok, 112 are still believed to be held by Boko Haram The abduction of 111 schoolgirls by jihadist militants in Nigeria last week comes four years after the same group kidnapped 276 girls from Chibok, a case that shocked the world. In the latest mass kidnapping, Boko Haram snatched the girls on February 19 from their boarding school in the northeastern town of Dapchi, around 300 kilometres (186 miles) from Chibok. Here is a recap of the case of the Chibok girls, 112 of whom are still believed to be held. - Snatched from school - On April 14, 2014 Boko Haram gunmen seize 276 girls aged 12 to 17 from the Government Girls Secondary School in the remote town of Chibok in Borno state. A video grab image from a YouTube clip posted in August 2016, purportedly by Islamist group Boko Haram, shows what is claimed to be one of the group's fighters alongside kidnapped Chibok girls The girls are forced from their dormitories onto trucks and driven into the bush. Fifty-seven manage to flee. Boko Haram factional leader Abubakar Shekau claims responsibility in a video released on May 5 and vows to sell the girls as slave brides. A week later a second video shows about 100 of the missing girls. Boko Haram says they have converted to Islam and will not be released unless militant fighters held in custody are freed. An international media campaign demanding the release of the girls is launched, backed by A-list celebrities and politicians, and the hashtag #BringBackOurGirls goes viral. - One year on - Parents of the kidnapped schoolgirls march in Abuja in 2016 to press for their release, two years after they were taken On April 14, 2015 Nigeria's president-elect Muhammadu Buhari warns he "cannot promise" that the girls will be found, as vigils are held to mark their first year in captivity. In September 2015 Buhari raises the possibility of an exchange of Boko Haram prisoners for the girls. In December he says he is willing to negotiate with any "credible" Boko Haram leadership if there is proof the girls are alive. - 'Proof of life' - In April 2016, on the eve of the abduction's second anniversary, it emerges that Boko Haram has sent a "proof of life" video to the government. It shows 15 of the girls in black hijabs in the first concrete indication that at least some are still alive. In May 2016 the Nigerian army confirms the first of the schoolgirls has been found. Aged 19, she has a four-month-old baby and is found with a man she describes as her husband near Boko Haram's Sambisa Forest enclave. - First releases - In October 2016 Nigerian officials announce the release of 21 of the girls following talks between the government and Boko Haram, brokered by Switzerland and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Local sources say four jihadist prisoners were freed as part of the deal. The army finds two other girls in November 2016 and January 2017. In May 2017 another 82 girls are released in exchange for five Boko Haram commanders as part of the same talks. Later that month, Boko Haram release a video in which a woman claiming to be one of the Chibok girls is seen wearing a black veil and holding a gun. She proclaims loyalty to Boko Haram and says she does not want to return to her parents. Early January 2018 the Nigerian army says it has rescued another of the girls in Borno. In all, 107 of the 219 held since 2014 have either escaped or been released. The militants release a new video purporting to show at least 14 of the Chibok schoolgirls, some carrying babies, saying they were comfortable and wanted to stay with the group. In mid-February a man involved in the kidnapping is jailed for 15 years in the first conviction in relation to the Chibok case. The Maldivian opposition said Tuesday it had hired former UN rights rapporteur Ben Emmerson to push the global body to intervene in a political deadlock that has roiled the troubled honeymoon islands The Maldivian opposition said Tuesday it had hired a former UN rights rapporteur to push the global body to intervene in a worsening political crisis that has roiled the troubled honeymoon islands. The opposition alliance, which includes the parties of former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said they had enlisted British lawyer Ben Emmerson to advise them on securing UN mediation in the crisis. Emmerson, a UN special rapporteur until last year, is also a member of Nasheed's pro-bono international legal team, which includes high-profile rights lawyer Amal Clooney. His appointment follows reports that President Abdulla Yameen, who declared a state of emergency in a crackdown on dissent earlier this month, had declined an offer from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for multi-party talks. Emmerson will "advise the joint opposition in discussions with UN officials" on possible talks with Yameen's administration, the Colombo-based opposition alliance said in a statement. Yameen has stepped up a crackdown on opposition activists, including his estranged half brother and ex-president Gayoom, since imposing a draconian state of emergency on February 5. He has also arrested the chief justice after the Supreme Court ordered the release of political prisoners, and has stripped parliament of its power using emergency laws to head off impeachment. In another development, Yameen's niece Dunya Maumoon, resigned as state minister for Health, a position she held for just over a year. Earlier she had been Yameen's foreign minister. She has been under pressure to resign since Yameen had her father Gayoom arrested earlier this month on a charge of trying to topple the government. "Today at this time of pain and crisis for both my family and my country, it is my sincere hope to see my father home at the earliest", she said in a statement after her resignation. Yameen's education minister Aishath Shiham on Tuesday told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that the Supreme Court's "judicial overreach" had threatened democracy in the Maldives. "In order to uphold the integrity of the constitution, drastic action was necessary. The president declared a state of emergency. This decision was not taken lightly," she said. - Targeted sanctions - The Council of the European Union on Monday urged Yameen to end the state of emergency, release all political prisoners and restore rule of law. It warned of sanctions if Yameen failed to comply. "The current situation is not in accordance with the principles of democratic rule and separation of powers," the Council said. "If the situation does not improve, the Council may therefore consider targeted measures." It said the European Union was ready to support any UN facilitation of talks between Maldivian parties to end the standoff, which it said threatened the safety of residents and tourists visiting the popular holiday islands. Last week Yameen's regime warned India against interfering in the crisis after New Delhi, once seen as Male's closest ally, expressed dismay over the president extending the state of emergency. Yameen has jailed almost all his political opponents since coming to power in late 2013 and the resulting fallout has dented the nation's image as a popular tourist destination. Amnesty International on Tuesday called on authorities to "unconditionally release" all those detained under the emergency provisions. The former leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) is still a figurehead for Kurds in Syria. A Czech court on Tuesday released prominent Syrian Kurdish leader Saleh Muslim, who was detained at the weekend and is wanted by Turkey on terror charges, his lawyer said. "The judge released my client," lawyer Miroslav Krutina told reporters. He said Muslim has vowed to participate in all extradition proceedings requested by Turkey. The former leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) is still a figurehead for Kurds in Syria. Czech Judge Jaroslav Pytloun declined to comment on his decision, which was hailed by several dozen Kurds who had come to show solidarity with Muslim in front of the municipal court building in central Prague. Earlier on Tuesday Turkey said Muslim's case was a "day of reckoning" for the Czech Republic, pressing its NATO ally Prague to extradite him to face a terror trial. The arrest came as Turkey presses an over month-long operation inside Syria aimed at dislodging the People's Protection Units (YPG) -- the military wing of the PYD -- from the Afrin region of the country's north. Ankara sees the YPG and PYD as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which for over three decades has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state and is banned by Turkey, the US and the European Union as a terror group. Muslim is wanted by Turkey in connection with a deadly attack in Ankara in February 2016. He has denied any involvement. Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis declined Tuesday to comment on the case insisting that "it's a Czech court that decides, I do not know this case, I can not express myself." Protestors take to a Kinshasa street for a march against President Joseph Kabila on February 25 A military court in the Democratic Republic of Congo has jailed a police officer for life for killing a demonstrator opposed to President Joseph Kabila, a judicial source said Tuesday. "Police officer Agbe Obeid is sentenced to life in prison for having shot Eric Boloko at point-blank range with live ammunition on Sunday, February 25," in Mbandaka, a registry official at the military tribunal in the northwestern city told AFP. "This trigger-happy policeman shot the young man as he was peacefully going home (after a demonstration). I hope that he will really serve out his sentence," said Fabien Mongunza, president of the civil society movement in Equateur province, of which Mbandaka is the capital. "This verdict has calmed people's minds because the tension was noticeable. Military justice has done well to swiftly convict this policeman," Mongunza added. Boloko was one of two people reported killed by security forces during weekend marches in Congolese cities banned by Kabila's regime but supported by the influential Roman Catholic church. The protests were prompted by Kabila's failure to quit power when his second elected five-year mandate expired in December 2016 and by delays in holding elections, now scheduled for the end of 2018. - 'Stop these shameful practices' - Marches in Mbandaka on December 31 and January 21, called by a group of intellectuals close to the church, took place with no serious incidents, several witnesses said. A policeman who shot prominent activist Rossy Mukendi of the Collective 2016 citizen's movement in the capital Kinshasa on Sunday has been arrested, according to police spokesman Colonel Pierrot-Rombaut Mwanamputu. Mukendi died of his wounds, prompting one lobby group, the Congolese Association for Access to Justice, to speak of a premeditated "assassination". The chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, on Tuesday lamented the deaths at the protests, calling on Congolese authorities to "shed light on the events" of Sunday. He asked "Congolese political actors to show more responsibility and defence and security forces to exhibit the greatest restraint". Also on Tuesday, local press watchdog Journalists in Danger denounced the government's decision to cut internet across the country for 10 hours on Sunday. "Stop these shameful practices, which seriously harm freedom of information and further tarnish the image" of the country, the watchdog said in a statement. Anti-Kabila protests on New Year's Eve and on January 21 had left 15 people dead at the hands of the security forces, according to tolls given by organisers and the United Nations. The government said that just two people died. Protest organisations have said there will be no let-up until Kabila declares publicly that he will step down after the presidential poll planned for December 23. The Nigerian army has faced repeated attacks by Boko Haram during a nearly nine-year insurgency Two Nigerian soldiers were killed and four injured in an ambush by Boko Haram militants in the country's northeastern state of Borno, the army said Tuesday. The attack on Monday happened as soldiers were travelling between the towns of Biu and Damboa. Borno state has been at the heart of the jihadist insurgency that has killed 20,000 people and displaced 2.6 million more since 2009. "Our men fell into an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists while on their way to Damboa from Biu," a military officer told AFP. "They fought the terrorists and we lost two men in the fight." A military vehicle was also seized in the attack, he added. Despite repeated claims from the authorities in Abuja that they have "crushed the terrorists", attacks and suicide bombings persist in hard-to-reach rural areas and outlying towns. Last week Boko Haram militants stormed a girls' school in Dapchi, in neighbouring Yobe state, and abducted more than 100 schoolgirls. The raid comes four years after 276 girls were taken from a school in Chibok, in Borno state. Over 500 people, including more than 120 children, were killed in a week of air strikes on Eastern Ghouta The Kremlin on Tuesday said the future of a ceasefire in a war-ravaged enclave near Damascus will depend on the rebels holed up there, as the Russian military accused the fighters of violating a "humanitarian pause" called by Moscow. "It will depend on how the terrorist groups behave, whether they will open fire, whether provocations from them will continue," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told journalists when asked whether a daily five-hour pause in fighting will increase. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered a daily "pause" from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm to evacuate civilians from the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, outside Damascus, following a UN Security Council weekend vote to approve a 30-day truce. But the United Nations said Tuesday that fighting has raged on in the area despite the truce, making relief operations impossible. Russia says the main forces in Eastern Ghouta, such as Islamist groups Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham, are terrorist groups who do not fall under the terms of the ceasefire. These groups, alongside the Faylaq al-Rahman faction, on Tuesday said in a letter to the UN that they would be willing to expel jihadist fighters from Eastern Ghouta once the truce takes effect. - Five hours 'not enough' - "We shall see in practice whether the pleas by the three illegal armed groups... to carry out the UNSC resolution correspond with their intentions," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Tuesday during a joint press conference with French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian. Despite ongoing clashes and one civilian death in Eastern Ghouta, the levels of violence were significantly lower during the five-hour pause than at any point since February 18, when the regime began its assault in the region. But the five-hour window is not enough, Le Drian said. "The first five hours of the truce is real progress. We support it but it is just one step," he said in Moscow. Moscow accused the rebel factions in Eastern Ghouta of not allowing civilians to flee through a Syrian government checkpoint. "There is intense fire from the militants and not a single civilian has come out," General Viktor Pankov told Russian agencies. Another Russian officer at the scene, Vladimir Zolotukhin, told Russian media Tuesday that fighters in Eastern Ghouta have fired 22 times on Damascus over the last 24 hours. A poster for the Cambodia National Rescue Party pictured last August shows leader Kem Sokha (2nd R) and former leader Sam Rainsy (R) A Cambodian court has ordered the seizure of the former opposition party headquarters, months after the group was dissolved as part of a wide-ranging crackdown. The ruling makes good on a threat by strongman Prime Minister Hun Sen, who vowed to pursue ownership of the building as part of lawsuits against Sam Rainsy, co-founder of the now-banned Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). In a warrant dated February 26 and seen by AFP on Tuesday, the Phnom Penh Municipal Court decided to "temporarily seize the property (land and building)" of Rainsy following a request by a lawyer for both Hun Sen and the president of the National Assembly, Heng Samrin. The judge said the warrant would be cancelled when Rainsy deposited more than $1 million at the court, roughly the sum for which Hun Sen and Heng Samrin are suing him regarding separate defamation cases. Rainsy, who regularly accuses senior figures of corruption and mismanagement, lives in self-exile to avoid the many charges against him, which he says are politically motivated. In a statement he described the decision as part of the cases "orchestrated to suppress me" and vowed to continue fighting for freedom and justice for Cambodians. The move is the latest swipe at any challenge to Hun Sen's 33-year rule before national elections scheduled for July. The courts dissolved the opposition in November following the arrest of its senior leader in the country Kem Sokha. The CNRP's parliamentary and commune seats were redistributed, helping Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party sweep controversial Senate elections on Sunday. Rainsy has derided that vote as a "farce". Cambodia has tilted away from the west and towards China, which offers cash and exerts zero pressure on human rights. But the crackdown, which has included the shuttering of media outlets and NGOs, has not been without consequences. The EU and the US have withdrawn support for the July election, while Germany has suspended preferential visa treatment for private travel for Hun Sen and his family. Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was elected by a landslide in 2016, largely on a pledge to kill tens of thousands of criminals The Philippines' top diplomat warned the United Nations on Tuesday not to "weaponise" human rights and urged it to send an impartial investigator to probe President Rodrigo Duterte's deadly anti-drug war. The Philippines' human rights record was raised at a UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva this week, with Iceland Foreign Minister Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson urging Manila on Monday to accept a visit from the UN Special Rapporteur. Duterte was elected by a landslide in 2016 largely on a pledge to kill tens of thousands of criminals, and has presided over a narcotics crackdown that rights monitors describe as amounting to crimes against humanity. Foreign Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told the council on Tuesday Manila was ready to cooperate, but called for fairness. "Send anyone except one who has already prejudged us, and who, by any measure, cannot be considered independent and objective," Cayetano added. "Let us in this regard take to heart our Secretary-General's warning yesterday not to politicise -- may I even say weaponise -- human rights," Cayetano said. Philippine police said they have killed 4,021 drug suspects who resisted arrest, while human rights groups estimate more than 12,000 deaths in all, including people murdered by shadowy vigilantes. Cayetano said some non-government civil rights monitors he did not name had unjustly portrayed the Philippines and "politicised and weaponised the issue for their own gain". "Human rights becomes a human wrong when the ridiculous assertion is taken seriously that drugs are harmless, that their effects are benign at best and passing at worst, and that taking the most vigorous measures to stop the evil trade constitutes genocide. "That puts drug dealers and drug pushers on the same moral level as the victims (of) holocausts." In Manila, Duterte spokesman Harry Roque said Tuesday the government would specifically refuse a visit by Agnes Callamard, the special UN rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or summary executions. Callamard has been seeking permission to travel to Manila to investigate the killings, but has rejected Duterte's conditions attached to the visit, including debating him publicly on his drug war. The Hague-based International Criminal Court's prosecutor earlier this month announced a separate preliminary examination into the killings of drug suspects in the Philippines. Duterte has at times called for drug addicts as well as traffickers to be killed, and vowed to pardon police if they are found guilty of murder for prosecuting the drug war. In September 2016 he drew parallels between Hitler's Holocaust and his crackdown against three million supposed drug addicts, telling reporters: "I'd be happy to slaughter them." However Duterte also repeatedly states that he has not encouraged police to break the law, and he is not doing anything illegal by calling for people to be killed. burs/cgm/dcr Malka Leifer (C), accused of of sexually abusing girls at a school in Australia, is escorted by police as she arrives for a hearing at the District Court in Jerusalem on February 27, 2018 Israeli prosecutors asked a Jerusalem court Tuesday to extradite a woman to Australia over accusations of sexually abusing pupils, after a new psychiatric evaluation determined her fit to stand trial. Malka Leifer is facing accusations of child sex abuse from when she was a teacher and principal at an ultra-Orthodox Jewish school in Melbourne, where she had relocated from her native Israel, according to Israeli police. According to Australian media, Leifer is facing 74 counts of child sex abuse. After allegations surfaced against her in 2008, Leifer and her family left for Israel and have been living in the West Bank settlement Emmanuel. A previous extradition attempt between 2014-2016 failed after Leifer was hospitalised in mental institutions and expert opinions determined she was not fit to stand trial. But undercover private investigators filmed Leifer depositing a cheque at the bank and shopping, prompting Israeli authorities to launch an investigation to see if she was pretending to suffer from mental illness to avoid extradition, leading to her February 12 arrest. At Tuesday's hearing at the Jerusalem district court, Leifer sat silently, her head bowed and her eyes hid from sight. An Australian diplomat attended part of the session alongside a few ultra-Orthodox members of Leifer's community. Prosecutors presented a new psychiatric evaluation determining Leifer could face justice. "I'm asking the court to accept this evaluation and determine the defendant is fit to stand trial and set a discussion" toward Leifer's extradition, prosecutor Matan Akiva said. But judge Chana Miriam Lomp accepted the defence's argument that the new evaluation was not acceptable as it lacked the district psychiatrist's signature. In addition, Leifer's attorney Yehuda Fried said he had not received all the evidence claiming to show his client was faking her mental condition. Lomp ordered Akiva to hand the defence the evidence used by police to determine their suspicions and said a further hearing would take place in two months. He ordered her to be detained in a psychiatric institution in the meantime. Speaking with journalists after the hearing, Fried was confident the debate over whether Leifer could be extradited would take "years," saying the new psychiatric evaluation "has no legal value". "We'll demand to receive all the investigation materials. After getting all the materials, we will ask for another evaluation," he said. "If the court decides to halt the extradition process -- excellent," Fried said. "If not, we'll ask to investigate all the experts since 2014 who presented evaluations, and during those investigations we will determine whether or not she is fit to stand trial or not." Leifer's case has drawn attention from Australian media since her re-arrest earlier this month, with Victoria state premier Daniel Andrews saying he has lobbied Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly on the issue. The former leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) is still a figurehead for Kurds in Syria. Turkey on Tuesday accused the Czech judicial authorities of backing terror after the release of prominent Syrian Kurdish leader Saleh Muslim, warning that ties between Ankara and Prague would be harmed. "This decision is very clearly a decision in support for terrorism," Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag told reporters in Ankara. "This decision will negatively impact relations between Turkey and the Czech Republic," he warned, without giving details. Turkey wants Prague to extradite Muslim, the former leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and still a figurehead for Kurds in Syria, to face trial on terror charges. A Prague court earlier ruled to release Muslim after his arrest at Turkey's request over the weekend. But his lawyer said that the Syrian Kurdish leader had vowed to cooperate with extradition proceedings. The arrest came as Turkey presses an over month-long operation inside Syria aimed at dislodging the People's Protection Units (YPG) -- the military wing of the PYD -- from the Afrin region of the country's north. Ankara sees the YPG and PYD as the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which for over three decades has waged an insurgency against the Turkish state and is banned by Turkey, the US and the European Union as a terror group. "We know, the world knows, the Czech Republic knows that PYD-YPG-PKK... is a bloody-minded terror organisation, which has harmed civilians," said Bozdag. Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul also lashed out at the decision, saying it was not in line with international law and could not be accepted by Turkey. He said that Turkey expected that the Czech authorities would go back on "this mistake" in the "shortest possible time". Prime Minister Binali Yildirim had earlier said that the ruling would be "a day of reckoning" for the Czech Republic, an ally of Turkey in NATO. Were Muslim extradited, it would mark the biggest snaring of a wanted Kurdish leader by Turkey since the detention of PKK founder Abdullah Ocalan in a 1999 operation in Kenya. Abundant oil and deeply entrenched political power -- forces to be reckoned with by foes of the regime in Equatorial Guinea The main opposition party in Equatorial Guinea has been dissolved by a court that also jailed 21 of its activists for more than 30 years, state media reported on Tuesday. The Citizens for Innovation (CI) party will be "withdrawn (from) the register of political parties in the country", the presiding judge at the court in Mongomo, Jose Rafael Nguema, said on TVGE state television. The rulings were made Monday during the trial of 147 CI activists accused of "rebellion" in the small, oil-rich central African nation, ruled by unbending strongman President Teodoro Obiang Nguema since he seized power in 1979. "The dissolution is the consequence of (...) undermining state security, because according to the law governing political parties, any party that commits this offence is dissolved," deputy chief prosecutor Anatalio Nzang said on TVGE. In an election last November, the CI won the only parliamentary seat that was not taken by Obiang's ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE), which claimed 99 of 100 seats. The trial was linked to scuffles that occurred a week before the vote, when police tried to stop a CI rally in Aconibe, hometown of party leader Gabriel Nse Obiang Obono. Three police officers were hurt and their weapons -- three AK-47 assault rifles and a pistol -- were seized. - Jailed for 'sedition' - Since the vote, "restrictions on freedom and arrests, particularly of political opposition figures, have ceaselessly continued," according to European Union observers. The trial has been taking place in the hometown of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, Africa's longest-serving ruler The 147 CI activists have been on trial since mid-February in Mongomo, Obiang's hometown and fiefdom in the continental part of the former Spanish colony, which also includes Bioko island to the northwest in the Gulf of Guinea. "In the name of the head of state, first magistrate of the nation," the court convicted 21 members of the group and ordered them to serve "26 years in prison for sedition, 10 years in prison for undermining authority (with) a fine of 50,000 CFA francs (76 euros / $94) to be paid by each one, four years in prison for damage and four months for physical injury," according to state television. Prosecutors had sought the death penalty, according to CI members and their lawyer, but the state denied this, citing a moratorium on capital punishment in force "for about 15 years", though courts have still handed down death sentences. The court ordered the release of the other activists in the dock. The convicted men were also "condemned with their CI party to pay 138 million CFA francs (210,000 euros / $259,000) to the state", according to the television report. This is "an astronomical sum in the context of the miserable wages paid in Equatorial Guinea," a foreign diplomat in the region commented. Since the discovery of considerable oil reserves in 1996, Obiang has come to preside over one of the main oil exporters in sub-Saharan Africa, but most of the 1.2 million inhabitants still live in poverty. Civilians are still dying in Syria's bombardment of Eastern Ghouta with no sign of aid deliveries or evacuations despite Russia's promised 'humanitarian pause'. Seven people died on the ceasefire's first day, which began at 9am local time on Tuesday, after the Russian-backed regime broke the five-hour truce an hour early. Government forces made significant ground over the course of the day in ferocious street fighting against rebels, advancing through the area's eastern edge. Civilians are still dying Syria's bombardment of Eastern Ghouta with no sign of aid deliveries or evacuations despite Russia's promised 'humanitarian pause' A general view taken from a government-held area in Damascus shows smoke rising from the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta on the outskirts of the Syrian capital 'This Russian truce is a farce. Russia is killing us and bombing us every day,' said Samer al-Buaidhani, a 25-year-old from Douma, Eastern Ghouta's main hub. 'I don't believe it's safe for me or my family to leave by this system.' The truce had been set up to allow civilians to leave, after a week-long government offensive killed more than 500 people, including more than 120 children. Residents have spent nine days hiding in their basements, only venturing out on often deadly trips to check if there homes were still standing and to buy food. Many of the more than 400,000 civilians were trapped in the wreckage of their own homes and bled to death as even rescuers were targeted. Moscow's plan falls short of a broader 30-day ceasefire it agreed to at the United Nations Security Council but which has yet to take effect, and inspired little trust from among the besieged enclave's residents. Syria deployed buses to transport residents wanting to use a humanitarian corridor to flee what UN chief Antonio Guterres called 'hell on Earth'. Since February 18, 582 civilians, almost a quarter of them children, have been killed in the Syrian and Russian bombardment of Eastern Ghouta Seven people died on the first day of the deal, which began at 9am local time on Tuesday, after the Russian-backed regime broke the five-hour ceasefire an hour early But no civilians were seen venturing towards the regime forces guarding the checkpoint, where large portraits of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin could be seen side-by-side. The 'humanitarian pause' echoed a similar tactic employed by Russia and Syrian regime during the ferocious battle to force rebels out of Aleppo in 2016. Russia's defence ministry accused armed groups in Eastern Ghouta of shelling the corridor, and said rebel fighters had 'continued attacking the positions of the government forces' and 'went on the offensive in other directions too'. 'These are the militants, including terror groups, who counter the government and are creating problems linked to prioritization of this decision,' Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said. 'There are also forces supporting the anti-government opposition in Syria behind it.' He said Western countries should 'start with themselves' and fulfill the UN Security Council Resolution 2401 on a humanitarian pause in Syria. 'They continue screaming that it is allegedly impossible to implement in Eastern Ghouta what is written down in the Resolution 2401,' he said. 'The resolution needs to be implemented in full. They should start with themselves. We will constantly repeat to our US and French colleagues - start with yourselves.' Mr Ryabkov hit back at accusations by the West that Syrian and Russian bombardment of Eastern Ghouta was killing civilians. '[Those] who divide the world under a friend-or-foe principle regardless of what their people do and the methods they use, whether they are terrorists or not, they will still remain friends for these people,' he said. The truce had been set up to allow civilians to leave, after a week-long government offensive killed more than 500 people, including more than 120 children A Syrian fighter jet zooms away after carrying out an airstrike on Eastern Ghouta US State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert claimed Russia was not truly committed to any ceasefire. 'They're not adhering to the ceasefire because they continue to sponsor and back Bashar al-Assad's government,' she said. Syrian state news agency SANA said a former Al-Qaeda affiliate present in the enclave was blocking civilians 'to use them as human shields'. International Committee of the Red Cross spokeswoman Iolanda Jaquemet said any evacuation needed deeper coordination. 'Under international humanitarian law, humanitarian corridors are things which need to be well planned and must be implemented with the consent of parties on all sides, not only with one side,' she said. Since February 18, 582 civilians, almost a quarter of them children, have been killed in the Syrian and Russian bombardment of Eastern Ghouta, making it one of the bloodiest episodes of the country's seven-year-old conflict. Syrian government forces stand at a checkpoint on the outskirts of Damascus neighbouring the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region on February 27, 2018 Fourteen of the dead, including five children, were pulled from the rubble on Tuesday after being killed in the past two days, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitor said. In Damascus, the state news agency said a civilian was killed and five others wounded by shelling from 'terrorist organisations'. In Hammuriyeh, another town in the sprawling semi-rural enclave, Mohammed Abdullah said the pause left civilians with a choice between two evils. 'The truce is not in the people's interest, we have two options: death or displacement,' the 30-year-old said. 'The campaign we were targeted with was an extermination campaign, not a simple bombardment. What we want is a full and permanent ceasefire for all of Ghouta,' he said. That sentiment was echoed by the dominant rebel groups in Eastern Ghouta, who sent a letter to the United Nations stating their willingness to expel jihadists as soon as a full ceasefire takes effect. The letter said such an evacuation, which has been discussed previously but never yielded any result, would take 15 days and start when a UN truce takes effect. Residents have spent nine days hiding in their basements, only venturing out on often deadly trips to check if there homes were still standing and to buy food More than 500 people have been killed in the latest strikes on rebel held Eastern Ghouta Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reacted cautiously to the statement and said after meeting French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian that the ball was in the rebel groups' court. 'We shall see in practice whether the pleas by the three illegal armed groups... to carry out the UNSC resolution correspond with their intentions,' he said. A top US general accused Moscow of playing an 'incredibly destabilising' role in Syria by claiming it wants to settle the civil war while at the same time stoking the conflict. The UN Security Council will meet Wednesday afternoon to discuss the humanitarian situation and hear from UN aid chief Mark Lowcock. The Syrian government lost control of Eastern Ghouta area of Damascus in 2012 and has besieged it almost ever since. The latest scenario put in place by the regime and its Russian ally was reminiscent of the deal that ended the battle of Aleppo in 2016. Few civilians back then initially used the Aleppo corridors unilaterally announced by Russia. Some started fleeing after renewed bombardment and the rest eventually evacuated when a multilateral deal was reached with Turkey. The headquarters of SEEG, the Gabonese water and electricity firm that is 51-percent owned by France's Veolia Gabon on Tuesday accused Veolia of pollutingthe country as the government and the French company wage an increasingly bitter dispute in public over the cancellation of a contract for water and electricity distribution. "There is considerable environmental damage at almost all of the sites exploited by SEEG," Communication Minister Alain-Claude Bilie By Nze told journalists, referring to the Gabonese firm which is 51-percent owned by Veolia. "Oils and fuel have been spilled on the ground, without any protection or precautions, in flagrant violation of environmental regulations," he said during a news conference, adding that "investigations will be carried out". The government cancelled Veolia's concession in Gabon on February 16 and took control of SEEG facilities. Veolia has denounced the move as a "brutal expropriation". Since then the government and firm have engaged in a communications battle via the media. "Is it possible in France that Veolia dumps fuels and used oils in the rivers?" asked the minister. A Veolia spokesman responded by pointing out that the SEEG had been audited by Gabonese authorities more than 10 times over the last decade. "It is surprising that all the checks by public authorities... never highlighted environmental damage when they conducted audits throughout the concession," the spokesman added. He also said that despite the minister expressing concern about water quality, "the water produced and distributed by the SEEG is still drinkable" and it "meets the sanitary requirements of the World Health Organization, which is superior to the Gabonese authorities". The firm and government have disputed whether Gabon met its commitment to invest the equivalent of 1.5 billion euros ($1.8 billion) into SEEG, as well as responsibility for power cuts and the calculation of electricity fees for the government. Veolia provides water, waste and energy management services in numerous countries, employing more than 163,000 people worldwide. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has cleared out several ministers seen as loyal to his predecessor Jacob Zuma South Africa's new President Cyril Ramaphosa has reshuffled the cabinet to bring reformers to several key ministries while axing graft-tainted allies of ex-leader Jacob Zuma. Here are short profiles of some of the key ministers: - Deputy President: David Mabuza, 57 - David Mabuza, second from right, attended celebrations of the ANC's 106th anniversary in East London, South Africa, in January A provincial leader until last week, Mabuza was thrust into national politics when he was elected in December as the ruling African National Congress party's second most powerful official. The controversial politician, a former schoolteacher nicknamed "The Cat", has a reputation as a hardliner and an astute political strategist. Opponents routinely accuse him of having his own private "military" which is allegedly linked to political intimidation and even killings. - Finance Minister: Nhlanhla Nene, 59 - Nhlanhla Nene is respected among investors and business leaders Respected among investors and business leaders, Nene served as finance minister for 18 months until he was dramatically sacked by Zuma in December 2015. His dismissal caused the markets and the rand currency to tumble. He went on to hold a board-level position at the Allan Gray fund management company. - Public Enterprises: Pravin Gordhan, 68 Pravin Gordhan was finance minister from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 to 2017, when he was fired by Zuma in a purge of rivals and critics A pharmacist by training, he was finance minister from 2009 until 2014 and again from 2015 until 2017 when he was fired by Zuma in a purge of rivals and critics. He was controversially investigated over an alleged team of rogue taxmen at the country's revenue collection agency which he previously headed. Softly-spoken and measured in public yet tough behind the scenes, Gordhan earned an international reputation for fiscal prudence and for being a bulwark against government corruption. He will be expected to root-out graft and waste at state-owned businesses like troubled electricity monopoly Eskom and embattled South African Airways. - Planning, Monitoring & Evaluation: Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, 69 - Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma is the ex-wife of scandal-plagued Zuma Ex-wife of scandal-plagued Zuma, Dlamini-Zuma is a veteran politician and an experienced technocrat who has served as a minister under every president since the end of white minority rule in 1994. She is one of the most experienced ministers of the post-apartheid era having held the home affairs, health and foreign affairs portfolios. She was also chair of the African Union Commission until last year. She narrowly lost to Ramaphosa in the race to lead the ANC. - Home Affairs: Malusi Gigaba, 46 - Malusi Gigaba is one of the younger ministers in the cabinet One of the few younger ministers in the cabinet, Gigaba is one of the only perceived Zuma allies to have survived Monday night's reshuffle which claimed the scalps of at least 10 ministers seen as loyal to the former leader. They, like Gigaba, were seen as being connected to the Guptas, a controversial and wealthy Indian immigrant family alleged to have been at the centre of government corruption in South Africa. Gigaba was shifted from the finance ministry where he had been for just under a year. Cambodia's Prime Minister Hun Sen (C) at a polling station during Senate elections February 25, 2018 that Washington says "failed to represent the genuine will of the Cambodian people" The White House on Tuesday said it was cutting $8.3 million worth of aid programs to Cambodia, a largely symbolic move to protest against an anti-democratic crackdown. In a statement, the White House said it was cutting programs designed to support Cambodia's tax department, local government and the military. "Recent setbacks to democracy in Cambodia," the statement said, "caused us deep concern, including Senate elections on February 25 that failed to represent the genuine will of the Cambodian people." An official said the cut was likely to be worth in the region of $8.3 million. Support will continue for programs that help Cambodians directly, including promoting health, agriculture, mine clearance and civil society. The United States has had a difficult relationship with Cambodia since it waged a massive bombing campaign there in the 1970. While other South East Asian nations have maintained close ties with Washington, Phnom Penh has been more firmly tied to China. The previous US administration had been frustrated by Cambodia's efforts -- at Beijing's urging -- to water down ASEAN positions against Chinese land grabs in the South China Sea and on other issues. A series of draconian measures against the Cambodian opposition have only deepened the divide. Strongman Premier Hun Sen has overseen a crackdown on the press, civil society and the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), which was disbanded following a court ruling last November not long after its leader was arrested on treason charges. Palestinian Mohammed al-Tamimi, 15, sits at his family home in the West Bank city of Ramallah on February 27, 2018 Israel on Tuesday denied its forces shot a Palestinian teenager and said he suffered a severe head injury when he fell off his bicycle, sparking outrage from activists and his family. Mohammed Tamimi, 15, confirmed to AFP that after being arrested from his home in the middle of the night he had told Israeli interrogators the cause of his misshapen skull was falling off his bike, not being shot. But he said it was only because he was afraid of being charged with involvement in a protest, adding that "they knew" he was lying. A cousin of prominent jailed Palestinian teenager Ahed Tamimi, he says he was shot in the head with a rubber bullet during a protest in the occupied West Bank in December, leaving part of his skull missing. Israeli rights group B'Tselem produced medical documents appearing to verify that Tamimi was shot. The family has also presented what they say is an X-ray showing the bullet wound. It occurred the day Ahed, then 16, slapped and kicked two soldiers next to her house in a video that later went viral. She faces a long potential jail sentence in a case that has gained international attention. Mohammed's alleged shooting has been a key line of defence for Ahed's actions by her lawyer in court hearings. But on Tuesday, an Israeli defence ministry unit that oversees affairs in the Palestinian territories said Mohammed had confessed the injury was the result of falling off a bike. "In December 2017, the young man Mohammed Tamimi injured his skull when he was riding his bicycle and fell off," it said in an Arabic language statement posted on Twitter. "Today his father Abu Fadel Tamimi is claiming in the media that his son was injured by a rubber bullet in his skull," it said, adding in bold red letters "fake news". - 'Obviously a bullet wound' - The claim of the bike accident came from an hour-long interrogation of Mohammed on Monday after he was detained along with a number of other residents from Ahed's village of Nabi Saleh. Mohammed confirmed that was what he had told investigators but said it was clear to everyone he was lying. He said he had been arrested from his home at 3:00 am Monday and moved between locations before being questioned by two Israeli officers at around 9:30 am without a lawyer or guardian. He said he was afraid they would charge him with something as he had attended a protest where he had been shot. "I told them I fell from my bicycle. They said 'oh, ok.'" Asked why he lied, he said "they wanted to jail me." He added that the two investigators "knew" that the claim was bogus. He said he came up with the bike story after seeing a bicycle from the car while being driven to be interrogation. No caption B'Tselem produced what it said were complete medical notes from the hospital in Ramallah showing Mohammed was taken there with a "bullet injury". Jonathan Pollak, an Israeli activist who said he was at the demonstration, told AFP he was around 20 metres (yards) away when Mohammed was shot. He said the teenager was climbing a ladder towards a house which Israeli soldiers were in. Pollak said he heard the shot but did not see it, though afterwards it was clear to him and others that it was a bullet injury. "This was one of the bloodiest injuries I have ever seen. He had a hole in his face to the left of his sinus. I was worried he would suffocate to death from all the blood... It was very obviously a bullet wound." This version of events was confirmed by Mohammed's father. The protest took place against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's controversial recognition of Jerusalem, which sparked major protests by Palestinians. The trauma of being abducted by Boko Haram has flooded back for Chibok schoolgirls following the latest attack Boko Haram's latest abduction of schoolgirls in northeast Nigeria has evoked painful memories for Yagana Yamane and Saraya Amos -- and for good reason. In 2014, the pair were among 276 girls kidnapped from their boarding school in Chibok, in an attack that brought world attention to the insurgency in Africa's most populous nation. They and 55 of their classmates managed to escape in the immediate aftermath, jumping from trucks and fleeing into the bush as the human cargo was taken away into the night. The trauma of events that evening nearly four years ago has now come flooding back, with sadness for the plight of 112 of their fellow pupils who are still being held. "I shivered when I heard that some girls had gone missing after Boko Haram attacked their school in Dapchi (in Yobe state)," Yagana, 18, told AFP. "I immediately knew Boko Haram took them... The news evoked frightening memories of what I went through when Boko Haram came to our school and took us away. "I cried because it reminded me of my friends who are still in the hands of Boko Haram. I felt anguish and pity for the Dapchi girls because I can imagine what they are going through now." Saraya said she felt ill when she heard the news on the radio and began to pray: "Oh Lord! Help these girls escape as you helped us escape." The teenager said her "heart beats faster" every time she hears about the latest abduction of 110 girls, making it harder to recover from her own experience. "Images from what we went through when Boko Haram took us come back, which prolongs the agony I have been trying to forget," she said. "It's like thrusting a knife into a wound that's beginning to heal." - 'Killing our future' - A grab from a video released in January 2018 by Boko Haram shows at least 14 of the Chibok schoolgirls abducted in April 2014 Boko Haram targeted the Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok on April 14, 2014 because of its opposition to so-called western education and a secular curriculum. It was not the first attack on schools in the remote region. According to Unicef, nearly 1,400 schools have been destroyed and more than 2,295 teachers have been killed since the start of the insurgency in 2009. In the same period, at least 20,000 people have lost their lives. Yagana and Saraya were forced to finish their schooling elsewhere in Nigeria, supported by a meagre state government grant. Yagana and 12 other Muslim students from Chibok were sent to the northern city of Katsina; Saraya and 40 other Christian pupils attended a school in the central city of Jos. Not all of them finished their final exams. The teenagers are now back in Chibok, waiting to start the next phase in their life. Yagana wants to be a doctor. Saraya has plans to be a lawyer. The government in Abuja and the military in the northeast have repeatedly claimed Boko Haram is no longer the force it was in 2014 when its fighters stormed Chibok. Both teenagers are angry the group retains the capacity to conduct a kidnapping on such a large scale. "I was enraged and I'm still bitter that Boko Haram can still walk into a school and abduct girls like chickens," said Yagana. "I thought with the Chibok experience Boko Haram would never have another chance to do what they did in Chibok." Security needs to be improved at schools to prevent further damage in an impoverished region where girls already suffered from a lack of education. "The government should please do everything to free these girls along with the remaining girls from Chibok. These people are killing our future," said Yagana. A woman was attacked by a lioness near Hammanskraal, roughly 45 kilometres (30 miles) north of Pretoria A 22-year-old woman was mauled to death by a lion on Tuesday at a private game lodge close to South Africa's capital Pretoria, local media reported. The victim was attacked by the lioness near Hammanskraal, roughly 45 kilometres (30 miles) north of Pretoria around 0900 GMT, the local Rekord newspaper reported citing the emergency services. "When Netcare 911 paramedics arrived at the scene, bystanders had initiated (resuscitation). Tragically, the victim had sustained severe injuries and she died at the scene," Nick Dollman, spokesman for the Netcare 911 ambulance service, told the paper. Netcare 911 confirmed the incident on its Twitter account. Police were investigating, Dollman added. Earlier this month a suspected poacher was mauled to death and eaten by a pack of lions close to South Africa's famed Kruger National Park. Djibril Basole (L) and Gilbert Diendere are accused of involvement in a failed 2015 coup which was thwarted by street protesters The landmark trial over a failed 2015 coup in Burkina Faso came to a dramatic halt on Tuesday just hours after it opened when defence lawyers staged a walkout. Eighty-four defendants including two former close allies of ousted president Blaise Campaore were facing a variety of charges including treason, undermining state security and murder in a case seen as a test for the judiciary in the West African country. But the head of the military court in the capital Ouagadougou, Seydou Ouedraogo, announced that he was suspending the trial until further notice because of the absence of the defence teams. "We are withdrawing because the court does not have the legal jurisdiction to judge the case," said Michel Traore, lawyer for one of the defendants, former army chief Boureima Kere. But the walkout was quickly met with criticism, with civil society lawyer Guy-Herve Kam calling it a "stalling tactic". "The lawyers' withdrawal simply shows that the accused do not want to be judged. They will use any means necessary to prolong the trial," Kam said. Security around the courtroom in an upmarket area of the capital was high and the tribunal was packed for the trial of mainly military officials including suspected coup ringleaders Gilbert Diendere and Djibrill Bassole. The two generals were cheered by supporters as they arrived for the hearing. Members of Campaore's old presidential guard launched the coup in September 2015 against the transitional government that took power after the veteran leader's fall in October the previous year. The elite unit known as the RSP briefly took the country's leaders hostage before the coup was thwarted by street protesters and support from the army which attacked the plotters' barracks. Fourteen people died and 270 were injured in the unrest. - 'Time for truth' - The defendants face heavy penalties, including the death sentence, which has not been used in the former French colony for 30 years. Burkina Faso has a history of coups and mutinies The Burkinabe Movement for Human and People's Rights (MBDHP) had described the case as a "life-size test of the credibility of the Burkinabe judiciary", often accused of being under the control of those in power in a country blighted by numerous coups and mutiny since independence in 1960. In 2016, Burkina Faso said it thwarted another plot by forces loyal to Campaore to seize power in the impoverished Sahel state and to try to free comrades detained over the 2015 coup. After the walkout, Franck Sia, the head of an association set up for victims of the attempted coup, said: "The intention is clear, they do not want to go to a verdict". But Seyni Compaore, who was wounded during the coup, said even seeing the trial start was "a reason for satisfaction, for relief". "We hope that the trial will resume as soon as possible to finally shed light on what happened." For Tuesday's hearing, the authorities blocked traffic in the courthouse area, while mobile phones were banned, including those of journalists, and people entering the zone were searched. The measures angered Abdoulaye Diallo, director of the Norbert Zongo press centre, named after a slain investigative journalist. "It still makes me sick that for such a historic trial, we cannot allow the media to capture even the beginning to allow people at least to see what is going on," he said. - 'Arbitrary decisions' - Dienere, the former head of the RSP, has reportedly hired five lawyers for the case and called for a host of top political and military leaders to appear in court. "He is ready for this trial, he is ready for everything to come out," a member of his entourage said last week. Bassole said in an interview published last week that he did not believe he would receive a fair hearing. "Too many unfair and arbitrary decisions have been made against me in flagrant violation of my rights for me to be able to have confidence in military justice," he told private newspaper Le Pays. Some analysts say the trial could also shed light on other non-resolved high-profile cases in Burkina Faso, such as the assassination of Thomas Sankara in 1987 or the journalist Zongo in 1998, where the names of Diendere or Campaore's presidential guard often come up. Compaore, who was ousted after he tried to change the constitution to extend his 27-year rule, is now in exile in neighbouring Ivory Coast. A record 22.2 million people in Yemen -- like these children in Hajjah province displaced by fighting between the Saudi-led coalition and Houthi rebels -- need food aid, according to the United Nations Living conditions in Yemen are "catastrophic" after three years of war, with a growing risk of famine and cholera still raging in the world's worst humanitarian crisis, a senior UN aid official said Tuesday. The UN Security Council was meeting to discuss Yemen a day after Russia vetoed a British-drafted resolution that would have pressured Iran over the supply of missiles to Yemen's Huthi rebels. "After three years of conflict, conditions in Yemen are catastrophic," John Ging, UN director of aid operations, told the council. "People's lives have continued unravelling. Conflict has escalated since November driving an estimated 100,000 people from their homes," said Ging. A record 22.2 million people are in need of food aid, including 8.4 million threatened by severe hunger. Cholera has infected 1.1 million people since April 2017 in the world's worst outbreak, and diphtheria has returned to Yemen for the first time since 1982, said Ging. A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government has been fighting the Huthis since 2015 in a war that has killed thousands and left one of poorest countries in the Arab world on its knees. Delivering a final report to the council, outgoing UN envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed said that in the last two months, there had been renewed large-scale escalation in several areas including the Yemeni-Saudi border. A report by a UN panel of experts in January found that ballistic missiles fired by the Huthis on Saudi Arabia were made in Iran, but Russia has questioned those findings. "The parties have continued the destructive pattern of zero-sum politics which has led the country to plunge into more poverty and destruction," said the envoy, who is stepping down after nearly three years as peace negotiator. Cheikh Ahmed raised particular concern over the recruitment of thousands of child soldiers in the war, especially by the Huthi rebels. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres this month appointed Martin Griffiths of Britain to replace Cheikh Ahmed and lead UN efforts to end the war in Yemen. A handout picture released by the Turkish Presidential Press Service on February 27, 2018 shows Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan shaking hands with Algeria's Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia during an economic forum in the capital Algiers Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan welcomed the signing of trade deals with Algeria on Tuesday as he visited the country on the first leg of a tour of Africa. Erdogan said the agreements would allow Ankara and Algiers to diversify trade pending the signing of "an agreement on the protection of investments as soon as possible". The Turkish president had already insisted, in an interview published in the Algerian daily Echorouk on Monday, on the need for the bilateral agreement to be finalised in order to "protect investments". "We see Algeria as an island of political and economic stability in the region. Our first trading partner in Africa is Algeria," Erdogan said on Tuesday. But "investments and trade will gain in volume as the work of our businessmen in Algeria is facilitated," he said, without elaborating, in remarks made in the presence of Algeria's Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia and Industry Minister Youcef Yousfi. Currently worth around $4 billion, trade was expected to "reach $5 billion at the first stage, then $10 billion," he said. In his interview with Echorouk, Erdogan criticised Algeria's importation barriers "which hinder the development of bilateral trade" and he also called for its visa regime to be eased for Turks, especially businessmen. On Tuesday, he said he was "convinced" of the need to speed up cooperation in the energy sector, notably by developing "joint projects". Erdogan also welcomed Monday's signing of a memorandum of understanding between Algerian state oil giant Sonatrach and Turkish groups Ronesans and Bayegan for $1 billion in petrochemical investments at Yumurtalik in southern Turkey. At the conclusion of the agreement, Sonatrach is to provide the raw materials for the production of 450,000 tonnes of polypropylene each year, the Turkish president said. Shortly after his arrival on Monday evening, Erdogan's delegation signed seven agreements in hydrocarbons, agriculture, tourism, education, diplomacy and culture. On Tuesday afternoon he met ailing Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, 80, who rarely appears in public. The Turkish strongman -- who has described his tour of Africa as "historic" -- is expected in Nouakchott on Wednesday before heading to Senegal and Mali. A view of the sail-shaped Trump Ocean Club International Hotel (L) in an exclusive waterfront sector of Panama City Panamanian prosecutors are investigating a dispute between owners and the management of a Trump hotel, a skyscraper that cuts a distinctive figure among the towers crowding the capital city. A probe has been launched "to establish if there is punishable conduct in regards to a complaint of usurpation in the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower property," the prosecutor's office said in a statement Monday. The row is between Miami-based investor Orestes Fintiklis, who last year became owner of the majority of the units in the building through a company he controls, and the Trump Organization, the real-estate group owned by US President Donald Trump, which manages the property. Fintiklis wants to boot the Trump Organization out before the end of its management contract, remove the Trump name and rebrand the building. Donald Trump and Panama's president at the time, Ricardo Martinelli, inaugurated the Trump hotel in 2011 In lawsuits lodged in the United States, Fintiklis alleges a decline in occupancy. The Trump Organization has hit back, claiming Fintiklis is breaching contractual commitments as owner. Last Friday, Fintiklis complained to the Panamanian prosecutors' office that Trump Organization employees were barring his access to the units he owns. The hotel, designed in a distinctive sail shape, opened in 2011 in an exclusive waterfront sector of Panama City. Its units were put on the market for between $250,000 and $1 million. Donald Trump and Panama's president at the time, Ricardo Martinelli, opened the property. Martinelli is currently on bail in Miami fighting extradition to Panama, where he is charged with corruption and spying. After becoming US president, Donald Trump said he was handing off day-to-day control of the Trump Organization to his two sons. A handout picture provided by the Saudi Royal Palace on February 21, 2018 shows Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman gesturing as he attends a graduation ceremony for the 93rd class of cadets of the King Faisal Air Academy Saudi Arabia's sudden overhaul of military commanders is the latest power play by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as he looks to revamp forces currently bogged down in Yemen. A dramatic shake-up announced in royal decrees late Monday saw top brass, including the chief of staff and heads of the ground forces and air defence, replaced and a broad defence reform plan approved. The changing of the guard comes just a month shy of the third anniversary of the launch of a Saudi-led intervention to fight Iran-backed Huthi rebels in Yemen. Prince Mohammed has been the main driver of the once-staid kingdom's more aggressive regional push since he took over as defence minister in early 2015. But despite a multi-billion dollar military campaign, the coalition has failed to defeat the Huthis in a conflict that United Nations says has created the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The war's failures have exposed the limitations of Saudi Arabia's military might and accelerated the need to reform what is seen as a sclerotic military establishment. "This plan seeks to reform the Saudi armed forces from a large, inefficient fighting force full of top-level bloat to a streamlined and professionalised military," Becca Wasser, a policy analyst at the US-based RAND Corporation, told AFP. "The armed forces have been plagued by wasteful spending, incoherent resource allocation, and unmeritocratic personnel policies, with the different services acting as mini-fiefdoms rather than a coherent whole." - 'Dead weight' - Prince Mohammed's military reshuffle comes after he sidelined political rivals to become heir to the throne last June and orchestrated an unprecedented royal purge in November. The 32-year-old prince has amassed a level of power unseen by previous rulers as he oversees a sweeping programme of modernisation aimed at preparing Saudi Arabia for a post-oil era. Now the military reform plan appears geared towards reducing inefficient spending and turning the armed forces into a meritocracy, both gargantuan tasks in an institution widely seen as resistant to change. Some of the command shifts saw the removal of "dead weight" from top ranks, Wasser said -- military leaders opposed to change who were sent into retirement. They were replaced largely with younger, more flexible leaders loyal to Prince Mohammed, further consolidating his control within the military. Those retired include veteran General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, who was replaced as the chief of staff by Fayyad al-Ruwaili. Government officials insist the revamp is not prompted by the short-term problems facing the military in Yemen but is part of a long-term strategy that has been years in the making. "The most significant order issued by King Salman was approval of the Ministry of Defence development plan," tweeted Faisal bin Farhan, a senior adviser at the Saudi embassy in Washington, referring to Monday's royal decrees. "This multiyear effort, which had been under review for months encompasses all elements of the ministry including organisation, force structure and long term procurement." - 'Major player' - The overhaul to reinvigorate the military comes as Riyadh is looking to breathe life into attempts to establish its own arms industry. Saudi Arabia has long been a major global arms importer -- but some countries now refuse to sell weapons over the kingdom's role in the crisis gripping Yemen. In a sign of its ambitions Riyadh this week held an arms exhibition by state-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) that drew several global firms. SAMI's goal is to become a "major player in the global defence industry" and "localise more than 50 percent of the military spending" by 2030, according to its website. It aims to create 40,000 direct jobs and contribute 14 billion riyals ($3.7 billion) to the kingdom's gross domestic product by 2030. "The military shake-up is aimed at cleaning up and reinvigorating the structure as Saudi Arabia tries to create a viable, sustainable and eventually an export-oriented military industry," Mohammed Alyahya, a non-resident fellow at the Atlantic Council, told AFP. "Projecting military strength is a key part of the strategy." While the revamp announced might be aimed at transforming the armed forces in the long-haul, experts say it could well have far-reaching implications on the conflict in Yemen. "While the military transformation plan was not driven by the Yemen war, the war has dragged on for nearly three years," said Wasser. "All of these (changes) could have knock-on effects for the Saudi military performance in Yemen". Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has adopted a more aggressive regional push by the kingdom An American legislator has expressed concern over the Trump administration's efforts to sign a nuclear cooperation accord with Saudi Arabia, which is preparing to build its first reactors. Riyadh plans to announce at the beginning of March who will construct the first two of up to 16 reactors, and negotiations are under way with the United States for its agreement to export technology needed for their construction. Democratic Senator Ed Markey, of Massachusetts, says any deal is "almost certain" to require a non-proliferation accord, known as a "123 agreement," that is designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. "Previous US efforts to conclude a 123 agreement with Saudi Arabia have been unsuccessful because of its long-standing refusal to commit to foregoing any uranium enrichment or spent-fuel reprocessing on its territory -- the so-called... 'gold standard' for 123 agreements," Markey, of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said in a letter to Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Energy Secretary Rick Perry. His concerns come with US-Iran tensions high over the civil nuclear program of Riyadh's regional rival Tehran. US President Donald Trump has threatened to tear up a 2015 global pact under which Iran -- facing suspicions it was working towards a nuclear bomb -- agreed to curb its nuclear program in exchange for a lifting of sanctions. Both Washington and Riyadh have complained of Iran's "destabilizing" acts in the Middle East. Markey says Saudi Arabia's "unwillingness" to commit to a "gold standard" 123 agreement "is particularly concerning in light of comments made by Saudi officials and members of the royal family suggesting that a nuclear program may be as much for geopolitical purposes as for electricity generation." - Competition from other countries - US Senator Ed Markey wants an explanation as to why the administration of President Donald Trump "is considering compromising" in a potential nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia According to US media, Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- the main driver of a more aggressive regional push by the kingdom -- is to visit the United States in early March to meet with Trump. The visit has not been officially confirmed by either country. Ties between the kingdom and Washington have strengthened since Trump assumed office early last year. His first official trip abroad was to Saudi Arabia, which is trying to diversify its oil-based economy and energy sources. In his letter dated Monday, Markey asks the two US officials to explain "the impetus for renewed discussions on a nuclear cooperation agreement between the United States and Saudi Arabia." He also questions whether the kingdom asked the US administration "to consider concluding a 123 agreement that does not include the gold standard or did the Trump administration independently decide to consider this prospect?" In mid-February on the sidelines of a conference in Munich, Saudi Arabia's Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir, speaking with US television channel CNBC, suggested Riyadh could turn to other countries if the Trump administration did not support its civil nuclear program. Besides the US company Westinghouse, Russian, French, Chinese and South Korean firms have all been seeking the Saudi contracts. Markey on Tuesday said that Perry, who will reportedly meet Saudi officials including Energy Minister Khaled al-Faleh in London, must brief him, and the rest of the Foreign Relations Committee, "on what transpired during his trip" upon his return. "And the Trump administration must explain more fully... why it is considering compromising" in a potential 123 agreement with Saudi Arabia. Tombstones overturned in Washington Cemetery in the New York burough of Brooklyn were among a rising number of anti-Semitic incidents in the United States in 2017 The United States saw a near 60 percent increase in the number of anti-Semitic incidents recorded last year with a particularly disturbing rise at schools and universities, the Anti-Defamation League said Tuesday. The ADL, which fights anti-Semitism, said it was the biggest increase in a single year since the organization began tracking data in 1970s. For the first time in at least eight years, every single US state was also affected, its annual report added. The group identified 1,986 anti-Semitic incidents perpetrated throughout the country in 2017, an increase of 57 percent over the 1,267 incidents reported in 2016. "A confluence of events in 2017 led to a surge in attacks on our community -- from bomb threats, cemetery desecrations, white supremacists marching in Charlottesville, and children harassing children at school," said ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt. "These incidents came at a time when we saw a rising climate of incivility, the emboldening of hate groups and widening divisions in society." President Donald Trump came under heavy criticism last February for remaining silent for several days over more than 100 threats made just weeks apart against Jewish schools and other institutions. He later condemned them as "horrible" and "painful." Critics say his November 2016 election and rise to office has emboldened extreme right, neo-Nazi groups and those with racist agendas. The ADL said the highest concentration of recorded anti-Semitism took place in New York, California and New Jersey, home to large Jewish populations. There was an 86 percent increase in incidents of vandalism and harassment was up 41 percent, including the spree of bomb threats in early 2017, it added. While the number of assaults fell by 47 percent to 19 in 2017, the ADL's annual report noted a dramatic increase in anti-Semitism at schools from kindergarten through grade 12. In 2017, those schools surpassed public areas as the place recording the most anti-Semitism. The number of incidents at schools rose 94 percent over 235 incidents recorded at grade schools in 2016, the report found. Anti-Semitic incidents on college and university campuses were up 89 percent. "The consistent increase of anti-Semitic incidents against students of all ages is deeply troubling," Greenblatt said. "For every incident thats reported, it is likely there's another that goes unreported." A former journalist from Missouri was jailed last December for making a dozen hoax threats to Jewish community centers. A Jewish teenager in Israel was also charged in connection with making the threats. Equatorial Guinean illustrator and comics artist Ramon Esono Ebale has been held for five months Equatorial Guinea's public prosecutor has demanded the release of a cartoonist, held for more than five months, because of a "lack of evidence". "Having noted the lack of clear evidence, the prosecution does not ask for any penalty" against Ramon Esono Ebale, prosecutor Rafael Ondo Nguema told the court in capital Malabo at the start of the trial on Monday. After Ebale was arrested in mid-September, the government announced it was for "money laundering and forgery", saying a million CFA francs in counterfeit money (1,500 euros) was found at his home. However the African Union has said the artist was arrested over his works that "that regularly criticise the government of Equatorial Guinea". "They stuck on this motive... so that I spent five months in jail," said Ebale, who works under the pseudonym "Ham and Cheese". "I do not know anything about money, but I know they arrested me for my cartoons," he said. Originally from Equatorial Guinea, Ebale had been living in Paraguay before he returned to renew his passport and was arrested. According to EG Justice, a US-based rights group, the arrest of Ebale is linked to the publication of a graphic novel in May 2016 called "Obi's nightmare" after President Teodoro Obiang Nguema. The publication portrays Obiang as an ordinary Guinean citizen, and highlights the lack of access to electricity, healthcare and education and restriction of freedom of expression in Equatorial Guinea. Obiang has ruled the oil-rich central African nation since he seized power in 1979. Despite the discovery of considerable oil reserves in 1996, most of Equatorial Guinea's 1.2 million inhabitants still live in poverty. Brad Smith, president and chief legal officer of Microsoft, speaks to journalists outside the US Supreme Court ahead of arguments in a case in which the government is seeking access to emails stored in Ireland US Supreme Court justices grappled Tuesday with the implications of a criminal warrant case involving Microsoft emails in a test for whether American justice can reach across international borders for digital evidence. Oral arguments were held at the top US court over a 2013 warrant ordering Microsoft to turn over the contents of an email account used by a suspected drug trafficker whose data is stored in a cloud computing center in Ireland. The case been watched closely because of its implications for privacy and surveillance in the digital age, specifically how law enforcement can reach across borders to obtain digital evidence that may be scattered across the globe. Microsoft attorney Joshua Rosenkranz told the justices the warrant represents an unauthorized "extraterritorial act." "These emails are stored outside the United States. They are stored in Ireland," the lawyer said. "And the government is asking us to go and fetch them from Ireland." But Deputy Solicitor General Michael Dreeben, arguing for the government, said the case does not involve reaching across borders because Microsoft has access to the data in the United States. The case represents "a basically unbroken line that when a party is before a US court and a court issues an order to that party that says produce information, that's domestic conduct," Dreeben added. - Creating 'international problems' - US Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor said enforcing a warrant for Microsoft emails in Ireland could create international problems Some justices questioned whether the US government has the authority to access such data. "By doing so, we are trenching on the very thing that our extraterritoriality doesn't want to do, what our jurisprudence doesn't want to do, which is to create international problems," Justice Sonia Sotomayor said. The government has argued that a ruling for Microsoft could severely hamper law enforcement in seeking digital evidence that may be stored in data centers or the internet "cloud." Justice Samuel Alito commented that the case underlines the difficulty of establishing territorial limits in an age of cloud computing, where data can be split up and stored anywhere in the world. "It physically exists on one or more computers somewhere, but it doesn't have a presence anyplace in the sense that a physical object has a presence someplace," Alito said. "And the internet service providers can put it anywhere they want and move it around at will. The whole idea of territoriality is strained." Chief Justice John Roberts said Microsoft and others could effectively avoid any legal request by moving data from one country to another. "You might gain customers if you can assure them, no matter what happens, the government won't be able to get access to their emails," he added. "The government might have a strong position... that the statute focuses on disclosure. And disclosure takes place in Washington, not in Ireland." The Microsoft case is especially sensitive in light of revelations by former intelligence contractor Edward Snowden, who leaked details on global US surveillance programs in 2013. - No easy answers - The Microsoft email case could have implications for the US tech sector's competiveness Some analysts argue the court has no easy solution, because a ruling for either side could lead to problems, either for tech firms or for law enforcement. Daniel Castro of the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, a Washington think tank, said the only way to resolve the standoff is with legislation to streamline the process for cross-border data requests. "If Congress doesn't act, then no matter how the Supreme Court decides this case, there will be negative consequences for US competitiveness," Castro said in a statement urging Congress to move swiftly on a proposal known as the CLOUD Act. He said that if the court rules for the government, "it will feed the growing perception around the world that the best way to protect data from the prying eyes of the US government is to store it abroad" with a non-American firm. "On the other hand, if the court rules that search warrants cannot be used overseas, then foreign governments may try to force companies to store data inside their borders to make it impossible for US officials to execute a search warrant. "This also damages US tech competitiveness because barriers to the free flow of information are hardening, which would impede digital innovation for everyone." People gather outside the Supreme Court during oral arguments The US Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that immigrants can be detained indefinitely without bond hearings, in a setback for immigrant rights. The five-to-three decision was carried by the court's conservative justices, who said immigrants detained in the United States had no right to periodic bond hearings. It reversed a ruling by the San Francisco 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which had set a six-month limit for detention without a bond hearing as long as the person did not pose a flight risk or a danger to national security. Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito argued that the appeals court had overstepped its authority by re-writing rather than interpreting the law. "All parties appear to agree that the text of these provisions, when read most naturally, does not give detained aliens the right to periodic bond hearings during the course of their detention," he wrote. In a dissent, Justice Stephen Breyer cited the Declaration of Independence, "in particular its insistence that all men and women have 'certain unalienable Rights,' and that among them is the right to 'Liberty.'" "We need merely remember that the Constitution's Due Process Clause protects each person's liberty from arbitrary deprivation," he wrote. Justice Elena Kagan recused herself from the decision. The case involved a Mexican immigrant, Alejandro Rodriguez, who had legal US residence and worked as a dental assistant. He was convicted of a drug offense and theft of a vehicle in 2004, prompting an immigration judge's order for his deportation to Mexico, which Rodriguez appealed. He spent three years in detention while appealing his case, arguing that the relevant laws do not authorize prolonged detention unless the government proves it is justified. Otherwise, it would violate due process. In the end, Rodriguez won his case against deportation. "We look forward to going back to the lower courts to show that these statutes, now interpreted by the Supreme Court to require detention without any hearing, violate the Due Process Clause," Ahilan Arulanantham, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union who argued the case, said after the ruling. A photo of Boris Nemtsov is seen as the Washington, DC city council officially renamed a street in front of the Russian embassy in honor of the slain critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin Three years after prominent Vladimir Putin critic Boris Nemtsov was assassinated in Moscow, the liberal politician's supporters gathered on Tuesday to name a plaza outside Russia's Washington embassy in his honor. In the years since opposition champion Nemtsov was shot dead on a bridge under the walls of the Kremlin, US politics has been poisoned by debate over Moscow's alleged covert backing for President Donald Trump's rise to power. Ties between Washington and Moscow have plunged to a post-Cold War low, and Nemtsov's family and supporters found willing ears when they lobbied to have a section of avenue outside the embassy named after the campaigner. "The street sign directly outside the Russian embassy will serve as an enduring reminder to Vladimir Putin and to those who support him that they cannot use murder and violence and intimidation to silence the voices of freedom and dissent," Senator Marco Rubio said. The move to re-name the plaza did not come from Trump's government, but from Nemtsov's family and his successors in Russia's pro-democracy movement, who won support from both the US capital's Democrat-led city council and Republican hawks like Rubio. The State Department's Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European Affairs Wess Mitchell was seen attending the ceremony, but there were no more senior Trump administration figures. Nemtsov's daughter, rights activist Zhanna Nemtsova and his friend Vladimir Kara-Murza, chairman of the Boris Nemtsov Foundation for Freedom, did address the small crowd of reporters and massed ranks of news cameras at the unveiling. Kara-Murza and other speakers recalled that Moscow's previous, then Soviet, embassy in Washington was on a street that was renamed after renowned dissident Andrei Sahkarov, and noted that the former regime had fallen. Nemtsov, he said, attended the opening of the new embassy on what is now Boris Nemtsov Plaza in Washington's leafy inner suburbs in 1994 when, as the then governor of Nizhny Novgorod, he was the guest of Putin's predecessor, President Boris Yeltsin. - 'A more hopeful Russia' - Boris Nemtsov, one of the most vocal of Putin's critics, was gunned down shortly before midnight on February 27, 2015, while walking across a bridge a short distance from the Kremlin Yelstin, Kara-Murza said, had pointed to Nemtsov at the ceremony and said: "Keep an eye on this young man. One day he will be president of Russia." "Russian history has a funny way of making the wrong turns," Kara-Murza said. "Boris Nemtsov did not become president, but he did become something very very important. To many people in our country .. he became the face and the embodiment of a very different Russia. "A freer, more democratic, more hopeful Russia," he said. Nemtsova thanked the American officials who arranged the name change, and paid tribute to the Russians who try to maintain a floral tribute to her father on the bridge in Moscow where he was murdered, despite vandalism from Putin's supporters The plaque is only the latest round in a series of tit-for-tat gestures that have undermined US-Russian ties. In December 2016, after Trump won the election but before he took office, the then outgoing US president Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats and closed two diplomatic properties. This was in response to US intelligence reports that Putin had ordered a propaganda and computer hacking campaign to aid Trump and undermine his Democratic Party opponent Hillary Clinton. Trump denied for months that there was proof that Moscow had favored his unexpected victory, but a US special prosecutor was appointed to investigate and has begun to issue indictments. Meanwhile, Moscow has ordered that the US mission in Moscow be scaled back, and diplomats on both sides continue to complain of provocations and harrassment by the others' agents. Renaming the Washington plaza is a less aggressive response to Russia, but the use of Nemtsov's name is expected to annoy Putin, who accuses US agencies of fomenting domestic opposition. - 'Moscow-backed strongman' - Nemtsov, one of the most vocal of Putin's critics, was gunned down shortly before midnight on February 27, 2015, while walking across a bridge a short distance from the Kremlin. In 2017, a court found a former security officer from Chechnya guilty of the murder and sentenced him to 20 years. Four other men were found guilty of involvement in the killing. But Nemtsov's allies insist the authorities have failed to bring the masterminds to justice and point the finger at Chechnya's Moscow-backed strongman Ramzan Kadyrov and the Kremlin itself. On Sunday, several thousand Russians, including surviving opposition figures like Alexei Navalny, marched in Moscow in Nemtsov's memory and ahead of next month's presidential poll. Putin is expected to easily win the election, but the opposition and international critics are just as sure to argue that his grip on politics and the media ensured an undemocratic race. Levi Sanders, son of 2016 presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, announced that he is entering the race for New Hampshire's open District 1 seat The son of 2016 US presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders has announced he is running for Congress in the state of New Hampshire, pushing a liberal platform similar to that of his senator father. Levi Sanders announced late Monday that he was entering the race for New Hampshire's open District 1 seat, which is held by a Democrat who is not seeking re-election. "This is a unique opportunity to listen to the hard working men and women of New Hampshire about the issues that matter to them," Sanders said in a statement on his campaign website. Sanders, 48, describes himself as a political and legal analyst. "For over 17 years, I have represented the working class who have been beaten up by the system," he said on his website. "It is time to demand that we have a system which represents the 99 percent and not the 1 percent who have never had it so good." Sanders joins a crowded field including seven other Democrats in their party's primary to be held on September 11, less than two months before the November mid-term congressional elections. Three Republicans are also running for the open seat, which has emerged as one of the most competitive races in the country. The younger Sanders' politics lean left like those of his father, who represents neighboring Vermont as an independent in the US Senate. Levi Sanders supports a "Medicare for All healthcare system," tuition-free college, equal pay for women, and a minimum wage "which allows people to work 40 hours a week without being in poverty." He is also demanding urgent action to address the opioid abuse crisis, and backs "sensible gun legislation." It is not just the politics that are similar. Levi's eyes and receding hairline are mirror images of his father's and he looks about as rumpled in a suit as the famously disheveled Bernie. A handout picture provided by the Lebanese photo agency Dalati and Nohra on February 26, 2018 shows Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri (R) meeting with head of the Saudi envoy Nizar al-Alula in Beirut Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri is to travel to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for the first time since his resignation in the kingdom sparked a crisis, a government source said. The November 4 resignation and his prolonged stay in Saudi Arabia stirred tensions between Riyadh and Beirut, amid suspicions he had been placed under house arrest, until France intervened and he returned to Lebanon where the announcement to quit was reversed. "Mr. Hariri's visit to Saudi Arabia begins on Wednesday," the government source told AFP, without providing any further details. Another source close to the Lebanese prime minister said he would hold talks with Saudi King Salman and powerful Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. On Monday, Hariri received and accepted an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia during a meeting with an envoy from the kingdom, Nizar al-Alula. Alula also met with President Michel Aoun, who told him of Lebanon's desire to "maintain the best relations" with the oil-rich Gulf state. Relations between the two countries have been strained by the competing influences in Lebanon of regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran. The Saudi envoy's visit comes ahead of May 6 legislative elections, Lebanon's first since 2009 following three extensions of parliament's mandate. TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Gov. Phil Murphy is asking member states of a regional environmental pact to let New Jersey rejoin the group. The Democrat said in a statement Monday that he wrote to the nine governors making up the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to request returning to the group. Former Republican Gov. Chris Christie announced in 2011 that New Jersey was leaving the cap-and-trade program. It's made up of New England and mid-Atlantic states working to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. Murphy signed an executive order in January to rejoin the group, but rules require that member states agree to let non-members join. RGGI chairman Ben Grumbles, in a statement, congratulated New Jersey on steps toward "renewed participation," but stopped short of saying if the state was officially readmitted. HOUSTON (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union is suing the U.S. government over what it calls the unlawful separation of a Congolese woman and her 7-year-old daughter who sought asylum after crossing the California-Mexico border. The lawsuit filed Monday alleges that nearly four months after seeking asylum, the woman is being held at a detention center in San Diego while her daughter is being held about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers) away in a facility for unaccompanied minor children in Chicago. Advocates accuse the Trump administration of separately detaining adults and their children more frequently than in years past, including in cases where families are seeking asylum through processes established under U.S. law. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security declined to comment on the lawsuit. NEW YORK (AP) - A bankruptcy filing by The Weinstein Co. would be the latest episode in the unraveling of a Hollywood powerhouse and have repercussions for any lawsuits filed against the company over of allegations of sexual misconduct by its co-founder, Harvey Weinstein. Here are some questions and answers about the possible bankruptcy filing and what it means for Weinstein's accusers: ___ FILE - In this Nov. 23, 2011 file photo, film producer Harvey Weinstein poses for a photo in New York. A possible bankruptcy filing by The Weinstein Co. could be the latest episode in the unraveling of a Hollywood powerhouse and could have repercussions for any lawsuits filed against the company over of allegations of sexual misconduct by its co-founder, Harvey Weinstein. (AP Photo/John Carucci, File) WHY IS THE WEINSTEIN CO. CONSIDERING A BANKRUPTCY FILING? The Weinstein Co. had been trying to stave off bankruptcy since the sexual misconduct scandal exploded in October, prompting the company to fire Harvey Weinstein as CEO. The movie studio had been on the brink of $500 million deal to sell its assets to an investor group outside of bankruptcy when New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman filed a lawsuit two weeks ago that halted the proceedings. The buyers' group, led by former U.S. Small Business Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet, had been in talks with Schneiderman's office in the hopes of reviving the sale, but the board of the Weinstein Co. pulled the plug Sunday. In a letter to the buyers, the company said the group had failed to come through with interim funding necessary to keep the company running pending finalization of the sale. The letter also said that the buyers, following a Feb. 21 meeting with the attorney general's office, imposed other conditions that would delay a closing of the sale for many months, something the company could not afford. The company said an orderly bankruptcy process has become the only viable option. In a statement Monday, Contreras-Sweet said she was surprised by the Weinstein Co.'s decision and that it has been her "understanding that we were close to signing the transaction documents in a couple of days." ___ WHO IS SUING THE WEINSTEIN CO.? Civil lawsuits have been piling up accusing the company of aiding and abetting Weinstein's misconduct. Among those is a proposed class-action suit filed in New York alleging that Weinstein's former film companies operated like an organized crime group in relation to the former CEO's sexual harassment and assaults. The lawsuit was filed by six women but could potentially involve hundreds more. In another lawsuit, a former personal assistant for Weinstein details several abuse allegations, including being forced to take dictation from him while he was naked. Schneiderman's lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Weinstein Co.'s employees. The attorney general accused Weinstein of demanding sexual favors from some employees and forcing others to facilitate his sexual conquests. The lawsuit said the company knew of his behavior and failed to protect its employees from it. The Weinstein Co. has said it was unaware of Weinstein's alleged conduct and that he was solely responsible for his actions. Harvey Weinstein has denied any allegations of assault. ___ WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE LAWSUITS NOW? A chapter 11 bankruptcy filing would halt any civil lawsuits that have been filed against the Weinstein Co. It would also give the company's secured creditors priority over the women suing the company, which has at least $225 million in debt that would have been inherited by the Contreras-Sweet group. Some Weinstein accusers had fiercely advocated for selling the studio outside bankruptcy, seeing it as their only chance at getting financial compensation from the company. Lawyer Gloria Allred, who represents some of the accusers and publicly backed the Contreras-Sweet proposal, said she was concerned no money would be left for plaintiffs in the event of a bankruptcy. The Contreras-Sweet group would have set up a victims' compensation fund beyond the $30 million the company's insurance provides. After a meeting with Schneiderman's office last week, the group committed to dedicating up to $90 million for the fund, which would have been overseen by an independent administrator. Now, if the bankruptcy filing proceeds, the accusers will be left with the insurance money and whatever is left after creditors are paid. The Chapter 11 filing, however, would not stop the lawsuit filed by Schneiderman's office. It also would not prevent the civil lawsuits from going forward against other named individuals and entities. Both Weinstein brothers - Harvey and Bob - are named in the class action suit and in the attorney general's lawsuit. The lawsuit filed by Weinstein's former assistant, Sandeep Rehal, also names the Weinstein brothers, along with the company's former head of human resources. "A bankruptcy filing, should it occur, has no actual impact on the claims against the other individual defendants," said Genie Harrison, an attorney for Rehal. "It complicates the process but I have confidence that the matter is going to unwind itself appropriately." Lawyers for the plaintiffs involved in the class action suit have argued that a bankruptcy filing would bring transparency by opening the company's finances to scrutiny. John Woodman, a corporate law attorney at Sodoma Law who is not involved in the cases against the Weinstein Co., said bankruptcy proceedings would give the plaintiffs the right to question the company about its assets. It also could allow the plaintiffs to weigh in on any future sale, though that could be complicated by the fact their claims against the company are disputed. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Two women sued a Mississippi college town Monday over its denial of a permit for a gay pride parade, saying the city had denied their constitutional rights to free expression and equal protection. Mississippi State University students Bailey McDaniel and Emily Turner filed the federal lawsuit Monday against the city of Starkville, asking a judge to overrule the city and immediately grant a parade permit to Starkville Pride. "The city banned plaintiffs from speaking in a public forum solely because it disagreed with the viewpoint and content of their speech," states the lawsuit, filed in Aberdeen, Mississippi. "That hostility to their message was inextricably intertwined with hostility to their LGBT identity and pro-LGBT advocacy." Starkville Pride member Alexandra Hendon attempts to comfort organizer of Starkville Pride and the Pride Parade Bailey McDaniel, who cries after hearing the 4-3 vote denying the organization's request for an LGBT pride parade during the Starkville Board of Aldermen meeting Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. (Logan Kirkland/The Starkville Daily News, via AP) City aldermen had voted 4-3 last week to deny the parade permit, which sought to have the city's first-ever gay pride parade as part of a larger set of events. The four aldermen have refused to say why they made the decision, although one told a local newspaper that his constituents agreed with the move. Mayor Lynn Spruill, who supported the parade but doesn't vote on the Board of Aldermen, said Monday that the city will study the lawsuit and then respond. Thanks to the university, Starkville is more cosmopolitan and diverse than many Mississippi towns. Turner said the weekend was meant to showcase LGBT people's place in the community. "For us, I think Starkville Pride is a way to celebrate the diversity of Starkville," Turner said last week. "It's a very diverse and accepting community. It's also about showing that we're here." But Starkville also has a recent history of public contention over lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender issues. In 2015, aldermen repealed a resolution that made Starkville the first city in Mississippi to denounce discrimination based on sexual orientation. The same day, aldermen also repealed a city health insurance policy that allowed employees to insure same-sex partners. Gay marriage was legalized later that year nationwide by the U.S. Supreme Court The lawsuit says McDaniel and Turner were warned by an unnamed city employee who helped them fill out their application that they should keep LGBT-related content "under the radar" if they wanted approval from aldermen. All four aldermen who voted against the parade application also voted to repeal the two LGBT-related items in 2015 and have since been re-elected. The suit also states that aldermen failed to give any permissible reason for denying the permit, and says the judge should assume they agreed with the two people who spoke against the permit citing religious opposition. Sixteen people spoke in favor. The lawsuit says Starkville had approved 55 straight special events applications in recent years, mostly without discussing them, emphasizing that the Starkville Pride permit was treated differently even though it didn't present any unusual issues. "This difference in process is strong evidence of viewpoint bias," the lawsuit states. Roberta Kaplan is the lead attorney for McDaniel and Turner. She has litigated other gay-rights cases in the state, including a challenge, thus far unsuccessful, to a law that lets some government workers and business people cite religious objections to refuse services to LGBT people. ___ Follow Jeff Amy at: http://twitter.com/jeffamy. Read his work at https://www.apnews.com/search/Jeff_Amy . Bailey McDaniel, 22, an organizer with Starkville Pride, an LGBT support group is photographed Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018 in Starkville, Miss. Starkville aldermen voted 4-3 to deny the event permit Tuesday. None of the aldermen who voted against the permit have explained their reasoning. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis) WASHINGTON (AP) - House Speaker Paul Ryan on Tuesday showed little interest in stricter gun control proposals being floated in Congress, leaving the issue in the hands of wary Senate leaders and President Donald Trump, whose shifting views have left no clear strategy for legislative action. As student survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting lobbied lawmakers for tougher gun laws, Ryan acknowledged "system failures" in Florida that he said Congress should review. But GOP leaders did not promise votes on the matter and stopped short of offering solutions, beyond a pending bill aimed at increasing participation in the existing federal background check system. The bill uses new incentives and penalties to encourage better compliance with current law, but does not expand the pool of gun buyers required to undergo background checks before buying a gun. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., flanked by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., left, and Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, speaks with reporters following weekly policy luncheons where they discussed school safety measures in response to the Parkland, Fla., assault that left 17 dead, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Even as he endorsed the measure, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell downplayed its significance, saying it would not be a "panacea" for the rash of gun violence. But McConnell said he wanted to "at least show some progress toward dealing with one element of the problem." Republican leaders, who have majority control of the House and Senate, are reluctant to lead on legislation without knowing they have Trump's full support and can rely on his popularity with a core flank of the GOP electorate to shield them from political blowback. But Trump, who is inviting lawmakers to the White House on Wednesday, has proven an inconsistent partner in such policy debate, including the issue of gun violence that has taken on fresh urgency since the Valentine's Day assault that left 17 dead. One of Trump's top gun safety proposals after the Florida shooting - raising the age to purchase some rifles from 18 to 21 - receded after Trump lunched with leaders of the National Rifle Association last weekend. The idea had been promoted by TV personality Geraldo Rivera, who recently had dinner with Trump in Florida. But it was met with stiff resistance from the NRA. Although Trump has been quiet about the idea in recent days, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday that the president continues to support raising the minimum age and expects that to be a topic of discussion when he meets with lawmakers. But Rivera, a Trump ally, scolded the president on Twitter for appearing to back away from the proposal. "Incredibly we're set to do nothing re gun control again," Rivera tweeted. "The only person in the country strong enough to stand up to #NRA @realDonaldTrump is apparently taking a pass after dropping modest reform of banning sales of semi automatics to kids not old enough to buy cigarettes & beer." The Senate could vote this week on the legislation from Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, though votes were not yet scheduled amid resistance from within the GOP ranks and demands by Democrats to vote on other measures. The "Fix NICS" bill, similar to one approved last year in the House, would reward federal agencies and states that utilize the background check system, and penalize those that don't properly report required records used to determine whether someone can legally buy a gun. It was introduced last fall after the shooting of churchgoers in Texas. At the time, authorities acknowledged having failed to report the Texas gunman's domestic violence conviction to the database. "Let's do what we can and build from there," Cornyn said. But broader proposals were quickly circulating, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., urged the Senate to be more ambitious than the "tiny" bill. Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., are reviving their background check bill, which would expand reviews to include purchases online and at gun shows. It had failed after the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Connecticut. And Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., pushed a renewed bipartisan effort to block terror suspects on the federal no-fly list from buying guns. "Let's not set our sights too narrow and squander this moment," said Schumer, who also met with students Tuesday. Cornyn said he was dismayed that senators wanted to debate other ideas before taking up the background checks bill, and warned that a prolonged debate could result in no legislation being passed. But even the "Fix NICS" bill faced resistance from some in the GOP, including leaders of the conservative House Freedom Caucus. The House approved the bill late last year as part of a broader package that also expanded gun rights by requiring states to recognize conceal-carry permits issued by other states. Some House Republicans are resistant to separating the two issues, as is likely in the Senate. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a Freedom Caucus leader, said it would "let bureaucrats take away an American's 2nd Amendment liberties without due process." Ryan did not commit to passing the background check bill on its own and panned other bills, including stiffer background checks and an assault weapons ban. "We shouldn't be banning guns for law-abiding citizens," Ryan told reporters. "We should be focusing on making sure that citizens who should not get guns in the first place don't get those guns." One of Trump's proposals, to prohibit sales of bump stocks __ the devices that turn rifles into automatic-style weapons and were used in the Las Vegas mass shooting last fall __ is being considered by the Justice Department. Attorney General Jeff Sessions said top officials believe the hardware can be banned through the regulatory process. The approach is preferred by the NRA and could relieve Congress of pressure for legislative action. __ Associated Press writers Alan Fram, Catherine Lucey and Andrew Taylor contributed to this story. __ Follow Mascaro on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LisaMascaro and Daly https://twitter.com/MatthewDalyWDC Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn, R-Texas, flanked by Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., left, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., talks to reporters following weekly policy luncheons where they discussed school safety measures in response to the Parkland, Fla., assault that left 17 dead, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) LAS VEGAS (AP) - Nevada authorities say a British tourist who was pulled from the wreckage of a fiery helicopter crash in the Grand Canyon has died from her injuries, bringing the total number of deaths from the crash up to five. Clark County Coroner John Fudenberg has confirmed that 29-year-old Ellie Milward died Sunday at University Medical Center. Milward had been in critical condition since the Feb. 10 crash. Her husband, Jonathan Udall, died last week from injuries suffered in the same crash. FILE - In this Feb. 10, 2018, photo, a survivor, lower right, walks away from the scene of a deadly tour helicopter crash along the jagged rocks of the Grand Canyon, in Arizona. Authorities said Thursday, Feb. 22, that a British tourist hospitalized in Las Vegas after a sightseeing helicopter crashed in the Grand Canyon earlier this month has died. Three other Britons were killed in the crash. (Teddy Fujimoto via AP, File) They had been on their honeymoon with a group of fellow Britons visiting Las Vegas when a sightseeing helicopter they were flying in crashed in the Grand Canyon. Three people died the day of the crash, Milward and Udall died after being hospitalized, and two people are still in critical condition. MEXICO CITY (AP) - A state assembly candidate in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero was killed just days after another office-seeker was shot to death in the same city, authorities reported. The ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party said candidate Dulce Rebaja Pedro was killed Sunday. The Guerrero state prosecutors' office said a state policeman was also killed, and both bodies were found in a truck on a highway outside the city of Chilapa. On Monday, state security spokesman Roberto Alvarez reported that Rebaja's aunt was also found dead in a well at her son's home. Antonia Jaimes Moctezuma, a state assembly candidate for the leftist Democratic Revolution Party, was shot to death last week. Chilapa is one of the most violent cities in Mexico because of a turf battle between two local drug gangs. Violence threatens to mar local races that are being held simultaneously with Mexico's July 1 presidential elections. LAS VEGAS (AP) - The board of directors of Las Vegas-based Wynn Resorts is facing mounting lawsuits from shareholders who allege they breached their fiduciary duties when they ignored what has been described as a longstanding pattern of sexual abuse and harassment by the company's founder, Steve Wynn. The latest known "derivative lawsuit" filed in state court in Las Vegas against the board and the billionaire was announced Monday by the official in charge of the nation's third largest public pension fund, the New York State Common Retirement Fund. At least four other shareholder groups have filed lawsuits stemming from sexual misconduct allegations leveled against Wynn in a news report last month. Derivative lawsuits allow shareholders to take legal action on behalf of a company when they believe its officers or directors are not meeting their fiduciary duties. "These board directors and officers were duty-bound to protect employees and the company, yet they failed to confront allegations of predatory behavior," Thomas DiNapoli, the New York state comptroller and trustee of that state's retirement fund, said in a statement. "We are asking the court to hold accountable the company officers and directors who allowed this behavior to go unchecked." The allegations surfaced a month ago, when the Wall Street Journal reported that a number of women said Wynn harassed or assaulted them. One case led to a $7.5 million settlement with a manicurist who alleged that he pressured her into having sex during an appointment, according to the newspaper. Wynn has vehemently denied the misconduct accusations and attributed them to a campaign led by his ex-wife. He resigned as chairman and CEO of the company bearing his name Feb. 6. An attorney for Elaine Wynn has denied that she instigated the news report. San Diego-based attorney Todd Neal with the firm Procopio said the lawsuits serve two purposes: To pursue monetary damages - which would be the loss in share price that occurred as a result of the breaches of fiduciary duty - and to force compliance with processes to be implemented, as well as perhaps to have certain board members removed. The lawsuit filed by DiNapoli argues that the Wynn Resorts' share price plummeted after the sexual misconduct allegations became public Jan. 26, closing down 10 percent that day and wiping out $2 billion of market capitalization. "The stock is now trading at about $164.00, a sustained investor loss of 17%, amid continuing controversy with the Board's inadequate investigation and years of inaction," according to the lawsuit filed Thursday. Shares ended Monday at $169. The New York State Common Retirement Fund's assets are estimated at $209 billion. It holds shares in Wynn Resorts with an estimated value of about $30 million. The Massachusetts-based Norfolk County Retirement System and Pennsylvania-based Operating Engineers Construction Industry and Miscellaneous Pension Fund are among the other shareholder groups that have sued the company's board. If the lawsuits are successful, Wynn and the company's board members could be ordered to pay monetary damages to Wynn Resorts, said Shannon McNulty, an attorney with Clifford Law Offices in Chicago. "So the shareholders receive the relief as a consequence of the corporation receiving that relief," she said. ___ Follow Regina Garcia Cano on Twitter at https://twitter.com/reginagarciakNO CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - A senior Australian state police officer has resigned over racist and obscene comments he posted online under a fake name and is being investigated by an anti-corruption agency. Victoria State Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said he accepted Assistant Commissioner Brett Guerin's resignation on Monday night. Guerin had been in charge of Professional Standards, the force's internal misbehavior watchdog. Guerin created a Facebook profile under the pseudonym Vernon Demerest, a character played by Dean Martin in the 1970 movie "Airport." Demerest's racist rants have targeted Indians, Pakistanis, Somalis and Argentinians. He also attacked former senior police in obscene posts and argued that women should not be allowed to sing Australia's national anthem. Ashton said he would talk with multicultural community leaders and human rights advisers on how to improve police culture as a result of Guerin's behavior. "It's behavior that is completely and utterly unacceptable at Victoria Police," Ashton told reporters. "That's just behavior that's well, well below the line of expectation here at Victoria Police, it's not consistent with our values, it's not consistent with the work we've been doing with community over the last several years particularly, it's just completely abhorrent and inconsistent with that, so for those reasons Brett Guerin has left our organization," Ashton added. Guerin last week admitted to being Demerest, but argued he was entitled to use an alias to air personal views. "It's crude and coarse language, and you know what I'm most ashamed about is my mother and my daughters have read it," Guerin told Melbourne Radio 3AW. "The mistake I made which I'm very regretful for is the type of language - I shouldn't have got down that low," he added. Guerin is being investigated by the Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission, a state watchdog for official misconduct. FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) - A juvenile court judge barred the public from a hearing for the northern Virginia teenager accused of killing the parents of a girl he had been dating. The Washington Post reports that Judge Thomas P. Sotelo agreed to a motion to close Monday's hearing, which Fairfax County public defender Dawn M. Butorac said could feature "sensitive information" about her 17-year-old client. Friends and family say the slain parents, 48-year-old Scott Fricker and 43-year-old Buckley Kuhn-Fricker, intervened in their daughter's relationship with the boy after learning he espoused neo-Nazi philosophies. Butorac said the hearing might feature information about previous charges against the teen. The newspaper reports that the teen appeared in court wearing a white helmet, having shot himself in the head after the shooting deaths. ___ Information from: The Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Severe damage to phone networks and roads from a powerful earthquake in Papua New Guinea was hindering efforts to assess the extent of the destruction Tuesday, although officials in the remote central region feared dozens of people may have been injured or killed. The government had not confirmed any deaths after the magnitude 7.5 quake struck the Pacific nation's central highlands region early Monday. Aftershocks were continuing to strike the area. Hela Provincial Administrator William Bando told The Associated Press that phone networks were out, power lines were down and roads were blocked by landslides. He said the quake was a disaster on a scale he hasn't experienced before. In this Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, photo, mining pipes line a road littered with debris following Monday's earthquake in Tabubil township, Papua New Guinea. A 7.5 magnitude powerful earthquake in Papua New Guinea is hindering efforts to assess the destruction, although officials fear dozens of people may have been injured or killed. (Luke Purre via AP) "There are massive, massive disruptions," Bando said. He said he'd been hearing reports of dozens of deaths and injuries but couldn't confirm them. The National Disaster Centre said it was carrying out a rapid assessment by ground and by helicopter in order to give information to the government. Prime Minister Peter O'Neill said authorities were assessing the damage and getting ready to provide relief. "There are communities that have suffered from this natural disaster, and we are sending our soldiers and other government agencies to support our people in their time of need," O'Neill said in a statement. The quake also disrupted work at oil and gas plants, mines and coffee plantations. ExxonMobil Papua New Guinea shut down an airport it built as well as a gas conditioning plant, where there was damage to the administration buildings, living quarters and mess hall. The company was also evacuating nonessential workers. Managing Director Andrew Barry said it was trying to re-establish communications with nearby communities to understand the broader impacts of the quake. "We are deeply saddened by the damage this natural event has caused to the people in the highlands provinces," he said in a statement. Aid agencies said they were ready to help but were also awaiting more information. Udaya Regmi, the country head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, said it had 20 volunteers on standby but that getting accurate information remained difficult. The quake hit about 89 kilometers (55 miles) southwest of Porgera, the site of a large gold mine that employs more than 2,500. Several aftershocks stronger than magnitude-5 struck the region, including a magnitude 6.3 early Tuesday. The quake also caused panic and damaged buildings across the border in eastern Indonesia. Papua New Guinea is home to 7 million people and is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, to the east of Indonesia. It sits on the Pacific's "Ring of Fire," the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanoes are common. In this photo released on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, by Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), local officials inspect the damage to a mosque following monday's powerful earthquake in neighboring Papua New Guinea, in Boven Digoel, Papua province, Indonesia. Severe damage to phone networks and roads from the earthquake in Papua New Guinea was hindering efforts to assess the extent of the destruction Tuesday, although officials in the remote central region fear dozens of people may have been injured or killed. (BNPB via AP) In this photo released on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, by Indonesia's National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB), local officials inspect the damage to a mosque following Monday's powerful earthquake in neighboring Papua New Guinea, in Boven Digoel, Papua province, Indonesia. Severe damage to phone networks and roads from the earthquake in Papua New Guinea was hindering efforts to assess the extent of the destruction Tuesday, although officials in the remote central region fear dozens of people may have been injured or killed. (BNPB via AP) WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Lawmakers from New Zealand's main conservative party on Tuesday chose their first indigenous Maori leader as they regrouped after an election loss. National Party members selected 41-year-old Simon Bridges from among five candidates. He is a former lawyer and prosecutor who was first elected to Parliament 10 years ago. He held several ministerial portfolios in the previous government, including energy, labor and transport. The party also chose a Maori deputy leader after Paula Bennett fended off one challenger to retain her position. Simon Bridges holds a press conference in Wellington, New Zealand Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Bridges was chosen by New Zealand's National Party lawmakers to lead the party, becoming the the first indigenous Maori to hold the position. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) Maori make up about 15 percent of New Zealand's population of 5 million people and first arrived in the country hundreds of years before Europeans. New Zealand has had three women serve as prime minister but has never had a Maori prime minister, an opportunity Bridges would have if he wins the next election in 2020. "I'm really excited about the opportunity I've got ahead," Bridges said. "I hope Maori are proud of me." He said he wants to appeal to a "broad cross-range" of New Zealanders because that's what his party represents. Bridges replaces former Prime Minister Bill English, 56, who announced earlier this month that he was quitting politics. The National Party was in power for nine years before the election in September, when it won the most votes of any single party. But the liberal Labour Party was able to forge an alliance with two smaller parties and form a government under Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. The selection of Bridges could help blunt criticism that Ardern, 37, was better able to connect with a younger generation than English. Bridges and Ardern have faced off before, when they appeared on breakfast television together as "young guns" representing their respective parties. Opinion polls indicate the popularity of Ardern and the Labour Party have risen since she was elected, and Bridges said the National Party would face the next election as underdogs. Ardern has moved quickly to fulfill campaign pledges such as banning foreign speculators from buying homes, increasing spending on education and making the nation carbon neutral by 2050. Her announcement last month that she was pregnant attracted intense interest around the world. She is due to have her first child in June, when she plans to take six weeks' leave. The challengers who Bridges beat were lawmakers Amy Adams, Steven Joyce, Judith Collins and Mark Mitchell. Simon Bridges holds a press conference in Wellington, New Zealand Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Bridges was chosen by New Zealand's National Party lawmakers to lead the party, becoming the the first indigenous Maori to hold the position. (AP Photo/Nick Perry) SINGAPORE (AP) - Two men pleaded guilty Tuesday to using platforms including Airbnb to rent out condominium units for less than six months in Singapore, where short-term rentals are illegal. Terence Tan En Wei and Yao Songliang pleaded guilty at the State Court to four charges of illegally renting out four condominium units last year. They face fines of up to 200,000 Singapore dollars ($151,843) per charge. The pair, who were registered property agents, allegedly leased four apartments at a condominium for short stays last year. Court documents show that they used platforms such as Craigslist, HomeAway and Airbnb to rent out the units. The apartments drew a nightly rate of $150-$441. FILE - In this Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2018, file photo, Yao Songliang, left, and Terence Tan En Wei, leave the State Court after their hearing on charges of providing short-term rentals to tenants via Airbnb in Singapore. The two men have pleaded guilty Tuesday to using platforms including Airbnb to rent out condominium units for less than six months in Singapore, where short-term rentals are illegal. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim, File) Offering short stays in private homes is illegal in Singapore, where most residents live in subsidized public housing. The minimum rental period had been six months, but has since been reduced to three months. Officials have said that the rule minimizes disturbances to neighbors. Despite these limitations, Airbnb continues to thrive in the city-state, where the platform has over 8,000 active listings. Last year, 350,000 guests stayed in Airbnb apartments in Singapore, according to the company. This is Singapore's first court case involving Airbnb. The home-rental service has drawn fire elsewhere from long-term renters and city officials upset about lost revenue from hotel taxes. "For us, we feel that every person should have the right to share their own private residence. We don't think that anyone should be criminalized for sharing their home," said Mich Goh, Airbnb's head of public policy for Southeast Asia. Goh said the company was looking forward to a public consultation on short-term rentals in Singapore, set to take place in the next few months. ISLAMABAD (AP) - As Pakistan navigates its troubled relationship with the United States and scrambles to avoid being blacklisted for doing too little, too late to stop terror funding, regional alliances are shifting and analysts ponder whether a cozier relationship with countries like Russia will complicate efforts to move toward peace in neighboring Afghanistan. Russia, analysts say, is motivated by fears of a growing presence of Islamic State militants in neighboring Afghanistan and has warmed up to Pakistan as well as to Taliban insurgents battling the upstart Islamic State group affiliate known as Khorasan Province, the ancient name of an area that once included parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia. In the latest move to strengthen ties, Russia last week named an honorary consul to Pakistan's Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Province, which borders Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, where IS has established its headquarters. The IS is also present in northern Afghanistan's border regions with Central Asia, causing further consternation in Moscow. FILE - In this Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018 file photo, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, left, welcomes Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif for their talks in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018. As Pakistan navigates its troubled relationship with the United States and scrambles to avoid being blacklisted for doing too little, too late to stop terrorist funding, regional alliances are shifting and analysts ponder whether a cozier relationship with countries, like Russia, will complicate efforts to plot a path to peace in Afghanistan and civility between uneasy neighbors.(AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File) Russia's honorary consul, Mohammad Arsallah Khan, who belongs to a powerful business family in Pakistan's northwest, said economic development is the best weapon against extremism. To that end he said he will promote increased commerce with Pakistan's neighbors, including Russia, which currently accounts for barely $500 million in trade. "I think this whole region is a bit of a mess, which I realize is one of the great understatements. Extremists have been taken lightly before and we are where we are because of that," said Khan in an interview in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Reflecting on his business-based strategy, Khan said, "when you can give people a way of earning a living, they will turn away from terrorism, away from extremism." The appointment reflects a stark turnaround in Pakistan's historical relationship with Russia. In the 1980s, Pakistan and the U.S. were united against Russia as the Soviet Union sent 150,000 soldiers into Afghanistan to prop up its communist ally in the Afghan capital, Kabul. At the time, Pakistan, with U.S. backing, used Peshawar as a staging arena to arm and deploy Islamic insurgents, referred to as mujahedeen - or as President Ronald Reagan often called them, "freedom fighters" - to wage war on Russia. After 10 years, Russia failed to win the war and on Feb. 15, 1989, left Afghanistan in a negotiated exit. For some, Russia's cozying up to Pakistan is a bit of a "poke in the eye" to the U.S., still embroiled in the Afghan conflict that is now in its 17th year and is Washington's longest war, costing more than $122 billion, according to its own special Inspector General on Afghan Reconstruction. Still, Petr Topychkanov, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said Russia worries about the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. "Russia is concerned about the long-term presence of the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan, and therefore it's in Russia's long-term interests to have an inside view of the situation in Afghanistan," he said, saying that Pakistan provides the viewing platform. Daniel Markey, senior research professor in international relations at Johns Hopkins University, said Russian relations with Pakistan aim to solve two problems for Moscow. First, to blunt the threat of IS from Afghanistan. Second, to undermine U.S. influence, he said. "The point is that Russia and Pakistan probably have more in common with respect to the war in Afghanistan than the United States has with either __ and this is a real turnaround from prior history." Last week Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Washington of failing to go after the Islamic State group in Afghanistan. In response, Washington's senior diplomat for South Asia, Alice Wells, accused Russia of ignoring anti-IS offensives launched by U.S. and Afghan forces in eastern Afghanistan, while at the same time pursuing them in new havens, particularly in northern Afghanistan. Wells suggested Russia "should unequivocally support the Afghan government," if it wants to end the conflict in Afghanistan, a thinly veiled reference to allegations of Russian support for the Taliban. The linchpin in Washington's Afghan strategy is to put pressure on Pakistan to close safe havens used by Taliban fighters, most notably the Haqqani network, blamed for the more brazen and deadly attacks on Kabul. To that end Lisa Curtis, senior director for South and Central Asia on the U.S. National Security Council, quietly conducted a series of meetings in the Pakistan capital on Monday, before leaving early Tuesday. In the meetings, Curtis pressed Pakistan to put an end to the "Haqqani network and other terrorist groups" she said were operating on its territory, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy. Pakistan denies organized camps exist on its territory, though it says insurgents move throughout the country among the Afghan refugee population of 1.5 million. Pakistan also assails Afghanistan for allowing anti-Pakistan militants to have territory from which they plot and carry out attacks against Pakistan. According to the U.S. Embassy, Curtis said "the United States seeks to move toward a new relationship with Pakistan" but she made it clear that won't happen until Pakistan moves on the Haqqani network and other militants. Despite closer ties with Russia and a heavily invested China, for Pakistan even a bad relationship with the U.S. is better than no relationship at all, said Andrew Wilder, Asia programs vice president at the U.S. Institute of Peace. "Pakistan losing the U.S. as a strategic partner due to Pakistan's Afghanistan policy, and ending up having to rely solely on China, is not a foreign policy success story for Pakistan - it's a major foreign policy failure," he said. "Pakistan's relationship with the U.S., even in its current weakened state, is still far more important in economic, diplomatic and security terms for Pakistan than its relationship with Russia." Although Pakistan was not mentioned in the final communique that followed last week's Financial Action Task Force on terror funding, a motion by Washington to have Pakistan put on a global watch list prompted the task force to demand that Islamabad prove it is doing enough to curb terror financing by the time they meet again in June. Most analysts said the deadline was an indication that even its deep friendship with China was not enough to counter U.S. pressure. Curtis called U.S. concerns about terror financing as well as money laundering in Pakistan "long-standing", and urged Pakistan to address what she termed "ongoing deficiencies." Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a press conference on Tuesday that Beijing appreciates Islamabad's efforts to crack down on terror groups and intends to "continue to step up communication, coordination and collaboration with Pakistan in terms of counter-terrorism" co-operation. "We have been calling on the international community to objectively and fairly view and evaluate Pakistan's efforts in fighting terrorism, and not keep criticizing the Pakistani side with prejudice," he said. Still Michael Kugelman, Asia Program deputy director at the U.S.-based Wilson Center, warned against overstating the support for Pakistan of both China and Russia. "We shouldn't overstate how much Beijing and Moscow can compensate for U.S. aid cuts and sanctions," said Kugelman. "China is not a charity and does not provide assistance on demand; it only provides support - including to key allies like Pakistan - when it serves its interests. Additionally, the extent of Russian support for Pakistan to this point is unclear." ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Pennington in Washington, Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow and Christopher Bodeen in Beijing contributed to this report. In this Feb. 19, 2018 photo, Zahid Ullah Shinwari, right, President Sarah Chamber of Commerce and Industry presents souvenir to Russian ambassador Alexey Yurievich Dedov in Peshawar, Pakistan. As Pakistan navigates its troubled relationship with the United States and scrambles to avoid being blacklisted for doing too little, too late to stop terrorist funding, regional alliances are shifting and analysts ponder whether a cozier relationship with countries, like Russia, will complicate efforts to plot a path to peace in Afghanistan and civility between uneasy neighbors.(AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad) In this Monday, Feb. 26, 2018 photo, Russia's honorary consul, Mohammad Arsallah Khan poses for Associated Press in Islamabad, Pakistan. As Pakistan navigates its troubled relationship with the United States and scrambles to avoid being blacklisted for doing too little, too late to stop terrorist funding, regional alliances are shifting and analysts ponder whether a cozier relationship with countries, like Russia, will complicate efforts to plot a path to peace in Afghanistan and civility between uneasy neighbors.(AP Photo/Anjum Naveed) NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) - Fire officials say a World War II explosive device was found by a couple remodeling a Virginia home. The Daily Press reports the couple remodeling the central Newport News home found the World War II explosive device inside a wall Monday night. Official say the Newport News Fire Department, firefighters and police responded to the home around 8:45 p.m. Battalion Chief Jerry Reed says they identified it as a World War II-era M6 60 Caliber Bazooka anti-tank rocket. Bomb squad crews determined it was safe to remove the device from the home. Officials say they placed it in a secure container for it to be transported, and it will be turned over to the military. ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece's economy and development minister resigned Tuesday, shortly after his wife, a junior cabinet minister, also stepped down over a rent allowance scandal. Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras accepted the resignation of Dimitri Papadimitriou, the prime minister's office said. No replacement was announced for the 71-year-old U.S.-educated economics professor, who made no public statements. FILE-In this Saturday, Oct. 5, 2016 file photo, then newly appointed Development Minister Dimitri Papadimitriou takes an oath during a swearing in ceremony at the Presidential palace in Athens. Papadimitriou has resigned Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, shortly after his wife, a junior cabinet minister, also stepped down over a rent allowance scandal. On Monday, Papadimitriou's wife, deputy labor minister Rania Antonopoulou, quit after she applied for and received rent allowance for her Athens home, despite declaring an annual household income of more than half a million dollars. (AP Photo/Yorgos Karahalis, File) The resignations dealt a considerable blow to Tsipras' left-led government, which has invested much political capital in accusing conservative and socialist opposition parties of graft, cavalier treatment of the crisis-mired country's public finances and nepotism. While the couple - among the wealthiest cabinet members - were legally entitled to the allowance, their application for it is seen as morally questionable in a bailout-dependent country with 21 percent unemployment. On Monday, Papadimitriou's wife, deputy labor minister Rania Antonopoulou, quit over the 1,000-euro ($1,200) monthly allowance for her Athens home. She declared an annual household income of more than half a million dollars. This followed weekend reports revealing that that she received aid worth a total 23,000 euros ($28,300) over two years, even though she had an extensive property portfolio. The government says it plans to abolish the housing subsidy for Cabinet members who are not members of parliament. CAIRO (AP) - The Committee to Protect Journalists has urged the release of Yemeni journalist detained after he criticized local forces in southern Yemen, trained and funded by the United Arab Emirates. CPJ said on Monday that Awad Kashmeem was detained last Wednesday in the coastal city of Mukalla in southern Yemen's Hadramawt province and is being held at the military intelligence headquarters there. Kashmeem criticized local UAE-backed forces and said they'd waged a fake campaign against al-Qaida. CPJ's Mideast coordinator Sherif Mansour said that "Kashmeem's arbitrary detention ... shows that there is truly no safe space for journalists in Yemen." Kashmeem had posted on Facebook page that the UAE-trained troops "are talking about war, battles, deployment of troops, etc. but there is not death or injury of soldiers" in the alleged fighting. BERLIN (AP) - Germany's top court says the country's education minister overstepped constitutional boundaries and exceeded her neutrality in a statement she made about a nationalist party. Johanna Wanka had suggested that people should join protests against the Alternative for Germany party, which had organized a rally against the government's refugee policy in November 2015. She said the party, known by its German acronym AfD, should be shown a "red card." The Federal Constitutional Court ruled Tuesday that government institutions are allowed to respond to criticism but their reaction has to remain factual. AfD welcomed the ruling. Wanka, a member of Angela Merkel's party, isn't part of the next chancellor's next Cabinet. PRAGUE (AP) - Italian organized crime figures may have been involved in the shooting death of an investigative journalist in Slovakia, a Canadian reporter said Tuesday as the country's newspapers printed black-and-white front pages to honor the slain journalist. The bodies of 27-year-old Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend Martina Kusnirova were found Sunday evening in their house in the town of Velka Maca, east of the capital, Bratislava. Kuciak is the first journalist to be killed in Slovakia. The government is offering 1 million euros ($1.23 million) to anyone who helps authorities find the people responsible. Slovakian police say the slayings were likely linked to Kuciak's reporting. Picture taken near the village of Velka Maca, Slovakia, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, shows front pages of various Slovakian newspapers reflecting on murder of Slovak investigative journalist Jan Kuciak and his girlfriend Martina Kusnirova. Slovakia's top police officer Tibor Gaspar said the investigative reporter has been shot dead in his home in Velka Maca together with his girlfriend. Kuciak specialized in investigating tax evasion. The headline, down right, reads: "Murder of Journalist." (Michal Smrcok/News and Media Holding via AP) In an interview Tuesday with the Sme daily, Slovak-based Canadian journalist Tom Nicholson said Kuciak told him before his death that he was working on a story about possible Italian mafia involvement in fraud linked to EU subsidies in eastern Slovakia. Aktuality.sk, a news website that Kuciak was working for, made the same claim as Nicholson in their own story Tuesday based on Kuciak's reporting. Nicholson said he was ready to testify but has not been approached by police yet. "I'm not sure what caused Jan's death but I bet my life that this is so," Nicholson said. Making the story more explosive, Sme said two Italian businessmen with possible ties to the mafia operating in Slovakia did business with a senior adviser to Prime Minister Robert Fico and through her to officials from Fico's leftist Smer-Social Democracy party. The opposition has called on national police force President Tibor Gaspar and Interior Minister Robert Kalinak to resign and was planning a protest rally in Bratislava for Wednesday. Addressing reporters on Tuesday, Fico dismissed the reports. "You link innocent people to a double murder without any evidence," Fico said. "Don't do it." Fico also blamed the opposition for misusing the case against his government. Standing alongside Fico and Kalinak, Gaspar said Tuesday that investigators are taking media reports of possible mafia involvement as seriously "as any other version." Kalinak said Slovak investigators have been cooperating with the Czech and Italian authorities on the case as well as with Europol officials. Analyst Milan Zitny said the slayings place Slovakia in the company of undemocratic countries such as Ukraine or Russia where "the murders of journalists are nothing exceptional." But government officials disagreed. "We will spare no effort in investigating this criminal act and in bringing the perpetrators to justice," Slovakian envoy Ivan Korcok told the Human Rights Council in Geneva. ____ Jamey Keaten contributed to this report from Geneva. Candles and flowers are laid in front of the site of a murder in the village Velka Maca, Slovakia, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Slovakia's top police officer Tibor Gaspar said an investigative reporter has been shot dead in his home in Velka Maca together with his girlfriend. an Kuciak specialized in investigating tax evasion and Gaspar said the slayings were likely linked to his work. (Michal Smrcok/News and Holding via AP) This is an undated photo released by Aktuality.sk on Monday Feb. 26, 2018 of Slovakia's investigative journalist Jan Kuciak. Slovakia's top police officer Tibor Gaspar says an investigative reporter has been shot dead in his home together with his girlfriend. Jan Kuciak and his partner were found dead on Sunday evening in their house in the town of Velka Maca, east of the capital, Bratislava. (Aktuality.sk via AP) A member of Slovakia' police forces enters the site of a murder in the village Velka Maca, Slovakia, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Slovakia's top police officer Tibor Gaspar said an investigative reporter has been shot dead in his home in Velka Maca together with his girlfriend. Kuciak specialized in investigating tax evasion and Gaspar said the slayings were likely linked to his work. (Michal Smrcok/News and Media Holding via AP) A police tape is seen on the door to the site of a murder in the village Velka Maca, Slovakia, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Slovakia's top police officer Tibor Gaspar said an investigative reporter has been shot dead in his home in Velka Maca together with his girlfriend. Jan Kuciak specialized in investigating tax evasion and Gaspar said the slayings were likely linked to his work. (Michal Smrcok/News and Media Holding via AP) Head of the Slovakian Police Tibor Gaspar speaks at a press conference in Bratislava, Slovakia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. Gaspar said an investigative reporter has been shot dead in his home together with his girlfriend. Kuciak specialized in investigating tax evasion and Gaspar said the slayings were likely linked to his work. Kuciak was the second European journalist killed in five months. A car bomb killed Daphne Caruana Galizia, a reporter in Malta who investigated corruption, in October.(Pavol Zachar/TASR via AP) Cars are parked outside the site of a murder in the village Velka Maca Slovakia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. Slovakia's top police officer Tibor Gaspar said an investigative reporter has been shot dead in his home in Velka Maca together with his girlfriend. Kuciak specialized in investigating tax evasion and Gaspar said the slayings were likely linked to his work. Kuciak was the second European journalist killed in five months. A car bomb killed Daphne Caruana Galizia, a reporter in Malta who investigated corruption, in October. (Lukas Grinaj/TASR via AP) Police stand outside the site of a murder in the village Velka Maca Slovakia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. Slovakia's top police officer Tibor Gaspar said an investigative reporter has been shot dead in his home in Velka Maca together with his girlfriend. Kuciak specialized in investigating tax evasion and Gaspar said the slayings were likely linked to his work. Kuciak was the second European journalist killed in five months. A car bomb killed Daphne Caruana Galizia, a reporter in Malta who investigated corruption, in October. (Lukas Grinaj/TASR via AP) Police stand outside the site of a murder in the village Velka Maca Slovakia, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. Slovakia's top police officer Tibor Gaspar said an investigative reporter has been shot dead in his home in Velka Maca together with his girlfriend. Kuciak specialized in investigating tax evasion and Gaspar said the slayings were likely linked to his work. Kuciak was the second European journalist killed in five months. A car bomb killed Daphne Caruana Galizia, a reporter in Malta who investigated corruption, in October. (Lukas Grinaj/TASR via AP) BEIRUT (AP) - The Latest on Syria's civil war (all times local): 4:15 p.m. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov says a Syrian rebel leader's remarks concerning a humanitarian pause raise questions about the insurgents' sincerity in honoring a U.N. cease-fire resolution. This frame grab from video released on Saturday, Feb 24, 2018 by the Syrian Civil Defense group known as the White Helmets, shows members of the Syrian Civil Defense group help residents during airstrikes and shelling by Syrian government forces, in Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, Syria. A new wave of airstrikes and shelling on eastern suburbs of the Syrian capital Damascus left at least 22 people dead and more than a dozen wounded Saturday, raising the death toll of a week of bombing in the area to nearly 500, including scores of women and children. (Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP) Mohammed Alloush, head of the largest insurgent group in eastern Ghouta, argued that a daily humanitarian pause introduced by Russia is aimed at displacing civilians rather than protecting them. Speaking after talks with French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, Lavrov countered by saying that the U.N. resolution specifically calls on all combatants not to put any obstacles in the way of those seeking to leave besieged areas. No civilians have left eastern Ghouta since the humanitarian pause began Tuesday. Russia accuses the insurgents of preventing people from leaving, allegations denied by the rebels. ___ 4 p.m. France has cautiously welcomed a "humanitarian pause" to the fighting in Syria declared by Russia, but is demanding that all sides commit to a U.N. cease-fire resolution. Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said in Moscow that the five-hour pause that started Tuesday "is a real advance. We support this advance, but it is one step." Le Drian held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov to press Russia to use its influence with Syria's military to enforce the U.N. cease-fire. Lavrov said the humanitarian pause will show how serious Syrian opposition forces are about the cease-fire. Russia proposed the daily pause to allow aid groups into eastern Ghouta, a rebel-held enclave near Damascus, and to allow civilians to flee. But no civilians have left the embattled area so far, and aid groups say the pause is insufficient. France is stepping up efforts to engage Russia diplomatically in hopes of finding common ground on a political solution for Syria. ___ 3:30 p.m. The leader of the main insurgent group fighting in an embattled region near Syria's capital says a daily humanitarian pause announced by Russia is aimed at displacing civilians rather than protecting them. Mohammed Alloush, head of the largest insurgent group in eastern Ghouta, on Tuesday called on Russia to stop bombing the area and commit to a U.N. cease-fire resolution. He said: "If Russia is concerned about civilians in eastern Ghouta, it should halt its planes immediately from bombing towns and residences and should stop the regime of (Syrian President Bashar) Assad from its war of extermination." Russia, a key ally of the Syrian government, proposed a daily five-hour pause to allow aid groups to deliver assistance and civilians to flee through so-called humanitarian corridors. No civilians have left the area since the humanitarian pause began Tuesday. Russia accuses the insurgents of preventing people from leaving, allegations denied by the rebels. ___ 3 p.m. The Red Cross says Russia's humanitarian pause in an embattled rebel-held enclave near Damascus offers little time for aid delivery and provides no guarantees of safety for besieged residents. Ingy Sedky, the spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Damascus, said Tuesday that any respite from the fighting in eastern Ghouta is welcome, but that five hours is "very limited and there is little that we can achieve in such limited time." Sedky says aid was last delivered to eastern Ghouta in November, when the situation was already "very critical and very dire." The area has been surrounded by government forces since 2013. Russia ordered a five-hour daily pause starting Tuesday, urging civilians to leave as Moscow-backed government forces step up their offensive. Sedky says many civilians will be afraid to use designated humanitarian corridors unless their safety can be guaranteed. ___ 9:40 a.m. A Russia-ordered "humanitarian pause" has gone into effect to allow civilians to leave a rebel-held enclave near Damascus but there were no immediate signs of any corridors set up for people to use. Rami Aburrahman of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights says that no violence was reported on Tuesday in the enclave, known as eastern Ghouta - a collection of suburbs just east of the Syrian capital. Aburrahman says only a few artillery shells hit Douma, one of the suburbs. Civilians caught in the violence have mocked Russian President Vladimir Putin's order of a five-hour open corridor. Ingy Sedky with the international Red Cross says that for a humanitarian corridor to work, it needs to be well planned and implemented with the consent of all parties in the conflict. ATLANTA (AP) - Republican gubernatorial candidates in Georgia are leading calls to punish Delta Air Lines for cutting business ties with the National Rifle Association. But the state's term-limited GOP governor has refrained from publicly entering the fray. Gov. Nathan Deal's spokeswoman, Jen Ryan, said he had no immediate comment Tuesday on the controversy pitting other top Republicans against one of Georgia's largest employers. GOP Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle threatened Monday to block renewal of a major tax break for Delta after the Atlanta-based company announced it is ending fare discounts for NRA members following Florida's deadly school shooting. Four of Cagle's Republican rivals in the governor's race also want the tax break stopped. One of them, Secretary of State Brian Kemp, called Tuesday for a "sales tax holiday" on guns and ammunition. GENEVA (AP) - Iran's justice minister, a sanctioned human rights violator, unapologetically took the podium at the U.N.'s top human rights body Tuesday to berate U.S. and Saudi policies, defying calls for him to stay away in a visit a top U.S. diplomat said made a "mockery" of the body. Justice Minister Seyyed Alireza Avaei's visit has been criticized because he's faced EU sanctions for six years for his role in arbitrary arrests, denying prisoners' rights, and increasing executions in Iran. Switzerland, which hosts a key U.N. office and the council, has also handed him economic sanctions - but not banned him from visiting. U.N. Geneva spokeswoman Alessandra Vellucci said Avaei did not face any U.N. sanctions. Seyyed Alireza Avaei, Minister of Justice of the Islamic Republic of Iran, delivers a speech during the High-Level Segment and second day of the 37th session of the Human Rights Council, at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. (Valentin Flauraud/Keystone via AP) That did not deter other critics of Avaei's visit. He was on hand Tuesday for the council's "high-level segment", a highlight to its March session, which this year is bringing together nearly 100 dignitaries - including many minsters and a few heads of state. The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said Sunday the rights council "be ashamed to allow Mr. Avaei to address its membership." Haley used the chance to again criticize alleged shortcomings of the council that she had laid out in speeches in Geneva in June. "Yet again the council discredits itself by allowing serial human rights abusers to highjack its work and make a mockery of its mandate to promote universal human rights," Haley said. "This does nothing but reinforce the United States' call for much needed reforms at the council for it to be viewed as a good investment of our time and money." Council spokesman Rolando Gomez said nations can choose who they want to represent them at the 47-member body. The U.S. delegation to the council doubled down on Tuesday, saying he "oversaw the summary executions of Iranians" in the late 1980s. Today, it said, he oversees arbitrary arrests and imprisonment "in a network of facilities notorious for suspicious deaths, the use of torture, and denial of medical care." The National Council of Resistance of Iran, a leading group of exile and expatriate opponents of Iran's Islamic government, staged a noisy and well-orchestrated protest - if small, at about 100 people - outside the gates of the U.N. building shortly before Avaei addressed the council. Protester Nasser Razi, a member of the NCRI's foreign affairs committee, said Avaei was involved in the execution of thousands of prisoners at the end of Iran's war with Iraq in 1988. International rights groups estimate that as many as 5,000 people were executed, while the NCRI puts the number at more than 30,000. In his speech, Avaei blasted the U.S. decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital, calling it "illustrative of gross violation of human rights" of Palestinians. He criticized a blockade of Yemen by a Saudi-led coalition involved in a three-year "war of aggression" there. And in an unmistakable - if indirect - allusion to the U.S., he said: "These self-proclaimed champions of human rights, through finger-pointing, unjustly and widely blame others for violation of human rights, while certain parts of their population, especially blacks, immigrants, foreigners and indigenous people grievously suffer from human rights violations under their watch." Shortly before Avaei spoke, the U.N. publicly released a report from the U.N. Secretary-General's office on Iran's human rights record, as requested by the General Assembly. It raised concerns about arbitrary detention, executions of juvenile defenders, and limits on rights of freedom of assembly in Iran. Most of the report's strongest recommendations had to do with Iran's use of the death penalty. In his address, Avaei touted domestic reforms of the legal code that were aimed "to provide effective mechanisms in safeguarding the rights of accused persons." He also noted that Iran's counter-narcotics law has been amended, and "as a result, executions related to drug crimes will decrease remarkably." "All execution verdicts in this respect have been stopped ... and are now being re-considered," he said. Avaei declined to answer a journalist's question after he finished his speech. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on President Trump, Congress and guns (all times local): 3:15 p.m. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell says a firearms background check bill moving forward in the Senate is not a "panacea" to gun violence, but a step Congress could take after the Florida high school shooting. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders arrives for the daily news briefing at the White House, in Washington, Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster) McConnell says Congress should focus on areas of bipartisan agreement to "at least show some progress." The proposal would strengthen the existing National Instant Criminal Background Check System with new penalties and rewards to encourage federal agencies and states to properly utilize it. Its records are used to determine whether someone can legally buy a gun. Democrats say Congress needs to do more, including expanding background checks to cover online sales and gun shows. __ 3 p.m. A White House spokeswoman says President Donald Trump continues to support raising the age requirement to buy some firearms. Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday that Trump continues to support raising the age, after the president did not mention the idea during a meeting with governors Monday. Sanders says Trump is meeting with lawmakers Wednesday and the White House expects "that to be a topic of discussion." The National Rifle Association has opposed any such changes. Sanders says Trump "knows that everyone doesn't necessarily agree." Sanders is declining to offer any specifics on what the White House may propose. __ 2 p.m. A bipartisan group of nine senators is reintroducing legislation that would prevent individuals on terrorism watch lists from buying guns. The proposal, led by Maine Republican Susan Collins and North Dakota Democrat Heidi Heitkamp, was rejected by the Senate in 2016. But after the Florida high school shooting that killed 17 people, the senators say it's a common sense bill with broad support. Collins said, "If you are considered to be too dangerous to fly on an airplane, you should not be able to buy a firearm." The measure would give the attorney general authority to deny firearm sales to nearly 3,000 individuals on the federal No Fly or Selectee lists, and alert law enforcement of attempted purchases by an individual on the lists in the past five years. __ 1:10 p.m. Rep. Steve Scalise says people at the FBI should be held accountable after it didn't act on a tip about the man who later allegedly killed 17 people at a Florida high school. The No. 3 House GOP leader suffered life-threatening wounds when a gunman shot several people last June at a congressional Republican baseball practice. Scalise tells reporters the FBI had the Florida shooter's name "on a silver platter" and says "there are people at the FBI that chose to let this go." He says lawmakers should "hold people accountable." Scalise says he received a new baseball jersey last week while visiting the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. The school's jersey he was wearing at the practice "didn't hold up" and is being held as evidence by the FBI. ___ 1 p.m. Television personality Geraldo Rivera is expressing skepticism that President Donald Trump will achieve any new gun control measures. On Twitter Tuesday Rivera says: "Incredibly we're set to do nothing re gun control again. The only person in the country strong enough to stand up to #NRA @realDonaldTrump is apparently taking a pass after dropping modest reform of banning sales of semi automatics to kids not old enough to buy cigarettes & beer." Rivera recently pitched Trump on increasing the minimum age for rifle purchases. Trump has expressed interest in the idea. But he has not backed any legislation and did not mention the concept when meeting with governors to discuss gun violence Monday. ___ 12:31 p.m. Texas Sen. John Cornyn says the Senate should "immediately" pass a bill he has co-sponsored to strengthen federal background checks for gun purchases. The bill would penalize federal agencies that don't properly report required records to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System and reward states that comply by providing them with federal grant preferences. Cornyn, the Senate's No. 2 Republican, says he was dismayed that Senate Democrats want to debate other ideas before taking up the background checks bill, known as "Fix NICS." Cornyn said Tuesday that, "if our attitude is, 'I want everything on my list or nothing,' we're going to end up with nothing" on gun control after the Florida high school shooting. He urged senators to move "immediately to pass Fix NICS and build from there." ____ 11:37 a.m. House Speaker Paul Ryan is showing no interest in banning assault weapons or expanding background checks for gun sales online or at gun shows. He also says he thinks President Donald Trump's idea of arming teachers is best left to local governments. Ryan acknowledged there were "system failures" at the Florida school shooting and told reporters a lot of questions "need answers." Asked about proposals for stricter background checks or barring assault weapon sales, Ryan says Congress shouldn't be "banning guns from law-abiding citizens." The House already passed legislation making modest fixes to the gun-purchase background check system. But the package stalled in the Senate because it also expands other gun owner rights. Ryan says if the Senate keeps just the background check provision, the House will "cross that bridge when we get to it." ____ 12:35 a.m. President Donald Trump says political leaders sometimes need to buck the National Rifle Association. Republicans controlling Congress are less sure of that approach, keeping largely quiet amid public calls for stricter gun laws. In the Senate, a bipartisan bill seeks to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. Trump's ideas to arm many teachers, lift the minimum age for purchasing assault rifles to 21 and impose stricter background checks have fallen flat so far. The White House is inviting lawmakers from both parties for meetings this week. The Senate's No. 2 Republican, John Cornyn of Texas, questions Trump's proposal to raise the age limit for assault weapons, calling it an arbitrary age increase. WASHINGTON (AP) - Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker has decided anew not to seek re-election this fall, his chief of staff said Tuesday, after spending recent weeks reconsidering his initial decision to leave the chamber where he's served since 2007. Corker "has been encouraged by people across Tennessee and in the Senate to reconsider" his decision to retire, the senator's chief of staff, Todd Womack, said in a statement. After studying Corker's prospects, "a clear path for re-election was laid out," Womack said. But he added, "the senator believes he made the right decision in September and will be leaving the Senate" when his term expires in January 2019. In this Jan. 30, 2018, photo, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., asks a question during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on the Financial Stability Oversight Council. Sen. Lamar Alexander said Tuesday, Feb. 20, that he was disappointed when Corker decided not to seek re-election, and the two Republicans have recently talked about calls for Corker to reverse course. But Alexander claims he hasn't urged Corker to run again, insisting that he is "staying out of it." (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) Corker said when he first ran for the Senate in 2006 that he believed in serving two terms "because he has always been drawn to the citizen legislator model and believes public service should be missional," Womack said. Corker's retirement sidesteps what would have been a primary battle against conservative Rep. Marsha Blackburn for the GOP nomination that promised an uncertain outcome. Corker is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Tennessee leans heavily Republican but the state has a tradition of electing centrist senators like Corker. Former Gov. Phil Bredesen is expected to be the Democratic nominee, and some Republicans have worried Bredesen would have a better chance if Blackburn is the GOP candidate. Corker said last year that under Trump, "the White House has become an adult day care center" and warned the president could put the U.S. "on the path to World War III." In what's seemed an easing of tensions, the two men have had conversations in recent weeks. By the time Corker began rethinking his decision to leave the chamber, Blackburn and former GOP Rep. Stephen Fincher had had already filed to run in the GOP's August primary for the seat. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would not say whether he'd encouraged Corker to try staying in the chamber. BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) - Romania's top legal body on Tuesday rejected the justice minister's request to oust the country's chief anti-corruption prosecutor because he considered her unfit for the job. The prosecutors' department of the Supreme Council of Magistrates said it would not recommend that Romania's president remove National Anti-Corruption Directorate Chief Prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi in a 6-1 vote. Ahead of the vote, Kovesi responded Tuesday to a report by Justice Minister Tudorel Toader that cast doubts on her office's credibility and alleged prosecutors falsified evidence. FILE - In this file photo dated Tuesday, June 7, 2016, Romania's chief anti-corruption prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi speaks during an interview with the Associated Press in Bucharest, Romania. Romania's justice minister Tudorel Toader says there are serious concerns about the way Laura Codruta Kovesi does her job and she will be asked to answer accusations, which Kovesi denies. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda, FILE) She conceded "there may be errors of transcription," but called Toader's report "unreal, unproven and unfounded." Kovesi said the European Court of Human Rights hadn't questioned the office's prosecutions since she became chief in 2013. Under her leadership, the agency has successfully prosecuted lawmakers, ministers and other top officials for bribery, fraud, abuse of power and other corruption-related offenses. Kovesi also denied Toader's claim that she was authoritarian and said Romania's acquittal rate in corruption cases was lower than the European average. She refuted his assertion that she had harmed Romania's image in interviews with foreign journalists. "We...improved Romania's image...and showed the anti-corruption fight is efficient," Kovesi said. She also responded to justice minister's contention that the Anti-Corruption Directorate was too costly. Kovesi said the office's budget was 27 million euros ($33 million) in 2016, of which one-tenth was spent on actual probes. Successful prosecutions also netted the federal budget 226 million euros ($276 million) that year, she said. Listening to her response, Toader told Kovesi, "You don't convince me" and said her comments "may be seductive for people who know nothing." President Klaus Iohannis has the final say on the prosecutor's position and he has reiterated his support for Kovesi in recent days. NEW YORK (AP) - The family of a dead programmer has filed a $5 billion dollar lawsuit against a man who claimed to be the creator of bitcoin. The family of Dave Kleiman filed their lawsuit in federal court in Florida against Australian businessman Craig Wright, who claimed in 2016 he was Satoshi Nakamoto. Kleiman's family alleges that the two men jointly owned roughly 1.1 million bitcoins and a company. When Kleiman died in 2013, Wright allegedly backdated contracts to transfer the ownership of the coins and intellectual property to him. Wright claimed in 2016 that he was the inventor of bitcoin, but stepped back from that claim after skepticism arose on whether he was the actual inventor of bitcoin. The lawsuit does not claim that Kleiman or Wright are the actual inventors of bitcoin, but instead alleges that the two were heavily involved with bitcoin in its infancy. Early adopters of bitcoin were able to acquire large quantities of bitcoin through a process known as mining long before its value ever got above a dollar. For example, an extremely early transaction made on the bitcoin network was when someone paid 10,000 bitcoins for Domino's Pizza. Kleiman's family claims they are owed at least half of the bitcoins mined by the two men. The estimated value of Wright and Kleiman's bitcoin holdings is roughly $11.6 billion. Wright did not immediately respond to a request for comment through his company nChain. HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) - A mobster who authorities believe is the last surviving person of interest in the largest art heist in history has been sentenced to 4 years in prison in an unrelated weapons case. Robert Gentile, 81, was sentenced Tuesday in federal court in Hartford, Connecticut. He was given credit for time already served, and is expected to spend about 11 more months behind bars. Federal prosecutors have said they believe Gentile has information about the still-unsolved 1990 heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Thieves stole an estimated $500 million worth of artwork, including works by Rembrandt and Johannes Vermeer. Gentile, of Manchester, has denied knowing anything about it. Robert Gentile, 81, arrives at federal court in Hartford, Conn., on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. The reputed mobster who authorities believe is the last surviving person of interest in the largest art heist in history is facing sentencing in an unrelated weapons case. Federal prosecutors have said they believe Gentile has information about the still-unsolved 1990 heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston, where thieves stole an estimated $500 million worth of artwork. (Patrick Raycraft/Hartford Courant via AP) He asked the judge Tuesday to consider letting him go home to his wife, describing his latest stint in prison as horrifying. "Anybody else would have killed themselves," he said. Gentile, who has a criminal record that dates to the 1950s, had been convicted of several charges, including selling a loaded handgun to a convicted murderer who was cooperating with the FBI and illegally possessing firearms as a felon. He has been in prison awaiting sentencing for almost three years. Federal agents found the guns that led to the weapons charge while searching Gentile's home in what defense attorney A. Ryan McGuigan has said were attempts to find some of the stolen paintings, or evidence connected to the heist. In 2013, Gentile was sentenced to 2 years in prison in another weapons and prescription drugs case that first revealed federal authorities' belief that he knew something about the heist. Prosecutors have said another gangster's widow claimed her husband gave Gentile two of the paintings. Authorities also have said Gentile talked about the stolen paintings with fellow prisoners and once told an undercover FBI agent he had access to two of the paintings and could negotiate the sale of each for $500,000. NEW YORK (AP) - An American citizen from California who was radicalized by online propaganda traveled overseas to try to join a branch of the Islamic State group in Libya, U.S. prosecutors said Tuesday. A few days before he left in 2016, Bernard Augustine texted an unidentified relative, "If I ever get lucky enough to live in the khilafah, I'll burn my own passport, lol," according to a criminal complaint. He made it as far as Tunisia but was detained by authorities there before he could carry out his plan, the complaint said. Augustine, 21, is from the town of Keyes in California's Central Valley. He was jailed without bail on Tuesday during an initial court appearance in federal court in Brooklyn. His lawyer, Samuel Jacobson, declined comment. An examination of Augustine's laptop turned up evidence that he had been viewing Islamic State group material on the Internet, including a video showing the beheadings of Ethiopian Christians who were kidnapped in Libya, the court papers said. He also searched for "jihadology" and "how to safely join isis," it said. In addition, Augustine viewed sermons by fiery American-born cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, a leader of al-Qaida in Yemen who was killed in 2011, the papers said. The online videos of Al-Awlaki have been cited in several U.S. cases as being a dangerous influence on self-radicalized terrorists. Records show Augustine took a Turkish Airlines flight from San Francisco to Tunisia via Istanbul, Turkey, using a one-way ticket. Once there he emailed the same relative in California, telling that person, "I'm not mad or mentally ill, I really truly am on a path to fight for justice," the papers said. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Federal officials are considering putting a once-flourishing West Coast salmon on the list of threatened or endangered species. The National Marine Fisheries Services said Tuesday that it will investigate whether to give protected status to spring-run Chinook salmon in and around the Klamath River. Spring Chinook were once one of the most abundant salmon of the Pacific Northwest, important to tribes, fishermen and wildlife. The Kuruk tribe and river-restoration groups say the species is nearly extinct through much of its old range in Oregon and Northern California. The California-based Kuruk tribe blames Klamath River dams for blocking the fish from their spawning grounds. The federal move comes after a University of California, Davis study showed the spring Chinook were genetically rarer than researchers previously realized. STANDISH, Maine (AP) - A Maine man has been arrested for the second time in a year on charges he led police on a chase in a stolen U-Haul truck. The Portland Press Herald reports a Cumberland County Sheriff's deputy tried to stop a U-Haul driven at high speeds by 41-year-old William Wyman in Standish Sunday night. Police say Wyman and the stolen truck were later found. Authorities say the Portland man had minor injuries and the vehicle sustained minor damage. Wyman faces multiple charges including theft of a motor vehicle and failure to stop for a police officer. He is being held on bail. He was previously charged with eluding officers and reckless conduct after police say he crashed into two vehicles last Halloween while driving a stolen U-Haul truck before he was apprehended. ___ Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com SKOPJE, Macedonia (AP) - Several thousand protesters rallied in Macedonia's capital late Tuesday for the government to call off talks with neighboring Greece aimed at settling a decades-long name dispute. The protesters marched peacefully from the main Orthodox cathedral in Skopje past the European Union office, chanting "Macedonia! Macedonia!" and waving national flags. Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's 9-month-old center-left government has opened negotiations with Greece to resolve the dispute over Macedonia's name. Greece says the country's name in its current form implies a territorial claim against its own region of Macedonia. People march through a street during a protest against the change of the country's constitutional name, in Skopje, Macedonia, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Several thousand protestors have gathered in front of Macedonia's parliament to demand that the government call off talks with neighbor Greece on a decades-long name dispute. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) Zaev has said he is willing to support a modified name. But the head of the World Macedonian Congress, Todor Petrov, told the protesters that changing the country's name would be tantamount to committing treason. "Our country has a name....To change it would mean that the Macedonian identity would be permanently lost," he said. The rally was organized by several hard-line nationalist associations. The rally ended peacefully, but a Greek flag was burned during the march. Greeks also held a large rally in Athens earlier this month to reject a proposed compromise. Zaev has said he could accept a "geographical qualifier" in Macedonia's name - such as "new", "upper" or "north" - to forge a compromise, but insisted the new name must "respect the dignity" of people in both countries. Greece is also seeking changes in the Macedonian Constitution to eliminate what Athens considers tacit territorial claims. Macedonia insists constitutional amendments made in 1995 already addressed Greek concerns. As a goodwill gesture to Greece, Macedonia this month changed the name of its main airport from Alexander the Great Airport to Skopje International Airport. Protestors carry crosses and light torches during a protest against the change of the country's constitutional name, in front of the Parliament building in Skopje, Macedonia, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Several thousand protestors have gathered in front of Macedonia's parliament to demand that the government call off talks with neighbor Greece on a decades-long name dispute. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) People carry banners and wave flags during a protest against the change of the country's constitutional name, in front of the Parliament building in Skopje, Macedonia, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Several thousand protestors have gathered in front of Macedonia's parliament to demand that the government call off talks with neighbor Greece on a decades-long name dispute. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) People carry banners and wave flags during a protest against the change of the country's constitutional name, in front of the Parliament building in Skopje, Macedonia, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Several thousand protestors have gathered in front of Macedonia's parliament to demand that the government call off talks with neighbor Greece on a decades-long name dispute. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) People gather to protest against the change of the country's constitutional name, in front of the Parliament building in Skopje, Macedonia, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Several thousand protestors have gathered in front of Macedonia's parliament to demand that the government call off talks with neighbor Greece on a decades-long name dispute. (AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) In the James Bond films, sex with a globe-trotting spy seems to be fun, fun, fun. A martini, a tuxedo, a witty line or two and then it's off to a luxurious bed with two tanned, muscular bodies. Not so in the new thriller "Red Sparrow ," where the sex is cold, ugly and often violent. This dark, meandering and cliche-ridden bummer starring a trying-hard Jennifer Lawrence tries to reach for a cool and stylish look at contemporary spycraft but often falls victim to cartoon violence and a muddled story. The creators may call it erotic but it's as erotic as a visit to the dentist. Francis Lawrence, the director of the last three "Hunger Games" films, reunites with Lawrence for more adult fare but one likely to be remembered more for the outdoor junket photos of Lawrence in a thigh-slit dress in chilly London while her male co-creators wore coats. In this image released by Twentieth Century Fox, Jennifer Lawrence, left, and Joel Edgerton appear in a scene from "Red Sparrow." (Murray Close/Twentieth Century Fox via AP) Based on a book by former CIA agent Jason Matthews, "Red Sparrow" stars Lawrence as Dominika, a Moscow ballerina who has to rethink her career after a devastating injury. With the advice of her high ranking spy uncle, she goes to a "sparrow" school where the students are taught to use seduction as their main weapon. "Every human is a puzzle of need," the stern headmistress played by Charlotte Rampling tells her recruits. "You must become the missing piece and they will tell you everything." Dominika isn't buying it and later complains to her uncle, "You sent me to whore school." But she's going to do it - forced to perform sex acts in front of the class - to pay for her sick mother's care, so that gets her conveniently off the hook morally. Our heroine is soon unleashed onto the world, a little like Luc Besson's "La Femme Nikita" but without that film's visual coherence or empathy. (Lawrence does sport awesome bangs, so there's that). Lawrence as an actress gives her all here, from learning ballet - daily, three-hour rehearsals for three months - to adopting a Russian accent that seems swiped from Natasha from "Rocky and Bullwinkle." ("I haf to ko avay vor a vile," she tells her mom). But what really drives Dominika is never very clear, how she goes from a tea-drinking dancer to someone perfectly happy caving in someone's head with a cane. That's partly so viewers don't know where her loyalties lie and will stay intrigued, but she gets lost in what could be a double-cross or triple-cross - or, if you're in withdrawal from the Olympics - the infamous quad-cross. Soon you just don't care. "We can't trust a word that comes out of her mouth," one character says of Dominika and he's right. No trust, no care. She's like a reflection of the film itself, getting flatter and more boring by the minute. As a sign of how lost the filmmakers get, a scene about whether or not a false drawer will open becomes the most thrilling element for a good 30 minutes. In addition to Rampling, there are fine turns from Jeremy Irons, Douglas Hodge and Mary-Louise Parker (who nevertheless seems to be in a different film altogether.) On the other side, one of the worst casting decisions was making Joel Edgerton Dominika's love interest. He's a puppy dog next to her tiger and there are simply no sparks between them. "Red Sparrow" takes place in the languid, rich air of old European capitals and it gains no energy from the mostly - and curiously empty - high-end restaurants, hospitals and swimming pools. There are gorgeous exteriors of Vienna, Budapest, London and lush hotel interiors. The soundtrack is Tchaikovsky and Mozart. It's like an extended ad for Chanel, except for all the gore. Gore? Oh yes. There are two rape scenes, several instances of torture - one with a hospital-grade skin peeler - public and naked degradations, a gross garroting, a dead body in a tub with its head in a plastic bag, and more than a hint of incest. The bloodiness in juxtaposition with the bloodless high-end luxury is jarring - but not in a good way. Courtesy of screenwriter Justin Haythe, the cliches are all here, from the matching sweatsuits the sparrows wear as they jog on their snowy campus to watching spies wordlessly pass packages in dark and empty parks. A hand-off of political prisoners is staged on an airport tarmac at night, complete with snipers, flashing police lights, enough troops to invade Belgium and the overly dramatic walk each person takes toward freedom. This is a film in which interrogators coolly demand confessions in clipped European accents. It's where a demented torturer lovingly unrolls his bag of evil tools like a contestant with a knife roll on "Top Chef." Then he intones: "Do you know how long it takes to peel skin from a human being?" (Spoiler alert: "Hours and hours.") Come to think of it, that might be more fun than sitting though "Red Sparrow." "Red Sparrow," a 20th Century Fox release, is rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for "strong violence, torture, sexual content, language and some graphic nudity." Running time: 139 minutes. One star out of four. ___ MPAA Definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. ___ Online: https://www.foxmovies.com/movies/red-sparrow ___ Mark Kennedy is at http://twitter.com/KennedyTwits In this image released by Twentieth Century Fox, Jennifer Lawrence appears in a scene from "Red Sparrow." (Murray Close/Twentieth Century Fox via AP) In this image released by Twentieth Century Fox, Jennifer Lawrence appears in a scene from "Red Sparrow." (Murray Close/Twentieth Century Fox via AP) President Donald Trump has expressed his delight that a judge who he once taunted during the presidential campaign ruled against an environmental challenge to his US-Mexico border wall on Tuesday. US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel rejected arguments by the state of California and advocacy groups that the administration overreached by waiving laws requiring environmental and other reviews before construction can begin. Plaintiffs in the lawsuit said a 2005 a law that gave the Homeland Security secretary broad authority to waive the reviews had expired. 'Big legal win today,' Trump tweeted in response to the ruling. 'US judge sided with the Trump Administration and rejected the attempt to stop the government from building a great Border Wall on the Southern Border. Now this important project can go forward!' Scroll down for video President Donald Trump has expressed his delight that US District Judge Gonzalo Curiel (right) who he once taunted during the presidential campaign ruled against an environmental challenge to his US-Mexico border wall on Tuesday 'Big legal win today,' Trump tweeted in response to the ruling Curiel's ruling may have removed what could have been a major obstacle to Trump's pledge to build the wall. Trump berated Curiel during the campaign for his handling of fraud allegations against now-defunct Trump University, suggesting the Indiana-born judge's Mexican heritage reflected a bias. Curiel mentioned his roots in his 101-page ruling Tuesday when he cited another native of the state, US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who wrote in another case that courts should not make policy judgments. 'The court cannot and does not consider whether the underlying decisions to construct border barriers are politically wise or prudent,' Curiel wrote. The lawsuit was the first major legal challenge to the wall under Trump and the latest legal challenge to fail over the years. The Center for Biological Diversity, which sued along with the state of California and three advocacy groups, said it would appeal. 'They're giving unprecedented, sweeping power to an unelected agency chief to ignore dozens of laws and crash through hundreds of miles of spectacular borderlands,' attorney Brian Segee said, referring to the head of Homeland Security. 'This is unconstitutional and shouldn't be allowed to stand.' California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said: 'We will evaluate all of our options and are prepared to do what is necessary to protect our people, our values, and our economy from federal overreach.' The Animal Legal Defense Fund said it may ask the US Supreme Court to intervene. And the Sierra Club said the environmental and other reviews are critical to protecting border communities, but the group didn't discuss its next step. The Center for Biological Diversity, which sued along with the state of California and three advocacy groups, said it would appeal the judge's decision. Pictured are the border wall prototypes Following the judge's decision, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra said: 'We will evaluate all of our options and are prepared to do what is necessary to protect our people, our values, and our economy from federal overreach.' Wall prototypes are pictured US Justice Department spokesman Devin O'Malley welcomed the decision, saying Congress granted authority to build a wall without delay and that the administration is pleased it can continue 'this important work vital to our nation's interests'. Homeland Security spokesman Tyler Houlton added: 'Simply put, walls work.' The decision came days after construction began on a 30-foot high barrier in Calexico, California, the administration's first wall project outside of eight prototypes in San Diego that were completed in October. The administration has issued three waivers since August, two to build in parts of California and one in part of New Mexico. President George W. Bush's administration issued the previous five waivers, allowing the government to quickly extend barriers to about one-third of the border. The Center for Biological Diversity said in its lawsuit that the waiver authority cannot be interpreted to last forever. California argued that it expired in 2008, when Homeland Security satisfied congressional requirements at the time on how much wall to build. Homeland Security spokesman Tyler Houlton added: 'Simply put, walls work.' The decision came days after construction began on a 30-foot high barrier in Calexico, California, the administration's first wall project outside of eight prototypes in San Diego Trump is expected to visit California to view the eight border wall prototypes (pictured) in mid-March Curiel wrote that the law certainly 'is not a model of legislative precision' and that both sides made plausible arguments. The judge declined to second-guess the administration's findings that waivers were issued in areas of 'high illegal entry,' a requirement set by Congress. The advocates argued that dramatic declines in border arrests undermined those findings. During 2.5 hours of arguments this month, the judge peppered both sides with questions about the law's meaning. He showed strong interest in a requirement tacked on in late 2007 for Homeland Security to consult other federal agencies, state and local governments, Indian tribes and property owners to minimize the impact of construction, which challengers said the administration failed to do. Curiel said in his ruling that the law's lack of specifics prevented him for concluding that the administration failed to properly consult others. Trump is seeking $18 billion to extend the wall as the White House and Congress are at an impasse. Earlier this month, the Senate rejected an administration-backed plan to link funding and sharp cuts to legal immigration to allowing young immigrants to stay in the country after they were temporarily shielded from deportation under an Obama-era program, Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. The wall prototypes in San Diego that were built to guide future designs and the wall replacement in Calexico were previously funded. Curiel was pilloried by Trump over the Trump University lawsuits. The then-presumptive Republican presidential nominee called him a 'hater' of Trump who should be ashamed, calling attention to the judge's Mexican ancestry and Trump's support for a border wall. Trump settled the lawsuits for $25 million after winning the election, without admitting wrongdoing. SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Latest on a federal judge's ruling rejecting a challenge to President Donald Trump's plans for a border wall with Mexico. (all times local): 2:15 p.m. An environmental advocacy group says it will appeal a federal court ruling in San Diego that allows the Trump administration to expedite construction of a border wall with Mexico. The Center for Biological Diversity says the ruling Tuesday upholding the administration's right to waive environmental reviews to build border barriers is unconstitutional and shouldn't be allowed to stand. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who joined the challenge, said he was evaluating options. He says he believes the administration is ignoring the law. Justice Department spokesman Devin O'Malley says the administration is pleased it can continue building the wall without delay. ___ 1:40 p.m. A federal judge in San Diego who was taunted by Donald Trump during the presidential campaign has sided with the president on a challenge to building a border wall with Mexico. U.S. District Judge Gonzalo Curiel on Tuesday rejected arguments by the state of California and advocacy groups that the administration overreached by waiving laws requiring environmental and other reviews before construction could begin. The challengers said a law that gave the Homeland Security secretary authority to waive the reviews had expired. The ruling removes a potentially big obstacle for one of Trump signature campaign pledges. Environmental reviews are subject to legal challenges that can significantly delay or block construction. Trump berated Curiel during the campaign for his handling of fraud allegations against now-defunct Trump University, suggesting the Indiana-born judge's Mexican heritage reflected a bias. WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House outlined its goals for prison reform Tuesday, stressing a focus on re-entry into society and rehabilitation. Senior White House officials said they are sending their principles to lawmakers for them to draw up legislation. They are seeking to improve re-entry programs and work training. They want to review existing public and private efforts and focus on approaches that have been proven to work in the past. Officials sought anonymity to discuss administration plans. They said they were not including sentencing reforms because they did not see a path forward at this time. They expressed optimism they could get support in the House and the Senate for prison reforms. They also said President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order this week moving the Federal Interagency Reentry Council from the Justice Department to White House oversight. Since March 2017, Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and adviser, has led White House efforts to develop criminal justice policy, including changes to the prison system. In January, Trump convened a group of governors, faith-based leaders and experts to "break this vicious cycle" and find ways of bringing job training, mentoring and drug addiction treatment to the nation's prison population. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - A Republican Senate primary Mississippi is shaping up as a battle between an incumbent endorsed by President Donald Trump and a state lawmaker who is pushing hard against Washington insiders by using Trump's own mantra of "drain the swamp" - even as he criticizes the president. State Sen. Chris McDaniel is holding an event Wednesday in his hometown of Ellisville, Mississippi, and has hinted strongly that he will announce he's challenging Roger Wicker, who's been in the U.S. Senate for a decade. Backed by tea party groups, McDaniel came close to unseating Mississippi's senior U.S. senator, Thad Cochran, in a bitter intraparty fight in 2014. At the time, McDaniel positioned himself as the outsider trying to topple the political establishment. The same dynamic would be in play in a race against Wicker. FILE - In this Monday, Aug. 14, 2017, file photo, U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Miss., speaks during an address before business leaders in Jackson, Miss. Mississippi lawmaker Chris McDaniel is hinting strongly that he will challenge Wicker in the 2018 U.S. Senate race. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File) Tuesday evening, Trump tweeted: ".@SenatorWicker of Mississippi has been a great supporter and incredible help in getting our massive Tax Cut Bill done and approved. Also big help on cutting regs. I am with him in his re-election all the way!" The Senate race in Mississippi four years ago grabbed national attention after a McDaniel supporter entered a nursing home without permission and photographed Cochran's wife, who was bedridden with dementia. Images of her appeared briefly online. McDaniel said he had no connection to the incident. McDaniel never conceded his loss to Cochran and filed an unsuccessful challenge saying the Cochran camp had cheated in the primary runoff by courting votes from black people who traditionally support Democrats. Former state Sen. Merle Flowers of Southaven, who represented a strong Republican area that was carried by McDaniel in 2014, said McDaniel has not endeared himself to Republicans since the 2014 race, while Wicker has been aggressive in preparing for 2018. Flowers served at the state Capitol with McDaniel, but supported Cochran and is helping raise money for Wicker. "Sen. Wicker will not have to introduce him to people he hasn't seen in a while," Flowers said Tuesday. "In addition, Chris McDaniel left a pretty bitter taste in Republicans' mouths at the conclusion by filing the court challenge dragging the GOP through the mud." Jeri Ausbon, a paralegal who lives in the Jackson suburb of Brandon, voted for McDaniel in 2014 and said she will support him again. "We need some new blood in there rather than the dyed-in-the-wool Republican Party members, and that's what Roger is and Thad Cochran is," Ausbon said. "It's very hard to run anybody against the establishment Republicans in Mississippi because they have so much power and so much money." Candidates' filing deadline is Thursday, and the primary is June 5. Republican officials say a businessman and political newcomer named Richard Boyanton, who lives in Diamondhead, has filed qualifying papers. McDaniel faces a much different environment in 2018, and a more engaged candidate in Wicker. Wicker, wary of McDaniel from his challenge of Cochran, has taken an aggressive stance early on. Cochran was accustomed to winning with little effort and took months to engage in the primary. Wicker preemptively announced in January that 65 top Trump supporters in Mississippi, including county organizing chairmen and chairwomen, had thrown their support to Wicker, all while McDaniel has maintained a steady drumbeat of criticism of the president and his accomplishments. McDaniel, who backed Texas Sen. Ted Cruz for president, continued his criticism of Trump since the election by questioning his economic credentials and specifically railing against the tax cut, Trump's chief legislative accomplishment. In November, he called the tax cut "an embarrassment" and "smoke and mirrors," according to McDaniel's Facebook posts. Wicker in 2016 led the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which raised money for candidates nationwide. He had more than $4.1 million in his own campaign account at the end of 2017. Wicker has received $5,400 from Vice President Mike Pence's political action committee, Great America Committee. He was endorsed last week by former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, who rallied social conservatives when he ran for president in 2012 and 2016. McDaniel is poised to receive financial backing from a super PAC called Remember Mississippi, which takes its name from the slogan McDaniel supporters adopted after what they saw as his railroading by the political establishment in 2014. The group raised nearly $1.1 million last year, with $500,000 coming from Richard Uihlein of Illinois, a packaging company executive who has donated to anti-union causes, and $500,000 from billionaire investor Robert Mercer of New York, who had a financial stake in Bretibart News, a website that has been both pro-Trump and pro-McDaniel. ____ Associated Press writer Thomas Beaumont in Des Moines, Iowa, contributed to this report. ____ Follow Emily Wagster Pettus on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus . Insurers are calling on the Government to get on with it and strike a deal now on the transition period after Brexit. The director general of the Association of British Insurers accused ministers of over-complicating discussions over the transition, expected to last up to two years after the date of Brexit in March 2019. Delaying agreement on the transition will destroy its value for companies, which will be forced to put Brexit contingency plans into place if a deal is not reached soon, Huw Evans warned. An EU and UK flag (Niall Carson/PA) Britain and the EU agreed in December to work towards agreement in March on a transition period, during which the UK is expected to follow Brussels rules in their entirety while losing the power to influence them. But over the past weeks, disputes have arisen over issues such as the precise duration of the transition and the rights of EU nationals coming to the UK while it is in place. Speaking to the ABI annual dinner in London, Mr Evans said: Before Christmas I was encouraged by the preliminary deal which looked to finalise the terms of a standstill transition by March this year. Since then, we seem to have gone backwards with, at times, our own Government seeking to over-complicate a deal by putting extra demands on the table such as extra restrictions on EU citizens. The time for hard bargaining is surely over the terms of the final deal, not the interim period, especially when an early agreement is needed to help businesses and regulators manage the huge changes involved and is so important for clarity with customers on issues such as the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) and travel insurance and motor and fleet insurance and green cards. So my message to the Government and MPs tonight is simple Please, get on with it. A transitional agreement only reached at the 11th hour as part of horse-trading over the final agreement will be of no value to businesses that have had to implement contingency plans by then instead. We need a straightforward transitional and we need it now. The UK is the worlds largest exporter of insurance products, exporting 11.58 of insurance and pensions services for each 1 it imported between 2013-15, said the ABI. More than 320,000 people are employed in the industry in the UK, two-thirds of them outside London. US president Donald Trump has told the nations governors that America will turn its grief into action following the deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school. Two weeks after 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Mr Trump said: We have to have action. Addressing the governors in the State Dining Room, Mr Trump again found fault with the officers who did not stop the gunman who carried out the massacre, saying they werent exactly Medal of Honour winners. The president suggested that if he or the governors had been in that position, they would have acted. Mr Trump suggested he would have acted, had he been in the school when the shooting took place (AP) I really believe Id run in there even if I didnt have a weapon and I think most of the people in this room would have done that, too, Mr Trump said. Under pressure to act to stem gun violence on school grounds, Mr Trump solicited input from the state chief executives during meetings at the White House as governors gather in Washington for their annual winter meeting. He said: Our nation is heartbroken. We continue to mourn the loss of so many precious and innocent young lives. But well turn our grief into action. We have to have action. Seventeen students and teachers were killed in a Valentines Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, sparking a public outcry for new gun-control measures as well as action to improve school safety. Mr Trump spoke to 39 state governors at the White House (AP) The president pointed to a number of ideas that he has floated since the shooting, including improving background checks for gun purchases, arming teachers and re-opening mental institutions. He has also suggested raising the minimum age for the purchase of assault-style weapons, along with paying teachers bonuses for carrying concealed weapons as a way of warding off potential shooters. Mr Trump said he had lunch during the weekend with key leaders of the National Rifle Association, including Wayne LaPierre and Chris Cox, and said the NRA officials want to do something to address the issue. Mr Trump said there is no bigger fan of the Second Amendment than me, but there is a need to boost background checks and ensure that a sicko is unable to get a gun. Dont worry about the NRA, Mr Trump said. Theyre on our side. His session with the governors was the latest in which he solicits ideas for stopping gun violence at schools as the White House works to finalise an expected legislative proposal. The president spent several days last week hearing emotional pleas from parents and students, including some who survived the Parkland shooting, and others who suffered through school shootings in Connecticut and Colorado. He also solicited input from state and local officials. The NRA, which backed Mr Trump for president, opposes increasing the minimum age for assault-style weapons purchases but favours arming teachers. Jeremy Corbyn has said he has no regrets over his 1980s meeting with a Czech diplomat who was allegedly a spy. The Labour leader said the pair simply had a general discussion about politics at the time, including the potential for Cold War detente under Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev. Mr Corbyn said they also discussed his opposition to Margaret Thatchers Tory government. He has already flatly denied claims that he passed information to an agent of the Czech StB intelligence agency, describing the accusation as nonsense. According to the original report in the Sun, documents unearthed in the StB archives showed that Mr Corbyn met a Czech agent on at least three occasions including twice in the House of Commons during the 1980s and was given the codename Cob. The Labour leaders office acknowledged that he had tea in the Commons with a Czech diplomat, but said any claim Mr Corbyn was an agent, asset or informer for any intelligence agency is entirely false and a ridiculous smear. Mr Corbyn said he had no regrets over the meeting, telling ITV News: Not at all. I met him as did many many other members of Parliament. I also met a lot of American diplomats during that period, I went to the US embassy to talk to them about what I thought was their wholly wrong strategy in central America. If you are a serious member of Parliament and serious about international affairs, you meet people, you dont agree with most of them, but you have to meet them to understand what their position is and try and put forward your own view on peace, justice and human rights. I dont regret any of it, why should I? The Labour leader said he met the Czech diplomat to discuss the potential for Cold War detente under then Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev (Zak Hussein) Mr Corbyn added: I met him, as did a number of other people, he was the diplomat working in the Czech embassy and his job was to talk about peace and detente, this was a time that Gorbachev was president of the USSR, there was a real chance of detente developing, of more peace within Europe. We spoke about those matters and I told him what I thought, and he bizarrely discovered that I was opposed to Margaret Thatcher and the Tory government. I think it should not have been a surprise to him, but I had no knowledge of what Margaret Thatcher ever ate for breakfast, she never told me. A student who suffered multiple gunshot wounds during a mass shooting at a Florida high school has thanked medics and first responders who saved her life. Maddy Wilford, 17, said at a hospital news conference: Its times like these when I know that we need to stick together. Ms Wilford is making a full recovery after undergoing three surgeries since the shooting on February 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, which left 17 people dead. Broward Health Norths Dr Igor Nichiporenko said: Shes very lucky, very, very lucky, adding that she had survived despite large calibre bullets penetrating her chest and abdomen. Flanked by her mother and father, Ms Wilford said: Im just glad that Im making a full recovery and everything is going smoothly. Maddy Wilford and her father take part in a press conference (AP) The school, which has a roll of 3,200 students, will reopen on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Florida governor Rick Scott has asked Florida Law Enforcement Commissioner Rick Swearingen to investigate the law enforcement response to the shooting. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel has faced criticism after the revelation last week that deputy Scot Peterson, the schools assigned security officer, was nearby when the shooting began, but did not go into the building to confront the suspect during the attack. Ms Wilford and her mother thanked first responders who saved her (AP) The sheriffs office is also facing a backlash for apparently mishandling some of the 18 tip-offs related to the suspected shooter, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz. The tips were among a series of what authorities now describe as clear warning signs that Cruz, who had a history of disturbing behaviour, posed a serious threat. Sheriff Israel defended his leadership and said investigators are looking into claims that three other deputies were on the scene but failed to enter the school when the chance to save lives still existed. To date, the investigation has pointed to only one deputy being on school grounds while the killer was present. A man signs a banner in tribute to the victims of the mass shooting (AP) Sheriff Israel labelled as absolutely untrue reports that the deputies waited outside, even though children were inside the building needing urgent medical treatment. An attorney for former deputy Mr Peterson said accusations that he had been unprofessional or cowardly during the shooting are untrue. Joseph DiRuzzo said the one-time school resource officer of the year did not go inside Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School because it sounded like the shooting was happening outside the building. Mr DiRuzzo said Mr Peterson is confident he followed procedures and will be exonerated. The FBI has acknowledged that it failed to investigate a tip about Cruz it received on January 5. Earlier, actress and TV star Oprah Winfrey praised survivors of the massacre who have channelled anger and grief into activism, calling them warriors of the light and comparing them to civil rights pioneers. The FTSE 100 gained more than half a percent as European equity markets continued to recover from the sharp sell-off earlier this month. Londons blue chip index ended the day up 0.6% or 45.17 points at 7,289.58 points, with similar gains by the French Cac 40 and German Dax, which rose 0.5% and 0.3%, respectively. Anglo American was the UK markets biggest riser, up 55.2p at 1,843.6p, as investors cheered news that the mining giant had completed the sale of its stake in the Drayton coal mine in Australia. Associated British Foods was close behind, up 81p at 2,726p, after the Primark owner said profit growth at the fashion retailer would accelerate in the second half of the year thanks to a boost from the weak US dollar and a better buying performance. But David Madden, a market analyst at CMC Markets UK, said a broader rebound was taking place. He said: The recovery in European equity markets is still being played out. Investors are becoming more content to buy back into the market, and the memory of the sharp sell-off at the start of the month is continuing to fade. Dealers are coming around to the idea that the positive market momentum is here to stay. In currency markets, sterling was mixed, falling 0.1% against the US dollar to 1.394, but rising 0.1% versus the euro to trade at 1.134. Brent crude prices rose 0.7% to 67.83 US dollars per barrel as investors cheered positive news from Saudi Arabia, which said that production for the first three months of 2018 would be below 2016 levels giving further hope of reducing the global glut. In UK stocks, Hammerson shares were the worst performers on the FTSE 100, falling 10.4p to 465.8p after warning that Brexit-related uncertainty was still weighing on the British retail market which it said had softened in 2017. Hammerson announced in December that it had reached a 3.4 billion deal to acquire rival Intu, which is set to increase the groups exposure to the challenging UK market. Provident Financial plunged 68.6p to 588p following reports that the troubled subprime lender is eyeing a 500 million cash call to aid its bruised balance sheet and pay off future fines. The announcement could come alongside the companys annual results on Tuesday, with Cazenove and Barclays expected to be chief underwriters if the move goes ahead. Insurer Hiscox dropped 29p to 1,367p as it reported a 91% fall in pre-tax profits to 30.8 million for the year ending in December, as the groups performance was blighted by US and Caribbean hurricanes, earthquakes in Mexico, and California wildfires. Hiscox profits plunged (PA) The specialist insurer was hit by the need to set aside 225 million US dollars (160.2 million) to cover losses from the disasters, which cost the wider industry 140 billion dollars (100 billion). Gross written premiums rose 6% to 2.5 billion, with total income climbing from 1.8 billion to 2 billion over the period. The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Anglo American up 55.2p at 1,843.6p, Associated British Foods up 81p at 2,726p, International Consolidated Airlines Group up 15.6p at 602.8p, and BAE Systems up 12.6p at 577.6p. The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were Hammerson down 10.4p at 465.8p, Bunzl down 36p at 1,975p, Evraz down 6.3p at 425.9p, and Mediclinic International down 8.4p at 600p. Property baron Nicholas van Hoogstraten has fought off a bid to recover costs relating to a damages action brought by the estate of a murdered business rival. But at Londons High Court on Monday, Mr Justice Morgan described the tycoons conduct as wholly deplorable and contemptuous. Mr van Hoogstraten was cleared in the criminal courts of killing Mohammed Raja but faced a 6 million civil damages claim after a High Court judge said, in 2005, that he recruited two thugs to murder Mr Raja. Mohammed Raja was killed at his home (PA) Mr Raja, 62, was stabbed and shot after answering the doorbell at his south London home in July 1999. Mr Justice Morgan said that the damages payable to the estate over the unlawful killing had not been paid and neither had a penny of the 1.6 million costs bill. Mr van Hoogstraten had often boasted about his wealth, he added, but his case now was that he had no significant assets. The judge ruled that Mr van Hoogstraten had no beneficial interest in two properties in Hove and Brighton, East Sussex, with the result that they cannot be sold to go towards the costs due. Contesting the action brought by Mr Rajaa widow on behalf of his estate, Mr van Hoogstratens six children argued that they were the sole beneficiaries of the properties. In his ruling, the judge described 73-year-old Mr van Hoogstraten, who was not in court, as a deliberately difficult witness whose inappropriate conduct lengthened the case. Ordering that the estate should pay a third of the costs of the action and Mr van Hoogstraten should pay the costs involved in the claim initially proceeding against him, he said: Mr van Hoogstraten deserves no sympathy from the court. His entire conduct out of court and in court has been wholly deplorable and contemptuous. However, as my judgment shows, I have to decide this case in accordance with legal principles. I am not able to give what many people would regard as his just deserts. His children are entitled to their legal or equitable rights. The judge added: If there was any way I could make Mr van Hoogstraten pay for all this, I would gladly do it. But I am not sure it is open to me in accordance with the principles to take quite so bold a stance. The estate was refused permission to appeal although it can still apply directly to the Court of Appeal. Donald Trump has responded to an overture from North Korea for talks with the US, saying that will happen only under the right conditions. The US president raised North Korea at an annual White House meeting with the nations governors after a North Korean envoy sent a message through South Korea on Sunday. The envoy said the North has ample intentions of holding talks with the US. The White House said in response that it would take a wait-and-see approach, and Mr Trump followed up on Monday. We want to talk only under the right conditions, he said. South Korean President Moon Jae-in with Ivanka Trump (AP/Kim Min-Hee) The administrations position is that Pyongyang must get rid of its nuclear and missile programmes before any talks can take place. The US has applied a series of sanctions, including a fresh round on Friday, in what it says is a maximum pressure campaign to force North Korea to disarm. The Trump administration says it is open to talks with North Korea, primarily to explain how America will maintain its pressure on the country until it takes steps to eliminate its nuclear weapons. US officials differentiate talks from negotiations. For those to occur, they first want Pyongyang to accept that its nuclear programme will be on the table. Speaking to the governors, Mr Trump praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for bolstering his countrys sanctions against the North and warned that Russia is behaving badly on the issue of sanctions. Russia is sending in what China is taking out, Mr Trump said. During Sundays closing ceremony for the Winter Olympics, the office of South Korean President Moon Jae-in announced that a North Korean delegate to the Olympics said his country is willing to hold talks with the US. The move came after decades of tension between the two countries, which have no formal diplomatic relations, and a year of escalating rhetoric, including threats of war, between Mr Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The North has ample intentions of holding talks with the United States, Mr Moons office said. The Norths delegation also agreed that South-North relations and US-North Korean relations should be improved together, the statement said. Weather warnings continue to dominate the news agenda on Tuesday as a cold snap dubbed the Beast from the East hits the UK. The Sun reports that Britain was already in meltdown before the first snow had even fallen, branding it the Great British Flake Off. The paper says doom-laden warnings about the impending snowfall had triggered panic buying and travel chaos. What the papers say - February 27 Tomorrow's front page: Britain panics as the Beast from the East hits https://t.co/KUogTHYMqg pic.twitter.com/2G4Efdaucv The Sun (@TheSun) February 26, 2018 The i reports that more travel disruption is expected over the coming days, with drivers urged to only make essential journeys. And the Daily Express says forecasters are warning Storm Emma will bring the coldest blast in 27 years. The Daily Star also leads on the weather, lamenting that Britain had already ground to a pathetic halt as the big freeze hit trains, planes, roads and shops. Rail firms also come under fire, with the Daily Telegraph reporting that they had been accused of benefiting from transport chaos sparked by the weather. The paper says fears had been raised that operators would receive compensation payouts from Network Rail for stoppages to services while passengers got far less. The front page of tomorrow's Daily Telegraph: Rail firms 'paid for failure' #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/SDOh9GuEEm The Telegraph (@Telegraph) February 26, 2018 Away from the weather, The Times leads on political matters, reporting that International Trade Secretary Liam Fox will rebuke Britains largest business group in a speech in London, and call for the country to prioritise trading opportunities of the future above existing economic ties to the EU. Tomorrow's front page: Fox attacks business over support for Labour #tomorrowspapertoday pic.twitter.com/LFdwL6ztAN The Times (@thetimes) February 26, 2018 The Daily Mirror and Metro both lead on the tragic tale of an asthmatic girl, reporting that the five-year-old died after her GP turned her away for being late. Tuesday's METRO: Five minutes that cost my girl her life #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/rKFQgS2Yad Helen Miller (@MsHelicat) February 26, 2018 Elsewhere, the Financial Times reports that a Brexit alliance between rebel Tories and Labour could force a retreat by Theresa May on her vision for leaving the EU. The Duchess of Cambridge is to launch a campaign to promote nursing worldwide. She is launching the three-year Nursing Now campaign with a hospital visit and talks with nurses from different nations about the value of the work they do. Nursing Now aims to support nurses to become leaders so they can play a greater role in health policy decision-making, helping countries meet the pressing health challenges of the modern-day world. Kate will visit the Snow Leopard ward at Londons St Thomass Hospital (Jane Barlow/PA) We are delighted that HRH The Duchess of Cambridge will be joining us at our launch on 27 February: https://t.co/CaP0dBJN3A #NursingNow (@KensingtonRoyal) pic.twitter.com/NbONy5GthM Nursing Now Challenge (@NursingNow2020) February 15, 2018 Kate is to visit the Snow Leopard ward at Londons St Thomass Hospital to get a first-hand look of the work the nurses do in caring for children who need help breathing to stay alive. The nurse-led team trains carers and relatives how to use the childrens ventilation equipment to prepare them for going home. The campaign is being run as a programme of the Burdett Trust for Nursing, in collaboration with the International Council of Nurses and the World Health Organization (WHO). Nursing Now was founded by nurses and other health experts based on the findings of the 2016 Triple Impact report, produced by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health. It found that empowering nurses boosts health globally and also helps improve gender equality and build stronger economies. British actor David Oyelowo has said he thinks the Me Too movement in Hollywood is a sea change that will stick. The Selma star, who will next be seen in action comedy Gringo, said he is optimistic the campaign against sexual harassment and assault will have a lasting effect. He told BBC Breakfast: With the Me Too movement, I think this is here to stay. Rather than the victims being punished, it is the perpetrators who are being punished and that is a sea change that I think will stick in peoples minds going forward. The actor said he believed the Oscars So White conversation, which dominated the Academy Awards in 2015 and 2016, helped ensure films such as Get Out are now being recognised. Daniel Kaluuya in Get Out (Universal/PA) He said: The Oscars So White movement I think did bring change. The Academy changed its demographics, we are seeing films being celebrated now that werent by the Academy. Get Out starring Daniel Kaluuya is the kind of film that just would not have been acknowledged by the Oscars a few years ago. Oyelowo, who is from Oxford, also spoke about the decision to move to the US in pursuit of better roles for black actors. He said: In every sphere of life, certainly in creative life, you are looking at those who have gone ahead of you for examples and inspiration. My heroes were all in the States Sidney Poitier, Denzel Washington, Will Smith. We just hadnt done a very good job of cultivating talent here that made me, a young boy growing up in the UK, aspire to, so that became part of the reason why I felt I had to make the move. Asked if he thought that was changing, he said: I really hope so, we are still in a season and a period where for black actors the work we are being celebrated the most is still taking place in America, even though we are from here. It feels we have to go there to gain the kind of notoriety that enables us to come back and do great work but Im hopeful, we are seeing changes and people are mindful of it. We have just got to keep it going. Saudi Arabia has fired its military chief of staff in a shake-up apparently aimed at overhauling the defence ministry during the ruinous war in Yemen. It also announced the appointment of a female minister as it tries to broaden the role of women in the workplace in the ultraconservative Sunni kingdom. Saudi Arabia made the announcement in a flurry of royal decrees carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency. Military chiefs in Saudi Arabia have been replaced as the war in Yemen hits stalemate (AP Photo/Jon Gambrell) It said King Salman approved the document on developing the ministry of defence, including the vision and strategy of the ministrys developing programme, the operational pattern targeting its development, the organisational structure, governance and human resources requirements. Prominent among the personnel changes was the firing of military chief of staff General Abdulrahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan. He will become a consultant to the royal court, and was replaced by General Fayyadh bin Hamid al-Rwaili, a former commander of the Royal Saudi Air Force. The appointment of Tamadhir bint Yosif al-Rammah as deputy minister of labour and social development comes as the kingdom prepares to allow women to drive this year. The decisions come as a Saudi-led coalition, chiefly backed by the United Arab Emirates, remains mired in a stalemate in Yemen, the Arab worlds poorest country. Over 10,000 people have been killed in the war in which Saudi-led forces back Yemens internationally recognised government. They are fighting Shiite rebels and their allies who are holding the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, and much of the north of the country. The kingdom faces wide international criticism for its air strikes killing civilians and striking markets, hospitals and other civilian targets. Aid groups also blame a Saudi-led blockade of Yemen for pushing the country to the brink of famine. Boris Johnson has dismissed concerns that leaving the EU customs union after Brexit could lead to a hard Irish border by suggesting that crossings of the frontier could be monitored by technology like travel between London boroughs. The Foreign Secretary said theres no border between Camden and Westminster as he suggested that goods crossing between the Republic and Northern Ireland could be subject to electronic checks, in an apparent reference to the congestion charge. But his suggestion was dismissed as willful recklessness and unbelievable by Labour MPs. Stumbling, bumbling @borisjohnson compares north & south of Ireland with Islington & Camden on @r4Today while trying to explain his frictionless border without a Customs Union. Unbelievable! Paul Blomfield MP (@PaulBlomfieldMP) February 27, 2018 Mr Johnson also said that the CBI business lobby group and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn were wrong to back a customs union with Brussels, as it would leave Britain a colony of the EU in a situation that would be the worst of all worlds. Mr Corbyns initiative has set the scene for possible defeat for Theresa May at the hands of Tory rebels and Labour in an upcoming Commons vote on the Trade Bill. Customs union: how MPs could vote (PA Graphics) But Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4s Today programme: You cant suck and blow at once, as they say, were going to have to come out of the customs union in order to be able to do free trade deals. And with the EU set to publish a legal document containing commitments to avoid a hard Irish frontier on Wednesday, Mr Johnson dismissed the suggestion that leaving the tariff-free customs union would see the erection of border posts on the island. Theres no border between Camden and Westminster, but when I was mayor of London we anaesthetically and invisibly took hundreds of millions of pounds from the accounts of people travelling between those two boroughs without any need for border checks whatever, he said. "There's no border between Camden and Westminster." Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on the Northern Irish border debate #r4today pic.twitter.com/UMDixRaoji BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) February 27, 2018 Its a very relevant comparison because theres all sorts of scope for pre-booking, electronic checks, all sorts of things that you can do to obviate the need for a hard border to allow us to come out of the customs union, take back control of our trade policy and do trade deals. Responding, Labour anti-Brexit MP David Lammy tweeted God help us all this isnt just stupidity and ignorance but wilful recklessness, while Paul Blomfield said it was unbelievable. Mr Johnsons border comments were mocked by Tottenham Labour MP Mr Lammy, who said on Twitter: When I was a young boy we were told to stay away from the Troubles on the Caledonian Rd & marching bands in Regents Park. The Chalk Farm Peace Agreement has brought peace in our time. People can get the tube from Camden Town to Finsbury Park without being searched at the border. Sheffield Labour MP Mr Blomfield said: Stumbling, bumbling @borisjohnson compares north & south of Ireland with Islington & Camden on @r4Today while trying to explain his frictionless border without a Customs Union. Unbelievable! And Walthamstow Labour MP Stella Creasy wrote: A foreign secretary who literally has no conception of what foreign actually means that is what brexit has brought us to as a nation. Please, please JUST MAKE IT STOP. Mr Johnson spoke as International Trade Secretary Liam Fox prepared to give a speech in which he will describe Mr Corbyns plan to stay in the customs union as a complete sell-out of Britains national interests which will leave the UK in a worse position than it is now. In the latest of the Cabinets road to Brexit speeches in London, Dr Fox will warn Tory rebels that the arrangement would constrain the UK from taking advantage of future trade opportunities and leave the country as rule-takers from Brussels. A foreign secretary who literally has no conception of what foreign actually means - that is what brexit has brought us to as a nation. Please, please JUST MAKE IT STOP. #brexithaos https://t.co/nEjH2o6CmY stellacreasy (@stellacreasy) February 27, 2018 But his argument was dismissed by the former top civil servant in his department, who said leaving the customs union to strike free trade deals around the world was like giving up a three-course meal for the promise of a packet of crisps. Sir Martin Donnelly, who left his role as permanent secretary at the Department of International Trade last year, said any divergence from Brussels rules would deal a blow to British services which would not be compensated for through deals with nations such as the US. He told Today: Youre giving up a three-course meal, which is the depth and intensity of our trade relationships across the European Union and partners now, for the promise of a packet of crisps in the future if we manage to do trade deals outside the European Union which arent going to compensate for what were giving up. You just have to look at the arithmetic it doesnt add up Im afraid. The Irish border near Newry, Co Down (David Young/PA) Mr Johnson said he disagreed very strongly with Sir Martin of the Brussels commission, arguing that there is an insatiable market for UK services outside the EU. The Foreign Secretary also rejected reports that the EU is set to demand the European Court of Justice is the ultimate arbiter in treaty-related disputes as it would not amount to taking back control. And he suggested he was growing weary of talking about Brexit, despite leading the Vote Leave campaign in 2016s referendum. I think theres a very good deal to be done, one day well be sitting here not talking about Brexit, its going to be fantastic, but one day we will be able to do a deal I think that reflects what the Prime Minister set out at Lancaster House and Florence and elsewhere, around which the whole Cabinet united last week. Budget airline Ryanair is to close its base at Glasgow Airport. The number of routes operated from Glasgow will be reduced from 23 to three, with five being transferred to Edinburgh. Chief commercial officer David OBrien said Edinburgh has a stronger inbound component than Glasgow with Ryanair flights. Ryanair will only fly to Dublin, Krakow and Wroclaw from Glasgow in its winter 2018 schedule (Nick Ansell/PA) He said 300 jobs could be lost at Glasgow due to the move with a potential fall in around 500,000 passengers. He added the decision was down to Air Passenger Duty, but also said Brexit was a threat to Scottish tourism and the airline industry. Ryanair will only fly to Dublin, Krakow and Wroclaw from Glasgow in its winter 2018 schedule with its base at the airport closing. It will host 45 routes from Edinburgh including 11 new routes. Ryanair opened a new base at Glasgow Airport in autumn 2014, one of several new bases opened across Europe that year. At the time it said it remained committed to Prestwick Airport, continuing to offer flights from there. Describing itself as Europes first and largest low fares airline, Ryanair carries more than 130 million customers a year on more than 2,000 daily flights from 87 bases. Hundreds of jobs are under threat after budget airline Ryanair announced it is to close its base at Glasgow Airport. The number of routes operated from Glasgow will be reduced from 23 to three, with five being transferred to Edinburgh. The airline said it had run out of patience waiting for the Scottish Government to reduce Air Passenger Duty (APD) tax. Glasgow Airport said it was bitterly disappointed by the move. .@Ryanair chief com officer David OBrien explains why airline is closing its @GLA_Airport base pic.twitter.com/SRs7MO5gnA Paul Ward (@paulward21) February 27, 2018 Chief commercial officer David OBrien said 300 indirect jobs could be lost at Glasgow due to the move with a potential fall in around 500,000 passengers. He said: Sadly the weaker Scottish market is even weaker still in Glasgow which simply cant bare the burden of APD at 13. This should not come as a surprise to the government, we did say that our growth in Glasgow was based on their promise to abolish APD, which morphed into a promise to half APD which suddenly has disappeared into the ether and quite frankly we dont have any more patience, there are other markets in the UK and Europe which offer a more compelling proposition. Mr OBrien added: Passengers mean jobs and around 500,000 passengers will be lost at Glasgow pressurising around 300 jobs which will probably be lost. The flipside is that youre looking at around 700 jobs being introduced to Edinburgh. Ryanair said Brexit was also a background factor threatening Scottish tourism and the airline industry. Ryanair, Europes No.1 airline, today (27 Feb) announced that it will add 11 new Winter 18 routes to Edinburgh and will close its one aircraft Glasgow International base from November 2018. Read more here https://t.co/arYfT8FDGz pic.twitter.com/JfVsYvf8Or Ryanair (@Ryanair) February 27, 2018 The airline opened a new base at Glasgow Airport in autumn 2014, one of several new bases opened across Europe that year, but it will only fly to Dublin, Krakow and Wroclaw from Glasgow in its winter 2018 schedule. It will host 45 routes from Edinburgh including 11 new routes. Mr OBrien said APD also disadvantages Edinburgh but that the Scottish capital was a better inbound destination for the airline. The sense would be that there is more disposable in the Edinburgh area than there is in the Glasgow area, he added. Its a more fertile market. A spokesman for Glasgow Airport also hit out at APD. He said: Despite clear and repeated warnings from both airports and airlines about the potential impact of this policy not being implemented, we are now faced with a stark scenario that includes the loss of 20 services and a significant number of jobs. This is the second example in as many months of an airline cutting capacity in Scotland because of the lack of movement on ADT. The reality is this capacity will be reallocated elsewhere in Europe to countries with more favourable aviation taxation policies to Scotlands detriment. David OBrien said 300 indirect jobs could be lost at Glasgow (Andrew Milligan/PA) Edinburgh Airport chief executive Gordon Dewar added: I find myself torn between the pleasure of the new routes and the relief really that these cuts being seen at Glasgow are not being suffered in Edinburgh. I think thats a wake up call for the government. Wed hoped our growth would be incremental to Scotland but it would appear at last half of this years growth is actually at the expense of Glasgow and that cant be god for the Scottish market and he economic development of our country. Scottish Finance Secretary Derek Mackay said: This news from Ryanair is clearly very disappointing for Glasgow Airport and the staff who will be affected. The continued uncertainty around Brexit is having a negative impact on route development in Scotland. We will continue to work to work in partnership with Ryanair and other airlines, and to support all Scottish airports, to do everything possible to grow the number of international routes to and from Scotland. The Scottish Government continues to be committed to reducing ADT by 50% by the end of this Parliament and we want to get on and deliver this. But this has been deferred until the issues raised in relation to the H&I exemption have been resolved to ensure that the devolved powers are not compromised. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been criticised for telling a young girl dressed in a military uniform that she would be honoured if she were martyred for Turkey. Mr Erdogan spotted six-year-old Amine Tiras, who wept and saluted as part of the crowd while he delivered a speech at his ruling partys congress in the city of Kahramanmaras on Saturday, and had her brought on stage. After trying to comfort the girl by kissing her on both cheeks, Mr Erdogan told the crowd: She has the Turkish flag in her pocket. If she becomes a martyr, God willing, this flag will be draped on her. Some people were appalled and took to Twitter to criticise the president. Some commentators questioned if Mr Erdogan would say the same for his own granddaughter (AP) One user said it was the states duty to protect children, not to kill them. Another said: You dont wish death for a child, you never say: God willing.' Mr Erdogans actions come as nationalist sentiment runs high over a Turkish cross-border military offensive against Syrian Kurdish fighters that are affiliated with Kurdish rebels fighting inside Turkey. In recent weeks, children dressed in commando uniforms or reciting nationalist poems have been making appearances at many events that he attends. Yasar Okutan, a former government minister, accused Mr Erdogan in a television interview of using the youngsters to boost votes in presidential and local elections in 2019, and questioned whether the president would say the same for his own granddaughter. Virgin Money has seen profits outstrip expectations, jumping by nearly a third after it secured market-beating growth across its financial products. The challenger banks underlying pre-tax profits rose 28% to 273.3 million, as mortgage balances and retail deposits climbed 13% and 10% respectively. Total income also lifted 14% to 666 million in 2017, up from 586.9 million the year before. It came as the bank hiked its total dividend 18% to 6p, prompting shares to climb more than 5% in morning trading on the London Stock Exchange. Virgin Money chief executive Jayne-Anne Gadhia said the bank expects to `maintain solid double-digit returns in 2018 (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Chief executive Jayne-Anne Gadhia said: We generated market-beating growth across our core products as we continued to capture high-quality market share in mortgages and credit cards. We maintained our uncompromising focus on asset quality and we continued to improve our operating leverage. In doing so, we met or exceeded all of our financial targets for the year. We continue to experience robust customer demand and stable customer behaviour in a resilient housing market, and we expect to maintain solid double-digit returns in 2018. On a statutory basis, pre-tax profits soared by 35% to 262.6 million after its cost-to-income ratio improved, dropping by 5% to 57%. Credit card balances rose 24% to 3 billion for the period, with the lions share of the growth coming from customers who already had deposit accounts. However, the firm cast a dim outlook for 2018 trading as it braces for relatively benign economic conditions, modest economic growth and stiffer competition. Virgin Money, which has 3.34 million customers, pushed into small business banking in January in an attempt to narrow the gap on Britains biggest lenders. It launched an SME savings account and set sights on securing 5 billion of SME deposits within five years. A grave may be dug up during an investigation into the murder of a schoolgirl from Northern Ireland, a lawyer told an inquest. Arlene Arkinson, 15, from Castlederg in Co Tyrone, went missing in 1994 following a night out across the Irish border in nearby Co Donegal. She has never been found and an inquest in Belfast into her death began in February 2016. Legal proceedings have been stalled for months awaiting information from the Irish authorities, and a barrister also told a preliminary hearing a Danish woman may have further information to give to investigators. Ronan Daly said: There is an application currently for exhumation of a grave in relation to inquiries. Police and forensics officers at farmland in Killen, around a mile from Castlederg (Brian Lawless/PA) The coroner, judge Brian Sherrard, said: This is a matter that is of some considerable sensitivity and nothing of any great detail can be discussed in the environment with regard to it. Police have launched numerous searches for the victims body. In September 2016 they sent specialist teams to examine a new site in a field near Killen, outside Castlederg. Arlene was last seen with child killer Robert Howard, who died in prison in 2015. He was acquitted of the teenagers murder by a jury that was unaware of his previous conviction for murdering 14-year-old Hannah Williams, whose body was found in an industrial area close to the Thames Estuary. Howard always remained the Police Service of Northern Irelands prime suspect in the Arkinson case. Possible new information has been received from a Danish national, Mr Daly told Tuesdays hearing in Belfast. Arlene was last seen with child killer Robert Howard (Kent Police/PA) It arrived at the Gardas Missing Persons Bureau from the Irish Embassy in Copenhagen, which had been contacted with alleged information about Arlene. The Bureau spoke to the Danish woman by telephone. Mr Daly added: That person essentially indicated that she had some information in relation to the death and she was asked to email the details to the Missing Persons Bureau but preferred to hand-deliver to the Irish Embassy at Copenhagen. He said that never happened. The PSNI tried to ring a phone number she gave and it did not exist, PSNI lawyer Mark Robinson said. Ivor McAteer, barrister for the Arkinson family, said the information was tenuous. He added: The families have received information which may or may not be relevant but certainly serves to pick the scab of this particular sore and therefore we would underline that call for expedition. It is important in circumstances this far removed that we have some clarity, if we can ask the Guards (Garda) to expedite matters. Mr Daly also said 63 new documents about the disappearance had become available for disclosure but may have some read across to previously disclosed items. Henry Toner QC, Arkinson family barrister, said events could go on and on but at some point there needed to be a conclusion. The case was adjourned to April 12. Irish politicians have rounded on Boris Johnson for comparing the border with Northern Ireland to divisions between London boroughs. The Foreign Secretarys suggestion that technology was the solution to the frontier question were mocked in political circles in Britain and drew disdain in Dublin and Belfast. Stephen Donnelly, the Brexit spokesman for the opposition Fianna Fail party, recalled his years working in London after hearing Mr Johnsons remarks. I lived in Camden for several years, and was never stopped crossing the 'border' to Islington. I have, however, had military rifles pointed at me when crossing into Northern Ireland in the '90's. Suggesting these borders are the same is extraordinary. https://t.co/I2H6Sy3VH9 Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) February 27, 2018 I lived in Camden for several years, and was never stopped crossing the border to Islington, he said. I have, however, had military rifles pointed at me when crossing into Northern Ireland in the 90s. Suggesting these borders are the same is extraordinary. Mr Johnson suggested crossing the Irish border could be solved in the same way technology was deployed to collect congestion charges between Camden and Westminster when he was London mayor. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he wanted to educate the Foreign Secretary about the border issues. Colum Eastwood said trivialising serious concerns `displays a dangerous ignorance (Niall Carson/PA) When Boris Johnson decides to come down from the other planet that he clearly inhabits, he should visit the Irish border and see the scale of the challenge were facing with his own eyes before making further pronouncements, the nationalist leader said. The SDLP said it sent a memo to the Foreign Office detailing the difficulties with a hard border and the realities faced by people, businesses and communities. Trivialising the very serious concerns relating to Ireland displays a dangerous ignorance that must be challenged, Mr Eastwood said. Mr Johnsons much-criticised analogy came hours after Prime Minister Theresa May and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spoke on the phone in what will be a hugely important week in Brexit talks. The two leaders held discussions as EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier prepares to publish a legal document expected to cement the December agreement that should ensure no hard border on the island of Ireland when the UK leaves Europe. Under Londons post-Brexit trade plan the UK would examine existing regulations and decide whether it wants to maintain, alter or abandon them in certain areas. Sinn Feins Brexit spokesman David Cullinane branded the Foreign Secretarys intervention as silly and ignorant. It is not surprising that Boris Johnson would make those kind of silly comparisons because he and the hard Brexiteers simply do not want to face up to the reality that any type of Brexit or any type of exit from the customs union and the single market for Britain and the north will mean a hardening of the border, he said. I do not think it will be a surprise for many people that Boris Johnson would make an ignorant observation when it comes to Ireland. The Duchess of Cambridge shared an emotional hug with the midwife who helped deliver one of her children as they were reunited. Kate spotted Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent among a crowd of guests during a visit to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) in north-west London. The duchess, who is expecting her third child, seemed delighted and embraced the midwife as they exchanged a few brief words. Presenting Kate with a certificate to mark her patronage, Professor Regan said: On behalf of everyone here present, I would like to extend our very best wishes for the birth of your third child. Im confident that you will receive excellent care from the wonderful team at my own hospital, as indeed you received for the births of Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Thank you once again for visiting the college today, becoming our patron and for showing such passionate interest in our work. We look forward to a very long and fruitful relationship with you and your family. Police are becoming increasingly concerned about the wellbeing of a man who has not returned from a walk in the Highlands. Searches are continuing for Stephen Mitchell who was reported overdue in the early hours of Monday. Mr Mitchell set off for a planned walk from close to the Strathcarron Hotel on Friday, February 23 and intended to walk in the Bendronaig Lodge, Lurg Mhor and Bearneas areas. A coastguard search and rescue helicopter are combing the area on Tuesday (Andrew Milligan/PA) The 57-year-old had a rucksack and sleeping bag with him and was planning to sleep in bothies during the walk. He is believed to have been near Beinn Dronaig about 9am on Saturday, February 24. Searches ongoing in #Strathcarron for missing walker Stephen Mitchell, 57. Various mountain rescue teams, search dogs and helicopter in area. We continue to appeal to anyone who was in the area at the weekend to get in touch. More: https://t.co/sJ9Wn89C54 pic.twitter.com/yXwfK692Dr Lochaber & Skye Police (@LochabSkyePol) February 27, 2018 Mountain rescue teams from RAF Lossiemouth, RAF Leeming and Torridon are working with the Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA) and a coastguard search and rescue helicopter are combing the area on Tuesday. Police are appealing for anyone who stayed in bothies in the area over the weekend to contact them. Sergeant Bruce Crawford said: As time passes we are naturally increasingly concerned for Mr Mitchells wellbeing and I would ask anybody who thinks they have seen him or someone matching his description to contact us. We have heard from a number of other walkers who were in this area at the weekend and were grateful for all of the information we have received. Mr Mitchell intended to stay in bothies during his walk. We know from guest books from the bothies in the area that there were other walkers who stayed there over the weekend who we have yet to hear from. I would ask that these people get in touch. Any information or possible sightings, even if it was something you thought was inconsequential at the time, could help us in our search. Mr Mitchell is described as 6ft tall with grey hair and is likely to have greying stubble. While walking he carries a black rucksack and uses either an orange or sulphur coloured sleeping bag. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting reference NP1324/18. Another man reported missing in the area earlier this month has yet to be found. Neil Gibson, 63, failed to return from a planned a walk with his brother in the Achnashellach area in Strathcarron on February 8. The body of his brother Alan was found two days later in the Beinn Liath Mhor area and the remains of their dog were recovered this week, but Mr Gibson has not been located. A billionaire Russian businessman told to pay his Russian ex-wife 453 million by a London divorce court judge has said he cannot get justice in Britain. Farkhad Akhmedov said he married Tatiana Akhmedova in Russia and the marriage was dissolved in Russia. He said British courts should not interfere. Mr Akhmedov made complaints in a statement issued through a spokesman following the latest ruling in his fight over money with Ms Akhmedova. He said he had always provided for Ms Akhmedovas lavish lifestyle and said the British legal system was wrong to give her an opportunity to seek a new settlement in England. News of Ms Akhmedovas payout emerged during the summer of 2017 following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London overseen by a High Court judge. Mr Justice Haddon-Cave revealed detail in a written ruling published on a legal website. The award he made to Ms Akhmedova is thought to be the biggest made by a divorce court judge in England. Three appeal judges on Tuesday published a further ruling after considering legal issues involving a solicitor who worked for Mr Akhmedov at a Court of Appeal hearing in London a few weeks ago. Anthony Kerman, who had represented Mr Akhmedov at an early stage of proceedings, complained about an order made by Mr Justice Haddon-Cave during litigation in the Family Division of the High Court. He complained that he had been unfairly summonsed to give evidence at short notice. Appeal judges dismissed his challenge. I am neither surprised nor disappointed by this ruling, even though I had hoped that the higher court might have shown some impartiality, said Mr Akhmedov. Instead, its decision proves again that there is no justice for me in British courts. That is why I withdrew from the original divorce proceedings. The British courts should never have sought to interfere in a former marriage which took place in Russia, between two Russian citizens and which had long been dissolved in that country with generous provision for my ex-wife. Mr Akhmedov added: I shall continue to defend all my rights in other jurisdictions, as will those responsible for the trust holding my familys wealth. I believe other courts will act in a more reasonable and less partial manner than the British courts have done. Roger McGough is leading a nationwide search for the UKs next generation of poets. The presenter of BBC Radio 4 programme Poetry Please is launching a national poetry competition and has penned his own verses about his home city of Liverpools famous dish Scouse in its honour. He said: We want as many people as possible to get involved in this poetry competition and hopefully my poem will encourage them to have a go. Roger McGough (John Stillwell/PA) There will be a lot of hidden talent out there and its fantastic to have this competition to bring it out into the open. Dont forget, there are many different styles of poetry so it would be very hard to get it wrong; just trust your instincts and let your creativity flow. McGough will announce the winner of the competition, run by Liverpool Gin, at the gin distillery on National Poetry Day on October 4. Poetry enthusiasts over the age of 18 can submit original verses no longer than 200 words at www.liverpoolgin.com/poetry from February 28. Entries must be completed by midnight on April 30 and a shortlist of 50 poems will be selected by Liverpool Gin to be read by Roger McGough, who will pick three finalists including a winner. Emergency Welsh legislation could be introduced to prevent Westminster taking control of devolved powers after Brexit, the Welsh Government has said. First minister Carwyn Jones said the proposed continuity Bill the Law Derived from the European Union (Wales) Bill was not an attempt to block Brexit but a measure needed to prepare for a situation where the UK Government does not adequately amend its EU Withdrawal Bill to respect the devolution settlement. The move comes the day after Cabinet Office Minister David Lidington urged Welsh and Scottish ministers to accept an offer from Theresa Mays administration to rewrite the flagship Brexit Bill to address their concerns. He said the UK Government had made a considerable offer to the devolved administrations with a commitment that the vast majority of powers returning from Brussels will start off in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast rather than Whitehall, but his offer was dismissed by the Welsh and Scottish Governments. New law proposed to protect Welsh devolution: https://t.co/S78FPKnXJ0 pic.twitter.com/YKt4jOjh7B Welsh Government #KeepWalesSafe (@WelshGovernment) February 27, 2018 Both have said they cannot recommend the UK Governments EU Withdrawal Bill be granted consent in its current form as it would see EU responsibilities in devolved areas, such as fishing and farming, initially transferred to Westminster. Mr Jones, who previously described the UK Bill as a crude power grab and an attack on the founding principles of devolution, said assembly members would be asked to consider the introduction of the continuity Bill as an emergency Bill. Announcing the plans on Tuesday he said it would transfer EU law in areas already devolved to Wales into Welsh law on the day the UK leaves the EU, providing Welsh businesses with the legal certainty and stability they had called for. We remain constructive partners in talks with the UK Government about changes to their EU Withdrawal Bill and this remains our preferred outcome, he said. However, we are running out of time and have developed our Bill to prepare for a situation where the UK Government does not adequately amend its Bill to respect the devolution settlement. We welcome the presentation of a Continuity Bill in the Senedd to protect Welsh powers - leading the #Brexit agenda with a pioneering idea spearheaded by @steffanlewis. Plaid Cymru (@Plaid_Cymru) February 27, 2018 It would be irresponsible to refuse to give legislative consent to the UK Governments Bill while also not being prepared to put in place our own measures to give clarity about EU-derived law in Wales relating to devolved matters. Mr Jones said his government was simply seeking to protect the current devolution settlement for Wales which had been backed by two referendums in 1997 and 2011. He added: This Bill is about respecting the will of the people of Wales. Plaid Cymru welcomed the proposal, which was previously put forward by Plaid Cymrus Brexit spokesman Steffan Lewis last year and received unanimous backing in an Assembly vote in January. Simon Thomas AM said: The introduction of the Continuity Bill sends a clear message: Wales will not allow the Westminster government to run rough-shod over devolution. We will legislate to defend Welsh democracy. David Lidington urged Welsh and Scottish ministers to accept an offer from Theresa Mays administration to rewrite the flagship Brexit Bill (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The Welsh Conservatives said the will of devolution must be respected, with the necessary changes made to the EU Withdrawal Bill. A spokesman said: With that in mind, the tone of David Lidingtons speech this week was welcome. Leaving the European Union must not undermine the devolved settlement, and should lead to greater powers making their way to the Assembly. From our discussions with colleagues, it is clear that the UK Government understands that and significant progress has been made in recent months. In January the Scottish Government proposed its own EU Continuity Bill in the event that Holyrood refuses to grant consent for the EU Withdrawal Bill. Dame Helen Mirren, Emily Blunt, Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman will be among the presenters at the Oscars on Sunday, it has been announced. Others stars due to take to the stage to present include Dave Chappelle, Eugenio Derbez, Ansel Elgort, Jane Fonda, Jodie Foster, Eiza Gonzalez, Ashley Judd, Matthew McConaughey, Rita Moreno, Lupita Nyongo and Christopher Walken. The new list of names was announced by Oscars producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd, who said: These actors have embodied some of the most heroic, aspirational and indelible characters ever brought to the screen. Emily Blunt (Dominic Lipinski/PA) In so doing, theyve not only entertained the world, but illuminated the full range of the human experience. Judd and Nyongo are among the high-profile actresses who have accused disgraced movie mogul Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment. Host Jimmy Kimmel is likely to address the scandal when he opens the ceremony at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. Other presenters already announced for the ceremony include Wonder Woman star Gal Gadot and Mark Hamill, as well as last years winners Mahershala Ali, Emma Stone and Viola Davis. It is customary for the previous winners to present to the new winner at the subsequent ceremony. However, the last winner of the best actor award, Casey Affleck, will not be attending the ceremony this year. Casey Affleck with the best actor Oscar (Ian West/PA) The Manchester By The Sea star would have been expected to present the best actress award, according to the shows tradition, but in January he withdrew from the hosting role. In 2010 Affleck was sued by two women for alleged sexual harassment before the lawsuits were settled out of court. He has vehemently denied the sexual harassment claims which were alleged to have happened during the making of the film Im Still Here. The nominations for the Oscars are led by Guillermo Del Toros The Shape Of Water, which has 13 nods, while Dunkirk, directed by Christopher Nolan, has eight. A man attempted to run over a Muslim woman and a 12-year-old schoolgirl as revenge for an Islamic State bomb at Parsons Green tube station, a court heard. Paul Moore is alleged to have attempted to kill Zaynab Hussein with his Volkswagen Up! on September 20 last year and the court heard he admits he was the driver. The jury were told how Ms Hussein, a Somali national, was struck once and subsequently driven over again moments later on Acer Close in Leicester just after 8am as the defendant allegedly laughed. The trial is being held Nottingham Crown Court (Rui Vieira/PA) The 21-year-old is then alleged to have tried to cause the 12-year-old serious harm by driving the same vehicle at her on Butterwick Drive moments later. A jury of seven men and five women at Nottingham Crown Court were told Moore allegedly tried to kill Ms Hussein purely because of the colour of her skin and her perceived Islamic faith. The prosecution said four other people were in the car with Moore during the incident and they begged him to let them out afterwards. Opening the case against Moore on Tuesday, prosecutor Jonathan Straw said: (Moore) carefully and deliberately, in an act of calculated evil, aligned his wheels so the front and back wheels were over her (Ms Hussein). He did not know her. He tried to kill her purely because of the colour of her skin and because of her perceived Islamic faith as she was wearing a hijab. It is no coincidence, we say, that there had been a bomb at Parsons Green Tube station in London, said to have been carried out by sympathisers of Islamic State. Mr Straw continued to say it was only thanks to members of the public and medical professionals that Ms Husseins life was saved. He continued: She had received severe fractures to her pelvis, her spine, and one of the bones in her leg was broken. Having deliberately, we say, tried to kill Zaynab Hussein, the defendant then drove at a second victim a 12-year-old schoolgirl. He did not hit her, he brushed her, but it is only by the grace of God and nothing more that she was saved. Mr Straw said Moore intended to offer no defence, adding: It may well be he has no defence. He admits he was the driver. In a recorded interview played to the court, Reece Bishop, a passenger in the car at the time of the alleged attack on Ms Hussein, told police: He was just driving like a maniac. I thought we were going to be dead. He said I feel like running someone over. Anyone. It all happened so fast. He turned the steering wheel and he just hits her out of the blue. On the recorded interview with police, Mr Bishop said Moore was laughing as he drove at Ms Hussein. Moore, of Letchworth Road, Western Park, Leicester, denies attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving. The trial continues. A former private school house master who sexually abused pupils has had his unduly lenient jail sentence increased by leading judges. Peter Webb, now 75, watched via video link from prison as three judges at the Court of Appeal in London quashed his original four-year term and raised it to five years and six months. Webb was sentenced in December after admitting offences of indecently assaulting four boys during the 1970s and 1980s at Christs Hospital School in Horsham, West Sussex. The appeal judges agreed with argument made on behalf of Attorney General Jeremy Wright that four years was not long enough to reflect the totality of Webbs serious offending. Lord Justice Treacy, announcing the decision of the court on Tuesday, said the victims were vulnerable, and the case involved a serious abuse of trust. Even with credit for mitigation and guilty pleas, the sentence imposed was simply too short. Lord Justice Treacy (PA) Lord Justice Treacy added: In our view, the least sentence which should have been imposed was five-and-a-half years. When Webb, who lived in Authon-Ebeon, France, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court last year, Judge Christine Henson described his crimes as a gross abuse of trust. She told him he had used your good character, your status as a teacher and latterly as a house master to allow you to commit these sexual offences against young pupils. The appeal judges heard on behalf of Mr Wright that one of the aggravating features of the offending was that it took place at night in the victims dormitory. After the hearing, the Attorney General said in a statement: The offender should have been looking after these children, but instead he used his position of trust to take advantage of them. Jeremy Wright, who challenged Peter Webbs `unduly lenient sentence (Jonathan Brady/PA) His victims lost their innocence and for that his crimes deserved a tougher sentence. I hope the increased sentence can bring some comfort to all those affected. Organised crime may have been involved in the fatal shooting of an investigative journalist in Slovakia, a Canadian reporter has claimed. Jan Kuciak, 27, is said to have been working on a story about possible Italian mafia involvement in fraud linked to EU subsidies in eastern Slovakia when he was killed. The countrys newspapers dedicated their front pages to Mr Kuciak, who was found dead alongside his girlfriend Martina Kusnirova at their house in the town of Velka Maca, east of the capital, Bratislava. Slovakias front pages were dedicated to the reporter and his partner (AP) Mr Kuciak is the first journalist to be killed in Slovakia. The government is offering a one million euro reward (879,000) to anyone who helps authorities find the people responsible for the shootings on Sunday night. In an interview with the Sme daily, Slovak-based Canadian journalist Tom Nicholson said Mr Kuciak had told him shortly before his death that he was working on a story about possible Italian mafia activity in the east of the country. Mr Nicholson said he was ready to testify, but has not been approached by police yet. The countrys police said the slayings were likely linked to Mr Kuciaks reporting, which also covered tax evasion. Im not sure what caused Jans death but I bet my life that this is so, Mr Nicholson said. Well-wishers light candles in tribute to the journalist (AP) Aktuality.sk, the news website that Mr Kuciak worked for, made the same claim as Mr Nicholson in their own story based on the late reporters work. Sme also reported that two Italian businessmen with possible ties to the mafia operating in Slovakia did business with a senior adviser to Prime Minister Robert Fico, as well as officials from Ficos leftist Smer-Social Democracy party. The opposition has called on national police force president Tibor Gaspar and Interior Minister Robert Kalinak to resign, and is planning a protest rally in Bratislava on Wednesday. Mr Fico dismissed the reports, saying: You link innocent people to a double murder without any evidence. Dont do it. The PM also criticised the opposition for using the case to smear his government. Candles and flowers by the entrance to offices of news website Aktuality.sk, where Mr Kuciak worked (AP) Standing alongside Mr Fico and Mr Kalinak, Mr Gaspar said investigators are taking media reports of possible mafia involvement as seriously as any other version. The police chief said investigators have been co-operating with the Czech and Italian authorities on the case as well as with Europol officials. Analyst Milan Zitny said the killings place Slovakia in the company of undemocratic countries such as Ukraine or Russia where the murders of journalists are nothing exceptional. Government officials said: We will spare no effort in investigating this criminal act and in bringing the perpetrators to justice. The EUs chief Brexit negotiator has repeated his warning that the transition period sought by Theresa May is not yet in the bag, stressing that significant points of disagreement remain. And Michel Barnier said he was concerned that only a short time remains to iron out these differences ahead of the October deadline for finalising a legally-binding withdrawal agreement. He backed European Council President Donald Tusks dismissal as pure illusion of the proposals for a long-term UK-EU relationship thrashed out by Mrs May at Chequers last week. The clock is ticking, he said. Time is short. I am concerned because of the shortage of time between now and the autumn when we are going to have to conclude an agreement with the UK. Mr Barnier was speaking a day ahead of the publication of the European Commissions draft text for the withdrawal deal, which will incorporate proposals for a transition period lasting from the formal date of Brexit in March 2019 to the end of 2020. He said there would be no surprises in the 120-page document, which will set out in legal terms the political agreements reached between Mrs May and Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in December. This will include procedures for putting into operation the alignment of Northern Irish regulations with the EU rulebook, which will be needed if no technological solution is found to keep the border with the Republic open after Brexit. Michel Barnier told a Brussels press conference the "clock is ticking" on the finalisation of a withdrawal agreement with the UK (European Commission Audiovisual Services) Mr Barnier warned that it will not be possible for the UK to obtain an open-ended transition period, during which Britain would follow EU rules but play no part in deciding them. And he said that Brussels would not accept any regulatory divergence, obstacles to free movement or dilution of the rights of EU citizens who come to the UK during the transition. Speaking at a Brussels press conference, Mr Barnier said: There are significant points of disagreement with the UK as to what we understand by transition, the conditions for such and the dimensions for such a transition. He warned: In the light of these disagreements, we have not achieved the transition yet. On all of these points of disagreement, I am happy to discuss these matters straight away with (Brexit Secretary) David Davis. Its essential we make progress by means of political discussion, political negotiation. It was obvious that the UK would have to comply with all EU rules, including the single market and customs union, during transition, he said, adding: As far as we are concerned, we cant accept the risk of regulatory divergence during the transition period. Mrs May has made clear she will fight Brussels proposals for EU nationals arriving during the transition to be granted permanent rights to remain, insisting that it is right to treat them differently from those coming to the UK before March 2019. Theresa May says she will fight Brussels proposals for EU nationals arriving during the transition to be granted permanent rights to remain (Christopher Furlong/PA) But Mr Barnier said: During the transition, clearly, the free movement of persons must be maintained, which means that citizens who arrive before and during the transition period should be treated equitably and in the same manner. There were also disagreements over opt-ins for justice and home affairs issues and the right for the UK to be consulted on changes to EU law, said Mr Barnier. On Mrs Mays proposal for a future EU-UK relationship based on ambitious managed divergence in which Britain would observe EU regulations in some areas and go its own way in others Mr Barnier said: It is illusory to imagine a situation in which we would accept cherry-picking. We are responsible for guaranteeing the integrity of the single market. The UK knows what the rules are which underpin that integrity, because they have been helping us put them together for the last 40 years. The draft withdrawal agreement text will be discussed with the remaining 27 EU member states, as well as the European Parliament, before being adopted at the European Council summit in March. Google bosses have mounted a public interest defence after two businessmen took historic High Court action in a bid to stop their names being linked to internet media reports about past crimes. The two men say convictions are more than a decade old and legally spent. Both argue that they have a right to be forgotten and want Google to stop linking their names to articles on news websites. Google bosses have mounted a defence after two businessmen took legal action in a bid to stop their names being linked to reports about past crimes (Yui Mok/PA) A judge has begun to consider evidence relating to the first man. Mr Justice Warby, who says the men cannot be named in media reports of the litigation, heard that the first man had been convicted of conspiracy to account falsely in the late 1990s. He is overseeing a trial at the High Court in London which is expected to last several days. The second mans case is due to be analysed at a further trial in the near future. Lawyers representing Google say the cases are to first right to be forgotten claims aired in an English court. Barrister Antony White QC, who is leading Googles legal team, told Mr Justice Warby that Google had declined to delist. The claimants are businessmen who have current business interests which may involve interaction with actual and potential customers and investors and others, and who have posted statements online about their business experience and expertise, he said. The material in question is materially accurate. He added: There are strong public interest reasons for maintaining access to the publications. Barrister Hugh Tomlinson QC, who is representing the first businessman, said the information at the centre of the case was spent under legislation relating to the rehabilitation of offenders and had become private. There is a strong public policy in favour of the rehabilitation of criminal offenders, he said. The claimant has served his sentence and the rehabilitation period has expired. Mr Tomlinson said the man had not been charged with any subsequent offence. He added: Google should not, by the application of its own standards of morality, undermine the clear policy of Parliament. Neighbours used a sledgehammer to try to break in and rescue at least three people who died in a house fire in Fermanagh. A man aged 27 is being questioned on suspicion of murder after he was detained at the scene and transferred to hospital for treatment, police said. Local people attempted to smash a window but were unable to get in and save the family as the property was consumed by the blaze, Sinn Fein MP Michelle Gildernew said. She added: As somebody who goes to a house in good faith to try and help people and people die, that is just, its horrendous. Its hard to take. Neighbours made desperate attempts using a sledgehammer to try to save those in the house, MP @gildernewm told @PA pic.twitter.com/rc2NGVfrPI Aine Fox (@aine_fox) February 27, 2018 The whitewashed rural bungalow in Derrylin, near the border with the Irish Republic, was destroyed in the blaze and the roof collapsed, leaving a shell surrounded by farm buildings and machinery. The victims had only moved to the area recently, a local priest said, and were members of one family. They had previously lived in the Republic of Ireland and were originally from England. Police tape seals off Molly Road in Fermanagh, where at least three people have died in an early morning house fire pic.twitter.com/AyMDkwmyaM Aine Fox (@aine_fox) February 27, 2018 Fire engines and police cars were coming and going from the scene for most of the day. Ms Gildernew added: I know that some of the neighbours had went to the house here this morning to try and rescue the family inside. They are badly shaken. I understand they used a sledge and tried to break a window to gain access but werent able to do that. Man (27) arrested on suspicion of murder following a house fire that claimed at least three lives in Derrylin early this morning. Police continue to examine the scene. Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) February 27, 2018 Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: At this time we believe the fire, which has claimed at least three lives, was started deliberately. We are continuing to thoroughly examine the scene along with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. The victims were members of the same family, Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster said. Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said officers took an emergency call about the fire at 7.14am on Tuesday. We received a call at 7.14am this morning (27 Feb) to a house fire in Doon Road, Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh. Firefighters dealt with a well-developed fire in a detached bungalow. 3 Fire Appliances attended the incident. The fire is now extinguished and NIFRS remains at the scene. pic.twitter.com/KZ7FRAu57B Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) February 27, 2018 The blaze occurred in a rural lane near the scenic Doon Road. It was well-developed when firefighters arrived in three appliances from Lisnaskea and Enniskillen, the service added. Police tape sealed off the entrance to Molly Road. It is the only house on the lane, surrounded by farm buildings and fields. The fire was extinguished and police and fire officers are determining if anyone else was involved in the incident. Forensic and fire officers at the house in Derrylin (Brian Lawless/PA) A spokeswoman for the fire service said: The thoughts of NIFRS are with the family, friends and local community at this time. Mrs Foster added it was devastating news for the local community and there was widespread shock in the area. It is important that the cause of the fire is established but my thoughts and prayers are with all those in the local area, friends and the wider family circle as they struggle to come to terms with this terrible tragedy. Hollywood star Joel Edgerton has said he first became obsessed with spies when he was a child growing up in Australia. The Great Gatsby actor, who will next be seen playing a CIA agent in Red Sparrow opposite Jennifer Lawrence, said he was so drawn in by the world of James Bond he had his own spy kit when he was a little boy. Jennifer Lawrence is pushed beyond all limits. See #RedSparrow in cinemas & IMAX March 1. Book now: https://t.co/xVrSLxUmuF pic.twitter.com/hOVTnqkhnD 20th Century Studios UK (@20thCenturyUK) February 23, 2018 He told the Press Association: Im pretty certain the first (spy film) I saw was Moonraker that I remember, with Jaws in it, and then the transition into Roger Moore in A View To A Kill and all that stuff. Joel Edgerton attending the Red Sparrow European Premiere (Ian West/PA) Then reading John LeCarre at school, The Spy Who Came In From The Cold. He added: For some reason I was fascinated by it because I had a spy kit when I was 10, a pair of binoculars, I had a little recording device, I had a big book that I cut the pages out of so I could stash stuff in there. I was a good spy, no-one caught me. However, Edgerton said he was drawn to his character in Red Sparrow, Nate Nash, because he was not a smooth operator in the style of Bond. He said: I kind of loved my character got to be the unsuave one. He was a bit of a hapless lonely bit of a loser and a loser because in the world of spy craft, trusting and being a little bit open to seeing a persons humanity, rather than the mechanics of their design and their manipulation, those traits tend to make you bad at your job. In the film, Edgerton plays an American agent who ends up entangled with Lawrences ballerina Dominika Egorova, who has been recruited to the Russian intelligence service to use her body as a weapon and the Australian star said he had been surprised by the timeliness of the story, given the current investigation into Russian interference in the US election. Meet a Sparrow unlike any other.#RedSparrow starring Jennifer Lawrence is coming to UK cinemas & IMAX THURSDAY. https://t.co/xVrSLybXmd pic.twitter.com/JjcWDgZ55E 20th Century Studios UK (@20thCenturyUK) February 27, 2018 He said: Its weird. I think that the plan from Fox (the film studio) was they were going to make this movie before all the news in America, the collusion and the idea of meddling with the election became such a hot topic and it started to peak and peak and peak and continued to as we made this movie. He added: Obviously there is no weird dude with orange hair running around in the movie. The closest thing to that is me. Its about something else but it just so happened that the Cold War is back. Red Sparrow is released in UK cinemas on March 1. The Duchess of Cambridge has joked that William is in denial about their third child and shared an emotional hug with her former midwife as she celebrated nursing worldwide. Kates light-hearted comment came as she visited a leading London hospital to launch the Nursing Now global campaign, aimed at raising the status and profile of nurses, and praised the health workers who look after us in our happiest and saddest times. Earlier she visited the London headquarters of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) as she was named patron of the organisation and gave her former midwife, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, a hug. The Duchess of Cambridge shares a few words with Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, who helped deliver both of her children (Peter Nicholls/PA) Professor Dunkley-Bent, head of Maternity, Children and Young People at NHS England, who helped deliver Prince George and Princess Charlotte, said afterwards: It was a surprise and an absolute pleasure to be reunited with Kate again today. Supporting families at the birth of their baby including future kings and queens is hugely rewarding and were very grateful to have the Duchess of Cambridges support for the nursing profession. The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London. Pics: @VictoriaJonesPA pic.twitter.com/OzAF9YDQ1O PA Royal Reporters (@PARoyal) February 27, 2018 Before launching the Nursing Now campaign Kate met Lauren Kedwell, 36, and Jamie Parsons, 33, from Upper Beeding, West Sussex, whose daughter is being treated on the Snow Leopard ward at St Thomas Hospital where nurses, not doctors, take the lead in patient care. Mr Parsons said: I said congratulations, best of luck with the third one and she said Williams in denial. His 10-month-old daughter Amara Kedwell-Parsons has never been home but has been treated in six hospitals for Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a brain injury caused by oxygen starvation. Amara and Kim are two of the patients being cared for on the Snow Leopard ward. As part of their role here, the nurses teach parents how to use ventilation equipment so that they can care for their children at home. pic.twitter.com/M3wzYZnrUX The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) February 27, 2018 Kate put the couple at ease and made silly noises at the infant as she sat in a chair. Ms Kedwell said: She was gooing at my daughter, while her partner added: She was just very understanding but also you could tell that she did have empathy and could see it was just a scenario that was challenging for us. The duchess spoke about her family connection with the health profession when she addressed nursing organisations and medical leaders from a range of countries including Norway, Uganda, Bahamas and Thailand, as she launched Nursing Now. The Duchess joins a discussion at the @RCObsGyn about the ways in which the stigma around women's health, in particular maternal mental health, can be challenged. pic.twitter.com/fnXeeaa2fP The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) February 27, 2018 She said: This campaign means a lot to me personally. My great-grandmother and grandmother were both volunteer nurses. They would have learned first-hand from working with the Voluntary Aid Detachment and the Red Cross about the care and compassion that sometimes only nurses can provide. Kate, who wore a two-piece blue Jenny Packham dress and coat, praised nurses for their awe-inspiring dedication and professionalism adding: I was surprised to learn that to keep pace with the rising global demand, the world will need an additional 9 million nurses by 2030. In simple terms, thats about 2,000 more nurses every day for the next 12 years. This shows that we must act now to support and develop nurses with the skills and talent to cope with the future global health needs. The duchess, who earlier was named patron of the campaign, added: Nursing Now is a call to raise the profile of nursing internationally and to help grow the profession further so it can play a key role in meeting real health challenges across the world. A Russian housewife awarded 453 million by a London divorce court judge after her marriage to a Russian billionaire businessman ended has won the latest round of a legal battle. Tatiana Akhmedova was given a 41.5% share of Farkhad Akhmedovs 1 billion-plus fortune by Mr Justice Haddon-Cave following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court News of Ms Akhmedovas payout emerged during the summer of 2017 when Mr Justice Haddon-Cave revealed detail in a written ruling, published on a legal website. Tatiana Akhmedova seen at an earlier hearing (Rick Findler/PA) The award is thought to be the biggest made by a divorce court judge in England. Three appeal judges on Tuesday published a further ruling after considering legal issues involving a solicitor who worked for Mr Akhmedov. Anthony Kerman, who had represented Mr Akhmedov at an early stage of proceedings, complained that he had been unfairly summonsed at short notice to give evidence to Mr Justice Haddon-Cave. Ms Akhmedova said Mr Kermans complaint should be dismissed and on Tuesday appeal judges, who had considered the case at a Court of Appeal hearing in London a few weeks ago, ruled in her favour. A spokesman for Mr Kerman said after the ruling: Mr Kerman is inevitably disappointed with the decision and is concerned about the impact this will have on clients and their lawyers. The spokesman added: An appeal is being considered. Lawyers representing Ms Akhmedova had told appeal judges that Mr Akhmedov had yet to hand over a penny of the money he had been told to pay. Mr Akhmedov said after the appeal court ruling that he could not get justice in Britain. He said he married Tatiana Akhmedova in Russia and the marriage was dissolved in Russia and he said British courts should not interfere. I am neither surprised nor disappointed by this ruling, even though I had hoped that the higher court might have shown some impartiality, said Mr Akhmedov in a statement. Instead, its decision proves again that there is no justice for me in British courts. That is why I withdrew from the original divorce proceedings. The British courts should never have sought to interfere in a former marriage which took place in Russia, between two Russian citizens and which had long been dissolved in that country with generous provision for my ex-wife. Mr Akhmedov added: I shall continue to defend all my rights in other jurisdictions, as will those responsible for the trust holding my familys wealth. I believe other courts will act in a more reasonable and less partial manner than the British courts have done. The United Nations humanitarian chief Mark Lowcock has warned that conditions in Yemen are catastrophic after three years of war, with 22.2 million people needing aid. Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, special UN envoy to Yemen, also accused both the Saudi-backed government and Shia rebels of prolonging the conflict. The officials painted a dire picture of the Arab worlds most impoverished country plunging into the worlds worst humanitarian crisis and facing widespread destruction as a result of what Mr Cheikh Ahmed called the parties destructive pattern of zero-sum politics. The UN officials warned of the worlds worst humanitarian crisis Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mr Lowcock warned the Security Council that famine remains a real threat. Mr Cheikh Ahmed disclosed that a peace agreement had been about to be reached, but the parties refused to sign at the last minute. He called for fresh negotiations. High Court judges have been urged to force the Government to urgently rewrite its latest mass data surveillance laws. Liberty, the human rights campaign group, wants the court to make sure Parliament introduces new legislation by July after ministers accepted some aspects of the Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) are incompatible with EU law. However the Government says it is already taking steps to amend the legislation and should be given until April next year to introduce the new rules. The High Court in London (Anthony Devlin/PA) Lawyers for Liberty argued on Tuesday that the act, dubbed the snoopers charter by critics, violates the publics right to privacy by allowing the storage of and access to internet data. Martin Chamberlain QC said the data, which includes every bit of information apart from the content of a communication, could reveal which newspaper a person reads, where they shop, whether they have accessed pornography and which online dating sites they use. He told the court: Communications data can provide a comprehensive and intimate portrait of a persons private life. It can be used to reveal the identity of a person who has whistle-blowing information to a journalist or to a watchdog such as Liberty. Mr Chamberlain said Liberty recognises that data retention and access could be vital for the detection and prevention of crime. However, he added: Intrusive capabilities must be balanced by appropriate limits and safeguards. The court heard the Government accepts the act is inconsistent with EU law because it does not ensure data can only be retained and accessed for fighting serious crime in criminal investigations and there is no independent authorisation needed before data can be used. Mr Chamberlain said the court should disapply the IPA in relation to those two aspects, as well as other rules on retention of internet data relating to health and finances which the Government is not defending. He said this was necessary to provide an effective remedy and would give the Government until July of this year to make changes to the act so it is compatible with EU law. Mr Chamberlain said the act has been incompatible with the law since it was introduced 14 months ago and continues to allow unlawful retention and access to citizens data. He also urged the court to refer other parts of the act relating to national security and lawyer-client privilege, which the Government does not concede are in breach of EU law, to the Court of Justice of the European Union for further consideration. James Eadie QC, representing the Government, said the vast majority of communications data retained will never be accessed by the state because most people are not affected by police or other relevant investigations. He added: Libertys suggestion that the precautionary retention of communications data itself amounts to a significant intrusion of privacy, or that the act enables the state to assemble details of ordinary citizens web-browsing habits, daily movements, intimate relationships, religious views, medical conditions or newspaper preferences, is wrong. Accessing a persons entire communications data history would require the most serious justification. In reality the law does not permit vast, intrusive collection by the state of communications data. Mr Eadie argued the Government already has proposals to change the IPA and any order the court makes should not take effect before April next year. He said this would give Parliament time to agree new laws and allow for the creation of a new fully independent authorisation regime. Judges concluded Dripa was inconsistent with EU law after a challenge by Tom Watson and campaigners (PA) The case follows a ruling by the Appeal Court last month against previous surveillance rules in the Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act (Dripa), which expired at the end of 2016. Three senior judges concluded Dripa was inconsistent with European Union law following a challenge by Labour deputy leader Tom Watson and campaigners, which was supported by Liberty. Libertys challenge, being heard by Lord Justice Singh and Mr Justice Holgate, has been crowdfunded by supporters who raised more than 50,000. The hearing continues tomorrow and the judges are expected to reserve their decision. The newlyweds rescued from the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed in the Grand Canyon during their honeymoon both died from complications of their burns, a coroner has said. Ellie Milward, 29, died in a Las Vegas hospital 15 days after the crash due to complications of thermal injury, the Clark County coroner said on Tuesday. Her husband Jonathan Udall, 31, was previously given the same cause of death following the February 10 crash which also killed three other Britons. Brothers Stuart and Jason Hill died in the crash (Family handout/PA) Ms Milward, from Worthing, West Sussex, failed to regain consciousness while being treated at the University Medical Centre (UMC), the Foreign Office said. In a statement, her family said: It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of our daughter Eleanor Udall (nee Milward) as a result of the injuries she sustained in the Grand Canyon helicopter crash on 10 February, 2018. The family are exceedingly grateful for everything done by rescue services and volunteers in the Canyon, and throughout the last two weeks by the exceptional staff at UMC. Chris Tucker, a friend who founded a JustGiving crowdfunding page, paid tribute to the wonderful couple. Yesterday Ellie lost her battle to her injuries, the only consolation I can muster is that she is no longer in pain and is, I hope, with Jon, he wrote on the website. The couples friends, Becky Dobson, 27, her boyfriend Stuart Hill, 30, and his brother Jason Hill, 32, all from Worthing, died when the Airbus EC130 B4 crashed shortly before sunset. They had also been celebrating Stuart Hills 30th birthday with a trip to Las Vegas. Mourners paid their respects in Worthing (Gareth Fuller/PA) The aircraft, operated by Papillon Grand Canyon Helicopters, crashed on tribal land in a section of the Grand Canyon outside the national park where air tours are not as highly regulated. Two others, Jennifer Barham, 39, and pilot Scott Booth, 42, were also treated in hospital. The cause of the crash is being investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board. A preliminary report said witnesses saw the helicopter do at least two 360-degree turns before hitting the ground. Investigators will interview witnesses, survivors, the helicopter operator and manufacturer and others before issuing a full report in at least a years time. US President Donald Trump has reached an informal deal with Boeing to provide the next generation of presidential aircraft, the White House says. Deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said the president negotiated a 3.9 billion US dollar fixed price contract for the new planes, known as Air Force One when the president is on board. It follows years of negotiations between Boeing and the US Air Force and Mr Trumps personal intervention since his election. Donald Trump disembarks Air Force One (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta) In December 2016, Mr Trump tweeted that costs for the programme were out of control at more than 4 billion dollars. The White House now says the original cost estimate was actually over 5 billion dollars for the two planes and development programme. Boeing chief executive Dennis Muilenburg met multiple times with Mr Trump to discuss the Air Force One contract, most recently last week. Mr Gidley said the agreement would save the taxpayers more than 1.4 billion dollars. Boeing, in a statement, said it is proud to build the next generation of Air Force One, providing American Presidents with a flying White House at outstanding value to taxpayers. President Trump negotiated a good deal on behalf of the American people, they said. The agreement includes the two 747-800 aircraft, and the cost of modifying the commercial planes with the equipment needed to support the president, including external stair, large galleys and a secure communications suite. Two men have died in an early morning flat fire above shops in south-west London. The pair were pronounced dead at the scene after emergency services were called to the fire in Tolworth Rise South, Kingston, early on Tuesday morning. Eight fire engines and 58 firefighters and officers attended after the London Fire Brigade was called at 4.55am, and managed to get the blaze under control by 7.44am. Eight fire engines and 58 firefighters and officers attended (Rui Vieira/PA) Sadly we can confirm a second man has died following the flat fire in #Tolworth this morning https://t.co/yTBmShYoMS pic.twitter.com/uTpesl8l7B London Fire Brigade (@LondonFire) February 27, 2018 Five people suffered smoke inhalation and were taken to hospital by the London Ambulance Service. The Metropolitan Police said a number of residents from surrounding properties were evacuated as a precaution. The first floor and loft conversion of one flat and the loft conversion of a second flat were damaged by fire. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Sad news to hear a person has died in a fire at a home in Tolworth earlier this morning. My sincere condolences to his family and friends - and my thoughts and good wishes are with the 5 others who are in Hospital with smoke inhalation. @THRFocusTeam @Jackie_News @SurreyComet Ed Davey MP (@EdwardJDavey) February 27, 2018 Liberal Democrats MP for Kingston & Surbiton, Edward Davey, tweeted: Sad news to hear a person has died in a fire at a home in Tolworth earlier this morning. My sincere condolences to his family and friends and my thoughts and good wishes are with the 5 others who are in Hospital with smoke inhalation. The UN humanitarian chief has warned that conditions in Yemen are catastrophic after three years of war, with a record 22.2 million people needing aid and protection. Undersecretary-general for humanitarian affairs Mark Lowcock warned the Security Council that conflict in Yemen has escalated since November, leaving more people hungry. Famine remains a real threat, he warned. The UN Security Council was warned that the conflict in Yemen has escalated since November (PA) In a speech read by UN director of humanitarian operations John Ging, Mr Lowcock said that 8.4 million Yemenis are severely food insecure and about 400,000 children under the age of five are so severely malnourished they are 10 times likelier to die without treatment than their healthy peers. Special UN envoy to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, said the two sides had been on the verge of a peace agreement during negotiations in 2016, but the parties refused to sign at the last minute. He told the council it became clear that the Houthi rebels were not prepared to make concessions on security arrangements. This has been a major stumbling block towards reaching a negotiated solution, he said. In his last speech to the council before his contract expires after nearly three years as special envoy, Mr Cheikh Ahmed said there is a solid foundation for an agreement but what is missing is a commitment by the parties to make concessions and put national interests first. Mr Cheikh Ahmed called on the parties to cease hostilities, reactivate negotiations aimed at a peaceful settlement and to make the culture of coexistence prevail over the language of war. His successor is former British diplomat Martin Griffiths, currently executive director of the European Institute of Peace. Yemen, with a population of 26 million, plunged into war in 2014 after the Houthis took over the capital Sanaa and forced the internationally recognised government to flee and seek support from neighbouring Gulf countries. In March 2015, a Saudi-led, US-backed coalition began what has turned into a devastating war that has killed more than 10,000 people and displaced 2 million. Saudi Arabia views the Houthis as an Iranian proxy. Mr Cheikh Ahmed called Yemen the worlds largest man-made humanitarian crisis, as well as an economic crisis that has seen the economy shrink by almost 40% since 2015 and the value of the Yemeni riyal drop by more than 50% in 2017. Mr Lowcock said that 1.25 million public employees and their families representing a quarter of the population have not received regular salaries since August 2016. This has accelerated the decline in public services as health workers and teachers seek alternative work, he said. Mr Cheikh Ahmed said it has become clear that revenues that should be contributing to salary payments, maintaining basic services and stimulating the economy are instead being used to fund the war. Moreover, informal taxation and other forms of corruption are flourishing, exacerbating the humanitarian situation, he said. Mr Cheikh Ahmed also expressed serious concern at reports from several humanitarian organisations that thousands of child soldiers are being recruited by all parties to the conflict. He warned that the systematic recruitment of children by the Houthis may have negative implications on the future of the country. The Security Council met a day after Russia vetoed a British-drafted resolution that took aim at Iran over a report by UN experts that said the country violated an arms embargo by failing to prevent missiles and drones from being supplied to Shiite rebels in Yemen. An event made up of illuminated large-scale models was Edinburgh Zoos most successful ever. The Giant Lanterns of China saw an extra 80,000 visitors through the zoos doors, over 50 nights. It featured an illuminated trail combined of 34 installations made of 469 lanterns including 30 giant pandas, a 115-foot long Chinese dragon and 25 flamingos. Barbara Smith, CEO of RZSS Edinburgh Zoo, said: Were extremely proud of the success of The Giant Lanterns of China, it has been our most unique seasonal event to date. The event saw an extra 80,000 visitors through the zoos doors (RZSS) Bringing Scotlands first Chinese lantern festival to Edinburgh was a big moment for the Zoo and gave us the opportunity to showcase our conservation work around the world in a new light. A team of 150 specialist craftsmen from Sichuan Province, China, created the lanterns. They included steel fabricators, painters and silk artisans who worked 25,000 hours before making the 5,000-mile journey from the Far East to Scotlands capital. With reference to our article Child Protection in Sri Lanka lapses at NCPA - pose questions about competency, dated February 22, National Child Protection Authority Chairperson, Marini de Livera has sent the following response. The Daily Mirror as a responsible newspaper which respects rights and views of all parties publishes the letter sent by the NCPA Chairperson.The Excerpts:- I refer to the news item titled Child Protection in Sri Lanka lapses at NCPA - pose questions about competency, published on February 22, 2018 in the Daily Mirror. The content under the heading Alleged protection of Child Abuser is false and inaccurate. This concerned an anonymous complaint against an NCPA officer which was received to our 24-hour child-line during the tenure of the previous Chairperson in 2016. The Attorney General [AG] by letter dated 26/12/2017 (WPI/47/2017) has informed the Director of Women and Childrens Bureau of the Police that there is no evidence to institute Criminal Proceedings against the said NCPA Officer. The Director of Women and Childrens Bureau of Sri Lanka Police has informed the Gangodawila Magistrate Courts that on the advice of the AG, the case would be closed. The said officer had also earlier lodged a complaint with the Police Commission and it was incidentally, the Police Commission had directed the Complaint to the AG. It is deplorable that even after the said officers name has been cleared by the AG, your newspaper published this misleading and distorted news item without checking the accuracy of its contents. Further, you have also made imprecise, untrue statements with regard to the National Child Policy which is being prepared according to provisions of the National Child Protection Authority [NCPA] No. 50 of l998. Public comments were sought with regard to the draft policy and these comments are being incorporated into the final draft of the said policy by a Committee headed by the world-renowned Child Protection Expert and Founder Chairman of NCPA, Prof. Harendra de Silva. The present issues relating to Child Protection too are being incorporated to the policy. It is beyond truth to state in your article that there are lapses at the NCPA. The functions of the NCPA are going on smoothly at Central, District and Divisional levels despite the obstacles set by anti-social elements. The 24-hour toll free help line functions 365 days, the special Police investigation team is working round the clock, so are the Surveillance, Video Evidence Recording, Psycho-Social, Law Enforcement, Programme and Legal Units. NCPA personally gets involved in Court Cases Island-wide and appears on behalf of Child victims where it seems that cases are being dragged on. NCPA also intervened and obtained assistance from UNICEF to reduce the huge backlog of cases relating to Child Abuse at the AGs Department. It is unpardonable that when the NCPA is functioning so well and endeavouring to serve the community to the best of its ability with such passion and vigour, that a newspaper such as yours instead of partnering with NCPA to promote and protect Child Rights, publishes distorted and fallacious material which could cause the erosion of public trust placed in the institution. It is also a fabrication that I stopped and prevented a meeting set up by the NCPA Secretary. It also untrue that salaries of employees were not paid for February 2018. Although you have given prominence to ideas of the NCPA union, whereas such a union has not been legitimately recognized by the Board of the NCPA. No information relating to this the composition of union has been received by NCPA so far and there is no intimation to the authority about a genuine industrial dispute. I strive hard to do exemplary work in keeping with the rule of law and its allied principle and I wish to state that as Chairperson, I work with all officers and at head office and field officers in the peripheral areas attached to NCPA, and I am not partial towards any officer or employee of NCPA. Ranil is the last Prince among politicians; lets count our blessings in having him as the UNP leader and as Prime Minister Although Mahinda Rajapaksa has won 200 or more councils, he has failed to secure a working majority in 169 of them. Sri Lanka has many firsts to its credit, not all are plus points though. It seems to be a worlds first that an attempt was made to oust a Prime Minister, also from his leadership of the UNP on the results of a Local Government Elections. The actual percentages of the parties and what they polled are as follows:- Mahinda Rajapaksas party which has other parties under its umbrella 44.6 %, UNP 32%, The SLFP and UPFA 13 %, JVP 6%, TNA 3%. The political pundits sitting in their armchairs in Colombo talk about the Bond issue, but I disagree, it may have kept a considerable number of voters not voting in Colombo, despite which, the UNP managed to win well with a good majority. But if corruption was an issue, would they have voted for Mahinda, whose Government is famed both here and the world over, for its rule of unprecedented rampant corruption? Although Mahinda Rajapaksa has won 200 or more councils, he has failed to secure a working majority in 169 of them. As a longtime UNP supporter, I think this is a warning signal and a wakeup call, that we as a party, must do more for our supporters, with creating employment, tackling the cost of living and so on. I am aware that much has already been done in housing projects, education, health issues, reduction of the price of medicines, petrol, gas, increasing the salaries of Government Servants, giving back land in the North, but there isnt enough publicity for all this and we have to improve our propaganda and PR machines and get them moving fast. I am aware that much has already been done in housing projects, education, health issues, reduction of the price of medicines, petrol, gas, increasing the salaries of Government Servants, giving back land in the North, but there isnt enough publicity for all this and we have to improve our propaganda and PR machines and get them moving fast. There is also the complaint that the corrupt politicians of the past regime, their siblings and their children, who milked the coffers of this country dry and some murder cases, remain unsolved in spite of the Government having been in power for three years. These have to be speeded up fast and something done soon. Any suggestions by MPs should be made behind closed doors, within the precincts of the corridors of power in the party. A public show of disunity is disastrous for any party or organization. This is not the first time, although some try to make it out to be a historical fact, that a Government in power has lost Local Government Elections. Some UNP Ministers removed longtime supporters of the party, who have worked hard for the party after the last Parliamentary Elections and replaced them with their own cohorts. This has also resulted in displeasure. Whilst I was on the working committee, I recall the Prime Minister telling all members that they should refrain from attacking the President on any issue whatsoever. Unfortunately, this wasnt reciprocated and high ups in the SLFP and UPFA kept on throwing mud at him; getting votes for their party, was probably their intention and reason for doing so. The good that has come out of the mud slung at him by media Moguls and others, all trying to be king-makers, although some of them dont even have Sri Lankan roots, is that he has gained public sympathy in a hitherto unknown fashion, and people from all walks of life are horrified and angry, at attempts to oust him from the party leadership and his post as Prime Minister But this did not, in the end, bring them the votes, but went to Mahinda. The Prime Minister kept to his word of command to his MPs and Working Committee and never hit back, however hard he was hit or hurt. He is one who keeps his emotions under house arrest, which makes it all the worse, as those that do this suffer immeasurably inside, which is bad for health, which is why all his supporters are deeply concerned. The good that has come out of the mud slung at him by media Moguls and others, all trying to be king-makers, although some of them dont even have Sri Lankan roots, is that he has gained public sympathy in a hitherto unknown fashion, and people from all walks of life are horrified and angry, at attempts to oust him from the party leadership and his post as Prime Minister. As a Christian, I believe that this has happened because God moves in a mysterious way his wonders to perform. Anyone with an IQ over zero is aware how hard he worked at getting the GSP and regaining international confidence, which would never have been ours, without him as Prime Minister. Political pole-vaulters who left the party when we were down and returned just before the Presidential Election when we were on a winning streak have no business whatsoever, to suggest changes in Leadership. This is the view of many UNP supporters, who have stuck with the party right through the bad times. These long-jumpers were not there to fight against injustice, corruption and for freedom through the worst times for the party. There must be more party discipline, to prevent MPs airing their views publicly, to the media on these and other internal issues. No pole-vaulter has the right to be appointed as Leader in the future. There are many young MPs who stayed with the party through thick and thin, and any future leader should be chosen from among them. Any suggestions by MPs should be made behind closed doors, within the precincts of the corridors of power in the party. A public show of disunity is disastrous for any party or organization. Instead of pointing fingers at the PM for defeat, I wonder if they realise that when they do, they point three back at themselves, they should spend more time in their electorates, tell the people what has been done and not spend so much time abroad or in the high spots in Colombo. There have been others airing their views on corruption and blind loyalty to Leaders. Nepotism, favouritism, positions given to ones kith and kin, taking money for positions given are also forms of corruption in any organization. Loyalty is a rare virtue and has to be admired, whatever the circumstances may be. Its far better to show loyalty to a cause or a person than to be known as hypocritical, greedy or for betrayal, which has become the most uAnfortunate trademark of our time. Those who throw mud at the PM wouldnt have dared to do the same with MR, when they would have met with a fate even worse than death or being taken away in white vans, or with the late Presidents Premadasa or Jayewardene who would have had absolutely no qualms about kicking them out of the party. Ranils is too much of a gentleman and takes everything with cool composure, in his gentlemanly stride. He is the last Prince among Politicians. Lets count our blessings in having him as the UNP leader and as Prime Minister. No-one wants a return to those horrific times we experienced before 2015. Oh God of Earth and Altar, bow down and hear our cry Our earthly Leaders falter, our people drift and die. From all, that terror teaches, from lies of tongue and pen. From all the easy speeches that comfort cruel men. From sleep and from damnation, Deliver us, Good Lord. Hambantota port will not be used as a foreign military base, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Ravindra Wijegunaratne clarified today at the Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue 2018 at the Manekshaw Centre in India. Wijegunaratne assured of no such action to take place in the Sri Lankan harbours and waters "which would jeopardise India's security concerns." He further reiterated Sri Lanka's stand on not entering into any military alliance with any nation. Sri Lanka will not make its naval bases available to any other countries, the chief added further. The Hambantota port was handed over to China on a 99-year lease. The port will now be co-owned by the Sri Lanka Ports Authority and the China Merchants Port Holdings Company (CM Port) with the latter holding as much as 70 percent stake. (wionews.com) Former president and MP Mahinda Rajapaksa today said the Active Liability Management Bill introduced by the government would give wings to the borrowing spree of the government. In a statement, Mr. Rajapaksa said the government has introduced the Active Liability Management Bill seeking authorization to borrow over Rs. 1 trillion from local and foreign sources, over and above the yearly borrowing limit set by parliament. The Yahapalana government has been irresponsible and reckless in borrowing money from its inception. Under my government, Sri Lanka Development Bonds (SLDBs) were issued only twice a year to borrow an average of around USD 350 million per year. However, in the year 2015, the yahapalana government issued SLDBs on no less than nine occasions, followed by six in 2016 and four in 2017 and have up to now borrowed USD 7.7 billion from this source alone, he said. Meanwhile, he said the Auditor General stated that nobody knows what Sri Lankas real national debt is because debt had been concealed over the past ten years, by being shifted to state owned enterprises and other government entities without being included in the public debt. Mr. Rajapaksa said the Central Bank had to step into reassure the financial markets by issuing a statement contradicting the Auditor Generals claims and pointing out that Sri Lankas debts are accurately recorded and that that Sri Lanka have an unblemished record in servicing that debt. The Auditor Generals Constitutionally mandated task is to audit all agencies of the central government, all provincial councils and local authorities and every enterprise in which the state owns more than 50% of the shares. He is the last person in the country who can claim that he does not know how much is owed by each of these institutions, he said. Under the proposed law, Mr. Rajapaksa said the executive will be able to raise over Rs. 1 trillion in debt and make regulations about how that money will be used. Given the scandals that have already taken place in the issuance of public debt under this government, the danger inherent in this proposed law is obvious. Therefore, the Active Liability Management Bill should be resolutely opposed by every citizen of Sri Lanka, he said. President Maithripala Sirisena should officially request the Singapore Government to extradite former Central Bank Governor Arjuna Mahendran to Sri Lanka, who is allegedly connected to the bond scam, JO National Organizer MP Dullas Alahapperuma said today. Addressing a media conference, he said having been issued a notice over Mr Mahendran to appear before the CID before March 8, the CID had reportedly mentioned that Mr Mahendran was not present in the given address in Singapore. We saw recently how the Government took prompt action against the Defence Attache of the Sri Lankan High Commission in UK Brigadier Priyanka Fernando, who was suspended over making a throat slitting gesture and showing the Sri Lankan Flag. Why such action cannot be taken against the mastermind of the bond fraud, MP Alahapperuma asked. (Sheain Fernandopulle) Video by Sanjeewa Partially paralyzed by contradictions above and within, and under mass pressure from below and without, a crisis of governability is looming Premier Ranil Wickremesinghe, President Maithripala Sirisena and former President Chandrika Kumaratunga With the election result, the Yahapalana coalition Government is like a predator with a poison arrow embedded in its flesh, which has lurched into a quagmire. The end may be a long-drawn and painful process lasting 500 days, but it will neither exit the mire nor recover from the wound. While the PM has been strengthened with the addition of Law and Order, the UNP is manifestly discontented with the mini-reshuffle. Vasantha Senanayake, State Minister for Foreign Affairs and great-grandson of UNP founder and the Father of the Nation, D.S. Senanayake, pressed for the second time by the media on the issue of the replacement of the PM as part of a course-correction, said on prime-time TV news that it was bound to happen the easy way or the hard way. The contradictions have been exacerbated within and between the UNP and the SLFP. Both will be in a downward spiral at the next election. Partially paralyzed by contradictions above and within, and under mass pressure from below and without, a crisis of governability is looming. What is the wellspring or taproot of the crisis? By any standard of good governance and political decency, Mr. Wickremesinghe should have resigned as PM or been removed. Firstly, he was responsible for the appointment of Arjuna Mahendran, against the explicit advice of the President. His crony Mahendran, interestingly his appointee in 2001 as the head of the BoI, has been responsible for enormous damage to the economy, the citizenry, the Government and the UNP. Mahendran is now safely back in Singapore, where he was beamed in from. Secondly, Mr Wickremesinghe has been responsible for the crash in the electoral fortunes of his party. Roughly 15 years ago, the NGP Panditharatne Report into the UNPs performance noted that testimony from party supporters at the grassroots-level showed conspicuous lack of support (only 14%) for the leadership of Ranil Wickremesinghe and its continuity! In 2018, the UNP that had just celebrated its 70th anniversary has been beaten into second place by a party that is just a few months old, and that too, by a wide margin. The UNP is the predominant force in the Government, and yet, after three years in office, it was convincingly beaten by a party that neither enjoys the status of being in Government nor that of being recognized as it should, as the official Opposition. Thirdly, Mr. Wickremesinghe based his strategy on the alliance with and the subsequent split in the SLFP. It failed abysmally. The SLFP retained but a residue which was hopelessly inadequate in preventing a Pohottuwa victory. Mr. Wickremesinghe proved himself a dreadful political strategist, though a shrewd tactician in power struggles. He is also pilot of a long-term trend and trajectory of the UNPs electoral decline. Fourthly, Mr Wickremesinghe is not on the same page, in political, ideological, economic, foreign policy and programmatic terms as President Sirisena, while he sees himself as the co-leader if not the de facto leader of the country and conducts himself accordingly. This creates a deadlock and worsens the crisis. Fifthly, Mr Wickremesinghe is structurally unpopular among the Sinhala and especially Sinhala-Buddhist voters and has proved enormously toxic to his coalition partner the SLFP and its leader, the countrys elected President. There are obvious questions raised by the SLFP split: Why did the liberal-reformist faction in Government/State do so badly while the populist-nationalist faction in the Opposition do so well? Why did the official SLFP, with all the advantages of office including the Presidency fail, while the SLPP-JO with none of them, succeed? Why did the SLFP/UPFAs August 2015 voters shift as a bloc to Mahinda Rajapaksa who is not even the Opposition Leader and cannot run for the Presidency next year? Why did the SLFP voter not stay with the incumbent President who is also the leader of their party? Why did the Attanagalle SLFP voter not stay loyal to the two-term former President and daughter of the legendary SLFP founder and the first woman Prime Minister? The answer is that subaltern affiliation of the SLFP with the Ranilist UNP is anathema to the SLFP vote-base, which is overwhelmingly Sinhala and broadly nationalist. That partnership gutted the SLFP, the Presidents political power-base. The strategic value of this island is high in the context of ..the US-India-Australia-Japan Quartets Indo-Pacific Project on the one hand, and China-Russia strategic alliances OBOR-Greater Eurasia Project on the other Flying in the face of survival instinct, the UNP opted to retain Mr Wickremesinghe as its leader, and the SLFPs Chandrika faction opted to remain in alliance with him. Why so? The strategic value of this island is high in the context of the competition between the US-India-Australia-Japan Quartets Indo-Pacific Project on the one hand, and the China-Russia strategic alliances OBOR-Greater Eurasia project on the other. And there must be some of that bond scam money sloshing around or black money coming in . Then there is the ideological factor, a matter of social psychology. The Ranilian UNP is not dominated by classic bourgeois values and virtues, liberal or conservativethus the dissent expressed by Vasantha Senanayake, Pradip Jayewardene, Navin Dissanayake and Rajiva Wijesinha. The UNP is currently dominated by a stratum of political and economic Neoliberals branded (even proudly tattooed by themselves) as the Toiyyas, while the opposing Rajapaksa camp is trashed and trolled as the Baiyyas. I find it impossible to translate either termI am guessing that Baiyyas means plain folk (or rustics)--but Toiyyas is an updated version of the 1950s term thuppahi which is an update of an earlier epithet, Kalu suddhas. The closest rendition in the English language would be Philip Gunawardenas Leftist label of Rootless Cosmopolitans, a social stratum which the Sinhala-Buddhist nationalist L.H. Mettananda referred to as a microscopic minority. Writing in the Ceylon Observer Magazine edition of May 1967, my father Mervyn de Silva commented on the same sociological phenomenon: The Western-oriented Ceylonese is the perfect pasticheur. He is the intellectual counterpart of the Japanese manufacturerhe will copy anything or anybody. While the Cabinet mini-reshuffle has set off a chorus of jeers from the media and society, it has a dark dimension. During the election campaign, Sujeeva Senasinghe et al threatened the voters with a return to the UNP of the 1970s and 1980s. The transfer of Law and Order to Prime Minister Wickremesinghe (or Field Marshal Fonseka) sets up a hard-power node in the System potentially rivalling the President, and augurs a more confrontational approach. The UNP will confront not only the JO-SLPP but also the SLFP, and crackdown on protest movements headed by the JVP and/or the FSP. The prospect is a classic situation of a Government in decay and decline. As the examples of Russias Putin and Turkeys Erdogan demonstrate, the national electoral response to a pro-Western, cosmopolitan, elitist Establishments rot and repression, is the retaliatory fusion of Statism, Populism and Alt-Something. What is the likelihood that Mahindas Pohottuwa, which scored 45% on its first outing, in several months, will be unable to top it up with 5% and vault the 50% mark in the coming elections? How difficult can this be when it is suctioning SLFP votes and those are down to 13% of which 5% can slide easily to Mahinda? If the SLFP remains in coalition with Ranils UNP, how long will it be before it fights the JVP for third place? The augmentation of Mr Wickremesinghes hard power will polarize society and dialectically summon up its nemesis. The natural, irresistible, organic convergence of SLPP-JO plus SLFP-UPFA vote bases (45% +13%) is underway. But that isnt all. Already the mood is shifting in Sri Lankan society. It is waiting with a mix of patience and restlessness, for the return of Mahindas leadership, but also something else. I sense a public in ferment, across classes. Society is waiting for MR Plus: Mahindas magnetic Center-Left Populism, upgraded and weaponized to finish strong, with an Alt-Something. Rain-making method developed by Thai monarch set to ease dry spells in Sri Lanka It is no mystery that prolonged dry spells have caused difficulties for power generation in Sri Lanka. While sporadic rains in several parts of the island have brought much needed relief, officials have long warned that the conditions of drought would be unrelenting for many areas. According to Power and Energy Ministry spokesman Sulakshana Jayawardenathe generation of hydro power has been a challenge as water levels at reservoirs are currently around an estimated 59%. 1,350MW of Sri Lankas total power capacity, is generated employing large scare hydro-power plants while another 350 MW is generated by small-scale hydro-power plants. The Ministry of Power and Renewable Energy together with the Ceylon Electricity Board is attempting to remedy this state of affairs by making rain. Sri Lanka usually expects precipitation during the two monsoon seasons, namely the North-East and South-West monsoons. Over the past two years however we didnt receive sufficient rain which caused difficulty in producing energy. With this experience, the Ministry decided to explore the possibility of rainmaking, he said. What is rainmaking? Humans have been attempting to control weather since ancient times. Rainmaking isnt just an indigenous ritual to invoke rains practised by many ancient cultures. Rainmaking is also a scientific weather modification process or a technique of intentionally manipulating the atmosphere, backed by years of research. It involves a process of impregnating clouds to instigate the precipitation process. We requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist us in bringing down expertise from other countries where rainmaking is used for diverse purposes, including agriculture. Out of many countries where cloud seeding is practised, Thailand was selected on the premise that they assisted us to create rain in Sri Lanka when the island was struck with a severe drought in 1981 Our attempt was to induce rains during the monsoons and not to create artificial rain during the dry seasons. During the monsoons there are ideal cloud conditions, but most often we experience no rain. The challenge is to create enough rainfall in the catchment areas where the major reservoirs are located, namely the Samanala Wewa, Castereigh, Kotmale, Randenigala and Victoria reservoirs, Jayawardena explained If we receive rainfall as expected we can use it during the dry season when water is scarce. There have been many misconceptions about this project as some have mistakenly reported that we will induce rain during the dry seasons. This is not our objective, the spokesperson stressed. Sri Lanka experienced heavy rains in areas such as Kalutara, Galle and Matara, even causing floods and widespread destruction. However this precipitation is of no avail as it is not received in catchment areas in the central highlands. They visited the reservoirs Maussakele, Castlereagh, Victoria and Kotmale to gather data for the feasibility study. With the preliminary findings presented towards the end of the visit, the experts had concluded that rainmaking was a possibility in Sri Lanka We requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to assist us in bringing down expertise from other countries where rainmaking is used for diverse purposes, including agriculture. Out of many countries where cloud seeding is practised, Thailand was selected on the premise that they assisted us to create rain in Sri Lanka when the island was struck with a severe drought in 1981, Jayawardena said. At that time the project was carried out by several stakeholders including the Sri Lanka Air Force, Ceylon Electricity Board, Meteorological Department and the Mahaweli Authority. A delegation of five engineers including the Director General of Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation (DRRAA) arrived in the island on Monday. (February 22). Following a knowledge sharing session, the experts embarked on a fact finding mission in Central Highlands where a drastic drop in water levels has been recorded. They visited the reservoirs Maussakele, Castlereagh, Victoria and Kotmale to gather data for the feasibility study. With the preliminary findings presented towards the end of the visit, the experts had concluded that rainmaking was a possibility in Sri Lanka. The experts agreed to share their knowledge with us. We are now in the process of obtaining Cabinet approval to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries to proceed with this venture, Jayawardena said. The project is expected to be expensive. However Jayewardene noted that expenditure estimates have not been drafted as the two countries are still examining the feasibility. The Thai team requested that weather information be provided from the Sri Lankan authorities. They noted that existing aircraft in possession of the Sri Lanka Air Force can be used with some digital modifications for this project, he said. Over the course of the next month, a Sri Lankan team will visit Thailand to observe the practical methodology of cloud seeding. They agreed to host Sri Lankan professionals, so that we can receive the practical exposure to their technology before we embark on the project, Jayawardena said. Cloud seeding The study of the height of the clouds, humidity, wind flow and other weather information are some prerequisites for the act of rainmaking. Officials at the Department of Meteorology will collaborate with this project by providing technical assistance. An officer of the Met Department said they would assist this project in providing details such as atmospheric data. Speaking on the concerns raised over the project the Met Department said that the project is likely to result in positive outcomes rather than negative. However the Met Department official said as weather is inherently an uncertain phenomenon, caution should be exercised as theory may differ from reality. The Thai experts are in possession of the scientific know-how and the technology. We do not know of the result until it is practically applied, the officer cautioned. As of February 21, 91, 858 families across five districts: Puttlam, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Mannar have been affected by this drought. Even though change of weather patterns possesses a greater challenge to countries highly dependent on agriculture such as Sri Lanka, it is not alone in grappling with the issue. According to the World Meteorological Organization, more than 50 countries across the world have adopted operational programmes to modify the weather. Dubbed cloud seeding programmes are often carried out by 34 private weather modification companies in countries including the United States, China, Indonesia, Russia and several Middle Eastern and European countries. History Thailands rainmaking techniques however share an interesting historical account with the countrys beloved monarch who ruled the country from 1946 until his demise in 2016. Late King Bhumibol Adulyadej was adored by his countrymen for he was the definition of royal benevolence. One area he was particularly interested in constantly improving was agriculture. Disaster statistics from the 1900s to 2000s indicated that the droughts affected more than 10 million people in Thailand. The country was affected by droughts frequently and repeatedly, raising the need to address the issue immediately. In 1955, during a visit to the remote north-eastern provinces, the King had observed how cloudy conditions were ideal for rain, yet failed to produce any precipitation. In 1969 the first trial of the artificial rain carried out under the supervision of the King himself was hailed a success. Rainfall was recorded in targeted areas in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima and subsequently known as the Royal Rainmaking Project. In 1999, Bhumibol discovered an innovative technique to gain more cloud density and increase the amount and extent of rainfall. He named the new cloud-seeding technique Super Sandwich. In 1969 the first trial of the artificial rain carried out under the supervision of the King himself was hailed a success. Rainfall was recorded in targeted areas in Pak Chong District, Nakhon Ratchasima and subsequently known as the Royal Rainmaking Project The Thai King was the worlds first monarch to apply for and be granted a patent for this own invention in 2003. The success has led to the establishment of the Thai Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation, involved with design and implementation of a series of experiments which resulted in the establishment of five Royal Rainmaking operations centre in every region of the country. The Director of the National Centre for Meteorology and Seismology in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Dr. Abdullah Al Mandoos more than once cautioned that any country with a plan to implement cloud seeding projects requires to investigate the physical and chemical properties of the frequent and available clouds in their territory. Despite decades of research and success stories, scepticism divides scientists and Governments on cloud seeding -especially due to the challenge of verifying the efficacy of the technique, establishing cause and effect and the overall variability of weather systems. The railway service on the Kelani Valley line came to a standstill this morning after a train bound to Colombo Fort from Homagama derailed between Pannipitiya and Maharagama Railway stations, the Railway Control Room said. Therefore, the train services had been limited to Maharagama from Colombo Fort. The train (653) left for Colombo from Homagama at 7.15 this morning. Meanwhile, the control room announced that another two trains from Avissawella would be late due to the derailment. (Chaturanga Smarawickrama) Video by Sanjeewa School principal dies during Rope Climbing Rope climbing is a sport in which competitors attempt to climb up a suspended vertical rope using only their hands. Rope climbing is practiced regularly at the World Police and Fire Games. In Sri Lanka, with more emphasis on leadership training, the youth who are aspiring to become future leaders are wooed to undergo various types of physical training, some of which are indoor and most of it being outdoors. School principals are also roped into these physical training activities in the expectation that they would pass on their experiences to their students who are being groomed as future leaders. The former Principal of Tzuchi National school Rohini Kumari Atapattu (52), the mother of four daughters, opted to undergo this training as she felt that it would help her brighten the future of so many children. She thought that the training would help her to widen their outlook and also make them successful future leaders. In the aftermath of the Tsunami, the Taiwan Governments Tzuchi Foundation launched the Tzuchi village in Hambantota to provide those displaced people with houses. This foundation established the Tzuchi National School as a gift to the children of this village affected by the Tsunami. Inaugurated as the Tzuchi National School it was soon added to the National School chain of the Education Ministry. Rohini became the second Principal of this school. She was the wife of Thilakarathne Abeysinghe an administrative officer serving at the Hambantota District Secretariat. They were residing in a rented house in Mayurapura Hambantota. They had purchased a plot of land in Mayurapura with the idea of constructing a house of their own. The accident Rohini had been participating at a leadership training in Wariyapola in the Kurunegala District. During one of the events which was Rope Climbing, she had lost her grip of the rope when attempting to come down. She had lost her balance in the process and fell to the ground sustaining injuries to her head. She had been rushed to the Kurunegala hospital, but was later transferred to the National Hospital Colombo where she passed away. Her husband stricken with grief and shock related the events of this pathetic episode. We lost a mother under very unfortunate circumstances. My earnest request is to conduct an inquiry into this incident. As a Government servant I have reason to believe that sufficient security measures had not been adhered to by the authorities. I have my suspicions regarding this issue. My wife had taken part in many training programmes held in Rantembe and Kuda Oya. She informed me that security systems were very good at these locations. When she was notified of this programme, she asked for my permission. Despite there being some shortcomings we agreed . Now I demand justice for the sake of my four daughters. The eldest Lakshani, is a trained laboratory technician, the second Dilini a trained nurse, the third Piumi is HNBIT and the youngest Isiri sat for her O/Level Examination. My wife had much dreams about their futures. I do not know how they are going to be realized, said Abeysinghe. Lakshani in a tearful manner stated that her mother had looked after the members of the family so well and that they cant get over her absence. They were anxiously awaiting the day when they would move into their own house Shattered hopes Lakshani in a tearful manner stated that her mother had looked after the members of the family so well and that they cant get over her absence. They were anxiously awaiting the day when they would move into their own house. These hopes are now shattered. Rohinis mother, being unable to bear the news of the tragic accident, said that the deceased was the first of four children she had mothered. She received her appointment in 1987 to the Deduwala school. After obtaining her external degree she functioned as the Principal and later was appointed as the Principal of Tzuchi National School. She said that she just could not understand the logic behind providing an army training to principals. The Hambantota Zonal Director of Education A.G. Samanthi, speaking to the media, said that as Tzuchi National School also came under the ambit of national schools, this academic institute too was listed for the training programme. This programme is conducted by the Human Resources unit of the National Schools. It is a pity that we lost a skilled Principal in the process, said Samanthi. Rohini had been participating at a leadership training in Wariyapola in the Kurunegala District. During one of the events which was Rope Climbing, she had lost her grip of the rope when attempting to come down The Divisional Secretary of the The Ceylon Teachers Association Hambantota M.P.S. Chinthaka demanded an investigation into this unfortunate death of the principal. The authorities should first look into the shortcomings presently experienced at all schools before deploying Principals to do Rope Climbing. Instead of forcing them to undergo military training they should provide training in human relations and tap the physical resources that are available. It is regrettable to known that the authorities had not learned a lesson from the earlier death of another Principal during a training of this type. While claiming that it was a big mockery to appoint the Prime Minister, who was the mastermind of the bond scam, as the Law and Order Minister, the National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa said the PM and the President should resign without dragging the country towards anarchy. Addressing a news briefing, he said the President who proclaimed that he would not engage any culprits to run the government, seemed that he had forgotten what he had uttered during the pre-election period. The bond scam that took place in the Central Bank of Sri Lanka is considered to be a massive fraud that ever occurred in South Asia. The master brain of such fraud is now being appointed as the Law and Order Minister by the President. Further, giving the portfolio of Youth Affairs to Sagala Ratnayake is like setting a wolf to guard the chickens, he said. Therefore, he asked as to how the county would move forward in this circumstances and urged the President either to rethink of entrusting of portfolios or resign with the Premier. (Sheain Fernandopulle) Video by Susantha Credit: Leslie HasslerKenny Loggins is the latest star to head to Las Vegas. While he hasn't announced a full residency, Loggins has set a three-night engagement at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas for September 5, 7, and 8. The shows will highlight Loggins' many hits from movie soundtracks, as well as some new music. As anyone who listened to the radio in the '80s knows, Loggins was "The Soundtrack King," spinning off hits from the soundtracks of movies like Caddyshack and Caddyshack II, Top Gun, Footloose, Over the Top, and more. On February 1, Loggins was honored by the Guild of Music Supervisors with its first-ever Icon Award, for his achievements in film and TV soundtracks. Tickets for the Vegas shows go on sale this Friday, March 2, at 10 a.m. PT via WynnLasVegas.com. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Posted Monday, February 26, 2018 12:00 pm Andrew T. McCormack, 31, 215 E. Culton St., was arrested Feb. 10 on a failure to appear warrant with an original charge of possession of marijuana. Bond was set at $400 with a court date of March 9. Elphidia N. Ezekiel, 41, 703 Deerbrook circle, Knob Noster, was arrested Feb. 11 on a failure to appear warrant with an original charge of speeding. Bond was set at $200 with a court date of March 8. Timothy D. Wittmeyer, 31, 615 W. Clark St., was arrested Feb. 12 on a failure to appear warrant with original charges of three counts of fraudulent use of a credit/debit device. Bond was set at $400 with a court date of March 2. Devan W. Pulliam, 25, Pleasant Hill, was arrested Feb. 12 on two failure to appear warrants with original charges of speeding and careless and imprudent driving. Total bond was set at $700 with a court date of March 8. Justine R. Adams, 21, Kansas City, was arrested Feb. 13 on a failure to appear warrant with an original charge of driver/front seat passenger failure to properly wear seat belt. Bond was set at $50 with a court date of March 9. Corey L. Vogeler, 30, 406 S. Lexington, Holden, was arrested Feb. 6 on a probation violation warrant for a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance. Bond was set at $25,000. Ira R. Newlon, 47, St. Joe, was arrested on a probation violation warrant for a felony charge of theft/stealing. Bond was set at $25,000. Marcie D. Persaud, 40, 352 S.W. 101st Road, was arrested Feb. 10 on a probation violation warrant for charges of two counts of unlawful use of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $25,000 with a court date of March 2. Blake D. Ripley, 18, 1606 S. Market, Holden, was arrested Jan. 31 on two warrants with felony charges of burglary and four counts of stealing firearm/explosive weapon/ammonium nitrate. Total bond was set at $20,000. Hayden J. Stark, 17, 1039 S.W. 250th Road, Holden, was arrested on three warrants with felony charge of stealing motor vehicle/watercraft/aircraft, two counts of burglary and seven counts of stealing firearm/explosive weapon/ammonium nitrate. Total bond was set at $25,000. John R. Landers, 50, 219 Lobban St., was arrested Feb. 2 on a warrant with a felony charge of driving while intoxicated drug. Bond was set at $25,000. Christopher A. Willis, 27, 95 S.W. 75th, was arrested Feb. 3 on a warrant with a felony charge of stalking and a charge of violation of order of protection for adult. Bond was set at $7,500. Donna S. Mitchell, 49, 719 N. Holden St., was arrested Feb. 5 on a warrant with a felony charge of rape or attempted rape and a charge of sexual conduct with a nursing facility resident or vulnerable person. Bond was set at $30,000. James C. Bryant, 34, 1457 S.W. 800th Road, Holden, was arrested Feb. 12 on a warrant with a felony charge of stalking. Bond was set at $50,000. Deanna N. Goodall, 23, Kansas City, Kansas, was arrested on a warrant with a felony charge of fugitive from out of state. Bond was set at $25,000. The bank's gross NPA ratio declined to 24.7 per cent from the high of 25 per cent in the quarter ended September 2017. Mumbai: Moody's Investors Service today affirmed the long-term local and foreign currency bank deposit rating of IDBI Bank at B1 and changed the outlook to positive from stable. The rating agency also affirmed the state-run lender and its DIFC branch's long-term foreign currency senior unsecured debt rating at B1 and changed the outlook to positive. "The positive outlook reflects the upward pressure that could develop on the bank's long-term rating, if its credit fundamentals -- such as capital position -- continues to improve over the next 12-18 months due to capital infusion," the rating agency said in a note. The positive outlook also factors in the rating agnecy's view on the expected evolution of the bank's balance sheet, including a stabilization in asset quality and continued stable funding and liquidity positions. Under the recapitalisation plan, the bank will get Rs 7,881 crore in new capital by March. The rating agency said this capital infusion will increase the common equity tier 1 (CET1) ratio for the bank to about 9.8 per cent based on the risk weighted assets as of December 2017. The bank will continue to report losses over the next few quarters on account of high provisioning charges, eroding this capital level. The rating agency expects that the CET1 ratio as of March 2019 will meet the minimum Basel III capital needs. The bank's gross NPA ratio declined to 24.7 per cent from the high of 25 per cent in the quarter ended September 2017, while net NPA ratio stabilized at 14.3 per cent compared again with the previous quarter. The rating agency said the bank's ratings could be upgraded in the next 12-18 months, if the capital infusion helps strengthen the bank's capital to a level above minimum regulatory requirements under Basel III standards, and/or the bank returns to profitability on a sustainable basis. The IDBI counter plunged 6.8 per cent to Rs 73.55 on the BSE on Tuesday against a 0.29 per cent correction in the benchmark Sensex bringing down its market capitalisation Rs 19,435.6 crore. Mumbai: Ali Fazal is currently in LA working on the prep for his next Hollywood unannounced venture and alongside he is also been attending an array of work meetings. The actor will soon head back to India where he begins shoot for Tigmanshu Dhulias Milan Talkies. Ali, who worked in Victoria And Abdul with Judi Dench last year, recently attended the annual Hollywood Beauty Awards, an annual forum where the best in talent of the hair, beauty and design talent is awarded. There, Ali was also elected as an award presenter. At the ceremony Ali was elated to have met, his icons like Britney Spears and Samuel L Jackson. In fact Samuel L Jackson also reportedly praised Ali for his role in Victoria And Abdul. Speaking about his experience, Ali said, It was surreal. We were all on the same tables, dining at the award show. I mean, fact is, Britney has been an icon during the largest part of my childhood. She was up there breaking records with her hit singles. I bet all my friends know lyrics to at least two of her songs. Like it or not. Its like the era of backstreet boys. She was receiving the fragrance beauty award for her latest perfume line and so I guess I went to get a whiff of that and congratulate her. Samuel L Jackson and I share the same team, and so this meeting was pending for a while. What can I say, am just a huge fan! And he loved my performance from my film Victoria And Abdul. So that was one of the best compliments I have received in my life. Some things are just best experienced I guess. I told him I hope I meet him on a set next time, when we are working together. So Ill leave it at that for now. Ali presented the 2018 new beauty awards to two new comers, namely Kirstin Maldonado and Olivia Holt, and the finale, award for Timeless beauty to Jane Seymour aka Bond girl. Mumbai: The nation woke up to the shocking news of Bollywood actress Sridevi's untimely demise on Sunday. Sridevi passed away after suffering severe cardiac arrest in Dubai. Sridevis Pakistani co-actor from the 2017 film 'Mom', Adnan Siddiqui was one of the first few people to reach the Jumeirah Emirates Tower after learning about the actress demise on Saturday night. The actor who played Sridevi's on-screen husband in the film is deeply shocked and saddened with the news. Also read: Sridevi's last hours before she died, Boney found her motionless in tub While speaking to mid-day, Siddiqui said, I got a call from a journalist at around 11 pm asking if the news about Sridevis death was true. I immediately called up Boney [Kapoor] saab and rushed to him, adding that, I got to Jumeirah Emirates at around midnight. Initially, I was not allowed to go upstairs. At the time of the investigation, only Boney saab and Dubai officials were present. So, I waited in the lobby for about an hour. He further added, When everything was settled, Boney saab called me upstairs. He was there along with a family friend, his wife and a daughter. Boney saab was crying like a baby; he was inconsolable. I was with him until 5 am. He was under a lot of stress, so I advised him to rest, and then left. The Pakistani actor, who is a good friends with Sridevi and Kapoor, couldnt catch up with the actress after their fim's release due to the ban on Pakistani artistes after Uri attacks. However, Sridevi had personally invited him for her nephew Mohit Marwahs wedding in Dubai. When I landed in Dubai at 11 pm last week, I called up Boney saab and asked him if it made sense for me to come at that hour considering the function may have been over. He said, Even if the function gets over, we will wait for you. So I drove for two hours to Ras Al-Khaimah, recollected Siddiqui, adding that, Sridevi was true to her word, she indeed was waiting for him. I cant believe that I met her four days ago and now, she is no more, added Siddiqui. The cause of actress death on Monday was revealed as accidental drowning in a bathtub in her hotel bathroom. The actress mortal remains are likely to return to the country on Tuesday after the repatriation formalities are completed. Arjun has gone there to be with his father at the hotel, where formalities are being completed. Hell also be overseeing the return journey. Sridevis stepson Arjun Kapoor flew to Dubai on Tuesday morning to be with his father Boney Kapoor, and to oversee important procedures there. Says a source, Arjun has gone there to be with his father at the hotel, where formalities are being completed. Hell also be overseeing the return journey. The actor, who is Boneys son from his first marriage to Mona Kapoor, had earlier rushed to Mumbai leaving the shooting of Namastey England midway, to console his half sisters Janhvi and Khushi Kapoor. He was seen frequenting uncle Anil Kapoors home, where Sridevis daughters are currently staying. There was a huge milestone for the Madras Music Association (MMA) choir and Symphony Orchestra when they performed last week. The choir is now 125 years old and the inaugural performance was a very special one even as many events are being planned to celebrate this landmark year. The chairman and convener of the Quasi-centenary committee, Dr. Ravi Santhosham touched upon the journey of MMA from the late 19th century to the present and some key events in the history of this institution. The special evening began with the MMA Symphony Orchestra conducted by the Music Director of MMA, Augustine Paul presenting works by Mozart, followed by a prayer song by the WCC Western Music Club. The choir, which performed overseas including at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, played for the Pope in 2009 in Rome, at the London Olympics in 2012, in Vienna in 2016 and also won gold and silver diplomas at the 4th Asia Pacific Choir Games in Colombo in 2017. The choir will hold a Sunday afternoon concert twice a month featuring young and old musicians, in both instrumental and vocal presentations. From March onwards on the second and fourth Sundays well have a special concert basically to promote talent, MMA secretary, Samuel Prabhakar, said. The voice group sings in Latin, French, Italian, German and, of course, English. If we look back over the citys history, it was the years of the late 19th century when South India became fans of western music and western choral groups began to sprout. In 1893, a group of European expatriates who loved to sing together founded The Madras Musical Association (MMA) in St. Andrews Church (The Kirk) under the baton of Signor Aloysio, an Italian who also served as the choir director of The Kirk. And the MMA was unveiled. MMA has become a fully Indian choir group to perform, produce and promote western music, shared Prabhakar while explaining the golden past of the school. Western music has been an inseparable part of the glorious choir group for years. Western classical was great for generations but now the choir is enriching its concerts with new genres of music - jazz, pop and A cappella (group or solo singing without instrumental accompaniment). Performing new and difficult pieces from jazz, pop, and classical too will be the agenda for the ongoing session of music, informed Samuel. Some of the dignitaries present at the inaugural of the 125th year were MM Rajendran, former Governor of Odisha, Robert Burgess, US Consul General and K. M. Mammen of MRF when past conductors of MMA were honoured. The painting had belonged to Kojiro Matsukata, a businessman who collected Western art between 1916 and 1927. (Photo: Pixabay) A painting by French Impressionist master Claude Monet that belonged to a Japanese collector but was lost for decades after WWII is now back in Tokyo, a museum official said Tuesday. The oil painting, around two metres long and 4.2 metres wide, was unearthed in the Louvre Museum in Paris in 2016 but the discovery had not been made public until now. "The painting was recently returned" to the National Museum of Western Art in the Japanese capital, a spokeswoman told AFP. The painting -- entitled "Water Lilies: Reflections of a Willow Tree" -- is dated 1916 and depicts bright flowers floating on a lake. The museum said it was a study painting for his famous series "Water Lilies" but the work is severely damaged with half of it destroyed. It will be necessary to restore the canvas "with extreme care", the museum said in a statement. "But the remaining painting is still very large. It has the potential to show Monet's wonderful work if handled with the proper care," it said. The painting had belonged to Kojiro Matsukata, a businessman who collected Western art between 1916 and 1927 with the proceeds amassed from a shipbuilding fortune. It is said Matsukata directly purchased the piece from Monet at his atelier in 1921, according to the museum. His art collections including the painting were moved to Paris for safekeeping during WWII and later requisitioned by the French government at the end of the war as enemy property. In 1959, the French government returned to Japan the majority of 400 pieces in the Matsukata collection. "The existence of the painting might have been forgotten given the tremendous damage caused by bad storage conditions during the war," the Tokyo museum said. The museum plans to show the painting to the public in June 2019 following restoration work. ROME: The Vatican is loaning some of its most beautiful liturgical vestments, jeweled miter caps and historic papal tiaras for an upcoming exhibit on Catholic influences in fashion at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Vatican culture minister, Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, joined Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and designer Donatella Versace in Rome on Monday to display a few of the Vatican treasures at the Palazzo Colonna, a onetime papal residence. "Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination" is set to open May 10 at the Met's Costume Institute in New York. Along with the Vatican treasures, the exhibit will include garments for more ordinary mortals by designers spanning Azzedine Alia to Vivienne Westwood, all set against the backdrop of pieces from the Met's collection of Medieval and religious artwork. An innovative program offering all of Rhode Islands prisoners methadone and other drugs to treat opioid-use disorders has slashed overdose deaths in the state during its first year, according to a new study. Overdose deaths dropped 12 percent throughout Rhode Island during the first year of the program - the only one of its kind in the U.S. Even more dramatically, the number of overdose deaths in Rhode Island plunged 61 percent last year among people recently released from jail or prison, researchers report in JAMA Psychiatry. Within one year of setting up this program, we have impacted state overdose deaths, senior author Dr. Josiah Rich said in a phone interview. Thats unheard of. Since July 2016, Rhode Island screens all its inmates for opioid-use disorder and makes available methadone and two other medications for addiction treatment, or MAT, to those who need and want it. The new study reports on results during a period in which more than 300 prisoners had taken advantage of the program. This program reaches an extremely vulnerable population at an extremely vulnerable time with the best treatment available for opioid-use disorder, said Rich, a Brown University professor who directs the Center for Prisoner Health and Human Rights in Providence. He sees the treatment in jails and prisons, combined with community treatment after release, as a winning strategy for reducing skyrocketing overdose deaths, which totaled more than 63,000 in the U.S. in 2016. Dr. Kathleen Maurer, medical director at the Connecticut Department of Correction in Wethersfield, praised the program in neighboring Rhode Island as a prototype for the nation. What Rhode Island has done is amazing and courageous and very forward-looking, and I think they provide a model for all of us, Maurer, who was not involved with the study, told Reuters Health. Previous research has shown that overdose risk peaks immediately after prisoners addicted to opioids are released back into the community. Nonetheless, most U.S. correctional facilities insist that inmates withdraw from medicated-assisted treatment when they enter the system, and most offer no medication upon release. Generally, corrections brings people in, they take them off either methadone or heroin, and then they release them with nothing but cravings, Maurer said. A 36-year-old East Providence arborist who asked to be identified only by his first name, Casey, knows the drill. He credits the Rhode Island program with helping him get his life back on track and possibly sparing him from the death sentence of street heroin, fentanyl or carfentanyl, which killed a close friend in October. Casey got hooked on opioids 16 years ago. As a college student, he fractured his spine in a car accident and began taking the OxyContin his doctor prescribed for pain relief. He went from prescription painkillers, to street-purchased pills, to heroin. For the past eight years, Casey has been on and off methadone, a synthetic opiate that for decades has been used to treat people addicted to opioid painkillers and heroin. But sometimes Caseys job took him out of town, and he couldnt make it to the clinic to get his daily dose of methadone, he said in a phone interview. Then hed turn to street drugs and wind up in jail. Caseys been incarcerated four times for possession of narcotics, and three times he was forced to withdraw from methadone only to have to turn around and face another round on the outside unassisted. When he was arrested in November, he was presented with a new option. He could try Suboxone, a long-acting partial opioid agonist that would not require daily reporting to a clinic, like he had to do for methadone, and he could leave the prison on the medication. When I would come out of prison in the past, within a month I would find myself using, Casey said. Since his release six weeks ago, he said he hadnt even thought about using heroin. I know its only been a month and a half, he said. But at least I have a shot. Rich and his team designed the study as a preliminary evaluation of the program. But the findings - a drop in statewide overdose deaths from 179 in the first six months of 2016 to 157 during the same period in 2017 - convinced the researchers of the urgency to report the results. For every 11 inmates treated, researchers calculated they prevented one death from overdose. This felt so compelling that we felt it was really necessary to get it out, lead author Traci Green, a Brown University professor of emergency medicine and epidemiology in Providence, said in a phone interview. A lot of individuals are able to find their lives, she said. The medication is so central to controlling the cravings, they can work on their family, their jobs, re-entry into the community and the broader society. In the study published in the journal Science, researchers treated the lab-grown 'mini tumours' with a range of drugs. (Photo: Pixabay) London: Scientists have successfully grown mini versions of patients' tumours in a lab - and tested them against dozens of drugs to find the best possible treatment. In the study published in the journal Science, researchers treated the lab-grown 'mini tumours' with a range of drugs. They then looked to see how this compared to how successful treatment was in those patients. The approach found a drug that had a chance of shrinking a patient's tumour in almost nine in 10 cases. Drugs that did not work in patients also had no effect on the mini tumours. This suggests they could help predict when drugs would not work, researchers said. The study, led by scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in the UK, was carried out in bowel and stomach cancers, and other cancers of the digestive system. The results of the study did not change how patients were treated. However, the approach could be used in the future to help choose treatment. According to Nicola Valeri, who led the study, the technique needed to be tested in large clinical trials, but that it "has the potential to help deliver truly personalised treatment." Mini tumours, also called organoids, are tiny balls of cancer cells grown in the lab. They can be grown from a tissue sample (biopsy). Scientists take cells from a tumour and place them inside a gel, where they are free to grow as a 3D ball. Researchers believe that growing the cancer cells in this way can more closely mirror how they behave inside the body. They grew mini tumours from biopsies taken from 71 patients with advanced bowel, stomach or bile duct cancer that had spread to other parts of the body. The researchers tested 55 cancer drugs on the mini tumours, allowing them to compare the results to how each patient's cancer responded to the treatment they were given. Mini tumours were more effective at predicting when drugs would be effective than looking for gene faults (mutations) in the cancer cells' DNA. The study focused on stomach and bowel cancer, but Valeri said that "the technique could be applied to a wide variety of cancer types". Organoids have already been grown from a variety of different cancers, including liver, pancreatic and oesophageal. State church authorities had offered to fund replacing the bell, which were widespread during the Nazi era. (Photo: AFP) A small town in southwestern Germany has decided to keep a church bell dedicated to Adolf Hitler ringing, but as a memorial to spark dialogue about violence and injustice. The DPA news agency reported Tuesday the Herxheim am Berg council voted 10-3 to preserve the bell, which carries the inscription "Everything for the Fatherland - Adolf Hitler" above a Nazi swastika, as a memorial in its Protestant church. State church authorities had offered to fund replacing the bell, which were widespread during the Nazi era but mostly removed after the war. But a study had concluded removing it would be akin to "fleeing from an appropriate culture of remembrance" and recommended either leaving it in place with an explanatory plaque, or putting it in a museum. Brand owner Diageo Plc is hoping the move widens the appeal of the product while celebrating women. (Twitter Screengrab/ @JohnnieWalker) London: Diageo (DGE.L), the worlds largest spirits company, is launching a U.S. limited edition of its Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch featuring a woman on the label, called Jane Walker, it said on Monday. The launch in March marks the first major change to the brands striding man logo in over a century and comes as Diageo and peers try to attract more women drinkers. The move is being lookes at by many as an attempt to draw more women to the worlds best-selling scotch and acknowledge a broader push toward gender equality. A limited US edition of the whisky will have a striding woman on the label rather than the traditional top-hatted man and carry the name Jane Walker. Brand owner Diageo Plc is hoping the move widens the appeal of the product while celebrating women, said Stephanie Jacoby, vice president of Johnnie Walker. Taking to twitter, the brand wrote, "Introducing Jane Walker, our new icon that celebrates progress in Womens Rights. With every step, we all move forward." Bengaluru: In a huge blow to Mohammed Nalapad Haris and his six man gang who have been incarcerated in Parappana Agrahara central prison following the brutal attack on 24-year-old Vidwath at an upmarket mall in the city last week, the court adjourned the bail plea to Tuesday, ensuring they will spend another 24 hours in jail. Parameshwara Prasanna B, judge of 63rd City Civil and Session Court heard arguments of both M. S. Shyam Sundar, a Special Public Prosecutor and Tommy Sebastian, defence counsel appearing for Nalapad and adjourned the plea to Tuesday. Tommy Sebastian, defence counsel strongly argued for bail to be granted to Nalapad and his co-accused, saying "it is a simple case of a scuffle, a 'free fight' which barely lasted for few minutes, there is no evidence to prove there was any attempt to murder Vidwath. The defence counsel said that the victim Vidwath was in fact recovering well at the hospital and had been shifted out of ICU. He also accused the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) of preventing Vidwath from recording his statement before police and demanded that the medical reports on the condition of Vidwath's health be submitted before the court. "While the SPP is projecting the father of the accused N. A. Haris as politically strong, in reality, it is Vidwath's father, an industrialist who is far more powerful and who is influencing the investigation at every level", the defence counsel stated in court, adding that "within 24 hours of the brawl, an inspector of the Cubbon Park police station was transferred and subsequently, an SPP was appointed within a week which is unheard of." Further, Mr. Sebastian argued that Nalapad had not assaulted the victim with any weapon or rods as claimed by the SPP. "If at all he was assaulted with weapons why was it not registered in the police complaint earlier. There is no supporting evidences to prove their claims", he argued. The SPP Shyam Sundar said Nalapad is influential and could use his money and muscle power to destroy evidence. Accused offer pooja in prison Ahead of the bail plea hearing of Nalapad and his friends, at the 63 ACMM court on Monday, who are lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central prison in connection with brutal attack against Vidwath at Farzi Cafe, the co-accused - Balakrishna, Manjunath, Abhishek and Arun Babu offered pooja at the prison. The Islamic State on Monday took the responsibility for attack on a police post and killing a policemen in Soura area of Srinagar. (Photo: Representational/File) Srinagar: The Islamic State on Monday took the responsibility for attack on a police post and killing a policemen in Soura area of Srinagar. The policeman, Farooq Ahmed, guarding the residence of Hurriyat leader Fazal Haq Qureshi, in Soura area of the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir was killed and his rifle stolen by militants on Sunday. "Assassinated an element of police in firing near city of Srinagar in Kashmir yesterday," Al Amaq News Agency of the ISIS claimed. "A war has just begun," it added. State police chief SP Vaid contradicting his earlier statement on the presence of ISIS in the valley told NDTV that it is now clear that the attack was carried out by ISIS and admitted "it is indeed a worrying sign". I dont think ISIS has any footprints here, Shesh Paul Vaid had said last year. Also Read: Has ISIS succeeded in making inroads in Kashmir? Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had also dismissed reports about the presence of ISIS in the state, saying the Indian Muslims would never allow such outfits to have a base in the country. Vaid on Tuesday, told NDTV, "it is now clear that attack too, was carried out by ISIS and they were wrong to deny it". In the latest case, he said, the police knows the identity of the attacker and were on his trail. The officer, however, said, "There doesn't seem to be any substantial presence of ISIS". The attacks, he said, could have been carried out by a lone wolf or a few people driven by ISIS ideology. In November, last year, ISIS, in its official news agency 'Amaq', had claimed the responsibility for a shootout in which a police officer and a militant were killed in Srinagar. The Dubai Police released her forensic report on Monday which put the cause of death as accidental drowning and not cardiac arrest as was earlier reported. (Photo: File) Mumbai: Three days after she died in her hotel suite in Dubai, authorities issued the final clearance letter on Tuesday afternoon that will enable Bollywood actor and legend Sridevi to come home to India. Sridevi died from accidental drowning in her hotel bathtub late on Saturday night, causing nationwide shock and a long wait for her to come back to India. Also Read: Sridevis mortal remains to arrive in Mumbai soon The Dubai Police handed over the letter to Sridevi's family and the Indian Consulate for the release of her mortal remains early on Tuesday afternoon. The Dubai Media Office tweeted: The Public Prosecutor's Office in Dubai said: 'The decision to release the body came after all the investigations and procedural matters followed in such incidents were completed, in order to determine all its circumstances and ensure that justice was done within the framework of the law'. The case is now considered closed. Her body was embalmed at the Medical Fitness Centre in Muhaisanah, Dubai. It is reported the mortal remains of Sridevi will arrive in Mumbai late on Tuesday night. The funeral will take place on Wednesday afternoon. The delay took place because the Dubai Police in its forensic report put the cause of death as accidental drowning and not cardiac arrest as was earlier reported. The autopsy concluded Sridevi lost consciousness and drowned accidentally in the bathtub. Also Read: Sridevi 'accidentally drowned', case with Dubai Public Prosecution Following the report, the case was transferred to the Dubai Public Prosecution for routine legal procedure and the final clearance. Late on Monday night, sources told the Gulf News that Sridevis husband Boney Kapoor had been called to the Bur Dubai police station for questioning. He was allowed to go back to the hotel after he made a statement, the paper reported. Hotel staff was also questioned. Boney Kapoor's son Arjun Kapoor flew to Dubai on Tuesday morning to be with his father. "Arjun has gone to Dubai this morning to be with his father at the hotel while the formalities are being wrapped up and to oversee the return journey," said a statement issued by the Kapoor family. Indian diplomatic officials told Gulf News that they were trying their best to repatriate the actors mortal remains as soon as possible. It is learnt a 13-seat jet belonging to the Reliance group headed by Anil Ambani is kept ready at the Dubai airport to bring her back. According to UAE procedures, in the case of an accidental death, the post-mortem and forensic reports are referred to the Public Prosecution. "The papers are revised by the prosecutors of the jurisdiction where the incident happened. An official order to hand over the body of the deceased to the family or relatives is issued shortly after that," the Gulf News reported. After her mortal remains come back to Mumbai, her cremation will be held in Vile Parle. The late actress' spokesperson issued an official statement on behalf of the family, which states, "On behalf of Khushi, Janhvi, Boney Kapoor, the entire Kapoor and Ayyappan families, a sincere thanks to the media for your continued sensitivity and support during this emotional moment. Condolences and last respects to be held on 28th Feb Wednesday, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm at Celebration Sports Club, Garden No 5, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400053. The last journey will commence at 2 pm from Celebration Sports Club to Pawan Hans. The cremation ceremony will be held at Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery, Next to Pawan Hans, SV Road, Vile Parle West from 3.30 pm onwards." The spokesperson also issued another official statement on behalf of the family, which reads, "Khushi, Janhvi, Boney Kapoor and the entire Kapoor and Ayyappan families are deeply bereaved and shocked with the untimely loss of Sridevi Kapoor. Late Sridevi Kapoor passed away in Dubai, UAE, on Saturday February 24th. We thank the film fraternity, media, fans of late Sridevi Kapoor and all the well-wishers for their prayers, support and sensitivity during our moment of immense grief. We request you to kindly join us in paying our last respect to a remarkable actor, beloved wife and loving mother." It is no secret that conservatism has been suffering an identity crisis since at least the end of the Cold War. But inviting French National Front member Marion Marechal-Le Pen to address CPAC has stirred debate over another political label: classical liberal. CPAC attendees gave her a positive reception on Thursday, responding with emotion when she said France is transforming from the eldest daughter of the Catholic Church to the little niece of Islam. This is not the France that our grandparents fought for, she said. The reference to grandparents was unfortunate. Her grandfather, Jean-Marie Le Pen, founded the National Front (FN) in 1972 with the support of traditionalist Catholics as well as Vichy apologists, Holocaust deniers, and open fascists. In 2012, at age 22, Marion became the youngest person elected to the National Assembly in the past two centuries, as an FN member. Her aunt, Marine Le Pen, eventually elbowed Jean-Marie (Marines own father) aside to take the reins of the party, making it to the run-off of the 2017 French presidential election before losing to Emmanuel Macron. Marine distanced the party from pere Le Pen by toning down its overt racism, emphasizing its economic interventionism, and entirely jettisoning its Catholic self-image. Yet FNs history, and Marions own positions, made many question (and some virulently denounce) her invitation. CPAC responded by saying that, unlike her aunt, Marion stands for classical liberalism (i.e., conservatism). Marion and Marine Le Pen have clashed, publicly and privately, over the direction of National Front. But Marion Le Pen is no champion of classical liberalism. Exhibit A is her CPAC speech itself. Eamonn Butler, who literally wrote the book on the subject of classical liberalism, explained that its adherents believe too many nations try to protect their own producers with import quotas and tariffs. Yet in her CPAC speech, Marion Marechal-Le Pen denounced free trade alongside eugenics, euthanasia, and transhumanism. Eliminating trade barriers creates slaves in developing nations, she said. The most recent National Front platform calls for intelligent protectionist measures to shield domestic industries from unfair foreign competition. On economics Marion is to the right of her aunt but so too, arguably, is Emmanuel Macron. The FNs fiscal policy, accepted by both Le Pens, sees the State acting as the strategist in industry and finance, and promises to guarantee the welfare state. Marion Marechal-Le Pen promised a total of 40.2 million ($49.5 million U.S.) a year in new government spending in 2015. The only discernible cut she proposed was axing 200,000 for family planning, according to the French free market think tank, Fondation iFRAP. Le Pens brand of social conservatism easily supports pro-natalist economic policies like reinstating the universal family allowance. Its true that Marion comes from the traditionalist Catholic wing of the National Front, and displays little enthusiasm for the far-left economics espoused by her aunt, Marine, the current leader, wrote Daniel Hannan on Monday. But the result is not classical liberalism, a concept best likened to modern-day libertarianism. Marion proudly proclaimed herself the political heir of Jean-Marie Le Pen last April, adding that she disagreed with his (repeated) comments downplaying the Holocaust. Filial loyalty notwithstanding, one would hope a classical liberal would offer a more robust denunciation of her partys illiberalism if she has one to make. Marion is a far-right nationalist like her grandfather, and its precisely because Marine tried to distance the party from the toxic image of Jean-Marie, to become more mainstream and attract working-class voters, that she opposed her, said Ben Haddad of the Hudson Institute. That means dissenting from Aunt Marines icy secularism and most pronounced economic interventionism. Marine so championed French secularism (laicite) that she was willing to banish the crucifix and the kippah from all public places, as long as the burqa followed in tow. Marion has called on French civic and cultural leaders to end their self-flagellation and acknowledge Frances Christian roots. But it also means a closer relationship with the uglier parts of the partys domestic constituency. For instance, last year she dropped in on an event run by the Identitarian movement an ethnic identity movement one political scientist placed between the National Front and full-blown neo-Nazism allegedly to meet friends. Two years earlier, she spoke of the National Front creating a union of the Right, including Identitarians from Generation Identitaire (some of whom ran for office with FN, others worked on her staff). Conservatives would do well to follow Mark Tooleys advice to be wary. Daniel Hannan tweeted more tersely: American conservatives should have nothing to do with the Le Pens. https://t.co/xyr4nAGORf Daniel Hannan (@DanielJHannan) February 26, 2018 There is a vast gulf between the ideology of any Le Pen and the classical liberalism of Bastiat or Tocqueville. She made an heartfelt plea for religious expression and socially conservative values e.g., that people should not be free to purchase designer children in a catalogue. But Marion Marechal-Le Pen needs a greater appreciation for the ways the free market protects human dignity and how the miasma of identity politics distorts it. (Photo credit: Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the farmers of Karnataka at a rally in Davanagere, Karnataka on Tuesday. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) Davanagere: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday attacked the Congress for not working towards the plight of farmers of the country. Addressing the farmers of Karnataka at a rally in Davanagere, the Prime Minister said, "One family (Gandhis) ruled the country for 48 years and one tea seller ruled for 48 months. Born in rich houses, they could not care for farmers in 48 years. But in 48 months, we multiplied Minimum Support Price (MSP) by one and half for the farmers." Narendra Modi also went on to add that by focusing on farmers and rural India, the NDA government has been taking several steps for transformation of the agriculture sector of the country. The Prime Minister termed the crop insurance scheme by the NDA government a comprehensive one and said that by 2022 the government wants to double the income of farmers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also took a potshot at Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and said Karnataka needs freedom from corruption. Modi said, "More than Siddaramaiah, it is 'Seedha Rupaiyya (money first)' that drives the working of the government in Karnataka. Everything seems to be happening at a price here (Karnataka). Karnataka needs freedom from such corruption." The Prime Minister further added, "Karnataka Government is certain to be defeated. Their misdeeds have made the government unpopular. Election after election what are the people doing? They are removing Congress. When Congress goes, the harmful Congress culture also goes." Intensifying his attack at Congress government in Karnataka, the Prime Minister said the Centre allocates funds but why is it that Congress government in Karnataka not spending it for welfare of people. He added that no work is done in Karnataka without any commission. "Congress government in Karnataka is insensitive towards healthcare facilities for people in the state. Centre sends funds, but why does it not spend on improving health infrastructure of the state," Modi elaborated. The rally at Davanagere was organised by the BJP Karnataka unit to mark the 75th birthday of its president and Chief Ministerial nominee BS Yeddyurappa. Now officials are being taught how Google maps can be used to assess soil fertility. Such maps prevent sea water intrusion into cultivable lands. Besides,they can also enhance fresh water storage. Chennai: The state agriculture department which used Google maps to assess the sea water intrusion in Cuddalore district last year had successfully brought back irrigation near Vallar river mouth, this January. Construction of new check dams regulating hydrology flow and reclamation of soil has restored cultivation in 1,500 acres of land in Chidambaram taluk and the agriculture-engineering department is now on video shooting spree-taking documentaries to educate farmers on land reclamation. The first set of such video documentaries had now reached the power corridors of secretariat. Gone are the days where the agriculture department officials would sit for hours and conduct field inspections to study the issues of farmers and soil fertility. In the age of digital media, government officials attached to agriculture department are now trained on Google images, Whatsapp communication, short film production on ploughing and conducting lab studies on soil fertility and we are now campaigning on prevention of sea water intrusion, said an official attached to the agricultural engineering department. Salt intrusion in to the cultivable lands of Chidambaram and Cuddalore had been an issue since 2004 Tsunami and now with the agriculture department constructing check dams to arrest sea water intrusion and enhance fresh water storage, farming is back in our village, says Syed Shoukath, a farmer of Killai Peruratchi in Cuddalore. Rough sea invading paddy field is a regular phenomenon affecting farming and now with agriculture engineering department focusing on fresh water management and micro management of soil nutrient, the quality of crops raised in Ponnanthittu coastal area has improved, said farmer K. Selvan of Cuddalore. Based on the success of land reclamation more such tail end of the Cauvery delta region will be adopted by agriculture department and there are areas where irrigation is practiced as close to 100metres from the sea, said a senior official adding that the project will complete for a few more pockets in Cuddalore and Nagapattinam areas. Maldives has not not given any reason for not participating in the exercise. (Photo: Twitter/@indiannavy/Representational) New Delhi: Maldives has declined India's invitation to participate in the biennial naval exercise Milan, which starts March 6, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said on Tuesday. Maldives has not not given any reason for the decision, Lanba told reporters on the sidelines of an event here. Navy sources said over 16 countries have confirmed their participation in the exercise. The biennial exercise 'Milan' is being organised in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the backdrop of China's growing military posturing in the Indo-Pacific region and officials said the issue is likely to figure during deliberations among navy chiefs of the participating countries at the event. "The interactions during Milan encompass sharing of views and ideas on maritime good order and enhancing regional cooperation for combating unlawful activities at sea," spokesperson of Indian Navy Capt D K Sharma said. Besides fostering cooperation through naval exercises and professional interactions, Capt Sharma said 'Milan' will also provide an opportunity to the participating navies to nurture stronger ties in dealing with various security challenges. India, the US and several other nations have been pressing for freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea. Officials said China's military manoeuvres in the South China Sea may figure during discussions among navy chiefs of the participating countries at the event. The Kerala Assembly Speaker rejected sanction for the notice of adjournment motion and also took strong objection to holding placards by the Opposition so as to hinder the view of the Chair. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Assembly witnessed a stormy session for the second consecutive day on Tuesday with the Opposition intensifying their protests over the death of a Youth Congress activist in Kannur. The Opposition demanded CBI enquiry over the death of the Youth Congress activist Shuhaib and also raised issue of the lynching of a tribal youth in Palakkad's Attapady. The tribal youth died when he was being taken to a hospital by police. Also Read: Youth congress man hacked to death in Kannur The second day of the assembly session opened with the question hour. The Opposition MLAs raised slogans and displayed placards and banners in front of the Speaker's chair seeking immediate action over murder of Youth Congress functionary. Also Read: Selfie craze: Locals click while mentally unstable Kerala man tied, beaten to death Furthermore, the Opposition sought action over the alleged murder of Safeer, son of Mannarkkad Municipality Councillor Varodan Sirajuddheen. The Speaker rejected sanction for the notice of adjournment motion and also took strong objection to holding placards by the Opposition so as to hinder the view of the Chair. Following the ruckus in the house, the question hour has been suspended. CBI on Tuesday said PNB has informed the investigating agency that further scam of Rs 1,251 crores has been detected with respect to Gitanjali Gems. (Photo: File) Mumbai: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday said that Punjab National Bank (PNB) has informed the investigating agency that further scam of Rs 1,251 crores has been detected with respect to Gitanjali Gems. CBI is now probing Rs 12,636 crore which is (Nirav and Gitanjali) PNB scam, up from Rs 11,421 crore. Former Managing Director of Punjab National Bank (PNB) Usha Ananth has been questioned by the CBI in Mumbai in connection with the bank scam. Two serving general managers have also been called by the investigating agency for questioning. Executive Director of ICICI bank, NS Kannan has also been questioned. He is the leader of consortium of the bank that lent money of Gitanjali Group. Chennai: Even as criticism and condemnation exploded all around, particularly in social media and from prominent opposition politicians slamming the ruling AIADMK for the poor resemblance of the Jayalalithaa statue in the party headquarters to the late leader, the Vijayawada-based sculptor says he is shattered by the unfair blame heaped on him. We are a family of sculptors down generations and have done over 20,000 statues installed across the country. We had done more than 2,000 statues of late CM Y.S. ajasekhara Reddy and countless figurines of Ambedkar. Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi unveiled a 16-ft bronze of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2 last year at Yanam. This is the first time we have fallen in the beholders eye for our work and that too for no fault of ours, said Sivavaraprasad, 52. No fault of his? Well yes, he insists. For a bronze of this size, we would need at least 30 days but we were pushed to complete it in just 20 days so that they could install it on Jayalalithaas birthday (Feb 24). We were not given time to do the finishing touches, which is a vitally important part of the sculpting, said Prasad, adding that he along with brother Kamadhenu got a 20-member team to work round-the-clock to deliver the statue on schedule. Elaborating on his travails at the hands of the AIADMK masters who had placed the statue order and pushed for its urgent delivery, Prasad said, We were not allowed to properly complete the eyes and eyebrows, and colour them as we normally do for all the statues to make them look bright and real. We were told to leave the statue as plain and simple as possible so that it would not look more attractive than the MGR statue next to it. We had wanted to provide a saree border but they shot that down too. But then, the statue is not all that bad as it is being made out to be by the critics. The sense of dissimilarity occurs due to the imbalance between light and shade. Besides, that place is too congested for a statue of that size; two of them actually, Prasad argued, while explaining that he had used several photographs of Jayalalithaa, taken from multiple angles, to guide his work on her statue. In any case, he said, he had already started work on doing another Jaya statue as replacement because we must regain our lost face. He was not interested in money but he must reassert his credentials as a sculptor par-excellence. I am finishing the clay model in a couple of days. If they approve it, I will finish the new statue in about 30 days after that. I will deliver it free of cost because I must redeem my name. According to the sculptor, the order for the statue came from a loyalist who probably wanted to donate it to the party. I have not seen him myself. No minister contacted me ever, said Prasad, skirting the question seeking the man's identity. A TISS Hyderabad representative said on Monday night that the hunger strike is the last step and is an ultimatum to the Ministry of Human Resource and Development and University Grants Commission. (Photo: Facebook) Mumbai: Six students of Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Hyderabad campus, started an indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday at 9 am in a demand to renew the Government of India Post-Matric Scholarship (GOI-PMS). The GOI-PMS scholarship enables students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) to be financially assisted by the government for higher education. The income ceiling of parents/guardian for eligibility is Rs 1 lakh per annum. However, students whose parents have an income as low as Rs 20,000 have been charged with bills that amount to Rs 9,300 per semester for only food and hostel, tuition fees apart. This has forced many students to quit pursuing their higher studies even after taking admission and in some cases, continuing the course for a year or more. The Registrar for all four TISS campuses who is located in Mumbai has repeatedly ignored how this has also pushed many students into heavy loan debts. A TISS Hyderabad representative said on Monday night that the hunger strike is the last step and is an ultimatum to the Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) and University Grants Commission (UGC). TISS campuses at Guwahati, Tuljapur and Mumbai have also been protesting for a week now. Students at the Mumbai campus have blocked the main entrance, refusing to yield until their demands are met. The Registrar has sent a letter to the students requesting them to move the blockade, otherwise, the authorities would recourse to stricter action, a copy of which has been sent to the Trombay Police Station. Admission for the academic year 2018-19 is scheduled to begin in Mumbai on Tuesday. There are a lot of things Bengaluru needs-better roads, drains, regular power supply and smooth flowing public transport but not beggars turned sellers who thrust their wares on you at street corners or transgenders who wont let you go without extracting their due. Begging in a cosmopolitan city is an easy way to earn a living. On an average, a beggar can earn upto Rs 3,000 per day. Strict policing and stringent action can curb the menace but these people return to begging sooner than later. And whats interesting is that most of the beggars are migrants. Nikhil Gangadhar analyses the beggar problem in the city and explores solutions on how to deal with the growing menace. Beggary has always been an issue in Bengaluru and its no doubt a tough task to eradicate it completely. A few people beg for a livelihood, some are forced into it while others beg so that they can lead an easy life without sweating it out. In Bengaluru, spotting a minor, an elderly individual or the physically challenged, begging for alms on busy streets or traffic junctions is a common sight. Even transgenders beg on the streets and at shops. A senior officer from the Social Welfare Department, who did not want to reveal his name, told Deccan Chronicle that begging has always been an issue with no actual solution available. There are various temporary solutions but they cannot be put into use in an effective manner to eradicate begging completely. There is need for a strict policy where people should not be allowed to beg but it is easier said than done as many have found beggary the best way to lead an easy life. he added. According to him, currently, there are 457 inmates in the Beggars Colony on Magadi Road of which 337 are males and 117 females. Over the past couple of years, there is a slight drop in beggary which can be attributed to the alert public, who inform the Beggars Helpline, and also due to strict policing. Around five years ago, it was found that there were around 10,000 beggars in Karnataka. The highest was in Bengaluru- around 1,200- but now it has come down to 800. We also have a helpline, 10581, which people can call and inform about beggars and their location. We have a rescue team, who are on a constant patrol and they are alerted. The rescue team visits the spot and takes them to the colony, where formalities are completed. An official from the Beggars Colony said, The helpline, on an average receives 10 to 12 calls but people rescued are low in number, so by the time the rescue team reaches the spot, the beggars must have left. On an average, the colony gets 8 to 10 people every week and sometimes there is not a single beggar. The official also revealed that the majority of those rescued are the elderly. These people do not have shelter or their children might have abandoned them and they end up begging on the streets. There are also middle aged people who turn to begging due to unemployment. We take them into the colony and train them in various skill courses like tailoring, farming, manufacture of house cleaning products like phenol, liquid cleaners, soaps and many more. Simultaneously, they also undergo counseling and once they agree to go out and earn a decent living, we help them to get a job too, added the official. He also mentioned that we usually have the inmates for a year or three years and in most of the cases, their relatives or family members are informed and they come and get them released after a magistrate order is issued. While 90 per cent of the rescued people are released and are re-united with their family members. The police personnel also rescue beggars and bring them to the colony and at times, they trace the family members and counsel them too. Officials also claimed that there is a problem with migrants who have their own network. These days people come from different parts of the country. Police need to deal with them sternly. They come for begging, added the official. When its so lucrative, why would they work? A cosmopolitan city like Bengaluru offers numerous opportunities to people who would like to live their lives seeking alms which is one reason why there are so many beggars at street corners. Samuel JP, a lecturer in social work at a reputed college, who is studying beggary in the city, told Deccan Chronicle that beggary has become a profession for many, just to ensure that there is no need for them to work hard. My study has found that in a city like Bengaluru, on an average, a beggar earns anywhere between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000 an day while a beggar who is a minor, earns much more as people tend to be more sympathetic towards them." There are also cases where they are forced to beg due to circumstances. There was an elderly couple from KG Halli, who had a son who is a drug and alcohol addict. He did not like working and his old parents could not afford to work, so he forced them to go beg in different areas. We have also seen people using infants to gain sympathy of people. All these reveals a different picture. The police should ensure that every beggar who is rescued, is questioned thoroughly and then sent to the rehabilitation centre. They will then realize that there is a different world where they can live with dignity, added Mr Samuel. a beggar earns anywhere between Rs 2,500 and Rs 5,000 an day while a beggar who is a minor When asked about measures taken to curb begging, a senior police officer said, We have instructed the jurisdictional police to keep an eye on traffic junctions, where most of the begging happens. On finding anyone indulging in this act, we detain them and hand them over to the Beggars Colony. If the beggar is a minor, we send them to the women and child rescue centre. We also ensure that no child is involved in begging or hawking. Special drives are conducted frequently to keep a check on begging. We have found that most of the beggars in the city are from north Indian states and come to the city, make money by begging and then go back to their native places. Once the money is spent, they come back and resume begging, explained the officer. Whenever infants are rescued from people who use them for begging, we carry out a detailed investigation in the matter, as it is serious and might be a case of kidnapping or human trafficking, added the officer. Belagavi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi has accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of handing over the contract to buy Rafale aircraft to one of his close friends by depriving the HAL of this contract. The Rafale deal had been given to HAL but Mr Modi cancelled it. He went to Paris and changed the Rafale contract without asking any officials or ministers back home. The countrys then Defence Minister (Manohar Parrikar) was busy buying fish in Goan markets and was not even aware of the change of the Rafale contract by Mr Modi in Paris, said Mr Gandhi at a Congress rally in Saudatti adding that by changing the contract for no logical reason, the PM had deprived the youth in Karnataka of jobs. HAL has been producing aircraft for the last 70 years, but Mr Modi's friend who got this contract, has never manufactured any aircraft, said Mr Gandhi adding that he had posed three questions to the PM after the change in the Rafale contract. I asked him whether the price of the aircraft had increased or gone down after the change of the contract. I asked him on what basis he (Modi) had handed over the contract to his friend after snatching it from HAL and the youth of Karnataka. What was the main reason for change of this contract, said Rahul, adding that major military contracts must be finalised only after obtaining permission from the Cabinet Committee on Security but Mr Modi had no answer to a query on this. He asked people at the rally whether Mr Modi had given jobs to two crore youth in one year which he had promised prior to becoming PM and said, he took people for a ride by launching projects like Startup India and Make In India which never came to the help of the youth. Dalits, minorities and adivasis were being beaten up and attacked in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat where the BJP was in power, he said. Asserting that the Congress government was much better in terms of performance than the previous BJP government, he said BJP produced 13,000 MW of power during its rule while the Congress now produces 22,000 MW. The Congress government started Indira Canteens and gave food to the needy at `5 a plate, he said. Highlighting the achievements of Congress governments, he said reservation in panchayats was brought in by his party which resulted in the victory of 20 lakh women in the panchayat raj system. We want the Womens Bill to be passed in both Houses of parliament but the BJP is stalling it, he added. Hyderabad: As senior Congress leaders embarked on the Praja Chaitanya Yatra to showcase unity among party leaders, senior Congress MLA from Gadwal and former minister D.K. Aruna on Tuesday announced she would undertake a padayatra across the state. This would be to expose TRS governme-nts failures and explain to the people to bring Congress to power reci-procate their gesture to Ms Sonia Gandhi who was credited with granting Telangana State. Ms Aruna, as incharge of party affairs of Rang-areddy district, participated in bus yatra on Monday but on the second day preferred to return to capital to anno-unce her own yatra fr-om Alampur to Adil-abad covering all the 119 Assembly segments. She had been maintaining her individuality ever since N. Uttam Kumar Reddy was appointed TPCC chief and party sources said she was keen on the Chief Minister post if Congress came to power. It was a known fact that she did not like the admission of BJP leader Nagam Janardhan Re-ddy into the Congress and even went to Delhi to complain to AICC pr-esident Rahul Gandhi. I am only interested in seeing Congress back to power in the state and planning my padayatra accordingly, she said. I have already met AICC secretary R.C. Kuntia and conveyed my wish to take up padayatra from April, Ms Aruna told mediapersons here on Tuesday. However, party circles felts she was trying to build a separate group within the party to challenge the leadership of Uttam Kumar Reddy who took up the bus yatra intended to unite all senior leaders. In her CPAC speech, Marion Marechal-Le Pen linked free trade with slavery in the developing world. The former member of the French National Assembly said: If we want to make France great again, we must defend our economic interests in the global market. The EU submits us to unfair competition with the rest of the world. We cannot accept a model that creates slaves in developing nations and unemployed in Western countries. Is it true that the free market creates slaves in developing nations? The Global Slavery Index is the most objective measure of slavery in every nation of the world (though its methodology has been questioned). Comparing the prevalence of slavery in a nation with the rates of economic freedom measured in the Fraser Institutes World Economic Freedom Index and the Heritage Foundations 2018 Index of Economic Freedom allows us to test Le Pens statement. The two lists look nearly like mirror images. The nation with the largest proportion of slaves is North Korea. Unsurprisingly, it is ranked dead last by Heritage. Of the 10 nations with the highest proportion of slaves which were also evaluated by the Fraser Institute, seven rank among the worlds Least Free economies. (North Korea, among other economically stifling nations, is not evaluated.) The Heritage Foundation lists only one (Qatar) as Mostly Free. On the other hand, all but one of the nations with the lowest proportion of slaves ranked in the worlds top quartile for economic freedom. (The lowest score belonged to Belgium.) The tables are as follows: Nations with the highest proportion of slaves Nation World Economic Freedom Index Index of Economic Freedom North Korea Not Ranked Repressed (180) Uzbekistan Not Ranked Mostly Unfree (152) Cambodia 2nd quartile (63) Mostly Unfree (101) India 3rd quartile (93) Mostly Unfree (130) Qatar 2nd quartile (45) Mostly Free (29) Pakistan Least Free (127) Mostly Unfree (131) Democratic Republic of Congo Least Free (147) Mostly Unfree (147) Sudan Not Ranked Repressed (161) Iraq Not Ranked Not Ranked Afghanistan Not Ranked Mostly Unfree (154) Yemen Least Free (123) Not Ranked Syria Least Free (153) Not Ranked Libya Least Free (154) Not Ranked Central African Republic Least Free (158) Repressed (163) Mauritania Least Free (145) Mostly Unfree (134) Nations with the lowest proportion of slaves Nation World Economic Freedom Index Index of Economic Freedom Luxembourg Most Free (28) Mostly Free (14) New Zealand Most Free (3) Free (3) Ireland Most Free (5) Free (6) Norway Most Free (25) Mostly Free (23) Denmark Most Free (15) Mostly Free (12) Switzerland Most Free (4) Mostly Free (4) Austria Most Free (26) Mostly Free (32) Sweden Most Free (27) Mostly Free (15) Belgium 2nd quartile (42) Moderately Free (52) Australia Most Free (9) Free (5) That suggests a strong correlation between an open economy including free trade and reduced human trafficking. What about political slavery? If modern slavery does not flourish in capitalist countries, what about the prevalence of dictatorial regimes? Overall, it may be said that countries with greater economic freedom tend to have a high level of electoral freedom, and vice-versa, according to the World Electoral Freedom Index, produced by (neighboring) Spains Foundation for the Advancement of Liberty. Citizens have greater freedom to vote, run for office, and have their vote shape policy in economically free nations, the reported concluded. Only a system of free and informed exchange can bring about co-ordination without coercion within a society, Milton Friedman explained in Capitalism and Freedom. But globalization promotes democracy both directly and indirectly, wrote Jagdish Bhagwati. Rural farmers are now able to bypass the dominant classes and castes by taking their produce directly to the market. The resultant prosperity allows the newly empowered peasants to assert their political will. Globalization leads to prosperity, and prosperity in turn leads to democratization of politics with the rise of the middle class, he wrote. On the other hand, EU tariffs are one of many barriers to the formation of a prosperous African middle class. Unfair competition? True, but. Marion Marechal-Le Pen asserted that the EU subjects France to unfair competition with the rest of the world. The EU is a customs union that artificially inflates the price of imported goods, which disproportionately harms developing nations. Its Common Agricultural Policy slaps an 18 percent tariff on imported food to reduce competition with the EUs government-subsidized farmers. Other tariffs disincentivize developing nations from producing value-added, finished goods that would enhance and diversify their economies. African nations hope forming a Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) will help them leverage a better deal with the EU. The EU certainly subjects France to unfair competition, but the deck is stacked against the worlds poorest nations. Having it both ways Finally, as Michael Brendan Dougherty observed at National Review, the idea that free trade generates slavery differs from Trumps contention that foreign countries are getting the better deal out of free trade. Either weve made other countries rich (to quote Donald Trumps inaugural address), or weve allowed rapacious capitalist slave-drivers to colonize and enslave the noble indigenous populations of multiple continents. The two notions do not rest comfortably beside one other. Conclusion The data appear to show that economic openness with private property rights and the rule of law reduces, rather than facilitates political repression and human slavery. This is important for people of faith. The Apostle Paul clearly presented slavery as incompatible with Christianity in the Book of Philemon. In a joint statement last February, the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Church of England condemned all forms of human enslavement as the most heinous of sins, inasmuch as it violates the free will and the integrity of every human being created in the image of God. Those who oppose human or political slavery may want to encourage the policies that create greater stability and prosperity: economic liberty and the rule of law. (Photo credit: Public domain.) TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy greeted by people as he reaches Tandur on Tuesday on the third day of Praja Chaitanya Yatra. (Photo: P. Anil kumar) Hyderabad: TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has termed the sops being announced by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao as a cheap political stunt. Addressing a massive meeting at Tandur in erstwhile Rangareddy district on Tuesday afternoon, as part of the second day of the senior Congress leaders Bus Yatra, Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy said the TRS government neglected the farm sector during the last four years. Of an overall allocation of nearly Rs 5 lakh crore in the five budgets presented so far, not a single rupee was spent to help the farmers by pro-curing their produce. Crop loan waiver scheme was implemented in such an erratic manner that farmers remained hoo-ked to their debts for alm-ost four years. However, with elections round the corner, KCR has suddenly developed some sympathy for farmers and is making some announcements, he said. Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy said that by paying just Rs 4,000 per acre in a season, KCR is trying to make the farmers forget the sufferings which they had gone through the last four years. The TPCC president said the TRS government did not provide any input, did nothing for the procurement of crops and even remained silent when the Central government denied assistance for damages suffered due to natural calamity. Mr Uttam Kumar Reddy said that nearly 4,000 farmers committed suicide during the last four years due to the negligent attitude of the KCR government. By paying Rs 4,000 per acre, KCR cannot get away from the sin of ignoring poor farmers, he said. The TPCC chief also ridiculed KCRs move to provide insurance cover for farmers. He asked as to why insurance cover was not provided from the first year itself. He said KCRs sympathy for farmers was nothing but a stunt aimed at cheating the farming community, eyeing next election. Leader of Opposition in the State Assembly K. Jana Reddy said the atte-ndance of people in their public meetings gives a clear cut indication that the Congress is slated to come to power again in the state. Mr Jana Reddy asked the people and the Congr-ess workers to work hard to bring Congress Raj in the Telangana State as the ruling TRS government has failed in many aspects to fulfil its promises even after four years of rule. He criticised Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao of deceiving one and all by promising one thing and doing exactly the opposite. He reminded the Chief Minister on his promise of reopening Nizam Sugar factory immediately after coming to power and it has not been implemented yet. Janareddy said that the TRS leaders are bound to be sent to jail for failing in all their promises including two bed room houses and three acres of land to each Dalit family. Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council Shabbir Ali accused six Ministers in KCR cabinet as Telangana traitors who worked against Telangana statehood and asked the Chief Minister on what has happened to his promise of providing 12 per cent reservations to backward Muslim minorities in the state and what steps he has taken to convince the Central Government in this regard. Where autumn follows spring, Nothing comes to fruition The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) embarrassment, utterly isolating and shameful as it is, has become the norm for Pakistan. Along with so much else that has isolated and humiliated Pakistanis this too was so obviously coming and was so stupidly and irresponsibly ignored. The debt-riddled development taking place in Pakistan has been made even more fragile. Critical commentators are often accused of being unnecessarily bitter about the state of the country. But when the state of governance is so criminal and damaging how else can one accurately depict the truth about our rulers who unhesitatingly make a mockery and laughing stock of the country? China has gone out of its way to protect Pakistan from international criticism, humiliation, isolation and punishment despite its own grave concerns about the latitude extremists and terrorists enjoy in Pakistan. In this case China once again stood by Pakistan. But, as a result of an egregiously misleading and triumphant tweet which was apparently against the procedures of FATF, Pakistans inept foreign minister ensured the reversal of a face-saving reprieve for Pakistan. We forfeited, at least for the moment, the confidence of two of our staunchest friends, Saudi Arabia and China itself. But the rot lies deeper. India has not isolated Pakistan. The US has not isolated Pakistan. Afghanistan has not isolated Pakistan. They cannot. Only Pakistan can isolate itself and it has done so repeatedly looking towards China to bail it out every time. Dont we have any consideration for the interests of China which is besieged by US and Indian policies to contain its emergence as a force for Eurasian peace, stability and development and which, moreover, has made Pakistan a cornerstone of its historic initiative in Central and South Asia? How shamefully many of us reviled our feisty lioness for human rights, development, security and freedom, Asma Jahangir! And those of us who admired and revered her never quite lent her sufficient support for her lifelong struggle. Are we even capable of honouring her memory? We have a mantra. Pakistan is the biggest victim of terrorism. Pakistan has sacrificed more than any country in the war against terror. Pakistan is not receiving the cooperation it needs for border management and control. Neither the US nor the Afghans pick up the extremists whom Pakistan forces back into Afghanistan. On the contrary, they are sheltered and encouraged to launch attacks on targets inside Pakistan with Indias assistance from Afghan territory. There are no safe havens, sanctuaries or shuras in Pakistan. There are still millions of Afghan refugees who pose serious security and terrorist risks for Pakistan which is being made the scapegoat for American failure in Afghanistan. Moreover an attack on Pakistan is an attack on CPEC and the BRI which are opposed by the US and India. Much of the above is true. But it is not the whole truth. It is a half-truth which in many ways is worse than a lie. It hides at least as much as it reveals. The US and India cannot by themselves convince the world to gratuitously isolate Pakistan. Doing some good does not entitle one to do wrong. While India and the US are often criticised for their domestic and international conduct, and Afghanistan is seen as a failed state, none of this translates into much international sympathy and understanding for Pakistans protestations about its role in Afghanistan and elsewhere. Why? This is a question that from time to time is discussed in the public realm. But its sy-stematic discussion is not welcomed within the corridors of power. This reflects an aversion to facing plain truths. All our questions and problems have practical solutions provided the right intentions prevail. By arrangement with Dawn The company, which generates roughly half of its revenue in China, is conducting pre-commercial 5G trials in many of the worlds biggest cities, including Seoul, Tokyo, London, Milan and Vancouver in Canada, Hu said. The chief executive of Huawei said on February 26 the pace of commercialisation for the next-generation 5G wireless network is picking up as the Chinese telecom equipment maker has begun pre-commercial development with more than 30 network operators. Speaking to reporters at the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, CEO Ken Hu also said he welcomed factual debate about any security concerns governments or network operators may have about security threats arising from its products. Huawei is forging closer commercial ties with big telecom operators across Asia, the Americas and Europe, putting the company in prime position to lead the global race for future 5G networks, despite US allegations it poses a security threat. The company, which generates roughly half of its revenue in China, is conducting pre-commercial 5G trials in many of the worlds biggest cities, including Seoul, Tokyo, London, Milan and Vancouver in Canada, Hu said. Potential commercial benefits aside, these agreements indicate that many countries allied to the United States do not share Washington's security concerns. Asked about reports that the US government has raised security concerns with the Australian government over Huaweis role in building communication networks there, Hu said the company is willing to work with authorities to ease any fears. We are very happy to conduct an open and transparent discussion with the Australian government and telecom operators. On this issue, we stay very positive and open. A bill introduced in the US Senate this month would bar equipment from Huawei from any US government networks to prevent Chinese spying. Hu dismissed Washingtons concerns that its products pose security threats as groundless suspicions. Those words are not based on solid facts and for that we are very sorry, Hu told reporters when asked about the concerns. Huaweis CEO agreed on one point US security officials have made: Deeper security threats lurk in the extended supply chains of thousands of partners which Huawei and other network suppliers must rely upon to develop, produce and distribute their products around the world, Hu said. Waiting for 5G deals Huawei has signed 5G field trial agreements with 45 operators, the CEO said. Around 25 of those pre-commercial testing and field trial agreements have been publicly announced in recent years, according to Reuters data. Swedens Ericsson, the No.2 mobile networks supplier, has 38 publicly announced 5G operator partnerships, while No.3 mobile supplier Nokia has disclosed 5G field trials with 31 network operators worldwide, Reuters data shows. A spokesman said Nokia has 5G research and development pacts with 43 of its top 50 customers, including non-public ones. Huaweis Hu said 2018 will mark the first year of commercialization for 5G. We have seen the emergence of real demand for 5G technologies, said Hu, CEO of the worlds No.3 smartphone maker. Growth in current generation 4G wireless networks peaked in 2015, according to market analysts, and the mobile equipment industry is counting on a new potentially decade-long cycle of 5G network upgrades to kick off in earnest around 2020. Huawei reported 2017 revenue of $92 billion but growth slowed to 15 per cent from 32 percent in 2016 and 37 per cent in 2015. It is targeting total revenue of more than $102 billion for 2018, Chinese media reported last month, which in yuan terms would mean growth falling to 9 per cent. In response to a question from Reuters, Hu said that each of the three arms of its business - operator, enterprise and consumer - would have positive growth, but he declined to give specific figures, saying its 2018 targets would be announced next month. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Although surveillance is pervasive in many countries, including the United States, and has the potential for abuse, the technology is being deployed far more broadly in Xinjiang. Human Rights Watch says it has found new evidence that authorities in one of China's most repressive regions are sweeping up citizens' personal information in a stark example of how big-data technology can be used to police a population - and potentially abused. The rights group used publicly available government procurement documents, media reports and interviews to assemble details of the policing program called the "Integrated Joint Operations Platform" in Xinjiang, a sprawling area in northwest China that security officials say harbors separatist and religious extremist elements. Unidentified sources inside Xinjiang described to Human Rights Watch the computer and mobile app interfaces of the IJOP software that tracks almost all citizens of the Turkic-speaking Muslim Uighur ethnic minority and stores detailed information including their travel history, prayer habits, the number of books in their possession, banking and health records. Procurement notices show that the IJOP also deploys license plate tracking and facial-recognition cameras to follow people in real time and provide "predictive warnings" about impending crime, Human Rights Watch said. Although surveillance is pervasive in many countries, including the United States, and has the potential for abuse, the technology is being deployed far more broadly in Xinjiang, said Maya Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch and the report's author. "In China, the programs are very explicitly focused on people who are politically threatening or an entire Uighur ethnic group," Wang said. An official in the press office of Xinjiang police headquarters confirmed AP's questions had been received but said leaders were out and he had no idea when or if there would be a reply. The official, like many Chinese bureaucrats, declined to give his name because he wasn't authorized to speak to reporters. China's 10 million Uighurs already face a raft of restrictions not imposed on people of the Han ethnicity, who are the overwhelming majority in China. Uighurs face multiple hurdles in procuring passports and those who have them are required to leave them with the police. Hotels are required to register their presence with the local authorities and frequently turn them away to avoid the hassle. Frequent road blocks and checkpoints across the vast Xinjiang region enable authorities to stop people and check their mobile phones for content that might be deemed suspicious. Such pressure was ratcheted up following a series of deadly attacks blamed on Uighur extremists seeking independence from Chinese rule. A 2017 investigation by The Associated Press showed that thousands of Uighurs in Xinjiang, and possibly many more, has been sent to an extrajudicial network of political indoctrination centres for months at a time for reasons including studying abroad and communicating with relatives abroad. It also found evidence in government documents and procurement contracts of the Xinjiang government compiling biometric and personal data and systematically rating its Uighur citizens' political reliability. The Human Rights Watch report reveals for the first time that the disparate data collection efforts appear to be unified under one central digital database that calculates citizens' political risk. Use of the integrated computer system has led to people being detained and sent to political indoctrination centres, Wang said, citing interviewees who were kept anonymous out of concern for their safety. Wang said she has found evidence that Chinese police are building similar big-data tracking capabilities in other parts of the country under a program called the "police cloud," but do not deploy them to as such an extent as in Xinjiang. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Actor Prakash Rai, on Monday, said that he opposes the Rightists, but, he is not in favour of the Leftists. "I am in favour of humanity," he clarified. During an interaction with journalists at Mysuru District Journalist Association, he said, "I am not supporting or strengthening the Leftists. I have no intention to join politics." Rai said that he has many questions to the political parties, including the Congress, and he would raise them once he gets the answer to his present query. "Even though everyone has the right to question, a few people are trying to violate it. I am not against any community. No one should oppose or hate a particular community. Communalism by anyone should not be tolerated," he added. Fear of Hegde's skills Rai said that he fears the BJP leaders and Union Minister for Skill Development Ananth Kumar Hegde for their remarks on minority communities. "Instead of speaking about skill development, Hegde makes derogatory remarks on minority people. He speaks about changing the Constitution and eradicating a particular community from the nation. I am afraid of giving the country into the hands of such leaders, who are demonic in nature. Is he a leader? Do we need such an irresponsible MP and minister?" he asked. Taking exception to Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha's statements, Rai said that the MP speaks low language and comments on mother and wife. "Why do the BJP leaders not question these people, who are trying to divide the country on the basis of the community?" he questioned. "Communalism is dangerous than corruption. Thus, I raise the question. My agitation is against the system and not against a particular community," he said. Nalapad a 'demon' When mediapersons asked about Mohammed Nalapad, who has allegedly assaulted one Vidwath in Bengaluru recently, Rai said that he regrets praising Nalpad in a programme, a month back. "Nalapad, son of Shantinagar MLA N A Haris, is a demon and persons like him should not be tolerated. He had come forward to contribute funds to a village, which I adopted. I was not aware of him (Nalpad). He donated Rs 2 lakh for the development works. But I have returned the funds after I learnt about him and the incident," Rai claimed. GST, Swachh Bharat Prakash Rai appreciated the implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) and Swachh Bharat programme by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Though the programmes are a good move, they need slight changes. I welcome GST, but, opposed 18% tax on handloom products," he said. Safety concern Rai said that his family members, friends, relatives and well-wishers are worried about his safety. When reporters asked him about his stand on River Cauvery water-sharing issue, he said, it is a sensitive issue. Punjab National Bank (PNB) has said that the alleged fraud perpetrated by jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi may be around USD 2 billion, over USD 204 million more than previously estimated. In a late night filing to stock exchanges, the state-owned lender said that "the quantum of reported unauthorised transactions can increase by USD 204.25 million." The bank had earlier put the defrauded amount at Rs 11,394.02 crore (USD 1.77 billion). Adding another Rs 1,323 crore would take this to Rs 12,717 crore. PNB said it has not received any instruction from the government to compensate other lenders for losses arising out of the fraud. The jewellers and companies linked to them had allegedly colluded with PNB officers to obtain fake bank guarantees to get loan from overseas branches of Indian banks including Allahabad Bank, Axis Bank and UCO Bank. The bank has enough capital/assets to pay for such liability in case of eventuality in accordance of law, PNB said in a separate statement to stock exchange made last night. In filings earlier this month, PNB said it stumbled upon the scam on January 25, 2018, and a fraud report was filed with the Reserve Bank of India on January 29. On that day, a criminal complaint for registration of FIR was also made with the CBI. Stock exchanges were informed of the fraud on February 5. This was followed by another fraud report being submitted to the RBI on February 7, the day one more complaint was filed with the CBI. On February 13, an FIR was filed with the CBI against Nirav Modi Group, Gitanjali Group and Chandri Paper & Allied Products Pvt Ltd, as also a complaint filed with Enforcement Directorate. Stock exchanges were informed the next day, PNB had said in the filings. In the complaint, PNB alleges that Modi and companies linked to him colluded with some of its officers including a former deputy general manager Gokulnath Shetty, who was posted in the foreign-exchange department of its Mumbai branch. They fraudulently acquired guarantees to obtain loans from the overseas branches of Indian banks, claiming to need the cash to import pearls. "On January 16, 2018, the partnership firm of Nirav Modi group approached our branch at Brady House, Mumbai, and presented a set of import documents with a request to allow buyers' credit for making payment to the overseas suppliers," PNB had said. This happened after Shetty had retired. And since there was no sanctioned limit for the firms, the branch officials asked them to furnish at least 100 per cent cash margin for issuing Letter of Undertaking (LoU) for raising buyer's credit. "On denial, the firms contested that they have been availing such transactions since past several years," PNB had said. On scrutiny, it was found that earlier LoUs were issued previously and internal messaging system was bypassed by placing instructions via the SWIFT global payment system asking overseas branches of Indian banks to fork out the cash as loans. PNB said this followed a series of meetings with representatives of Nirav Modi group and Gitanjali group at Delhi and Mumbai "to impress upon them to pay the amount." "Upon confirming the first maturity of LoUs liabilities on January 25, 2018 as fraudulently credit against bank, an FMR-1 (fraud report format of RBI) was submitted to the RBI on January 29, 2018 amounting to USD 44.22 million equivalent to Rs 280.70 crore (related to three group firms of Nirav Modi)," it had said. On that day, a criminal complaint for registration of FIR was also made to CBI. On February 7, another fraud report was submitted to the RBI on confirming the maturity of LoUs liability of USD 10.20 million (Rs 65.25 crore) relating to two companies of Gitanjali group promoted by Mehul Choksi. Further, LoUs of USD 59.23 million (Rs 279.28 crore) also matured for Nirav Modi group, it said adding while investigation was on 10 officers/employees were suspended. Hong Kong branches of Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank were asked to provide all communication with borrower, PNB said. "On February 12, 2018, on the basis of investigation report, total fraud of Rs 11,394.02 crore in case of unauthorised issuance of Letters of Undertakings, Foreign Letter of Credits and Inland Letter of Guarantees in the group accounts of Nirav Modi Group and Gitanjali Group and in account of Chandri Paper and Allied Products Pvt Ltd was reported to RBI," it had said. The Central Information Commission has directed the external affairs ministry to disclose records related to the expenses incurred on chartering Air India aircraft for abroad visits of the prime minister from 2013 to 2017. Chief Information Commissioner R K Mathur rejected the contention of the ministry that details of the amount, reference numbers, dates of bills raised by Indian Air Force and Air India for the foreign visits undertaken by the Prime Minister are scattered across various records and files and collation of information in the manner sought by the appellant would involve searching of voluminous records by a significant number of officials. The case pertains to Commodore Lokesh Batra (Retd) who had sought to know details of bills, invoices and other records related to abroad visits of Prime Minister between Financial Years 2013-14 and 2016-17. During the hearing, Batra said he was provided incomplete information by the ministry after which he approached the Commission which is the top appellate authority in matters pertaining to the Right to Information Act. He said he wanted the general public to be informed at what stage or with which public authority these bills and invoices are pending for payment. Air India is a cash-strapped airline that does not make money. Therefore, delay in settling these bills would also include sizable interest figure(s), which needs to be paid at the expense of tax payers money, Batra said. Batra said these records cannot be brushed aside in the garb of national security -- a clause which can be cited by a public authority to deny requested information -- because these are in the nature of the liabilities of the consumer(s) to pay back for the services rendered by Air India. After hearing both sides, Mathur said payment of outstanding dues would ultimately require collating of these bills and invoices and rejected the argument of the MEA that collation would disproportionately divert its resources. He said even if payment was made against these bills, it would have been done after compiling of bills/invoices. Further, whatever payment is to be made, it needs to be done after collecting the bills/invoices. In view of this, the Commission is of the opinion that the respondent (MEA) should provide to the appellant (Batra) travel bills relating to Air India from FYs. 2013-14 to 2016-17, he said. Indian Ambassador to the UAE, Navdeep Suri said that the embassy is working with local authorities to ensure Sridevi's mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. "We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job," Suri tweeted. "Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes," he pointed out. Suri also said that they are in touch with Sridevi's family. "We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well-wishers. We share their pain," he tweeted. On the causes of death and speculations, he said: "We leave it to the experts to determine the cause of demise Let's be responsible." Wheres the Coverage? Israel Thwarts an ISIS Terror Plot in Australia | Main | Los Angeles Times Fails to Correct on Judaism's Holiest Site February 27, 2018 Newsweek: Fake Traffic, Fake News March 4 Update: CAMERA Prompts Newsweek, AFP Corrections on Shelved Expropriation Bill Earlier this month, Newsweek fired senior editors and reporters after they reported on accusations that Newsweek Media Group had purchased fraudulent web traffic to secure significant advertising at the International Business Times, a sister publication. In the wake of massive legal troubles, along with the departure of editor in chief Bob Roe and executive editor Ken Li, misreporting about an Israeli bill which has yet to come to vote is barely a blip in Newsweek's turmoil. But Newsweek's real readers -- as opposed to the fake bots -- may actually care to know when Newsweek fails to deliver real news. This brings us to Tom Porter's Feb. 25 article ("Jerusalem Church Where Jesus is Said To Be Buried Closed After Tax Dispute With Israeli Government"), in which he falsely wrote that Christian leaders in Jerusalem issued a joint statement criticizing a "recent bill passed by the Israeli parliament that allowed the Israeli state to take over Christian buildings leased to private companies, and plans to begin imposing taxes on Christian church properties." First, the bill was not passed. In fact, Sunday, after church officials decided to close the holy site, the Israeli Knesset's Constitution, Law and Justice Committee postponed a discussion of the bill. Second, the bill would not allow "the Israeli state to take over Christian buildings leased to private companies." It would enable Israel to expropriate church land sold to private developers since 2010. In other words, it would only apply to properties that no longer belong to the church. (See here for more information on the bill and the Jerusalem Municipality's intention to start collecting tax on church-owned properties used for commercial purpose or other purposes excluding worship.) CAMERA has contacted Newsweek to request corrections. Stay tuned for an update. Posted by TS at February 27, 2018 05:39 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 A Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, believed to be from Pakistan, who was injured in a gunfight with security forces in north Kashmir's Bandipora district yesterday, has succumbed to injuries, police said. There was exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces in Bon Mollah village of Hajan in Bandipora district yesterday. After the firing stopped, a search was conducted, but no dead body was recovered, a police spokesman said today. Later, it was learnt that one LeT militant was injured in the encounter and this morning police came to know about the death of the said militant, he said. Since the body was already in the village, a request was made to the villagers to handover the body to police, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, the body was buried amidst a procession led by some miscreants, he said. The police are ascertaining the identity of the militant who is understood to be not a local, the spokesman said, adding necessary legal action has also been initiated against the people who led the protest and instigated the public. MLA H D Revanna has demanded that the state government must let water into the Hemavathy canal to alleviate the water scarcity in Hassan district. The MLA said that if the government does not let water from the Hemavathy dam to into the canal by March 5, the farmers of the district will launch an agitation and open the sluice gates themselves. "We will intensify our protest even if we are fired upon or arrested. We are not afraid," Revanna said. Revanna said that currently there was an acute shortage of water and the government should let water into the canal at least for a week, failing which thousands of farmers will gherao the dam and open the gates. TV media's frantic reporting over the death of veteran actor Sridevi has angered Bollywood celebrities and her fans, who have called the coverage "graceless" and "insensitive". Celebrities such as Vidya Balan and Farhan Akhtar criticised the TV channels for suggesting various conspiracy theories on the cause of her death. Farhan posted a cryptic tweet where he wrote, "There's no bottom in the barrel of the graceless." Balan said, "May they let you rest in peace...." Megastar Amitabh Bachchan wrote, "Get back to love .. it is the only sustainable !!" Fashion designer Masaba Mantena appealed people to switch off their television. "Do yourselves & your family a favour... put that TV off, I am amazed that news channels are stooping to this level & people think it's ok to come on a panel & discuss this! There are two very young girls who lost their mom, please please stop this," she said. Sonu Sood wrote, "I wonder after doing such reporting about a legend who lost her life..can these people sleep in peace? Ashamed to live in times where we have to see such a standard of reporting on reputed channels. Shame on you... let someone rest in peace." Actor Rohit Roy, tweeted, "It is very very sad the way certain news channels are treating the passing of a lady, a daughter, a wife and most importantly, a mother of 2 young girls.. agreed, she was an actor and the people want to know details, but this? Sridevi ji sorry but they won't let you even rest in peace." Director Abhishek Kapoor wrote, "Dont know which is a bigger tragedy. Sridevi passing away or the mad feeding frenzy of it by the media.. heart goes out to Boney sahab. I hope he is ok." Echoing similar thoughts, Anubhav Sinha tweeted, "Several hundred years later history books will mark these years for the death of journalism." Indian Ambassador to UAE, Navdeep Suri, also appealed for calm. "The media interest in untimely demise of #Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help. Imp to note that: 1. We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job," Suri tweeted. "We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well- wishers. We share their pain. 3. Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes. 4. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise Let's be responsible," he added. Maldives has declined to participate in the Milan multilateral naval exercise to be held in Andaman next month without ascribing any reason, Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba announced here on Tuesday. "Maldives was sent an invitation to attend 'Milan', a multilateral Naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy, but it declined the invitation. This exercise will take place between March 6-13," Navy Chief said at a conference on the maritime security on the Asia-Pacific region. The disclosure from the Navy comes a week after New Delhi said it was "deeply dismayed" by the extension of the State of Emergency by the government in Male for 30 more days. President Abdulla Yameen ignored India's advice against continuation of the emergency and convened a special session of the Majlish or parliament of the Indian Ocean archipelago to approve the extension for an additional month. Maldives participated in the previous two editions of Milan a in the biennial congregation of naval forces from the Indo-Pacific region in Andaman. The 2018 edition of Milan for the first time will have an "operational element" in which 11 warships from 8 visiting Navies along with Indian Naval Vessels will carry out interdiction and search and rescue exercises at sea. Over the last few weeks, India's relation with Maldives nosedived as President Yameen went ahead with his decision to impose emergency. But the bilateral links were experiencing strains since last year after the archipelago signed a free trade agreement with China last year. India also didn't give audience to Male's Special Envoy in January. On the Chinese deployment in the Indian Ocean, Admiral Lanba said, "We are aware of the Chinese activities in Indian Ocean region. Their pattern of deployment has remained same since many years. At any time, there are 8-10 ships in the Indian Ocean." Late last year, there was a period when as many 14 PLAN ships and submarines were deployed in the Indian Ocean for two weeks triggering alerts in the naval headquarters. However, India's concerns on the Chinese presence in Sri Lankan ports were addressed by Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka Armed Forces. "There had been widespread claim about Hambantota port being earmarked to be used as a military base. I can assure that no action will be taken in our harbours and waters that would jeopardize India's security concerns," said Admiral Wijegunaratne. "Our political leadership lead by President M Sirisena and Prime Minister (R Wickremesinghe) clearly stated the government won't enter into military alliance with any country for making our bases available to foreign countries," he added. Panic prevailed at Telangana's chief minister house in Karimnagar when smoke from a communication unit's battery kit kept in the helicopter, in which CM K Chandrasekhar Rao was just about to travel, was noticed by security personnel on Tuesday. The bag was immediately shifted away from the chopper by a security officer and Rao went ahead with his scheduled visit. The visuals of an unidentified officer running across the ground and dropping the bag have gone viral on social media. The incident occurred around 10.30 am on Tuesday. As the chief minister boarded the chopper and was to leave for Murmur of Adilabad district in northern Telangana, security personnel noticed smoke coming out of a bag containing a VHF wireless communication set. With the news channel telecasting the visuals and the video becoming viral on social media KCR's son and state IT minister K Taraka Rama Rao tweeted, "Just checked up with CMO team. All is well with Hon'ble CM and he is continuing his tour in Adilabad district." While the chopper crash of former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy in Pavuralagutta of Kurnool on September 2, 2009 had claimed his life, KCR who was fighting for separate Telangana state also had couple of bad experiences during the same year. On 10 October in 2009, the helicopter in which KCR was flying made an emergency landing at Weepangandla, a block headquarters in Mahbubnagar district, as the pilot could not locate a place to land the helicopter near Rajoli. On the same day Rao tripped and fell on the ground while alighting from the helicopter. Pakistan Army today shelled forward posts and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch and Rajouri districts of Jammu and Kashmir, leaving two BSF jawans injured. "Pakistan Army initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortar bombs from 0850 hours today in Bhimbher Gali (BG) sector along LoC (in Poonch district)," a defence spokesman said. The Indian Army is retaliating strongly and effectively to the ceasefire violation, he added. Pakistan troops also fired mortars along the LoC in Tarkundi Gali, Lambi Bari, Khorinar, Dhar and Panjgrian areas of Manjakote sector of Rajouri since this morning, District Collector Rajouri Shahid Iqbal Choudhary said. In the ceasefire violation, two BSF jawans sustained minor injuries, a BSF officer said. A cattle shed was damaged in the shelling in Manjakote, the Collector said, adding there was no injury to any civilian. Schools in the affected areas along the LoC in Rajouri district have been closed as a precautionary measure. Ceasefire violations along the LoC and international border in Jammu and Kashmir have left 21 persons including 12 security personnel dead and over 80 others, mostly civilians, injured this year. While there were no ceasefire violations by Pakistan reported along the IB since January 22, intermittent shelling has taken place along the LoC. Maldives has declined to participate in the Milan multilateral naval exercise to be held in Andaman next month without ascribing any reason, Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba announced here on Tuesday. "Maldives was sent an invitation to attend 'Milan', a multilateral Naval exercise hosted by Indian Navy, but it declined the invitation. This exercise will take place between March 6-13," Navy Chief said at a conference on the maritime security on the Asia-Pacific region. The disclosure from the Navy comes a week after New Delhi said it was "deeply dismayed" by the extension of the State of Emergency by the government in Male for 30 more days. President Abdulla Yameen ignored India's advice against continuation of the emergency and convened a special session of the Majlish or parliament of the Indian Ocean archipelago to approve the extension for an additional month. Maldives participated in the previous two editions of Milan in the biennial congregation of naval forces from the Indo-Pacific region in Andaman. The 2018 edition of Milan for the first time will have an "operational element" in which 11 warships from 8 visiting Navies along with Indian Naval Vessels will carry out interdiction and search and rescue exercises at sea. Over the last few weeks, India's relation with Maldives nosedived as President Yameen went ahead with his decision to impose emergency. But the bilateral links were experiencing strains since last year after the archipelago signed a free trade agreement with China last year. India also didn't give audience to Male's Special Envoy in January. On the Chinese deployment in the Indian Ocean, Admiral Lanba said, "We are aware of the Chinese activities in Indian Ocean region. Their pattern of deployment has remained same since many years. At any time, there are 8-10 ships in the Indian Ocean." Late last year, there was a period when as many 14 PLAN ships and submarines were deployed in the Indian Ocean for two weeks triggering alerts in the naval headquarters. However, India's concerns on the Chinese presence in Sri Lankan ports were addressed by Admiral Ravindra Wijegunaratne, Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka Armed Forces. "There had been widespread claim about Hambantota port being earmarked to be used as a military base. I can assure that no action will be taken in our harbours and waters that would jeopardize India's security concerns," said Admiral Wijegunaratne. "Our political leadership lead by President M Sirisena and Prime Minister (R Wickremesinghe) clearly stated the government won't enter into military alliance with any country for making our bases available to foreign countries," he added. In a blistering attack on the Siddaramaiah government in Karnataka, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today dubbed it as "seeda Rupaiya sarkar" (money first) which should not be allowed to continue 'even for a minute'. "It is now certain that this Karnataka government will go," he told a BJP farmers' rally here, asserting that there was public anger against the Siddaramaiah regime. The rally was organised to synchronise with the 75th birthday of state BJP President B S Yeddyurappa, who is being projected as the party's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Charging that everything was happening for a price in Karnataka, Modi mocked the Siddaramaiah government as "a seeda Rupaiya sarkar". "You have such a chief Minister here. Some people feel that in Karnataka there is Siddaramaiah government. But the fact is that here there is seeda Rupaiya sarkar. In every thing there is seeda Rupaiya, only then work happens," the Prime Minister said. Modi posed to the crowd, "You tell me do you want this seeda Rupaiya culture? Do you want seeda Rupaiya kaarnaama? Will a common man get justice only from this seeda Rupaiya?" PM Modi's words are worth nothing, hits out Siddaramaiah "This seeda Rupaiya government has to go," Modi said, adding, there should be an honest government in Karnataka. "That is the reason now, that in Karnataka instead of seeda Rupaiya business there should be a government that listens to its people and does their work." Stepping up his attack on the Siddaramaiah government on graft and blaming the Congress culture for the ills facing the country, Modi said the situation had now come to such pass that because of the "weight of their own sins, let alone Karnataka, they will not be able to save the Congress." "You see across the country. Whenever the people have got an opportunity they have first removed Congress. Because the country has come to know that the root cause for all our ills is Congress culture and when there is congress culture, every thing that we see is not good..nothing good we can see," he said. In Karnataka, Modi said, the people were eager to see the exit of the Siddaramaiah government. "I have travelled to a couple of places in the state. I have seen the mood of the people. I have seen the anger against this government. Every one is worried about this government. There is such anger against this government... such governments are very less." This was the third visit of Modi in about a month to Karnataka, where the party is seeking to return to power in the elections, expected to be held in April/May. "In this country there was never a raid on residence of any sitting minister. Here in their houses you get diaries, money. You get bundles of notes from houses of leaders. Where did this money come from?" "...Whose money is this? If this is not seeda Rupaiya what it is?," Modi said, apparently referring to the raids conducted by the Income Tax department on a state minister and a close aide of the chief minister last year. "The kind of destruction that has happened in Karnataka, such a government should not be allowed to continue even for a minute," Modi said. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Tuesday said the controversy over the naming of Chandigarh international airport was uncalled for. The issue was drawn into a controversy after the Haryana government objected to the Punjab government naming the new airport as 'Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh International Airport Mohali'. "Punjab government had made a request and Haryana government has also made a request, and everybody feels that there is no need for a controversy... Shaheed Bhagat Singh is martyr of the country and not a small community. "In that sense, I don't see a controversy but there is a procedure and it has to be followed," the minister said. However, when the minister was asked if his statement can be taken as a yes for naming the airport after Bhagat Singh, Chandigarh MP Kiron Kher interceded and brushed aside the question. "What's wrong with Chandigarh, why don't you like Chandigarh as the name of the airport?", Kher said in a lighter vein. The Punjab government in 2017 demanded that the airport should be named as 'Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Shaheed Bhagat Singh International airport, Mohali' and also passed a resolution for the same in the Punjab Assembly. Though the Haryana government had no objection over the use of Bhagat Singh's name, they have raised their concerns about the use of Mohali in the airport's name. Former MLA N Yogish Bhat has urged the ADB and Jalasiri officials to implement comprehensive water scheme, while implementing Phase II of the ADB-funded project in Mangaluru. Briefing reporters on Tuesday, he said that although 160 MLD water is being pumped from the Thumbe vented dam, about 50 MLD was lost before it reached Mangaluru, due to illegal water connections on the main pipelines. "A 610-km pipeline lain, drawing fund from ADB, could not be fully utilised as a purified water connection is not given to the pipeline. As a result, drinking water is wasted at 35 locations. If pipelines are laid fully to all the 1 lakh households and meters are installed, then drinking water can be supplied 24X7 to the citizens of Mangaluru," he opined. Bhat said that he, along with BJP corporators, had already urged the ADB Jalasiri officials to carry out a comprehensive drinking water supply scheme. Delay in work He said, "Out of the Rs 410-crore ADB-funded project, the first package of work to lay a main pipeline from Kudroli wetwell to Kavoor sewage treatment plant at an estimated cost of Rs 93 crore was sanctioned in August 2017. In spite of giving the work order, the contractor has not started the work. The delay in the work makes one wonder over the corruption. The government itself will be responsible for delay in the work." On the loopholes in the UGD works taken up in the Phase I of the ADB-funded project, he demanded a thorough probe into the works. "Action should be taken against those who were responsible for the poor works. During an inspection, MP Nalin Kumar Kateel and his team found sewage being directly let into the open drains without reaching the treatment plants owing to faulty in the system," he pointed out. Planetarium On the claim of MLA J R Lobo that the Swami Vivekananda 3D planetarium is his achievement, Bhat said that it was former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa who had sanctioned Rs 11 crore for the planetarium. "The BJP government issued an order to name the planetarium after Swami Vivekananda to commemorate 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. When I demanded a 3D planetarium, the BJP government released Rs 13.5 crore to make a study on 3D technology. Later, Yeddyurappa sanctioned Rs 24.5 crore for the planetarium," he reminisced. He said Lobo should give details on the visits of officials and Lobo to America, Japan, China, Singapore to study the 3D planetarium. There is a need to give details on the selection of contractors, tender process, extra payment made to the building contractors and other electronic material suppliers. Further, Bhat alleged that the plaque of former chief minister Jagadish Shettar laying foundation for Swami Vivekananda planetarium and inaugurating Guthumane in Pilikula was missing. "What kind of politics is this? Even after releasing the grant for the work, why was there a need to remove the plaque? Had the work been initiated soon after the Rs 24.5-crore was sanctioned, the escalated amount for completing the planetarium project could have been avoided," he said. Art of Living (AOL) founder and spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar on Tuesday met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath fuelling speculations about renewed efforts to find an out of court solution to the vexed Ram Temple-Babri Masjid issue. Ravishankar, who, earlier in the day, addressed a meeting of the seers at Varanasi, where he claimed that the mediation efforts were on the "right track", reached Gorakhpur in the evening and met the chief minister, who was already there. According to sources, the meeting between Adityanath and Ravishankar, that took place at Gorakshnath Temple, lasted for about 40 minutes. Sources said that the issue of Ram Temple also came up during the discussion. Adityanath, who was scheduled to leave for the state capital, deferred his program to meet the spiritual guru. Earlier, Ravishankar expressed hope that the issue would be resolved through dialogue. "There are a few Duryodhanas (a character in the Hindu epic Mahabharata, who had refused to give even an inch of land to the Pandavas leading to the battle), who are creating problems," he said. Although Ravishankar has been making efforts to mediate in the matter, barring the Shia Waqf Board chairperson Waseem Rizvi and sacked All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) member Salman Nadwi, none of the Hindu and Muslim parties in the dispute has evinced any interest in the mediation efforts. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday moved a special court here, seeking issuance of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against diamond trader Nirav Modi, a key accused in the over Rs 11,000-crore PNB fraud case. On Monday, the court, set up under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), had allowed the central agency's plea seeking issuance of Letters Rogatory (LRs) to six countries for obtaining information about the overseas businesses and assets of the diamantaire. Special PMLA Court Judge M S Azmi on Tuesday heard the arguments of ED's special counsel Hiten Venegoankar on the agency's plea seeking issuance of the NBW against Nirav Modi, who is believed to be in the US. On Wednesday, the judge will hear Modi's lawyer Ashul Agarwal on the issue of his locus standi to address the court in the absence of his client. Venegoankar told the court that the ED registered a case against Nirav Modi on February 15 and from that time issued three summonses to him to appear before the agency. He said the summonses were issued on February 15, February 17 and February 22, asking him to appear before the ED on February 16, February 22 and February 26, respectively. The ED lawyer said Nirav Modi did not appear before the agency for questioning and hence it has sought issuance of an NBW was against him. Venegoankar said the first summons was issued to the billionaire jeweller on his last known address and his employee received it. The other two were issued via e-mail. He said the agency received replies from Nirav Modi for two summonses. In response to the second summons, Nirav Modi said he cannot appear before the agency owing to his business commitments. In reply to the third summons, the businessman raised the issue of his security, the ED counsel said. "He has violated all the three summonses," Venegoankar told the court and requested the court to issue an open-ended NBW against Nirav Modi. However, Nirav Modi's advocate Agarwal told the court he should be heard before any decision is taken on issuing the NBW as it involved fundamental rights of his client. Meanwhile, the agency filed an application seeking LRs to seven more countries - Malaysia, Armenia, France, China, Japan, Russia and Belgium - in connection with the case. On Monday, the court had issued LRs for recovery/ seizure of proceeds of crime and collection of documents, evidence lying in Hong Kong, the USA, the UK, the UAE, South Africa and Singapore for purpose of investigation. LRs are a formal request from a court of a sovereign nation to a court of another sovereign nation for judicial assistance in a case. At the general body meeting of tauk panchayat, officials were directed to compensate the evacuees at ISRPL Padur. In reply to a query raised by member Shashiprabha Shetty, taluk panchayat president Nalini Pradeep Rao instructed the officials to come up with an explanation about the compensation packages. Shetty also questioned the need for the use of police force in the process of acquisition. As many as 110 people were offered compensation and a letter dispatched to the government requesting the compensation package for land losers. Member Bhujanga Shetty expressed discontent on the functioning of the system and termed the officials as irresponsible. He said he had proposed cutting of trees in Kadur as most of the trees in the area were overgrown and had been posing a threat of getting uprooted. The Horticulture officer said that under the Pradhan Mantri Agriculture Sinchayi programme, farmers are offered funds under for lift irrigation. The farmers should have at least one acre of land. The president also instructed the officials to hold a meeting to discuss the issues under DC Manna land regularly. Speaking out for the first time since Sridevi's untimely death in Dubai, her family on Tuesday night thanked the film fraternity and millions of fans of India's first female superstar. "Khushi, Janhvi, Boney Kapoor and the entire Kapoor and Ayyappan families are deeply bereaved and shocked with the untimely loss of Sridevi Kapoor," the family said in a statement released through Yash Raj Films. "We thank the film fraternity, media, fans of late Sridevi Kapoor and all the well-wishers for their prayers, support and sensitivity during our moment of immense grief. We request you to kindly join us in paying our last respect to a remarkable actor, beloved wife and loving mother," the statement read. The last rites will be performed on Wednesday afternoon. India is weighing its options for engagement with Pakistan, although no substantial progress in bilateral relations are expected as the neighbouring country is set to go to polls in few months. Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale may have a brief interaction with his Pakistani counterpart Tehmina Janjua on the sideline of a multilateral conference in Kabul this week. India has also invited Pakistan's Commerce Minister, Pervaiz Malik, to participate in the informal World Trade Organization's ministerial meeting in New Delhi on March 19 and 20. If Malik comes to New Delhi, the possibility of him and Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu holding a bilateral meeting on the sideline cannot be ruled out, said sources. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval, also had a meeting with his counterpart Nasser Khan Janjua in Bangkok in December 2017. New Delhi is keen to wait and watch the political situation in Pakistan, where a nationwide elections will be held later this year. Sources, however, made it clear that India had no plan to restart its stalled formal dialogue with Pakistan, even as occasional engagements at the level of senior officials might continue in the coming months. The soldiers of Pakistan Army and border guards are routinely flouting ceasefire along the Line of Control and undisputed stretch of the border. The cross-border terror attacks by Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed continue. Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer still on death row in Pakistan. "How could New Delhi go for resumption of dialogue with Islamabad?" the official said. The formal dialogue between India and Pakistan remained stalled since January 2013. The attempt to restart it from January 2016 was aborted after the terror attack at Indian Air Force base at Pathankot in Punjab. Sources said that New Delhi had conveyed its "strong concerns" and protest to Islamabad during recent informal engagements over incidents of unprovoked cross-border firings and support to cross-border terrorist infiltration to India from Pakistan. "It has been made clear that the government is committed to working towards normal neighbourly relations with Pakistan, and addressing all outstanding issues bilaterally and peacefully in accordance with Simla Agreement and Lahore declaration," said sources. "However," they added, "any meaningful dialogue can be held only in an atmosphere free of terror, hostility and violence." New Delhi stated that the onus was now on Islamabad to create conducive atmosphere for dialogue between India and Afghanistan. "Till then, India will continue to take firm and decisive steps to respond to cross-border terrorism" sources said. Semiconductor industry veteran Ajit Manocha exhorted the Indian government to make use of Indian talent in the US to be a global player in the industry. Manocha, who is also the president and CEO of the global association serving the electronics manufacturing supply chain SEMI, said the electronics and semiconductor industry has grown into a $415 billion industry world over in 2017. "India has enough talent pool to become competitive in the software space. But in the hardware, especially in the manufacturing front, the country can seek the help of many of Indian talent available there in the US," he said. Speaking at a the India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (IESA) flagship annual event, Vision Summit 2018, he said countries like the US, South Korea, Taiwan and China are moving ahead with their game plan to catch up the market share. "We have seen companies like Samsung from South Korea beating the US giant Intel in global chip sales. Since we have one-sixth of the humanity living under our jurisdiction, India should consider emerging as a leader in semiconductor-electronics business," he said. Karnataka IT and BT Minister Priyank M Kharge who presided over the inaugural function said Bangalore has emerged as the hub in the country providing for innovation, entrepreneurship and invention. "We have put in place policies and framework to ensure that the ecosystem is favourable to more partnerships, access to funds, ease of business, networking in the domestic and international market and more importantly, inculcating skill sets for the future through our Centre of Excellence within the city," he said. Kharge also said the government is working for providing a full ecosystem for Apple to manufacture their products from the state. "We want to protect the investment commitment made by these companies with skilled manpower, ancillary units to manufacture component and conducive business climate," he said to DH. He also said along with the support of IESA, the Karnataka government wants to inculcate a fabless ecosystem to propel the ESDM sector and encourage manufacturing not only in the state but in the rest of the country too. "We have also providing opportunities through our programme Evevate100 to encourage innovation across all regions of Karnataka," he said. IESA, in collaboration with MarketsAndMarkets, launched an industry report on a Indian semiconductor fabless startup ecosystem at the this year's Vision Summit. The report was launched by IESA Chairman Ashwini K Aggarwal, Intel India Senior Director for Strategic Relations and Operations Jitendra Chaddah and SLN Technologies Ltd Director Anilkumar Muniswamy. PARMA, Ohio - Fashion is being celebrated in a fashionable way at Cuyahoga Community College's Western Campus. The college is hosting a five-week exhibit, "The Art of Fashion," which showcases the work of Kent State University faculty. The show runs 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays at Gallery West, on the second floor of the Tri-C library. The campus is at 11000 Pleasant Valley Road, Parma. "The Art of Fashion" features works by KSU faculty from the Shannon Rodgers and Jerry Silverman School of Fashion Design and Merchandising and the Visual Communications and Design Department. Free parking is available. For more information, call 216-987-5322 or visit tri-c.edu/gallerywest. An Irish celebration: St. Patrick's Day is just around the corner and Independence residents can get a head start at the Irish Fest 1-5 p.m. March 4 at the Civic Center, 6800 Brecksville Road, Independence. The event will include free Irish dance lessons and a variety of activities. Irish food items, including corned beef sandwiches (pre-orders were due Feb. 25), cabbage and noodles and shamrock cookies. Students from the Academy of Irish Dance will perform. There will be a bagpipe and drum band, children's crafts, a DJ, inflatables and a magic show. There also will be a photo op with Lucky Charm the Leprechaun. Those who bring canned food or cash donations for the local foodbank will receive a free shamrock necklace. For more information, call 216-524-7373. Animals at Stearns Homestead in Parma, including these chickens, are available for adoption. Animals at Stearns Homestead in Parma, including these chickens, are available for adoption. Animal adoptions: Stearns Homestead is closed officially for the winter, but there are still opportunities to help at the working farm that is run by the Parma Area Historical Society. The 48-acre farm is home to more than 75 animals, including goats, sheep, poultry, rabbits, cats and horses. The historical society relies on friends, members and the public to help support its operation. For a small fee anyone can "adopt" one or more animals. The donation helps pay for feed and other costs associated with that animal or animals. Adopting a rabbit, duck, turkey, chicken or cat is $20. The cost for a sheep or potbelly pig is $25. A horse or gaggle of geese can be adopted for $40. If you're interested in adopting the bunny barn, the cost is $100. The hen house or sheep herd can be adopted for $60; the goat herd is $75, and the horse herd is $250. The cat club is $50 to adopt. "Adoptive parents" receive a certificate of adoption and are invited to a special appreciation day to interact with their adopted animals, as well as visiting the animal anytime. An adoption form is available online at stearnshomestead.com. A taste of the islands: The American Asian Pacific Islander Organization will offer an afternoon showcasing Hawaiian, Polynesian, Samoan, Philippine and New Zealand dances performed by members of the Manivic Dance Co., which is based in Parma Heights. The event is 2-4 p.m. March 3 at Cassidy Theatre, 6200 Pearl Road, Parma Heights. Ukulele music will accompany the dancers, who are 4-70 years old. Refreshments can be purchased and there will be door prizes. Tickets are $10 a person; $5 for senior citizens 65 and older and free for those 12 and younger. For advance tickets, call 440-638-4991; or purchase at the theater on event day. Information, please: Readers are invited to share information about themselves, their families and friends, organizations, church events, etc. in Brooklyn, Independence, Parma, Parma Heights and Seven Hills for the Parma Postings column, which I write on a freelance basis. Awards, honors, milestone birthdays or anniversaries and other items are welcome. Submit information at least 10 days before the requested publication date to carolkovach@hotmail.com. A company owned by Nirav Modi has filed for bankruptcy in a New York court, as investigators stepped up their investigation into a case that has stunned the country. The US bankruptcy filing by Firestar Diamond comes as investigations by Indian authorities into the fraud case are becoming more aggressive, including a raid last week of Modi's former law firm that lawyers described as unprecedented. Modi, along with his uncle Mehul Choksi, owner of Gitanjali Gems, are suspected to have colluded with bank officials at Punjab National Bank to obtain unauthorised loans over a six-year period. PNB late on Monday said the amount of those fraudulent transactions could rise by $204 million to nearly $2 billion, sending its shares reeling to a 20-month low. Firestar Diamond listed $50 million to $100 million in assets and liabilities and noted it had 50 to 99 creditors, according to a court filing in the Southern District Of New York on late Monday. The company is a unit of Firestar International, controlled by Modi. His flagship Firestar International had $2.3 billion in sales as of March 2017, according to figures provided by the company. Google's parent company Alphabet has detailed how it makes decisions regarding its dozen different businesses, with India-born Sundar Pichai wielding a lot of power over the search giant, a media report has said. According to documents to the US Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), since Google blew up its corporate structure to form Alphabet in late 2015, it now separates its financials between Google and its 'Other Bets'. Other Bets currently include 11 different companies, like self-driving car unit Waymo and healthcare arm Verily, CNBC reported. Late last year, the SEC asked Alphabet for specific details around how much decision-making power Alphabet CEO Larry Page has on individual Google businesses, and the different kinds of information given to Page versus president Sergey Brin and Google CEO Pichai, among other things. Alphabet CEO Page receives regular financial information about every Alphabet company, but does not allocate resources to individual product areas within Google or within individual Other Bets. That hands-off relations played out dramatically in the case of Nest, the company Google acquired for $3.2 billion in 2014. When Nest spun-out as an Alphabet unit, the two companies had no incentive to work together and ended up building similar products. Ultimately, Alphabet decided to roll Nest back into Google earlier this month. Pichai also lacks authority over Alphabet's overall resource allocation to Google. He has no authority over Other Bets nor has any decision-making power over them despite the search giant counted for all of Alphabet's profit and more than 98% of its revenue in its last quarter. But Pichai has a lot of power over Google, the report said. He receives weekly and quarterly reports, which include individual financial information for Google product areas, including YouTube, advertising, and hardware, and include operating results, capital expenditures, and headcount for Google as a whole. Neither Page nor his co-founder, Alphabet President Sergey Brin, receive the weekly and quarterly reports received by Pichai, the report said. Without Page's approval, Pichai can commit Google to non-standard licensing or similar arrangements, investments, mergers and acquisitions, and other commitments up to a set dollar threshold. Also, capital expenditures, real estate, commercial arrangements, including licensing, partnership and revenue generating agreements and other similar transactions and expenditures up to a set dollar threshold. Although Susan Wojcicki and Diane Greene both have CEO titles within Google, for YouTube and Cloud respectively, Pichai is the only Google executive who reports directly to and maintains regular contact with Page. After Shimoga District Co-operative Bank's gold loan scam, now South Canara District Central Co-operative Bank is in the thick of a controversy over financial mismanagement and irregularities. The SCDCC Bank Ltd, which was recently raided by the Income Tax department in connection with deposit accounts without Know-Your-Costumer (KYC), has been accused of diverting Provident Fund (PF) amount of Rs 55 crore to various financial firms. An independent auditing conducted by a few employees also revealed that while salary allowances and PF amount for the year 2016-17 was Rs 27 crore, other expenses has been shown as Rs 34 crore. This includes placing huge advertisements wishing politicians, using the bank's money. The complaint filed with the Registrar of Co-operative Societies stated that the bank's president Rajendra Kumar, whose house was also raided by the Income Tax department in February 2017, was responsible for the irregularities in the bank. According to one of the employees (name withheld on request) who filed the complaint, the bank has more than 700 employees covered under the PF scheme. "The bank's president has set up a trust of which he is the managing trustee. The trust receives employees' PF contribution. The PF amount is transferred to a separate account, opened at Axis Bank in Mangaluru bearing client ID number 12011119. The PF amount has been invested in various financial firms based in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Maharashtra.'' These investments, as per the document, mature only in 2025, 2026 and 2027. This was revealed when retired employees did not get their PF returns. This apart, the subsidy amount up to Rs 569 crore since 2005, released by the NABARD meant to be transferred to primary agricultural co-operative societies has been kept in suspense amount. The amount is being released to primary agricultural co-operative societies only after a period of two months to one year. Rajendra Kumar, president, SCDCC Bank, said,: "Yes, we had invested certain amount in mutual funds and other investments. However, in the last six months we have withdrawn such amounts and the same has been transferred to the provident fund account. It has been restored.'' Registrar of Co-operative Societies M K Aiyappa said he has not received any complaint. "I have not received any such complaint so far. However, if a complaint is made I will certainly take action.'' The three major political parties - the Congress, the BJP and the JD(S) - will have to rejig their campaign plans, with the Election Commission of India (ECI) now likely to announce Assembly election dates around mid-April. Parties expected polls to be announced earlier. According to Chief Election Commissioner Om Prakash Rawat, poll dates will be announced around April 15. "School board examinations are likely to be over by March-end and other exams around April 14," Rawat told NDTV on Monday. Usually, the Election Commission conducts polls in maximum 45 days and minimum 21 days from the announcement of the election dates. Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) working president Dinesh Gundu Rao pointed out that the 2013 polls were held on May 8. "Does this mean polls could be held near the end of May this time? Still, 15 days here and there won't make a difference.We can always change our campaign plans accordingly," he said. BJP general secretary C T Ravi, however, raised a flag. This could give the Congress government that much more time to "misuse government machinery and treasury," he said. "The ECI is an independent body and we'd not like to interfere with its work. But it has to monitor the State government," he said. Announcement of polls in mid-April will not affect the BJP, he said. "Ours is a cadre-based unit. We don't prepare only for elections. We're always prepared." It is the regional JD(S) that will be hit the most as it has already announced 126 candidates who will contest the upcoming polls - the first party to do so. "This does upset our plans, but we have no objection. We are willing to make a compromise in the interest of students, who will have to face exams," JD(S) spokesperson and MLC Ramesh Babu said. He reiterated the party's stand that polls have to be held in multiple phases (spread over a couple of days). Three men were arrested over a sexual harassment complaint filed by a 29-year-old journalist. The woman filed the complaint with the Cubbon Park police on Monday, after which police arrested Bijith (20), Mithun (19), both students at Baldwin's College, and Ashith (22) alias Nikhil, from Lakkasandra. The journalist, who works for a news portal, said she was walking home with two of her male friends near Puravankara Park on HRP Road near Cubbon Park around 1.30 am when three men drove up on a bike and passed lewd comments. She objected to it while her companions argued with the men. The quarrel ended in fisticuffs as the three men assaulted the woman's friends. The commotion drew passersby who caught one of the men while the other two sped off. The woman and her friends handed the accused to the Cubbon Park police besides filing a complaint. On Tuesday, police arrested the other two suspects and booked them for outraging the modesty of a woman, assault and disturbing peace. Karnataka has a right on the Mahadayi river and Prime Minister Narendra Modi has done little to help people of the state secure their right, Congress spokesperson Randeep S Surjewala said Tuesday, spelling out the party's stand clearly on the dispute. The BJP had demanded Congress president Rahul Gandhi to take a clear stand on the Mahadayi dispute, citing a previous stand purportedly taken by former AICC chief Sonia Gandhi that Karnataka would not get "a single drop of water." At a press conference here, Surjewala said: "Karnataka has a right on that water. It's not khairaat (dole). What has Prime Minister Narendra Modi done to help get people their right? He has to look into his own conscience to find the answer to this question." Surjewala clarified that the Congress wants Modi to intervene in the dispute. "When Karnataka's right is being snatched by a BJP government (in Goa), it makes the prime minister responsible," he said. Both the BJP and the Congress have indulged in a slugfest on the Mahadayi dispute. This stand of the Congress' central leadership comes a day after BJP president Amit Shah said that the Mahadayi dispute will see a positive outcome after the BJP forms a government in Karnataka. Karnataka has claimed as its share about 45 tmc ft from the river and has demanded that it be allowed to utilise 7.56 tmc ft to meet drinking water needs of the North Karnataka region. The dispute tribunal is expected to deliver its verdict before August 20, 2018. Nalapad issue Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has "personally assured" the Congress that Shantinagar legislator N A Haris' son Mohammed Nalapad Haris will face "strictest action as per law," Surjewala said. "The party has always shown courage to clear the bad apples. The boy has been expelled, arrested and will face action as per law," Surjewala said, when asked if the incident had dented the party's image ahead of polls. On whether Haris will be given the ticket to contest the Assembly election, all that Surjewala said was: "It's not the father (Haris) who committed the crime." The inauguration of the Church Street has been advanced to March 1. Earlier, the BBMP had planned to open it on March 4. The Palike has completed all the work on the stretch. However, the four-wheeler parking bays will be constructed after the inauguration, a senior BBMP official said. The event has been advanced following a change in the chief minister's schedule. "We have got the schedule of the chief minister for the inauguration function on March 1 and we are working day and night to complete the work," the officer said. The work on the stretch had begun on February 22, 2017. After missing several deadlines, the BBMP is finally set to throw open the 750 metre stretch for the public. BBMP commissioner N Manjunath Prasad on Tuesday inspected work on the stretch. After the inauguration, the civic body will hold a meeting with the traffic police to ensure that the entire street was free of vehicles on all weekends. Three more projects Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will also inaugurate the much-awaited eight-lane flyover and an underpass at the Okalipuram Junction, a multi-level parking facility at the Freedom Park and the MG Road footpath on March 1, the BBMP officials said. The eight-lane flyover and underpass, aimed at easing the traffic, is being built at a cost of Rs 352 crore. The multi-level parking facility will accommodate 40 cars and 60 two-wheelers for parking with 30% reserved for women. The restoration of footpath on the MG Road by the Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited and the BBMP was already completed in June 2017. But still, the chief minister will formally inaugurate it on Thursday, the official added. Multilingual actor Prakash Rai, on Tuesday, filed a defamation case against Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha for making derogatory statements against him. The actor, along with his lawyer M Mahadevaswamy, submitted an application at the IV Judicial Magistrate First Class court, seeking a compensation of Re 1. The case has been registered under IPC Sections 499, 500 and 503. The court, which received the application, postponed the hearing to March 3. Rai said, "The MP had made derogatory and personal remarks against me. He had uploaded the messages on social media. I had sent him threenotices, of which he received only one." The actor said he was thinking of filing a defamation case against Union Minister Anantkumar Hegde also, for his remarks against him. The DMK on Tuesday flayed the ruling BJP at the Centre on the Cauvery issue, saying it should not handle the matter with an eye on "electoral gains" in poll-bound Karnataka, the upper riparian state in the river water sharing dispute. "The Prime Minister maintaining silence on the Cauvery issue by not speaking about it when he came to Tamil Nadu... is condemnable," M K Stalin, Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Aassembly, said in a tweet. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had attended the launch of the state government's 'Amma scooter scheme' here on Saturday. At that time, Chief Minister K Palaniswami had urged him to expedite the formation of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee as per the directions of the Supreme Court. Delivering its verdict on the inter-state dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka recently, the apex court had reduced the latter's share of the river water by 14.75 tmcft. The BJP had acted in "haste" on the issue of National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test in Tamil Nadu, Stalin said in an apparent reference to the stiff resistance to the test in the state. The BJP should not adopt a similar approach vis-a-vis Cauvery, he added. "The CMB should be constituted within six weeks. Don't make Tamil Nadu a protest zone for electoral gains in Karnataka," Stalin said in another tweet. PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- It is commonplace for people to work jobs they aren't fond of -- some eventually find their way into a better opportunity while some settle for unhappiness just to make ends meet. Pascagoula native Larry Hawkins II found himself in a situation where his calling was more important to him than the lucrative position he held with National Instruments in Austin, TX. In finding his purpose, Hawkins wrote a book in four days and created his own company to help those who have not discovered their meaning for living to find out what it is they feel they should be doing in life. Hawkins grew up in Pascagoula, but eventually left when he was 16. After excelling in school, he realized he was becoming bored with the academics, so his teacher suggested the Mississippi School for Math and Science to he and his family. From there, Hawkins received a full scholarship to Mississippi State University where he studied engineering. He learned early on that he wanted to interact with people so instead of choosing computer engineering, he decided to choose electrical engineering. Because of his academic prowess, Procter & Gamble wanted Hawkins to apply for their top engineering talent recruit program. While 2,000 people applied for the program, the company only selected 20 applicants. Those applicants selected would fly to Cincinnati to interview for a position with the company. National Instruments also contacted Hawkins and wanted him to apply for a position with their company as well. He obliged and received an offer from both. He accepted the position with National Instruments because people interaction was what he cherished and valued the most and the position with the company offered that to him. While employed there, Hawkins was promoted to team leader and was assigned to a group of 16 engineers that were the lowest performing in metrics across the entire department. Hawkins said he could also tell that their morale was low based on decisions they made post-college. Hawkins said he taught his team about personal branding, one of the courses he teaches as a part of his company and worked with each engineer individually. Because of his teachings, his team moved from last in metrics to first within the company. "Management came to me and asked," "Larry, what did you do, and can you do it for the rest of the department?" Hawkins and his brand took off and didn't need a marketing scheme to get people interested in what it was he was doing. "What happened was that I would teach a workshop, someone would be in that workshop and they would go home and tell their spouse and their spouse would get the idea that I should come and speak at their company," Hawkins said. "It was very organic the way the company began to grow." It was at that point Hawkins said he realized this was what he was supposed to be doing. "Having the chance to teach people to find their purpose and then build their career around that was much more fulfilling to me," he said. Hawkins left National Instruments in November 2017 to focus on his business full-time. "One of the things that confirmed to me to leave National Instruments and do this full-time is last year around April, I began to have migraines and they would come and go," he said. "They began to come back in November regularly. I went to visit a neurologist and he told me everything looked fine. I haven't had a migraine since I left National Instruments." While he said the migraines were not an indictment on his time at the company, Hawkins said he knew that because the migraines ceased, it was a sign he was doing what he should have been all along. His book, "5 Principles to a Purposeful Life" has sold more than 340 copies and his company has reached nearly 3,000 people with clients all over the United States. Pascagoula-Gautier School District superintendent Wayne Rodolfich read the book and loved it so much that he ordered 60 copies for his principals and staff to read. I took some time from my morning to read a book written by one of our very own. Today is a milestone day for me and I... Posted by Wayne Rodolfich on Sunday, January 28, 2018 "I want people to know it is never too late to find their purpose," Hawkins said. "The only thing that matters is that you're committed to finding it. The journey is more important than the destination." The corporators and MLAs tried to gain political mileage from the issue of the stench emanating from the KCDC's waste composting plant and the problems the Somasundarapalya residents faced due to the unit, at the BBMP council meeting. Raising the issue at the monthly meeting on Tuesday, Sathish Reddy, BJP MLA of Bommanahalli demanded the closure of the unit or else he threatened to join the other protesters. However, BBMP Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad said that if they shut one plant then people would demand the closure of other waste processing centres and how could they process waste if they closed all the plants. Former Mayor Manjunath Reddy also wanted to know as to what had happened to all huge machinery which the BBMP had brought to stop the odour coming out from the units.Commissioner N Manjunath Prasad pulled up the ward committee members for being silent on the micro plan to process waste, which they had to execute. The high court has asked the civic body to deposit Rs 50,000 for failing to comply with its order to set up solid waste management units in all wards. "The members of the ward committee should conduct a monthly meeting and come up with a micro plan to find ways to process the waste at the micro level," said Prasad. However, some members said they had held a meeting but nothing was implemented. Mayor R Sampath Raj asked the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board to appoint one officer for every ward to address the water-related issues. Bridge cinema, which brings good stories alive with popular actors are reviving the film industry, said Rajendra Singh Babu, chairperson of the Karnataka Chitrakala Academy during an interaction at the tenth Bengaluru International Film Festival (Biffes). "These movies are not as slow as art films but unlike commercial movies, they do not follow a formula and they do not have too many songs. Bridge cinema tells interesting stories with popular actors," Babu said. Irrfan Khan is one such actor who is popular in mainstream films and he also acts in bridge cinema, he said. "We are also doing more such movies. Our Kannada actors also need to come out of their shells so that we can take our films to new horizons," Babu said. Kannada actor and politician, Tara said she enjoyed her experience working in bridge cinema with director N R Nanjundegowda's 'Hebbettu Ramakka'. The movie is about an illiterate woman who gets elected to a zilla panchayat and struggles against a male-dominated society to make her voice heard. Babu also added that for experimental movies to thrive, the right ecosystem has to be created. "To change this, we have made some proposals to the government. The government will provide subsidy of Rs 50 lakh to anyone who wants to open a small theatre for 200 people. We are also in talks with the government to revamp the licensing system so that it will be easier to open new theatres," he said. Sunil Sukthankar, who directed the Marathi movie 'Astu' with Sumitra Bhave, talked about how the Marathi film industry has managed to create distinct movies with fresh scripts and treatment. "We are very much under the shadow of the Hindi film industry, more so than the south Indian languages. Some of us in the Marathi industry have been working for over two decades consistently without succumbing to those pressures," Sukthankar said. As a result, a growing community of filmmakers who want to make meaningful cinema has been created, he said. "It is still a battle, though. All films don't see the kind of commercial success that Sairat got," Sukthankar added. Punjab National Bank (PNB) has said that the alleged fraud perpetrated by jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi may be around Rs 13,000 crore more than previously estimated. In a late night filing to stock exchanges, the state-owned lender said that "the quantum of reported unauthorised transactions can increase by Rs 1,3000 crore". The bank had earlier put the defrauded amount at Rs 11,394.02 crore ($1.77 billion). Adding another Rs 1,323 crore would take this to Rs 12,717 crore. PNB said it has not received any instruction from the government to compensate other lenders for losses arising out of the fraud. The jewellers and companies linked to them had allegedly colluded with PNB officers to obtain fake bank guarantees to get a loan from overseas branches of Indian banks including Allahabad Bank, Axis Bank and UCO Bank. The bank has enough capital/assets to pay for such liability in case of eventuality in accordance with law, PNB said in a separate statement to stock exchange made on Monday. In filings earlier this month, PNB said it stumbled upon the scam on January 25, 2018, and a fraud report was filed with the Reserve Bank of India on January 29. On that day, a criminal complaint about registration of FIR was also made with the CBI. Stock exchanges were informed of the fraud on February 5. This was followed by another fraud report being submitted to the RBI on February 7, the day one more complaint was filed with the CBI. On February 13, an FIR was filed with the CBI against Nirav Modi Group, Gitanjali Group and Chandri Paper & Allied Products Pvt Ltd, as also a complaint filed with Enforcement Directorate. Stock exchanges were informed the next day, PNB had said in the filings. In the complaint, PNB alleges that Modi and companies linked to him colluded with some of its officers including a former deputy general manager Gokulnath Shetty, who was posted in the foreign-exchange department of its Mumbai branch. They fraudulently acquired guarantees to obtain loans from the overseas branches of Indian banks, claiming to need the cash to import pearls. "On January 16, 2018, the partnership firm of Nirav Modi group approached our branch at Brady House, Mumbai, and presented a set of import documents with a request to allow buyers' credit for making payment to the overseas suppliers," PNB had said. This happened after Shetty had retired. And since there was no sanctioned limit for the firms, the branch officials asked them to furnish at least 100% cash margin for issuing Letter of Undertaking (LoU) for raising buyer's credit. "On denial, the firms contested that they have been availing such transactions since past several years," PNB had said. On scrutiny, it was found that earlier LoUs were issued previously and the internal messaging system was bypassed by placing instructions via the SWIFT global payment system asking overseas branches of Indian banks to fork out the cash as loans. PNB said this followed a series of meetings with representatives of Nirav Modi group and Gitanjali group at Delhi and Mumbai "to impress upon them to pay the amount." "Upon confirming the first maturity of LoUs liabilities on January 25, 2018, as fraudulently credit against bank, an FMR-1 (fraud report format of RBI) was submitted to the RBI on January 29, 2018 amounting to $44.22 million equivalent to Rs 280.70 crore (related to three group firms of Nirav Modi)," it had said. On that day, a criminal complaint about registration of FIR was also made to CBI. On February 7, another fraud report was submitted to the RBI on confirming the maturity of LoUs liability of $10.20 million (Rs 65.25 crore) relating to two companies of Gitanjali group promoted by Mehul Choksi. Further, LoUs of $59.23 million (Rs 279.28 crore) also matured for Nirav Modi group, it said adding while the investigation was on 10 officers/employees were suspended. Hong Kong branches of Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank were asked to provide all communication with the borrower, PNB said. "On February 12, 2018, on the basis of investigation report, total fraud of Rs 11,394.02 crore in case of unauthorised issuance of Letters of Undertakings, Foreign Letter of Credits and Inland Letter of Guarantees in the group accounts of Nirav Modi Group and Gitanjali Group and in account of Chandri Paper and Allied Products Pvt Ltd was reported to RBI," it had said. "It is not Siddaramaiah government, but 'seedha rupaiyya' that drives the administration in the state. Everything seems to be happening at a price here. Karnataka needs freedom from such corruption," he stated, while addressing the BJP's farmers' rally - "Raitha Bandu Samavesha" - organised to mark the 75th birthday of chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa. It is Modi's third public rally in a month in poll-bound Karnataka. Draped in a green shawl to project himself as farmer friendly, he launched BJP's Mushti Akki Abhiyana (fist-full rice campaign) that envisages collection of fist-full of rice from every family of farmers in the state. Modi said people were so angry with the 'corrupt' government that they were eagerly waiting to vote it out in the coming polls. Karnataka was the only state in the country where a "bundle of notes" and "diaries" were found in houses of ministers when raids are conducted. "If this is not a 'seedha rupaiyya' government, what then? Such a government should not be allowed to stay in power even for a minute," he said. "One family ruled India for 48 years. One tea seller has served for 48 months. They grew up in riches. So they never cared for the poor. I have seen poverty, that is why I am devoting all my time for the welfare of the poor and the farmers," the prime minister said in an indirect attack on the Nehru-Gandhi family. Whenever people of the country got an opportunity, they removed Congress governments. They have come to understand that the Congress culture is the root cause of all problems in the country, he stated and charged the Congress government with not being able to utilise funds released by the Centre for the welfare of people. Modi also spoke at length about steps taken by his government to bail out farmers in distress. The Centre has implemented Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bhima Yojana, issued soil health cards and increased minimum support price to benefit farmers. What the Congress failed to do in 48 years of its rule, the BJP-led NDA government has done in just 48 months, he said. He concluded his speech with the Kannada slogan 'Banni BJP gellisi - ee baari BJP sarkara,' drawing loud cheers and applause from the crowd. Limited Number of Weapons In German Military Ready for Action: Report (Source: Deutsche Welle German Radio; posted Feb 27, 2018) According to the defense ministry report due to be made public tomorrow, only 13 of Germanys 58 NH90s are available for operations, as are only 12 of its 62 Tiger helicopters and just 3 of its 15 A400M transport aircraft. (Bundeswehr photo) German lawmakers are set to hear about how Germany's military, the Bundeswehr, has access to less than 50 percent of many major weapons systems. The findings are the latest to underscore problems in the armed forces. Many primary weapons systems in the Bundeswehr are not available for training exercises or deployment, according to a new Defense Ministry study. The "Report on the Operational Readiness of the Bundeswehr's Primary Weapons Systems 2017," which has been seen by the Reuters news agency and the RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland media group, is set to be presented to Germany's lower house of parliament, the Bundestag, on Wednesday. Number of weapon systems ready for action: -- Eurofighter jet airplanes: 39 of 128 -- Tornado jet airplanes: 26 of 93 -- CH-53 transport helicopters: 16 of 72 -- NH-90 transport helicopters: 13 of 58 -- Tiger helicopters: 12 of 62 -- A400M transport planes: 3 of 15 -- Leopard 2 tanks: 105 of 224 -- Navy frigates: 5 of 13 Ukraine effect The Defense Ministry said a higher number of training missions and deployments since Russia's intervention in eastern Ukraine in 2014 had caused existing equipment to wear down quicker than it had previously. The report also did not calculate readiness for each type of weapons system based on the total number of weapons. Instead, it referenced the total number minus weapons under long-term maintenance, modernization or testing. This calculation resulted in a total of 81 deployable Eurofighters rather than 128, leading to a higher ratio of airplanes available for deployment. Some improvement The report found however that the readiness for most weapon types had improved. Around 550 more weapons were available in 2017 for deployment compared to 2014. Readiness for weapons used in active foreign missions was also higher than average, the Ministry said. Based on these figures, it said that Germany could fulfill its obligations to the NATO alliance, including the rapid deployment force Very High Readiness Joint Task Force (VJTF). Defense Minister defends record Defense Minister von der Leyen of Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Christian Democrats (CDU) defended the Bundeswehr's progress in an interview with the Bavarian daily newspaper Passauer Neue Presse on Tuesday. "We cannot make up for the years of reductions and cuts over 25 years," she said, adding that the Bundeswehr's 200 billion ($250 billion) modernization program had been "a long and arduous path," but that the government would remain committed to it. Merkel's conservatives and the center-left Social Democrats (SPD) agreed to set aside 10 billion for the Bundeswehr in a coalition deal, which is still pending approval. The pact also accords the military "priority" along with international development if more money becomes available in the federal budget in the future. Greens see red The budgetary and defense spokesman for the Greens, Tobias Lindner, accused Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen of failing to remedy a serious problem. "A lot of engagements and training exercises understandably put strain on the Bundeswehr, but the military must react proactively and not just look on helplessly at how its equipment breaks down," he said. The Defense Ministry's report comes after the Bundestag's military commissioner, Hans-Peter Bartels, complained about "large holes in personnel and equipment" in the Bundeswehr in a separate paper published in mid-February. -ends- JACKSON COUNTY, Mississippi -- Six Jackson County residents are among 78 Mississippi students nominated as U.S. Presidential Scholars, among the nation's highest honors for graduating high school seniors. Established in 1964 by executive order from President Lyndon Johnson, the U.S. Presidential Scholars program recognizes and honors the nation's most distinguished high school seniors. In 1979, the program was expanded to include students who excel in the visual, creative and performing arts, and in 2015, was again expanded to include students of outstanding accomplishment in the career and technical education fields. Each year, up to 161 students are named Presidential Scholars. "We are very proud of (Mississippi's) 78 student candidates for the 2018 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program," said Marla Davis, director of the Office of Secondary Education for the Mississippi Department of Education, "and encourage them to complete the next phase of the process by returning all of the application materials they received from the U.S. Department of Education. "This is a great honor and showcases the tremendous talents of our graduating seniors." The six Jackson County residents nominated are: Taylor D. Barnes -- St. Martin High School Matthew M. Bisner -- St. Patrick High School (Ocean Springs resident) Wei Li -- Vancleave High School Parker Peterson -- Gautier High School Rachel L. Reynolds -- Ocean Springs High School William C. Wurm -- Ocean Springs High School All candidates were required to complete and return all necessary materials from the U.S. Department of Education by Feb. 27, including essays, self-assessments, secondary school reports, and transcripts. A national committee of individuals experienced in secondary and post-secondary education will evaluate the candidates on their academic achievement, personal characteristics, leadership and community service, along with the quality of the candidate's essays. A list of semifinalists will be released in early April, with the final list of U.S. Presidential Scholars announced in May. Winners will be invited to Washington, D.C., for a week in June to receive the Presidential Scholars Medallion during a ceremony, as well as to participate in special events and activities. A list of all 78 of Mississippi U.S. Presidential Scholar nominees can be found here. By Steve LeBlanc 25 February 2018 BOSTON (Associated Press) One promise of ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft was fewer cars clogging city streets. But studies suggest the opposite: that ride-hailing companies are pulling riders off buses, subways, bicycles and their own feet and putting them in cars instead.And in what could be a new wrinkle, a service by Uber called Express Pool now is seen as directly competing with mass transit.Uber and Lyft argue that in Boston, for instance, they complement public transit by connecting riders to hubs like Logan Airport and South Station. But they have not released their own specific data about rides, leaving studies up to outside researchers.And the impact of all those cars is becoming clear, said Christo Wilson, a professor of computer science at Bostons Northeastern University, who has looked at Ubers practice of surge pricing during heavy volume.The emerging consensus is that ride-sharing (is) increasing congestion, Wilson said.One study included surveys of 944 ride-hailing users over four weeks in late 2017 in the Boston area. Nearly six in 10 said they would have used public transportation, walked, biked or skipped the trip if the ride-hailing apps werent available.The report also found many riders arent using hailed rides to connect to a subway or bus line, but instead as a separate mode of transit, said Alison Felix, one of the reports authors.Ride sharing is pulling from and not complementing public transportation, she said. []A study released in December found that large increases in the number of taxis and ride-sharing vehicles are contributing to slow traffic in Manhattans central business district. It recommended policies to prevent further increases in the number of vacant vehicles occupied only by drivers waiting for their next trip request. [more] India rising: The challenges facing its IT industry India is eager to duplicate the China experience and it knows well the role Taiwan makers have been playing behind the success of its neighbor. Despite its economic challenges, India prides itself in the fact it is a democratic country and believes its market has taken off. It thinks Taiwan businesses are reluctant to foray into the India market due mainly to their shortsightedness. But for Taiwan firms, they would enter the India market mostly at the request of OEM customers, as their priority is given to clients from China and other countries, over a lower-tier India market where product structures are complicated and customers are too price-sensitive. Until they are sure how their profits can be generated, Taiwan businesses will remain cautious about venturing into the India market. There has been no consensus about how much more weight should be given to the India market, despite the fact that the Taiwan government has identified it as a top target of its New Southbound Policy devised to boost trade partnerships with ASEAN and South Asia. Homegrown industrial chains IDC statistics showed that the India market recorded total smartphone sales of 132 million units in 2017, still lagging behind sales of feature phones. Despite the belief that smartphones will soon completely replace feature phones, the India handset market remains too "opaque" to support such a belief: There are 250 million households divided by large wealth gaps, and vendors deliberately segment their markets believing that as long as they can identify the best market segments for their businesses they can have solid presence in the India market. As far as the handset industry is concerned, India vendors who are keen to operate more efficiently would rather go to China to find products that meet their own needs. This way, it will take only 2-3 weeks for them to ready shipments for distribution at retail markets, compared to at least nine months starting from designing their own products from sractch to delivering them to the retailers - which would be a heavy burden in terms of investment and time-to-market. India's homegrown handset brands have been criticized for operating like trading companies that seldom involve the local supply chain. According to Lin Zai-li, former president of WPG Holdings' South Asia operations, India has enjoyed playing the role of traders during its years of colonial rule by European countries, and therefore know little about supply chains. This, coupled with individual groups' vested interests and incentives provided by China OEMs, has made the India market a complicated one. The India market has seen many smartphone brands from China. Citing Bird-branded feature phones as an example, WPG's India operations president Rajeev Bajpai has noted that the phones were manufactured and made available in China 7-8 years ago, but they are now dumped in the India market. He added that such low-end, fully-depreciated feature phones without involving any local R&D are flooding the India market like a "cancer" that undermines the real value of the local market. In India's traditional consumer electronics industry, big players including Videocon are still plagued by funding and design capability issues, and their manufacturing capabilities are lagging far behind international standards. Among local handset makers in India, Lava International has been widely recognized as an aggressive player. Its chairman Hari Om Rai says Lava now maintains a 700-member R&D center in China, designing handsets in accordance with domestic needs for production by its China partners. Jonathan Lalremruata, who founded Wipro Taiwan in earlier years and now provides consultancy services to Taiwan's Lite-On and Foxconn (Hon Hai), notes that India still lacks the fundamental PCB industry, and that his company once tried to cooperate with India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to introduce PCB makers from Taiwan, but in vain. This is because most Taiwan PCB makers have completed deployments in China, and therefore there is not enough incentive for them to set up PCB plants in India, given that their existing production capacities have yet to be fully occupied and that the India market is not yet ready. Rising stars Nevertheless, the lackluster electronics industry in India is not without its own progress. Lava chairman Hari Om Rai believes that the India handset industry will return to a normal track of development, indicating that his company posted encouraging revenue performance in the past quarter and that time will stand on the side of an India that boasts a large young population. Lava International Also chairing a committee of India's Information and Communications Technology Industry Association, Rai said that family is his top concern, followed by the nation and then the company. While enterprises in Silicon Valley and China have taken off along with the emergence of their countries as world economic powers, India must identify its own public value before it can trigger its overall growth momentum, Rai stressed. As a leading local handset maker with annual revenues of US$1.2 billion in 2017, Lava set the highest monthly sales record of 2.5 million handsets in the year, with one third of them being smartphones. The company has started small-volume shipments to neighboring countries such as Sri Lanka and Nepal. In terms of long-term competitiveness for enterprises, Lava indicates that visible products and technologies are quite important, but the ecosystems and corporate cultures developed by enterprises are even more crucial in sustaining their competitiveness. Now maintaining total direct and indirect workforce of up to 30,000 people, Lava places market development and management as its top task, stressing that R&D and product designs count more than product manufacturing in fulfilling the task. In China, Lava now has 700 designers of its own, 13,000 contracted employees serving at sales points, and another 4,000 handling production and sales coordination. For Lava, it is equally important to understand the terminal markets and control the pace of product development and launch. The company believes that in the Internet era, there is little difference in the market information that businesses obtain, and therefore whoever is willing to engage in long-term deployments can become the final winner. Rai thinks that the China brands whose products will dominate the global markets will be those with long-term efforts to develop and serve the markets, such as Huawei and Lenovo, but not ones such as Xiaomi that rely heavily on pricing strategies. India can surely use high tariffs to check imports of foreign brands, but the corporate cultures of its local brands are what really matter in countering competitions. MoMagic Technologies MoMagic Technologies, a mobile software, app and content developer, now has 180 Indian employees and 150 Bengali ones. Its founder and CEO Arun Gupta earned his bachelor's degree in electronics and telecommunications from a public engineering institute in Indore, India in 1991 before joining HCL as a software engineer and then serving as a senior software engineer at India's DCM Data System from 1994-1996, when he was dispatched to station at DCM's US partner IBM. Later, he served as director of MediaTek India from 2002-2011, handling R&D, marketing and management operations before founding the startup company with financial support from MediaTek and Foxconn, which hold 23.5% and 10% stakes, respectively. Arun believes that software services given to highly differentiated customers involve higher gross margins, but such services also entail the difficulties in building business models. In contrast, hardware products offer low gross margins, but their business models are easy to maintain over the long term. Achieving the coexistence of both software and hardware, and making supply chains more efficient, better customized and more valuable are the only formula for successful business management. MoMagic now mainly offers mobile app services and operates a joint venture with Lava to provide app management services to 5,000 distributors under Lava. In India, there are now over 100,000 smartphone distributors. And MoMagic basically relies on service fee incomes to finance its R&D programs. Lava and Spice are MoMagic's major customers in India. The firm has set up partnerships with Symphony in Bangladesh, while also extending its business reach to Sri Lanka. In addition, it also cooperates with a China mobile power supply company to expand their market influences through intensive exchanges, with both sides sharing offices in India. MoMagic raked in annual consolidated revenues of over US$16 million in fiscal 2017, and its subsidiary serving e-commerce operators in Bangladesh also posted whole-year revenues of over US$3 million. Arun has decided to use the revenues and earnings to support his firm's R&D and personnel expansion while maintaining very close cooperative ties with MediaTek and Foxconn. Commenting on the declining market shares by India's local handset brands, Arun opined that India's lack of independent design houses is a big problem, but the biggest problem is that the handset makers have little knowledge about how to work out their own product roadmaps. Basically, it will take only 2-3 weeks for vendors to source handsets directly from China for sales in India, but if they want to adjust the product strategies based on market needs, it will take them at least nine months to complete, according to Arun. Many India handset vendors prefer shortcuts, but China upstream suppliers usually rule out India vendors as their top-choice customers due to product planning and cost concerns. Accordingly, India handset makers, in a disadvantageous position in terms of supply chain priority, will be driven out of the market in the long run. In fact, many vendors have hit a snag, including consumer electronics brands Intex and Videocon, which started out selling PCs and video products. Despite working hard to develop sales channels, they are plagued by poor product roadmap planning capabilities. Among major India handset brands, Arun said, only Micromax and Lava are willing to invest in backend R&D projects. In particular, Lava boasts a strong R&D team in China, responsible for designing products needed by the India market. Backed by their abundant experiences in managing channels, both Micromax and Lava can coordinate well with China suppliers to roll out handsets dedicated to the India market. Nevertheless, while major China brands enjoy robust financial strength and product portfolios, India handset brands are really hard up. Now in India, Oppo and Vivo ads can be easily seen on TV channels, and promotion ads by more China brands can also be seen on roadsides. India handset makers really need more financial resources to support their competition against China vendors. But what makes situations tougher for India makers is that the credit-crunch India banking system has become conservative in extending loans since the government scrapped the largest currency notes - INR500 and INR1,000 - in November 2016 in a fight against unaccounted wealth and corruption. Arun harbors the hope of leading his company toward South Asia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and in this regard, joining forces with Taiwan is his best choice. Arun will set up a new company in Taiwan, with all the related documents already up for regulatory approvals. MoMagic hopes to boost the number of its employees in Taiwan from the initial 15 to over 40 in the starting two years, and it also plans to raise funds through listing shares on the India stock market in 2-3 years. The sluggish performance of the India property market has discouraged investors from funneling large amounts of funds into realty transactions, making stock exchanges the best outlets for their investment funds. In 2017, aggregate India stock exchange turnovers posted a sharp annual growth of 28%. Accordingly, it remains the best choice for India startups to create favorable leverage conditions with public capital funds. MobiQuest Mobile Technologies Founded in 2008, MobiQuest Mobile Technologies is dedicated to helping business brands manage social networks to expand connections with consumers, and its founding partners and its predecessor's managers all used to provide professional marketing services in India for many of the world's top 500 enterprises. In designing apps, dedicated web pages and social networks for customers, MobiQuest can utilize big data analysis to help customers better maintain their key clients and adjust their marketing paces to maximize the values of their marketing operations. Over the past 10 years, MobiQuest has extended services to over 200 business brands, allowing them to build connections with over 65 million consumers through its awarded digital and mobile marketing platform M'loyal and recording transactions with over 500,000 consumers per day. With the increasingly bright prospects for big data and FinTech, MobiQuest is emerging as a "star of tomorrow" in India. The company now has 70 employees with its revenues for 2017 reaching INR180 million (US$2.67 million), but its daily transactions involving half a million users have prompted Alibaba and Softbank to become investment partners during its next round of financing. It has never sent any of its staff to Taiwan before, but MobiQuest will visit Computex Taipei 2018 to be held June 5-9 to explore the possibility of cooperating with Taiwan's ICT hardware makers. MediatTek India With a total workforce of 15,000 people in its global operations and ranking top in many domains, Taiwan-based IC design house MediaTek now hires 600 employees in India, including 250 in Dehli, 330 in Bangalore and 10 in Mumbai, a new foothold. MediaTek's footholds in India mainly function as R&D and technical support bases. MediaTek India president Anku Jain notes that MediaTek is a high-tech company earmarking 20% of its annual revenues as R&D expenses, with confirmed investment projects for the next five years estimated at US$6.5 billion, including US$350 million in India. He stresses that how MediaTek India will find and keep foremost talent is very crucial to the entire MediaTek Group. Generally speaking, tech giants such as Microsoft and Intel usually hire India's top-class fresh university graduates with an annual pay of INR1.5 million (US$23,114.85), and then groom them according to their specific corporate cultures. MediaTek India can hardly source all its employees from the top-ranked Indian Institute of Science (IISc), but it can manage to hire graduates from other national science and engineering colleges with annual pay of INR1-1.2 million, compared to only INR 700,000 payable by local handset makers to fresh employees. In developing India's domestic handset market, most India vendors adopt an international trade-based business model, procuring handsets directly from China for sales in India. Such a model can bring short-term benefits, but lacks long-term value. Anku believes that local handset vendors in India will certainly face the pressure of consolidation, and whoever owns more cash will dictate the outcome. Now, China's smartphone brands Vivo and Oppo have their advertising signs easily seen on the streets in India, while Xiaomi focuses on promoting sales through online channels. They have adopted the same business models to develop the India market following the saturation of the China smartphone market, imposing great pressure on India's local handset brands and Samsung in terms of market shares in the South Asian country. (Note: This is the second installment of an article about India's IT market and industry, written by Colley Hwang, president of Digitimes.) Lava chairman Hari Om Rai Photo: Colley Hwang, Digitimes, February 2018 Rankings of India science and engineering universities and colleges Rankings Titles Times Higher Education World University Rankings 1 Indian Institute of Science(IISc) 29 2 IIT-Bombay 44 3 IIT-Kharagpur 60 4 IIT-Roorkee 65 5 IIT-Kanpur 81 6 IIT-Delhi 86 7 Tezpur University 100 8 IIT-Madaras 103 9 IIT-Guwahati 112 10 Punjab University 114 Source: Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India, compiled by Digitimes Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. 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. Camila Cabello Releases Made In Miami Documentary, Talks Fifth Harmony Departure: Watch Camila Cabello just released her first documentary. Entitled Made in Miami, the 17-minute documentary was released less than an hour ago on her personal YouTube channel. The description of this documentary reads: Directed by Tabitha Denholm and Produced by YouTube, Made in Miami is the story of Camila's journey from arriving in Miami from Cuba as a kid to finding her voice and releasing her debut album. The film explores how generations of strong women have shaped the Cabello family and inspired Camila to become the artist she is today. This film is dedicated to all of the families that come to America to make a better life for their children. Made in Miami features sit-down interviews with Camila, her family, producers, Simon Cowell or even the head of YouTube Music. Camila narrates her journey to America coming from Cuba, her childhood, her X Factor audition and becoming part of the industry, her days with Fifth Harmony, her departure from the group, and her current status of pop star and her success with Havana. If youre interested in any of the topics I just wrote, then click the play button below immediately! WATCH: "MADE IN MIAMI" Subscriber content preview Already foreign-born workers 17 percent of the workforce account for 52 percent of U.S. maids, 47 percent of roofers and 40 percent of construction laborers and laundry workers. By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON America's 21st century job market increasingly demands high-tech skills and knowledge. Yet consider this: Nearly half the new jobs the government foresees emerging by 2026 will require only a high school diploma or none at all. Those jobs share something else in common, too: Hundreds of thousands of them will likely be taken by low-skilled immigrants who are willing to do work that many Americans won't. . . . Arizona has approved a new testing plan that lets school districts choose from a variety of high school assessment options, even though it appears to violate the main federal education law, the Every Student Succeeds Act. The Arizona state board of education approved the menu of options system Monday . It was developed in response to a 2016 state law that requires the board to build more choice into testing. Under the new plan , which begins in 2018-19, districts can offer the SAT or ACT college-admissions exams, Advanced Placement tests, or tests associated with the International Baccalaureate or Cambridge programs instead of the states own accountability test, the AzMERIT. The federal education law requires, however, that states administer one test statewide to all students. As Arizona was discussing the plan, in late 2016, officials at the U.S. Department of Education told Education Week that they were concerned about the states plans . The Arizona department of educations spokesman said told EdWeek that the approach would appear to be in conflict with ESSA. ESSA does permit districts to offer more choice of tests at the high school level. But that flexibility comes in a specific form: The law says that states can give individual districts permission to substitute the SAT or ACT for the states main high school test. Before they proceed with that option, they must submit to a detailed federal review of the substitute tests theyd like to use. Arizona didnt include the menu of options system in its ESSA plan . The plan was approved last September . Get High School & Beyond posts delivered to your inbox as soon as theyre published. Sign up here . Also, for news and analysis of issues that shape adolescents preparation for work and higher education. A group of students from De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) have helped refugees to develop their interview skills while volunteering at a New York charity. 17 students have travelled to New York with #DMUlocal, where are they working with refugees and will attend a special Chat Series event at the United Nations headquarters. They spent the morning at a refugee resettlement office at the Catholic Charities Community Service in downtown Manhattan, where they received a presentation about the work of the charity and the situation of refugees in the USA and then conducted mock interviews with refugees living in the city. The activity was part of DMUs involvement with the United Nations' #JoinTogether campaign. The university has been asked by the UN to take a lead in engaging universities across the world to find ways of successfully integrating refugees into communities, while spreading messages of tolerance and understanding. In small groups, the students carried out mock interviews with refugees and provided advice and feedback which could make all of the difference to their applications for jobs and interviews with immigration authorities. Second year Business and Management student Maya Lad said it was a rewarding experience to work directly with refugees. It was a really good experience because we got to see what theyve been through in order to get to this stage, she explained. From this experience Ive gained how to relate with refugees and their journey here as well as why they really want a job and the fact that they want to start over with a new life. It makes you feel grateful because Ive been really privileged. It makes me want to help more people in positions like this. RELATED NEWS DMU students help refugees in New York Students to lead UN event in New York DMU launches involvement in UN's Together campaign in New York Agnes Nzomene Foda, who works at the charity, informed the students about the current situation of refugees in the USA and explained that the primary goal of the Refugee Resettlement Office was to help their clients feel secure and become self-sufficient members of their new community. Aditya Sharma, a second year Accounting and Business Management student, thought the presentation gave a great insight into the life of refugees in the USA. He said: It was a great presentation. It told us about the refugees situation within New York and how difficult it has become for them to get the support that they require in order to self-sustain themselves. The students also took part in a tour of the United Nations headquarters where they were given behind-the-scenes access of the iconic campus. They will return to the UN on Tuesday when two students, Hamdallat Abdulsalam and George Coyle, will join DMUs Vice-Chancellor Professor Dominic Shellard in making presentations as part of a special chat series. The event will focus on developing a positive attitude to migration and can be watched live on DMUs Facebook page from 7.30pm UK time. Germany sits up as Li Shifu's Geely becomes Daimler's biggest shareholder Germany says it will remain "watchful" of Chinese carmaker Geely after it became the biggest investor in Mercedes-Benz owner Daimler. The German government warned the deal should not be used as a "gateway" for Chinese industrial policy interests. Li Shufu, the founder and chairman of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co, has become the top shareholder in Daimler AG, the German company that traces its roots to Karl Benz. The car industry is witnessing what Bloomberg calls one of its biggest disruptions since Benz assembled the first automobile more than a century ago. Li inherits a storied legacy with inventions such as the world's first diesel car. The 7.3-billion ($9-billion) stake, disclosed on Friday and first reported by Bloomberg, represents the biggest investment by a Chinese company in an overseas automaker - and one right in the nerve centres of the global automotive world. The move by the photographer-turned self-made billionaire comes at a time when battery-powered vehicles and self-driving automobiles are poised to herald a new era. Technology companies like Google and Apple Inc with vast financial resources are vying for a role in the world of automaking. To survive, traditional manufacturers can no longer go it alone, according to Li. "Competitors that are challenging the global car industry in the 21st century technologically are not part of the automotive industry today,'' Li said in a statement. ''In order to succeed and seize the technology highland, one has to have friends, partners, and alliances and adapt a new way of thinking in terms of sharing and united strength.'' Li amassed a 9.7-per cent holding in Stuttgart-based Daimler through Geely Group, a company owned by the 54-year-old and managed by his carmaker. Cooperation with Daimler, on areas such as new-energy vehicles and on-line services, is a core issue, Geely told Bloomberg News citing the chairman, in response to questions on the investment. Li's closely held Zhejiang Geely Holding Group already owns Volvo Cars AB and last year it took an almost $4-billion stake in truckmaker Volvo AB. Geely also owns London Taxi and controls British sports-car maker Lotus Cars. According to the BBC, Geely's investment has raised some concerns that the Chinese firm will seek access to technology and innovation in exchange for the deal. The German government said it would not block the investment, but economy minister Brigitte Zypries said it must "keep an especially watchful eye". Germany is "an open economy that welcomes investments, as long as they happen in line with the market", she told the German newspaper Handelsblatt. China's car market has already surpassed the US. It is one area where local companies like Geely and Great Wall Motors Co are encouraged by the government to go overseas to secure key technologies and access to resources. Chinese dealmakers in other areas are under intense scrutiny following a debt-fuelled global acquisition spree. HNA Group, the conglomerate that owns stakes in Deutsche Bank AG and Hilton Worldwide Holdings Inc, is unwinding its portfolio of assets. Last week, China's government temporarily took over Anbang Insurance Group Co, whose buying binge including properties such as Manhattan's Waldorf Astoria hotel has come to symbolize the overreach of the nation's debt-laden conglomerates. Li, whose global empire has more than 70,000 employees, has no such troubles. A surge in Chinese vehicle sales is poised to double profits at his Hong Kong-listed Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. The company's shares jumped as much as 8.8 per cent Monday, giving it a market value of about $30 billion. The automaker had bank balances and cash of 20.8 billion yuan ($3.3 billion) as of June, according to its most recent financial report. That should help Li plow money into the emerging world of battery-powered cars and new technologies. Geely, which is China's largest private automaker by sales, doesn't have any foreign carmaker as its partner. Daimler's Chinese partners include BAIC Motor Corp and Warren Buffett-backed BYD Co, both of which compete with Geely. Geely financed the Daimler investment through a combination of debt, equity and financial instruments overseas and didn't use domestic funds in China, Chief Financial Officer Li Donghui told CCTV in an interview. Electric vehicles is the new battle ground in China, where the government is actively pushing for the eradication of fossil-fuel powered automobiles by giving new incentives. China is already the world's biggest market for electric vehicles, and a region Daimler has targeted for growth. Over 100 cities globally now powered by renewable energy The number of cities that reported being predominantly powered by clean energy has more than doubled since 2015, as more cities around the world switch from fossil fuels to renewable sources. According to data published today by the not-for-profit environmental impact researcher CDP, 101 of the over 570 cities on its books drew at least 70 per cent of their electricity from renewable sources in 2017, as against 42 in 2015. According to Nicolette Bartlett, the director of climate change at CDP, the increase came both from more cities reporting to CDP as also a global shift towards renewable energy. She told Guardian Cities that the data was a ''comprehensive picture of what cities are doing with regards to renewable energy.'' That large urban centres such as Auckland, Nairobi, Oslo and Brasilia were successfully moving away from fossil fuels was held up as evidence of a changing tide by Kyra Appleby, CDP's director of cities. ''Reassuringly, our data shows much commitment and ambition,'' she said in a statement. ''Cities not only want to shift to renewable energy, but, most importantly they can.'' Climate action efforts at city level in the past year have mostly drawn inspiration from the global covenant of over 7,400 mayors that formed in the wake of Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the Paris accord. According to CDP over 40 of those cities are now powered entirely by renewables, including Burlington, Vermont, which generates electricity from a combination of wind, solar, hydro and biomass. More companies will go the Burlington way within the next 20 years - 58 US cities, including Atlanta and San Diego, having announced plans to walk the same path. Four US cities made the list of those getting at least 70 per cent of their electricity from renewable sources - Seattle; Eugene, Oregon; and Aspen, Colorado, along with Burlington. Also on the list are five Canadian cities, Montreal, Vancouver, Winnipeg, North Vancouver and Prince George, British Columbia. Industries left, right and centre are being infiltrated by tech-driven startups willing to address prevailing inefficiencies and achieve a superior customer experience. Against this backdrop, many incumbents are realising that unless they ride the wave of disruption, theyll by swept away with the status quo. This week, for our exclusive Lets Talk feature examining disruption, we asked 17 thought leaders to discuss the industries they feel are riddled with inefficiencies. Legal, financial services, property, travel, real estate and retail were amongst the industries considered overripe for disruption; however, as one commentator noted, Any industry which fails to focus on diversity is not meeting its full potential, is inefficient and is vulnerable to disruption. Read on for further insights from this weeks line-up: Bohdi Lewis, Head of Digital Strategy & Innovation, Host/Havas: As a strategist in a creative agency Ive spent my entire career dipping in and out of almost every industry, working with heads of marketing, chief technology officers, CX teams, Finance departments and so on to uncover creative ways to deliver value to both the business and customers alike. What have I learned? The bottom line is that all industries are experiencing the same challenge: How do you effectively bring together product, people and technology to create more cohesive and valuable experiences? And, perhaps more pointedly, how do you unlock the entire spectrum of available data to do so in an efficient way? But of all the industries, the ship that feels hardest to turn around, is banking. In an industry where 80% of profits go back to shareholders (according to the Australian Bankers Associations latest advertising campaign), what chance does it have of truly delivering transformative customer experiences? As customer-centricity races to ubiquity in the business world, there are infinite fintech startups introducing much smarter and more efficient ways to manage and move money. But its the big banks stunting progress as they continue to hold their cards close to their chests, preventing all of us from taking ownership of our personal data to give us more financial freedom. If the banking industry doesnt open up and deregulate via open data and the API economy, then the foreign tech giants will take advantage of these inefficiencies and colonise (like Google in advertising and Amazon in retail) and disrupt the industry. Trena Blair, CEO of FD Global Connections: Any industry which fails to focus on diversity that is gender, race, religious beliefs, age, culture, sexual orientation and physical capabilities is not meeting its full potential and is inefficient and easily disrupted. Australia is world renowned for its multi-cultural population. Industries are a microcosm of the communities they serve, and Australia is ideally positioned to take a global lead by applying diversity policies. Industries which do not reflect this fail to benefit from diversity of thought a rich mixture of deep and meaningful insights to solve real problems. Whilst some industries understand the benefits and are pivoting towards a diverse employee base, other organisations remain grounded in old-school practices. Some startups are driving the cultural change and awakened industries are beginning to follow. However, too many organisations continue to ignore the full benefits of diversity and therefore, the community they serve. Dr Amantha Imber, Founder of Inventium and author (The Innovation Formula): Legal. The advances we are seeing in legal software that can do the job of a junior lawyer have big implications for the industry and traditional career paths. Legal tech start-ups are harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence to proofread legal documents and conduct legal research, reducing many of the efficiencies in the industry. Firms need to embrace this disruption and have a strategy for how they will incorporate these new technologies into their operating and business models. Jamie Pride, serial entrepreneur, VC and author (Unicorn Tears): Customer contact and support centres. The first wave was to move this function to cheap labour offshore. The next wave will be to replace this offshore labour with machine learning/bots. Think about it? If I can teach a program to know everything about your companys products, processes and customers, then it is going to be much better placed to handle basic customer enquiries. Plus, these programs will learn from the most frequently asked questions and get better over time. Add to that a chatbot style interface Id much rather get a response now from a machine learning chatbot than wait on hold for 30 minutes to get a response from an offshore call centre. Mike Edmonds, Founder & Chairman of Meerkats Creative Business Solutions: My perspective is marketing inefficiency. Its harder to quantify than, say, employee productivity, but it can be more costly to a company. I think the worst offenders are service industries banking, insurance, telcos. Companies that have largely parity offerings, that become addicted to researching what consumers want, and then pretendi thats what they stand for too via endless, expensive marketing activity. The biggest disrupter in the last hundred years of commerce is the internet. It means every consumer can share the truth about your company instantly and globally. Truth is your path out of the chaos. Not more marketing. Taryn Williams, Founder & CEO of theright.fit and Wink Models: Having spent sixteen years working across different areas of the creative talent and media industries, I have witnessed or been part of inefficient processes including late or non-payments for talent and manual processes, which slow things down and increase costs. I started my companies, Wink Models and theright.fit, as ways to disrupt my own industry and create better outcomes. Social media and technology are both disrupting the industry, in a good way. For example, social media allows individuals to build and promote their personal brand online for minimal cost and blogs or websites provide the opportunity for content creation. Online marketplaces are also providing a timely and efficient way for brands and agencies to connect with creative talent and produce beautiful campaigns within their budgets. Through some of these platforms, talent are also getting paid much quicker than in the past which is a huge boost to the industry. Craig Harris, COO of Deputy: Focusing on a specific industry is, I think, not the core issue with inefficiency in business. Inefficiencies are almost expected once a company reaches a certain size. Most people think of these large enterprise companies as being quite advanced and sophisticated, and so more likely to be early adopters of new technologies in their business the reality is far different. Often it is the smaller businesses that are most looking to find efficiencies internally as they more readily see a link to stronger profitability when it is needed most. For our larger customers, there are so many hurdles they have to get over to make even the smallest systemic changes and this in itself is an example of rampant inefficiency. But what is creating these all too common hurdles? Often, its due to a rational fear of security flaws. One of the biggest points of resistance usually comes from the technology division, which is sensitive to anything that could be remotely seen as a security risk, and so its just easier to remain with the inefficient system. While not every large organisation follows this trend, it is fairly commonplace, to see outdated legacy software or super manual processes that are hindering the efficiency of big business. Michael Stelzer, Vice-President of Verint ANZ: Varying organisational inefficiencies span different industry sectors but one area that is currently causing issues across the board is customer engagement and experience. To keep customers engaged, organisations naturally need to put them at the centre of their business strategy and continually look for ways to go above and beyond in service. Intelligent and well-applied technology solutions, like speech analytics and workforce optimisation tools, can enhance customer engagement for both organisations and the customer. Strengthening company-customer relationships can directly drive loyalty and revenue while enabling an organisation to remain operationally efficient in other areas of business. There are always opportunities to re-evaluate operations and performance. Doing so ensures the right foundations for achieving efficient processes in business are discovered, and sustainable business outcomes achieved. Mick Spencer, Founder & CEO of ONTHEGO: I would say the uniform industry is becoming inefficient as it is not taking advantage of digitisation to streamline the planning, execution and logistics process. The fact that the current systems create long lead times from standard offerings, in turn, affects the lack of choice and customisation available to customers in this industry. People are used to receiving things instantly or on-demand, so a quick turnover is expected. Its high time this kind of convenience is applied to the uniform industry. Andrew Johnson, CEO of Australian Computer Society (ACS): Digitisation and automation are transforming all industries. It is not so much a case of an industry becoming inefficient, rather a new market entrant has found a way of becoming more efficient or has been able to achieve a better customer experience as enabled by technology. The retail industry has attracted much media for the global phenomenon that is Amazon, and incumbents are having difficulty attracting historical foot traffic into their stores as they continue to pay significant leasehold costs. In the US, this has seen over twenty retailers file for bankruptcy protection in 2017, including well known chains such as Toys R Us and Payless. It would be unfair to single out retail, we can see how Uber has disrupted taxis, and the potential for driverless cars and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to transform freight and logistics. The Australian Government is trialling facial recognition at Canberra airport. Imagine walking past the customs line seamlessly without producing your passport. Wherever your customer has a pain point, where there is friction in supply, there is an opportunity to use technology to disrupt. James Coyle, CCO of SuperEd: The wealth management industry has become inefficient because many players have become disconnected with their customer base. They are large financial institutions that have often grown as a result of third party distributors, or perhaps through the compulsory superannuation system. Scale is often a key driver of success as it enables costs to be kept low and access to more diverse asset classes. Responding quickly to customer needs and tailoring products appropriate to those needs hasnt always been in their DNA. Even when the intent is good, they have lacked the mechanisms to do this efficiently. This is changing but the slow pace of that change is just exacerbating their current inefficiency. Allan Waddell, Founder & CEO, Kablamo: You could build a business solely around cleaning up the technical deficit left by the enterprise-scale tech consultancies. Its not uncommon for my team to arrive at a large enterprise where a technology consultancy has been paid in fulldespite leaving things unfinished, unsecure and broken. In almost any other industry this kind of behaviour would be fatal but because of its complexity, technology lends itself to smoke-and-mirrors solutions and acceptance of fuzzy outcomes. Disruption of this old, broken way of doing things is simple, but not easy: delivery has to be quick, secure and beyond expectations. If it is, theres no going back and expectations from technology implementations will be changed forever. Sarah Riegelhuth, Co-founder & CEO of Wealth Enhancers and Grow My Team, and Author (Get Rich Slow): Finance. Over the past ten years the amount of compliance and regulation within the financial services industry has become hugely onerous. The industry is ripe for disruption, and it is happening, but probably not fast enough. Ultimately the customer pays, as the increased burden for businesses means an increase in staff and costs. Technology has to be the answer, and AI is promising when it comes to checking documents and red flagging things for attention. Not to mention chat forums and advice articles which provide answers to less complex topics where a professional financial planner may not be required. Many firms are still yet to value the business of Gen Y and often fail to provide then with effective financial advice. As Gen Y get older and place more importance on financial planning, firms are going to have to take notice and adjust in order to remain competitive. Dominique Grubisa, Founder & CEO of DG Institute: In the past, it made sense to sell your home via a conventional real estate agent. However, with the rise of easy-to-access property websites it is harder to justify paying someone more than two percent of your sale price to show a few people around. Property Now and Purple Bricks are two examples of disruptors in this space. Meanwhile, peer-to-peer lending is disrupting the housing loan markets in the USA and UK and I expect it is only a matter of time before it hits Australia. Greg Taylor, Group VP (APAC) with New Relic: I see two major industries that are becoming inefficient, transaction banking and travel/transport. Transaction banking is an industry that is increasingly being disrupted by the digital revolution. Current payment systems are outdated slow to settle, hard to reconcile and cumbersome to send and receive. As customers grow accustomed to faster and more convenient payments through digital, mobile and social media, they are demanding similar conveniences and service levels in transaction banking. The traditional payments customer persona is fast being replaced by one that expects a personalised experience from banks similar to that of other industry players like Apple. Travel and transport is another industry that is quickly becoming inefficient as it trying to keep up with increasing customer demands for fast and convenient digital services. This industry continues to be very people heavy. Despite the growth of digital-first sales platforms, many travel businesses have failed to leverage the technology available to create integrated ecommerce platforms to book trips, accommodation or facilitate check in and check out of hotels. Those who move quickly and drive digital customer experiences will be the ones to win in travel and transport. Rhys Taylor, Regional Director of Aerohive: Retail is a well-known example of an industry struggling to compete with new digital players. While the arrival of Amazon in Australia has been muted, the threat is very real. There is a future for physical retail, but it needs to operate in parallel to a seamless digital experience, with flawless customer service and fast and reliable logistics. As weve seen with the success of Uber, traditional taxi and car rental industries have been ripe for disruption. Its often easier and cheaper to use Uber for a couple of days than rent a car, and payment is seamless and transparent. We also anticipate significant disruption in the post and delivery sector, with services such as Amazon Key. As online shopping increases, expanding into groceries and other categories, Australians in metro areas will expect same-day delivery just as their counterparts in the US and other world cities enjoy. James Chin Moody, Co-founder & CEO of Sendle: With the advent of online retail, traditional offline retail outlets run the risk of becoming outdated and inefficient. Not only do they have the burden of physical store space, but it is hard for them to know as much about their customers as their online brethren because online merchants can track every click, every page and every purchase. They can use this information to optimise the shopping experience for that particular customer, and even recommend what to buy next. One of the things that is accelerating this increasing efficiency for online sellers is the rise of simple, reliable and affordable logistics. This eliminates many of the major pain-points for online shoppers and turns them into a key advantage having goods delivered straight to your door. James Chin Moody, Co-founder & CEO of Sendle: With the advent of online retail, traditional offline retail outlets run the risk of becoming outdated and inefficient. Not only do they have the burden of physical store space, but it is hard for them to know as much about their customers as their online brethren because online merchants can track every click, every page and every purchase. They can use this information to optimise the shopping experience for that particular customer, and even recommend what to buy next. One of the things that is accelerating this increasing efficiency for online sellers is the rise of simple, reliable and affordable logistics. This eliminates many of the major pain-points for online shoppers and turns them into a key advantage having goods delivered straight to your door. Related articles: Let Talk Disruption (2017), Lets Talk Technology and Lets Talk Fintech. About Lets Talk Lets Talk is an exciting weekly initiative that provides entrepreneurs and industry experts with a forum to share rapid-fire views on a range of issues that matter to start-ups and SMEs. Every Wednesday, we pose a themed question to a line-up of knowledgeable industry figures, with a view to picking their brains for valuable insights to share with you, our readers. Chattanooga-area emergency first responders are invited to connect with local attorneys for free estate planning, such as simple wills and powers of attorney. On Saturday, March 24 from 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C. will host Wills for Heroes at the Chambliss Conference Center in Liberty Tower, 605 Chestnut St. in Chattanooga.Creating a will can seem like a daunting or complicated process, but it is one of the most important plans you can make for your family, said Logan Threadgill, Chattanooga Bar Association Young Lawyer board member and Chambliss attorney.Legal matters like wills and healthcare powers of attorney can change the course of lives, so its imperative to have everything in order. We want to give back to the local heroes who are out there every day protecting us. At no cost to them, they can meet with counsel to work through the details of their estate and ensure their families are taken care of. Our hope is that it provides them some comfort to have these decisions complete on paper.The free estate planning event is sponsored by the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division and the national Wills for Heroes Foundation.First responders provide safety for all of us, and they deserve recognition and support for the work they do, said Judge Alex McVeagh, Hamilton County representative for the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division. We appreciate them as well as the young lawyers across Chattanooga who help make this happen.Basic estate planning will be provided to qualified first responders including active, retired and volunteer firefighters, police officers, paramedics, corrections and probation officers from federal, state, county, city and town departments and agencies. Responders must be Tennessee residents to qualify.Appointments are required and can be made by contacting Logan Threadgill at wfh@chamblisslaw.com.The Wills for Heroes program has been the primary public service project of the Tennessee Bar Association Young Lawyers Division since 2008. To date, the program has benefited thousands of first responders and their families in the state, officials said. Synovus Mortgage Corp. Monday opened an office in east Hamilton County at 5975 Elementary Way in Ooltewah. Staffed by three licensed mortgage loan originators, the Ooltewah office offers a complete range of home financing options from "affordable mortgage programs to jumbo mortgages." Ooltewah is perfectly positioned between Chattanooga and Cleveland, and we couldnt be more excited to serve homeowners in two of the most dynamic and fastest growing areas in Tennessee, said Mike Sarvis, market executive for Synovus Bank. Industry veterans Sheena Corbett (NMLS 414528), Stacy Woods (NMLS 158878), and Jessica Smith (NMLS 179250) will be located in the new location, and market sales leader Jill McLean (NMLS 415451) is nearby in the downtown Chattanooga branch of Synovus Bank. Synovus Bank operates two full service banking branches as at 800 Market St. in downtown Chattanooga and at 5613 Hwy. 153 in Hixson. Synovus Mortgage products are also available at both branches. Don Thomas is an astronaut, scientist, professional speaker, educator and author of Orbit of Discovery about his STS-70 mission aboard space shuttle Discovery. A veteran of four flights, Mr. Thomas has spent 44 days in space and orbited the Earth nearly 700 times. On Wednesday, March 14, Mr. Thomas will be onsite at Collegedale Academy to participate in national Pi Day celebrations."The Greater Collegedale School system encourages students in class and with special projects to broaden their learning in all areas.On National Pi day GCSS celebrates by hosting a special event to feature math and science research performed by our middle and high school. Additionally, students from Southern Adventist University join the event," officials said.We are blessed to have many resources, including alumni, parents and university professors to help us celebrate with special speakers and projects. In our second year of this event, we are thrilled to host astronaut Don Thomas, says CA Math Department Chair and teacher Ziniah Beasley.Mr. Thomas will address students during an assembly from 2:15-3:15 p.m., and then address the community in the evening from 6:30-7 p.m. during a presentation of student STEM projects.Collegedale Academy and the Greater Collegedale School System is committed to educating, equipping and inspiring young minds spiritually, academically and socially. This visit will allow for our students to see the results of a focus on a STEM curriculum; from learning math and science to a career steeped in this area a NASA astronaut. Thank you to all our sponsors who made this opportunity a reality. To our students, we hope this time will allow you to dream about the unlimited possibilities you can dream about and invest your time in, said Collegedale Academy Principal Brent Baldwin.Mr. Thomass attendance was made possible through sponsorships provided by HessJet, Davanzo Real Estate, Scenic City Multisport, Southern Adventist University Physics Department, Heritage Health Foods and Worthington Health Foods. The Youth Trust All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast is set for Saturday, March 17 from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. It will be held at the Orange Grove Center, with parking available at 2313 Citico Avenue. Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door or from Youth Trust members. Youth Trust works with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga to help middle school students from Chattanooga and North Georgia learn about leadership and responsibility. Each year, the group holds a retreat at YMCA Camp Ocoee to help participants develop skills such as conflict resolution and self-motivation, but smaller events are organized every other month. In January, for instance, Youth Trust students volunteered with Chambliss Center for Children. Rosa, a ninth grader at Baylor School, participated in the group during middle school and now continues to volunteer as a leader for younger students. Ive been able to meet a lot of new people and learn how to network better, she said. Its a really amazing program. Youth Trust works with guidance counselors at local schools, both private and public, to reach out to students who might benefit from the program. Donations and fundraising events, such as the upcoming All-You-Can-Eat Pancake Breakfast, help keep Youth Trust and its retreat free to students, so that children from all socioeconomic backgrounds can participate. ASHLAND, Ky., February 24, 2018 - On January 27, when eight Kentucky Power employees boarded a plane in Columbus with their fellow AEP co-workers headed to Puerto Rico, they knew it would be weeks of long hard days away from family and friends. However, knowing they would help those who had been without electricity since September made it something they wanted to do. As they are winding down their commitment in Puerto Rico, the Kentucky Power crew received a reminder from home. Their colleagues in Ashland, Hazard and Pikeville put together care packages that arrived on Friday. "Awe, that's from my niece and nephew," said Eric McKinney as he pulled a handmade pink heart from the box. "That's the best thing in the box." The care packages were the idea of Kentucky Power President Matt Satterwhite. Culture Team members from each of Kentucky Power's three service districts took the idea and executed it. They contacted family members of those on assignment to get cards, letters and photos from home. They also collected items their co-workers may be missing while working away from Kentucky. "We tried to include something special for each person," said Sheena Hensley, a Culture Team member and a customer service representative from Hazard. "Ronnie Rice is a beekeeper so I put some honey in there for him." The care packages were as varied as the teams that put them together. Among items included were University of Kentucky hats and flags, Rook and UNO cards, sunscreen and toiletry items, candy, crackers and cookies, favorite snacks and a local favorite -- Pop-Tarts made at the Pikeville factory. But it was the personal letters, cards and photos that meant the most to those missing home. "Thanks guys," Rice said. "Be home soon." Kentucky Power's participated in Puerto Rico as part of a 50-member American Electric Power team in collaboration with the Edison Electric Institute (EEI). EEI added nearly 1,500 additional workers and support personnel in January to accelerate power restoration efforts across the island. EEI is the association that represents all U.S. investor-owned electric companies. Since then, service has been restored to about 85 percent of residents served by the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA). Electric companies providing mutual assistance do so on a not-for-profit basis. In this case, mutual assistance is provided to support PREPA, and companies will submit their expenses to PREPA. Kentucky Power customers are not charged for this project. Kentucky Power, based in Ashland, serves about 168,000 customers in 20 eastern Kentucky counties and is an operating company of the American Electric Power system. AEP, based in Columbus, Ohio, serves nearly 5.4 million regulated customers in 11 states. Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam announced Monday the National Foundation for Governors Fitness Councils, with Chairman Jake Steinfield, has selected Tennessee for its 2018 DONT QUIT! fitness campaign. I am incredibly grateful to Jake Steinfeld and the National Foundation for Governors Fitness Councils for helping improve the health and lives of children in Tennessee, Governor Haslam said. Encouraging our children to be physically active now can lead to a lifetime of good habits and help them grow into healthy adults. I thank Jake and his team for this generous opportunity. The NFGFC will deliver a state-of-the-art DONT QUIT! Fitness Center to three Tennessee schools for demonstrating leadership in getting and keeping students fit. Each DONT QUIT! Fitness Center includes strength training equipment, cardio fitness equipment, and a multi-exercise, circuit training system. The nomination process opens Monday and will run through Friday, April 6. Anyone can nominate a school by visiting www.natgovfit.org. Childhood obesity is a serious problem that can follow a child into adulthood," said Mr. Steinfield. "Ive declared war on this preventable disease and Im inspired to see elected leaders like Governor Haslam immediately jump on board to join the battle and welcome us into his state. Every state leader that Ive met with recognizes that obesity is neither a Democrat nor Republican issue. Its a kids issue and all have vowed to do everything possible to help. So far weve delivered DONT QUIT! Fitness Centers in 24 states and Washington, DC and the response from students, teachers and communities has been unbelievable. Kids are excited about working out and being physically active and, as a result, their academic performance and self-esteem has skyrocketed. Now, Tennessee schools have an opportunity to make a change that will have a lasting impact on kids well into their future. The program will make its way into all 50 states in the coming years. Each fitness center is financed through public/private partnerships with companies like The Coca-Cola Company, Amerigroup Foundation, Wheels Up and Nike, and does not rely on taxpayer dollars or state funding. TuffStuff Fitness International provides all of the fitness equipment, which is manufactured in the United States. The Foundations goal is to build a nation of the fittest, healthiest kids in the world. I have witnessed firsthand the positive impact fitness centers have had on students and their communities," said Mr. Steinfield. "When you provide schools with the tools and inspiration, youll be amazed by the changes that take place. Our children are our most precious resource and by providing them with a strong foundation in health and fitness, we can feel confident that theyll excel beyond their wildest dreams. According to the NFGFC, physical activity and exercise are shown to help prevent and treat more than 40 chronic diseases, enhance individual health and quality of life, and reduce health care costs. In schools, studies show that physical activity improves academic achievement, increases confidence and self-esteem, reduces discipline problems, cuts absenteeism, and fosters better interpersonal relationships. For more information about the NFGFC or to download a nomination form, visit www.natgovfit.org. Katie Ashley, formerly of RE/MAX Properties has affiliated with the new RE/MAX Renaissance Realtors office in Hixson. Ms. Ashley, who resides in the Big Ridge community, has been working in the real estate industry for more than five years and has extensive experience in the professional marketing of residential & commercial property. Among her list of achievements, she closed over $5.6 Million dollars of business last year. Presently, she is working towards her ABR (Accredited Buyers Representation) and CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designations. Ms. Ashley said I am happy to be working in Hixson. As a real estate agent with RE/MAX, Im fully committed to helping my clients and consumers find the home that is right for them. Its truly an honor to be surrounded by such an incredibly supportive team near my home. In addition, Ms. Ashley actively supports the Childrens Miracle Network, the Hixson and Soddy Daisy schools and residents of Dominion Senior Living Center. PKK supporters assault Turkish people in Europe: UETD report says Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD) run a report on terror supporters assaults towards Turkish people in Europe after Turkeys Operation Olive Branch. Europe has experienced a growing number of radical protests and violence by PKK/YPG supporters since the group launched campaigns to protest Turkey's Operation Olive Branch-launched Jan. 20 to clear PKK/YPG and Daesh terrorists from Afrin in northwestern Syria and to establish security and stability along Turkey's borders and the region as well as protect Syrians from terrorist oppression and cruelty. Union of European Turkish Democrats (UETD) run a report on these assaults towards Turkish people. UETD REPORT ON THE ATTACKS OF PKK/PYD/YPG TERROR SUPPORTERS According to report, violent protests are being allowed under the name of 'political liberty' while European goverments don't get involved in the assaults on Turkish institutions and organizations. PKK/YPG supporters attacked Turkish citizens in Germany WATCH Age ain't nothing but a number to Heidi Klum. On Monday, Feb. 26, the Project Runway star appeared on The Ellen DeGeneres Show to promote her new lingerie line. This will be the seventh season of Klum's collection, which is called Heidi Klum Intimates. During her interview with Ellen DeGeneres, Klum argued against the stigma of women over a certain age posing in their undergarments. The America's Got Talent judge stated that she has been continuously asked when she would consider giving up modeling now that she is approaching 50-years-old. "Why do we always have to see 20-year-olds or 30-year-olds in campaigns? Why can an older woman also be in a campaign? So I'm still doing it until I don't feel like doing it anymore," the fashion designer proclaimed. Klum also revealed the inspiration behind her new collection and how her brand has evolved over the years. She explained that the new products will embrace a woman's natural shape and give necessary comfort. "When designing, I always make sure to include different styles, fabrics, colors and textures. I'm constantly thinking of new styles and figuring out what's missing in the lingerie market so we can help fill those gaps," the supermodel remarked. Klum Is Single And Ready To Mingle Following her split from long-time boyfriend and art dealer Vito Schnabel, the 44-year-old told DeGeneres that she's ready to start dating again. Klum and Schnabel were together for three years. While there was no explanation as to why the two split, rumors surfaced that it was because Klum was spotted with Lewis Hamilton. In September 2017, Page Six reported that Klum and Hamilton were spotted together at the Harper's Bazaar's Icon bash at the Plaza, however she later revealed that she and Hamilton were just friends. Now, the 44-year-old supermodel is ready to mingle with some potential prospects. During the interview, DeGeneres joked about the idea by playing a game of "Would You Rather," which Klum remarked she actually plays with Mel B sometimes. DeGeneres gave Klum the option of picking between Drake, Chance the Rapper, Jake Gyllenhaal, Joaquin Phoenix, Brad Pitt, and Harry Styles. When a photo of Drake and Brad Pitt appeared on the screen, Klum could not stop gushing over the rapper and blamed it on his physique. Later, she decided to swap Drake for actor Joaquin Phoenix revealing that she's always had a soft spot for Phoenix. During rocky times and tough breakups, it's a comfort to know one can always turn to friends. Friends star Jennifer Aniston feels the same. A source tells People that the A-list actress is now relying on her best friends to help her get through her recent breakup. Aniston and former husband Justin Theroux confirmed their split after two years of marriage and seven years together. Aniston's Pals Keep Her Company Aniston reportedly held a celebration for her 49th birthday at close friend Courteney Cox's home on Feb. 11, a couple of days before the former couple announced their separation. To mark her special day, the former Friends costars invited a couple of their friends to hang out with them. "Spending time at Courteney's always make her happy," the source explains, adding that while the celebration was a few days before the official split, Aniston's friends were aware of it a few weeks prior to the announcement. Since the actress is a wonderful friend herself, her friends make sure she gets love and support from them now that she needs it. While Aniston is newly single, her pals are proof that she's definitely not alone right now. "Jen truly has the best friends," the source says. "They are real friends that she has had for many years. They always support each other." Even days after the separation announcement, Aniston was spotted in the company of a few of her friends at the premiere of Jason Bateman's new film Game Night. While the star opted to skip the red carpet, she made sure to show up in support of longtime buddy Bateman. Eyewitnesses say Aniston spent most of the night with the actor and wife Amanda Anka. Of course, the Hollywood actress is not completely dependent on her friends and she's doing her best to take care of herself as well. For the famously health-conscious star, working out is a good way to keep herself focused and happy. Justin Emerges From Silence Meanwhile, Theroux is also moving on, stepping out and getting seen for the first time since the breakup. The 46-year-old The Leftovers actor was spotted at a gym in New York City and getting a cup of brew with a pal. Theroux also broke his social media silence, posting several photos of Austin's Pets Alive shelter on his Instagram page. The actor visited the no-kill shelter and shared images of his time spent with the puppies and pitbulls of Austin. Neither Theroux nor Aniston have spoken up about the end of their marriage to the public. Coca-Cola for decades has been one of the worlds most popular thirst-quenching drinks, but Larry Jorgensen found that visiting a couple of Coke-related museums near his Louisiana home actually whetted his desire for more information. So what followed was a journey of research and interviews and other visits that ultimately resulted in the recent publication of The Coca-Cola Trail: People and Places in the History of Coca-Cola. To use some Coca-Cola vernacular, he hopes the book offers a refreshing look at a number of towns and cities that have been greatly influenced and shaped by Coca-Cola bottling operations and related businesses. And yes, Chattanooga is featured prominently in the book. Not only does Mr. Jorgensen spend about eight pages telling the story of how Chattanooga became the worlds first franchised bottler and that some locals developed regional territories across the nation, but he also mentions related businesses that came about as a result. The Chattanooga chapter really fascinated me, he recalled in a recent telephone interview. The more I got into the chapter, the more I realized Chattanooga has more claim to Coca-Cola fame than Atlanta does. If it hadnt been for (pioneering local bottlers Benjamin) Thomas and (Joseph) Whitehead., he continued. That is what drove the Coca-Cola empire. They looked at each other and said, How are we going to bottle Coca-Cola all over the country? It dawned on them, Lets sell the rights. It was that motivation that led other people to become involved in bottling Coca-Cola. As Mr. Jorgensen chronicles in detail, including by using facts not found in many of the past newspaper articles and other past chronicles about the drink, Chattanoogan Benjamin Thomas had returned from the Spanish-American War with his own thirst for both a refreshing beverage and a way to make money. He had seen a popular bottled drink down in Cuba, and mentioned the idea of having a bottled soft drink here to his boarding roommate in Chattanooga, Sam Erwin. By chance, Mr. Erwin was a cousin of Asa Candler, who sold Coca-Cola in drug stores in Atlanta, so he arranged for a meeting with Mr. Candler. The drink had been invented in 1886 by pharmacist John Pemberton, but was sold to Mr. Candler before Mr. Pembertons death in 1888. Mr. Candler was initially not interested, but Mr. Thomas persevered and realized he needed a partner to show the seriousness of his plan. So he convinced fellow Chattanooga boarding roommate Joseph Whitehead to join him. While still not overly confident in the bottling idea, this time Mr. Candler granted the rights. It was for $1, although some say he never bothered to collect it. In the book, Mr. Jorgensen points out several other little-known or forgotten facts about the early days. For example, he said that the Chattanoogans tried initially to contract out the bottling operation to a Shreveport, La., firm, and that Coca-Cola had actually been bottled before in Vicksburg, Miss., and in Valdosta, Ga. Of course, the writer also mentions how J.T. Lupton the grandfather of former Chattanooga benefactor Jack Lupton bought half of Mr. Whiteheads share and became wealthy getting people to open bottling operations. He would a lot of times finance them, said Mr. Jorgensen, a longtime journalist who has worked in TV, print and radio. He would often sell to someone he knew or a relative. Thats how he became wealthy. He is the No. 1 example of someone who saw an opportunity. Besides the Luptons, the Thomases and the Whiteheads, other locals who became wealthy from Coca-Cola bottling included the Frank Harrison and Summerfield Johnston families and Mr. Thomas nephew, George Hunter, among others. Mr. Jorgensen also mentions Mr. Hunter who lived in the large home that became part of the Hunter Museum of American Art in the chapter on the Indianapolis, Ind., bottling operation. He said the noted Chattanoogan, who has buildings at UTC and Baylor School named for him, was on hand along with Coca-Cola president Robert Woodruff and other officials when the massive Indianapolis plant was opened amid a grand civic celebration in 1931. The author also talks about how some people became bottlers due to a connection with Chattanooga. He said Luther Carson opened a bottling operation in Paducah, Ky., in 1903 after he and his brother, John, were working on their uncles Incline Railway and became acquainted with Mr. Thomas and Mr. Whitehead, who would take the railway car to their Lookout Mountain homes. Mr. Jorgensen also devotes several pages to some of the affiliated Chattanooga businesses that were as closely connected to Coca-Cola from a business sense as a hamburger and French fries have been in a dining sense. These included the Chattanooga Glass Company, which provided Coca-Cola bottles around the country; the Chattanooga Labeling Company, which in later years started doing decorated Coca-Cola bottles; Chattanooga Box and Lumber, which provided wooden carton cases for the Coke bottles; and the Cavalier Company, which made refrigerated Coca-Cola machines as well as furniture. While the history and local lore of these other businesses and the local bottlers are rich with detail, the accomplishments and other local connections have not been marketed like the drink has historically. Mr. Jorgensen said he cannot believe there is not a museum to Chattanoogas contribution to Coca-Cola bottling, as there are in other cities detailing those towns bottling histories. The frustration I had was telling people where they can go and touch and feel it all, he said. If any town should have a Coca-Cola museum, it is Chattanooga. One unusual Coke museum he saw was one in Cedartown, Ga., which had been opened by a young Daniel Morris in the abandoned bottling plant there purchased by his parents and featuring his personal collection of memorabilia. The plant building was built in 1920 by F.S. Barron of Rome, Ga., who had several bottling operations in Georgia, including one in nearby Dalton. One facility that might become a museum of sorts is the abandoned and long-neglected mansion of former Coca-Cola head Asa Candler, whose financial success was no doubt aided by being visited by Mr. Thomas and Mr. Whitehead years earlier. The structure was built in the early 1920s in the Druid Hills area of Atlanta, and owner Emory University in recent months announced plans to turn it into a boutique hotel and event space, Mr. Jorgensen writes in another chapter in the book. It would be another reminder of the tremendous impact Chattanoogans directly or indirectly made on this popular drink over the years. Because of what all he found out, Mr. Jorgensen said he enjoyed researching the history of Chattanoogas connection to the drink and those of other cities. Since the book came out, he has already been given leads on other places connected to Coca-Cola bottling not mentioned in his previous book, and he is pondering a volume 2. He also welcomes opportunities for speaking or book-signing engagements, and said he can be reached at glmanagement40@gmail.com. Jcshearer2@comcast.net Amy Schumer is head over heels on her marriage to chef and cookbook author Chris Fischer. The 36-year-old actress is still on cloud nine few weeks after their wedding in Malibu, California. In an interview on the SiriusXM podcast You Up with Nikki Glaser, Schumer shared a few details about her being Mrs. Fischer. "It feels f**king good," Schumer said. The stand-up comedienne also narrated an instance where Chris, 36, had to publicly admit that he is already hitched. "Somebody went to sit next to [Chris] and he's like, 'My wife is sitting here,' and then I got back and he was excited to tell me that he said that," Schumer said. She added her excitement about being Mrs. Fischer led her to always use the word even when it is "uncalled for." Couple Vows Even during the wedding ceremony on Feb. 13, the couple did not fail to entertain the guests. Talking about their wedding vows, Schumer admitted she actually thought hers is as good as her husband. "I was crying when I wrote them, but his blew me out of the water so hard," Schumer said. Glaser also revealed a seemingly funny anecdote from Schumer's wedding vow. "You go, 'You make me laugh, you make me smile, you make me feel loved, you make me food'," Glaser recounted. Schumer went on and narrated how she and Chris would poke fun and annoy each other and still manage to end each day with a positive vibe. Marrying Early Schumer and Fischer got married just a few months after they started dating last year. The now Mrs. Fischer said while she would definitely miss some things an unmarried lady does, there are perks to marrying early. "Part of the thing that's good about us getting married so quickly is that we're so in love," she said. "Every girl I know, if they get proposed to they're like, 'Oh now? Now that I can't have kids!" On an Instagram post on Sunday, the ever-joking Trainwreck star shared a photo of her and Chris with a caption "We are already on the rocks." The couple appears like they went on a hiking trip to an undisclosed location, but fans speculated it could be in Utah. Prior to her marriage with Fischer, Schumer came from a 16-month relationship with Chicago-based furniture designer Ben Hanisch. The two broke up in May 2017. Schumer also previously dated comedy actor Anthony Jeselnik and WWE wrestler Dolph Ziggler. Bill Cosby's daughter Ensa Cosby died on Friday, Feb. 23 in Massachusetts. The 44-year-old succumbed to a kidney failure, according to Bill Cosby's spokesperson. Death Due To Renal Disease Ensa had a history of medical issues and was possibly on the waitlist for a kidney transplant. The embattled comedian's spokesperson confirmed her cause of death as renal or kidney failure in a statement posted on the comedian's social media accounts. The Cosby Family thanks many people for their prayers for their beloved and beautiful Ensa, who recently died... https://t.co/66FLhu5ESg Bill Cosby (@BillCosby) February 26, 2018 Ensa Was A Supportive Daughter Ensa, who was the second-youngest child of the comedian's five children, rushed to her father's defense last year after multiple women accused him of sexual assault. Last year, Ensa and her older sister, Erinn, made an appearance on the popular radio show, The Breakfast Club, and used the opportunity to proclaim The Cosby Show star's innocence in the wake of the multiple rape allegations against him. "The accusations against my father have been one-sided since the beginning, and when he tried to defend himself he was sued in civil court," Ensa said at the time. "I strongly believe my father is innocent of the crimes alleged against him and I believe that racism has played a big role in all aspects of this scandal." As of today, 60 women have come forward with allegations of rape and sexual assault against the 80-year-old, with the earliest incident allegedly taking place in the mid-60s. Bill Cosby is expected to make an appearance in a Pennsylvania court next week for a hearing before his retrial, which has been set for April 2. Bill Cosby Loses Second Child Ensa isn't the first child that Bill Cosby has lost. The entertainer's son, Ennis Cosby, was a victim of gun violence in the late 90s. Ennis, who was Bill Cosby's third child and his only son, was fatally shot in 1997 by an 18-year-old Ukrainian immigrant during a failed robbery attempt. Ennis, who was on his way to visit a friend in Los Angeles, pulled over on the side of the Interstate 405 to change a busted tire when he was shot in the head. He was 27 years old and was pursuing his doctorate degree at Columbia University at the time of his death. The killer, Mikhail Markhasev, was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead are still dating despite recent reports that claim they are no longer together and that the Trainspotting actor is back with his ex-wife Eve Mavrakis. Going Strong McGregor and Winstead are very much still together and going strong despite a UK tabloid reporting otherwise. The Fargo costars are still a couple and have not gone their separate ways. The Star Wars actor has not gone back to his ex-wife contrary to what the tabloid claimed. Winstead and McGregor confirmed their relationship with a public appearance in November 2017. The pair was photographed holding hands during a walk in Los Angeles. A month prior to the outing, several people saw them share an intimate kiss during a dinner date at The Good Life Eatery in the posh neighborhood of West London's St. John's Wood. Eyewitnesses said the pair sat side-by-side at the cafe for more than an hour where they engaged in a deep conversation. Photos show Winstead caress McGregor's cheek at one point. Another photo shows the pair in a passionate kiss before they left the eatery together on the actor's motorbike. "Ewan and Mary Elizabeth were there together and seemed relaxed in each other's company. As they left she got on to the back of Ewan's motorbike and they sped off together," a source told The Sun. The pair also spent quality time together earlier in October at a hotel and spa in the English countryside. Divorce In the same month, the Moulin Rouge actor announced that he and his wife Mavrakis have called it quits after 22 years of marriage. A family source revealed that they have been living separately since May. Coincidentally, Winstead also split from her husband Riley Stearns in the same month. They were together for seven years. McGregor then filed for divorce in January 2018 citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the split. The actor called the divorce "disappointing and upsetting" but wants to make sure his kids are okay. He wants to focus his priority on their children. Mavrakis and McGregor share four kids.The actor is seeking for physical and legal custody of three of the minor children Jamyan, 16, Esther, 16, and Anouk, 6. He has also agreed to pay spousal support. Winstead plays Nikki Swango, the love interest of McGregor's Emmit or Ray Stussy in the FX series Fargo. Interestingly, Mavrakis was also a former costar before she married the Golden Globe winner. She met McGregor on the set of the British crime series Kavanagh QC in 1995. DES MOINES, Iowa On Tuesday, the long wait for Iowa Secretary Bill Northey ended. He has been confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the undersecretary for farm production and conservation. Senators Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley stated on a conference call with reporters that this step came separately from their negotiations with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) about the renewable fuel standard. The senators announced there was no deal on the RFS with the White House today. The timing for Northeys resignation and swearing-in is still being finalized and will be announced at a later date, according to a statement released by Secretary Northeys office. It is a tremendous honor for me to be confirmed to serve as an undersecretary of agriculture. I want to thank President Trump for nominating me and Secretary Perdue for his support and encouragement throughout the confirmation process. I also want to thank Iowa Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst for their strong support and their tireless work on behalf of my nomination. I greatly appreciate Chairman Roberts, Ranking Member Stabenow, and the entire Senate Ag Committee for their bipartisan support of my nomination. I look forward to continuing to work closely with them in this new role, Secretary Northey stated. He added, While this process has taken longer than expected, I remain as excited as ever to work with Secretary Perdue and the staff at USDA to support our nations farmers and ranchers. I want to express my deep appreciation to the people of Iowa for affording me the opportunity to serve in this role for the past 11 years. Working with and learning from the men and women who make Iowa agriculture the dynamic and productive industry that feeds the world has been honor of a lifetime, Northey stated Tuesday. Over three months after being appointed to the USDA post by Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue, an easy confirmation and unanimous Senate committee vote, Secretary Northeys appointment was being held up by Texas (R) Senator Ted Cruz. Cruz is up for reelection this year. The Texas senator is pushing for changes to the Renewable Fuels Standard, regarding requirements for oil companies mandated to blend ethanol into gasoline. Senator Todd Young, an Indiana Republican, made the motion to vote on Secretary Northeys appointment Tuesday. Secretary Northey, while overseeing over 20,000 employees, will be in charge of Conservation, Crop Insurance, and Farm Programs. Its a position that oversees 20,000-plus folks who work in programs that a lot of farmers care about, Northey told Successful Farming, during an interview recently at the Iowa Land Investment Expo. Though his position has been described as third in command, under Secretary Sonny Perdue and Deputy Secretary Stephen Censky of St. Louis, Northey had a more polite way of labeling his power. I will be amongst equals in the USDA and everybody has a role, including the staff who are in the agency permanently. They are very important people out there. The European Union has mobilized the international community for significant political, security and development support in Africas Sahel region. Last week, the EU co-chaired a conference on the Sahel, in cooperation with the United Nations, the African Union and the G5 Sahel group of countries Burkina Faso, Chad, Mai, Mauritania and Niger. The gathering has mobilized 414 million to support the Joint Security Force of the G5 Sahel whilst reinforcing the coordination of sustainable development efforts in the region. President Jean-Claude Juncker commented on the occasion that instability has many factors, so our response must be linked and ambitious. Security and development must go hand in hand. To do so, we must continue to mobilize all the instruments we have at our disposal. The EU has doubled its support to 100 million to reinforce the operationalization of the G5 Sahel Joint Force and I am proud that all our friends and partners of the Sahel joined us in these efforts. The international players also agreed to reinforce political support in bringing more stability to the Sahel with a special focus on the Mali peace process. Those that threaten the process can be targeted by sanctions. The EU and its partners have also vowed to increase financial assistance for security: the EU doubled its financial support to the G5 Sahel Joint Force to enhance regional security. The Sahel is marred by jihadists and armed groups exploiting political and security vacuums across the region. The EU also promised to more effectively coordinate its development efforts. The bloc provided 8 billion in development aid over 2014-2020, making it the biggest donor to the G5 Sahel countries. The EU will be a critical player in the Alliance for the Sahel launched in July 2017. This is a new initiative aiming to deliver development aid faster and more efficiently in the most fragile regions. The Alliance is open to all the partners of the international community. The European Union and Chile would like to see a better association agreement between themselves in response to the flourishing trade flows that have doubled in the past 15 years. Both sides described the 2002 association agreement to be a complete success. To address the new economic dynamic, both partners have been involved in negotiations, looking into the possibility of modernizing the agreements trade chapter with the help of the action plan proposed by the European Parliament. Bilateral trade between both partners that has doubled from 2003 and 2016 now totals almost 16 billion euros. The EU is Chiles third most important trade partner and the leading investor in the country. 15% of Chilean trade belongs to the EU. There is an overall perception that the current agreement does not address some important trade and investment issues, such as specific provisions on investment, non-tariff barriers, intellectual property rights and some geographical indications and contributions to sustainable development. To overcome these shortcomings, the new agreement should build on the existing cooperation, decrease consumer prices and boost economic growth. The new agreement also aims at higher goals such as good tax governance, micro-enterprises, fight against corruption and support for small and medium enterprises, which accounts for 40% of exports to the EU. The EU would also like to add a chapter on energy and particularly renewable energy. The green energy sector has benefited 36% of the 46.9 billion of European investments in Latin America. On a different note, Brussels is also considering sanctions in case Lima fails to comply with the new regulations on sustainable development. Chile is hoping that the new deal will be an opportunity to trade its products such as olive oils on the European market and increase the quota of meat and dairy products exports. European diplomats are currently preoccupied by an effort to prove to Washington that the Iranian nuclear deal is of value. In an attempt to persuade the Trump administration to stick with the agreement in other words, to please the White House Europeans are now on a fact-finding mission to check on Irans meddling in the many conflicts across the Middle East. Donald Trump has threatened to kill the deal in May when he will need to decide whether to keep in place sanction waivers required by the nuclear deal. To support its efforts, Europe needs to make a common cause with Russia and China to create diplomatic pressure to keep the deal in place, instead of trying to placate Washington by re-opening discussions on the deal. Buttressing the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with additional deals and arrangements on arms control and regional security would be beneficial as well. At the same time, Brussels should get ready and protect investors and economic stakeholders against the extra-territorial effect of potential new American sanctions. Europeans should also work on protecting their diplomatic achievements, defend themselves and stick with their legal obligations and common positions. Promoting international law and the authority of the Security Council would be helpful as well as insisting that all signatories of the JCPOA remain fully committed to implementing a deal that has already proven its worth. Individual member states should also resist the US pressure to revise parts of the JCPOA. Before the Mays decision, the EU should lobby the US administration and the US Congress to re-certify the agreement with Iran. It is in the interests of the EU and the P4+1 to keep Tehran adhere to the agreement by creating an environment whereby Iran can be receiving most of the benefits granted by the nuclear deal even if the US walks away from it. At the same time though, the EU should also start contingency planning for US secondary options. Preventive diplomacy should focus on creating enforcement for European firms and the EU leadership should help member states coordinate their contingency plans. EU-wide mechanisms should focus on protecting the legitimate interests of European investors in case Washington re-imposes financial sanctions. Brussels should ideally propose a blocking regulation that would make it illegal for European companies to pay fines for violating US extra-territorial sanctions. Such a regulation could go hand in hand with a system to reimburse damages incurred by European companies in the US by introducing penalties on US assets in Europe. Moreover, the EU efforts should be intensified to help small and medium-sized enterprises conduct due diligence procedures in Iran to make sure that their local business partners are not subject to any remaining sanctions. If the EU could speed up its evaluation of extending the third-country lending mandate of the European Investment Bank to Iran, this could help increase the availability of finance and the possibility of merging loans with grants for private-sector and infrastructure development in Iran. The Art of Sticking with the Nuclear Deal: Why Europe Should Defy Trump on Iran Policy Brief by Steven Blockmans Center for European Policy Studies / CEPS. (The Policy Brief can be downloaded here) This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? The Community First Awards Committee at Cleveland State Community College received approximately 75 nominations seeking to honor individuals across nine categories. Nominations were judged based on the nominees extraordinary commitment of time, talent or treasure to the community. There were a total of nine winners for the individual categories. We are thrilled to have another outstanding group of Community First Award honorees, stated Dr. Bill Seymour, CSCC president. Each in their own special way exemplifies the value of always putting your community first. s c p s We look forward to honoring them at our gala and identifying one as the Community First Person of the Year.The committee met following a review of all the nomination materials. They voted on their top candidates for each category, as well as the one person who will be identified as the Community First Person of the Year. The Person of the Year will not be revealed until the Community First Gala on April 5.The categories and winners are as follows:Arts:Connie Gatlinartistic director, Cleveland City Ballet / writer / storyteller, ClevelandBusiness:Roger Pickettpresident / owner, MurMaid Mattress Inc., ClevelandEducation:Carmen Choatecondary supervisor, Meigs County High Schools, DecaturHealthcare:Dr. William (Bill) Johnson II.hief medical officer, Tennova Healthcare, ClevelandNon-Profit Leadership:Matt Ryersonresident and CEO, United Way, ClevelandPhilanthropy:Rodney and Margo Fitzgerald(Rodney Fitzgerald) retired, dean, Cleveland State Community and former directorPublic Information, After-School Program and Cleveland Public Education Foundation, Cleveland City Schools, Cleveland(Margot Fitzgerald) retired, National Projects manager, Rosetta Stone, ClevelandPublic Service:Mike Bellsenator, RicevilleStudent Leadership:Kenzi Morgantudent, Sweetwater High School, SweetwaterVolunteer Service:Kelvin BishopCPA / financial advisor, ClevelandThis years event will also include a special recognition of Mayor Tom Rowland and his years of service to the Cleveland community.The Community First Awards Gala is presented by Cleveland State Community College. The premier sponsor for the event is the First Tennessee Foundation and Follett Higher Education Group and SouthEast Bank are serving as partnering sponsors. It is a benefit for the CSCC Foundation Annual Campaign, and will be held on Thursday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. at the L. Quentin Lane Center in Cleveland. Dinner will be provided, as well as a dinner performance by an Ensemble of The Cleveland Orchestra of Tennessee under the direction of Sarah Pearson, conductor. Dress for the evening is black tie optional.To purchase a ticket or for information on corporate sponsorship, contact Cindy Dawsonat 423-614-8703 or visit the website at mycs.cc/communityfirstaward . All proceeds from theevent will go to the CSCC Foundation Capital Campaign. What does the WES website say in regards to appealing the evaluation? They would be the the best source of information as they're the ones who adjudicated your credential and they are the ones who will hear any disputes. None of us works for WES, so any suggestions made would be based upon what the WES website says. be clear about my intentions - I want to get a 'foothold' in Spain before March 2019; I understand that nobody truly knows what will happen thereafter, but I want to maximise my chances of moving to Spain within a couple of years and it feels like there is some pressure of time involved. Click to expand... we Have had this question many times.I actually contacted the U.K. government re this position, Im looking for the answer in my emails. It broadly speaking you can only be LEGALLY resident in one country and thats the country where you have your primary addressWhether you pay tax or not you have to declare it somewhere and if resident here the. Itll be in spain. If under pensionable age and living in Spain you can no longer access NHS treatment as thats based on residency in the UKIm unclear what you are wanting to knowInitially you saidEither your living here or your vacationing here residency is not a foothold its a legal requirementTo be resident here you have to live here for 90 days and fulfil all the residency criteriaIncomeHealthcareEtc etcClearly once resident and here you are liable to pay taxes etc once youve been here for 180 days. Including CGT on the sale of any future homes in the U.K. and that included declaration of income whether you pay taxes or not and the declaration of overseas assets ie property, investments etcI cant find the email. It may be on a sticky here somewhere or on another thread.Obviously you dont lose residency here if you pop back to U.K. I myself am returning next week as my father is having an operation. I returned at Xmas as my daughter had a child care crisis. Ones allowed to go on holidays.Its complex and basically you want to beat the system before Brexit, which I understand, but personally until we know what Brexit means to those of us living abroad youre putting yourself in a precarious situationIm confused as to what you want. Berlin, Buenos Aires, London, New York and Paris are the worlds top cultural hotspots for expats but those looking for a healthier lifestyle opt for Sydney, Vancouver and Madrid, a new survey has found.Berlin is named as the worlds culture hotspot with its 700 art galleries and world famous techno music scene, according to 70% of expats living in the city. The HSBC Expat Explorer survey also found that Berlin is regarded as the third most welcoming city in terms of diversity, behind Stockholm and Lisbon.Buenos Aires, often referred to as the Paris of South America is regarded as a cosmopolitan capital city known around the world for its stately 19th century buildings and rich history. Expats living there relish these cultural opportunities, with 45% rating its rich and diverse sightseeing and 67% appreciating the vibrant cultural scene including the Teatro Colon and the modern MALBA museum.They also enjoy the culture through its culinary scene, notably the Argentine love of asado barbecues, with 44% citing its great restaurants and quality of food.All famous cities for art, fashion, gastronomy and culture, London, Paris and New York round out the top five expat culture hotspots. Some 62% of expats in London and 61% of expats in Paris and New York say they appreciate the vibrant culture. Paris comes top for sightseeing, with 62% of expats there praising the richness and diversity of its sights, compared to just 36% in New York.But expats are looking for more than just world beating culture and cuisine. Worldwide, 38% of expats say they move to a new country primarily to take on a new challenge while 34% want to improve their quality of life.Sydney is renowned for its active lifestyle and leisure facilities and expats credit the city for improving their physical wellbeing, with 62% being more physically active since making the move. Furthermore, 90% claim their physical health has improved or stayed the same since moving.Expats dont need warm weather for an active, healthy lifestyle abroad. Home to Stanley Park and near to the site of the 2010 Winter Olympic ski resort of Whistler Blackcomb, some 37% of expats in Vancouver rank the city as having great leisure facilities, second only to Sydney.Indeed, 49% of expats in Vancouver moved there for a better quality of life and 91% of expats in the city say their physical health is better or the same since moving.Expats in Madrid say they are both healthier and happier than before in their new life in the Spanish capital. Some 54% of Madrid based expats feel happier compared to 40% worldwide and 50% report a more positive outlook on life since their move compared to 41% worldwide. While 45% say they are also more physically active than before.There is a stereotype that expats move purely for their careers and for greater financial opportunities, but this couldnt be further from the truth. In fact its the thirst for a new challenge, whether getting to grips with a new culture or living a healthier lifestyle that attracts expats abroad, said Dean Blackburn, head of HSBC Expat.The worlds cities are filled with life changing opportunities. Our survey reveals that expats are integrating with locals, learning the language and exchanging cultures, skills and ideas, making the most of the city they live in and becoming part of their new society, he added. March 6, 2018 11:30 a.m. Bariatric Surgery Seminar March 6, 2018 5 p.m. Bariatric Surgery Seminar March 20, 2018 11:30 a.m. Bariatric Surgery Seminar Jaime Ponce, M.D. and CHI Memorial Metabolic and Bariatric Care will host free seminars in March on surgical and non-surgical weight loss options. The seminars will be held at CHI Memorial Metabolic and Bariatric Care, 7405 Shallowford Road, Suite 160 in Chattanooga."Obesity can be devastating to a persons health and self-esteem. These educational seminars are designed to help you better understand bariatric surgical and non-surgical options, and how it may benefit your health. Topics include: who is a good candidate for the procedure, what to expect during the recovery period, and lifestyle changes needed to foster a successful outcome. Walk-ins are also welcome. Attendees are asked to arrive at the seminar location 30 minutes early."CHI Memorial is accredited by the Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation and Quality Improvement Program (MBSAQIP). This means people in the Chattanooga region have access to the some of the most effective weight loss surgery options along with a highly trained medical staff that supports individuals through their weight loss journey," officials said.CHI Memorial is recognized as an Optum/United Bariatric Surgery Centers of Excellence and Aetna Bariatric Surgery Institute of Quality program.CHI Memorial Metabolic and Bariatric Care is located at 7405 Shallowford Road, Suite 160 in Chattanooga. For more information, additional dates and locations for upcoming seminars, or to register for a seminar, visit www.chattanoogabariatrics.com Governments commit to reaching an agreement by the end of this year By Kate Ayers Staff Writer Farms.com The Indian and Canadian governments released a joint statement pledging to reach a pulse trade agreement this year. The new deal will allow Canada to export pulses to India that are free from banned pests and that use mutually acceptable technology. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi had pulses near the top of their discussion list on Friday, according to a Pulse Canada release later that day. The pulse industry made real progress today, Chris Chivilo, president and CEO of Canadian pulse processor W.A. Grain & Pulse Solutions, said in the release. The joint statement is an important milestone in pulse trade relations between Canada and India. The prime ministers have recognized the importance of food security and science-based approaches to plant protection policy. The joint statement shows the importance of ensuring access to adequate, safe and nutritious food for all, according to the release. Transparency and market predictability are also critical for advancing the food security goals of both countries. Sharing information on ag commodity production, for example, will help to ensure these goals. The industry has been working alongside the Canadian government to address the challenges of the evolving pulse trade relationship with India, Lee Moats, chair of Pulse Canadas board of directors, said in the release. It is clear to me that we can count on the prime minister to be in our corner. With several gift commitments in hand, the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine is raising money to extend the legacy of the late Dr. Bob Morrison. The college worked with swine industry leaders to identify the following five key initiatives that support Morrison's passion for leading swine research, outreach and teaching programs: Creating new opportunities for outstanding veterinary students to study and work with the world's leading swine-related practices and industry. Funding to develop future industry leaders through graduate education in swine health, production and economics. Creating opportunities to pair practicing swine veterinarians with the College's faculty to collaboratively identify industry problems, create solutions and build practitioner capacity in swine production and economics. Providing in-depth technical support to the swine industry in areas such as statistics, research trial design, data management, and economic analysis. Strengthening global connections to develop solutions to emerging needs of the swine industry is another initiative under consideration. Dean Trevor Ames says, "Bob chose to spend his academic career here and help us build one of the world's leading swine programs. Extending his legacy is one of our highest goals." Source : AASV Firefighters were called to help a man who got his penis stuck in a metal ring. Man gets penis stuck in ring The 60-year-old male went to Penang Hospital in Malaysia, after his own attempts at removing the round disc failed. However, nurses were forced to call the fire department to assist in the removal of the object. A Fire and Rescue Department spokesman said a team went to the hospital with a special drill to make the extraction. They told The Star online: ''It took us about 30 minutes to complete the task.'' However, the spokesperson did not reveal how the ring came to be stuck on the man's genitals in the first place. Dr. Andrew Bledsoe, assistant professor of History at Lee University, will discuss the role and experiences of army officers during the Civil War, exploring issues like leadership, combat, training, and army culture, at History Happy Hour. Dr. Bledsoe will be available to sell and sign his book, Citizen-Officers: The Union and Confederate Volunteer Junior Officer Corps in the American Civil War (LSU Press, 2015). History Happy Hour will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at Museum Center at 5ive Points. The musical guest will be Nathan Mell and The Bistro Boys. There will be food by Impressions Catering and beer by Mash & Hops, as well as Dry Valley Brewing. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. Purchase tickets here. Antoine Fuqua is in talks to direct the 'Scarface' remake again. Antoine Fuqua The 51-year-old film producer was being lined up to helm the much-anticipated reboot of the classic gangster movie last year, but the studio apparently had to drop him and start their hunt for someone new due to scheduling issues. However, it looks like the job could be his as he's back in talks with Universal Pictures now that his current movie 'Equalizer 2' is beginning to close, according to Deadline. David Ayer was initially asked to direct the film but bosses decided to pull him because they felt his take on the movie was "too dark." 'Scarface' tells the story of the rise and fall of a gangster and has previously spawned two separate movies, made in 1932 and 1983. The latter of the two was directed by Brian De Palma and is one of Al Pacino's most famous on-screen roles, with the movie's popularity increasing over time. Meanwhile, 'Rogue One: A Star Wars Story'' actor Diego Luna is set to take on the lead role of the drug kingpin with the story shifted from Miami to Los Angeles and focusing on a Mexican immigrant instead of a Colombian. The film is a production by Bluegrass Films and Global Produce, and will see Marc Shmuger, Scott Stuber, and Dylan Clark as its producers, alongside original 'Scarface' producer Marty Bregman. The most recent draft of the script has been penned by 'Boardwalk Empire' creator Terence Winter who is tasked with reimagining the core immigrant story told in the cult classic. Piers Morgan "threatened to quit" 'Good Morning Britain' over his early morning starts. Piers Morgan The 52-year-old presenter is happy he has reached a compromise with show bosses over his hours and they have agreed he can take more time off, because his old schedule was "killing" him. He said: "I threatened to quit a couple of times. I can be a bit of a prima donna. I was coming in at 4am and it was killing me, but now they let me come in at 5.30am. I get more time off. 'GMB' seems to be successful, so I said can you have me a little bit less, which might be quite popular, and they were prepared to do that, so I was happy to stay." However, even if he did leave the show, Piers wouldn't sign on to rival 'BBC Breakfast' because he thinks he's too opinionated for the broadcaster. In an interview with OK! magazine, he said: "The BBC can't afford me. You've got to be a particular person for the BBC. You've got to be non-opinionated, boring, and that's not something I'd sign up to." Piers was one of the original judges on 'Britain's Got Talent' and would rejoin the panel if the money was right, particularly because he doesn't think David Walliams is doing a good job. He said: "I don't think Simon Cowell could afford me. When I was a judge the ratings were 30 million and they're half that now. I'm doing the maths and it doesn't look good for Simon." Asked who he'd replace, he added: "Simon. I'd be the new head judge if the money was right. If Simon made me an offer I couldn't refuse I would, and frankly looking at the performance of David Walliams, that question should come sooner rather than later." Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category 5G Connected Bus Verification of the driver's identity NEC Seiichiro Toda s-toda@cj.jp.nec.com +81-3-3798-6511 TOKYO, Feb 27, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - NEC Corporation (TSE: 6701) today announced the successful conclusion of demonstration tests of safety-related services for the 5G era in PyeongChang together with KT Corporation (KT), a leading South Korea-based communications carrier. This initiative was carried out in February 2018 based on an agreement concluded by the two companies in August 2015 to collaborate in the field of 5G networks.KT is currently providing the world's first 5G trial services in PyeongChang. Inside the "5G Connected Bus," a 5G-connected promotional vehicle operated by KT, NEC conducted demonstrations in which the identity of the driver was verified before the bus started moving through the use of a hearable device (wireless earphone) equipped with otoacoustic authentication technology that utilizes the resonation of sound in ear cavities to identify individuals.http://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_NEC5GConnectedBus.jpg5G Connected Bushttp://www.acnnewswire.com/topimg/Low_NECVerificatioDnriverIdentity.jpgVerification of the driver's identityThe 5G Connected Bus also demonstrated identity verification at the time of boarding that used NeoFace(1), NEC's AI engine for face recognition featuring the world's highest recognition precision."NEC will continue leveraging its strengths in AI, biometrics, network, and other technologies as we collaborate with KT on the development, testing, and demonstration of technologies and services for the commercialization of 5G," said Tomonori Kumagai, General Manager, Business Development Division, NEC Corporation.About NEC CorporationNEC Corporation is a leader in the integration of IT and network technologies that benefit businesses and people around the world. By providing a combination of products and solutions that cross utilize the company's experience and global resources, NEC's advanced technologies meet the complex and ever-changing needs of its customers. NEC brings more than 100 years of expertise in technological innovation to empower people, businesses and society. For more information, visit NEC at http://www.nec.com.Based on its Mid-term Management Plan 2015, the NEC Group globally provides "Solutions for Society" that promote the safety, security, efficiency and equality of society. Under the company's corporate message of "Orchestrating a brighter world," NEC aims to help solve a wide range of challenging issues and to create new social value for the changing world of tomorrow. For more information, please visit http://www.nec.com/en/global/about/solutionsforsociety/message.html.Source: NEC CorporationContact:Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. AboutCapstone Mining Corp. Capstone Mining Corp. is a Canadian base metals mining company, focused on copper. We are committed to the responsible development of our assets and the environments in which we operate. Our three producing mines are the Pinto Valley copper mine located in Arizona, US, the Cozamin polymetallic mine in Zacatecas State, Mexico and the Minto copper mine in Yukon, Canada. In addition, Capstone has the large scale 70% owned copper-iron Santo Domingo development project in Region III, Chile, in partnership with Korea Resources Corporation, as well as a portfolio of exploration properties. Capstone's strategy is to focus on the optimization of operations and assets in politically stable, mining-friendly regions, centred in the Americas. Our headquarters are in Vancouver, Canada and we are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX). Further information is available at www.capstonemining.com. 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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 26, 2018) - SilverCrest Metals Inc. (TSXV: SIL) (OTCQX: SVCMF) ("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Tetra Tech Canada Inc. ("Tetra Tech") has completed its independent mineral resource estimation for the Las Chispas Property, located in Sonora, Mexico. Inferred Mineral Resources are estimated at 3.4 million tonnes grading 3.66 grams per tonne ("gpt") gold (or "Au") and 297 gpt silver (or "Ag"), or 572 gpt silver equivalent ("AgEq"; based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au) and 100% metallurgical recovery). The Inferred Resource Estimate contains 402,000 ounces gold and 32,650,000 ounces silver, or 62,800,000 ounces of AgEq, using a 150 gpt AgEq cut-off grade and minimum true vein width of 1.5 metres. N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng and CEO, remarked, "The delivery of this maiden resource estimate is a major milestone for SilverCrest Metals as we continue to systematically expand high-grade mineralization in the district and fast-track the advancement of Las Chispas. In late 2017, we were targeting a total resource number around 40 to 50 million ounces AgEq grading an estimated 500 gpt AgEq but with the recent multiple high-grade intercepts in Area 51, this target has been exceeded. Area 51 (near-surface Babicanora Vein extension) alone has an estimated 32.2 million contained AgEq ounces, grading an impressive 7.43 gpt Au and 469 gpt Ag, or 1,026 gpt AgEq and is open for potential expansion. The Area 51 resource is similar to the 1800s historic production from the adjacent Las Chispas Vein which was approximately 30 million ounce AgEq grading an estimated 15 gpt Au and 1,700 gpt Ag. With continued drilling success, the Company intends to complete an updated resource and plans to prepare a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in H2 2018. Congratulations to our SilverCrest team, contractors, consultants and associated communities for making this impressive high-grade precious metal discovery and maiden resource possible." SilverCrest's Las Chispas Resource Summary - February 2018 Resource Category() Tonnes Au gpt Ag gpt AgEq gpt Contained Gold Ounces Contained Silver Ounces Contained AgEq(2) Ounces Inferred 3,415,000 3.66 297 572 402,000 32,650,000 62,800,000 Inferred Resource Summary By Vein Vein Average True Width Tonnes Au gpt Ag gpt AgEq gpt Contained Gold Ounces Contained Silver Ounces Contained AgEq(2) Ounces Babicanora 3.2 1,894,000 5.41 361 766 329,000 21,952,000 46,641,000 Includes Area 51 2.7 967,000 7.43 469 1,026 231,000 14,581,000 32,247,000 Las Chispas 3.0 171,000 2.39 340 520 13,000 1,874,000 2,861,000 Giovanni 2.0 607,000 1.37 237 340 27,000 4,633,000 6,641,000 William Tell 1.5 595,000 1.32 185 284 25,000 3,543,000 5,438,000 Historic Dumps n/a 148,000 1.60 136 256 7,000 648,000 1,219,000 Notes: Conforms to NI 43-101, Companion Policy 43-101CP, and the Canadian Institution of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by CIM council, as amended. Inferred Resources have been estimated from geological evidence and limited sampling and must be treated with a lower level of confidence than Measured and Indicated Resources. AgEq based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au) and 100% metallurgical recovery. All numbers are rounded. Babicanora resource includes the Babicanora Vein and Babicanora Footwall Vein, and Giovanni resource includes the La Blanquita extension and Gio-mini Vein. The mineral resource estimate is based on the Company's Phase I and II exploration programs and is classified as an Inferred Mineral Resources based on CIM Definition Standards. The effective date for the Inferred Resource Estimate is February 12, 2018. Depending on the vein, drill sections were spaced 25 to 75 metres along strike, with intercepts on each section averaging 50 metres apart down dip. Underground channel sampling for the Las Chispas and William Tell Veins is spaced from 2 to 10 metre centres along the back (roof) and side walls for drifts and stopes depending on access. The most significant components of the data, collected and validated by SilverCrest between April 2016 to February 2018, are results from 185 drill holes (46,127 metres), 2,895 dump samples, and 7,610 underground samples (6,647 metres). A majority of the resource is in unmined areas with only the Las Chispas, William Tell and Giovanni veins being partially mined out, and voids (stopes) being accounted for in resource estimation. Surveying of the historical underground workings were completed by Precision GPS S.A. DE C.V. Details of the drill core assays, as well as surface and underground sampling results, can be found in various press releases from March 2, 2016 to January 29, 2018. The resource remains open in several directions depending on which vein is considered. A technical report prepared by Tetra Tech in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com within 45 days. The Las Chispas resource estimate is based on the following key assumptions; a specific gravity of 2.55 was used based on test work; veins were modelled by SilverCrest to capture mineralization grade of 150 gpt AgEq, all assays were composited to 1 metre, grade capping strategy was applied to each vein where gold values were capped at between 4.2 to 61 gpt and silver values were capped at between 462 to 4,390; a 2 metre by 2 metre by 2 metre block size was used based on geological constraints and potential future mining method; variography and ordinary kriging were used to create both gold and silver block models where possible and inverse distance squared was used in all other cases; multiple interpolation passes were conducted in areas with both underground channel samples and core drilling data, block models were classified into Inferred Resources according to appropriate criteria based on geologic constraints, sample sets, and search radii. Details of these criteria will be presented in the technical report to be filed on SEDAR. The resource estimate is focused on an estimated 3.5 kilometres of approximately 12 known kilometres of cumulative vein strike length in the district. As planned, the Company's Phase III drilling in 2018 will focus on; (1) the Babicanora Vein, which includes Area 51, to fully test the additional known 1.5 kilometres of vein strike length; (2) of the nine veins that were drilled on, five were included in this resource, which the Company has only partially drilled tested; and (3) the ten other identified veins on the Las Chispas Property, which have not yet been drill tested. In-fill drilling will be considered later in 2018 to target the conversion of the Inferred Resource to the Indicated category. The Company intends to provide an updated resource estimate and plans to deliver a PEA in H2 2018. There is no certainty that these Inferred Mineral Resources will be converted to the Measured and Indicated categories through further drilling. Qualified Assurance Program and Quality Control Measures ("QA/QC") SilverCrest has implemented QA/QC protocols including insertion of duplicate, blank and standard samples in all drill holes and underground sampling. The samples were submitted directly to the ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, Mexico, for preparation and sent to ALS Chemex in North Vancouver, BC, Canada, for analysis. Additional duplicate test work has been conducted on mineralized samples to assess variability of coarse reject and pulp samples. A Tetra Tech independent qualified person visited the Las Chispas Property between August 29-September 2, 2016, January 15-19, 2017, and November 21-22, 2017. Independent sampling was completed. Tetra Tech has reviewed the QA/QC work completed by SilverCrest and believes the database is reliable for estimating Mineral Resources. Qualified Person The Mineral Resources for the Las Chispas Property disclosed in this news release have been estimated by P. James F. Barr, P. Geo., Senior Geologist and Team Lead - Geology for Tetra Tech Canada Inc. and independent of SilverCrest. Mr. Barr is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101. The Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by CIM council, as amended. Mr. Barr has read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed mineral resource estimate. ABOUT SILVERCREST METALS INC. SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and targeting production in Mexico's historic precious metal districts. The Company's current focus is on the high-grade, historic Las Chispas mining district in Sonora, Mexico. SilverCrest is the first company to successfully drill-test the historic Las Chispas Project resulting in numerous discoveries. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. These include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the strategic plans, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration, rehabilitation and drilling programs of the Las Chispas Property, including preparation of an updated mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment; information with respect to high grade areas and size of veins projected from underground sampling results and drilling results; the accessibility of future mining at the Las Chispas Property; and the filing of a NI 43-101 technical report within 45 days. Such forward-looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of expenditures related to rehabilitation and drilling programs; and effects of regulation by governmental agencies. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors including: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law. N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng Chief Executive Officer SilverCrest Metals Inc. For Further Information: SilverCrest Metals Inc. Contact: Fred Cooper, Investor Relations Telephone: +1 (604) 694-1730 Fax: +1 (604) 357-1313 Toll Free: 1-866-691-1730 (Canada & USA) Email: info@silvercrestmetals.com Website: www.silvercrestmetals.com 570 Granville Street, Suite 501 Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. TOKYO, Feb 27, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - The Governing Board of Free Electrons, the first global energy startup accelerator program that connects the world's most promising energy startup companies with leading utility companies, is pleased to announce that American Electric Power (AEP) will become its first North American utility member.AEP, based in Columbus, Ohio, has an asset base of 65 billion USD. In 2017, AEP's electricity sales were approximately 194 million megawatt hours with 15 billion USD in revenue. Between 2018 and 2020, AEP plans to invest nearly 18 billion USD through its regulated and competitive companies to modernize the power grid, expand renewable energy resources and deliver cost-effective, reliable energy to customers in the U.S. market."Joining the Free Electrons accelerator program gives us access to the world's most innovative technology entrepreneurs in the energy space," said Nicholas K. Akins, AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. "Our long-term strategy includes building smarter energy infrastructure and delivering new technologies and custom products and services to our customers. We're excited to help cultivate the cutting-edge energy solutions that are being developed around the globe."TEPCO is a co-founder of the accelerator, which now includes 9 electric utilities from around the world. The other Free Electrons utility members are Ausnet Services (Australia), DEWA (Dubai), EDP (Portugal), ESB (Ireland), Innogy (Germany), Origin Energy (Australia) and SP Group (Singapore), with the program being supported by Beta-i (Portugal)."We are thrilled to have American Electric Power join Free Electrons and contribute a US perspective to our global acceleration program", says Hirokazu Yamaguchi, Executive General Manager, Global Innovation & Investments at Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings (TEPCO).StructureThree international modules held across the globe are the cornerstone of Free Electrons. During the course of the program participants will work closely with local players, utilities, mentors and other resources in order to accelerate their company's growth.After the applications close, a one week Bootcamp will be held in Lisbon (Portugal) from April 3 to 6. It will be followed by the 1st Module, in Sydney/Melbourne (Australia). The 2nd Module will take place in Silicon Valley (USA), with the final stage moving to Berlin (Germany), in October.The utilities backing Free Electrons are leading innovation in the energy sector. This project is a testimony of their commitment to work together with startups in building the future of the sector with clean, smart and widely accessible energy.Free Electrons 2017 generated an overall financial value of contracts signed between the 12 startups and the 8 utilities of about 2 million dollars, with a pipeline of ongoing opportunities surpassing 12 million dollars.About TEPCOTokyo Electric Power Company Holdings, Inc. (TSE: 9501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is the largest utility in Japan serving millions of homes and businesses. Worldwide the company has more than 34 subsidiaries and 32 affiliates in 8 countries and employs approximately 42,060 people. Consolidated revenue for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2017, totalled 5.3 trillion Japanese yen. The company was established in 1951 and is listed on the First Section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange. For more information, visit http://www.tepco.co.jp/en/corpinfo/index-e.htmlAbout Free ElectronsThe Free Electrons Program is the best opportunity for startups in the energy space to grow and develop their businesses. The energy market has seen rapid changes in recent years with the rise of renewables, decentralization of the energy system, regulatory uncertainties and disruptive new technologies. To stay ahead, there is a strong need for utilities to source more innovation externally and consider the 'beyond utilities' business models.Source: TEPCOCopyright 2018 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. Office Furniture Warehouse has been awarded a Growing Small Business Initiative grant by the city of Chattanooga. This economic development grant is awarded to local small businesses who have consistently demonstrated the creation of Chattanooga jobs at competitive pay rates. The city of Chattanooga website says, Chattanooga's small businesses are the backbone of our local economy. The citys Economic Development office works to provide opportunities for entrepreneurs who wish to design and manufacture products in Chattanooga, including tailored pathways to incent and foster business development in various sectors. The grant is administered by the city of Chattanoogas Industrial Development Board, who awards the Growing Small Business Incentive based upon the number of new jobs created during the prior year. The program stipulates that eligible employees must be located within the limits of the city of Chattanooga and be full-time employees. Office Furniture Warehouse, LLC is honored to have received the Small Business initiative Grant from the city of Chattanooga," said John Jerman, OFW founder and president. "As a company we have thrived in Chattanooga with double digit growth every year and creating more opportunities to provide jobs to citizens in our community. We greatly appreciate the citys recognition of our growth and commitment to the city as we will use these recourses to further support the growth and development of our company. Winner of the Chattanooga Chamber of Commerces 2014 Small Business of the Year Award, the BBB-accredited dealer of new and pre-owned office furniture acts as a one-stop shop for growing businesses by providing insured office moves and other office furniture service. The office and showroom at 1900 Stuart St. are open to the public 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Friday, and Saturday and Sunday by appointment only. For more information about Office Furniture Warehouse, please contact Marley Lentz at 790-1376 or visit www.ofwllc.com. Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, Inc. and its parent organization, Toshiba TEC Corporation (TTEC), will bring a wide range of retail experiences to the forefront through solutions "Designed for Retail" at EuroCIS in Dusseldorf, Germany beginning February 27, 2018. Toshiba is focused on making a retailer's vision a reality by celebrating the "Joy of Shopping." Toshiba (Hall 9 B42) highlights the important role that its technology plays in helping retailers deliver enjoyable experiences to consumers. Toshiba's suite of industry-leading solutions helps retailers achieve Brilliant Commerce by enabling them to deliver enriched shopping experiences, actionable insights and frictionless checkout to their patrons. Toshiba's featured capabilities at EuroCIS 2018 include: The European premiere of the next-generation Toshiba Self-Checkout solution combining sleek modern design with complete modularity. As part of Toshiba's role in the EHI European Retail Institute Self-Checkout Initiative, this demonstrates our continued commitment to driving greater adoption of self-service solutions in the market. solution combining sleek modern design with complete modularity. As part of Toshiba's role in the EHI European Retail Institute Self-Checkout Initiative, this demonstrates our continued commitment to driving greater adoption of self-service solutions in the market. The global launch of the Toshiba D10 Point-of-Sale system which delivers a sleek, compact solution with the right functionality at the right price. Point-of-Sale system which delivers a sleek, compact solution with the right functionality at the right price. Expansion of our designed for retail hardware portfolio including the European preview of the new all-in-one TCx 800 Point-of-Sale platform which raises the bar for performance and flexibility, plus the new TCx Dual Station Printer with significantly faster receipt print speeds. Point-of-Sale platform which raises the bar for performance and flexibility, plus the new with significantly faster receipt print speeds. Voice-response home assistant "Olivia" enables natural voice ordering integrated via the Toshiba TCx Elevate digital commerce platform. Central to Toshiba's software solutions suite, TCxElevate enables more rapid innovation on the path toward digital transformation. Prominently featured at EuroCIS will be Toshiba software solutions, and partner solutions, including capabilities for eCommerce with in-store picking binning, mCommerce, mobile shopping, campaign management, marketing automation, analytics and seamless experiences utilizing RFID throughout the shopper journey. Finally, Toshiba will highlight its broad set of services available through its renowned Global Services organization. Toshiba Global Services is a leading provider of managed, professional, consulting and client services for a diverse set of retailers around the world. About Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions is retail's first choice for integrated in-store solutions and is a global market share leader in retail store technology. With a global team of dedicated business partners, we deliver innovative commerce solutions that transform checkout, provide seamless consumer interactions and optimize retail operations that are changing the retail landscape. To learn more, visit toshibacommerce.com or engage on Twitter @toshibagcs. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180226006388/en/ Contacts: Media Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, Inc. Fredrik Carlegren 1.984.444.2769 Toshiba_Comms@toshibagcs.com LONDON, Feb 27, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - As South East Asia absorbs massive datacenter investments made over the past two years, Vietnam has quietly built out facilities and services, creating a new cloud services market in the region, reaching near parity in terms of capacity with Thailand and Indonesia.A new report from BroadGroup, Datacenters South East Asia follows on from previous studies which have monitored sectoral developments in the region since 2012. It suggests that datacenter markets in South East Asia have undergone a period of adjustment and are still absorbing investments made in new capacity across Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Brunei, Indonesia and Thailand.The report estimates that around USD1.4 billion has been invested in building facilities over the past two years alone across the six markets covered. SUPERNAP in Thailand and Global Switch in Singapore feature among the highest spend projects.Although Singapore remains the dominant market with 54% of capacity in the region, and with the highest percentage of facilities owned by overseas companies, land space for further development is now extremely limited. The report anticipates investors are now assessing alternative locations.However a concerted attempt to improve Vietnam's infrastructure has been underway over the past two years resulting in an increase of 37% in m2 capacity forecast by the end of 2018. Government backed investment, the need to catch up with the rest of Asia, local demand and telcos seeking to provide cloud and e-commerce services are all contributing factors.More recent growth regionally has been driven by the international expansion of mainland Chinese players, cloud service providers in Asia, sustained migration by enterprises pursuing a hybrid cloud strategy and mobile communications.Power challenges persist, and the likelihood of renewable energy supply for datacenters is remote across the next 15 years, with the exception of Thailand which is already on target and has an ambitious re-forecast of 40% for renewables to be achieved by 2030."Outside of Singapore and Malaysia, the region's datacenter development is still evolving," commented Philip Low of BroadGroup. "However the map is uneven. Where some have good connectivity, challenges emerge with the cost of the local fiber. Financing has been problematic for some owners but the main issue remains building highly competitive ecosystems that will attract enterprises from the region and internationally. With the imminence of Edge and further deployment from China, the opportunity remains open and the markets have much to go."The report is available from BroadGroup and its findings will be discussed at the forthcoming Datacloud Asia forum (www.datacloud.asia) taking place in Singapore March 22nd.About BroadGroupBroadGroup is an Information Media Technology and Professional Services company. Established in 2002, BroadGroup achieved rapid recognition and growth through delivering quality events internationally, and research and insight in the fast moving Datacenter and cloud markets, which has been the main focus of the company. It also owns the widely acclaimed Data Economy online and offline global news source and investor forums provider for the tech sector. BroadGroup is a member company of FTSE 250 firm Euromoney Institutional Investor PLC. www.broad-group.com.Press contact:Julia Vockrodt, VP Communications, +44 7710 942943Source: BroadGroupCopyright 2018 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. -- Move to Strengthen Ties between Japanese and French Nuclear Energy Industries -- 5 percent equity stake in Orano acquired based on formal agreement signed in March 2017 Technological and business cooperation ties to be enhanced, strengthening global value chain for nuclear energy Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI)(TOKYO:7011) has completed investment into Orano, a newly formed company created as part of the reorganization of the AREVA Group. Orano primarily focuses on the fuel cycle business, including uranium mining, enrichment and conversion and reprocessing of spent fuel. Previously referred to as "New AREVA Holding", Orano possesses advanced technological and marketing strengths within the global nuclear energy industry, and the new company is expected to achieve solid growth going forward. MHI has acquired a 5 percent equity stake in Orano with a total investment outlay of approximately 250 million euros. With the completion of this investment, MHI will now pursue deeper, more expansive human and technological exchange with Orano. MHI has built strong ties with France's nuclear energy industry over many years. In 1991, in partnership with AREVA NC (now a subsidiary of Orano) MHI established a joint venture in the fuel cycle business that engages in the manufacture and sale of a full range of reprocessing equipment. In 2007, MHI and AREVA NP (now Framatome) began development of a pressurized water reactor (PWR) nuclear power plant (NPP) integrating their technologies, culminating in the development of ATMEA1, a state-of-the-art PWR NPP in the 1200 MWe (megawatt electrical) class. Since its introduction, prospects for ATMEA1 sales have been expanding worldwide, especially in emerging economies where new NPP construction projects are moving forward. Through its investment in Orano, MHI looks to support the company's future growth strategies. Further, by strengthening cooperation in technology and business operations, MHI aims to play an important role in forging stronger links between the Japanese and French nuclear energy industries, as confirmed by the two countries' governments in October 2015, with the ultimate goal of strengthening their global value chain in the nuclear energy business. Commenting on the completed investment, MHI President and CEO Shunichi Miyanaga said, "For many years Orano has lent its support to the development of nuclear power generation in Japan. Now, with completion of our investment into Orano, our partnership will become even stronger. I have high hopes that we will be able to further improve the safety and reliability of nuclear power generation, thereby contributing to stable global energy supplies and reduced carbon dioxide emissions." In parallel with the Orano investment, in late December MHI completed an investment in Framatome, a newly established group company of Electricite de France (EDF) specializing in the design and manufacture of NPP equipment and systems. By strengthening the relationship between manufacturers in Japan and France, every effort will be made to expand and improve structurally as a comprehensive manufacturer capable of supporting the global nuclear power generation business in all aspects; from production of nuclear fuel to plant design, construction and maintenance, and reprocessing of spent fuel. About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI), headquartered in Tokyo, is one of the world's leading industrial firms with 80,000 group employees and annual consolidated revenues of around 38 billion U.S. dollars. For more than 130 years, the company has channeled big thinking into innovative and integrated solutions that move the world forward. MHI owns a unique business portfolio covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI delivers innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries from commercial aviation and transportation to power plants and gas turbines, and from machinery and infrastructure to integrated defense and space systems. For more information, please visit MHI's website: www.mhi.com/index.html For Technology, Trends and Tangents, visit MHI's new online media SPECTRA:spectra.mhi.com View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180226006734/en/ Contacts: PRESS CONTACT: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Joseph Hood, +81-(0)3-6716-2168 PR Manager mhi-pr@mhi.co.jp Fax: +81-(0)3-6716-5860 TOKYO, Feb 27, 2018 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation's production and sales results for January 2018 are summarized below.I. Production1. Domestic ProductionMazda's total domestic production volume in January 2018 increased 12.1 % year on year due to increased production of passenger vehicles.Domestic production of key models in January 2018- CX-5: 32,412 units (up 78.8% year on year)- Mazda3 (Axela): 13,856 units (down 7.2% year on year)- CX-3: 8,840 units (up 18.9% year on year)2. Overseas ProductionMazda's overseas production volume in January 2018 increased 23.0% year on year due to increased production of passenger vehicles.Overseas production of key models in January 2018- Mazda3: 26,841 units (up 37.9% year on year)- Mazda2: 8,646 units (up 49.4% year on year)- CX-4: 7,216 units (up 49.4% year on year)II. Domestic SalesMazda's total domestic sales volume in January 2018 increased 4.6 % year on year due to increased sales of passenger and commercial vehicles. Mazda's registered vehicle market share was 5.8% (up 0.4 points year on year), with a 2.4% share of the micro mini segment (up 0.3 points year on year) and a 4.4% total market share (up 0.2 points year on year).Domestic sales of key models in January 2018- Mazda2 (Demio): 4,097 units (down 3.1% year on year)- CX-8: 2,936 units- CX-5: 2,045 units (up 19.4% year on year)III. ExportsMazda's export volume in January 2018 increased 33.5% year on year, reflecting increased shipments to North America, Europe and other regions.Exports of key models in January 2018- CX-5: 32,350 units (up 117.6% year on year)- Mazda3: 12,542 units (up 10.4% year on year)- CX-3: 9,295 units (up 69.5% year on year)About MazdaMazda Motor Corporation (TSE: 7261) started manufacturing tools in 1929 and soon branched out into production of trucks for commercial use. In the early 1960s, Mazda launched its first passenger car models and began developing rotary engines. Still headquartered in Hiroshima in western Japan, Mazda today ranks as one of Japan's leading automakers, and exports cars to the United States and Europe for over 30 years. For more information, please visit www.mazda.comSource: MazdaContact:Copyright 2018 JCN Newswire . All rights reserved. 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. Partnership delivers a carrier-grade and application-centric SD-WAN solution to enable successful digital transformations for enterprises. Today at Mobile World Congress ZTE and InfoVista announced a strategic alliance and the general availability of their integrated product. The result is the availability of an application-aware SD-WAN solution that provides enterprises with outstanding agility, flexibility, and simplified operation maintenance (O&M) while also guaranteeing the performance of their business-critical applications. The solution provides a single unified branch gateway that combines routing, overlay, zero-touch management and service orchestration from ZTE with application visibility, application QoS control, application session routing and WAN Optimization from InfoVista. To meet varying customer needs, the joint solution offers a managed delivery model as well as a self-hosted model. For service providers aspiring to monetize the growing demand for hybrid WAN connectivity, the solution offers a hosted, multi-tenant delivery model. For large enterprises or businesses with enhanced data security requirements, the solution also offers a self-hosted option. Mr. Zhu Yongxing, Vice President of ZTE, said, "The innovative business model provided by InfoVista and ZTE sets a good example for hardware vendors and software providers in the industry. The alliance combines the strengths of both parties. In addition to simplifying the infrastructure and application architecture, it also provides more flexible and open choices to customers." Mr. Bernard Breton, Chief Marketing Officer of InfoVista, said, "This alliance marries the best-of-breed virtualized network functions (VNFs) from InfoVista with cost-effective, carrier grade hardware and orchestration from ZTE. This partnership also further demonstrates our commitment to the Chinese market, to creating value through partnerships and to the delivery of SD-WAN solutions that enable the enterprises to execute on their digital transformation plans." ZTE's data communications networks have been extensively applied in more than 100 countries and regions around the world. Establishing sincere partnerships with many world-leading operators, ZTE is playing a critical role in the digital transformation of enterprises globally. InfoVista is the leading provider of network and application performance orchestration solutions with more than 1,500 customers in 180 countries. InfoVista has supported the digital transformation of global businesses through its Ipanema product and suite of Application Performance Optimization solutions. The strategic alliance between ZTE and InfoVista thus introduces a first-of-its-kind high-performance, carrier-grade and application-aware SD-WAN solution in the market. Resources Download the eBook, "Foundation for Digital Transformation, Optimized User Experience Network Readiness" to see the results of the EIQ Research and InfoVista enterprise study Watch our on-demand webinar series to learn how an application-aware SD-WAN can enable your digital transformation. Learn how an "Application-Aware SD-WAN is a Key Enabler of the Digital Enterprise" in a white paper by Zeus Kerravala, principal analyst and founder of ZK Research. Follow and engage with InfoVista on its blog, "ProActive Network News," and on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. and Twitter. White Paper of ZTE Elastic SD-WAN More details about ZXR10 MCG 5300 Micro Cloud Gateway and ZXR10 V6000 vRouter About InfoVista: InfoVista is the leading provider of cost-effective network performance orchestration solutions for a better connected and collaborative world. Our award-winning offering empowers eighty percent of the world's largest communications service providers, top mobile network operators, leading global enterprises and regulatory bodies worldwide to ensure a high-quality user experience by achieving optimal network performance and guaranteeing business-critical application performance. InfoVista's expertise and innovations provide a new level of actionable network, application and customer intelligence, visibility and control across all services, all technologies, and all domains of both the fixed and mobile networks. Using our solutions, our customers deliver high-performing and differentiated services, plan and optimize networks to match application and service demands, benchmark their performance, and streamline network operations while keeping total cost of ownership as low as possible. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227005098/en/ Contacts: InfoVista Erika Collins, +1 703-956-5355 erika.collins@infovista.com LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Greggs PLC (GRG.L), a bakery food-on-the-go retailer in the UK, Tuesday reported that its fiscal 2017 pre-tax profit fell 4.3 percent to 71.9 million pounds from 75.1 million pounds last year. Pre-tax profit excluding exceptional items was 81.8 million pounds, compared to 80.3 million pounds a year ago. Total sales grew 7.4 percent to 960.0 million pounds from 894.2 million pounds a year ago. The company-managed shop like-for-like sales grew by 3.7 percent. Further, the company said its Board intends to recommend at the Annual General Meeting a final dividend of 22.0 pence per share, up from last year's 21.5 pence. This gives a total ordinary dividend for the year of 32.3 pence, an increase of 4.2 percent. Looking ahead, the company said it remains optimistic about the growth potential and are currently investing to support this. Roger Whiteside, Chief Executive, said, 'Whilst the UK consumer outlook remains challenging, we are encouraged by the start to the year. 2018 will be the peak year for investment in our supply chain as we create the platforms for further growth. We also plan to open a record number of new shops as we implement our plan to grow Greggs as a leading food-on-the-go brand.' 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. SITTARD, Netherlands, Feb. 27,2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Scala, part of the STRATACACHE family of digital media/marketing technology companies, is bringing its next generation store environment to EuroCIS, giving retailers an immersive look at how marketing technology improves every aspect of retail engagement. Each experience is represented in unique "departments" throughout the booth, and they all have a common goal - using marketing technology, sensors and artificial intelligence to directly improve the in-store experience from the customer, the retailer and the brand's points of view. Retailers can find Scala in Hall 10 Booth C70 at EuroCIS, being held27 February - 1 Marchin Dusseldorf. In the booth, Scala is demonstrating the power of the Walkbase in-store retail analytics platform by displaying data gathered from booth interactions in real time on several displays throughout the booth. The real time software stack enables shopping experience personalization through highly advanced mobile tracking, mobile messaging and artificial intelligence-based mobile ad targeting systems. "The Walkbase platform aligns with our shopper experience strategy which has been resonating strongly with retailers - they want to know how to create a memorable shopping experience by driving highly targeted, relevant messages that are based directly on deep customer learning and insights," said Harry Horn, vice president of marketing and GM of EMEA. "Every aspect of the customer's experience can be anonymously analyzed, customized and mapped - from moving throughout the store to what's being viewed and, ultimately, what results in a sale." In Scala's in Hall 10 Booth C70, visitors will find solutions including: Fashion:As brand value and sense of community become increasingly relevant and important to shoppers, digital can play a pivotal role in conveying the message. This solution invites shoppers to learn more about quality and brand story by interacting with the apparel, which triggers embedded sensors to display detailed information on a nearby screen. Electronics:This interactive experience, featuring high-performance Razer gaming mice, highlights guided selling strategies for high end specialty products. Shoppers control the product discovery process, either by filtering choices or building their personal search criteria, to learn more about the features and compare multiple gaming mice. Cafe: Ordering - and waiting for! - coffee is as entertaining as it is efficient with our cafe experience. Shoppers use a tablet to send baristas their gourmet coffee order and take a selfie, which pops up on displays when their order is ready for pick up. Guests are entertained while waiting by using tablets to play a quick, fun game on large format screens behind the counter. Wellness: Our in-aisle wellness kiosk provides shoppers with a convenient way to navigate the medicine aisle and quickly identify the most appropriate OTC medications for their needs. Using an intuitive touchscreen interface, shoppers select their symptoms and medication preferences, and are presented with a list of relevant OTC results and detailed medication information as well as the option to receive the results via text message. Beauty: Transform the in-store experience with an engaging, interactive solution that guides shoppers through the product selection process while creating new sales opportunities. Shoppers lift products from the display shelf which triggers the screen to update with detailed information. Lifting a second product helps the shopper compare the products and, when an upsell opportunity exists, triggers content to promote the higher-margin item. Grocery:Improve store operations and optimize pricing in a high-volume retail environment. This solution allows store managers to use a tablet to monitor and manage store products via inventory database integration or set minimum or maximum price limits. When alerted to low or expiring stock, the price can be instantly, easily adjusted directly from the tablet, promoting faster sales and reduced food waste while mitigating revenue loss. For more information visit www.scala.com/EuroCIS-2018. About Scala, Inc. Scala solutions deliver engaging retail experiences by connecting networks of digital signs, kiosks, mobile devices, websites and Internet-connected devices. Scala, a STRATACACHE company, provides the platform for marketers, retailers and innovators to easily create and centrally manage deployment of shopping experiences while retaining the flexibility to rapidly adapt to local business conditions and preferences of customers in the store. With 30 years of experience entertaining, informing and educating audiences, Scala is well-known for its innovation and leveraging best-of-breed technologies, such as mobile and predictive analytics, to create award-winning solutions that are easy-to-use, yet infinitely customizable. Headquartered near Philadelphia, PA, Scala's network of partners and developers located in more than 90 countries drives more than 500,000 screens worldwide. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/646499/Scala_Inc.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/457388/Scala_Logo.jpg LONDON (dpa-AFX) - Provident Financial plc (PFG.L) reported that its fiscal year 2017 loss before tax was 123.0 million pounds, compared to profit before tax of 343.9 million pounds in the previous year. Loss for the year attributable to equity shareholders was 134.4 million pounds or 90.7 pence per share, compared to profit of 262.9 million pounds or 179.9 pence per share last year. Fiscal year adjusted profit before tax fell 67.3 percent to 109.1 million pounds from 334.1 million pounds a year ago. Adjusted earnings per share were 62.5 pence, compared to 177.5 pence in the prior year. Fiscal year revenue increased to 1.20 billion pounds from 1.18 billion pounds in the previous year. As previously indicated by the company, the interim dividend was withdrawn in August 2017 and no final dividend is proposed in respect of 2017, compared to 91.4 pence in 2016, in order to retain liquidity and balance sheet stability. Looking ahead, the company said its board remains strongly committed to resuming the payment of dividends, with a nominal dividend for the 2018 financial year before adopting a progressive dividend, in line with its revised dividend cover policy of at least 1.4 times, from the 2019 financial year. The company also said it has launched a 17 for 24 fully-underwritten rights issue of 104.99 million new ordinary shares to raise gross proceeds of about 331 million pounds or net proceeds of about 300 million pounds. The issue price of 315 pence per new ordinary share represents a discount of 46.4 percent to the closing price of 588 pence per existing ordinary share on 26 February 2018. The rights issue was launched to meet the estimated costs of the FCA investigations and ensure the group has appropriate levels of buffer over increased regulatory capital requirements, primarily due to an increase of approximately 100 million pounds in respect of conduct and operational risk assessments. Provident Financial said it has today reached a settlement with the FCA in relation to its investigation into the sale of Vanquis Bank's Repayment Option Plan or ROP. In connection with the settlement, the company has taken a provision of 172.1 million pounds in its audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2017. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Company rolling out an array of products for European enterprises at the Mobile World Congress Alibaba Cloud, the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, today launched eight products ranging from big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to infrastructure, security and private cloud solutions at the Mobile World Congress that is taking place in Barcelona Spain. The array of products will meet the surging demand for powerful and reliable cloud computing services as well as advanced AI solutions among European enterprises to support them to capture opportunities in this digital transformation era. Bringing together these products with the expertise and real experience available from Alibaba Cloud, customers can put in place cutting edge solutions particularly in areas such as online and offline retail integration, smart manufacturing and smart city development. The new products being launched for European enterprises fall into a number of inter-related categories. In relation to data technology and AI, Alibaba Cloud is launching three key products Image Search solutions, which allow users to search for information online and offline using images; Intelligent Services Robot, a chatbot for business; and Dataphin, an intelligent data engine developed to cope with the cross-industry big data development, management and application needs. Infrastructure and security will continue to be crucial as the foundation and fundamental consideration for enterprises undertaking cloud migration. In view of this, Alibaba Cloud will launch ECS Baremetal Instance, a new high performance computing solution of ECS that combines the strengths of virtualized systems and bare metal servers. When connected as a supercomputer, ECS Baremetal Instances becomes a Super Computing Cluster that will reduce network latency to the level of micro-seconds while offering elasticity and supercomputing capabilities. The company will also introduce its next generation intelligent Cloud Enterprise Network (CEN) and Vulnerability Discovery Service, a high-performing security solution. For European enterprises that are looking for a scalable and hybrid cloud services platform, Alibaba Cloud will launch the international version of Apsara Stack, which has a three-year proven track record of market use in China and has been successfully adopted by more than 120 enterprise customers. "Alibaba Cloud wants to be an enabler for technology innovation in Europe helping enterprises do business. The Mobile World Congress in Barcelona is a great opportunity for us refresh our European strategy and consider how we can make an increasing contribution to the digital transformation of enterprises in this market from different sectors with our offerings and expertise," said Yeming Wang, General Manager of Alibaba Cloud Europe. These new products, for the first time in Europe, bring Alibaba Cloud's advanced big data and AI capabilities enabled by super computing power. The sophisticated data intelligence solutions already have many successful stories both in China and globally providing proof of concept. Image Search is widely applied in a number of scenarios in China including New Retail, a concept that seamlessly converges online and offline retail. The intelligent service robot served more than 40 million customers in a single day during last year's 11.11 Global Shopping Festival. Dataphin, the system for intelligent data creation and management, is now managing 95% of the entire Alibaba Group's data and driving all types of data intelligence innovations within the group's business ecosystem from retail to finance, logistics, transport and health. "The decision making around how a business is to operate in the digital age is increasingly a strategic one. To meet their changing needs, we are able to leverage our practical experience of digital transformation and successes accumulated in China to the benefit of European enterprises. These advanced solutions will enable organizations in a wide range of sectors and will bring them true connectivity, both locally and globally. For Alibaba Cloud, this is the true meaning of inclusive technology," Mr. Wang added. To ensure the company's ability to evolve and expand its products and services to meet customers' needs in the digital era, Alibaba Cloud is committed to investing in cloud computing services and digital infrastructure in Europe. It opened its first availability zone in Frankfurt Germany in November 2016 and recently commenced operation of the second availability zone in the same region. To better serve its customers in Europe, Alibaba Cloud is establishing a technology ecosystem with European partners, such as Vodafone in Germany, the Met Office which is the national meteorological service for the UK, and Station F, an innovation hub in France. The new products and solutions will be showcased at the Alibaba Cloud Booth (1A70, Hall 1) throughout the Mobile World Congress from February 26 March 1, 2018. Highlights of the eight products launched by Alibaba Cloud at the Mobile World Congress: Category Product Feature Big Data and AI Image Search Search everything you see Launch timeline: February 27, 2018 Powered by AI and machine learning, combined with the world's first built-in image-search-by-text function, Image Search is the first-of-its-kind solution offered by a public cloud services provider. From clothing to cars, Image Search elevates customers' shopping experiences by providing easier and more accurate matchings of both online and offline products. For more information, go to: https://www.alibabacloud.com/product/imagesearch Intelligent Service Robot Chatbot for business Launch timeline: February 27, 2018 Intelligent Service Robot provides an intelligent solution to customer communications. It supports text and voice responses in multiple languages, including Chinese, English, Russian and Spanish. The chatbot is equipped with the ability to learn from existing chat records and ongoing communication to provide more accurate and comprehensive answers. For more information, go to: https://www.alibabacloud.com/product/bot Dataphin A one- stop big data PaaS (Platform as a Service) Launch timeline: April 2018 Dataphin is an intelligent data engine developed to cope with the surging demand for big data business scenarios analysis. Through digitalizing the procedures from data import to data analysis, the solution helps users save time and cost in data analytics, offering a comprehensive big data solution to businesses and maximizing data value. For more information, go to: https://www.alibabacloud.com/product/dataphin Infrastructure ECS Baremetal Instance -The ultimate computer server Launch timeline: February 27, 2018 ECS Baremetal Instance is a hardware-software co-designed innovation that uses a virtualization card to hijack the hypervisor and sustain the host server as a virtual bare metal resource, combining the strengths of virtualized systems and baremetals. For more information, go to: https://www.alibabacloud.com/product/ebm Super Computing Cluster Real high performance computing (HPC) on cloud Launch timeline: February 27, 2018 Super Computing Cluster has the ability to link several ECS Baremetal Instances with a high-speed network, maximizing the combined strength of virtual and hardware infrastructure, which will reduce network latency to the level of micro-seconds while offering elasticity and supercomputing capabilities. For more information, go to: https://www.alibabacloud.com/product/scc Cloud Enterprise Network (CEN) - The next generation cloud network for your future business Launch timeline: April 2018 Cloud Enterprise Network is a cost-effective solution through broadband and traffic sharing. Instead of setting up routers between nodes to enhance network speed, CEN offers intelligent routing to achieve an optimal network speed. For more information, go to: https://www.alibabacloud.com/product/cen Security Vulnerability Discovery Service - A SaaS-based network vulnerability scanning service Launch timeline: April 2018 Vulnerability Discovery Service is a SaaS-based network vulnerability scanning service. With intelligence feeds, it adaptively discovers network assets such as domains, subdomains, IPs, ports, protocol service, and web components. It continuously assesses the weaknesses of these assets and other types of security defects. For more information, go to: https://www.alibabacloud.com/product/avds Private Cloud solution Apsara Stack - Alibaba Cloud in your house Launch timeline: April 2018 Apsara Stack provides a scalable and built-in hybrid cloud services platform to enterprises. It is equipped with disaster recovery capability. The international version will be launched with a three-year proven track record of market use in China and successful adoption by more than 120 enterprise customers. For more information, go to: https://www.alibabacloud.com/product/apsara-stack About Alibaba Cloud Established in 2009, Alibaba Cloud (www.alibabacloud.com), the cloud computing arm of Alibaba Group, is among the world's top three IaaS providers according to Gartner, and the largest provider of public cloud services in China, according to IDC. Alibaba Cloud provides a comprehensive suite of cloud computing services to businesses worldwide, including merchants doing business on Alibaba Group marketplaces, start-ups, corporations and government organizations. Alibaba Cloud is the official Cloud Services Partner of the International Olympic Committee. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227005667/en/ Contacts: Alibaba Group Jowie Law,+86 136 2571 9035 yukman.lym@alibaba-inc.com Yinan Qian, +86 186 0004 0770 yinan.qyn@alibaba-inc.com SAN FRANCISCO, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The globalceramic matrix composite (CMC) marketsize is projected to reach USD 6.86 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc., exhibiting a CAGR of 13.0% during the forecast period. CMCs have evoked keen interest from the aerospace and transportation sectors owing to superior mechanical properties, high strength-to-weight ratio, and vast application scope. Rising fuel prices and increasing focus on energy conservation have triggered the need for lightweight components to boost fuel efficiency. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160524/371361LOGO ) CMC, owing to excellent properties such as dynamic load resistance, high temperature stability, greater flexibility, and excellent thermal shock resistance, is suitable for manufacturing aircraft components. The aerospace field demands lightweight and rigid materials for various applications such as high-speed machine parts, robots, power-transmission lines, fighter-aircraft ventral fins, and helicopter rotor-blade sleeves, where material weight plays a crucial role in performance. The Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have prescribed standards to increase fuel efficiency and reduce vehicular emissions. Nine regions, namely the EU, Japan, U.S., China, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, South Korea, and India, have proposed greenhouse gas emission standards for light commercial vehicles/light trucks and passenger vehicles. Proposed regulations in these countries are expected to trigger CMC demand from aerospace and transportation sectors. Energy and power are expected to form the fastest growing segment. CMCs present excellent oxidation resistance and radiation protection and are thus widely used in energy generating applications. Silicon carbides fiber-reinforced ceramics of certain grades are widely used in nuclear power plants due to their exceptional radiation resistant properties. High temperature stability, in addition to reduced weight and high strength, has increased product popularity. High thermal stability and electrical conductivity have made ceramic matrix composites very useful in numerous thermal and electronic management applications where high efficiency is required. Browse full research report with TOC on "Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMC) Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Oxide, Silicon Carbide, Carbon), By Application (Aerospace, Defense, Energy & Power, Electrical & Electronics), And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2025" at: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/global-ceramic-matrix-composites-market Further Key Findings From the Report Suggest: The global ceramic matrix composites market was valued at USD 2.28 billion in 2016 and is projected to expand at a healthy CAGR of 13.0% over the forecast period in 2016 and is projected to expand at a healthy CAGR of 13.0% over the forecast period Silicon carbide occupied the largest market share by product in 2016 owing to growing application scope in aerospace Asia Pacific emerged as the fastest growing market for ceramic matrix composites due to presence of various untapped markets and growing end-use industries emerged as the fastest growing market for ceramic matrix composites due to presence of various untapped markets and growing end-use industries Key players include General Electric Company; Coorstek, Inc.; UBE Industries, Ltd.; COI Ceramics, Inc.; 3M Company; and CeramTec International. Browse related reports by Grand View Research: Orthopedic Bone Cement and Casting Materials Market - New product development, offering various benefits such as better fatigue, higher visibility on x-ray and drug reservoir, is also expected to drive this market. New product development, offering various benefits such as better fatigue, higher visibility on x-ray and drug reservoir, is also expected to drive this market. Fireproof Ceramics Market - The Global fireproof ceramics market size was estimated at USD 2.87 billion in 2014 and is expected to witness significant growth over the next seven years. The Global fireproof ceramics market size was estimated at in 2014 and is expected to witness significant growth over the next seven years. Wood Plastic Composite (WPC) Market - The global Wood Plastic Composite market size was valued at USD 4.06 Billion in 2015. Rising application scope in decking and fencing applications is expected to drive demand for the product in the construction industry. The global Wood Plastic Composite market size was valued at in 2015. Rising application scope in decking and fencing applications is expected to drive demand for the product in the construction industry. Geotextile Market - The global Geotextile Market size was 4,505.0 million square meters in 2015. The market is likely to observe growth over the forecast period Grand View Research has segmented the global ceramic matrix composites market on the basis of product, application, and region: Ceramic Matrix Composites Product Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Oxide Silicon Carbide Carbon Others Ceramic Matrix Composites Application Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) Aerospace Defense Energy & Power Electrical & Electronics Others Ceramic Matrix Composites Regional Outlook (Volume, Tons; Revenue, USD Million, 2014 - 2025) North America U.S. Europe Germany U.K. France Asia Pacific China India Japan Central & South America Middle East & Africa Read Our Blog By Grand View Research: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/blogs/advanced-materials About Grand View Research Grand View Research, Inc. is a U.S. based market research and consulting company, registered in the State of California and headquartered in San Francisco. Thecompany provides syndicated research reports, customized research reports, and consulting services. To help clients make informed business decisions, we offer market intelligence studies ensuring relevant and fact-based research across a range of industries, from technology to chemicals, materials and healthcare. Contact: Sherry James Corporate Sales Specialist, USA Grand View Research, Inc Phone: +1-415-349-0058 Toll Free: 1-888-202-9519 Email: sales@grandviewresearch.com Web: https://www.grandviewresearch.com A Nashville jury has been selected to hear the trial of the former Soddy Daisy postmaster who is charged in the traffic death of rookie Chattanooga Police officer Nicholas Galinger. The trial of Janet Hinds will be in the courtroom of Judge Don Poole. Police said Officer Galinger was struck and killed by a vehicle driven by Ms. Hinds as he was inspecting an overflowing manhole ... (click for more) Lifelong resident of Soddy Daisy Eric Booker came to the Soddy Daisy Commission meeting Thursday night asking for help. He said he has invested in a home around the lake. The house next door to his has recently sold to an out-of-town investor, he said, and I am scared to death that it is being turned into an Airbnb. Work is being done on the house now, and Mr. Booker wanted assurances ... (click for more) Car dealer Inchcape said full year pre-tax profit rose by 33% to 370m on a constant currency basis due to a strong distribution performance in Asia and emerging markets. Revenue rose 9.4% to 8.9bn and the full year dividend was lifted by 12.6% to 26.8p a share. However, the company said it expected "a more challenging year" in 2018. because of continued supply and demand imbalance in its retail markets particularly over the first half of the year. There was also new vehicle decline in ... 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. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. (the "Company" or "Abattis") (CSE: ATT) (CSE: ATT.CN) (OTC: ATTBF) is pleased to announce that it has entered into a definitive agreement (the "Definitive Agreement") to acquire (the "Acquisition") a 90% ownership interest in Gabriola Green Farms Inc. ("Gabriola"). Gabriola is a privately held British Columbia company that has applied for a license to produce (an "LP") under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (the "ACMPR") on Gabriola Island, one of the gulf islands located in the Strait of Georgia off the coast of British Columbia. Gabriola Island has a consistent temperature and humidity level, which makes it well suited to greenhouse growing. "This is one of the most significant steps our Company has taken towards becoming a full service cannabis company," stated Rob Abenante, Abattis President and CEO. "After successfully obtaining a license through Gabriola, we intend to not only cultivate marijuana, but more importantly sell extracted cannabis products, which will complete our full downstream service offerings." The Definitive Agreement comes following a series of rapid acquisitions, capital raises, investments and joint-ventures for the Company, which include the acquisition of a cash flowing vaporizer company, investment into a cutting-edge Blockchain technology and cryptocurrency and several collaborations with respected organizations, including the University of British Columbia. Pursuant to the Definitive Agreement, in exchange for a 90% ownership interest in Gabriola, Abattis will issue an aggregate of 59,760,956 common shares of the Company (each, a "Share"), at a deemed price of $0.3765 per share, and pay an aggregate of $2.5 million in cash to the shareholders of Gabriola, with the exception of CannaNUMUS Blockchain Inc. ("CannaNUMUS"), a company in which Abattis owns a 49% stake, which will retain its 10% ownership stake in Gabriola. In addition, Abattis will make milestone-based payments (the "Milestone Payments") to such shareholders of Gabriola of (i) $5 million upon Gabriola's receipt of a cultivation license under the ACMPR and (ii) $5 million upon Gabriola's receipt of a sales license under the ACMPR. The Milestone Payments will be satisfied through the issuance of shares. Closing of the acquisition is subject to, among other things, completion of due diligence by Abattis and the receipt of any required consents, including that of the Canadian Securities Exchange. In connection with the Acquisition, Abattis has also secured (i) a right of first refusal on the remaining 10% ownership interest in Gabriola from CannaNUMUS and (ii) an option to acquire the lands on which Gabriola's operations are conducted for $7 million until February 27, 2023 from an unrelated third-party. "Our acquisition of Gabriola will round out our product offerings and complement our existing offerings in the cannabis products, technologies and services space. With its production facility located on ideal Gabriola Island, Gabriola has the potential to become a significant producer upon receipt of an LP," stated Rob Abenante. "With our powerful cash position and liquidity, as well as our experience across various domains in the cannabis space, we are well positioned to support Gabriola's expansion". About Abattis Bioceuticals Corp. Abattis is a life sciences and biotechnology company which aggregates, integrates, and invests in cannabis technologies and biotechnology services for the legal cannabis industry developing in Canada. The Company has successfully developed and licensed natural health products, medicines, extractions, and ingredients for the biologics, nutraceutical, bioceutical, and cosmetic markets. The Company is also seeking to acquire exclusive intellectual property rights to agricultural technologies to be employed in extraction and processing of botanical ingredients and compounds. The Company follows strict standard operating protocols, and adheres to the applicable laws of Canada and foreign jurisdictions. For more information, visit the Company's website at: http://www.abattis.com ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ABATTIS BIOCEUTICALS CORP., "Rob Abenante" Robert Abenante, President & CEO For more information, please visit the Company's website at: http://www.abattis.com or http://www.northernvinelabs.com For inquiries, please contact the Company at +1(604)674-8232 or at news@abattis.com . This press release contains forward-looking statements. The use of any of the words "anticipate", "continue", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "project", "intends", "should", "believe" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release include statements regarding: the Acquisition, including the consideration payable thereunder; Gabriola's application for an LP; Abattis's intention, upon Gabriola's receipt of an LP, to not only cultivate marijuana, but also sell extracted cannabis products, and that such activities will complete Abattis's full downstream service offerings; the Acquisition rounding out Abattis's product offerings and complementing its existing offerings across the cannabis technologies and services space; that Gabriola has the potential to become a significant producer upon receipt of an LP; and the fact that, with its powerful cash position and liquidity, as well as its experience across various domains in the cannabis space, Abattis is well positioned to support Gabriola's expansion. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including: that the Acquisition will not complete under the terms as contemplated or at all; that Gabriola's application for an LP will be unsuccessful; that, upon Gabriola's receipt of an LP, Abattis will not cultivate marijuana or sell extracted cannabis products, or that such activities will not complete Abattis's full downstream service offerings; that the Acquisition will not round out Abattis's product offerings or not complement its existing offerings across the cannabis technologies and services space; that Gabriola will not become a significant producer upon receipt of an LP; that, with its powerful cash position and liquidity, as well as its experience across various domains in the cannabis space, Abattis will not be well positioned to support Gabriola's expansion; that the Company will not be able to execute its proposed business plan in the time required or at all due to regulatory, financial or other issues; that the Company's competitors may develop competing technologies; changes in regulatory requirements; and other factors beyond the Company's control. Additional risk factors are included in the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis, available under the Company's profile on http://www.sedar.com . The forward-looking statements are made as at the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, where because of new information, future events or results, or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATIONS SERVICES PROVIDER HAS REVIEWED OR ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. For more information, please visit the Company's website at: http://www.abattis.com or http://www.northernvinelabs.com For inquiries, please contact the Company at +1(604)-674-8232 news@abattis.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2018) - Alliance Growers Corp. (CSE: ACG) (FSE: 1LA) (WKN: A2DFYX) ("Alliance Growers" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered advanced negotiations for a significant strategic investment with a private licensed Jamaican cannabis company. The private Jamaican company has established operations with production facilities with a Tier 2 Cultivator's license (cultivate land with ganja for medical, scientific and therapeutic purposes) and a Tier 2 Processing license (process ganja for medical, scientific and medical purposes, including the manufacturing of ganja-based products). The company's mission is to produce quality medicinal products in Jamaica that have the unique qualities of Jamaica's holistic healing culture. The Jamaican company will be exporting cannabinoids and terpenoids through joint ventures with selective Canadian and European Licensed Distributers, and develop and brand world class cannabis flower, extracts, infused products for the growing international cannabis industry. Alliance Growers expansion into Jamaica will be a strong strategic move for the following reasons: Provides further geographical diversification Anticipated lower cost setting than Canada Canopy Growth Corp. has a subsidiary in Jamaica which validates the potential of the country by one of the largest, most respected Cannabis companies in the world. Canada-based Timeless Herbal Care Limited announced it has secured a US$100-million deal to develop medical marijuana products in Jamaica for the international market. Export potential to Canada, Europe and Uruguay and other South American countries. With a population of approximately 2.8 million, there is also the potential for the local market due to high acceptance of usage among the population. Commenting on the negotiations to diversify into the Jamaican cannabis industry, Dennis Petke, Alliance Growers' President and CEO, noted "The opportunity to build our shareholder's equity by joining forces with thriving licensed Jamaican licensed cannabis company where industry giants such as Canopy Growth are already established is a tremendous opportunity for growth. Diversifying Alliance Growers into Jamaica, a country with a high level of acceptance of cannabis, will broaden Alliance Grower's global diversification and complement the Company's strategy of building a global cannabis company that is going to be where the market is will be going not where the market is today." About Alliance Grower's Alliance Growers Corp is a diversified cannabis company driven by the Company's 'Four Pillars' Organization Plan - Cannabis Botany Centre, Strategic ACMPR Investments, CBD Oil Supply and Distribution, and Research and Development. Alliance Growers has finalized its a new business partnership with WFS Pharmagreen Inc., to jointly develop and operate a 40,000-square foot facility to be the first of its kind in Western Canada to house a DNA Botany lab, extraction facility and Tissue Culture Plantlet Production facility to service the Cannabis market and agriculture market in general. The proposed Cannabis Botany Centre will grow Cannabis plantlets using proprietary tissue culture propagation, specifically the "Chibafreen Invitro Plant Production System", which assures consistent composition and purity of each plantlet for the growers. Alliance Growers has entered into an exclusive agreement to acquire a late stage licensed producer applicant, Biocannatech, to become a licensed producer under Health Canada's access to cannabis for medical purposes regulations ("ACMPR") in Quebec. Alliance Growers will supply financing and resources to build out the medical marijuana facility in preparation for the inspection required to obtain a growing license. Once Health Canada is satisfied with a successful crop, Alliance Growers will be granted its distribution license. This acquisition allows the Company an opportunity to become a licensed producer in the Province of Quebec and gain an in-road to provide tissue culture plantlets to all licensed producers in Quebec. Further, Alliance Growers has been negotiating to obtain other exclusive Canadian distribution agreements for certain proprietary products for support of the Cannabis growing industry in addition to possible partnerships with Licensed Producer Applicants at various stages in the Health Canada License process. For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.alliancegrowers.com or the Company's profile at www.sedar.com. If you would like to be added to Alliance Growers' news distribution list, please send your email address to newsletter@alliancegrowers.com On behalf of the board of directors of ALLIANCE GROWERS CORP. "Dennis Petke" Dennis Petke President and CEO For more information contact: Dennis Petke Tel: 778-331-4266 DennisPetke@alliancegrowers.com Rob Grace Communications Consultant Tel: 778-998-5431 RobDGrace@gmail.com THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE HAS NOT REVIEWED AND DOES NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE. FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements or information. More particularly and without limitation, the news release contains forward-looking statements and information relating to Company's corporate strategy. The forward-looking statements and information are based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company, including, without limitation, the Company's ability to carry out its business plan. Although management of the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking statements and information are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements and information since no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements and information are provided for the purpose of providing information about the current expectations and plans of management of the Company relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such statements and information may not be appropriate for other purposes, such as making investment decisions. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. These include, but are not limited to, the Company's ability to identify and complete additional suitable acquisitions to further the Company's growth as well as risks associated with the medical marijuana industry in general, such as operational risks in development and production delays or changes in plans with respect to development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of the capital markets; the uncertainty of receiving the required licenses, production, costs and expenses; health, safety and environmental risks; marketing and transportation; loss of markets; environmental risks; competition; incorrect assessment of the value of the potential market; ability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources; failure to obtain required regulatory and other approvals and changes in legislation, including but not limited to tax laws and regulated regulations. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, timelines and information contained in this news release. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. The forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release are made as of the date hereof and no undertaking is given to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws or the Canadian Securities Exchange. The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Zoom latest in series of integrations for Administrate North America and Middle East fastest growing markets in 2017 Client wins include SGS, Arnold Clark and Informa Administrate, a software as a service (SaaS) training management platform, is teaming up with the global leader in video conferencing, Zoom Video Communications, to provide virtual instructor-led training capability to its customers. The news follows a series of integration announcements in 2017 including CloudShare, LeadLiaison, SurveyMonkey, and Salesforce that, combined with the company shipping more than 150 product improvements during the year, has led to Administrate posting record sales with particularly strong growth reported in North America and the Middle East. Administrate sells its software to large organisations to help them train customers, partners and employees. After implementing Administrate, customers realise huge time savings, can drive strategic training initiatives and scale their education initiatives without adding more staff. John Peebles, CEO of Administrate, said: "We're thrilled to announce our integration with Zoom. We use Zoom daily to communicate and it's been a critical factor to the success we've had scaling our team globally. We can't wait to see our customers providing high quality video training to their students located around the world." Eric Yuan, founder and CEO of Zoom, said "Our mission is to bring the world closer together with video communications, and working with Administrate is a great example of using Zoom's technology to achieve better outcomes for both teachers and students." In 2017, Administrate significantly grew its customer base with corporates including Informa, one of the world's largest training companies, Saudi Ground Services, provider of all ground crew operations within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and GTG Training, a division of Europe's largest car dealer Arnold Clark. To service this growing demand, the Edinburgh headquartered company has tripled headcount in Beirut, Lebanon, and doubled headcount at its North American office located in Bozeman, Montana. Notes 1. Administrate has more than 250 customers globally and currently employs more than 65 people. Headquartered at CodeBase in Edinburgh, it also operates regional offices in Bozeman, USA and within the Beirut Digital District in Beirut, Lebanon. The company has raised investment from local investors Archangel and the Scottish Investment Bank. Visit getadministrate.com and follow @GetAdministrate. 2. The Administrate training management platform includes ecommerce, scheduling, personnel management, resource management, and classroom management features that are delivered from the cloud. Underpinned by a powerful API, Administrate is augmented by a host of integrations with other SaaS technology providers like Zoom. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227005709/en/ Contacts: For Administrate Nick Freer +44 7841 571 871 nick@freerconsultancy.com or John Peebles +44 131 460 7350 jjp@getadministrate.com VIENNA, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- This function enables the operation of the diagnostic ultrasound system via auto detection of transducer movement. Hitachi Medical Systems Europe, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501) ("Hitachi") today announced "Scan-Synced control" (hereafter ScanSync), a function that allows automatic ultrasound scanning by automatically controlling the transducer movement. This function will be supported on the diagnostic ultrasound system "ARIETTA Prologue". ScanSync* auto-detects transducer movement to freeze, store, and unfreeze images (restart real-time image display). This enables the operator to take a desired still image without adopting a strained or unnatural posture, even if the operator cannot reach the ultrasound control panel or if both hands of the operator are fully occupied, which helps reduce the physical burden placed on operators while streamlining workflow. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/646792/Hitachi_Ultrasound_ARIETTA.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/646793/Hitachi_Ultrasound_ScanSync.jpg ) Ultrasound examinations are being performed not only for traditional applications such as the abdomen, cardiac, and OB/GYN, but also in other specialty areas such as breast, thyroid, orthopedics, and surgery. As a result, ultrasound has become an essential part in modern healthcare. In orthopedics for example, diagnostic ultrasound systems are widely used for examinations of the shoulder or limbs. There are many cases where the operators' hands are occupied in supporting the patient's body or conducting a biopsy, requiring them to seek support from a medical assistant or adopt an unnatural posture to perform ultrasound examinations by themselves. In both these situations, it is difficult to freeze an image at the desired time, and additional operations like scrolling back through the images are needed. Additionally, adopting an unnatural posture strains the operator and increases their physical burden. ScanSync*, supported by "ARIETTA Prologue", analyzes images in real-time and detects transducer movements automatically via a newly developed image recognition technology, without a special switch, remote control, etc. Traditional image taking (Scan) and operation of the ultrasound system (Control) can be activated by smooth transducer movements (Synchronize). The workflow of ultrasound operation is streamlined because the control panel operation gets unnecessary by using this function. ScanSync* is expected to be used not only in orthopedics application, but also for lower limb vessel examinations, echo guided biopsy for breast and thyroid, veterinary examination, and so on. * ScanSync can be used by L64, a high frequency transducer for normal examinations. As a leading company in diagnostic imaging, Hitachi is committed to continue to provide innovative medical imaging solutions that meet and expand the diverse requirements of its users. ScanSync will for the first time be exhibited at the ECR (European Congress of Radiology) held in Vienna, Republic of Austria, from February 28 to March 4, 2018. Reference Movie of ScanSync: https://youtu.be/MfKUmrAQDio About Hitachi Medical Systems Europe Hitachi Healthcare in Europe is represented by Hitachi Medical Systems Europe Holding AG, Zug, Switzerland. The company is a first choice supplier of open and powerful high-field MRI systems, multi-slice CT systems as well as medical ultrasound, endoscopic and optical topography systems (NIRS). Ultrasound expertise encompasses clinical applications such as radiology, cardiology, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, gastroenterology, urology and surgery. Hitachi Medical Systems Europe offers a complete range of solutions to address a wide range of medical challenges. For more information about Hitachi Medical Systems Europe Holding AG, please visit http://www.hitachi-medical-systems.eu About Hitachi, Ltd. Hitachi, Ltd. (TSE: 6501), headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, delivers innovations that answer society's challenges. The company's consolidated revenues for fiscal 2016 (ended March 31, 2017) totaled 9,162.2 billion yen ($81.8 billion). The Hitachi Group is a global leader in the Social Innovation Business, and it has approximately 304,000 employees worldwide. Through collaborative creation, Hitachi is providing solutions to customers in a broad range of sectors, including Power / Energy, Industry / Distribution / Water, Urban Development, and Finance / Government & Public / Healthcare. For more information on Hitachi, please visit the company's website at http://www.hitachi.com Contact: Romea Wallnoefer Hitachi Medical Systems Europe Holding AG r.wallnoefer@hitachi-medical-systems.com AIM-quoted property company Secure Property Development & Investment disposed of nine of its residential units in Romania and Bulgaria for a total gross consideration of just less than 1m, as the company looked to continue upon its strategy of disposing of non-core assets and focus on growing its real estate portfolio in high-yielding countries such as Romania and Greece. - SPDI sold the properties for a combined 980,000, with the proceeds to be used to reduce the company's residential ... 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. Molecular diagnostics company Genedrive announced on Tuesday that it had been awarded 1.1m in funding for development of its Genedrive mTB/RIF tuberculosis test by Innovate UK, a non-departmental public body. The AIM-quoted firm said the grant would be used to further the development of a high-sensitivity bacterial sample preparation module for its Genedrive instrument and would count the funding as income "matched to costs incurred over the periods to 30 June 2018 and 2019". The funding will ... 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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2018) - Coro Mining Corp. (TSX: COP) ("Coro" or the "Company") announces that it has entered into a credit agreement (the "Credit Agreement") with its major shareholder, Greenstone Resources L.P.( "Greenstone") pursuant to which Greenstone has agreed to advance US$5,000,000 to Coro (the "Loan"). Under the terms of the Credit Agreement, the Loan has an eleven month term and bears interest at 12% per annum until June 30, 2018, after which the interest will be increased to 15%. Greenstone will receive a 3% arrangement fee under the Credit Agreement, which will be payable on maturity. The proceeds of the Loan will be used for both general working capital at Coro and SCMB Berta. "Following the positive results of step out drilling at Marimaca, progress on property consolidation around Marimaca and feedback from shareholders, the Board of Coro has committed to a Strategic Review," commented President & CEO Luis Tondo. "This will consider alternative scenarios relating to the Company's assets and an assessment of the various funding options available to Coro to maximize shareholder value. The US$5m addresses immediate funding requirements and provides time for the Board of Coro to complete its Strategic Review. Further announcements will be made in due course." About Coro Mining Corp.: Coro's strategy is to grow a mining business through the discovery, development and operation projects at any stage of development, which are well located with respect to infrastructure and water, have low permitting risk, and have the potential to achieve a short and cost effective timeline to production. The Company's preference is for open pit heap leach copper projects, where minimizing capital investment and creating profitability are priorities and, where the likely capital cost is financeable relative to the Company's market capitalization. The Company's assets include the Marimaca development project; its 65% interest in the SCM Berta company, which owns the Berta mine, Nora plant and the El Jote project as well as the Llancahue prospect. For further information: Contact Naomi Nemeth, VP Communications/IR at +1 (647) 556 1023, +1 (604) 682 5546, Toll free +1 877 702 2676 or nnemeth@coromining.com Visit our website site at www.coromining.com Email us at investor.info@coromining.com Follow us on Twitter @coromining1 This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements or information, include but are not limited to the announcements of a strategic review. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are beyond Coro's ability to predict or control and may cause Coro's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any of its future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, the ability to finance. Such forward-looking statements are also based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the securities regulators in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coro undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. Leveraging Orange's LTE-M Network, Sercomm's New IoT Devices Answer the Needs of Numerous Markets TAIPEI, Taiwan, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sercomm (TWSE: 5388), a leading manufacturer and supplier of telecom equipment, announced today the availability of a new series of LTE-M IoT devices. With the advantages of extended transmission range, a lengthened battery life, and better mobility, Sercomm's full range of LTE-M IoT devices offers ideal solutions for appplications including youth/senior safety, asset protection, smart meter, transportation and environment monitoring. Leveraging the fully-deployed LTE-M network service of Orange (NYSE: ORAN), a leading telecommunication operator in Europe, Sercomm's new LTE-M devices answer the needs of numerous markets to catch the upcoming IoT business opportunities. "As a worldwide leading manufacturer of telecom and broadband equipment, Sercomm has devoted significant R&D resources to developing innovative and cost-effective IoT solutions," said James Wang, Chief Executive Officer of Sercomm. "We are pleased to announce the availability of the new LTE-M IoT devices, as it not only underlines our leadership in providing innovative products to our customers but is a testimony of a new era of mobile IoT technology." "The development of the LTE-M network is part of our strategy to provide a full range of IoT connectivity options for our customers through Datavenue. The availability of the LTE-M devices enables our customers to start developing their LTE-M applications before the full networks are launched in 2018. We believe that LTE-M is a perfect match for a wide range of IoT use cases in Industry 4.0, fleet management and asset tracking," said Olivier Ondet, Vice President of IoT and Analytics, Orange Business Services. Sercomm's new LTE-M devices support the Orange Datavenue Live Objects IoT service, which offers a set of tools to facilitate the interconnection between devices and applications for connectivity, device management, message routing, and data management. With the API Interfaces defined by Live Objects, device makers could easily create an app. Coupling with the full coverage of the Orange LTE-M network, Sercomm will demonstrate the LTE-M trackers at booth #2G3, Hall 2 at Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona, Spain, from February 26 to March 1. About Sercomm Corporation Sercomm Corporation (TWSE: 5388) is a worldwide leading manufacturer of telecom and broadband equipment. Founded in 1992, Sercomm has focused on developing embedded solutions to make networking simple and affordable. With its fully integrated engineering capability and its state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, Sercomm offers comprehensive telecom broadband solutions such as residential/enterprise gateways, small cells, and IoT products, and is now a global leader in the industry. Headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, Sercomm's global operation network covers markets in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific region. Its customer base includes the world's top ODMs, telecommunication vendors, and system integrators. For more information, please visit www.sercomm.com. About Orange Orange is one of the world's leading telecommunications operators with sales of 40.9 billion euros in 2016 and 152,000 employees worldwide at 30 September 2017, including 93,000 employees in France. Present in 29 countries, the Group has a total customer base of 269 million customers worldwide at 30 September 2017, including 208 million mobile customers and 19 million fixed broadband customers. Orange is also a leading provider of global IT and telecommunication services to multinational companies, under the brand Orange Business Services. In March 2015, the Group presented its new strategic plan "Essentials2020" which places customer experience at the heart of its strategy with the aim of allowing them to benefit fully from the digital universe and the power of its new generation networks. Orange is listed on Euronext Paris (symbol ORA) and on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol ORAN). For more information on the internet and on your mobile: www.orange.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/646817/Sercomm_Orange_MWC.jpg Celanese Corporation (NYSE: CE), a global technology and specialty materials company, today announced that its Bay City, Texas vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) and Frankfurt, Germany polyoxymethylene (POM) manufacturing facilities have been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for achieving the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry (the Challenge) in 2017. The Challenge is a national call-to-action by the EPA to improve the energy efficiency of America's manufacturers by 10 percent or more. By taking the Challenge, manufacturing sites set a goal to reduce their energy intensity by 10 percent within five years. Although the Challenge is a U.S.-centric initiative, Celanese's facilities outside the U.S. participate in the Challenge as part of the company's commitment to global environmental stewardship. "By achieving the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry, the Bay City VAM and Frankfurt POM facilities have reduced more than 150,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions caused by energy usage and have saved enough energy to power 16,000 homes annually," said Jon Mortimer, Vice President of Global Manufacturing for Celanese. "Taking the Challenge and achieving these significant energy reduction milestones demonstrates Celanese's commitment to strong energy management practices that produce positive results for the environment, our customers and our communities." These facilities used a variety of creative approaches which yielded a reduction of their energy intensity by 14.4 percent and 13.4 percent, respectively, within two years. Celanese, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2014, has been recognized by the U.S. EPA for its superior performance in energy management and for outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through energy efficiency. Celanese has been designated as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year for 2016 and 2017. About Celanese Celanese Corporation is a global technology leader in the production of differentiated chemistry solutions and specialty materials used in most major industries and consumer applications. Our two complementary business cores, Acetyl Chain and Materials Solutions, use the full breadth of Celanese's global chemistry, technology and business expertise to create value for our customers and the corporation. As we partner with our customers to solve their most critical business needs, we strive to make a positive impact on our communities and the world through The Celanese Foundation. Based in Dallas, Celanese employs approximately 7,600 employees worldwide and had 2017 net sales of $6.1 billion. For more information about Celanese Corporation and its product offerings, visit www.celanese.com or our blog at www.celaneseblog.com All registered trademarks are owned by Celanese International Corporation or its affiliates. About ENERGY STAR ENERGY STAR is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For more than 20 years, people across America have looked to EPA's ENERGY STAR program for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. Today, ENERGY STAR is the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in the world, helping families and businesses save over $362 billion on utility bills, while reducing carbon pollution by 2.5 billion metric tons since 1992. Join the millions who are already making a difference at www.energystar.gov Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain "forward-looking statements," which include information concerning the company's plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future revenues or performance, capital expenditures and other information that is not historical information. When used in this release, the words "outlook," "forecast," "estimates," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "plans," "intends," "believes," and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon current expectations and beliefs and various assumptions. There can be no assurance that the company or its customers will realize these benefits or that these expectations will prove correct. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Numerous factors, many of which are beyond the company's control, could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed as forward-looking statements. Other risk factors include those that are discussed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and the company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events or circumstances. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227005150/en/ Contacts: Celanese Corporation Investor Relations Surabhi Varshney, +1-972-443-3078 surabhi.varshney@celanese.com or Media Relations Global W. Travis Jacobsen, +1-972-443-3750 william.jacobsen@celanese.com or Media Relations Asia (Shanghai) Helen Zhang, +86 21 3861 9279 lan.zhang@celanese.com or Media Relations Europe (Germany) Jens Kurth, +49(0)69 45009 1574 j.kurth@celanese.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2018) - CVR Medical Corp. (TSXV: CVM) (FSE: B3BN) (OTCQB: CRRVF) ("CVR Medical") announces Internal Review Board (IRB) approval by The Cleveland Clinic, sanctioning CVR to conduct clinical trials using the Carotid Stenotic Scan (CSS) device. The trial will be overseen by Primary Investigator Dr. Heather Gornik, Medical Director of the Non-Invasive Vascular Laboratory in the Cleveland Clinic Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. Cleveland Clinic was voted the number two best hospital in the United States in 2018, according to U.S. News & World Report. With more than 1,400 beds on their main campus and 4,435 beds system-wide, Cleveland Clinic is one of the largest and most respected hospitals in the country. For additional information on the organization, leadership, and current news, please visit the company website www.CVRMed.com. About CVR Medical CVR Medical is a company that is involved in an equal parts joint venture with CVR Global Inc. (the "Joint Venture"). The Joint Venture operates in the medical industry focused on the commercialization of a proprietary subsonic, infrasonic, and low frequency sound wave analysis technology and has patents to a diagnostic device designed to detect and measure carotid arterial stenosis. CVR Medical is managed by a proven technical team. CVR Medical trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol CVM. On behalf of the Board: (signed) "Peter Bakema" CEO, President & Director For further information contact: Peter Bakema, CEO, President and Director Telephone: (734) 718-5115 Email: info@cvrmed.com or Brisco Capital Partners Corp. Scott Koyich, President Telephone: (403) 262-9888 This press release contains forward-looking information that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events related to the Joint Venture.Such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the statements and are not guarantees of future performance of the Company.No assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will occur or, if they do occur, what benefits the Company will obtain from them.These forward-looking statements reflect management's current views and are based on certain expectations, estimates and assumptions which may prove to be incorrect.A number of risks and uncertainties could cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements, including: (1) a downturn in general economic conditions in North America and internationally, (2) the inherent uncertainties and speculative nature associated with commercialization of technology and the practice of medicine, (3) a change in health regulations, (4) any number of events or causes which may delay or cease commercialization and development of the Joint Venture, (5) the risk that the Company or the Joint Venture does not execute its business plan, (6) inability to retain key employees, (7) inability to finance operations and growth, and (8) other factors beyond the Company's control.These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release and, except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements, or to update the reasons why actual results differed from those projected in the forward-looking statements. THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE INC.HAS NEITHER APPROVED NOR DISAPPROVED THE CONTENTS OF THIS PRESS RELEASE.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. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2018) - I-Minerals Inc. (TSXV: IMA) (OTCQB: IMAHF) (FSE: 61M) (the "Company") announces that it Mr. John Theobald has been appointed President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Theobald's unique combination of capital markets and industrial minerals experience will be relied upon to continue the development of the Helmer-Bovill Property. Mr. Theobald over thirty-five years in the international mining industry and has been involved with exploration, business development, operations, investments and capital markets. Most recently he was a director of ASX listed High Peak Royalties Ltd, director, CEO & COO of London and TSX listed royalty company Anglo Pacific Group plc, and served as Chairman of First Coal Corporation which was successfully sold to Xstrata plc for C$147 million. From 1999 to 2008 he held a number of senior positions with Sibelco, a major industrial minerals group, where he gained significant experience of kaolin, feldspar, clay and quartz markets and operations. Mr. Theobald has a B.Sc. with Honours in Geology from the University of Nottingham, is a Chartered Engineer with the UK Engineering Council, Fellow of the Institute of Materials Minerals and Mining (UK) and Member of the Institute of Directors (UK). The outgoing CEO and President, Thomas Conway, will continue to service as a director of the Company. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Conway for his services as CEO and President of the Company. About I-Minerals Inc. I-Minerals is developing multiple deposits of high purity, high value halloysite, quartz, potassium feldspar and kaolin at its strategically located Helmer-Bovill property in north central Idaho. A 2016 Feasibility Study on the Bovill Kaolin Deposit led by led by GBM Engineers LLC, who were responsible for overall project management and the process plant and infrastructure design, including OPEX and CAPEX calculated an After Tax NPV of US$249.8 million with a 25.8% After Tax IRR. Initial CAPEX was estimated at $108.3 million with a 3.7 year After Tax payback. Other engineering services were provided by HDR Engineering, Inc. (all environmental components; hydrology / hydrogeology; road design); Tetra Tech, Inc. (tailings storage facility design); Mine Development Associates (mine modelling; ore scheduling; mineral reserve estimation); and SRK Consulting (U.S.) Inc. (mineral resource estimation). The project has received mine and water permits from the State of Idaho. I-Minerals Inc. per: "Matthew J. Anderson" Matthew Anderson, Chief Financial Officer This News Release includes certain "forward looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various risks. Actual results could differ materially from those projected as a result of the following factors, among others: changes in the world wide price of mineral market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risk associated with development, construction and mining operations, the uncertainty of future profitability and uncertainty of access to additional capital. Contact: I-Minerals Inc. Barry Girling 877-303-6573 or 604-303-6573 Email: info@imineralsinc.com Or visit our website at www.imineralsinc.com Paul J.Searle, Investor Relations 877-303-6573 or 604-303-6573 Email: PSearle@imineralsinc.com NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE. Recent drilling showed high-grade gold in andesite wall rock adjacent to quartz vein. Research shows historic miners commonly left non-quartz wall rock unmined or as backfill. Presence of significant gold in vein walls has important positive impacts to exploration targets. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2018) - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTC Pink: RYES) ("Rise" or the "Company") is pleased to announce significant findings of its ongoing research of the Idaho-Maryland ("I-M") Gold Project. The Company recently located important documents at the Sacramento State University Library related to the I-M Mine which provide insight into the recent exploration results and targets of upcoming exploration drilling. The Company previously announced the assay results from drill hole B-17-01 ("the Drillhole"), the first drill hole of the exploration drilling program at the I-M Mine (see Rise news release of Jan. 3, 2018). The Drillhole intersected the Brunswick #1 Vein (the "B1 Vein") approximately 50 m below the B1600 level at a depth of ~540 m below surface and assayed 12.2 gpt gold over 14.9 m (7.8 m est. true width) including 63 gpt gold over 2.7 m (1.4 m est. true width). Numerous historic records indicate that very high gold values typically occur in quartz veins at the I-M Mine. In extreme cases, the ore was sufficiently valuable that it required bank vault protection prior to processing. An article in the Nevada City Morning Union in 1926 describes that portions of quartz being mined at the I-M were estimated to run $4 to $5 per pound which is the equivalent of 441 oz per ton gold (15,130 gpt). However, historic maps, reports, and detailed geological records do not reveal any information that indicate substantial amounts of the gold being mined from the vein wall rock. Recent research has confirmed that the historic operators were almost exclusively focussed on gold hosted in quartz veins and commonly left non-quartz material either unbroken in the stope walls or used the material as mine back-fill. Research also shows that grade control was done visually rather than by assay data from the underground workings. Recent drilling by the Company has revealed that significant gold values occur in the wall rock adjacent to the quartz veins. The andesite in the footwall of the B1 Vein "Center Vein" assayed 266 gpt (7.8 oz per ton) gold over 0.6 m. In the Second Intercept, located at approximately 930 m below surface, the andesite adjacent to the quartz stringers assayed 40.6 gpt (1.2 oz per ton) gold over 1.5 m. A photo of the drill core from the Center Vein intercept is shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1 - Core Photo of B1 "Center Vein" To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/2255/33127_a1519707949782_14.jpg This presence of significant gold values in andesite has important consequences for exploration at the I-M Mine. The Brunswick #1 Vein has become an important exploration target due to the excellent Drillhole intercepts and the confirmation from historic exploration drifting that this vein continues at least to the B2300 level. The Brunswick #1 Vein is one of dozens of known veins at the Idaho-Maryland Mine. In most cases, the historic operator reported drill core sample assay results for only intersections of quartz and rarely conducted sampling of the adjacent material. If there are important gold values in the adjacent wall rock, the historic drilling would have greatly underreported the overall gold content of the mineralized structures tested. The B1 Vein Set, with three sub-parallel veins and two sections of internal waste, averaged 12.2 gpt gold over 14.9 m with an estimated true width of 7.8 m. The presence of closely spaced veins and gold values in andesite present an opportunity to discover mineral zones of widths suitable for high productivity mechanized mining methods. More drill testing and assay data is necessary to confirm if this style of gold distribution is common throughout the mineralized gold veins at the I-M Mine. The Company expects to provide further updates on the planned exploration drilling program at the Idaho-Maryland Mine over the coming weeks. Engineering & Mining Journal - January 1947 The Company recently located an article (the "Article") in the Sacramento State University Library written by Rollin Farmin in January 19471. Rollin Farmin worked at the Idaho-Maryland Mine from 1933-1947 and held the roles of Chief Geologist and Chief Engineer from 1933-1945 and Assistant General Manager from 1945-1947. The Article describes the mining methods used at the Idaho-Maryland Mine and confirms that the historic operators were almost exclusively focussed on gold hosted in quartz. The Article confirms that the miners left non-quartz material in the walls of the stope whenever possible stating "As a rule, the hanging-wall of the vein is not broken either in the drifts or raises". The Article further confirms that the miners viewed non-quartz material as waste. The Article describes a horizontal cut-and-fill mining method where blasted andesite wall rock was left in place to provide backfill for the stopes. After blasting, the ore was washed with water so that the miners could visually identify quartz. The miners would then hand-shovel quartz bearing rock into timber chutes for transportation to the process plant. The non-quartz bearing rock would be left in place and used as fill as mining progressed upwards on the vein. Letter to President Oliver - March 1948 The Company located a letter (the "Letter") in the I-M database written by the Mine General Manger to the President of Idaho Maryland Mines Corporation in March 19482. The Letter confirms that the historic operators mined primarily on a visual basis rather than relying on assays from mine sampling. The letter discusses the calculation of reserves at the Brunswick Mine. The Manager states, to the President, in this letter that "No attempt has been made to assign a dollar value to the Brunswick Ore Reserves, since sampling can show only general trends in ore tenor". He further states, "It has been fairly well established that the coincident mining of many widely separated veins produces a fairly consistent flow of "high grade" gold generally indeterminate by underground sampling". About Rise Gold Corp Rise is an exploration-stage mining company. The Company's principal asset is the historic past producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA. The Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine is one of the United States' greatest past producing gold mines with total past production of 2,414,000 oz of gold from 1866-1955. Rise is a US corporation incorporated in Nevada, USA and maintains its head office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Benjamin Mossman President, CEO and Director Rise Gold Corp. For further information, please contact: RISE GOLD CORP Suite 488, 1090 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3V7 T: 604.260.4577 info@risegoldcorp.com www.risegoldcorp.com Benjamin Mossman, P.Eng, CEO of Rise Gold Corp, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this news release. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, obtaining all necessary approvals, meeting expenditure and financing requirements, compliance with environmental regulations, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. Rise undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. 1 Farmin, Rollin. "Narrow Vein Problem Solved by Scraper-Slot Stoping." Engineering and Mining Journal - Vol. 148, No.1. (1947): 74-76. Print. 2 O'Donnell, Neil. Letter to E. L Oliver, President. "RE: Idaho Maryland Mines Corporation Operations Report for December, 1947". (1948). New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2018) - CannabisNewsAudio announces the Audio Press Release (APR) titled "Key Companies That Will Remap Canada's Cannabis Retail Industry," featuring Hiku Brands Company Ltd. (CSE: HIKU) (OTC: DJACF). To hear the NetworkNewsAudio version, visit: http://nnw.fm/Nm9A2 To read the original editorial, visit: http://nnw.fm/l3Kun Although the name HIKU is new, the brands behind it are well-known and have interesting back stories. Tokyo Smoke was named "best brand" at the inaugural Cannabis Industry Awards in December 2017, and in January 2018 the company joined forces with Doja Cannabis Company to create HIKU. HIKU is led by CEO Alan Gertner and President Trent Kitsch, who founded the best-selling men's brand, SAXX Underwear. The cannabis industry is growing at a rapid pace. While powerful players are teaming up to establish brand presence and formulate creative ways to differentiate themselves, the smaller contenders will begin to get weeded out. With Manitoba's major retail cannabis players now clear, the stage is set for companies to continue their push toward becoming Canada's first dominant cannabis retailers. HIKU, with shares trading over $2.50 and an estimated market cap topping $300 million, is definitely one to watch. About Hiku Brands Company Ltd. Hiku is focused on handcrafted cannabis production, immersive retail experiences, and building a portfolio of iconic, engaging cannabis lifestyle brands. Hiku is differentiated as the only Canadian craft cannabis producer with a significant national retail footprint and a growing brand house including premium cannabis lifestyle brands DOJA, Tokyo Smoke, and Van der Pop. Hiku's wholly-owned subsidiary, DOJA Cannabis Ltd., is a federally licensed producer pursuant to the ACMPR, owning two production facilities in the heart of British Columbia's Okanagan Valley. The company operates a network of retail stores selling coffee, clothing and curated accessories, across British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. For more information, visit the company's website at www.Hiku.com About CannabisNewsWire (CNW) CannabisNewsWire ("CNW") is a specialized information service that (1) aggregates cannabis news, (2) provides CannabisNewsBreaks that quickly updates investors in the space, (3) enhances corporate press releases, (4) helps companies with distribution and optimization of social media, and (5) delivers comprehensive corporate communication solutions. CNW is uniquely positioned in the cannabis market with a strong team of journalists and writers who can help private and public companies reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public through our ever-growing dissemination network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets. CNW is bringing unparalleled visibility, recognition and content to the cannabis industry. For more information please visit https://wwwCannabisNewsWire.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. CNW Corporate Communications Contact: CannabisNewsWire (CNW) Denver, Colorado www.CannabisNewsWire.com 303.498.7722 Office Editor@CannabisNewsWire.net Investors in manufacturer, designer and retailer of fitted kitchens, kitchen furniture and bedroom furniture John Lewis of Hungerford - not related to the national retail partnership of the same name - were told that the company was still proceeding cautiously amid uncertain trading conditions at its annual general meeting in London on Tuesday. The AIM-traded firm had said in its annual report that, due to a higher than usual level of building projects completing in the early autumn, sales for ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Washington D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2018) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today announced the agenda for the March 8 meeting of its Investor Advisory Committee. The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. in the Multipurpose Room at SEC headquarters at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. and is open to the public. The meeting will be webcast live and archived on the committee's website for later viewing. The committee will hold two panel discussions with outside speakers: a morning session on regulatory approaches to combat retail investor fraud, and an afternoon session on efforts to prevent the financial exploitation of vulnerable adults. In addition, the committee will discuss two other topics: dual-class share structures, and financial support for law school clinics that support investors. These latter two discussions may include possible recommendations. The committee welcomes new members Jennifer Marietta-Westberg, Senior Economist at Cornerstone Research, and Heidi Stam, a former Managing Director and General Counsel (Retired) at Vanguard. Members of the committee represent a wide variety of investor interests, including those of individual and institutional investors, senior citizens, and state securities commissions. For a full list of committee members, see the committee's webpage. The Investor Advisory Committee was established to advise the SEC on regulatory priorities, the regulation of securities products, trading strategies, fee structures, the effectiveness of disclosure, and on initiatives to protect investor interests and to promote investor confidence and the integrity of the securities marketplace. The Committee is authorized to submit findings and recommendations to the Commission. ATLANTA (dpa-AFX) - Georgia's Lt. Governor Casey Cagle has threatened to 'kill' any proposed tax break for Delta Airlines unless the carrier reverses its decision to sever a partnership with the National Rifle Association. 'I will kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with @NRA. Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back,' Cagle tweeted. 'Discriminating against law-abiding gun owners will not solve the problem,' he added. He also asked corporations to 'donate a portion of profits to mental health treatments and school safety initiatives,' instead of cutting ties with NRA. National Rifle Association of America is an American nonprofit organization that advocates for gun rights. Atlanta-based Delta Airlines had earlier discontinued a discount program for NRA members after public outrage over a recent high school shooting in Parkland, Florida. 'Delta is reaching out to the National Rifle Association to let it know we will be ending its contract for discounted rates through our group travel program,' Delta had said in a statement. 'We will be requesting that the NRA remove our information from its website.' The state of Georgia is considering a bill that includes a provision to exempt Delta's purchases of jet fuel from the state sales tax, which could lead saving of nearly $40 million for the airline. The airline is among several big corporations that have cut discounts for NRA members in recent days, including Alamo, Avis, Enterprise, Hertz and First National Bank, Symantec, MetLife and others. 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. CHICAGO (dpa-AFX) - Air plane maker Boeing has reached a new deal worth $3.9 billion with President Donald Trump for new Air Force One. 'Boeing is proud to build the next generation of Air Force One, providing American Presidents with a flying White House at outstanding value to taxpayers. President Trump negotiated a good deal on behalf of the American people,' Boeing tweeted. 'President Trump has reached an informal deal with Boeing on a fixed price contract for the new Air Force One Program,' a White House spokesman said, according to CNBC. 'Thanks to the President's negotiations, the contract will save the taxpayers more than $1.4 Billion.' The deal between the Trump administration and Boeing is expected to total $3.9 billion. According to CNBC, the two planes were originally supposed to be sold to Russia, however, the deal fell through, and the US Air Force acquired the aircraft at a slightly discounted price. The planes never left U.S. soil, the Air Force said. In December 2016, Trump had complained about the $4 billion-plus projected cost of building a new Air Force One plane. 'Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order!' Trump had tweeted then. Meanwhile, the White House is claiming that this new deal has savings worth over $1 billion from the original estimate of $5 billion. 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. LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / February 27, 2018 / According to a recent report from the state Department of Housing and Community Development, a large majority of California's urban areas, such as Los Angeles, aren't giving approval for the construction of sufficient housing. As a result of this situation, state housing authorities are now requiring that cities ease the process for developers to get approval for new construction projects that include affordable housing units. During the last forty years, California's municipalities had the responsibility of setting housing goals every five to eight years as a way of making sure that enough new homes are built to meet the demands of a growing population. Unfortunately, according to the state's recent report, very few cities are meeting the goals they've set. So far, it has been determined that only 13 cities have made a sufficient amount of progress toward meeting their housing construction targets for 2017. 526 other cities haven't and will now be required to fast track the approval of some new housing development projects. Under a new law which took effect at the beginning of 2018, cities must speed up the review of developments made up of at least ten percent affordable housing units if they've failed to meet their objectives for market rate housing. Municipalities that met their targets for market rate housing but haven't met the requirements for new affordable housing units will nee to streamline the review of projects in which at least half the housing units are affordable to low-income residents. While Los Angeles is expected to meet its overall new housing construction objective by issuing permits for nearly 82,000 new homes by 2021, the city hasn't met its goals when it comes to the construction of enough affordable housing units. Out of 45,820 new units the city has issued permits for since 2014, less than ten percent are classified as affordable to low-income residents. As the city is very much behind schedule with regards to new affordable housing, planners must now streamline the approval of projects which include 50 percent or more affordable housing units. Some other cities in California, including Burbank, Long Beach and Santa Monica, will need to fast track development projects with ten percent or more affordable units. The lack of affordable housing in the city of Los Angeles has been an ongoing problem for several years. A recent report by the California Housing Partnership Corporation estimates that the city now requires the construction of over 500,000 new affordable housing units in order to meet the current level of demand. Launching NMS Properties in 1988, Neil Shekhter assumed the role of CEO in January 1995. The real estate management company focuses on multi-family and mixed-use properties in the Greater Los Angeles area and in Santa Monica. At present, NMS properties manages more than 70 properties. Over the course of 2017, NMS deployed 40 furnished units in Los Angeles, and Neil Shekhter plans to triple that number in 2018. The company currently manages some of the its properties while testing a pilot with MY SUITE. Neil Shekhter - Founder and CEO of NMS Properties Apartments For Rent In Los Angeles NMS Residential: http://www.nmsresidential.com NMS Properties - Real Estate Management Firm: http://www.nmsproperties.com Contact Information: info@NeilShekhter.com SOURCE: NMS Properties, Inc. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Senator Bob Corker, R-Tenn., has decided against jumping back into the Tennessee Senate race and will follow through on plans to retire at the end of his current term. Corker's chief of staff Todd Womack announced the decision on Tuesday, noting that people across the state and in the Senate had encouraged the Tennessee Senator to reconsider retirement. 'Based on the outpouring of support, we spent the last few days doing our due diligence and a clear path for re-election was laid out,' Womack said. He added, 'However, at the end of the day, the senator believes he made the right decision in September and will be leaving the Senate when his term expires at the end of 2018.' Womack said Corker never planned to serve more than two terms in the Senate and noted the Senator has always been drawn to the citizen legislator model. If Corker had decided to seek re-election, the move would likely have resulted in a tough primary fight against Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. Some establishment Republicans still urged Corker to reconsider amid concerns Blackburn could lose the seat to Democrat Phil Bredesen, a former two-term governor. In a statement, Blackburn thanked Corker for his service and called for the Republican Party to unify to defeat Bredesen in November. 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. CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - China will on Wednesday see February results for its manufacturing and non-manufacturing PMIs, headlining a busy day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. The manufacturing PMI is expected to show a score of 51.2, down from 51.3 in January. The non-manufacturing PMI is called at 55.0, down from 55.3 in the previous month. The composite is pegged at 54.4, down from 54.6 a month earlier. Japan will release January figures for retail trade, industrial production, vehicle production, housing starts and construction orders. Retail trade is expected to fall 0.6 percent on month and rise 2.5 percent on year after gaining 0.9 percent on month and 3.6 percent on year in December. Industrial production is expected to fall 4.2 percent on month and rise 5.2 percent on year after gaining 2.9 percent on month and 4.4 percent on year in the previous month. Vehicle production was up 1.3 percent on year in December, while housing starts are called lower by an annual 4.7 percent after sliding 2.1 percent a month earlier. Construction orders sank 8.1 percent on year in December. New Zealand will see February results for the activity outlook and business confidence index from ANZ; in January, their scores were +15.6 and -37.8, respectively. Australia will provide January numbers for private sector credit, with forecasts suggesting an increase of 0.4 percent on month and 5.0 percent on year. That follows the 0.3 percent monthly increase and the 4.8 percent yearly gain in December. Hong Kong will provide Q4 numbers for gross domestic product; in the three months prior, GDP was up 0.5 percent on quarter and 3.6 percent on year. Thailand will release Q4 figures for current account and January trade data. In the third quarter, the current account surplus was $13.71 billion. In December, imports were worth $18.37 billion and exports were at $19.92 billion for a trade surplus of $1.54 billion. Singapore will see January data for producer prices; in December, producer prices were up 0.8 percent on month and down 0.6 percent on year. Malaysia will provide January numbers for producer and consumer prices. In December, producer prices were down 0.5 percent on month and up 0.3 percent on year, while consumer prices were up 0.1 percent on month and 3.5 percent on year. Finally, the markets in Taiwan will be closed on Wednesday for Peace Memorial Day, and will re-open on Thursday. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Boost Biomes, a San Francisco, CA-based developer of microbiome-based products, closed a $2.05M seed funding round. The round was led by Nimble Ventures and Viking Global Investors with participation from Tencent. The company intends to use the funds to develop microbiome-based products. Co-founded by biotechnology veterans Rob McBride, Jamie Bacher and Adam Arkin, Boost Biomes leverages a proprietary DNA sequencing-based discovery platform to identify commercially viable microbial products. The teams initial focus is in agriculture. Its first two products are focused on improving yield in the field and reducing spoilage after harvest, and are being evaluated in commercially relevant trials. Boost Biomes is a graduate of Illumina Accelerator and is currently a resident company at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, JLABS (JLABS @ SSF) in South San Francisco and Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology in Salinas, California. FinSMEs 27/02/2018 The meeting in Stanford University led to the collaboration of the G-Global Business Portal and the Nobel laureate in economics, Professor Alvin Roth. During the meeting, the parties discussed the development of the Estonian economy in the direction of digitalization and the head of international organization G-Global Business Portal, Deniss Tsyro has suggested the ways of its implementation. The meeting was also attended by Academician of the International Higher Education Academy of Sciences, Professor Hanon Barabaner, who highly appreciates the prospects of the forthcoming cooperation with Alvin Roth: In Estonia, it is planned to develop and implement a state program for modernization and improvement of the efficiency of the economy. For these purposes, it is necessary to find systematic solutions at macro and microeconomic levels. Professor Roths comments on the development of the G-Global Business Portal project as a tool for digitalizing the economy and reorganizing enterprises will be of tremendous value for the entire IT community of the country. The tool for robotization, innovative technologies and for entering the new markets of the US, China, and other European countries is the G-Global Business Portal, a consulting marketplace that brings together experts from around the world. The G-Global Business Portal is a blockchain-based platform that cooperates with the AngelVest Fund 2, China investment fund, based on cryptocurrency. Alvin Roth expressed his opinion on the transition of enterprises to a new level in response to technical changes: Businesses have always changed their methods of operation in response to new technologies.Computer-aided markets not only make new businesses possible, they allow businesses to accumulate and process data more efficiently. There is every reason to believe that the changes we have seen in the last decades, as computerized marketplaces have started to become established, will continue and even accelerate in the coming years, and that the changes in the organization and operation of enterprises will be profound.In the Parliament of Estonia, Mikhail Korb, a Member of Parliament and the Secretary-General of the Centre Party of Estonia held a meeting with David Chen, the co-founder of the investment fund AngelVest (China). The central bank RBI, however, clarified that customers who have balances in such wallets or PPIs need not worry about their money The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has refused to extend 28 February, 2018 -- the last date for fulfilling KYC (know your customer) norms for the digital wallet holders. According to a report in moneycontrol.com, with the central bank retaining the deadline, around Rs 12,000 cr business in the digital wallet space could be impacted, which is 80 percent of total business in the sector. At present, players in digital wallet payments or prepaid payment instruments (PPIs) segment clock a monthly business of Rs 14,000 crore, the report said. As a result of being asked to adhere to the Reserve Bank of India deadline, wallet companies like Paytm, Mobikwik, Ola Money, Amazon Pay and Sodexo will have to ask their customers to give their KYC details by 28 February, the Moneycontrol report said. The central bank, however, has clarified that customers who have balances in the digital wallets or PPIs (pre-paid payments industry) need not worry about their money even if they do not comply with the mandated KYC norms, PTI reported on Monday. "Sufficient time has already been given to meet the prescribed guidelines. In the event PPI issuers not obtaining the KYC-related inputs within the timeline from their customers, customers will not lose their money," deputy governor BP Kanungo said, PTI reported. Kanungo said customers can continue to undertake transactions for purchase of goods and services as per the available balance, but will have to fulfill the KYC requirements before remitting money or reloading the wallet. There are 55 non-banking PPIs operational now, apart from 50 wallets promoted by banks. They were initially given time till 31 December, 2017, to make those accounts KYC- compliant, which was extended to 28 February, according to PTI. If the customers fail to submit their full KYC documents to complete the norms, they would face certain restrictions as far as their digital wallet accounts are concerned. A digital wallet customer can produce their valid documents which are accepted as proof of identity and proof of address along with a photograph to complete the requirement. Some companies like Paytm offered cash as an incentive to customers to complete their KYC details. Complete your Paytm KYC today and get up to 200 Cashback! T&C Apply. Paytm (@Paytm) February 26, 2018 Meanwhile, Ezetap, a payment solutions company, today launched EzeSmart which it claimed was the country's first open-platform, smart GPRS terminal enabled with Aadhaar pay and eKYC. EzeSmart, which runs on Ezetaps universal payment acceptance platform can also support payment acceptance from multiple mobile wallets along with credit and debit cards, the company said, adding it a smartphone integrated terminal which enables businesses to run any of their system applications on the device. Some players mentioned how the deadline made it difficult for them. Like Charlie Lee, CEO, Balance Hero India Pvt Ltd, a balance and data management app who said: From the governments perspective, its a well-thought-out action for securing digital transaction and AML but will take time to convert medium KYC users, who are in the majority, to full KYC users. It is a tough situation for PPI holders like us, who have more medium KYC users than full KYC users and thereby require the Governments support to sustain both policy and business." The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Punjab National Bank's Managing Director and CEO Sunil Mehta in connection with with the Rs 11,400 crore PNB scam allegedly involving diamantaire Nirav Modi and owner of Gitanjali Gems Mehul Choksi, officials said on Monday Mumbai/New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate has summoned Punjab National Bank's Managing Director and CEO Sunil Mehta in connection with with the Rs 11,400 crore PNB scam allegedly involving diamantaire Nirav Modi and owner of Gitanjali Gems Mehul Choksi, officials said on Monday. The ED on Monday also examined the state-owned bank's Executive Director K V Brahmaji Rao to understanding how the alleged fraud was detected and other banking procedures. Mehta, officials said, will be asked similar questions when he meets ED officials this week. They said the two officials are not being examined as an accused. The CBI had examined the two senior PNB officials last week in the same case. Meanwhile, beleaguered diamond merchant Modi, his wife Ami and his uncle Choksi on Monday skipped their scheduled appearance before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in Mumbai. It was not immediately known if the agency will issue fresh dates to them. If it does not issue them fresh summons, it is understood, the ED is expected to move a special court in Mumbai seeking non-bailable arrest warrants against them. The agency on Monday also obtained the court's nod to issue six Letters Rogatories (LRs), judicial requests for obtaining information from overseas locations, pertaining to its probe against Modi. The agency is expected to obtain more such LRs in this case. The LRs issued on Monday will be sent, through the Union home ministry, to Hong Kong, the US, the UK, the UAE, South Africa and Singapore. The attempt of sending these judicial requests for exchange of information is aimed at obtaining the details of the overseas financial holdings of Modi and Choksi and also their bank accounts, assets, partnerships, showrooms, trusts and other assets, the officials said. These assets and their sources of income will be investigated and if necessary would be attached under the criminal sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) if it is found that they have been created using tainted funds or the proceeds of crime of the alleged bank fraud, the sources had said. The total assets seized by the ED in this case is now over Rs 6,393 crore, officials had said, adding that this was being independently valued. Modi, Choksi and others are being investigated by the ED and other probe agencies after the fraud recently came to light, following a complaint by the PNB that they allegedly cheated the nationalised bank to the tune of Rs 11,400 crore, with the purported involvement of a few employees of the bank. The CBI and the ED have registered two FIRs each to probe the case. Both Modi and Choski are said to have left the country before criminal cases were lodged against them. The ED, a central probe agency under the Union finance ministry, is investigating if the allegedly defrauded bank funds were laundered and proceeds of crime were subsequently used by the accused to create illegal assets and black money. Apart from Usha Ananth, two serving general managers were also questioned at the CBI headquarters in Mumbai. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday called in for questioning former Punjab National Bank (PNB) managing director Usha Ananth in the biggest fraud in Indias banking history that has come to light, news wire ANI reported. Apart from Ananth, two serving general managers were also questioned at the CBI headquarters in Mumbai. According to the ANI, a senior official of the ICICI Bank was summoned to the CBI office in Mumbai. N S Kannan, executive director ICICI bank, was the leader of consortium of the bank that lent money to Gitanjali Group, it has been alleged. NS Kannan, executive director ICICI bank also questioned. He is the leader of consortium of the bank that lent money of Gitanjali Group #PNBScam ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 Meanwhile, ICICI Bank in a press release said it has 'no exposure' to the Nirav Modi group of companies. It said: "We have not issued any Letter of Undertaking (LOU) nor do we have any buyers credit exposure against LOUs with respect to the Nirav Modi group of companies as well as the Gitanjali group of companies. We are working capital lenders to the Gitanjali group of companies along with several other banks in the consortium. Our exposure to the Gitanjali group of companies is not the largest among lenders in the consortium. We are fully co-operating with the investigating agencies in their efforts," it said. The CBI has also revealed that the PNB has informed the agency that it has unearthed a further scam of Rs 1,251 crore which has been associated with the gems and jewellery company Gitanjali Gems, promoted by another key accused Mehul Choksi. With the new revelations surfacing, the CBI has revised its estimate for total money that was siphoned off in the fraud. It is now probing a Rs 12,636 crore scam which is the collective fraud committed by Nirav Modi and Gitanjali Gems brands, up from an earlier fraud of Rs 11,421 crore. The Punjab National Bank on 14 February 2018, shocked the entire banking fraternity when it informed the stock exchanges that it has detected a Rs 11,400 crore fraudulent transaction at its Brady House Branch in Mumbai. Sunil Mehta, chief executive officer and MD, had at a press conference said that the scam was a one-off fraud and there was no such incident at other branches. On Tuesday, media outlets reported that key accused Nirav Modi has put his Firestar Internationla global brand up for bankruptcy proceedings in the United States. Modi has listed the assets and liabilities of the Firestar International with a value in the range of $50 million to $100 million. Moving towards Digital India, EPFO has also launched e-nomination facility. This facility is available at Member Interface of EPFO Unified Portal. New Delhi: Retirement fund body EPFO has launched the facility of linking Aadhaar with universal account number, through UMANG mobile app, the labour ministry said on Tuesday. "Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has introduced UAN-Aadhaar linking facility for the convenience of members using EPFO link in UMANG app," it said in a statement. The new facility is in addition to the existing one on the EPFO website. The facility on e-KYC portal has added a new feature to link UAN with Aadhaar online using biometric credentials. Moving towards Digital India, EPFO has also launched e-nomination facility. This facility is available at Member Interface of EPFO Unified Portal. Any member with activated and Aadhaar-seeded UAN can avail the facility. It is independent from employer. After giving nomination details online, the member has to digitally sign the nomination. Aadhaar-based e-sign is being used for digital signing of the form. The e-sign is being provided to members free of cost by EPFO. This functionality will also be made available on UMANG app soon. UMANG or Unified Mobile Application is an app launched by the government to provide access to various government services at one place. The scam was perpetrated by way of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) generated in the name of Punjab National Bank. New Delhi: Amid the multi-agency probe into the Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam, the state-run bank on Monday said the amount of fraudulent transactions could be Rs 1,300 crore more than the current estimate of about Rs 11,400 crore. The latest announcement from the public sector lender assumes significance against the backdrop of the probe going on into the Rs 11,400 crore scam, which is already one of the biggest in the Indian banking sector. On February 14, the bank had detected the fraud wherein billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and associates had allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoU) from one of the branches of the PNB for overseas credit from other Indian lenders. In a filing to the BSE late Monday night, the bank said the amount of unauthorised transactions could go up by more than Rs 1,300 crore. "...We have to inform that quantum of reported unauthorised transactions can increase by $204.25 million (approximately)," the filing said. At the current exchange rate, the amount comes to around Rs 1,323 crore. The bank also referred to its filing made on 14 February when it first disclosed the fraud and at that time, the "fraudulent and unauthorised transactions" was estimated at $1.77 billion (about Rs 11,400 crore). The scam was perpetrated by way of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) generated in the name of Punjab National Bank. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the people of Nagaland and Meghalaya to come out and vote in large numbers for the Assembly elections New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday urged the people of Nagaland and Meghalaya to come out and vote in large numbers for the Assembly elections. I urge the people of Meghalaya and Nagaland to vote in large numbers in the Assembly Elections taking place today. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 27, 2018 Modi tweeted as the polling for both 60-seat Houses began in the Northeastern states at 8 am. The results will be declared on 3 March 2018. Earlier on 18 February, voting for the state Assembly polls was held in Tripura. Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia urged Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal to order bureaucrats to resume work. New Delhi: Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Monday urged Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal to order bureaucrats to resume work, and asserted that if services matter were under the Delhi government's ambit, "rule of law" would have been followed. Delhi government officers have been boycotting meetings with all ministers, including Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, to show solidarity with Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash who was allegedly assaulted by some AAP MLAs. Prakash was allegedly assaulted by some AAP MLAs in front of Kejriwal and his deputy Sisodia at the chief minister's residence on the intervening night of 19-20 February. In his letter to Baijal, the deputy chief minister mentioned two meetings called by him but were skipped by senior officers of the departments concerned. On Friday, Kejriwal, along with his cabinet colleagues, had met Baijal who, according to the government, had assured them that he would ensure that officers start functioning normally. Sisodia, in his letter to the L-G, said it is a matter of "utmost regret" that despite the assurance, the officers are continuing to boycott meetings called by the ministers. "If services were our subject, we would have certainly ensured that the rule of law was followed and the constitutional scheme of functioning was complied with. But since you as the L-G are in-charge of services, we can only appeal to your constitutional obligation, in hope that you would follow the diktat of law," he said in the letter. Sisodia said, "I would once again urge you on behalf of the entire council of ministers to order all officers to resume work with immediate effect." The deputy chief minister said on Tuesday a national seminar on 'Improving School Education: Challenges and Opportunities' would be held, where educationalists from all over the country would attend. "I would like to request you to kindly ensure that the officers attend these meetings and the national seminar tomorrow," he said. Meanwhile, Sisodia issued orders to secretaries of tourism and, woman and child welfare departments to submit weekly reports on the proposals of their departments concerned. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suspended party worker Manoj Baitha, who has been accused of mowing down nine children while driving in an inebriated state in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar on Saturday Patna: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has suspended party worker Manoj Baitha, who has been accused of mowing down nine children while driving in an inebriated state in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar on Saturday. At least nine children were killed and about 20 injured when the speeding vehicle lost control and ploughed through them outside a government school building on the outskirts of Muzaffarpur. "Manoj Baitha, a district level worker of Sitamarhi, has been suspended from the primary membership of the party for a period of six years," BJP's Bihar unit vice-president Devesh Kumar said. Muzaffarpur district president Subodh Singh has sent a communication to this effect to the party's state headquarters, Kumar told PTI. About reports that a banner fixed on that vehicle described Baitha's designation in the party as state secretary general of Mahadalit Prakoshth, Kumar said, "No such post exists in the organisation. The worker appears to have fabricated it." The police has registered an FIR against Baitha following a complaint by a local, who lost his granddaughter in the incident. Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi said the police was directed to take "sternest possible action" against Baitha irrespective of his political affiliations. The Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal has accused the Nitish Kumar government of trying to shield Baitha and alleged that the BJP worker was "drunk" while behind the steering wheel even though sale and consumption of alcohol is banned in the state. The row over the alleged attack on Delhi chief secretary by AAP MLAs intensified on Monday with government employees demanding action 'as per law' against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia in the case New Delhi: The row over the alleged attack on Delhi chief secretary by AAP MLAs intensified on Monday with government employees demanding action "as per law" against Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia in the case, even as the AAP dispensation mulled live streaming of all meetings of its ministers. With the bureaucrats continuing to boycott meetings, the deputy chief minister wrote a letter to Lieutenant Governor Anil Baijal, asking him to order officers to resume work. Sisodia, in his letter to Baijal, also asserted that if the services matter came under the Delhi government, "rule of law" would have been followed. Digging their heels in, the officers, including those from IAS and DANICS, said they will continue to communicate with ministers only in writing until Kejriwal and Sisodia give a public apology over the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash at the chief minister's residence on the intervening night of 19 and 20 February. In a resolution, the Joint Forum of Delhi Government Employees also rejected mediation by Delhi minister Rajender Pal Gautam, the peacemaker" appointed by the AAP government, who said the attitude of officers "is not correct" and "they should show a positive response to government efforts to end the current crisis". Meanwhile, the police termed as "wrong and irresponsible" reports that said they made a statement in the court, saying the CCTVs have been tampered with. "It is factually wrong and irresponsible. Today, the defence counsel while arguing for the bail of the accused stated that police must prove that tampering has been done. "It was informed to court that the site visit reveals discrepancies in the timing. Only FSL will be able to tell if any tampering has been done. Please don't quote police with factually wrong information," said Harendra K Singh, Additional DCP. The AAP, which has alleged that its minister Imran Hussain and Delhi Dialogue Commission's vice-chairman Ashish Khetan were assaulted, sent a delegation to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik to demand "justice" for its leaders and action in the cases. The delegation, which included AAP leader Ashutosh and party MP Sanjay Singh, told reporters that they gave Patnaik "video evidence" of the "assaults" that took place on 20 February at the Delhi Secretariat. Ashutosh claimed that police were prompt in taking action against AAP MLAs Prakash Jarwal and Amanatullah Khan for allegedly assaulting chief secretary Anshu Prakash though there was no evidence against them. "The AAP MLAs were arrested though he (Prakash) produced no evidence. What about the life threatening attacks on Delhi minister Imran Hussain and DDA vice-chairman Ashish Khetan, who enjoys the rank of cabinet minister," Ashutosh asked. Amid the standoff with the bureaucracy, the Delhi government today said it is now mulling live streaming of all meetings of its ministers. A senior government official said that as per the plan, live feed of meetings with audio output will be available on a website, and if the proposal is passed, funds will be allocated for it in the upcoming budget. "Through live streaming of official meetings, people will be able to know who spoke what in the meeting, be it the elected representative or officials," the official said. With no end to the stalemate in sight, Gautam, who is the social welfare minister, said trust building is not the work of political executive only. "Government is taking an initiative to end this problem and now the (agitating) officers should come forward in a bid to build trust and have a dialogue so that governance does not affect," he told reporters here, while asserting that there is also a plan to put all file movement and notings online. However, the employees forum appealed to Baijal and Patnaik to take action against Kejriwal and Sisoida in the chief secretary assault case. In his letter to the L-G, Sisodia mentioned that two important meetings that were called by him were boycotted by officers. "If services were our subject, we would have certainly ensured that the rule of law was followed and the constitutional scheme of functioning was complied with," he wrote in the letter. Also, Transport Commissioner Varsha Joshi and PWD's Principal Secretary Renu Sharma were among other senior bureaucrats who skipped the meeting of 'State Road Safety Council' called by Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot. The employees forum in its resolution claimed that instead of apologising and admitting their mistake, the chief minister and and the deputy chief minister are in a "denial mode" which shows that they were a "part of the conspiracy". "This shows that they were a part of the conspiracy and since they are specifically identified in the FIR, we appeal to L-G and the Commissioner of Police to take action as per law against the chief minister & Deputy chief minister," the resolution said. In such a situation, communication between the political and permanent executive can only continue through formal written means and no talks are possible, it said. Anshu Prakash wrote to Arvind Kejriwal about Tuesday's meeting of council of ministers, asking him to ensure there is no physical or verbal assault on him. Delhi chief secretary Anshu Prakash wrote to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal about Tuesday's meeting of the council of ministers on the budget session, asking him to ensure there is no physical or verbal assault on him, media reports said. The letter comes a day after the Kejriwal-led Delhi government was considering a proposition to broadcast or live stream all meetings with bureaucrats. #Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash writes to Delhi CM over today's meeting of council of ministers on budget session, says, 'will attend the meeting on the assumption that CM will ensure there is no physical attack & verbal assault on the officers' pic.twitter.com/NpfAr80EMV ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Monday urged Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Anil Baijal to order bureaucrats to resume work and asserted that if the services were under the Delhi government's ambit, "rule of law" would have been followed. Delhi government officers have been boycotting meetings with all ministers, including Kejriwal, to show solidarity with Prakash. He was allegedly assaulted by some AAP MLAs in front of Kejriwal and his deputy Sisodia at the chief minister's residence on the intervening night of 19-20 February. On 21 February, police had detained AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and questioned the Delhi chief minister's adviser VK Jain for three hours in connection with an alleged assault The incident had sparked protests in the city and threats of a pen-down strike in government offices. The ruling AAP denied the allegation even as the IAS Association secretary Manisha Saxena complained to Baijal, claiming that the attack on Monday night was a "planned criminal conspiracy" against the top bureaucrat. BJP MLA Vijender Gupta, who is also the Leader of Opposition in the Delhi Assembly, alleged that Kejriwal "in his dictatorial style" called the chief secretary at midnight on Monday and "berated" him in front of his MLAs. With inputs from agencies National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said he would not be deterred by being dubbed 'anti-national' and would continue advocating dialogue with Pakistan Jammu: National Conference president Farooq Abdullah said he would not be deterred by being dubbed "anti-national" and would continue advocating dialogue with Pakistan. He said the beneficiaries of peace in the wake of friendly relations between the two countries would be the people of Jammu and Kashmir, who decided their future seven decades ago. "I will not be deterred by being dubbed anti-national for speaking the truth, which is to have a meaningful peace process with Pakistan," the former chief minister said while addressing a day-long party youth convention in Rajouri district. Invoking Atal Bihari Vajpayee, he asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to emulate the former prime minister's spirit and start a new era of trust and friendship in the region. He said the two nations would have to realise, sooner or later, that nothing but talks hold key to end hostilities. "Let you carry forward the mission of Vajpayeeji," Abdullah said. He added that Vajpayee's initiatives were pleasant breathers in an otherwise choked environment and recalled his famous adage that friends can be changed but not neighbours, which he had said during a public meeting at Tanghdar near the Line of Control in Kashmir. "Peace will remain elusive until the two neighbours sit together and work towards ending their differences in an amicable atmosphere. Wars are no solution; wars cause only destruction," Abdullah said. Abdullah said he would continue to vouch for dialogue between India and Pakistan, as he believes this is the only way forward in heralding lasting peace in the region. The National Conference president further said that votes should be sought on the plank of nation building, development, upliftment of poor and not by exploiting religion. "In this grim scenario, the youth have to play a crucial role by negating and isolating all such forces which hoodwink them by generating fear about religion being in danger," he added. Public broadcaster Doordarshan should create quality content and improve its revenue generation through advertisement, Union Minister Smriti Irani said. New Delhi: Public broadcaster Doordarshan should create quality content and improve its revenue generation through advertisement, Union Minister Smriti Irani said on Monday. The information and broadcasting minister said that India was set to have 530 million smartphone users by end of this year, second only to China and more than 40 percent of content consumption was happening online. She said that the amount spent on advertising was expected to grow this year as compared to the last year. "Doordarshan should leverage the reach created by DD Free Dish to create quality content and improve the revenue generation through advertisement and ease the burden on the taxpayers," the minister was quoted as saying in an official release. The minister made the remarks while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 24th International Conference & Exhibition on Terrestrial and Satellite Broadcasting with the theme Non Linear Broadcasting Technologies & Business Models (Broadcast Engineers Society) BES EXPO 2018. She said that strength of broadcasting sector in India should be seen not by the number of channels available but by the quality of content provided by it. She also requested Broadcast Engineering Society to train all of the Broadcast Engineering staff of Prasar Bharati. Irani, along with the other dignitaries, also felicitated the winners of the awards constituted by Broadcast Engineering Society in various categories such as broadcasting, engineering, training and innovation. Exhibiting companies at BES Expo included those from Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Norway, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the UK and the US. Bollywood superstar Sridevi's mortal remains will be flown to India after the embalming process by the Dubai authorities. Dubai: Bollywood superstar Sridevi's mortal remains will be flown to India after the embalming process by the Dubai authorities, now scheduled on Tuesday, in the city. Subject to the public prosecutor clearing the final rounds of the paperwork and formalities after the autopsy report and death certificates were issued on Monday afternoon, the embalming routine will begin and this normally takes one and a half hours to complete. The public prosecution has decided to investigate Sridevi's death, which occurred at the Emirates Towers Hotel on Sunday night. A preliminary probe was ordered on Monday. A list of the people the actress had interacted with in the last 48 hours was drawn up. This list included Boney Kapoor, Sridevi's husband, who was reportedly in the hotel room at the time of her death. It seemed to be a clear case of 'massive cardiac arrest' as was 'officially' disclosed by 'close associates' after the mega star was decalred dead on arrival at the Rashid Hospital, hardly a few kilometres from the hotel. The forensic department and the death certificates contained the words 'accidental drowning' in the cause of death column on Monday, giving the case an intriguing angle. The public prosecution will now be going into the causes of 'drowning', a situation made more difficult with differing reports on the circumstantial evidence which have not been made public yet. Dubai Forensic Department officials confirmed to a local English language broadsheet on Monday that a second autopsy will not be conducted on Sridevi's body. In the autopsy report, there was mention of alcohol traces in Sridevi's blood, giving the case yet another U-turn. Officials have stated that it was slightly difficult to ascertain the exact time of death which, again as per varying reports, suggests took place between evening and midnight. Police say no exceptions have been made in the case. Earlier, Indias Ambassador to the UAE, Navdeep Singh Suri told the media that the diplomatic mission had got clearance from the Dubai authorities to release Sridevis body. However, this was rejected on Monday due to a further delay in the prosecution office's reluctance to clear the case. A diplomatic source said that the new development of a further probe by the public prosecution makes the issue of body release open-ended. He added that the Indian Embassy is in talks with the Dubai authorities to get the final clearance and is hopeful it will happen soon. Click here to follow LIVE updates on Sridevi's demise. A woman was allegedly abducted and raped by three men in Haryana's Palwal district, police said on Tuesday. Palwal: A woman was allegedly abducted and raped by three men in Haryana's Palwal district, police said on Tuesday. The matter came to light after the woman lodged a complaint on Tuesday, mahila police station in-charge Kamla Devi said. The woman alleged that when she was returning home on 15 February, the accused abducted her in their car and raped her, the police officer said. In her complaint, she also said that the men threatened her of dire consequences if she reported the matter, Devi said. The matter is being investigated and a case has been registered, the officer said. With centralisation of Chinese control in Xi Jinping's hands, the world must constructively engage the most powerful leader of a newly emerged great power. A rising China continues to attract the attention of an unprecedentedly interconnected and interdependent world. This time, it is not about China's external behaviour. It is rather about centralisation of Chinese politico-military control in the hands of President Xi Jinping, who is on the verge of acquiring more power than any other Chinese leader since Mao Zedong. The world must constructively engage the most powerful leader of a newly emerged great power. The Chinese constitution is set to amended to pave the way for Xi Jinping to remain lifetime president or till he chooses to retire. In the absence of the proposed amendment, Xi will have to demit office in 2023, on completion of his two consecutive terms. Deng Xiaoping had introduced this clause to make sure that power is not concentrated in the hands of one leader. As China gradually moved away from one-person rule towards a consensus system, the transition of power from Jiang Zemin to Hu Jintao to Xi was relatively simple and straightforward. With Xi at the helm of affairs, this is no longer the case. Amending China's constitution is a foregone conclusion at a time when Xi has strengthened his hold on all the organs of the Communist Party of China (CCP). In 2016, he became the first leader since Deng to be addressed as "core leader". And last year, "Xi Jinping Thought" was added to the Party constitution. Everything is happening as per Xi's script, and the principles of collective leadership and rotation of power at the top will soon become history. There will be huge strategic implications of this development for the world as well as for India. However, leadership continuity is not as bad for India as it is being perceived worldwide. Having seen Xi work for the last six years must have taught India's foreign policy and security establishment enough about his grand vision, style of functioning, leadership traits, and much more. India's political leadership can feel confident that it is dealing with someone it knows better. Through several of his public statements and speeches, Xi has made it amply clear that he is attempting to build a new Chinese order which begins by establishing Beijing's unrestrained hegemony in its neighbourhood. Ever since he assumed leadership in 2012, Beijing has demonstrated assertive strategic behaviour towards its neighbours, especially those with whom China has a territorial dispute. The One Belt, One Road (OBOR) initiative is also part of Xi's grand blueprint to establish China's military superiority in the South and East China Seas, as well as in the Indian Ocean, whose geo-strategic and geo-economic significance has grown over the years. Indian military planners must already be watching Xi's landmark reforms unfold. He has been implementing military modernisation plans with great energetic push, and the aim is to make Chinese military more agile and battle-ready. Having built its second aircraft carrier, Xi's China will have a blue-water navy in coming years. Xi also wants to close the gap on weaponry with Russia in a decade and with the United States by 2050 as he is desperately seeking China to move into a power vacuum left in Asia by a seemingly retreating Washington. Xi has stressed the value of a strong military to a successful foreign policy, emphasising the importance of prioritising the economic interests of those countries that support China's core interests. India's military thinkers must have figured out the implications of an impending arms race in Asia. Besides increasing its own military spending, India is entering into a partnership strategy with the US, Japan and Australia, so that it does not get sucked alone into an arms race with China. Prudently, Narendra Modi's India is more inclined to hold its ground, especially with support and assistance from allies. India's intelligence agencies have often faced numerous challenges in deciphering China's grand strategy under different regimes. But leadership continuity under Xi will make sure that they will not have to spend too much time and resources in factoring in the changes in personality and vision of the topmost leader, thereby helping them calculate better India's institutional response of many future developments. Indian intelligence will also be constantly looking for signals of weakness in Xi's unwillingness to share power and allow the rise of a potential political rival. It can be convincingly argued that six years down the line, Indian strategists have understood that China's external behaviour under Xi is dictated as much by strategic rationalism as by its relentless search for global prestige, status and recognition, with OBOR being the most notable example. After Xi became president, China's strategic footprints in India's neighbourhood are much larger than they were before. Earlier, Pakistan was the only country in South Asia that used to have very good relations with China. Now, there are many countries in India's periphery that are eager to allow China to have a greater foothold. Moreover, Pakistan is now a major part of Xi's dream project, the OBOR. India has realised that by reinforcing China's strategic determination, Xi is trying to gain maximum strategic advantage vis-a-vis India. Nobody in India believes Xi's projection of China as a selfless Samaritan with wholly altruistic intentions. The PLA's frequent incursions into the Indian-claimed territory, including the standoff in Doka La at the tri-junction of India, China and Bhutan last year as well as China's increasing military presence in India's immediate neighbourhood are fundamental realities New Delhi is fast learning to live with. One can well argue that India will have to face more Doka La like situations on its disputed border with China. However, India has learnt the lessons of the Doka La standoff, and India's strategic establishment must be making adequate preparations for making Indian military strong so that India is not taken for a ride by China. The manner in which the Modi government has been stepping up its ties with all ASEAN countries must be seen as one of the vital components of India's response mechanism to deal with an assertive China under Xi. The 'Quadrilateral' involving India, the United States, Japan and Australia can also be seen as a platform for implementing the Modi government's 'Act East' policy, whose core is formed by the ASEAN as manifested in the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit in January. Similarly, India is acting sensibly by seeking greater American presence to balance potentially disruptive Chinese behaviour in South Asia. As New Delhi is not in a position to match Beijing when it comes to spending money on infrastructure building, the Modi government must concentrate on India's core strength soft power projection since conventional hard-power tactics predicated on military might has obvious limitations in the international system. Panchamrit principles, as outlined by the Modi government in 2015 for guiding India's foreign policy, must be pursued with greater vigour now. The Modi government, which has not underestimated the value of engaging China, has quietly begun to adjust its diplomatic strategy in order to avoid misunderstandings and misperceptions. Indian foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale's recent Beijing visit is undoubtedly aimed at building bridges with China. Gokhale is seen as having played a role in the resolution of the Doka La standoff. According to the statement issued after the talks, the two sides "noted the need to build on the convergences between India and China and address differences on the basis of mutual respect and sensitivity to each other's concerns, interests and aspirations. Both sides underlined that as two major countries, sound development of relations between India and China is a factor of stability in the world today." Clearly, India and China can achieve reconciliation if they find a sustainable mechanism to avoid strategic miscalculations and misjudgements. Xi is aware that the many challenges the world faces today, such as climate change, terrorism, the spread of nuclear weapons, and cyber threats, can hardly be handled by China alone. It is these regional and global challenges that paradoxically can create opportunities for India and China to engage with each other. Strategies for engagement and reconciliation are what India and China need to maintain in this chaotic but interconnected world. India's skilful diplomatic move of congratulating China for being elected vice-president of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is a part of this thinking. The FATF is an inter-governmental body to combat money laundering and terror financing, and China's support is crucial to put Pakistan in the watchdog's grey list in June this year. The FATFs recent motion was not a unilateral Washington pressure tactic; it was a consensus decision co-sponsored by many European countries and not opposed by Pakistan's "all-weather friend" China. Does this arouse possibility of extracting some concessions from Xi Jinping on quid pro quo basis? India can surely think of bargaining with China on many contentious issues. Xi is not going anywhere. Jammu and Kashmir Police's intelligence wing has asked the state police to put an end to the funerals of militants in the state. Jammu and Kashmir Police's intelligence wing has asked the state police to put an end to the funerals of militants in the state. (The) massive gatherings that are being witnessed in funerals of killed local militants post-2016 unrest is a serious concern which has to be addressed. These gatherings romanticise and glamourise the terrorists and give boost to militancy, The Indian Express quoted a report sent by IGP, CID, to DGP SP Vaid as saying. The report also said that one or two local boys in the Valley join militancy after participating in the funerals of militants. Even though funerals of militants has drawn large crowds in the state, around 1,500 people had gathered in Tral earlier in February in the funeral procession of Lance Naik Mohammed Iqbal Sheikh and his father. The two were killed in an attack on the Sunjuwan military camp in Jammu by Jaish-e-Mohammad. Tral is known to be a stronghold of the JeM, which carried out the fidayeen attack on the army camp, killing seven people six army men and the civilian, Mohi-ud-din Sheikh, who was living with his son. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, an official had said that such a large gathering for the funeral of an army man showed the local people's opposition, however nascent, to acts of terrorism. The official had also said that people may have attended the funeral of Hizbul Mujahideen militant Burhan Wani in large numbers in 2016 because they feared the local terrorists, but the gathering for a jawan's funeral procession showed they were ready to defy the diktats of terror organisations. With inputs from PTI The Jammu and Kashmir government was forced to close more than two dozen schools along the Line of Control (LoC) after the armies of India and Pakistan pounded each others locations in Chenab The Jammu and Kashmir government was forced to close more than two dozen schools along the Line of Control (LoC) after the armies of India and Pakistan pounded each others locations in Chenab. On Tuesday morning, the district administration in Rajouri, Poonch and other adjoining places lying close to the LoC had to, once again, shut nearly a dozen schools. Many others along the five-kilometre radius from the LoC are likely to be shut indefinitely by evening. Officials said tensions escalated after the Pakistani troops, according to Indian Army, fired at multiple locations in Rajouri district which continued throughout Monday night. They said Pakistani troops resorted to unprovoked mortar shelling and small-arms fire at various places. The firing started Monday evening and it is going on even as we speak, Abdul Hakeem Gujar, a resident of Tarkundi Gali in Rajouri district, who is presently camping in a shelter home, told Firstpost over the phone, At the crack of the dawn, we left our homes again. Gujar said his family has been forced to come to the plains on nearly a dozen occasions in last two months, and the education of his children has been severely affected by the growing skirmishes. What kind of life and future can you imagine for your children if you have to leave every time the two countries fight? It's worse than if there was a continuous war, he added. Since the start of the year, educational institutions have largely remained shut due to the shelling in Jammu region as most fall within the five-kilometre radius of the LoC in Rajouri and Poonch. The state government recently closed more than 80 schools for almost ten days after the firing continued. The state government said that with people involuntarily coming towards plains as soon as the firing starts, it had no other option but to close schools. It is the only way to save lives, the government insisted. We had to close 18 schools in the morning. The intermittent firing and shelling has continued over past few days, but last night it occurred at various locations. We might end up closing more schools by the end of the day, Rajouri deputy commissioner Shahid Iqbal Choudhary told Firstpost. The most affected areas are Tarkundi Gali, Lambi Bari, Khorinar and Dharand Panjgrian in Rajouri, Choudhary added. These areas have borne the brunt of the fresh ceasefire violations. Army spokesperson Lt Colonel Devender Anand said the firing across the LoC started around 8.45 am and the Indian Army was retaliating effectively. The LoC and International Border in Jammu and Kashmir recently saw heightened violence. In January, at least 17 civilians were killed on the border while five Indian Army soldiers and four BSF personnel, including an assistant sub-inspector, died along with an intruder. The civilian government led by Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, the Opposition National Conference president Dr Farooq Abdullah and the Hurriyat Conference's hawks and doves have urged New Delhi to start a process of dialogue with Islamabad but their pleas seem to be falling on deaf ears. More than 6,000 people have been living in shelter homes across the Jammu region. Last week, after the firing started in the relatively calm north Kashmirs Uri region, officials said 40,000 to 50,000 residents from nearly 55 villages were impacted by the escalation. Since last week, skirmishes injured three civilians while at least five homes were severely damaged in Silikote and Churanda villages, which are perilously close to the LoC. We were preparing to go to school when an announcement was made in the mosque that schools have been closed, Insha Afreen, a Class 6 student at a government-run school in Lambi Bari, told Firstpost. This is the ninth time in two months that school was closed. Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis blamed wrong policies of the previous government for the Kamala Mills Compound fire in Mumbai, and announced a probe into the alleged procedural lapses in the redevelopment of the mill land. Mumbai: Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday blamed wrong policies of the previous government for the Kamala Mills Compound fire in Mumbai, and announced a probe into the alleged procedural lapses in the redevelopment of the mill land. On 29 December, 2017, a massive fire swept through the two roof-top pubs located in the Kamala Mills Compound, claiming 14 lives. Replying to a calling attention notice by Atul Bhatkalkar of BJP in the state Assembly, Fadnavis said as per the mill land redevelopment policy in 1999, the then government decided to allot one-third of the mill land each to Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA), the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and mill owners. But, in 2001 the decision was changed to one-third of the vacant land, he claimed. "By doing this, the previous Congress-NCP government gave away the entire mill land to the mill owners and developers, and ensured that the mill workers do not get their rightful homes," he said. "The Kamala Mills fire was due to the sin committed by the previous government. Instead of 50,000 square metres, the development was done in 51,000 square metres (in the Kamala Mills Compound)," he alleged. He said 95,000 square metres of the floor space index (FSI) was given for IT (information technology)-related establishments. "We will probe whether the FSI for IT (establishments) was misused in the Kamala Mills and elsewhere where the mill land redevelopment happened," he said. The probe will be led by a retired judge, as per the approval of the high court, a retired official of the urban development department and an approved architect/urban planner, the chief minister said. If there are violations, a penalty will be recovered, he further said. Fadnavis blamed the previous Congress-NCP government for the alleged irregularities because of which mill workers were not able to get houses. He said the audit and fire compliance of all structures was now being done. "Our government has changed the decision of 2001 and from the one-third (mill) land for MHADA, we will give houses to mill workers," he said. As the chief minister was replying, the Opposition members rushed into the well of the House protesting against the speaker's decision to reject their adjournment notice over non-implementation of the loan waiver scheme. Leader of Opposition Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil said only 19 lakh farmers had benefitted from the loan waiver, and criticised the government for not giving financial relief to farmers affected by the hailstorm and unseasonal rains earlier this month. The Opposition members displayed a photograph of Dharma Patil, the 84-year-old farmer who allegedly attempted suicide at the state secretariat in January and later died. Speaker Haribhau Bagde then adjourned the House for 20 minutes. When the House resumed, the Opposition members continued their protest in the well. A debate moved by the treasury benches on the hailstorm and unseasonal rains, in which seven people were killed and 16 others injured, and losses to farmers was then postponed by the Chair following which the House was adjourned for the day. King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, who arrived on Tuesday on a three-day visit, was accorded a grand welcome with Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving him at the airport, in a special gesture. New Delhi: King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, who arrived on Tuesday on a three-day visit, was accorded a grand welcome with Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving him at the airport, in a special gesture. The Jordanian king's visit comes nearly three weeks after Modi travelled to Jordan as part of his trip to West Asia, including Palestine. Modi tweeted: Welcomed His Majesty King Abdullah II to Delhi. Its wonderful to meet him again, after my brief halt at Amman earlier this month. His visit to India will further deepen bilateral ties between our nations. I look forward to our talks on Thursday. pic.twitter.com/MUWsd3rxyj Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 27, 2018 The prime minister and the king will hold extensive talks on Thursday covering entire expanse of bilateral ties, official sources said adding, the Palestinian issue and ways to deal with terrorism, radicalisation and extremism are likely to figure prominently in the deliberations. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted: India welcomes His Majesty @KingAbdullahII Ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of #Jordan on his State Visit. Deviating from protocol, PM @narendramodi welcomes His Majesty at the Airport. India attaches great importance to its ties with Jordan. #DelhiAmman pic.twitter.com/ZfHKGfv5D6 Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 27, 2018 Modi received the Jordanian king at the airport, a week after his absence there to welcome Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau had triggered questions over whether it was a snub by India to the visiting leader. The king, a 41st generation direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad, will also deliver a special address on Islamic heritage and promoting moderation on Thursday morning which is expected to be attended by Modi. Diplomats, representatives from Islamic institutions of all denominations, academicians, think-tanks and representatives from across the country are expected to attend the event. The king is known for his global initiative to fight radicalisation and terrorism. He is also the custodian of the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, located in the Old City of Jerusalem. India considers Jordan an "oasis of stability and harmony" in conflict-ridden West Asia and New Delhi would like to deepen bilateral ties with the country during the king's visit, official sources said. Both sides will also look to finalise a framework for defence cooperation, they said. The sources said both sides are expected to ink a number of agreements to expand cooperation in several key sectors including healthcare, IT, customs and will look to firm up a framework pact for defence and security cooperation. In their talks, Modi and the king are also likely to explore ways of deepening trade ties. Twenty textile industries from India have invested around $ 300 million in Jordan. Jordan's royal helicopters had flown Modi and his delegation from Amman to Ramallah and back during the visit. The Jordanian king is accompanied by a high-level business delegation. Government is walking a tightrope as it has set a 15 June deadline to draft a set of rules for the functioning of proposed anti-corruption authority Lokpal. New Delhi: The government is walking a tightrope as it has set a 15 June deadline to draft a set of rules for the functioning of the proposed anti-corruption authority Lokpal, that would have powers to probe into allegations of corruption against the prime minister and his council of ministers, besides top public servants. Firstpost has reviewed government documents that state the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions is putting its heads together along with assistance from other stakeholders to draft "eleven rules under section 59 of the Lokpal Act, which would define a charter for complaints, the appointment of officers and other matters related to the power of Lokpal". Once it finalises the rules by 15 June, the ministry will have to notify the rules through Gazette (a public journal and an authorised legal document of the government) to make it operational, top government sources explained. The Lokpal and the Lokayukta Act, 2013, which has remained stuck in bureaucrats' files since it was passed by Parliament four years ago, had clearly outlined that the "Lokpal shall inquire or cause an inquiry to be conducted into any matter involved in, or arising from, or connected with, any allegation of corruption made in a complaint in respect of any person who is or has been a prime minister." The ministry, it is learnt, is cautiously defining the nature of 'complaints' Lokpal would be entitled to entertain since it would form the basis for inquiry against the top office bearers of governments. The Act passed by the Parliament invests Lokpal with powers of a civil court in certain cases summoning and enforcing the attendance of any person and examining on oath and seizing proceeds of crime. The central government is examining to frame the rules of clause (vi) of sub-section (1) of Section 27, which suggests it could take up 'such other matters as may be prescribed'. The documents suggest that the government is yet to formulate rules for what could be those 'other matters' for which the Lokpal will have the powers of a civil court. Since Lokpal or any officer authorised by it will have the power to provisionally attach the proceeds of corruption, the ministry is formulating rules related to the manner through which it will be sent to the special court in a sealed envelope. Section 59 (2) (e) of the Act empowers the central government to make rules and court may extend the order of attachment and keep such material for such period as the court may deem fit. The government is also working on the rules related to the budget, estimated receipts, expenditure of the Lokpal and rules related to the form for maintaining the accounts and other relevant records, and the form of annual statement of accounts. Certain other guidelines would be finalised only after the Lokpal organisation becomes functional since they require the chairperson's approval. The Ministry of Personnel has flagged Section 60(2) (b) of the Lokpal Act, which talks about the place of sitting of benches of the organisation. As per the act, the benches of the Lokpal will ordinarily sit at New Delhi and at such other places as the Lokpal may, by regulations, specify. And, the chairperson may constitute a bench with two or more members as he or she may deem fit. Every bench, however, may consist of at least one judicial member. Once the Lokpal office is functional, it may require to look into regulations relating to the conditions of service of the secretary and other officers and staff of the Lokpal and rules related to salaries, allowances, leave or pensions. The Lokpal will also have to frame rules for the manner and procedure of conducting preliminary inquiry or investigation. Sub-section 11 of Section 20 in the Act said: "The Lokpal may retain the original records and evidence which are likely to be required in the process of preliminary inquiry or investigation or conduct of a case by it or by the special court." The Ministry of Personnel is also looking into rules related to appointment of officers and other staff of the Lokpal. Section 10 of the Act says there will be a secretary to the Lokpal in the rank of secretary to Government of India, who would be appointed by the chairperson from a panel of names sent by the Centre. Section 59 (2) (C) of the act suggests that such appointments will be made only after consultation with the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC). The Lokpal Bill was passed in Parliament in 2013 amid heated debate on whether the prime minister should be brought under the purview of the new law. The Bill had gone through examination of the parliamentary standing committee as well as the selection committee. Finally, the new law had included the prime minister, who would come under the jurisdiction of Lokpal inquiry except in matters related to international relations, external and internal security, public order, atomic energy and space. Ministry's argument over delay A government note cited the absence of the Leader of Opposition in the present Lok Sabha as the major reason for the delay in constituting the office of the highest anti-corruption body. "It is mentioned that the Lokpal and Lokayuktas and other related law (Amendment) Bill, 2014 for amending the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013, which inter-alia proposes to provide for an alternative to the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha in the selection committee is yet to be passed by the Parliament. The said Bill was referred to the department related parliamentary standing committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law & Justice for examination and report. The said Committee has given its report on 7 December, 2015. The recommendations made in the said report are presently under active consideration of the government and the inter-ministerial committee is seized of the matter," the Ministry said. Then there is the issue of declaration of assets and liabilities by public servants. The Section 44 related to this provision has been amended through Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Amendment) Act, 2016 retrospectively, making the rules framed under original section 44 redundant. According to sources, the draft rules to prescribe forms and manner for the declaration of asset and liabilities as per the amended provisions of Section 44 are under consideration of the parliamentary standing committee. "The draft rules were sent for the parliamentary panel consideration through Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in May 2017," Sources told Firstpost. The process to appoint Lokpal will begin soon as the government had assured the Supreme Court last week, informing the bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi that a meeting of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Lok Sabha speaker Sumitra Mahajan and leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge is scheduled to be held on 1 March. After Congress president Rahul Gandhi questioned Modi over the delay in appointing Lokpal, the Grand Old Party came out with all guns blazing to corner the government. Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad told Firstpost that he is not surprised by the delay since this government is not serious about tackling corruption. "This is part of a deliberate attempt by this government to cover up all the corruption cases starting from Gujarat to now Nirav Modi. When they were in opposition, they wanted the immediate implementation of Lokpal and were even part of the anti-corruption movement. Now they are sitting on the files," Ahmad said. At least five people were killed and seven others injured when a speeding car rammed into a parked SUV in Solapur district of western Maharashtra. Mumbai: At least five people were killed and seven others injured when a speeding car rammed into a parked SUV in Solapur district of western Maharashtra early on Tuesday, police said. The car hit the sport utility vehicle (SUV), which was parked after a tyre burst, on Tuljapur-Pandharpur road at Haglur village, around 4.30 am, an official in-charge of the Solapur rural police station said. The passengers of both the vehicles were heading towards Solapur, located over 400 kms from Mumbai, after attending a religious event in Aurangabad, he said. Following the mishap, the 12 victims from both the vehicles were rushed to a state-run hospital in Tuljapur where five of them were declared dead, the official said. The deceased included three passengers of the parked SUV and two from the other car, he said. The seven injured people were undergoing treatment in the hospital, he added. The Solapur rural police has registered a case in connection with the accident. The Shiv Sena on Tuesday claimed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shied away from speaking in Marathi at public events. Mumbai: Taking a dim view of the goof-up in translating the Maharashtra governor's address to the state legislature, the Shiv Sena on Tuesday claimed that Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis shied away from speaking in Marathi at public events. Fadnavis was trying to portray the image of a "leader of all languages", the Sena claimed, adding that the state government was "pessimistic" towards the Marathi language. The Uddhav Thackeray-led party said it was a matter of concern if those in power were not proud of their language and the state. The remarks of the Sena came on the "Marathi Bhasha Din", which is observed every year on this day to mark the birth anniversary of eminent Marathi poet, Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar. The state Assembly witnessed a goof-up in translation during Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao's address on Monday, triggering protests and a walkout by the opposition. During the governor's customary address to the joint sitting of the two houses of the state legislature on the opening day of the Budget Session, the Marathi translation was not available due to a technical problem. "Why do faults occur only when the Marathi language is concerned?" the Sena wondered in an editorial in its party mouthpiece, Saamana. "Somebody talks about dividing Maharashtra and the government becomes deaf and mute. Then someone else talks in an insulting language about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and now, there are problems in translating the Marathi language," it said, taking potshots at the BJP-led state government. Asserting that it was fighting to save the Marathi culture in Mumbai, the Sena alleged that the BJP, along with other parties, was creating controversies against the language to win the Assembly and the city civic body polls. "The chief minister of Maharashtra represents a Marathi state and his duty is the well-being of the Marathi language and the people. However, in a bid to display an image of a leader of all languages, he shies away from speaking in Marathi at many public events," it said. The Sena, an ally of the ruling BJP in Maharashtra and at the Centre, alleged that attempts were being made since the last two-three years to divide the Marathi votes and win polls with the help of non-Maharashtrians. "The Marathi self-esteem is suffering in the process," it said. "All this is happening due to the government's pessimistic attitude and its mistrust towards the Marathi language. It is a serious problem if those in power are not proud of their language and the state," the Sena said. It taunted the BJP, saying the saffron party managed to build its headquarters in New Delhi in mere 16 months, but the proposed memorial of Babasaheb Ambedkar was left in a lurch and the fate of Chhatrapati Shivaji's memorial was unfathomable. West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday termed the state's districts bordering Bangladesh as 'sensitive' and asked the district administrations concerned to monitor the border situation to stop infiltration. Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday termed the state's districts bordering Bangladesh as "sensitive" and asked the district administrations concerned to monitor the border situation to stop infiltration. Speaking at the districts' administrative meeting in Barasatthe district headquarters of North 24 Parganas districtshe also expressed concern over the issue of cross-border smuggling, including cow smuggling, and said the administration has to be strict to check such incidents. "North 24 Parganas is a sensitive district. A large part of it shares the border with Bangladesh. Keep an eye on areas like Basirhat and Bongaon, which are near the border, so that no one can illegally enter and trigger a problem," Banerjee said. She asked the local police to work in sync with the sub-divisional officers to effectively handle any unpleasant situation. "Cows are brought in from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and are smuggled through the bordering districts to Bangladesh. This has to be stopped," she said. Banerjee also announced the formation of two new police districts in Barasat and Basrihat under North 24 Parganas district for better management of the law and order situation. A 25-year-old man was stabbed to death while his wife was injured when the couple tried to catch pickpockets near Pragati Maidan in the capital, police said New Delhi: A 25-year-old man was stabbed to death while his wife was injured when the couple tried to catch pickpockets near Pragati Maidan in the capital, police said. The incident occurred on Sunday evening and three accused have been arrested, a senior police officer said. The deceased, identified as Amarjeet, was returning to his home in outer Delhi's Nilothi area along with his family, including wife Manju. They boarded a bus, and as it reached near Pragati Maidan, Amarjeet's pocket was picked and his mobile phone was stolen. The police said Amarjeet and Manju followed the pickpocket. They managed to catch two of the four pickpockets who had boarded the bus. The pickpockets tried to escape by knifing the couple who had caught hold of them. Amarjeet was stabbed in the chest while his wife was slashed in the arm, police said. A crowd gathered as people saw the couple struggling with the pickpockets. Police also reached and the two pickpockets were caught, said the officer. An injured Amarjeet and his wife were rushed to RML hospital where he succumbed to his wounds early on Monday morning, the officer said. Manju was said to be out of danger. The duo arrested were identified as Suraj, 20, and Sumit, 25, while their associate Ajit, 24, was caught later from Shahdara. Efforts were being made to nab the fourth accused. Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed the prevailing situation in the state. New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Mehbooba Mufti on Tuesday met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed the prevailing situation in the state, an official said. During the 20-minute meeting, the chief minister briefed the Union home minister on the security situation in the Valley as well as along the border with Pakistan, which has been witnessing heavy cross-border firing and continuous attempts of infiltration by militants. The two leaders also discussed the ongoing peace initiatives being undertaken by the Centre's representative Dineshwar Sharma, the home ministry official said. On Monday, the General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, Lieutenant General AK Bhatt, had said a large number of terrorists were waiting at launching pads across the Line of Control (LoC) to cross over into Kashmir and ceasefire violations by Pakistan are also an attempt to push infiltrators. There were 515 infiltration incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017 in which 75 militants were killed. In 2016, there were 454 cases of infiltration in which 45 militants were killed. In January alone, eight civilians and six security personnel were killed and around 70 injured in ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops along Indo-Pak border in Jammu region. Pakistani troops carried out intense shelling along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts and from across the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts from 18 to 22 January. While there were no ceasefire violations by Pakistan reported along the IB since 22 January, intermittent shelling has taken place along the LoC. The Home Ministry had said it will reimburse all the funds spent by the Jammu and Kashmir government to pay compensation for losses to the victims of cross-border firing. A Chinese traditional cough syrup, called Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, is becoming even more popular among New Yorkers in this flu season, following a U.S. news report. Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, a Chinese traditional cough syrup, is on display at a medicine fair in Zhengzhou city, Henan Province on April 20, 2006. [File Photo: VCG] According to an article published by the Wall Street Journal last week, Alex Schweder, an architect and professor of design at Pratt Institute suffering a cough about ten days, felt better only in 15 minutes after he drank a bottle of Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, which was recommended by his girlfriend who first learned about the herbal supplement nearly 30 years ago when she was living in Hong Kong. Schweider was shocked by the magical effects of the herbal supplement, and recommended it to many people, which, combined with other factors, afterward made the Chinese medicine popular in New York City. The remedy, often referred to simply as Pei Pa Koa, is sold as much as 70 U.S. dollars online through third parties for a 300-milliliter bottle, the Wall Street Journal said. Shares of Kingworld Medicines Group, a Hong Kong-listed Chinese pharmaceutical company that produces the remedy, soared 25 percent on Monday following the report. The medicine in the form of 300-milliliter bottle now is sold at 13.29 dollars apiece on Walmart's online platform, which is more than double of its price in some pharmacies located in Manhattan's Chinatown, selling at about 6 dollars per bottle. "The amounts of Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa we sell over the past few days are much more than usual," Winnie, a sales staff at Buy-rite pharmacy located in Chinatown, told Xinhua on Monday. More and more Westerners are accepting this remedy not only because it is truly effective, but also because its individual packaging characteristic is very convenient, she said. "Much more people, including many foreigners, have come to our store buying Pei Pa Koa recently," a sales staff at another Chinatown drugstore named Centre Care Pharmacy echoed, citing that the flu season also gives some support to the sales. As of the week ending Feb. 17, a total of 97 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported for the 2017-2018 flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "I think that (the report) is a good thing, which will make Chinese traditional products more acceptable among western countries," Winnie added. "In fact, we also sold more other related Chinese traditional medicines during the past few days." "Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa is made of precious Chinese herbs and honey, and has remarkable effects in relieving coughs, eliminating phlegm and soothing sore throats," the Kingworld Medicines Group says on its official website. However, taking herbal supplements can involve health risks, including when they are used with medicines, consumed in excess or taken instead of prescription medication, warned some experts. The Kingworld Medicines Group managed a portfolio of 60 pharmaceutical and healthcare products, general foodstuffs and other medical products, many of which are established brand names, such as Pei Pa Koa, Taiko Seirogan, Kawai Product Range, etc. The Centre on Tuesday sought to downplay the issue of the presence of dreaded terror group Islamic State in Jammu and Kashmir saying it has no existence in the Valley. New Delhi: The Centre on Tuesday sought to downplay the issue of the presence of dreaded terror group Islamic State in Jammu and Kashmir saying it has no existence in the Valley. There is no physical infrastructure or manpower of the Islamic State in the Valley. It does not exist in the Valley, a home ministry spokesperson said in New Delhi. The central government's assertion came after the terrorist group claimed responsibility for the killing of a policeman, Farooq Ahmad Yatoo, in Jammu-Kashmir on Sunday. Another official said Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba could be behind the attack on the policeman, and Esha Fazali, a local militant who first joined the Hizbul Mujahideen and later shifted his allegiance to LeT, has emerged as the prime suspect. However, Jammu and Kashmir DGP SP Vaid has said in Srinagar that it was now clear that Islamic State had carried out the attack and it is "indeed a worrying sign". In November 2017, there were reports that the global terror organisation was involved in an encounter with security forces in Srinagar where a terrorist, identified as Mugees, was killed and a sub-inspector, Imran Tak, lost his life. Amaq, which is the official news agency of Islamic State, had claimed responsibility for that attack. Pictures of Mugees with the Islamic State flag in the background surfaced on social media. Even his body was wrapped in the flag of the banned terror group during the funeral. However, security officials had then claimed that Mugees belonged to an extremist group called Tehrik-ul- Mujahideen and was its Pulwama district commander. The Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen was among the first few militant groups that emerged at the onset of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir in the early 1990s. However, police have found no logistical connection between the two, another official said. The cadre strength of the group is very small and it has been facing an extreme shortage of weapons, officials said. The Tehrik-Ul-Mujahideen was founded much before the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen came into existence, they said. After the killing of Mugees, Adil Ahmed has been appointed the group's commander in Pulwama district. Maldives has declined India's invitation to participate in the biennial naval exercise Milan, which starts 6 March, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said. Maldives has declined India's invitation to participate in the biennial naval exercise Milan, which starts 6 March, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said on Tuesday. Maldives has not not given any reason for the decision, Lanba told reporters on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi. Navy sources said over 16 countries have confirmed their participation in the exercise. These include Australia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Vietnam, Thailand, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya and Cambodia. The Indian military's Andaman and Nicobar Command is going to host biennial multinational naval event 'Milan-2018' at Port Blair from 6-13 March with the underlying theme of "friendship across the seas". The event will see a mix of professional exercises and seminars, social events and sporting fixtures. The inaugural address will be delivered by Lanba. The social interactions planned during Milan 2018 include display by Indian Army and navy bands, ship visits and colourful cultural evenings. Several events will be open to the public including displays by sky diving team, Beating the Retreat and naval continuity drill. Besides fostering cooperation through naval exercises and professional interactions, 'Milan' will also provide an opportunity to the participating navies to nurture stronger ties in dealing with various security challenges. India, the US and several other nations have been pressing for freedom of navigation in the disputed South China Sea. With inputs from agencies A 41-year-old contractor, an accused in the Gosikhurd irrigation project scam, allegedly shot himself dead with a revolver in his car in south Mumbai on Tuesday, police said. Mumbai: A 41-year-old contractor, an accused in the Gosikhurd irrigation project scam, allegedly shot himself dead with a revolver in his car in south Mumbai on Tuesday, police said. Jigar Thakkar, a resident of Chembur in east Mumbai, took the extreme step this evening after parking his car in front of Hotel Marine Plaza in Marine Drive, a senior police official said. Thakkar's office is also located in the same area. "Thakkar parked his car and sat inside for few minutes. After that, he pulled out his licenced revolver and shot himself in the head. He was found lying in a pool of blood on the back seat of his car," the officer said. He said some locals rushed to the car after hearing the gunshot and in turn informed the police. Thakkar was taken to the hospital, where he was declared dead before admission, he said. As per preliminary investigation, Thakkar had incurred heavy losses in his business. He was one of the accused charge-sheeted in the Gosikhurd irrigation project scam pertaining to alleged irregularities in the tender process of the project, the officer said. Gosikhurd is one of the major irrigation projects in Godavari basin in Maharashtra's Bhandara district on the river Wainganga. The project was approved in March 1983 at an estimated cost of Rs 372.22 crore and was expected to be completed by March 1990. However, it remains incomplete even after 33 years after the approvals were granted. It is alleged that the project costs have escalated manifold over a period of time. Out of 14 offences registered in connection with the scam in Nagpur till date, chargesheets were filed in a special Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) court in two cases. A city-based lawyers' body has written to the Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, asking her to take urgent 'remedial measures' in view of the reassignment of the Sohrabuddin Shaikh encounter case. Mumbai: A city-based lawyers' body has written to the Acting Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, asking her to take urgent "remedial measures" in view of the reassignment of the Sohrabuddin Shaikh encounter case. The Bombay Lawyers' Association (BLA) sent the letter on the issue to the office of Acting Chief Justice V K Tahilramani. In the letter, the BLA said the recent change in assignments that resulted in the transfer of the batch of petitions challenging the discharge of some senior IPS officers in the alleged fake encounter case of Sohrabuddin to a new single-judge bench, sent out a "wrong signal" to the public. The association has said such a change in assignment also undermines the faith of people in the judiciary, and urged Justice Tahilramani to take urgent "remedial measures so that justice is done". On 24 February, the assignments of some of the judges in the high court were changed and the petitions related to the encounter case were transferred from the court of Justice Revati Mohite-Dere to that of Justice N W Sambre. This, despite the fact that Justice Mohite-Dere had been conducting day-to-day hearings on the petitions and had heard arguments on three of the five petitions, the BLA said.The HC registrar later said such a change in assignments was a routine process. "While there is no doubt that the chief justice is the master of the roster, this power must be exercised in consonance with conventions, and above all, while keeping in mind the larger public interest," the association has said. "This (change in assignments) is particularly intriguing considering how Justice Mohite-Dere had consistently reprimanded the CBI for its approach in the case. "It is necessary to point out that of the 38 accused in the encounter case, 15, including BJP president Amit Shah have been discharged. Out of the 42 witnesses examined so far, 34 have turned hostile," the letter said. The BLA also pointed out that as a result of the reassignments, a PIL it filed earlier this year against the CBI decision to not challenge the discharge of Shah in the Sohrabuddin and Tulsiram Prajapati encounters case was transferred to a bench led by Justice B R Gavai. "However, Justice Gavai is the same judge who had given a statement to the press declaring there was nothing suspicious about the death of judge B H Loya," it has said.The association is yet to receive any response from Justice Tahilramani's office. Sohrabuddin, a gangster, and his wife Kausar Bi were killed allegedly in a fake encounter by the Gujarat ATS in December 2005. Sohrabuddin's aide Prajapati, who was a witness to the duo's encounter, was killed a year later by the Gujarat and Rajasthan police allegedly in another stage-managed gunfight. Judge Loya, who was presiding over the trial in the Sohrabuddin encounter case, died in 2014. However, questions were raised over the alleged mysterious death of judge Loya and petitions were filed in the Supreme Court seeking an independent probe into the matter. One person was killed and three others were injured in a clash between ruling NPF and NDPP supporters as voting was underway for the Nagaland Assembly election. Kohima: One person was killed and three others were injured in a clash between ruling NPF and NDPP supporters as voting was underway for the Nagaland Assembly election that recorded 56 percent turnout till 1 pm on Tuesday, a top poll official said. The clash between the supporters of the Naga People's Front (NPF) and the newly-floated Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) took place at 11.10 am in the Akuluto constituency of Zunheboto district, Nagaland's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Abhijit Sinha said. The polling process was not disturbed due to the clash, the CEO said. The state recorded 56 percent turnout in the polling till 1 pm, he said. The Akuluto seat is witnessing a straight contest between incumbent parliamentary secretary and NPF candidate K Khekaho Assumi and BJP candidate Kazheto Kinimi. NDPP is the ally of BJP in the state. About an hour before voting started, a blast was reported from a polling booth at Tizit village in Mon district, he said. "A handmade crude bomb was lobbed at a polling booth at Tizit village around 5:45 am in which one village council member, Yanlon suffered a minor injury in the leg," he said. The voting, however, was not affected at the booth. Polling began at 7 am and is being held for 59 seats as former chief minister and NDDP chief Neiphiu Rio has been declared elected uncontested from Northern Angami II seat. Nagaland Chief Minister T R Zeliang along with his family members cast their votes in Jalukie town of Peren district. The CEO also informed that due to malfunction, around 107 EVMs and VVPATs machines had to be replaced till 1 pm . In 2,053 polling stations, voting will end at 4 pm while in 103 booths it will end at 3 pm. Scrutiny of the EVMs and VVPATS will be done tomorrow from 11 am onwards while counting of votes would be taken up on 3 March. Click here for LIVE updates on Nagaland elections Freedom of navigation in oceans is governed by rules-based order and no power or group of powers should have the right to change it unilaterally, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday. New Delhi: Freedom of navigation in oceans is governed by rules-based order and no power or group of powers should have the right to change it unilaterally, defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Tuesday. Sitharam's comments are seen as an oblique reference to China's growing military assertiveness in the disputed South China Sea. China has territorial disputes over the South China sea with several countries of the region, and India along with other nations have been maintaining that freedom of navigation and over flight must be respected in the area. "We belong to a multi-polar world, where we want to make it clear that freedom of navigation can never be unilaterally or arbitrarily questioned by anybody. "And, we are very clear in saying that this is the rules-based order globally, and no one power, or a regional power, or no group of powers or no one, should have the right to unilaterally change this order," she said. The defence minister was addressing a gathering at the inauguration of the two-day 'Indo-Pacific Regional Dialogue', hosted by the India Navy in partnership with defence think-tank National Maritime Foundation (NMF) at the Manekshaw Centre. Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba, Sri Lanka's chief of defence staff Admiral Ravindra C Wijegunaratne, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence in the UK, Stephen Lovegrove, were also present on the dais. "India, till very recently has long been seen as a regional player, with tactical prowess.... But, I am glad to say that in recent years, India, is now seen as a global influencer of policies, and takes its leadership role globally, seriously," she said. "We are no longer a regional player, and no longer a regional policy influencer, globally we have a leadership, which is spearheaded within India," Sitharaman asserted. The defence minster said the freedom of navigation is a "universally accepted" norm that can "never be challenged". "And, any situation that poses a question about it must be taken up seriously by all of us," she said. Lanba said the recent churning of global order has also prompted "many nations to pursue aggressive international cooperation and seek new alignments in support of their respective own interests". And, therefore restoring the faith in a rules-based order, irrespective of who leads that order, is one of the challenges, he said. Sitharaman also said the Indo-Pacific region is very important and India has a "big role" to play, including in countering piracy, and not as just first responders for humanitarian causes. Air bases and land bases are important for security, "but we also have Bay of Bengal and Arabian Sea, so maritime security is needed for trade and commerce, and so we talk of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region)," she said. She also said costs are unbelievably "very high", when it comes to ensuring regional security, and each country cannot therefore spend on its own expenditure. So, in maritime area, it has to be recognised that the "cost has to be shareable". The global rules-based order, what the United Nations is trying to implement, has its own "weak links". Therefore, forming a maritime alliance can only help in rationalising the cost. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari, in his address, spoke about the Sagarmala initiative and the Mumbai cruise terminal project. The Sagarmala project has an objective of promoting "port-led development" along India's 7,500 kilometre long coastline for which the Shipping Ministry has been appointed as the nodal ministry. Pakistan on Tuesday summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh for the sixth time this month over the issue of alleged firing across the Line of Control. The Foreign Office had earlier summoned India's deputy high commissioner on 5, 15, 20, 22 and 24 February. Islamabad: Pakistan on Tuesday summoned India's Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh for the sixth time this month over the issue of alleged firing across the Line of Control. The Foreign Office had earlier summoned India's deputy high commissioner on 5, 15, 20, 22 and 24 February. Foreign Office said that Director General (South Asia and SAARC) Mohammad Faisal summoned Singh and condemned the "unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces on February 27 in Nikial Sector. Faisal said the alleged firing killed a 13-year-old boy in Thrutti Narri village. He said despite calls for restraint, India continues to indulge in ceasefire violations and carried out more than 400 ceasefire violations in 2018, resulting in the death of 18 civilians. Faisal said this "unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations." "The deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," said Faisal. He asked India to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement; investigate the latest incident and other incidents of ceasefire violations; instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary. He also urged the Indian side to allow the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. India maintains that UNMOGIP has outlived its utility and is irrelevant after the Simla Agreement and the consequent establishment of the Line of Control. he Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday moved a special court in Mumbai, seeking issuance of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against diamond trader Nirav Modi Mumbai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday moved a special court in Mumbai, seeking issuance of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) against diamond trader Nirav Modi, a key accused in the over Rs 11,000-crore PNB fraud case. On Monday, the court, set up under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, had allowed the central agency's plea seeking issuance of Letters Rogatory (LRs) to six countries for obtaining information about the overseas businesses and assets of the diamantaire. Special PMLA Court Judge MS Azmi heard the arguments of ED's special counsel Hiten Venegoankar on the agency's plea seeking issuance of the NBW against Nirav Modi, who is believed to be in the US. The judge will hear on Wednesday Modi's lawyer Ashul Agarwal on the issue of his locus standi to address the court in the absence of his client. Venegoankar told the court that the ED registered a case against Nirav Modi on 15 February and from that time issued three summonses to him to appear before the agency. He said the summonses were issued on 15 February, 17 February and 22 February, asking him to appear before the ED. The ED lawyer said Nirav Modi did not appear before the agency for questioning and hence it has sought issuance of an NBW was against him. Venegoankar said the first summons was issued to the billionaire jeweller on his last known address and his employee received it. The other two were issued via e-mail. He said the agency received replies from Nirav Modi for two summonses. In response to the second summons, Nirav Modi said he cannot appear before the agency owing to his business commitments. In reply to the third summons, the businessman raised the issue of his security, the ED counsel said. "He has violated all the three summonses," Venegoankar told the court and requested the court to issue an open-ended NBW against Nirav Modi. However, Nirav Modi's advocate Agarwal told the court he should be heard before any decision is taken on issuing the NBW as it involved fundamental rights of his client. Meanwhile, the agency filed an application seeking LRs to seven more countries - Malaysia, Armenia, France, China, Japan, Russia and Belgium - in connection with the case. On 31 January, the CBI had registered an FIR against Nirav Modi, his companies, and diamond jeweller Mehul Choksi in connection with the PNB fraud. WHY DONT YOU READ THESE? The way Sridevi's demise has gone from being a heartbreak to a cruel travesty is courtesy the media and those who have no problem with giving their opinion on everything and adding to the din The lack of clarity over the circumstances surrounding Sridevi's demise is a dismal situation and has robbed the veteran actor of dignity in death. And much of it is our own doing. Perhaps the biggest question mark will be placed over the cause of death, while the authorities will also investigate who spread the initial assessment that she died of a cardiac arrest, even going so far as to differentiate between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack. The media not only accepted this premature assessment, but also built it up and gave its own spins, even though there was no valid authority to whom the information could be attributed. Since it gathered speed before the post-mortem could be conducted, the truth ultimately came as a shock to everybody concerned. Those who knew her and loved her are still trying to wrap their heads around the awkwardness that is now spiraling out of control. It was a similar such conclusion that again led sundry media outlets to announce various timings for the arrival of the body in India and the funeral that would then take place. This is completely uncalled for. If, even in grief, there had been restraint, there wouldn't have been so many red flags for the Dubai police to check. The investigators could have finished their probe and let everybody go. We fail to understand that the VIP syndrome which works in India, even in death, has absolutely no value in Dubai. Everyone is the same and no corners are cut. The police will go by the book and they know their job. They are no amateurs and have a sterling record. They will go so far as to factor in comments and remarks made in India with reference to this case. Famous or not, the cops don't care. Neither does the public prosecutor. If a senior politician in India says she never drank alcohol, the immediate questions ask as to how there was alcohol in her bloodstream. If a TV host says there were several phone calls for one specific individual, the police are duty bound to investigate. When a doctor on a panel during a TV bulletin announces loftily that you cannot have a heart attack or cardiac arrest in a bathtub or drown in one, they will mark it down for further confirmation. And they will certainly be interested in tracing every call and contact to ascertain and reconstruct her last hours. The way Sridevi's demise has gone from being a heartbreak to a cruel travesty is courtesy the media and those who have no problem with giving their opinion on everything and adding to the din. Did we really expect that just because she was famous, her body and her mourning entourage would be put on a plane and sent home? Yes, we can admit it, that's exactly what many Indians must have concluded. Let's be honest; if she had died in India, the cause of death would have been put down as cardiac arrest and coffee-sipping society matrons would have prattled on about weight reducing drug regimens. Frankly, this highly professional police force in Dubai too would be happier to be rid of this whole mess. They don't need the hassle. But they don't work that way. They will not rest until all the boxes are ticked. It would therefore be salutary to shut up and let them do their jobs. Too many opinions and too much smoke isn't helping. If Indian Ambassador Navdeep Suri and Consul General Vipul are saying that it might take a few days, be assured that you won't be able to rush the police. They will continue to seek answers till they are satisfied with their job. It might even take weeks. Follow all the latest updates here European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker says the EU is "keen" to receive Serbia and other Western Balkans countries as members, given that they meet certain pre-conditions. President of the European Commision Jean-Claude Juncker (L) talks during the press conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic (R) in Belgrade, Serbia, 26 February 2018. [Photo: IC] Juncker has made the statement while visiting Serbia and meeting with Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic. Juncker says relations with the Western Balkans are a priority for the EU, and that he has always thought that the EU is not complete without the region. At the same time, Juncker has stressed that rule of law, the judiciary and bilateral relations remain the toughest challenges in the accession of the region. Earlier in the year, the EU announced its expansion plan for the Western Balkans, and set 2025 as a perspective date for the process to be completed. Juncker is currently on a tour of the region. Regarding Serbia, Juncker says the country must reach a legally binding agreement with Kosovo on the normalization of their relations, before Serbia can become an EU member. Kosovo unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008. A fire scare on the helicopter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao minutes before it was to take off in Karimnagar district Hyderabad: A fire scare on the helicopter of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao minutes before it was to take off in Karimnagar district set the alarm bells ringing on Tuesday, officials said. Smoke was detected emanating from a bag carrying a communications battery kit inside the chopper and alert security personnel immediately picked it up and threw it out. The incident occurred in Karimnagar, minutes before the chief minister was to leave for Adilabad district. The Chief minister's son and Cabinet minister KT Rama Rao said he was safe. "Just checked up with CMO team. All is well with Hon'ble CM and he is continuing his tour in Adilabad district", he tweeted. India and Nepal would hold a joint exercise that will include training on jungle warfare, anti-terrorism combat as well as disaster response activities. Kathmandu: India and Nepal would hold a joint exercise in Uttarakhand that will include training on jungle warfare, anti-terrorism combat as well as disaster response activities, the defence ministry sources have said. Nepal's newly-appointed Defence Minister Ishwor Pokharel after assuming office on Monday signed an agreement to launch Surya Kiran Nepal India Military Joint Exercise. The 13th edition of the Nepal-India joint military exercise will be held in Pithoragarh in a couple of months. This is a regular military exercise being organised annually between the two armies, said the defence ministry sources. In 2017, the 12th edition of Surya Kiran Military exercise was held in Kathmandu. The military exercise will include training on jungle warfare, anti-terrorism combat as well as disaster response activities. The announcement came days after Indian Army chief Bipin Rawat visited Nepal to attend a function being organised by the Nepal Army to mark the Army Day. Strengthening cooperation in the key areas of defence and trade will be high on the agenda when Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang arrives in India on a three-day visit later this week New Delhi: Strengthening cooperation in the key areas of defence and trade will be high on the agenda when Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang arrives in India on a three-day visit later this week. This will be Trans first visit to India as president. He will be accompanied by an 18-member delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh as well as the ministers for trade and industry and planning and investment, said the Vietnamese envoy to India, Ton Sinh Thanh. The two sides are likely to sign memorandums of understanding (MoUs) in the areas of nuclear energy, agriculture and trade and investment during the visit beginning 2 March, the envoy told reporters. The issue of the South China Sea, where China has been showing increasing assertiveness, will also be discussed, the envoy said in response to a question. On arriving in India, Tran will first visit the Buddhist religious site Bodh Gaya in Bihar on 2 March. The next day, he will hold delegation level talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On 4 March, the Vietnamese president will deliver an address, which will be an important policy statement, the envoy said. Modi had visited Vietnam in 2016, when the two countries agreed to elevate their 'strategic partnership' to a 'comprehensive strategic partnership'. The talks will also focus on measures to further deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership, Ton said. The relations between India and Vietnam are politically quite strong. We have a lot of exchanges between highest-ranking leaders. We have very strong and very effective defence cooperation but we still have many other areas to be exploited for cooperation, he added. Defence has been a key element of the ties between India and Vietnam and the two countries have very strong and very effective defence cooperation, he said. Leaders of the two countries will discuss how to deepen cooperation in this area, especially on how to implement and realise the credit line on defence that India has announced for Vietnam, Ton said. Modi had announced a grant of $5 million for the construction of an Army Software Park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang during his visit to the country. A Line of Credit of $100 million is already being used for eight off-shore patrol vessels to Vietnam. The armies of the two countries, for the first time, conducted joint military exercise last month. Vietnam buys defence equipment for the navy and air force. Ton, however, parried questions on the Brahmos deal. Vietnam has shown an interest in buying the Brahmos supersonic missile from India. A business delegation of 65 businessmen from 34 Vietnamese companies will also visit India. Agreements related to the building of a coal terminal in Vietnam and the joint development of a port will also be signed between Indian and Vietnamese companies, officials said. Last year, trade volume reached $7.6 billion, an increase of 40 percent from the previous year. Vietnam exports a lot of manufacturing products to India, including mobile phones, machineries and computers. India exports machineries, textile materials, seafood and medicines to Vietnam. Ton said the trade volume between the two sides has not reached the expected level and investments from India in Vietnam are still very low. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc was in Delhi in January as chief guest during the Republic Day parade along with nine other leaders from ASEAN countries. The Bihar Assembly was on Tuesday adjourned till 2 pm following a ruckus over the recent hit-and-run case in Muzaffarpur that claimed the lives of nine children. Patna: The Bihar Assembly was on Tuesday adjourned till 2 pm following a ruckus over the recent hit-and-run case in Muzaffarpur that claimed the lives of nine children. Manoj Baitha, a district-level BJP worker from Sitamarhi, has been accused of mowing down the children with his SUV on Saturday. He was suspended from the saffron party on Monday night for a period of six years after an FIR was lodged against him in connection with the case. As soon as the House assembled on Tuesday morning, on the second day of the budget session, an adjournment motion over the hit-and-run case was moved by RJD MLAs Samir Kumar Mahaseth, Sweety Hembrom, Ejya Yadav and Shakti Singh Yadav. Speaker Vijay Kumar Choudhary, however, rejected the motion and said the matter should be raised "at an appropriate time so that the government too can come up with its reply". Protesting the speaker's stance, Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav said, "When Pradyuman was recently killed inside a school at Gurugram, it led to a public outcry. A CBI inquiry too was instituted. Did the lives of nine deceased children from Muzaffarpur have less value just because they came from backward classes," Yadav asked. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shravan Kumar tried to pacify the opposition members with the assurance that "nobody will be spared under the current regime". Urban development minister Suresh Sharma, who is also a BJP MLA from Muzaffarpur, said instructions have been issued for the arrest of Manoj Baitha. He, however, refuted the allegations made by the opposition that the accused was inebriated. As the RJD MLAs refused to relent and shouted slogans against the Nitish Kumar government, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2 pm. The DMK flayed the ruling BJP at the Centre on the Cauvery issue, saying it should not handle the matter with an eye on 'electoral gains' in poll-bound Karnataka, the upper riparian state in the river water sharing dispute Chennai: The DMK on Tuesday flayed the ruling BJP at the Centre on the Cauvery issue, saying it should not handle the matter with an eye on "electoral gains" in poll-bound Karnataka, the upper riparian state in the river water sharing dispute. "The prime minister maintaining silence on the Cauvery issue by not speaking about it when he came to Tamil Nadu... is condemnable," Stalin, Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu assembly, said in a tweet. Modi had attended the launch of the state government's 'Amma scooter scheme' on Saturday. At the time, Chief Minister K Palaniswamy had urged him to expedite the formation of the Cauvery Management Board and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee as per the directions of the Supreme Court. Delivering its verdict on the inter-state dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka recently, the apex court had reduced the latter's share of the river water by 14.75 tmcft. The BJP had acted in "haste" on the issue of National Entrance-cum-Eligibility Test (NEET) in Tamil Nadu, Stalin said in an apparent reference to the stiff resistance to the test in the state. BJP should not adopt a similar approach vis-a-vis Cauvery, he added. "The CMB should be constituted within six weeks. Don't make Tamil Nadu a protest zone for electoral gains in Karnataka," Stalin said in another tweet. Twenty AAP MLAs on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that the Election Commission of India (ECI's) order disqualifying them for allegedly holding office-of-profit was passed in 'complete violation of natural justice' as they were not given the opportunity to explain their stand before the poll panel. New Delhi: Twenty AAP MLAs on Tuesday told the Delhi High Court that the Election Commission of India (ECI's) order disqualifying them for allegedly holding office-of-profit was passed in "complete violation of natural justice" as they were not given the opportunity to explain their stand before the poll panel. A bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar was also requested by the legislators to remand their case back to the ECI with a direction to hear the case afresh. "There was no communication to us (AAP MLAs) from the ECI about the hearing before it. It is in complete violation of natural justice," senior advocate K V Viswanathan, appearing for some of the MLAs, said. The submissions on behalf of the MLAs came during the nearly four-hour-long hearing of their pleas challenging their disqualification. The MLAs' counsel submitted that the ECI order was "wrong and erroneous" and the poll panel had failed to discharge its statutory duty and was "unfortunately not acting fairly". "In the present case, the members of the Delhi legislative Assembly were removed without holding a full-fledged inquiry and without giving them any opportunity to explain if they ever held any office of profit," the bench was told. Their counsel also complained that the counsel for the central government has not even produced the file containing the reference of the poll panel, on which the President had given his assent to disqualify them. To this, the bench asked Centr's standing counsel Anil Soni to take instructions by tomorrow on the production of the file containing the ECI's reference before the court. The MLAs had approached the high court challenging their disqualification after President Ram Nath Kovind gave his nod to the ECI recommendation. Backing their recommendations to the President for AAP MLAs' disqualification, the poll panel had submitted that the legislators cannot claim that they were not holding office-of-profit. "They were involved in the day-to-day administrative functions of the ministers, with whom they were attached. They were not entitled to look into the executive works of the ministers," the ECI's counsel had argued. The arguments on behalf of the ECI and other parties, which remained inconclusive, will resume on Wednesday. The high court had on 24 January refused to stay the Centre's notification disqualifying them, but had restrained the poll panel from taking any "precipitate measures" such as announcing dates for by-polls to fill the vacancies. The ECI had recommended the disqualification of 20 AAP MLAs on 19 January. The president had accepted the ECI's opinion the very next day. Meghalaya and Nagaland have a 60-member House each, but voting was held for 59 constituencies in both. Shillong/Kohima: Faults in EVMs and VVPATs in Meghalaya and violent clashes in Nagaland were reported amid an otherwise peaceful assembly election in both states on Tuesday. Until 5 pm, Meghalaya saw a turnout of 67 percent while 75 percent voters turned up in Nagaland. Similar loopholes in voting process reported in Tripura Assembly polls on 18 February had led to repolls in one booth each in six constituencies of the state on 26 February. Meghalaya and Nagaland have a 60-member House each, but voting was held for 59 constituencies in both. In Meghalaya, the election has been countermanded in Williamnagar in the wake of the killing of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma in East Garo Hills district on 18 February. In Nagaland, NDPP chief Neiphiu Rio has been declared elected unopposed from the Northern Angami-II constituency. While Meghalaya had witnessed 86.82 percent turnout in the 2013 assembly polls, Nagaland had polled 90.19 percent in the last state elections. The results of the polls in the two states, along with that of Tripura, will be declared on 3 March. Only 28.5 percent voted in the first five hours in Meghalaya Complaints of EVM and VVPAT malfunction poured in from all over Meghalaya. While some voters who had arrived early at 7 am were still waiting, others started to leave. An election official said that batteries went down in some of the new machines. As of 1 pm, the polling percentage in Meghalaya stood at 28.5 percent. According to Meghalaya chief election officer (CEO) Fredrick R Kharkongor, a total of 106 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), along with the state armed personnel and police, were deployed across the state, especially in the troubled Garo Hills region. Repolling was ordered at one polling station (Kyndon Tuber) in Raliang constituency in Meghalayas Jowai district due to mix up of EVMs, but the dates have not been announced. Ampareen Lyngdoh, the Congress candidate from East Shillong constituency and cabinet minister in the Mukul Sangma-led government, felt the EVM malfunctions definitely slowed down the poll process in Meghalaya, which has traditionally witnessed high polling percentage. Most of the issues were really simple and they should have been sorted out. If you want to use this technology, you better be sure it is error-proof. A lot of time was wasted, and the people in my constituency were irritated. A lot of the staff were not adequately exposed to the process, I feel. We should really take care, because EVMs are supposed to speed up polling, not slow it down," Lyngdoh said. Tuesday's polling will decide the fate of 361 candidates in Meghalaya, including 33 women and 80 Independents, election office sources said, adding that 18.09 lakh voters, of which 9.24 lakh are women, were eligible to exercise their franchise in 3,025 polling stations across the state. For the first time, 67 all-women polling stations and 61 model polling stations were set up in the state, the CEO said. State DGP SB Singh said 580 polling stations were categorised as "vulnerable" and that strict security measures were in place across Meghalaya to ensure a free-and-fair election. Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee working president James Lyngdoh said the Congress was happy with the way polling was conducted in the state. One dead in fire exchange According to Nagaland election commission, a crude bomb made of gelatine blew up at polling station 20 in Mon districts Tizit constituency at 5.45 am on Tuesday. A civilian had sustained minor injuries. Stone pelting was also reported at polling station 21 in Tizit. The chief electoral officer said that some polling materials were damaged, but they were replaced in time and the polling continued. Abhijit Sinha, CEO in the state, also informed that at 11.10am in Akuluto assembly constituency, "two groups from NPF and NDPP clashed, and the party people opened fire in which one person died and two got injured. He said the incident did not disturb the polling process in the area." Repolling will be held at the Ladigarh polling station in Tamlu constituency. The CEO informed that their team was unable to reach the designated polling station "due to obstruction by Assam Police". An "agitated mob" opposed the setting up of a makeshift polling booth at Yonglok or elsewhere, he said. Sinha had earlier said that the issue has been cropping up since 2006. Polling was obstructed in Ladigarh during 2013 assembly polls and 2014 Lok Sabha elections too. The territory has been under dispute with Assam since the formation of Nagaland in 1963. Meanwhile, NPF has lodged a complaint with the Election Commission alleging that the NDPP-BJP alliance in Nagaland had violated the model code of conduct by publishing full-page advertisements in daily newspapers on Monday. Dominic Toppo, a 37-year-old voter from Kohima, hoped that the new government would provide better road connectivity and medical facilities. On the political instability that hit Nagaland during the last governments term, he said, "Thats part of politics done by the leaders we elect. Its on them." He, nevertheless, hoped the new government would be stable and give good governance. Armstrong Chanambam is a Manipur-based freelance writer and Kyrmenlang Uriah is a Meghalaya-based freelance writer. Both are members of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. With inputs from Syeda Ambia Zahan, a Guwahati-based journalist. Follow Meghalaya Assembly election updates LIVE Follow all updates from North East elections LIVE The Congress on Tuesday swept the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation 2018, winning as many as 62 of the 95 wards. The Congress on Tuesday swept the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation election 2018, winning as many as 62 of the 95 wards. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) managed to get 11 wards while the BJP secured wins in 10 wards. Meanwhile, the Lok Insaf Party got seven wards and the AAP got one. #Ludhiana Municipal Corporation election results: Congress wins 62 wards, SAD-11, BJP-10, Lok Insaf Party-7, AAP-1 & independent candidates-4. ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 A total of 494 candidates belonging to the Congress, the SAD, the BJP, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Lok Insaf Party were in the fray. Over 59 percent of the 10.5 eligible voters exercised their franchise in the election for the 95 wards on Saturday amid reports of clashes, alleged booth capturing, rigging and firing during the day-long voting process. Opposition SAD and AAP leaders accused the ruling Congress of malpractices in the municipal election. A SAD-BJP delegation on Monday met Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore and urged him to direct the state government to scrap the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation poll process and hold elections afresh. The delegation led by senior SAD leaders Bikram Singh Majithia, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Dinesh Kumar and Rajinder Bhandari alleged that Congress leaders "misused" police personnel deployed there, indulged in "booth capturing and bogus voting", as well as intimidating SAD-BJP workers. The Congress, which runs the government in Punjab since March 2017, had won the municipal elections in the municipal corporations of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala in December. It had also emerged victorious in 20 out of 29 Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats. With inputs from agencies Polling for the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly began at 7 am on Tuesday morning amid tight security with over 18 lakh voters eligible to exercise their franchise Shillong: Polling for the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly began at 7 am on Tuesday morning amid tight security with over 18 lakh voters eligible to exercise their franchise in more than 3,000 polling stations across the state. Voting will be held in 59 seats as the polling in Williamnagar in East Garo Hills district has been countermanded following the killing of NCP candidate Jonathane N Sangma in an IED blast on 18 February. Women voters in their colourful tribal attires were seen queueing up at polling stations across the state since morning and shops in the vicinity did brisk business. The polls will be held till 4 am across the state. Meghalaya CEO FR Kharkongor said a total 106 companies of central armed police forces (CAPF) have been deployed along with state armed personnel and police especially in troubled Garo Hills region for peaceful polling in the state. He said that six additional companies of CAPF were deployed in the troubled East and South Garo Hills districts. Tuesday's polling will decide the fate of 361 candidates including 31 women and 80 Independents, election office sources said, adding 18.09 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 3,025 polling stations in the state. Kharkongor said the number of women candidates this time is the highest-ever in the state. For the first time, 67 all-women polling stations and 61 model polling stations were set up in the state, he said. Director General of Police SB Singh said 580 polling stations have been categorised as 'vulnerable' and strict security measures are in place across Meghalaya to ensure free and fair polls. Another 340 polling booths have been categorised as 'critical' while 67 are both vulnerable as well as critical. The BSF has also been asked to keep a close vigil along the 443 km-long India-Bangladesh border, the CEO said. The Election Commission has appointed in all 43 observers to ensure hassle-free polls, he added. The result along with that of the Tripura and Nagaland Assembly polls will be declared on 3 March. In Meghalaya, except for the two state parties the United Democratic Party and the Hills State Peoples Democratic Party which forged a pre-poll alliance and are contesting in 45 seats, 13 other political parties are contesting independently. The Congress and BJP are pitted against each other with the former fielding 59 candidates and the latter has put up nominees in 47 constituencies. Though they are contesting the polls separately, in Meghalaya, the National People's Party (NPP) of Conrad Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma, is BJP's partner in the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). For the Congress the poll outcome in Meghalaya is particularly significant as it has been ruling the state for the last 10 years. The saffron party is seeking to expand its footprint in the Northeast buoyed by the formation of governments in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Follow all updates on counting of votes in Meghalaya LIVE Follow all updates on counting of votes in three North East states LIVE The Congress exuded confidence of retaining power in Meghalaya while the BJP and regional parties were equally gung-ho about unseating the ruling party in the northeastern state Although BJP went an extra mile to appease the Christian voters in Meghalaya, it's unlikely to form the government in the state by overthrowing Congress, a C-Voter exit poll said. However, ahead of the counting on 3 March both the parties are claiming to do well. According to the exit poll, Congress will clinch 36.5 percent of the vote, followed by NPP with 29.4 percent. Despite its heavy campaigning, BJP only managed 16.6 percent vote share, while the UDP- HSPDP coalition had an 8.8 percent share and Others clinched 8.7 percent of the vote share. The exit poll predicts 17 to 23 seats for NPP, 13 to 19 seats for Congress, 8 to 12 for UDP- HSPDP alliance, 4 to 8 seats for BJP and 5 to 9 seats for Others respectively. The Congress ruling the state for a decade fielded candidates in all 60 seats, of which 59 went to polls on Tuesday. Seven of its legislators have since quit and jumped on to the bandwagon of the Bharatiya Janata Party, National People's Party (NPP) and newly floated People's Democratic Front (PDF). Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, the chief architect of the Congress win on 29 seats in the 2013 elections, said he was confident of increasing the number of its MLAs in the new house. "I don't see any anti-incumbency. Instead, there is so much of pro-incumbency. People of the state have faith and confidence in the Congress," Sangma, Meghalaya's longest-serving chief minister said. Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who visited Meghalaya twice in the past one month and campaigned in Khasi Hills, Jaintia Hills and Garo Hills regions, had told IANS: "We have the people's support and I am confident we will retain power in Meghalaya." The BJP, fighting the polls alone by fielding 47 candidates, is equally confident of winning a good number of seats and forming a non-Congress government. The NPP, an ally of the BJP with two MLAs, is hopeful of increasing the numbers, as five former Congress legislators are contesting on NPP symbol this time. The combined regional alliance comprising United Democratic Party, Hill State People's Democratic Party and Garo National Council also was gung-ho about electoral victory. The HSPDP and the UDP forged a pre-poll alliance with 36 seats in Khasi and Jaintia Hills, while the UDP tied up with the Garo National Council for 24 seats in the Garo Hills. Here is a look at the C-Voter Meghalaya exit poll predictions: With inputs from agencies Follow counting of votes in Meghalaya LIVE Follow counting of votes in the three North East states LIVE South Korean prosecutors on Tuesday demanded a 30-year jail term for ousted President Park Geun-hye, who was taken into custody a year earlier after having been removed from office. Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye, left, arrives to attend a hearing on the extension of her detention at the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 10, 2017. [File Photo: AP/Ahn Young-joon] Prosecutors asked a Seoul court to sentence Park to 30 years in prison and fine her 118.5 billion won (110.5 million U.S. dollars) for corruptions, which they said left an ineffaceable stain in the country's history of constitution. Park, 66, was ousted from office on March 10, 2017, as the constitutional court upheld an impeachment motion, which the National Assembly already supported. She became the first South Korean leader in the constitutional history to be impeached while in office. The ousted president was taken into custody in late March, and was indicted on 18 counts of corruption, including abuse of power and bribery. Prosecutors said that Park privatized her presidential power mandated by people and damaged constitutional value, while denying all charges against her during the court hearings. Park did not appear in the final hearing in protest against the court's decision to extend her detention for six more months in October last year. The court planned to hand down a verdict to Park on April 6. The prosecution's sentencing request for Park was heavier than its earlier demand for Choi Soon-sil, a decades-long friend of Park who was at the center of the corruption scandal that led to Park's impeachment. Choi was sentenced to 20 years in prison in the first trial, which was wrapped up earlier this month. The prosecution office had demanded a 25-year jail term on Choi. Prosecutors said Park, as the culprit of the corruption scandal, needs to be heavily punished. Thirty years is the highest jail term by criminal law. Park was charged with allowing Choi, who had no government position, to abuse presidential power and intervene in government affairs behind the scenes. Park and Choi had been identified as an accomplice by prosecutors. Choi was accused of encouraging large businesses of South Korea to donate tens of millions of U.S. dollars to two non-profit foundations controlled by Choi. Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin was sentenced to two and a half years in jail and was put under court custody earlier this month as he offered bribes to Choi and Park in return for business favors. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong was released from prison earlier this month as he got a jail term of two and a half years with a stay of execution for four years in the appellate court ruling. The commutation triggered strong criticism of the appellate court, which denied part of Lee's offer of bribes to Choi and Park in exchange for assistance to Lee's inheritance of management control from his ailing father Lee Kun-hee who has been hospitalized for almost four years. The younger Lee is the only son of Lee Kun-hee and an heir apparent to Samsung Group, the biggest family-run conglomerate of South Korea. The stage is set for Tuesday's crucial Assembly elections in the two north-eastern states of Meghalaya and Nagaland. Auto refresh feeds The ruling Congress is facing an uphill task to retain power in Meghalaya while the BJP hopes to acquire a share of the power riding shoulders of its new ally Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP) in Nagaland even as the two Christian-majority states in the North East go to Assembly polls on Tuesday. Meghalaya, in particular, is important for the Congress, where it has been ruling for 10 years on the trot. The Congress has deployed its full force in electioneering to prevent the BJP from making inroads among voters in Meghalaya. AICC president Rahul Gandhi has addressed several election rallies and party workers' meetings in Meghalaya to warn the voters against 'divisive designs' of the BJP. In Nagaland where the prolonged peace process to find a solution to the vexed Naga political problem has remained a burning issue in the society, the NDPP-BJP alliance is posing a tough challenge to the ruling NPF. The NPF has resorted to painting BJP as anti-Christian during the electioneering while the BJP-NDPP has resorted to flaunting their plans to usher in all-encompassing development in Nagaland besides promising a final solution to the Naga imbroglio at the earliest. Meghalaya has an electorate numbering 18,44,785 voters including 9,29,314 female voters and 9,12,849 male voters, with 89,045 from among the age group between eighteen to nineteen. Assembly elections are being held in 11 districts and 59 constituencies (elections in Williamnagar has been postponed due to the killing of one of the candidates, Jonathone N Sangma) in 2771 polling stations. This is a 24 percent increase in the number of polling booths since 2013 and includes for the first time in each constituency a pink booth, completely by women. I will contest the election to take forward my husbands efforts towards the well-being of the people of Williamnagar, the 38-year-old mother of five told Firstpost last week, adding, Party leaders came to my house to express their willingness to allot me a ticket. Krenilla Marak, the wife of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) candidate Jonathone N Sangma, who was killed in an IED blast last Sunday, said she will contest Meghalaya election from the Williamnagar constituency. Both Nagaland and Meghalaya are seeing an increase in the number of women candidates. In Nagaland, where no woman ever has been voted to the Assembly, five women candidates are in the fray the highest ever. The number of women candidates in Meghalaya is also the highest this time around with 32 in the fray. Presently, there is a growing demand among various civil society organisations to resolve the 'Naga political issue', as the Naga insurgency problem is fondly referred to by Naga nationalist groups as well as Naga insurgent outfits in the North East. The 98 year old ex-serviceman will be casting his vote to elect the new legislator of Western Angami Assembly constituency. The Election Commission in the state has been proactive in reaching out to the electorate releasing music videos, conducting street-level activities and hosting concerts over the past few months in order to promote responsible and ethical voting. In this video released a couple of days ago, Meghalaya's Chief Electoral Officer, Fredrick R. Kharkongor, illustrates the secure and transparent voting process facilitate by EVMs and VVPATs. Italy, Argentina, Sweden and Indonesia will vote and choose their representative to the Meghalaya Legislative Assembly this 27 February! Well, if you wonder how these countries have voting rights in this hill state in India's North East, you are in for a surprise. Italy, Argentina, Sweden and Indonesia are the names of voters of Umniuh-Tmar Elaka village under Shella constituency in East Khasi Hills district. But Wangto defends himself. Those elected wont return for five years. Theyll eat up thousands of crores of funds meant for the people. So how can accepting a mere fraction of that be wrong? In Nagaland, buying and selling of votes is common. Its seen as a major cause of what ails society. Even the Churchs Clean Election campaign, which it has been leading for years, has hardly had an impact. Reverend Zelhou Keyho, secretary general of Nagaland Baptist Church Council said, As long as buying and selling votes exists, our society will continue to have problems. This rare matrilineal statewhere family descent is traced through the mother rather than the fatheris also slipping on gender indices, reflecting a wider change. Meghalaya, a picturesque hilly state in the sub-eastern Himalayan region, nearly matches Indias richer states on the best health outcomes. However, insurgency and poor infrastructure impede its progress on other development indicators, shows an IndiaSpend analysis of the states performance on 20 development indicators in comparison with nine other states and the national average. Happy faces at a pink booth, one of 60 across Meghalaya, in Jirang, an ST constituency in Ri Bhoi District, Khasi Hills. Pink booths are manned exclusively by women election officials. There is one in each constituency. An explosion has been reported from insurgency-hit Nagaland. The Hindu reports that a polling station has been attacked in Tizit Assembly constituency. More details are awaited. The local police has confirmed the news of the explosion. The bomb explosion occurred at 6.45 am and one man suffered injuries in his left leg, says Nagaland Police. Sources says a crude handmade bomb was lobbed at Tizit polling station at around 5.45 am, where one village council member, Sri Yanlon, sustained a leg injury. Polling processes is continuing at the station. Multiple EVM failures have been reported in various polling stations in Salmanpara and South Tura. In this photo from Babupara in Salmanpara, even the second EVM has ceased to work. The Nagaland CEO Office said that polling started in 1,732 of 2,156 booths in the first hour, reported The Hindu. On the other hand, Meghalaya Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor informed that polling began in in 2,221 out of 3,025 polling stations in the first hour, the report added. In Meghalaya, the election has been countermanded in Williamnagar in the wake of the killing of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma in an IED blast in East Garo Hills district on 18 February. In Nagaland, NDPP chief Neiphiu Rio has been declared elected unopposed from the Northern Angami-II constituency, reported PTI. Buoyed by the formation of governments in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP is making a determined bid to expand its footprint in the North East. Political observers are keenly watching the BJP's push in the North East, a Congress stronghold, where the saffron party has traditionally been a marginal player. While 22 percent voting was recorded in Meghalaya till 9:30 am, the number was slightly lower at 17 percent in Nagaland till 9 am. "We have done whatever we could do to put our vision for the state in front of people. We are hoping that people will turn in large number and vote for us. After the voting for this two days I will take some rest and go and see my daughter in Delhi. She has been there alone for a month. I will come back on the 2nd as 3 March is counting day": Conrad Sangma, NPP Chief, Meghalaya. Complaints of EVM and VVPAT malfunction are pouring in from all over the state. People had to stand for long at St Anthony's School in Shillong East constituency because of faulty EVMs. While some voters who arrived early at 7 am were still waiting, some had started to leave. An election official said that batteries went down in new machines. "They brought in another one but that too did not work. Can you believe it? Is this what so much of public money is spent for? Till voting day scam in EVM machines or is someone playing dirty? Old people standing in the queue are being made to wait for hours," he said. Meghalaya CEO Fredrick R Kharkongor said faulty EVMs and VVPAT errors were reported at some places due to connectivity issue. Booth-level engineers have been sent to rectify the VVPAT issues. Wherever there is a delayed start, we will extend the poll timing accordingly, and issue token to people standing in queue. The CEO office is still collating the information on the total number of faulty VVPATs. Of the 2,156 polling stations, 1,062 are critical, 530 vulnerable and 564 normal polling stations. Over 15,000 government employees will be on poll duty and there will be 177 all-women polling stations across 25 constituencies in the state. Election Commission officials said there are 55 election observers, including 22 general and expenditure observers each and 11 police observers, besides 442 mirco observers. A 37-year old voter from Kohima hopes for a stable government in Nagaland. He also says that removal of AFSPA would help tourism in all of North East. The run-up to the polls saw several twists and turns with the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) demanding a solution to the vexed Naga problem before the elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and NDPP which has forged a pre-poll alliance in Nagaland is contesting in 20 and 40 assembly seats, respectively. However, the ruling Naga People's Front, which was an ally of the BJP at the Centre and Manipur is fighting the elections alone. Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) working president James Lyngdoh says the Congress is happy with the way polling is being conducted so far in the state today, with respect to security arrangements, voter tunout etc. "Everything is going smoothly," he said. In Meghalaya, 370 candidates are contesting elections this year. Out of these 25 (7 percent) of the candidates have criminal cases, while 21(6 percent) of them are accused of serious crimes. This includes the likes of former militant Julias Kitbok Dorphang, who has been accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old in the infamous Marvellene Inn case last year. He is contesting as an Independent from Mawhati constituency in Nongpoh. Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul Sangma, who is contesting from Ampati and Songsak seats, has three family members in the fray from the Garo Hills region. NPP candidates and relatives of former Lok Sabha speaker Purno A Sangma are also fighting the polls from four seats in the region. Elections in Meghalaya are to a large extent family affairs. Political heavyweights, along with their spouses and scions, are fighting it out to retain power in Tuesday's Assembly elections in the hill state. Fifty nine percent of the candidates for the 27 February Assembly elections in Nagaland are crorepatis with JD(U) nominee Ramongo Lotha being the richest with a total wealth of Rs 38.92 crore, an analysis of the affidavits said. The Association of Democratic Reforms (ADR), which analysed the affidavits of 193 aspirants out of a total of 196 candidates, found out that 114 candidates are crorepatis. According to The Indian Express, Aam Aadmi Party candidate Akavi is the poorest in the fray. Akavi, who is contesting Ghaspani 1 Assembly constituency, has declared zero assets in his name. Meghalaya's incumbent chief minister Mukul Sangma stands in a queue to cast his vote at a polling station in Ampati from where he is contesting. He is also contesting from a second constituency, Songsak. However, poor infrastructure and a fragile peace continue to be problem areas as the stateformed on December 1, 1963heads to the polls on 27 February, 2018. After a decade of precarious peace, Nagaland, Indias once troubled north-eastern state, now rivals and even outperforms Indias richest states on a number of development outcomes, according to an IndiaSpend analysis of 10 states on 20 socio-economic and health indicators. The Indian Express is reporting that one person has died and two others have been injured after two groups from NPF and NDPP clashed in Akuluto Assembly constituency in Nagaland. The report also quoted CEO Abhijit Sinha as saying that there was also firing at the spot. The Hindu reported that as many as 30 EVMs were found to be problematic in Meghalaya's Garo Hills. But the report quoted officials as saying that the machines faced issues with faulty wiring. "At about 11.10 hrs at Akuluto AC 31, two groups from NPF and NDPP clashed and the party people opened fire in which one person died and two were injured. No disturbance to polling process which goes on well. An Additional SP is on the scene. Further details to follow", said Nagaland CEO Abhijit Sinha. Once considered a role model of peace and democracy, Meghalaya has witnessed rising insurgency and terrorism since the late 1980s and especially since 2009, according to this 2016 policy brief by the Delhi-based Institute for Defense Studies & Analyses. It has also faced unrest due to demands from each of the three major tribes for separate statehood, border disputes with Assam, illegal mining and import of weapons from Assam and Bangladesh, which have impeded the states progress. Surrounded by Bangladesh on its south and west, and Assam to its east and north, Meghalaya, roughly the size of Israel, holds a population of two million, equivalent to that of Lucknow. The Khasi, Jaintia and Garo, most of whom are Christian, form the three major ethnic tribes in the state and comprise 86.15 percent of its population, shows the 2017 Meghalaya statistical handbook. The religious minorities here include Hindus (11.5 percent) and Muslims (4.4. percent). As of 1 pm, the polling percentage in Nagaland is 56 percent, while it stands at 28.5 percent in Meghalaya. According to the NPF, these promises include 100 percent funding of Centrally-sponsored schemes for Northeast region (which was earlier in the ratio of 90:10), Rs 5300 crore for infrastructure in the next three years, Rs 10,000 crore for roads in Nagaland, Rs 3000 crore for Dimapur-Kohima railway line, Rs 800 crore for power connectivity, and Rs 1800 crore for Kohima Smart City. The NDPP-BJP alliance has, through full, front page advertisements in the local daily newspapers today (26 February, 2018), blatantly violated the Model Code of Conduct by way of making a slew of promises, NPF associate press secretary Atou Liezietsu wrote to the CEO, Nagaland. The NPF has lodged a complaint with the EC alleging that the NDPP-BJP alliance in Nagaland has violated the Election Model Code of Conduct,The Morung Express reported on Tuesday. In some remote areas in Nagaland, voting will end by 3 pm. However those voters who are present near the polling booths will be provided coupons so that they can continue voting even after the close of polls. In Meghalaya, 57 MLAs are recontesting in the ongoing assembly elections. The average assets of these MLAs in 2018 is Rs 11.19 crores. Their average growth in assets from 2013 to 2018 is Rs. 3.41 crores i.e. an increase by 44 percent. NPF president Shurhozelie Liezietsu says it puzzles him that the Indian government has put AFSPA in force in Nagaland despite the peace in the state. The Naga issue is different from the problems around. Based on our unique history, we are fighting for our right. We believe we will be able to bring about a satisfactory conclusion to the problem. Nagaland is peaceful despite all the problems in the state. Naga people have been longing for peace for too long. Therefore, imposition of any draconian law is not at all necessary. Thats whats puzzling us. Why Indian government has put that draconian law in force in Nagaland. A 26-year old voter says she expects more employment opportunities to be created by the next government in Nagaland. According to CEO Fredrick R Kharkongor, polling at many booths were delayed due to malfunctioning EVMs and VVPATs. He didn't give any numbers related to the scale of malfunctions saying they were still collecting information from the ground. He said polling hours will be extended accordingly. As of 2 pm, voter turnout in Nagaland stands at 57 percent. Voting in Nagaland is expected to continue till 4 pm. However, in some remote areas of the state, the polling may be wrapped up by 3 pm. Out of the 193 candidates analysed in Nagaland, 114 (59 percent) were found to be crorepatis. The average of assets per candidate contesting in the Assembly elections is Rs 3.76 crores. However, there is one candidate, namely Akavi N. Zhimomi (AAP) contesting from Ghaspani-I constituency, who has declared zero assets in his affidavit. State Director General of Police (DGP) S B Singh said 580 polling stations were categorised as "vulnerable" and that strict security measures were in place across Meghalaya to ensure a free-and-fair election. Tuesday's polling will decide the fate of 361 candidates, including 31 women and 80 Independents, election office sources said, adding that 18.09 lakh voters were eligible to exercise their franchise in 3,025 polling stations in the state. For the first time, 67 all-women polling stations and 61 model polling stations were set up in the state, the CEO said. The CEO said a total of 106 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), along with the state armed personnel and police, were deployed across the state, especially in the troubled Garo Hills region. Akavi Zhimomi, AAP candidate for Nagaland's Ghaspani-I seat, alleges voters fraud in his constituency, reports The Hindu. He has been quoted as saying that he alerted the Election Commission over "one man one vote" not being practised in many polling stations. Despite the indefinite ceasefire, Nagaland continues to live under the controversial Armed Forces Special Power Act, in its 60th year in the state now (1958 to 2018). Declared a disturbed area, the deadline for repealing the Act in the state has been extended for another six months, to June 2018. At least 126 civilians in Nagaland were killed in insurgency attacks from 2007 to February 2018, showed the South Asia Terror Portal database. In the first two months of 2018 alone, the state reported four deaths, indicating peace in Nagaland is still precarious. Three years after brokering the Framework Agreement for peace with Nagalands largest rebel group in August 2015, earlier this month, the BJP broke its 15-year alliance with the states ruling party, as we said. Traditionally, votes were cast on the basis of village or clan affiliations. However, with the Hindutva-centric BJP now entering the fray, the campaign has turned communal. Meanwhile, Times Now reported that the clashes were between workes of NPF and BJP. It further reported that one worker was shot at chest and his condition is critical. According to NDTV, one person was killed and two were injured after clashes broke out near a polling booth in Nagaland's Akuluto between Naga People's Front (NPF) and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP). "We have done our best. We have showed the vision for the state. I am confident people will vote for change. It is now for the voters and I hope people turn out in large number," Conrad Sangma said soon after casting his vote. Sangma is seeking re-election for the fifth time from his home constituency in Ampati. "Citizens of Meghalaya do exercise your voting rights in a responsible and judicious manner. Counting on you all for peaceful elections throughout the state," the chief minister had tweeted earlier during the day. Meghalaya chief minister Mukul Sangma, who is contesting the Assembly election from Ampati and Songsak constituencies, cast his vote at a polling station in South West Garo Hills district on Tuesday, election officials said. The chief minister cast his vote at the remote Chenkompara polling station in Ampati constituency in the afternoon. A total of 18,09,818 electorates, including 9,13,702 women and 89,405 first-time voters, were to decide the fate of 361 candidates, including 31 women and many independents. Counting of votes will take place on 3 March. A total of 31.40 percent of the voters had cast votes till 1 pm. "Over 50 percent electorate had cast their votes till 4 pm, with a large number of voters still in queues at various polling stations across the state," Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor said. Over 50 percent of the 18.9 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the elections to 60-member Meghalaya Assembly at the end of voting hours, even as hundreds were still lined up to cast ballots. Asked whether the Congress had decided on potential partners in case it fell short of a majority in the new house, he quipped: "We do have lots of good friends." Sangma, the chief architect of the Congress win on 29 seats in the 2013 elections, is contesting from Ampati and Songsak. "I have full faith in the people. I believe they have full confidence in the Congress. We will cross the magic number," Sangma told journalists after voting at Chengkompara polling station in Ampati segment. Polling in still continuing in about 22-25% of the total polling stations across Meghalaya, he said. The 67 percent turnout in Meghalaya is an updated figure that the Eleciton Commission received at 5 pm. Kharkongor further added that the Election Commission is yet to receive polling percentage update from Garo Hills region, which accounts for 40 percent of the overall booths in Meghalaya. Chief Election Officer FR Kharkongor said, the 50 percent poll percent in Meghalaya, reported earlier, was based on the information the poll panel got from limited number of polling booths. When voting ended at 4 pm, voters were seen standing in queues outside polling stations, indicating that the poll percentage will go up. According to rules, those in queues are allowed to cast their votes. Seventy-five percent of the 11 lakh voters in Nagaland on Tuesday came out to cast their vote in the assembly elections, the Election Commission said. "This is what is available to me at this stage. Later on Tuesday or Wednesday, we will have the full and comprehensive voting percentage." At the customary end-of-polls press conference, Meghalaya's chief election officer FR Kharkongor explains that the hilly terrain in the state has hindered communications, especially with regions like Garo Hills and West and Southwest Khasi Hills which fall in the shadow areas, leading to incomplete polling percentage figures. Repolling has been ordered at one polling station (Kyndon Tuber) in Raliang constituency in Meghalaya's Jowai district due to "mix up of EVMs". Ballot unit meant for Mookaiaw was instead sent to Raliang. Dates have not been announced yet. A total of 18,09,818 electorates, including 9,13,702 women and 89,405 first-time voters, were to decide the fate of 361 candidates, including 31 women and many independents. Counting of votes will take place on 3 March. A total of 31.40 percent of the voters had cast votes till 1 pm. "Over 50 percent electorate had cast their votes till 4 pm, with a large number of voters still in queues at various polling stations across the state," Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor said. Over 50 percent of the 18.9 lakh voters exercised their franchise in the elections to 60-member Meghalaya Assembly at the end of voting hours, even as hundreds were still lined up to cast ballots. Asked whether the Congress had decided on potential partners in case it fell short of a majority in the new house, he quipped: "We do have lots of good friends." Sangma, the chief architect of the Congress win on 29 seats in the 2013 elections, is contesting from Ampati and Songsak. "I have full faith in the people. I believe they have full confidence in the Congress. We will cross the magic number," Sangma told journalists after voting at Chengkompara polling station in Ampati segment. Polling in still continuing in about 22-25% of the total polling stations across Meghalaya, he said. The 67 percent turnout in Meghalaya is an updated figure that the Eleciton Commission received at 5 pm. Kharkongor further added that the Election Commission is yet to receive polling percentage update from Garo Hills region, which accounts for 40 percent of the overall booths in Meghalaya. Chief Election Officer FR Kharkongor said, the 50 percent poll percent in Meghalaya, reported earlier, was based on the information the poll panel got from limited number of polling booths. When voting ended at 4 pm, voters were seen standing in queues outside polling stations, indicating that the poll percentage will go up. According to rules, those in queues are allowed to cast their votes. Seventy-five percent of the 11 lakh voters in Nagaland on Tuesday came out to cast their vote in the assembly elections, the Election Commission said. "This is what is available to me at this stage. Later on Tuesday or Wednesday, we will have the full and comprehensive voting percentage." At the customary end-of-polls press conference, Meghalaya's chief election officer FR Kharkongor explains that the hilly terrain in the state has hindered communications, especially with regions like Garo Hills and West and Southwest Khasi Hills which fall in the shadow areas, leading to incomplete polling percentage figures. Repolling has been ordered at one polling station (Kyndon Tuber) in Raliang constituency in Meghalaya's Jowai district due to "mix up of EVMs". Ballot unit meant for Mookaiaw was instead sent to Raliang. Dates have not been announced yet. Latest updates: As over 67 percent of the 18.9 lakh voters on Tuesday exercised their franchise in the elections to 60-member Meghalaya Assembly at the end of voting hours, Nagaland witness 75 percent voter turnout as hundreds were still lined up to cast their ballots. The Election Commission said that the final figures of voting in the two states will be out later in the day. Meanwhile, the BJP in Meghalaya filed a complaint with the Election Commission over the alleged broadcast of communal message on radio channel, Radio Mirchi, All India Radio reported. Violence broke out in Nagaland's Akuluto Assembly constituency after two groups from NPF and NDPP clashed, killing one and injuring two others. According to the state CEO, there has been no disturbance to polling process which goes on well, adding that an Additional SP is on the scene. Earlier, Meghalaya CEO Fredrick R Kharkongor has said faulty EVMs and VVPAT errors were reported at some places due to connectivity issue. Several reports of malfunctioning EVMs and VVPATs are constantly emerging from Meghalaya. In Nagaland, reports suggest that voting has been halted in Ladigarh polling station due to tension along Assam-Nagaland Border. Meanwhile, the first polling percentages have been released for both the states. A bomb explosion has been reported at a polling booth in Tizit Assembly constituency in Nagaland. The bomb explosion occurred at 6.45 am and one man has suffered injuries in his left leg, says Nagaland Police. State's chief minister TR Zeliang has sought peaceful resolution of the five-decade long insurgency after successful elections. Even as polling is underway in Meghalaya and Nagaland, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took to Twitter to urge voters to 'come out in large numbers' to vote. The stage is set for Tuesday's crucial Assembly elections in the two northeastern states of Meghalaya and Nagaland. Polling will be held between 7 am and 4 pm, except in some polling stations of the interior districts of Nagaland, where the process is scheduled to conclude at 3 pm. The two states have a 60-member House each, but voting will be held for 59 constituencies in both. In Meghalaya, the election has been countermanded in Williamnagar in the wake of the killing of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma in an IED blast in East Garo Hills district on 18 February. In Nagaland, NDPP chief Neiphiu Rio has been declared elected unopposed from the Northern Angami-II constituency. The results of the polls in the two states, along with that of Tripura, will be declared on 3 March. A high-decibel campaign for the polls in the two states came to an end on Sunday evening. Buoyed by the formation of governments in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP is making a determined bid to expand its footprint in the North East. For the Congress, the poll outcome in Meghalaya is particularly significant as it has been ruling the state for the last 10 years. But this time, the BJP is leaving no stone unturned to throw the Congress out of power and add Meghalaya into its kitty. Political observers are keenly watching the BJP's push in the North East, a Congress stronghold, where the saffron party has traditionally been a marginal player. In Meghalaya, the Congress and the BJP are pitted against each other. While the former has fielded 59 candidates, the latter has put up nominees in 47 constituencies. Though they are contesting the polls separately, in Meghalaya, the National People's Party (NPP) of Conrad Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma, is the BJP's partner in the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). In Nagaland, BJP's hope hinges on its alliance partner NDPP (the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party) of Neiphiu Rio, which is contesting from 40 seats. The saffron party has fielded candidates from the remaining 20 seats. The Congress, which has given three chief ministers to Nagaland since the state's inception in 1963, is contesting from only 18 seats, two less than the BJP, an emerging entity in the North East. There are 370 candidates in the fray in Meghalaya. A total of 18.4 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 3,083 polling stations in the state. Meghalaya's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) FR Kharkongor said for the first time, 67 all-women polling stations and 61 model polling stations were set up in the state. He added that 32 women candidates were in the fray, the highest ever in the state. In Nagaland, a total of 11,91,513 voters -- 6,01,707 (50.50 percent) men and 5,89,806 (49.50 percent) women -- will exercise their franchise on Tuesday. There are also 5,925 service voters. Voting will be conducted in 2,156 polling stations as 40 polling stations fall under the Northern Angami-II seat, from where Rio has been declared elected unopposed. Over 15,000 government employees will be on poll duty and there will be 177 all-women polling stations across 25 constituencies in the state. The election process in Nagaland had started on a difficult note. Following a no-election diktat from the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO), advocating "solution (to the Naga political issue) before election", the political parties had initially kept away from the poll process. Though the process of nomination-filing had started on 31 January, the first batch of 22 contestants filed their candidature only on the penultimate day on 5 February. There was a heavy rush of nominees filing their papers on the last day. After the scrutiny and withdrawal, a total of 227 nominees are left in the field in Nagaland. As many as 281 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), beside the state police force, are deployed throughout Nagaland to ensure a peaceful election. Nagaland's CEO Abhijit Sinha said all the polling stations would be manned by the CAPF personnel, while the state police would also be assisting them. Of the 2,156 polling stations in Nagaland, 1,100 were declared critical, 530 vulnerable and 526 normal, he added. The Meghalaya CEO told PTI that six of the 10 additional companies of CAPF were deployed in the troubled East and South Garo Hills districts. With inputs from PTI C-Voter predicts that the BJP-NDPP alliance will end up with 38.4 percent of the vote share, followed by NPF with 27.1 percent, Congress with 19.7 percent and Others with 14.8 percent Voting to the Nagaland Assembly election was marred by a clash between supporters of the ruling Naga People's Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Zunheboto district on Tuesday, in which one person was shot dead and two persons were injured. A total of 11,91,513 electorate, including 5,89,806 women and 26,900 new voters, decided the fate of 195 candidates, including five women and many independents. Counting of votes will take place on 3 March. According to the C-Voter exit poll for 2018, of the 60 seats in Nagaland, the BJP-NDPP alliance is likely to clinch 25 to 31 seats. The ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) is likely to get 19 to 25 seat share, the exit poll predicts. Congress and Others will see 0 to 4 and 6 to 10 seats respectively. C-Voter predicts that the BJP-NDPP alliance will end up with 38.4 percent of the vote share, followed by NPF with 27.1 percent, Congress with 19.7 percent and Others with 14.8 percent. Three-time chief minister Neiphiu Rio of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDDP) has been declared elected unopposed from Northern Angami-II constituency after lone rival Chupfuo Angami of the ruling NPF withdrew his nomination on 12 February. The newly floated NDPP has stitched an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the two are contesting 40 and 20 seats, respectively. However, Chief Minister TR Zeliang voiced confidence that the NPF will retain power. The run-up to the polls saw several twists and turns, with the core committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) demanding a solution to the vexed Naga problem before the elections, due to which many political parties in the state had decided not to contest the Assembly polls. In the 2013 Nagaland elections, 90.19 percent voter turnout was recorded. Here is a look at the C-Voter Nagaland exit poll predictions: Click here to follow LIVE updates on the Nagaland election results Click here to follow LIVE updates on election results in all three states Click here for the seat sharing pattern in all three states With inputs from agencies As Modi launched a blistering attack on Siddaramaiah and the Congress over corruption, Surjewala told a press conference in the state capital Bengaluru that the PNB fraud was getting bigger but the prime minister was quiet. Bengaluru/Davangere: The BJP and Congress were locked in a slugfest over corruption in battle ground Karnataka, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi calling the Siddaramaiah government "seedha rupaiya sarkar" that works only for money. The Congress hit right back, as its communications chief Randeep Singh Surjewala used Modi's remark made years ago to target the prime minister over his silence on the PNB scam, asking him to turn from "maun (silent) Modi to bol (speaking) Modi". At an election rally in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi in 2012, Modi, then the Gujarat chief minister, had attacked prime minister Manmohan Singh, saying he was "maun (silent) Mohan Singh" who showed no concern over rising prices and plight of the poor people. "Some people feel that in Karnataka there is Siddaramaiah government. But the fact is that here there is seedha rupaiya sarkar (to rhyme with the chief minister's name. In every thing there is seeda rupaiya (bribe and tainted money), only then work happens," Modi told a farmers rally of the BJP in Davangere. "You tell me, do you want this seedha rupaiya culture? Do you want seedha rupaiya kaarnaama (exploits)? Will common man get justice from this seedha rupaiya? This seeda Rupaiya government has to go," he told the rally organised to mark the 75th birthday of the party's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa. As the prime minister launched a blistering attack on Siddaramaiah and the Congress over corruption, Surjewala told a press conference in the state capital Bengaluru that the PNB fraud was getting bigger but the prime minister was quiet. "Why is it that the bank fraud keeps getting bigger? On February 14, 2018, when PNB did its filing with the National Stock Exchange, they admitted that their exposure is $1771.69 million," Surjewala said. "Last evening they did a second filing admitting that their exposure has now further gone up by USD 204.25 million," he said, adding this means that the total scam has gone up to $2 billion (Rs 12,717 crore). "Who is responsible? Who is responsible for this public loot of money? We, with folded hands, request Prime Minister Narendra Modi... when will you honorable prime minister shift from maun Modi to bol Modi (silent Modi to speaking Modi)," he told the press conference where he released the copies of PNB's filing to the exchanges. Noting that Modi, during his recent visits to Karnataka had, among other things, spoken on the issue of corruption, Surjewala said after 46 months in power "if one person in India has to answer on corruption, it is Modi and his party the BJP." He said, "We want to ask the PM on behalf of the country to break his maun vrat, to break his silence and speak out, answer questions of the people of the country." In a frontal attack on the Congress, Modi told the rally in Davangere, that the party cannot be saved due to the "weight of its sins". "You see across the country. Whenever the people have got an opportunity, they have first removed Congress. Because the country has come to know that the root cause for all our ills is the Congress culture, and when there is Congress culture, everything that we see is not good..nothing good we can see," he said. "There is anger against this government...such governments are very few," Modi said. This was the prime minister's third visit in a month to Karnataka, where the BJP is making a determined push to wrest power from the Congress. Assembly elections in Karnataka, the only southern state to have had a BJP government, are likely in April/May. "In this country, there was never a raid on the residence of any sitting minister. Here, in their houses you get diaries, money. You get bundles of notes from houses of leaders. Where did this money come from? "...Whose money is this? If this is not seedha rupaiya (tainted money) what is it?" Modi said, obviously referring to the Income Tax raid on a state minister and a close aide of the chief minister last year. An SAD-BJP delegation met Punjab governor Badnore and urged him to direct the state government to scrap the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation poll process Chandigarh: An SAD-BJP delegation on Monday met Punjab governor VP Singh Badnore and urged him to direct the state government to scrap the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation poll process and hold elections afresh. The delegation was led by senior SAD leaders Bikram Singh Majithia, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Dinesh Kumar and Rajinder Bhandari. They accused the Congress of resorting to "unprecedented violence" along with "booth capturing and rigging" and alleged that democracy had been "murdered". Polling to 95 wards of Ludhiana Municipal Corporation took place on 24 February with stray incidents of violence including vandalism and firing incident marring the elections. The SAD-BJP delegation demanded that polling be held again. They alleged that Congress leaders "misused" police personnel deployed there, indulged in "booth capturing and bogus voting", as well as intimidating SAD-BJP workers. The delegation urged the governor to direct the Ludhiana administration to register cases against Congress' Ludhiana MP Ranveet Singh Bittu and MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu. It is also requested that the governor directs the administration to withdraw all false cases registered against SAD-BJP workers immediately. Congress President Rahul Gandhi raked up the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case saying it has claimed yet another judge, after the pleas in the matter were assigned to a new single-judge bench of the Bombay High Court New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday raked up the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case saying it has claimed yet another judge, after the pleas in the matter were assigned to a new single-judge bench of the Bombay High Court. He also cited media reports that the judge hearing the case has been replaced, and tagged on Twitter the report entitled "Sohrabuddin Sheikh case: Fresh questions as the judge who lifted media gag and slammed CBI is replaced". He also referred to the issue of death of CBI judge BH Loya, who was earlier hearing the case and used the hashtag "#HowDidLoyaDie?" in his tweet. "The Sohrabuddin case claims yet another Judge. Justice Revati Dere, who challenged the CBI, has been removed. Judge JT Utpat, asked Amit Shah to appear, and was removed. "Judge Loya asked tough questions. He died. #HowDidLoyaDie?," Gandhi said on Twitter. The Sohrabuddin case claims yet another Judge. Justice Revati Dere, who challenged the CBI has been removed. Judge J T Utpat, asked Amit Shah to appear and was removed. Judge Loya asked tough questions. He died. #HowDidLoyaDie? https://t.co/iNFLVIEQni Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) February 27, 2018 A batch of petitions challenging the discharge of some senior IPS officers in the alleged fake encounter case of Sohrabuddin Shaikh was assigned to a new single-judge bench of the Bombay High Court, three weeks after Justice Dere started day-to-day hearing in the matter. A notice published on the high court website this evening said that Justice Revati Mohite-Dere, who was dealing with the petitions, will no longer hear criminal revision applications. Apart from Justice Mohite-Dere, the assignment of cases of some other judges has also been changed. Sohrabuddin Shaikh, a gangster with alleged terror links, and his wife Kausar Bi were killed in a suspected fake encounter by the Gujarat police in November 2005. Shaikh's aide Tulsiram Prajapati was killed in another alleged fake encounter by the Gujarat and Rajasthan police in December 2006. BJP president Amit Shah, , who was the home minister of Gujarat at the time of the alleged encounter, was among 15 persons who were discharged by the CBI court in Mumbai between August 2016 and September 2017. The CPM is confident of retaining power in its bastion of Tripura in the Assembly elections and achieving a turnaround in the Left movement across the country, though the BJP is battling tooth and nail to oust the Left Front government as well The CPM is likely to retain power in its bastion Tripura in the Assembly elections despite the BJP challenging them tooth and nail to end over two decades of Left Front rule in the state. Of the 60 seats in the Tripura Assembly, the C-Voter exit poll for 2018 predicts that the party with the highest vote share in the state will be CPM, which is forecasted to clinch 44.3 percent of the seats. BJP will be a close second with 42.8 percent of the vote share. According to the C-Voter poll, Congress may get 7.2 percent of the seats, while the other candidates will muster 5.7 percent vote share. For CPM, C-Voter exit poll predicts a seat share of around 26 to 34, while forecasts 24 to 32 seats for BJP. Congress and others are both likely to clinch 0 to 2 seats. In the country's 65-year-long electoral history, the country's dominant Left party, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPM), has never been in direct confrontation with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). However, political developments in Tripura in 2016 and 2017 had set the stage for their first face-to-face battle as the saffron outfit emerged as the key opposition party in this Communist-ruled northeastern state. All the top leaders of CPM, BJP, Congress and Trinamool Congress had participated in the hectic two-month long poll campaigning. Counting of votes will take place on 3 March. After Tripura become a full-fledged state in January 1972 along with Meghalaya and Manipur, the CPM dominated Left Front was in power since 1978 except for 11 years (1972-1977 and 1988-1993) when the Congress and the breakaway Congress led by five chief ministers ran the state. During 1988-93 Congress in alliance with the tribal-based political partyTripura Upajati Juba Samitygoverned the state. The Congress, which since 1983 fought the elections in alliance with the tribal-based party, is facing the poll battle alone this time. The BJP, which previously fought elections alone, has aligned with the tribal-based party Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT). The IPFT has since 2009 been agitating for a separate state containing Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council. The separate state demand has been rejected by all other political parties. The ruling CPM has fielded 57 candidates, leaving one seat each to its Left Front partners the Communist Party of India, Forward Bloc and Revolutionary Socialist Party. The BJP is contesting 51 seats and has left nine seats for ally IPFT. The Congress fielded candidates for all 60 constituencies. However, Congress' official nominee (Sukumar Chandra Das) in Kakraban-Shalgarha assembly seat (Scheduled Caste reserved seat), withdrew his nomination and joined the BJP. The Trinamool Congress has fielded 24 candidates. Here is a look at the C-Voter Tripura exit poll predictions: With inputs from agencies Follow LIVE updates on Tripura Assembly Election results here Click here to follow LIVE updates on North East Election results here Re-election in one polling booth each at six Assembly constituencies in Tripura saw a voter turnout of 90.58 percent on Monday, according to state EC. Agartala: Re-election in one polling booth each at six Assembly constituencies in Tripura saw a voter turnout of 90.58 percent on Monday, according to the Tripura Election Commission. After extensive scrutiny of reports supplied by the state election office, the Election Commission of India (ECI) had ordered re-polling at six polling centres, owing to malfunctioning of EVMs and VVPATs during the 18 February election to 59 constituencies of the Tripura Assembly. The poll at Charilam constituency was countermanded after the demise of CPM candidate Ramendra Narayan Debbarma on 11 February. Polling on this tribal reserved seat is slated for 12 March. Polling at one polling centre each in Dhanpur, Sonamura, Teliamura, Sabroom, Ampinagar and Kadamtala Kurti Assembly constituencies went peacefully. "There was no report of violence or untoward incident from anywhere," superintendent of police (Operation) Pradip Dey informed. CPM seeks to shift of counting centre CPM, which had initially lashed out at the EC after the 18 February election and complained of foul play in the decision to hold re-election in six polling centres, had no critical comment to make on Monday. Rather, the party congratulated people through a statement for turning out in large numbers for the re-poll exercise despite facing troubles. It also hoped the EC would ensure a peaceful and snag-free counting. Counting for Tripura, along with two neighbouring poll-bound states Meghalaya and Nagaland will be taken up on 3 March. "We are, however, firm with our demand to shift the counting centres for Takarjala and Golaghati Assembly constituencies. The situation in Jampuijala sub-division is hardly conducive to conduct trouble-free counting," CPM state secretary Bijan Dhar said. CPM earlier blamed IPFT (Indigenous People's Front of Tripura), an electoral ally of the BJP, for 'unleashing terror' at Jampuijala in Sepahijala district. IPFT president Narendra Chandra Debbarma is contesting from Takarjala (ST) constituency. Dhar added that the party will "cooperate with the EC, even if it does not shift the counting centre from Takarjala", but "we just want entire election exercise to be conducted fairly". Dhar said he is confident the CPM-led Left Front government will rule the state for the eighth time. IPFT denied allegations of attack, threat and intimidation on rivals, and counter-blamed the Left cadres for 'fuelling tension'. "The allegations of CPM are baseless and politically motivated," IPFT chief Debbarma said. Voting 'fair' under Sarkar's watch On Monday, voting started at 7 am amid tight security manned by paramilitary forces. No EVM or VVPAT malfunction was reported. The six polling centres with total 5,600 electors that went to re-poll on Monday included Telkajla HS School in Dhanpur, which is currently held by CPM veteran and Chief Minister Manik Sarkar. The polling centre has 1,088 voters. Sarkar has won the constituency consecutively since 1998, and another victory would ensure his fifth term in state Assembly. Unlike previous elections, the chief minister campaigned extensively on home turf, as top BJP leaders spent time across the state to give him a tough fight. Apart from Sarkar, BJP's Pratima Bhoumik, INC's Laxmi Nag (Barman), and AITC's Jahir Uddin are contesting Dhanpur. Ruling CPM's tallest leader in Tripura stood for hours at a distance overseeing the re-election centre at Dhanpur on Monday. Sarkar had also visited the area on Saturday to make a last-minute appeal to the voters. "I can see election is taking place properly," Sarkar told journalists in a brief retort at Dhanpur. Bhoumik, who flanked the chief minister for a while, concurred with Sarkar's observation. The BJP state general secretary appears to be Sarkar's main contender at Dhanpur, which has a mixed population of Tribals, Hindus and Muslims. State BJP president Biplab Kumar Deb, too, campaigned in the constituency on Saturday to lure electors for Bhoumik. Targeting the CPM for 'orchestrating violence in some areas before they face an imminent defeat', Deb called on Left cadres to help maintain peace in the state. When questioned about Monday's re-election, BJP's state media coordinator Victor Som not only claimed that BJP has already won but said they have only gained in re-poll. "We have already won the votes in re-poll have augmented our victory margin," Som said. The author is an Imphal-based freelance writer and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters. IANS When Apple Inc begins hosting Chinese users iCloud accounts in a new Chinese data centre at the end of this month to comply with new laws there, Chinese authorities will have far easier access to text messages, email and other data stored in the cloud. Thats because of a change to how the company handles the cryptographic keys needed to unlock an iCloud account. Until now, such keys have always been stored in the United States, meaning that any government or law enforcement authority seeking access to a Chinese iCloud account needed to go through the US legal system. Now, according to Apple, for the first time the company will store the keys for Chinese iCloud accounts in China itself. That means Chinese authorities will no longer have to use the US courts to seek information on iCloud users and can instead use their own legal system to ask Apple to hand over iCloud data for Chinese users, legal experts said. Human rights activists say they fear the authorities could use that power to track down dissidents, citing cases from more than a decade ago in which Yahoo Inc handed over user data that led to arrests and prison sentences for two democracy advocates. Jing Zhao, a human rights activist and Apple shareholder, said he could envisage worse human rights issues arising from Apple handing over iCloud data than occurred in the Yahoo case. In a statement, Apple said it had to comply with recently introduced Chinese laws that require cloud services offered to Chinese citizens be operated by Chinese companies and that the data be stored in China. It said that while the companys values dont change in different parts of the world, it is subject to each countrys laws. While we advocated against iCloud being subject to these laws, we were ultimately unsuccessful, it said. Apple said it decided it was better to offer iCloud under the new system because discontinuing it would lead to a bad user experience and actually lead to less data privacy and security for its Chinese customers. As a result, Apple has established a data center for Chinese users in a contractual arrangement with state-owned firm Guizhou - Cloud Big Data Industry Co Ltd. The firm was set up and funded by the provincial government in the relatively poor southwestern Chinese province of Guizhou in 2014. The Guizhou company has close ties to the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party. The Apple decision highlights a difficult reality for many US technology companies operating in China. If they dont accept demands to partner with Chinese companies and store data in China then they risk losing access to the lucrative Chinese market, despite fears about trade secret theft and the rights of Chinese customers. Broad Powers Apple says the joint venture does not mean that China has any kind of backdoor into user data and that Apple alone not its Chinese partner will control the encryption keys. But Chinese customers will notice some differences from the start: their iCloud accounts will now be co-branded with the name of the local partner, a first for Apple. And even though Chinese iPhones will retain the security features that can make it all but impossible for anyone, even Apple, to get access to the phone itself, that will not apply to the iCloud accounts. Any information in the iCloud account could be accessible to Chinese authorities who can present Apple with a legal order. Apple said it will only respond to valid legal requests in China, but Chinas domestic legal process is very different than that in the US, lacking anything quite like an American warrant reviewed by an independent court, Chinese legal experts said. Court approval isnt required under Chinese law and police can issue and execute warrants. Even very early in a criminal investigation, police have broad powers to collect evidence, said Jeremy Daum, an attorney and research fellow at Yale Law Schools Paul Tsai China Center in Beijing. (They are) authorized by internal police procedures rather than independent court review, and the public has an obligation to cooperate. Guizhou - Cloud Big Data and Chinas cyber and industry regulators did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The Guizhou provincial government said it had no specific comment. There are few penalties for breaking what rules do exist around obtaining warrants in China. And while China does have data privacy laws, there are broad exceptions when authorities investigate criminal acts, which can include undermining communist values, picking quarrels online, or even using a virtual private network to browse the Internet privately. Apple says the cryptographic keys stored in China will be specific to the data of Chinese customers, meaning Chinese authorities cant ask Apple to use them to decrypt data in other countries like the United States. Privacy lawyers say the changes represent a big downgrade in protections for Chinese customers. The US standard, when its a warrant and when its properly executed, is the most privacy-protecting standard, said Camille Fischer of the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Warned Customers Apple has given its Chinese users notifications about the February 28 switchover to the Chinese data centre in the form of emailed warnings and so-called push alerts, reminding users that they can choose to opt out of iCloud and store information solely on their device. The change only affects users who set China as their country on Apple devices and doesnt affect users who select Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan. Apple doesnt require an iCloud account to set up and use an iPhone. But if the user enables iCloud during set up, the default settings on the iPhone will automatically create an iCloud back-up. Apple declined to comment on whether it would change its default settings to make iCloud an opt-in service, rather than opt-out, for Chinese users. Apple said it will not switch customers accounts to the Chinese data center until they agree to new terms of service and that more than 99.9 percent of current users have already done so. Until now, Apple appears to have handed over very little data about Chinese users. From mid-2013 to mid-2017, Apple said it did not give customer account content to Chinese authorities, despite having received 176 requests, according to transparency reports published by the company. By contrast, Apple has given the United States customer account content in response to 2,366 out of 8,475 government requests. Those figures are from before the Chinese cyber security laws took effect and also dont include special national security requests in which US officials might have requested data about Chinese nationals. Apple, along with other companies, is prevented by law from disclosing the targets of those requests. Apple said requests for data from the new Chinese data centre will be reflected in its transparency reports and that it wont respond to bulk data requests. Human rights activists say they are also concerned about such a close relationship with a state-controlled entity like Guizhou-Cloud Big Data. Sharon Hom, executive director of Human Rights in China, said the Chinese Communist Party could also pressure Apple through a committee of members it will have within the company. These committees have been pushing for more influence over decision making within foreign-invested companies in the past couple of years. Sanjai Gangadharan Cryptocurrency is one of the hot topics in our industry now. Financier James Altucher predicted that cryptocurrencies will replace some or all paper money. Cryptocurrencies will replace some or all paper currencies in the long run," he told CNBC. "Institutions aren't yet in bitcoin, but they will be ... we are in inning 0 of this asset class." And its not just finance and tech getting in on the cryptocurrency boom. Rapper 50 Cent revealed recently that he had $7 million in Bitcoin that he plumb forgot about the hip-hopper accepted 700 Bitcoins as an alternative method of payment for his 2014 album, and theyve steadily increased in value since. The problem is, attackers are paying attention. As cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin go mainstream, attackers will target Bitcoin as one of the next major targets. And, according to Coin Telegraph, this gets further validation. Cryptocurrency exchanges are now the biggest worldwide DDoS target. In Q3 2017, 75 percent (or three out of every four) Bitcoin exchanges were hit with a DDoS attack. Just this month, BitConnect, a cryptocurrency lending and exchange platform, announced it would shut down, and partially said a string of website paralyzing DDoS attacks contributed to its closure. BitConnect isnt alone. Other large exchanges, including Bitfinex and Bittrex, saw their services sidelined by DDoS attacks late last year. And those attacks followed a massive attack during the launch of Bitcoin Gold, which rendered the site inaccessible, and the takedown of the Poloniex exchange, which ground trading to a halt. The main reason behind the spike in DDoS attacks against cryptocurrency businesses is simple: cryptocurrency is becoming more popular and more valuable. Attackers want to disrupt the high traffic sites and deny users access to services and their money. And because trading happens in real time, any moment of downtime can be catastrophic. That, coupled with cryptocurrency being decentralised and not tied to or backed by a government, makes it an attractive target for attackers. Organizations must leverage the latest security solutions to stand up to DDoS attackers, and that goes double for cryptocurrency exchanges, which are currently prime targets. Its imperative that companies leverage DDoS defense solutions that can detect, mitigate and report on multi-vector DDoS attacks of any size and any scale. And their DDoS defense solutions should have built-in intelligence of known bots and agents to defend networks against current threats. Hybrid protection is also key. Hybrid DDoS defense gives you the best of both worlds by combining cloud scrubbing with the surgical precision and context-aware controls of an always-on, instant on-premise DDoS solution. Hybrid DDoS protection works this way: when DDoS attack volumes grow beyond the capacity of your internet pipe, it diverts traffic to the cloud to maintain service availability. This ensures you can defend against frequent smaller and sophisticated attacks that target applications, services and security devices, and the colossal 1 Tbps volumetric attacks that crush companies. Blending cloud and on-premise DDoS defense ensures network exhaustion and application layer attacks are caught, and it eliminates mitigation errors that cause collateral damage to legitimate traffic and users. The author is regional director SAARC at A10 Networks. tech2 News Staff Google has released a new feature on Google Maps in a few countries. The system is called a 'plus code' which is a combination of two elements that represents the address of a particular place. The first element includes 6 or 7 letters and numbers and the second element includes a town or a city example "X4HP+M5, Cairo, Egypt," is the plus code Cairo, Egypt. To begin with, plus codes can be generated on both Android and iOS devices. According to the official website, a plus code can be used to find or share a location when it is not easily detectable on the Map. The Google support blog describes the steps to find the Plus code on Android and iOS devices. Opening the Google Maps app on your device and dragging the location pin by touching and holding on the map to the place whose location is needed. Next, tap the address at the bottom or description of the address and scroll down to get the plus code. Tapping the plus code on devices copies it on the clipboard and can directly be pasted to in a chat box or notes to share it to others. What is cool about plus code addresses is that you can create one for a location without a town or a city, the area code of the place is added to the beginning of the plus code. A Google plus code is free without any licensing fees or other costs and is also accessible offline. 'Close by', places have similar plus codes that make it easy to identify nearby places or to know weather you are close to the particular destination. These plus codes are non-exclusive and can be printed as a grid on paper, posters and signs, which will also help find address for the people without computer or mobile phones. The official website mentions that the plus code system is independent of borders and also shows codes of the disputed areas that have not been mapped on Google, which is a big deal for people living in these areas. The '+' symbol in the address also makes it more identifiable for people and computers to locate it on Google Maps and Google Search. The new feature can be beneficial for government and municipalities, emergency services, humanitarian and disaster relief organisations, transportation, logistics and utility providers, financial institutions and lastly also small business. According to the report on GeoSpatial World the project is managed by Googles Zurich engineering office and is an extension of an existing Project called as Open Location Code (OLC), an open-source project started by Google engineers. AFP The head of China's Huawei defended his company on Monday following concerns its equipment could be used for spying, saying the telecoms giant had a "very strong track record regarding security." Huawei has reportedly lost a deal with AT&T in the United States that would have given it an improved foothold on the handset market following a report by US lawmakers expressing unease "regarding Huawei and Chinese espionage." The founder of the group is a former engineer in China's People's Liberation Army and this has led to concerns of close links with the Chinese military and government, which Huawei has consistently denied. US authorities have even asked the Australian government not to use Huawei equipment to deploy super-fast 5G wireless networks in the country, according to Australian media. "We have seen concerns, however, no solid facts," Hu told reporters at Barcelona's Mobile World Congress, the world's largest mobile phone show, according to an English translation of his comments in Chinese. "Discussions and debate must be based on fact, not suspicion..." he said. "Huawei's HQ is based in China and if that's enough to be seen as a group that can't be trusted, it can be quite problematic," he added. "We provide products for 400 operators, we have a very strong track record regarding security. Security is one of our top priorities." Asked about the first deployments of 5G, the next generation of mobile phone technology that promise to be quick enough to download a full-length film in less than a second, Hu said commercialisation was expected to begin before the end of the year. He said Huawei has signed 45 contracts for 5G pre-commercialisation around the world, with large-scale trials in London, Vancouver, Tokyo and Seoul. Be sure to follow our MWC 2018 page, Twitter and Facebook channels for LIVE updates from the show floor Ankit Vengurlekar Nokia unleashed a barrage of products on the world at MWC 2018. These products ranged from the humble Nokia 1, to the quirky 8110, all the way to the high-end Nokia 8 Sirocco. As a company, Nokia has had a rich history of churning out incredibly rugged and well-designed phones that matched the sentiment of the market in their time. Nokia did completely miss the bus on the touch-screen smartphone, and a misguided in hindsight attempt to bring back the brand in a new Windows Phone-powered avatar ended in disaster. The hardware side of things, the phones, is being managed by HMD Global, a relatively new company, but one thats still got a lot of that old Nokia blood flowing in its veins. At MWC, we got a chance to catch up with Juho Sarvikas, Chief Product Officer at HMD Global, and attempted to understand the driving factor behind the reborn Nokia brand. Speaking to media, Sarvikas said that Nokia phones will retain the same model numbers. A Nokia 7 Plus will remain a Nokia 7 Plus whether it was launched in 2018 or 2019, but the phones will get upgrades. Android One: The Nokia connection Sarvikas also touched upon another feature thats unique to Nokia, the fact that its entire smartphone lineup is powered by Android One. Android One, a program by Google for bringing a stock Android experience to smartphones, has been very well received by the enthusiast community at large. Android One allows us a faster time-to-market with the latest Android features due to being a preferred partner with Android, says Sarvikas, adding that security updates are also much easier and timely with Android One. Feature phones: The future of Nokia? On the Nokia 8110 slider phone, aka the phone from The Matrix, Sarvikas said that theyre still working with partners to bring popular apps to the device. The phone doesnt support apps like WhatsApp, after all. He added that we might even see a fresh design for a smart feature phone next year, but that theyre waiting to gauge the response. He did acknowledge that people tended to prefer smartphones in the price of the 8110 ($97). Despite that, he believes that feature phone loyalists would prefer options like the 8110. Low-cost feature phones for people who want basic functions on a phone will be in big demand, said Sarvikas. Another area that Nokia is interested in is the accessories market. Yesteryears Nokia was big on accessories, a formula that worked very well at the time. Nokia plans to bring that idea back to life. From audio to power, we plan to bring them [accessories], says Sarvikas. IoT: Powered by Nokia? Sarvikas expressed a keen interest in the consumer Internet of Things (IoT) space, stating that, were watching that space keenly for 4G network development. To conclude, Sarvikas noted that the focus was on the idea that You can tell the best stories with your Nokia Phone and that camera capabilities are key for us. Nokia has evolved and certainly grown significantly since its Windows Phone days. One thing is clear, however, Nokia is back, and its here to stay. Be sure to follow our MWC 2018 page, Twitter and Facebook channels for LIVE updates from the show floor. Disclaimer: Tech2 was invited to MWC 2018 by Huawei, who was responsible for all expenses related to travel and accommodation. tech2 News Staff The last time we heard about Israeli security firm Cellebrite, it was about two years ago in the FBI's battle against Apple in the San Bernardino shooting case. While Apple and the FBI were locked up in a cat and mouse chase, the FBI eventually had its way with a third-party company that offered to unlock the iPhone 5c, a smartphone which belonged to a terrorist involved in the same case. The FBI reportedly paid the security firm, a little under $1 million to get the passcode for the locked iPhone, the same one that Apple refused to unlock. During the case, Apple CEO, Tim Cook went as far as saying that giving backdoor access to the law enforcement agencies was nothing short of a "software equivalent of cancer." According to Forbes, the Israel-based vendor has become the US government's go to company when it comes to unlocking devices. Now that the dust has settled, a year later, the same firm has now announced that it can unlock an any of Apple's iPhones and iPads. According to Forbes, this list even includes the famed iPhone X smartphone, its latest and greatest. The long list of mobile devices now also includes Android-powered smartphones, with brands like Samsung (Galaxy and Note series), Alcatel, Google's Nexus, HTC, Huawei, LG, Motorola, ZTE and many more on the list. Cellebrite shot out a document detailing the same under the firm's 'advanced unlocking and extraction services' "Devices supported for Advanced Unlocking and Extraction Services include: Apple iOS devices and operating systems, including iPhone, iPad, iPad mini, iPad Pro and iPod touch, running iOS 5 to iOS 11. Google Android devices, including Samsung Galaxy and Galaxy Note devices; and other popular devices from Alcatel, Google Nexus, HTC, Huawei, LG, Motorola, ZTE, and more." The only compelling reason for someone to buy an iPhone over more open, less expensive competitors was @Apple's stronger stance on users' right to privacy and security. This story and Forbes' Cellebrite report (https://t.co/insMgQARrY) threaten the core of an iPhone's value. https://t.co/qgXBmnJphl Edward Snowden (@Snowden) February 26, 2018 Cellebrite sees its services as ethical hacking. "The race to uncover evidence can either prevent a crime from occurring or assist in a criminal investigation that can prove innocence, lead to an arrest or conviction. " reads the document. While the above mentioned document, does not list iPhones by model, it could also include the iPhone X that touts Apple's new Face ID security feature. The same report also sheds some light on a previous attempt made by the US government to unlock an iPhone X in a warrant that showed up in the state of Michigan. The probe is to do with a suspect in the arms trafficking case, where an iPhone X was taken from the suspect just before boarding a flight for Beirut Lebanon on 20 November, 2017. While Cellebrite claims that it can unlock any iPhone that runs anything between iOS 5 to iOS 11, it is also wise to keep in mind that Apple rolls out software updates on a regular basis, so it's hard to tell if the software company's hacks work on the latest updates of iOS 11. Celebrite does however claim that its "list of supported products is continuously updated" so customers should contact Cellebrite for specific requests. Reuters Spanish mobile operator Telefonica on Sunday launched a voice-activated assistant, called Aura, in six countries, using artificial intelligence to interact with its customers. The announcement, on the eve of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, comes a year after Telefonica promised a makeover in response to U.S. tech giants like Amazon, whose interactive aide Alexa has become a big seller. Telefonica, present in 17 markets across Europe and Latin America, is offering its assistant in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Spain and Britain. A year ago we said we wanted artificial intelligence to be the basis of our clients relationship with us and we are delivering on our promise, Chairman Jose Maria Alvarez-Pallete said on Sunday. Digitalization is the core of our business and thanks to the deep internal transformation that we have undergone in the last eight years we have become a company of smart platforms. European telecoms have struggled to grow as regulators crack down on roaming fees, data prices erode, and opportunities to achieve economies of scale by merging fade because markets are already concentrated. They also face a struggle to keep up with so-called platform companies like Amazon, Google or Facebook that have proven highly adept at using customer data to sell products, services or advertising online. Aura wont seek to compete instead it will operate as a branded app in Argentina, Brazil and Britain, will run on Telefonicas pay-TV platform in Spain, while being available via Facebook Messenger in Chile and Germany. It will soon be integrated with Google Assistant, as well as Microsofts Cortana in 2019, Telefonica said. Telefonica, which has invested 56 billion euros ($69 billion) in its digital upgrade since 2012, forecast last week that sales would grow by 1 percent this year - slower than the high double digits achieved by U.S. players. It also said it was working with Deutsche Telekom of Germany, Dutch KPN and Orange of France on a so-called data-portability initiative. This comes before new European Union rules that enter force in May - called the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) that give customers greater rights over how their personal data is handled by companies. Data portability foresees allowing people to receive or transfer data collected about them online, in an accessible form, as part of a wider policy agenda of shielding citizens from corporate surveillance. Be sure to follow our MWC 2018 page, Twitter and Facebook channels for LIVE updates from the show floor. President Donald Trump declared he's willing to take on the National Rifle Association over gun legislation, but Republicans who control Congress aren't so sure Washington: President Donald Trump declared he's willing to take on the National Rifle Association over gun legislation, but Republicans who control Congress aren't so sure. They prefer to consider only modest changes to firearms limits in response to the mass shooting at a Florida high school. Congress returned to work Monday without following Trump's lead on any of the major initiatives he has tossed into the debate since the massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Despite public calls for stricter gun laws, Republican leaders have largely kept quiet after the shooting which left 17 dead and ushered in another phase in the gun debate, prompted in large part by the activism of the young survivors. Some students visited with lawmakers Monday. Over the weekend, Trump spent time talking to Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, and the White House is inviting lawmakers from both parties for meetings this week. But Trump's ideas to arm many teachers, lift the minimum age for purchasing assault rifles to 21 and impose stricter background checks were falling flat. "You guys, half of you are so afraid of the NRA," the president said Monday at a meeting with the nation's governors. "There's nothing to be afraid of. And you know what? If they're not with you, we have to fight them every once in a while. That's OK." Instead, Senate Republicans are hoping to consider more modest legislation from Sens. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Chris Murphy, D-Conn., to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System or NICS. The "Fix NICS" bill, similar to one approved last year in the House, would penalize federal agencies that don't properly report required records used to determine whether someone can legally buy a gun. Cornyn, the Senate's Number 2 Republican, questioned Trump's proposal to raise the age limit for assault weapons, noting that the minimum age to enlist in the military is 18. "I'm not sure I understand the 21 age. I think there are better ways to address it than just an arbitrary age increase," he told The Washington Times. Trump insisted Monday that sometimes political leaders need to buck the NRA, which builds its political power by major campaign spending and motivating gun rights supporters to vote. Though he did not mention increasing the minimum age for rifle purchases, he wants to toughen the Cornyn bill with stricter background checks, a change the NRA has opposed. "We're going to strengthen it," Trump said. "We're going to make it more pertinent to what we're discussing." Democrats have long pressed for more sweeping changes toward a universal background check system, including requiring inquiries for online and gun show purchases. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said Monday that if all Congress can accomplish is the passage of the "Fix NICS" bill "it would be an abject failure and a dereliction of our duty." Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., are reviving their background check bill, which failed earlier, including after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012. Manchin said opponents at the time worried then-President Barack Obama would impose even stricter restrictions. "Well they're not having that fear right now with President Trump," he said. At a minimum, Congress should approve universal background checks, Schumer said, denouncing "NRA-backed bills that make Republicans feel better without meaningfully addressing the issue of gun safety." In the House, many Democrats want to reinstate an assault weapons ban that expired more than a decade ago. But House Republican leaders believe it's up to the Senate to take the next steps, according to a top House GOP aide, who spoke only on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to discuss legislative strategy. The House passed legislation in December that included changes to the background-check system. It was part of a broader package that stalled in the Senate because it included expanded gun rights by requiring states to recognize conceal-carry permits issued by other states. The House package also included a measure to study bump stocks, the devices that turn rifles into automatic-style weapons and were used in the Las Vegas assault last fall, the deadliest mass shooting in US history. In the Senate, Republican leaders see the best route to the passage in separating the issues of background checks and state reciprocity measures. They were testing support Monday for quick consideration of the background checks bill, which was introduced last fall after the shooting of churchgoers in Texas. At the time, authorities acknowledged having failed to report the Texas gunman's domestic violence conviction to the National Criminal Information Center database. "I'm for doing what's achievable," Cornyn told reporters. But even the "Fix NICS" bill faced resistance from some in the GOP ranks. Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky said the bill would encourage federal agencies "to encroach upon constitutionally guaranteed rights without affording robust due-process protections." At the same time, some Republican lawmakers appeared willing to go further, particularly in outlawing bump stocks, which the Trump administration wants to do through administrative action as the NRA prefers, rather than legislation. Rep. Ryan Costello of Pennsylvania said he supports a ban on bump stocks, whether it's done through legislation or a change in federal regulations. "That's sort of simple stuff that we should get done for the American public," he told The Associated Press. Costello, who faces a stiff re-election challenge in a district that has been redrawn to favour Democrats, also supports the Fix NICS bill and a measure to raise age limits on purchases of certain assault weapons. At the White House, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, one of two Democrats to address Trump publicly, expressed his concerns over the idea of arming teachers as a response to the school shootings. "We need a little less tweeting, a little more listening," Inslee said. A United Nations official says 11 Congolese refugees were killed last week as Rwandan police tried to put down a protest over reduced food rations Kigali: A United Nations official says 11 Congolese refugees were killed last week as Rwandan police tried to put down a protest over reduced food rations. Daniela Ionita with the UN refugee agency says the deaths occurred in Kiziba refugee camp and the nearby town of Kibuye in western Rwanda. The UN is urging Rwandan authorities to investigate. Rwandan police had confirmed only five dead in a statement on Friday that said they had acted after "demonstrators armed with stones, sticks and metal projectiles assaulted and wounded seven police officers." The demonstrations demanding better living conditions or relocation began Tuesday in Kiziba camp, which hosts over 17,000 Congolese refugees. Underfunding forced the UN World Food Programme to cut food rations by 25 percent in January. The Maldivian Opposition said Tuesday it had hired a former United Nations rights rapporteur to push the global body to intervene in a worsening political crisis that has roiled the troubled honeymoon islands. Colombo: The Maldivian Opposition said Tuesday it had hired a former United Nations rights rapporteur to push the global body to intervene in a worsening political crisis that has roiled the troubled honeymoon islands. The Opposition alliance, which includes the parties of former presidents Mohamed Nasheed and Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, said they had enlisted British lawyer Ben Emmerson to advise them on securing United Nations mediation in the crisis. Emmerson, a United Nations special rapporteur until last year, is also a member of Nasheed's pro-bono international legal team, which includes high-profile rights lawyer Amal Clooney. His appointment follows reports that President Abdulla Yameen, who declared a state of emergency in a crackdown on dissent earlier this month, had declined an offer from UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres for multi-party talks. Emmerson will "advise the joint Opposition in discussions with UN officials" on possible talks with Yameen's administration, the Colombo-based opposition alliance said in a statement. Yameen has stepped up a crackdown on opposition activists, including his estranged half brother and ex-president Gayoom, since imposing a draconian state of emergency on 5 February. He has also arrested the chief justice after the Supreme Court ordered the release of political prisoners, and has stripped parliament of its power using emergency laws to head off impeachment. In another development, Yameen's niece Dunya Maumoon, resigned as state minister for Health, a position she held for just over a year. Earlier she had been Yameen's foreign minister. She has been under pressure to resign since Yameen had her father Gayoom arrested earlier this month on a charge of trying to topple the government. "Today at this time of pain and crisis for both my family and my country, it is my sincere hope to see my father home at the earliest", she said in a statement after her resignation. Yameen's education minister Aishath Shiham on Tuesday told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva that the Supreme Court's "judicial overreach" had threatened democracy in the Maldives. "In order to uphold the integrity of the constitution, drastic action was necessary. The president declared a state of emergency. This decision was not taken lightly," she said. Targeted sanctions The Council of the European Union on Monday urged Yameen to end the state of emergency, release all political prisoners and restore rule of law. It warned of sanctions if Yameen failed to comply. "The current situation is not in accordance with the principles of democratic rule and separation of powers," the Council said. "If the situation does not improve, the Council may therefore consider targeted measures." It said the European Union was ready to support any UN facilitation of talks between Maldivian parties to end the standoff, which it said threatened the safety of residents and tourists visiting the popular holiday islands. Last week Yameen's regime warned India against interfering in the crisis after New Delhi, once seen as Male's closest ally, expressed dismay over the president extending the state of emergency. Yameen has jailed almost all his political opponents since coming to power in late 2013 and the resulting fallout has dented the nation's image as a popular tourist destination. Amnesty International on Tuesday called on authorities to "unconditionally release" all those detained under the emergency provisions. A powerful North Korean general Tuesday wrapped up his visit to the South as part of an Olympics charm offensive by Pyongyang that has drawn angry protests calling for his arrest Seoul: A powerful North Korean general Tuesday wrapped up his visit to the South as part of an Olympics charm offensive by Pyongyang that has drawn angry protests calling for his arrest. General Kim Yong-chol, who is in charge of inter-Korean affairs for the ruling Workers' Party, made a rare trip to the South to attend Sunday's closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics. Seoul has sought to use the Pyeongchang Games to open dialogue between the North and the US in the hopes of easing a nuclear standoff that has sparked global security fears. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un sent his sister to the opening ceremony before sending Kim Yong-chol, although both had no known interaction with US delegates including Vice-President Mike Pence and President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka. The general, wrapping up his three-day visit, had a meeting with Seoul's intelligence chief Suh Hoon and unification minister Cho Myoung-gyon on Tuesday morning, Cho's ministry said. "The two Koreas... agreed to continue joint efforts to improve bilateral relations and establish peace on the Korean peninsula (during the meeting)," it said in a statement. TV footage showed the general leaving a Seoul hotel where he and seven other delegates had been staying and getting into a sedan on their way to the border. President Moon Jae-in, in a meeting with Kim Yong-chol on Sunday, urged Pyongyang to open dialogue with the US as soon as possible to which Kim responded by saying the North was "very willing" to hold talks. But Washington ruled out any possibility of talks before Pyongyang which last year staged multiple missile and nuclear tets takes steps towards denuclearisation. The US also announced last Friday what Trump hailed as "heaviest ever" sanctions on the isolated regime. Moon, who advocates dialogue with the North to defuse tension, said on Monday that Washington needs to "lower the threshold for talks" with the North. Analysts say the North's overtures are intended to loosen sanctions imposed over its weapons programmes, and to weaken the alliance between Seoul and its security guarantor, the US. Kim is accused of masterminding several attacks on the South including a 2010 sinking of a South Korean warship that killed 46 sailors, for which the North has denied responsibility. His visit drew angry protests by conservative lawmakers and activists in Seoul, with some ripping up portraits of the general and burning North Korean flags outside the hotel where he was staying. Russia on Tuesday vetoed a UN draft resolution presented by Britain that would have pressured Iran over its failure to block supplies of missiles to Yemen's Huthi rebels United Nations: Russia on Tuesday vetoed a UN draft resolution presented by Britain that would have pressured Iran over its failure to block supplies of missiles to Yemen's Huthi rebels. The text, strongly supported by the United States, won 11 favorable votes at the 15-member Security Council, but was blocked by Russia's veto. China and Kazakhstan abstained, while Bolivia also voted against the measure. Nine votes and no vetoes from the five permanent council members Britain, France, China, Russia and the United States are required to adopt resolutions at the Security Council. After the veto, the council unanimously adopted a Russian-drafted measure that extended for one year the sanctions regime against Yemen, but that text made no mention of Iran. Britain had sought to include in its measure an expression of "particular concern" from the council over a UN report that found Iran had violated the 2015 arms embargo on Yemen. The report by a UN panel of experts in January concluded that Iran was in violation after determining that missiles fired by the Huthis at Saudi Arabia last year were made in Iran. After hours of negotiations to try to reach a compromise, Russia made clear it had strong reservations about the findings of the report and would not support a draft resolution that mentioned them. "We cannot concur with uncorroborated conclusions and evidence which requires verification and discussions within the sanctions committee," Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council. Iran has repeatedly denied arming the Huthis in Yemen, despite claims by the United States and Saudi Arabia that the evidence of an arms connection is irrefutable. After the Russian veto, US Ambassador Nikki Haley released a statement accusing Russia of protecting "the terrorist-sponsoring regime in Iran" and warned of further action targeting Iran. "If Russia is going to use its veto to block action against Iran's dangerous and destabilising conduct, then the United States and our partners will need to take actions against Iran that the Russians cannot block," said Haley, who was traveling to Honduras. A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government has been fighting the Huthis since 2015 in a war that has led to what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. The Saudi King has sacked the country's army chief and other top generals and named new ministers and governors across the kingdom in a major shake-up in the government and military leadership amid a three-year-war with Shia Muslim rebels in Yemen. Riyadh: The Saudi King has sacked the country's army chief and other top generals and named new ministers and governors across the kingdom in a major shake-up in the government and military leadership amid a three-year-war with Shia Muslim rebels in Yemen. A series of royal decrees approved by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud on Monday night announced the changes as part of a wider shake-up in royal advisory positions and provincial governorships in the government, especially in the Defence Ministry. The surprising changes came ahead of a visit to the UK, the US and France by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, also the defence minister, amid global protests against Saudi Arabia's conduct of the war in Yemen. According to the decrees, Saudi Armed Forces Chief General Abdulrahman al-Banyan and Air Force Commander Mohammed al-Qatibi were asked to retire and six generals were promoted to be appointed for senior commander posts. General Abdulrahman al-Banyan, previously Chief of the Joint Staff of Saudi Arabia's armed forces, was appointed to be an adviser to the royal court, Saudi Arabia's Al Arabiya reported. He was set to be replaced by Lieutenant General Fahd bin Turki, formerly in charge of the country's ground forces. No reason for the sackings was given. But the changes come as the Saudi Army is fighting a three-year-old unpopular war in Yemen that has attracted widespread international reprisal following civilian killings in the impoverished neighbouring country. The war has left thousands of combatants and non-combatants dead since 2015. Mohammed bin Salman's visit to Britain, France and the US next week will be the most exhaustive foreign tour since he took up in July last year. In Britain, the Crown Prince, popularly known by his MBS initials, is expected to meet Prime Minister Theresa May. Britain has a close military tie-up with Saudi Arabia and provides training and advice for the Saudi Air Force. Britain also sells arms to Saudi Arabia and services its fleet of BAE Tornado jets. According to the British media reports, protests were being organised against the UK's military support to Saudi armed forces amid the Yemen war. The sacking of top generals and sweeping changes in the government are seen as another bid by the 32-year-old Crown Prince to consolidate power after he ordered the arrests of many princes and ministers in a corruption purge in November last year. Most of them have been released after settling claims with the government. The Saudi intervention in the Yemen conflict was Mohammed bin Salman's initiative: one of the first indications of just how dramatically he was going to break away from the country's traditional caution. His father King Salman, now 82, ascended to the throne in 2015. MBS was elevated to become deputy Crown Prince and Defence Minister. He then replaced his cousin, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, as the Crown Prince last year. The cost for Yemen itself has been a humanitarian disaster, while it has also drained Saudi coffers in a time of austerity. A series of political appointments were also announced on Monday night, including the rare appointment of a female Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Development, Tamadar bint Yousef al-Ramah. Prince Turki bin Talal was appointed new Deputy Governor of the southwest Asir province. He is the brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who was detained in the anti-corruption drive and released two months later. This is another sweeping overhaul of Saudi institutions that has become the hallmark of the reign of King Salman, although the driving force is once again his son and heir, Crown Prince. The US has said it is for China to decide 'what is best for their country', after the ruling Communist Party proposed to abolish presidential term limits, a move that could allow President Xi Jinping to rule for life Washington: The US has said it is for China to decide "what is best for their country", after the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) proposed to abolish presidential term limits, a move that could allow President Xi Jinping to rule for life. "I believe that's a decision for China to make about what's best for their country," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters at her daily news conference. She said term limits is "something that President Donald Trump supports here, but that's a decision that would be up to China". "The president has talked about term limits in a number of capacities during the campaign. It's something that he supports here in the US. But that's a decision that would be up to China," Sanders said. The CPC, which is in power since 1949, proposed to amend the country's Constitution to remove the two term limits for the president and vice-president, potentially allowing Xi to remain in office indefinitely. The move triggered concerns as 64-year-old Xi would remain a single leader, doing away with collective leadership system followed by the party to prevent a dictatorship of an individual emerging from the ranks. The party opted for two-term rule of the leadership after extensive deliberations over some of the disastrous policies pursued by party founder Mao Zedong, like the infamous decade-long Cultural Revolution in 1966 in which millions of people were killed. The Supreme Court rejected the highly unusual bid to bypass a federal appeals court in the fate of a program that protects young immigrants from deportation. Washington: The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Trump administration's highly unusual bid to bypass a federal appeals court and get the Justices to intervene in the fate of a program that protects hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation. The announcement means the case affecting "Dreamers" will have to work its way through the lower courts before any Supreme Court ruling is possible. The case could also become moot if Congress takes action in the meantime. Right now, however, efforts to address the issue in Congress have hit a stalemate. The Supreme Court's decision for now to stay out of the case on the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, wasn't surprising. It's highly unusual for the Supreme Court to hear a case before a lower appeals court has considered it. But DACA supporters hailed the decision as a significant if only temporary win. Trump said the case would now be heard by an appeals court and "we'll see what happens from there." "You know, we tried to get it moved quickly because we'd like to help DACA. I think everybody in this room wants to help with DACA," he said to visiting governors. "But the Supreme Court just ruled that it has to go through the normal channels." DACA has provided protection from deportation and work permits for about 800,000 young people who came to the US as children and stayed illegally. In September, Trump argued that President Barack Obama had exceeded his executive powers when he created the program. Trump announced he was ending the program effective 5 March and gave lawmakers until then to come up with a legislative fix. But in recent weeks, federal judges in San Francisco and New York have made Trump's deadline temporarily moot for people who have sought and been granted renewals; the rulings do not extend to people who are applying for the first time. Judges issued injunctions ordering the administration to keep DACA in place while courts consider legal challenges to Trump's termination. As a result, US Citizenship and Immigration Services resumed accepting and processing DACA renewals in January, just as it had before Trump's September announcement. The Trump administration has not tried to block the injunctions that force it to continue operating the program. Though the 5 March date is now moot, Greisa Martinez, policy and advocacy director for United We Dream, said DACA supporters planned to demonstrate in Washington on that day in part to continue to pressure Congress to act. The Senate two weeks ago blocked a bipartisan bill offering Dreamers potential citizenship and providing $25 billion for President Donald Trump to build his proposed border wall with Mexico. A more conservative House proposal that sharply reduces legal immigration and imposes other restrictions has languished short of the GOP votes it would need to pass, leaving its fate in question. The Supreme Court's announcement Monday that it wouldn't step in to the case now means the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit will likely be the first appeals court to weigh in on the topic, the step before the case would return to the Supreme Court. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who has led the multistate lawsuit in California to keep DACA in place, cheered the Supreme Court announcement Monday. "It's a victory for all Dreamers, certainly a great victory for California," Becerra said during a phone call with reporters. "It's a victory for the rule of law and it's a victory for our economy." The Ninth Circuit has set no date to hear arguments but has given lawyers dates by which they must file briefs that run through April. Andrew Pincus, an attorney who represents more than 100 businesses that intervened in support of DACA, said June is probably the earliest that the court would rule. Trump on Monday didn't seem to hold out much hope of winning at the Ninth Circuit, criticizing the liberal-leaning court by saying "nothing's as bad as the Ninth Circuit." "I mean, it's really sad when every single case filed against us is in the 9th Circuit we lose, we lose, we lose and then we do fine in the Supreme Court," he said. . , " 2" , ... Working from home? Switch to the DIGITAL edition of CLICK HERE to signup now! This week in industry news, the Impossible Burger debuted at 145 Lidl grocery stores in the US. Also in the meat-free space, Beyond Meats Beyond Burger is set to... Read More A trio of tourists were caught red-handed in the sand when they illegally took their SUV onto a protected beach in England and got stuck. It happened on Sunday at the South Walney Nature Reserve in Cumbria, an area that hosts a variety of rare and unusual flora and fauna that includes nesting spots for migratory birds and the only grey seal colony in the region. The unidentified sightseers had rented the brand new Range Rover Sport in Scotland, according to SWNS, and drove it south to the reserve where they ignored warning signs and moved a barrier to gain entry to the beach. The warden for the property said that she is appalled that some people think this is acceptable behavior. A tractor had to be called in to tow the vehicle out, severely damaging its rear bumper along with the landscape. ARE YOU FOLLOWING FOX NEWS AUTOS ON FACEBOOK YET? Local police are investigating the incident, which couldn't have made Land Rover executives too happy. ---------- Check out this amazing story about a driver who used his SUV to save a man's life: Bollywood actress Sridevi died over the weekend after she drowned in a hotel bathtub in Dubai, despite initial reports stating that she went into cardiac arrest at a family wedding. She was 54. Sridevi, said to be Bollywoods first female superstar, was in the United Arab Emirates for her nephews wedding. She was found dead Saturday evening, the BBC reported. Dubai police confirmed on Tuesday the actress cause of death was due to drowning in her hotel apartments bathtub following loss of consciousness. The case has now been closed, Dubai police tweeted. Two police officials also told The Associated Press that Sridevi, who is known only by her first name, was under the influence of alcohol at the time of her death. Her brother-in-law, Sanjay Kapoor, had told an Indian newspaper that she died of cardiac arrest. Its unclear how cardiac arrest was linked to the accidental drowning. Sridevis body is expected to be embalmed before it is flown in to India for her funeral. Anil Ambani, a wealthy Mumbai-based industrialist, dispatched a private plane to Dubai to carry Sridevi's body back home, according to Indian media. Mourners gathered outside the actress Mumbai home following the news of her death. The 54-year-olds death made international headlines and was front-page news in India. She was the most famous Bollywood actress of the 1980s and 1990s, and the first female superstar to get top billing in an industry that was completely dominated by men. She began her acting career at 4 years old in south Indian regional movies, she became known as an adult for her impeccable comic timing as well as her dancing skills a serious asset in a country where song-and-dance melodramas are a movie staple. She appeared in nearly 300 films in the span of five decades. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Jennifer Lawrence said it was disgusting how Hillary Clinton attacked President Trump supporters and admitted it is not wise for celebrities to speak about politics because it hurts their careers. The Democrats made a huge mistake by chastising the Trump supporters, and that was disgusting to me, the Oscar-winning actress said in an interview with Vanity Fair in its March issue. Of course theyre not going to vote for Hillary Clinton; theyre going to vote for Donald Trump. You laughed at them when their plight is very real, she said. Lawrence, who supported Clinton during the 2016 presidential election, said Trump was a big powerful man in a nice suit, pointing at you and going, Im going to make you rich. Its so appealing. But the outspoken actress admitted that wading into politics is not the best path for celebrities to take. Ive always thought that it was a good idea to stay out of politics, Lawrence told the magazine. Twenty-five percent of America identifies as liberal and I need more than 25 percent of America to go see my movies. Its not wise, career-speaking, to talk about politics, she said, but added that When Donald Trump got sworn into office, that f-----g changed. JENNIFER LAWRENCE TO QUIT ACTING FOR A YEAR TO FIX OUR DEMOCRACY The actress had previously criticized Trump in 2015, long before he was sworn into office, saying, If Donald Trump becomes president that will be the end of the world. Since Trump took office, she suggested the devastating hurricanes in Texas and Florida last year were signs of Mother Natures rage and wrath at the U.S. for electing Trump and not believing in man-made climate change. You know, youre watching these hurricanes now, and its really hard, especially while promoting this movie, not to feel Mother Natures rage and wrath," she said back in September. Lawrence admitted in the Vanity Fair interview that her family is not keen to see her talking about politics. My family obviously hates every time I talk about politics because its hard to see your kid get criticized and they live in Kentucky, where nobody is really liking what Im saying, she said. Meghan Markle wont be the first American divorcee to marry into the House of Windsor. Before the Suits actress became engaged to Englands Prince Harry, Edward VIII abdicated the English throne in 1936 to marry twice-divorced American socialite Wallis Simpson. ROYAL WEDDING COUNTDOWN: MEGHAN MARKLE PREPARING FOR HER BIG DAY WITH THE HELP OF DESIGNER AND AIDE And while the declaration of love has been the subject of several films and documentaries over the years, Princess Dianas biographer is shedding new light on a story that was far from a fairy tale. British journalist Andrew Morton recently published a new biography, titled Wallis in Love, which claims Simpsons true love was not the man who gave up the throne for her, but rather her good friend Herman Rogers, who gave Simpson away at her wedding to the Duke of Windsor. Morton told Fox News he befriended Rogers family, and he said he uncovered secret letters that revealed the shocking story. It was fascinating, just the amount of material that I uncovered, especially in America, Morton told Fox News. Especially on the east coast in Columbia University, the Boston Public Library, Yale, Harvard all over the place. I even had people looking in their barns in Maine for letters and information about Wallis and Edward. So I found a cornucopia of fresh, startling information. Morton claimed Simpsons great love was the former businessman and WWI officer, who was previously married to her friend Katherine Rogers before she died in 1948. However, Herman Rogers quickly remarried, prompting Simpson to allegedly tell his next wife, Ill hold you responsible if anything ever happens to Herman. Hes the only man Ive ever loved. Morton added Simpson was also frustrated over Edwards public declaration of love, which would allegedly destroy her dreams to become queen. In terms of Edward, he was besotted of Wallis, said Morton. He was very caring of her. I describe Wallis as being hard and quite bitter. She felt very bitter towards him. The fact that she wasnt going to be queen. But also, she just felt like she had been pushed to a corner by Edward deciding to abdicate. Remember, all the politicians who were advising him, people like [Winston] Churchill, said, Wait until youre crowned. Wait until the coronation. And then introduce Wallis gradually into public life. "But he refused to do that. He was head to head against the church, the royal family, the prime minister and everybody else. This was a man who wanted to marry a woman who had been divorced twice with two husbands still living. However, Morton insisted Edwards shocking move saved England from a grim demise. After the abdication, the couple fled England and went on a tour of Germany where they would meet Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler. The relationship between the trio was recently explored in Season 2 of The Crown. They became very close to Hitler, claimed Morton. [Edward] sympathized with Hitler. And even after the war, even after all the horrors of the concentration camps, he said to people at dinner parties, Hitler wasnt such a bad chap. He shared Nazi salutes with them. He had a pretty dim view of Jews. He was anti-Semitic. Morton added, I think quite frankly, Britain as a whole dodged a bullet. Because if Edward and Wallis had been king and queen consort, things might have gone very differently because he was very pro-Hitler Wallis saved Britain from a fate worse than death by stopping Edward from becoming king, inadvertently of course. Morton also claimed Simpson attempted to flirt with Hitler in 1937, only a few months after she and Edward married. Her technique was to look at a man right in the eyes intently like they were the only people who matter, chuckled Morton. And they would be entranced by her and listen to what she had to say She tried it on Hitler, and its been said she had these eyes that burned through you. But she got nowhere with Hitler with that kind of trickery." But the one person who couldnt resist Simpson over the years was her husband and yet she didnt appear to be quite as captivated by him. In a curious way, Edward became more and more of a pathetic figure, said Morton. Certainly after the war, after he was no longer governor. He was a man who, as somebody said, would spend his day watching his wife buy a hat, but she became more and more contemptuous of him. She would say, Am I going to go to bed in tears again tonight? There was a very vivid sense that these two were acting out the great romance of the century. Since, the abdication, the couple lived in exile from Britain in France, but their story was anything but happily ever after. Morton claimed Simpson wasnt around as her husband died of cancer in 1972 at age 77. Edward is lying there and he calls out Wallis name, described Morton. Hes there breathing his last gasps of air in the arms of another woman [his nurse]. And the woman is ironically from Baltimore, which is where Wallis is from. And he died in her arms Wallis was elsewhere in the building, in the chateau that they lived in fast asleep. Did she loved him? She loved the idea of being consort She was very careless of him towards the end. Here was the man who had given up everything for her. "She would say things to him, like Buzz off, mosquito. She loved him in her own way, but not greatly. She was more of a companion than anything else He was so entranced by her that she would bark out her orders to him every day. That was the routine It was kind of an empty life, I think. Thats what I found depressing about them. Simpson died in 1986 at age 89. Morton believes many lessons can still be learned from Simpsons life. [Meghan Markle and Prince Harry] are marrying at St. Georges Chapel, the same place the body of Wallis was carried out in 1986 when she died, said Morton. Its a very, very significant moment. And it shows how divorce has changed over the last 80 years or so. [But] the huge difference is that Meghan Markle seems to have a sense of wanting to give back, whereas Wallis only ever wanted to take. "And I think the lesson Meghan should learn is dont be like Wallis. Dont spend hundreds of thousands on your clothes or jewelry and then do nothing other than sit around because people dont appreciate that. People like to feel that the royal family live well, but at the same time give back. Ryan Seacrest has finally commented on the newly-detailed allegations of sexual misconduct against him as one of his fellow ABC stars calls for him to step aside from his red carpet duties at Sunday's Academy Awards. The host made his usual appearance on ABC's Live with Kelly and Ryan on Tuesday, but stayed silent on the shocking allegations of sexual misconduct by his former stylist, laid out in graphic detail in Variety on Monday. Instead, the star addressed the allegations later in the day by way of a public statement. "Much has been said about the #MeToo and Times Up movement(s) and the importance of providing women and men with the opportunity to share their stories of workplace misconduct, in an effort to change our culture and the systemic inequalities that exist. I absolutely support this cause unequivocally and applaud all the brave souls who have come forward to share their stories," Seacrest said in a statement to Fox News. "Sadly, last fall I became one of the accused, which I promptly revealed proactively to the network involved and to the public. And to be equally clear, those accusations were then investigated by an independent third-party over the course of a two-month process and involved dozens of interviews that included me, the accuser and countless others. Ultimately, my name was cleared," he continued. "I eagerly participated in the investigation in order to demonstrate my innocence because I know my truth, and I believe in due process. "Yesterday, Variety published a salacious story that revealed the specific claims against me for the first time even though an independent third-party investigator found insufficient evidence to support the claims. Much to my dismay, Variety didnt speak with me or bother to speak with other credible witnesses or even ask for any of the evidence that was obtained during the investigation when offered, all of which clearly challenged the veracity of the claims made against me. "This person who has accused me of horrible things tried to buy her silence by asking for money on multiple occasions I refused. I have worked extremely hard to achieve my success and I dont take my opportunities for granted. I dont want to accuse anyone of not telling the truth but in this case, I have no choice but to again deny the claims against me, remind people that I was recused of any wrongdoing, and put the matter to rest." Until now, Seacrest has maintained a stony silence about the allegations since denying the claims in a Feb. 5 guest column in The Hollywood Reporter headlined, What Happened After I was Wrongly Accused of Harassment. ABC has not issued a public statement about the allegations, but one of its stars wasn't shy about speaking up. Scandal actress Bellamy Young said the veteran host should step aside and let someone of equal talent, who is beyond reproach, handle E!s red carpet duties at Sundays Academy Awards. It feels like the rules have changed, Young told a Variety reporter at an event on Monday night. Bellamy later apologized to Seacrest in a statement to Fox News in which she lamented speaking before knowing all the facts of the situation. I spoke up because I feel deeply that the secrecy of shame plays a significant part in what has kept this shift from happening before now, Young said. But never has there been a more urgent time to make sure our voices are used for truth, and I failed in that regard Monday night. This is a major crisis. ABC should have ordered him to go on GMA Tuesday morning, live at 7:30, and deny the allegations vociferously ABC insider I apologize to Ryan Seacrest. He has been exonerated from the allegations I was told about on the carpet, so my opinion is different now. Yet across the board, ABC brass have stayed silent as its biggest star faces the worst crisis in his career. ABCs Good Morning America did not mention the scandal, while it was heavily covered on rival networks morning programs. The spotlight on Seacrest is unusually harsh, as next month the star will host the make-or-break reboot of American Idol which beleaguered ABC hopes will give it a desperately needed hit. ABC declined comment when reached by Fox News. Instead of discussing the sex allegations on Tuesday morning, Seacrest and his co-host, Kelly Ripa, opened Live with a lengthy conversation about getting their teeth whitened. Seacrest said that the doctor who whitened his teeth looked like McDreamy, a co-promotional reference to a sexy doctor who used to be on ABCs Grey's Anatomy, before explaining that he has the pain threshold of a Care Bear because the procedure was excruciating. Misconduct claims were first levied against Seacrest last November. NBCUniversals E!, where Seacrest was working at the time of the allegations, said it had investigated and found insufficient evidence to support the claims against Seacrest. But Mondays report described in horrifying detail what Variety said are allegations of years of unwanted sexual aggression by Seacrest against his longtime personal stylist. Suzie Hardy told Variety she landed her dream job as Seacrests personal stylist at E! News in 2007, only to be fired in 2013 after making graphic complaints of harassment to Es Human Resources department. Hardy accused the ABC star of grinding his erect penis against her while he was only wearing underwear, groping her vagina and slapping her so hard on the bottom that she suffered for hours from a large, visible welt. ABC does not appear to be looking into any allegations and did not respond when asked if an internal investigation would be launched. An ABC insider confirmed to Fox News that Seacrest will continue to host Live with Kelly and Ryan as scheduled and will host American Idol starting on March 11. Media analyst Jeffrey McCall told Fox News that its odd that ABC is not investigating the allegations and has been so slow to respond. Of course, ABC shouldn't speak comprehensively until they have a handle on the facts, but silence is not a great strategy either, since that could rhetorically signal there is a there there, McCall said. In this era when harassment allegations continue to pop up, all media organizations should be prepared to respond quickly with at least a statement of concern and promise to fully investigate. Industry insiders said that ABCs silence is troubling and the network would benefit from getting out in front of the allegations. Mediaite columnist Joseph Wulfsohn said the silence cant last forever. While they may be able to get away with it for now, they'll certainly be forced to break their silence if his accuser continues to publicly speak out or more accusers come forward, Wulfsohn told Fox News. Seacrest, 43, will reportedly make somewhere north of $10 million for Idol alone and is believed to make another $10 million or more for Live. It would also be wise for networks to more fully screen their talent before contracting them for big sums of money. Big media outlets can avoid these embarrassing situations by cleaning up their workplace cultures, but I am not sure they have the will or ability to do it, McCall said. As previously reported, Hardy took her complaints directly to E!, which didnt move forward with any punishment against Seacrest after a third-party investigator deemed there wasn't enough evidence. While people close to Seacrest think the E! investigation exonerated the ABC star, the allegations could still turn into a significant problem for the network. ABC has made a huge financial gamble on the revamped version of American Idol, including a controversial $25 million salary for Katy Perry to serve as a judge of the competition. The allegations against Seacrest come at the height of the #MeToo movement that has swept the nation since Harvey Weinstein was outed as a sexual predator last year. Seacrests lawyer, Andrew Baum, told Fox News that Hardy initially asked for a payout to keep quiet, prompting Seacrest to announce the investigation publicly on his own behalf. It is upsetting to us that Variety is electing to run a story about untrue allegations that we were made against my client, after they were told that the accuser threatened to make those false claims against him unless he paid her $15 million. At that time, the claimant threatened to issue a demonstrably false press statement unless she was paid," the statement reads. "Instead, my client proactively and publicly denied the claims and agreed to fully cooperate with E!s investigation about the matter." Hardys lawyers, on the other hand, have said there's absolutely no evidence to support claims she demanded hush money. The detailed allegations against Seacrest are the latest problem for ABC, though most of its problems have come from its troubled news division. ABC News faced recent criticism because The View host Joy Behar mocked Vice President Mike Pences Christian faith. The controversy has resulted in a variety of industry watchdogs suggesting it would be wise for ABC News to divorce itself from the show that typically features four outspoken liberals and a single conservative. ABC has also dealt with claims that former ABC News star Mark Halperin was a serial sexual harasser while at the network. Halperins career fell apart last October when multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct when he was political director at ABC in the 2000s. He had since moved on to MSNBC but the cable news network cut ties with him when the allegations surfaced. Last years Oscar mix-up for the Best Picture award left many in shock and some in disappointment except for Steve Harvey. The comedian and TV host revealed to the Hollywood Reporter Monday that he celebrated the Oscar flub because it got him off the hook for his 2015 Miss Universe mishap when he gave the wrong contestant the coveted beauty pageant crown. During the 89th Academy Awards show, Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty presented the award for Best Picture and announced La La Land as the winner. Minutes later, however, they realized there was an envelope mix-up and the real winner was Moonlight. OSCARS PREDICTIONS: WILL 'SHAPE OF WATER' DOMINATE AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS? Harvey recalled watching La La Land producer Jordan Horowitz snatching the envelope and announcing there was a mistake. I was watching live and I probably knew what had happened before anybody else cause I saw the panic-stricken look on the producers face, Harvey recalled. When [Horowitz] walked out there and snatched that card out of Warrens hand, thats when I knew redemption was mine. I was finally off the hook. Yeah, OK, I had to live that down: Oh, how could he, Thats a bonehead, Nobodys ever done that in the history of Miss Universe, Harvey said. The 61-year-old said the incident showed that mistakes could happen during any competition or awards show. The Oscars is the biggest night in Hollywood, and when they did it, I lit a cigar and drank a glass of scotch and celebrated. I was free! Thank you, God! Harvey received major backlash after he announced Miss Colombia, Ariadna Gutierrez, as 2015's Miss Universe. The crown was already placed on Gutierrezs head when Harvey went back on the mic to say he made a mistake and that Miss Philippines, Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, was the real pageant winner. "This is exactly what was on the card. I take full responsibility for this, Harvey said that night. OSCARS NOMINEES WHO COULD MAKE HISTORY THIS YEAR Last years Oscar host Jimmy Kimmel even poked fun about the gaffe when it happened at the Oscars, saying Harvey was to blame for the mix-up. PricewaterhouseCoopers' accountant Brian Cullinan was found at fault for the incident. The company hired a security team for Cullinan and his family because of the media scrutiny. Harvey told The Hollywood Reporter Cullinan didnt endure nearly as much criticism and threat the comedian had to deal with. Oh nah, the dude at Pricewaterhouse he ain't endured nothing. See, the mistake I made was against a country named Colombia. They have some people down there they are in a different business so when you get threats, you gotta take it a little bit differently, he said. The Striding Man logo has been plastered on Johnnie Walker bottles for almost 200 years but next month, the Scottish liquor brand is swapping out its longstanding icon with a striding woman on the Jane Walker Edition of its Black Label scotch whiskey. This limited-edition bottles will feature a top-hatted woman marching forward, cane in hand. As the companys first logo change in over a century, Johnny Walker says its Jane Walker Edition symbolizes a celebration of women and a goal to continue to move forward toward greater progress concerning gender issues. RYAN REYNOLDS JUST BOUGHT AVIATION GIN "We are proud to toast the many achievements of women and everyone on the journey towards progress in gender equality," said Stephanie Jacoby, vice president of Johnnie Walker, in a press release. While their logo is new, their involvement of women is no novel business approach for Johnnie Walker. Elizabeth Walker, the wife of founder John Walker, was fundamental to the creation of their own blended whisky, per the press release. Almost half of the brands expert blenders are women, and their marketing and C-level executives have a strong female presence. Now, the company will use their new logo to reach and empower more women. Just in time for Womens History Month and International Womens Day, Johnnie Walker will donate to causes celebrating historical women and inspiring future female leaders as part of Keep Walking America, their campaign to celebrate diversity in the United States. Donating $1 for every bottle made of the Jane Walker Edition, theyll give up $250,000 in total. 'MOST INTERESTING MAN' SHARES HIS HOBBIES, HISTORY, AND DRINK OF CHOICE Among their donations, $150,000 will support Monumental Women, a campaign under the Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony Statue Fund which will construct a monument honoring woman suffragists in New Yorks Central Park. (The park currently has 23 statues, none of which honor women.) Theyll also donate proceeds to She Should Run, an organization inspiring women to run for political office. With a longstanding goal of moving forward, Johnnie Walker is proud to take this next step forward by introducing Jane Walker as another symbol of the brands commitment to progress. Jane Walker will be available in stores for $34 this March. A chef at the Bellagio Resort and Casino in Las Vegas was arrested Monday for allegedly stealing close to $2,000 worth of lobster tails. Alex Hernandez, 49, was detained by hotel security when he was spotted putting 25 lobsters in his backpack before walking out a back door, Fox 5 Las Vegas reported. Las Vegas Metropolitan Police arrested Hernandez and he was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on one count of embezzlement for the tails, which were priced at $75 each, totaling $1,875. Hernandezs bail was set at $5,000. MGM Resorts told Fox 5 Las Vegas that they are helping police with the investigation into the incident. New research out of Australia says using a standing desk for extended periods of time can lead to significant discomfort and mental sluggishness. When researchers from Curtin University studied 20 adults who stood for two hours doing computer work, they found the desks were not as beneficial as once thought. STANDING DESKS ARE INDEED CALORIE BURNERS, BUT BY HOW MUCH? Even though the study group was small, scientists made significant observations published in the journal Ergonomics. Over time, discomfort increased in all body areas, they said, but they noted that creative problem-solving improved. Standing desks have been touted as a healthier way for office workers who spend hours hunched over their keyboards to improve posture, reduce aches, and even help lose weight. But the Australian researchers concluded that prolonged standing should be undertaken with caution. 5 SIGNS YOUR BACK PAIN IS SOMETHING SERIOUS AND WHEN TO VISIT A CHIROPRACTOR "The bottom line is that this expansion [of standing desks] has been driven more by commercial reasons than scientific evidence," Alan Taylor, a physiotherapy expert at Nottingham University, told the Daily Telegraph. "But the evidence is catching up and it's showing there are some drawbacks," he concluded. For nearly seven decades Billy Graham, the evangelical preacher who spread the word of God to millions across the world, was a devout and faithful customer of a small barbecue restaurant in his home state of North Carolina. My father loved barbecue and one of his favorites was Bridges in Shelby. Over the years he had many lunches and dinners there as he traveled to and from Charlotte," Franklin Graham, the famous pastors son, told Fox News in a statement. Almost every week, the senior Graham, who died last week, visited Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge and ordered the same dish: the barbecue pork plate platter with baked beans, hush puppies, and coleslaw. "He started coming in here when he started his evangelism in Charlotte," Red Bridges Barbecue Lodge owner Debbie Webb told Fox News. She says she was just an infant when she first met the Graham family. For years Americas Pastor visited the restaurant with his wife Ruth and their young children during the nearly two hour commute between Montreat and Charlotte. For many of those trips, Graham was traveling to Charlotte airport on crusades in the U.S. and across the world. The restaurant does not have a special tribute area for Graham, but has photos of him scattered throughout. "Mommy and daddy just really became really good friends with him and I grew up with him just watching his evangelism on TV and of course him coming in here," Webb said. Whenever he stopped by, Webb said she would go sit and talk with him, especially after her father passed away when she was 11 years old. "We talked a lot of memories from my dad, she said, and, of course, I didnt get to talk a lot cause everybody else wanted to talk, too." Doug Bridges, a manager at the restaurant, said he was honored to meet and serve Graham over the years. "To me, he said, Billy Graham is like Apostle Paul, he had meant so much to so many people." Bridges says the last time he saw the North Carolina native was in December of 1999, and he asked for his autograph. "The last time he had been in the Charlotte Observer..I asked him to sign the paper," Bridges said. "His Parkinsons was getting worse and he was apologizing for taking so long to sign it. I was trying to explain to him what an honor it was to meet him and he told me: Sir, Im just an old country preacher." As Grahams health began failing, his family would pick up his favorite dish to go. He taught me that everybody was the same, didnt matter what you had, didnt matter what you did, you can always be forgiven by that man up above. Thats what he left with me," Webb said. When employees found out the highly admired preacher had passed away just shy of his 100 birthday, their reactions were mixed. "Sad for us on earth, but a joyous reunion in heaven," Webb said. Hes wanted to be with his wife for so long. So, I wasnt really that sad for him. But Im sad for our loss." Webb and other employees at the barbecue restaurant said Graham will be missed, but they will honor his legacy by loving everyone, as Jesus had taught more than 2,000 years ago. Black Panther is one of the most buzzed-about Marvel movies in years, but a British retailer apparently had a hard time remembering the name of the superhero film. Tesco, a large supermarket and department store chain, said it was extremely sorry on Monday after labeling a fancy dress costume -- which was supposed to be a replica of the Black Panther suit -- as Dark Panther" in online advertisements. TEAM USA'S 'PERVY' SKATING UNIFORMS SPARK CRITICISM ONLINE Images of the Marvel Avengers Dark Panther Fancy Dress costume began circulating on social media over the weekend after several people noticed the mistake on Tesco's website and posted screenshots of the item. Some users even demanded an explanation for the odd mistake. Tesco please can you explain this to me? Why does this costume say 'dark' #panther[?] There is no dark panther in the kingdom of #Wakanda[,] it is #BLACKpanther, one user wrote, adding, "Why have you done this to me?" Another tweeted, I want to know why #Tesco has called this a DARK Panther outfit. @Tesco who is the DARK Panther?" along with several hashtags including #EpicFail, #FixThis, #DontPlay, #ChangeIt and #DarkPantherWho. JUSTIN TRUDEAU'S CLOTHING DURING INDIA VISIT CALLED 'TOO INDIAN EVEN FOR AN INDIAN' Tesco issued a statement to the BBC on Monday, saying the "Dark Panther" costume's name was merely a "mistake" and not a new brand, as some critics thought it may have been. "This was a mistake and we are extremely sorry for any offense caused, the company said in a statement. "We are correcting the description of this product on our website and are reviewing our processes to ensure this doesn't happen again." FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Black Panther became one of only four movies in history to gross $100 million in the U.S. in the second week. The Marvel film took in more than $200 million on its opening weekend, and has already $700 million worldwide. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The list of failures in the February 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, are becoming legion. If any or all of those failures had been addressed, 17 students and teachers might be alive today. In addition to the several balls dropped by the local FBI office, it was later alleged that at least four Broward County sheriffs deputies, including armed school resource officer Scot Peterson, were outside the school during the shooting and instead of rushing in to confront the killer, later identified as Nikolas Cruz, waited four minutes until police officers from Coral Springs arrived to enter the building. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said the actions of the deputies are under investigation. Scot Peterson, however, hastily retired. Israel told reporters that Peterson should have gone in and addressed the killer. Killed the killer. What follows is based partially on reporting by Channel 10, the Miami ABC affiliate. In addition to Petersons failure, Two other deputies now on restricted duty and are being investigated for how they handled tips warning about the killer. Beginning in 2008, when Cruz was nine, local authorities say they had received 23 calls about his troubling behavior. Deterrence remains the best defense against people like Cruz, who regularly search for the softest targets. There is no softer target than a school full of children. Two years ago what appears to have been the most serious warning occurred when an anonymous caller alerted police that the killer had posted on Instagram a threat to shoot up the school and included a picture of himself with a gun. The Miami Herald reported that seven months later a peer counselor said Cruz ingested gasoline, wanted to buy a gun and tried to commit suicide by cutting himself, and just days later, an investigator with the Florida Department of Children and Families declared Cruz low-risk. The obvious follow-up question: What does the state agency consider high-risk? The family that took Cruz in after his mother died later called police to report a fight and said that the boy had dug in the backyard because he knew he was not allowed to bring (a gun in the house) he was going to bury the gun there. The following day, the sheriffs office received a call from a tipster in Massachusetts who said Cruz was collecting guns and knives and he will kill himself one day and believes he could be a school shooter in the making. Was the Florida shooting at least partially a case of political correctness run amok? Did no one want to reach the obvious conclusions for fear of lawsuits or public condemnation from those who might have claimed that Cruzs rights were being violated? Sure, strengthen background checks and deny the right to legally buy firearms to mentally ill people and to minors, but anyone intent on breaking the law will not be stopped by new laws because, by definition, they are lawbreakers. Deterrence remains the best defense against people like Cruz, who regularly search for the softest targets. There is no softer target than a school full of children. Properly trained and motivated armed adults will make the schools less appealing targets. Here, a definition of deter might be helpful: to discourage or restrain from acting or proceeding; to prevent; check; arrest. If deterrence worked during the Cold War and it did (peace through strength) it can work to protect school children. I attended a high school musical last Saturday with friends in the Florida Keys. An armed police officer was inside the auditorium. His marked car was parked prominently at the entrance. No one appeared to be nervous about security. With the exception of laws dealing with the mentally ill and age restrictions, deterrence might work better than passing more laws, which lawbreakers will certainly break. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Rep. Devin Nunes thinks the press is dead, or brain-dead, at least. Thats the conclusion he says he has drawn from the whole Russia fiasco that is, Robert Muellers independent investigation into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 president elections. In a recent interview with my Fox News colleagues, the popular Republican from Californias conservative Central Valley complained that reporting on him and the House Intelligence Committee he chairs shows that 90 percent of us journalists are hard-left. We are also not only propagandists for Democrats, but part of an alleged vast leftist conspiracy to undermine Donald Trump and his presidency. Reporters are required to criticize him and other Republicans, he asserts, to please our billionaire masters and to get clicks. Nunes is partly right. Some of us are lucky enough to work for billionaires. It is also true that news generates clicks. So Saturdays release of the Democratic memo countering the memo he released over FBI and Justice Department protests two weeks ago generated lots of them. But what about the main thrust of Nunes charges? Yes, journalists are many things. We are often annoying, intrusive, dogged, insufficiently skeptical, and sometimes flat out wrong, if all-too-rarely in doubt. And yes, most reporters overwhelmingly self-identify as liberals. But most are not hard-left. First, a quibbling point. The media, as he calls us, ARE plural. The noun is not singular, Mr. Nunes. (Sorry, sir, but bad grammar is among my pet peeves.) But yes, journalists are many things. We are often annoying, intrusive, dogged, insufficiently skeptical, and sometimes flat out wrong, if all-too-rarely in doubt. And yes, most reporters overwhelmingly self-identify as liberals. But most are not hard-left. Nor are most of us propagandists for political parties or members of an ostensible leftist cabal to de-throne a president who seems to aspire to be king. Above all, we are not dead, though Rep. Nunes may wish us so. Thanks to a professional commitment that he clearly finds irritating, reporters have disclosed much of what Americans now know about Russias interference in Americas 2016 elections. This is in addition to President Trumps persistent misstatement or distortions of fact -- the Washington Post counts over 2,000 of them since his inauguration -- the gross conflicts of interest that riddle his staff, the environmental and safety regulations his team has quietly repealed, and other innumerable White House scandals that have made headlines in his first year in office. Our latest achievement, or reportorial sin in Nunes' view, was comparing the memo that he and other House Intelligence Committee Republicans released two weeks ago with the longer, though more heavily redacted memo the Democrats managed to pressure the White House to release on Saturday. (Nunes released his own memo despite FBI and Justice Department warnings that its disclosure risked compromising sensitive intelligence sources and methods). Repeating Trumps frequent claim that Muellers inquiry into Russian election meddling has been a witch hunt, the Nunes memo tried to discredit Muellers inquiry by asserting that FBI and other Justice Department officials misled the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court when it applied for permission to surveil former Trump campaign staffer Carter Page because of his contacts with Russian officials. Nunes claimed the FBI and DOJ had engaged in a troubling breakdown of legal processes by relying in its application on a dossier prepared by former British spy Christopher Steele. The Democratic memo, named for California Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff and six pages longer than the Nunes memo even with black blocks of censored material, shows that the FBI had ample cause to investigate Carter Page quite apart from the famous, or infamous Steele dossier. The Schiff memo says that Page, who has denied wrongdoing, had gone to Moscow and met Russian officials in the summer of 2016. The memo says Carter had past relationships with Russian spies, that he knowingly assisting clandestine Russian intelligence activities in the U.S. and was someone the FBI assessed to be an agent of the Russian government. Four of the FISA judges who granted and renewed the surveillance warrants were not partisan hacks, as Nunes memo implies, but appointed by Republican presidents. Mueller, too, is a Republican. While the Schiff memo does not address a core Nunes contention namely that then FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe testified in December, 2017, that the FBI would not have tried to monitor Page had it not been for the Steele information at least one Democrat demurred. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., said this weekend that he heard what McCabe told the panel, and that McCabe did not make that claim. McCabe, for his part, has yet to clarify his testimony. Still, the Schiff memo claims the FBI had multiple, independent sources to support the case for surveilling Page, and made only narrow use of Steeles dossier, much of which it found credible. Justice officials told the FISA court that Steeles inquiry was funded by Democrats, and that he may have been biased against candidate Trump. They also told the court that it had ended its relationship with Steele because he had shared his information with reporters. FBI and DOJ officials did not abuse the FISA process, omit material information, or subvert this vital tool to spy on the Trump campaign, the memo asserts. Now, by echoing President Trumps claim that the disclosure of such inconvenient truths is fake news, Nunes has revealed himself once more to be President Trumps faithful lapdog or his stooge, as his hometown paper the Fresno Bee called him for doing the White Houses dirty work. In echoing Trumps fake news meme, Nunes has also joined the likes of the National Rifle Association, whose leaders, including Wayne LaPierre and Dana Loesch, the groups outrageous spokesperson, out-Trumped Trump, so to speak, by contending that reporters relish school shootings because such massacres produce ratings gold. In echoing the fake news charge to undermine the media, Nunes is serving the interests of his real boss, President Trump, rather than those of his constituents, the Bee argued. He is also undermining true conservative values. Real conservatives, and neo-conservatives, in particular as opposed to Trumpians have remained the presidents most ardent critics. From his first secret trip to the White House a year ago to get Trumps talking points to his partisan stewardship of a vital Congressional panel, Rep. Nunes has discredited himself as a member of the legislative branch, which should serve as an independent check on unbridled executive power. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! As a mom of kids in elementary school, I became a proud member of the NRA for the first time last week. I did so because the absence of common sense that Ive witnessed recently is alarming to me as a parent. Weve seen deeply misguided hatred and rage directed toward people who want to protect themselves with a gun rather than targeted at the heart of the problem. Its time for reason and sound judgement to prevail. Though it seems like an easy solution, the deep divide were facing in this country is not nearly as simple as banning guns equals problem solved. This battle were facing isnt about guns, its about evil. Evil in the hearts of those who choose to act with a gun. However, for us to face that truth as a society means that we also must confront the culture weve created. We are living in the midst of a depraved culture where right is wrong and wrong is right. One where weve seen the breakdown of family values, and an overall morality thats flexible. When I joined the NRA last week it was because I was tired of being preached at by people who are unwilling to look at the problem and only want to treat the symptom. Its easy to blame the NRA, and its easy to blame guns. Its the new trendy target, but its not the solution. Thats a much harder conversation, and not one many people want to have. Its much easier to put a band-aid on the problem, take away everyones guns, and hope the problem goes away. Until it doesnt. Evil is no respecter of laws, and evil doesnt need a gun. Disarming people who follow the law isnt going to stop another act of violence, its not going to make a person with evil in their heart obey the law, and its not going to make me as a parent feel any safer sending my kids to school. Timothy McVeigh used fertilizer to kill 168 people in an Oklahoma federal building in 1995. Terrorists killed nearly 3,000 Americans by flying planes into buildings on September 11, 2001. And just last year a pickup truck killed eight pedestrians and injured 11 when it intentionally plowed into them on a bike path in New York City. Weve seen a number of failures exposed on the part of the FBI and the Broward County Sheriffs office in the recent shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Without these failures the shooting may well have been prevented. It was first revealed that the FBI received tips and didnt follow proper protocols. It came to light that police were called to the school shooters home 45 times and did nothing, and since 2011 there were at least 30 reports of domestic violence and troublesome behavior against the shooter. Weve also learned that a Broward County deputy assigned to the school, and possibly two other deputies, didnt go into the school while the shooting was going on, and instead waited outside. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel was asked by CNN anchor Jake Tapper if he thought the shooting might not happen if his office had done things differently. The sheriff tried to be cute and funny with his answer: If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, O.J. Simpson would still be in the record books. Theres no humor in 17 dead kids and adults whose lives could have been saved if people would have done their jobs. In light of those revelations the last thing we need to do is disarm law-abiding citizens, send our kids to school, and hope for the best. Edmund Burke said, The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. We certainly need to do something, and I think most people can agree on that. However that something is not establishing gun-free zones. Criminals dont care about gun-free zones. If you read some of the hysteria lately, its the NRA who has blood on their hands. However, the NRA did not go into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and kill 17 people. That was a deranged, sick, evil person who had a history of red flags that nobody bothered to address leading up to that day. Rather than putting the blame on him, its the NRA and anyone who supports them who are the target. When I joined the NRA last week it was because I was tired of being preached at by people who are unwilling to look at the problem and only want to treat the symptom. Its easy to blame the NRA, and its easy to blame guns. Its the new trendy target, but its not the solution. Its hard to confront the real problem - the evil behind what drives people to pick up a gun, make bombs out of fertilizer, drive trucks into pedestrians, or fly planes into buildings. Disarming people who follow the law isnt going to stop another act of violence, its not going to make a person with evil in their heart obey the law, and its not going to make me as a parent feel any safer sending my kids to school. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! By nearly every account Timothy Locke is one of the most beloved teachers in the Cherry Hill, N.J., school district. Locke is a veteran of the Iraq war and for the past 17 years hes flavored his classroom lessons at Cherry Hill East High School with real-life experiences. Click here for a free subscription to Todds newsletter: a must-read for Conservatives weary of having commentary censored on Facebook! But on Feb. 22, the veteran school teacher was summoned to the principals office where his bag was searched, he was placed on administrative leave and was ordered to undergo a physical and a psychiatric evaluation. According to parents and students Lockes only crime was to address his concerns about school safety with youngsters in his Advanced Placement History class. The teacher feared a similar attack could happen at Cherry Hill East. According to parents and students Lockes only crime was to address his concerns about school safety with youngsters in his Advanced Placement History class. The teacher feared a similar attack could happen at Cherry Hill East. During the course of the conversation he indicated that he would protect his students if something like (Parkland, Florida) happened here, parent Eric Ascalon told "The Todd Starnes Radio Show." He was raising safety concerns about the school with the students. And the intent of his statement (was that) he would protect his students at all costs. Imagine that, folks. An Iraq war veteran reassured his students that if someone tried to attack the school, he'd be there to protect them. Thats a good thing, right? Well, the leadership at Cherry Hill East felt otherwise after a student in the classroom complained. The school district refuses to comment on what was said or why Locke was placed on administrative leave. Locke, too, has stopped talking on the advice of his attorney. But before that happened he granted an interview to Philly.com. The bottom line is that I was very concerned about the security at my school, Locke told the news site. I was adamantly concerned with the welfare of my students. Philly.com reports the school is guarded by two unarmed campus police but the officers are not employed by local law enforcement. He was speaking up and addressing an issue that has to be addressed, Ascalon told me. Students by the dozens staged a protest on campus Monday urging the school to reinstate the teacher. "A lot of what the school here is doing is trying to shut out what happened in Florida, instead of saying 'this is what we have to do, this is what we're going do next,' how we can fix what we are doing," sophomore Debbie Goldberg told ABC News. "Mr. Locke, if you're watching, we got your back," said senior Justin Prechodko. Ascalon said his son was enrolled in one of Lockes classes last year and called him an amazing teacher who has an ability to connect with the students on a variety of levels. He also pointed out the discussion was held during an advanced academic class. Its an upsetting topic (school safety), but its a topic the students are crying out to address, Ascalon said. He speaks to them like young adults who are capable of critical thinking, Its too bad the Cherry Hill East High School does not share the same capability to think critically. Instead of honoring a war veteran teacher willing to think outside of the box, the school districts sends him to a shrink. Thats just plumb nuts. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! In a rare act of solidarity, several universities are voicing their support for applicants who participate in protests for stricter gun control. Schools like Yale, MIT, Boston University, and others have issued statements explicitly stating that those who stage demonstrations against pro-gun laws will not have their admissions jeopardized, should their high schools penalize them for peaceful protests. In a now-viral tweet, The Brown University Office of College Admission stated: @BrownUAdmission Applicants to Brown: Expect a socially conscious, intellectually independent campus where freedom of expression is fundamentally important. You can be assured that peaceful, responsible protests against gun violence will not negatively impact decisions on admission to Brown. Quite plainly, several admissions departments seem to have picked a side in the gun control debate: @UMassAmherstUA Students: If you participate in peaceful protests against gun violence and receive school discipline for walking out, staging your protest, etc., please rest assured that you can report it to UMass Amherst, and we won't hold it against you. #ParklandStudentsSpeak @ApplytoBU Admission to BU will not be jeopardized should your school levy a penalty for participating in peaceful protests, such as the National School Walkout Day. See Dean of Admissions Kelly A. Walter's full statement here: http://spr.ly/6012DRTEk BU_Tweets #StudentsStandUp This comes as survivors of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting and other high school students are organizing rallies, media interviews, and school walkouts to protest gun violence. In response, several high school administrations issued warnings to students that any participation in such demonstrations, such as the National School Walkout Day, during school hours will result in disciplinary action. In fact, the Needville Independent School District in Texas promised three days of suspension for those who decided to protest. But students need not fear; they now have universities on their side. While its encouraging to see universities and free speech in the same headline, only half the work is done if college administrations dont go to the same lengths to protect speech with which they might disagree. Its refreshing that colleges are finally standing up for free speech. Its disconcerting that they only tend to do so for students who share their political views. Many of these same universities have stood idly by as conservative groups have found their First Amendment rights put on the backburner. In several cases around the country, several schools have discovered creative means to muffle free speech when it comes to conservative students. The University of Minnesota could potentially face a lawsuit for banning conservative icon Ben Shapiro from speaking at any of their large campus venuesbanishing the event to their cow campus in St. Paul. Just last month, the Department of Justice filed in support of conservative groups suing the University of California, Berkeley for discriminating against their activities on campus. In one case, the Berkeley administration instituted a bizarre 3pm curfew for one of their events causing a conflict with classes. Several other universities have come under fire for barely punishing students who violently disrupt events involving right-leaning speakers. Administrations have mastered the art of issuing empty statements voicing their disapproval of violent activities, while doing very little to stop them from happening. Thats why you shouldnt buy all these virtue-signaling announcements from universities claiming to support the First Amendment rights of high school applicants. In fact, if you read them a little closer, several statements are pretty specific about not penalizing pro-gun control activists in particular. I have a hard time believing that a staunch NRA-supporting, Second Amendment activist would be guaranteed such protections. But true adherence to constitutional rights doesnt stop with only your political allies. Colleges and universities should be bastions of free speecheven when its inconvenient. A recent study conducted by Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) and YouGov found that very liberal students are 14 percentage points more likely to feel comfortable expressing their opinions in the classroom than their very conservative peers. For all of the talk about embracing diversity on campus, its clear that too often that doesnt include diversity of thought. While its encouraging to see universities and free speech in the same headline (without being followed by lawsuit), only half the work is done if college administrations dont go to the same lengths to protect speech with which they might disagree. After all, isnt that what they taught us is the point of the Constitution? Yale University on Monday announced former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will speak at its prestigious Class Day ceremony. The schools Class Day co-chairs told the senior class Monday night that Clinton, a 1973 graduate of Yale Law School, would speak at the event in New Haven, Connecticut, on May 20, the Yale Daily News reported. Class Day is scheduled the day before the Ivy League schools commencement ceremony. When Secretary Clinton spoke at her Wellesley graduation in 1969, she told her class that their challenge was to practice politics as the art of making what appears to be impossible possible, event co-chair Josh Hochman told the student newspaper. The impossible world Secretary Clinton imagined in 1969 is not yet won yet it will be if our generation dares to emulate her life of resilient and courageous service," Hochman added. Clinton and former president Bill Clinton have said they met at Yales law school in the spring of 1971. The 2016 Democratic nominee for president joins a slew of former Obama administration officials who have spoken at the schools event. Former Vice President Joe Biden gave Yales Class Day address in 2015, and former Secretary of State John Kerry, of the 1966 Yale class, spoke at the schools 2014 traditional event. Class of 1992s Samantha Power, the former United Nations Ambassador, addressed the schools Class Day in 2016. Clinton's most recent commencement address was at the 2017 graduation ceremony of Wellesley College, from which she graduated in 1969. The House of Representatives paused for 17 seconds in a moment of silence Monday evening to honor the dead from nearly two weeks ago at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., who represents Parkland, was joined in the well of the House by members of the Florida delegation. Deutch began reading the names of the dead, using only their first names. Members of the House then spontaneously rose to their feet to hear the calling of the names. A small contingent of students from Parkland was on hand in the public viewing gallery. Alleged gunman, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, is in custody for the mass shooting on Valentines Day that left 17 people dead. For the first time in recent memory, a House speaker did not preside over a moment of silence of this magnitude. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho, presided. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., was in the chamber, but engaged in a lengthy conversation with Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-Ohio. However, they paused for the moment of silence and the reading of the names. At the end of the moment of silence, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., who heads the Democrats task force on gun violence, rose to introduce a special resolution a question of the privileges of the House on guns. The chair did not rule whether it was in order. But, such a resolution indicates that a member believes the dignity of the House is in jeopardy, and is not operating properly. Thompson is arguing that the dignity of the House is in trouble because the House is not considering any legislation so far on guns. As Thompson began reading his resolution, someone on the Republican side of the aisle booed. Simpson did not rule immediately as to whether the resolution was in order. That decision has to come in the next couple of days. If its ruled to be out of order, Democrats can appeal the ruling of the chair. Its likely Republicans then would move to table the appeal of the ruling of the chair, killing the effort. That would require a vote on the floor. If Thompsons resolution is ruled to be in order, the House must then vote on it. That could create an awkward moment for some Republicans. Tennessee Sen. Bob Corker is apparently having no more second thoughts about leaving Congress at the end of the year. A top aide to the Republican said Tuesday that Corker considered jumping back into the race for the seat but has decided against reversing that decision. "Over the past several months, Senator Corker has been encouraged by people across Tennessee and in the Senate to reconsider his decision not to seek re-election, Todd Womack, Corkers chief of staff, said in a statement. Based on the outpouring of support, we spent the last few days doing our due diligence and a clear path for re-election was laid out. However, at the end of the day, the senator believes he made the right decision in September and will be leaving the Senate when his term expires at the end of 2018, Womack said. Tennessee GOP Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who is running for the seat and would have run against Corker had he reversed his decision, reacted by calling on Republicans to unite behind her. "I want to thank Senator Corker for his dedicated service on behalf of Tennessee families. Now, we can unify the Republican party and focus on defeating Democrat Phil Bredesen in November, Blackburn said. CORKER 'LISTENING' TO THOSE URGING HIM TO RETHINK RETIREMENT Corker recently had conversations with the White House and his Republican colleagues in the Senate about the possibility of reversing his decision to retire amid concerns from some Republicans that Democrats would have a decent shot at flipping the seat. One recent poll, conducted by Republican pollster Glen Bolger and obtained by Fox News, showed Democrat Phil Bredesen with 47 percent to Blackburns 45 percent in a hypothetical matchup. The GOP currently holds a slim 51-49 majority in the Senate. Others made the argument to Corker, the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, that his foreign policy knowledge is critical, with Arizona Republican Sen. John McCain in poor health and House Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce, a Virginia Republican, retiring this year. The Blackburn campaign strongly pushed back against those arguments, with spokesman Andrea Bozek recently telling Fox News, Anyone who thinks Marsha Blackburn cant win a general election is just a plain sexist pig. Fox News Jason Donner, Ross Lee and Mike Emanuel contributed to this report. A federal judge on Tuesday ruled against an environmental challenge to President Trumps border wall, delivering a win to the Trump administration in a decision that allows construction plans to move forward. In a 101-page ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Gonzalo Curiel wrote that both Congress and the executive branch share responsibilities in protecting the country from terrorists and contraband illegally entering at the borders. The case involved the Trump administrations ability to ignore environmental laws in the construction of the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. The project had been challenged by several environmental groups and the state of California. The ruling will now allow the administration to issue waivers on environmental laws and build sections of the border wall. JUDGE WHO TRUMP CRITICIZED MAY DECIDE FATE OF BORDER WALL Border security is paramount to stemming the flow of illegal immigration that contributes to rising violent crime and to the drug crisis, and undermines national security," DOJ spokesman Devin O'Malley said Tuesday. "Congress gave authority to the Department of Homeland Security to construct a border wall without delay to prevent illegal entry into the United States, and we are pleased DHS can continue this important work vital to our nations interests. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra issued a statement saying his office will evaluate all of our options and are prepared to do what is necessary to protect our people, our values, and our economy from federal overreach. A medieval wall along the U.S.-Mexico border simply does not belong in the 21st century, Becerra said. Brian Segee, a senior attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, which challenged the wall, said the group plans to appeal this disappointing ruling, which would allow Trump to shrug off crucial environmental laws that protect people and wildlife. The Trump administration has completely overreached its authority in its rush to build this destructive, senseless wall, Segee said. Theyre giving unprecedented, sweeping power to an unelected agency chief to ignore dozens of laws and crash through hundreds of miles of spectacular borderlands. This is unconstitutional and shouldnt be allowed to stand. Had Curiel ruled against Trump, he could have undermined the construction of barriers on unfenced portions of the border. The Trump administration was sued back in September as part of its effort to block any construction of the border wall. Curiel is the federal judge who then-candidate Donald Trump once accused of being biased against him due to Curiels Mexican ancestry during the campaign. Curiel, whose parents emigrated from Mexico, was attacked by Trump in 2016. Trump said the judge held tremendous hostility against him in a lawsuit involving Trump University because of Curiels Mexican descent. Fox News' Ross Lee, Bill Mears, Corbett Miner, Lukas Mikelionis and The Associated Press contributed to this report. White House Communications Director Hope Hicks met with lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee for nine hours Tuesday for a closed-door interview as part of the committees investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 election. Hicks did not respond to questions from reporters as she left the Capitol, but one of the Republican members of the committee, Rep. Tom Rooney of Florida, said she had declined to answer questions about her time in the Trump administration. Others who have worked in the White House, including former strategist Steve Bannon, also have declined to talk about that time in interviews with the committee. Rooney did say that Hicks was willing to discuss her time on the Trump campaign and the transition, after being told she had answered similar questions by the Senate Intelligence Committee several months ago. Hicks was Trumps spokeswoman during the 2016 campaign, and is considered a key eyewitness to Trumps actions over the period prior to his inauguration. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the committees ranking member, told reporters that Hicks had been instructed by her employer at the White House not to answer any questions about events and meetings after the transition. Schiff described it as a breathtakingly broad claim of privilege that I dont think any court would sustain. My understanding was that Hope Hicks would be willing to answer everything, another Republican committee member, Rep. Peter King of New York, told Fox News The Story. But the White House asked her only to answers up to the end of the campaign, because that was really in the scope of the hearing. Republicans and Democrats were divided on whether the committee would subpoena Hicks for more answers. The panel subpoenaed Bannon last month after he refused to answer questions, but he has yet to cooperate. The House now is considering whether to hold Bannon in contempt. Shes answered questions on the transition. Mr. Bannon was claiming a privilege based on the transition [where] we were asking what the privilege was and we werent comfortable that there was such a privilege, Rooney said. Since she has decided to answer questions based on that transition, then she cannot be compared to Mr. Bannon. Schiff disagreed, saying that the committee was using one rule for Bannon and one for everyone else. Hicks also has been interviewed by special counsel Robert Mueller, according to published reports, along with other White House officials. Mueller is investigating matters related to the Russian meddling and potential obstruction of an ongoing federal inquiry. While the investigation is focused on Russian interference during the campaign, House investigators also had questions about her time in the White House, including her role in drafting a statement about a 2016 meeting between Trump campaign officials and Russians. That statement has been of particular interest to Mueller. The White House has said the president was involved in drafting the statement after news of the meeting broke last summer. The statement said the meeting primarily concerned a Russian adoption program, though emails released later showed that Trumps eldest son, Donald Trump, Jr., enthusiastically agreed to the sit-down with a Russian lawyer and others after he was promised dirt on Trumps presidential rival, Democrat Hillary Clinton. Hicks was with the president on Air Force One, while they were writing the initial statement. All of our questions about what went into that statement went unanswered, Schiff said. Fox News Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. SAT-7 KIDS Marks a Decade of Christian Programming to Some of World's Most Closed Countries Millions of young viewers have found 'unfailing hope' through 24/7 network focused on region's teens and children Contact: Barbara Weldon, 540-905-2558 NASHVILLE. Feb. 27, 2018 /Christian Newswire/ -- Christian media group SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) is marking a major milestone at "Proclaim 18," the 75th annual National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) Conventiona decade of children's broadcasting in the Middle East and North Africa, where churches may be outlawed and sharing the gospel openly is widely restricted. Photo: SAT-7 KIDS is marking 10 years of impacting the spiritual lives of millions of children in the Middle East and North Africa, through Christian programming that reaches homes in places where sharing the gospel openly is often restricted. Over the past 10 years, SAT-7 KIDS has built up a regular viewership of more than 4.5 million across the region, sharing Christ's love and promoting peace through a wide range of Arabic language programming aiming to present the good news, strengthen the church and prevent radicalization. Viewers tune in from every country, with the largest audience in Egypt, then Syria, Morocco and Yemen. The impact can be traced through the feedback of viewers like the mother of two young boys in Iraq. "Through your programs, they learned to read a Bible story with me every night before going to bed," she said. Parents from non-Christian backgrounds regularly thank the network for its positive children's programming. With studios in Cyprus, Lebanon, and Egypt, SAT-7 KIDS presents the good news 24/7 through dramas, talk shows, cartoons, quiz and talent shows, music videos, live call-ins and worship programs. In addition, the network offers a daily on-air complimentary school (Arabic, English, mathematics, science) to help some of the region's many displaced young refugee viewers keep up with their education. "It's a blessing that we have been able to impact children's spiritual lives, helping them to know God's love, understand his word, pray for his peace, and seek his forgiveness," says SAT-7 Chief Channels Officer and Deputy CEO, Rita El Mounayer. "Many of these children now have an unfailing hope in God with which to face their futures, and are equipped to change the face of the Middle East, applying what they have learned from our screen and sharing it with their families, neighbors and friends." Children's programming has been an important part of SAT-7's broadcasts since its launch in 1996. But with almost a third of those living in the region estimated to be aged 14 or younger, leaders wanted to focus more attention on the next generation. SAT-7 KIDS debuted in December 2007, and reaches seven time zones, from Morocco to Afghanistan. In the years since, countless viewers have grown up with the channel. Marianne Awaraji Daou, a former child actor with SAT-7 KIDS, later went on to present several seasons of the live show Let's Sing Together and now hosts a marriage counseling program, From Heart to Heart, with her husband, Rawad Daou. Launched in 1996, with its international headquarters in Cyprus, SAT-7 (www.sat7usa.org) broadcasts Christian satellite television to an audience of over 21 million people in the Middle East and North Africa. SAT-7 broadcasts in Arabic, Farsi and Turkish on five channels. Share Tweet House Democrats are rallying behind a new assault-weapons ban in the aftermath of the Florida school shooting, even as Republican leaders made clear Tuesday that such a sweeping measure likely will not get a vote. The Assault Weapons Ban of 2018 bill was formally introduced Monday by Democratic Reps. David Cicilline, of Rhode Island, and Ted Deutch, whose Florida district is where a gunman killed 17 people with the kind of semi-automatic rifle the bill aims to ban. Now is the time for action, Deutch tweeted. Let's start by ridding our streets of assault weapons. These are weapons of war made for the sole purpose of killing people. Most Americans support the assault weapons ban. It's time for Congress to listen to them and pass sensible legislation. The bill, as of Tuesday afternoon, was sponsored by 164 of the chambers 192 Democratic members, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other members of her leadership team. Deutch has publicly urged House Speaker Paul Ryan to allow members to vote on gun-control measures. And hes vowed to work with anyone in Congress -- Democrats and Republicans, to take meaningful action on gun safety. The bill itself would seek to regulate the importation, manufacture, possession, sale or transfer of assault weapons, according to the text. The measure is just one of several introduced this week to curb gun violence. However, Ryan on Tuesday appeared to rule out consideration of anything resembling a gun ban. We shouldn't be banning guns for law-abiding citizens. We should be focused on making sure those who shouldn't get guns don't get guns, he told reporters on Capitol Hill. We want to listen to kids but want to protect peoples due process rights while making sure people who shouldn't get guns don't get them. The Wisconsin Republican vowed to still have the conversations we need with members to ensure this doesn't happen again. House leaders on Tuesday also nixed an attempt by California Rep. Mike Thompson, who leads House Democratic efforts on firearms, to consider a special resolution to force the GOP-controlled chamber to immediately consider gun-violence legislation. Ryan and his leadership team are also arguing the House has already passed legislation to strengthen the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, which flags dangerous gun buyers before they can make such purchases. They point out that the chamber also has passed legislation dealing with mental-health problems, often a factor in mass shootings. Both of those measures are now being considered in the GOP-controlled Senate. Still, Ryan and his team, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, on Tuesday directed much of their focus toward the breakdowns in law enforcement during the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, in Parkland, Fla. There was a colossal breakdown, Ryan said. We need to get to the bottom of how breakdowns occurred -- from the armed officer in the school at the time to the FBI failing to follow up on a profound tip. Scalise, who is still recovering from gunshot wounds he suffered in a June 2017 mass shooting while practicing with colleagues for a charity softball game, said he has talked with some of the surviving Florida students. There was talk about breakdowns at various levels of government, but ultimately we talked about our shared experience, said Scalise, whose life was saved by officers who killed the shooter in last years attack. What angers me most is when I see breakdowns with law enforcement. The FBI had [the shooters] name on a silver platter. He himself said he wanted to be a professional school shooter. It was posted under his name and turned over to the FBI," continued Scalise, R-La. Ryan said that as a parent he supports the suggestion by President Trump to have trained teachers with a concealed weapon in classrooms, to prevent similar incidents -- but that the issue should be addressed by states, local governments, school boards and other parents. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner's interim security clearance has been downgraded, a government source told Fox News on Wednesday, a move that restricts him from viewing the president's daily brief. Kushner, who is also President Trump's son-in-law, was one of several White House aides who have been working without a permanent security clearance for the better part of a year. White House Chief of Staff John Kelly had set a Feb. 23 deadline for halting access to top-secret information for those whose applications have been pending since June 1 or earlier. As an apparent result, Kushner's clearance was downgraded from "interim top secret" to "interim secret." A spokesperson for Kushner said in a statement that "the new clearance policy will not affect Mr. Kushner's ability to continue to do the very important work he has been assigned by the president." Kushner's portfolio once included the U.S. relationships with China and Japan and a host of domestic priorities, including infrastructure, trade and economic development. But his free-wheeling reach in the foreign policy space which was viewed as undermining Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had already been curtailed somewhat under Kelly. Trump said Friday that he would leave it up to Kelly to determine the status of Kushner's clearance. "I will let General Kelly make that decision and he's going to do what's right for the country and I have no doubt he'll make the right decision," Trump said during a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The president also heaped praise on Kushner, calling him a master dealmaker and saying he'd "done an outstanding job." Trump further asserted that he inherited a "broken" background check system in which it can take "months and months and months" for full security clearance to be granted, even for people without complicated financial holdings. Kushner has been forced to repeatedly correct omissions in his "SF-86," the governmentwide form used to apply for clearances, as well as his financial disclosure forms, which experts said could delay or even nix his chances of earning a clearance through the normal process. Kushner has also come under scrutiny in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. The White House's handling of security clearances has come under intense scrutiny in the wake of revelations that former White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter had worked for more than a year with only interim clearance. Porter, whose job gave him constant access to the most sensitive of documents, had been accused of domestic abuse by his two ex-wives. The White House has repeatedly adjusted its timeline about who knew what and when about the allegations, and the scandal has weakened Kelly's standing, both among staffers and with the president. Fox News' John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Melania Trump has cut ties with an adviser whose firm was paid $26 million to help plan the president's inauguration. Mrs. Trump's spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, confirms Tuesday that the first lady's office has "severed the gratuitous services contract" it had with Stephanie Winston Wolkoff. Winston Wolkoff is a New York-based event planner and longtime friend of the first lady. She'd been working as an unpaid White House adviser to Mrs. Trump. The New York Times first reported on the termination of Winston Wolkoff's White House contract. The first lady's spokeswoman has said Mrs. Trump had no role with the inaugural committee and didn't know how the money was being spent. Recent tax filings show that the inaugural committee paid two private companies more than $50 million for event planning. Special Counsel Robert Mueller moved Tuesday to dismiss nearly two-dozen charges against former Trump campaign associate Rick Gates, in the wake of his guilty plea last week. Muellers team filed a motion to drop 22 tax and bank fraud charges against Gates. The filing was tied to Gates agreement last week to plead guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and lying to the FBI. That plea pertained to charges filed against him in October in Washington, D.C., for which he still faces up to 71 months in prison. Under the terms of the deal, the government had agreed it would move to dismiss another set of charges brought against him more recently in a Virginia federal court. Those charges covered everything from alleged tax fraud to bank fraud. The filing on Tuesday indicates Gates' cooperation with the special counsel team could be yielding good information -- as it pursues charges against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. Gates has intimate knowledge of Manaforts years of political consulting work in Ukraine, as well as other events that have sparked the interest of federal investigators. The superseding indictment still applies to Manafort, who last week blasted his ex-partner for pleading guilty to Muellers October charges. MANAFORT FACES NEW CHARGES IN MUELLER PROBE, BLASTS EX-PARTNER FOR PLEADING GUILTY Notwithstanding that Rick Gates pled guilty today, I continue to maintain my innocence, Manafort said in a statement to Fox News last week. I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. For reasons yet to surface he chose to do otherwise. Manafort added: This does not alter my commitment to defend myself against the untrue piled up charges contained in the indictments against me. Manafort still faces charges in both Washington and Virginia, and he is scheduled to appear in court in Alexandria on Friday. President Trump's allies, meanwhile, continue to argue that the probe has not uncovered any evidence of collusion between his campaign and Russia. Trump tweeted earlier Tuesday in reference to the probe, "WITCH HUNT!" Idaho has become ground zero in a new ObamaCare fight, with officials pursuing major changes that could serve as a national model for other states looking to expand insurance options in defiance of the law even as Democrats warn of higher costs for vulnerable customers. As soon as April, Blue Cross of Idaho is planning to make new options available. Thats after Gov. Butch Otter and Lt. Gov. Brad Little co-signed an executive order asking the Department of Insurance to seek creative ways to make health coverage more affordable. The move opened the door for plans that dont adhere to ObamaCare coverage requirements though with the Trump administration testing similar ideas, the state may be unlikely to face much resistance from the White House. 'It is in Idahos DNA not to take a federal solution.' Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little Perhaps the example in Idaho can help chip away at ObamaCare, Little told Fox News. The state's insurance department now aims to let insurers sell cheaper, less comprehensive plans that officials project could reduce insurance costs by 30 to 50 percent. Insurance carriers still would have to offer plans on the states exchange, Your Health Idaho, while federal subsidies would continue to be available. Idaho was among the first to act after Congress voted in December to ditch the federal penalty for not buying insurance compliant with the 2010 Affordable Care Act. Though the provision does not take effect until 2019 and Congress was unable to ditch the ACA as a whole last year it represented a major swipe at the Obama-era policy. Going further, Little has called his states plan the end of ObamaCare in Idaho. Thats what congressional Democrats fear, as members from the House and Senate wrote a Feb. 22 letter to Idaho Insurance Director Dean Cameron. We strongly oppose efforts that result in higher costs and undermine consumer protections that are guaranteed by federal law that protect women, people with pre-existing conditions, and others facing discrimination in access to health care, and therefore request an explanation of how the Idaho Department of Insurance will regulate insurance plans being sold in the individual market that are not compliant with federal law, said the letter from Sens. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Patty Murray, D-Wash., and Reps. Frank Pallone, D-N.J., and Richard Neal, D-Mass. DEMS FUME AS TRUMP PUSHES LOW-COST OBAMACARE ALTERNATIVE PLANS Little, a Republican candidate in the 2018 Idaho governors race in which Otter is not seeking re-election, defended the sought-after changes. We still recommend ACA plans if someone has high pharmaceutical costs or a pre-existing condition, Little said. If you get into these low-costs plans, it isnt like it used to be. Four of the five plans offer full maternity benefits. He suggested the current system isnt working. We lost 70,000 who dropped their health insurance because there was a 100 percent increase in premiums over the last two to three years, Little told Fox News. Little has doubts that anyone other than the HHS would have legal standing to challenge the policy. And a challenge from the Trump administration seems unlikely, given the federal government is also moving to offer more low-cost plans. Last week, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar announced a new regulation to let health insurance companies sell low-cost, less comprehensive plans that consumers can keep for up to one year. The plans would include a consumer disclaimer that they dont meet ACA requirements, while insurers could charge customers more based on medical history. Azar and Seema Verma, administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, met with Otter and other governors on Saturday, an HHS spokesperson told Fox News. They expressed empathy with the challenges that states such as Idaho face with Obamacare and highlighted the importance of the recently announced HHS proposed regulation that seeks to provide more choice and competition through short-term, limited duration plans, the HHS spokesperson said. HHS is committed to working with Idaho and all states to give them the flexibility, will enforce the law as needed, and looks forward to receiving comments from all states on the recently announced proposed regulation. Other state leaders are taking note of what Idaho is doing, including South Dakota GOP Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who attended the National Governors Association winter meeting last weekend in Washington. I know that prior to the ACA we had a lot of different health products available in the market place. And I think the national government, through the ACA, tried to set some minimal standards, Daugaard told Fox News. In some ways thats good for the consumers, but in other ways it limits choice. So, if Idaho is trying to provide more choice points that provide less coverage for less cost, again if its another item on the menu that consumers can choose with awareness, then I see that as a good thing. More local control produces better results, said Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican, noting Medicaid flexibility waivers his state and others have gotten. Health care is different in our state than it is in another state. Idaho is different than Kentucky, Bevin told Fox News. I think the key is to truly use the federalist model. This is how you get a return on things. Give states more autonomy and more control and youll get better results. However, Rhode Island Democratic Gov. Gina Raimondo opposes any state or federal proposal to weaken the health law. In Rhode Island, we have nearly full coverage. Over 95 percent of Rhode Islanders have health insurance, Raimondo told Fox News. The Affordable Care Act is working and any attempt to take peoples coverage away is one I would oppose and would hurt Rhode Island families. The Iowa state legislature also is considering a bill to allow insurers to offer plans in the individual market that don't meet ObamaCare requirements. Meanwhile, 20 states are suing the administration to challenge the individual mandate anew after the penaltys repeal and by extension, the ACA itself. As the law once again comes before the courts, Idaho will plow ahead with its changes. Blue Cross of Idaho was the first company to step up, though some companies such as Regence Blue Shield of Idaho are reportedly reluctant. What Idahoans want is a stable, functional market, Charlene Maher, CEO of Blue Cross of Idaho, said in a statement. The current marketplace is not affordable for middle-class families. Our Freedom Blue plans bring more choices and lower prices to consumers. Idaho was one of the few red states to establish an exchange after ObamaCare was passed. Little said it has been one of the most efficient, but it still needs help. It is in Idahos DNA not to take a federal solution, Little said. The governor and the legislature invested a lot of capital in developing an Idaho solution to a federal plan. Fred Lucas is the White House correspondent for the Daily Signal. Republican congressional candidate Rick Saccone conceded the special election to Democrat Conor Lamb more than a week after the close election ended. Lamb, who had already declared victory in the race, revealed Saccones call in a tweet on March 21. Lamb offered congratulations to his opponent for a close, hard-fought race and said he wished him the best. Lamb won the seat by a margin of about 750 votes. Republicans considered seeking a recount request or a lawsuit to contest the result, even as vote-counting over the past week continued to pad Lamb's lead. But officials said those efforts have been dropped since Saccone conceded. Ahead of the election, Democrats had hoped to stir up enough enthusiasm especially among union members to increase voter turnout and change the party representing a district that has recently been red. The one fact that has remained the same this year whether Democrats have won or lost [recent special elections] is Democrats are doing better in terms of turnout and enthusiasm, Kevan Yenerall, a social sciences professor at Clarion University, told Fox News before the election. The congressional seat opened after Republican Rep. Tim Murphy, who in public was staunchly anti-abortion, resigned in 2017 amid reports that he asked his mistress to get an abortion when he believed she was pregnant. Here's a look at the candidates and what is unique about Pennsylvania's 18th district. Conor Lamb A Marine Corps captain, Conor Lamb, 33, said on his campaign website the biggest issues facing the 18th congressional district arent partisan. My only bias is the one they taught us in the Marines: a bias for action, Lamb said on his website. His congressional to-do list includes: battling the nations heroin epidemic, modern energy development and creating jobs. In Pennsylvania, Lamb already worked towards ending the growing heroin crisis; as an assistant U.S. attorney, Lamb worked to make the Justice Departments Pittsburgh office a national leader in the fight, according to his campaign website. Lamb has advocated for new leadership in the House and said he would not vote for Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., as Minority Leader again a politically astute move that could garner him the support of more moderate or independent voters, said Yenerall. Most Democrats in the district may not dislike Pelosi, per se, but would like to shake up the status quo, Yenerall explained. He added that Lambs background as a veteran and U.S. attorney as well as his temperament does fit the district more so than other Democrats have. Lamb spoke out about gun control in the wake of the Parkland, Fla., high school massacre. He said he doesnt believe additional gun laws are needed to prevent mass shootings. "The broad agreement already is that we're not doing a good enough job keeping guns out of the hands of people with mental health conditions and with criminals," Lamb said at a campaign event. He told the Weekly Standard he would not have voted for legislation that would have prohibited abortions after 20 weeks, adding that he doesnt label himself as pro-life because its a political term. Former Vice President Joe Biden campaigned for Lamb a week ahead of the election, comparing the candidate to his late son Beau and praising him for his dedication to unions. Lamb will never ever stop, will never ever play a game, Biden said, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Thats this guy. This guy gets it. Rick Saccone A longtime state representative, Rick Saccone, 60, is a conservative Republican who more embodies the policies of President Trump. Saccone is more known for his religious conservatism as opposed to Murphy, who is a more mainstream Republican, Robert Speel, an associate professor of political science at Pennsylvania State University in Erie, told Fox News. He was one of the lawmakers who championed Pennsylvanias Castle Doctrine, or stand your ground law, which allows law-abiding people to protect themselves, their families and others from intruders and attackers without fear of prosecution or civil action for acting in defense of themselves and others. Saccone also sponsored a bill that would require public school buildings to bear the motto In God We Trust. Additionally, he pushed for a National Fast Day in the state to mirror President Lincolns proclamation of a national day of humiliation, fasting and prayer. PARTY LEADERS SENDING BIG MONEY, TOP STARS TO RIGHT PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE RACE Saccone is a retired Air Force officer with vast experience in counter-terrorism efforts, including working on task forces for two Olympic Games, according to his campaign website. Ive got a resume that my opponent doesnt have, Saccone told Fox News. Trump often tweeted his support of Saccone, including ahead of a January visit to the Keystone state. Rick is a great guy. We need more Republicans to continue our already successful agenda, the president said. Trump again traveled to western Pennsylvania the weekend before the election, urging voters to elect Saccone to advance the White House agenda. We need our Congressman Saccone, Trump said. Aside from Trump, Saccone also received support from Vice President Mike Pence and Ivanka, the president's daughter and adviser. But not all Republicans were happy with Saccone, Politico reported just before the election. Strategists and national GOP officials described Saccone to the publication as deeply underwhelming as a candidate and complained about his fundraising ability. Saccone told Fox News the reported friction was nonsense peddled by his opponents. Saccone is married with two sons. He studied in Africa, visited 75 countries, authored multiple books on North Korea and earned a Ph.D. in international affairs. The district Pennsylvanias 18th congressional district is located in the western part of the state near Pittsburgh. It includes parts of Allegheny, Greene, Washington and Westmoreland Counties and is made up of many rural, blue-collar voters. There are actually more registered Democrats than Republicans in the district a result of strong organized labor in the area. Union workers are a key demographic for the special election, although Trump made inroads with the more than 80,000 members in the district with his candidacy, Yenerall said. But Saccones anti-union voting record in the state legislature ultimately hurt him. Due to redistricting in the state, both Lamb and Saccone are expected to run again later this year in what will now be separate districts. What shaped the election Bellwether election: Pennsylvanias 18th district overwhelmingly voted for Trump over Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the 2016 election. The election shaped up as the next test of Democrats enthusiasm and GOP resilience in the Trump era and an early indicator of whether a midterm wave could be coming later this year. Political activists are certainly looking at this race as an indicator of Pennsylvania and national trends, Speel said. Lambs win could spell major trouble for Republicans in similar districts across the country, Yenerall said ahead of the election. Both parties have a great deal at stake here. If a Democrat can win this type of district with the right type of candidate it would mean the Democrats would do better than expected in the midterms," he had predicted. Spending: This race was expensive. Lamb raised more than $3.3 million this year, compared to just $703,000 for Saccone, according to FEC records. Ending Spending Inc., a super PAC founded by billionaire Joe Ricketts, was the first to hit the airwaves with a $1 million ad buy in support of Saccone. The Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC tied to Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, announced earlier this year that it would open two field offices in the district with 50 full-time canvassers. In Lambs first television spot, he noted that he has refused corporate PAC money. Tim Murphy fallout: The reasoning behind Murphys decision to leave office could have an effect on voters, some politicos in the state warned ahead of election night. Itll be interesting to see if voters turn against the Republican Party, seeing them as hypocritical, Speel said. Lamb has already painted Republicans as the party of hypocrisy. When he was selected as the Democrats nominee, Lamb said he planned to expose Republicans public hypocrisy fully equal to the private hypocrisy of Tim Murphy, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported in November. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Rick Gates, a business associate of President Trumps former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, pleaded guilty Friday to federal conspiracy and false-statement charges stemming from Special Counsel Robert Muellers investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Like Manafort, Gates was hit with new charges on Feb. 22 that included allegations of tax evasion and bank fraud. Gates, 45, and Manafort, 68, were initially indicted in October, with the accusation of a multimillion-dollar money-laundering conspiracy tied to lobbying work for a Russia-friendly Ukrainian political party. But because of Gates' guilty plea agreement, Mueller has moved to drop the 22 tax and bank fraud charges against him. Heres a look at who Gates is and how he is tied to Trump and the Russia investigation. Who is Rick Gates? A reported protege of Manaforts, Gates, too, worked for the Trump campaign and outlasted Manafort. Like Manafort, Gates helped wrangle delegates at the high-stakes 2016 Republican National Convention. The onetime deputy campaign manager also helped start the nonprofit America First Policies (AFP), created to advance the White Houses agenda. But Gates eventually left the group, reportedly due to his ties to Manafort. Erin Montgomery, a spokesperson for AFP, distanced the nonprofit from Gates. "We believe it is important to clarify that Rick Gates' association with America First Policies was informal and limited, and, as noted in press reports, ended around March of this year," Montgomery told Fox News. But even after leaving the nonprofit, Gates still visited the White House multiple times, the Daily Beast reported. The publication alleged that Gates is disliked by Trump. How is he connected to the Russia investigation? During Manaforts work with Ukraine, Gates would fly to Moscow to take meetings with Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska, The New York Times reported. And Gates name has appeared on documents linked to companies that Manaforts firm has set up to receive payments in Eastern Europe, according to the newspaper. Everything was done legally and with the approval of our lawyers, Gates has told The Times. Nothing to my knowledge was ever done inappropriately. Gates was also named alongside Manafort in a 2011 Ukrainian racketeering lawsuit. What has he been charged with? A 32-count indictment, unrelated to allegations of misconduct during the Trump campaign, returned by a federal grand jury in February alleged that Gates and Manafort doctored financial documents, lied to tax preparers and defrauded banks using money they cycled through offshore accounts to spend lavishly, including on real estate, interior decorating and other luxury goods. Specifically, Gates was accused of 11 counts related to filing false income tax returns and three counts of failure to report foreign bank and financial accounts. Along with Manafort, he was accused of nine counts of bank fraud and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. The indictment alleged Gates and Manafort fraudulently obtained more than $20 million from financial institutions in loans after their Ukrainian work subsided. The indictment also increased the amount of money Manafort, with the help of Gates, is accused of laundering to $30 million. Gates pleaded guilty to the charges on Feb. 23. After Gates' plea, Mueller moved to drop the 22 bank and tax fraud charges against him. The decision to drop the more expansive charges against Gates could suggest that the former Trump campaign official is cooperating and providing good information to Mueller's team. Notwithstanding that Rick Gates pled today, I continue to maintain my innocence, Manafort responded to Gates' guilty plea in a statement. I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. For reasons yet to surface he chose to do otherwise. Gates has struggled with his lawyers. His initial representation withdrew after acknowledging irreconcilable differences with their client. Fox News' Jodie Curtis, Sam Chamberlain, Jake Gibson, James Rosen and Brooke Singman contributed to this report. The Associated Press also contributed to this report. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer made what one Twitter user called "the worst argument for net neutrality ever" Wednesday when he attempted to pull off a sly reference to the hookup euphemism "Netflix and chill." The tweet in question was part of a thread in which Schumer argued against the repeal of so-called "net neutrality" rules which govern customer access to apps and websites. "Without #NetNeutrality when a couple is streaming their favorite #Netflix show but it keeps lagging and killing the mood, who will be to blame?" Schumer wrote. The message had been retweeted 209 times as of Wednesday afternoon, but had garnered 550 responses -- many of them mocking Schumer. "Please leave this one to people who understand the issue, Chuck," wrote user Lukas Simonis. Don Stewart, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's deputy chief of staff, ribbed Schumer, saying "you might want to get your Twitter password back." Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch was one of many who tweeted an image of actor Steve Buscemi trying to pass as a high school student in an episode of "30 Rock." Hatch's spokesman, Matt Whitlock, responded from his personal account, saying "I've felt gross about this tweet for hours." The Federal Communications Commission repealed net neutrality in December. Democrats in Congress are attempting to undo the repeal and a group of attorneys general for 21 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit last month in an effort to block the repeal. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Location appeared to be the key Tuesday as the Supreme Court debated whether tech giant Microsoft has to turn over email records stored overseas to the government as part of a criminal investigation. The issue pits digital privacy against the needs of law enforcement in a case being watched around the globe. In oral arguments, the justices appeared ready to give the Trump Justice Department a legal victory, with some on the bench saying while the information may be archived on cloud servers in Ireland, a computer operator at company headquarters in Washington state could easily retrieve the digital material and turn it over to authorities. "It seems to me that the government might have a strong position that the statute focuses on disclosure" of the records, said Chief Justice John Roberts. "And disclosure takes place in Washington, not in Ireland." SUPREME COURT DIVIDED, GORSUCH MUM IN CASE THAT COULD DEAL BLOW TO UNIONS But others worried a 1986 law the government used to request the information was inadequate for current privacy concerns. "No one ever heard of clouds. This kind of storage didn't exist" three-decades ago, said Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. "So wouldn't it be wiser just to say let's leave things as they are? If Congress wants to regulate in this brave new world, it should do it." The justices as a group seemed to be grasping for a compromise that might allow government access to global email storage, while giving greater weight to the sovereignty concerns raised by other nations. "I recognize we have a difficult statute here," said Justice Anthony Kennedy. The electronic communications were requested in 2013 by federal agents conducting a drug trafficking investigation in New York. The warrant sought "all emails" in a Microsoft customer's webmail account. A federal magistrate concluded the government had "probable cause" to seek the information, under the 32-year-old federal Stored Communications Act. Microsoft balked at the request, insisting that because the data was on a server in Dublin, the government could not make such an "extraterritorial" demand. The company also said it was up to Congress to update the old law to make it applicable to current technology. A federal appeals court had sided with Microsoft. In Tuesday's arguments, Trump administration attorney Michael Dreeben said this was strictly about "domestic conduct," since the suspects and service providers were both U.S. based. He argued a judicial loss here would hamper law enforcement's ability to obtain electronic information involving a range of crimes, including fraud and terrorism, where time might be critical to thwart a potential imminent national security threat. Microsoft attorney Joshua Rosenkranz faced tough questioning after saying other governments may seek to unilaterally seize emails stored inside the U.S. And he said with so many unanswered questions about the sovereignty of data, U.S. courts should tread carefully. "If you try to tinker with this, without the tools that only Congress has, you are as likely to break the cloud as you are to fix it," said Rosenkranz. Justice Stephen Breyer said instead of a blanket refusal, the company could make case-by-case objections to data requests, depending on where the servers might be located. "Microsoft goes to the magistrate and says, look, there's a problem here because of the law of other countries, and the magistrate takes that into account," he said. "And then maybe Congress will pass this and we'll have standards in it and it'll be much more helpful. What's wrong with that?" A number of European government officials, international trade groups and privacy advocates are backing Microsoft. Several members of the court -- whose average age is about 67 years -- have publicly admitted their grasp of ever-evolving technology is a work in progress. When Rosenkranz said sophisticated robots can currently access, scan and retrieve the digital evidence requested, Justice Sonia Sotomayor expressed mock alarm. "I guess my imagination is running wild," she said, to courtroom laughter. The case is U.S. v. Microsoft (17-2). A ruling is expected by early summer. (CNN) Airbnb is adding more lodging types to its site, such as boutique hotels, bed and breakfasts, and high-end rentals. It's also making it easier for bigger groups to stay together for work trips, weddings, and family getaways. CEO Brian Chesky outlined on Thursday at an event in San Francisco the company's new 10-year roadmap. Among its goals: host more than a billion guests by 2028. As a part of the expansion effort, Airbnb will now offer more ways to search for properties. This includes filtering for vacation homes, unique accommodations, bed and breakfasts, and boutique hotels. Previously, Airbnb did not feature hotels on the platform. Airbnb is also adding new tiers, called Airbnb Plus and Beyond by Airbnb, for travelers who want to stay in more luxurious homes or buy custom-designed trips. Airbnb Plus launches with 2,000 homes in 13 cities. Hosts must complete a rigorous checklist to qualify for the program. The company is also launching Airbnb Collections, a way for groups of travelers to rent homes that fit their needs. Airbnb is starting with Collections for family and work trips, and will expand to include weddings, honeymoons, and group getaways. Chesky said the hospitality platform's latest additions will make "Airbnb for everyone." Related: Airbnb says it won't go public this year as top exec departs The company is also launching a Superguest membership program later this year, similar to its Superhost program that recognizes favored hosts on the platform. Some benefits could include reduced prices on rentals and transportation, or access to fitness centers. The Superguest trial launches with 10,000 people this summer before being rolled out to all guests later in the year. Airbnb continues to dive deeper into the travel business with offerings that focus on experiences. Airbnb already offers travelers tours, cooking classes, hiking trips, and other activities. The 10-year-old company, which is valued at $31 billion, has a total of 4.5 million listings in 81,000 cities. Earlier this month, Chief Financial Officer Laurence Tosi left the company after reportedly clashing with Chesky over balancing financial stability with expansion. Chesky later said it would not be going public this year as previously rumored. President Trump took to Twitter Tuesday to promote calls for the Justice Department to investigate alleged criminal activity by his former Democratic presidential rival Hillary Clinton -- citing a Fox News analyst who suggested that the DOJ may be sitting on a "treasure trove" of evidence. Trump quoted Fox News' Senior Judicial Analyst Judge Andrew Napolitano, who suggested on "The Story with Martha MacCallum" that someone at the department may have evidence of criminality from Clinton or her camp that should be investigated. Napolitano was, in turn, reacting to an interview Trump gave to Fox's "Justice with Judge Jeanine" on Saturday night when he suggested that someone should look into the Clinton campaign's "fraudulent actions" during the 2016 presidential run in relation to the funding of a controversial anti-Trump dossier that was used by the FBI and DOJ to obtain a FISA warrant to spy on Trump campaign aide Carter Page. In the wake of his election, Trump backed down on his campaign call to have the DOJ investigate Clinton, but he has returned to the lock her up theme since then -- and has repeatedly criticized Attorney General Jeff Sessions for not investigating Clinton more aggressively. In his tweets Tuesday, Trump also branded FBI Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe a witch hunt, quoting experts who appeared on Fox & Friends to support his long-standing argument that the probe is baseless and that there was no collusion between members of his team and Russian-linked individuals in the 2016 election. Ken Starr, the independent counsel tasked with investigating Clinton administration controversies in the 1990s, said on Sunday that there has been no evidence of collusion so far from the Mueller team, prompting a tweet from the presidents account. Trump quoted constitutional law professor Jonathan Turley, who also downplayed the probe on Sunday, noting that collusion was implausible based on evidence seen so far. Trump then tweeted in all caps: Trumps tweets come after the release of a Democratic rebuttal to a GOP memo that found that intelligence agencies had used a Democratic-funded dossier as the basis to get a warrant to spy on Page. DEMS' REBUTTAL TO GOP FISA MEMO IS RELEASED; TRUMP DEEMS IT A 'BUST' Trump branded the Dem memo a total political and legal bust. Trump has repeatedly said there was no collusion from his team and has claimed that the investigation is politically motivated and pushed by Democrats upset by Trumps win. President Trump has tapped Brad Parscale -- the towering, bearded political consultant described as a genius by The Washington Post -- as the man to lead his 2020 re-election bid as campaign manager. Parscale, who had previously worked for the Trump Organization, worked as Trumps top digital operations guru for the 2016 campaign and was credited with possibly tipping the election. Parscale announced Tuesday the appointments of other senior campaign aides, including Michael Glassner as chief operating officer and Lara Trump, the presidents daughter-in-law and son to Eric Trump, as senior adviser. The Trump campaign said in a news release that it plans on being involved in the 2018 midterm elections, including endorsing House and Senate candidates. Born in Topeka, Kansas, Parscale says he spent 15 years building his company he started with just $500 before moving to the Trump Organization in 2010. But as he moved up the ranks to eventually take control of the Trump campaigns digital arm, he wielded significant influence and pushed the campaign to invest in social media advertising, particularly Facebook. "You want a great product, you want things that resonate with people and make them dance, he said at a conference in November. The Washington Post called him the genius who won Trumps campaign." A "60 Minutes" profile likened him to the "secret sauce, the magic wand person, the Wizard of Oz behind the curtain." The campaign poured money into Facebook, sending thousands of versions of tweaked ads to maximize response, the profile from the Post said. Then it won the presidency by a margin narrow enough that Parscale (and Facebook) can justifiably take credit. Parscale described his methods in an interview with Fox News and talked about how data led the campaign to push in Pennsylvania and Michigan. "We were making thousands of live calls, web tracking, web different surveys and it was building and it's building what's called models and universes," he said. "What we can start to see is, we're in play in Pennsylvania and play in Michigan. Let's buy in these areas." He also said that Trump was initially unconvinced by the big spend in social media, saying he thought television was the more important medium. "I don't believe in this mumbo-jumbo digital stuff" Parscale quoted Trump as saying to him, adding that Trump "was just laying into me." "I was crushed actually," he told "60 Minutes." As campaign manager, Parscale will be in the spotlight significantly more than in his previous role, where he was largely unknown until after Trump's upset victory. Kellyanne Conway, Trump's 2016 campaign manager, was regularly on television pushing the campaigns agenda and drawing a significant amount of media scrutiny. An imposing figure himself (Parscale is taller than the 62 president), any emphasis on Facebook is likely to draw additional scrutiny in 2020, as it has since it's been revealed that Russian-linked individuals used Facebook as part of their strategy to sow discord in U.S. politics in 2016. But like Conway, Parscale has shown unwavering loyalty to the president. "Mr. Trump has given me every opportunity in the world, and I would do anything I could to help him win," Parscale told the Texas Tribune. "There is no rock I wouldnt turn over and no time I wouldnt put in to help him win." In addition to his appointment, members of Trumps White House team offered glowing praise for Parscales abilities. Brad was essential in bringing a disciplined technology and data-driven approach to how the 2016 campaign was run. His leadership and expertise will help build a best-in-class campaign, Kushner said in a statement. Trump filed the paperwork to organize his re-election committee on the same day as his inauguration, held his first campaign rally on Feb. 18, 2017, in Florida, and has mused publicly about would-be Democratic challengers. That field already is staggeringly broad: California Sen. Kamala Harris, New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker and 2016 Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders are all thought to be considering a run. Some conservatives, though, think Trump would stand the best chance against Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. A straw poll taken at the Conservative Political Action Conference showed participants picked Warren as the Democrat most likely to lose to Trump should she run. Fox News John Roberts and The Associated Press contributed to this report. EXCLUSIVE: President Trump has struck an informal deal with Boeing for new Air Force One planes, according to the White House -- resulting from negotiations that started before he took office. President Trump has reached an informal deal with Boeing on a fixed price contract for the new Air Force One Program. Thanks to the presidents negotiations, the contract will save the taxpayers more than $1.4 billion, Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said Tuesday. The deal is worth $3.9 billion. Officials say it represents $1.4 billion in savings from estimates of over $5 billion for two airplanes and related costs. A Boeing official said the agreement covers two aircraft, including things unique to Air Force One such as a communications suite, internal and external stairs, large galleys and other equipment. The company said in a statement: Boeing is proud to build the next generation of Air Force One, providing American Presidents with a flying White House at outstanding value to taxpayers. President Trump negotiated a good deal on behalf of the American people. The president has been working to negotiate a new Air Force One deal ever since the presidential transition period in late 2016, when he complained on Twitter about the cost of the Boeing project and threatened to cancel the order. He said at the time the costs were out of control. The original projected price of the contract was $3 billion, but costs kept rising. When Trump objected in late 2016, he complained that costs were creeping past $4 billion. Now, the White House says the costs would have been over $5 billion. According to an official with knowledge of the program, though, the total cost estimate was always over $5 billion -- the official explained that Trump simply was given bad information in 2016 when he tweeted that the cost was $4 billion. The planes are meant to replace the aging Reagan-era aircraft currently in use. I think Boeing is doing a little bit of a number. We want Boeing to make a lot of money, but not that much money, Trump said in December 2016. FLASHBACK: TRUMP RIPS BOEING FOR AIR FORCE ONE COSTS Defense One reported last week that Trump was in the final stages of negotiating the deal for two new airplanes, and met with Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg at the White House. The negotiations covered the overhaul of two 747 airliners. Freak rains in the driest part of the world have revealed hidden microbes that could point to what life on Mars might look like. Chiles Atacama Desert is one of the most hostile environments on Earth and, much like Mars, its arid landscape appears to be completely void of life. But a recent downpour in the South American desert, in which rainfall can be as low as 8mm a year, has revealed that a place that looks inhabitable can actually be teeming with life. A number of bacteria, fungi and other microbes have been living dormant under the seemingly barren soil for decades, waiting for the very rare rainfall to wake them up. Over many years the bugs have adapted to the unforgiving dryness, ultraviolet radiation and saltiness, with researchers suggesting that their discovery could be an indicator for the possibility of life on Mars. The findings were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, headed by astrobiologist Dr Dirk Schulze-Makuch, a professor at the Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics at Germanys Technical University Berlin. In 2015, Dr Schulze-Makuch took a team of researchers on an excursion to the Atacama Desert after a years worth of a rain was dumped on the area during a freak weather event. They took samples of soil from different sections of the desert and returned again in 2016 and 2017 to collect more samples. In the early samples, Dr Schulze-Makuch and his team observed a number of living organisms thriving in the soil but by 2017, as the soil dried out from the unexpected rain, the bugs started to return to hibernation. In the past, researchers have found dying organisms near the surface and remnants of DNA but this is really the first time that anyone has been able to identify a persistent form of life living in the soil of the Atacama Desert, Dr Schulze-Makuch said. We believe these microbial communities can lay dormant for hundreds or even thousands of years in conditions very similar to what you would find on a planet like Mars and then come back to life when it rains. Mars was thought to once be covered in oceans and lakes, an environment deemed extremely conducive to life, but scientists are now speculating whether the microbes could have moved underground as the water dried up. Since it hasnt rained on the Red Planet in a few billion years it is difficult to test whether this theory could be correct. Australian company, Gilmour Space Technologies, is currently working with NASA to build an experimental rover, which will be put on Mars by 2024. The rover will be designed to drill into the surface of the planet and extract water and could bring scientists closer to discovering if life on Mars exists. This story originally appeared in news.com.au. Some hardy Earth microbes could likely survive in the Saturn moon Enceladus' buried ocean, gobbling up hydrogen produced by interactions between seawater and rock, a new study suggests. And the microbes tested in the study churn out methane as a metabolic byproduct. That's intriguing, because NASA's Cassini spacecraft detected methane in the plume of particles blasted out into space by Enceladus' powerful south-pole geysers. "We were able to show that, under putative Enceladus conditions, biological methane production occurs in the lab," said study co-author Simon Rittmann, of the Department of Ecogenomics and Systems Biology at the University of Vienna in Austria. [Amazing Photos of Saturn's Icy Moon Enceladus] "Hence, some of the methane detected on Enceladus could in principle be of biological origin," Rittmann told Space.com via email. The researchers led by Ruth-Sophie Taubner, also of the University of Vienna performed initial experiments on three species of methane-producing archaean microbes. Archaea are similar to bacteria in that they lack a nucleus or any other membrane-bound internal structures, but the former beasties represent an entirely separate lineage that may go all the way back to the dawn of life on Earth. This exploratory work identified one of the microbes, Methanothermococcus okinawensis, as the best suited for more in-depth study under Enceladus-like conditions. So the team exposed M. okinawensis to a variety of gas compositions and (relatively high) pressures at 150 degrees Fahrenheit (65 degrees Celsius) basically, what you'd expect to find at hydrothermal vents on Enceladus' seafloor. Astronomers have inferred the existence of such vents on Enceladus from several Cassini observations. For example, the Saturn orbiter spotted tiny silica particles and molecular hydrogen (H2) in the moon's plume, both of which are best explained by reactions between hot water and rock. M. okinawensis grew well and produced methane in the team's experiments, which perhaps isn't terribly surprising, given that the organism was isolated from a hydrothermal vent off the Japanese island of Okinawa, at a depth of about 3,200 feet (975 meters). n addition, Taubner and her colleagues modeled the water-rock reactions likely occurring in Enceladus' interior. They found that such reactions are likely producing lots of H2 enough to sustain methanogenic organisms such as M. okinawensis, if any exist on the Saturn satellite. [Inside Enceladus, Icy Moon of Saturn (Infographic)] To be clear, study team members aren't claiming that Enceladus' methane is biological; after all, the substance can be produced geologically as well (by reactions between rock and hot water, in fact). But the new results could help inform the search for life on ocean moons in the solar system, Rittmann said. "From an astronomical perspective, future missions to Enceladus or other icy moons should be equipped to be able to detect methanogenic biosignatures related to methanogens, like certain lipids or ratios of certain carbon isotopes," he said. There are currently no Enceladus missions on the books of NASA or any other space agency. But both NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are developing missions to explore the icy ocean moons of Jupiter. NASA's entry, called Europa Clipper, will assess the habitability of the buried ocean on the Jovian satellite Europa over the course of dozens of flybys. ESA's mission, called Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE), will also study Europa, though it will focus more on Ganymede and, to a lesser extent, Callisto. Europa Clipper and JUICE are both scheduled to launch in the 2020s. NASA is also working on a separate Europa lander mission, though that project remains a concept at the moment. The new study was published online today (Feb. 27) in the journal Nature Communications. Scientists have also spotted methane in the atmosphere of Mars, and they're not sure where the Red Planet's store of the stuff is coming from. But more information should be coming soon: The Trace Gas Orbiter, part of the European-Russian ExoMars exploration program, is scheduled to begin measuring and mapping Mars methane in mid-April. Originally published on Space.com. An extremely rare copy of the Declaration of Independence that was hidden behind wallpaper to protect it from ransacking Civil War troops, has surfaced. The Washington Post reports that the copy, which is one of only 51 known to exist, resurfaced last month after its purchase by billionaire David M. Rubenstein, co-founder of private equity firm The Carlyle Group. Rare document dealer Seth Kaller, who worked on the sale, told Fox News that the calfskin copy is one of two that were given to founding father James Madison by Congress in 1824. SPAIN CRACKS SECRET CODE ON KING FERDINAND'S MYSTERIOUS 500-YEAR-OLD MILITARY LETTERS Its extremely rare to find one with a close connection to a founding father, he said, adding that the location of the second copy is unknown. Madison likely gave the existing copy to his nephew Robert Lewis Madison, with Kaller noting that the document was not part of the Madison estate when the founding father died in 1836. By the time of the Civil War, Madisons son, Robert Lewis Madison Jr., was in possession of the Declaration. Madison Jr., a doctor who served in the Confederate army and was a physician to Robert E. Lee, was apparently concerned that ransacking troops would destroy the document. According to a 1913 newspaper article, the doctors wife hid the copy behind paper on a wall at the familys home, which was likely in Lexington, Virginia. PICASSO MASTERPIECE REVEALS LOST PAINTING, HIDDEN DETAILS The historic artifact survived the war, albeit with some damage from moisture, and remained in the Madison family. The Washington Post reports that Madisons descendant Michael OMara found the copy when he was going through family papers following his mothers death in 2014. OMaras mother, Helen, was the great granddaughter of Robert Lewis Madison Jr. The Declaration, in a broken frame, had been in a cardboard box at OMaras office outside Houston for 10 years prior to its re-discovery, according to the Washington Post. Before that, the document was in OMaras parents home in Louisville, Kentucky. Initially displayed on a mantelpiece, the document was reportedly stored in a bedroom closet when the frame cracked. Last year, experts from Washington Conservation Studio spent about 10 months working on the moisture-damaged document. SECRET GHOSTLY PORTRAIT OF MARY, QUEEN OF SCOTS, DISCOVERED BENEATH 16TH-CENTURY PAINTING Rubenstein, who owns five copies of the document including the latest version, told the Washington Post that he paid seven figures for the Declaration. The Declaration is one of around 200 made in the early 19th century amid concerns about the condition of the original 1776 document. In 1820, then Secretary of State John Quincy Adams commissioned printer William J. Stone to make an exact copy of the Declaration. Stone subsequently engraved the copy on a copper plate and printed it on calfskin. Stone worked on the copy for nearly three years as a result his engraving is the best representation of the Declaration as the manuscript looked at that time, according to Kaller. VAN GOGH DISCOVERY: PREVIOUSLY UNKNOWN DRAWINGS BY DUTCH MASTER IDENTIFIED In 1823, the State Department requested 200 copies from the facsimile of the engraved plate. Stone printed 201 copies, one of which he kept for himself. Stone made an additional set of copies in 1833. Set against this backdrop, the latest find is extremely significant, Keller told Fox News. We get about five to 10 calls a week from someone who thinks that they have one of these if its not one of these really rare early first or second editions printed by William Stone, its not valuable. The recently resurfaced copy will be on display at the Smithsonian Nation Museum of American History. Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers In the middle of her work shift Sunday morning, Tori Burley received a text message from her father that gave her a tingle of excitement: "The blue ice is back!" It had been seven years since Burley, a photographer who grew up in Mackinaw City, Michigan, spotted blue ice chunks along the Straits of Mackinac, the waterway that flows under the Mackinac Bridge, connecting two Great Lakes Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. "I was at work and I was like, 'I need this day to be done now,'" Burley told Fox News. "The second I could leave I grabbed the kids and I ran up to the lake to take pictures." Burley had plenty of company, from photographers and locals alike. Dozens of people lined up along the shore to snap photos and crawl near the big blocks of ice, some towering over 30 feet tall. A combination of wind and the current pushed the chunks to shore, where they piled up on top of each other to build "mountains" of ice. Dustin Dilworth, of Gaylord, Michigan, located about an hour south of the Mackinac Bridge, traveled to Mackinaw City on Monday to witness the rare phenomenon. "In the Straits of Mackinac, these ice stacks can be as high as a three-story building," Dilworth told Fox News. Pictures "never really do it justice," Burley added, as she described the beauty of the "light sea glass blue" color that reflects off the ice when the sun hits it just right. "They can't capture the glow or size of it," she said. Blue ice occurs when snow buries and compresses a glacier, squeezing out air bubbles and allowing light to pass through to the water below. "The longer the path light travels in ice, the more blue it appears," the National Park Service explained in a post online. "The ice appears so blue because it's compressed so tightly that all air has been 'squeezed' out of the ice, preventing the passage of light, absorbing the red end of the light spectrum," Dilworth described. "This allows only the blue hue to reach our eye." The sight was so breathtaking, Burley went back around sunrise the next day to capture even more photos, though the ice had somewhat melted by then. "This time of the year it can melt right away," Burley warned. "So that's the other challenge. It might show up, but you may get there just to see it wash back out with the wind." Dilworth, who's also a photographer, said he caught sight of the blue ice on a "cloudless morning," as a bald eagle flew overhead. "Nature was active...as much as the photographers," he said. "Nothing seems to compare to it," Burley added. "When you're standing next to this ice that's bigger than you are it completely changes your perspective." Sci-fi movies have long portrayed a frightening world where robots take over and use humans as slaves. But the bleak dystopian vision seen in movies such as I, Robot and The Terminator may not be as far-fetched as it first appears, according to a string of experts. Futurologist Dr. Ian Pearson told The Sun: "We'll have trained it to be like us, trained it to feel emotions like us, but it won't be like us. It will be a bit like aliens off Star Trek smarter and more calculated in its actions. "It will be insensitive to humans, viewing us as barbaric. So when it decides to carry out its own experiments, with viruses that it's created, it will treat us like guinea pigs." This terrifying vision of the future isn't a fringe theory, but one that's gaining traction. A recent report by 26 experts warned that our future is under threat from AI and more must be done to keep the world safe. The report titled The Malicious Use of Artificial Intelligence: Forecasting, Prevention, and Mitigation was compiled by representatives from Oxford Universitys Future of Humanity Institute and Cambridge Universitys Centre for the Study of Existential Risk. Attacks could range from drones to bots being used to distribute fake news on social media, claimed its authors. This is especially true now, as the technology is accelerating at a faster pace than ever before. We're already seeing more human-AI interaction than at any time in the past. Take a look around you: digital assistants (from Amazon's Alexa to Apple's Siri) are in our homes and in the phones we carry with us. AI is also powering the self-driving cars that are predicted to hit our roads as soon as 2025. And, in some cases, the bots are already outsmarting humans. In May of last year, Google's AlphaGo AI triumphed over the world champion at the ancient Chinese board game of Go. Then in August, an AI beat the world's best pros at the video game DOTA 2. This isn't a new phenomenon either AI has been wiping the floor with us puny humans for years now. Who can forget IBM's Watson AI beating out two champs to win the popular game show Jeopardy. Still, there are some who believe that the technology's benefits far outweigh any negatives. They include Microsoft founder Bill Gates, who claimed that "AI can be our friend." "AI is just the latest in technologies that allow us to produce a lot more goods and services with less labor," Gates said recently. "And overwhelmingly, over the last several hundred years, that has been great for society." But, this current breed of AI built by companies like Google, Microsoft, and Apple - isn't the type that experts are losing sleep over. Instead, they fear what these building blocks could lead to like a conscious, mega-intelligent, system like the sort you see in sci-fi films (think Terminator, or I, Robot). It's a concern shared by SpaceX and Tesla chief Elon Musk. The billionaire-entrepreneur has repeatedly urged governments to start regulating AI, warning that it poses a "fundamental risk to the existence of civilization." Musk's comments led to a public spat with Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who claimed that such "doomsday scenarios" are "irresponsible." Meanwhile, in the more immediate future, there's also the risk of hackers manipulating the systems we're utilizing in our places of work. Last year, research by Deloitte suggested that 85% of U.K. businesses plan to invest in AI by 2020. But are there safeguards in place to keep these systems, and our cyber-infrastructure, secure? Dr. Pearson claims that bad actors will always be on the hunt for flaws in the software. "That's definitely the type of thing rogue states and terrorists are going to be interested in," he told The Sun. "[They'll] try to find weaknesses and exploit them for their own purposes." Ultimately, the burden rests on its creators' shoulders, according to Oxford University's Professor Luciano Floridi. The real risks with AI are entirely human: misuses, wrong choices, bad design, and missed opportunities," Floridi, Director of the university's Digital Ethics Lab, told The Sun. "If something goes wrong the responsibility will be ours. The only threat to humanity is humanity itself. The rest is science fiction. This story originally appeared in The Sun. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) There was once a time in Filipino showbusiness where fans could not get enough of Hero Angeles' charm and acting chops. He began his journey to stardom in 2004, as the winner of a reality television show. Following a series of romantic-comedy flicks with his then on-screen partner Sandara Park, he disappeared from limelight in 2005. Since then, Angeles has kept a low profile. Now, Angeles makes a comeback with his passion project: recreating dishes through miniature clay sculptures. Actor and visual artist Hero Angeles shares his new passion project: miniature food sculptures. "Frustrated cook kasi ako. Nagluluto din naman ako. Sabi ko, dito ko na siguro i-e-execute lahat 'yung mga hindi ko magawa," he said, presenting a bowl of sinigang na hipon (sour soup with shrimp), no bigger than a one-peso coin. [Translation: I'm a frustrated cook, but I cook. I told myself, maybe I'll execute what I was not able to before.] "Sabi ko, 'Gagawa ako, 'yung makikilala 'yung Filipino.'" His creations are on display on his social media accounts under the brand ARTCETERO, a portmanteau of the words "art," "etcetera," and his name, "Hero." "Diba ang Pilipino, mahilig kumain, ganyan. And then 'yung nakikita ko sa online social media accounts ng mga international miniature artists, ginagawa nila, puro Japanese food, American food. Sabi ko, 'Gagawa ako, 'yung makikilala 'yung Filipino,'" he said. [Translation: Filipinos, they love to eat. But on social media accounts of international miniature artists, they do Japanese Food, American Food. So I said I'll do what will showcase Filipino food.] Angeles' foray into the miniature food sculpture scene began with his undergraduate Fine Arts degree from the University of the Philippines. Since the launch of ARTCETERO in 2014, he has worked on a series of watercolors paintings entitled, "MagnifEYED." These works were 1.5 to 12 millimeters in size, which could be as small as the eye of a needle. The paintings were so tiny that he had to use magnifying lenses to make them. "China-challenge ko lang talaga ang sarili ko," he explained. "Ang challenge pa dito, kasi watercolor siya. Di ba pag watercolor painting, kumakalat siya talaga." [Translation: I'm just challenging myself. The bigger challenge here is it's watercolor. When you use watercolor, it spreads.] Come 2016, Angeles stopped micro-painting after consistent back and neck pains as well as headaches. His passion for all things small, however, carried on. He then decided to work with bakeable polymer clay for micro-sculptures. Each micro-sculpture takes two to three hours of intensive work, discounting the amount of study required to accurately recreate a dish. For some sculptures, he even adds a coating of powdered pastel to finish off the design. Hero Angeles has created 60 miniature sculptures of different Filipino dishes and delicacies, as well as fast food staples such as the burger. "Originally ang plan ko talaga is gagawa ako ng clay art para sa mga hayop, para sa pets ko. Kaya ako nag-workshop. Parang gagawa ako ng models for my pets," he explained. [Translation: My original plans was to do clay art for my pets. I'll work on models for my pets, that's why I took a workshop.] His sculptures are based on multiple studies: photographs of the dishes and the actual dish itself. Angeles added the sculpting process at times needs a larger reference model before he scales it down, and each sculpture may take two to three tries before it is finished. The toughest part of the process is when the dish is finally made. He said his hands shake when he tries to take a photo of his creations. "Pero kapag pini-picture-an ko na, doon ako nahihirapan [I have a hard time taking photos of the dishes]." Two years after, he now has 60 micro-sculptures of Filipino dishes and delicacies: adobo (chicken or pork stew), isaw (grilled intestines), pandesal (pinoy bread), and even the go-to breakfast "tapsilog" (cured beef with fried egg and rice), among others. Still, he has a long list of dishes to make. "'Yung mga pagkain sa iba't ibang lugar sa Pilipinas, 'yung mga natikman ko dati sa Mindanao, 'yung nag-visit ako sa Iligan, hindi ko pa siya nagagawa. Sobrang gusto ko siyang gawin," Angeles said. [Translation: I have a list. Different dishes in different parts of the Philippines those I've tasted in Mindanao, when I visited Iligan, I haven't done those yet. I want to do those.] "Usually pag pumupunta ka sa art galleries, 'yung iba na-observe ko, dinadaanan lang talaga 'yung malaking artwork, eh ang hirap gawin noon." The actor has plans of featuring the miniature paintings and sculptures in an exhibit. He laughed at the thought that his works would take up too little space. "Gusto ko 'yung mag-pay attention sila sa small artworks. Kasi usually pag pumupunta ka sa art galleries, 'yung iba na-observe ko, dinadaanan lang talaga 'yung malaking artwork, eh ang hirap gawin noon, sabi ko. Ako, ina-appreciate ko talaga, pero sabi ko, gagawa talaga ako ng artwork na titingnan talaga nila," he said. [Translation: I want them to pay attention to small artworks. Because if they go to art galleries, I see they just pass by large painting. I want to create artwork that they will really look at.] Some of his fans have ordered micro-sculptures for keychains and souvenirs. But Angeles said he still has difficulty with mass production, as he makes and bakes the dishes by hand. Angeles' sculptures, made from polymer clay, are no bigger than a peso coin Angeles also said he is looking forward to the possibility of holding workshops this summer. "Mag-ipon ka ng maraming pasensya 'pag gumawa ka niyan," he said as an advice. "Parang pag nagluluto ka, parang pag nagbe-bake ka, gagawin mo siya step by step, ganoon din. Ikaw 'yung gagawa ng ingredients isa-isa." [Translation: Have tons if patience when you do this. It's like when you're cooking, or baking, you do it step by step. You'll have to make each ingredient.] With all the hard work he has put into the sculptures, Angeles admits he has fallen in love with the art form. "Okay ako, happy, sobrang [so] happy," he said. With his success doing art, Angeles is also set to appear on a new ABS-CBN television series in 2018 with Jericho Rosales, Sam Milby, Yam Concepcion and Yen Santos, entitled "Love Will Lead You Back." A Polish-Russian mountaineer, who was attempting to become the first person to climb K2 by himself in the winter, aborted his mission on Sunday over safety concerns. Denis Urubko had hopes of ascending the deadly mountain before the winter season ended and decided to embark alone on the trek after an argument with his expedition, Michal Leksinski, a spokesperson for his Polish expedition told the BBC. He left without a radio on Sunday, and did not discuss his plans with expedition management, Leksinski said. K2, also known as Savage Mountain, is 28,251 feet and unforgiving, according to BBC. The mountain has a higher fatality-to-summit rate than Everest. Leksinski said the mountaineer likely changed his mind after experiencing the extreme weather conditions when he spent a night at roughly 23,600 feet. Urubko, who climbed 14 of the world's tallest mountains, returned to base camp 2, located at 21,982 feet, Asghar Ali Porik, chief of Jasmine tours which organized logistics for the Polish K2 expedition, said. Fellow climber from Pakistan, Mirza Ali Baig, called the mission completely suicidal, while a friend of Urubko said the decision was uncharacteristic of the climber, BBC reported. "He is known as the 'Himalayan expert' among the mountaineering community. But his decision is not correct and does not suit someone of his stature," Karim Shah, said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Two Canadian cruise passengers who were arrested on drug smuggling charges in 2016 are finally copping to the crime. Melina Roberge, 24, and Andre Tamine, 63, have entered guilty pleas in connection with the Aug. 2016 incident, during which the Australian Border Force (ABF) seized more than 200 pounds of cocaine from the Princess Cruise cabins of Roberge, Tamine and Roberges traveling companion, Isabelle Lagace, The Telegraph is reporting. DRUNKEN BRAWL ON CRUISE SHIP GETS 6 ARRESTED, 1 SENT TO HOSPITAL Lagace, a 29-year-old whom News.com.au identified as a former Canadian porn star, had pleaded guilty to smuggling the drugs and was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in prison in Nov. 2017. Roberge and Lagace, dubbed the cocaine babes by the Australian and British media, had been traveling together on a 51-day Princess Cruise voyage from the U.K. to Australia aboard the Sea Princess. The ABF boarded the Sea Princess after identifying the three passengers as high-risk travelers. The ABF had reportedly been observing this particular ship due to the many ports of call between the U.K. and Sydney, according to the Telegraph. SUN PRINCESS TRAVELERS TO SUE AFTER 8 CONSECUTIVE CRUISES RETURN WITH SICK PASSENGERS Upon searching the ship, the ABF discovered 77 pounds of cocaine in Roberge and Lagaces shared cabin, and an additional 130 pounds in Tamines room. The drugs were estimated to be worth anywhere between $21.5 million and $30 million, making it Australias largest-ever drug seizure from a boating vessel or aircraft, the ABF said. At her sentencing in November, Lagace claimed she was smuggling the cocaine in order to pay off a $20,000 debt. She also expressed remorse for the crime. It pains me to know that my defining years of womanhood will be spent in prison halfway around the world, she stated at the time. This will haunt me for the rest of my life. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Roberge and Tamine are scheduled to be sentenced later in 2018, the Evening Standard reported. A fifth person who was injured in a helicopter crash in the Grand Canyon earlier this month has died. Ellie Udall, of Britain, died Sunday following the Feb. 10 accident, Sky News reported. Udalls husband Jonathan, who was also on the helicopter when it crashed, died last Thursday. The two were in the United States for their honeymoon, according to The Guardian. "It is with great sadness that we have to announce the death of our daughter Eleanor Udall (nee Milward) as a result of the injuries she sustained in the Grand Canyon helicopter crash on 10 February, 2018, Udalls family said in a statement. Udall, 29, died at the University Medical Center of Southern Nevada in Las Vegas, in the Lions Wound and Burn Care Center, according to her family. The Udalls were traveling with a group of fellow Britons when the sightseeing helicopter they were flying in crashed in the Grand Canyon. Three of their friends Becky Dobson, 27, her boyfriend Stuart Hill, 30, and his brother, Jason Hill, 32 died. Four people, including the pilot, were hospitalized after the crash. The other survivors are the 42-year-old pilot Scott Booth, and Jennifer Barham, 39. The group had been celebrating Stuart Hills 30th birthday, in addition to the Udalls honeymoon, and opted to take a Grand Canyon sightseeing helicopter tour on tribal land. The Nevada-based tour company involved in the deadly crash promised full cooperation with crash investigators and offered its sympathy. "It is with extreme sadness we extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families involved in this accident," Papillon Group CEO Brenda Halvorson said in a statement. "Our top priority is the care and needs of our passengers and our staff." Unlike the more tightly regulated air tours within Grand Canyon National Park, helicopters quickly deposit tourists on the Hualapai reservation and within the canyon for lunches, hikes or pontoon boat rides. Just as quickly, they whisk them away. In the peak season, the reservation has 350 to 400 flights per day, the Federal Aviation Administration said. The Airbus EC130 B4 crashed just before sunset. Guests attending a wedding and people on the canyon's rim saw smoke billowing from the canyon and the aircraft in flames. A preliminary report released Wednesday said the helicopter made at least two 360-degree turns before crashing. But the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) hasn't said what caused the crash. A full NTSB report won't be completed for more than a year. Fox News' Travis Fedschun and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A North Carolina man serving a life sentence for murder briefly escaped from prison Monday, but was killed when the stolen truck he was driving overturned on Interstate 85. According to the Gaston Gazette, 46-year-old David Alan Woods stole a Ford truck belonging to the city of Lowell while on a work detail Monday afternoon. The truck was found sometime after 2:15 p.m. at the bottom of an embankment with its roof crushed. The Gazette reported that Woods was ejected from the truck. Woods had pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and burglary in connection with the 1993 beating death of 89-year-old Roseline Murphy. Prosecutors said Woods and another man, Jeffrey Dickens, broke into Murphys trailer to rob her. Investigators said Dickens beat Murphy to death with a hammer before the two men left the scene to buy drugs. According to the Gazette, Woods contacted the Sanford Police Department the next day and entered a guilty plea the day before his trial began. Dickens also confessed to killing Murphy and received a life sentence. It was not immediately clear what kind of work Woods was doing when he escaped. An investigation into his escape is ongoing. Click for more from the Gaston Gazette. Three high-ranking Florida officials close to the law enforcement response at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School tell Fox News there was a delay in Emergency Medical Service getting into the school in the critical moments after Nikolas Cruz allegedly opened fire, killing 17 people and wounding at least 14 others. Two separate sources told Fox News some of the EMS teams who requested to enter the school were told they could not. One source said it was the Broward County Sheriffs Office which was the commanding office that ordered some of the EMS crews not to go into the school when they requested to enter. Whats going to come out is, in the communications on several circumstances, there was the request to enter... the request was denied from Broward County, a Florida official told Fox News. When you have a police agency saying we dont want you going in, thats a problem, another Florida official said. The training since Columbine has been [that] first responders, police go in immediately with paramedics. In an email to Fox News, a BSO spokesperson forwarded a memo it released on Saturday. In part, the memo read, there are multiple investigations being conducted in addition to the Stoneman Douglas shooting. Investigators will not be rushed or asked to jump to conclusions. Their investigations are thorough and methodical as they take and compare witness statements, review dozens of incident reports, transcribe and analysis numerous radio transmissions, listen to more than 80 911 calls. Multiple high-ranking sources told Fox News police officers and deputies were bringing victims out to EMS workers to be treated instead of allowing EMS inside. One fire official said that sometimes thats just how it would happen, but at least one emergency responder wondered if the response was detrimental to the victims. Three Florida officials confirmed to Fox News that the emergency response at Stoneman Douglas apparently went against standard EMS training in which EMS teams typically go into emergency situations right behind police as soon as possible. Were trained to go in behind the advanced team to engage the shooter. Were trained to get in behind them with a security contingent of law enforcement. Its my understanding that it didnt happen right away, a high-ranking fire official told Fox News. There was a delay. Mike Moser, the Division Chief of Fire Administration for Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department, which was on scene that day, released a statement in response to the growing requests from reporters about the Rescue Task Force mode which would have paired up paramedics with law enforcement to enter the building. Moser said RTF was presented to the commanding officers of the Broward Sheriffs Office, but the request was denied because the type of response was not appropriate at that time, since the location of the shooter was not known. RTF can be employed only when law enforcement can clear an area for EMS. Decisions cannot be made in a vacuum. All of the variables must be taken into consideration before a rescue task force can be enabled, Moser told Fox News. It is possible that those that are upset about not being allowed inside, simply do not have all of the information that our law-enforcement partners had in making their decision. In a press release, Moser said the Coral Springs-Parkland Fire Department was in command of all medical functions, and only that relating to the care of patients. Moser said he could not recall EMS ever going into an area that hadnt been cleared by law enforcement without the assistance of police or a security contingency. Its a joint venture, they cant operate with us and we cant operate without them, Moser said. Still, officials and responders remained angry about how operations were handled. Fox News reporting aligns with similar information from reporter Brian Entin of Fox News affiliate WSVN in Miami. Entin reports he spoke to a seasoned emergency medical responder who was one of the first on the scene to the Stoneman Douglas shooting. The responder told Entin, everything I was trained on mass casualty events says they did the wrong thing. The responder also reportedly told Entin that medical teams were willing to risk their lives to go inside and were asking their scene commander why they were standing around. The response every time was, law enforcement did not clear the scene and would not allow medical personnel in. The responder added, I would hypothesize I could have saved lives. I cant say for sure. Three high-ranking sources including a fire official told Fox News the responder who spoke to Entin could be accurate. The WSVN report is correct, one source said. The WSVN report does not shock me given what Ive found out, said the fire official. Several sources described the scene as very intense but gave credit to EMS for their heroic efforts and saving lives. We treated and transported and saved lives, one fire official said, comparing the situation to a battlefield as emergency responders even used tourniquets and high level treatments in the field. The allegations of a delayed EMS response came as Florida Gov. Rick Scott launched an investigation into the Broward County Sheriffs office response on the day of the shooting and how the emergency was handled in its entirety. Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel said the Stoneman Douglas High School resource officer, Scot Peterson, was removed from his post after it emerged that Peterson did not go inside the school during the shooting. Peterson released a statement through his attorney in which he said his actions were appropriate under the circumstances and that surveillance and eyewitness testimony would exonerate him of alleged dereliction of duty. Israel also said three other deputies were on restriction pending an investigation into their response on the day of the shooting. There were widespread allegations and reports from the Florida Sun Sentinel and CNN that the deputies also did not go inside the school. One fire official said if there was a delay in the deputies' response, it would have had a domino effect on EMS. If theyre not going in then were not going in. Were trained to go in with them, a fire official told Fox News. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, the states top law enforcement official, spoke to Fox News on Monday and weighed in on the ongoing investigation into the Broward County Sheriffs Office, suggesting it would shine a light on the timeline of the February 14 massacre. "I know a lot more than you all do now, so all Im going to say is, yes, I believe there needs to be a full investigation, Bondi said. I dont think some people were being honest and were going to investigate this in Florida and the right thing will be done. Harvard says aspiring students who have taken part in recent protests demanding stronger gun laws will not be disadvantaged in the admissions process -- even if their high schools discipline them, The Boston Globe reported Monday night. The paper quoted a statement sent to Harvard alumni from senior admissions officer Bryce Gilfillian saying that prospective students "who engage responsibly in exercising their rights and freedoms would not have their chances of admission compromised." TEXAS SCHOOL DISTRICT THREATENS TO SUSPEND STUDENTS WHO PROTEST DURING SCHOOL HOURS High school students across the nation have organized marches and walked out of classes in response to the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in which 17 people were killed. Some school districts have threatened to suspend students who have taken part in the protests during school hours. "The mission of Harvard College is to provide a deeply transformative liberal arts and sciences education that will prepare our students for a life of citizenship and leadership," Gilfillian's statement added. The Globe reported that MIT, Boston University, The University of Massachusetts and other schools had issued similar statements in response to inquries from applicants. Click for more from The Boston Globe. After hearing her boyfriend shot and killed in their home, the girlfriend of Jamon Thomas sat hiding in the attic with her infant as his alleged killer walked through the house. The apparent second stop for 27-year-old parolee George Anthony Davis during his deadly crime spree Monday was at his cousin's home on Faust. "I woke up to gunshots then I heard Jamon saying 'I'm your cousin, I'm your cousin,'" Shatika Yates said. Davis' 22-year-old cousin Jamon Thomas shared the home with his girlfriend Shatika Yates and their 6-month-old daughter. "I heard two shots go off. I grabbed my baby and ran upstairs in the attic," she said. MAN WANTED IN 4 DETROIT SLAYINGS KILLS HIMSELF IN OHIO Polices say Davis shot Thomas several times, not long after killing three people at a gas station on Fenkell -- Davis's girlfriend, her father and their neighbor. Yates says she hid in the dark attic with her baby Jordan, as she heard Davis's footsteps coming closer. "I was saying to myself like please, please, I thought he was going to find me but he didn't," she said. Breathing a sigh of relief, Yates said she heard Davis leave and she looked out the top window to see Davis drive off in her car. Yates says she called police and ran down to see if her boyfriend of two years was still alive. "Jamon was on the floor gasping for air. I kneeled down and said hold on, hold on Jamon," she said. Watching Jamon take his last breath, Yates says she ran to Rite Aid across the street for safety and called Thomas's family. Thomas's family told FOX 2 that within the last week, Davis had become increasingly paranoid, questioning the paternity of his own child and hallucinating. They say he even went to his mother's home to kill her but thankfully she wasn't home. Read more from Fox 2 Detroit. A guard at a Pennsylvania correctional facility died Monday after he was brutally beaten by a prisoner, officials said. Sgt. Mark Baserman, 61, was reportedly punched and kicked in the head on Feb. 15 while on duty at State Correctional Institution Somerset by inmate Paul Jawon Kendrick, 22, whos serving a life sentence for murder. The minute we learned of this unprovoked, brutal attack on Sgt. Baserman and another officer who came to his aid our hearts sank, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said in a statement. We are greatly saddened by Sgt. Baserman's death and our thoughts are with his family at this time. The Corrections Department said Baserman was in a housing unit room when Kendrick approached him in an unprovoked, brutal attack, in which the inmate punched Baserman, forcing him to the ground and continued to beat him. State police said that after Kendrick punched the guard in the face, he punched him in the head roughly 10 times and kicked him in the head. At that point, Baserman was unresponsive. ARIZONA PRISON RIOT INJURES GUARD, 12 INMATES, POLICE SAY The attack was reportedly sparked after Baserman confiscated a towel earlier that day which Kendrick was using to block other peoples view of his bunk. Another officer attempted to assist Baserman, but was also attacked by Kendrick, the corrections department said. Kendrick was arraigned Monday on assault charges in the alleged attack on Baserman and the second guard. Officials said Kendrick has been transferred to another prison. The head of the state corrections officers' union called Baserman a hero and urged the prison agency to ban heavy boots. "These boots are being used as weapons and must be removed immediately," Jason Bloom, president of the Pennsylvania State Corrections Officers Association, said. Kendrick was serving time after being convicted in 2015 in the 2014 death of 21-year-old Maurice Freeman, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported. NEW YORK CITY PRISON GUARD SERIOUSLY INJURED IN ATTACK BY 6 INMATES, AUTHORITIES SAY Baserman began working for state prisons in 2007 and was at Cresson State Prison before going to Somerset, 70 miles southeast of Pittsburgh. He was promoted to sergeant in 2016. The Department of Corrections said the last time a state prison guard was killed by a prisoner was in 1979, at a correctional facility in Graterford. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Thousands of people from all walks of life including a former president filed slowly past the casket of the Rev. Billy Graham on Monday to pay their final respects to a man who reached millions with his message of salvation through Jesus Christ. A light drizzle greeted mourners on hand at 8 a.m. when the doors opened to Grahams boyhood home, but it had tapered by the late afternoon when former President George W. Bush arrived with his wife, Laura. The viewing was expected to last late into the night for the famed evangelist, who died Wednesday at age 99. Mourners of all races, young and old, some in suits and some in T-shirts and flip-flops, walked through the parlor where Grahams closed casket lay on a black pedestal. They walked past family photos and a cross made of white lilies to see the simple plywood container made by prison inmates. At the door for the first few hours was Grahams grandson, Roy, shaking the hand of every person who came to see his grandfather. I just wanted to tell them how much I appreciated the love for my family, Roy Graham said. And they responded with stories. Roy Graham said what moved him the most Monday were the dozens who paused and told him the exact moment and place Billy Graham came into their lives through his hundreds of crusades around the world. Cecily Turner is one of them. Her mother was at Billy Grahams 1957 New York crusade and she said he led her mother to salvation that day. I know she is in heaven thanking him right now, she said. Mother passed her faith on to daughter, and Turner said she passed it down to five children and four great-grandchildren. Thats an amazing thing, she said. Grahams funeral is Friday, and President Donald Trump said he will attend. Invitations were sent to all ex-presidents of the U.S. Bush has said he chose Monday because he had a scheduling conflict with the funeral. He was greeted by Grahams son Franklin and spent about 30 minutes with the family during a private viewing. Laura and I are honored to be able to come and pay our respects to the Graham family and, more importantly, to be able to say goodbye to a person who was influential in our lives and influential in the lives of millions, Bush told reporters afterward. He also brought condolences from his father, George H.W. Bush, whom he described as a great friend of Grahams. I know he wished he could come too, but hes not moving around much these days, Bush said. Former President Barack Obama is not planning to attend memorial services for Graham this week, his office said. Obama tweeted last week after that Graham was was a humble servant who prayed for so many and who, with wisdom and grace, gave hope and guidance to generations of Americans. Public viewing was to continue Monday and Tuesday until 10 p.m. at Grahams Charlotte library on the campus of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. His body will then be taken to the U.S. Capitol, where Wednesday and Thursday he will be the first private citizen to lie in honor there since civil rights hero Rosa Parks in 2005. The funeral will be held in a giant tent as a nod to Grahams 1949 Los Angeles crusade. That revival, which Graham said propelled him to worldwide fame, was held in a circus tent dubbed the Canvas Cathedral. The man called Americas Pastor would eventually preach to an estimated 210 million people in person and many more through his pioneering use of prime-time telecasts, network radio, daily newspaper columns, evangelistic films and satellite TV hookups. Billy Wayne Arrington was a boy when he first encountered Graham on a TV screen in Kingsport, Tennessee. He now does Christian theater. Arrington wiped tears from his eyes as he exited after saying a prayer for Graham and for the world he leaves behind. Im just overwhelmed, not by sadness just overwhelmed to see so many lives touched, Arrington said. Graham will be buried beside his wife, Ruth, who died in 2007, at the foot of a cross-shaped walkway at Grahams library in Charlotte. Jury selection will begin this week in a civil case brought by the family of a woman who was found hanged to death while gagged and bound in a Southern California mansion nearly seven years ago. Rebecca Zahaus death in July 2011 officially was ruled a suicide by San Diego County authorities. At the time, Sheriff Will Gore told reporters that all the DNA found at the scene belonged to Zahau. Her family disagrees, claiming that Zahau was strangled by Adam Shacknai, who called police on July 13, 2011 to report that he had found Zahaus body. Adam is the brother of Zahaus then-boyfriend, Jonah Shacknai, the cofounder of Medicis Pharmaceuticals and owner of the Coronado mansion where Zahau was found. Keith Greer, the Zahau familys attorney, has claimed that Rebeccas death was sexual in nature. Others suggest that Zahau was murdered in retaliation for the death of Jonah Shacknais 6-year-old son, Max, who fell from a second-story landing two days before Zahaus body was found. Still others have focused on a cryptic phrase written on the door of the mansions bedroom: She saved him can he save her. Zahaus family says Adam Shacknai wrote the phrase in black paint. Greer has told local media he hopes that a guilty verdict in the civil case forces the sheriff to reopen the criminal investigation. Until the sheriff does something, the family is not going to let their sister, their daughter, die in vain, Greer told KGTV. At least here we can get a civil judgment that shows a jury found [Adam Shacknai] was the murderer. We can hold him accountable socially, and we just hope the sheriff can take the next step. Dan Webb, an attorney for Adam Shacknai, has described the lawsuit as "shameful." "We are confident that the trial in this case will conclusively vindicate Adam and finally bring closure to these outrageous allegations," Webb said in a statement Friday. The trial is expected to last about a month. Click for more from the San Diego Union-Tribune. Manila (CNN Philippines Life) In the book In Motion: The Experience of Travel, author Tony Hiss coined a term called Deep Travel, which is a sense of consciousness and interconnectedness amplified by travelling. Outwardly, Deep Travel sounds like a New Age philosophy employed by people who can afford to travel regularly, but Hiss argues that the concept can also work in a familiar setting. In an interview with The New Yorker, he says that in a well-known place, its also a matter of remembering (at least for the moment) how much more we could find out about things weve seen and used a thousand times before Traveling in the Philippines, for instance, can be repetitive same white beaches, same friendly people. But often, even when you go to the same beach and see the same people, there can be subtle differences in the shade of meaning or experience; one just needs to consciously catch these nuances. People who travel outside of the Philippines or even outside of Asia do so to experience a culture that is vastly more different than what were accustomed to. The people look different, language is automatically a challenge, and so were suddenly more aware of this new environment, which makes us more mindful on how to react to it. When we have this sensibility when going into a new place, the allure of travelling becomes more than the novelty of the place, but rather, the connection one can build with a place. In AirAsias travel web series, Red Talks, nurturing this sensibility is paramount. For the first episode of Red Talks' new season, host Daphne Osena-Paez takes the audience to Malagos, a farm in Davao whose chocolate produce has won awards across the globe. Screenshot from AIRASIA/FACEBOOK For instance, in the first episode of their new season, Daphne Osena-Paez takes the audience to Malagos, a farm in Davao whose chocolate produce has won awards across the globe. The episode was not only about presenting a new must-visit place, as it was more about showing the interconnectedness among the farmers, the produce, and the people within the community. [There is] a deeper connection not just with people, but with food and the culture and the character of the different places that we're going to, Osena-Paez says. During this episode, chef JP Anglo also joined the team in Malagos to whip up a dish that has Malagos chocolates in it. Known for his edgy take on Filipino dishes, Anglo says that it wasnt so much of a challenge to create something new, especially when hes out of his usual cooking nook. As a chef, as a creative, as an artist, when you see new things, you get stimulated, you get inspired, he says. [When youre] travelling, of course, when you stop out of your box, when you're out of your comfort zone, then you get to create. In line with the Red Talks theme of presenting stories that are beyond just showing the most current destinations, AirAsia also dedicated an episode revealing one of the the biggest humanitarian issues in the ASEAN region: human trafficking. According to a 2017 study published on ASEAN Briefs, Asia Pacific has the largest number of human trafficking cases, and in 2015, 25 percent of global human trafficking victims who were assisted by the International Organization for Migration came from ASEAN countries. Forced labor is also prevalent in Southeast Asia, and according to the International Labor Organization, the majority of forced labor is carried out by private entities and individuals. In this Red Talks episode, Osena-Paez will interview experts on how they are training AirAsias staff in preventing human trafficking from happening within the airline industry. The pilot episode was not only about presenting a new must-visit place, as it was more about showing the interconnectedness among the farmers, the produce, and the people within the community. Screenshot from AIRASIA/FACEBOOK Traffickers are likely to use airlines because it's fast, it's convenient, says Yap Mun Ching, executive director of AirAsia Foundation. We want to play a part. Not only governments and civil society, but private sectors as well. Ching adds, What we want to do is provide a net as well. Sometimes, the last friendly face someone who's trafficked will see will be our ground staff or our cabin crew. For the final episode of Red Talks, the story will revolve around the nonprofit organization called Cambodian Living Arts (CLA) in Phnom Penh. This organization has been supporting arts education and emerging artists, and much like the other episodes, this will highlight the importance of building a sense of community and belonging in order to create a more sustainable environment for people. As apparent in the episodes, Osena-Paez says that this seasons Red Talks really seeks to present the idea of travelling in a different light. We aim to raise the level of discussion and cover a wide range of topics to engage our audience and inspire them to have meaningful connections. *** Watch Red Talks on the AirAsia Facebook page. An Alabama man was arrested on drug charges last week based on an anonymous tip, days after he publicly criticized a local sheriff over use of prison funds. Matthew Qualls, 20, was arrested Thursday on multiple drug-related charges after the Rainbow City Police Department and the Etowah County Drug Enforcement unit responded to an anonymous call that reported the smell of marijuana coming from an apartment where Qualls and a friend were found inside, AL.com reported, citing the police report. Qualls, never before arrested, was featured in a report just four days before his arrest, questioning Etowah County Sheriff Todd Entrekins use of funds meant to feed county jail inmates. The report published by AL.com revealed that some Alabama sheriffs were keeping thousands of dollars of public funds that were meant to feed inmates because of a law that allowed them to keep any surplus not spent on provisions. Some sheriffs refusal to show spending records has stirred up controversy. Qualls, who was paid to mow Entrekins lawn in 2015, was quoted in the story asking why he was receiving checks for his services with checks paid for via a Sheriff Todd Entrekin Food Provision Account when he knew of individuals in jail who had gone without meals. "I saw that in the corner of the checks it said Food Provision, and a couple people I knew came through the jail, and they say they got meat maybe once a month and every other day it was just beans and vegetables," Qualls told AL.com. According to an arrest warrant signed by Sheriff Entrekin, authorities found 1,042 grams of cannabis inside the apartment; however, the Rainbow City police report stated that officers actually found only a few grams of intact cannabis and a container of cannabis-infused butter. Rainbow City Police Capt. John Bryant said that his department wouldnt count the entire weight of the butter as a drug, in contrast with the County Drug Enforcement Unit, which does. Phil Sims, deputy commander of the Drug Enforcement Unit, said that once that marijuana was mixed with the butter, then the whole butter becomes marijuana, and that's what we weighed. Although Natalie Barton, spokeswoman for the Rainbow City Police Department, said that the Qualls case belongs to and was imitated by RCPD, Qualls was also charged by Etowah County. As of Tuesday, Qualls was still behind bars in lieu of $55,000 bail. According to the Etowah County Sheriff's Office, he is being charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of drug paraphernalia, one count of possession of marijuana in the second degree, and one count of drug trafficking. The man suspected of shooting and killing a North Carolina man near Wingate University Monday in an incident broadcast on Facebook Live has turned himself in, police said. The suspect, Douglas Cleveland Colson, 65, turned himself to the Union County Sheriffs Office Tuesday. He was being held without bond on a charge of first-degree murder. On Monday, police found Prentis Robinson dead after being shot several times. Robinson was broadcasting himself live on Facebook as he was walking down a street before he was shot. NORTH CAROLINA MAN MURDERED ON FACEBOOK LIVE WAS OUTING SUSPECTED DRUG DEALERS Minutes before the shooting, Robinson had gone to the Wingate Police Department and spoke with the chief about a cellphone that had been stolen from him, Wingate Police Chief Donnie Gay told WCCB-TV. In a portion of the video, Robinson wore a hat and used a selfie stick to record himself talking and walking along a street in Wingate, about 30 miles southeast of Charlotte. At one point, Robinson was heard saying "You on live," apparently telling another person the conversation was being recorded. The video showed Robinson was approached by someone who fired four shots with a long gun. The camera hit the ground after the shots rang out and showed sky and trees, and the gunman running away. A car pulled up and found Robinson. Facebook took down the video because the company could not have known if Robinson wanted this horrific act to be live streams on social media, NBC News reported. A motive for the shooting was not immediately known. It was not immediately clear if Colson and Robinson knew each other. NORTH CAROLINA MAN SHOT TO DEATH WHILE LIVE ON FACEBOOK Following the shooting, Wingate University and Wingate Elementary School were placed on lockdown for a few hours. Gay told NBC News that Robinson lived in North Carolina for most of his life and posted videos on Facebook often of incidents that occurred in the neighborhood such as drug deals. Chester Sanders, Robinsons friend, said the videos may have made people angry. If people don't like it and they get angry, at some point in time it will start and something will happen, he said. I don't know if this was the reason for ... this tragedy to happen but it happened. Robinsons family told Fox 46 that they felt officers would become angry with Robinson over his videos. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Two Arizona students who talked about shooting up their high school and even set up a GoFundMe account to help raise money to buy ammunition are now facing terrorism-related charges after being busted by police. The Pinal County Sheriffs Office said the students were reported to officials at Combs High School after another one overheard them talking about bringing a gun to the building. Officers went to the Phoenix-area school on Friday to investigate and ended up arresting the two students, the Combs Unified School District said in a letter sent home to parents Monday. Our commitment is always to your childs safety and because of this we investigate and report every comment, social media post, or rumor that is a threat to our schools or students, the letter said. A subsequent investigation into a 15-year-old student behind the alleged plot revealed that he had threatened to file off the serial number of a gun and bring it into the high school, the Pinal County Sheriffs Office said in a statement obtained by KSAZ. Police said that student did not actually have any weapons, but the second had immediate access to them at his home. Both were charged with conspiracy to commit terrorism and interference and disruption of an educational institution, ABC 15 reported. The letter did not say whether the students will return to the school or not. GoFundMe told KSAZ that the campaign set up by the students didnt raise a dime and it has since been removed from the platform, with the organizer banned as well. The bodies of two teenage boys were found in a backcountry area in Washington state on Monday after an avalanche struck the area over the weekend, a day after a man was killed in a separate slide. The King County Sheriff's Office said searchers found the boys, ages 17 and 18, just before noon on Monday, after the two went missing while snowshoeing near the Alpental ski area in Snoqualmie Pass, located 50 miles east of Seattle. Our hearts and prayers go out to that family, King County Search and Rescue's Alan Labissoniere told Q13 FOX. Labissoniere said the pair "knew the area" and were wearing avalanche beacons when they made the trek on Sunday. Rescues were able to find the teenagers about a mile and a half into the Snow Lake Trail buried into the snow because they were wearing avalanche beacons. One of the teens was also an experienced snowshoer, according to Labissoniere. The parents of the teenagers, who have not yet been publically named, called 911 on Sunday night when the two friends did not return home and made the trek up to the area on Monday as rescuers searched for the pair. These were some young folks. I even had a hard time, too, dealing with the family up there," he said. AVALANCHES KILL 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND HER FATHER IN FRANCE, INJURE 2 IN SWITZERLAND Another round of snow over the weekend presented avalanche dangers that prevented rescue teams from looking for the teenagers until Monday. Its too extreme," Labissoniere said. "We held our team members back last night for our safety, its not worth to risk more lives." The Northwest Avalanche Center had said the avalanche danger was "high" over the weekend, according to KIRO, and there was an ominous warning which read: "Many of these could be big enough to kill you." In a separate incident, a 32-year-old man was killed in an avalanche at Stampede Pass about 13 miles away on Sunday, according to the Kittitas County Sheriff's Search & Rescue. ALASKA SNOWBOARDER BURIED UNDER LARGE AVALANCHE The agency said Joseph Simenstad was killed while snowmobiling with his wife and several friends in the area of Mirror Lake when the slope above them broke free as they stopped for a break to have lunch. One man in the group lost consciousness after being hit by the slide but was able to be revived. Simenstad's wife also suffered minor injuries but survived, according to rescuers. "We would like to remind those of you who recreate in the backcountry to be cautious of the past and current conditions, as they can change rapidly and without warning," Kittitas County Undersheriff Clayton Myers said in a statement. "Avalanche conditions are often the result of previous weather, sometimes from weeks prior. We encourage you to research and educate yourselves from the many sources available. Just Google Avalanche Danger'." The Associated Press contributed to this report. A 64-year-old bandit who said during his sentencing that he views robbing banks as "going to work" must spend more than 15 years in federal prison. Wallace Silva went on a crime spree that included robbing 10 Hawaii banks of about $30,000 in 2016, U.S. prosecutors said Monday. In a deal with prosecutors, he pleaded guilty to four robberies and must pay restitution for all 10 holdups. Silva was sentenced in 1997 to about nine years for robbing a bank. Five days after completing that sentence, he began robbing more banks and was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison in 2007 for four holdups, prosecutors say. Four months after completing that sentence, he committed the robberies for which he was sentenced this month. He said during his hearing that robbing banks was like "going to work." During some of the 2016 robberies, he gave the teller a note saying he had a weapon and demanded cash. "I don't want to take it out," he told one teller about a weapon, according to his plea agreement. The court document doesn't indicate if he actually had a weapon. Tellers told authorities the bandit wore an aloha shirt during some of the robberies and walked with a waddle. __ This story has been corrected to say Silva stole about $30,000 during 10 robberies, not four. Californias top utility regulator suggested charging residents in rural areas more money for electricity since they are at risk for power issues stemming wildfires, reports on Monday said. Michael Picker, president of the California Public Utilities Commission, made the suggestion during a Jan. 31 meeting on fire safety. He questioned the fairness of all utility customers paying the costs of averting wildfires in rural areas. Should we actually start to charge differentially for the use of the distribution system for those sections that are in the high-fire-hazard zone and people who choose to live there? Picker asked, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. Picker later told the newspaper that California is facing the threat of wildfires even at times that used to be considered safe. If youre in Richmond, do you want to be paying to protect vacation homes in Napa? California Public Utilities Commission president Michael Picker As we spend more to harden the grid and protect people in those high-risk areas, how do we pay for it? he asked. If youre in Richmond, do you want to be paying to protect vacation homes in Napa? The paper reported that it is pricey to prevent fires in rural California. Some of the measures require chopping down millions of trees, replacing wooden poles with steel and burying the lines underground. Here were facing costs for upgrading the grid that primarily benefits one group of people, Picker said. Im just trying to come up with ways to figure out how we do this fairly, but still manage to serve people who live in these high-risk areas. Because, no doubt, they need electricity. Increasing electricity rates for residents living in high-risk areas has never been tried before anywhere in the U.S., the report said. Its a policy decision thats pretty firmly entrenched that the price should be the same wherever you live, Mike Florio, who served on the California Public Utilities Commission from 2011 through 2016, told the Chronicle. Residents in rural areas also do end up paying more extra to utility companies for starting the service, especially if the rural home is further away from existing power lines. But the price of the electricity remains the same for all the people, even as utility companies admit it is more expensive to provide services to someone living in the hinterlands. Any serious consideration to charge rural residents more than their urban counterparts for electricity is sure to cause a political backlash. Their representatives would surely object to the initiative. Florio reminded that the unpopular fire-prevention fee levied on rural homeowners in the state was suspended last year after California Gov. Jerry Brown tried to court the votes of lawmakers from rural California in a bid to pass the states greenhouse cap-and-trade system. The rural legislators made the price of their support getting rid of that fee, Florio said. And that was a modest attempt at making the user pay. A tree trimmer in California was electrocuted and died while working in San Jose in Monday, officials said. The San Jose Fire Department told KTVU the incident was reported shortly after 1:30 p.m., when neighbors said the tree trimmer appeared to be stuck and could not get down. When fire crews arrived at the scene they realized the man, identified as Pablo Gonzalez, had been continuously electrocuted for an extended period of time after cutting a branch that hit a high-tension power line, according to fire officials. "It was windy today, perhaps a branch moved in a way he wasn't ready for," Capt. Daniel Vega of the San Jose Fire Department told KTVU. "Also it rained so the tree was wet when maybe he didn't expect it to be. Things like that could be factors." Officials said Gonzalez's body stayed tangled in the tree limbs and power lines for several hours as the power company de-energized the line. Neighbor Monica Vargas told KTVU her daughters were home at the time, and her 3-year-old child looking up to tell her the man was "frozen." "I told her he got hurt," she said. BRIDE DIES FROM INJURIES IN GRAND CANYON CHOPPER CRASH DAYS AFTER IT KILLED HER HUSBAND A spokesperson from Pacific, Gas and Electric said the utility company is urging people to always be aware of their surroundings and to stay at least 10 feet away from power lines if possible and to never touch lines with tools or body parts. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the deceased as well as his friends and family. Preliminary investigation shows that the man was not a PG&E contractor," PG&E spokeswoman Tamar Sarkissian said. A friend of Gonzalez told KTVU efforts are now underway to contact Gonzalez family in Mexico so that they can begin making funeral arrangements. "He was a great guy, he was calm, he was nice to everybody," Juan Urias said. "He was a really nice guy, funny, and I'll miss him." A carjacking suspect was shot and killed by a man who had a concealed weapon on him in Milwaukee on Monday, officials said. The Milwaukee Police Department said in a news release the 21-year-old suspect, identified as Carlos Martin, was shot after he attempted to carjack a 24-year-old man around 5:50 a.m. near the Milwaukee MachineTool Corporation. "This is the worst thing that could possibly happen to someone," MPD Captain Andra Williams told FOX6. He said the would-be carjacker was also armed, and that as carjacking and vehicle thefts continue to rise the incident should serve as a warning. "This should be a wake-up call to everyone in the community that this is not a game. This is very serious," Williams told FOX6. Police said the would-be victim had a concealed-carry permit, and was cooperating with the investigation. MAN CARRYING CONCEALED PISTOL STOPS ATTACK ON UTAH POLICE OFFICER Many who work in the area told FOX 6 that carjackers frequently target businesses looking for vehicles to steal, and many workers of businesses nearby are concealed-carry permit holders. Alderman Cavalier Johnson, who represents the neighborhood on the city's northwest side, told FOX 6 the shooting was "completely preventable." "That young man didn't have to die today. He didn't have to lose his life, but he made a bad decision and he did," he said. Johnson said he wants parents to educate their children about the many dangers that come with crime. "This isn't a game. This isn't live-action Grand Theft Auto. You don't respawn after you're dead," he told FOX 6. A family doctor in Texas allegedly gunned down a couple of neighbors who were helping his mother move furniture as the victims children watched in horror. Robert Edward Fadal II, a family practice physician in Seguin, is accused of using a rifle to fatally shoot Tiffany Leann Strait, 30, and her husband, Anthony Ray Strait, 27, as they were helping Fadals mother move furniture early Sunday at the doctors gated residence, the Seguin Gazette reports. Investigators were still puzzled over what sparked the shooting, which occurred in front of the Straits three sons, the oldest of which just 10 years old. At this time, there are no indications there was a feud, disturbance, or anything precipitating or justifying the shooting, Guadalupe County Sheriffs Lt. Craig Jones told the newspaper. There is no indication that there was a dispute between the victims and suspect. Were still working to understand why this took place. Anthony Strait was pronounced dead at the scene. His wife was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. Read more at the New York Post. Florida Gun Show organizers said theyve never had so many people attend one of their events, amid legislators in the Sunshine state calling for stricter gun legislation. The gun show over the weekend attracted almost 7,000 attendees to the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, just two weeks after the deadly Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that killed 17 people. Some of the people attending are afraid that future legislation will impact their gun ownership rights, gun show manager, George Fernandez, told WTSP. Florida Sen. Bill Nelson called for stricter gun laws on the so-called gun show loophole, allowing people to purchase a gun at one of these events without getting a background check in addition to an assault weapons ban. Nelson told the local news station that the number of deaths has increased since the NRA killed the law in 2004. Fernandez took issue with Nelsons push because he said it wouldnt have stopped the massacre in the Parkland school shooting. He said the shooter had mental health issues and shouldve been identified by law enforcement from the beginning. He added that 95 percent of the vendors at the show were required to run background checks because they are licensed dealers, but the other five percent are private citizens. The company canceled their gun show next month in Fort Lauderdale after Mayor Jack Seiler asked that it be shut down out of respect to the Parkland victims, but they plan to sponsor another Tampa show in late April or early June. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26) An arrest warrant was issued against former Commission on Elections (Comelec) Chairman Andres Bautista for skipping a hearing on his alleged unexplained wealth despite a subpoena, the Senate Office of the Sergeant-at-Arms (OSAA) said Monday. The warrant of arrest was signed by Senate President Koko Pimentel on February 21. In a text message, Senator Francis Escudero, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banks, Financial Institutions and Currencies, said the OSAA will "try to serve (the arrest warrant) by coordinating with various law enforcement agencies including the Bureau of Immigration and wait for it to be returned, served or unserved, and will submit a corresponding report to the committee." He added another hearing will be scheduled before the Senate adjourns in March. In a letter to the Senate, Bautista earlier gave an explanation for skipping the February 12 hearing, saying he has been out of the country since November 21, 2017 to seek professional opportunities and medical assistance. For this reason, he is asking the Senate panel to withdraw the subpoena. "I respectfully ask that the subpoena be recalled since I never received the invitation," he said. The subpoena order from the Senate panel said if Bautista fails to show up on the fourth hearing on his alleged unexplained wealth, he will be cited in contempt and possibly arrested. Escudero issued a subpoena on January 23 to compel Bautista to attend hearings on his alleged unexplained wealth after he failed to attend the third hearing. Escudero said the committee has sent three invitations to Bautista since the inquiry began on August 23, but the resigned Comelec chief has not given reasons for his absence and he did not even send a representative. Bautista's estranged wife, Patricia, in August 2016 accused him of amassing ill-gotten wealth and having around P1 billion in his bank accounts, which he failed to disclose in his 2016 Statement of Assets and Liabilities (SALN). She said he acquired all these assets through "misleading and corrupt practices while in office." The resigned Comelec Chairman said he was being blackmailed and extorted by Patricia. Welcome to Fox News First. 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Developing now, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018 Fox News Exclusive: Laura Ingraham reveals Broward County internal email urging employees to defend the sheriff for his response to the Parkland, Fla. school shooting EMS teams were 'delayed' in getting into the Parkland, Fla. high school to tend to the wounded after the shooting rampage, sources tell Fox News Georgia's lieutenant governor warns Delta over its decision to sever ties with the NRA over the Florida school shooting massacre The U.S. Supreme Court rejects the Trump administration's bid to bypass lower appeals courts and have the justices decide the fate of the Obama-era DACA program White House communications director Hope Hicks is scheduled to appear before the House Intelligence Committee Tuesday as part of its investigation on Russia A stylist accusing Ryan Seacrest of sexual misconduct publicly details her allegations for the first time THE LEAD STORY - EMAIL REVEALED: In an "Ingraham Angle" exclusive Monday night, Laura Ingraham revealed a purported internal email from the Broward County Sheriff's Office that directed employees to defend embattled Sheriff Scott Israel ... Ingraham said the email was given to her by a source and that their veracity was "confirmed" by a second source. It urges all staff members to vigorously support Israel as he "find[s himself] up against a flurry of media allegations." Israel is facing growing calls for his suspension and resignation after it was revealed his officers failed to enter Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when the Feb. 14 mass shooting was taking place. In a series of bizarre responses, Israel has defended himself, insisting he has provided "amazing leadership." Ingraham said the emails continue a pattern of defensive public relations by the department at Israel's lead. "The focus should be on getting to the bottom of what happened," Ingraham said. "[It] shouldn't be about saving [Israel's] job." EMS FRUSTRATION: There was a delay in Emergency Medical Service getting into Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in the critical moments after suspect Nikolas Cruz allegedly opened fire and killed 17 and wounded 14 others, three high-ranking Florida officials close to the law enforcement response told Fox News ... Two separate sources told Fox News some of the EMS teams who requested to enter the school were told they could not. One source said it was the Broward County Sheriffs Office which was the commanding office that ordered some of the EMS crews not to go into the school when they requested to enter. Multiple high-ranking sources told Fox News police officers and deputies were bringing victims out to EMS workers to be treated instead of allowing EMS inside. One fire official said that sometimes thats just how it would happen, but at least one emergency responder wondered if the response was detrimental to the victims. ULTIMATUM TO DELTA: Georgias lieutenant governor warned Delta that he will block any tax legislation that would benefit the airline unless it reverses its decision to sever ties with the National Rifle Association ... Delta, the Atlanta-based airline, and state lawmakers have weighed reinstating this year a once lucrative fuel tax break that has since expired. But Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle, who is a Republican gubernatorial candidate, blasted the airlines decision to end the relationship with the NRA in the wake of the Parkland, Fla. high school shooting and threatened to block the bill. "I will kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with the @NRA," Cagle tweeted. "Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back." NO DACA SUPREME COURT CHALLENGE ...FOR NOW: The Supreme Court has rejected the Trump administration's bid to bypass a federal appeals court and get the justices to intervene in the fate of the DACA program that protects hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation ... The courts decision means an injunction preventing the Trump administration from ending the program will remain in place as the case works its way through the lower courts. It also means a March 5 deadline President Trump set for Congress to take action on immigration reform appears to be nullified. DACA 101: Everything you need to know HOPE'S TURN: White House communications director Hope Hicks is scheduled to testify before the House Intelligence Committee Tuesday as part of the panels investigation into Russia's interference in the 2016 presidential election ... Hicks was initially scheduled to testify last month, but her testimony was delayed when arose over whether she would cooperate. "We hope she will be fully cooperative," said Rep. Adam Schiff, D- Calif., the top Democrat on the committee. "But at this point I dont know what I can expect except that she will come in soon and that she will be fully cooperative. " RYAN SEACREST ALLEGATIONS MADE PUBLIC: The stylist who claimed that one of ABC's biggest stars, Ryan Seacrest, abused and harassed her while they worked at E! News made the details of her complaint public for the first time Monday, claiming he groped her and gave her a bear hug wearing only his underwear, among other accusations ... In an interview with Variety, Suzie Hardy, a single mother, detailed getting a dream job as the hosts personal stylist at E! News in 2007, only to be fired in 2013 after making graphic complaints of harassment known to HR. As previously reported, Hardy took her complaints directly to the network, which didnt move forward with any punishment against Seacrest after a third party investigator deemed there wasn't enough evidence. Chelsea Handler takes a shot at Ivanka Trump over her father's sexual misconduct allegations AS SEEN ON FOX NEWS NO INTERNATIONAL MAN OF MYSTERY: "He's not Jason Bourne, he's not James Bond." Rep. Trey Gowdy, on "The Story with Martha MacCallum," saying the FBI didn't need to go to great lengths to or rely on a questionable dossier to get a FISA surveillance warrant of former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. WATCH NO LONGER WELCOME: "There's no way this individual should continue in this job. He needs to go, and he needs to go now." Dan Bongino, on "Fox & Friends," calling on Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel to resign. WATCH THE SWAMP Hillary Clinton to speak at Yale graduation event. Dem-olition Derby: Glut of candidates has party at war with itself. Supreme Court divided, Gorsuch mum in case that could deal blow to unions. ACROSS THE NATION North Carolina man murdered on Facebook Live was outing suspected drug dealers. Atheist group wants Bible verse mural scrubbed from Ohio city hall. Bobsledder Lauren Gibbs fires back at critics who slammed her photos with Ivanka Trump. MINDING YOUR BUSINESS Fed's Powell arrives on Capitol Hill with Wall Street watching. Comcast challenges Murdoch with $31 billion offer for pay-TV group Sky. Warren Buffett on Berkshire and doing business with gun owners | Buffett buying an airline? FedEx keeps NRA in discount program. FOX NEWS OPINION Cal Thomas: If deterrence worked during the Cold War -- it can work to protect school children. Would universities stand up for pro-gun students' free speech rights? Is bipartisanship dead? Not by a long shot. HOLLYWOOD SQUARED Stacey Dash to run for Congress in California. Heather Locklear arrested for domestic violence, attacking police officers. Bill Cosby's daughter Ensa dead at 44. DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS? Artists turn Guy Fieri's face into home decor. New species of shark discovered has ancestors older than dinosaurs. Ancient Egyptian cemetery found with 40 mummies and a message 'from the afterlife.' STAY TUNED On Fox News: Fox & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott discusses school safety; Meet Daniel Alarik, an Army veteran described as "America's grittiest entrepreneur" whose patriotic commercial is taking the internet by storm; and the White House gives North Korea an ultimatum for holding talks. Will Pyongyang listen? Tucker Carlson Tonight, 8 p.m. ET: Tucker takes a closer look at the 10 worst colleges for free speech. The Ingraham Angle, 10 p.m. ET: Don't miss a debate between Laura Ingraham and Univision anchor Jorge Ramos. Fox News @ Night, 11 p.m. ET: An Oklahoma mother and daughter tell Shannon Bream how they fought off an armed robber in their family-owned liquor store. On Fox Business: Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: Guests include: Rep. Louie Gohmert; Missy Robertson, "Princess In Camo" co-author; Ken Paxton, Texas attorney general; Brad Schimel, Wisconsin attorney general; Howard Schultz, Starbucks executive chairman. Varney & Co., 9 a.m. ET: Eric Fanning: Aerospace Industries Association CEO; Colo. Gov. John Hickenlooper; Ky. Gov. Matt Bevin; Rep. David Schweikert. Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Noon ET: Rep. Henry Cuellar. On Fox News Radio: The Fox News Rundown podcast: An officer that was assigned to protect Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Fla. is accused of cowardice. Bob Pavone, retired police chief of Cortlandt, NY Bob Pavone, explains what happens during high-stress situations. Last Friday, President Trump added to the sanctions on North Korea, suggesting all options are on the table. Korea expert Gordon Chang weighs in on the relations between North Korea and the rest of the international community, now that the Winter Olympics are over. Plus, commentary by Fox News Radio talk show host Tom Shillue. Want the Fox News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device? Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher. The Brian Kilmeade Show, 9 a.m. ET: Former Trump campaign chair Corey Lewandowski on Democrats' rebuttal memo and the state of the Russia investigation; Allen West on the latest developments in the Florida school shooting massacre and Russia's order for a "humanitarian pause" amid a failed cease-fire in Syria; Rep. Steve Russell, who just got back from a trip to Niger, on the state of Syria and North Korea. #OnThisDay 1991: Operation Desert Storm comes to a conclusion as President George H.W. Bush declares that "Kuwait is liberated, Iraq's army is defeated," and announces that the allies would suspend combat operations at midnight, Eastern time. 1968: At the conclusion of a CBS News special report on the Vietnam War, Walter Cronkite delivers a commentary in which he says that the conflict appears "mired in stalemate." 1911: Inventor Charles F. Kettering demonstrates his electric automobile starter in Detroit by starting a Cadillac's motor with just the press of a switch, instead of hand-cranking. Fox News First is compiled by Fox News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your Tuesday! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Wednesday morning. The security clearance of White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump's son-in-law, has been downgraded, according to two people informed of the decision. Kushner had been operating with an interim clearance at the "top secret/sensitive compartmented information" level for more than a year. Now he is only authorized to access information at the lower "secret" level, according to a White House official and a person familiar with the decision, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity. Neither source was authorized to discuss the decision publicly. Chief of staff John Kelly ordered that White House officials with interim clearances pending since before June 1, 2017, lose their access to the nation's deepest secrets if they hadn't received permanent clearances by last Friday. A White House official confirmed to The Associated Press that Kelly's order has been implemented. Trump could have reversed Kelly's decision and unilaterally offered Kushner a clearance, but deferred to Kelly. "I will let General Kelly make that decision and he's going to do what's right for the country and I have no doubt he'll make the right decision," Trump said Friday, when he addressed the security clearance issue for the first time. Kushner's attorney told the AP that Kushner's ability to do his job won't be affected by any change to his clearance. "Those involved in the process again have confirmed that there are dozens of people at Mr. Kushner's level whose process is delayed, that it is not uncommon for these clearance reviews to take this long in a new administration, and that the current backlogs are now being addressed," said Peter Mirijanian, a Kushner spokesman. Kushner's portfolio once included the U.S. relationships with China and Japan and a host of domestic priorities, including infrastructure, trade and economic development. But his freewheeling reach in the foreign policy space which was viewed as undermining Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had already been curtailed somewhat under Kelly. Still, Kushner is reportedly said to have reviewed the highly secret presidential daily brief and has been in the room for some of Trump's most consequential domestic and foreign policy decisions. Kushner is one of dozens of White House aides who have been working without permanent security clearances for the better part of a year. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters Tuesday that she would not comment on individual security clearances but called Kushner "a valued member of the team, and he will continue to do the important work that he's been doing since he started in the administration." With a top-secret clearance, Kushner would have had access to information about covert operations and intelligence sources and methods. With a secret clearance, he would still have access to intelligence assessments, but not necessarily the information behind why the U.S. knows what is being shared with him. The downgrade would mean that anyone giving top-secret material to Kushner could be accused of mishandling classified material, according to David Priess, who wrote a history of the President's Daily Brief, the highest-level intelligence document produced in the United States. Still, a president has the ultimate authority to classify or declassify information, so he could show the brief covering hot spots around the globe, U.S. covert operations and intelligence about world leaders "to whomever he damn well pleases," Priess tweeted. There are three levels of security clearances. Disclosing information deemed "confidential" would "damage" national security. The unauthorized disclosure of "secret" information could cause "serious damage" to national security. "Top secret" disclosures would cause "exceptionally grave damage" to national security. The White House's handling of security clearances has come under intense scrutiny in the wake of revelations that former White House staff secretary Rob Porter had worked for more than a year with only interim clearance. Porter, whose job gave him constant access to the most sensitive of documents, had been accused of domestic abuse by his two ex-wives. The White House has repeatedly changed its timeline about who knew what and when about the allegations, and the scandal has weakened Kelly's standing, both among staffers and the president. Kushner has been forced to repeatedly correct omissions in his "SF-86," the government-wide form used to apply for clearances, as well as his financial disclosure forms, which experts said could delay or even nix his chances of earning a clearance through the normal process. Kushner has also come under scrutiny in special counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. ___ Lemire reported from New York. AP writers Deb Riechmann, Ken Thomas, Catherine Lucey and Jill Colvin contributed from Washington. A Maryland man was convicted last week on a rare criminal charge of attempting suicide. The Baltimore Sun reported that the 56-year-old man pleaded guilty last week and received a three-year suspended sentence and two years of probation. The paper reported that the crime appears to stem from English common law dating back to the founding of the U.S. A law professor told the paper that suicide was a crime in England. Prosecutors told the paper that they do not intend on putting the man in jail, but hope to get him into mental health treatment. The man was arrested in 2016 after a relative called and said he had been drinking, was suicidal and had a gun. He was charged with attempted suicide, reckless endangerment and endangering his safety and the safety of his brother while intoxicated. The states plea offer was for him to plead guilty to one count, and he chose the attempted suicide charge. Joe Riley, the Caroline Countys interim top prosecutor, told The Sun that he will not pursue the charge in the future. David Jaros, a University of Baltimore law professor, told the paper that the case appears to be a poor use of discretion. I find it hard to believe saddling this guy with a record and probation that could result in jail time is the best way to resolve what is clearly a mental health problem, he said. This is a classic example of how the criminal justice system can ultimately create hurdles for a person trying to get the help they need. The mans attorney did not return calls to the paper. The Associated Press contributed to this report A teen in Massachusetts is facing assault and battery charges after allegedly punching his father in the face after he was asked to stop texting during dinner, police said. The pair reportedly got into an argument while having dinner at Il Montebello Restaurant in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts on Saturday. The 63-year-old man asked his 16-year-old son to stop repeatedly texting during dinner, authorities said. HARVARD WONT PENALIZE APPLICANTS DISCIPLINED FOR PROTESTING, REPORT SAYS They began to argue and went outside, at which point the boy punched his elderly father in the face with so much force that it knocked him unconscious, police said. The man reportedly smacked his head on the ground and suffered a serious head injury. An off-duty firefighter who was at the restaurant assisted the man, police said. The father was brought to the Cape Cod Hospital with "severe face and head wounds," police said, and is expected to recover. CARJACKING SUSPECT SHOT DEAD BY MAN WITH CONCEALED WEAPON IN WISCONSIN, POLICE SAY Authorities were called to the scene and arrested the teen, officials said. He was reportedly taken to Yarmouth Police Department and released later that night to his mother. He was charged with felony assault and battery on person over 60 with serious injury. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Michigan man was killed Monday when a trench collapsed while he was working by himself in a construction trench, officials said. The worker, who was a contractor hired to tap into the citys water line, was working at the construction site in Sterling Heights, 23 miles north of Detroit, when the walls caved in just before 1:30 p.m., FOX2 Detroit reported. "He was digging a trench and he was down there trying to connect to the water pipe and he did not shore up the walls and the trench collapsed on him," Sterling Heights Fire Chief Christ Martin told the news site. The contractor who had hired the man was on site when the collapse happened, but couldnt make it to the man fast enough. "He was about 11 1/2, 12 feet down in some kind of mucky wet clay," Martin told FOX2 Detroit. Dozens of firefighters responded to the scene in an attempt to save the man. By 4 p.m. officials said they were operating in body recovery mode. The man was found dead just after 5 p.m. The mans name will not be released and the company who hired him is under investigation. Martin said the worker shouldnt have been in the trench alone and that safety practices were not properly implemented in the deadly situation. "There are steps that contractors can take to make it safe and that wasn't done here," Martin said. Neighbors living around an abandoned Los Angeles home engulfed by a fire last week suspect the blaze was started by a group of squatters who were using it as a meth lab. They now fear the unsightly property which has debris piled up on the front lawn will attract more trouble. The situation brewing on a street in East Hollywood comes as the state is fighting a homelessness crisis, with encampments steadily expanding across the downtown areas of San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. We have a good neighborhood. Im not kidding. I raised all my three kids here, a woman who lives across the street from the home told Fox 11. We never had any problems in the past, and now this is the first time we have problems. SAN DIEGO PAYS HOMELESS PEOPLE TO PICK UP TRASH IN NEW PROGRAM Tucker Morrison, another neighbor, told the station that the house has become a magnet for transients in recent years and he has spotted men leaving the property with ingredients used for the production of methamphetamines. To the best of my knowledge its been squatters living there on and off for about a year and a half, but recently over the last month its been guys wheeling out a lot of kitty litter and a lot of weird smells coming from the house, were suspecting its meth, he said. The couple living across the street from the burned-out structure also told Fox 11 they fear it will attract more unwanted visitors and cause property values to plummet. The station said the absentee owners of the home are apparently elderly or unwilling or able to secure the property for the time being. We are aware of the situation and were working with the LAPD, Neighborhood Prosecutor, and Building and Safety to address the issue, said a spokesman for City Councilman Mitch OFarrell. Police have not yet taken into custody anyone involved in the blaze and the local fire department hasnt announced a cause. The citys building and safety department has posted a Do Not Enter sign on the property. It also said its notifying the owners that they are responsible for securing the property within 10 days or else Los Angeles will do it for them and send a bill. The specter of homelessness expanding in California and the health problems associated with encampments has led one southern community to take tough action to dismantle a two-mile-long camp just a short drive from Disneyland, Fox News reported on Monday. In a departure from the approach taken by other local governments in the state, officials in Orange County, Calif., have started to clear out the camp by moving occupants and hauling away literally tons of trash and hazardous waste. Its becoming part of the permanent landscape in those communities and there is no way we are going to allow Orange County land that is supposed to be used by residents to be occupied by the homeless, said Todd Spitzer, who sits on the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Los Angeles homeless problem has now spread past Skid Row to much of downtown. The amount of feces littering the streets in San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco has led to a hepatitis outbreak that spread throughout the states homeless communities, infecting 694 people. It skipped Orange County. San Franciscos feces problem is so bad that a website now exists to warn residents of which streets to avoid. Los Angeles raised taxes last year in order to build housing for the homeless and has started a roving toilet program. That isnt going to happen in our county. Its not going to be our Skid Row, Spitzer vowed. We need to be compassionate and empathetic. Im writing checks all over the place. But Im not going to intermingle this population with property owners, are you kidding? Approximately a half-million people in the United States are homeless, with California accounting for 25 percent -- the largest number of any state, according to a survey by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Orange County has 4,792 homeless. A Los Angeles Times editorial over the weekend called the problem in the city a national disgrace. Fox News' Tori Richards contributed to this report. A high school teacher in New Jersey said he was suspended last week for bringing up his concerns about his schools safety in light of the Florida massacre. Philly.com reported that Timothy Locke, 59, was placed on leave for talking about the Parkland shooting and then floating the possibility that a similar event could happen at Cherry Hill High School East, which is in Cherry Hill, N.J. He said the chances of East being shot up were high, one 17-year-old student told the newspaper. The student said that she noticed another student upset and the two went to the principals office. A spokeswoman from the school board told Philly.com that she could not discuss the personal matter. Locke is reportedly well-liked by students at the school and some protested his suspension on Monday. Locke told the paper that he was called into the principals office and his bag was searched. He told the paper that he has to undergo a psychiatric exam. The bottom line is that I was very concerned about the security at my school. I was adamantly concerned with the welfare of my students, he told the paper. Nikolas Cruz is accused of using a semi-automatic rifle to kill 17 people at a Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, north of Miami. A 6-year-old boy died and two other children were injured after their mother was allegedly driving drunk and crashed their car on Saturday, according to police. New Mexico State Police said in a news release that Candace Jim was driving around noon near on County Road 7150 in Bloomfield, located about 160 miles northeast of Albuquerque, when she crossed over the center line into oncoming traffic, overcorrected, and rolled over. Three children riding in the backseat -- 6-year-old twins and a 9-year-old girl -- were all thrown from the vehicle. The twin boy died at the scene, while his twin sister is listed in critical condition, according to state police. The 9-year-old girl was injured in the crash but is expected to survive. Jim is charged with multiple counts of child abuse, open container, and reckless driving, according to police. State police said the incident on Saturday was her 4th DWI. Court records obtained by KRQE show only one previous DWI conviction for Jim was in New Mexico, but her mother told the television station that her daughter used to live in Utah and faced DWI charges there. NEW MEXICO MOM ARRESTED FOR ALLEGEDLY GIVING DAUGHTER, 13, POT EDIBLES We just dont know what to do, what to say. We are just emotionally drained, Cynthia Tsosie told KRQE. Tsosie said her daughter has been struggling with depression and alcoholism after her husband died late last year. Tsosie told KRQE that after Jim's husband died, her daughter began dating another man who was in the vehicle on Saturday -- Aaron Yazzie. We told her hes not a good person, he drinks a lot. I kept telling her that, Tsosie said. State Police have charged Yazzie with child abuse resulting in death and two counts of abuse of a child resulting in great bodily harm. Authorities have not yet released the names of the children for privacy of the family, and said the deadly crash remains under investigation. Nikolas Cruz, the teenager who police said opened fire inside a Florida high school earlier this month, killing 17, reportedly hired a lawyer about two months before the rampage in an attempt to acquire his $800,000 inheritance. The New York Post, citing an order handed down on Dec. 13 by Broward County Probate Division Judge Charles Greene, reported that Cruz tried to retrieve his portion of the estate left behind by his mother, Lynda Cruz, who died of pneumonia in November. Cruz reportedly signed a retainer agreement with lawyer Audra Simovitch to pursue his share of the estate, the report said. The judge has approved visitation between Simovitch and Cruz while hes in jail. The lawyer told the paper that she has yet to meet with him, but hopes to before March. She told the paper one of the reasons she needs to meet with him is to determine whether Cruz still wants his share of the inheritance. Greenes ruling was handed down after Simovitch issued a petition claiming she was denied access to Cruz by the Public Defenders office, and accused it of obstructing justice, the paper reported. Simovitch filed court papers the day after the school shooting-- Feb. 15-- on behalf of Roxanne Deschamps. Deschamps cared for Cruz and his younger brother Zachary after their parents died. The paper reported that Deschamps wants to administer Lyndas estate. Court papers reportedly say Deschamps has an interest in her longtime friends estate because she cares for Zachary. There are reportedly no signs that she could obtain the inheritance for herself, but she could charge a fee for her efforts administering the estate dependent on a judges approval. Zachary turned 18 last week, the paper reported. Cruz told a family friend he believes Deschamps who reportedly kicked him out of her trailer prior to the shooting over an argument they had about his gun collection -- wants to steal his inheritance, according to The Post. Still unable to use jamming technology to stop smuggled cellphones, South Carolina's corrections officials are enlisting State Guardsmen to help them combat the devices they call the top security threat behind bars. On Tuesday, Gov. Henry McMaster signed an executive order allowing South Carolina State Guardsmen to help patrol the perimeters of the state's prisons, watching for people trying to smuggle in contraband including cellphones. The program is starting at one of the state's high-security prisons, with the goal of expanding to other facilities. Bryan Stirling, the state's Corrections director, said the program will allow him to move his officers back inside the prison, keeping institutions safer. The partnership is the latest anti-cellphone step taken by Stirling, who has long argued that being able to jam signals from the smuggled phones used by inmates to plan crimes and acts of violence would be the best way to keep his employees and the public safer. Each year, Stirling's agency seizes thousands of cellphones, smuggled inside prison by visitors, errant employees, and even delivered by drone. Wireless service providers have said that, while they support efforts to cut out inmates' illegal calls, they worry signal-blocking technologies could thwart legal calls. The Federal Communications Commission, which regulates the nation's airwaves, has said it can't permit jamming in state prisons, citing a decades-old law that prohibits interruption of the airwaves at state-level institutions. But the agency has been softening on the issue, thanks to persistent pleas from officials including Stirling and McMaster, as well as members of Congress including Tennessee Rep. David Kustoff. Stirling recently met in Washington with his counterparts from other states, along with wireless industry and FCC officials, to discuss ways to potentially use technology like signal jamming to fight the phones. While continuing to push for that ability, Stirling has implemented increased searches, scanners, and even used dogs specially trained to sniff out cellphones. Last month, he announced a partnership with Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott, paying Lott's deputies to patrol woods near a maximum-security prison in Columbia, arresting people for trying to smuggle in contraband. ___ Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. Read more of her work at https://apnews.com/search/meg%20kinnard. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26) Filipino scientists were only on board the Chinese research vessel for half the time it was in the Philippine exclusive economic zone (EEZ), the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) said on Monday. This was a breach of the marine scientific research (MSR) permit issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) to China, Senator Bam Aquino said during the Senate panel hearing on Benham Rise MSRs. Aquino, chair of the Committee on Science and Technology, said although this was the MSI's choice, the MSR permit was still not followed. Foreign Affairs Assistant Secretary Lourdes Yparraguirre said violations of the MSR permit can have implications in future applications. "If the conditions set in the MSR between the foreign research institution and the research institution of the coastal state are not met, it can be a reason for denial of consent in future MSRs by that particular research institution," Ypparaguirre said. The DFA in January allowed China to conduct MSR in Philippine Rise, provided the team included a Filipino scientist on board and that data will be shared. Four researchers from the University of the Philippines Marine Science Institute (UP MSI) joined the Ke Xue vessel of the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. UP MSI Deputy Director for Research Cesar Villanoy said the absence of Filipino scientists for the whole duration of the cruise was due to logistical concerns. "Hindi kami makapag-provide ng tao to join them for the whole cruise (We can't provide a researcher for the whole cruise)," Villanoy said. "(China) applied in July, they got their approval December na, and the cruise was January. We also need time to prepare. By the time the MSR was approved, the ship was already at sea." Villanoy clarified the ship will only pass by the Philippine EEZ. For the cruise, China will transect Isabela to Mindanao and deploy instruments, he added. "(The) total amount of time they will need to be in the Philippine EEZ waters were roughly 6 days. Pero kailangan mo kasing sumakay sa barko sa China at doon din bababa kasi walang port stops sa Pilipinas. So aabutin ho yun ng mahigit isang buwan," the MSI professor explained. [Translation: You will need to board the ship in China and disembark there because they have no port stops in the Philippines. That will take almost a month.] Villanoy added this is not something they can afford since the MSI researchers are also professors. National Security Adviser Hermogenes Esperon, meanwhile, said more funds should be allocated for Filipino scientists to conduct research on Benham Rise or Philippine Rise. "It's a vast area," Esperon said, referring to the Philippine Rise. "The conduct of research should not just be by us because of the resources that we have. Sila mismo nagsasabi na makikipagtie up (They said we need to tie up with others)," Esperon said. The United Nations has declared that Benham Rise, an undersea plateau 135 miles off the coast of Aurora province. It is part of the Philippines' extended continental shelf where the country has the sole right to its resources. San Diego officials are putting homeless people back on the street but this time to pay them to pick up trash as part of a new program that launched Monday. The homeless people, who are staying at the citys tented shelters, will be cleaning up trash and clearing brush in downtown San Diego for five hours a day, FOX5 San Diego reported. The program, called Alphas Projects Wheels of Change, will pay participants $11.50 an hour and expected to hold cleaning shifts three days a week. This is all about creating more opportunities for homeless individuals to lift themselves out of extreme poverty, Mayor Kevin Faulconer said. Wheels for Change will help restore dignity by allowing people to earn a paycheck and begin to get back on their feet. For many, this may be just the chance they need to begin turning their lives around. COMMUNITY FIGHTS BACK AS CALIFORNIA OVERRUN BY HOMELESSNESS, HUMAN WASTE, NEEDLES Program participants will also receive access to housing resources. On Monday, participants cleaned up trash for a span of 12 blocks, Alpha Project CEO Bob McElroy told the San Diego Union-Tribune. He assured the money the homeless was receiving will be used productively. Were not going to pick up eight or 10 random homeless people and give them money that is going to be spent on drugs and alcohol, he told the newspaper. But its a perfect fit for the shelter. However, the homeless encampments rapidly growing in California cities have trash and sanitation problems themselves. Officials in Orange County descended on a camp and removed at least 250 tons of trash, along with 1,100 pounds of human waste and 5,000 hypodermic needles. HOMELESS PEOPLE DEFECATING ON LA STREETS FUELS HORROR HEPATITIS OUTBREAK, AS CITY FAULTED A hepatitis outbreak also wreaked havoc on the states homeless community in recent months because of all the feces littered in the streets of San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco. San Diego opened three industrial-sized homeless tents, one operated by the Alpha Project, in early December to battle the hepatitis A outbreak, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Homeless people staying at the tent said on Monday they liked the work. Its better than sitting in a tent all day, Edwin Fisk, who is staying at the Alpha Project tent, said. It gives us something to do, you know? And you make money. Who wouldnt want to do that? Nichole Hill, who has been homeless for 18 months, also said: I get to give back to the community and have some extra money to get around. The new program follows similar ones that were launched in Chicago, Denver and Albuquerque, New Mexico, where it was first implemented. Some schools across the U.S. have banned students from carrying backpacks inside their buildings due to safety concerns following the recent shooting at a Florida high school that left 17 people dead. Schools in Florida, Illinois and Ohio have already taken steps to prevent students from bringing book bags into school, the Miami Herald reported. In Niles, Ohio, students are allowed to carry small purses or lunch boxes as a way to make every student feel safe, WKBN reported. A student was removed from Niles McKinley High School after allegedly discussing school shootings. The school also banned backpacks last year following a bomb threat. BODY CAMERA VIDEO SJHOWS FLORIDA DEPUTY, K9 SPLIT UP TO CATCH SUSPECTS In Manatee County, Florida, the district banned backpacks after receiving threats made to more than a dozen schools, WFLA reported. Six people were arrested in connection with the threats. Students who may have thought that it was clever or funny to take this action, Scott L. Hopes, a member of the Manatee County School Board told WFLA. The board and administration will take these threats quite seriously. If youre going to bring a weapon to school, you wouldnt hang it around your neck, youd probably put it in a backpack. Students at Marion High School in Illinois were also not allowed to bring backpacks to school. However, the school allowed students to keep clear or mesh bags in their lockers. WPSD reported some students started carrying their books in laundry baskets. FLORIDA SCHOOL SHOOTING TIMELINE They dont want us to bring a backpack to the school at all. It just makes it harder for people who carry a lot of stuff, Dalton Coles, a student at the school, told WPSD. The Valentines Day shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, left at least 17 people dead. Former student, Nikolas Cruz, 19, was accused of the mass shooting. Details following the shooting showed police were called to Cruzs home many times before the shooting. The FBI also announced the bureau received a call on its tipline from an anonymous person who expressed concerns about Cruzs erratic behavior. The bureau admitted it did not act on the tip. The shooting has also reignited the debate over gun control after authorities said Cruz used an AR-15 in the Parkland shooting. A woman who filed a report with Las Vegas police against Steve Wynn earlier this month told law enforcement that she had the casino moguls baby after he raped her. The police report, obtained by The Associated Press on Tuesday, showed the woman claimed Wynn, 74, raped her at least three times around 1973 and 1974 in her Chicago apartment. In one instance, the woman claimed Wynn pinned her against the refrigerator and raped her, before making a phone call, kissing her on the cheek and leaving. STEVE WYNN ACCUSERS FILE REPORTS WITH LAS VEGAS POLICE The report doesnt explain how Wynn allegedly entered the apartment or how they knew each other. The woman claimed she did not give him a key. The woman, whose name was redacted from the report, told police she became pregnant and gave birth to her daughter in a bathroom at a gas station. Another police report filed against Wynn said a woman reported she was forced to resign from her job as a casino dealer at the Golden Nugget when she rejected the billionaire in the summer of 1976, despite having had consensual sex with him several times. Wynn has denied the sexual misconduct allegations against him, and attributed them to a campaign led by his ex-wife. The accusations surfaced following a January report by The Wall Street Journal, in which dozens of woman accused Wynn of engaging in inappropriate behavior. STEVE WYNN LOSES $463M SINCE REPORT ON ALLEGATIONS OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, REPORT SAYS "The idea that I ever assaulted any woman is preposterous," Wynn told The Journal at the time. "We find ourselves in a world where people can make allegations, regardless of truth, and a person is left with the choice of weathering insulting publicity or engaging in multiyear lawsuits. It is deplorable for anyone to find themselves in this situation." The business mogul resigned as chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts on Feb. 6, less than two weeks after the newspaper reported that a number of women claimed he harassed or assaulted them and that one case led to a $7.5 million settlement. Fox News' Elizabeth Zwirz and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A California university is offering a class focused solely on the topic of removing President Trump from office. San Diego State University is offering a one-unit course in March called Trump: Impeachment, Removal or Conviction? taught by Professor John Joseph Cleary. Focus will be on the two constitutional grounds: impeachment and removal (25th Amendment), and the possible charges of the independent counsel, the course description reads in part, as first reported by university watchdog group, Campus Reform. The class will cover grounds for impeachment, removal, or indictment such as conflict of interests, foreign emoluments, climate change, racism, religious bias, improper influence, nepotism, and a host of crimes, including conspiracy, false statements, and obstruction of justice. The only required reading is Allan Lichtmans The Case for Impeachment in which the American University professor makes the case for impeaching the 45th president of the United States, Donald J. Trump. A university spokesman told Fox News they plan to change the name of the course in the future. "In retrospect, we realize the title of the course, 'Trump: Impeachment, Removal, or Conviction?' is inconsistent with the course content described," the spokesperson said. "As a result, the title will be amended to accurately reflect this course offered now and for future offerings of this course." The course presents an overall framework of impeachment, removal, or criminal investigation of a president and rather than focusing on President Trump, reviews all 19 impeachments in U.S. history. The one-unit, weekend class is not a requirement for graduation and is not paid for by state funds, the university told Fox News. Cleary did not respond to Fox News request for comment on Tuesday. Brandon Jones, SDSU College Republicans Chairman and a Campus Reform correspondent, told Fox & Friends Wednesday morning theyve already convicted Trump instead of presuming innocence. Its very clear what the message is this course is sending, and if you look at the required textbook, it was written by a liberal nutjob," Jones said. "They can spew their talking points all they want, but Im not buying it. While the book looks at impeached presidents Andrew Johnson and Bill Clintons hearings, it focuses on Richard Nixons resignation and shows how Trump exhibits many of the flaws (and more) that have doomed past presidents. Lichtman boasts 30 years of predicting presidential races correctly, including Trumps victory over failed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, touting his next big prediction was that Trump would be impeached. The book serves as a warning about the dangers of Trumps rogue presidency and a guide to the myriad transgressions he predicts will lead to impeachment. Trumps penchant for lying, disregard for the law, and conflicts of interests are lifelong habits that will permeate his entire presidency, Lichtman wrote. He has a history of mistreating women and covering up his misdeeds. He could commit his crime against humanity, not directly through war, but indirectly by reversing the battle against catastrophic climate change, upon which humanitys well-being will likely depend. His dubious connections to Russia could open him to a charge of treason. His disdain for constitutional restraints could lead to abuses of power that forfeit the trust of even a Republican Congress. Trump wrote on Tuesday morning a series of tweets related to this topic. Trump quoted Ken Starr as saying, Weve seen no evidence of collusion The president then also quoted law professor Jonathan Turley, who said on Fox News: I just dont see the evidencein terms of the collusion, its all a bit implausible based on the evidence we have. Trump ended the tweetstorm with two words: WITCH HUNT! But Lichtman writes that hes not calling for a witch hunt, but rather to assess at what point impeachment becomes necessary to protect Americas constitutional liberties and the vital interests of the nation. Lichtman notes that while former lawyers in the Obama administration formed a group to monitor Trumps alleged violations of law and the Constitution, its ultimately up to the democratic activism of the American people. Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., told her fellow Democrats to get ready for impeachment at a speech in San Diego Saturday. She has chanted many times: Impeach 45! The course is being offered for $221 through SDSUs Criminal Justice program, which is a part of the schools College of Professional Studies and Fine Arts. Firefighters in Texas' largest city helped rescue a family from a second-floor balcony as a raging fire tore through their apartment building early Monday in a dramatic moment captured on video. The blaze at the Corner Village Apartments began around 1:30 a.m., and quickly spread to three alarms, fire officials told FOX26 Houston. A firefighter who was rushing to set up water told The Houston Chronicle he heard screams for help coming from a second-floor balcony, and looked up to see the woman and her three small children calling for help. Training took over, Michael White told the newspaper. The woman and her three children could then be seen in a video being helped over the balcony's railing and down to safety as flames rage above them. SOUTHWEST FLIGHT MAKES EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER ENGINE EXPERIENCES 'PERFORMANCE ISSUES' No sooner than we got that ladder off, it started to collapse in the middle," White told the Chronicle. "It was just perfect timing. No injuries were reported in the three-alarm fire, but the entire sixteen-unit building was destroyed, according to fire officials. Striking teachers in West Virginia will return to the classroom Thursday, as the states Republican governor announced hes offering teachers and school service personnel a revised 5 percent pay raise in the first year. Gov. Jim Justice made the announcement at a news conference Tuesday after emerging from a meeting with union leaders for teachers in all 55 counties. We need our kids back in school. We need our teachers back in school, Justice said. In addition, Justice said a task force will be formed to address health benefits for state workers, including teachers. Chief of Staff Mike Hall said the latest pay raise proposal is based on revised revenue estimates of $58 million. The pay increases would have to be approved by the Legislature. Hall said the governor is committed to calling a special session if necessary. Justice did not offer a specific revenue source but said that an overhaul of U.S. tax laws passed by Congress last year is going to have a profound impact on state finances. Justice said that under his proposal, all state workers would receive a 3 percent raise, with teachers and school service personnel getting an additional 2 percent in the first year. WEST VIRGINIA CLOSES ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS AMID TEACHER STRIKE EVEN AS GOVERNOR SIGNS PAY BILL Teachers started their walkout last Thursday, their first statewide strike since 1990. Last week, on the eve of the strike, Justice signed a bill into law that would raise pay for teachers and state employees. Teachers would see a pay increase of $808 next year and $404 the following two years. Teachers said the increases are not enough, especially as health care costs rise. The average pay for West Virginia teachers ranks among the lowest in the nation. Justice said bigger raises would follow if numbers next year confirm the states economic turnaround. Teachers should push for an increased severance tax on natural gas to permanently fix funding for the insurance program for them and other public employees, he added. WEST VIRGINIA TEACHERS TO CONTINUE STRIKE OVER PAY, BENEFITS In other developments, State Schools Superintendent Steve Paine said a decision would be made Monday whether to add an item to the state Board of Education meeting Tuesday that would discuss possible legal action against teachers. He said the work stoppage is illegal and disruptive to student learning. It was unclear Tuesday morning if an item was added to the meetings agenda. Missed class time automatically is added to the end of the school year. Fox News' Frank Miles and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A senior Australian state police officer has resigned over racist and obscene comments he posted online under a fake name. Victoria State Police Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton said on Tuesday he accepted Assistant Commissioner Brett Guerin's resignation on Monday night. Guerin had been in charge of Professional Standards, the force's internal misbehavior watchdog. Guerin created a Facebook profile under the pseudonym Vernon Demerest, a character played by Dean Martin in the 1970 movie "Airport." Demerest's racist rants have targeted Indians, Pakistanis, Somalis and Argentinians. He also attacked former senior police in obscene posts. Ashton said he would talk with multicultural community leaders and human rights advisers on how to improve police culture as a result of Guerin's behavior. Russia vetoed a United Nations Security Council draft resolution sponsored by the United Kingdom Monday that would have included a promise of action against violations of a U.N. arms embargo on Yemen that showed Iran in violation in a recent U.N. report. Russias veto led the U.S. representative to call its actions perverse. The U.K. draft resolution echoed some of the language used by a U.N. panel of experts on Yemen that was released earlier this month. The report noted that Iran was in noncompliance of an arms embargo set out in a Security Council resolution. The U.K. reportedly had softened the language on Iran in a final attempt to get Russia on board. Sitting in for U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who is on a visit to Central America, Ambassador Kelley Currie, told council members that: Russias veto today serves only to protect Irans efforts to destabilize the region and spread its malign influence. Currie put on notice the four countries that did not vote for the U.K. draft, Russia and Bolivia who voted against it and China and Kazakhstan who abstained, telling the council that their actions will not be forgotten. Nor will they go unanswered. Currie thanked the 11 councilmembers who supported the measure. Speaking to the council before the vote, Jonathan Allen, the deputy U.K. ambassador to the council, said that his country was deeply concerned that Iran had not prevented the indirect or direct supply, sale or transfer of short-ranged ballistic missiles, missile propellant, and unmanned aerial vehicles to the then Houthi-Saleh alliance, as reported by the panel of experts. He said that the U.K. agreed with the panels assessment that found Iran in noncompliance of the paragraph of the resolution in question. Allen warned that, Iran and other states who violate the Security Council resolutions must be held accountable. Following the Russian veto, the Security Council voted on a second resolution a Russian technical draft resolution that did not mention Iran but gave the go-ahead for the renewal of sanctions on Yemen and the work of the panel of experts. While the Russian resolution passed unanimously, there was a noticeable coming together from the European members of the council on wanting to target Irans actions, perhaps in response to President Trumps recent call to U.S. allies to help in halting Irans missile proliferation, especially to places like Yemen. One Security Council diplomat told Fox News that from the outset of the negotiations, the U.K., France and the U.S. presented a united front to the Council to curb Irans destabilizing behavior in the region. The other Europeans on the Council were also supporting of the U.K. draft. Frances ambassador to the world body, Francois Delattre, made clear his countrys feelings. We already voiced our concern regarding the conclusions of the panel of experts report on Yemen, which said that Iran was in noncompliance with the arms embargo imposed by resolution 2216, passed in 2015. Delattre continued, I want to be very clear on this we firmly condemn any breach by Iran of the international obligations of resolution 2216. The Dutch ambassador to the U.N., Karel van Oosterom, told members that his nation regretted that the new Russian resolution did not meet our concerns regarding noncompliance with the arms embargo, violations of humanitarian law and problems with humanitarian access. Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior Iran analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), a nonpartisan research institute in Washington D.C., said that the Security Council fell victim to a Russian veto, which was skillfully deployed by diplomats to get a watered-down resolution on Yemen. Ben Taleblu continued that the result of Mondays action helps Irans regional aims. Rather than being formally charged as being in violation of two (Security Council) resolutions, Tehran is now emboldened. The new (Russian) resolution fails to point a finger at the foreign source of Houthi military power, and the most obvious transgressor of the existing arms ban on Yemen Iran. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Two men believed to be stowaways on a U.S.-bound flight from Ecuador died after falling from the aircraft on Monday. Ecuador police said the pair, who El Comercio newspaper said were 25 and 30 years old, fell from the landing gear at Jose Joaquin de Olmedo airport in Guayaquil. Police did not reveal the nationality or identities of the two men, but local media said it is believed they are Peruvian. Officials said they believe the pair likely fainted or were ejected after takeoff. Local prosecutor Carlos Bustamante said the incident occurred around 9:20 a.m. when employees at the airport spotted three objects falling from the plane. As we approached, we saw two people one on the runway and the other in the grass area, he told El Comercio. The first one had a pulse, but died minutes later. The other person had died. He said the third item that fell from the plane was a suitcase, which contained about $20 and clothes. No identification for the two men were found. "What is known is that the plane came from Peru, Bastamante told the newspaper. "From the characteristics of the citizens, they may come from Peru, and from here (from the flight) they would go to the United States, to New York. The Boeing 767-300, operated by Latam, returned to the airport, which was closed for approximately 90 minutes while the two bodies were removed from the runway. The aircraft was later allowed to continue its scheduled flight, but it may be required to return to the South American country to assist with the investigation. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The younger brother of Pakistan's former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has been elected as acting president of the country's ruling party after the Supreme Court ruled that anyone disqualified from office cannot serve as party chief. Tuesday's move to elevate Shahbaz Sharif as acting head of the Pakistan Muslim League party was seen as an attempt to continue of dynastic political system, which has been opposed by critics. Shahbaz is currently serving as the chief minister in Punjab province. Sharif resigned in July after the country's top court ousted him from office for concealing financial assets. The court's decision last week effectively bars Sharif from leading the Pakistan Muslim League. He is now facing trial on corruption charges. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26) The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on Monday said it wants the custody of the employers of slain domestic helper Joanna Demafelis transferred to Kuwait. DFA Office of Migrant Workers Affairs Executive Director Raul Dado said Lebanese authorities are trying to acquire the records of Demafelis' case from Kuwait so the trial will be held in their country. "We're coordinating with our embassy in Kuwait City to make sure the prosecution will have all the evidence in hand and that's ideally in Kuwait," Dado said. Nader Essam Assaf, one of the principal suspects in Demafelis' killing, is a Lebanese national, while his wife, Mona Hassoun, is Syrian. The couple were separately arrested over the weekend. Assaf is detained in Lebanon, while Hassoun is in Syrian custody. Dado also said the Philippine Embassy in Kuwait is exerting all efforts to gather evidence and witnesses to make sure the trial takes place in Kuwait. "The forum where the evidence is situated should be the place where the case should be tried on top of the fact that in criminal prosecution, territory is very material to this should it has to be in Kuwait," he said. Demafelis' bruised body was found inside a freezer in an abandoned apartment in Kuwait, where authorities said it may have been kept for over a year. Dado said the DFA wants to file a charge higher than homicide against Demafelis' employers, if it will be allowed by the Kuwaiti authorities. "We are advising our lawyers to possibly amend the charges to a higher charge if that is what is warranted by the evidence...All the legal power that can be amassed by our embassy now- firepower to prosecute the case- will be used as a matter of course," Dado said. Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa, however, said the Kuwaiti government is already preparing murder charges to be filed against the two suspects. In Kuwait, a murder charge carries the death penalty. If proven true, it would mean death by hanging. Presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said President Rodrigo Duterte wants the two suspects punished. "The deployment ban stays because the latest statement on this made by the President was when he visited the wake of Joanna, and he said that not only must they be apprehended, they must be punished," Roque said. Deployment ban to be lifted? Despite the arrest of Demafelis' employers, Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello said a memorandum of agreement between Kuwait and the Philippines for the protection of Filipino workers may be the only way to lift the deployment ban. Kuwaiti officials are set to arrive in the country soon to discuss the government's demand-a gesture which Bello considers as a breakthrough. "Now that they are willing to talk about it, maganda yan. We are ready with our draft memorandum of agreement and I suppose, they are ready with their counter-proposals," Bello said. Bello said, however, he will recommend the lifting of the deployment ban to Kuwait only for skilled workers. In the meantime, Bello said the Labor department is cracking down on recruitment agencies with questionable track records to ensure Demafelis' fate will not happen again. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 A Czech court has ruled that the former leader of a Syrian Kurdish party detained by authorities in Prague will be released from detention despite Turkey's request for his extradition. Salih Muslim, former co-chair of the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, was detained in the Czech capital of Prague on Saturday based on a Turkish request for his arrest. According to Muslim's Czech lawyer Miroslav Krutina, Prague's Municipal Court ruled on Tuesday to release Muslim. The court officials didn't immediately commented on the hearing that was held behind close door. Turkey considers the PYD a "terrorist group" linked to outlawed Kurdish insurgents fighting within Turkey's own borders. A small town in southwestern Germany has decided to keep a church bell dedicated to Adolf Hitler ringing, but as a memorial to spark dialogue about violence and injustice. The dpa news agency reported Tuesday the Herxheim am Berg council voted 10-3 to preserve the bell, which carries the inscription "Everything for the Fatherland - Adolf Hitler" above a Nazi swastika, as a memorial in its Protestant church. State church authorities had offered to fund replacing the bell, which were widespread during the Nazi era but mostly removed after the war. But a study had concluded removing it would be akin to "fleeing from an appropriate culture of remembrance" and recommended either leaving it in place with an explanatory plaque, or putting it in a museum. A small town in southwestern Germany has voted to keep a controversial church bell dedicated to former Nazi leader, Adolf Hitler. The bell, which is inscribed with a Nazi swastika and words that state Everything for the Fatherland Adolf Hitler, serves as a memorial in a Protestant church in Herxheim am Berg. According to the DPA news agency, the council in the small town voted 10-3 on Monday to preserve the bell, which were widespread during the Nazi era but mostly removed after the war. GERMANY SHIVERS AS ICY BLAST DRIVES DOWN MERCURY State church authorities had offered to fund replacing the bell, which has been a fixture in the church since 1934. However, a study concluded removing it would be akin to fleeing from an appropriate culture of remembrance and recommended either leaving it in place with an explanatory plaque or putting it in a museum. TOP GERMAN DIPLOMAT: WE NO LONGER RECOGNIZE OUR AMERICA The argument over the bells placement has stirred a debate on how the country should handle Nazi monuments and symbols in modern times, the BBC reported. Some village residents were concerned that the reputation of the church could be harmed if the bell is kept. Other community members applauded Monday after the council ruled to keep the bell, the DPA news agency reported. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Police in northern Greece have confiscated 105 kilograms of marijuana from neighboring Albania and arrested an Albanian national suspected of smuggling the drugs in his car. The 26-year-old man was stopped and detained near the Krystallopigi border crossing Tuesday, police said. Despite local authorities' attempts to crack down on the illegal cultivation, Albania remains a major marijuana-producing country. Before Tuesday's seizure, authorities in northern Greece had impounded at least 1.3 tons of the drug from Albania so far this year, according to police data. In 2017, a total 10.9 tons were confiscated, up from about four tons in 2016. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Israel is disputing a Palestinian teenager's account of being shot in the head, an incident which is said to have led his cousin, protest icon Ahed Tamimi, to slap Israeli soldiers. Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai says 15-year-old Mohammed Tamimi's account is part of the family's "culture of lies." The Tamimis, backed Tuesday by hospital officials and medical records, said Mohammed was shot Dec. 15 by a soldier, and that surgeons removed parts of his skull to extract a rubber-coated steel pellet. The shooting is said to have set off Ahed, who now faces possible jail time. Mohammed, who was seized from his home Monday, told Israeli interrogators he injured his head in a bike accident. His father says the frightened boy lied to avoid charges of involvement in stone-throwing. Kim Jong Uns estranged brother Kim Jong Nam told a friend he feared his life is in danger six months before being poisoned at Malaysias Kuala Lumpur airport in a daring assassination carried out by two women, a police investigator testified Tuesday. Chief police investigator Wan Azirul Nizam Che Wan Aziz told the court in Malaysia that Kim Jong Nam had told his friend, My life is in danger, and I am scared for my life about six months before he was killed. The friend didnt specify why Kim believed his life was in danger at the time. NORTH KOREA'S PLOT TO KILL KIM JONG UN'S NEPHEW FOILED BY CHINESE OFFICIALS, REPORT SAYS Kim died on Feb. 13, 2017 after two women allegedly smeared the banned VX nerve agent on the despot brothers face before fleeing the airport. Kim stumbled around before falling down. CCTV footage also showed two woman accused of being part of the brazen assassination walking in the airport and going into the restroom before the alleged attack. The two women, Siti Aisyah of Indonesia and Doan Thi Huong of Vietnam, were charged with murder. Four other North Korean men who fled Malaysia on the same day were believed to be involved in the plot to kill Kim. Aisyah's lawyer, Gooi Soon Seng, also asked the investigator if Hong Song Hac, one of four suspects believed to have fled back to North Korea, was an official with the North Korean Embassy in Indonesia at the time. Wan Azirul initially said he didn't know but then agreed when shown a document provided by the Indonesian foreign ministry. Gooi told reporters later that police had failed to investigate the background of the four other suspects. He said the involvement of another North Korean Embassy official reinforced the belief that the embassy and its government were involved in the plot. WOMEN ACCUSED OF KIM JONG NAM'S ASSASSINATION RETURN TO SCENE OF ATTACK The involvement of the missing North Korean agents has fueled South Koreas spy agencys claim that the attack was part of a careful plot set up by the North Korean despot to kill a brother he reportedly never met. Kim Jong Nam was not known to be actively seeking influence over his younger brother but had spoken out publicly against his family's dynastic rule. Since he was also the eldest son of the late leader Kim Jong Il, he could have been seen as a potential rival to Kim Jong Un. A report by Japanese magazine Nikkei Asian Review in August also claimed Kim Jong Un flew into a rage when he discovered his uncle, Jang Song Thaek, was planning a coup with Chinese officials to overthrow him. However, Malaysian officials never formally accused North Korea of any involvement in Kim Jon Nams death. The trial is expected to resume March 14. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Nigeria's military says it has rescued more than 1,100 people, including women and children, who had been held by Boko Haram extremists in different parts of the Lake Chad region near Cameroon. Tuesday's announcement comes more than a week after Boko Haram abducted 110 girls from their school in Dapchi in Yobe state. The extremist group has abducted thousands of people over the years. Operation spokesman Col. Onyema Nwachukwu says soldiers killed at least 35 Boko Haram fighters during the raids on Monday in the northern fringes of the Lake Chad islands and the Sambisa region. He says troops also seized a large arms cache. Nigeria's government's is under growing public pressure to respond to the Dapchi mass abduction and prove its repeated claims that Boko Haram has been defeated. The body of a 17-year-old boy from the Netherlands was discovered by police a week after he went missing. The teenager, Orlando Boldewijn, was found in the water in the Ypenburg suburb, not far from where he was last seen after having met with someone in The Hague via the gay dating app Grindr. Authorities said that his body, which was located on the basis of new information, will now undergo an autopsy examination to try to establish how he died. Police spokesman Roland Ekkers told broadcaster NOS that there are currently no suspects. According to local reports, police have already talked to one of the teenagers dates, a 20-year-old man from The Hague, who said he dropped Orlando off to meet his second date in Ypenburg. His friend Noha den Hartog, who first reported him missing, told Dutch News that Boldewijn had arranged other dates on Grindr, an app used predominantly by gay or bisexual men. Orlando told his mother he was with me, she told the Dutch news site. He often did that, but usually he always told me where he was. This time he didnt. The teenagers friend also cast doubt on the last text message he supposedly sent to his mother, in which he said he was on his way home. The language in the message wasnt what we were used to from him, Den Hartog said. Usually he shortens lots of words, but in that message he didnt do it once. The incident comes in the wake of a half dozen gay men who were allegedly killed in the Toronto area by landscaper Bruce McArthur, who reportedly met his victims on dating apps as well. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 As Pakistan navigates its troubled relationship with the United States and scrambles to avoid being blacklisted for doing too little, too late to stop terror funding, regional alliances are shifting and analysts ponder whether a cozier relationship with countries like Russia will complicate efforts to move toward peace in neighboring Afghanistan. Russia, analysts say, is motivated by fears of a growing presence of Islamic State militants in neighboring Afghanistan and has warmed up to Pakistan as well as to Taliban insurgents battling the upstart Islamic State group affiliate known as Khorasan Province, the ancient name of an area that once included parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia. In the latest move to strengthen ties, Russia last week named an honorary consul to Pakistan's Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Province, which borders Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, where IS has established its headquarters. The IS is also present in northern Afghanistan's border regions with Central Asia, causing further consternation in Moscow. Russia's honorary consul, Mohammad Arsallah Khan, who belongs to a powerful business family in Pakistan's northwest, said economic development is the best weapon against extremism. To that end he said he will promote increased commerce with Pakistan's neighbors, including Russia, which currently accounts for barely $500 million in trade. "I think this whole region is a bit of a mess, which I realize is one of the great understatements. Extremists have been taken lightly before and we are where we are because of that," said Khan in an interview in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Reflecting on his business-based strategy, Khan said, "when you can give people a way of earning a living, they will turn away from terrorism, away from extremism." The appointment reflects a stark turnaround in Pakistan's historical relationship with Russia. In the 1980s, Pakistan and the U.S. were united against Russia as the Soviet Union sent 150,000 soldiers into Afghanistan to prop up its communist ally in the Afghan capital, Kabul. At the time, Pakistan, with U.S. backing, used Peshawar as a staging arena to arm and deploy Islamic insurgents, referred to as mujahedeen or as President Ronald Reagan often called them, "freedom fighters" to wage war on Russia. After 10 years, Russia failed to win the war and on Feb. 15, 1989, left Afghanistan in a negotiated exit. For some, Russia's cozying up to Pakistan is a bit of a "poke in the eye" to the U.S., still embroiled in the Afghan conflict that is now in its 17th year and is Washington's longest war, costing more than $122 billion, according to its own special Inspector General on Afghan Reconstruction. Still, Petr Topychkanov, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said Russia worries about the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. "Russia is concerned about the long-term presence of the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan, and therefore it's in Russia's long-term interests to have an inside view of the situation in Afghanistan," he said, saying that Pakistan provides the viewing platform. Daniel Markey, senior research professor in international relations at John's Hopkins University, said Russian relations with Pakistan aim to solve two problems for Moscow. First, to blunt the threat of IS from Afghanistan. Second, to undermine U.S. influence, he said. "The point is that Russia and Pakistan probably have more in common with respect to the war in Afghanistan than the United States has with either __ and this is a real turnaround from prior history." Last week Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Washington of failing to go after the Islamic State group in Afghanistan. In response, Washington's senior diplomat for South Asia, Alice Wells, accused Russia of ignoring anti-IS offensives launched by U.S. and Afghan forces in eastern Afghanistan, while at the same time pursuing them in new havens, particularly in northern Afghanistan. Wells suggested Russia "should unequivocally support the Afghan government," if it wants to end the conflict in Afghanistan, a thinly veiled reference to allegations of Russian support for the Taliban. The linchpin in Washington's Afghan strategy is to put pressure on Pakistan to close safe havens used by Taliban fighters, most notably the Haqqani network, blamed for the more brazen and deadly attacks on Kabul. Pakistan denies organized camps exist on its territory, though it says insurgents move throughout the country among the Afghan refugee population of 1.5 million. Pakistan also assails Afghanistan for allowing anti-Pakistan militants to have territory from which they plot and carry out attacks against Pakistan. Despite closer ties with Russia and a heavily invested China, for Pakistan even a bad relationship with the U.S. is better than no relationship at all, said Andrew Wilder, Asia programs vice president at the U.S. Institute of Peace. "Pakistan losing the U.S. as a strategic partner due to Pakistan's Afghanistan policy, and ending up having to rely solely on China, is not a foreign policy success story for Pakistan - it's a major foreign policy failure," he said. "Pakistan's relationship with the U.S., even in its current weakened state, is still far more important in economic, diplomatic and security terms for Pakistan than its relationship with Russia." Although Pakistan was not mentioned in the final communique that followed last week's Financial Action Task Force on terror funding, a motion by Washington to have Pakistan put on a global watch list prompted the task force to demand that Islamabad prove it is doing enough to curb terror financing by the time they meet again in June. Most analysts said the deadline was an indication that even its deep friendship with China was not enough to counter U.S. pressure. "We shouldn't overstate how much Beijing and Moscow can compensate for U.S. aid cuts and sanctions," said Michael Kugelman, Asia Program deputy director at the U.S.-based Wilson Center. "China is not a charity and does not provide assistance on demand; it only provides support including to key allies like Pakistan when it serves its interests. Additionally, the extent of Russian support for Pakistan to this point is unclear." ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Pennington in Washington and Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow contributed to this report. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan last weekend raised eyebrows when he called a visibly emotional girl, 6, onstage during a military rally and talked about the possibility of her becoming a martyr. The New York Times reported Monday that Amine Tiras, a first grader and cadet, was in the crowd during the Saturday event. At some point Erdogan called on Tiras and she was lifted into the air and sent towards him. The video clip of the interaction went viral and shows Tiras crying and attempting to compose herself. The Times said Erdogan told her that she would be honored if she was ever killed in battle. He pointed to a Turkish flag folded in her pocket, the report said. If she becomes a martyr, God willing, she will be wrapped with it. She is ready for everything, arent you? he asked. The Times reported that Turkey has slogans like, Every Turk born a soldier, but some on social media took issue with his interaction with the girl. Oh my God, I am shocked, one Twitter user posted, according to the paper. Could Erdogan have said the same thing for his grandchild? Turkey has been attacking the Kurds in northern Syria for the past several weeks, despite American calls for restraint and complaints that the fighting distracts from the campaign to defeat ISIS. The standoff has fueled increasingly angry rhetoric, including a warning from Erdogan that Turkey's foes may feel "the Ottoman slap," a reference to the Ottoman Empire's onetime might. The Associated Press contributed to this report Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 26) The Justice Department has authorized the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) to find and investigate the local recruiters of slain overseas Filipina worker Joanna Demafelis. In an order signed by Justice Secretary Vitaliano Aguirre on Monday, the NBI was also directed to file appropriate charges against Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Global E-Human Resources Inc. The recruitment agency was shut down in 2016 for a number of violations. The foreign agency that handled Demafelis was Fadilah Farz Kaued Al Khodor Recruitment Office, which is on the watchlist of the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency because of a pending case. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque had said that President Rodrigo Duterte ordered the NBI to "summon" and question Demafelis' recruiters. "Because under our scheme, the local recruiters are actually ultimately liable for what happens to the Filipino deployed by the agencies for overseas. So that's what the President wants to find out," Roque said Monday. The employers and suspects in the death of 29-year-old Demafelis, Nader Essam Assaf and Mona Hassoun, were arrested separately in Lebanon and Syria last week. The couple had left Kuwait in November 2017. Authorities found the bruised body of Demafelis inside a freezer in the couple's apartment where they said it may have been kept for over a year. Philippine Ambassador to Kuwait Renato Pedro Villa said murder charges are being prepared by the Kuwaiti government against Assaf and Hassoun. Roque said Duterte wants the two suspects punished. "The deployment ban stays because the latest statement on this made by the President was when he visited the wake of Joanna, and he said that not only must they be apprehended, they must be punished," he noted. PNP chief: We have a lead on the recruiters National Police chief Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa said the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) already had a lead on the recruiters of Demafelis. "Ongoing na ang efforts ng CIDG para hanapin ang recruiters ni Demafelis... Meron nang lead ang CIDG," he said. [Translation: The CIDG's efforts to look for Demafelis' recruiters are ongoing...They already have a lead.] He added the CIDG was also checking the recruitment agencies in the country to find out which are operating illegally. The U.N. humanitarian chief is warning that conditions in Yemen are "catastrophic" after three years of war, with 22.2 million people needing aid. And the U.N. envoy is accusing both the Saudi-backed government and Shiite rebels of prolonging the conflict. The U.N. officials painted a dire picture of the Arab world's most impoverished country plunging into the world's worst humanitarian crisis and facing massive destruction as a result of what special envoy Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed called the parties' continuing "destructive pattern of zero-sum politics." Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock warned the Security Council that "famine remains a real threat." Cheikh Ahmed disclosed that a peace agreement had been about to be reached, but the parties refused to sign at the last minute. He called for fresh negotiations. The Committee to Protect Journalists has urged the release of Yemeni journalist detained after he criticized local forces in southern Yemen, trained and funded by the United Arab Emirates. CPJ said on Monday that Awad Kashmeem was detained last Wednesday in the coastal city of Mukalla in southern Yemen's Hadramawt province and is being held at the military intelligence headquarters there. Kashmeem criticized local UAE-backed forces and said they'd waged a fake campaign against al-Qaida. CPJ's Mideast coordinator Sherif Mansour said that "Kashmeem's arbitrary detention ... shows that there is truly no safe space for journalists in Yemen." Kashmeem had posted on Facebook page that the UAE-trained troops "are talking about war, battles, deployment of troops, etc. but there is not death or injury of soldiers" in the alleged fighting. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) Former Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Alan Purisima is facing eight counts of perjury. The lawsuits, filed by Assistant Special Prosecutor Irenio M. Paldeng, claimed that the former police chief failed to truthfully declare in his Statements of Assets, Liabilities and Net worth (SALN) properties owned by him and his wife, Maria Ramona Lydia Purisima. Cited also was Purisima's failure to declare that he owned firearms. The charges said Purisima failed to file the correct SALNs from 2006 to 2009, and 2011 to 2014. Purisima is charged of not declaring his wife's properties, covered by Certificate of Land Ownership (CLOA) CA-25916, in 2006 and 2007. Another piece of property covered by CLOA VOS-28452 and a third one acquired by his wife via a Deed of Donation dated May 12, 2008 were also not mentioned in that year's SALN. In 2009, Purisima was accused of not declaring property he owned which was covered by CLOA VOS-28012, as well has the previously undeclared properties owned by his wife. From 2011 to 2013, Purisima did not declare that he owned two firearms; and in 2014 only the four previous properties were not included. A total bail of P48,000 was set for the charges against the former police chief. In 2015, Ombudsman Conchita Carpio-Morales ordered Purisima's dismissal from his post as Director General of the PNP. Purisima was accused of graft over a gun license courier deal entered into by the PNP in 2011. READ: Sacked PNP chief Purisima pleads not guilty to graft charges Prosecutors said Purisima connived with other police officials to award a gun license delivery deal with WerFast Documentary Agency, Inc. They said this was done illegally, without public bidding and due process. In 2016, the Office of the Ombudsman has found probable cause to file charges against former Philippine National Police Chief (PNP) Chief Alan Purisima and former PNP-Special Action Force (SAF) Director Getulio Napenas, following the Mamasapano encounter in January 25, 2015, which killed 44 SAF commandos. READ: Purisima, Napenas liable for Mamasapano encounter - Ombudsman CNN Philippines Correspondent AC Nicholls contributed to this report. Story updated to include statement of Atty. Larry Gadon. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) Embattled Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno is taking a 15-day leave from the Supreme Court as her camp expects an impeachment trial at the Senate. Sereno's spokesperson, Jojo Lacanilao told CNN Philippines on Tuesday the Chief Justice is taking a "wellness leave" from March 1 to 15. He said Sereno had initially filed a leave for March 12 to 23. "Nag-apply na siya ng wellness leave matagal na rin ano, scheduled 'yun ng March. Nagkataon naman na dahil sa mga nangyayari ngayon sa impeachment and we expect na dadating ito sa Senado, kailangan din magprepare para sa Senate hearing," Lacanilao said. [Translation: She applied for a wellness leave long ago, scheduled this March. It so happened that because of all that's happening, and we expect it will be brought to the Senate, we need to prepare for the Senate hearing.] The announcement on Sereno's leave comes as the Supreme Court held an en banc session on Tuesday. The high court has yet to issue an official statement on what was tackled during the justices' meeting, but a source told CNN Philippines Sereno's leave was discussed. Lacanilao said it was Sereno's "personal decision" to take a break and that it would be up to her if she wants to extend her leave. House Justice Committee Chair Reynaldo Umali, however, belied Sereno camp's statement. "Kasinungalingan ang sinasabi na wellness leave [The wellness leave they are saying is a lie]. It is indefinite leave because the en banc forced her into it," Umali said during Tuesday's hearing on probable cause in Sereno's impeachment case. Sereno is taking a leave as the House committee on Justice is expected to vote next week on probable cause in the impeachment case against her. The panel will send a committee report to the plenary. A vote of at least one-third of the members of the House of Representatives, or 98 out of the 292 incumbent congressmen, may then start an impeachment trial at the Senate. Lacanilao said they expect the overwhelming majority in the House of Representatives to vote against the Chief Justice, as they have done in previous occasions. "We're just being realistic about it. Realistically, mahirap manalo in terms of numbers [it's hard to win in terms of numbers] ," Lacanilao said. The Chief Justice is accused of violating the Constitution, corruption, betrayal of public trust, and other high crimes - grounds for officials to be impeached under the Constitution. The impeachment case prompted calls for the chief magistrate to resign. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, who earlier urged Sereno to resign, on Tuesday said Sereno should use her leave "as an opportunity to reflect on her time and legacy at the Supreme Court and to consider what would be best for the institution which she heads as top magistrate." Roque said the Palace is confident Sereno's absence won't hamper the day-to-day operations of the high court. Sereno repeatedly said she will not step down from office, as she has denied all allegations against her and asked for the impeachment complaint to be junked. In a separate interview with CNN Philippines Chief Correspondent Pia Hontiveros Tuesday, Lacanilao added the Chief Justice would go through the impeachment process and "and whatever is the end of the process, she will abide by it." Gadon: 'Explosive announcement' not related to Sereno In the same interview, Atty. Larry Gadon was asked about the "explosive announcement" he would be revealing on Monday and it if was any way related to the impeachment case he filed against the Chief Justice. Gadon answered, "I cannot recall that." He added it was meant only for an "exclusive group." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) The country will soon receive thousands of firearms from a "friendly country," President Rodrigo Duterte said Monday. "Despite the boycott sa America of our needs, we are getting some firearms somewhere," Duterte said during the inauguration of a shooting range in Davao City. He did not, however, say where the arms are coming from, and if these were donated or bought. "I am not at liberty to divulge it but in the next few days we will have about 5,000 more shipment coming from a friendly country," the President said. Russia earlier donated 5,000 AK-74M Kalashnikov assault rifles with 1 million rounds of ammunition to the Philippines. The Kalashnikov is a renowned brand of Russian weapons named after Mikhail Kalashnikov, who invented the original Kalashnikov in 1947. It was considered the most popular assault rifle in the world. READ: Gov't says Russia donating weapons, military equipment for PH counter-terrorism The government has said these rifles will be used for the government's counter-terrorism efforts. In November 2016, Duterte floated Russia as a possible arms supplier for the Philippine National Police after he canceled an order for 26,000 assault rifles from the U.S. Duterte scrapped the firearms deal following reports that the U.S. State Department is canceling the sale after a senator expressed concern over the human rights situation in the Philippines. In June 2017, China also donated 3,000 rifles and ammunition to assist the Philippine government in its fight against Maute terrorists in Marawi. READ: China donates P169 million worth of military hardware to the Philippines Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) President Rodrigo Duterte is looking into the possibility of arming graduates of the Reserve Officers' Training Course (ROTC) program and military reservists to defeat terrorism. "If things get worse, I will allow the mobilization and the maybe purchase of the ROTC and those guys who have had military training and I will allow you to use, bear the high-caliber firearms," Duterte said at the inauguration of a shooting range in Davao City Monday. However, the President said giving the ROTC and reservist force arms would be a last resort. The ROTC is a program in colleges and universities that seeks to prepare the youth for national defense. Under Republic Acts 7077 and 9163, graduates of the optional ROTC program will be part of the citizen's reservist force. The forces may be mobilized by the President in times of threats to national security. Under Section 63 of RA 7077, reserve forces may be ordered to volunteer for military auxiliary service. "Reservists serving under this category will be organized into Ready Reserve Units. They must be issued and allowed to carry firearms: provided, that these reservists will be utilized only for the defense of their localities and will not be employed outside their localities," it stated. The President on Monday also said the country will be receiving 5,000 arms from a "friendly country," which he used to divulge, as part of the government's plan to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP). READ: Duterte: PH to soon receive 5,000 firearms from a 'friendly country' "We will buy all the ammunitions and if really it becomes to a big push... we will mobilize. And we will defeat them," he said. Security officials claim the threat of terrorism is still imminent, with the presence of New People's Army rebels and members of the ISIS in Mindanao. Using the terror threat as reason, Congress extended martial law in Mindanao up to December 2018, after a five-month long battle in Marawi City. 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. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) President Rodrigo Duterte said he cannot force businessmen into ending contractualization, a promise he made during the presidential campaign. Duterte said stakeholders should reach a "compromise" instead. "I don't think that I can really give them all kasi hindi naman natin mapilit 'yung mga kapitalista na kung walang pera o ayaw nila o tamad (We cannot force the capitalists if there's no money, or if they don't want to, or if [workers are] lazy)," Duterte said Monday during the inauguration of a shooting range in Davao City. "Don't make it hard for them to run the business the way they like it because that's their money. So something of a compromise must be maybe acceptable to everybody," Duterte added. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque on Tuesday said this does not mean the President is giving up on delivering his promise to end contractualization. "I don't think he has retreated. He has asked for more time to study the matter," Roque said during the Malacanang press briefing. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III earlier said the President is studying an executive order (EO) banning illegal forms of contractualization, and eyes signing it by March. READ: Bello: Duterte promised to sign EO on contractualization by March The labor groups that submitted the draft EO to Bello said the proposal recognizes "the need to balance the interest of labor and capital." This gives the the President, through the Labor Secretary, the authority "to exempt jobs, activities and functions from prohibition" upon consultation with laborers' and employers' sectors. "The President obviously has been misled or misinformed about the demands of the workers," said Michael Mendoza, National President of the Associated Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines and Chairman of labor coalition Nagkaisa. The groups called on Duterte to fulfill his campaign promise. Then candidate Rodrigo Duterte vowed to end contractualization within a week. Almost a year after, in March 2017, the Labor Department issued Department Order No. 174, which bans labor-only contracting, outsourcing work due to a strike, and the so-called "555" or "endo." "Endo" is the practice of repeated hiring of workers on five-month contracts so employers don't need to regularize them on the sixth month. Some labor groups have criticized the government's move and demanded an end to all forms of contractualization. For them, the DO 174 actually favors employers and allows manpower agencies to reabsorb workers if employers do not regularize them. This leaves employees stuck between abusive companies and middlemen, without any assurance of fair pay or benefits. In July 2017, Bello clarified that what Duterte meant by terminating contractualization was banning "unlawful, illegitimate contractualization." He said there are legal forms of contractualization like project-based hiring and seasonal hiring. Government proposals to slash direct payments for the largest landowners could free up 150m for the environment and other public goods in the first year of the transition period after Brexit. This is the stark message from Defra secretary Michael Gove as he launched a consultation on Tuesday (27 February), which seeks industry views to help shape the future of farming and the environment in England after Brexit. The long-anticipated consultation paper is the pre-cursor to promised legislation that is required to manage the transition of the UKs farming industry out of the EU and the Common Agricultural Policy. Its responses will shape a new Agriculture Bill, expected in the summer of 2018. See also: Prepare now for post-Brexit farm policy, farmers told Defra has provided detail on how it sees post-Brexit support arrangements for farmers in England after the UK exits the European Union in March 2019. But the Country, Land and Business Association (CLA) said it was disappointed that many unanswered questions remain. Farm payments in 2019 will follow the existing model, and in line with the Conservative Partys election manifesto, the government will commit the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of this parliament in 2022. The 10-week consultation sets out proposals for an agricultural transition lasting a number of years beyond the implementation period during which direct payments would continue, providing stability and certainty for farmers as they prepare for the new system. It asks respondents for their views on exactly how long they think this transition should last. The consultation, Health and Harmony: The Future for Food, Farming and the Environment in a Green Brexit, proposes phasing out direct payments and suggests a number of options, including progressive reductions to farmers payments. Larger-scale farmers to lose out Defra is proposing higher percentage reductions should be applied to amounts in higher payment bands, a cap to the largest payments, or a different cap or reduction to some payments. A cap of the largest payments could, for example, be applied at 100,000, which would affect about 2,100 farmers in England (2% of recipients). The progressive reductions option could, in the first year of the agricultural transition, affect about 19,000 farmers (22% of recipients). Of these, 13,500 farmers would face a payment reduction of less than 5,000 and about 300 with claims worth more than 200,000 would face a payment reduction of over 75,000. Both of these options could raise about 150m in the first year, Defra says. The consultation seeks views on these options, and whether different threshold and reduction percentages could be adopted, as well as other options. Gove: Historic opportunity Mr Gove told the recent NFU conference the consultation is an opportunity for farmers to be more central to government thinking than any time for 50 years as the UK leaves the EU. Launching the consultation, Mr Gove said: As we leave the EU, we have a historic opportunity to deliver a farming policy which works for the whole industry. Today we are asking for the views of those who will be affected to make sure we get this right, so any future schemes reflect the reality of life for famers and food producers. The proposals in this paper set out a range of possible paths to a brighter future for farming. They are the beginning of a conversation, not a conclusion, and we want everyone who cares about the food we eat and the environment around us to contribute. The governments proposals will see money redirected from direct payments under the CAP, which are based on the amount of land farmed, to a new system of paying farmers public money for public goods principally their work to enhance the environment and invest in sustainable food production. Other public goods that could be supported include investment in technology and skills to improve productivity, providing public access to farmland and the countryside, enhanced welfare standards for livestock and measures to support the resilience of rural and upland communities. Industry reaction Responding to the announcement, CLA president Tim Breitmeyer said the consultation had left open questions, few decisions and no answers. He added: Our message is that in the short term only money that is clearly necessary for transitional measures should be taken out of the system, and no business, no matter how wealthy its owners are perceived to be, should face sudden and dramatic cuts. Helen Browing, chief executive of organic farming lobby the Soil Association, said: There is much to welcome in this papers ambition for high standards of food quality and farm animal welfare, for improving soil health, tackling climate change and protecting the environment. We will be responding to the consultation with evidence of the vital role organic farming can play in achieving this. The RSPCA also said it was encouraged to see animal welfare playing such a significant part in the proposed Agriculture Bill. The consultation on Gov.UK closes on 8 May 2018. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) The Bureau of Immigration (BI) deported 73 Chinese nationals on Monday night who were staying in the Philippines as aliens, and are wanted in China for economic crimes. Their passports were canceled by the Chinese government, Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente said. The BI Board of Commissioners issued a summary deportation order for the Chinese nationals after they were arrested on January 13 for operating a telecom fraud business. BI legal division chief Arvin Cesar Santos said the Chinese police monitored around 100 internet protocol (IP) addresses in China coming from the Philippines. "The telecom fraudsters allegedly pretended to be police officers, prosecutors, and judges when calling their victims in China, many of whom are rich businessmen," the BI said in a press release. Authorities from the BI and the Philippine National Police Anti-Cybercrime Group, who conducted the raids in Ilocos Sur and Las Pinas City, seized improvised soundproof telephone cubicles, laptops, cell phones, internet routers, and a list of their victims, the BI added. "The victims were told that they had cases involving their phone numbers or bank accounts that needed to be investigated after which they would demand payment by asking that the money be transferred to the syndicate's account," Santos said. BI Investigators said the foreigners entered the Philippines using a tourist visa and did not apply for work permits. Morente said the deportees boarded a chartered flight of the China Eastern Airlines from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport to Tianjin, China. Story updated to include statement of Sen. Cynthia Villar. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) The National Food Authority (NFA) received a tongue-lashing from a senator on Tuesday for sowing panic and confusion when the agency announced a shortage of affordable rice. During the first Senate hearing on the country's rice supply, Senator Cynthia Villar, who is also the chair of Senate Committee on Agriculture and Food, confronted NFA chief Jason Aquino. "Nag-press release ang NFA na wala daw silang NFA rice. Iba ang state ng rice supply of the Philippines versus the NFA rice. Sana hindi na lang nag press release ang NFA kasi they created confusion... Parang gusto niyo gumawa ng panic," she said. [Translation: The NFA told the media there was shortage. The state of rice supply is different from the supply of NFA rice. It would have been best if the NFA did not issue press releases because they created confusion. It's as if you wanted to create panic.] She went on to scold Aquino for holding media interviews instead of doing his job. "Kung wala kang buffer stock, hindi ba dapat manahimik ka dahil hindi mo nagawa ang trabaho mo? Do your work... Hindi ba dapat mahiya ka at nanahimik na lang at gawan mo ng paraan? " Villar told Aquino. [Translation: If there is no buffer stock, didn't you think you should have kept quiet because you failed to do your job? Do your work.] The buffer stock is kept for calamities and disasters. Aquino, during the February 7 media briefing, said there was a low supply of affordable rice, but there was no commercial rice shortage. It said NFA's buffer stock was only good for two days instead of the mandatory 15-day buffer stock. Aquino defended the move to announce it, saying they disclosed the supply situation for transparency. "I just told the truth that NFA has depleting supply of rice," he said. But Senator Grace Poe told Aquino, in making such announcements, the public must be given assurance by offering solutions. "Tama naman 'yung pagiging transparent mo. Pero sana meron kang solusyon [You're right in wanting to be transparent. But you must offer a solution]. You have to be very cautious balancing transparency and also offering an alternative," she said. Aquino stood by his statement on shortage of government-subsidized rice, noting the buffer stock is now good for only at 1.7 days, from two days in February. NFA rice is more affordable at P27 to P32 per kilo compared to commercial rice, which used to sell from P36 to P65 per kilo prior to the supposed NFA rice shortage. The price of commercial rice has shot up after the NFA announced the shortage. "Rice (prices) truly spiked. It now ranges from P45 to P50 per kilo, and beyond," Alliance of Grains Industry Stakeholders Chair Teresa Alegado said. National Economic and Development Authority Assistant Secretary Mercedita Sombilla said the NFA announcement led to the increase in prices of commercial rice. 'NFA failed to do its mandate' Villar said NFA's liability is their failure to do their mandate, but she is not recommending Aquino's dismissal. "In-appoint sila ng President. It's for the president to decide kung ano ang sanction, maybe papagalitan sila or tatanggalin sila or they will be given another chance to do it. It's not my prerogative," she said. But Senator Bam Aquino wants the NFA chief to resign for failing to ensure food security for the Filipinos, especially the poor. "We are talking about food security for the poorest Filipino families. We need someone who can get the job done," the senator said. Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol assured the public there is no rice shortage in the country. He, however, said middlemen and rice traders are causing the price of commercial rice to go up. On February 12, the NFA approved the importation of 250,000 metric tons of rice to arrive in June. It said they expect the prices of rice to stabilize as as soon as the imported rice arrives. The importation that will happen in June will augment the shortage in the buffer stock of NFA rice to 15 days, which can bring back the old price in the market. For now, the Senate committee recommends an increase in farmgate price to P18 from P17 per kilo to compete with traders who take advantage of the situation and sell NFA rice at a higher price. P18 per kilo is equivalent to P30 market price. The panel will also request for an executive order for the President to donate smuggled rice to the NFA to address the shortage in NFA rice. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 28) The group tasked with advising Congress on amending the 1987 Constitution voted on Tuesday for a federal-presidential form of government. Former Senate President Nene Pimentel, one of the 19 members of the consultative committee, told CNN Philippines "News Night" on Tuesday that 11 members voted for federal-presidential, seven voted for a hybrid or semi-parliamentary system and one voted for a fully parliamentary system. "In the first round of voting, medyo very close ang voting. 7-1-8 or something like that," he said. "And then sa next round, nagiging conclusive na 11-7 in favor of presidential-federal." [Translation: In the first round of voting, the voting was very close, 7-1-8 or something like that. And then in the next round, it became conclusive with 11-7 in favor of presidential-federal.] On Jan. 24, President Rodrigo Duterte formed the committee, which is led by former Chief Justice Reynato Puno, amid heated debates on charter change in Congress. Read: Duterte creates constitutional review committee, ex-CJ Puno to lead House Majority Leader Rudy Farinas, however, clarified on Jan. 26 that the committee is only an advisory body. "It cannot, and will not work in tandem with the Congress," Farinas said. "Of course, the Congress may consider the committee's recommendations, as well as those of any citizen, and may adopt or not adopt them at all." Pimentel said under the proposed system, the head of government would be a President elected directly by the people, instead of a Prime Minister. "Madaling maintindihan ng tao [It's easy for people to understand] and then we know the strengths and the weaknesses of the system and we can expand and broaden the strengths of the presidential system and remedy its weaknesses," the former lawmaker said, explaining the reason for choosing a federal-presidential set-up. Pimentel added that although the President's term limits under the proposed Constitution have not yet been discussed, he is pushing for the return to two four-year terms, as in the 1935 Constitution. Under the current Constitution, a President may only serve one six-year term. Pimental said the committee is meeting five days a week to tackle other proposed amendments to the Constitution. President Rodrigo Duterte campaigned on a promise to change the government into a federal system where local government units would have more autonomy and power. However, critics say a federal system could empower political dynasties or be difficult to economically sustain for poor regions. Mount Etna in southern Italy is one of the most active volcanoes on Earth, while the Hyblean Volcanoes, located further south, are extinct today. An international team of scientists with the participation of the GFZ searched for the source of magmas of Etna and examined why the ground south of Etna does not emit lava anymore. The results have now been published in the scientific journal Earth & Planetary Science Letters. Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes most frequently occur alongside of tectonic plate margins. Some volcanoes, however, also arise within a plate; researchers refer to this as intraplate volcanism. Well known examples are the chain of islands of Hawaii or the Canary Islands. The volcanoes in Eastern Sicily are of the same type. For about five hundred thousand years now, Etna, a mountain of 3300 meters height, is an active volcano. The Hyblean Volcanoes, however, that were active until about one million years ago, form a mountain range on the southernmost edge of Sicily. Movements in the deep migrate volcanoes The scientists modelled the pathways of magma below the Hyblean Volcanoes and Etna, down to the Earths crust-mantle boundary in about 30 kilometers depth. The model shows: Magma pathways, also referred to as dikes, both for Etna and the Hyblean Volcanoes all bend to the East and meet with the crust-mantle boundary below the Malta Escarpment. The Malta Escarpment is a system tectonically active now for hundreds of millions of years. It stretches alongside the eastern Sicilian coastline for more than three hundred kilometres, far into the Mediterranean Sea. Often, earthquakes originate in this region. Over the past ten million years, the Earths crust in this region was compressed and expanded in different directions again and again. These movements together with a deepening of the fault scarp led to bent, not vertical, magmatic dikes. Over time, this also resulted in a northwestward migration of active volcanism. Eleonora Rivalta, GFZ section Physics of Earthquakes and Volcanoes, co-author of the study: Our findings show that Etna and the Hyblean Volcanoes represent eruptions of different ages of the same volcanic system. In the future, similar models may be applied to other regions to show where origins of magmas are and how dikes develop over time. (ak) Reference: Neri, M., Rivalta, E., Maccaferri, F., Acocella, V., Cirrincione, R., 2018. Etnean and Hyblean volcanism shifted away from the Malta Escarpment by crustal stresses. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 486, 15-22 pp. DOI: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.01.006 Note: The above post is reprinted from materials provided by Helmholtz Centre Potsdam/GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences. (CNN) After multiple delays, the UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously adopted a resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria. The truce would allow for the delivery of emergency aid and the evacuation of the wounded in some of Syria's hardest-hit areas, including the besieged Eastern Ghouta region near Damascus. Diplomats said Saturday's vote ended up being a bit of a showdown between Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the United Nations, and her Russian counterpart, Vassily Nebenzia, over the timing of a ceasefire. Moscow remains a staunch advocate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. The diplomats said the United States fought to keep language in the resolution that called for an immediate start to the ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access without delay. The Russians kept trying to water it down to delay implementation, the diplomats said. In the end the Russians relented and the language on an immediate ceasefire and humanitarian access were retained, the diplomats said. They said they are skeptical the Syrian regime will comply but are hopeful the resolution could be a turning point. Speaking right after the vote, Haley took a jab at Russia, saying the Security Council was late to respond to the crisis. "On Thursday, in an effort to stall, Russia called for an open meeting on the humanitarian situation in Syria. At that meeting, 14 members of this council were ready to impose a ceasefire. But Russia obstructed the vote again," she said. "And then yesterday (Friday), this council sat around for hours, ready to vote, only to have Russia delay yet again. Every minute this council waited on Russia, the human suffering grew." Haley said the bombing continued as the negotiations dragged on. "In the three days it took us to adopt this resolution, how many mothers lost their kids to the bombing and shelling? How many more images did we need to see of fathers holding their dead children? All for nothing, because here we are voting for a ceasefire that could have saved lives days ago." Nebenzia said the timing in the original proposals was not feasible. "It was not possible to achieve these directives or instructions without any concrete agreement for the warring parties in Syria and not arrive at a ceasefire," he said. "This kind of an unrealistic approach will in no way help to address the pressing humanitarian situation in Syria. What is necessary is for the demands of the Security Council to be underpinned by concrete, on-the-ground agreements." He indicated he didn't think the cessation of hostilities would be immediate, saying people need to be "realistic." "We would like to encourage the parties to work for it, to engage in the implementation," Nebenzia said. He also pointed out the resolution does not dissuade military operations against designated terror groups. Syrian UN Ambassador Bashar Ja'afari did so, too. "We practice a sovereign right of self-defense, and we will continue to fight terrorism wherever it is found on Syrian soil," he said, according to the the state-run Syrian Arab News Agency. He reiterated that the regime has called on rebel fighters in Ghouta to put away their weapons and let civilians escape to safety, SANA reported. The death toll soared while diplomatic maneuvering was underway. More than 520 people have been killed and 2,500 wounded since Sunday in the relentless bombardment of Eastern Ghouta, according to a statement from Doctors Without Borders, or Medecins Sans Frontieres. "Our hospital is full, and we already got hit twice," a doctor with the humanitarian organization said Saturday on Twitter. Syrian activists said the regime fired thousands of artillery shells and rocket fire Friday night and Saturday, including incendiary bombs. "They were bursting in the sky, and the colors were white and dark orange," said Siraj Mahmoud, a spokesman for the White Helmets rescue group. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights also said shelling by "incendiary substances" caused fires in Eastern Ghouta. Around 400,000 people are in hiding as the Damascus suburbs have been pounded with shells, mortars and bombs since Sunday night. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for the warring sides to honor the temporary truce. "I welcome the Security Council's resolution on a ceasefire in Syria and call for all sides to allow the immediate delivery of humanitarian aid," Guterres said. Most of the dead are women, children and the elderly, Dr. Fayez Orabi, head of the enclave's health department, told CNN in a series of WhatsApp messages. "It's difficult to have a precise count because of the internet and communications are weak and the shelling and bombing are 24 hours," Orabi said. "During writing this message to you more than 20 rockets have fell around us," he added. Dr. Ayman Issa, a surgeon at Kafr Batna central hospital in Eastern Ghouta, said a ceasefire, if it does happen, would allow staff at the medical facility to get something substantial to eat, to get a chance to clean up, and to, most importantly, treat patients and get them home. Meanwhile, armed rebels in Eastern Ghouta used "dozens of mortar and rocket shells and sniper fire" to target residential neighborhoods in Damascus, SANA reported Saturday. The attacks injured a number of civilians and caused material damage, according to SANA. Louis Charbonneau, UN director at Human Rights Watch, said he hopes the ceasefire will provide a much-needed respite for Ghouta. "It is important that all sides comply with the terms of the resolution and allow humanitarian aid and medical evacuations. But it is only a small step in the right direction," he said. This story was first published on CNN.com, "UN Security Council adopts Syria ceasefire resolution." (CNN) China's Communist Party (CCP) has proposed amending the country's constitution to allow President Xi Jinping to serve a third term in office. State-run news agency Xinhua said the Party will remove the provision that the President and Vice President "shall serve no more than two consecutive terms" from the constitution of the People's Republic of China. The proposed amendment will have to be ratified by China's rubber-stamp parliament -- the National People's Congress (NPC) -- in March. When it goes into effect, Xi will be free to serve indefinitely as China's head of state, the strongest indication yet he is intending to maintain power at the top beyond the two 5-year terms served by his predecessors for the past 20 years. Break with tradition Plans to change the country's constitution for the first time since 2004 were announced in December, with most analysts predicting the Party would seek to modify the country's top legal document to create a National Supervision Commission (NSC), a country-wide anti-corruption task force with sweeping new powers. In January, the Party's top body proposed also adding "Xi Jinping Thought" to the document, enshrining it alongside Marxism-Leninism and Mao Zedong Thought as a key guiding principle of the country. Experts predicted last October that Xi may seek to stay on as leader after he failed to unveil an obvious successor at a major party congress, appearing to break with an unwritten rule of two five-year terms as head of the party. However, some doubted whether this would require a constitutional change, saying Xi could simply retain power through his role as General Secretary of the CCP, which does not have term limits, rather than the ceremonial presidency. Deng Xiaoping, the most powerful Chinese leader after Mao Zedong, gave up most of his official titles but retained a tight grip on the country until his death in 1997. By contrast, Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao was pushed out of his political roles and stripped of influence once Xi came to power. Since then he has rarely taken part in public engagements and many of his allies have fallen to Xi's anti-corruption campaign. Thomas Kellogg, executive director of Georgetown Law Asia, wrote last year that were Xi to follow the traditional 10-year term limit, "no doubt (he) could find a way to include himself in future high-flying global confabs, just as he could insert himself into key national meetings usually chaired by the Chinese president." "But doing so would be made more difficult and create a potential rival in the form of the new president," he said. "Authoritarian rulers must constantly worry about whether their top lieutenants will seek to gain political advantage by betraying their own political patron, and Xi would be no exception." This story was first published on CNN.com, China to drop presidential term limits, clearing way for Xi Jinping to stay on." 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 (CNN) The White House has responded to North Korea's willingness to hold talks with the United States, saying in a statement Sunday that "there is a brighter path available for North Korea if it chooses denuclearization." "We will see if Pyongyang's message today, that it is willing to hold talks, represents the first steps along the path to denuclearization," the statement read. "In the meantime, the United States and the world must continue to make clear that North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are a dead end." South Korean President Moon Jae-in said in a statement on Sunday that he'd met with the North Korean delegation in Pyeongchang before the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympic Games, and told them that North Korea-U.S. talks should happen "as soon as possible." Moon said the North Koreans indicated they were willing to talk with the U.S., and agreed that "the inter-Korean relationship and North Korea-U.S. relationship should develop together." Moon met for an hour with the North Korean delegation at an undisclosed location in Pyeongchang at 5 p.m. local time Sunday, three hours before South Korea prepared to host the carefully-choreographed closing ceremony. In his statement, Moon said he met all eight members of the delegation before speaking with North Korean delegation leader Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the Party Central Committee and Ri Son Kwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland. As the lights dimmed in the stadium for the closing ceremony, delegates from North Korea and the U.S. took their seats in the VIP box. President Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump, who is attending the Olympics as a U.S. Presidential Adviser, sat just feet away from North Korean delegation leader Kim Yong Chol. A similar photo opportunity presented itself two weeks ago when U.S. Vice President Mike Pence took his assigned seat for the opening ceremony, not far from Kim Yo Jong, the younger sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. At that appearance, Pence looked stony-faced when the North and South Korean athletes entered the stadium. This time, Ivanka Trump stood up to applaud the combined team. While the air was distinctly chilly when Pence was in South Korea -- he later said he had intentionally ignored Kim Yo Jong -- he has hinted at possible progress. In comments first reported by the Washington Post, Pence said the U.S. was open to talking but that "no pressure comes off until they are actually doing something that the alliance believes represents a meaningful step toward denuclearization." "So the maximum pressure campaign is going to continue and intensify. But if you want to talk, we'll talk," Pence said. The U.S. followed through on its promise of intensification Friday, announcing a new raft of sanctions against 27 entities and 28 vessels either registered or flagged in several countries, including North Korea, China and Singapore. The measures target the "deceptive shipping practices that have enabled the Kim regime to fund its dangerous weapons programs," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. Asked whether he would rule out the United States boarding and inspecting North Korean ships, Mnuchin said, "No, I cannot rule that out." North Korea said in a statement Sunday that it considers "any type of blockade an act of war against us." "If tension on the Korean peninsula escalates into a brink of war due to the U.S. reckless actions, all the catastrophic consequences resulting therefrom will be borne by the United States," said the statement which was attributed to a Foreign Ministry spokesman. U.S. President Donald Trump said in a press briefing Friday that if the sanctions didn't work, the country would have to go to "phase two," although he didn't specify what that would be. "Phase two may be a very rough thing, may be very, very unfortunate for the world. But hopefully the sanctions will work," Trump said. North Korea responded with its own threats Sunday, saying that "if the U.S. has indeed the guts to confront us in a 'rough' manner, we will not necessarily take the trouble to stop it." As she arrived with the U.S. delegation in South Korea Saturday, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders had said no talks were scheduled. However speculation of potential North Korea-U.S. talks rose Sunday when South Korea released the full list of North Korean delegates, which includes Choi Kang Il, the deputy director of North American affairs. This story was first published on CNN.com, White House on North Korea talks: 'We will see'" TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Plateau Uranium Inc. (Plateau Uranium or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:PLU)(FRANKFURT:QG1)(OTCQB:PLUUF), a lithium and uranium development company is pleased to announce outcrop mapping and sampling results have markedly increased the potential footprint of the Falchani high-grade Lithium discovery, located in the Chaccaconiza area of the Companys Macusani Plateau Project in southeastern Peru. Falchani Discovery Drilling & Outcrop Highlights (Figure 1 - Falchani Li Mapping Location Map) Potential Footprint >1,200 m E-W; >1,700 m N-S with 80-100 m thickness of high-grade Li tuff unit Outcrop samples of Li-rich tuff returned 3,331 to 4,272 ppm Li (0.72-0.92% Li 2 O) additional map sampling results pending. O) additional map sampling results pending. Drilling continuing through the difficult rainy season, initially on Platforms 8, 5 and 6 with additional Platforms and holes planned to the south of the prospect to continue to expand the mineralized footprint of both lithium and uranium mineralization. High-grade Li-rich tuff unit continues to be intersected in on-going drilling with analytical results pending. A third Company-owned drill rig being mobilized to increase productivity and improve scheduling. Mineral Corporation of South Africa commissioned to confirm the drill hole spacing being deployed at site and aim to produce a NI-43-101 mineral resource estimate during Q2-2018 >200 kg Li-rich tuff bulk sample, containing 3,331 ppm Li, collected from trenching and Falchani drill core being shipped to ANSTO Laboratories in Sydney Australia for Li processing test work, including production of Li carbonate and Li hydroxide products. Ted OConnor, CEO of Plateau Uranium, commented: The potential size of the Falchani Lithium project we are growing represents what we believe to be the most significant new lithium discovery of this cycle. We truly believe we are unveiling an extremely large Li deposit, one that is most likely to be a relatively simple, potential open pit mining operation, and could be a significant new source of lithium at truly scalable annual production levels. Falchani has the best of all non-brine Li project characteristics: low cost open pit potential with depths from surface to 200 m, simple warm sulphuric acid leach processing at atmospheric pressure, with consistently high 80% Li extraction, and consistent high Li grades and thicknesses of 80-100 m in unique volcanic host rocks. We also should not forget the overlying strong surface uranium mineralization intersected at Falchani within a very large 2 km2 radioactive anomaly, that is the largest of numerous prospecting anomalies in the vicinity. Although U grades are variable, 25-50 m thick uranium mineralization at grades ranging from >500 ppm to >900 ppm U 3 O 8 occurring immediately at surface is twice the average grades used in PLUs Uranium-only PEA that already established Macusani as a development project with lowest quartile uranium production cost potential. We continue to drill Falchani through difficult wet season conditions, and have mobilized an additional company-owned diamond drill rig to aggressively drill off Falchani on the way to establishing an initial resource this spring. Ian Stalker, Chairman of Plateau Uranium, commented: The Lithium opportunity that PLU presents, is unquestionably highly prospective. It is not a proximity play, or a small add-on opportunity, it indeed has all the attributes of being a genuine producer in the next few years. Falchani is proposed to be mineable via an open pit approach, and this gives us all the scalability a project needs. Its also important to note on the Plateau we are blessed by having excellent infrastructure in close proximity. This includes plentiful available fresh water, surplus hydro-power available at sensible commercial rates, and access to the main paved Interoceanic Highway within 3 km of our main project area. Falchani Outcrop Mapping and Sampling Details Analytical results from outcrop sampling of the Lithium-rich volcanic tuff unit and Li-rich transition zone breccias at the Falchani discovery are presented on Figure 1 (attached) as well as the location of outcrop mapped locations of these units. The initial four samples were analyzed following the on-going ground exploration program aimed at mapping out the extent of the unique Li-rich volcanic unit surrounding the Falchani anomaly. These samples have lithium contents ranging from 3,331 to 4,272 ppm Li (0.72-0.92% Li 2 O). Additional mapping has expanded the potential on-ground footprint of Li-rich rocks at Falchani to >1.2km by >1.7 km (2.04 km2) with relatively consistent 80-100 m thicknesses where sufficiently exposed. All mapped outcrop sample locations of Li-rich tuff unit have been submitted for laboratory analyses with further analytical results pending. A >200 kg bulk sample of Li-rich tuff has been collected from hand dug outcrop trenching and is currently being shipped to ANSTO Laboratory in Sydney, Australia, along with a composite drill core sample of this unit, to complete lithium processing test work, including: leach test/confirmation work, Li product precipitation and potential product characterization work leading to Li production flow-sheet design. The bulk sample is representative of the Falchani drill discovery and contains 3,331 ppm Li (0.72% Li 2 O), virtually identical to the average Li grade in the >100 m thick, high-grade Li tuff unit intersected in drilling. Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Data Verification Drill core samples are cut longitudinally with a diamond saw with one-half of the core placed in sealed bags and shipped to Certimins sample analytical laboratory in Lima for sample preparation, processing and ICP-MS/OES multi-element analysis. Outcrop samples are chipped, channel samples collected from exposed outcrop and hand dug trenches up to 3 m below surface, with samples also placed in sealed bags and shipped to Certimins sample analytical laboratory in Lima for sample preparation, processing and ICP-MS/OES multi-element analysis. Certimin is an ISO 9000 certified assay laboratory. The Companys Qualified Person for the drill programme, Mr. Ted OConnor, has verified the data disclosed, including drill core, outcrop sampling and analytical data in the field and lab. The program is designed to include a comprehensive analytical quality assurance and control routine comprising the systematic use of Company inserted standards, blanks and field duplicate samples, internal laboratory standards and also includes check analyses at other accredited laboratories. Qualified Persons Mr. Ted OConnor, P.Geo., CEO and a Director of Plateau Uranium and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects, has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information contained in this news release. About Plateau Uranium Plateau Uranium Inc. is a Canadian lithium and uranium exploration and development company focused on its properties on the Macusani Plateau in southeastern Peru. The Company controls all reported uranium resources known in Peru, significant and growing lithium resources and mineral concessions covering over 91,000 hectares (910 km2) situated near significant infrastructure. Plateau Uranium is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol 'PLU', quoted on the OTCQB under the symbol PLUUF and the Frankfurt Exchange under the symbol 'QG1'. The Company has 64,864,686 shares issued and outstanding. Forward Looking Information This news release includes certain forward-looking statements concerning possible expected results of exploration and future exploration activities. Forward-looking statements are frequently identified by such words as "may", "will", "plan", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "intend" and similar words referring to future events and results. Forward-looking statements are based on the current opinions and expectations of management. All forward-looking information is inherently uncertain and subject to a variety of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, including risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; the possibility that any future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with our expectations; mining and development risks, including risks related to accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes (including work stoppages and strikes) or other unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in exploration and development; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities; risks related to commodity price and foreign exchange rate fluctuations; risks related to foreign operations; the cyclical nature of the industry in which we operate; risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms or delays in obtaining governmental approvals; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the certainty of title to our properties; risks related to the uncertain global economic environment; and other risks and uncertainties related to our prospects, properties and business strategy, as described in more detail in Plateau Uraniums recent securities filings available at www.sedar.com. Actual events or results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements and Plateau Uranium cautions against placing undue reliance thereon. Neither Plateau Uranium nor its management assume any obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements. Neither 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. (CNN) President Donald Trump on Monday criticized Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama for their handling of the North Korean threat during remarks Monday to state governors at the White House. "The Bush administration did nothing," Trump said. "The Obama administration wanted to do something. He told me it's the single biggest problem. They didn't do anything. It would have been much easier in those days than it is now." Trump contrasted the actions of the two previous administrations with his own, arguing that in the wake of his administration's latest sanctions aimed at isolating North Korea that "we've been very tough on them." The threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs has loomed large over Trump's presidency, with experts estimating that North Korea could be months away from obtaining the capability of striking the US with a nuclear weapon. Rapid advances in North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs have raised the stakes for the US' response. Trump has repeatedly expressed a sense of urgency about those advances and made clear he will not allow North Korea to gain the capability of striking the US with a nuclear weapon. Trump has previously blamed Bush, Obama and President Bill Clinton for failing to stop North Korea's nuclear advances during an interview last month with Reuters. During his remarks on Monday to a gathering of US governors, Trump also praised China for doing "more, probably, than they've ever done" in pressuring North Korea, but said Russia has undercut those efforts to isolate North Korea by "sending in what China is taking out." This story was first published on CNN.com, Trump calls out Bush, Obama on North Korea." School choice is the centerpiece of President Trumps vision for reshaping the Department of Education. In his recent budget proposal , Trump included $500 million in funding to support the expansion of school voucher programs, funding for the construction of new charters and the option for parents to use 529 college savings plans to pay for private K-12 education.His approach is in line with proposals from Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who has long championed school choice as a way to help parents from underserved communities secure a better education for their children and as a means to spur competition that advocates say will improve schools across the board.Even before the current administation's embrace of school choice, the idea of vouchers had been gaining popularity. The number of children using vouchers and publicly funded private-school scholarships has risen from 150,000 in 2004 to more than 400,000 in 2017, according to data from EdChoice.But just how effective is school choice? Do vouchers really improve educational outcomes for the poor and minority students they're aimed at serving?A pair of new studies offer mixed answers.The twin reports, released Friday by the Urban Institute, studied school voucher programs in Milwaukee and Washington, D.C. In Milwaukee, voucher students were 6 percent more likely to enroll in college, and stayed in college 22 percent longer, than their public school peers. But the city's voucher program had no effect on whether students actually earned a college degree.More than 26,000 students participate in the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program, which allows them to attend one of 126 participating private schools. The Urban Institute study tracked students from 2006 to 2017.In D.C., the vouchers are distributed through a citywide lottery, making it an ideal case study since researchers can easily compare students who received vouchers against those who applied but did not receive one. It's also the nation's only federally funded school voucher program.Unlike Milwaukee, D.C.'s voucher program had no substantive effect on whether students enrolled in college.Despite the minimal gains, these programs are nonetheless valuable, says Matthew Chingos, director of the Urban Institutes Education Policy Program and author of the Washington, D.C., report.In a lot of these programs, the private schools spend less. The average private school is not a fancy school where rich people send their children, Chingos says. When you see a small positive effect, but the government spends less, thats usually seen as a good thing.Critics of school voucher programs say these reports are evidence that the programs fail to have a real impact on students in need."Vouchers are a very low-benefit strategy to improve opportunities for low-income youth," says Martin Carnoy, a Stanford University professor and a research associate at the Washington-based Economic Policy Institute. "Indeed, they have distracted from implementing changes in public schools that would make much larger differences in these kids' lives."Carnoy's own research suggests that vouchers have a negative impact on school systems. They widen achievement gaps, increase school segregation and have only shown small improvements in high school and college graduation rates, according to his research. prevent households from receiving food stamps or child care subsidies if the combined worth of their personal vehicle is more than $20,000; prevent certain noncustodial parents from getting Medicaid coverage if they are behind in child support payments; and require able-bodied recipients of federal housing assistance who are unemployed or underemployed to undergo drug testing and participate in an employability plan. Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker is poised to sign a sweeping package of billsaimed at reducing welfare rolls by expanding work requirements and adding other restrictions. The proposals include several changes that no other state has tried and would require approval from the federal government.We have a governor who is running for office and wants to look like a leader on welfare reform, says Sherrie Tussler, executive director of the Hunger Task Force, an anti-hunger group in Wisconsin. Were a proving ground, and people should be paying very close attention to whats going on here.Walker is up for re-election for what would be his third term this year.The new laws would make it harder for somelow-income people to obtain or keep food stamps, child care subsidies, health insurance and housing aid. The legislation passed both GOP-controlled chambers in February despite overwhelming opposition from Democrats. It is awaiting Walker's expected signature.Republicans argue that the economy has improved, so fewer people should need government assistance. But Democrats say the work provisions don't do enough to ensure that people actually find jobs and might result in people losing their benefits.Some of the biggest changes would affect Wisconsins version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known by many as food stamps. Currently, states limit SNAP benefits for childless adults who don't have a disability and are not working or participating in job training for at least 20 hours a week.The Walker administration now wants the work requirement to apply to able-bodied parents with school-aged children, and it wants the hourly requirement to increase from 20 hours to 30 hours. Both changes would require approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is currently on a campaign to promote work in SNAP.The agency is soliciting public comment on ideas to make food stamps recipients less dependent on government assistance. The White House has also asked Congress to limit states' ability to waive the SNAP work requirements during times of high unemployment.Long-term dependency has never been part of the American dream, said Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue in a written statement in February. "For the able-bodied, we must reduce barriers to work, and hold both individuals and states accountable for participants getting and keeping jobs.Like most states, Wisconsin waived the SNAP work requirement for years after the Great Recession. But the Walker administration reinstated it in 2015 -- first in parts of the state with low unemployment and then everywhere else. Between 2015 and 2017, the period when the waivers expired, the number of SNAP recipients in Wisconsin dropped by about 19 percent.That drop may be a preview of how the new legislation could cause fewer people to be covered by safety net programs. In addition to the SNAP work proposals, the welfare reform package would:Wisconsin would not need federal approval for those changes.What we have seen is every time new requirements, new notices, new barriers are put in the way of someone getting access to something like food share or medical assistance, families get discouraged and give up, says Vicky Selkowe, a legislative director for Legal Action of Wisconsin, a nonprofit that provides free legal services to low-income people.They may drop out of those benefit programs. That does not mean that they are better off economically or less hungry or less in need of health care or child care, she says.Rep. Scott Krug, a Republican who chairs the state House Committee on Public Benefits Reform, counters: "The talk is always about us being punitive. Our goal is to make sure that everyone who can go to work is able to go to work."While more than 25,000 food stamps users in Wisconsin have gained a job through the program's employment and training services, critics note that more than 69,000 people have enrolled in those services since April 2015, raising questions about how effective they are and whether the state ought to be requiring more people to use them. Selkowe says her clients report that the job centers skimp on the individualized assessments and career help they claim to provide."We will get people out in the economy, unable to find work, and in some cases worse off because they dont have the benefits. Thats the crux of the problem," says state Rep. Daniel Riemer, a Democrat on the House Committee on Public Benefits Reform, who opposed the package of bills.He notes that while statewide unemployment is at the lowest point in almost two decades, about a dozen counties still have large job shortages. Democrats like Riemer have also pointed to the price tag of the legislation, which is estimated to be about $90 million a year.Nonetheless, more states are probably going to adopt ideas similar to what the Walker administration is pursuing.The state's Secretary of Children and Families, Eloise Anderson, is also the chair of the Secretaries Innovation Group (SIG), a national coalition of agency directors overseeing safety net programs under Republican governors. Some of the proposals in the Wisconsin Works for Everyone package, such as increasing the hourly work requirement, appear in statements and white papers by SIG and its members.Doug Besharov, a poverty researcher at the University of Maryland, says Wisconsin's welfare reform package is part of a national movement that will likely result in many state experiments over the next few years."Somebodys got to be first. The people who are first are sometimes modest in their ambition and sometimes very aggressive," he says. "You got a possibly somewhat aggressive one here. Is it too aggressive? You decide." The National Redistricting Foundation sued Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin on Monday for not holding special elections for two state Legislature seats.The seats, left vacant by an assemblyman and state senator who resigned in December to take jobs in Walkers Republican administration, will otherwise remain open until January 2019, following the regularly scheduled elections for the seats in November.Eric Holder, who was President Barack Obamas first attorney general and is now chairman of the foundations parent organization, the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, said that although most of his focus right now is on fundraising and campaigning around redistricting, he felt drawn to this lawsuit out of good-government concerns, as well as talk about Democratic efforts to win the seats if and when there are races. The multistate coalition to combat gun violence is getting some reinforcements.New York Gov. Cuomo announced Monday that the governors of Massachusetts, Delaware and Puerto Rico have signed on to the "States for Gun Safety" coalition, which intends to pool resources and information to help stop gun trafficking and prevent dangerous individuals from purchasing guns."Working together, states can take action that will directly confront the threat of gun violence, and reduce the toll it takes on our communities," Delaware Gov. John Carney said.The three newcomers join New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Rhode Island in the coalition, which was announced last week.Under the plan, the participating states will pool their intelligence, crime data and other resources -- including information on pending arrest warrants and orders of protection -- to create a database that would be used to supplement the federal government's background check database.Cuomo said information from New York's mental health database -- which was created as part of the state's SAFE Act to keep mentally ill people deemed a threat to themselves or others from purchasing guns -- would also be shared with the other states.The plan also calls for the creation of a cross-state task force to combat illegal gun trafficking and a new research consortium to examine gun violence.Coalition members also intend to lobby the federal government to adopt additional gun safety measures, including universal background checks, and an assault weapons ban."Our states collectively already have better gun safety laws than the federal government, and by working together to share information and bolster enforcement, we will keep guns out of the hands of dangerous individuals and better protect our communities," Cuomo said.Tom King, an NRA board member and president of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, downplayed the coalition's impact."They are all anti-gun states to begin with," King said.(c)2018 New York Daily News Gov. Gina Raimondo moved to keep attention focused on gun violence Monday, signing an executive order aimed at disarming potentially dangerous residents and making Rhode Island the first state to act on gun policy since a gunman shot and killed 17 people at a Florida high school earlier this month.The "Red Flag Executive Order," which Raimondo signed at Warwick City Hall surrounded by gun-control advocates and police officers, may turn out to be mostly symbolic. A change in state law is required to give the courts and police the authority to seize firearms from people they believe are dangerous.Just such legislation has been introduced in the General Assembly and is co-sponsored by fellow Democrat House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello.While acknowledging that legislation is needed, Raimondo said she was compelled to take any steps within her power after listening to the stories of Parkland High School students and her own 13-year-old daughter argue for a change in gun policy."Every time we talk about it, Ceci cuts me off and says, 'Mom, what are you going to do? Why hasn't anyone done anything?'"Raimondo told a crowd inside the Warwick City Council chamber. "Since I've been governor, I've ordered the flags to half-staff nine times because of a mass shooting. Nine times. So, I can understand where the question comes from: 'Mom, what are you going to do?'"The executive order directs state police to "assess all red flag reports," warnings about potentially dangerous individuals, and take "whatever steps are legally available to remove guns" from those people.It also orders the state health and education departments to create a public-awareness campaign about what "red flags" residents should look for and what they should do if they see any.And it would create a "gun safety working group" to work on gun policy in conjunction with the "Gun Safety Coalition" Raimondo entered into last week with the Democratic governors of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. (Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said over the weekend he would also join the coalition.)The red flag bill introduced by a group of Democratic lawmakers in the House would allow family members, the attorney general or police to ask a judge for an "extreme risk protection order" against someone they believe poses a "significant danger of causing personal injury to themselves or others." If granted, the order would allow police to seize firearms belonging to the Rhode Islander who had been flagged.More than a dozen other states are considering similar bills to require people to surrender their firearms and prohibit them from buying new ones, if a judge determines they pose an imminent danger. California, Connecticut, Indiana, Oregon and Washington already have red flag laws.Mattiello, who has an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association, offered this statement:"I was proud to co-sponsor the Red Flag proposal and it will be given a hearing in the House Judiciary Committee in the near future. It is positive that the Governor is placing attention on the Red Flag issue, but the law needs to be changed by the General Assembly so law enforcement has the tools to take firearms away from individuals who pose a danger to themselves and the public."Attempts to reach Frank Saccoccio, president of the Rhode Island Second Amendment Coalition, the National Rifle Association's affiliate here, were unsuccessful Monday.The conservative Rhode Island Center for Freedom & Prosperity said in a statement the executive order was trying to "exploit recent events to advance an extreme political agenda" narrowly focused on "limiting access to -- and confiscating -- firearms."In addition to the red flag law, Raimondo also supports a state ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines and prohibiting non-law enforcement officers from carrying guns in schools.The potential Republican candidates, in general, have opposed gun control measures, especially an assault weapons ban or barring people from carrying concealed weapons in schools.On Monday Cranston Mayor and governor candidate Allan Fung, who has been silent on gun issues so far this year, told WPRI he thought the red flag bill was "too broad."Meanwhile in Washington, U.S. Rep. David Cicilline said Monday that he re-filed legislation to restore a national assault weapons ban. President Donald Trump said he wanted to meet with state attorneys general to hear their ideas about gun laws he brought in two anti-gun-regulation Republicans, and the White House says thats enough.Trump wont be meeting with a bipartisan group of AGs in Washington this week for the National Association of Attorneys General conference, as he did last year. After being told to leave part of Monday open to come to the White House, Democratic attorneys general have been told not to expect to see the president.I would have liked to have had a respectful conversation with him, but unfortunately he rescinded that invitation, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, said on Monday. I would have said, Mr. President, it does not have to be this way, that this is a conscious choice that you and other policymakers make to quite literally do nothing and allow these murders to continue. Union leaders announced Monday the statewide teacher and school service personnel work stoppage would continue Tuesday.Speaking at a rally on the Capitol steps, Christine Campbell, president of the state arm of the American Federation of Teachers union, called on House Speaker Tim Armstead, R-Kanawha, Senate President Mitch Carmichael, R-Jackson, and Gov. Jim Justice to work with union leadership to discuss a path forward.Our issues are clear our commitment to finding a solution has been consistent, we stand together for our students, our community and our state, she said. We challenge the House leader, the Senate leader, and the governor, to bring us to the table today. We are ready, we are willing, we stand on the right side of public education by being back here and outside our schools tomorrow because we are 55 united. We will not be back in school tomorrow for our students, our community and our state. Description GIS 27 February 2018: Youth is a fundamental stakeholder in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and not having them on board during discussions related to SDGs would result in having voice poverty. The Young Mauritians Plan for the Planet (YMPP) programme is one way for young persons to contribute to the implementation process of the SDGs. The Minister of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, made this statement at the launching ceremony of the YMPP programme and the international launch of the Young Persons Plan for the Planet, this morning at the Rajiv Gandhi Science Centre in Bell Village. The High Commissioner of Australia to Mauritius, Ms Jenny Dee, other personalities and secondary school students were present on this occasion. In her address, Minister Dookun-Luchoomun highlighted that the innovative YMPP programme to raise awareness about SDGs among youth, has been developed in partnership with the Australian National University and Questacon the National Science and Technology Centre of Australia. She observed that right from its inception, this initiative had one fundamental goal: empower secondary school students and harness their enthusiasm and insight so as to come up with plans to address global issues across all the SDGs. Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun underscored that an awareness of the SDGs helps to broaden the horizon of the Mauritian youth and enables them to move out of restrictive insularity. Living on an island is no justification for local schools to have a limitative, self-centred and inward-looking perspective as students must have a much broader and certainly more international approach to global issues and be familiar with them, she pointed out. She stressed that the YMPP programme fits in perfectly with Governments determination to provide a holistic education to Mauritian youth. For her part, High Commissioner Dee underlined that the two countries have a strong partnership in the field of research, education and innovation. She also encouraged students to embrace the opportunities of sharing experiences and partnering with their Australian counterparts throughout the programme. After the launching ceremony, students had the opportunity to interact with Mr Ian Chambers, Director of the Young Persons Plan for the Planet programme, and Mrs Suzanne Urbaniak, Science Teacher at Kent St High School, Perth. Young Mauritians Plan for the Planet The Young Mauritians Plan for the Planet is a pilot project operated as a co-curricular or extra-curricular programme and involves 10 secondary schools across nine districts of Mauritius. Each school will form a team of 12 students and two educators/mentors. The project encourages young Mauritians to use business planning principles to tap onto the opportunities provided by the SDGs to develop a plan for the planet. Participants will also be able to learn more about the SDGs while focussing on how their respective surroundings are concerned. They will identify specific areas that need to be addressed and develop an action plan to achieve their goals. At the end of the programme, each school will present their plans in a youth conference. The plans of the 10 teams will be compiled and forwarded to the Prime Minister for consideration. (TNS) Facing a homelessness crisis and funding gaps from recent tax cuts, the city of Berkeley is considering something revolutionary: selling its bonds for cryptocurrency.Acts of resistance require creating resources, said Councilman Ben Bartlett, one of the people behind the plan. Hes working with Mayor Jesse Arreguin, and teaming up with the startup Neighborly and UC Berkeleys Blockchain Lab on proposals to turn municipal bonds into digital currency, with the goal of raising additional funds for specific projects.Bartlett and Arreguin came up with the idea over dinner when they were brainstorming about the affordable housing crisis with constituents, some of whom work with digital currencies.This is largely driven by Berkeley residents, Bartlett said. Their nickname for Berkeley is Crypto City.Some of cryptocurrencys harshest critics have characterized them as Ponzi schemes, even as others anticipate that they will revolutionize payment systems. A few early backers of cryptocurrencies are now billionaires on paper, thanks to the run-up in prices. Startups have sought to use the issuance of new digital currencies, called inital coin offerings, to fund development of software tools and marketplaces instead of raising venture capital.Berkeley has no plan to buy bitcoin, ether or other similar currencies with city funds. Instead, the idea is to break up municipal bonds, allowing people to buy them in smaller quantities. The currency will use blockchain technology, as most cryptocurrencies do, that creates a decentralized ledger of transactions designed to increase peoples trust in cyber money. But the micro-bonds recorded on the blockchain will be tied to an asset the underlying bond. Bartlett argues that this makes it less risky than typical cryptocurrency offerings, which have seen wide price swings in the past year.The councilman said he expects the plan to be embraced by residents and regulators. But John Reed Stark, a lawyer and professor who was formerly head of the Securities and Exchange Commissions Office of Internet Enforcement, is dubious.I truly cannot believe this, he said of Berkeleys plan. He says cryptocurrency offerings resemble the drivers-ed film of securities violations. They trigger every single kind of security violation.The notion that a municipality is somehow encouraging the use of pseudo-anonymous currency strikes me as incredibly irresponsible, Stark said. There are tremendous security ramifications, and they should expect an unbelievable amount of regulatory scrutiny. Whatever they do will be under the microscope of the SEC.More than a dozen companies have shelved plans to raise money from investors after SEC officials called them up, Robert Cohen, head of the SECs cyber enforcement unit, said Friday. The SEC scrutiny prompted firms to realize that their offerings may have violated federal securities laws, he said at a conference in Washington.Regulators have been sounding the alarm about initial coin offerings since last year, with SEC chairman Jay Clayton cautioning that crooks could be harnessing the latest technology craze to pull off a scam thats as old as markets themselves: talking up an asset and then selling once the dumb money pours in.Lynnette Kelly, president and executive director of the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board said its too early to say whether there would be concerns about security or stability in Berkeleys case.Well continue to investigate and monitor, and get smarter about this and any other new technique in the market, but that doesnt mean it necessarily raises red flags, Kelly said.A spokesman for the SEC declined to comment.Marc Lifsher, a spokesman for the State Treasurers Office, said the office has no position and views it as a local issue.The State Treasurers Office has not talked to Neighborly or Berkeley about cryptocurrency, he said.Jase Wilson, CEO of San Franciscos Neighborly, shrugged off questions about instability.The volatility looks more like a municipal bond, Wilson said. Berkeley is an extremely strong and fiscally disciplined borrower.The downside of a relatively stable security is that its unlikely to attract the get-rich-quick speculators and arbitrageurs who have caused gyrations in the prices of cryptocurrencies but also created relatively liquid markets in them.The Berkeley projects goal is to streamline the process for buying and selling municipal bonds, cut transaction costs and allow people to invest in projects of their choosing at low levels.For a normal person to invest in a bond is like $5,000, but under a micro-bond enabled by the blockchain it could be like $25 or $50, Bartlett said. Someone could theoretically invest in the creation of a new park or even just the purchase of a swing set.While Bartletts long-term goal is to fund big projects like affordable housing, he wants to start small. Some ideas so far, which Bartlett said came from residents: planting a row of trees, buying another ambulance for a fire station and engaging a group of artists to create a series of rotating public art pieces.The city and its partners are planning what backers like to call an initial community offering for May.Bartlett said that either the city council would have to approve the plan, or its backers could pursue it with a private company without the councils OK.They want to move quickly, he said: The technology promises direct community engagement, and the need is more pressing than ever.Bloomberg News contributed to this report. (TNS) - Cape, Mass., students returned from winter break Monday to schools that had beefed up security and posted messages of reassurance for parents and guardians.Nicholas Pasquarosa, one of two school resource officers at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School in South Yarmouth, greeted students in full police uniform instead of the civilian clothing he often wears."The chief and I decided they'll be in uniform" from here on, Yarmouth police Deputy Chief Steven Xiarhos said."Being in uniform means they have all (their) gear with them at all times," Xiarhos said.Bourne police did a walk-through of schools in their town during February vacation to familiarize themselves with the layouts, schools Superintendent Steven Lamarche said."I've asked principals to go around their buildings and make sure doors are secured," Lamarche said. During school break he sent an email to staff members asking them to review their emergency protocols, Lamarche said.Nearly two weeks since the mass shooting at a Florida high school left 17 students and staff members dead, school communities are in a state of "heightened awareness," Lamarche said. "Let's cross our t's and dot our i's."Lamarche and other school officials said securing the safety of students was an ongoing effort involving continued staff training, student lockdown drills and updates of surveillance equipment.Falmouth schools Superintendent Nancy R. Taylor posted a message on the school district website Monday that mentioned the presence of school resource officers at Falmouth High and Lawrence schools and the growing number of security cameras in the district schools."I've heard from a couple of parents," Taylor said. "The questions are obviously around safety. We're always looking to improve and upgrade."Taylor also reached out to parents and guardians Sunday night with a message informing them of the availability of school counselors for students concerned about the Florida shooting."We want you to come back to school and feel safe," Taylor said."Safety is always on the top of our minds," Barnstable schools Superintendent Meg Mayo-Brown said.School officials meet regularly with police and fire department officials in an emergency planning group to discuss safety protocols, Mayo-Brown said.The school district recently requested upgraded video surveillance systems as part of the district's capital improvement plan, she said.School officials also focus on creating a positive learning environment as part of an effort to meet student needs and create welcoming and safe surroundings, Mayo-Brown said.All students in grades K-8 are screened for social and emotional competencies, such as self-awareness and self-management skills, she said."Much of this work around school safety is developing this social-emotional component," she said."Some of this stuff is really basic," Pasquarosa said at Dennis-Yarmouth Regional High School. "Lock your door," he said.The high school and Mattacheese Middle School in West Yarmouth both have full-time school resource officers while the elementary schools in Yarmouth do not, Xiarhos said.Xiarhos also said the school resource officers have access to rifles and bulletproof helmets that would allow them to confront a school shooter armed with the types of weapons that terrorized Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, on Feb. 14 and Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, a little over five years ago.Pasquarosa said he submitted a proposal to the Yarmouth police chief to station reserve police officers at the schools to provide security."That costs money," Pasquarosa said. "I think it will be topic of discussion going forward."Seven police departments, including two from Cape Cod Barnstable and Brewster have signed up for school security assessment training being hosted by the Yarmouth Police Department in April, Xiarhos said.The trainer "has helped us form some of our future plans here at YPD," Xiarhos said.For some Cape students, the Florida shootings seem far removed from their lives.For others, the attack hit close to home."My son asked me the other day if it's going to happen to his school," said Andrea Willey, who recently moved from Nantucket to Yarmouth and has a 7-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter in the local schools."I feel safe," Willey's daughter, Timera Henry, said at Dennis-Yarmouth High School Monday afternoon.Dustin Pineau, parent of a freshman at the high school and an eighth-grader at Mattacheese Middle School, said he was reassured by the presence of school resource officers at both schools."I think they've got a good handle on what's going on," Pineau said. Follow Cynthia McCormick on Twitter: @Cmccormickcct.2018 Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass.Visit Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, Mass. at www.capecodtimes.comDistributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) BELMONT A lack of high speed internet will no longer be an impediment to progress for rural homes and businesses.That's the thinking behind the New NY State Broadband Project, which aims to close the digital divide and bring high speed internet access to all corners of the state.Armstrong, a telecommunications company with offices in Addison, has been awarded contracts to bring fiber internet to rural parts of Steuben, Allegany, Livingston and Cattaraugus counties. The Whitesville Fire Hall had the distinction of going online first, connected with a Fiber to the Home install during a January ceremony covered by The Spectator.Armstrong general manager John Rayeski provided an update to the Allegany County Planning and Economic Development Committee at this week's legislature meeting.Armstrong crews have been hard at work fulfilling commitments from Phase I and Phase II of the New NY State Broadband Project. The company was recently awarded another $30,353,892 for Phase III, which will address another 9,454 locations."We're looking at our business plan to make sure we have all our ducks in a row," Rayeski reported to the committee. "We're 90 percent sure we're going to accept the Phase III. It makes sense. Phase I and Phase II, which we already have, surrounds III, so we'd be driving through and not serving (those areas) if we didn't take it."The first areas to come online as part of the project include the southwestern corner of Steuben County and the southeastern corner of Allegany County, covering the communities of Jasper, Troupsburg, Whitesville and others.Swinging northeast, areas around Greenwood, Hartsville, Canisteo, Andover, Alfred and Almond will be available in the second quarter of 2018, as will stretches of rural Birdsall, Ossian, Dansville, Swain, Dalton and Dunda to the north. Northern Allegany County and southern Wyoming County are anticipated to come online in the third quarter. Phase III will cover additional portions of the area."We were given two years to complete this project," Rayeski said. "Dec. 31 is when the mainline cable has to be completed. The drops to the house can be completed within a year later. We're confident we're going to get very close to that."The New NY State Broadband Project hopes to raise quality of life and unlock the economic potential of rural areas by allowing them to compete in the global marketplace."Access to high-speed internet is critical as New York works to deliver the resources needed for industries to thrive and businesses to remain competitive in the 21st century global economy," Governor Cuomo said in a statement announcing Round III funding. "This cutting-edge program is advancing our vision to connect communities, empower entrepreneurs and residents, and support advanced technological innovation. Projects achieved through the New NY Broadband Program are a major step forward in creating the most robust broadband infrastructure network in the nation, while ensuring that reliable, high-speed internet is available to all New Yorkers."Rayeski noted the immediate economic impact of the broadband installation."We're going to have hundreds of contractors throughout this vast area," he said. "If you take Phase III, we'll be placing in excess of 3,000 miles of fiber. We're going to have people, contractors, all over our area. They're going to be needing some place to eat, a place to fuel their trucks, some lodging. They're going to be spending money in the communities."Armstrong has purchased a building in Belfast as it ramps up the project. During the initial January event, company officials said about 10 employees will be based out of the site."In the areas we've started construction, we've been hiring local people to do the contracting," Rayeski detailed. "Armstrong itself is hiring people. It's going to be gradual. As we start building our subscriber base we'll be adding staff. We've already hired several people."We bought a warehouse in Belfast. Preston Trucking used to be there. We bought that building, we're in it now. We're going to be reconstructing it. We're looking at some property in the Seneca Nation. We plan to have the same excellent service as we do with the Armstrong telephone company."Legislator Bill Dibble asked Rayeski if the company would be coming to areas of the county not currently shown as part of the project.Rayeski noted Armstrong was precluded from bidding on areas where providers could already offer 100 megabits per second. The new network will bring high speed internet to unserved areas."Once this is built because this is the main focus of our mandate there are a lot of empty areas that we will look into at that time and possibly use our own money, but we cannot use the grant money for that," Rayeski said of expanding service even further.Legislator Curt Crandall inquired about rates of service."Our rates are going to be competitive," Rayeski said. "Whatever the current providers are charging, we're going to have them be very competitive with that." (TNS) Law enforcement officers in the area won't be outfitted with body-worn cameras any time soon.The conversation concerning the technology has surged in recent years and while the idea sounds great, it's not realistic for law enforcement agencies in the area to purchase the camera units, let alone maintain them.The price tag on the units are significant, but beyond that, the cost of continual maintenance and storing footage is greater. That number is around $80 per unit per month, said Ashland Police Chief Todd Kelley. If Kelley wanted to outfit all 52 city police officers with body cameras, it would cost the department $4,160 a month and $49,920 yearly, he said.It's a financial struggle, Kelley said. We can't afford it.Calculate in the added fees for any redacting or analysis of the footage and the number passes the $50 thousand mark. Kelley would prefer to use that sum of money on other priorities.Kelley said adding an officer to the department to help protect the community would outweigh the purchase of body cameras. Or purchasing a new cruiser and outfitting it with the needed technology, which costs about $50 thousand, just a few dollars more than a year of the body camera program.A stack of advertisement magazines sits on Kelley's desk. One for new technology another for firearms, ammunition and armor, a forensics magazine and one on training and leadership. Kelley said those come in often and to look and see the equipment is cool, but the realistic side of actually making the purchase is slim.You have to weigh in a lot of factors in deciding what you need for the agency, Kelley said.Purchases are made based on evaluating what the department absolutely has to have to function, what it needs to be successful and then what it would like to have. First priority is having a trained officer than can respond to scene and the vehicle to get there.I have to maintain a level of services, Kelley said. I think the people and the services come first, the community rather than some of the technology.Ashland Police aren't the only one that aren't able to purchase the cameras. Kentucky State Police and the Boyd County Sheriff's Department are foregoing body cameras as well and cite funding as part of the reasoning.It's a funding issue for the agency, said KSP Public Affairs Officer Michael Murriell.If the money wasn't the issue, the question of whether the departments are willing to use the technology.I know you're probably going to have some police officers who are against body cams because they feel intruded on and that kind of stuff, but in general I don't know that you have officers that are against having body cams, Murriell said.Murriell said the body cam can provide protection for both the community and the officers as well as being useful for interview purposes and eliminating false accusations.Even with the positive possibilities of body cameras on officers there are questions that get raised when these agencies discuss the technology.First is the issue that the camera provides one angle and can only tell, one part of the story. The second is how the footage is governed under the Kentucky Open Records Act.Now the flip side of the body cam is it does take a small window of what's going on, Murriell said. You don't see everything that's actually transpiring.Sheriff Bobby Jack Woods said cameras aren't perceptive. They don't have the instincts that officers have.It might record voices, (but) they don't record peoples emotions Woods said. They record straight ahead...they don't record everything going on.When it comes to using them for evidence, cameras can help tell the story, but only one portion from one angle.The next concern is about open records and how much and when the footage is available to the public.The Kentucky Open Records Act gives citizens a right to view government records, with some exceptions such as information that could invade privacy, is used for scientific research, or could harm an agency if revealed. A full list of exemptions are in Kentucky Revised Statute 61.878.While the footage is said to be covered, many organizations such as law enforcement are asking for clarification and specific language that will determine when and what footage is released.Victim interviews, juveniles and innocent bystander are on the minds of the police administrators when it comes to releasing footage and how they need to be protected.The in-car camera has a different protection on it, Kelley said. Impaired driving, those kind of activities are protected under discovery laws as evidence, so they aren't just readily available to ask to see them.Kelley cited DUI arrests and the tests administered to those thought to be under the influence.Kentucky law protects the in-car mobile based on what its used for, Kelley said. It has a different protection.Ashland Police officers have the dashboard cameras and a camera on their conducted energy weapon, also known by the brand name Taser, that record when the weapon is activated that is downloaded and used in court.Kelley said he already has valuable tools to record the officer and questioned how much more he needed.Kentucky State Police Post 14 has six cruisers with dashboard cameras. The Boyd County Sheriff's Department has no cameras and isn't planning on buying any, but would reconsider if language was introduced clarifying the availability.There's just a lot of factors that come in for me not to do it at this point, Woods said.Those factors being the cost, unclear language on availability and how long footage has to be stored.Beyond the factors, the need for the body cameras isn't prevalent in the area.Some of these other departments where they have problems with integrity, I understand it, Woods said. In this community, it hasn't been a problem, we haven't had a problem with it.Murriell agreed saying the area has a greater respect for law enforcement, but wouldn't deny cameras based on that because it is an added cover.Kelley had similar thoughts. One aspect for him to decide on the need for such equipment is the relationship with the community.I think your trust and open dialogue and good communication would be critical in the decision making process.All three men said transparency and communication with the community and the department are key in not just deciding on using cameras, but being a successful law enforcement agency.Though administrators are open to the discussing the possibility, there won't be law enforcement officers with body-worn cameras on the streets of NEKY in the near future, it's too expensive for the tight budgets they're working with. (TNS) Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry has opened a criminal investigation into his own office's information technology section, including its recently ousted director, amid allegations that former staffers tapped state resources to "mine" the cryptocurrency bitcoin, according to current and former law enforcement officials.Landry's office refused for months to acknowledge the inquiry and a major shakeup of its IT division including the firing of a half-dozen employees in September but confirmed this week that the matter remains under investigation.No charges have been filed. But Landry's Louisiana Bureau of Investigation questioned the staffers after authorities discovered hardware that they believed could have been used in the so-called mining of bitcoin a practice that requires an enormous amount of electricity and sophisticated computers according to several sources familiar with the investigation.It's unclear exactly what equipment prompted the concerns, but the staffers maintained it was not being used for personal gain."We were worried that the (computer) systems may have been compromised," said one law enforcement official, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.The IT section also has attracted federal attention in recent months. The FBI last year questioned the section's former director at his Gonzales home, according to two people familiar with the interview.The bureau apparently inquired about IT staffers having discussed, via email, a "logic bomb" a conversation that alarmed state officials. A logic bomb is a line of code that triggers malicious activity in a computer system after a certain amount of time elapses, or after some other condition is met.It's unclear whether authorities actually discovered any malware in the state's systems, and the former IT director told the feds he had no knowledge of a logic bomb being introduced. Two former Attorney General's Office employees told The Advocate that the term "logic bomb" appeared in an email exchange that was discovered by state investigators.The FBI declined to comment Friday.Three of the fired staffers at least one of whom has retained a criminal defense attorney denied wrongdoing in interviews with The Advocate, attributing their terminations to a misunderstanding by the Attorney General's Office. They spoke on the condition that their names not be published because they have found new employment and have not been charged.One of the former employees said she was fired without any explanation in mid-September, around the time the suspicious equipment came to the attention of investigators. Employees of the Attorney General's Office are considered unclassified under state law and "do not have appeals rights," said Lindsay Ruiz de Chavez, a spokeswoman for the state Civil Service system.Like Louisiana sheriffs, Landry is not required by law to show cause for terminating an employee. The fired staffers said they felt particularly prone to termination because they had all worked under the administration of Landry's predecessor, Buddy Caldwell.Landry declined to be interviewed for this article. A spokesman, Millard Mule, declined to answer questions about the inquiry. "This is an ongoing investigation," he said.The Advocate first contacted Landry's office in October seeking information about the terminations in the IT section. Ruth Wisher, a Landry spokeswoman, said at the time that she could neither "confirm nor deny the existence of an investigation." She would not say how many employees had been fired.In December, in response to a public records request, the Attorney General's Office released several dozen pages of personnel records reflecting four months of agency turnover records that revealed that five employees who worked with the IT division had been fired over a two-day period in September.The records contained no mention of the bitcoin investigation, just standard termination letters informing the staffers their "services are no longer required at the Louisiana Department of Justice."The firings gutted the agency's information technology section, which is tasked with analyzing and acquiring computer equipment and handling a host of technology needs across the agency. The section also trains Attorney General's Office employees in the use of hardware and software.Among the terminated employees were a systems administrator, a help desk manager, a litigation support coordinator and a human resources employee who worked closely with the IT division.The director of the IT division resigned Sept. 1 but was fired less than two weeks later, before his resignation became effective, the records show."What was the purpose of me signing the voluntary resignation if you all were going to change it to termination?" he wrote in an email to a human resources official.At least two of the fired employees are privately engaged in the "mining" of cryptocurrencies, of which bitcoin is the most lucrative. A digital form of money, bitcoin utilizes a ledger called a blockchain that's accessible around the world via a decentralized network and that facilitates transactions without the need for a bank."Miners" use special software to solve complicated cryptographic problems and thereby add recent transactions to the blockchain, receiving newly minted bitcoin in exchange for their efforts. While it remains volatile, bitcoin has exploded in value in the last year, creating a cottage industry of miners looking to cash in on the price spike.The fired Attorney General's Office employees said they could not have used agency computers to mine for cryptocurrency even if they had wanted to because the machines lack the capability. In addition, they said, such activity would have easily been detected due to the massive amount of electricity needed to power the computational processes. (TNS) The Texas State Securities Board has issued another cryptocurrency-related emergency cease-and-desist order, this time against a company that used pictures of models and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to represent its management and legal team.It's at least the fifth cease-and-desist order issued by the agency, which has been among the most active in the nation in the battle against alleged cryptocurrency schemes.LeadInvest, whose registered agent is based in Panama, is described as a technology company that specializes in developing trading software in the Forex market and bitcoin currency, according to the order."The agency's Enforcement Division determined that some of the images that purported to portray its management on its website are, in fact, stock photographs of models sold on the internet," Joseph Rotunda, the agency's director of enforcement, said in an email."The Enforcement Division also determined that other photographs are actually images from unrelated websites," he said.Officials with the company could not be reached for comment.A portion of the website labeled "the team behind LeadInvest" includes an image of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and former solicitors general Theodore Olson, Paul Clement and Seth Waxman, Rotunda said.Another image is of a Texas attorney who "has no affiliation to ... LeadInvest," according to the order.LeadInvest is accused of deceiving the public through its use of the photographs."We recognize that promoters of fraudulent investment schemes can capitalize on the anonymity afforded by the internet to conceal their identity or, perhaps even worse, use the identity of others," he said. "Ultimately, violators may be luring investors through flashy blogs, online marketplaces and social media to purchase nothing more than a promise made through a webpage maintained by an anonymous person from an unknown location."Now more than ever, investors need to conduct thorough due diligence to verify the identity of promoters of online investment programs and determine whether they are telling the truth about themselves and their operations."Rotunda said the company has "literally flooded Craigslist forums with advertisements targeting Texas residents."On its website, the company said it was founded in May 2010 when "we started developing a basic proof of concept crypto investments website. We had our first bitcoin mining farm in June 2012."It offers investors this bit of assurance: "Yes! If you're not 110 percent satisfied with our services, contact us and we'll provide you a refund with no questions asked." F1 teams are proposing to extend this week's Barcelona test. The first winter test was scheduled to take place between Monday and Thursday, but snow is forecast in Barcelona on Wednesday. Not just that, low temperatures are already affecting the teams' ability to get sufficient heat into the tyres. "The weather is the biggest problem," Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen said after Monday's running. "It's about 8 degrees and that's just too cold." Renault's Nico Hulkenberg agrees: "It was a bit scary at first because it was like driving in the wet." As for the snow forecast for Wednesday, Fernando Alonso said: "If it's like that, we will not drive much and that's a shame for the fans." Due to the forecast, some teams are proposing to extend the test until Friday, potentially cancelling Wednesday's running altogether. "I've heard that," Renault driver Carlos Sainz told El Mundo Deportivo newspaper. "Personally I'd like it because Friday will be a normal day in Barcelona -- cool but sunny. If it happens, it's great," he said. (GMM) Smoothed-particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is a numerical method used for simulating the dynamics of continuum media, such as solid mechanics and fluid flows. Originally invented for astrophysical problems, it can also be successfully applied to free-surface flows and complex multi-phase problems with interfacial effects such as surface tension. Driveline engineering consultancy Drive System Design (DSD) has partnered with software specialists Altair and FluiDyna to develop and enhance FluiDynas computer modeling technique, nanoFluidX , that significantly improves the analysis of lubrication flow. nanoFluidX utilizes a Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics (SPH) methodology and increases the accuracy of analysis while reducing the simulation time from weeks to just a few days, when compared to traditional methods. Using SPH, a continuum phase is discretized with Lagrangian discretization points (particles) and the dynamics of this phase result from interaction forces between neighboring particles. This generalized approach offers the flexibility to model (almost) any physical phenomenon as these interaction forces can be formulated as complex as necessary. FluiDyna points out an important advantage of SPH is the meshless nature of the methodno cumbersome grid generation is necessary. Origins of the code stem from Technical University of Munichs (TUM) Chair of Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics (Lehrstuhl fur Aerodynamik und Stromungsmechanik), and the company remains in close relationship with TUM. DSD is using nanoFluidX to improve electric vehicle (EV) range by reducing losses in the drivetrain, identified as the largest energy draw on the battery pack at steady speeds up to approximately 80 km/h (50 mph)even greater than the vehicles aerodynamic drag. Improving efficiency at these lower speeds is essential to achieve worthwhile improvements in real-world driving range. SPH model in nanofluidX showing lubrication flow in a passive pump EV transmission. Click to enlarge. Bearing, gear and seal losses are well understood by the industry; the interaction between rotating components and the transmission lubricant however has been too complex to explore within a typical project timescale. Practical tests using transparent casings have some value but it is difficult to visualise what is going on deep within the rotating components. The hardware lead times can also be prolonged; Finite Volume CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis typically involves extensive run times, with each test point requiring several weeks computing just to generate a couple of seconds of real time data. Matt Hole, Head of Design Engineering, Drive System Design DSD has overcome these difficulties working alongside Altair and FluiDyna further to develop and to enhance the software to make it suitable to solve drag and fluid visualisation in transmission applications. In a recent project DSD used nanoFluidX to optimize an EV planetary transmission design. Using nanoFluidX enabled us to accurately visualise and analyse the behaviour of the transmission lubricant and its interaction with the rotating assemblies. The improved understanding meant we could develop a highly optimized, passive lubrication system, iterating the design with specifically targeted improvements. In all, we reduced drag losses by almost 30 percent while maintaining satisfactory lubrication of all the transmission elements. Matt Hole Better visualization allowed DSD to improve thermal management by increasing the oil volume without incurring high churning and windage losses. Instead, a segregated oil cavity was created within the transmission case, from which oil is directed by baffles to strategic areas, such as the planet bearings and pins which are often very difficult to lubricate reliably. nanoFluidX offers a level of interaction with, and analysis of, the results that is not available with conventional testing, and those results can be achieved in a much shorter time frame than is possible with either physical testing or fixed volume CFD approaches. It means we can achieve a much higher level of design optimization within the timescale of a typical customer program. Matt Hole Drive System Design will demonstrate its use of the software in conjunction with its development engineering when the company exhibits at the Future Powertrain Conference in Solihull, UK, this week. Visitors to DSDs stand will see an ultra-compact, highly efficient electric drive unit, recently developed on behalf of a global manufacturer, demonstrating the benefits of the methodology. Cant beat this deal, at least for today. Photo: IHOP/Facebook Hopefully by this point, youve mostly sworn off validating Corporate Americas dumb food holidays. Theres just no reason to support National Kahlua Day or National Strawberry Day, both of which happen to be today. National food holidays are marketing masquerading as an event, pure and simple. However, by coincidence, today also offers one of the few exceptions to this rule: Its IHOPs National Pancake Day, the annual griddle-cake fest that seemingly rotates year to year, but always scores you the same deal: free pancakes, for a good cause. Until 7 p.m. today, youre entitled to a free short stack of buttermilk pancakes, though its the rare food holiday that doesnt end with the brand cackling all the way to the bank. Thats because in exchange, youre asked to donate the cost of your meal the pancakes would run you around $4 to one of IHOPs three charity partners: the Childrens Miracle Network, Shriners Hospitals for Children, or the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Last year, the chain gave away 5 million pancakes, with an end goal of raising $5 million for childrens hospitals and health organizations nationwide. Of course that means some customers are taking the deal, so when you go, if you can, maybe add a few more dollars to your tab for a good cause. Wau A Girls Primary School Receives Over 1,000 Text Books Wau A Girls primary school on Mondy received text books from Bangladesh that were donated by the United Nations Bangladesh contingency stationed in Wau. By James Dimo WAU, 27 February 2018 [Gurtong] - The text books that included mathematics and English books were about 1,126 in total. Speaking during the handover ceremony held in Wau the State Minister of Education, Michael Madut Chan appreciated the good gesture from the people of Bangladesh. Yes we are celebrating the distribution of 1, 126 books for the pupils of Wau (A) girls primary school, this has been donated to us by Bangladesh and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Bangladesh battalion for the gift they gave to the people of Wau State and pupils of Wau [A] girls in particular, said Chan. Mary Gabreil Thurba, headmistress of Wau (A) girls primary school also welcomed the donation. For sure we are very happy with the gift from the people of Bangladesh. This is very important for our school. In our school, you can get one book shared by 10 to 15 pupils. This will not help the pupils or teachers to continue with their study plan in short time. And so this is a good thing that has come at a good time, we are very happy, said Thurba. Government To Cut Work Permit Fee By 50% After Outcry The Minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development has said that annual work permits for foreigners working in South Sudan will be reduced by 50%. The Minister of Labour, Public Service and Human Resource Development, Gathoth Gatkuoth Hothnyang [Photo| Charles Kay] By Charles Kay JUBA, 27 February 2018 [Gurtong]-Gathoth Gatkuoth Hothnyang during a press conference in Juba today said that the fee has been reduced following an outcry by humanitarian agencies and the public. In March 2017, South Sudan increased work permit fees for foreign workers from 100 to 10,000 dollars, for professional/business class, blue collar jobs to 2,000 dollars and casual labourers 1,000 dollars as a measure to fight the economic crisis. The minister said that this will allow foreign workers to work effectively in the country. Due to the political pressure and the economic pressure, we have presented the reduction of this work permit to fifty percent. Honorable Gatkuoth said. Gatkuoth also said that under the new policy, all categories of work permit fees will be halved, adding that the changes will be effected soon as the proposal is approved by the cabinet. "We have realized there is a lot of alarm. There is economic pressure; there is political pressure. So we are reviewing it. I have already tabled before the council of ministers the reduction of work permits by 50 percent of every category," Gatkuoth said. South Sudan depends on oil revenue for 98 percent of its budget. However due to the civil war in the country the production of oil has significantly reduced since 2013. Haiti - Education : Schools and high schools paralyzed in Petit-Goave Monday for the second week, the students of the third cycle (7th AF, 8th AF, 9th AF) of the Fundamental School of Application and Pedagogical Support Center (EFACAP) of Petit-Goave, idling on the court of the EFA, due to the strike of teachers who demand the payment of their salary arrears and their letter of appointment. Monday morning, some high school students sent by their comrades, came to ask the Director of the EFA, to release the students because those of the Lycee Faustin Soulouque also deprived of course because of the movement of protest and strike launched by teachers of this establishment public for similar reasons https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23619-haiti-petit-goave-teachersstrike-the-students-of-lycee-faustin-soulouque-demonstrate.html went to the streets to demand the resumption of courses in classrooms. In the morning the students of high school Faustin Soulouque highly motivated, have occupied the macadam forced the heads of private institutions to release their students and forced the closure of public offices (DGI, Social Affairs, finance, school inspection...) "As long as the high school will not work, the other schools in the city will not work either," said high school leaders who were very angry of being once again deprived of class... See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-23619-haiti-petit-goave-teachersstrike-the-students-of-lycee-faustin-soulouque-demonstrate.html HL/ HaitiLibre / Guyto Mathieu (Correspondant Petit-Goave) Wine Australia reveals ProWein wine bar feature By Lisa Riley Wine Australia has revealed it is introducing a new free-pour tasting area at this year ProWein as part of its biggest presence at the show to date. The Wine Bar will be open for visitors to pop by throughout the show to sample the wines, with tutored tastings taking place between 1pm and 2pm each day with Mark Davidson, who will be sharing the stories behind the wines tasted. Launched to showcase the diversity of Australian wine, The Wine Bar forms part of Wine Australias biggest stand at ProWein - it has increased its space by 20% this year compared to 2017. In addition to The Wine Bar, this years stand will feature 75 wineries and over 500 wines, an educational and events area. Australias growing presence at ProWein followed a very successful show last year and was in line with the countrys growing exports - global exports increased by 15% to AUD $2.56 billion in the 12 months ending December 2017, according to Wine Australia. ProWein is one of the biggest and most important events in Wine Australia's global calendar - It's a key opportunity to showcase our wines on an international stage and engage with buyers and influencers from across the world, said general manager, Stuart Barclay. The aim was to demonstrating how diverse, vibrant and exciting Australian wine is, he said. The stand will feature 14 events, a Green Australia master class and two Semillion tastings in partnership with WSET. Covering cool climate regions, Iberian varieties, old vines, and organic and biodynamic winemaking amongst other topics, the events will be hosted by Davidson and industry experts, including Sarah Ahmed, Thomas Curtius and Phil Reedman MW. Highlights include Mornington Peninsula and New England tastings - the first time these regions will be showcased at the show. ProWein 2018 is held in Dusseldorf in Germany between 18th and 20th March. Texas biomass pellet producer to restart operations following fire German Pellets (GPTX) of Port Arthur, Texas, has said it plans to restart operations after repairs and required changes to its storage silos. The pellets in one of its five large silos caught fire and smouldered for two months in early 2017, causing health and air quality issues across the town. Stock image Texas Pellets and GPTX removed all 4,700 tons of pellets and remains under a stop work order from the city of Port Arthur until it implements safety measures required in a hazard analysis plan. GPTX, which is in bankruptcy proceedings, has refused to release the plan in response to public information requests, citing protected trade secrets and confidential commercial information. More than 30 residents and property owners of the neighbourhood near the silos filed a lawsuit against GPTX in October, alleging the company and the incident response firm it hired were negligent in causing and responding to the fire. In a petition filed earlier this month, they outline a history of violations that GPTX was fined for by the US Department of Labor, totalling more than $260,000. GPTX, which has facilities in Port Arthur, Woodville and Louisiana, was fined for "repeat," "willful" and "serious" violations, according to records from the Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The company did not provide employees with a workplace that was "free from recognized hazards that were causing or likely to cause death or serious physical harm," OSHA said in one citation, issued to the Port Arthur site in August 2017. In February 2017, employees were "exposed to dust explosion, deflagration, and other fire hazards when using equipment with internal combustion engines while working in an environment normally expected to contain airborne combustible dust," the citation said. That violation was categorized as willful, because the company "knowingly failed to comply with a legal requirement" or "acted with plain indifference to employee safety." The company has contested the violations, according to OSHA records. OSHA has also opened an investigation into the death of Jesus Cuevas, an employee who died while removing pellets from the silos on Oct. 20. In a suit against the company, his family allege that Cuevas was trapped and suffocated when pellets fell on him due to GPTX's negligence. That suit is pending in federal court, and OSHA's inspection remains open. The city of Port Arthur filed suit against the company in June, alleging it violated city nuisance and public health ordinances. Judge Donald Floyd granted a temporary injunction to halt operations until the repairs and improvements are complete. IN January I was privileged to be a member of the Bishop of Readings pilgrimage to Ethiopia. For two weeks, a group of just over 20 Anglican clergy, mostly from the Reading area, visited some of the most important Christian sites in that country. For a number of us, me included, it was eye-opening. Ethiopia has been a Christian country since the fourth century thats as long as the UK and some of the churches we visited were older than most of the churches in the Henley area. Ethiopia is about five times the size of the UK with a population of about 100 million, of whom about 55 million belong to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. There are about 30 million Muslims, most of whom live in the desert areas of south-east Ethiopia over towards Somalia, and the remainder are other Christian, such as Catholic, Anglican or Pentecostal, or follow traditional tribal or animist religions. The most famous of the Ethiopian churches are the rock-cut churches of Lalibela, carved out over a period of perhaps 100 years, starting around 1150AD. St Georges (pictured) dates to around 1250 and is carved out of the bedrock. The pit surrounding it is 15m deep and the church is accessed via a trench. The Ethiopian Orthodox Church has survived so long, surrounded as it is by a sea of Islam, because it has its heartlands in the Ethiopian highlands, which are mountainous and, until the recent arrival of air travel, extremely inaccessible. Recent road building and the advent of the mobile phone and internet (with infrastructure supplied by China) are now exposing this ancient church with its deep-rooted, rural traditions, to the modern world in a way that challenges its very existence. The increase in tourism, albeit with much-needed foreign currency, also brings a threat to formerly settled ways of faith and life. But the one thing that Ethiopian Orthodoxy has proved time and again is its resilience: Muslim invasions with desecration and destruction of thousands of churches in both the 16th and 19th centuries have been shrugged off, churches rebuilt (most are made from wood and mud) and treasures returned from their hiding places in hilltop monasteries. Christians wear a neck cross or have a cross tattooed on their forehead, marking them out as belonging to Him who died for them. In this society, there is no social stigma in being known as a follower of Jesus. This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. 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Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Time and again, America marches into battle confident of easy victory only to find that war really is hell. At a dinner party not too long ago, I met a prominent newsman who, during a conversation about Americas 2003 invasion of Iraq, condemned President George W. Bush. He ridiculed Bushs fanciful belief that the war could be won in a few months with a quick march to Baghdad and a rout of Saddam Husseins army. On the way home I found myself wondering if Bushs overconfidence was so different from the attitude of other American leaders going into war. Soon I was reading what generals, presidents, and politicians from 1776 to the Iraq War were thinking and saying before the shooting started. To an amazing degree, optimism in a swift, relatively easy war prevailed. We as a nation often march to war with illusions of victory that cloud how we view our enemies, our allies, and ourselves. We dismiss serious threats out of hand, or even invite them, blinded to the reality on the ground by grand ambitions, faith in our ideals, or just wishful thinking. In 1775 leaders of the Continental Congress were mesmerized by the report issued by Samuel Adams and his colleagues in Massachusetts after the clashes at Lexington and Concord. This masterpiece of propaganda described the Americans as enraged citizens who rushed from their homes and mauled the intimidated British regulars. Omitted from the report was the fact that the Minute Men who made up the bulk of the American force were an embryo army that had been training three days a week for almost a year. From this misleading account, Congress concluded that militia could meet British mercenaries as equals on a battlefield, because the Americans were infused with patriotic spirit. This was especially true if they outnumbered the enemy four or five to one, as they had during the British retreat from Concord to Boston. This heady impression soon coalesced with a plethora of supposed facts in an enormously influential tract, Common Sense, written by a newly arrived Englishman, Thomas Paine. The first two-thirds of Common Sense was a savagely brilliant attack against kingship and the claims of a piddling island, Great Britain, to rule a continent. The last third was devoted to assuring Americans it would not be difficult to win independence. The British were still staggering under the enormous debt they had piled up fighting France and Spain in the Seven Years War a little more than a decade before, Paine argued, and could not sustain the cost of sending a large army to America. From this consensus emerged the colonists conviction that the war would be settled in their favor in a single clash between a big American army and a small British onewhat military thinkers in the 18th century called a general action. There was no need for trained regulars. When the newly appointed commander in chief, George Washington, suggested an army of 40,000 men, Congress told him that was far more than needed. Militia could always bolster the regulars to create the overwhelming force that would guarantee victory. What happened? In 1776 the British appeared in New York harbor with the largest force they had ever sent overseas 30,000 men, escorted by a fleet of more than 400 warships and transports. Washington meanwhile fielded barely 12,000 regulars, with another 7,000 to 11,000 militia, though their numbers were uncertain because members of the militia went home whenever they felt like it. In the first major battle of the war, fought in what is now Brooklyn, the British outflanked and routed the Americans. With the help of a providential fog, Washington retreated to Manhattan. A New York clergyman could not understand why Washington had failed to surround the kings troops and make them prisoners with little trouble. Many militia regiments decided against another encounter with the kings bayonet-wielding regulars and went home en masse. More than a few regulars broke into houses and stole everything portablea sign that personal profit, not patriotic spirit, motivated them. A grim Washington informed Congress it was time to change strategy. From now on, he wrote, we should on all occasions avoid a general action or put anything to the risk, unless compelled by a necessity, into which we ought never to be drawn. Instead they should protract the war and make the British quit from exhaustion. It was among the most important letters Washington ever wrote, and his chief claim to being a great general. It also quashed Americas expectation of a short war. It would take another seven wearying years to win victory and independence. The War of 1812 began with another burst of misplaced optimism. This time the goal was retaliation. As part of its blockade of Napoleons France, Great Britain kidnapped American merchant sailors, claiming they were fugitives from the Royal Navy. A group of Western congressmen, soon known as the War Hawks, decided the perfect reprisal would be to seize Canada, whose lands were vast and valuable. The men in charge of the war, including President James Madison, agreed with Thomas Jefferson, who had argued during his presidency that a militia led by good officers could fight just as well as regulars. Disregarding the chief lesson of the Revolution, amateur armies swarmed into Canada and suffered humiliating defeats to British regulars and Canadian volunteers. In 1814, British troops landed in Maryland, routed another militia army, and marched to Washington, where they burned the White House, the Capitol, and almost every other public building. It was the ultimate humiliation, and there was talk of impeaching President Madison. The New England states, which had opposed the war, convened a meeting in Hartford to consider secession. Madisons prideand that of the nationwas rescued by an improbable victory in distant New Orleans, where Maj. Gen. Andrew Jackson shattered another invading British army. Meanwhile, days earlier, the British had accepted a peace treaty proposed by chastened American negotiators, who disavowed any and all interest in Canada. The Mexican-American War was triggered by the 1845 decision to admit Texas into the Union, despite saber rattling from Mexico. Americans led by Sam Houston had won independence for Texas in 1836 and had since lobbied to join the United States. President James Polk attempted to finesse the situation by offering a bankrupt Mexico $20 million for territory that would complete Americas continental domainthe present states of New Mexico, Arizona, and California. When Mexico rejected the offer, Polk ordered the American army to advance to the Rio Grande. Though the enemy had an army of 32,000 seasoned veteransat least four times the size of Americas force of untested soldiersthe president was confident that the regulars, their officer corps bolstered by hundreds of recent West Point graduates, could win a quick peace. When Mexican cavalry attacked an American patrol, Polk in May 1846 asked Congress for a declaration of war. The Americans won smashing victories at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, making Polk seem prescient, but the Mexicans declined to surrender. The next two battles, in northern Mexico at Monterey and Buena Vista, were far bloodier. Eventually the United States had to recruit and train a volunteer army. It landed at Veracruz and fought its way to Mexico City, where Americans in 1848 effectively dictated a peace treaty at gunpoint. Polk left office the next year an exhausted, dying man. Americas losses in the Civil War are more and more regarded as the closest the country has come to a holocaust. At least 620,000 Americans died, which in todays United States would be the equivalent of six million. But this war too began with predictions of swift victory. Optimism among Northerners rested in part on the impression of slave owners as effete, corrupt, and indolenta view promoted for 30 years by abolitionists. Southerners, many in the North came to believe, were too weak to resist a determined attack by the virtuous foes of an evil such as slavery. In the South, as rage at such insults mounted, a reflexive defiance fostered the doctrine that one Rebel could defeat 10 canting, lying Yankees. For Northerners, the battle of Bull Run in 1861 put to rest the notion that their opponents were patsies. Abolitionists and their sympathizersusually called Radical Republicansformed a powerful bloc in Congress. They and their allies in the press helped browbeat President Abraham Lincoln into moving against Richmond, despite urgent warnings from his commanding general, Irwin McDowell, that the army was not ready to fight. Confident members of Congress rode from Washington with the Federal troops. Some brought their wives along, plus picnic baskets, in anticipation of cheering an easy rout. Most of the Union forces were raw troops summoned by President Lincoln for only 90 days servicea stint that reflected the presidents hopes for a short war. They were confident of victory, frequently dropping out of the ranks to pick blueberries and apples on their march to Bull Run, the little stream where the Southern army awaited them. A few hours later the congressmen and their friends joined the panicky remnants of the Federal army in a headlong retreat. The Confederates would discover the true nature of their enemy the next year at Malvern Hill, the last of the Seven Days Battles. Union forces gathered outside Richmond on high ground above sloping, open fields. During the fighting, 20 brigades of Southern infantry advanced across this ground, only to be hurled back by cannon fire. When it was over the South had suffered more than 5,000 casualties. It was not war; it was murder, Confederate general D. H. Hill wrote later. The Spanish-American War began with two illusions. The first was the belief that it was Spanish agents who destroyed the battleship Maine in the Cuban harbor of Havana. The second was the Americans conviction that a majority of the Cubans were ready to fight and if necessary die for independence from Spainan idea promoted by a wildly inaccurate media. This latter illusion evaporated when the U.S. Army, on the eve of Congresss declaration of war in April 1898, covertly sent an officer to rebel general Calixto Garcia to ask what assistance to expect from the Cubans. The answer, not revealed until years later, was: nada. Garcia commanded a band of 2,000 half-starved refugees hiding in the mountains. There was no other organized resistance. Almost all the fighting and dying in this short, vicious war was done by Americans. Americas entry into World War I is perhaps our best example of how ambition and idealism can conspire to create deep illusions. President Woodrow Wilson had run for reelection in 1916 on the slogan, He Kept Us Out of War. But Wilson, an Anglophile, wholeheartedly backed the British, French, and Russians in their cataclysmic clash with Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Turkey. His pretensions to neutrality were a sham. He never objected to the British blockade of Germany, and he permitted American corporations and farmers to sell the Allies tens of millions of dollars of war materiel and food. Wilson and his foreign policy adviser, Edward House, were dupes of the British government. They accepted as gospel Britains claim that the Allies were winning the war. Wilson, who saw himself as a man with a mission to save the world, desperately wanted to play a leading role in the peace negotiations that the British assured him were imminent. When the German submarines in 1917 started sinking American ships in the war zone, Wilson seized his chance. Calling Germany an enemy of mankind, he went before Congress and asked for a declaration of war to make the world safe for democracy. As eloquence, Wilsons speech was a masterpiece. It appealed to the deep springs of idealism in American minds and hearts. Equally attractive was the assumption that victory could be se cured simply by giving the Allies cash as well as naval assistance against Germanys submarines. There would be no need to send American soldiers to France. Nothing revealed the power of this myth better than testimony before the Senate by Maj. Palmer S. Pierce, a member of the U.S. Armys General Staff, three days after Congress declared war. Pierce asked the Senate Finance Committee to authorize $3 billion to enlarge the nations army. The chairman of the committee, Thomas Martin, demanded to know how this stupendous sumat least $50 billion in todays dollarswould be spent. Major Pierce listed how much it cost to build training camps and buy rifles, artillery, and airplanes. Somewhat nervously, he added: And we may have to have an army in France. Good Lord! Martin said. Youre not going to send soldiers over there, are you? A few weeks later British and French military missions arrived in the United States. Along with cash, they wanted American menfast. The French army was mutinous after another failed offensive. The British army was not in much better shape. The Germans were very close to winning the war. A stunned Wilson did his best to conceal his humiliation. When the fighting ended 18 months later, there were two million American soldiers in France, and another 144,000 had died there. As World War II opened and turned against the Allies, President Franklin D. Roosevelt frantically tried to insert Americans into the conflict before Adolf Hitlers armies conquered all of Europe. But the New Dealers could not overcome the massive reluctance of Congress and the American people to get involved in another war abroad. Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes revealed the presidents solution in his diary. On October 18, 1941, he wrote: [O]ur best entrance into the war would be by way of Japan. [I]f we go to war with Japan it will inevitably lead us to war against Germany. (Japan was loosely allied with Germany and Italy in the so-called Tripartite Pact.) This solution appealed to the president and his advisers because they had little regard for Japans military ability. The country had been fighting a war against China since 1937, with only limited success. The New Dealers were convinced that the Japanese could neither shoot, nor sail, nor fly with the skill of white men. Endemic poor eyesight and weak numerical aptitude made them an inferior race. In a 1939 article, military commentator Fletcher Pratt dismissed Japanese warships as top heavy and poorly built and declared that the Japanese could neither make good airplanes nor fly them well. Within six months of Pratts pronouncements, the Japanese added the worlds most advanced carrier fighter, the Zero, to their navy. It went unnoticed by the smug Americans and British. As the Zero began dominating the skies over China, Secretary Ickes wrote in his diary: It seems to be pretty well understoodthat the Japanese are naturally poor air men. They cannot cope with the fliers of other nations. Roosevelt soon gave his tacit approval to an obvious way to tempt Japan into starting a war: cut off the flow of United States oil that Japans war machine required to fight China. Though Japanese diplomats tried to reach a compromise, Roosevelt met these overtures with demands that the Japanese could not possibly acceptincluding a withdrawal of troops from China. Roosevelts naive view of Japanese strength led to several missteps. He had previously sent 20,000 draftees to defend the Philippines but did nothing to bolster the small Far Eastern naval squadron. Instead he insisted that the Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor could protect the Philippines if the Japanese attacked. This was an absurd fantasythe Philippines were more than 5,000 nautical miles from Hawaiibut Roosevelt held to it, even rebuffing the warnings of Fleet Adm. James O. Richardson that the ships at Pearl Harbor were vulnerable and should be moved to San Diego. When U.S. code breakers reported a Japanese move was imminent, FDR dropped all pretenses of diplomacy and ordered a hastily armed patrol boat, the Lanikai, into the China Sea in the hope that it would be attacked and sunk by Japanese war ships. The goal: make sure the Japanese could be accused of firing the first shot. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese did exactly thatwith a devastating strike at Pearl Harbor. The Americans were totally surprised not only by the accuracy of the Japanese bombers but also by their specially designed shallow-draft torpedoes, which inflicted terrible damage on anchored battleships. At 1 p.m. that disastrous day, Secretary of the Navy Frank Knox visited Roosevelt in the Oval Office. Later he described the president as white as a sheet. He was visibly shaken. [H]e expected to get hit; but he did not expect to get hurt. Knox was as shaken as the president. Three days before Pearl Harbor, he had told a group of businessmen that the United States would almost certainly be at war with Japan in a few days. But there was no need to worry, he said. The war would not last more than six months. In the Philippines, three days after Pearl Harbor, Japanese fighter planes and bombers destroyed most of Americas air force on the ground. An agitated Gen. Douglas MacArthur, who had made no attempt to disperse or conceal the planes, wailed that Tokyo must have acquired Germans or some white mercenaries to fly their planes. Not long after this debacle, the Japanese navy crippled a combined Allied fleet in the Java Sea. In a desperate speech on December 9, Roosevelt did his utmost to link Hitlers war machine to the attack on Pearl Harbora difficult feat since the Germans were as surprised as the Americans. Hitler, infuriated by Roosevelts insults, declared war on the United States, and the conflict FDR yearned to fight became a reality. The war with Japan tormented the Americans in the Pacific for the next four years. Japanese armies soon invaded the Philippines, capturing more than 20,000 American soldiers and sailors and subjecting them to years of cruel treatment in prison camps. Only hairsbreadth victories in the battles of the Coral Sea and Midway rescued Australia and Hawaii from conquest. After the war, a bitter Admiral Richardson wrote: I believe the Presidents responsibility for our initial defeats in the Pacific was direct, real and personal. America in its conflicts later in the 20th century followed the same painful pattern. It entered confident of easy victory, only to be rudely surprised by reality and find itself struggling to adapt. The 1991 Gulf War is the only exception to this sobering rulethere we intervened with massive force against an unprepared Iraqi army that was engaged in a virtually bloodless conquest of Kuwait. We fought the war we planned at the outset with amazing success, suffering only 146 battlefield deaths. But President George H. W. Bush succumbed to the illusion that the people of Iraq, unarmed and untrained, could somehow take control of their government. The CIArun radio, the Voice of Free Iraq, and the Arabic service of the Voice of America urged them to revoltwhile Bush withdrew the 540,000-man American army. The civilians that we abandoned were soon suffering again at the hands of the ruthless Saddam Hussein. Is there an explanation for why America enters its wars with such grand illusions? Historian Lloyd Gardner, an expert in American foreign policy, offers a good, if not complete, answer thats also faintly consoling. In the mid-1980s, Gardner wrote A Covenant with Power, an influential book in which he argued that Americans like to see their covenant with the worldor their relationship with itthrough the lens of the ideals proclaimed in the Declaration of Independence. In other words, we believe that because our intentions in warour causesare noble and good, triumph should be inevitable and swift. But wars have taught us again and again that idealism does not create power. Wars remind us with their ultimate realism that power has to be sustained by force. This conflict between idealism and realism is an often bloodstained thread that runs through Americas history. It was certainly evident in Vietnam. The U.S. military won a costly seven-year jungle war there, then left behind in South Vietnam an infant nation that was as committed to freedom as the South Korean state that emerged from the Korean War. But the Democratic majority in Congress, succumbing to a decade of antiwar agitation and its hatred of President Richard Nixon, sabotaged this birth of a nation by cutting the support the Vietnamese needed. The Democrats decision was rooted in idealisman attempt to purify American foreign policy combined with the sort of naivete about why and how men fight that resembled the Continental Congresss confidence about militia with spirit. Meanwhile North Vietnams communist allies refitted its battered army and launched the massive tank-led 1975 attack that destroyed South Vietnam. Gardners theory was also on display in the American invasion of Iraq in 2003. George W. Bush and his military planners fervently believed in the transformative power of democracy. The Iraqi people, after suffering for years under a vicious tyrant, would greet U.S. troops as liberators. Peace would naturally follow, they stubbornly assumed, only to discover that powerful ideals cant always tidy up a messy and dangerous reality. Nothing sums up this tension in Americas history better than an exchange between that quintessential idealist, President Woodrow Wilson, and Georges Clemenceau, the prime minister of France after World War I. Wilson urged the brutally realistic Frenchman to rely on the power of ideals in the 1919 Paris Peace Conference. Clemenceau, who had spent several years in the United States during the 1860s, countered that Wilson did not understand how Americans had won their independence. The decisive factor was not Thomas Jeffersons ideals in the Declaration of Independence; it was the regulars of George Washingtons Continental Army, plus the French fleet and army that played crucial roles in the climactic victory at Yorktown. Wilson was reduced to uncharacteristic silence. Originally published in the Autumn 2010 issue of Military History Quarterly. To subscribe, click here. A dvanced technology weapons and the Confederate military effort are phrases seldom found used together. Indeed, the Souths many disadvantages resulting from its primitive weapons-manufacturing infrastructure, compared with the highly industrialized Norths prolific arms factories and government-run arsenals, are typically cited as a principal reason the Union ultimately triumphed. Although the Confederates created the worlds first practical submarine, H.L. Hunleywhich famously sank USS Housatonic on February 17, 1864that example of cutting-edge technology tends to be treated as a one-off success, due more to luck and late-war desperation than to a commitment of resources to weapons technology. Yet the well-worn view that the primitive South hopelessly struggled against the technologically superior North is demonstrably flawed. Not only did the Confederacy have forward-thinking technocrats who created futuristic weaponry, it also produced at least one visionary weapons genius: Gabriel James Rains. That officers inventions and his practical application of them on Civil War battlefields justly earn him the title of the father of modern mine warfare. The approach he instituted during the war still confounds military forces on 21st-century battlefields. At daybreak on May 4, 1862, cruel murder took place in the streets of Yorktown, Va., as Federal troops encountered enemy land mines, or torpedoes, for the first time. The mines had been carefully planted in select locations during the night by Yorktowns Confederate commander, Brig. Gen. Gabriel J. Rains. Yorktown had been the focus of a month-long siege by Maj. Gen. George B. McClellans Federal forces in the early stages of the Peninsula Campaign. Although Rains and his brigademade up of the 13th Alabama, 26th Alabama, 6th Georgia, and 23rd Georgiahad held out admirably during the siege, by the end of April the Confederate high command desired the formation of a new defensive line closer to Richmond. Rains accepted the order to evacuate, but he was unwilling to pass up a chance to impede any enemy pursuit. On the night of May 3, Rebel soldiers began slowly moving through the mud out of the Yorktown garrison, heading to Williamsburg. A small unit remained behind and kept up a constant fire as their comrades evacuated. Soon Rains sent a staff officer back to Yorktown to guide his heavy artillery battalion to safetya delicate task due to the metal primers for igniting concealed armament that dotted the landscape. At 1:30 a.m. the remaining members of the garrison left as well, cautiously following the guide in single file along a darkened road to avoid the torpedoes. At least one of those soldiers clearly didnt approve of the tactic. This is barbarism, he said as he emerged from the danger zone. Union soldiers and cavalry began advancing toward the empty Rebel works later that morning. After a long and tedious siege, McClellans forces had finally pushed the enemy back and gained important ground. The heavy Confederate guns of Yorktown and Gloucester Point, guarding the York River, no longer sounded; artillery shells no longer filled the air; and rifle fire no longer came from the trenches. Yet within a few hours, periodic explosions disturbed the quietness of the old surrendered city, as unsuspecting men and horses trod upon Rains farewell gifts. Among the victims was a telegraph operator. His legs were torn apart after he stepped on an object concealed at the base of a telegraph pole, and he soon died. The broken ground, as well as word from soldiers involved in early explosions, quickly spread alarm. Men began to cautiously examine the road as they moved on, looking for the fatal iron fuses, whose touch is death. Sentinels were soon posted at both suspected and revealed mined positions. The mines were common powder-filled mortar shells with a detonating primer added, what became known as a booby trap. Detonation was of two formsdirect contact with the friction primer of a buried shell or movement of an article that was attached to the primer by means of concealed strings or wires. Many innocent-looking objects (common work tools, for instance) became triggering devices. Finally at about 11 a.m., the 44th New York Infantry entered Yorktown, with its band playing and flags flying. Lieutenant George Herenden was directed to take a detail of approximately 25 men to the Confederate prison within the fort and have them dig up torpedoes. Approximately 50 would be exhumed without accident. For the first time in the war, human suffering was the product of villainously concealed weapons rather than hand-to-hand combat. One observer that morning, noted political scientist and Columbia College professor Francis Lieber, watched in horror and disbelief at the grim sight of Rains infernal machines along the streets, beneath trees, and at the bases of telegraph poles tearing the earth and spitting fire and fragments into the air. For Lieber, a German native in his 60s who had fought in and been wounded at the Battle of Waterloo, this was simply unconscionable. The following April, at Abraham Lincolns behest, he published the Lieber Code dictating the so-called Laws of Warfare. Rains, born in New Bern, N.C., in 1803 was not a typical military man. Most skilled generals of this period were infantrymen who recognized the importance of mass concentrations of men on the field of battle. They also knew that the war would be won by foot soldiers and to that end they studied closely Hardees Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics, as they pushed their men toward strategic points and enemy forces. But while many commanders devotedly followed this 1855 manual by future Confederate General William Hardee, Rains waged war in an unconventional manner. His maxim: Deception is the art of war. Risking disapproval, he adhered faithfully to this dictum. Nevertheless, Rains unorthodox weapons, though effective, were harshly criticized not just by his Northern enemies, but also some of his Southern compatriots, among them Generals Joseph E. Johnston, James Longstreet, and Moxley Sorrel. In a post-Yorktown letter to Rains, Sorrel sniffed that mines and booby traps were not the weapons with which gentlemen fought wars. Longstreet in turn wrote to Rains insisting that he cease such activity. Their umbrage comes across as somewhat puzzling, given that tunneling beneath enemy fortifications and planting subterranean mines to be exploded remotely was conducted at Vicksburgs 3rd Louisiana Redan in June 1863 and at Petersburgs Crater in July 1864. Apparently in siege warfare, widespread destruction via such mines was perfectly acceptable, but Rains smaller-scale, shrewdly concealed mines and booby traps were not. Rains, however, persevered in developing his alternate weapons for land and sea warfare, ignoring the censure of the gentleman cavaliers running the Confederate war effort. George McClellan referred to these precursors of modern land mine warfare as murderous and barbarous and typically ordered Confederate prisoners of war to remove them. Although Rains land mines are now accepted weapons of war, the use of POWs to remove them definitely is not, according to the Geneva Convention. Rains waged war in an unconventional manner. His maxim was Deception is the art of war Excelling in engineering, chemistry and mathematics, Rains graduated from West Point in 1827, served in the Second Seminole War, and on July 31, 1861by then a lieutenant colonel with 34 years serviceresigned from the U.S. Army to join the Confederacy. After a series of troop commands, which included leading the spring 1862 defense of Yorktown featuring his innovative land mines, Rains was assigned in June 1862 to command the submarine defenses of the James and Appomattox Rivers. Applying his land-mine technology to river and sea avenues of approach, Rains developed his underwater torpedo and in December 1862 was appointed CSA Torpedo Bureau superintendent. Below are some of Rains inventions, which led to the development of modern torpedoes, mines, and improvised explosive devices (IEDs): Sensitive Primer The sensitive primer used a percussion device containing potassium chlorate, sulphuret of antimony, and pulverized glass. The primer was capped with a thin cover of copper that could be crushed with 7 pound per square inch of force. Crushing the cover caused the primer to detonate, and the resulting concussion and fire caused the rest of the explosive trail, consisting of a match made of gunpowder dissolved in alcohol, to ignite and set off the main charge. The primer was used in: Subterra shells (land mines) Barrel torpedoes (floating and moored sea mines) Frame torpedoes (bottom sea mines) Spar torpedoes (torpedoes used by vessels) Dart grenades (dart-shaped hand grenades) When the primer was used in water, the copper caps were used; for land applications, the lead cover was used. After the primer was manufactured, a safety cover was installed to prevent accidental crushing of the thin cover by striking or dropping. This safety cover was removed when the weapon was put into action. Another feature of the weapon was a hexagonal nut used to screw the primer into place. The hex was nonstandard and therefore required a special wrench. If the weapon fell into enemy hands it would be difficult to disassemble. Subterra Shells Perhaps Rains most unique invention was what he called the subterra shell. This, in effect, was the first land mine to be used in large-scale warfare. The first instance of its use occurred when Rains was serving in Florida during the Second Seminole War. To avoid the need to have a permanent lookout on duty at all times, Rains booby-trapped a dummy resembling a soldiers body. The day it was planted, an explosion was heard in the army camp. When the soldiers returned to the place where the dummy had been, they found that the shell had been exploded by an animal found dead at the scene. As Confederate forces conducted a tactical retreat from Yorktown during the Peninsula Campaign, Rains men used leftover powder to construct subterra shells and planted them in some redoubts, at the powder magazine, and near the telegraph office. A Union signal man working near a telegraph pole tripped a mine, causing a thunderous explosion that threw his body some 15 feet and stripped his clothes completely off. Four of these weapons were later planted on the Richmond Road, about five or six miles north of Williamsburg, Va. These weapons were triggered by Union cavalry with devastating results. The Union Army was delayed three days while deliberating whether to continue on a possibly mined road or use some other route. Union officers finally chose the other route. Mines and booby traps were not the weapons with which gentlemen fought wars After use of subterra shells at Yorktown, Brig. Gen. Moxley Sorrel admonished Rains that subterra shells and booby traps were not the way that gentlemen fought wars. Later, the Confederacy would deem these weapons acceptable. They were used to impede Ulysses Grants march from Vicksburg to Jackson, Miss.; at South Carolinas James Island, which protected Fort Wagner; at Fort McAllister, Ga; and at Mobiles Spanish Fort, which didnt capitulate until the final days of the war. In a report to the Confederate War Department dated November 18, 1864, Rains stated that as of that date 1,298 subterra shells had been planted near the ring of defenses around Richmond. These weapons created a field some 40 feet wide in front of the parapets and forts strung around the eastern side of the capital, from Fort Hoke to Fort Alexander, including Forts Harrison, Beauregard, and Johnston. The field was marked with red pennants attached to stakes driven into the ground beside the shell. Where there was a path for pickets to cross the field, there were stakes of a different color, and provisions for lanterns on the ground near the shells, shielded so that they only shone back toward the Confederate lines. Barrel Torpedo Barrel torpedoes were the most popular type of underwater weapons used by the Confederacy and were employed in all saltwater operations. The Rains primer, with its copper cover, provided a noncorrosive, waterproof triggering device for these weapons. The tower was fabricated from beer-, nail-, powder-, and other barrels or kegs, which were coated with pitch to improve their water tightness. The cone-shaped ends helped stabilize the weapon in the water and provided the added buoyancy for the 60-pound explosive charge, made up of chlorate of potash, prussiate of potash, white sugar, and red lead. They were used in the James River early in the war, at Charleston, and in the surrounding rivers, together with submarine mortar batteries. They were also used in Winyah Bay, S.C., in the Cape Fear and Roanoke Rivers in North Carolina, at Savannah, in Mobile Bay, and in New Orleans. Several variations were implemented in different locations, under different conditions. These varied in the number and placement of primers and the way in which others were attached to their anchors. Some were anchored and fixed in one spot, while others were anchored so that when linked together they would be drawn to a ship that passed between them. Submarine Mortar Battery Another invention by Rains, used extensively in Charleston, the Ogeechee River in Georgia, and as a single unit in Mobile Bay, was the submarine mortar battery. This was a structure 60 feet long and 35 feet wide, built of timber. Once assembled, it was towed into position and the 35-foot edge was moored to the bottom with mushroom anchors. The device angled up from the bottom, so that when four artillery shells were attached upright on the free end of the 60-foot logs, they would be at the right depth to touch the submerged part of the hull of a passing ship. These were used in the Ashley and Cooper Rivers, in the Hog Island Channel, and in other areas of Charleston Harbor. They effectively closed the harbor to Union ships for a substantial period, preventing the taking of the city by sea. Rear Admiral John Dahlgrens men found several of the submarine mortar batteries intact, and evidence of others that had deteriorated due to worm attacks on the unprotected wooden parts of the structure. Spar Torpedo Rains fuses were also used in spar torpedoes, aptly named because they were mounted on the end of a long spar or pole that was then thrust outward from the craft carrying the torpedo so that it touched the hull of the target vessel. The torpedo itself was a cylindrical-shaped device, with provisions for installing multiple fuses in one end, and having a socket attached to the other end to accept a pole called a spar. The spar was supposed to be of sufficient length to allow a safe stand-offmeaning the torpedos charge would explode at adequate distance to avoid damaging the craft delivering the torpedo. The actual charges in spar torpedoes ranged from 30 to 100 pounds of black powder. In cases where the spar torpedo used Rains fuse, the spars were 30 feet long and were carried on 37- to 50-foot long boats. Since the boats had to approach the target vessel to within the length of the spar, utmost stealth was required. Most attacks would be at night and against moving ships. On February 17, 1864, in historys first submarine sinking of an enemy warship, H.L. Hunley sank USS Housatonic with a spar torpedo, though it too sank in the process. Southern Accents The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum (crr.sc.gov) and the South Carolina Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans have embarked on a major project to conserve the museums collection of Confederate uniforms, including one that belonged to Gabriel Rains. In all, the museum hopes to conserve about 15 uniforms, with Rains the first, according to W. Allen Roberson, the museums executive director. Among the other uniforms in line are one belonging to Colonel Elbert Bland, of the 7th South Carolina Infantry, who was killed at Chickamauga; and a coat that belonged to General James Chesnut, husband of famed diarist Mary Chesnut. Roberson says the coat in their possession is believed to be the one Chesnut wore to accept Fort Sumters surrender from Major Robert Anderson in April 1861. The restoration of Rains coat by the Textile Conservation Workshop in South Salem, N.Y., is expected to take several months and will include fumigation, several cleaning processes, patching holes, encapsulating the piping to deter further fraying, and replacing six missing buttons. Upon the uniforms return later in 2018, the museum will exhibit it for the first time in more than 20 years. The museum staff hopes to plan a larger exhibit when conservation work on the full collection is completed. Previously, the South Carolina Sons of Confederate Veterans helped the museum raise over $111,000 to conserve 11 Civil War Confederate company flags displayed in an award-winning exhibit, Bold Banners: Early Civil War Flags of South Carolina in 2011. The first of five South Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial exhibits, it won the South Carolina Federations of Museums 2012 Award of Achievement for that year. Melissa A. Winn Dart Grenade Rains adapted his primer to a land device he called a dart grenade, a Confederate version of William Ketchums widely used Improved Hand Grenade. When the striker hit an object, the impact moved the striker against the musket primer cap, setting it off and igniting the main powder charge. Edward Porter Alexander, Lt. Gen. James Longstreets chief of artillery, wrote in his posthumously published book Fighting for the Confederacy: I also sent to Richmond to have a large lot of hand grenades made of a pattern which Gen. Rains had recently devised. They were thin, iron-shells, about the size of a goose egg with powder and a sensitive paper percussion fuze in the front and a two foot strap or strong cord to the rear end. A man could swing one of these and throw it 60 yards and they would burst wherever they struck. I sent for these, believing that the enemy were preparing to make a regular siege approach, upon Elliots Salient The grenade shells were provided with the percussion cap, but powder was not poured into the shell until the grenade was ready for use. After the powder was instilled, the tail was assembled. The dart grenade had a lanyard, but its function was to pull a safety pin that held a cover in place over the Rains primer on the nose of the grenade. Dart grenades could be filled with powder at the manufacturing plant and transported as a complete unit, with the tails packed separately. The cover of the primer, in the nose, would keep the weapon safe during handling and shipment. The tail had fins made of feathers, looking like darts (thus the name). When thrown, the grenade would not explode until its nose made impact with its target. Since the impact pressure only had to be approximately 7 pounds per square inch, the object hit did not have to be too solid. This weapon also had the virtue of dual capabilities. With the tail removed, it could be buried and used as a land mine. Being much smaller than the subterra shell, it was effective against foot soldiers and horses, while the subterra was most effective against cavalry, wagons, and towed artillery. Officers sent by Rains from the Torpedo Bureau in Richmond, to Columbia, S.C., to slow Shermans advance recommended that these dart grenades be used as land mines in place of subterra shells. They were also used as grenades in the Confederate defensive lines around Petersburg. Safety Valve After the war, Rains became interested in steam propulsion and designed a boiler safety valve that received a U.S. patent and earned him recognition as a non-military inventor. The valve differed from those in operation at the time because it used a portion of the boilers steam pressure to complete the opening of the valve. It would not be a commercial success for him during his lifetime, however. Gabriel Rains was primarily a scientist and not a military man. The inventions of his chemical fuse, with its safety cover, improved the safety in handling and transport for torpedoes and grenades. He was able to extend the useful life of torpedoes in saltwater and was the first to create fields of torpedoes as barriers to ship transit. His contribution to the ordnance community was as manifest as the invention of the ironclad to the Navy. His position in the Confederacy gave him the freedom to develop his talents to the fullest. Although not a dashing commander in the field, he was an excellent engineer, capable of reinforcing earthworks and other defensive positions, and he was able to develop tactics for the weapons he designed. He operated mostly in obscurity, however, as the use of mines was still a secretive business. Despite censure, Rains forecast and embraced vast changes in war technology with chilling accuracy. His devices, such as the land mine, the booby trap, the barrel torpedo, and the submarine mortar, were later refined and played decisive roles in future conflicts. In 1961 Lt. Gen. James M. Gavin, a paratroop commander in World War II, wrote: Rains was a genius at devising new and deadly ways to blow up Northerners, noting that Rains naval weapons were so effectivethe Federal Navy was forced at last to invent minesweepers. Unquestionably, Gabriel J. Rains must be acknowledged as a man of military vision, whose work not only contributed heavily to the defense of the Confederacy, but continues to have a global impact on modern military tactics. Adapted with permission from Gabriel Rains and the Confederate Torpedo Bureau, by W. Davis Waters and Joseph I. Brown (Savas Beatie, 2017). Now retired, W. Davis Waters worked for 33 years at the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, and served as site manager at Historic Edenton and at Bennett Place. The late Joseph I. Brown worked for 31 years at the Naval Mine Engineering Facility in Yorktown, Va., and helped design the MK25, MK52 and MK55 mines. He also attended the Naval Mine School in Charleston, S.C. Recently signed to Warner Music record label, Cavan native Aine Cahill has announced she will perform at Smock Alley Theatre this April. With her single 'Plastic' having been nominated for RTE Choice Music Prize, Irish song of the Year in 2017, and her newest release 'Blood Diamond' burning up the airwaves in Ireland, it's been an incredible year for Aine Cahill. We're delighted to get the chance to see to see her perform a headline show at Smock Alley Theatre this April. Aine Cahill will perform on April 20. Tickets 22 go on sale this Thursday at 9am. A initial tweet from the official Pussy Riot account was gaining rapid traction online. Since the arrival of Borisova and Sofeev in Crimea, they had been repeatedly involved in incidents with the Russian Federal Security Service. According to their Twitter account, the two members were arrested they set foot in the country and detained by the FSB on the 25th of February but released later the same day, thanks to the onslaught of online discourse which put pressure on the police force. two pussy riot members Olya Borisova and Sasha Sofeev have just been detained in Crimea. they're now being held at the local FSB department. they were arrested at the very first second they stepped on the land of Crimea. https://t.co/zbKgnBaGVP Pussy Riot (@pussyrrriot) February 25, 2018 In an encounter with the FSB yesterday, the phones and computers of Borisova and Sofeev were broken beyond use and resulted in a complete loss of contact for the two. On the 27th of February, they were then stated to be missing - we dont know what happened to them. Two Pussy Riot members are missing. Olya Borisova & Sasha Sofeev disappeared in Crimea yesterday. FSB detained them several times. Yesterday cops broke their phones and computers. We can not reach out to them. We don't know what has happened to them. pic.twitter.com/6pRtgCIbi3 Pussy Riot (@pussyrrriot) February 27, 2018 Advertisement Fans on social media reached out to the account, asking what could be done to help spread the word and possibly reestablish contact with them. Previously, pressure on the police force from social media helped the release of Pussy Riot members. The tweet was also sent out on the Russian media account @mediazzzona. UPDATE AT 15:10 GMT, 27th February It was confirmed via Twitter that both members have been located and are safe, despite being detained numerous times. we found Sasha and Olya. they were detained several times but safe now. thank you for your help!! Pussy Riot (@pussyrrriot) February 27, 2018 A Splendid Time Is Guaranteed For All: Notorious Beatles Barroom Bore Pat Carty Hotwires The Hot Press DeLorean Back To 1967 Its a pub argument as old as pubs, or arguments: what is the greatest Beatles album? The hip view is to plump for Revolver, or perhaps even The White Album. Id make a personal argument for side two of Abbey Road, but for many its Sgt Peppers, certainly the most famous one. Last year saw its fiftieth anniversary, marked by a Giles Martin remix, to counteract the less-than-great stereo mix of old. It sounded fantastic, of course, and the various discs of outtakes were the stuff of Beatle dreams, but Id still go for the bang of the mono mix from the 2014 vinyl box. At the time of the anniversary, yours truly appeared on a radio show to talk it up, and my main point was that here was an album that had to be taken in its entirety, it was as a thing itself more famous than any of the tracks on it. Yes, the new bells and whistles editions add the concurrent double a-sided single release, Strawberry Fields Forever/Penny Lane, but shoehorning this onto the original running order is the kind of heresy that, quite rightly, should see people put to death by fire. See what I mean? I could argue the minutiae of this for the rest of the year. Its a work of genius that will be celebrated and discussed as long as humanity endures. And here we are again, for A Celebration of Sgt Pepper: The UCD Symphony Orchestra and the worlds premier Beatle group The Bootleg Beatles come together for a special concert to mark the fiftieth anniversary of arguably the most influential album of all time, Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band. Pepper originally came out in May 67, so its closer to fifty-one years ago, but no matter, the smiling throng, some in improvised Pepper regalia, pouring into the Bord Gais Theatre, are not about to argue menology. The stage set Vox amps, cut-outs from the Pepper cover, and the familiar flower arrangement is exciting, but even more thrilling is the sight of the UCD Orchestra seated across the boards. A voice comes over the tannoy, warning us were not allowed to smokeanything, before our host for the evening, RTEs Shay Byrne, complete with libretto, regales us with a potted history of Pepper and 1967. Byrne comes across as a pleasant sort of chap, although his presence seems just a tad superfluous, but he keeps the ball rolling, which I suppose is the general idea. Before the main event, the orchestra, led by conductor Dr Ciaran Crilly, run through a couple of Beatles medleys, which are pleasing enough and have the crowd singing along to the likes of Magical Mystery Tour and All My Loving but were not here for the amuse-bouche. The Bootleg Beatles, whove been at this game in various guises since 1980, taking the stage in the full Pepper rig out is, to borrow a phrase, guaranteed to raise a smile. You ignore the rational part of your brain and beam with delight at the site of the fab four, all moustached and gurning. The Gibson sting and valve amp thump of the opening bars of the title track leave you in no doubt that this is a proper working band, not just some novelty troupe of actors. When the horns come in for the bridge, its the first glimpse at what might have been had The Beatles ever bothered to do this kind of thing live themselves, as is the transition to With A Little Help From My Friends. Ringo is perfect, the scouse burr is faultless. Advertisement The orchestra isnt as prominent as you might expect on the pleasingly trippy Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds, the heavy lifting is all done by the keyboards and the incredible bass playing of Paul. McCartney will always be, for me at least, rocks greatest bassist some might argue for John Entwhistle or John Paul Jones, or, God help us, some own-ass-inhabitant, noodling away on five, six, or even more strings but it was McCartney who first unlocked the instruments melodic potential for powering beat music and it is this ceaselessly inventive lower stave work that drives every one of these immortal songs. Getting Better and Fixing A Hole are note perfect, from the guitar clang of the opening to the subtle backing vocals, and even include perfectly appropriate adapted endings to preclude the fade-outs you hear on the record. The combination of the orchestrations and the perfect Paul vocal mean Shes Leaving Home is just beautiful. My only niggle would be the strum and pizzicato of the electric guitar, replacing the harp of the original, is just slightly too loud, but its a tiny complaint. Theres a good chessboard visual gag a reference to Ringos claim that he learnt to play the ancient game while recording the album before we crash into the fairground nightmare-scape of Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite! Again, the keyboards do most of the work, although our Ringo proves himself pretty handy too. We then stop, to turn over the record, and a lengthy intermission, but the sight of ice cream hawkers going up and down the aisles to a soundtrack of The Pretty Things, The Kinks, and The Who seems strangely appropriate to the proceedings. Theres another orchestral medley Tomorrow Never Knows sounds particularly good and a gorgeous full arrangement of For No One from the talented hand of Derek Cronin, conducted by Dr Crilly, whos sporting a rather fetching Beatles jacket, and delivered by his accomplished charges, before side-two kicks off. Back when I was a young lad who didnt know his arse from a hole in the ground, I would always skip over Within You Without You. I cant imagine the album without it now. Its one of the mesmerising highlights this evening as the tabla playing of Sandyman (Sandip Chakravarty) wades into the Gangean eddies of the strings under the sitar playing of George. It would have been the real Harrisons birthday today; hed tap an appreciative sandaled-toe to this. Theres times for a reference to Thomas the Tank Engine, and a crack about an audience thats more likely to be on antacid than acid, before an appropriate When Im 64 Its one of those McCartney songs that his detractors, Lennon included, scoff at, but theres no disguising its melodic strength, complete with chimes and a nifty bit of country guitar. Lovely Rita sounds like The Beatles you heard on parts of the Anthology series or the desaturated Let It Be Naked from 2003, a slightly stripped back arrangement with acoustic guitars brought to the fore and close-your-eyes-and-its-them vocals. The horns on Good Morning Good Morning get out of the way for the Taxman style guitar solo and, yes, all the requisite farm animals bray and cluck us into the title tracks reprise. If theres one song that stands out from the original album, and perhaps stands out as The Beatles masterpiece, then its A Day In The Life. Its the first song that came to mind when I heard the pitch for this show. The middle section, as the orchestra ascends through the discordant, cacophonic glissando, is almost apocalyptic, and the final chord, produced on the original recording by three separate pianos and a harmonium playing an e-major chord simultaneously, sounds like an avalanche. The song finishes with the four "Beatles" behind the bass drum, striking the pose from the records cover while the members of the orchestra don mask of the other cover stars. They get a deserved standing, stomping ovation. After a brief interlude of more talk, theyre back for Strawberry Fields Forever and Penny Lane. Fields is a glorious combination of mellotron and swarmandal effects over cellos, although the orchestra could have been just a bit louder. The first half of the song takes on an interesting demo/Anthology-like quality as "George's" contribution is delayed to to a tuning mishap. The piccolo solo in Penny Lane stumbles over its opening note, but no matter; these two remembrances of Liverpudlian childhood will forever remain untouchable. The strings are breath-taking on the Lewis Carroll/acid mixture I Am The Walrus although the Stockhausen (hes there on the cover), shortwave radio, King Lear quoting ending is absent. Advertisement Eleanor Rigby is hardly a Pepper-era track but it does give the orchestra room to work, and Fool On The Hill, never my favourite, is a delightful surprise. It reminds me, tonight at least, of those Beach Boys albums that arrived just after Brian Wilson started to fade, a descent prompted by trying to match Revolver and Pepper in the first place. The skilled work of the woodwind section deserves special mention. We finish with a sing-along to Hello, Goodbye, and All You Need Is Love, the multilingual placards and the musical quotes from La Marseillaise and She Loves You all pleasingly present and correct. Its marvellous theatre, and an unqualified success. Hot Press fifteen-year old certified Beatlemaniac of a daughter can barely stay in her seat throughout, such is her level of excitement, and the rest of the crowd are in a similar state. But, a cynic might decry, its all just pointless nostalgia. Look at it this way: the idea of Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band was conceived by McCartney, an unassailable genius at the height of his powers, in part as a look back to the British Legion bands of his youth, so it was a sort of throwback to begin with, but I am fast losing the run of myself here. Whether it be the fifty-first anniversary, or the five thousand and first, a work of art as complete and accomplished as this one warrants every celebration. Hats off to both The Bootleg Beatles and the UCD Orchestra: close your eyes and it is indeed the act youve known for all these years. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Black Panther Makes Kendrick Lamar A Superstar Producer In this piece we explore Kendrick Lamar's evolution both as a rapper and producer, with the latter most recently showcased on Black Panther: The Album. A work "inspired by the film", this release signals Lamar's ascent to the top of the music industry. ____________________ Guest post by Martin Connor of Soundfly's Flypaper Just like Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar is a rapper whose succession of albums shows off a clear yet non-obvious arc of creative development moving from a space of talented yet safe to risky, daring, and innovative. West went from doing the best possible version of what people were already doing, on College Dropout in 2004, to doing the best possible version of what people could never have imagined on The Life of Pablo in 2016. Lamars 2010 album, Section.80, is basically his own College Dropout moment, since it was really meant to begin gathering and prepping an audience for the truly groundbreaking material to come: 2015s To Pimp a Butterfly, obviously, and 2017s DAMN. With the arrival of the recent Black Panther: The Album, listeners get to see the newest step in this process. An album inspired by the movie, as opposed to a straightforward soundtrack, this album represents Lamar taking another step towards dominating more and more of not just the music industry, but the entire media industry (what studio wouldnt let him to direct a movie, with the help of a couple high-powered execs behind him?). Its becoming clearer and clearer now, that Lamar has been doing much more than just rapping on his projects all along, despite the official album credits telling a different story. His name might be hidden behind the moniker The Little Homies on music video credits, but its obvious now that Lamar plays an extremely important role when it comes to the production of his songs beats, too. Take this for example: On Black Panther: The Album, the song, X utilizes the same original lyrical sample in a multitude of compositional ways within the lyrics, tucked into the beat, and as a structural musical device. The lyric, Are you on 10 yet is used in the foreground during the chorus at 0:15; its used like a new instrumental element in the beat, at 2:58; its even used as a rhythmic loop rotator to re-start a new 4-bar grouping during 2Chainzs verse, at 3:08. Could the credited producers here Sounwave and Illmind possibly have come up with all that on their own? Yes. But did Lamar have something like that in mind for the production when he wrote such a dynamic, flexible rhythmic line? Also, yes. On Lamars five previous albums, he garnered a grand total of exactly one published producer credit (for Untitled 04 | 8.14.2014.), from the 2016 compilation EP, untitled unmastered. We can ignore for a second, the fact that Lamar probably doesnt need to pad out his credits for the sake of earning more royalty dollars, however, this public credit conundrum does run contrary to the stories from producers who have worked closely with Lamar. Legendary producer 9th Wonder might have taken the original samples and made the three beats for DUCKWORTH. (from DAMN.), but according to him, it was Lamar who actually chose to put all three beats together. In an interview with NPR, another star producer, Mike Will Made It, said that Lamar took Mike Wills original beat for the song DNA. and just kept rapping even after it had faded out. This forced the producer to make a completely new beat for the second half. Despite the fact that Lamar so greatly influenced the outcome of both of those songs musical arrangements, he isnt credited as a producer on either of them. But on this new Black Panther: The Album project, Lamar is now garnering a total of five official production credits (on the songs: Black Panther, I Am, Bloody Waters, Redemption Interlude, and Seasons). In advertisements for this soundtrack, Lamar is most often referred to as a curator, as someone who would simply be choosing the best music that was made by other people. Unfortunately, Lamars admirable modesty might here be obscuring the real story. With each new album, his foreground rapping and his backing accompaniments have become too blurred and intertwined for him to have not at least been in the room, throwing out ideas, when the producer sat down to make the final mix. This new release is just more proof of that. Lamars official production credits probably lag behind his real tally by at least a few tracks, if not dozens. His rapping is just too inextricably bound to how the accompaniment behind him progresses forward. In fact, its almost like he remixes his own material before it even comes out. A great example of this close structural interaction comes from that same Mike Will DNA. beat. Lamar opens the song with the line, I got loyalty, got royalty, inside my DNA. Later on, he quotes these lines again in the left channel, while in the right channel, he now simultaneously adds a completely new idea, I live a better life / Im rollin several dice / F**k your life / I live a bett / F**k your life. And as if this cacophony isnt already enough to overload your listening capacity, he overlays in the center channel, Geraldo Rivera opinionated spiel: This is why I say that hip-hop has done more damage to young African Americans than racism in recent years. Behind all this chaos, Al Shepards actual countdown from his 1961 space flight ticks off the seconds until the next beat blasts off at 2:06. And are you ready for the real kicker? When the song starts, its BPM is around 140. By the time the I got loyalty sample comes back in here to help make the transition between these beats, it has slowed to about 135 BPM. Finally when the new beat arrives, it lands at 130 BPM. He uses the aeronautic countdown to literally count down his BPM numbers Why does this matter? Could Mike Will have set all that up? Yes. But typically when stuff like that gets done in tandem with raps, you have to know where you were going from the moment you put pen to paper, and then put samples to drum machines. On Black Panther, Lamar takes all this intertwining of beat and rap to the next level. On the opening song, Black Panther, every instance of the word king in Lamars rap is reflected somewhere in the backing beat. It shows up to the left, the right, high, low, whispered, shouted its no coincidence that we find the same intricately braided production here, as Black Panther is one of the few songs on which Lamar is actuallycredited as a producer. So when this song ends with a dramatic build-up that repeats the same king lyric eleven straight times, reinforcing the established, while turning it into something completely new, we really cant pretend like were surprised anymore. Kendrick Lamar isnt just a great rapper; hes a great producer. Its just that hes taken the opposite career path of Dr. Dre, and Kanye West after him. Lamar started filling headphones with his exciting lyrics and delivery, and only then did he start to supply the exciting beats. The only question now is which domain of art hell decide to conquer next. Sculpture, anyone? Share on: One Senators Vote Can Stop Net Neutrality Repeal, Join Operation: #OneMoreVote One U.S. Senator's vote is all that is need to help stop the repeal of net neutrality. Today, Tuesday, February 27th, please join us and other net neutrality supporters and major web platforms in Operation: #OneMoreVote, a mass day of online and offline action. 50 senators have already come out in support of a Congressional Review Act (CRA), which would overturn the FCCs December 14th decision and restore net neutrality protections. The goal of today's Operation: #OneMoreVote is to secure the final vote needed. CONTACT CONGRESS NOW Internet users, small businesses, online communities, public interest groups and popular websites will harness their reach to flood lawmakers with phone calls and emails from constituents, while high-traffic websites will help sound the alarm with prominent alerts encouraging visitors to take action. Offline, net neutrality supporters will gather outside 8 key Senate offices across the country, as well as at a rally outside the Senate in Washington, DC. Reddit, Tumblr, Etsy, Medium, Vimeo, Imgur, Namecheap, DuckDuckGo, Private Internet Access, Fiverr, Patreon, KnowYourMeme and Sonos are amoung the companies that have announced their participation, along with groups like Consumer Reports, the ACLU, Common Cause, Engine, CCIA, Change.org, National Hispanic Media Coalition, and Creative Commons. CONTACT CONGRESS NOW Share on: Sofia The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and BULATSA, the Bulgarian Air Navigation Service Provider, have agreed to develop and implement a Bulgarian National Airspace Strategy. BULATSA and IATA will strengthen their existing cooperation for this initiative, which is aimed at delivering benefits to the travelling public, while supporting national economic growth and the competitiveness of the Bulgarian aviation sector. Passenger demand for air transport in Bulgaria is set to double over the next two decades. Servicing this demand, while ensuring safety, and managing costs, CO2 emissions and delays, requires Bulgaria to further modernize its airspace and Air Traffic Management (ATM) network. Successful airspace modernization is expected to create significant benefits, generating an extra 628 million in annual GDP and 11,300 jobs annually by 2035. BULATSA and IATA have committed to work together and with all aviation stakeholders to deliver and implement the National Airspace Strategy in support of the Single European Sky (SES) initiative. The main aspects of the strategy cover leadership and a collaborative stakeholder approach, airspace management, and technical modernization of the ATM system. Georgi Peev, Director General of BULATSA, explained: "I welcome this initiative, which will support the ongoing evolution of our technology and operations. The development of a national airspace strategy would further enhance the good cooperation with our customers and partners and would contribute to achieving the SES high level goals. The implementation of BULATSAs key projects related to airspace reorganization and to capabilities to meet high traffic levels combined with increased complexity of operations are expanding the foundation for the delivery of BULATSA's ambitious targets. Alexandre de Juniac, IATAs Director General and CEO, said: "Bulgaria will occupy an ever-more important position in European airspace as East-West traffic increases in the coming years. And Bulgaria itself is a fast-growing economy which will see a significant passenger surge. Ensuring that the airspace is optimized to cope with increased traffic will benefit not only Bulgaria but the wider European traveling public. As Bulgaria takes up its Presidency of the European Union, this commitment to building a National Airspace Strategy is a concrete sign of the nation fulfilling a strategic leadership role. We congratulate BULATSA for its vision, and look forward to working with them to make airspace modernization a success. The Bulgarian National Airspace Strategy will include: Enhancement of coordination for more efficient flightpaths; Airspace optimization at regional level as well as between regions; Increased capacity while ensuring safety levels; Improved punctuality of flights; Better sharing of information across the European air transport network. For more information, please contact: BULATSA Tel: +359 2 937 1111 Email: atsainfo@bulatsa.com IATA Corporate Communications Tel: +41 22 770 2967 Email: corpcomms@iata.org Notes for Editors: Bjorn Somlo is looking to re-open the Lantern on North Street later this year. Owner of Nudel Looks to Reopen The Lantern in Pittsfield PITTSFIELD, Mass. The chef and owner of Nudel , in Lenox, is looking to reopen The Lantern. The Licensing Board gave its approval for Bjorn Somlo to take over the tavern's liquor license. The property is being bought by Mill Town Capital, as 449 North Street RE LLC. "We're looking to take The Lantern ... and reopen in 2018, offering a mixture of creative small plates, sippable liqueurs, craft cocktails, and craft drafts," Somlo said. The Lantern has been a longtime staple at the intersection of North and Linden streets for a century. But last year, owner Mark Papas closed it after the Fire Department took issue with a new deep frier that was not covered by the fire suppression system. Papas was asked to revamp the sprinkler system to comply with fire codes. Somlo said he plans to retain much of the current aesthetics of the building while revamping the menu and offerings. At first, he isn't planning on serving lunch, only opening for small plate dinners. The alcohol beverages served are "designed to be sipped" and patrons would only have few, rather than many, he said. "The food is going to be chef-driven and the people who are serving are doing the same thing. We want to put out something with character," Somlo said. The restaurant's character is eyed to fit with Methuselah, Mission, and Dottie's, all of which have opened on that part of North Street in recent years. That portion of North Street was the last to receive an upgrade during the decadelong streetscape project. Last year, Framework, a co-working space, opened less than a block away. That, too, is headed by Mill Town Capital. "We're hoping to join those people at that end of North Street," Samlo said. "I've been trying to make something happen in Pittsfield for over 15 years." The Licensing Board said Somlo's reputation as a businessman and a chef speaks for itself. "I think it is exciting for the city of Pittsfield to have somebody of your caliber coming to Pittsfield," said Chairman Thomas Campoli. Member Richard Stockwell said, "Pittsfield is very fortunate and very lucky that he is investing in North Street." In other business, the Licensing Board gave its OK for Chili's to open in the former Old Country Buffet location. The chain restaurant is looking to move into the Berkshire Crossing Shopping Plaza later this year. "We would like to open this year but it depends on the build-out, construction, and negotiations with the landlord," said Attorney Andrew Upton, representing the restaurant. Chili's is a southwestern, family restaurant. There are more than 30 in Massachusetts and more than 500 across the country, according to Upton. Upton said the company plans to hire as many as 80 workers to operate the restaurant. The Licensing Board also approved the expansion of Otto's restaurant despite neighbor Kermit Goodman's concerns about security and truck traffic. Goodman owns property on First Street and the rights to easements onto Wendell Avenue Extension. He said often delivery trucks are blocking his access to the street and he fears the license will only increase traffic. Further, he recalled a stabbing that happened at a former bar in the area and has concerns the Otto's serving alcohol at night without proper security could lead to trouble. "These events tend to leave a very long memory and very unpleasant one," Goodman said. Attorney Thomas Hamel said Otto's Breakfast & Deli will be more along the lines of Patrick's Restaurant, which is based more on the food than the bar service. The Licensing Board felt that truck traffic is out of its authority and that the restaurant does not have a track record of having trouble with security. "If the delivery trucks are occurring now, I don't see that much of a difference," said member Dennis Powell. Hamel said deliveries are all in compliance with city ordinances and doesn't believe it would be appropriate for a city board to enact stricter restrictions on where and when the restaurant can receive deliveries than any other license holder in the city. "I don't think this board has the right, in fact, I am almost positive we don't have the right, to tell vendors they can't come to different places and deliver products," Stockwell said. Police Chief Timothy Sorrell presented the letter the Selectmen on Monday. Next to him is Jeffrey Collingwood, an engineering who has been working with Ericson on some repairs to the building. Lanesborough Police Union: Station Is 'Unsafe and Unprofessional' LANESBOROUGH, Mass. The town's police officers want an improved working environment. The police officer's union, Lanesborough Police Officers Association MassCop, Local 390, wrote to the Board of Selectmen saying the station is "unsafe and unprofessional." "The current unsafe and unprofessional conditions are preventing our members from effectively executing our duties and are creating a liability for the town," the letter reads. "There is an immediate need to complete the necessary and overdue renovations." This isn't the first time the union has expressed concerns with the aging building. It was just a few years ago when the police association expressed concern with the air quality there. The town tried to rectify that by purchasing an air purifier. "There are multiple holes in the walls of the station, some of which have towels stuffed inside of them to prevent cold air from penetrating the small and cramped workspace. The integrity of our locker room is suspect at best. Black mold has been found on the walls and other surfaces of the building. The corrective action was to provide a simple air purifier," the letter given to the Selectmen on Monday reads. The union voiced concern about the electrical outlets, the structure of the facility, the size, and the structure's practical application in today's policing environment. The union says not only is the small station lacking the privacy for such interviews but that electrical outlets are "dangerously overloaded with additional power strips to support equipment." There is exposed wiring over door casings and stapled to the walls. The smoke and carbon monoxide detectors don't work. "The brick structure is significantly deteriorated and visible damage can be seen behind the broken drywall. The front entry door is badly rusted, corroded, and at times can't be secured," the letter reads. "The windows are inefficient with the locks broken or missing altogether. These are obvious security concerns for the officers working in the building." The letter says hay bales are stacked outside the building to act as insulation. The furnace leaks and "uniforms and other clothing smell like fuel when removed for duty." There's also the need for privacy when taking statements from statements related to investigations. "We are required by Massachusetts law to video and audio record some of these statements. The ideal scenario is to have a dedicated space to take these statements that is private, free of distractions, and is a space to eliminate barriers. This is for a number of reasons and speaks to the sciences behind efficient and effective law enforcement tactics," the letter reads. "We ask that you put yourself in the shoes of a survivor of sexual assault and you have to give a victim in our current space. If you do so, we feel that you will understand the importance and need for a private and safe place to discuss horrific and personal details. If you were a survivor of a horrific crime and you are giving a statement in our current space, would you have the confidence that the Lanesborough Police Department will bring a successful resolution to this horrible crime? Put yourself in the shoes of a suspect who has committed this horrible crime. Would you have confidence that the Lanesborough Police Department could prove your guilt?" Selectman Robert Ericson has been personally working on a renovation plan and has four phases planned out. Those include creating new office space, replacing the furnace, insulating ductwork and walls, installing new electrical services and doors, and making repairs throughout. It will include relocating the lockers, flooring, and general upkeep. Ericson said he is starting with the garage area and moving north. The project is estimated to cost $20,254, with the majority of it being paid through the state's Green Communities program. But the union said the repairs needed are far beyond what Ericson can do. "Although we are appreciative of Selectman Ericson's effort to try and resolve these issues, we feel that the scope of this project is beyond one person's capabilities. Furthermore, the attempts to resolve some of these conditions have exposed Selectman Ericson to unsafe working conditions as it appears he is lacking required safety equipment," the letter reads. While Ericson has been working toward fixing many of those cited issues, the officers noticed money to design brand-new police stations for Pittsfield and North Adams have been included in the state's bond bill. "I'd love to have a new station or better accommodations, but I understand the budget is tight," Police Chief Timothy Sorrell told the Board of Selectmen. Sorrell said he has worked out of that building for nearly 30 years. During that same period, the town of Lenox has had three different station projects. Sorrell says the condition of the town's police station is "disheartening" to many of the officers. He is hoping state Sen. Adam Hinds will visit the station and see for himself, and maybe Lanesborough, too, can secure funding for a new station in the future. Agents and brokers Erin Scott, left, Rebecca Gold Cellana, Seth Alden, Kim Burnham, Gary Ostrander, Jane Miller and Sarah Fleury at the grand opening reception for Burnham Gold Real Estate in North Adams. Missing are Tom Elder and Lisa Mendel. PreviousNext Burnham Gold Real Estate Opens Second Office in North Adams The new office is in the Berkshire Plaza on Main Street. NORTH ADAMS, Mass. Burnham Gold Real Estate threw a party and everybody came. At least it seemed that way last Thursday as the real estate company was welcomed to North Adams with open arms. "There are happenings in North Adams and we want to be a part of it," Kim Burnham said above the buzz of conversation at the office's grand opening reception. "We're hoping to bring real value back to the city, we're excited about this location." The new office is at 33 Main St., in the Berkshire Plaza. The space was most recently being used for a gallery but has been split into two, with Burnham Gold taking over the front space looking out onto the plaza. Kim Burnham and Rebecca Gold Cellana started the company in 2011, just a few years after the economic collapse cooled the housing market. But they had plenty of experience and confidence in North County. Seven years later, they've opened their second location and have nine people working in the North Adams and 191 Water St., Williamstown, offices, and expect to expand by adding a couple more people. Primarily dealing in residential real estate, the agency is also moving more into commercial and land sales. Real estate agents Erin Scott and Sarah Fleury talked up the possibilities in the city, Burnham said, and Greylock Works owners Salvatore Perry and Karla Rothstein further encouraged the move. "North adams is going through a revitalization with everyone moving in, and tourists coming, and the mills," Fleury said. "I think this is a perfect time for us to be here and grow here ... I think North Adams is great place for real estate." Real estate agent Seth Alden pointed to such venues as the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art and the proposed model railroad museum as attractions to the area for artists and new families. "We have a quality of life that a lot of places don't offer other than the Berkshires," he said, adding that "especially watching all these mills come back to life as apartments or different avenues of income, it's really an exciting time. I think investors and young families will start to see that more and more in this area." Burnham said the agency wants to bring "real value" back to the city. "I think for too long, in my opinion, the city has been undervalued and I'd like to bring some real dollars back to the sellers," she said. "There are some really great properties in this city and some of them have been overlooked, in my opinion ... "The hardest part of this job is putting a price on the real estate and we're going to do everything in our power to bring top dollar to our sellers." Sarah Gaffey, a community development lender at MountainOne Bank, said the real estate market is definitely on the upswing. There's been a little lull over the holidays but it's been more active in the past weeks. She expects that to pick up more with the release of Equity Builder Program funds, part of a federal program to help qualified first-time and low-income homeowners by homes. "We're hoping to release the Equity Builder funds at the and of March, so once those are released that helps a lot of first-time homebuyers," Gaffey said. Burnham Gold agents say their sales have been steady and that they are working to get more properties. "We've got a ton of buyers waiting for that inventory to come on the market," Scott said. "I think it's pretty great as far as the economy goes ... people are buying and selling." The crowded office reception was a mix of Williamstown Chamber of Commerce members and North Adams business people and community leaders, including several city councilors and the mayor, who were on hand to welcome the city's newest business. "I'm really impressed by the turnout, which indicates a level of support for the business in general but for also for having a real estate office down here," Mayor Thomas Bernard said. "We're starting to see more interest in housing. So having these folks with the experience they have, the team based right here, is great." Some senior NDMO staff have been charged with theft for holding back relief supplies destined for distribution to cyclone Pam victims. Photo of aid distribution on Tongariki after cyclone Pam To access our in-house intelligence please request a trial here. Read this article and more for a 30 day period. Are you already an IFLR subscriber? Login here Governor Brown Announces Appointments Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced the following appointments: Juvilyn Alegre, 47, of Chula Vista, has been reappointed to the California Building Standards Commission, where she has served since 2016. Alegre has served as fire prevention supervisor at the San Diego Fire Rescue Department since 2012, where she was a fire prevention inspector from 2007 to 2012. She was a wastewater pretreatment inspector at the City of San Diego Metropolitan Wastewater Department from 2000 to 2007 and hazardous materials inspector at the City of San Diego Environmental Services Department from 1994 to 2000. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Alegre is a Democrat. Erick Mikiten, 55, of Berkeley, has been reappointed to the California Building Standards Commission, where he has served since 2012. Mikiten has been president at Mikiten Architecture since 1991 and was a lecturer and instructor at the University of California, Berkeley from 1990 to 1991. He earned a Master of Architecture degree in from the University of California, Berkeley. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Mikiten is a Democrat. Kent Sasaki, 53, of Walnut Creek, has been reappointed to the California Building Standards Commission, where he has served since 2012. Sasaki has held several positions at Wiss Janney Elstner Associates Inc. since 1989, including principal, board member and engineer. He is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Structural Engineers Association of California. Sasaki earned a Master of Engineering degree in structural engineering from the University of California, Berkeley. This position requires Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Sasaki is a Democrat. James Burleson, 51, of Petaluma, has been reappointed to the 4th District Agricultural Association, Sonoma-Marin Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2006. Burleson has been founding principal at Burleson + Company since 2004. He was an investment specialist at Charles Schwab from 2003 to 2004, a business development officer at the Premier Trading Group from 2002 to 2003 and lead market maker at Joseph D. Heard Jr. Inc. from 1996 to 1998. Burleson is treasurer at the Petaluma Rotary Club Foundation and a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Parish Finance Council. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Burleson is a Republican. Nicole Marzo, 51, of Petaluma, has been reappointed to the 4th District Agricultural Association, Sonoma-Marin Fair Board of Directors, where she has served since 2006. Marzo has been a realtor with Coldwell Banker, Petaluma and owner at Lace House Linen Supply Inc. since 2000. She was sales marketing director at Mixed Emotions Fine Art from 1999 to 2000. Marzo is a member of the Society of California Pioneers and a volunteer at Petaluma National Little League. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Marzo is a Republican. Lois Merriweather Moore, 71, of Novato, has been reappointed to the 4th District Agricultural Association, Sonoma-Marin Fair Board of Directors, where she has served since 2014. Moore has been an adjunct professor at the University of San Francisco since 2003. She was a consultant for the United Negro College Fund, Gates Millennium Scholars Program from 2004 to 2011. Moore was a teacher for the Novato Unified School District from 1973 to 2002. She earned a Doctor of Education degree in international and multicultural education from the University of San Francisco and a Master of Arts degree in education from Sonoma State University. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Moore is a Democrat. Greg Herman, 52, of Tulelake, has been reappointed to the 10a District Agricultural Association, Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair Board of Directors, where he has served since 2012. Herman has been a member of the Lassen Canyon Nurserys Macdoel management team since 2013. He served as agricultural commissioner and sealer for Siskiyou County from 2007 to 2013 and held several positions at the Siskiyou County Agriculture Department from 1992 to 1998, including assistant agricultural commissioner, deputy agricultural commissioner and agricultural biologist. He was feedlot operations manager at Swan Lake Feeders Inc. from 1992 to 1998. Herman is a member of Tulelake 4-H. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Herman is a Republican. Rachel Misso, 67, of Tulelake, has been reappointed to the 10a District Agricultural Association, Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair Board of Directors, where she has served since 2015. Misso served as a teacher at the Tulelake Basin Joint Unified School District from 1989 to 2012. She is a member of the Tulelake Area Service Club, Friends of the Modoc County Library, Tulelake Chamber of Commerce, Delta Kappa Gamma, Order of the Eastern Star and the Klamath Hospice, Inc. Board of Directors. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Misso is a Republican. Laura Schaad, 26, of Tulelake, has been reappointed to the 10a District Agricultural Association, Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair Board of Directors, where she has served since 2017. Schaad has been a fair entry manager at Tulelake-Butte Valley Fairgrounds since 2017 and business development marketing specialist at County Cork Collectibles since 2017, where she has held several positions since 2013, including media specialist, operations manager and store associate. She was a farm loan officer at the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2015 to 2017, a universal banker at U.S. Bank from 2014 to 2015 and office assistant for the Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair in 2011. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Schaad is a Republican. Angela Sutton, 33, of Tulelake, has been appointed to the 10a District Agricultural Association, Tulelake-Butte Valley Fair Board of Directors. Sutton has been an interpretive park ranger at Lava Beds National Monument since 2001. She is a member of the Tulelake Area Service Club and the Tulelake Revitalization Committee. This position does not require Senate confirmation and there is no compensation. Sutton is a Republican. FTC Chairman on Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling regarding AT&T Mobility Washington, DC - Acting Federal Trade Commission Chairman Maureen K. Ohlhausen issued the following statement regarding the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling today in FTC v. AT&T Mobility, LLC: I welcome the Ninth Circuits ruling as good news for consumers. It ensures that the FTC can and will continue to play its vital role in safeguarding consumer interests including privacy protection, as well as stopping anticompetitive market behavior. Third Anniversary of the Murder of Boris Nemtsov Washington, DC - Three years ago, opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was assassinated just outside the Kremlin. As a leading figure of Russias democratic movement, a former Russian regional governor, and an energy minister as well as a deputy prime minister, Boris Nemtsov committed his life to public service and the goal of a freer and more prosperous Russia. His memory continues to inspire the Russian people and many others around the world to engage in the difficult and sometimes dangerous struggle for just, democratic, and accountable government. As we honor the memory of Boris Nemtsovs life and work, we renew our call on the Government of Russia to uphold its obligations to promote and protect universal human rights, including freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and freedom of association. We again urge the Russian government to ensure that all involved in this crime, including those who organized or ordered it, are brought to justice. This Isnt Our Last Love Letter Dear Don Don, Way back in 92 I walked into the room and knew Never felt this way before I shook your hand while gazing into your eyes And the feeling grew As I took a seat I knew A love that would have my heart Forever I knew Way back in 92 They say love at first sight doesnt always last or isnt true We were the exception to that rule Our love had no where to hide A spark set fire As if this is how the universe started I never doubted our love or what we could do Together we grew Forming a bond everlasting That became our glue My euphoria was YOU Im eternally grateful for the love and life we shared For how fortunate we were : to have and to hold through sickness and in health Til death do us part Until we are together again This isnt our last love letter I love you with all my heart and soul Yours forever, Deirdre (Mrs. Hank Snow) Im fortunate to have fallen in love with, marry and make a life with the sharpest, coolest, funniest, most rare, bad ass, tender loving, loyal man on the planet, my husband Don Imus. A True American Hero I dont know why it has been so hard for me to write about my dear friend Don Imus. I certainly know what he meant to me, my family, my charity, my hospital and the millions of fans that listened and loved him for so many years. I keep reading all the beautiful condolences that people are writing about how much a part of their lives were effected by listening to him over the years. But what most people dont talk enough about is what he did for all of us. In every sense of the word, he was an American Hero. His work with children with so many different illnesses and his dedication to their future was unmatched by anyone I have ever known or heard about. Besides raising over $100,000,000 for so many causes, he took care of young people for over 20 years in a state where he could not breathe. Along with his incredible wife Deirdre, he created a world where children were not defined by their disease. That was a miracle! He was a miracle. I will miss him ever day for the rest of my life. I was blessed to be a part of his and Deirdes life. No one will ever do what he did. I love you Don Imus - A TRUE AMERICAN HERO David Jurist IMUS IN THE MORNING FIRST DAY BACK! Sat in a London hotel bar, Julian Slater looks surprisingly chipper for someone that only the same morning arrived from Los Angeles, but then the Hollywood sound designer is in the midst of that adrenalin-fuelled ride of a debut Oscar nomination for work on one of last years hit movies: Baby Driver. Such is his excitement, Slater has forsworn alcohol until after the ceremony on 4 March, so he can properly appreciate all the experience entails. Its such a crazy, magical time, he explains, thinking back to the Oscars nominees lunch where he rubbed shoulders with Meryl Streep, Gary Oldman and Steven Spielberg. The great thing about it is everyone is treated equally. There is no hierarchy, so I was sat with Amy Pascal, the ex-head of Sony, and the guy who directed Call Me By My Name [Luca Guadagnino]. For Baby Driver, the heist flick featuring Jamie Foxx and Kevin Spacey, Slater is actually up for two awards: sound editing (gathering and making sounds and laying them in-synch, he explains) and mixing (balancing the sound effects together and against the dialogue and music), recognition of his key role on the film, or rather roles (sound designer, supervising sound editor and re-recording mixer). It is also testament to the key role audio plays in this high-octane thriller that follows a fresh-faced getaway-car driver, the most successful project to date from fellow Brit Edgar Wright. Ansel Elgort and Lily James star in Baby Driver Having made his name as creator of cult sitcom Spaced, the director moved into film with the much-loved Cornetto Trilogy: Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz and The Worlds End. Baby Driver follows the directors Hollywood debut Scott Pilgrim vs The World, though is based on an idea he had been nurturing for around two decades, what Wright himself has described as a car-chase film powered by music. It is these tunes, mainly selected by Wright himself, listened to constantly by the title character (performed by Ansel Elgort) to ease his tinnitus, that run through almost the whole film, from Jon Spencer Blues Explosions testifying Bellbottoms to Simon & Garfunkels sweetly playful Baby Driver, sometimes in musical set-pieces, such as choreographed street-walks and fight scenes, to background noise. Melding the soundtrack with the dialogue and the action formed a considerable challenge for Slater, despite his own impressive CV that also begins with TV, notably on Chris Morris projects The Day Today, Brass Eye and the surreal Jam, which brought him to Wrights attention. He was a fan of Chris Morris, heard the sound and was interested in speaking to the person responsible, which led to Shaun of the Dead. Slater has gone onto enjoy a varied career in the film industry, with highlights ranging from Mad Max: Fury Road, through The Danish Girl to Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. All the while, Slater has been a constant member of Wrights core filmmaking team, moving to America to take part in Ant-Man, until the director walked out at the last minute. Still, that has not dented an easy working relationship. Edgar surrounds himself with long-term collaborators: picture editors, production designer, DOP (director of photography). Ansel Elgort, Jamie Foxx, Eiza Gonzalez, and Jon Hamm in a scene from Edgar Wrights film Baby Driver That means you know exactly how he works and he has a very particular way of working so I can synch into that and theres no fear about my ideas being rejected. I can suggest anything thats crazy, stupid or possibly isnt going to work. Hes great at creating an infrastructure then handing it over and saying now off you go. Slater had known about Baby Drivers concept for five years and saw an early script two years later, in a unique form: Wright sent colleagues an iPad app that played relevant music as the pages turned, so his go-to sound man knew from the off this was going to be special. To work on a movie that is about sound and where sound is a plot point because [Baby] has tinnitus and sound has been written into the DNA of the script, that is the holy grail for me, it just doesnt happen that often. Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Rather than the soundtrack coming to the fore at regular intervals, the mix of hip hop and rock, funk and soul, is seamlessly melded with the dialogue and sound effects, from gunshots and police sirens, to the humdrum sounds of a 24-hour diner. Much of this work was done on-set, with actors listening to tracks as they performed, yet that still left Slater with much to do. He is especially proud of a gun fight set to a version of Tequila, a chaotic scene with shots and ricochets all in time with the Latino rhythm. Baby Driver director Edgar Wright has described his film as a car-chase film powered by music (Getty) To figure out the technicalities of doing that was pretty tough, but then to present it in a way that was covert as much as overt was tricky, because we didnt want the audience to get tired of it as a device after half an hour or detract from the action. Perhaps the most effective moment is late on in the film when Baby loses his hearing due to two shots fired by Buddy (John Hamm), as the action is entirely from his perspective. It wasnt until the last days of the mix that we cracked it, because you want to hear it through his ears, but we still has to hear what people are saying. Slater claims to have been surprised as anyone about his nominations, though there were early intimations that the reaction to Baby Driver would be different to anything he had experienced before. In March of last year, when Wright premiered the finished film at South by Southwest,, early reviews referred to the sound which is very rare. That was the first time I remembered thinking that was something special. After that, the director pointed out that in his first draft of the script, he wrote the movie was all about sound and should be Oscar-nominated for mixing or editing, he didnt care which. Now Slater finds himself up against the same formidable shortlist in both mixing and editing: Blade Runner 2049, Star Wars: The Last Jedi, The Shape of Water and Dunkirk, winner now of the Bafta best sound award, for which Slater was also nominated. The lad from Suffolk is obviously a long shot, though Slater is happy just be on the shortlist. Baby Driver has been a fantastic calling card for someone that works, as they say in the industry, below the line, with multi-Oscar-winning mixers contacting him to say how much they have enjoyed the film. Its nice to have worked on something that everyone knows about. Oscar winners are chosen by the academy, but the nominees are selected by peers in our particular fields that means Ive been chosen by people who know what they are doing. I feel like a winner already. The 90th Academy Awards Ceremony takes place on 4 March. Baby Driver is out now on DVD and soundtrack is available via 30th Century Records Other top sound experts Jay Jennings Respected within the industry, Jennings has won Golden Reel awards for work on Road To Perdition, Letters From Iwo Jima and Rolling Stones documentary Crossfire Hurricane. Jimmy Boyle One of the top UK sound designers, Boyle has worked on Bond movies Casino Royale and Quantum of Solace, winning an Emmy for WWII miniseries Band of Brothers. Onnalee Blank In a male-dominated sector, Blank has made her name as sound mixer for Game of Thrones, winning two Emmys for her contribution to the creation of its involving fantasy world. Ben Burtt He has worked on everything from ET to Wall-E, but Burtt is best known for devising many of the iconic sounds from the Star Wars franchise, including R2-D2s chirpping, the lightsabers hum and the shriek of the TIE fighter. Black Panther will be coming to Netflix, but fans will need to wait until September to see the film on the streaming platform. Because of Disney's acquisition of Fox and its subsidiaries, the latest Marvel superhero film will be arriving on the streaming service. Disney has a deal set up that gives Netflix the rights to their films. Recommended Kendrick Lamar wants to be in the next Black Panther film Films are added to Netflix about seven months after their theatrical release. Since Black Panther was released on February 16, the Marvel film will likely be available for streaming in mid-September. For reference, Captain America: Civil War came out on May 6, 2017 and it came to Netflix on December 25, 2016, just seven months and three weeks later. Doctor Strange premiered on Netflix just six months and three weeks after its theatrical release on November 4, 2016. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 came out on May 5, 2017 and hit Netflix exactly seven months later on December 5, 2017. Recommended Netflix faces backlash over film starring Jared Leto as yakuza member Black Panther could be the last Marvel film to stream on Netflix since all of the films will live on Disney's new streaming service in 2019. With the transition, it's possible Avengers: Infinity War could just miss the cut-off for coming to Netflix. While Marvel films will be moving off Netflix, Netflix-Marvel series Jessica Jones, Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Luke Cage: Iron Fist, The Punisher and The Defenders will remain on the platform.There will be more information about Black Panther's release date on Netflix as it gets closer to the fall. As the Marvel franchise continues to expand at a phenomenal rate, more and more esteemed actors are being swept into the superhero universe. The latest person to join the Disney-owned franchise is Gemma Chan, best known for leading the Channel 4 series Humans. Chan will star alongside Brie Larson in the upcoming blockbuster Captain Marvel, the first female-led Marvel Cinematic Universe movie. Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck best known for helming the movie Mississippi Grind will direct the movie, which follows the Air Force pilot Carol Danvers as her DNA fuses with an alien. Chan will reportedly play Doctor Minerva, a member of the alien race, the Kree, and a geneticist who has powers similar to Captain Marvel. 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Show all 27 1 /27 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Black Panther Released: 12 February 12 February Director: Ryan Coogler Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Greatest Showman Released: 1 January 1 January Director: Michael Gracey Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Darkest Hour Released: 12 January 12 January Director: Joe Wright Cast: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri Released: 12 January Director: Martin McDonagh 12 JanuaryMartin McDonagh Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Caleb Landry Jones > Twentieth Century Fox 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Coco Released: 19 January 19 January Director: Lee Unkrich ,p>Cast: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Renee Victor 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Downsizing Released: 19 January 19 January Director: Alexander Payne Cast: Matt Damon, Christopher Waltz, Jong Chau, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Early Man Released: 26 January 26 January Director: Nick Park Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams, Timothy Spall 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Fifty Shades Freed Released: 9 February 9 February Director: James Foley Cast: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Kim Basinger 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Maze Runner: The Death Cure Released: 9 February 9 February Director: Wes Ball Cast: Dylan O'Brien, Thomas Brodie Sangster, Kaya Scodelario, Giancarlo Esposito, Aidan Gillen 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Shape of Water Released: 16 February 16 February Director: Guillermo del Toro Cast: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Doug Jones 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Annihilation Released: 23 February 23 February Director: Alex Garland Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Lee, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Oscar Isaac 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Dark River Released: 23 February 23 February Director: Clio Barnard Cast: Ruth Wilson, Mark Stanley, Sean Bean 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Red Sparrow Released: 2 March 2 March Director: Francis Lawrence Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Jeremy Irons 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Tomb Raider Released: 16 March 16 March Director: Roar Uthaug Cast: Alicia Vikander, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, Dominic West, 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 A Wrinkle in Time Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Ava DuVernay Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Zach Galifianakis 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Pacific Rim: Uprising Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Steven S. DeKnight Cast: John Boyega, Scott Eastwood, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Roman J Israel, Esq Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Dan Gilroy Cast: Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo Columbia Pictures 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Isle of Dogs Released: 30 March 30 March Director: Wes Anderson Cast: Bill Murray, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansson 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Ready Player One Released: 30 March 30 March Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance, Simon Pegg 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Avengers: Infinity War Released: 27 April 27 April Director: The Russo Brothers Cast: Robert Downey, Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Josh Brolin 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Untitled Han Solo Film Released: 25 May 25 May Director: Ron Howard Cast: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Donald Glover 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Released: 8 June 8 June Director: J.A. Bayona Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pine, B.D. Wong, Toby Jones 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Deadpool 2 Released: 1 June Director: David Leitch 1 JuneDavid Leitch Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Zazie Beetz, Josh Brolin 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Ocean's 8 Released: 22 June 22 June Director: Gary Ross Cast: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Anne Hathaway, Olivia Munn, Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna, Matt Damon 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Ant-Man and the Wasp Released: 29 June 29 June Director: Peyton Reed Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Soldado Released: 29 June 29 June Director: Stefano Sollima Cast: Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Jeffrey Donovan, Catherine Keener, Matthew Modine 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Incredibles 2 Released: 13 July 13 July Director: Brad Bird Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Samuel L. Jackson Previously announced cast members include Ben Mendelsohn, Jude Law, and Samuel L. Jackson, who will reprise his role as Nick Fury from the Avengers movies. Captain Marvel is scheduled for release 8 March, 2019. In the meantime, Marvels Black Panther is currently playing in cinemas, while Avengers: Infinity War touches down this May. Treading lightly on Tanna We go on a new ecotourism adventure tour in North Tanna The latest biblical film to hit cinema screens is Mary Magdalene, a depiction of one of "the most misunderstood spiritual figures in history" starring Rooney Mara. Having no doubt been lined up as an potential awards contender, the film - from Lion director Garth Davis - was pulled from release in the US due to its Weinstein Co distribution; its fate there remains uncertain. In the UK, however, it'll be released in time for Easter after being picked up by Universal - and the critics are finally giving their verdicts praising the film's intentions but ultimately feeling the end product misses its desire mark. The majority of praise has been reserved for Joaquin Phoenix's portrayal of Jesus Christ. Mary Magdalene also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and Tahar Rahim. The Guardian - Peter Bradshaw - 2 stars "This movie, from screenwriters Helen Edmundson and Philippa Goslett and director Garth Davis, sets itself a bold task: to rescue Mary Magdalene from an age-old tradition of patriarchal condescension and misinterpretation. And yet it winds up embracing a solemn, softly-spoken and slow-moving Christian piety of its own." Variety - Guy Lodge "Its not Jesuss feelings were primarily concerned with, after all, but those of his once-maligned female disciple, whose voice and agency in the founding of Christianity are here given their admiring due. Hushed, deliberate and realised with considerable care and beauty, the resulting film has its heart entirely in the right place; its pulse, unfortunately, is far harder to locate." Screen International - Fionnuala Halligan "Even though Mary Magdalene revisits sacred texts to emphasise Jesuss feminist credentials, [Garth] Davis film is unlikely to give offence its far too spiritually-minded to aggravate the faithful, although patience may be tried by the sight of Mary woman-splaining The Resurrection to the knuckleheaded Apostles." IndieWire - Mike McCahill - 3 stars "[The] film, accordingly, is Sunday-school tasteful, deeply politically correct, and informed by an evident level of scholarship much ritual, sporadic speaking in tongue even if it doesnt always easily translate into compelling action or credible behaviour." The Hollywood Reporter - Stephen Dalton "The key casting weakness at the heart of Mary Magdalene is [Rooney] Mara, her porcelain-doll beauty and laser-beam gaze failing to disguise her blank presence and narrow range. Hardly an ideal match for a role that demands screen-filling, history-changing charisma. Thankfully a heavily bearded [Joaquin] Phoenix brings more firepower, playing Jesus as a doubt-wracked mystic-stoner cult leader somewhere between Charles Manson and The Dude from The Big Lebowski." Mary Magdalene is in cinemas 16 March Follow Independent Culture on Facebook As many Netflix subscribers will know, the streaming services cinematic output has been at times disappointing. Science fiction blockbusters Mute, The Cloverfield Paradox, and Bright have all received negative reviews, as have the three Adam Sandler-directed films. However, thats not to say Netflix has not produced some exquisite films quite the opposite. For every miss, theres been a huge success story (and even some Oscar nominations). So, what are the films only on Netflix that you should be watching? Here are some of the best in alphabetical order. 13th Ava DuVernays incredible Oscar-nominated documentary analyses Americas history with racism and slavery to make hard-hitting points about police brutality and the prison system. Told meticulously by the acclaimed director, there are few documentaries that have had the same impact and shone such a damning light as 13th. An absolute essential. Beasts of No Nation The first great fictional film released by Netflix. Beasts of No Nation saw the streaming service become an awards contender, Idris Elba and Abraham Attah giving astonishing performances as a crazed warlord and young militia member. The adaptation of Uzodinma Iwealas book of the same name has been praised by critics and set the bar very high for Netflix movies to come. First They Killed My Father Directed by Angelina Jolie, First They Killed My Father is based on Loung Ungs memoir a Cambodian author who lived through the devastating Pol Pot regime. Sreymoch Sareum plays the seven-year-old Ung to perfection. The movie was chosen as Cambodias entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars (but unfortunately was not nominated). Geralds Game There have been many, many Stephen King adaptations released over the last few years and Geralds Game ranks among the best. Primarily based inside one bedroom, the horror sees Mike Flanagan direct an incredibly creepy film, with a great central performance by Carla Gugino who remains chained to a bed for most of the film. For horror fans, its a must-watch. Into the Inferno Werner Herzog has produced some incredible documentaries and Into the Inferno marks one of the most visually stunning thanks to the subject matter: active volcanoes in Indonesia, Iceland, North Korea and Ethiopia. What makes Inferno so special is Herzogs choice not to look just at the volcanoes themselves, but the communities around them and belief systems that have sprung up thanks to these monstrous mountains. Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond Trailer: Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond Perhaps the most bizarre and original documentary available on Netflix, Jim & Andy centres on an interview with Jim Carrey regarding working on the Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon. Using behind-the-scenes footage, we are offered an incredible look at the method to Carreys madness. Asking questions about when a joke goes too far and when the art should end, the Spike Jonze-produced doc makes for fascinating watching. Mudbound Multiple Netflix documentaries have been nominated and won Oscars, but Mudbound marks their first fictional film to be nominated for four Oscars including best adapted screenplay, original song, cinematography, and supporting actress for Mary J. Blige. Directed by Dee Rees and telling the tale of two families suffering from men heading out to war, the film marks the pinnacle of Netflix movies and has astounded viewers around the world. Okja Okja - trailer Debuting at Cannes Film Festival, Bong Joon-hos timely tale about an oversized pig who becomes friends with a young girl won rave reviews all around. Tilda Swinton plays a fascinating high-powered maniac, while Jake Gyllenhaal brings a certain craziness to proceedings. With various messages about looking after our planet, genetically modified foods, and vegetarianism, the Jon Ronson-penned movie makes for some highly entertaining viewing. The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) Adam Sandlers Netflix movies have been almost unanimously hated by critics, The Ridiculous 6 holding a rare 0 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes. The Meyerowitz Stories marks an almost unanimous high for the actor. Directed by Noah Baumbach and featuring a hugely talented cast, including Ben Stiller, Elizabeth Marvel, and Emma Thompson the movie tells the tale of one family and their struggles with each other and the death of a loved one. Dubai authorities have released the body of deceased Bollywood star Sridevi as they declare the case closed. The Indian actor was found dead over the weekend, having accidentally drowned in a bathtub according to a forensic report. The decision to release the body came after all the investigations and procedural matters followed in such incidents were completed, in order to determine all its circumstances and ensure that justice was done within the framework of the law, reads a statement from the Dubai Media Office. Arjun Kapoor - Sridevis stepson - flew to Dubai earlier today to help the actors husband Boney Kapoor take the body back home to India where it will be embalmed and a funeral will take place. According to the BBC, fans have gathered outside her Mubai residence to pay their last respects. Notable deaths in 2017 Show all 28 1 /28 Notable deaths in 2017 Notable deaths in 2017 Hugh Hefner, the creator of Playboy magazine, died 28 September 2017 aged 91 Central Press/Stringer - Getty Notable deaths in 2017 Liz Dawn as Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street, pictured with co-star Bill Tarmey who played her husband Jack. Dawn died 25 September 2017, aged 77 ITV Notable deaths in 2017 Walter Becker, one of the founders of the band Steely Dan, died September 3 aged 67 Rex Notable deaths in 2017 David Tang, one of Hong Kong's most famous businessman, died of liver cancer aged 63 on 29 August AFP/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2017 Linkin Park frontman Chester Bennington died July 20 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2017 Holocaust survivor and stateswoman who fought for abortion rights, Simone Veil, died July 4 Getty Notable deaths in 2017 Michael Bond, author and creator of Paddington Bear, died June 28 PA Notable deaths in 2017 TV's Batman, Adam West, died June 12 AFP/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2017 Peter Sallis, who starred in Last of the Summer Wine and voiced Wallace and Gromit, died on June 5 Rex Notable deaths in 2017 John Noakes, The action hero of Blue Peter, died May 29 Rex Notable deaths in 2017 Former MotoGP world champion, Nicky Hayden, died age 35, on May 26. He was knocked off his bicycle by a car in Italy. Getty Notable deaths in 2017 Sir Roger Moore died on May 23 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2017 Soundgarden singer, Chris Cornell, who helped define grunge music died May 17 Kevin Winter/Getty Images Notable deaths in 2017 Moors Murderer Ian Brady died May 15 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2017 Powers Boothe, star of Deadwood and Sin City, dies, aged 68 on May 15 Todd Williamson/Invision/AP Notable deaths in 2017 Robert Miles, Trance DJ behind hit track 'Children', died from cancer aged 47 on May 12 PA Notable deaths in 2017 Happy Days child star, Erin Moran, died at the age of 56 on April 24 Getty Images Notable deaths in 2017 Ex-player and Tottenham U23 coach Ugo Ehiogu died after he suffered a cardiac arrest at the training ground, aged 44 on April 21 Getty Notable deaths in 2017 British athlete Germaine Mason, silver medalist at the Beijing Olympics, died following a motorcycle crash, aged 34 on April 21 Rex Notable deaths in 2017 Actor Tim Pigott-Smith star of TV, film and theatre died on April 7 Getty Notable deaths in 2017 Rupert Cornwell an award-winning foreign correspondent who embodied the spirit of The Independent died on April 1 Notable deaths in 2017 Morse creator Colin Dexter died on March 21 PA Notable deaths in 2017 Rock and roll legend Chuck Berry died on March 18 Getty Notable deaths in 2017 Sir Howard Hodgkin, one of Britain's greatest abstract painters of the post-war period died on March 9 Rex Notable deaths in 2017 Sir Gerald Kaufman was the oldest of the longest-serving MPs and Father of the House of Commons when he died on February 27 PA Notable deaths in 2017 Joost van der Westhuizen died at the age of 45 on February 6 Getty Notable deaths in 2017 John Hurt died aged 77 on 28 January Getty Notable deaths in 2017 Lord Snowdon, husband to Princess Margaret died on January 13 Getty The incident took place on Saturday [24 February] as Sridevi was attending her nephews wedding in Dubai with Kapoor, a famed film producer, and daughter Khushi. Initial reports claimed Kapoor and Sridevi attended dinner together at 5.30pm on Saturday (24 February) before the actor went to the bathroom to prepare for the evening. Khaleej Times say Kapoor forced himself into the room after receiving no response, only to find Sridevi lying motionless in a bathtub full of water. Dubai Police released a report yesterday, revealing traces of alcohol were found in the 54-year-olds body. According to Gulf News, she accidentally lost balance, fell into the bathtub and drowned. Born Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan, Sridevi made her Bollywood debut at in 1975 drama Julie, aged just four. She later landed a starring role in 1979 drama Solva Sawan; having multiple commercial successes, including Himmatwala (1983), which cemented her place as one of Bollywoods top stars, Mawaali (1983), Maqsad (1984) and Waqt Ki Awaz (1988). Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up In 2013, the Indian government awarding her the Padma Shri the fourth highest civilian honour in 2013. Last years Mom, in which she played a mother avenging her daughters sexual assault, marked her final appearance and 300th film. Those to have paid tribute to Sridevi include actor Priyanka Chopra, who wrote on Twitter: I have no words. Condolences to everyone who loved Sridevi. A dark day. RIP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote: She was a veteran of the film industry, whose long career included diverse roles and memorable performances. She is survived by her husband and two daughters, Jhanvi and Khushi. Fans of Janelle Monaes music were quick to spot its apparent Prince influences thanks to the funky rhythm of that amazing synth line on her new single "Make Me Feel". But it appears the Purple One himself may have actually been involved in the track. Monae previously told BBC Radio 1's Annie Mac that she had been working with the iconic artist "before he passed on to another frequency, and helped me come up with sounds". "And I really miss him, you know, it's hard for me to talk about him," she added. "But I do miss him, and his spirit will never leave me." Prince's DJ Lenka Paris elaborated on his contribution in a since-deleted Facebook post, where she wrote that he provided that synth line on "Make Me Feel". "Roughly 2 and a half years ago I played this little party for Prince, and at one point he goes: Stop the music, I wanna play something...'" she wrote. "He opens his computer and plays a groove. Then this heavy synth hits and my 2 friends and I go simultaneously 'oh shit!', he heard us and laughed. It was futuristic and so good." She continued: "Last night I heard Janelle Monae's new song. As soon as the synth came in I went 'oh shit! That's it!' He gave that to her... this song is brilliant. Prince's genius continues to amaze me. I miss him." After years of swiping, scrolling, and double-tapping her way through an endless feed of "polished" posts, Marie Hyld found herself yearning for something real. So, camera in hand, the 24-year-old photographer set out to find it. The product of her search is a breathtaking project titled Lifeconstruction, a series of photographs that show Hyld embracing, kissing, and spending time with various individuals. While their intimate poses may suggest that these people are Hyld's lovers or longtime partners, they're actually all strangers whom she met moments before each photo was taken. We recently got in touch with Hyld to find out more about her project, which was first featured on Broadly Denmark. Take a closer look at her fascinating work below. Editor's note: Some of the images below may be considered NSFW. The photos in Hyld's series depict moments of intimacy that a couple may experience, from the sensual to the beautifully mundane. Her project takes a refreshing look at vulnerability.Courtesy of Marie Hyld Although Hyld posed with strangers, her pictures look surprisingly believable. The number in the lower left corner of each image represents the amount of time Hyld spent with each person before the photo was taken. Feigning intimacy in this short period of time proved challenging for everyone involved.Courtesy of Marie Hyld Some of the pictures were taken in as little as 10 minutes after Hyld and the participant first met. The idea behind this project arose out of Hyld's experiences on social media, which she found unfulfilling. The photographer likened social media to an "empty shell."Courtesy of Marie Hyld Hyld told INSIDER that she was tired of seeing the "same polished posts, pictures, and updates" online and on apps. When she realized she was "gasping for something real," Hyld decided it was time to take matters into her own hands. Inspired to explore intimacy through her photography, Hyld set out to find willing participants on Tinder. It was an interesting, and subversive, choice.Courtesy of Marie Hyld On her Tinder profile, the photographer described how she was interested in meeting up with her matches and photographing them as if they were a couple in love. She also made it clear that the photos would be made public. "I just started swiping away, and it was really interesting to see the people who were into the idea and accepted my proposal," Hyld previously told Broadly Denmark. "I pretty much matched with everyone I found. They were all into the idea." When we asked why she decided to use Tinder, Hyld told INSIDER that "it was super easy to reach out to people" on the app and "find someone open-minded for [her] creative ideas." The photographer also met her boyfriend of four years on Tinder, about a year after she started using the app. "We both still have it and swipe occasionally," Hyld said. "It's a hilarious world." Each encounter challenged Hyld to let her guard down and allow herself to be vulnerable with the person she just met. She had to be fully present in the moment.Courtesy of Marie Hyld Hyld told INSIDER that she was often "filled with anticipation and excitement" during these sessions with her Tinder matches. "You could kind of smell the anxiety," she said. "It was amazing and horrible at the same time. I felt alive." She continued: "This anxiety always morphed into a form of creativity. [...] We knew that we needed to create this product together, to push our limits and jump out of our comfort zones." "I think we lack that face-to-face time today," she previously told Broadly Denmark. "We're never really present in our interactions. As I see it, it's getting worse and social media is largely to blame for it. It's ironic that my project basically couldn't exist without Tinder." And no two experiences looked or felt alike. Some days were easier than others, Hyld said.Courtesy of Marie Hyld Hyld intentionally avoided planning each encounter ahead of time. Instead, she focused on letting go and doing whatever "felt right" on the day of the interaction, drawing inspiration for her project from her surroundings. Each experience varied depending on the person Hyld met, where he or she lived, the connection the photographer had with the participant, and, "to a certain extent," Hyld's own mood. "I had days where I felt that I simply didn't have the energy and motivation to connect with my deeper, heartfelt self, and days where I felt like digging all the way into my own and the stranger's core," Hyld explained to INSIDER. Due to the nature of her project, Hyld constantly had to push and expand her limits. She often asked herself, "Am I OK with this?"Courtesy of Marie Hyld "Once or twice I was quite shaken due to a participant crossing my limits," the photographer said. "But I was kind of prepared for that to happen, and I can now say that it has helped me get to know myself better." The photographer also found it difficult to juggle her "real" relationship with 13 "pretend" ones. But her boyfriend was incredibly supportive the entire time.Courtesy of Marie Hyld "[My boyfriend] has always been super uplifting and motivating," Hyld told us. "It was confusing and overwhelming for me to juggle with one wholehearted relationship and 13 superficial ones in that compact space of time. "But [my boyfriend] touched my heart deeply by giving me the space and freedom I needed to make this project," the photographer continued. "He knows me so well. And he knows that he has to let me be free to unfold my creativity in whatever form it might take." Hyld said this project has taught her how to be vulnerable and let people in. This series encouraged her to embrace new experiences.Courtesy of Marie Hyld "It takes vulnerability to create intimacy," Hyld said. "I couldn't have created these photographs with my guard up. I had to let them down." She continued: "I had to allow myself to be vulnerable and let in the strangers I met. And in that process, I also learned that vulnerability, and daring to let go, are signs of strength." And over time, the photographer realized "how easy it was to build up an intimate, sincere space with strangers." But you have to embrace the discomfort of opening up.Courtesy of Marie Hyld "I've never tried to reach out like this before," the photographer told us. "I've always kept to myself, thinking that everyone probably wanted it that way." Hyld encourages everyone to embrace intimacy, despite "how intimidating it might feel." You may just find a genuine connection.Courtesy of Marie Hyld When asked what she has learned since starting this project, Hyld said she now understands that "pretty much everyone" needs intimacy in their lives in the same, primal way they need "food to silence hunger." She believes we "should always dare to reach out" to create intimacy and "depth" with the people around us. "It's important to search, find, and fill yourself with something real," Hyld said. "Shut down those electronic screens."Courtesy of Marie Hyld On social media, "it's so easy to keep your relationships on a superficial level," Hyld said. "But if you want something deep, something real, you've got to toss away your phone, reach out, and create it." Hyld has even continued to see one of the participants in her series after she completed her project, although she did not specify who this person is. She calls this person a "non-defined acquaintance on a soul-connected level."Courtesy of Marie Hyld "We just had a connection on a deeper level which would be absolute madness not to pursue," the photographer told us. "A meeting like that is a pure rarity. I'm glad I didn't let it go." To see more from Marie Hyld, check her out on Instagram, Facebook, and website. Read more: This chart is easy to interpret: It says we're screwed How Uber became the world's most valuable startup These 4 things could trigger the next crisis in Europe Read the original article on Business Insider UK. 2016. Follow Business Insider UK on Twitter. FedEx has rejected calls to stop offering discounts to National Rifle Association (NRA) members, suggesting doing so would discriminate against the powerful US gun lobby group. In a statement the company said: FedEx views assault rifles and large capacity magazines as an inherent potential danger to schools, workplaces, and communities when such weapons are misused. We therefore support restricting them to the military. However, it does not and will not deny service or discriminate against any legal entity regardless of their policy positions or political views and so will not be cutting ties the organisation. Recommended Here are all the brands that have cut ties with the NRA Several major companies, including Delta Airlines, United Airlines, Symantec, and Hertz, have cut ties with the NRA amid growing demands for tighter gun controls since the massacre at Parklands Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School earlier this month. But FedEx said: The NRA is one of hundreds of organisations in our alliances/association marketing program whose members receive discounted rates for FedEx shipping. FedEx has never set or changed rates for any of our millions of customers around the world in response to their politics, beliefs or positions on issues. The statement in part echoed the words of Georgia Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, who accused companies that have ended partnerships with the NRA of discrimination against conservatives and law-abiding gun owners. Mr Cagle was referring to Delta airlines also ending its discount programme for NRA members. However, critics said FexExs defence of its links to the NRA makes no sense. FedEx is charging businesses that are members of the NRA lower rates than non-members. Now its saying charging NRA members the same as everyone else would be discrimination, news outlet ThinkProgress reported. David Hogg, an 18-year-old survivor of the Florida shooting, called on his 347,000 followers to boycott FedEx. Seventeen pupils and staff were shot dead by a lone gunman armed with an AR-15 assault-style rifle on 14 February. The NRA has rejected calls to restrict sales of that type of assault-style weapon, which has been used in several mass shootings in the US. In the wake of the massacre, pressure on companies to distance themselves from the powerful Washington lobbying group. Car hire companies Enterprise, Alamo, National, and Hertz have all ended discount programmes for NRA members, while the First National Bank of Omaha has stopped issuing an NRA-branded credit card. Delta, which has also severed ties with the gun owners group, said its decision reflects the airlines neutral status in the current national debate over gun control amid recent school shootings. It added: Out of respect for our customers and employees on both sides, Delta has taken this action to refrain from entering this debate and focus on its business. Delta continues to support the 2nd Amendment. Florida shooting in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting in pictures Florida shooting in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP The NRA has attacked the businesses, accusing them of seeking to punish its members for the school shooting. The law-abiding members of the NRA had nothing at all to do with the failure of that schools security preparedness, the failure of Americas mental health system, the failure of the National Instant Check System or the cruel failures of both federal and local law enforcement, the firearms lobby group said in a statement. The loss of a discount will neither scare nor distract one single NRA member from our mission to stand and defend the individual freedoms that have always made America the greatest nation in the world. NRA President Wayne LaPierre said that gun control advocates, like the Parkland survivors, hate freedom at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on 22 February. US President Donald Trump has also been advocating for arming teachers with guns but did not discuss imposing a ban on assault-style weapons. Anok Yai has become the first black model to open a runway show for Prada since Naomi Campbell did so more than two decades ago in 1997. The 19-year-old only discovered that she had been chosen to open the show for the Italian fashion house at Milan Fashion Week about an hour before she was due to grace the catwalk. She showcased pieces from Pradas autumn/winter 2018 collection, only a few months after being scouted for her modelling potential at a college party. Recommended Student becomes model after homecoming pictures go viral It was an honour and Im proud that I was the one chosen to open, but this is bigger than me, Yai told Vogue. Me opening for one of the top fashion houses is a statement to the world - especially for black women - that their beauty is something that deserves to be celebrated. Yai was understandably nervous before she took to the catwalk, as she had a lot of expectation resting on her shoulders. However, the moment she stepped out into limelight, all of her worries disappeared. I will remember the experience of opening the show as my breakthrough moment, she said. I am just so excited about where this will take me, and I couldnt be happier. I was pretty anxious before walking but the second I got on the catwalk all the nerves went away. Recommended Extra eyeballs are the hot new fashion trend for fall Yai received worldwide fame when she was spotted by a photographer at a Howard University homecoming celebration in October last year. The photographer, who goes by the name TheSUNK on Instagram, shared two photos of Yai on the social media platform. The post currently has more than 20,000 likes and led to Yai being contacted by multiple modelling agencies. The Sudanese teenager, who was born in Egypt and raised in the US, has since been signed by Next Models. While Yai is looking forward to seeing how her modelling career unfolds, she also has aspirations to make the world a better place in whatever way she can. Now, I want to become the best model I can be and take my career as far as possible, she said. However, Im also passionate about making an impact in the world whether it be through art and fashion, social media, or science." A man claiming to be bitcoin inventor Satoshi Nakamoto, whose identity remains one of tech culture's great unknowns, has been accused of stealing $5bn (3.59bn) of the cyptocurrency from his late business partner. Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright, 47, is accused of using bogus contracts and false signatures to lay claim to bitcoins mined by Dave Kleiman, a computer security expert, according to a lawsuit filed by the latter's brother. Kleiman died in 2013 and his family argues they still own the rights to the bitcoins and blockchain technology he held, according to Bloomberg. "Craig forged a series of contracts that purported to transfer Daves assets to Craig and/or companies controlled by him, the Kleiman family's lawyer said in a complaint filed in West Palm Beach, Florida, on 14 February. "Craig backdated these contracts and forged Daves signature on them." Wright and Kleiman had formed a cybersecurity business together, W&K Info Defense Research, in 2011 and held as many as 1.1m bitcoins at the time of Kleiman's death - at least 300,000 of which were the deceased's, according to his family. Wright's claim to be behind Satoshi Nakamoto dates from a blog post in 2016, in which he claimed Nakamoto was a collective - rather than the pseudonym of one individual - and that he spearheaded the project. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty He has since declined to offer any further evidence to substantiate the claim. Weve teamed up with cryptocurrency trading platform eToro. Click here to get the latest Bitcoin rates and start trading. Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No EU investor protection. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. The man who co-founded Apple with Steve Jobs says he was a victim of a bitcoin scam. Legendary figure Steve Wozniak had seven tokens of the digital currency stolen from him by fraudsters. Today, those would be worth more than $70,000. The fact that even somebody as well-respected throughout the technology industry as Steve Wozniak can fall for victim to a bitcoin scam shows just how tricky it can be to keep your cryptocurrency holdings safe and secure. Gadget and tech news: In pictures Show all 25 1 /25 Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gadget and tech news: In pictures Gun-toting humanoid robot sent into space Russia has launched a humanoid robot into space on a rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS). The robot Fedor will spend 10 days aboard the ISS practising skills such as using tools to fix issues onboard. Russia's deputy prime minister Dmitry Rogozin has previously shared videos of Fedor handling and shooting guns at a firing range with deadly accuracy. Dmitry Rogozin/Twitter Gadget and tech news: In pictures Google turns 21 Google celebrates its 21st birthday on September 27. The The search engine was founded in September 1998 by two PhD students, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, in their dormitories at Californias Stanford University. Page and Brin chose the name google as it recalled the mathematic term 'googol', meaning 10 raised to the power of 100 Google Gadget and tech news: In pictures Hexa drone lifts off Chief engineer of LIFT aircraft Balazs Kerulo demonstrates the company's "Hexa" personal drone craft in Lago Vista, Texas on June 3 2019 Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures Project Scarlett to succeed Xbox One Microsoft announced Project Scarlett, the successor to the Xbox One, at E3 2019. The company said that the new console will be 4 times as powerful as the Xbox One and is slated for a release date of Christmas 2020 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures First new iPod in four years Apple has announced the new iPod Touch, the first new iPod in four years. The device will have the option of adding more storage, up to 256GB Apple Gadget and tech news: In pictures Folding phone may flop Samsung will cancel orders of its Galaxy Fold phone at the end of May if the phone is not then ready for sale. The $2000 folding phone has been found to break easily with review copies being recalled after backlash PA Gadget and tech news: In pictures Charging mat non-starter Apple has cancelled its AirPower wireless charging mat, which was slated as a way to charge numerous apple products at once AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures "Super league" India shoots down satellite India has claimed status as part of a "super league" of nations after shooting down a live satellite in a test of new missile technology EPA Gadget and tech news: In pictures 5G incoming 5G wireless internet is expected to launch in 2019, with the potential to reach speeds of 50mb/s Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Uber halts driverless testing after death Uber has halted testing of driverless vehicles after a woman was killed by one of their cars in Tempe, Arizona. March 19 2018 Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A humanoid robot gestures during a demo at a stall in the Indian Machine Tools Expo, IMTEX/Tooltech 2017 held in Bangalore Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures The giant human-like robot bears a striking resemblance to the military robots starring in the movie 'Avatar' and is claimed as a world first by its creators from a South Korean robotic company Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Engineers test a four-metre-tall humanoid manned robot dubbed Method-2 in a lab of the Hankook Mirae Technology in Gunpo, south of Seoul, South Korea Jung Yeon-Je/AFP/Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures Waseda University's saxophonist robot WAS-5, developed by professor Atsuo Takanishi and Kaptain Rock playing one string light saber guitar perform jam session Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway resembling the giant panda is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A test line of a new energy suspension railway, resembling a giant panda, is seen in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A concept car by Trumpchi from GAC Group is shown at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Rex Gadget and tech news: In pictures A Mirai fuel cell vehicle by Toyota is displayed at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A visitor tries a Nissan VR experience at the International Automobile Exhibition in Guangzhou, China Reuters Gadget and tech news: In pictures A man looks at an exhibit entitled 'Mimus' a giant industrial robot which has been reprogrammed to interact with humans during a photocall at the new Design Museum in South Kensington, London Getty Gadget and tech news: In pictures A new Israeli Da-Vinci unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by Elbit Systems is displayed during the 4th International conference on Home Land Security and Cyber in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv Getty The blockchain identifies who has bitcoins that doesnt mean there cant be fraud though, he told the Economic Times of India this week. I had seven bitcoins stolen from me through fraud. Somebody bought them from me online through a credit card and they cancelled the credit card payment. It was that easy! And it was from a stolen credit card number so you can never get it back. Bitcoin investors and exchanges are frequently targeted by thieves and hackers, with huge and even violent incidents of theft being reported in recent months. As bitcoin transactions cant be reversed, once the tokens are stolen you wont be able to get them back. These fears are what prompted the South Korean government to impose new regulation that prevents people from trading cryptocurrencies anonymously. The Winklevoss twins, who briefly became bitcoin billionaires last year, have gone to extreme lengths to protect their holdings printing off their private key, cutting it up and storing the pieces in banks around the US. Wozniak, on the other hand, says he bought bitcoin as an experiment, and has now sold all but one of his tokens. I had them so that I could someday travel and not use credit cards, wallets or cash, he added. I could do it all on bitcoin. I studied which hotels and facilities accepted bitcoin... its still very difficult to do so. I also tried to buy things online and trade bitcoin online. Bank of England governor Mark Carney made similar remarks about the difficulties of actually using bitcoin earlier this month. [Bitcoin] has pretty much failed thus far on ... the traditional aspects of money. It is not a store of value because it is all over the map. Nobody uses it as a medium of exchange, he said. Weve teamed up with cryptocurrency trading platform eToro. Click here to get the latest Bitcoin rates and start trading. Cryptocurrencies are a highly volatile unregulated investment product. No EU investor protection. 75% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs. Freak rains have exposed bugs that could indicate there's life on Mars. Scientists have found microbes that have been lying dormant in the soil for decades. Without water, they have entered into something like an incredibly deep sleep until rains came and woke them back up. The bugs had been living in the driest part of South America's Atacama desert. But the same principle could apply on Mars, leading scientists to suggest that similar basic life could be hiding within its surface. Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Show all 30 1 /30 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An image from Nasa's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) shows a 200,000 mile long solar filament ripping through the Sun's corona in September 2013 Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Nasa Celebrates 50 Years of Spacewalking For 50 years, NASA has been "suiting up" for spacewalking. In this 1984 photograph of the first untethered spacewalk, NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless is in the midst of the first "field" tryout of a nitrogen-propelled backpack device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Hubble Cosmic Couple The spectacular cosmic pairing of the star Hen 2-427 more commonly known as WR 124 and the nebula M1-67 which surrounds it ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Veil Nebula Supernova Remnant Nasa's Hubble Space Telescope has unveiled in stunning detail a small section of the Veil Nebula - expanding remains of a massive star that exploded about 8,000 years ago Nasa's most stunning pictures of space The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launch The Soyuz TMA-15M rocket launches from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on Monday, Nov. 24, 2014, carrying three new astronauts to the International Space Station. It also took caviar, ready for the satellite's inhabitants to celebrate the holidays Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth from the ISS From the International Space Station, Expedition 42 Flight Engineer Terry W. Virts took this photograph of the Gulf of Mexico and U.S. Gulf Coast at sunset Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Black Hole Friday Nasa celebrated Black Friday by looking into space instead sharing pictures of black holes Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space NuSTAR X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing observations from by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR, overlaid on a picture taken by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Cassiopeia A c A false colour image of Cassiopeia A comprised with data from the Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes and the Chandra X-Ray observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Orion Capsule splashes down The Orion capsule jetted off into space before heading back a few hours later having proved that it can be used, one day, to carry humans to Mars Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Earth Observations From Gemini IV in 1965 This photograph of the Florida Straits and Grand Bahama Bank was taken during the Gemini IV mission during orbit no. 19 in 1965. The Gemini IV crew conducted scientific experiments, including photography of Earth's weather and terrain, for the remainder of their four-day mission following Ed White's historic spacewalk on June 3 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Frosty slopes of Mars This image of an area on the surface of Mars, approximately 1.5 by 3 kilometers in size, shows frosted gullies on a south-facing slope within a crater. The image was taken by Nasa's HiRISE camera, which is mounted on its Mars Reconaissance Orbiter Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Yellowstone from space NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman shared this image of Yellowstone via his twitter account Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Saturn This near-infrared color image shows a specular reflection, or sunglint, off of a hydrocarbon lake named Kivu Lacus on Saturn's moon Titan Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Worlds Apart Although Mimas and Pandora, shown here, both orbit Saturn, they are very different moons. Pandora, "small" by moon standards (50 miles or 81 kilometers across) is elongated and irregular in shape. Mimas (246 miles or 396 kilometers across), a "medium-sized" moon, formed into a sphere due to self-gravity imposed by its higher mass Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Solar Flare An X1.6 class solar flare flashes in the middle of the sun in this image taken 10 September, captured by NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy An image of the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy seen in infrared light by the Herschel Space Observatory. Regions of space such as this are where new stars are born from a mixture of elements and cosmic dust Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Mars Rover Spirit Nasa's Mars Rover Spirit took the first picture from Spirit since problems with communications began a week earlier. The image shows the robotic arm extended to the rock called Adirondack Nasa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Morning Aurora From the Space Station Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly captured this photograph of the green lights of the aurora from the International Space Station Nasa/Scott Kelly Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Launch of History - Making STS-41G Mission in 1984 The Space Shuttle Challenger launches from Florida at dawn. On this mission, Kathryn Sullivan became the first U.S. woman to perform a spacewalk and Marc Garneau became the first Canadian in space. The crew of seven was the largest to fly on a spacecraft at that time, and STS-41G was the first flight to include two female astronauts Nasa's most stunning pictures of space A Fresh Perspective on an Extraordinary Cluster of Galaxies Galaxy clusters are often described by superlatives. After all, they are huge conglomerations of galaxies, hot gas, and dark matter and represent the largest structures in the Universe held together by gravity Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Sees a Galactic Sunflower The arrangement of the spiral arms in the galaxy Messier 63, seen here in an image from the Nasa Hubble Space Telescope, recall the pattern at the center of a sunflower ESA/Hubble & NASA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Pluto image Four images from New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with colour data from the Ralph instrument to create this enhanced colour global view of Pluto Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Fresh Crater Near Sirenum Fossae Region of Mars The HiRISE camera aboard Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter acquired this closeup image of a "fresh" (on a geological scale, though quite old on a human scale) impact crater in the Sirenum Fossae region of Mars. This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Hubble Peers into the Most Crowded Place in the Milky Way This Nasa Hubble Space Telescope image presents the Arches Cluster, the densest known star cluster in the Milky Way NASA & ESA Nasa's most stunning pictures of space An Astronaut's View from Space Nasa astronaut Reid Wiseman tweeted this photo from the International Space Station on 2 September 2014 Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Giant Landform on Mars On Mars, we can observe four classes of sandy landforms formed by the wind, or aeolian bedforms: ripples, transverse aeolian ridges, dunes, and what are called draa Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Expedition 39 Landing A sokol suit helmet can be seen against the window of the Soyuz TMA-11M capsule shortly after the spacecraft landed with Expedition 39 Commander Koichi Wakata of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), Soyuz Commander Mikhail Tyurin of Roscosmos, and Flight Engineer Rick Mastracchio of NASA near the town of Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan (NASA/Bill Ingalls) Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Jupiter's Great Red Spot Viewed by Voyager I Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system and perhaps the most majestic. Vibrant bands of clouds carried by winds that can exceed 400 mph continuously circle the planet's atmosphere Nasa's most stunning pictures of space Chandra Observatory Sees a Heart in the Darkness This Chandra X-Ray Observatory image of the young star cluster NGC 346 highlights a heart-shaped cloud of 8 million-degree Celsius gas in the central region Planetary scientist Dr Dirk Schulze-Makuch, from Washington State University, said: "It has always fascinated me to go to the places where people don't think anything could possibly survive and discover that life has somehow found a way to make it work. "Jurassic Park references aside, our research tell us that if life can persist in Earth's driest environment there is a good chance it could be hanging in there on Mars in a similar fashion." The researchers took soil samples from six different locations in the Atacama desert between 2015 and 2017. Microbes had been found in the desert before, but it was not clear if they were original residents or dying vestiges of life blown in by the wind. The answer came after an extremely rare rain shower triggered an explosion of biological activity. Genetic tests revealed several indigenous species of bacteria that had adapted to live in the harsh environment. A return trip to the Atacama in 2016 and 2017 revealed that the same bugs were gradually reverting to a dormant state as the soil around them dried up. Dr Schulze-Makuch said: "In the past researchers have found dying organisms near the surface and remnants of DNA but this is really the first time that anyone has been able to identify a persistent form of life living in the soil of the Atacama desert. "We believe these microbial communities can lay dormant for hundreds or even thousands of years in conditions very similar to what you would find on a planet like Mars and then come back to life when it rains." Billions of years ago Mars had oceans and lakes where early life forms may have thrived. As the planet dried up and grew colder, the Martian bugs could have survived in much the same way as their Atacama counterparts, the scientists believe. "If life ever evolved on Mars, our research suggests it could have found a sub-surface niche beneath today's severely hyper-arid surface," Dr Schulze-Makuch added. A European rover due to land on Mars in 2021 as part of the ExoMars mission will drill two metres into the soil to look for signs of life. The findings are published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Additional reporting by agencies Although teenage pregnancies and birthrates in the United States have been declining steadily since 1990, the nation still leads the developed world in these challenging statistics. I say challenging because 82 per cent of teen pregnancies and births are unplanned and nearly always unwanted. They often disrupt a girls education and life goals and sometimes result in shotgun marriages with poor long-term survival. The falling pregnancy rate is not a result of a decline in teenage sexual activity, which experts say has remained steady for decades. Nor does abortion, which has dropped along with pregnancies, account for fewer teen births. Rather, the data indicates that more teens now use contraception when they have sex. Still, too many fail to use the most effective methods or use them incorrectly or inconsistently, resulting in ill-timed or unwanted pregnancies. Even informed teenagers may have trouble accessing contraceptives: a new report by the Guttmacher Institute found that 24 states do not allow minors to receive contraceptives without parents permission. Condoms, sold over the counter and sometimes distributed free in schools, are the most frequently used contraceptives by teens. But while key to preventing sexually transmitted infections, in practice condoms are among the poorest means to prevent pregnancy better only than withdrawal. The most effective methods long-acting reversible contraceptives are least often used by adolescents. Teens today get much more information about sexually transmitted diseases in school health ed classes than they do about pregnancy prevention, says Dr Philippa Gordon, a paediatrician in New York City who treats many adolescent girls and boys. They dont realise how very easy it is for a teenager to become pregnant. Just five to eight acts of unprotected sex would result in pregnancy. A girl can get pregnant even without having intercourse. Our biology is set up to foster it. Talking with adults about sex is often embarrassing for teenagers and challenging for their parents, who may leave it up to teachers and doctors to provide the necessary details. Indeed, some may be getting their information surreptitiously from watching pornography. Although schools may recognise the importance of preventing teenage pregnancy, they are often hampered by the mistaken belief that informing youngsters about contraception can encourage them to become sexually active. However, Dr David L Hill tells parents, Talking to kids about sex and even giving them condoms does not make them have sex any sooner. It does, however, lower the chances youll become a grandfather before youre ready. The fact is, with or without sex education, about half of high school seniors have already become sexually active and need accurate, up-to-date information and access to effective contraception. Furthermore, teenagers who are not adequately informed about pregnancy prevention, or are told only about abstinence, are more likely to become pregnant than those told about birth control options, including emergency contraception, and how to get them. Cost may be a factor. Many adolescents planning on abstinence do not remain abstinent. As Hill writes on the website healthychildren.org, The best studies of adolescents who take a virginity pledge suggest that these kids have sex just as early as those who dont pledge, but that they are less likely to use birth control when they do have sex. Recognising this, both the American Academy of Paediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (Acog) have urged their members to have comprehensive conversations with adolescent patients about their reproductive health and their contraceptive needs, knowledge and concerns. Dr Karen Gerancher, author of a recent Acog opinion article on counselling adolescents about contraception, says, When were able to reach patients before they become sexually active, or early in their sexually active life, we empower them to take control of their reproductive health, and prevent sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies that could permanently impact the future theyve envisioned for themselves. Although many adolescent girls choose birth control pills, as typically used they are not most effective in preventing pregnancy. Heres what teens should know about contraceptive options, in order of effectiveness. The implant This long-acting reversible contraceptive is a matchstick-size flexible plastic rod that a doctor inserts under the skin, usually in the upper arm, where it can prevent pregnancy for at least three years, at which time it should be replaced. It contains a progestin hormone that blocks the release of an egg from the ovary. It is the most effective means of birth control, with a one-year failure rate significantly less than one in 100 (0.05 per cent). Fertility typically returns quickly once the implant is removed. An intrauterine device This other long-acting reversible contraceptive has a slightly higher failure rate of 0.2 to 0.8 per cent. A doctor inserts the small T-shaped device into the uterus, where it prevents sperm from fertilising an egg. There are two types: the copper T IUD that has no hormone and needs to be replaced only once in 10 years, and a progestin-containing IUD that is replaced every three to five years. Progestin injection This injection of a progestin prevents the release of an egg from the ovaries for three months. Its failure rate is six in 100 within the first year. Vaginal ring This hormone-containing ring is placed once a month by the user into her vagina, where it prevents release of an egg for three weeks. It is then removed for one week to permit menstruation. During one year of use, about nine women in 100 will get pregnant with this method. The patch The patch contains a hormone that is absorbed through the skin to block the release of an egg. It is replaced weekly for three weeks, followed by a week off to allow for menstruation. Like the ring, it has a 9 per cent failure rate. The pill This too has a 9 per cent failure rate within the first year of use. The pill must be taken daily, and inconsistent use is the usual reason it fails. There are two types, but only the one containing two hormones, an oestrogen and a progestin, is usually prescribed for teens. Condom This is the only method that can prevent sexually transmitted infections and should always be used with any of the other methods. The male condom, a thin sheath that slips over the penis, has a pregnancy rate of 18 per cent. The female condom, or vaginal pouch, has a failure rate of 21 per cent, comparable to that of withdrawal, which has a 22 per cent failure rate. Emergency contraception These progestin-containing pills, to be taken within five days (the sooner the better) when contraception is not used or a condom breaks, are available over-the-counter, even for teens. Acog recommends that teens keep emergency contraception on hand just in case to maximise its effectiveness. New York Times Gap has been praised for normalising breastfeeding in its latest campaign by featuring a mother whos feeding her baby. Last week, the clothing retailer announced the launch of the Love by GapBody collection in the US, which includes a variety of clothing and underwear designed to provide ultimate comfort. A few days ago, Gap shared a photo from the campaign on its Instagram page that shows a mother nursing her baby and it has received an incredibly positive response online. The clothing brand has been commended for not only normalising breastfeeding in such an emphatic way, but also for championing diversity by choosing to feature a black mother and child. The Instagram post currently has almost 35,000 likes, with numerous people expressing their support online. Way to go, Gap! Congratulations on featuring a black breastfeeding dyad in your ad campaign, one person wrote on Twitter. Absolutely beautiful. @Gap damn boo, you have the most comfy pjs AND youre normalising breastfeeding?!, another Twitter user remarked. While many have applauded Gap for illustrating how beautiful and normal breastfeeding is, many mothers who breastfeed in public are still made to feel ashamed and embarrassed. Thats why in December last year, a group called Chocolate Milk Mommies organised a photoshoot that showcased black mothers breastfeeding their babies. Their aim was to break the stigma that deters some mothers in the black community from doing so. Recommended Mothers organise photoshoot to encourage black women to breastfeed Shantae McGee, a registered nurse and certified lactation counselor, encourages black mothers to breastfeed through her blog and Instagram page Black Moms Breastfeed. In 2012, Black Breastfeeding Week was created in an effort to reduce the infant mortality rate of black babies and to move away from the association often made between black mothers breastfeeding and slavery, as many female slaves acted as wet nurses for their oppressors. The Independent has reached out to Gap for comment on their new campaign. Extricating Britain from the EU will be as difficult as removing an egg from an omelette, and will almost certainly take far longer than the two-year transition period due to begin in March 2019, the former director-general of the World Trade Organisation has warned. Giving evidence to the Brexit committee in Parliament, Pascal Lamy, who led the WTO between 2005 and 2013, said that he was now free enough to say what I think. He went on: Trade-wise Brexit was like removing an egg from an omelette. The UK is in the internal market part of the omelette, which was stirred for many, many years, and moving back from that is inevitably a very complex issue technically, leaving aside the politics. Getting this done is as difficult as getting an egg out of an omelette. Which is why I think it will take a long time. Mr Lamy had previously said that the UK would probably not be able to reach a final trade deal with the EU, the destination of around half our exports, for possibly five or six years, and that Britain would probably have to ask to extend its two-year implementation period which ministers are currently negotiating with the EU. There is a serious risk that this is too short to come to a full-fledged new trade arrangement, Mr Lamy told MPs. I would not be surprised if this transition period, two years, would be too short. What is the Brexit 'transition'? Asked what would happen if the clock on the two-year transition ran down and there was no final trade deal, Mr Lamy who was also an EU trade commissioner between 1999 and 2004 said that the UK would have to choose between a cliff-edge Brexit, in which tariffs would go up, and requesting an extension. You would have to repeat what you just did, which is have a longer transition in order to avoid the famous cliff, which is a change which moves the UK into WTO terms, which is what both sides want to avoid, he said. A leaked document last week suggested UK officials want to keep open the possibility of extending the transition period although this idea was attacked by hardline Brexiteer MPs. The UK believes the periods duration should be determined simply by how long it will take to prepare and implement the new processes and systems, that will underpin the future partnership, the note said. Earlier on Tuesday, Sir Martin Donnelly (former permanent secretary at the Department of International Trade) warned that leaving the EU customs union in the hope of forging new trade deals with other countries was like giving up a three-course meal now in favour of the promise of a packet of crisps. Carillions former bosses were delusional to think that taxpayers would bail the company out right up until its collapse last month, the chair of an influential committee of MPs has said. Speaking on Tuesday, Carillions former interim chief executive, Keith Cochrane, insisted he was still somewhat perplexed that the Government did not offer support in the final moments before the construction giant entered liquidation. I was very, very disappointed, Mr Cochrane told MPs on the Public Accounts Committee. I was surprised, yes, because for me it was not the rational, logical decision to make. He said that the companys board had managed to convince the banks to lend the company 10m if the Government did the same, a few days before Carillion went into liquidation on 14 January, leaving behind a mountain of debt and hundreds of public-sector contracts in turmoil. He added that if the company had been able to show that it was making progress on its restructuring, the Government would have lent the company a further 10m the following week with the banks providing the same. Committee chair Meg Hillier continually probed Mr Cochrane and former Carillion chairman Philip Green as to how realistic it was to expect taxpayer funding in the circumstances. It seems, and you might have picked up the mood around the table, delusional that you would assume or believe that Government would use taxpayers money to prop you up at that point, said Ms Hillier. Mr Cochrane said he thought it was the economically logical outcome for the Government to have provided financial support. Just as we see in many other instances, your major customer would participate in supporting a business, given the potential downsides which regrettably we have seen play through over the last weeks, he said. We were not looking for a bailout. This was a short-term loan to help us facilitate further restructuring, he said. Mr Cochrane and Mr Green both maintained that they thought the company could continue to operate until the moment the Government rejected the 20m rescue deal. Once you look past the legacy contracts and the cash-burn associated with those legacy contracts you had a viable, profitable business that could generate cash, Mr Cochrane said. MPs also heard that the Cabinet Office was told in November that a liquidation would see creditors receive no more than 1p in the pound for the debt that they were owed. The news came as two other Commons committees published Carillion board minutes showing that the companys chief financial officer had blown the whistle on alleged accounting irregularities in May 2017. Emma Mercers findings triggered a review of contracts, though the boards initial decision to have an independent element to this review was later reconsidered. Emma Mercer took just six weeks to spot and pull the thread that began the entire company unravelling, said Frank Field, chair of the Work and Pensions Committee. That the next chief financial officer had to go through whistle-blowing procedures to get her concerns about accounting irregularities taken seriously by the Carillion board is extraordinary. So too is that the boards response was to reject an independent review and get KPMG, their pet rubber-stampers, to mark their own homework. Germany's Federal Administrative Court ruled on Tuesday that cities can ban diesel cars to lower air pollution. The verdict could affect millions of drivers in Germany and have significant repercussions for the country's car industry. Here are five things to know about the case: Recommended UK motor industry warns environment targets could be missed WHAT'S THE PROBLEM? The air in many German cities is worse than the law allows, contributing to respiratory illnesses and thousands of deaths annually. According to government figures some 6,000 people die prematurely each year in the country because of excessive levels of harmful nitrogen oxides, or NOx. About 60 per cent of NOx comes from the transportation sector, especially diesel vehicles an alternative to regular gas that's particularly popular in Europe. Measurements show that the threshold of 40 micrograms of NOx per cubic meter is regularly surpassed in dozens of German cities including Munich, Stuttgart and Cologne. IS THIS LINKED TO THE VW EMISSIONS SCANDAL? Not directly. Environmental campaigners have been demanding action on air pollution for years, but the revelations about carmakers cheating on diesel emissions tests has stoked the political debate in Germany. Diesel, once considered a 'cleaner' fuel because it produces fewer greenhouse gas emissions, is now being scrutinised by environmentalists, government agencies, the media and the courts. WHO BROUGHT THE CASE? The group Environmental Action Germany, known by its acronym DUH, has been filing legal complaints against cities for years, seeking to have them impose measures to reduce air pollution. Lower court rulings involving two cities Stuttgart and Duesseldorf concluded that driving bans for diesel vehicles would be effective and should be considered. Officials appealed the regional court rulings in Leipzig, arguing there needs to be a nationwide standard for dealing with air pollution. WHAT HAPPENED ON TUESDAY? The Leipzig court rejected the appeal, which now means cities are able to impose diesel bans. Cities would have several months to adjust their clean air plans accordingly. Some may choose to ban diesel cars only on certain roads at times when pollution levels are particularly high. Meanwhile, the verdict could hit sales of diesel cars and the value of second-hand models, which have already been hit by the VW emissions cheating scandal. Under pressure from the European Commission to act on air pollution, the German government has proposed several other solutions. These include making public transportation free and physically upgrading old vehicles to reduce their emissions. Both options would cost billions of euros and it's unclear who would pick up the tab taxpayers, car owners or the auto industry. HOW MANY VEHICLES WOULD BE AFFECTED? According to official figures there are more than 15 million diesel cars registered in Germany. About 6 million of those meet the Euro 6 emissions standard that would likely be exempt from a driving ban, leaving some 9 million diesel cars affected by the verdict. Additionally there are several million trucks, buses and other heavily utility vehicles than run on diesel and which could be hit by a ban. City officials are particularly worried about the impact on bus services and tradespeople, who may get special exemptions allowing them to drive diesel vehicles even when a ban is in force. New cars are greener than ever, but the environmental benefits are being squandered because of continuing public confusion about diesel-powered vehicles, the auto industry has warned. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said on Tuesday that the anti-diesel agenda and a slower than expected take up of electric vehicles means that the industry could miss its next round of European-mandated CO2 targets in 2021, making it more difficult for the UK to meet its international obligations to combat climate change. The industry shares the Governments vision of a low carbon future and is investing to get us there but we cant do it overnight; nor can we do it alone, said Mike Hawes, chief executive of the SMMT. Recommended Arctic set to be warmer than UK as temperatures rise 30C above average The anti-diesel agenda has set back progress on climate change, while electric vehicle demand remains disappointingly low amid consumer concerns around charging infrastructure availability and affordability, he added. Data from the SMMT shows that overall, new car CO2 emissions have fallen by a third since 2000, reflecting advances in technology and a shift before last year towards diesel. But in 2017 the average rate of CO2 emissions in new cars sold to the British public rose for the first time in decades: by 0.8 per cent, to 121g/km. The SMMT said that the latest rise had been fuelled by buyers abandoning diesel engines, confused by mixed government signals on taxation, and also discouraged by Volkswagens dieselgate scandal which undermined consumer confidence in the trustworthiness of industry claims. Total CO2 emissions from all cars in use fell by 7.4 per cent between 2000 and 2016. However, they rose 2.1 per cent in 2016 on 2015, and have risen in each of the past three years, according to SMMT data. Vehicle usage, meanwhile, has also risen, with distance travelled up 2 per cent in 2016 on 2015, and 8.1 per cent compared with 2000. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA The SMMT also warned against an inconsistent patchwork of congestion and parking charges levied by different local authorities on diesel vehicles. It said that those could add to the confusion and the current tendency by buyers to postpone purchases of newer cleaner vehicles, pending clarification of official policy. A government air quality strategy paper is due later this year. Meanwhile, battery-only pure electric vehicles, such as the new Nissan Leaf made in the UK, have shown disappointing sales. While sales of so-called alternative fuel vehicles, which include petrol and electric hybrids as well as pure electric vehicles, were up by 4.7 per cent (from a low base) to some 119,000 cars in 2017, just 13,500 battery-powered and pure electric vehicles were sold last year accounting for approximately one in every 200 new cars sold. Mr Hawes said that to accelerate fleet renewal, motorists must have the confidence to invest in the cleanest cars for their needs however they are powered. A consistent approach to incentives and tax, and greater investment in charging infrastructure will be critical, he said. Now, more than ever, we need a strategy that allows manufacturers time to invest, innovate and sell competitively, and which gives consumers every incentive to adapt. The Department for Education made avoidable mistakes when appointing controversial journalist Toby Young to the new higher education watchdog board, according to a new report. Prepared by the Commissioner for Public Appointments, it says the department failed to trawl back far enough into the social media activity of Mr Young before giving him a role on the board of the Office for Students (OfS). Previous Twitter posts and comments from the journalist-turned free school pioneer sparked widespread criticism and he was forced to quit his post at the universities regulator a week after his appointment was announced in early January. The speed in which the media and others responded to Mr Youngs appointment by revealing some of his tweets suggests that it was not very difficult to find relevant evidence, the report says. Mr Youngs reputation as a controversialist, in itself hardly a secret, should have prompted further probing to examine whether what he had said and done might conflict with his public responsibilities and standards expected on the OfS board. More than 221,000 signed a petition calling for the Mr Young to be sacked for his public comments on disability, children with special educational needs and Oxbridge students from state schools. The report also noted that the social media accounts of a candidate for the student experience role were extensively examined. Due diligence was inadequate and not conducted in respect of all candidates on an equal basis, compromising the principle of fairness, it says. It also revealed that former universities minister Jo Johnson, asked officials to tell Mr Young, the director of the New Schools Network charity, about the vacancy at the OfS. Email records showed a desire among ministers and special advisers not to appoint a candidate with close links to student unions, such as the National Union of Students (NUS), it says. Commissioner Peter Riddell concluded that there had been an inconsistency with the treatment of candidates and that avoidable mistakes were made. Student news in pictures Show all 34 1 /34 Student news in pictures Student news in pictures South Korean policemen detain a student demonstrator during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye EPA Student news in pictures South Korean policemen detain student protestors during a protest against South Korean President Park Geun-Hye outside the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea. The protesters demanded that the parliament takes steps to impeach President Park Geun-Hye EPA Student news in pictures Filipino demonstrators face off with anti-riot police during a protest near the US Embassy in Manila, Philippine EPA Student news in pictures Hundreds of protesters including Indigenous People, students and militant groups marched towards the US Embassy to protest against the presence of US military troops and condemning the violent dispersal which left at least forty people hurt including twenty police officers and three people who were run over by a police van EPA Student news in pictures A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students Student news in pictures A man holds up a photograph of a missing student with a caption reading 'We are missing 43,' during a meeting marking the 25-month anniversary of the disappearances of 43 students in the southern state of Guerrero, in Mexico City. A federal judge in Mexico has ordered that a once-fugitive police chief be held on charges of kidnapping in the disappearance of 43 students AP Student news in pictures Miguel Perez, an intern student from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, puts away his cell phone before walking into the operating room at the Dr. Isaac Gonzalez MartInez Oncological Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Once they complete their general surgery training, many residents are moving to the United States in search of better wages, one of the main factors linked to the current shortage of specialists in the Island Student news in pictures Fewer EU students have applied to start university courses in the UK next autumn. There was a 9% fall in the numbers who had applied for courses, according to admissions service UCAS. PA wire Student news in pictures University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela. Masses of protesters jammed the streets of Venezuela's capital on the heels of a move by congress to open a political trial against Maduro, whose allies have blocked moves for a recall election AP Student news in pictures University students protest against President Nicolas Maduro, in Caracas, Venezuela AP Student news in pictures Thousands, most of them high school students, march during a demonstration in Madrid, Spain, on a one day strike to protest about the country's education law that increases the number of annual exams AP Student news in pictures Students gather on the west mall to confront the Young Conservatives of Texas student organization over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action Student news in pictures Donald Parish Jr, right, confronts Electrical and Computer Engineering senior Dewayne Perry over a controversial bake sale on The University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas. The Young Conservatives of Texas chapter at the University of Texas-Austin sparked the protest with an affirmative action bake sale. The club encouraged students to buy a cookie and talk about the disastrous policy that is affirmative action AP Student news in pictures Brigham Young University announced that students who report sexual assault will no longer be investigated for possible violations of the Mormon-owned school's strict honor code that bans such things as alcohol use AP Student news in pictures Students of secondary education march to protest against the final examinations and LOMCE (The Improvement Quality Education Law) law, after a call by trade unions, in Murcia, Spain EPA Student news in pictures South African police have used stun grenades and rubber bullets to disperse hundreds of protesters who had marched to the parliament building to call for free university education, where the finance minister was giving a budget speech AP Student news in pictures Police break up student protests outside the parliament in Cape Town, South Africa Reuters Student news in pictures South African Policemen fire rubber bullets at student protestors in Cape Town, South Africa AP Student news in pictures A student protestor is hit by a rubber bullet in Cape Town, South Africa AP Student news in pictures An injured student is helped by colleagues during protest outside the parliament during South African Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan's medium term budget speech in Cape Town, South Africa Reuters Student news in pictures Plaintiffs and bereaved families of elementary school students killed in the tsunami that followed a major earthquake in northeastern Japan in 2011, show banners that say 'victory in a suit filed with the Sendai District Court' in Sendai. A Japanese court ordered municipalities to pay $13.7 million dollars to families of school children who were swept away to their deaths by the 2011 tsunami Getty Student news in pictures A group of student at Ewha Womans University calls for a thorough investigation into those involved in years of engagement with state affairs backstage by Choi Soon-sil, a personal confidante of South Korean President Park Geun-hye, at the school's front gate in Seoul, South Korea EPA Student news in pictures Students raise placards during a strike action called by the student union, in Madrid against university entry exams Getty Student news in pictures Libyans throw a newly graduated student into a fountain as they celebrate during the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Libyans celebrate as they attend the graduation ceremony for students from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the Al-Arab University in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi Getty Student news in pictures Thousands of Thai Catholic students take part in mourning tributes and in singing the Thai Royal Anthem to honour late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at Saint Dominic School in Bangkok, Thailand EPA Student news in pictures Students of Silpakorn University paint portraits of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty Student news in pictures A student of Silpakorn University paints a portrait of the late Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej at the university campus in Bangkok Getty Student news in pictures St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend PA wire Student news in pictures St Andrews University students take part in a foam fight known as Raisin Monday in the Lower College Lawn behind St Salvator's Quadrangle following the Raisin Weekend, an annual tradition where student 'parents' inflict tasks on the unfortunate first-years they have adopted as 'children' as part of a mentoring scheme PA wire Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) in Havana, Cuba Reuters Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) take part in a practice in Havana, Cuba Reuters Student news in pictures Students at the Cuba's National Ballet School (ENB) wait in line to enter a classroom in Havana, Cuba Reuters He said that email records mentioned No 10 Googlers with the social media history of one candidate brought to the attention of a minister. Notably, no such exploration or research was made on other possible appointees, including Mr Young, he said. He added: It is important that lessons are learned not least so that talented people from a wide range of backgrounds are willing to put themselves forward to serve on the boards of public bodies. Answering an urgent question on the topic in the House of Commons today, universities minister Sam Gyimah said he would carefully and seriously consider the reports recommendations. The minister told MPs: In the case of Toby Young, the due diligence fell short of what was required. There are lessons to be learned here and we will learn them. Addressing concerns in the report, he said: Clearly the social media vetting of Toby Young wasnt as extensive as it could have been given that there are 40,000 tweets or so. Lucy Powell, Labour MP and former shadow education secretary, called on Mr Johnson, the then universities minister, to apologise over the appointment. Labour MP David Lammy added: Toby Young believed in eugenics, he made terrible remarks about disabled people, he made awful remarks about women. This is a man that his predecessor thought was fine to be on the board of the Office for Students. Recommended Toby Young stands down over misogynistic and homophobic comments What confidence now should working-class young people across this country, under-represented groups and ethnic minorities have in the Office for Students if we have a Government where the minister who did this cannot come to the despatch box, apologise or step down? Mr Gyimah replied: Yes, there are issues here that are questionable, but weve also always got to have a sense of perspective when we look at these things. There are some things that Toby Young did that are admirable and laudable and those were the reasons why he was considered to be a serious candidate for this job in the first place. Sally Hunt, general secretary of University and College Union (UCU), said: The appointment of Toby Young looked like nepotism at the time and this damning report confirms that the minister encouraged him to apply. Although not checking Youngs chequered past, efforts were made to find evidence to bar a student representative from a position on the board. The new body was launched with much fanfare about representing students interests. The report suggests that so far it has gone out of its way to do the exact opposite. Transparency in universities is rightly under the spotlight and the new regulator has to demonstrate the very highest standards. Every morning, Prasart Songsorn used to wake before dawn to head out to the fields before the tropical sun and oppressive humidity made it impossible to work. Songsorn, who spent all his 56 years on his familys small rice farm in north-eastern Thailand, worked barefoot in the warm mud. Boots amplified the heat and humidity, and he didnt want to buy something that would only add to his misery. Although diagnosed with diabetes in his mid-40s, Songsorn seemed healthy and never missed a day of work. So when he started having difficulty breathing and ran a high fever in early June last year, he tried to push through it. When he couldnt, he travelled a few miles to a local community hospital, where he was diagnosed with kidney disease due to his untreated diabetes. He was so ill by then that the doctors transferred him to Sappasithiprasong Hospital in the city of Ubon Ratchathani, nearly two hours away. His younger sister, Aroon, didnt trust the diagnosis. If you cannot breathe, how could that be a problem with your kidneys? she thought. But she figured the more experienced physicians in the city would soon figure out what was wrong. They didnt. For more than a week, Songsorn suffered without really knowing what was wrong. Only after her brother had died did Aroon learn that hed actually had an infection called melioidosis. Although its one of the leading causes of pneumonia in this part of Thailand, especially during the rainy season, it remains a mystery to most people. We had never heard of melioidosis, says Songsorns brother, Sompurn. After he died, we got a brochure about how it came from the soil and how to protect yourself. (Karl Joel Larsson) Since 2002, when he began researching melioidosis at the Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit (Moru) in Bangkok, Direk Limmathurotsakul has found official recognition of the disease to be similarly low. Melioidosis is so neglected that the World Health Organisation doesnt even list it as a neglected tropical disease, he said at the 2017 Biothreats conference in Washington DC. Melioidosis is a bacterial infection that can cause a range of symptoms, including fever, muscle aches, abscesses and cough, leading researchers to call it the great mimicker. Its hard to diagnose, requiring a skilful process that can take more than a week time that patients like Songsorn often dont have. This, coupled with a general lack of awareness, means that no one knows how many cases of melioidosis there are in Thailand or anywhere else around the world. Direk made it his lifes mission to change that and get melioidosis recognised as one of the worlds more important neglected tropical diseases. His greatest battle proved not to be against the disease itself, but a much more formidable enemy: the stasis and indifference of government bureaucracies. He knew melioidosis was a big problem; the question was whether he could get anyone to take notice. *** In the 1910s, British physician Alfred Whitmore and assistant surgeon C S Krishnaswami noticed a gruesome trend among the patients at Rangoon General Hospital in Myanmar (in what is now the city of Yangon in Myanmar). A steady stream of young men, either dead or nearly so, were showing up with blistering fevers, malnutrition and track marks from injecting opium. Initially, Whitmore suspected the opium was the cause of their illness, but the speed of their decline and the location of abscesses far from injection sites caused him to rethink. When they grew bacteria from the mens abscesses, they discovered that cultures from both lungs and spleen gave luxuriant growths in pure culture of the bacillus under investigation. They named this bacteria Bacillus pseudomallei, but without antibiotics there was little to be done for these malnourished, sickly and vulnerable patients. Not much changed in the 80 years between Whitmore and Krishnaswamis discovery and Direks graduation from medical school. The disease had been formally named melioidosis in 1932, and scientists had discovered the bacteria (renamed Burkholderia pseudomallei in 1992) in soil and water throughout south-east Asia, although the disease was found mainly in Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. Learning to treat melioidosis was a trial by fire. Direk had read about it in textbooks, but had never treated a patient until he arrived at Sappasithiprasong Hospital in Ubon Ratchathani. Although he now had antibiotics at his disposal, few worked against this disease. And by the time his patients arrived, some were too ill for antibiotics to be of use. About half the patients I treated died. It was like a coin toss, he says. During the rainy season, from July to October, torrential downpours stir up the bacteria living in water and soil. Scientists still dont know exactly why one idea is that the rain aerosolises the bacteria, which are then inhaled. This season is also when rice farmers like the Songsorns spend long days in the fields, their bare limbs immersed in melioidosis-laden soil and water. The result is a surge in disease that leaves the melioidosis wards in Ubon Ratchathani overflowing. During his first rainy season, Direks days in the sweltering melioidosis ward took on a grim routine. You walk around and you see melioidosis, melioidosis, melioidosis, melioidosis. Within two or three days, each dies, he says. New patients quickly replaced those who didnt make it. That year, more than 100 people died of melioidosis at Sappasithiprasong alone. Despite the drudgery, Direk knew those under his care had a major advantage over most other melioidosis patients, because they had sought treatment at a hospital that could diagnose and treat them. The illnesss array of symptoms makes it difficult to diagnose. The same bacteria can cause pneumonia in one person, septicaemia in another, an abscess in the elbow for another. In one small hospital study, more than half the children with melioidosis had come in with local infections, many in the parotid glands (salivary glands in front of the ear), whereas in Australia, where melioidosis often turns up in isolated areas of the Northern Territory, older men are disproportionately likely to have prostate abscesses. As in Whitmores day, diagnosing melioidosis involves culturing bacteria from abscesses, urine, sputum, blood or wherever else a physician thinks the disease might be found, explains Vanaporn Wuthiekanun, a soft-spoken microbiologist who has worked with melioidosis at Sappasithiprasong for more than 30 years. Its easy if you have experience, but its challenging for those who dont do it much, she says. Its also time-consuming, and like Prasart Songsorns family, many people dont know what has affected their relative until after they have died, if they ever find out at all. Even knowing what it is in time doesnt make treating melioidosis easy. The bacterias waxy outer membrane makes it resistant to most antibiotics. Drugs such as gentamicin, used to treat pneumonia and sepsis, dont work on melioidosis. Instead, treating the disease requires two to four weeks of intravenous ceftazidime in hospital, followed by three to five months of oral antibiotics as an outpatient. The sooner doctors can start this regimen the better, says Wuthiekanun, but prompt treatment is still no guarantee. Mortality rates for melioidosis in Thailand hovered at 50 per cent when Direk began his work and havent budged much since. In northern Australia, at least 10 to 20 per cent of patients die. By most infectious disease standards, explains Patrick Harris, an infectious disease physician in Australia, that number is astronomical. Compare it with other, better-known neglected tropical diseases: malaria (mortality rate 0.2 per cent), dengue (1 per cent, higher in severe cases), Chagas disease (less than 5 per cent) and leptospirosis (5-15 per cent). On a global scale, the disease burden is still quite dramatic, probably because people present late. They cant get to a hospital quickly. Its very often more prevalent in poor communities, rural farmers, people who may be a long way away from a big city or a major hospital. Theres a lot of other societal factors, Harris says. Direk knew that the parade of patients coming through his melioidosis ward could only be a small fraction of the countrys total melioidosis burden. Plenty of patients died before they could get to the hospital; others sought care from a hodgepodge of community health providers, who prescribed everything from penicillin to herbal remedies to massage. Thailand, he realised, had a major melioidosis problem. If he was seeing 100 melioidosis deaths in a single hospital in just the rainy season, tens of thousands of people must be dying each year. Yet ever since 1947, when Thailand reported its first case of melioidosis, the official annual number has been tiny even in the mid-2000s, it was approximately one case of melioidosis per 100,000 people. Laos didnt document any melioidosis cases until 1999. The only cases from Myanmar since 1945 have been in travellers. The poor data created a circular problem: funding agencies wouldnt give money to do research on a disease that didnt appear to be present, but Limmathurotsakul couldnt get data to show it was present without money. The major question that everyone tries to ask is how many die of the disease, because if we cannot tell, the policy makers dont move, he says. *** The fever started in February. Pailat Ganjanarak found it increasingly difficult to ignore the fatigue, chills and vomiting, so he went for a massage, a common cure-all for mild illnesses in this part of Thailand. It didnt help. Then, the 55-year-old, who owns a small grocery store off the main road running south from Ubon Ratchathani, went to the doctor, who diagnosed an inflammatory problem and prescribed steroids. After a week, Ganjanarak was sicker than ever. Twelve days of antibiotics didnt help, either. He just kept getting worse. I was so sick, I couldnt even walk, he says. His wife drove him to Sappasithiprasong Hospital, hoping that doctors there could identify her husbands mysterious ailment. It took until mid-March, more than a month after Ganjanarak first became ill, for the blood cultures to return the answer. Despite living nearly all his life in the part of the world where it is most prevalent, Ganjanarak had never heard of melioidosis. Neither had most of his friends. Most people didnt believe me because they had never heard of it, he says. Everyone knows about leptospirosis a bacterial infection that can cause kidney disease meningitis and pneumonia, but its rare for someone to know about melioidosis, says Pornpan Suntornsut, a microbiologist at the Moru-Sappasithiprasong melioidosis research unit. She reckons that only about 2 per cent of people in Ubon Ratchathani know what it is. Physicians arent always more knowledgeable, either. To Suntornsut, this reflects the official attitude towards melioidosis. Patients dont know to ask about melioidosis, doctors cant give a quick diagnosis and the government doesnt have enough data or enough political will to do anything about it. Another problem is the disease-reporting system in Thailand. After the Second World War, Direk says, the government wanted a method to discover and contain cholera outbreaks. At first, all it took was a phone call to the Ministry of Public Health to have people sent to investigate. Over the next 60 years, however, more and more diseases were added to the list the current total is 78. But in most of Thailands hospitals, including 1,000-bed hospitals that might treat upwards of 200,000 patients each year, theres still only one person who is responsible for reporting all these diseases, according to Direk . He says this makes the system susceptible to shifts in priorities: This year, we are in a panic of dengue, so the Ministry of Health says report dengue. We will report. We need the data to tell the people in the country. Whether panic of influenza, panic of bird flu, Ebola, cholera whatever panic of this year, they will say, OK, this year this is the priority. Melioidosis isnt a disease that causes large outbreaks or pandemics, and it doesnt capture media headlines or government attention it just causes infections at a steady rate. Its not usually spread from person to person, either, which decreases its priority level further. It also tends to affect poor, rural rice farmers in Thailand, another strike against it in terms of getting official attention. Across the border in Laos and Cambodia, there are similar challenges. At the Angkor Hospital for Children in Siem Reap, Paul Turner sees about 40 to 50 diagnosed cases of melioidosis each year. He estimates Cambodia must have thousands of cases each year, but the diseases endemic nature means the government doesnt require reporting for it. (Karl Joel Larsson) The ultimate outcome is that melioidosis is vastly underreported, both in south-east Asia and elsewhere around the world. Physicians have reported cases in Brazil and across Africa cases not linked to travel, which means the sick person must have picked it up in their own backyard. Direk and David Dance, a British doctor working on melioidosis in Laos, suspect this represents only a fraction of the disease burden, since melioidosis looks like so many other tropical diseases and remains difficult to diagnose. And the burden looks set to increase due to two factors in particular: climate change and diabetes. Across the Indian Ocean in Sri Lanka, infectious disease physician Enoka Corea put a call out to her colleagues to be on the lookout for melioidosis cases a decade ago. For the first few years, they found only a case or two. Now, the trickle has become a steady stream. We suddenly found that we were seeing maybe 10 cases a year, then you went up to 23, then to 65, then to a hundred and something. This year we are already three-quarters of the year through and we are almost on 60, 70 cases already, Corea says. She expects the number to keep rising, thanks to climate change bringing more extreme weather events that will aerosolise more bacteria from the soil, as well as increasing the areas of the world where B pseudomallei can thrive. The effects of climate change are already beginning to be felt in Australia. Climate models predict that more parts of the country will become hospitable for melioidosis. Rising numbers of people with diabetes will likely push the melioidosis numbers even higher. Although no one knows exactly why, diabetes increases the risk of developing melioidosis, and seems to make it more likely that someone will develop more serious forms of the illness, such as sepsis or pneumonia, that increase the chance of dying from it. Both [diabetes and climate change] will almost certainly lead to increased incidence in the future, Dance says. *** Even as his colleagues were predicting rises in melioidosis cases, Direk was struggling to convince his own government to document the current disease burden. Everywhere he went, he found a different type of resistance. At the bottom level, they lacked time and resources, or feared that their higher-ups would think they had made a mistake by not reporting all these cases sooner. Upper management, however, didnt want to cause a panic and didnt believe the data was that important. I had to fix every stage, he says. The process involved years of meetings with government officials, from the staffs of small community hospitals to the head of the Ministry of Public Health. At the same time, Direk and his team began to gather data and develop computer models to estimate the true disease burden. In 2016, they published the first ever global estimate of melioidosis prevalence, and the numbers were far higher than anyone anticipated. Their work showed that approximately 165,000 people develop melioidosis each year and 89,000 of them die as a result. Importantly, their work revealed overlooked melioidosis hotspots outside of south-east Asia, including India and Sri Lanka. That paper was the beginning of it, really, says Dance. To try to raise awareness of the disease and raise awareness of the fact that if the predictions from that modelling are correct then its a much bigger killer of humans than some other diseases that are much better known. Combined with Direk's years of tireless groundwork convincing government officials to improve disease reporting, this high-profile report has led to changes to the official attitude towards melioidosis. In Ubon Ratchathani province alone, estimates of melioidosis prevalence surged from 4.4 cases per 100,000 people in the early 1990s to 21.0 cases per 100,000 in 2016, thanks to improved reporting. As more hospitals report more cases, Direk hopes it will encourage other hospitals to step up their game, too. He also hopes the data will spur new research. Stopping melioidosis will require more than just data. While others have their eyes on the long-term development of a vaccine or the construction of new health facilities, Direk says less splashy initiatives are needed, like providing safe drinking water. In Ubon Ratchathani, Suntornsut and her team are trying possibly the simplest approach of all. Across the regions lush rice paddies, people stoop over to tend their fields, muddy brown water up to their mid-calves as they tend their crops. Most work barefoot. Arriving in the midday tropical heat, I quickly understand why. Sweat instantly begins oozing from my pores. In less than five minutes, I am drenched, my hair plastered to my forehead. Even in sandals, my feet feel absurdly hot. The thought of putting on boots seems laughable. But boots are exactly what the Moru team have come to advise. Long hours working barefoot in the soil is a major path of melioidosis transmission. But the brutal heat means that protective rubber boots are a tough sell. With few official cases of melioidosis, the hassle of working in boots just didnt seem worth it to most people, Suntornsut says. But now that the disease is gaining recognition, they are here to provide information and talk about the importance of wearing boots and boiling drinking water to kill bacteria. Although its still too early to have conclusive data, Suntornsut feels the teams efforts are paying off. Direk may have changed the governments attitude about disease reporting, but his battle is far from over. Sitting behind his desk back in Ubon Ratchathani, he pauses after nearly two hours of rapid-fire chatter and leans back. You just need to keep pushing, he says. Because if you dont, and you just disappear, no one else will push. You cannot hope that someone will do the work for you. The Mahidol Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit is funded by Wellcome, the publisher of Mosaic This article was first published on Mosaic by Wellcome and is republished here under a Creative Commons licence While the UK is slammed with the cold snap known as the "Best from the East," it has been one of the warmest winters ever for the Arctic according to scientists. The relative heat wave has resulted in the warmest February on record since 1958, with temperatures reaching up to 35 F (1.7 C) to 40 F (4.4 C). What has astounded scientists is that no sunlight reaches the ground during this month. The northernmost land outpost, Cape Morris Jessup, remained above freezing for a full 24 hours on 25 February. Overall, temperatures in the whole region were above zero C on nine separate days during the month, which has never happened before. Sea ice usually expands during this time period until at least mid-March, but measurements show that ice in the Bering Sea and just north of Greenland has actually decreased. "The warm event at [Cape Morris Jessup] is not record breaking in terms of the highest ever recorded temperature in February, but that event in 2011 was very short-lived compared to what we have seen this year," Ruth Mottram, a climate scientist at the Danish Meteorological Institute, told Mashable. She noted that the duration of the warm temperatures was what was really noteworthy. Arctic temperatures: Map shows mild conditions in Alaska and Russia Though the higher temperatures recorded this past month in Greenland could be due to some seasonal winds, that does not explain the region's overall warming. "I'm pretty surprised by quite how large the temperature anomaly is this year and how persistent," she said. Scientists do not have temperature recording stations at the North Pole, but they estimate that temperatures reached above 35 F (1.7 C) this last week of the month. Climate change has already caused a problem in Greenland, where a once-secret military base created by the US during the height of the Cold War for nuclear missile launches has been revealed courtesy of melting ice. Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Show all 51 1 /51 Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Members of the Serpentine Swimming Club brave the icy depths of the Serpentine in Hyde Park Rob Pinney/LNP Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A person crosses the snowy street in Edinburgh's Royal Mile PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures St Michael's Mount, near Marazion, Cornwall, lies covered in snow PA Wire/PA Images Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Edinburgh's Princes Street in the snow Getty Images Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Houses covered in snow Penzance, Cornwall PA Wire/PA Images Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Canal boats are frozen into Birmingham's canal system PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures The M62 near Huddersfield was closed for hours on Thursday. A Highways England vehicle set alight PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures The M80 near Glasgow was stationary for hours on Wednesday night PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A family make their way in the snow in Balloch, Scotland Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Closed barriers at Paddington in West London as trains were cancelled from the station AFP/Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Workers clear a platform at Paddington station in west London AFP/Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A council worker breaks the ice on the fountain in Trafalgar Square in London Reuters Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A 4x4 makes its way along the road in Alexandria, Scotland Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Two boys play in the snow on a housing estate in Alexandria, Scotland Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures The M876 to Glasgow is closed due to snow as storm Emma, rolling in from the Atlantic, looks poised to meet the Beast from the Easts chilly Russia air PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Icicles form on the seafront railings at Penzance in Cornwall PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures The British Waterways building in Nottingham PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Snow lingers on rooftops of houses in Newlyn near Penzance, ahead of the arrival of Storm Emma Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A commuter in a hi-viz jacket cycles through the snow Getty Images Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A taxi crosses London Bridge AFP/Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A pedestrian walks along Whitehall in London. EPA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A woman feeds the birds in Kensington Gardens AP Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Snow ploughs clear drifts on the sea front road in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside. PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Vehicles slow in the snowy conditions. AP Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Icicles hang from a frozen elephant fountain in Colchester. Getty Images Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A young man takes a running jump down a snow covered hill with his sledge. Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures People help push a car that got stuck in the snow in Rochester. Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Stationary traffic on the M20 near Ashford. PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A Eurostar train passes through Ashford. PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures People use their sleds in the snow in Jackson's Fields in Rochester. Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Parents walk their children to school in Ashford, Kent, as heavy snowfall is affecting roads across the UK. PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Cars travel through Great Chart in Ashford, Kent. PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Vehicles crawl along a road as snow falls in south east England, as seen through the window of a train travelling from London to Canterbury. AP Arctic blast hits UK in pictures People walk in the snow in the village of Brenchley in southeast England. AFP/Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A swimmer braves the snowy conditions at King Edwards bay near Tynemouth. PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A woman scrapes ice from her car. Getty Images Arctic blast hits UK in pictures People sled in the snow in Rochester. Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Children play on sledges outside Rochester Castle. Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Toby Stanton walks to school in Ashford during heavy snowfall. PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Snow stands by parked trains at Ashford International in southeast England. AP Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A snowy Tynemouth beach, following heavy overnight snowfall. PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Roads across the UK have seen a blanketing of snow, with police forces reporting treacherous driving conditions and blocked routes. PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Commuters face a miserable journey to work as the snow falls in freezing temperatures in Pimlico. Rex Features Arctic blast hits UK in pictures People photograph a frozen waterfall near Pen y Fan mountain on Brecon Beacon National Park, Wales. PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A woman laden with shopping struggles through the snow in south London. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Commuters walking in the snow on London Bridge. PA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A woman carrying an umbrella walks past a homeless person sleeping in a doorway during a snow shower in London. Getty Arctic blast hits UK in pictures People make their way through a snow flurry in London. Reuters Arctic blast hits UK in pictures Trucks are stuck after heavy snow on the motorway in Briscous, near Bayonne, southwestern France AP Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A commuter pedals along Whitehall in central London EPA Arctic blast hits UK in pictures A man places snow chains on his tyres in Leek, Staffordshire Reuters Julienne Stroeve, a senior research scientist at the National Snow and Ice Data Center in Boulder, Colorado told Mashable that though having warmer winter temperatures is "not uncommon... it may be becoming more common as the climate changes and the ice edge continues to retreat." She expressed concern that ice melting was not just occurring during summers, but year-round now. The sudden warming is likely due to a combination of events. A "sudden stratospheric warming event" is when there is a quick jump in temperatures in the stratosphere. This coupled with a polar vortex, essentially "splitting" those winds into two streams. One hit the west coast of the US and the other went the way of Siberia and Eurasia, creating what is called the "Beast from the East" which is causing snow in places like Rome and London. Thus, the incredibly cold air that was supposed to be in the Arctic is dispersed and diluted. "I think the takeaway is that the dramatic wintertime warming of the Arctic continues in addition to a long-term trend in decreasing sea ice. These effects, along with others, have significant physical, environmental, social, and political consequences for the Arctic and beyond," Zack Labe, a climate scientist at the University of California at Irvine, said. No one expected the four young women to live much longer. They had an extremely rare, aggressive and fatal form of ovarian cancer. There was no standard treatment. The women, strangers to one another living in different countries, asked their doctors to try new immunotherapy drugs that had revolutionised treatment of cancer. At first, they were told the drugs were out of the question they would not work against ovarian cancer. Now it looks as if the doctors were wrong. The women managed to get immunotherapy, and their cancers went into remission. They returned to work; their lives returned to normalcy. The tale has befuddled scientists, who are struggling to understand why the drugs worked when they should not have. If researchers can figure out what happened here, they may open the door to new treatments for a variety of other cancers thought not to respond to immunotherapy. What we are seeing here is that we have not yet learned the whole story of what it takes for tumours to be recognised by the immune system, says Dr Jedd Wolchok, chief of the melanoma and immunotherapeutics service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre in New York. We need to study the people who have a biology that goes against the conventional generalisations. Four women hardly constitutes a clinical trial. Still, it is the exceptions that give you the best insights, says Dr Drew Pardoll, who directs the Bloomberg-Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy at Johns Hopkins Medicine in Baltimore. The cancer that struck the young women was hypercalcemic small cell ovarian cancer, which typically occurs in a womans teens or 20s. It is so rare that most oncologists never see a single patient with it. But Dr Douglas Levine, director of gynaecologic oncology at New York University Langone Medical Centre, specialises in this disease. A few years ago, he discovered that the cancer was driven by a single gene mutation. The finding was of little use to patients there was no drug on the horizon that could help. Women with this form of ovarian cancer were sharing news and tips online in a closed Yahoo group. Levine asked to become part of the group and began joining the discussions. There he discovered patients who had persuaded doctors to give them an immunotherapy drug, even though there was no reason to think it would work. The women reported that their tumours shrank immediately. The idea behind immunotherapy is to dismantle a molecular shield that some tumours use to avoid an attack by the bodys white blood cells. The immune system sees these tumours as foreign they are fuelled by hundreds of genetic mutations, which drive their growth and are recognised by the body. But when white blood cells swarm in to attack the cancer cells, they bounce back, rebuffed. Immunotherapy drugs pierce that protective shield, allowing the immune system to recognise and demolish tumour cells. But the new drugs do not work against many common cancers. Those cancers are supported by fewer genetic mutations, and experts believe that the tumour cells just do not look threatening enough to the body to spur a response. So the immune system leaves them alone. Lung cancer, a genetic type of colorectal cancer and melanoma have huge numbers of mutations, and immunotherapy drugs often are successful in treating them. Cancers of the prostate, pancreas, breast, ovaries and most other tumours carry few mutations. These are the cancers that rarely respond, Pardoll says. The idea that the drugs might work against something like hypercalcemic ovarian cancer, which is fuelled by just one genetic mutation, just made no sense. For the vast majority of cancers, there is an amazingly clean correlation between response to therapy and mean mutational load, Pardoll explains. But there were a few oddball exceptions. An unusual skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma responded to immunotherapy, scientists found. It is caused by a virus, and researchers suggest the infection itself draws the attention of the immune system. Mesothelioma also responds, perhaps because the asbestos that causes it also inflames the immune system. And some kidney cancers respond to immunotherapy treatment; no one knows why. And then came a handful of women with a rare ovarian cancer. Oriana Sousa, 28, a psychologist in Marinha Grande, Portugal, is one of them. She found out she had cancer in December 2011. She knew something was wrong for several months she had been feeling tired, constipated and endlessly thirsty. She began vomiting and had abdominal cramps. But her doctors told her she was fine and not to worry. Finally, her aunt, a nurse, suggested she see a different doctor, who performed a CT scan of her abdomen. It revealed a huge mass. The doctor operated to find out what it was. Two days later, he gave her the bad news: cancer, and a terrible form of it. For the next four years, Sousas doctors tried to control the cancer, giving her rounds of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery. But every time, new tumours emerged. I suffered a lot, and I felt I had no life, she says. Things are different now. In 2015, she finally persuaded a doctor to give her an immunotherapy drug, nivolumab. Immediately, her tumours shrank and continued shrinking as she continued with the drug so much that her doctors now say she has no evidence of disease. Life has returned to normal. Generally after work, I go to the gym and do classes and work out, she says. People who dont know what I have been through, they cant imagine I am an oncology patient. What saved her? Dr Eliezer M Van Allen, a cancer researcher at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, has come across one clue. He found that a gene mutated in kidney cancer was sort of a master regulator of other genes, controlling which were turned on and when. But the regulated genes were normal and did not produce proteins that the immune system might recognise as abnormal. Nonetheless, patients responding to immunotherapy were the ones with the master gene mutation. We saw this result and werent sure what to make of it, he says. Levine and his colleagues found the same phenomenon in patients with hypercalcemic ovarian cancers. One explanation, he and Van Allen say, is that the immune system may recognise that cells in which genes are erratically turning on and off are dangerous and should be destroyed. That is strictly hypothesis, Levine cautions. One thing is clear, though: when pathologists examine these tumours, they find white blood cells in them as if the immune system is trying to attack. And that finding has led both Pardoll and Dr Padmanee Sharma of MD Anderson Cancer Centre in Houston to plan new clinical trials. They know that immunotherapy fails most patients, even those with cancers that are most likely to respond. So they have set out to create a test to determine who might respond to immunotherapy and then treat those patients regardless of their cancer type. Sharmas study, funded by the Parker Institute, is getting ready to enrol patients. The researchers will look at pathology slides of patients tumours to see if white blood cells are worming their way into the cancers. If so, the patients will get an immunotherapy drug to help activate their white blood cells to attack the tumour. If there are few white blood cells in the tumour tissue, patients will get a combination of two immunotherapy drugs to help move more white blood cells into the tumour and help them attack. The trial is written for all comers, Sharma says. If we have learned anything, it is that it is not the tumour type we are treating it is the immune system. At Johns Hopkins, Pardoll and his colleagues are planning a similar trial. They will be looking for tumours it does not matter what type that have a protein, PD-1, on the surface that repels the immune system. Any patient whose tumour fits that description will get an immunotherapy drug. Its a shot in the dark. But sometimes such a shot finds the mark, as Sousa will tell you. Incredible things happen, and against all the odds, she says. New York Times A former private school house master who sexually abused pupils has had his unduly lenient jail sentence increased by leading judges. Peter Webb, now 75, watched via video link from prison as three judges at the Court of Appeal in London quashed his original four-year term and raised it to five-years and six-months. Mr Webb was sentenced in December after admitting offences of indecently assaulting four boys during the 1970s and 1980s at Christs Hospital School in Horsham, West Sussex. The appeal judges agreed with argument made on behalf of attorney general Jeremy Wright that four years was not long enough to reflect the totality of Mr Webbs serious offending. Lord Justice Treacy, announcing the decision of the court, said the victims were vulnerable and the case involved a serious abuse of trust. Even with credit for mitigation and guilty pleas, the sentence imposed was simply too short. Lord Justice Treacy added: In our view, the least sentence which should have been imposed was five-and-a-half years. When Mr Webb, who lived in Authon-Ebeon, France, was sentenced at Hove Crown Court last year, Judge Christine Henson described his crimes as a gross abuse of trust. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. 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PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty She told him he had used your good character, your status as a teacher and latterly as a house master to allow you to commit these sexual offences against young pupils. The appeal judges heard on behalf of Mr Wright that one of the aggravating features of the offending was that it took place at night in the victims dormitory. After the hearing, the attorney general said in a statement: The offender should have been looking after these children, but instead he used his position of trust to take advantage of them. His victims lost their innocence and for that his crimes deserved a tougher sentence. I hope the increased sentence can bring some comfort to all those affected. PA English Defence League (EDL) founder Tommy Robinson has threatened to find Britains most senior counter terrorism officer, after he warned of the growing threat of far-right terrorism. The EDL figurehead on Monday re-posted a tweet by a supporter who said the police were so so wrong to equate Mr Robinson with Isis-supporting hate preacher Anjem Choudary. Im gonna find Mark Rowley, Mr Robinson said. He did not immediately elaborate about what he meant. The Independent contacted The Metropolitan Police, who declined to comment. The 34-year-old has clashed with the police and the mainstream media in recent weeks over the trial of Finsbury Park terror attacker Darren Osborne. The outgoing counter-terrorism police chief said on Tuesday said there was no doubt that far-right material posted online by Mr Robinson drove Osborne to target Muslims. He had grown to hate Muslims largely due his consumption of large amounts of online far-right material including, as evidenced at court, statements from former EDL leader Tommy Robinson, Britain First and others, he told an event in London. Osborne had a dysfunctional background and history of alcohol and drug abuse, and violence. There can be no doubt that the extremist rhetoric he consumed fed into his vulnerabilities and turned it into violence. Osborne, a father-of-four from Wales, was radicalised in a period of weeks in which he consumed far-right material. He hired a van and intended to massacre pro-Palestinian activists, but a security perimeter forced him to seek an alternative target. Osborne rammed the vehicle into a crowd of Muslim worshippers leaving mosques in Finsbury Park shortly after midnight on 19 June, killing a grandfather and injuring several others. Mr Rowley also told the Policy Exchange four far-right terror plots had been foiled since the Isis-inspired Westminster attack in March last year. Far-right extremists and Islamist extremist were executing a common strategy to radicalise people, he said. Islamist and right-wing extremism is reaching into our communities through sophisticated propaganda and subversive strategies creating and exploiting vulnerabilities that can ultimately lead to acts of violence and terrorism," he told the audience. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty He said Mr Choudary and Mr Robinson attracted notoriety and attention at the same time as they were positioned on the opposite sides of public debates in the 2000s. Robinson became a regular fixture in our media giving him the platform to attack the whole religion of Islam by conflating acts of terrorism with the faith often citing spurious claims, which inevitably stirred up tensions, Mr Rowley said. Such figures represented no more than the extreme margins of the communities they claim to speak for yet they have been given prominence and a platform. Victims of abuse and minority groups could see support cut after 2020 due to the absence of EU funding following Brexit, human rights charities have warned. A report by the Equality and Diversity Forum, a network of human rights organisations in the UK, says the Government has made no commitment to replace the billions of pounds of EU money which currently supports some of the most marginalised and disadvantaged people across the UK. Disabled people, domestic abuse victims and vulnerable migrants are among the groups at risk of losing out on crucial support when Britain leaves the EU, as the funds will cease to be accessible to projects supporting them. In the Conservative Party manifesto, Theresa May pledged to create a UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which it said would replace the money local areas currently receive from the EU. But ministers have yet to consult on and determine the scope and focus of that fund. The vast bulk of current EU funding comes in a combined allocation for 2014-2020 through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and European Social Fund (ESF), which has put almost 9.13bn into work with marginalised and disadvantaged people across the country. The Government has said it will honour ESF and ERDF commitments for projects agreed to 2020, as long as they represent value for money and align with domestic priorities. But these domestic priorities have yet to be determined and as yet there are no guarantees that they will continue to include equality and human rights. Ministers have to date made no announcements on replacements for the Rights Equality and Citizenship Programme, which funds services that help people experiencing domestic violence, hate crime, discrimination and labour exploitation. The fund has a budget of 343 million for the whole of the EU, over a third of which directly supports people in the UK. Chief executive of the Equality and Diversity Forum Ali Harris said it was crucial that any replacement schemes continue to invest at current levels or more, and continue to target disadvantaged groups. Its also vital we dont see a reduction or loss of projects supporting people facing violence, abuse or exploitation, she told The Independent. Disability campaigners said that unless the EU investment was fully replaced, disabled people would risk losing the support that enables them to live independently. Sue Bott, deputy chief executive of Disability Rights UK, said: Disabled people make up a key group of those who benefit from European funding streams. From hate crime through to improving employment potential, there is a massive range of currently funded schemes which make a difference to disabled peoples lives. Without this kind of investment disabled people risk losing the help they need to live independently. Such schemes include community support for people who are socially isolated, skills development to improve employment prospects, and combatting mental health stigma. Nimrod Ben-Cnaan, head of policy and profile at the Law Centres Network, an organisation which received EU funding that helps disadvantaged people access legal representation and informs them of their rights, said those rights were at risk of being eroded with the withdrawal of European funding streams. We work with disadvantaged people. The poorest. People who are furthest from accessing justice because they dont have nearly the kind of money they would need to pay for it. The assistance we provide is usually free of charge, he told The Independent. The lack of certainty is of greatest concern. If the Government knows it is going to replace it then they should commit to it and plan it. At the moment we have no confirmation, just some indication that the Government intends to replace EU funding. The withdrawal of this funding would overtime see vulnerable peoples awareness of their rights and entitlements eroded. Cllr Kevin Bentley, chairman of the Local Government Associations (LGA) Brexit Task and Finish Group, said the UK Shared Prosperity Fund was a positive short-term solution, but that certainty and clarity was now needed so that a locally-led successor programme would be in place by 2021. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty UK news in pictures 28 July 2021 Canoers on Llyn Padarn lake in Snowdonia, Gwynedd. It was announced that the north-west Wales slate landscape has been granted UNESCO World Heritage Status PA Otherwise, we will create another period of uncertainty for communities up and down the country, he said. A Government spokesperson said: The Government has committed to use the structural fund money coming back to the UK after Brexit to create a UK Shared Prosperity Fund. We intend to consult on the fund this year, and have committed to do so widely. More detail on this will be set out in due course. A 27-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after three people died in a house fire in Northern Ireland, police said. Fire crews were called shortly after 7am to a "well-developed" blaze at a bungalow in Derrylin, County Fermanagh. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service tweeted two hours later to say the blaze had been extinguished. The suspect was detained at the scene and transferred to hospital for treatment prior to his arrest, police said. Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: At this time we believe the fire, which has claimed at least three lives, was started deliberately. "We are continuing to thoroughly examine the scene along with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. "Our thoughts are with family, friends, local community and all of those affected by this tragic incident." The fire was attended by crews from Lisnaskea and Enniskillen. Michelle Gildernew, Sinn Fein MP for the area, which is close to the border, offered her condolences. "Devastating news for the family concerned and the Derrylin community. This is absolutely tragic, God help them all," she said. Jewish people across the world are gathering today to mark the end of Purim, which celebrates an attempt by an ancient Persian King to wipe out the Jewish population 2,500 years ago. Here are five things you may not have known about the colourful festival. It celebrates the bravery of a young woman called Esther The story follows Esther, who was chosen to be the wife and Queen of King Ahasuerus (believed to be Xerxes I) of Persia. When the Kings adviser, Haman, persuades him to kill all the Jews in the empire, Queen Esthers cousin and adopted father, Mordecai, calls on her to use her influence to stop the bloody plan. The tale is told in the Book of Esther, known as the Megillah, and ends with Hamans hanging and the Jewish people being saved. Purim is celebrated on the 14th and 15th days of Adar, the twelfth month of the Jewish Calendar which usually coincides with March. An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man and his dressed-up child read the book of Esther at a synagogue in the Israeli city of Bnei Brak near the costal city of Tel Aviv on March 4, 2015 during the feast of Purim. (MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images) Making a racket at the synagogue is encouraged As part of celebrations, Jewish people gather at the synagogue where the story of Esther is recited and the atmosphere is rowdy. While it is read, listeners are encouraged to use noisemakers called graggers and to boo, hiss and stamp their feet when Hamans name is mentioned in an attempt to drown it out. Some congregations also shout Long live Mordecai, cursed be Haman, blessed be Esther or May the name of the wicked rot! A girl dresses up for Purim (Getting Images) (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) A group of Jewish girls in fancy dress walk through the streets collecting money for their school Purim. (Getty Images) (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images) Its known as Jewish Mardi Gras Purim has a carnival-like atmosphere, with people either wearing their best Sabbath clothing or fancy dress with King Xerxes, Vashti, Queen Esther, Mordecai and Haman among the most popular costumes. Rabbi Gadi Levy, director of adult education at Portland Kollel in the US state of Oregon, told the Oregonian newspaper that the costumes symbolise how God is hidden in all our lives. Throughout the year we wear a mask, Levy said. "Our facial expressions cover who we really are, our society covers who we really are. On Purim we're trying to break that. You put on the mask and the inner self is able to explode, he explained. Observers also perform plays and parodies of Esthers story, hold costume contests, and give money to the poor. Ultra-Orthodox Jews read the Esther book at a synagogue in the Israel (Getty Images) (JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images) Purim means The term itself refers to the lottery system that Haman used to decide that the massacre would be on, which fell on the 14th day of Adar. On a leap year, when there are two months of Adar, Purim is celebrated in the second month of Adar, so it always falls one month before Passover. Hamantash Purim cookies before they are baked (Rex) (Chameleons Eye/REX) Food eaten On the eve of Purim, Jews do not eat or drink from dawn until dusk to remember Esthers three-day fast in preparation to meet the King. However, during the festival friends give each other foods and a feast known as the Purim seudah is held. Adults are obliged to drink until they do not know the difference between 'cursed be Haman' and 'blessed be Mordechai. While there is no set main meal, triangular biscuits called hamantaschen which translated to Hamans pockets - filled with fruit marmalade or poppy seeds are served to observers. In Israel, Purim baskets containing an assortment of sweets, cookies, bagels, wine, nuts and fruit are sold. Britains largest rail operators will receive millions of pounds in compensation as adverse weather conditions cause transport chaos, it has been reported. While passengers endure cancellations and delays, Network Rail will have to pay out to private rail companies. Cancellations and delays caused by bad weather, engineering work and other disruption between 2011 and 2017 cost Network Rail more than 2bn in compensation costs. Over the same period of time, passengers received just 187m in compensation for disruption to services, The Telegraph reported. A delay of one minute results in train companies automatically receiving compensation, but passengers have to be delayed by half an hour and also fill out a form. Tim Loughton, a Conservative MP and former minister, said passengers should receive compensation automatically. Its a complete scandal. They are being paid for failure, they are profiting from delays and cancellations. There is no way that they should be holding onto that money, he said. It is a double whammy for commuters whose journeys are being wrecked to know that the train operator is benefiting financially. Stephen Joseph, executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport, said the Department for Transport was blocking reform of the system. People are having to apply and go through complicated, bureaucratic processes to get any form of compensation. It should be simple and automatic, Mr Joseph said. Travel chaos is expected as commuters have been warned to expect major disruption as snowfall looks poised to blanket Britain, with the country potentially facing the coldest weather since 1991. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The Met Office said more than 20cm of the white stuff could settle by Wednesday as a wintry blast dubbed the Beast from the East will cause temperatures to tumble. Issuing amber warnings for snow showers on Tuesday morning covering the South East, the East Midlands and the North East the forecaster said up to 15cm could fall in just a few hours. A yellow warning was also put in place for vast swathes of the UK with the snowfall predicted to cripple much of the countrys travel network during rush hour. Rail services in parts of eastern and southern England will be cancelled in anticipation and Greater Anglia, which serves Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, is ending services early on Monday at 10pm to enable trains to return to depots and stations before the forecast snow storms begin. Some empty trains will run throughout the night in a bid to keep lines clear for the morning commute. The Independent contacted the Department for Transport for comment. Boris Johnson has been attacked for comparing the complex challenges posed by Brexit to Northern Irelands border, to those faced when managing the boundary between two London boroughs. The Foreign Secretary said the UK would handle the border with the Republic of Ireland using technology, explaining how as London Mayor he electronically levied the congestion charge on vehicles crossing the boundary between Camden and Westminster. Labour politicians slammed the comment as stupidity and suggested the Cabinet minister was living on a different planet. Theresa May and her Cabinet are currently trying to work out how to maintain pulling the UK out of the EUs customs union, whilst also ensuring there is no customs border between Northern Ireland and the Republic something seen as critical to peace in the region. With International Trade Secretary Liam Fox set to insist in a speech that the UK will not be in any customs union after Brexit despite pressure from Jeremy Corbyns Labour and Tory rebels Mr Johnson argued the position would not mean a hard border in Ireland. Speaking on BBC Radio 4s Today programme, he said: We think that we can have very efficient facilitation systems to make sure there is no need for a hard border excessive checks at the frontier for Northern Ireland and the Republic. Jeremy Corbyn announces support of a customs union after Brexit You know, just for people listening, theres no border betweenCamden and Westminster but when I was Mayor of London we anaesthetically and visibly took hundreds of millions of pounds from the accounts of people travelling between those two boroughs without any need for border checks. When the interviewer said the comparison is not credible, Mr Johnson went on: Its a very relevant comparison, because theres all sorts of scope for pre-booking, electronic checks, all sorts of things that you can do to obviate the need for a hard border, to allow us to come out of the customs union, take back control of our trade border and do trade deals. The comments were immediately seized upon by Labour, with David Lammy MP taking to Twitter to say: God help us all this isnt just stupidity and ignorance, but wilful recklessness. Ex-cabinet minister Andrew Adonis sardonically tweeted: What a relief! Boris Johnson says very efficient facilitation systems will deal with Brexit border in Ireland. Says its like the border between Camden & Westminster. What planet? Brexit so far: in pictures Show all 53 1 /53 Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson led the VoteLeave campaign PA Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: We send the EU 350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead. Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Voting day A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Referendum results Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it was likely the UK would leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Protesting the result A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading Im not leaving protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures David Cameron resigns British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Theresa May Becomes the new Conservative Party leader Theresa May receives a kiss from her husband Philip, after becoming the new Conservative Party leader on 11 July 2016. May became Prime Minister two days later and although she voted to remain in the referendum was keen to lead Britains Brexit talks after her only rival in the race to succeed David Cameron pulled out unexpectedly. May was left as the only contender standing after the withdrawal from the leadership race of Andrea Leadsom, who faced criticism for suggesting she was more qualified to be prime minister because she had children AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of no deal is better than a bad deal, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a tone of trust between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe. She said there should be a clear double lock needed for the transitional period to make sure businesses had time to prepare for changes to their trading relationships with the EU Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Triggering of Article 50 British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet, sitting below a painting of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole, signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on 29 March 2017 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Gibraltar nonsense Tensions have risen over Brexit negotiations for the Rock of Gibraltar. The European Council has said Gibraltar would be included in a trade deal between London and Brussels only with the agreement of Spain. While former Conservative leader Michael Howard claimed that Theresa May would be prepared to go to war to protect the territory. Spain's foreign minister stepped in only to assert that there was no need for the dispute Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Shock snap election Soon after triggering Article 50, Theresa May called on 18 April 2017 for a snap general election. The election would be on 8 June and it came as a shock move to many, with her reasoning to try to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the EU AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Dissolution of Parliament for General Election Campaign Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace on 3 May 2017. The Prime Minister visited the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament signalling the official start to the general election campaign Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Conservatives lose parliamentary majority An arrangement of British daily newspapers showing front page stories about the exit poll results of the snap general election. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on 9 June 2017 after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loomed. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader would be unable to form a government AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Labour gains Britains opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a tumbs up as he arrives at Labour headquarters in central London on 9 June 2017 after the snap general election results showed a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing their majority AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit negotiations begin Brexit Minister David Davis and European Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations Michel Barnier address a press conference at the end of the first day of Brexit negotiations in Brussels on 19 June 2017 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May speaks in Florence British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks on 22 September 2017, in Florence. May sought to unlock Brexit talks after Brussels demanded more clarity on the crunch issues of budget payments and EU citizens' rights AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit insufficient progress German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins other EU leaders for a breakfast meeting during an EU summit in Brussels on 20 October 2017. The EU spoke about Brexit and announced that insufficient progress had been made AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures DUP derails settlement on the withdrawal part of Brexit DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds walks off after speaking to members of the media as a protester holding flags shouts after him outside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels after the DUP said it would not accept terms which see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May suffers defeat over EU (Withdrawal) Bill Theresa May suffers defeat in parliament over EU (Withdrawal) Bill on 13 December 2017. The Government was defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. MPs amended the EU (Withdrawal) Bill against Theresa May's will, guaranteeing Parliament a meaningful vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. Ms May's whips applied pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305 Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit sufficient progress Britain's Prime minister Theresa May arrives to attend the first day of a European union summit in Brussels on 14 December 2017. European leaders discussed Brexit and announced there was finally sufficient progress at the end of the two days AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures The game moves to transition Brexit Secretary David Davis gives evidence on developments in European Union divorce talks to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee in Portcullis House, London, on 24 January 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures Trade deal is what May wants French President Emmanuel Macron gestures to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May after they hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 18 January 2018. May and Macron agreed a new border security deal, through which the UK will pay more to France to stop migrants trying to reach British shores on 18 January 2018 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Transition period agreed The UK and EU agree terms for Brexit transition period on 19 March, 2018 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures No agreement on Irish border The EU and UK however failed to reach an agreement on the Irish border during the successful talks on other Brexit issues AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU attacks Mays fantasy strategy For months after the March deal is struck there is little significant progress in talks. One senior EU official tears into Britains fantasy negotiating strategy and accuses Theresa May of not even having a position on a variety of important issue Getty Brexit so far: in pictures UK releases Ireland plan Britain releases a new customs plan to solve the Northern Ireland border but Michel Barnier says it leaves unanswered questions and would not prevent a hard border EbS Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan agreed The cabinet agrees on a plan known as the "Chequers deal" on July 6 2018. The plan seeks regulatory alignment on goods and food, divergence on services, freedom from the European Courts of Justice and an end to free movement. Many were surprised that the hard Brexiteers of the cabinet would agree to this plan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan sparks resignations Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and numerous ministers resign in the days following the Chequers agreement Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Davis out, Raab in On 9 July, Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit Secretary. Raab is a keen Brexiteer and was a housing minister before taking over from Davis Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Barnier's "deal like no other" EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claims on August 29 2018 that they are prepared to offer Britain a trade deal like no other, though he stressed that they will not divide or change the single market to accommodate Britain AP Brexit so far: in pictures "My deal or no deal" In an interview on Panorama on September 17, the Prime Minister insists that any Brexit deal will be offered to the EU on her terms. She asserts this amongst continued attacks on her approach to Brexit by Boris Johnson and the European Research Group, headed by Jacob Rees Mogg BBC/Jeff Overs Brexit so far: in pictures EU leaders reject Chequers Quite the blow was dealt to the Prime Minister at a EU leaders summit in Salzburg on September 20. European Council President Donald Tusk stated that the Chequers deal "will not work" Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures May demands respect Following the rejection of her Chequers plan the day before, the Prime Minister voiced her anger that the EU had dismissed it without offering an alternative. She stated that throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it." Getty Brexit so far: in pictures People's Vote march As the People's Vote campaign and The Independent's Final Say campaign gain traction, 700,000 people turn out in London to demand a final say on the UK's Brexit deal on October 20 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures More resignations As the Prime Minister settles on a Brexit deal, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab resigns along with Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey and many other ministers Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Final Say petitions delivered to Downing Street People's Vote supporting MPs Chukka Umunna, Justine Greening and Caroline Lucas and The Independent editor Christian Broughton deliver over a million signatures in favour of a People's Vote to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on December 3 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures May delays vote On December 10, the Prime Minister delayed the vote on her Brexit deal as it was near certain not to pass through the Commons due to Tory rebels and lack of DUP support AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures No confidence motion Tory MPs triggered a confidence vote in the Prime Minister on December 12. She won by 200 votes to 117 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Commons rejects the deal Following the delay, the Prime Minister's deal was rejected in the Commons by a historic 230 votes AFP Brexit so far: in pictures Corbyn tables a no confidence motion Following the rejection of the Prime Minister's deal, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a motion of no confidence in the government, which the government won by a margin of 19 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Plan B The Prime Minister won the support of the commons to return to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop on January 29. In the same sitting, MPs also voted against a no-deal Brexit in a non-legally binding motion PA Brexit so far: in pictures EU council president savages Brexit campaigners who failed to plan for departure: Special place in hell There is a special place in hell for pro-Brexit campaigners who demanded Britain leave the EU without explaining how it should happen, Donald Tusk has said. The European Council president launched the scathing attack as he accused anti-EU campaigners of pushing for Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. Mr Tusk also dismissed suggestions that the EU could reopen negotiations over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, dealing a blow to Theresa Mays hopes of securing fresh concessions as she tries to get her exit deal through parliament. Speaking in Brussels alongside Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Tusk said: Ive been wondering what a special place in hell looks like for people who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. He also tweeted the accusation moments later Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU and UK announce talks to restart after Theresa May visits Brussels Both have agreed to restart Brexit talks to find a way through the deadlock in Westminster, following a visit by Theresa May to Brussels. In a joint statement the British government and European Commission said Ms May had had a robust but constructive meeting with president Jean-Claude Juncker, and that the pair would meet again before the end of the month. But the EU again refused to reopen the withdrawal agreement and its controversial backstop with any negotiations expected to focus on the future relationship between the UK and EU instead Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit strategy lost MPs voted down May's Brext plans, with a majority of 45. The prime minister did not appear in parliament to see another defeat PA Brexit so far: in pictures Labour and Conservative MPs resign and create the Independent Group Back row of Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Chuka Umunna and Mike Gapes, middle row of Angela Smith, Luciana Berger and Ann Coffey and front row of Sarah Wollaston, Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Joan Ryan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Non-biding votes on amendments to Brexit motion On February 27 he house held a series of votes, unanimously calling for the UK and EU to guarantee citizens rights in a no-deal scenario AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Attorney General publishes legal advice A hammer blow for May as Geoffrey Cox said her renegotiated deal can still leave UK in backstop against its will. Mr Cox did say the prime ministers efforts had reduced the risk of the UK being trapped in the backstop indefinitely. MPs went on to vote against her deal by 391 to 242 UK Parliament/PA Brexit so far: in pictures No-deal off the table MPs rejected a no-deal Brexit by 43 votes on March 13, with cabinet ministers rebelling in another humiliating defeat for Theresa May. A day later they voted in favour of the prime minister seeking an extension to Article 50 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures House speaker bans May from third Commons vote on same Brexit deal John Bercow sensationally told Theresa May he would stop her making another attempt to pass her Brexit deal unless she has secured changes. The Speaker said a further meaningful vote would be ruled out of order if the motion was the same or substantially the same under an ancient convention to stop the government bullying parliament on issues MPs have rejected Parliament Live Brexit so far: in pictures May writes to Tusk The prime minister wrote to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, to ask for a three-month extension to give her more time to try to get her deal through parliament. However the European Commission advises the EU27 should offer a short extension to May 23 or a longer one meaning the UK would participate in European elections 10 Downing Street/AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures European Council summit Theresa Mays request to extend triggering Article 50 until the end of June was rejected by the EU, and instead offered a shorter time frame. She accepted the offer of a delay until May 22 if her withdrawal deal is approved by Parliament. If MPs rejected it for a third time, the EU said Britain must propose a new plan by April 12. Ms May said she will not support a long delay because it would mean Britain participating in elections for the European Parliament Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brussels confirms preparations for a no-deal Brexit are completed They warned that it is increasingly likely the UK will crash out. In a statement the European Commission (EC) said preparedness and contingency work, which the EC has been conducting since December 2017, was now finished. The announcement came days after EU leaders agreed to a request by Theresa May to extend the UKs Brexit date AFP Brexit so far: in pictures May resigns Reuters Cabinet minister Dr Fox will say allowing the UK to stay in a customs union with the EU after Brexit would be a complete sell-out of Britains interests. The International Trade Secretary will use a speech to claim the move, which could be forced by a coalition of Labour and Tory rebels, would leave Britain in a worse position than now. With the Cabinet set to meet on Tuesday to put final touches on the UKs agreed negotiating position with the EU, Dr Fox will say any form of customs union would leave the UK as rule takers. Boris Johnson has told Theresa May it is not Britains responsibility to prevent a hard border in Ireland after Brexit, an explosive leaked memo has revealed. The Foreign Secretary instead urged the Prime Minister to agree it should be the Governments objective to prevent the crossing becoming significantly harder. The memo, obtained by Sky News, also appears to dismiss the consequences of a hard border arguing 95 per cent plus of goods would pass without checks regardless. Recommended God help us if Boris Johnson thought his Brexit speech was unifying The advice is certain to enrage the Irish Government, which has secured the EUs backing that a return to border posts and checks must be avoided at all costs. Furthermore, last year, Mr Johnson promised there would be no new hard border between the North and the Republic. During the Brexit referendum campaign, he said the border would be absolutely unchanged. The leak also comes the day before the European Commission publishes a draft legal text setting out the commitment demanded from Britain to avoid a hard crossing. It is expected to say Northern Ireland may need to be considered part of EU customs territory after Brexit, creating a single regulatory space on the island of Ireland with no internal barriers. The arrangement would be the so-called default option conceded by Ms May in the December agreement between the EU and the UK. The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty However, hard Brexit supporters such as Mr Johnson fear that outcome would prevent Britain from breaking free from the EUs economic structures, to pursue free trade deals elsewhere. In December, under pressure from the Democratic Unionist Party, the Prime Minister agreed that continued alignment in Ireland would extend across the entire UK. Ian Murray, a Labour MP and supporter of the pro-EU Open Britain campaign, accused Mr Johnson of being ready to undermine the Good Friday Agreement. It can be little wonder that negotiations over Ireland are now severely strained: because Theresa May and her ministers have consistently failed to be honest about the implications of the hard Brexit they seek, Mr Murray said. As the threat to the integrity of the peace process from Brexit becomes clear, we all have the right to keep an open mind as to whether that it is too high a price to pay. In the memo seen by Sky News, Mr Johnson wrote: It would be wrong to see the Governments task as maintaining no border. He said the task should be to stop the border becoming significantly harder, adding that even if that happened 95 per cent plus of goods could be expected to pass through without checks. Opponents of a border are certain to warn that, even if only 5 per cent of goods were checked, it would still require a physical presence and a potential target for terrorists. Significantly, Sky News reported that the memo contained the phrase not agreed technical advice suggesting Foreign Office officials had declined to endorse its contents. Following the leak, Downing Street dismissed the prospect of returning to a hard border between northern and southern Ireland, saying it had made clear it was not an option "on numerous occasions". Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry told Sky News Mr Johnson was jeopardising peace in Ireland. I just dont know where to start ... We need to have a soft border in Ireland in order to ensure that we have peace in Ireland. That is the truth and that's what Boris Johnson is supposed to be responsible for. The British Government have promised the people of northern and southern Ireland that there will be a soft border and now privately hes saying that actually it probably will be a hard border, but hey, never mind. This is not acceptable. This is not grown-up politics, this is not responsible politics ... and it is simply telling lies to the British people." Labour anti-Brexit MP David Lammy tweeted "God help us all this isn't just stupidity and ignorance but wilful recklessness", Referring to the Leave campaigns disputed claim Brexit would mean an extra 350m for the NHS, Ms Thornberry said: Its 350m on the side of a bus all over again. But this time, it's people's lives: 3,000 people died during the Troubles. This is not something to play around with." The leak came on the day that Mr Johnson was attacked for comparing the complex challenge of the Irish border to managing the boundary between two London boroughs. The Foreign Secretary said the UK would use technology, explaining how as London Mayor he electronically levied the congestion charge on vehicles crossing the boundary between Camden and Westminster. Labour politicians slammed the comment as stupidity and suggested the Cabinet minister was living on a different planet. A spokesman for Mr Johnson said the letter was "designed to outline how a highly facilitated border would work and help to make a successful Brexit". "The letter points out there is a border now, and the task the (cabinet Brexit) committee face is stopping this becoming significantly harder," he said. "It shows how we could manage a border without infrastructure or related checks and controls while protecting UK, Northern Ireland, Irish and EU interests." He added: "We will not accept any physical infrastructure at the border, and will instead seek alternatives that allow us to leave the customs union and take back control of our money, borders, laws and trading policy." Liam Fox has declared that Brexit is more complicated than a packet of Walkers, after an ex-Government adviser claimed leaving the bloc was like swapping a three-course meal for the promise of a packet of crisps. The International Trade Secretary hit back at Sir Martin Donnellys mockery of plans to leave the European customs union and strike free trade deals further afield, using a keynote speech to warn that any form of customs unions with the EU after Brexit would be a complete sell-out of Britains interests. Outlining his vision for future trade after Brexit, Dr Fox said there were real opportunities for Britain to show leadership on the global stage, but only if struck out on its own rather than ceding control to Brussels. Former Government trade official Sir Martin Donnelly: Brexit is like 'giving up a three-course meal for a packet of crisps' It comes as Theresa May faced growing pressure over customs union membership, after Jeremy Corbyn unveiled a dramatic shift in Labours Brexit stance in favour of a new and comprehensive customs agreement to allow tariff-free trade with the EU. Pro-EU Tory rebels are threatening to join forces with Labour to keep membership on the table in a potentially devastating Commons revolt for the Government. Asked about Sir Martins comments during a speech in London, Dr Fox said: Its unsurprising that those who have spent a lifetime working within the European Union would see moving away from the European Union as a threat. The prominent Brexiteer went on: We are already trying to seek a full and liberal partnership with with the European Union; we are already having discussions about expanding our trade agreements beyond the EU, and we are also taking about rolling over the EU agreements into UK law, so that we get no disruption in terms of market access on exit. So its not a choice of one or the other, and in any case, I think the UK Brexit process is, as we have all discovered, a little more complex than a packet of Walkers. Sir Martin, who was permanent secretary at the Department of International Trade (DIT) until last year, told BBC Radio 4s Today programme that striking new free trade deals with countries like the US would not compensate for the loss of access to the EU trade agreements. He said it was like giving up a three-course meal for the promise of a packet of crisps later, and the UK would need a fairy godmother to get the EU deal it is seeking. Asked about the matter, Dr Fox said: Neither Sir Martin, with all due respect, nor anyone else has seen the full details of what was agreed at Cabinet last week at Chequers. And the Prime Minister sets those out on Friday; I think people will find that what we need is a hard-headed leader, not a fairy godmother. The row came as Dr Fox became the latest in a series of senior cabinet ministers to make a Road to Brexit speech, which will culminate in an key address by the Prime Minister on Friday, where she is expected to set out plans for Britains future relationship with the EU as agreed by her Brexit war cabinet last week. Ms May is scrambling to finalise the details by Friday, as Brexiteers also threaten her leadership from the right if she fails to seek an agreement that allows the UK to agree trade deals something staying in the customs union would preclude. She also faces pressure from Labour after Mr Corbyn ended months of speculation by finally committing his party to remaining in a customs union. Speaking at Bloomberg in London, Dr Fox branded Labours policy shift as an incoherent, inept and clueless performance, which he claimed would be funny if it wasnt so tragic. He also raised the prospect of a TTIP-style deal of privatisation if Britain stays in the customs union, something that Labour opposes. The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty Dr Fox said: Remaining in a customs union of any type would only make sense if we were to abandon our global ambitions and limit our abilities to shape our trade policy, and the changes to the global environment that I have outlined. Tomorrows choices would be constrained by todays status quo. His speech drew mockery from his Labour counterpart Barry Gardiner, who said the Tory minister was divorced from reality and isolated from British businesses and workers. But Allie Renison, of the Institute of Directors, said: We believe that the Government can square the circle between pursuing its own independent trade deals with third countries and ensuring businesses in the UK face minimal barriers to trading with the EU. Keeping tariffs on industrial goods aligned with the EU would still allow plenty of negotiating capital for future trade deals, including with the US, while ensuring companies avoid costly rules of origin that could jeopardise foreign investment into UK manufacturing and disrupt the UKs integration within European supply chains. The Prime Ministers plan is set to be approved by full Cabinet at a special meeting on Thursday. The proposal which was immediately described as pure illusion by European Council president Donald Tusk is understood to involve a promise to keep UK standards as high as European ones, as well as the creation of a dispute mechanism for cases where Britain wants to go its own way. So, you don't want Americans to have healthcare, you don't want children who have lived in the U.S. all their lives to continue to live here; you think it's okay that BIBI Netanyahu (who is now being investigated for corruption) doesn't like Jews or our Iran deal; you don't think we should resume relations with a country that is 100 miles off our Florida coast; you think Obama paid a ransom for our hostages so you'd rather Americans STAY in Iran; that Bowe Bergdahl should have been LEFT BEHIND, even though a soldier's creed is "never leave a fallen comrade"; our racial divide is Obama's fault; SOLYNDRA??? AND finally you believe Donald J. Trump when he claims that Russia is completely innocent of all charges and that Vlad Putin is a GOOD GUY, but our FBI is totally corrupt and out to get Trump?? Got it. To summarize: You are a Trump puppet. CONgrats! Leaders in Wales and Scotland have outlined plans to unilaterally protect their own powers after Brexit, setting the scene for a potential clash with the Westminster government. Welsh First Minister Carwyn Jones and Scotlands Nicola Sturgeon said they would ask their respective devolved assemblies to consider passing legislation to ensure powers coming back from Brussels after Brexit do not get usurped by London. Both assemblies must give legislative consent to the UK Governments Brexit plans but are threatening to withhold it, which could spark a constitutional crisis. Mr Jones and Ms Sturgeon have been negotiating with Whitehall in the hope of finding an agreement that would allow the Welsh and Scottish assemblies to give their consent to the bill. However, with talks at an impasse they are now preparing emergency legislation that would see EU laws on devolved matters being transferred in Welsh and Scottish law on the day Britain leaves the EU. The current provisions of the EU Withdrawal Bill would see powers over devolved matters, such as farming and fishing, returned to Whitehall instead of to the devolved assemblies after Brexit, prompting strong opposition from the governments in Cardiff and Edinburgh. Welsh and Scottish leaders have proposed a solution that would see the powers returned to the devolved governments, which would then agree not to use them until a UK-wide policy had been agreed with the government in Westminster. Government ministers have so far refused to accept the proposal. Speaking at a conference of the Association of British Insurers in London, Ms Sturgeon said: "We've been trying to avoid getting into the position where we can't recommend consent to the Withdrawal Bill, which the devolved administrations have got to do. "We've put down amendments, we've been talking for months to the UK Government to try to get a compromise, we even drafted what that compromise looks like and they've failed to really do what needs to be done to get an agreement." The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty The Scottish and Welsh governments are now taking "contingency steps to protect our position by announcing intentions around legislation that would have us do the necessary steps to provide continuity of law in devolved areas, she said. However, there remains confusion over whether the Scottish Parliament has the legal right to pass the law. Its presiding officer, Ken Macintosh, has taken the unprecedented step of ruling that such a law would be outside the scope of the Scotland Act, which enshrined Scottish devolution. The verdict comes despite his Welsh counterpart having said the Welsh Assembly would be within its rights to pass the legislation. Mr Jones said the law being tabled in the Welsh Assembly will be classed as an emergency bill because of the urgency of finding a solution. Brexit will be like 'removing egg from an omelette', warns former World Trade Organisation director Pascal Lamy He said: The EU Withdrawal Bill, as currently drafted, would allow the UK Government to take control of laws and policy areas that are devolved. This is simply not acceptable to the Welsh Government, or the people of Wales who have voted for devolution in two referendums. Decisions taken now will affect Wales for decades to come. It is vital these decisions are made in a way that respects devolution. Mr Jones said he still hoped to reach an agreement with the UK Government but warned time is running out for ministers to amend their plans. He added: It would be irresponsible to refuse to give legislative consent to the UK Governments bill while also not being prepared to put in place our own measures to give clarity about EU-derived law in Wales relating to devolved matters. The vote to leave the EU was not a vote to reverse devolution. The current devolution settlement in Wales has been backed by two referendums in 1997 and 2011. This Bill is about respecting the will of the people of Wales. The move is likely to place fresh pressure on Theresa May ahead of a meeting of the Joint Ministerial Council, which brings together UK government ministers and the leaders of the devolved governments. Downing Street said a meeting is due to take place in the next few weeks, ahead of the second round of negotiations with the EU beginning later in March. Theresa May is on a collision course with Brussels as it emerged a draft EU Brexit agreement will probably ignore a string of key demands she has made. The draft withdrawal document to be published on Wednesday will state that EU citizens must retain full rights during the Brexit transition period, and that the UK must remain subject to European court rulings indefinitely. The paper outlining the moves, that fly in the face of the Prime Ministers demands, comes just days before Ms May is set to make her biggest speech on Brexit since last year. Conservative ministers Liam Fox and Boris Johnson both made interventions underlining how the Government would be not seeking a relationship involving a customs union with Europe after Brexit. Speaking ahead of publication of the EUs draft withdrawal agreement, the blocs chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier warned there are still disputes about how the transition should work. In particular, there is disagreement as to whether EU citizens arriving during the probable two-year period after Brexit day in March 2019, should still have the right to freedom of movement something Ms May does not want to grant. Mr Barnier said: There are significant points of disagreement with the UK as to what we understand by transition, the conditions for such and the dimensions for such a transition. Brexit will be like 'removing egg from an omelette', warns former World Trade Organisation director Pascal Lamy He added: In the light of these disagreements, we have not achieved the transition yet. On all of these points of disagreement, I am happy to discuss these matters straight away with [Brexit Secretary] David Davis. Its essential we make progress by means of political discussion, political negotiation. He said there would be no surprises in the 120-page document, which will set out in legal terms the political agreements reached between Ms May and European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker in December. But reports also emerged that Brussels will insist in the draft that the UK accept the European Court of Justice as the ultimate arbiter of treaty-related disputes, even after the transition. Continuing oversight is needed because parts of the withdrawal deal, like the 39bn divorce bill, will be discharged over many years to come but the idea of the ECJ having continued sway will probably be rejected by the Government. Brexit so far: in pictures Show all 53 1 /53 Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson led the VoteLeave campaign PA Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: We send the EU 350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead. Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Voting day A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Referendum results Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it was likely the UK would leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Protesting the result A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading Im not leaving protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures David Cameron resigns British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Theresa May Becomes the new Conservative Party leader Theresa May receives a kiss from her husband Philip, after becoming the new Conservative Party leader on 11 July 2016. May became Prime Minister two days later and although she voted to remain in the referendum was keen to lead Britains Brexit talks after her only rival in the race to succeed David Cameron pulled out unexpectedly. May was left as the only contender standing after the withdrawal from the leadership race of Andrea Leadsom, who faced criticism for suggesting she was more qualified to be prime minister because she had children AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of no deal is better than a bad deal, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a tone of trust between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe. She said there should be a clear double lock needed for the transitional period to make sure businesses had time to prepare for changes to their trading relationships with the EU Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Triggering of Article 50 British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet, sitting below a painting of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole, signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on 29 March 2017 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Gibraltar nonsense Tensions have risen over Brexit negotiations for the Rock of Gibraltar. The European Council has said Gibraltar would be included in a trade deal between London and Brussels only with the agreement of Spain. While former Conservative leader Michael Howard claimed that Theresa May would be prepared to go to war to protect the territory. Spain's foreign minister stepped in only to assert that there was no need for the dispute Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Shock snap election Soon after triggering Article 50, Theresa May called on 18 April 2017 for a snap general election. The election would be on 8 June and it came as a shock move to many, with her reasoning to try to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the EU AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Dissolution of Parliament for General Election Campaign Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace on 3 May 2017. The Prime Minister visited the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament signalling the official start to the general election campaign Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Conservatives lose parliamentary majority An arrangement of British daily newspapers showing front page stories about the exit poll results of the snap general election. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on 9 June 2017 after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loomed. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader would be unable to form a government AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Labour gains Britains opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a tumbs up as he arrives at Labour headquarters in central London on 9 June 2017 after the snap general election results showed a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing their majority AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit negotiations begin Brexit Minister David Davis and European Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations Michel Barnier address a press conference at the end of the first day of Brexit negotiations in Brussels on 19 June 2017 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May speaks in Florence British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks on 22 September 2017, in Florence. May sought to unlock Brexit talks after Brussels demanded more clarity on the crunch issues of budget payments and EU citizens' rights AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit insufficient progress German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins other EU leaders for a breakfast meeting during an EU summit in Brussels on 20 October 2017. The EU spoke about Brexit and announced that insufficient progress had been made AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures DUP derails settlement on the withdrawal part of Brexit DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds walks off after speaking to members of the media as a protester holding flags shouts after him outside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels after the DUP said it would not accept terms which see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May suffers defeat over EU (Withdrawal) Bill Theresa May suffers defeat in parliament over EU (Withdrawal) Bill on 13 December 2017. The Government was defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. MPs amended the EU (Withdrawal) Bill against Theresa May's will, guaranteeing Parliament a meaningful vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. Ms May's whips applied pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305 Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit sufficient progress Britain's Prime minister Theresa May arrives to attend the first day of a European union summit in Brussels on 14 December 2017. European leaders discussed Brexit and announced there was finally sufficient progress at the end of the two days AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures The game moves to transition Brexit Secretary David Davis gives evidence on developments in European Union divorce talks to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee in Portcullis House, London, on 24 January 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures Trade deal is what May wants French President Emmanuel Macron gestures to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May after they hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 18 January 2018. May and Macron agreed a new border security deal, through which the UK will pay more to France to stop migrants trying to reach British shores on 18 January 2018 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Transition period agreed The UK and EU agree terms for Brexit transition period on 19 March, 2018 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures No agreement on Irish border The EU and UK however failed to reach an agreement on the Irish border during the successful talks on other Brexit issues AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU attacks Mays fantasy strategy For months after the March deal is struck there is little significant progress in talks. One senior EU official tears into Britains fantasy negotiating strategy and accuses Theresa May of not even having a position on a variety of important issue Getty Brexit so far: in pictures UK releases Ireland plan Britain releases a new customs plan to solve the Northern Ireland border but Michel Barnier says it leaves unanswered questions and would not prevent a hard border EbS Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan agreed The cabinet agrees on a plan known as the "Chequers deal" on July 6 2018. The plan seeks regulatory alignment on goods and food, divergence on services, freedom from the European Courts of Justice and an end to free movement. Many were surprised that the hard Brexiteers of the cabinet would agree to this plan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan sparks resignations Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and numerous ministers resign in the days following the Chequers agreement Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Davis out, Raab in On 9 July, Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit Secretary. Raab is a keen Brexiteer and was a housing minister before taking over from Davis Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Barnier's "deal like no other" EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claims on August 29 2018 that they are prepared to offer Britain a trade deal like no other, though he stressed that they will not divide or change the single market to accommodate Britain AP Brexit so far: in pictures "My deal or no deal" In an interview on Panorama on September 17, the Prime Minister insists that any Brexit deal will be offered to the EU on her terms. She asserts this amongst continued attacks on her approach to Brexit by Boris Johnson and the European Research Group, headed by Jacob Rees Mogg BBC/Jeff Overs Brexit so far: in pictures EU leaders reject Chequers Quite the blow was dealt to the Prime Minister at a EU leaders summit in Salzburg on September 20. European Council President Donald Tusk stated that the Chequers deal "will not work" Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures May demands respect Following the rejection of her Chequers plan the day before, the Prime Minister voiced her anger that the EU had dismissed it without offering an alternative. She stated that throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it." Getty Brexit so far: in pictures People's Vote march As the People's Vote campaign and The Independent's Final Say campaign gain traction, 700,000 people turn out in London to demand a final say on the UK's Brexit deal on October 20 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures More resignations As the Prime Minister settles on a Brexit deal, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab resigns along with Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey and many other ministers Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Final Say petitions delivered to Downing Street People's Vote supporting MPs Chukka Umunna, Justine Greening and Caroline Lucas and The Independent editor Christian Broughton deliver over a million signatures in favour of a People's Vote to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on December 3 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures May delays vote On December 10, the Prime Minister delayed the vote on her Brexit deal as it was near certain not to pass through the Commons due to Tory rebels and lack of DUP support AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures No confidence motion Tory MPs triggered a confidence vote in the Prime Minister on December 12. She won by 200 votes to 117 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Commons rejects the deal Following the delay, the Prime Minister's deal was rejected in the Commons by a historic 230 votes AFP Brexit so far: in pictures Corbyn tables a no confidence motion Following the rejection of the Prime Minister's deal, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a motion of no confidence in the government, which the government won by a margin of 19 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Plan B The Prime Minister won the support of the commons to return to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop on January 29. In the same sitting, MPs also voted against a no-deal Brexit in a non-legally binding motion PA Brexit so far: in pictures EU council president savages Brexit campaigners who failed to plan for departure: Special place in hell There is a special place in hell for pro-Brexit campaigners who demanded Britain leave the EU without explaining how it should happen, Donald Tusk has said. The European Council president launched the scathing attack as he accused anti-EU campaigners of pushing for Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. Mr Tusk also dismissed suggestions that the EU could reopen negotiations over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, dealing a blow to Theresa Mays hopes of securing fresh concessions as she tries to get her exit deal through parliament. Speaking in Brussels alongside Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Tusk said: Ive been wondering what a special place in hell looks like for people who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. He also tweeted the accusation moments later Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU and UK announce talks to restart after Theresa May visits Brussels Both have agreed to restart Brexit talks to find a way through the deadlock in Westminster, following a visit by Theresa May to Brussels. In a joint statement the British government and European Commission said Ms May had had a robust but constructive meeting with president Jean-Claude Juncker, and that the pair would meet again before the end of the month. But the EU again refused to reopen the withdrawal agreement and its controversial backstop with any negotiations expected to focus on the future relationship between the UK and EU instead Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit strategy lost MPs voted down May's Brext plans, with a majority of 45. The prime minister did not appear in parliament to see another defeat PA Brexit so far: in pictures Labour and Conservative MPs resign and create the Independent Group Back row of Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Chuka Umunna and Mike Gapes, middle row of Angela Smith, Luciana Berger and Ann Coffey and front row of Sarah Wollaston, Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Joan Ryan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Non-biding votes on amendments to Brexit motion On February 27 he house held a series of votes, unanimously calling for the UK and EU to guarantee citizens rights in a no-deal scenario AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Attorney General publishes legal advice A hammer blow for May as Geoffrey Cox said her renegotiated deal can still leave UK in backstop against its will. Mr Cox did say the prime ministers efforts had reduced the risk of the UK being trapped in the backstop indefinitely. MPs went on to vote against her deal by 391 to 242 UK Parliament/PA Brexit so far: in pictures No-deal off the table MPs rejected a no-deal Brexit by 43 votes on March 13, with cabinet ministers rebelling in another humiliating defeat for Theresa May. A day later they voted in favour of the prime minister seeking an extension to Article 50 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures House speaker bans May from third Commons vote on same Brexit deal John Bercow sensationally told Theresa May he would stop her making another attempt to pass her Brexit deal unless she has secured changes. The Speaker said a further meaningful vote would be ruled out of order if the motion was the same or substantially the same under an ancient convention to stop the government bullying parliament on issues MPs have rejected Parliament Live Brexit so far: in pictures May writes to Tusk The prime minister wrote to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, to ask for a three-month extension to give her more time to try to get her deal through parliament. However the European Commission advises the EU27 should offer a short extension to May 23 or a longer one meaning the UK would participate in European elections 10 Downing Street/AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures European Council summit Theresa Mays request to extend triggering Article 50 until the end of June was rejected by the EU, and instead offered a shorter time frame. She accepted the offer of a delay until May 22 if her withdrawal deal is approved by Parliament. If MPs rejected it for a third time, the EU said Britain must propose a new plan by April 12. Ms May said she will not support a long delay because it would mean Britain participating in elections for the European Parliament Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brussels confirms preparations for a no-deal Brexit are completed They warned that it is increasingly likely the UK will crash out. In a statement the European Commission (EC) said preparedness and contingency work, which the EC has been conducting since December 2017, was now finished. The announcement came days after EU leaders agreed to a request by Theresa May to extend the UKs Brexit date AFP Brexit so far: in pictures May resigns Reuters Mr Barnier also poured cold water on Ms Mays proposal for a future EU-UK relationship based on ambitious managed divergence in which Britain would observe EU regulations in some areas and go its own way in others. In the light of these disagreements, we have not achieved the transition yet Chief EU negotiator Michel Barnier The EU negotiator said: It is illusory to imagine a situation in which we would accept cherry-picking. We are responsible for guaranteeing the integrity of the single market. The UK knows what the rules are which underpin that integrity, because they have been helping us put them together for the last 40 years. The draft text of the withdrawal agreement will be discussed with the remaining 27 EU member states, as well as the European Parliament, before being adopted at the European Council summit in March. Boris Johnson: Handling Irish border problem like managing congestion charge boundary between London councils It will also include procedures for putting into operation the alignment of Northern Irish regulations with the EU rulebook, which will be needed if no technological solution is found to keep the border with the Republic open after Brexit. Theresa May and her Cabinet are currently trying to work out how to maintain pulling the UK out of the EUs customs union, whilst also ensuring there is no customs border between Northern Ireland and the Republic something seen as critical to peace in the region. Recommended Fox says UK will have to be outside any customs union after leaving EU The Foreign Secretary angered rival politicians by comparing the complex problem at the heart of all Brexit negotiations, to managing the boundary between two London councils. Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4: We think that we can have very efficient facilitation systems to make sure there is no need for a hard border [and] excessive checks at the frontier for Northern Ireland and the Republic. You know, just for people listening, theres no border between Camden and Westminster but when I was Mayor of London we anaesthetically and visibly took hundreds of millions of pounds from the accounts of people travelling between those two boroughs without any need for border checks. When the interviewer said the comparison is not credible, Mr Johnson went on: Its a very relevant comparison, because theres all sorts of scope for prebooking, electronic checks, all sorts of things that you can do to obviate the need for a hard border. The International Trade Secretary also gave a speech in which he argued that staying in a customs union would damage the UKs ability to do trade deals in the future. Mr Foxs warning came a day after Jeremy Corbyn unveiled a dramatic shift in Labours Brexit stance, confirming the party will back a new and comprehensive UK-EU customs union to ensure tariff-free trade. Leading Tories too are backing a move to force the Prime Minister into a position where she must negotiate to keep the UK in a customs union. Mr Fox said: As rule takers, without any say in how the rules were made, we would be in a worse position than we are today. It would be a complete sellout of Britains national interests. Close Liam Fox says staying in a customs union would betray Brexit voters Liam Fox, the International Trade Secretary, has claimed remaining in a customs union after Brexit would be a complete sell-out of Britains national interest. Dr Foxs warning at a speech in central London came a day after Jeremy Corbyn unveiled a shift in his partys policy, confirming Labour will back a new and comprehensive UK-EU customs union to ensure tariff-free trade after Brexit. Outlining his vision for future trade after Brexit, the Cabinet minister said there were real opportunities for Britain to show leadership on the global stage but only if struck on its own rather than ceding control to Brussels. But Dr Foxs speech was immediately overshadowed on Tuesday as his call for leaving the customs union in favour of striking free trade deals was described by a former top civil servant in his department as like giving up a three-course meal for the promise of a packet of crisps. Sir Martin Donnelly, who left his role as permanent secretary at the Department of International Trade last year, said 60 per cent of UK trade is either with the EU or the countries it has trade agreements with, and that any divergence from Brussels rules would deal a blow to British services which would not be compensated for through deals with nations like the US. When asked about Sir Martins comments, Dr Fox hit back, declaring: Brexit is more complicated than a packet of Walkers. Liam Fox's call to leave the European customs union to make free trade deals with countries further afield is like "giving up a three-course meal now in favour of the promise of a packet of crisps", the Government's former top trade official has said. Sir Martin Donnelly, who was permanent secretary at the Department of International Trade until last year, delivered a withering assessment of the Government's Brexit strategy, saying that attempts to negotiate equal access to EU trade agreements without obeying its rules were "something for a fairy godmother - it's not going to happen". His intervention comes as the International Trade Secretary was due to deliver a major speech on Brexit, where he will say continued membership of a customs union would result in a "complete sell-out" of Britain's interests. A major row is brewing over the prospect of continued membership of a European customs union, after Jeremy Corbyn unveiled a dramatic shift in Labours Brexit stance in favour of a new and comprehensive customs agreement to allow tariff-free trade with the EU. The move heaps pressure on Theresa May as pro-EU Tory rebels are poised to join forces with Labour to force her to keep the UK in a customs union. Sir Martin, who will make a speech in London later, said leaving the single market and the customs union would affect 60% of Britain's trade and risks the UK "being shut out entirely" of favourable service agreements. He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The challenge if we choose not to stay in the single market, is can we negotiate equal access in all those areas of services without agreeing to obey the same rules as everybody else? "I'm afraid I think that is not a negotiation, it is something for a fairy godmother - it's not going to happen." Striking new free trade deals with countries like the United States will not compensate for the loss of access to the EU trade agreements, he said. Sir Martin said: "The example I use is you're giving up a three-course meal, which is the depth and intensity of our trade relationships across the European Union and partners now, for the promise of a packet of crisps in the future if we manage to do trade deals outside the European Union which aren't going to compensate for what we're giving up. "You just have to look at the arithmetic - it doesn't add up I'm afraid." However Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson hit back at the calls to stay in a customs union, saying it would leave Britain a "colony" of the EU in a situation that would be the "worst of all worlds". "You can't suck and blow at once, as they say, we're going to have to come out of the customs union in order to be able to do free trade deals," he said. Mr Johnson said he disagreed "very strongly" with Sir Martin "of the Brussels commission", arguing that there is an "insatiable" market for UK services outside the EU. It comes as the Cabinet was due to meet to sign off the UKs agreed negotiating position with the EU, ahead of Ms May's long-awaited Brexit speech on Friday. In a speech, Dr Fox will say: "As rule takers, without any say in how the rules were made, we would be in a worse position than we are today. It would be a complete sell-out of Britain's national interests." Remaining in the existing customs union would mean accepting EU rules on trade in goods without any say in how they are made, he will say. The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty A customs union would "remove the bulk of incentives for other countries to enter into comprehensive free trade agreements with the UK", Dr Fox will argue. He was expected to say: "The inevitable price of trying to negotiate with one arm tied behind our back is that we would become less attractive to potential trade partners and forfeit many of the opportunities that would otherwise be available to us." Dr Fox is the last in a series of senior Cabinet ministers to make a "Road to Brexit" speech, culminating in a speech by Ms May on Friday where she is expected to set out detail of the plan for "ambitious managed divergence" agreed by her Brexit war cabinet at Chequers last week. The plan is set to be approved by full Cabinet at a special meeting on Thursday. The proposal - immediately branded "pure illusion" by European Council president Donald Tusk - is understood to involve a promise to keep UK standards as high as European ones, as well as the creation of a dispute mechanism for cases where Britain wants to go its own way. The Irish Prime Minister has taken the extraordinary step of urging Sinn Fein to end its 100-year-old boycott of Westminster, to thwart a hard Brexit. The Republican party has always refused to take its seats and vote in Parliament because it will not swear allegiance to the Queen or recognise the legitimacy of Britains rule over Northern Ireland. But Leo Varadkar said Sinn Fein had the chance to make things better for Ireland, by helping to defeat Theresa Mays plans to pull Britain out of the EUs customs union. Recommended Liam Fox was in favour of a customs union before he was against it I do think it is important that people who do have influence, people who could attend, bear in mind the effect that they could have, Mr Varadkar said. It is often the case, historically, that Irish MPs elected in the House of Commons find that their votes dont matter, but if you look back historically there actually were periods when they held the balance of power and were really able to make things better for Ireland. I would hope that those who could cast their votes will bear that in mind. His comments were backed by Brendan Howlin, leader of the opposition Labour Party, who said it was time for Sinn Fein to step up to the plate and defend the interests of the island of Ireland. He said Labours likely support for amendments tabled by Tory Brexit dissenters, to force the Government to negotiate a customs union with the EU, was a potential game changer for Ireland. Sinn Fein currently has six MPs a figure likely to revert to seven, after a looming by-election who have the right to vote in the House of Commons. The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty If they were to take their seats, Ms Mays working majority would be cut from 13 to six, even with the support of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). In those circumstances the Government would almost certainly find it impossible to overturn rebel Tory amendments designed to commit the UK to remaining in a customs union. Sinn Feins votes would also be vital when Parliament stages its meaningful vote, at the end of the year, on whether to ratify any eventual deal with the EU. But the party said that its policy had not changed and it would not consider ending the boycott because of Brexit votes. A spokesman said: This is not even a topic of discussion within the party. We are an abstentionist party, and we are mandated to abstain from Westminster by the people who vote for us. Meanwhile, Mr Varadkar said he was satisfied the legal text for the December divorce deal between the UK and the EU, being drawn up by Brussels, would ensure no hard border on the island of Ireland. But he added: "We cannot automatically assume it will be acceptable to the United Kingdom, or acceptable to all the parties in Northern Ireland, so we could have an interesting few weeks ahead of us. The EU will publish the document on Wednesday, with the requirement that it should become legal by October this year - providing another flashpoint in the ongoing Brexit negotiations. Cabinet minister Liam Fox will say allowing the UK to stay in a customs union with the EU after Brexit would be a complete sell-out of Britains interests. The International Trade Secretary will use a speech to claim the move, which could be forced by a coalition of Labour and Tory rebels, would leave Britain in a worse position than now. With the Cabinet set to meet on Tuesday to put final touches on the UKs agreed negotiating position with the EU, Dr Fox will say any form of customs union would leave the UK as rule takers. Dr Foxs warning comes a day after Jeremy Corbyn unveiled a dramatic shift in Labours Brexit stance, confirming the party will back a new and comprehensive UK-EU customs union to ensure tariff-free trade. Leading Tories too are backing a move to force the Prime Minister into a position where she must negotiate to keep the UK in a customs union. Speaking in London, Dr Fox will say: As rule takers, without any say in how the rules were made, we would be in a worse position than we are today. It would be a complete sell-out of Britains national interests. Jeremy Corbyn announces support of a customs union after Brexit Remaining in the existing customs union would mean accepting EU rules on trade in goods without any say in how they are made, he will say. It would limit the UKs ability to reach new trade agreements with fast-growing economies and to develop new ways for poorer nations to trade their way out of poverty. A customs union would remove the bulk of incentives for other countries to enter into comprehensive free trade agreements with the UK, Dr Fox will argue. The inevitable price of trying to negotiate with one arm tied behind our back is that we would become less attractive to potential trade partners and forfeit many of the opportunities that would otherwise be available to us. The minister will go on to say that the Governments approach should not be about how much of our current relationship we want to keep, but what the UK needs to prosper in the future. In a hint of his possible approach he will say future global trade will not be determined through rigid trading mechanisms, he will argue. The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty Dr Fox is the last in a series of senior Cabinet ministers to make a Road to Brexit speech ahead of Ms Mays own long-awaited address on Friday. The PM is expected to spell out the detail of the plan for ambitious managed divergence agreed by her inner Brexit war cabinet at Chequers last week, and set to be approved by full Cabinet at a special meeting on Thursday. The proposal, branded pure illusion by European Council President Donald Tusk, is understood to involve a promise to keep UK standards as high as European ones, as well as the creation of a dispute mechanism for cases where Britain wants to go its own way. Recommended Fox says UK will have to be outside any customs union after leaving EU Dr Foxs words will be aimed at Conservative backbenchers who are rallying behind an amendment to the Trade Bill put down by former minister Anna Soubry, which would force the UK to keep Britain in a customs union. Ex-Tory attorney general Dominic Grieve has said many of his colleagues saw a customs union as an issue where they should be pragmatic and not ideologically-driven. Meanwhile senior Tory backbencher Sarah Wollaston told BBC2s Newsnight that those opposing a customs union did not have the numbers in parliament to win the day, adding: The simple reality is this. There isnt a parliamentary majority for a hard Brexit. Mr Corbyns speech yesterday, in which he threw his weight behind a customs union set the scene for possible defeat for MS May in the upcoming Commons vote on the Trade Bill. Philip Hammond will try to rescue Britains hopes for a comprehensive trade deal with the European Union after Brexit, when he delivers a major speech next week. The Chancellor will insist that services, including those of the financial sector, must be included in any agreement rejecting the EU Brexit negotiators view that the option doesnt exist. Michel Barniers stance means the UK could face the prospect of a Canada-style deal and a possible exodus of financial services firms from the City of London, with a dramatic loss of tax revenue. Recommended EU rejects City plan for free trade in financial services after Brexit Speaking in the Commons, Mr Hammond said the UK would not view any proposed deal with the EU as fair unless Brussels gave way on services. We are clear that a future comprehensive trade partnership with the European Union must include goods as well as services, he told MPs. A deal can only be done if it is fair to both sides and, because of the shape of the UK economy, it would be very difficult to see how any deal could be fair if it doesnt include services. Mr Hammond without mentioning Mr Barniers name said he had heard it asserted that it is impossible. But he insisted: I dont believe that is the case. Next week, I shall make a speech in which I shall set out our view as to how it is possible to include services within such a trade deal. The Chancellor did not explain how he would persuade the EU to shift its stance, when talks on a future trade deal get under way the UK hopes in April. The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty A key objective for the UK is a treaty that allows London to maintain its position as perhaps the worlds leading global financial centre. But, in January, Mr Barnier said: There is not a single trade agreement that is open to financial services. It doesnt exist. The implication was that any deal would only cover goods and mimic the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, which came into force provisionally between Canada and the EU last year. Mr Barnier suggested a post-Brexit trade deal could include close regulatory cooperation, but not the free flow of services so vital to the City. In addition, the EU-Canadian deal also includes a most favoured nation clause, which would require Brussels to extend to Canada any more beneficial terms it might offer to London. Mr Hammond did not make a contribution in the road to Brexit speeches delivered by the Cabinet over the last couple of weeks triggering claims that No 10 had silenced its most prominent hard-Brexit opponent. Now his speech will come after the Prime Ministers, on Friday, and is intended to set out what Britain really wants from future trade talks. One of Americas most prominent conservative youth organisations has been engaged for months in a bitter internal fight over a university student wearing a babys diaper. Turning Point USA, the non-profit founded by conservative activist Charlie Kirk and funded by a roster of Republican mega-donors, is known for the performative stunts it uses to recruit new members on campus. Among other things, they have created a Professor Watch List for teachers who they claim discriminate against conservatives, and invited right-wing provocateur Milo Yiannopoulos to speak on college campuses. However it was Free Speech Week at Kent State University last October which featured one student dressed in a diaper, sucking on a pacifier in a playpen that brought the group mass attention. The stunt was meant to mock the idea of safe spaces," or protected areas on campus for marginalised groups, by symbolising that only a baby would need one. Photos of the incident spread like wildfire online, where liberals and conservatives alike wondered why any adult would put themselves up for such a stunt. What those poking fun online didnt know was just how much turmoil the incident caused inside Turning Point itself. Just this month, the president and campus coordinator for Turning Point USA at Kent State University announced her resignation, claiming the national organisation had lied about the incident to the press and left her to clean up the fallout on her own. As of right now, I am in disbelief at how I went from being so upbeat, enthusiastic, and passionate about this organisation to being disgusted, frustrated, and embarrassed to have invested my entire senior year into an organisation founded by a college dropout who hires some of the most incompetent, lazy, and downright dishonest people I have ever encountered, wrote former president Kaitlin Bennett in her scathing letter of resignation. Turning Point declined to comment on Ms Bennetts resignation, saying they do not comment on human resources matters. In a statement regarding the students allegations, communications director Jake Hoffman said: Turning Point USA is the nations largest campus-based conservative student organisation with chapters on more than 1,000 campuses, tens of thousands of activists and having recently hosted the largest ever gathering of conservative students." He added: "The quality of our organisation speaks for itself and we look forward to empowering more young people all across the country in the coming years. With regards to Ms. Bennetts decision to resign her part-time position, we do not comment on Human Resources matters. Turning Point USA members dance with a cutout of US Republican Presidential hopeful Senator Marco Rubio of Florida during the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (Saul Loeb/Getty Images) Turning Point was founded by Mr Kirk in 2012, with the purpose of enlightening young people on true free market values. With the help of wealthy conservative donors like the Richard and Helen DeVos Foundation named after current Education Secretary Betsy DeVoss in-laws it has grown to cover more than 1,000 campuses, and employs more than 100 full-time staff. Mr Kirk has been heralded in various profiles as a boy wonder who is challenging the left on its home turf. But Mr Kirk has also come in for criticism, having argued that the concept of white privilege is racist, while Turning Point advisory board member Foster Friess urged students to be more intolerant in a commencement speech. Ms Bennett said she was inspired to start a Turning Point chapter on campus after attending one of the organisations conferences. She appreciated the groups focus on empowering young conservatives, and the funding they offered for campus activism. Plus, she agreed with the groups strong stance against safe spaces. Asked why she disagreed with the concept, Ms Bennett claimed safe spaces were discriminatory and even insulting to college students. I dont think public universities should have safe spaces on the public land and on campus because excluding certain dialogue is not only discriminatory, but it basically promotes this idea that college kids cant handle differing opinions, she said. It fosters this environment that youre a kid, and that's not how things work in the real world. Conservative personality Tomi Lahren and Charlie Kirk at Politicon at Pasadena Convention Center (John Sciulli/Getty Images for Politicon) That's why the Kent State chapter decided to ridicule the concept of safe spaces as part of the Free Speech Week they organised. During one planning session, Ms Bennett said, a member of a fellow conservative organisation suggested dressing up as a baby, to show that safe spaces were meant for children. According to Ms Bennett, the event itself went swimmingly. Other students thought the person wearing the diaper was so funny, she said, that they even stopped to point and laugh. At a speaking engagement the next day, Mr Kirk even congratulated her personally on the chapters activism. Keep up the triggering, good job, she says he told her. Over the next several days, however, it became clear that many, many more people found the stunt funny for all the wrong reasons. Commentators on the left passed around photos from the event online, ridiculing the student who donned a diaper for the event. Turning Point released a statement condemning the incident, which read, in part: While we support all our chapters to do innovative and creative activism events, this event clearly crossed the line and delved into the very obscure and inappropriate. The statement also claimed that the event was not approved by their regional director or field staff despite the fact that, according to Ms Bennett, both the regional manager and field director knew about the free speech week. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty While Turning Point tried to smooth over the controversy publicly, tensions flared on the inside. Several other members of the organisation mocked the Kent State chapter via Twitter. Ms Bennett said she tried to defend herself, lashing out at the other groups in Facebook posts. Thats when she got a call from Turning Points chief operational officer, Tyler Bowyer. During their conversation, Ms Bennet says Mr Bowyer told her that the diaper incident was inappropriate because it gave the left a lot of ammo to take these pictures and make memes out of them. Its not funny, Ms Bennet said the COO told her. Nothing about this is funny. Now every time Charlie [Kirk] tweets they tweet back pictures of him in a diaper. Mr Bowyer did not respond to a request for comment. As a result of the diaper incident, Ms Bennett said, the organisation changed its entire event process, requiring more and more explicit sign-offs from adult employees. Mr Kirk later confirmed as much to the New Yorker, saying the organisation had issued new guidelines to chapters in order to prevent a repeat. The Kent State chapter has not hosted a single speaker since the Free Speech Week. Eventually, Ms Bennett decided to resign and to blast her qualms with the organisation all over conservative media. Now that I have a clear conscience and have no desire to continue my employment with Turning Point, I will have the time to find a real job, something I recommend for you, she wrote in her resignation letter, which she posted on conservative outlet Liberty Hangout. She added: Maybe answering to business professionals rather than college dropouts, egotistic enough to put their face on stupid memes, will give you the leadership skills you desperately need for your positions. A man has inadvertently live streamed his own murder on Facebook after an attacker opened fire on him near a university campus in North Carolina. Prentis Robinson was recording himself walking down Jerome Street near Wingate University on Monday morning when a gunman approached and fired four bullets at him. The video of his murder has been watched nearly 50,000 times, despite Facebook removing the original recording and flagging new uploads. During the video, the man can be heard telling his assailant youre live, youre live, while pointing the camera in his direction. The suspect then begins shooting, causing the victim to drop his phone. The gunman was captured on video walking over Mr Robinson and the camera as he fled. Police were called but could not save Mr Robinsons life and he was pronounced dead at the scene. The university and surrounding schools were placed on lockdown. Police identified the alleged shooter as Douglas Colson, and issued a warrant for his arrest. He is described as black, wearing a blue and black coat and brown Timberland boots and was last seen near the scene of the murder. No arrests have so far been made. It is not known whether the two men knew each other. Sources have told Fox 46 that Mr Robinson had been exposing suspected drug dealers in his neighbourhood on Facebook, with family members saying that he would sometimes help police find drug suppliers. According to the Charlotte Observer, the victim had just visited the nearby Wingate Police Department about his missing mobile phone when he was attacked. Mr Robinson, who was in his 50s, could be heard talking about wanting to relocate to Atlanta, just seconds before he died. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Wingate University has since resumed normal operations, but with a heightened police presence on site. When contacted by The Independent, Wingate Police Department was not available for comment. Russian military spies hacked hundreds of computers at the 2018 Olympic Games in South Korea and tried to make it look like North Korea was the culprit, according to a new report. It is likely retaliation against the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for banning Russia from the Olympics because of a widespread doping scheme it used to cheat in previous competitions. A pair of former Los Angeles police officers were sentenced to 25 years behind bars after pleading no contest to charges of sexually assaulting multiple women. Luis Valenzuela and James Nichols abusing their authority to prey on vulnerable women, luring them into their car and warning of repercussions if they did not perform sex acts on them, prosecutors from the Los Angeles County District Attorneys office said. The abuses often occurred when the pair was on duty, they told Los Angeles County Superior Court. Ive gained a lot of unnecessary hatred for law officers, and Ive gained so much regret for not being able to fight back, an unnamed victim testified. Ive lost the ability to trust and mostly I lost the privilege of being safe. An arrest warrant affidavit described a years-long pattern of the two officers coercing sex acts from women whom they had encountered during previous arrests or who worked as confidential informants for the police department. On multiple occasions they detained women and forced them into sex acts in their car, it said. Often with one officer would perform a sex act while the other watched it added. On multiple occasions, according to legal documents and prosecutors, the officers threatened women with incarceration or deportation if they didnt comply. Facing more than a dozen charges, the pair pleaded no contest to two counts each of forcible rape and two other counts of sexual assault. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Serving as an alternative to a pleading of guilty or not guilty, a no contest plea, has the same immediate effect as a guilty plea and is often offered as a part of a plea bargain. After prosecutors announced the charges against them, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck called their behaviour horrific and accused them of a violation of public trust. He told reporters: These two officers have disgraced themselves, theyve disgraced this badge, theyve disgraced their oath of office." The city of Los Angeles has paid out around $1.8m (1.3m) to settle lawsuits brought by three women who accused the officers of abuse, and a fourth lawsuit is still pending. First Lady Melania Trump used her first speech of 2018 to commend the student activists campaigning for an end to gun violence. Addressing the Governors' Spouses' Luncheon, Ms Trump said she was heartened to see the student movement calling for action following the school shooting in which 17 were killed in Parkland, Florida. She said the student activists are our future and they deserve a voice. Monica Lewinsky says that her perspective on the scandal that consumed her life and the United States in the late 1990s has continued to shift in light of the #MeToo movement, and she now is not sure that she could have consented to a relationship with former President Bill Clinton while she was a White House intern. In an essay in Vanity Fair, Ms Lewinsky described that evolution which, in some respects, she describes as a life-long struggle for peace and how the stories of brave women coming forward in recent months to tell their stories of sexual assault, harassment, or the misuse of power has made her rethink the affair she had with the President of the United States more than 20 years ago. Ms Lewinsky does not cede her agency in the matter she has long said that the relationship was consensual, that she was a willing participant. But, she says she is now considering the fact that there was an inherent power differential between a White House intern and the president. Now, at 44, Im beginning (just beginning) to consider the implications of the power differentials that were so vast between a president and a White House intern, Ms Lewinsky writes. Im beginning to entertain the notion that in such a circumstance the idea of consent might well be rendered moot. (Although power imbalances and the ability to abuse them do exist even when the sex has been consensual.) This (sigh) is as far as Ive gotten in my re-evaluation; I want to be thoughtful, she writes. Bill Clinton personally handing out supplies in Puerto Rico: "You had the bad luck to be hit after Houston and after Florida" But I know one thing for certain: part of what has allowed me to shift is knowing Im not alone anymore. And for that I am grateful. In the beginning portion of her essay, Ms Lewinsky recalls meeting former special counsel Ken Starr, who led the impeachment effort against Mr Clinton. The encounter, at a restaurant, reminded her of the 13 months of scandal that engulfed her life, and the nation, decades ago. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Ms Lewinsky places a fair amount of blame on the coverage of that scandal, and the relentless pursuit of the special counsels office in particular, for the trauma she has continued to cope with flowing the ordeal. But, she also noted that she was publicly alone during that time. Mr Clinton did not speak up on her behalf during that time to defend her. Few really did, even though she plenty of support from family and many in the US who wrote her letters at the time. It is in part that lack of public support, and the public support of women she sees in the #MeToo and Times Up movements, that gives her hope, she says. Iweowe a huge debt of gratitude to the #MeToo and Times Up heroines, she writes. They are speaking volumes against the pernicious conspiracies of silence that have long protected powerful men when it comes to sexual assault, sexual harassment, and abuse of power. Nikolas Cruz is accused of murdering 17 people (AP) A scheduled court appearance by the teenager alleged to have carried out the Florida high school massacre has been cancelled at the last minute. Nikolas Cruz, 19, was expected to make his third appearance at a Broward County criminal court on Tuesday morning charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. The court had been set to hear prosecutors apply for hair samples, fingerprints, DNA and photographs of Mr Cruz as they build a case against him. But minutes before the hearing was due to start, it disappeared from the court's list without explanation. Mr Cruz's lawyer later said defence attorneys had reached a deal with prosecutors to hand over the samples. The teenager is alleged to have shot dead 14 pupils and three staff members at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on 14 February in the deadliest high school shooting in US history. Mr Cruz's publicly appointed defender, Gordon Weekes, said the deal with prosecutors had been reached late on Monday. "There was no reason to push back," Mr Weekes said. "It was a routine motion that the state attorney had filed. We submitted an agreed order and there was no need for a court to hear the motion." The hearing would have been the third courtroom appearance for Mr Cruz since the shooting. His case is due to return to court on Wednesday, when a hearing will determine whether he has sufficient assets to pay for his own defence. It is not clear if he will attend the hearing. Florida school shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz arrives at Broward County jail The massacre, carried out with a legally purchased AR-15 assault rifle, has inflamed the long-running US debate on gun rights. The shooting has rattled long-drawn political lines on gun rights in the country, where Republican officials have long opposed efforts by firearms control advocates to tighten ownership laws, partly out of concern about retribution by the powerful National Rifle Association (NRA) lobby group. US President Donald Trump, a Republican who backed gun rights during and since his 2016 presidential campaign, has been under pressure to show he is responding without alienating Republicans who oppose firearms restrictions. On Monday, he met with 35 governors, urging them to disregard pressure from the NRA as they seek to address firearms safety and school security. Mr Trump has embraced the call to safeguard schools by arming teachers but also has voiced support for strengthening background checks for prospective gun buyers - a proposal the NRA has traditionally resisted. This live blog has now finished. Twenty conservative US states have filed a joint lawsuit against the Trump administration over Obamacare, claiming that the healthcare act as a whole is no longer constitutional after a part of it was repealed last year by the President. It is not clear whether the Justice Department will actively defend the law in court, given Mr Trump has made repeated, failed efforts to tear up the Affordable Care Act since entering office. In October, the President used an executive order to remove what was known as the "individual mandate" of Barack Obama's flagship programme, which had required people to make sure they have health insurance or face paying a fine. The clause was designed to help pay for extending coverage to the poor and elderly, by compelling younger, healthier citizens to get insured. The new lawsuit, led by the attorney generals for Texas and Wisconsin, argues that Obamacare is no longer constitutional without this mandate, since it was passed as a complete law by Congress without a "severability clause", which would mean that even if one part of the law was repealed the rest would endure. In a statement, Texas' AG Ken Paxton said: The US Supreme Court already admitted that an individual mandate without a tax penalty is unconstitutional. With no remaining legitimate basis for the law, it is time that Americans are finally free from the stranglehold of Obamacare, once and for all. Mr Paxton and Wisconsin's Brad Schimel, who are both Republicans, have been joined by 18 other states in their legal bid, including Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Utah and West Virginia. The lawsuit says Congress viewed the individual mandate as essential to the law, as it would encourage healthy people to arrange insurance and as a result offset the fact sick people could no longer be charged higher premiums or denied cover. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The Trump administration made repeated attempts last year to come up with an appropriate replacement before repealing Obamacare. However, its attempts so far have failed. Republicans have opposed the law, which was enacted by Mr Obama in 2010, since its inception. Additional reporting by Reuters During his presidency, Ronald Reagan would frequently visit Camp David with his wife Nancy, and the two were well known for their love of having movie nights. A new book about the Reagans love of movies includes some quirky notes on the former presidents movie taste including his apparent unease with a sex scene in Top Gun, and dislike of pot as a plot device. In Movie Nights with the Reagans, A Memoir, former special adviser and press secretary to Reagan, Mark Weinberg, describes the movie nights as a beloved tradition for the presidential couple. Having met in Hollywood Reagan was himself a former movie star the two loved cinema, and made sure to keep it in their lives. As it turns out, Reagan, who was a big fan of the military, loved films that cheered the US armed services. But, while he appreciated the work of Tom Cruise in Top Gun as an ace pilot, the intimate scenes were a bit much for Mr and Mrs Reagan, according to Mr Weinberg. The couple, of course, saw many a film during their time in the White House. Ron Reagan: Trump is a "deeply damaged human being" World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Another film that made them uncomfortable or rather, one that made Reagan a bit angry was Jane Fondas 9 to 5, when the three main characters spend some time smoking weed, and bond over their mutual dislike of their boss. Reagan thought it a distasteful endorsement of pot smoking, and felt it wouldve worked better if the women were just getting drunk instead. Some other films the Reagans watched include: Raiders of the Lost Ark, On Golden Pond, Chariots of Fire, ET: The Extra-Terrestrial, and Rocky IV. One other notable film to have been screened was the Hellcats of the Navy the only movie that both Reagans starred in, and the last movie either made. Two men thought to have been stowaways on a US-bound flight from Ecuador have died after they fell from the aircraft, it has been reported. The Jose Joaquin de Olmedo airport in Guayaquil was closed for an hour and a half as their bodies were removed from the runway. Employees at the airport noticed three objects falling from the plane and officials believe the pair either fainted or were ejected. As we approached, we saw two people one on the runway and the other in the grass area, local prosecutor Carlos Bustamante told El Comercio newspaper. The first one had a pulse, but died minutes later. The other person had died. What is known is that the plane came from Peru. From the characteristics of the citizens, they may come from Peru, and from here they would go to the United States, to New York, he added. The third item that was spotted falling from the plane was a suitcase which contained clothes and approximately $20 (14). World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The Boeing 767-300, operated by Latam, returned to the airport soon after takeoff before continuing its journey. Authorities have not ruled out the possibility that other people may have managed to remain smuggled on board, Sky News reported. Anti-Semitic incidents in the US surged nearly 60 per cent in 2017 the largest increase of any year on record, according to a new report. The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a nonprofit dedicated to fighting anti-Semitism, documented 1,986 such incidents across the US last year. The number marked an increase of 57 per cent since 2016 the largest single-year increase since the ADL started collecting data in 1979. Incidents included instances of vandalism, harassment, and assault reported by victims, law enforcement, and the media, according to the organisation's press release. General expressions of white supremacy and instances of discrimination against Jewish people were not included, unless they involved explicit anti-Semitic harassment. The report noted a marked rise in the number of incidents at elementary and high schools over the past two years. More than 450 incidents were reported at K-12 schools in 2017, and 204 incidents were documented on university campuses. Among other things, the incidents included vandalism with swastikas and phrases like Hitler was not wrong, and Kill all Jews. In another incident, a student was reportedly harassed by classmates with jokes about the Holocaust. Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Show all 9 1 /9 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Protesters clash and several are injured White nationalist demonstrators clash with counter demonstrators at the entrance to Lee Park in Charlottesville, Virginia. A state of emergency is declared, August 12 2017 Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Trump supporters at the protest A white nationalist demonstrator walks into Lee Park in Charlottesville, Va., Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017. Hundreds of people chanted, threw punches, hurled water bottles and unleashed chemical sprays on each other Saturday after violence erupted at a white nationalist rally in Virginia. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville State police stand ready in riot gear Virginia State Police cordon off an area around the site where a car ran into a group of protesters after a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Militia armed with assault rifles White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' with body armor and combat weapons evacuate comrades who were pepper sprayed after the 'Unite the Right' rally was declared a unlawful gathering by Virginia State Police. Militia members marched through the city earlier in the day, armed with assault rifles. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Statue of Confederate General Robert E Lee The statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee stands behind a crowd of hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' during the 'Unite the Right' rally 12 August 2017 in Charlottesville, Virginia. They are protesting the removal of the statue from Emancipation Park in the city. Getty Images Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Racial tensions sparked the violence White nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the 'alt-right' exchange insults with counter-protesters as they attempt to guard the entrance to Lee Park during the 'Unite the Right' rally Getty Violence on the streets of Charlottesville A car plows through protesters A vehicle drives into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. The incident resulted in multiple injuries, some life-threatening, and one death. AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville Rescue personnel help injured people after a car ran into a large group of protesters after an white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia AP Photo Violence on the streets of Charlottesville President Donald Trump speaks about the ongoing situation in Charlottesville, Virginia from his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. He spoke about "loyalty" and "healing wounds" left by decades of racism. Anti-Semitic hate crimes in the UK also reached a record high last year, according to Community Security Trust. The anti-Semitism monitoring organisation recorded 1,382 such incidents nationwide in 2017. Anti-Semitic incidents spiked at the beginning of the year, in the months following President Donald Trumps inauguration. In fact, a previous ADL report found an 86 per cent increase in incidents in the first three months of 2017. Donald Trump blames both sides for Charlottesville violence Some have tied the rise in anti-Semitic incidents to Mr Trump and his embrace of white-nationalist figures like former presidential adviser Steve Bannon. The president also famously delayed denouncing white supremacist groups in the wake of a deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, where protesters chanted: "Jews will not replace us". Mr Trump ultimately faulted both sides for the violence that ensued. But the number of anti-Semitic incidents has been on the rise since at least 2014, according to the ADL. And while Mr Trumps election may have emboldened some white nationalist factions, it also sparked an outpouring of support for the Jewish community. In White Fish, Montana, for example, a planned neo-Nazi rally was abruptly cancelled amid widespread public outcry. Even the ADL itself saw a rise in donations in the days after the election a 50-fold increase buoyed largely by first-time donors. Several donors sent money in Mr Bannons name. A Georgia state official has said that Delta could lose out on any jet fuel tax breaks as a result of the airline discontinuing its discount for National Rifle Association (NRA) members. Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle tweeted that he would kill any legislation that benefits Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with NRA" and just hours later, the Georgia Senate blocked the $50m tax break bill that Delta had been seeking to renew after it had expired several years ago. Deltas decision was made a few weeks after the 14 February mass shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida during which 14 children and three adults were killed by a gunman using an AR-15 assault-style weapon. Recommended Car hire and financial institutions end discounts for NRA members Mr Cagle also tweeted: "Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back." A statement from the airline on the matter of ending the discount said: Deltas decision reflects the airlines neutral status in the current national debate over gun control amid recent school shootings. Out of respect for our customers and employees on both sides, Delta has taken this action to refrain from entering this debate and focus on its business. Delta continues to support the 2nd Amendment. It is only one of a slew of companies that have ended their associations with the NRA in recent weeks. In the wake of the tragedy, surviving students have been constantly and passionately advocating for an assault weapons ban and gun control reform through media appearances, tweets at politicians taking money from the NRA, lie-ins, marches, and a visit to the White House. Calls for companies that associate with the NRA grew louder as the groups President Wayne LaPierre said that gun control advocates, like the Parkland survivors, hate freedom at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on 22 February. US President Donald Trump has also been advocating for arming teachers with guns but did not discuss imposing a ban on assault-style weapons. NRA chief Wayne LaPierre says elites don't care about America's children in wake of Florida shooting The public attention has forced Enterprise, National, and Alamo car hire companies and the First National Bank of Omaha to end their discounts and promotions to NRA members as well. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, has also decided to speak to major gun manufacturers in which it owns stakes after clients raised concerns about their investments. The Lieutenant Governor said in a statement that companies like Delta have "viewpoint discrimination against conservatives and law-abiding gun owners. Florida shooting in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting in pictures Florida shooting in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP Mr Cagle said the resulting "political posturing" against the NRA and its members "will not solve mass shootings." "Like all Americans, I'm horrified by the mass shootings we've witnessed. If Corporate America wants to make a positive difference on gun violence, it should donate a portion of its profits to mental health treatments and school safety initiatives. They should put their money where their mouth is," Mr Cagle's statement read. Georgia Governor Nathan Deal's office nor Delta airlines have responded to requests for comment on Mr Cagle's threat as yet. Delta is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia and operates from one of the world's busiest airports - Hartfield Jackson Atlanta International. It is also one of the largest employers in the state. President Donald Trump says he does not care what Congress thinks, he is going to ban bump stocks following the shooting in Parkland, Florida unilaterally if need be even though it is not clear that he legally can. Mr Trump reiterated the promise Monday after indicating he was considering the measure last week, figuring that he could use his authority as President to instruct his executive branch to find a way to regulate the weapons accessories that allow for near-automatic fire even without legislative approval. Im writing that out myself. I dont care if Congress does it or not. I am writing it out myself, Mr Trump said during a meeting with state governors at the White House, referring to the accessories that allow firearms to mimic automatic rifle firing speeds. But, experts note that the Presidents predecessor Barack Obama who was by all measures a bit more of a gun control advocate thought about doing the same thing, and ultimately decided against what Mr Trump apparently sees as a gun control layup. There are a number of hurdles out in front of this, and so, do I think that there is a reasonable chance that such a thing, through executive action, will come to pass? I dont believe so, John Pierce, an attorney with a speciality in firearm laws, told The Independent. While Mr Trumps comments come in the aftermath of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting, the devices were not actually used during that massacre. They were, however, used during the Las Vegas shootings last year when 58 people were killed, prompting the Trump administration to announce that they would be reviewing potential ways to regulate the accessory. Florida shooting in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting in pictures Florida shooting in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP That announcement fell in line with what the National Rifle Association (NRA) said it supported at the time, but also conflicted with past positions of the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), both of which have expressed the opinion that current laws do not allow new regulations. The stock has no automatically functioning mechanical parts or springs and performs no automatic mechanical function when installed, an ATF technology chief wrote in a letter to a bump stock manufacturer in June 2010, explaining why the accessories were not regulated by law. Accordingly, we find that the bump-stock is a firearm part and is not regulated as a firearm under Gun Control Act or the National Firearms Act. Politifact, a fact checking organisation that first noted the 2010 letter, also found a similar letter to a separate company making the devices, which use a weapons recoil to cause a shooters finger to rapidly squeeze the gun trigger. Mr Pierce said that it would be hard for the Trump administration to find an argument that bump stocks could be regulated in a similar fashion to machine guns. Machine guns, he says, are legally required to have the capacity to discharge multiple rounds with a single press of the trigger. Bump stocks, almost by definition themselves, do not create that situation. Instead, Mr Pierce said, Mr Trump is likely using the issue to give a concession to gun control advocates after prolonged pressure following the Stoneman Douglas shooting. He thinks it is likely the federal government is once again seeing if they can go through the rule making process, but that gun rights groups including, potentially, the NRA would likely sue any real attempts to regulate bump stocks immediately. I think President Trump is probably looking to throw bump stocks under the bus as an offering to try and move beyond the issue, because its not something a huge number of gun owners own, and therefore would be a politically expedient sacrifice, Mr Pierce said. But, in the real world of public policy and public safety, it would do nothing. How can you trust a guy who literally lied to you 3,000 times in the last year? Trump made 2 completely unnecessary lies to his address at Annapolis just yesterday. 1) lying that Trump is giving the military their first raise in a decade (in fact the military got pay raises every one of those 10 years, some years getting more than the 2.6% they got this year) and 2) lying that we'll "Soon have a 355 ship navy" (the Navy itself claims it won't get to that number until 2055, and only then by refitting a bunch of obsolete ships). Trump can't help lying. He contradicts himself from day to day on a frequent basis: he tells so many lies he can't keep them straight. Jared Kushner, Donald Trumps son-in-law and the White House adviser, has been denied access to top-secret intelligence after having his security clearance downgraded. While maintaining the responsibility for trying to broker peace between Israel and Palestinians and other high-profile tasks, Mr Kushner has had his interim security clearance downgraded from top secret to secret, along with a host of others. The change was also confirmed by Mr Kushners lawyer. All White House aides who had been working on an interim clearance were informed of the change via an internal memo, Politico reported. The document was not signed by Chief of Staff John Kelly, however. The staffers, all operating on a Top Secret/Secret Compartmentalised Information (SCI) clearance, were taken down to the Secret designation. The SCI designation meant staffers had access to information that came from sensitive intelligence sources and had to be walled off, according to the news outlet. Mr Kushner, 37, had been attending Mr Trumps daily briefings from the US intelligence committee, but will no longer have access to those. The memo appeared to be in response to facts unveiled during the scandal involving former White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter. Mr Porter resigned from his position earlier this month after it was revealed that his two former wives were accusing him of alleged physical abuse and that was why Mr Porters permanent security clearance had not gone through as yet. Background check chief has 'never seen' mistakes and omissions at level of Jared Kushner forms He was one of several White House staff who had not received their permanent clearance but who still had fairly unfettered access to secret information. Mr Trump has the right to grant Mr Kushner permanent clearance and it remains unclear why he has not done so yet. On 23 February, the same day of the clearance memo, Mr Trump said he would leave the decision up to Mr Kelly. The former Marine general said that same day in a statement: I have full confidence in his ability to continue performing his duties in his foreign policy portfolio including overseeing our Israeli-Palestinian peace effort and serving as an integral part of our relationship with Mexico. It is unclear whether Mr Kushner needs Top Secret/SCI clearance in order to work on the Middle East peace process or the US relationship with Mexico. The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images Mr Kushner had repeatedly hit roadblocks on his way to obtaining the permanent security clearance the former New York real estate broker had to refile his paperwork multiple times. The chief of the National Investigations Bureau Charles Phalen told a House committee back in October 2017 that he had never seen that level of mistakes made on the form before. Altogether the form included four addenda and well over 100 errors whether by omission or mistakenly entered information. One notable missing item on his initial form was his June 2016 meeting with his brother-in-law Donald Trump Jr, then-Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort, and a Russian lawyer linked with the Kremlin Natalia Veselnitskaya. The group had reportedly met to talk about adoptions of Russian orphans by US citizens but by Mr Trump Jrs own admission, the meeting had been set up for opposition research - Ms Veselnitskaya had information on 2016 election opponent Hillary Clintons financial dealings in Russia. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders would not comment directly on the memo but said during a news conference that Mr Kushner is a valued member of the team and he will continue to do the important work that hes been doing since hes started in the administration. His attorney Abbe Lowell said in a statement that his client has done more than what is expected of him in [the security clearance] process, adding that the change in clearance level would not affect Mr Kushners ability to continue to do the very important work he has been assigned by the President. His appointment to the position was met with criticism last year due to his lack of political or government service experience. One of US President Donald Trump's point men on North Korea is retiring later this week. Joseph Yun, the special representative for North Korea policy at the US State Department, said: This is my own personal decision...Secretary [Rex] Tillerson has told me he appreciates my service and did not want me to go, but he accepts it reluctantly," he told the Washington Post. His retirement comes just as the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, end during which the two Koreas participated as one team in the opening and closing ceremonies. One the sidelines, South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister Kim Yo Jong met face-to-face for the first time. White House adviser Ivanka Trump was among a US delegation at the closing ceremonies after which the North Korean regime said it would be open to talks with the US. Mr Moon has been speaking about a "sunshine policy" towards their neighbours to the north through more open economic policy, a platform he ran his presidential campaign on last year. As the newspaper reported, Mr Yun "was the main person in the State Department dealing with the North Korea problem, and he travelled to Seoul and Tokyo frequently to coordinate with the US allies". Trump announces some of the 'largest sanctions' on North Korea at CPAC 2018 Mr Yun was appointed to his current position in 2016 during the previous administration of Barack Obama and has served the US government for more than 30 years. He is also leaving the State Department at a time when Mr Trump has yet to nominate a US Ambassador to South Korea that made it past initial review. Victor Cha, who was former President George W Bush's North Korea adviser, was in the running but the administration dropped him as a candidate. My Yun came into the spotlight when he went to Pyongyang to bring American Otto Warmbier back to the US, the 22-year-old was a University of Virginia student who was held in captivity for 17 months after a tourist visit to North Korea. North Korea Military Parade Show all 6 1 /6 North Korea Military Parade North Korea Military Parade AP North Korea Military Parade AFP/Getty Images North Korea Military Parade AP North Korea Military Parade AP North Korea Military Parade AP North Korea Military Parade AFP/Getty Images Mr Warmbier was released into US custody while he was in a coma. He died a week after his arrival. The President has had an increasingly tense relationship with Mr Kim and Mr Yun was known for advocating a diplomatic solution to denuclearising the Korean peninsula. Mr Trump had repeatedly called Mr Kim Rocket Man as Mr Kim continued to test missiles dangerously close to US ally Japan last year. For its part, the United Nations Security Council unanimously passed in December 2017 - including votes from Russia and China who have closer ties to Pyongyang - more sanctions on North Korea, further limiting its oil supplies and slave labour market. Earlier this week at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Mr Trump announced the "largest ever" sanctions on the country. More than 50 companies, shipping vessels, and trade businesses. Pyongyang most recently had tested an intercontinental ballistic missile on 29 November that US intelligence officials said would put all of the US mainland within striking range. The US has declared North Korea a state sponsor of terrorism to enact further financial sanctions and also claimed in the Presidents National Security Strategy that Pyongyang is developing biological weapons. Donald Trump will run for a second term as president and has named Brad Parscale, his 2016 digital strategist, as his campaign manager for 2020. The naming of Mr Parscale as campaign manager marks the clearest step yet towards defining a framework and strategy for Mr Trump to try and secure a second term, even if the news he is intending to seek re-election may not come as a surprise to most, since he filed paperwork for his 2020 campaign all the way back on Inauguration Day. Mr Parscales appointment to the top position in the re-election campaign apparatus is likely to indicate that Mr Trump plans on focusing heavily on online strategies to reach voters and get out the vote in three years. Soon after the announcement, Mr Parscale announced two other individuals had been chosen for top leadership positions in the campaign, including Mr Trump's daughter-in-law Lara Trump. Recommended Poll shows Joe Biden more popular than Oprah Winfrey for 2020 election Mr Parscale first began working with the Trump Organisation in 2011, when his San Antonio firm Giles-Parscale was hired to build websites for the real estate company. He was later reported to be one of the first people Mr Trump called in 2015 after he first announced he was running for President. At the time, Mr Parscale was known for providing Mr Trump with quality websites at a price point that other tech firms in New York City could not match, according to a 2015 article in the San Antonio Business Journal. During the 2016 campaign, Mr Parscale was also in charge of overseeing the campaigns digital media strategy and its online fundraising campaigns. Mr Trump s campaign ultimately raised just over $333m in 2016, 26 per cent of which came from small individual donors, according to the Centre for Responsive Politics. Mr Parscales Twitter account lists him as an adivsor to Mr Trumps presidential campaign, though it is unclear when he last updated the profile. He frequently tweets and retweets articles related to the ongoing scandal surrounding Russian hacking of the 2016 election. Mr Parscale, like the President, consistently argues that Russias attempts to influence the campaign through social media bots did not sway the election in Mr Trumps favour. The choice in campaign manager shows that Mr Trumps 2020 campaign will rely heavily on using social media and other digital platforms to spread Mr Trumps message. Thats a subject that Mr Parscale himself recently bragged about by saying that he thinks the Trump 2016 campaign digital strategy was much more effective than that of their Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton. I bet we were 100x to 200x her. We had [cost per thousand]s that were pennies in some cases, Mr Parscale wrote in response to Nicholas Thompson, who recently published an investigation into Facebooks influence on the 2016 election. This is why @realDonaldTrump was a perfect candidate for FaceBook. Ivanka Trump asked if she believes her father's sexual misconduct accusers: 'I think it's a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter' Mr Parscales firm ended up charging Mr Trumps campaign $94 million for its work on the 2016 election. The freshly minted Trump campaign manager has also taken one of the biggest liabilities facing the President: The probe by special counsel Robert Mueller into collusion between the 2016 campaign and Russia. I would not want a foreign entity to meddle in our election, Mr Parscale said during an interview with 60 Minutes in which he said he was bothered by fact that Facebook admitted Russians spent at least $100,000 on ads to influence the 2016 campaign. Im an American. Mr Trump had two campaign managers while running in 2016, showing that working for his initial run proved tumultuous for some of those involved. The first campaign manager was Corey Lewandowski, who was fired from his post after a reported internal power struggle that occurred after he caught criticism for allegedly grabbing a reporter's arm against her will. He was replaced months later by Kellyanne Conway, who is currently a top White House official. Steve Bannon and Paul Manafort were both also perceived as having had campaign manager-esque influence on the operation, though neither officially held the title. Mr Manafort left the campaign amid concerns in 2016 that his connections to Ukraine could be a political distraction. Mr Bannon served in the White House, but left his post last year after a reported internal struggle. A federal judge has ruled the Trump administration has the authority to waive environmental rules as it seeks to construct a border wall with Mexico. Judge Gonzalo Curiel handed the administration a victory on one of Donald Trumps central campaign promises - a ruling that was all the more striking because Mr Trump had disparaged Mr Curiels ability to be unbiased because of the American judges Mexican heritage. California and an array of environmental groups filed legal challenges last year to the administrations effort to expedite the walls construction by circumventing a variety of statutes. In announcing the lawsuit, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra suggested Donald Trump had sought to ignore the law. Mr Curiels acknowledged he was ruling on a politically freighted case, writing in his decision that the wall was the subject of heated political debateas to the need, efficacy and the source of funding for such barriers, but said he was not weighing in on whether underlying decisions to construct the border barriers are politically wise or prudent. It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices, Mr Curiel wrote, quoting Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. Department of Justice spokesman Devin O'Malley hailed the decision as helping to advance important work vital to our nations interests. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Border security is paramount to stemming the flow of illegal immigration that contributes to rising violent crime and to the drug crisis, and undermines national security, Mr O'Malley said in a statement. Mr Becerra responded to the ruling by saying the California Department of Justice would evaluate all of our options. We remain unwavering in our belief that the Trump Administration is ignoring laws it doesnt like in order to resuscitate a campaign talking point of building a wall on our southern border, Mr Becerra said in a statement. During the presidential campaign, Mr Trump called Mr Curiel - who was then overseeing class-action lawsuits against Trump University - very hostile and repeatedly referred to the Indiana-raised judge's Hispanic roots We are building a wall. He's a Mexican. We're building a wall between here and Mexico, Mr Trump said during a June 2016 interview. This judge is giving us unfair rulings. Now, I say. 'Why?' Well, I'm building a wall, OK? And it's a wall between Mexico. Not another country, Mr Trump added. Trump claims that American judge's 'Mexican heritage' resulted in unfair treatment during 2016 lawsuit Debate over the wall has continued to smoulder in Washington. While the Trump administration requested $18bn (13bn) for the structure's first phase earlier this year, Congress has not yet allocated money to construct a border barrier. The walls fate has also become entangled in a broader immigration fight. Mr Trump has sought to extract a deal for more border security funding in exchange for opening a path to citizenship to young immigrants who are in the country illegally. He moved to end a programme that offered them temporary legal status. Hopes of a quick breakthrough on changing Americas gun laws are fading, after Republicans and Democrats failed to agree on even modest proposals and Donald Trump was said to be backtracking on a vow to raise the minimum age for buying weapons. As the President was set to meet with leaders from both parties at the White House and students from Floridas Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School prepared to return to their lessons, politicians on Capitol Hill ran into a log-jam and stalemate. Two weeks after survivors of the shooting in Parkland that left 17 people dead, captured the imagination and hopes of many as they demanded politicians act to prevent such atrocities, legislators failed to make ground on securing even modest agreement. A narrow background check measure, known as the Fix NICS bill, introduced in the Senate is already facing resistance, with Democrats saying it is not meaningful enough to address gun safety in an era when shootings have become normal. Passing only a narrow plan to improve background checks would be an abject failure and a dereliction of duty following the Valentines Day massacre, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer asserted. It is our hope that Republican leaders will help pass real legislation that makes a difference, rather than [National Rifle Association]-backed bills that make Republicans feel better without meaningfully addressing the issue of gun safety, he added. Meanwhile, a succession of Republicans said they were unwilling to move ahead on anything but the most modest proposals. Some senior Republicans indicated they were not prepared to pass any changes. I dont think we need more gun control. I think we need better idiot control, Senator John Kennedy, a Republican from Louisiana, said when asked what might come next on Capitol Hill. Most of us believe thats a Second Amendment right thats not to be trifled with, Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah told Politico. He said both Mr Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell had little appetite for a big gun debate. Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, who is also Republican, said: Were not going to ban the AR-15. But we can ban bump stocks, he added, referring to the devices that effectively make semi-automatic rifles fire like a machine gun. I dont know about the age change. I dont know where thats going to go. It depends on what the President does. It is not just Republicans who are pushing back on changing gun laws. Many Democrats who are facing re-election battles in 2018 in so-called red states believe there is little for them politically in pushing for change. Senator Jon Tester, a Democrat up for re-election in Montana, said he thought there was still room for debate on guns. Donald Trump says he would have run into the Florida school shooting 'unarmed' It depends on where the gun debate goes, he said. I think keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, mentally ill folks, terrorists, thats solid ground. They are not law-abiding citizens, they ought not have the same rights as law abiding citizens. Meanwhile, reports said Mr Trump was backing off from his original call to increase the minimum age to buy rifles from 18 to 21. A Republican congressional source told CNN the President was obviously moving back from his earlier comments. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said last week that the issue was on the table for the administration. I think thats certainly something thats on the table for us to discuss, and that we expect to come up over the next couple of weeks, she said. Florida shooting in pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Florida shooting in pictures Florida shooting in pictures Police arrest a suspect in connection with the shooting at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida Reuters Florida shooting in pictures Parents wait for news after reports of a shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida AP Florida shooting in pictures Anxious family members wait for news of students AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school AP Florida shooting in pictures Students being evacuated from the school Getty Florida shooting in pictures People gather waiting for word from students AP Florida shooting in pictures Parents waiting for news on their children AP Florida shooting in pictures People gather at a hotel where students were taken after the shooting Getty Florida shooting in pictures Florida Governor Rick Scott speaks to the media as he visits Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School following the shooting AFP/Getty Florida shooting in pictures Dr. Igor Nichiporenko, Medical Director Trauma, left, and Dr. Evan Boyer, Medical Director, Emergency Services, speak about treating victims and the suspect at a press conference outside Broward Health North hospital AP However, the NRA and many Republicans have spoken out against raising the age to buy an AR-15, the weapon allegedly used by Nikolas Cruz to carry out the attack. Over the weekend, Mr Trump had lunch with senior officials from the NRA, the organisation which spent $30m to help get him elected in 2016. Republican leaders in Congress said on Tuesday that they would not raise the minimum age for gun buyers, Reuters reported. We shouldnt be banning guns from law-abiding citizens. We should be focusing on making sure that citizens who should not get guns in the first place dont get those guns, House of Representatives Speaker Paul Ryan said at a news conference. Jeanne Zaino, Professor of Political Science at Iona College in New York, told The Independent she had initially been optimistic about the possibility for change after seeing the students press their demands with such passion and eloquence. But obviously history suggests this is what happens [after the story moves on,] she said. Looking at what happened, there seems to have been mistakes on both sides. If Congress fails to act, which currently appears likely, it would be yet another time when Republicans and Democrats have been unsuccessful in passing any gun control measures in the wake of a mass shooting. Larry Sabato, Professor of Politics at the Universe of Virginia, said even minor changes are made in the gun laws nationally or in the states, its worth marking on the calendar of history. Normally, nothing at all is done after a mass shooting. He added: Some blame Congress, which is slow to do anything about anything (unless it involves their self-interest). Thats true of course. But the real problem is that the party of the NRA, the Republicans, are in complete control of Washington and they also rule the roost in a large majority of state capitols. An American tourist has been arrested in Japan after police found dismembered body parts scattered across a number of locations across the west of the country, which are believed to be from a local woman he met through a dating app. The 26-year-old man from New York, who has been named in Japanese media as Yevgeniy Vasilievich Bayraktar. Investigators made the gruesome discovery after he was arrested on suspicion of confining the woman, who had been missing since 16 February, to a rental property in Osakas Higashinari ward. The woman has not been named, but local media have cited police sources saying she was aged 27 and from Sandra city, in neighbouring Hyogo. The pair got in contact through a dating app which matches foreigners with Japanese people, the country's Kyodo News agency reported. She is said to have gone missing after telling a friend she had planned to meet a man she had met through a social networking app. Police later found what appeared to be the womans head inside a suitcase at a different flat which the man had reportedly booked in Osaka via a private holiday rental. They later found a torso and a pair of arms in the mountainous part of the Osaka district. A pair of legs were found 32 miles away in Kyoto. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Security camera footage showed the woman and a man believed to be the suspect, meeting in Osaka and entering a flat together on 16 February, local media reported. Separate footage was said to show the man leaving the build alone multiple times carrying a large bag. The cause of death remains unclear. Police have reportedly described the body parts as having no clear injuries other than from where they were severed. According to the Mainichi newspaper, Mr Bayraktar is thought to have used dating apps to speak to several different women since he arrived in Japan in January. It is believed he has taken numerous other women to the same Higashinari apartment. Police, however, have confirmed they are safe. Additional reporting from Reuters Seoul claims a Chinese aircraft has skirted South Korean airspace, prompting it to issue a warning to Beijing. The plane flew close to South Korean territory for more than four hours without first giving notice, raising the risk of an accidental conflict, Seoul said. South Korean armed forces described the activity as unusual and said they scrambled 10 planes, including F-15k and KF-16 fighter jets, to monitor the aircrafts activity. But China said the move was part of a routine exercise, according to South Korean agency Yonhap, which first reported the incident. The Chinese jet entered South Koreas air defence identification zone shortly after 9.30am on Tuesday and flew within 56km of Ulleung Island in the East Sea. Our military warned it to stop the act of raising tensions that can trigger an accidental conflict through the South Korea-China [military] hotline and [pilots] radio communication, Yonhap reported South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) as saying. It left the zone just after 2pm. A JCS official told reporters they thought the jet was a reconnaissance plane. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Diplomatic relations between South Korea and China have been strained over Seoul's decision to host a US Terminal High Altitude Area Defence missile defence system. Seoul has responded to the growing threat posed by North Korea by enhancing military cooperation with the US and its allies. A mother discovered one of the world's most deadly snakes in the lip her child's lunch box, as she was packing it. Identified as a juvenile eastern brown, the creature which can grow up to two metres in length, can cause convulsions, paralysis and cardiac arrest, although fatal bites are fairly uncommon in Australia, where it was discovered in the city of Adelaide. A photo sent in for an ID today, snake handler Rolly Burrell posted on Facebook. A hatching brown snake found a hideout in a childs lunch box! Not really what you expect to see when you check if your child ate their fruit. Mr Burrell told ABC Radio Adelaide that the woman trapped the animal in the lunchbox as soon as she spotted it. She'd already started packing it, the lunchbox itself has a lip around the top snakes like to get into closed spaces so they feel secure, he said. When she opened up the lid ... She didn't even see it and she was halfway through putting the lunch in and then she saw it and shut the lid down and gave us a call. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The reptile was removed without incident. Characteristically aggressive, eastern brown's prey on mice, making them useful for pest control. Last month, a man died after being bitten by one as he attempted to protect his dog in New South Wales. He was rushed to hospital where an antivenom was administered but died within an hour of his arrival, according to police. Politicians from New Zealands opposition party have chosen Simon Bridges as the first indigenous Maori leader in the history of the conservative National Party. Mr Bridges, 41, campaigned on a platform of generational change after former prime minister Bill English, 56, announced his resignation as leader two weeks ago. Mr English will leave parliament in March. Paula Bennett, who is also part-Maori, will remain as deputy leader. After losing last years general election to the centre-left Labour Party, the National Party received calls to change its leadership. Recommended New Zealand prime minister first ever to march in gay pride parade Though Mr Bridges' appointment represents a landmark for the party, he is far from the first New Zealand politician of Maori heritage. In 1905, Apirana Turupa Ngata, who is seen by many as the countrys most prominent Maori MP, was elected to parliament on behalf of the Liberal party. Mr Bridges, who is the son of a Baptist minister, was first elected to parliament in 2008 and had held several ministerial portfolios including labour, energy, economic development and transport during his partys nine years in power from November 2008 to October 2017. In a statement supplied by his party before a news conference, he said: This is an enormous privilege and I want to thank my colleagues for giving me the opportunity to lead a strong, united and focused opposition with the ideas and talent to continue to take New Zealand forward. The selection of Mr Bridges could help blunt criticism that Jacinda Ardern, 37, was better able to connect with a younger generation than Mr English. Mr Bridges and Ms Ardern have faced off before, when they appeared on breakfast television together as young guns representing their respective parties. He said he wants to appeal to a broad cross-range of New Zealanders because thats what his party represents. Im really excited about the opportunity Ive got ahead, Mr Bridges said. I hope Maori are proud of me. The National Party was in power for nine years before the election in September, when it won the most votes of any single party. But the liberal Labour Party was able to forge an alliance with two smaller parties and form a government under Prime Minister Ardern. Opinion polls indicate the popularity of Ms Ardern and the Labour Party has risen since she was elected and Mr Bridges said the National Party would face the next election as underdogs. Ms Ardern has moved quickly to fulfill campaign pledges such as banning foreign speculators from buying homes, increasing spending on education and making the nation carbon neutral by 2050. Her announcement last month that she was pregnant attracted intense interest around the world. She is due to have her first child in June, when she plans to take six weeks leave. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Mr Bridges is known for his conservative views on issues such as euthanasia and gay marriage and voted against same-sex marriage in 2013. Although, he has since said hed probably change his vote, seeing as the law has worked. He was voted as party leader in the second round of a secret ballot vote by his caucus colleagues on Tuesday. Additional reporting by AP Even by South American standards, it was a sting of dramatic proportions. Twelve suitcases and 389 kilograms of cocaine the purest in the world; an organised crime ring; the local Russian embassy; a government plane and a special operation, conducted under the cover of darkness, switching drugs for flour and GPS trackers. The undisputed facts are thus: around December 2016, cocaine to the value of 50m (44m) was found in suitcases in a school attached to the Russian embassy in Buenos Aires. A year later, the suitcases arrived in Moscow. Five people were arrested along the way, including two former employees of the Russian embassy, a policeman, and the two men who came to collect the shipment. A sixth man, Senor K, has been identified as the leader of the gang. All of these basic facts, which came to the surface within the last week, have been confirmed by Argentinian authorities and by the Russian ambassador, Victor Koronelli. What is less clear is how the drugs ended up in the school, and the exact involvement of Russian officials before and after the heist. Recommended Russia ban lifted hours after athletes stopped from marching with flag Since the story was first reported last week, media coverage has produced more questions than it has provided answers. According to an early version of events, as reported in The Daily Telegraph, the Russian authorities were in on the operation from the start. On 13 December 2016, so that version goes, Ambassador Koronelli alerted Argentinian security services about the discovery of suspicious suitcases. Russian and Argentinian agents met, hatching a plan to switch the drugs and track the packages to their intended recipient. Head of the Russian Security Council Nikolai Patrushev even flew in to oversee the operation in December 2017, the paper suggested and the suitcases flew back on his plane. The Argentinian Minister for Security, Patricia Bullrich, appeared to officially endorse this version. In a press conference, she said the suitcases were sent as diplomatic baggage on a Russian government plane. She also posted a video showing the suitcases being loaded onto the Moscow-bound plane. That video shows the planes registration number as 96023. According to Russianplanes.net, as eagle-eyed journalists noted, such a registration number corresponds to an Ilyushin-96 aircraft registered to the official Russian government airline. The same website also suggested that the plane had been in Buenos Aires on 6 December 2017, before flying on to Moscow via Cape Verde. By Tuesday morning something strange had happened to the Russianplanes.net website. Its content had been deleted, and in its place was a message from its owner, Kiba, announcing he had closed the site voluntarily. It stressed me out, he wrote. I didnt intend to frame anyone. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The official Russian reaction has only added to the confusion. The Russian Security Council denied the plane of its head Patrushev had any role in the sting. This plane is not used for diplomatic mail or cargo. A spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that none of its diplomats were implicated in the operation only technical workers. Official Argentinian images showing a Russian government plane were, the spokesman suggested, no more than doctored fakes. The spokesman did not, however, provide answers for why members of the alleged criminal gang referred to the first secretary of the embassy by name. Blogger Maxim Mironov, whose children go to the embassy school in Buenos Aires, also said that it was inconceivable the embassy did not know what was going on in the school. Writing a long post on the LiveJournal site, he noted that the school was guarded around the clock by security service agents. I find it hard to believe the official version that they suddenly discovered the bags of cocaine there, he said. The murder of a Slovakian journalist may be linked to organised crime, according to reports. Jan Kuciak, 27, and his partner Martina Kusnirova were found shot dead in their house in Velka Maca, east of the capital Bratislava, on Sunday evening. Police were sent to the couples home after a concerned family member raised the alarm. Mr Kuciak, a journalist for news website Aktuality.sk, is said to have been working on a story about possible Italian mafia involvement in fraud linked to European Union subsidies in Slovakia when he was killed. In an interview with Slovakian daily newspaper Sme, Slovak-based Canadian journalist Tom Nicholson said Mr Kuciak had told him shortly before his death that he was working on a story about possible Italian mafia activity in the east of the country. Mr Nicholson said he was ready to testify, but has not been approached by police yet. I'm not sure what caused Jan's death but I bet my life that this is so, he said. Police said the killings were probably linked to Mr Kuciak's reporting, which also covered tax evasion. His last story, published on 9 February, focused on suspected tax evasion connected to a Bratislava apartment complex with links to the Slovak government. In a statement, Slovakia President Andrej Kiska said the perpetrators needed to be found as soon as possible to ensure the safety of all journalists. Candles are left in tribute to murdered Slovakian investigative reporter Jan Kuciak and his partner Martina. (AP) Prime Minister Robert Fico said: If it is proven that the death of the investigative reporter was connected with his journalistic work, it would be an unprecedented attack on freedom of speech and democracy in Slovakia. Mr Kuciak is the first journalist to be killed in Slovakia and the second reporter to have been murdered in a European Union country in the past five months. Last October, Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia was killed in an apparently targeted car bomb attack after shining a spotlight on alleged corruption in the country. Publisher Ringier Axel Springer Slovakia, the owners of the website Aktuality.sk, said it was supporting the investigation into the murder of Mr Kuciak and Ms Kusnirova. We are shocked and stunned by the news that Jan Kuciak and his partner were apparently victims of a cruel attack, the publisher said in a statement. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty We mourn with the family, the friends and the colleagues; we will do everything to support the investigating authorities to bring the perpetrator to justice. The case has been condemned by the NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF). An investigative reporter has yet again been murdered in a European Union country, said Pauline Ades-Mevel, the head of RSFs EU-Balkans desk. We call for an investigation in order to establish the exact circumstances of Jan Kuciaks death and we demand that the authorities shed all possible light on this case, especially as he and those close to him had been threatened in recent months. Russian promises of a five-hour halt in the ferocious Syrian government assault on the besieged rebel enclave of eastern Ghouta appear to have come to nought, with residents and monitors reporting a short lull in fighting before warplanes reappeared. Tuesday was supposed to see a pause in the 10-day-old assault on the rebel-held suburb of Damascus, from 9am to 2pm, ordered by President Putin key backer of the Assad regime the previous day after both sides refused to observe a UN-mandated ceasefire agreed on Saturday. Both rebel factions and the Syrian army blamed each other for shelling targeting humanitarian corridors out of the besieged area, designed for medical evacuations and aid deliveries. Boris Johnson suggests the UK could strike Syria in response to Assad's attack on eastern Ghouta We have reports this morning there is continuous fighting in eastern Ghouta, UN humanitarian spokesperson Jens Laerke said. Clearly the situation on the ground is not such that convoys can go in or medical evacuations can go out. Hundreds of people have been injured and a staggering medical facilities hit by air strikes as Syrian President Bashar al-Assad steps up the onslaught ahead of what is anticipated to be a final ground assault to crush the rebel enclave once and for all. The current assault is one of the most bloody episodes in the entire seven-year-old war. Many families are taking shelter in basements and makeshift tunnels. Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Show all 14 1 /14 Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A Syrian woman and children run for cover amid the rubble of buildings. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Smoke rises from buildings following the attack on the village of Mesraba in the rebel-held besieged Eastern Ghouta region on the outskirts of the capital Damascu. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Injured children receive medical treatment. EPA Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A Syrian man carries a child injured. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures An injured child receives treatment following bombings on several areas of eastern Ghouta. EPA Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A child reacts inside a hospital after relatives were injured in the bombing. EPA Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrian children cry at a make-shift hospital in Douma following air strikes on the Syrian village of Mesraba. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrian Civil Defense group extinguishing a store during airstrikes and shelling by Syrian government forces. AP Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures A wounded 12-year-old Syrian boy, cries as he receives treatment at a make-shift hospital. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrians carry a wounded man. AFP/Getty Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures An injured man covered with blood at a medical point. Reuters Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures People sit a medical point in the besieged town of Douma, Eastern Ghouta. Reuters Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Syrian Civil Defense running to help survivors. AP Eastern Ghouta bombings: Syrian war in pictures Injured children receive medical treatment. EPA Ghouta is one of four supposed de-escalation zones created in a May 2017 agreement brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran to quell fighting between rebel forces and the regime. The Damascus suburb has been besieged by government forces for years and was also the scene of a sarin and chlorine gas attack in 2013, one of the worst chemical incidents in modern history. Rebel infighting is rife, and the Syrian government says it controlled by factions allied to extremists groups such as al Qaeda who they are targeting in the current assault. In recent months, however, Mr Assads government has tightened the siege, leaving its 400,000 civilians struggling with dwindling food and medical supplies. At the same time, it has stepped up the military campaign. The tactics echo several other battles in Syria's war, including Homs, Daraya and Aleppo. Russian ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said last week that the international community was suffering from mass psychosis over the situation in eastern Ghouta. Scenes of devastation in Syria after deadly shelling and airstrikes and eastern Ghouta Global media outlets acting in coordination, disseminating the same rumours in recent days, in no way does anything to help improve understanding of this situation, he told the Security Council. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday that Moscow would press on with the daily pause plan to allow aid in and the injured out. The UN has repeated a call for all sides to abide by the full 30-day ceasefire demanded by the Security Council. Traces of a centuries-old sunken marine port have been uncovered in Jordan after officials undertook the countrys first underwater archaeological survey. Ehab Eid, head of the Royal Marine Conservation Society of Jordan (JREDS), said the survey had unearthed an ancient underwater barrier with an L-shape, roughly 50 metres long and eight metres wide. The ruins are believed to form part of the ancient Red Sea port of Ayla, near the modern city of Aqaba. Mr Eid said he expected the findings to pave the way for further discoveries. The barrier is connected to a solid mud floor which extends outside the coast. The solid mud floor was found to be interspersed with a two-lane corridor which connects the port and the sea gate to the city and its stores. It is suggested that the lane was used for the transport of the ports imports and exports, the surveys results, seen by The Jordan Times, read. The port of Ayla was active from the seventh to the 12th century, and was part of a trade route linking the Levant with other parts of the Middle East, Asia and Africa. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Initial excavations in search of Aylas ruins were conducted along the beach of Aqaba from 1986-1997. The latest survey was carried out in partnership with the USAID-funded project Sustainable Cultural Heritage Through Engagement of Local Communities, and in cooperation with the Department of Antiquities. Additional reporting by AP Women are to be allowed to serve in Saudi Arabias armed forces for the first time after King Salman issued a raft of royal decrees to radically shake up the countrys military, deposing many commanders and chiefs from their posts. The armys chief of staff as well as the heads of the ground and air forces were replaced in a series of late-night decrees issued on Monday, state news said. Several political appointments were also announced, including the promotion of a woman, Tamadar bint Yousef al-Ramah, to the position of deputy minister of labour and social development. No reasons were given for the sackings, which come as the civil war in Yemen, in which Saudi Arabia is heavily involved, is on the brink of entering its third year. Women in Saudi Arabia are learning to kick-box, in this underground gym in Jeddah The Interior Ministrys General Security division is to start accepting applications from women interested in serving in the army and police. Necessary requirements include a high school degree and the permission of a womans male guardian, who must live and work in the same region she has applied. The latest shake ups are believed to be the ideas of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who also serves as defence minister, and has introduced wide-ranging social reforms since he was appointed heir to the throne last June. Saudi Arabia opens its first women-only hotel Show all 4 1 /4 Saudi Arabia opens its first women-only hotel Saudi Arabia opens its first women-only hotel 20597.bin HASSAN AMMAR/AFP/Getty Images Saudi Arabia opens its first women-only hotel 20596.bin HASSAN AMMAR/AFP/Getty Images Saudi Arabia opens its first women-only hotel 20598.bin HASSAN AMMAR/AFP/Getty Images Saudi Arabia opens its first women-only hotel 20601.bin HASSAN AMMAR/AFP/Getty Images Last year almost 300 princes, politicians and business leaders were rounded up and detained at Riyadhs Ritz-Carlton as part of an anti-corruption purge widely believed to have served a secondary purpose of consolidating the young princes power base. MBS, as he is known, also launched the Kingdoms disastrous intervention in the Yemeni conflict on behalf of the ousted Yemeni government next-door in 2015. Recommended UK has responsibility for Yemen crisis after exporting weapons Rights groups have routinely accused the Saudi-led bombing campaign of causing unnecessary loss of civilian life. The Saudi-led blockade on rebel-held ports and airports is widely acknowledged to have contributed to the worlds worst humanitarian disaster, with 22 million people now dependent on aid and eight million on the brink of famine. Houthi rebels are still in control of the capital Sanaa and there has been little movement in the front lines after almost three years of fighting. A new report has found that local men distributing food and other international aid in Syria have been withholding deliveries from women, unless they agree to give sexual favours. Examples were given of women or girls marrying officials for a short period of time for sexual services in order to receive meals; distributors asking for telephone numbers of women and girls; giving them lifts to their houses to take something in return or obtaining distributions in exchange for a visit to her home or in exchange for services, such as spending a night with them, the new United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) study found. The abuse was widespread across governorates in Syrias south, and particularly affected vulnerable women and girls without male protectors, such as widows, divorcees and female IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons), said the 2018 Voices from Syria report, which examines gender-based violence. UN Security Council unanimously backs ceasefire in Syria An aid worker who spoke to the BBC said that in their experience, some women were refusing to go to aid distribution centres because people would assume they had offered their bodies for the aid they brought home. The UN and partner charities told the BBC they had zero tolerance policies on exploitation, and were not aware of any cases or complaints against partner organisations working on the ground. However, similar warnings about abuse were raised in 2015, highlighting the difficulties humanitarian agencies face when working in places with no access for international staff, relying on local government and third-party organisations. Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Show all 8 1 /8 Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Sifting through plastic: the workshop uses plastic from bottles and other waste materials to produce liquid and gas fuels. The liquid is refined into gasoline, diesel and benzene fuels, which in turn are sold for domestic and commercial use Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Khodor, 20, at the workshop in the rebel-held and besieged neighbourhood of Douma, Damascus Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Back to basics: a man checks the heat of a pipe pouring with fuel Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Khodor, 20, must keep an eye on the burning plastic inside the workshop in Douma Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste A young man takes a container of the locally made fuel, which can be used for domestic heating and on farms and bakeries Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Abu Fahad on a rest break with his colleagues inside the workshop, where the air is heavy with toxic fumes Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Fuel drips into a container at the workshop. Most locals are glad of the family-run business, which has restored a degree of normality to the region Reuters Syrians make fuel from plastic waste Khodor extracts fuel from plastic in the workshop Reuters A June 2015 investigation by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) questioned 190 women and girls from Daraa and Quneitra, and found 40 per cent had experienced sexual violence while trying to access aid. The findings along with a focus group study conducted in a refugee camp in Jordan were presented to a UNFPA meeting in Amman that year, leading several international organisations who attended to reform their monitoring and complaints mechanisms in Syria. However, the abuses identified in the new study raise questions about the effectiveness of the current checks and balances in place. Danielle Spencer, a humanitarian adviser who conducted the Jordan study, told the BBC that the aid sector wilfully ignores gender based violence to ensure it can still get aid to inaccessible parts of Syria. Sexual exploitation and abuse of women and girls has been ignored; its been known about and ignored for seven years, she said. Somewhere there has been a decision made that it is OK for womens bodies to continue to be used, abused and violated, in order for aid to be delivered for a larger group of people. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called on the country to consider making adultery illegal, and said that shelving an attempt to outlaw cheating back in 2004 was a mistake. I think it would be very, very well-timed to again discuss the adultery issue, as our society is in a different position with regards to moral values, Mr Erdogan told reporters after a speech in parliament in Ankara. This is a very old issue, far-reaching. It should be discussed. It was already in our legal proposals (in 2004) in the first place. At that time we took a step in accordance with the EUs demands, but we made a mistake, he said. Turkey abandoned efforts to criminalise adultery as part of its work towards meeting European Union membership criteria, which involved sweeping changes to the countrys penal code, including the expansion of individual liberties. The adultery proposal in particular caused a backlash, with EU officials saying the law would hinder Turkeys chances of joining the bloc. Mr Erdogans Justice and Development Party abandoned the idea in September 2004. But the President has now expressed regrets about the entire "process" of adhering to the bloc's requirements. I must say that in the EU process, we made a mistake, he said. We should now evaluate preparing legislation about adultery and perhaps consider it together with the issue of harassment and others. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Presidential spokesperson Ibrahim Kalin confirmed at a press conference on 21 February that a new adultery law is on the Justice Ministry agenda, according to Turkey's Hurriyet Daily News. The criminalisation of adultery has been subject to debate in Turkey for decades. In 1996, the countrys constitutional court overturned a previous adultery law, stating it penalised women more than men. Under the law, women were charged if they cheated once, but men were considered adulterers if they were involved in a long-term affair. Turkey became eligible for EU membership in 1997 and accession talked started in 2005, but no progress has been made in recent years. Sitting in business class is a truly effervescent feeling and thats not just on account of the free bubbles. Business class no longer means just a wider seat and a larger meal; its a truly indulgent experience often involving fully flat beds, top drawer wine and spirits, and the comforts of airport VIP lounges. It goes without saying that everyone would love a slice of the good life and to your delight, you really can. Sadly, there are no magic words or outfits that will have you turning left, but there are tried and tested tips that will give you the best chance at it. As a travel blogger, Im always on the go, flying more than 200,000 miles each year. Sticking to tight schedules and tighter budgets, Im often unable to book business or first class outright, but without relying on magic words, sharp suits or other gimmicks, Im almost always able to score a seat in business class or better. When a story about "the two magic words that will get you an upgrade" went viral last week, I looked into the claims and confirmed that they were bogus with the airline in question. The truth about upgrades is that every airline is different and each opportunity is unique, but if youre willing to put in a few minutes of your time to learn how your airline operates, there are ways in which you too can enjoy an elevated travel experience. Here are the most consistent ways to score business class upgrades, and the rules I live by. Two magic words There are only two magic words to truly score a seat in business class. Sadly, for our collective wallets, the magic words are business class, to be spoken when asked what cabin youd like to book your ticket in. For your travel sanity and comfort, we suggest skipping the three piece suit, blouse or alternative rumoured magic upgrade outfit and sticking to things that really work. Upgrades are possible for anyone, even if theyve never flown before they just require a bit of patience and luck. Collect air miles The simplest and most effective way to upgrade any plane ticket is to use airline miles. Some airlines (British Airways for example) only allow you to jump one cabin, while others, such as Virgin Atlantic, will allow you to go all the way from economy to business class. Put simply: in most instances if youd like to upgrade to business class, youd need to book premium economy. If youd like to upgrade to premium economy, shoot for an economy ticket. An upgrade to a destination such as New York will generally cost between 20,000 30,000 airline miles each way. If an upgrade is not immediately available when you book, dont forget to check back regularly airlines tinker with seats available for upgrades on a daily (and even hourly) basis. And for the pessimists out there, airline miles are surprisingly easy to collect, even without flying. British Airways, Virgin Atlantic and others allow you to earn points for any online shopping via their e-stores. You shop at your favourite brands and earn miles, just for clicking over from the airline website. Bid your way up Many airlines now use a system called PlusGrade to offer upgrade auctions. Customers on airlines such as Swiss, Etihad, Qantas, Virgin Atlantic, Lufthansa, Singapore, Cathay Pacific and many more may allow you to bid for the good life up front. Simply login to your booking online and look for an offer to bid on an upgrade. If you cant find it, simply google: (Your Airline Name Upgrade Auction). Its important to keep a level head while participating in these auctions, since winning bids can occasionally exceed the price of just paying for business class from the start. Nonetheless they offer great value. Other airlines, such as British Airways and Delta are known to flash upgrade offers in their mobile app. After making a booking, remain on the lookout for exclusive upgrade offers, some of which can be very reasonable. I was recently offered a 296 one-way upgrade from premium economy to business class with British Airways on a flight from London to New York. The difference in price between premium economy and business was over 2000, so it can represent real value. Volunteer your services Airlines these days run like hedge funds. When business is good, their mathematical equations to fill planes are pinpoint precise. But why sell 200 seats on a 200-seater plane when you can sell 205? Airlines regularly bank on certain travellers no showing, and sometimes they bet wrong. When this occurs, airlines need to bump people up to business class, or need volunteers for a later flight. Always enter a frequent flyer number for the airline youre flying, even if youve just signed up to the scheme. Doing so will instantly jump you in the queue of people who may be upgraded for operational reasons. If youre willing to take a later flight, be sure to volunteer your services at check in. Travelling solo and light on luggage can be crucially helpful. If you do volunteer, airlines will often compensate you with vouchers for future flights and upgrade you to business class on the next available flight. Shop around In the last two weeks, both major UK airlines have launched business class flash sales. Missed them? Youre not alone. The very best flash sales are almost never officially announced, last mere hours and are gone before many travellers have had a moment to glance at their computer. In these sales, Virgin Atlantic offered return Upper Class tickets for less than 1,000 per person to destinations all over the United States. In a similar sale, British Airways offered 1,000 per person returns in business class from London to Beijing or Shanghai (economy tickets can cost this much, depending on dates). And for the more adventurous lot, heading to Europe to start your trip can often yield incredible business class deals. Qatar Airways sold 560 return business class seats from Brussels or Amsterdam to Tokyo in the last year. Best practice: use Google Flights to set free price alerts for all cabins. You may track as many prices to as many places and dates as you wish. You never know what you may find. Gilbert Ott blogs at God Save the Points The airlines chief commercial officer, David OBrien said: Ryanair regrets these cuts in the weaker Glasgow market where efforts to stimulate low fare demand are severely hampered by the continuing burden of APD. The 13 tax represents about one-third of Ryanair's average fare. In 2016, the Scottish government vowed to halve APD by 2018, but has since deferred any cut. An estimated 300 jobs at Glasgow airport will be lost as services to City of Derry, Lisbon, Sofia, Riga and Berlin are transferred to the Scottish capital. While three routes remain at Glasgow, to Dublin, Krakow and Wroclaw, they will be operated by planes and crews based abroad. Glasgow will have fewer routes than Prestwick, 35 miles south-west of the city, which was Ryanairs original base in Scotland. From Edinburgh, Ryanair is adding new routes to Gothenburg, Hamburg, Memmingen in Bavaria, Stockholm Skavsta, Seville and Tallinn. Glasgow was also hit by the loss of Ryanairs route from Stansted, which was abruptly cancelled last September when the issue with pilots rosters became apparent. All winter flights were axed. Last week, Willie Walsh, chief executive of IAG, said high levels of APD were stifling the launch of the new low-cost airline, Level, from UK regional airports. Despite their recent wobbles, cryptocurrencies still seem like a fixture of our future. Chances are, they already make a better christening present than a silver spoon. Bitcoin, in particular, has captured the imagination. By enabling payments without the need for centralised banking structures, it has given users a foretaste of a world free from financial bureaucracy and overdraft fees. The blockchain technology which underlies Bitcoin can also be put to any number of other, productive uses. So what, precisely, are human beings doing thanks to these great advances? Last autumn, the chief executive of JP Morgan, Jamie Dimon, suggested cryptocurrencies were a fraud and that the only people who are better off using bitcoin as opposed to official currencies are murderers, drug dealers, or people living in places like North Korea. CEO Financial Conduct Authority: 'If you want to invest in bitcoin be prepared to lose all your money' Putting aside the fact anything that can get the head of a bank so exercised may not be all bad, its clear that some nefarious characters have turned to cryptocurrencies because transactions are in principle easier to make anonymously. They are, so say the critics, a godsend for money launderers. They look like a godsend for their creators too. Initial coin offerings were all the rage a year ago, as any number of startups offered invisible tokens in exchange for cash (well, other cryptocurrencies), with hungry investors desperate to get aboard the next digital gravy train before it left the station. When Bitcoins value plummeted by more than 50 per cent between the middle of December and the beginning of February, enthusiasm for the whole crypto enterprise seemed to wane. But now the markets are bouncing back. Thats presumably good news for North Koreans, if Dimon is to be believed. Its certainly good news for the Legends Room in Las Vegas, one of those places known euphemistically as a gentlemens club. Here, lap dancers wear QR code tattoos and little else so that customers can tip using cryptocurrencies, confident in the knowledge their spending wont appear on the next joint bank account statement. Bitcoins resurgence may also give encouragement to individuals seeking to hide their assets during divorce proceedings. Numerous lawyers have raised the spectre of hidden pots of cryptocurrencies becoming an obstacle to reasonable settlements. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Advocates of cryptocurrencies say that the increasing use of Bitcoin and its ilk in mainstream markets makes their use for illicit purposes more difficult, largely because people will eventually end up using dodgy money in arenas where personal information is properly recorded. But that theory appears to assume that crooks are idiots, which frequently they are not. The truth about cryptocurrencies is that they have been made possible by humans technological brilliance, and have been made grimy by human flaws. They gained a following because they made it possible to buy drugs on the dark web without leaving a paper trail for law enforcement officers. They grew in value largely because a classic stock market bubble convinced greedy people that products like Bitcoin could make them rich without risk. While cryptocurrencies cant buy us love, we can now pay for strip shows without having to grubby ourselves with the embarrassment of handing over a wad of notes. And when a relationship ends in tears, we can seemingly convince ourselves that the return we made on Ether, Ripple or Bitcoin isnt something we need to declare. The paradox of cryptocurrencies is that they have gained a following by virtue of being outside the mainstream financial services sector, which is despised by many for permitting dodgy dealings thanks to a lack of sufficient regulation or transparency. There are pots and kettle aplenty there. When central banks jump on the digital bandwagon, as they surely will in the end, the whole equation will become even more complicated. As things stand, however, for all the brilliance of the blockchain technology which underpins them, it is hard not to feel that cryptocurrencies are a little tarnished. The advantage of a silver spoon is that the gleam can be easily restored. A few months ago, as part of an ongoing programme of cultural education, I bullied my teenage nephew into watching Trading Places. He clearly enjoyed the movie, because he checked his smartphone just the 179 times in two hours. But he wasnt convinced by the premise about Dan Aykroyds commodities trader and Eddie Murphys street bum swapping lives. Its a bit far-fetched, critiqued this Marvel Universe devotee. Real life isnt like that, is it? Real life may not be, but British politics apparently is. In the absence of two vile old brothers pulling the strings to settle a nature vs nurture dispute, it fell to Brexit to produce an unlikelier role reversal than the one in the film. Days after being revealed as a secret agent run by the Czechs, Jeremy Corbyn is the toast of the CBI and the darling (within reason) of the FT. The terrifying red firebrand has been transformed into the business communitys chum. If he hasnt been given honorary membership of the Rotary Club yet, its only a matter of time. The Conservative Party has made the reverse journey. It has abandoned the pro-business pragmatism that defined it for centuries, and embraced the sort of hysterically rigid ideological purism often labelled as Stalinist. Recommended Liam Fox was in favour of a customs union before he was against it Listening to Corbyn announce his belated customs union conversion, you needed the lowest dose of mescaline, if that, to picture him as a mid-1970s, one-nation Tory reasonabilist bowler on head, brolly in arm moaning about more bloody strikes to Reggie Perrin on the 8.17 to Sunshine Desserts. JC didnt get where he is today by being a pragmatic centrist. But when the facts change, and/ or the leathery aroma of the cabinet room hits his nostrils, he changes his mind. New Corbyn wouldnt dream of sacrificing profitability and the jobs that depend on it on the altar of sacred principle. He may privately dislike the European Union no less than ever, and isnt about to launch Marxists For Globalisation. But he, unlike the Tories, understands economic reality too well to endanger service industries that count for four-fifths of the UK economy, or make every export batch of ball bearings to Slovenia a 92-form-filling nightmare. That he will leave to Boris, Gove, Dr Fox and others on the Government side. On those benches, flanking a captive PM like idle undertakers inspecting a palliative care ward for their next cadaver, sit the New Soviets. In the Brezhnev era, Moscow would announce that the cotton returns from Uzbekistan had broken all records, when the entire harvest hadnt stretched to a pair of knickers. As Foxs former mandarin at the International Trade Department implies today, members of the Tory presidium are no less creative with their projections (the extra weekly 350m for the NHS). Famously, the British electorate disdains ideologues who bend facts to fit quasi-religious belief systems, and almost invariably gives power to whichever of the main parties it perceives as the less extreme. Admittedly, in 1945 the punters rejected Churchills bland continuity for Clement Attlees socialism, but only because they reckoned it more in their social and economic interests. And though Margaret Thatcher would challenge Clem for radicalism, she won in 1979 on a feeble unthreatening manifesto when Labour and the unions it represented were seen as the extremist option. To many, Corbyn remains that, and always will. A headline above a Telegraph column on Monday ran: Jeremy Corbyns Brexit shift shows hes more determined than ever to seize power. Note the subtle moulding of that seize into a makeshift synonym for legitimately win an election. In Telegraphland, seizing power is what Marxist dictators do in Africa and Latin America, even if, like Hugo Chavez, they are elected. It seems too late for the reactionary press, try as it has and will, to embed Corbyn in the public consciousness as the love child of Chavez and Kim Philby. If demonising him as a commie sleeper didnt do the trick at the last election, it wont at the next when his rebranding as the grown-up voice of compromise has had time to take root. The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Show all 8 1 /8 The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Post-Brexit immigration workers sorting radishes on a production line at a farm in Norfolk. One possible post-Brexit immigration scheme could struggle to channel workers towards less attractive roles - while another may heighten the risk of labour exploitation, a new report warns. PA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Customs union A key point in the negotiations remains Britain's access to, or withdrawal from, the EU customs union. Since the referendum there has been hot debate over the meaning of Brexit: would it entail a full withdrawal from the existing agreement, known as hard Brexit, or the soft version in which we would remain part of a common customs area for most goods, as Turkey does? No 10 has so far insisted that Brexit means Brexit and that Britain will be leaving the customs union, but may be inclined to change its position once the potential risks to the UKs economic outlook become clearer. Alamy The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Northern Ireland-Irish border Though progress was made last year, there has still been no solid agreement on whether there should be a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. To ensure borderless travel on the island, the countries must be in regulatory alignment and therefore adhere to the same rules as the customs union. In December, the Conservative Partys coalition partners, the DUP, refused a draft agreement that would place the UK/EU border in the Irish Sea due to its potential to undermine the union. May has promised that would not be the case and has suggested that a specific solution would need to be found. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Transition period Despite protests from a small number of Conservative MPs, the Government and the EU are largely in agreement that a transitional period is needed after Brexit. The talks, however, have reached an impasse. Though May has agreed that the UK will continue to contribute to the EU budget until 2021, the PM wants to be able to select which laws made during this time the UK will have to adhere to. Chief negotiator Michel Barnier has said the UK must adopt all of the laws passed during the transition, without any input from British ministers or MEPs. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Rights of EU citizens living the UK The Prime Minister has promised EU citizens already living in the UK the right to live and work here after Brexit, but the rights of those who arrive after Brexit day remains unclear. May insists that those who arrive during the transition period should not be allowed to stay, whereas the EU believe the cut-off point should be later. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreement (with the EU) Despite this being a key issue in negotiations, the Government has yet to lay out exactly what it wants from a trade deal with the EU. Infighting within the Cabinet has prevented a solid position from being reached, with some MPs content that "no deal is better than a bad deal" while others rally behind single market access. The EU has already confirmed that access to the single market would be impossible without the UK remaining in the customs union. Getty The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Future trade agreements (internationally) The Government has already begun trying to woo foreign leaders into prospective trade agreements, with various high profile state visits to China, India and Canada for May, and the now infamous invitation to US President Donald Trump to visit London. However the UK cannot make trade agreements with another country while it is still a member of the EU, and the potential loss of trade with the world's major powers is a source of anxiety for the PM. The EU has said the UK cannot secure trade deals during the transition period. EPA The biggest issues facing UK on leaving EU Financial services Banks in the UK will be hit hard regardless of the Brexit outcome. The EU has refused to give British banks passporting rights to trade within the EU, dashing hopes of a special City deal. However according to new reports Germany has suggested allowing trade on the condition that the UK continues paying into the EU budget even after the transition period. Getty But predicting a governments collapse is a mugs game, and the notion that Labour should turn Anna Soubrys postponed customs union amendment into a confidence vote is misguided. Asking Soubry, Nicky Morgan and others to incinerate their careers by joining the opposition to bring down their own government would be counterproductive. Nothing unifies a schismatic party, however briefly and superficially, like a vote of no confidence. Nonetheless, in this unparalleled volatility, the Government could abruptly fall for various reasons, perhaps the likeliest being the unsquareable circle of the soft Irish border fatally alienating the DUP. So the suggestion to Corbyn is this. He should tour European capitals as prime minister-in-waiting, and dine with leaders of the EU and its largest states. It wouldnt be as grandiose as Obamas 2008 president-in-waiting tour, when millions thronged around the Brandenburg Gate. And it neednt be a three-course dinner every night. A packet of crisps would suffice. But quietly, soberly, with the reassuringly grown up Keir Starmer at his side, he should go to Berlin, Paris, Rome, Madrid and Brussels to meet those with whom hed be parlaying if he wins, or seizes, power before March 2019. He would be savaged for the measuring-the-No-10-curtains presumption. But he could easily swat that away by explaining that, given the time frame, it would be a dereliction of his duty not to prepare in case cutting the deal falls to him; that its essential to cultivate relationships with Tusk, Barnier, Macron, Merkel and the rest, and understand their thinking; that it would be a betrayal of British business to risk coming to the negotiating table ice cold a few months, or even weeks, before the exit date. That would be gravely irresponsible. And New Corbyn, CBI dreamboy of today and Rotarian of tomorrow, is anything but that. Islamic headscarves and veils continue to be the subject of intense debate in Europe. Countries approaches towards the burqa and niqab, which cover the face, range from tolerance in the UK to an outright ban in France. Reactions of Muslim women to restrictions have varied, including protests by some, reluctant acceptance by others and also support for bans. But what happens when a woman who has worn a niqab, sometimes for years, makes the decision to leave it behind? Hanane and Alexia whose names are pseudonyms to protect their identity were both born in France. Hanane grew up in a non-practicing Muslim family, while Alexia converted to Islam at age 22. For five years they both wore a niqab. Hanane began in 2009, just before France banned the full-face veil, while Alexia adopted it later. Once ardent defenders of the right to wear the niqab, both women have now completely abandoned it. But the transition took place gradually and was accompanied by a growing distance from extreme Salafist ideology. Start living again On 10 January, during the New Years discount sales in Paris, Alexia and I met near Gare du Nord train station. She wanted to buy clothes and start living again. In the first shop she bought four slim pairs of pants and a trim jacket. She then tried out some Nepalese clothes designed for Western tastes, including a colourful jacket and pants with huge bell bottoms. As she came out of the dressing room, Alexia gauged herself in front of the mirror: Its really me, I finally feel like myself again after years of being locked up. With her hair brushing her face, she looked like a modern woman, fully alive. I was impressed with her metamorphosis: its hard to imagine that she wore a niqab for five years and was one of the most radical women Id ever met. Husband remains amazingly calm in face of abusive rant in Aldi as screaming woman brands wife's niqab 'disgusting' I met Alexia in August 2011 in the context of my research on the full-length veil during a demonstration by the Salafist group Forsane Alizza (literally Knights of the Pride) in a city near Paris. She was wearing a niqab and presented herself as the wife of one of the groups leaders. Alexia remembers that time: We considered all Muslim supporters of the French Republic to be unbelievers. We were doing the takfir (excommunication) against those who did not practice like us. We were opposed to the taghout (idolatry in the broad sense), ie, the state and institutions. We defined ourselves as ghulat, which means extremists in Arabic. Estimates of the number of women who wear the niqab vary widely, from a few hundred to several thousand. In terms of even Frances Muslim population the percentage is tiny. The niqab was protecting me Ive known Hanane even longer than Alexia. We met during a January 2010 demonstration of women in niqab at the Place de la Republique in Paris and then in front of the National Assembly. She and others were protesting a proposed measure that would outlaw concealing ones face in public. At the beginning of 2017, Hanane reached out to ask me to help her write a book about her life. In the book shed like to write, Hanane doesnt want to denounce the niqab, but to tell the story of the rapes she says were repeatedly inflicted by her father-in-law. To her, they help explain her involvement in Salafism. Religion brought a lot that helped me escape from the trauma of rape. I was 19 to 20 years old when I started wearing the niqab, I took it off when I was 25. The further I went, the more I wanted to cover myself. The niqab protected me, I liked hiding from men. I could see them, but they couldnt see me. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Unlike Alexia, who decided on her own to begin wearing a veil, Hanane remembers the influence of her social circle at the time. We were a bunch of girlfriends and wore niqab almost all at the same time. In our group the earliest was Ayat Boumediene, who adopted it more than two years before the law. At first everything was normal with her, and then she started to organise gatherings to encourage us to take up arms. It was her husband, Ahmadi Coulibaly, who turned her head he was low-key until he went to jail. Ayat wanted to introduce me to a man she said I should marry, she really pushed hard. He was later imprisoned for murder. Thank goodness I didnt give in Id be in Syria today. On 9 January 2015, Ahmadi Coulibaly attacked the Hyper Cacher market near Paris. Boumediene left Paris one week earlier, and was spotted at Istanbul airport. She remains at large. Coulibaly killed five people during his attack and died when the police assaulted the grocery store in which he was holding hostages. I felt like I was getting out of jail When France banned full-length veils in 2010, some of the women who wore the niqab switched to the jilbab, which covers the whole body except the face, while others gave in to public pressure and ceased wearing it. Both Alexia and Hanane are different: they say theyve turned the page completely. Alexia has even become a fierce opponent of the Islamic veil and Salafism. She continues to define herself as a Muslim but reads the texts with a critical eye. Hanane admits that she has become less diligent in her rituals: I often skip prayers or make them late. Some days I dont even have time to pray. When I wore the niqab I was a little more regular, even though I was often late. Both say theyve put aside the more radical texts they once favoured, and no longer frequent fundamentalist websites. But this process didnt happen all at once it took several months. Alexia says she decided to remove the niqab on the advice of the man who shared her life at the time. A convert to Islam and Salafism, he was a supporter of conservative dress for women, but nonetheless suggested she cease wearing the niqab. When he saw my physical condition, he asked me to remove the niqab he feared for my health. I had worn it to please Allah, but because of the lack of sunlight I wasnt synthesising vitamin D any more my health was failing. I followed his advice, but its been long and hard. Alexia remembers: When I took the niqab off, I felt like I was getting out of jail. But that doesnt mean I was released I still felt bad. It takes years to get by and I havent finished cleaning my head yet. Hanane abandoned her veil after the attacks on the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo in 2015 because she feared for her safety, facing more and more insults in the street. She said the hardest part has been the exclusion from her social circle. Since I removed my veil, many of my Muslim sisters no longer want to talk to me. I find them stuck-up and unfair, because anyone can choose to take off their veil. A few rare ones talk to me, but its not like it used to be. For a long time Alexia would put her veil back on when returning to her old neighbourhood in north-east Paris where social and religious conservatism is strong in certain communities. Then she finally changed her life entirely. My life began to change when I enrolled in a gym, which allowed me to get out of the Salafist social networks that were my only source of socialisation before. Then I got a job and then I finally said goodbye to my past. And it was at this job that she met the man whom she would marry. He is not Muslim and the civil marriage took place at city hall, an unthinkable choice for this woman who once hated French institutions. A bitter taste In hindsight, neither Alexia nor Hanane spoke of their exit from the niqab as a liberation. Instead, the experience has left them with a bitter taste. They say they were convinced at some point in their lives of the importance of wearing a full-length veil: Alexia believed that she was achieving Muslim perfection and giving meaning to her life she imagined meeting the pious and virtuous man who would save her from her life as a single mother. For Hanane, the goal was to heal the wounds of an adolescence torn apart by family trauma and foster care. Alexia now feels that this period cost her years of her life and expresses anger at the propaganda coming from Saudi Arabia. She blames the entire system that indoctrinated her, even though she acknowledges it was, in a sense, voluntary. According to her, Islamic State benefits from the naivety of those who believe they are committed to Salafism for legitimate reasons. Even if theyve both renounced the niqab, neither Hanane nor Alexia support the 2010 ban. Hanane told me recently: The law is counterproductive. The only way out is by yourself. The ban will never convince any woman to take it off. Alexia has the same reaction, saying that the law that has led some women to cut themselves off from society and that some might adopt it as a rebellious gesture. Testimonies of those whove chosen to leave the niqab behind are rare. The number of women who have adopted it is extremely low, and the ones who then choose to renounce it must often sever their old relationships and adopt what is in many ways a new identity they change their e-mail addresses, phone numbers and move on completely. For them the full-length veil has become something firmly in the past, representative of a transitional stage in their lives. Agnes De Feo is co-founder of Sasana Productions and teaches at the journalism school CFPJ. This piece first appeared on The Conversation Whats the difference between a customs union and the customs union? And between that and a free trade area? The EU Customs Union is a simple thing. The EU member states all agree to abolish tariffs and quotas on free movement of goods around the EU. In return, they agree to a uniform set of external trade barriers tariffs, quotas, and other rules for counties outside the Customs Union. So, obviously, the members cant then go off and do their own deals with other countries. If Britain is outside the customs union (even if it is in a free trade zone with the EU, so the UK can export tariff-free) then the EU has to be sure that imports are genuinely British. That means agreed rules of origin and some checks or controls around that: a given percentage of the value of something has to be certified and audited as British usually 40 to 60 per cent plus. That does mean some sort of friction, and possibly a hard border, including in Ireland. So, to give a topical example, if the UK decides to allow Chinese steel into the UK freely, say to Belfast, and then tries to re-export it to Ireland, flooding the EU market. The Irish and the EU are entitled to say that the steel is not really British, and thus tariff-free, and they are allowed to add a tax to it and to stop it at the border. A hard border they need to control. Similarly, the EU could argue that a British car made with Chinese steel and American and Korean parts, for example, may not qualify as British. That too needs to be checked out. Thats how the customs union works. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 2 August 2021 Great Britains Charlotte Worthington competes during the Womens BMX Freestyle Final at the Tokyo Olympics PA UK news in pictures 1 August 2021 EPA UK news in pictures 31 July 2021 James Guy, Adam Peaty and Kathleen Dawson celebrate winning the gold medal in the mixed 4x100m medley relay final at the Tokyo Olympics AP UK news in pictures 30 July 2021 Great Britain's Bethany Shriever and Kye Whyte celebrate their Gold and Silver medals respectively for the Cycling BMX Racing at the Ariake Urban Sports Park on the seventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA UK news in pictures 29 July 2021 Team GB's Mallory Franklin during the Womens Canoe Slalom Final on day six of the Tokyo Olympic Games. She went on to win the silver medal Getty In order to keep some of those benefits but also allow the UK to agree its own external tariffs with third countries, the only proven way to do so is a partial customs union one that covers some goods, say cars, but not others, say agricultural produce. This is how the EUs agreement with Turkey works. To use a concrete example, the green diesel engines made at the Ford works at Dagenham in Essex go right across the EU and then out of the EU into Turkey without tariffs being imposed. The engines are then fitted into Ford Transit vans made in Golcuk, Turkey, and the vans are exported from Turkey to the EU, including the UK, with no tariffs of customs restrictions imposed on them. It is all done friction-free across the EUs external frontiers. On the other hand, Turkish beef, say, is subject to EU regulations. So a customs union can be a partial Customs Union more like eating half of your cake (manufacturing) but not the other half (agricultural produce). It is a bespoke arrangement, though in Turkeys case aimed generously at promoting an emerging nations economic development. For that reason, it may not be regarded as suitable for the UK. However, Jeremy Corbyn wants Turkey Plus: he says that Labour wants a comprehensive customs union with the EU, so covering, one assumes, all sectors but also a role in negotiating trade deals with other countries. Cake and eat it? Labours policy is that the UK would buddy up with the EU when it comes to negotiating trade deals with other countries or trading blocs. This would work well when the UK and the EU have interests that are perfectly aligned; but in areas such as, for example importing cheap food from the US, Australia or Canada, national interests might well diverge. Will the UK in fact have a veto on new third party trade deals the same veto as it enjoys now as a full EU member? Can Britain stop 27 other countries in the EU enjoying a deal theyve fought hard for? Would the EU Trade Commissioners even agree to have (presumably) the British International Trade Secretary Berry Gardiner tagging along when they go to Canberra, Delhi, Beijing or Seoul? Even when the German or French or Polish ministers arent invited? (Or Turkish ones). It does feel improbable. Overlaid with a bespoke single market arrangement, such as enjoyed by Switzerland again a sector-by-sector negotiated bespoke deal then the UK would indeed have a very unusual and special economic relationship with its biggest trading partner, but whether such an extremely complex asymmetrical (ie messy) arrangement would be practical, let alone politically acceptable to the EU27 is far from clear. Labour also say they wish to leave the EU single market so that they can get on with state subsidies for investment in British industry and following our own public procurement policy (which might, for example, mandate Whitehall, nationalised enterprises and local authorities to buy British supplied goods and services). Corbyn believes that Labour will not be allowed to invest, upgrade and transform our economy if we stay inside the EU single market. True, but then the EU might also argue that UK taxpayers subsidising British products and services constitutes a violation of the customs union and unfair competition too. Why should, for example, a renationalised Royal Mail be allowed to compete with the privatised Deutsche Post or the Dutch postal service that have to face stiff competition? Or why should Spanish or German Opels compete with identical UK-made Vauxhalls that rely on UK investment grants to stay price-competitive? The customs union and the UK-EU trade deal probably couldnt cope with such strains. Corbyns policy, like Theresa Mays, looks and feels very much like cherry-picking, but just a different set of fruit in the basket. Thats because it is. The annual meeting of the National Rifle Association this May in Dallas, Texas, will be a bit different. Gun aficionados from across the land will have to get there by foot and wagon, because no airline or bus line will give them carriage. Forget renting a car. The Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Centre will be bereft of outside food services. Theyll need tents too. Not quite, of course. They are going to Texas, not Boston or Santa Monica. The NRA website is still demanding $2,500 (1797) to have one of the buildings columns, indoor or outdoor, sheathed with your corporate propaganda. There are enough firearms companies around that theyll probably get it. If you want it running up a single staircase to the main exhibition floor, thatll be $7,500. Largely missing this year, however, will be logos from the rest of corporate America. There are now over 20 major companies that have severed ties with the NRA in the wake of the Parkland High School shooting many of which are household names. They include airlines like United and Delta, car rental firms like Hertz and Avis, and hotel chains Wyndham and Best Western. A boycott it isnt quite. Members will still be able to fly Delta and United to Dallas they just wont be getting the discount they were expecting. And maybe not at the hotel or car company theyve booked. They probably wont care terribly much. That all these companies have also demanded their names be removed from the NRA website also wont make members weep at night. Let it be absolutely clear, a defiant statement from the NRA said. The loss of a discount will neither scare nor distract one single NRA member from our mission to stand and defend the individual freedoms that have always made America the greatest nation in the world. Delta Airlines has severed ties with the NRA, but the lietenant governor of Georgia has hit back (Getty) (DANIEL SLIM/AFP/Getty Images) But if you doubt this is a big moment, look whats happening in Georgia, where Deltas decision to spurn the NRA has triggered disproportionate fury from state Republicans. They are threatening now to torpedo legislation that was on the brink of being passed, which would give airlines at Atlantas Hartsfield Jackson Airport tax breaks on aviation fuel. Its tricky for Delta. The tax break would save them tens of millions of dollars a year. But it may not be smart of its GOP critics either. While Delta is not about to take up a cheeky invitation, made this week by New York, to move its base from Atlanta to John F Kennedy Airport, their threatening the airline wont sit well with the 33,000 Delta employees who live in the state. Delta appears not be to be buckling. Meanwhile, backers of the so-called #BoycottNRA movement are applying pressure to other big corporations to join in, especially in the tech field, including Apple, Google and Amazon. Amazon is being asked to explain why it gives the NRA space on its TV streaming service to showcase its own gun-toting content. FedEx has got itself in a pickle trying to play both sides. It put out a statement saying it disagrees with the policies of the NRA and wants things like a ban on assault weapons, but that it would not be rescinding the discounts it offers its members. The company may have to change its mind as some of its customers threaten to punish it for being mealy-mouthed. First to say so was Jenis Splendid Ice Cream, which ships 100,000 units a year with FedEx. Why is any of this happening? Since when did purveyors of soft-scoop ice-cream or even large airlines get themselves embroiled in national political debate in this way, especially debate as highly charged as gun violence in America? Whats next, Starbucks fighting racism? Apple involving itself in gay rights? (Actually both companies have done precisely both things.) Company boards are suddenly tilting against the gun lobby, not because theyve found a conscience when it comes to the NRA, even if its offensive response to the Florida shooting attempting to blame Democrats and the media for the tragedy surely made that easier. No, this shift in corporate calculation is about the bottom line. They are reading consumer sentiment. The downside from alienating the NRA and its supporters is now outweighed by the greater risk that being seen to support them will result in a loss of customers and public prestige. Theyve seen the polls, like one for CNN over the weekend showing 70 per cent of Americans now favouring stricter gun laws. Thats a level not been seen for a quarter of a century. Sure, support for gun control usually spikes after an atrocity like Parkland. But after the last years massacre in Las Vegas, the same CNN poll showed only 52 per cent of Americans looking for new gun restrictions. This looks different, and maybe more enduring. Its possible that small changes in gun control laws at the federal and state levels will happen in the wake of Parkland. But mostly the countrys Republican leadership is still offering little more than blather and distraction. Donald Trumps idea of arming teachers is not just offensive its also meant to take our eye off the changes that should really happen. That so many companies are putting their heads over the parapet now should give us hope, however, that finally something meaningful will happen to tackle Americas gun violence scourge. They are acknowledging what the countrys political leaders so many of whom still suckle at the NRA teat continue willfully to ignore. But politics is a customer-based business too, and eventually its practitioners in America, even Republicans, will have to catch up. Matt Drudge announced his scoop with the level of understatement one would expect from the king of digital tabloid news. TRUMP SET FOR SHOCK ANNOUNCEMENT, he tweeted from his own personal account, his keyboards capital letter button held firmly down. Shortly afterwards, he followed up from the Drudge Reports handle: WORLD EXCLUSIVE - Just one year into his Presidency, Trump will stun the political world by announcing he is running for re-election in 2020. Digital guru Brad Parscale will be named campaign manager, DRUDGE REPORT has learned. In truth, few people doubted Donald Trump would not be up for a second term in the White House. Some of his critics both within the Republican Party and outside might have pondered, or rather, fantasied, that the 71-year-old might, for whatever reasons, quietly bow out after one term, after deciding there was nothing more he could do for the country. But those were in the minority. Everything we have learned about Donald John Trump, from his days as an 80s tabloid fixture all the way through to his surprise entry into the White House in January 2017, is that he is not a man to give up gracefully. Neither is he an individual to admit defeat. Others also pointed out that the day after his 2017 inauguration, he formally filed paperwork for his re-election committee. Despite that, Trumps confirmation that Parscale, a former digital adviser, will lead his re-election campaign, represents the first official confirmation from the President that he is seeking a second term. Now, the question is, can Trump do it again? And to the horror of Democrats, progressives and others who loathe him, the answer is: very possibly. A flurry of caveats need to be laid out straight away. No one can possibly know the political environment in 2020, Trump may have been indicted by Robert Mueller and heading for impeachment, or Trump may have been defeated by a Republican primary challenger. And while the Presidents White House doctor gave him a very clean bill of health, it is always possible he forced to stand aside because of poor health, or worse. John F Kennedy was assassinated during his first term; Franklin D Roosevelt died of a cerebral haemorrhage shortly into his fourth. (Two-term limits were introduced shortly afterwards.) Donald Trump to run in 2020: President 'to announce' re-election bid and name campaign manager There is much that might point against a Trump re-election. Records suggest the former reality television star is the most unpopular president of all time. For much of his first term, his approval ratings have trudged along in the mid-30s. They jumped after the passage of his tax bill late last year, but then slipped down again. Real Clear Politics, which collects and collates various polls, suggests it currently stands at 41 per cent, though it notes there is a spread of 13 points. And dont the Democrats expect to do well in the midterms? A recent poll by CNN found suggested registered voters were planning to vote 54-38 in favour the Democrats. If that proved to the case, the Democrats would have the sort of numbers they have not enjoyed since 2006 when they secured both the House and the Senate. Yet while his opponents may loathe to admit it, Trump has a lot going for him as evidenced by the odds of two-to-one listed by oddschecker.com, which aggregates various betting shops odds. (The closest rivals are Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris and Bernie Sanders at 11 to one.) Firstly, Trump is the incumbent, and incumbent presidents usually win when they run for re-election. Individuals such as George HW Bush, who lost to Bill Clinton in 1992 after reneging on a promise not to increase taxes, are the exception to the rule. The office brings huge advantage in terms of media coverage, name recognition and the ability to raise money. The second thing Trump has in his favour is that, to the people who voted for him and gave him that stunning win, think of him as nothing less than a hero. A poll taken on the anniversary of his election found that 82 per cent of those who supported him would do so again. But it is not just among his hardcore supporters that Trump has sold support. Following a first term in which Trump rowed back on regulations Barack Obama had introduced at the Environmental Protection Agency, cracked down on immigration, enacted a version of his travel ban, got Neil Gorsuch confirmed on the Supreme Court and, crucially, oversaw a tax reform package the Republicans had not seen for 30 years, Trump can present himself to the GOP as a man who has delivered on his promises. In a recent article headlined Republicans Are Coming Home To Trump, the polling and politics website FiveThirtyEight reported that a Gallup poll put Trumps approval rating among self-identified Republicans at 86 per cent. It was the third straight week that his rating was above 85 per cent an improvement compared with 2017, it said. For all the major issues facing the US climate change, inequality, racial tension, gender struggles and Trumps puerile and bullying use of social media when it comes to voting, for most Americans no issue is more important than that of their wallets. If people feel the economy is doing well, that their job is safe, that they have a little more money left over at the end of the month, then they typically tend to vote not to change that. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Right now, unemployment stands at 4.1 per cent, a 10-year low. While much of the credit for that belongs to Barack Obama, Trump has already seized it as his victory. Wages in the United States increased 4.4 per cent in November of 2017 over the same month in the previous year, and they seem set to continue a figure that could equal anything during Obamas term. The other, crucial thing the President has in his favour is that for all of the anti-Trump sentiment that exists in the country, the Democrats do not look battle-ready. A series of special elections have revealed that the party has not agreed to a solid or substantial platform other than opposing Trump. As many party figures have said, they need to offer voters a genuine alternative message, especially on economics. Indeed, often it seems the party is still having the same fight over which it split in 2016, as it sought to decide whether to opt for the cautious incrementalism represented by Hillary Clinton or the more radical change proposed by Sanders. And while there are a lot of very good, quality candidates within the party, the fact that the generation of yesteryear 68-year-old Warren, Sanders, 76, and 75-year-old Joe Biden are topping the polls offers little hope to those looking for new ideas. Nothing underscored the partys haplessness more than the recent suggestion that Oprah Winfrey may do battle against Trump. All of this is does not represent an endorsement of Donald Trump. From the perspective of anyone who values progressive ideas, who believes in science and empiricism rather than Chinese hoaxes, who supports the Paris Accord, who believes America is a nation of immigrants of all colours and all faiths and is a better place for it, who believes women should be respected and valued rather than insulted, and who thinks tax cuts should help the poor and not just the wealthy, then Donald Trumps first term has so far been an abomination. But that does not mean he is not going to win a second. Meetings this week on school changes Staff Report IPS officials are considering starting middle and high school nearly two hours later than current start times and will hold the first of four public meetings today to hear parents concerns Start times for middle and high schoolers would be 9:40 a.m. as opposed to starting at 7:20 a.m. Officials say current start times go against recent medical studies, specifically one conducted by The American Academy of Pediatrics, that recommend a start time of no earlier than 8:30 a.m. for middle and high school students. This is a research study that says adolescents learn better with a later start time, said Manny Mendez, transportation director for IPS. It also shows younger students learn better as well. Public comment meetings will be held each evening from tonight to this Thursday. Currently, IPS buses transport more than 20,000 students on a three-tier system. Middle and high schools start classes at 7:20 a.m., and elementary schools go into session at 8:15 a.m. or 9:20 a.m. In addition, district leaders are also concerned about the possible impact on bus stops due to new changes that could make commute times longer. Next school year, high school students will start a new All-Choice model where they will be able to choose their school based on the academic programs offered instead of where they live. Buses will pick up students and transport them across the city. This, officials estimate, will make the average ride time an hour and two minutes. IPS also recently announced plans to close three of its high schools, leaving four high schools total as part of the new model. That could change bus routes and make commutes much longer for some students. Were looking to overcome some strained resources, said Mendez. We would like to consolidate some bus stops. Mendez noted the IPS board asked him to study the viability of having later start times. We believe that now is the perfect time to incorporate that possibility into school choice, he said. When asked about the reception IPS has received so far from parents and other concerned people in the community, Mendez said public opinion about the proposed changes has been split. But thats why we have the community meetings, he stated. Its important for us to have as much input as possible to present to the board. I want to let them know all the facts that I find and present all the options to help them make a final decision. Mendez strongly encourages everyone to attend the meetings. After those meetings, the school board will decide what changes will be put in place. Also on the agenda will be possible new start times for elementary school students, and IPS welcomes suggestions on that topic as well. The public is invited to attend the following meetings: 6 p.m. Feb. 26 at New Wineskin Ministries 4501 38th St. 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at St. Pauls Episcopal Church 6050 N. Meridian St. 6 p.m. Feb. 28 at Community Alliance Far Eastside 8902 E. 38th St. 6 p.m. March 1 at Julia Carson Government Center 300 E. Fall Creek Pkwy N. Dr. Starring Ajay Devgn (left) and Ileana DCruz, Raid is one of the most exciting films to come this year. It releases on Mar. 16. (photo provided) Demonstrators, many of them recent immigrants to America, protested the lack of a deal on DACA outside of Federal Plaza on Jan. 22 in New York City. With the latest Supreme Court decision, DACA recipients can continue to file extensions and remain in the U.S., which for the vast majority is the only home that they know, explained Indian American attorney Kalpana Peddibhotla to India-West. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) A 14 year old grade nine learner at a high school in Verulam was arrested by members of Reaction Unit South Africa after she was found in possession of 24 wrappings of marijuana yesterday morning. At approximately 09:30 Reaction Officers received information that the female scholar was in possession of the narcotics and intended on selling it to other pupils during their lunch break. Acting on the information a female Reaction Officer accompanied by an educator from the school proceeded to the grade nine learners class. When she noticed the Officer enter the classroom she removed a pink pencil case from her bag and placed on the desk of the pupil seated next to her. When the RUSA Officer opened the pencil case she discovered the 24 wrappings of cannabis inside. The girl confessed that the drugs was given to her by her 17 year old sister who is in grade 11 at the same school. She went on to explain that due to her older sister being absent from school today she was asked to hand over the pencil case to another learner who would approach her during the lunch break and assist her to sell the drugs to other learners for R5.00 each. The pupil was handed over to Police for further investigation. Im only 15 but I feel very strongly for my stepdad. He treats me so nice unlike what we are all used to that stepmoms and stepdads are wicked. My stepdad is the best in the world. He pays my fees and that of my younger brother. He buys us everything and people hardly know hes not my biological dad. He married my mum when I was 12. My dad left for America when I was just 3 and my brother was just born. 9years later, he calls my mum to tell her to move on with her life that he has found and married the woman of his dreams over there and he doesnt think hell ever come back. My mom met this new man through her younger sis and they got married. I dont know exactly why Im sexually attracted to him. Its not like he has made any advance at me but I just love him and want to have sex with him. I have been looking for a perfect opportunity to tell him but I dont know how hell react and if hed tell my mom. Please advice me because I can no longer control how I feel for him. Hello everyone, this is the INFORMATION NIGERIA advice column, where readers send in their relationship issues and we try to advice them accordingly. So, if you are in a confusing situation, you can send it to editor@informationnigeria.org and we would gladly publish it so other readers can drop their advice while also keeping you anonymous. Controversial on-air personality (OAP), Daddy Freeze has attacked a pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, RCCG, for asking members of the church during a cross over service to buy comb and comb their hair forward and not backward. According to Freeze, the pastor told the members that by combing their hair forward, forwardness and not backwardness will be their portion. He wrote: Samson in the Bible had dreadlocks how would he have combed his hair backward or forward? All these demented doctrines by delusional dingbats that dont have a clue about Christianity Judges 16:13 If you weave the seven braids of my head into the fabric CNNs anchor, Isha Isatu Sesay, has faulted President Muhammadu Buharis statement on missing Dapchi School girls. Buhari in a statement on Friday confirming the abduction of the girls described the situation as a national disaster while assuring parents of safety of their wards. Reacting, Sesay via her tweets said the case of the missing girls was not a national disaster but a national disgrace. Her tweets read; Nigerias President#Buhari calls abduction of#DapchiGirls a national disaster. Thats an understatement its a national disgrace. More girls taken again?? Yobe, ChibokGirls. I want to live in a world where the lives of the #DapchiGirls are held to be just as important as those of kids in other places. A world where everyone is talking about schoolgirls being stolen by terrorists. Is that too much to ask ?Nigeria.. A doctor at Federal Medical Center,Ebute Meta Lagos has got herself trending online for urging Nigerian husbands to marry a second wife or extra wife (as the case may be) if they have the resources. According to her, marrying more wives is better than the irresponsible act of cheating on their wives with other ladies. Below is what Hauwa Ibrahim shared on Facebook; Dear men after being a responsible Husband, try marrying a second wife if you have the means, those with two should marry three and those with three should marry four! Thats a great Sunnah and its better than irresponsible act of chasing young girls out there.. I was 17 when we met through a mutual friend- she borrowed my phone to call him up and thats how he got my number. Soon afterwards, we started talking with each other, or I can say I was addicted to the charm in his voice, even though we had never met each other. Born and bought up in a patriarchal family with strict rules, he was the first man to come into my life. I told him about all my secrets and took him to every nook and corner of my life. I even opened my heart and shared the horrific sex exploitation that happened to me from a fatherly figure when I was a teen. I believed him so much that I even cut ties with my friends. He was the centre of my universe. We met in between, after some months and he made some sexual advances in the very first meeting. I felt that was completely normal. That day he told me that I should stop using heels since he is a little shorter than me and asked me to reduce my weight since I didnt look good. Those were the compliments I got when we met for the very first time. Things took a turn after some time. He wanted me to talk to him every time he felt like talking. If I accidentally fell asleep in the middle of the night on the call, he would call me back on the landline and wake up my entire family. My mother got suspicious after a while and one fine day, she caught me. She begged me to leave him, but I couldnt do that. Meanwhile, I joined in the very same college where he was studying so that we could make things work without the distance complicating it. That was the worst of it. He made me regret everything I did. He made sure that I made no friends there. He made me believe that I look like a whore because of the way I was sexually assaulted as a teenager. I had nobody to share this with and my life was living hell. He used to call me names, brand me as a slut. He even started to hit me whenever he felt like. Once when we were going back home on the bus, someone touched me inappropriately. When I told this to him, he said I deserved it because I looked like I was asking for it. Thats it. That was the last straw. I broke up with him immediately. But he was completely against the idea of breaking up. He apologized, cried, begged me but I was firm in saying that I didnt want him. We were studying the same course and he had a lot of backlogs to clear. So he had all my textbooks and notes. He threatened to never let me have them back if I refused to reconcile with him. He even started making up stories to slut-shame me. I never thought of going back to that hell. It has been 5 years now. Recently, I got a friend request from his new girlfriend. I found out from my friend that he is finally into a relationship after 2 years of me getting married to the love of my life. I dont know why she sent me a friend request. But all I want to wish her is this- let her not have to face all hell I had to face with him. Punch The Nigerian Army through the Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, the militarys anti-insurgency command in the North-East, on Monday, admitted that troops were redeployed from the Dapchi area before the abduction of the schoolgirls. Vanguard Chief James Ibori, former governor of Delta State, has said that Nigerians should be more concerned with whether the youths are ready to lead, rather than a mere generational shift at the nations helm of affairs. Thisday With Nigerians and the rest of the world still reeling over another major abduction of schoolgirls in the North-east, the Nigerian Army and the Police Force Monday engaged in a blame game over the abduction last week of the 110 girls from Government Science and Technical Girls College in Dapchi, Yobe State by Boko Haram insurgents. The Sun The failure of state governors to prioritize basic education of their citizens has been cited as one of the major causes of the fall in education standards in most regions of Nigeria. Daily Times A former Senator Anthony Agbo, who represented Ebonyi North Senatorial District in the National Assembly weekend, disclosed that over one hundred and fifty persons were in the last two years killed by cultists at Ngbo in Ohaukwu Local Council of Ebonyi State. Guardian The Lagos State police command yesterday paraded 70 suspected cultists including three alleged to be responsible for the death of a Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) official, Bolaji Monsuru. Daily Trust Leadership Senate President, Bukola Saraki, yesterday challenged the international community to collaborate more with the federal government in ending the menace of irregular migration and human trafficking in the country. The Nation To ensure that the All Progressives Congress (APC) remains dominant in the 2019 general election, President Muhammadu Buhari, last night, urged party members to bury the hatchet and work together. A Nigerian pastor Bishop Sam Zuga of the House of Joy Ministry in Benue state, has made a controversial statement on Facebook and this has made him come under fires from Nigerians. According to the Bishop, Muslims are better than Christians. This definitely did not go well with some Christians who believe the pastor himself is controversial enough to be considered a non-believer. Below is what he shared on his facebook page: WHY MUSLIMS ARE BETTER THAN CHRISTIANS. Mohammed was born in 571 AD, Jesus Christ is 571 years older than Mohammed, how come Muslims are competing with Christians in population? # people answer the name of Mohammed in the world more than Emmanuel. Quran have one version, you can only translate to another language, Bible has more than ten versions in English. Muslims pray 5 times in a day, some Christians pray once a week only in church, some dont even pray at all. Real Muslims read and know Bible more than many Christians but many Christian dont even have Bible. Muslims can pray in any mosque they see, Christians cant even step in some churches. The moment you are a Muslim, you can be accepted and shown love where Muslims are, Christians will ask you from which church? If you dont mention the name of his or her church, you are on your own. I have been accepted to offer free medical treatment exercise in many mosques and preached in many, many Muslims do attend my church programmes all over the world, some even come to our church headquarters in Gboko, Christians cant do that to a Muslim. The moment you mention God, a Muslim will believe you and give you attention, he will go ahead and introduce you to other Muslims and whatever he says about you they will believe him. When you mention God to a Christian, you become a suspect, they will call council of elders to interview you to know the type of God you are talking about, whether is a Catholic Church God, Anglican, Living Faith or Deeper life. Muslims have factions like Christians, but if you dont go deep into them, you will not know, but Christians condemned each other publicly. You cant hear about fake imams so rampant as you hear about fake pastors. When Muslims are fasting, the whole world will know, irrespective of the factions, it used to affect so many things, there is nothing in common among Christians all over the world, even in a small village. When a miracle is done in the name of Jesus, Muslims believe in God, some Christians will say is by the power of the devil. I was going to Keffi in Nassarawa state as a Christian preacher, Muslims sat under the sun from 10 am till I arrived by 5pm, nobody left even to go and urinate, because if you do, someone will occupy your space. I turned the city of Minna Niger state upside down, Muslims were at the forefront to welcome me. Chief Imam came to trade fair complex to welcome me, CAN chairman and his cabinet were not at the venue. Muslims knee down to worship, in many churches kneeling down, is an embarrassment. Muslims respect Christian clergymen, but Christians dont even respect their pastors. Muslims obey their leaders, whatever the Imam says, it is obeyed but Christians do argue with their pastors and even engage in fights sometimes. You cannot see Muslims Imams arguing Quran publicly like Christian pastors do argue Bible. People around Nigeria has been condemning what the man of God said. A Pastor, Anthony Olawale with the Mountain of Fire and Miracles (MFM) in Ikorodu, Lagos state who escaped death after the attack on him and his family by Badoo cultists on their home in July last year has slumped and died while running an errand for the church. This is happening 8 months after the attack from Badoo. One of his friends, Moshood Isamotu narrated how the event played out on Sunday Febuary 18th. His words: The grieving Orija Community had cause to gather at the residence of the late Pastor Anthony twice in the last one year. In June 2017 the family was in the news. On June 2, 2017 the dreaded Badoo cult had singled out his family for attack at their uncompleted bungalow located at Alhaji Obayemi Street, Lasunwom Estate, opposite Lagos State Poly, Ikorodu probably because of the vulnerability of their abode. By the time the killer cultists were done with his five-member family, he was left with a bruised, battered head and an unsettled mind. Though the Pastor was badly hit, the family was however lucky as no life was lost unlike in any other Badoo attack. His familys escape was strange really as the cultists are known to be merciless and sharp killers; they hardly miss their targets. No victim ever lived to narrate Badoo experience except Pastor Anthony. He received treatment for so long at the Lagos Island Hospital and I believed he was still receiving treatment before his final eclipse. But when the community gathered again at their residence last Sunday it was for a condolence. Pastor Anthony had answered to an invitation no mortal has control over when the time is up. Death! Death! Remembering the circumstances surrounding Pastor Olawales death, Isamotu wrote: His sunset gave no obvious inkling to the people around him and even to his family. A day before his sudden demise, he attended his Orija Community Development Association Landlords Meeting. He was the most visible, hyper-active and took up several duties. He played the role of the chief usher, welcomed people with his trade mark smiles, arranged seats, served refreshments and was later appointed to say the closing and his last prayers for the group; oblivious to himself and members that he was signing off and departing from them to eternity, leaving a parting memory. According to the wife, late Pastor Anthony woke up early as usual on his last day on earth, very excited and active. No sign that their beloved was on the very final stage of his life. As usual, he went straight to the Church, attached to his own house which he offered the MFM for the work of the Ministry. He said prayers, spoke in tongue and prepared the Church ready before other members arrived for what eventually turned to be his last service on earth. He bounded the devil and all forces of darkness that might want to disrupt the Service but like all mortals, he was limited in knowledge. He could not see and bound death that was to take him away in few hours. Along with other members he said the Service opening prayers as well but ironically never lived to share the grace in fellowship. He wrote in detail how he died saying, that morning, he was everywhere, vivacious, ensuring that all was well. He was said to be so dutiful as if he knew he would never have another opportunity and wanted to be caught in active service doing the Masters work. Members equally noticed the high spirit he exuded but none could decipher or smell death that was closing on their host brethren. The death of the pastor has brought distress among the church members during the church service. He was laid to rest on Tuesday, February 20, at his home. These are pancreatic cancer cells stained with live/dead fluorescence dyes, with live cells in green and dead cells in red. Pictured are control cells (top left), frozen cells (top right), heated cells (bottom left) and DTA treated cells (bottom right). Credit: Kenneth W Baumann A heating and freezing process known as dual thermal ablation can kill pancreatic cancer cells, according to new research from Binghamton University, State University at New York. The collaborative study, conducted by researchers from academia and industry and funded by grants from the National Cancer Institute, used pancreatic cancer cells to investigate the effect of heating and freezing on cell death. The research was conducted by Robert Van Buskirk and John Baust, professors of biological sciences and directors at Binghamton University's Institute of Biomedical Technology, and Kenneth Baumann, a graduate student studying biology. How do we solve the problem of pancreatic cancer when it comes to trying to get rid of the tumor, when chemo and radiation just simply doesn't work? said Van Buskirk. The whole idea is, can one come up with a different surgical intervention that's less invasive and more effective? In order to figure that out, you can commercially obtain pancreatic cancer cells and grow them on specialized plasticware, Van Buskirk said. The basic question is, are both freezing and heat in combination more effective than freezing or heat alone? If you freeze pancreatic cancer cells like you do in cryoablation, a lot of them die, but some will survive and regrow. If you heat them, they'll die, but again some will come back. But with dual-thermal ablation, for reasons that we do not yet understand, more die and don't come back. In fact, over time, cells that survive the initial insult continue to die. What we've observed is that we are able to achieve complete cell death using a combination of heating and then freezing at temperatures that alone would not be lethal to kill pancreatic cancer cells, said Baumann. Researchers heated and froze cancer cells and looked at the effect, using various technologies to determine the level of cell death, on regrowth as well as which cell stress pathways were activated. Using a variety of assays, we are able to determine the initial level of cell death as well as to what extent the surviving population is able to regrow, Baumann said. We were also able to determine the specific paths of cell death activated as a result of the dual thermal exposure. When cells are disturbedwhich means they are frozen or they see heatvarious cell stress pathways are activated, said Van Buskirk. The interesting thing about cells, especially cancer cells, is that they will activate pathways to protect themselves. The objective of this line of molecular-based research is to find out which stress pathways are activated in pancreatic cancer cells so that we can better understand why dual-thermal ablation appears to be more effective. Current studies are focused on elucidating which stress pathways specifically cause these cells to die or what is keeping them alive. That way, we can optimize this treatment to be as effective as possible against pancreatic cancer, Baumann said. According to Van Buskirk, modulating these stress pathways is the key to making the heating and freezing ablation process more effective. This could lead to the development of a new way to remove cancerous pancreatic tumors. In addition to the cell molecular research, several members of the study team are working on developing new catheter technologies to deliver this ablative therapy to patients. If a very thin catheter can be developed to target the tumor, and if we understand how pancreatic cancer responds to ablation at the molecular level, then we may be able to develop a new therapy to approach something that has been completely unapproachable, the targeted killing of a tumor in a very difficult place: the pancreas, said Van Buskirk. ### The article, Dual thermal ablation of pancreatic cancer cells as an improved combinatorial treatment strategy, was published in Liver and Pancreatic Sciences. Vancouver, British Columbia - February 27, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) SilverCrest Metals Inc. (TSXV: SIL.V; OTCQX: SVCMF) ("SilverCrest" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Tetra Tech Canada Inc. ("Tetra Tech") has completed its independent mineral resource estimation for the Las Chispas Property, located in Sonora, Mexico. Inferred Mineral Resources are estimated at 3.4 million tonnes grading 3.66 grams per tonne ("gpt") gold (or "Au") and 297 gpt silver (or "Ag"), or 572 gpt silver equivalent ("AgEq"; based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au) and 100% metallurgical recovery). The Inferred Resource Estimate contains 402,000 ounces gold and 32,650,000 ounces silver, or 62,800,000 ounces of AgEq, using a 150 gpt AgEq cut-off grade and minimum true vein width of 1.5 metres. N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng and CEO, remarked, "The delivery of this maiden resource estimate is a major milestone for SilverCrest Metals as we continue to systematically expand high-grade mineralization in the district and fast-track the advancement of Las Chispas. In late 2017, we were targeting a total resource number around 40 to 50 million ounces AgEq grading an estimated 500 gpt AgEq but with the recent multiple high-grade intercepts in Area 51, this target has been exceeded. Area 51 (near-surface Babicanora Vein extension) alone has an estimated 32.2 million contained AgEq ounces, grading an impressive 7.43 gpt Au and 469 gpt Ag, or 1,026 gpt AgEq and is open for potential expansion. The Area 51 resource is similar to the 1800s historic production from the adjacent Las Chispas Vein which was approximately 30 million ounce AgEq grading an estimated 15 gpt Au and 1,700 gpt Ag. With continued drilling success, the Company intends to complete an updated resource and plans to prepare a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") in H2 2018. Congratulations to our SilverCrest team, contractors, consultants and associated communities for making this impressive high-grade precious metal discovery and maiden resource possible." Note: 1. Conforms to NI 43-101, Companion Policy 43-101CP, and the Canadian Institution of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves adopted by CIM council, as amended. Inferred Resources have been estimated from geological evidence and limited sampling and must be treated with a lower level of confidence than Measured and Indicated Resources. 2. AgEq based on 75 (Ag):1 (Au) and 100% metallurgical recovery. 3. All numbers are rounded. 4. Babicanora resource includes the Babicanora Vein and Babicanora Footwall Vein, and Giovanni resource includes the La Blanquita extension and Gio-mini Vein. The mineral resource estimate is based on the Company's Phase I and II exploration programs and is classified as an Inferred Mineral Resources based on CIM Definition Standards. The effective date for the Inferred Resource Estimate is February 12, 2018. Depending on the vein, drill sections were spaced 25 to 75 metres along strike, with intercepts on each section averaging 50 metres apart down dip. Underground channel sampling for the Las Chispas and William Tell Veins is spaced from 2 to 10 metre centres along the back (roof) and side walls for drifts and stopes depending on access. The most significant components of the data, collected and validated by SilverCrest between April 2016 to February 2018, are results from 185 drill holes (46,127 metres), 2,895 dump samples, and 7,610 underground samples (6,647 metres). A majority of the resource is in unmined areas with only the Las Chispas, William Tell and Giovanni veins being partially mined out, and voids (stopes) being accounted for in resource estimation. Surveying of the historical underground workings were completed by Precision GPS S.A. DE C.V. Details of the drill core assays, as well as surface and underground sampling results, can be found in various press releases from March 2, 2016 to January 29, 2018. The resource remains open in several directions depending on which vein is considered. A technical report prepared by Tetra Tech in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101") will be filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com within 45 days. The Las Chispas resource estimate is based on the following key assumptions; a specific gravity of 2.55 was used based on test work; veins were modelled by SilverCrest to capture mineralization grade of 150 gpt AgEq, all assays were composited to 1 metre, grade capping strategy was applied to each vein where gold values were capped at between 4.2 to 61 gpt and silver values were capped at between 462 to 4,390; a 2 metre by 2 metre by 2 metre block size was used based on geological constraints and potential future mining method; variography and ordinary kriging were used to create both gold and silver block models where possible and inverse distance squared was used in all other cases; multiple interpolation passes were conducted in areas with both underground channel samples and core drilling data, block models were classified into Inferred Resources according to appropriate criteria based on geologic constraints, sample sets, and search radii. Details of these criteria will be presented in the technical report to be filed on SEDAR. The resource estimate is focused on an estimated 3.5 kilometres of approximately 12 known kilometres of cumulative vein strike length in the district. As planned, the Company's Phase III drilling in 2018 will focus on; (1) the Babicanora Vein, which includes Area 51, to fully test the additional known 1.5 kilometres of vein strike length; (2) of the nine veins that were drilled on, five were included in this resource, which the Company has only partially drilled tested; and (3) the ten other identified veins on the Las Chispas Property, which have not yet been drill tested. In-fill drilling will be considered later in 2018 to target the conversion of the Inferred Resource to the Indicated category. The Company intends to provide an updated resource estimate and plans to deliver a PEA in H2 2018. There is no certainty that these Inferred Mineral Resources will be converted to the Measured and Indicated categories through further drilling. Qualified Assurance Program and Quality Control Measures ("QA/QC") SilverCrest has implemented QA/QC protocols including insertion of duplicate, blank and standard samples in all drill holes and underground sampling. The samples were submitted directly to the ALS Chemex in Hermosillo, Mexico, for preparation and sent to ALS Chemex in North Vancouver, BC, Canada, for analysis. Additional duplicate test work has been conducted on mineralized samples to assess variability of coarse reject and pulp samples. A Tetra Tech independent qualified person visited the Las Chispas Property between August 29-September 2, 2016, January 15-19, 2017, and November 21-22, 2017. Independent sampling was completed. Tetra Tech has reviewed the QA/QC work completed by SilverCrest and believes the database is reliable for estimating Mineral Resources. Qualified Person The Mineral Resources for the Las Chispas Property disclosed in this news release have been estimated by P. James F. Barr, P. Geo., Senior Geologist and Team Lead Geology for Tetra Tech Canada Inc. and independent of SilverCrest. Mr. Barr is a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101. The Mineral Resources have been classified in accordance with CIM Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves, adopted by CIM council, as amended. Mr. Barr has read and approved the contents of this press release as it pertains to the disclosed mineral resource estimate. ABOUT SilverCrest Metals INC. SilverCrest is a Canadian precious metals exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, that is focused on new discoveries, value-added acquisitions and targeting production in Mexico's historic precious metal districts. The Company's current focus is on the high-grade, historic Las Chispas mining district in Sonora, Mexico. SilverCrest is the first company to successfully drill-test the historic Las Chispas Project resulting in numerous discoveries. The Company is led by a proven management team in all aspects of the precious metal mining sector, including taking projects through discovery, finance, on time and on budget construction, and production. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. These include, without limitation, statements with respect to: the strategic plans, timing and expectations for the Company's exploration, rehabilitation and drilling programs of the Las Chispas Property, including preparation of an updated mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment; information with respect to high grade areas and size of veins projected from underground sampling results and drilling results; the accessibility of future mining at the Las Chispas Property; and the filing of a NI 43-101 technical report within 45 days. Such forward looking statements or information are based on a number of assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things: the conditions in general economic and financial markets; availability of skilled labour; timing and amount of expenditures related to rehabilitation and drilling programs; and effects of regulation by governmental agencies. The actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risk factors including: the timing and content of work programs; results of exploration activities; the interpretation of drilling results and other geological data; receipt, maintenance and security of permits and mineral property titles; environmental and other regulatory risks; project cost overruns or unanticipated costs and expenses; and general market and industry conditions. Forward-looking statements are based on the expectations and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. The assumptions used in the preparation of such statements, although considered reasonable at the time of preparation, may prove to be imprecise and, as such, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statements were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements included in this news release if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as otherwise required by applicable law. N. Eric Fier, CPG, P.Eng Chief Executive Officer SilverCrest Metals Inc. For Further Information: SilverCrest Metals Inc. Contact: Fred Cooper, Investor Relations Telephone: +1 (604) 694-1730 Fax: +1 (604) 357-1313 Toll Free: 1-866-691-1730 (Canada & USA) Email: info@silvercrestmetals.com Website: www.silvercrestmetals.com 570 Granville Street, Suite 501 Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3P1 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. More disclaimer info: http://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Disclosure: Investorideas.com is compensated by SilverCrest Metals Inc for annual news publishing effective January 2017. Additional info regarding BC Residents and global Investors: Effective September 15 2008 - all BC investors should review all OTC and Pink sheet listed companies for adherence in new disclosure filings and filing appropriate documents with Sedar. Read for more info: http://www.bcsc.bc.ca/release.aspx?id=6894. Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. VANCOUVER, British Columbia - February 26, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc. (TSX-V:DMGI) ("DMG" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that Phase 1 of its state-of-the-art cryptocurrency mining facility is nearly complete and ready to add power as well as infrastructure for more capacity for cryptocurrency miners. DMG's facility is expected to accommodate a total power capacity of up to 85 megawatts with near-term expectations of 40 megawatts by mid-2018. DMG's crypto mining facilities and power access will be used for its Mining-as-a-Service (MaaS) clients and for DMG's own use. This hybrid approach allows DMG to scale at a faster pace than a pure mining model, optimizing the use of its recently raised capital - it balances the capital requirements and high returns of the traditional mining model with the low capital intensity and calculable revenue generation of the MaaS model. "DMG's team has extensive experience working on industrial scale cryptocurrency mining and blockchain projects. Together with experienced local partners, we have access to the personnel, expertise, equipment, and power to expand our flagship facility to accommodate more miners for our MaaS customers and for ourselves," said Daniel Reitzik, CEO and Director of DMG. Sheldon Bennett, DMG's COO added, "We believe this new facility will not only be one of the largest in North America in terms of electrical power capacity, but also it will employ proven technologies to improve the efficiency of mining. The collective support from local government, specialized contractors and British Columbia's power providers has helped greatly to expedite this large project." A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/477b81d2-d6ac-4c95-abaa-27ddd6197e9b *This photo is a section of DMG's flagship facility that is being set up for additional miners. About DMG DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc. is a diversified blockchain and cryptocurrency company that manages, operates and develops end-to-end solutions to monetize the blockchain ecosystem. DMG intends to be the global leader in bitcoin mining hosting - Mining as a Service (MaaS), bitcoin mining, blockchain forensics/analytics, and blockchain platform development. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Daniel Reitzik, CEO & Director For further information, please contact: DMG Blockchain Solutions Inc. Investor Relations: John Martin Toll Free: 1-888-702-0258 Email: investors@dmgblockchain.com Web: www.dmgblockchain.com Direct: 778-868-6470 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations. Statements about the Company's plans and intentions, other potential transactions, the expansion and build-out of the flagship facility, adding more megawatts of power, product development, events, courses of action, and the potential of the Company's technology and operations, among others, are all forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions; the ability to manage operating expenses, which may adversely affect the Company's financial condition; the ability to remain competitive as other better financed competitors develop and release competitive products; regulatory uncertainties; access to equipment; market conditions and the demand and pricing for products; the demand and pricing of bitcoins; security threats, including a loss/theft of DMG's bitcoins; DMG's relationships with its customers, distributors and business partners; the inability to add more power to DMG's facilities; DMG's ability to successfully define, design and release new products in a timely manner that meet customers' needs; the ability to attract, retain and motivate qualified personnel; competition in the industry; the impact of technology changes on the products and industry; failure to develop new and innovative products; the ability to successfully maintain and enforce our intellectual property rights and defend third-party claims of infringement of their intellectual property rights; the impact of intellectual property litigation that could materially and adversely affect the business; the ability to manage working capital; and the dependence on key personnel. DMG may not actually achieve its plans, projections, or expectations. Such statements and information are based on numerous assumptions regarding present and future business strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future, including the demand for its products, the ability to successfully develop software, that there will be no regulation or law that will prevent the Company from operating its business, anticipated costs, the ability to achieve goals and the price of bitcoin. Given these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. There can be no assurance that DMG will add additional megawatts of power to its flagship facility or that it will add additional cryptocurrency miners to its flagship facility. The securities of DMG are considered highly speculative due to the nature of DMG's business. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, failure to obtain regulatory approval, the continued availability of capital and financing, equipment failures, lack of supply of equipment, power and infrastructure, failure to obtain any permits required to operate the business, the impact of technology changes on the industry, competition, security threats including stolen bitcoins from DMG or its customers, consumer sentiment towards DMG's products, services and blockchain technology generally, failure to develop new and innovative products, litigation, increase in operating costs, increase in equipment and labor costs, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, government regulations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Service Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Washington, DC - February 27, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The Powershares Aerospace & Defense ETF (NYSEarca: PPA) has joined the exclusive ETF club of funds with more than $1 billion of assets under management. Launched in 2005, the ETF fund tracks the SPADE Defense Index (ticker: DXS)a passive investment benchmark composed of more than 50 firms deemed systematically important to the defense sector and includes companies involved with the manufacture of aircraft, naval vessels, missiles, anti-missile systems, and ground vehicles; information technology including command and control, reconnaissance, surveillance, big data, and cybersecurity; space systems; and border and national security efforts. The SPADE Defense Index has outperformed the S&P500 in each of the last 6 years and in 15 of the past 18. Since the turn of the century, the Index has increased by 584.57% vs just 87% for the broader market. This translates to a $10,000 investment in a fund tracking the SPADE Defense Index (compounded before fees) being worth $63,560 at the beginning of 2018 vs. $18,193 for one tracking the broader US market. Fueling these recent gains, which have seen assets into PPA quadruple over the past two years, is a convergence of an upgrade supercycle for commercial airplanes, strength in defense spending, and an increase in international/foreign military sales. Boeing (NYSE: GD) alone has seen its stock price triple in the past 20 months. According to SPADE Indexes, the sector remains in a position to see sustained growth as each of these three trends are expected to continue for some time. The recent planned acquisition by General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) of CSRA, the former public sector division of CSC that merged with SRA, indicates that IT-related activities which have underperformed in recent years may be returning to favor. This should benefit to investors in PPA as the SPADE Defense Index includes exposure in this area and has the most diversified market cap holdings in the category. The SPADE Defense Index (NYSE: ^DXS) is a modified capitalization-weighted index comprised of publicly traded companies that benchmarks the performance of companies involved with defense, homeland security, and space. The Index is composed of more than 50 firms with representative business activities including: naval vessels, military aircraft, missiles and munitions, battlespace awareness, C4ISR, network centric warfare, homeland security including border security and biometric and screening systems, and space systems. Index values are distributed by the NYSE/ICE Data Services under the ticker 'DXS'. The InvescoPowershares Aerospace & Defense ETF, designed to track the SPADE Defense Index, trades under the ticker 'PPA'. Historical data for the Index is available from 30 December 1997. The ETF was launched on 26 October 2005. Website: www.spadeindex.com/defense Contact info: Michael Stolack info@spadeindex.com This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire News that Inspires big ideas Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investment involves risk and possible loss of investment. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Contact each company directly regarding content and press release questions. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. More disclaimer info: http://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp. Disclosure this news is a paid for news release on the Investorideas.com newswire Learn more about costs and our newswire service http://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ VANCOUVER, BC - February 27, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction kicked off the 40th Vancouver International Wine Festival on February 24 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver with a spectacular evening of wine and food, topped by a thrilling live auction. Live and silent auctions raised $205,000, while the sold-out raffle for two Delta One International Business Class tickets, donated by Delta Air Lines, raised an additional $20,000. Net proceeds of this annual fundraiser benefit charitable partner Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival. "The Gala was absolutely marvelous and all of us at Bard say a heartfelt thank you to those who attended, and the team that created it," said Christopher Gaze, artistic director of Bard on the Beach. "The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver provided a truly dramatic and elegant backdrop. The wonderful chair of the Gala, Stephanie Hungerford, along with MC Chris Gailus of Global BC, made sure the night was great fun. It was everything a successful Gala should be - full of laughter, excitement, superb wines and an exquisite gourmet menu. The funds raised will do remarkable things for our Bard Education programs and I'm so thrilled that this generous support will help us reach thousands of young people across British Columbia." The sold-out gala began with a sparkling Cava reception and an opportunity to bid on a fantastic range of wines in the One Bid auction. Following the reception, guests savoured nine spectacular wines paired with five inventive courses created by the Fairmont's executive chef, Cameron Ballendine, that took guests on a culinary journey to the Iberian Peninsula. Throughout dinner, guests were able to place their bids using electronic tablets on silent auction lots of unique and rare wines, while Master of Ceremonies Chris Gailus kept the evening flowing. During the dinner, Jana Maclagan, past Gala chair, hosted the exciting Live Auction, which featured once-in-a-lifetime wine lots and spectacular packages. Live Auction bidding proved so competitive that several lots sold twice, including a dinner for 10 at the Vancouver Club with Christopher Gaze and members of the Bard Company for $6,000 each; and the Sip & Savour weekend in the Okanagan at Vanessa Vineyard and Spirit Ridge Resort for $9,000 and $8,000. A last-minute donation from the floor of a private jet to a Seattle Seahawks game plus dinner for two went for $6,500, while Whistler's Bearfoot Bistro stepped up with a Champagne and Caviar dinner for 10 that raised more than $10,000. In total, the live and silent auctions raised nearly $205,000. The sold-out raffle for two Delta One International Business Class tickets, donated by Delta Air Lines, raised an additional $20,000. "The energy at Saturday's Bacchanalia Gala was nothing short of exhilarating," said Stephanie Hungerford, chair of the Bacchanalia Gala committee. "The fantastic partnership between the Vancouver International Wine Festival and Bard on the Beach is rare and wonderful. Together, the two organizations help raise money for Bard's educational programs, which I believe would make Shakespeare and Bacchus very proud!" Net proceeds from the 2018 festival, contributed to Bard on the Beach, will be announced at VIWF's fiscal year-end and in conjunction with the opening of the Bard on the Beach season in June. The 2019 Bacchanalia Gala is scheduled for Saturday, February 23, 2019. Bacchanalia Gala Dinner Wines: Juve y Camps Reserva de la Familia Brut Nature Cava 2014, Penedes, Spain Duckhorn Vineyards Napa Valley Sauvignon Blanc 2016, California, USA Jean-Luc Colombo Amour de Dieu Condrieu 2016, Rhone Valley, France Francois Martenot Chartron et Trebuchet La Chapelle Pouilly-Fuisse 2016, Burgundy, France La Crema Yamhill-Carlton Pinot Noir 2015, Oregon, USA Vivanco Coleccion 4 Varietales Rioja 2014, La Rioja, Spain Suvla Single Vineyard Bozokbag Reserve Syrah 2011, Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae Malbec 2013, Mendoza, Argentina Bodegas Tridente Rejon Tempranillo 2014, Castilla y Leon, Spain Graham's 20 Year Old Tawny Port, Douro, Portugal Stay in Touch: For more information, go to VanWineFest.ca and sign up for VanWineFest E-News. Facebook & Instagram: /VanWineFest Twitter: follow @VanWineFest for news on tickets and sold-out events. Join the conversation at #VIWF. ABOUT VANCOUVER INTERNATIONAL WINE FESTIVAL Canada's premier wine show marks its 40th edition of pairing wine, food and the performing arts from February 24 to March 4, 2018. The festival features Wines from Spain and Portugal and showcases 173 wineries from 15 countries (including 38 wineries from Spain and 20 from Portugal) pouring 1,450+ wines at 51 events to a projected 25,000 admissions. The Bacchanalia Gala Dinner + Auction opened the festival on Saturday, February 24 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver; it is sponsored by Nicola Wealth Management. The Trade Days Conference runs Wednesday, February 28 to Friday, March 2. The festival has been named the #1 Food, Wine & Hospitality Event in Canada by New York's BizBash for five years running. The festival is produced by the Vancouver International Wine Festival Society, which has three mandates: provide an informative, educational and entertaining wine experience for public and trade; be a premier marketing opportunity for the wine industry and festival partners; and raise funds for the Bard on the Beach Theatre Society. Since 1979, the festival has raised $9 million for the performing arts. Major sponsors are Delta Air Lines and the Vancouver Sun; major industry partners are the BC Liquor Distribution Branch, BC Liquor Stores, Import Vintners & Spirits Association, and Tourism Vancouver. The festival is made possible through the gracious support of our participating countries' consulates and embassies. ABOUT BARD ON THE BEACH SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL Celebrating its 29th season in 2018, Bard on the Beach is one of Canada's largest not-for-profit, professional Shakespeare festivals. It is presented on the waterfront in Kitsilano's Vanier Park, adjacent to Vancouver's downtown core. Bard on the Beach offers Shakespeare plays, related dramas and popular special events in two performance tents every June through September. In 2017, attendance was over 100,000 and more than 1.6 million patrons have experienced Bard since its inception. This year's Festival dates are June 6 to September 22, 2018, and the lineup includes As You Like It, Macbeth, Timon of Athens and a new Bard-commissioned adaptation of the Greek classic Lysistrata. Bard also offers a range of education programs, including Young Shakespeareans camps and workshops for 8 to 18 year-olds at its Vanier Park site during the summer, and Riotous Youth for 19 to 24-year-olds. During the school term, Bard also offers workshops for educators and youth in schools and community centres throughout BC's Lower Mainland, as well as at its administrative home, the BMO Theatre Centre (162 West 1st Avenue). Full details and education program information are at bardonthebeach.org. MEDIA CONTACT: Anna McDonald Milk Creative Communications T: 604-314-5018 E: anna@thinkmilk.ca BeverageStocks.com - investing ideas in food and beverage stocks including wine and beer stocks Like Beverage Stocks? View our Beverage Stocks Directory More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Vancouver, British Columbia - February 27, 2018 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTC Pink: RYES) ("Rise" or the "Company") is pleased to announce significant findings of its ongoing research of the Idaho-Maryland ("I-M") Gold Project. The Company recently located important documents at the Sacramento State University Library related to the I-M Mine which provide insight into the recent exploration results and targets of upcoming exploration drilling. The Company previously announced the assay results from drill hole B-17-01 ("the Drillhole"), the first drill hole of the exploration drilling program at the I-M Mine (see Rise news release of Jan. 3, 2018). The Drillhole intersected the Brunswick #1 Vein (the "B1 Vein") approximately 50 m below the B1600 level at a depth of ~540 m below surface and assayed 12.2 gpt gold over 14.9 m (7.8 m est. true width) including 63 gpt gold over 2.7 m (1.4 m est. true width). Numerous historic records indicate that very high gold values typically occur in quartz veins at the I-M Mine. In extreme cases, the ore was sufficiently valuable that it required bank vault protection prior to processing. An article in the Nevada City Morning Union in 1926 describes that portions of quartz being mined at the I-M were estimated to run $4 to $5 per pound which is the equivalent of 441 oz per ton gold (15,130 gpt). However, historic maps, reports, and detailed geological records do not reveal any information that indicate substantial amounts of the gold being mined from the vein wall rock. Recent research has confirmed that the historic operators were almost exclusively focussed on gold hosted in quartz veins and commonly left non-quartz material either unbroken in the stope walls or used the material as mine back-fill. Research also shows that grade control was done visually rather than by assay data from the underground workings. Recent drilling by the Company has revealed that significant gold values occur in the wall rock adjacent to the quartz veins. The andesite in the footwall of the B1 Vein "Center Vein" assayed 266 gpt (7.8 oz per ton) gold over 0.6 m. In the Second Intercept, located at approximately 930 m below surface, the andesite adjacent to the quartz stringers assayed 40.6 gpt (1.2 oz per ton) gold over 1.5 m. A photo of the drill core from the Center Vein intercept is shown in Figure 1 below. Figure 1 - Core Photo of B1 "Center Vein" This presence of significant gold values in andesite has important consequences for exploration at the I-M Mine. The Brunswick #1 Vein has become an important exploration target due to the excellent Drillhole intercepts and the confirmation from historic exploration drifting that this vein continues at least to the B2300 level. The Brunswick #1 Vein is one of dozens of known veins at the Idaho-Maryland Mine. In most cases, the historic operator reported drill core sample assay results for only intersections of quartz and rarely conducted sampling of the adjacent material. If there are important gold values in the adjacent wall rock, the historic drilling would have greatly underreported the overall gold content of the mineralized structures tested. The B1 Vein Set, with three sub-parallel veins and two sections of internal waste, averaged 12.2 gpt gold over 14.9 m with an estimated true width of 7.8 m. The presence of closely spaced veins and gold values in andesite present an opportunity to discover mineral zones of widths suitable for high productivity mechanized mining methods. More drill testing and assay data is necessary to confirm if this style of gold distribution is common throughout the mineralized gold veins at the I-M Mine. The Company expects to provide further updates on the planned exploration drilling program at the Idaho-Maryland Mine over the coming weeks. Engineering & Mining Journal - January 1947 The Company recently located an article (the "Article") in the Sacramento State University Library written by Rollin Farmin in January 19471. Rollin Farmin worked at the Idaho-Maryland Mine from 1933-1947 and held the roles of Chief Geologist and Chief Engineer from 1933-1945 and Assistant General Manager from 1945-1947. The Article describes the mining methods used at the Idaho-Maryland Mine and confirms that the historic operators were almost exclusively focussed on gold hosted in quartz. The Article confirms that the miners left non-quartz material in the walls of the stope whenever possible stating "As a rule, the hanging-wall of the vein is not broken either in the drifts or raises". The Article further confirms that the miners viewed non-quartz material as waste. The Article describes a horizontal cut-and-fill mining method where blasted andesite wall rock was left in place to provide backfill for the stopes. After blasting, the ore was washed with water so that the miners could visually identify quartz. The miners would then hand-shovel quartz bearing rock into timber chutes for transportation to the process plant. The non-quartz bearing rock would be left in place and used as fill as mining progressed upwards on the vein. Letter to President Oliver - March 1948 The Company located a letter (the "Letter") in the I-M database written by the Mine General Manger to the President of Idaho Maryland Mines Corporation in March 19482. The Letter confirms that the historic operators mined primarily on a visual basis rather than relying on assays from mine sampling. The letter discusses the calculation of reserves at the Brunswick Mine. The Manager states, to the President, in this letter that "No attempt has been made to assign a dollar value to the Brunswick Ore Reserves, since sampling can show only general trends in ore tenor". He further states, "It has been fairly well established that the coincident mining of many widely separated veins produces a fairly consistent flow of "high grade" gold generally indeterminate by underground sampling". About Rise Gold Corp Rise is an exploration-stage mining company. The Company's principal asset is the historic past producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA. The Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine is one of the United States' greatest past producing gold mines with total past production of 2,414,000 oz of gold from 1866-1955. Rise is a US corporation incorporated in Nevada, USA and maintains its head office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Benjamin Mossman President, CEO and Director Rise Gold Corp. For further information, please contact: RISE GOLD CORP Suite 488, 1090 West Georgia Street Vancouver, BC V6E 3V7 T: 604.260.4577 info@risegoldcorp.com www.risegoldcorp.com Benjamin Mossman, P.Eng, CEO of Rise Gold Corp, is the Qualified Person responsible for the technical content of this news release. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, obtaining all necessary approvals, meeting expenditure and financing requirements, compliance with environmental regulations, title matters, operating hazards, metal prices, political and economic factors, competitive factors, general economic conditions, relationships with vendors and strategic partners, governmental regulation and supervision, seasonality, technological change, industry practices, and one-time events that may cause actual results, performance or developments to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. Rise undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. 1 Farmin, Rollin. "Narrow Vein Problem Solved by Scraper-Slot Stoping." Engineering and Mining Journal - Vol. 148, No.1. (1947): 74-76. Print. 2 O'Donnell, Neil. Letter to E. L Oliver, President. "RE: Idaho Maryland Mines Corporation Operations Report for December, 1947". (1948). More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp February 27, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The Critical Investor provides an update on this company's new geologic model of its Quebec gold project. Chevrier Gold project; core shack Main Zone After having completed a 10,150m 58-hole drill program on the Main Zone, plus 25 new trenches and re-sampling of 11 historic cores, it seems that Genesis Metals Corp. (GIS:TSX.V; GGISF:OTC) is well on its way to get more insight in the complex geology of Chevrier, therefore an update is warranted. Follow-up drilling on a new Main Zone extension is about to commence in this spring, and a maiden resource estimate is scheduled for Q3, 2018. On top of that, the company is contemplating drilling other geological targets as well, as the property has abundant exploration potential. All presented tables are my own material, unless stated otherwise. All pictures are company material, unless stated otherwise. All currencies are in U.S. Dollars, unless stated otherwise. 2. Background summary Genesis Metals is a Canadian exploration and development company that developed a new geologic model for its fully owned flagship Chevrier Gold deposit in Chibougamau, Quebec, and is hopefully further proving it up by a 2018 phase drill program, and also owns the October Gold property in Ontario, located in the vicinity of and on trend with Goldcorp's Borden Lake deposit and Iamgold's Cote Lake deposit, which isn't a priority at the moment. The management team is built around a lot of players of the Underworld Resources story, that got bought out for $138M. Genesis Metals currently has 74.8M shares outstanding (fully diluted 104.85M), 22.5M warrants (the majority is due @C$0.20 or more) and several option series to the tune of 7.225M options in total, which gives it a market capitalization of just C$7.48M based on a share price of C$0.10. Management and advisors hold about 12%; other large shareholders are Delbrook (10%), Eric Sprott (7%), Osisko (6%) and U.S. Global (5%), in total about 50% is in strong hands. The company has about C$750k cash in the treasury at the moment. Share price; 1 year time frame After initial disappointment on misses on the IP/exploration targets outside the Main Zone, and tax-loss selling in November and December 2017, the stock had a rough time, but recovered somewhat at the beginning of 2018, only to give back most gains on recent market/metals volatility. An updated resource estimate is planned for Q3, 2018. This should be able to move things, as the current market cap is tiny and would implicate undervaluation according to peers. Chevrier Gold project A quick recap: The Chevrier Gold project is located in the very prolific Abitibi Greenstone Belt, which has seen over 170Moz of gold production until now, and is host to some of the largest gold mines of Canada, like Canadian Malartic and Detour Lake. The Chevrier land package consists of 120square kilometer approximately 35 kilometers South West of Chibougamau, which has an airport and highway. The property has ideal infrastructure with direct road access, and a powerline runs within the claim boundaries, so the cheapest power of Canada (a huge advantage of Quebec, besides a 25% tax refund on exploration costs) comes at no additional costs, and road construction isn't necessary either. Chevrier Gold project; location/infrastructure The former owner of Chevrier had the 2010 NI-43-101 compliant resource estimate completed by Met-Chem, which resulted in an Inferred resource of 4.6Mt @1.99g.t Au >295koz gold for the Chevrier Main Zone deposit. Met-Chem also came up with a 3D model for Chevrier South, which allowed an estimate of a tonnage and grade of mineralized material potentially present at Chevrier South: 8.5-9.0Mt @1.8 - 2.2g/t Au. Management estimates it will take about 20 drill holes to upgrade South to a 43-101 compliant resource estimate. By using the average numbers, this might generate a hypothetical 559koz gold for the Chevrier South deposit. Taking this a bit further, both deposits together would add up to a hypothetical 854koz Au, and most of it is within reach of an open pit depth (<-150m), so at least the average grade seems to have a decent chance on becoming economic, as often open pit operations comparable to this (still hypothetic) project are already economic at 1.2-1.4g/t Au. The Main Zone deposit, is open to the north and at depth. Another subject for profitability of an open pit operation is the strip ratio (ratio of waste to ore), and this is very roughly speaking 5:1 @$1250-1300/oz Au @1g/t Au. It is hard to say at this early stage what the eventual strip ratio will be. Although strip ratio is hard to guesstimate right now, management does believe there is more continuity in the mineralized structures, when compared to the old model. So far it has been a quest to look for the right structural controls. Summarizing the concept of Met-Chem again: "The interpreted geometry of the mineralized zones suggests the presence of a series of sub-vertical mineralized shoots with short strike lengths related with the fold noses of the re-folded fold interpreted by Met-Chem. This interpretation is confirmed by the study completed by Murgor on the adjacent property that indicated a clear relationship between the fold hinges and the gold mineralization (Press Release of September 24, 2009). As an alternate interpretation, the discontinuous and persistent mineralized structures might be accounted for by long-lived mineralizing event. The early stage mineralization would have been disrupted and contorted by subsequent tectonic events, whereas later in the history, the mineralizing fluids were injected into newly formed shears that escaped deformation. However, Met-Chem believes the control on mineralization by folds is more likely, considering the short lateral continuity of the shoots." Genesis management has worked on alternative models for mineralization, which it will publish soon. The company has identified key controls to gold mineralization within the main zone: gold essentially correlates with higher percentages of veins that are themselves hosted in a larger sheared zone characterized by mylonitic texture and strong ankerite-fuchsite-tourmaline-silica alteration. I added most highlighted drill results in the following map in order to show the significant variance in results: The holes without further specification often had low grade narrow vein results, as can be seen here: As the results at the Southern part of the Main Zone (holes GM-17-41 to GM-17-46, shown in the next table) were successful as extension stepout holes, management expects to add ounces here and will look into further drilling at this part of the Main Zone first. The geologists think that the northern part of the Main Zone could also be able to add more ounces, and also contemplate about investigating deeper lying mineralized structures at both northern and southern parts. Genesis management is looking to follow up on these extensions of the Main Zone with minimum 5,000 meters of drilling. According to the news release of January 22, 2018, two new extensions have been discovered: "- Holes GM-17-45 and GM-17-46 were drilled to test for extensions to Hole GM-17-09 (2.94 g/t Au over 37.40m previously reported in Company news release dated October 3, 2017). This drilling has identified a new north-east trending shallow extension of mineralization encountered in Hole GM-17-09. Similarly, the results from Holes GM-17-41 and GM-17-44 define a new deeper south west extension of the mineralization encountered in GM-17-09. This large and well mineralized zone now appears to be defined over a distance of more than 300m. This zone is a priority for geological modeling. - The results from the highlighted holes would suggest an area of shallow higher grade mineralization has been defined and still remains open at depth in the southern part of the Main Zone." Hole GM-17-42 was an outlier to the upside, and keep in mind the mineralized intervals were determined using a 0.5 g/t cut-off which is higher than the used cut-off in the 3D Model. True width is estimated to be 65% of the reported intercepts: It is a good thing this newly discovered mineralization is relatively near surface and high grade at decent intervals, and according to management relatively continuous, so this could bode well for an eventual starter pit in this area. Using a lower cut-off grade could probably have a significant positive impact on the number of ounces, as a lot of assays are low grade according to the 2010 resource estimate: Chevrier Main Zone deposit; distribution of gold in ppb (1000ppb = 1g/t) It looks like about 50% of total assays <1g/t Au are left out of the current resource, and with a cut-off of for example 0.5g/t instead of the used 1g/t this could already add about 20% of total assays, which are now left out. This could hypothetically increase the resource with 40%, which could bring the current Inferred resource of 295koz Au to 413koz Au. The same hypothetical concept goes for the South Deposit: Chevrier South Zone; distribution of gold in ppb (1000ppb = 1g/t) It looks like South could gain a potential 30% of total assays at a 0.5g/t cut-off grade, resulting in upgrading the hypothetical 559koz Au resource into a 1.12Moz Au resource. By simply proving up the Met-Chem estimates and using a lower cut-off, total ounces could go from 854koz Au to a hypothetical 1.53Moz Au, of course at a lower grade. So rehashing the current plans a bit: Genesis Metals is first contemplating about a drill program of 5,000m to extend the high grade parts of the Main Zone. A quick status update on the October Gold property: Genesis Metals originally wanted to look for a JV partner, but management currently feels that this property has more value, and has completed the property wide compilation of historical work, which will guide them on the next round of exploration work to upgrade potential targets. 4. Upside potential As I did in my first article on this company, a peer comparison is probably the best method to get a first idea of valuation. This method is far from perfect as I keep stating, as every single company has a unique set of parameters and should actually be analyzed in full and normalized as far as this is possible of course, and EV doesn't say anything about profitability, high capex, jurisdiction etc., but with some comments to go with such a peer comparison it provides at least an indication. The list with companies changed a bit compared to last time, leaving out for example a junior with an underground deposit: For comparison I used a hypothetical 0.85Moz resource for Genesis Metals, as if the South Zone would have been hypothetically delineated to Inferred. When management would indeed prove up my estimated 1.5Moz in total, the EV/oz would drop to about 3, which is clearly way below any competitor. Although most others are more advanced, an EV of $3 per oz Au is very cheap for a 1+Moz deposit, which has a decent chance of being economic as a mostly open pit operation. It's up to management now, to prove up as many ounces as they can. 5. Conclusion Although Genesis Metals doesn't have the easiest task at hand, as the Chevrier Main and South Zone both have complex geology, it looks like verification drilling at the Main Zone not only proved up the historic drilling used for the 2010 resource estimate, but also indicated new, shallow and high grade zones, with possibly deeper located additional potential, which all might be eligible of adding economic ounces. Further exploration on multiple adjacent targets is the ongoing wildcard of the Genesis story, but the resource update will probably be the big catalyst for this year. October Gold project I hope you will find this article interesting and useful, and will have further interest in my upcoming articles on mining. To never miss a thing, please subscribe to my free newsletter on my website www.criticalinvestor.eu, and follow me on Seekingalpha.com, in order to get an email notice of my new articles soon after they are published. Disclaimer: The author is not a registered investment advisor, and currently has a long position in this stock. Genesis Metals is a sponsoring company. All facts are to be checked by the reader. For more information go to www.genesismetalscorp.com and read the companys profile and official documents on www.sedar.com, also for important risk disclosures. This article is provided for information purposes only, and is not intended to be investment advice of any kind, and all readers are encouraged to do their own due diligence, and talk to their own licensed investment advisors prior to making any investment decisions. Chevrier Gold project; trenching The Critical Investor is a newsletter and comprehensive junior mining platform, providing analysis, blog and newsfeed and all sorts of information about junior mining. The editor is an avid and critical junior mining stock investor from The Netherlands, with an MSc background in construction/project management. Number cruncher at project economics, looking for high quality companies, mostly growth/turnaround/catalyst-driven to avoid too much dependence/influence of long term commodity pricing/market sentiments, and often looking for long term deep value. Getting burned in the past himself at junior mining investments by following overly positive sources that more often than not avoided to mention (hidden) risks or critical flaws, The Critical Investor learned his lesson well, and goes a few steps further ever since, providing a fresh, more in-depth, and critical vision on things, hence the name. Streetwise Reports Disclosure: 1) The Critical Investor's disclosures are listed above. 2) The following companies mentioned in the article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. 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Images and charts provided by The Critical Investor More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp February 26, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Advanced energy innovation will be on display May 2- 4 in Denver, Colorado, when 30 small businesses present their business cases to a panel of investors and industry experts as the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) hosts its annual Industry Growth Forum (IGF). Ten startups focused geographically on emerging markets also will present during the second iteration of Emerging Markets Day on May 2. Entrepreneurs, investors and industry experts get together in the one-on-one networking session at the 2017 Industry Growth Forum in Denver. Advanced energy innovation will be on display May 2- 4 in Denver, Colorado, when 30 small businesses present their business cases to a panel of investors and industry experts as the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) hosts its annual Industry Growth Forum (IGF). Ten startups focused geographically on emerging markets also will present during the second iteration of Emerging Markets Day on May 2. The presenting startups, selected through a competitive application and review process, will compete for the 2018 NREL Clean Energy Venture Awards. The Industry Growth Forum is regarded as one of the nation's premier clean energy investment events. NREL's unique, interactive approach makes the forum a must-attend event for the clean energy business and investment community. The Industry Growth Forum is celebrating the 30th Forum this year. The focus will be on its history as well as an outlook for the next 30 years, with a heavy emphasis on partnerships. The event tagline this year is #Connection #Collaboration #Community. NREL Associate Lab Director and Director of Innovation Partnering & Outreach, Bill Farris, looks to the IGF as "a way to get a real-time snapshot of what's happening in the cleantech investment space." The IGF is essentially funded by the private sector through sponsorship and admission, which begs the question: why does NREL put on this event each year? As Farris reflects, "We do this because it's important to fulfilling our mission. We're at the intersection of entrepreneurs and investors; and because access to capital is a critical missing ingredient to bring innovations to market. This was true 30 years ago and is still true today." Emerging Markets Day is a partnership between NREL and the U.S. Agency of International Development. This partnership is a spinoff from the Industry Growth Forum, focusing on commercialization issues facing geographic emerging markets. For more information, including the agenda, a list of participating companies, a list of sponsors, and registration details, see the NREL Industry Growth Forum website or Emerging Markets Day website. NREL is the U.S. Department of Energy's primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research and development. NREL is operated for the Energy Department by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. Media may contact: Heather Lammers 303-275-4084 Heather.Lammers@nrel.gov More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp While there are 7,000 known rare diseases, only 5 percent of them have treatments, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders. Additionally, on average, patients will visit 7.3 physicians over the course of 4.8 years from the moment they first experience symptoms before they receive an accurate diagnosis, according to research published in the Journal of Rare Disorders. Last spring, Scarlett Eagle, junior in genetics, who lives with a rare disease herself, wanted to do something about it. She organized an event that would feature Iowa State students who are affected by rare diseases in hopes of raising awareness about rare diseases in general. Rare diseases affect one in 10 Americans so [this event] puts a face to them and shows students that these are things that are affecting your peers right here on campus, Eagle said. The event, which takes place on national Rare Disease Day, is designed to be question-driven. Students who are affected by 10 different rare conditions will be stationed by their respective posters and are available to answer questions. Above all, Eagle hopes that the event will increase awareness and interest about rare diseases. Rare Disease Day will take place at 6 p.m. on Wednesday in the Gallery Room of the Memorial Union. The event is free, and all are encouraged to attend. RELATED CONTENT: The data shared by NPD Group points to HomePod first day pre-order numbers being higher than several other smart speakers in the United States except for Amazons Echo Dot. However, the speakers pre-order numbers did surpass that of Sonos One and Google Home Max. The group does not provide any estimates as to how many pre-orders Apple received on day one. It is not surprising to see the HomePod pre-order numbers being higher than that of Sonos One and even the Google Home Max thanks to Apples marketing prowess. As for the Amazons Echo Dot receiving more pre-orders than the HomePod on day 1, one must remember that the Echo Dot costs only around $39 in the United States while the HomePod is priced at $349. Apple did not provide any launch day sales number of the HomePod. The smart speaker did not sell out within a few minutes of its pre-orders going live, something which usually happens with most Apple products. Even on launch day, one could easily get their hands on the HomePod by walking into an Apple Store or ordering one from the companys online store. Apples HomePod has been widely praised for its fantastic sound quality which sets a new benchmark for a $349 speaker. In fact, an audiophiles comparison claimed the HomePod sound as good as the $999 KEF Hi-Fi. Most analysts estimate that Apple will sell around 7 million units of the HomePod in the first year of its launch. Given the limited availability, half-baked Siri capabilities, and high price, it will be an impressive feat for Apple if it ends up selling 7 million units of the speaker in its first year. [Via NPD iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- The reported number of anti-Semitic incidents increased 57 percent in the United States last year, according to a new report from the Anti-Defamation League. There were a total of 1,986 anti-Semitic incidents in 2017, which included reports of harassment and bomb threats, vandalism and physical assaults, the Audit of Anti-Semitic Incidents report notes. The ADL, a Jewish civil rights group, released its annual report on Tuesday that focused only on "real world" incidents rather than online cases, CEO Jonathan Greenblatt said in a call with reporters. "Sadly, it shows what so many of us felt last year: that there was an anti-Semitic surge in the United States," Greenblatt said. The majority of the incidents stemmed from harassment, for which there was a 41 percent increase from 2016, and vandalism, for which there was an 86 percent increase, the report states. There were 163 bomb threats made against Jewish institutions in the first three months of 2017, according to the report. Neither the ADL report nor Greenblatt definitively connected the spike to a specific source, but the "divisive state of our national discourse" was likely a factor, he noted. Heidi Beirich, the director of the Intelligence Project at the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), another civil rights group, was more direct in her assessment of the findings, telling ABC News, "I definitely lay some of this at the feet of the Trump administration." Beirich pointed to "the divisive language that they've used," like President Donald Trumps response to a violent rally in Charlottesville last year, and his decision to retweet anti-Muslim videos on Twitter as actions that "heightened the kind of ugly rhetoric that used to be kind of kept on the sidelines." "Language matters, Beirich said. The things that are said matter. Greenblatt did take issue with some of Trump's more controversial retweets, which included some by white supremacists during the campaign. "Those tweets and rhetoric have emboldened and given encouragement to anti-Semites and bigots," he said. Jacques Berlinerblau, a professor and the director of the Center for Jewish Civilization at Georgetown University, pointed to ADL findings that moved in tandem with the political winds between 2016 and 2017. "It's fairly obvious that what shifted in 2017, well, we had a new president and with this new president came a new form of public discourse perhaps not seen from the White House since prior to World War II," Berlinerblau told ABC News. "This new mode of public discourse was not just restricted to Jews. It concentrated on women, lesbian and gay people, Mexicans, immigrants, African Americans," he said, noting it is "not new in terms of what it is, it is new in terms of where it is coming from." The Trump administration came under fire in February 2017 for a perceived slow response to the bomb threats made against Jewish institutions, but Trump did call them "horrible" and condemned them in his joint address to Congress. "The anti-Semitic threats targeting our Jewish community and community centers are horrible and are painful and a very sad reminder of the work that still must be done to root out hate and prejudice and evil," Trump remarked earlier this month. The 19 reported anti-Semitic assaults was actually down from the 36 assaults reported in 2016, which Greenblatt called the "only bright spot, if you will." Anti-Semitic incidents were reported in every state, the report notes, though the highest numbers were reported in states with the largest Jewish populations, with New York reporting 380 incidents, which Greenblatt said, was a 90 percent increase from the year before. California reported 268 incidents and New Jersey reported 208. "Where there are more Jews there tends to be more anti-Semitism," Greenblatt said. Another reason for the increase in reported incidents could be that people are more concerned about anti-Semitism, he added, and therefore more willing to file reports. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. GILCHRIST, Ore. The Klamath County Sheriff's Office (KCSO) has arrested a woman after her employer reported in January that they suspected foul play. An investigation by the KCSO at Cresent Water Supply in Gilchrist led to the arrest of Darcy Gerhart last Friday, February 23. Gerhart has been charged with aggravated first-degree theft, 40 counts of first-degree forgery, and 92 counts of fraudulent use of a credit card. The KCSO reports that they believe the amount of stolen funds exceeds $40,000, and occurred over the space of two years. UPDATE: After responding to the suspicious item left in Grants Pass DHS, Oregon State Police Bomb Squad determined that the questionable briefcase was "full of personal items," according to a statement from Grants Pass Department of Public Safety (GPDPS). There appeared to be no threat from the abandoned attache, and it is now being held by GPDPS for its rightful owner to come pick it up. GRANTS PASS, Ore.-- The Oregon State Police explosives unit is looking into a suspicious briefcase left unclaimed in front of the DHS office in Grants Pass. The Grants Pass Dept. of Public Safety is also assisting with the investigation. Police say employees called them when they saw the unclaimed briefcase as they were leaving the DHS building. Police say they had to being in a secondary explosives unit from Salem before they could actually access the suspicious item. They say in these situations, they are also cautious and prioritize safety. We will bring you an update when we have one. JACKSONVILLE, Ore. Two local projects are to receive funding from Pacific Power's Blue Sky renewable energy program, according to a statement from the company. The grants total $114,000 in aid. Cantrall Buckley Park in Jackson County will be installing a 23.54 kilowatt solar array, providing 68 percent of the park's annual need for electricity. The project has been spearheaded by Jackson County Parks and A Greater Applegate. The solar panels are intended to double as a shelter for park visitorswhich organizers are calling the Solar Outdoor Educational Classroom. The outdoor classroom will include educational resources on the benefits of solar power, as well as an artistic sundial display. The grant from Pacific Power toward this project totals $89,530. Ruch Community School, a rural K-8 within the Medford School District, will also receive a grant from the company. According to the statement from Pacific Power, Ruch Community School will be the first school in the county to include a solar panel installation. The school building, built in 1914, will now add a 33-panel, 11.4 kilowatt system on its roof, generating 15,483 kilowatt hours per year. The Ruch Community School project will receive $24,337 from Pacific Power. Included with the solar array will be a monitoring kiosk, designed to help students learn STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) skills. The Ruch Community School has already made sustainabilityparticularly in regards to solar energyan important part of their curriculum. Customers of Pacific Power have the option of contributing to the Blue Sky program, which contributes to community projects that incorporate sustainable energy methods. Amie Peacock, centre, founder of the volunteer group Beyond the Conversation, speaks with a senior citizen during a weekly group meeting to help people practice their English skills, combat social isolation and foster relationships, in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday February 23, 2018. The problem of social isolation, which can have serious consequences on a person's mental health and mortality, gained international awareness when the United Kingdom appointed a minister of loneliness in January. Vancouver's Seniors Advisory Committee has developed a report on the issue and delivered its recommendations to city council last month. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck The old Welcome to Kelowna sign, featuring a letter 'l' some mistook for a lobster, was dismantled last year. A new one, likely to involve public input, will be put up later this year. A spill response boat secures a boom around the bulk carrier cargo ship MV Marathassa after a bunker fuel spill on Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, B.C., on April 9, 2015. A trial for a vessel and a company that were charged after thousands of litres of bunker fuel spilled off British Columbia???s coast nearly three years ago began in provincial court today without one defendant attending the court hearing. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden. "The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer Generation A 13 your chance to be the change President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev "uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate road Call on the international community for an adequate response against azerbaijani aggresssion Transformation and trust are important for success in modern banking. Artak Hanesyan UCOMS LEVEL UP 1700 REGIONAL TARIFF PLAN USERS TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THOSE IN YEREVAN Joint statement Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Covid-19: 163 new cases in Armenia Armenia: Remarks by Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the press point with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan The United States Welcomes Azerbaijans Release of Armenian Detainees and Armenias Actions to Facilitate Demining Google Ad The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia International aviation: Council greenlights signing of major agreements with four countries With UCOMs level up tariff plans subscribers have unlimited access to Netflix, Duolingo and Zoom Armenia: Statement by the Spokesperson on the early parliamentary elections Armenias Parliamentary Elections PRESS STATEMENT COVID19:77 new cases Armenias early parliamentary elections were competitive and well run, but polarized and marred by aggressive rhetoric, international observers say International election observers to Armenias early parliamentary elections held press conference Drop Charges Against Rights Defender Sashik Sultanyan The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia The European Union in Armenia calls all parties to contribute to a peaceful Election Day to celebrate democracy 22 ventilators to Armenia PACE to observe the early parliamentary elections in Armenia CLACKAMAS COUNTY, Ore. - If he's found guilty of killing his mother, Joshua Webb could end up under the jurisdiction of the Oregon Psychiatric Security Review Board or the Oregon Health Authority. That is because his attorney filed court documents claiming her client was insane when he committed the crime. On May 14, 2017, prosecutors said Webb decapitated his mother, Tina Webb. He is accused of carrying her head into a grocery store where he then allegedly stabbed Michael Wagner. Webb is also charged with killing his mother's dog. At last check, Webb's trial is scheduled for June 26, 2018. RPA votes for Yelk's Project on discussing March 1 events at NA (video) The draft law on making changes to the Electoral Code and rejecting the territorial election system proposed by the Tsarukyan faction is being discussed in the National Assembly, . Head of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Armen Rustamyan noted that this is one of the most important issues and they do not have an agreement now. MP of Yelk (Way out) faction Artak Zeynalyan, in his turn, announced that the NA may make a decision to start a discussion on this issue. Head of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Vahram Baghdasaryan stated that they have time to finally accept this issue till 2022. "And our colleagues should discuss this issue, but at this point we do not find it expedient to discuss it." The bill was put to the vote and was rejected by 39 for and 56 against. ARF voted for it. The NA also discussed the draft proposed by the Yelk faction to adopt a draft statement on March 1, 2008 events. Edmon Marukyan, a member of the Yelk faction, noted that it did not become clear why the RPA was against their project. And Gevorg Kostanyan, a member of the RPA faction, noted that they were able to hold a deliberative discussion at the parliamentary hearings. "I suggest putting into the discussion and putting this project on the agenda." The project was accepted by 93 for. FOREST CITY, Iowa A young man from Kansas is charged with 3rd degree sexual abuse in North Iowa. 18-year-old Sean Patrick Perkins of Olathe, KS was arrested Saturday in Kansas on an outstanding warrant out of Winnebago County. According to a criminal complaint filed February 5, Perkins is accused of entering a womans dorm room around 1 am on November 12, 2017 and having sex with her against her will. The criminal complaint states the woman says she repeatedly told Perkins she didnt want to have sex and that Perkins apologized the next day and told the woman she needed to keep quiet about what happened. Waldorf University has confirmed that Perkins was attending school there in the fall of 2017 but states he is no longer a Waldorf student. MASON CITY, Iowa - Police responded to the Mason City High School at 12:30 p.m. Monday on a report of a social media threat of violence that was to happen at an afternoon pep rally, the disrtict said. That is something that didn't surpise some like Kelsae Sage and Brianna Knapp of Forest City. "I'm honestly not shocked," Knapp said. "Because of how it's going in the media." "It's all talk no walk," said Sage. They're just trying to copy cat and make an uproar in our communities." After investigating, police supported the school's decision to have the pep rally as planned but with the presence of law enforcement, and though authorities did not find any weapons, Knapp says this hits close to home. "Why do you feel the need to bring a gun to school?" she asked. The school district issued the following statement. "MCCSD is grateful for the continuing collaboration with the MCPD in keeping our schools safe. The additional police presence at today's pep rally insured a safe and successful event for our students." The investigation is still ongoing in this threat at the school, but Sage and Knapp say action needs to be taken to keep the kids safe. "I think the teachers should be armed," Sage said. "Even self-defense of any sort. If you're going to to block any kind of threat toward a child you should know how to get the weapon away from the perpetrator." Classes will go on as scheduled Tuesday but there will be a police presence at the beginning of the day. MCPD continues to investigate and welcome any information about this incident. This was the second threat directed at the school in less than a week. Last week, a juvenile was detained after making a threat about bringing a weapon to school. If you have information, you are asked to call the Mason City Police Department, 641-421-3636, and ask for Criminal Investigation Division Lieutenant Rich Jensen. BRAINERD, Minn. (AP) A Brainerd man is accused of trying to poison an infant with antifreeze. Twenty-three-year-old Jeffrey Thomas is charged with attempted murder and first-degree assault. A criminal complaint alleges Thomas tried to poison the 4-month-old girl after his wife because upset that he may have fathered the child with another woman. A paternity test has not been completed, but Thomas says he's not the father. The Star Tribune says the baby was placed with Thomas shortly after she was born following a child protection proceeding in Carlton County. The complaint says Thomas and his wife took the infant to the hospital after she became sick Jan. 18. Authorities say hospital tests showed the baby had ingested ethylene glycol, commonly found in antifreeze. Thomas is in the Crow Wing County Jail on $750,000 bond. SWALEDALE, Iowa One person is hurt after a single-vehicle rollover in Cerro Gordo County. The Sheriffs Office says it happened a little before 3 pm Monday on 140th Street, about mile east of Indigo Avenue. 61-year-old Robert Eugene De Los Sontos of Sheffield was driving east when he apparently lost control, went into the north ditch and tipped his car onto the passengers side before coming to rest on all four wheels. Mason City Fire Medics took De Los Sontos to Mercy Medical Center North Iowa for evaluation. The Sheriffs Office says De Los Sontos was wearing his seat belt. This accident remains under investigation. The Swaledale Fire Department and Rockwell-Swaledale EMTs also assisted at the scene. ROCHESTER, Minn. An investigation into Jordan Blevins, accused of threatening people with a shotgun early Monday morning at a bar, led authorities to an apartment where drugs were being grown. Authorities were forced into full-body suits while dealing with a growing operation Monday that featured jars of spores and mushrooms at various stages of growth while executing a search warrant at 317 S. Broadway Ave. No 3. The body suits were necessary because of the airborne hazard this type of growing operation possessed. During the investigation into Blevins alleged gun threats, police learned he likely went to the apartment after threatening people with a shotgun at Fusion Lounge. A shotgun and handgun were recovered after a search warrant was executed. The resident of the apartment had left and is not yet in custody but could be facing drug charges. The initial incident involving Blevins occurred around 2 a.m. Monday after a report of a man pointing a shotgun at people downtown. One witness, a 29-year-old from Fairmont, Minnesota, said the suspect pointed the shotgun at his head and racked it. Police were able to identify 35-year-old Blevins, of Rochester, as the suspect and located him at his residence wearing a tactical shirt with holsters and in possession of a long hunting knife. Police say Blevins was involved in a 2010 incident where he kidnapped a female and her dog and threatened to shoot them. While attempting to shoot the dog, he ended up shooting himself in the arm, police say. NORTHWOOD, Iowa The woman who started a furor when she claimed to be the victim of a roadside attack has been sentenced. 27-year-old Ty OHara Wooten of Clear Lake pleaded guilty to one count of false report to public safety. On September 28, 2017, Wooten told the Worth County Sheriffs Office she had been the victim of an attempted sexual assault after stopping to help a man along a rural road. An alert was sent out to North Iowa law enforcement to look for Wootens attacker, but she later admitted it was lie. Wooten said the injuries she showed authorities to support her story were self-inflicted. She has now been ordered to pay a $65 fine. NORTHWOOD, Iowa - At the Worth County Board of Supervisors meeting Monday morning, board members approved the construction permit for a CAFO to be built near Silver Lake by a vote of 2-0. The site, located at 490th Street and Cardinal Avenue, which is southeast of Emmons and northeast of Lake Mills, is proposed to consist of a deep pit cement structure that can house 5,000 hogs, and can handle up 2.8 million gallons of manure per year. The site is owned by Eric and Kathy Christianson, with the property to be leased out to CJ Pork, LLP of Lake Mills. The vote came after over an hour of public comment, the majority of which was against the facility, as nearby residents were concerned about a decrease in quality of life. James Berge, who lives near Kensett, used to work for a company that pumped out hog pits, and believes the manure smell has taken a toll on his health. "I always had constant headaches from the hydrogen sulfide. It's terrible," Berge says. He also adds that there would be no economic benefit to the area. "It's a bad way to raise livestock, but a good way to keep all the wealth on the top. Keep the young people as serfs, working for nothing, all the money on top for the packers. And that's not right," Berge says. Lucas Kreuschner, who, along with his wife Devan, live a half-mile west of the site, says he feels let down by the vote, which he believes was done too quickly. "They protect Worth County residents, that's their job. And they didn't do that today. They didn't even listen to us," Kreuschner says. One Worth County resident, who spoke at the meeting, says that he is in favor of the CAFO because it would bring young people into the area who are looking for work. Supervisors Merlin Bartz and Mark Smeby voted to confirm the site's proposed master matrix score of 450, which exceeds the state's minimum score of 440. Chairman Ken Abrams abstained. The permit now goes to the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, who have the authority to approve or deny it. Feb 27 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. The Times Hammerson Plc has claimed there is strong support for its proposed merger with Intu Properties Plc , even as it heads for relegation from the FTSE 100. The world's largest parcel delivery company, United Parcel Service Inc , is suing the European Commission for 1.7 billion euros ($2.10 billion) over claims that Brussels illegally torpedoed its takeover of TNT Express, its Dutch rival, five years ago. The Guardian British farmers will not accept lower welfare and hygiene standards under any post-Brexit trade deals, and will fight to remain as part of a customs union, the new president of the National Farmers' Union has pledged. Liam Fox will say remaining in a customs union with the EU post-Brexit would leave Britain in a worse position than it currently holds, calling the prospect "a sell-out of Britain's national interests". The Telegraph Carillion Plc's most recent finance director was a "whistleblower" who tried to expose the company's accounting irregularities almost three months before the full scale of its problems were made public, new papers show. A 7.4 billion pounds ($10.33 billion) hostile takeover bid by corporate raiders Melrose Industries Plc for FTSE 100 engineering giant GKN Plc has been boosted by competition authorities in the United States and Canada after they waved the deal through in recent days. Sky News The Treasury is lining up a crossbench peer to oversee an 800 million pounds handout of funds aimed at removing another obstacle to the reprivatisation of taxpayers' stake in Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc . Business groups have broadly welcomed Jeremy Corbyn's backing for a customs union with the EU after Brexit -- but remain sceptical about the Labour leader's wider agenda. The Independent New cars are greener than ever, but the environmental benefits are being squandered because of continuing public confusion about diesel-powered vehicles, the auto industry has warned. ($1 = 0.8109 euros) ($1 = 0.7160 pounds) (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom; Editing by Sandra Maler) HANOI, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0408 GMT. February 27 USD/VND mid-point 22,448 USD/VND interbank 22,748/22,750 USD/VND unofficial 22,750/22,770 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 36.78/36.95 Interbank offered rates Overnight 1.1-1.8 1 week 1.5-2.0 1 month 2.4-3.3 3 months 3.2-4.0 NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources. One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co. For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on . For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom) By Ben Martin LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - British subprime lender Amigo Loans is preparing for a stock market float in London that could value the consumer credit firm at more than $700 million. The company, which offers high interest loans and focuses on borrowers who have weak credit histories, has hired JPMorgan and RBC Capital Markets to examine the potential flotation, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Amigo would seek a market capitalization of over 500 million pounds ($695 million) from a listing, the person said. The Bournemouth-based firm issues loans that are usually guaranteed by a borrower's family or friends. Glen Crawford, its chief executive, said almost two years ago that a listing in London was a major plank of the company's strategy. In a presentation to bond investors published earlier this month, the group said it was exploring a potential initial public offering. If Amigo presses ahead with a flotation, it would join a host of other financial services firms that are eying stock market debuts on the London Stock Exchange. They include Cabot Credit Management, which is Britain's biggest debt collector, as well as peer-to-peer lender Funding Circle, and IntegraFin, operator of the Transact platform used by independent financial advisers. Amigo is controlled by Richmond Group, which was founded 18 years ago as a loan brokerage by entrepreneur James Benamor, who was then just 21. Benamor's Richmond is now a holding company for a variety of other investments, including rental firm Let Me Property, although Amigo remains its main business. For the nine months through December, Amigo reported a 42 percent jump in adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization from a year earlier to 84.6 million pounds. It had a net loan book of 607 million pounds at the close of 2017. ($1 = 0.7195 pounds) (Reporting by Ben Martin; Editing by Susan Fenton) SANTIAGO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The board of Chile's Bci bank , the third largest private financial institution in the country, said on Tuesday it will propose a $575 million equity issuance in its next shareholders meeting. In a letter to Chile's market regulator, Bci did not detail what the additional funds would be used for. The proposal comes after a string of acquisitions last December, including the purchases of Totalbank for $528 million and the financial business of Walmart in Chile for $148 million. (Reporting by Antonio de la Jara; Writing by Cassandra Garrison) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. * Shanghai stocks lower, blue-chip CSI300 index down * Gains in Shanghai stocks led by AECC Aero Science and Technology and losses by Aluminum Corp of China * China's A-shares are at a 27.40 percent premium over H-shares SHANGHAI, Feb 27 (Reuters) - China stocks snapped a six-session winning streak on Tuesday, led lower by real estate and resource firms, as investors booked profits after a recent strong rally. Market participants continued to ponder the impact of certain amendments in the wording of China's constitution. China's ruling Communist Party on Sunday set the stage for President Xi Jinping to stay in office indefinitely, with a proposal to remove a constitutional clause limiting presidential service to just two terms in office. "Rebalancing the Chinese economy away from investment- and export-led growth towards domestic consumption will remain on hold," Laura Eaton, an analyst at Fathom Consulting, wrote in a report. "President Xi Jinping will not tolerate the slowdown associated with rebalancing to tarnish his name as he builds a case to justify a third term in power," Eaton added. Anbang Insurance Group Co Ltd said on Monday it fully supported the Chinese insurance regulator's decision to temporarily take control of the company, and remains committed to the development of its overseas subsidiaries. Most Anbang-related firms, including developer China Vanke and lender China Merchants Bank, fell on Monday. ** At the close, the Shanghai Composite Index was down 1.1 percent at 3,292.07. ** The blue-chip CSI300 index was down 1.4 percent, with its financial sector sub-index lower by 1.91 percent , the consumer staples sector down 1.61 percent, the real estate index shed 3.18 percent while healthcare sub-index fell 1.04 percent. ** The smaller Shenzhen index ended down 0.34 percent and the start-up board ChiNext Composite index was higher by 0.83 percent. ** The largest percentage gainers in the main Shanghai Composite index were AECC Aero Science and Technology Co Ltd up 10.03 percent, followed by Zhongyuan Union Cell & Gene Engineering Corp Ltd gaining 10.03 percent and China Avionics Systems Co Ltd up by 10.01 percent. ** The largest percentage losses in the Shanghai index were Aluminum Corp of China Ltd down 10.03 percent, followed by Harbin Pharmaceutical Group Co Ltd losing 8.61 percent and HPGC Renmintongtai Pharmaceutical Corp down by 8.33 percent. ** So far this year, the Shanghai stock index is down 0.68 percent, the CSI300 is up 0.69 percent this year, while China's H-share index listed in Hong Kong is up 9.6 percent. Shanghai stocks have declined 4.35 percent this month. (Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Sunil Nair) ABU DHABI, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) hopes to list in 2018, subject to market conditions, a senior executive said on Tuesday, reiterating comments made last October by Abu Dhabi state investor Mubadala, which owns half of EGA. "We hope EGA will become a public company in 2018, subject to market conditions," EGA's chief executive Abdulla Kalban told Reuters. EGA was created in 2013 when state-owned companies Dubai Aluminium and Abu Dhabi's Emirates Aluminium merged. Its enterprise value was put at $15 billion at the time of the merger. Kalban said preparations for the initial public offer of shares were continuing with advisors, but he did not name the advisors. Reuters reported last year, quoting sources, that EGA had picked Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan to advise on its IPO. (Reporting by Stanley Carvalho; Writing by Saeed Azhar; Editing by Andrew Torchia) ATHENS, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Greek private sector bank deposits decreased by 1.26 percent in January, halting a three-month rise, central bank data showed on Tuesday. Business and household deposits fell to 124.76 billion euros ($153.82 billion) from 126.35 billion in December. Greek banks have seen small deposit inflows over the space of more than two years after the country clinched a third bailout to stay in the euro zone in July 2015. While they remain dependent on central bank borrowing to plug their funding gaps, banks have significantly reduced their exposure. "In January, deposits of the private sector decreased by 1,4 billion euros, compared with an increase of 2,54 billion in the previous month, while the annual growth rate stood at 4.9 percent from 4.7 percent in the previous month," the Bank of Greece said. ($1 = 0.8110 euros) (Reporting by George Georgiopoulos) LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Assets invested in leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and products (ETPs) hit a record $87.3 billion at the end of January, research and consultancy firm ETFGI said. Investors have blamed such complex trading instruments for exacerbating the vicious sell-off in global equity markets at the beginning of February. ETFs track baskets of stocks and have become popular due to their lower fees, but some have grown to include derivatives in their scope. The ETFGI figures show such niche products have also been growing in popularity -- over the course of January, leveraged and inverse ETFs and ETPs saw net inflows of $1.47 billion globally. An inverse volatility ETF allows an investor to take a short position on VIX volatility futures, essentially a bet on volatility remaining muted, while a leveraged product can scale up the size of a bet. During the February slide in markets, inverse and often leveraged ETFs based specifically on the VIX index magnified losses. S&P 500 futures saw their biggest one-day spike on record at the beginning of February as MSCI's All-Country index recorded its worst drop since the aftermath of Britain's shock Brexit vote in June 2016. The size of the global ETF and ETP market surpassed the $5 trillion mark at the end of January, according to ETFGI figures. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Volatility and World Stocks ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Kit Rees Editing by Catherine Evans) OSLO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Norwegian aluminium maker Norsk Hydro has been told by a Brazilian regulator to cut output from its Alunorte alumina refinery by 50 percent until it complies with an order to safeguard the environment, the company said. The cutbacks follow recent claims by Brazilian federal and state prosecutors of a waste spill at one of Alunorte's bauxite refuse deposits, although Hydro reiterated that it had found no evidence of any such pollution. "While it is too early to determine the size and impact of the resolution, it could potentially have significant operational and financial consequences," Hydro said in a statement. Alunorte is the world's largest alumina refinery, transforming bauxite to alumina, which is turned into aluminium at giant smelters. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik; Editing by Kim Coghill) Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Tuesday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour): PEKAO Poland's second-largest bank, Bank Pekao, said on Tuesday its fourth-quarter net profit more than doubled year-on-year to 1.05 billion zlotys ($310.51 million) thanks to a one-off gain. PENSIONS Poland's government is working on more changes to the pension system, which may include launching the same contributions for everyone, irrespectively of the employment contract, Rzeczpospolita daily said. TAXES Value added tax (VAT) revenue fell by 17 percent year on year in January, Dziennik Gazeta Prawna daily said quoting unnamed sources. NOVATURAS The ongoing initial public offering (IPO) of Novaturas, Lithuanian tour operator controlled by private equity fund Enterprise Investors, could be worth 290 million zlotys if all the offered shares are sold at maximum price, Parkiet daily said. ****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.**** For other related news, double click on: Polish equities E.Europe equities Polish money Polish debt Eastern Europe All emerging markets Hot stocks Stock markets Market debt news Forex news For real-time index quotes, double click on: Warsaw WIG20 Budapest BUX Prague PX ($1 = 3.3831 zlotys) (Reporting by Warsaw Bureau) UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden. "The Power of One Dram" to overcome childhood cancer Google Ad Generation A 13 your chance to be the change President of the Artsakh Republic Arayik Harutyunyan met with Russian Co-Chair of the OSCE Minsk Group Igor Khovayev "uDays" special offer at Ucom: discounts for all smartphones and accessories for 2 days only For more than 3 hours, 50 or more Azerbaijani servicemen have blocked the interstate road Call on the international community for an adequate response against azerbaijani aggresssion Transformation and trust are important for success in modern banking. Artak Hanesyan UCOMS LEVEL UP 1700 REGIONAL TARIFF PLAN USERS TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THOSE IN YEREVAN Joint statement Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Covid-19: 163 new cases in Armenia Armenia: Remarks by Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the press point with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan The United States Welcomes Azerbaijans Release of Armenian Detainees and Armenias Actions to Facilitate Demining Google Ad The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia International aviation: Council greenlights signing of major agreements with four countries With UCOMs level up tariff plans subscribers have unlimited access to Netflix, Duolingo and Zoom Armenia: Statement by the Spokesperson on the early parliamentary elections Armenias Parliamentary Elections PRESS STATEMENT COVID19:77 new cases Armenias early parliamentary elections were competitive and well run, but polarized and marred by aggressive rhetoric, international observers say International election observers to Armenias early parliamentary elections held press conference Drop Charges Against Rights Defender Sashik Sultanyan The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia The European Union in Armenia calls all parties to contribute to a peaceful Election Day to celebrate democracy 22 ventilators to Armenia PACE to observe the early parliamentary elections in Armenia (Adds quote, background) OSLO, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Norwegian aluminium maker Norsk Hydro has been told by a Brazilian regulator to cut output from its Alunorte alumina refinery by 50 percent until it complies with an order to safeguard the environment, the company said. The cutbacks follow recent claims by Brazilian federal and state prosecutors of a waste spill at one of Alunorte's bauxite refuse deposits after heavy rain. Hydro reiterated that it found no evidence of any such pollution. "While it is too early to determine the size and impact of the resolution, it could potentially have significant operational and financial consequences," Hydro said in a statement. Alunorte, in the state of Para, is the world's largest alumina refinery, transforming bauxite to alumina, which is turned into aluminium at giant smelters. According to Hydro, Para's Secretariat of Environment and Sustainability (SEMAS) said Alunorte must cut its production due to non-compliance with a resolution to sufficiently lower water levels at a bauxite residue deposit. SEMAS also said it would order Hydro's Paragominas bauxite mine to suspend operations at one of two tailing dams at the plant, the company said. "We have taken considerable measures to meet the deadline at Alunorte, and we will continue with full force to make sure that we comply with expectations and requirements," Hydro Chief Executive Svein Richard Brandtzaeg said in a statement. "We will continue our dialogue with local authorities to ensure that we take all necessary steps to ensure safe and sound operations - with respect for people, the environment and for the local communities that we are a part of," he said. Founded in 1995, Alunorte produces 5.8 million metric tonnes of alumina per year, according to Norsk Hydro's website. On average, 14 percent of Alunorte's production stays in Brazil while 86 percent is exported to the Middle East, North American and Europe, it said. (Reporting by Terje Solsvik; editing by Kim Coghill and Jason Neely) (Adds details) Feb 27 (Reuters) - Troubled Provident Financial said it would raise gross proceeds of about 331 million pounds via a rights issue, as it looks to meet the costs of resolving an investigation by Britain's financial watchdog and restore its capital position. The sub-prime lender said it had reached a settlement with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) for its probe into the sale of Vanquis Bank's repayment option plan, resulting in a provision of 172.1 million pounds ($240.46 million) for 2017. Provident Financial, which was founded in 1880 and provided loans through the Wall Street crash of 1929 and both world wars, also reported a pretax loss of 123 million pounds for the year ended Dec. 31, compared with a pretax profit of 343.9 million pounds a year earlier. The British sub-prime lender has been trying to reorganise a business that has traditionally relied on self-employed agents offering high-interest loans of between 100 and 1,000 pounds and collecting repayment through weekly household visits. But it had been unable to recruit enough people for its plan to replace external agents with direct employees. Provident has also contended with lost income resulting from a FCA investigation into Vanquis Bank and an investigation into Moneybarn, its car and van financing arm. Provident Financial said on Tuesday that Moneybarn was continuing to cooperate with the FCA and the company estimated a bill of 20 million pounds for the probe. Provident Financial also said it was seeking to maintain its "investment grade rating and re-establish normal access to funding from the bank and debt capital markets". The rights issue is fully underwritten by Barclays Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. The lender said its two largest shareholders, Invesco Limited and Woodford Investment Management, were supportive of the company's plan and rights issue. ($1 = 0.7157 pounds) <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Provident Financial slumps on home credit woes, FCA probes ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Sunil Nair) (Adds Aramco, May comment) LONDON, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will begin a visit to Britain on March 7 which will include talks with Prime Minister Theresa May on topics such as extremism and societal reform, May's spokesman said on Tuesday. "The visit will usher in a new era in bilateral relations focused on a partnership that delivers wide-ranging benefits for both the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," the spokesman said. "The visit will also provide an opportunity to enhance our co-operation in tackling international challenges such as terrorism, extremism, the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen and other regional issues such as Iraq and Syria." May discussed the visit with her cabinet earlier on Tuesday, including the much anticipated stock market listing of state oil company Saudi Aramco - potentially the biggest listing in history and the subject of a high profile tug of war between Britain and the United States. "The fact that there is a potential listing of Saudi Aramco was discussed, but in no more terms than that," the spokesman said. In a separate statement issued after the meeting with her cabinet, May said the crown prince's visit - his first since his appointment in June 2017 - would allow Britain to talk "frankly and constructively" about areas of concern like Yemen and security in the Middle East. (Reporting by William James; Editing by Stephen Addison) * Biggest refiner PKN plans to take over smaller rival Lotos * PKN plans to buy at least 53 pct in Lotos, mostly from state * Shares in PKN, Lotos surge * Lotos shares jump 8 pct, market capitalization at 11 bln zlotys (Adds more details, analysts comments) WARSAW, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Poland's government plans to merge the country's two biggest refiners, PKN Orlen and Grupa Lotos , in a bid to create a bigger player capable of competing on international markets, PKN said on Tuesday. The decision follows a string of transactions in which state-run companies and institutions took over foreign assets sold in Poland, including banks and energy companies, amid talk of a merger between Poland's two biggest state-run banks. By 1332 GMT shares in PKN and Lotos had risen 5.7 percent and 7 percent respectively, as investors bet on potential synergies and cost-cutting after the merger. "The merger has a business sense. We believe in an improvement in EBITDA of the merged entity," said Lukasz Prokopiuk, a DM BOS analyst. He estimates the earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation of a merged PKN and Lotos would be 1 billion zlotys higher than it is now. PKN's EBITDA for 2017 stood at 11.2 billion zlotys. Analysts expect Lotos, which will publish 2017 results in March, to report EBITDA of around 3 billion zlotys for last year. "As a result of the merger the company's oil purchasing position and financial strength will also improve," said Krzysztof Pado, an analyst at DM BDM. Both PKN and Lotos buy most of the oil they refine from Russia but try reduce their Russian exposure by getting oil from other sources. Some analysts said the jump in PKN shares could be related to investor hopes that the company will not join a nuclear power plant project. But the energy minister said on Tuesday the merger would not clash with its potential role in the plan. DETAILS UNKNOWN PKN Orlen, with market capitalization of around 40 billion zlotys ($11.83 billion), said it signed a letter of intent on Tuesday to buy from the state at least 53 percent of shares in Lotos, a company with a total market value of 10 billion zlotys as of Monday's close. PKN said that the transaction, which would be conducted via a public share tender or share swap, should be completed within a year. It will be subject to antimonopoly approval. PKN owns 1,776 petrol stations in Poland, which translates into a 34 percent market share. Lotos, with 485 stations, has a 10 percent in the market. According to the newspaper Puls Biznesu, the two refiners will need to sell around 200 stations to get antimonopoly approval. Poland's state-run news agency quoted the head of antimonopoly office as saying that the merger might also be subject to the opinion of the European Commission. PKN Orlen, in which the state has a 27.5 percent stake, is one of the biggest companies listed on the Warsaw bourse. PKN has not said how it would finance the Lotos takeover. Earlier this month, it spent 3.5 billion zlotys to increase its stake in Czech Unipetrol . ($1 = 3.3809 zlotys) (Reporting by Agnieszka Barteczko and Anna Koper; editing by Larry King) * Shares jump over 80 pct * To raise gross proceeds of 331 mln stg * Settles Vanquis Bank probe with FCA (Adds details, CEO comments, share movement) By Noor Zainab Hussain Feb 27 (Reuters) - Shares in troubled Provident Financial soared by more than 80 percent on Tuesday after the British sub-prime lender announced a 331 million pound ($462 mln) share sale that will increase its capital by more than a third. The rights issue is the first sign of a long-awaited turnaround in the company which lost 70 percent of its value last year when it swung into the red after two profit warnings, that prompted the departure of CEO Peter Crook and the suspension of its dividend. It has also been under investigation by Britain's financial watchdog. Provident said the rights issue was backed by its two largest shareholders Invesco Asset Management and Woodford Investment Management, and would meet the costs of resolving a probe by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) into its Vanquis Bank unit. It would also secure the company's capital position, maintain its "investment grade rating" and re-establish normal access to funding from the bank and debt capital markets. Shares in the firm, which at the start of Tuesday's trade was worth about 871 million pounds, rose as much as 87.6 percent to 1104 pence - their highest level since the second profit warning last August. They were up 75 percent at 1029 pence at 1040 GMT. The lender said it had reached a settlement with the FCA resulting in a fine of 2 million pounds and compensation payments of 127.1 million pounds and other estimated costs of 43 million pounds. "In 2018, the group will continue to rebuild trust with our customers, regulators, shareholders and employees," Chief Executive Malcolm Le May said. RESTRUCTURING Provident has been trying to reorganise a business that has traditionally relied on self-employed agents offering high-interest loans of between 100 and 1,000 pounds and collecting repayments through weekly household visits. But it had been unable to recruit enough people for its plan to replace external agents with direct employees. Provident also said that Moneybarn, its car and van financing arm, continued to cooperate with the regulator in a separate investigation, which it estimated could eventually cost the company 20 million pounds. The investigation is focused on how Moneybarn assesses whether customers can afford to take on credit and how it deals with borrowers who cannot repay loans. Provident, which was established in 1880 and provided loans through the Wall Street crash of 1929 and both World Wars, also reported a pretax loss of 123 million pounds for the year ended Dec. 31, compared with a pretax profit of 343.9 million pounds a year earlier. Provident also said its beleaguered home credit business had entered 2018 with 527,000 active customers and receivables of 352.2 million pounds, consistent with its recovery plan. Le May said he hoped the unit would break even on an annualised run rate basis by the second half of 2018. The group targets a return on assets of about 10 percent after the rights issue and the home credit unit returns to profitability in 2019, and a progressive dividend policy with coverage of at least 1.4 times from 2019 onwards. The rights issue is fully underwritten by Barclays Bank and J.P. Morgan Securities. ($1 = 0.7157 pounds) <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Provident Financial slumps on home credit woes, FCA probes ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Reporting by Noor Zainab Hussain in Bengaluru; Editing by Sinead Cruise and Susan Fenton) HANOI, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Vietnam received an estimated $1.7 billion in foreign direct investment in January-February, up 9.7 percent from the same period last year, the investment ministry said on Tuesday. FDI pledges for new projects, increased capital and stake acquisitions edged down 1.8 percent from a year earlier to $3.34 billion, the ministry said in a statement posted on its website. The manufacturing and processing sector received the most pledged foreign funds in the two-month period, followed by the construction and property sales sectors, the statement said. South Korea, British Virgin Islands and Singapore were the biggest foreign investors by registered funds in Vietnam in January-February. FDI is a key source of growth for Vietnam's export-driven economy, which received a record $17.5 billion in FDI last year. (Reporting by Mai Nguyen; Editing by Nick Macfie) Feb 27 (Reuters) - Mining companies in Zambia, Africa's No. 2 copper producer, should immediately start transporting 30 percent of their cargo by rail despite their concerns about inadequate capacity, the government said on Tuesday. Zambia in January introduced a new law compelling mining companies and other bulk cargo handlers to transport at least 30 percent of their freight by rail as it looks to bolster the sector. However, the Zambia Chamber of Mines said on Monday that Zambia was not ready to handle that amount of cargo and the potential impact on the mining industry had not been properly considered. Zambia's rail lines have a market share of only about 5 percent and the remainder is handled by road transport, government data show. Transport Minister Brian Mushimba said in a statement Zambia's two state-owned railway companies were already moving cargo such as copper as third parties through logistics firms. The government consulted both the Chamber of Mines and individual mining companies before creating the new law, Mushimba said. "We are proceeding with the implementation plan," Mushimba said. South African state-run logistics firm Transnet will lease locomotives and wagons to Zambia Railways to boost its capacity to handle bulk cargo. (Reporting by Chris Mfula; editing by Ed Stoddard and Jason Neely) Serzh Sargsyan did nothing on or under the table - Gagik Harutyunyan (video) The National Assembly is discussing the five-member judicial council. The Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) and the ARF Dashnaktsutyun have nominated the President of the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan's candidancy for the first five-year term. Gagik Harutyunyan stated in his speech that he likes to have an oral presentation, but this time his speech will be written. He also mentioned that he had been in the National Assembly building 75 years ago as a member of the SC body. Mr. Harutyunyan also mentioned that during his activities he tried to be objective. The head of the Yelk (Way out) parliamentary faction Nikol Pashinyan, referring to him, recalled Serzh Sargsyan's statement on April 10 that he will never nominate himself as the RA President and will not nominate the post of Prime Minister of Armenia. "You were present at that meeting, did Serzh Sargsyan say it seriosly or it was a humorous thing?" And, the other question asked by Nikol Pashinyan was whether there are political prisoners in Armenia. Were the elections in Armenia fake or not? Mr. Harutyunyan responded that during their meetings with the President of the Republic, the President has never joked about such things. "There was nothing on or under the table." Nikol Pashinyan responded by saying, "Serzh Sargsyan's public statement does not, in fact, have an obligation. From what you say, we can say that you assume a certain commitment that he will not run for the office of the Prime Minister, or in an hour your view will change." Mr. Harutyunyan replied by saying that in order to know in what context Serzh Sargsyan said it, Nikol Pahinysna should direct that question to him. "With regard to the existence of political prisoners, I did not consider it appropriate to refute or approve, as I was not familiar with any of the case files." Then, the next candidant for five-member judicial council, former Minister of Justice Gevorg Danielyan, was introduced to the National Assembly by RPA and ARF Dashnaktsutyun. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Scattered thunderstorms early. Skies will become mostly clear late. Low 59F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms early. Skies will become mostly clear late. Low 59F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. What will you change after your election, if you are not aware of anything? - Hayk Hovhannisyan is the fourth candidate for the ruling Supreme Council. The question of MP of the Yelk (Way out) faction Ararat Mirzoyan was the respond of the question about the political prisoners in the country, in response to which Hayk Hovhannisyan said that he could not answer. His response was satisfactory to Ararat Mirzoyan. And the head of the Yelk faction Nikol Pashinyan expressed conviction that he will not be able to answer any question voiced in the National Assembly. "And we carry out this questionnaire for the observance of the NA Regulations." "Everything depends on the quality and content of the question. Your questions, yes, [I] refuse to answer for your own reasoning," Hayk Hovhannisyan replied. The 5th candidate of the Supreme Council of the ruling coalition is Sergey Meghryan. This time Nikol Pashinyan asked Vahram Baghdasaryan the question about Serzh Sargsyan's statement. "You were present at that session, is your approach serious towards his words that he officially announces." To reply, Vahram Baghdasaryan stated that he is serious about Serzh Sargsyan's statement, but also mentioned that we should know that we are not guided by ambitions. "We are expedient to find out who should be in the post of Prime Minister, since we have assumed the authority of the Armenian government. He [Serzh Sargsyan] is an ordinary party member and is obliged to obey the decisions of the political force," Vahram Baghdasaryan said. And when asking Sergey Meghryan, Nikol Pashinyan inquired: "What will you change after your election if you are not aware of anything? How will you convince that you have an independent attitude? How are your approaches and words different from thousands of lawyers?" "During my entire biography, I tried to be as independent as possible, including my direct leadership. Perhaps this was the reason I was engaged in scientific-pedagogical activity," assured Sergey Meghryan. EarthCam launches live webcam views of Great Smoky Mountains TOWNSEND, TN -- EarthCam is transporting viewers to East Tennessee, where they can enjoy the incredible scenery from Blackberry Mountain with its new live streaming webcam. Discover the beauty of the 5,200 acres surrounding this adventure and wellness resort, including sweeping views of the Great Smoky Mountains. Webcam on Blackberry Mountain in Miller's Cove, Walland, Tennessee. Image courtesy of Earthcam. People show their support for the #MeToo campaign at Marronnier Park in Daehangno, Seoul's theater district, Sunday. One of the protesters holds a banner reading "We support the courageous people who broke the silence and said they were victims." / Yonhap By Kwon Mee-yoo On sunny Sunday afternoon, some 500 theatergoers gathered at Marronnier Park in Seoul's theater district Daehangno. Instead of heading to the theater to watch plays and musicals as usual, they held a rally there, supporting the #MeToo movement and the voices of victims of sexual abuse in the theater industry. The #WithYou protest came as a result of recent reports of sexual harassment among thespians. The rally was organized by ordinary theatergoers who wanted to voice their support for the #MeToo movement. "In addition to boycotting plays and musicals starring sex offenders or those produced by them, we wanted to empower the victims who bravely raised their voice," said the organizer, who remained anonymous, stating the purpose of the rally. Along with the worldwide #MeToo campaign, in early February, a female theater staff member accused actor Lee Myung-haeng for sexually abusing her during a play production last year. The actor apologized and stepped down from his role in the play "Kiss of the Spider Woman." The victim's confession ignited a series of accusations from female actresses and theater staff members, including those who were harassed and raped by renowned director Lee Yoon-taek of Yeonhuidan Georipae. Others accused of sexual offenses were director and playwright Oh Tae-suk, actor and theater producer Cho Jae-hyun and "Last Empress" producer Yun Ho-jin. Theatergoers shouted slogans such as, "Sex offenders don't deserve applause from audiences" and "Audiences refuse to see sex offenders on stage." They also requested legitimate punishment for assailants and measures to prevent further sexual harassment in the theater industry. A rallier who stepped up for free speech said, "As an audience member who loves the performing arts, the series of #MeToo accusations were horrendous and broke my heart. However, I will not turn away from the victims and their anguish." Another participant, who identified herself as a theater student, said, "I cannot ignore the sex crimes in the industry I belong to. I feel so miserable as I hope those I respect are not sex offenders. But I will not be silent until those sex offenders are punished and such crimes are rooted out from this field." SMEs show concern over snowballing labor cost By Yoon Ja-young The bill to slash working hours was approved by the National Assembly Environment and Labor Committee, Tuesday, which while allowing workers to enjoy a better quality of life, could raise the costs for small- and medium-sized businesses. The bill cuts the maximum statutory working hours to 52 hours a week from the current 68 hours. It is expected to get approval at a plenary session as early as Wednesday since it passed the committee with the consensus of both the governing and opposition parties. Slashing working hours was among the main election pledges of President Moon Jae-in, which he said will improve quality of life as well as help create jobs. However, fewer working hours means higher labor costs for businesses. According to an estimate by the Korea Economic Research Institute, businesses will pay an additional 12.1 trillion won annually to maintain current production while cutting the working hours. This includes wages paid to additional workers hired to cover the hours lost, as well as their training costs. It is especially likely to hit the manufacturing and transportation industries as working overtime has been the norm there. Labor ministry data from 2012 showed that employees in manufacturing work on average 28.1 extra hours a month. SMEs will be damaged more than conglomerates. The institute explained that small businesses hiring fewer than 300 will pay 8.6 trillion won of the extra costs, or 70 percent of the total. To minimize the impact on industry, the committee agreed to apply different schedules for adoption of the new law depending on the size of the business. Large businesses hiring more than 300 workers will be subject to it beginning July, while implementation will be delayed to July 2021 for businesses with less than 50 workers. The labor ministry said the government will prepare support plans for small businesses. "Most large businesses have been preparing for shorter working hours since last year when discussions gained momentum. The government will prepare supportive measures for small businesses that might face difficulties due to the revision," a ministry official said. U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that talks with North Korea are possible only under the right conditions. His remark comes after the communist regime twice stated its willingness to hold dialogue with Washington over the weekend. "They want to talk. And we want to talk also, only under the right conditions. Otherwise, we're not talking," Trump said at a meeting with U.S. state governors at the White House. He did not elaborate on what the conditions would be, but slammed previous U.S. administrations for failing to tackle the problem of North Korea's nuclear weapons program. "Other presidents should have solved this problem long before I got here," he said. "And they've been talking for 25 years, and you know what happened? Nothing." He pointed to the administrations of Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush and Barack Obama, saying it would have been "much easier" to solve the issue then. The possibility of talks between Washington and Pyongyang gained traction this year after the two Koreas held rare high-level talks to discuss North Korea's participation in the PyeongChang Winter Olympics. Seoul hopes that improved inter-Korean ties will help pave the way for denuclearization negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang. Tensions heightened last year as the reclusive nation aggressively pursued its capability to launch nuclear-tipped missiles at the U.S. mainland. As the Olympics drew to a close Sunday, a senior North Korean official told South Korean President Moon Jae-in his country has "ample intentions" to hold talks with the U.S. The official, Kim Yong-chol, who was sent by Pyongyang to attend the closing ceremony, made similar remarks in a meeting with Moon's chief national security adviser Monday. "So they want to talk, first time, they want to talk, and we'll see what happens," Trump said. "That's my attitude. We'll see what happens. But something has to be done." He said China has "been good, but they haven't been great" when it comes to putting pressure on North Korea to abandon its weapons programs. "China has really done more, probably, than they've ever done because of my relationship," Trump said. "We have a very good relationship, but President Xi (Jinping) is for China, and I'm for the United States." Russia, on the other hand, has been "behaving badly, because Russia is sending in what China is taking out," he added, apparently referring to the two countries' trade with North Korea. The U.N. Security Council imposed four rounds of sanctions on North Korea last year in response to its nuclear and ballistic missile tests. China and Russia -- two of the five veto-wielding council members -- backed all of them. The sanctions are designed to cut off supplies of fuel and sources of revenue for the Pyongyang regime. "So China is doing pretty good numbers, but Russia is now sending a lot of stuff in," Trump said. "But I think they want to see it come to an end, also. I think everybody does." Seemingly alluding to the possibility of military action against North Korea, he added, "Talking about tremendous potential loss of lives; numbers that nobody's ever even contemplated, never thought of." (Yonhap) Joseph Yun The top United States negotiator on the North Korean nuclear issue will retire this week, a foreign news report said Tuesday. The 63-year-old Special Representative for North Korea Policy, Joseph Yun, will retire at the end of the week, CNN reported. "It was completely my decision to retire at this time," Yun was quoted as telling CNN. He also said Secretary of State Rex Tillerson had accepted his resignation. He was appointed to the current post in October 2016 under the previous Obama administration. Yun flew in to North Korea in June last year to bring home American college student Otto Warmbier, who traveled to the North, was convicted of a crime and fell into a coma. He died days after arriving in the U.S. Yun's resignation will leave another important post dealing with Korean issues empty, with the seat for the U.S. ambassador in Seoul remaining unfilled for more than a year. His resignation also comes at a critical diplomatic juncture for possible talks between the U.S. and North Korea after Kim Yong-chol, a senior North Korean ruling party official, told President Moon Jae-in and other South Korean officials that Pyongyang is willing to talk to Americans. (Yonhap) By Jon Dunbar As U.S. expat Michael O'Dwyer nears the end of his stay in Korea, he looks for ways to memorialize his time here. The cheerful bald-headed metalhead appeared at a metal show in GBN Live House in Mullae-dong, southwestern Seoul, last Saturday, selling copies of his photo zine "Bleeding Kimchi: Soju, Metal, Korea." "Books and zines about music or music scenes are attempts to make a snapshot of a time and place, and hopefully convey the emotions and community that is happening at that time," he told The Korea Times. "It really frustrates me that the Korean metal scene is so underground and unknown. I think there are some many highly skilled and talented bands that are toiling in total obscurity that I would love to shine a light on and share their experiences with others." Heavy metal came to Korea in the late 1980s as government control over youth culture weakened. Metal bands such as Crash, seen on page 3 of O'Dwyer's zine, achieved early popularity among young people discovering a newly unlocked world of music. As K-pop grew, metal became relegated to the underground. "This whole scene was born out of a release from censorship and this interest in rebellious music and now its existence is entirely a rebellion from K-pop and the image it promotes," O'Dwyer said. "But the Korea scene is becoming known as the home of grindcore in Asia and I think that's entirely because of K-pop. These musicians want to make the opposite of the clean, sugary pop music that's everywhere and they're producing these incredibly fast, brutal songs and imagery." His 18-page book shares some of this imagery, including local and international touring metal bands as well as other underground bands he's seen, as well as his stories about seeing these bands. The front cover shows Kalte, the vocalist of black metal band Kryphos, adorned in corpsepaint with a black cross on her forehead, standing in front of an abandoned apartment complex in Taebaek where O'Dwyer lives. "All these guys in black clothes screaming about murder in a dark room and then we all go out together and end the night in hugs," O'Dwyer says of Korea's metal scene. "I would compare Korean metal to soju if I described it to a stranger. It's rough and bitter but you will love it." O'Dwyer is also working with a friend on a documentary about Korean heavy metal, titled "K-Pop Killers," which he hopes will be finished by summer. Visit for more information, or message the page to ask for a copy. Kim Chun-soo, a research director at the Yongsan Cultural Center As the U.S. military relocates out of Yongsan Garrison, Yongsan Legacy aims to archive the living memories of those who served, worked and lived there. This is one of them. ED. By Kyung Lee Kim Chun-soo first set foot on Yongsan Garrison in 2002 when he entered his mandatory military service. There, he encountered scattered pieces of trimmed stone blocks while on a routine tour of Camp Coiner in the northern corner of the garrison, and suspected their origins were significant. Already versed in Korea's history dating from the 1392-1910 Joseon Kingdom through the post-war and contemporary eras, Kim suspected the stones were once bigger and more geometrically refined more akin to Sajik Altar located northwest of downtown Seoul. A single media report in 2005 indeed confirmed his first suspicions the rocks also served as a ritual platform called Namdan, according to an 1861 Joseon map. Recent photographs showing barbecue grills placed casually on either end of one stone, as well as a reasonable height of bricks laid upon another. Unearthing the exact dimensions of these structures will certainly be a daunting endeavor in the years to come. Civilians will be able to document cultural relics like this that lay unspoken within the garrison. "People were under the initial impression the U.S. military erected them," said Kim, now a research director at the Yongsan Cultural Center. "The fact that the vast majority of people don't know much about these stones presents a great challenge to our research efforts." To investigate both the historical and structural origins of Namdan and Yongsan Garrison in their unaltered state, Kim emphasizes his itching efforts to build an accurate timeline spanning back to Joseon, perhaps even earlier, through the Japanese and American military influences, to provide insight into the altar. For his independent project he has collected early maps and photographs of the area, prior to its designation as Camp Coiner, that show dramatic changes to Yongsan's landscape. In 1920 the 26th Artillery Regiment of the Japanese Imperial Army turned a marching ground into an army barracks. After the occupation ended, Quonset huts and other military structures popped up when elements of the U.S. 7th Infantry Division took over prior to the Korean War. Until an official full-scale hand-to-soil examination of Namdan takes place, Kim says interacting with such records is key to understanding the gradual transformations the area underwent over the ages. "I believe geographical features of the area can paint a more vivid image of the events that occurred well before Yongsan Garrison was given its name," he said. "We have to take into account the natural elements as well as people to explain how and what changes to Namdan and other potential artifacts in Yongsan Garrison unfolded." Kim currently heads a special exhibition on Yongsan history at the War Memorial of Korea until May 6. Visit yongsanlegacy.org to read more about the history of Seoul's disappearing U.S. garrison or to contribute your own memories. Prosecutors on Tuesday demanded 30 years in prison for former President Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in a massive corruption scandal that toppled her from office early last year. They also asked the Seoul Central District Court to fine her 118.5 billion won ($110.4 million). The court is expected to deliver its ruling in late March or early April. Park, 66, was indicted in April last year on 18 charges including bribery, abuse of power and leaking state secrets. She was accused of colluding with her longtime friend and confidante Choi Soon-sil to extort 77.4 billion won from big conglomerates, including Samsung, Lotte and SK, in exchange for business favors. She was also found to have let Choi meddle in state affairs even though she held no official authority or post in the government. Park has pleaded not guilty. The disgraced ex-leader did not show up during the trial. She has refused to attend the hearing after the court extended her detention in October, raising questions over the fairness of the judiciary. Park was removed from office in March on a Constitutional Court ruling. She has been under presentencing detention since she was arrested later that month. Choi was sentenced to 20 years in prison two weeks ago and has appealed the ruling. (Yonhap) By Kang Aa-young, Park Si-soo Seoul City has launched a monitoring team consisting of 70 people from 33 countries as part of efforts to make the metropolitan city of 10 million friendlier for foreigners. The Sixth Seoul Quality of Life Monitors was launched at city hall on Monday. From March 1-Dec. 31, they will report on inconveniences and complaints facing foreign residents and tackle the problems. Each member will be able to present two reports a month to the city's Multicultural Division in charge of handling issues related to foreign residents. Last year, the fifth monitoring team, comprised of 100 foreigners, made 336 reports. They included typos, awkward or grammatically incorrect foreign expressions on signs. For example, Jongno 3-ga Station had been spelled differently on many Japanese signs until a Japanese member reported the errors late last year. The team also fixed many incorrect English signs. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Ulama alleged that death sentences are handed down to opponents of the regimes policies. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - Bahrains religious scholars or the Ulama reiterated the peoples call for judicial impartiality in the kingdom, describing the actions of the judiciary as un-Islamic. In a statement released on Tuesday, the Ulama alleged that death sentences are handed down to opponents of the regimes policies. 22 Bahrainis are currently on death row, and at least 6 have exhausted the appeal process. In the last two days alone, Manamas top court upheld three death sentences in highly controversial cases said to involve the use of torture and coerced confessions. The Ulama also described the recent death sentences handed down to six civilians by Manamas top military court as a blatant manipulation of the jurisdiction of military courts. /257 In a still from video footage from 1944, released Tuesday, a Chinese soldier takes a sock off one of the dead Korean sex slaves killed by the Japanese military. The Seoul Metropolitan Government and the SNU Human Rights Center released the 19-second footage through which an Allied Command soldier, surnamed Baldwin, filmed a mass grave site for Korean sex slaves in Tengchong, a western Chinese village bordering Myanmar. /Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government and SNU Human Rights Center WARNING: Graphic content. By Kim Se-jeong Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul National University Human Rights Center unveiled video footage, Tuesday, showing scores of bodies of Korean sex slaves being dumped after being killed by Japanese soldiers during World War II. The Japanese government has denied any responsibility for forcing tens of thousands of Korean women into sexual slavery. But the latest footage contradicts that claim, according to researchers studying the issue. The 19-second footage depicts a Chinese soldier looking at scores of naked bodies he carried to a hill. In another scene, he takes a sock off one of the bodies before walking away. Another scene shows smoke billowing from what appears to be a mound of human bodies at a different location. The research team said the footage was recorded Sept. 15, 1944, in Tengchong, a western Chinese village bordering Myanmar, by an Allied Command soldier, surnamed Baldwin. The team recovered the footage from the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration. In June that year, the Allied Command began attacking Tengchong and a nearby city which were under control of almost 3,000 Japanese soldiers. As defeat became more certain, the Japanese soldiers took their own lives and killed people stationed with them, including the sex slaves. At least 70 sex slaves were believed to have been there with the troops, among whom only 23 survived. Together with the footage, the team also revealed a document filed by the Allied Command reporting the killing of Korean sex slaves. "Night of the 13th (Sept. 13, 1944), the Japs shot 30 Korean girls in the city," the document said. The newly disclosed materials are expected to give more insight into the sex slavery issue which is one of the most contentious between Korea and Japan. With the precise figure unknown, scholars estimate the number of sex slaves to have been almost 200,000, mostly Koreans. Korea points to the Japanese military's accountability in mobilizing young women to provide sex for its troops, while Japan denies the military's role insisting they were voluntary sex workers who traveled with the troops for money. This latest footage was revealed during a conference on sex slavery organized by the city government. Kang Sung-hyun, a professor at the Institute for East Asian Studies of Sungkonghoe University who was one of the speakers at the conference, called the killings a massacre. "At a time when the Japanese government denies the existence of sex slaves and their massacre, today's revelation offers a meaningful glimpse into what really happened to the sex slaves," he said. Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon said: "We know all too well we shouldn't repeat this tragic history and one part of remembering it is documenting it. The city will continue to support the project that will help people remember history." The city's joint project with Seoul National University started in 2016. Researchers traveled all over the world to collect documents, objects, images and videos relevant to sex slavery. Last year, the team revealed a black-and-white video featuring Korean sex slaves. The city government is working to publish a book on the subject next month based on accounts from sex slavery victims and recently found documents. By Lee Kyung-min The prosecution demanded a 30-year prison term for former President Park Geun-hye, Tuesday, at the latest hearing in a corruption trial stemming from an influence-peddling scandal that removed her from office. It also called for the court to fine her 118.5 billion won ($110 million). The Seoul Central District Court held the final hearing for Park, who again refused to appear citing health problems. If she is found guilty, the sentencing for Park, who was indicted for receiving 59.2 billion won in bribes among 18 charges, will be held April 6. The harsh sentence demand was widely expected as taking 100 million won ($97,000) or over in bribes is punishable by a minimum prison term of ten years. The Supreme Court sentencing guideline stipulates that a minimum of an 11-year prison term be imposed for those who received 500 million won or over in bribes. Choi Soon-sil, Park's longtime friend and the central figure in the scandal, who faced 13 out of the 18 charges Park did, was sentenced to 20 years. Prosecutors said Park deserved harsh punishment for the influence-peddling scandal that undermined constitutional values and the public trust in the judicial system. The charges against her were substantiated by evidence including witness statements and meeting minutes made by the presidential chief of staff and presidential secretaries, they added. "Park is the central figure in the influence-peddling scandal. She was head of state and a political figure with ultimate power, and had full authority in managing administrative affairs," the prosecution said. "She gave powerful discretion to a private individual, Choi, thereby subjecting the public to the unprecedented trauma stemming from the scandal, from which we can never easily recover." Such an act, the prosecution added, violated the public's expectation that the country would be governed by socially agreed-upon principles, and that individuals would be respected for their own merit not for their connections. "It also violated the public expectation that people should be guaranteed a fair opportunity regardless of their occupation or status and lead a life in a free and just country," it said. Allegations concerning Choi were raised multiple times but Park continued to deny them, dubbing them as "underhanded tactics to rile up the public" and "political retaliation," a move by which she chose to distort the truth and deceive the public, it added. Fostering culture was her major policy initiative, however, Park orchestrated a scheme to deny state subsidies to cultural figures who had different political viewpoints than her, thereby suppressing free speech in the art sector, according to the prosecution. The prosecution said she continued to remain uncooperative with investigative efforts, thereby reneging on her earlier promise to answer truthfully. "She never allowed the prosecution to search the presidential office and never appeared at Constitutional Court hearings or those in criminal trials for other defendants," it said. "Park has shown no remorse or apologized, and has deflected responsibility to her close aides. We deem a corresponding punishment is required. An incident of this nature should never be repeated." In response, Park's lawyers said she did not receive any benefit, financial or otherwise. "Park is single, with no children or spouse to support. She had no motive to seek financial benefit," one said. Allegation that firms landed work contracts as a result of Choi's influence lack merit, the lawyers said, as some of the firms implicated would have won the contracts without personal connections to her. Park and Choi were not briefed in detail about the allegations and many claims by the prosecution were based on supposition and conjecture, and lacked facts. The impeachment of Park did not call into question every aspect of state affairs she oversaw as former president, and while she should be subject to ethical and moral accountability, criminal punishment was unreasonable they added. Almost all figures implicated in the scandal were convicted as courts said they conspired with Park to advance their interest, except for Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong. Lee was released on appeal after the Seoul High Court handed down a suspended prison term, overturning a lower court ruling that sentenced him to five years in prison. Former chief of staff Kim Ki-choon and former Culture Minister Cho Yoon-sun are serving four-year and two-year prison term, respectively. They were indicted for abusing their power by creating a "cultural blacklist," based on which over 9,000 liberal cultural figures and organizations were denied state support and subject to punitive measures for criticizing Park or policy initiatives under her administration. Punishments included budget reductions or unilateral termination of employment, which the appellate court said were a direct result of government policy directives, the tone of which was set after Park openly criticized the country's cultural sector for being left-leaning. Former presidential secretary An Chong-bum, who was indicted alongside Choi for conspiring with Park to have 50 business groups "donate" 77.4 billion won to two foundations Mir and K-Sports set up and controlled by Choi, is serving six-year prison term. Lotte Group Chairman Shin Dong-bin, indicted for giving 7 billion won to the K-Sports Foundation as a bribe in return for securing the group's license to operate a duty-free shop in Seoul, is serving two-and-a-half-year prison term. Former presidential secretary for civil affairs Woo Byung-woo was sentenced to two-and-a-half-year imprisonment for failing to prevent influence-peddling despite volumes of evidence that suggested Choi's illicit activities. Woo, known for his "unrestricted" power and authority, was indicted for overlooking or aiding and abetting a wide range of criminal activities conducted by Choi.The prosecution had filed nine charges including abuse of power and dereliction of duty as head of the presidential office responsible for monitoring the corruption of high-ranking public officials. Choi's niece Jang Si-ho, former Vice Culture Minister Kim Jong, visual art director Cha Eun-taek, former Health and Welfare Minister Moon Hyung-pyo, former CEO of the Korea Creative Content Agency Song Sung-gak are all serving prison terms. The court will also deliver verdict for former presidential secretary for economic affairs Cho Won-dong alongside that or Park's. Cho was indicted for pressuring CJ Group Co-Chairman Sohn Kyung-shik to remove his niece Lee Mi-kyung from a CJ vice chair post in 2013. By Bernard Rowan Trump spent some time this week talking about how he covers up his bald spot. He needs to talk about the bald spot in his trade policy and how he can't cover it up. Populists face a tragic flaw. Their rhetoric commits them to irrational actions. Irrational actions cause negative results and more rhetoric. Populists stick to their scripts, treating disagreeing information as affirming their rhetoric. Positions polarize, intensifying negative and unsustainable results. So goes Trump's tenure as president in various areas, in particular trade. Given all he's promised and said, I don't expect Trump to drop his isolationist, protectionist, and anti-globalist behavior. I don't expect him to view pushback or retaliation as a symptom of bad decision-making. I expect American voters will vote differently in several years. Trump's populism in governing America is costing way too much. South Korea faces tariffs on solar panels and washing machines. Next in the balance is steel. Most analyses find this mistaken and likely to backfire. South Korea has taken its case to the World Trade Organization. Korea seeks payments related to an old case the U.S. lost. I can't find anyone who has much good to say about Trump's tariffs. Even that stalwart friend of the right and who have you, the Brookings Institution, has written negatively. Former leaders, former heads of economic think tanks, current counterparts, and nearly the entire world condemns this step backwards. I worry this feeds Trump's bottomless ego and plays to his hand. He likes having cases, issues, and matters to rail against. The telltale sign of Trumpian populism is the absence of a countermeasure. There's no one in his cabinet with current knowledge of international economics and international economic relations who stands up to the president and identifies the irrationality of his positions. Of course, groupthink characterizes Trump's coterie. Trump is wrong to say the recent GM decision to close a plant in South Korea is because the plant will return to America. In fact, GM announced plans to invest $2.8 billion in Korea over the next decade, not to move to Detroit. Trump's tariffs on solar panels won't stop the Chinese, and they won't in themselves increase American jobs or demand for American solar panels. Trump's picks for protection sound like a senile Mafia boss trying to settle 30-year old scores. I thought Trump promised to make big deals on the heels of his America Great Again theme park. No one's out there negotiating much. Here's betting America's partners will begin to show sour on bilateralism. I've read that two-way trade negotiations no longer suit the nature of most international trade and commerce. America worked to create a leadership reality Trump wants to destroy. Reactionary behavior is the mark of a populist gone demagogue. Trump thinks his tariffs are "targeted" and his actions mirror an advanced American missile with guidance systems. But his tariffs are like a perversion of a Leroy Nieman impressionist artwork. They'll splatter many countries and collateral industries and companies associated with the main "targets," hitting economies worldwide and earning more ill will. They'll reap global retardation beyond the surface of this superficial initiative in search of its death. Steel tariffs will not prevent trans-shipping of steel and are unlikely to succeed because cheap steel will still find a market. The United States government subsidizes many goods and industries. Why we think we can outdo other countries that choose to do the same is inane. We can stamp our feet and say we're America. Who cares? Multilateral, regional, and global trade arrangements won't go away because of Trump. The Trans Pacific Partnership will continue as well as China's ascent. America retreats to her shores, destined to watch the trillions go elsewhere. Will this nightmare end? The president sacrifices credibility and capacity for his pet images. It's a below B-movie that needs to end its run. Trump's bald spot on trade isn't a good imitation of leadership. Trump can't see the candles in the darkness he's determined to bring down on us all. Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University, where he has served for 23 years. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University. By Jun Ji-hye Kakao will launch a translation service using a chatbot system in February. The service will help users, for example, to chat with foreign friends more easily, the firm said. Since September, the country's leading chat platform operator has been beta testing its in-house translation tool based on its artificial intelligence (AI) platform Kakao I. Through the beta version, the firm has improved the quality of its translation service. Kakao I is a unified AI platform comprised of five engines _ voice recognition, visual recognition, natural language processing, big data-based recommendation and translation. The Korean company said, beginning with the release of the chatbot translation service, it will add translation-related features to its various services such as Kakao TV. Its translation service highlights "neural machine translation," providing further greater results than those of existing services based on statistical analysis. Currently, Kakao I supports English translation only, but Chinese and Japanese translation will be added by the end of this month. "Our self-test showed our translation service produced the best results in Chinese-Korean and Korea-Chinese translation compared to other translation engines in Korea," an official said. "Tests of Japanese-Korean and Korea-Japanese translation proved their quality as well." The company stressed its translation service is capable of recognizing honorific and casual forms of languages as well as written and spoken styles. Kakao is the only domestic firm offering such translation functions, it added. The company plans to release a Kakao I translation app by the end of the year that will offer an even higher level of service. It is also working to expand its translation engine to other services. "We plan to add our translation engine to Media Daum, which will enable users to translate content in different languages, and to Kakao TV that will automatically create subtitles or translate subtitles into difference languages," the official said. The firm added it aims at an open source platform, so individuals and other companies can utilize Kakao's various AI technologies and services. "Likewise, we will disclose our translation engine to individuals and other companies that need translation services," the official said. SK Telecom CEO Park Jung-ho speaks during a press conference at a hotel in Barcelona, Spain, Monday. / Courtesy of SK Telecom By Kang Seung-woo BARCELONA, Spain -- The mobile chief of LG Electronics hinted Monday the tech company may launch its new G7 flagship smartphone in the first half of the year, amid rumors that it may drop the G-series branding and choose a completely new name. Hwang Jeong-hwan, LG Electronics' mobile chief, speaks during a press conference at a hotel in Barcelona, Spain, Monday. / Yonhap / Korea Times file photo By Kim Jae-kyoung Samsung Electronics has scrapped its plans to build a production base for smartphones or home appliances in Myanmar due to an unfavorable administrative environment as well as lingering political uncertainties. The world's leading smartphone manufacturer, which has three production facilities in Vietnam, has been considering building another plant in Myanmar to capitalize on the country's cheap labor and rising opportunities in Southeast Asia. Samsung has "made a final decision" not to build a manufacturing plant in Myanmar after a recent visit to the Southeast Asian country, sources said. It has been reviewing the investment as the Myanmar government continued to ask the firm to build production facilities there over the past few years, they said. Samsung Electronics currently has one marketing branch in the country's capital, Yangon, which is operated under Thai Samsung Electronics. "Recently, a small group of Samsung officials, including a ranking executive from the head office, visited Myanmar and had a meeting with Myanmar officials," said a Myanmar-based source with direct knowledge about the matter. "After the meeting, Samsung decided not to make any investment as the Myanmar government demanded that Samsung construct power plants and roads (at the company's own expense) that are essential to build and operate a factory," he added. In January 2013, the Korean electronics giant won approval from the Myanmar government to build a factory near Yangon. However, the investment plan has been deferred as the Myanmar government and Samsung have failed to iron out differences on key issues, such as land area, investment incentives and power supply. Another source familiar with the matter who regularly visits Myanmar confirmed the cancellation of the investment, saying there are a couple of additional factors that discouraged Samsung from making the investment _ political uncertainty and decentralization. "People expect that once Aung San Suu Kyi became the leader, there would be many positive changes on the economic front but so far little has changed," he said. "Also, the county's move toward decentralization, driven by conflicts arising from many ethnic groups and different languages, are raising concerns that it will make the government's decision-making process more complicated and inefficient." Samsung denied that it has recently considered investment in Myanmar. In a written answer to The Korea Times, a company spokesman said, "In 2013, we considered building production lines for TVs in Myanmar but dropped the plan in the same year due to a lack of infrastructure, such as power and (industrial) water." "We have never reviewed it again since then." Samsung has been aggressively looking for a new manufacturing hub in underdeveloped areas, including Southeast Asia, in a bid to respond to rising labor costs in China and Vietnam and to develop new markets. The company has three manufacturing plants in Vietnam _ two for mobile phones in Hanoi and one for TVs and home appliances in Ho Chi Minh City. Myanmar is emerging as one of the most attractive investment destinations thanks to low labor costs and robust economic growth. With a population of 53.68 million, the country saw its gross domestic product grow 7 percent in 2017, the fastest expansion among 10 ASEAN member states. Vehicles are parked in the lot outside the Kendallville Event Center for the annual mayors breakfast on Feb. 15. The lot is owned by a defunct development firm and not the owners of the event center. The parking lot has accrued about $110,000 in unpaid property taxes. The daughter of Lebanons prominent Shia leader Imam Musa al-Sadr, who went missing with two companions nearly 40 years ago in Libya, says she strongly believes that her father alive and being kept in prison. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - The daughter of Lebanons prominent Shia leader Imam Musa al-Sadr, who went missing with two companions nearly 40 years ago in Libya, says she strongly believes that her father alive and being kept in prison. The documents and evidence show that he is alive and imprisoned as there is no proof to the otherwise, Houra al-Sadr said on Sunday. She added that concerted efforts are underway to shed light on the fate of the cleric. He is still alive and kept incarcerated. Nevertheless, he has not yet been found and reunited with us, she pointed out. On October 13, 2017, Lebanese investigative Judge Zaher Hamadeh issued an arrest warrant for former Libyan Prime Minister Abdessalam Jalloud over the disappearance of Imam Mousa Sadr. Hamadeh found Jalloud guilty and tried him in absentia for the cleric's abduction. Jalloud was the prime minister of Libya between 1972 and 1977, and operated alongside slain dictator Muammar Gaddafi as second-in-command. He disappeared from public view in 1995. He is the last surviving leader of Libyas 1969 September Revolution. The Lebanese parliament speaker says he strongly believes that Sadr is still alive, calling for collective efforts to find out about the fate of the cleric and his companions. Speaking at a ceremony marking the 39th anniversary of Sadrs disappearance in Beirut, Nabih Berri called on Lebanese media outlets to follow up on the clergymans fate, stressing that Lebanese judicial officials were also looking into the case. The fact-finding mission formed to inquire about the case has however been unable to visit Libya due to violence and political instability in the North African country, the top Lebanese legislator argued. Imam Musa al-Sadr was a highly revered Shia cleric of Iranian descent, who founded the Lebanese Amal (Hope) Movement in 1974. He came to Lebanon in 1959 to work for the rights of Shia Muslims in the port city of Tyre, located about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Beirut. The prominent Shia cleric (pictured below) disappeared on August 31, 1978, during an official visit to the Libyan capital Tripoli. He was accompanied by Sheikh Mohammad Yaqoub and journalist Abbas Badreddine. Lebanon still holds former Libyan officials responsible for the disappearance of the trio. Since Gaddafi was deposed and killed in 2011, Lebanon and Iran have repeatedly called on the Libyan government to launch an investigation into Sadr's disappearance. Hannibal Gaddafi, the son of the Libyan dictator, is currently in custody in Lebanon, facing charges of withholding information regarding Sadrs case. In August 2016, Sadr's family filed a lawsuit against Gaddafi over his role in the disappearance of the senior Shia cleric. /129 Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. Lebanese Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on Monday that Lebanon is powerful and can face all the Zionist threats against its land and maritime border and resources through depending on its golden formula, army-people-resistance, rejecting concessions in face of the Israeli enemy. (AhlulBayt News Agency) - Lebanese Hezbollah Deputy Secretary General Sheikh Naim Qassem stressed on Monday that Lebanon is powerful and can face all the Zionist threats against its land and maritime border and resources through depending on its golden formula, army-people-resistance, rejecting concessions in face of the Israeli enemy. Sheikh Qassem refused any political dependence on foreign powers, emphasizing that the Lebanese themselves can cooperatively decide their destiny. Launching Hezbollah electoral machine in the two provinces of Mount Lebanon and the North, his eminence stressed that the party considers that the resistances people do contribute to its path, stressing that Hezbollah will always combine resisting the enemies with building the state. Regionally, Sheikh Qassem said that the US hinders any initiative to end Syria crisis and covers up the Saudi massacres in Yemen, asserting that Al Saud regime knows it will lose its war against the Yemenis. /129 Rome, February 27 - Rome city council on Tuesday deployed a task force to deal with the problem of icy holes across the Italian capital. Some 32 teams of technicians have fanned out across the city to free up the holes which have turned into treacherous pitfalls for pedestrians and drivers. New York, February 27 - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles had contacts with Geely of China before the Chinese group became the largest shareholder in Daimler, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. It said Geely and FCA talked about a possible merger but the preliminary talks were interrupted in mid-2017 because of differences on valuations. Geely is a Chinese multinational carmaker headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. It sells passenger vehicles under the Geely Auto, Volvo, Lynk & Co, PROTON, and Lotus brands and commercial vehicles under the London EV Company and Yuan Cheng New Energy Commercial Vehicle brands. New York, February 27 - Fiat Chrysler Automobiles had contacts with Geely of China before the Chinese group became the largest shareholder in Daimler, Bloomberg reported Tuesday. It said Geely and FCA talked about a possible merger but the preliminary talks were interrupted in mid-2017 because of differences on valuations. The billionaire who controls Geely, Li Shufu, contacted FCA while evaluating options to expand outside China, Bloomberg reported. Li decided not to present a formal offer because of differences of opinion over the future evaluation of FCA. There has been a lot of speculation about Chinese interest in FCA recently. Among the potential bidders, media said, were Dongfeng Motor, Great Wall, Guangzhou Automobile and Geely. The latter denied a bid fro FCA in mid-August. Geely is a multinational carmaker headquartered in Hangzhou, Zhejiang. It sells passenger vehicles under the Geely Auto, Volvo, Lynk & Co, PROTON, and Lotus brands and commercial vehicles under the London EV Company and Yuan Cheng New Energy Commercial Vehicle brands. Rome, February 27 - Small independent nursing unions will strike across Italy for 48 hours on April 12 and 13, source said Tuesday. They said that a "miserable" new national contract that was recently signed "will not stop us". The unions, Nursing-up and Nursind, already struck on February 23, when they said 80% of their members walked off the job. Jill Soloway, the creator of the hit show Transparent, is launching a new book imprint with Amazon Publishing, the company announced Tuesday. Called Topple Books after Soloways production company, the imprint will spotlight the voices of women of color, gender non-conforming, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer writers, Amazon said in a news release. The launch of the imprint continues Soloways years-long association with Amazon. Soloway created the groundbreaking, Emmy Award-winning Transparent, about a transgender woman who comes out to her family after her retirement. She also co-created I Love Dick, based on Chris Kraus book; the show starring Kathryn Hahn and Kevin Bacon ran for one season on Amazon before being canceled in January. Transparent is set to return for a fifth season, but without its star, Jeffrey Tambor, who was fired from the show after being accused of sexual harassment by a cast member and crew member. Tambor denies the allegations. Advertisement Soloway will serve as editor at large for Topple Books, which will publish fiction and nonfiction. We live in a complicated, messy world where every day we have to proactively re-center our own experiences by challenging privilege, Soloway said in a statement. With Topple Books were looking for those undeniably compelling essential voices so often not heard. I cant think of a more perfect collaborator than Amazon Publishing to make our dream of a revolutionary publishing imprint come true. Soloway is the author of one book, Tiny Ladies in Shiny Pants, a 2005 collection of autobiographical essays. Theres no word yet on which authors will be published by Topple Books. Mikyla Bruder, the publisher of Amazon Publishing, said in a statement, Amazon Publishing and Little A are committed to publishing books from a diverse array of writers that inspire, connect and entertain. We look forward to sharing the voices and stories that Jill discovers with readers. agatha.french@latimes.com @agathafrenchy The White House has reached an informal deal with aerospace giant Boeing Co. on a contract for the next generation of presidential transport aircraft. The $3.9-billion deal, announced Tuesday, is a fixed-price contract to develop and build two new Air Force One planes. That price includes a $600-million contract previously awarded to Chicago-based Boeing in September for preliminary design efforts, and a follow-on contract that has yet to be awarded for further engineering, manufacturing and development. The Air Force One program first drew President Trumps ire in December 2016, when he criticized the price of the 747 presidential jumbo jets, tweeting that costs were out of control, more than $4 billion and that the order should be canceled. A meeting with Boeing Chief Executive Dennis Muilenburg later followed, in which the aerospace executive told reporters that the Air Force One planes would be built for less than $4 billion. Advertisement But on Tuesday, Deputy Press Secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement that the Air Force One contract would save taxpayers more than $1.4 billion thanks to the presidents negotiations. That would put the original cost estimates at more than $5 billion. Gidley said in a subsequent email that the $5-billion figure was based on an older estimate from the U.S. Air Force with a 50% assurance and that, with new economic cost adjustments, the government cost figure would be right around or a little above $5 billion. The Air Force did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this figure. But Richard Aboulafia, aviation analyst for Teal Group, said the reality has always been about $4 billion. Thats supported by a Department of Defense fiscal year 2019 budget estimate document released this month, which indicated that the Air Force One program, called the presidential aircraft recapitalization program, was expected to cost about $3.95 billion through fiscal year 2023. Since the cost to complete the program was listed as continuing, Aboulafia said it could be reasonable to expect costs near or a little higher than $4 billion. The new Air Force One planes will replace the VC-25A aircraft, the specially modified version of the 747 currently used as the presidential planes. Those aircraft have been in use since President George H.W. Bushs administration in 1990. The two 747-8 aircraft that will become the next Air Force One planes already exist they were originally ordered in 2013 to serve a now-defunct Russian airline that ceased operations two years later, as previously reported by the publication Defense One. The airline never took ownership of the planes. The presidential aircraft have unique characteristics, including a communications suite, large galleys, a self-defense system and structural modifications intended to protect the president and others onboard for an extended period of time. The aircrafts high price tag covers very little of the actual aircraft, Aboulafia said, with the overwhelming bulk going to the life-sustaining equipment onboard. Advertisement Boeing said in a statement Tuesday that the company was proud to build the next generation of Air Force One and that the president negotiated a good deal on behalf of the American people. The new Air Force One planes should be in use by 2024. samantha.masunaga@latimes.com Twitter: @smasunaga Craig Wright, who claims he invented bitcoin, is accused of swindling more than $5 billion worth of the cryptocurrency and other assets from the estate of a computer-security expert. Wright, who claimed in 2016 that he created the computer-based currency under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, schemed to use phony contracts and signatures to lay claim to bitcoins mined by colleague Dave Kleiman, another cryptocurrency adherent, who died in 2013, according to a lawsuit filed by Kleimans brother. Kleimans family contends that they own the rights to more than 1 million bitcoins and blockchain technologies Kleiman mined and developed during his lifetime and that the assets value exceeds $5 billion, according to the Feb. 14 filing in federal court in West Palm Beach, Fla. Craig forged a series of contracts that purported to transfer Daves assets to Craig and/or companies controlled by him, lawyers for Kleimans family said in the complaint. Craig backdated these contracts and forged Daves signature on them. Advertisement Wright, an Australian who lives in London, couldnt immediately be reached for comment on the suit, which also accuses the entrepreneur of violating partnership duties to Kleiman and unjustly enriching himself at his colleagues expense. There is no attorney listed for Wright on the docket. Wright and Kleiman formed a Florida-based company, W&K Info Defense Research LLC, in 2011 to focus on cybersecurity, according to the court filing. The pair also had earlier worked together on the development of bitcoin and had extensive mining operations, according to the familys lawsuit. The pair controlled as many as 1.1 million bitcoins at the time of Kleimans death, according to the suit. They were held in trusts set up in Singapore, the Seychelles Islands and the U.K., the suit says. Wright said in a 2016 blog post and interviews that he was the main participant in a team that developed the original bitcoin software under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. After skeptics questioned the claims, Wright said that he decided not to present any further evidence to prove he is the creator of bitcoin. In the filing, Kleimans brother includes what he says is email traffic between himself and Wright in which the entrepreneur indicates he may have been holding 300,000 of Kleimans bitcoins. Dave mentioned that you had 1 million bitcoins in the trust and since you said he has 300,000 as his part, the computer experts brother wrote, I was figuring the other 700,000 is yours, he added in the email. Is that correct? Around that, Wright wrote back. Minus what was needed for the companys use. Feeley writes for Bloomberg. Ontarios Citizens Business Bank is buying Pasadena lender Community Bank, a deal that will create a $12-billion institution that lends to small and mid-size businesses in Southern and Central California. The deal, announced Tuesday, will make Citizens the eighth-largest independent bank headquartered in California, leapfrogging Santa Ana lender Banc of California. Citizens will buy Community, which is privately held, for $878 million in cash and stock. The deal still must be approved by shareholders of both banks, as well as by regulators. Executives said they expect the acquisition to close in this years third quarter, though analysts suggested that regulators could delay the deal. Because the combination would create an institution with more than $10 billion in assets, it is subject to stricter scrutiny. Also, analysts noted that Community Bank was giving a rating of needs to improve on its compliance with the Community Reinvestment Act, a federal law that requires banks to lend in low-income communities. Advertisement A poor CRA rating can hold up bank mergers and acquisitions, but David Misch, Community Banks chief executive, said in a call with analysts that the bank has been working to improve its rating. Christopher Myers, CEO of Citizens parent, CVB Financial Corp., said during the call he thinks the deal will be approved on time. Citizens Business Bank, founded in 1974 as Chino Valley Bank, started out serving the Inland Empire and since has grown to cover much of Los Angeles and Orange counties. Over the past few years, it has continued to expand, buying small banks headquartered in Ventura and Visalia. It has 54 branches, stretching from Madera to San Diego. Community Bank, founded in 1945, has a smaller footprint, with 17 offices in L.A., Orange and Riverside counties. Most of the areas served by Community Bank already are within Citizens territory, and executives said this deal is more about combining balance sheets as well as acquiring Communitys bankers and customers and offering more products and services to those customers. Both institutions focus on lending to small and mid-size businesses, but Myers said Citizens offers several services, such as home lending, equipment financing and trust management services, that Community does not. Unlike Citizens last few acquisitions, this one will lead to the closure of several bank branches. Community Bank has nine branches within a few miles of a Citizens branch, including locations in Glendale, Pasadena, Corona and Ontario. Advertisement Myers said all of those overlapping locations will be consolidated, though he said its not clear whether it will be the Citizens or Community branches that are shuttered. james.koren@latimes.com Follow me: @jrkoren A federal judge on Monday temporarily barred California environmental officials from requiring cancer warnings on food products that contain traces of the herbicide glyphosate. The injunction by U.S. District Judge William Shubb leaves glyphosate on the states so-called Proposition 65 list as a chemical known to the state of California to cause cancer, but bars anyone from enforcing a requirement to warn consumers about the presence of the herbicide. Major agricultural industry groups sued the state, alleging that a warning label on food would violate 1st Amendment free speech protections by compelling retailers to post false, misleading and highly controversial statements on their products. Chandler Goule, chief executive officer for the National Assn. of Wheat Growers, the lead plaintiff in the case, praised the decision and vowed to continue the fight to invalidate the listing of glyphosate under Proposition 65, the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, passed by voters in 1986. Advertisement We are pleased Judge Shubb granted our request, which is the first step in our efforts to prevent California from forcing farmers, growers and manufacturers to place false and misleading labels on agricultural products, Goule said in a written statement. The state of California argued that the warning issue would be largely resolved later this year, when regulators would set a minimum threshold for glyphosate traces in food and food products, below which the chemical would pose no significant risk to the public. The state Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, part of the California Environmental Protection Agency, said Tuesday that it expects to set that no significant risk level later this year. We are pleased that the listing of glyphosate remains in effect, and we believe our actions were lawful, the office said in a written statement. In his ruling, Shubb said a cancer warning would be misleading at best, given that a reasonable consumer would not understand that a substance is known to cause cancer where only one health organization had found that the substance in question causes cancer and virtually all other government agencies and health organizations that have reviewed studies on the chemical had found there was no evidence that it caused cancer. An ingredient in Monsantos trademarked pesticide Roundup, glyphosate is one of the most widely used herbicides in agriculture. Environmental activists have pushed to ban it, citing some evidence that it causes tumors in laboratory animals. The International Agency for Research on Cancer, part of the World Health Organization, concluded in 2015 that glyphosate was a probable carcinogen in a ruling surrounded by controversy over whether contrary evidence was ignored or omitted. European pesticide regulators and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, however, have disagreed with the cancer agencys conclusion, and have approved the use of glyphosate. In December, the U.S. EPA said there was no evidence that glyphosate was a human carcinogen, dealing a major blow to efforts to ban it in the U.S., where growers have used an estimated 1.8 million tons of the chemical since it was introduced in the mid-1970s. Advertisement The bulk of glyphosate was sprayed on tens of millions of acres of corn and soy in the Midwest. But California growers also applied it to more than 200 crops across 4 million acres, including 1.5 million acres of almonds, making it their most widely used herbicide, according to the state Department of Pesticide Regulation, a branch of the state EPA. Monsanto has genetically engineered major commodity crops to withstand Roundup, placing the chemical at the center of a broader debate over genetically modified organisms, or GMOs. geoffrey.mohan@latimes.com Follow me: @LATgeoffmohan If Amazon succeeds in turning Alexa into the brains of the modern smart home, then Ring will provide the eyes. In a deal that expands Amazons network of internet-connected household gadgets and with it, the e-commerce giants reach into customers homes the Seattle company has agreed to buy Ring, a Santa Monica maker of high-tech doorbells, for a reported $1 billion. For the record: An earlier version of this article said Amazon acquired Rachio and Scout Alarm. Amazon invested in those companies. Ring doorbells are already being used by 2 million customers. Its improbable success comes five years after its founder, serial entrepreneur Jamie Siminoff, was rejected on the TV show Shark Tank. But the company proved there was demand for video-enabled doorbells, which enable users to see outside their homes via smartphone or computer. The technology provides a sense of security and a salve for one of the most nagging problems in the e-commerce era: package thieves. Advertisement Thats a huge benefit for Amazon, which has revolutionized the way people shop and the way goods are delivered. But theres more to this acquisition than protecting parcels, analysts say. Amazon has been quietly investing in technology to bolster its smart home capabilities. Amazon has in recent years focused extensively on Alexa, the popular home speaker that also doubles as an artificial intelligence device that can answer questions and make Amazon purchases. In 2015 the company invested in smart lawn sprinkler company Rachio. That same year it also invested in home security company Scout Alarm. Amazons really watering the grass, so to speak, to grow into our homes and become more integrated in our lives in ways we havent even fathomed yet, said Matt Schreiber, president and chief investment strategist at WBI. This isnt just about Rings doorbell technology. Theyve envisioned Alexa as your personal assistant, as your butler, as the hired help without having a hired help. This is the help for everyone on the planet, and theyre not done yet. With investments in so many industries retail, grocery, hardware, AI its not a stretch to imagine a future where someone can tell Alexa to buy groceries, a delivery worker can pick up the food from an Amazon-owned Whole Foods, and a customer can monitor doorstep delivery via Ring. This is like I, Robot, Schreiber said, referring to the 2004 science fiction film in which humans create robots to serve as personal assistants. Hopefully the robots wont take over, though. That would be terrifying. Advertisement One of the newest, and most controversial, experiments includes Amazon Key, a service that allows couriers to enter homes to drop off packages. If successful, it could eradicate package theft. If unsuccessful, it could erode consumer trust in Amazons business. Rings camera-equipped doorbells could give hesitant Amazon shoppers some reassurance in letting strangers open their doors. This shows how serious Amazon is about privacy and security, said Michael Pachter, an analyst for Wedbush, who thinks Ring will give Amazon a jumping-off point to expand even further into home security. With Ring, you can set camera zones, Pachter added. You can pull it up on your phone, trigger a light, and see what your camera sees. Theres no reason why it cant trigger an alarm too. Advertisement Siminoff came up with the idea for a video-enabled doorbell after he realized he couldnt hear his front door ring while brainstorming business ideas inside the garage of his Pacific Palisades home. Despite the Shark Tank setback, his TV appearance in November 2013 sparked an uptick in sales, giving the company new life. Nothing ever will supersede Shark Tank. Wed have been gone, Siminoff told The Times last year. Ring has raised more than $200 million in funding and counts Richard Branson among its investors. The company has also received capital from Amazons Alexa Fund, which invests in companies developing voice-enabled technology. Advertisement Siminoff has said in the past that he works very closely with Amazon, but was wary of the company because of its size and influence. To say Amazon will not compete with you is lunacy because they compete with everybody, he told CNBC. Theyre like nuclear power. They are very, very powerful and you can get amazing, clean energy from them, but theres also the possibility of getting human radiation if youre not careful. Rings sale marks the biggest exit for an L.A.-area start-up since Unilever bought Dollar Shave Club for $1 billion in 2016. At least three local venture capital firms have invested in Ring: Upfront Ventures, QueensBridge Venture Partners and VTF. A spokesperson for Ring said the company employed 2,000 team members, but did not clarify how many were full-time workers. The company had 2 million customers and sales of $160 million in 2016, according to IHS Markit. Advertisement The acquisition of Ring also gives Amazon more ammunition to take on rival Google, which is expanding into video doorbells with its line of smart home hardware called Nest. Amazon faces the risk of confusing consumers now that it has so many overlapping products, analysts said. The tech giant already offers a smart camera called Cloud Cam, which is used for Amazon Key. And it acquired smart camera and doorbell start-up Blink in December. Its like heres this widget, heres that widget, said Frank Gillett, an analyst with Forrester. Confusion would not be surprising given theyve just run out and bought a bunch of companies. Thats the mess theyre headed into. Advertisement Amazon will have to figure out whether it wants to continue partnering with different companies or consolidate the services its hardware provides, Gillett said. Neither Ring nor Amazon would discuss the terms of the deal. Reuters, citing an unidentified source familiar with the matter, reported that the price is more than $1 billion. It would mark Amazons second-biggest acquisition after the nearly $14-billion purchase of Whole Foods in June. Well be able to achieve even more by partnering with an inventive, customer-centric company like Amazon, Ring said in a statement. We look forward to being a part of the Amazon team as we work toward our vision for safer neighborhoods. Advertisement Rings home security products and services have delighted customers since Day 1, Amazon said in a statement. Were excited to work with this talented team and help them in their mission to keep homes safe and secure. To read this article in Spanish click here Times staff writer Alejandra Reyes-Velarde contributed to this report. UPDATES: Advertisement 7 p.m.: This article was updated with a new focus on smart home technology. 3:25 p.m.: This article was updated to include more context about Rings history. This article was originally published at 1:35 p.m. Mika Brzezinski apologizes for homophobic insult of Pompeo By Tracy Brown Morning Joe co-hosts Mika Brzezinski, left, and Joe Scarborough. (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski has apologized for referring to Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo as wannabe dictator President Trumps butt boy. During a segment discussing the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi on the MSNBC show Wednesday morning, Brzezinski questioned whether Pompeos comments were the words of a patriot. I understand that Donald Trump doesnt care. He doesnt care, said Brzezinski. But why doesnt Mike Pompeo care right now? Are the pathetic deflections that we just heard when he appeared on Fox & Friends, is that a patriot speaking? Or a wannabe dictators butt boy? Critics were quick to point out the homophobic nature of the insult, and Brzezinski promptly apologized on Twitter for her super bad choice of words. (While sometimes referring to a person eager to please for personal gain, a butt boy is also understood as a derogatory term for gay men.) I should have said water boy like for football teams or something like that, tweeted Brzezinski. So Sorry! And its not the first time Trumps critics have been called out for relying on homophobic jokes in their efforts to mock the president. Totally agree with you -SUPER BAD choice of words .. I should have said water boy... like for football teams or something like that.. apologize to @SenatorDurbin too! SO SORRY! https://t.co/zIqsGdK3Tk Mika Brzezinski (@morningmika) December 12, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Baby, Its Cold Outside bites back as fans embrace embattled holiday song Fans are pushing back against the Baby, Its Cold Outside backlash, driving the song to surge in both sales and streaming. (Eric Risberg / Associated Press) Baby, Its Cold Outside got a chilly reception on some airwaves earlier this year, but the seasonal favorite is heating up the charts, thanks to loyal fans who are pushing back against, well, the backlash. The tune has grown controversial in recent years, due to a changing cultural climate and conversations cropping up in the wake of #MeToo, prompting some radio stations to remove the song from airplay. But the tide appears to be turning for Baby, Its Cold Outside. On Monday, San Francisco-area radio station KOIT-FM (96.5) announced that it had returned the song to its rotation after a vast majority of listeners in an online poll voted to have it reinstated. KOITs listeners have spoken, and the overwhelming message is they do want to hear Baby, Its Cold Outside on our station, as they have throughout the years, KOIT program director Brian Figula said in Mondays statement. The radio station was one of several that had excised the song from their playlists, is now among those that reversed their original decision after fan outrage. And its not just on the radio where Baby is gaining ground. Billboards Holiday Digital Song Sales chart for the week of Dec. 15 feature three different versions of the song, with Dean Martins 1959 rendition at No. 2, Idina Menzel and Michael Bubles 2014 duet reentering the chart at No. 29, and Leon Redbone and Zooey Deschanels 2003 duet from the Elf soundtrack debuting at No. 41. As for radio stations, they remain dedicated to giving the audience what it wants. More than seven out of every ten listeners who responded said although some lyrics of the song may reflect a different era and a different sensibility than today, still they love the tradition and history of the song, and want to hear it as part of their holiday season, Figulas statement added. At KOIT, we always listen carefully when our listeners take time to comment. In this case, it was very obvious what they wanted us to do. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Selena series based on the life of the Tejano singer ordered at Netflix By Los Angeles Times Staff The late Tejano singer Selena was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Grammys. (Photo by Rick Corrales) Netflix is ready to Bidi Bidi Bom Bom. The streaming platform has ordered a new scripted series about the life of famed Tejano singer Selena Quintanilla. Selena: The Series will follow the coming-of-age of a young Selena as her dreams of becoming a professional singer come to fruition, forcing her and her family to make life-changing personal and professional choices. The family of the late singer is involved with the project and will serve as executive producers. Moises Zamora (Star, American Crime) is attached to write and executive-produce the series, which hails from Campanario Entertainment. Selena will always have a lasting place in music history and we feel great responsibility to do justice to her memory. With this series, viewers will finally get the full history of Selena, our family, and the impact she has had on all of our lives, Suzette Quintanilla, Selenas sister, said in a statement. We are excited to partner with Campanario and Netflix to give fans a never-before-seen glimpse at our story and highlight why Selena will remain a legend for generations to come. Selena rose to fame in the late 80s and early 90s with hits like Bidi Bidi Bom Bom and Como La Flor. She was shot and killed in 1995 at the age of 25 by her former fan club manager. Her death came months before she was slated to release her first crossover English-language album, which featured the hit singles I Could Fall in Love and Dreaming of You. Jennifer Lopez famously played the singer in a 1997 biopic, which marked one of Lopezs early breakout roles. More recently, Selena served as the inspiration for a posthumous makeup line for MAC cosmetics that launched in 2016. There is no premiere date yet for the series. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heres how to watch the SAG Award nominations on Wednesday By Nardine Saad Hump day might be a lot more enjoyable this week thanks to Awkwafina, Laverne Cox and the Screen Actors Guild. Cox (Orange Is the New Black and Bad Hair) and Awkwafina (Oceans 8 and Crazy Rich Asians) are teaming up to announce the nominations for the 25th SAG Awards on Wednesday and will hopefully enliven the typical awards-show announcements with their sass and comedic chops. The acting nominees will be revealed at 7 a.m. Pacific time at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood. The announcement being made on TNT, TBS and truTV will also be carried live on each outlets website and social media pages, as well as the SAG Awards site. Heres when and how to watch: Live on TNT, TBS and TruTV and their websites and social media pages tntdrama.com/sag-awards truTV.comsagawards.org TNTs Facebook, Twitter @TNTdrama and YouTube channel TBS Facebook, Twitter @tbsnetwork and YouTube channel The SAG Awards homepage Actresses Awkwafina, left, and Laverne Cox will announce the Screen Actors Guild Award nominees on Wednesday. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times) SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris will introduce Awkwafina and Cox. Before that at 6:50 a.m. Pacific nominees in the the stunt ensemble categories will be announced by SAG Awards Committee chair JoBeth Williams and committee member Elizabeth McLaughlin during a live webcast on TNT and the SAG Awards websites. The 25th SAG Awards ceremony will be simulcast live on Jan. 27 at 5 p.m. Pacific on TNT and TBS and on the networks mobile and smart TV apps. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Hoda Kotb in tears after Kathie Lee Gifford announces Today exit By Nardine Saad Hoda Kotb, left, and Kathie Lee Gifford have co-anchored the Today show since 2008. (Nathan Congleton / NBC) Kathie Lee Giffords announcement that shes leaving NBCs Today show reduced her on-air BFF Hoda Kotb to a sea of tears on Tuesday, and their life preserver was the box of tissues that a prop master dropped from the ceiling. Kotb, who knew about Giffords departure before the live announcement, was still emotional afterward, telling her longtime co-host that she had changed her life. The minute you stepped into my life with both feet, everything changed, Kotb said through tears, prompting the tissue-box drop. You chose me and thats how it started, she added. I was thinking about everything good thats happened in my life has happened since you came. "Its bittersweet, as these things always are@kathielgifford announces she will be leaving TODAY on her 11th anniversary in April 2019. pic.twitter.com/YsHIq6c9ev TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 11, 2018 Kotb, who has become a fan favorite since co-hosting the freewheeling 10 a.m. hour of the program with Gifford since 2008, said Gifford hiring her enabled her to meet husband Joel Schiffman and adopt their daughter, Haley Joy Kotb. Gifford also invited Kotb to meet her family when she first joined the Today team. Everything happened. How does one person step in your life and change it like that? And you did that for me, Kotb said. Gifford, who will officially sign off the show in April, referred to Kotb as a beautiful Egyptian goddess and thanked their viewers for sticking with them from their disastrous early days as a nothing burger outside on the plaza. You start sharing life, and your friendship shows up on the air, Gifford said. We werent colleagues very long. We became friends and now were going to be friends for the rest of our lives. Im grateful to God for you, Gifford added. Gods used you in my life every bit as much as hes used me in yours, sweetie. Thats the way it goes. No crumbs on his table. Gifford has co-anchored Todays fourth hour with Kotb for the last decade and is retiring from the program to pursue other creative endeavors. I had a chance to work with a legend... not something many people get to say in their lifetime.. but thanks to you @KathieLGifford .... I get to xxxx https://t.co/sXGdwmq7vm Hoda Kotb (@hodakotb) December 11, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Times Person of the Year? Four journalists and a newspaper, guardians in the war on truth By Associated Press (Time magazine) Times Person of the Year recognition for 2018 is shining a collective spotlight on guardians in what the magazine calls the war on truth. The group is made up of four journalists and a newspaper that Time says are representatives of a broader fight by countless others around the world. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Carol Burnett to receive inaugural Golden Globe award for TV achievement Carol Burnett will need to clear some space on her crowded mantel: At next months Golden Globes ceremony, she will pick up yet another award honoring her long and distinguished career in television. The Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. announced Tuesday morning that Burnett will receive the inaugural Carol Burnett Award, a new prize honoring lifetime achievement in television. The award was teased at last weeks nominations announcement for the Globes; its meant to be a bookend prize to the HFPAs Cecil B. DeMille Award for film achievement. A five-time Golden Globe winner, Burnett is also the most decorated honoree of all time in the TV category, according to the organization. For more than 50 years, comedy trailblazer Carol Burnett has been breaking barriers while making us laugh, HFPA President Meher Tatna said in a statement Tuesday. She was the first woman to host a variety sketch show, The Carol Burnett Show. She was also the first woman to win both the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and Kennedy Center Honors. And now we add another first to her running list: the first recipient and namesake of the new Golden Globe top honor for achievement in television, the Carol Burnett Award. Burnett, 85, will receive the award at the Golden Globes ceremony, which NBC will broadcast live from coast to coast on Jan. 6 from the Beverly Hilton hotel. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Andy Serkis revives Gollum as a Brexit-obsessed Theresa May By Tracy Brown As if British Prime Minister Theresa May werent in enough of a Brexit bind, now she has to deal with a biting Andy Serkis impersonation thats making the digital rounds. Literally biting because its Serkis via his immortal rendition of Gollum. The Lord of the Rings actor reprised a version of the One Ring-obsessed character in a new video posted by We Wants It. Much like the Gollum of the film series, Serkis May has her own fixation: the Brexit withdrawal agreement. Oh, Precious, our agreement, says a blue-suit clad Serkis. This is it. Our deal We takes back control: Money, borders, laws, blue passportses. But another May personality quickly rebuts: No. It hurts the people. Makes them poorer. The parody features the two sides of May arguing with herself and its somehow both hilarious and terrifying. One personality only cares about how much she wants the juicy and sweet deal, while the other recognizes that there are plenty of people opposed to the idea. They hates the deal, all of them hates it. They wants a peoples vote, Gollum/May says to herself. The Peoples Vote refers to the efforts of those in the U.K. calling for a public vote on whether Britain will leave or remain in the EU based on the terms of the final exit agreement. On Monday, the real May delayed the parliamentary vote for the Brexit plan because she feared it did not have enough support to pass. The vote had been scheduled for Tuesday. While May has defended the deal (that EU leaders have said is the only one on the table), it has been slammed by both Brexit-backers and remainers who oppose leaving the 28-nation bloc. As of now Britain is scheduled to leave the EU on March 29, 2019. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sarah Hyland of Modern Family opens up about second kidney transplant By Nardine Saad Sarah Hyland (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) After her body rejected her first kidney transplant, Modern Family star Sarah Hyland underwent dialysis last year and had to have a second transplant, she revealed Monday in an interview. Recovery from that surgery has been relatively smooth, but the 28-year-old has contended with a spate of other medical issues that resulted in additional procedures. After the second transplant, she had surgery to mitigate her endometriosis and another to repair a hernia. The chronic illnesses have resulted in six surgeries in the past 16 months, she told Self magazine, where she opened up about her tumultuous medical journey. Im stable. Im thriving. Im super happy with life, the 28-year-old actress said. .@sarah_hyland was born with kidney dysplasia. She went into kidney failure, and needed a transplant. In 2012, her dad gave her one of his. What Hyland hasnt been ready to share until now is that in 2016, her body began to reject the donated kidney. https://t.co/iAw8rdXJ1z pic.twitter.com/rR0xqZPiGy SELF (@SELFmagazine) December 10, 2018 Hyland was born with kidney dysplasia, which causes the organs to grow debilitating cysts. She had a kidney transplant in 2012, with her father giving one of his kidneys to his daughter. But in October 2016, her body began rejecting the transplant and under the scrutiny of social media and the public eye Hylands weight dropped, her face swelled due to immunosuppressant drugs and fluid retention and her blood pressure spiked, damaging her vision, the mag said. The candid star said she began dialysis in February 2017 to filter her blood because her kidneys couldnt. However, the treatment fell short and the transplanted kidney had to come out. Doctors removed it that May, then in September of that year transplanted a kidney donated by her younger brother, Ian. I was very depressed, she told the magazine. When a family member gives you a second chance at life, and it fails, it almost feels like its your fault. Its not. But it does. Hyland felt completely helpless, she said, and for a long time contemplated suicide. I didnt want to fail my little brother like I failed my dad, she said. I had gone through [my whole life] of always being a burden, of always having to be looked after, having to be cared for. The thoughts subsided after she reached out to a friend, and she encouraged others to do the same. Its not shameful, she said. For anybody that wants to reach out to somebody but doesnt really know how because theyre too proud or they think that theyll be looked upon as weak, its not a shameful thing to say. Its not a shameful thing to share. Hyland said on Instagram on Monday that she shared her story so others might feel like theyre not alone. Hopefully those that are lucky enough not to experience this will learn about something new and take a moment to appreciate their health, she wrote. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New Godzilla: King of the Monsters trailer features the titan fights youre craving When the first trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters was released in July, it delved deep into the lives of its human characters which was fine and was accompanied by Debussys Clair de Lune which was awesome and everyone seemed happy to see that the titular titan seemed to be doing OK for himself. It was arty and magnificent. But there wasnt any fighting. And there was barely any destruction. And if youre coming in here to sell me a Godzilla film, then by gosh, it had better be apocalyptic. Luckily, most of that appears to be rectified in the second trailer for Godzilla: King of the Monsters, which was released Monday morning. While the humans are still hanging out in the background, wringing their hands and staring in mute disbelief, far more of the footage is given over to the wrath of the titans. Heck, Godzilla even takes on King Ghidorah head-to-head(-to-head-to-head) and it looks amazing. See what it looks like when the world burns, but this time the old gods are to blame. Godzilla: King of the Monsters is scheduled to stomp its way into theaters May 31. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New Stranger Things teaser reveals totally 80s episode titles By Nardine Saad Its summer 1985 and things are still pretty strange in Hawkins, Ind. Netflix on Sunday unveiled a teaser for Season 3 of Stranger Things, giving fans a list of eight episode titles to mine for clues about the sci-fi series new season. The new season will reunite viewers with Chief Hopper (David Harbour), Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and their gang of middle-school outcasts, who find themselves at the center of the peculiar happenings in their small town. The streaming giant also confirmed a 2019 release for the new season, which will center on the already announced arrival of the Starcourt shopping mall, which makes the finale episode title all the more foreboding. (Check out that earlier teaser below.) Heres the title list: Suzie, Do you Copy? The Mall Rats The Case of the Missing Lifeguard The Sauna Test The Source The Birthday The Bite The Battle of Starcourt In March, Netflix announced that Priah Ferguson would return as Lucas Sinclairs (Caleb McLaughlin) younger sister Erica, and Maya Hawke was cast in the new role of Robin. Last week, the Emmy-winning show earned a Golden Globe nomination for dramatic television series and a supporting actor nod for Harbour, who in addition to playing the town sheriff is now Elevens adoptive father. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Americans, Gianni Versace and Dannemora lead Critics Choice TV nominees By Libby Hill The Broadcast Film Critics Assn. clearly has a thing for crime, with Mondays announcement of the TV nominees for the 24th annual Critics Choice Awards revealing lots of love for shows about skirting the law. The Americans, famous for its super sneaky Russian spies; The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story and its depiction of the murder and aftermath; and Escape at Dannemora, with its tale of a real life jailbreak, lead all television nominees with five mentions apiece. Gianni Versace and Dannemora are competing in limited series, with Americans in drama, but all four projects were buoyed by their performances, which got four nominations each. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print The Favourite and Black Panther lead film nominees for Critics Choice Awards By Libby Hill The Broadcast Film Critics Assn. announced its film nominees for the 24th Critics Choice Awards on Monday, with period black comedy The Favourite earning 14 nominations, just ahead of box office blockbuster Black Panther, which scored 12. Olivia Colman, Emma Stone and Rachel Weisz all garnered nominations for their performances in The Favourite, with Yorgos Lanthimos also nominated for direction and editing. Nipping at the heels of the two front runners are Damien Chazelles First Man with 10, Mary Poppins Returns, A Star is Born and Vice all nabbing nine nominations each and Roma with eight notices. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Times Person of the Year shortlist includes Meghan Markle, director Ryan Coogler, President Trump and separated families By Nardine Saad Actress-turned-duchess Meghan Markle is on Time magazines short list for 2018 Person of the Year. (Gareth Fuller / Associated Press) Actress-turned-duchess Meghan Markle and Black Panther director Ryan Coogler joined Donald Trump, separated families, Robert S. Mueller III and Christine Blasey Ford on Time magazines shortlist for the 2018 Person of the Year. Selected by the magazines editors since 1927, the title is bestowed on a person or people who most influenced the news and the world, for better or for worse, during the last year. On Monday, the magazine revealed the top 10 candidates on NBCs Today show, which will also name the titleholder on Tuesdays show. Markle and Coogler were the only entertainment figures represented during another contentious news year. Last year, the Silence Breakers who spoke out against sexual assault and misconduct earned the magazines cover spot. Heres the shortlist for @TIMEs Person of the Year #TIMEPOY pic.twitter.com/kHAmF8A3ut TODAY (@TODAYshow) December 10, 2018 Heres who made the shortlist this year: Donald Trump: The tweet-happy U.S. president was named the 2016 Person of the Year when he was president-elect. Last year, when he also made the shortlist, Trump tweeted he had passed on the nominal title, though Time disagreed Separated families: Despite weathering the fallout of putting a crying Honduran child who had not been separated from her family on its magazine cover earlier this year, Time still selected migrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border as candidates for its Person of the Year, again highlighting the battle over immigration in the U.S. Vladimir Putin: The Russian president was named Person of the Year in 2007 and has continued to make headlines due to Russias alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election, and his relationship with Trump. Which brings us to ... Robert Mueller: The special counsel appointed by the Justice Department, who has been investigating allegations of Russian meddling in the election and Trumps ties to Russia, has become a foil to the bombastic leader. Though the investigation has ensnared Trumps former personal attorney Michael Cohen, his former campaign Chairman Paul Manafort and several others, Trump has repeatedly decried it as a witch hunt for evidence of collusion with Russia. Ryan Coogler: The Black Panther director and screenwriter turned a lesser-known superhero into a cultural phenomenon with his groundbreaking film, which became a critical darling and broke a bevy of box-office records while boasting a predominantly black cast. Christine Blasey Ford: The university professor who accused U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexually assaulting her when they were teenagers brought the nation to a standstill with her emotional testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee in September, throwing Kavanaughs shoo-in appointment into question for weeks. Jamal Khashoggi: The Saudi journalist was killed soon after he entered the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, and his disappearance led to widespread criticism of the Arab nation, particularly Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is believed to have ordered Khashoggis murder. March for Our Lives activists: The teenagers who survived the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Fla., assembled to take on gun control and march on Washington, D.C., to speak out against gun violence. Moon Jae-in: The South Korean president, who helped host the Olympic Games this year, mounted a historic summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, officially bringing about an end to the war between the two countries. Meghan Markle: The Suits actress who hails from California became the Duchess of Sussex when she married Britains Prince Harry in May, offering a fairy-tale reprieve from pressing conflicts around the world. In October, the couple announced that they were expecting their first child, who would be seventh in line to the British throne. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Saturday Night Live finds DeNiros Robert Mueller in Eric Trumps closet Robert De Niro and Alex Moffat on Saturday Night Live this week. (NBC) After a week full of new revelations from the Robert Mueller investigation, it was probably no surprise that Robert De Niro got the call to reprise his role as the special counsel for this weeks Saturday Night Live, which was hosted by Jason Mamoa with the musical guest Mumford and Sons. With the always-on news cycle of 2018, the cold open is typically a feast-or-famine affair that benefits from standout, vaguely surreal moments Kanye West in the White House, for example. With so much news this week surrounding the legal affairs of the presidents inner circle, SNL imagined the FBIs special counsel as the boogeyman in Eric Trumps closet. Dont be scared, its just me, De Niro assured him, your dads friend from work. Alex Moffat as a clueless Eric and Mikey Day as Don Jr. has been a solid pairing on Weekend Update, and they were natural choices given the news cycle. Still, the segment lacked the sort of standout snap that makes the cold open the usual talking point for the episode, apart from its closing exchange. People say youre the worst thing that happened to my dad, Moffats Eric Trump told De Niro. No, getting elected president was the worst thing to happen to your dad, he countered. Watch a clip below. "Its just me, Robert Mueller. Your dads friend from work." #SNL pic.twitter.com/xsLhnSg1oe Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) December 9, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Times Up congratulates Crazy Rich Asians star Constance Wu on Golden Globes nomination Constance Wu is nominated for her first Golden Globe award for Crazy Rich Asians (Warner Bros. ) Approaching the one-year anniversary of the movements birth, Times Up congratulated the women who earned 2019 Golden Globe nominations, including Crazy Rich Asians star and activist Constance Wu. We celebrate all of our sisters who were nominated for Golden Globe awards this year, including Constance Wu who became the first Asian woman to be nominated for best actress in more than 40 years, the organization said in a statement to The Times. (While few women of Asian descent been nominated for best actress in the awards 75-year history, Hailee Steinfeld, who is part Filipino, was nominated in 2017 for Edge of Seventeen.) As far as Asian Americans go, not Asian-Asians, there have been two others [in the comedy/musical category], Wu told The Times on Thursday morning, reacting to her nomination for Crazy Rich Asians, the first contemporary-set all-Asian studio film in 25 years. It is especially meaningful to receive a nomination for a leading role in an Asian American-centered story, Wu added. In its Globes nominations kudos, Times Up also called out the lack of female filmmakers among this years all-male directing nominees. We are thrilled to see some progress in the diversity of artists recognized, but, once again, the best director category lacks a single woman nominee, the statement read. The body of work directed by women this year deserves acknowledgement. The Times Up movement was first announced Jan. 1, unveiling an initiative to battle sexual harassment in industries including Hollywood, which included a legal defense fund to help underprivileged women. The movement called for supporters to wear all black to the glitzy 2018 Globes ceremony and speak out against harassment and gender inequality. As of Thursday, Wu was not yet sure if there will be a repeat of last years red carpet call to action or similar coordinated show of solidarity. I dont know if its going to be a clothing statement, but the solidarity and the sisterhood that we have is always there and is growing every day so it will 100% be there at the Golden Globes, she said. Maybe not in terms of wardrobe, but in terms of passion? For sure. Read the full Times Up statement below: Statement from TIMES UP on the 2019 Golden Globe Nominations We celebrate all of our sisters who were nominated for Golden Globe awards this year, including Constance Wu who became the first Asian woman to be nominated for best actress in more than 40 years. We are thrilled to see some progress in the diversity of artists recognized, but once again the best director category lacks a single woman nominee. The body of work directed by women this year deserves acknowledgement. While we greatly admire the excellent work honored yesterday, we are also reminded of the vast imbalances that still exist across our industry and many other industries, and remain committed to our collective work. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Kevin Hart shouldnt have stepped down from Oscars gig, GLAAD chief says: He should have stepped up By Christie DZurilla Comedian Kevin Hart decided not to host Februarys Academy Awards. (Willy Sanjuan / Associated Press) GLAAD would rather Kevin Hart hadnt quit as Oscars host, with its leader expressing disappointment Friday morning on social media and on CNN. Kevin Hart shouldnt have stepped down; he should have stepped up, tweeted Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of the LGBTQ advocacy group. Harts apology to LGBTQ people is an important step forward, but he missed a real opportunity to use his platform and the Oscars stage to build unity and awareness. Ellis said the group would still welcome that conversation with the 39-year-old comic. Hart, who got the job only Tuesday, walked away Thursday night rather than cave to internet trolls for old anti-gay tweets that had resurfaced after he deleted them. He later did an about-face and offered an apology to those he had hurt, saying he was stepping down because he didnt want to distract from the awards themselves. We were hoping that this was going to turn into a teachable moment, Ellis told CNN on Friday morning. GLAAD President and CEO Sarah Kate Ellis on why she was hoping Kevin Hart wouldnt step down as Oscars host: We were hoping that this was going to turn into a teachable moment [and] to use the Oscar stage ... to help build unity and awareness. https://t.co/Kt5qT05hAA pic.twitter.com/PNijmSM2Vv New Day (@NewDay) December 7, 2018 Ellis said Hart could have become an ally of the community if he had faced it, explained he had evolved and was willing to lead moving forward. It wasnt the conclusion that I think everybody would have liked, Ellis said. The academy has yet to respond to Harts public exit or announce a replacement host. (But we have some ideas about who should get the gig.) We would still welcome that conversation with him. The Academy has recently made significant strides in featuring diverse talent onstage and they should now double down on that commitment as they look for a new host. Sarah Kate Ellis (@sarahkateellis) December 7, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Marvel drops Avengers 4' trailer, reveals title By Los Angeles Times Staff Chris Evans as Captain America. (Marvel Studios) The end is near. Or more precisely, the endgame. On Friday, Marvel Studios unveiled the official first trailer for the latest Avengers film. The clip also confirmed the title for the project, Avengers: Endgame, and an April 26 release. Endgame picks up where the events of Avengers: Infinity War, released in April, left off. The beginning of the trailer focuses largely on Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) in solitude before moving the focus to Captain America (Chris Evans) and Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson). The new footage also shows the return of Jeremy Renners Hawkeye, who did not appear in Infinity War. He was last seen in Captain America: Civil War. Watch the trailer below. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Justin Timberlake postpones Man of the Woods tour, citing bruised vocal cords By Nardine Saad Justin Timberlake. (Amy Harris / Invision/Associated Press) Justin Timberlake is sorry that the remainder of his Man of the Woods tour has now been postponed to next year while the singer recovers from bruised vocal cords, a problem that has dogged him since October. My vocal cords are healing but they are not all the way back to normal yet, so my doctors want me to continue to rest my voice, the 37-year-old wrote on Instagram Wednesday night. That means hell hold off on singing until next month. Im really sorry, Timberlake wrote. I want to be back on the stage and I am doing all I can to get there quickly. Live Nation, the producer of the tour, confirmed on Thursday that the tour would resume in January, and tickets for the originally scheduled shows will be honored at the 2019 events. Timberlake, whose tour accompanies his folksy fifth studio album, Man of the Woods, first canceled his Madison Square Garden show in New York in late October and had since postponed a slew of dates. (Though that didnt derail his silent interview on The Tonight Show to promote his memoir Hindsight shortly after.) The North American tour will now resume in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 4, according to Live Nation. Timberlakes Los Angeles stop at the Staples Center originally set for Nov. 27 is now slated for March 10, Live Nation said. Hes also been rescheduled to play the Honda Center in Anaheim on Feb. 22. Additional appearances in Phoenix, Las Vegas, Fresno and Oakland have also been pushed back to March, and tickets for the previously scheduled concerts are valid at the respective new dates in each city. Refunds are also available at point of purchase. (A full list of the rescheduled shows can be seen here.) Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Faye Dunaway returning to Broadway to play Katharine Hepburn in Tea at Five By Nardine Saad (Lionel Cironneau / Associated Press) Oscar winner Faye Dunaway is returning to Broadway to play four-time Oscar winner Katharine Hepburn. The Bonnie and Clyde star will embody the legendary actress with a devil-may-care personality in Matthew Lombardos Tea at Five, marking the shows Broadway debut and Dunaways return to the Great White Way after 35 years, producer Ben Feldman said in a statement on Thursday. Lombardo has created a new version of the one-woman-show, which took audiences to 1938 as Hepburn awaited word on the final casting for the role of Scarlett OHara to 1983, where they witness the sunset of her health and career. The new show will be directed by Tony Award nominee John Tillinger and will have a limited engagement in summer 2019. Additional information, including the complete creative team, dates and theater, will be announced early next year. Dunaway made her Broadway debut in 1961 with A Man for All Seasons and followed it up with appearances in After the Fall and The Changeling. However, her breakthrough happened off-Broadway when she appeared in Hogans Goat, which led to her casting in 1967s Bonnie and Clyde. (She later earned her Academy Award for the 1976 drama Network.) The 77-year-old actress last appeared on Broadway in 1982 in the original play The Curse of an Aching Heart. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Father John Misty rallies musician friends for wildfire benefit concert Father John Misty announced that he will host a benefit concert for victims of Californias recent wildfires. (Suzanne Cordeiro / AFP/Getty Images) Father John Misty, the singer, songwriter and occasional Chateau Marmont pianist, announced Thursday morning the California Wildfire Benefit Concert, an evening of music to benefit victims of the recent fires. Misty, the stage name of Josh Tillman, is teaming up with Los Angeles-based concert promoter Goldenvoice and has scrolled through his contacts for a coterie of special guests, including Haim, Mac DeMarco, Lucius, Tim Heidecker, Rostam, Jonathan Wilson, Rivers Cuomo and Weyes Blood, among others. Set for Dec. 18 at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in L.A., the night promises to be an intimate affair: an all-acoustic session of songs from some of the areas most accomplished songwriters, with a Steinway & Sons-donated piano to add some class. The benefit is the latest to raise money for those affected by the devastating fires. Over the weekend, Katy Perry, Gwen Stefani and Robin Thicke raised a reported $1 million as part of the One Love Malibu Benefit Concert. Last week, garage rocker Ty Segall and friends took over Zebulon in Frogtown to make money for those in need. Proceeds from Tillman & Co.s event will go to the Southern California Disaster Relief Fund, created by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles in partnership with United Way of Ventura County. In a statement Thursday morning, organizers explained that the fund is directed at low-income families whose lives and livelihoods are affected by the current wildfires in Southern California. Specifically, the fund focuses on longer-term support to help individuals and families in need to rebuild their lives. Bonus opportunity: Fans will be able to bid on front-row tickets to the concert through CharityBuzz. The high-bidder will also get a commemorative poster signed by participating artists and a room at the Ace Hotel. Tickets for the all-ages concert range from $59.50-$199.50 and go on sale Friday at 10 a.m. Pacific. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print A Star Is Born: Peter Buck turns 62 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Joe Pugliese / Los Angeles Times) Everyone I know has enough bad times and struggles in their lives to draw upon for a lifetime. Peter Buck, 1996 FROM THE ARCHIVES: The Lowdown on Hi-Fi Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg to co-host 2019 Golden Globes By Nardine Saad Andy Samberg, left, and Sandra Oh will co-host the 2019 Golden Globes. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times; Micha Theiner / Los Angeles Times) Killing Eve will meet Brooklyn Nine-Nine at the 76th Golden Globe Awards next month now that Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg have been announced as co-hosts of the annual show. They bring wit, charm and style to a room filled with the very best of film and television. Its sure to be another unforgettable fun-filled night, said NBC co-chairmen Paul Telegdy and George Cheeks in a statement on Wednesday. The party-like ceremony, hosted by the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. at the Beverly Hilton hotel, will honor the best in film and television and marks the official kickoff of the 2019 awards-show season. The three-hour telecast will air live, coast to coast, on NBC on Jan. 6 at 5 p.m. Pacific time. Golden Globes nominations preview: 5 things to watch for, including Mary Poppins Returns vs. Roma The nominees will be announced early Thursday across 25 categories 14 in film and 11 in television and the winners are voted on by members of the HFPA. Were excited to welcome Sandra Oh and Andy Samberg as co-hosts of Hollywoods Party of the Year, said HFPA President Meher Tatna in a statement. Both Golden Globe Award recipients have continually showcased their talents in film and television, and we cant wait see what their undeniable chemistry will bring to the Golden Globes stage. Oh, who famously starred as Dr. Cristina Yang on ABCs Greys Anatomy, won a 2006 Golden Globe for performance by an actress in a supporting role in a series, limited series or motion picture made for television; a Screen Actors Guild Award for the role and five Emmy nominations for supporting actress in a drama. Her role as an MI5 officer hunting down a female assassin on BBC Americas Killing Eve earned her another Emmy nomination earlier this year. As for Samberg, the Saturday Night Live alum won two Golden Globes in 2014 for his work on the cop comedy Brooklyn Nine-Nine, which recently landed at NBC after being canceled on Fox. It wont be the first time for him to host a major awards show either: The comedian previously emceed the Primetime Emmy Awards as well as the Film Independent Spirit Awards. The duo take over hosting duties from recent hosts Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and Ricky Gervais. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Natalie Portman apologizes to Jessica Simpson for bikini-shaming her By Nardine Saad Actress Natalie Portman, left, in a recent interview alluded to a bikini photo of Jessica Simpson. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times, left; Evan Agostini / Invision/Associated Press, right)) Oscar winner Natalie Portman hears you, Jessica Simpson, and agrees that women should dress and behave however they like without judgment. Thats a different tune than the one Portman appeared to sing in a USA Today profile published on Tuesday one that prompted a lengthy statement from Simpson calling out Portman for shaming her, particularly amid the Times Up era that Portman helped usher in. Portman plays a pop star in the upcoming film Vox Lux, which explores the underbelly of the music industry, and in discussing the topic, she lauded Madonna but appeared to throw shade at Simpson and the industry that touted the virgin/vixen paradigms around the millennium. I remember being a teenager, and there was Jessica Simpson on the cover of a magazine saying Im a virgin while wearing a bikini, and I was confused. Like, I dont know what this is trying to tell me as a woman, as a girl, Portman, 37, told the publication. Simpson. 38, read those words Wednesday morning and, in a missive posted on Instagram and Twitter, said she was disappointed, but did not indicate what magazine cover Portman was referring to. As public figures, we both know our image is not totally in our control at all times, and that the industry we work in often tries to define us and box us in, the fashion designer wrote. However, I was taught to be myself and honor the different ways all women express themselves, which is why I believed then and I believe now that being sexy in a bikini and being proud of my body are not synonymous with having sex, Simpson added. Simpson, who made no secret of losing her virginity after she wed 98 Degrees singer Nick Lachey in 2002, had said that shes always embraced being a role model to women by letting them know they can look and wear whatever they want and choose to have or not have sex whenever they want. The power lies within us as individuals, Simpson wrote. Addressing Simpson directly (and publicly) in the comments section of the post, Portman thanked her and said she she completely agrees with her. I only meant to say I was confused as a girl coming of age in the public eye around the same time by the medias mixed messages about how girls and women were supposed to behave, Portman wrote. The actress said she didnt mean to shame Simpson and is sorry for any hurt her words might have caused. I have nothing but respect for your talent and your voice that you use to encourage and empower women all over the globe, Portman said. UPDATE 2:21 p.m.: This story was updated with Portmans apology. This story was originally published at 11:52 a.m. pic.twitter.com/zBLuyF3a8p Jessica Simpson (@JessicaSimpson) December 5, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Surviving R. Kelly screening evacuated after anonymous threats By Christie DZurilla Singer R. Kelly. (Noam Galai / Getty Images) Phoned-in threats cleared the house at a screening of the Surviving R. Kelly documentary Tuesday night in New York City, leaving the singers ex-wife Drea Kelly more fired up than deterred. [S]everal anonymous threats were called in, Lifetime said in a statement to The Times. As a precaution, the network elected to evacuate the building. The incident was investigated and concern about a gunman in the house was determined to be unfounded, a New York Police Department spokeswoman told The Times. The R&B singer has been accused of abusive and controlling behavior toward women, especially younger ones, allegations R. Kelly has denied. Those allegations are detailed in the three-part documentary series. Tuesdays screening was attended by alleged victims Jerhonda Pace, Kitti Jones, Assante McGee, Lisa Van Allen and Lizzette Martinez, in addition to Drea Kelly. Also there were #MeToo activist Tarana Burke, radio host Angela Yee and former Fox News host Gretchen Carlson. Burke and Yee were to have been part of a panel with Lifetime executive producer Brie Miranda Bryant. They thought they were putting us out; they just put gasoline on a fire and now were just gonna burn longer and stronger. You actually helped us when it was meant to harm us [because] this did nothing but unite us even more, Drea Kelly told Rolling Stone. The incident lets me know were on the right track. Were causing people to listen. Were getting peoples attention and were getting attention from the one who thought that he was invincible and untouchable, she said. Surviving R. Kelly airs Jan. 3-5 on Lifetime. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Cardi B announces split from Offset a year after they wed By Nardine Saad Offset, left, and Cardi B arrive at the American Music Awards in October. (Jordan Strauss / Invision / Associated Press) A little more than a year after they secretly wed, rappers Cardi B and Offset have split, according to Cardi B, who announced the break-up in an Instagram video on Tuesday night. Things just havent been working out between us for a long time. And its nobodys fault, its just like I guess, we grew out of love, the Okurr-trilling, I Like It rapper said. Were not together anymore. It might take time to get a divorce, but Im always gonna have a lot of love for him because he is my daughters father, she added. Cardi and Offset, a member of the rap trio Migos, secretly wed in Georgia in September 2017 before the arrival of their daughter, Kulture, whos now nearly 5 months old. Cardi, 26, real name Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar, said that they remain good friends and business partners who got a lot of love for each other. Offset, also 26, real name Kiari Kendrall Cephus, very publicly proposed to the Bodak Yellow MC in October and the two often discussed their plans for a blowout celebration. Then news of their actual marriage and marriage certificate leaked in June and the two welcomed their baby girl in July. Reps for Cardi and Offset did not immediately respond to additional requests for comment. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Kevin Hart to host the 2019 Academy Awards Kevin Hart will be hosting the Oscars next year. (Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) Stepping into what is often considered one of the most difficult and at times thankless gigs in Hollywood, Kevin Hart is set to host the 91st Academy Awards. The stand-up comedian and actor made the announcement himself Tuesday on Instagram, promising, I will be sure to make this years Oscars a special one. For years I have been asked if I would ever Host the Oscars and my answer was always the same, Hart wrote. I said that it would be the opportunity of a lifetime for me as a comedian and that it will happen when its suppose to. In tapping Hart, who has starred in box-office hits like Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle and Central Intelligence and who boasts a massive social media following and large base of young fans, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is hoping to stem a steady decline in ratings for the telecast. In each of the past two years, under host Jimmy Kimmel, the ratings dipped, with Marchs show reaching a record-low audience of 26.5 million viewers. Facing perennial criticism over what many have decried as the sometimes tedious length of the Oscars, the academy has vowed that this coming years show, which is being produced by Donna Gigliotti and Glenn Weiss, will not run over three hours. To trim the proceedings down, some awards will be given out during commercial breaks rather than live on air. In an ultimately fizzled gambit to bring in a wider audience for the all-important telecast, the academy earlier this year announced the creation of a new award recognizing outstanding achievement in popular film. But after weeks of blowback, the academys board of governors reversed itself and decided to shelve the idea, at least for the time being. Hart has previously served as emcee of the MTV Movie Awards along with his Central Intelligence co-star Dwayne Johnson. The Oscars will air on ABC on Sunday, Feb. 24. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 2018 AFI Awards honorees include Black Panther, Atlanta, Roma and The Americans By Sonaiya Kelley Viggo Mortensen, left, and Mahershala Ali star in Green Book, which is among the AFIs top 10 films of the year. (Universal Pictures / Asssociated Press) The American Film Institute announced 10 films and 10 television shows as honorees of the 2018 AFI Awards this morning. BlacKkKlansman, Black Panther, Eighth Grade, If Beale Street Could Talk, The Favorite, First Reformed, Green Book, Mary Poppins Returns, A Quiet Place, and A Star Is Born were recognized as culturally and artistically significant films by the institute. Netflixs Roma, a Spanish-language film not eligible for the main list, was also recognized with an AFI Special Award which honors films outside the Institutes criteria for American film. On the television side, FXs The Americans, The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Atlanta and Pose, HBOs Barry and Succession, AMCs Better Call Saul, Netflixs The Kominsky Method, Amazon Primes The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and NBCs This Is Us were all recognized. The AFI Awards will be presented at an annual private luncheon on Jan. 4, 2019, in Los Angeles. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Terry Crews, Danai Gurira, Leslie Mann and Christian Slater to announce Golden Globe nominees Terry Crews, left, Danai Gurira, Leslie Mann and Christian Slater will announce the Golden Globe nominees on Thursday morning. (Ricardo DeAratanha, left, Carolyn Cole, Michael Nagle, Kirk McKoy / Los Angeles Times) There are four Hollywood stars who are guaranteed to be awake bright and early for this years Golden Globe Awards announcement, regardless of whether they have a nomination in the offing. Terry Crews, Danai Gurira, Leslie Mann and Christian Slater have been tasked with presenting the Golden Globe nominees at Thursdays annual news conference, the Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. announced Tuesday. The HFPA also said a major announcement regarding the Golden Globes schedule would be made prior to this years nominees. Joining Crews, Gurira, Mann and Slater will be newly minted Golden Globe Ambassador Isan Elba (also the daughter of actor Idris Elba), HFPA President Meher Tetna and Golden Globe executive producer Barry Adelman. The Golden Globe nominations announcement will take place on Thursday at the Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills. Live-stream coverage of the event begins at 5:05 a.m., with the first categories announced at 5:15 a.m. and a second and final group of categories revealed shortly thereafter. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement SNL star Pete Davidson says he wont give in to online bullying; Ariana Grande chimes in By Christie DZurilla Pete Davidson (Angela Weiss / AFP/Getty Images) Pete Davidson says no matter what you do to him, hes not going to kill himself. Wait, what? Yes, exactly what you just read. Online trolls cant bully him to death, he says. And he wonders why theyre getting away with such abusive behavior. Ive been getting online bullied and in public by people for 9 months. Ive spoken about BPD and being suicidal publicly only in the hopes that it will help bring awareness and help kids like myself who dont want to be on this earth, the Saturday Night Live actor said bluntly Monday on Instagram. I just want you guys to know. No matter how hard the internet or anyone tries to make me kill myself. I wont. The Saturday Night Live actor, who has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, was presumably referring to his break from pop star Ariana Grande. The two met in March and became an item toward the end of May, got engaged just weeks into the relationship and then split up in October. She has got around 137 million Instagram followers, some of whom have apparently been talking to or at Davidson online. He has no verified Twitter or Facebook accounts. He said he has kept his mouth shut about the online bullying to this point and hasnt mentioned any names nor does he drop any names in the post. Im trying to understand how when something happens to a guy the whole entire world just trashes him without any facts or frame of reference, Davidson wrote. Especially in todays climate where everyone loves to be offended and upset it truly is mind boggling. Pete Davidson just posted a touching note about mental health to his Instagram pic.twitter.com/nAudS7NdmU Alexis Benveniste (@apbenven) December 3, 2018 Davidsons missive comes on the heels of the new video for Grandes hit song thank u, next, whose title echoes a Twitter comment involving the actor. The singer put Davidsons statement and a comment of her own on her Instagram story around midnight, urging her many fans to change their behavior. [I] really dont endorse anything but forgiveness and positivity. i care deeply about pete and his health. im asking you to please be gentler with others, even on the internet, Grande said, in part. Later in the statement, she got a bit more specific. [P]lease let whatever point youre trying to make go. I will always have irrevocable love for him and if youve gotten any other impression from my recent work, you might have missed the point, she said. Heres Grandes statement in full: i know u already know this but i feel i need to remind my fans to please be gentler with others. i really dont endorse anything but forgiveness and positivity. i care deeply about pete and his health. im asking you to please be gentler with others, even on the internet. ive learned thru my own mistakes not to be reactive on socials so i do understand. but you truly dont know what anybody is experiencing ever. regardless of what they choose to display on social media or how they may appear in public. i can promise u that. so please let whatever point youre trying to make go. I will always have irrevocable love for him and if youve gotten any other impression from my recent work, you might have missed the point. Borderline personality disorder is marked by an ongoing pattern of varying moods, self-image and behavior, according to the National Institute of Mental Health website. Symptoms can often result in impulsive actions and relationship problems, with people experiencing intense episodes of anger, depression and anxiety that last for hours or days. People with BPD tend to experience things as all good or all bad, and according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the risk of self-harming behavior or suicide is an extreme risk. UPDATE Dec. 4, 10:18 a.m.: This post was updated with the statement from Grande. This post was originally published on Dec. 3 at 12:37 p.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kanye West apologizes after being called out for his behavior at The Cher Show By Christie DZurilla Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West at the opening night of The Cher Show on Monday. (Evan Agostini / Associated Press) Kanye West really, really liked The Cher Shows opening night on Broadway. But at least one performer couldnt tell, cause Ye apparently was messing with his phone the whole time. Hey @kanyewest so cool that youre here at @TheCherShow!, cast member Jarrod Spector tweeted at the rapper shortly after things got rolling on Monday night. If you look up from your cell phone youll see were doing a show up here. Its opening night. Kind of a big deal for us. Thanks so much. West might as well have taken a flash photograph he was so busted. Hey @kanyewest so cool that youre here at @TheCherShow! If you look up from your cell phone youll see were doing a show up here. Its opening night. Kind of a big deal for us. Thanks so much. Jarrod Spector (@jarrodspector) December 4, 2018 West must actually read his mentions at least the ones that blow up because he replied with an apology a few hours later. And he apparently really did dig the show. The dynamics of Cher and Sonnys relationship made Kim and I grab each others hand and sing I got you babe, he wrote. Please pardon my lack of etiquette. We have so much appreciation for the energy you guys put into making this master piece. the dynamics of Cher and Sonnys relationship made Kim and I grab each others hand and sing I got you babe please pardon my lack of etiquette. We have so much appreciation for the energy you guys put into making this master piece. ye (@kanyewest) December 4, 2018 But West might not have behaved as awful as all that. A Kanye source told TMZ that the rapper loved the show so much he was actually taking notes on his phone. Still rude, but at least he didnt tweet that apology halfway through the show. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Red Bull Music Festival sets 2019 lineup, including Red Dead Redemption 2' live gig Swae Lee of Rae Sremmurd in October. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times ) Liquid adrenaline manufacturer Red Bull has announced the lineup for the 2019 Red Bull Music Festival Los Angeles, which will focus nearly as much on sight as on sound. Most notably, the multi-event program will feature the first live performance of music from the blockbuster action-adventure game Red Dead Redemption 2. It will be the centerpiece of a festival that aims to explore how music intersects with gaming, film and photography. Attendees will experience live Red Dead Redemption 2 performances by composer Woody Jackson, Indonesian duo Senyawa and others featured in the game in whats billed as a reimagining of the score as a unique auditory installation. The festival, happening at various locations across multiple February dates, will also present the first U.S. stops on Swedish pop powerhouse Robyns upcoming North American tour. Hitting the States to promote her new album, Honey, Robyn will perform her first Los Angeles shows in eight years on Feb. 22 and 23 at the Hollywood Palladium. The festivals Feb. 7 opening event will aim a much-deserved spotlight on the performer San Cha. Shell be introducing a new original piece, according the notes, based around the telenovela programs of her childhood, and will feature artists from a range of L.A.s creative disciplines. On Valentines Day, the Tupelo, Miss., rap team Rae Sremmurd will host an event described in release notes as an eclectic show inspired by the golden age of Hollywood. Along with surprise guests, hosts Slim Jxmmi and Swae Lee will marry their hits with covers of iconic love songs of past and present, putting a contemporary slant on classic silver screen romance. The party will take place at the Reserve, which is in a historic bank vault in downtown Los Angeles. On Feb. 16, the skate, film and art collective Illegal Civilization will take over the Pink Motel in Sun Valley most visible these days as a setting in the Netflix show GLOW for a daylong installment called Illegal Civ Movie Motel. The group is headed by Mikey Alfred, best known for his work with Jonah Hill on Mid90s, and Alfred and his peers will entangle skating, film screenings and a swap meet with music performances by affiliates including Show Me the Body, Tierra Whack and Tommy Genesis. Throughout February the festival will take over the Ukrainian Cultural Center in Koreatown to present Center Channel, a film series with a mission to explore the most compelling intersections of sound and film. In conjunction with Los Angeles curators and tastemakers, programmers have scheduled not-yet-announced premieres, screenings, panels and live performances. Tickets for all events go on sale Wednesday at noon. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New Captain Marvel trailer teases Carol Danvers backstory and cosmic fights By Tracy Brown The new trailer for Captain Marvel features a little something for everyone: additional details about the story, fight scenes in outer space and a cute cat. The second trailer for the Marvel Studios film debuted Monday night, and it sends a clear message that Carol Danvers, a.k.a. Captain Marvel, is the hero everyone has been waiting for. At least according to Disney. While the first trailer hinted that Carol (played by Brie Larson) is trying to piece together what seems to be her forgotten past on Earth, this new promo provides more information about who she has become. Carol explains to Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) that she is Kree, an alien race of noble warrior heroes. But then the trailer immediately reveals that wasnt always the case. It turns out that after somehow stumbling upon an injured and memory-less Carol, the Kree turned her into one of them. This gave her enhanced strength, a prolonged lifespan and various other superpowers. And these powers appear to be no joke. The trailer shows Captain Marvel handle everything from hand-to-hand combat against what appears to be an elderly woman (but is likely an enemy in disguise) to flying around in space while taking out spaceships with energy blasts she shoots from her hands. Looks like there is definitely hope for the remaining Avengers to save the universe following the events of Avengers: Infinity War after all. Captain Marvel is scheduled to hit theaters March 8, 2019. Check out the new poster and tune-in to @ESPNs Monday Night Football to see the brand new trailer for Marvel Studios #CaptainMarvel. pic.twitter.com/43EPkcTBET Marvel Studios (@MarvelStudios) December 3, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Queen announces Rhapsody Tour with Adam Lambert By Christie DZurilla Brian May, left, and Adam Lambert perform at the Forum in 2014. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times) Bolstered by the success of the new biopic Bohemian Rhapsody, Queen is going back on tour in North America next summer. And Adam Lambert will take the mic once again in place of the late Freddie Mercury, the band announced Monday. The Rhapsody Tour will take place from mid-July to late August 2019 and feature (in the bands words) 23 giant shows. Theyll play the Forum in Inglewood on July 19. Tickets go on sale Friday, with pre-sale codes sent to fan club members and QueenOnline.com subscribers on Tuesday. The soaring success of Bohemian Rhapsody the Freddie Mercury/Queen movie that is set to become the biggest-grossing music biopic of all time has proven that the publics love for Queen remains as strong as ever, the band said in a release. We are ready for America and raring to get back in the saddle, drummer Roger Taylor said in the statement, with lead guitarist Brian May adding: This is a great opportunity. Our last tour featured our most ambitious production ever and got us our best notices ever. So we decided to rip it apart and get even more ambitious! Lambert has been touring with the band since 2012 after sharing the stage with them during the 2009 American Idol finale. Completing the tour lineup are longtime collaborator Spike Edney on keyboards, Neil Fairclough on bass and Tyler Warren on percussion. See the full list of dates here. Were excited to announce Queen + @adamlambert will be debuting the brand new Rhapsody touring show across 23 North America dates July-August 2019. Read all the details here:https://t.co/rBI0jbxQRb Photographer: Bojan Hohnjec Miracle Productions LLP pic.twitter.com/s0LTa128Ey Queen (@QueenWillRock) December 3, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Halsey calls out Victorias Secret Fashion Show over trans exclusion By Christie DZurilla Halsey, left, performed at the 2018 Victorias Secret Fashion Show, recorded last month. (Timothy A. Clary / AFP/Getty Images) Halsey, who performed at the 2018 Victorias Secret Fashion Show that aired Sunday night on ABC, posted a lengthy note on social media at the same time regarding the shows perceived lack of trans inclusivity. I have adored the Victorias Secret Fashion Show since I was young. Performing this year alongside other amazing artists, and hardworking models/friends was supposed to be the best night of my year. However, after I filmed the performance some comments were made regarding the show that I simply cannot ignore, she wrote. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I have no tolerance for a lack of inclusivity. Especially not one motivated by stereotype, continued the 24-year-old singer, who is out as bisexual. She then directed followers to the GLSEN website and said she had made a big donation to the organization, which champions LGBTQ issues in K-12 education. The show featured 49 female models of various races and skin colors from at least 14 countries and six continents. However, a comment from a Victorias Secret executive in a Nov. 8 Vogue article which ran the same day the show was taped upset some transgender people and their allies, and appears to have sparked Halseys post. There was also discussion in the article about the absence of plus-size models on the VS catwalk. Its like, why doesnt your show do this? Shouldnt you have transsexuals in the show? No. No, I dont think we should, Ed Razek, chief marketing officer for Victorias Secret owner, L Brands, told the magazine. Well, why not? Because the show is a fantasy. Its a 42-minute entertainment special. Thats what it is. It is the only one of its kind in the world, and any other fashion brand in the world would take it in a minute, including the competitors that are carping at us. And they carp at us because were the leader. @GLSEN - https://t.co/XdQMPro0KC pic.twitter.com/agOzSYREkX h (@halsey) December 3, 2018 Victorias Secret did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The quote was in the context of a larger discussion about criticism of the show on social media, which had ramped up ahead of the show. Halsey, for one, wasnt having it. If you are a trans person reading this, and these comments have made you feel alienated or invalidated please know that you have allies. We stand in solidarity, and complete and total acceptance is the only fantasy that I support, she said in her Sunday post. Also performing at the fashion show were Shawn Mendes, Rita Ora, the Chainsmokers, Bebe Rexha, Leela James, Kelsea Ballerini, and the Struts, most of whom posted generic social-media reminders to watch the show. None of them talked about trans exclusion. Rexha, however, had a bit more to say, and added a video of her performance Monday on Twitter so followers could see it in some cases, again. It has always been a big dream of mine to perform at @victoriassecret Fashion Show and its finally happening tomorrow!! So dont you miss it!!!, she posted Saturday on Instagram. Watch me strutting my curvy ass body unapologetically down that runway. I cant believe this happened. Dream come true. https://t.co/lHJMfI7OhM Bebe Rexha (@BebeRexha) December 3, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Kennedy Center Honors celebrate Cher, Wayne Shorter, Reba McEntire and Philip Glass plus the creators of Hamilton By Christie DZurilla Wayne Shorter, front left, Cher, Reba McEntire, Philip Glass; back, Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Andy Blankenbuehler, Alex Lacamoire. (Greg Allen / Associated Press) The Kennedy Center Honors, which once again were not attended by President Trump, included tributes Sunday night to the late former President George H.W. Bush, who died Friday at age 94. I think its appropriate to recognize the passing of a wonderful man who dedicated his life to service and who graciously attended this event many times during his administration, laughing, applauding, singing along and even shedding a tear from right up there in the presidential box, host Gloria Estefan said to kick off the evening at the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington. She recalled being invited to the White House and how Bush literally spent 45 minutes patiently talking to my 8-year-old son about how government worked. Estefan was recognized last year; this year, the lifetime artistic-achievement honors went to jazz great Wayne Shorter, pop diva Cher, country star Reba McEntire and composer Philip Glass, with a unique award of distinction going to the team behind Hamilton: Andrew Blankenbuehler, Thomas Kail, Alex Lacamoire and star Lin-Manuel Miranda. Their names, like the other nominees, were first announced this summer. In recognizing Hamilton and its co-creators, Kennedy Center President Deborah F. Rutter said in a statement at the time, the Kennedy Center is making an unprecedented statement about an unprecedented work a work that transcends cultural boundaries and tells Americas story in a powerful and contemporary way. On Sunday, comic Whoopi Goldberg introduced Cher and friend Cyndi Lauper sang If I Could Turn Back Time. Kelly Clarkson paid tribute to McEntire with a version of Fancy, the Bobbie Gentry song McEntire turned into a hit in 1990. Jason Moran, the Kennedy Centers artistic director for jazz, said Shorters sound over a six-decade career holds a special place in the galaxy, adding that he could safely say that somewhere in the galaxy right now, a band is playing one of his pieces. And previous award winner Paul Simon did the honors for Glass, whom he praised for never settling into one particular style, always developing and exploring. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, who also missed last years event after several honorees threatened a boycott, returned in the wee hours Sunday from the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. Though Bush attended most years and continued to do so after his presidency, he like other heads of state, including Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton missed a year due to major events. Trump is the first president to decline an invitation twice. You can watch the Kennedy Center Honors when they are broadcast on CBS on Dec. 26. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Grammy Awards nominations delayed over Bushs memorial services By Christie DZurilla (Julio Cortez / Associated Press) The Recording Academy said Monday morning it would delay its announcement of the 61st Grammy Award nominees to avoid competing with memorial services and public viewings for former President George H. W. Bush, who died Friday. The organization had planned to announce nominees early Wednesday morning but will now share nominees in select categories on Friday at 5:30 a.m. PST via CBS This Morning and Apple Music. A full nominations list across 84 categories will follow at 5:45 a.m. PST on Friday at Grammy.com the academys website as well as all of its social-media platforms. Nominations cover recordings released between Oct. 1, 2017, and Sept. 30, 2018. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print A Star Is Born: Lucy Liu turns 50 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times) For me, I want to be the best person for the job not the best color for the job. That to me would be the most ideal thing. Lucy Liu, 2006 FROM THE ARCHIVES: Versatility in action Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Alec Baldwin, Ben Stiller open a Saturday Night Live that features a Kendrick cameo and a Robert Mueller holiday jingle Alec Baldwin and Ben Stiller open the Dec. 1 episode of Saturday Night Live. (NBC) After a few weeks off for some legal trouble involving a parking dispute, Alec Baldwin was back in the pursed-lip saddle as President Donald Trump this week on Saturday Night Live. Playing off the G20 summit in Argentina and recent revelations surrounding the Russia investigation, SNL found Baldwins Trump isolated and calling his Mikey Coco Puffs in attorney Michael Cohen, who was again played by Ben Stiller. Nostalgic for the late-night talks with Cohen and vacations to Moscow, the sketch found Trump sad to see his lawyer going to prison, and told him he was like a son to me. Then whyd you make me do such much illegal stuff? Stillers Cohen asked. Thats cause you were like a son to me, Baldwins Trump countered. The sketch went on to nod toward Baldwins troubles as Trump hung up and Baldwin said he hadnt been so mad since he flipped out over that parking space. Fred Armisen also appeared in the sketch as Saudi Arabias Mohammed bin Salman, Cecily Strong as Melania Trump and Kate McKinnon as a wild-eyed Rudy Giuliani. The Russia investigation received another callback at the end of the episode with McKinnon and Strong joined by Aidy Bryant, Leslie Jones, Melissa Villasenor, Heidi Gardner, and newest cast member Ego Nwodim for a performance of All I Want for Christmas Is You dedicated to Robert Mueller in the hopes of an indictment for the president. All they want for Christmas is you, Mueller #SNL pic.twitter.com/bYtpwM0moN Saturday Night Live (@nbcsnl) December 2, 2018 Still, thats unlikely to be the nights most talked about musical moment. Those honors likely go to Oxnard native Anderson .Paak, whose third album (which is named after his hometown) was released in November. .Paak performed Who R U along with his single Tints, which featured an assist from Kendrick Lamar, who performed a few verses next to .Paaks drum riser. It wasnt a recast of a Christmas song, but it made a strong impression nonetheless. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Miley Cyrus and Mark Ronson make beautiful music together on Nothing Breaks Like a Heart Miley Cyrus brings the bling in the video for Nothing Breaks Like a Heart, a new collaboration with Mark Ronson. (Vevo) Its been a minute since Miley Cyrus released new music, but much like Los Angeles, the drought is over. Cyrus, in collaboration with British DJ and producer Mark Ronson, released Nothing Breaks Like a Heart on Thursday, the first single from Ronsons upcoming album, his first solo effort since 2015. Its the first new music from Cyrus in more than a year. Cyrus brings her huskiest growl to the tale of love gone wrong, singing, This world can hurt you, it cuts you deep and leaves a scar / Things fall apart, but nothing breaks like a heart. The accompanying video features Cyrus in a low-speed chase with a bevy of cop cars, smashing through walls as if she were a wrecking ball or the Kool-Aid Man. In the world outside, cultural references play out in disconnected fashion, as football players kneel and children visit a gun range, all while Cyrus looks on. Also, she goes to a strip club, so watch the video at your own risk. However, the video does end with a stunning sequence of a car wreck that features Cyrus still inside the vehicle singing, as gold and glass float through the air around her, in what appears to be an obvious homage to Julie Taymors gold dust bus crash in 2002s Frida. The video is worth watching for those stylish seconds alone. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Hugh Jackman is hitting the road and the Hollywood Bowl with 2019 world tour Hugh Jackman starred in The Greatest Showman last year and is now taking to the stage to see if he can match the hype. The Logan actor appeared on Today on Thursday to announce his 2019 world tour, The Man. The Music. The Show. The tour will feature Jackman performing hits from The Greatest Showman, Les Miserables and other stage and screen roles. Im on the back nine of my life right now, Jackman said on Today, explaining the impetus for the show, and this is about the best parts of the front nine. The tour launches with a 12-date European leg in May, beginning in Hamburg, Germany, and concluding with two shows in London. The U.S. tour begins June 18 in Houston and wraps up with two shows at the Hollywood Bowl on July 19 and 20. Fans of comic-book culture will notice that those Los Angeles dates coincide with San Diego Comic-Con, leaving Jackman either plenty of time for a jaunt south for a guest appearance at SDCC or a built-in excuse for the Wolverine actor to skip out altogether. Tickets for a handful of Jackmans tour dates go on sale Dec. 7 at 9 a.m. PST on HughJackmanTheShow.com. Tickets for the Hollywood Bowl appearances do not yet have an announced sale date. pic.twitter.com/iO5NLSDE8G Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) November 29, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Quentin Tarantino marries singer-model Daniella Pick in L.A. By Christie DZurilla Quentin Tarantino and Daniella Pick in 2016. (Jean-Philippe Ksiazek / AFP/Getty Images) Once upon a time in Hollywood, Quentin Tarantino married Daniella Pick, the Israeli singer-model hes been engaged to since last year. The two tied the knot in Los Angeles in an intimate ceremony, People reported exclusively Wednesday, ahead of a larger gathering that was planned for that night. Tarantino, 55, and Pick, 35, met in 2009 when he visited Israel to promote Inglourious Basterds, but they had been dating steadily only for about a year when he popped the question in summer 2017. Theyd been on and off before that. Its a first marriage for the director, who explained his take on marriage to GQ in 2009. When Im doing a movie, Im not doing anything else. Its all about the movie, he said. I dont have a wife. I dont have a kid. Nothing can get in my way. Im not saying that Ill never get married or have a kid before Im 60. But Ive made a choice, so far, to go on this road alone. Because this is my time. This is my time to make movies. Tarantino said at a conference in 2016 that he was going to retire after he had directed 10 movies. His Once Upon a Time in Hollywood is in post-production now, while an untitled Star Trek project looms. That latter one would be his 10th full-length effort. Just Married! Congrats Quentin Tarantino & Daniela Pick! Curtis Dahl / @people pic.twitter.com/uFBk94kvyS Quentin Tarantino Fan Club (@TarantinoFC) November 29, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement SpongeBob fan lobbies for Empire State Building to glow yellow to honor Stephen Hillenburg By Christie DZurilla A SpongeBob SquarePants balloon floats over Central Park West last week during the Macys Thanksgiving Day Parade. (Eduardo Munoz Alvarez / Associated Press) A fan of the Nickelodeon show SpongeBob SquarePants has started an online petition asking that the Empire State Building be lit up in yellow to remember series creator Stephen Hillenburg, who died Monday of ALS at age 57. As Nickelodeon Studios is based in New York, I felt it fitting to ask the Big Apple to show its love for Stephen by embracing SpongeBobs classic yellow glow, fan Alison P. said in her petition on the Care2 website. She said she started the petition as a way to honor Hillenburg and also to drive awareness of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a degenerative neurological condition also known as Lou Gehrigs disease. The petition had closed in on its 3,000-signature goal by early Wednesday afternoon. Stephen Hillenburg at the world premiere of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water in 2015. (Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images) SpongeBob SquarePants has taught his audience not only about friendship but helped to drive awareness around the importance of ocean conservation, Alison P. said. It was Stephens genius that was able to invent a character who could connect with kids and adults to deliver such an important message in a fun and charming way. Though Hillenburg left the series in 2002 after about 60 episodes, it has continued on through 12 seasons so far and amassed a loyal fan base that includes both young and old. There have been two SpongeBob movies, with one more on tap for 2020. Hillenburg went public with his ALS diagnosis in March 2017. READ MORE: Stephen Hillenburg, creator of SpongeBob SquarePants, dies at 57 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bobby Brown sues Whitney: Can I Be Me distributors, including Showtime and the BBC By Christie DZurilla Whitney Houston and Bobby Brown in 1997. (Rene Macura / Associated Press) Bobby Brown and the estate of Bobbi Kristina Brown are suing Showtime and other distributors of the unauthorized 2017 biopic Whitney: Can I Be Me, alleging the defendants used more than half an hour of old footage of both Browns, plus his other children, without permission. The suit, which seeks at least $2 million in damages, was filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, where defendants Showtime, the BBC and Passion Pictures all have offices. The named defendants which also include Tracey Baker-Simmons, Wanda Shelley, B2 Entertainment and Simmons Shelley Entertainment, based in Atlanta are accused of distributing footage including some shot for the 2005 reality show Being Bobby Brown, thereby violating the Browns privacy rights in pursuit of financial gain. Though Brown was contacted by the filmmakers, the suit says, to be interviewed for Can I Be Me, he declined. A mention in the films credits suggests Browns production company OKd the use of the Being Bobby Brown footage, including footage of Bobbi Kristina Brown, but the complaint says no such permission was given. The footage was actually recorded prior to the divorce in 2007 between Brown and Houston. Brown never signed or executed a release for the material that appears in the film, the lawsuit says. The footage of Brown is approximately fifteen (15) years old. The Los Angeles Times review of Can I Be Me noted that some voices were absent from the film, which was co-directed by Nick Broomfield and Rudi Dolezal. (Neither director is named as a defendant in the lawsuit.) Broomfield, for his part, was hampered by the fact that he was not able to interview key people in Houstons life, including ex-husband Bobby Brown, her closest friend Robyn Crawford, and Clive Davis, the Svengali who began her career, Times critic Kenneth Turan wrote. Showtime and the BBC declined to comment on Wednesday. And an email sent to Tracey Baker-Simmons was not immediately returned. Bobbi Kristina Brown died in July 2015 from undetermined causes. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sundance 2019: Get an inside look at the feature film lineup and the festivals early trends By Los Angeles Times Staff People walk past the Egyptian Theatre, a landmark venue showing films during the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Mindy Kaling. Alec Baldwin. Naomi Watts. Pete Davidson. Awkwafina. Emma Thompson. Shia LaBeouf . Those are just a few of the many names headed to Park City, Utah, in January for the 2019 Sundance Film Festival. On Wednesday, the Sundance Institute unveiled the full lineup of feature films from all over the world set to premiere at the annual festival. To mark the official lineup reveal, festival director John Cooper and programming director Kim Yutani visited the Times video studio for a livestream discussion. Joined by Times film reporter and The Reel host Mark Olsen, the two offered their instant analysis on the lineup and what trends to watch for come January. Read our full report on the titles selected, and press play on the video below to watch a replay of the livestream. The 2019 Sundance Film Festival runs Jan. 24 to Feb. 3. For full coverage, make sure to bookmark latimes.com/entertainment and follow @latimesent on Twitter, @latimesent on Facebook and @latimes_entertainment on Instagram. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Mac Miller singles released posthumously on Spotify By Christie DZurilla Rapper Mac Miller died Sept. 7 of an accidental overdose. (Owen Sweeney / Associated Press) Spotify has released a couple of new tunes from the late rapper Mac Miller. A recording of his song Dunno and a cover of Billy Prestons 1974 hit Nothing From Nothing are part of a Spotify Singles playlist that came out Tuesday on the streaming platform. They were recorded live in New York City before Millers death on Sept. 7. Miller appears to get emotional about an ex-girlfriend perhaps Ariana Grande? in the wistful Dunno, from his 2018 album Swimming. And he puts a smoky, introspective spin on Nothing From Nothing. Listen to songs below. Miller, who was 26, died from an accidental overdose of alcohol, cocaine and fentanyl, the Los Angeles County coroners office concluded. The unexpected nature of his death left many strings untied, including a Halloween concert date at the Greek Theatre that became the peer-loaded tribute concert Mac Miller: A Celebration of Life. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Margaret Atwood announces Handmaids Tale sequel to be released in 2019 Margaret Atwood announced Wednesday that a sequel to her iconic 1985 novel, The Handmaids Tale, is coming next year. (Patrick T. Fallon / Los Angeles Times) In the surest sign yet that we are living in the age of reboots, revivals and sequels, Margaret Atwood announced Wednesday that a sequel to The Handmaids Tale, her prescient 1985 novel, is in the works. Titled The Testaments, the new novel is set 15 years after the protagonists final scene in The Handmaids Tale, and is narrated by three female characters. Atwood revealed the news in a tweet Wednesday morning and said the book is set to be published next year. The Handmaids Tale and its dystopian tale of life in Gilead, a patriarchal society overseen by fundamentalist zealots with a singular obsession with womens reproductive rights has seen renewed cultural significance in recent days. The books continued relevance is thanks in part to the high-profile Hulu adaptation, along with plenty of other contributing factors. Dear Readers: Everything youve ever asked me about Gilead and its inner workings is the inspiration for this book. Well, almost everything! Atwood wrote in her tweet. The other inspiration is the world weve been living in. Yes indeed to those who asked: Im writing a sequel to The #HandmaidsTale. #TheTestaments is set 15 years after Offreds final scene and is narrated by three female characters. It will be published in Sept 2019. More details: https://t.co/e1umh5FwpX pic.twitter.com/pePp0zpuif Margaret E. Atwood (@MargaretAtwood) November 28, 2018 I have published Margaret Atwoods work since 1976 her poetry, fiction and nonfiction, publisher Nan A. Talese said in a statement Wednesday. A manuscript from her is always a reason for joy. She writes wonderfully and has a mind like a steel trap. This new book is no exception. Beyond the timeline and the narrators, little else has been revealed about the sequel. The book is not, however, in any way connected to Hulus current adaptation. The Testaments is scheduled for release on Sept. 10, 2019, by Nan A. Talese/Doubleday with a first printing of 500,000 copies. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print A Star Is Born: Alfonso Cuaron turns 57 today By Los Angeles Times Staff (Anacleto Rapping / Los Angeles Times) I think it is vital for filmmakers to have their feet firmly planted in their countrys cultures. ... But the theme must be universal. Alfonso Cuaron, 2002 FROM THE ARCHIVES: A New Mexican Revolution Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Amanda Bynes makes triumphant return on cover of Paper magazine Actress Amanda Bynes, pictured in 2013, battled several problems that played out in public for a few years. (Neilson Barnard / Getty Images) Former child star turned cautionary tale Amanda Bynes has resurfaced on the cover of Paper magazine looking happy, healthy and ready for a comeback. Bynes broke through on Nickelodeons sketch comedy show All That before scoring a series of her own at age 13 with The Amanda Show. Her star continued to rise through the early 2000s with movie roles aplenty, including What a Girl Wants, Shes the Man and Hairspray. But eventually, Bynes said in a new sit-down interview with Paper, self-image issues fueled her burgeoning drug habit and led to her abandoning acting altogether. The actress recounted a moment on the set of Hall Pass, when, after seeing herself on a monitor, literally tripping out and thinking my arm looked so fat because it was in the foreground or whatever and I remember rushing off set and thinking, Oh, my god, I look so bad. According to Bynes, it was a combination of image issues and Adderall abuse that resulted in her eventually leaving Hall Pass. Shortly thereafter, she found herself in a similar situation while watching her performance in Easy A. Amanda Bynes on the cover of Paper magazines Break the Internet issue. (Danielle Levitt / Paper) I literally couldnt stand my appearance in that movie, and I didnt like my performance, she said. I was absolutely convinced I needed to stop acting after seeing it. Bynes is clear that any bad behavior in previous years was spurred by drug use and not by psychological issues, saying that once she quit acting, her days were filled with little beyond getting high and self-destructing online. Im really ashamed and embarrassed with the things I said. I cant turn back time, but if I could, I would, Bynes said. And Im so sorry to whoever I hurt and whoever I lied about because it truly eats away at me. It makes me feel so horrible and sick to my stomach and sad. Everything I worked my whole life to achieve, I kind of ruined it all through Twitter, she said. In the interview, Bynes also discusses her four years of sobriety and educational pursuit at Los Angeles Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, as well as her potential return to acting. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Aubrey Plaza to host 2019 Spirit Awards By Sonaiya Kelley Aubrey Plaza, a Spirit Award winner herself, will host the 2019 Spirit Awards ceremony. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times) Film Independent announced on Tuesday that Aubrey Plaza will host the 2019 Spirit Awards. The search for a great Spirit Awards host is never easy, Film Independents president, Josh Welsh, said in a release. This year we said, Lets find someone funny, smart, a cinephile being a great actor wouldnt hurt and it would be an added bonus if theyve previously won a Spirit Award. Then we realized, Oh wait, thats Aubrey Plaza! I am truly honored and delighted to host the Spirit Awards this year, said Plaza in the release. It is a dream come true to host a show that celebrates my greatest loves: independent film, the people that make them possible and live television. Plaza starred opposite Elizabeth Olsen in last years Ingrid Goes West, which she also produced. As a producer, she received a Spirit Award for best first feature for that film. She currently stars in FXs Legion series, which is based on a Marvel comic of the same name. Season 3 of the show will premiere in 2019. She is also well known for her role on the Emmy-nominated series Parks and Recreation and will next appear in Lars Klevbergs Childs Play remake with Brian Tyree Henry, scheduled for release on June 21, 2019. The Spirit Awards are the primary fundraiser for Film Independents year-round programs. Nominees were announced on Nov. 16. Among this years best feature nominees are Eighth Grade, First Reformed, If Beale Street Could Talk, Leave No Trace and You Were Never Really Here. The 34th Independent Spirit Awards will broadcast live on IFC on Feb. 23, 2019. The ceremony will be held on the beach in Santa Monica. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bruce Springsteen teases Netflixs Springsteen on Broadway with a new trailer By Christie DZurilla One step up and two steps back? More like one door closing and another one opening. So it is with Bruce Springsteen, whos bringing Springsteen on Broadway to small screens the day after his autobiographical show closes following more than a year at New York Citys Walter Kerr Theatre. This is what Ive presented to you all these years as my long and noisy prayer, as my magic trick, Springsteen says to kick off the trailer released by Netflix on Tuesday, not quite three weeks ahead of the specials debut on the streaming service. Think of it as a two-hour reward for resisting the urge to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a ticket to the gig, which opened in October 2017. Heavy on serious theatricality, the trailer offers a low-key taste of the nearly solo show staged in a theater that seats fewer than a thousand which on most nights has included Springsteens wife, Patti Scialfa, on a couple of songs. Its a hybrid, but clearly not a Bruce concert. Far from it. Unlike his raucous arena shows, there are no massive singalongs by the crowd. It doesnt stretch to 3 or four hours, though its apparently grown longer with time. Its a coming-of-age story, and I want to show how this ones coming of age has to be earned, Springsteen told E Actress Heather Grahams directorial debut Half Magic almost didnt happen. About a year ago the film, originally imagined in New York, was forced to shut down suddenly after financing fell through. We had already cast the movie, we had hired the crew, Graham recalled. It was really traumatic. And I had to give the rights back, which was really stressful. Luckily for her, producer Bill Sheinberg agreed to pick it up just as long as it was shot in Los Angeles. In my mind, I saw it in New York or L.A. because I live in both places and I love them both, said Graham. My character does work in the movie business, so the L.A. story makes sense. Advertisement Its great because the fact that we got postponed actually helped us, she added. I think now the movies coming out at a better time where people are more receptive to a story about women. A semiautobiographical story about bad relationships, good friendships and female empowerment, Half Magic pulls directly from experiences Graham has had over the course of more than 30 years in the industry. I would take things that people said to me and put them in the script and try to make them funny, she said. Like when Chris DElias character says, No one cares about womens stories. If you want to get a movie made, write about a man, thats something that people had said to me. With Half Magic currently available on VOD and in a limited theatrical release, Graham talked to The Times about the challenges faced by women in Hollywood, the pitfalls of modern dating and overcoming sexual shame. Heather Graham, left, as Honey, Stephanie Beatriz as Candy and Angela Kinsey as Eva in Grahams comedy Half Magic, released by Momentum Pictures. (Kelly Gunning / Momentum Pictures ) What inspired you to tell this story? I was going through a breakup, and I was thinking, How do I turn [my depression] about relationships into comedy? And so I wrote down different things that had happened to me, and I tried to make myself laugh with the stupid things that I had done or that my friends had done. Also, I was frustrated because for about eight years I worked on developing projects for women in Hollywood. I put so much time and work into it and [yet] I didnt get them made. So I wanted to find the humor in my frustration. Advertisement Why is dating so awful? Does it get better? [Laughs] I think because sometimes were drawn to the things that we hate. Like maybe dynamics in our family that didnt feel that good, we re-create them with our relationships. I think it does get better because you get a bit more wisdom, but its sort of the luck of the draw. But I did want to explore in my movie why we make these bad decisions and choose these people where theres obvious red flags. I feel like Ive painted red flags green. What was it like growing up in a religious household? I used to watch Love Boat, and my dad would sit next to me and be like, These people are doing something very wrong. Theyre having premarital sex, and you can go to hell for that. I just remember as a kid it seemed really frightening like, Whats he talking about? Whats hell? Whats sex? I dont understand any of it! Advertisement How did you overcome that kind of shame to have a healthy sex life? I didnt intellectually believe what they were saying, but on a subconscious level I did have those feelings of shame. And then I fell in love with this guy who turned out to be a drug addict, but we had amazing sex. And in the moments when we were having sex, I felt like I had the universe talk to me; I felt like there was a starry sky and the voice of my higher power was saying, Sex is beautiful, feel good about yourself and love yourself. So then I associated that feeling with that guy. I just thought, This means that I need to be with this guy, this guy is the key to my happiness instead of just thinking, I had an epiphany, this is just me. Do you think Hollywood has evolved much in its portrayal of women or willingness to tell womens stories? I dont think its massively changed, to be honest. Every year theres like three great things for women: Theres Jennifer Lawrence in Hunger Games or theres Girls Trip or theres Shape of Water with an amazing female protagonist. But most movies have male protagonists and [involve] mainly men. Advertisement Do you think its a matter of not believing womens stories will sell or something else? I think its sexism. I think sometimes people are so used to sexism that they dont even notice its there. Like even with this Harvey Weinstein story, it kind of blew my mind that justice was actually served. I never thought Id see the day where theyd say, This guy should not be allowed to work in Hollywood. It seems now that people are open to thinking about things differently and thinking that, OK, maybe we shouldnt let a sexual predator run one of the biggest studios in Hollywood. Youve been vocal about your experience with Weinstein. Have you had many instances of sexual impropriety over the course of your career? Yes. [But] that being said, theres a lot of nice people too; its not like everyones a jerk. But Ive had a lot of experiences. Advertisement Whats your response to the Times Up and #MeToo movements? I think its amazing that women are supporting each other. I think that in the past, sometimes women would be competitive, but now I feel like women have each others backs. And theyre like, This is a sisterhood, were all a team, were 50% of the population and we need to stand up for each other. Youve been acting for over 30 years. How has the industry changed since you were a child actor? Well, I worked on License to Drive with Corey Feldman, and he just came [forward] and said that he was being molested during that time. Thats so disturbing. During that time, nobody wouldve talked about that, people wouldnt feel confident enough to tell the story. I think now people are like, Lets just be honest, lets just be open. Theres not that sense of shame about things. Which is kind of what my movie is about too. Its about having a sense of shame about your sexuality and how do you get over that. And I think thats whats happening right now in our culture because people are going, You know, these things happened to me, and I think the person that did them to me is screwed up. I dont feel that its my fault. Thats a massive cultural shift. Advertisement Whats your advice for young actors coming up in this industry? For women, its cool to write your own stuff. I think its great for women to feel like they can create their own work and dont have to just try to get a man to hire them. I know when I was younger I used to dream about, Ive got to get this successful male director to hire me and then I can express my creativity and then I can fulfill my dream, and then at a certain point I just thought, Well, its not really happening so maybe I should just express my own creativity and tell my story myself. sonaiya.kelley@latimes.com follow me on twitter @sonaiyak I pretty much dance from 10 to 7, says Isabella Boylston. As a principal dancer for the American Ballet Theatre, shes always in motion, keeping her muscles warm and strong so as to avoid injury. (Shes already sprained her ankle 15 times and had surgery once when she stepped on a broken Champagne glass.) If shes not rehearsing or performing, the 31-year-old is doing one of the following: meditating, sleeping or consuming pasta, her must-have before a show. Shes also been thinking of taking on the big screen and on Friday, shell make her debut in Red Sparrow, the Francis Lawrence-directed thriller about a ballerina-turned-Russian intelligence agent. The film stars Jennifer Lawrence as Dominika Egorova, and Boylston plays Lawrences dance double. I think they were really committed to being as accurate as possible, so they wanted a principal dancer, a real ballerina, Boylston says. Justin Peck, the choreographer, is a good friend of mine we had worked together before on our own film that premiered at Tribeca Film Festival a couple of years ago. He called me and was like, I think youd be a great fit for this project. And I was like, Francis Lawrence? Jen Lawrence? Sign me up. Isabella Boylston (Lexie Moreland / WWD ) Advertisement Boylston is no stranger to the magic of live performance, but filming presented new obstacles. Sometimes I rehearse for up to nine hours in one day, which is insane, but we were doing 12-hour shoot days, she explains. Youd wake up at 4 a.m. to get into hair and makeup, then youll do 10 takes of the same thing and sit around and your muscles get so cold. It was basically trying not to get injured with all the stop and go. There are upsides. Mess up a move and theres always the next take to get it right. Plus, she got to travel to Budapest and meet Jennifer Lawrence, who Boylston describes as super real and hilarious. Having climbed to the highest ranks of the ballet world, Boylston is in her prime. Shell soon embark on an American tour, followed by shows in Singapore, Hong Kong, the Philippines and, finally, Lincoln Center in May. Still, she feels she has more time now than when she was in the corps de ballet doing eight shows a week. So shes spending some of those extra hours giving aspiring dancers the tools they need to pursue their dreams. Isabella Boylston (Lexie Moreland / WWD ) It had always been a dream of mine to bring ballet to my hometown, Sun Valley, Idaho, she says. Its a ski town, but theres a beautiful amphitheater there, so I brought a bunch of dancers from ABT and ballet stars from all over the world to Sun Valley for two shows and then we did a free education day for kids. We enrolled 200 kids and this year, were gonna try to enroll up to 300. I was happy that we were able to offer the classes for free cause I wouldnt be here without scholarships and I think most aspiring dancers come from families without a lot of money. Boylston says its important for young dancers to develop a thick skin: You get critiqued and criticized constantly and thats not a bad thing cause you need that to push you to grow and get better. She struggled with self-confidence when she first joined ABT 13 years ago, but eventually learned that asserting herself was necessary in order to take control of her career. The world isnt a perfect meritocracy, so you have to be able to speak up for yourself, she advises. Always be curious and realistic about things you need to work on and what you need to do to get to the next level. Assertiveness, curiosity and a desire to grow are essential to making it. And, Boylston says, a positive attitude helps when times get tough. Advertisement Be nice to everyone and keep your sense of humor, she adds. Cause things dont always go your way. USC names retired aerospace executive Wanda Austin as acting president, announces Nikias departure By Harriet Ryan USC appointed a retired aerospace executive as interim president and laid out a detailed plan for selecting a permanent leader Tuesday, ending speculation about whether outgoing President C.L. Max Nikias might remain in the post. Nikias, embattled over his administrations handling of a campus gynecologist accused of sexually abusing patients, relinquished his duties after a meeting of USCs board. The trustees tapped one of their own, Wanda Austin, an alumna and former president of the Aerospace Corp., to temporarily run the university. The trustees also approved the formation of a search committee and the hiring of firm Isaacson, Miller to coordinate the selection of a successor. A second search company, Heidrick & Struggles, will also advise trustees. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ex-student sues elite Brentwood School after teacher is charged with sexually abusing him By Richard Winton A former student sued the elite Brentwood School on Monday in the wake of a female teacher being charged with repeatedly having sex with the minor, alleging that other faculty members encouraged the unlawful behavior and failed to report it to authorities. The lawsuit accuses the private school, whose students include the children of many of Hollywoods elite and L.A.s powerful, of acting negligently and allowing Aimee Palmitessa to abuse and batter the teenager sexually. The suit alleges that the student was abused in summer 2017 after one of the schools counselors offered words of encouragement to the then-17-year-old, identified in the suit as only John Doe, to engage in an illegal relationship with the teacher. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Civil jury vindicates fired Montebello school executives in whistleblower case By Howard Blume The Montebello school district is in dire straits at risk of insolvency and under apparent criminal investigation. An outside audit in July found some teachers earning more than $200,000 a year, as well as improper raises, excess paid vacation time and inappropriate overtime, sick leave and car allowances. Fixing the district and pinpointing blame could take time. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. schools fall short on safety measures, new report warns By Howard Blume After the mass shooting at Floridas Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, Los Angeles school officials reassured parents that much had been done to keep local schools safe. California had tougher gun laws, after all, and the school district paid close attention to students mental health. But a new report issued Monday by a panel convened to take a close look offers some cause for concern, flagging inconsistent campus safety measures, thinly spread mental health staff and inadequate coordination between the school district and other public agencies. With the stakes this high, we must strive to do better, said L.A. City Atty. Mike Feuer, who assembled the panel. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. school district says more are graduating, but rate may not show it By Howard Blume The L.A. Unified School District has hopes of continuing its winning streak this year with another record graduation rate, but the official numbers may not show it. A senior district administrator warned the board Tuesday that graduation rates were likely to decline 2% to 3% across the state, even though L.A. Unified is likely doing better than ever in producing graduates, he said. The issue is that the state will now count high school students who transfer to adult school as dropouts, said Oscar Lafarga, who heads the districts office of data and accountability. Previously, schools treated these students as though they had simply enrolled in another high school, he said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Betsy DeVos to California: Not so fast on that federal education plan By Joy Resmovits Education Secretary Betsy DeVos (Erik Lesser / European Pressphoto Agency) In April, Californias top education officials breathed a sigh of relief. After months of debate and back-and-forth with Betsy DeVos staff, they had finalized a plan to satisfy a major education law that aims to make sure all students get a decent education. The state focused on aligning its plan to fulfill the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act with Californias Local Control Funding Formula, which gives extra money to districts to help students who come from low-income families, are in the foster system or are English learners. But this week, DeVos team said not so fast. Jason Botel, the U.S. Department of Educations principal deputy assistant secretary, sent California education officials a letter asking for more information in such areas as measuring student progress, graduation rates and English learners. In an unsigned statement, the California Department of Education declared itself surprised and disappointed because officials thought after a meeting with federal officials in Washington that they were on the right track to get approval. Now the Every Student Succeeds Act plan will be up for discussion once again at the July meeting of the State Board of Education. The U.S. Department of Education has already approved most state plans. Every Student Succeeds is the Obama administrations 2015 replacement for the No Child Left Behind Act. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. school board sets a new goal: prepare every grad to be eligible to apply for Cal State or UC By Sonali Kohli Last month, Los Angeles school board president proposed a spate of highly ambitious mandates aimed at ensuring that every district graduate be eligible to apply to one of the states public four-year universities by 2023. By the time the L.A. Unified school board unanimously approved the resolution Tuesday, the original language had been watered down. The goal is no longer that in five years 100% of students meet the long list of benchmarks, which include not just college eligibility for graduates but first-grade reading proficiency and English fluency by sixth grade for all students who enter the district in kindergarten or first grade speaking another language. The original college-readiness goal, for example, called for 100% of all high school students to be eligible to apply to one of the states four-year universities. Now the goal seems to offer more wiggle room: Prepare all high school graduates to be eligible to apply to a California four-year university. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement We have been hurt. More women say they were mistreated by USC gynecologist By Richard Winton USC student Anika Narayanan says she vividly recalls her first appointment with Dr. George Tyndall at the campus health center, alleging that he made several explicit comments during an examination she felt was inappropriate and invasive. When she came back for a second visit in 2016 after a nonconsensual sexual encounter, he allegedly chastised her, she said in a civil lawsuit and at a press conference Tuesday. He asked me if I had forgotten to use a condom again, said Narayanan, 21. At one point, she said, Tyndall asked if I did a lot of doggy style, she said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. Unified gives inspector general brief contract extension By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school board on Tuesday extended the contract of Ken Bramlett, its inspector general, by three months, though his job is far from secure and questions remain about the future direction of his watchdog office. Board members also unanimously promoted Vivian Ekchian, who had been the runner-up for the superintendents job, to deputy superintendent the districts No. 2 position. Both moves had elements of peacemaking between different factions on the board. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print USCs handling of complaints about campus gynecologist is being investigated by federal government By Harriet Ryan The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that it has launched an investigation into how the University of Southern California handled misconduct complaints against a campus gynecologist, the latest fallout in a scandal that has prompted the resignation of USCs president, two law enforcement investigations and dozens of lawsuits. In revealing the inquiry by the departments Office of Civil Rights, officials rebuked USC for what they alleged was improper withholding of information about Dr. George Tyndall during a previous federal investigation. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who has been criticized for taking a less vigorous approach to examining sexual misconduct than predecessors, called for a systemic examination of USC and urged administrators to fully cooperate. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Judge to sentence woman and her boyfriend for the murder of an 8-year-old that led to L.A. child welfare reforms By Marisa Gerber A woman and her boyfriend are expected to be sentenced Thursday for the torture and murder of an 8-year-old boy whose killing in 2013 provoked public outrage, prompted sweeping reform of Los Angeles Countys child welfare system, and led to unprecedented criminal charges against social workers who handled the childs case. Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, 34, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for her role in the death of her son, Gabriel. A jury decided last year that her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, 37, should be executed. When paramedics arrived at the boys Palmdale home in May 2013, Gabriel had slipped out of consciousness. He had a fractured skull, broken ribs, burned skin, missing teeth and BB pellets embedded in his groin. A paramedic would later testify that every inch of the boys small body had been abused. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. Unifieds spending out of step with similar school systems, task force says By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school district is out of step with similar school systems, spending more on teachers pay and health benefits and less on activities that could enhance student learning, according to a new report by an outside task force. The L.A. Unified School District Advisory Task Force did not make specific recommendations, but instead posed a series of questions it said the district needs to answer to make sure its funding is aimed at providing a full opportunity for all students to succeed. What were trying to say is: Lets put the data on the table. Lets look at the truth. Lets be transparent and here are the numbers, said task force member Renata Simril. This is not to say that we should cut teachers salaries. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Top USC medical school official feared dean was doing drugs and alerted administration, he testifies By Paul Pringle A former vice dean of USCs Keck School of Medicine testified Tuesday that he feared the schools then-dean, Dr. Carmen A. Puliafito, could be doing drugs and expressed concerns about his general well-being to the universitys No. 2 administrator before Puliafito abruptly left his job in 2016. Dr. Henri Fords testimony at a hearing of the state Medical Board marks the first suggestion that any USC administrator had suspicions about Puliafitos possible drug use before he stepped down. A Times investigation in 2017 found Puliafito led a secret second life of using illegal drugs with a circle of young criminals and addicts. Puliafito testified about his behavior at the hearing Tuesday, saying he took drugs with one young woman on a weekly basis. Ford said that he decided to alert USC Provost Michael Quick after receiving reports in early 2016 that Puliafito was partying in hotels with people of questionable reputation, and that he came to worry about his mental stability. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Why L.A. Unified may face financial crisis even with a giant surplus this year By Jessica Calefati With more than half a billion dollars socked away for next school year, the Los Angeles Unified School District hardly seems just two years from financial ruin. Its a scenario that is especially tough to swallow if youre a low-wage worker seeking a raise or a teacher who wants smaller classes. But budget documents show that todays $548-million surplus cannot be sustained and that even basic services face steep, seemingly unavoidable cuts because of massive problems barreling the districts way. Theres a disconnect between the rosy short-term picture and what we know is coming, said board member Kelly Gonez. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print We have failed: Top USC officials try to reassure students amid gynecologist scandal By Joy Resmovits Top administrators at USC are reaching out to students in the wake of misconduct allegations against the universitys longtime gynecologist, acknowledging failings and vowing reforms as they try to address growing outrage over the revelations. Several USC deans have sent out messages trying to reassure students and faculty that the university is committed to changing. We have failed, wrote Jack H. Knott, dean of USCs Sol Price School of Public Policy, in a May 24 letter. What happened is antithetical to everything we know is right. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Rick Caruso is named chair of USCs trustees, vows swift investigation of gynecologist scandal By Thomas Curwen The University of Southern Californias board of trustees has elected mall magnate Rick Caruso to be the new chair of the board, giving fresh leadership as the university navigates a widening scandal involving a longtime campus gynecologist. The move marks the latest effort by USC to address the case, which has sparked a criminal investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and dozens of civil lawsuits. More than 400 people have contacted a hotline that the university established for patients to make reports about their experience with Dr. George Tyndall. In his first act as chairman, Caruso announced that the white-shoe L.A. law firm OMelveny & Myers would conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the gynecologists conduct and reporting failures at the clinic. He set an ambitious timeline for the review, pledging it would conclude before students return for the fall semester. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC Berkeley students persistence helps win more liberal rules for in-state tuition By Teresa Watanabe Ifechukwu Okeke thought shed be a shoo-in for in-state tuition when she was admitted to UC Berkeley for fall 2016. She had moved to the United States from Nigeria in 2012 to go to Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga. By the time she got her acceptance to transfer to UC to study molecular and cell biology, she had lived in California four years. She had a California drivers license, bank account and rental records as proof. UC Berkeley, however, ruled she was a nonresident which meant she would have to pay nearly $27,000 more. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement State medical board calls former County-USC doctor a sexual predator, suspends his license By Matt Hamilton A UCLA cardiologist has been temporarily stripped of his medical license after state regulators described him as a sexual predator who assaulted three female colleagues when he was working and training at L.A. County-USC Medical Center. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Global California 2030' aims to get more students learning more languages By Joy Resmovits Tom Torlakson (Andrew Seng / Associated Press) Outgoing state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson on Wednesday announced a new statewide effort to encourage students to learn more languages. Called Global California 2030, its goal is to help more students become fluent in multiple tongues. Torlakson said that by 2030, he wants half of the states 6.2 million K-12 students to participate in classes or programs that lead to proficiency in two or more languages. By 2040, he wants three out of four students to be proficient enough to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy. Torlakson announced the initiative at Cahuenga Elementary School, which offers a dual-language immersion program in English and Korean. Californias public school students speak more than 60 languages at home, and 40% come to school with knowledge of a language other than English. Torlakson called his plan a call to action that invites parents, legislators, educators and community members to pool resources to expand language offerings in schools and get more bilingual teachers trained. He said the state already is working with Mexico and Spain to expand a teacher-exchange program. Fluency, the plan argues, can help students succeed economically and language acquisition can help their overall critical thinking. The initiative builds on Proposition 58, a ballot initiative passed in 2016 that undid an earlier requirement that English learners be taught in English-immersion classes unless their parents signed waivers. Torlakson recently visited Mexico and met with that countrys education secretary. They later signed a pact to increase collaboration, particularly in language education. This [Global California 2030] is great follow-through on Toms part and very important, Patricia Gandara, a UCLA education professor who hosted the Mexico meeting, said in an email. It hands over a plan to move forward in an area in which California has a unique advantage, but must seize the opportunity. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Jury convicts man of murder in 2015 slaying of UCLA student found inside her burning apartment By Marisa Gerber A jury on Tuesday convicted a man in the 2015 slaying of a UCLA student found dead inside her burning apartment a gruesome stabbing case that led to a fierce rebuke of the police response amid concerns that the killing could have been prevented. The panel deliberated for about six hours before finding Alberto Medina, 24, guilty of murder, arson, burglary and animal cruelty. On Sept. 21, 2015, firefighters found the charred body of Andrea DelVesco inside her apartment after responding to the complex a block from campus. The 21-year-old student an Austin, Texas, native known to her sorority sisters as a fearless giver who befriended others with ease was stabbed at least 19 times, authorities said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print LAPD begins sweeping criminal probe of former USC gynecologist while urging patients to come forward By Adam Elmahrek The Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday it is investigating 52 complaints of misconduct filed by former patients of USCs longtime campus gynecologist as detectives launch a sweeping criminal probe into the scandal that has rocked the university. LAPD detectives also made an appeal for other patients who feel mistreated to come forward, noting that thousands of students were examined by Dr. George Tyndall during his nearly 30-year career at USC. More than 410 people have contacted a university hotline about the physician since The Times revealed the allegations this month. Tyndalls behavior and practices appear to go beyond the norms of the medical profession and gynecological examinations, said Asst. Chief Beatrice Girmala. We sincerely realize that victims may have difficulty recounting such details to investigators. We are empathetic and ready to listen. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print At L.A.'s only school for the deaf, parents want leaders who speak the same language By Anna M. Phillips Ever since her son was 6 months old, Juliet Hidalgo has been bringing him to the Marlton School, a low-slung building in Baldwin Hills that for generations has been a second home for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Los Angeles. Marlton staff taught Hidalgos brother and sister, both of whom are deaf. The school was where her deaf son learned to make the signs for milk and food. Hidalgo had planned to enroll her daughter, taking advantage of a popular program that allows hearing children to learn American Sign Language alongside their deaf siblings. But after more than a decade of involvement, she and other family members are considering withdrawing their children. They are not alone. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Fueled by unlimited donations, independent groups play their biggest role yet in a California primary for governor By Ryan Menezes An unprecedented amount of money from wealthy donors, unions and corporations is flowing into the California governors race, giving independent groups unrestricted by contribution limits a greater say in picking the states chief executive than ever before. The groups have already spent more than $26 million through Thursday, the most ever spent by noncandidate committees in a gubernatorial primary, according to a Times analysis of campaign finance reports. California elections have always been expensive, and the future is even more expensive, said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College and a former state Republican leader. The stakes are very real. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 2 hurt in Indiana middle school shooting; suspect in custody, authorities say By Associated Press Authorities say two victims in a shooting at a suburban Indianapolis school are being taken to a hospital and the lone suspect is in custody. Bryant Orem, a spokesman for the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, said in a news release that the victims in Friday mornings attack at Noblesville West Middle School are being taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and their families have been notified. He says no other information is available about the victims. Orem said the suspect is believed to have acted alone and was taken into custody. No additional information about the suspect was made public. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print For new L.A. schools chief Austin Beutner, some key unions are giving no honeymoon period By Howard Blume In the less than two weeks since Austin Beutner took charge of Los Angeles schools, unions representing teachers and administrators have staged a job action and a protest. Theyve made it clear that they will not give the new superintendent the traditional honeymoon period, and they are bashing him for his wealth and lack of experience running either a school or a school district. Beutner is a billionaire investment banker with zero qualifications, local teachers union President Alex Caputo-Pearl told members in a phone alert urging them to participate in a Thursday afternoon rally in Grand Park. The board is saying that billionaires who made their money blowing institutions up and making money off it know best not the education professionals who have dedicated our careers to working with students. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Pressure grows on Board of Trustees amid USC gynecologist scandal By Paul Pringle USCs large and powerful Board of Trustees is coming under growing pressure to provide a stronger hand as the university faces a crisis over misconduct allegations against the campus longtime gynecologist that has prompted calls for President C.L. Max Nikias to step down. Allegations that Dr. George Tyndall mistreated students during his nearly 30 years at USC have roiled the campus, with about 300 people coming forward to make reports to the university and the Los Angeles Police Department launching a criminal investigation. USC is already beginning to face what is expected to be costly litigation by women who say they were victimized by the physician. So far, the trustees to whom Nikias reports have expressed sympathy for the women who have come forward and launched an independent investigation while also publicly backing the president. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC regents approve leaner budget for Janet Napolitano By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents on Thursday unanimously approved a leaner, more transparent budget for President Janet Napolitano, moving to address political criticism over the systems central office operations. The $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 reflects spending cuts of 2%, including reductions in staffing, travel and such systemwide programs as public service law fellowships, carbon neutrality and food security. Napolitano shifted $30 million to campuses for housing needs and $10 million to UC Riverside to support its five-year-old medical school. She also permanently redirected $8.5 million annually to help enroll more California students, as required by the state. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print USCs Academic Senate calls on university president to resign after a series of scandals By Matt Hamilton The body that represents USCs faculty called on President C.L. Max Nikias to resign Wednesday in the wake of relevations that the universitys longtime gynecologist faced years of accusations of misconduct by students and colleagues at the campus health clinic. The Academic Senate took the vote late Wednesday afternoon after a fiery town hall meeting attended by more than 100 faculty members, many of whom voiced outrage over Nikias and the Board of Trustees leadership. The vote came a day after the trustees executive committee stood firmly behind Nikias, saying it has full confidence in his leadership, ethics and values. At the town hall meeting, Senate President Paul Rosenbloom said he did not think Nikias or Provost Michael Quick committed wrongdoing but that the university president deserved criticism for a lack of transparency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias public universities on the way to getting a big longed-for boost in funding By Teresa Watanabe The University of California and California State University systems are poised to get major funding boosts that will help them enroll thousands of additional state students and eliminate the need for tuition increases in the coming school year. A key Assembly budget panel on Wednesday approved $117.5 million in new funds for the UC. A Senate panel approved a similar sum last week. The same committees recently approved even more funding for the Cal State system. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement UC regents to scrutinize Janet Napolitanos office budget in a step toward stronger oversight By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents this week plan to scrutinize the budget of President Janet Napolitano, whose office came under political fire last year for questionable spending and murky accounting. Regents will vote on the proposed $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 during their two-day meeting, which starts Wednesday, at UC San Francisco. They also will discuss state funding, financial aid, online education and transfer student policies. Board Chairman George Kieffer said regents are stepping up to exert stronger oversight of the presidents office after a blistering state audit last year found financial problems including an unreported $175 million budget reserve. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print State legislative panels approve major funding boost for Cal State By Teresa Watanabe Cal State students protest against a tuition increase outside the chancellors office (Irfan Khan) After months of intensive lobbying, Cal State University has convinced two key legislative panels to approve funding to enroll nearly 11,000 more students, hire more faculty and expand housing aid to those without shelter this fall. An Assembly budget panel on Tuesday approved $215.7 million more for Cal State, adding to Gov. Jerry Browns proposed $92.1 million general fund increase. A Senate budget panel approved a similar increase last week. The extra funding which went beyond Cal States own request to the Legislature of $171 million is still subject to final budget negotiations with Brown. But the actions by the Senate and Assembly panels amount to a demand from Democrats that the governor hike higher education spending. Cal State University is the workhorse undergraduate university serving hundreds of thousands of Californians, said Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), who heads the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance. We need more graduates for the California workforce and higher education is the ticket to the middle class. Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White hailed the actions, but said it was too soon to celebrate. The CSU has a singular focus on helping students earn high-quality degrees sooner, and the entire university community has rallied to reinforce that message to our states lawmakers, he said in a statement. The actions taken thus far by the Assembly and Senate are promising and show that our message is being received, but there is still work to be done. Funding for the University of California was not taken up Tuesday as originally scheduled. McCarty would not comment on sticking points but said he was confident that a resolution would be reached this week. Were looking to provide resources above whats in the governors budget, but negotiations are ongoing, he said in an interview. State per-student funding is not what it once was, leaving both Cal State and the UC in a tough financial squeeze. Both systems raised tuition last year after a six-year freeze on higher costs. For this year, Cal State had asked for funding to enroll an additional 3,621 students, but both the Senate and Assembly panels approved three times that amount. Cal State, the largest public university system in the nation, turned away 32,000 eligible students last year because its campuses werent able to accommodate them. The panels asked that at least $50 million of the extra funding be used to hire more tenure-track faculty to help boost graduation rates. The Assembly panel also approved one-time funding of $5 million to ease hunger on campuses and $14 million for rapid rehousing pilot projects at three campuses, offering needy students rental support and short-term case management. Other items approved include $5 million to support the CSU Long Beach Shark Labs research on sharks and beach safety and $2 million for equal employment opportunity practices. This post has been updated to include comments from Assemblyman Kevin McCarty and Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Faculty members call for USC president to step down: He has lost the moral authority to lead By Matt Hamilton Two hundred USC professors on Tuesday demanded the resignation of university President C. L. Max Nikias, saying he had lost the moral authority to lead in the wake of revelations that a campus gynecologist was kept on staff for decades despite repeated complaints of misconduct. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gun battle, negotiations lasted 15 minutes before Texas school shooter was apprehended, sheriff says By Molly Hennessy-Fiske Minutes after a school shooter opened fire in an art class last week, killing 10 people and wounding 13, including a local police officer, fellow officers returned fire in a protracted gun battle before isolating the suspect, the local sheriff said Monday. Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset praised first responders as well as Santa Fe Police Officer John Barnes, who was working as a resource officer at the school the day of the shooting. Their actions, he said, prevented the attack from spreading to other classrooms and potentially claiming additional victims. As officials continue to probe last Fridays shooting at Santa Fe High School, students are worried about returning to the scene of the attack when classes resume next week. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 6 women sue USC, alleging they were victimized by campus gynecologist By Richard Winton Six women filed civil lawsuits Monday alleging that a longtime gynecologist at the University of Southern California sexually victimized them under the pretext of medical care and that USC failed to address complaints from clinic staff about the doctors behavior. One woman alleged Dr. George Tyndall forced his entire ungloved hand into her vagina during an appointment in 2003 while making vulgar remarks about her genitalia, according to one of the lawsuits. Another woman alleged that Tyndall groped her breasts in a 2008 visit and that later he falsely told her she likely had AIDS. A third woman accused the doctor of grazing his ungloved fingers over her nude body and leering at her during a purported skin exam, the lawsuit states. The wave of litigation comes as USC continues to grapple with the scandal, which legal experts said could prove costly to the university as scores of former patients come forward about their experiences with the gynecologist. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Fatalities reported in Texas high school shooting; suspect arrested, officials say By Associated Press Houston-area media citing unnamed law enforcement officials are reporting that there are fatalities following a shooting at a local high school Friday morning. Television station KHOU and the Houston Chronicle are citing unnamed federal, county and police officials following the shooting at Santa Fe High School, which went on lockdown around 8 a.m. The Associated Press has not been able to confirm the reports. The school district has confirmed an unspecified number of injuries but said it wouldnt immediately release further details. Assistant Principal Cris Richardson said a suspect has been arrested and secured. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print This student followed the new L.A. schools chief on his first-day tour L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner is greeted by Van Nuys High School principal Yolanda Gardea. (Melissa Barales-Lopez) Melissa Barales-Lopez, a senior at Garfield High School followed Supt. Austin Beutner on his first day on the job, as he toured a variety of programs around the Los Angeles Unified School District. Heres what she took from the experience. LAUSD students and staff alike are looking for a personal champion, someone who will address and improve the difficulties afflicting their education. What LAUSD students need is someone whos willing to listen and learn, someone who can understand the current issues affecting their schools and act to efficiently amend them, someone who can unlock the full potential of LAUSD students and enable them to reach their goals. During the entirety of his first day, superintendent Austin Beutner did indeed demonstrate a willingness to learn. Posing questions to teachers and students, Beutner engaged with the student communities he encountered to gain a better comprehension of the minutiae and nuances that distinguish each school inside an overwhelmingly large district. From inquiries about Grand View Boulevard Elementary Schools dual language program to questions regarding the services of LAUSDs after-school program, Beyond the Bell, Beutner revealed he has a lot to learn about the system. But, Beutner also showcased a willingness to tackle challenges head-on on his first day. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print USC let a gynecologist continue treating students despite years of misconduct allegations By Matt Hamilton For nearly 30 years, the University of Southern Californias student health clinic had one full-time gynecologist: Dr. George Tyndall. Tall and garrulous with distinctive jet black hair, he treated tens of thousands of female students, many of them teenagers seeing a gynecologist for the first time. Few who lay down on Tyndalls exam table at the Engemann Student Health Center knew that he had been accused repeatedly of misconduct toward young patients. The complaints began in the 1990s, when co-workers alleged he was improperly photographing students genitals. In the years that followed, patients and nursing staff accused him again and again of creepy behavior, including touching women inappropriately during pelvic exams and making sexually suggestive remarks about their bodies. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print On his first day as L.A. schools chief, Beutner plans a day of visits across the district By Howard Blume L.A. Unifieds new superintendent, Austin Beutner, will kick off his first day of work on Tuesday with a choreographed tour of the nations second-largest school district, from the San Fernando Valley to Carson. His day is scheduled to begin at 5:15 a.m. at a school bus depot and end more than 12 hours later at a parent meeting at Garfield High School. Along the way, Beutner is expected to be joined by school district administrators, L.A. Unified board members and the vice president of the union that represents school bus drivers. Though he will be covering a lot of ground, Beutners tour has him skipping Tuesdays school board meeting, when board members are expected to discuss labor negotiations in closed session. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Why a handful of rich charter school supporters are spending millions to elect Antonio Villaraigosa as governor By Ryan Menezes California voters have seen a barrage of sunny television ads in recent weeks touting former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosas record on finances, crime and education, aired by Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018. But the group is, in fact, largely funded by a handful of wealthy charter-school supporters. Together they have spent more than $13 million in less than a month to boost Villaraigosas chances in the June 5 primary at a time when his fundraising and poll numbers are lagging. Reed Hastings, the founder of Netflix, jump-started the group with a $7-million check, by far the largest donation to support any candidate in the election. Their efforts are part of a broader proxy war among Democrats between teachers unions longtime stalwarts of the party and those who argue that the groups have failed low-income and minority schoolchildren. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Talking schools with L.A. Unifieds new superintendent By Anna M. Phillips Al Seib / Los Angeles Times ( Incoming L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner talks to students at Belmont High School.) Austin Beutner, who officially starts Tuesday as the new superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is taking on a famously difficult job at a particularly difficult time. The school board is divided and did not back him unanimously. The nations second-largest school district has deep-seated problems, including declining enrollment, lagging academic achievement and rising pension and healthcare costs that eat away at its budget. The 58-year-old former investment banker and former L.A. Times publisher has years of experience in the financial world but none as an educator. Earlier this week, he sat down with the Times education team to discuss the challenges facing the district, which has about 60,000 employees and 500,000 students in traditional public schools. He did not talk about his plans saying repeatedly, stay tuned but he spoke in broad terms about his mindset in approaching the tough decisions ahead. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Suspect detained, authorities search campus after reports of armed man at Palmdale high school By James Queally One person has been detained after a report of an armed man at a Palmdale high school sparked a massive law enforcement response Friday morning. The suspect was spotted at 7:05 a.m. on the campus of Highland High School in Palmdale, according to Sheriffs Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida. The person was detained in a nearby parking lot, according to Nishida, who did not know whether that person was an adult or juvenile. Deputies at the scene are clearing the school methodically, and students will be transported home via school buses once the campus is deemed safe, Nishida said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement The education of Bertha Perez: How a UC Merced custodians disenchantment led to a political awakening By Robin Abcarian Its the third day of a three-day strike, and UC Merced custodian Bertha Perez is taking a break from a picket line at the universitys unremarkable entrance, an intersection with stop lights. Photos from other UC campuses this week have shown big crowds of striking service workers members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees marching and chanting pro-labor slogans as they try to force the University of California back to the negotiating table. But here, at UC Merced, whose handful of big buildings rise from a flat expanse of farmland, the picket line is tiny, maybe two dozen workers and a few students. Its not a big-city-style show of force. Then again, a union sympathizer is banging relentlessly on a snare drum, so its noisier than youd expect. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ref Rodriguez resigns from teacher credentialing commission By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez appears during a court appearance. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez has resigned from the states Commission on Teacher Credentialing, which oversees the integrity and quality of Californias teachers. Rodriguez faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. Separately, his former employer, a charter school organization, has accused him of improperly authorizing checks to a nonprofit under his control. Rodriguez has denied wrongdoing. Rodriguezs resignation from the state body was effective May 4, days after he cast a crucial vote as part of a narrow majority that voted to authorize contract negotiations with Austin Beutner to become superintendent of the L.A. Unified School District. Beutners first official day on the job is Tuesday. Rodriguez remains in his $125,000-a-year position on the Los Angeles Board of Education. The mission of the state body is to ensure integrity, relevance, and high quality in the preparation, certification, and discipline of Californias teachers. Critics had questioned Rodriguezs continued service on the commission, given that teachers can be suspended from work if they face criminal charges. They also can lose their jobs for lapses in personal behavior, such as excessive drinking, with the potential to affect their performance. Police in Pasadena arrested Rodriguez on a Friday afternoon in March for public drunkenness. He was not charged in the incident and has apologized. The state commission reviews teacher discipline cases and can take action to remove a teachers credential to work in a California classroom. The commission has 15 members. Rodriguezs departure was disclosed in a one-sentence announcement on the agencys website. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print School board members request for restraining order against blogger is rejected By Priscella Vega An Orange County Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a school board members petition for a permanent restraining order against a Huntington Beach blogger. Attorney Jeffrey W. Shields filed the petition on behalf of Ocean View School District trustee Gina Clayton-Tarvin, 46, who alleged in court documents that Charles Keeler Johnson, 56, has threatened her on social media and at school board meetings, causing her to fear for my own safety and for that of my immediate family members. Johnson, who goes by Chuck and publishes HBSledgehammer.com, said the trustee tried to stifle his freedom of speech. He also contended that Clayton-Tarvin took his blog posts and Facebook comments too seriously and out of context, saying anyone who is afraid of metaphors has serious issues. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Deal with workers averts one-day strike that could have shut down L.A. schools By Howard Blume Los Angeles school district and union officials announced a contract agreement Tuesday night that averted a one-day strike planned for next week. The pact, which runs through June 2020, removes one labor problem from the desk of incoming Supt. Austin Beutner whose first day on the job would have coincided with the strike. Plenty of other challenges remain. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC labor strike expands with show of support from more unions By Teresa Watanabe Fong Chuu is a registered nurse who has assisted with countless liver transplants, kidney surgeries and gastric bypasses during 34 years at UCLA. Working with her are scrub technicians who sterilize equipment, hand medical instruments to the surgeon and dress patient wounds. They are a team, Chuu says, which is why she walked off her job Tuesday in support of those technicians and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299. The 25,000 member AFSCME local, the University of Californias largest employee union, launched a three-day strike Monday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print We are humans too: Voices of UCLAs striking custodians, hospital aides and imaging technicians By Joy Resmovits Demonstrators parade in front of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) This week, thousands of UC employees are staging a three-day strike for better pay and working conditions. On Monday, more than 20,000 custodians, cooks, lab technicians, nurse aides and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 walked off their jobs. By Tuesday, two more unions joined in sympathy strikes. The union and UC reached a bargaining impasse last year. The university has said it wont meet the workers demands. The strikers said they wanted better pay, more equity in the allocation of work, stable healthcare premiums and an end to the universitys use of contract workers. These are their stories. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Massive UC workers strike disrupts dining, classes and medical services By Joy Resmovits A massive labor strike across the University of California on Monday forced medical centers to reschedule more than 12,000 surgeries, cancer treatments and appointments, and campuses to cancel some classes and limit dining services. More than 20,000 members of UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, walked off their jobs on the first day of a three-day strike. They include custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Two altercations involving protesters and people driving near the rallies were reported at UCLA and UC Santa Cruz. At UCLA, police took a man into custody Monday after he drove his vehicle into a crowd, hitting three staff members. They were treated for minor injuries at the scene and released, said Lt. Kevin Kilgore of the UCLA Police Department. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sen. Kamala Harris to skip UC Berkeley commencement in support of striking workers By Teresa Watanabe Sen. Kamala Harris (Chris Dekmas) California Sen. Kamala Harris has canceled plans to deliver UC Berkeleys commencement address this weekend in support of UC workers who are on strike over wages and health benefits. Due to the ongoing labor dispute, Sen. Harris regretfully cannot attend and speak at this years commencement ceremony at UC Berkeley, said a statement from Harris office issued Monday. She wishes the graduates and their families a joyous commencement weekend and success for the future. They are bright young leaders and our country is counting on them. UCs largest employee union, the 25,000-member American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees Local 3299, launched a three-day strike Monday and had earlier called for a speakers boycott. The union and university reached a bargaining impasse last year and subsequent mediation efforts have failed to produce an agreement. The union is asking for a multiyear contract with a 6% annual pay increase while the university is offering 3% annual increases over four years. UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ will deliver the keynote address instead, the university announced. About 5,800 students are expected to participate in the ceremony Saturday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement School mural depicting Trumps bloody, severed head sparks controversy By Gary Warth A Chula Vista school mural that depicts the bloody, severed head of President Trump on a spear sparked a controversy that prompted officials to cover it and issue a response distancing themselves from the work. The statement also said the artist will alter the painting. We understand that there was a mural painted at the event this past weekend that does not align with our schools philosophy of non-violence, read the statement from MAAC Community Charter School director Tommy Ramirez. We have been in communication with the artist who has agreed to modify the artwork to better align with the schools philosophy. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New blackface incident at Cal Poly prompts calls for state investigation By Kim Christensen Cal Poly San Luis Obispo officials have asked the state attorney generals office to investigate after a new photo of a white student in blackface surfaced on a fraternity groups private Snapchat. I am outraged, Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong said in a video address Friday to the campus. These vile and absolutely unacceptable acts cannot continue. We must not allow these acts to define us as an institution. Armstrong said the latest photo was intended to imitate an incident last month in which a white member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity was photographed at a party wearing blackface. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print More than 50,000 UC workers set to strike this week but campuses will remain open By Teresa Watanabe More than 50,000 workers across the University of California are set to strike this week, causing potential disruptions to surgery schedules, food preparation and campus maintenance. The systems 10 campuses and five medical centers are to remain open, with classes scheduled as planned. UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, plans to begin a three-day strike Monday involving 25,000 workers, including custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New L.A. schools chief Beutner pledges to listen, learn and take action By Howard Blume New Los Angeles schools Supt. Austin Beutner proved Wednesday that hes a quick learner even without an education background. Like countless public officials before him, he appeared at an important event his first speech and news conference with a photogenic background of students. His message that he would put those students first seemed heartfelt if hardly original. Nor was it a huge surprise that he pledged to push cooperatively but unflinchingly to improve the districts academic performance and stabilize its finances. As an introduction, Beutner, a former investment banker who made a fortune on Wall Street, offered little flash, but that was partly the point. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print In a school lockdown, one student takes stock of the stressful scene (Phalaen Chang) At the beginning of lunch one day late last month, Duarte High School, Northview Middle School, and California School of the Arts-San Gabriel Valley were advised by the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department to go into lockdown mode due to police activity in the immediate area. Phalaen Chang, a junior at the California School of the Arts, wrote a series of notes on her iPhone while she sat in a room with her classmates. By the time the lockdown ended an hour later, she wrote, she knew which of her friends would hold open the door for others, be the ones calming others down, be the ones barricading the doors. She knew that all of them have the potential to be such strong people. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Tale as old as time: L.A. Unified superintendent pick follows a historical pattern of outside-the-box choices By Joy Resmovits Navy Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, superintendent from 2006-2008. (L.A. Times file photo) L.A. Unified has long gone back and forth between picking insiders and outsiders to run the nations second largest school district. The choice of Austin Beutner, announced Tuesday, places the district squarely back in the outsider camp months after a consummate insider, Supt. Michelle King, announced that she had cancer and would not return to the job. Check out this timeline of former L.A. superintendents to see how the school board members have changed their minds, sometimes favoring leaders who come from the world of education and sometimes executives from elsewhere, recruited to shock the system into change. At one point, the district hired someone from the military retired Navy Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, who served as superintendent from 2006-2008. In hiring Brewer, board members had opted for a non-educator largely because they sought a fresh thinker, unwedded to the bureaucracy, unafraid to make bold, even unorthodox moves, reads a 2008 Times story. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Austin Beutner named superintendent of Los Angeles schools By Howard Blume Austin Beutner, a philanthropist and former investment banker, on Tuesday was named superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nations second-largest school system. His selection was the biggest move yet by a Los Angeles school board majority elected with major support from charter school advocates. The decision came after lengthy public testimony, most of it in support of the other remaining finalist, interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian, who is well known within the school system. Beutner, 58, has no background leading a school or school district. Less than 2 years ago, a school board with a very different balance of power named Michelle King, a former teacher who rose through the district throughout her career, to L.A. Unifieds top job. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Hearing delay gives both sides more time in Ref Rodriguezs potential trial By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez and his attorneys will have more time to prepare their defense against charges of political money laundering, a judge ruled Monday. The preliminary hearing in the case had been scheduled to begin May 9, but that date will now be pushed back to July 23 per the ruling from L.A. Superior Court Judge Deborah S. Brazil. Rodriguez, 46, faces three felony charges of conspiracy, perjury and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. school board poised to name Beutner as superintendent By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education is poised to select philanthropist and former investment banker Austin Beutner to be the next superintendent of the nations second-largest school system. Barring a last-minute development, the only mystery is whether Beutner emerges with four or five votes from the boards seven members. Terms of his contract already have been under discussion, according to sources close to the process who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak. The selection of Beutner, 58, who has no experience managing a school or a school district, would be a signal that the board majority that took control nearly a year ago wants to rely on business management skills instead of insider educational expertise. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Teacher walkouts in Arizona and Colorado continue national debate on money for schools By Michael Livingston Following the lead of teachers who walked off the job in other states in recent weeks, thousands of teachers and their supporters took to the streets in Arizona and Colorado for the second day in a row to demand better pay and more funding for education. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Three decades before the #MeToo movement, UC San Diego led the way against sexual assault By Teresa Watanabe When Nancy Wahlig first started her fight against sexual assault, one company was marketing a capsule for women to stash in their bras and then smash to release a vile odor. Because of the very nature of society, the only person who can prevent rape is the woman herself, read a 1981 advertisement for the Repulse rape deterrent. Ideas about how to prevent sexual violence have come a long way since then, and Wahlig has helped lead that evolution on college campuses. In 1988, she started UC San Diegos Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC), the first stand-alone program at the University of California. Today, she remains the systems most senior specialist. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Andres Alonso withdraws from consideration for L.A. schools job By Howard Blume Andres Alonso, believed to be one of three remaining finalists to lead the Los Angeles school system, has withdrawn from consideration. The remaining known candidates in the confidential search are former investment banker Austin Beutner and interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian. Alonso, 60, announced his decision on Twitter on Thursday night, saying he had notified the L.A. Unified School District on Monday. The exit of Alonso, the former Baltimore schools chief, seems to solidify the front-runner status of Beutner, who also was a former L.A. Times publisher and a Los Angeles deputy mayor. He held each of those positions for about a year. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Heres why the apparent increase in autism spectrum disorders may be good for U.S. children By Karen Kaplan The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among American children continues to rise, new government data suggest. And that may be a good thing. Among 11 sites across the U.S. where records of 8-year-olds are scrutinized in detail, 1 in 59 kids was deemed to have ASD in 2014. Thats up from 1 in 68 in 2012. Normally, health officials would prefer to see less of a disease, not more of it. But in this case, the higher number is probably a sign that more children of color who are on the autism spectrum are being recognized as such and getting services to help them, according to a report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC shelves tuition increase for now, in hopes of getting more state funding By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents will not vote on a tuition increase next month, shelving the plan for now in hopes that state lawmakers will come through with more funding. Raising tuition is always a last resort and one we take very seriously, UC President Janet Napolitano said Thursday in a statement. We will continue to advocate with our students who are doing a tremendous job of educating legislators about the necessity of adequately funding the university to ensure UC remains a world-class institution and engine of economic growth for our state. Last week, Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White said the 23-campus system no longer would consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year. But unlike Cal State, UC officials have not taken a tuition increase off the table entirely. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement A chemical spill, unchecked eyewash stations, poor training: Audit details Cal States lax lab safety By Joy Resmovits In May 2016, two bottles tumbled off a poorly supported shelf and broke, leading to a chemical spill in a Sacramento State University lab. The liquid got onto one students legs and soaked anothers feet. Five employees cleaned up the mess, even though no one knew for sure what it was and whether it was dangerous. They called fellow employee Kim Harrington, their union representative, to let her know what happened. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print After blackface incident, minority students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo say they dont feel welcome By Hailey Branson-Potts Aaliyah Ramos was walking through the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus last year when a prospective student approached her. Ramos was the only black person, the young woman said, that she and her mother had seen that day. They asked about the quality of education and the diversity of the student body. Ramos, a mechanical engineering student, didnt want to sugarcoat the truth: Cal Poly long has been predominantly white. But she told the young woman who also was black that she didnt want to discourage her from applying, because that wouldnt help with diversity at a school where only 0.7% of students are African American the lowest percentage of any university in the California State system. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills wins the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon By Carlos Lozano El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills has won the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon, officials said. The winner was announced early Saturday at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas. More than 600 students from the U.S., Canada, China and the United Kingdom gathered there over the last three days to compete in the 37th annual U.S. Academic Decathlon. Congratulations to El Camino Real Charter High School for another impressive victory, said Vivian Ekchian, interim superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Your academic stamina and competitive spirit to win is remarkable. The entire L.A. Unified family is so proud of you. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Anticipation mounts as L.A. school board meets over superintendent selection By Howard Blume L.A. schools superintendent candidate Andres Alonso got an endorsement Friday, but Austin Beutner and Vivian Ekchian also have supporters. (Elizabeth Malby) The Los Angeles Board of Education is reconvening in closed session Friday at noon as anticipation mounts about the choice of the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. The presumed front-runner is former investment banker and philanthropist Austin Beutner, but interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian and former Baltimore Supt. Andres Alonso also are in the running. Most district insiders appear to be rooting for Ekchian, who has spent her entire career in education within the school system. After her 10 years as a teacher, her roles have included head of human resources, chief labor negotiator and regional administrator for campuses in the west San Fernando Valley. Shes managed the district since September, when then-Supt. Michelle King went on medical leave and chose Ekchian to fill in for her. King, who is battling cancer, never returned and announced her retirement in January. Numerous influential civic leaders have urged and pressured the board to select Beutner. Also lending their weight have been advocates for charter schools, which are independently operated, growing in number and competing for students with district-operated campuses. Four of the seven board members enough to control the outcome were elected with major financial support from charter supporters. Beutner has two ongoing connections with the L.A. Unified School District. The first is his leadership of an outside task force that is making recommendations on how to improve the school system. The second is his charity, Vision to Learn, which supplies glasses to low-income students. The charity and the school system are in a dispute at the moment over who is responsible for delays in providing services to students as part of a $6 million contract, half of which is paid for by L.A. Unified. Unlike Ekchian and Buetner, Alonso, who currently teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, has no deep-seated local constituency, but the prospect of his selection has generated some excitement. While in Baltimore, Alonso was recognized for pushing for progress at low-performing schools, and for being willing to take strong action. While in Baltimore, he also weathered a test-score cheating scandal and occasionally rocky relations with the teachers union. But by the time he resigned, after six years, he and union leaders seemed to be working together without rancor. Leaders of some community groups have split from the pro-Beutner camp. They worry that Beutners approach to confronting the districts financial problems could shut out their voices or involve severe economic cutbacks that would undermine programs that are helping students. Some prefer Ekchian; some Alonso. Theyve been reluctant to speak out publicly because theyll have to work with whoever is selected, but they have tried to get the ear of board members. On Friday morning, one leader of a community group decided to come out in favor of Alonso. L.A. Unified has the opportunity to bring in an instructional leader of color with a history of success, said Alberto Retana, president and chief executive of Community Coalition, which works on behalf of low-income students and families in South Los Angeles. If we have a shot at that, we should go for it because its in the best interests of our kids and of our community. Retana said his statement was not meant to criticize Beutner or Ekchian but to alert board members that there also is community support for Alonso. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Cal State leader shelves proposed tuition hike: Its the right thing to do, but its not without risk By Joy Resmovits Cal State, the nations largest public university system, will no longer consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year, Chancellor Timothy P. White announced Friday. The decision is a bet that Sacramento will come through in the end. If Cal State loses that bet, it could mean cuts to campus programs. White said in an interview that Californias economy is strong enough that families should not be shouldering the burden of higher college costs. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. students to participate in national walkout activities on Friday By Joy Resmovits (Los Angeles Times) Students are taking to the streets again Friday to protest gun violence on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. Starting at 10 a.m., students at many schools will spend 13 seconds honoring the 13 people 12 students and one teacher killed on that day in Littleton, Colo. After that, theyll participate in a host of different activities. Within L.A. Unified, one school is having an open-mic event for students to talk about school violence, and lawmakers are visiting campuses to hear students thoughts. According to a central hub for organizing the protests written by the students of Ridgefield High School in Connecticut the walkouts are intended to drive the political change necessary to curb school violence. The day is also a time for students to interact on an elevated platform they have never had before, the site states. It is a day of discourse and thoughtful sharing. Bringing together communities and students to get a national discussion rolling. Organizers have suggested using the event to convey the importance of curbing gun violence to legislators. They are encouraging students to push legislation that would ban assault weapons and tighten up rules around who can buy guns and how. Over 2,500 schools nationwide are expected to participate. In L.A., some students at campuses including Eagle Rock High School, the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts and Bravo Medical Magnet plan to walk out. Students from various schools expect to join area marches, including those in Santa Monica and Huntington Park. Other schools are hosting career days and voter registration drives. At 1 p.m., students plan to start a rally in front of L.A. Unified headquarters. For the record: An earlier version of this article stated that 12 teachers and one student were killed in the Columbine shooting. The opposite is true: twelve students and one teacher died. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Stabbing of popular student devastates South El Monte High School; teen friend suspected in slaying By Sonali Kohli When administrators at South El Monte High School called Jeremy Sanchezs parents to say he never showed up for class Wednesday, his father began to worry. It was unusual for the 17-year-old junior to miss school, so his father filed a missing persons report and assembled two of Jeremys close friends to look for the popular student-athlete. Their search took them to a scenic stretch of the San Gabriel River Trail, where one of the friends a 16-year-old boy made a tragic discovery. Among the bushes in the riverbed near Thienes Avenue and Parkway Drive was Jeremys body, punctured with stab wounds, according to Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Racist fliers spark outrage at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo By Alene Tchekmedyian Soon after Neal MacDougall arrived on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus Tuesday, the professor noticed university police standing outside a restroom near his office. A racial slur against African Americans had been scrawled in red marker on a stall wall. Later, he discovered a series of racist fliers pinned up next to his door. Someone had also slashed posters hed hung outside his office supporting students in the country illegally. The discovery was the latest controversy on the prestigious campus which the president said is less than 55% white that MacDougall said demonstrates a culture of racism at the university. Last week, photographs emerged of white fraternity members, including one in blackface, flashing gang signs. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement The superintendent waiting game, paying for L.A.'s College Promise, Princetons slave history: Whats new in education By Joy Resmovits Acting LAUSD superintendent Vivian Ekchian is a finalist for the permanent job. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) In and around Los Angeles: The L.A. Unified school board spent 10 hours interviewing and discussing candidates for superintendent. When they adjourned after 10 p.m., they said they would reconvene on Friday. Who is paying for Mayor Eric Garcettis much-touted College Promise, a program that promises two years of community college for LAUSD grads? In California: The Legislature is considering a proposal that would boost K-12 education funding for black students. When the cost of living is taken into account, California has the highest rate of child poverty. Nationwide: The families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School are suing Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never occurred. Princeton will name two spaces an arch and a garden after slaves who lived or worked on the campus. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. school board meets privately with finalists and debates choice for school district leader By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education adjourned late Tuesday after spending more than 10 hours interviewing candidates and trying to reach a decision on who would be the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. When the meeting finally recessed at 10:11 p.m., a spokesman announced only that the school board would reconvene Friday at noon. Going into the days meetings, there were apparently four finalists, according to sources who could not be named because they were unauthorized to speak. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Two Sandy Hook families sue Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never happened By David Altimari Families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School have filed lawsuits in Texas against controversial radio host Alex Jones for continually claiming the massacre never happened. Neil Heslin, the father of Jesse Lewis, and Leonard Pozner and Veronique De La Rosa, whose son Noah Pozner died in the massacre, filed separate lawsuits late Monday in Travis County, Texas. The lawsuits allege that Jones defamed the parents by constantly calling them crisis actors and insisting the shooting was a false flag operation; they also claim Jones accusations have led to death threats against the Sandy Hook families by Jones followers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Beutner emerges as a top pick for L.A. schools superintendent amid last-minute jockeying By Howard Blume Austin Beutner has emerged as a leading contender to run the Los Angeles school district, with backers saying he is smart enough and tough enough to confront its financial and academic struggles. Though he does not have a background in education, the former investment banker has in the last year examined some of the districts intractable problems, serving as co-chair of an outside task force with the support of then-Supt. Michelle King. Sources inside and outside the school district said Beutner appears to have more support on the seven-member board than other finalists, and his name could come up for a vote as early as Tuesday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Challenge at Chicago school construction site: Watch for 38,000 unmarked graves By Nereida Moreno A 15-year effort to build a school in Chicagos Dunning neighborhood is underway with an unusual complication: Construction workers are taking careful steps to avoid disturbing human remains that may lie beneath the soil. The $70-million school is to be built on the grounds of a former Cook County Poor House, where an estimated 38,000 people were buried in unmarked graves. Among the dead are residents who were too poor to afford funeral costs, unclaimed bodies and patients from the countys insane asylum. There can be and there have been bodies found all over the place, said Barry Fleig, a genealogist and cemetery researcher who began investigating the site in 1989. Its a spooky, scary place. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Oklahoma teacher walkout winds down despite lawmakers failure to meet demands By Washington Post Oklahomas largest teachers union has announced an end to a walkout that has drawn thousands of educators out of classrooms and to the state Capitol demanding greater investment in the states schools, which have endured the nations steepest funding cuts. The announcement Thursday from the Oklahoma Education Assn. does not necessarily end the protests at the Capitol, as teachers not affiliated with the union vowed to stay longer. Instead of a walkout, the union and school districts across the state have said they plan to send delegations of teachers to Oklahoma City to keep the pressure on lawmakers. Teachers and their supporters have also promised to push education issues to the forefront of November elections, when the state chooses a new governor. As school districts begin to reopen, the protests may lose steam. The Legislature is not in session Friday, and observers are waiting to see what happens Monday, when lawmakers return. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Most Californians are worried about school shooting threats and oppose arming teachers, survey finds By Joy Resmovits Hamilton High School student Aiyana Dabriel holds a sign during a March 14 walkout in support of the Parkland shooting victims. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Most Californians are worried that a school shooting like the one that occurred in Parkland, Fla., in February could shed blood closer to home, a new survey found. Some 73% percent of adults and 82% of public school parents said they were very concerned or somewhat concerned about school shootings. The Public Policy Institute of California surveyed 1,704 adults in the state by phone just after the March for Our Lives protest against gun violence. Latino and black respondents were significantly more likely to be concerned about school violence than white or Asian respondents, the institute found. Two-thirds of adults and public school parents said they opposed letting more educators carry weapons in school. The response differed across party lines, with 86% of Democrats and 69% of independents voicing their opposition, while 60% percent of Republicans said they would support a measure to arm educators. The poll, which had a margin of error of 3.2% in either direction, also asked Californians about school funding, educational issues in the governors race and the impact of immigration enforcement on students. You can find the full results here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias largest virtual charter school network agrees to contract with its teachers By Anna M. Phillips Nearly four years after teachers at Californias largest online charter school voted to unionize, they have reached a deal to increase pay and create job protections, according to a spokesman for the California Teachers Assn. The contract, which is still tentative and subject to ratification, is a victory for the teachers union. Although charter schools are publicly funded, most are privately managed and their employees arent protected by labor contracts. Under the terms of the contract the result of years of negotiation and legal wrangling approximately 500 teachers working for California Virtual Academies will no longer be at-will employees who can be dismissed for almost any reason. Their average salary will rise to just over $45,000, according to union estimates, a figure that remains far below the norm for traditional public school teachers. Still, it is an improvement over the previous average of $38,000. The accord also places a limit on the number of students each teacher is responsible for monitoring in online homeroom classes. Were very satisfied with the gains we made, said teacher Brianna Carroll, president of California Virtual Educators United. I think were going to see some extraordinary changes in our schools. According to Carroll, teachers at California Virtual Academies better known as CAVA had grown frustrated with the organizations foot-dragging and were making preparations to go on strike when CAVAs leadership agreed to the deal. CAVA and K12, the Virginia-based for-profit company linked to its schools, did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday asking for comment. The network currently operates nine virtual charter schools across California. In 2016, the charter network agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle claims of false advertising, misleading parents and inadequate instruction. The state attorney generals office had also accused K12 of controlling the charters for its own financial benefit. Neither CAVA nor K12 admitted to wrongdoing in the settlement. A year later, the state imposed a $2-million fine on CAVA after an audit found that it had misspent public funds. The network disputed the findings. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement School board approves a new formula for funding high-need schools By Sonali Kohli L.A. schools will soon get more money if they are located in neighborhoods with such problems as high levels of gun violence and asthma. The Los Angeles Unified school board voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a new formula to determine how to dole out some funding to schools, based not only on the characteristics of the student populations but on the traumas that affect the communities around campuses. The new formula will be applied to $25 million in funding next fiscal year and about $263 million annually in future years a small part of the districts $7.5 billion annual budget. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Protesters demand Ref Rodriguez resignation outside school board meeting By Sonali Kohli Students, parents, teachers and UTLA marching outside the board meeting chanting "Ref resign" pic.twitter.com/W0LRWZSIXY Sonali Kohli (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 A few dozen parents, students and teachers marched outside the Los Angeles Unified School Board meeting Tuesday, some calling for board member Ref Rodriguez to resign the week after news broke that he was taken into custody on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena bar and restaurant. Rodriguez was not cited or charged in that incident, but was held for more than five and a half hours before being released. The school board member faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. He is accused of getting more than two dozen people people to donate to his campaign for his school board seat with the understanding that he would reimburse them. He stepped down from his post as school board president after he was charged last fall, but he did not give up his seat on the board. He has pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of conspiracy, perjury, and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May. He cant give his full focus to our students, said Rebecca LaFond, a Highland Park parent whose three children marched with her as she chanted, Ref resign. One daughter marched in front of her, using a drum stick to hit the bottom of a gallon-size empty water jug. Our kids deserve someone who has the utmost ethical standards representing them, LaFond said. The protests continued into the board meeting, where some addressed Rodriguez directly, calling on him to step down during public comment portions of the meeting. Rodriguez, through his chief of staff, declined to comment. Some parents outside the board meeting did not know about the charges against Rodriguez but came out to protest the possibility of sharing their school campuses with charter schools. Protesters also oppose colocation not all of the parents are here to ask Ref Rodriguez to step down pic.twitter.com/1Co8zQ9zSi Sonali Kohli (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 Cynthia Martinez said her son, who goes to Christopher Dena Elementary School in Boyle Heights, has been bullied in the past by students from a charter school sharing the campus. She said she didnt know who Rodriguez was. Some parents and teachers are worried about losing computer labs, robotics rooms and fitness centers if they are required to share their campus with charter schools, said Ilse Escobar, a parent community organizer for United Teachers Los Angeles. The issues of Rodriguez and colocation are related, Escobar said. Rodriguez is part of a majority on the school board elected with financial backing from charter school supporters, and many parents, she said, feel that the school board is compromised if he is a part of it. Staff reporter Howard Blume contributed to this post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Delaine Eastin tries to gain momentum in the California governors race, one voter at a time By Seema Mehta Delaine Eastin was a sophomore in high school when a drama teacher urged her to try out for a part in The Man Who Came to Dinner. She hesitated until he told her: This is a metaphor for your whole life. If you never try out, you will never get the part. Eastin auditioned and won the role. Decades later, the advice sticks with the former state schools chief, this time in her unlikely run for governor. Despite calls for more women in leadership roles in state politics following sexual misconduct allegations in Sacramento, Eastin has been largely overlooked in the race, lagging far behind her Democratic rivals in fundraising and the polls. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Arizona high court rejects in-state tuition for DACA recipients By Associated Press Young immigrants granted deferred deportation status under a program started by President Obama are not eligible for lower in-state college tuition, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Monday. The unanimous ruling will affect at least 2,000 students attending the states largest community college district and hundreds more at other colleges and the states three public universities. The Maricopa County Community Colleges District and state universities said they would begin raising tuition immediately for the coming school year. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New York high school students injured when bus strikes overpass By Associated Press A charter bus carrying teenagers returning from a spring break trip Sunday night struck a bridge overpass on Long Island, seriously injuring six passengers and mangling the entire length of the top of the bus. The crash happened shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday on the Southern State Parkway in Lakeview, according to New York State Police. One of the six injured passengers had very serious injuries, said State Police Maj. David Candelaria. Thirty-seven other passengers suffered minor injuries. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Some good news for California in national student test scores By Joy Resmovits National test scores for fourth- and eighth-graders were generally flat from 2015, but eighth-grade reading scores showed some improvement. Every two years, the nations fourth- and eighth-graders are tested in math and reading and newly released results from last years tests give California at least a little reason to be pleased. The 2017 results out Monday night were mostly flat nationwide compared with 2015, though the average score in eighth-grade reading went up. But while that improvement largely came from the increased scores of the highest-performing students, California eighth-graders showed some reading progress from the lowest levels to the highest. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Under state control, Inglewood school districts financial picture worsened By Anna M. Phillips When Eugenio Villa agreed to return to the Inglewood schools for a second tour last summer, he knew the district remained one of Californias most troubled. Inglewood Unified had been nearly insolvent when it was taken over by the state Department of Education in 2012. Six years later, its enrollment was still declining. Its school buildings were tired some edging into decrepitude. Its test scores and graduation rates were still below the state average. And the public was out of patience. Still, Villa, who had signed back on as the districts chief business official, was shocked at what he found when he arrived in June 2017. Two years earlier, he had left the school system on what he thought was firm ground. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Charter school group drops two lawsuits against L.A. Unified By Howard Blume A charter schools advocacy group last week announced that it would end two long-running lawsuits in which it was seeking more classroom space and construction money from the Los Angeles school district. The decision, the California Charter Schools Assn. said, reflects better relations between charter schools and the L.A. Unified School District. But the move also suggests that the litigation, which already contributed to significant gains for area charters, was unlikely to produce much more. It takes time, money and effort to litigate, said Ricardo Soto, general counsel for the charter group. Maybe its better to see if we can find the time and opportunity for collaboration. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. school board member Ref Rodriguez is arrested on suspicion of public intoxication By Richard Winton Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez was arrested recently on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena restaurant, the latest trouble for an elected official who faces political money-laundering charges. Pasadena police took Rodriguez into custody on March 16, according to city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. Officers arrested Rodriguez at about 4:30 p.m. at the Yard House restaurant and bar at the Paseo Mall and held him in jail for more than five-and-a-half hours. Rodriguez was ultimately released without being cited or charged, Derderian told The Times. Other details about the arrest were not available, she The union that represents Los Angeles school cafeteria workers, bus drivers and custodians announced Monday that it will hold a vote to authorize a strike. If the workers approve a strike, a walkout would not be inevitable, but union leaders could call one without returning to the membership for permission. The move could provide more leverage at the bargaining table to negotiators for Local 99 of the Service Employees International Union. Voting is scheduled to take place March 12 through March 24. Union leaders made their announcement during a demonstration at Marlton School in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw area. The campus serves deaf and hard-of-hearing students, and the unions members include aides who work with the disabled. During negotiations over staffing and work hours, the union has accused the L.A. Unified School District of illegally cutting the hours of these aides. Advertisement The district has denied any wrongdoing. The nations second-largest school system faces financial pressures on various fronts, including pension deficits, unfunded retiree healthcare and declining enrollment caused by demographic changes and the growth of independently run charter schools. District officials have said the school system must cut costs to remain solvent. Local 99 represents nearly 30,000 full- and part-time district employees and has been bargaining with L.A. Unified for nearly a year. Other unions, including the one that represents teachers, also have expired contracts and are in contract negotiations. The district has offered a 2% raise for the 2017-18 year, with an option to reopen salary discussions in the two years if our economic situation improves, said Najeeb Khoury, chief labor negotiator for L.A. Unified. LAUSD Bus Driver Tanya Walters, SEIU Local 99 Vice President speaks at protest, followed by LAUSD Custodian Edna Logan. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) howard.blume@latimes.com @howardblume The Los Angeles Police Department main Twitter account @LAPDHQ was hacked Monday to declare the forces members are white supremacists. The departments account used to present its public image posted a tweet at 1:53 p.m. stating lapdWHITESUPREMACISTS. looks like @LAPDHQ got hacked for a hot minute pic.twitter.com/m1OsBljA4n (H I (@ElRandomHero) February 26, 2018 Josh Rubenstein, the LAPDs public information director, in a message said the departments Twitter account had been hacked. We are working to lock it down now. The tweet, once noticed, was immediately removed but not before several viewers captured the image. Readers immediately commented on the hacking. One reader asked: Hey @LAPODHQ u Ok: Another Twitter follower @BlueKnight257: seriously get it together HQ! Somebody has access to twitter account! Advertisement We are aware that our #LAPD account was compromised and are taking the proper steps to resolve this issue. LAPD HQ (@LAPDHQ) February 26, 2018 richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes A former student was arrested early Tuesday after he made threats to shoot up a high school in Chino Hills, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department. Deputies were dispatched to Ruben S. Ayala High School at 2:59 p.m. Monday after the ex-student, Nicholas Ceballos, made the threats. The school was closed when authorities received notice of the threats, affording investigators the opportunity to work swiftly to resolve the matter before it posed an active threat to students or staff, the Sheriffs Department said in a statement. After 19-year-old Ceballos was identified as the suspect, Chino Hills investigators obtained a search warrant for his residence. He was arrested at 12:38 a.m. Tuesday and booked in the West Valley Detention Center in Rancho Cucamonga on suspicion of making criminal threats, authorities said. Advertisement It was not immediately clear if the threats were made verbally or online or if investigators found weapons at Ceballos home. Investigators determined there were no additional threats related to this specific investigation, according to the Sheriffs Department. Anyone with additional information has been asked to contact the sheriffs Chino Hills station at 909-364-2000. Callers who wish to remain anonymous may call 800-78-CRIME. hailey.branson@latimes.com Twitter: @haileybranson A commercial building in downtown Los Angeles was destroyed by a large fire early Tuesday that downed nearby power lines and injured a firefighter. The fire, which was reported at 4:49 a.m. at 771 E. Pico Blvd., was extinguished by 117 firefighters in 47 minutes, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The one-story clothing business, called Priceless, was engulfed in flames which shot through the roof, causing it to collapse. The fire was confined to the building, authorities said. LAFD Capt. Eric Thompson douses hot spots after a fire at the Priceless clothing company in the the 700 block of East Pico Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles. (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times ) Advertisement The intensity of the blaze forced firefighters off the roof and out of the building, according to the LAFD. Downed power lines caused safety concerns for the firefighters, who assumed a defensive position, using heavy water streams to put out the fire. A fire captain who was working on the roof sustained a head injury that was possibly caused by a large hose line, said Capt. Erik Scott, an LAFD spokesman. The captain was taken to a hospital in fair condition, and his injuries were non-life-threatening, authorities said. The building was not occupied at the time of the fire and mostly contained clothing items, Scott said. The cause of the fire is under investigation. LAFD Spokesman Brian Humphrey said investigators would remain on the scene most of the day. Crews were using heavy equipment, including bulldozers, to move damaged materials. Theres a great deal of debris smoldering, Humphrey said. The structure has been destroyed, he said. Its heartbreaking. These businesses typically represent a lifetime of investment for the owner and the employment of many. Firefighters, he said, are going to do their best to assist the business owner. Advertisement hailey.branson@latimes.com Twitter: @haileybranson UPDATES: 10:40 a.m.: This article was updated with additional details from Erik Scott and Brian Humphrey. Advertisement 6 a.m.: This article was updated with the fire being extinguished. This article was originally published at 5:35 a.m. A new law will allow the head of the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power to enter into heftier contracts without getting approval from its board, and gives the board power to greenlight longer contracts without requiring Los Angeles City Council approval. The City Council voted 12-0 on Tuesday to approve the ordinance, which was touted as a way to save money and make the department more efficient. The new ordinance will authorize the head of the agency to sign off on certain contracts of up to $5 million without board approval, a marked increase from the existing limit of $150,000. City ratepayer advocate Fred Pickel, who backed the changes, likened that to a family with a $1,000 monthly budget insisting on a meeting before they spent more than 2 1/2 cents. The current requirement constrains operations and involves the board in details instead of policymaking, board vice president William W. Funderburk Jr. said in a written statement, calling the changes sensible contracting reforms. Advertisement The utility estimated that the change would reduce processing time for many of its contracts, cutting it from 58 business days to 17. Board approval would still be needed for any contracts for professional services or those that last more than three years. In addition, the DWP board will be able to approve many contracts that last up to five years without City Council approval. The current limit is three years. If the board is approving a contract for construction equipment or software that is offered by only one vendor, it does not need to get council approval unless the agreement lasts longer than a decade. Loosening those requirements was included in a long list of recommendations from lawmakers meant to smooth department operations and cut back on political meddling from City Hall. More than a year ago, Los Angeles voters rejected many of those proposals, turning down a ballot measure that was aimed at giving the department more autonomy. That measure, RRR, would have expanded the utility board, added requirements that board members have particular kinds of expertise, and opened the door to allowing the department to hire workers without using the civil service process an idea that spurred opposition from unions that represent employees of other city departments. After voters turned down the ballot measure, city officials continued to pursue other recommended changes that did not require voter approval. The new law approved Tuesday generated little debate as it was vetted at City Hall, but Jamie Court, president of the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, argued that it was wrong to take more utility decisions out of the hands of the City Council. This basically makes sure that no one is ever accountable if a bad contract is signed. Only elected officials are accountable to the voters, Court argued. Pickel countered that even if some contracts do not automatically have to go to the City Council for approval, lawmakers can still exercise their power under the city charter to veto board decisions. Advertisement The new law also requires that regular reports concerning utility contracts be made to the Board of Water and Power Commissioners and to the City Council. It also sets out a new process that allows the agency to weigh factors beyond the lowest bid when it seeks specific kinds of equipment and services. emily.alpert@latimes.com Twitter: @AlpertReyes A thunderstorm struck Sacramento on Monday afternoon, blanketing parts of the city with hail during whats so far been an unusually dry winter. In one neighborhood north of downtown, several vehicles got stuck in the graupel, snarling traffic, according to the Sacramento Fire Department. Social media exploded with images and videos from the unique scene in Californias capital. Some areas got up to 3 inches of hail, weather officials said. Its not unusual for us to see accumulation of hail in the valley; its just more unusual for it to hit a main metro area, said Robert Baruffaldi, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sacramento. Advertisement At one fire station, there was enough hail to build a large snowman. Heres what the area looked like: Whether we are calling it hail, graupel, sleet, or snow: There was enough of it on the ground in South Natomas for the crew at Engine 15 to build a SnowFireMan! pic.twitter.com/HliSA8TOUq Sacramento Fire (@SacFirePIO) February 27, 2018 Yo @timberwolves, can you stop pls?! We dont do snow pic.twitter.com/Sw02ly4hEo Sacramento Kings (@SacramentoKings) February 26, 2018 This isnt Ohio. Its Sacramento. And thats not snow, its hail. Im told the legislators had a hail-ball fight. pic.twitter.com/LQjXGn9Pxh Robert Krier (@sdutKrier) February 27, 2018 A hail / snow storm in #Sacramento and @ColusaBrown is loving playing in the snow in the Governors courtyard! @JerryBrownGov pic.twitter.com/E3erzjef7h Marc Berman (@AsmMarcBerman) February 26, 2018 Do you want to build a snowman?! pic.twitter.com/MfhopXXgED Old Sacramento Waterfront (@oldsacramento) February 26, 2018 Ok we get that It Never Rains in Southern California but we also thought that it never snows in Sacramento right?! but this is our Richards station - so please be safe on your afternoon commute! #sacpd #SnowySacramento pic.twitter.com/vOxOv9iu6G Sacramento Police (@SacPolice) February 26, 2018 My buddy made this snowman in front of his office on Capitol Mall. #cawx pic.twitter.com/sF4VQ5ZZ2O Ryan Lillis (@Ryan_Lillis) February 26, 2018 Advertisement No, this isnt Sierra snow, this is several inches of Sacramento hail! pic.twitter.com/LjYVDhJEPx Tom Miller (@TomMillerKXAN) February 26, 2018 Sacramento Fire crews are asking drivers to stay away from the area of Stone Creek Drive north of West El Camino. Multiple vehicles stuck in snow has caused a huge traffic snarl. Actual SNOW, not just hail! pic.twitter.com/badyXO0QB9 Sacramento Fire (@SacFirePIO) February 26, 2018 alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Twitter: @AleneTchek The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Tuesday to pursue expansion of a county program designed to prevent school shootings. The proposal, written by Supervisors Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger, asks mental health professionals and law enforcement officials to report back to the board with options on how to bolster the School Threat Assessment Response Team. Hahn said that until Congress takes action to curb gun violence, schools in L.A. County are at risk. Were forced to confront the terrible reality that our own schools here in L.A. County are not immune from these tragedies, she said. Advertisement Since the program was created in 2009, mental health professionals have worked with law enforcement to identity and provide help to students who show signs of potential violence. The program currently has 10 mental health professionals on staff, but because of an increase in calls, Hahn said she thinks it needs to expand. In a county of over 10 million people, we need more than 10 people working on this issue, Hahn said in a statement. In the last year, mental health professionals with the program conducted ongoing interventions with 127 students, Hahn said. But in the weeks since a gunman opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., killing 17 people, the program has seen a surge in potential threats. In the last week alone, the threat-response team has responded to 63 referrals, Hahn said. I have no doubt that the START team has saved lives, Supervisor Hahn said during the meeting. But as credible threats increase, their resources are being stretched too thin. Dr. Jonathan Sherin, L.A. Countys mental health director, said in the eight years the program has operated, 8,000 calls have come in. Of those calls, 100 required staff to engage with individuals over periods lasting six months to three years. Advertisement Hahn said the proposal will also look into ways to do outreach with nonprofit and faith-based groups to educate local community groups that work with children to watch for red flags. Elaine Williams, school safety chief for the Norwalk-La Mirada Unified School District, said having a program that helps provide services early on to students showing warning signs will derail threats before they escalate. Her district includes El Camino High School in Whittier, where officials uncovered an alleged shooting plot by a student who had two AR-15 rifles among other weapons and ammunition. Since the school shooting in Florida, local officials have also responded to threats of violence at schools in Long Beach, Inglewood and San Bernardino. Advertisement Williams said she hopes the program will also provide training to parents, students and teachers for how to respond to red flags. Whats needed is not just more staff but training for parents and for students, she said. melissa.etehad@latimes.com Twitter: @melissaetehad A cold winter storm that brought overnight rain and snow to Southern California had mostly cleared out by Tuesday morning but still presented a chance of brief showers and thunderstorms throughout the day, forecasters said. Parts of Los Angeles County received more than half an inch of rain late Monday, including the Puddingstone Reservoir in San Dimas, which received 0.57 inch, and the San Gabriel Dam in Azusa, which received 0.51 inch. There were brief, heavy downpours. Between 9:30 and 9:45 p.m. Monday, Compton reported 0.22 inch of rain. Downtown Los Angeles, meanwhile, received a measly 0.02 inch. Advertisement Although most of the rain for the Southland was over by Tuesday morning as the cold front moved east, a moist, unstable air mass was expected to drift over the region, making the weather a bit unpredictable, said David Bruno, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Oxnard. Dont be surprised if you dont see a raindrop today, Bruno said. Some areas will be completely dry for the rest of today, but theres a chance of these pop-up showers and maybe even thunderstorms. Dont put away the umbrella, but dont expect a rainy day. Bruno said Montecito which is still recovering from devastating mudslides last month that ripped away homes and killed 21 people received almost no rain. They were lucky, he said. Thats good news. Peyton Williams, 6, of Forest Falls looks down a snow-covered slope while sledding off Valley of the Falls Road after a fresh snowfall dropped many inches of snow in the San Bernardino National Forest. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times ) The system, he said, was a nice, well-behaved storm, and there were no reports of major flooding, despite the fact that some of the heaviest rain was reported near the burn scar from the 2016 Fish fire in the San Gabriel Mountains. About 3 p.m. Tuesday, graupel, or soft hail, fell for about 15 minutes in Thousand Oaks, said Kathy Hoxsie, a meteorologist with the weather service. That means the air was cold enough to freeze the rain as it came down, turning it into ice pellets. Advertisement It can be mushy enough that it looks like snow, Hoxsie said. Snow fell at low elevations, as expected, Bruno said. Llano, an unincorporated community at about 3,500 feet in the Antelope Valley, got about an inch of snow, and there were reports of 3 inches of snow along the Angeles Forest Highway. California Department of Transportation crews worked 12-hour shifts overnight Monday to keep Interstate 5 through the Grapevine open amid the snowy conditions, said Michael Comeaux, a Caltrans spokesman. The roadway did not close, he said Tuesday morning. The thing we emphasize to drivers is to exercise good driving practices in this kind of wintry weather, Comeaux said. Motorists should pack your patience, slow down and turn off cruise control to maintain better control of their vehicles, he said. Advertisement Roads are #snow packed in the #Wrightwood area / Here is a look a the Hwy 138 & Hwy 2 intersection! #cawx pic.twitter.com/iT3WEG3eeB NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) February 27, 2018 On Tuesday morning, snowfall forced the closure of the Cajon Pass near Highway 138 and the 15 Freeway, according to Caltrans. And Highway 138 was closed near Highway 2 after a big rig jackknifed on the icy roadway, setting off a chain of collisions involving eight to 10 vehicles, said Terri Kasinga, a Caltrans spokeswoman. Drivers were required to use tire chains in mountain areas throughout the region. As of 6:30 a.m., Wrightwood had received about 2 inches of snow, according to the San Bernardino County Department of Public Works. The Big Bear area got between 4 and 6, and Running Springs got 8 inches. Advertisement Another, wetter storm is expected to move into the region Thursday afternoon, with the heaviest rainfall overnight, Bruno said. It will not be as cold, so snow levels wont be as low; but the storm could bring half an inch to an inch of rain to many areas. Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report. hailey.branson@latimes.com Twitter: @haileybranson Advertisement UPDATES: 5:30 p.m.: This article was updated with a report of graupel in Thousand Oaks. 9:15 a.m. This article was updated with additional details about road conditions. This article was originally published at 7:30 a.m. A Santa Clarita man who pretended to be a rideshare driver has been charged with raping seven women in a span of 15 months, and authorities suspect he may have attacked others, authorities said Tuesday. Nicolas Morales, 44, was arrested Friday by Alhambra police. He is accused of raping and sexually assaulting seven women in areas throughout Los Angeles County, including Alhambra, Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, between October 2016 and January 2018, prosecutors revealed Tuesday. Morales is charged with 27 felony counts related to the attacks. Officials say he lured women into his vehicle and then attacked them while using a knife. In May 2017, the LAPD appealed to the public for help in identifying a fake rideshare driver who sexually assaulted a woman after he picked her up outside a Hollywood club on Jan. 7, 2017. That attack is among the crimes Morales has been charged with. Advertisement LAPD detectives at the time said the woman got into the mans car because she believed it was the Uber car she ordered. The driver took the woman to a secluded location and sexually assaulted her. Detectives seeking leads released a police sketch created with the victims help and said the suspect drove a four-door sedan. Morales faces nine counts of forcible oral copulation, six counts of rape, five counts of sodomy by use of force and four counts of sexual penetration by foreign object. He also faces one count each of assault with intent to commit a felony, attempted sodomy by use of force and attempted kidnapping to commit another crime. If convicted on all charges, Morales could face up to 300 years in prison. He is scheduled to appear in an Alhambra courtroom Tuesday, where prosecutors are asking that he be held on $10.3-million bail. Morales was taken into custody following a multi-agency investigation by the Alhambra and Los Angeles police departments and the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes UPDATES: 12:55 p.m.: This post was updated with details of the Hollywood attack. Advertisement This article was originally published at 11:10 a.m. A California man has been arrested on charges he sought to fight overseas for the Islamic State group. Federal prosecutors in New York announced the arrest of Bernard Augustine of Keyes on Tuesday. Prosecutors said that before he left the United States, the 21-year-old Augustine repeatedly expressed his support for Islamic State and violent jihad. They said a search of his laptop showed that he researched how to join the group. Hes accused of traveling in 2016 to Tunisia, where he tried to enter Libya. He was captured before he could make it. Advertisement Augustine was to make a court appearance later Tuesday in Brooklyn. The name of his attorney wasnt immediately available. Harassment, threats and vandalism cases targeting Jews in the United States surged to near-record levels in 2017, jumping 57% over the previous year, according to a new report by a prominent civil rights organization. The Anti-Defamation League counted 1,986 anti-Semitic incidents the second-highest number since the group began tracking them nearly four decades ago. The figure represents the largest annual jump the organization has ever recorded. Physical attacks, which accounted for fewer than 1% of the incidents, was the only category that fell. The overall count, based on data from law enforcement, victims and local Jewish organizations, includes an increase in bomb threats against Jewish centers, vandalism at synagogues and Jewish cemeteries and threats at schools. Advertisement Weve never had a moment like this, said Jonathan Greenblatt, chief executive of the New York-based group. Weve seen so much intolerance sneak into the public. Greenblatt pointed to newly resurgent white supremacists, such as those who took part in a deadly Charlottesville, Va., rally last year, as a major factor in the rise. Hate groups and white supremacists feel emboldened, and they are not just coming out online but are also getting involved in political campaigns, Greenblatt said. He also cited the divisive state of our national discourse and a poor example set by President Trump, who at times has been slow to denounce anti-Semitic attacks and during his campaign retweeted white supremacists and used what Greenblatt described as anti-Semitic imagery in social media posts. Trump has denied any ill feeling toward Jews, noting that he has Jewish grandchildren and calling himself the least anti-Semitic person youve ever seen in your entire life. The audit released Tuesday counted 1,015 incidents of harassment, a jump of 41% over 2016 . They include 163 bomb threats against Jewish centers. Law enforcement arrested two men in Missouri and Israel last year on separate charges of making the threats. The audit also tallied 952 instances of vandalism, an increase of 86%. In a departure from those trends, the number of physical assaults fell from 36 to 19 a decline of 47%. Anti-Semitism is the canary in the coal mine. It often augurs other forms of bias xenophobia, misogyny, racism, Greenblatt said. Other civil rights groups have raised concerns recently about rising intolerance. In the annual count of hate groups it released this month, the Southern Poverty Law Center found that the number of white supremacist and neo-Nazi groups had grown the most last year from 99 to 121. Advertisement An Israeli teen, right, was arrested last year on charges of making dozens of hoax bomb threats against U.S. Jewish institutions. (Jack Guez / AFP-Getty Images ) The FBIs latest data on hate crimes, released in November, showed 6,121 in 2016. That was a 4.6% increase compared with 2015. More than half were deemed to be racially motivated. Growing reports of anti-Semitic incidents led the Anti-Defamation League last year to increase its data collection effort, and officials said the unprecedented numbers this year could in part be a result of more people reporting the crimes and threats. Civil rights groups say that Trump has contributed to an atmosphere in which people feel freer to express hate. The president has pushed for travel, immigration and policing policies that civil rights groups say unfairly target Muslims, Latinos and blacks. Advertisement After the Charlottesville Unite the Right demonstration, which featured Nazi chants, Trump was criticized for refusing to budge on his view that the rally included some very fine people. Trump also drew criticism last year for deliberately leaving out the mention of Jews in a statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day; he mentioned them this year. In another instance, Greenblatt lashed out at the president for waiting six weeks before denouncing bomb threats against U.S. Jewish centers. The growth in anti-Semitism in the U.S. comes amid a decline worldwide. In April, a report from the Kantor Center for the Study of Contemporary European Jewry at Tel Aviv University found that anti-Semitism incidents had dropped 12% globally. But the center, which surveyed 40 countries, said several English-speaking nations bucked the trend including Britain, Australia and the U.S. The report also predicted a continuation of the widespread increase, sometimes dramatic, in verbal and visual anti-Semitism on social media and during demonstrations that cannot be quantified. Advertisement By the Anti-Defamation Leagues count, the worst year for anti-Semitism in the U.S. was 1994, when the group recorded 2,066 incidents. That was a year of numerous deadly clashes between Israelis and Palestinians and the signing of a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan. jaweed.kaleem@latimes.com Jaweed Kaleem is The Times national race and justice correspondent. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. More national headlines Its getting harder and harder to find neutral territory in Americas raging gun control debate. Just ask FedEx and Delta Air Lines, companies that youd think dont have anything to do with firearms. Over the last two weeks, both have been under pressure to take a position on guns by two of the most powerful forces in U.S. politics right now: the National Rifle Assn., and the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The story starts as many gun control stories now do with the students. After a gunman killed 17 people on Feb. 14 at their Parkland, Fla., school, the students turned their youthful energies toward reinvigorating the nations gun control movement, which has long been powered by outraged survivors and victims family members. Advertisement The students have rallied widespread support among left-leaning Americans, and they have used their social media skills to unleash a public backlash that seeks to marginalize and isolate the NRA, which says it has more than 5 million members. Feeling a political wind growing at the students backs and adopting tactics from recent social media campaigns gun control advocates began pressuring prominent corporations to drop their discount deals for NRA members. In a sign of how much the NRA has been put on the defensive, many of those companies cut ties. FedEx tried to find a middle ground. The publicly traded shipping company issued a statement saying it supported an assault weapons ban and background checks for gun purchases, adding, FedEx views assault rifles and large capacity magazines as an inherent danger to schools, workplaces and communities when such weapons are misused. But the company also said it would not drop NRA members discounted shipping rates, implying that the company might violate federal law by doing so. Despite ostensibly dealing a blow to the NRA in calling for gun control, the companys decision to defend its NRA discount drew blowback from gun control supporters. They have threatened a boycott against FedEx and other companies that have not dropped their relationships with the NRA. On Saturday, Delta took a different path, notifying the NRA that the airline was dropping its contract for discounted fares for members traveling to the groups 2018 annual meeting in Dallas. The company was not throwing in its lot with the student activists, exactly. Facing growing public pressure, it was trying to extricate itself from a deteriorating situation as rapidly as possible. Advertisement Deltas decision reflects the airlines neutral status in the current national debate over gun control amid recent school shootings, the company said in its statement. Out of respect for our customers and employees on both sides, Delta has taken this action to refrain from entering this debate and focus on its business. To make the point clear, Delta officials added: Delta continues to support the 2nd Amendment. (Thats not your average corporate declaration. Imagine if Holiday Inn issued a statement affirming it supports the 6th Amendment right to a speedy trial; if you have to say it, youre probably in trouble.) To gun control supporters, it was good enough. To all companies who severed ties with the NRA, those personally affected by their influence on legislation thank you, tweeted Emma Gonzalez, one of the most prominent Stoneman Douglas student activists. But gun rights supporters were outraged, seeing the students campaign as an unjust attack on lawful gun owners. Advertisement Delta is reaching out to the NRA to let them know we will be ending their contract for discounted rates through our group travel program. We will be requesting that the NRA remove our information from their website. Delta (@Delta) February 24, 2018 I will kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with @NRA. Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back. Casey Cagle (@CaseyCagle) February 26, 2018 So @Delta, you REALLY want 5 million #NRA members like me, who have NEVER committed a mass shooting, to fly on your competition? Done, tweeted one member, Jessie Jane Duff, earning more than 4,000 retweets. Who ever thought this was a great PR campaign idea should be fired. This has been a common response for conservatives on the losing side of pressure campaigns in the past, but they have sometimes lacked the muscle that liberal activists have mustered to influence corporate boycotts. Advertisement Except Delta has a weak spot: tax breaks. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta has been trying to persuade Georgias Republican-controlled Legislature to pass a tax break on sales tax for jet fuel worth tens of millions of dollars. So when Delta ended its discount for NRA members, that didnt sit well with Georgia Republicans. If Delta is so flush that they dont need NRA members hard-earned dollars, they can certainly do without the $40 million tax break they are asking GA taxpayers for, tweeted former Republican state Sen. Rick Jeffares, who is now running for lieutenant governor. Advertisement Then, on Monday, Georgias current Republican lieutenant governor, Casey Cagle, who is also the president of the state Senate, threw down the gauntlet. I will kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with @NRA, tweeted Cagle, who recently boasted of having an A+ rating from the NRA and of having endorsements from the gun organization. Corporations cannot attack conservatives and expect us not to fight back. Soon after, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Georgias Senate had in effect blocked the tax bill. Cagles office did not respond to a request for comment, but the NRA, tweeting the news, added a fist-bump emoji and the hashtags #StandandFight and #SorryNotSorry. Advertisement Delta now being pressured to reinstate its relationship with the NRA, or lose out on tens of millions of dollars in breaks from Georgia taxpayers did not respond to a request for comment. Cagles decision to use his public office to pressure a private company over a political issue raised some concerns among legal observers. Of course, the government official has the right to free speech, UC Berkeley law school dean Erwin Chemerinsky wrote in an email. But punishing a company (or person) because of its political actions raises very serious First Amendment issues. It is hard to evaluate at this stage, but for the state to penalize Delta for its political stance would be very problematic under the First Amendment. The executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia, Andrea Young, said in a statement that politicians should not use taxpayer dollars to impose ideological litmus tests and punish organizations that express views that politicians dislike. Advertisement Young added: Amazon should take note, a shot across the bow of officials hoping to woo the tech giant to Atlanta, one of Amazons 20 finalists for its second headquarters. But Eugene Volokh, a professor at UCLAs law school, thought the lieutenant governor had not overstepped his bounds. They may be playing political hardball, but thats not a 1st Amendment violation, Volokh said, adding that officials cant regulate political speech, but they can regulate a companys commercial activity. Contributing money for the purposes of speech is protected by the 1st Amendment. If the government can limit the use of money for purposes of speech, it will be limiting speech, Volokh said. Advertisement But spending money in other contexts or choosing not to spend money, or choosing not to give a discount in an economic transaction is completely regulable by the government, broadly, Volokh said. A decision about whether to give a discount that is an economic decision that the government can act upon. But of course, in this political environment, every action creates a reaction, which creates a reaction, which creates a reaction. @Delta, as one of your most frequent flyers, know that the NY LG admires your principled stance, tweeted Kathy Hochul, New Yorks Democratic lieutenant governor. Lets continue our great relationship. NY is open for business & 's Delta move HQ to where youre appreciated? matt.pearce@latimes.com Advertisement Matt Pearce is a national reporter for The Times. Follow him on Twitter at @mattdpearce. More national headlines UPDATES: Feb. 27, 3:15 p.m.: The article was updated with FedExs stance on an assault weapon ban. Advertisement This article was originally published Feb. 26 at 4:45 p.m. On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, Rita Schwartz was running late for a breakfast meeting at Windows on the World, the restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center. The woman she was meeting decided to leave. That woman was one of the last people out of the restaurant, Schwartz said, before two airplanes that had been hijacked by Al Qaeda operatives hit the Twin Towers. Eight and a half years earlier, Schwartz had also gotten lucky. On Feb. 26, 1993, Schwartz, who worked in government relations for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was returning from a meeting at LaGuardia Airport. As she pulled her car into a spot in the garage under the World Trade Center, she felt an explosion that caused her car to bounce. I thought it was the transformer, Schwartz said in an interview at the former World Trade Center site Monday. Smelling smoke, she pulled out of the garage and drove around to the front of the building. If I had gone down, I wouldnt be here today, Schwartz said. What Schwartz and many others assumed was an electrical outage was actually a 1,200-pound bomb that tore a crater through the garage, injuring more than 1,000 people and ultimately killing six. The terror attack, the first on the World Trade Center and unfathomable in New York City at the time, was a precursor to the attack that brought down the towers and that has dominated public interest ever since. But for the families of the victims and the survivors of the 1993 attack, the memory has not diminished. My family hasnt forgotten, said Schwartz. I dont think New Yorkers have ever forgotten. Schwartz was one of dozens of survivors, family members, friends and colleagues who gathered Monday to commemorate those who lost their lives in the bombing: John DiGiovanni, Robert Kirkpatrick, Stephen A. Knapp, William Macko, Wilfredo Mercado and Monica Rodriguez Smith, who was pregnant at the time. Some of them attended a memorial Mass at St. Peters Church, around the corner from the former World Trade Center site, in the morning. Then, just after noon, the National September 11 Memorial and Museum hosted a ceremony near the waterfall in the imprint of the north tower, with bagpipes and drums, a moment of silence and a reading of the six names. Lousie Knapp, second from left, the wife of Stephen A. Knapp, who died in the 1993 attack on the World Trade Center, attends Monday's memorial ceremony with her grandchildren Alyssa Knapp, 9, and Sabrina Knapp, 11, and their mother, Lisa Knapp. Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times Afterward, family members and survivors placed roses at the spot where those names are engraved, alongside the names of nearly 3,000 others who died in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. 9/11 ... was the culmination of an attack that was launched in 1993, Charles Maikish, who directed the World Trade Center at the time of the bombing, said in remarks at the ceremony. The mastermind behind the 1993 attack, Ramzi Yousef, was a nephew of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who plotted the 2001 attacks. Yousef is now serving a life term plus 240 years in prison. Five other men were also convicted for their roles in the 1993 attacks. The bomb had been left in a rental van and disabled the buildings electric, HVAC, communications and elevator systems. Such a terror attack was unprecedented in the United States. In 1993, the world was very different. We were not ready for what visited us that day. America was not ready, Kevin OToole, current chairman of the Port Authority, said at the ceremony. There was no protocol for this sort of thing, said Schwartz, the former government relations official, who said she helped set Mercados family up in a hotel room nearby so they could be present as first responders searched for days for his body. Still, reconstruction was swift. The Twin Towers were lighted at nighttime after the bombing, Maikish said. Within weeks, the building was again operational including with new safety procedures that ended up being used to evacuate people in the 2001 attacks. Officers salute during a memorial ceremony held on the 25th anniversary of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times The 2001 attacks were far more devastating and have since overshadowed the 1993 bombing in the public consciousness and rightly so, some said Monday. It was much more devastating and more people were killed, Michael Macko told reporters after the ceremony. Macko, who was 29 at the time of the first attack, drove with his father, a Port Authority employee, to work at the World Trade Center the morning of Feb. 26, 1993, and never saw him again. In the wake of Sept. 11, Macko fought to secure recognition and compensation for the deaths of his father and other victims. Those victims are recognized at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, but they were excluded from the compensation fund set up after 9/11. Some survivors said they gathered Monday precisely so that first event wouldnt be forgotten. Remember 9/11, but dont forget Feb. 26, 1993, said Herman Gabora, 66, who worked as the staff lieutenant for the police station in the basement of the World Trade Center at the time and suffered a gash to his head. Gabora had proposed to his wife Carol, an American Airlines flight attendant, at the Windows on the World restaurant and taken countless family members and friends there. For Macko, Gabora and many other New Yorkers, the Sept. 11 attacks represented a horrific kind of deja vu. It was like reliving the worst day of my life all over again, said Stephen Knapp, 44, whose father was the chief mechanical supervisor for the World Trade Center and died in the 1993 blast. Knapp said its important to remember that blast as well as the 2001 attacks because of what it represents as the first act of terrorism at the site. Its all part of one big story, Knapp said. nina.agrawal@latimes.com Twitter: @AgrawalNina Homes end homelessness. That was the simple and ultimately persuasive slogan of the Proposition HHH campaign in 2016. In November of that year, an overwhelming 77% of Los Angeles city voters opted to raise their own property taxes to pay for $1.2 billion in homeless housing 10,000 units to be built over a decade. Politicians exulted in the win and vowed that after years of short-lived strategies and half-hearted measures, they would finally address the crisis with the resolve and the resources needed to bring it under control. Never in this city has so much money been available for housing the homeless. Yet the hard part is just beginning. Despite the overwhelming support for Proposition HHH, virtually everyone involved in the process now agrees that fierce NIMBY resistance to homeless housing in some communities and the lack of political will by elected officials in the face of that resistance are the biggest potential impediments to the rollout of housing on the scale and timeline needed to stem the increase in homelessness. There are more than 34,000 homeless people in the city of Los Angeles. We did the glitzy part, but now we have to get the work done, brick by brick, block by block says Councilman Marqueece Harris-Dawson, who represents South Los Angeles. I predict well hit a wall that well get stuck. That wall could be erected by the City Council itself, whose members have nearly unfettered say over what gets built and what gets blocked in their districts but who have been extremely reluctant over the years to challenge the fierce opposition of their most vocal constituents on the issue of homelessness. Even as the crisis has intensified, theyve wavered. Councilman Jose Huizar, for instance, stalled the development for nearly two years of a well-designed, modest residential project in Boyle Heights that would have housed a mere 24 homeless people, partly because of objections from the business owner next door. Councilman Joe Buscaino caved to protesters in San Pedro and ditched his own perfectly reasonable plan for a storage facility where homeless people could put their belongings. Councilman Gil Cedillo pulled a property in his district that consists of five parking lots off the list of city-owned sites suitable for homeless housing in December 2016 because, he said, the Lincoln Heights community had not been consulted; the result was a yearlong delay. Political will is now the biggest challenge, says former City Controller Wendy Greuel, who sits on the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority's Board of Commissioners. Will the City Council and the mayor and the county say, Yes, we will put this housing in our neighborhoods? Without a Home Theyre part of the Los Angeles streetscape, as familiar as the swaying palm trees and idling traffic, living under freeways, alongside riverbeds and on canyon hillsides. The mentally ill, the drug addicts, the economically disadvantaged, many with their life belongings in a backpack or shopping cart. In this ongoing series, Without a Home, The Times is examining the crisis of homelessness in our region. Full coverage Fifteen months after the ballot measure passed, only two projects with HHH funding have broken ground. Of eight city-owned properties identified two years ago as sites for homeless housing, not one is near construction and these were supposed to be the easy projects, the low-hanging fruit. The city has funded 416 homeless housing units that were already in the pipeline, which is pretty good and no one ever thought the crisis would be addressed in a single year but new projects arent being moved toward approval nearly quickly enough. Until the mayor and the members of the City Council treat the building of these 10,000 units of housing with the kind of extraordinary urgency this crisis requires the kind that the federal and state governments bestowed upon, for example, the rebuilding of the broken Santa Monica Freeway after the Northridge earthquake they simply will not be built. And they must be built. Supportive housing in particular which offers not just a place to live but also access to job counseling and mental health and substance abuse treatment, among other things is the best long-term solution for the chronically homeless, whose cases are the most difficult to solve. A substantial number of these housing units must be located in every single council district. They cannot just be concentrated in poor areas or in neighborhoods with less political clout. Already, a new report shows that even more housing will be needed than was estimated at the time HHH was passed. There will be opposition, vocal and angry. There already is. But ultimately, every council member must support a fair share of this housing in his or her district and push back against those constituents who object by rote. We expect council members to lead rather than follow, to explain why this housing is necessary and to push as many reasonable projects as possible through the gantlet of City Council approvals. We expect Mayor Eric Garcetti to stand up publicly and fight for those projects as well. The mayor, who is said to be contemplating his next career steps, has an opportunity to repair the long-standing perception that he is unwilling to take on tough public battles. Surely he must be aware that his mayoralty will ultimately be judged on how he handles this crisis. Surely Garcetti must be aware that his mayoralty will ultimately be judged on how he handles this crisis. In recent weeks, there have been signs of progress. Theres talk of transforming city-owned parking lots into housing for the chronically homeless, and a separate move is underway to begin converting motel rooms to supportive-housing units. Theres also a proposed ordinance to speed up the time-consuming review process for approving permanent supportive housing projects, and Garcetti has joined other California mayors to request an additional $1.5 billion in state aid to address homelessness. Members of the City Council seem to be feeling the pressure for action as well. Cedillo put the Lincoln Heights parking lots back on the city-owned property housing list in December (after his reelection and a phone call from The Times asking why hed taken them off). Huizar called The Times just before this series was put to bed to say hed changed his mind and would urge the City Council to approve the Boyle Heights project as soon as possible. (Huizar has backed a number of other supportive-housing projects in his district in the past.) And Buscaino has been pushing to get a homeless storage facility set up at another site in San Pedro. Those are encouraging steps. We need to pause to say a word on behalf of Councilman Mike Bonin; more elected officials should follow his example. Few have been as courageous in fighting for homeless housing as Bonin, who has championed several controversial projects and storage facility proposals in his district, despite being unfairly savaged by some of his constituents. Its imperative that other council members be that bold and put the well-being of the city over the short-sighted fears of some constituents. As the executive director Venice Community Housing, Becky Dennison helps to develop housing for homeless and low-income people and to provide support services. Will Hawkins, chairman of a homeless committee on the Venice Neighborhood Council, opposes the plan for building housing on a city-owned parking lot. A developer has proposed building 140 units of housing in this Venice parking lot, including 68 for supportive housing. Opponents have complained that their community is being saddled with more homeless housing units than other parts of the city. Los Angeles Times It is not surprising that some city residents fear homeless housing in their neighborhoods. Roughly a third of homeless people are mentally ill. Many are substance abusers. Some seem or are threatening. Residents worry about security, of course, and also about what will happen to property values if homeless people move in nearby. Some believe theyre being unfairly asked to bear a disproportionate share of the burden for a citywide problem. There is undoubtedly an element of prejudice even of racism in some peoples objections to homeless housing, but others voice reasonable concerns or harbor common misconceptions about homelessness. There are plenty of legitimate land-use questions to be asked about density, parking, height, design although some opponents hide their fears and prejudices behind those more mundane concerns. But the fact remains that housing must be built and residents who live nearby must come to understand that it is better to have people housed and treated than to have them living in tent encampments on the streets. And neighbors can be persuaded of that. In the end, although there is often a small but vocal and implacable group of opponents, most residents are open to living near a well-designed, well-managed homeless housing development, according to providers who have seen onetime NIMBYs become supportive neighbors over time. Officials say their research shows that most people are predisposed to help the homeless, and that while they are a little apprehensive of homeless housing in their neighborhoods when they first hear about it, they can be persuaded by the right arguments, guarantees and reassurances. Since 2007, the city of Los Angeles has helped finance the building of 2,667 units of permanent supportive housing, according to officials. Emily Martiniuk, 65, once lived in a shelter and panhandled on the streets. Six years ago, she moved into LA Family Housings Palo Verde complex. Homeless housing will not be imposed on communities thoughtlessly or arbitrarily. When a potential HHH project is proposed, developers must get neighbors input that is mandated by the city. When a West L.A. community was worried last year about what the affordable-housing development firm Thomas Safran & Associates would build on a piece of city land that holds a now-shuttered animal shelter, the developers held at least 10 meetings in the neighborhood and took people on a tour of their other low-income and homeless housing developments. Members of the firm also assured the neighborhood that the tenants low-income seniors and homeless families would all be background-checked. The project got the blessing of the neighborhood council. Emily Martiniuk holds her prayer beads in her studio apartment in in North Hollywood. Los Angeles Times To answer concerns about living next door to people with mental health or substance abuse problems, service providers recite their many success stories. Take, for example, the case of Emily Martiniuk, 65, who lived in a shelter, panhandled on the streets, and once stood on a bridge contemplating suicide. Six years ago, Martiniuk moved into LA Family Housings Palo Verde complex. Now, she makes some money as a notary public, takes medication for her bipolar illness and speaks to groups about homelessness. It would be disingenuous to suggest that there are never troubling incidents in homeless housing. In the same building where Martiniuk has thrived, another resident, with mental health problems that include paranoia, was deemed by service providers to need more intensive care. She was eventually evicted. Service providers absolutely should take steps to ensure that the safety concerns of neighbors are addressed. Residents of supportive housing who cant or wont abide by the rules can be removed. In Venice, where a developer has proposed building 140 units of housing, including 68 for supportive housing, opponents have complained that their neighborhood is being saddled with more homeless housing units than other parts of the city. Every community should take its fair share, they argue. Indeed, every community should. City Council President Herb Wesson has introduced a resolution calling on all council members to pledge to approve 222 units of homeless housing in their districts by July 2020. Thats a start, but now they have to stick to it; the resolution itself is nonbinding. And more housing than that will be necessary. Permanent supportive housing is not a quick fix. But it has the potential to be a permanent fix. Gavin Newsom releases ad that highlights his push to allow same-sex couples to marry By Phil Willon A new ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom features Phyllis Lyon, who with her partner, Del Martin, received the first marriage license after Newsom vowed to allow same-sex couples to marry when he was mayor of San Francisco in 2004. The current lieutenant governors push for marriage equality thrust him into the national spotlight and he has emphasized that effort to portray himself as a bold, progressive leader. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Failed California housing bill was not a bad idea, Gov. Jerry Brown says By Liam Dillon Gov. Jerry Brown (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Earlier this month, high-profile housing legislation that would have allowed for four- to five-story apartments and condominiums near transit stops failed to advance in the state Legislature. But had it reached his desk, would Gov. Jerry Brown have signed it? Maybe. I think that was not a bad idea, Brown said of Senate Bill 827 at a meeting with business leaders from the Bay Area Council on Monday afternoon. The bill, written by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), attracted national attention and a maelstrom of opposition in part because it would have eliminated single-family zoning near transit stops in favor of apartments or condominiums. Brown said that a relative of his who lives in West Portal, a low-density neighborhood in San Francisco, told the governor he was horrified by the bill. Brown also lamented dramatically rising housing costs. He said he bought his first house in Los Angeles in 1973 for $75,000 at a time when his salary as secretary of state was $35,000. Now, he said, buying a house for a little over twice ones annual salary is virtually impossible anywhere in the state. FOR THE RECORD May 1, 9:32 a.m.: This post originally misstated the year Brown purchased his house as 1970. It was 1973. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print John Cox begins California barnstorm with the delivery of gas tax repeal signatures By Javier Panzar Gubernatorial candidate John Cox, left, and Assembly candidate Bill Essayli load boxes of signatures for the gas tax repeal initiative. (Francine Orr) GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox strolled up to the stack of 12 boxes in front of the Los Angeles County registrar-recorders offices in Norwalk on Monday and placed his hands on top of his partys hope for success in 2018. The boxes, stacked four across and three high, contained 211,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees. Cox says the effort has gathered more than 940,000 signatures from registered voters to put the measure on the ballot far more than the 585,407 signatures that are required. The aim: to bring out the partys base to the polls this November and help candidates in tough congressional and legislative races down the ticket. A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll in November found 54.2% of registered voters surveyed said they would repeal the tax and fee hike, but a survey a month earlier by another group said a majority would vote to keep the higher taxes. Cox was flanked by Bill Essayli, a former federal prosecutor who is challenging Democratic Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes of Riverside in the June primary. Cervantes voted for the gas tax and Essayli plans to use that vote against her. He even launched his campaign at a 76 gas station in Norco. This is a central issue in my campaign, he said. Cox also submitted signatures in San Diego on Monday and is headed to Bakersfield, Fresno and Sacramento, as well as Shasta and Butte counties in coming days. We are going all across the state, Cox said. The whole state is paying this tax and the whole state wants it gone. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print All Californians would be able to serve on state boards even people in the U.S. illegally under new bill By Jazmine Ulloa Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State lawmakers on Monday introduced legislation that would allow all Californians to serve on state boards and commissions regardless of immigration status. Senate Bill 174, by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), comes as the state is locked in a broader legal battle with the Trump administration over state immigration laws and his call for mass deportations. Lawmakers point to what they say is the states own discriminatory history as their basis for introducing the legislation. The proposal would amend an 1872 provision that was first adopted to exclude Chinese immigrants and other transient aliens from holding appointed civil positions. At the time, antipathy toward the Chinese had been building in California, though, Chinese immigrants opened hundreds of businesses across the state and would play a critical role in building the transcontinental railroad. The Senate bill would delete the phrase transient aliens from the government code and make clear that any person, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, can hold an appointed civil office if they are at least 18 years old and a resident of the state. That would allow any Californian to serve on hundreds of boards and commissions that advice in an array of policy areas, including farm labor, history and employment development. Californias two million undocumented immigrants are a source of energy for our state, Lara said in a statement. It is shocking to read the words of fear and exclusion that are still in California law but belong in historys trash can. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Tony Mendozas fundraising dries up after resignation amid harassment inquiry By Patrick McGreevy Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). (Steve Yeater / Associated Press) Political contributions to Tony Mendoza, who resigned from the state Senate under pressure amid sexual harassment allegations, have nearly dried up. New documents he filed with the state in his bid to reclaim the seat he once held show that his support has eroded. As a result, five other candidates for the 32nd District senate seat in the June 5 election have raised more than Mendoza so far this year. With the June 5 election approaching, Mendoza has reported raising just $7,750 in cash from six supporters during the nearly four-month period from Jan. 1 to April 21. Mendoza, a Democrat from Artesia, went on a leave of absence from the Senate Jan. 3 and resigned a month later under the threat of expulsion from colleagues. An investigation ordered by the Senate found a pattern of unwanted flirtatious or sexually suggestive behavior based on testimony from six women. Mendoza has denied wrongdoing. Last year, Mendozas reelection campaign raised $412,600, or an average of about $34,000 per month, from more than 350 supporters. Most of Mendozas 2018 total was contributed by the political arm of the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 on Jan. 22, a month before Mendoza resigned. Mendoza also reported that his campaign loaned $125,000 this year to his legal defense fund. That left him with $446,600 in his campaign account at the end of April. Mendoza is running against eight Democrats and two Republicans. Democrat Bob J. Archuleta, a Pico Rivera city councilman, raised the most, $210,000, during the period. On Monday, Mendoza suffered another setback when the State Legislative Womens Caucus endorsed Democrat Vicky Santana, a member of the Rio Hondo College Board. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom and Villaraigosa affairs coming to TV ads in California By Phil Willon An independent political committee backing Republican John Cox for governor released an ad blasting both Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for their past sexual affairs. The California Deserves Better ad, which was first reported by Politico, criticizes Newsom for having an affair with a woman on his staff in 2005 while he served as mayor of San Francisco. It also goes after Villaraigosa for having an extramarital affair with a television reporter in 2007 while he was mayor of Los Angeles. The ad, which begins airing on Fox stations in the states top media markets Monday, links Newsom and Villaraigosa to the men accused of sexual impropriety in the #MeToo movement, including movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and disgraced Today show veteran Matt Lauer. Powerful men are finally being held to account, punished for inappropriate sexual conduct with women over whom they exercise power, the ad begins. Newsom and Villaraigosa think the rules shouldnt apply to them. The independent campaign committee, called Restore Our Values, already has raised more than $100,000, said Leigh Teece of Emeryville in Northern California, co-founder of the group. Teece, the CEO of a nonprofit that helps line up students with professional mentors, said the campaign will actively support Cox. She called him a true conservative and noted that he supports cutting taxes and opposes Californias sanctuary state policy. John is a business person who has demonstrated integrity, Teece said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Was that Cisneros in the voicemail? Dispute is latest espisode of Democratic infighting in crowded primary races By Christine Mai-Duc Gil Cisneros speaks during a forum at Fullerton College in January. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) With less than five weeks to go before Californias primary, insults and accusations are flying with abandon in the most crowded races Democrats hope to ultimately win. The latest example of this is in the 39th Congressional District, where a half dozen Democrats are vying for a chance to replace Rep. Ed Royce, whos retiring. Its one of several California contests where Democratic leaders are already worried that divisions could ultimately split votes and shut Democrats out of key pickup opportunities. In that race, millionaires Gil Cisneros and Andy Thorburn are going negative about going negative. Cisneros was recently elevated to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees Red to Blue program in hopes it would serve as a signal to Democratic activists and donors that his campaign was the most viable. But both Cisneros and Thorburn have poured millions into the race, which promises to be a knock down, drag out fight through June 5. At the center of the latest controversy is a voicemail, allegedly left by Cisneros on Thorburns home answering machine earlier this month. The recording, which the Thorburn campaign turned over to media outlet The Intercept, lasts less than 10 seconds. Hi Andy, its Gil Cisneros. Im gonna go negative on you, a mans voice is heard saying. Cisneros campaign manager Orrin Evans denied the candidate made the call, posting a cease and desist letter to The Intercept on Twitter. The letter, sent by a Cisneros campaign attorney, called the voicemail fabricated and demanded that the story be taken down, calling it defamatory. It gave the publication until 3 p.m. Friday to take down the story before they pursue all legal rights and remedies. An attorney for The Intercept, in a letter to Cisneros, said the publication confirmed with multiple sources familiar with Mr. Cisneros that his voice was on the recording, and that it stands by its reporting. Thorburns camp says it flatly rejects Cisneros denial, and that the timing of a negative website filled with unflattering background on Thorburn, released three days later, suggests it was him. Track the California races that could flip the House According to The Intercepts report, Cisneros campaign manager did not respond to initial inquiries about the voicemail, calling its questions ridiculous. In a follow-up statement Friday, Evans said called the episode a dirty, desperate trick by the Thorburn campaign and said they are readying to pursue legal action for defamation and false light against both him and the publication. It sounded like him to me! said Thorburns wife, Karen, in a statement released by the campaign. She was the one who first heard the voicemail, they said. Thorburn campaign manager Nancy Leeds called Cisneros threats Trump-like tactics and accused the candidate of trying to harass and intimidate anyone who stands in his way. Its not the first time candidates from the same party have clashed in the lead-up to the June 5 primary, and its all but certain to not be the last. Cisneros sued two of his opponents, Thorburn and Sam Jammal, over their ballot descriptions until they had to change them. Earlier this month, Democrat Bryan Caforio asked his opponent, Katie Hill, to sign a pledge rejecting the use of independent expenditure committees, entities that neither of them can legally coordinate with, in the race to unseat Rep. Steve Knight (R-Lancaster). Hill refused and called the attempt hollow and likened it to political theater, while Caforio accused her of empty campaign promises. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics Podcast: The money raised in the race for governor hints at a race thats now red hot By John Myers With less than six weeks before election day, the cash raised in the California governors race mirrors the overall dynamics: one major front-runner and a heated race for second place. This weeks podcast episode offers a glimpse into those cash reports and how the Republican field seems more settled in a new statewide poll than the battle between Democrats. We also examine the reasons why a nationally talked-about housing bill in Sacramento was killed by the Democratic authors own allies. Im joined by Times staff writers Melanie Mason and Liam Dillon. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. County politician sexually assaulted woman when she was 16, lawsuit claims By Dakota Smith A woman sued an unnamed politician in Los Angeles County on Friday, alleging the man sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager after he gave her an unusual-tasting drink. The politician, identified as John Doe, was in his early 40s and a public figure at the time of the 2007 assault, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The man is an elected official today and lives in Los Angeles, said attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing the woman identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe. Bloom declined to say what branch of government the man represents. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Villaraigosa touts his working-class upbringing, accomplishments as mayor in first TV ad By Phil Willon Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa released his first TV ad in the governors race Friday, touting his record and accomplishments as mayor of Los Angeles when up against the economic downturn during the recession. The 30-second television spot opens with a sweeping shot of Los Angeles and cuts to Villaraigosa sitting on a bus. In kindergarten, my sister and I took three buses to get to school. As mayor, I remembered that, Villaraigosa says into the camera. And despite the recession, we built more new schools and rail lines than any city in America, added 200,000 living wage jobs, built 20,000 units of affordable housing and nearly doubled graduation rates. Campaign spokesman Luis Vizcaino said the ad will air statewide over the next week at a cost of approximately $1 million. The commercial will being airing Saturday. Two Democratic rivals in Californias race for governor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang, also launched ads this week, signaling the biggest ramp-up of the campaign as the June 5 primary approaches. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican John Cox. One recent poll has Villaraigosa trailing both Cox and Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach. Chiang has been stuck in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. Last week, an independent expenditure group called Families and Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor, funded largely by a trio of wealthy charter school backers, launched a spot in support of the former mayor of Los Angeles. That ad campaign is focused on increasing Villaraigosas chances of coming in second in the June 5 primary and moving on to the general election. Villaraigosas ad, titled Three Buses, emphasizes the struggles he faced growing up in East Los Angeles and addresses one of his central campaign themes that hes the candidate best suited to help working-class Californians. I know how far a bus can take you, Villaraigosa says in the ad. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sen. Dianne Feinstein wont participate in pre-primary debate By Sarah D. Wire (Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call) California Sen. Dianne Feinstein will not participate in a proposed pre-primary debate because there are too many candidates in the race, her campaign spokesman said Thursday. Political activists with the group Indivisible Los Angeles said they had a venue and date May 5 reserved for a debate with four of the Senate candidates. But they said if Feinstein does not participate, it will be canceled. Feinstein faces 31 primary opponents in her bid for a fifth full term representing California in the Senate. Feinstein staffers initially said she had a prior commitment on May 5 in San Francisco. When organizers offered to let her campaign pick another date, her campaign said it wasnt fair for the group to invite only some of the candidates when there is such a big field, said Tudor Popescu, volunteer community organizer with Indivisible Los Angeles. The invited candidates, all Democrats, were Feinstein, state Sen. Kevin de Leon, political action committee director Alison Hartson and lawyer Pat Harris. They were selected based on fundraising and poll numbers. There are 11 Republicans, 10 Democrats, nine independents and 2 third-party candidates running for Senate on the June ballot. Indivisible Los Angeles is still hoping Feinstein will pick another date, Popescu said. Feinstein spokesman Jeff Millman pointed to a San Francisco Chronicle endorsement of Feinstein, which indicates that she told the editorial board she would be willing to have a debate ahead of Novembers general election. Senator Feinstein looks forward to debating her opponent in the general election, Millman said in an email. Feinstein holds a substantial lead in both fundraising and in the polls. Front-runners in statewide races have routinely declined to debate their challengers, knowing that its free publicity for candidates who dont have the cash to increase their name recognition on their own. De Leon spokesman Jonathan Underland said the state senator has done candidate forums before, but planned to attend the May 5 debate only if Feinstein did. We basically said well clear his calendar 100%, well clear his calendar if Feinstein shows up, Underland said. Wed love to make it happen, but we want her to be there. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement NRA, Olympic shooter sue California over its restrictions on ammunition sales By Patrick McGreevy Olympian Kim Rhode is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the NRA and its state affiliate against California. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) The National Rifle Assn. and its state affiliate have filed a fourth lawsuit against California over its gun control laws, this time challenging new restrictions on the sale and transfer of ammunition. The NRA and the California Rifle and Pistol Assn. filed a challenge in federal court to a requirement that ammunition sales and transfers be conducted face to face with California firearms dealers or licensed vendors, ending purchases made directly from out-of-state sellers on the internet. The lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California also challenged a requirement starting next year for background checks for people buying ammunition. The lawsuit was filed in the name of Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympic medal-winning shooter, and others. It challenges Californias new ammunition sales restrictions as a violation of the 2nd Amendment and the commerce clause of the United States Constitution. Restrictions on ammunition purchases were included in Proposition 63, approved by voters in 2016, and in bills approved by the Legislature. As a result of these laws, millions of constitutionally protected ammunition transfers are banned in California, Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. Californias law-abiding gun owners are sick of being treated like criminals and the NRA is proud to assist in this fight. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is running for governor, defended his initiative and vowed to fight the NRA lawsuit. We wrote Proposition 63 on solid legal ground and principle: If youre a felon banned from possessing guns in California, then you should not be able to purchase the ammunition that makes a firearm deadly, Newsom said in a statement. California voters said loudly and clearly that guns and ammunition do not belong in the hands of dangerous individuals but once again, the NRA has prioritized gun industry profits over the lives of law-abiding Californians. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republicans hope to ride a gas-tax repeal to victory By Patrick McGreevy In a Central Valley barn decked out in red, white and blue, dairyman and state Senate candidate Johnny Tacherra drew cheers from a crowd of fellow farmers when he said he opposes the California Legislatures hike on gas taxes and vehicle fees. I would not have voted for that. It is not the time to be voting on (raising) the gas tax, said Tacherra, a Republican running against Democratic Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, who voted for the tax increase last year. Three hundred miles away the same week, a campaign mailer arrived at homes in Orange County from an Assembly candidate with a message blaring from the cover in bold type: Republican Greg Haskin tough enough to stand up to Jerry Brown and repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Treasurer John Chiang launches ad in governors race touting his record as a fiscal steward By Seema Mehta In his first television ad in the governors race, state Treasurer John Chiang touts his record on fiscal issues as California faced the recession. Some thought we were done, Chiang says in a voiceover in the 30-second spot he released Thursday, with images of him standing seriously at a lectern and complimentary headlines about his work as controller and treasurer. But I knew better. I made the tough calls. And brought California back from the brink of financial disaster because you trusted me to manage our economy. Chiangs campaign is spending about $500,000 to air the ad in Los Angeles and San Diego in coming days. That buy is dwarfed by seven-figure purchases for ads supporting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican businessman John Cox. Chiang has been mired in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. His ad, called Quiet Storm, tries to portray Chiang as a progressive who is effective and can move policy in Sacramento. Chiang points to his work challenging Wells Fargo before arguing that he could accomplish what doubters say is impossible to improve the states healthcare, housing and schools. I say, we got this, Chiang concludes. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Been ignoring the race for California governor? Thats OK, in some ways its just starting By Mark Z. Barabak On a recent trip to Iowa, Eric Garcetti the mayor of Los Angeles and a possible 2020 White House contestant raised eyebrows with a bit of exuberant outreach. Los Angeles and Iowa, Garcetti insisted, have a ton in common, and he didnt simply mean both are inhabited by carbon-based life forms needing oxygen to survive. Urban or rural, farmer or fashion plate, all of us harbor the same hopes and dreams, the mayor suggested, and if it wasnt a terribly original thought it also wasnt the most egregious sort of political pandering like, say, ordering that every home in Los Angeles be powered by Iowa-produced ethanol. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California voters should expect to decide on an $8.9-billion water bond in November By Liam Dillon (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A proposal to borrow $8.9 billion for improvements to Californias water quality systems and watersheds and protection of natural habitats is eligible for the statewide ballot in November, Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced in a press release Wednesday. Padilla said the measure, which is backed by agricultural interests, had exceeded the 365,800 valid signatures it needed to qualify for the general election ballot. The bond measure will appear on the ballot unless proponents withdraw it by June 28, the release said. The bond is one of many voters could decide on in 2018. A $4-billion bond for parks and water infrastructure improvements will appear on the June 5 ballot. State lawmakers approved it last year. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print They came for Darrell Issa. They stayed with their inflatable chicken, blue wall and signs for political therapy By Christine Mai-Duc (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) A mother of two turned ringleader of the resistance and more than a hundred of her faithful followers gathered on Tuesday morning outside Rep. Darrell Issas office in a northern San Diego County suburb. Across the street was her foil, a wedding DJ in a red Make American Great Again cap, setting up hefty speakers for an upcoming war of words. For about 65 weeks the deep divide in America played out along this 100-yard stretch of road in Vista. Here, at 10 a.m. every Tuesday, passersby found signs, chants, songs and, if they were lucky, sometimes a 20-foot-tall inflatable chicken with a Trump-esque coif. Theyd also glimpse the state of the body politic in 2018, a time when shock has turned to anger and post-2016 calls for reconciliation have morphed into grudging acceptance that each side might be better off in their respective corners. Or in this case, their sides of the street. On Tuesday, the anti-Issa, anti-Trump contingent fought this particular battle for the last time, declaring it their final protest at the congressmans office. They said they planned to use their energy to knock on doors and get out the vote, with an occasional protest on the side. Their pro-Trump rivals vowed to show up wherever they do. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Efforts to regulate bail companies have some unlikely allies: bail agents By Jazmine Ulloa Jane Un, chief executive and founder of Abba Bail Bonds, works with a client. ( Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) In recent years, the seriousness and number of official complaints related to the bail industry in California have significantly increased while bail agents and bounty hunters face limited oversight, putting vulnerable communities at risk of fraud, embezzlement and other forms of victimization. This year, as Gov. Jerry Brown has pledged to work with lawmakers in a push to overhaul how courts assign defendants bail and to better regulate bail agencies, even some who profit from the court practice admit its time for regulation. These bail and bail-recovery agents could become unlikely allies, saying they advocate for change because theyve seen the system abuse the poor. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California voters: Get ready for an onslaught of television ads By Seema Mehta After a sleepy campaign, California voters are now being bombarded with television advertisements in the governors race, an onslaught that is expected to ramp up in coming weeks. The ads most frequently seen on television are those promoting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the front-runner in the race, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is trying to secure the second spot in the June primary. Newsoms campaign and an outside group backing Villaraigosa are spending seven figures weekly on these efforts, according to filings with the California secretary of states office and a media buyer who asked not to be identified in order to freely discuss the ads. Other gubernatorial candidates are expected to hit the airwaves soon, the media buyer said. State Treasurer John Chiang has reserved a half-million dollars in the coming days in the Los Angeles and San Diego markets, and Villaraigosas campaign has requested availability in at least five of the states biggest TV markets. The GOP candidates in the race, who will be seeking the state Republican Partys endorsement at its convention next weekend, have been much less active. Businessman John Cox in recent weeks has been spending about $90,000 per week, but doubled that this week in Los Angeles and added small buys on KFI-AM radio and cable in markets including Fresno, Bakersfield and Salinas. State Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach, who has been scooping up Republican Party endorsements across the state, has yet to make a notable television or radio buy, though he and Cox have received some attention as commentators on Fox News. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republicans ready to turn in signatures for ballot measure to repeal California gas-tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A Chevron gas station in Sacramento shows prices last year. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Republican activists said Tuesday that they have collected at least 830,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees, more than enough to qualify the measure for the November ballot. The activists need 585,407 signatures of registered voters to qualify the ballot measure. Because signatures are still being processed and counted by the campaign, backers hope to have 900,000 by the time they begin turning them in to the counties on Friday, according to Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Council member and organizer of the drive. The breadth and depth of voter anger over the car and gas tax hikes is just amazing, said DeMaio, who hosts a radio talk show. We are seeing Democrats, independents and Republicans sign the petition and volunteering to carry the petition, people from all walks of life. The initiative targets a law approved in April 2017 by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown that is expected to raise $5.4 billion annually for road and bridge repairs and improvements to mass transit. The money comes from a recent 12-cents-per-gallon increase in the gas tax, a 20-cent increase in the diesel fuel excise tax and a new annual vehicle fee ranging from $25 for cars valued at under $5,000, to $175 for cars worth $60,000 or more. The petition drive raised more than $2 million with significant contributions from the California Republican Party and Republican members of Congress from California, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and Reps. Ken Calvert of Corona and Mimi Walters of Irvine. Republicans hope the issue will help their candidates for office in this years election and hurt Democrats who support the higher taxes. I think this is going to put Democrats in real bad spot, DeMaio said. A spokesman for Brown declined to comment until the signatures are filed. DeMaio said there were approximately 20,000 volunteer petition circulators who brought in more than 250,000 signatures, with the rest collected by paid circulators who received $1 to $2.50 per signature. Its a pretty comfortable margin [of signatures] that we have been able to hit here, DeMaio said. Opposition will grow, he said, as more Californians get their annual vehicle registration notice. The repeal campaign hopes to raise $5 million for the campaign to pass the constitutional amendment, which would not only repeal the increase in the gas tax and vehicle fees but require future increases to be submitted to voters. We know that Gov. Brown and his cohorts are going to spend an amazing amount of money to mislead voters, DeMaio said. But I feel pretty confident that we will repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rep. Duncan Hunter sets up trust to raise money for legal expenses amid ongoing criminal investigation By Morgan Cook Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, has filed paperwork to establish a legal expense fund amid an ongoing federal criminal investigation into misused campaign cash. Hunter filed the required paperwork March 27, seeking a rarely granted Legal Expense Fund through which members of Congress under investigation or being sued in connection with doing their jobs or running for office can raise money for their legal expenses. Such funds are administered by an independent trustee and allow donors to give above the maximum amount they can contribute a candidates campaign. Hunter has spent more than $600,000 of campaign money on lawyers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kamala Harris says she wont take corporate donations anymore By Sarah D. Wire (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press) California Sen. Kamala Harris says she will no longer accept money from corporate political action committees. In an interview with WWPM-FMs The Breakfast Club, in New York that aired Monday, the senator said she wasnt expecting a question at a town hall this month about whether she would accept money for corporations or corporate lobbyists. At the time, Harris said it depends, but she said on Monday that she had reflected on the matter and changed her mind. Money has had such an outside influence on politics, and especially with the Supreme Court determining Citizens United, which basically means that big corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money influencing a campaign, right? Harris said. Were all supposed to have an equal vote, but money has now really tipped the balance between an individual having equal power in an election to a corporation. So Ive actually made a decision since I had that conversation that Im not going to accept corporate PAC checks. I just Im not. You can watch the video of the interview here. (Harris corporate money comments come about 30 minutes in.) Harris wouldnt be on the ballot for a second Senate term until 2022, though its widely believed that she is planning a presidential bid in 2020. Other potential 2020 presidential candidates, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have also ruled out taking corporate PAC money. Soon after Mondays show aired, Harris campaign sent out a fundraising request noting her new stance. As corporate PACs continue to corrupt our politics and twist Congress priorities at your expense, were going to focus on raising money from small-dollar, individual donors like you, the email says. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement With money tied up in court, California lawmakers try again with new plan to spend $2 billion on homeless housing By Liam Dillon A man sleeps on the sidewalk in front of the Union Rescue Mission in the skid row neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) A measure to spend $2 billion on housing homeless Californians could be on the November statewide ballot. State Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) is pushing the idea to deal with what he said was a burgeoning humanitarian crisis whose epicenter is here in California. De Leons new measure is a do-over for a 2016 plan passed by the Legislature to redirect $2 billion toward building homeless housing from a voter-approved 1% income tax surcharge on millionaires that funds mental health services. A Sacramento attorney sued over that decision, arguing that the move violated constitutional rules on approving loans without a public vote and that lawmakers shouldnt take money away from mental health treatment. The case remains active in Sacramento Superior Court and its unclear when, or if, the state will be able to spend the $2 billion. De Leons Senate Bill 1206 would put the $2-billion loan on the ballot in November, freeing up the money if voters approve the measure. De Leon said had he been able to predict the 2016 plan would end up in court, he would have sought a ballot measure at the time. We thought this was like apple pie and baseball and puppies, De Leon said. Who would oppose the idea of repurposing the dollars to build immediate housing as a permanent solution for homelessness? Obviously with a crystal ball, had I anticipated the litigation, I would have worked to place it on the ballot. De Leon noted that the 2016 plan had bipartisan supermajority support in the Legislature, something his new bill also will need to get on the ballot. Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) is a coauthor of the plan. SB 1206 is scheduled for its first hearing in the Legislature on Wednesday. Should De Leons measure be approved, it will join a crowded list of housing issues before voters in November. Californians will decide on a separate $4-billion bond to help finance new low-income housing and home loans for veterans. De Leon said hes not worried those two measures will compete against each other because voters are aware of the scale of the states housing problems and the proposed homeless housing bond redirects existing dollars instead of raising taxes. Once [voters] know that the impact on their pocketbook is not existent, Im confident that theyll join me and my colleague John Moorlach in support of this measure, De Leon said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California lawmakers say too many former felons are being denied professional licenses By John Myers Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) along with supporters of bills to allow more former felons to receive professional licenses. (John Myers/Los Angeles Times) A trio of California Assembly members urged colleagues on Monday to pass legislation that would prohibit state commissions and agencies from rejecting a professional license for those who were once convicted of less serious crimes. We cant say we want to rehabilitate people, and then block them from getting the jobs that they need when theyre released, said Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco). That leads to more recidivism and to more crime. The bills, scheduled to be heard in Assembly committees Tuesday, would ban the use of arrest or conviction records as the reason for denying a professional license. The bill would not apply to Californians who served time for any of the offenses on the states list of violent crimes. The authors, all Democrats, said that a government-issued professional license is required for some 30% of all jobs in the state. Their bills would change the licensing process at the California departments of Consumer Affairs and Social Services and agencies that certify emergency medical technicians. The bills would block prior convictions from leading to the delay or denial of a license unless that crime is directly related to the profession the person intends to pursue. Two of the bills also specifically say convictions less than 5 years old could continue to play a role in licensing decisions. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that keeps private sector employers from inquiring about a job applicants conviction history prior to an offer of employment. Advocates joined the lawmakers at a press conference in Sacramento to point out that limits on awarding licenses should focus only on those whose prior criminal activity could pose a threat to consumers. Continuing to hold people back for crimes that are 6, 7, 8, 10, 20 years old does not actually make sense if youre looking at public safety, said Jael Myrick of the East Bay Community Law Center. One of the proposals, Assembly Bill 2293, seeks to make it easier for ex-felons to get a license allowing a job with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection the same agency that often uses prison inmates to battle blazes around the state. If a person is good enough to risk their life fighting fires for the state of California as an inmate, said Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace), their previous actions should not prevent from having a job utilizing the skill set that they learned. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Assembly speaker rebukes building trades union after it targets Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia By John Myers ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) The decision by a politically powerful labor group to openly campaign against an embattled Los Angeles-area lawmaker drew a sharp rebuke on Friday from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. The Lakewood Democrat lashed out hours after the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California filed paperwork for a political action committee to defeat Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). Garcia, whos seeking her fourth term, took an unpaid leave of absence in February following allegations of sexual misconduct. She has denied the reports and an Assembly investigation remains underway. Rendon didnt criticize the labor group by name, insisting instead that the decision was driven by oil and gas industry interests. This is a thinly veiled attempt by Big Oil and polluters to intimidate me and my members. It is an affront to my speakership, Rendon said in a statement. We are proud of the work that the Assembly has done to increase jobs and wages while defending our environment. We will vigorously defend the members of our caucus from any ill-advised political attack. A statement from the labor group, which sparred with Garcia last year on her effort to link new climate change policies with a crackdown on air pollution, said it had decided to reverse past support for her. The Trades have thousands of hard working members in Garcias district, and we look forward to lifting up another Democrat in the 58th Assembly to better represent them and their families, said the statement. The political action committees campaign finance filing on Friday listed nonmonetary in kind contributions from Erin Lehane, a public affairs consultant aligned with the building labor group. Lehane said she had begun researching Garcia in November. In January, a former legislative staffer accused her of groping him in 2014. Lehane, who identified herself as a spokesperson for the labor groups political action committee, said on Friday that she believed Garcias hypocrisy threatened a movement that will dictate how much harassment and abuse my daughter will face in her work life. Garcia, who has been an outspoken advocate for women in the #MeToo movement, has complained that her political opponents helped fan the flames of the accusations. Through a campaign consultant, she declined to comment on Friday. Rendons critique came on the heels of a full-page ad in The Times on Friday, partly paid for by the Trades Council, that criticized well-funded ivory tower elites who push proposals that hurt the oil and gas industry. We are the real jobs that fuel the real California economy, read the advertisement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Legal tiff breaks out over independent committees ad backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor By Phil Willon An attorney representing Gavin Newsoms campaign for governor is demanding that California television stations cease airing an ad by an independent political committee supporting his Democratic rival Antonio Villaraigosa. Attorney Thomas A. Willis, in a letter to the stations, said the ad is false and misleading and violates California law because it uses snippets of video footage from Villaraigosas own campaign ads. Willis called that illegal coordination between the campaign and PAC. Under California law, advertisements made by entities other than a candidate are presumed to be coordinated and thus not independent expenditures when the advertisement replicates, reproduces or disseminates substantial parts of a communication, including video footage, created and paid for by the candidate, the letter states. A representative for the independent expenditure committee Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor fired back. Attorney Brian T. Hildreth says those allegations have no merit and accused the Newsom campaign of being misleading. Hildreth sent a letter to the television stations in response, urging them to ignore the Newsom campaigns accusations. He said the Newsom camp appears to intentionally misrepresent the law and that the video use was permissible. He said only six seconds of video from Villaraigosas campaign ads was used, which is well within the legal limits. The independent committee is sponsored by the group California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The ad is airing on broadcast and cable stations statewide. The committees ad is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and as mayor of Los Angeles when there was a drop in crime. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Governors race snapshot: Californians are generally upbeat but not focused on the campaign By Mark Z. Barabak Armand Werden, a 29-year-old community college student who works the taps at Dust Bowl Brewery in Turlock, said the state is on the upswing. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) As California chooses a new governor one of just a handful in the last 40 years not named Jerry Brown the state seems to be enjoying something unusual in these tumultuous political times: a feeling of relative contentment. Not to say things are perfect. Still, more than 100 random interviews conducted over the length and breadth of the state from Redding in the north to Santee in the south, from the Pacific coastline to the edge of the Sierra Nevada found most saying things are looking up, at least so far as Californias direction is concerned. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Sierra Club backs Gavin Newsom for California governor By Phil Willon Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with members of the public following a debate at USC in January. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The Sierra Club endorsed Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the race for California governor, with officials in the established environmental group praising the Democrats record on climate change and clean energy. He has a proven record for leading on environmental protection, public health and clean energy, Kathryn Phillips, director of Sierra Club California, said in a statement released by the Newsom campaign. He understands that we are feeling the effects of climate change and that California must reduce carbon emissions and reach 100% renewable energy to achieve our climate goals. Phillips said the Sierra Clubs extensive network of volunteers will campaign for Newsom as the June 5 primary approaches. Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune also praised the Democrat, saying he will protect California from Donald Trumps attacks on our clean air and water. The Sierra Club joins a series of other influential groups in California that have backed Newsom. The California Medical Assn., the powerful state doctors lobby, announced its endorsement of Newsom on Thursday. The California Nurses Assn. and the Service Employees International Union, one of the most powerful labor unions in the state, also support Newsom. Newsom is the races front-runner in polls and fundraising. A poll released earlier this month by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that 26% of likely voters backed Newsom. John Cox, a Republican from Rancho Santa Fe, was favored by 15% of likely voters and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, by 13%. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias GOP House members are taking their challengers more seriously and the numbers show it By Christine Mai-Duc For much of last year, consultants and campaign managers for some of Californias most vulnerable Republican incumbents maintained a bullish tone on the prospect that the GOP would hold the House in this years midterms. The National Republican Congressional Committee insisted that longtime Republican incumbents in California had built up reputations as effective champions of local issues that would help them weather a flood of Democratic enthusiasm. Since then Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) have decided not to seek reelection and the NRCC has opened a West Coast headquarters in Orange County. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California officials say Pentagon has confirmed National Guard funding despite Trump threat By John Myers (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The awkward dance between Gov. Jerry Brown and the federal government over the National Guard jerked back toward discord on Thursday, when Trump said he would refuse to pay for a new deployment of troops just hours after his administration said otherwise. And a few hours later, California officials said they had received written confirmation from the Pentagon that the mission would indeed be funded. Trump had earlier called Browns decision to approve 400 troops for a mission focused on combating transnational crime and drug smuggling a charade in a tweet. We need border security and action, not words! the president wrote. Governor Jerry Brown announced he will deploy up to 400 National Guard Troops to do nothing. The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Browns charade. We need border security and action, not words! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018 A spokesman for Brown pointed to a tweet written Wednesday night by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, thanking the California governor for his efforts. Trump was meeting on Thursday with Nielsen at his Mar-a-Lago estate not long after his tweet was posted. A tweet later posted by the California National Guard said that almost three hours after Trumps comment, the state received written confirmation from the Pentagon to fund the mission as outlined by Brown the day before. In short, nothing has changed today, said a subsequent Guard tweet. Just spoke w @JerryBrownGov about deploying the @USNationalGuard in California. Final details are being worked out but we are looking forward to the support. Thank you Gov Brown! Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) April 19, 2018 Brown was the last of the nations border governors to respond to Trumps insistence earlier this month that National Guard troops were needed to assist with immigration-related duties at the U.S.-Mexico border. And he has consistently refused to allow California troops to engage in any mission related to federal immigration law. This will not be a mission to build a new wall, Brown wrote last week to Nielsen and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis. It will not be a mission to round up women and children or detain people escaping violence and seeking a better life. Exactly what the California operations will cost remains unclear, as state officials have said it will depend on decisions made once the mission begins. The funds would not be transferred to the state, but instead would be paid directly by the Department of Defense. Trump has critiqued California several times over the past few days, often writing tweets that embrace the actions by some cities and counties to join his administrations lawsuit against the states sanctuary immigration law. He made similar comments to reporters on Thursday afternoon. If you look at whats happening in California with sanctuary cities people are really going the opposite way, Trump said. They dont want sanctuary cities. Theres a little bit of a revolution going on in California. 2:26 p.m.:This article was updated with additional information from the California National Guard and with remarks from Trump. This article was originally published at 9:51 a.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gay conversion therapy services would be banned under measure advancing in California By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The California Assembly voted Thursday to add gay conversion therapy to the states list of deceptive business practices, following a debate that focused on the personal experiences of several lawmakers and hinted at potential lawsuits to come. It is harmful and it is unnecessary, Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), the bills author and one of the Legislatures most vocal LGBTQ members, said of the practice. Low, who told Assembly members that he explored conversion therapy as a teenager and suffered depression over his sexual orientation, insisted that the bill would be limited to efforts that involve the exchange of money. Theres nothing wrong with me, he said in an emotional speech on the Assembly floor. Theres nothing that needs to be changed. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, has become the focal point of intense debate on social media. Some religious groups have said that such a law would be a violation of their constitutional rights, while advocates insist the provisions are narrow and theres no credible evidence that the services work. One key part of the debate centers on whether Assembly Bill 2943 would stretch beyond businesses that charge for these programs and extend to printed documents, even Bibles. An analysis by the Assembly Judiciary Committee says the bill would apply only to services that purport to change a persons sexual orientation and offered on a commercial basis, as well as the advertising and offering of such services. Lawmakers who spoke in support of AB 2943 also made clear that they believe those kinds of services have been discredited. This is fraudulent, it should not be occurring, said Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton). But you can still try to pray the gay away, if you like. Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), who said the bill addresses a difficult issue, nonetheless said that its important to ensure laws dont tamper with religious freedom. We have to think about the legitimate experience of people who have gone through conversion therapy and said this was a good thing for them, Gallagher told his colleagues. California law already bans the use of conversion therapy by mental health professionals on those under age 18. Lows bill would expand the states efforts beyond minors. It would join a list of commercial activities deemed unfair or deceptive acts or practices and therefore banned under state law. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gavin Newsom gets backing from doctors group, despite differences over single-payer healthcare By Melanie Mason Gavin Newsom speaks at the California Democrats State Convention in San Diego on Feb. 24. (Kent Nishimura) Californias doctors are siding with Gavin Newsom in the governors race, even though they dont see eye-to-eye on a defining issue of the campaign: single-payer healthcare. The California Medical Assn., the state doctors lobby and a political heavyweight, announced its endorsement of the lieutenant governor on Thursday. Gavin is a lifelong champion for health care in California, and we know he will continue to fight for pragmatic solutions to our most crucial health care challenges, including working to achieve universal access and tackling our states physician shortage, CMA President Theodore M. Mazer said in a statement. Newsom has made his support for state-financed healthcare a centerpiece of his campaign, and he earned the early backing of the most ardent single-payer supporters, the state nurses union. The doctors, meanwhile, oppose the nurses bill, SB 562, which emerged as a flashpoint in the healthcare debate last year. The CMA said the bill would dismantle the healthcare marketplace and destabilize Californias economy. Newsom has said SB 562 should advance in the Legislature, but also said it has open-ended issues that still need to be addressed. The doctors group is also battling with another prominent Newsom endorser, the Service Employees International Union, over a new measure that would impose price caps on an array of medical services paid for by commercial health insurers in the state. The SEIU is a leading sponsor of the proposal; the doctors fiercely oppose it. Newsom and the physicians group have a history of political alignment. Newsom was the first statewide official to support Proposition 56, a 2016 tobacco tax pushed by the CMA that raised revenue in part to increase money for doctors who saw Medi-Cal patients. That year, the association also endorsed two initiatives championed by Newsom: Proposition 63, which imposed new gun control measures, and Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor hits the airwaves with first ad By Phil Willon Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the 2018 California Democratic Party Convention in San Diego in February.. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press) A well-financed independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosas bid to be Californias next governor released its first television ad Thursday, praising his record for working with Republicans and as a candidate for all of California. The ad, which is to air statewide on broadcast and cable stations, is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and mayor of Los Angeles, including on education and a drop in crime while he was at City Hall. To move California forward, we need to help more Californians get ahead, the ad says. Thats why Antonio Villaraigosa brought both parties together to balance the state budget with record investments in public schools and new career training programs. The independent expenditure committee behind the ad campaign, Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018, is sponsored by the California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The committee is spending seven figures per week on the ad buy, said Josh Pulliam, a political consultant for the committee. As mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa clashed with teachers unions, starting with his failed attempt to take political control of the Los Angeles Unified School District. His fight with those unions continued after he left office in 2013. Money has poured into the committee this month from wealthy charter schools supporters: Reed Hastings, chief executive of Netflix, donated $7 million, and Los Angeles billionaire and philanthropist Eli Broad donated $1.5 million. On Wednesday, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan donated $1 million. The independent expenditure committee is expected to provide a boost to Villaraigosas campaign. Democratic front-runner Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has a major advantage in fundraising over all other candidates in the race and has received the backing of the California Teachers Assn. and other education unions. A recent Public Policy Institute of California poll also showed Villaraigosa lagging in third place in the race, trailing Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox. The candidates who finish in the top two in the June 5 primary will advance to the November general election, regardless of their party affiliation. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown says Trump administration will fund his National Guard mission without immigration duties By John Myers (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown formally mobilized 400 California National Guard members Wednesday for transnational crime-fighting duties, thus preventing any effort by President Trump to have the troops focus on immigration enforcement on the Mexican border. The governor announced that federal officials have agreed to fund the plan he announced last week a mission to combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers in locations around California, including near the border. The order Brown signed makes clear that the troops will not be allowed to perform a broader set of duties as envisioned by Trumps recent comments. California National Guard service members shall not engage in any direct law enforcement role nor enforce immigration laws, arrest people for immigration law violations, guard people taken into custody for alleged immigration violations, or support immigration law enforcement activities, the order read. The cost of the mission, a spokesman for Brown said, will be paid directly by the federal government. No initial estimate has been made, as the exact amount will depend on exactly how the troops will be used. Though the duties of California Guard members were outlined last week, the state had been waiting for an agreement by federal officials to pay for the operations. Since that time, the president has taken Brown and the state to task over its decision to avoid any immigration-related duties at the border. On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted, Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! There is a Revolution going on in California. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 Looks like Jerry Brown and California are not looking for safety and security along their very porous Border. He cannot come to terms for the National Guard to patrol and protect the Border, Trump tweeted Tuesday. There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Browns announcement. On Tuesday, Brown told reporters in Washington that his plan was consistent with a safer border. That sounds to me like fighting crime, the governor said. Trying to catch some desperate mothers and children, or unaccompanied minors coming from Central America, that sounds like something else. The order Brown issued Wednesday after returning from a brief trip to talk climate change in Toronto and to speak to a national trade union and visit with reporters in Washington is set to expire at the end of September. It specifically says no Guard service member may participate in a mission that would exceed the mission scope and limitations related to transnational crime activity. It also says troops cannot help build any new border barrier. 5:27 p.m.: This article was updated with information related to the cost of the Guard mission and Browns trip to Washington. This article was originally published at 5:13 p.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California bill aims to end practice that keeps workplace misconduct cases out of court By Melanie Mason A California bill would prohibit employers from requiring workers to use private arbitration to settle disputes, a practice that critics say shields improper workplace conduct from public view. The bill by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) would bar businesses from making employees, when they are hired, waive their future rights to take any harassment, discrimination or other claims to court. Arbitration can be a highly effective dispute resolution method when both parties can choose it freely, when both parties are equal, Gonzalez Fletcher said at a news conference on Wednesday. It is far less successful when the more powerful party forces the other to accept those terms, especially as a condition of employment. Forced arbitration has come under increasing scrutiny since the #MeToo movement, with high-profile figures such as former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson pointing to the practice as shielding workplace abusers from public disclosure because arbitration resolutions often include nondisclosure agreements. Last year, a bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress to end mandatory arbitration in employment agreements. Gonzalez Fletcher said she was pursuing an unusual tool to draw attention to the issue a subpoena issued by the Legislature to compel testimony from a worker bound by a nondisclosure agreement as a result of arbitration. The Legislature has subpoena power but it is rarely used. The bills sponsors believe lawmakers last issued a subpoena in 2001 while investigating price manipulation by Enron. Gonzalez Fletcher said she has requested Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) to issue the subpoena to require Tara Zoumer, who sued the company WeWork in 2016 for overtime pay, to testify before the Assembly Judiciary Committee next week. Zoumers suit was moved to arbitration and resolved. She is now subject to a nondisclosure agreement and could face a financial penalty for speaking publicly about her case. A spokesman for Rendon said the subpoena request is under consideration. Business groups oppose the bill, AB 3080. The California Chamber of Commerce has dubbed it a job biller, claiming it would dramatically increase legal costs for businesses. Banning such agreements benefits the trial attorneys, not the employer or employee, the group said. The bill must first advance from the Assembly Labor Committee on Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print At least 240 House lawmakers want a vote on immigration. California supporters say they arent ready to force one By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock), flanked by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) speak about DACA legislation (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Rep. Jeff Denham says at least 240 of the 430 current House members have signed onto his resolution to hold votes on four immigration bills, and he hopes House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and President Trump are paying attention to the show of support. But, the Republican from Turlock and his allies said Wednesday that they are not yet willing to commit to forcing Ryans hand through a little-used procedural move called a discharge petition; they acknowledged theres no guarantee that all of 47 Republicans and 193 Democrats House co-signers will back them up if they try to force the issue. Im sure that it is something that will be discussed in the coming weeks. You should not need a discharge petition. When you can show the overwhelming majority of the House, the support of it, you should not need a discharge petition, but it is something we would talk about in the future, Denham said. It is far too early to talk about next steps. Ryan said last week that he opposes Denhams effort, saying its a waste of time for the House to vote on bills the president might veto. Denhams resolution would prompt debate and votes on four very different immigration bills: one favored by the Trump administration, one preferred by Democrats, one bipartisan proposal and another immigration bill of Ryans choice. Whichever got the most votes would move forward to the Senate. All four bills would help Dreamers to differing degrees and include varying levels of border security or immigration enforcement. For example, the Trump-backed bill would also dramatically reduce legal immigration, while the Democrats would only deal with legal status for Dreamers. Democrats say they dont expect the show of support will sway Ryan. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said Tuesday night she expects Ryan will have to be forced into allowing a vote. It doesnt matter how many signatures we get. We could have every signature, technically, except his, on the floor of the House and... if he doesnt want to, it doesnt happen, Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), who gathered the Democratic co-sponsors for Denham, also wouldnt give a deadline for House leaders to act, but said the co-sponsors are only willing to wait weeks not months. We do want to give them an opportunity to bring up the rule and to use whatever process they want, Aguilar said. They do have options, but I think they need to understand that we have options too. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer endorses Kevin de Leon in his insurgent bid against Sen. Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta Tom Steyer, left, and California state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles). (Getty Images; Los Angeles Times) Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer is endorsing state Sen. Kevin de Leon in his insurgent challenge to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and did not rule out funding an outside effort to boost De Leons chances. I think hes the kind of young progressive that reflects California and would be a very strong advocate for our state nationally, Steyer said in an interview on Tuesday, pointing to De Leons efforts on issues such as immigration, climate change and gun control while he was the state Senate leader. I know him well and hes a friend. We share a lot of values. Steyer, who flirted with running for the Senate seat, did not criticize Feinstein as he has in the past. Sen. Feinstein has been an outstanding public servant who has dedicated the bulk of her adult life to the service of our state and the country, he said. These are two strong, very good Democrats. I just believe Kevin is the true progressive and he reflects something we need representing California going forward. I have nothing bad to say about Dianne Feinstein. I have a lot of good to say about Kevin de Leon. De Leon faces enormous odds as he tries to oust Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for a quarter-century, is well known to the states voters and has daunting leads in polls and fundraising. But De Leon has gained notable endorsements, most recently from the 2.1-million-member California Labor Federation last week. Campaign finance reports released this week show that Feinstein has more than $10 million in the bank, while De Leon has just more than $670,000. Feinstein, a multimillionaire and one of the wealthiest members of the Senate, has already lent her campaign $5 million and could easily write another check. But Steyer, a billionaire former hedge fund manager, could write a larger one. He is among the largest Democratic donors in the nation and has already committed more than $50 million to push for the impeachment of President Trump and to register young voters. He was noncommittal when asked if he would fund an independent expenditure group on behalf of De Leon. I dont have any concrete plans for that, he said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Californias largest pension fund sends next years invoice to state government: $6.3 billion By John Myers The California Public Employees Retirement System building (Max Whittaker / Getty Images) As part of a shift toward less optimistic expectations for investment returns to pay for government worker pensions, board members of the California Public Employees Retirement System voted Tuesday to require an almost $6.3-billion payment from the state budget in the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The action, which could receive final approval on Wednesday, reflects a gradually higher annual contribution to public employee pensions by the state and from local governments across California. In 2016, CalPERS approved a half-percentage point decrease in its official estimate of the long-term investment return on its $353.3-billion portfolio. That shift was designed to happen over several years, in hopes it would lessen the financial shock of shifting more of the costs onto government employers. The highest costs are also, in part, a reflection of increases in the size of the states payroll. The states CalPERS payment will be about $450 million more than the total paid in the current fiscal year and more than double what it was only a decade ago. CalPERS board members voted on Tuesdays staff proposal with little discussion, save for a question about the increase in contributions also required from workers hired after a pension overhaul that took effect in June. It seems like it will be a ding on peoples salaries, said Theresa Taylor, the chairwoman of CalPERS finance committee and a member of SEIU Local 1000, the union that represents some 96,000 state employees. The $6.299-billion payment required from Californias state government must now be factored into the budget crafted by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in late June. Brown had already assumed a similarly sized payment in his budget proposal unveiled in January. In February, a coalition representing city governments warned about the effects of rising pension costs under the expectations of less money from Wall Street investments. The report issued by the League of California Cities projected an average increase of more than 50% in annual pension payments made by the states largest cities over the next seven years. A CalPERS staff report notes that the net return on all of the funds investments for the fiscal year that ended in July was 11.2%. But expectations on profits over the next 30 years remain significantly more modest, and theres long been a robust debate about how to properly set those future expectations. The lower the rate of projected investment return, the larger the share of pension costs that must be covered by taxpayers and some employees. Overall, CalPERS officials believe the system has assets to cover 71% of its long-term obligations. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California warns legal pot sellers not to participate in unlicensed 4/20 events By Patrick McGreevy Marijuana on display at a dispensary in Los Angeles. ( (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images)) The state issued a warning Tuesday that businesses holding licenses to sell marijuana could face penalties if they participate in unlicensed temporary events away from their stores, including on Friday, April 20, which has become an annual celebration for counterculture groups. The warning was issued ahead of 4/20 by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. Since Jan. 1, the bureau has issued more than 700 state licenses to sell marijuana for medical or recreational use. The bureau has issued 47 temporary event licenses to groups that are limited to holding the marijuana celebrations on county fairgrounds that have authorized such events with city approval. Any bureau licensee participating in an unlicensed cannabis event may be subject to disciplinary action, the warning said, adding that lawful participation by bureau licensees in any temporary cannabis event that allows sales and/or consumption is dependent upon issuance of the appropriate licenses from the bureau. While many Californians have been issued medical approval to sell or use marijuana, the law does not allow them to participate in unlicensed events, also referred to as Proposition 215 events after the ballot measure that legalized medical pot two decades ago in the state. Participation in such events may lead to civil penalties for unlicensed commercial cannabis activity, the warning said. Meanwhile, a survey of some 1,000 marijuana users that was released Tuesday by the firm LendEDU found that the average 4/20 participant plans to spend $71 on marijuana to celebrate the unofficial holiday, and about 35% of respondents are planning to take off work Friday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police groups shift position on officer discipline records, now consider support for making some of them public By Liam Dillon Los Angeles Police Department recruits at a graduation ceremony in April (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Some major law enforcement groups signaled Tuesday they are willing to support making part of police officer disciplinary records public, a dramatic departure from their past positions. Local and national attention on police shootings and misconduct has led law enforcement organizations to reconsider their blanket opposition to proposals that would give public access to some internal disciplinary investigations of officers. Were going to be open to supporting efforts that would allow for some records to be released, said Ryan Sherman, a lobbyist with the Riverside Sheriffs Assn. Debate over secrecy provisions in officer disciplinary files came during a legislative hearing on Senate Bill 1421 from Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). Skinners bill, which advanced out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, would require public disclosure of all internal officer shooting investigations and confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. Currently, all police discipline information is confidential outside of a courtroom in California, which has some of the nations strictest standards against public disclosure. Unfortunately, the fact that we have such strict restrictions on any access to public records has affected certain communities trust towards our law enforcement, Skinner said during the hearing. Prior to Skinners effort, other have tried to loosen these rules, some of which date back 40 years. Most recently in 2016, a bid by then-Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) failed in a Senate committee. In debate two years ago, no major law enforcement groups indicated they would accept changes to state laws that would make individual internal investigations public, saying they were essential to protect officer privacy and safety. But Tuesday, Sherman and other lobbyists including those representing the states largest police labor organization, signaled they might be willing to entertain changes. They said they were negotiating with Skinner on the bills details. Law enforcement groups still have major concerns about SB 1421 as written. Ed Fishman, an attorney for the Police Officers Research Assn., told legislators that the bill would wrongfully expose police officers who acted within departmental policy to invasions of their privacy. It has unintended consequences that are extreme and will hurt the public, Fishman said. Tuesdays hearing featured testimony from many who have had relatives killed by police officers in recent years advocating for the bill. Senators on the Public Safety Committee also gave public rebukes to law enforcement lobbyists, criticizing them for a lack of diversity and insensitivity to concerns raised by communities of color. I think that you are completely and utterly out of touch with the realities of how those you are representing are perceived by major segments of California, said Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles). You are not going to be able to continue to lobby your way out of it. The bill faces at least one more committee hearing in the Senate before reaching the floor. It will have to pass both houses of the Legislature by the end of August. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newest member of the California Assembly arrives ready to work on criminal justice issues By John Myers Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove prepares for the oath of office from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon with her husband, Austin Dove. (California Assembly Democrats) Two weeks after winning a Los Angeles special election, the newest member of the California Assembly says she hopes to focus on reforms to the states criminal justice system during her time in Sacramento. Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) took the oath of office on Monday, filling one of three vacant seats representing Los Angeles County in the lower house. The Democrat, a former community college trustee and legislative staffer, thanked her mentors in remarks from the Assembly rostrum. So many women, and in my life so many black women, have paid in giving me the kind of morals and integrity and grit that is required to fight on behalf of people that you know, and people that you dont know, she said. Kamlager-Dove won handily on April 3, receiving 70% of the votes cast in the 54th Assembly District which encompasses communities west of downtown Los Angeles, from Crenshaw to Culver City and as far north as Westwood. She will serve the remaining eight months of the term of former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, who resigned last year citing health concerns. She has said she hopes to focus her attention on poverty issues and on reform of the states criminal justice system. I think we have an opportunity to really push the needle in terms of how we look at rehabilitation, how we look at incarceration, and how we look at changing the lives oftentimes of poor men and women of color, Kamalager-Dove said on Monday in a video released by Assembly Democrats. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Survivors of violent crime raise their voices in California to call for a new approach to criminal justice By Jazmine Ulloa Aaliyah Smith marches with her cousins. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Her father, uncle, a cousin and two older brothers. Those are some of the family members 16-year-old Aaliyah Smith has lost to gun violence. Then there are her friends. Jermaine Jackson Jr., 27, was shot and killed in 2016 while he painted over graffiti in San Francisco. Toriano Tito Adger, 18, was shot there a year later at a bus stop. He called Smith, who was nearby, and warned her to run. She made it inside a library moments before the crack of gunfire. Last week, Smith was among hundreds who gathered in Sacramento for annual National Crime Victims Rights Week events, where calls were issued for a new approach to criminal justice and public safety in California, one that puts survivors at the center of policy. But a debate is brewing over what that entails. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California expects $14 billion in tax payments this month By John Myers State workers handle income tax returns at the California Franchise Tax Board offices. (Laura Morton / For The Times) Gov. Jerry Browns proposed state budget is built on what taxpayers might find an audacious assumption: almost $14 billion in tax payments in the month of April, an average of $83 million collected per hour on every business day of the month. Most of that money will come from the taxes Californians pay in advance of Tuesday nights filing deadline for income tax returns. If history is any guide, the rate of payment could quadruple by weeks end. While tax rules have shifted some of the payment schedules to other months, April remains a vitally important month to the fiscal health of state government. The state controllers office reports more than 15% of all personal income tax revenues in 2017 were collected in April. In the recession years of a decade ago, tax revenue predictions were frequently off the mark by hundreds of millions of dollars. The last two state budgets have seen significant windfalls of personal income tax revenue, thanks in part both to an improving economy and to the continuation of a temporary surcharge on the wealthiest taxpayers extended by voters in 2016. In the budget plan he sent to lawmakers in January, Brown projected a $6.1-billion windfall and proposed using a sizable amount to top off Californias rainy-day fund ahead of schedule. The independent Legislative Analysts Office reports that through the end of last week, the months income tax tally stood at $3 billion, slightly ahead of projections. By the end of the current week, a single days total could be almost that large. Lawmakers began reviewing the governors $190.3-billion spending plan during the winter, but few decisions are made until they get a look at Aprils tax revenues. The governor will release a revised plan based on the new data next month; lawmakers are required to send him a completed budget no later than June 15. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Feinstein war chest tops $10 million while Kevin de Leon struggles to keep pace By Sarah D. Wire Sen. Dianne Feinstein widened her already-massive fundraising advantage in the run-up to Junes primary, raising twice as much in the first quarter than her strongest Senate challenger has sitting in the bank. Feinstein raised $1.3 million between January and March, bringing her war chest to just over $10 million as Californias U.S. Senate race begins in earnest, according Federal Election Commission reports. Former state Senate leader Kevin De Leon, the best known of the more than 30 people who will appear with Feinstein on the June primary ballot, raised just $575,991 in that same period, bringing his cash on hand to $672,331, according to his quarterly FEC report. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump has met his match, says Gov. Jerry Brown in promoting climate action on a quick trip to Canada By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) Gov. Jerry Brown told a Canadian audience Monday that he believes President Trumps efforts to reverse course on climate change policy are a momentary deviation as others in the United States seek limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Thats very temporary, I can assure you, Brown said at a joint event in Toronto with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. The governors quick international trip, announced only late last week, comes as Wynnes Liberal Party faces a stiff challenge in Junes election from the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and its leader, Doug Ford. Critics of Wynnes party have called for Ontario to pull out of the Western Climate Initiative, a cooperative agreement between three Canadian provinces and California on efforts to limit greenhouse gases. Brown sought to link the efforts of Canadian conservatives with Republicans in the United States who oppose existing climate change programs. In contrast, he told the audience, several GOP lawmakers voted last summer to renew Californias cap-and-trade program. I would say to the conservatives of Canada, wake up and see what your friends in California are doing, he said. The Democrat took particular notice of Trumps efforts to shift away from climate change policies from the administration of former President Obama, as well as a push by the Environmental Protection Agency to cancel Californias strict limits on automobile emissions. If Trump tries to change that, well have litigation well beyond his term in office, Brown said while also noting Chinese government efforts to produce more low-emissions vehicles. Between California and China, Trump has met his match. What hes saying is not going to happen. Many of the governors remarks, though, were aimed at the tough political situation in which Wynne finds herself with seven weeks to go before Ontarios parliamentary elections. Dangers abound, but success is right in our hands, Brown said. So dont blow it! Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California voters are getting to know the states attorney general through his aggressive stance challenging Trump By Patrick McGreevy Less than two months from his first statewide election, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra has become adept not only at challenging President Trump but at using the bully pulpit of his office to raise his profile with voters. The aggressive effort may help boost the former Los Angeles congressmans chances at winning a full term in office this fall, almost two years after he was appointed to replace Sen. Kamala Harris in 2017. Appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown, Becerra took office as attorney general four days after Trumps inauguration. Thats afforded him an opportunity to get in front of Californians and potential voters on an array of issues including immigration, healthcare and the environment. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown forms commission for 2020 census outreach By Melanie Mason In an effort to make sure California has a strong showing in the next national census, Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday established a state commission to prepare outreach for the decennial count. It is vitally important for California to do everything it can to ensure that every Californian is counted in the upcoming census, Brown said in a prepared statement. The commissions formation comes on the heels of a Trump administration plan to ask about citizenship status as a part of the census. State officials fear that such a question, which has not been asked in a census since 1950, could chill participation among California residents. That could result in the state losing billions of dollars in federal funds and a seat in Congress. The 23-member panel, appointed largely by Brown as well as picks by legislative leaders, comes from private- and public-sector backgrounds, including civil rights groups, religious institutions and educational institutions. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Garcetti kicks off Iowa visit with 2020 on his mind and a hardhat on his head LA Mayor - and 2020 prospect - Eric Garcetti makes his Iowa debut at the Carpenters Union Training Center. Fearlessly flaunts the never be photographed in head gear/safety glasses rule. pic.twitter.com/14bUOPXMvF Mark Z. Barabak (@markzbarabak) April 13, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Asm. Rocky Chavez takes the lead in race to replace Issa, while Doug Applegate slips By Joshua Stewart A new poll shows that Republican Assemblyman Rocky Chavez has taken a clear lead over 15 other candidates running to replace Rep. Darrell Issa in Congress and has overtaken Democrat Doug Applegate, the previous frontrunner. In a SurveyUSA poll by 10News and The San Diego Union-Tribune, Chavez, R-Oceanside, has support of 16 percent of likely voters, putting him ahead of Applegate, a lawyer, who was favored by 12 percent of voters and is in second place. The top two vote-getters in June, regardless of party, will proceed to a November runoff election. Competing with Applegate for the No. 2 spot is Democrat Mike Levin, also a lawyer, with support of 9 percent of voters. Several other candidates were right at his heels. Democratic Businessman Paul Kerr and Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, were tied for fourth at 8 percent each. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pro-Kevin de Leon group launches ad castigating Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta A group that is supporting Kevin de Leons bid for the U.S. Senate launched a blistering ad against Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday, questioning her progressive principles and tying her to President Trump. The ad buy from A Progressive California is minuscule $10,000 to air it in Los Angeles for one day on CNN and MSNBC during programming such as The Rachel Maddow Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews and Anderson Cooper 360. The minute-long ad features news clips about Feinstein not getting the California Democratic Party endorsement earlier this year, as well as footage of Feinstein saying that Trump can be a good president and appearing to share a laugh with Trump. That moment actually came during a White House meeting in the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting when the president suggested an assault weapons ban should be included in a bipartisan bill to expand gun background checks. It also features extensive clips of de Leons speech at the state partys convention. De Leon, who just ended his final term as leader of the state Senate, announced last year he would run against fellow Democrat Feinstein as she seeks her fifth full term. Feinsteins longtime political advisor dismissed the ad, noting the size of the buy. Its not really a buy, said Bill Carrick. Ten thousand dollars in cable in L.A. Poof, its gone. Still, he said he planned to have the campaigns lawyers review the ad to see if it violates campaign law that limits what outside groups like A Progressive California can do. Such groups cannot coordinate with campaigns or candidates, and are limited in how much their messages can support a candidate. Ann Ravel, the former chair of the Federal Election Commission and the California Fair Political Practices Commission, said if the ad was in a state race, she is certain that the state commission would open an investigation into potential coordination with de Leons campaign because of the messaging and the types of footage in the ad. But the bipartisan federal commission cant agree on how to enforce the federal regulations, she said. The problem is [outside groups] understand that given the lack of very strong enforcement at the federal level, theres the ability to stretch the law, she said. A spokeswoman for the FEC declined to comment. Dave Jacobson, a spokesman for A Progressive California, disputed the suggestion that the ad violated campaign law. This frivolous allegation shows that Sen. Feinstein is afraid of the public seeing an ad which showcases her own words, that Donald Trump can be a good president, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Dispute over money emerges in campaign to repeal Californias gas tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A motorist prepares to gas up her vehicle in San Rafael, Calif., in 2015. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) A proposed initiative to repeal hikes to Californias gas tax has been caught in the middle of a dispute involving Republican rivals in the governors race. Assemblyman Travis Allen, a Republican candidate for governor, decided in January to drop plans for his own initiative and said he would urge supporters to sign a separate petition being supported by several Republican members of Congress. Then last week, the committee Allen formed to finance his ballot measure reported a $300,000 contribution from PISF Inc., a Novato, Calif., real estate firm. Now, an organizer of the still active Give Voters a Voice committee is urging the Allen committee to immediately donate their funds in support of the ongoing signature gathering efforts. There is only one gas tax repeal measure currently in circulation and that is the measure sponsored by the Give Voters a Voice Committee, said Dave Gilliard, a consultant to the group. PISF Inc., he said, gave to repeal taxes a The Supreme Court on Tuesday strengthened the Trump administrations power to hold immigrants in jail for months or years as they fight deportation, ruling federal law gives these detainees no right to a bail hearing nor a chance to go free. In the 5-3 decision, the courts majority found that federal law says immigrants who face deportation shall be detained while their cases are being considered. The courts conservatives rejected the view of federal judges in California who said detained immigrants have a right to a bail hearing after six months in jail. The ruling is a setback, but not a final defeat, for immigrants rights activists in Los Angeles who brought a class-action suit on behalf of tens of thousands of non-citizens who are arrested and held for possible deportation. They include people who seek asylum because they fled persecution as well as people who have a lawful status here but were arrested because they had a crime on their records. Many of these immigrants eventually win their cases, but only after they have spent a year or more in jail. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decided they should have a hearing after six months and a right to go free if they could show they were not a danger to the community or likely to flee. Advertisement The case of Jennings vs. Rodriguez began in lower courts a decade ago, before Barack Obama was elected president. It was first argued at the high court in November 2016, a few weeks after Donald Trump won election. Trumps campaign pledge to round up and deport more immigrants had raised the stakes in the case. At the end of the last term, the court said it would rehear the case in the current term, presumably to allow the newly arrived Justice Neil M. Gorsuch to cast a vote. Even after an unusually long time to reach a decision, the court issued only a partial ruling. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., speaking for the high court, said the federal immigration law does not call for bail hearings, and the 9th Circuit had no authority to order them. However, the justices did not rule on whether the Constitution gives detained immigrants a right to a hearing, and it sent the case back to California for that issue to be decided. Justice Stephen Breyer read his dissent in court and said the ruling would affect thousands of people in jail who believe they have a right to enter or remain in the United States. This court, I think for first time ever, reads a statute as permitting long-term confinement of a person in the United States without an opportunity to obtain bail. As he noted, the Constitution says no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law, and the word person has been understood to include non-citizens and immigrants who are here illegally. Cornell law professor Stephen Yale-Loehr said court data show there are over 667,000 cases pending in immigration court, with an average backlog of almost two years. The Trump administration has asked Congress to increase funding to detain more immigrants. Thus, even more immigrants may be detained in the coming months and will have to wait even longer for their day in court. Advertisement ACLU attorney Ahilan Arulanantham, who argued the case in the high court, said the Trump administration is trying to expand immigration detention to record-breaking levels as part of its crackdown on immigrant communities. We look forward to going back to the lower courts to show that these statutes, now interpreted by the Supreme Court to require detention without any hearing, violate the Due Process Clause. Eleanor Acer of Human Rights First called the decision an affront to our nations commitment to liberty and to U.S. human rights treaty obligations that prohibit arbitrary detention. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will now have an even greater ability to act as both jailer and judge, an astonishing and horrifying power. But Richard Samp, counsel for the Washington Legal Foundation, called the decision a victory for the rule of law. When Congress determines that the best way to prevent aliens convicted of felonies from repeating their crimes is to lock them up until they can be deported, lower courts dont have the authority to second-guess that determination by attempting to re-write the law. Joining Alito in the majority were Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr., Gorsuch and Justices Anthony M. Kennedy and Clarence Thomas. Advertisement The dissenters included Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor. Justice Elena Kagan sat out the case, possibly because she worked in the Justice Department when the case was first appealed. Major questions before the Supreme Court this year david.savage@latimes.com On Twitter: DavidGSavage Advertisement UPDATES: 12:55 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction from legal experts and quotes from Breyers dissent. This article was originally published at 9:55 a.m. Supreme Court justices sounded skeptical Tuesday about Microsofts refusal to turn over emails sought by U.S. law enforcement agents with a criminal search warrant but stored by the software giant in overseas servers. The case of the United States vs. Microsoft has been hailed by some as a major test of privacy in a world where electronic traffic is stored in a digital cloud. Many observers say the federal law known as the Stored Communications Act of 1986 is hopelessly outdated. And some said the court should stand aside until Congress adopts a new law. But most of the justices seemed to agree with Justice Department lawyer Michael Dreeben, who argued that the court needed to decide the case before them based on the current law and on the idea that a criminal search warrant from a judge must be honored. The dispute arose during a routine federal drug trafficking investigation in the New York area. In 2013, federal agents went to court there and obtained a search warrant based on probable cause for all emails for a still-unidentified Microsoft customer. But when the warrant was served at Microsofts headquarters in Redmond, Wash., the company refused to turn over the contents of the emails, saying they were held in a data center in Dublin, Ireland. Advertisement Though the agents said Microsoft simply needed to push a button in Redmond to download the emails, the company said they were outside the reach of the U.S. law because they were stored on a server in Ireland. A federal judge was prepared to hold Microsoft in contempt for its refusal to comply. But to the surprise of federal authorities, the U.S. 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals agreed with Microsofts contention that the federal law on stored communications did not allow for an extraterritorial application. Unlike the other major cases about searches and seizures, the case turned only on the federal law, and not the 4th Amendment to the Constitution. The Justice Department appealed to the Supreme Court, fearing that the ruling, if left intact, could undermine criminal prosecutions on many fronts. During Tuesdays argument, Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. said Microsofts position would be good news for people who want to break the law. They could conduct illegal business via email in the United States with the assurance their messages would remain safe and off-limits to U.S investigators because they were held in Canada or Ireland, Roberts reasoned. It could be a good business move for the company as well, he said. There is nothing under your position that prevents Microsoft from storing United States communications, every one of them, either in Canada or Mexico or anywhere else, and then telling their customers, Dont worry. If the government wants to get access to your communications, they wont be able to, Roberts said. Joshua Rosenkranz, a lawyer for Microsoft, denied that customers would seek out the giant company to escape U.S. law enforcement. If customers do not want their emails to be seized by the government, they dont use Microsofts services, he said. Instead, he said, such people would use foreign-based services with no U.S. presence and no obligation to turn over information to the U.S. government. Outside on the courts plaza after the argument, Microsoft President Brad Smith said Congress needs to take action to resolve the matter. Advertisement We need 21st century laws to protect 21st century technology, he said. This case is fundamentally about a law that was passed across the street in Congress in 1986. It is a law that was never intended to reach around the world or into our data center in Ireland. He pointed to a proposal known as the Cloud Act, which has bipartisan support in Congress, but has yet to win approval in a House or Senate committee. Major questions before the Supreme Court this year david.savage@latimes.com Advertisement On Twitter: DavidGSavage UPDATES: 2:45 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction. This article was originally published at 10:40 a.m. After spending most of 2017 defending the Affordable Care Act from GOP attacks, a growing number of Democrats believe the laws reliance on private insurance markets wont be enough and the party should focus instead on expanding popular government programs like Medicare and Medicaid. The emerging strategy which is gaining traction among liberal policy experts, activists and Democratic politicians is less sweeping than the single-payer government-run system that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) made a cornerstone of his 2016 presidential campaign. Many Democrats still fear such a dramatic change would disrupt coverage for too many Americans, but they have also concluded that the current laws middle-ground approach to build on the private insurance market originally a Republican idea isnt providing enough Americans with adequate, affordable health coverage. These Democrats see the expansion of existing public programs as a more pragmatic and politically viable way to help Americans struggling with rising costs and correct the shortcomings of the 2010 law, often called Obamacare. Advertisement What is clear is that the Democratic Party as a whole is coming to the conclusion that stand-alone private market solutions to healthcare do not achieve affordability and coverage for all, said Chris Jennings, an influential Washington health policy advisor who worked for Presidents Clinton and Obama. But there is a recognition that you cant just snap your fingers and have political consensus. And one of the lessons learned from 2017 is that you better do your homework. Democrats are eager to avoid mistakes made by Republicans, who proved unprepared last year as they struggled unsuccessfully to fulfill their years-long promise to repeal the current health law. Developing a new healthcare agenda doesnt promise to be easy, as liberal activists and others in the progressive wing of the Democratic Party remain committed to the single-payer solution championed by Sanders and may resist more incremental steps. At the same time, even more modest moves to build on Medicare or Medicaid will face opposition from hospitals, drugmakers and others in the industry who fear that government health plans would pressure them to accept lower prices. And no one expects any Democratic plan to go anywhere as long as Congress remains in Republicans hands and Trump holds a veto pen. But in the wake of widespread public rejection of GOP healthcare proposals last year, Democrats see an opportunity to seize the initiative and advance the partys long-held dream of universal health coverage. Were on offense on healthcare, said Brad Woodhouse, campaign director for Protect Our Care, an advocacy group formed last year to fight the GOP effort to roll back the 2010 health law. We need to make healthcare the No. 1 issue. Advertisement Speaking to a recent conference organized by Families USA, a leading national patients rights group, Woodhouse cautioned, however, that Democrats must offer voters more than just a defense of the current law. In recent months, Democratic lawmakers on Capitol Hill have filed a growing number of bills that would expand eligibility for Medicare or Medicaid, which currently limit coverage to qualifying elderly, disabled or poor Americans. The two mammoth government programs are much cheaper than commercial insurance, in large part because they pay hospitals and other medical providers less. In January, a group of influential liberal health policy experts gathered in Washington to explore these proposals, which typically would allow younger, wealthier consumers to buy into one of the two programs. At the same time, Democratic leaders in several states, including California, New York and New Mexico are exploring state-based initiatives to expand government health plans. Advertisement And last week, the Center for American Progress, a leading liberal think tank, released a plan to open up Medicare to all Americans, while still giving workers the option to stick with coverage offered through an employer. Democrats have mostly been trying to keep Republicans from repealing the current law, said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.). Now we need to come up with the next set of ideas about how to improve coverage and affordability. Kaine and Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) are cosponsoring yet another proposal which they call Medicare X for a new government program based on Medicare, particularly for consumers in parts of the country with limited commercial options. The renewed interest among Democrats in government health insurance has buoyed the hopes of those who support a more ambitious push to create a single public health plan for everyone. Advertisement What has been happening in the last few years is that millions of working people and young people are getting involved in the party and the grassroots movement is overwhelmingly clear about what it wants from healthcare, Sanders said in an interview. That means that the debate over Medicare-for-all changes, and I think that is what is happening now. Indeed, Sanders Medicare-for-all bill, which would create a new government plan like Medicare for everyone, has drawn support from nearly every major Democrat in the Senate who is expected to seek the 2020 presidential nomination. But many Democrats who aspire to something like Sanders proposal still worry about the cost and disruptions that would likely be necessary to create a large new government plan for everyone. Advertisement I share the desire for universal coverage, said Bennet. The question is what approach is more practical to achieving that objective. Nearly a decade ago, Democratic leaders, concerned about the politics of expanding government health plans too aggressively, created the Obamacare insurance marketplaces, which rely on private insurers to provide coverage for Americans who dont get health benefits through an employer or through a government program. Democrats even rejected a proposal for a limited government plan to be sold on the marketplaces as a public option. But the ceaseless GOP attacks on the marketplaces, which had been a conservative idea, and the failure of private health insurers to make more affordable plans available even before Trump took office has caused more Democrats to back a bigger role for government. Advertisement That is a huge shift, said Jacob Hacker, a Yale political scientist who helped develop the public option proposal. Further emboldening Democrats is growing evidence that the public overwhelmingly supports existing government health plans, especially in the face of GOP threats to scale them back. Eight in 10 Americans held a positive view of Medicare in a recent nationwide poll by the nonprofit Kaiser Family Foundation. And majorities of both parties favor allowing more people to buy into the program, the survey found. Advertisement Medicaid enjoys similarly broad support, with three-quarters of Americans expressing a favorable view. By contrast, the GOP proposals to roll back the 2010 health law and slash funding for Medicaid were overwhelmingly unpopular, drawing support from just one in five Americans in several nationwide polls. Even supporters of this emerging Democratic healthcare agenda acknowledge it will take years to develop and may not be fully debated until the campaign for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination gets underway next year. But many say it is not too early to begin planning. Advertisement We saw support for Medicaid [during the 2017 GOP repeal push] that took even many longtime Medicaid advocates by surprise, said Rep. Ben Ray Lujan (D-N.M.), who is sponsoring a proposal with Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) to allow people to buy into the Medicaid program. There is an opportunity now to build on that momentum, Lujan said. Obamacare 101: A primer on key issues in the debate over repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. noam.levey@latimes.com Advertisement @noamlevey ALSO Allies balk at Trump administration bid to block Chinese firm from cutting-edge telecom markets By David S. Cloud Britain and Germany are balking at the Trump administrations call for a ban on equipment from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, threatening a global U.S. campaign to thwart Chinas involvement in future mobile networks. Both countries are expected to limit Huawei and other Chinese companies from providing core components including routers. But other types of Chinese equipment for next-generation, high-speed communications could still be installed on British and German networks, officials and analysts say. The U.S. push to ban Huawei has provoked a global dispute in recent weeks, with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, publicly urging NATO allies in Europe to exclude the company and warning that the United States might limit its military presence in countries that did not do so. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Confucius Institutes: Do they improve U.S.-China ties or harbor spies? By Don Lee Hanging red lanterns welcome visitors to the University of Marylands Confucius Institute, the oldest of about 100 Chinese language and cultural centers that have popped up over the last 15 years on American campuses, subsidized by millions of dollars from Chinas central government. But last fall, when four U.S. Senate investigators walked into the Confucius offices in Maryland and spent hours questioning staff, they werent looking for an educational exchange. The committee has been seeking detailed information from the university about the program, including contracts, email exchanges and financial arrangements that school administrators have kept under wraps since it started in 2004. American colleges once viewed these jointly funded institutes as an economical way to expand their language offerings one that could also bring warmer ties with China and, importantly, an influx of Chinese international students paying full tuition. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Live: White House holds surprise news briefing amid government shutdown Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. policy toward China shifts from engagement to confrontation By David S. Cloud For decades, China had no closer American friend than Dianne Feinstein. As San Francisco mayor in the 1970s, she forged a sister-city relationship with Shanghai, the first between American and Chinese communities. As U.S. senator, she dined with Chinese leaders at Mao Tse-tungs old Beijing residence. And in the 1990s, she championed a trade policy change that opened a floodgate of Western investment into China. Today the Democratic senator sees China as a growing threat, joining a broad array of Trump administration officials, national security strategists and business executives who once favored engagement with Beijing and now advocate a confrontational approach instead. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Mnuchins attempt to calm markets backfires as Trump takes another shot at the Federal Reserve By Jim Puzzanghera An attempt by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin to calm plunging financial markets backfired Monday, further rattling investors with new fears about whether major U.S. banks have enough cash on top of worries about interest rates, political instability in Washington and a slowing global economy. Adding to the volatile mix was a fresh attack on the Federal Reserve by President Trump, who declared that the central bank was the U.S. economys only problem and that it didnt have a feel for the market. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who cant score because he has no touch -- he cant putt! Trump said on Twitter. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print He speaks to Democratic hearts. But is Beto ORourke a serious White House contender? By Mark Z. Barabak Hes a failed U.S. Senate candidate with an undistinguished congressional record who, for the moment, is a blazing-hot 2020 presidential prospect despite the fact that he may not run and faces long odds if he does. Beto ORourke suggests the will-he-or-wont-he speculation is something he himself cant quite fathom. I think thats a great question, he responded in a Dallas Morning News interview when asked whether his unsuccessful November Senate bid merited a promotion to the White House. I ask that question myself. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Russian disinformation teams targeted Robert S. Mueller III, says report prepared for Senate By Craig Timberg, Tony Romm, Elizabeth Dwoskin Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. (Associated Press) Months after President Trump took office, Russias disinformation teams trained their sites on a new target: special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Having worked to help get Trump into the White House, they now worked to neutralize the biggest threat to his staying there. The Russian operatives unloaded on Mueller through fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and beyond, falsely claiming that the former FBI director was corrupt and that the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election were crackpot conspiracies. One post on Instagram which emerged as an especially potent weapon in the Russian social media arsenal claimed that Mueller had worked in the past with radical Islamic groups. Such tactics exemplified how Russian teams ranged nimbly across social media platforms in a shrewd online influence operation aimed squarely at American voters. The effort started earlier than commonly understood and lasted longer while relying on the strengths of different sites to manipulate distinct slices of the electorate, according to a pair of comprehensive new reports prepared for the Senate Intelligence Committee and released Monday. Read more Timberg, Romm and Dwoskin report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement President Trump announces Mick Mulvaney as acting White House chief of staff By Associated Press President Trump says budget director Mick Mulvaney will serve as acting chief of staff, replacing John F. Kelly in the new year. I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print It aint over when its over: In Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere, losers seek to undermine election results By Mark Z. Barabak Democrat Gavin Newsom has yet to become California governor, but already a candidate for state Republican Party chairman is promoting a recall effort. In Michigan and Wisconsin, GOP lawmakers have rushed through legislation to thwart their incoming Democratic governors and hamper others in the opposing party from doing the jobs voters chose them to do. In Congress, GOP leaders have echoed President Trump and sought to undermine the legitimacy of Democrats strong midterm performance, raising unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and political malfeasance. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger says she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera On her first full day leading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Kathy Kraninger said she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney, the controversial acting director whom she replaced in the powerful regulatory position. To underscore that point, the former White House aide said she would even reconsider a Mulvaney action that critics saw as a gratuitous jab at Democrats who championed the agencys creation: changing its name to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Kraningers declaration during a meeting with reporters Tuesday addressed one of the main criticisms of her selection. She is considered a protege of Mulvaney, her boss at the White House Office of Management and Budget who has executed a dramatic, industry-friendly shift at the watchdog agency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trumps pick for chief of staff, Nick Ayers, out of running By Associated Press Nick Ayers, right, with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, at the funeral service for George H.W. Bush on Dec. 3. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Associated Press) President Trumps top pick to replace John F. Kelly as chief of staff, Nick Ayers, is no longer expected to fill that role. Thats according to a White House official who is not authorized to discuss the personnel issue by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Ayers is Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff. The official says that Trump and Ayers could not agree on Ayers length of service. The father of young children, Ayers had agreed to serve in an interim capacity though the spring, but Trump wanted a two-year commitment. The official says that Ayers will instead assist the president from outside the administration. Trump announced Saturday that Kelly would be departing the White House around the end of the year. Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause. #Georgia Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. hiring slows to 155,000 jobs, unemployment rate holds at 3.7% By Jim Puzzanghera Job growth slowed significantly in November but still was solid, indicating the economy remains in good shape but not expanding so quickly that it will lead to sharply higher interest rates. U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs last month, well below analyst expectations and a steep decline from Octobers strong 237,000 figure, the Labor Department reported Friday. Still, monthly job gains are averaging 206,000 this year, the best since 2015. Even the slower pace of 170,000 over the last three months is close to last years average of 182,000 and well above the amount needed to keep up with population growth. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump is expected to pick State Department spokeswoman for U.N. ambassador By Associated Press Heather Nauert at a briefing at the State Department on Aug. 9, 2017. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump is expected to nominate State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Two administration officials confirmed Trumps plans. A Republican congressional aide said the president was expected to announce his decision by tweet on Friday morning. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly before Trumps announcement. Trump has previously said Nauert was under serious consideration to replace Nikki Haley, who announced in October that she would step down at the end of this year. Trump has been known to change course on staffing decisions in the past. Nauert was a reporter for Fox News Channel before she became State Department spokeswoman under former Secretary Rex Tillerson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Senate confirms new consumer financial protection chief: Kathy Kraninger, protege of industry-friendly Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera The Senate, in a party-line vote Thursday, confirmed White House aide Kathy Kraninger to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and experts predicted a continuation of the industry-friendly shift it has taken since President Trump installed an acting director last year. Kraninger is a protege of acting director and White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney, an outspoken critic of the agency that was created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis to prevent predatory lending and other abuses that led to it. Democrats and consumer advocates have denounced him for sharply departing from the aggressive watchdog role the bureau had pursued under its first director, Obama-appointee Richard Cordray, including scaling back enforcement and moving to reassess tough new rules on payday loans and narrow the definition of abusive practices by banks and other firms. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Shutdown postponed by two weeks under plan approved by Congress By Erik Wasson Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), shown at the Capitol on Tuesday, says President Trumps border wall is a waste of money. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Congress passed a two-week stopgap spending bill that will delay the chance of a partial government shutdown until Dec. 22 as lawmakers and President Donald Trump negotiate over his demands to pay for a wall on the southern border. The House and Senate passed the measure Thursday without dissent, and Trump has indicated hell sign the bill before the current shutdown deadline of midnight Friday. Negotiations were delayed by memorial services this week for former President George H.W. Bush. The temporary measure gives Democrats and Republicans more time to find a resolution to their biggest hurdle: funding a wall on the U.S. Mexico border wall. Trump says he wants $5 billion for parts of a concrete wall on the southern border and is willing to shut down the government if he doesnt get it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said Democrats will provide no more than $1.6 billion for border security, because the wall is a waste of money. The presidents demands for wall funding from Congress come after he said during the campaign that Mexico would pay for it. This week he said on Twitter that a $25 billion border wall would pay for itself in two months, without providing evidence. Most of the U.S. governments $1.2 trillion discretionary budget has been appropriated already by Congress for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. Departments at a risk of a partial shutdown late this month include the departments of State, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security. Talks to resolve the differences have been on hold since a meeting among Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California originally slated for Dec. 4 was postponed due to Bush memorial events. The three are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama told reporters the rest of the seven-bill spending package being negotiated is basically done. Shelby in recent weeks had tried to broker a compromise in which Trumps $5 billion request would be split over two years, but Schumer has rejected that. Some Democrats have been willing to trade border wall funding for deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants. Pelosi ruled out such a deal in remarks to reporters Thursday. The stopgap government funding measure also would extend the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides subsidized coverage for homes in flood-prone areas, to Dec. 21. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bipartisan Senate group wants to formally blame Saudi crown prince for journalists killing By Karoun Demirjian Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. (Associated Press) A bipartisan group of senators filed a resolution Wednesday condemning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as responsible for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, directly challenging President Trump to do the same. This resolution -- without equivocation -- definitively states that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia was complicit in the murder of Mr. [Jamal] Khashoggi and has been a wrecking ball to the region jeopardizing our national security interests on multiple fronts, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement accompanying the release of the resolution. It will be up to Saudi Arabia as to how to deal with this matter. But it is up to the United States to firmly stand for who we are and what we believe. The resolution put forward by Graham and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who are expected to lead the Judiciary Committee together next year, comes just one day after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed leading senators about the details of the agencys assessment that Mohammed ordered and monitored the killing and dismemberment of Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Senators emerged from that closed-door briefing furious not only with Saudi Arabia, but Trump as well for dismissing the heft of the CIAs findings. You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organized by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr. Khashoggi, Graham said following the briefing, referring to Mohammed by his initials. He added that Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, who briefed senators last week, were at best being good soldiers and at worst were in the pocket of Saudi Arabia for presenting the evidence of Mohammeds involvement as inconclusive. The release of the resolution condemning Mohammed also comes as the Senate is preparing to move ahead with debate on a resolution to curtail U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Though the Yemen resolution does not directly address Khashoggis murder, its popularity is a sign of how strained the United States patience with Saudi Arabia is on multiple fronts, including its role in worsening the civilian cost of the war in Yemen, cited by the United Nations as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Last week, the Senate voted 63 to 37 to advance the Yemen resolution past an opening procedural hurdle. But Graham and Feinsteins resolution on the crown prince has the potential of drawing broader support, especially from Republicans, who are deeply divided about how fiercely to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis killing. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and is seen as one of the more influential foreign policy voices in the GOP, did not vote for the Yemen resolution last week or sign on to a bipartisan measure last month to sanction Saudi officials and cease weapons transfers to the kingdom. But he is an original co-sponsor of the resolution condemning Mohammed over Khashoggis death. So is Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who represents the other end of the GOP spectrum in terms of recent Saudi-related votes and endorsements. Young was an initial co-sponsor of the bill Graham wrote with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to sanction Saudi officials deemed responsible for Khashoggis killing and stop the sale of anything but exclusively defensive weapons to the kingdom until it ceased hostilities in Yemen. Young also voted to advance the Yemen resolution something Graham did as well, though Graham has signaled he will not be lending any similar support to the measure, fearing it may establish a precedent of invoking the War Powers Act too broadly. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are listed as original co-sponsors of the resolution condemning Mohammed, which also urges Saudi Arabia to negotiate with Houthi rebels to end the Yemen war, work out a political solution to its standoff with Qatar and release political prisoners. But how much sway the resolution has probably comes down to how forcefully the administration decides to heed it -- and thus far, Trump has not shown any interest in condemning the crown prince the way the senators hope he will. Demirjian reports for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Los Angeles County offices and U.S. Postal Service closed Wednesday in honor of George H.W. Bush By Brian Park The Honor Guard carries the casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush following his funeral on Dec. 5 in Washington, DC. (Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images) The U.S. Postal Service will suspend regular mail delivery Wednesday, which President Trump has declared a national day of mourning in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. All retail postal outlets will be closed, and package delivery will be limited. In Los Angeles, all nonessential county departments, offices and libraries will be closed for the day, L.A. County officials said. The Los Angeles County Library said no overdue fines will be assessed for books, and due dates will be moved forward one week. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offices also are closed Wednesday. The Sheriffs Department, Fire Department, clinics and hospitals will continue to operate, the county said. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health clinics are being operated with reduced staffing, and the department asked patients to confirm or reschedule any appointments. All county courts and the disaster recovery centers for the Woolsey fire in Malibu and Agoura Hills will remain open. Larger federal government operations will be closed Wednesday. To honor the life and legacy of President Bush, the Postal Service will observe the National Day of Mourning. Learn how Postal operations will be affected. https://t.co/Mffch7bPCh pic.twitter.com/vG46BsIOpm U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) December 4, 2018 L.A. County offices and libraries will be closed tomorrow (Dec 5) in observance of the #NationalDayOfMourning for President George H. W. Bush. The Countys Disaster Recovery Centers in Malibu & Agoura Hills will remain open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/Sv1J7GoJ7T Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) December 4, 2018 @LAPublicHealth offices will be closed tomorrow December 5 in observance of the national Day of Mourning for President George H. W. Bush. Essential Services including clinics and other services will remain open: https://t.co/tZGoGGHRlg pic.twitter.com/ypXsV6vlYY LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 4, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to skip 2020 White House race, sources say By Associated Press Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an interview in Boston on Dec. 15, 2014. (Elise Amendola / Associated Press) Former Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will soon announce he wont launch a 2020 presidential campaign, according to three sources familiar with his plans. They did not say why the Democrat decided against a run. A formal announcement was delayed as the country observed a day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush, one source said. News of Patricks plans was first reported by Politico. Patrick, 62, served two terms as governor, from 2007 to 2015, was assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration and since leaving the governors office has been a managing director for Bain Capital. Patrick traveled the country in support of Democratic candidates in the recent midterm election. Earlier this year, some of Patricks supporters and close advisors started the Reason to Believe political action committee, a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a positive, progressive vision for our nation in 2018 and 2020. Reason to Believe PAC had been holding meetups across the country, including in early presidential primary states. While Patrick is opting against a 2020 run, dozens of Democrats are considering jumping in, including nearly a half-dozen members of the Senate, several House members, and other Massachusetts politicians. On Tuesday, Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels and a vocal critic of President Trump, said in a statement that he would run. Patrick had previously expressed some concerns about breaking through if he sought the nomination, telling David Axelrod, a former advisor to President Obama, that he wasnt sure he could stand out in such a large field. Its hard to see how you even get noticed in such a big, broad field without being shrill, sensational or a celebrity, and Im none of those things and Im never going to be any of those things, Patrick said in a September interview with Axelrod. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Former Trump adviser Roger Stone invokes 5th Amendment right and wont testify before Senate Judiciary Committee By Associated Press Roger Stone in 2017. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) Roger Stone, an associate of President Trump, says he wont provide testimony or documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee. An attorney for Stone said in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committees top Democrat, that Stone was invoking his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to produce documents or appear for an interview. Stone has been entangled in investigations by Congress and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about whether Trump aides had advance knowledge of Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. Stone has not been charged and has said he had no knowledge of the timing or specifics of WikiLeaks plans. In the letter to Feinstein, Stone said the committees requests were far too overbroad, far too overreaching and far too wide-ranging. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: Vice President Pence and lawmakers honor George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Capitol before he lies in state Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rebuilding crumbling infrastructure has bipartisan support. But who gets to pay for it? By Jim Puzzanghera The grades for major U.S. infrastructure would give any parent indigestion if they were on a childs report card. Roads: D; bridges: C+; dams: D; ports: C+: railways: B; airports: D; schools: D+; public transit: D-. The nations overall grade: D+, which translates to being in fair to poor condition and mostly below standards with significant deterioration and a strong risk of failure, according to an evaluation last year by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump calls former lawyer Michael Cohen a weak person who is lying By Associated Press President Trump says his former lawyer Michael Cohen is lying to get a reduced sentence. The president is reacting to Cohens guilty plea Thursday to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate project in Russia. During a surprise court hearing, Cohen admitted to lying in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen in his guilty plea said he made the false statements to be consistent with Trumps political message. Cohens lawyer says he continues to cooperate with special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Mark Z. Barabak When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Sarah D. Wire When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Michael Cohen, President Trumps ex-lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Trump real estate project in Russia By Associated Press Michael Cohen, President Trumps former personal lawyer, pursued a Russian real estate project on candidate Trumps behalf well into the 2016 campaign, he said Thursday while pleading guilty to lying to Congress. Cohen had previously said that the project was abandoned in January 2016, but he now admits he continued to pursue a deal and says he updated Trump and members of his family about the negotiations, according to a new court document. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement James Comey says acting Atty. Gen. Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer By John Wagner Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker speaks at the Justice Department in Washington on Nov. 14. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) Former FBI Director James B. Comey apparently isnt too impressed with the mental prowess of President Trumps acting attorney general. Matthew Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, Comey said during a radio interview on Monday night in which he sized up the man Trump installed this month to replace ousted Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions. Comey was asked by WGBH News in Boston if he thinks Whitaker could derail the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Whitaker has spoken critically of the probe, and Trump as recently as Tuesday continues to call it a witch hunt. I think its a worry, but to my mind not a serious worry, Comey said. The institution is too strong, and [Whitaker], frankly, is not strong enough to have that kind of impact. He may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, but he can see his future and knows that if he acted in an extralegal way, he would go down in history for the wrong reasons, and Im sure he doesnt want that, added Comey, who was fired by Trump last year and later wrote a book that portrays the president as an ego-driven congenital liar. Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa, was Sessions chief of staff before being picked by Trump to lead the Justice Department. Trump has called Whitaker a very smart man. Earlier this year, Trump called Comey an untruthful slime ball. Wagner writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Interior Department watchdog clears Zinke in investigation of Utah national monument By Juliet Eilperin Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, third from the left, and Gov. Jerry Brown tour fire damage in Paradise, Calif., on Nov. 14. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The Interior Departments Office of Inspector General has cleared Secretary Ryan Zinke in a probe of whether he redrew boundaries of a national monument in Utah to aid the financial interests of a Republican state lawmaker and stalwart supporter of President Trump. In a Nov. 21 letter to Zinkes deputy, David Bernhardt, Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall wrote that her office found no evidence that the secretary or his aides changed the boundaries of Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in an effort to help former Utah state representative Mike Noel, who serves as executive director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District. Last December, Trump shrank the monument, first established by President Clinton in 1996, by 46% based on Zinkes recommendation. Noel owns 40 acres that had been surrounded by the monument, but now lies outside its boundaries. The new boundaries also would make it easier to construct the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline, which would deliver water to sites in Kane County that include Noels property. Earlier this year, the Interior Department had proposed selling off 120 acres of federal land from the former monument that lay adjacent to some of Noels land holdings, but later reversed the plan. We found no evidence that Noel influenced the DOIs proposed revisions to the [monuments] boundaries, that Zinke or other DOI staff involved in the project were aware of Noels financial interest in the revised boundaries, or that they gave Noel any preferential treatment in the resulting proposed boundaries, Kendall wrote. Neither the Interior Department nor the inspector generals office would release the actual investigative report. In the letter, Kendall writes that her office will provide the report to Congress no sooner than 31 days from Nov. 21, when it is provided it to Zinkes office. The Associated Press first reported the inspector generals conclusions Monday night, but did not provide details from the report itself. Noel emailed Zinke about the effort to alter Grand Staircase-Escalante, according to emails released by Interior under the Freedom of Informational Act. But those emails do not make references to Noels land holdings. Noel also pushed to rename a Utah highway in honor of Trump, but abandoned that effort in March after some of his fellow Republicans objected to the idea. Noel did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The inspector generals office still has at least two ongoing probes of the secretary, including one focused on his real estate dealings in Whitefish, Mont., and another regarding his decision to deny a permit to two Connecticut tribes who were hoping to jointly run a casino after MGM Resorts International lobbied against it. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift welcomed the watchdogs conclusions. The report shows exactly what the secretarys office has known all along that the monument boundaries were adjusted in accordance with all rules, regulations and laws, she said in an email. This report is also the latest example of opponents and special interest groups ginning up fake and misleading stories, only to be proven false after expensive and time consuming inquiries by the IGs office. But Kendalls spokeswoman, Nancy DiPaolo, defended the inquiry, even though she said the report has not been publicly released and we will not be speaking specifically about the matter at this time. The OIG opens investigations based on credible allegations and reports our findings objectively and independently, DiPaolo added. Any time or resources spent investigating conduct or activity that may be a violation of law, regulation or policy is a service to the public, Congress and the Department. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement that he still intended to investigate the way Zinke and his colleague redrew the boundaries for Grand Staircase-Escalante and another Utah national monument, Bears Ears, next year. I have great respect for the inspector general, and I accept these findings, but Secretary Zinke should have known the people he listened to while destroying our national monuments had disqualifying conflicts of interest, he said. Should I chair the Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, the process he and President Trump used to destroy Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante will be front and center in our oversight and investigations efforts. We need to know why they ignored overwhelming public expressions of support for both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, why they ignored Native American tribes throughout their decision-making, and why they removed protections on parcels of land with known mineral deposits. Eilperin and Rein report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump advisor Larry Kudlow says China must do more to end trade war By Jim Puzzanghera Larry Kudlow, President Trumps top economic advisor, said Tuesday that Chinas response to U.S. efforts to rework the two economic superpowers trade relationship has been extremely disappointing but the planned meeting this weekend between the nations leaders is an opportunity for a breakthrough. They have to do more. They must do more, Larry Kudlow, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters ahead of a Saturday dinner between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 Summit in Argentina. I think the president is exactly right to show strong backbone when prior administrations did not, to break through these Chinese walls, Kudlow said. Theyre so resistant to change. We have to protect the country. We have to protect our technology, our inventiveness, our innovation. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds a media briefing amid tensions at the border By Los Angeles Times Staff Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Democrat TJ Cox grabs lead over Republican David Valadao in nations last remaining undecided House race By Maya Sweedler Democrat TJ Cox slipped past Republican incumbent David Valadao on Monday to take the lead in the countrys sole remaining undecided congressional race, positioning Democrats to pick up their seventh House seat in California and 40th nationwide. Cox, who trailed by nearly 4,400 votes on election night, has steadily gained as ballot counting continues nearly three weeks after the Nov. 6 election, a pattern consistent with the states recent voting history. On Monday, he pulled ahead by 438 votes after Kern County updated its results. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former CIA director Michael Hayden hospitalized after suffering a stroke By Deanna Paul Then-CIA Director Michael Hayden testifies before a Senate committee in 2008. (Saul Loeb / Getty Images) Former CIA Director and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, his family said Friday. He is receiving expert medical care for which the family is grateful, according to a statement issued by his namesake organization. The General and his family greatly appreciate the warm wishes and prayers of his friends, colleagues, and supporters. Hayden, 73, served as director of the CIA and National Security Agency during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. He retired from the CIA in 2009. Hayden has been a vocal critic of Donald Trumps campaign and presidency. Earlier this year, after Trump decided to revoke the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, Hayden was one of several former intelligence leaders who signed a statement in opposition. Criticizing the president for crossing a line, he quickly became one of the individuals whose security clearance Trump threatened to review. Deanna Paul writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tells troops hes thankful for what hes done for the U.S. and rails against courts and migrants By Associated Press President Trump talks with troops via teleconference from his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thanksgiving. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump used his Thanksgiving Day call to troops deployed overseas to pat himself on the back and air grievances about the courts, trade and migrants heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. Trumps call, made from his opulent private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., struck an unusually political tone as he spoke with members of all five branches of the military to wish them happy holidays. Its a disgrace, Trump said of judges who have blocked his attempts to overhaul U.S. immigration law, as he linked his efforts to secure the border with military missions overseas. Trump later threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time if his administration determines Mexico has lost control on its side. The call was a uniquely Trump blend of boasting, peppered questions and off-the-cuff observations as his comments veered from venting about slights to praising troops You really are our heroes, he said as club waiters worked to set Thanksgiving dinner tables on the outdoor terrace behind him. It was yet another show of how Trump has dramatically transformed the presidency, erasing the traditional divisions between domestic policy and military matters and efforts to keep the troops clear of politics. You probably see over the news whats happening on our southern border, Trump told one Air Force brigadier general stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, adding: I dont have to even ask you. I know what you want to do, you want to make sure that you know who were letting in. Later, Trump asked a U.S. Coast Guard commander about trade, which he noted was a very big subject for him personally. Weve been taken advantage of for many, many years by bad trade deals, Trump told the commander, who sheepishly replied, Mr. President, from our perspective on the water we dont see any issues in terms of trade right now. And throughout, Trump congratulated himself, telling the officers that the country is doing exceptionally well on his watch. I hope that youll take solace in knowing that all of the American families you hold so close to your heart are all doing well, he said. The nations doing well economically, better than anybody in the world. He later told reporters, Nobodys done more for the military than me. Indeed, asked what he was thankful for this Thanksgiving, Trump cited his great family as well as himself. I made a tremendous difference in this country, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump contradicts CIA assessment that Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi killing By Josh Dawsey | Washington Post (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIAs assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency had feelings but did not firmly place blame for the death. Trump, in defiant remarks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing. He denies it vehemently, Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that maybe he did, maybe he didnt. I hate the crime .... I hate the cover-up. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do, Trump said. Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame. Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a very, very vicious place, the president said. He also seemed to suggest that all U.S. allies were guilty of the same behavior, declaring that if the others were held to the standard that critics have held Saudi Arabia to in recent days, we wouldnt be able to have anyone for an ally. Trumps remarks came after he held a conference call with U.S. military officers overseas, during which he repeatedly praised his administration and sought to draw the officers into discussions of domestic policy. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former FBI Director James Comey gets subpoena from House Republicans By Bloomberg Former FBI Director James B. Comey said he has received a subpoena from House Republicans, according to a Twitter post on Thursday. Bloomberg News reported last week that Comey would be receiving a subpoena alongside former Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch as part of continuing probes into their handling of investigations into Hillary Clinton and Russian election meddling, according to a top House Democrat. Happy Thanksgiving. Got a subpoena from House Republicans. Im still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a closed door thing because Ive seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Lets have a hearing and invite everyone to see. James Comey (@Comey) November 22, 2018 Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republican David Valadaos lead slips to 447 votes over Democrat TJ Cox in still-undecided Central Valley House race By Mark Z. Barabak Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), right, finds himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox. (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) On election night, it looked like Rep. David Valadao had survived a close shave and was destined to return to Washington for his fourth term. But on Wednesday, when Fresno County announced its latest vote totals, the Hanford Republican found himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox, with his lead in the Central Valley district shrunken to 447 votes. Thousands remain to be counted. Valadao, a repeated Democratic target, finished election night with a lead of nearly 4,440 votes. Cox, an engineer and a business owner who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2006, has steadily gained ground in the 21st Congressional District ever since. The trend is consistent with historic patterns showing Republicans in California tend to vote early and Democrats later, meaning their mail ballots continue to stream in past election day. Under California law, ballots postmarked up to midnight on Nov. 6 will be counted. Democrats have already picked up six House seats in California. They ousted Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, Mimi Walters, Steve Knight and Jeff Denham and won the seats of retiring Reps. Ed Royce and Darrell Issa. All six represented districts that backed Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016. Valadao was the seventh California Republican in a district Clinton won, though his previous successes he last won reelection by a 14-point margin suggested his ouster was a longer shot for Democrats. If Cox prevails, it would give Democrats a 40-seat gain nationwide, far more than the 23 seats needed to take control when Congress reconvenes in January. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump says no new punishments against Saudi Arabia in Jamal Khashoggi murder By Eli Stokols In this Oct. 25 photo, candles are lit in front of a photo of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Lefteris Pitarakis) President Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he does not intend to punish Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident killed by Saudi officials in Turkey in October. In a remarkable statement replete with exclamation points, Trump cast doubt on the CIAs reported conclusions that it has a high degree of confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggis murder and sent his closest allies to Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul to carry it out. Read MoreThis article has been updated with staff. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sixteen House Democrats vow to oppose Nancy Pelosi as next speaker By Mike DeBonis | Washington Post House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Sixteen House Democrats said Monday that they will vote to deny Rep. Nancy Pelosi another stint as House speaker, a show of defiance that puts her opponents on the cusp of forcing a seismic leadership shake-up as their party prepares to take the majority. Their pledge to oppose Pelosi (D-San Francisco), both in an internal caucus election and a Jan. 3 floor vote, delivered in a letter sent to Democratic colleagues, comes as Pelosi has marshaled a legion of supporters on and off Capitol Hill to make her case. But her opponents said Monday they are convinced it is time to select a new leader. We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus, they wrote. However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change. Pelosi has expressed complete confidence that she will retake the speakers gavel in January eight years after she lost it following massive Republican gains in the 2010 midterms and 16 years after she was first elevated to the top Democratic leadership post in the House. Come on in, the waters fine, she said Friday about a potential leadership challenge. The signers might not be able to force Pelosi out themselves. The size of the Democratic majority remains in flux, but Democrats have already won 232 seats, according to the Associated Press, with five races still undecided. All those races have Republican incumbents, but the Democratic challenger is ahead in only one of them. If the leads hold in the uncalled races, Democrats would have won 233 seats, a 16-seat majority. That means Pelosi could lose as many as 15 Democratic votes when she stands for election as speaker on Jan. 3. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democratic senators sue over Whitakers appointment as acting attorney general By Associated Press Acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) Three Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to remove him. The suit, filed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, argues that Whitakers appointment violates the Constitution because he has not been confirmed by the Senate. Whitaker was chief of staff to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and was elevated to the top job after Sessions was ousted by President Trump on Nov. 7. The Constitutions Appointments Clause requires that the Senate confirm all principal officials before they can serve in their office. The Justice Department released a legal opinion last week that said Whitakers appointment would not violate the clause because he is serving in an acting capacity. The opinion concluded that Whitaker, even without Senate confirmation, may serve in an acting capacity because he has been at the department for more than a year at a sufficiently senior pay level. President Trump is denying senators our constitutional obligation and opportunity to do our job: scrutinizing the nomination of our nations top law enforcement official, Blumenthal said in a statement. The reason is simple: Whitaker would never pass the advice and consent test. In selecting a so-called constitutional nobody and thwarting every senators constitutional duty, Trump leaves us no choice but to seek recourse through the courts. The lawsuit comes days after a Washington lawyer challenged Whitakers appointment in a pending Supreme Court case dealing with gun rights. The attorney, Thomas Goldstein, asked the high court to find that Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and replace him with Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein, the second-ranking Justice Department official, has been confirmed by the Senate and had been overseeing special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker is now overseeing the investigation. The Justice Department issued a statement Monday defending Whitakers appointment as lawful and said it comports with the Appointments Clause, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and legal precedent. There are over 160 instances in American history in which non-Senate confirmed persons performed, on a temporary basis, the duties of a Senate-confirmed position, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said. To suggest otherwise is to ignore centuries of practice and precedent. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov. Rick Scott says Sen. Bill Nelson concedes Florida Senate race By Associated Press Republican Senate candidate Rick Scott speaks with his wife, Ann, by his side at an election watch party in Naples, Fla., on Nov. 7. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas Republican Gov. Rick Scott says incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson called him to concede defeat in their extremely tight race. Scott issued a statement Sunday saying Nelson graciously conceded their Senate race shortly after the states recount ended. The final results show Scott defeated Nelson by just over 10,000 votes out of 8 million cast. Nelson is scheduled to release a videotaped statement later Sunday. The defeat ends Nelsons lengthy political career. The three-term incumbent was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. Before that he served six terms in the U.S. House and as state treasurer and insurance commissioner for six years. Scott spent more than $60 million of his own money on ads that portrayed Nelson as out-of-touch and ineffective. Nelson responded by questioning Scotts ethics and saying he would be under the sway of President Trump. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Orange County goes blue, as Democrats complete historic sweep of its seven congressional seats By Michael Finnegan Gil Cisneros defeated Republican Young Kim on Saturday in the last of Orange Countys undecided House races, giving Democrats a clean sweep of the states six most fiercely fought congressional contests and marking an epochal shift in a region long synonymous with political conservatism. With Cisneros victory, Democrats will constitute the entirety of Orange Countys seven-member congressional delegation, the first time since the 1930s that the birthplace of Richard Nixon, home of John Wayne and spiritual center of the Republican Party will have no GOP representative in the House. Sitting back in the 1960s, I would never have believed this would happen, said Stuart K. Spencer, a party strategist who spent more than half a century ushering Republicans, including President Reagan, into office. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Going, going ... with midterm wipeout, California Republican Party drifts closer to irrelevance By Michael Finnegan For a party in freefall the last two decades, California Republicans learned that its possible to plunge even further. The GOP not only lost every statewide office in the midterm election again, in blowout fashion but Democrats reestablished their supermajority in Sacramento, allowing them to legislate however they see fit After major defeats in Orange County and the Central Valley, two longtime strongholds, Republicans will have a significantly smaller footprint on Capitol Hill. (Democrats hold both Senate seats.) When the vote-counting is finished, the GOP may not even have enough lawmakers in Californias 53-member House delegation to field a nine-person softball team. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter says she will support Rep. Nancy Pelosi for speaker By Maya Sweedler Democratic Rep.-elect Katie Porter is congratulated by volunteers at her campaign headquarters in Irvine. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter said she plans to support Rep. Nancy Pelosis bid for speaker of the House and will make campaign finance reform her top priority when she enters the chamber in January. Im going to continue to have conversations, but so far I feel like Leader Pelosi is definitely making the things that were a priority to the families that elected me her priorities, including announcing her support for campaign finance reform and anti-corruption as HR1, Porter said in her first public appearance since being declared the winner in Californias 45th Congressional District on Thursday evening. It means a lot to me that she is a Californian. She understands our state, Porter added. When we talk about environmental protections, this is a person who understands as a Californian how fragile our environment is and whats at risk in things like drilling off our coasts. Porter, a law professor at UC Irvine, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mimi Walters. The 45th District, covering inland Orange County, has never been represented by a Democrat. Porter became the third Democrat to claim a Republican-held seat in Orange County, following the victories of Harley Rouda in the 48th District and Mike Levin in the 49th. A fourth, Gil Cisneros, is running slightly ahead of his Republican opponent in the race for the open seat in the 39th District, which extends into Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Porter attributed the massive political shift in the county, for decades a conservative stronghold, to increased levels of political engagement. Folks here care about education, they care about the environment, they believe climate change is real, they want healthcare that protects preexisting conditions, they want a tax system that doesnt punish California, they want our schools and places of worship to be safe from gun violence, she said. Those are the issues we campaigned on, and to the extent that Donald Trump and Mimi Walters were on the wrong side of those issues, the voters have made clear what direction they want us to go. Porter was flying back from the East Coast when her race was called, she said. She turned on her phone to find 167 text messages from friends and supporters. Among them was Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who was one of Porters teachers in law school and with whom she has remained close. The pair spoke via FaceTime this morning, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bitter battle for Senate seat in Florida goes to hand recount By Associated Press Employees look through damaged ballots during a recount Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas acrimonious battle for the U.S. Senate headed Thursday to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by less than 13,000 votes. But the highly watched contest for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum appeared to be over, with a machine recount showing DeSantis with a large enough advantage over Gillum to avoid a hand recount in that race. Gillum, who conceded the contest on election night only to retract his concession later, said in a statement that it is not over until every legally casted vote is counted. The recount so far has been fraught with problems. One large Democratic stronghold in South Florida was unable to finish its machine recount by the Thursday deadline due to machines breaking down. A federal judge rejected a request to extend the recount deadline. We gave a heroic effort, said Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. If the county had three or four more hours, it would have made the deadline to recount ballots in the Senate race, she said. Meanwhile, election officials in another urban county in the Tampa Bay area decided against turning in the results of their machine recount, which came up with 846 fewer votes than originally counted. Media in South Florida reported that Broward County finished its machine recount but missed the deadline by a few minutes. Counties were ordered last weekend to do a machine recount of three statewide races because the margins were so tight. The next stage is a manual review of ballots that were not counted by machines to see whether there is a way to figure out voter intent. Scott called on Nelson to end the recount battle. Its time for Nelson to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes which will yield the same result and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served, the governor said in a statement. The recount has triggered multiple lawsuits, many of them filed by Nelson and Democrats. The legal battles drew the ire of U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker, who slammed the state for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems. He also said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this, Walker said during a morning hearing. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers and Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. But he said he could not extend the recount deadline because he did not know when Palm Beach County would finish its work. This court must be able to craft a remedy with knowledge that it will not prove futile, Walker wrote in his ruling turning down the request from Democrats. It cannot do so on this record. This court does not and will not fashion a remedy in the dark. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush vs. Gore decision by locking in procedures that do not allow for potential problems. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in federal court in Tallahassee as well at least one lawsuit filed in state court. Walker also ordered that voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they have not been counted due to mismatched signatures. Republicans appealed the ruling, but an appeals court turned down the request. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signatures on the envelopes did not match the signatures on file. If those voters can prove their identity, their votes will be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. Walker was asked by Democrats to require local officials to provide a list of people whose ballots were rejected. But the judge appointed by President Obama refused the request, calling it inappropriate. Under state law, a hand review is required with races that have a margin of 0.25 percentage points or less. A state website put the unofficial results showing Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.15 percentage points. The margin between DeSantis and Gillum was at 0.41 points. The margin between Scott and Nelson had not changed much in the last few days, conceded Marc Elias, an attorney working for Nelsons campaign. But he said that he expected the vote tally to shrink due to the hand recount and the ruling on signatures. The developments fueled frustrations among Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats want state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every eligible vote is counted. Republicans, including President Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Gil Cisneros pulls ahead of Republican Young Kim as more votes are tallied in Orange and San Bernardino counties By Michael Finnegan Congressional candidate Gil Cisneros (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Democrat Gil Cisneros pulled ahead of Republican Young Kim in one of Californias undecided congressional races Thursday, an ominous sign for a GOP already reeling from its loss of four House seats in the state. In updated vote counts released by the registrars for Orange and San Bernardino counties, Kim fell 941 votes behind Cisneros in the contest to succeed Republican Rep. Ed Royce in Californias 39th Congressional District. The 39th straddles Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties. In another unresolved House race, Democrat Katie Porter pulled further ahead of Republican incumbent Mimi Walters in the 45th District, which includes Mission Viejo, Tustin, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills. Porter, a consumer attorney and UC Irvine law professor, is now 6,203 votes ahead. The Nov. 6 midterm election has been devastating to Republicans in California. If Cisneros and Porter win, the party will have lost six of its 14 House seats in the state, essentially a wipeout in every contest that both parties spent heavily to win. The three Republicans already bounced from Congress are Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, Steve Knight of Palmdale and Jeff Denham of Turlock in the San Joaquin Valley. Democrat Mike Levin won the seat of retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista in the fourth district flipped so far. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Florida Senate race likely headed to second recount By Associated Press A Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputy walks past boxes of ballots before a recount on Nov. 15 in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee) Unofficial Florida election results show that the governors race seems to be settled after a machine recount but the U.S. Senate race is likely headed to a hand recount. Republican Ron DeSantis is virtually assured of winning the nationally watched governors race over Democrat Andrew Gillum. Florida finished a machine recount Thursday that showed Gillum without enough votes to force a manual recount. Unofficial results posted on a state website show the margin between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott is still thin enough to trigger a second review. State law requires a hand recount of races with a margin of 0.25 percentage point or less. Counties have until Sunday to inspect the ballots that did not record a vote when put through the machines. Those ballots are re-examined to see whether the voter skipped the race or marked the ballot in a way that the machines cannot read but can be deciphered. The election will be certified Tuesday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pelosi says she has the votes to become the next House speaker By John Wagner Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference in Washington on Nov. 14. (Susan Walsh) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi insisted Thursday that she has the votes to become the chambers speaker despite solid opposition from more than a dozen Democrats who want fresh leadership when the party takes control next year. I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House, the San Francisco lawmaker told reporters. I happen to think at this point, Im the best person for that. A vote within the Democratic caucus is scheduled for Nov. 28. The full House votes on Jan. 3 to elect a new speaker. During her remarks, Pelosi touted the size of the Democratic victory in the midterms, which she called almost a tsunami. With a few races still to be decided, Democrats are poised to pick up close to 40 seats in the chamber. Pelosi called that the biggest victory for the Democrats since 1974, when the Watergate babies came in. Pelosis comments come as she faces solid opposition from at least 17 Democrats, setting the stage for a battle over who will ascend to one of the most powerful positions in Washington. After a campaign in which some Democrats prevailed in competitive districts by promising to oppose her, a coalition of incumbents and newly elected members has denied her a smooth path to the speakership. The defections, if they stand, would leave Pelosi, who has led the Democrats for more than 15 years, several votes short of the 218 she would need when the full House votes for speaker Jan. 3. However, no Democrat has stepped forward to run against her for a job she held from 2007 through 2010. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) told reporters Wednesday that shes being encouraged to stand for speaker if Pelosi doesnt have the votes. In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, she said she has been overwhelmed by the support from many of her colleagues for her possible entry into the race for House speaker. Over the last 12 hours, Ive been overwhelmed by the amount of support Ive received, Fudge said, adding that there are probably closer to 30" Democrats who have privately signaled that they are willing to oppose Pelosi. Things could change rapidly, Fudge said. Fudge, 66, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she is building a diverse coalition as she mulls a speaker run, talking with allies in the caucus, moderate Democrats and newly elected members. To this point, Pelosi has enjoyed the strong backing of the Congressional Black Caucus. On Thursday, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), one of its members, wrote a letter to colleagues praising her insight, fortitude and strategic thinking and urging support for her speakership bid. Former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr., an African American who is contemplating a 2020 presidential bid, also voiced support for Pelosi, praising her in a tweet as an architect of the recent midterm success. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a leader of the resistance to Pelosi, said during an interview on CNN on Thursday that Fudge is the kind of new leader that we need in this party. Shes in touch with middle America. She understands what the American people want. Shes a next-generation leader that people will look to and say, Thats the future of our party, thats the future of our country, and thats exactly the kind of leader that I want to see as our next speaker. Wagner reports for the Washington Post. The Posts Robert Costa, Erica Werner, Mike DeBonis, Paul Kane and Elise Viebeck contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement GOP Rep. Jeff Denham concedes to Democrat Josh Harder in Central Valley race By Maya Sweedler Rep. Jeff Denham (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Republican Rep. Jeff Denham has conceded to Democrat Josh Harder in the race to represent Californias 10th Congressional District in the San Joaquin Valley. It has been an absolute honor to serve our community and represent the Central Valley in Congress over the past eight years, the 51-year-old congressman said. The enormity of the responsibility was never lost on me. My wife Sonia and I look forward to starting the next chapter of our lives. Harder said he had spoken with Denham and the two were committed to a productive transition. Denham, an Air Force veteran, previously represented the region in the state Senate for eight years and founded a company specializing in plastic packaging used in agriculture. While a member of Congress, he sat on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture committees. First-time candidate Harder was born and raised in the district. After graduating from Stanford University, he served as vice president of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Since moving back, he has been teaching at Modesto Junior College. Denhams House seat is one of four in California that Republicans lost in the Nov. 6 election, with two contests in Orange County still undecided as of Thursday morning. Jeff Denham called me this morning and we had a very productive conversation. I'm honored that I've been chosen to serve our community in Congress, and we're both looking forward to a productive transition that best serves the people of District 10. Josh Harder (@JoshHarder) November 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Katie Porter now nearly 3,800 votes ahead of GOP Rep. Mimi Walters By Maya Sweedler Rep. Mimi Walters thanks all of her supporters as she watches election results in Irvine on Nov. 7, 2018. (Alex Gallardo / Associated Press) Democrat Katie Porter opened a 3,797-vote lead Wednesday over Republican Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange Countys 45th Congressional District. In the neighboring 39th, Democrat Gil Cisneros has nearly tied the race against Republican Young Kim. Cisneros now trails Kim by a razor-thin margin of 122 votes. The 39th District straddles Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties; Wednesdays updated ballot counts came from the latter two. There are more than 202,000 ballots left to count in Orange County, which includes parts of seven congressional districts. The 45th is entirely in inland Orange County. In California, the ballots counted first tend to lean Republican and those tallied later skew Democratic. In the Central Valleys 21st Congressional District, Democratic challenger TJ Cox has pulled within 2 percentage points of Rep. David Valadao, who is serving his third term. The Associated Press had projected a win for Valadao on election night, but his 4,839-vote advantage has shrunk to 2,090. Back in CA-21, Valadao (R) wins a batch of ballots from his stronghold in Kings Co., but by a considerably smaller margin (14 points) than his previous ~30-point margin in the county. We're moving to Lean R from Likely R; today a bit scary for Valadao.https://t.co/WqJVUVkqGW Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) November 15, 2018 A spokesman for Valadao told the Fresno Bee that the changes were expected and that [s]tatistically, David Valadao has won this race. Democrats in California have already flipped four House seats, defeating three Republican incumbents and claiming an open seat previously held by the GOP. Reps. Steve Knight of Palmdale, Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Jeff Denham of Turlock have already lost their races, and retiring Rep. Darrell Issas San Diego County seat was claimed by Democrat Mike Levin. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from Melania Trump By Associated Press First Lady Melania Trump. (Alain Jocard / AFP-Getty Images) Deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel is leaving the White House, one day after First Lady Melania Trumps office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. No replacement was named. Aides said Ricardel clashed with the first ladys staff over her visit to Africa last month. Yet it is highly unusual for a first lady or her office to weigh in on personnel matters, especially the presidents national security staff. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Ricardel would have a new role in the administration. On Tuesday, Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, released a statement saying, It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House. President Trumps White House has set records for administration turnover. Ricardel was the third person to hold the post under Trump. An ally of national security advisor John Bolton, Ricardel began her service in the Trump administration as associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, then moved to the Commerce Department last year. Bolton brought her into the West Wing shortly after taking the job in April. He is traveling in Asia this week alongside Vice President Mike Pence. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Race for House Minority Leader is Kevin McCarthys to lose By Associated Press (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is running to take over next years shrunken caucus in closed-door elections that will set the tone for the new Congress. The race for minority leader is McCarthys to lose Wednesday. But the California Republican, who is an ally of President Trump, must fend off a challenge from conservative Jim Jordan of Ohio. Jordan is a leader of the House Freedom Caucus. The two encountered questions and finger-pointing during a private meeting with lawmakers Tuesday night as the GOP sorted through the midterm defeat that put Democrats in the majority next year. Elections Wednesday will also determine party leadership in the Senate. Voting for the biggest race, Nancy Pelosis bid to return as the Democrats nominee for speaker, is later this month. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Melania Trump calls for the firing of deputy national security advisor By Justin Sink First Lady Melania Trump arrives at the Chateau de Versailles outside Paris on Nov. 11. (Alain Jocard / AFP/Getty Images ) First Lady Melania Trumps office said she wants Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security advisor, ousted from the White House. It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House, Trumps spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement in response to a question about reports the first lady had sought Ricardels removal. Ricardel is the top deputy to national security advisor John Bolton. She drew the first ladys wrath after threatening to withhold National Security Council resources during Melania Trumps trip to Africa last month unless Ricardel was included in her entourage, one person familiar with the matter said. Grishams statement comes as several media outlets have reported that President Trump is considering a broader shakeup of his administration, including ousting Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Sink and Jacobs report for Bloomberg. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CNN sues Trump over the suspension of Jim Acostas White House press credentials By Jim Puzzanghera CNN said Tuesday that it is suing President Trump and other administration officials over the decision to suspend the White House press credentials of correspondent Jim Acosta after a conflict at a news conference last week. The suit, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, escalates an ongoing battle between Trump and the cable news outlet that he frequently accuses of disseminating fake news for its aggressive coverage of him and his administration. The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acostas 1st Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their 5th Amendment rights to due process, CNN said in a written statement. If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Maxine Waters to take aim at Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank as new head of House Financial Services Committee By Jim Puzzanghera Rep. Maxine Waters plans to zero in on two big banks Wells Fargo & Co. and Deutsche Bank when she becomes head of the powerful House Financial Services Committee. The Los Angeles congresswoman, now the committees top Democrat, is widely expected to gain the gavel after her party won control of the House in last weeks elections. While Waters has outlined a wide-ranging agenda, she said her focus on bank oversight will target two large institutions she has been tangling with for a while including one, Deutsche Bank, that spills into her bitter feud with President Trump. With Trump in the White House, I know that our fight for Americas consumers and investors will continue to be challenging. But I am more than up to that fight, Waters wrote in a letter last week to her Democratic colleagues on the committee that was obtained by The Times. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heres how a controversial voting system will decide a congressional race in Maine By Kurtis Lee For the first time in U.S. history, a controversial voting system known as ranked choice is being used to decide a federal election. Its happening in Maine, which adopted the system in 2016. Rather than marking a single candidate, each voter ranks them all, assigning a first-place vote, a second-place vote and so on down the ballot. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print ACLU files suit to stop Trumps new asylum limits By Associated Press A group of Central American migrants march to the office of the U.N.'s humans rights body in Mexico City on Nov. 8. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press) The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a legal challenge to President Trumps order denying asylum to migrants if they cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco and argues the new rules are against the law. Attorney Lee Gelernt said the regulations will put families in danger. The suit seeks to declare the regulations invalid and wants a judge to stop the rules from going into effect while the litigation is pending. The new rules were spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say they will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally. Officials say about 70,000 people who enter the country illegally claim asylum. The order invoked the same national security powers Trump used to push through his travel ban. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump on new acting AG: I dont know Matt Whitaker By Associated Press President Trump talks with reporters before departing for France on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 9. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Trump is moving to distance himself from Matthew Whitaker as he faces criticism over his choice for acting attorney general. Trump told reporters Friday that I dont know Matt Whitaker and said he didnt speak with Whitaker about special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker has made public comments critical of Muellers investigation, and critics have called on Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the inquiry. Under former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, the investigation was overseen by Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Of the scrutiny Whitaker is facing, Trump said: Its a shame that no matter who I put in they go after. He also called Whitaker a very highly respected man. Whitaker was Sessions chief of staff before Trump made him Sessions interim replacement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg out of hospital after fall By Associated Press The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is home after being released from the hospital. She had been admitted for treatment and observation after fracturing three ribs in a fall. The court said Ginsburg was released Friday. Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says she is doing well and working from home. The court had previously said the justice fell in her office at the court on Wednesday evening and went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gun-control activist Lucy McBath defeats GOP Rep. Karen Handel in Georgia By Associated Press Lucy McBath speaks during a rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on Nov. 2 at Morehouse College in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Democratic gun-control activist Lucy McBath has defeated Republican Rep. Karen Handel of Georgia in a suburban congressional district long considered safe for the GOP. Handel had to seek reelection after winning her seat last year in a close special election race against Democrat Jon Ossoff. McBath became an advocate for stricter gun laws after her son, Jordan Davis, was fatally shot at a Florida gas station in 2012 by a man angry over loud music the teenager and his friends were playing in a car. McBaths margin of victory was narrow enough for Handel to have requested a recount. The Associated Press declared McBath the winner Thursday after Handel conceded. Handel conceded in a statement Thursday morning, stating that after reviewing all of the election data, its clear she came up a bit short in Tuesdays vote. Handel congratulated McBath, offering good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her. McBath, who is African American, declared victory Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized after fracturing 3 ribs in fall By Associated Press Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fractured three ribs in a fall in her office at the court and is in the hospital. The court says the justice went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. The court says the fall occurred Wednesday evening. Ginsburg was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation after tests showed she fractured three ribs. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She has had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White House suspends press pass of CNNs Jim Acosta after heated exchange with Trump By Associated Press The White House on Wednesday suspended the press pass of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after he and President Trump had a heated confrontation during a news conference. They began sparring after Acosta asked Trump about the caravan of migrants heading from Latin America to the southern U.S. border. When Acosta tried to follow up with another question, Trump said, Thats enough! and a female White House aide unsuccessfully tried to grab the microphone from Acosta. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement accusing Acosta of placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern, calling it absolutely unacceptable. The interaction between Acosta and the intern was brief, and Acosta appeared to brush her arm as she reached for the microphone and he tried to hold onto it. Pardon me, maam, he told her. Acosta tweeted that Sanders statement that he put his hands on the aide was a lie. CNN said in a statement that the White House revoked Acostas press pass in retaliation for his challenging questions Wednesday, and the network accused Sanders of lying about Acostas actions. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporters colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Contrary to CNNs assertions there is no greater demonstration of the Presidents support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not supporting a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters... Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 As a result of todays incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Sanders provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better, CNN said. Jim Acosta has our full support. Journalists assigned to cover the White House apply for passes that allow them daily access to press areas in the West Wing. White House staffers decide whether journalists are eligible, though the Secret Service determines whether their applications are approved. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump spars with reporters at post-election news briefing, ordering several to sit down By Associated Press President Trump assails CNNs Jim Acosta at a White House news conference. President Trump sparred with reporters at his post-election news conference, ordering several to sit down and telling another hes a rude, terrible person. He told another reporter hes not a fan of yours, either. The presidents mood turned sour Wednesday after reporters pressed him on why he referred to a migrant caravan making its way to the U.S. on foot through Mexico as an invasion. Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric against the caravan in the final days of the midterm elections. Trump was also pressed on why his campaign aired an ad featuring a Mexican immigrant convicted of killing American police officers and linking the mans actions to the caravan. Several television networks pulled the ad after airing it or declined to air it at all. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Im living one hour at a time at this point By Christine Mai-Duc Republican congressional candidate Young Kim and gubernatorial candidate John Cox campaign in Rowland Heights. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Republican congressional candidate Young Kim greeted gubernatorial candidate John Coxs giant campaign bus, the words HELP IS ON THE WAY emblazoned across it, as it rolled into the parking lot outside her Rowland Heights field office. Standing beside Cox on Saturday, Kim predicted that a string of GOP victories Tuesday would start with voters repealing the gas tax hike. Can you imagine Gavin Newsom being our governor? Can you imagine Gil Cisneros being your representative? Kim asked the crowd, to loud boos and cries of Nooo! The former state assemblywoman who worked for retiring Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) is vying for his seat with Democrat Gil Cisneros. She led the crowd in chants of Enough is enough! and, though short-lived, Drain the swamp! Ive served you in Sacramento and Ive seen dysfunction personally, Kim continued. We cannot continue that route. She urged her supporters to stay and help make phone calls or walk neighborhoods. Lets get out there the 72 hours is really critical. Its all going to come down to a few votes, it could be your vote, she said pointing to her left, then pivoting right, it could be your vote. So dont sit back and do nothing. Every night I go to sleep thinking, OK, how many more votes can I get or how many more people can I call tomorrow? Kim said. It can be physically exhausting but Im mentally, emotionally very energized. She listed off her events so far that day and the next one she was heading to. Thats just what I can remember, she said. Im living one hour at a time at this point. Kims campaign invited press to two of her events on Saturday. After she was whisked away to her next event a high tea fundraiser in Walnut, a couple dozen volunteers remained. John Freeman, a statewide field manager for the state Republican Party, tried to pump them up. This is the Super Bowl. Were not in an NFL stadium, were not getting paid millions of dollars, but you know what? Freeman said. Were walking on the field right now. This is that high-stakes-level game. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Its going to be tough out there Democratic candidate Katie Porter speaks to volunteers in Mission Viejo. Jon Bauman, Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na, is in the background. (Victoria Kim / Los Angeles Times ) Judging from the cheers in the crowd, about half those assembled at Katie Porters campaign headquarters in Mission Viejo Sunday morning were old enough to remember 70s rock n roll star Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na. Jon Bauman, as Bowzer is known off stage, said it was her position on senior issues including retirement and social security that has him out supporting Porter over her opponent, incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters. I want you to make sure every phone is called and every door is knocked, he told the crowd of about 80 volunteers. There has never been a more important election. Both Bauman and his nephew, California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, were interrupted by yells from Trump supporters coming from an adjoining hillside. We love Trump, the voice cried out. We love him too, he makes great fodder, the younger Bauman retorted, before introducing Porter. Porter, a UC Irvine law professor and first-time candidate, acknowledged the uphill battle some of her canvassers might face in this more conservative end of the long-red Orange County district. I know its going to be tough out there, she said, motioning to the hillside. But she said the attacks meant the other side viewed her campaign as a significant threat. This election is going to be close, she said. If we dont fight all the way to the finish line, until 8 oclock on Tuesday, this could slip away. Bowzer then took to a keyboard piano to lead the crowd in a reworded rendition of the song Good Night Sweetheart: Good night, Mimi Walters, he crooned. A woman in a black tank top, jeans and flip flops holding a cup of coffee later joined the crowd with her two sons, 17 and 14, the younger one wearing a Trump 2016 T-shirt. She declined to give her name, saying she was concerned about being attacked, but said she lived up the hill and said she had been the one yelling. She said she was encouraging her sons to talk to people on both sides and make up their own minds. We need to have a government that runs the way government teachers are telling kids its supposed to be run, said the woman, a retired registered dental assistant who voted early for Mimi Walters. Referring to Democrats, she said: Theyve had control over all these years and Californias gone to crap. Among those canvassing was Stacie Campbell, 37, who was at the launch with her husband Jerome and three children, the youngest of whom was 2 months old. Campbell, a Mission Viejo resident who runs a business, had never canvassed or volunteered for campaigns before, and her husband is a French citizen and unable to vote. She said they had been talking to their children the older ones are 5 and 2 about the presidency and the government since Trumps election. Together, they worked on homemade Katie Porter lawn signs and put them up around town. This is the first time its felt like a big deal and there isnt a president up for election, she said. Because her city is a mix of conservatives and liberals her next-door neighbor is an NRA-supporting Republican she the race felt m While President Trump vowed Monday to end years of political gridlock in responding to mass shootings by getting tough with the National Rifle Assn. and Congress, he is facing familiar barriers including his own unpredictable, and occasionally inconsistent, policy actions. Even as Trump urged governors at a White House meeting to confront the gun rights group, he promoted proposals it likes, including arming teachers, and said nothing about his previous idea to raise the minimum age for long-gun buyers to 21, which the NRA opposes. Over the weekend, the president divulged, hed had lunch with NRA leaders including Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre. These guys are great patriots, Trump told the governors. Theyre great people and they want to do something. Though the president had called for legislative action this week, with Congress returning from a break, momentum already is bogging down in part because of his shifting statements on gun control. In the nearly two weeks since the shootings in Parkland, Fla., Trump has made policy on the fly in front of television cameras, revealing the fluidity of his thinking as well as the influence of the NRA. Advertisement Also, many lawmakers facing difficult midterm elections this year seem in no hurry to stake out positions on the long-contentious topic. Officials on Capitol Hill suggested that no substantial gun measures are on tap for the short term. Trumps idea for arming some school personnel has gotten little support among lawmakers or governors of either party. Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington state, a Democrat, told Trump that neither teachers nor many local law enforcement officials favored the idea, and added, I just suggest we need a little less tweeting here and a little more listening. Trumps meeting with about three dozen governors was his third listening session since a gunman killed 17 students and adults at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. Previously the president solicited suggestions from local officials and survivors of past shootings. More emphatically than he has before, Trump vowed to use his own authority to ban bump stocks, the devices used to make legal semiautomatic guns fire more like illegal automatic weapons. The president first raised the idea in October, after a gunman in Las Vegas used a bump stock to shoot hundreds of concert-goers and kill 58, but then the administration dropped it. Though the Parkland shooter apparently didnt use a bump stock, Trump has revived the idea of banning them by federal regulation. Im writing that out myself, he said. I dont care if Congress does it or not. The NRA has said it could support a bump stock ban by regulation, as Trump proposes, but not a new law. The regulatory route suggests a quandary: the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has said in the past that, without a new law, it doesnt have the power to ban bump stocks. Also, gun manufacturers probably would sue to contest such a regulatory ban. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump planned to meet with lawmakers on Wednesday to talk about guns policy, and insisted he wasnt backing away from any of his ideas, including the one to set a minimum age of 21 for long-gun purchases. Still, Republican lawmakers worry that Trump might eventually switch positions and leave them exposed to the wrath of the NRA and its highly motivated voters. Advertisement As they note, Trump opened the recent immigration debate with a similarly aggressive pitch to lawmakers to compromise and promised hed give them political cover against anti-immigration Republican voters. Later, however, after pressure from hard-line advisors and others, he reversed himself and threatened to veto a bipartisan measure, dooming it. The gun debate is exploding just as party primaries are looming, a time in which incumbents are reluctant to alienate their partys most loyal supporters which in the case of Republicans includes a large swath of gun owners. New polling suggests that Americans are more in favor of gun restrictions since the Florida shooting, but pro-gun sentiment remains high among Republicans voters. Several measures are circulating in Congress, prompted by past gun massacres. The House earlier passed a bill that would eliminate some loopholes in the federal background check system. But Democrats opposed that measure because it would also allow gun owners to carry concealed weapons across state lines, including into states where that currently isnt legal. Advertisement A bipartisan Senate version of the background checks bill, sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, a Republican, and Democratic Sen. Christopher S. Murphy of Connecticut, doesnt include the concealed weapons language. Written in response to a mass shooting in November at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, the measure seeks to get state and federal agencies to be more rigorous in forwarding any incriminating records involving prospective gun buyers. After the Sutherland Springs shooting, it was found that the Air Force failed to send information to the federal database about a domestic abuse conviction against the shooter, which could have blocked his weapons purchase. Even if the Senate passed its version, without the expansion of concealed carry across state lines, gun rights advocates say Republican leaders promised it would be tabled in the House, said Michael Hammond, legislative counsel for the group Gun Owners of America. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the California Democrat who sponsored a 1994 law that banned some semiautomatic rifles for 10 years, announced on Friday that she would push to raise the age for their purchase from 18 to 21. As a member of the minority party, however, she and other Democrats are limited in their power to raise the bills. Advertisement In a statement Monday, Democratic Senate leader Charles E. Schumer of New York said that if congressional action is limited to tightening the background check system, it would be an abject failure and a dereliction of our duty. He called for additional background check changes, including closing the loophole that allows purchases at gun shows and over the internet to avoid the checks. Neither the House nor Senate measure would do that. We cant afford a bill that is simply aimed at pleasing the NRA but doesnt get the job done, Schumer said. Hammond said that proposals to end background check loopholes, outlaw bump stocks or expand the use of protective orders to take guns from civilians would be tantamount to the 2nd Amendment Repeal Act. Advertisement christi.parsons@latimes.com Twitter: @cparsons Depending on which expert you ask, sexting among teens may be extremely common or incredibly rare. Studies have reported rates of youth sexting as low as 1.3% and as high as 60%. Either way, many experts believe that sending and receiving sexually explicit messages is becoming the new normal for teens. A new report in the journal JAMA Pediatrics attempts to bring some clarity to this situation. Child development researcher Sheri Madigan of the University of Calgary and her colleagues scoured all the data they could find about sexting behavior among teens. They defined sexting as the sharing of sexually explicit images, videos, or messages through electronic means. Madigans team vetted 122 studies related to sexting and selected 39 that they judged to be of moderate or high quality. These 39 studies included data on 110,380 teens ages 17 and under from the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, South Korea and South Africa. Here are 10 things they discovered: 1. Nearly 15% of teens have sent a sext message. Among the 34 studies that included data on sending sext messages, the average prevalence was 14.8%. That means more than 1 in 7 teens admitted to or boasted about sending a sexually explicit message, photo or video of themselves. 2. More than 27% of teens have received a sext message. This figure is based on data from the 20 studies that inquired about incoming sexts. You may have noticed that its considerably higher than the percentage of teens who have sent a sext. The researchers said this discrepancy could reflect the fact that one person can send a message to multiple recipients. Its also possible that teens are more comfortable acknowledging that theyve received a sext than that theyve sent one. 3. Sexting is becoming more common. The more recently teens were interviewed, the more likely they were to say they had sent and/or received a sext, the researchers found. 4. Nearly 1 in 8 teens have forwarded a sext message without consent. Five of the 39 studies included in the analysis asked teens whether they had passed along a sext from someone else without asking for permission first. On average, 12% of the teens in these studies acknowledged having done so. Madigan and her colleagues found this statistic to be of particular concern. They labeled this practice nonconsensual sexting. 5. More than 1 in 12 teens have had one of their sexts passed along to others without their permission. In other words, this had happened to about 8% of teens. This figure is based on information from four of the 39 studies. 6. Girls are just as likely as boys to send or receive sext messages. This finding challenges the conventional wisdom about teen sexting. Media portrayals of sexting often implicate adolescent girls as the senders of naked photographs and adolescent boys as the requesters, the study authors wrote. But the data they examined doesnt support this. 7. The older kids get, the more likely they are to send or receive a sext message. This isnt necessarily surprising, since older teens are more likely to be exploring their sexuality, Madigan and her colleagues noted. Also, older kids are more likely to have smartphones. Thats important because . 8. Smartphones are the most popular medium for sexting. Duh. Mobile phones are a portable, convenient technology that allows for immediate, rapid, and seemingly private communication, the study authors wrote. Certain apps have reinforced this impression of privacy by making sexts easier to share and easier to erase (supposedly). 9. The actual amount of teen sexting is probably higher than whats reported here. Thats because the older studies in the mix and their out-of-date figures could be dragging down the average, the study authors said. 10. Theres reason to think sexting could become more common among tweens. After all, mobile phones are becoming the norm at younger and younger ages. In 2016, for instance, the average age at which kids got their first smartphone was a mere 10.3 years. Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. karen.kaplan@latimes.com Follow me on Twitter @LATkarenkaplan and "like" Los Angeles Times Science & Health on Facebook. MORE IN SCIENCE What the Florida school shooting reveals about the gaps in our mental health system In the future, robots may wear 'snakeskin' and not just for style Instead of nagging your spouse to lose weight, try going on a diet yourself A 37-year-old man pleaded no contest Monday to the DUI death of a pedestrian who was killed in a traffic collision last September outside of Walt Disney Studios in Burbank. Stergios Antonios Economos pleaded no contest to gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and driving under the influence of a drug causing injury. According to the Los Angeles County district attorneys office, the Burbank resident also admitted to inflicting great bodily injury on two victims. On the morning of Sept. 7, 64-year-old Michelle Landes of Los Angeles was struck by a vehicle while traveling through a marked crosswalk at Alameda Avenue and Lincoln Street. Landes was on her way to work at Disney, where she was an executive assistant in the companys legal department. She was transported to a nearby hospital where she was pronounced dead, according to the Burbank Police Department. The district attorneys office alleged the incident began after Economos drove his vehicle through a red light. After striking Landes, Economos then struck another vehicle. The driver of that car was badly injured from the collision, according to authorities. Economos is set to be sentenced on May 7 and faces up to 13 years in prison. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc Huntington Beach is about to get some very high-tech light poles. American Tower, a Boston-based wireless and broadcast communications firm, announced Monday that it will install 200 Smart Fusion Poles in Surf City, predominantly downtown and along Pacific Coast Highway. Smart Fusion Poles provide high-capacity mobile connectivity and use light-emitting diode technology by Philips Lighting. According to a news release, the poles have concealed antennas that can support services from multiple mobile operators on a single pole and will be ready for next-generation technology such as 5G. The poles will be installed starting within the year, with as many as 100 in place within three years. They will replace city-owned poles, according to a city staff report in December, when the City Council approved the 20-year deal. American Tower will pay the city a rental rate of $2,000 annually for the space, meaning Huntington Beach stands to make up to $400,000 a year once all 200 poles are installed, according to city staff. Cell providers will sublease the poles. Steven Marshall, president of U.S. Tower, a division of American Tower, called Smart Fusion Poles an industry first in that theyre aesthetically pleasing but solve cell capacity challenges in congested areas. The Smart Fusion Pole hides wireless equipment in plain sight, meeting the requirements of cities, and provides high-performance broadband to meet the network requirements of mobile network operators to support the insatiable demand for high-speed data, he said in a statement. We are proud to help the city of Huntington Beach deliver better mobile broadband to visitors and residents alike, especially during world-class events like the Vans U.S. Open of Surfing. Mayor Mike Posey said Huntington Beach wants to be a leader in smart city initiatives to provide residents, businesses and visitors a better city experience and quality of life. Equally important is the ability to maintain the aesthetics of this beautiful seaside city I call home, Posey said in a statement. Thats why I am excited about the Smart Fusion Pole; it provides the connectivity required for our smart city initiatives without sacrificing the beauty and vista of our city. bradley.zint@latimes.com Twitter: @BradleyZint UPDATES: 3:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details. This article was originally published at 10:20 a.m. La Canada High School students in Merissa Sadlers French classes recently put their studies to the test, turning a fairy-tale writing assignment into a crash course on book-making and public speaking at a reading for elementary school students. A bus full of teens descended on the La Canada Elementary School campus last Thursday morning, armed with color picture books specially made for a bilingual story-time session and a few props colorful hats, capes, animal ears and a dragon tail to liven up their narratives. Sadler says that every year she asks students to write a French fairy tale, using key vocabulary words and certain parts of speech. This year, she hoped to make the lesson more dynamic by having students write and create their own picture books, using the online story-building platform storybird.com, and read them to younger students in French before translating them into English. Its taking what theyve learned in the classroom and making it relevant in the real world, Sadler said at the start of the session. Theyre not just doing it and turning something in for the grade theyre going to be actually using it. Senora Katherine Hurley, who teaches Spanish at the elementary level, was happy to have Sadlers students share their linguistic talents with her third-grade Spanish students at LCE and, in the process, introduce their ears to a third language. I want my students to understand when they get to the middle school and high school they dont have to take Spanish if they dont want to. There are other languages, said Hurley, whos also taught French in the past. For the event, pairs of high school students took turns reading their books for small groups of third-graders. Sophomore Wren Kawamura and junior partner Ashlyn Oh read LOrigine des Etoiles, an imaginative tale about how the night sky got its animalian constellations. We wrote it in English first together, then we translated it into French, Kawamura explained the process, which involved choosing an illustrators artwork to match the story. It felt very legitimate, Oh said of the finished product. We actually made a book and its in French. And the pictures are so pretty. Sophomore Luke Rushing teamed up with LCHS junior Kylan Zhao to create Dana, a story about a girl who brokers a friendship between peer Francis and an intimidating ogre friend named Timmy. The two took turns reading in French and translating into English for the young estudiantes. When the period was over, Hurley helped her students express their appreciation. What do we say in Spanish? she asked. Gracias! the LCE students replied. And high school students, how do you say, gracias in French? Merci! they said in unison. sara.cardine@latimes.com Twitter: @SaraCardine The Community Scholarship Foundation of La Canada Flintridge is accepting 2018 scholarship applications from full-time students who attend public or private schools within the city of La Canada Flintridge, as well as those who attend Crescenta Valley High School in La Crescenta. The deadline to apply for the awards is Monday, April 30; this years honorees will be notified in May. Since it was established in La Canada in 1964, CSF has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships to local students. Last year a total of $35,000 in individual scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $4,500 per student were presented during a luncheon event. The awards are geared to help students attend college, university or a trade/technical school once their high school studies are completed. According to CSF officials, the minimum eligibility requirements include: 3.0 unweighted grade point average, Electronic Student Aid Report (SAR) 2018-19, completed application and financial information, and special circumstance letter. The CSF scholarships are for one year, but students may apply for renewal in subsequent years, providing they continue to meet the required criteria. The college counseling offices of La Canada High, Flintridge Prep, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, Hillside School and Learning Center, St. Francis and Crescenta Valley high schools have CSF applications on hand. Or, interested students can download them from the CSF website, www.csflacanada.org. carol.cormaci@latimes.com Twitter: @CarolCormaci Norwegian Bliss, a new cruise ship set to sail from Los Angeles to the Mexican Riviera this fall, has emerged from the building dock in Papenburg, Germany, a major milestone in its construction. The Norwegian Cruise Line ship will pay a preview visit to Southern California in May. It will become the largest vessel offering cruises to Alaska. For now, its in the shipyard port for the final phase of construction and is scheduled to be completed in mid-March. The first passengers are expected to board April 19. The ships construction began in October 2016. It accommodates 4,000 guests, measures 1,082 feet in length and has gross tonnage of 167,800. Advertisement One of its most distinctive features is a huge humpback whale mural on the ships hull by Southern California marine life artist Wyland. Following preview events in New York City, Miami and Los Angeles, Norwegian Bliss will sail into Seattle for its official christening May 30. Cruises to Alaska are scheduled to begin June 2. Norwegian Cruise Lines said the Norwegian Bliss was custom-built with features and amenities to complement the Alaska cruise experience, including a 180-degree observation lounge. Throughout the summer, the ship will offer weekly cruises to Alaska, with ports-of-call that include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway, Alaska, as well as Victoria, British Columbia. In fall, Bliss will sail to the Mexican Riviera from Los Angeles, moving to Miami in winter for cruises to the Caribbean. In the 2019 fall-winter season, the ship will cruise from New York City to Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Info: Norwegian Bliss, (888) 625-2784 or contact a travel agent. travel@latimes.com @latimestravel If youre visiting Europe this summer, grab a high-speed Eurostar train between London and Paris or Brussels and save up to 20% on premium seats. The deal: There are three classes of tickets you can buy on Eurostar trains: standard (the cheapest), standard premier (which comes with a light meal) and business premier (which includes a private check-in area and a three-course meal designed by Michelin-starred chef Raymond Blanc). Discounted one-way tickets between London and Paris, for example, start at $128 each way for standard premier seats and $317 each way for business class. Round-trip tickets are even cheaper. All seats include free Wi-Fi as well as two free bags plus hand luggage and 2-for-1 tickets to selected museums and galleries. Advertisement Eurostar will start high-speed train service between London and Amsterdam Eurostars business premier class lounge in Paris. (Eurostar ) The deal is good for travel between March 6 and Sept. 3 from London to Paris, Brussels and the French cities Lille and Calais. It also applies on selected dates to Lyon, Avignon and Marseille. When: You must purchase tickets by April 3. The offer is subject to availability, and blackout dates may apply. Tested: I checked random dates online and found availability for round-trip standard premier tickets between London and Paris in March for $114 each way. You may find standard premier class seats for less than $100 on a round-trip ticket. The date and time of day you travel affects ticket prices too. Info: Eurostar travel@latimes.com @latimestravel Shots fired in Fazendinha and Zona do Medo, in Complexo do Alemao (16:25). Police operation in the Sao Joaquim neighborhood in Itaborai ended with one dead this morning. Shots fired in the Cacao neighborhood in Itaguai (13:45). Shots fired in Vila Kennedy, nearby Barao. (6:30). Just 10 days after Brazilian President Michel Temer signed a decree handing the military control of public security in Rio de Janeiro, notifications like these continue to fill the screens of smartphones across the surrounding state, informing those who have downloaded the Crossfire app (Fogo Cruzado in Portuguese) of when and where shootouts and gunshots are heard. Most live in Rios innumerable favelas, where policeand now militaryoperations have become an everyday occurrence. Special military police move seized packages of drugs near the Vila Kennedy favela in Rio de Janeiro. (CARL DE SOUZA / AFP / Getty Images) A soldier patrols close to the Vila Kennedy favela in Rio de Janeiro. (CARL DE SOUZA / AFP / Getty Images) At left, special military police move seized packages of drugs near the Vila Kennedy favela in Rio de Janeiro. Right, a soldier patrols close to the Vila Kennedy favela. (CARL DE SOUZA / AFP / Getty Images). In the week and a half that the military has been in control, the number of shootouts and shots fired, as well as deaths from those gunshots, have risen significantly. From Feb. 17 to Monday at 6 p.m. local time, the app registered 238 occurrences, 49 deaths and 38 injuries. In the 10 days before that, those numbers were 113, 12 and 24, according to the apps reports. Launched by Amnesty International in 2016, the app has been run by an independent think tank, Instituto Update, since January. Its team collects information from users via the app, as well as direct messages on Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp, before adding any details provided in media and police reports. As violence in Rio continues to make headlines, the real-time information shared through the app has become essential to residents. I was heading there changing my plans, tweeted Marconi Alves, a salesman who regularly visits clients all over Rio. He was responding to a Crossfire notification on Twitter that streets were blocked off for a police operation. While not officialFebruary numbers from the state governments Public Security Institute are due in Marchdata collected by Crossfire are considered highly accurate. The app not only gives crucial information regarding violence in Rio for those who live there, but also provides a bigger-picture perspective for those looking to change the way the state is governed. Users activate their GPS and receive real-time alerts on shootouts and gunshots around them, and also on the impact of gun violence, like road and school closures, said Cecilia Olliveira, creator and data manager of the app. On the other hand, the data collected can be used to construct more effective public policies, since the diagnosis of each situation is immediate, with geolocation that can be cross-referenced with other indicators. A soldier controls passers-by in Rio de Janeiro after soldiers returned to the streets in an operation against organized crime. (Antonio Lacerda / EPA / Shutterstock) Soldiers participate in a security operation in Rio de Janeiro. (Antonio Lacerda / EPA / Shutterstock) A man passes by a group of soldiers that participate in a security operation in Rio de Janeiro. (Antonio Lacerda / EPA / Shutterstock) Top, a soldier checks passers-by in Rio de Janeiro after the military returned to the streets in an operation against organized crime. Left, soldiers participate in a security operation in Rio de Janeiro. Right, a man passes by a group of soldiers participating in a security operation in Rio de Janeiro. (Antonio Lacerda / EPA / Shutterstock) Rio de Janeiro which is the name of both the city and the state it dominates is scrambling to find a better way to deal with public security. Rampant government corruption and a disastrous economy have only exacerbated the crime problem. While the federal government launched a national security plan in January 2017 in response to massacres in several prisons across the country and violence on its streets, the plan didnt begin in Rio until August. The plan provided money to build 26 state and five federal prisons nationwide, and to modernize the Rio prison system and combat organized crime. It also called for deploying the military when necessary. Despite those efforts, the Public Security Institute registered 6,731 homicides in Rio in 2017, the highest number since 2009. Gen. Walter Souza Braga Netto, who has been named Rios intervener, now controls the states civil and military police, as well as troops that have been charged with augmenting them. Last year, soldiers were sent to patrol the streets of Rio twice under another initiative, known as the Guarantee of Law and Order. The second time, in July, the order was put in place as families of police officers protested the increasing number of officer deaths, unpaid salaries and a lack of safe working conditions. Now, under Nettos command, troops are already being criticized. On Feb. 23, soldiers were seen checking IDs and photographing residents in three of Rios west-end favelas in what they said was a legal and routine operation. Local journalists said they were told they were getting in the way of the troops work and were removed from the area where the registration was taking place, and residents werent allowed to leave the favelas until they had been registered. Rio de Janeiros Bar Assn., which created a legal observatory committee to go along with the federal intervention in the state, is demanding an explanation for what it said appears to be an unconstitutional collection of information. Some 3,200 soldiers returned to the streets of Rio de Janeiro, a week after Brazilian president Michel Temer decided to cede the army control. Antonio Lacerda / EPA / Shutterstock In one of the favelas, Vila Kennedy, the registration process startled many residents, but some said they were in favor of the federal intervention, which they hoped would help rid their neighborhood of drug trafficking and violence, as well as the need for apps like Crossfire. I wasnt registered, but I would have absolutely no problem with it, said one resident, who gave only her first name, Katia, out of fear of retaliation from drug traffickers in her neighborhood. She said she was pulled over by troops who asked to see her ID and vehicle registration, but didnt take her photo. We have to believe the intervention will help. Weve had enough. Langlois is a special correspondent. An incendiary report that North Korea has been providing Syria with material that could be used to make chemical weapons marks the merging of a pair of dangerous storylines involving two of the worlds prime powder kegs. But North Korea and Syria, each led by a dictator who has repeatedly defied the West when it comes to banned weaponry, have a decades-long history of military ties, unbroken and perhaps even enhanced by the pariah status attained by each government over the years. The findings of United Nations experts cited in a New York Times report are consistent with well-documented past practices of both governments in evading international controls via intricate smuggling networks, analysts said. The unpublished U.N. report details 40 shipments of prohibited missile parts and materials from North Korea to Syria between 2012 and 2017, including acid-resistant tiles, valves and thermometers, according to the newspaper. North Korean missile technicians have also reportedly been seen working at weapons facilities inside Syria. Advertisement Its scary that these regimes have crossed these red lines and theres been no real success in stopping them, said analyst Jay Solomon of the Washington Institute think tank, who has written extensively about links between the Syrian and North Korean governments. Syrian babies are treated for a suspected chemical attack in the rebel-held village of Shayfoniyeh on the outskirts of Damascus on Feb. 25. (Hamza Al-Ajweh / AFP/Getty Images ) The latest U.N. report, as detailed by the New York Times, broadly correlates with tactics the world bodys investigators have previously uncovered in monitoring international sanctions, Solomon said. Those include use of an incredibly sophisticated network of shell companies, financial feints and cyber-sown diversions to evade sanctions, he said. At the moment, both Pyongyang and Damascus are viewed as serious threats to stability in their respective regions and beyond. North Korea is engaged in the seemingly inexorable pursuit of nuclear weapons capable of menacing the United States, and Syrias civil war continues to unleash fresh barbarities even as the conflict is poised to enter its eighth year. In both countries, the scions of repressive dynasties North Koreas Kim Jong Un and Syrias President Bashar Assad have repeatedly demonstrated a willingness to impose enormous suffering on their own people, which diminishes the power of international sanctions to rein them in, observers noted. It figures a regime that puts people in deadly prison camps for their parents political opposition [North Korea] would have no qualms helping Assad gas Syrian civilians, tweeted Kenneth Roth, the executive director of New York-based Human Rights Watch. The report comes after accusations from pro-opposition activists in Syria that government forces recently deployed chlorine gas in Shayfoniyeh, a town in the suburban Damascus enclave of eastern Ghouta, after an airstrike in which victims exhibited symptoms including eye irritation and breathing difficulties. Advertisement Assads government has long denied using any chemical weapons, though it stands accused of using sarin gas in Ghouta in 2013. That attack brought the U.S. to the brink of attacking Damascus until an eleventh-hour deal struck with Russia saw Assad give up his chemical weapons arsenal. Recent history suggests that both Kim and Assad believe they can continue to act with impunity, counting on the competing interests of powerful outside actors like the United States and Russia to impede unified action against them. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday that the United States has had concerns for a long time " about the possibility of North Korea providing chemical weapons components to Syria, although she said she had not seen the U.N. report and could not comment on it directly. As North Koreas government becomes more desperate, Nauert said, it will look for different, creative means of funding what she called its criminal regime. If the account of activities detailed in the U.N. report are true, she said, it shows the depravity of the regime. Advertisement The U.N. investigators reported findings underscore a dual danger: Illicit shipments from North Korea could allow Syria to maintain and shore up a cache of chemical weapons, while North Korea gets a badly needed infusion of cash to continue racing toward its nuclear and ballistic goals. Since taking office more than a year ago, President Trump has met North Korean threats and bombast with fiery rhetoric in kind, but American demands for denuclearization a U.S. precondition for potential talks, dangled by the North as the Olympic Games wrapped up on Sunday are widely considered likely to be futile. Dating back to relatively early in the Syrian conflict, Assad has been accused of using chemical weapons against civilians trapped in rebel-held areas. Despite a retaliatory U.S. strike ordered by Trump in 2017, international reaction has been largely confined to diplomatic hand-wringing. According to the U.N. report, written by a panel of experts studying North Korean complaints about sanctions, North Korean missile technicians have been seen at known chemical weapons and missiles sites inside Syria, the New York Times said. The United Nations has not publicly commented on the findings. Advertisement The U.N. report stopped short of claiming definitive proof of current collaboration between North Korea and Syria on chemical arms, but it represented the most exhaustive accounting to date of efforts by the two governments to evade and flout sanctions meant to halt such cooperation. Syria has periodically sought to appease the international community on the subject of chemical weapons. In what is now widely viewed as a bid to stall for time, Damascus agreed to a Russian plan in 2013 to give up its chemical stockpile. Pointing to the urgency of the unfolding crisis in eastern Ghouta, some advocacy groups called for the U.N. reports release to put pressure on the Assad government. The U.N. should publish its report, Lynn Malouf, the director of Middle East research for Amnesty International, said in a statement. If the report is accurate, she said, it would represent an ominous marker of how far the crimes and violations committed by the Syrian government have eroded respect for long-established prohibitions. Advertisement Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson in Washington contributed to this report. UPDATES: 2:05 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with staff reporting, background, analyst comment and State Department reaction. This article was originally published at 9:05 a.m. Nearly two-thirds of the faculty at Lehigh University want President Donald Trump's honorary degree rescinded. The Faculty Steering Committee announced Tuesday the results of an electronic vote on a faculty motion calling on Lehigh's Board of Trustees to revoke the 30-year-old degree. "In all, the participation rate was high, with 357 votes cast out of 472 voting members of the faculty (75.6 percent response rate)," Doug Mahony, associate professor of management at Lehigh's College of Business and Economics and chairman of the Faculty Governance and Engagement Committee, said in a message to fellow faculty members. The tally was 296 (82.9 percent) yes votes in favor of the motion and 50 (14.01 percent) votes opposed. Another 11 (3.08 percent) registered "present but not voting," according to Mahony. A preface to the faculty motion released last month states: "Exactly one month ago, on Jan. 12, a group of faculty began a conversation about how we might respond as a faculty to recent statements made by Donald Trump, only the latest on a long list of documented utterances that are racist, sexist, Islamophobic or offensive in other ways. The decision was quickly made that we should formulate a motion to bring to the floor of the university faculty." The yes votes totaled about 62 percent of the total faculty at the Bethlehem school. "These results will be conveyed to the Board of Trustees," Mahony wrote, adding in an email to lehighvalleylive.com: "It is entirely up to the discretion of the board to determine how they wish to proceed with the motion voted on by the faculty." According to a realclearpolitics.com aggregate of polling for Feb. 16-26, 54.7 percent of respondents disapprove of the job Trump is doing as president. That's up from a disapproval rating of 44.2 percent on Jan. 27, 2017, a week after he took office, according to the website. Lehigh's trustees announced last October they would take no action on a petition urging them to rescind the degree, awarded to Trump in 1988 when he spoke at commencement. Students, professors and alumni had challenged the honorary degree last August, after the president blamed "both sides" for a deadly clash between white supremacists and counter-demonstrators in Charlottesville, Virginia. The change.org petition drew more than 31,000 signatures. Trump's late older brother, Frederick C. Trump Jr., was a 1960 alumnus of Lehigh. He died in 1981. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A 29-year-old Ohio man, who was thrown out of Spanky's East Gentlemen's Club on Monday night in Wilson Borough, soon after returned shirtless and began punching patrons and employees, borough police report. A man in the parking lot of the strip club at 1700 Butler St. flagged down a police officer just after 8 p.m. and said a man he didn't know hit him in the face and knocked him off his bar stool inside the establishment, police said. An officer spoke with a bouncer at the bar who said four men were causing a disturbance and he kicked them out, police said. A "short time later," one of the four man, sans his shirt, ran into the club and began to punch people, police said. The man was again tossed out, the bouncer told police. An investigator watched surveillance video and saw the men eventually leave in a white Dodge Ram pickup, police said. The officer later saw the truck driving west on Butler Street past the club, police said. He pulled over the truck, but Richard Spurlock, of Dayton, wasn't in the vehicle, police said. Spurlock would be identified as the man who ran back into the bar, police said after watching the video and continuing their investigation. The driver said Spurlock and another man were at Easton Hospital and "the driver stated they were involved in a fight at Spanky's," police said. Spurlock, who had blood on his hands and cuts on his face, was found at the hospital, police said. He was "visibly intoxicated" and admitted to being in a fight at the strip club, police said. Spurlock was arraigned at midnight before District Judge Antonia Grifo on charges of defiant trespass, disorderly conduct (fighting), harassment and public drunkenness, records show. He was freed Tuesday after posting $500 of his $5,000 bail, a percentage not set by the judge but allowed by PreTrial Services, records show. He was expecting to return Tuesday to Ohio, police said. His preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled 9 a.m. March 7 in District Judge Richard Yetter III's court in the borough. Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Since the West Easton Treatment Center opened in 2012, many prisoners have left the facility to participate in the work release program. Not all have returned when they were supposed to. The Northampton County Department of Corrections facility is located at 60 Main St. in West Easton. It was originally designed to provide alcohol rehabilitation programs that had been operating out of Northampton County Prison. Other prisoners serving domestic relations sentences would also be able to receive counseling in parenthood and family support. These prisoners could also participate in a work release program, which allows people to leave the facility to go to work with the condition that they return each day at a designated time. In 2015, the center increased its capacity from 100 to 150 beds and began housing non-violent offenders who may also be eligible for the county's work release program. By the numbers There have been about 2,162 inmates housed in West Easton since 2012. In response to recent complaints about the center from a West Easton councilman, lehighvalleylive.com obtained the number of prisoners who have either escaped from the center or failed to return at their designated time through a Pennsylvania Right-to-Know request. The county refers to those in the latter category as "walkaways." Escapes According to the report provided by the county, which detailed information from 2012-2017, only one prisoner has escaped in that time. Aaron Creekmore escaped from the center on June 20, 2016 and was returned to the center on November 4, 2016, which amounted to 138 days on the lam. Walkaways From 2012 to 2017, 25 prisoners failed to return from work release at their designated time, according to the report. Four prisoners returned at some point the same day. Thirteen prisoners were missing from one day to 11 days before they returned to the center. Three prisoners were missing for stints of 27, 33 and 79 days. The longest durations away from the center belong to Joshua Liedke, 131 days; Maxwell Statler, 271 days; and Luis Gonzalez, who was missing for 389 days. Three walkaways have yet to return to the facility. Kareem Thomas has been missing since May 9, 2017; Daniel Chmielewski has been missing since Aug. 30, 2017; and Anthony Nava has been missing since Aug. 31, 2017. Year to year 2012 - 2 walkaways 2013 - 2 walkaways 2014 - 1 walkaway 2015 - 4 walkaways 2016 - 5 walkaways, 1 escapee 2017 - 10 walkaways The totals above reflect a revised report provided by the county on Tuesday afternoon. John Best is a freelance writer. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Airport noise fund a good first step The Federal Government has acknowledged that airport noise is an important issue for residents of Western Sydney with a commitment of $75million to noise abatement. The Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils (WSROC) President, Councillor Stephen Bali, has welcomed the announcement. It is critical that Western Sydney receives the same types of protections as those living around Sydney Airport, particularly in the absence of a curfew. While this fund will provide some reassurance to many residents, there is still much more work to be done to minimise impacts including flight path design, airport operating protocols, and appropriate land use adjacent to the airport. Now the money has been budgeted, we expect the government will meet the conditions outlined in the Environmental Impact Statement including: engaging with residents regarding potential noise impacts, developing aircraft ground operating procedures, seeking alternative measures where physical noise mitigation is ineffective, and establishing thorough noise monitoring and reporting arrangements. WSROC will also be keen to see the governments proposed eligibility criteria for residents seeking physical noise mitigation measures in future. This announcement is a clear indication that airport noise is an important issue, and the federal government is reacting to the concerns of Western Sydney, said Cr Bali. Computer & Technology Russia finishes top of Dark Web Olympics medals table 27.02.2018 10:46:02 - More email addresses ending in .ru appear on the dark web than any other top-level domain (live-PR.com) - 26 February 2018, London UK While the sporting world has had its eyes fixed on PyeongChang for the Winter Olympics, dark web cybersecurity firm RepKnight has been doing some digging to publish an alternative medal table detailing the country-specific top level domains* (TLDs) that feature most heavily on the dark web. The difference with the RepKnight medal table - 26 February 2018, London UK While the sporting world has had its eyes fixed on PyeongChang for the Winter Olympics, dark web cybersecurity firm RepKnight has been doing some digging to publish an alternative medal table detailing the country-specific top level domains* (TLDs) that feature most heavily on the dark web. The difference with the RepKnight medal table is that no one wants to come first! Norway topped the medals table in South Korea, its also good news for them in terms of the dark web, with the fourth-largest Scandinavian country (.no) finishing second to bottom on RepKnights medal table. On the other hand while the actual Olympics may have been a bit disappointing for Russia, after they were only just about allowed to participate in PyeongChang in the first place, its more bad news for them on the dark web. The .ru TLD finished top of the alternative table with eight gold medals, three silver and two bronze. Germany (.de) and France both had strong showings in the Winter Olympics, but unfortunately they also finished high on our dark web medal table finishing second and third respectively. Team GB (.co.uk) finished tenth on our alternative table just behind the Czech Republic (.cz) and Italy (.it), and ahead of the US (.us) and Sweden (.se). In total RepKnight counted 7.5 million email addresses posted on the dark web in one month. Global TLDs such as .com and .net account for nearly two thirds of those credentials identified, but that still means RepKnight found over 2.7 million email credentials on the dark web associated with national TLDs. Patrick Martin, cybersecurity analyst at RepKnight, said: The dark web is a substantial, and still growing, threat to businesses all over the world. While were not going to be handing out any awards to the winners of our alternative medal table, it certainly offers a clearer picture of which countries are being targeted by cyber criminals. Organisations need to wake up to the threat of the dark web and do more to step up the security of their data as well as their network. Ends About RepKnight RepKnight Ltd is a privately held UK cybersecurity firm with years of experience working in cyber-intelligence. Founded in 2011 and based in London and Belfast, RepKnights software platforms provide real-time cyber-intelligence across the widest range of open-source, social media and dark web sites to keep people, companies and assets safe from internal and external threats. Editors notes *Not including global TLDs .com, .net and .org Methodology for creating medals table (see image): 1.Scraped dark web for the sheer number of email addresses for each country participating in the Winter Olympics 2.Ranked the results by the most common domains 3.Assigned the 306 medals up for grabs in the tournament accordingly gold to the top 102 email domains, silver to 103204, bronze to 205306 4.Totalled the number of gold, silver and bronze for each country and ranked countries according to number of gold medals For further information please contact: Rachel Nulty, Wildfire Distributed on behalf of RepKnight Ltd by NeonDrum news distribution service ( is that no one wants to come first!Norway topped the medals table in South Korea, its also good news for them in terms of the dark web, with the fourth-largest Scandinavian country (.no) finishing second to bottom on RepKnights medal table.On the other hand while the actual Olympics may have been a bit disappointing for Russia, after they were only just about allowed to participate in PyeongChang in the first place, its more bad news for them on the dark web. The .ru TLD finished top of the alternative table with eight gold medals, three silver and two bronze.Germany (.de) and France both had strong showings in the Winter Olympics, but unfortunately they also finished high on our dark web medal table finishing second and third respectively. Team GB (.co.uk) finished tenth on our alternative table just behind the Czech Republic (.cz) and Italy (.it), and ahead of the US (.us) and Sweden (.se).In total RepKnight counted 7.5 million email addresses posted on the dark web in one month. Global TLDs such as .com and .net account for nearly two thirds of those credentials identified, but that still means RepKnight found over 2.7 million email credentials on the dark web associated with national TLDs.Patrick Martin, cybersecurity analyst at RepKnight, said: The dark web is a substantial, and still growing, threat to businesses all over the world. While were not going to be handing out any awards to the winners of our alternative medal table, it certainly offers a clearer picture of which countries are being targeted by cyber criminals. Organisations need to wake up to the threat of the dark web and do more to step up the security of their data as well as their network.EndsAbout RepKnightRepKnight Ltd is a privately held UK cybersecurity firm with years of experience working in cyber-intelligence. Founded in 2011 and based in London and Belfast, RepKnights software platforms provide real-time cyber-intelligence across the widest range of open-source, social media and dark web sites to keep people, companies and assets safe from internal and external threats.Editors notes*Not including global TLDs .com, .net and .orgMethodology for creating medals table (see image):1.Scraped dark web for the sheer number of email addresses for each country participating in the Winter Olympics2.Ranked the results by the most common domains3.Assigned the 306 medals up for grabs in the tournament accordingly gold to the top 102 email domains, silver to 103204, bronze to 2053064.Totalled the number of gold, silver and bronze for each country and ranked countries according to number of gold medalsFor further information please contact:Rachel Nulty, Wildfire repknight@wildfirepr.com +44 208 408 8000Distributed on behalf of RepKnight Ltd by NeonDrum news distribution service ( www.neondrum.com) Contact information: RepKnight Ltd Contact Person: eMail: eMail Author: Liz Hartney e-mail Web: http://www.neondrum.com 27.02.2018 10:46:02 - Disclaimer: If you have any questions regarding information in this article please contact the author. Please do not contact Live-PR.com. We are not able to assist you. Live-PR.com disclaims content contained in this article. Live-PR.com is not authorized to give any information about content and not responsible for content posted by third party. Stock Market News Credit Suisse reiterates 'outperform' rating on William Hill 27-02-2018 16:18 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Stock Market News Eagle Eye launches AIR platform with Canadian giant Loblaw 27-02-2018 16:20 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Motoring Grand Banks has announced that it intends to acquire the Stuart Service Yard in Florida to serve as its official United States headquarters, consolidating its presence in the worlds biggest boat market. Feb 27, 2018 | By Yacht Style SGX-Listed Grand Banks Yachts To Acquire Florida Marina To Serve As New United States Headquarters Grand Banks is a name synonymous with luxury recreational motor yachts and for 60 years, it has designed and developed a portfolio of vessels that have become icons in the yachting industry across the globe. The company is focused on heritage and continues to defy the expectations of fellow yachtsmen with their crafts that come replete with technological innovations, discerning style and a commitment to unparalleled quality. So, it comes as no surprise that Grand Banks has reached another milestone: it has announced that it intends to acquire the Stuart Service Yard in Florida to serve as its official United States headquarters, consolidating its presence in the worlds biggest boat market. With this piece of news, the Singapore Exchange-listed luxury boat builder Grand Banks has entered into a stock purchase agreement to acquire the entire stake of Stuart Yard Corporation, which owns the property, for US$3.2 million (approximately S$4.2 million). Of this, approximately US$1.0 million will be paid up front in cash and the remainder of approximately US$2.2 million over six years. In addition to this agreement, Mr Samuel Henry Compton, who will be re-designated as the Managing Director of Grand Banks America, will help to consolidate and run its existing Florida U.S. offices and storage under the new headquarter. This means that the marina will replace the Groups existing rental facilities and berths, acting as a private dock and exhibition venue for its boats in the United States. A boon to any bona fide yachtsmen, the Stuart Service Yard is strategically located in a hurricane-safe zone in Martin County, Florida, which offers attractive property and labour tax rates. Whats more, it is also 80 miles from international boat show venue Fort Lauderdale, and it is accessible from the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico, and is within driving distance of interstate highways, resorts and other marinas. The prestigious property offers seven berths and 12,000 sq ft of waterfront offices, shops and maintenance facilities. Aside to that, it also accommodates services, including commissioning and repair equipment such as a 50-tonne travel lift, an enclosed floating workshop, deep water docks and concrete haul-out area. We are excited about our renewed prospects in the U.S. The opening of Grand Banks new regional headquarters will not only boost the sales and popularity of our two iconic boat brands in the U.S. but also enable us to forge closer relationships with new and existing customers. Mr Samuel Henry Compton enthused. Mr Mark Jonathon Richards, Chief Executive Officer of Grand Banks, opined, The opening of our United States headquarters is an important milestone in our global growth and reinforces our status as a leading yacht brand. Florida is also the biggest boat market in the world, and the epi-centre of our American operations, making it a logical location from which to serve and grow our client base in the region. The transaction is subject to satisfactory due diligence and approval by the regulatory authorities. Grand Banks was listed on the Singapore Exchange Limited (SGX) in 1987 and upgraded to the Main Board in 1993. For more information about Grand Banks, please visit https://grandbanks.com/our-yachts/. Over 10 years of '10 of the bests' Top-rated articles to help you choose what's best for you This content is from: Patents An increase in IoT players needing standard-essential patents has spurred the JPO to set guidelines. But IP practitioners are concerned the guidelines may not provide enough flexibility in SEP negotiations and will lack clarity Mumbai: Sridevi passed away on Saturday in Dubai after suffering a cardiact arrest, as per initial reports. Later contrary to initial reports, the autopsy report revealed that she died of accidental drowning in her bathtub in the hotel room. Earlier reports were afire that the Dubai police questioned her husband Boney Kapoor in connection with the incident. However, later an executive editor of a UAE based daily said that. He (Boney Kapoor) may be asked for a statement as he was the last person to see her alive, It would not suggest that he is under investigation. Boney Kapoor had given a testimony on Sunday morning to Dubai police officials. The media interest in untimely demise of #Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help. Imp to note that:1. We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job.1/2 IndAmbUAE (@navdeepsuri) February 26, 2018 A group of Chinese teachers from the Confucius Institute headquarters ( Hanban) in Mauritius stage a qipao show during the 2018 Happy Chinese New Year celebration at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute in Mauritius, Feb 20, 2018. [Photo/Chinaculture.org] On Tuesday, a Chinese costume fashion show, co-organized by the China Cultural Center in Mauritius and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, was held at the institute. The event themed 2018 Happy Chinese New Year, featured qipao dresses and costumes of Chinese ethnic groups. A short film on Spring Festival customs opened the show, which helped the audience learn more about the culture behind the most important festival in the Chinese lunar calendar. After the film screening, teachers and students learned some short Chinese New Year phrases, like Xin Nian Kuai Le (Happy New Year), and Gong Xi Fa Cai (Wish you a big fortune) to express their good wishes to each other. The qipao show, staged by a group of female Chinese teachers from the Confucius Institute headquarters (Hanban) in Mauritius, blew the audience away. Dressed in colorful qipao dresses decorated with delicate embroidery, and carrying colorful paper umbrellas in their hands, the women struck various elegant poses to demonstrate the beauty and grace of this quintessential dress for Chinese women. Following the qipao show, over 30 teachers and students of different ethnic communities from the Mahatma Gandhi Institute presented a fashion show featuring costumes of different Chinese ethnic groups. Their performances drew great applause as they highlighted Chinas rich cultural heritage and the beauty of cultural fusion. After all the fuss, noisy propaganda and manoeuvres at the United Nations, the so-called Syrian ceasefire has broken down suddenly, shamefully and irrevocably. In reality it was an abortion that was dead even before it was born. War is the father and king of all, and has produced some as gods and some as men, and has made some slaves and some free. (Heraclitus) They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 6:14) The UN Security Council had unanimously approved a resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire in Syria to allow aid deliveries and medical evacuations. This was supposed to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Eastern Ghouta, an enclave near Damascus that has been held for some time by forces hostile to President Assad that has been bombarded by government forces for the past week. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the situation in Eastern Ghouta is like "hell on Earth". That is true. But most of Syria could answer to that description. The whole country has been devastated by six years of war in which Syria has been the battleground for the actions of rival foreign powers and their local and regional proxies. Embed from Getty Images The picture that is shown to the world is one of unmitigated horror in which Barrel bombs and shells are dropped on an area, where some 393,000 people remain trapped. Schools and hospitals are said to be deliberately targeted. The bodies of dead and injured children are paraded before the cameras. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights points an accusing finger at the Syrian regime and Russia, although Russia denies direct involvement and the Syrian government has denied targeting civilians and said it is trying to liberate the Eastern Ghouta from terrorists. Who should we believe? The 'United Nations' The vote on the resolution was delayed several times as a squalid comedy was played out at the United Nations. Russia, an ally of Syria's government, predictably demanded changes to the text. The Americans and their stooges on the General Council, equally predictably, accused Moscow of stalling for time. Evidently the Russians were in no hurry to sign up to a ceasefire because their Syrian friends were winning the war on the ground. The Americans, by contrast, were in an almighty hurry because their side was getting a pasting. The fate of the poor people suffering the ravages of a brutal war really did not enter into their calculations, except that the Americans and their allies were cynically using the images of that suffering in order to gain a cheap propaganda victory over Russia. The ceasefire vote was delayed as a squalid comedy played out at the UN / Image: Flickr, United Nations Headquarters The US representative at the UN accused Russia of having "dragged out the negotiations". She angrily protested: "In the three days it took us to adopt this resolution, how many mothers lost their kids to the bombing and the shelling?" How strange that she did not display the same tender concern about the countless children and their mothers who were slaughtered by the indiscriminate bombing and shelling of Mosul! Could it be that the difference was that those bombers were piloted by Americans? But we shall speak more about Mosul a little later. Russias UN envoy, Vassily Nebenzia, said the ceasefire would not be possible without agreements between warring factions and he attacked the barrage of propaganda over the situation in the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta. "We know that the humanitarian situation in Syria is dire and requires urgent measures to be taken," he said. "It is important to engage not just with Eastern Ghouta," he added, "Assistance needs to be delivered to all parts of Syria." During lengthy and heated debates the Russians insisted that the resolutions text be altered so that Damascus was not presented as the sole party to blame for the violence. In the end the Russians signed the UN Security Council resolution to impose a 30-day ceasefire in Syria. But what exactly did they sign? The so-called ceasefire document was so vague and general that it did not even specify a date from which it should be implemented. It did not specifically refer to Eastern Ghouta, but to Syria as a whole. Realising that the US had once again been completely outmanoeuvred by the wiles of Russian diplomacy, the US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, called for the ceasefire to be implemented immediately but said she was sceptical that Syria would comply. On this she was, of course, absolutely correct. In the end the 'ceasefire' amounted to a mere five hours during which the UN was supposed to deliver the promised aid and people were supposed to be allowed to leave the beleaguered areas. None of this has happened. The jihadists continued to shell Damascus and the Syrian air force continued to drop bombs. No aid was delivered, and those who tried to flee from Eastern Ghouta were hit by mortar shells fired by the jihadists to stop them from leaving. Whats in a name? The Americans claim that they are fighting alongside 'mainstream' rebels, who now go under the pleasant-sounding pseudonym of Syrian activists. Active they most certainly are, especially in the realm of the internet and propaganda. But as a fighting force they are insignificant. The groups that really hold power in the enclave are militant jihadists who share the same poisonous ideology as ISIS and al Qaeda, with whom the main jihadist group is affiliated. The so-called moderate Islamists are an invention. They are merely a convenient fig leaf intended to conceal the fact that the CIA is backing the Jihadist monsters in Syria as a cynical means of settling accounts with Assad. Unfortunately for them, it is Assad, with the backing of Russia and Iran, who is settling accounts with the rebels. The Syrian jihadist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS), which was known as al-Nusra Front until it broke off formal ties with al-Qaeda last July, has rebranded itself on more than one occasion. But these chameleon-like changes have not altered the reactionary nature of these jihadi outfits one single iota. As the French say: plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose (the more it changes, the more it's the same thing). Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (JFS) was known as al-Nusra Front until it broke off formal ties with al-Qaeda and rebranded / Image: Flickr, Coolloud The jihadis deliberately impede provision of humanitarian aid to Eastern Ghouta and block civilians from leaving the suburb. Just as in Aleppo and Mosul, they are keeping hundreds of hostages, including women and children. They also continue the shelling of Damascus, which is also in breach of the humanitarian pause, although very little of this is given much attention in the western media. The UN resolution did not apply to members of the Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), or al-Nusra. For good measure, Russia asked for the resolution to include other groups "co-operating with them". And so the final text specified that operations may continue against "individuals, groups, undertakings and entities" associated with IS, al-Qaeda or other groups designated by the Security Council as terrorists. It is hard to see which of the rebel groups this does not apply to! The biggest and most important rebel groups that is, the jihadists and their associates were not covered by the truce. The Nusra Front is affiliated to al Qaeda, despite their attempts to deny it. And since they do all the fighting and possess all the serious weaponry, and therefore hold real power in the occupied territory of Eastern Ghouta, the so-called ceasefire was not worth the paper it is printed on. Mosul and Aleppo: a tale of two cities The media in the west are making a big fuss about Eastern Ghouta, just as they made a big fuss about Aleppo. But they were strangely silent about the fate of Mosul, a city of two million people, upon which a far greater crime was perpetrated. It took Iraq's US-backed forces nearly nine months to wrest Mosul from the Islamic State. The city was finally liberated on July 10 last year. But the cost was truly terrible. Today all that remains of most of this once-great city are mountains of rubble and shattered stone that covers an unknown number of dead men, women and children. The Western media is silent about the fate of Mosul / Image: Tasnim News Thousands of families have been left without a home. Schools have been levelled, utility grids wrecked, highways pounded into broken dirt roads. All five of the city's bridges spanning the Tigris River have been damaged. The main hospital complex where a battle raged for more than a month is a burned out shell. The list of devastation includes: Nine of the 10 major hospitals 76 of the 98 medical centres 6 big bridges across the Tigris Three-quarters of Mosuls roads 400 educational institutions, including schools, universities and education centres 11,000 residential housing units 4 electrical power plants and 65 percent of its electrical network 6 water purifying systems and much of the citys water infrastructure has been booby trapped The pharmaceutical industrial complex All grain stores Two large dairies 212 oil refineries, petrol and fuel stations All public buildings All state and private banks 63 religious centres (churches and mosques), most of them valuable historical sites 250 workshops, factories and small factories, including agro-industries 29 hotels More than 40,000 civilian casualties 38 out of 54 residential areas in West Mosul are destroyed A staff director in the office of the Nineveh governorate, said that while eastern Mosul is half-destroyed, the devastation in the western half is much greater. A member of a local volunteer group said that the destruction in west Mosul is close to 99 percent. This terrible destruction, amounting to the physical liquidation of a great city, was mainly carried out by American bombs, missiles and artillery and the use by the American army of white phosphorus, a weapon that is internationally forbidden for use in populated areas. All these add up to serious US war crimes. But whereas in Aleppo (and now in Eastern Ghouta) we were bombarded with daily denunciations of the crimes real or imaginary of the Syrian regime and its Russian allies, the terrible crimes perpetrated against the people of Mosul were hidden under a thick carpet of silence, lies and half-truths. Humanitarian disaster ignored by the West Far more serious than the physical devastation is the devastation of human lives. The extent of civilian casualties remain unknown to this day, since neither the US or its allies in Baghdad have made any effort to count the corpses, many of which are still lying under the rubble. It is believed that more than 40,000 civilians were killed as a result of the massive firepower that was used against them, especially by the federal police, air attacks, quite apart from the numerous victims of ISIS itself. Yet this huge humanitarian disaster has gone largely ignored by the western media. The truly catastrophic number of civilian deaths in Mosul gets little international coverage in the media or attention from politicians and journalists. Compare this to the international outrage at the bombing of East Aleppo by the Syrian government and Russian forces at the end of 2016. None of those involved, ISIS, the international coalition, the Iraqi government, not even the United Nations, have come up with any information about the real numbers of victims. Airwars, basing itself on press reports, estimates that 5,805 civilians were killed between 19 February and 19 June 2017. But, as we know, press reports only cover a fraction of the actual number of deaths. Why was the figure of civilian deaths in Mosul so shockingly high? The explanation can be read in a report by Amnesty International (AI): At Any Cost: The Civilian Catastrophe in West Mosul. Although this report does not provide a precise figure of the number of deaths, it confirms the terrible damage that was caused by continuous artillery and rocket fire for a period of five months in a closed area with civilians who were unable to escape. Many Mosul residents remained in their homes because ISIS killed the people who tried to escape. But many remained because the government asked them to. The army dropped leaflets from helicopters asking residents not to flee. This amounted to a death sentence. The indiscriminate bombing and shelling, particularly in the final assault on the old city resulted in a bloodbath in which most of the victims were women and children. It is believed that more than 4,000 bodies are buried under the rubble in West Mosul alone, where the stench of rotting corpses still fills the air. The brutality of the Iraqi troops is confirmed by many eye witness accounts. A testimony in an article from the online news site Middleeasteye quotes an Iraqi soldier: We killed them all, Daesh, men, women and children. We killed everybody. There are many citizens among the bodies, says an Iraqi major. After the liberation was announced, the order was given to kill everyone and everything that moved. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the Major said those orders were wrong, but the soldiers had to follow them regardless. It was not right at all, he said. The majority of the Daesh fighters surrendered, and we just killed them. Embed from Getty Images During the nine-month siege 1,048,044 people were forced to flee. Not many have returned. Men, women and children who escaped from the destruction of Mosul are housed in tent camps, often in virtual prisons. Women and children suspected of being family members of IS warriors killed in the siege are redirected to rehabilitation camps. Once they were tormented by ISIS. Now they suffer crimes and abuses at the hands of the Iraqi troops. But nobody is ever held accountable. Premier Al Abadi has often criticized human rights organisations investigating the crimes. Torture and abuse are institutionalised within the Iraqi armed forces, and in all cases they are tolerated by the judiciary. Baghdad estimates $100 billion is needed nationwide to rebuild. Local leaders in Mosul, the biggest city held by IS, say that amount is needed to rehabilitate their city alone. The UN estimates 40,000 homes there need to be rebuilt or restored, and some 600,000 residents have been unable to return to the city, once home to around 2 million people. So far no one is offering to foot the bill. The Trump administration has told the Iraqis it wont pay for a massive reconstruction drive. Iraq hopes Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries will step up, and Iran may also take a role. The UN is repairing some infrastructure in nearly two dozen towns and cities around Iraq, but funding for it is a fraction of what will be needed. As a result, much of the rebuilding that has happened has come from individuals using personal savings to salvage homes and shops as best they can. And while every single detail of the siege of Aleppo was examined, repeated and magnified by our 'free press', hardly any attention was paid to the horrors suffered by the people of Mosul. One is entitled to ask why. Yet another 'gas attack' The complete failure of the American diplomatic offensive at the UN provoked anger and despair in the ranks of the rebels, who have responded with a torrent of rage. But it is a rage born out of impotence. Without direct American support, the Syrian rebels count for nothing. They are being systematically ground to dust by Assads forces. But the Americans are not very eager to commit a serious military force to the Syrian quagmire. How to force them to intervene? The answer of the jihadis was immediate and, again, entirely predictable. They stepped up the propaganda campaign, but this time they introduced a new (but hardly novel) twist. During the siege of Aleppo the western media gave a lot of publicity to the so-called White Helmets, a group that claims to be an impartial humanitarian NGO dedicated to saving lives in Syria. In reality, this 'NGO' is a jihadi organization whose sole aim is to produce shocking videos of civilian casualties (not a difficult task in todays conditions in Syria) in order to get the sympathy of world public opinion. The White Helmets 'NGO' is a jihadi organization that produces shocking videos of civilian casualties / Image: fair use This manoeuvre proved to be so successful that the White Helmets were awarded an Oscar for the 'Best Documentary Short' showing its daily operations in 2017. This is despite the fact that they have repeatedly been accused of falsifying information and staging bogus 'rescue' attempts. It is now alleged that several people were admitted to medical facilities in nearby Al-Shifoniyah, showing symptoms such as "dyspnea, intensive irritation of the mucus membrane, irritation of the eyes and dizziness". Several women and children were experiencing difficulty breathing, according to the White Helmets and that at least one child had died as a result of suffocation. Although there has been absolutely no independent verification of these claims, that has not prevented the 'free press' of the western world from reproducing them every day as though they were statements of fact. Typical of the headlines was the one in Sky News, which screamed: Syria regime "in deadly chlorine gas attack on civilians". This would not be the first time that the jihadists have used the accusation of a gas attack on Eastern Ghouta in order to get the Americans to intervene militarily. They did exactly the same thing in 2013 when a noisy international campaign about an alleged chlorine gas attack was used by Obama to justify sending US warplanes to bomb Syrian army positions. The Obama administration maintained it intercepted communications from a senior Syrian official on the use of chemical weapons, but requests to see that transcript were denied. So was a request by the AP to see a transcript of communications allegedly ordering Syrian military personnel to prepare for a chemical weapons attack by readying gas masks. For all the hullaballoo in the media, there was not a shred of evidence for these alleged attacks except for some grainy video pictures that proved nothing. Inconsistencies over the death toll and other details related to the attack fuelled doubts among sceptics. Two days after the alleged attack, state television broadcast images of plastic jugs, gas masks, medicine vials, explosives and other items that it said had been seized from rebel hideouts. One barrel had made in Saudi Arabia stamped on it. The scepticism was even reflected in such an unlikely place as The Times of Israel. In an article published in that paper on 8 September 2013 Charles Heyman, a former British military officer who edits The Armed Forces of the UK, an authoritative bi-annual review of British forces, was quoted as follows: We cant get our heads around this why would any commander agree to rocketing a suburb of Damascus with chemical weapons for only a very short-term tactical gain for what is a long-term disaster? Why indeed! And the same question must be asked today. In January, just before various factions of Syrian society gathered for the Syrian National Congress in Sochi, Russia, the US Secretary of State time used the reports to blame Russia for all the chemical weaponry-related incidents in Syria, regardless of who actually conducted it. In any murder enquiry the first question the lawyers ask is Cui bono, literally "who benefits?" What benefit could Assad or his army gain from using a weapon that would inevitably invite retaliation by the USA? The question answers itself. Assad had no interest whatsoever to make such a stupid mistake that would seriously harm his interests. One might accuse Assad of many things, but stupidity is surely not among them. The Syrian army insists it does not possess any chlorine gas, since it was all handed over as part of a deal agreed with the Americans and Russians some years ago. This was confirmed by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Even if this were not the case, the Syrian army does not need to use any more weapons than the deadly and overwhelming force they are already deploying to crush the rebels. The Syrian government forces have been carrying out operation Damascus Steel, to clear Eastern Ghouta of Islamist units that have been terrorising the locals for years, and who have rejected any initiatives to lay down their arms and leave the area. Since the Syrian army is in the process of launching a decisive ground offensive against the jihadis, the last thing it needs is to employ such an unreliable weapon as chlorine gas, which could quickly turn against them if the wind changed direction. In realty the only ones to gain from the use of chlorine gas are the jihadis who are known to possess it and would certainly be prepared to use it for the purpose of blaming the Syrian government and thus preparing the ground for air attacks by the Americans. President Donald Trump ordered Tomahawk missile strikes on Shayrat Airbase, in response to a chemical attack in Idlib, which the US, without a single shred of evidence pinned on Assad / Image: Flickr, Gage Skidmore The US has repeatedly warned that it may conduct more direct air strikes against Syrian forces if chemical weapons are used in the country. Last April President Donald Trump ordered Tomahawk missile strikes on Shayrat Airbase, in response to a chemical attack in Idlib, which the US, without a single shred of evidence, immediately pinned on President Bashar Assad. French President Emmanuel Macron also promised to strike Syria if any evidence emerges that chemical weapons are being used against civilians. The sole purpose of this media campaign is to sow confusion in world public opinion, blacken the name of Americas enemies and provide a moral justification for further imperialist meddling in the affairs of the Middle East. However, the ongoing propaganda war will not have the desired result. The war will end with the victory of the Syrian government forces on the battlefield. In the final analysis that is all that counts. Washingtons impotent rage In reality, US imperialism has no right to point an accusing finger at anyone. It was Americas criminal invasion of Iraq that is the root cause of the present bloody mess that has caused so much death, destruction and misery to millions of innocent men, women and children. In its attempt to achieve total domination of the region Washington has supported directly or indirectly the most reactionary forces in the Middle East. There was no need to tell us that Saddam Hussein was a bloody monster, or that Assad is a dictator. But how does Washington square its professed 'love of democracy' with its backing of Saudi Arabia, that haven of Wahhabi terrorism, which relied on torture, public executions, beheadings, crucifixions and stoning to death to keep its people in a state of submission? It is public knowledge that Saudi Arabia has been behind every terrorist Jihadi outfit from the Taliban and al Qaeda, from Bin Laden to ISIS. Saudi extremists were behind the attack on the Twin Towers in New York. Saddam Hussein had nothing to do with it. Yet it was Iraq and not Saudi Arabia that was invaded and destroyed. And Washington, in the person of Donald Trump, still maintains the most cordial relations with the monsters in Riyadh. Some misguided people on the left have allowed themselves to be deceived by the misleading propaganda in the media. They imagine that the 'rebels' are the true inheritors of the revolutionary wave that swept Syria seven years ago. But that movement was swiftly destroyed, not so much by Assad as by the counterrevolutionary Saudis who replaced it with their own reactionary brand of Islamism. The Saudis (and also the Qataris) armed and financed the reactionary Jihadi gangs that have rampaged across Syria for the past six years, slaughtering, raping, torturing, burning and destroying everything in their path. These gangs go by different names, but they share the same warped Islamist ideology and agenda. They are also backed by the CIA and the Pentagon, who habitually describe these butchers as 'rebels', or, to use the recent euphemism 'Syrian activists'. How does Washington square its 'love of democracy' with backing Saudi Arabia? / Image: The White House press These groups are being sustained by imperialism for its own cynical interests. They receive huge subsidies from the Saudis who are striving to achieve the dominance of their own ultra-reactionary brand of Wahhabism. Whatever one might think of Assad, it is quite monstrous to suggest that the victory of these reactionary gangsters would be anything less than a bloody nightmare for the people of Syria. It is necessary to cut through the thick fog of propaganda and misinformation and to expose the real interests of the different forces at work. We must proceed from fundamentals. American imperialism is the most counterrevolutionary force on the planet. The left cannot give it any support either directly or indirectly. As for the so-called United Nations, that yet again stands exposed for the fraudulent farce it always was. During the recent debate France's UN representative, Francois Delattre, moaned that the resolution was very "belated". He dramatically declared failure to act could spell the end of the UN itself. But the dramatic impact of this statement was somewhat blunted by the fact that everybody present was well aware that the (dis) United Nations was finished a long time ago. The UN in reality is just a talking shop where the smaller nations are allowed to fuss and make pompous speeches and thus are made to feel important, while the big powers actually decide what happens. Only a fool like M. Delattre believes that the UN can actually decide anything of importance always assuming that he believes it himself. Turkey and the Kurds The Russian intervention in Syria decisively tipped the balance in Assads favour. The fall of Aleppo marked a decisive turning point and a devastating and humiliating defeat not just for the USA, but also for its allies, especially Saudi Arabia. Washingtons representatives rant and rave in the debates in the Security Council. But in reality this is impotent rage that is intended to conceal a complete inability to act where it counts on the battlefield. One section of the US ruling class wanted to continue the war, but this attempt was doomed to failure. Putin outmanoeuvred them at every step. When the Russians called a peace conference in Kazakhstan (a client state of Russia) the Americans and Europeans were not even invited. In the end, despite all the public rhetoric, the Americans were reluctantly obliged to accept the fait accompli dictated by Moscow. Nobody today can doubt that the Russians are now the dominant power in Syria. The USA decides nothing. That is a very bitter pill for the Americans to swallow, but swallow it they must. They are trying to put on a bold face, making the most of their chance to score cheap propaganda points making hypocritical protests about the conduct of Assad and the Russians when their own conduct is hardly a wonderful lesson in morality and humanitarianism. Jihadists are playing a prominent role in operations by the Turkish armed forces against the Kurds, while pro-Assad Iranian militias have joined forces with the Syrian army and the Kurds / Image: Kurdishstruggle ISIS has been defeated in both Syria and Iraq. And it is only a matter of time before Assads forces, with the backing of Russia and Iran, will snuff out the remaining points of opposition as a man snuffs out a candle. Of course, it cannot be excluded that the Americans might use the propaganda over an alleged chlorine gas attack to launch some kind of air strike. But such actions cannot and will not determine the ultimate result of the war, which will be determined by troops on the ground. However, despite everything, the root problem has not been solved. What will happen now? Iraq and Syria have fragmented and will remain unstable through the next period. The Iranians, have increased their influence throughout the whole area to the alarm of the Americans, Saudis and Israel. The Turks have launched an offensive against the Kurdish forces in Afrin in order to grab what they can. Jihadist militants and members of groups classified as terrorist organisations in the USA and Europe are playing a prominent role in operations by the Turkish armed forces against the Kurds, while pro-Assad Iranian militias have joined forces with the Syrian army and the Kurds to resist the Turkish invaders. For its part, Moscow is also playing a dirty game in Syria. It is balancing between the different forces, always pursuing its own cynical interests. It has saved Assad, but has also been manoeuvring with Turkey. Without Russias permission, it is doubtful if Erdogan would have sent his army into Syria to attack the Kurds. No doubt Putin extracted an agreement from Erdogan not to oppose the operations of the Syrian and Russian forces against the jihadists in Idlib, that had been supported by Turkey. Whether or not the Turks will keep to their side of the bargain is an open question. Sham Legion launch rockets at YPG positions in Aleppo / Image: Qasioun News Agency Russia has been in a de facto alliance with Iran in the war in Syria. But Moscow does not want Iran to get too much influence in Syria, which is another reason why its policy has lately tilted in the direction of Turkey. Russia had backed the Kurds, but did not hesitate to stab them in the back as soon as it suited their interests. Probably Putin calculated that a Turkish assault on the YPG would bring them into conflict with the Americans. Turkey is supposed to be an ally of the United States and is a key member of NATO, but increasingly, the Turks and the US have found themselves backing opposing forces in Syria. This causes a further headache for Washington, which cannot risk antagonising the Turks and pushing them closer to Russia. Once again, the Kurds will find out that it is foolish to seek salvation by relying on the favours of imperialism. The YPG are in possession of heavy weapons. This has increased the risk factor for the Turkish military. Erdogan cannot take the risk of a large number of Turkish soldiers being killed which would cause a reaction inside Turkey. That is why Turkey is now relying on the jihadist groups. The Turkish planes prepare the ground by carrying out air raids, these groups then follow. And the Turkish troops then follow them. Without Russias permission, it is doubtful Erdogan would have attacked the Kurds in Syria / Image: But this time the Turks have probably overreached themselves. Turkey initially said that it would only need a few days to take Afrin. But it will prove a hard nut to crack. The Kurds are battle hardened fighters who are struggling for their survival. With the support of the Syrian and Iranian forces, they may be in a position to give Erdogan a bloody nose. That will force the Syrian Kurds into the arms of Assad, who will probably be ready to offer them a deal with autonomy, on condition that they remain part of Syria. That in any case is better than what they can expect at the hands of Erdogan. Thus the war in Syria has reached a new stage: one in which the entire direction will be dictated by forces and interests that lie outside its borders. The alliances between the different powers are constantly shifting and will shift again in the future. The war can drag on for some time to come. Only one thing is certain. The main victims, as always, will be the long-suffering people of Syria. Vietnamese and Australian delegations led by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Australian counterpart Malcom Turnbull at a meeting in Vietnam in November 2017 (Source: VNA) In a recent interview with Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Sydney, Nam said the visit is of special importance as it takes place at the time when the two countries celebrate the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties, 20 years since the establishment of defence relations, eight years of comprehensive partnership and two years of enhanced comprehensive partnership. As the first official visit to Australia by PM Phuc, it will contribute to affirming Vietnams consistent policy of prioritizing the enhancement of relations with Australia, for the benefits of the two nations people and for peace, security and prosperity in the region and the world, he noted. Taking place on the threshold of the ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, the visit reflects the two countries strong commitment to regional peace, stability and development, he added. The ambassador also highlighted the flourishing development of the Vietnam-Australia relationship across pillars of politics, economy, security-defence, sci-technology, and culture-education. The increasing mutual visits by the two countries leaders contributed to creating new opportunities and impulses to develop bilateral cooperation in an intensive, practical and effective manner, he said. According to the ambassador, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Australian counterpart Malcom Turnbull declared an intention to elevate the Vietnam-Australia Comprehensive Partnership to a Strategic Partnership during the latters attendance in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Week 2017 in Vietnam, and the two sides planned to sign an official document on this matter during PM Phucs upcoming visit to Australia. Together with flourishing political ties, economic cooperation has recorded impressive figures, with two-way trade surging by over 200 times in nearly three decades, from USD32.3 million in 1990 to USD6.46 billion in 2017. Australia ranks 19th among 116 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with 396 projects worth USD1.82 billion. The two sides are working to complete negotiations on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreements. Cooperation in security-defence has been bolstered effectively on the basis of the Memorandum of Understanding on Bilateral Defence Cooperation signed in 2010. Australia has actively helped Vietnam improve capacity to join UN peacekeeping missions, and provided English courses for Vietnamese officers. The two sides also boosted maritime cooperation and conducted joint sea patrols. The two sides successfully organised the first annual Defence Policy Dialogue in October 2017, and are working hard to build a common vision on defence cooperation. Collaboration between Vietnam and Australia in culture-education also saw new breakthroughs. About 30,000 Vietnamese students are pursuing study in Australia. Australia is one of the ten tourist markets of Vietnam, with more than 307,000 of Australians visiting the Southeast Asian nation in 2017. Vietnam is also one of the most attractive destinations for Australia students in the the Australian Government's New Colombo Plan programme. Assistance provided by Australia for Vietnam in science and technology has helped the country create spectacular breakthroughs in the last 30 years. The two countries have maintained effective cooperation and coordination at regional and global multilateral forums, especially the AEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the East Asia Summit, the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM), and APEC. Ambassador Nam believed that these results will lay a solid foundation for the two countries to establish their Strategic Partnership, building great orientations with long-term vision for bilateral relations in the time to come. He said his embassy will do its best to further deepen and expand bilateral cooperation in the coming time, especially in economy, security-defence, and people-to-people exchange. Priority will be paid to accelerating the negotiation, signing, and implementation of the CPTPP and the RCEP to boost free trade and international integration, making it easy for Vietnamese goods to access the Australian market towards lifting two-way trade to USD10 billion. The agency will also take the advantage of existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms to boost collaboration in such potential fields as clean agriculture, maritime economy, labour, tourism and climate change adaptation, he affirmed./. Former first lady Michelle Obama will soon be coming to Boston, where she will speak at the 39th Simmons Leadership Conference on April 5. The conference's "Disrupt the Ordinary" theme focuses on how women are changing social and business norms. Speakers will include those who have challenged sexual harassment in the workplace, female entrepreneurs and professionals across the career spectrum. Simmons College is a small, private school in Boston, with an undergraduate class comprised of only women. The college has a history of hosting notable political and social female figures at the annual conference, including Madeline Albright, Maya Angelou, Hillary Clinton and a list of others. Michelle Obama, 54, started several initiatives during her eight years in the White House, including the "Let Girls Learn" program to support girls' education around the world. Obama attended Harvard Law School and met her future husband while working as an attorney at a Chicago law firm. Tickets to the Simmons conference, which will be held at the the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center on April 5, have already sold out. General admission tickets sold at $699 a piece. Those who are interested in tickets can add their name to an online waitlist. VERNON, Connecticut - Connecticut State Police arrested a 24-year-old Vernon man after he sent an email to a local television station in which he vowed to become "the next school shooter." Oscar Rodriguez is charged with first-degree threatening and second-degree breach of the peace: threatening, and threatening in the first degree. He is being held on a $250,000 personal surety pending his arraignment, according to state police. He is scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday in Hartford Superior Court. He was arrest Monday after state police were notified by officials at Fox 61 News. The television station received an email tip from Gonzalez that station employees felt was threatening. According to police, the Gonzalez's email claimed he was going to shoot up a school. No specific school was mentioned in the email, police said. Vernon is roughly 20 miles south of Longmeadow. Connecticut State Police arrest report for 'school shooter' threat uploaded by Patrick Johnson on Scribd EASTHAMPTON -- After seven months of community debate, a marijuana zoning ordinance has been sent to the full City Council for further review. Dozens attended Monday's joint public hearing of the Planning Board and Ordinance Committee. Advocates on either side of the cannabis question stepped to the dais and presented their views before officials closed comment and launched a three-and-a-half hour technical work session. Some major elements of the draft ordinance include: * A 350-foot buffer zone between any retail marijuana establishment and any school for kindergarten through 12th grade students. The number represents a compromise between the 200-foot buffer advanced by the Planning Board, and a 500-foot buffer recommended by youth advocates. A 500-foot buffer, the default setting under state law, would have essentially banned marijuana retail in the city's downtown, save for a small section of Cottage Street. * A 200-foot buffer between separate retail marijuana storefronts, except in the mill industrial zone. * The buffer zones shall be measured from primary door to primary door along the "typical pedestrian path of travel." * A preliminary total cap of nine marijuana retail licenses, with four issued the first year and two the second, starting July 1, 2018. * 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. hours of operation in the downtown business zone, and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the mill industrial zone. * Limitations on signage, odor, and other elements in keeping with state law. * Onsite consumption language will have to wait, and may be included as a "placeholder," depending upon how state regulations play out. City Planner Jeffrey Bagg said the state's Cannabis Control Commission a one-year delay in considering "social consumption" licenses for yoga studios, cafes, and the like. As such, any language in a local ordinance would be moot until that time. Bagg noted that state regulations on adult-use marijuana, due March 15, could be issued after the local ordinance is passed. As such, he said, city officials must be diligent in considering revisions as new rules and interpretations occur at the state level. The state's first legal cannabis shops are set to open later this year. In Easthampton, various types of marijuana businesses will be allowed in the downtown, highway business, and mill industrial districts with the proper permitting. The City Council will now have the opportunity to make its own changes before taking a vote to accept or reject the zoning rule package. Marijuana zoning talks were launched in August by the Planning Board. The council's Ordinance Subcommittee, chaired by Salem Derby, ran a parallel process. The two boards in recent days convened to advance a unified bill. The zoning's stated aim is to "to preserve the character of the community and create a place for residents to responsibly have access to legal cannabis while mitigating community impact." The ordinance aims to "support the right to access legal cannabis, protecting the public interest and expanding new growth for the tax base." An 18-year-old has been ordered held without bail after allegedly threatening to bring a weapon to school. Kane Jefferson faced disciplinary action this school year for reportedly threatening students, according to a police report, and he arrived at Taunton High School Monday for a meeting with a school counselor. Upon seeing Jefferson on Monday, a pair of resource officers asked the 18-year-old to allow for a search of weapons on his person in the school security area. Jefferson reportedly attempted to shove the resource officers and run up a set of stairs. Officers then restrained Jefferson, at which point he claimed to own an AR-15 and "put 100 rounds into this [expletive] place. I will [expletive] start with you two [expletive]." No weapons were found in his possession. Jefferson was arrested on charges of threatening to murder police officers, making terrorist threats, disturbing a school assembly, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. He was arraigned in Taunton District Court on Monday, the Taunton Gazette reports, and was ordered held without bail. He is due back in court on March 1 for a dangerousness hearing. NORTHAMPTON- With hundreds turning out to pay their respects, the longtime representative of Northampton in the Massachusetts state legislature, Rep. Peter Kocot, was laid to rest on Tuesday. Kocot, 61, died last week after a brief illness. He is survived by his wife Shauneen and sons Jake, of Boston, and Luke, of Northampton. Kocot, a Democrat known for his integrity and quiet strength, had been a member of the state Legislature since 2002 representing the 1st Hampshire District. Upon the news of Kocot's passing, he was remembered fondly by his colleagues in the Massachusetts House of Representatives & Senate. Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who both attended the service, said in a statement that Kocot "was tirelessly committed to representing the constituents and issues of his district and all of Massachusetts." "Our administration was proud to work with Rep. Kocot on many important topics and his thoughtful approach to public service will be missed," Baker and Polito said. "Our thoughts are with his wife and sons." Calling hours for Kocot were scheduled Monday at the Czelusniak Funeral Home while funeral services were Tuesday morning at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church on King Street in Northampton. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Peter Kocot Scholarship Fund (Dollars for Scholars), the Cooley-Dickinson Cancer Center or Hospice of the Fisher Home in Amherst. Staff writer Shira Schoenberg contributed to this report. Expanding the Massachusetts commuter rail system to connect Boston with the cities of Springfield, Fall River and New Bedford, is an idea drawing support from most Bay State voters in a new poll. In a MassINC Polling Group survey commissioned by the Barr Foundation, 78 percent of voters say they back the expansion. Sixteen percent said they oppose it, while six percent said they were unsure or preferred not to voice their opinion. The Barr Foundation supports Transportation for Massachusetts, a coalition set up in 2010 to push for reliable transportation options as drivers of the economy. The poll surveyed 709 voters registered in Massachusetts, through online collection of responses between Dec. 19, 2017 and Jan. 9, 2018. Thirty-nine percent said they "strongly support" the commuter rail expansion, while just 7 percent said they "strongly oppose" it. The total number of supporters rose when the poll asked people who live in the affected regions, Western Massachusetts and the Southeastern Massachusetts. Eighty-nine percent of Western Massachusetts voters said they support the commuter rail expansion, while 81 percent of Southeast, or South Coast, voters back the same expansion. Massachusetts state Sen. Eric Lesser, D-Longmeadow, has been pushing the east-west rail expansion. He recently called the Massachusetts Department of Transportation's decision to include a Springfield-to-Boston rail study in its draft 2018 rail plan a "major breakthrough." Lesser has argued the expansion of a Springfield-to-Boston connection allow Western Massachusetts residents to have jobs in Greater Boston while Eastern Massachusetts residents could look for more affordable housing options as demand outstripping supply continues to push costs upward. On the South Coast of Massachusetts, elected officials there are making similar arguments, saying that passenger rail service to Boston from Fall River and New Bedford will allow the region to be economically competitive. State transportation officials are moving ahead with the "South Coast Rail" project, recently filing an additional draft environmental impact report. The first phase of the project would bring service to New Bedford, Fall River and Taunton through freight rail corridors that already exist. Gov. Charlie Baker's transportation chief, Stephanie Pollack, said earlier this month that the filing of additional documents puts the state closer to a "one-seat ride on a train between Boston and the South Coast, connecting them to jobs, schools, businesses, and cultural opportunities, and taking vehicles off the highways to help reduce greenhouse gases." The MassINC Polling Group survey also asked voters to weigh in on Gov. Baker's handling of the transportation system in their area. Fifty-seven percent said they approve of how he's dealing with it, while 25 percent said they disapproved. Eighteen percent said they didn't know or they refused to answer. But over the past five years their commute has gotten worse, 38 percent said, while 46 percent said their commutes have stayed the same. Just 14 percent said the commutes have gotten better. Voters appeared to generally support new funding for transportation, including toll revenue earmarked for congestion reduction and charging importers of gasoline a "pollution fee," as well as allowing regions to place transportation funding questions on their local ballots. UPDATE, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, 5:08 p.m.: Andrew Covington called The Republican to say he has decided not to run for the 2nd Hampshire District seat. Covington said he had been considering a run, but decided against it. "My heart's in the DA's office," he said. He said the decision had nothing to do with running against his colleague. Covington said he couldn't respond to questions earlier Tuesday while he was at work. EASTHAMPTON -- Northwestern Assistant District Attorney Andrew Covington has pulled papers to run for the 2nd Hampshire District seat held by State Rep. John Scibak, D-South Hadley, who is not seeking re-election. Covington is the second Easthampton resident working in District Attorney David E. Sullivan's office to run for the seat. Easthampton City Councilor Dan Carey, who works as director of the Drug Diversion & Treatment Program for Sullivan, said he would seek the seat. He is currently collecting signatures and holding fundraisers, his campaign manager Michael Messer said. Covington, who works out of the DA's Belchertown office in Eastern Hampshire District Court, has been involved in some high-profile cases, including the case against Ryan Fellion, who is charged with negligent motor vehicle homicide in the Feb. 17, 2017, crash that killed Amherst blogger Larry Kelley. Fellion is expected to change his plea from not guilty in April. Covington also prosecuted the case of a former school bus driver who was charged with negligent motor vehicle homicide in the Oct. 28, 2016, death of 9-year-old Summer Steele in Plainfield. Tendzin Parsons, 71, of Hawley, plead guilty and in January was sentenced to serve one year at the Hampshire County jail and House of Corrections. According to Covington's Facebook page, he is a captain in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General Corps Reserve. He is originally from South Hadley, and went to Roger Williams University School of Law in Rhode Island. Covington could not be reached for comment Tuesday. SPRINGFIELD -- About 150 members of local public unions rallied in front of the state Department of Developmental Services building at 95 Liberty St. Monday afternoon, just as the Supreme Court heard arguments to cut a key funding source for public sector unions. Maureen Colgan-Posner, president of the city teachers union, the Springfield Education Association, said the rally was one of many nationwide supporting full funding for unions through "agency" fees. Monday, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, Council 31. The case asks the court to prevent public unions from collecting agency fees, in place of union dues, from those workers who choose not to join a union. Colgan-Posner said the court's decision would have a negative impact on public unions, both from a funding standpoint and collective bargaining standpoint. "It would be a threat in terms of whether or not we can keep our union members engaged and strong when we come up for collective bargaining," she said. "The Springfield Education Association is strong when we have 2,400 members together when we are going to the bargaining table. If some of our members decide to be freeloaders, it will be hard to have the collective power to bargain with the city." Deborah Bys, a member of the Springfield Federation of Paraprofessionals, said while working conditions and wages are important parts of union representation, union members receive outside training through the union that is not paid for by the school system, meaning the city gets better-trained employees without necessarily paying for it. "Last year we took 'train the trainer' classes through the union," Bys said. A member of AFSCME 17, Karla Mitchell, a direct care worker at the state Department of Developmental Services, said she has seen the power of unions for workers' justice. "About 10 years ago we had a worker who was suspended without pay," Mitchell said. "She lost her home, her car and her marriage even though eventually she was reinstated. We used the union grievance process to get her job back. But even though she got her job she couldn't get everything back." Mitchell said the department has rescinded that no-pay suspension policy, which is only fair. "If you have police officers who can't be suspended without pay, then direct care workers should also receive pay," she said. The Supreme Court is expected to issue its decison on the case next summer. Massachusetts voters say they largely support a ban on drivers using their cellphones, GPS or other electronic devices unless they're in a "hands-free mode." A new poll from MassINC Polling Group, conducted for the Barr Foundation, says 79 percent of registered voters back such a ban, with an exception for emergencies. Just 16 percent said they would oppose such a measure. Four percent said they didn't know or refused to answer the question. In late 2017, Gov. Charlie Baker pointed to an increase in fatalities and highway accidents due to distracted driving. He asked state lawmakers to get a bill banning handheld use of cell phones in cars to his desk before the end of the legislative session this year. Massachusetts state senators have twice passed a bill aimed at combatting distracted driving. In the MassINC poll, voters were also asked whether they support banning pedestrians looking at their phones when walking across a street. Seventy-five percent said they would support a proposal like that, while 18 percent said they would oppose it. The poll surveyed 709 registered voters in Massachusetts between Dec. 19, 2017 and Jan. 9, 2018, through online collection of responses. It is not a bad thing for us, that the route known as the Goldene Strae or the Golden Road as we will get to know it- has escaped the attention of so many. It has been spared being overrun by hordes of tourists and as you will discover In the early 1980s, Irving Grousbeck and his colleagues at Stanford Business School launched a revolution in the way that entrepreneurs and investors fund, manage, and grow mature businesses. Their creation the search fund changed the way many investors thought about equity investments, turning fund managers into quasi private equity shops and posting impressive returns as a result. One way to think about the search fund model is by comparing it to the three factors that go into a winning thoroughbred team: the jockey, the trainer, and the horse. Tim Schigel, Refinery [email protected] Self-driving cars with no human backup behind the wheel will be legal on California roads for testing and transporting the public starting April 2. "This is a major step forward for autonomous technology in California," DMV director Jean Shiomoto said after the states Office of Administrative Law approved new regulations Monday. By ETHAN BARON | [email protected] | Bay Area News Group While Oklahoma has experienced a fall in competitiveness when it comes to building a digital economy and e-Government, the state has initiated several efforts to address this problem by removing legacy IT systems, unifying agencies IT programs, and updating citizen services. For example, Oklahoma unified 111 state agencies for a projected savings of over $372 million. Similarly, the state cut its number of differing IT systems from 1,200 to 749. A federal government analysis of the outdoor recreations economic impact reaffirms what many conservation groups have said for decades. Outdoor recreation is a big business. For the first time ever the U.S. Department of Commerce looked specifically at the economic impact of outdoor recreation. The analysis was published last week. The analysis found that outdoor recreation contributed $373.7 billion to the nations Gross Domestic Product in 2016, comprising 2 percent of GDP. In fact, the outdoor recreation industrys contribution to GDP was larger than that of all mining, including the extraction of oil and gas. By Eli Francovich [email protected] (509) 459-5508 http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2018/feb/23/analysis-of-outdoor-recreation-industry-finds-its-/ Senators Push to #ConnectMT Takes Major Step Forward (U.S. Senate)U.S. Senator Jon Tester today secured a major investment to expand wireless 4G LTE coverage in Montana. The Federal Communication Commission (FCC) announced Tuesday morning that a large portion of Montana is now eligible to expand wireless coverage using the Universal Service Funds Mobility Fund. The FCCs announcement comes after Tester urged the commission to commit resources from the Universal Service Funds Mobility Fund to increase wireless coverage in rural America. "Every Montanan has shared the frustration of a dropped call or a failed text message as a result of poor wireless coverage," said Tester, Montanas only member of the Commerce Committee. "This announcement paves the way for a major investment to install new cell towers, update communication infrastructure, and expand wireless service to rural areas across Montana so families can stay connected and we can eliminate the gaps in cell service across our state." In 2015, Tester launched his #ConnectMT initiative https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=4147 and brought FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to Montana to show him firsthand the communications challenges facing the state. Tester and Wheeler specifically discussed increasing wireless infrastructure investment to rural communities through the Universal Service Funds Mobility Fund. The Universal Service Funds Mobility Fund was created to provide resources and incentives to local telecommunication carriers to expand wireless coverage in rural areas. As a result of the FCCs announcement, over 50,000 square miles of Montana will now be eligible to receive funding to expand wireless coverage through the Universal Service Funds Mobility Fundabout one-third of the entire state. The exact funding amount is yet to be determined, but Montana is estimated to receive 13 percent of the total funding distributed by the Universal Service Funds Mobility Fund, which is the second most amount of funding as any state in the country. As part of Testers #ConnectMT initiative, he has pushed to fix a broken USDA rural broadband initiative https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=5894 , passed legislation to improve rural call completion https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=5919 , and pushed to increase access to high-speed broadband in rural communities https://www.tester.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=4287 . The areas in Montana that are now eligible to receive funding through the Universal Service Funds Mobility Fund are highlighted HERE https://www.fcc.gov/maps/mobility-fund-ii-initial-eligible-areas-map/ Soodesh Callichurn a prononce un discours lors de la ceremonie de signature de contrat de Price Monitoring and Control Application qui a eu lieu cans les locaux du ministere des Tins a Ebene. Ladies and Gentleman, Good Afternoon It is a great honour and privilege for me to be present today for the signing ceremony of the Price Monitoring and Control Application which will be implemented by the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation in the forthcoming months. I would like to seize this opportunity to commend the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council for its laudable initiative to promote and nurture an innovation culture in Mauritius. The Public Sector Transformation Scheme, under which the Price Monitoring and Control application has been developed, has been one of the key initiatives announced by this Government in Budget 2020-2021. The aim of the project was to encourage innovative companies and start-ups to develop high quality applications to be used by Ministries to enhance public sector delivery. The main objective behind this strategy is to prepare and equip the public sector to remain efficient, resilient and responsive in order to face a complex and highly competitive global landscape by leveraging on innovative technologies and smart processes. This scheme has attracted numerous Mauritian organisations from different fields to propose practical innovative solutions to common life problems and de facto increases the competitive edge of industries for sustainable economic and social growth. Officers of my Ministry have been working relentlessly on the development of the Price Monitoring and Control application since 2020 and their efforts continued even during the second national confinement this year. I am extremely pleased to note that my Ministry is the first and sole public organisation so far, to have been able to tap on this opportunity. Ladies and gentlemen, The COVID-19 outbreak last year shook the whole world and Mauritius has not been spared of its spill-over effects. Over the past months, consumers have been and are still being flooded by rising prices of many essential commodities, which are attributed to escalating costs of imports, such as freight and insurance, as well as the appreciation of several foreign exchange currencies compared to the Mauritian Rupee. Since Mauritius is a net import economy, these factors have had a direct influence on the price of imported goods and eventually on retail prices of most commodities. In the face of such a situation, Government could not have remained insensitive to the plight of its people. This is why in July 2021, this Government took the bold in itiative to fix a maximum price for seven essential products such as edible oil, pulses, canned tomatoes, milk powder, margarine, cheese and canned fish. A subsidy of around 500 million rupees has been provided by the Government so that these products are available at affordable prices to the population. As at date, 371 different brands of commodities have been fixed under the Consumer Protection (Maximum Price of Essential Goods) Regulations 2021. In parallel, the State Trading Corporation will import milk powder and edible oil to help stabilize prices of these strategic commodities on the local market. Government has also mandated the Corporation to explore new avenues for the procurement of other essential products in order to assist in stabilizing their retail prices. At the same time, in order to provide consumers with more visibility on prices of certain products and protect consumers from profiteering that may be practiced by certain traders, Government has also agreed to re-establish the former Price Observatory. This mechanism will define a basket of commodities comprising 100 categories of the most widely used products by Mauritians. The basket will consist of both food and non-food products and will be reviewed on a regular basis. A monthly online publication indicating the prices of different brands of selected products across different supermarkets and hypermarkets will be collected and monitored. Such a tool will provide consumers with an indication on which supermarket or hypermarket in their region is more affordable. Dear guests, The Price Monitoring and Control Application will thus be a fundamental and supportive tool which will help in the smooth implementation of the Price Observatory. It will also allow an effective price-control monitoring by the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection. That app will be accessible to retailers, members of the public as well as other stakeholders. It will allow officers of my Ministry to effectively collect, record, cross verify prices of fixed items at supermarkets and shops and take pictures on an online system in real time. Such technology shall help to do instant comparison and analysis with the data received. It will also help officers of the Consumer Affairs Unit quickly identify whenever and wherever prices of products which are under price control, are being sold at a higher price than fixed and allow my Ministry to take sanctions as appropriate. The whole system will be managed by the Ministry of Commerce and Consumer Protection. And I am confident that Verde Frontiers Solutions Ltd will ensure seamless user experience, technical support and guarantee the technical and administrative aspects of the system. Ladies and gentlemen, The vision of this Government is to build a new model for the public service aligned on a common purpose, that is to guarantee good service to the public at large. I sincerely hope that the Citizens and all the stakeholders concerned make optimum use of the Price Monitoring and Control Application and help in the concerted effort towards consumer protection. Thank you for your attention. Following an alleged case of medical negligence at SSRN Hospital regarding a stillbirth on 12 April 2021, a departmental enquiry was carried out by the Regional Health Director of the hospital and the findings of the enquiry have been forwarded to the Ministry of Health and Wellness. It has been decided to refer the case to the Medical Negligence Standing Committee, which is an independent body, for further enquiry. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn HUNT VALLEY, Md. Feb. 27, 2018 Friday, March 30 Maryland's Baltimore 9 a.m. 10 a.m. until noon Vietnam Vietnam Vietnam Diane Sancilio the United States Maryland George W. Owings III George C. Forrest Jan Scruggs Washington, D.C. Central Maryland Towson Howard County Baltimore Kristina Rolfes /PRNewswire/ -- Gilchrist, a nonprofit leader in serious illness and end-of-life care, will host its inaugural Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day celebration on, to honor men and women in the community who served during the Vietnam War. The event coincides withdesignated "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day."This free event will be held at Martin's West, located at 6817 Dogwood Rd. in. Doors open atfor breakfast, with the program running fromRecognition ofveterans is long overdue. About 130,000 Marylanders served in the military during theera and many of them never received appreciation and public support for their service."Gilchrist's Welcome Home event is our way of showing gratitude to theveterans in our community," says, director of Gilchrist's Counseling & Support services. "We are so proud to honor those who have served inArmed Forces."At the upcoming celebration, each veteran will be presented with a lapel pin from the United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, which was authorized by Congress to thank and honor these veterans for their service and sacrifice on behalf of our nation.The program will feature speakers who are predominantly Vietnam War veterans, includingSecretary of Veterans Affairs, Retired Lieutenant Coloneland, the founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial inThe Baltimore Children's Choir will also perform.To register for this free event, email wehonorveterans@gilchristcares.org or call 443.849.8210.Gilchrist is a nationally recognized, nonprofit leader in serious illness and end-of-life care. With elder medical care, counseling and hospice, we help people at every stage of serious illness live life to the fullest and make informed choices about their care. Since 1994, the organization has served thousands of individuals throughout in homes, in skilled nursing and residential care communities, and at our three inpatient hospice centers inand. Gilchrist is a "4 Star" partner in the We Honor Veterans program, a national effort to improve health care services to veterans at the end of life. For more information about Gilchrist, visitMedia Contact:443-465-5992krolfes@gilchristcares.orggilchristcares.org View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gilchrist-will-hold-celebration-for-marylands-vietnam-veterans-300604769.html SOURCE Gilchrist LONDON February 27, 2018 Europe Europe Bojan Trkulja , INOVIA , INOVIA Predrag Bogavac, Novartis Ronald Seeliger , Hemofarm , Hemofarm Goram M. Orlic , INNventa , INNventa Predrag Lukic , Amicus , Amicus Nebojsa Skuljec, MSD Yan Mikhailova , Nestle Sanja Ivanic Vera Nikolic /PRNewswire/ --PharmaBoardroom today releases its new 42-page Healthcare & Life Sciences Review Serbia 2018.Situated on the edge ofand with a reputation scarred by the conflicts of the 1990s, Serbia is not often considered a promising investment destination within, far less for its healthcare and life science industries. Sluggish economic growth and a regulatory system unconducive to the introduction of innovative pharmaceutical products has meant that the country has been out of the international limelight for a number of years.However, change is in the air and new perspectives are developing both of and for Serbia and its people. Economic and political stability; the gradual alignment of procedures and standards as Serbia continues its path towards EU membership; a talented and well-educated human resource base; changing attitudes at government level towards healthcare; and the realization that Serbia can act as a well-connected hub to serve over 20 million people across the Balkans are all contributing to a new and more positive image of the country.This report features the insights of international innovators who have navigated their way through difficult times and are now seeing the green shoots of optimism; the major learnings from domestic companies that have looked beyond Serbia's borders to find funding, best practices and export opportunities from abroad; as well as the advice of the local 'fixers' and service providers without whom the Serbian market could not operate.Through the comments of these key personalities, a picture emerges of a nation not without its issues but with a potentially bright future and a pharmaceutical industry that holds numerous opportunities for bold international investors.The report features in-depth interviews with:"It is the time for the government to realize the crucial need for innovation, especially in our industry"It is the process of joining the European Union that counts and not so much the date that Serbia joins"The Serbian government took a very important step last year when they unblocked reimbursement for oncology products as one of the four priority therapeutic areas"Serbia is an excellent investment destination with a very highly skilled and well-educated workforce, a competitive tax burden, a relatively stable macroeconomic outlook and we are in the process of entering the EU, which brings general predictability as to how our policies will develop.Click here to register and download the report.SOURCE PharmaBoardroom Advertisement The risk for disease in participants with colorectal cancer cases in first-degree relatives was about twice as high as that of participants with no family history of bowel cancer. The risk for disease in the group of participants with the largest numbers of genetic risk markers in their genomes was three times higher than that of study participants with the smallest numbers of risk variants. The risk in participants with a positive family history who also display numerous genetic risk markers multiplied: Colorectal cancer is six times as prevalent in them as in people who have no family history of bowel cancer and exhibit only small numbers of risk markers in their genomes. No significant association was found between the numbers of genetic risk variants and family history. "It is a widely held notion that genetic risk profile and family history essentially both provide the same, redundant information," says Hermann Brenner, an expert for colorectal cancer prevention from the DKFZ. In a current study, Brenner has now modified this concept and has proven that it is beneficial to use both information sources in combination.Korbinian Weigl, an epidemiologist who is the first author of the study, analyzed the family history and, in a parallel effort, a panel of 53 known genetic risk markers in approximately 4,500 participants of the DACHS* study. About half of the cases studied were colorectal cancer patients. Weigl discovered that the two factors deliver largely independent results:"People often assume that familial colorectal cancer is primarily related to genetic predisposition," Brenner said. "This is true in a small proportion of colorectal cancer cases, particularly those with onset at early age." However, in the majority of colorectal cancer cases, this is not the case. Brenner thinks this might be due to the fact that cancer cases in the family primarily reflect common non-genetic factors such as smoking or a physically inactive lifestyle.In addition, large numbers of genetic risk markers increase the risk of developing cancer in people with and without a family history of bowel cancer alike.," Brenner sums up. ". For people with high risks, for example, it would be beneficial to start colorectal cancer screening much earlier than at age 50."Source: Eurekalert Advertisement In 2017, India revised the ART treatment protocols to initiate all PLHIV on ART. The 'treat all' initiative was started to ensure that treatment is started early and the virus transmission is curtailed both at the individual and the community level.According to the union health ministry, about 1.2 million PLHIV are availing the benefit of free treatment from more than 530 ART centres."The routine viral load testing will optimize the utilization of first line regimens, thus preventing drug resistance and ensuring the longevity of people living with HIV. Viral load testing will empower medical officers at ART to detect failure on first line treatment early and therefore save PLHIV from developing resistance to drugs. It will also help in strengthening 'Mission Sampark' in tracking LFU (loss to follow up) PLHIV and to be brought under ART services," said Nadda.Nadda also released the National Guidelines for HIV-1 Viral Load Laboratory Testing, National Operational Guidelines for Viral Load Testing, Standard Operating Procedure for HIV-1 Quant Assay with Cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) (to diagnose tuberculosis and rifampicin (TB drug) resistance) and Guidelines on Quality Monitoring System for Outsourced Viral Load Tests."With launch of Test and Treat, there is increase in number of PLHIV needing treatment and thus the Viral Load testing. With increase in number of PLHIV on treatment the monitoring needs have also increased," said Anupriya Patel, minister of state for health and family welfare.India has the third largest population of people with HIV after South Africa and Nigeria, according to UNAIDS. The report released n July 2017 revealed that in India, only 49% of patients were on Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in 2016. India had 2.1 million people living with HIV at the end of 2016 and 36.7 million globally, according to the report.Source: Medindia Tourists visit a lantern fair to greet the upcoming Lantern Festival at Nanhu Park in Tangshan City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 26, 2018. The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, or March 2 this year. (Xinhua/Dong Jun) 3 1 [ Editor: zyq ] The amount of additional revenues to Ukraine's state budget from the fight against smuggling in 2018 may reach UAH 70 billion, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said. "Reform of the State Fiscal Service. Here the old system is fighting with the new one for each hryvnia. We managed to transfer UAH 70 billion to the state budget due to the fight against smuggling, but I think there is UAH 70 billion more," Groysman wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. At the same time, he confirmed reports that the EU was closing the project for the modernization of border checkpoints with Ukraine. "There is confirmation [of reports about the termination of financing for these projects] from local authorities. They are dealing with this issue, not the state," he said at a meeting with regional journalists in Kyiv on Tuesday. "Our European colleagues took such a decision, since there was no other option. We could not save this situation," Groysman said. As reported, earlier some foreign media reported that the EU was closing the project for the modernization of border checkpoints with Ukraine. The matter concerned the project to modernize six Ukrainian checkpoints on the eastern border of the EU, which started in 2014. Then the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine refuted the information published in foreign media. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has signed a decree on awarding 108 servicemen with state awards, the presidential administration's press service reported. "Some 108 soldiers were awarded for the personal courage and selfless actions shown during the defense of the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, exemplary performance of the military duty. At the same time, 105 military servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were awarded with high state awards, 43 of them posthumously. Some 62 wounded soldiers, along with one wounded soldier of the National Guard of Ukraine were awarded, while two employees of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry were posthumously granted decorations," a message reads. Troops marked with the orders of 'Bohdan Khmelnytsky' and 'For Courage' of the third degree, medals for the military service to Ukraine and 'Motherland's Defender', took part in the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Among those awarded posthumously is the 22-year-old commander of the parachute paratrooper battalion of 25th separate airborne brigade of highly mobile landing troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant Fiodor Karakonstantin. "For the perfect performance of military duty, manifested valor and honor, Fiodor Karakonstantin was awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky of the third degree (posthumously)," the administration reported. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman declares his intention to take part in the next elections to the Verkhovna Rada. "I plan to take part in the next parliamentary elections," Groysman said during a meeting with regional journalists in Kyiv on Tuesday. "I will take part [in elections] to fight for making specific decisions," the head of government said. In particular, he noted the need to address the issue of the new electoral system. "This issue needs to be resolved before the elections - the issue of a new electoral system. The parliament passed a good law at the first reading, which can be finalized by the second reading on open party lists," Groysman said. Zhovtnevy District Court of Poltava has arrested Hennadiy Kapkanov, a suspect in the creation of the Avalanche cyber network who was wanted by 30 countries, for two months, Ukrainian Interior Ministry spokesman Artem Shevchenko has said. "Sixty days in custody without any alternative for difficult-to-catch Poltava hacker Hennadiy Kapkanov, the organizer of the Avalanche international, fraudulent cyber network. He did not have to hide from the cyber police for more than a year with a fake passport," Shevchenko wrote on his page on Twitter. On November 30, 2016, the police conducted an international special operation to eliminate the cyber network. At the same time, in Poltava, law enforcers detained the organizer of the Avalanche a 33-year-old local resident. On December 1, 2016, Zhovtnevy District Court of Poltava considered a petition from a representative of the Prosecutor General's Office of Ukraine about his arrest, but the court refused to choose such a measure of restraint. After that, the suspect disappeared from the courtroom, and later he was placed on the international wanted list. Poroshenko, Lukashenko discuss preparations for First Forum of Regions of Ukraine and Belarus in Gomel in 2018 The president's of Ukraine and Belarus, Petro Poroshenko and Alexander Lukashenko, in a telephone conversation discussed the forthcoming First Forum of Regions of the two countries, planned for this year in Gomel. "The heads of state noted the importance of a proper preparation for holding the First Forum of Regions of Ukraine and Belarus in Gomel this year. In this context they discussed intensifying the trade, economic and cultural component of interregional cooperation," Poroshenko's press service reported on Tuesday. The interlocutors also discussed topical issues on the agenda of the Ukrainian-Belarusian relations, in particular, the development of bilateral political dialogue and future contacts at the highest level. Ukrainian film director Oleh Sentsov is not listed among the inmates of the Labytnangi penal colony (Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District of the Tyumen Region), the prison administration said in its response to a query of human rights activist Yana Honcharova, which was published by Sentsov's sister Natalia Kaplan. "There are reports that Oleh Sentsov is not in IK-8 (penal colony No. 8) in Labytnangi. This is what Yana Honcharova learnt from a letter from the colony. They refused to give any information to me in the prison call center. Nobody answers the phone at the colony chief's office," Kaplan wrote on her Facebook page on Tuesday. She said that the letter was sent on Sunday, February 25, through the Federal Penitentiary Service's electronic system, the answer came on Tuesday, February 27. "We begin our search," Sentsov's sister stressed. The letter from the administration of the colony says: "The administration of IK-8 Labytnangi informs you that the letter can not be delivered, because its recipient is not kept in this institution." As reported, the North Caucasus Military Court in Rostov-on-Don ruled in August 2015 to sentence Sentsov, who had been detained in Crimea in 2014, to 20 years in a high-security penitentiary on charges of setting up a terrorist group in Crimea. Sentsov is reportedly serving his sentence in high-security correctional facility number eight (also dubbed Polar Bear) is located just outside the Yamalo-Nenets town of Labytnangi. Its inmates are male convicts sentenced for serious and very serious crimes. The Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly called the Sentsov case politically motivated. In May 2016, he filled out documents for a transfer to Ukraine to serve his term there. The Russian Supreme Court declined to review his appeal. The Ukrainian Justice Ministry said in fall 2016 that Russia had refused to extradite the Ukrainian. GREENVILLE, MI - A Wisconsin dairy processor's plan to build a $57.9 million processing plant in Greenville won the support of the Michigan Strategic Fund on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Foremost Farms, a farmer-owned milk processing and marketing cooperative based in Baraboo, Wis., plans to build a 55,000 square-foot plant that will employ 33 workers to condense 3.2 million pounds of raw milk per day -- roughly 386,000 gallons. The final products will be used by Foremost co-op facilities and its partners around the Midwest to make dairy products such as cheese, butter and yogurt. Future phases at the campus call for processing up to 6 million pounds daily. The new facility is aimed at stabilizing an oversupply of milk produced by Michigan dairy farmers. According to the state's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), Michigan ranks fifth in the nation for total milk production, with dairy farmers contributing $15.7 billion to the state's economy. Michigan's 1,747 dairy farms, with more than 427,000 cows, produce more than enough milk to supply the entire state. Currently, more than 24 percent of Michigan milk production, or 2.65 billion pounds, is shipped out of state per year. In 2017, Michigan milk producers lost more than $164 million, according to MDARD, which plans to support the project with a $500,000 grant from its Food and Agriculture Investment Fund. "It is an ideal location as a manufacturing base for Foremost Farms USA to unify our seven-state cooperative membership's milk," said Foremost Farms' President and CEO Michael Doyle in a statement on Tuesday, Feb. 27. "Our goal is to develop and grow this facility to continually meet the value-added needs of our customers," Doyle said. "This, along with further developing our strategic alliance with Michigan Milk Producers Association that began at Constantine, Mich., will add value for our members and all producers in this market." On Tuesday, the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) board approved a "private activity bond inducement" valued at up to $12 million in support of the project. Approval of a final resolution authorizing the bond is expected at a future MSF meeting. "Foremost Farms' construction of its new milk processing plant in Greenville will elevate the profile and profitability of our state's dairy industry, and we're pleased to support this investment and the new jobs for area residents," said Jeff Mason, CEO of Michigan Economic Development Corp (MEDC), which administers programs and performs due diligence on behalf of the MSF. "Foremost Farms' decision to further invest here demonstrates to other global companies Michigan's standing as one of the great agriculture centers in the U.S. with a business climate that enables their success," said Mason. "Value-added processing developments like the one at Foremost Farms are the future of the food and agriculture industry," said MDARD Director Jamie Clover Adams. "In addition to creating more jobs for Greenville, it also will provide much-needed processing for dairy farmers in that region of Michigan. The impact of these investments on local, regional and statewide economies cannot be overstated." The city of Greenville also plans to support the project with a 12-year property tax abatement valued at $2.33 million. "The city of Greenville appreciates the opportunity to develop a relationship and subsequent partnership with Foremost Farms that is mutually beneficial for both the company and the community," Greenville City Manager George Bosanic said in a statement. "Through the many evolutions this project has taken, there have been a number of quick responses needed from the many partners involved at all levels. The City of Greenville has gone above and beyond with their participation," said Kathy Jo VanderLaan, Business Development - Montcalm County, The Right Place. The MEDC also is expected to provide funding for the project at a future date, according to a news release by the MEDC on Tuesday, Feb. 27. The company is also expected to receive a grant from West Michigan Works!. ANN ARBOR, MI - A cull aimed at reducing the size of a deer herd on the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus has resulted in 15 deer being killed during the first weekend. UM-Dearborn Spokesman Ken Kettenbeil said the cull took place on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 24 and 25, and will continue on Wednesday, Feb. 28. The cull is taking place in a 300-acre Environmental Study Area on the UM-Dearborn campus, where officials have cited concerns about elevated tick populations, an unsustainable deer population and other ongoing environmental damage. The cull aims to reduce the current white-tailed deer herd population in the area from 70 to between 20 and 30, according to the university. Based on the size of the Environmental Study Area, UM-Dearborn is opting to keep the population approximately three times higher than the size of a sustainable deer herd population recommended by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Kettenbeil said if sharpshooters from Rose City-based Berg's Animal & Bug Control can reach the target number for reducing the population on Wednesday, there won't be a need to continue the cull. "The determination is made after evening of the cull whether they'll be going out again," Kettenbeil said. Kettenbeil said the university has received some feedback from neighbors located west of the Environmental Study Area, expressing that they were not in support of the cull, while two people have reached out to offer support. "Some of the callers understood the need for the cull after speaking with us," Kettenbeil said. "We think we're receiving input from that neighborhood because we've been in communication with them and sent letters out letting them know about these efforts." The UM-Dearborn Police Department coordinate all aspects related to securing the cull area and ensuring campus safety. Coordination with the Dearborn Police Department and Wayne County Sheriffs Department are included in the safety plan. On two occasions - once on Saturday and once Sunday - the cull was stopped when people entered the Environmental Study Area. On Saturday, the cull was delayed for 30 minutes while someone walking on a trail in the area was spotted. On Sunday, a group of three young people were riding their bikes through the area, while police called out to stop them before shutting down the cull for around 45 minutes to an hour, Kettenbeil said. "Police called to stop them, but they all had earbuds in and couldn't hear them," Kettenbeil said. "When that happens, the cull is shut down (until the people are removed from the area)." UM-Dearborn has cited possible health risks to the campus community and visitors due to elevated tick populations, damage to biodiversity in the study area, damage to native tree regeneration and the spread of invasive plant species among the problems experienced in the area. Kettenbeil said the cull is part of an ongoing effort to preserve the nature in the area. The university conducted a cull in 2015, he said, which had a great impact on the regeneration of plant life. The university has a legal agreement with Wayne County that calls for the university to preserve the natural area - both university and county property - and develop interpretative programs. It previously culled 34 deer on campus in 2015. After consulting with the MDNR, continuing a regularly scheduled deer cull was determined to be the best solution, the university noted. The total cost of the cull estimated at $20,000, Kettenbeil said. UM-Dearborn received a permit from the MDNR for the cull. Venison harvested in the cull will be donated to local food banks. The 2015 deer cull resulted in 780 pounds of meat that was used to provide meals for the hungry via Gleaners Community Food Bank. A similar amount of meat was donated to Capuchin Soup Kitchen, according to UM-Dearborn. YPSILANTI, MI - One person was injured in a motorcycle crash on Tuesday, Feb. 27 in Ypsilanti. The crash, reported shortly before 1 p.m. in the area of Michigan Avenue and Prospect Street, was blocking the westbound lane of Michigan on Tuesday afternoon. One person was taken in critical condition to St. Joseph Mercy Health System following the accident, Huron Valley Ambulance spokesman Matt Rose said. A woman driving the blue Suzuki XL 7, who asked not to be identified, said she was turning left onto Michigan from Prospect and saw the motorcycle coming up in her rear-view mirror at a high rate of speed before striking the back of her SUV. The driver said the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet. Lt. Deric Gress of the Ypsilanti Police Department later said the motorcyclist was a woman and said the crash is under investigation. Police remained on scene and the SUV with rear damage was stopped nearby about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday. Staff writer Kullen Logsdon contributed to this post. ANN ARBOR, MI - One person was reported injured after a vehicle crashed into an an apartment building Tuesday, Feb. 27 on the north side of Ann Arbor. Police were called at 8:52 a.m. to the area of Pontiac Trail and Longshore Drive for the single-vehicle crash, Ann Arbor police Lt. Colleen McCarthy confirmed. One person was taken in critical condition to the University of Michigan hospital, said Huron Valley Ambulance spokesman Matt Rose. The crash remains under investigation, but police are looking into whether or not the crash was possibly caused by a medical incident, McCarthy said. According to the Vietnam Food Association, in 2017, Vietnam exported over 5.7 million tonnes of rice, exceeding the set plan. As of the end of 2017, the set rice export volume under the export contracts was nearly 6.4 million tonnes, so there are still roughly 630,000 tonnes of rice registered for export in the new year. This is one of the factors creating momentum for the vibrant rice exports at the beginning of 2018. Statistics from the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MOIT) show that, in January, the country's rice export turnover reached 450,000 tonnes, earning US$214 million, up 34.4% in volume and 49.6% in value over the same period last year. Average rice export prices last month reached US$486.2 per tonne, up 13.6% against January 2017. The Philippines is still the largest consumer market for Vietnamese rice, reaching 144,890 tonnes with an export value of US$444.5/tonne, accounting for 29% of Vietnams total rice exports. China is the second largest market with 114,215 tonnes, valuing US$56.21 million and accounting for 23% of its neighbouring country's total rice exports. Rice export turnover has enjoyed good results in the first months of 2018. Notably, in the first month of this year, rice exports to Indonesia reached 57,000 tonnes, equivalent to US$27.16 million, and ranking third in the largest markets importing Vietnamese rice, with over 11% of the total export volume. The price of Vietnamese exported rice to this market is also relatively high, at US$476.6 per tonne. This result is due to Vietnam winning the bid to export 141,000 tonnes of rice to Indonesia following the 346,000-tonne tender launched by the Indonesian national food authority at the end of January. In addition, rice exports to other markets, such as Iraq, the US, Hong Kong (China) and Malaysia witnessed an increase in turnover in the first month of the year. Rice exporters have predicted that domestic rice prices would tend to decrease in February as the winter-spring crop harvest begins. However, prices will remain high compared to previous years. With the increase in volume and value, according to the MOIT, the structure of rice exports continues to see a positive shift with a sharp decline in the middle and lower grade rice, while increasing the exportation of high quality rice, such as glutinous rice, japonica and brown rice, which is suitable for export market development. The PM made the above statement during a working visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in Hanoi on Monday morning to direct the foreign affairs agenda for 2018. Praising the significant contributions of the ministry to national development, the governments top leader suggested that the MOFA could tighten its discipline and take the lead in implementing the Governments guidelines and raising the sense of responsibility for the country and the people. Amid a rapidly changing world, PM Phuc asked the ministry to improve the efficiency of external work, maintain a peaceful environment for socio-economic development, and increase the nations strength, while pursuing an external policy of peace, independence, self-reliance, and cooperation. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at a meeting with the MOFA in Hanoi on February 26. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai) It was also required to maintain a policy of ensuring Vietnam is a reliable and responsible friend and partner in the international community, as well as building trust and maintaining a mutually beneficial relationship with others. PM Phuc asked the diplomatic sector to extend efforts to promote economic and trade activities and actively propose ideas to boost exports, in addition to keeping the Vietnamese authorities, business community and people abreast of any trade and market opportunities in the host countries, as well as working to attract FDI from investors with advanced and eco-friendly technologies. Saying that each diplomat is an economic and cultural messenger abroad, the senior leader encouraged the intensifying of training to improve the moral qualities of the MOFA staff, asking them to pay attention to overseas Vietnamese affairs and citizen protection. The visits will be made at the invitation of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind and Bangladeshi President Mohammad Abdul Hamid. Vietnam and India set up their diplomatic ties on January 7, 1972. In 2007, the Vietnam-India relationship was lifted to a strategic partnership, with a focus on politics-diplomacy, national defence-security, economy-trade, energy, science-technology and culture-education. Following Vietnams visit by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2016, both sides upgraded their strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership to meet demand in the new situation. Meanwhile, Vietnam and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations on February 17, 1973. Since then, the friendship and cooperation between the two nations have been enhanced in various fields, especially economy and trade. [February 27, 2018] Nokia and T-Mobile leading the way with nationwide 5G multi-band network rollout across the United States Press Release Nokia 5G network solution to be deployed in 600MHz and 28GHz mmWave spectrum this year Enables T-Mobile to meet consumer demand for massive broadband and address new opportunities for the industry Leverages Nokia commercial AirScale radio platforms and cloud-native core, utilizing AirFrame hardware, CloudBand as well as 5G Acceleration Services 27 February, 2018 Espoo, Finland - Nokia and T-Mobile are to roll out a nationwide 5G multi-band network in the United States using the commercial Nokia 5G solution. Nokia will also further advance T-Mobile's existing 4G LTE network, providing advanced radio access network (RAN) support for 4G and 5G subscribers. Nokia will begin building the network during the second quarter of 2018, completing the deployment during 2020. By the end of this year, the 5G RAN will be deployed using both 600MHz and 28GHz mmWave AirScale solutions for the delivery of multi-gigabit speeds and ultra-low latency in some of the most heavily populated areas of the country, including Dallas. This will enable T-Mobile to introduce innovative services for its customers at home, work and on the move. Deployment of the 5G network in the 600MHz and 28GHz mmWave spectrum will be compliant with 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR) standards supported by the Nokia AirScale radio platform, powered by the new ReefShark chipset family and Nokia's cloud-native core portfolio. Nokia's 5G Acceleration Services will assist T-Mobile in launching 5G services in early 2019 in select key cities. Neville Ray, chief technology officer of T-Mobile, said: "T-Mobile customers will get 5G in more places than anyone else. Working together with Nokia, the Un-carrier will be the first to roll out a nationwide 5G network. Our customers already have the fastest LTE network, and it will work simultaneously with 5G to bring even faster speeds." Nokia's President and Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Suri said: "We are excited to work with T-Mobile for their groundbreaking nationwide 5G rollout. Nokia's 5G solution combines our high-capacity New Radio, Core and SDN controlled 'anyhaul' transport and software, and incorporates innovations such as the new in-house silicon ReefShark chipset to deliver a new level of network performance. 5G is happening now, and no company is better placed to deliver than Nokia." About the network Nokia 5G NR incorporating Nokia AirScale baseband and reote radio heads, and ReefShark-enabled portfolio in the 600MHz and 28GHz mmWave spectrums. The Nokia 5G-ready AirScale radio access portfolio, which is software upgradable to full 5G services will provide enhanced RAN support for 4G and 5G T-Mobile subscribers Nokia installed Core technologies will be enhanced to support 5G, implementing a cloud-native architecture, powered by the Nokia AirFrame data center solution , Subscriber Data Management, CloudBand and Cloud Packet Core Subscriber Data Management, CloudBand and Cloud Packet Core Nokia Mobile Anyhaul framework to enable ultra-broadband connectivity Nokia Digital Experience and Monetization solutions will support 5G device management and Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) solutions Nokia CloudBand Management and Orchestration (MANO) software suite will automate cloud application deployment and lifecycle management Nokia NetAct virtualized network management software provides capabilities for troubleshooting, assurance, administration, software management and configuration, and managing the smooth evolution to 5G Nokia Global Services expertise, including automation to speed the rollout and analytics to help optimize network performance Tags: 5G, LTE Connect with Nokia Subscribe to receive information on specific areas of interest Website Blog Twitter LinkedIn Facebook About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry's most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing. Nokia is enabling the infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things, and shaping the future of technology to transform the human experience. nokia.com Media Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com The statement was made by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam at an early spring press conference held at Nhan Dan (People) Newspapers headquarters in Hanoi on February 27. The event was also attended by Politburo member, Secretary of Party Central Committee (PCC) and Head of the PCCs Commission for Communication and Education Vo Van Thuong. On behalf of the Government, Deputy PM Dam extended his best greetings to the senior journalists and press agencies around the country on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. He noted that the media reflected the peoples voice in a lively and truthful manner, as well as being an effective policy advice channel for the Government. The Deputy PM asked the press to overcome all difficulties in order to fulfill their tasks in communication this year, particularly any issues related to the renewal of state enterprises and the application of advances in information and technology. The press agencies should closely co-ordinate with the ministries and agencies concerned to continue to effectively implement the press planning, he added. Since the beginning of 2018, the media has focused on communicating socio-economic missions, as well as reflecting the care from the Party and State for the people and the festive atmosphere around the country on the occasion of the Lunar New Year. At the press conference (Credit: VGP) Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) will invest around USD 200 million in India's first sovereign wealth fund NIIF, said AIIB president Jin Liqun here today. Beijing-based AIIB, which started functioning in 2016, has committed over USD 1 billion in five infrastructure projects in India and proposes to take 12 more projects envisaging assistance of USD 3.5 billion. Talking to PTI, Jin said the bank would focus on funding infrastructure projects in road, energy and transport sector. "We are working on some other projects also. For instance, the Indian government attaches importance to NIIF, the initial fund might be USD 1 billion, we may be chipping in USD 200 million," he said. The projects being currently funded by AIIB in India include Bangalore Metro Rail Project, Transmission System Strenghning Project, Gujarat Rural Road Project and Power Project in Andhra Pradesh. Jin is in India for the third Annual General Meeting of the AIIB to be held in Mumbai on June 25-26. The AIIB chief yesterday called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who asked the AIIB to showcase and demonstrate successful projects. "We had very good meeting with the prime minister. We discussed the broad issues of cooperation between AIIB and India. And I told the prime minister I am very much pleased to see, India as the second largest shareholder of AIIB. India is playing a very important role in the running the bank," he said. The AIIB, he said will continue to support India's infrastructure sector, especially help in reducing the traffic congestion and increase rural connectivity. As of December 31, 2017, AIIB's board has approved 24 projects with a total amount of USD 4.23 billion in 14 member countries, including up to USD 1.07 billion in funding of five projects in India. The government had set up the Rs 40,000-crore National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF) in December 2016 as an investment vehicle for funding commercially viable greenfield, brownfield and stalled projects. It was envisioned as a mother fund with several sectoral feeder funds. business All NPA accounts above Rs 50cr of PSU banks to be examined for fraud: Experts discuss All non-performing asset (NPA) accounts above Rs 50 crore of public sector undertaking (PSU) banks to be examined for possible fraud. VGCL President Cuong, who is also the WFTU Vice President, joined the Presidium of the conference at the opening ceremony. The conference is scheduled to ratify the 2017 financial and operation reports of WFTU, while discussing measures to improve the organisations performance in 2018 and its theme for 2019, with a focus on training. After the opening speech by the WFTU, the participants were briefed on the hosts socio-economic development, labour, and the role of its trade union in policy-making, as well as its national action plans on poverty eradication, inequality abolishment, employment growth and the labourers voice. Essar Steel Moneycontrol News Ahead of the crucial March 5-meeting between the resolution professional (RP) and Committee of Creditors on Essar Steels auction, murmurs of a possible delay in the process are getting louder. This follows increasing correspondence between the bidders and consultancy firm Grant Thornton and legal firm Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, both of whom are evaluating the bids. The resolution professional has to present the eligible bids to the Committee on March 5. The Committee, which consists of lenders, then approves one of the bids. ArcelorMittal and Numetal Ltd are the two bidders for Essar Steel, which was referred to the National Company Law Tribunal last year over unpaid bank loans of about Rs 45,000 crore. Yes, according to the original schedule, the RP should be meeting the CoC on March 5. But work (evaluation of bids) is still in progress and needs to be completed before the March 5 meeting, an executive in the know told Moneycontrol. The meeting could be postponed, he added. Both Grant Thornton and Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas have been corresponding with the two bidders almost daily, given the host of issues involved. For ArcelorMittal, its stake in Uttam Galva a defaulting company is turning out to be a millstone. According to the amendment in Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, a promoter of a defaulting company cant bid for stressed assets. While the Lakshmi Mittal-owned company had sold the stake before bidding for Essar Steel, questions remain. For Numetals, the problem lies in shareholder Rewant Ruias lineage. Rewant is the son of Ravi Ruia, one of the founders of Essar Steel and thus could be called a connected person. Rewants Aurora Enterprises owns 25 percent in Numetal. It is learnt that Numetal has now offered to buy out Rewants stake if it comes to that. Russias VTB Bank holds 40 percent and Indo International Trading and Tyazhpromexport (TPE), a leading Russian engineering firm, are the other shareholders. According to the proposal submitted by Numetal, the company has clarified that if any of the partner is found ineligible then its share will be bought out by the other three partners, said an executive. Representative Image Dubai-based quick service restaurant chain Doner & Gyros today announced its foray in the India market with plans to open about 200 stores in the country in the next 5-7 years. The company, which will open its first store latest by August this year, has earmarked an investment of Rs 200 crore in India. Doner & Gyros is currently present in 21 locations including London, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon. "One store will cost somewhere around Rs 1.5 crore and we plan to open 150 to 200 stores in the next 5-7 years that makes it around Rs 200 crore," Doner & Gyros CEO Nabi Naseeb told PTI. The QSR, which will compete with chains such as Dominos Pizza, McDonald's and KFC, is betting big on its products inspired by the street food of Berlin and Chicago. "Our products will be customised as per Indian market," Naseeb said adding that the company will take advantage to capitalise on products from Berlin and Chicago in Indian market. The QSR has signed a contract with FranGlobal, the overseas arm of franchise solutions company Franchise India Holdings Ltd for expansion in India. Fraud live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Even as the full extent of the fraud at Punjab National Bank (PNB) is being ascertained, bankers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that liabilities arising out of their employees' misdeeds are covered by insurance. There is an increase in the demand for higher limits and specialised covers from insurers. Amit Agarwal, director at JLT Independent Brokers, said that that they have received queries from 5-7 banking clients who have sought more information on these covers and want to cover these new-age risks. Typically, public sector banks have been buying asset insurance and on liability they have been typically buying D&O policies where the limits that they buy are phenomenally insignificant. On the bankers indemnity policy side, the way banking is done has significantly changed from the earlier times, so old policies may not cover new-age risks, Agarwal added. The PNB incident involved diamond merchant Nirav Modi colluding with some employees to get loans without collateral. The size of the scam is currently believed to be around Rs 12,700 crore. Sources said that several PSU banks have only taken covers of between Rs 2 crore and Rs 10 crore for employee frauds, which is grossly inadequate. Many instances of claims have been reported but not paid because they arise from new-age risks. Agarwal said that some larger public sector banks are in the process of buying cyber policies. A large private sector general insurance company has been in talks with a few public sector banks for increasing the size of the bankers indemnity policies and also add systematic frauds perpetrated by employees using internal systems. Subramanyam Brahmajosyula, Head - Underwriting & Reinsurance, SBI General Insurance said that while bankers' indemnity policies do cover criminal and dishonest acts by employees, either on their own or in connivance with others, in India, most banks have relied on their own audit or risk management functions to manage such risks, and insurance may offer nominal protection. He added the limits for covering such contingencies tend to be a relatively lower sum insured, a few crore rupees, which would be inadequate if the quantum involved is higher. The Indian market is usually divided into multiple buckets including public sector banks, very larger private banks and other private banks. While the larger private banks have taken adequate covers, industry players said that the smaller and large players in the public sector bank space have not taken adequate covers commensurate to their risks. Sanjay Datta, chief-underwriting, claims and reinsurance, ICICI Lombard General Insurance covers, said that discussions with banks have begun. The renewals happen for most policies on April 1 and this momentum will carry it, he said. Currently, the difference between PNB's exposure to the Nirav Modi scam and the bank's insurance cover against such instances is massive. But Datta said that these could be covered in the future. A typical bankers indemnity policy, which is taken by institutions across the board, covers money, securities and hypothecated goods against theft, burglary, fire and other natural catastrophe event or employee fraud. However, current policies do not cover risks perpetrated using the computer or online platforms. Sensex_Nifty India's stock market has witnessed a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13 per cent over the last four years, since Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, which demonstrates that investing in the country makes business sense, Commerce & Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu said today. The minister made the remarks in presence of the Prime Minister, who presided over the inaugural session of India-Korea Business Summit here. "The stock market in the last 4 years, ever since the Prime Minister has taken over the leadership, has grown by 13 per cent CAGR. It has returned 13 per cent compounded annual growth rate to the investors and that shows that investing in India makes business sense," Prabhu said. Addressing the summit organised by CII, the minister said difficulties will be addressed to realise the prime ministers vision of bringing more investments to India, particularly from Korea. Listing the areas for intensifying bilateral economic cooperation, Prabhu said India can export marine food products, chemicals, garments and leather to Korea. He said the two nations can collaborate in space technology and startups. The minister said India can offer a special area demarcated for Korean companies in the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor. We can give a special area demarcated for Korean companies in which everything will be Korean, and therefore under the Delhi-Mumbai industrial corridor some area can be identified only for Korean companies, said the minister. I hope such informal summits becomes a tradition between both the countries. I'll be happy, if in 2019, we can have such informal summit in India: PM Modi (Reuters) As Chinese Communist Party proposed to change the Constitution to let Xi remain in power beyond his scheduled term, experts in India say that its more than just scrapping of the two-year term policy for Chinese presidents and vice-presidents. They also caution that New Delhi should watch out its relationship with the Asian giant as the Chinese president is set to lead the country for an indefinite future. With plenty of time on his hand following the amendment in the term policy, Xi Jinping will get an opportunity to turn his nationalistic vision for China into a reality. That may sound an alarm bell for India, which shares an on-again, off-again relationship with the Asian giant. At one time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was seen accompanying Xi on his India visit, and then both were seen agreeing to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border for improving bilateral ties. However, there have been far more moments of troubles. To name a few -- the Doklam issue, Chinas heightened activity in the Indian Ocean region, Indias opposition to Xis One Belt, One Road (OBOR) and growing closeness of Maldives and Pakistan with China, which has worried India. A closed sign hangs on the drive through of a KFC restaurant after problems with a new distribution system in Coalville, Britain, February 19, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Staples - RC1A614DBE30 KFC UK which ran out of chickens in its 700 out of 900 outlets last week delivered a lesson in PR crisis management with a humorous full-page advertisement published in newspapers next day. The fast-food franchise put out an advert which read, FCK! Were sorrya play on the letters present in its name. "A chicken restaurant without any chicken. It's not ideal. Huge apologies to our customers, especially those who travelled out of their way to find we were closed," KFC apologised. The supply fiasco happened as KFC changed its suppliers from Bidvest to DHL, which is using one warehouse near Rugby for its deliveries across the UK. DHL apologised for the debacle and blamed operational issues for it. It's been a hell of a week, but we're making progress, and every day more and more fresh chicken is being delivered to our restaurants. Thank you for bearing with us," the KFC advertisement further added. Among the PR circle and on social media, the advertisement was hailed as "a masterclass in PR crisis management". KFC apologises with a full page ad in today's Metro. A masterclass in PR crisis management.#KFCCrisis pic.twitter.com/ZF4SfAuHl5 Andrew Bloch (@AndrewBloch) February 23, 2018 Founder and Group Managing Director of Frank PR, Andrew Blotch said on Twitter, KFC apologises with a full page ad in today's Metro. A masterclass in PR crisis management. Another user, a motivational speaker said it was a brilliant advert. An advert like this is almost enough to make me want to get back into advertising... kudos to @KFC_UKI #advertising #KFC pic.twitter.com/uW7iRrmbHz Marian Arnold-Lawson (@MarketingMaz) February 23, 2018 Sensex_Nifty A sharp fall in banks, especially PSU banks, along with weakness in metals as well as midcaps ensured that the market ended the day on a lower note, despite a strong start. The Sensex has ended around 99 points lower, while the Nifty has managed to close well below 10,600. Selloff in PSU banks was seen after Punjab National Bank fell around 12 percent as it clarified that the estimated amount of the scam could go up by another Rs 1,300 crore. Other banks such as Oriental Bank of Commerce, State Bank of India and Bank of India fell around 2-8 percent. Select auto names were in focus despite an overall downtrend day. Hero MotoCorp ended as an index gainer at 2%. "It was a volatile day on the bourses as stock markets in India oscillated between the positive and negative zones. While both the benchmark Sensex and the Nifty rose to their highest level since 8th February, 2018 in early trade, a bout of profit booking and selling pressure by cautious investors dragged the indices lower into negative territory to finally close the day with losses of nearly 0.25%. Investors also chose to adopt a more defensive stance with one eye on the US Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's highly-anticipated testimony, later in the global day," said Karthikraj Lakshmanan, Senior Fund Manager-Equities, BNP Paribas Mutual Fund in a statement. Among precious metals, gold maintained its upward trend for the fourth day today, climbing Rs 190 to Rs 31,850 per 10 grams, largely in line with a firm trend overseas amid sustained buying by local jewellers. However, silver slipped by Rs 150 to Rs 39,550 per kg due to reduced offtake by industrial units and coin makers. Traders said sentiment in gold remained strong following positive trend overseas on the back of a weaker dollar, while investors awaited US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's first congressional testimony for clues on the future pace of monetary tightening. Among stocks, shares of cement majors, ACC and Ambuja Cements slipped 2-4 percent as the merger between the companies has been called at this juncture. A limitation in transferring mining assets has led to ACC and Ambuja Cements (ACL) from dropping plans to merge their business, at least for the present. Meanwhile, Punjab National Bank fell below Rs 100-mark and closed around 12 percent lower. The state-run bank said the amount of fraudulent transactions could be Rs 1,300 crore more than the current estimate of about Rs 11,400 crore. Jain Irrigation Systems added nearly ended half a percent lower after gaining 1 percent as its subsidiary has acquired Belgium-based Innovafood N V. Shares of Coffee Day Enterprises added 1 percent as KKR Mauritius has sold 5.9 percent stake in the company. Mercator surged 50 percent on the back of DGH approval for field development plan (FDP). Meanwhile, State Bank of India ended over 2.50 percent lower. Macquarie has maintained its neutral stance on the stock. Going forward, experts are asking investors to keep an eye on the consolidation in market. In the near term, the market participants will look forward to key economic data such as Nikkei Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), Fiscal Deficit and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) scheduled to be released this week. We expect further consolidation in Smallcap and Midcap stocks before any upmove in the broader market indices, Jayant Manglik, President, Religare Broking said in a statement. In global markets, European stocks traded higher, as investors monitored the release of economic data and awaited Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's highly-anticipated testimony later in the session. Asian markets closed mixed, with several indexes giving up early gains as mainland China stocks finished the day in negative territory. Mainland stocks closed lower after recording sharp gains in the last session, although small caps bucked the trend. The benchmark Shanghai composite lost 1.14 percent to close at 3,291.53 while the Shenzhen composite shed 0.34 percent. With close to 6.50 crore folios, mutual fund industry has been growing and the industry has close to 1.54 crore unique investors, said NS Venkatesh, Chief Executive Officer, Association of Mutual Funds in India. We have 1.54 crore unique pan with 4 folios each. This is thanks to unattractive returns from traditional financial investments like FDs (fixed deposits) and untiring efforts of distributors who bring in household savings to the mutual fund fold, Venkatesh said at a recent CIFA 2018 event organized by Cafemutual. According to the data on AMFI website, Rs 6,644 crore came into mutual funds in January, capping ten months of robust inflows as benchmark equity indices repeatedly hit records. Until January, the industry mobilised Rs 53,500 crore, adding about a million SIP accounts every month, with an average SIP size of Rs 3,300. The rise in Sensex has also helped. In the last one year, until today, BSE has risen slightly over 28 percent to close at 34,346 level. Venkatesh also said that AMFI is confident of achieving new milestones considering the growing popularity of systematic investment plans and increasing distribution footprint across the country. Speaking about the increasing number of SIP accounts, he said that the mutual fund industry has close to 2 crore SIP accounts as on January 2018. The industry added about 9.26 lakh SIP accounts each month on an average during FY 2017-18. SIP is an investment plan (methodology) offered by mutual funds wherein one could invest a fixed amount in a mutual fund scheme periodically at fixed intervals say, once a month instead of making a lump-sum investment. The SIP instalment amount could be as small as Rs 500 per month. SIP is similar to a recurring deposit where you deposit a small /fixed amount every month. SIP is a very convenient method of investing in mutual funds through standing instructions to debit your bank account every month, without the hassle of having to write out a cheque each time. SIP has been gaining popularity among Indian MF investors, as it helps in rupee cost averaging and also in investing in a disciplined manner without worrying about market volatility and timing the market. Along with ease of investing it also gives the diversification benefits, most investors prefer mutual funds to equities or bonds. Venkatesh attributed this to the increased awareness about mutual funds and good fund performance. He said that the mutual fund sahi hai campaign has received overwhelming response from investors. It is been nearly 1 years since we have launched the campaign. From upcoming financial year, we will roll out the second phase of this campaign. We hope that we would continue get encouraging results from this campaign. The Deputy PM made the remark in Hanoi on February 27 at a reception for ITC Executive Director Arancha Gonzalez, who is on a working visit to Vietnam from February 26-28. As most of small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam, which account for around 97% of firms in the country, have found it difficult to approach information about the international market, he called on the ITC to form information channels to facilitate Vietnamese businesses access to market information and help them make more effective business decisions. He also hoped that the ITC would give consultancy to help the Vietnamese Government build a strategy to support its enterprises in taking part in the global supply and value chains. Touching upon the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), he urged the ITC Executive Director and the ITC to back and speed up the signing and ratification of the agreement while helping Vietnam to improve its capacity so that the country could fully and effectively realise the trade pacts commitments. For her part, ITC Executive Director Gonzalez pledged to help businesses in developing countries, including Vietnam, gain access to information, expand markets and participate deeper in the global value chain. The ITC director also expressed her hope that parties will soon sign and ratify the EVFTA as it will bring practical benefits to the EU and its members through expanding and diversifying markets and connecting more closely with the Asian-Pacific and Southeast Asian regions. Delegates at the reception (Photo: MOFA) 11:30 That's all for today, readers. Thanks for staying on with our coverage of the day's action. Your enthusiasm encourages us to better our coverage every day. Do come back tomorrow for more news, views and insights. 10:52 That completes the inaugural session. 10:50 We have worked towards creating a stable business environment, removing arbitrariness in decision making. We seek positivity in day to day transactions. We are widening areas of trust. This represents a complete change of the Govts mindset: PM Modi at India-Korea Business Summit 10:48 India is now ready for business. We value our investment and. at a personal level, I assure you of my support. 10:42 "Korea Plus has facilitated 100 investors in India in two years," PM Modi 10:42 We have eliminated 1400 old laws and acts which were .FDI inflows have grown the most in the last three years. A new startup ecosystem has unveiled. Our strategy is to leverage the hundred of Indians which are coming online. On the global front, India has climbed 42 places in the World Bank's Ease of Doing business index. We moved up to 90 places in the World Logistics index, 32 places in the global competitiveness index to World Economic Forum and 22 places in global innovation index, says PM Modi. 10:34 India offers a lot of potential for huge investment and enabling business policies.We have created a stable business environment, with enabling rule of law, by creating minimum government and maximum governance. Through such measures, we expect to increase ease of living. We are on a deregularisation drive, says PM Modi. 10:32 India offers a lot of potential for huge investment and enabling business policies.We have created a stable business environment, with enabling rule of law, by creating minimum government and maximum governance. Through such measures, we expect to increase ease of living. We are on a deregularisation drive. 10:29 I admire the spirit of entrepreneurship of the Korean people. I admire the way in which they have created and sustained their global brands. From IT and Electronics to Automobile and Steel, Korea has given exemplary products to the world says PM Narendra Modi. 10:28 Korean companies can help Indian startups scale globally, says Suresh Prabhu 09:57 "The presence of this Korean delegation shows the interest that the has. The tradewas close to USD 17 billion in 2017.India FDI is touching 3 billion. Market cap of companies exceeding USD 1 trillion, This is trillion is key to turning India from a USD 2 trillion economy to USD 5 trillion economy by 2025. We two large asian economies must work together," says Shobhana Kamineni, President, CII speaks to give the Indian perspective., President, CII. 09:57 Shobhana Kamineni, President, CII speaks to give the Indian perspective., President, CII speaks to give the Indian perspective. 09:55 At around 10:15 AM today, PM @narendramodi will address the India-Korea Business Summit in Delhi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to address the business summit in New Delhi at 10:15 am today. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Shares of Jain Irrigation Systems added nearly 3 percent intraday Tuesday as its subsidiary has acquired Belgium-based Innovafood N V. Jain Farm Fresh Foods, a subsidiary of comapny through its multi generation wholly owned subsidiary in Belgium has acquired 100 percent stake in Innovafood N V. Belgium and its affiliate companies. This acquisition will help Jain Farm Fresh Foods to get one step closer to the market, have direct presence in large food ingredients market, bring cost efficiencies by optimizing supply chain and provide market access and further value addition opportunities in food ingredients market directly, company said in release. No government of regulatory approvals are required to complete this transaction. Anil Jain, Chairman of Jain Farm Fresh Foods said, "We are delighted to be able to make this investment in a very dynamic, growth-oriented company. Innovafood and Jain have enjoyed a very close relationship in the past. We are looking forward to see Innovafood become much larger entity under Jain umbrella." At 09:50 hrs Jain Irrigation Systems was quoting at Rs 122.20, up Rs 2.25, or 1.88 percent on the BSE. Posted by Rakesh Patil Headed by Sundar Pichai, Google is one of the most valued companies in the world. But, they do not let it go to their heads as their slogan is simple, "Don't be evil". Google's parent company Alphabet has detailed how it makes decisions regarding its dozen different businesses, with India-born Sundar Pichai wielding a lot of power over the search giant, a media report has said. According to documents to the US Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), since Google blew up its corporate structure to form Alphabet in late 2015, it now separates its financials between Google and its "Other Bets". Other Bets currently include 11 different companies, like self-driving car unit Waymo and healthcare arm Verily, CNBC reported. Late last year, the SEC asked Alphabet for specific details around how much decision-making power Alphabet CEO Larry Page has on individual Google businesses, and the different kinds of information given to Page versus president Sergey Brin and Google CEO Pichai, among other things. Alphabet CEO Page receives regular financial information about every Alphabet company but doesn't allocate resources to individual product areas within Google or within individual Other Bets. That hands-off relations played out dramatically in the case of Nest, the company Google acquired for USD 3.2 billion in 2014. When Nest spun-out as an Alphabet unit, the two companies had no incentive to work together and ended up building similar products. Ultimately, Alphabet decided to roll Nest back into Google earlier this month. Pichai, 45, also does not have authority over Alphabet's overall resource allocation to Google. He has no authority over parent company's "Other Bets" nor has any decision-making power over them despite the search giant counted for all of Alphabet's profit and more than 98 percent of its revenue in its last quarter. But Pichai has a lot of power over Google, the report said. He receives weekly and quarterly reports which include individual financial information for Google product areas, including YouTube, advertising, and hardware, and include operating results, capital expenditures, and headcount for Google as a whole. Neither Page nor his co-founder, Alphabet President Sergey Brin, receive the weekly and quarterly reports received by Pichai, the report said. Without Page's approval, Pichai can commit Google to non-standard licensing or similar arrangements, investments, mergers and acquisitions, and other commitments up to a set dollar threshold. Also, capital expenditures, real estate, commercial arrangements, including licensing, partnership and revenue generating agreements and other similar transactions and expenditures up to a set dollar threshold. Although Susan Wojcicki and Diane Greene both have "CEO" titles within Google, for YouTube and Cloud respectively, Pichai is the only Google executive who reports directly to and maintains regular contact with Page. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More It's been a whirlwind of a year for Rajiv Nair, who joined Kaya Ltd as the chief executive officer in November 2016. We have made a lot of changes in the last one year. It has been a year for me as well in Kaya. So what we have done is one is rather than just looking at expansion, we have tried to refresh the brand, Nair told Moneycontrol in an interview. Before joining Kaya, he was CEO of the French men's wear brand Celio. At Kaya, apart from rebranding the clinics and expanding product portfolio, Nair has cut prices and given a push to network expansion. The steps have already yielded fruits with the company's revenues growing by 40 per cent since Nair joined. Taking advantage of technology, Nair now intends to launch a progressive web app through which customers can book appointments for the required service or treatment. Excerpts from the interview: Q: With so much change happening in technology and a lot of focus on Ayurveda, where does Kaya stand and are there any plans for expansion? We have made a lot of changes in the last one year. It has been a year for me as well in Kaya. So what we have done is rather than just looking at expansion, we have tried to refresh the brand. The tonality of the brand is changing, which means even the logo of the brand is changing from Kaya Skin Clinic to Kaya Clinic. We will now give you a portfolio of services and won't focus on skin only. We are trying to make a mark in hair and largely our focus has always been women customers. Our focus is to build a portfolio of services like we did in skin. We started a year ago and we have grown by more than 30-40 percent. So from 43-44 stock keeping units (SKU) of products, we are now at 70 SKUs. Hair is a bigger market than skin and in the services space, we will make hair a bigger player than skin. We have also invested a lot into technology in the last six months. How many stores do you have? We 103 stores of our own in 26 cities and we have close to 128 points of sale for our products. So these 128 points of sale are additional? Yes, those are in addition to the 103 stores. Those are shop-in-shops, so the pharmacy chains, high end beauty stores which are not really organised beauty stores. We want to reach out to more customers and we are building a portfolio product which is also quite easy to access in terms of pricing. Earlier our products would be priced at Rs 1,200, Rs 1,500, Rs 2,000, now there are enough products in the Rs 500-700 segment, Rs 300-500 segment. Are you sourcing these products? We are manufacturing through contract manufacturing. The formula is ours, so we do not really pick somebody else's formula and brand it and sell it. Most of our products are developed by us. And while redesigning the stores, how steadily are you expanding the number of stores? In our portfolio, we have exactly three stores, which are suspect locations. There are about nine stores of ours which are EBITDA negative, but the 90 stores that we have are EBITDA positive. We will ensure that we are able to make them load our corporate costs into it and make it a profitable proposition. Are you also planning to come out with an app? We are contemplating between having a native app or a progressive web app. Have you seen an increase in the number of footfalls compared to last year? We have about 7-8 percent growth in consumers, but more importantly, what we have seen also is our number of visits per consumer has gone from somewhere close to 5.5 in a year to about 6.11 in the last nine months. What is the pricing of your products on an average? A huge amount of change has happened in pricing right now in Kaya. For example, now you can buy one facial at Rs 1,999 in Kaya, which was earlier in the range of Rs 3,000-3,500. A full body hair free package which we used to do with laser used to be above Rs 1 lakh but at present it is available for Rs 69,900. So there has been a 10-15 percent drop in our pricing. So how many stores can we expect in a year? I would say 5-6 stores in a year because our investments in clinics are fairly high. They are not low priced. In the PAT level, you have profitability? No, actually we are at an EBITDA level positive, but at a PAT level we are not positive. We also have an international business which is in the Middle East which are the last couple of quarters we have had some problems because of the Saudi issues but now that is stabilising. After trickling down to the masses, the qualities and the standards have been in place and the investment across Kaya. So are your margins growing or reducing? Margins are in fact growing. So last year, at the same time for the last quarter number, year-to-date, we were at 76 percent margin . Last two quarters, we were at 79 percent margin. So margins are growing but we are reducing cost. We have to focus on cost reductions but at a clinic level, we are profitable. So, what would be the number? There are only 2-3 stores that are there in the business who are eating into our profitability. Store profitability is our concern. 21:44 Sridevi's mortal remains have reached Mumbai from Dubai and the funeral will take place tomorrow. 21:41 Plane carrying mortal remains of Sridevi has reached Mumbai airport. An ambulance from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital is at the airport to take her body to Boney Kapoors residence. 20:39 An ambulance from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital is at the airport to take her body to Boney Kapoors residence, reports News 18. Security has been stepped up. 20:37 Sridevi's mortal remains are being carried in the Embraer aircraft which is likely to land in Mumbai at around 09:30 pm, says a senior Mumbai airport official. The Embraer aircraft carrying Sridevis mortal remains departed from Dubai around 7 pm (IST), a senior Mumbai airport official said. It is expected to land in Mumbai around 9.30 pm. An ambulance from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital is at the airport to take her body to Boney Kapoors residence. Security has been stepped up. 20:08 From romance to comedy to satire - there is no genre that the Sridevi had not mastered. While the industry shall not see the diva any longer on the silver screen, memories of her in the glowing orange chiffon sari, letting her hair down to Har kisiko nahi milta shall linger on. A walk through the biggest box office hits in the actors career. Himmatwala (1983)- made close to Rs 12 crore at the box office Sadma (1983)- made Rs 2 crore at the box office Jaanbaaz (1986)- A super hit that clocked close to Rs 4.75 crore at the box office Mr. India (1987)- An outright hit that made approximately Rs 5 crore at the box office Chaalbaaz (1989)- It clocked close to Rs 4 crore at the box office 19:47 The Kapoor family has released an official statement giving out details of the funeral and last rites of the legendary actor Sridevi, reports News 18. "On behalf of Khushi, Janhvi, Boney Kapoor, the entire Kapoor and Ayyappan families, a sincere thanks to the media for your continued sensitivity and support during this emotional moment. Kindly find all the details for tomorrow: 1. Condolences and last respects:Date & Time : 28th Feb Wednesday, 9.30 am to 12.30 pmAddress: Celebration Sports Club Garden No 5, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400053 The last journey will commence at 2 pm from Celebration Sports Club to Pawan Hans. 2. Cremation CeremonyAddress : Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery, Next to Pawan Hans, SV Road, Vile Parle West Date & Time : 28th Feb 3.30 pm onwards" 19:25 After completion of all local processes, mortal remains of Sridevi are now enroute to Mumbai, said Indian Envoy to UAE Navdeep Suri. 19:02 Last respects to late actress Sridevi will be paid at Celebrations Sports club in Mumbai between 9:30 am to 12:30 pm tomorrow, cremation will take place at Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium after 3:30 pm. 17:29 Indian consulate will now cancel the passport of late actor Sridevi and post all the formalities are complete. 17:26 Mortal remains of Sridevi has reached Dubai airport. 16:55 Sridevi's mortal remains will reach Mumbai by late evening. 16:53 The embalming process is complete and the mortal remains of Sridevi is being taken to the airport. 16:31 Sridevi's funeral is expected to take place at Pawan Hans in Mumbai tomorrow. 16:30 Sridevi's family has been given the death certificate and media reports say that the actor's mortal remains will be flown to India in a private jet which will depart from Dubai by around 18:30 pm IST. The chartered plane belongs to industrialist Anil Ambani. 16:28 Dubai Police has given clean chit to Boney Kapoor. 16:07 Sridevi's mortal remains will be flown back to India in a private jet. 15:52 What we know so far -Dubai police has closed Sridevi's case-Body has been handed over to the family, said Dubai government -Actor's body has reached the embalming centre 15:28 What is the embalming process? Embalming is the process of preserving the human body after death to delay decomposition. The body is drained of blood and gases and pumped with replacement fluids to temporarily slow its disintegration. While embalming is fairly common, it is rarely necessary or required by law -- contrary to popularly held opinion. 15:27 Sridevi's nephew, Mohit Marwah, has claimed the body from morgue in Dubai. The actor's body will reach the embalming centre. The process was on hold for last two days due to the ongoing investigation. Her body will be taken to Al Muhaisana for the 90 minute process. 15:07 Prosecutor is trying to rule out foul play. In case, prosecutor finds something wrong, the case will be given back to the Dubai cops, Vicky Kapur, Executive Editor, Khaleej Times told CNN News 18. 15:04 Dubai police have questioned Boney Kapoor for the third time since forensics report suggest that Sridevi was deeply bruised on her head, reports Aisanet News. 15:00 Some unknown facts about Sridevi -Sridevi refused a role offered by Steven Spielberg in Jurassic park owing to her reluctance to take a hiatus from Bollywood. -Sridevi was given a dual role in Baazigar. But, she was not casted as director thought that it would have overwhelmed the audience watching Shah Rukh Khans character kill her on screen. -Bollywoods first female superstar Sridevi was the highest-paid Hindi films actress from 1985-1992. -Unable to speak Hindi during her debut in Hindi film industry, the versatile actress learned it and first dubbed her dialogues for the film Chandni. 14:54 Amar Singh says Sridevi did not consume hard liquor Politician Amar Singh told ANI on Monday that Sridevi never consumed hard liquor. His statement came after the Dubai Forensic Department released an autopsy communique stating that traces of alcohol were found in Sridevi's body. Singh, a family friend of Sridevi, said, "Sridevi ji did not drink hard liquor, she used to have wine sometimes like me and like many others in public life. I have talked to Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Al Nahyan, he assured me that all formalities and reports are complete. Her mortal remains should reach India by midnight." The autopsy report, carried by UAEs Khaleej Times states that the veteran actress died due to "accidental drowning" in the hotel bathtub. However, initial reports had suggested that she suffered from a massive cardiac arrest. Sridevi was in Dubai for her nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding at the time of her demise on February 24. 14:53 Ram Gopal Varma takes to social media Film maker Ram Gopal Varma took to Twitter to express himself. On Tuesday, he tweeted, And so on her body lies in the cold storage, Effigy of a bygone age, Waiting for the cruel facts to adjudge, While the world waits to pay homage, Can she ever really. RIP? Though God so cruelly took away a Goddess like Sridevi from amongst us, we still have her permanently etched on our screens I hate god for taking her away from us forever but I love Louis Lumiere for creating the movie camera for her beauty to stay with us forever, he said in another tweet. The film maker also posted a blog on Facebook titled, My Love Letter To Sridevis Fans, explaining how difficult life had been her right from her childhood. 14:50 Subramanian Swamy calls it a 'murder' News agency ANI quoted Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy as saying, If you ask my opinion I'll tell you that I think it's murder." Let's wait for prosecution to pronounce it. Facts in media don't appear to be consistent. She never drank hard liquor, how did it enter her system? What happened to CCTV? Doctors suddenly appeared before media and said she died of heart failure, Swami said. 14:48 Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy today said that he thinks Sridevis demise was a murder while Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh said that she did not drink hard liquor, contradicting the Dubai Forensic Departments autopsy communique. 14:47 Dubai Police has handed over letters for release of Sridevi's mortal remains to the Indian consulate and her family members, so that they can proceed for embalming, reports Khaleej Times. The Indian film industry lost one of its iconic actor Sridevi, who ruled the big screen for decades last week on Saturday. The actor was found dead in a hotel room in Dubai and the forensic team post investigation had revealed that she had died due to accidental drowning. The report also said that alcohol traces were found in Sridevi's body. Around 70,000 co-operative Housing Societies (CHS) in Maharashtra will have to register under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime as their annual turnover (collections) is likely to exceed the Rs 20-lakh mark, according to a report by The Times of India. Out of the 70,000 such societies, as many as 50,000 are in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), senior co-operative officials have confirmed. Transfer fee, which is paid by incoming and outgoing members to the society, contributes to the society's annual turnover. The model bylaws under the Maharashtra Co-operative Societies Act has placed a cap of Rs 25,000 on such transfer fees. However, in reality, the fees exceed the limit and run into lakhs, the report states. Ramesh Prabhu, chairman of the Maharashtra Societies Welfare Association told the newspaper, In such instances, any transfer fee paid to the society by the new owner on exchange of ownership of flat will be taxable under GST at 18%. After a society is registered under the GST regime, it must comply with the provisions of the reverse charge mechanism. Under this mechanism, if the society makes payments to unregistered service providers such as cleaners, plumbers and electricians, the society will have to bear 18 percent GST on such transactions and must file relevant forms on the GSTN portal. Government had earlier stated that GST will be levied on maintenance charges collected from house owners only if the societys annual collection is Rs 20 lakh or more and the monthly maintenance charge is more than Rs 5,000 per member. Days after Aam Aadmi Party legislator Prakash Jarwalwas was accused of assaulting Delhis Chief Secretary, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government is planning to live-stream all its meetings with bureaucrats, according to a report by the The Times of India. According to the plan, even Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals meetings with bureaucrats will be live-streamed so that the people can understand how the political executive and the bureaucracy play a crucial role in governance, the report said. The live-streaming of such meetings will include audio and would be accessible to the public. However, no confidential meeting will be live-streamed. The mechanism is likely to add transparency to how planning and processing of various projects happens at the highest level and open them to public scrutiny. A cabinet note may be prepared in the coming weeks and the matter may be taken up for discussion after that, the report has said. The Delhi government is also planning to develop a file-tracking system that will be accessible to the public. The system will give details about who held the file for how many days, remarks of the officers and the political executive on it. A government official told the newspaper, The live feed would be available on a dedicated website where people could hear who spoke what in the meetings. With the file-tracking plan, we want to put every noting and detail of each file pending at each stage on the website so that people can know which officer or which political functionary held up the file for how many days. The forthcoming Delhi budget is likely to allocate funds for the plan if it is approved in time. PYONGYANG, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea on Monday agreed to further cooperate in pushing forward the efforts for inter-Korean detente in a balanced way to build lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. A high-level DPRK delegation which was visiting South Korea also promised to work with South Korea in enhancing inter-Korean ties in a sustainable manner. According to a news release issued by South Korea, Kim Yong Chol, the chief DPRK delegate, said at a closed-door meeting with Chung Eui-yong, top national security advisor for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, that the DPRK would also keep doors open for future dialogues with the Untied States. Kim, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, attended the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Sunday evening before going to Seoul for talks with South Korean officials. PYONGYANG DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM In a commentary published on Monday, the DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said to improve the inter-Korean relations and ensure durable peace on the Korean Peninsula is an indispensable prerequisite for national reunification. The two sides have grasped the opportunity of PyeongChang Olympics to start a peace process, which has led to the realization of visits by two high-level DPRK delegations to South Korea, and some early agreements to ease tension, such as opening communication lines between the two militaries. "This year opened a dramatic opportunity of turn for peace, stability and reunification of the Korean Peninsula," said the KCNA in the commentary. It also praised the international community for supporting the inter-Korean relations entering "a phase of reconciliation, unity and detente" from dangerous tension which lasted nearly one decade. Meeting with the first delegation members when they returned from South Korea on Feb. 12, top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un expressed his willingness to further promote the momentum of inter-Korean detente. WIDE SUPPORT BY SOUTH KOREANS After successfully hosting the PyeongChang Olympics, the rate of approval of Moon has soared to a record high, showing wide support by South Koreans for the peace moves with the north. Moon met with the two delegations without hesitation and expressed his intention to make breakthroughs in relations with the DPRK and maintain the process of rapprochement, despite opposition from some right-wing parties. Moon has also won support from the international community, and was praised by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach for making the PyeongChang Olympics one of peace games which pushed the Olympics to a higher horizon. KOREAN SPRING IN SIGHT? After the 2018 Winter Olympics, many expect that a "Korean Spring" may be coming. While many have expressed doubt whether the process can continue after the PyeongChang Olympics due to differences over how to handle the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs, the dramatic change of the situation on the Korean Peninsula so far this year has given enough reasons for optimism to some extent. The KCNA said in the commentary that the DPRK will "bravely overcome all the adversities of history with concerted efforts of the nation and more vigorously struggle for durable peace on the Korean Peninsula and national reunification." The commentary in the meantime expressed vigilance against efforts by forces in and outside the peninsula to derail the peace process. Related News Xinhuanet Spotlight: Momentum of inter-Korean detente gives hope of lasting peace Source: Xinhua2018-02-26 23:19:00 PYONGYANG, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and South Korea on Monday agreed to further cooperate in pushing forward the efforts for inter-Korean detente in a balanced way to build lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. A high-level DPRK delegation which was visiting South Korea also promised to work with South Korea in enhancing inter-Korean ties in a sustainable manner. According to a news release issued by South Korea, Kim Yong Chol, the chief DPRK delegate, said at a closed-door meeting with Chung Eui-yong, top national security advisor for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, that the DPRK would also keep doors open for future dialogues with the Untied States. Kim, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, attended the closing ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Sunday evening before going to Seoul for talks with South Korean officials. PYONGYANG DETERMINED TO MAINTAIN MOMENTUM In a commentary published on Monday, the DPRK's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said to improve the inter-Korean relations and ensure durable peace on the Korean Peninsula is an indispensable prerequisite for national reunification. The two sides have grasped the opportunity of PyeongChang Olympics to start a peace process, which has led to the realization of visits by two high-level DPRK delegations to South Korea, and some early agreements to ease tension, such as opening communication lines between the two militaries. "This year opened a dramatic opportunity of turn for peace, stability and reunification of the Korean Peninsula," said the KCNA in the commentary. It also praised the international community for supporting the inter-Korean relations entering "a phase of reconciliation, unity and detente" from dangerous tension which lasted nearly one decade. Meeting with the first delegation members when they returned from South Korea on Feb. 12, top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un expressed his willingness to further promote the momentum of inter-Korean detente. WIDE SUPPORT BY SOUTH KOREANS After successfully hosting the PyeongChang Olympics, the rate of approval of Moon has soared to a record high, showing wide support by South Koreans for the peace moves with the north. Moon met with the two delegations without hesitation and expressed his intention to make breakthroughs in relations with the DPRK and maintain the process of rapprochement, despite opposition from some right-wing parties. Moon has also won support from the international community, and was praised by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach for making the PyeongChang Olympics one of peace games which pushed the Olympics to a higher horizon. KOREAN SPRING IN SIGHT? After the 2018 Winter Olympics, many expect that a "Korean Spring" may be coming. While many have expressed doubt whether the process can continue after the PyeongChang Olympics due to differences over how to handle the DPRK's nuclear and missile programs, the dramatic change of the situation on the Korean Peninsula so far this year has given enough reasons for optimism to some extent. Sri Devi | She was a veteran actress and India's first female superstar. Sri Devi's demise came as a shock to the country. On February 24, Sri Devi was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Dubai. She was only 54. Bollywood diva Sridevi's stepson Arjun Kapoor flew to Dubai today to be with his father Boney Kapoor as he wraps up formalities and takes the body home to Mumbai, the family said. The uncertainty over Sridevi's sudden death has intensified with no clarity on when her body would be released and officials saying there was no change in the situation on the ground as far as the investigation was concerned. The matter is with the Dubai Public Prosecution and would proceed only after a go-ahead from it, said officials. "Arjun has gone to Dubai this morning to be with his father at the hotel while the formalities are being wrapped up and to oversee the return journey, said an official statement from the family in Mumbai. The Dubai Police said on its Twitter handle yesterday that Sridevi drowned in her bathtub after she loss consciousness. However, a forensic report circulated on various media outlets used the term "accidental drowning" as the cause of her death. The 54-year-old actor, known as Indian cinema's first woman superstar, passed away in her hotel room in the Jumeirah Emirates Towers late on Saturday, leaving fans, family and friends stunned. The Dubai Police said in a tweet yesterday that it had transferred the case to the Dubai Public Prosecution which will carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases. "Following the completion of post-mortem analysis, Dubai police headquarters today stated that the death of the Indian actress Sridevi occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartment's bathtub following loss of consciousness," it said. The police had yesterday recorded the statement of her filmmaker husband Boney Kapoor, who reportedly discovered Sridevi unconscious in the bathtub filled with water. She was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. Dubai-based Gulf News said in a report the actor was under the influence of alcohol. She fell into the bathtub and drowned, it added. However, this could not be independently confirmed. Gulf News also attached a copy of the UAE government's forensic report on its Twitter handle. The report, citing accidental drowning as the cause of death, has a stamp of the "Ministry of Health UAE" and the director of preventive medicine, Dubai, Dr Sami Wadie. The report mentioned the actor's full name, Sreedevi Boney Kapoor Ayyappan, her passport number, date of the incident (February 24, 2018) and the cause of death. Indian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Navdeep Singh Puri has asked the public not to speculate over the cause of her death. "We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well- wishers. We share their pain," Puri tweeted. "Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise. Let's be responsible," he said. The Dubai police informed the Indian Embassy yesterday that another "clearance" was awaited before the body could be released. Sridevi was in Dubai for a family wedding and had stayed back after the ceremonies. Her husband had flown back to Mumbai with their younger daughter Khushi, but returned to Dubai to surprise her. The news of her death, first reported at around 3 a.m. IST on Sunday, sent shock waves across India with those who knew her at a loss to explain how the star, who was present at several wedding functions in Dubai last week, could suddenly breathe her last. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN-JUNE 25: Muslims perform the Eid al-Fitr prayer (Salat al Eid) at Shah-Do Shamshira Mosque in Kabul, Afghanistan on June 25, 2017. Eid al-Fitr is a religious holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world that marks the end of Ramadan, Islamic holy month of fasting. (Photo by Haroon Sabawoon/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images) Darul Uloom - more than 150 years old seminary in Deoband - has backed the fatwa issued by Saudi Arabian clerics which terms the practice of using Quranic verses (ayats) as ringtone in mobile phones as un-Islamic. The phone caller may be in the toilet at the time the call is made. In such a state, hearing Quran ayats and azaan (call for prayer) as ringtone or caller tune is quite un-Islamic. Whether it is Arabia, India or any other part of the world, Islam is the same everywhere, so a fatwa issued in Arabia is no less important here, The Times of India quoted Mufti Arif Qasmi of fatwa cell at Darul Uloom. The fatwa echoes a similar diktat issued by a Kanpur-based organisation Jamia Ashraf-ul-Madaris. In 2009, the organisations cleric Ghyasuddin had declared using Quranic verses as ringtone un-Islamic as the phone could ring in a toilet as well which would be a sin. Qasmi also expressed similar reservations. If a person is in the toilet and heard Quranic ayats after the mobile phone rang, it would be a sin. Besides, most of the time, people answer calls midway, leaving the verses incomplete, which is again un-Islamic as an incomplete verse, sometimes, has a completely different meaning, he said. Qasmi also added that the fact that Hindu people using shloka and bhajans as ringtone does not concern Islam. I cant comment about other religions. But as far as Islam is concerned, using verses as ringtone goes against the sacred nature of the Quran, he added. The foot-over bridge (FOB) at Elphinstone Road in Mumbai will be open to public access from Tuesday, according to media reports. The bridge has been built by the Army's Bombay Sappers. It cost Rs 10.44 crore, according to a Mumbai Mirror report. The Elphinstone FOB will connect Parel station on the East side and Phool Wali Gali outside the Elphinstone Road station on the West side. The FOBs constructed at Currey Road and Ambivli will also be opened for public access, a senior railway official told the Times of India. Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel will be posted on the new FOBs to manage the crowd, the report adds. The report also says an inauguration function is likely to be held, which will be attended by Union Railway minister Piyush Goyal, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. The Elphinstone FOB will connect Parel station on the East side and Phool Wali Gali outside the Elphinstone Road station on the West side. The army began construction of the FOB after a stampede took place on September 29, 2017 at the FOB connecting Elphinstone and Parel stations. The stampede killed 23 people and injured 39. In a major gaffe, BJP MP Paresh Rawal on Tuesday tweeted a Google document carrying instructions for people to trend '#JhootiCongress' on social media. He later deleted the tweet. The document also included draft tweets possibly meant to be used by people. The document was shared by Rawal with the intent of starting #JhoothiCongress trend on social media. The note sought social media users' participation in trending #JhootiCongress. However, it remains unclear as to who was the creator of the document. The document read: "After enjoying decades in power, the Congress and Gandhi dynasty just cannot bear to be out of power. They will resort lies, slander and low level cunning to somehow capture power by hook or crook. Even national security is not a topic for them for remain circumspect about. They have spread lies on Doklam as well. Rahul Gandhi even got caught trying to meet the Chinese ambassador on the sly. Page 1 of the document shared by Paresh Rawal. This party will go to any level like spreading lies about FRDI Bill to scare people about banks, maliciously claiming they didnt meet Pakistanis during Gujarat elections while they did, and more. It is time to expose them. Let us trend #JhoothiCongress NOW and expose all their lies and remind them that the people are watching, it said. Shri @rsprasad will hold a press conference today at 4 pm at BJP HQ to bust the lies and fear spread by Rahul Gandhi and Congress party. Stay tuned for LIVE updates. #JhoothiCongress BJP (@BJP4India) February 27, 2018 The official BJP Twitter account as well as the National Information & Technology in-charge Amit Malviya had tweeted earlier using the '#JhootiCongress' hashtag. The document also had draft tweets in English and Hindi language. Several Twitter users immediately started using the hashtag and posting tweets mentioned in the document. One of the draft tweets, possibly meant for help social media users read, Congress lies even on national security. Randeep Surjewala claimed in press conference that Chinese came back to Doklam, only to be rebutted by Army Chief that Chinese presence in that part is status quo. #JhoothiCongress Whole bad loan problem created during UPA-2 rule. Modi Sarkar didnt waive any loan of businessmen. In UP election he claimed Modi waived the loan of 50 businessmen, while campaigning in Karnataka number reduced to 10. #JhoothiCongress Manish.H.Tilwani (@manishtilwani17) February 27, 2018 Rotomac had been issued loan from bank in 2007-11 timeline of Congress rule. Modi Sarkar displayed transparency in unveiling the scam. But Rahul shamelessly links the scam to BJP government. #JhoothiCongress Mahesh Gupta (@imaheshgupta) February 27, 2018 Congress lies even on national security. Randeep Surjewala claimed in press conference that Chinese came back to Doklam, only to be rebutted by Army Chief that Chinese presence in that part is status quo. #JhoothiCongress (@PulkitTrivedi) February 27, 2018 Another draft tweet read: Rahul links PNB scam to Modi Govt, while the fact remains Nirav Modis fortune started in 2011 when LoU was issued under UPA rule. Round tripping in diamond trade started in 2007 when Chidambaram as a FM made polished diamond duty-free. #JhoothiCongress. 21:09 That's all for today, readers. Thanks for staying on with our coverage of the day's action. Your enthusiasm encourages us to better our coverage every day. Do come back tomorrow for more news, views and insights. 20:42 Exit polls give BJP a clear lead in the Northeast. Here are the exit polls, as reported by The Indian Express: Tripura Axis MyIndia and News24: BJP+IPFT: 45-50, Left Front: 9-10 Newsx: BJP+: 35-45, Left Front: 14-23, Congress: 0 Nagaland Axis MyIndia and News24: Newsx: BJP+: 27-32; Congress: 0-2, NPF: 20-25 Meghalaya Axis MyIndia and News24: BJP: 30, Congress: 20, PDF: 3, NCP: 2, Others: 4 Newsx: BJP: 8-12, Congress: 13-17; NPP: 23-27 19:17 Meghalaya RJ faces flak for airing 'objectionable' content on poll day A private radio station here came under fire from the BJP today for allegedly airing "objectionable" content in violation of the model code of conduct. Polling for 59 of the 60 Assembly seats in Meghalaya was held today with over 67 per cent votes polled till 4 pm. In a letter forwarded to the state election department, the saffron party alleged that a woman radio jockey (RJ) of the channel urged listeners to refrain from voting for any "anti-christian party". "The illegal propaganda was broadcast on the radio station with the aim and intent of communalising the election process," BJP leader Ankur Kumar said in his complaint to Meghalaya's Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) F R Kharkongor. When voting ended at 4 pm, voters were seen standing in queues outside polling stations, indicating that the poll percentage will go up. According to rules, those in queues are allowed to cast their votes. 17:53 Voting percentage in Meghalaya is 67 percent and Nagaland is 75 percent till 4:00 pm. Voting is stil going on, reports ANI. 16:58 Voting percentage in Meghalaya is 67 percent till 4:00 pm, according to media reports. 16:55 Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad has exercised his franchise at the Oakland polling station under North Shillong assembly constituency. Meghalaya Meghalaya Mukul Sangma Ampati Songsak Garo Chief Minister, who is contesting the Assembly election fromandconstituencies, cast his vote at a polling station in South WestHills district today, election officials said. The chief minister cast his vote at the remote Chenkompara polling station in Ampati constituency in the afternoon, they said. Sangma is seeking re-election for the fifth time from his home constituency in Ampati, the officials said. "Citizens of Meghalaya do exercise your voting rights in a responsible and judicious manner. Counting on you all forpeaceful elections throughout the state," the chief minister had tweeted earlier during the day. 15:53 The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has registered a complaint with the Election Commission over objectionable an advertisement on a radio channel in Meghalaya. 15:34 Voting percentage in Nagaland is 67% and 43% in Meghalaya till 3 pm, reports suggest. 14:37 More than half of all candidates in Nagaland are crorepatis 114 out of the 193 candidates analysed in Nagaland, were found to be crorepatis, according to ADR. The average assets per candidate is around Rs 3.76 crore. However, Akavi N. Zhimomi, belonging to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) who is contesting from Ghaspani-I constituency, has declared zero assets in his election affidavit. 14:11 21.5 percent polling in Meghalaya till noon, complaints of EVM malfunction Around 21.5 percent of the voters have exercised their franchise till noon for the Meghalaya Assembly election today, Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of the state FR Kharkongor said. Polling started at 7 am and no incidents of violence was reported from anywhere in the state, the CEO said. "We have received complaints of EVM malfunctioning in some booths. The faulty machines were replaced and voting resumed within a short time in those polling stations," he said. Meghalaya Governor Ganga Prasad cast his vote at the Oakland polling station here in the state capital around 10 am. Voting is being held in 59 seats of the 60-member Assembly as the election in Williamnagar in East Garo Hills district has been postponed, following the killing of NCP candidate Jonathane N Sangma in an IED blast on February 18. (PTI) 13:39 The polling percentage in Nagaland was 56 percent while in Meghalaya it was 28.5 percent as of 1 pm, the Election Commissions of the two states have said. 13:20 Faulty EVMs reported in Meghalaya As many as 30 EVMs were found to have problems in Garo Hills, Meghalaya, according to The Hindu. The report quoted officials as saying that the machines faced issues with faulty wiring. 12:52 One dead, two injured after clash in Akuluto constituency in Nagaland One person has died and two others have been injured after two groups from NPF and NDPP clashed in the Akuluto Assembly constituency in Nagaland today, according to a report by The Indian Express. The report has quoted Chief Election Officer Abhijit Sinha as saying that there firing at the spot. 11:48 38 percent and 20 percent voting in Nagaland and Meghalaya till 11 am respectively, reports suggest. 11:20 Nagaland CM TR Zeliang casts vote, says, May you all also exercise your franchise peacefully. May peace and harmony reign over Nagaland. 11:05 There is restrictions on conducting of any exit poll and publication and dissemination of result of such exit poll has been imposed till 4:30 pm, reports suggest. 10:33 17 percent turnout in Nagaland, according to The Hindustan Times. 10:14 Congress, BJP fight it out in Meghalaya In Meghalaya, except for the two state parties the United Democratic Party and the Hills State Peoples Democratic Party - which forged a pre-poll alliance and are contesting in 45 seats, 13 other political parties are contesting independently. The Congress and BJP are pitted against each other with the former fielding 59 candidates and the latter has put up nominees in 47 constituencies. Though they are contesting the polls separately, in Meghalaya, the National People's Party (NPP) of Conrad Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma, is BJP's partner in the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). For the Congress the poll outcome in Meghalaya is particularly significant as it has been ruling the state for the last 10 years. The saffron party is seeking to expand its footprint in the north-east buoyed by the formation of governments in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. (PTI) 09:50 361 candidates, including 31 women contesting in Meghalaya Today's voting will seal the fate of 361 candidates, including 31 women and 80 Independents, election office sources told the PTI, adding that around 18.09 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in as many as 3,025 polling stations in the state. 09:19 Blast at a polling station in Nagaland injures one One person was injured in a bomb blast at a polling station in Nagaland's Tizit constituency. According to sources, a crude bomb was lobbed at the polling station at around 5:45 am. One village council member sustained a leg injury, News18 has reported. 09:13 Massive security presence in the two states Officials said many as 281 companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), beside the state police force have been deployed throughout Nagaland to ensure peaceful polling. Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha said of the 2,156 polling stations in Nagaland, 1,100 have been declared critical, 530 vulnerable and 526 normal. All the polling stations would be manned by the CAPF personnel and the state police would also be assisting them, he added. Meghalaya CEO FR Kharkongor said a total 106 companies of central armed police forces (CAPF) have been deployed along with state armed personnel and police especially in troubled Garo Hills region for peaceful polling in the state. He said that six additional companies of CAPF were deployed in the troubled East and South Garo Hills districts. (PTI) 09:08 Voting begins in Meghalaya and Nagaland Polling for the 60-member Meghalaya Assembly started at 7 am today. Over 18 lakh voters eligible to exercise their franchise in more than 3,000 polling stations across the state. Voting will be held in 59 seats as the polling in Williamnagar in East Garo Hills district has been countermanded following the killing of NCP candidate Jonathane N Sangma in an IED blast on February 18. In Nagaland too voting has started to elect the 60-member assembly. More than half of 2,156 polling stations have been declared critical. With Nationalist Democratic People's Party (NDPP) chief Neiphiu Rio winning unopposed the Northern Angami-II seat, polling is being held in 59 seats. PTI The polls will be held till 4 pm in both states. (Withinputs) Sri Devi | She was a veteran actress and India's first female superstar. Sri Devi's demise came as a shock to the country. On February 24, Sri Devi was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Dubai. She was only 54. Actress Sridevi's family is still awaiting clearance from the Dubai Public Prosecution to bring her body home. The body will be sent for embalming once the prosecution has given clearance. The Dubai Public Prosecutor will soon release a report which will clarify whether or not any further probe is required before releasing Sridevi's body, a former Khaleej Times editor told News18. Indian envoy to the UAE Navdeep Suri has discouraged speculation on Sridevi's death. The forensic report on Monday said that the Bollywood actress died due to accidental drowning. Sridevi's husband Boney Kapoor has given a statement to the Dubai police. The director reportedly found the actress unconscious in a bathtub filled with water in the hotel, according to News18. YRF Communications has confirmed that Boney Kapoor's son actor Arjun Kapoor has left for Dubai to be with his father. The noted Bollywood actress died on Sunday in Dubai. She was in Dubai with her family to attend her nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding. Sri Devi | She was a veteran actress and India's first female superstar. Sri Devi's demise came as a shock to the country. On February 24, Sri Devi was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Dubai. She was only 54. Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said on Tuesday that he thinks Sridevis demise was a murder while Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh said that she did not drink hard liquor, contradicting the Dubai Forensic Departments autopsy communique. Subramanian Swamy calls it a 'murder' News agency ANI quoted Senior BJP leader Subramanian Swamy as saying, If you ask my opinion I'll tell you that I think it's murder." Let's wait for prosecution to pronounce it. Facts in media don't appear to be consistent. She never drank hard liquor, how did it enter her system? What happened to CCTV? Doctors suddenly appeared before media and said she died of heart failure, Swami said. Cinema actresses aur Dawood ke jo rishte hain, naajayaz rishte hain us par hamein thoda dhyaan dena padega (We should be wary of the illicit relationship between cinema actors and Dawood Ibrahim), Swamy told ANI. Speaking to Times Now, Swamy said that "It is very difficult to die and drown in a bathtub unless somebody pushes you or prevents you from breathing," Swamy told the channel. Ram Gopal Varma takes to social media Film maker Ram Gopal Varma took to Twitter to express himself. On Tuesday, he tweeted, And so on her body lies in the cold storage, Effigy of a bygone age, Waiting for the cruel facts to adjudge, While the world waits to pay homage, Can she ever really. RIP? Though God so cruelly took away a Goddess like Sridevi from amongst us, we still have her permanently etched on our screens I hate god for taking her away from us forever but I love Louis Lumiere for creating the movie camera for her beauty to stay with us forever, he said in another tweet. The film maker also posted a blog on Facebook titled, My Love Letter To Sridevis Fans, explaining how difficult life had been her right from her childhood. Amar Singh says Sridevi did not consume hard liquor Politician Amar Singh told ANI on Monday that Sridevi never consumed hard liquor. His statement came after the Dubai Forensic Department released an autopsy communique stating that traces of alcohol were found in Sridevi's body. Singh, a family friend of Sridevi, said, "Sridevi ji did not drink hard liquor, she used to have wine sometimes like me and like many others in public life. I have talked to Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Al Nahyan, he assured me that all formalities and reports are complete. Her mortal remains should reach India by midnight." The autopsy report, carried by UAEs Khaleej Times states that the veteran actress died due to "accidental drowning" in the hotel bathtub. However, initial reports had suggested that she suffered from a massive cardiac arrest. Sridevi was in Dubai for her nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding at the time of her demise on February 24. Rajnath Singh Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed the prevailing situation in the state, an official said. During the 20-minute meeting, the chief minister briefed the Union home minister on the security situation in the Valley as well as along the border with Pakistan, which has been witnessing heavy cross- border firing and continuous attempts of infiltration by militants. The two leaders also discussed the ongoing peace initiatives being undertaken by the Centre's representative Dineshwar Sharma, the home ministry official said. Yesterday, the General Officer Commanding of the Srinagar-based Chinar Corps, Lt Gen A K Bhatt, had said a large number of terrorists were waiting at launching pads across the Line of Control (LoC) to cross over into Kashmir and ceasefire violations by Pakistan are also an attempt to push infiltrators. There were 515 infiltration incidents in Jammu and Kashmir in 2017 in which 75 militants were killed. In 2016, there were 454 cases of infiltration in which 45 militants were killed. In January alone, eight civilians and six security personnel were killed and around 70 injured in ceasefire violations by Pakistan troops along Indo-Pak border in Jammu region. Pakistani troops carried out intense shelling along the IB in Jammu, Kathua and Samba districts and from across the LoC in Poonch and Rajouri districts from January 18 to 22. While there were no ceasefire violations by Pakistan reported along the IB since January 22, intermittent shelling has taken place along the LoC. The Home Ministry had yesterday said it will reimburse all the funds spent by the Jammu and Kashmir government to pay compensation for losses to the victims of cross-border firing. The UN will offer a helpline for all staff members to report sexual misconduct starting February 27, 2018. Photo Reuters New York (People's Daily) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres announced via email to all UN staff members that a 24-hour helpline dedicated to UN employees who needed to report sexual harassment in the workplace would be available beginning February 27. Guterres stressed his commitment to encouraging and assisting employees to report sexual harassment in the workplace and support victims and witnesses. The helpline is a 24-hour resource for UN Secretariat personnel to speak confidentially with an impartial and trained individual who can provide information on protection, support and reporting mechanisms, said Guterres in his email to staff members. Going live Tuesday morning, the Speak Up helpline is part of the UNs five-point plan to address such behavior within its ranks and will complement existing reporting mechanisms. The goal is to attend to the needs of personnel, and to empower them to make informed decisions on action if they choose, he said. In the email, Guterres explained, The Investigations Division of the Office of Internal Oversight Services will, with immediate effect, take responsibility for investigating all complaints of sexual harassment, and implement a streamlined, fast-tracked procedure to receive, process and address complaints. The initiative will see a specialized team focusing on the investigation of sexual harassment, and additional investigators will be recruited, with emphasis given to hiring more female investigators. On February 22, the UN received 40 allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse reported during the last three months of 2017, including 15 cases from peacekeeping operations, UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters at a briefing at UN Headquarters in New York. As members of a standard-setting institution, Guterres said, the UN must be committed to fostering an inclusive environment in which every person is valued and respected. A harmonious, safe and civil workplace is a key to delivering on its mandates for the people it serves. Four peopleincluding a 6-year-old child and an adult bicyclistwere killed in separate traffic accidents in San Benito and Santa Clara counties in less than a week, according to the California Highway Patrol. Two of the accidents occurred Sunday, Feb. 25 in the Hollister area, and were reported less than an hour apart. One of these resulted in the arrest of an allegedly intoxicated driver on a homicide charge in connection with the death of his 6-year-old son, who was a passenger in his fathers vehicle, according to police. About 5pm Feb. 25, authorities responded to a single-vehicle accident on McCloskey Road, just east of San Felipe Road. The Highway Patrol reported that Jesus Mora, 30 of Hollister, had been driving a GMC Sierra westbound on McCloskey Road with two children in the front seat, when he drifted completely off the roadway onto the dirt shoulder of the roadway, according to a press release from the CHP Hollister-Gilroy area office. The driver lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a wooden utility pole. Police said Mora allegedly swerved off the road due to his level of intoxication. The collision resulted in fatal injuries to Moras 6-year-old passenger, who was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics, according to the CHP press release. The other child, a 7-year-old boy, was flown to Santa Clara Valley Medical Center with major injuries. At the scene, Mora referred to the two young boys in the vehicle as his children, according to CHP Officer Chris Miceli. Mora, the driver, suffered minor injuries in the accident and was transported to Hazel Hawkins Hospital in Hollister, according to police. Mora was arrested on suspicion of murder and driving while intoxicated, causing bodily injury. He was booked into the San Benito County Jail, according to police. Motorcyclist pronounced dead Less than an hour earlier on Feb. 25about 4:10pmauthorities responded to a collision in which an SUV struck a motorcycle, resulting in a motorcyclists death, according to CHP. That accident took place at the intersection of SR 156 and San Felipe Road in Hollister. A 43-year-old Gilroy man was driving a 2015 Harley Davidson motorcycle with a 29-year-old female passenger, also of Gilroy, on the back, according to police. The driver of the motorcycle was stopped at a red traffic light in the left turn of SR 156, poised to turn onto northbound San Felipe Road. A 2005 GMC Sierra, driven by a 66-year-old Hollister man, was approaching the intersection on southbound SR 156 at about 50 mph. For an unknown reason, the motorcyclist began making a left turn onto San Felipe Road while the traffic light was still red, police said. After entering the intersection, the motorcyclist began applying the vehicles brakes in an effort to avoid colliding with the approaching GMC, according to police. The Gilroy man was unable to avoid a collision with the SUV. As a result, the Harley Davidson driver suffered fatal injuries upon impact, and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. His passenger suffered major injuries and was transported by air ambulance to Natividad Medical Center. Authorities do not think alcohol or drugs were a factor in this collision. The accident is under investigation. Single-vehicle death on Pacheco Pass Another single-vehicle accident resulted in the drivers death Feb. 24 on SR 152 in eastern unincorporated Santa Clara County east of Gilroy, according to the CHP. About 2:10pm, a 49-year-old Monterey woman was driving a 2014 Ford eastbound on SR 152 (Pacheco Pass), with a 49-year-old female passenger in the vehicle, police said. For an unknown reason, the driver turned the vehicle to the right, causing the Ford to leave the roadway, travel across the right shoulder and collide with a tree, police reported. The collision occurred just east of Lake Road. The driver of the vehicle suffered fatal injuries, and was pronounced dead at the scene, police said. The passenger suffered minor injuries and was flown to San Jose Regional Medical Center. Authorities do not think alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident, which is under investigation. On Monday, Feb. 26, CHP issued another press release urging motorists to drive with caution in response to the unusual cluster of three traffic fatalities in the area in one weekend. The release advises residents to drive safely and courteously at all times, obey traffic laws and slow down because speed is a factor in most collisions. Furthermore, officers reminded residents not to drink and drive. In 2016, more 1,800 people were killed in California in accidents in which alcohol was a factor, according to the CHP. While any loss of life is tragic, a loss of life resulting from something preventable is especially troubling, the Feb. 26 press release states. Most traffic collisions are preventable. Cyclist struck by Toyota The recent rash of fatalities began Feb. 19, when a Cupertino bicyclist died after a collision with a Toyota just south of Hollister, according to police. The accident occurred about 5pm. A 2001 Toyota, driven by a 40-year-old San Lorenzo man, was traveling northbound on SR 25 just south of Cienega Road, according to a CHP press release. The 65-year-old cyclist, riding a Trek bicycle, was traveling on SR 25 in the same direction as the Toyota, when the bigger vehicle approached from behind, according to police. The Toyota collided with the bicyclist due to the unsafe speed of the Toyota, police said. The collision caused the cyclist to be ejected from his bicycle before hitting the asphalt roadway, according to CHP. The Toyota stayed at the scene, where authorities pronounced the cyclist dead. The driver of the Toyota suffered a minor cut to his finger, according to police. Three passengers in the Toyota were uninjured. It does not appear that alcohol or drugs were a factor in this accident, according to police. The accident remains under investigation. Coroners officials in San Benito and Santa Clara counties had not yet identified those killed in the accidents, as of noon, Feb. 26. Anyone with information about these accidents can call CHP at (408) 848-2324. Photo taken on Oct. 5, 2017 shows protesters during a rally in support of DACA near the Trump Tower in New York. (Photo: Xinhua/AFP) Washington (People's Daily) - The US Supreme Court on Monday decided not to immediately hear the Trump administrations appeal of a lower court order preventing it from winding down DACA, rejecting a request from the Department of Justice. In January, a federal judge in San Francisco blocked President Donald Trump's effort to abolish the Obama-era program Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). The program permits foreigners who entered the US illegally as children to obtain legal status in the US. The Justice Department asked the Supreme justices to bypass the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and to hear the case directly. The Supreme Court declined the request unanimously on Monday. New Delhi (People's Daily) - Some 10 Chinese sailors from cargo vessel "Houston" received a warm welcome on Sunday afternoon at the Port of Mumbai, which was the first time for Chinese seamen to arrive at an Indian port for a rest since the 2008 terrorist attack in Mumbai. Due to terrorism and other issues, sailors of the vessels from several countries, including China and Pakistan, were excluded from landing at any Indian port in the last 10 years. This unusual phenomenon was noticed by Zheng Xiyuan, Chinese general consul to Mumbai, when he arrived in Mumbai to assume his duties in 2015. Zheng had been reporting related situations and tried every effort to get India to allow Chinese sailors to land through diplomatic channels. It is very necessary to land and have a rest after a long journey,said Captain Qiao Qinming of the "Houston," adding, "thanks to the negotiations between the two countries, we are glad to be the first batch of sailors to land at an Indian port. In 2017, China and India agreed to allow Chinese sailors at any Indian port for a rest, according to Zheng. The welcome ceremony was seen as a special Spring Festival celebration for Chinese sailors. Top image: Zheng Xiyuan (right), Chinese general consul to Mumbai, and Qiao Qinming, captain of cargo vessel "Houston", pose for a photo as they attend a Lunar Spring Festival celebration in Mumbai, Feb. 25, 2018. (Photo from Chinese Consulate-General in Mumbai) New teaching standards call for weaving science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) into classrooms better. What makes this integration effective? A research team led by Michigan Technological University set out to find what makes STEM integration tick. Their researchpublished in the International Journal of STEM Education (DOI: 10.1186/s40594-018-0101-z)followed several case studies to observe the impacts of low, medium and high degrees of integration within a classroom. They found that across the board the greatest challenge that teachers face is making explicit connections between STEM fields while balancing the need for context and student engagement. Emily Dare, assistant professor of STEM education at Michigan Tech, is lead author of the study. She says different teachers have different approaches to STEM integration. This alone is not terribly surprising, as we know that teachers conceptualize integrated STEM in multiple ways, Dare says. What is new about this current study is that this degree of integration may be related to a teacher's understanding in making explicit and meaningful connections between the disciplines, as opposed to assuming that students will make those connections on their own. Teachers start to implement Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Although the call for improving STEM education is widespread, like in the NGSS, there is little guidance for teachers on how to do so. Dare and her co-authorsJoshua Ellis of Michigan Tech and Gillian Roehrig of the University of Minnesotaworked with nine middle school science teachers to assess STEM integration in their classrooms. The researchers relied on both reflective interviews with the teachers and classroom implementation data, like the number of instructional days dedicated to two or more disciplines and the amount of time given to each discipline. The teachers who integrated more often in their class appeared to be more critical of their instruction, Dare says, And after their first time implementing integrated STEM instruction, they were already considering ways in which to improve their practice. She explains that this speaks volumes about teachers' motivation and dedication to incorporating these approaches in their classrooms: If they find the integrated approach valuable, they may be more willing to spend time helping students make those content connections. STEM education calls for connecting science, technology, engineering and math Three themes arose from the results of Dare and her collaborators work that distinguished low, medium and high STEM integration. First, the nature of integration varied; that is, the role teachers perceived they should play in making explicit or implicit connections. A more active role in making connections reflected higher integration, though not without its challenges. Previously, Dare led research helping to clarify what STEM education, and therefore integration, means in practical terms for teachers. Second, classroom integration depended on whether a teacher chose to focus primarily on science or engineering. Dare and her team argue that science versus engineering is a false choice. Teachers with higher degrees of STEM integration wove in science concepts throughout engineering design projects, like connecting lessons on heat transfer and insulators to building solar ovens. Across the board, design-based projects tended to happen in the last few days of instruction. Teachers with lower degrees of integration tended to focus on the science first then shift completely into engineering. Third, student engagement played a roleand an important one. Students tended to be motivated for engineering design projects; teachers explained that the work provided context, making the concepts more real and understandable. The challenge is that teachers felt pressed to balance the hands-on work with conceptual and reflective activities. Plus, maintaining a contextual example over several weeks became difficult. Classroom challengesand how to overcome them The paper authors point out that while the study subjects are middle school physical science teachers doing first-time STEM instruction, many of the identified themes are not content-specific. Because of that, the successes and challenges identified may shed light on general struggles that are common to educators who are integrating across STEM disciplines under new teaching standards. Teachers primary challenges focused on trying to keep the lessons real for students and struggling to better integrate math. Dare suggests this may be because science teachers are just thatnot math teachers or engineers. For teacher educators, Dare says, this means continuing to support teachers in their classrooms as they embark on testing out new strategies and curriculum units in their classrooms. To effectively integrate science, technology, engineering and math in K-12 education, it will take more than a sequence of lesson plansit will mean playing with tech and engineering design projects that dovetail with math and science ideas for a well-rounded STEM classroom. Grants and Funding National Science Foundation grant #DRL-1238140 Superior Ideas Development of a Free Psychological Testing Battery... Psychological testing is dominated by expensive proprietary tests that have for the most part been developed using public research money. The licensing costs associated with... See Project Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our campus in Michigans Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior. A notice released from Chinas Ministry of Education has ordered primary and middle schools to stop favoring applicants with special talents, such as those in sports. The notice asked schools to stop enrolling students based on their special talents and to cancel such admission projects by 2020. Its seen as a response to growing calls for a fair education system, since the program allows a certain number of students to win extra points for special skills, which is seen as a shortcut by some parents to make their children get ahead of other students. In 2014, the ministry issued a document, requiring schools to downsize the proportion of enrolled students to 5 percent to junior middle schools. I think the new requirement will upset some parents who spent a lot of time developing their childs special talents, but I hope it could be implemented as soon as possible, said Amy Yang, a primary school teacher in central Chinas Hubei Province. The pro-talent program makes it unfair for those who study harder to improve their academic scores, Yang added. The initial purpose of the program was to encourage more students to make the best of their talents, but it seems more like a burden for their parents. Jason Wong, a father of an 11-year-old boy, said his son had been learning Chinese painting and piano. The cost of the lessons for a month can reach 3,000 yuan (roughly $475). Wong said he has to put up with the burden, as half of his sons classmates were developing their talents. He added he doesnt want his son to lag behind other students. In Focus with Allison Walker is a 30-minute public affairs program, featuring a roundtable of newsmakers representing a range of perspectives, including local officials and expert analysts as they tackle topical issues of importance to Floridians. In Focus airs Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m., right after Political Connections. The Broward County deputy assigned to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School the day of the shooting says he didn't go inside to confront the gunman because he thought the gunfire was coming from outside. Scot Peterson's attorney issued his first public statement about the attack, saying his actions were consistent with his training of outdoor gunfire. Peterson's attorney on Monday also blasted Israel's account of Peterson's actions, saying it was "untrue" that the deputy failed to meet Sheriff's Office's standards or acted with cowardice at the scene. Peterson resigned after the Broward County Sheriff's Office initiated an investigation into the Valentine's Day shooting in which 17 people were killed. Sheriff Scott Israel said video shows the school resource officer taking up a position outside a building for four minutes but "never went in." Israel said he was "devastated, sick to my stomach. There are no words. I mean, these families lost their children." Nikolas Cruz, 19, is charged with 17 counts of murder and has admitted to the attack. The massacre has ignited a debate over gun control laws in Florida and nationwide. Jury selection will begin Thursday in the federal trial against Noor Salman, the widow of Pulse nightclub shooter Omar Mateen. Prosecutors contend that Salman knowingly helped her husband plan the attack that killed 49 people and injured 53 others. Mateen was killed in a shootout with police after carrying out the attack on the popular gay nightclub on June 12, 2016. The charges carry a maximum life sentence if convicted. U.S. attorneys plan to present evidence that they argue will prove Noor Salman knew her husband planned to carry out an attack at Pulse nightclub. That evidence, court records show, include videos from inside Pulse, police body cameras, 911 phone calls, and phone calls and texts Mateen shared with relatives, including Salman. During a phone call with police, while the attack unfolded, Mateen professed his allegiance to ISIS. Prosecutors say Salman provided differing statements to the FBI about what she knew. They contend Salman accompanied Mateen as he scoped out potential targets, including Pulse and areas at Walt Disney World. This community is going to learn a lot of information during the course of the trial that simply hasnt been public yet, said attorney David Haas. Hass is not involved in Salman trial but is a current criminal defense attorney. He has spent 17 years in law, including as a former U.S. Attorney prosecutor and Florida State Attorney. Even though this case has been through scrutiny and review, youre still going to learn a lot of details of what the government did, which will be impressive in volume and specificity, he said. The crux of the case will come down to one central question: Did Noor Salman help her husband carry out the attack at Pulse nightclub? The prosecution is going to take two avenues to show that she knew and intentionally helped her now deceased husband that she helped him by casing out locations all across Central Florida, Haas said. They also have to prove that she knowingly and intentionally agreed to help him. Salman is represented by Charles Swift. He has spent part of his career as an attorney in the Navy, representing inmates at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and is currently Director of Constitutional Law Center for Muslims in America. In court documents, Swift argues Salman was not aware of her husbands plot to carry out and attack, and further argues that Salman is a victim of abuse. It goes to whether she voluntarily and knowingly participated, Haas said. The Defense is going to say it wasnt a lie, that is where she believed he was going that night, and the abuse and all of that sort is him (Mateen) manipulating her, and not her assisting him. The trial is expected to last nearly two months. Salmans fate will ultimately be in the hands of 12 jurors, selected from a roster of registered voters from Central Florida region. Medical Marijuana Treatment Center dispensing locations will be coming to Osceola County, despite a moratorium. Medical marijuana dispensaries coming to Osceola The Green Solution granted the three certificates RELATED: Medical marijuana coverage Gary Thompson has been using medical marijuana since it became legal. "It's been able to help me with my back pain It's been able to help me with my anxiety," Thompson said. He's looking forward to three medical marijuana dispensaries coming to town. "It's going to save me from having to go to Orange County to take care of any business matter, Thompson explained. Stay here in Osceola County; I mean, it's just going to make life easier daily." Thompson gets some services in Osceola County but hasn't been able to get the actual drug. Hes a Green Relief patient. This is a one-stop shop clinic in Kissimmee that helps patients get their medical marijuana card. It also has other health services, but you can't actually buy medical marijuana. The president for Green Relief Kerry Barasatie told Spectrum News 13 they have more than 420 patients that are in desperate need of dispensaries. "I think that its amazing its coming to Osceola County. I think this is something that should have been done a year ago, Barasatie said. Now that's changing. San Felasco Nurseries, doing business as The Green Solution (TGS), was granted three certificates -- one for each location they will open in Osceola County -- after a one-year wait and a formal demand. The delay came from a temporary moratorium the county had put in place. However, TGS met the requirements prior to that. So now a settlement agreement allows TGS to open its dispensaries and in return, they won't take legal action against the county. "The perception is sometimes reality. But rest assured that these are going to be in three areas, said Osceola County Commissioner Viviana Janer. Not in close proximity to our schools, and they're going to act and look more like a pharmacy." Commissioners also enacted a new ban on any facilities, but Thompson says he's just grateful at least three dispensaries made the cut. "It's been the best change over for me, and I hope to see it for everybody in Osceola County," he added. The Osceola moratorium impacts unincorporated areas local cities can make their own decisions. Spectrum News 13 reached out to TGS and they said they plan to open dispensaries as soon as possible to begin servicing patients. The dispensaries are intended to be located in the following addresses: The overhead compartment of a flight bound for Shanghai from Guangzhou caught fire on Sunday during boarding time. The fire was found to have been ignited by a passengers portable power supply. A fire ignited by a passenger's portable power supply inside the cabin of an airplane on Jan. 25 (Photos: Sina Weibo) China Southern Airlines resumed the flight soon after replacing the airplane and the crew members and police detained the passenger who owns the item. However, a video taken in the cabin showing a flight attendant putting out the fire with bottled water sparked hot discussions on Sina Weibo, China's Twitter-like social media. An air attendent put out of the fire by using bottled water and beverage. In the video, the attendant shouted, "Passengers stand back!" while rushing near the fire and trying to put out the fire with bottled water and beverage. Some people criticized her for using bottled water instead of the fire extinguisher in the airplane, with others saying that such conduct is unprofessional and dangerous, since water and beverage bottles are made of plastic which are highly flammable. Meanwhile, an aviation expert said it is feasible to extinguish lithium battery fires with water because water serves as a coolant for lithium batteries. Compared with a water extinguisher, a Halon extinguisher can only put out the external flame of lithium batteries. Another expert posted on his Sina Weibo account that fire from lithium batteries usually results from thermal runaway, and water is the fastest, most convenient and effective way to extinguish it because a lithium battery has a low voltage and not an electric shock hazard. Some netizens said that dry powder and sand extinguishers help keep the battery intact for the manufacturer to investigate, but extinguishing fires in airplanes requires speed and efficiency. China Southern Airlines acknowledged the flight attendants correct and prompt handling, which is consistent with the training she received. Regulations of Civil Aviation Administration of China state that lithium batteries and portable power supplies should be carried in handbags. Each passenger is allowed to bring no more than two batteries with a capacity lower than 100Wh, and a permission from the security check is required if the battery capacity is between 100Wh and 160Wh. The Ocala Police Department is looking for people who witnessed an accident and a shooting on Monday afternoon. Police look for answers to a shooting, chase After crash, one driver ran from scene Another driver refused to be interviewed by police At around 3:15 p.m., either a confrontation or argument broke out between two vehicles at the Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and NW 10th Street as a white Chevrolet Tahoe started to chase a blue Dodge Durango, according to police in a press release. The Durango struck another vehicle, a dark blue Toyota Corolla, at NW 35th Street and the Durango overturned and rolled onto NW 16th Avenue, stated police. "Witnesses observed the Tahoe driving in circles around the overturned Durango as an unknown number of occupants exited the vehicle," police stated. The Durango's driver ran from the accident and a friend drove him to a hospital, police stated, adding that authorities did interview the driver. However, the Tahoe's driver declined to be interviewed at the scene, according to police. Police stated that it has accounts and evidence of shots being fired between the Tahoe and Durango, but the shooting location is unknown. Police did not say if anyone was injured in the accident and officials have not yet returned a phone call from Spectrum News 13 regarding the incident. Anyone with information about the accident is asked to call detective Jeff Hurst at 1-352-369-7189. The successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy has drawn attention in China as netizens compared the aerospace industry in China and the US, with experts saying China is working hard to catch up with the US. The Falcon Heavy rocket took off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida on Tuesday and made an arc to space, US media The Verge reported. Though the Falcon Heavy's outer core successfully landed after it was launched this afternoon, the middle core of SpaceX's huge rocket missed the drone ship where it was supposed to land, the report said. Despite the small hiccup, the successful launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy, which can reportedly carrying a payload of 16.8 tons to Mars, has drawn international attention, and Chinese netizens applauded it as a milestone. "The last time I was thrilled by a rocket launch was seeing China's Shenzhou V Spacecraft. Elon Musk has made contributions to the future development on human history," netizen "chenguangus" commented. Some netizens asked whether China should alter its current aerospace development system and welcomed more Chinese private enterprises into the industry. Experts said that the success of Space X on Tuesday, which was not a big technological innovation, shows the leading US position in the aerospace industry, and that China has a lot of catching up to do with the US in this field. "SpaceX's success is not the success of a private company, it is representative of many US high-tech firms The US does have a better system to support its aerospace industry, which, however, doesn't mean China's current system is not good," Wang Yanan, deputy editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, told the Global Times on Wednesday. "Private US companies have had sufficient resources and money from the start. China's economy and technology fall behind the US, and if China did not pull nationwide resources to develop space and military technology, it could not accomplish great things such as the man-made satellites and Shenzhou spacecraft," Wang said. China has an open attitude toward aerospace technology but our technology is not as mature as the US, Wang said. Jiao Weixin, a space science professor at Peking University, told the Global Times on Wednesday that Chinese private firms have less involvement in the aerospace industry since they need considerable resources and talent, which one private enterprise is unable to master. China still lags far behind the US on space technology. However, experts also said that China's space technology is steadily improving and the government has invested enormously in recent years to develop the country's space technology. Vice premier urges efforts to build Xiong'an into model for development 10:17, February 27, 2018 Xinhua Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli(C) presides over a meeting on advancing the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, in Beijing, capital of China, Feb. 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) BEIJING, Feb. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli on Sunday urged more efforts to build the Xiong'an New Area into a model for promoting high-quality development across the country. Zhang made the remarks at a meeting in Beijing on advancing the coordinated development of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. New measures should be formulated as soon as possible to promote Xiong'an's reform and opening-up, Zhang said at the meeting. A number of fundamental projects shall be launched in a timely manner in order to lay a good foundation for the construction of the new area, he said. "Every inch of land in the new area shall be clearly planned before starting construction," said Zhang. The pivotal goal is phasing out non-capital functions from Beijing, he said, authorities in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region must step up coordination. Xiong'an needs outstanding talent, both domestic and foreign, the vice-premier said. China should formulate an investment and financing plan for the Xiong'an New Area and continue with property, industry and population management, according to Zhang. On Thursday, senior leaders of the Communist Party of China agreed that building the new area is a "historic project" after hearing a report on the progress of developing a general plan for Xiong'an. The area, established in April 2017, is a new economic zone about 100 kilometers southwest of Beijing in Hebei Province. It is the third new area of national significance after the Shenzhen Special Economic Zone and the Shanghai Pudong New Area. Jeremy Wade searches for answers in the most remarkable rivers, lakes and seas on the planet to reveal the secrets of these extraordinary places. Tuesdays from 9pm AEST. Choosing a care home for your loved one is more stressful than selecting a school for your child or purchasing a house People choosing a care home say that it is one of life's most stressful decisions Research showed 70 per cent said it was more stressful than buying a new home A big worry for adults selecting care homes is that they won't be able to afford it Choosing a care home is more stressful than buying a house or deciding where your child goes to school, according to the NHS watchdog. The Care Quality Commission (CQC) says determining who should look after your loved one is one lifes most difficult experiences. Many adults are concerned that they are abandoning their own caring responsibilities or placing a relative in a failing home. Others worry that they wont be able to afford the fees - the move is often made at a time of crisis, such as following a fall or stroke. Research by the CQC found that 52 per cent of adults who had previously chosen a care home found it to be one of lifes top three most stressful decisions. Another 70 per cent said it was more stressful than buying a new home, determining where their child goes to school or nursery and picking a wedding venue. The CQC wants to make the public aware of its own detailed inspection reviews of care homes which are published on its website. Each care home is given an Ofsted-style award of excellent through to inadequate and the worst reports are highly critical. The research of 1,000 adults also found that 30 per cent said choosing home help for a relative was one of the top three most difficult decisions. Andrea Sutcliffe, CQCs Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care said: Choosing care can be a real worry for people, their families and carers, wondering who or where to turn to - but CQC can help. The public needs to know about the quality of care services available and they also need to be reassured that if there are any problems, these are being identified and tackled. Caroline Dinenage, minister of state for care said: Decisions around care for loved ones are daunting and often made under a lot of pressure. Making the right choice can feel challenging and sometimes overwhelming. Emily Holzhausen OBE, director of policy and public affairs at the charity, Carers UK, said: Being able to quickly access information to help you make the right decision about the best care for a loved one makes a huge difference in what can be an immensely stressful time. Decisions about long term care are often made at a time of crisis and have important consequences not only for the health and wellbeing of the person with care needs but for their families too. CQC ratings are a simple way of seeing the quality of care being provided by a service and give families confidence in choosing care. Figures from the CQC last July found that a third of nursing and residential homes were either inadequate or requires improvement. In the worst homes elderly residents were left doing nothing all day and struggling to feed themselves at mealtimes. Liu He (file photo) Analysts say there are hopes a visit to the United States beginning Tuesday by a high-ranking Chinese official will ease trade tensions and maintain steady bilateral ties. Liu He, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and director of the General Office of the Central Leading Group for Financial and Economic Affairs, will visit the US through Saturday, the Foreign Ministry said. The two sides will exchange views on China-US ties and economic and trade cooperation, ministry spokesman Lu Kang said on Monday. Liu put his background in economic policy research to work at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, last month and spoke about China's economy, reform and opening-up. Liu's US trip comes roughly two weeks after State Councilor Yang Jiechi visited Washington, where his trip showcased successful high-level exchanges between the two nations, experts said. Trade issues are expected to be a major agenda item for Liu. Officials from both sides have spoken in the past month about several US trade cases targeting commodities from China. Jin Canrong, a professor of international relations at Renmin University of China, warned that as the US midterm elections in November near, both major US political parties may pick more trade fights with China. Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, said Liu's visit shows Beijing's plan to boost contact with Washington in an effort to ease trade tensions. Talks between Liu and major economic policymakers and advisers will be designed to discourage the Trump administration from initiating major trade issues, and Beijing and Washington have found a way to boost trust chiefly by letting key government officials meet more often, Wu said. Teng Jianqun, director of the Department for American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said Liu's visit will help reduce US anxiety over China's policies when key financial and trade policy insiders of both sides meet, review differences and misunderstandings, resolve some and move forward. Trade between the world's two largest economies exceeded $580 billion last year. Liu's trip will help Washington to better know its great benefits from working with China. Further, the visit may help expand two-way cooperation in areas such as markets, technologies and top-quality international workers, Teng said. By Online Desk Veteran pan-Indian actress Sridevi's funeral will take place today afternoon in Mumbai, a statement issued by the Kapoor family said. The cremation will take place around 3.30 p.m at Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery. She had died on February 24. Her husband Boney and stepson Arjun Kapoor arrived in Mumbai yesterday night via a chartered flight with her body. Her mortal remains were handed over to her family members today afternoon (IST), following clearance from the Dubai Public Prosecution, which closed the investigation into the circumstances of her death. As per Dubai government's forensic report, her occurred due to 'accidental drowning' in a hotel bathtub, following loss of consciousness. The autopsy reportedly also revealed alcohol in her system. Following this, the case was transferred to the Dubai Public Prosecution for investigation. On February 24 (Saturday) at 7 pm in Dubai, the actress was reportedly found unconscious in her hotel bathroom and was rushed to Rashid Hospital, where she was declared dead. As per standard police investigation procedures, her husband and Bollywood producer-director Boney Kapoor gave his testimony on Sunday (25th) morning. [READ FULL REPORT HERE] UPDATES: 22:30 pm - Sridevi's mortal remains brought to her Lokhandwala residence, reports ANI. Sridevi's mortal remains being taken to her Lokhandwala residence. (ANI) 21:45 pm - Plane carrying Sridevis body arrives in Mumbai. Anil Kapoor arrives at #Mumbai airport, chartered plane carrying mortal remains of #Sridevi to land shortly pic.twitter.com/raIx20n20h ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 19:10 pm - Sridevi's last journey will commence at 2 pm from Celebration Sports Club to Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery. The cremation will take place at around 3.30 p.m. 19:05 pm - Well-wishers can pay their condolences from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. at Celebration Sports Club, Garden No 5, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West. The family said media can also pay their respects "provided camera, recording devices, etc are left outside the venue". 19:00 pm - "On behalf of Khushi, Janhvi, Boney Kapoor, the entire Kapoor and Ayyappan families, a sincere thanks to the media for your continued sensitivity and support during this emotional moment," the statement read. 18:45 pm - Sridevi's funeral will take place tomorrow late afternoon here, the family said in a statement. Her body will be kept at Celebration Sports Club in Lokhandwala for people to pay their last respects before it is taken for cremation. 18:15 pm - Read here: Sridevi's native village in Tamil Nadu teary-eyed as 'mayil' bids adieu 17:45 pm - [ Also read : No more Chandni, lost a family member: Fans mourn iconic actor Sridevi's demise] Heartbroken fans await the arrival of Sridevi's body outside her residence in Mumbai. | AFP Photo 17:10 pm - Indian consulate will now cancel the passport of the late actress. 16: 30 pm - The embalming certificate of Sridevi issued by the Dubai Health Authority. (Source: Gulf News) 16:05 pm - Sridevi's body has reached the Dubai International Airport and a private chartered jet (owned by Mukesh Ambani) will carry the body and family members back to Mumbai. Boney Kapoor is being accompanied by his son Arjun Kapoor, reports Gulf News. 16:00 pm - The late actress' body is now being taken to Dubai airport after the embalming process. Embalming of #Sridevi's mortal remains has been completed, being taken to Dubai Airport. : UAE media. pic.twitter.com/3UUEimWuAo ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 16:00 pm - Dubai Public Prosecution has approved release of Indian actress Sridevi's body to her family after completion of a comprehensive investigation into circumstances of her death. The case has now been closed: Dubai Media Office Dubai Public Prosecution has approved the release of the body of the Indian actress Sridevi to her family following the completion of a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of her death. Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 27, 2018 Dubai Public Prosecution stressed that all regular procedures followed in such cases have been completed. As per the forensic report, the death of the Indian actress occurred due to accidental drowning following loss of consciousness. The case has now been closed. Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 27, 2018 Sridevi's body has left Dubai morgue and is on its way to reach the embalming unit in Muhaisna. (Khaleej Times) Boney Kapoor's nephew Saurabh Malhotra is waiting outside the morgue to collect the mortal remains of actress Sridevi, reports Khaleej Times. Khaleej Times has confirmed that the Dubai Police has handed over to the Indian Consulate and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Sridevi. Embalmng is set to begin shortly. Update: Dubai Police has handed over the Consulate and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Indian cinema icon Sridevi Boney Kapoor so that they can proceed for embalming. India in Dubai (@cgidubai) February 27, 2018 Khaleej Times has been informed by the officials that after the initial death certificate that was issued yesterday, a detailed forensic report from Dubai Public Prosecution is awaited before releasing the body. However, there is still no official update on the permissions required for repatriation of the actress' body. According to Gulf News, Arjun Kapoor has arrived in Dubai to be with his father Boney Kapoor and help wrap up the formalities. READ | Ram Gopal Verma: Sridevi has pretty much been an unhappy woman As per ANI, Boney Kapoor's son and actor Arjun Kapoor has left for Dubai today morning to be with his father at the hotel where the incident happened. He will be around to oversee the family's return journey, said Yash Raj Films Public Relation department. Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman arrives at the residence of Anil Kapoor in Mumbai. #Sridevi pic.twitter.com/A4gckWchfQ ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 The actress' body still lies in the Dubai morgue, as local public prosecutor's approval needed for the embalming the remains at Muhaisna unit. WATCH VIDEO | The actress dancing with brother-in-law actor Anil Kapoor at their nephew actor Mohit Marwah's wedding in Dubai. #Sridevi's last dance video with Anil Kapoor from Mohit Marwah's wedding in Dubai.. We grew up watching her.. Cnt express We will miss you#RIPSridevi pic.twitter.com/vac1CIiwqb Shweta (@ShwetaS13301723) February 26, 2018 READ HERE: Sridevi's last moments in Dubai hotel room revealed The late actress' husband and Bollywood producer-director Boney Kapoor gave his testimony on Sunday morning, after her body was discovered at Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel, reports Khaleej Times. However, he has not been called so far for further questioning. The media interest in untimely demise of #Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help. Imp to note that: 1. We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job. 1/2 IndAmbUAE (@navdeepsuri) February 26, 2018 2. We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well- wishers. We share their pain. 3. Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes 4. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise Let's be responsible IndAmbUAE (@navdeepsuri) February 26, 2018 Sridevi's body is not being embalmed today. Embalming is likely to take place at Sonapur on Tuesday noon, reports Khaleej Times. "Our embassy and consulate are working closely with local authorities to expedite the return of mortal remains of Sridevi and are also keeping the Kapoor family apprised. It is our endeavor to send mortal remains at earliest," said Indian Envoy to UAE Navdeep Suri to ANI. Authorities have said that the actress's body may not be released today, the Khaleej times reported. Dubai Police has transferred the case to Dubai Public Prosecution, which will carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases. Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 26, 2018 Following the completion of post-mortem analysis, Dubai Police HQ today stated that the death of Indian actress Sridevi occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartments bathtub following loss of consciousness. Sridevi | Illustration: Amit Bandre The forensic report says that the veteran actress died from accidental drowning. Also traces of alcohol found in her body. (ANI) Death certificate for the late actress to be issued in about two hours, reports Khaleej Times. An Indian Consulate official now says to the same agency that the entire matter will be over by 2 pm (Dubai local time), as they have been asked to return by then. The official was accompanied by one Saurabh Malhotra (reportedly the late actress' relative), to the morgue, where the actress' remains are kept. Actress Madhuri Dixit arrives at the residence of Anil Kapoor in Mumbai #Sridevi pic.twitter.com/jF400STmGq ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2018 Now Khaleej Times says that the Dubai Forensic Department won't conduct a second autopsy on the actresses' body. However, there could be a delay in releasing blood test and autopsy reports. Karan Johar and Manish Malhotra arrive at the residence of Anil Kapoor in Mumbai. #Sridevi pic.twitter.com/LAI6gaaOjY ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2018 Tweeting about Sridevi's death, filmmaker Karan Johar said: The unpredictability of life only hits us in times of tragedy ...then soon after we go back to being petulant and full of ourselves....I hope we can take stock of the eventualities of life and death and then rise above our own insecurities.... Karan Johar (@karanjohar) February 26, 2018 Actress Shabana Azmi cancelled a Holi party in the wake of Sridevi's passing away. As per Khaleej Times, the forensics department is yet to submit Sridevi's blood test results to Dubai Police. The entire procedure will take another two hours. Veteran choreographer Saroj Khan on Sridevi's demise, "I still can't believe it. We can't believe it. We all loved her. I can't say anything else." #Mumbai: Actor Farhan Akhtar and his mother Honey Irani arrive at the residence of Anil Kapoor #Sridevi pic.twitter.com/zcK4Ah9sTc ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2018 Bollywood Choreographer and filmmaker Farah Khan and veteran actress Tabu arrive at the Mumbai residence of actor Anil Kapoor, Sridevi's brother-in-law. #Mumbai: Fogging being done at Pawan Hans crematorium, in preparation for the last rites of #Sridevi pic.twitter.com/RL5gcFCWBV ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2018 ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2018 As per Khaleej Times, Indian Consulate officials in Dubai say that after receiving the Police Clearance and forensic report, the other procedures including immigration and embalming would take 3 to 4 hours more. They are hopeful that the actress's remains will be ready for departure to India repatriation by 1 to 2 pm, Dubai local time. Indian industrial magnate Anil Ambani has sent an aircraft to Dubai to bring back Bollywood actress's body to India. The 13-seater private jet, (Embraer-135BJ) belonging to Reliance Transport & Travel Ltd, left Mumbai for Dubai around 1.30 pm on Sunday. Now fresh details have emerged about the 54-year-old actress' last moments. was getting ready at a hotel room in Dubai for a dinner date with her producer-husband Boney Kapoor before she suffered the cardiac arrest. Sridevi's elder daughter Janhvi had not travelled with the family because of the shooting schedule for her upcoming Bollywood film 'Dhadak', her first in the industry. The celebrated-actress starred in films like 'Mr. India', '16 Vayadhinile', 'Moondram Pirai' and 'Kshana Kshanam'. While films like "Mawaali" (1983), "Tohfa" (1984), "Mr India" (1987) and "Chandni" (1989) kept her at the top in the box-office game, her outings like "Sadma" (1983), "ChaalBaaz" (1989), "Lamhe" (1991), and "Gumrah" (1993) earned her critical acclaim. Many, including Sridevi's brother-in-law Sanjay Kapoor, had shared that the actor was not known to have a history of heart disease. Moreover, she was known to be a fitness freak. (With Inputs from Agencies and Online Desk) By IANS KOHIMA: As many as 75 per cent of the total 11.70 lakh voters exercised their franchise in Nagaland Assembly elections on Tuesday, with hundreds still awaiting their turn to cast their ballot when voting hours ended, the Election Commission said. Tuesday's election was marred by a clash between supporters of the ruling Naga People's Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Zunheboto district, in which one person was shot dead and two persons injured. Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain told reporters in Delhi that the voter turnout in Nagaland till 4 pm. was 75 per cent. The 2013 Assembly elections turnout was 90.57 per cent. Earlier in the day, state Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha told IANS that since huge numbers of voters were still waiting in queues at a large number of polling stations across the state, voting percentage was expected to increase. Nagaland Police chief Rupin Sharma told IANS on the clash: "Initially, some people prevented voters from entering the polling station, which was opposed by a rival group after which clashes erupted in Akuluto constituency. The two groups indulged in firing, following which police opened fire. As of now, we are not able to ascertain the cause of injuries." He said police reinforcements were rushed to the area to control the situation. Sinha said polling was smooth in Akuluto seat. Even before polling commenced at 7 am., one person was injured when a bomb went off at a polling station at 5.45 am, and a mob destroyed a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine in Tizit constituency in eastern Meghalaya. However, Sinha said polling had since resumed and went on smoothly in the affected polling stations. A total of 11,91,513 electorate, including 5,89,806 women and 26,900 new voters, were to decide the fate of 195 candidates, including five women and many independents. Counting of votes will take place on March 3. Dimapur Voters wait in a long queue to cast their votes for Assembly elections at a polling station in Dimapur, Nagaland on Tuesday. (PTI) There were no third-gender voters in the state. Three-time Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDDP) has been declared elected unopposed from Northern Angami-II constituency after lone rival Chupfuo Angami of the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) withdrew his nomination on February 12. The newly floated NDPP has stitched an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the two are contesting 40 and 20 seats, respectively. "We are confident of emerging as the single largest party and will unseat the NPF from power in Nagaland," Rio told IANS. However, Chief Minister TR Zeliang voiced confidence that the NPF will retain power. "We are confident we will emerge as the single-largest party on March 3 when votes are counted. We will retain power and lead the next government," Zeliang told IANS. The run-up to the polls saw several twists and turns, with the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) demanding a solution to the vexed Naga problem before the elections. Polling time in 103 polling stations in six districts was from 7 am. to 3 pm, while in the remaining 2,053 stations it was 7 am to 4 pm. Of the 2,156 polling stations, 1,062 were designated 'critical', and 530 'vulnerable'. Harpreet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: The ruling Congress party won the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation by winning 62 out of 95 wards. The opposition parties barely touched the double-digit mark while the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) won 11 seats and its alliance partner BJP got 10 seats which had the reigns of the corporation since the last two terms. The Lok Insaaf Party (LIP) suffered a major set back as it won seven seats out of the 59 they contested and its alliance partner Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won only one seat. AAP contested the corporation elections for the first time. The only AAP candidate who won was Balwinder Kaur, wife of AAP district president Daljit Singh Grewal from ward number 11. While the independent candidates won four wards. As many as 494 candidates had contested the polls held on February 24 followed by re-polling in two booths yesterday. Congratulations to all @INCPunjab workers for leading the party to a sweeping victory, winning 62 out of 95 seats, in the #Ludhiana MC polls. The results are a further vindication of our programmes and policies, it reflects the confidence of the people in our government. Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) February 27, 2018 Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has hailed the Ludhiana MC results as a clear vindication of the Congress governments policies and an endorsement of the pro-people initiatives undertaken by it in the past one year. Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar and Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu also joined Amarinder in lauding the performance of the party in these MC polls, which they said marked the total annihilation of the opposition parties in the state. While the Chief Minister congratulated the party workers and leaders, including Cabinet Minister, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, and Ludhiana MP, Ravneet Bittu, for steering the sweeping victory for the Congress, Jakhar said it had once again underscored the faith that the people of Punjab had in Amarinders leadership. Amarinder described it as the proverbial last nail in the political coffins of SAD, AAP and other parties in the fray. With the AAP being reduced to a single seat (out of 30 contested), the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) relegated to a poor second (winning just 11 out of 55 contested, and the BJP losing all but 10 of the 47 seats contested, it was clear that the political antics of these parties since their defeat in the Assembly polls a year ago had failed to impress the people, Jakhar said. The Congress has already swept MC polls of Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar recently. By PTI NEW DELHI: King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, who arrived here today on a three-day visit, was accorded a grand welcome with Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving him at the airport, in a special gesture. The Jordanian King's visit here comes nearly three weeks after Modi travelled to Jordan as part of his trip to West Asia, including Palestine. "Welcomed His Majesty King Abdullah II to Delhi. It's wonderful to meet him again, after my brief halt at Amman earlier this month. His visit to India will further deepen bilateral ties between our nations. I look forward to our talks on Thursday," Modi tweeted. The Prime Minister and the King will hold extensive talks on Thursday covering entire expanse of bilateral ties, official sources said adding, the Palestinian issue and ways to deal with terrorism, radicalisation and extremism are likely to figure prominently in the deliberations. India welcomes His Majesty @KingAbdullahII Ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of #Jordan on his State Visit. Deviating from protocol, PM @narendramodi welcomes His Majesty at the Airport. India attaches great importance to its ties with Jordan. #DelhiAmman pic.twitter.com/ZfHKGfv5D6 Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 27, 2018 Modi received the Jordanian King at the airport, a week after his absence there to welcome Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had triggered questions over whether it was a snub by India to the visiting leader. The King, a 41st generation direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad, will also deliver a special address on Islamic heritage and promoting moderation on Thursday morning which is expected to be attended by Modi. Diplomats, representatives from Islamic institutions of all denominations, academicians, think-tanks and representatives from across the country are expected to attend the event. The King is known for his global initiative to fight radicalisation and terrorism. He is also the custodian of the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, located in the Old City of Jerusalem. India considers Jordan an "oasis of stability and harmony" in conflict-ridden West Asia and New Delhi would like to deepen bilateral ties with the country during the King's visit, official sources said. Both sides will also look to finalise a framework for defence cooperation, they said. The sources said both sides are expected to ink a number of agreements to expand cooperation in several key sectors including healthcare, IT, customs and will look to firm up a framework pact for defence and security cooperation. In their talks, Modi and the King are also likely to explore ways of deepening trade ties. Twenty textile industries from India have invested around USD 300 million in Jordan. Jordan's royal helicopters had flown Modi and his delegation from Amman to Ramallah and back during the visit. The Jordanian King is accompanied by a high-level business delegation. The capability of the Air Force of the Peoples Liberation Army of China to win battles is significantly improved with the recent commission of Chinas self-developed latest J-20 stealth fighter, said military expert. The J-20 fighter jet was officially commissioned into military service in September 2017, which has strategic and epoch-making significance, said Wang Mingzhi, professor at the Chinese peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force Command College. Wang noted that the commission has increased the ability of Chinas air force to deal with new security threats in airspace, and improved the aero equipment systems. The expert explained that as many countries are stepping up their efforts to develop stealth fighters, including Japan, South Korea and India, it is also urgent for Chinas air force to promote its ability to counter security threats in airspace. The J-20 fighter jet will play a significant role in safeguarding Chinas airspace security. In addition, the commissioning of the fighter jet signals that both the air forces capability to win battles and its deterrence capacity have improved, as the J-20 stealth fighter is capable of detecting and launching attacks to destroy opponents preemptively, Wang disclosed. Wang also stressed that China has overcome lots of difficulties in developing the fighter jet, as there was no past experience to follow and no possibility to borrow knowledge related to such advanced technologies from western countries. Despite this, with limited wealth, scientific and technological strength accumulated since the reform and opening up, China has successfully developed the highly advanced new-type J-20 stealth fighter jet in a shorter time than other countries, the expert noted. By Associated Press WASHINGTON: Ivanka Trump expects to be treated seriously as a senior White House adviser. But when faced with uncomfortable questions about her father's treatment of women, she'd prefer to be viewed as just a daughter. President Donald Trump's elder daughter drew fresh scrutiny Monday for an NBC interview in which she argued that a query to her about the women accusing the president of inappropriate behavior was "pretty inappropriate." The comment highlighted her complicated roles as both first daughter and advocate for women and families, serving in an administration led by a president accused of inappropriate behavior by more than a dozen women. Asked if she believed the accusations against her father, Ivanka Trump said: "I think it's a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter if she believes the accusers of her father when he's affirmatively stated that there's no truth to it. I don't think that's a question you would ask many other daughters." READ: Ivanka says 'inappropriate' to be asked about US President Trump's accusers Trump has denied the allegations, and his daughter said she stood by him. "I believe my father, I know my father," she said. "I think I have that right as a daughter, to believe my father." She was interviewed after leading the U.S. delegation at the closing ceremony for the Winter Olympics, Katherine Jellison, who heads the history department at Ohio University, said Ivanka Trump appeared to be trying to have it both ways. "You're either a senior adviser or a daughter. She's in this unique position that she's still trying to work out," said Jellison, an expert on first families. "Especially since she was last in the news as a senior adviser going to the Olympics." Ivanka Trump's trip to Asia included a private meeting with the South Korean president and a pledge that she would use her visit to advocate maximum pressure on North Korea to halt its nuclear program. Trump documented her journey on social media, posting photos and messages to athletes. Before she left Asia, Trump wrote: "Thank you to President Moon, First Lady Kim & the people of South Korea for the warm hospitality you showed me, our Presidential Delegation & #TeamUSA during the #WinterOlympics." Trump worked on the president's tax overhaul last year and successfully pressed for a beefed-up child tax credit. She has also promoted issues such as STEM education and workforce development. ALSO READ: Mass crowds rally for anti-Trump Women's Marches across US But she has struggled to find the right tone to respond to the rising #MeToo moment. She recently got pushback for a tweet offering support for Oprah Winfrey's message of female empowerment at the Golden Globe awards. She said: "Just saw @Oprah's empowering & inspiring speech at last night's #GoldenGlobes. Let's all come together, women & men, & say #TIMESUP! #UNITED." Actress Alyssa Milano and others quickly chimed in, pointing out that the tweet didn't mention her father's accusers. Milano responded to Ivanka Trump's tweet: "Great! You can make a lofty donation to the Time's Up Legal Defense Fund that is available to support your father's accusers." ALSO READ: I wouldn't say I'm a feminist, says Donald Trump Ivanka Trump is not the first presidential family member who has sought to play down personal questions. Jellison recalled that former first lady Barbara Bush once pushed back on a question about her granddaughters after they received citations for underage drinking. Jellison said the situation with Ivanka Trump was different, adding, "she did choose to play this senior advisory role." Tuniu, a Chinese tour operator, is in the midst of a dispute with its customers over whether to fully refund travel fees to them after customers asked to cancel trips to the Maldives out of safety concerns, The Paper.cn reported. Some tourists said they abided by the warning issued by China's Foreign Ministry, which urged Chinese tourists planning to visit the Maldives to delay their trips until the situation in the country stabilized. At the same time, political tensions on the island nation continue to intensify this month. Tourist Lan Liya said she was told by a Tuniu employee that she will have to bear all the economic losses if she insists on cancelling the trip. The employee said it was because all Tunius services will happen on islands unaffected by the political unrest. The staff said the Maldivian government has issued a statement saying all tourism related businesses will be operating. Without the statement, they will not dare to organize any trip to the island country for fear of possible accidents, the staff added. Lan booked a 6-day independent itinerary worth 50,000 yuan via the tour operator, and she will only be refunded 3,368 yuan if she cancels the trip. Like Lan, many tourists think Tunius way of handling their cases is unacceptable. A lawyer pointed out that Tuniu has no legal stance to let tourists bear the losses, because they are cancelling the trips due to irresistible forces. Tuniu should refund the fees to the tourists if they havent been actually used. Chinas Foreign Ministry suggests its residents not travel to the country before Feb. 28. Ctrip, another online travel agency, said it has cancelled its tour services in the Maldives in February, suggesting tourists travel to the country in April and May. The Chinese herbal supplement, Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, is in large demand by U.S. citizens due to remarkable effects it has in treating the common cold. People in the U.S. are going through the worst flu epidemic seen in recent years this winter due to which nearly 56,000 people in the countrys 49 states have died of flu. As antiviral drugs including Tamiflu were almost sold out in the U.S., American people are eager to purchase the aforementioned Chinese herbal supplement after it was introduced in an article Herbal Supplement Has Some New Yorkers Talking, Instead of Coughing published in the Wall Street Journal. According to the article, Alex Schweder, an architect and professor of design at Pratt Institute, has been super sick for a week and half and couldnt stop coughing, but he just stopped coughing only 15 minutes after taking the supplement. American actor Matthew Modine also noted that his cough was obviously relieved after taking the supplement. Many consumers in the U.S. all expressed their love for it, and some even add the supplement to their food. The Chinese herbal supplement is a minty, thick and sweet syrup that treats cough and sore throat, usually sold in 300-milliliter bottles. Due to popularity of the herbal supplement among American consumers, its price surged to even $70 from $10. Despite the high price, the supplement is still in short supply. As for the crave wave related to the herbal supplement, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reminds the public to still follow the doctors advice before taking the supplement in case of overdose or potential health risks. For Subscribers Carousel, Snack Bar buildings to be demolished, but then what? The City Council held a workshop Wednesday night to hear firsthand about two badly deteriorated Easton's Beach buildings. Should they be replaced? Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Columnist Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich). As 2018 marks the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and opening up, the whole new two sessions, the countrys top legislature and advisory body to be convened this March, will not only give direction to Chinas future development, but also become a window for the world to know more about the country. New faces Over 2,200, or nearly 75% of the 2,980 elected deputies for the 13th National Peoples Congress are new deputies. Over half of the members of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) will also be newly elected during the sessions. How the new NPC deputies and CPPCC members fulfill their duties will become a key point of focus during the event. New leadership One of the major tasks of the 2018 two sessions is to elect new state leadership and National Committee of the CPPCC. It means a new line-up will be formed after the conferences. By convention, the new Premier of China will meet with press after the conclusion of the national legislatures annual session. New reform The reform of state institutions, which must be approved by the NPC, will also become an important agenda of the 2018 two sessions. The questions of how China will eliminate barriers in the function system of its state institutions and optimizes efficiency will receive broad attention. New development goals Each year, Chinas government report sets goals revolving around core economic indexes such as GDP growth, CPI growth, financial deficits and grain production. One of the most important signals to be released by the two sessions is Chinas new development goals in 2018. In addition, the presentation of these indexes in the government report will also be a highlight after the country released its first green development index at the end of 2017. New constitutional amendment The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee decided in January to discuss a proposal about amending part of China's Constitution at the second plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee. In 1982, the fifth National People's Congress adopted the present Constitution, which underwent four amendments in 1988, 1993, 1999 and 2004. It is the first time in 14 years for China to carry out new constitutional amendments. New anti-corruption organ The 7th plenary session of 18th CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) released a timetable for the establishment of Chinas national supervisory commission in early 2017. The 1st session of the 13th NPC is expected to deliberate and approve the national supervision law, establish the national supervisory commission, and elect officials of the commission. One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 Eleven "takfiris" were killed by the Egyptian army during ongoing Operation Sinai 2018 operations over the past four days, the armed forces said on Tuesday. Army spokesman Tamer El-Refaie said in communique number 12 that "four extremely dangerous takfiris" were eliminated as the forces foiled a suicide attack by the terrorist elements, who were wearing explosive belts and military uniforms. The Arabic word "takfiri" refers to extremist Sunni Muslims who accuse other Muslims of being infidels, often as a justification for using violence against them. Seven others were killed by the armed forces following a shootout during a raid on a terrorist hideout in Al-Arish, with three AK-47 assault rifles and two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) seized. According to the statement, a non-commissioned officer and two soldiers were killed in the combat operations. Seven army personnel, including an officer, were also injured. Twenty targets and locations used by the terrorists for launching attacks were hit by the air force, which also struck 185 other targets, including hideouts and weapon stores, said the statement. An underground cache of weapons was found by the armed forces, who also destroyed 375 other hideouts and trenches filled with explosives, narcotics and fuel. Eighteen cars and 71 unlicensed motorcycles were also destroyed. Two 4x4 vehicles laden with explosives and ammunition were discovered as they attempted to cross into Egypt and were destroyed by the air force. The army's border guards thwarted an attempt to smuggle 30 firearms and foil four illegal immigration attempts, arresting 419 infiltrators of different nationalities. More than 1,750 kilograms of ready-to-sell narcotics were also seized after the armed forces discovered and destroyed 36 farms growing marijuana and opium poppies. The army added that its military engineers detected and destroyed two tunnel openings measuring 1.5 by 2 metres wide and 15 meters deep, also detonating and neutralizing 27 explosive devices that were planted to target troops in the area. The army said that 641 people suspected being of criminals were arrested, bringing the number of those arrested since the launch of the operation in the first week of February to 2,235 people. The authorities have released 1,447 people following identity checks and confirmation that they were not involved in illegal activities. The counter-terrorist operation, which was launched on 9 February, involves land, naval and air forces, as well as the police and border guards. It targets "terrorist and criminal elements and organizations" in northern and central Sinai, as well as parts of the Nile Delta and the Western Desert, as announced by the military at the start of the operation. Short link: Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry met in Geneva on Tuesday with Filippo Grandi, the Commissioner of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), where he affirmed Egypt's moral commitment towards the millions of refugees living in the country. Shoukry arrived in Switzerland to deliver a speech in front of the UN's Human Rights Council and a UN sponsored Conference on Disarmament. Last week, the Disarmament Commission elected Egypt to be among five vice chairs for its 2018 substantive session. "The foreign minister expressed appreciation for the role of the UNHCR office in Cairo, highlighting the history of cooperation between Egypt and the organisation since 1954," said a statement by Egypt's foreign ministry spokesperson Ahmed Abu Zeid. Grandi expressed appreciation for the efforts and services provided by Egypt to refugees inside the country, especially for Syrian refugees and asylum seekers, describing Egypt as a "role model for many countries" in this regard. "The minister highlighted the importance of cooperation between Egypt and the UNHCR, especially with the rising numbers of refugees and asylum seekers in the country," the statement said. Shoukry stressed the necessity of increasing UNHCR allocations to aid Egypt's efforts in hosting refugees. Shoukry also addressed the presidency of the Conference on Disarmament (CD) in this critical juncture of the new session. "The Conference on Disarmament has been in a stalemate for over two decades and has regrettably been unable, throughout this long period, to adopt a programme of work, despite the sincere efforts exerted in this regard," Shoukry said in his speech. "Despite repeated calls by Egypt and the international community, throughout several decades and on numerous occasions and forums, to realise the total and irreversible elimination of nuclear weapons in compliance with one of the main pillars of the NPT, these calls have fallen on deaf ears so far," Shoukry added. The minister stressed that nuclear weapons continue to exist in overwhelming numbers, which poses a serious threat to international security. "In confronting all of these challenges, Egypt stresses the importance of complying with the text and spirit of the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. We are gravely concerned that even though 48 years have elapsed since the NPT entered into force and the legal obligation contained in Article VI calling nuclear weapon States to pursue nuclear disarmament, nuclear weapons continue to exist worldwide," the minister said. Shoukry highlighted that Egypt supports the commencement of negotiations on a treaty banning the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons and other explosive devices (FMCT). "It is Egypts view that a future FMCT treaty necessitates the inclusion of stockpiles of weapon grade materials to ensure that it serves nuclear disarmament and not remain another instrument designed to sustain an unbalanced status quo and to limit concentration on non-proliferation issues," Shoukry concluded. Short link: Related New Cairo prosecution opens investigation into death of student found in AUC pool A New Cairo Misdemeanour Court sentenced a swimming pool lifeguard to six months in prison for "negligence" that resulted in the drowning of an American University in Cairo (AUC) student last week. The sentence, which can still be appealed, comes only days after the unnamed lifeguard at the New Cairo campus was referred to court over the death of 22 year-old Ahmed Mohamed Abdel-Aziz after he was found unconscious in the pool late in the evening of Monday, 19 February. Abdel-Aziz was transferred to a New Cairo hospital in a coma, but passed away early the next day. The university has ordered the pool area closed until further notice and has lowered its flags to half-mast in mourning. Short link: President Emmerson Mnangagwa is not sincere in his call for a free, fair and credible election as the situation on the ground points to a different direction, MDC Alliance spokesperson Welshman Ncube has said. The broader alliance of seven political parties dubbed MDC Alliance formed by the late MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai last year to take on Zanu PF has endorsed Nelson Chamisa, 40, as its presidential candidate. Yesterday, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) chairperson Priscilla Chigumba said about 60 percent of our people who registered to vote are aged between 18 and 40. It means this is a vote of young people, Justice Chigumba said. Ncube told the Daily News yesterday we believe we can win the elections but said there isnt any evidence on the ground to suggest sincerity to level the playing field by the ruling administration. Sincerity will involve taking actions on electoral reforms. For instance if he were sincere he would say today to Zanu PF to stop it, to stop going around demanding voter slips. If he was sincere he will tell (army commander) Valerio Sibanda that this time we recognise sovereignty of the people of Zimbabwe. You Sibanda you are the commander of the army, tell people that the previous statements by (former Zimbabwe Defence Forces commanders Constantino) Chiwenga and (Vitalis) Zvinavashe, we no longer believe that, the people have a right to select their leaders;, Ncube said. Zimbabwes former military chiefs, the late Zvinavashe and Chiwenga, now vice president, have previously declared they will only back leaders who fought in the countrys wars of liberation. Generals in Zimbabwes military are veterans of the 1970s independence war, and they publicly support Mnangagwa and his Zanu PF. Ncube said Mnangagwa as the president had a duty to assure the nation that certainly the electoral play-field will be level. If he was to say all these things they cost no cent. If he was sincere he would say you and you stop all of these anti-free elections actions. He would say stop sending helicopters to hover over our rallies as happened in Mutare recently as a way of intimidating people. I have no reason to believe any sincerity as long as he has condemned these things. It is within his power to stop them tomorrow. He said the electoral play field was skewed in favour of Zanu PF. Ncube said they will ratchet up their campaigns to convince Zimbabweans to vote for change. We are going to campaign in the usual democratic way to sell ourselves. And thats the only test of sincerity, not rhetorical systems, he said. The respected lawyer said it was through more opposition parties coming together that they will enhance their chances of winning the next elections. As MDC Alliance, our chances will be enhanced if we have more of other significant parties with verifiable support base but even if that doesnt happen, we are convinced that with sufficient momentum and grasp of issues, with sufficient roots in the society for us to be able to win the elections, he said. Daily News A RUSAPE man, who killed a senior citizen over a $2 debt, was last Friday sentenced to 18 years behind bars. Teurai Tsarwe (35) from Zambe village under Chief Makoni, who appeared before High Court judge Justice Joseph Musakwa, will rue the day he tied Samson Mutsvunguma (65) to a tree before stoning him to death. According to prosecutor Jonathan Chingwinyiso, on June 15, 2017 and at Zambe village at around 5:30pm, the convict had a misunderstanding with the deceased Mutsunguma over $2 the deceased had borrowed. The accused tied the deceaseds hands, sat on him and struck him with stones several times on the head. He was seen assaulting the deceased by Nyasha Machemedze. Machemedze alerted Kenneth Chiponde, who went to the crime scene. The State heard that the convict then bolted, leaving the deceased writhing and groaning in pain. The matter was reported to the police, leading to the convicts arrest. The accused died at the crime scene and his body was taken to Rusape General Hospital. A post-mortem carried out by Thomas Nyamudya established that Mutsvunguma died as a result of head injuries. Tinotenda Jakazi represented the convict. Newsday INDIVIDUALS and corporates who have been siphoning funds and assets out of the country have up to tomorrow to return the loot or risk prosecution and being named and shamed. President Emmerson Mnangagwa issued a three-month moratorium soon after his inauguration last November for the return of all looted funds and assets. The grace period which allowed looters to return the loot with no questions asked started on November 28 and ends tomorrow. Announcing the grace period, the President said Operation Restore Legacy which was launched by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces to usher in a new political dispensation, unearthed serious economic crimes. The President said those who fail to return the loot within the stipulated period face prosecution. Activities linked to the Operation Restore Legacy have, among other issues, helped to uncover cases where huge amounts of money and other assets were illegally externalised by certain individuals and corporates. Needless to say such malpractice constitutes a serious economic crime against the people of Zimbabwe which the Government of Zimbabwe will never condone, President Mnangagwa said last November. Addressing delegates during Zanu-PF conference the following month, the President said he had knowledge of those who had externalised funds. I didnt say that without knowledge. I have a list of who took money out. So in March when the period expires, those who would not have heeded to my moratorium I will name them and shame them, he said. The President warned that those who fail to heed his call will be arrested and prosecuted. In an interview in Davos, Switzerland in January, President Mnangagwa expressed satisfaction that his call on funds and assets return was being heeded. I think you are aware that I made a three month moratorium on those who had taken assets of Zimbabwe outside the country, Im glad to say few days ago I had a brief from my Governor of the Reserve Bank (Dr John Mangudya) that many people who had taken assets outside the country, some have brought back the funds, some are in the process of negotiating, he said. The President said it was easy to trace those who externalised the funds. Those who have taken funds outside and not come forward, I have the list because the banking fraternity, the financial service sector has been able to give us details on who took out funds and we have that, said Cde Mnangagwa. Herald Zambian opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema has congratulated Nelson Chamisa as he was elected the new opposition Movement for Democratic Change president, and said he hoped he would continue with the spirit of love, unity and democracy left behind by the late Morgan Tsvangirai. Hichilema, an economist and businessman widely known as HH, made the comments in an official letter bearing a letterhead of his United Party for National Development (UPND) Presidents Office congratulating Chamisa, 40, for emerging as the new leader of the MDC following Tsvangirais death on February 14. To you ... Chamisa, the entire leadership and members of the MDC, we urge you to continue with the spirit left behind by ...Tsvangirai, the spirit of love, unity and democracy which remained a driving force throughout his political career, Hichilema said in his letter to Chamisa. This comes after Chamisa has also been picked to represent Zimbabwes main opposition alliance in the presidential election. Chamisa will try to unseat President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the veteran politician who replaced toppled despot Robert Mugabe as president. The cunning Mnangagwa, 75, was sworn in on November 24, and has promised to hold free and fair elections in 2018, where he is seeking a first legitimate five-year mandate. It is understood Zimbabwe go to the polls in June or July to elect a president, lawmakers and local officials. The MDC National Council the highest decision-making body outside congress on February 15, endorsed Chamisa as acting president of the party, a day after Tsvangirais death. The meeting was boycotted by vice presidents Elias Mudzuri and Thokozani Khupe, who were bidding to succeed Tsvangirai. Mudzuri has since thrown his weight behind Chamisa a charismatic speaker, indefatigable politician with star quality who possesses a brilliant intellect. Last Friday, the MDCs consultative meeting held at the MDC headquarters, Harvest House in Harare attended by 639 delegates from 210 party districts, again unanimously endorsed Chamisa as Tsvangirais successor and presidential candidate. The meeting was attended by the national executive, provincial and district chairpersons from across the country, and erstwhile dissenters secretary general Douglas Mwonzora and Mudzuri also attended. Hichilema said Tsvangirai, who was buried on Tuesday last week in his rural home of Buhera, was a great son of Africa. It is with deepest regret and great sorrow that we in the UPND received the sad news of the passing on of ... Tsvangirai. Tsvangirai was a great son of Africa and a true leader who tirelessly and selflessly stood for that which was right in defence of the many Zimbabweans who came to identify with his firm belief, love and dedication to the cause of his people, Hichilema said. As we mourn this great son of Africa, I wish to convey on behalf of the UPND and indeed my own behalf, our deepest condolences to you Mr president (Chamisa), the entire membership of the MDC, ... Tsvangirais family and the people of Zimbabwe, on the passing on of this great man. Hichilema, who was freed from prison in August last year after the State prosecutor dropped charges of plotting to overthrow the government, saluted Tsvangirais sacrifice. Hichilema and five others were arrested in April last year and charged with treason after his convoy failed to make way for President Edgar Lungus motorcade. His release helped defuse tensions in Zambia, where Lungu had imposed a state of emergency. Hichilema, who like Tsvangirai has been beaten, humiliated and accused of treason, described the late MDC leader as an pro-democracy icon. To you Morgan my brother and colleague, I pay a befitting tribute. You braved it and stood up for the many voiceless Zimbabweans, Hichilema said in his letter to Chamisa. That which you began in life will not disappear in your death. The seed you sowed will soon flower and bear fruit. The millions of Zimbabweans that are now in grief will get relief out of the fruit of your labour. My fellow foot soldier of democracy, go well. We, as a party and other progressive Zambians, join the millions of Zimbabweans in mourning you and celebrating your illustrious political career. Daily News ZANU (Ndonga) has joined the ruling Zanu-PF in what could be seen as a clear indication of confidence in the party. The decision to dissolve Zanu (Ndonga) was endorsed by the opposition partys executive members at a meeting held in Harare yesterday. Speaking after the meeting, former Zanu (Ndonga) president Mr Wilson Khumbula was quoted by ZBC as saying the opposition party is now fully joining Zanu- PF. I call upon all former Zanu (Ndonga) members to adhere to our decision that the party Zanu (Ndonga) dissolved in February 2015 and joined Zanu-PF to become one party following the final round of negotiations with representatives of Zanu-PF led by Hon Dr Win BJ Mlambo, said Mr Khumbula. He said the decision to join Zanu-PF was downplayed by the G40 cabal which had teamed up with its Manicaland provincial executive. Our members were denied entry into Zanu-PF which saw some of our members enticed to other parties. The decision to join Zanu-PF was downplayed by the G40 cabal, said Mr Khumbula. The former opposition leader said as Zimbabwe gears for the forthcoming harmonised elections, members of Zanu (Ndonga) are being called upon to register and vote for Zanu-PF. Now that the G40 cabal was brought to book, I call upon all Zanu (Ndonga) members to come back to Zanu-PF. We have agreed with the leadership of the new dispensation led by His Excellency Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa that all our members are very much welcome into the party since we started together in 1963 as one party, Mr Khumbula was quoted as saying. Zanu-PF spokesperson Cde Simon Khaya Moyo welcomed the decision by Zanu (Ndonga) to re-join the ruling party and urged new comers to embrace the revolutionary partys values, vision and rules governing it. Zanu-PF is a peoples party with membership across the country and welcomes anyone who believes in its values and ethos. We are the only party in the country with clear policies and programmes directed towards the upliftment of the quality of the lives of our people. It is therefore not surprising to learn that Zanu (Ndonga) or anyone has joined the party because they believe in its ideas, he said. Cde Khaya Moyo said Zanu-PF is an open party whose focus is on economic emancipation of people. We are an open party, but whosoever joins us must live by our rules and regulations, and there is a constitution which guides the party and therefore one must subscribe to the vision of that constitution. We welcome Zanu Ndonga including every patriotic Zimbabwean, he said. We dont want opportunists, we are looking at committed cadres who know the history of the liberation struggle and what we fought for. Our focus is on economic emancipation of our people since we are also our own political liberators so shall we be our own economic liberators. Zanu (Ndonga) was founded by the late veteran nationalist Cde Ndabaningi Sithole. Cde Sithole died in 2000. The party consistently won the Chipinge seat, which happened to fall in Cde Sitholes home area, until 2005. Mr Khumbula, who was Cde Sitholes deputy, took over the party after the death of his predecessor but fared dismally in the 2002 presidential elections before the party went on to lose its parliamentary seat in the 2005 elections. Sharp divisions followed afterwards as some leaders started questioning his leadership, resulting in two factions emerging, led by Mr Khumbula and Mr Gondai Vhutuza. Another splinter group later sprang up fronted by former chairperson of the party, Mr Reketayi Semwayo, who forged an alliance with MDC-T in a bid to win the Chipinge Central National Assembly seat in 2013, but lost. According to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec), there are more than 80 political parties that will compete against each in the forthcoming elections. Chronicle One of Only 11 Early Copies of Constitution Up for Auction The Russian military on Tuesday accused rebels in Syria's eastern Ghouta of raining mortar fire down on an evacuation route opened to allow civilians to leave the conflict zone, the TASS news agency reported. Not a single civilian had been able to leave the area via the corridor as a result, TASS cited theRussian military as saying. Russia, which backs the Syrian government, ordered a daily truce from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (0700 GMT to 1200 GMT) and the creation of a "humanitarian corridor" to let civilians leave the area, the last major rebel stronghold near Damascus. Short link: (Newser) The federal government is likely now able to unlock any model of iPhone. A report in Forbes says a contractor known as a go-to for when U.S. officials want a suspect's device unlocked has discovered a way around Apple's security features. The contractor is an Israeli firm called Cellebrite, which the report suggests successfully circumvented security on an iPhone X late last year during a Michigan arms trafficking investigation. Forbes reports the company "developed undisclosed techniques" that allow it access to iOS 11. However, the firm has not made any public statements about the reported development so it's not clear what that development might be. Apple has thus far not responded to the report. story continues below If true, the news marks a major victory for police forces worldwide who've struggled to keep up with the increased security that comes with each new iPhone release. As CNET notes, Apple and the Department of Justice first famously butted heads following a terrorist shooting in San Bernardino when the tech giant refused to assist federal authorities in their attempts to get into the suspects' locked phones. While it took a court order before Apple would comply, they never had to follow through with it. By the time the company agreed, federal officials announced that a contractor had already helped them unlock the phones. (Read more iPhone stories.) (Newser) The report is thin, but TMZ says Bill Cosby's 44-year-old daughter Ensa died Friday in Massachusetts; a rep for Cosby confirms this to the AP and says she died from renal disease. TMZ had reported she was in poor health, with kidney issues that potentially had her on the transplant list. By way of biography, it reports that she has been a champion of her father in the face the sexual assault allegations against him, quoting her as writing the following in 2017: "I strongly believe my father is innocent of the crimes alleged against him and I believe that racism has played a big role in all aspects of this scandal." story continues below Cosby spokesman Andrew Wyatt adds, "Please keep the Cosby family in your prayers and give them peace at this time." Cosby's son, Ennis, was fatally shot in 1997. (Read more Bill Cosby stories.) (Newser) A Maryland teen reportedly told cops he took a firearm to school for protection from mass shooters, according to court documents. Montgomery County Police arrested 18-year-old high school student Alwin Chen on Feb. 15 and charged him with bringing a loaded gun to Clarksburg High School outside Washington. According to prosecutors, Chen told police that he routinely attended the school with a loaded gun concealed on his person because he was afraid of a mass shooting incident. According to the Washington Post, prosecutors called Chen a public risk, citing among other things his ability to build a gun from parts he bought on the internet, and asked a judge that he not be granted bond. Chen was arrested following a student tip a day after the massacre in Parkland, Florida, left 17 dead at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. story continues below Per Fox DC, Chen is an honors student whose fellow runners on the cross country team said he likely did not come to school armed with the intention to harm others. Clarksburg High School principal Edward Owusu also appeared to come to Chen's defense after the incident, telling the Fox affiliate that Chen was a good student whose decision to arm himself was "a mistake." Attorneys for Chen have asked for a new bond hearing and say their client poses no public risk. Meanwhile, a filing from the prosecution pointed to a 2017 entry in Chen's journal in which he reportedly said he "might start doing some vigilante operations" in order "to hit evil people." (Read more school shooting stories.) (Newser) "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli was responsible for nearly $10.5 million in losses in a securities fraud scheme, a judge ruled Monday, a blow to the defense that could result in a harsher sentence for the eccentric former pharmaceutical company CEO. The US District judge rejected arguments by Shkreli's lawyers that investors in two failed hedge funds didn't suffer actual losses because he compensated them with drug company stock that, in the end, more than covered their initial investments. The judge found Shkreli should be penalized for the losses because he made risky transactions with investors' millions without their permission, the AP reports. After dipping into investor money from one of the hedge funds to keep his drug company startup afloat, Shkreli "used some the funds to satisfy both personal and unrelated professional obligations," including a $900,000 debt for a bad stock market trade, she wrote. story continues below Shkreli was convicted at trial last year, remains in jail and faces up to 20 years in prison at his sentencing on March 9. The defense had hoped that under sentencing guidelines he would get little or even no prison time. Monday's decision on losses appears certain to work against him. CNBC reports that based on federal sentencing guidelines, the judge is likely to call for a sentence of up to 10 years or more behind bars. One of Shkreli's attorneys, Ben Brafman, said in a statement that he was "disappointed by the ruling but still hopeful that the court will find it in her heart to impose a reasonably lenient sentence." Shkreli, 34, is perhaps best known for boosting the price of a life-saving drug by 5,000% and for trolling his critics on social media, where he became known as "Pharma Bro." His bail was revoked last year after he posted a veiled threat against Hillary Clinton. (Read more Martin Shkreli stories.) (Newser) An Innocence Project lawyer says it's the worst miscarriage of justice she has ever seenand it's one that kept two men behind bars for more than half their lives. Garr Keith Hardin and Jeffrey Dewayne Clark, who spent 24 years in prison in Kentucky after being accused of a satanic murder, had their convictions vacated after a brief hearing Monday in which a judge decided no credible evidence remained against them, the Louisville Courier Journal reports. Hardin, 48, and Clark, 47, were arrested in 1992 after the murder of Rhonda Warford, 19, who was stabbed to death and dumped in a field 50 miles from her home. She had spoken of being harassed by a strange man, but investigators focused on ex-boyfriend Hardin instead. The two men were convicted of her murder in 1995. story continues below The men were released from prison in 2016 because of new forensic testing and evidence of police misconduct, the AP reports. Detective Mark Handy, who's accused of fabricating witness statements, is already being sued in connection with several other cases. Both Hardin and Clark have filed federal lawsuits. Innocence Project lawyer Seema Saifee says "unconscionable misconduct" by police resulted in prison for the men, who were accused of killing the teen as part of a satanic sacrifice. "They stole their youth, but they couldn't take away their dignity," Saifee says. "A lot of people ask me why I ain't so bitter," Clark tells WAVE 3. "I am bitter, but I ain't going to let it destroy the rest of my life." He says he wants to know who really killed Warford. "I want to see who actually did this crime," he says. "I want some closure and I want to know who took my life away from me." (Read more Kentucky stories.) (Newser) Authorities in Canada investigating the use of a now-discredited drug test have revealed an alarming stat: At least 56 families in Ontario were "broken apart" from 1990 to 2015 largely as a result of the flawed hair testing, and in only four of those cases were children returned to their families, reports the Toronto Star. The revelation comes after a two-year investigation into the now-closed Motherisk Laboratory at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. For years, child welfare officials relied on the lab's testing of hair samples to determine whether parents were abusing alcohol or drugs, but those tests have since been declared scientifically unsound. The investigation focused only on the province of Ontario, meaning the number of families affected throughout Canada is likely much greater, notes the Washington Post. story continues below The testing was imposed on people who were among the poorest and most vulnerable members of our society, with scant regard for due process of their rights to privacy and bodily integrity, the report by an independent commission states. "Most of the parents who were tested were powerless to resist. They told us that they submitted to the testing under duress, in fear of losing custody of or access to their children." The Star focuses on the case of one Ontario woman whose daughter was taken away in 2011 after a test falsely determined that the mother was drinking heavily. Her 13-year-old daughter finally came home last summer. "She was so tall," says the mother. "I remember her as a little girl." (Read more drug testing stories.) (Newser) Given how many cases the Supreme Court rejects, it's quite a coup if one of your own legal fights ends up being argued there. On Tuesday, Florida resident Fane Lozman had the odds-defying distinction of seeing his second case there in five years. The former commodities trader won his firsta dispute over whether the city of Riviera Beach had the right to seize his houseboatand will learn later this year whether justices agree with him in the second, which stems from his arrest at a city council meeting back in 2006. The court heard arguments Tuesday in the case, which has First Amendment repercussions. Details: The arrest: In November 2006, Lozman began complaining about corrupt politicians during the public-comments portion of a council meeting. After he refused the chairwoman's order to move on to a different subject or stop speaking, a police officer arrested him. You can see the arrest in this video. He was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, though the charges were later dropped, reports NPR. story continues below Free speech: Lozman maintains that his lawsuit over the arrest is a vital First Amendment issue. "If I lose, police and governments will be immunized," he tells USA Today. "They can always censure free speech." His case is supported by the ACLU and media organizations. Lozman maintains that his lawsuit over the arrest is a vital First Amendment issue. "If I lose, police and governments will be immunized," he tells USA Today. "They can always censure free speech." His case is supported by the ACLU and media organizations. City's side: Lawyers for Riviera Beach say the officer was justified in arresting Lozman because he had probable cause to believe Lozman was going to disrupt a public meeting. The question is whether that probable cause overrides Lozman's right to free speech, per MyPalmBeachPost. Lawyers for Riviera Beach say the officer was justified in arresting Lozman because he had probable cause to believe Lozman was going to disrupt a public meeting. The question is whether that probable cause overrides Lozman's right to free speech, per MyPalmBeachPost. City's example: In court documents, the city says officers sometimes need to make snap decisions in the name of safety, and it would be dangerous to curb that ability with the threat of false-arrest lawsuits. It cites the example of an officer who stops a suspicious van by a federal building and decides to arrest the driver instead of issuing a citation, in order to provide time to determine whether he might be another Oklahoma City bomber. Lozman's lawyers say his arrest makes no sense because he was "calmly speaking" at a public forum. In court documents, the city says officers sometimes need to make snap decisions in the name of safety, and it would be dangerous to curb that ability with the threat of false-arrest lawsuits. It cites the example of an officer who stops a suspicious van by a federal building and decides to arrest the driver instead of issuing a citation, in order to provide time to determine whether he might be another Oklahoma City bomber. Lozman's lawyers say his arrest makes no sense because he was "calmly speaking" at a public forum. The first case: The AP has details on Lozman's first Supreme Court case, in which he successfully argued that the city unlawfully seized his floating home to make way for waterfront development. His suit helped put the kibosh on the development and is the source of the bad blood between him and city officials. The AP has details on Lozman's first Supreme Court case, in which he successfully argued that the city unlawfully seized his floating home to make way for waterfront development. His suit helped put the kibosh on the development and is the source of the bad blood between him and city officials. Nemesis: If Lozman seems colorful, so does Elizabeth Wade, the city official who clashed with him just before the arrest. "I told him I would put my foot so far up his behind, he would think my toe was his tonsil, she once told a reporter of Lozman, per the Washington Post. She also has called him a "rich white boy with nothing to do," and, more ominously, said in a closed-door city meeting that the city should "intimidate" him so he can "feel the same kind of unwarranted heat we are feeling. (Read more First Amendment stories.) (Newser) A church bell marked with a swastika and a German phrase translating to "Everything for the FatherlandAdolf Hitler" will remain hanging in the village in Germany, despite fears it could draw neo-Nazi groups. Councilors in Herxheim am Berg, some 60 miles southwest of Frankfurt, voted 10-3 Monday to keep the bronze bell in place at a local Protestant church, where it has hung since 1934, reports Deutsche Welle. Though the church had offered to install a new bell amid calls to put the original in a museum, Mayor Georg Welker said such an arrangement would mean people could "take a selfie" with the bell at any time. Voting to have the bell remain in use in the church tower in the village of 700, councilors said it would serve as a memorial against violence and injustice and as a symbol of reconciliation, reports the BBC. story continues below Former church organist Sigrid Peters doesn't see it that way, though the move follows recommendations by outside experts. Peters says she's saddened they would "allow a bell dedicated to a murderer to hang in the church," especially following the huge election gains of the far-right Alternative for Germany party in September. Not long before that, Herxheim am Berg's former mayor resigned after quoting a woman who said Hitler should be remembered for "things he achieved," per DW. Welker then drew flak in January when he described victims of Nazis as "German citizens, not just Jews." Welker had said he heard the victims in each ringing of the bell and denied trying to suggest that Jews weren't citizens, DW reports. (Read more Germany stories.) (Newser) Two leaders considered to be pariahs by much of the world may be providing each other much-needed helpwith dire consequences. A comprehensive new UN report alleges that North Korea is selling equipment to Syria that can be used in chemical weapons production, reports the New York Times. Specifically, the report says Kim Jong Un's regime is selling Bashar al-Assad's military items such as acid-resistant valves and thermometers. If true, that means the partnership is providing financially strapped North Korea with money to continue working on its nuclear arsenal, while helping Assad continue his tactic of unleashing chemical attacks on civilians. story continues below Assad denies any such attacks, but he has routinely been accused of them by aid workers dealing with casualties. In fact, just two days ago, Syria was accused of a chlorine attack on Eastern Ghouta, reports CNN. The UN report has yet to be made public, but it's expected to be released next month. The Times notes that Syria and North Korea have strong ties that go back decades. (For the second time, Russia used video-game footage to represent the actual fighting in Syria.) (Newser) A felon is on trial for the slaying of a mother of three in Wisconsin, but his lawyers argue the man who actually did the crime is the victim's boyfriend. Now, Fitbit and Google data could help resolve the case. Attorneys for George Burch, 40who is alleged to have killed Nicole VanderHeyden outside her Ledgeview home on May 21, 2016say it was actually VanderHeyden's boyfriend, Douglass Detrie, who killed the 31-year-old after a night out, reports the Daily Beast. Detrie was initially arrested after VanderHeyden's body, with signs of sexual assault, was found in a field three miles from her home. But authorities say they've cleared Detrie. Not only did Burch's DNA appear on VanderHeyden's body and the cord used to strangle her, but Fitbit data shows Detrie was inactive when the murder took place, prosecutors say, per the Green Bay Press Gazette. story continues below After attending a concert with VanderHeyden and friends, Detrie became separated from the group. He says he then began receiving angry texts from VanderHeyden, who'd been drinking heavily. Friends who went with VanderHeyden to a bar say she got upset and left. Detrie, who friends described as worried, claims he went home and fell asleep around 3am. Only 30 minutes earlier, Burch had left a bar where his lawyers claim he met VanderHeyden. Google Dashboard data shows Burch then visited VanderHeyden's home and two sites where her body and clothing were found, prosecutors say. Beginning this week, defense attorneys are expected to argue Detrie killed VanderHeyden when he found her with Burch in a car outside the couple's home, then forced Burch to dump the body at gunpoint. (Read more Wisconsin stories.) A humanitarian "pause" announced by Russia in Syria's deadly bombardment of Eastern Ghouta struggled to take hold Tuesday, with fresh violence erupting and no sign of aid deliveries or residents leaving the besieged enclave. Nine days after Russian-backed regime forces intensified their campaign against the rebel-held enclave, the deal offered some respite to civilians who had been cowering in their basements. But the first day of a five-hour daily "pause" that was announced by Russia and kicked off at 9:00 am (0700 GMT) was marred by fresh violence that saw at least six civilians killed. Moscow's plan falls short of a broader 30-day ceasefire which was voted by the United Nations but has yet to take effect, and has inspired little trust from among the besieged enclave's 400,000 residents. The regime deployed buses at the Al-Wafideen checkpoint to transport residents wanting to use a humanitarian corridor to flee what UN chief Antonio Guterres last called "hell on earth". But no civilians were seen venturing towards the regime forces guarding the checkpoint, where large portraits of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin could be seen side-by-side. State news agency SANA accused armed groups in Eastern Ghouta of firing several rockets on the path of the corridor. It singled out the former Al-Qaeda affiliate present in some parts of the enclave, accusing it of blocking civilians "to use them as human shields". Some residents left the basements they had been cowering in for days to check on their property and buy food. But many in the enclave, which lies on the eastern outskirts of the Syrian capital, appeared distrustful of a "pause" announced by Damascus's main ally. "This Russian truce is a farce. Russia is killing us and bombing us every day," said Samer al-Buaidhani, a 25-year-old from Douma, Eastern Ghouta's main hub. "I don't believe it's safe for me or my family to leave by this system," he told AFP. International Committee of the Red Cross spokeswoman Iolanda Jaquemet told AFP that any evacuation needed deeper coordination. "Under international humanitarian law, humanitarian corridors are things which need to be well planned and must be implemented with the consent of parties on all sides, not only with one side," she said. More than 550 civilians, almost a quarter of them children, have been killed since February 18 in the Syrian and Russian bombardment of Eastern Ghouta, making it one of the bloodiest episodes of the country's seven-year-old conflict. Violence levels were significantly lower on Tuesday as the "humanitarian pause" kicked in but six civilians were killed by regime bombardment, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group. Two of the victims were killed before the declared five-hour window, two during and two after, the Britain-based group said, adding that the bombardment intensified again after 2:00 pm (1200 GMT). In Hammuriyeh, another town in the sprawling semi-rural enclave, Mohammed Abdullah said the pause left civilians with a choice between two evils. "The truce is not in the people's interest, we have two options: death or displacement," said the 30-year-old. "The campaign we were targeted with was an extermination campaign, not a simple bombardment. What we want is a full and permanent ceasefire for all of Ghouta," he said. That sentiment was echoed by the dominant rebel groups in Eastern Ghouta, who sent a letter to the United Nations stating their willingness to expel jihadists as soon as a full ceasefire takes effect. The Russian-backed daily five-hour "pause" falls short of a broader month-long ceasefire voted by the UN Security Council on Saturday. The main rebel groups in Eastern Ghouta -- Jaish al-Islam, Faylaq al-Rahman and Ahrar al-Sham -- declared their "complete commitment to deport" jihadist fighters. Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a group made up mostly of fighters from Al-Qaeda's ex-affiliate Al-Nusra Front, is present in some parts of the enclave. The letter said such an evacuation, which has been discussed previously but never yielded any result, would take 15 days and start when a UN truce takes effect. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reacted cautiously to the statement and said after meeting French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian that the ball was in the rebel groups' court. "We shall see in practice whether the pleas by the three illegal armed groups... to carry out the UNSC resolution correspond with their intentions," he said. The Syrian government lost control of Eastern Ghouta in 2012 and has besieged it almost ever since. The scenario put in place by the regime and its Russian ally was reminiscent of the deal that ended the battle of Aleppo in 2016. Few civilians back then initially used the Aleppo corridors unilaterally announced by Russia. Some started fleeing after renewed bombardment and the rest eventually evacuated when a multilateral deal was reached with Turkey. Short link: (Newser) A story involving an AR-15 is making headlines, with a twist: Police near Chicago say a man used his weapon to stop a knife attack, reports the Chicago Tribune. The resident of Oswego Township tells WGN that he witnessed a confrontation among neighbors turn violent and decided to act. Dave Thomas says he ran back to his house and "grabbed the AR-15 over my handgunbigger gun, I think a little more of an intimidation factor. Definitely played a part in him actually stopping." The Kendall County Sheriff's Office confirms that Thomas stopped the stabbing attack with "only the threat of force." story continues below The suspect fled but was quickly apprehended by deputies, while the stabbing victim was hospitalized with multiple injuries. The victim's condition wasn't known. Thomas says the incident shows that the AR-15 is a good weapon for home protection in the hands of someone properly trained, and the incident is likely to draw attention in the current debate over gun laws. Exhibit A is the headline at Breitbart News: "Bad Guy with Knife Stopped by Good Guy with AR-15." (Read more AR-15 rifle stories.) (Newser) Jared Kushner and other White House aides are having their security clearances downgraded, three sources tell Politico. In the wake of the Rob Porter scandal, which uncovered the fact that many White House aides had access to top secret information despite not having received permanent security clearances, White House chief of staff John Kelly overhauled the security clearance process. The sources say Kushner and all other aides who had had interim Top Secret/SCI-level clearancesthe highest levelreceived a memo Friday telling them their clearances would be downgraded to the Secret level, CNN reports. That means Kushner will no longer have access to top-secret intelligence; he previously enjoyed unrestricted access to many sensitive documents including the president's daily brief. story continues below Trump can grant Kushner a permanent clearance, but had said Friday he would let Kelly make that decision; Kelly had said last week that Kushner would be able "to continue performing his duties." The memo was not signed by Kelly, and the White House has not commented on the memo. "We actually havent commented on Jareds issue indicated, but we have commented on his ability to do his job. Which, hes a valued member of the team and he will continue to do the important work that hes been doing since hes started in the administration," said White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders at a Tuesday briefing. Kushner's attorney said in a statement that the changes will "not affect Mr. Kushners ability to continue to do the very important work he has been assigned by the president." (Read more Jared Kushner stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Egypt's ministers of electricity and higher education inaugurated a 22 million multipurpose applications by thermodynamic solar (MATS) plant in Borg El-Arab, Alexandria on Tuesday, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported. The European Union is contributing 12 million to the project, which began in July 2011. The plant is expected to produce over 3,000 MWh of electricity and about 8,900 MWh of thermal energy every year when it reaches its last phase of operation, according to the European Commission. The project was initially slated for completion by January 2015. The MATS plant is set to produce electricity, heat, cooling, and desalinated water by using solar energy integrated with other energy sources which are available locally, according to the European Commissions official website. The technology used in the project is called Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) technology and was developed by ENEA, the Italian national agency for new technologies, energy and sustainable economic development. The technology will use molten salts as heat transfer fluid and will produce heat and power from solar sources integrated with renewable fuels, such as biomass, biogas and industrial residues, according to the website. Industrial and research partners in the project are from Egypt, Italy, France, Germany and the United Kingdom. These include The Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Delft Environment and Orascom from Egypt, Archimede Solar Energy, Kinetics Technology, and Ronda from Italy, Cranfield University from the United Kingdom, and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission. The research consortium partners strongly aim at transforming a semi-desert region into a technological hub whilst preserving and consolidating the collaboration between the EU and Egypt over time in sustainable research, innovation and development, according to ENEAs website. A workshop on Public-Private Partnerships and Technology Development in renewable energy is set to take place Wednesday in Cairo. Egypt aims to generate 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2022. Short link: Let us know what you're seeing and hearing around the community. Submit here The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. 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New Delhi: Voting for Assembly elections in the two north-eastern states of Meghalaya and Nagaland begins on Tuesday amid tight security. Polling will be held between 7 am and 4 pm, except in some polling stations of the interior districts of Nagaland, where the process is scheduled to conclude at 3 pm. The two states have a 60-member House each, but voting will be held for 59 constituencies in both. In Meghalaya, the election has been countermanded in Williamnagar in the wake of the killing of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma in an IED blast in East Garo Hills district on February 18. In Nagaland, NDPP chief Neiphiu Rio has been declared elected unopposed from the Northern Angami-II constituency. The results of the polls in the two states, along with that of Tripura, will be declared on March 3. Buoyed by the formation of governments in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh, the BJP is making a determined bid to expand its footprint in the north-east. A total of 361 candidates are in the fray, while over 18.4 lakh voters can exercise their voting rights. Out of the 3,000 polling booths, webcasting will be done at 193 polling stations, while 312 micro observers have been deployed. Here are the Live updates: # 01:33 PM:A Voter turnout till 1 pm- #Meghalaya: 27.75% ; #Nagaland: 56% # 01:26 PM:A 1 person dead, 2 injured after clash erupted between groups of Naga People's Front and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party near a polling booth in Akuluto, Nagaland. The polling process was not disturbed. # 01:06 PM:A A CM Mukul Sangma casts his vote at polling booth number 25 in Chengkompara.A # 12:20 PM:A Meghalaya's incumbent chief minister Mukul Sangma stands in a queue to cast his vote at a polling station in Ampati from where he is contesting. He is also contesting from a second constituency, Songsak. # 12:15 PM:A AAP candidate poorest in NagalandA # 12:10 AM: Over half of all candidates crorepatis, JD(U)'s Ramongo Lotha richest with Rs 38.92 crore, finds report # 11:56 AM:A 38% voter turnout recorded in Nagaland and 20% voter turnout recorded in Meghalaya till 11 am #A 11:14 AM: Sophia Nongsiej, 94, casts her vote at Nongpoh Proper polling station #10:30 AMA Governor of Meghalaya Ganga Prasad cast his vote at Oakland A4 polling booth at MTDC Office North in Shillong # 10:00 AM: Voting halted in Ladigarh polling station due to tension along Assam-Nagaland Border under Tamlu constituency in Longleng district of Nagaland. # 09:57 AM:A Hope people will turn out in large numbers and vote for us, says Conrad Sangma # 09:40 AM:A IPR Minister and Congress candidate from East Shillong,A Ampareen Lyngdoh,A just cast her vote at Laitumkhrah # 09:35 AM:A While 22 percentA voting was recorded inA Meghalaya till 9:30 am, the number was slightly lower at 17 percentA in Nagaland till 9 am. # 09:30 AM:A WATCH:A Nagaland CEO tells voters 'donat stay idle at home on election day' # 09:06 AM:A We expect that polling will finish smoothly & we will get absolute majority as per voice of the people. We hope peace will prevail in the state & we will move for Naga political solution: Nagaland CM TR Zeliang # 09:04 AM:A One person injured in a bomb blast in a polling station Mon District's Tizit # 08:21 AM:A A Voting underway at a polling station in Peren district's Jalukie of Nagaland # 08:11 AM: Voting underway at Shillong model polling station North; Congress' Roshan Warjri is the sitting MLA from North Shillong. # 07:42 AM: I urge the people of Meghalaya and Nagaland to vote in large numbers in the Assembly Elections taking place today. a Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 27, 2018 # 7:31 AM:A Voting begins at Shillong model polling station North after it was delayed due to issues with the EVM # 7:23 AM:A Voting delayed at Shillong model polling station North due to issues with the EVM # 7:06 AM:A Voting begins for 59 seats each in Meghalaya and Nagaland # 06:47 AM:A Voters queue up outside Chengkompara-25 polling station in Ampatigiri; CM Mukul Sangma is the sitting MLA from the constituency. pic.twitter.com/IldZeeGMX9 # 06:40 AM: Polling to begin shortly atA Shillong model polling station North for 59 seats in the state # 06:20 AM: Meghalaya, NagalandA to undergo assembly polls today, voting to be held for 59 seats each. Polling will be held between 7 am and 4 pm. # Visuals of preparation from Shillong.A New Delhi: Bollywood actress Sridevi breathed her last in Dubai on Saturday, following an accidental drowning in her hotel bathtub after losing consciousness, the Dubai government said on Monday. An autopsy report issued by authorities on Monday has given birth to several debates and controversies over her dramatic death. However, there could be a further delay in Sridevis body being brought back to India, with the Dubai police informing the Indian Embassy. Indian envoy to the UAE Navdeep Suri told PTI the embassy had been informed that the Dubai police could only release the body after another clearance. He, however, did not say what type of a clearance was awaited. It is their internal process. We do not know, he said. Also Read | Revealed: THIS was Sridevi's LAST advice to daughter Janhvi Kapoor The Dubai government said in a tweet the police had transferred the case to the Dubai Public Prosecution, which will carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases. Following the completion of post mortem analysis, Dubai police headquarters today (Monday) stated that the death of the Indian actress Sridevi occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartments bathtub following loss of consciousness, the Dubai governments media office said on Twitter. According to the latest development, the funeral will take place on Wednesday and everyone is free to pay their last respects and tributes to the actress. Condolences and last respects: Date & Time : 28th Feb Wednesday, 9.30 am to 12.30 pm. Address: Celebration Sports ClubGarden No 5, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West, Mumbai, Maharashtra - 400053 The last journey will commence at 2 pm from Celebration Sports Club to Pawan Hans. 2. Cremation Ceremony Address: Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery, Next to Pawan Hans, SV Road, Vile Parle West Date & Time: 28th Feb 3.30 pm onwards. Also Read: Sridevi's last rites: When and where the funeral will be performed Here are the Live updates: # 12:28 AM: Mumbai: Salman Khan reaches Sridevi's residence. # 11:30 PM: Millions of fans gathered outside Sridevi's Lokhandwala residence to bid adieu to the 54-year-old actress. # 10:34 PM: Sridevi's mortal remains brought to her Lokhandwala residence. Mumbai: #Sridevi's mortal remains brought to her Lokhandwala residence pic.twitter.com/2Q4HtLvvSV ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 # 10:15 PM: Sridevi's mortal remains being taken to Mumbai's Lokhandwala residence Mumbai: #Sridevi's mortal remains being taken to her Lokhandwala residence pic.twitter.com/uQiLy5EZcv ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 # 08:52 PM: Anil Kapoor arrives at Mumbai airport, chartered plane carrying mortal remains of Sridevi to land shortly. Anil Kapoor arrives at #Mumbai airport, chartered plane carrying mortal remains of #Sridevi to land shortly pic.twitter.com/raIx20n20h ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 # 08:39 PM: Arjun Kapoor and Sanjay Kapoor are accompanying Boney Kapoor with the mortal remains of Sridevi from Dubai # 07:17 PM: After completion of all local processes, mortal remains of Sridevi are now enroute to Mumbai: Indian Envoy to UAE Navdeep Suri # 06:48 PM: Last respects to late actress Sridevi will be paid at Celebrations Sports club in Mumbai between 9:30 am to 12:30 pm tomorrow, cremation will take place at Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium after 3:30 pm. # 06:34 PM: Loss of Sridevi Ji will leave huge void in film industry. Dubai police has closed the case & her mortal remains will finally arrive by tonight. It's a very sensitive issue. All these speculations must stop since family, children, fans are involved, told filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar to ANI. Loss of #Sridevi Ji will leave huge void in film industry. Dubai police has closed the case & her mortal remains will finally arrive by tonight. It's a very sensitive issue. All these speculations must stop since family, children, fans are involved: Madhur Bhandarkar,Filmmaker pic.twitter.com/7Ux6nWX51G ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 # 04: 58 PM: Now that the Dubai Public Prosecution has completed all the formalities, I request my friends in media and my friend Subramanian Swamy to please stop making false allegations. Sridevi Ji's body will arrive tonight and her last rites will be performed on Wednesday afternoon, says politician Amar Singh. Now that the Dubai Public Prosecution has completed all the formalities, I request my friends in media and my friend Subramanian Swamy to please stop making false allegations. #Sridevi Ji's body will arrive tonight & her last rites will be performed tomorrow afternoon: Amar Singh pic.twitter.com/W1plyn4BDd ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 # 04:43 PM: Embalming of Sridevi's mortal remains has been completed, being taken to Dubai Airport, reports UAE media. Embalming of #Sridevi's mortal remains has been completed, being taken to Dubai Airport. : UAE media. pic.twitter.com/3UUEimWuAo ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 # 04:30 PM: The decision to release the body came after all the investigations and procedural matters followed in such incidents were completed, in order to determine all its circumstances and ensure that justice was done within the framework of the law: Dubai Public Prosecution. # 03:57 PM: Dubai Public Prosecution has approved release of Indian actress Sridevi's body to her family after completion of a comprehensive investigation into circumstances of her death. The case has now been closed: Dubai Media Office # 01:35 PM: Dubai Police hands over letters for release of #Sridevi's mortal remains, to the Indian consulate and her family members, so that they can proceed for embalming. (Khaleej Times) # 01:13 PM: # 01:03 PM: Actor Arjun Kapoor left for Dubai, this morning, says Yash Raj Films' PRO, further added that, 'he has gone there to be with his father at the hotel while the formalities are being wrapped up and to oversee the return journey. # 12:48 PM: Faulty EVMs found in Meghalaya's Garo Hill # 12:36 PM: Body will be released only after all those involved have been questioned and cleared: Dubai Police # 12:35 PM: Dubai Public Prosecutor will shortly release a report which will make it clear whether or not further probe is required to release the body of Sridevi. # 12:28 PM: Despite Fragile Peace, Nagaland Outranks Rich States In Health, Gender Parity # 12:20 PM: Arjun Kapoor is set to leave for Dubai amid delay in repatriating the body of Bollywood icon Sridevi to India. # 12:12 PM: Veteran actor Waheeda Rehman arrives at the residence of Anil Kapoor in Mumbai. # 12.10 PM: Farhan Akhtar tweeted about the insensitive media coverage on Sridevis death on Sunday. Theres no bottom in the barrel of the graceless, he tweeted. # 12.00 PM: Anupam Kher, Waheeda Rehman and more arrive at Anil Kapoors residence. #10:30 AM Let's wait for the prosecution to pronounce it. Facts in media doesn't appear to be consistent. She never drank hard liquor, how did it enter her system? What happened to CCTV? Doctors suddenly appeared before media & said she died of heart failure: Subramanian Swamy # 10:10 AM: "We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job," said Mr Suri, adding that "Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes." The body was likely to be embalmed today, Dubai-based newspaper Khaleej Times reported. Sridevi's body will be brought back to Mumbai for the funeral by a chartered jet. # 09:00 AM: Amid intense speculation over Sridevi's death, Mr Suri said," The media interest in untimely demise of Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise Let's be responsible." # 07:21 AM: Sridevi's body not released from the morgue. Embalming likely to take place at Sonapur by noon on Tuesday, reports Khaleej Times # 07:10 AM: Visuals from outside Anil Kapoor's residence; mortals remains of Sridevi yet to be brought from Dubai to Mumbai. # 06:26 AM: According to reports, authorities say the chances of releasing the body today are slim. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: King Abdullah II of Jordan on Tuesday evening reached Delhi for his three-day visit to India. He was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the IGI Airport. The Jordan King is in India to address on Islamic heritage and to promote moderation. PM Modi along with senior dignitaries and representatives of leading Islamic institutions from across the country will attend the special address by Abdullah II at Vigyan Bhavan on Thursday. The Jordan King will also release a translation of a book A Thinking Persons Guide to Islam the Essence of Islam in 12 verses from the Quran. Indian dignitaries and Jordan counterparts will also discuss various issues and key areas on how to boost defence and security cooperation. Also read: PM Modi, Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau discuss terrorism, trade ties According to reliable sources in the Ministry of External Affairs, Palestinian issue will be a major part of the discussion. Sources added that discussions on ways to deal with terrorism radicalisation and extremism and ways of increase trade ties will be discussed between Pm Modi and the Jordan King. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Global confectionery manufacturer Mars inaugurated on Tuesday two new production lines worth over EGP 750 million in investments at its production plant in the Greater Cairo city of 6 October. Mars' investments in Egypt are set to increase to EGP 2 billion by year-end, said Martin Radvan, President of Mars Wrigley Confectionery, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported. The inauguration is a message for global companies to invest in Egypt, said Trade and Industry Minister Tarek Kabil who attended the ceremony. Egypt is the center of production and exports for Mars in the Middle East, Radvan added. The expansion will increase the value of the companys exports from Egypt to $100 million every year and volume of exports to around 90% of production, said Ehab Abou-Oaf, Regional President for the Mars Wrigley Confectionery segment in Asia-Australia, Middle East & Africa. Egypt's industrial production grew by 33% year-on-year in the last six months of last year, according to World Bank data, mainly driven by the imports cut which boosted local production, Minister Kabil noted. Short link: New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the second India-Korea Business Summit 2018 in News Delhi on Tuesday. Top officials, FM Arun Jaitley, Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu, Minister of Electronics and IT Ravi Shankar Prasad, top officials of Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) will also address the summit.A The theme of the Summit this year is aIndia-Korea: Scaling up the Special Strategic Relationship through Trade and Investmentsa.A The MoCI is organising the Summit in partnership with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Chosun Ilbo, the largest media business group in Korea.A Over 200 business delegates including top executives of some leading Korean business conglomerates and Government officials from Korea are expected to participate in the Summit. At around 10:15 AM today, PM @narendramodi will address the India-Korea Business Summit in Delhi. a PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 27, 2018 Here are the Live updates: Watch:A PM Modi addresses at the India-Korea Business Summit in Delhi.A # 10:38 AM:A We have worked towards creating a stable business environment, removing arbitrariness in decision making. We seek positivity in day to day transactions. We are widening areas of trust. This represents a complete change of the Govtas mindset # 10:36 AM:A If you see around the globe, there are very few countries where you have three important factors of economy together. They are - Democracy, Demography and Demand. In India, we have all the three together # 10:34 AM:A I visited Korea when I was CM of Gujarat. I used to wonder how can a country make such progress! I admired the way they have created & sustained a global brand. Korea has given exemplary products to the world # 10:33 AM:A From Princess to Poetry and from Buddha to Bollywood India & Korea have so much in common # 10:32 AM: Relations between India-Korea dates back centuries. We are also bound by our Buddhist traditions. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore composed poem 'Lamp of the East' in 1929 about Korea's glorious past and its bright future: PM Modi at the India-Korea Business Summit in Delhi For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In a gruesome incident in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, a 22-year-old man allegedly raped a 16-year-old girl and a video of the same was recorded by accused's sister. The incident took place on Monday in the town's Civil Lines area. The girl has alleged that she was taken to a house by the man's sister and raped. The accused also threatened her with dire consequences if she reported the matter, police said, PTI reported. The police have registered a case on the complaint of the girl. The man and his sister are at large. Earlier, in almost a similar incident, a Ghaziabad-based man allegedly raped a woman and filmed the act in February 2018. The man was later arrested by cops. The accused, Mehtab, was pursuing the victim an undergraduate student for marriage. On February 7, 2018, the accused along with two accomplices had called the victim at a hotel, where she was served a cold drink laced with sedatives. After the girl lost consciousness, Mehtab raped her while the accomplices recorded the entire act on video, station house officer (SHO), Sihani Gate, Vinod Kumar Pandey had said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said on Tuesday that the Maldives declined Indian Navys invitation to attend Milan, an eight-day multilateral naval exercise set to take place at the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Admiral Lanba shared details of the mega event, stating that 16 countries will participate in the biennial naval exercise from March 6 to 13. On the aggressive stand adopted by China in the Indo-Pacific region, Lanba said there has been no change in the pattern of their deployment. We are aware of the Chinese activities in Indian Ocean region. Their pattern of deployment has remained same since many years. At any time, there are 8-10 ships in the Indian Ocean, he was quoted as saying by ANI. India has recently expressed deep dismay over Maldives decision to extend the state of emergency for another 30 days. MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said India desires to see that democracy fully resorts in the Maldives. The island nation has been witnessing a brutal crackdown under President Abdulla Yameen orders against dissidents. India has also urged Maldives government to release the Chief Justice and a Supreme Court judge, and political prisoners. However, the Maldives government has not paid heed to Indias concerns saying that New Delhis public statement was a clear distortion of facts. The Government of Maldives takes note of the public statements issued by the Government of India that ignore the facts and ground realities with regard to the ongoing political developments in the Maldives. The assertion by the Government of India that the extension of the State of Emergency by the Peoples Majlis was unconstitutional is a clear distortion of facts, which ignore the Constitution and Laws of the Maldives, the Maldives government had said in a statement. The issue has become a sore point between the two countries, especially with China asking India to respect Maldives sovereignty and not interfere in the countrys affairs. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan Army on Tuesday initiated unprovoked and indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars from 0845 hours in Bhimber Gali sector along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Army has responded in equal measures with heavy retaliatory firing on Pakistani forward posts. Pakistani troops on Thursday fired at Indian posts along the Line of Control (LoC) in the Uri sector of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting Indian soldiers to retaliate. The Pakistani troops had opened unprovoked firing at Indian posts in the Hajipeer area of the Uri sector in Baramulla district. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Amid the multi-agency probe into the PNB scam, the state-run bank on Tuesday said the amount of fraudulent transactions could be Rs 1,300 crore more than the current estimate of about Rs 11,400 crore. The latest announcement from the public-sector lender assumes significance against the backdrop of the probe going on into the Rs 11,400 crore scam, which is already one of the biggest in the Indian banking sector. On February 14, the bank had detected the fraud wherein billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and associates had allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking (LoUs) from one of the branches of the PNB for overseas credit from other Indian lenders. In a filing to the BSE late on Monday, the bank said the amount of unauthorised transactions could go up by more than Rs 1,300 crore. "...We have to inform that quantum of reported unauthorised transactions can increase by USD 204.25 million (approximately)," the filing said. Also Read: PNB fraud: CBI seeks details of Nostro transactions from five banks which credited crores to Nirav Modi At the current exchange rate, the amount comes to around Rs 1,323 crore. The bank also referred to its filing made on February 14 when it first disclosed the fraud and at that time, the "fraudulent and unauthorised transactions" was estimated at USD 1.77 billion (about Rs 11,400 crore). The scam was perpetrated by way of fraudulent Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) generated in the name of Punjab National Bank. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Firestar Diamond, a flagship company of billionaire Nirav Modi who is accused of being mastermind in Indias biggest ever bank scam amounting more than Rs 11,000 crore has filed for bankruptcy in the United States (US) on Tuesday. According to court filing in the Southern District of New York, Firestar Diamond has listed assets and liabilities ranging between $50 million and $100 million. According to Inforuptcy a database of asset sales in America Nirav Modi's Firestar Diamond filed a "voluntary petition for non-individual" at Southern District of New York Bankruptcy Court under Chapter 11 lists asset. In the Chapter 11 list the debtor proposes a plan to keep its business alive and pay creditors overtime. The development comes a day after Punjab National Bank (PNB) declared that the scam by Modi could be more than Rs 13,000 crore. The bank states that Modi, founder of Firestar Diamond, and his uncle Mehul Choksi, Gitanjali Gems Ltd owner, are suspected of colluding with two employees of the banks Mumbai branch in the fraud. Also read: PNB fraud: CBI seeks details of Nostro transactions from five banks which credited crores to Nirav Modi The State-owned PNB earlier this month detected a USD 1.77 billion scam in which billionaire jeweler Nirav Modi allegedly acquired fraudulent letters of undertaking from one of its branches for overseas credit from other Indian lenders. The CBI and the ED have registered two FIRs each to probe the case. The case has been registered on the basis of the complaint registered by PNB. The CBI had booked diamond merchant Nirav Modi, his brother, wife and a business partner for allegedly cheating PNB of over Rs 11,000 crore. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: US President Donald Trump, on Tuesday, once again ignited the issue of high import duty on the Harley-Davidson motorbikes by India, saying that the US is agetting nothinga with the recent announcement of slashed customs duty. The BJP government, in the Union Budget of 2018, announced that it had slashed the customs duty on imported motorcycles from high-end brands to 50 per cent. Trump added that the US wanted fair and reciprocal trade deals. Twump, while addressing a gathering of governors of all the states at the White House, said, aWhen they (Harley Davidson) send a motorcycle to India, as an example, they have to pay 100 per cent tax -- 100 per cent.a Referring to his recent conversation with PM Modi, he mocked Modi as a afantastic mana informed him that India has reduced tariffs on imported motorcycles, but the US was agetting nothinga out of this development. He said, aNow, the prime minister, who I think is a fantastic man, called me the other day and said we are lowering it to 50 per cent. I said okay, but so far we're getting nothing. So we get nothing. He gets 50 (per cent), and they think we're doing -- like they're doing us a favour. That's not a favour.a We want fair trade deals. Harley Davidson sends motorcycles to India, they have to pay 100% tax. When I spoke to PM (Modi) he said we are lowering it to 50% but so far we are getting nothing. He gets 50%, he thinks, he is doing us a favour, but that is not a favour: Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/vPy3M6P4NX a ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 aI wasn't sure -- he said it so beautifully. He's a beautiful man. And he said, 'I just want to inform you that we have reduced it to 75, but we have further reduced it to 50'. And I said, huh. What do I say? Am I supposed to be thrilled? And that's not good for you people, especially as governors. It's just not right. And we have many deals like that,a he added. He said the US gets azeroa profit when it buys an Indian motorcycle. He continued, aSo when they have a motorbike -- a big number, by the way -- they have a company that does a lot of business. They have a motorcycle or a motorbike that comes into our country -- the number is zero. We get zero. They get 100 per cent, brought down to 75; brought down, now, to 50. Okay.a India sells us a lot of motorbikes, we get zero percent tax, he (PM Modi) said it so beautifully, he is a beautiful man and he said I just want to inform you that we have reduced it (tax) to 50%. What am I supposed to say, am I supposed to be thrilled?: US President Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/40U9bAz2kE a ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 He praised the Harley-Davidson company, saying, aIt's a great company. When I spoke with your chairman or the president of Harley, they weren't even asking for it because they've been ripped off with trade so long that they were surprised that I brought it up. I'm the one that's pushing it more than they are, but it's unfair. And India sells us a lot of motorbikes.a This is the second time in the month when Trump raised the issue of high import duty on motorcycles in India. Earlier, he had called it aunfaira and threatened to increase the tariff on import of Indian motorcycles to the US. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The United States has exerted pressure on Russia to use its "influence" to secure an "immediate" full-fledged halt to a bloody offensive in Syria's rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta. "The Syrian regime, and its Russian and Iranian backers, continue to attack East Ghouta, a densely populated suburb of Damascus, despite the ceasefire called for by the United Nations Security Council," State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert tweeted. "The regime claims it is fighting terrorists but is instead terrorizing hundreds of thousands of civilians with airstrikes, artillery, rockets, and a looming ground attack. The regime's use of chlorine gas as a weapon only intensifies the misery of the civilian population. "#Russia has the influence to stop these operations if it chooses to live up to its obligations under the #UNSC ceasefire," she added, referring to a Security Council resolution for a 30-day truce that has been a dead letter since it was passed on Saturday. "The United States calls for an immediate end to offensive operations and urgent access for humanitarian workers to treat the wounded and deliver badly needed humanitarian aid." For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The Japanese Olympic team returned home from Pyeongchang on Monday. Japan's athletes won 13 medals in all. That's the most any Japanese team has ever won at a Winter Games. A crowd of supporters was on hand at Narita Airport east of Tokyo to greet the athletes and officials. The fans cheered and applauded when the team members, including speed skater Nao Kodaira and figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu, appeared in the lobby wearing their medals. Team leader Yasuo Saito, Kodaira, Hanyu and other medalists were handed bouquets on behalf of the group. Hanyu is the first male figure skater in 66 years to win gold at 2 consecutive Olympics. Kodaira took gold in the women's 500 meters and silver in the 1,000-meter race. Speed skater Nana Takagi was the women's mass start champion and a member of the gold medal pursuit team. In all, Japan collected 4 golds, 5 silvers and 4 bronzes. That's 3 more medals than the previous Japanese record, set at the 1998 Nagano Winter Games. ROME, NY -- The top beer bar in all of New York state, according to a web site dedicated to serious craft brew fans, is a brewery tap room in Rome. Copper City Brewing Co., which opened in 2016, is the New York representative in the list Great American Beer Bars 2018 selected by readers at craftbeer.com. That web site is affiliated with the Brewers Association, the national trade group for the country's 6,000 craft brewers. Not all the bars named to the list by craftbeer.com readers are breweries -- many are simply bars with an outstanding beer selections. Copper City, at 1111 Oneida St., is operated by Danny Frieden and Eric Daniels. It has 12 taps, offers snacks and encourages customers to bring their own food (or order from local restaurants). Its current line-up of house beers include Woods Valley Witte, Muck,The Infant (a New England IPA), Air Base Amber Lager, Delta Debacle (an Imperial IPA),and Czech Please Pilsner. Here's the write-up from craftbeer.com: "Copper City is the first brewery in Rome, New York, in over 70 years and it's serving beer lovers incredibly fresh beer made from New York state products. Those who voted for Copper City likely enjoy a brew with a view since the brewery is in plain sight of the bar." The list was developed by reader nominations, then a vote in which which more than 8,000 ballots were cast in November and December 2017, craftbeer.com said. Last year, craftbeer.com readers chose Torst, a trendy beer bar in trendy Brooklyn, as the New York representative in Great Beer Bars 2017. Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Senator Abdullahi Adamu, APC, Nasarawa West, yesterday took a swipe at Senators and members of the House of Representatives who are opposed to President Muhammadu Buhari contesting in 2019, saying that they should leave the party if they are not comfortable with the arrangement.According to him, it was unacceptable for anyone to climb to elective position on the platform of APC and later form a group of opposition to the government of the President who is the leader of the party.Senator Adamu who lampooned his APC colleagues who may be opposed to Buhari and his government, said that staying within the APC to form opposition to the government of President Buhari was totally unacceptable, however urged them to join the train or leave the party quietly.The former Nasarawa State governor described APC members who are one way or the other, constituting opposition to the administration of President Buhari as Saboteurs, whose activities will not be allowed to flourish within the party.According to the immediate past Chairman of Northern Senators Forum, Federal lawmakers elected on the platform of APC are by the principle of party supremacy and loyalty, not to be antagonistic to President Buhari led federal government.Speaking yesterday in Keffi, Nasarawa State at a gathering of APC stalwarts in Keffi, Nasarawa state where the State chapter of the party, adopted President Muhammadu Buhari for another term, Senator Adamu said that there was no alternative to Buhari in 2019 if Nigeria truly desire development.He said he remained adamant in his support for President Buhari as he said openly that he has no regrets supporting the president for a second term in office, just as he stated unequivocally that his support for the president forms part of his commitment and undiluted loyalty to the APC and the president who as the leader of the party must have total support of all faithful party members to succeed.According to him, the opposition voices to the administration of President Buhari by some APC members, especially, in the National Assembly is not good for democracy as he noted that such level of disloyalty being displayed by some APC members against the Presidency of Buhari is antithetical to democratic growth.Senator Adamu said, I am under oath as a member of the Distinguished Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and my oath of office compels me to be loyal, to be patriotic in the course of promoting the well-being, existence and unity of Nigeria. And the sovereignty of this country is expressed symbolically in the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. And today as we talk, the person God has chosen to be the president of this country, the symbol of the sovereignty of this nation is President Muhammadu Buhari.Those who dont accept this are being ungodly. Those who dont accept this reality are deceiving themselves more than any other person, and they should be careful of the wrath of God Himself.Power belongs to God, power comes from God, not anybody. Anybody who is in power is just an accessory, God uses you to do what He wants, and once God does what He wants and you take a position opposing what God has done, be careful, you may carry curse.What me and my like are doing is a duty we owe this country, its a duty we owe ourselves, to support the government of the day. Over and above that, the government of today, the Federal Government of Nigeria, is an APC government, so I hold my head high for identifying with my party, for being loyal to my party, because, but for things going wrongly, we should uphold the principles of party supremacy. You cant get elected on the platform of a party and you get to the Assembly, and do anti-party activities.You dont want the party for any reason, you feel you are not part of it, get out of it.I can understand if a PDP person doesnt want to be supporting, he should find a means of drawing that line between loyalty to the constitution of the country, and his anti-government mentality. Even if you are PDP and a member of the National Assembly, there are situations where you are supposed to be bipartisan, meaning there is a limit to where you can go by being anti government because the person occupying the presidency is not from your party. Only those who know such limits, and are ready to abide by such limits are the ones who can answer their fathers name in the national assembly.If you want to oppose, go, come with your manifesto, tell us what you will do differently if you are the one there and let Nigerians decide, but dont hide under the immunity, parliamentary immunity and misbehave. Some of us cannot live with it, we will fight it. I was not elected in the national assembly, I was elected in my constituency, and to my constituency I will return. Every members of the National Assembly, the Senate or the House of Reps, the State Assembly, you are elected by a constituency and you dont go to the National Assembly and behave like the proverbial Masquerade late Nnamdi Azikiwe talked about, that goes to the public square with a rope tied to its waist, and when he cuts the ropes off, the masquerade is on its own. That is how some of these National Assembly members are now doing.They are now cutting the umbilical cord between them and their party, between them and their constituencies. We do not want to be counted among themHe therefore urged all states under the control of the APC to monitor the activities of their elected members in the National Assembly in relation to their activities, and pay them back appropriately.Earlier, the State Chairman of the party Philips Shekwo, and the Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Ibrahim Balarabe had both announced the adoption of Buhari for another term in 2019, just as they announced the adoption of Adamu Abdullahi for another term in the Senate for doing the state proud.In their various remarks, Shekwo and Ibrahim had expressed satisfactions with the performances of Buhari as well as that of Adamu respectively.Buhari and Abdullahi, they said, wil get 100 percent support for another term by members of the party in the State. The army and the police yesterday disagreed over who should carry the can for the February 19 abduction of 110 Dapchi schoolgirls. The Army said it formally handed over security in Dapchi to the police as its men moved to another operation, but the police said there was no such handover.The army dismissed as misleading, alleged withdrawal of troops to aid the abduction of the Government Girls Science Technical College students in Dapchi, Yobe State.Deputy Director, Army Public Relations, Operation Lafiya Dole, Col. Onyeama Nwachukwu, in a statement in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, said the allegation against the military is not only unfortunate, but also very far from the truth.Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Geidam had reportedly alleged that the withdrawal of the troops from the area was responsible for the attack and abduction of female students of the college.Col. Nwachukwu said Dapchi town was handed over to the police following the return of peace and civil authority in the area.Contrary to the comments credited to Governor Ibrahim Geidam, troops earlier deployed in Dapchi were redeployed to reinforce Kanama following attacks on troops location at the Nigerian Nigerien border.This is on the premise that Dapchi has been relatively calm and peaceful, and the security of Dapchi was formally handed over to the Nigeria Police Division located in the town.Therefore, troops redeployment was done in tandem with the exigencies of operation as against the misconstrued notion.Several local councils and communities, hitherto, under siege by the insurgents were liberated by troops who continue to trail and decimate remnants of the insurgents in the hinterlands, the security of such liberated communities and towns fall in the hands of the sister security agencies.Col. Nwachukwu noted that the Theatre Command would not be joined in the blame game, but rather remained committed to ensuring successful implementation of the counter-insurgency operation in the North-East.He explained that the recent dislodgement and further decimation of the insurgents from their enclaves in the Sambisa forest and the Lake Chad region was a clear testimony of the effective operations against the insurgents.Given all these efforts, it is very astonishing and shocking that such unfortunate comment and allegation is being touted against the loyal and dedicated troops of Operation Lafiya Dole.We assure parents, government, the good people of Yobe and indeed, members of the public that we will not rest on our oars in the search and rescue of the abducted school girls and any other persons held captive by the terrorists, he said.But Police Commissioner in Yobe State, Sunmonu Abdumalik in a statement said: The statement by the Military of formal handing over of Dapchi town to the Nigeria Police Division in Dapchi is not correct and untrue, as there was no time that the military informed the Police of their withdrawal, consult or handed over their locations in Dapchi town to the Police.The whole of Yobe State is still under Security Emergency which the Police, the Military and other security agencies are battling to ensure lasting peace.Members of the public in Yobe State are implored to disregard and discountenance this claim that the Military formally handed the security of Dapchi town to the Nigeria Police as untrue, unfounded and misleading.The Yobe State Police Command will continue to cooperate with other security agencies in ensuring safety and protection of lives and property of people of Yobe State.Well rescue girls, others, says BuhariPresident Muhammadu Buhari yesterday promised that his administration will do its all to rescue all Nigerians abducted by terrorists.He gave the assurance while addressing the recently freed abductees taken by terrorists in Borno State, including 10 girls and three lecturers.The President said: While government was fully aware of the expectations of your families and the general public for your immediate freedom, the path to your freedom was painstaking and protracted. This was because the group responsible for your abduction were not only different but based in different locations that if not properly handled could result in dire consequences.I thank all the various security agencies for their professionalism throughout this process, as well as other agencies of government, sister nations in the Lake Chad region, the International Committee of the Red Cross who have contributed to this feat of bringing you all home safely.While thanking the security agencies and all those who facilitated this, let me clearly reiterate the resolve of this administration to ensure all persons abducted by the insurgents are rescued or released safely. This is especially against the backdrop of the recent incident where another group of girls were abducted on the 19th from Government Science and Technical Girls College, Dapchi, Yobe State.According to Buhari, he has already directed all security agencies to ensure the safety of schools and students and safe return of the abducted girls to their families.He added: Government remains unrelenting towards rescuing all those abducted. Government will also work closely with all stakeholders, especially the United Nations and other donor agencies, voluntary organisations towards rehabilitating and resettling all those displaced as a result of all these conflicts, to quicken resumption of meaningful social economic activities.I remain very mindful of the pains and injury collectively metted out by the insurgents and we will ensure that government does not leave any stone unturned to degrade and contain these insurgents and ensure that complete peace returns to our land.Once again, Im pleased to see that all of you are now free and will soon join your loved ones as well as be fully integrated back into the society.Nigerians sympathise with you on your ordeal and wish you welcome back to your families and friends.And I suppose the NYSC should give a certificate of discharge to the person that spent the remaining of her service somewhere else (with abductors).The President went on: This administration has been unrelenting in your rescue and freedom from your captors several months ago. I was terribly saddened by the incident of the abduction of June 20th, last year and the brutal killing of six others on the spot along Damboa Road while heading for the burial of a close one in Askira Uba Local Government of Borno State.The second was the July 26th, last year of the abduction of three university staff who were on official mission to explore the the possibility of the exploration of oil at the Lake Chad Basin.I can assure that apart from your family members, every peace-loving Nigerian prayed for your safety and wished for your early release from the hold of your abductors.Your rescue on the 10th of February this year was a very huge relief to me personally as well as to all Nigerians.Let me say that this government treasures all the human lives, particularly that of its citizens, and following your abductions, the security agencies were directed by me to do everything humanly possible to ensure the safe release of every one of you and other persons under hold of the insurgents.The Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, listed the names of the abductees, who were brought to the President on Monday, to include Jummai Ibrahim, who was serving her NYSC at the time of her abduction, Esther Wazari Kwasina and Amina Adams Gomdiya, Gloria Bulus, Paulina Amos, Tani Audu, and a final year student in the University of Maiduguri, Fustina.He told the President that his organization chose the path of negotiation because it was considered as the safest.Because any forceful attempt to rescue the victims could endanger their lives. These negotiations took several months and the Department of State Services with support of the external elements of the group in diaspora and support from friendly countries and liaising with International Committee of the Red Cross made the rescue possible.Daura said that the process was slow due to the problem of dealing with two groups based in different locations at the same time.According to him, the negotiations took place mostly outside the country, but they were finalised in the theater of operations.He said: The negotiations were mainly centered on an attempt at conflict mitigation which include the fate of arrested members of the insurgent groups, especially, accepting to free by government those found not to be culpable in any criminal action. Also, possible cessation of hostilities, especially the attacks with IEDs on innocent civilians, worship centers, schools and other public places in return for temporary stoppage of air strikes by helicopter gunships.Lastly, the negotiation was also centered on the possibility of granting amnesty to those willing to surrender and ready to lay down their arms by the federal government. he said Two Nigerian soldiers were killed and four injured in an ambush by Boko Haram militants in Borno State, the army said Tuesday.The attack on Monday happened as soldiers were travelling between the towns of Biu and Damboa.Borno state has been at the heart of the jihadist insurgency that has killed 20,000 people and displaced 2.6 million more since 2009.Our men fell into an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists while on their way to Damboa from Biu, a military officer told AFP.They fought the terrorists and we lost two men in the fight.A military vehicle was also seized in the attack, he added.Despite repeated claims from the authorities in Abuja that they have crushed the terrorists, attacks and suicide bombings persist in hard-to-reach rural areas and outlying towns.Last week Boko Haram militants stormed a girls school in Dapchi, in neighbouring Yobe state, and abducted more than 100 schoolgirls.The raid comes four years after 276 girls were taken from a school in Chibok, in Borno state. The All Progressives Congress, APC, party has extended the tenure of its National Working Committee (NWC) and other executives by one year.While announcing the extension at the partys end of the year meeting on Tuesday in Abuja, the APC NEC held that the extension is effective from June this year.Explaining the reason behind the extension, the Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello said the extension was to give the Tinubu-led reconciliation committee to do its job appropriately.President Muhammadu Buhari who was at the meeting said, during his opening remarks, that his government will deliver as promised to Nigerians at inception.President Buhari also assured that his party, the APC, will conduct a free and fair primaries. Buhari also urged members of the BoT to give their support to the reconciliation committee headed by the National Leader of the party, Bola Tinubu to bring lasting peace in the party and better position it to win the coming elections.Others present at the meeting including the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, APC Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and other party chieftains.The senate president, Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara were however absent at the meeting. Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday, asked security agencies to take responsibility for failing to stop th... Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, on Tuesday, asked security agencies to take responsibility for failing to stop the abduction of 110 schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe, on Feb. 19.He said that the buck-passing between the Nigerian Army and the Nigeria Police Force was unacceptable.In a statement by Mr Turaki Hassan, Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Dogara said rather than trading blames, the security agencies should strengthen inter-agency collaboration towards rescuing the girls.He said that the statements credited to the Army and the Police in which they tried to exonerate themselves from any culpability in the unfortunate abduction of the girls from their school were highly condemnable.This is unacceptable and the House of Representatives, and indeed Nigerians, will hold the security agencies responsible. They all bear responsibility for this unfortunate incident.The traumatic experience of the Chibok abduction which is still fresh in our minds should have served as a warning signal to security agencies to provide adequate protection to all schools in the North-East.I want to use this medium to console the parents of the abducted girls and the entire Dapchi community over this unfortunate incident.I also urge all Nigerians and people of goodwill from all over the world to pray for the safe return of the girls, Dogara said.(NAN) I have just read President Buharis speech to the All Progressive Congress members who visited him at the Presidential Villa on Monday the 26th of February, 2018.It is rather unfortunate that a man who once deceived the nation with his fabled integrity can descend so low as to spew forth very obvious lies and a revision of history.If nothing else justifies the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index rating which revealed that corruption in Nigeria has worsened under President Buhari, this latest Presidential does.In psyching up the APC for 2019, the President, obviously award of the defeat that awaits him and his lying brigade, said as follows:It is easy to forget that we succeeded a government with a record of unprecedented theft and systematic mismanagement. Nigeria was fast heading for a state of collapse. It is easy to forget the fuel subsidy fraud, arms fund diversion, depleted excess de Account savings, depleted foreign reserves, massive unpaid debts to contractors and suppliers amidst failure to invest or even maintain our infrastructure namely railways, roads, electricity, inspite of having earned over US$500 billion from Oil & Gas alone, during the 16 years of PDP rule. Lest we forget, we must always remind ourselves of the dire situation in which we came to office.I will now take each of these points one by one to prove that we have a man who has no credibility in President Buhari.First and foremost, it is true that there is unprecedented theft and systematic mismanagement, but such activities are taking place under President Buhari, rather than the preceding administration.The Peoples Democratic Party government of President Goodluck Jonathan dismissed Abdulrasheed Maina, the biggest alleged thief in Nigerias civil service history, and declared him wanted. The incumbent APC government of President Muhammadu Buhari brought him back, reinstated him and gave him double promotion.Furthermore, the President, through his Attorney General of the Federation, went to court to block the Senates attempt to unravel how Abdulrasheed Maina was smuggled back to Nigeria and given armed guards. We already know the truth about that as revealed in the leaked memo from the Head of the Civil Service, Mrs. Winifred Eyo-Ita.At a sworn testimony in the National Assembly by the immediate past acting Director General of the Nigerian Intelligence Agency, Nigerians were also regaled with details of how a cabal in the Presidency tried to get him to share the $44 million Ikoyi Apartment loot with them.The nation has still not forgotten the allegation by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, whose leaked memo revealed that the GMD of NNPC, Maikanti Baru, awarded $25 billion worth of contracts without due process.On the second allegation that Nigeria was fast heading for a state of collapse. It is easy to forget the fuel subsidy fraud, arms fund diversion, depleted excess Account savings the President, characteristically, lied.Nigeria under the PDP government of Dr. Jonathan was not heading to collapse. As a matter of fact, the nation was projected by CNNMoney to be the third fastest growing economy in the world after China and Qatar in 2015. The British Government projected us to be the fourth fastest growing economy in the world, with the then British Prime Minister, David Cameron saying as follows:Yes, weve been hearing about China and India for years but its hard to believe whats happening in Brazil, in Indonesia, in Nigeria too.Contrary to what President Buhari said, it was precisely under his rule that Nigeria entered its first recession in 25 years just a year after he took over a vibrant economy that was growing at 6% under the PDP.Nigerians will recall that the recession was self induced by President Buharis refusal to name a cabinet six months after being sworn in and his flip flopping economic policy that saw the Naira collapse to 510 to $1 leading to an unprecedented capital flight out of Nigeria.It will further be remembered that whereas President Buhari said he did not know what fuel subsidy is and called it a fraud, it was revealed last December that the Buhari administration had been paying subsidy on fuel without appropriations from the National Assembly, despite increasing the pump price of petrol from the 85 per liter that President Jonathan reduced it to to the current pump price of 145 per liter.On the third allegation of failure to invest or even maintain our infrastructure namely railways, roads, electricity, the facts speak for itself.The preceding Jonathan administration completely built the 187 KM super fast Abuja-Kaduna railway that enables Nigerians live in Kaduna and work in Abuja. That same administration began the Lagos-Ibadan railway and the Loko-Oweto bridge, rebuilt the Benin-Ore road and the Vom-Manchok road.President Goodluck Jonathan also built and commissioned the 500 megawatts Omotosho Power Plant Phase 2 with four gas turbines in Ondo State on Saturday October 19, 2013. He also built and commissioned the 750 megawatts Olorunsogo power plant on Friday the 20th of February, 2015 and on Wednesday the 25th of March, 2015 he commissioned the 504 MW simple cycle Gas Alaoji Power station in Aba, Abia State.In the education sector, the PDP administration of President Jonathan built 14 new federal universities, including the ONLY federal university in President Buharis home state of Katsina, as well as 169 almajiri schools all over Nigeria.It will also be recalled that that administration revived the Nigerian Railway Corporation which went moribund when President Buhari was a military dictator in 1985.Having listed these verifiable projects with their dates of completion, I challenge the Buhari administration to name one project they have initiated and completed in their three years in office. The fact is that the only project they have started and finished in three years is the helipad built by the Federal Government in Daura for President Buharis personal use.From the facts listed above, it should be clear to the nation that President Buhari and the APC intend to repeat the lies and propaganda they used to deceive the Nigerian people in 2015 such as the Presidents promise to make 1 equal to $1, his promise to provide 24 hours uninterrupted electricity supply and his promise to create 3 million jobs per annum even though 10 million jobs have been lost since May 29, 2015.Let me seize this opportunity to remind President Buhari that lying is corruption and you may be able to fool some people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all of the time.Reno Omokri (for Dr. Goodluck Jonathan)Number One Bestselling author of Facts Versus Fiction-The True Story of the Jonathan Years: Chibok, 2015 and the Conspiracies. Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and faith-based organisations have asked the federal government not pay ransom to the Boko Haram sect f... Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and faith-based organisations have asked the federal government not pay ransom to the Boko Haram sect for the release of 110 students abducted from Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state. At a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the group comprising over 50 CSOs and NGOs said negotiating with the sect will embolden it. The group alleged that the kidnap of the schoolgirls is a conspiracy between some international actors and their collaborators who exist in Boko Haram plotting the disintegration of Nigeria. On Monday February 19, 2018 as many as 105 students were abducted by gunmen, suspected to be Boko Haram terrorists, who invaded the Government Girls Science Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State, the group said. The objective is to make Nigerians to forget the labour and efforts that have been put in to extinguish terrorism from the country. The government must not pay any ransom for the girls release as we gathered that such funds would be paid to weapons supplier that are on standby to supply arms meant to revive Boko Haram. We urge the Nigerian military to go after the abductors while the intelligence community should work to concretely expose the links between the saboteurs undermining Nigeria. A new national minimum wage for workers will to be announced by the Federal Government before A new national minimum wage for workers will to be announced by the Federal Government beforethe end of September, Minister of Labour and Employment Senator Chris Ngige has said.The minister spoke just as the President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Ayuba Wabba warned against attempt by individuals and group to frustrate the ongoing negotiation for a new national minimum wage.Such action, Wabba said, would not augur well for industrial harmony.Speaking at the opening ceremony of the NLCs 40th anniversary celebration in Abuja, Ngige said while the new national minimum wage negotiation may be concluded before the third quarter, the committee put in place by the President has set a timeline of the third quarter to conclude its work and make available to Nigerians a new minimum wage.The ministers announcement was greeted by a loud chant of no, no no from the workers, who felt that the new minimum wage was taking too long to be achieved.Ngige said in line with the ILO Conventions 144 on tripartite consultation, the government would put in place the Nigeria Labour Advisory Council before the end of the second quarters.Hailing the NLC for its successes over the years, the minister expressed concern over the seeming crisis within the labour family occasioned by the outcome of the last congress elections.He asked the unions veterans to reawaken the peace process they put in place earlier to unite the labour movement.Ngige, however, frowned at what he described as misnomer, the practice within the trade union movement to dictate to employers how to manage their business or who to appoint into positions, adding that union leaders have no right to do so.The minister stressed that irrespective of the NLCs trials, which included dissolution during the military era in Nigeria and the appointment of a sole administrator at one time to manage its affairs, the congress has recorded tremendous successes in championing the cause of its members to achieve decent workplace and to attain the social protection floor in the nations socio-economic institutions.He said: Over the years, the NLC has shown its commitment to advance the welfare and protection of workers in line with principles put in place by the founders of ILO. It is particularly interesting to observe the quests by the NLC to ensure the whole essence of the freedom of association, the protection of the right to organise and to bargain collectively is practically realised.I must use this opportunity to implore the NLC to be mindful of trade disputes of interest.Ngige urged the NLC to always bear in mind that social dialogue remains the critical tool in pursuing disputes of interest in order to fully realise the intent of declaring the dispute in the first instance.Also, over the years, it is equally important to note the efforts of the Federal Government to ensure a sound industrial relations system by maintaining a good employment relationship with Labour. In this regard, the government has established a viable legal framework for Labour administration.By the second quarter of this year, the Nigeria Labour Advisory Council will be revived in consonance with the provisions of the ILO Convention 144 on tripartite consultation. These and more are efforts made and being made by the government to guarantee a good employment relationship and fair Labour practices for its workers.In furtherance to the determination by the Federal Government to attain decent works agenda, which involves opportunities for work that are productive and deliver a fair income, security in the workplace and social protection for families, there have been overtime, three minimum wage reviews and currently, the tripartite committee on national minimum wage is set to review the current minimum wage. Memoranda are being received from relevant bodies and persons to enable the determination of a new minimum wage for the nation.It is pertinent to point out a misnomer that exists among the trade unions in their pursuit of their relative happiness in terms of industrial relations. Often, the workers through their respective trade unions, do over step by dictating to the employers who to appoint or otherwise. This is not right, the minister said.Wabba said the alarming rate of unemployment in the country was a misnomer, adding that the welfare of workers was very important, which gave rise to what he described as legitimate demand for a review in workers salaries.The NLC president said those who slow down the process of review of the minimum wage should know that it will not augur well for them to deny workers their legitimate right as the current minimum wage cannot take care of their needs.He explained that the anniversary was organised to acknowledge the strategic contribution of the working people and their allies in the struggle for a better society and improved conditions of service for workers and pensioners.He drew attention to the alarming state of insecurity in the country, adding that the number of Nigerians who are losing their lives in attacks and counter attacks across the country portrayed a nation at war. Government need to step up to ensure adequate security. Troops deployed to Yelwata under the ongoing Exercise Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race) have arrested 10 herdsmen destroying farmland at Tse-Tigir and Tse-Ndugh villages of Benue.The Director, Army Public Relations, Brig.-Gen. Texas Chukwu, in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, said the suspects fled into the bush when they sighted the troops.While in the act of destroying the farmland, the herdsmen sighted the aggressive troops and fled into the bush.The determined troops pursued and arrest them.Items recovered from them are five motorcycles, two machetes, assorted charms and N120,000, he said.Chukwu said the suspects and the items were handed over to the Police for investigation.The spokesman said the Army was determined to fish out criminals and recover weapons they use in killing innocent citizens.He appealed to the people to cooperate with the troops. A Nigerian cleric identified as Bishop Sam Zuga of the House of Joy Ministry in Benue state, is currently being bashed and heavily criti... Below is what he shared on Facebook; WHY MUSLIMS ARE BETTER THAN CHRISTIANS. Mohammed was born in 571 AD, Jesus Christ is 571 years older than Mohammed, how come Muslims are competing with Christians in population? # people answer the name of Mohammed in the world more than Emmanuel. Quran have one version, you can only translate to another language , Bible has more than ten versions in English . Muslims pray 5 times in a day, some Christians pray once a week only in church, some don't even pray at all. Real Muslims read and know Bible more than many Christians but many Christian don't even have Bible. Muslims can pray in any mosque they see, Christians can't even step in some churches. The moment you are a Muslim, you can be accepted and shown love where Muslims are, Christians will ask you from which church? If you don't mention the name of his or her church, you are on your own. I have been accepted to offer free medical treatment exercise in many mosques and preached in many, many Muslims do attend my church programmes all over the world, some even come to our church headquarters in Gboko, Christians can't do that to a Muslim. The moment you mention God, a Muslim will believe you and give you attention, he will go ahead and introduce you to other Muslims and whatever he says about you they will believe him. When you mention God to a Christian, you become a suspect, they will call council of elders to interview you to know the type of God you are talking about, whether is a Catholic Church God, Anglican, Living Faith or Deeper life. Muslims have factions like Christians, but if you don't go deep into them, you will not know, but Christians condemned each other publicly. You can't hear about fake imams so rampant as you hear about fake pastors. When Muslims are fasting, the whole world will know, irrespective of the factions, it used to affect so many things, there is nothing in common among Christians all over the world, even in a small village. When a miracle is done in the name of Jesus, Muslims believe is God, some Christians will say is by the power of devil. I was going to Keffi in Nassarawa state as a Christian preacher, Muslims sat under the sun from 10 am till I arrived by 5pm, nobody left even to go and urinate, because if you do, someone will occupy your space. I turned the city of Minna Niger state upside down, Muslims were at the forefront to welcome me. Chief Imam came to trade fair complex to welcome me, CAN chairman and his cabinet were not at the venue. Muslims knee down to worship, in many churches kneeling down is embarrassment. Muslims respect Christian clergy men, but Christians don't even respect their pastors. Muslims obey their leaders, whatever the Imam says, it is obeyed but Christians do argue with their pastors and even engage in fights sometimes. You cannot see Muslims Imams arguing Quran publicly like Christian pastors do argue Bible. Whatever Muslims want to do, they will stand united and accomplish it, Christians are not united.The first and the last one hundred thousand naira I received in my life as a gift was given to me by a Muslim, since I started the free medical treatment mission. There is no Muslim that does not believe in Jesus Christ.I do pray for Muslims in Jesus name without any fight. Dont approach a muslim as a churchian, approach him as a Christian. Dont see him as a devil, so that he cannot see you the same. I have more reasons but let me stop here. The rest could be found in my book titled WHY MUSLIMS ARE BETTER THAN CHRISTIANS, it will be launched very soon... A Nigerian cleric identified as Bishop Sam Zuga of the House of Joy Ministry in Benue state, is currently being bashed and heavily criticized online by some internet users after making a controversial statement on Facebook. The pastor said Muslims are better than Christians as he gave his reasons.This did not go down well with some Christians who feel that a pastor/bishop is not meant to make such controversial statement most especially publicly due to his status. Extra police officers were on patrol Tuesday as classes resume at Dumont High School, a day after a student was taken into custody for allegedly making threats to shoot up the school and a rifle was found at his home. The extra officers were stationed in patrol cars outside the school as parents dropped off children about 7:15 a.m. There were also extra police officers inside the building, according to schools Superintendent Emanuele Triggiano. "Students are shook up and some of the teachers are shook up, too," Triggiano said. "We want to get back to normalcy." scary to think that this kid could have come to school and harmed my friends and teachers any day now. while dumont high school is beyond fortunate that the police were able to stop him before that could happen, it just emphasizes the fact that WE NEED GUN CONTROL NOW emma (@emmarosebrennan) February 26, 2018 Dumont Police Chief Michael Conner did not return multiple calls seeking comment Monday and Tuesday. Triggiano said psychologists were on hand Tuesday to speak with students, teachers or anyone on staff who wanted to talk. The school was placed on lockdown for several hours Monday after school officials and police became aware that a 15-year-old student had made a threat to "shoot up the school," according to police Chief Dumont police Chief Michael Conner. "This started out as a discussion overheard by other students," Triggiano said. "One of the students brought (the threat) to our attention." Triggiano said he was not sure if the student had posted the threat to social media. Police responded to the school and to the student's home, where they recovered a rifle, Connor said. Officers in tactical gear entered the school around noon Monday as students were ordered to shelter under desks and other furniture. Nothing harmful was found in the school and the students were dismissed after several hours. Triggiano said the student has not been in trouble before. "We were completely blindsided by this one," he said. The superintendent said police questioned the student all night. About 12:30 p.m., the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said no charges had been filed against the student. "At this time we do not anticipate any charges," Elizabeth R. Rebein, a spokeswoman, said in an email. Triggiano said some parents had made the decision to keep children home from school today. "They do have classed today, which I do not agree with," said MaryBeth Iacono, whose 16-year-old daughter Gianna attends Dumont High School. "A lot of the kids last night, including my own, did not sleep. Everyone was texting (and on) social media. A lot of them have anxiety. They're worried about this happening again with another student." There are more than 800 students enrolled at Dumont High School. The school is equipped with 76 cameras and ID badges are required for people to enter the building, Triggiano said. The school does not have metal detectors. But Triggiano said school officials have practiced active shooter drills many times in the past and that students and staff reacted according to plan on Monday. Harrowing exchange of text messages between a 16-year-old Dumont High School student and her mother on Monday in the moments after the school was placed on lockdown. pic.twitter.com/n901F8oDh9 Anthony G. Attrino (@TonyAttrino) February 26, 2018 Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Four Massachusetts residents accused of tying up and torturing a 16-year-old from New Jersey have been indicted by a grand jury in their home state, MassLive.com reported. The four have been held in jail since Dec. 27, when Auburn, Massachusetts police say they rescued the girl from the basement of a home with no running water or heat. The girl told police she was tormented for hours and had her head shaved by four people who suspected she had orchestrated a home invasion at the house that day. Auburn Police Sgt. Scott Mills said the girl, who described herself as a runaway, hails from Sicklerville but was in Massachusetts for a job training program that is an alternative to traditional schooling. A Worcester Superior Court grand jury on Friday returned kidnapping indictments for each of her alleged captors, siblings Krystal Lugo, 23, and Christopher Lugo, 19, and friends Yariel Torres-Abee, 22, and Yuleny Ortiz, 19, according to the Telegram & Gazette. The newspaper reported Krystal Lugo was also indicted on charges of intimidation of a witness, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon and assault with a dangerous weapon and Torres-Abee was indicted on charges of assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon. Xabiel Feliciano, 22, left, and Ibrahim Burale, 24, both of Worcester, were arrested in connection with a home invasion Dec. 27, police said. (Auburn Police) According to authorities, the girl told police she was picked up in Leominster on Christmas Day by an acquaintance, Ibrahim "Ace" Burale, 24, and two of the defendants. Mills said she knew at least one of the defendants from her job training program. She reported that some of the defendants gave her Xanax and took turns sexually assaulting her that day, but none were indicted on sexual assault charges, according to Telegram.com. On Dec. 27, two people entered the house with a gun, pistol whipping Christopher Lugo, firing a shot and demanding marijuana and money, police said in court documents. Burale -- the girl's acquaintance -- and Xabiel Feliciano, 22, both of Worcester, were later charged with home invasion. Mills said in January that he was not aware of any evidence that the girl orchestrated the invasion, but Krystal Lugo was convinced she was behind it, police wrote in court documents. The girl told police Krystal Lugo dragged her outside barefoot and hit her, before taking her to the basement. There, she was duct taped to a chair, burned with cigarettes and a clothes iron, had her head shaved and was repeatedly threatened with a machete held to her throat if she did not give information about the home invasion, she told police. After receiving a tip that the girl was being held, police found her whimpering in the freezing basement, near a bag of her own hair and a pot of what turned out to be water for her to drink, according to court documents and reports by MassLive. MassLive.com reported that Auburn Police Department Officer George Vranos fought back tears when he testified in district court Jan. 3, describing the room as a "torture chamber." Attorneys for the defendants argued unsuccessfully that they should be released on bail and denied some parts of the girl's story, MassLive reported. The indictments mean the defendants' cases will move from Central District Court to Worcester Superior Court, where they will be arraigned again. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips Zaiden Ascalon said he was proud of his classmates at Cherry Hill High School East on Monday after they protested in support of a teacher who was allegedly suspended for speaking out about security concerns. "I'm proud of kids my age," said Zaiden, 15, a sophomore at East. "They have a cause and are fearful, yet angry, in a very constructive manner." Students were reacting to news that a popular teacher had been suspended last week after he allegedly questioned how sound school security was in the wake of a deadly school shooting in Florida earlier this month. Efforts to reach the teacher, Timothy Locke, on Monday by phone and social media were not successful. A parent who spoke to Locke on Monday said he was referring all questions to attorney Amy Gillette. Gillette did not immediately return a call for comment. Cherry Hill School District spokeswoman Barbara Wilson said the administration had no comment about Locke. "It's a personnel matter," Wilson said Monday. Locke allegedly has compared the high school to Columbine in the past and recently spoke about the lack of armed cops in the school according to Philly.com "The bottom line is that I was very concerned about the security at my school," Locke told Philly.com on Monday. "I was adamantly concerned with the welfare of my students." O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN! SHAME ON THE CHERRY HILL SCHOOL DISTRICT! A truly extraordinary teacher was suspended from... Posted by Eric Ascalon on Sunday, February 25, 2018 Locke was "placed on administrative leave and ordered to undergo a physical and psychiatric evaluation," according to Philly.com Students like Zaiden saw it differently and they had plenty to say. "We were yelling 'Free Mr. Locke' and 'Bring him back,' Zaiden said. Administrators tried to break up the impromptu demonstration by warning the students they could face a suspension if they didn't disburse to the auditorium, according to students there, some of whom posted photos and video on social media immediately afterward. Before the demonstration, Principal Dennis Perry warned if they participated in the protest they would forfeit their chance to go on the senior class trip and prom, according to students who heard the morning announcement and a recording of it on PhillyVoice.com. Zaiden's father, Eric, said Locke had taught his son and daughter when she was a student at East. Eric Ascalon said he reached out with a phone call of support Monday to Locke, 59, who he said was "very upset." Locke, 59, an Iraq war veteran shares his colorful past with students in his history class "He fought for us, our country, and now it's time for us to fight for him," said Ben Shore, a senior at East. "There's a difference between him and normal teachers," Zaiden said. "Many of them teach from the book. He teaches from experience." @ChpsTweets unsuspend Mr. Locke. He has every right to be concerned about the poor security you have at East. Thomas (@tkrex) February 26, 2018 Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @bduhart. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips A New Jersey school reportedly threatened to suspend students and revoke prom privileges over a school sit-in, on the same day several of the state's colleges said they won't hold it against high schoolers if they get in trouble for protesting. Students at Cherry Hill High School East were warned during Monday morning's announcements that they would be suspended and banned from their senior trip and prom if they participated in a "planned disruption," according to PhillyVoice.com. At the time, students were already taking part in a sit-in to support a teacher who was suspended last week for raising concerns about school security, according to the report. The warning came a students across the state are already planning to join in a national walkout on March 14. Echoing colleges across the country, Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey and others weighed in on Monday, saying students disciplined for peaceful protests don't have to worry. "We want to reassure students who have applied or have been admitted... that disciplinary actions associated with participation in peaceful protests will not jeopardize your admission," Rutgers University said in a tweet. The assurances come as at least one local high school reportedly threatened to punish students who participated in a sit-in Monday. High schoolers' responses to the deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida prompted questions from students, faculty, and alumni on how participation in peaceful protests might impact an applicants offer of admission, said Luke Sacks, a spokesman at The College of New Jersey. "So we felt it was important to communicate the college's position quickly and publicly," Sacks said. The university's stance is not just specific to Parkland but to peaceful, lawful protest in general, he added. Rutgers' announcement is a reaffirmation of its an ongoing policy, spokeswoman Dory Devlin said. Drew University and Monmouth University also posted statements on social media supporting students' right to peaceful protests. Monmouth University has a long tradition of and commitment to responsible citizenship. We believe strongly in the empowerment of our campus community and a lifelong commitment to students. pic.twitter.com/dHW0Rp2oms Monmouth University (@monmouthu) February 26, 2018 Drew University admissions offers will not be affected by high school disciplinary actions that result from a student's peaceful participation in protest activities. Drew University (@DrewUniversity) February 26, 2018 Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A proposed law to prevent teachers suspected of sexual misconduct from easily moving to new schools has the blessing of New Jersey lawmakers and is going to Gov. Phil Murphy's desk. The state Senate on Monday passed the bill (S414), two months after an NJ Advance Media investigation exposed how multiple teachers accused of inappropriate behavior with students easily found new jobs in schools where administrators were unaware of their pasts. The Assembly also passed the bill this month. "Parents need to trust that schools are able to screen out teachers with histories of sexual abuse before they ever get into a new classroom," said Sen. Joseph Pennacchio, R-Morris, one of the bill's sponsors. "That's what our bill will ensure." If signed by Murphy, the new law would combat a dangerous cycle known as "passing the trash," in which administrators who fear litigation often remain silent as teachers under investigation for sexual misconduct resign and resurface elsewhere. The proposed law would require schools to ask applicants' previous employers if they were under investigation for sexual misconduct at the time they resigned. Districts would be required to share complaints against former teachers unless the cases were proven false or unsubstantiated. Notably, the proposal would grant districts legal immunity for sharing such information and also ban separation agreements that force districts to destroy or withhold their files detailing those probes. First proposed in in January 2017, the bill languished in Trenton for nearly year before NJ Advance Media's investigation published in December. One teacher highlighted in the story was convicted of sexually assaulting six students in three different schools districts. Another teacher is charged with sexually abusing a teenager in the 1990s. A third teacher, who left three jobs where he was accused of misconduct in 10 years, was fired the day the story published. Murphy in December said the report made him "vomit" and he would consider "smart legislation" to address the problem. His office did not respond to a request for comment Monday. Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook. New details of alleged sexual misconduct have emerged from Ryan Seacrest's former stylist, who has accused the omnipresent TV and radio host of sexual harassment, groping and sexual assault. Variety reports that an attorney for Suzie Hardy, who worked as Seacrest's stylist at E! from 2006 to 2013, sent a letter to E!, NBCUniversal and Seacrest in November that detailed Hardy's allegations. In the letter, Hardy claimed that Seacrest, a face of awards show coverage on E! and on "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," allegedly groped her vagina, slapped her buttocks and grinded his genitals against her while he was only wearing underwear. Seacrest, 43, has vehemently denied Hardy's claims. "On January 31st the network notified us that their independent third-party investigation had concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support her claims, effectively, clearing my client's name," his attorney, Andrew Baum, said in a statement to Variety. "It's telling that after my client refused to pay her money, and the E! investigation resulted as it did, that she is now coming forward to share her debunked story to the press." Baum said Hardy threatened to make the allegations if Seacrest didn't pay her $15 million. In November, identifying Hardy as a stylist without naming her, Seacrest called her allegations reckless. E! later said in a statement that an investigation conducted by outside counsel was not able to find evidence to support Hardy's claims. Hardy, a single mother, said she had taken the job with Seacrest because it provided regular hours and that she stayed at the position even after the alleged harassment and abuse began because of her young daughter, Variety reported. Hardy alleges she lost her job in 2013 shortly after human resources executives asked Hardy about her relationship with Seacrest and she told them about the accusations. The stylist alleges that when she told Seacrest's personal assistant that she was worried about going to his home in the middle of the night, she suggested Hardy take her daughter with her for protection. Hardy said that Seacrest's assistant told her that Seacrest was "really into" her and had a crush on her, but that she rejected advances, like when Seacrest allegedly asked her to take a nap with him, Variety reported. She alleges that he gave her extravagant gifts and frequently hugged her while only wearing underwear. A co-worker of Hardy's at "E! News" told Variety that he witnessed Seacrest grinding against her when they were preparing for the Academy Awards in 2009, and that he saw Seacrest push her head into his crotch on multiple occasions when she was tying his shoes. After another alleged incident in 2009 in which Seacrest allegedly slapped Hardy's rear end, causing a welt, she took a photo of the welt, she said, which she provided to Variety and independent investigators working evaluating the claims for E! The stylist alleges the most extreme incident happened in 2010, when Seacrest asked Hardy about intimate details of her relationship with a man she had been dating. When she told him he shouldn't ask the question, she said he allegedly grabbed her vagina tightly, which she said moved a production assistant to ask if she wanted to be walked to human resources (the same person who warned her she would likely be fired if she did, she said). Hardy said she did not report Seacrest to human resources as that time. This month, The Hollywood Reporter published a guest column by Seacrest titled "What Happened After I Was Wrongly Accused of Harassment." "To have my workplace conduct questioned was gut-wrenching," he wrote in the column. "I absolutely want to be part of the change, the progress, that is coming," he continued. "I did not want to be a postscript of evidence of its cause." In March, Seacrest -- who co-hosts E!'s red carpet coverage of the Oscars, which is slated for Sunday -- will host ABC's revival of "American Idol." He became host of ABC's "Live! with Kelly and Ryan" after taking over for Michael Strahan on "Live! with Kelly and Michael" in May of 2017 following Strahan's botched exit from the morning talk show for "Good Morning America." Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @AmyKup or on Facebook. The second of two men arrested in New Jersey last summer after police found more than 310 pounds of heroin and cocaine in a truck admitted to drug trafficking charges on Monday. Hector Lucas-Ramos, 42, pleaded guilty in a federal courtroom in Trenton to intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, the U.S. Attorney's Office for New Jersey said in a statement. Lucas-Ramos, of National City, California, was a passenger in a tractor-trailer pulled over by police in Essex County on Aug. 27 after committing traffic violations, authorities said. A search of the truck turned up five duffel bags containing 187 pounds of cocaine and more than 123 pounds of heroin. Investigators said the driver, Abraham Castro, admitted he knew they were transporting drugs, while Lucas-Ramos told them the pair had made a previous trip to pick up a large quantity of cash. Lucas-Ramos faces to 10 years to life in prison when he sentenced June 27. Castro, 33, of San Diego pleaded guilty in November and awaits sentencing. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. JERSEY CITY Jersey City teachers are inching closer toward striking for the first time since a five-day strike in 1998 that caused pandemonium citywide. The teachers union, which has been battling the 29,000-student school district over health care costs, voted yesterday to authorize a strike as a last resort, according to two sources with knowledge of the vote. Teachers have worked under an expired contract since the beginning of the school year and a deal for a new pact does not appear close. Parents picking up their children today at School 27, an elementary school in the Heights, said they support the school's teachers but are not excited about the prospect of a strike. "They deserve the money for all the things they do with the kids. I'm not sure if they should strike," said Julmin Cintron, who has two children in first and fourth grades. "That's a decision they have to make." "It'll be good for them but bad for us," said Melissa, the mom of a seven-year-old boy. She declined to give her last name. It's not clear how serious last night's vote is. In 1998, a similar vote came about three weeks before the strike began. Ron Greco, the JCEA president, did not return requests for comment. The union issued a statement from Greco last night saying the nine-member Jersey City Board of Education "continues to procrastinate and delay." The two sides met on Saturday for their latest negotiation session. "Our educators want to take the JCBOE at their word that they want to settle a fair contract at the table," Greco said in the statement. "We want nothing more than to get back to work under a contract that respects the expertise of our members and the need for affordable health care." The union seeks what it calls "Chapter 78 relief," referring to the 2011 New Jersey law that forced teachers to contribute to their health care premiums. Since then, the amount teachers pay for their health benefits has risen from nearly zero to $19.9 million. The district's total cost for employee health benefits is $98.9 million. Chapter 78 forced teachers to pay premiums equal to a portion of their pay, anywhere from 3 to 35 percent. District spokeswoman Maryann Dickar told The Jersey Journal that the district's 40 schools will remain open. "We have been bargaining in good faith with the union for months now and we remain committed to finding a resolution that meets the needs of our 4,100 employees, the district, our students and the taxpayers," Dickar said. "We value our teachers and we know that our teachers and staff are dedicated to serving our students." Teachers at recent rallies and school board meetings have said health care costs are eating up an increasingly larger portion of their pay. Some say Jersey City will no longer be an affordable home for many of its teachers. Negotiations between the school board and the union have been going on for at least six months. Last week a side battle erupted between Greco and Mayor Steve Fulop after police officers ticketed motorists honking their support for protesting teachers. The city says it ticketed five motorists. Greco's statement from last night said Fulop's "progressive values apparently run only skin deep." In response, city spokeswoman Hannah Peterson said Greco "needs to stop pointing fingers because he failed his membership and is unable to secure a contract for them." The BOE is meeting for a special session on Friday at 5 p.m. Its president, Sudhan Thomas, told The Jersey Journal the board is mindful of "the realities of the 2017-18 budget" and its "central role in everything." "We are currently spending close to $100 million annually on health care costs and are working on a robust, comprehensive affordable health care plan that will benefit the 4,000 employees of the JCBOE and importantly cut our health insurance operating costs significantly," Thomas said. "We look forward to sharing details of this health care plan shortly." The 1998 teacher strike led to short-term chaos. After opening schools on the first day with substitute teachers, the district closed high schools by midmorning after students began misbehaving and in some cases assaulting each other and some teachers. Elementary schools were open for half-days but after four days, nearly three-quarters of students weren't going to school. A judge stepped in and ordered teachers to return to work. They did, after agreeing to a new, three-year contract. Terrence T. McDonald may be reached at tmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @terrencemcd. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY A man found carrying a machete at the Liberty State Park light rail station was arrested just two hours after he was released from jail on a weapons charge, court records indicate. In both cases, the state filed for Dereck Manning also known as Jaleel Manning to remain in custody until the charges were resolved. But a judge again released him from custody during a detention hearing today on his latest charges. Manning was first arrested Feb. 11 at the Salem Lafayette housing complex in Jersey City. Police on patrol saw a group of men sitting on the stairs outside one of the buildings and smelled marijuana. The men were searched and one of the officers found an air soft gun in Manning's waistband, according to an affidavit, which also states that he was was in possession of an oxycodone pill. Manning was arrested and brought to the Hudson County jail, where officials conducting a strip search and found 20 bags of cocaine in his underwear. He was arrested again and charged with bringing the drugs into the jail, the court records show. The state filed a detention motion following the arrest, but during a hearing on Feb. 20, a Superior Court judge ordered that he be released with electronic monitoring. He left the jail that night at about 9 p.m., officials said. But after leaving the jail police found him pacing up and down the light rail platform around 11 p.m. and talking to commuters. Witnesses say he was upset because he was locked out of his house. Police noticed the 23-inch machete inside his sleeve and placed him under under arrest again, an affidavit indicates. Manning told the arresting officers his name was Jaleel, but they determined his name was Dereck and also charged him with hindering apprehension. His attorney argued in court he goes by both names and was not lying to police when he said his name was Jaleel. The state argued Manning had already violated the condition of his release within two hours of leaving the jail and asked that he be detained. The defense argued he was still trying to get home and had the machete in his sleeve because a group had robbed him with the weapon. He kept the blade for protection, his attorney said. Manning scored high on public safety assessment, but Judge Paul DePascale ordered him released on home monitoring. Officials said Manning was sentenced to two years probation in October after pleading guilty to a burglary charge. Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. The ongoing discovery process was discussed at a hearing Friday for three Jersey City police officers and an ex-cop charged in connection to a high-speed chase in June. Officers Eric Kosinski, Francisco Rodriguez, Lt. Keith Ludwig and former Officer MD Kahn are charged with various offenses in connection to the June 4 chase that began in Greenville when police tried to stop Leo Pinkston, 48, during a shooting investigation, officials said. The chase ended when Pinkston's car collided with that of Miguel Feliz at Tonnelle Avenue near North Street. The vehicles slammed into a utility pole and downed wires ignited them. Video shows Feliz being kicked by officers after emerging from the wreckage with his clothing on fire. Earlier this month, Pinkston pleaded guilty to eluding police and aggravated assault in connection to the pursuit. The officers' attorneys said at Friday's hearing that they now also seek transcripts of Pinkston's plea hearing and his upcoming sentencing hearing as part of discovery. Other items in the "voluminous" discovery being turned over to the defense attorneys include numerous videos, medical records, police reports and statements. Hudson County Superior Court Judge Nesle Rodriguez set April 13 for the next status hearing in the prosecution. Khan and Kosinski are charged with firing at Pinkston's moving vehicle at Tonnelle and Carlton avenues during the chase. Both are charged with attempted murder, aggravated assault, and weapons offenses. The indictment states that one of Khan's shots struck Pinkston's leg. Rodriguez is accused of opening fire on Pinkston as the car passed through the intersection of Manhattan and Tonnelle avenues. He is charged with unlawfully firing at Pinkston's car and aggravated assault. Khan and Ludwig are identified in the indictment as the officers seen kicking Feliz, of West New York, who was later hospitalized for severe burns. At Friday's hearing, Khan was represented by attorney Daniel Welsh, Kosinski was represented by John Lynch, Rodriguez was represented by Brian Neary and Ludwig was represented by Anthony Iacullo. Jury selection began yesterday for a 37-year-old former police dispatcher who faces up to life in prison plus 15 years if convicted of strangling his wife in 2014, and other offenses. Kevin Montone -- who has been in Hudson County jail since September 2015 -- is charged with murdering his wife, Monica Montone, 34, who was found dead in their Country Village home on Aug. 18, 2014. Montone and his then 2-year-old son were home when emergency responders arrived following a 911 call. He was charged with drug offenses and endangering the welfare of a child by officers who said heroin was strewn about the residence at 124 Sycamore Road. Montone was laughing uncontrollably, and appeared incoherent at times when officers placed him in a police vehicle that day. He posted a $35,000 bail and was released. In December 2014, he was charged with his wife's murder after an investigation by the state Regional Medical Examiner's Office in Newark determined Monica Montone's "cause of death was asphyxia due to neck compression," and the manner of her death was ruled a homicide. He then posted a $250,000 bail. The cause of Monica Montone's death is likely to be an issue of contention by experts at trial. A medical examiner hired by Montone's attorney said there is no hard evidence to prove Monica Montone was strangled. Almost 10 months later, Montone was charged with robbery after authorities say he grabbed a woman's purse on Sept. 15, 2015. People came to the woman's aid and held Montone until police arrived. After being charged with robbery, a judge raised Montone's bail on the murder charge to $300,000 cash or bond. A $50,000 bail was added for the robbery charge. He has remained in custody ever since. The robbery charge is not included in the charges Montone faces in the trial that began yesterday before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Patrick Arre in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. Montone, who was fired as a Jersey City police dispatcher in August 2013, is being represented by defense attorney Stephen Walsh. The state is represented by Hudson County assistant prosecutor Linda Claude-Oben and Kevin Roe. The murder charge alone carries a possible sentence of 30 years to life in prison upon conviction. If the state Senate were to vote today on whether New Jersey should legalize marijuana for recreational use, the bill would fail, according to a survey by NJ Cannabis Insider, a new NJ Advance Media publication. Only five members of the 40-member Senate said they would vote yes when reached by telephone, in person and by email over the past three weeks. Another 20 members said they would vote no, while 15 said they were undecided or did not respond. The full list of how state lawmakers stand can be found in the latest issue of NJ Cannabis Insider. The measure needs 21 votes to pass the Senate, then 41 votes to clear the 80-member state Assembly. Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat who ran on a campaign platform that promoted legalizing cannabis, has said he would sign the bill as soon as it reaches his desk. But a vote is not imminent. State Sen. Nicholas Scutari, D-Union, the lead sponsor of the marijuana legalization and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has not yet scheduled a hearing on the bill, (S830). As of Monday, Scutari said he remains undecided whether he will make changes to the current version, which he carried over from the last legislative session that ended in mid-January. Scutari and state Senate President Stephen Sweeney, D-Gloucester, have said they remain confident they will have enough votes when the time comes. But they have backed off an early prediction that they Democrats, which control the state Legislature and the executive branch, would get it done in the first 100 days of Murphy's term. Legislative sources who spoke to NJ Advance Media and requested anonymity to share lawmakers' private conversations said some members do not want to reveal their thoughts before a final bill is presented or hearings are held, in order to negotiate its terms. Meanwhile, the Murphy administration is more than halfway through a 60-day evaluation of the state's medicinal marijuana program, which many patients say is too cumbersome, restrictive and expensive. In announcing the audit on Jan. 23, Murphy said he was considering expanding the number of dispensaries, permitting home delivery and allowing doctors to recommend patients be permitted to buy more than two ounces a month. Legalization foes are also mobilizing. A bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by state Sen. Ronald Rice, D-Essex, introduced a bill earlier this month that would decriminalize pot possession of no more than 10 grams. The bill would also expedite the expungement of past marijuana possession arrests. Sweeney, who controls which bills are scheduled for hearings and floor votes, would have to permit the decriminalization bill to proceed. A source close to Sweeney said he was unlikely to allow Rice's bill to compete with legalization measure. Are you interested in the N.J. cannabis industry? Subscribe here for exclusive insider information from NJ Cannabis Insider Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. Susan K. Livio may be reached at slivio@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @SusanKLivio. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. The Jefferson Parish district attorney's office will not seek the death penalty in prosecuting Armande Tart, the man accused of killing four people and seriously wounding a fifth in a grisly drug robbery at a Metairie apartment. Assistant District Attorney Rachel Africk informed the court of the decision during a Monday (Feb. 26) hearing, according to Jefferson Parish court records. The district attorney's office declined to comment on the matter Tuesday because the case is still open. Tart, 21, of New Orleans, is charged with four counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted first-degree murder and obstruction of justice. Tart is accused in the deaths of Harold Frisard, 56, Rosemary Charles, 61, John Edward Henry, 56, and Kyle Turner, 40. He's also accused of shooting a 34-year-old woman who survived her injuries. The homicides occurred in two apartments at a building in the 2500 block of Pasadena Avenue in Metairie during the early morning hours of March 15. Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office detectives say Tart would sometimes stay with Frisard, a resident of the complex, and sell drugs out of Frisard's apartment. Charles also lived in the building with Henry, her boyfriend, in a first-floor apartment. Tart, who knew Charles, used her cell phone to call Turner and arrange to buy drugs from him, authorities said. Tart is accused of killing Frisard first, strangling and stabbing him more than 40 times, the Sheriff's Office said. Tart then went to Charles' apartment across the courtyard a short time later, where he shot her, Henry, Turner and the 34-year-old woman, who had accompanied Turner to the apartment. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The surviving victim told authorities Tart knocked on the door to Charles' apartment and chatted briefly with everyone before asking to use the restroom, investigators said. He then emerged from the bathroom and shot all the occupants in the apartment, authorities said. Tart tried twice to shake free a surveillance camera mounted on a pole in the apartment building's parking lot before driving off in Turner's car, according to the Sheriff's Office. Terry Manuel, 53, of Kenner, pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact to second-degree murder. Manuel admitted picking up Tart after Tart ditched Turner's stolen car in Central City, according to authorities. He was sentenced May 22 to five years in prison as part of a plea deal in which he agreed to testify truthfully about his role in the homicides, court records said. Tart's attorneys from the Capital Project of South Louisiana filed a motion Monday to withdraw from the case as the organization only handles death-penalty cases. Judge John Molaison Jr. of the 24 Judicial District Court ordered a public defender appointed for Tart, court records said. Tart is scheduled to return to court March 6. A Louisiana student has been investigated by police after saying a math symbol looks like a gun. KSEE reports the Allen Parish Sheriff's Office searched the home of a student at Oberlin High School after some classmates interpreted his comments as a possible terrorist threat last week. No weapon or evidence of any threat to was found. Allen Parish School District Superintendent Michael Doucet told KATC that it was a false rumor that started with a poorly judged joke between two students solving a square root problem in math class. "The students were working together, and a student made a math symbol of a square root sign, which kind of looks like a pistol. And he was helping a weaker student, and the student says, 'Well, that looks like a pistol!' And he just made a comment [like] 'let's just get to work before I shoot you with a pistol," Doucet said. According to Doucet, the comment then spread throughout the school like gossip, and grew into a rumor that the student was planning to carry out a mass shooting like at a Florida school earlier this month. Police said that it could be interpreted as a threat when taken out of context. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "The student used extremely poor judgment in making the comment," the Allen Parish Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook. "But in light of the actual circumstances, there was clearly no evidence to support criminal charges." "He committed no crime. He was the victim of the ole morphing of information [phenomenon]," Allen Parish Sheriff Doug Hebert added in a KATC interview. The Allen Parish School Board will determine if any disciplinary action is required. Many school and law enforcement officials are on high alert after Nikolas Cruz, 19, opened fire with an AR-15 assault-style rifle at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., last week. Seventeen students and teachers were killed. A man arrested Sunday (Feb. 25) on suspicion that he groped several women as they walked near Tulane University pleaded guilty last fall to sexual battery in a separate case, according to Orleans Parish court records. Kendrick Shorts, 44, was booked with misdemeanor sexual battery in connection with a recent series of complaints by women who reported that a man grabbed their buttocks as they walked along Broadway Street, New Orleans police said. The New Orleans Police Department worked with Tulane University police to investigate the series of sexual battery incidents, all of which occurred off-campus. Two of the incidents were reported Friday morning on Broadway Street, between the 1000 and 1200 blocks, according to Tulane University police. In both incidents, which were reported separately, the victims told investigators that a man on a blue bicycle approached them from behind and grabbed their buttocks. The man then rode off, headed northbound on Broadway, university police said. Tulane University police officers began conducting targeted patrols of the area in efforts to find the perpetrator, according to the university. Shorts was detained late Sunday morning as Tulane and NOPD officers, including an NOPD Special Victims Section detective, were canvassing the area around Tulane and spotted Shorts near the intersection of South Carrollton Avenue and Burthe Street, riding a blue cruiser bicycle. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Shorts was turned over to the NOPD Sex Crimes Unit and later booked into the Orleans Justice Center jail, where he remained Monday evening with his bond set at $5,000, jail records show. According to Orleans Parish court records, Shorts was recently convicted of misdemeanor sexual battery in connection with an Aug. 27 arrest. He pleaded guilty to the charge in October and received a six-month suspended sentence with six months of inactive probation, court records show. He is scheduled to appear in court Thursday for a probation status hearing in that case. According to an NOPD database, the Aug. 27 crime was reported by a female victim in the 6200 block of St. Charles Avenue. It was not immediately clear if the crime occurred in that block, which is less than a mile from the scene of last weekend's crimes. Shorts also has several prior convictions for drug-related offenses, as well as an open charge of battery of a police officer in connection with a November 2010 arrest, according to court records. He has a mental competency hearing set for Thursday in that case. The sexual battery investigation remains active, and police ask anyone with information on the crimes near Tulane to call university police at 504-865-5381 or the NOPD at 504-821-2222. A New Orleans man is among three people arrested in connection with an early Friday (Feb. 23) shooting on the Southeastern Louisiana University campus that injured two student-athletes, according to the Tangipahoa Sheriff's Office and a university spokeswoman. Jabbar Singleton, 19, of New Orleans is accused of illegal discharge of a firearm and carrying a firearm while on school property, according to the Sheriff's Office, which on Monday released the names of those arrested in the shooting. Singleton's bond was set at $85,000. Singleton is a member of SLU's men's basketball team, a school athletics official told Fox 8 WVUE. Monday night, Southeastern Louisiana University Athletic Director Jay Artigues told the news station that Singleton has been suspended indefinitely from the men's basketball team "for disciplinary reasons." The other two men arrested -- Herbert Joseph Jr., 18, of Napoleonville, and Jacoby Senegal, 19, of Abbeville -- face two counts each of attempted second-degree murder. They are also accused of carrying a firearm on school property, and Senegal is accused of possession of a stolen firearm. Bond for Joseph was set at $175,000. Senegal's bond was set at $225,000, the Sheriff's Office said. On Friday, the Hammond-based university released scant details about the shooting, saying only that the victims are student-athletes and that two people had been arrested. It was not immediately clear Monday night whether Joseph or Senegal are affiliated with SLU. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up "Fortunately, they are not life-threatening gunshots,'' university spokeswoman Tonya Lowentritt said Friday morning. Lowentritt said the incident happened "overnight'' -- authorities think around 2 a.m. -- on SLU's north campus, which is an area near the University Center arena and some apartments. University police are handling the investigation with the assistance of the Hammond Police Department and the Tangipahoa Parish Sheriff's Office, she said. "The Southeastern Family can rest assured that this was strictly an isolated incident," said University Police Department Director Harold Todd. "In fact, the incident appears to have stemmed from a dispute between individuals and was not in any way directed at the university." Southeastern is only open half day on Fridays, Lowentritt said, when most students don't have classes, so there was no cancellation of any university activities. NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune's Bob Warren contributed to this report. The oyster's shell is clean, with not a single barnacle clinging to it. The cup is deep. The oyster inside is briny and firm. The taste inspires the kind of florid language usually reserved for a vintage wine: chalky, sweet, vegetal. This isn't an oyster from the East Coast or the Pacific. It's a Gulf Oyster, from Grand Isle, and it goes by the lyrical name of Southern Belle. At the contemporary oyster bar Seaworthy, one of a handful of local restaurants that sell these farmed Gulf oysters, a single Southern Belle will set you back $3. What makes these oysters from Louisiana and Alabama, with names like Caminada Bay, Murder Point and Isle Dauphine, worth twice the price of a wild Gulf oyster? "You'll see higher salinity in the cultivated oyster, because the farmers are able to choose their sites," said Dan Causgrove, executive chef at Seaworthy. Wild oysters grow on reefs, while farmed oysters are raised in cages suspended close to the surface. The oyster farmers can pick the best waters for salty oysters. And because all farmed oysters are raised in the same location, each time you order one it will have more or less the same flavors. Water also flows faster around oysters suspended in cages than it does over oyster beds. Oysters are filter feeders, so the faster water goes past them, the more they eat and the fatter they get. Technically, farmed oysters in Louisiana and Alabama are triploids, which means they have three chromosomes instead of the usual two. That also makes them sterile. Since they don't reproduce and get flabby in the warm months, a farmed, triploid oyster is as fat in January as in August. "A triploid oyster seed is like an annual plant," Causgrove said, "while wild oysters are like perennial plants." Farmed Gulf oysters started sliding across our oyster bars in the last five years or so. Point aux Pins, the first commercial oyster farm in the Gulf, opened in 2009 in Alabama. That state outpaces Louisiana's farmed oyster industry, with its Murder Point oysters being the easiest to find. In Louisiana, we still only have a couple of oyster farms. "The number one issue that is deterring growth in the industry is the threat of theft," said John Supan, a retired professor with the LSU Sea Grant Program who's been the main provider of science, seed and support for farmed Gulf oysters. Cages of oysters near the surface are easy to raid. The solution to theft, he said, is private land or public oyster farming zones, like the one at Grand Isle, that can be policed. "It's growing already," Supan said of Louisiana's oyster farming. "We're going to see growth very soon." Not that farmed oysters will ever replace wild in Louisiana. They will always be more expensive, because they require care and craft. "For me, the attraction is beyond the quality of the product. It's to compare flavors," said Chris Nelson of Bon Secour, which distributes many farmed Alabama oysters throughout the region. "It's an event. It's something to discuss. Until just a few years ago, that experience wasn't available to us." Want a taste? The supply of farmed Gulf oysters is still small, and even restaurants committed to serving them sometimes can get only one or two varieties. Around New Orleans, Seaworthy, Peche Seafood Grill and Bourbon House are reliable sources for Louisiana and Alabama farmed oysters. They also show up on the menus at Luke, Kenton's and Compere Lapin. Causgrove of Seaworthy offered these tasting notes on farmed oysters from Louisiana and Alabama: Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Massacre Island (Dauphin Island, Ala.) "I find it has a pretty high brine for a cultivated Gulf oyster. And it also has a little roasted artichoke flavor." Mon Louis (Grand Bay, Ala.) "I get mineral, cabbage and then a little bit of metallic finish on the end." Murder Point (Dauphine Island, Ala.) "That crab, crustacean note is very present. Also it's very buttery. He does a lot more of the individual craftsmanship with these oysters. They're growing these in baskets and shaking them, so it's breaking off the edges. And it gets that deep cup, which gives you that firm meat." Isle Dauphine (Dauphin Island, Ala.) "These are some of the briniest that you get out of Alabama." Southern Belles (Grand Isle, La.) "I get a little chalk and mineral and then a little bit of vegetal notes. And also some of that crabby sweetness." Correction: The original version of this stories misstated Causgrove's position at Seaworthy. He is the executive chef, not the chef de cuisine. Seaworthy: 630 Carondelet St., New Orleans, 504.930.3071 *** Got a tip? Know some restaurant news? Email Todd A. Price at TPrice@NOLA.com or call 504.826.3445. Follow him on Twitter (@TPrice504), Facebook (ToddAPriceEatsDrinks) or Instagram (@tprice504). KIPP Renaissance High School in the Bywater will be closed Tuesday (Feb. 27) "out of an abundance of caution" after administrators learned of a threat to the school made via social media, school officials said in an announcement Monday night. KIPP Renaissance administrators were notified Monday evening of the threat, according to the statement from KIPP New Orleans Schools. School officials launched an investigation and contacted the New Orleans Police Department, which is also investigating the threat. Neither the school nor police released any details about the threat. Tuesday's closure includes all classes and after-school activities at KIPP Renaissance High, located in the Frederick Douglass school building at 3820 St. Claude Ave. Bard Early College will also be closed Tuesday, officials said. Any parents, students or community members with information that could help in the investigation are asked to call the NOPD at 504-821-2222. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana and two Republican colleagues are threatening to block a gun safety fix that's been eagerly embraced by many of Washington's power players. Along with Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Mike Lee of Utah, Kennedy opposes the current version of Sen. John Cornyn's bid to improve the accuracy of existing background check systems for firearm purchases. President Donald Trump reiterated his support for the plan Monday (Feb. 26). But Kennedy said the U.S. needs "more idiot control, not more gun control." Trump cited Cornyn's bill as among the steps he wants to take in the wake of the deadly Valentine's Day mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Also backing the measure are Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and the National Rifle Association. But it takes 60 Senate votes to get legislation moving, and the three senators are eying strategies to delay, modify or kill the current bill. So far, the measure is not on the Senate schedule. Trump suggested changes, saying the bill would be "strengthened" and made "more pertinent" to the school shooting. "We need strong background checks," he said at a White House meeting with U.S. governors. "For a long period of time, people resisted that. But now people, I think, are really into it." First proposed in November after the largest mass shooting in Texas history, the legislation does not expand background checks to more purchases. Rather, it requires state and federal officials to do a better job of reporting relevant legal and mental health details to the national instant background check system. The shooter in a Sutherland Springs, Texas, church, killed 26 people with a gun he bought after passing a background check, despite multiple military and domestic violence complaints. The bill by Cornyn, a Texas Republican, would increase federal funding for reporting domestic violence records to the national background register. Kennedy, Lee and Paul said they agree that the National Instant Criminal Background Check System must be improved. But they said the current version of Cornyn's bill does not provide enough due process to those who land on the list, including some military veterans who they said would be automatically reported to the system. The senators warned that providing incentives, such as federal grant preferences, to state and federal agencies for reporting "might lead to an increase in the likelihood of abuse and administrative error." Without changes, the three wrote in a letter to Republican colleagues, the legislation "would encourage future administrative agencies to encroach upon constitutionally guaranteed rights without affording robust due process protections." They warned that "if Republican leadership wishes to move forward," the legislation would need to include a right to an appeal in a court "prior to any denial of Second Amendment rights." A spokesman for Lee said there have been staff-level discussions among those interested in the bill about the three senators' concerns. The House passed a version of the legislation in December, but it was attached to concealed-carry bill that would go nowhere in the Senate, with its 60-vote requirement to advance legislation. Nineteen House Republicans are asking Ryan to take up the background check measure by itself. The Gun Owners of America in December opposed the legislation, calling it additional gun control. "We're very concerned that more law-abiding people are going to be thrown into the NICS system," Erich Pratt, executive director of Gun Owners of America said at the time. "It's a broken system; we don't want to fix it, we want to fix it for good by repealing it." At least 15 Senate Democrats have co-sponsored the background check legislation. But Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, a co-sponsor, said Monday that its effect would be minimal. "It is our hope that Republican leaders will help pass real legislation that makes a difference, rather than NRA-backed bills that make Republicans feel better without meaningfully addressing the issue of gun safety," Schumer said. "We can't afford a bill that is simply aimed at pleasing the NRA but doesn't get the job done, we need real results." . . . . . . . Story by Lesley Clark. Written and compiled by Chelsea Brasted, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune It was somewhere in New Orleans East that my car started making a ka-plunking noise when I knew I should be less cavalier with this drive. The thing is, I rather brought it upon myself. The 100 or so miles I spent driving across New Orleans and inspecting potholes came after a column I wrote helped fix a stretch of broken pavement in Algiers that had somehow slipped off the city's radar. I was sent several requests to look into others potholes, mud pits and cracking bumps of pavement scratched by the unsuspecting cars that didnt see it coming. As I drove, it was tough to figure out what to do with what I found. New Orleans is built on a swamp, and fixing the citys broken streets is long in the works and long in the making. But what to do with that frustration, that ire? And all those broken cars and popped tires? Well that, dear readers, that is poetry. What do you do, when the roads come for your car? At least, in New Orleans, you'll rarely travel far. It'd be too easy to blame the West Bank, that my car's suspension went down the tank. It all started on Whitney with a column I wrote, and broken pavement where the road just croaked. I complained and I moaned, and the mayor's office groaned. But the city, they fixed it! The asphalt was poured, lickety-split, And I celebrated, I admit it I did. Newspapers still got it, heaven forbid. Then came the emails with anger, with pain of drivers and potholes as big as a train. So off I went, in my little Subaru to find these craters, these pits and other to-do. Criss-crossing the Crescent, the broken roadways I found were grossly incessant. Problems? We've got a few, but some streets might even be worse than you knew. There were bumps and bruises and cracks, even a pothole needing a weed-whack. There are manholes pushing up through the pavement, piles of rock, cracked bottles -- the mess, it's flagrant. The height of South Rendon is measured by trashcan, and a tiny traffic cone belies what's wrong on Chamberlain. Head to Little John, where the cracks are beyond broken and half the roadway's just gone, driving up Oregon. Cruise down Stemway, and you'll have a problem because between two lakes, your car will be wobblin'. Of course, I knew all along what would be found, because our problems truly pop up, straight from the ground. What came first, the swamp or the city? That one can't tell is really a pity. Here are the 19 potholes, cracks, missing streets and standing lakes that qualify as roadways and inspired this piece. Note that updates on repairs was requested through Mayor Mitch Landrieu's office, details of which are outlined below. Those interested can track information on future roadwork through the Department of Public Works' online database using the listed project names, the presence of which indicates the project has been fully funded, according to a spokesman for Landrieu's office. If additional funding becomes available, he noted, specific potholes and cracks could be fixed sooner than expected. If no corresponding project name was available, that, too, is noted. 1 Olympic Court The city says: Drainage work here has been completed. DPW project name: Not available. 225 S. Olympia (Note: Since this photo was taken, this hole has been covered over with dirt.) The city says: Drainage work has been identified by work crews and remains to be scheduled "based on available funding." DPW project name: RR3 - Mid City Group A (INC) 400 block of Whitney Avenue The city says: Drainage work has been identified by work crews and remains to be scheduled "based on available funding." DPW project name: Not available. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up 1615 S. Rendon St. The city says: Drainage work has been identified by work crews and remains to be scheduled "based on available funding." DPW project name: RR3 - Broadmoor Group D (FRC) 3518 Cambronne St. The city says: Work has not yet been identified. DPW project name: RR3 - Hollygrove Group B (PMOPC) 5400 Annunciation St. The city says: Work has not yet been identified. DPW project name: RR3 - Uptown, West Riverside Group A (PMOPI) 10900 Kinneil Road The city says: Drainage work has been identified by work crews and remains to be scheduled "based on available funding." DPW project name: RR3 - Little Woods Group A (PMOPI) Banks Street at S. Rendon Street (Note: Since this photo was taken, the hole has been filled in with dirt.) The city says: Drainage work has been identified by work crews and remains to be scheduled "based on available funding." DPW project name: RR3 - Mid City Group A (INC) Burbank Drive at Chamberlain Drive The city says: Drainage work has been identified by work crews and remains to be scheduled "based on available funding." DPW project name: RR3 - Filmore North Group E (FRC) Colapissa between Pine St. and Lowerline St The city says: Work has been scheduled, though it's not clear for when. DPW project name: Not available. 4901 Littlejohn Drive The city says: Drainage work has been identified by work crews and remains to be scheduled "based on available funding." DPW project name: RR3 - Read Blvd East Group A (PMOPI) Oregon Street between Elmwood Park and Behrman Highway The city says: Drainage work has been identified by work crews and remains to be scheduled "based on available funding." DPW project name: Not available. Pecan Street between Prentiss and Dwyer The city says: Work has been scheduled. Online records show construction beginning between July 2019 and September 2019, and finishing by September 2020. The project is currently in the design phase. DPW project name: RR3 - Plum Orchard/ West Lake Forest Group A (PMOPI) Port between N. Roman and N. Derbigny The city says: Drainage work has been identified by work crews and remains to be scheduled "based on available funding." DPW project name: RR3 - St. Claude Group C (FRC) Prentiss Street between Haydel and Reynes The city says: Work has been scheduled. Online records show construction beginning between July 2019 and September 2019, and finishing by September 2020. The project is currently in the design phase. DPW project name: RR3 - Plum Orchard/ West Lake Forest Group A (PMOPI) Sardonyx Street at Amethyst Street The city says: Drainage work has been identified by work crews and remains to be scheduled "based on available funding." DPW project name: RR3 - Lakeshore Group A (INC) 4334 Stemway Drive The city says: Work has not yet been identified or scheduled. DPW project name: RR3 - Pines Village Group A (PMOI) Upperline at Coliseum The city says: Work has been scheduled. Online records show construction beginning by March and finishing by December. The project is currently in the design phase. DPW project name: RR3 - Uptown, West Riverside Group A (PMOPI) Will Stutley between Robin Hood and Friar Tuck The city says: Drainage work has been identified by work crews and remains to be scheduled "based on available funding." DPW project name: RR3 - Read Blvd East Group C (PC) - - - Chelsea Brasted is a metro columnist covering the New Orleans area. Send story ideas, tips, complaints and fan mail to cbrasted@nola.com. You can also text or call 225.460.1350, and follow her on Twitter and Facebook. iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- An American citizen from California has been arrested overseas on charges of providing material support to terrorists, according to a law enforcement official. The official told ABC News that Bernard Raymond Augustine, 20, was arrested in Tunisia while in the process of trying to enter Libya to join the Islamic State terrorist group. Augustine was returned to the United States on charges of attempting to provide material support to terrorism and was expected to make his first appearance in federal court in Brooklyn sometime today, the official said. Augustine, who lives in the Central California farming community of Keyes, just outside of Modesto, was originally arrested in Tunisia 2016 when he arrived on a flight that originated in San Francisco, the official said. Court records show that he told U.S. Customs officials upon departure he was intending to travel to Tunisia for vacation. Someone from Augustines hometown told authorities, There was no legitimate reason for Augustine to travel to Tunisia, according to court records. A search of his computer revealed a song that extols ISIS and messages Augustine allegedly sent praising the terror group, the official said. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. IGP Kale Kayihura The police planning and advisory committee has reallocated the current quarterly release to only fund the office of the inspector general of police, Kampala Metropolitan police and three other regions countrywide. The reallocation leaves more than 95% of the police operation units together with the Criminal Investigation Directorate and intelligence without any money for operations. Ministry of Finance released Shs 137.8 billion to the police force at the beginning of the year and the police planning and advisory committee convened a meeting to decide on how the money would be used. According to documentation drafted by the committee, only sting operations under the office of the IGP Kale Kayihura, regions under the Kampala metropolitan police (KMP), East Kyoga, Sipi and Rwenzori East policing will be funded. At least 65 per cent of the money will be used to pay salaries, pension and gratuity and 31 per cent will cater for the capital obligations of the force like utilities and feeding. After salary and obligations have been catered for, only Shs 30 billion will be left, out of which Shs 13.4 billion will be used to pay part of the outstanding arrears of Shs 125.9 billion. The remaining Shs 16.6 billion will be divided between the office of the IGP, KMP and the three regions. The money to Kayihura's office is meant to, among others, implement the strategic plan and coordinate sting operations and other police programmes. IGP Kayihura says this is a new model of implementing operations based on intelligence given that there are limited resources. "There is no money. We therefore picked the most important areas and allocated them the operational funds. The focus will be rotational and at the end of the year, all other regions will have benefited," Kayihura said. Usually, the quarterly funds are allocated and distributed equally among all operational units giving a bigger allocation to intelligence and investigations. Every district, division and region is given a monthly imprest for running the station, fuel allocation together with food and stationary. A highly placed source in police told URN that right now most police personnel in different units are just going to office for the sake of it but work cannot be done. "We can't carry out any operations. If you come with a complaint or case, you have to facilitate the investigations. There is no money for anything," the source who preferred anonymity said. The police annual budget allocation has been reducing since the financial year 2015/2016 when it hit Shs 600 billion. In the financial year 2017/2018, only Shs 533 billion was allocated which is equal to what was being given to the force 7 years ago despite the increase in manpower, operational units and motorised equipment. Police in Kampala is investigating circumstances that led to the death of two more foreigners whose lives ended mysteriously over the last two days. These include one Belgian national, who reportedly committed suicide inside Vermigo apartments on Sunday in Muyenga, a suburb of Kampala, and a German national who succumbed to heart failure. The 54-year old Belgian identified as Eric Yvomr, reportedly hanged himself in the night on Sunday. His body was later discovered by his fiance Joseline Mupfasoni, a Burundian national, who alerted the police about the tragedy. "Our team has already gone to the scene to establish what exactly happened and also record statements from the people around," police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said. The 54-year old Belgian identified as Eric Yvomr, reportedly hanged himself in the night on Sunday. His body was later discovered by his fiance Joseline Mupfasoni, a Burundian national, who alerted the police about the tragedy."Our team has already gone to the scene to establish what exactly happened and also record statements from the people around," police spokesperson Emilian Kayima said. Later, police said a postmortem carried on the body of Yvomr indeed confirmed suicide as the cause of his death. The deceased German national has been identified as Hans Jurgen Vallant, 64. He was declared dead on arrival at Nsambya hospital in Kampala last week on Friday where he had been sent as a referral from Case hospital. This brings to six, the total number of foreign nationals who have died in Uganda over the last one month. The others are; Finnish entrepreneur Terasvouri Tuomas Juha Petteri, 42, Alex Nordlarndar Sebastien Andreas, 41, from Sweden both suspected to have been poisoned using pesticides and herbicides. Sebastien was found dead in his room at Sheraton Kampala hotel on February 5 while Terasvouri was also found dead in his room at Pearl of Africa hotel a day later. The other was an American tourist identified as Guy Watson Monte, 61 who was found dead in in his room at Bwana Tembo Safari Camp Lodge on February 17 in Nwoya district. Rita Charlottee, 76, a Swedish national collapsed during a nature walk at Murchison Falls national park and died on arrival at Pakwach hospital earlier this month. Three Ugandan women have since been detained over the death of Petteri. Botswana continues to stand out in breaking the African code of governance and diplomacy by calling on the continents leaders to respect their constitutions. Yesterday, Monday, Botswana blamed Congolese President Joseph Kabila his country's humanitarian and security crisis, in the sharpest criticism yet from an African government of his refusal to step down. DRC President Joseph Kabila has been told to step down by Botswana Western powers have repeatedly criticised Kabila whose mandate expired in December 2016, but African countries have trodden more gently, urging progress toward long-delayed elections but avoiding direct condemnations of Kabila. Congo emerged in 2003 from a five-year war that killed millions, most from hunger and disease, and the current political crisis has contributed to a surge of conflict that has forced millions to flee their homes. At least 22 people, including 15 civilians, were killed in the past two days in inter-ethnic clashes in eastern Congo's North Kivu province, a local official said. "We continue to witness a worsening humanitarian situation in that country mainly because its leader has persistently delayed the holding of elections, and has lost control over the security of his country," Botswana's ministry of International Affairs said in a statement. "The Government of the Republic of Botswana wishes to express her concern regarding the disturbing trend, whereby some political leaders refuse to relinquish power when their term of office expires. These leaders have now resorted to measures such as delaying holding of elections, or amending their national constitutions to effectively extend their term of office. It is clear that such leaders are driven by self-interest, instead of those of the people they govern." said part of the statement. Congo's foreign minister, Leonard She Okitundu, declined to comment. Botswana's statement comes after the resignation of Kabila's close ally Jacob Zuma as South African president added to uncertainty about his standing among key African states. Kabila is facing mounting pressure in the streets to organise prompt elections. Security forces killed at least two people at a church-led march on Sunday. More than a dozen protesters have been killed since December. Police said on Monday that an officer had been arrested for violating orders by firing a rubber bullet at a protester from too close a range - less than 20 meters (yards), killing him. However, a doctor at the hospital where the man, pro-democracy activist Rossy Mukendi, died on Sunday, told Reuters he had been hit in the heart by a bullet that had entered and exited his body. The statement by Botswana, one of Africa's most stable democracies, urged "the international community to put more pressure on the leadership in the Democratic Republic of Congo to relinquish power and pave way for the ushering in of a new political dispensation." Kabila denies he is trying to cling to power but has refused to publicly rule out trying to change the constitution to remove term limits that prevent him from running for re-election, as the presidents of neighboring Congo Republic and Rwanda have done. Congo's political turmoil has emboldened the dozens of militia groups that operate in its mineral-rich eastern borderlands. Fifteen civilians and seven militiamen were killed in two separate attacks on Sunday and Monday by the Hutu-dominated Nyatura militia, local administrator Hope Sabini told Reuters. The Nyatura fighters were going after a Nande-dominated militia called Mai Mai Mazembe in the villages of Kalusi and Bwalanda, Sabini said. Passengers disembark from one of the train wagons Just days after reclaiming management of railway business from Rift Valley Railways (RVR), Uganda Railway Cooperation (URC) last evening re-launched passenger services in and around Kampala city. This was met with a nod of approval from many Kampalans especially those who have previously had to scramble for taxis during peak hours. According to Abubakari Ochaki, the chief operations officer at URC, a number of things had been wasted during the 12-year management of railway business by RVR. He said assets such as rolling stock had become obsolete and new management is trying to put everything to order. We are charged with the entire railway operations and other operations within the cooperation as per the directives by the government througha meeting held on January 25, where the government [took over railway management from RVR], Ochaki said. Yesterday evening, people were filled with joy as URC re-launched passenger services. As early as 5pm, passengers had already started entering either of the five wagons scheduled to make the maiden trip from the city centre to Namanve. By 5:30, all wagons had been filled and there was the customary hoot as the train set off. Inside the fairly-comfortable wagons, many passengers sat mute, with visibly tired faces. The wagons were so full that journalists and a number of passengers traveled while standing. One passenger was, however, overheard complementing the move to reintroduce passenger train services, saying that if such a transport system was well-organised, people would not need to congest the city with private vehicles. There were stops in the townships of Nakawa, Kireka, Bweyogerere and finally Namanve. Ochaki said there will be two daily trips, one in the morning (7am) and another in the evening (5:30pm). For starters, passengers going between Kampala and Bweyogerere pay Shs 1,000 while those reaching Namanve pay Shs 1,500. Ochaki added that in the next few months, URC plans to introduce more routes such as one from Kampala to Port Bell and another to Kyengera. He said they want to modernize operations to meet world standards. In the past five years, the defunct RVR launched passenger service trains twice but their operations did not last more than six months on both occasions. This was mainly due to faulty locomotives and other management shortfalls. Ochaki, however, assured the public that this time round, the service is going to professional and sustainable. The government of Uganda has reportedly promised to fund the cooperation with Shs 3.4 billion every year purposely for passenger services. ahukanamercy@gmail.com alfredodcho@gmail.com With the country continuing to struggle amidst a blood crisis, every Ugandan, as urged, thought of what they can do to save the day with only 151 units of blood left at Nakasero blood bank. FDC being Ugandan as anyone else followed what the other institutions and organizations were doing to mobilize blood to effectively respond to the crisis. Buganda kingdom, Capital FM, Uganda National Roads Authority, the Indian Association in Uganda, Pakistan Association, Nepalese Association, and so many others, all arranged in their organizations and mobilized their staff and publics to partake in the ongoing blood donation drive. According to Uganda Red Cross, over 16,000 units of blood have so far been collected. However, the campaign on February 14 faced a major setback when police and the government body responsible for collection of blood Uganda Blood Transfusion Services (UBTS) decided to call off the drive that had been spearheaded by FDC at their headquarters in Najjanankumbi. This is very sad basing on the fact that the party has taken time to publicize the camp, invested resources and prepared for it all this time. In a last-minute call, from whoever it came, UBTS backed out of the arrangement apparently citing that, on a certain radio talk show, FDC had politicized the matter. As much as I agree that UBTS are supposed to be nonpartisan, one can argue that this time round, the partisanship emanated from their end. If it were FDC who refused to donate to a government body, then perhaps we would blame them for involving politics into matters of health and saving lives; but it is the opposite. UBTS refused to work with them because they are in the opposition! This beats logic and understanding to know that an organization that has been all over the press called on everyone to respond to the blood crisis is the same organization that has just turned down hundreds of people assembling, ready to donate blood. How disturbing! Why should we put lives at stake simply because of petty politics? Even if FDC had politicized the issue as it is alleged, the harm doesnt in any way outweigh the good that would have come from the donations. Does UNBTS have any idea how many units of blood they would have collected on February 14, or do they know how many they are going to lose if they dont come up and apologize for this overt partisanship? It is rather embarrassing to know that the Pakistanis, Indians, Nepalese, and so on, rushed and took action when they heard about the crisis. Whatever amounts of blood they collected will basically help Ugandans, but then deny nationals in FDC a chance to donate and save their own. It is unfortunate. The country has an annual target of over 380,000 units of blood (one per cent of the total population), which means over 1,000 units need to be collected a day. This target is yet to be achieved. With these wanting figures on matters of health, you want to grab any pack of blood there is, even if it means picking it from your archenemy. With life, let there be no pride. Whoever made the late call to cancel the drive could really care less since he is perhaps not the ordinary citizen who will go begging for a pack of blood in a local hospital; he could be the person whose patients are guaranteed to jet out of the country whenever an illness strikes. There is no way blood donation would concern such a fellow. We should, therefore, let the blood donation drive continue as we still need more and more blood. Next week will be Umeme donating, if nothing is done about this unfair exclusion, why should an FDC supporter go all the way to Umeme, a government affiliate, to donate blood. This is why UNBTS has to come up as soon as possible and clear this mess. Apologize to the party and the whole nation for putting their lives after politics or else we may see a major cut in the numbers that turn up for blood donation. The author is a social and political critic A funeral agency in Sweden is currently seeking volunteers for a project that it hopes will offer people comfort by allowing them to speak to their deceased loved-ones. First of all, if youve already read something about this on sites like Mail Online or Sputnik News, you should know that most of the information they present is truly fake news. No, Swedish scientists are not trying to create robots or androids that are fully conscious copies of dead relatives, in fact, Im not even sure any Swedish scientists are involved at all. This is actually about a Swedish funeral agency called Fenix wanting to create bots (computer programs, not actual robots) powered by artificial intelligence that can offer comfort to living relatives of the deceased. Photo: Startup Stock Photos/Pixabay The grossly misreported news was originally published by Swedish newspaper Dagen, six days ago. In that article, Fenix CEO, Charlotte Runius, said that the project began with their current chat bot, a relatively simple AI computer program that the company uses to answer peoples online questions about its funeral services. Its a bot, but people interacting with it can rarely tell that they are interacting with a computer program, and not a living, breathing person. This got them thinking that the same technology could be used to comfort mourning relatives by giving them a chance to chat with their deceased loved-ones. It can sound like science fiction, but the technology is already there, Runius told Dagen reporters. And shes not wrong at all. In fact, a chatbot similar to the one Fenix is currently working on has already been created by Russian programmer Eugenia Kuyda so she could chat with her deceased best friend, fellow tech entrepreneur Roman Mazurenko, who died in a car accident. Like Kuyda, the Fenix plans to upload information about the deceased in a computer database and use artificial intelligence to make the bot seem like a real person. Depending on the information available, it will be able to interact with a living relative of the deceased on various topics, like the weather, their favorite hobbies, how they like their coffee, etc.. However, Runius points out that the chatbot is not fully conscious, as so many media outlets are reporting, because it cannot learn anything new, but only relies on information provided by the deceaseds family members. You wont be able to ask it anything about a new movie that just came out, for example. Its basically just a new way of storing information about someone that has passed away. In the past, we could only rely on photographs and video to remember our lost loved-ones, but today, technology allows us to go further. The emotional implications of such a chatbot are still unknown, and Charlotte Runius said that she would like to have a chat with representatives of the Swedish Church to discuss the issue. Its possible that for some, interacting with AI posing as their deceased oved one could make it harder to let go and move one, while for others, it could provide necessary comfort. For example, for an old man who has lost his wife and feels very lonely it may be worthwhile to chat with the bot online, even if he knows its not really her, the Fenix CEO said. So far, the Fenix chatbot can only carry out conversations as text, but the funeral agency is currently looking for volunteers to offer up speech samples of their deceased relatives, so they can implement a voice mode as well, in which it would sound like that actual person. Runius added that they may add some kind of visual support to the bot in the future, to make the experience even more powerful for living relatives. 67-year-old Vernon Madison has been on death row for over three decades and was supposed to be executed in 2016, but after a series of strokes allegedly wiped out his memories of fatally shooting a police officer, his lawyers have been trying to suspend his death sentence. The U.S. Supreme Court will now have to decide if it is lawful to execute a murderer who does not remember his crime. Madison was supposed to receive the death penalty in May of 2016, for the 1985 murder of a police officer. Shortly before the sentence could be carried out, his lawyers intervened, arguing that as a result of several strokes, the inmate had suffered neurological damage and could no longer remember his crime. A previous ruling of the Supreme Court stated that mentally incompetent prisoners cannot be executed, but also that some of them may be ruled competent to be executed as long as he or she understands their punishment and why they are receiving it. This leaves a lot of room for interpretation by state courts, so Vernon Madisons execution has been scheduled and postponed several times in the last two years. It is now up to the Supreme Court to rule if it is lawful to have a man executed for a crime he doesnt remember. Photo: Alabama Department of Corrections In April of 1985, Vernon Madison shot and killed police officer Julius Schulte, who had been called to his residence for a domestic disturbance. He then turned the gun on his girlfriend, who survived the attack. Madison was charged with capital murder, and after three complicated trials that involved improperly striking black people from the jury and an improper testimony from an expert witness of the prosecution, he received the death penalty. Interestingly, at his final trial, the jury recommended life in prison, but the judge overturned their decision, sentencing Madison to death. Things became complicated in 2015, when Vernon Madison suffered his first major stroke. It affected his vision, rendering him legally blind, as well as his motor coordination. The following year, the death row inmate suffered another stroke, which medical records show left him very confused and disoriented. Madison also showed signs of memory loss, including the memory of him killing the police officer in 1985. I never went around killing folks, Vernon Madison reportedly told psychologists in 2016. Madisons lawyers claimed that after his second stroke, the inmate had told them that he planned to move to Florida after being released from prison, which they believed was a clear sign of severe confusion, given that he was supposed to be executed soon. They asked an Alabama court for a competency hearing, which was granted. Vernon was evaluated by two experts, one requested by the state of Alabama, and another hired by the inmates counsel. Their conclusions were surprisingly different. Dr. John Goff diagnosed Madison with major vascular neurological disorder as well retrograde amnesia, which rendered him unable to remember certain events from his life before the 2016 stroke. He added that the inmate could not describe the events that occurred on the day of officer Schultes murder, and that he only knew he had been involved in three trials because other people had told him so. Regarding his sentence, Madison reportedly told Dr Goff that he must have been convicted in Mobile and that the crime must have been a murder. However, he didnt seem to remember the crime itself and couldnt connect the offense to the punishment. On the other hand, Dr. Karl Kirkland, who evaluated Madison on behalf of the state of Alabama, concluded that while his strokes had caused cognitive damage, he was able to describe details from his childhood as well as his previous court appeals, including that at his third and final trial, a judge had overridden the jury. Mr. Madisonappears to be able to have a rational understanding of the sentence, the results or effects of the sentence and to still be able to discuss defense and legal theories with his attorneys, Dr. Kirklands report concluded. The court found Kirklands report more convincing, and scheduled Vernon Madisons execution for May 2016. However, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals intervened just hours before the sentence could be carried out, granting a stay of execution. In March 2017, the same court found the inmate incompetent to receive the death penalty, a decision that was appealed by the state of Alabama to the US Supreme Court. In November of 2017, the Supreme Court justices ruled that the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals had overstepped, but did not in any way address the issue of whether an inmate who did not remember his crime could be executed. Just as he was about to be executed, Madisons lawyers again appealed to the Supreme Court, this time addressing whether executing someone in their clients condition violated the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The nine justices are now expected to make a final ruling, and Madisons lawyers said that they are hopeful the court will do the right thing. Sources: Mother Jones, WHNT19 Kevin Foley The right to keep and bear arms is not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, 2010 When I started my PR career, I worked for a firm in New York City that worked for the Tobacco Institute, which represented cigarette manufacturers. At the time, the industry was under growing criticism for selling a product that killed and sickened millions of people. Its early PR response was to counterattack by demanding freedom for smokers. Later, a class action lawsuit was brought against major tobacco companies. The plaintiffs proved in court that cigarettes, used as intended, killed people and cost states millions in healthcare costs. The result were billion dollar judgments and sweeping changes to how cigarettes were marketed and sold with many of the reforms self-imposed by the tobacco industry. The recent slaughter of 17 children and adults at a Florida high school has once again ignited the national debate over assault weapons. Like those before it, this one will probably peter out as the news cycles move along and public attention is turned elsewhere, at least until the next mass shooting, when the merry-go-round of horror/ grief/ thoughts-and-prayers/ anger/ and debate begins anew. By now, youd think mass shooting victims and their families would have sued the gun industry, employing the legal blueprint that held the tobacco industry accountable. When used as intended, "assault weapons are designed for rapid fire, close quarter shooting at human beings, says the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. They are mass produced mayhem. Anticipating the probability of such lawsuits, the National Rifle Association won immunity from legal action after President George W. Bush signed the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act in 2005. Thus shielded, the assault weapons ban imposed in 1995 lapsed after ten years and AR15s and similar war weapons flew off the shelves. When he was 18, the Parkland, Florida shooter legally bought one despite his well known mental and emotional troubles. After being expelled from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, he returned to the school, pulled a fire alarm and blasted away. The shooter used his weapon exactly as intended for rapid fire, close quarter shooting at human beings - so the way to curb this kind of gun violence is to hold gun manufacturers liable. If youre going to make a weapon of war and sell it to anyone, when it is used to kill or maim innocent people those victims or their families should have the right to sue for monetary damages. For its part, the extremist NRA trumpets the same freedom arguments the tobacco industry pushed decades ago. Your right to own war weapons, it claims, supersedes the right of those who dont want to be killed by them. Last week, as the funerals of the Florida victims were taking place, a defiant NRA Executive Vice President Wayne LaPierre declared his organization works every day to improve safety, a transparent falsehood. In fact, the NRA is only concerned about the industry selling as many guns and as much ammunition as possible. To help accomplish that goal it has a prolific propaganda operation that irresponsibly churns out disinformation, conspiracy theories and obfuscation: jackbooted thugs are coming for your guns; an apocalypse is just around the corner so arm yourself; or form a commission to deep study mass shootings, as NRA national board member and former Georgia congressman Bob Barr recently proposed. The problem is not the easy availability of war weapons, say NRA propagandists and their conservative media allies, its the mainstream media or its the mental health system or its the family or its law enforcement or, in the case of Parkland, its the victims. The NRAs sole solution to stopping mass shootings is more guns. Nowhere else in the developed world do they experience the senseless bloodbaths we routinely endure in America because access to war weapons is strictly regulated. As Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck put it, there is no reason that a peaceful society based on the rule of law needs its citizenry armed with 30-round magazines. So why is the gun industry immunized from litigation when the manufacturers of most every other consumer product, from cars to pharmaceuticals to toys, are not? Congress could repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act and the NRA would be hard-pressed to explain why that hurts law abiding gun owners. Americans with sporting arms, target guns, and home protection weapons would not be affected. Expose gun manufacturers to liability and watch how fast the industry moves from extremism to moderation after a jury awards mass shooting victims billions of dollars. *** Kevin Foley owns KEF Media Associates, Inc., an Atlanta-based producer and distributor of electronic publicity. He can be reached at kfoley@kefmedia.com. Describing the Nitto King of the Hammers to someone who's never been is a tall order. It's really one of those events you have to witness for yourself to truly understand, because it is so much more than just an off-road race. It may have started out as another small desert race, but it has evolved into one of the biggest off-road affairs in the world and should be on everyone's bucket list. READ MORE: Watch The Entire 2018 King of the Hammers Right Here If that's enough to sell you on it, we've got a few tips for making your first (or return) trip to KOH as memorable as possible. Here are ten ways to help you get the most out King of the Hammers. Arrive Early, Stay All Week Part of attending KOH is simply taking in the atmosphere and all the excitement that happens between the actual races. The aptly named Hammertown is the massive impromptu community of campers and trailers that forms in the Johnson Valley for an entire week, literally becoming its own small town with street names and all. Technically Hammertown opens the Friday before the big Ultra4 race but the first official event (at least this year) was UTV qualifying which happened on Saturday followed by the first leg of the Schampa King of the Motos. With numerous classes racing and qualifying on separate days of the week, you won't be short on things to do. Sure you could stay in town and drive in for a select few events but where's the fun in that? Pre-Run The Course King of the Hammers is unique in that there is ample opportunity throughout the week for attendees to pre-run portions of the actual race course. Although there are windows when the course is closed, it's a great opportunity for enthusiasts to join in the spirit of the event and experience first hand just how brutal this race can be. Just be aware of the event schedule and what days the actual races are taking place. You don't want to interfere with a 500-horsepower Ultra4 car. READ MORE: Live Photos from the 2018 King of the Hammers Meet Industry Celebrities In addition to many of the top off-road racers in the world, KOH is a great place to meet celebrities from all corners of the industry. This year's broadcasting team included TV host Ian Johnson as well as off-road racers Cameron Steele and Ricky Johnson. Formula Drift driver Von Gitton Jr competed in the Smittybilt Every Man Challenge and Aaron Kaufman, formerly of Gas Monkey Garage, was on hand filming for his new Discovery Channel Show Shifting Gears. The best part about it is for the most part, everyone is accessible. The drivers camp and pit right in Hammertown so there are lot's of opportunities to mix and mingle with the stars of the sport. Just don't go all 'school girl crazy' when you happen to bump into one. Watch Qualifying Qualifying provides one of the best spectating opportunities of the week. During the actual race, you might find yourself chasing a dust cloud in hopes of catching the leaders at a particular an obstacle but chances are, you're going to spend a lot of time sitting in the desert waiting for them to come through that spot. Qualifying is nonstop action as the racers take to the course one after the other in hopes of securing a good starting position. The Power Hour happens every afternoon of qualifying and features the top contenders in each class. This is your best chance to see all the top guys in one spot prior to the race. Take In The Nightlife We won't go as far as to say what happens at KOH stays at KOH but when the sun goes down, things definitely start to pick up. From the annual KMC belly flop contest to the Holley EFI Shootout and watching people attempt to climb Backdoor at night, there is plenty to keep you from going to bed early. If late night wheeling isn't your thing, just find a campfire, pull up a chair and swap stories with other Hammertown inhabitants. Find The Free Food From free energy drinks at the Monster Energy semi to incredible pulled pork sandwiches compliments of SDHQ Offroad, a number of vendors will host free meals throughout the week. You have to be strategic about it but if you play your cards right, you could probably manage at least one free meal a day for the majority of the event. Fortunately for us, JEEP sponsored the media tent, which gave us a spot out of the dust to catch our breath, an internet connection and some incredible meals on Thursday and Friday courtesy of Overland Catering. Shop Vendor Row When you're not out watching the qualifying action or pre-running the race course, Hammertown offers rows upon rows of vendors selling virtually ever accessory you can imagine. From T-shirts to axles, LEDs to full suspension systems, attendees can browse products from some of the biggest names in the industry all in one place. There's even a mobile fab shop set up where you can have repairs made if you broke something out on the trail. Have a Plan of Attack on Race Day Because the course covers over one hundred miles of incredibly rugged terrain, most of which is not easily accessible, having a thought out plan for how you intend to spectate will help you make the most of your day. Some folks prefer to skip the start/finish line in exchange for getting out into some of the more far reaching obstacles but we certainly enjoyed the electric atmosphere at the start of the event as well as the celebration that occurs as racers cross the finish line. It's definitely possible to witness both the start and finish while spending some time out on the course but know ahead of time, you're going to be hustling from point to point. Come Prepared Nothing will ruin a trip to King of the Hammers like being unprepared. When it comes to your attire, plan for extremes. Temperatures can easily dip below freezing overnight and reach highs in the 80's or 90's by the afternoon. Dress in layers that you can shed as it warms up and be sure to protect yourself from the sun. Unless you plan to watch all of the events on the jumbotron, comfortable hiking shoes that you can boulder-hop in are a must. If you're headed out on the course, pack a bag with extra snacks and lots of water. Time flies at KOH and it's not uncommon to leave your rig at 6 am and not return until 9 or 10 that night. Don't forget, you're in the desert and it's going to be dusty. Very, very dusty. Meet People From Around The World Whether you're a first timer or one of the OG13, the KOH community is really one big family. Sitting around the campfire at night or waiting at one of the obstacles for the cars to come through is a great opportunity to meet other enthusiasts with a shared passion for off-roading. With an audience that spans the globe, it's very likely youll encounter folks from different countries. On our trip alone we met folks from the UK, Scotland and even Iceland. An on-duty security guard killed early Monday while patrolling a Clark County business center has been identified as an 83-year-old Vancouver resident. The Clark County Medical Examiner's Office on Tuesday said Benjamin O. Lyons was killed by "multiple sharp and blunt force injuries." Lyons was found dead in the 2800 block of Southeast Columbia Way, Vancouver police said Monday. The guard had been with KnightHawk Protection, a private security business, for about a year, according to owner Rusty Rice. Lyons was patrolling at a business center that Rice described as about 250-acres with warehouses and some retail buildings. He was not armed, Rice said. Rice said Lyons wasn't guarding anything particularly valuable, such as money. The guard was healthy, active and well-liked, he said. KnightHawk Protection is a private security business that has offices in Portland and Vancouver. -- The Oregonian/OregonLive By Michael Russell, The Oregonian/OregonLive restaurant critic Portland Dining Month returns March 1 with restaurants across the city offering special three-course menus for $33. This year, some 125 restaurants plan to take part. As you might expect, the menus vary widely, with French, Middle Eastern, Italian, Cajun/Creole, Korean fusion and more represented. After several years at $29, the set price menu has crept up a bit, but one thing hasn't changed: Not all dining month deals are created equal. Tomorrow, I will cherry pick my favorite 27 restaurants from this year's crop. But before then, here are my top five criteria for figuring out which Portland Dining Month deals are actually, well, deals. Don't Edit Subtraction by addition If you're a bargain hunter like me, the best way to separate the dining month wheat from the dining month chaff is to add up what's actually being offered. That's not always easy. Some restaurant omit prices from their online menus, dessert menus are often left off websites entirely and some of the dining month dishes are invariably specials, particularly appetizers, which are often salads. As a rule of thumb, I assume the first and third course would ordinarily cost around $19, or somewhere around $10, give or take, for the appetizer, and $9 for dessert. From there, it's just a matter of looking for mains priced higher than $33 - $19 = $14. Cast a gimlet eye toward those menus built around gnocchi bowls or half chickens. Don't Edit Beware the "-o" Some restaurants blow right past that $19 rule of thumb, offering frilly salads and frillier desserts that might typically price out to a combined $24. In those cases, a humble risotto might round out an excellent dining month deal. Then there are the menus with unusual singulars, "antipasto," "taquito," or, as @mrgan joked on Twitter, "literal three-bean chili." Of course, there are mitigating circumstances. That arancino comes from new Accanto chef Erik Van Kley, who was doing fun things with large fried rice balls at his former restaurant, Taylor Railworks. And if anyone can pull off a single delicious taquito, it's Xico. But generally speaking, keep an eye out for menus with petite appetizers or mid-sized mains. Don't Edit Stephanie Yao Long Choice is prime Restaurants that offer two or even three options for each course on their dining month menus deserve special attention. Why? Not just because you might prefer pork to fish, but because most people enjoy dining month as a duo, or even a quartet. Those options mean a couple visiting The Oregonian's 2012 Restaurant of the Year, Little Bird, could hypothetically try six different courses, including a mustard green salad, goat cheese gnocchi, grilled pork shoulder, rice-crusted cod and a pair of desserts for $66 -- plus 20 percent tip. That's a great deal to eat out at one of Portland's 20 best restaurants. Don't Edit Embrace the new The big idea behind dining month is for restaurants to coax customers through the door during a normally quiet stretch by offering a good value on a full meal. Embrace that spirit by seeking out new restaurants you might not have visited before. This year, those include places such as Bistro Agnes, the Parisian bistro from James Beard Award-winning chefs Greg and Gabi Denton, Chalino, the modern Mexican restaurant from chef Johnny Leach (pictured), or Grand Army Tavern, the neighborhood cocktail bar with the whole hog butchery program in the kitchen. If you're making a night of it, why not try something new? Don't Edit Don't Edit Stephanie Yao Long Here be dragons Speaking of top-20 restaurants, there are at least three in Northwest Portland taking part in this year's dining month, but none have particularly electrifying menus. If you're dying to eat out in this neighborhood, I'd suggest Paley's Place, Vitaly Paley's first restaurant, which is offering a good-value menu for a restaurant typically out of many people's price range. Paley's two Southwest Broadway restaurants offer similar value...ah, but now I'm getting ahead of myself. Don't Edit Stephanie Yao Long Check back tomorrow for our guide to the 27 restaurants where your money goes furthest during this year's Portland Dining Month. Beth Nakamura/Staff Teacher Ordella Reynolds leads a fourth-grade classroom at Cesar Chavez K-8 School in North Portland, which is affected by heavy student turnover. This year alone, six students have left and seven have joined. On a recent day, she helps student Skylar Woodruff-Quesinberry on an assignment. Don't Edit This is the second in a three-part series that examines the impact of Portland's housing crisis on children. See the project here. By BETHANY BARNES THE OREGONIAN | OREGONLIVE Just before winter break, a fourth grader in Ordella Reynolds class burst into tears. The girl had only been in Reynolds class since November. The Portland teacher and her new student were still getting to know one another. Honey, why are you crying? Reynolds remembered asking. My family is living in an Airbnb and I think we are going to move again. Sure enough, come January, the girl was gone. Reynolds called the family to make sure they were OK. The good news is they found a more permanent solution in Vancouver, she said. But the bad news is now shes been in three schools (this school year.) Since the start of this school year, Reynolds fourth-grade class at Cesar Chavez K-8 in North Portland has lost six students and taken in seven new ones. That means 35 percent of the students shes taught this year switched schools since September. Don't Edit Beth Nakamura/Staff Ibrahim Eno, left, Eliezer Zua, Musa Muya and Junior Talanoa play music in Ordella Reynolds' fourth-grade class during indoor recess. Don't Edit In the education world, this phenomenon is called student mobility. Education officials track it and worry when rates are high, because it has a harmful effect on learning. Students who switch schools typically fall months behind their peers and are at a higher risk to drop out, research has found. The harm is most evident for low-income students who change schools and for students who change schools more than once over several years, studies show. A high rate of students entering or leaving a school mid-year not only sets back students who move but also their classmates who experience the churn. A 1996 University of Chicago study found a clear difference between stable classrooms and ones that saw a lot of fluctuation. Average academic achievement is about one grade level lower in schools with high churn than high stability, it said. It is important to emphasize that this flattening of curricular pace limits the amount of material to which all students are exposed, not just mobile students, researcher David Kerbow wrote. In her colorful classroom at Cesar Chavez, Reynolds is in constant motion. She sets the classroom tempo like an orchestra conductor. Many of the children want her help on assignments and they need it, but she can only be in so many places at once. Don't Edit Beth Nakamura/Staff Ordella Reynolds helps Musa Muya, left, and Ibrahim Eno work on an assignment. Don't Edit Don't Edit She spots a boy who is off task, likely because hes stumped. You got this, she tells him. But you have to do it in the right order. You dont get to make up your own assignment. Each time a student joins or leaves Reynolds fourth-grade class, it disrupts the flow in her bright and welcoming second-floor classroom. Many lessons require her students to work together, Reynolds said, so having a student leave or come in mid-year is especially hard. Don't Edit Beth Nakamura/Staff Kaitlin Moran, left, and Gladys Criswell raise their hands in Ordella Reynolds' fourth-grade class. Don't Edit A 2013 study led by a Western Washington psychology professor found that highly mobile elementary school students are significantly less likely to participate in class. Theyre shy; they may not have what they need. Its just a lot to ask of kids to walk in the door and keep starting at a new place, Reynolds said. Im expecting them to operate way up (high) because to lower my expectations would be the opposite of what Im supposed to do. I need to communicate to them In spite of your barriers, in spite of your trauma, I believe you can do this. In addition to school changes, an unstable housing situation can cause a child to miss out on learning because they come to class late or dont show up at all. By January, one student in Reynolds class had tallied 18 absences. Another had been late 42 times. A classroom is designed to help students to settle and grow attached to one another, Reynolds said. School churn means there are birthdays to learn or forget, to be added to or removed from the classrooms erasable cupcake calendar. The desks in Ms. Reynolds class are positioned into tables, with one child serving as captain of the group. A loss or a gain shakes up the dynamics of the team, the sense of community. Don't Edit Beth Nakamura/Staff La'Neia Franklin, left, and Trinity Eddie, students in Ordella Reynolds' fourth grade class at Cesar Chavez K-8 School in North Portland, talk during class discussion time during Monday morning's reading period. Don't Edit Most disruptive, Reynolds said, is the fact that it takes time to get a new child caught up with the rest of the class. New students may drop in mid-week without paperwork to show what skills theyve mastered and without any apparent back story. Every inch of the classrooms cheerfully decorated walls serves a purpose. There are new words to learn: antifreeze, forecast, impossible. There is the days schedule, a list of learning targets, such as I can use a protractor to measure and create angles, and a list of phrases that signal a passage has evidence to support its assertions such as, for example or such as. Don't Edit Don't Edit Beth Nakamura/Staff The walls of Ordella Reynolds' classroom at Cesar Chavez K-8 School in North Portland are lined with instructional displays. Don't Edit All of this helps the students help themselves, and they do. Of the 28 children in her class, only two can count on being able to use the internet at home. Homework can go undone because a power bill went unpaid and darkness makes it hard to see the assignment, she said. Reynolds told The Oregonian/OregonLive she can have the most beautifully set up classroom in the world but at a certain point, no amount of posters can counter the setback from a housing situation in flux. Don't Edit Beth Nakamura/Staff Eliezer Zua, 9, a fourth-grader in Ordella Reynold's class, listens during math period. Students at his table were allowed to keep a stuffed animal after they earned points in an incentive program Reynolds conducts in the classroom. Don't Edit Eighth-grade teacher Morgan Evans has taught at George Middle School for 18 years and remembers when the churn was less pronounced. He worries what gentrification will do to the families he knows. Ive taught one of my students sons now and thats kind of cool, Evans said. I wonder how much longer Ill have that (experience) because I see the community changing. I worry about these guys being displaced. George has the second highest rate of students leaving or arriving mid-school-year of any middle school in Portland Public Schools, an analysis by The Oregonian/OregonLive found. Last year, despite enrolling just 350 students at any given time, the school had 48 students who arrived after the school year started and 50 more who left before the year was up. Don't Edit Beth Nakamura/Staff Najeeb Nur takes notes during reading period in Ordella Reynolds' fourth grade class. Don't Edit Don't Edit Evans tries to mitigate disruption to classroom dynamics when a new student arrives mid-year. He makes sure to set a welcoming tone and to read the childs file but he can only do that if he gets a file. Often students come in with little to indicate their past. Its hard to quickly meet a childs needs when its unclear what those needs are. As a teacher, Im always a little nervous because you think, Why is this student coming in on a Wednesday? Evans said. You try not to ever make assumptions as a teacher, but experience has taught you to be a little apprehensive on that situation. In middle school, the power dynamics between students can be intense and adults can only do so much to shape the rivalries, insecurities and alliances that mark the tween and teen years. Sometimes youve got a great group of kids that is welcoming with open arms, but sometimes you can see the students sizing (a new student) up, Evans said. Instead of being welcoming, its almost instantly adversarial, which cant feel good when youre coming into a new situation. Its got to feel awful. Don't Edit Beth Nakamura/Staff Rigler teacher Alfredo Duque leads his first grade class in a mindfulness exercise. Don't Edit At James John Elementary, also in North Portland, staff is being trained how to deal with trauma, in part because teachers want to be more prepared to respond to the harmful effects of the housing crisis. Among all 64 Portland schools serving kindergarten through grade eight, only one saw more mid-year moves per student than James John, an analysis of enrollment records shows. On average, a student moved away every other day. Teachers have added mindfulness to their lesson plans, said Principal Samantha Ragaisis. This, Ragaisis said, helps children better regulate their emotions, which can be useful for a child in a volatile home situation. "The hard thing is the not knowing, Ragaisis said. Sometimes I know what is happening with families and sometimes I dont. Don't Edit Beth Nakamura/Staf A protractor and pencil are put to work during math period in Ordella Reynolds' fourth grade classroom at Cesar Chavez K-8 School in North Portland. Don't Edit On a February day in Reynolds class, the students are practicing how to classify triangles. After a brief lesson, she splits children into pairs and she settles in with a group of six students who need extra support. As the pairs of students set to work, a few become a little rowdy, wanting Reynolds attention. She pauses her work with the small group, stands and asks the rest of the class to quiet down. Apologetically, she explains they must be patient while she meets a bigger need. This group needs a lot of my attention," she says to the class, "because they missed out on other lessons. Don't Edit Don't Edit Beth Nakamura/Staff Ordella Reynolds embraces a student in her classroom at Cesar Chavez K-8 School in North Portland. Don't Edit Bethany Barnes Email Bethany: bbarnes@oregonian.com This series was produced with the support of the University of Southern California Annenberg Center for Health Journalism and its Dennis A. Hunt Fund for Health Journalism. Ryan Payne, a pivotal "architect'' of the Oregon refuge occupation who used his military experience to lend credence to the takeover and help fortify the federal wildlife sanctuary in 2016, was sentenced Tuesday to three years and a month in prison. Payne was the most culpable of the defendants convicted in the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and deserved a nearly three-and-a-half year prison term, Assistant U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Barrow argued. Such a sentence would send a message not only to him but to "the Patriot community'' that armed conflict with the federal government results in serious punishment, he said. Oregon Federal Public Defender Lisa Hay, who represented Payne, countered that her client's mindset has changed over the two years he's been in custody, that he's remorseful and recognized his "misplaced path.'' She sought a two-year sentence, essentially the time's he's already served, saying it would allow him to get the treatment he needs for a productive life. He'd like to return to Montana and someday start a ranch for troubled teens and veterans, Hay said. In a three-page, handwritten apology to the court, Payne, 34, wrote of his complete humiliation, acceptance of responsibility, recognition of the court's authority, and his estrangement from friends, close family members and former U.S. army colleagues as a result of his actions. He described himself as the law's "meanest vagrant: a forever criminal, in the land I sought to defend.'' Document: Payne's apology letter Payne, wearing standard blue jail scrubs, stood before U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown and read from a prepared statement on lined yellow paper. He apologized, disavowed his past allegiance to militia and said his days of political activism are over. "My apology first to those whose lives were disrupted by my actions,'' Payne said, adding that he recognized the emotional distress he caused to federal employees who worked at the federal refuge and the residents of Harney County. "I would like to apologize generally to the American people,'' Payne continued. "My militia ties and former sentiments are severed. I accept the authority of this court. ... I am aware of the severity of my words and actions.'' The judge said she had a hard time believing that Payne had truly reformed his character and beliefs, particularly after she saw the photos he posted to Facebook in December, posing with co-defendants Ammon Bundy and Jon Ritzheimer at the Toquop Wash near Bunkerville, Nevada, and at the Bundy Ranch. The pictures were taken after his December release from custody in Las Vegas as his Nevada prosecution fell apart. His immediate contact outside of court with Bundy and Ritzheimer violated the conditions of his release. "It was as if you were celebrating of course the win, but in a way that once again thumbed your nose, I'll say politely, to the rule of law and to the Constitution,'' Brown said. "The grin on your face at the Bundy Ranch. The big smiles ... photo with Ammon Bundy. Those convey something different from a disavowal of your associations.'' Facebook photo of Ryan Payne with Oregon refuge occupier Jon Ritzheimer in late December that concerned a federal pretrial services officer. They're standing at the Toquop Wash near Bunkerville, where a 2014 armed standoff with federal rangers occurred. (Screenshots from Facebook that were shared with U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown) Payne's actions were "thoughtless and wrong'' but "not as egregious a violation'' as some, his lawyer argued. Brown called it "hubris.'' Payne had previously served as "militia coordinator'' for the Bundy family in April 2014 to help thwart the court-ordered federal roundup of cattle belonging to Cliven Bundy for his failure to renew a grazing permit and pay grazing fees and fines for two decades. The federal prosecution of Payne in Nevada was dismissed with prejudice last month because of prosecutors' misconduct. The judge also said she was troubled by Payne's "very alarming history'' with militia networks, particularly with Operation Mutual Defense that he co-founded. Prosecutors released a 91-page transcript of Operation Mutual Defense's weekly board meetings from October, November and December 2015, the months preceding the refuge seizure. The board spoke of potential missions, including intervening in the resettling of refugees in Montana, seizing the Harney County courthouse or attempting to free a federal inmate by staging a "dynamic entry'' into a prison by shielding militiamen with protesters. The judge said the recorded remarks "are simply incredulous.'' "If they weren't so frightening, they'd be ridiculous,'' Brown said. Hay acknowledged the recorded statements are frightening but argued they're protected by the First Amendment and were "more musings rather than plans.'' Payne's lawyer urged the judge to consider his two tours of combat in Iraq, his post-traumatic stress disorder suffered from his military service and his immediate surrender to the FBI and state police when authorities stopped the occupation leaders on U.S. 395 on Jan. 26, 2016, as they were driving to a community meeting in John Day. Clinical psychologist Suzanne Best, hired by the defense, testified that Payne was struggling to find his identity after his military service, where he had hoped to protect Iraqi citizens but instead returned a "trained killer.'' He found meaning in the U.S. Constitution, the Bible and religion, she said. The psychologist read some of Payne's statements to her, including one in which he referred to his role in the Malheur occupation as "his most recent service.'' Payne's intent at the refuge wasn't to cause harm but to protect the refuge occupiers, Hay told the court. He organized guard duty and provided target shooting practice to keep the occupiers busy, she said. "He believed he was doing the right thing,'' Hay said. "He was motivated by an ideal, which we accept is not the right ideal.'' Brown said she struggled to understand Payne and whether his and his lawyers' assurances that his thinking has evolved were legitimate. "You served your country and come back and take up arms against the United States,'' the judge said. "It's complicated. You're complicated.'' But Brown said there was no doubt Payne, from the months preceding the refuge takeover, was involved in the "intimate planning that went into this really unheard of event.'' The judge decided to sentence Payne to the low end of the sentencing range determined, which ran from 37 to 46 months, as she had with co-defendants in the case. Payne had pleaded guilty to conspiring to impede federal employees at the refuge through intimidation, threat or force. Under the plea deal, Payne received less time for accepting responsibility, though the judge questioned if that was warranted, considering he had attempted to withdraw his guilty plea. He received enhancements for serving as a leader of the occupation and for a crime that intended to influence the government through intimidation or threat. The judge made it clear that he was not being sentenced for any terrorism offense. Payne will get credit for time served and face three years of post-prison supervision. He also faces a $10,000 restitution payment. The judge ordered Payne not to have any associations or contact with co-defendants in the Oregon refuge case, the Nevada prosecution, nor with board members of Operation Mutual Defense. He can't possess a firearm. "I understand,'' Payne said. Payne told the court he wants nothing more than to return to his fiancee, children and family and "live a life worthy of the Lord.'' "Good luck to you,'' Brown told him. Payne bowed his head toward the judge, turned back and smiled at his mother and fiancee and was led out of the courtroom. -- Maxine Bernstein mbernstein@oregonian.com 503-221-8212 @maxoregonian Denis C. Theriault/staff Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson, D-Gresham, left, talks with Senate Majority Leader Ginny Burdick, D-Portland, and Senate President Peter Courtney, D-Salem, right, during the 2016 legislative session. By Hillary Borrud The Oregonian/OregonLive Supporters of the drive to enshrine health care as a universal right in Oregons Constitution acknowledged on Monday that it is dead, at least for this legislative session. Senate Democrats said they lacked the votes to advance the plan by a crucial Tuesday deadline to move it out of committee. The Senate doesnt have a pathway to get this bill off of the floor, said Sen. Laurie Monnes Anderson, a Gresham Democrat and chair of the Senate Health Care Committee. Im heartbroken, but its how it turned out. Democrats in the Oregon House already passed House Joint Resolution 203 to send the health care proposal to the ballot earlier this month. They did so without securing a single Republican vote. Don't Edit The Oregonian/OregonLive Sen. Elizabeth Steiner-Hayward, D-Portland. Top Democrats have focused on expanding health care access, both through government programs and attempts to rein in private insurance costs. After they saw how heavily voters favored the Measure 101 taxes for health care, Democrats found the proposal to make health care a right a particularly tempting election year move. In the end, questions about the potential cost to the state appear to have doomed the proposal this year. Those concerns were raised by people across the political spectrum, including from the nonpartisan League of Women Voters of Oregon which often supports the progressive policies sought by Democrats. Don't Edit Stephanie Yao Long Sen. Lee Beyer, D-Springfield, speaks on a 2017 panel about the bipartisan transportation bill and the lessons learned that can be applied to the state's budget crisis. The referendum Democrats wanted to send to voters would simply have created a constitutional right to health care, without dedicating any money to expand the system. Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, a Beaverton Democrat and a chief cosponsor of the bill, said that could undercut supporters ability to win over voters. I would be even sadder if we put this forward and the voters said no, Steiner Hayward said. I think that would bind us even more and make it even harder for us to move forward with some proposed pathways to expand health care. Don't Edit Stephanie Yao Long Sen. Alan DeBoer, R-Ashland, in the Senate chamber during the 2017 session. Sen. Lee Beyer, a Springfield Democrat, said he was disappointed that were not moving forward with putting this out there, but I respect the decision that leadership has made. Beyer was another chief sponsor of the bill and said Oregon should ultimately move to a single payer health system. Sen. Alan DeBoer, a Republican from Ashland, said he also would like to have a single payer health care system. But he said the cost would be too great if Oregon attempted such an expansion without support from the federal government. Im concerned that you send it to the voters and the voters say yes At what expense do we pay for it? DeBoer asked. He said if health care became a constitutional right, people could sue the state to force the government to provide affordable health care. Don't Edit Stephanie Yao Long Rep. Mitch Greenlick, D-Portland, shown in his Old Town/Chinatown Portland office. Rep. Mitch Greenlick, a Portland Democrat, was the driving force behind the bill. He pointed out during the committee meeting Monday that it was the third time his proposal hit a dead-end in the Senate, failing even to pass out of committee. I trust our citizens of this state, Greenlick told the Senate Health Care Committee, adding that the resolution was an attempt to ask voters what direction we should move in as we try to deal with the problems in the health care system. -- Hillary Borrud; Twitter: @hborrud; 503-294-4034 Don't Edit A 34-year-old serial rapist who was fleeing his latest sexual assault when he burst into a strangers apartment and killed him was sentenced last week to life in prison with a 48-year minimum. Prosecutor J.R. Ujifusa said Monday that much about the motive behind the crimes committed by Alexander Rico Ortiz remains unknown. That includes why Ortiz killed Eleazar "Tony" Herrera Villegas, a 59-year-old man who lived a short distance from the motel where Ortiz raped a woman. Investigators say Ortizs crime spree started off on Feb. 27, 2017 -- when he asked the woman, who was part of the sex industry, to meet him at the Red Roof Inn, 3828 N.E. 82nd Avenue. Ortiz met the woman through the website Backpage.com, investigators say. Once in a motel room, Ortiz forced himself on her sexually. Prosecutors say Ortiz knew police were on their way as he fled the scene, but they dont know exactly how Ortiz chanced across Villegas. Ujifusa said it's possible that Ortiz was looking for a place to hide out and change his clothes. Villegas' apartment was less than a quarter of a mile away from the motel. Ortiz entered Villegas' home. Villegas had recently undergone shoulder surgery and wasnt able to fight off Ortiz as he beat him to death with his hands, investigators say. Ortiz also killed Villegas' dog -- a Jack Russell Terrier -- by strangling it or otherwise cutting off its airway. Villegas's body was found later that day, long after Ortiz was gone. Police linked the murder to Ortiz because he left behind some clothing in Villegas apartment -- and video surveillance at the Red Roof Inn showed him wearing those clothes, investigators say. In January, Ortiz pleaded guilty to first-degree rape, aggravated murder and aggravated first-degree animal abuse in Multnomah County Circuit Court. On Friday, a prosecutor read a letter from the woman Ortiz raped. Members of Villegas family also spoke about their devastation. Ortiz said he had an abusive childhood and he was sorry. Nothing can change what I did, Ortiz said, through tears. Before his crimes on Feb. 27, 2017, police were already looking for Ortiz. Earlier that month, he'd raped two other women -- both acquaintances -- in Hillsboro, authorities say. Police arrested Ortiz for the Washington County and Multnomah County attacks on March 3, after finding him in a relative's home in Hillsboro. He'd been out of prison for less than four months -- having served nearly two years for trying to rape a relative's girlfriend. In December, he was sentenced to 33 years in prison for his Washington County crimes. Ortiz will serve his sentence from Washington County at the same time as his Multnomah County sentence. The earliest he will be eligible for release is 48 years from the time of his arrest, at age 81. -- Aimee Green A 41-year-old white man who tried to sic his pit bull on an African-American man who was walking home from church in Northeast Portland was sentenced to 16 days in jail on Monday. Mathu Dwain Karcher also called the target of his hate the n-word and told him "You're in the wrong neighborhood," investigators say. After Karcher's dog disobeyed his command to attack Jerry Duckett, Karcher followed Duckett into a Plaid Pantry near Northeast Marine Drive and Interstate 5, investigators say. Duckett told police that Karcher threatened to kick his "ass." The incident happened at about 6:30 p.m. last Sept. 24. Duckett told The Oregonian/OregonLive on Tuesday that, at first, he thought Karcher's dog had broken free of its owner and run up to him. But then Karcher told him it was no accident and that he wanted the dog to attack him. Karcher also made his feelings known by uttering that racial slur, Duckett said. "I was really scared," said Duckett, 56. Duckett said he has lived all of his life in Portland and previously had never been targeted as the victim of a hate crime or had a stranger yell the epithet at him. Duckett said he was unable to run away from Karcher because he had an injured leg. He called police and waited in the convenience store for them to arrive. An officer gave him a ride home. On Monday in Multnomah County Circuit Court, Karcher pleaded no contest to second-degree intimidation, a misdemeanor. At the hearing, Duckett said he forgave him. "I'm a Christian," Duckett later explained to The Oregonian/OregonLive. "I don't want to have resentment in my heart against him, because it tears the soul down." When given a chance to speak at the hearing, Karcher didn't apologize and said he wasn't racist. As part of his sentence, Karcher also must perform 20 hours of community service and be on probation for two years. Karchers 16-day jail sentence already has been served -- because he received credit for the time he spent locked away after his September arrest. Karchers criminal history dates back 22 years, to the time he was a teenager. Among his convictions: possession of methamphetamine, fourth-degree assault, menacing and criminal mischief. Court papers say he was homeless and unemployed at the time he targeted Duckett. It's unclear why, but Karcher no longer owns the pit bull. -- Aimee Green As Kings Harbor rebuilds, local businesses rebound Kings Harbor, a 20-acre mixed-use development on the Lake Houston waterfront greeted the new year with a new office tenant, exciting news on rebuilding efforts, and a refreshed brand and website. Kings Harbor has seen a lot of community support since Harvey, said Suzanne Weatherall, Sr. Vice President of Commercial Asset Management at Midway. We are very excited to begin the process of rebuilding and reintroducing the Kingwood communitys favorite waterfront destination. Nikole Davis is so thankful and happy to open her shop once again. After Hurricane Harveys historic deluge and the release of water from the Lake Conroe Dam, Kings Harbor, which had never flooded before, took on 6 feet of water in all its first-floor businesses. Once the flood waters receded, remediation efforts and building repairs began immediately. Many of the locally owned businesses operating mom and pop single locations at Kings Harbor also suffered severe damage to their homes. But they wasted no time, as some, like Nikole Davis, owner of Pretty Little Things boutique, quickly opened temporary pop-up locations and online shops catering to loyal customers while also piecing their lives back together. On August 29, Davis posted on her personal Instagram, I dont know that youre ever prepared to hear about your home and business being under water, but the outpouring of love is beyond what I could ever hope for. Thank you. Were coming back! Only months after devastating flood damage, Kingwoods waterfront village revives with renewed and expanded office, retail and restaurant offerings Kingwood. By November, the second-floor offices of Joseph Chris Executive Partners, BRW Architects, Inc., Comfort & Care Medical Supplies, Inc., and Orion Engineered Carbons had resumed operations. In addition to existing tenants returning and reopening, one Kings Harbor tenant chose to open a second business for the first time there. Felicia Cumby, owner of Dapper Darlings Boutique also is a branch representative for Edward Jones. The new Edward Jones location at Kings Harbor will occupy 1,099 SF of second level office space and construction is currently underway. The Green at Kings Harbor before the hurricane. I am excited to be moving my Edward Jones office to Kings Harbor. Its an area I frequent with my family, Felicia Cumby said. Our firm concerns itself exclusively with the needs of individual investors and small-business owners, and Im happy to continue to bring that kind of personalized service to this community. Kings Harbor has several other businesses not just rebuilding, but also expanding. Pretty Little Things is expanding to include an office area for boutique owner, Nikole Davis. This will increase Pretty Little Things space to 1,457 SF. We wanted to take this time to start fresh and take a look at what we loved and what could use improvements. An additional room for storage and an office will keep the store open and organized, said Davis. We cannot wait to get back into the space and recreate ourselves! It will still be us, just better! Midway anticipates an increase in construction activity in the coming months. Currently, Capital Title has completed its rebuild and began operations in December 2017. Restaurants returning to Kings Harbor include Chimichurris South American Grill, which began construction in January 2018, with Raffas not far behind, and Zammittis planning to expand its offerings with espresso and an enhanced bar. The Green at Kings Harbor after floodwaters receded. Seeing our space full of activity and dust flying is a very emotional and sensitive feeling, said Ronald Perez, owner of Chimichurris. We look forward to opening our doors and serving the community again very soon. Dapper Darlings Boutique, Pretty Little Things Boutique and The Berry Bar are projected to begin construction this month. The popular Sharkys restaurant also plans to return, although the exact date targeted for reopening has not yet been determined. Kings Harbor will celebrate its revival with a brand refresh and new website. The community will have the opportunity to check out the new logo and branding on social media as the destinations rebuilding campaign launches a hashtag, #Demos to Dreams. The new website will follow soon after. Damaged furniture stacked outside of each business space during remediation. We saw this time of rebuilding as a great opportunity to refresh the look and feel of the Kings Harbor brand, said Robert Williamson, vice president at Midway. The new logo and brand design is timeless, and appropriately reflects the projects beloved waterfront location. We look forward to sharing it with the community very soon. For up-to-date information on the rebuilding efforts at Kings Harbor, follow along on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Chimichurris South American Grill during remediation. Chimichurris South American Grill before Harvey. Nine Republican candidates for Congress make their case Nine candidates for the Texas District 2 seat in the U.S. Congress met with Republican voters in front of a packed house at Amedeos Italian Restaurant in Kingwood Monday, Feb. 12. The Tribunes publisher and CEO Cynthia Calvert served as moderator for the event. By means of an official timekeeper and synchronized topics, Calvert enabled each candidate to present their credentials and ideas about why each of them should win the Republican nomination. The result was a spirited debate among all nine candidates. They hold credentials ranging from Navy Seal to cardiac surgeon, including a patent attorney, business owners, entrepreneurs, a hospital CEO, an Army ranger and an attorney. Republican Ted Poe currently holds the congressional seat. He announced last year he would not seek re-election to the district, which includes more than 700,000 people in parts of West Houston, the northern edges of Harris County, Atascocita and Humble. Poe has been in congress for 13 years. Calvert was asked to moderate the event by the sponsor, the Lake Houston Pachyderm Club. Here are the candidates and summaries of their comments: David Balat noted that his parents were immigrants from Israel, and his dad took up the tailor trade when he arrived in Houston. Balat holds two masters degrees from the University of Houston. He has worked as a CEO of several hospitals and says one his strengths is understanding the issues surrounding health care. He also indicated that he has a passion for helping the Veterans Administration improve their services to veterans. Balat has first-hand experience, having helped his father-in-law, a Vietnam veteran, navigate that system. Balat says he can address health care issues and problems created by Obamacare. Daniel Crenshaw served as a Navy Seal for 10 years and suffered from an explosion in Afghanistan where he lost the sight of one eye. He used that experience as his key to what his vision is to serve as a congressman. He sees his work to help communities help each other, instill conservative values, and restore the country to a law-abiding nation. He says he wants America to work for another generation. Regarding a question from Calvert about immigration issues, Crenshaw said we must fix border security. He doesnt want to provide a path to citizenship for illegal immigrants if that means they step in front of people following the law. If elected, he says he will work to inspire others in congress to keep America safe. He draws on his mothers guidance to him before she passed away when he was age 10. Jonny Havens is an attorney with Baker Botts and he represents petroleum companies. He is a retired Army rangers officer. He serves as chairman of the Lone Star Veterans Association. In addressing the question from Calvert about the recent tax reform act, Havens said it will help most people. He wants to extend personal tax cuts to make them permanent. He says tax cuts are good, but he feels the budget must be balanced as well. Havens summarized his plan as a congressman to be one of promises kept, just as he did when he led soldiers in combat. He says others have promised to repeal Obamacare and to balance the budget, but they have not done it. He wants to make his reputation in congress as one of promises kept. Justin Lurie is a businessman and merger and acquisitions specialist at an investment bank. He also serves on the board of the Houston chapter of the American Petroleum Institute. He says the district needs someone who can hold the seat for 10 years. He wants to fight for a balanced budget and to stop out-of-control spending. To do that, he says efforts need to be made to control health care costs where he says health care pricing is a disaster. He also says he will bring private sector ideas to this problem. He wants transparency on the costs of government. Lurie said having a big campaign (as some of his opponents do) does not make you the best candidate. He feels his work in mergers and acquisitions and his knowledge of the petroleum industry makes him qualified for this position. Kevin Roberts is a state representative and a businessman. Roberts was raised by his grandparents in Amarillo. They taught him the values of integrity, commitment and hard work. He addressed the Harvey flooding disaster question from Calvert by saying he has been working on the issue since immediately after the event. He said the San Jacinto River and Lake Houston must be dredged deeper. He also said that the San Jacinto River Authority must be changed to make the basin a flood reservoir. Roberts emphasized his ability to work with other legislators. He said his knowledge of public work and understanding the legislative process will serve him well as congressman. Dr. Jon Spiers is a retired cardiac surgeon and currently a practicing attorney. He is running because he thinks he can change health care, saying it is too costly and there are too many costly regulations. In answering the question from Calvert of climate change, he said there are free-market solutions to climate change. He says people can disagree on the causes or the existence of climate change, but he feels that solutions must be implemented to slow the emission of pollutants. Spiers says that all the candidates are committed to doing their best, but he will bring ideas from the greatest medical center in the country, Houston. He will approach his job with dogged determination. Rick Walker says he is going to Washington, D.C. to fight for our values. He grew up in a small, two-bedroom house in South Texas. When he was 18, he started his company with $1,000 which his mom entrusted him with. He says he worked hard to turn her trust into a multi-million dollar organization that has created jobs throughout Houston. In answering the Calvert question on what committees he would want to serve on in Congress, he listed ethics, ways and means, and small business. He says he understands small business and will fight to make it easier to do business. Walker says he will work to stop the flooding. He says the voters need a conservative congressman they can trust. He says he has created more jobs than all of the eight other candidates combined. Kathaleen Wall said she grew up working on her small family ranch in Texas and learned how to work hard. Her career has been in engineering technology and high-tech startups. Wall listed downsizing government, border security and infrastructure as major issues. In answering the question put to her by Calvert, she says she is already working with the Corp of Engineers to solve the flooding problems. She thinks communication of progress and updating of information is important to solve the problem. Wall pointed out the corp is still working with a 1950 flood plan. Wall says Washington is broken. Democrats are coming to win the Poe seat. She feels she will work the hardest to win in November and is the best candidate. Malcolm Whittaker is a patent attorney and an Eagle Scout. He says he knows what creates jobs and what kills jobs. He wants to reduce the federal deficit. He says he knows of glitches in the patent laws that can be fixed to avoid sending jobs to India. He also wants to work on reducing prescriptions costs by up to $40 billion per year. In answering Calverts question about term limits, Whittaker said he would go get his work done in five terms and come home. He noted his goal is personified on his web site: notagovernmentman.com. He says congress members are all debt junkies. He wants to work on that problem. Valentines Day cheer A few days before Valentines Day, the ladies at Intero Real Estate Group were discussing how they could support the communities near their offices in Kingwood, Fall Creek and The Woodlands. They came up with a great idea to hand out roses on Valentines Day! Kingwood resident Lauren Price immediately took charge of the Kingwood operation, recruiting daughter Hope, 12, and son Preston, 8 (or soon to be 9, as he tells it). The Greentree residents posted on social media that they would be spreading cheer on Valentines Day, inviting neighbors to stop by for a free rose. On Feb. 14, they set up shop on the corner of West Lake Houston Parkway and Oakwood Forest, near Creekwood Middle School. Armed with five dozen roses, they began handing them out at 5 p.m. to people on their way home from a busy day. At first, Lauren said, people seemed skeptical because they thought there was a catch. Some drivers offered to buy the roses. When people realized that the trio was not selling anything, and just trying to hand out roses to spread a little joy, the idea quickly caught on. Preston became the designated rose runner for the evening. My legs felt like Jello by the end!, Preston exclaimed. The multi-talented Preston also learned how to spin a sign, also becoming the evenings designated sign spinner. (Note to local businesses hes available for hire!) The family even handed out Valentine stickers for younger children. There was a little girl in the back seat, and I gave her a flower and some stickers, and she really liked them, Hope said. It gave my heart a really warm feeling to make sure people had a little happiness in their day. The family had planned to hand out roses until 7 p.m., but all had been handed out by about 6:15. They took the famous family dinner vote that so many families do Chinese food or Chick-Fil-A? As it turns out, Chick-Fil-A won the day. They also stopped by H-E-B for some delicious chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert. It was so nice to have an evening without mobile phones and television. It was fun being outside and handing out flowers to give back to the community, Mom Lauren said. She also said it was nice to finish early and enjoy their Valentine chicken dinner after returning home. My manuscript-in-progress now takes up some miscellaneous other sciences or disciplines: In the sciences, writes the German scholar Enno Littmann, namely in medicine, mathematics, and the natural sciences, the Arabs (or, at least, the people who had adopted the Arabic language) were the master teachers [die Lehrmeister] of medieval Europe.[1] We have already seen some evidence that this was true with regard to medicine and mathematics. I shall now present some materials on the other sciences, in which the debt is just as plain. I have mentioned the Arab interest in navigation. Given the vastness of the Islamic world, next to which western Europe seems absurdly small, it was natural that their competence in navigation and geography would be high. They travelled extensively. Ibn Battuta, who lived during the fourteenth century, will serve as a spectacular example of this.[2] He was twenty years junior to Marco Polo and covered far more territory than that famous Italian ever did. It has been estimated that Ibn Battuta travelled seventy-five thousand miles, in an era lacking automobiles, jet aircraft, trains, or even steamships. His travels began, as did those of many others, with the pilgrimage to Mecca and Medina. But he went far beyond that. Leaving his native Morocco, he visited not only all of the Arab countries but also Turkey, Bulgaria, southern Russia, Iran, and and Central Asia. He lived several years in India and then served as an ambassador to China. Later, after returning to Morocco and (perhaps understandably) finding it a bit dull, he travelled to Iberia (Spain and Portugal), and to Mali and Niger in black, sub- Saharan Africa. He even visited the famous and remote city of Timbuktu. Ibn Battuta left behind him valuable memoirs that are increasingly treasured by historians as accurate depictions of the many exotic places he saw, places that are now irrecoverably gone or changed by modern technology and Westernization. The Arabs were using compasses for navigation by the ninth or tenth century, considerably earlier than the Europeans. But their capacities went far beyond practical navigation. Roger II, the Norman ruler of Sicily, didnt ask Western geographers to come to his capital of Palermo when he wanted to commission a great book on world geography. He summoned an Arab, instead. And the resulting book, al-Idrisis Kitab al-Rujari (Rogers Book), is widely regarded as the best description of the world known to us from medieval times. It was an Arab by the name of Ahmad ibn Majid who navigated Vasco da Gamas boat during da Gamas famous and important circumnavigation of Africa. Later on, when Christopher Columbus was looking for Earths other polethe one that Arab geographical theory predicted would lie opposite India or Meccahe took along a Spanish Jew. Why? I suspect it was because Spanish Jewsremember their role as middlemen, or go-betweens, who helped to transmit Arab learning to the West?were in the best position of anyone in Spain to understand and apply Arab geographical and navigational learning. (The last Arab Muslims in Spainthose, at least, who didnt conceal their faithwere expelled from that country in 1492.) Much of our knowledge of Africa before the great explorations of the nineteenth century (including the names of African animals like the gazelle and the giraffe) came from the Arabs, as well. Leo Africanus, the great sixteenth-century authority on that vast and difficult continent, was actually an Arab by the name of Hasan al-Wazzan. [1] Enno Littmann, Morgenlandische Worter im Deutschen (Tubingen: Verlag von C. B. Mohr, 1924), 74. [2] The name is pronounced Ibn Bah-TOO-tah. Posted from Laie, Oahu, Hawaii Former President John Dramani Mahama leaves Accra today for Freetown, Sierra Leone, where he will be leading a number of meetings aimed at ensuring a peaceful election and its aftermath in the West African Country. Sierra Leone will go to the polls on March 7, with sixteen political parties contesting the Presidential Election. Recognised as a leading voice for the consolidation of democracy and improving electoral activities across the continent, President Mahama, at the invitation of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) of Sierra Leone, will lead the discussions in a closed-door high-level breakfast meeting between the presidential candidates and their running mates, commissioners of the PPRC, electoral officials, police chief, paramount chiefs and eminent persons. According to the PPRC, President Mahama as an exemplary leader who is held in very high regard in Sierra Leone will explore with the aspirants, their aspirations, challenges and fears ahead of the election as well as encourage them to subscribe to the Peace Pledge. As part of his activities, the former President of Ghana will also preside over the signing of a Peace Pledge by the Presidential Candidates on Wednesday, February 28, hold talks with President Ernest Bai Koroma and hold separate meetings with the Candidates, the Electoral Commission, Police Chief and Sierra Leones Donor Partners. President Mahama will meanwhile also lead the Commonwealth Observer Group to the Sierra Leone election. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Zimbabwes President Emmerson Mnangagwa has called for patience in transforming the countrys economy as he marked his first 100 days in office this past weekend. He was sworn in as the countrys head of state after a military takeover that overthrew long-time leader Robert Mugabe in November 2017. In a video on his official Facebook page, Mnangagwa chronicles his achievements over the last three months, including scaling back the Indigenisation Act to enable investment, and cutting excise duty on petrol. We must of course be realistic and recognise that it takes more than 100 days to recover an economy, he says in the two minute-long clip. Among Mr Mnagagwas key pledges after taking office were fighting corruption within the ruling class and improving ties with the west. In January, he attended the 48th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, marking the first time Zimbabwe was represented. Many saw this as a significant step towards ending decades of economic isolation. BBC Minute has been speaking to Zimbabweans about the country's future. The BBC's Seren Jones spoke to Fungi who moved back to Zimbabwe and believes Zimbabweans can come together to make the country a better place: Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Auditor General, Daniel Domelevo, says his desire for prosecutorial powers from the Attorney General has abated a little following the appointment of Martin Amidu as Special Prosecutor. According to him, under section three of the Special Prosecutors Act, the Office can investigate alleged corruption and corruption-related offences, which are submitted to Parliament and the Attorney General by the Audit Service. He added that given the extensive mandate of the Special Prosecutor, it is imperative that they allow the new Office to commence its work fully in order to assess its capacity. Mr. Domelevo had earlier placed a request to the Attorney General for prosecutorial powers to enable his outfit deal with persons and institutions indicted in the annual audit reports. However speaking on Point Blank Eyewitness News on Monday, Mr. Domelevo said: Even that position Ive relaxed it a bit because of the coming into office of the Special Prosecutor. I want the Special Prosecutor to also take off and let us see. For all you know, he may have enough capacity to cover the cases. Section 3 of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act actually requires that he takes some of our recommendations and prosecute so that link has been established by law. Its good we wait a bit and see how the Special Prosecutors Office is going to be. If they have enough stomach and energy to drive all that, they can go ahead with prosecution. Helping hand News of the request from the Auditor General for the prosecutorial powers was met with widespread commendation from Civil Society and the general Ghanaian public. Many people praised Mr. Domelevo for his desire to ensure that persons who misappropriate state funds are made to face the law. However, after some suggestions that his request was an indictment on the Office of the Attorney General for their failure to prosecute persons cited in the audit reports, Mr. Domelevo chastised the media for exaggerating his call. He reiterated his assertion that he wasnt in dire need of prosecutorial powers on Eyewitness News, adding that he was merely offering a helping hand to the AG. What we want to do is to hold people accountable. To be honest, prosecution is not my responsibility. My predecessor actually applied for [prosecutorial powers]. People think I want to use my auditors to go and prosecute I have a legal department which is staffed by professional legal practitioners. When they brought it to my attention, I thought that to get them occupied and with the AG saying she has 300 instead of the 600 [lawyers] that she may need to run her office, I thought that why not ask the AG that if it pleases her, we can help in prosecution, he said. But that is not something I am in dying need of. My job is to audit and I have the mandate to audit. I am only extending a helping hand to the AG. If it pleases her and she says I should come on board, then Ill go. Mr. Domelevo stated that although the AG had acknowledged receipt of his request, they have not responded to it because at the time they said they didnt have a Board or Council which has to considerate. I hope they have it now. Amidu sworn in Mr. Amidu was sworn in on Friday, February 23, 2018 at the Flagstaff House by President Akufo-Addo in the presence of the Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia; Chief of Staff Frema Opare; Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo and other government officials. The former Attorney General received unanimous approval from Parliament, and was widely acclaimed by the Ghanaian public for his performance at his vetting. Source: citifmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Kenyas Deputy President William Ruto on Saturday suspended logging in all forests in the country for the next three months as water levels in major rivers continue to drop at alarming levels. This move is part of efforts by the countrys government to respond to the drought that is sweeping the country. The government has with immediate effect imposed a moratorium on timber harvesting in all public and community forests for a period of 90 days to allow reassessment and rationalisation of the entire forest sector in Kenya, Ruto said. The ban on logging comes three days after the countrys Members of the National Assembly Environment and Natural Resource Committee appealed to the Government to consider totally banning logging to save the water towers. In addition to the ban on tree cutting for 90 days Mr. Ruto asked the environment ministry to form a task force working group to find solutions to the crisis. Before independence in 1963, forests covered 12% of Kenya but today they represent only 7.5% of its territory as illegal logging, charcoal production and human encroachment have continued to ruin the countrys watersheds. Among them, the most important the Mau Forest in the Rift Valley, whose rivers feed 7 lakes, including Lake Victoria and the Masai Mara game reserve. Its too late, this decision should have been made ten years ago, said Richard Keter, chairman of the NGO Greenlife Ecosystem, replanting trees in the Mau forest. As Earth Journalism reports, as early as 1990, people invaded the Mau forest to burn trees into charcoal, an activity that decimated the forest and drove away much of the bee population. By 2000, this damage had spread to more than 100,000 hectares of the forest. According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), up to 107,000 hectares of the Mau Forest Complexs 416,000 hectares were destroyed between 1990 and 2001. Source: africanews.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Management of the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), in its quest to streamline its operations, on Wednesday announced that it has reviewed its contract with Zoomlion Ghana Limited under their sanitation module. The Chief Executive of YEA, Justin Kodua Frimpong disclosed that the Agency has realized some contractual arrangements that are at variance with the Agency's Act (Act 887) and the Youth Employment Regulations 2016 (LI 2231). He revealed in a statement to Peacefmonline.com and later on Thursday edition of Peace FM's Kokrokoo with host Kwami Sefa Kayi that it's become necessary to review the contract and also open up for competitive bidding because they consider the action by the sanitation services company, with particular respect to the beneficiaries of the programme, an "affront". "Zoomlion Ghana Limited furnished the Agency with a total figure of 45,320 as Beneficiaries across the country detailing a regional breakdown. The Agency initiated a nationwide headcount to verify the figures as submitted by Zoomlion Ghana Limited. Out of the 45,320 names, 38,884 turned out for the exercise. In response to the discrepancy in the data, Zoomlion Ghana Limited contended that, Beneficiary apathy and short notice given to Beneficiaries accounted for the discrepancy. "Most of the Beneficiaries were recruited without recourse to the Youth Employment Agency. Therefore, there was no appointment letters issued to these Beneficiaries, a practice we consider unacceptable", the Agency revealed. He also indicated that "Zoomlion Ghana Limited has till date been unable to furnish the Agency with payment records of Beneficiaries on their payroll. The review established that each Beneficiary is paid GHC 100.00 whiles GHC 400.00 goes to the service provider as management fees. This practice we consider an affront to Beneficiaries on the programme". Mr. Kodua Frimpong stated emphatically that YEA has no records of any payment system with Zoomlion, which is very disturbing. Commenting on the issue on Kokrokoo on Thursday, Communications Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful lambasted previous management of the Agency over their inability to hold records of their engagement with the janitorial and environmental sanitation services company. To her, it is "naked robbery" on the part of both the past leaders of the Agency and Zoomlion company to transact business which involves state funds without records to prove the payment arrangements with the service provider. She further wondered why the Agency is not paying the beneficiaries themselves but leaving the responsibility of remuneration to the service provider. Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful advised the management of YEA to safeguard the financial purse in order not to waste the nation's money. "The money squandered has been squandered. We should safeguard the remainder because its naked robberyIt is rotten to the core, she said. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President Jerry John Rawlings is upset with National Democratic Congress [NDC], Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo Constituency, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, for suggesting that the opposition party will free jailed former GYEEDA boss, Abuga Pele, if the party wins power in the 2020 polls. According to Mr. Rawlings, such ideas and actions will only ensure the NDC remains in opposition for a long, long time. In a strongly-worded statement published on his Twitter page, the former president said no one must be put above the law, and that persons who perpetrate crimes must duly be punished. If the quest for political power is to release wrongdoers from prison, then the NDC is laying its own foundation to remain in opposition for a long long time, Rawlings said. Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, during the NDCs Eastern Regional unity walk over the weekend, told Citi News that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was working hard to win the general elections in 2020, and will after that release the former NDC MP, Abuga Pele. Mr. Vanderpuye said the NDCs morale remains high ahead of the 2020 elections, despite the incarceration of Pele last week, adding that the party was on course to regain power. It is unfortunate but I can only say that this will not dampen the spirit of the NDC. Between 2001 and 2004, they sentenced Tsatsu Tsikata, Dan Abodakpi, Ibrahim Adam and Kwame Peprah. It did not stop us from winning elections in 2008. We are going to win the elections and bring Abuga Pele out, he said. But Rawlings, who is the founder of the NDC and has been a strong critic of developments within the party especially the conduct of some of its members, said the corruption by some of those who were in office, resulting in a humiliating defeat in the last election does not appear to have affected their conscience and reasoning in any way. Read his full statement below: POLITICAL POWER NOT FOR FREEING THE GUILTY Stealing and corruption puts no one above the law. Those who have committed crimes deserve to be punished. If the quest for political power is to release wrongdoers from prison, then the NDC is laying its own foundation to remain in opposition for a long long time. Fortunately, this kind of talk belongs to a handful of people in the NDC leadership who have gained power and influence they do not deserve and the sooner they are packed off, the better for the NDC and this country. Obviously, the corruption by some of those who were in office, resulting in a humiliating defeat in the last election does not appear to have affected their conscience and reasoning in any way. The NDC needs to regain its moral compass. A party born out of the explosive circumstances of our past should not find herself so HIGH on the scale of corruption. Just as the negative elements in various parties are networking to protect their misdeeds, so also must the positive minded personalities and supporters in the various parties also network to contain and keep such elements from political power. While the current circumstances favour patriotic forces the most, the unpatriotic elements are more bent on collaborating and exploiting the constitutional climate. Lets make changes for the better. Clear the bad and retain the good. Bring on board other patriots. Abuga Pele jailed Abuga Pele, the former National Coordinator of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA), was sentenced alongside the Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill International Group, Philip Assibit, to a combined jail-term of 18 years on various counts, including willfully causing financial loss to the state. Source: citifmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Democratic Congress [NDC], says comments made by the Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, suggesting that the opposition party will free jailed former GYEEDA boss, Abuga Pele, if the party wins power in the 2020 polls, do not reflect in any remotest sense the position of the party regarding the fight against corruption in the country." The NDC, in a statement signed by Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, noted that in matters like this, the interest of the state cannot be subjected to individual or partisan interest", irrespective of the "emotional trauma the family, friends and sympathizers" of the incarcerated former MP are going through. The opposition party, however, called on the current administration, to "emulate this shining example of the Mahama administration and, muster enough courage to bring members of his government who have been accused of corrupt practices to justice instead of praising them" It came shortly after the NDCs Founder, Jerry John Rawlings, condemned the comments by the NDC MP the party. According to Mr. Rawlings, such ideas and actions will only ensure the NDC remains in opposition for a long, long time. Abuga Pele, a former NDC MP for Chiana Paga, was sentenced alongside the Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill International Group, Philip Assibit, to a combined jail-term of 18 years on various counts, including willfully causing financial loss to the state. Pele was handed a four and six-year sentence which will run concurrently whilst Assibit got concurrent sentences of 12 and four years on different counts. The court also ordered the state to recover all assets and money belonging to the state from the convicts. Philip Assibit has since served notice will be appealing his 16-year jail term alongside an application for bail. NDC started prosecuting Pele But the NDC has maintained that its government initiated the court action in 2014 that eventually led to the conviction of Abuga Pele and Philip Assibit. It will therefore be absurd that after a successful conviction has been achieved in this particular case, the initiator will turn around to free any person who has been convicted as a result, the statement said. Edwin Nii Lante Vanderpuye, during the NDCs Eastern Regional unity walk over the weekend, told Citi News that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was working hard to win the general elections in 2020, and will after that release the former NDC MP, Abuga Pele. It is unfortunate but I can only say that this will not dampen the spirit of the NDC. Between 2001 and 2004, they sentenced Tsatsu Tsikata, Dan Abodakpi, Ibrahim Adam and Kwame Peprah. It did not stop us from winning elections in 2008. We are going to win the elections and bring Abuga Pele out, he said. Find below the full statement MPs SENTIMENT DOES NOT REFLECT NDCs POSITION A statement purported to have been made by National Democratic Congress, NDC Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo Constituency Honourable Nii Lantey Vanderpuye in an interview with a local radio station has widely been circulated in both print and electronic media. In the said statement, an unfortunate impression has been created by the Honourable Member that the NDC will release Honourable Abuga Pele, the convicted former Member of Parliament for Chiana Paga from prison, if the party succeeded in capturing power in 2020. It is recalled that Honourable Abuga Pele was sentenced to six years in prison for causing financial loss to the state. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NDC wishes to place on record that the sentiment expressed by the Honourable Member on the above-cited statement do not reflect in any remotest sense the position of the party regarding the fight against corruption in the country on the matter involving the conviction of Honourable Abuga Pele in particular. We wish to remind Ghanaians that the investigation and prosecution of Honourable Abuga Pele was initiated by the NDC as part of our strategy to rid the country of corruption, and this strategy involves measures to prevent corruption and how to deal with corruption when it has already occurred. They include exposure, investigation, prosecution and punishment of corruption. It will therefore be absurd that after a successful conviction has been achieved in this particular case, the initiator will turn around to free any person who has been convicted as a result. We can understand the emotional trauma the family, friends and sympathizers of our former MP are going through at this critical moment. However, it is the belief of the leadership of NDC that in matters like this, the interest of the state cannot be subjected to individual or partisan interest. We rather urge the current Nana Akufo-Addo led government to emulate this shining example of the Mahama administration and, muster enough courage to bring members of his government who have been accused of corrupt practices to justice instead of praising them and misleading Ghanaians that all his ministers and appointees are clean. Signed Hon. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah General Secretary, NDC Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Legislation in the Georgia legislature would censor any speech aimed at disrupting speakers on college campuses. SB 339 would provide for the establishment of free speech policies for institutions of the university system; to provide for a cause of action and remedies; to provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes. In laymans terms, the bill would punish (with a range of disciplinary sanctions) anyone who disrupts a speech on campus even if that speech is inflammatory or supports unpopular ideology such as white nationalism or neo-Nazism. Back Story The legislation comes on the heels of campus protests across the nation a handful of which turned violent and destructive. Some of those incidents occurred in Georgia, prompting GOP lawmakers to take action. Speaking on SB 339, state Sen. Bill Ligon (R) argued, The Georgia Legislature needs to ensure that our public colleges and universities protect the rights of all students and speakers to peacefully express their viewpoints without fear of being shouted down by protesters or reprimanded for what the administration deems as politically incorrect speech. While violence and destruction are intolerable, the legislation doesnt seek to address those incidents. Rather, SB 339 seeks to shut down any disruption including peaceful protests. And using government power to shut down one side of any conversation among private parties is unacceptable. Free Speech Discussing campus protests last year, The Atlantic noted: A simplistic answer would be that such pressure does not conflict with free speech because the First Amendment applies only to government censorship, not to restrictions imposed by individuals. But most of us care about free speech not just as a matter of constitutional law but as a matter of principle, so the absence of government sanction hardly offers much comfort. Many of the reasons why Americans object to official censorship also apply to the suppression of speech by private means. If we conceive of free speech as promoting the search for truthas the metaphor of the marketplace of ideas suggestswe should be troubled whether that search is hindered by public officials or private citizens. The same is true of democratic justifications for free speech. If the point of free speech is to facilitate the open debate that is essential for self-rule, any measure that impairs that debate should give us pause, regardless of its source. They key takeaway here is the involvement of government in deciding who has access to free speech and who does not. Even when private parties use their voice to censor or silence others, that is not a violation of constitutional free speech. But the government stepping in to censor or silence one party so another can speak freely is a constitutional free speech issue. As The Atlantic aptly pointed out, when students hold protests or marches, launch social media campaigns, circulate petitions, boycott lectures, demand the resignation of professors and administrators, or object to the invitation of controversial speakers. Even heckling, though rude and annoying, is a form of expression. The Supreme Court has also ruled in favor of dissenting, heckling speech as well. In Whitney v. California (1927), the court ruled, If there be time to expose through discussion the falsehood and fallacies, to avert the evil by the processes of education, the remedy to be applied is more speech, not enforced silence. In other words, counter-speech isnt just constitutionally protected its crucial to maintaining the First Amendments guarantee against government intrusion into free speech. And that counter-speech doesnt necessarily have to counter a speaker point-for-point. The Supreme Court has also recognized counter-speech seeking to make an emotional plea against unpopular viewpoints (such as the emotionally charged protests of Milo Yiannopoulos on campuses across the nation). In Cohen v. California (1971), Justice John M. Harlan said, We cannot sanction the view that the Constitution, while solicitous of the cognitive content of individual speech, has little or no regard for that emotive function which, practically speaking, may often be the more important element of the overall message sought to be communicated. One final point critics of counter-speech make is the concept of political correctness. The Atlantic addressed that as well: This highlights a paradox of free speech, and of our relationship to it. On the one hand, Americans are encouraged to be tolerant of opposing ideas in the belief that the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market, as Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes put it in his landmark 1919 opinion in Abrams v. United States. On the other hand, unlike the government, Americans are not expected to remain neutral observers of that market. Instead, we are participants in it; the market works only if we take that participation seriously, if we exercise our own right of expression to combat ideas we disagree with, to refute false claims, to discredit dangerous beliefs. This does not mean we are required to be vicious or uncivil. But viciousness and incivility are legitimate features of Americas free speech tradition. Life is not a debating exercise or a seminar room, and it would be naive to insist that individuals adhere to some prim, idealized vision of public discourse. Which is to say, Georgia Republicans attempt to censor counter-speech is liable to cost the state thousands in litigation for constitutional civil rights violations. Law blog Simple Justice pointed to the vague wording of the bill in describing its potential for harm: What constitutes conduct that materially and substantially infringed upon the rights of others? The words seem superficially meaningful, and yet provide no line beyond which a person may not go. Its the sort of thing that can only be determined after the fact, and that does the infringing person little good. It clearly chills the free speech rights of those disagreeing. They added: Much as the effort to safeguard the ability of student groups to invite speakers who are unpopular with others on campus is worthy, the use of laws to micromanage free speech rights is fraught with problems. Mandatory penalties are one, but hardly the only one. What happens when protest groups figure out that they can silence a speaker with applause just as well as boos? What about distinguishing between students in a group who participate, but only for five minutes, as opposed to those who do so for ten. Or an hour? Is ten minutes of interference a violation or an exercise of speech by demonstrators? That there is a need to protect diverse ideas on campus is, itself, an indictment of the intolerance and closed-mindedness of those who are certain that only ideas with which they agree are worthy of discussion. But they too have rights to speak, and efforts to stifle their speech are just as wrong as their effort to shut down the speech of others. SB 339 just passed the state Senate on a party-line 33-19 vote and now goes to the state House. Peacock Panache readers: Tim Peacock is the Managing Editor and founder of Peacock Panache and has worked as a civil rights advocate for over twenty years. During that time hes worn several hats including leading on campus LGBTQ advocacy in the University of Missouri campus system, interning with the Colorado Civil Rights Division, and volunteering at advocacy organizations. You can learn more about him at his personal website. Like this: Like Loading... Related We hope you enjoyed reading this article! If you would like to support our ongoing work, please consider buying us a cup of coffee. It's not much, but we don't do this for the money. We do, however, need caffeine to keep going some days!If you do donate, send us a message through our Contact Us page or via social media so we can thank you! It doesn't get much more elephant in the room than this one. Literally. The Republican-controlled Senate Appropriations Committee was nearly an hour into its grilling of a pair Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices when one of their number finally asked the question that's been on the minds of politicos and pundits for weeks now. Soooooo ... About that whole redistricting decision ... "The timing of this was not very efficient for the voters - or for the people who want to run for office," Sen. Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, said with deadpan so profound it could be measured on subterranean levels, "especially in southwestern Pennsylvania because there's a special election." And then, as politely publicly as her leaders have been seething on newspaper op-ed pages, she asked: "I just wondered - why this timing Why did the court decide to take this up?" Justice Max Baer, who exhaled with something like relief, answered: "We expected this question would arise and appreciate it," he said. And then they were off to the races. The justices' appearance, officially a hearing on the judicial branch's 2018-19 budget request, comes two days after candidates began circulating nominating petitions and about a week after GOP House and Senate leaders appealed the high court's remapping of the state's 18 congressional districts to the state Supreme Court. In short, Baer told Ward, plaintiffs in the redistricting case filed their lawsuit last June, so the lousy timing was really their fault. "Why did it start July 2017? We don't know?" Baer said. "We take them as they come. There was good faith in my court as whether this could be done for 2018 primary." Republican House and Senate bosses have spent the last month publicly slamming the court, accusing it of doing a hit-and-run on the state constitution. But as harsh as that rhetoric has been, lawmakers were unflinchingly polite with two members of the court right in front of them. It probably didn't hurt that Baer and fellow Justice Sallie Mundy, a Republican, who joined him Tuesday, were among the three-justice minority who voted against tossing the 2011 map that was supposed to be in place for the spring primary. Baer actually split the difference. Like his fellow Democrats, he found the map unconstitutional, but was a "no" on tossing it. It probably also didn't hurt that there were a bushel basket of lawmakers with law degrees on the dais. Unspoken rules about decorum - and written ones about smart-mouthing judges - prevailed. Either way, candidates are now circulating petitions for districts that may or may not exist when the U.S. Supremes make their ruling sometime in the coming days. Meanwhile, Sen. Mario Scavello, R-Monroe, told the justices that he'd grilled officials at the Dept. of State last week on whether the court had ordered the elections agency to set aside cash to educate voters on the new political topography. Nope. "Someone would have to bring a petition to do that," Baer said. "It's just never been before us." Playing Con.Law professor for the day, Sen. Bob Mensch, R-Montgomery, decided to hold a pop quiz: In the state constitution, he asked, "which branch of government has the responsibility for establishing [congressional] districts?" "You do," Baer responded, quietly and evenly. You could just about hear the "whoosh" of the ball through the GOP's net. Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne, R-Lehigh, who's both an accountant and a lawyer, which means he hits for the wonk trifecta, asked the two justices if they knew how the special master who drew the court's map did his work. They didn't. And Baer told Browne that, in addition to being in the court's minority, he'd never met the special master, Stanford law professor Nathaniel Persily, who has so upended the state's political community. But it was left to Sen. Sharif Street, who asked Baer a question about an unrelated matter, to prompt the justice to inadvertently encapsulate the state's current political predicament. "There is a difference between our role and the Legislature's role," Baer told the Philadelphia Democrat. And these days, that difference has rarely seemed so profound - or unbridgeable. By Mike Folmer My love and respect for the Constitution is why I ran for office and it's also why I recently joined in legal action to block the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's newly mandated Congressional maps. I carry - and read - both the U.S. and Pennsylvania Constitutions. State Sen. Mike Folmer, R-Lebanon (PennLive file) We are in a constitutional crisis thanks to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's actions to make the other two branches of government irrelevant. Most alarming, they're apparently doing this simply because they think they can. Judges are essential elements of a constitutional republic. Their role offers numerous protections of core government principles written into both our federal and Pennsylvania Constitutions. These principles have worked for decades but are now in jeopardy due to a lack of respect for the Constitution. Both our Constitutions first establish the Legislature, empowering it to make law - and, to ensure due deliberation, splitting it in two: the Senate and the House of Representatives. The executive branch was established to enforce laws; the judiciary to interpret laws. Article I, Section 4 of the United States Constitution gives state legislatures responsibility for: "The times, places and manner of holding elections for Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each state by the Legislature thereof." Pennsylvania's Constitution gives the Legislature responsibility to establish Congressional districts using the same process as all other legislation: introduce a bill, consider it on three separate days in each chamber, vote it, and send to the Governor to be signed. I opposed the 2011 bill that adopted congressional maps. However, it became law using the required constitutional mandates of bill introduction, consideration by both chambers, and enactment into law. Six years and three elections later, the state Supreme Court is usurping legislative and executive authority by establishing new districts on its own without legislative or executive involvement. First, they declared the 2011 maps unconstitutional - using standards found nowhere in the Pennsylvania Constitution. Then, they dictated a timeline to draw new maps outside the constitutional requirements for how a bill becomes law. Unfortunately, the outcry for changing how Pennsylvania Congressional districts are determined has been entangled with court actions. Those proceedings have nothing to do with permanently changing the way redistricting is done. In the process, citizens who have visited my office in the hopes of permanent change have been deceived by those seeking to change the political makeup of Congress. As chair of the Senate State Government Committee, I remain committed to carefully examining the process by which Pennsylvania Congressional Districts are drawn. It's why I've scheduled a public hearing on bills to change the process. For now, we have four Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices relying on a California law professor to draw new maps - one person. No public explanation has been offered for how the maps were redrawn. No public hearings were held. No recourse was provided to the public to challenge the new maps. The maps were presented via Court order as if written on stone tablets from on high. Judges are not deities. Their actions must be grounded in the Constitution - they too are elected in Pennsylvania. When they don their robes, they are to leave political affiliation behind. Otherwise, the judiciary becomes a political weapon. When courts exceed their authority as the PA Supreme Court has done, our system of government no longer works. Our Constitutional Republic has issues but nonetheless allows all parties - including minority opinions - to be heard and to work out differences. It's what's given our nation both stability and liberty. People of good faith can disagree. Judges have to respect the Constitution. If they don't, we have a right - an obligation - to say something. And so I have. I have too much respect for the Constitution to do otherwise. Like judges, I swore an oath to support, obey, and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of this Commonwealth. To act differently, fails to respect the Constitution we're all sworn to uphold. State Sen. Mike Folmer, a Republican, represents the 48th Senate District, which includes parts of Dauphin, Lebanon and York counties. He writes from Harrisburg. By Robert Spitzer The mass shooting on Valentine's Day in Parkland, Florida, ripped at the hearts of Americans in a way perhaps not seen or felt since the Sandy Hook Elementary School bloodshed in Newtown, Conn., six years earlier. Robert Spitzer (The Conversation, photo) The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students who witnessed their classmates' deaths reacted by becoming outspoken gun control advocates. They are blaming the National Rifle Association for thwarting stronger gun laws that might have prevented this tragedy and many others. Many Americans, especially teens, agree with them. But so far, the largest and oldest U.S. gun group is doubling down on its sweeping opposition to restrictions on gun ownership. After spending decades researching and writing about how and why the NRA came to hold such sway over national gun policies, I believe it might not be as invincible at this point in its history as the interest group's reputation suggests. People delivered boxes of petitions calling for stronger gun control rules to Florida Gov. Rick Scott after the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert Three phases The NRA's nearly 150-year history spans three distinct eras. At first the group was mainly concerned with marksmanship. It later played a relatively constructive role regarding safety-minded gun ownership restrictions before turning into a rigid politicized force. The NRA was formed in 1871 by two Civil War veterans from Northern states who had witnessed the typical soldier's inability to handle guns. The organization initially leaned on government support, including subsidies for shooting matches and surplus weaponry. These freebies, which lasted until the 1970s, gave gun enthusiasts a powerful incentive to join the NRA. The NRA played a role in fledgling political efforts to formulate state and national gun policy in the 1920s and 1930s after the Prohibition-era liquor trafficking stoked gang warfare. It backed measures like requiring a permit to carry a gun and even a gun-purchase waiting period. And the NRA helped shape the National Firearms Act of 1934, with two of its leaders testifying before Congress at length regarding this landmark legislation. They supported its main provisions, such as restricting gangster weapons by creating a national registry for machine guns and sawed-off shotguns and taxing them heavily. But they opposed handgun registration, which didn't make it into the nation's first significant national gun law. The NRA again opposed a national registry provision that would have applied to all firearms, in the legislative battle held in the aftermath of President John F. Kennedy's assassination and amid rising concerns about crime. Congress ultimately stripped one from the Gun Control Act of 1968. The NRA remained primarily focused throughout this period, however, on marksmanship, hunting and other recreational activities. A sharp right turn By the mid-1970s, a dissident group within the NRA believed that the organization was losing the national debate over guns by being too defensive and not political enough. The dispute erupted at the NRA's 1977 annual convention, where the dissidents deposed the old guard. From this point forward, the NRA became ever more political and strident in its defense of so-called "gun rights," which it increasingly defined as nearly absolute under the Second Amendment. One sign of how much the NRA had changed: The Second Amendment right to bear arms never came up in the 166 pages of congressional testimony regarding the 1934 gun law. Today, the organization treats those words as its mantra, constantly citing them. And until the mid-1970s, the NRA supported waiting periods for handgun purchases. Since then, however, it has opposed them. It fought vehemently against the ultimately successful enactment of a five-business-day waiting period and background checks for handgun purchases in 1993. NRA influence hit a zenith during George W. Bush's gun-friendly presidency, which embraced the group's positions. Among other things, his administration let the assault-weapon ban expire. The audience for President Donald Trump's address to the National Rifle Association Leadership Forum in 2017. AP Photo/Evan Vucci Having a White House ally isn't everything Today, the NRA claims 5 million dues-paying members and the Pew Research Center's findings suggest that about 14 million people identify with the group. By any measure it's a small minority of the nearly 250 million U.S. voters. Like Bush, Donald Trump has a cozy relationship with the NRA, which was among his presidential bid's most enthusiastic backers and contributed $31 million to his presidential campaign. When Trump directed the Justice Department to draft a rule banning bump stocks, and indicated his belated support for improving background checks for gun purchases after the Parkland shooting, he was sticking with NRA-approved positions. He also supports arming teachers, another NRA proposal. Only one sliver of light has emerged between the Trump administration and the NRA: his apparent willingness to consider raising the minimum age to buy assault weapons from 18 to 21. In politics, victory usually belongs to whoever shows up. And by showing up, the NRA has managed to strangle every federal effort to restrict guns since the Newtown shooting. Nevertheless, the NRA does not always win. At least 25 states had enacted their own new gun regulations within five years of that tragedy. The Conversation Led by the Parkland shooting's survivors, students are now commanding public attention with their call for . The key question is whether this momentum will continue through the 2018 midterm elections. If it does, the NRA might have to regroup again. Robert Spitzer is the Distinguished Service Professor and Chair of the Political Science Department, at the State University of New York College at Cortland. He wrote this piece for The Conversation, where it first appeared. A data breach of a state Department of Education database may have potentially compromised personal information including Social Security numbers of Pennsylvania's current and former teachers. A red notice was posted at the top of the department's website through the weekend noting a "security incident on the Teacher Information Management System." The breach, which occurred between 12 noon and 12:30 p.m. on Thursday, was caused by an error made by an employee in the governor's Office of Administration, said Dan Egan, a spokesman for that office. During the incident, users who logged into TIMS would have been able to view personal information of other current and former teachers, Egan said. This database provides a way for teachers to apply for certification, for the department to review applications, and by schools to verify a teacher's certification. The Department of Education and Office of Administration are mailing letters to affected individuals offering a year's worth of free credit monitoring services as a precaution. Affected individuals have a year to enroll in the service. "We are acting swiftly to notify stakeholders about what happened and contact individuals whose information may be affected," said Administration Secretary Sharon Minnich. "In the meantime, TIMS will remain offline until we are confident that the issue is resolved and that the system can be brought back online safely." Egan said the system is expected to be back online later this week. Aside from the inconvenience of individuals not being able to access the system which has generated some calls to the education department, he said they are not aware of any significant issues caused by the breach at this time. As for whether disciplinary action was taken against the employee who caused the error, Egan said the office doesn't comment on personnel matters. People listen to speakers during a rally for Tina Fontaine in Vancouver, B.C., on Saturday February 24, 2018. A review by Manitoba's children's advocate into the death of Tina Fontaine is almost complete, but may not be made public. The 15-year-old girl's body was found in a Winnipeg river in 2014 after she ran away from child welfare workers, and Indigenous leaders say the public needs to know how the system failed her.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck In this image released by 20th Century Fox, Tom Hanks portrays Ben Bradlee, left, and Meryl Streep portrays Katharine Graham in a scene from "The Post." Parts of the printing presses used by the actual Washington Post are now pumping out editions of several Ontario dailies, including the Hamilton Spectator, Waterloo Region Record, Peterborough Examiner, St. Catharines Standard, Niagara Falls Review, Welland Tribune, London Free Press and numerous community weeklies. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP, Niko Tavernise/20th Century Fox FILE - In this March 28, 2005, file photo, Miramax co-founder Bob Weinstein appears at a premiere of "Sin City," in Los Angeles. Civil lawsuits have been piling up accusing The Weinstein Co. of aiding and abetting Harvey WeinsteinAos misconduct. Among those is a proposed class-action suit filed in New York alleging that HarveyAos former film companies operated like an organized crime group to the former CEOAos sexual harassment and assaults. Both Weinstein brothers are named in the class action suit and in the attorney generalAos lawsuit. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File) Supporters of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye stage a rally to call for her release in front of the Seoul Central District Court in Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018. Prosecutors on Tuesday have demanded a 30-year prison term for Park for alleged bribery, abuse of power and other crimes in a landmark corruption case that marked a stunning fall from grace for the country's first female leader and former conservative icon. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) FILE--In this Sept. 12, 2016, file p photo, Hiroshi Konishi, foreground, walks out of the ocean after surfing as other surfers wait for waves in Malibu, Calif. The picturesque California beachside city of Malibu has banned banned single-use plastic straws, stirrers and cutlery. The City Council voted Monday, Feb. 26, 2018, to approve an ordinance prohibiting the sale, distribution and use of the plastic items starting June 1. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, file) Perryville football coach Brent Roth is already trying to erase the game from his memory. It is probably for a good reason, too.Perryville struggled to do anything well as Park Hills Central handed The Pirates finally put together what Perryville softball coach Lilly Pecaut called a complete game.Everything came together as Perryville got the offense and pitching to come away with The Perryville boys soccer team was able to show its resiliency in multiple ways as it got back into the win column. The Pirates bounced back from a lopsided loss to Notre Dame the week before, to St. Vincent makes Valle Catholic play in loss St. Vincent football coach Tim Schumer didnt want his team to look at the scoreboard following the game. The score may have said that the Valle Catholic Warriors won in a lopsided game, but Indians take advantage of miscues to claim first victory St. Vincent found itself down two scores midway through the third quarter, and despite the deficit, coach Tim Schumer was calm.The game was not over at that point, you have to play four Rushing attack leads Pirates to win over Owls The Perryville football team is quickly turning into a M.A.S.H. unit. With several players already nursing injuries from the previous week, they also threw in other players who were in quarantine. Click Here For Our Local Sports Page Trade, Guyana/Venezuela territorial controversy at CARICOM Heads meeting in Haiti By Kaieter News GEORGETOWN Petroleumworld 02 27 2018 Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge says there are several issues of interest to Guyana that the country will pursue during the 29th Inter-Sessional Heads of Government Meeting which commenced yesterday. The annual meeting of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM)'s leaders is being held in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Minister Greenidge made the assertion to the Department of Public Information following the opening ceremony at the Marriott Hotel. The minister, who is leading Guyana's delegation, noted that the impact of blacklisting', an agenda item, is of special interest to this country. Last December, the European Union (EU) included four member states on a list of countries it deemed, non-cooperative tax jurisdictions. This issue was raised by both Grenada (which was blacklisted) and CARICOM's Secretary-General, Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, during the opening of the Inter-Sessional meeting. These are issues which place an unfair burden on small countries which don't have a voice, or at least whose voice is in the main forum, and are not taken into account, Minister Greenidge said, adding that of course, it's a long list of items I would single those out for consideration by the meeting as having special interest to Guyana. The future of the region in the context of Cotonou, ensuring the region's aviation industry can meet the needs of the region, and the movement of skills within CARICOM, are also of special interest to Guyana. The minister further noted that border issues will be discussed during the caucus of the heads of government and advisors. Guyana and Belize are member states whose territorial integrity remains under claims from their neighbours. In that caucus, they will be receiving reports on what has happened in relation to this problem since Guyana's was last examined and what is happening in the case of Belize and Guatemala, as regards plans to send their case also to the ICJ, Minister Greenidge noted. The two-day summit concludes today. CARICOM has been in support of Guyana's call for the resolution of the Guyana/Venezuela territorial controversy via the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The United Nations Secretary-General has made a decision for the World Court to adjudicate on the issue. Story from Kaieter News Kaieteurnewsonline.com 02 26 2018 Copyright 1999-2018 Petroleumworld or respective author or news agency. All rights reserved. We welcome the use of Petroleumworld (PW) stories by anyone provided it mentions Petroleumworld.com as the source. Other stories you have to get authorization by its authors. Internet web links to http://www.petroleumworld.com are appreciated. Petroleumworld welcomes your feedback and comments, share your thoughts on this article, your feedback is important to us! We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article. Write to editor@petroleumworld.com By using this link, you agree to allow PW to publish your comments on our letters page. Any question or suggestions, please write to: editor@petroleumworld.com Best Viewed with IE 5.01+ Windows NT 4.0, '95, '98,ME,XP, Vista, Windows 7,8,10 +/ 800x600 pixels 2020 oil production deadline has been placed above all other considerations Guyana now at a serious risk Chris Ram By Kaieter News GEORGETOWN Petroleumworld 02 27 2018 While it has not been set in stone, the Government of Guyana and even U.S. oil giant ExxonMobil have frequently told the nation that oil production is set for 2020. And in the midst of concerns by the public regarding inadequate environmental safeguards in this sector, the government appears to be focused only on its production deadline. This viewpoint was recently proffered by Chartered Accountant and anticorruption advocate, Chris Ram. In an interview with this newspaper, Ram noted that the Government, in acting in such a matter, is putting the nation at serious risk. In spite of government's confidence and rhetoric that all precautions are being taken, Ram said that it is for entities like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to come forward and pronounce on these matters. He noted, however, that the EPA is yet to utter a single word on oil spill preparedness in Guyana. This whole thing seems to be between the Minister and the oil company, and that is dangerous. I would also note that the topic of oil spill response is an important one and it requires national discourse. OPTIMISM From all indications, it appears that the coalition administration is confident that the necessary safeguards are in place to deal with any possible environmental implication that would result from petroleum operations offshore Guyana. In fact, Minister of Natural Resources, Raphael Trotman noted a few weeks ago that like many members of civil society, the topic of oil spill response and preparedness is something he is concerned about. The Minister stated, I know there have been different interpretations, but ExxonMobil has demonstrated that it is doing all that it can do and it has acquired the very best of technology that the world has to offer to date, for design and construction of FPSO and various subsea architecture to deploy We are also working with the Civil Defence Commission while preparing a national response plan. Trotman added, I have seen a draft of it and it is in various stages of development. We are also seeking training from the US Coast Guard and speaking with other Governments for support We are not at all taking this for granted. It is something that we are very concerned about CONFLICT While Trotman is optimistic about local efforts in place to address a possible oil spill, many commentators have expressed dissatisfaction with the actual oil spill provisions of Guyana's Production Sharing Agreement with ExxonMobil. In the Agreement, there is no provision regarding any adverse impact on fishing grounds and coastal communities or on neighbouring countries. This alarming observation was recently pointed out by Chris Ram and political commentator, Ramon Gaskin. Ram in his recent writings noted that Article 20.2 of Guyana's 2016 Oil Agreement deals with insurance, in respect of, but not limited to assets, pollution, third parties and employees. The Attorney-at-law pointed out that the Agreement does not require any loss of production insurance, as will apply in the case of any major disruption of production or environmental accidents. He said that while this provision is absent from the 2016 Agreement, the 1999 Agreement which was signed by the Jagan administration, allowed for insurance to be taken out by Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited's affiliate insurance company. Esso is a subsidiary of ExxonMobil. Ram stated, That requirement has been changed and now allows the Contractor to have the right to self-insure against the risks identified. This is a major concession by (Natural Resources Minister, Raphael) Trotman on an issue that only specialist lawyers know about. What it means in practice is that anyone seeking to make an insurance claim will have to lodge that claim against Esso, CNOOC/Nexen or Hess, all of which are external companies. Ram said that those potential claimants must thank Minister Trotman for making their chances even more difficult to succeed. Exxon-Guyana oil deal makes no provision for quartely reports on all tender contracts as in Exxon-Ghana contract By Kaieter News GEORGETOWN Petroleumworld 02 27 2018 In order to prove to the Government of Ghana that it is using local products and services to a significant degree, U.S. oil giant, ExxonMobil agreed to submit reports on all tendered contracts. But Guyana's Government would not benefit from this kind of information, since the deal it signed with Exxon is dissimilar on this front. In fact, ExxonMobil has no specific procurement or purchasing guidelines in the contract it has with Guyana. In the African State of Ghana, however, the situation is quite different. Exxon Mobil agreed that following consultation with the Petroleum Commission, it would submit an annual Local Content Plan. That plan would include the engagement and utilization of Ghanaian subcontractors for the provision of goods and services, and the employment and development of qualified Ghanaian citizens. Both parties agreed that the capacity of local suppliers in the Ghanaian market will be assessed periodically by a qualified international third party and the results of the assessment will be presented to the Petroleum Commission as part of the Local Content Plan of the operator. Furthermore, ExxonMobil is also expected to require its Subcontractors to acquire materials, equipment, machinery, and consumer goods produced or provided in Ghana by an Indigenous Ghanaian Company which are: (1) equivalent in terms of quality, quantity, availability, delivery, safety, and other commercial terms as foreign materials, equipment, machinery, and consumer goods; and (2) available for sale at prices which are no more than 10 percent higher than the imported items, including transportation and insurance costs and customs charges due. Its subcontractors are also required to contract local services provided by an Indigenous Ghanaian Company to the extent to which: (1) the services they provide are equivalent in terms of quality, availability, safety, and other commercial terms as those available from foreign contractors; and (2) their prices, when subject to the same tax charges, are no more than 10 percent higher than the prices charged by foreign contractors for similar services. When ExxonMobil is finished with that, it must submit to Ghana's Petroleum Commission, a report on the services it contracted on a quarterly basis. POOR PROVISIONS Guyana's local content provisions have come in for scathing criticisms, since there are no strict reporting requirements as mentioned above, nor is there any requirement for Exxon Mobil to use to the maximum extent, local goods and services. With this mind, the call for strong local content policy and legislation has been increasing. But even this is still far from complete. The current Local Content Policy is still receiving the finishing touches. The draft speaks nothing of how to avoid procurement fraud, conflict of interest and favouritism, among other crucial areas. Instead, the Local Content Policy framework seeks to address, the suite of opportunities that may arise and the approaches to be taken in selecting and developing opportunities related to enhancing the capabilities of Guyanese nationals and businesses. The Policy articulates that this will be done through; training, development and employment initiatives (Capacity Development), ensuring availability of ownership participation for qualified Guyanese equity interest (Ownership Value), supplier development provisions for goods and services by locals to support sector operations (Local Content); and well-tailored social contributions for greater impact and benefits (Societal Benefits). It also describes what will be done to ensure that the activities in the petroleum sector are conducted in a manner that transparently secures the maximum benefit for the people of Guyana, while recognizing the limitations of the country and holding all actors accountable to the present and future generations of Guyanese who are the owners of the nation's petroleum resources. Additionally, the draft policy recognizes that the petroleum resources of Guyana belong to all its citizens, and represent an asset of significant intrinsic value which, once removed, diminishes the wealth of the nation, unless there is transformation in value from resources below the ground to improved quality of life above it for current and future generations of Guyanese. The draft says, Guyana will approach the development of its petroleum resources, people and businesses in a pragmatic, transparent and accountable manner. This will be conditioned by existing circumstances and an analytical approach to understanding the resource, the activities it engenders and our input capabilities. We shall pursue strategic opportunities for local capacity development and participation that give us the maximum possible benefit now and in the future. Story from Kaieter News Kaieteurnewsonline.com 02 26 2018 Copyright 1999-2018 Petroleumworld or respective author or news agency. All rights reserved. We welcome the use of Petroleumworld (PW) stories by anyone provided it mentions Petroleumworld.com as the source. Other stories you have to get authorization by its authors. Internet web links to http://www.petroleumworld.com are appreciated. Petroleumworld welcomes your feedback and comments, share your thoughts on this article, your feedback is important to us! We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article. Write to editor@petroleumworld.com By using this link, you agree to allow PW to publish your comments on our letters page. Any question or suggestions, please write to: editor@petroleumworld.com Best Viewed with IE 5.01+ Windows NT 4.0, '95, '98,ME,XP, Vista, Windows 7,8,10 +/ 800x600 pixels PDVSA offers 4 cargoes of heavy crude for March By Reuters HOUSTON Petroleumworld 02 27 2018 Venezuela's state-run oil company PDVSA has launched tenders to sell on the open market up to four cargoes of heavy crude for March delivery at its Jose and Puerto Miranda terminals, according to document seen by Reuters on Monday. * The offers, which are unusual as PDVSA typically sells all its exports through long-term supply contracts, include two 600,000-barrel cargoes of Morichal 16 crude and two 200,000-barrel cargoes of Tia Juana Pesado (TJP) crude * The Morichal 16 crude is for delivery March 1-23, and the TJP crude will be loaded on March 21-30 * Payment must be made in euros three days before the loading window, according to the tender's terms. The TJP crude must be exported to the U.S. West, East or Gulf Coasts, Northwest Europe or the Mediterranean. The Morichal crude can also be exported to Asia * Bids will be accepted through Feb. 27, indexed to Brent crude front month prices * PDVSA earlier this month offered to sell 2 million barrels of diluted crude oil (DCO), also for March delivery U.S. embargo on Venezuela's key oil material could choke PDVSA production Naphtha demand seen surging if PDVSA upgraders start failing. Costs may rise as the nation will have to buy at higher prices By Lucia Kassai and Milana Vinn HOUSTON/NEW YORK Petroleumworld 02 27 2018 The outlook for declining oil production in Venezuela may get grimmer if the U.S. bans supply of a key commodity used to help Venezuelan crude flow from oilfields to the coast. Production in the Orinoco oil belt, which accounts for half of the country's output, depends on heavy naphtha imported from the U.S. to reach global markets. Naphtha is used as a diluent to reduce the viscosity of Venezuela's tar-like extra-heavy oil, and help it flow through 62 miles of pipelines to the nation's coast, where it can be either upgraded or exported. Venezuela that once was South America's largest oil producer has seen a steady decline in production amid lack of money for maintenance and exploration. Crude output may slump to a 29-year low this year. The U.S. has already imposed sanctions on more than a dozen top Venezuelan officials and now may target oil trades. Venezuela imports about 2 million barrels of heavy naphtha per month, and all of it comes from U.S. Gulf refiners, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Sanctions in the Radar Lack of products like Naphtha could hinder PDVSA U.S. Exports to Curacao of Crude Oil U.S. Exports to Venezuela of Petroleum Products Barrels a day EIA, data compiled by Bloomberg The impact of a naphtha shortage ultimately comes down to the operational integrity of the heavy oil upgraders in Venezuela, Pablo Medina, vice president at Welligence Energy Analytics, said by email. If the upgraders were to encounter operational issues or come offline, naphtha demand would increase significantly for heavy oil blending purposes. The U.S. is weighing whether to ratchet up sanctions against Venezuela, and those could include banning oil imports from and exports to the nation, U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said earlier this month. While banning crude oil imports from the Latin American nation could hurt U.S. refiners, sanctioning exports may disrupt Venezuelan oil production, said Julian Cardenas, research professor at University of Houston Law Center. Venezuela's crude production collapsed to 1.67 million barrels per day, the lowest output since 2003, according to OPEC data compiled by Bloomberg. An embargo of U.S. crude exports could also affect operations at the Isla refinery in Curacao, operated by Petroleos de Venezuela SA, the nation's oil company. So far this year, PDVSA has already imported 3 million barrels of U.S. oil for its refinery in the Caribbean island. Revint Solutions, a Chadds Ford-based firm that specializes in medical-payment collections, said Tuesday it is acquiring Naveos, a Virginia firm focused on "government reimbursement technology and services for healthcare providers." Revint employs 176 in the Philadelphia area, and "we are planning to grow," chief executive Kyle Hicok said. Revint clients include "over 200 health systems across 48 states," including some of the largest hospital systems in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, according to Hicok, who declined to name specific clients. Revint claims 1,500 clients in total, and says it "helps recover over $150 million of underpaid or unidentified revenue" for them annually. The deal is the second by Revint since December, when New Mountain Capital, a New York investment firm, bought control of Revint from Eir Partners, which remains a minority investor. The companies haven't said what the buyer paid. New Mountain typically invests at least $100 million in the firms it targets. Its current investments are valued at a total of $20 billion. Also in December, New Mountain merged Revint, which had been based in Chicago, with IMA Consulting, a medical-collections firm based in Chadds Ford since 1996. With New Mountain's cash and support, the IMA and Revint teams planned to "create the leader in revenue integrity solutions, advanced revenue cycle management, and consulting services," IMA co-managing partners Kim Hollingsworth and Tony Scarcelli said in a statement at that time. Hicok, a veteran Minneapolis-based software company executive who had joined Revint in October, was appointed CEO of the combined firms, and Chadds Ford was designated its business address, under the Revint brand name. While Chadds Ford is now the company's "largest location," Hicok told me, "we are virtual, and also have locations in Chicago, Florida and Virginia. Our local leadership lives across the country and frequently goes to each of our offices." Hicok said Naveos is "highly complementary" to Revint's own services. Naveos's Compass-brand software helps doctors and hospitals collect more from Medicare and Medicaid by matching uncompensated care to claims databases and program requirements. New Mountain has other health-industry investments in the Philadelphia area. Last fall, New Mountain engineered the $6.5 billion acquisition of lab equipment supplier VWR Corp., of Radnor, by lab materials supplier Avantor, a New Mountain-backed company based in Center Valley, near Bethlehem. VWR now operates as a unit of Avantor under Avantor chief executive Michael Stubblefield. Other New Mountain Philadelphia-area connections include veteran chemical company executive Rajiv L. Gupta, the last chief executive of Philadelphia-based Rohm & Haas, now part of DowDuPont, who is a New Mountain senior adviser; and Edward Breen, chief executive of DowDuPont and formerly of Tyco International, has also been a New Mountain advisory board member. Nikolas Cruz, accused of murdering 17 people in the Florida high school shooting, appears in court for a status hearing in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Cruz reportedly had a history of shooting small animals, among other warning signs that his behavior had the potential to turn violent. Read more Leaving the gun debate to others, I propose that we focus on something more easily fixable about the Florida shooting: the epic failure of data integration that allowed this tragedy to happen. "Every single red flag was present. If this kid was missed, there is no system." Broward County Public Defender Howard Finkelstein is right there was a staggering amount of information available in multiple databases about Nikolas Cruz. But it wasn't connected. Despite protocol, the information was not assessed as a threat to life, and the agency chose not to pursue an investigation, according to the office of Sen. Charles Grassley (R., Iowa), whose committee was briefed by the bureau. And that was the second time the FBI was put on notice about Cruz. A Mississippi bail bondsman contacted the bureau after seeing a comment posted on YouTube where someone identifying themselves as "Nikolas Cruz" said: "I'm going to be a professional school shooter." But the special agent in charge of the Miami field office said the office could not identify who had posted the comment, notwithstanding a Washington Post Nexis search that revealed only 22 individuals with the name Nikolas Cruz. Plus, Google, which owns YouTube and could have confirmed Cruz's identity, was never asked for the information by the FBI, according to Grassley. And then there are Cruz's many encounters with police. The Broward County Sheriff's Office had responded to 18 calls since 2010 about him. One call made in November expressed concern that Cruz "believes he could be a school shooter in the making." But none of the responses to Cruz's house resulted in a felony conviction nor an involuntary hospitalization under Florida's Baker Act, which kept his profile under the radar. Cruz also posted threatening comments like "I wanna shoot people with my AR-15 on multiple websites and posed with guns and knives on his Instagram page, according to CNN. His behavior at school was more evidence waiting to be discovered. Cruz was pressured to withdraw from Douglas High in 2017 for disciplinary violations, as reported by the Miami Herald. Teachers and students told the Herald that Cruz "cursed at teachers, fought with and threatened classmates, and brought a backpack with bullets to school." Samantha Fuentes, a student injured in the shooting, said her peers would even joke about Cruz becoming the next school shooter. Florida's Department of Children and Families also had a thick file on Cruz. Its investigation unearthed that he not only had behavioral struggles, such as cutting his arms on Snapchat, but that he planned to purchase a firearm. Still, without the benefit of all the other information on Cruz, it was determined that his "final level of risk is low." The Naples Daily News reported that an investigator with the department had previously warned the state of Cruz's intentions to buy a gun after his 18th birthday. So you'd think that when in February of 2017 Cruz legally bought the AR-15 that eventually he used to kill those 17 students and faculty members, the purchase would have revealed many of these warning signs. But such background checks would only have alerted the clerk at Sunrise Tactical Supply to felony convictions, domestic-violence reports, known drug addictions, and involuntary commitments to a mental institution not the police responses to Cruz's house, nor his expulsion from school, or his frightening social-media postings. And in the absence of a national gun registry, the purchase itself would not have been a trigger when any subsequent issues with Cruz arose. Developing effective data integration that can prevent crime is complex, but technologically possible. One difficulty is determining how certain "triggers" relate to one another. Cruz's social-media postings, for example, might not emerge on the FBI's radar until the system recognizes their correlation with the state's previous assessment of his mental health. A report from the University of Applied Sciences in Kiel, Germany, expressed confidence in an approach called Generic Data Modeling that accounts for those relationships. Researchers indicated that the method can "develop flexible data models that scale with the agile requirements for crime fighting," making it possible to "integrate data from different heterogeneous sources easily." Data management might raise the hackles of civil libertarians. But Harvard Law professor and constitutional scholar Laurence Tribe told me we should be able to satisfy those concerns: "None of the data points you're talking about involve anything terribly private. The fact that he was doing target practice and shooting cats in the neighborhood and squirrels was hardly a private matter. The fact that he posted his desire to be a professional school shooter, he was exposing that to the world. He was essentially crying out, 'Somebody stop me!' And it is unfortunate, unfortunate puts it mildly, that the dots were not adequately connected. We shouldn't underestimate the magnitude of the task the FBI has. They get hundreds and thousands of leads, some of which may be at least as alarming as this but don't end up in school shootings. But, I do think we can do better than we've done." Catching Cruz should have been a keystroke away. He was not living off the grid like Ted Kaczynski. His name was in multiple files, able to be cross-tabbed. So while the politicians dither in Second Amendment debate, it's time for us to work smarter, not just harder. A litterers weekly act of penance: Mike Newall sweeps the gutters outside his South Philly home, forever sorry for the sin of once throwing dog poop in the sewer. Read more Let me be clear: I've never been much of a litterer. But it wasn't until a pair of strangers were lowering me headfirst into an open sewer in Queen Village that I swore I would never scorn a trash can again. It's a long story. I'll explain in a minute. But it's what came to mind when I read a report by my colleagues Michael Boren, Julia Terruso, and Michele Tranquilli on the state of trash in Philadelphia. It's never been good in the city, but complaints are surging, and my coworkers are forcing a conversation about what got us here, why some neighborhoods suffer more than others, and what we all need to do to fix it. What struck a chord for me were the residents in the story who readily owned up to their dumping and littering sins. Our trash problem is far too big for us to solve individually (there were more than 50,000 trash-related complaints last year alone, my colleagues reported). But while we have to hold the city accountable and give it credit for efforts to respond to complaints faster and zero in on the worst dumping spots we can at least start collectively thinking about the ways we move through our city, and how thoughtless littering drags us down. We can become a block captain, or join cleanup groups, or even just start owning up to our own carelessness. We can stop, for example, hurling bags of dog poop into the sewer. That's what landed me in the muck that night in 2015, a lapse in judgment I am confessing now in the same spirit of civic penitence my fellow dumpers displayed in our pages this week. It was the night before Pope Francis arrived in Philadelphia, three autumns ago. Like any good Catholic, I'd spent most of the day weeping at videos of the pontiff blessing small children. And then I went to happy hour. When I came home, the Beast, my 30-pound cattle dog, was waiting by the door. We perambulated. The Beast went about her business. I collected her ordure (the Beast is a modest gal). There was not a trash can in sight. And so I did something that, to this day, churns my conscience and my stomach. I threw the bag of poop into a nearby sewer grate. With it slid my company cellphone. The Holy Father was landing in 10 hours. I was supposed to cover the celebration. Via Twitter. On my phone. There on the still, dark street, alone in my shame, the Beast fixing me with stink eye, I considered my options. The phone shone in the muck below. I was going in. I had lifted the heavy lid off when a young couple ambled by if memory serves, they were on their first date, or close to it. Shame kept me from telling them why my phone was in the sewer, but perhaps the pontiff's impending arrival had kindled within them a spirit of charity. I tried going in feet first, but I couldn't touch bottom and visions of the next day's headlines danced in my head: "Firefighters free local columnist trapped in sewer." So, I decided to go in headfirst. Each of my compatriots grabbed a leg. I found myself crab-walking into the stench, arms scrabbling into the blackness. I wasn't thinking, at that point, about my own shameful contribution to Philadelphia's ongoing litter problem. About how litter complaints, as my colleagues would report nearly three years later, are more than triple what they were in 2010 (partly because more people are using 311), and those living on trash-strewn blocks speak of a lack of street sweeping. Or how, like with so many other issues in this city, people in poor communities of color wait longer for their trash complaints to be resolved. No. What I was thinking about was the sewer water splashing up onto my face. A new truth was setting in: You never appreciate just how bad a sewer smells into you're dangling in one headfirst. The lovebirds could tell from my screams that I had enough. Breathing hard now, the couple grilled me still, mind you, phoneless. A simple question: Why? They deserved to know. "Gross, dude," the guy said, when he learned of the bag I'd thrown down there along with my phone. I could only stand in my shame. Just like the shame we face as a city if we don't work to solve this one at a time, and by pressing our leaders for action. These days, I make sure to sweep the gutters outside my new house in South Philly. Especially near the sewer grate. Every time I catch a whiff from below, I get in a few extra sweeps. Penance. Mourners bring flowers as they pay tribute Sunday, Feb. 25, 2018, at a memorial for the victims of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. Would armed teachers have prevented some deaths? Read more When I asked on social media about arming teachers, the response was overwhelmingly negative, partly because it involves guns, which are unpopular around Philly, and partly because President Trump suggested it, and he's more unpopular around here than guns. But once you get away from here, the idea isn't that unpopular. A CBS poll last week showed that 44 percent of Americans favor arming teachers and administrators. At least eight states allow teachers to be armed. So is the idea really that horrible? Yes, says Jerry Jordan, president of Philadelphia's teachers' union, who is "very strongly opposed" to guns in school, any guns. "I'm a product of the Philadelphia schools, and I never felt unsafe," Jordan tells me. I am a product of the New York City school system, and I also never felt unsafe but Jerry and I attended school before students were shooting Glocks or shooting dope. Every local teacher I reached on Facebook said no to the idea. Neither the Philadelphia School District nor the Philadelphia Archdiocese wants its teachers armed. A safer way to thwart school shooters is to lock and strengthen all school doors, have just one door designated for visitor entry and secured by an armed guard. But the idea of arming teachers has been raised, so here are my thoughts on how that should look: No teacher would be forced to carry, all firearms would be concealed, the names of armed staff would be confidential. Teachers would use their personal firearms, with which they were familiar. Before being permitted to carry, teachers would undergo physical and mental testing. Police would provide mandatory weapons training and active shooter training. Teachers would not seek the shooter, but would observe the protocol of "Run, Hide, Fight." But when it is fight in a kill-or-be-killed situation they would have lethal force. Let's use our imagination. Scenario No. 1: With the alarm clanging and the sound of gunfire outside her classroom, the teacher directs her students into a storage closet, closes the door, and turns out the light. The closet door swings open and she sees the gunman, rifle in hand. He shoulders his weapon as the teacher raises her hands in a defensive gesture. The force of a bullet throws her back against the children. The gunman fires again at the teacher and then turns his weapon on the students trapped in the closet. Scenario No. 2: When the closet door swings open and she sees the gunman, the teacher fires. The gunman falls, hit once in the chest and once in the neck. The teacher and students run from the closet. Matt Pinsker, who teaches Homeland Security and Criminal Justice at Virginia Commonwealth University, tells me that armed teachers "will deter school shootings." He says almost all mass shootings take place in "gun-free zones" where victims are defenseless. The threat of armed teachers would discourage some attacks, he believes. But there are concerns, raised by people on social media. In the more dreadful ones, teachers tell me they don't trust many of their peers with guns, while others worry that the weapons might be grabbed by students or increase the chance of accidents. Others fear that SWAT teams would mistake teachers for shooters. The concerns are valid, but when the choice is to kill or be killed, do you want the teacher to be unarmed? Douglas Martin rehearses Monica Giragosian (Elizabeth Bennet) and Mattia Pallozzi (Mr. Darcy) in his Pride and Prejudice at American Repertory Ballets Princeton Studio. Read more It is a truth universally acknowledged that a ballet company, regardless of fortune, must be in want of distinction. For some, that means putting on breathtaking versions of fairy tale favorites. For others, it's black-and-white leotard ballets. But a small company sometimes needs to think of itself in a different manner. With that in mind, Douglas Martin created a Pride and Prejudice ballet for New Jersey's American Repertory Ballet, where he is artistic director. (Former Pennsylvania Ballet principal dancer Julie Diana Hench is its executive director.) The company will dance it Friday and Saturday at the Annenberg Center. Martin's Pride and Prejudice, a thoroughly charming amusement, premiered in April at Princeton's McCarter Theatre. The Philadelphia shows will be its second outing. It all started when the artistic director was looking for an interesting story that was not already a famous ballet, he said. Tossing around ideas at lunch with a friend, Martin thought of the innovative Anna Karenina, which Russian choreographer Boris Eifman created in 2005 for his Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg. It was intriguing but that's a difficult subject matter, said Martin, who wanted something lighter. A Jane Austen fan, Martin noticed that 2017 would be the 200th anniversary of her death, and it gave him something to aim for. What's more, he identified eight principal characters in Pride and Prejudice, which would give most of his 12 dancers juicy parts. Second-company dancers and trainees could bring the cast to 18. Ballet masters, students, and parents could fill the roles that required less dancing. Thus began a five-year odyssey, during which Martin did everything from selecting music to writing the libretto to setting the steps. "To be fond of dancing was a certain step towards falling in love," Austen wrote in Pride and Prejudice, and for Martin, P and P was a labor of love. He spent two years listening to music and making selections, starting with composers who were popular in Austen's era. "Ignaz Pleyel was an absolute rock star when she was writing these books," he said, so of course he wanted some of that. He rounded out the score with sections by Franz Schubert, Felix Mendelssohn, and John Field, pieces that were evocative of romance. But selecting pieces was only half the battle. There was, for instance, "my novice understanding of printed music," Martin said. "I thought it all should be available, but 50 percent had never been published. We had to search all over the world. One of our music engineers here had to digitally produce it. "For a small ballet company, it was a monstrous undertaking," he said. "That was probably the biggest single task other than figuring out the libretto." Jane-ites will note that favorite moments have all been included: the ill-fated proposal, Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy's awkward next meeting, Elizabeth's reading of his letter, and the fire and fury of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. Some parts have been carefully considered for the audience. Take Lydia's pas de deux with Wickham, for example. "There's sexualness and sexuality to it," Martin said. He tried to work it so that "people who love the era wouldn't be uncomfortable with it. People are human. It just doesn't have to be lasciviously viewed. But turning book into ballet was complicated. "We have 28 scenes and 17 different scene settings," Martin said. "How can you not visit Rosings?" To save time and money, he chose video projections instead of sets. They were all made for about $5,000, compared to $10,000 or more for just one painted backdrop, Martin said. The entire budget for Pride and Prejudice was $55,000. "It's really dirt cheap," he said, considering all the roles, scene changes, props, and costume changes. Each of the principal characters has at least three outfits. Elizabeth Bennet has about nine dresses, and "some of the costume changes are as quick as 20 seconds." The Regency-era dresses had to be shortened for dancing, and the skirts made sheer. Otherwise, "it really destroys a lot of the artwork that people do with their legs," Martin said. Some of the scenes are downright bustling there are more than 30 people at the Netherfield ball, for example. To make it all work, Martin, a former Joffrey dancer, color-coded the principal characters. Elizabeth, for example, is always in blue. Fitting in all the best scenes makes for a long ballet. In Princeton, with live music played at a slower tempo than Martin and the dancers had expected, Pride and Prejudice ran about three hours. The Annenberg outing will have recorded music, trading the rich sound of the orchestra for more predictable timing. Martin also cut down the score to keep the action moving. With a 15-minute intermission, it now runs two hours, 25 minutes. Favorite characters could simply not be denied. "Everybody has these fans," Martin said. "The only sister that doesn't have a fan base is Mary." Black Panther has been a runaway hit for Marvel Studios since its release on Feb. 16, earning more than $700 million to date worldwide. Now, parent Walt Disney Co. is giving back to fans with a $1 million donation to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America in celebration of the film's success. According to a release, the donation will help expand the organization's STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programs in 12 cities, Philadelphia included. >> Read more: 'Black Panther': A heroic achievement The film itself is science-forward, and focuses on Wakanda, an African nation that has made technological advancements beyond the rest of the world, much of which is not aware of the country's existence. Audience favorite Shuri (Letitia Wright), a Wakandan and the sister of T'Challa (Chadwick Boseman), meanwhile, is a science genius and "the smartest person in the world," as Black Panther producer Nate More told ScreenRant last month. "Marvel Studios' Black Panther is a masterpiece of movie-making and has become an instant cultural phenomenon, sparking discussion, inspiring people young and old, and breaking down age-old industry myths," Disney CEO Bob Iger said via a statement. "It is thrilling to see how inspired young audiences were by the spectacular technology in the film, so it's fitting that we show our appreciation by helping advance STEM programs for youth, especially in underserved areas of the country, to give them the knowledge and tools to build the future they want." >> Read more: 'Black Panther' is a self-esteem boost, especially for brown girls The $1 million donation will be used to "establish new STEM centers" in cities also including Chicago, Baltimore, New Orleans, Washington, and Oakland, Calif. In Black Panther, Oakland is the city where villain Erik Killmonger was raised, and where T'Challa ultimately opens Wakanda's own facility. In real life, the centers will focus on providing kids with access to technology like 3-D printing, robotics, and video production. "Thanks to Disney's support, we can expand our outreach and allow more youth to find their passions and discover STEM careers," CEO Jim Clark of the Boys and Girls Clubs said of the donation. The Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia said it has "not received official confirmation or details on the gift at a local level" but is "excited that [Disney] will be expanding STEM opportunities for the young people who need us the most." >> Read more: 'Black Panther' is for every black kid who thought 'We didn't do stuff like that' Boseman thanked Disney on social media for the donation, writing that "you can never go wrong when you invest in kids' futures." As CNN reported, Disney has donated money to the Boys and Girls Clubs in the past. Most recently, in December, the company donated $1.1 million to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Florida. Backing up Hunchback Abington Senior High School has chosen its senior play very well, for very good reasons and it's making the best use of it. The school's production of the Disney property The Hunchback of Notre Dame hits the boards March 8-10. Based on the novel by Victor Hugo and featuring songs from the 1996 Disney flick and a couple of extras by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, this show is having a long, charmed life in regional theaters and high schools. At Abington, the show's codirectors, music teacher Tim Myers and English teacher Kristen Caiazzo, along with communications coordinator Allie Artur, noticed a central theme of this tale of Quasimodo, Esmeralda, and the bell: bullying. Quasimodo seeks acceptance, but society cannot tolerate his looks or deformity. "We always share the show with fifth and sixth graders in the elementary schools," Myers said by phone, "but here we were asking, `This show is so dark, what can we share from it?' and as we talked, we hit on it. "Inclusion of others, bullying, and anti-bullying, standing up not just for your friends but also for strangers these are all things these kids think about daily. And the school system has a new initiative focusing on bullying and anti-bullying, so it hit the nail on the head." The cast has been traveling to local elementary schools and performing a scene in which Quasimodo is bullied from the crowd but the kind gypsy Esmeralda stands up for him. Afterward, the actors talk with students about how they, like Esmeralda, can help stop bullying. On Monday, it was Roslyn Elementary in Abington, and next Tuesday, it'll be McKinley Elementary in Elkins Park. "We have about 130-140 students involved in some way with the production," Myers said. "I'm amazed at what they come up with. Last week, after we did the scene at an elementary school, one of our cast, Amanda Carter, said a great thing: "You can see it took one person to start the bullying, but it also took just one person to stop it and we're all making the effort to be that person." Tom Martin, left, hands out books as they wait in line for food in a parking area near MLK Blvd on Feb. 18. The Camden County Pop Up Library distributes free books to homeless and other folks in need downtown and at other sites in Camden. Read more The browsing began as soon as Tom Martin opened his one-hour Camden County Pop Up Library near the RiverLine's Broadway stop. "I'm one of his regulars," said David Stanley, describing himself as mostly a reader of history, but glad to find a copy of All the Light We Cannot See. Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel was just one of the fresh titles Martin had arranged on a folding table in downtown Camden on a recent Sunday afternoon. The 61-year-old Oaklyn resident has been giving away new and gently used books on the streets of the city for about a year, and finds no shortage of folks who haven't lost their love of reading even if they have lost a job or a home. "You can go down to the waterfront, kick back with a book, and spend the day enjoying yourself," explained Eligio Rivera, of Camden, who was pleased to find a couple of recent thrillers by superstar novelist James Patterson. Genre fiction, literary fiction, and non-fiction, along with children's books and coffee-table volumes all of them donated are available for free, in hardcover or paperback, at the Pop Up Library. "It's fascinating," said Martin, an avid reader and former stockbroker who grew up in Cherry Hill and works as a headhunter. He started regularly distributing free books at the RiverLine stop, Cathedral Kitchen, which feeds the homeless and trains them in the culinary arts; New Visions, a day shelter for the homeless; Volunteers of America Delaware Valley facilities; the city's Salvation Army Kroc Center; elementary schools; and other sites in January 2017. "I knew right away this thing was going to work," Martin said as folks walked up to take a look at the library's latest offerings. "People took to it immediately. There's a thirst for books." Perhaps 100 men, women and children regularly gather in the gravel parking area between the CVS store and the RiverLine on Sunday to wait for the regular mid-day meal provided by volunteers from the United Methodist Church of Turnersville. Other churches and organizations, such as Friends of Fairview, distribute clothing or provide assistance to needy people every Sunday at the parking area. Many groups or individuals have done similar work, with little recognition and less fanfare, for years. "There's so much good stuff going on under the radar in Camden," Martin noted, in between schmoozing with repeat visitors. "It's very cool. And it's so much fun talking to people about books." Martin's Pop Up Library effort obtains books from local booksellers and distributors, as well as from private donors. It's a spin-off of a program organized by the Rev. Cherese Evans, pastor of the Magnolia United Methodist and the Pine Hill Memorial United Methodist churches, as part of her denomination's regional anti-poverty project. "We bring books to where libraries don't go to 20 different places and spaces, mostly in Camden County, where we pair up with food pantries and [other] programs," Evans said. "We've distributed about 2,000 books so far." Scott Hartman's online book business, Hartman-Books.com, of Collingswood has provided Martin with about 5,000 volumes to give away. "You're not just giving someone a few ounces of paper and glue," he said. "You're giving them the ability to change their life." Said Julie Beddingfield, a Pop Up Library supporter and the owner of Inkwood Books in Haddonfield: "Imagine what life would be like if you never had" a book. I try to imagine such a thing and can't. The tactile, intellectual and even spiritual pleasures of settling down with and being transported by a good book are incomparable, and there really are no words describe what it would be like to never share in that joy. "People want to read, regardless of their circumstances," said Beddingfield. Last fall, she connected Martin with a publishing event that provided him with advance copies to distribute through the library. Skeptics might see minimal value in such charity when so many people in the heart of Camden regularly line up for free meals. And what if folks accept a book and then sell it to get money for something lessedifying? "I've given that a bunch of thought. I used to get nervous if someone was taking lots of books, but now, I just offer them a bag," says Martin. "What if they do want to read them all? What if they're trying to build a little home library? I don't think [re-sales] happen that much." Angela Boatright, a retired clergywoman who lives downtown and regularly pitches in at the Pop Up Library, sees books as tools with which people can improve their lives. "Reading uses your imagination and exercises your brain," she said. "It keeps you sharp." Turns out that providing people with books also can be a learning experience, said Martin. "Some people who seem like they wouldn't be readers walk over and the next minute they're swapping ideas about books with someone else," he said. "Other people who stop by tell me they learned to read while they were incarcerated." Jobless, homeless, addicted, mentally ill, hungry or just hungry for something to read people he meets on the street prove that "you can't judge whether people read or not by their appearance," Martin said. "You can't judge a book by its cover." The Philadelphia Parking Authority is now exploring the possibility of using SEPTA cameras to keep people from parking in bus stops, the authoritys new executive director said. Read more A solution to parking violations that hold up traffic and put people at risk could already be on the streets: the cameras mounted on SEPTA's buses. The Philadelphia Parking Authority is now exploring the possibility of using those cameras to keep people from parking in bus stops, the authority's new executive director said. Officials estimated that up to 2,000 times a day a vehicle blocks a bus stop in the city. "You want to curb that behavior," said Scott Petri, who became the PPA's executive director at the beginning of the year. "You want it to drop dramatically." SEPTA's review of the buses' forward-facing cameras showed lots of bus stops blocked by delivery trucks, ride-share pickups, or cars stopped while drivers run errands. "Just reviewing our cameras showed loads of parking violations in bus zones," said Frank Kelly, SEPTA's assistant general manager for government affairs. If more aggressively enforced, the number of violations could initially generate tens of millions of dollars in revenue for the PPA, officials there projected. Blocking the bus stop, SEPTA officials said, creates problems for passengers who are unable to step into the vehicle, such as people in wheelchairs, because the bus cannot pull against the curb. And it's less safe for passengers to get off a bus into the street, rather than onto the curb, too, SEPTA officials said. Blocking bus stops also worsens traffic problems. A bus that has to stop and unload people in the middle of a lane can bring traffic to a near standstill even on roads with multiple travel lanes. "Traffic is like a funnel," said Erik Johanson, SEPTA's director of business innovation. "If something blocks a part of the funnel, the water's going to flow slower." The congestion and unsafe conditions created by buses with nowhere to stop has a spillover effect on the entire neighborhood, said Paul Levy, head of the Center City district. "It's not just private automobiles and taxis stopping in travel lanes and bus stops, we've added many more delivery trucks, ride-sharing vehicles, and cyclists to downtown streets," he said. "We need to rethink both regulations and enforcement and make sure we have adequate funding in place to maintain both vitality and safety." SEPTA manages 118 bus routes covered by 1,200 buses. The agency did not have data on accidents or incidents that might have been caused by buses being blocked from reaching the curb, spokesman Andrew Busch said. The Philadelphia Parking Authority has the authority to enforce bus stop parking violations, but typically only does when enforcement personnel see the violation, Petri said. The idea of using SEPTA's own cameras to improve enforcement is part of an effort Petri has underway to seek ways the PPA can cooperate more with other city street and transportation agencies. It's not a novel idea. In New York City and San Francisco, cameras on buses photograph the license plates of people blocking bus stops and bus lanes. Here, bus drivers can use a trigger on the bus to take pictures with the forward-facing camera, Petri said, and those pictures of violators could be sent to the PPA, which would then issue a violation to that license plate. "It's astounding the number of violations," Petri said after seeing SEPTA video of violations that buses encounter on city streets. "Tickets issued per day would be astounding." The offense, illegal parking in a bus zone, would net a violator a $76 fine in Center City and $51 everywhere else in the city. While Petri anticipated significant revenue if the PPA is allowed to use bus cameras for ticketing, he expected the money coming in would decline as drivers learned they could not get away with blocking bus stops. To make it happen, though, would likely require new legislation from Harrisburg to authorize the use of SEPTA's cameras for enforcement, Petri said. Philadelphia's Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems supported the PPA proposal, said Christopher Puchalsky, the office's director of policy and strategic initiatives. Street-level public transportation is routinely blocked by cars, he said, adding the trolley stop he uses was blocked by a parked car Monday morning, "which made both watching for the trolley difficult, and also when I stepped out into the street to see when it was coming." The city's transportation office has been the point agency in the mayor's Vision Zero program, an effort to eliminate traffic-related deaths in the city by 2030. The agency has been casting a wide net, looking for solutions to the city's traffic safety issues. Vision Zero emphasizes the importance of street design and engineering, but the city has also explored expanded use of red light and speed cameras, and increasing manned traffic enforcement in busy neighborhoods. Using bus cameras to identify bus zone violators requires drivers to make decisions about when to snap a picture, which raises concerns about ensuring fairness, Puchalsky said. The Vision Zero approach, which originated in Sweden but is being implemented widely in the United States, takes into account the potential enforcement efforts have for discrimination and bias. "We need to make sure it's done equitably so we're not targeting poor, minority neighborhoods with more enforcement," Puchalsky said. Among the other ideas Petri discussed with SEPTA was making the transportation agency's Key fare card compatible with the PPA's parking kiosks. Cherry Hill High School East senior Sammy Miller speaks to the board. He, like many students praised suspended history teacher Tim Locke, and spoke of security issues at the school. Read more The controversy over the suspension of a Cherry Hill High School East history teacher who spoke out about security issues following the school massacre in Parkland, Fla., continued Tuesday with a student walkout, a plea from the town's mayor for the school board to act on security, and a meeting of the board that drew an overflow crowd. Hundreds of people packed the gymnasium at Cherry Hill Alternative High School on Tuesday night to hear and address concerns about school safety. After waiting for the board to finish its agenda, they began talking about events at Cherry Hill East. The public comment period had not yet begun, but the main topic on people's minds emerged during what otherwise was a routine report on student activities by Lauren Atkin, student representative from East. "The students have decided to fight for their teacher and for their security," Atkin said from her seat next to the board. Students have been held accountable, Atkin told the board, "and now we want to hold you accountable for keeping teachers that truly change lives and shape us into the young adults you want us to be." Students have praised history teacher Timothy Locke as the most inspiring teacher they've ever had. They said the action taken against him was a form of censorship that has cowed other teachers at the school into silence. They also expressed anger at the principal, who they argued has disrespected the students and not been forthcoming about their safety concerns. Board President J. Barry Dickinson said at the outset of the meeting that the board could not address personnel matters or answer questions during the public comment period, but that didn't stop some students from demanding answers and directing their ire at the governing body. One matter was clarified. When a student asserted that the teacher had been suspended without pay, a representative of the board said suspension without pay was not legally allowed. Hours earlier at Cherry Hill East, students walked out about 8 a.m. They were orderly, and some chanted: "Free Locke!" The walkout ended around 9:30 a.m., when students filed into the auditorium, where principal Dennis Perry listened to them in a public-forum setting. Locke, 59, has said he was placed on administrative leave on Thursday after a pupil became upset when Locke discussed the Parkland shooting in his history class and expressed his fear that a similar crime could happen at 2,200-student Cherry Hill East. In an interview Monday, Locke explained his actions: "The bottom line is that I was very concerned about the security at my school." A video posted later Tuesday on a township group Facebook page shows the students at one point asking Perry why he had threatened to suspend student protesters and bar them from attending prom and senior trips. The principal's response, shown in the video, was indirect: "I'll say it again, this right now is a protest where your voice is being heard. A protest where your voice will not be heard is when you are blocking some of the 2,200 students from going to point A to point B that isn't a protest," Perry said to jeers. By day's end, Perry had retracted his suggestion that students who participated in the protests should not be permitted to attend the senior prom, senior trip or graduation. Instead, he thanked the students for "the respectful manner" of their conduct. His initial reaction, he said in a statement Tuesday afternoon, stemmed from "concern for the safety of all students" after he read an online post urging students to "create as much disruption as possible" at the school. Support for increased security also reached as far as the township hall. Mayor Chuck Cahn and the township council on Tuesday issued a statement calling on the school board to "address and take action on the issue of school security." Police Chief William Monaghan also declared his commitment to school security Tuesday and recommended that the district, in weighing any new security measures, consider using armed police officers. Even as the focus shifted to security measures, students remained upset about Locke's suspension and continued to press for its reversal. The early morning walkout was just one of the efforts by students and parents in support of Locke. A petition on Change.org garnered more than 1,100 signatures in one day. Ryan Munn, a freshman at the high school, said most of the campus organizing had been done by students who had taken classes with Locke, who shared their protest plans via social media. "There was this energy in the school of rebellion that I've never felt before," he said, commenting on the force behind on the protests. "From what I heard in the auditorium, Locke was the only teacher [students] could relate to, the fact that he was suspended made them feel that much more unsafe," he said. According to Munn, most of Cherry Hill East's teachers remained silent on safety and protest issues because they are afraid of being punished by the administration. "One of the biggest complaints when students spoke in the auditorium was that we don't ever discuss this stuff. After the Parkland shooting they didn't bring up anything," he said. "We think that can't happen to us because we're East." Barbara Wilson, a spokeswoman for the Cherry Hill School District, said she could not comment on personnel matters. Several students and parents reached out to the Inquirer and Daily News in support of Locke, who began teaching at the school in 2001. Superintendent Joseph Meloche told parents at a meeting Monday night that he could not comment on Locke, said Scott Seligman, a parent of two children who attend Cherry Hill East. "The bigger problem is the school is missing the point the school failed to recognize the huge link between Cherry Hill and Parkland. A lot of kids knew each other through night camp," Seligman said. "A lot of the children have videos on their phones of the shooting and massacre within the school. It's burned into their memories. They come back into their school, and they don't feel safe." Cherry Hill East does not have armed security or metal detectors, he added. In an interview Tuesday night, East seniors Amanda Seligman and Lilly Checkoff said they never felt unsafe in Locke's classroom. "God forbid anything ever happened, I feel like he's the only teacher who would even know what to do," Seligman said. She said she was disappointed that he was suspended from the high school because he was one of the only teachers who ever made an effort to connect with his students. "I feel like it's his job as an educator to teach us about what's going on in the real world," she said. "We're upset this was the result of him talking about something that happened." The school board began Tuesday night's meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and then a moment of silence for the victims and survivors of the Parkland shooting. Several students said that was the first time that had happened in the Cherry Hill district and said student activism was the reason why. Local social activist Patrick Duff, U. S. Rep. Donald Norcross, Jeanette Lily Hunt, civil rights icon and U. S. Rep. John Lewis and former Camden Mayor Dana Redd stand in front of the Walnut Street house that Ms. Hunt owns in Camden where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived while a student at Crozer Theology Seminary in the 1950s. Read more A newly released study by Stockton University researchers is raising questions about a claim that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. spent time in a Camden rowhouse that local activists believe should be declared a state historical landmark because of ties to the civil rights movement. The report, commissioned by the state Department of Environmental Protection, could derail efforts to save the dilapidated home in the city's Bergen Square neighborhood, where activists say King stayed in 1950 while studying at the now-closed Crozer Theological Seminary in Chester. The three-story house at 753 Walnut St. has fallen into disrepair and has been vacant for years. Activists want the house placed on the state historic registry to ensure that it is not demolished. In a 179-page report, a team of Stockton researchers concluded in part that "King may reasonably be said to have 'stayed' or 'visited' 753 Walnut Street at certain points in time, but at no time could be said to have 'lived' there." The findings rest largely on evidence and fragments and old memories, sometimes contradictory, they said. Social activists who want the house preserved believe it has historical significance and dismissed the findings. They plan to appeal if the state denies an application that has been pending for several years with the state Office of Historical Preservation seeking a designation for the house. "We've always had white folks decide our history. We don't need validation from the state or the federal government," former Camden County East NAACP President Kelly Francis said in an interview Monday. "I don't think you will find anybody in Camden who doesn't think it's important." Camden's Historical Commission declared the house a historical site in 2016. Francis and local historians believe King frequently studied for classes and mulled issues that helped mold him as a civil rights leader during his stays in Camden. The state Legislature passed resolutions that same year, calling for preservation of the house. "The home remains an important part of Camden's rich history," city spokesman Vincent Basara said in a statement. The city plans to install historical markers to commemorate the neighborhood and its contributions to the civil rights movement, he said. King was living at the house when he was refused service at a Maple Shade bar, along with fellow seminary student Walter R. McCall, in an incident that helped spark his lifelong crusade for civil rights, according to Patrick Duff, who has compiled dozens of documents on the time period and has spearheaded the fight to save the house. The pub owner declined to serve them, saying he was prohibited from selling "package goods," alcoholic beverages, after 10 p.m. When pressed for four glasses of ginger ale, he declined, pulled a pistol, walked outside, and fired it a few times. King reported the matter to police and the owner was arrested, but charges were dismissed when several witnesses failed to testify before a grand jury. In his research, Duff noticed King's Camden address on the 1950 police report. Duff began compiling volumes of information and interviewing local residents to submit an application to place the house on the New Jersey Register of Historic Places, a designation that would make the house eligible for preservation grants. Duff, too, disputed the conclusions by the Stockton researchers and noted that the findings were made by an all-white team. He contends that one of the researchers, Paul W. Schopp, who serves on Camden's preservation commission, had a preconceived bias against the proposal to save the Walnut Street house. "Why take the white historians' word? To me it's Racism 101," said Duff, who is also white. Schopp didn't respond to an email Monday. A spokeswoman for the university spokeswoman declined to comment, as did a spokeswoman for the state DEP. U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a civil rights veteran and a King lieutenant, visited Camden in 2016 to lend his support to having the home declared a historic site. He called the house a "piece of historic real estate that must be saved for generations yet unborn." Like many of the nearby properties in the neighborhood, the Walnut Street house is vacant and boarded up. Several years ago, a notice was issued to demolish it, although city officials said the citation was to force its owner to bring it into compliance with codes. The current owner, Jeanette Lily Hunt, said King visited the home, which was owned by her father-in-law, Benjamin Hunt. In interviews with Duff and the Stockton researchers, she recalled some aspects of "King's purported visits," the study said. Her sister-in-law, Thelma Lowery, also recalled seeing King at the home but never spoke with him directly. In an unprecedented move, the state selected Stockton to evaluate evidence submitted on the historical registry application to determine how much time King spent in Camden and the impact of any time in the city had on his development in later life. The state spent about $20,000 for the study, according to Larry Hajna, a spokesman for the Department of Environmental Protection. It will now be up to the Historical Preservation Office to determine whether the house meets guidelines for historic listing. A timeline was not announced. The Stockton researchers, five professors and two graduate students, pored through newspaper articles, interviews, oral histories emails and documents that were compiled by Duff and his team. They also tried to contact the King family, seeking any letters that King may have sent from the Camden address or any documents to show that he lived in Camden. "The paucity of concrete information about King's potential Camden movements means that it ultimately comes down to speculation about whether he stayed a night, a week, a month, or on some regular or inconsistent basis at 753 Walnut Street," the report said. "The lack of evidence about King's time at 753 Walnut Street makes it difficult to determine whether the city was a sanctuary or study, a base for weekend recreation or a convenient place to stay. " Duff still hopes to turn the house and the adjacent vacant lot into a site commemorating King's time in Camden. "The connection to that house you can't doubt it," he said. "This is American history. It's not just African American history." A home under inspection in Plymouth Meeting. Property taxes have risen an average of 28 percent in Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, and Delaware Counties in the past decade. Pennsylvania. (WILLIAM THOMAS CAIN / For The Philadelphia Inquirer) Read more Thomas Micozzie's already considerable tax bill just increased about $50 on his two-story house, valued at about $130,000, in the Westbrook Park section of Upper Darby Township. The latest bump hits home to Micozzie in particular: He signed off on it. He is the mayor of the region's largest municipality outside of Philadelphia, and Upper Darby is one of more than 50 towns in the region that raised tax rates in January. Property tax rates in Pennsylvania have been rising, along with their unpopularity. The average real estate levy rose 28 percent in the last decade for homeowners in Bucks, Chester, Montgomery, and Delaware Counties. That change amounts to an average increase of $1,387 in a homeowner's annual bill, according to an Inquirer and Daily News analysis of state and local tax data and Nielsen housing data. School taxes, driven by increasing costs, constitute the majority of property-tax levies. But Micozzie and other municipal officials say their expenses are rising as well, and they often feel pressured to rein in costs as constituents complain about school levies something with which they have nothing to do. While property taxes are the primary means of funding local government and schools in Pennsylvania, a movement to eliminate them gained momentum in November when voters approved an amendment to the state constitution. While total elimination may be unlikely, because the tax is a fixture in nearly every state, some lawmakers are moving ahead with proposals to make that happen. The state's system of assessing properties creates a naturally occurring system of unfairness and likely is a factor in the levy's unpopularity; more than 200,000 people in Southeastern Pennsylvania are paying more than their fair share in taxes because counties go decades between reassessments. "The reliance on property tax is the most archaic system for funding municipalities," Micozzie said. "I don't know what the answer is, but it's not a fair and equitable solution when you need needs in the community, paving streets, providing police protection." Upper Darby's total tax rate has increased more than 52 percent since 2008, translating to an increase of $2,200 to the average tax bill. In Micozzie's case, $1,720 of his $5,252 bill goes to the town, and that's an unusually high local share. The total bill including municipal, county, and school portions for a home of the same market value in Upper Merion Township is $1,900, of which just $158 goes toward municipal taxes. But Upper Merion's taxes also rose substantially in the last decade, by nearly 35 percent, or more than $1,100 on the bill of a median-value home. Local government officials such as Micozzie may dislike the property tax, but they are also stuck with it. State law offers few alternatives. Micozzie said he has looked into relying more on earned income tax than property levies, but too many of the township's more than 82,000 residents leave Upper Darby for work. A September Franklin and Marshall College Poll found that Pennsylvania voters saw taxes as one of the state's top issues, with better than 10 percent ranking it as the most important. But not every town has had to succumb to the inevitability of politically unpopular tax hikes. Media Borough, for example, has not changed its municipal tax rate in 12 years. "It hasn't been magic," said Brian Hall, president of the borough council. The downtown area, with a thriving restaurant and retail district on State Street, has helped bring in increasing amounts of business tax revenue. Earned income tax revenue has increased in recent years as well, Hall said, because the walkable borough of about 5,300 has attracted new residents who are increasingly well-to-do. "We recognize that Media is in a really good spot," Hall said. "And we also recognize that part of that is because it's in a really sweet spot. We are close to the Blue Route, and so the area has expanded and has made Media much more viable as a bedroom community or a commuting area into the city." Most of the more than 40 towns and boroughs in the Philadelphia region that have not raised the municipal portion of their tax bill in the last 10 years are smaller. Many of them do not have police or fire departments a key factor that can increase budgets instead relying on help from the state or neighbors. As with the schools, towns confront rising costs that are outside of their control, including police and pension expenses. State law gives officials no other option but to raise property taxes, according to a Pennsylvania Economy League report published last year about municipal financial distress. "Residents logically believe their municipal taxes are sufficient to pay for whatever the community deems is an appropriate level of services and municipal management," the report stated. "But those taxes are largely subject to restrictions set by state law that make them inadequate." The state's laws governing property assessments can also lead to problems for towns and taxpayers. Counties are not required to reassess properties regularly, which inevitably leads to unfair tax burdens for some homeowners and breaks for others. In Delaware County, officials are beginning a court-ordered reassessment that will take effect in 2021. Meanwhile, in Upper Darby, Micozzie is just thinking ahead to this summer, when the school district will set its budget and tax rate for the coming year. If taxes increase, he said, he expects to receive phone calls from frustrated residents. "The school tax is coming in July," he said, "and I've got to give things up because I get hammered." This article contains a correction. Reaching across the city to tap men and women with a diverse range of experiences from activists to businesspeople, from government veterans to founders of nonprofits the school board nominating panel on Monday forwarded the names of 27 people for Mayor Kenney to consider to run the Philadelphia School District. Kenney will choose nine board members by the end of March, and the new body will begin running the school system after the School Reform Commission dissolves on June 30. But their work will begin much sooner: Board members are expected to start learning the nuts and bolts of the district and its nearly $3 billion budget as soon as they're named. "Thanks to the panel," Kenney said in a statement Monday, "I am confident that in the coming weeks I will be able to appoint a knowledgeable, committed and diverse Board of Education that will oversee our schools going forward and ensure that every child in Philadelphia can access a quality education." The 13-member nominating panel combed through 500 applications and resumes in less than two months, interviewing about 80 to arrive at the final list, which it voted on Monday afternoon at only its second public meeting, held at City Hall. Two of the nominees Chris McGinley and Joyce Wilkerson are current SRC members, and at least one, if not both, are likely to secure spots. Kenney named both of them to the SRC, and has said he wants some continuity between the two boards. If they are chosen, it's unclear how that process would work, as they are unable to serve as SRC and school board members concurrently. Others have experience in the school district or in city government. Loree Jones was a former Philadelphia managing director and SRC chief of staff who now holds that role at Rutgers-Camden; Folasade Olanipekun-Lewis was a former school system chief financial officer, who also worked for City Council. Suzanne Biemiller was director of policy, planning and coordination for former Mayor Michael Nutter. Stacy Dutton is a former investment manager who now heads the Lantern Theater Company. Susan DeJarnatt is a Temple Law School professor who has researched charter law extensively; Tonya Bah is a district parent and former federal government employee who has been unafraid to blast the school system in public. Roberta Trombetta is a lawyer who runs a private school for children in foster care. Lee Huang is a vice-president at Econsult Solutions. Susanna Greenberg is a former board chair of Independence Charter School and a faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania's law school. Laura Boyce, a former district and charter school teacher and principal, works for a national nonprofit that helps educators to become school leaders. The other nominees include: Sarah-Ashley Andrews, Jenne Ayers, Tonya Bah, Dario Bellot, Julia Danzy, Letitia Egea-Hinton, Mallory Fix Lopez, Anuj Gupta, Rotonya Carr, Lee Huang, Renee Hughes, Chad Lassiter, Maria McColgan, Angela McIver, Sharon Parker, Akil Parker, and Patricia Wellenbach. Kenney now has 10 days to go back to the nominating panel to ask for more names if he feels a deeper pool is needed. "I am deeply confident in this group," nominating panel chair Wendell Pritchett said after the vote. "It's an amazing group." Still, Pritchett said, the panel was bound by the nominations it received potential board members either raised their hands or were nominated by someone else. "I wish that we had more applications from more areas of the city," said Pritchett. He said he wished more people who lived in parts of North and Northeast Philadelphia were among the group the nominating panel had to choose from. In arriving at the list, Mayor Kenney had charged the panel with considering four broad areas: organizational acumen, commitment to education, commitment to diversity, inclusion and community empowerment, and ethics and integrity. Still, the panel was bound by the nominations it received, Pritchett stressed. The nominating panel process has come under fire from some advocates, who say that it operated in secrecy and does not bode well for the new board. "There's a feeling of backroom deals, power wrangling, and one-man control," retired Philadelphia teacher Diane Payne told the nominating panel before it voted. Kenney has said the nominating panel was honor-bound to make what essentially were hiring decisions in private. "There are certain personnel issues that can't be discussed in the open," the mayor has said, promising that "there will be plenty of transparency." Nominating panel members rejected the notion that Kenney controlled their work. Kendra Brooks, a district parent and advocate, said the mayor was "hands-off" in the process. "I've been involved in politics a long time, but I don't think I was ever involved in anything more straightforward," said Patrick J. Eiding, a nominating panel member and president of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO. Others urged the board to consider the interests of all children, a statement on the current sharp tensions between the charter community and the school district. Maurice Jenkins, a parent with children in a Mastery Charter school, said it was important that whomever makes the cut for the new board make sure "that the charter community not be discriminated against, as they have in the past." Kenney, in a brief appearance before the board meeting began, said he looked forward to seeing the list; Jane Slusser, his chief of staff, emphasized that the mayor had not been privy to the names prior to the board's vote. Next, she said, staff will comb through the 27 applicants' resumes and invite some to interview with the mayor's senior staff. Kenney himself will eventually meet with the finalists, she said. Some are known in City Hall, and others are fresh faces. "The exciting thing about this is there are people on this list who nobody knows who they are," said Slusser. After some kind of informal consultation with City Council which could be made more prickly given the current City Hall battle over who, once named, controls how members are removed from the school board Kenney hopes to name the board by March 23. Board members selected for the unpaid position will serve terms concurrent with the mayor's. Derren Magnum, a member of the nominating panel, warned that whomever the mayor chooses won't have a magic wand to right the ills of the school system, with its 130,000 students in more than 200 traditional public schools. To fix system-wide problems, "it's going to take a lot more than nine people," Magnum said. By deciding last week to force its own congressional map on the people of Pennsylvania, our Supreme Court made an unprecedented and reckless ruling that could have drastic implications for years to come. If I were governor, I would refuse to implement the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's remedial map and I would instruct the secretary of the commonwealth to oversee the 2018 elections under our old map the map that was created by bipartisan, elected representatives of the people. Not only did the court make a deliberate political move to implement a map designed to get more Democrats elected to the U.S. House of Representatives the very definition of gerrymandering but it overstepped its constitutional authority in order to do so. It is impossible to reflect on the commonwealth's redistricting saga and not conclude that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Gov. Tom Wolf are working in tandem to circumvent the will of Pennsylvania voters and advance their radical, liberal agenda. If the court really wanted to create fair districts, why did it give the legislature such a short time to draw new maps? Why would it implement such drastic changes in the midst of the 2018 primary election? Why did the court not issue its full opinion and provide the criteria it wanted for a new map until it was too late? If the governor really wanted a fair map, why did he refuse to come to the table and negotiate with the legislature after he rejected the Republican leadership's proposal? The answer to these questions is that the redistricting fight was never about fair maps. This fight enables a politically motivated court to do the bidding of Barack Obama, Eric Holder, Nancy Pelosi, and George Soros who have stated that their goal is to install progressive power in the states starting with Pennsylvania. The Supreme Court issued an initial order to draw new maps. Wolf ran out the clock to thwart any effort by the legislature to have a say in the process. A liberal, out-of-state professor was invited to step in and carve up our commonwealth. In turn, Democrats will dump millions into their 2018 campaigns in Pennsylvania. This redistricting disaster was nothing less than a quid pro quo. Now the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has issued the final order in its takeover scheme, and has directed the executive branch to implement its remedial map for the 2018 congressional elections. Wolf should not comply. Rulings by the Supreme Court only have weight if a governor chooses to implement them. That's the entire purpose of separation of powers. If a governor can't stand up to an order he deems unconstitutional, then he is a subordinate of the court. I invite people all over Pennsylvania to take a stand with me against national interest groups, against George Soros and his permanent progressive power, against having your voice drowned out by a corrupt state Supreme Court, and against a governor who is complicit in ignoring the Constitution and rigging the electoral system. Wolf's lack of leadership has delivered to us a constitutional crisis. Stand with me, and let's give him an electoral one. Scott Wagner, a Republican state senator from the 28th district, is running for governor of Pennsylvania. @SenScottWagner Joseph Myhre has pleaded guilty to abusing his wife and children. Read more A Collegeville man pleaded guilty Tuesday to beating his wife and young children for years inside their home in what prosecutors called the worst domestic-violence case in recent Montgomery County history. Taking the stand in a red prison jumpsuit, Joseph Myhre, 45, calmly admitted to shocking his son and daughter with an electric dog collar, sticking needles under their nails until they bled, sitting on them as he choked them, and beating them with PVC pipe and sticks, causing serious brain injuries. He also admitted to stabbing his wife's hand with a steak knife and beating her repeatedly. After Myhre pleaded guilty to dozens of counts, Montgomery County Judge Wendy G. Rothstein sentenced him to 20 to 40 years in prison. "There is no excuse," Rothstein said. "You were supposed to protect them, not hurt them." Myhre was arrested in April and charged with nearly 150 counts of child abuse. The abuse began when the younger child was 4 or 5, Myhre's wife told authorities, and became a daily occurrence. Before the sentencing, his wife, who has filed for divorce, spoke about the torture she and her son, now 14, and daughter, now 12, had endured behind closed doors. "All three of us protected Joseph," she said, allowing him to live, by all appearances, as "a loving husband and father." In reality, however, the woman and children were "often praying for their own deaths in hopes of an escape," she said. Aside from physical injuries, all three suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and lasting emotional injuries, she said. As a parent, she said, she now must undo the "years of horrible examples" set by her husband. The woman said she is fortunate to count herself among the survivors of domestic violence, and thanked family, friends and authorities for helping save her life and the lives of her children. "We escaped. We lived," she said. "So many do not." As the judge asked Myhre if he had anything to say, his wife walked out of the courtroom. "I have profound regret and sorrow for my actions towards my wife and children," said Myhre, who showed little emotion throughout the 45-minute proceeding. Authorities began to investigate Myhre last March, when his wife arrived at Einstein Medical Center in the middle of the night with a fractured skull. She told police her husband had held her down and repeatedly punched her in the back of the head during an argument. Out of fear he might attack again, the woman told police, she waited until he went to sleep before driving herself to the hospital. Myhre was charged with assault and harassment in that case and released on bail. In the course of that domestic-violence investigation, authorities found that Myhre had also been abusing his children. In interviews, the children told police how their father would shock them with an electric dog collar (the family never owned a dog, police said), bang their heads against the hardwood floor and the wall, and choke them until they felt like they might pass out. In a search of the family's Greene's Way Circle home, authorities found closed wooden boxes with air holes instead of beds in the children's rooms. After Myhre's arrest on child-abuse charges, he was also arraigned on additional charges that he beat his wife over the years to the point that she became permanently disfigured. Myhre has been held at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility since April. He will serve out his sentence at Graterford Prison. He was ordered not to have any contact with his wife or children, unless the children choose to initiate contact with him after April 11, 2023. The children were not in the courtroom for Tuesday's guilty plea. "The kids are resilient," Assistant District Attorney Alex MacMaster said, "and they are now in a place where they can start to move on." The right ear on Penn States iconic Nittany Lion statue was broken off over the weekend, during the universitys annual Saint Pattys Day festival. Read more The right ear on Penn State's iconic Nittany Lion statue was broken off over the weekend, and police yet haven't determined who damaged it, or if the incident was an accident or an act of vandalism. After reviewing video footage, the university's police department was questioning two individuals, officials said. Police said officers found the ear on the ground near the statue when they responded early Saturday morning. Officials also said the ear had previously been reported as being slightly loose, and was scheduled to be examined by the university's Office of Physical Plant. Despite the timing, officials aren't sure the damage had any direct connection to the university's annual Saint Patty's Day festival, which is traditionally held the first Saturday after the THON fundraiser and in the past has led to fights, property destruction, many arrests and hospital visits. So far, officials don't have a final tally of the number of arrests that occurred over the weekend, but the Centre Daily Times reported that calls for emergency medical services around State College were delayed as early as 4 p.m. on Friday due to ambulances attending to partiers who had already consumed too much alcohol. In past years, hundreds of arrests and citations have been issued during the event. It's not the first time the Nittany Lion's ear has been damaged since its dedication back in 1942. A university spokesman said vandals have damaged the famed statue's right ear twice over the years, back in 1978 and again in 1994. After the damaged sustained in 1978, the statue's original sculptor, Heinz Warneke, prepared a cast for a new ear, which was put in place by Vincenzo Palumbo, a master carver who was the head stonecutter at Washington's National Cathedral. Palumbo also repaired the statue in 1994. The right ear also came off in 2003, but officials determined that damage was accidental. The statue, originally a gift from the class of 1940, has long been one of the most iconic locations on the university's campus. Back in 2013, the area around the statue was renovated to add improved lighting, a sidewalk and some decorative stones, a gift from the class of 2012. A federal judge ordered former Radnor Township Commissioner Philip Ahr, pictured in this October 2017 file photo, imprisoned until his trial on federal child pornography charges. Read more Calling his alleged crimes "unspeakable" and "depraved," a federal judge on Monday ordered ex-Radnor Township Commissioners President Philip Ahr's incarceration until his trial on the child pornography charges that prompted his resignation from elected office last year. But his lawyer in his first public statements on Ahr's behalf insisted that his client had begun to accept responsibility for his crimes and had sought treatment for what he described as a "mental defect." "He has taken steps to prevent this from ever happening again," said defense lawyer Mark P. Much during a hearing in federal court in Philadelphia. "To engage in this type of behavior is a mental defect. And what does he do? Four days after authorities search his house, he checks himself in for psychosexual treatment." Prosecutors and ultimately U.S. Magistrate Judge Marilyn Heffley were unmoved. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle Rotella scoffed at Much's suggestion that the 63 treatment sessions Ahr has attended since his initial arrest would somehow prevent him from committing similar crimes, given the hundreds of images of sexually abused children some as young as infants that were found on electronic devices he used at home, at work, and for city business. "You don't get fixed in five months when you're looking at infants being raped," she said in court Monday. "This is a deep-seated, long-term criminal problem for him." Heffley agreed, ordering Ahr held at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia for what is likely to be the next several months. "Given the depravity of the charges here, which are unspeakable, I have to rule that there are no adequate conditions [for bail] that will ensure the safety of the community," she said. The ruling prompted tears from Ahr's wife of more than three decades, who was seated in the front-row gallery along with a small group of friends, including the family's priest. The ex-commissioner and marketing executive offered no reaction aside from a wink to his family as U.S. Marshals led him out of the courtroom in handcuffs. Heffley's decision came three days after Ahr, 67, turned himself in on five federal counts including distribution, possession, and receipt of child pornography. Ahr was indicted four months after state authorities brought a similar case, in which he had been granted $100,000 bail. Much said Monday that since then Ahr had complied with every condition of his release, including prohibitions on contact with minors and use of the internet. Delaware County authorities first found their way to Ahr's Radnor residence in September while pursuing a tip from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children that a Yahoo Messenger account associated with him had been flagged for trafficking in illicit images of children. According to court filings, Ahr who went online by the screen names "DaddyX" or "DaddyXX" admitted during that initial interview that he had been "sexting" with unknown people online who had sent him images of children that he knew to be illegal. Rotella on Monday dismissed Ahr's confession as a "minimization of his crimes." From the second his account was shut down by Yahoo, she said, Ahr took steps to delete all transcripts of his online conversations in chat rooms with such names as "pedomoms" and "little boy sex chat." Ahr also allegedly deleted a Dropbox account that may have contained more incriminating photos minutes after detectives left his house. Still, investigators managed to recover more than 1,000 pornographic and sadistic images of children from various devices under Ahr's control, including a computer issued by his employer, Progressive Business Publications, and an iPad that Ahr had been issued by Radnor Township. "He has already shown that he is capable of concealing his activities," Rotella said. "He's certainly capable of living a double life. On the one hand he was serving as a Radnor Township commissioner, on the other this was what he was doing with all of his free time." Ahr resigned in November from his seat on the township Board of Commissioners, a spot to which he was elected as a Democrat in 2016. He faces a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison should he be convicted. No trial date has been scheduled. Ernest Gardner rakes trash in a vacant lot on North 19th Street in North Central Philadelphia on Feb. 16 2018. Gardner does not own the property. A neighbor who was tired of seeing the litter hired him to clean it up. Read more You've probably seen it happen: A driver pulls up at a red light and unloads his cabin of empty water bottles onto the sidewalk before zooming away. A kid finishes his Wawa hoagie and tosses the wrapper at the base of a tree. The neighbor drags her garbage bags around the corner and dumps them there, days before trash pickup. In a city so synonymous with litter, some people see these sorts of civic offenses and suffer them in silent frustration. Others engage. "I confront," said Loretta Lupo Tague of Point Breeze. "My husband thinks I'll be shot one day, but I can't help myself. The reactions I've seen have been mixed. Some people sheepishly pick up what I point out they dropped youngsters are more likely to do this and others defy my taunts." The official suggestion from Keep Philadelphia Beautiful's Michelle Feldman is to not confront litterers, for safety reasons. "We don't want to put anyone in a dangerous situation," Feldman said. The nonprofit partners with community groups on cleanups and sends volunteers into schools to talk to students about keeping sidewalks and streets litter-free. Feldman said that if someone decides to strike up a conversation with a litterer, it's best to find a way into the conversation that's relatable to the person. "You can come at it from an economic development angle, neighborhood pride, the environment, community cohesion," Feldman said. "We recommend to figure out where someone is coming from and address it from that place." We put out a call, and fed-up Philadelphians told us how they react: Return to sender. Several readers said they pretend as if the offender dropped the trash accidentally and then politely hand it back. Rob Swift, 32, was walking through Passyunk Square recently when he saw a driver pull up and start emptying out his car in front of a family barbecuing on their sidewalk. "He's taking trash and soda and bags and just dumping it all right in front of them," Swift said. As the man moved to clean out his backseat, Swift collected the garbage on the sidewalk and dumped it inside the guy's passenger side window. When the driver realized what was happening, he started cursing at Swift, got in his car and sped off, throwing garbage out of the window as he went. "It was insane," said Swift, who has a purple belt in jiu-jitsu. "But I kind of feel like people need to call each other out on it. Obviously there's dangerous people in Philadelphia, but it's just shocking how casual people are about it." Another reader reported chasing down a SEPTA bus after the driver tossed a bag of garbage onto the sidewalk. One told of returning "freshly jettisoned cigarette butts" to their owner. Guilt them, with wisdom or cute children who know better. "I tell them there are people in this neighborhood working really hard to keep it clean, and they shouldn't make their jobs harder," said Dan Martino, 33, of Old Richmond. "They usually pull a stupid face and walk a little faster." Anna MacDonald's 6-year-old son, Abraham, confronted a grown man who discarded a bottle at a South Philly park last year. "He shouted across the street, 'Hey! Hey, you! I saw you throw that on the ground. You need to protect the planet!'" MacDonald said. "The guy just looked down and ignored him." Meet their mad disregard for the neighborhood with a Holmesian response. Most people have to observe a litterer in the act to confront them. Frank Criniti, 65, of South Philadelphia, tracks them down by the trash they leave behind. When Criniti, who has lived in the neighborhood since his family moved from Italy in 1958, sees a bag of garbage, he'll open it and weed through it to find evidence of who left the mess on his pavement. He's got a running log of names, addresses, and phone numbers of known dumpers. Recently, Criniti found a bag with a receipt from an auto body shop listing the name, phone number, and address of a man in Claymont, Del. He called the guy. "I told him, if I catch another bag of yours, I'm calling the city, and they'll send you a fine for $300 to $1,000," Criniti said. The perp, who worked in Philadelphia but dumped his trash in the city on his way to the office, apologized. "For the most part, people don't give me attitude," Criniti said. "I've been around the block a few times, people don't bother me. If they start to, I tell them I'll bring a container, fill it up with trash, and I'll run it down there and dump it out in front of your house. See how you like it." Staff writer Michael Boren contributed to this article. MALABO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo met Sunday in the capital Malabo the Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Chang Wanquan, who arrived here Sunday for a two-day visit. Obiang hailed the steady development of the traditional friendship between the two countries since the establishment of their diplomatic relations. He stressed that there has been fruitful bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields, and that in international and regional affairs, the two countries have worked closely together, putting forward mutual support. According to the president, Equatorial Guinea attaches significant importance to the traditional friendship between the two countries, and is ready to strengthen political, economic and security cooperation with China in order to deepen their comprehensive cooperative partnership. For his part, Chang said the friendship between the two countries has been steadily consolidating since the establishment of diplomatic relations 48 years ago. Chang recalled that in 2015 Obiang and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping jointly established a comprehensive cooperative partnership of mutual trust and win-win cooperation, providing a roadmap for the development of bilateral relations. Chang said he was pleased with the strengthening of the pragmatic cooperation between the two armies over the years, and reaffirmed that China is willing to strengthen the friendly and pragmatic cooperation and work together to maintain peace and security in the region. Equatorial Guinean Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue attended the meeting. Chang then met with Equatorial Guinea Defense minister Leandro Bacale Ncogo Ayingono on Monday. Assistant Superintendent for the School District of Philadelphia Dr. Eric Becoats talks to third grader Anthony Rodriguez, 8, during a tour of some of the classes before the School Progress Report awards ceremony at the Potter-Thomas Elementary School on January 29, 2018. Read more Philadelphia made history in 2017 by ending the 16-year state control of its public schools. Now, we must come together yet again to create the quality schools our children deserve. The question is: How do those schools get the funding they need? The answer will determine the future of our schools and our neighborhoods and reveal whom our city government prioritizes: corporations and the wealthy, or the rest of us. In the coming months, there will be a discussion about increasing property taxes while once again rolling back taxes on businesses. But Philadelphia has already seen three property-tax increases in the last seven years, and President Trump's tax bill just gave corporations billions of dollars. We say: Enough! Increased property taxes will fall heavily on low-income people and the fixed-income elderly, and contribute to the continued displacement of black, brown, and working-class Philadelphians due to increasing housing costs. There is plenty of money in our city and our country but instead of investing in our children, money is being hoarded by the top 1 percent. Our City Our Schools has put together a plan to fund our schools that would raise more than $200 million per year, protect low- and moderate-income Philadelphians and small businesses, and support economic prosperity. The mayor and City Council can act on our plan in this budget season. This plan both solves the $100 million gap that hits our schools this year and creates some surplus so we can begin to envision the schools our kids deserve. Here are our main proposals: Abolish the 10-year tax abatement program for properties assessed at $500,000 or above. Negotiate with major tax-exempt institutions like universities and nonprofits that hold property valued at more than $15 million to pay 50 percent of what they would if they were fully taxed. (They currently pay zero percent.) Postpone the proposed cuts to the Business Income and Receipts Tax (BIRT) scheduled over the next five years. Postpone the proposed cuts in the wage tax scheduled over the next five years and help working people by implementing a low-wage tax credit program. Increase the Use and Occupancy Tax by raising the overall rate to 1.5 percent while raising the exemption amount to shield small businesses. We also know that the School District has to be careful with any funds we raise. Two cost-cutting measures we propose are: Undertake an independent forensic, managerial, and performance audit to ensure every School District program is cost-effective. Fund a feasibility study on a public bank that could address the School District's more than $300 million in annual debt service payments. The Chamber of Commerce will say that we need continued business tax breaks, but we all know its plan does not work. Over the last 30 years, we've cut the city wage tax by 22 percent, cut the city gross receipts tax 64 percent, and given massive state and federal corporate tax breaks. Yet poverty levels have increased in Philly and disproportionately impacted black and brown communities. We've tested their "trickle-down" economics, and the lesson is simple: Tax cuts to corporations and the wealthy do not lead to greater investment in our neighborhoods, do not create jobs in our communities, and do not fund our schools. By enacting the Our City Our Schools funding proposal, the mayor and Council will not only address the looming budget deficit, but also create a surplus so we can imagine the schools our children deserve: smaller class sizes; healthy and safe schools buildings; fully funded programs for arts and sports; fully-staffed school counselors, librarians, and nurses. Our city is at a crossroads. We are seeing a surge of people with moderate means moving in, yet our schools are still woefully underfunded. Our city's number-one priority must be keeping this city affordable for longtime residents while providing the highest quality education in the country. In the face of a federal administration hellbent on destroying our social services, it's up to the mayor and Council to protect small businesses, Philadelphia's schoolchildren, and the majority of Philadelphians. Every day, educators, students, and parents do amazing work in our schools under inhumane conditions. Now is the moment for all of our institutions to step up to contribute to our schools. We call on Mayor Kenney and Council to demand that our city's wealthy pay what they owe our students by creating a budget that funds the schools our children deserve. Kendra Brooks is a leader with Parents United for Public Education and the Our City Our Schools coalition, and most recently served on the mayor's nominating committee for the new Board of Education. Shakeda Gaines is the president of the Philadelphia Home and School Council and the mother of four children in the Philadelphia schools. BEIJING, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- China hopes the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States can make progress in dialogue to promote settlement of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said Monday. A high-ranking DPRK delegation showed readiness to talk with the United States when meeting with Republic of Korea (ROK) President Moon Jae-in Sunday in PyeongChang, saying Pyongyang was willing to hold talks with Washington, and held that inter-Korean relations and DPRK-U.S. ties should progress together. Regarding the reports, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a daily news briefing that China welcomes the progress the DPRK and ROK have made in carrying out dialogue and improving relations. "The core of the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue is a security issue," Lu said, adding settlement of the core issue relies on the DPRK and the United States. When asked for comment on the news that the DPRK and ROK may discuss resuming regular reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, Lu said, "For both countries in the region and the international community, it will be one thing that makes them pleased if the DPRK and ROK hold family reunions once again." "It is encouraging that the two sides have released a series of positive signals recently in improving their relationship," Lu said. China hopes the two sides will seize the opportunity, continue to show goodwill toward each other, and maintain the momentum of cooperation and dialogue, Lu said, adding both sides should make concrete efforts to further improve their relationship, ease regional situation and maintain peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. By Chen Weihua US President Donald Trump two weeks ago made a $716 billion request for national security spending in fiscal 2019, including $686 billion for the Department of Defense. The fiscal 2019 proposal represents a $74 billion increase, or 10 percent real growth, in Pentagon funding over the amounts set in the continuing resolution levels. The United States faces an increasingly competitive and dangerous international security environment, characterized by the re-emergence of great power competition with China and Russia, dangerous new technologies, empowered non-state actors, and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, the White House said in its budget document for the Department of Defense. While Trump and many US lawmakers have advocated and supported the increase in defense spending, polls showed that public views on the issue are divided. Overall, the US public is split almost evenly across three views of the defense budget. About 34 percent say the federal government is spending too much on national defense and the military, 33 percent say too little, and 31 percent say about right, according to a Gallup poll released on Feb 21. The proportion of Americans saying too little is being spent on defense declined to 33 percent from 37 percent in the previous two years, according to the poll taken from Feb 1-10. A random poll on The Tylt, a debate website, showed similar results when respondents were asked if the US spends too much on its military. About 61.3 percent chose FundSchoolsNotBombs, while 38.7 percent chose KeepAmericaStrong. US politicians like to tout their unrivaled military might in the world, but at the same time also exaggerate the threats posed by other nations and non-state actors such as ISIS when they argue for a large military budget. That is probably why Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang expressed his bewilderment on Feb 14 when asked to comment on US National Intelligence Director Daniel Coats saying the US is confronted with multiple threats posed by countries such as Russia and China. The United States is the No. 1 major power in the world with unparallel military might. If the US felt that it was threatened hither and thither, what would other countries do? Shouldn't they feel that the danger just lurked at the doorstep? How could they even survive in that case? he said. I don't know why the United States has such a strong sense of insecurity, Geng said. I want to stress that there is no such thing as the absolute security under the sun. Moreover, one country's security cannot be achieved at the expense of other countries' security. Geng is absolutely right. The US spends more on its military than at least the next eight countries, including China and Russia, combined. The worlds largest economy, the US spent 3.3 percent of its gross domestic product on military purposes in 2016, according to the World Bank, compared with Chinas 1.9 percent. Chinas percentage is lower than the 2.2 percent world average. India and Vietnam, two of Chinas neighbors, spent 2.5 percent and 2.4 percent in 2016, respectively, of GDP on the military. So China has plenty of reasons to justify increased military spending even without deploying the paranoid US logic. I am glad that China is not falling into such a trap. China has instead spent much on economic development by building high-speed rails and other much needed infrastructural facilities; by spending on cleaning up the environment and social development; and by investing in the connectivity of regions with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Belt and Road Initiative. As the largest developed country, the US is also facing serious challenges on infrastructure, education and healthcare, areas that call for more priority in government spending than the mighty US military. US politicians have clearly made the wrong decision compared with what the American public demands. Earle , AR, police officer Kenneth J. Culbreath was killed in a crash driving home from his shift. (Photo: Crittenden Co. Sheriff Mike Allen's Facebook Page) An Earle, AR, police officer was killed driving home from his shift late Saturday when he lost control of his pickup on a wet highway in east Arkansas, authorities said. The crash happened around 11:45 p.m. on Arkansas 50 at Heth in St. Francis County, according to a preliminary report. Police say Kenneth J. Culbreath, 53, of Wynne lost control of a 1999 Chevrolet pickup at a curve, causing the vehicle to travel off the highway, Arkansas Online reports. The vehicle then flipped several times before coming to a rest in a field, according to authorities. Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday asked the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the response to the Parkland school shooting, as questions mounted over the Broward Sheriffs Offices handling of the tragedy that took 17 lives. The announcement came just hours after Broward Sheriff Scott Israel appeared on CNN and refused any blame for his agencys missteps and touted his own amazing leadership. The governors office said in a statement Sunday that the investigation will begin immediately, the Sun Sentinel reports. There must be an independent investigation and that is why I asked the FDLE Commissioner to immediately start this process, the governor said in a written statement, adding that he had discussed the matter with House Speaker Richard Corcoran. I have spoken to the Speaker regularly since the shooting, and like me, he wants the families to have answers and for there to be full accountability. Thats what the victims and their families deserve. A student was taken into custody after bringing a loaded gun into Fels High School in the Summerdale section of Philadelphia, according to school officials. Officials say the gun was found in a 15-year-old student's backpack as it went through metal detectors at the entrance of the school Monday morning, 6ABC.com. The .40 caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, fully loaded, set off an alarm when the backpack went through a metal detector, police said. The 9th grade student was immediately taken into custody, said Philadelphia Police Capt. Sekou Kinebrew. The student admitted to police that he had stolen the gun from a car near his home sometime during the past week, Kinebrew said. He has no disciplinary problems and no criminal record. Police were working to determine if a rumor that the student had been beaten up and brought the weapon to school for protection is accurate. A man was arrested by a California Highway Patrol officer on suspicion of DUI after he was spotted riding a horse on a Los Angeles-area freeway. (Photo: California Highway Patrol) A man who was spotted riding a horse on the 91 Freeway in the Long Beach, CA, area was arrested on suspicion of DUI early Saturday, authorities said. Officers responded to the roadway around 1 a.m. after a 911 caller reported a man riding in eastbound lanes from Paramount Boulevard to Downey Avenue, according to a California Highway Patrol arrest report. The man was stopped as he exited the 91 at Downey and rode across Bellflower city limits, KTLA TV reports. His blood alcohol level was found to be more than double the legal limit, with two screenings showing results of .21 percent and .19 percent, the agency said. He was booked on suspicion of a DUI. India is hosting a naval exercise with 23 participating nations in March, prompting Chinese observers to warn that Sino-Indian tensions are spreading from the land to the sea and that China should prepare a military response. "The biennial exercise 'Milan' is being organized at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands from March 6 and will last for eight days," the Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency reported Sunday. India will host navies from at least 16 countries for an eight-day naval exercise "in the backdrop of China's growing military posturing in the Indo-Pacific region," PTI reported. The 16 nations include Australia, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Myanmar, New Zealand, Oman, Vietnam, Thailand, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Kenya and Cambodia, PTI reported, citing Indian Navy spokesman Captain DK Sharma. But according to the event's official website milan18.org, 23 nations will participate in the event including nations not mentioned by the Indian media: South Africa, the Philippines, Mozambique, Brunei, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Timor Leste. "The India-led 2018 Milan exercise will have a larger scale than ever. India is provoking China, which will not benefit the development of Sino-Indian relations," Hu Zhiyong, a research fellow at the Institute of International Relations of the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday. "Now it's possible that the conflict between China and India will extend beyond land to the sea," Hu said. China should "also be prepared for a military response at the same time to any unreasonable provocation," he said. The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are located in the eastern Indian Ocean at the juncture of the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea where the biennial navy exercise has been hosted nine times since 1995. There were 16 participating nations in 2014, said milan18.org. According to the Milan website, the exercise provides a platform for interactions and promotes cooperation through humanitarian missions. However, navy chiefs of participating countries are likely to discuss China's military maneuvers in the South China Sea during the coming event in March, PTI said. "The theme of the event has been turning sour," Zhao Gancheng, director of the Center for Asia-Pacific Studies at the Shanghai Institute for International Studies, told the Global Times on Monday. "It has lost its original intention and is more likely to make China into a target, and that is making trouble out of nothing," he said. In January, India launched its intercontinental ballistic missile Agni-V, which can "reach the northernmost parts of China with its strike range of over 5,000 kilometers," the Times of India reported. One month later, the nuclear-capable Prithvi-II missile was tested in the eastern state of Odisha. In June last year, China and India had a 70-day-long military standoff in the Doklam region along their shared border. China should seek dialogue between top leaders of both countries to resolve sensitive issues, Zhao said. A St. Charles County sheriff's deputy working with a U.S. Marshals task force was shot Monday morning while serving a search warrant in the north St. Louis County municipality of Glasgow Village. He was shot in the chest, but body armor stopped the bullet. The officer was brought to a hospital for observation and is said to be doing "OK." The suspect was wanted for first-degree assault and second-degree domestic assault. The Marshals Service said the suspect fired shots at the officers when they exited their vehicles. The officers then returned fire. St. Louis County police, Bellefontaine police, and the Marshals engaged in a standoff with the man. Police evacuated nearby homes as worried neighbors watched from a safe distance, FOX2 reports. As the county SWAT team searched the building, they discovered the body of the suspect, identified as 40-year-old William Watson Jr. Authorities recovered a firearm from the scene. Assistant Police Chief Justin Durrett of the Checotah (OK) Police Department died Monday. He was severely injured in a single-car accident earlier this month. (Photo: Checotah PD/Facebook) Checotah, OK, Assistant Police Chief Justin Durrett, who was injured in a crash about two weeks ago, has died, police officials announced. Durrett was injured in a single-vehicle crash on Feb. 11 near Beaver Mountain Road and State Highway 71. Police officials said he died Monday. "It is with deep regret that we are announcing the passing of Checotah (Assistant) Police Chief Justin Durrett," officials with the police department posted on Facebook. Durrett served at the Checotah Police Department for 13 years. He is survived by two children and his parents, KOCO TV reports. Bone-chilling temperatures around 12 degrees did not deter more than 1,000 people from jumping into the icy waters at Foster Arend Park on Feb. 10 in support of Special Olympics Minnesota at the 17th annual Polar Plunge . The event, hosted by the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics with the Olmsted County Sheriffs Officeleading the effort raised more than $230,000, bringing the total to $2.4 million raised since its beginning in 2002. Sheriff Kevin Torgerson, chairman of the Polar Plunge Committee, said the event has grown "phenomenally" over the years. "Proceeds of the first plunge were $660," he said. "The last six years, there hasnt been a yearly total below $200,000." This was the second year for the "Cool School Plunge," in which 140 high school youth jumped for the cause. Combining their totals, the youth raised $11,500. The Super Plungers 10 individuals who raised a minimum of $3,000 each were some of the first to jump following opening ceremonies Saturday afternoon. For each of the Super Plungers, it was their 24th jump, as each had jumped 23 times beginning Friday afternoon. Macey Tesmer, from the Olmsted County Sheriffs office, has been a Super Plunger for 11 years. Tesmer raised $4,800 for Special Olympics this year. "One jump is easy," she said. "But multiple jumps are pretty painful. Really though, its all a state of mind. I remember who Im doing it for. We all have somebody special in our livesan athlete. For me, its my cousin Rachel." Mark Ostrem, who was part of a group of 10 from the Olmsted County Attorneys office, participated in Polar Plunge for the sixth year. "I love doing it," Ostrem said. "Its exhilarating. And its for such a great cause." Evonne Broz, a member of Ostrems group, participated in Polar Plunge for the very first time. Broz, who moved to Minnesota in May, is a native of California. "Ive never done this. Im nervous," she said. "They tell me the water is not that bad." Just in case Brozs colleagues werent being completely upfront about water temperatures on a winter day in Minnesota, her after-Plunge plans included a hot toddy at a local watering hole. Eighteen staff members from the Minnesota Correctional Facility in Red Wing all wearing bright orange jumpsuits with "DOC (Department of Corrections) Inmate" stamped on the back were also among the first to jump. The group, which raised $7,000, was led by team captain, Jo Lynn Fleming. "Its my fifth year jumping," Fleming said. "I was only going to do this once, but its so awesome and so fun. It just keeps getting bigger year after year." Susanand Steve Nickel along with Susans kids, Oliviaand Jordan Thiede were team "Chills and Thrills." Susan and Steve took a different kind of plunge just two weeks prior to the Polar Plunge. "We were married two weeks ago," Susan said. "Its the third year the kids and I have done Polar Plunge, but its Steves first time. I gave him a special pair of socks before the wedding so he wouldnt get cold feet. Hes wearing them again today." Sixteen-year-old Rachel Eberhardtwas inspired to plunge after hearing about the event in her American Studies class at John Marshall High School. "I came to raise money for Special Olympics," she said. Eberhardts family came to support her. "I would do it too," said her sister Katie. Rachels mom, Ann Eberhardt, said, "shes crazy," but her dad, John, said, "She was born in Minnesota. She can handle this." The People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy's South China Sea Fleet on Sunday completed a 25-day training exercise in the open seas, which experts said shows the peaceful development path of the Chinese navy. The fleet arrived at a military harbor in Zhanjiang, South China's Guangdong Province after an 8,000-nautical mile voyage through the South China Sea, eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific, the PLA Daily reported. The training exercise is part of the navy's annual plan and conforms with international law and practices, the report noted. The report said the fleet includes Changsha, a Type 052D destroyer, Jinggangshan, a Type 071 amphibious transport dock, Hengyang, a Type 054A frigate and comprehensive supply ship Luomahu. The training simulates actual combat. The fleet completed more than 20 exercises such as joint air defense, air-sea joint attacks and deep strikes on land, which all tested the combat capability of the navy and helped to explore new training methods. The training showed that the PLA Navy South China Sea Fleet has improved its capability and enlarged its active range, Chen Xiangmiao, a research fellow at the National Institute for the South China Sea, told the Global Times on Monday. The message the fleet sent to the US, Japan and India through the training is that China is capable of maintaining sea security and can break through all types of strategic blockades, Chen said. According to the Beijing-based nanhainet.cn, tasks such as confronting pirates, inspecting suspected vessels and rescue work have become important to the Chinese navy. "The Chinese navy is taking on more functions, which is part of its development path, as it is the duty of big countries to take on the tasks to maintain regional peace and stability," Chen said. "The Western media tends to be biased against any Chinese naval activity in the South China Sea and other regions, calling it China's expansion ambition." However, the Chinese navy's activities are legitimate and show China's peaceful development path, Chen noted. How out of touch is the Democratic Party? This out of touch: The Washington Post reports that Democrats expected the Trump tax cut to be unpopular and are surprised to find that voters like seeing more money in their pay checks. Post reporter Erica Warner writes: Democrats predicted a political backlash for Republicans in December when the GOP pushed through a deeply unpopular tax cut that added more than $1 trillion to the federal deficit and disproportionately helped the wealthy. But at the outset of the 2018 campaign season, Democrats early optimism appears less well founded here [in Indiana], where Democrat Joe Donnelly is facing a tough Senate reelection fight. The new law is rising in popularity as businesses in Indiana and elsewhere trumpet bonuses and bigger paychecks. And while Donnelly and fellow Democrats struggle to craft a consistent attack on the law, Republicans boosted by outside spending from groups backed by the billionaire Koch brothers and others are united in touting the tax cuts and slamming moderate Democrats who voted against them. You know the Dems are hurting when their organ, the Washington Post, concedes theres a problem and feels compelled to invoke the billionaire Koch brothers to help account for it. According to the Post, Democrats like Sen. Donnelly intend to argue that the tax cut, though it is increasing peoples paychecks now, will be bad for the country later on. Donnelly is referring, of course, to the debt. Yet, Donnelly just voted for a budget deal that will add hundreds of billions of dollars in federal spending. Donnelly makes an unconvincing deficit hawk. Hes far more convincing as a hack who votes the way his party demands. At least Donnelly isnt using the word crumbs to describe the extra money taxpayers are seeing in their paychecks due to the tax cut. However, thats still how party leaders view the windfall. Steny Hoyer, the number two House Democrat, toured the Rust Belt last week to pitch the Democrats economic message. The Post reports: As for Pelosis comment criticizing the tax laws benefit for the middle class as crumbs, Hoyer contended that Pelosis point was accurate even though it has become central to GOP attacks against Democrats. Still, I dont say it, Hoyer said. Not to voters, only to reporters. But just the fact that he thinks it shows how out of touch the Democrats are with ordinary Americans. So does this, also from the Posts report: Since the [tax cut] passed, congressional Democrats have been largely focused on the issue of immigration, forcing the government into a three-day partial shutdown last month in an unsuccessful attempt to gain protections for the young undocumented immigrants known as dreamers, who were brought to the country as children. Meanwhile, Republicans have relentlessly promoted the benefits of the tax law. In short, one party is working to allow American citizens to keep more of the money they earn. The other is ridiculing this effort, while forcing a government showdown to help illegal immigrants. And its surprised to learn that this approach isnt going over well in the heartland. Thats how out of touch the Democratic Party is. Li Min/China Daily Editorial note: Operation Red Sea, based on the Chinese navy's evacuation of Chinese nationals from Yemen in 2015, when civil war broke out in that country, has attracted wide attention as did the similarly military themed film Wolf Warrior 2 last year. A military expert and China Ocean News analyze why such films have become trendy. Excerpts follow: Navy's overseas missions protect national interests It is the Chinese navy's mission to protect the country's national interests and meet its international obligations as the film Operation Red Sea shows in the evacuation of Chinese nationals from overseas. Such military movies have attracted growing public attention in recent years, since, in its nearly 70 years of history, the People's Liberation Army Navy only started overseas missions a few years ago, a change that has greatly stirred up the patriotic fervor of Chinese people. China upholds active defense as its military principle and does not intend to jeopardize the sovereign and security interests of other countries. However, China's near-sea defense in no way means its navy should not "go out", since the navy is always the means of conducting operations to protect the lives and property of Chinese nationals overseas if they are caught in conflicts or natural disasters. With China's economic growth and its increasing influence on the international stage, the Chinese navy has had to adjust accordingly. The Chinese navy's overseas actions, including its anti-piracy missions, are not only in accordance with its own national interests but also show China is shouldering its international responsibilities. However, some countries are nervous about China's rise, which is reflected in various "China threat" theories. But China will never seek maritime hegemony. It will continue to maintain peace with growing military strength. It is fine to use the film to show the country's military strength and its determination to protect the national interests and to create the image of the great power. However, the film doesn't totally equate to reality because of artistic license and creation. For example, the commander repeatedly says, "we must not enter other countries' territorial waters", which is not accurate, as according to the UN Convention of the Law of the Sea, foreign ships enjoy the right of "innocent passage" through territorial seas and such passage is not prejudicial to peace and security. Military vessels, too, enjoy the right provided they get the approval of the coastal countries concerned. Thus, films about the military should be carefully checked by authoritative experts in the future to ensure the accuracy of their facts. And it is not wise to hype the wrong messages which may cause negative effects. Wang Xiaoxuan is a Beijing-based expert on military issues. This is an excerpt from his interview with China Daily's Yao Yuxin. The film calls for nationals' awareness over ocean power The blockbuster film Operation Red Sea, released on the first day of the Chinese New Year, has successfully catered to audiences' tastes and translated into great profits. Based on the evacuation of Chinese nationals from Yemen in 2015, the film, strongly supported by the Chinese navy, portrays China as a responsible member of the international community, and presents a good image of the country's naval power and its ability to safeguard its maritime rights. Even though it is a country with 3 million square kilometers of sea under its jurisdiction and an 18,000 km coastline, China is far from being a sea power and it has suffered invasion from the sea in the past. It is therefore necessary to raise Chinese people's perceptions of the need to protect its maritime rights. US naval officer Alfred Mahan proposed in 1890 that the United States seize sea power by controlling maritime transport routes, ocean shipping, and marine resources, in order to continuously benefit the country in economic development and get control of the world. It is under the guidance of this "sea power theory" that the US has built up its navy. China once enjoyed a brilliant maritime civilization like the prosperous maritime Silk Road during the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD 25-220) and the "treasure voyages" commanded by Zheng He during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). However, China lost its status as a sea power in modern history, partly because of the lack of the awareness about the importance of the oceans. Now China's overall maritime force has grown and it has indigenous aircraft, nuclear submarines and aircraft carriers. However, the advanced equipment and weapons do not mean powerful naval strength if there is no corresponding ocean awareness. The film Operation Red Sea helps raise people's awareness about the need for a strong navy. The piece is an excerpt from a commentary in China Ocean News. By Mao Pengfei PHNOM PENH, Feb.27 (ChinaMil) -- A ceremony marking the handover of Chinas medical equipment aid to Cambodia was held at Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia, on Monday. The equipment, provided by Chinas Ministry of Defense, was donated to the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital of the Cambodian armed forces. During the handover ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister of Cambodia Tea Banh expressed thanks to China. He said that these medical equipment embodies China's support for Cambodia's medical development. China's assistance in all aspects is very important to the development of Cambodia and China is a great partner to Cambodia, he added. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo said that the exchanges and cooperation between the two armed forces have been continuously strengthened and there have been fruitful results in military medical cooperation. Xiong believed that the medical equipment will play active role in enhancing the medical level of the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital and supporting the development of Cambodia's health service. The medical equipment donated includes 128-slice CT systems, extracorporeal circulation machines, cardiac ultrasound equipment and other modern medical devices. In addition, China also sent a medical team including 6 doctors to provide technical support and training at the Preah Ket Mealea Hospital. Lieutenant General Ly Sovan, director of the hospital, said that these advanced equipment and Chinese doctors will help Cambodian doctors make better diagnoses in cancer, cerebral infarction and aneurysms and enhance their medical level. Defense Minister Tea Banh, right, at the handover ceremony yeasterday. Fresh News Chinas Ministry of Defence yesterday provided 24 kinds of medical equipment to the state-run Preah Ket Mealea military hospital to support heart and blood treatments. During a ceremony in Phnom Penh, Lieutenant General Ly Sovan, director of Preah Ket Mealea Hospital, said the hospital has often been short of medical equipment and human resources. Lt Gen Sovan said that since 2000, Chinas Ministry of Defence has been filling the void with donations while also renovating five buildings. He added the medical equipment donated yesterday included scanning machines and operating tools. Chinese ambassador Xiong Bo inspects some of the donated equipment. Fresh News This medical equipment will help and support treatment in the cardiovascular ward because they are high cost, effective diagnostic machines that the hospital was lacking, he said. Prum Vises, director of the department that received the donation, said that some diseases needed sophisticated medical equipment for treatment. This technical equipment is rarely available in our country, so these donated machines will help to diagnose heart diseases more effectively, he said. Xiong Bo, Chinese ambassador to Cambodia, said that China cooperates well with Cambodia in all sectors and noted that it plans to strengthen military cooperation in the future, including the support for hospitals. Some of the donated equipment on display. Fresh News China will help to improve treatment at this hospital to give better service to Cambodian people and soldiers, he said. During the handover ceremony, Defence Minister Tea Banh said to celebrate 60 years of relations between the two nations, both countries will hold a Golden Dragon military exercise in March. The support from China, and good cooperation with China, is a sign of a long-term commitment for both governments, he said. The health sector needs improvement for peace in the country and it needs more modern technical equipment for medical treatment. Last month, Gen Banh confirmed that China is to provide the army with tanks and armoured personnel carriers to strengthen relations between the two militaries. He said the tanks and APCs would arrive in Cambodia in March, prior to the Golden Dragon military exercise. China has become Cambodias largest development aid donor and provider of foreign investment. As a major source of development assistance, China has disbursed more than $200 million annually since 1992 and has provided about $3 billion in concessional loans and grants to Cambodia. OAKLAND, New Jersey, Feb. 26, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Collagen Matrix, Inc., a leader in regenerative medicine and a global manufacturer of collagen and mineral based medical devices announced today its first entrance into the India market with two product lines, OssiMend bone graft matrices from its Spine Business Unit and DuraMatrix membranes from its Dural Repair Business Unit. OssiMend bone graft matrices are designed to provide a scaffold for a patient to grow new bone and are typically used in spinal fusion surgeries. DuraMatrix dural repair products are engineered to provide a scaffold for brain and spinal cord host dura to naturally regenerate resulting in the protection, closure and repair of dural defects as well as providing leak resistance of cerebrospinal fluid. Both of these product lines as well as others from the Collagen Matrix five business unitsDental, Spine, Orthopaedic, Dural Repair and Nerve Repairhave been developed with its six proprietary technologies. With a robust 20-year reputation of product innovation, the Collagen Matrix products have helped patients worldwide with over 7.5 million medical devices. Collagen Matrix now has the opportunity to launch its innovative products into India with this recent Registration Certificate of approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation, Medical Device & Diagnostic Division of Government of India. "This first approval in India, the seventh largest country in the world, establishes an opportunity for Collagen Matrix to grow in this market and extends the Collagen Matrix Spine and Dural Repair footprint into Asia. It is another strategic milestone that represents our company's commitment to continuously advancing our international distribution capability," said Bart J. Doedens, CEO. "These products are a premium addition to the spine and neurosurgical surgeons' biologics toolboxes, and the India market aligns with our expansion strategy." Discover more about the Collagen Matrix Spine Solutions at www.CollagenMatrix.com/Products/Spine and Dural Repair Solutions at www.CollagenMatrix.com/Products/Dural-Repair. About Collagen Matrix Collagen Matrix, Inc., founded in 1997, delivers a full line of the highest-quality collagen and mineral based medical devices that support the body's natural ability to regenerate. The Company currently manufactures finished medical devices in the areas of Dental, Spine, Orthopaedic, Dural Repair and Nerve Repair Surgery. The evolution of the Company's leadership, proprietary technologies, manufacturing expertise and product portfolio has established a solid foundation for continued growth. Opportunities continue to exist for collaboration through Product Distribution, Product Development and Contract Manufacturing. More information about Collagen Matrix can be found at www.CollagenMatrix.com. Contact: Margo Lane 201-405-1477 [email protected] Related Links http://www.collagenmatrix.com SOURCE Collagen Matrix, Inc. "While mental health stigma continues to be an issue throughout our global society, it is important to recognize the mental health advocates who are making significant strides to destigmatize negative perceptions of mental illness," said Brother Dr. Rene Stockman, general director of the Dr. Guislain Museum. "We are proud to honor Dr. Guislain's legacy and contributions to the mental health community, including his desire for inclusiveness for all, with the annual 'Breaking the Chains of Stigma' Award." An independent selection committee, comprised of international advocates and renowned authorities in the field of mental health, selects the Award winner. The Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award winner will be honored at a ceremony on World Mental Health Day, 10 October, 2018, in New York City. Sotheara Chhim, M.D., M.P.M., Ph.D., was selected as the 2017 Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award recipient for his extraordinary efforts developing mental health services in Cambodia through scientific therapeutic approaches and launching the Operation Unchain initiative, a program designed to break the stigma of mental illness. Dr. Chhim is the executive director and senior consultant psychiatrist of the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) Cambodia, the country's leading Non-Government Organization in the field of mental health care and psychosocial support. Under his leadership, TPO Cambodia has developed and implemented programs to raise awareness about psychosocial and mental health conditions in many parts of Cambodia. Dr. Chhim and TPO have also provided mental health counselling, treatment, and specialized services for prisoners, gender-based violence survivors and torture survivors. To date, more than 220,000 patients and families have benefitted from his and his team's work. "At Janssen, we are deeply committed to helping break down the stigma associated with mental illness," said Husseini K. Manji, M.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head, Neuroscience, Janssen. "This award acknowledges and celebrates advocates around the world whose work is making a real difference for people living with mental illness, their families and communities. Together with these heroes, we will continue to make changes so that everyone is treated equally and can live life without stigma." Janssen has an ongoing commitment to advancing neuroscience research, a legacy which dates back to the work of Dr. Paul Janssen (1926-2003). "Dr. Paul" is known as one of the 20th century's most gifted and passionate physicians and pharmaceutical researchers. To honor his legacy, Janssen supports the mental health community and various advocacy organizations and projects. In 2011, the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson launched Healthy Minds, a comprehensive initiative that aims to encourage collaboration among biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and public-sector partners to accelerate the discovery of new therapeutic solutions for diseases and disorders of the brain. About the Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award Individuals, organizations or projects from around the world that have made an exceptional contribution in dealing with, or promoting the awareness of, mental health care are eligible* to receive the Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award. The Award is given to an individual(s), organization or project that: has made an exceptional contribution to mental health care in the broadest sense on a cultural and/or social level; has provided a genuine contribution to decreasing stigma around mental health conditions; has promoted attention for mental health care; and, has done all this with passion, creativity and innovation. The Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award honors Dr. Joseph Guislain (1797-1860), a driven activist for patients with mental illness and the first Belgian psychiatrist to provide scientifically based treatment for these individuals. As a passionate advocate for those with mental illness, Dr. Guislain worked tirelessly to stand up for the rights of patients and to help improve their social position. The Dr. Guislain Museum and Janssen jointly sponsor the Award, with funding provided by Janssen. Both organizations have a rich heritage and long-standing involvement in the field of mental illness research, treatment and education. About The Dr. Guislain Museum The Dr. Guislain Museum was founded in 1986 in Ghent, Belgium, with both permanent exhibitions addressing the history of psychiatry and outsider art, and a series of changing thematic exhibitions. The Museum features an array of psychiatric photographs, two centuries of comprehensive archives and an extensive library chronicling the history of psychiatry. Comprehensively, the Museum seeks to educate the public and rectify the misunderstandings and prejudice associated with treatment for mental illness. The Dr. Guislain Museum attracts 72,000 visitors each year. *Employees and officers of Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, The Dr. Guislain Museum, any promotional agencies and members of the immediate family or household of each, are not eligible to participate in the Dr. Guislain Award as nominators, Award candidates or judges. Immediate family member is defined as a parent, sibling or any person residing in the same household as employee. Contacts: Patrick Allegaert Dr. Guislain Museum +32 9 216 35 95 [email protected] Yoon Hee Lamot Dr. Guislain Museum +32 9 216 35 36 [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/645579/Dr_Guislain_Award.jpg Related Links http://www.drguislainaward.org SOURCE Dr. Guislain Museum The report " Heat Stabilizers Market by Type (Metal Soaps (Calcium-Based, Liquid Mixed Metals), Organotin), Application (Pipes & Fittings, Profiles & Tubing, Wires & Cables, Coatings & Floorings), and Region - Global Forecast to 2022 " published by MarketsandMarkets, the global Heat Stabilizers Market is estimated at USD 3.77 Billion in 2017 and projected to reach USD 4.57 Billion by 2022, at a CAGR of 4.0% from 2017 to 2022 The growth of the global Heat Stabilizers Market is mainly driven by the increasing demand for organic-based products. Organic-based heat stabilizers exhibit enhanced functionality as compared to metal carboxylates and result in low VOC emissions. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 95 tables and 40 figures spread through 134 pages and in-depth TOC on "Heat Stabilizers Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/heat-stabilizers-market-199624692.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The liquid mixed metals segment to grow at the highest CAGR between 2017 and 2022 Based on type, the global Heat Stabilizers Market has been segmented into metal soaps and organotin. The liquid mixed metals subsegment, falling under the metal soaps segment, is projected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This expected high growth rate is due to the increasing need for highly-efficient and cost-effective heat stabilizers having superior properties as compared to heavy metal-based heat stabilizers. Get PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=199624692 The wires & cables application segment to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period Based on application, the wires & cables segment is projected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2017 and 2022. The increasing demand for durability, moisture-resistance, long-term color fastness and stability, and exceptional heat resistance is fueling the growth of the wires & cables application segment globally. APAC to be the fastest-growing market for heat stabilizers during the forecast period The Heat Stabilizers Market in the APAC is projected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2017 and 2022. This growth is mainly attributed to the growth of construction, automotive, and medical industries; significant R&D investments; and drive to use less toxic products in the APAC countries, such as India, South Korea, and China. Europe accounted for the largest share of the global Heat Stabilizers Market in 2016, and is expected to continue to lead during the forecast period. This is due to the early product commercialization, intensive R&D, and rapid adoption of environment-friendly heat stabilizers by general consumers in this region. Reagens S.p.A. (Italy), PMC Organometallix Inc. (US), Chemson Group (Austria), Songwon Industrial Co., Ltd. (South Korea), and Baerlocher GmbH (Germany) are some of the leading players in the global Heat Stabilizers Market. Inquiry Before Buying @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=199624692 Browse Related Reports Polymer Stabilizer Market by Type (Antioxidant, Light Stabilzier, Heat Stabilizer), End-use Industry (Packaging, Automotive, Building & Construction, Consumer Goods), and Region - Global Forecast to 2022 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/polymer-stabilizer-market-262329717.html PVC Additives Market by Type (Stabilizers, Impact Modifiers, Processing Aids, Lubricants, Plasticizers), Fabrication Process (Extrusion, Injection Molding), Application (Pipes & Fittings, Profiles & Tubing, Rigid Sheet & Panel) - Global Forecast to 2021 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/pvc-additives-market-137788777.html Know More About our Knowledge Store @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Knowledgestore.asp About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our Blog @ http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/chemical Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets 16.3% revenue and 35.3% EBITDA growth over same period last year LONDON, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HH Global, the world's fastest-growing and most innovative marketing execution partner, today announced financial results for the three months ended December, 2017. Financial highlights Revenue was 95.4 million in the third quarter, an increase of 16.3% compared with 82.0 million in the third quarter of FY 2017. Gross profit was 20.8 million, or 21.8% of gross revenue in the third quarter, a 10.1% increase compared to 18.9 million, or 23.0% of gross revenue, in the same period of last year. Non-GAAP adjusted EBITDA was 5.8 million in the third quarter, reflecting 35.3% growth as compared to 4.3 million in the third quarter of FY 2017. Business Highlights Won the edie Sustainability Leaders Award 2018 for Sustainability Innovation: Standards, Systems and Software, underscoring both our commitment to delivering sustainable solutions and innovative technologies. Received the Amazon Growing Business "Business of the Year: Larger Company" award recognising ongoing growth and strong track record. Signed contract with a Fortune 100 financial services company valued at 17 million of annual gross revenue at full run-rate. Received commitments for expansion of existing or new enterprise contracts during the quarter bringing the fiscal year-to-date cumulative total to more than 61 million of annual gross revenue at full run-rate. "Our leadership in technology and sustainable solutions differentiates us in the market and contributes to our ability to win and retain customers," said Robert MacMillan, Group Chief Executive Officer of HH Global. "We are pleased by the industry accolades that we have received and by our continued growth." "While our third quarter financial results reflect the impact of our recent acquisition of PostNL Print Management (PPM), the EBITDA expansion comes as technology investments have made us more efficient," said Edward Parsons, HH Global's Group Chief Financial Officer. "We are well positioned to meet our financial goals for our fiscal year." About HH Global HH Global Ltd., founded in 1991, is a leading, independent marketing execution partner to prominent brands in over 40 countries. The company offers innovative and tailored solutions for the outsourced procurement of all types of printed marketing materials, packaging, and creative production services, that drive down cost, speed time to market, improve quality, and increase sustainability. Every HH Global solution utilises HHub, a best-in-class marketing execution application, an expansive list of suppliers, proprietary processes, and the deep expertise of over 850 employees. The company also operates HH Labs, the centre of its innovation program, that brings fresh, new ideas to clients. With more than $500M in spend under management, HH Global maintains a razor-sharp focus on cost and quality, combined with an industry-leading sustainability program, offering improvements that provide both fiscal and environmental value. For more information, visit www.hhglobal.com. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/471140/hh_global_Logo.jpg Related Links http://www.hhglobal.com SOURCE HH Global The Infinity H11 PRO has a 3D lens and its identifying feature is its ability to capture perfect pictures from all angles. With dimensions of 158.2 x 74.95 x 7.5mm, it has a 12MP + 8MP SONY IMX486 rear camera with dual color flash; and 20MP front camera with flash. As for the A2 PRO , it stands out for its colour, its attractiveness, and for being the best device for reading. It has a fingerprint recognition sensor on the side and 4GB + 64GB of memory, as well as a MicroSD of up to 128GB. The new HISENSE Infinity H11 is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 430 Octa-Core CPU, which is able to load applications much quicker. And the integrated Adreno 505 CPU allows for amazing photos, even when it has low battery. It has fingerprint recognition and a battery of 2,400 MAH. With great visuals, the Infinity H11 Lite makes for the best user experience. It has a memory of 16GB ROM + 2GB RAM, a 13 MPX rear camera, 8 MPX front camera and a battery of 3,400 MAH. Finally, the Rock Lite stands out for its range of colours and a long battery life. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/646822/Hisense_MWC.jpg SOURCE Hisense BENGALURU, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FabCI collaborates with Cadence, a leading provider of Electronic Design Automation software, as technology partner Highlights: Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad launches first-of-a-kind incubator program for fabless IC startups in India Fabless Chip Design Incubator Program, or FabCI, has the support of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) FabCI will incubate world-class semiconductor startups that can help accelerate change in the Indian landscape in semiconductor design Program provides remote access to facilities and software to non- Hyderabad based incubatees Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Hyderabad has launched a first-of-its-kind incubator program focusing on creating an ecosystem for grooming startups in the area of chip design. Called the Fabless Chip Design Incubator Program, or FabCI, it will be based in the IIT Hyderabad campus for fabless IC startups in India at their campus in Hyderabad. The Fabless Chip Design Incubator is a flagship program being executed with the support of Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MEITY) and in partnership with Cadence Design Systems, Inc., a leading provider of Electronic Design Automation (EDA) software, hardware and IP. The primary motivation for this unique incubator program is to provide a one-stop solution for startups focusing in the area of chip design. The vision of this incubator is to create an ecosystem wherein the incubatees are not only provided with the relevant infrastructure, hardware and software but also are mentored through the path of success with the help of mentors who are pioneers in this field. Speaking about the launch of FabCI, Prof U.B. Desai, Director, IIT Hyderabad, said, "This new incubator program demonstrates our commitment to generating IPR in chip design. It will be another testament to the entrepreneurial culture of the Institute." "I am confident that FabCI will make great contributions to the growth of chip design in the country. This incubator program will also be a shot in the arm to the 'Make in India' campaign and help India become a global hub for chip design," added Prof Desai. The grand vision is to leverage the deep research and design expertise of the IIT Hyderabad faculty as well as external mentors to create Indian IP and to make a mark in chip design internationally. IIT Hyderabad has designated Cadence as the technology partner for FabCI. While there is a dedicated facility being established at the IIT-H campus for the incubator, remote access to Cadence's tools is available to enable semiconductor innovation and entrepreneurship irrespective of location. The incubator is fully functional already and is soliciting applications from fabless IC startups. Speaking about the partnership with IIT Hyderabad for FabCI program, Mr. Jaswinder Ahuja, Corporate Vice President and Managing Director, Cadence Design Systems (India) Pvt Ltd, said, "Innovation and entrepreneurship are essential for the growth of the Electronics System Design & Manufacturing (ESDM) ecosystem in India. Incubators play a catalytic role in lowering entry barriers and fostering entrepreneurship. Cadence has been working with the Government of India, industry and academia for many years now to grow the ecosystem. We are excited to partner with an esteemed institution like IIT-H for 'FabCI', a unique incubator, which we expect can provide a boost to homegrown semiconductor innovation." Mr. Hemant Kanakia, Chief Advisor and Mentor for FabCI, said, "India has an enormous potential to become a center of excellence for fabless semiconductor product and service companies. FabCI is a very good first step in realizing that potential by creating an ecosystem for startups in the semi-conductor sector. In my opinion, the success of FabCI depends on partnerships with Industries such as EDA tools, fabrication factories, Indian Electronics and Semiconductor Association and local subsidiaries of multinationals involved in design and manufacture of silicon products in India. I applaud the support of Ministry of Electronics and Information, in particular Addl. Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar (IAS) for supporting the creation this center." In addition to its world-class EDA technologies, Cadence will also provide its platforms for emulation, rapid prototyping and access to its engineering expertise to ensure success of the incubator and incubatees. About IIT Hyderabad (http://www.iith.ac.in/) Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad (IITH) is one of the six new Indian Institutes of Technology established by the Government of India in 2008. In a short span of less than 10 years, the institute built on an imposing 570-acre campus has been ranked #10 among research and teaching institutions in Engineering in the India Rankings 2017 released by Ministry of HRD, Govt. of India. IITH has 181 full time faculty, 2,328 students, more than 100 state of the art laboratories and 9 research and entrepreneurship centers. IIT-H has a strong research focus with more than Rs. 250 Cr of sanctioned research funding while Ph.D. scholars account for about 30% of total student strength. IITH students and faculty are at the forefront of innovation with more than 1,500 research publications and patent disclosures, 300 sponsored/consultancy projects and 50 industry collaborations. IITH has MoUs with 50 universities in the U.S., Japan, Australia, Taiwan and Europe. IITH has been leading pioneering change in pedagogy with fractal academic programs that encourages interdisciplinary learning spanning innovative technology, fundamental science, liberal arts and creative arts like photography, theatre and painting. About Cadence Cadence enables electronic systems and semiconductor companies to create the innovative end products that are transforming the way people live, work and play. Cadence software, hardware and semiconductor IP are used by customers to deliver products to market faster. The company's System Design Enablement strategy helps customers develop differentiated productsfrom chips to boards to systemsin mobile, consumer, cloud datacenter, automotive, aerospace, IoT, industrial and other market segments. Cadence is listed as one of Fortune Magazine's 100 Best Companies to Work For. Learn more at cadence.com . Please direct all media queries to: Bhavani Giddu +91-9999500262 [email protected] Palak Sakhuja +91-9582338333 [email protected] Sairam Radhakrishnan +91-9840108083 [email protected] Juhee Ahmed IIT-Hyderabad +91-9885212092 [email protected] Media Contact: Madhavi Rao [email protected] +91-9880013765 Marketing Director Cadence Design Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd. SOURCE Cadence Design Systems (India) Private Limited PARIS, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lenzing Group (Lenzing) redefined TENCEL, as its textile premium brand at Premiere Vision Paris. The redefining of the TENCEL brand is a key milestone of Lenzing's new brand strategy to enhance product brand offerings, foster connection with customers and consumers, and drive consumer demand. TENCEL is well positioned to be a major growth engine in the textile sector, with a brand portfolio that caters for distinctive usage -- TENCEL Active, TENCEL Denim, TENCEL Home, TENCEL Intimate, and TENCEL Luxe, all enabled by two versatile and highly compatible fibers, TENCEL Modal and TENCEL Lyocell. Designed and based on the findings and insights of an extensive market research, the brand architecture is an important step for Lenzing to transform from a business-to-business (B2B) fiber producer to a business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) brand. The brand architecture not only addresses the growing trend amongst retail brands and consumers to seek out for products that make them look good and feel good, but also do good via sustainable and transparent production processes, like the processes used for producing TENCEL Modal and TENCEL Lyocell fibers. According to research findings, while LENZING Modal is known as a fiber with good quality and long-lasting exquisite softness, TENCEL is a well-recognized and appreciated brand name among stakeholders, customers and consumers in key target regions of Lenzing. Hence, TENCEL is adopted as Lenzing's textile specialty brand for apparel and home applications, and is aimed to help create a unique and differentiating brand in the Modal and Lyocell fiber markets. The redefined TENCEL product brand, along with the tagline "Feels so right", will enable Lenzing to embark on communication around messages that move beyond fiber types and characteristics towards everyday use and benefits that brands and consumers value. "With a longer-term strategy to enhance connection with customers and consumers, 2018 will be a game changer year for Lenzing," said Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer of Lenzing Group. "Since rolling out our sCore TEN business strategy in 2015, Lenzing has been migrating into a specialty fiber business with a strong focus on innovation, quality and sustainability. The redefined TENCELTM brand underlines our core principles of trust, transparency, reliability and amicability, and by leading technology innovation in the textile sector, we will continue to enable our industry partners and consumers to feel good, look good and do good." Under the new brand strategy, TENCEL Modal and TENCEL Lyocell fibers will be key ingredients in the TENCEL branded product portfolio. Derived from certified and controlled wood sources, both TENCEL Modal and TENCEL Lyocell standard fibers are produced via responsible production processes and are compostable and biodegradable under industrial, home, soil and marine conditions. Enabled by industry innovations, including REFIBRA technology, Eco Soft technology, Eco filament technology and Micro technology, textiles produced under the TENCEL brand offer premium standards of sustainability and natural comfort to meet evolving consumer demand. "We are charting a bold new course to simplify our product portfolio and elevate our brand to bring more value to consumers and industry partners," said Harold Weghorst, director of Global Brand Management. "As Lenzing's flagship brand in the textile sector, TENCEL will grow beyond fiber types and functional characteristics, it will become a true consumer-focused brand with a promise of something more functional and emotional. By elevating TENCEL to a promise to the consumer rather than a product message to the value chain, we can start to excite consumers, retailers and brands about the holistic benefits of botanic fibers. Guided by the brand promise of 'Feels so right', TENCEL brings greater degree of comfort and higher performance to consumers while making them feel good about the choices they make. We hope to create a stronger connection with the industry value chain and consumers through our expertise around sustainability, especially in TENCEL Modal and TENCEL Lyocell fibers. In the long run, we plan to build TENCEL not only into a trusted B2B brand, but also a preferred consumer brand, which provides B2B customers with ease to maximize marketing effectiveness and enables consumers to identify 'feel-good' products made with sustainable materials." Moving beyond fiber to distinctive everyday usage or application in consumer-focusedbranded offer, TENCEL Active, TENCEL Denim, TENCEL Home, TENCEL Intimate and TENCEL Luxe have been created under the TENCEL portfolio. New swing tags and marketing materials will be launched on a retail level to provide clarity on product benefit claims containing TENCEL branded fibers. The swing tags, along with more detailed guidelines on B2B and B2C usage, are now available on Lenzing's new e-branding service platform, which caters to B2B customers and retail partners, offering faster, more sustainable and more user-friendly solutions for certification and licensing. "By applying the new brand strategy, we will take a more personalized and targeted approach to reflect the TENCEL brand essence of 'softness' and 'feeling good with a natural touch' with B2B customers, retail partners and consumers," added Amit Gautam, vice president of Global Business Management in Textile. "We will work closely with the industry value chain and retail brands to educate consumers about TENCEL featured value propositions like product quality, functional benefits and sustainability. Co-branding programs such as swing tags or packaging, and co-marketing campaigns with retail brands will enable us to reach out to consumers directly. With more brand exposure and ongoing consumer education from this year onwards, consumers will see more of us through the TENCEL brand in apparel and home textiles and/or in our partners' retail outlets in different regions." The redefining of TENCEL as Lenzing's textile flagship brand is the first step of Lenzing's new brand exercise, where the same approach will also apply to nonwoven and industrial applications, which will be announced at a later stage. Images from the Tencel launch event at Premiere Vision Paris can be downloaded from: TENCEL Launch (PIN: HLREfyamS7H7). For more details about TENCEL, TENCEL Active, TENCEL Denim, TENCEL Home, TENCEL Intimate and TENCEL Luxe please visit www.tencel.com. About TENCEL TENCEL is the textile specialty brand under The Lenzing Group that covers textile specialty product offerings for apparel and home. The TENCEL product brand portfolio defines a new evolutionary step in terms of sustainability, functional benefits, natural comfort and caters for distinctive everyday usage or application. Fibers used under the TENCEL brand are derived from certified and controlled sources following the stringent guidelines of the Lenzing Wood and Pulp Policy. TENCEL Modal and TENCEL Lyocell are designated by the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) BioPreferred Program. Related Links http://www.tencel.com SOURCE Lenzing Group According to the new market research report on the "Machine Condition Monitoring Market by Monitoring Technique (Vibration Monitoring, Thermography, Oil Analysis, MCA), Deployment (On Premise, Cloud), Monitoring Process (Online, Portable), Offering, Industry, and Region - Global Forecast to 2024" , published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is estimated to grow from USD 2.38 Billion in 2018 to USD 3.50 Billion by 2024, at a CAGR of 6.7% between 2018 and 2024. Factors such as the development of a secure cloud computing platform, increased use of wireless communication technology for condition monitoring of equipment, and inclination of end users toward predictive maintenance are driving the growth of the machine condition monitoring market at present. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160303/792302 ) Browse 69 tables and 62 figures spread through 204 pages and in-depth TOC on "Machine Condition Monitoring Market - Global Forecast to 2024" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/machine-health-monitoring-market-29627363.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The motor current analysis technique is expected to witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period The market for the motor current analysis technique is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2018 and 2024. Defects such as current imbalance and loading issues in motors, circuitry and motor insulation degradation, rotor damage, eccentricity in rotors, belt defects, and gearing defects can be detected by the motor current analysis technique, thereby resulting in high demand in the machine condition monitoring market. The market for software is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period The market for software is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. Machine condition monitoring software help companies to calculate equipment reliability parameters such as rotating speed, vibration frequency, bearing faults, shaft misalignment, and temperature of machines. Also, machine condition monitoring software generates a comprehensive report of the final result after executing the analysis of all algorithms. The diagnostic report helps plant operators to predict an impending failure and avoid any breakdown situation. Download PDF Brochure : https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=29627363 The market for cloud-based machine condition monitoring solutions is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period Cloud-based monitoring is expected to exhibit a higher CAGR in the machine condition monitoring market during the forecast period. Cloud-based deployment benefits organizations with the increased scalability, speed, 24/7 service, and enhanced IT security. The growing adoption of Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications by enterprises is bringing out huge growth prospects for cloud-based machine condition monitoring solutions. The market for online machine condition monitoring solutions is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period The market for online machine condition monitoring solutions is expected to grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period. Online machine condition monitoring provides real-time data to operators in the plant and is the most preferred monitoring process in critical plants that work continuously and are highly prone to defects. The market for the automotive industry is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period The market for the automotive industry is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The automotive industry depends on the performance of assets to effectively perform their core business activities as a system downtime can affect the revenue of the organization. In the automotive industry, time plays a crucial role, and any unplanned asset breakdown can heavily impact its brand image and sales, resulting in the high adoption of the machine condition monitoring technique in the automotive industry. The market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period China and India are the fastest-growing economies that are witnessing a rapid penetration of Internet of Things (IoT) in APAC. High high adoption of modern technologies for smart manufacturing, reduction in operational costs, and importance of security measures at workplaces drive the demand for machine condition monitoring solutions in the APAC region, thereby making this region the fastest-growing market for machine condition monitoring solutions. Inquiry Before Buy @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Enquiry_Before_Buying.asp?id=29627363 Major players operating in the machine condition monitoring market include ALS Limited (Australia), Emerson Electric (US), General Electric (US), Honeywell (US), Meggitt (UK), National Instruments (US), Parker-Hannifin (US), Rockwell Automation (US), Schaeffler (Germany), SKF (Sweden), Azima DLI (US), Bruel & Kjaer (Denmark), and Fluke (US). Browse Related Reports Spectrum Analyzer Market by Offering (Product & Software), Type (Swept-Tuned, Vector Signal, Real-Time), Range (<6 GHz, 6 GHz-18 GHz, >18 GHz), Form Factor (Handheld, Portable, Benchtop), Network Technology, End-User Industry - Global Forecasts to 2022 https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/spectrum-analyser-market-216110863.html Subscribe Reports from Semiconductor Domain @ http://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Knowledgestore.asp About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Visit Our [email protected] http://www.marketsandmarketsblog.com/market-reports/electronics-and-semiconductors Connect us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Dubai police said Monday that drowning was the cause of death for famed Bollywood actress Sridevi Kapoor, correcting earlier reports that she had died of a heart attack. "Following the completion of post-mortem analysis, #DubaiPolice today stated that the death of Indian actress #Sridevi occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartments bathtub following loss of consciousness," Dubai police tweeted. The case of her death has now been transferred to public prosecutors, Dubai police added. New NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Cancer in People Living With HIV seek to reduce unnecessary, deadly cancer care gaps. FORT WASHINGTON, Pennsylvania, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) has released brand new NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) intended to help make sure people living with HIV (PLWH) who are diagnosed with cancer receive safe, necessary treatment. In 2010, an estimated 7,760 PLWH in the United States were diagnosed with cancer, representing an approximately 50% higher rate than the general population.1 However, studies have found PLWH are treated for cancer at significantly lower rates than HIV-negative people with cancer, despite most treatment courses being safe and effective in this population.2 "The disparity in cancer care is large and significant. For most cancers, people living with HIV are two-to-three times more likely to receive no cancer treatment compared to uninfected people," said Gita Suneja, MD, Duke Cancer Institute. Dr. Suneja is Co-Chair of the NCCN Guidelines Panel for Cancer in People Living With HIV. "Although we don't yet know all the reasons for these large differences in cancer treatment, the lack of clinical management guidelines available to clinicians has been shown to be one contributing factor.3 " The most-common types of cancer occurring in people living with HIV are, in order of incidence: non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, Kaposi sarcoma, lung cancer, anal cancer, prostate cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, oral/pharyngeal cancer, female breast cancer, and cervical cancer. The new NCCN Guidelines for Cancer in People Living With HIV includes general advice while highlighting the importance of working in collaboration with an HIV specialist as well as specific treatment recommendations for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), anal cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, and cervical cancer. Additional recommendations can be found in the recently-released NCCN Guidelines for AIDS-Related Kaposi Sarcoma as well as the AIDS-related B-cell lymphomas section of the NCCN Guidelines for B-cell Lymphomas. "The ultimate goal is to improve cancer survival among people living with HIV," said Dr. Suneja. "With modern antiretroviral therapy (ART), people with HIV are living longer and therefore getting more cancers related to both HIV infection and aging. The bottom line is that the cancer burden is growing in fact cancer is quickly becoming the leading cause of death in people living with HIV so we urgently need to improve cancer treatment in this population." Among the recommendations found in the new NCCN Guidelines: Most PLWH who develop cancer should be offered the same cancer therapies as HIV-negative individuals, and modifications to cancer treatment should not be made solely on the basis of HIV status. Care for patients diagnosed with HIV should be co-managed with an oncologist and an HIV specialist (visit locator.hiv.gov to find local specialists in the United States ). ). Oncologists and HIV clinicians, along with HIV and oncology pharmacists, if available, should review proposed cancer therapy and ART for possible drug-drug interactions and overlapping toxicity concerns prior to initiation of therapy. "One of the most important points we want providers to be aware of surrounds the potential for drug interactions and overlapping toxicities between cancer therapeutics and ART," said Erin Reid, MD, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center. Dr. Reid is Co-chair of the NCCN Guidelines Panel for Cancer in People Living With HIV and Vice-Chair of the AIDS Malignancy Consortium Lymphoma Working Group. "Some antiretroviral-cancer therapeutic combinations have serious risk of increased toxicity, while others may reduce levels of either cancer therapeutics or the antiretroviral. The good news is that with the expansion of antiretroviral combinations available, there is opportunity to minimize these risks by modifying antiretroviral therapy during cancer treatment." Dr. Reid also notes: "Another major area of concern oncology providers have in managing cancers in people living with HIV involves risk of infectious complications. The guidelines address infection prophylaxis considerations, including specific recommendations for PLWH receiving cancer therapy for whom profound immunosuppression/myelosuppression is anticipated." "Treating people living with HIV for cancer is a relatively new concern. It's both a testament to the successes of HIV treatments in recent years, and a reminder that the quest for healthier outcomes is ongoing," said Robert W. Carlson, MD, Chief Executive Officer, NCCN. "That's why at NCCN we are always seeking new ways to expand and update the resources that we offer." The NCCN Guidelines Panel for Cancer in People Living With HIV included oncologists, radiologists, infectious disease specialists, surgical oncologists, pharmacists, and a patient advocate. The panel stressed the importance of increasing the number of PLWH who participate in clinical trials for cancer treatments. Clinicians working with PLWH who have cancer should use clinicaltrials.gov to help patients find appropriate trials. The NCCN Guidelines for Cancer in People Living With HIV are available free of charge for non-commercial use online at NCCN.org. They can also be viewed via the Virtual Library of NCCN Guidelines mobile app for smartphones and tablets. About the National Comprehensive Cancer Network The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a not-for-profit alliance of 27 leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education, is dedicated to improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care so that patients can live better lives. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers. The NCCN Member Institutions are: Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Omaha, NE; Case Comprehensive Cancer Center/University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center and Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, OH; City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA; Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center | Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Boston, MA; Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, NC; Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA; Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT; Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, Seattle, WA; The Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD; Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University, Chicago, IL; Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ, Jacksonville, FL, and Rochester, MN; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY; Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL; The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center - James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute, Columbus, OH; Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY; Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN; Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, CA; University of Alabama at Birmingham Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL; UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center, La Jolla, CA; UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA; University of Colorado Cancer Center, Aurora, CO; University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor, MI; The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX; University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, Madison, WI; Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Nashville, TN; and Yale Cancer Center/Smilow Cancer Hospital, New Haven, CT. Clinicians, visit NCCN.org. Patients and caregivers, visit NCCN.org/patients. Media, visit NCCN.org/news. Follow NCCN on Twitter @NCCNnews and Facebook @National.Comprehensive.Cancer.Network. 1 Robbins HA, Pfeiffer RM, Shiels MS, et al. Excess cancers among HIV-infected people in the United States. J Natl Cancer Inst 2015;107. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25663691. 2 Suneja G, Lin CC, Simard EP, et al. Disparities in cancer treatment among patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. Cancer 2016;122:2399-2407. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27187086. And Suneja G, Shiels MS, Angulo R, et al. Cancer treatment disparities in HIV-infected individuals in the United States. J Clin Oncol 2014;32:2344-2350. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24982448. 3 Suneja G, Boyer M, Yehia BR, et al. Cancer treatment in patients with HIV infection and non-AIDS-defining cancers: a survey of US oncologists. J Oncol Pract 2015;11:e380-387. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25873060. Media Contact: Rachel Darwin, NCCN 267-622-6624 [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/441768/NCCN_Logo.jpg Related Links http://www.nccn.org SOURCE National Comprehensive Cancer Network NEW DELHI, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Neron Informatics was announced as winner in 'Innovation in Green Telecom' category for their innovation 'Onyx' at the 8th edition of Aegis Graham Bell Award 2017, honoring the best innovation in the ICT domain in India. Neron has been applauded as winner at the 8th edition of Aegis Graham Bell Award at NDMC Convention Center, New Delhi. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/611375/Neron_logo.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/646766/Dev_Kumar_Graham_Bell_Award.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/646767/Team_Neron_Graham_Bell_Award.jpg ) The Core concept Onyx cxm Innovation is based on consolidation of four major Industry requirements, those are: 1) Basic SIP IP-PBX, 2) Advanced Telephony, 3) 3rd Party integration and 4) Business Apps; into a Single working system that can be managed in a friendly manner. The journey of Neron Informatics from being a non entity to a force to reckon within just four months time has been truly exemplary. It came into existence in the month of November 2017 and competed in the same month in Aegis Graham Bell Awards Jury round for its Innovations in Green Telecom Category for Onyx cxm IPPBX systems and in Innovative Telecom Product/Solutions for AAIKYA, an automated Telephony system in a box solution. It was not an easy task to compete with the industry bigwigs in the first instance. After an extensive presentation on its innovation in November 2017, Neron Informatics reaps the rewards by bagging the prestigious award for Onyx cxm here in Delhi yesterday. The victory amidst such tough competitions substantiates Neron's efforts in giving the Industry new directions through its innovative solutions and products. Winning the Aegis Graham Bell Award has given Neron Informatics a strong foothold in the Industry. "Getting nominated for Aegis Graham Bell Awards is an incredible honor, particularly when the strength of the competition is so extraordinary. But to win against such strong competition is just amazing. I am humbled, but incredibly proud too. With so many innovations to choose from, the judges must have had an unbelievably difficult job to select the winner and I'd like to thank all of them for recognising the innovations that Neron presented. Every time I look at it, I'll be reminded of this moment and how much it means to me, to us. All said and done, let's not forget that awards are not simply about winners and losers; they tell us a lot about our industry too and as long as there are awards like Aegis Graham Bell around with such competition, we don't need to worry about the future of Telecom Industry. This award I'm accepting for my team/myself/my company and of course on behalf of Telecom Industry. From where we stand, the future of Telecom Industry looks bright," said Mr. Dev Kumar, Chief Technical Officer, Neron Informatics Pvt. Ltd. About Neron Informatics Pvt. Ltd. Neron Informatics is a key player in Unified communication Segment of Telecom Industry and specialises in development and implementation of innovative products for telecommunication market in India. Incepted in 2014, under the banner of 'Make in India' programme, it is into manufacturing of State of the Art IPPBX systems besides providing solutions for Network Security & Surveillance and Internet of Things or IOT. The core of this manufacturing has been Neron's expertise in improvising on the existing features that are currently available in the unified communication industry. The company offers a range of products that covers the whole spectrum of SIP and Unified Communication integrated solutions. Our product range comprises of Onyx cxm, a state of the Art IPPBX with Advanced Features and AAIKYA, an Automated Telephony System in a Box Solution. About Aegis Graham Bell Awards Aegis Graham Bell has been promoting innovations and entrepreneurship in Telecom, Data Science, Smart City Solution, Cyber Security, Digital India, Cloud and Mobility. AGBA has been rewarding those who made outstanding contribution in these fields since 7 years with a vision to foster and stimulate innovators, for India to become a nucleus of innovations. The Award is organized with support of the Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), and Telecom Centres of Excellence (TCOE), Convergence India and Deloitte as a knowledge partner. Media Contact: Dev Kumar [email protected] +91-9582238924 Chief Technical Officer Neron Informatics Pvt. ltd. SOURCE Neron Informatics Pvt. Ltd. MUMBAI, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Belonging to multigenerational philanthropic families and influenced by their legacy, Next Generation Philanthropists (NGPs) will play a critical role in helping India achieve its Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 How do Next Generation Philanthropists approach philanthropy? Hands-on Invest in solutions that create systemic change Employ innovative investment instruments Create structure and focus through their family foundations Impact driven and have an enthusiasm for scale A new study - 'A Generation Ahead - Helping India's Next Generation Philanthropists Succeed' recognizes Next Generation Philanthropists (NGPs) as the future of philanthropy, and uncovers insights to help accelerate their giving journeys. These philanthropists are characterized by their lineage of multigenerational philanthropy and the culture of giving in their families. The study, funded by Hemendra Kothari Foundation, has been conducted by Dasra in collaboration with Synergos. It draws upon insights from interviews with 20 NGPs and sector experts and 30+ global research publications. It was launched during Dasra Philanthropy Week 2018 that brought together philanthropists, government officials, non-profit leaders, corporates, foundations and development sector experts. 'A Generation Ahead: Helping India's Next Generation Philanthropists Succeed' reveals the rapidly evolving landscape of philanthropy in India as many multigenerational philanthropic families are transitioning responsibility and decision-making power from one generation to the next. India is expected to witness one of the largest transfers of wealth, close to USD 128 billion, from one generation to the next in the coming decade as per India Wealth Report 2017 by Karvy Private Wealth. The majority of this wealth will be managed by family offices, and a portion will be diverted towards charitable and philanthropic activities through family trusts and foundations. Additionally, during the first half of this century, there is likely to be 8-10 times more wealth transferred to philanthropy than in the entire 20th century as per industry resources. Over the coming years, this cohort of NGPs is predicted to steer India towards achieving its committed targets for Sustainable Development Goals 2030 through various innovative approaches to philanthropy. "NGPs often want to be more hands-on, and look for opportunities to go beyond just writing cheques. They are also open to exploring a gamut of investment instruments, including grant making, impact investing and crowd-funding," says, Arnav Kapur, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Deval Sanghavi, co-Founder, Dasra, says, "Next Generation Philanthropists are playing a crucial role in transforming philanthropy by introducing innovative, impact-driven solutions to redefine their family legacies. Fortunately, this vigor is matched by India's many NGOs that have established credible track records, and strong relationships with communities. In addition to funds, these non-profits need managerial expertise and networks to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals that India as a nation has committed to. We at Dasra believe this to be an opportune moment for Next Generation Philanthropists and NGOs to forge powerful partnerships that can enable a billion to thrive with dignity and equity." The study identifies challenges that NGPs face while exploring their own identities during this period of transition, especially when their interests differ from those of the family legacy. To help emerging NGPs convert these challenges into opportunity, the study also highlights best practices that have been implemented by successful NGPs to plan their giving journeys and create transformational change. Read the study here: http://bit.ly/2EMuVci About Hemendra Kothari Foundation Hemendra Kothari Foundation is a philanthropic establishment, works in Education, Health, Wildlife Conservation, Culture, Heritage & Sports. With its sister organization, the Wildlife Conservation Trust, HKF has contributed to uplifting underprivileged communities in over 130 tiger reserves, parks and sanctuaries across the country. Through education, skills development and health initiatives, HKF complements the massive assistance for protection of vulnerable forest tracts, in collaboration with forest departments About Synergos Institute Synergos has 30 years of experience promoting inclusive, collaborative, trust-based approaches to development around the world. Its Global Philanthropists Circle (GPC) helps leading philanthropic families and social investors better use these approaches in their own work in order to increase the impact of their giving. About Dasra Dasra meaning 'enlightened giving' in Sanskrit, is a pioneering strategic philanthropic organization that aims to transform India where a billion thrive with dignity and equity. Since its inception in 1999, Dasra has accelerated social change by driving collaborative action through powerful partnerships among a trust-based network of stakeholders (corporates, foundations, families, nonprofits, social businesses, government and media). Over the years, Dasra has deepened social impact in focused fields that include adolescents, urban sanitation and governance and has built social capital by leading a strategic philanthropy movement in the country. For more information, visit http://www.dasra.org For Press Queries: Media Contact: Gurpriya Singh [email protected] Dasra SOURCE Dasra BANGALORE, India, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Omega Healthcare - a leading provider of Revenue Cycle Management and analytics solutions to US-based hospitals and medical billing companies, including Fortune 100 companies - has been ranked amongst the top 2 in 'Market Impact' and 'Vision & Capability', in the global Healthcare BPO Service Provider Market Assessment - 2017, by the Everest Group. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/475497/Omega_Healthcare_Logo.jpg ) Outperforming many well-entrenched businesses with its wide-ranging capabilities and diversified business footprint, Omega Healthcare breaks new ground in this critical study. The detailed analysis of the healthcare BPO service provider landscape covered the prominent companies that together account for a major portion of global market share, evaluating them on their revenue share, growth potential, business processes, and financials & network management among other parameters. Speaking on the occasion Gopi Natarajan, Co-founder and CEO, Omega Healthcare says, "It is a matter of pride for us at Omega Healthcare to be recognized as a leader in the healthcare BPO service provider space. While endorsement from Everest - a reputed, neutral body - reiterates our expertise across the healthcare services spectrum, it also underlines the fact our strategic growth has resulted from relentless efforts to deliver more value to our clients, consistently. With digitization being the way forward, we are channelizing our efforts into providing innovative tech-enabled services and analytical solutions to our clients; the future looks very exciting." Full report here About Everest Group's PEAK Matrix Assessments: Everest Group's PEAK Matrix assessments provide the insights enterprises need to make critical selection decisions about their service providers, and leading organizations around the globe trust these comparative assessments because of their unbiased evaluation. This scientific study covered vision, capabilities, talent availability, market success, cost and more. About Omega Healthcare: Omega Healthcare is a Bengaluru headquartered company specializing in Provider & Healthcare Solutions, Payer Solutions, Analytic Solutions and related Software Solutions. With a CAGR of 25% and strength of 13,000+ employees, the company operates out of 7 delivery locations in India and 2 in the Philippines. Capabilities to code more than 100 billion charts annually are anchored by the largest team of medical coders globally, and the company has a track record of over $8 billion in annual collections. Having recently acquired Whitespace Health, a healthcare analytics company, Omega plans to expand - both in terms of its service repertoire and geographic foot print. Read more on the organization http://omegahms.com. Media Contacts: Ojashwi Singh [email protected] SOURCE Omega Healthcare Mr. Supattanapong Punmeechaow, President and Chief Executive Officer of PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited, said that the priority following PTTGC's acquisition and joint administration of the three companies transferred from PTT PLC, which was completed on July 3, 2017, was to build a relationship of mutual trust and confidence with shareholders of HMC, PTTAC, and PTTMCC. As a new shareholder, PTTGC aimed for a common strategy to enhance business value. PTTGC is assessing its plans to create further synergies in 2018, including an investment in the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) sector. Acrylonitrile is a high-performance plastic and a key raw material used in electrical appliances and in the automotive industry. PTTAC is the sole manufacturer of acrylonitrile in Southeast Asia. PTTGC manufactures butadiene, another key raw material, in addition to ethylene and benzene, which are key raw materials in styrene monomer (SM) production. A project is currently in the study phase for the construction of an SM manufacturing plant to fill gaps in PTTGC's polystyrene (PS) business value chain and support expansion in the ABS sector, which will add to the company's integration, value, and competencies. The study's conclusions will be announced in the near future. For HMC Polymers Co., Ltd., a leading company in the polypropylene (PP) sector, plans include increasing its sales capacity and expanding accessibility for PTTGC's customers, particularly in target markets including the highly-promising Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV) markets, as well as Indonesia. The company also plans to promote PP as a key raw material to enhance its High Value Products (HVP) business. PTTMCC, which produces polybutylene succinate (PBS), is considered a newcomer that requires some time to discover potential markets and develop suitable products. Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation (MCC) and PTTGC, the key shareholders in PTTMCC, provide sales and marketing support targeting the United States and Europe, which have standard environmental requirements. The two PTTMCC shareholders also support product development, such as the experimental polylactic acid (PLA) project from NatureWorks to develop PBS blends that enhance flexibility and thermal resistance, and testing the performance properties of marine-degradableplastics. PTTGC is highly confident that PTTMCC will increase both its sales and its number of strategic customers as planned. "In 2017, these three companies delivered an impressive set of financial results that exceeded our appraisal conducted prior to the acquisition. This was due to higher product prices, the seamless integration of operations that delivered production efficiencies as planned, and improved coordination between PTTGC and the shareholders of these three companies," concluded Mr. Supattanapong. More information Mr. Chintarat Saiintawong Mobile. +6681-803-6607 Email: [email protected] Ms. Siriporn Sukhapunnapan Mobile. +6682-489-1199 Email: [email protected] SOURCE PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (PTTGC) MUMBAI, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ResellerClub, a brand owned by Endurance International Group Holdings, Inc., and provider of cloud solutions, web hosting and other web presence products to web professionals, completes its 12th year in business this February. To celebrate this milestone, ResellerClub is offering up to 50% off on their hosting and domains products as part of their Big Birthday Bash Sale. The sale commenced in February 2018. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130522/614177 ) Here are the details of the discounts one can enjoy: Multi-Domain Hosting - Flat 40% off Cloud Hosting - Flat 50% off Dedicated Servers - Up to 20 % off Reseller Hosting - Up to 50% off Speaking about ResellerClub's 12th anniversary, Shridhar Luthria, Vice-President, Channel Partnerships at Endurance International Group and Business Head of ResellerClub said, "We're extremely grateful and privileged to have completed 12 years in this industry. Looking back from where we started with just a few employees to how we've grown to a global team with a collective vision to create a marketplace for web pros today, we're humbled. To celebrate this milestone, we're offering discounts on a few of our popular domains and web hosting products. We believe this is a great opportunity for those getting started and for our existing clients to ramp up their business and set the tone for a fabulous 2018. We want this year to be for the web pros and we're doing all we can to support that vision." In addition to offering web hosting and domains, ResellerClub is offering even more product choices and options for web pros. In this past year, ResellerClub launched various products such as CMS hosting, a higher performance VPS variant with SSD, a new website builder from Weebly and more. ResellerClub has also revamped its website to reflect this multi-brand marketplace vision and underscore its expanding product offering. For more information on the Big Birthday Bash Sale, visit: india.resellerclub.com About ResellerClub ResellerClub was founded with the objective of offering domain names and hosting products to web designers, developers and web hosts. Today, ResellerClub has evolved into a one-stop-shop marketplace for products and services for web professionals to enable small businesses to build meaningful web presence. ResellerClub offers shared hosting, cloud hosting, dedicated servers, VPS, email, backup, security and more with multi-brand options in many of these categories to empower choice. ResellerClub also offers a comprehensive solution to register and manage 500+ gTLDs, ccTLDs and new domains. Through the platform customized for web professionals, ResellerClub envisions provisioning the widest variety of web presence products, PaaS and SaaS-based tools. About Endurance International Group Endurance International Group Holdings, Inc. (em) powers millions of small businesses worldwide with products and technology to enhance their online web presence, email marketing, mobile business solutions, and more. The Endurance family of brands includes: Constant Contact, Bluehost, HostGator, Domain.com and SiteBuilder, among others. Headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, Endurance employs over 3,600 people across the United States, Brazil, India and the Netherlands. For more information, visit: http://www.endurance.com. Media Contact: Karthik Balachander [email protected] +91-22-6720-7791 Senior Manager, Marketing & Communications ResellerClub SOURCE ResellerClub MUMBAI and BARCELONA, Spain, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Launched at the Mobile World Congress 2018, this BSS platform enhances end-user experience and brings scale, efficiencies and monetisation benefits to CSPs Sterlite Tech (BSE: 532374) (NSE: STRTECH), a global technology leader in smarter digital networks, announces the launch of 'BSS of the Future', a platform that enables the digital transformation of Communication Service Providers (CSPs) to Digital Service Providers (DSPs). (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/568301/Sterlite_Logo.jpg ) This future-ready BSS platform brings enhanced benefits for both CSPs and end-users. The newly architected platform powered by DevOps, open APIs and data science, enables CSPs to rapidly and effectively go digital. This new architecture integrates the erstwhile disparate System of Record, System of Engagement and System of Intelligence, which enables multiple benefits: Continuous delivery and integration cycle with 2x faster deployment of customer offerings Analytics-enabled insights for ongoing customer acquisition, growth and retention Scalable B2B2X monetisation platform usable for both B2C and B2B customers Open-API platform enables interoperability and ease of onboarding new partners and services The next-gen BSS enhances the user experience by automating the billing process and providing omni-channel connectivity options across email, chat and other digital platforms for the end-users. Commenting on the launch, Nikhil Jain, Managing Director (Software), Sterlite Tech, said, "I am excited about the launch of the 'BSS of the Future' as it will allow for a very rapid digitalisation of the CSP ecosystem." He added, "As legacy systems sunset, we will continue to build innovative digital solutions that benefit both CSPs and users." Sterlite Tech has been recognised as Visionary in Gartner's Magic Quadrant (MQ) for Integrated Revenue and Customer Management (IRCM) for Communication Service Providers since the last two years. About Sterlite Technologies: Sterlite Technologies Ltd (BSE: 532374) (NSE: STRTECH), is a global technology leader that designs, builds and manages smarter digital networks. Sterlite Tech engages with customers in more than 100 countries, with a digital web-scale offering across products, services and software. The company has global scale manufacturing facilities in India, China & Brazil and two Software Delivery Centres in India. Sterlite Tech is home to India's only Centre of Excellence for broadband research and Centre for Smarter Networks for next-generation network applications. Projects undertaken by the company include intrusion-proof smarter data network for the Armed Forces, rural broadband for BharatNet, Smart Cities' development, and establishing high-speed Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) networks. For more details, visit http://www.sterlitetech.com Contacts: Marketing & Corporate Communications L K Pathak [email protected] +91-9925012059 VP - Marketing & Corporate Communications, Software Business Sterlite Technologies Ltd. Investor Relations Vishal Aggarwal +91-20-30514000 [email protected] SOURCE Sterlite Technologies Limited DUBAI, UAE, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading cement manufacturer deploys Avaya's next-generation communications solutions to drive digital transformation and maintain commitment to sustainable development Siam City Cement Public Company Limited (SCCC) is transforming its communications infrastructure with the support of Avaya Holdings Corp. (NYSE:AVYA), enabling Thailand's leading cement manufacturer to continue reducing its carbon footprint as it expands across the Asia-Pacific region. SCCC has been supporting Thailand's development for more than 47 years and was the first Thai cement producer to be certified for Green Industry Level 5, by the Ministry of Industry, for all its three plants - Siam City Concrete Co., Ltd., Conwood Co., Ltd., and INSEE SUPERBLOCK Co., Ltd. The company has expanded rapidly to more than six offices across the region, including operations in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam, and needed a robust communications infrastructure to support its digital transformation objectives while maintaining its commitment to sustainable development. The company is deploying Avaya's next-generation solutions to streamline communications for customers and employees. Loxley Public Company Limited, a leading Thai technology company and Avaya channel partner, designed and implemented the project. As a result, SCCC has transformed customer experience and improved employee productivity and collaboration across its 1,500 workers in the head office and regional plants. The Avaya solutions enable employees in different regions to connect seamlessly on the devices and channels of their choice, regardless of the quality of Internet connection in different countries. Employees can now use video conferencing to collaborate, reducing the need for travel. "With our rapid expansion across the region, we wanted a cost-effective solution that would enable us to meet our sustainable development objectives while driving our digital transformation journey. Avaya's communications solutions are empowering our employees to work and collaborate with each other effectively, regardless of their location, without driving up our carbon footprint. We have worked with Avaya for many years and we see Avaya as a key technology partner going forward," said Khun Ittaya Sirivasukarn, CEO of INSEE Digital Company Limited. "We are extremely proud of how SCCC is using communication technologies to deliver not only on its business goals, but also on its social mission. Avaya's communications technologies mean companies don't have to compromise on their environmental goals when they embark on their digital transformation journey. We congratulate SCCC for its forward-thinking approach and look forward to many great and innovative ideas in the future," said Bundhit Vongbuntoon, Country Director of Thailand, Avaya. SCCC has won numerous awards linked to innovation in energy management and technology usage, and to corporate brand values, including the Excellence in Energy Management Award from Thailand's Department of Energy. According to a recent survey by YouGov, half of all consumers in the APAC region believe businesses have a responsibility to ensure their supply chain doesn't harm the environment. Media Inquiries: Iman Ghorayeb +971-4-404-8275 [email protected] SOURCE Avaya Newsroom BENGALURU, India, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "Floating Power Plant Market by Geography (North America, South America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Rest of the World (RoW)); by Source of Energy (Oil/Gas Floating Power Plant, Wind Floating Power Plant, Solar Floating Power Plant, Nuclear Floating Power Plant and Others)" - Outlook (2018-2022) by ResearchFox Consulting, the Global Floating Power Plant (FPP) Market is projected to reach USD 1.45 billion by 2022 growing at a CAGR of 8.15% during the forecast period. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161013/428291LOGO ) In 2017, APAC leads the global market and is expected to continue to dominate during the forecasted period Based on geography, the FPP Market has been segmented into North America FPP Market, South America FPP Market, Europe FPP Market, APAC FPP Market and RoW FPP Market. Among these segments, Asia Pacific remains the leader in market share of FPP due to the growing demand for power due to population explosion and scarcity of land mass for constructing power plants. In terms of market share Europe follows APAC and leads the regional markets in growth rate. The European market is expected to witness highest adoption rate due to greater scope of growth opportunities of FPP market. Solar FPP to show highest adoption trends in the forecast period By source of energy, the FPP market has been categorised into Oil/Gas FPP Market, Wind FPP Market, Solar FPP Market, Nuclear FPP Market and Other FPP Market. Oil/gas is dominating the FPP market due to its ease of availability and lesser cost of installation compared to other sources of energy. However, the solar FPP market is expected to have a significant growth in the coming years because of increased penetration of solar energy solutions, driven by demand for clean energy to combat global warming and reduction of carbon dioxide emission. Top Vendors of Floating Power Plant ResearchFox has identified and studied the major vendors of floating power plant and has come up with the market share of each of these vendors. The top vendors of floating power plant identified and discussed in this report include, Wartsila Corporation (Finland), MAN Diesel & Turbo SE (Germany), Mitsubishi Corporation (Japan), Kyocera Corporation (Japan), Caterpillar Inc. (U.S.), Ciel & Terre International (France) and others. Majority of the vendors for floating power plant originate either from Asia or Europe. Topics Covered in the Floating Power Plant Market - Outlook (2018-22) Introduction, Executive Overview, Research Methodology, Market Size and Growth, Competitive Landscape, Company Classification, Region Outlook, Market Metrics, Porter's Five Forces Model, Analysis of Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities and Challenges, Market Segmentation and Study based on Geography and Sources of Energy. Methodology Adopted Understand the market mechanism for the industry through structured, systematic and theoretically established norms of analysing, designing, introducing and quality assurance of the market estimation Measuring the various market drivers, constraints, opportunities and challenges at regular intervals of time Integrate expert-opinion of discussions in consultation with the ResearchFox Analyst team Market estimation and forecast calculation Delphi method and Causal Analysis used as and when required Rigorous quality check with heads of Research Team, Subject Matter Experts and Consultants before final publication Team ResearchFox ResearchFox has an enviable team. Each member of the team is known for his relentless drive to challenge himself to be better and not settle for the status quo. This is what separates ResearchFox from its competitors. Drop your note or queries or request to [email protected]. Our Analyst team will get back within few working hours. In addition to the above-mentioned reports, ResearchFox Consulting has been working towards several reports related to IoT in Social, Mobile, Analytics and Cloud (I-SMAC) domain including Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Know more about our published and ongoing research reports here. Contact: Mr. Pranab Sen ResearchFox Consulting [email protected] SOURCE ResearchFox Consulting Pvt. Ltd. Brings 10 Years of V2X Experience and Use Cases to the Group PORTO, Portugal, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Veniam, the data networking company that delivered the largest commercial network of V2X mesh connected vehicles, announced today that it has joined the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA). 5GAA is a global, cross-industry organization of companies from the automotive, technology, and telecommunications industries (ICT), working together to develop end-to-end solutions for future mobility and transportation services. As a 5GAA member, Veniam joins the industry vanguard that is defining the future of connected mobility and automated transportation. Veniam brings to the group its intellectual property portfolio of more than 100 patents, in addition to real-world experience with fleets, telecom operators, mobility providers, and global automotive players. Veniam has developed a unique perspective on the architectures, practical applications, implementation hurdles, and urban impact of a future filled with autonomous vehicles, and what it takes to move massive amounts of data between vehicles and the cloud. "We are excited to welcome Veniam to the 5GAA consortium. With their strong expertise in mesh connected vehicles, we look forward to their contribution in defining and developing the next generation of connected mobility solutions," said Christoph Voigt, chairman of the 5GAA board. "Veniam is very pleased to join the 5GAA and its diverse group of industry leaders. While building commercial networks of connected vehicles in Porto, New York, and Singapore, we developed many use cases, technical solutions, and ecosystem insights we feel would be valuable additions to these discussions," said Rui Costa, Veniam CTO. "We're excited to learn from fellow 5GAA group members as we work together to help improve the lives of millions of people by accelerating the shift toward safe, sustainable, and hyper-connected mobility." About Veniam Veniam provides the essential V2X data networking platform for connected and autonomous vehicles. With an IP portfolio of over 105 patents, Veniam's platform combines multi-network architectures, smart (and local) data management optimized for cost, security and quality of service (QoS), and low-latency, fail-safe vehicle-to-cloud communications. Building on 10+ years of experience deploying and operating commercial mesh networks of connected vehicles in Porto, Singapore and New York, Veniam's software makes use of wireless interfaces in vehicles, and can move terabytes of data between vehicles and the cloud. This creates a superior experience for human users, the auto industry, and mobility providers. Veniam is headquartered in Mountain View, CA, and has offices in New York, Porto, and Singapore. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/646469/Veniam_Logo.jpg Related Links https://veniam.com SOURCE Veniam Nuclear weapons pose catastrophic risks to human life and the environment and must be eliminated, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told delegates attending the 65-member Conference on Disarmament. The UN chief unveiled a new initiative to reduce the global threat. He said the initiative will aim to prevent the over-accumulation and proliferation of weapons, work toward forging a new momentum on eliminating nuclear weapons, and examine the potential risks and challenges posed by the weapons of the future. Guterres welcomed what he called the courageous initiatives taken by South Korea during the Olympic Games to defuse tensions with North Korea, but he says it is not enough. "We need lasting improvements, based on the central objective of the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula and sustainable peace in the region," he said. "I also welcome the completion of reductions by the United States and the Russian Federation under the new START [Strategic Arms Reduction] treaty. We need further disarmament and arms control measures as a sound basis for global peace." ZTE's 5G end-to-end overall solutions consist of products and solutions, such as wireless access networks, core networks, bearers, chips and terminals, which will meet the requirements of global operators for 5G commercial deployment. The solutions demonstrate ZTE's deep understanding of 5G network and future 5G needs, and illustrate ZTE's significant contribution to advancing the maturity of 5G industry chain. ZTE is the first to apply Massive MIMO, the 5G core technology, to 4G networks, which improves spectral efficiency up to 8 times. For the demand of massive access to 5G networks, ZTE proposed MUSA that allowed the system to support 3 to 6 times user access under the same time-frequency resources, while the industry proposed the non-orthogonal multiple access technology (NOMA) . The solution realized free scheduling and reduced terminal power consumption significantly. In the second phase of China's 5G test, ZTE's MUSA solution reached 90 million connections / MHz / hour, far exceeding the indicators defined by ITU. Due to the originality and leadership of MUSA technology, ZTE, as the first drafter, led in 3GPP RAN1 and passed NOMA research project, advancing the industry standard. Based on its strong capabilities in chip design and development, ZTE introduced the industry's most integrated NG BBU and the industry's lightest and smallest 5G AAUs. The 5G high and low frequency pre-commercial base stations performed outstandingly in the first and second phases of China 5G test. In terms of 5G core networks, ZTE has released full series of end-to-end 5G network slicing in telecom grade. Cloud ServCore, the 5G cloud core network, will utilize core technologies such as lightweight micro-service components, network slicing, and full access convergence, to help operators evolve to 5G smoothly, and provide ultra-bandwidth, Internet of Things and other new businesses. With regards to 5G bearers, ZTE's 5G Flexhaul solution based on FlexE innovation and expansion technology, supports the integrated bearer scenario of prequel, medium and back-haul, which perfectly meets 5G bearer networks' needs of fragmentation, and achieves unified set of 3G / 4G / 5G network. In addition, 5G Flexhaul's key performance indicators achieve industry-leading level: end-to-end protection switching time is less than 1ms, single node forwarding latency is less than 0.5s. In the meantime, ZTE actively cooperated with several leading operators, such as Telefonica and China Mobile, to conduct multiple tests that fully verified the outstanding performance of 5G Flexhaul solution in CPRI / eCPRI unified bearer, ultra-low latency and ultra-fast protection switching. The solution meets differentiated load requirements and strict performance challenges of different types of 5G businesses. For chips, ZTE has been pioneering in semiconductor technology with its self-developed chip technology, and has been optimizing power consumption and performance to provide industry-leading chip solutions. In the field of terminals, ZTE plans to launch 5G-capable smart terminals by the end of 2018 or early 2019, and will be one of the first suppliers in the world to provide 5G terminals. ZTE has been innovating and practicing in the field of 5G, and has been leading the process of technology verification and product development. The company is committed to becoming the first 5G commercial equipment provider in the world and contributing to the arrival of era of Internet of Everything. About ZTE ZTE is a provider of advanced telecommunications systems, mobile devices, and enterprise technology solutions to consumers, carriers, companies and public sector customers. As part of ZTE's strategy, the company is committed to providing customers with integrated end-to-end innovations to deliver excellence and value as the telecommunications and information technology sectors converge. Listed in the stock exchanges of Hong Kong and Shenzhen (H share stock code: 0763.HK / A share stock code: 000063.SZ), ZTE's products and services are sold to over 500 operators in more than 160 countries. ZTE commits 10 per cent of its annual revenue to research and development and has leadership roles in international standard-setting organizations. ZTE is committed to corporate social responsibility and is a member of the UN Global Compact. For more information, please visit www.zte.com.cn. Media Contacts: Margaret Ma ZTE Corporation Tel: +86 755 26775189 Email: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/647028/ZTE_MWC_2018.jpg SOURCE ZTE Corporation "While mental health stigma continues to be an issue throughout our global society, it is important to recognize the mental health advocates who are making significant strides to destigmatize negative perceptions of mental illness," said Brother Dr. Rene Stockman, general director of the Dr. Guislain Museum. "We are proud to honor Dr. Guislain's legacy and contributions to the mental health community, including his desire for inclusiveness for all, with the annual 'Breaking the Chains of Stigma' Award." An independent selection committee, comprised of international advocates and renowned authorities in the field of mental health, selects the Award winner. The Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award winner will be honored at a ceremony on World Mental Health Day, 10 October, 2018, in New York City. Sotheara Chhim, M.D., M.P.M., Ph.D., was selected as the 2017 Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award recipient for his extraordinary efforts developing mental health services in Cambodia through scientific therapeutic approaches and launching the Operation Unchain initiative, a program designed to break the stigma of mental illness. Dr. Chhim is the executive director and senior consultant psychiatrist of the Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO) Cambodia, the country's leading Non-Government Organization in the field of mental health care and psychosocial support. Under his leadership, TPO Cambodia has developed and implemented programs to raise awareness about psychosocial and mental health conditions in many parts of Cambodia. Dr. Chhim and TPO have also provided mental health counselling, treatment, and specialized services for prisoners, gender-based violence survivors and torture survivors. To date, more than 220,000 patients and families have benefitted from his and his team's work. "At Janssen, we are deeply committed to helping break down the stigma associated with mental illness," said Husseini K. Manji, M.D., Global Therapeutic Area Head, Neuroscience, Janssen. "This award acknowledges and celebrates advocates around the world whose work is making a real difference for people living with mental illness, their families and communities. Together with these heroes, we will continue to make changes so that everyone is treated equally and can live life without stigma." Janssen has an ongoing commitment to advancing neuroscience research, a legacy which dates back to the work of Dr. Paul Janssen (1926-2003). "Dr. Paul" is known as one of the 20th century's most gifted and passionate physicians and pharmaceutical researchers. To honor his legacy, Janssen supports the mental health community and various advocacy organizations and projects. In 2011, the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson launched Healthy Minds, a comprehensive initiative that aims to encourage collaboration among biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and public-sector partners to accelerate the discovery of new therapeutic solutions for diseases and disorders of the brain. About the Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award Individuals, organizations or projects from around the world that have made an exceptional contribution in dealing with, or promoting the awareness of, mental health care are eligible* to receive the Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award. The Award is given to an individual(s), organization or project that: has made an exceptional contribution to mental health care in the broadest sense on a cultural and/or social level; has provided a genuine contribution to decreasing stigma around mental health conditions; has promoted attention for mental health care; and, has done all this with passion, creativity and innovation. The Dr. Guislain "Breaking the Chains of Stigma" Award honors Dr. Joseph Guislain (1797-1860), a driven activist for patients with mental illness and the first Belgian psychiatrist to provide scientifically based treatment for these individuals. As a passionate advocate for those with mental illness, Dr. Guislain worked tirelessly to stand up for the rights of patients and to help improve their social position. The Dr. Guislain Museum and Janssen jointly sponsor the Award, with funding provided by Janssen. Both organizations have a rich heritage and long-standing involvement in the field of mental illness research, treatment and education. About The Dr. Guislain Museum The Dr. Guislain Museum was founded in 1986 in Ghent, Belgium, with both permanent exhibitions addressing the history of psychiatry and outsider art, and a series of changing thematic exhibitions. The Museum features an array of psychiatric photographs, two centuries of comprehensive archives and an extensive library chronicling the history of psychiatry. Comprehensively, the Museum seeks to educate the public and rectify the misunderstandings and prejudice associated with treatment for mental illness. The Dr. Guislain Museum attracts 72,000 visitors each year. *Employees and officers of Johnson & Johnson, Janssen Research & Development, LLC, and their respective affiliates, subsidiaries, The Dr. Guislain Museum, any promotional agencies and members of the immediate family or household of each, are not eligible to participate in the Dr. Guislain Award as nominators, Award candidates or judges. Immediate family member is defined as a parent, sibling or any person residing in the same household as employee. Contacts: Patrick Allegaert Dr. Guislain Museum +32 9 216 35 95 allegaert.patrick@gmail.com Yoon Hee Lamot Dr. Guislain Museum +32 9 216 35 36 y.lamot@museumdrguislain.be Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/645579/Dr_Guislain_Award.jpg Related Links http://www.drguislainaward.org SOURCE Dr. Guislain Museum NEW YORK, February 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Market Study on Advanced Computed Tomography Scanners: Portable CT Scanners to Witness Significant Demand in Various Healthcare Facilities in the Coming Years Understanding various facets of the advanced computed tomography scanners market, Persistence Market Research has come up with an analytical research report titled "Advanced Computed Tomography Scanners Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Forecast (2017-2027)". This comprehensive research report focuses on various trends, developments, drivers, opportunities and restraints that influence the growth of the global advanced CT scanners market. (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161114/438683LOGO ) The intensity of these aspects vary across various geographies. The scenario of these factors is covered in this study which gives a heads up to the reader from an investment standpoint. Along with historical data, the study covers a weighted forecast analysis for a period of 10 years, starting from 2017 till 2027. Global Market for Advanced CT Scanners: Segmental Snapshot The global market for advanced CT scanners is segmented on the basis of product type, end user and region. By product type, the adoption of cone beam CT scanners is expected to soar at a high rate in the coming years, making it a fast growing segment. Low dose CT scanners segment is the largest with maximum value share By region, North America is the most lucrative and is expected to dominate the global market with a high market share. By the end of the year of assessment, the advanced CT scanners market in North America is projected to expand at a stellar CAGR and is estimated to reach a billion dollar milestone By end user, hospitals and diagnostic centers expected to largely contribute to the growth of the global market for advanced CT scanners Global Advanced Computed Tomography Scanners Market Research Report Overview @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/advanced-computed-tomography-scanners-market.asp Increasing Strategic Collaborations Between Players to Present Lucrative Growth Opportunities in the Global Market Strategic collaborations among key players in the advanced CT scanners market is expected to present potential growth opportunities for advanced CT scanners. Strategic alliances and collaborations can spur the development rate of the market as key players can focus on development of innovative technologies and advanced imaging systems. Collaborations are usually carried out by players that have strong product portfolio and patented technologies. This can support the international players in gaining market hold with support of local players in that respective region. For instance, Toshiba Medical Systems signed contracts with Russian imaging equipment manufacturer ZAO Roentgenprom to carry out licensing and sub-contracting production of CT scanners in the country. This initiative was a move towards enhancement of the healthcare system and infrastructure in Russia with main goal being the improvement in the country's overall healthcare space. Request Sample Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/22348 Moreover, increasing number of diagnostic centers is anticipated to spur the demand for advanced CT scanners. Since recent past, a number of diagnostics and imaging centers across various emerging and developed regions has increased substantially. Independent diagnostic centers offer better service and superior quality diagnosis at a pocket friendly cost. Several insurance companies have adopted efficient marketing strategies to shift the patient volume to the cost efficient independent diagnostic centers thus reducing the out of pocket costs of the patients. Global Market for Advanced CT Scanners: Factors Influencing Growth There are several aspects that have contributed to the growth of the global advanced computed tomography scanners market. Aspects such as increasing ageing population, growing need for medical imaging across various regions in the globe, increasing prevalence and growth in adoption of minimally invasive diagnostic procedures, high funding for research and development to carry out product innovations in medical devices and imaging systems, ease in FDA clearance, increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and dental and orthopedic disorders, growing number of hospitals and diagnostic centers and growing need for faster and more definitive result are driving the growth of the global market. However, factors such as exposure to radiation, inadequate reimbursement policies, adoption of refurbished medical devices, lack of skilled personnel and lack of healthcare infrastructure in emerging markets are the main challenges restricting the growth of the global market for advanced CT scanners. Download and View Report TOC, Figures and Tables @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/advanced-computed-tomography-scanners-market/toc Global Market for Advanced CT Scanners: Competitive Landscape Acquisitions, mergers, strategic collaborations and alliances are the key expansion strategies adopted by manufacturers and integrators for technology transfer and to increase consumer base in different geographies. Moreover, companies are focusing on new product launches and reducing the costs of advanced computed tomography devices in order to gain maximum market share. Some of the leading companies operating in the advanced computed tomography scanners market are Koninklijke Philips N.V., General Electric Company, Siemens AG, Carestream Health, Inc., Canon Inc., Xoran Technologies, LLC., Medtronic, Plc., iCRco, Inc., and NeuroLogica Corp. Get full Report Now @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/22348 Persistence Market Research Overview Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes. Contact Persistence Market Research U.S. Sales Office: 305 Broadway, 7th Floor New York City, NY 10007 +1-646-568-7751 United States USA - Canada Toll-Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com SOURCE Persistence Market Research Pvt. Ltd. "Our government is committed to continuing to improve the investment environment to make it comfortable for companies to set up and operate in India." "'Korea Plus' is one of the key initiatives which is acting as a catalyst to promote India among small Korean companies. Korea Plus and the [Indian] embassy in Korea work very closely to promote and facilitate Korean investments in India." "Large conglomerates in Korea are aware of the growth prospects in India. But awareness about the change in India needs to be created among small and medium-sized Korean enterprises." Asked how the Indian economy grew more than seven percent last year, he said, "The essence of our work is ensuring the development of all with their participation -- 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas,' a Hindi phrase that means, 'let's go forward together.'" "For Korea, India carries a considerable economic significance. Not only is India an emerging growth market driven by an abundant young population and rapidly rising middle class, it can also be a bridge for Korean businesses to penetrate the Middle East and African markets, considering its long and historical engagement with these two regions," he added. "Korean companies must play to their strengths in accordance with the strong offerings of India in sectors such as electronics, automotive, food processing, textiles and chemicals." Modi said the event, which is co-hosted by this newspaper, the Korea Trade Investment Promotion Agency and Confederation of Indian Industry, will be an opportunity for the two countries to cooperate by integrating India's software with Korea's hardware capabilities. "India and Korea are natural partners and our partnership would be mutually beneficial." Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed the importance of the Korea-India Business Summit in New Delhi in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo on Monday. This is the 2nd India-Korea Business Summit. How would you assess the significance of the event? "The theme 'Scaling up the Special Strategic Relationship Through Trade and Investments' emphasizes the significance of charting a path forward for both countries. Sessions are focused on business opportunities, the potential for Indian states to collaborate with Korea, the role of SMEs in expanding the bilateral relationship, prospects for Korea in India's initiatives like 'Digital India' and 'Make in India,' and the complementarities in the India-Korea relationship, highlighted mainly by India's software and Korea's hardware capabilities." You said in an interview in 2015 that "Korea is an inspiring country," and in an interview in 2016, "There is a lot to learn from Korea since it has successfully built a nation." What is your opinion of Korea currently? "During the last four decades Korea has evolved to become one of the most vibrant states in the region -- a manufacturing powerhouse that has virtually eradicated poverty, malnutrition, and illiteracy. Since the 1960s, Korea has increased its per capita GDP more quickly than any of its neighbors. Innovation and technology are the key factors that have underpinned Korean export competitiveness and fueled the country's remarkable economic rise over the past decades. The growth rate has been so impressive that the East Asian nation went from being one of the poorest countries in the 1960s to becoming the world's 11th largest economy. We are attempting for a transformation in India too, within a short span of time." As the world's largest democracy with a population of 1.3 billion, India has recently emerged as one of the most attractive investment destinations for Korea. Could you tell us about the potential of India? "India is emerging as a leader across all fronts, whether it be in sustainability, economic growth or innovation. Our 1.3 billion strong human capital is driving this transformation. India is expected to become the youngest nation with an average age of 29 by 2020. We are implementing deep structural reforms to transform the governance and business climate in India. We have focused on transparent, predictable and minimum governance with a focus on digitization by scrapping 1,400 redundant laws and shifting to digital governance." "Even the tax system has been streamlined with the introduction of a goods and services tax and online filing of tax returns. GST has made India a single economic union with common tax rates for same product across states and removed the cascading effect of taxes with one unified tax replacing total of 30 taxes." "We continue to invest in infrastructure development. Approximately, a US$92 billion infrastructure budget has been allocated for the financial year 2018-19. '100+ Smart Cities' are being developed, and five industrial corridors with numerous growth nodes and transport infrastructure projects are being developed in major metro cities. 'The Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor' is our flagship and the world's largest infrastructure development program with an investment of US$100 billion." "We have also fast-tracked about 200 infrastructure projects worth US$ 140 billion. The world's largest democracy is well on its way to becoming one of the world's most powerful economy." Some say Korean companies are interested in India but are not yet familiar with the Indian market. What plans do you have to improve the investment environment? "Large conglomerates in Korea are aware of the growth prospects in India. But awareness about the change in India needs to be created among small and medium-sized Korean enterprises. Korea Plus is one of the key initiatives which is acting as a catalyst to promote India among small Korean companies. They have actively done several small, large and focused events and campaigns to create the awareness on the Indian market amongst the Korean business community." "Our government is committed to continuing to improve the investment environment to make it comfortable for companies to set up and operate in India. More than 7,100 policy changes have been implemented at the federal and state government level in 2016-17 alone. There is now an Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, and IPR reforms have been undertaken to protect innovation." What do you think is the essence of leadership? "Our vision for a 'New India' involves building a nation that is free of corruption and nepotism, where all Indians have access to needs such as housing, electricity and water, and one that is an integral part of the global growth engine. It is extremely important for a leader not to lose touch with the ground reality and remain committed to the common good of the society. As a representative of the Indian people, I serve them with full sense of responsibility and keeping in view the needs of all citizens." You have made a lot of effort to boost India's industry. How do you plan to prioritize your administration and run your country in the future? "The 'Make in India' initiative was launched in September 2014 as part of a wider set of nation-building initiatives. It was launched to make India a manufacturing powerhouse and enhance India's competitiveness in doing business. It represents an attitudinal shift in how India relates to investors, i.e., not as a permit-issuing authority, but as a true business partner." "We will continue to remove obsolete and obstructive frameworks of the past and replace them with a transparent and user-friendly system that helps to drive investment, foster innovation, develop skills, protect intellectual property and build best-in-class manufacturing infrastructure." Korea is a latecomer in the Indian market compared to Japan. What strength do you think Korean companies can demonstrate in India? "Over 500 Korean companies are now operating in India, and several have now become well-known brands in each household. Korean companies are among the most successful companies in India. LG, Samsung and Hyundai's Indian operations are case studies for the business schools. However, Korea ranks only 16th in FDI equity inflows to India, while India offers a lot of potential for Korean Investors with a huge market and enabling policy environment." "Korean companies must play to their strengths in accordance with the strong offerings of India in sectors such as electronics, automotive, food processing, textiles and chemicals. These industries offer a huge untapped potential for Korean companies to manufacture, sell to and export from India. Additionally, the capability of responding to the changing dynamics of the market is one of the key strengths of the Korean companies. This adaptability comes with investments in R&D and that is a strength Korea can utilize in India." Economic cooperation between India and Korea is growing fast. How do you see the relationship between the two countries in the future? "Korea is the 16th largest FDI investor in India with bilateral trade of US$16.8 billion. The Korean business community has an incredible opportunity to be part of a unique and rare growth story like no other in India. Promising macroeconomics, pro-growth initiatives and evolving monetary policy are presenting tremendous potential for investors." "Hyundai is one example of how a Korean car manufacturer has been making an immense contribution to India's manufacturing sector and exports by producing 700,000 cars every year in India and exporting 150,000 to more than 87 countries." "India and Korea must look to expand their strategic partnership by accelerating and further deepening political cooperation, economic engagement and cultural understanding. As India turns to the East for sources of growth and Korea tries to diversify its overseas markets, the need to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two countries is becoming even more important." If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Shanghai expo is platform for British exports From:ChinaDaily | 2018-02-27 01:41 Expanding Chinese market offers big opportunities to UK businesses The first ever China International Import Expo, taking place in Shanghai in November, will be a good opportunity for Britain to show its products and services to new Chinese buyers, said the chairman of the China-Britain Business Council. James Sassoon said United Kingdom companies are excited about the possibilities presented by the expo because there are already 430 million middle-class Chinese consumers hungry for the best quality goods and services from around the world. Those 430 million will rise to about 750 million in the next few years, so this is a great opportunity for UK businesses, he said. We think what we have to present at the expo is what Chinese consumers want to buy. The expo, which was announced by President Xi Jinping last May and will run from Nov 5 to 10, is the first of its kind and seeks to further open up the Chinese market to the world. British international trade secretary Liam Fox has confirmed he will attend, and Sassoon said this showed very good commitment from the government and business to the expo. Its because we want to show off the best we have whether its in automotive, tourism, healthcare or creative industry there is so much in the UK that has to present right across the board. We will be there, he added. Sassoon accompanied British Prime Minister Theresa May on her recent trade mission to China, which sealed 9 billion pounds ($12.5bn) worth of new agreements. He said the three-day visit to Beijing, Shanghai and Wuhan, was eye-opening for the prime minister. I know from talking to her, she understands now much better why British businesses are so enthusiastic to put the emphasis on China markets, he said. It was an excellent visit both for her to understand the business opportunities, but also we move now into the golden era 2.0. Sassoon admitted May does not have the same background of visiting China as previous UK leaders, but pointed out that she understands the importance of the UK-China relationship, as demonstrated by the fact that China was the only country described by May as a vital trading partner for the UK in her keynote speech to business leaders at the Lord Mayors banquet last November. Sassoon also said the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative was perhaps the clearest example yet of how the two countries can work together. Business on both sides have these complimentary skills, he said. China with its lead in engineering and construction on one hand, and the UK with its undoubted leadership in project management, legal construct for major infrastructure projects and financing in risk management. The remaining challenge, he said, was for the UK and China to identify a list of projects that third countries want to work on, so that Chinese and UK businesses can start focusing on such projects. Another key area, he added, is to define the standards that make these big projects financeable on market terms in the global market. Ouyang Xueyan contributed to this story. Washington, Feb 21 : US President Donald Trump has signed an order to ban bump-stock devices or modified guns that enables one to shoot hundreds of rounds per minute and was used by a gunman to kill 58 Las Vegas concert-goers in 2017. Speaking at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said he has directed the Justice Department to propose a law to make the accessories illegal, the BBC reported. He said he directed Attorney General Jeff Sessions to finalise new guidelines to declare bump stocks illegal "very soon". The gun control debate took on a new urgency after 17 young students were killed at a school in Florida last week. Trump said: "We cannot merely take actions that make us feel like we are making a difference, we must actually make a difference." Stressing focus on evidence-based solutions and security measures that would actually work, Trump said that the new rules were aimed at making "it easier for men and women of law enforcement to protect our children..." With the help of bumped devices semi-automatic rifles work as machine guns. They can be bought for as little as $100 without the need for a criminal background check. One of these was used by 64-year-old gambler Stephen Paddock to rain bullets on a Las Vegas crowd in October 2017. It was America's worst ever mass-shooting by a lone gunman that injured more than 500 people also. Both Democrats and Republicans agreed in the nationwide wave of horror following the Las Vegas attack that the sale of bump stocks should be outlawed. But a bill introduced to ban bump stocks, trigger cranks and other devices that can speed up a semi-automatic rifle's rate of fire has since stalled. Students and parents affected by the massacre at the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last week have set out on a demonstration in the state capital of Tallahassee on Wednesday. Hundreds of students were on their way to the state capital to lobby their lawmakers over the national issue, the BBC said. "We're travelling to our state capital to make sure that none of these people that we grew up with - that we've known our whole lives - die in vain," Julia Salomone, 18, said. Los Angeles, Feb 23 : Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has apologised for using statements by stars Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence in an effort to seek dismissal of a sexual misconduct lawsuit against him. "Even though Mr. Weinstein has worked with hundreds of actresses and actors who had only professional and mutually respectful experiences with him, Mr. Weinstein has directed in the future that no specific names be used by his counsel. Even where those actors have made previous public statements about him," theguardian.com quoted a spokeswoman for Weinstein as saying. She added: "Mr. Weinstein acknowledges the valuable input both Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lawrence have contributed to this conversation and apologises. "Once again, moving forward, Mr. Weinstein has advised his counsel to not include specific names of former associates; and to avoid whenever possible, even if they are in the public record." Six women are suing Weinstein and what they call the "Weinstein Sexual Enterprise", which they say includes his brother Bob and their co-founded studio The Weinstein Company, claiming they conspired to conceal Weinstein's widespread alleged sexual harassment. Lawyers for the Hollywood mogul filed a motion to dismiss the suit on Tuesday, arguing that it was "fatally overboard". Both Streep and Lawrence have spoken out against the motion filed by Weinstein's lawyers. In response to the motion, Lawrence described Weinstein as a "predator", reports theguardian.com. "For the record, while I was not victimised personally by Harvey Weinstein, I stand behind the women who have survived his terrible abuse and I applaud them in using all means necessary to bring him to justice whether through criminal or civil actions. Time's up," she said. Her comment follows Streep firing back at Weinstein, who said the action was "pathetic and exploitative" after his lawyers cited her saying she was never harassed by the producer in an attempt to shut the case down. New Delhi, Feb 24 : Following the Rs 11,300 crore Punjab National Bank fraud by accused diamond trader Nirav Modi, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Saturday ruled out privatisation of public sector banks (PSBs), saying the move may not find political consensus. In light of the PNB scam that has rocked the Indian banking system since February 14, the industry chambers Ficci, Assocham and CII have urged the government to surrender its majority control of banks and allow them to function like private sector lenders. "This (privatisation) involves a large political consensus. Also, that involves an amendment to the law (Banking Regulation Act), as well as amendment in the political consensus," Jaitley said at the ET Global Business Summit here. "My impression is that Indian political opinion may not find favour with this idea itself. It's a very challenging decision," he said. Industry chamber Assocham said last week that the PNB scam should act as a "strong trigger" for the government to surrender its majority control of banks which should then be allowed to work on the lines of private sector lenders with a full sense of accountability to their shareholders and protecting interest of depositors. Noting that recapitalisation of state-run banks over the last decade has had little impact on improving their health, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (Ficci) called for their privatisation in the interest of creating "a dynamic banking sector" in the country. Jaitley said the question of "moral hazard" comes up in using taxpayers money to recapitalise banks that are hugely stressed on account of their accumulated non-performing assets (NPAs), or bad loans. The accumulated NPAs in the Indian banking system have crossed a staggering Rs eight lakh crore, with PSBs themselves accounting for over Rs seven lakh crore of bad loans. In the face of this, the cabinet, in October 2017, approved a recapitalisation plan for PSBs worth Rs 2.11 lakh crore. On Friday, Ficci President Rashesh Shah told reporters he had met the Union Finance Minister with a request to begin the process of bank privatisation in a phased manner, leaving just a handful of lenders in the public sector. The Chief Economic Advisor (CEA) Arvind Subramanian has also advocated more private participation in public sector banks. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 26 : Two days after the Kerala government said it was open to any probe, even one by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), into the murder of a Youth Congress worker in Kannur, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday said there was no need for an investigation by the central agency. Unhappy with Vijayan's statement in the assembly on the murder of 30-year-old Shoaib in Kannur on February 12, the entire opposition went into protest mode, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day. As the Kerala Assembly began its session on Monday at 8.30 a.m., the Congress-led opposition walked into the House wearing black badges. When question hour began, the party demanded suspension of House proceedings and a debate into Shoaib's murder that took place at an eatery near Mattanoor -- four persons in a car hurled bombs and then fatally injured Shoaib, slashing at him with a sword. But Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan was in no mood to relent, worsening the situation as angry opposition members trooped near the Chair's podium and shouted slogans. Sreeramakrishnan was then forced to adjourn the House. When the House resumed at 9.30 a.m., Sunny Joseph, senior Congress legislator from Kannur district, moved an adjournment motion and said that the CPI-M has delivered "the unkindest of all cuts" on Shoaib -- an active Congress worker. "It took six days for you (Vijayan) to react on it. The Director General of Police has already gone on record to say that the accused are CPI-M workers. "The first and second accused in this murder case are already accused in another murder case, but you (Vijayan) were silent on it. "Instead, you pointed out Sohaib was arrested in a street fight case. The pictures of Shoaib that have come out now show how brutally he was butchered," said Joseph. Vijayan, replying to Joseph, pointed out that no murder can be justified and said that the overall situation in the state has improved compared to the previous years. "The police have been doing a smart job and have arrested five people, and the probe is going in the right direction. So, at the moment there is no need for a CBI probe," said Vijayan. Soon, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala also stepped in and said that it was just two days back that, at an all-party meeting in Kannur, Minister for SC/ST and Culture A.K. Balan had categorically said that the state government was open to any probe, even a CBI probe. "Now, you (Vijayan) say the CBI probe is not needed. The smell of blood on the hands of the Communist Party of India-Marxist in this murder will not be washed away even if you use all the perfume in the world. "The very fact that you have gone back on your assurance of any probe clearly indicates that you have things to hide. This is not acceptable and we will protest till you announce a CBI probe into this murder," said Chennithala. Following the speech, angry opposition members stepped up their protest, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for the day. In Kannur, Shoaib's father told the media that it's imperative to know why his son was killed. "He (Shoaib) did not know any of the five accused who have been arrested and hence it is very clear that this was a planned one. We want to know the reason why my son was killed," said Shoaib's father. Senior Congress leader K. Sudhakaran, whose fast in Kannur demanding a CBI probe entered the eighth day, said that the "cat is now out of the bag and Vijayan knows that if the CBI is entrusted with the job of probing the case, then the law will catch up with the Kannur district leadership of the CPI-M, which is alleged to have masterminded this murder". New Delhi, Feb 26 : King of Jordan Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, accompanied by a business delegation, will come on a three-day visit to India starting on Tuesday, the External Affairs Ministry announced on Monday. This will be his second visit to India after his visit along with Queen Rania in 2006. According to an External Affairs Ministry statement, King Abdullah will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra during the course of which the two sides will discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. The two sides are expected to sign a number of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) and agreements in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation. President Ram Nath Kovind will host a banquet in honour of King Abdullah while Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will call on the visiting dignitary. On Wednesday, the King will visit IIT Delhi to explore collaboration with Jordan technical institutes. During the day, the King will also participate in a CEO Round-table followed by India-Jordan Business Forum jointly organised by Industry bodies Ficci, CII and Assocham. India-Jordan trade stood at $1.35 billion in 2016-17, according to figures provided by the External Affairs Ministry. On Thursday, the King will deliver a special address on "Promoting Understanding and Moderation", organised by the India Islamic Centre at Vigyan Bhawan. Earlier this month, King Abdullah hosted Modi at his residence in Amman. Jordan had facilitated Modi's transit to Palestine in what was the first ever prime ministerial visit from India to that West Asian nation. Latest updates on Howdy Modi Houston Washington, Feb 27 : The US Supreme Court refused on Monday to take up the Trump administration's appeal of a lower court ruling that requires it to continue a programme that protects hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation. "The petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment is denied without prejudice," Xinhua cited a a court filing as saying. "It is assumed that the Court of Appeals will proceed expeditiously to decide this case" on the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals programme, or DACA. In an unusual move, the Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to intervene in the case before a federal appeals court had ruled. US President Donald Trump announced an end to the programme in September last year but gave Congress six months to find a legislative alternative. While protections for the "Dreamers" were due to start phasing out in March, Congress has so far failed to pass legislation to address their fates. Last month, San Francisco-based US District Judge William Alsup ruled that the government must continue to process renewals of existing DACA applications. A second judge in New York issued a similar injunction earlier this month. The injunctions are due to be heard by federal appeals courts but the process could take months or years, prompting the Trump administration's move to take it directly to the Supreme Court, which rarely accepts appeals asking them to bypass the lower courts. Following the court's decision, Trump told a White House meeting that "We'd like to help DACA" and criticised the lower court. The White House issued a statement accusing the district judge in the case of having "unwisely interviewed in the legislative process" by acting while Congress in debating the policy. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that the Supreme Court's action shows that "rescinding DACA was not only legally questionable, but also unjust and cruel." DACA, established by former US President Barack Obama in 2012, was an immigration policy that allowed some individuals who entered the US as minors, mostly illegally, to receive a renewable two-year period of deferred action from deportation and to be eligible for a work permit. United Nations, Feb 27 : The Security Council on Monday adopted a Russian-drafted resolution on a technical rollover of the Yemen sanctions regime. The unanimous vote followed a Russian veto of a Britain-drafted text that contained language of Iranian "non-compliance" with the UN sanctions regime against individuals and entities deemed to be engaging in or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen. In the vote on the Britain-drafted text, 11 members of the council were in favour, Russia and Bolivia were against, and China and Kazakhstan abstained, reports Xinhua. Since Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council, the Britain draft failed to be adopted. The council then put to vote the Russian text, which won unanimous support of the 15 members of the council. The resolution renews sanctions against designated individuals and entities for a year, till Feb. 26, 2019, and extends the mandate of a Panel of Experts, which is tasked to assist in the implementation of the sanctions regime, until March 28, 2019. The sanctions include an asset freeze against designated individuals and entities and a travel ban. Yemen has been in civil war since 2015, pitting Houthi forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and forces loyal to the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. In December 2017, conflict erupted between Houthi rebels and Saleh supporters, leading to the killing of Saleh. The conflict is also seen to involve regional powers. A Saudi-led military coalition is striking Houthi rebels, which are allegedly supported by Iran. Tehran has denied such allegations. Before the vote on his country's text, British ambassador Jonathan Allen said the Security Council must not ignore the growing ballistic missile threat emanating from Yemen, which gravely threatens international peace and stability. Missile attacks against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia are unacceptable, he said. Allen said his country was deeply concerned that Iran has failed to take necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply of short-range ballistic missiles, missile propellents and unmanned aerial vehicles to Houthi rebels in Yemen, as reported by the Panel of Experts. Riyadh, Feb 27 : Saudi Arabia has sacked its top military commanders, including the Chief of Staff, in a series of late-night royal decrees, media reports said. The sackings come as the war in Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is fighting rebels, is nearing the end of its third year. A series of political appointments were also announced at the same time, including the rare appointment of a female Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Development, Tamadar bint Yousef al-Ramah. Saudi King Salman also replaced the heads of the ground forces and air defences. The news was published by the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA), but no reason for the sackings was given. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who is also the Defence Minister, is believed to be behind various shake-ups in the country, the BBC reported. The service of the Chief of Staff, General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, is among those "terminated", said the SPA. Various military figures have already been promoted to replace those sacked. Prince Turki bin Talal was appointed new Deputy Governor of the south-west Asir province. He is the brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who was detained in the anti-corruption drive and released two months later. Last year dozens of prominent Saudi figures, including princes, ministers and billionaires, were locked up in Riyadh's five-star Ritz-Carlton hotel as the prince led a drive against corruption and abuse of power. This is another sweeping overhaul of Saudi institutions that has become the hallmark of the reign of King Salman, although the driving force is once again his son and heir, Crown Prince. The Saudi intervention in the Yemen conflict was his initiative - one of the first indications of just how dramatically he was going to break away from the country's traditional caution. The BBC report said the initiative has so far failed, even though it has forced the Houthi rebels out of the south of Yemen and allowed the ousted government to re-establish a foothold. The cost for Yemen itself has been a humanitarian disaster, while it has also drained Saudi coffers in a time of austerity. Paris, Feb 27 : Paris Saint-Germain's (PSG) Neymar Jr is set to miss the Champions League Round of 16 second leg match against Real Madrid with a right ankle sprain and a fractured metatarsal, the club has said. PSG said that scans had confirmed the Brazilian had suffered "a right ankle sprain" and an "associated fracture of the fifth metatarsal" in a statement on Tuesday. He was injured in Sunday's Ligue 1 victory against Marseille, and although the club have not said how long he will be out for, he is expected to miss the return leg of the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 match at home to holders Real Madrid on March 6. PSG trail the Spanish giants 3-1. Neymar joined the French side from FC Barcelona in the summer of 2017 for a world record fee of $263 million, and has scored 29 goals in all competitions since the move. The club also confirmed that his compatriot, defensive lynchpin Marquinhos, has a grade 1 left quadriceps injury. 23,260 new COVID cases in Kerala after 1.28L tests on Friday With this, the number of active COVID cases in the state rose to 1,88,926. Of the new cases, 21,983 contracted the virus through contact while 159 came from outside the state. San Francisco, Feb 27 : While Google's rise has helped its parent company Alphabet break all revenue records, Google's Indian-born CEO Sundar Pichai neither receives any financial information about Alphabet's "Other Bets" nor has any decision-making power over them. In newly-released government documents to the US Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) and reported by CNBC late Monday, Alphabet has published details about the structure of its overall businesses. "Pichai also does not have authority over Alphabet's overall resource allocation to Google," the report said, quoting from the Alphabet's letter to SEC. However, when it comes to Google, Pichai receives weekly and quarterly reports which include individual financial information for Google product areas. These reports include YouTube, advertising and hardware and operating results, capital expenditures and headcount for Google. "Neither Alphabet CEO Larry Page nor his co-founder, Alphabet President Sergey Brin, receive the weekly and quarterly reports received by Pichai," the SEC document said. Without Page's approval, Pichai can commit Google to non-standard licensing or similar arrangements, investments, mergers and acquisitions. "Although Susan Wojcicki and Diane Greene both have "CEO" titles within Google, for YouTube and Cloud respectively, Pichai is the only Google executive who reports directly to and maintains regular contact with Page," said the report. The Alphabet CEO receives regular financial information about every Alphabet company but doesn't allocate resources to individual product areas within Google or within individual "Other Bets". "Other Bets" holds 11 different companies, which includes self-driving car unit Waymo and healthcare arm Verily. "Page proposes compensation for Google CEO Pichai and all aOther BetaA CEOs, but no other executives below that," the report added. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said bilateral trade between India and South Korea in 2017 reached $20 billion, the first time in six years. Modi also said that he wondered how South Korea, a country of the size of Gujarat, could make such economic progress. "It is heartening to note that the bilateral trade crossed $20 billion for the first time last year in six years," the Prime Minister said while addressing the India-Korea Business Summit here. He also said that he "admires the spirit of entrepreneurship of the Korean people". "I admire the way in which they have created and sustained their global brands, from information technology and electronics to automobile and steel, Korea has given exemplary products to the world." He also said that South Korean companies are appreciated for their innovation and strong manufacturing capability. The Prime Minister also said that India has all three factors of the economy. "If you see around the globe, there are very few countries where you have three important factors of economy together. They are - Democracy, Demography and Demand. In India, we have all the three together," he said. Modi added that the relations between India and South Korea dates back centuries. "We are also bound by our Buddhist traditions. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore composed poem 'Lamp of the East' in 1929 about Korea's glorious past and its bright future. "It is also conicendence that India and Korea both celebrate their independence day on August 15. From Princess to Poetry and from Buddha to Bollywood; India and Korea have so much in common," the Prime Minister added. Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 27 : Kerala Assembly Speaker P. Sreeramakrishnan on Tuesday came under heavy fire from the Congress-led opposition for rejecting their adjournment motion. Trouble started right from the beginning of Question Hour at 8.30 a.m., with the opposition members shouting slogans in front of the Speaker's dais, holding banners and placards, and demanding justice for Shoaib, a Congress worker killed in Kannur district on February 12 and the murder of a tribal youth Madhu who was allegedly beaten to death by a group of men. After 15 minutes of the ruckus, Sreeramakrishnan briefly adjourned the House and called the respective party leaders for discussion. However, when the House reassembled at 9.20 a.m., the slogan shouting continued. Sreeramakrishnan then announced that the adjournment motion was not being taken up -- and thereafter proceeded with the business listed for the day. The opposition was again up in arms and charged the Speaker with being afraid of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. They said that instead of acting like a Speaker, he was behaving like a Communist Party of India-Marxist Committee Secretary -- "dancing to the tunes of Vijayan out of fear". Sreeramakrishnan then adjourned the House for the day. On Monday, the House was adjourned within a few hours following the opposition's protest after the Vijayan government backtracked upon an earlier order for a CBI probe in the murder of Shoaib. Later, speaking to media outside the assembly, Indian Union Muslim League legislator N. Shamsudeen, who represents the Mannarkad Assembly constituency in Palakkad district, said what happened in the Assembly and the way the Speaker behaved was unprecedented. "I wanted to raise two unfortunate murders that took place in my constituency... one was that of the tribal youth Madhu who was beaten to death by a group of men, the other was that of party worker Zafeer, who was murdered. These are two very important things that I wanted to raise, but the Speaker did not allow this," said Shamsudeen. Speaker Sreeramakrishnan later told media persons that he proposed to call a meeting of the Business Advisory Committee of the house on Wednesday to resolve the issue. After Wednesday the next sitting of the house is on March 5. Los Angeles, Feb 27 : Bollywood actor Ali Fazal, who is preparing for his next Hollywood unannounced venture, says meeting icons like Hollywood personalities like Britney Spears and Samuel L. Jackson was surreal. The actor was attending the annual Hollywood Beauty Awards, an annual forum where the best in talent of the hair, beauty and design talent is feted, Ali was also elected as an award presenter. "It was surreal. We were all on the same tables, dining at the award show. I mean , fact is, Britney has been an icon during the largest part of my childhood. She was up there breaking records with her hit singles. "I bet all my friends know lyrics to at least two of her songs. Like it or not. Its like the era of Backstreet Boys and NSYNC. She was receiving the fragrance beauty award for her latest perfume line and so i guess i went to get a whiff of that and congratulate her," Ali said in a statement. Ali presented the 2018 New Beauty Awards to two new comers, namely Kirstin Maldonado and Olivia Holt. And the finale, award for Timeless beauty to Jane Seymour. Talking about meeting Jackson, Ali said: "Samuel L. Jackson and I share the same team, and so this meeting was pending for a while. What can i say, am just a huge fan. And he loved my performance from my film 'Victoria and Abdul'. So that was one of the best compliments I have received in my life. Somethings are just best experienced I guess. I told him I hope I meet him on a set next time. Working together." New Delhi, Feb 27 : The decision to hold the third annual meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Mumbai in June is an acknowledgement of India's active participation in the multilateral institution, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said on Tuesday. He said it also reflects in the many projects in India being considered for funding by the AIIB. Addressing a curtain raiser here to the annual meeting organised jointly by the Indian Ministries of External Affairs and Finance and the AIIB, Jaitley unveiled the logo of the Mumbai meeting. The meeting is scheduled to be held on June 25-26 with theme "Mobilising Finance for Infrastructure: Innovation and Collaboration". "I am glad that India decided not only to be a participant in the AIIB, but an active participant as well, and that Mumbai has been chosen for the conference after the previous two in Beijing and Jeju (South Korea)," Jaitley said. He said the AIIB is functioning "fairly effectively" in the two years of its existence with many projects in pipeline. "India is at the forefront with five projects actively funded and many others under consideration," Jaitley said, adding that the current AIIB President Jin Liqun from China, is keen to have a "large talent pool from India in the Bank". Noting the thrust on infrastructure given in India's Budget 2018-19, the AIIB President said the Beijing-headquartered bank has invested over $1 billion in India in two years. Among these are the $339 million funding in July 2017 for the Gujarat rural roads project and $235 million for the Bangalore Metro, which is the first metro project to be funded by the AIIB," Jin said. Last year, the AIIB said it is looking to pump in $1.5 billion (Rs 9,599 crore) in six new projects in India that includes Rs 1,279 crore in India's National Investment and Infrastructure Fund (NIIF). The $1.5 billion proposed investments by AIIB in the country, include Mumbai Metro Line 4 Project ($500 million), Bangalore Metro Rail Project Line R6 ($339 million). Besides, NIIF ($200 million), Amaravati Sustainable Capital City Development Project ($200 million), Madhya Pradesh Rural Connectivity Project ($141 million) and Transmission System Strengthening Project ($100 million). Mexico City, Feb 27 : The families of three Italians who disappeared on January 31 from Mexico's Jalisco state have claimed that they were sold by the police to a criminal gang for 1,000 pesos ($53). A person known as Don Angel, who is allegedly linked to the organised criminal group, is believed to have met the Italians and paid Tecatitlan municipality police officers for their handover, Francesco Russo, the son of Raffaele Russo -- one of the three missing persons -- told Efe news. "(Angel) is the name that came up in the hearing when the police confessed to having received 1,000 pesos," Francesco said. Four officers from Tecatitlan, in southern Jalisco, were arrested on Saturday after they confessed to handing over Raffaele Russo, his son Antonio Russo and nephew Vincenzo Cimmino, to members of a criminal group. The Secretary-General of the Jalisco government, Roberto Lopez Lara, said the policemen of three other municipalities and several civilians were also being investigated over possible links to the incident. Lopez Lara said the search for the three missing people was ongoing, and that there was no way to determine whether they were still alive. The family of the three Italians reported them missing on February 1. In a statement, Francesco Russo urged the authorities to speed up the search and investigation, and called for the arrest of Tecatitlan police chief Hugo Enrique Martinez -- who has been on the run since last week -- and Hilario Farias Mejia, the senior official who was on duty on January 31. "We ask with all our hearts that you pursue the investigation to find our relatives as quickly as possible. We want them to be returned to Italy, dead or alive," Francesco said. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Officers of the Delhi government will on Tuesday afternoon attend a cabinet meeting related to the budget, a week after they decided to boycott all meetings with Ministers in protest against an alleged attack on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by two AAP MLAs. Last week, the Chief Secretary alleged that on February 19 night he was beaten up by AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and another AAP MLA in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the CM's residence where he had been called for a meeting. Addressing media after a meeting of the Delhi Government Employees Joint Forum here on Tuesday, Pankaj Kumar, a member of the association, said they would continue to not attend meetings or talk to Ministers over phone and the exemption is only for the cabinet meeting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The cabinet meeting is scheduled to be attended by the Chief Secretary also. The association said they would continue to contact Ministers and MLAs only through written channel till Kejriwal tenders a "written public apology" for the alleged attack. Meanwhile, Prakash wrote a letter to the Chief Minister that the meeting is being held on the "assumption that the CM will ensure that there is no physical attack and verbal assault on the officers". Damascus, Feb 27 : A five-hour Russia-proposed truce came into effect on Tuesday in Syria's rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta. The truce came into effect at 9 a.m., and is expected to continue until 2 p.m. in the conflict-torn area, reports Xinhua news agency. The truce will take place every day within the same period of time to allow evacuation of civilians from the rebel-held zone. The location of the humanitarian corridor was set to be the Wafidin crossing, the only crossing between Damascus and Eastern Ghouta. Local media said the crossing has been prepared with ambulances and buses to transport the civilians who will leave for safer places. It's not yet clear if the rebels will allow the civilians to leave Eastern Ghouta, as Muhammad Alloush, the political chief of Islam Army, said a day earlier that only the wounded will leave, not the regular civilians. State-run al-Ekhbaraia TV said the rebels fired at an area near the crossing on Tuesday morning to prevent the civilians from leaving. The humanitarian truce comes just days after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2401, which requires all parties in Syria to immediately cease clashes and provide a sustained humanitarian break for at least 30 days. More than 510 people have been killed since February 18 in of one of the deadliest bombing campaigns by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his allies during the seven-year war. Kohima, Feb 27 : Heavy polling of over 56 per cent was recorded in the first five hours in assembly elections in Nagaland on Tuesday which was marred by a clash between supporters of the ruling NPF and the BJP which claimed a life and left two persons injured. Election Commission officials here said more than 56 per cent of the total 11.70 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 1 p.m. in voting that will continue till 4 p.m. The clashes between workers of the Naga People's Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party were reported in Zunheboto district, where one person was shot dead, the official said. "Initially, some people were preventing voters from entering the polling station. Then another group came and the clashes erupted in Akuluto assembly constituency," Nagaland Police chief Rupin Sharma told IANS. "The two groups indulged in firing, which compelled the police to open fire. As of now, we are not able to ascertain the source and cause of the injuries," Sharma said. He said police reinforcements were rushed to the area to control the situation. Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha said polling resumed in Akuluto assembly constituency under strict observation. Before the polling process commenced at 7 a.m., one person was injured when a bomb went off at a polling station at 5.45 a.m., and a mob destroyed a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine in Tizit constituency in the eastern part of the state. However, Sinha said polling has resumed and was going on smoothly in the affected polling stations. "There are also reports of some stray incidents but voting is going on peacefully so far and the enthusiasm has been very encouraging in some areas," he said. Aam Aadmi Party candidate for Nagaland's Ghaspani-I assembly seat, Akavi N. Zhimomi, has alerted the EC that "one man-one vote is not being practised in many polling stations", particularly in booths of Kiyezhe-B area. "I have seen this with my own eyes," Zhimomi said. Three-time Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDDP) has been declared elected unopposed from the Northern Angami-II constituency after his lone rival candidate Chupfuo Angami of the ruling NPF withdrew his nomination on February 12. The newly floated NDPP has stitched an alliance with the BJP and the two are contesting 40 and 20 assembly seats, respectively. However, incumbent Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang voiced confidence that the NPF will retain power in Nagaland. "We are confident that we will emerge single-largest party on March 3 when the votes will be counted. We will retain and lead the government," Zeliang told IANS. The run-up to the polls saw several twists and turns, with the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) demanding a solution to the vexed Naga problem before the elections. Sinha said the polling time in 103 polling stations spread over six districts will be from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., while the polling time for the remaining 2,053 polling stations is 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Of the 2,156 polling stations, 1,062 are critical, 530 vulnerable and 564 normal polling stations, he said. Over 15,000 government employees will be on poll duty and there will be 177 all-women polling stations across 25 constituencies in the state. Sinha said there are 55 election observers, including 22 general and expenditure observers each and 11 police observers, besides 442 micro observers. Shillong, Feb 27 : Over 30 per cent polling was recorded in the first five hours on Tuesday in assembly elections in Meghalaya where Chief Minister Mukul Sangma voiced confidence that the Congress will retain power. Sangma said his party will cross the magic-figure of 31 in the 60-member state assembly as 31.40 per cent of the 18.9 lakh voters exercised their franchise till 1.00 p.m. "I have full faith on the people of the state. I believe that they have full confidence on the Congress party. We will cross the magic number," Sangma told journalists after casting his vote at Chengkompara polling station in Ampati assembly constituency. Sangma, the chief architect of the Congress win on 29 seats in the 2013 elections, is contesting from two assembly seats Ampati and Songsak In Songsak, Sangma takes on two-time National People's Party legislator Nihim D. Shira, while in Ampati, he is in a direct fight against Bharatiya Janata Party nominee Bakul Hajong. Hoping Stone Lyngdoh, who was President of the Hill State People's Democratic Party (HSPDP) till his death, had successfully contested from two Assembly seats -- the erstwhile Pariong (now Mawthadraishan) and Nongstoin in the 1988 elections. Asked whether the Congress has already decided to choose its partners in case it fell short of majority, the veteran Congress said: "We do have lots of good friends." In the 2013 assembly elections, the Congress won in 29 seats and later increased its tally to 30 after it won the Chokpot Assembly by-poll in 2015. The Congress -- ruling the state for a decade -- has fielded candidates in all 60 seats, of which 59 saw polling on Tuesday. However, seven of its legislators have since quit and jumped on to the bandwagon of the alliance formed by the BJP, National People's Party (NPP) and newly floated People's Democratic Front (PDF). The combined regional alliance comprising United Democratic Party, HSPDP and Garo National Council, also was gung-ho about electoral victory. "From reports that I have received so far, we are confident to unseat the Congress from power and form a pro- people and corruption-free government," UDP chief Donkupar Roy told IANS. The NPP, which won two seats in the 2013 assembly poll and is fighting the elections alone, is hopeful of increasing the numbers as five former Congress legislators are contesting on NPP symbol this time. "We are hopeful of emerging as the single largest party in the Assembly and form the government," NPP President Conrad K. Sangma said. Governor Ganga Prasad exercised his franchise at the Oakland polling station under North Shillong Assembly constituency. Former Union Minister and NPP candidate Agatha K Sangma, Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh of the Congress, Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy of the UDP and HSPDP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit also exercised their franchise. As many as 340 polling stations have been categorised as "critical" and 580 as "vulnerable". Balloting in 183 polling stations is being webcast, to be made available at the offices of Chief Electoral Officer or District Electoral Officer and the Election Commission, state Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor said. As many as 66 all-women polling stations and 61 model polling stations have been set up. Mawlai constituency in East Khasi Hills district has the highest voters at 42,670, and Dalu in West Garo Hills the lowest 18,640 voters. In all, 106 companies of central armed police forces have been deployed to ensure peaceful polls, he said. In 2013, Meghalaya Assembly elections, the voters turnout was recorded at 87.97 per cent. Islamabad, Feb 27 : The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday appointed Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif as its acting president while former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was named the party's "Quaid (leader) for life". The announcement was made in PML-N's Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Lahore which was presided over by Nawaz Sharif. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the former Prime Minister's daughter Maryam Nawaz and the Punjab Chief Minister's son Hamza Shehbaz were also present, Geo News reported. Shehbaz Sharif, said to be a consensus choice for the top party position, would become permanent president after intra-party elections are held within 45 days, the report said. Nawaz Sharif put his weight behind his younger brother for performing well in Punjab and keeping the party united by dint of his "exceptional qualities". Soon after the decision was taken, Maryam Nawaz tweeted a picture of her father and uncle embracing one another. "We are Alhamdolilah ONE. We stand united. PML-N stands united," she tweeted. Meanwhile, the proposal to elect Nawaz Sharif as "Quaid" of the party for life was pitched by PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Abbasi and Shehbaz Sharif. The office of the party president fell vacant last week after the Supreme Court revoked clause 203 of the Election Act, 2017, holding Nawaz Sharif "ineligible" to retain the PML-N presidency owing to his disqualification on July 28 as the Prime Minister as well as a member of the Parliament in the so-called Panama Papers scandal. According to Dawn newspaper, the top court ruling had rendered all decisions Nawaz Sharif had taken in the capacity of the party chief as "null and void". This raises a question mark over the legal status of PML-N's CWC, which has 109 members nominated by the former Prime Minister while he was party president. However, the PML-N's Information Secretary said that only those CWC members who were elected before the July 28 decision had been called for Tuesday's meeting. Beijing, Feb 27 : An open letter by a group of Chinese intellectuals urging lawmakers to vote down a plan to drop the two-term limit for the President was circulating on social media on Tuesday. The constitutional reform, if passed, will allow current Head of State Xi Jinping to be re-elected for a third term, reports Efe news. The open letter, circulating on WeChat, the Chinese equivalent of Twitter, was written by a group headed by Li Datong, former editor of the magazine Bingdian, and is addressed to 55 lawmakers who are set to vote on the proposal in March. The group warned that voting in favour of the 14th amendment to the 1982 Constitution, which would allow Xi to continue his term as China's president after 2023, would be a step backward in history and will sow the seed of chaos. The letter argues that the two-term (10 years) limit set in the Constitution was aimed at discouraging personal dictatorship and disallow an individual to become more important than the party. Li called on the Beijing lawmakers (a fraction of the nearly 3,000 lawmakers who are set to participate in the annual plenary session of the National People's Assembly) to vote against the proposal. The Communist Party of China's Central Committee had proposed Sunday to do away with a two-term limit for the president and vice president of the country, to be voted and approved by the lawmakers at the end of the National People's Assembly annual plenary session, which usually concludes by mid-March. Los Angeles, Feb 27 : Actress Jennifer Lawrence was widely blamed by fans for actor Chris Pratt's split from wife Anna Faris. But Lawrence says she was never in a relationship with her "Passengers" co-star. In an interview with FM channel KISS, the Oscar-winning actress talked about the weirdest rumours she had heard about herself. She also commented on speculation about her love life, reports dailymail.co.uk. "I never had an affair with Chris Pratt on 'Passengers'. That's a good oneAI mean they got a divorce like two years later and everybody was like (shouting) Jennifer Lawrence! And I was like what the A 'what I'm in Montreal two years later'," Lawrence said. There were rumours in 2016 that Pratt and Lawrence got into a relationship filming their sci-fi film "Passengers", which will air in India on Sony PIX on March 6. Pratt announced the news of his split from his wife of eight years Faris last year. Dubai, Feb 27 : Indian actress Sridevi Kapoor drowned in her bathtub after losing consciousness and the case had been closed after investigation, Dubai Prosecutor's office said. The body was handed over to her bereaved family. No foul play was apparently suspected by the investigators leading to closure of the case A tweet from the official feed of the Government of Dubai Media Office read: "The Public Prosecutor's Office of the Emirate of Dubai has decided to hand over the body of Indian actress Sridevi Kapoor to her relatives on Tuesday after the investigation of her death and the closure of the incident." "The decision to release the body came after all the investigations and procedural matters followed in such incidents were completed, in order to determine all its circumstances and ensure that justice was done within the framework of the law," the tweet read. In another tweet, Dubai Public Prosecutor said that "as per the forensic report, the death of the Indian actress occurred due to accidental drowning following loss of consciousness. The case has now been closed." On Saturday evening, Sridevi drowned in the bathtub of room number 2201 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel here. The Dubai Police had also recorded the statement of Sridevi's producer husband Boney Kapoor. Sources told Gulf News that the filmmaker was called to the Bur Dubai police station for questioning. The police took his statement after which he was allowed to return to his hotel. Actor Arjun Kapoor, step-son of Sridevi, on Tuesday flew to Dubai to "be with his father at the hotel". Chennai, Feb 27 : Two opposition parties in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday expressed "shock" over what they called the Centre's "dithering" over the setting up of the Cauvery Management Board (CMB) as per the Supreme Court order. In a statement here, PMK founder S. Ramadoss said Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's statement on the issue was "shocking" and "it seemed the central government is washing its hands off the issue". On Monday, Shipping and Water Resources Minister Gadkari had allegedly declined to give an assurance on setting up the CMB, maintaining that it is a "complex task". The apex court on February 16 had ordered the central government to set up the CMB and the Cauvery Water Regulatory Committee within six weeks. "Gadkari is reflecting Karnataka government's stand on the issue and his views are nothing but contempt of the court," Ramadoss added. He said both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party have been cheating Tamil Nadu when it comes to the Cauvery river water dispute. Ramadoss said instead of waiting further, Chief Minister K. Palaniswami should lead an all-party delegation to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the matter and take necessary steps to see that the CMB is set up. DMK leader M.K. Stalin also condemned Gadkari's views in a tweet. The Supreme Court had reduced Tamil Nadu's share in the Cauvery water to 177.25 thousand million cubic feet, down from 192 TMC allocated by a tribunal in 2007. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia said here on Tuesday that Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash has "done nothing" over the past one week to resolve problems associated with the delivery of ration in the city. Addressing the media after a cabinet meeting, Sisodia said that during the last cabinet meeting the Chief Secretary was asked to inquire into violations in the implementation of the PoS system in the delivery of ration and also present a proposal on door-step delivery of ration in the next cabinet meeting. "The CS done nothing in these two matters in the past one week," Sisodia said. The Deputy Chief Minister said the Chief Secretary has been asked to finish the inquiry in two weeks' time. Kolkata, Feb 27 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday termed the state's districts bordering Bangladesh as "sensitive" and asked the district administrations concerned to monitor the border situation to stop infiltration. Speaking at the districts' administrative meeting in Barasat -- the district headquarters of North 24 Parganas district -- she also expressed concern over the issue of cross-border smuggling, including cow smuggling, and said the administration has to be strict to check such incidents. "North 24 Parganas is a sensitive district. A large part of it shares the border with Bangladesh. Keep an eye on areas like Basirhat and Bongaon, which are near the border, so that no one can illegally enter and trigger a problem," Banerjee said. She asked the local police to work in sync with the sub-divisional officers to effectively handle any unpleasant situation. "Cows are brought in from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan and are smuggled through the bordering districts to Bangladesh. This has to be stopped," she said. Banerjee also announced the formation of two new police districts in Barasat and Basrihat under North 24 Parganas district for better management of the law and order situation. : Davanagere: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP Karnataka chief B. S. Yeddyurappa during a BJP rally ahead of Karnataka Assembly Polls at Davanagere, Karnataka on Feb 27, 2018. (Photo: IANS). Image Source: IANS Davangere, Feb 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday wooed thousands of farmers at a massive BJP rally in poll-bound Karnataka by promising them "acche din" (good days) if his party is voted to power in the upcoming assembly polls, and attacked the ruling Congress government for failing to serve the people. "I appeal to you all to bless the BJP to form the next government under the leadership of B.S. Yeddyurappa, who is a farmer's son, by voting for the party in the upcoming assembly election," said Modi at the rally in this textile town, about 260 km northwest of Bengaluru. The rally also marked the 75th birthday of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s chief ministerial candidate Yeddyurappa, who is also the party's state president and a Lok Sabha member from Shivamogga, about 300 km northwest of Bengaluru. "Election after election (in different states), people are removing Congress from power. People of Karnataka, too, are angry and keen to oust Congress for its misdeeds," Modi said. There is an anti-Congress mood in the state and contempt for its leaders, he said. Modi began his 30-minute speech in Kannada, evoking loud cheers and later switched to chaste Hindi. The Congress party never cared for the poor and the farmers, Modi remarked, while hailing Yeddyurappa as the "farmers' friend". "One family ruled India for 48 years (referring to Congress), but never cared for the poor, whereas one tea seller (referring to himself) served for about 48 months, and has devoted all his time to the poor and farmers," he said. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has unveiled several pro-farmer schemes, including a minimum support price (MSP), which was announced in the 2018-19 Union Budget to be 1.5 times the production cost, Modi said. "We have pledged to double farmers' income by 2022, when India celebrates 75 years of Independence," he asserted. This was Modi's third rally in the southern state after the second rally at Mysuru on February 19 and the first in Bengaluru on February 4. The 15th assembly polls are due in the state in late April-May. The BJP came to power in Karnataka on its own for the first time in 2008 but lost to the ruling Congress after five years in the May 2013 assembly election. Yeddyurappa was the party's first Chief Minister of Karnataka from May 2008 to July 2011 when he resigned following his indictment in the multi-crore mining scam in the state during his three-year tenure. Mumbai, Feb 27 : Three much-awaited railway foot overbridges (FOBs), constructed by the Indian Army in less than three months, were inaugurated for public use on the Mumbai suburban section of the Indian Railways on Tuesday, officials said. The FOBs are at Elphinstone Road, Currey Road and Ambivali stations here on the congested suburban networks of Western Railway (WR) and Central Railway (CR). Railway Minister Piyush Goyal, Minister of State for Defence Suresh Bhamre and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis hopped into a local train from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus to Parel station on the CR for the inauguration in the afternoon. The decision to hand over the FOBs' construction to the Bombay Engineering Group (BEG), a division of Indian Army's Corps of Engineers, came in the wake of the stampede at Elphinstone Road FOB on September 29, 2017, in which 23 commuters were killed and 40 injured. Following a massive outrage among the eight-million plus Mumbai commuters who use Mumbai's lifeline daily, Goyal requested Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to help construct the crucial FOBs on a 'war-footing'. Initially, the FOBs were scheduled to be completed by the January 31 deadline set by the state and Centre, officials said. The construction was delayed due to several reasons, including a change in the alignment and an additional staircase at the Elphinstone Road FOB on WR connecting to Parel on CR, shifting the site of the FOB at Currey Road and an additional staircase, requisitioning material from various parts of the country and other local issues since the work was completed with thousands of suburban trains zooming up and down daily, they added. This is the first time that the Indian Army has constructed such bridges for the Indian Railways in a congested urban setup like Mumbai. The construction process involved soil testing, designing the structure, construction launch of the Bailey Bridge and the final commissioning of the pre-cast bridges, called Bailey Bridges, which can be built quickly and are common in the country's border region or difficult terrain. The FOB at Elphinstone Road is 73.1 metres long and 3.65 metres wide and built at a cost of Rs 10.44 crore within 117 days. The Currey Road FOB is 30 metres long and 3.5 metres wide built at the CSMT end from the east side platform at a cost of around Rs 3 crore. The Ambivali FOB connecting two platforms is 20 metres long and 3.5 metres wide, built at a cost of Rs 2.70 crore. The three bridges shall be initially manned by the railway security and are expected to significantly ease commuter rush at all the three stations. New Delhi, Feb 27 : In the wake of the Rs 12,600 crore fraud on state-run Punjab National Bank (PNB) by accused diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, the government on Tuesday set a deadline of 15 days for public sector banks (PSBs) to examine all non-performing assets above Rs 50 crore for possible fraud and to identify operational and technical gaps. Announcing this through the Finance Ministry's Twitter handle, Financial Services Secretary Rajeev Kumar also said that Executive Directors and Chief Technological Officers of the PSBs have to prepare a blueprint for combating increasing risks. "Fifteen-day deadline for PSBs to take preemptive action and identify gaps/Weaknesses to gear up for rising Ops and Tech risks; To learn from best practices and pinpoint strategies including tech solutions; Clear accountability of senior functionaries," Kumar tweeted. The Ministry has also directed government-owned banks' Managing Directors to examine all non-performing assets (NPAs), or bad loans, above Rs 50 crore "for possible fraud" and if there are any violations of law on money laundering and the Foreign Exchange Management Act, Kumar said. "PSB MDs directed to detect bank frauds and consequential wilful default in time and refer cases to CBI. To examine all NPA accounts > Rs 50Cr for possible fraud. Involve ED/DRI for PMLA/FEMA/EXIM violations if any," he said in a separate tweet. Late on Monday night, PNB informed stock exchanges that the amount of fraudulent transactions involving the Nirav Modi scam could go up by over Rs 1,300 crore. "In continuation to our filing with stock exchanges on February 14, 2018, we have to inform that quantum of reported unauthorised transactions can increase by $204.25 million," PNB said in a Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) filing. In this connection, Indian industry has called for better and hi-tech control systems to check financial frauds as also a gradual decrease in government holding in PSBs. "The three key solutions for the banking sector are better management and operational efficiencies, use of technology such as blockchain and big data analytics, and lowering government shareholding in public sector banks," CII President Shobana Kamineni said in a statement here on Sunday. Last week, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley criticised regulators, as well as bank managements and auditors, for their failure to detect bank frauds saying "politicians are accountable but regulators are not". Accumulated gross NPAs of state-run banks have crossed the staggering level of Rs 8.5 lakh crore, Shillong/New Delhi, Feb 27 : As many as 67 per cent of the 18.9 lakh voters on Tuesday exercised their franchise in the elections to 60-member Meghalaya Assembly, with hundreds still lined up to cast ballots at the end of voting hours, the Election Commission said. "Meghalaya saw a turnout of 67 per cent till 4 p.m. and there were people still in queues," Deputy Election Commissioner Chandra Bhushan Kumar said in Delhi. In the 2013 elections, the turnout was 89 per cent. Earlier in the day, state Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor had told IANS that over 50 per cent electorate had cast their votes and that a large number of voters were still in queues at various polling stations across the state. A total of 18,09,818 electors, including 9,13,702 women and 89,405 first-time voters, were to decide the fate of 361 candidates, including 31 women and many independents. Counting of votes will take place on March 3. Polling in one constituency -- Williamnagar -- was countermanded following the killing of Nationalist Congress Party candidate Jonathone Sangma in an IED blast in Sawilgre area of East Garo Hills district on February 18. Kharkongor said technical glitches in 31 Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) and 41 VVPATs (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trails) were reported from around 180 polling stations. Chief Minister Mukul Sangma voiced confidence that the Congress will retain power, crossing the magic figure of 31 MLAs. "I have full faith in the people. I believe they have full confidence in the Congress. We will cross the magic number," Sangma told journalists after voting at Chengkompara polling station in Ampati segment. Sangma, the chief architect of the Congress win on 29 seats in the 2013 elections, is contesting from Ampati and Songsak. Asked whether the Congress had decided on potential partners in case it fell short of a majority in the new house, he quipped: "We do have lots of good friends." In the 2013 assembly elections, the Congress won 29 seats and later increased the tally to 30 by winning in Chokpot bypoll in 2015. The Congress -- ruling the state for a decade -- has fielded candidates in all 60 seats, of which 59 saw polling on Tuesday. However, seven of its legislators have since quit and jumped on to the bandwagon of the alliance formed by the BJP, National People's Party (NPP) and newly floated People's Democratic Front (PDF). The combined regional alliance comprising United Democratic Party, HSPDP and Garo National Council, also was gung-ho about electoral victory. "From reports that I have received so far, we are confident to unseat the Congress from power and form a pro-people and corruption-free government," UDP chief Donkupar Roy told IANS. The NPP, which won two seats in the 2013 assembly poll and is fighting the elections alone, is hopeful of increasing the numbers as five former Congress legislators are contesting on NPP symbol this time. "We are hopeful of emerging as the single largest party in the Assembly and form the government," NPP President Conrad K. Sangma said. Governor Ganga Prasad voted at the Oakland polling station in North Shillong constituency. Former Union Minister and NPP candidate Agatha K. Sangma, Home Minister H.D.R. Lyngdoh of the Congress, Leader of Opposition Donkupar Roy of the UDP and HSPDP chief Ardent Miller Basaiawmoit also voted. As many as 340 polling stations have been categorised as "critical" and 580 as "vulnerable". Balloting in 183 polling stations is being webcast, to be made available at the offices of Chief Electoral Officer or District Electoral Officer and the Election Commission, state Chief Electoral Officer Frederick Roy Kharkongor said. As many as 66 all-women polling stations and 61 model polling stations have been set up. Mawlai constituency in East Khasi Hills district has the highest voters at 42,670, and Dalu in West Garo Hills the lowest 18,640 voters. In all, 106 companies of central armed police forces were deployed to ensure peaceful polls, he said. Kohima/New Delhi, Feb 27 : As many as 75 per cent of the total 11.70 lakh voters exercised their franchise in Nagaland Assembly elections on Tuesday, with hundreds still awaiting their turn to cast their ballot when voting hours ended, the Election Commission said. Tuesday's election was marred by a clash between supporters of the ruling Naga People's Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party in Zunheboto district, in which one person was shot dead and two persons injured. Deputy Election Commissioner Sudeep Jain told reporters in Delhi that the voter turnout in Nagaland till 4 p.m. was 75 per cent. The 2013 Assembly elections turnout was 90.57 per cent. Earlier in the day, state Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha told IANS that since huge numbers of voters were still waiting in queues at a large number of polling stations across the state, voting percentage was expected to increase. Nagaland Police chief Rupin Sharma told IANS on the clash: "Initially, some people prevented voters from entering the polling station, which was opposed by a rival group after which clashes erupted in Akuluto constituency. The two groups indulged in firing, following which police opened fire. As of now, we are not able to ascertain the cause of injuries." He said police reinforcements were rushed to the area to control the situation. Sinha said polling was smooth in Akuluto seat. Even before polling commenced at 7 a.m., one person was injured when a bomb went off at a polling station at 5.45 a.m., and a mob destroyed a Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) machine in Tizit constituency in eastern Meghalaya. However, Sinha said polling had since resumed and went on smoothly in the affected polling stations. A total of 11,91,513 electorate, including 5,89,806 women and 26,900 new voters, were to decide the fate of 195 candidates, including five women and many independents. Counting of votes will take place on March 3. There were no third-gender voters in the state. Three-time Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio of the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party (NDDP) has been declared elected unopposed from Northern Angami-II constituency after lone rival Chupfuo Angami of the ruling Naga People's Front (NPF) withdrew his nomination on February 12. The newly floated NDPP has stitched an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the two are contesting 40 and 20 seats, respectively. "We are confident of emerging as the single largest party and will unseat the NPF from power in Nagaland," Rio told IANS. However, Chief Minister T.R. Zeliang voiced confidence that the NPF will retain power. "We are confident we will emerge as the single-largest party on March 3 when votes are counted. We will retain power and lead the next government," Zeliang told IANS. The run-up to the polls saw several twists and turns, with the Core Committee of Nagaland Tribal Hohos and Civil Organisations (CCNTHCO) demanding a solution to the vexed Naga problem before the elections. Polling time in 103 polling stations in six districts was from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., while in the remaining 2,053 stations it was 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Of the 2,156 polling stations, 1,062 were designated 'critical', and 530 'vulnerable'. New Delhi, Feb 27 : The airfares for the Haj pilgrims this year have been slashed and a Saudi airline has been roped in to carry passengers, besides Air India, at the instance of the government -- a move that would offset the impact of withdrawl of Haj subsidy, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi announced on Tuesday. The airfare from New Delhi to Jeddah and back, which was Rs 98,750 in 2013-14 as fixed by the UPA government, has now been reduced to Rs 71,853. Similarly, the airfare from Hyderabad would be Rs 65,766 instead of Rs 1,01,600 previously, Naqvi told the media. The most drastic cut in the airfare has been made for Srinagar which will now cost Rs 1,01,400 instead of Rs 1,98,350. The government has also roped in a private airline -- the Saudi Arabia-based "flynas" -- for ferrying Haj pilgrims this year. It would operate from six embarkation points. The rest 14 embarkation points would be handled by the Air India and Saudi Airlines in equal numbers. "The Saudi Airlines had said that they would charge as much fare as the Air India does. Nothing less, nothing more. Since we persuaded Air India to slash its fares, the Saudi Airlines readily agreed to reduce its fares equally," Naqvi said. The decision by the two airlines would offset the impact of withdrawal of Haj subsidy and make the pilgrimage more economical, he said. The decision to cut the airfares came after hectic parleys between the Minority Affairs Ministry, Civil Aviation Ministry and the Air India that currently has the monopoly over flying Haj pilgrims to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia and back. The announcement would end the uncertainty and anxiety over the final cost of the Haj 2018 that was looming ever since the government had announced complete withdrawal of Haj subsidy from this year. The reduced airfares plus the government's decision to allow pilgrims for the first time to choose embarkation points from where travel cost is less than a pilgrim's hometown/ state capital, would ensure that the cost of Haj 2018 per pilgrim is slightly less than that of last year, or at least would not be much costlier despite the withdrawal of subsidy. Calling the decision "historic", Naqvi said that the move was in consonance with the Narendra Modi government's motto of "Development with Dignity". "The earlier governments led by Congress doled out subsidy as a favour and as alms. Even the Muslims did not like it as one is not supposed to perform Haj by taking alms or monetary favours. We have ensured that Muslims perform Haj with dignity, with their own money and that too more economically," Naqvi said. "So this has ended the hoax of subsidy," he added. However, the final cost of the pilgrimage is not likely to come down drastically as the accommodation in Saudi Arabia has got expensive over the last years. In 2017, the Haj Committee of India (HCI) charged Rs 200,000 for Haj with ordinary accommodation (Azizia) and Rs 234,000 for deluxe accommodation (Green), which is closer to the Haram in Mecca. "Over the last year, the electricity tariff in Saudi Arabia has shot up three times. Also, the petrol prices have doubled. The accommodation cost is also going up. These factors may result in a hike in the total Haj cost this year," HCI Chairman Mehboob Ali Kaiser had told IANS in January. "It will be unfair to expect the same costs for everything in Saudi Arabia after a threefold rise in electricity prices and doubling of petrol prices. Secondly, the Saudis are cussed bargainers and we have to really haggle hard with them for every riyal," he had added. Islamabad, Feb 27 : Pakistan on Tuesday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J.P. Singh to condemn "unprovoked ceasefire violations" by India along the Line of Control in which, it said, a civilian had lost his life. Mohammad Faisal, who heads the South Asia wing in the Foreign Office, summoned the Indian envoy and "lodged a strong protest on the unprovoked ceasefire violations" by Indian forces in Nikial sector. "The deliberate targeting of civilians is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity and international human rights and humanitarian laws," the official said. "The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," he added. The Director General urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement and investigate the incidents of truce violations, said an official statement. The Indian diplomat was also told that New Delhi should permit the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to play its mandated role in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire along the LoC and International Border in 2003. Both, however, routinely accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. Manila, Feb 27 : The Philippines will cooperate with a UN investigation into the war on drugs of President Rodrigo Duterte only if the current special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, Agnes Callamard, is excluded from it, the presidential office said on Tuesday. The Philippines will not oppose an investigation into the anti-drug campaign -- in which over 7,000 people have been killed in a year and a half -- if the UN sends a credible, objective and unbiased special rapporteur, who is an expert in the field, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque told the media in Manila. "Definitely not Agnes (Callamard)," said Roque referring to the special rapporteur, whom Duterte had threatened to slap last year. Callamard had accused the Philippines of extrajudicial killings during the war on drugs that was launched by the president after he took office in June 2016, Efe news reported. In December, the government had rejected the accusation as arbitrary and demanded an apology. The government had also asked the UN official not to return to the country uninvited. More than 3,900 suspects have been killed by the police since Duterte launched his crusade against drugs, according to official figures, although the actual number is estimated to be higher than 7,000, and includes killings by vigilante groups. Besides the UN and the EU, several countries and international organisations such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have denounced the human rights violations and irregularities in Duterte's campaign. Beirut, Feb 27 : The morning calm that prevailed in a rebel-held enclave near Damascus as a Russian-backed ceasefire came into force on Tuesday following days of relentless bombardment by the Syrian government has been interrupted by fresh rocket fire and airstrikes, the UN and activists said. Russian President Vladimir Putin requested that his regional ally Bashar al-Assad reel in his government's bombing campaign on Eastern Ghouta for a period of five hours daily, effectively undermining a UN Security Council resolution to implement a 30-day ceasefire across the entirety of Syria. But the spokesman for the UN's humanitarian office, Jens Laerke, told a press conference in Geneva that he had received reports of fresh clashes in Eastern Ghouta early Tuesday, meaning humanitarian aid convoys could not enter the blockaded zone, Efe news reported. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a United Kingdom-based watchdog, said warplanes carried out airstrikes and helicopters dropped barrel bombs over the region despite the order to halt hostilities, resulting in the death of one minor. Over 500 people were killed in Eastern Ghouta in the week leading up to the fragile truce as Assad's regime and his allies ramped up a military campaign against the rebel-controlled territory by deploying an almost incessant barrage of shells, missiles and aerial attacks in what was one of the "most violent episodes" of the Syrian Civil War so far. Much of the civilian infrastructure in cities like Douma was pummelled into ruin by the tirade and medical supplies in the few field hospitals that remain in operation are running dry after four years of government siege. Eastern Ghouta is mere kilometres away from Damascus, the heart of the Assad regime. The UN has requested that humanitarian corridors be created to evacuate the sick and wounded as well as to provide desperately needed humanitarian aid to the roughly 400,000 people trapped in Eastern Ghouta. New Delhi, Feb 27 : The ongoing Punjab National Bank (PNB) fraud case took a turn for the worse on Tuesday as the bank reported an additional Rs 1,300 crore unauthorised transactions, taking the estimated quantum to around Rs 12,600 crore in the scam related to diamond trader Nirav Modi and owner of Gitanjali Gems, Mehul Choksi. In a 11.22 pm filing with the stock exchanges on Monday, the bank said: "In continuation to our filing with stock exchanges on February 14, 2018, we have to inform that quantum of reported unauthorised transactions can increase by $204.25 million." Earlier on February 14, PNB, the second largest public sector bank in India, had said it had detected a $1.8 billion or Rs 11,300 crore, fraud in the Brady House Branch in Mumbai. On Tuesday, the bank said in regulatory filings with the stock exchanges that it had appointed a group Chief Risk Officer. In another development, Firestar Diamond Inc, the US company of Indian billionaire diamond trader Nirav Modi filed for bankruptcy in a New York court, under chapter 11. According to the court filing at the Southern District Of New York on Monday, the firm listed assets and liabilities in the range of $50 million and $100 million. A Chapter 11 filing under the Bankruptcy code usually allows a company to reorganise its business. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had filed the first FIR in the scam on February 14 against Nirav Modi, his wife Ami, brother Nishal, uncle Mehul Choksi and his firms Diamond R US, Solar Exports and Stellar Diamond. The CBI on Tuesday said it had questioned former Punjab National Bank Managing Director Usha Anant Subramanian and ICICI Bank Executive Director N.S. Kanan in connection with ithe bank fraud case. "The agency also questioned the ICICI Executive Director because it was the leader of a consortium of banks that sent money to Mehul Choksi's Gitanjali Group," a CBI official, who did not want to be named, said. In the evening, a statement from ICICI said it was a lender of working capital to the Gitanjali group of companies along with several other banks in the consortium. It said its exposure was not the largest in the consortium and it had not lent any money to the Nirav Modi group, nor did it have any buyer's credit exposure against LoUs to the two groups. The CBI also questioned two PNB General Managers, Nehal Ahad and Vimlesh Kumar, apart from two statutory auditors of the PNB. The agency has till date arrested 12 persons in the case. Keeping in view the biggest-ever banking fraud in India, the government on Tuesday set a deadline of 15 days for public sector banks (PSBs) to examine all non-performing assets above Rs 50 crore for possible fraud and to identify operational and technical gaps. "PSB MDs directed to detect bank frauds and consequential wilful default in time and refer cases to CBI. To examine all NPA accounts > Rs 50Cr for possible fraud. Involve ED/DRI for PMLA/FEMA/EXIM violations if any," Financial Services Secretary Rajeev Kumar said in a tweet on the Finance Ministry's Twitter handle He also said that executive directors and chief technological officers of the PSBs have to prepare a blueprint for combating increasing risks. With the escalation of the fraud amount, the bank's shares tanked on the bourses. The bank's stocks closed 12.11 per cent down on Tuesday at BSE at Rs 98.35 per share. New Delhi, Feb 27 : The Odisha government has invited Korean companies to invest in the Petroleum Chemicals and Petrochemicals Investment Region (PCPIR) at Paradip, an official said on Tuesday. The official said it is an ideal destination for companies in the petroleum, chemicals and plastics sectors globally to invest and grow. "The PCPIR at Paradip offers multiple strategic advantages such as easy availability of raw material for Chemical and Petrochemical downstream industries, sufficient port capacity to import feedstock, industry-ready labour pool, competitive power tariff, water availability," said Sanjeev Chopra, Principal Secretary, Department of Industries in the government of Odisha. Chopra was speaking at a session on investment opportunities in Paradip PCPIR at the second India-Korea Business Summit 2018 here. The PCPIR is being developed in Paradip to provide a conducive business environment, promoting and attracting exclusive investments in the petroleum, chemicals, petrochemicals and allied sectors. It is one of the four proposed PCPIRs in India and is located near Paradip Port, one of the largest freight ports in India and the gateway to all the markets in the Indo-Chinese region and eastern Asia, said Chopra. Chopra added that Chemicals, Plastics and Petrochemicals is also one of the focus sectors in the Odisha Industrial Development Plan: Vision 2025. "Keeping in mind the rising demand of petroleum, chemical and petrochemical products, we have identified large opportunities in the sector and are currently developing world class infrastructure at Paradip PCPIR for the growth of allied industries. "The project is also expected to create more than 6,00,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities," he added. With an investment of Rs 13,643 crore and spread over an area of 284 sq. km with 123 sq. km. of processing area exclusively for industrial and associated development, PCPIR at Paradip offers fully developed ecosystem comprising of fertilizer units, manufacturing units and large availability of feedstock. India's biggest state-owned oil and gas corporation, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, is the anchor tenant with 15 MMTPA refinery under operation while other major companies present in the region are IFFCO, Paradeep Phosphates, Skol Breweries and Essar to name a few. As a related initiative, the Odisha government is developing Paradip Plastic Park spread across 120 acres of land with an aim to develop a state-of-the-art manufacturing base for the downstream plastic industry, comprising conversion of polymers into plastic articles with support facilities ranging from warehouse for raw material and finished products, simulation and testing facilities and as well as finishing and packing under one roof. Singapore, Feb 27 : Moody's Investors Service has affirmed the long-term local and foreign currency bank deposit rating of IDBI Bank Ltd (IDBI) at B1 and changed the outlook to positive from stable. "Moody's has also affirmed IDBI and its DIFC branch's long-term foreign currency senior unsecured debt rating at B1 and changed the outlook to positive," it said in a statement. The positive outlook reflects the upward pressure that could develop on the bank's long-term rating, if its credit fundamentals -- capital position -- continue to improve over the next 12-18 months due to capital infusions from the Indian government. The positive outlook also factors in Moody's view on the expected evolution of IDBI's balance sheet, including a stabilisation in asset quality and continued stable funding and liquidity positions. According to the recapitalisation plan announced in October 2017, the government has committed to infuse Rs 1.53 trillion into the public sector banks by March 2019, of which Rs 800 billion will be injected in the form of recapitalisation bonds. Panaji, Feb 27 : Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar continued to be under observation in a Panaji hospital for the third day on Tuesday, even as an official said that his health status will be reviewed before possible discharge on Wednesday morning. "The CM has shown a lot of improvement in health. He is feeling fine. A decision on his discharge from the GMC (Goa Medical College and Hospital) is expected tomorrow morning after a review of his health," an official attached to the Chief Minister's Office told reporters. Late on Sunday evening, Parrikar was rushed to the government-run health facility after he complained of dehydration and low blood pressure. Parrikar was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital in Mumbai on February 15 for treatment of "mild pancreatitis", the CMO had said earlier. He arrived in Goa on February 22 and presented the annual Budget in the Assembly. Kochi : The Kerala high court on Tuesday hauled up the CPI(M)-led LDF government over the murder of youth congress activist S P Shuhaib, asking it why the state police had yet to recover the weapons used for the gruesome murder. The court also sought an explanation from the government counsel regarding the Kannur district police chiefs comments that details regarding the police probe into the murder were being leaked to the alleged culprits by a few officers in the probe team. The court was considering a petition filed by Shuhaibs father Muhammed seeking a probe by the CBI into his sons murder. Muhammed, in his petition, expressed dissatisfaction with the ongoing probe by the state police. The petition alleges the involvement of the CPI(M) Kannur district leadership in Shuhaibs murder. Alleging that the probe was proceeding in a manner predetermined by the CPI(M) leadership, the petitioner contended that the police was not even willing to invoke the provisions of the unlawful activities prevention act (UAPA) against the assailants. Pointing out that culture minister A K Balan had promised that the government was willing to accede to Shuhaibs families request for a probe by the CBI at the peace meet convened by him the other day, the petition alleges that the government changed its mind bowing to pressure exerted by the Kannur lobby of the CPI(M) at the recently concluded state conference of the party. The manner in which the gruesome murder was planned and executed points to the involvement of higher-ups in the party and the conspiracy angle can be ferreted out only through a probe by an independent agency, the petition contends. The court directed the state government and the CBI to file their resplies to the petition by March 6. Congress leader and leader of the opposition Ramesh Chennithala had handed over to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan a representation by Shuhaibs parents requesting a CBI probe into his murder the other day. However, the chief minister, speaking in the state assembly on Monday, ruled out the need for a probe by the central agency, saying that the investigation by the state police was proceeding in the right direction. The state police has thus far arrested five persons in connection with the murder, all of them CPI(M) workers. Youth congress activist S P Shuhaib was hacked to death by alleged CPI(M) workers on February 12 at Edayannur in Kannur district. Thiruvananthapuram : Congress MLA V T Balram on Tuesday sharply came down on assembly speaker P Sreeramakrishnan, terming him as a lackey of chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Speaking to mediapersons, Balram said that the speaker should not reduce himself to a factotum of the ruling dispensation. He reminded the speaker of the ruckus created in the previous assembly by the then CPI(M)-led opposition during the budget presentation of former finance minister K M Mani and added that the present opposition led by the congress was restraining itself from such behaviour. The sharp remarks came in response to the speaker rejecting an adjournment motion moved by the opposition to discuss the murders of tribal youth Madhu in Attappady and IUML activist Safeer by alleged CPI workers in Mannarkkad. The speaker had adjourned the house for a brief period after opposition raised a din in the assembly during question hour in the morning demanding justice for slain youth congress activist S P Shubair. Opposition MLAs held aloft placards and banners in front of the speakers dais blocking his view. When the house reassembled shortly after 9 am, the opposition resumed their protest, following which the speaker decided to proceed with the business listed for the day, passing over the adjournment motion. Leader of the opposition Ramesh Chennithala said that the democratic rights of the opposition were being denied by the government. The chief minister did not even bother to condemn the killing of IUML activist Safeer. Nor did he bother to go and see the mortal remains of tribal youth Madhu even though he was in Thrissur, Chennithala charged. Responding to the issue, speaker P Sreeramakrishnan told reporters that all the rights of the opposition would be protected, saying that the opposition would be afforded the opportunity to raise the issue tomorrow. He, however, termed as unfortunate the oppositions blocking the chairs face by holding aloft banners and placards in front of the speakers dais. Mumbai, Feb 27 : Three days after Sridevi's shocking demise in Dubai, condolences from the film fraternity continued to pouring in on Tuesday. After visiting the grieving family, Bappi Lahiri said he worked in 11 Silver Jubilee films with the deceased actress, who was "the one and only lady superstar". "I still can't believe she is no more with us, my heart sinks thinking about it." He said that he would like to dedicate the song "Kabhi Alvida Na Kehna" to her memory. "Never say goodbye! She will always remain an integral part of our industry. She will always remain our superstar." The 54-year-old actress died due to "accidental drowning" in her hotel bathtub in Dubai on Saturday night. She was there with husband Boney Kapoor and younger daughter Khushi Kapoor to attend nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding last week. Waheeda Rehman, who shared screen space with Sridevi in films like "Chandani", "Himmatwala" and "Lamhe", was seen at Anil's Kapoor's Juhu residence. Anupam Kher and "Welcome" director Anees Bazmee were also spotted there, besides "Humpty Sharma Ki Dulhania" director Shashank Khaitan. Sara Ali Khan was also seen at Anil's Kapoor's residence. Ramesh Sippy with wife Kiran Juneja, Akshay Kumar, Madhur Bhandarkar and actress Katrina Kaif also visited the mourning family on Tuesday. Tamil actress and politician Khushboo Sundar said she still cannot believe that Sridevi is no more. "I am numbed, it's yet to sink in that she is no more with us. Most of us are still in denial mode...the most beautiful actor who could put any hero to shame with her charm and talent. Gone too soon. "Warm and beautiful person from within, her childlike laughter plays like a chime in my head. My heart goes out to her husband Boneyji and their two young daughters on the threshold of what the mother always dreamt about. As a woman, she will continue to inspire the millions who have dreams in their eyes. She lived with dignity and commanded respect till the end." The news of Sridevi's death was confirmed by brother-in-law Sanjay Kapoor late on Saturday (February 24) and ever since the entire nation and the film fraternity has not stopped mourning. Sridevi's body was handed over to her family on Tuesday by the Dubai Police authorities after conducting investigation into her death. Same evening, her body was flown back to Mumbai and her funeral is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon. New Delhi, Feb 27 : Women battling gender discrimination, challenges faced by rural women and government's role in achieving gender equality were the issues discussed at the 62nd Commission on the Status of Women 2018 here on Tuesday. Organised by UN Women India, the day-long event majorly focused on the status of rural women and girls, which was attended by UN agencies, civil society organisations and other stakeholders. "Rural women in India are not a homogeneous constituency; they are engaged in various occupations and affected by multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Unpaid care work, lack of access to resources, financial entitlements, social services often create layered marginalisation for rural women," Jeevan Kanakkassery, Communications Analyst, UN Women, said. At different sessions, topics like challenges and opportunities in achieving gender equality and empowerment of rural women and girls, role of media in visibilising issues of rural women and girls and others were talked about. The first session brought up linkage between economic empowerment, ending violence as well as disucssing key national policy frameworks and schemes for empowerment of rural women. Another session discussed struggles of Dalit women, widows and disabled of rural India and the vulnerabilities and multi sectoral discriminations they face. "Cultural marginalisation, economic deprivation and societal pressure - these three factors make the lives of widows in rural areas extremely vulnarable. Unfortunately, not much of data is available on the number of widow women in India," Meera Khanna from The Guild for Service said at the workshop. "Most Dalit women and girls can be found in brothels. In rural areas, they are sexually exploited; their bodies are treated just as a sex object. The police is extremely unsympathetic and rather cruel towards Dalit women," Asha Kotwal of All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch said. The role of media was also being discussed to visibilise and encourage more of gender-sentive reportage. Chandigarh, Feb 28 : The central government on Tuesday launched what it said was first-of-its-kind Aviation Multi-Skill Development Centre (MSDC) in Chandigarh, official sources said. The centre, a corporate social responsibility initiative of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), has been set up in collaboration with the National Skill Development Corporation and is supported by the Aerospace and Aviation Sector Skill Council of India. Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister for Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju said: "This centre will train about 2,400 youths and women in eight aviation job roles over three years and has already received a very enthusiastic response." "I would like to see many more such centres across the country," the Minister was quoted as saying in a statement. The demand for skilled personnel in the aviation sector has been rising commensurately with a boom in the sector witnessed in 3-4 years, the statement added. "More than 900 new aircraft are expected to be inducted by India's scheduled airlines in the coming few years," it said. "Air connectivity for both passenger transport and air freight is increasing, with new air routes and operationalisation of unserved or underserved airports through the Udan regional connectivity scheme. MRO and ground-handling demands for skilled personnel are also rising in tandem." HVG Graphics Media is now the new Australian distributor for Mactac products across screen, digital and architectural applications. Richard Lucas, general manager, HVG Graphics Media, says, We are excited to be launching the Mactac range products nationally through our business. Mactac is a European leader, and has had little presence in Australia in recent years. With Avery Dennisons support, and our national distribution strength, we will be able to achieve good growth in the next couple of years. It helps us broaden our range of sheets and substrates, and consolidate it. It provides more choice and value for our customers. With our partnership, we will build and grow sales in new channels, and new markets we have not had previously. We have new products we have not been able to source elsewhere, enabling growth in walls, floors, and windows. For us, it is about broadening our range, which has continued to evolve with print technology. With Avery Dennison investing in the Mactac brand, this range will evolve over time, it will provide greater choice. It is important we stay a couple of steps ahead in the market. [Related: Morris joins HVG Graphics] Jordan Leach, business manager, Avery Dennison Graphic Solutions Australia, says, "Since relaunching Mactac late last year, customers have been responding to our full range of quality and reasonably priced products for their needs in interior architecture and visual communication. "This agreement with HVG Graphics Media will give customers in Australia convenient access to Mactac's products." Having operated over 50 years, Mactac says it has the strong backing of prestigious brands in areas ranging from architecture, interior design, signage and marking, transport to advertising. Mactac was acquired by Avery Dennison in 2016. Lucas says, We have expanded our team with Adrian Morris, formerly with Canon, strategically that was important for us, so that we will see growth in key areas of the graphics business in the year ahead. Comment below to have your say on this story. If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at [email protected] Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter Alongside naming former IPMG boss Kevin Slaven as its CEO, PMP has experienced a net loss after tax and significant items of $19.5m in the last half year despite a rise in earnings and revenue after its merger with IPMG last year. The companys earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) before significant items being $20.2m, up 82.3 per cent on the prior corresponding period (pcp). Sales revenue was $398.5m, up 52 per cent from $262.2m in the pcp. PMPs net debt is at $32.8m, in line with the companys full year guidance and higher than Net Debt of $18.5m at the end of June. Kevin Slaven has been acting as interim CEO since former boss Peter George retired in December. The company says Slaven has extensive experience and a strong understanding of how to manage a large scale print and marketing business having previously been both CFO and CEO of IPMG. His appointment is effective immediately. Slaven says, Whilst sales are significantly higher than in the pcp, this is because of the inclusion of IPMG Print and Marketing Services revenue, partially offset by lower sales at PMP NZ and Distribution. H1FY18 EBITDA (before significant items) of $20.2m is $4m lower than guidance given in November. This was primarily due to a weaker than expected second quarter in Print Australia, with all other businesses performing to H1 expectations. Whilst the overall heatset print volumes in Australia were slightly ahead of guidance given in November, this was offset by lower than expected average prices due to a change in work mix mainly in the publishing/newspaper sector and some minor cost-out timing variances. [Related: PMP downgrades profit forecast] Whilst the average sell prices at Print Australia are lower than expected, this does not represent a further reduction in prices to heatset customers but rather since November, magazine and newspaper publishers have reduced paginations and quantities in their forward bookings. For the tier one retail catalogue customers, encouragingly we are seeing stability in pricing and increased volumes for a number of customers. This has helped to mitigate the impact of the reduced volumes from publishers. It should also be noted that we have been successful in securing some small format work at higher prices. The Board and Management are not satisfied with this result and are working hard to ensure we improve the underlying Print Australia results. Print Australia generated sales revenue for the half year of $244.7m, an increase of 117.9 per cent of what it made in the pcp, $112.3m. PMP says the result included $134.3M higher heatset sales from the inclusion of six months of IPMG print revenues and $1.9M lower sales at Griffin Press. When including the IPMG print business on a comparable basis, and for H1FY18 tonnes are 135,500, from 158,000 tonnes in H1FY17, making for a 14 per cent reduction year on year. On a statutory basis however, heatset print volumes were up 105 per cent or 69.3K tonnes on the pcp. Print Australias EBITDA was $9.5m, up from $2.4m in the pcp, which the company says is due to the impact of higher volumes from IPMG heatset print and synergy savings more than offsetting lower than expected sell prices/mix and higher direct labour costs at Print Australia. PMP says Griffin Press was impacted by lower volumes after customer losses which more than offset operational efficiencies and EBITDA (before significant items) was $0.7M lower than in the pcp. The distribution sector of the business produced a sales revenue of $46.2m, down $1.1m or 2.3 per cent, which PMP says is due to new business wins being offset by lower volumes from existing customers and customers not being re-signed. Volumes in H1FY18 were 1.3 per cent lower on the pcp. PMP delivered 3.56 billion catalogues in the last 6 months, a figure that is down 4.1 per cent on the pcp. Distribution EBITDA (before significant items) were $2.6m, 13.2 per cent or $0.4m lower than the pcp, with the company citing operational and administration savings being offset by lower volumes and sell prices in a competitive environment. On Slavens appointment, Matthew Bickford Smith, chairman for PMP says, We are pleased that the company has been able to retain the extensive skills and experience that Kevin brings to the role. The Board has every confidence in Kevins understanding of the opportunities and challenges that exist for our company and industry, and his commitment to improve the companys profitability. [Related: Shares plunge on PMP downgrade forecast] Slaven says, Since my appointment as Interim CEO in December, I have undertaken an extensive review of each of the operations across Australia which has given me the opportunity to obtain a deeper appreciation of what is required to move the business forward and ultimately achieve a better outcome for all stakeholders. In light of our recent guidance to the market, we remain focused on the print business cost base and will continue to adjust this to reflect market changes in mix and volumes. With the restructuring that has been undertaken over the last year, I am confident that we are in a strong position to continue to demonstrate our market leadership. The combined offer we have through our print, digital, distribution and marketing services businesses opens up new opportunities to deliver effective and efficient integrated marketing campaigns for our customers. Whilst overall Australian print volumes are in line with what has previously underpinned guidance, and noting that all cost initiatives are largely being met, the revised guidance given on 14 February 2018 was driven mainly by a reduction in expected volumes of higher margin magazines and newspapers (offset by higher than expected volumes of lower margin catalogues). The companys forecasted results for the full year have also dropped, with it predicting an EBITDA of $40-$45m, down from its previous estimate of $50m-$55m. PMP says the $10m reduction is offset by $5m favourable outcomes in working capital, capital expenditure and significant items. PMP also expects its net debt to be around $35m-$40m, down from its prior guidance of $30m-$35m. The company says that it will continue to face challenging print industry market conditions in the second half, with difficult market conditions in newspaper, magazine publishing and retail. PMP says all of its other business units are performing largely in line with expectations of previous guidance. Comment below to have your say on this story. If you have a news story or tip-off, get in touch at [email protected] Sign up to the Sprinter newsletter The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signing Ceremony for Biotechnology and Translational Medicine Collaboration signed by six universities/institutions takes place on 2 February 2018 at PolyU. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has long endeavoured to the development of translational medicine and biotechnology research. Together with alliance partners from the Guangdong - Hong Kong - Macau Greater Bay Area including Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen University, Macau University of Science and Technology, PolyU will initiate a collaboration with The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) and Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. The MoU Signing Ceremony, which takes place on 2 February 2018 at PolyU and signed by these six universities/institutions, signifies the first biotechnology and translational medicine research platform for collaboration among the United States and the Guangdong Hong Kong Macau Greater Bay Area. Witnessed by Mr. Nicholas W. Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, The Government of Hong Kong SAR; Ms. Qiu Xuan, Deputy Director-General, Science, Technology and Innovation Commission of Shenzhen Municipality; Dr Lawrence Li Kwok-chang, Treasurer of the PolyU; Professor Timothy W. Tong, President of PolyU; Mr. Liu Zhi Ming, Deputy Director General for Education, Scientific and Technological Affairs, The Central People's Government in HKSAR; Professor Stephen Dunnett, Vice Provost, University at Buffalo;Professor Weiguo Zhu, President of Shenzhen University Health Science Center; Professor Jianrong Sun, Associate Vice President of Macau University of Science and Technology; and Professor Wing-tak Wong, Dean of Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles of PolyU, the MoU was signed by Ir Professor Ping-kong Alexander Wai, Vice President (Research Development) of PolyU; Professor Satish Tripathi, President of University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, U.S.A.; Professor Yeong Christopher Choi, cGMP Facility Director of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, U.S.A.; Professor Haipeng Xiao, Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Professor Qingquan Li, President of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China and Professor Manson Fok, Dean of Facility of Health Sciences of Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR. Mr. Nicholas W. Yang, Secretary for Innovation and Technology, The Government of Hong Kong SAR gave an opening remarks, I am very pleased to witness the commitment of the PolyU, the State University of New York at Buffalo, and the Mainland and Macao partner institutions to establish a closer collaboration and ties to leverage on each other's strengths to spearhead translational research in biotechnology. I believe such collaboration is both timely and relevant. I am also confident that this international partnership will drive a new wave of world-class developments in biotechnology. Professor Ping-kong Alexander Wai, Vice President (Research Development) of PolyU remarked that the participating institutes have proven track record in biotechnology and life sciences related research, and in the translation of research to deliverables and commercialization. The collaboration will pull together expertise from the collaborating parties and their networks, enabling the advancement of technology development. Leveraging the opportunities provided by the Greater Bay Area, the collaboration would foster more applied research in biotechnology, and bring innovations in the areas of cancer, genomics, translational medicine, and other related areas in biotechnology. The partners understanding of the regulatory procedures in their own countries will help expedite the translation of innovate technologies to applications and benefit the global community. PolyU has already initiated collaborations with different partners in various areas such as big health with Sun Yat-sen University, joint research on drug delivery with the Shenzhen University, joint genomics research with Macau University of Science and Technology, and bioinformatics research with University at Buffalo. University at Buffalo is home to one of the top pharmacy schools in the US, and Roswell Parks consistent success in cancer research has earned it the National Cancer Institutes designation of comprehensive cancer center. It is the only facility in Upstate New York to hold this honor. Riding on the strength of each partner from the Guangdong Hong Kong Macau Greater Bay Area, the collaborative platform is expected to generate immense impact towards the development of the Greater Bay Area into a biotechnology hub. The State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) is a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and is the largest and most comprehensive university in the SUNY system. It earned distinction as one of the top 50 public universities in the nation and the top 1% university in the globe. Its renowned School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences is one of the top of its kind in the US. http://www.buffalo.edu/ Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (PRCCC) found in 1898, is a cancer research and treatment center in Buffalo. The institutes consistent success in these areas have earned it the National Cancer Institutes designation of comprehensive cancer center and is the only facility in Upstate New York to hold this honor. PRCCC has particular strengths in the areas of tumor immunology, cancer genetics and genomics, biophysical oncology, cancer prevention/epidemiology and cancer therapeutics development. https://www.roswellpark.org/ The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has a strategic emphasis on applied research and advances the frontiers of knowledge and technology, to meet the changing needs of the society and the globe. It has made significant progress in contributing towards biotechnology development in Hong Kong that several candidates have been accepted by the US Food and Drug Administration as investigational new drugs and are already undergoing clinical trials in various countries. Various biotechnology and translational medicine projects are on the go including the establishment of Respiratory Virus Research Foundation by PolyU and The University of Hong Kong, the establishment of the Joint Institute of Translational Medicine with the government of Banan District of Chongqing City, as well as projects on anti-cancer drug, genomics research and clinical devices with the industry that further drives the biotechnology development. https://www.polyu.edu.hk Sun Yat-sen University is in a leading position of the country in the scale of medical area, with 10 affiliated hospitals and enjoys top-ranked position nationally. Its outstanding performances in translational medicine are attributed to a large pool of key research teams and key laboratories of the medical schools. http://sysu.edu.cn/2012/en/index.htm Shenzhen University is a multi-discipline university hosting over 34,000 students including 5,500 research students. Its School of Medicine facilitates the optimizing of Shenzhens medical service and its scientific research level with its robust development of the translational medicine research. http://www1.szu.edu.cn/2014/en/ Macau University of Science and Technology was founded in 2000 and has rapidly developed into the largest multi-disciplinary university in Macau and is also ranked as the youngest university among the Top 50 universities in the Mainland China, with approximately 11,000 students including 3,200 postgraduate students. Macau University of Science and Technology Faculty of Health Sciences Centre of Excellence for Professional Medical Development consists of laparoscopic and endoscopic skills training, quality medical courses, standardized patient training, mock hospital to develop Macau as a regional high-tech medical training and conference hub. Its University Hospital with the advanced medical facilities serves as the teaching arm of the Faculty of Chinese Medicine, the Faculty of Health Sciences and the School of Pharmacy. http://www.must.edu.mo/en (END) Press Contacts Professor Wing-tak Wong Dean, Faculty of Applied Science and Textiles Tel: (852) 3400 3978 Emailw.t.wong(at)polyu.edu.hk Dr. Terence Lok-ting Lau, Director of Innovation and Technology Development Tel: (852) 3400 2806 Email: terence.lt.lau(at)polyu.edu.hk Jack Gilbert, President and CEO of Community Housing Capital Announces Retirement After serving for the past eighteen years as the founding President and Chief Executive Officer of Community Housing Capital (CHC), Jack Gilbert has announced his retirement at the end of 2018. According to CHCs Board of Directors Chair, Jim Paley, Jack has been a true visionary in the community development financing industry. Under Jacks leadership, Community Housing Capital has become an extremely efficient and progressive lender that has made available much-needed financing to NeighborWorks programs from coast to coast. His vision has set a gold standard for Community Development Financial Institutions nationwide. We started Community Housing Capital with the idea that a national community development financial institution (CDFI) intermediary could efficiently leverage scarce grant resources to secure significant private sector investments to make flexible loans to NeighborWorks organizations for the development and preservation of affordable housing. And it worked, said Jack Gilbert. The model has been quite successful. Since inception, CHC has originated more than 433 loans totaling $639 million to 139 NeighborWorks organizations in 42 states plus the District of Columbia, financing 17,915 units of affordable housing and facilitating more than $2.1 billion in real estate development. Loan losses-to-date, even during the Great Recession, have totaled only 53 basis points on nearly $639 million in lending. Community Housing Capital has been instrumental in the ability of NeighborWorks organizations to develop affordable homes for renters and homeowners, said Jeffrey Bryson, interim CEO of NeighborWorks America. Its flexibility, speed, and consistency when providing capital has enabled NeighborWorks organizations to move quickly when opportunities arose, while also supporting the needs for long-term planning in ways that the private sector could not. The numbers are incredible and are a result of the dedicated work of a remarkable team of staff, board, borrowers, investors, and grantors all working together to make housing more affordable to Americas working families and seniors, said Paley. The numbers were also instrumental in CHC securing a $125 million syndicated credit facility from eleven of Americas most highly-regarded financial institutions. CHCs performance was also instrumental in becoming the second CDFI to be accepted for membership in the Federal Home Loan Bank of Atlanta. The CHC Board of Directors has appointed a Search Committee to identify and recruit a new President and Chief Executive Officer. The Search Committee will be led by Paul Mazzarella, Board Vice Chair and recently-retired Executive Director of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services. About Community Housing Capital Community Housing Capital, a national Community Development Financial Institution intermediary, is a direct lender to the NeighborWorks network. Incorporated in 2000, Community Housing Capital is certified as a community development financial institution and a community development entity by the U.S. Treasurys CDFI Fund. Lending to members of the NeighborWorks network, Community Housing Capital provides both interim real estate development loans and permanent multifamily loans with favorable rates and terms. Loans are underwritten with the flexibility required to finance complex transactions with multiple layers of subsidies. In its first 17 years, Community Housing Capital has originated 433 loans totaling $639 million to 139 NeighborWorks organizations in 42 states plus the District of Columbia. This activity created or preserved over 17,915 units of affordable housing and facilitated $2.1 billion in total development. Community Housing Capital is headquartered in Decatur, Georgia. For more information, visit http://www.communityhousingcapital.org. For inquiries: Jack Gilbert (727) 480-2103 jgilbert[at]communityhousingcapital[dot]org AMERICA WEST BANK v. UTAH DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS Nearly a decade ago, several local banks were closed by the Utah Department of Financial Institutions (UDFI). The owners of one of these banks, America West Bank, sued the state of Utah via the UDFI and the Commissioner of Financial Institution asserting that seizure of the Bank was unlawful and done without sufficient cause and evidence. UFDI and the Commissioner asked the U.S. District Court to dismiss the case on numerous grounds. (Case No. 2:16-cv-326-CW-EJF) On February 6, 2018, the U.S. District Court, Judge Clark Waddoups denied the Motion of UFDI and the Commissioner. The Court ruled that America West Bank Members (AWBM), the owners of the Bank, had sufficiently alleged in their Complaint that prior to the seizure of America West Banks assets in 2009, the Bank should have received a non-arbitrary, fair and impartial hearing. Judge Waddoups found that AWMBs Complaint properly alleged that constitutionally guaranteed rights of due process had not been upheld by the government at the time of seizure. (Case No. 2:16-cv-326-CW-EJF) Bruce R. Baird, co-counsel for AWMB who argued against the UFDI/Commissioners Motion, said: The Courts decision is extraordinarily thorough in its legal analysis and we are grateful that the Court has given us a chance to further prove our case, including damages." Judge Waddoups ruled, after reviewing the Commissioners ex parte seizure petition, that at this stage, the Amended Complaint contains sufficient non-conclusory allegations to support a reasonable inference that Commissioner Leary knowingly violated the law in acting to seize the bank when he did. The Court cannot conclude at this time that the statutory requirements were met on non-arbitrary grounds. (Case No. 2:16-cv-326-CW-EJF) Further, the Court ruled that the AWB could proceed in its civil suit against Commission Leary because it was clearly established [in well-plead allegations of the Amended Complaint] that [Commissioner Leary] could not act without reasonable justification to seize the bank under the guise of the state authorizing statute, and because the complaint contains sufficient allegations that he acted arbitrarily out of political pressure and motive, rather than legitimate government interest. (Case No. 2:16-cv-326-CW-EJF) Finally, because the Court concluded that the alleged conduct if proven would violate the federal Constitution, the Court also found that AWB had sufficiently made well-plead and unrebutted factual allegations, which the Court accepted as true, allowing the Court to also conclude that a due process violation may have occurred and could also be prosecuted under the Utah Constitution as well. (Case No. 2:16-cv-326-CW-EJF) For more information about America West Bank, the recent Federal Court ruling and ongoing proceedings, please visit http://www.illegalbankseizure.com. Lisa's knowledge and experience in her industry are valuable assets to her company and community. The National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) honors Lisa Lovell as a 2017-2018 inductee into its VIP Woman of the Year Circle. She is recognized with this prestigious distinction for leadership in entrepreneurship. NAPW is the nations leading networking organization exclusively for professional women, boasting more than 850,000 members, a thriving eChapter and over 200 operating Local Chapters. Im pleased to welcome Lisa into this exceptional group of professional women, said NAPW President Star Jones. Her knowledge and experience in her industry are valuable assets to her company and community. Self-motivated and results driven to succeed, Lisa Lovell is a seasoned professional who has constantly set her goals to keep pace with her highest aspirations for personal excellence. Throughout her career, she has exhibited exemplary teamwork, expertise, integrity and dedication. As President and CEO of Alabaster Construction Services, LLC, in Newark, NJ, Ms. Lovell uses her more than 25 years of experience in construction management as she oversees the day-to-day operations of a multitude of construction projects, including residential, commercial and industrial structures, as well as roads, schools, hospitals and religious buildings. Ms. Lovell expertly manages multi-million dollar projects from inception to completion, handling all aspects of the build, including budgeting and finance, hiring and managing contractors and other personnel, and purchasing and invoicing. In addition to her expansive experience in construction management, which includes working for private, state and federal agencies, Ms. Lovell has developed two software packages and is looking forward to completing the patents and bringing them to market. She is also in the process of expanding her business, adding electrical and general contracting to the many services Alabaster Construction Services provides. Ms. Lovell has a Masters in Business Administration from Rutgers Graduate School of Business and a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Prairie View A&M University in Texas. She is also an Adjunct Professor of Construction/Project Management at Fairleigh Dickinson Universitys School of Engineering in Teaneck, NJ. About NAPW NAPWs mission is to provide an exclusive, highly advanced networking forum to successful women executives, professionals and entrepreneurs where they can aspire, connect and achieve. Through innovative resources, unique tools and progressive benefits, professional women interact, exchange ideas, advance their knowledge and empower each other. Robinson Key was recognized as the No. 2 fastest-growing business owned or operated by a University of Georgia graduate during the 2018 Bulldog 100 Celebration. As the only woman-owned business in the Top 10, I was extremely proud to represent not only my University but also this segment of the business community. Robinson Key, owned by 2004 UGA graduate Betsy Robinson, is an IT recruiting firm whose clients include small start-ups to mid-sized companies and global enterprise organizations. Based in Atlanta, GA, Robinson Key was recognized as the No. 2 fastest-growing business owned or operated by a University of Georgia graduate during the 2018 Bulldog 100 Celebration on Jan. 27 at the Hyatt Regency in Atlanta. The Bulldog 100, coordinated by the UGA Alumni Association, recognizes the 100 fastest-growing businesses owned or operated by UGA graduates. Approximately 500 nominations were submitted for the 2018 Bulldog 100. The class includes companies of all sizes, providing services and products in a variety of industries, including restaurants, real estate, IT consulting, retail and veterinary medicine. Companies as far as California and Minnesota made the list. The average compounded annual growth rate for this years Bulldog 100 businesses was 47 percent. Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors partnered with the UGA Alumni Association to review nominated business financial records to determine the ranked list. Each organization must have been in business for at least five years, experienced revenues in excess of $100,000 for the calendar year 2014, and be owned or operated by a former UGA student who either owns at least 50 percent of the company or is the CEO, president or managing partner. The Bulldog 100 recognizes the fastest-growing businesses regardless of size by focusing on a three-year compounded annual growth rate. Nominations for the 2018 Bulldog 100 were accepted between February and May 2017. This years list featured 101 businesses, with a tie for No. 45. As the only woman-owned business in the Top 10, I was extremely proud to represent not only my University but also this segment of the business community," said Betsy Robinson, owner of Robinson Key. "Our growth is not just a testament to my tenacity, but to the drive and hard work of my team. We appreciate our clients putting their faith in us as a true partner and service provider to their organizations." We look forward to the Bulldog 100 Celebration each year because it provides us with an opportunity to deepen our connections with passionate alumni, said Meredith Gurley Johnson. The feeling in the air as we countdown the businesses from 100 to 1 is incomparable. This is such an honor for each of the honorees, because they have poured themselves into their entrepreneurial ventures. We are proud to celebrate their achievements. To view the 2018 Bulldog 100 list, photos from the event or nominate a business for the 2019 Bulldog 100, see http://www.alumni.uga.edu/b100. Robinson Key Founded in 2010 as a women-owned IT recruiting firm, Robinson Key uses a consultative approach to provide services to a wide range of clients from small start-ups to mid-sized companies and global enterprise organizations. Utilizing a hybrid of market knowledge, recruiting strategies, and flexible solutions such as direct hire, staff augmentation, retained search, and custom recruiting services, Robinson Key is able to focus on hiring the right people for the right company. For more information, see http://www.robinsonkey.com. The UGA Alumni Association The UGA Alumni Association supports the academic excellence, best interests and traditions of Georgias flagship university by inspiring engagement through relevant programming, enhanced connections and effective communications. For more information, see http://www.alumni.uga.edu. The funding they provide helps military spouses move forward in their careers to better support their families and achieve their dreams The National Military Family Association (NMFA), a nonprofit that serves military families, continues its partnership with the Corvias Foundation to provide unique scholarship and career advancement support for military spouses. The unemployment rate for military spouses is nearly 30 percent which is more than seven times the national average. The Corvias Foundation, in coordination with NMFA, has supported the career advancement and education of 56 military spouses through a $55,000 contribution over the course of three years. In 2017 alone, Corvias dedicated $25,000 to support 23 spouses nationwide with funding for professional certifications, licensure, and business expenses. We are so grateful for national partners like the Corvias Foundation, who help to enhance military spouse employability, said NMFA Executive Director Joyce Raezer. The funding they provide helps military spouses move forward in their careers to better support their families and achieve their dreams. One recipient, Latia Allen, at Patrick Air Force Base in Florida, notes its hard to maintain a career due to frequent moves and my husbands job-related absences. This funding will help me become a Certified Workforce Development Professional in a career counselor role. Since the founding of the Corvias Foundation in 2006, we have witnessed the exponential growth in the need for military spouse employment support, said Corvias Foundation Executive Director Maria Montalvo. We feel that combining our military spouse scholarships alongside NMFAs programs will help shine a national spotlight to this significant topic, and more importantly, directly benefit more unemployed or underemployed spouses. Since 2004, NMFA has awarded more than $4 million to more than 4,500 military spouses. To learn more about NMFAs Military Spouse Scholarship, please visit: http://www.militaryfamily.org/spouses-scholarships/scholarships.html National education technology leader, Learning.com, is partnering with a leading platform for computer science education, Codesters, to launch a national coding contest for middle school students during the month of March using Python, an industrial strength coding language used at companies like Google. Teachers are encouraged to register and have their students participate by using the Learning.com EasyCode Pillars coding curriculum to complete coding projects, such as creating an interactive e-card, designing a phone case and recreating a famous logo, for the chance to win weekly prizes. Each week, three participating classrooms will be randomly drawn for prizes including t-shirts and class pizza parties. For more information on the national Coding Classroom Challenge, visit: http://www.learning.com/coding-classroom-challenge/register Registration closes at midnight on Monday, March 19, 2018. The entire contest will take place through March 5 to March 23, 2018. WHERE: For contest details and terms and conditions, visit: http://www.learning.com/coding-classroom-challenge/terms-and-conditions WHY: The Coding Classroom Challenge is part of Learning.com and Codesters pledge to support Computer Science for All. CSforAll empowers students to learn computer science and develop the computational thinking skills necessary to spur the transition from consumer to creator in todays digital economy. PHOTO OPPS: Students coding their way through EasyCode Pillars. For more information, press only: Shaun Wiley, L. Wolfe Communications, 847-644-0237, swiley(at)lwolfe(dot)com. www.good-social.com The free GoodSocial app makes it easy for volunteers to find and engage with nonprofits in their community, says Trisha Bright, GoodSocial Founder and CEO GoodSocial, Inc., a Public Benefit Corporation, has released the first version of a new mobile app for iOS and Android devices that makes it easy for individuals to connect with nonprofits in their community. The GoodSocial app allows volunteer and nonprofit users to create profiles that facilitate matching between both parties based on shared social cause interests a key to meaningful and enduring philanthropic relationships. Through a zip code filtering process, the app identifies volunteer opportunities within close proximity of a users location. Integrated connections with Facebook and Twitter let users invite friends and family to join volunteer events and provide increased visibility for the nonprofits within their communities and beyond. In keeping with the recent movement towards humane technology, the GoodSocial app is designed to empower people to make a positive social impact. Americans are extremely generous about volunteering their time to nonprofits, but the reality is it can be very difficult for people to find places to donate their time. Were solving this problem by providing a free app that allows people to see the needs in their community and take immediate action to get involved, said GoodSocial Founder and CEO, Trisha Bright. For the nonprofits, GoodSocial provides a way to attract and engage new supporters who align with their mission, especially the younger generations whose lives are heavily tied to their smart phones. In just three weeks, we have doubled the number of volunteer users on our platform which we see as great validation that we are serving a market need. GoodSocial recently launched a pilot in San Francisco with several nonprofits that serve the Tenderloin neighborhood and greater San Francisco community, including Code Tenderloin, Shanti Project, Lave Mae, Alta Vista School, Back on My Feet, and Tech in the Tenderloin. Additional nonprofits have committed to participating, including The Salvation Armys Golden State Division, beginning with the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in San Franciscos Tenderloin neighborhood and the San Francisco branch of Echelon, the nonprofits nationwide volunteer group of young professionals. The local Greater Bay Redwood Area of the American Cancer Society has also confirmed its participation in the pilot. Were excited to partner with nonprofits in the Tenderloin that provide support and resources to San Franciscos most disadvantaged and low opportunity residents to assist them in their daily lives and help position them for a better future. Its also a neighborhood with a high density of technology companies that have strong commitments to community involvement and large populations of young workers who want to get involved, commented Tulin Melton, Chief Impact Officer for GoodSocial. Were excited to provide a platform to help bring together individuals, employers and nonprofits, and we see these kinds of partnerships as the future of community-centric philanthropic engagement. Del Seymour, the Director of Code Tenderloin, a nonprofit that provides technology skills and job readiness training, is an influential and highly active champion for the Tenderloin community. Mr. Seymour, often referred to as the Mayor of the Tenderloin, commented, We are pleased to be partnering with GoodSocial to help engage new supporters for Code Tenderloin and appreciate the support theyre providing to help improve our community. GoodSocial is expanding its footprint throughout Northern California and is extending an open invitation to nonprofits in the San Francisco Bay Area to join its pilot program. Interested parties can reach out via email at info at good-social dot com. The GoodSocial app can be downloaded in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store by searching for GoodSocial. About GoodSocial GoodSocial is a Public Benefit Corporation with a mission to empower individuals, corporations and nonprofits to be citizens of the world by providing the global platform for everyday philanthropy. Its mobile-first solution makes it accessible to everyone with a smart phone and helps nonprofits capitalize on emerging industry trends to position them to thrive in the new age of philanthropy. GoodSocial is headquartered in Silicon Valley. If you would like more information about GoodSocial, please visit https://good-social.com or send email to: info at good-social dot com. Like us on Facebook here, and follow us on Twitter here We are grateful to be involved in the design, installation and commissioning of digital projections for some of the most outstanding exhibits in this museum. Christies outstanding and reliable laser phosphor projectors are best suited for these exhibition areas. Christies longstanding Chinese partner Wincomn Technology has brought ancient Han Dynasty history to life with spectacular projections using Christie visual solutions at the newly renovated Hunan Museum. Over 40 Christie 1DLP laser phosphor projectors have been installed to deliver bright and dynamic projections at various exhibition zones in the museum, which is located in the city of Changsha. The main highlight is Chinas first tomb projection at the famous Mawangdui (or King Mas Mound) archaeological site that houses the tomb of Lady Dai (wife of the Marquis of Dai) dating back to more than 2,000 years ago. The impressive visuals have been made possible using 14 projectors comprising HS Series and GS Series models strategically installed around the 17-meter-deep trapezoidal-shaped pit grave. Another mesmerizing showcase is the highly immersive dome theater projection based on ancient astrological works unearthed from the Mawangdui archaeological site. Known as the Divination of the Five Planets, the silk-written manuscripts contained highly accurate astrological records based on the observation of the five planets (Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars and Saturn). The full dome facility is illuminated by 12 Christie DWU850-GS projectors equipped with BoldColor Technology for the most life-like images and natural color reproduction, and provides 20,000 hours of low-cost operation. Visitors at the exhibition zone titled People of Hunan Province can also check out stunning imagery using Christie projection on a curved screen/sand table and three-sided wall, known as Homeland and Dare to Call a New Day respectively. Elaborately set up with overhead deployments of Christie DWU599-GS and Christie DWU700-GS laser phosphor projectors, the exhibits illustrate the rich history, as well as social and cultural developments within the province. Hunan Museum is home to some of the most precious cultural and historical relics in China, including artifacts from Mawangdui that dates back to the western Han Dynasty, said Tony Chen, general manager, Wincomn Technology. We are grateful to be involved in the design, installation and commissioning of digital projections for some of the most outstanding exhibits in this museum. Christies outstanding and reliable laser phosphor projectors are best suited for these exhibition areas. The projections serve as a bridge that connects visitors with ancient culture and history, enabling them to create a deeper emotional resonance. Lin Yu, Vice President, Christie Asia Pacific, added, In modern society where technology is constantly evolving, the display of cultural assets has become more diversified. The use of digital projections can certainly augment the showcase of Chinas history and cultural heritage. Im therefore pleased that Christie laser phosphor visual solutions are playing an important role at Hunan Museum in enabling visitors to remember the past and look forward to the future through these mesmerizing visuals. The ancient tomb of Lady Dai is unequivocally the most popular exhibit in the museum, as well as the most challenging installation from a technical standpoint. According to Chen, lighting up the entire tomb measuring 19.5 meters long, 17.8 meters wide and 17 meters deep was a tremendous engineering feat. A total of 14 laser phosphor projectors, comprising 12 Christie D13WU-HS and two Christie DWU700-GS, were installed to deliver outstanding visuals at this site. Engineers from Wincomn Technology used 3D modeling and UV mapping to determine the exact location of each image, since all 14 projectors had to be installed in a concealed manner at different angles as requested by the museum. In this way, the visuals can be projected accurately on all surfaces. At the same time, Wincomns engineers had to overcome the challenges of irregular blending, as well as ensuring the synchronized playback of visual contents. The visuals of this highly-immersive dome theater are driven by 12 Christie DWU850-GS laser phosphor projectors deployed around the venue. With its small footprint, quiet operation, and 20,000 hours of operation, the Christie DWU850-GS is best suited for such environments. People of Hunan Province - Homeland Exhibit This amazing exhibit features immersive visuals projected on a curved screen using five Christie DWU700-GS laser phosphor projectors. Another two DWU700-GS projectors are deployed overhead for projections on a circular-shaped sand table positioned in the center of the exhibition area. People of Hunan Province - Dare to Call a New Day Exhibit This exhibition area showcases the history and development of Hunan Province using a three-sided wall projection accomplished with eight ceiling-mounted Christie DWU599-GS laser phosphor projectors that filled the entire space with vibrant visuals. The Christie GS Series eliminates the need for lamp and filter replacements, providing 20,000 hours of low-cost operation. Wireless connectivity, a small footprint, low-weight, quiet operation and a full suite of lenses make them ideal for boardrooms, conference rooms, education, houses of worship and other small and medium venues. On the other hand, the Christie HS Series is the worlds brightest 1DLP laser phosphor projector boasting up to 13,500 lumens in WUXGA and HD resolutions, with Christie BoldColor Technology for a premium viewing experience, taking color accuracy and image quality to the next level. About Christie Christie Digital Systems USA, Inc. is a global visual and audio technologies company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ushio Inc., Japan (JP:6925). Consistently setting the standards by being the first to market some of the worlds most advanced projectors, complete system displays, and cinema audio solutions; Christie is recognized as one of the most innovative visual technology companies in the world. From retail displays to Hollywood, mission critical command centers to classrooms and training simulators, Christie display solutions and projectors capture the attention of audiences around the world with dynamic and stunning images, accompanied by awe-inspiring sound. Visit http://www.christiedigital.com. Hackett Publishing Company joins the growing list of publishers using Junction Education's award-winning adaptive courseware platform to build their next-generation digital products and services. Serving the humanities since 1972, Hackett is an independent publisher, known for affordable, high-quality translations, anthologies, textbooks, and other learning materials across a range of disciplines. As teaching and learning methods shift to include digital learning, Hackett has sought to identify the right digital teaching and learning platform to take their business into the next decade. "The strengths of our list are its quality and its versatility," said Deborah Wilkes, CEO of Hackett Publishing Company. "From textbooks in logic and critical thinking; modern and ancient languages; philosophy, history, political theory, and area studies, the first-rate content we have developed is highly amenable to a variety of exciting digital treatments. We have been studying the ways in which we might provide our authors with new creative opportunities, support instructors in their teaching and engage the next generation of learners. After careful research, it became clear that Junction's turnkey courseware platform is the right tool, at the right time, for us to take our business to the next level." "We appreciate the opportunity to serve Hackett Publishing, their highly-regarded authors, and the instructors and learners they serve," said Vineet Madan, CEO, Junction Education. "Making the transition to a wide-ranging set of digital delivery options - from basic ebook through fully online, adaptive courses with real-time analytics for colleges and/or independent learners is not an easy one for any publisher. Hackett Publishing, like many of our other clients, has an impressive history of keenly matching authorship to products to pricing in order to deliver enduring value and we're proud to have them building digital products on Junction." About Hackett Publishing Company Founded in 1972, Hackett Publishing Company is a privately held, publisher, with offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts and Indianapolis, Indiana. Hackett's company culture, its staff, it's list, and the personal quality of its relationship with authors and instructors all manifest a stability and continuity rare in today's publishing world. For more information about Hackett Publishing Company, visit http://www.hackettpublishing.com. About Junction Education Launched in 2014 and reaching instructors and students across all fifty states, Junction Education's award-winning adaptive courseware platform is used by a growing array of publishers, educational institutions and digital learning companies. For more information about Junction Education, visit http://www.junctioneducation.com. Teresa Pitts - Regional Sales Manager For Professional Retail Services & Retail Security Services I am excited to join a fantastic team that helps me achieve that recipe for success. Being a part of something that shows how to give superb customer service, as well as pushes themselves to be even greater and never staying complacent, is something worth getting up for each morning! Teresa Pitts takes her 20+ years of experience working in the retail and the restaurant industry to join two affiliated service companies; Professional Retail Services (PRS) and Retail Security Services (RSS), as Regional Sales Manager. Kathleen Larmour, CEO, and founder of both companies said, We are so pleased with the opportunity to have Teresa on our team! Teresa has great industry experience and has consistently proven her ability to navigate the selling process for over 20 years. We are looking forward to an amazing 2018! Teresa Pitts will be working closely with the operations team, and servicing the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico for both companies. Prior to her new position, Teresa served as VP of Sales, Director of National Accounts, and as Facilities Manager within the industry. She brings both sides of the desk to customers when it comes to skill and deep industry experience as a vendor and retail facility professional. Teresa will be driving sales in her region for both companies. She will be the liaison between the operations team and facility professionals to help render traditional services, execute those trending, and in-store experiences that may require remodels, resizes and repurpose for stores and restaurants. Teresa will be a real asset to both companies and their clientele. When speaking with Teresa in regard to joining the team, she had the following to say, Benjamin Fairless once said, 'What is the recipe for successful achievement? To my mind there are just four essential ingredients: Choose a career you love, give it the best there is in you, seize your opportunities, and be a member of the team.' I am excited to join a fantastic team that helps me achieve that recipe for success. Being a part of something that shows how to give superb customer service, as well as pushes themselves to be even greater and never staying complacent, is something worth getting up for each morning! Professional Retail Services (PRS) is a national facilities services company, serving Americas top brands across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Professional Retail Services (PRS) will be exhibiting at the Restaurant Facility Management Association National Conference (#RFMA2018), March 4-5, 2018, in Phoenix, Arizona Booth #430 Retail Security Services(RSS) provides a vast array of security guard services to many industries on a national level in the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Professional Retail Services (PRS) and Retail Security Services (RSS) will be exhibiting at the Professional Retail Store Maintenance Association National Conference (#PRSM2018), April 9-11, 2018, in Nashville, Tennessee - Booth #252 and Booth #256 If you would like more information about this topic, please call 888-834-2411, or email info@profretail.com. Follow Us: Twitter: @ProfRetailInc Facebook: @ProfessionalRetailServices LinkedIn: Professional Retail Services Twitter: @RSSGuards Facebook: @RSSGuards LinkedIn: Retail Security Services ### Cimcor Logo This nomination recognizes Cimcors ever-determined focus on helping enterprises protect their critical IT infrastructure. Cimcor, Inc., an industry leader in developing innovative security, integrity and compliance software solutions, has been nominated for a scale-up company of the year in the 19th annual TechPoint Mira Awards, a celebration equivalent to the Academy Awards for the Indiana tech industry. Cimcor, Inc. ranks 75th in Cybersecurity Ventures Cybersecurity 500 list of the worlds hottest and most innovative cybersecurity companies and was recently awarded the 2018 Cybersecurity Excellence Award in compliance for CimTrak, its file integrity monitoring software. This nomination recognizes Cimcors ever-determined focus on helping enterprises protect their critical IT infrastructure, said Robert E. Johnson, III, President, and CEO of Cimcor, Inc. Our product continues to evolve as a world-class, enterprise security and compliance tool. We are actively implementing our 2018 strategy, which includes an innovative product feature roadmap which will reinforce our culture of innovation within our products. Selected by independent subject matter experts who evaluated and ranked the applications, nominees advance to a final category with winners to be announced during the April awards ceremony and gala on Saturday, April 28, in downtown Indianapolis. About Cimcor, Inc. Founded in 1997, Cimcor, Inc. is an industry leader in developing innovative security, integrity and compliance software solutions. The firm is on the front lines of global corporate, government and military initiatives to protect critical IT infrastructure and has consistently brought IT integrity innovations to market. Cimcor's flagship software product, CimTrak, helps organizations to monitor and protect a wide range of physical, network, virtual and cloud-based IT assets in real-time. About CimTrak CimTrak is an advanced monitoring tool for servers, network devices, databases, critical workstations and more. It helps companies and government agencies keep their IT infrastructure secure, maintain compliance, ensure continuous system uptime, and take control of changes in their IT environments. Built around leading-edge file integrity monitoring capabilities, CimTrak gives organizations deep situational awareness including: who is making changes, what is being changed, when changes are occurring, and how changes are being made. This, coupled with the ability to take instant action upon detection of change, gives organizations assurance their IT assets are always in a secure and compliant state. CimTrak is certified to Common Criteria EAL Level 4 +, Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 140-2 Level 2 compliant, it is on the Army Approved Products List and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA) Unified Capabilities Approved Products List (UC-APL). For more information or a free evaluation, visit: https://www.cimcor.com/cimtrak About TechPoint Tech Point is the voice and catalyst for Indianas technology companies and overall tech ecosystem. The team is focused on 1.) Attracting talent, 2.) Accelerating Scale-up Companies, 3.) Activating the Community, and 4.) Amplifying Stories of Success. Combining Atmosphere Studio with NXPs scalable and flexible portfolio has resulted in a tightly integrated solution that serves the burgeoning mass market community of IoT developers. said Jeff Liebl, CEO of Atmosphere IoT. Atmosphere IoT Corp. is demonstrating their web-based IDE, Atmosphere Studio, on the newly announced Rapid IoT prototyping kit at Embedded World, an industry trade fair and conference that gathers more than 30,000 attendees this week from around the world in Nuremberg, Germany. Rapid IoT, which was created by NXP Semiconductors, is a comprehensive, secure and power-optimized IoT end node solution based on NXPs expansive technology portfolio, including processing, connectivity, security, NFC and sensing. Combined with Atmosphere Studio, it enables anyone to quickly and easily take their IoT idea to proof-of-concept, even without embedded design experience. Combining Atmosphere Studio with NXPs scalable and flexible portfolio has resulted in a tightly integrated solution that serves the burgeoning mass market community of IoT developers, said Jeff Liebl, CEO of Atmosphere IoT. The Rapid IoT Prototyping Kit reflects our mutual vision of making embedded-to-cloud IoT development easy. Atmosphere employees are showcasing demonstrations of example applications using Atmosphere Studio and Rapid IoT inside NXPs Hall 4A Booth #220. Additionally, attendees can use Atmospheres user-friendly drag-and-drop style GUI to create their own complete embedded-to-cloud prototype on the spot, without writing a single line of code. With the Rapid IoT prototyping kit, we are unlocking the Internet of Things to a broader spectrum of innovators, said Sid Shaw, Sr. Director, Global Sales & Marketing for NXP Semiconductors. Our partnership with Atmosphere IoT is a key differentiator, as we bring this to the mass market. About Atmosphere IoT Atmosphere IoT Corp. offers the fastest and simplest way to create, deploy, and manage complete embedded-to-cloud solutions. First released in January 2015, its innovative cloud platform has been used by thousands of developers and OEMs to build and deploy wireless-enabled connected product solutions. For more information, visit http://www.atmosphereiot.com. Its a fun way to engage people. I would also like to remind people to take pictures throughout the year to submit for the next years calendar. Its the New Year and the time of the year for a new calendar. But if youre a lakefront client of Steve Travers, waterfront specialist and broker associate at Kentwood Real Estate, you already have one, courtesy of Travers. Every year, Travers mails out a calendar to his lakefront property clients featuring stunning lake pictures. Its a fun way to engage people, said Travers. I would also like to remind people to take pictures throughout the year to submit for the next years calendar. The winner of the contest gets a $50 gift card to a local boat shop and all the other pictures get posted on Facebook. The 2018 calendar, which can be picked up at Travers office, 5690 DTC Blvd., Suite 600-W, Greenwood Village, CO, features pictures of last years winners. About Steve Travers, Kentwood Real Estate Steve Travers is a waterfront and residential real estate specialist. He works with both buyers and sellers. For more information, please call (303) 548-2744, or visit http://www.denverlakehomes.com. Kentwood Real Estate is located at 5690 DTC Blvd., Suite 600-W, Greenwood Village, CO 80111. About the NALA The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. The information and content in this article are not in conjunction with the views of the NALA. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361. Lucas Group The new workspace fits our speed-to-market philosophy, creating opportunities for the quick conversations that drive new cross-selling opportunities. Lucas Group, the leader in North American executive search, announced that its Houston office has moved to a new, Next-Gen workplace near Houstons popular Galleria in the citys Uptown District. The new workspace is intentionally designed to meet the needs of Lucas Groups executive recruiters, offering quiet space for focused work and inviting community space for team collaboration. The offices connection to the Galleria offers seamless work-life integration, providing easy access to top dining, retail and lifestyle amenities. We intentionally designed this office to reflect the way our recruiters work, said Bob Prather, General Manager for Accounting & Finance. The new workspace fits our speed-to-market philosophy, creating opportunities for the quick conversations that drive new cross-selling opportunities. Teams can collaborate around the innovative brainstorming areas and then return to their focus space to execute the days priorities. In addition to a sought after location near the Galleria, the workplace is just steps from Hines Waterwall park, a multi-story sculptural fountain that provides quiet space for reflection during a busy workday. Teams can take a break from their desks with short, walking meetings through the park. Research shows that regular exercise during the day improves concentration, memory recall, and learning speed. Even a short, 10-minute outdoor break can have a lasting impact on productivity and creativity, said David Armendariz, Managing Partner for Manufacturing, Houston. Inside the workplace, weve chosen bright, warm colors and natural design elements that bring the outside in and keep recruiters focused and energized during the day. The workplace includes a kitchen and lounge area with wingback chairs, couches, coffee tables and a Ping-Pong table. These community spaces allow for casual connections throughout the workday, offering a variety of spaces for recruiters to meet with colleagues, grab a quick bite to eat, enjoy a fresh cup of coffee, and unwind. Recruiters are in control of where and how they work at any given moment. At the heart of the new office are two large conference rooms that double as a Learning Center with space for all Houston employees. The Houston team has nicknamed this space their Living Room, and plan on hosting traditions like their annual Cinco de Mayo celebration and Thanksgiving feast here. Its where we come together as a family, said Steven Robinson, General Manager for IT. We are a tight-knit group committed to building meaningful relationships both within our office walls and outside in the community. Were proud to call Houston home. Lucas Groups new Houston office is located at 2700 Post Oak Blvd, Suite 2300, Houston, TX 77056. It was also named to the Houston Chronicles Top Workplaces list for 2017. About Lucas Group Headquartered in Atlanta, GA with 15 regional offices, Lucas Group is North America's premier executive search firm. Since 1970, Lucas Group's culture and methodologies have driven superior results. Lucas Group utilizes a unique combination of sophisticated technology, rigorous research, deep industry knowledge, ongoing associate training, and broad national reach to deliver real value for clients and candidates. To learn more, please visit Lucas Group at http://www.lucasgroup.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter. These findings suggest that the likelihood of an individuals transitioning to chronic opioid use can be predicted by information that is readily available to providers in a clinical setting. In a new study published in February 2018 in American Health & Drug Benefits, researchers have identified opioid prescription characteristics that may increase the patients risk for becoming a chronic user of opioid therapy. View the article here: http://www.AHDBonline.com. In light of the current opioid epidemic in the United States, it is important to understand the use of chronic opioid therapy among working-age adults, who may have unique and negative consequences, such as missed work days, loss of employment, and decreased productivity, in addition to complications associated with opioid use (eg, high economic burden from increased emergency department, inpatient, and other health services utilization). This is the first study to identify incident chronic opioid use among working-age adults who initiate opioid therapy. This is an important group, because of the potential impact on their productivity and their increased likelihood to use opioid therapy when they experience pain. The four leading predictors identified that increase the risk for transitioning to chronic opioid use by at least four times are: 1. The drugs duration of action 2. Type of parent opioid compounds 3. The patients drug use disorder 4. Pain conditions In this study, adults who were prescribed long-acting opioids as opposed to immediate-release opioids had the highest likelihood of transitioning to chronic opioid therapy use. In addition, the rates of patients who became chronic opioid users were higher in Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Mississippi and Nevada than in other states. These findings suggest that the likelihood of an individuals transitioning to chronic opioid use can be predicted by information that is readily available to providers in a clinical setting, such as the initial opioid regimen characteristics, the patients history of drug use disorder, and the medical conditions associated with pain, said Douglas Thornton, PharmD, PhD, lead investigator and Assistant Professor, College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Houston, TX. The very timely article by Thornton and colleagues can play a role in addressing our current epidemic of opioid abuse, said Albert Tzeel, MD, MHSA, CPE, FAAPL, Regional Medical Director, Senior Products, North Florida, Humana, Tampa, in his accompanying commentary. It is well known that prescribing opioid medications, especially those with protracted durations of action or over a longer time frame, increases the risk for an individual using these medications to become addicted to and/or physiologically dependent on them. It is in this realm that the article by Thornton and colleagues becomes extremely valuable. The investigators from the University of Houston (D. Thornton), West Virginia University (N. Dwibedi, V. Scott, C. Ponte, and U. Sambamoorthi), University of California San Diego (D. Ziedonis), and Northwestern University (N. Sambamoorthi), note that the importance of these factors could change, and the overall prediction improved, if and when other types of information are added to the data. Further intervention research, working with patients, prescribers, and healthcare payers, is needed to optimize opioid use and prevent unnecessary adverse events. About American Health & Drug Benefits American Health & Drug Benefits: The Peer-Reviewed Journal for Real-World Evidence in Benefit Design is a peer-reviewed journal founded on the concept that the economic value of a therapy is of equal importance to its clinical outcomes, and this combination serves as the basis for insurance coverage decisions and benefit designs. The journal offers a forum for stakeholder integration and collaboration toward the promotion of value-based healthcare by integrating the clinical, business, and policy issues related to drug therapy, and is published by Engage Healthcare Communications, LLC, an affiliate of The Lynx Group. About The Lynx Group The Lynx Group is a rapidly growing global strategic alliance of medical communications and education companies. Through its unique business model, The Lynx Group strives to provide pivotal and contemporary information and education for all stakeholders in healthcare. Terri Cunningham I am honored to be a part of establishing a Texas office of Divorce With Dignity's amicable divorce services in my Collin County community. Today, Divorce With Dignity Network, Inc. the leader in helping legal professionals across the United States own and operate a successful peaceful divorce services business, announced Ms. Terri Cunningham as its newest Divorce With Dignity Network Affiliate with the opening of its Collin County, Texas office. Founder and President of Divorce With Dignity Network, Inc., Cindy Elwell said, We are delighted to welcome Terri as our newest affiliate to our Divorce With Dignity family. Terri brings a strong mediation, and negotiating background to the people in the Dallas area. She has over 15 years of experience mediating family matters in the states of Oklahoma and Texas, as well as almost 20 years experience negotiating real estate contracts for both buyers and sellers. Terri Cunningham commented, I am honored to be a part of establishing a Texas office of Divorce With Dignity's amicable divorce services in my Collin County community. I am tremendously excited to assist and be a part of a wonderful alternative to divorce, and providing options that many people may not have considered. I aim to facilitate a working dialogue with families to help them make their own arrangements . Ms. Cunningham added, I am so happy to be able to provide a safe, convenient and peaceful environment to assist with personal life changes, and offer resources and relevant guidelines for those wanting to save money and avoid frustrations. For more information on the option of peaceful divorce you can visit the Divorce With Dignity website. There is a wealth of information about divorce on their peaceful divorce blog. You can also find a Divorce With Dignity Network Affiliate in your area. For those in the Collin County, Texas area in need of divorce services, or wanting to refer a friend, please contact Terri Cunningham at: Divorce With Dignity-Collin County 17766 Preston Road, Ste. 213 Dallas, TX 75252 Phone: 972-674-3114 Email: tcunningham@dwdignity.com If you are a legal professional; paralegal, attorney or mediation firm that would like to learn more about becoming a Divorce With Dignity Affiliate to own and operate your own peaceful divorce services business please contact Cindy Elwell at 800-459-5556 or visit PeacefulDivorceBusinessCom. About Divorce With Dignity Network, Inc. The Divorce With Dignity Network, Inc. helps legal professionals across the United States to own and operate a successful peaceful divorce services business. The Divorce With Dignity Network offers a proven method and a superior lifestyle opportunity for those legal professionals seeking their own independent business or it can create a new value-add and incremental revenue stream to an existing family law or mediation practice. The Divorce With Dignity Network, Inc. began licensing its peaceful divorce services business model in 2008. Press Contact Cindy Elwell President Divorce With Dignity Network, Inc. Alameda, CA Phone (800) 459-5556 celwell@dwdignity.com In follow up to last years hit documentary SEO: The Movie, Social Media Marketing: The Movie, hashtag #SocialMediaMovie, will begin showing on March 20th, 2018. While SEO: The Movie was a historical film with an homage to the SEO industry, Social Media Marketing: The Movie takes a different approach. This film seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of how to do social media marketing for business. SEO: The Movie was a big hit. I wanted to follow up the success of that film by bringing important insight to the social media marketing industry. This film is less historical and more strategic. The strategic approach is something our initial set of focus groups have appreciated, stated John Lincoln, CEO of Ignite Visibility. In the film, Lincoln interviews social media marketing all-stars Jay Baer, Michael Stelzner, Brenda Ster, Joel Comm, Mari Smith, Sue Zimmerman, Leslie Samuel, Viveka von Rosen and Amy Landino. All of which are noted influencers in the social media industry. The film interviews experts on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, LinkedIn and even Podcasting. Through the film, marketers and business owners will learn how to use the top social media sites online, how to set a strategy, how to deal with the drop in organic reach, how to measure success, what are the strategies that drive the biggest returns and where the future of social media is headed. More than ever, people are waking up to the power of social media to grow their business, comments Lincoln, the films producer and director. But theres a lot of confusion about how to get started, the subtleties of each platform and what is needed to set an overall strategy. This movie will help business owners everywhere understand the role of social media in the modern-day marketing and customer service world; it teaches how to be successful. The film is meant for businesses who are newer to social media, businesses who dont fully understand it, and those who feel a bit lost or are trying to do too much at once without getting results. Overall, the film looks to simplify the social media process and bring clarity to a crowded, noisy industry. The 45-minute film which will initially be released exclusively on the Ignite Visibility website (https://ignitevisibility.com/social-media-marketing-movie/), and then later released on YouTube and Amazon, is meant to help companies everywhere who are new to social media set the perfect strategy. This is one film you dont want to miss. The official trailer for Social Media Marketing: The Movie is available at https://ignitevisibility.com/social-media-marketing-movie/. The documentary will also be available on the same URL on March 20th. Visit the Ignite Visibility website now and sign up to be notified the day the film goes live. Also, for those in the media and influencers, by entering your email address you may qualify to be invited to the special sneak peek preview. About Ignite Visibility Ignite Visibility is a premier Internet marketing company based in San Diego dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service in the industry. By establishing mutually beneficial, long-term relationships with our clients, we create custom solutions uniquely tailored to meet the specialized business objectives of each client. Because a company is only as good as the promises it keeps that were made during the sales process, Ignite Visibility holds itself accountable to clearly defined key performance indicators established at the outset of every campaign. We are committed to the Ignite Visibility motto pertaining to the three Rs of customer satisfaction: relationships, responsiveness and results. To learn more about Ignite Visibility, visit https://IgniteVisibility.com. Bitnami, the leading provider of packaged applications for any platform, announced the availability of Bitnami Stacksmith, a tool that simplifies the migration of enterprise applications to the cloud by automating the manual tasks required to package, deploy and maintain software stacks for leading container and cloud platforms. Bitnami is known for its automated end to end process of packaging and maintaining software for any platform. It publishes a catalog of over 120 open source applications and development stacks which get deployed over 1 million times a month across all platforms including leading cloud vendors like Amazon, Azure, Google and Oracle. Now, for the first time with Stacksmith, enterprises can leverage this powerful application automation technology and tooling to replatform their own applications from the datacenter to the cloud. With this simple SaaS solution, enterprise developers and operations teams now have a single tool to migrate and maintain custom in-house applications. Stacksmith is designed to deliver a complete application migration experience for enterprises, in support of data center consolidation and digital transformation initiatives. It takes a running application in the traditional datacenter, repackages it, and delivers a running application in the public or private cloud. This is a significant departure from many other solutions in the market that simply build a container or virtual machine, or require teams of consultants. As a company that is 100% focused on packaging applications and has been building our internal automation and tooling around this for years, we felt that the maturity of our solution and the increasing enterprise demand to migrate internal applications aligns perfectly said Daniel Lopez, CEO. Bitnamis deep expertise in packaging and maintaining cloud applications for a click-to-deploy experience allows us to automate far beyond just repackaging an application. It lets us also apply the platform specific logic, templating and components needed to deliver a repackaged application that is optimized and ready-to-deploy. The core features of Stacksmith are: AUTOMATION Not just one component of a toolchain, Stacksmith is a complete end-to-end replatforming solution Input your code, Click to package, Click to deploy Templates bring in platform specific dependencies and encode best practices OPTIMIZATION Creates VMs or Containers or both Creates ready to use yet editable deployment templates (Cloudformation / Helm Chart) MIGRATION Choose your targets (AWS, Kubernetes, VMware) and click to deploy MAINTENANCE Continuous monitoring for updates and security vulnerability patches Complete visibility of components and version numbers Simple click to re-build process to update at any time Stacksmith is designed for businesses interested in expanding their digital transformation and modernization initiatives with a realistic approach. Stacksmith removes the complexity of application packaging, and provides the platform-specific know-how and best practices that simplify the process. It enables even those with limited cloud experience to migrate applications successfully - and gain experience along the way. It also lets enterprises realize many of the cloud native benefits of the target platform, without requiring an applications source code to be edited or re-written as cloud native. About Bitnami Bitnami is the leading provider of packaged applications for any platform. The Bitnami application automation platform delivers and maintains a catalog of ready-to-run server applications and development environments in partnership with the worlds leading cloud providers such as Amazon, Google, Microsoft, Oracle, Deutsche Telekom and more. That same application automation platform that drives over 1 million deployments per month is also available to Enterprise developers looking streamline their software development processes. Based in San Francisco CA, and with offices around the world, Bitnami is proud to be a rapidly growing self-funded company. For more information, visit https://bitnami.com The tasting room at the Beverage Testing Institute "This is a total game-changer for producers seeking to implement an affordable, state-of-the-art quality control program or companies that need a thorough cross-check against their own internal QC programs." -Jerald O'Kennard, Director of Tastings.com The beer and spirits industry will recognize the importance of The Beverage Testing Institutes newest service offering, their private quality control program. Bypassing the industrys current hurdles, breweries and distilleries formerly limited by size, structure and budget can now affordably outsource their quality control program to BTI. In todays ever-changing beerscape the only constant is the need for quality product. A focused, continual quality control program remains the best tool at a brewers disposal in ensuring this end says Marty Scott of Revolution Brewing. As creatures of habit, beer drinkers demand their beer taste exactly the same every time. Consistency is one of the key pillars of a successful brand, yet maintaining this consistency is no small task. There are many challenges in organizing and conducting in-house panels on a regular basisscheduling, training, protocols, location and environmental challenges, cellar-blindness and inurement to gradual flavor profile shifts. Now breweries can outsource this process and get an independent third-party cross-check to support their own internal sensory panel results. Especially useful for small to midsize craft breweries and distilleries, BTI puts QC resources and expertise within reach. Breweries and distilleries can consider BTI as their own dedicated QC analysts, available right when they need them and for a fraction of the cost. Since 1981 BTI has been providing sensory-based consulting and reviews for the beverage industry, making them the premiere source for expert organoleptic analysis. Theyve published upwards of 100,000 drinks reviews and provided hundreds of private reviews, analyses and studies. The institute uses a dedicated tasting lab in Chicago that is specially designed to minimize external factors and maximize their expert panelists' concentration. While most craft beverage operations may only have the means to employ one or two sensory experts, BTI has a portfolio of well-vetted, talented sensory analysts working to help brewers and distillers make their beers and spirits the best they can be. Their proprietary methodology utilizes state-of-the-art flavor profiling software to flag flaws, anomalies and flavor drifts. BTI is also known for their ability to design and develop custom evaluations to meet your needs, like a shelf stability audit or head retention tracking. BTI is the solution to quality control in 2018. The hyper-competitive craft beverage market has long needed a cost-effective QC solution for players of all sizes. The Beverage Testing Institute is proud to be in its fourth decade as the premier independent beverage review organization offering creative and effective solutions for the drinks trade. Rabbi Karen Becker-Marcelo - Your Rabbi for Life Rabbi Karen reported "Working with people in a senior living community is a blessing and a delight. They bring wisdom, experience and light to everything we do". Rabbi Karen Becker-Marcelo, recently oversaw the training of an octogenarian-an adult Bat Mitzvah student. The studies culminated with a beautiful adult bat mitzvah ceremony celebrating an 80 year old bat mitzvah "girl" with over 55 people in attendance. Rabbi Karen enjoys working with seniors and serves as head Rabbi at THE ATRIUM -a senior lifestyle community located in Boca Raton, Florida -- She reports that "Working with people in a senior living community is a blessing and a delight. They bring wisdom, experience and light to everything we do". Rabbi Karen was ordained by thewww,jsli.net [ Jewish Spiritual Leadership Institute __title__ ] ("JSLI") in 2017 and is a member of Union of Jewish Universalist Communities ("UJUC"). In the year since her ordination, Rabbi Karen has quickly become an integral leader in the Palm Beach/Boca Raton Jewish and Interfaith communities. In addition to B'nai Mitzvot, Rabbi Karen has also performed other innovative life cycle events including an on-line baby naming. She can also be seen leading Ma'ariv services for the on-line synagogue Sim Shalom. Rabbi Karen will soon be serving her community as a volunteer chaplain for the Palm Beach Sherriff's Department. The UJUC is a group of progressively minded rabbis and their communities who welcome participants from all walks of life. The Union seeks to nurture the greater good by emphasizing compassion and love for all humankind through the lens of Jewish history, liturgy, rituals, traditional texts, and holidays. More information about Rabbi Karen as well as her contact information can be found at the UJUC's website: - http://ujuc.org/rabbi-karen-becker-marcelo/. About Sim Shalom and UJUC Sim Shalom is an interactive online Jewish Universalist synagogue, which is liberal in thought and traditional in liturgy. Sim Shalom provides accessible and short services every weeknight and Shabbat and additionally Sim Shalom provides online education programs, Jazz concerts, and conversion and life cycle ceremonies. Rabbi Blane is also the founder and director of the Spiritual Leader's Institute, the online professional rabbinical program. Sim Shalom and Rabbi Blane are one of the Founding communities of the Union of Jewish Universalist Communities. For more information visit http://www.ujuc.org or call 201-338-0165. VirtualMetrics monitoring solution help organizations simplify and unify monitoring of different areas - servers, storage, databases, networks, etc. It provides Change Tracking for the complete inventory of the servers and is capable to cover the ITIL and ISO27001 certification needs of banks. Banks and financial institutions are the most attractive sectors for fraud activities, attacks and security threats from both inside and outside. Statistics from 2017 shows that this sector is breaking all the breach records in comparison to other industries. Banks suffer an average of 85 attempted serious cyber-attacks a year, and one-third are successful. VirtualMetric a smart infrastructure monitoring solution, tailored to the needs of banks and financial organizations is detecting the early indicators of data breaches, malware, frauds, hardware, and software problems. Thus with its sophisticated SIEM capabilities and proactive alerting, banks and financial institution around the globe can dramatically decrease the risks for their infrastructure stability, data security and end users operations. According to system and cloud engineers, VirtualMetric is the most feature-rich monitoring solution for Hyper-V on the market. Together with its real-time monitoring for VMware and Microsoft environment, it is proved to be a perfect fit for enterprises and financial institutions running mission-critical processes and needing 24/7 monitoring and high level of security. VirtualMetrics monitoring solution help organizations simplify and unify monitoring of different areas - servers, storage, databases, networks, etc. Moreover, it provides Change Tracking for the complete inventory of the servers and is capable to cover the ITIL certification needs of banks like Barclays, Deutsche Bank, Bank of America. The Change Tracking functionality together with the built-in Forensic analysis is helping banks also to cover and comply with the ISO/IEC 27000 standard for information assets security. By using VirtualMetric administrators can prevent or mitigate cyber-attacks. Moreover, they can identify the cause of a security problem and develop a solution to prevent it from happening again. The final result is full control over the infrastructure and avoiding any risks or problems. In addition to this - increased service quality and better customer satisfaction! A good real-time monitoring solution like VirtualMetric, can solve three of the biggest challenges in the financial industry - maintaining compliance with regulations, tracking fraudulent activity and distinguish it from normal behavior, eliminating vulnerabilities and preventing devastating breaches. Legacy forms of security are no longer enough to ensure the health of the infrastructure and virtualization with the financial industry. These organizations need a new way of monitoring activity and correlating data so that it can be analyzed, interpreted and acted upon. This is what VirtualMetric is providing to the global market. About VirtualMetric VirtualMetric is a secure real-time infrastructure monitoring solution for Microsoft Hyper-V, VMware, Microsoft SQL, Microsoft IIS, Bare Metal. Its main target is to facilitate the daily work of all system engineers, architects, administrators and IT managers by giving them a powerful tracking and reporting tool and full control over their infrastructure. The company is based in the Netherlands and is trusted by enterprises within the financial sector, telecommunications, public and private cloud providers. http://www.virtualmetric.com WHAT: The Asian American Chamber of Commerce (AACC) and World Trade Center (WTC) St. Louis will host a lunch and learn with the Consul General of China, Hong Lei. Business leaders are invited to learn about current U.S-China trade relations and how bilateral ties are developing to create opportunity for U.S. businesses. WHEN: Wednesday, February 28, 2018 (11:30 am - 1:30 pm) WHERE: World Trade Center St. Louis (120 South Central Ave., Suite 1200 St. Louis, MO 63105) WHO: Hong Lei, Consul General of China in Chicago Zou Xiaoming, Commercial Counsellor, Consulate-General of the Peoples Republic of China in Chicago WHY: The Consul General will invite more U.S. imports to China, in advance of the first-ever China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai November 5-10, 2018. The AACC will lead a group of St. Louis businesses to the CIIE. One of our aims is to enhance global trade and attract foreign direct investment in the St. Louis area as an economic development initiative, said Al Li, AACC St. Louis president. We want companies to understand that only four percent of their customers reside in the United States while 96 percent of their potential customer base is outside America. China represents a huge market opportunity for U.S. companies. IMPACT: China is currently the second largest importer and consumer in the world, with all indications pointing toward increased potential for growth in the next five years, estimated at upwards of $10 trillion in goods and services. Enterprises from more than 100 countries and regions are expected to participate in the first CIIE. Support activities such as matchmaking meetings, seminars and product releases will be held during the Expo. Mr. Hong was appointed Consul General in 2016 and has held positions in Chinas Ministry of Foreign Affairs for 27 years, including postings in San Francisco and the Netherlands. He previously served as spokesman and deputy director general of the ministrys department of information and as counselor and division deputy director among other roles. TICKETS: $20 including lunch. Register at http://conta.cc/2EWkEO3 About the AACC of St. Louis: Founded in 2011, the mission of the AACC of St. Louis is to build a community of Asian professionals, Asian business owners, and those engaging in business throughout Asia. http://aaccstl.org/ About World Trade Center St. Louis: For more than 20 years, as the international division of St. Louis Economic Development Partnership, WTC has supported growth for the regions businesses, most importantly, ensuring St. Louis companies are represented in an increasingly global marketplace. From customized research to trade training, hosting inbound/outbound delegations and managing St. Louis Foreign Trade Zone, WTC brings together a strong system of business and government agencies to support trade and investment and enhance St. Louis global connectivity. Media Contact: Sheldon Ripson R5 Communications 636-751-5733 sripson(at)r5-communications(dot)com Wipe Out Plastic Our ocean and shoreline areas are quickly becoming inundated with plastic based rubbish which does not breakdown in the environment said Danny Boren, President of Skyline Hawaii. Skyline Hawai'i, Mauis newest Haleakala National Park Tour Operator, has removed more than 1 TON of rubbish from Maui Beaches since December 2017 through a series of company beach clean-ups. The clean-ups have removed 2184 lbs of coastal and ocean debris including discarded fishing nets and traps, plastic bottles and containers, polystyrene food containers, and nylon ropes along with many other smaller items. The clean-up efforts are part of an on-going company campaign in to address marine debris called Wipe Out Plastic. Our ocean and shoreline areas are quickly becoming inundated with plastic based rubbish which does not breakdown in the environment said Danny Boren, President of Skyline Hawaii. We feel it is our kuleana as a Maui business, and as lifelong local residents, to do our part to help protect the coastlines and waters of Maui and Hawaii through reducing our use of disposable plastic items and helping to clean-up the rubbish which is already out there causing harm to marine species and ultimately all of us on Maui. As part of the Wipe Out Plastic campaign, Skyline Hawaii plans to continue regular company beach clean-ups throughout this year and in the years to come and has set a 2018 goal of removing 3 Tons of rubbish from Maui beaches. Through the Wipe Out Plastic Campaign, Skyline Hawaii is also sponsoring Water Bottle Refill Stations at local Maui Elementary Schools through $10,000 grants given by the company in order to encourage Mauis Keiki to have access to fresh clean water and utilize refillable water bottles on a daily basis. So far Water Bottle Fill Station Grants have been provided to Haiku Elementary School and Lihikai Elementary School, with 2 3 more school grants planned for 2018. Skyline Hawaii provides guided tours of Haleakala National Park including Haleakala sunrise tours and daytime tours into the park. Skyline Hawaii operates Mauis only Haleakala Sunrise Bike & Zipline tour along with exclusive daytime tours that include a visit to MauiWine and Alii Kula Lavender farm. For reservations or more information visit http://www.skylinehawaii.com or call (808) 878-8400 Skyline Eco-Adventures provides awe inspiring zipline tours on Maui, Kauai and Big Island. Skyline Eco-Adventures is the United States' 1st zipline tour company, founded in 2002 on Maui, Hawaii. Skyline's first location, the Haleakala Skyline Tour, is located on Historic Haleakala Ranch in beautiful Upcountry Maui. For reservations or more information visit http://www.zipline.com or call (808) 878-8400 ComponentSource 2018 Awards These awards are based on orders we received from our global customers, as such they represent a true global market snap-shot for commercial software components and development tools in 2017. ComponentSource, the world's largest marketplace and community for reusable software components and development tools today announced their latest Awards for 2018 for both leading publishers and their individual products. The awards have been given to the Top 100 Bestselling Publishers and the Top 100 Bestselling Products, based on the total sales dollar value of orders placed by customers during the year (2017) through ComponentSource worldwide. The awards are for the: Top 100 ComponentSource Bestselling Publisher Awards 2018 Top 100 ComponentSource Bestselling Product Awards 2018 The component and tools market experienced increased growth throughout 2017 and mobile and web-based app development are growing at exponential rates. Our customers recognize that being able to buy pre-built cross-platform components helps save on their development costs and time-to-market. With cross-platform toolsets, they can buy once, write once, and target multiple platforms whether they are mobile, web, desktop, or server based. JavaScript-based components became increasingly popular choices with our customers in 2017. ComponentSource has sold licenses to over 150,000 different customer organizations, in over 180 countries. This continued growth highlights the importance of the ComponentSource Website as the worlds best source of commercial quality software components and development tools. We are pleased to announce the winners of our 2018 Awards and, based on our customer feedback, we know these Awards help our customers compare and choose the best products for the solutions they are creating. explained ComponentSource CEO, Sam Patterson. As in past years, these awards are based on orders we received from our global customers, as such they represent a true global market snap-shot for commercial software components and development tools in 2017. added Sam Patterson, CEO of ComponentSource. We believe our awards represent accurate real-world data on how customers are using these components and development tools in their latest projects. ComponentSource Bestselling Publisher Award Winners for 2018 ComponentSource is delighted to announce the following awards to our leading publishers for sales made to our customers during 2017: Top 5 Bestselling Publisher Awards for 2018 1. DevExpress (Developer Express) - # 1 Publisher Award 2. GrapeCity (including ComponentOne and GrapeCity Japan) - # 2 Publisher Award 3. Aspose - # 3 Publisher Award 4. Infragistics (including Infragistics Japan) - # 4 Publisher Award 5. JetBrains - # 5 Publisher Award Note: The above Publishers also win a Top 5 Publisher Award. Top 10 Bestselling Publisher Awards for 2018 (sorted alphabetically) /n software - Top 10 Publisher Award Altova - Top 10 Publisher Award Flexera Software - Top 10 Publisher Award Redgate Software - Top 10 Publisher Award SyncRO Soft - Top 10 Publisher Award Top 25 Bestselling Publisher Awards for 2018 (sorted alphabetically) BCGSoft - Top 25 Publisher Award Change Vision (including Change Vision Japan) - Top 25 Publisher Award ComponentSpace - Top 25 Publisher Award Devart - Top 25 Publisher Award DynamSoft Corporation - Top 25 Publisher Award Embarcadero (including Embarcadero Japan) - Top 25 Publisher Award GdPicture - Top 25 Publisher Award Gigasoft - Top 25 Publisher Award IDERA - Top 25 Publisher Award Janus Systems - Top 25 Publisher Award LEAD Technologies - Top 25 Publisher Award MadCap Software - Top 25 Publisher Award Stylus Studio (Progress Software) - Top 25 Publisher Award Syncfusion - Top 25 Publisher Award Text Control - Top 25 Publisher Award See the Full Top 100 Publisher Award List: https://www.componentsource.com/help-support/bestselling-publisher-awards-2018 ComponentSource Bestselling Product Award Winners for 2018 ComponentSource is delighted to announce the following awards for our leading products for sales made to our customers during 2018: Top 5 Bestselling Product Awards for 2018 1. DevExpress Universal by DevExpress - # 1 Product Award 2. DevExpress DXperience by DevExpress - # 2 Product Award 3. ActiveReports Professional by GrapeCity - # 3 Product Award 4. Spread.NET by GrapeCity - # 4 Product Award 5. ActiveReports Standard by GrapeCity - # 5 Product Award Note: The above Products also win a Top 5 Product Award. Top 10 Bestselling Product Awards for 2018 6. Aspose.Total for .NET by Aspose - Top 10 Product Award 7. DevExpress WinForms by DevExpress - Top 10 Product Award 8. ComponentOne Studio Enterprise by GrapeCity - Top 10 Product Award 9. Infragistics Professional by Infragistics - Top 10 Product Award 10. DevExpress ASP.NET by DevExpress - Top 10 Product Award Top 25 Bestselling Product Awards for 2018 11. DevExpress WPF by DevExpress - Top 25 Product Award 12. ComponentOne Studio WinForms by GrapeCity - Top 25 Product Award 13. IntelliJ IDEA by JetBrains - Top 25 Product Award 14. Aspose.Total for Java by Aspose - Top 25 Product Award 15. DevExpress VCL Subscription by DevExpress - Top 25 Product Award 16. Aspose.Words for .NET by Aspose - Top 25 Product Award 17. InputMan for Windows Forms (Japan) by GrapeCity (Japan) - Top 25 Product Award 18. Infragistics Ultimate by Infragistics - Top 25 Product Award 19. oXygen XML Editor Professional by SyncRO Soft - Top 25 Product Award 20. XMLSpy Professional XML Editor by Altova - Top 25 Product Award 21. XMLSpy Enterprise XML Editor by Altova - Top 25 Product Award 22. ComponentOne Ultimate by GrapeCity - Top 25 Product Award 23. Aspose.Pdf for .NET by Aspose - Top 25 Product Award 24. oXygen XML Editor Enterprise by SyncRO Soft - Top 25 Product Award 25. Red Carpet Subscription by /n Software - Top 25 Product Award See the Full Top 100 Product Award List: https://www.componentsource.com/help-support/bestselling-product-awards-2018 Note to Editors: Bestselling Products Awards The products have each been allocated a Top 5, Top 10, Top 25, Top 50 or Top 100 Bestselling Product Award for 2018 based on the following ranking criteria: total sales in US Dollars (USD) order value for the individual product less any refunds made to customers due to issues with the product for sales made to our customers in over 180 countries worldwide between the dates 1st Jan 2017 to 31st Dec 2017 inclusive sales made in non-USD currencies have been converted into USD to get a total value the list has then been sorted and the awards made based on the ranking achieved the awards were announced in 2018, hence we use 2018 in the Award name Bestselling Publisher Awards The publishers have each been allocated a Top 5, Top 10, Top 25, Top 50 or Top 100 Bestselling Publisher Award for 2017 based on the following ranking criteria: total sales USD order value for all the individual products in their range aggregated together less any refunds made to customers due to issues with their products for sales made to our customers in over 180 countries worldwide between the dates 1st Jan 2017 to 31st Dec 2017 inclusive sales made in non-USD currencies have been converted into USD to get a total value the list has then been sorted and the awards made based on the publisher ranking achieved the awards were announced in 2018, hence we use 2018 in the Award name About ComponentSource ComponentSource is the world's largest marketplace and community for reusable software components for all platforms. The respected barometer for the component industry, ComponentSource pioneered the open market for reusable software components in 1995, and continues to drive the market through its award-winning e-business model and groundbreaking work to establish the first widely accepted reusable component standard. A global e-business with customers in over 180 countries, ComponentSource is headquartered in Atlanta, GA United States and has offices in Reading, England, Dublin, Ireland and Tokyo, Japan. For more information, please visit http://www.componentsource.com or http://www.componentsource.co.jp All company and product names may be trademarks of the company with which they are associated. Kim Lundgren, Managing Director Kim's business intelligence and knowledge of customer strategies will be a dynamic force for our client/partners and her sensitivity to the human-behind-the-customer makes her very Greenberg. Kim Lundgren has joined Greenberg Strategy as Managing Director where she will build on the company's 20 year heritage and provide the direction and leadership for the next stage in Greenberg's growth. Kim's deep experience in marketing, brand and communications strategy, and insights and research makes her the perfect addition to the team. "I'm excited to join a group of such talented and dedicated people and to partner with companies that are at the forefront of some of the most pressing issues of our time. I've always been fascinated by why people think, feel and behave in the way they do. And marrying that to why it matters for business. Greenberg's WholeHumanTM approach does exactly that--unlocking new paths of growth for companies while making a positive impact on the world around us." Andrew Greenberg, CEO and Founder, welcomed Kim to the company at an all-hands event last month. Kim is a fantastic addition to our Team. She brings a breadth of experience that will catalyze new thinking and ideas at Greenberg. Her business intelligence and knowledge of customer strategies will be a dynamic force for our client/partners and her sensitivity to the human-behind-the-customer makes her very Greenberg." Kim has over 25 years experience in all sides of the industry, working with and for start-ups and global organizations in just about every category. With an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Business, she has held senior strategy roles at Accenture, FCB and Interbrand, ran the NY and Chicago offices of Hall & Partners and was a key member of the marketing teams that launched Orbitz and introduced Crate & Barrel to the online world. VirtualPBX Unveils Beta Program for New Mobile Feature VoIP enabled Mobile features represent the closure one of the most commonly neglected loopholes in a companys security protocol. In a break from the tradition in Silicon Valley to hold cards close to the chest, VirtualPBX is announcing a public beta testing for what is likely to be the next big thing from the hosted telecom provider. Today the technology and telecommunications services provider announced the sign-up period for their new VoIP mobile business phone feature for the award-winning Dash cloud communications platform has officially begun. We have been working on developing one aspect or another for this mobile VoIP platform for quite some time, explained Lon Baker, VirtualPBXs COO, but it was essential to make sure it operated with all of the best aspects a user would expect from both their personal mobile phones and their Dash professional VoIP business phones. While the company has been forthcoming with the bulk of the technical information powering their new mobile feature, what exactly the best aspects of mobile and VoIP includes is a wide and sweeping category. For starters, customers will be able to use several popular mobile phones from Apple, Google, and Samsung. Additionally, the mobile data network will operate off of the popular Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) radio transmitter network and a VirtualPBX subscriber identification module (SIM) card. The resulting outcome of this pairing means that beta users will be able to bring any phone from the approved manufacturer list so long as it was made in about the past two years. Additionally, VirtualPBX plans to have multiple, possibly exclusive, hardware options available for their mobile network to accompany their existing list of VoIP and network hardware recommendations. The company asserts that the ease of adoption that the new mobile platform represents is intended to mirror the Universal Device Compatibility of their existing Dash VoIP Plans, but that it has other key advantages, as well. As weve been able to help companies expand their operations outside of the confines of the traditional office, weve found that there exist other ways they want to be able to control their overall unified communications footprint, added Baker. Operationally, the advantages of choosing a mobile strategy that operates over a companys existing VoIP system far outweigh the already compelling benefits of a mobile-first communications strategy that requires personal mobile phones alone. Advanced call forwarding and outbound caller ID masking empower Dash users to emulate a business line without broadcasting their personal telephone number. Mobile phones on this beta program will address that concern and add entirely new elements of security to a business communications network. Appropriately, companies are addressing their data security needs and assessing risks more thoroughly than ever before, continued Baker, By using the same military-grade encryption for our mobile phones that we employ to secure our existing VoIP plans, were eliminating an employees personal network from the equation. This represents the closure one of the most commonly neglected loopholes in a companys security protocol. Network, data, and overall digital security are more important today than ever before, and the mobile phones beta program is likely to prove invaluable to users who hold corporate defense in the highest regard. While this will likely be reason enough for many businesses to flock to apply for the beta testing program, it also represents just one aspect of what the company promises will be a host of advantages. Especially considering that this mobile feature will open the door to VoIP-enabled texting and it also introduces VirtualPBX as a data broker as well, because the company will be the sole provider of data options over Dash Mobile. Another notable advantage of this platform is the total control and simplicity that comes with having all phones, mobile and desktop alike, under the same account with the same bill. Considering VirtualPBXs lengthy history of consistently producing products and services that have taken the hosted telecom industry by storm, it seems they are well down the path of delivering another noteworthy result. For more information on VirtualPBX and to apply to participate in the public beta testing period for their new mobile platform, please visit the VirtualPBX Mobile Beta Sign Up Page. Or, for more on what the company is developing, visit the VirtualPBX Product Roadmap. About VirtualPBX VirtualPBX was founded in San Francisco in 1997 and brought some of the first commercially available hosted PBX service to market for small business owners. Born from the advent of the hosted telecom industry and driven by the innovative vision of its founders, VirtualPBX continues to deliver leading edge telephony products for business. Backed by award-winning, local, in-house support teams, VirtualPBX offers an array of services including disaster recovery, network monitoring and optimization, and professional system management. VirtualPBX Contact Rachel Anderson Vice President of Design & Marketing 888.825.0800 Ext. 339 Rachel.Anderson(at)VirtualPBX(dot)com iOlite Foundation iOlite Foundation, a non-profit organization launching this week, is introducing a smart human-machine translator to convert code back and forth between blockchain virtual machine code and various interfaces: legal documents, popular programming languages and natural language processing to create smart contracts on the blockchain seamlessly and easily without the need of learning specific programming languages. Watch iOlites Smart Contracts Made Easy intro video here for more background. iOlite is an innovative solution that is motivated by major achievements within the machine learning industry. Its advanced Fast Adaptation Engine (FAE) engine, will adapt any known natural or programming language to smart contract architecture on the blockchain. To support the launch of iOlite and distribution of its FAE interface to the broader community, iOlite Foundation today announced a pre-sale Token Generation Event beginning on March 10, 2018. March 21st, 2018 until April 14th, 2018 with mark the formal start and close of their Token Sale. In total, iOlite Foundation will make 650M Ethereum Blockchain tokens available for purchase during the Pre-Sale and the public sale phase. During the Pre-sale, iOlite will offer: 25% bonus from March 10 to March 21; 15% bonus from March 21 to March 29; 10% bonus from March 29 to April 6, and no bonus from April 6 to April 14. The iOlite team and I are determined to bridge the gap that currently exists between traditional industries such as legal, insurance, finance, etc. and the crypto-world by allowing these traditional industries to benefit from using smart contract technology within their operational flows, said Alfred Shaffir, Co-Founder and CEO, iOlite Foundation. As such, our approach is very different from existing attempts to create general solutions for converting languages. The idea is that we will create, for each language, a core (kernel) language that clearly defines how language syntax would be converted to a smart contract execution language such as Solidity or eWASM JS with restrictions for smart contract requirements. Then the community would expand this language incrementally by defining alternatives. In a nutshell, we want to be able to support non-programmers, such as lawyers, to create smart contracts. iOlite Foundations goal is to create a convenient solution that will bridge the gaps between mainstream developers/engineers and blockchain specialists and to let all engineers with programming skills write their own smart contracts and rapidly deliver applications to end users. Download Bridging The Gaps With Iolite Blockchain white paper to learn more about iOlite Foundation and its mission. ABOUT IOLITE FOUNDATION The iOlite Foundations mission is to bridge the gaps between human beings and machines. Featuring an open source platform, iOlite is a community-driven knowledge base for naturalized languages allowing for easier human-to-machine interfacing. iOlite is a machine-learning and blockchain solution that is constantly learning how to communicate with machines, using any language used by the community, whether programming language or natural language such as English or French. With iOlite, one can easily and seamlessly write a smart contract on Ethereum Solidity, without having any prior programming knowledge or experience, and totally free to use. Founded in 2017, iOlite, a nonprofit organization, is headquartered in Tallinn, Estonia and is led by its founders Alfred Shaffir (CEO) and Dmitry Kuzminov (CTO). For more information, visit http://www.iolite.io or follow iOlite on Telegram, Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, Medium, and LinkedIn. MEDIA CONTACT Mike Sanchez Wise Public Relations for iOlite Foundation 415.851.0132 iolite@wisepublicrelations.com RoosterBio continues to flourish in the Frederick biotechnology ecosystem because FITCI gave us the platform to launch our company, prove our business model and secure funding." Margot Connor, CEO On February 15, 2018, at 4:30 p.m., government, community and business leaders came together to celebrate RoosterBio, Inc.s (RBI) official transition from local incubator start-up client to a thriving, established company that puts Frederick, Maryland, at the epicenter of a major field change. RBI is a privately held stem cell tools and technology company focused on accelerating the development of a sustainable Regenerative Medicine industry. The ribbon cutting and grand opening of their new 14,000 ft. facility on Westview Drive signals the dawning of radical change in how companies and institutions produce, consume and use living cells. Speakers at the event include County Executive Jan Gardner, Mayor Michael OConnor, TEDCO President/COO John Wasilisin, and the Alliance for Regenerative Medicine's Morrie Ruffin. Until now, researchers were obligated to invest sizable resources into building deep cell banks to assure reproducible experiments and clinical trial materials. This burdensome process effectively dams the wellspring of progress, as potentially life-changing experiments wait for resource availability. RoosterBios stem cell tools shatter the bottleneck. Founded by scientists, the company created a first-of-its-kind off the shelf line of products that enables customers to leap ahead in their own research and manufacturing. In turn, these groundbreaking studies further innovation in bioprinting, cell and tissue engineering, and synthetic biology/genetic manipulation or illuminate strategies to treat ailments, such as osteoarthritis or cartilage defects, even advancing efforts to grow ligament tissue or architecturally complex bone structures and creating patient-specific medical devices. Jon A. Rowley, PhD, Founder and Chief Technical Officer at RoosterBio, brought RBIs core team together. Channeling the joyful exuberance of a rooster proclaiming a new days limitless potential, they started among other driven entrepreneurs at the Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (FITCI), a public/private entity dedicated to accelerating biotechnology, information technology and renewable energy start-up companies, in 2013. They focused on manufacturing and supplying mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (hMSC) systems in product configurations that enable manufacturing scale-up and clinical translation, and started shipping cell and media products to customers in February 2014. In less than five years, the company grew from six to 25 team members and 160+ customers Worldwide. They expect to double the staff in the next few years. FITCI Chief Executive Officer, Kathie Callahan Brady counts RBI as a success story. RoosterBio is a true market disrupter. This innovative platform, providing commercially relevant materials and processes, is generating efficiencies at their client companies like never seen before. That starts a chain of improvements that will ultimately help ease peoples suffering. The industry is taking note, too. RoosterBio has benefited from local Maryland funding, winning two rural Maryland manufacturing expansion grants, funding from the county supporting international trade and workforce training. In 2016, RBI was awarded a multimillion-dollar grant from a DOD-sponsored Medical Technology Enterprise Consortium (MTEC), along with several collaboration partners (US Army Institute for Surgical Research, GenCure, StemBioSys). In late 2017, RoosterBio selected MTEC collaboration partner, GenCure, as its preferred manufacturer to leverage their scalable technology platform into higher value cGMP products. These accomplishments stack up with two awards from manufacturing innovation institutes, a consortium partnership biotech National Manufacturing Innovation Institutes BioFab USA, NIIMBL, and a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army Institute of Surgical Research. Margot Connor, RBIs Chief Executive Officer, says the impact is monumental. Our products are designed to remove several years and millions of dollars from the product development and clinical testing cycle. She notes that there are greater than 800 current hMSC clinical trials globally. Most analysts agree that the field of regenerative medicine is expected to exceed $50-billion by 2020. RoosterBios new Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing Sciences Center (RegenMed-MSC for short) is more than triple the space they occupied at FITCI and offers room to expand further. The location, part of a recently remodeled business campus owned by Avison Young, includes laboratories for manufacturing research, analytical and process development, quality control and stem cell manufacturing, as well as substantial warehouse capacity. The space is filled with high-tech equipment such as a Nova Biomedical Bioprofile FLEX2, a CELLINK INKCREDIBLE 3D Bioprinter, and three different mid-scale bioreactors for cell manufacturing process development. The company plans to install a 50-liter bioreactor later this year for true scale up capabilities. Offices are bright and open with a human-centered design by The Verve Partnership of Baltimore, which Connor describes as, reflective of our cooperative corporate culture. She also credits Bates Architects PC and Tim Shanklin of Berkshire Hathaway-Bowen Realty for bringing the vision together. Connor says, RoosterBio continues to flourish in the Frederick biotechnology ecosystem because FITCI gave us the platform to launch our company, prove our business model and secure funding. Further support from the state and local government, as well as the exceptional local talent pool in Maryland, enabled us to grow quickly while maintaining a high-quality organization. She recognizes the supportive cooperation among TEDCO, the Frederick Office of Economic Development and the Maryland Department of Commerce in Frederick in creating a nurturing environment for enterprise. As our business continues to thrive, were excited to maintain our aggressive growth trajectory and significantly expand our stem cell biomanufacturing operations in Frederick. We think that the growth in Regenerative Medicine Manufacturing will be a key economic development driver for Maryland, and in particular Frederick, over the next 10-15 years. She notes that the new location affirms RBIs commitment to pursue novel stem cell process development and production solutions delivered with an exceptional customer experience. For Connor and the RoosterBio team, Mother Natures alarm clock embodies their bright outlook for the future of regenerative medicine and adult stem cell therapies. We are building a sustainable business with strong company culture that is innovative, solution focused, profitable, and is making a dent in the Regenerative Medicine Universe by advancing the standard of medical care. Contributing to life saving cures is definitely something to crow about. Get more information at RoosterBio.com or fitci.org. Grand Rapids Ophthalmology (GRO) is pleased to announce the addition of Leslie Norris, DO, to its growing team of eye care professionals. She is the latest to join in GRO's continued commitment to providing patients superior treatment with its expansive team of ophthalmologists and optometrists. "We feel very fortunate to have Dr. Norris join our team with her extensive training and professional experience," said Robert Wolford, GRO's Executive Director. "She will play an integral role in helping Grand Rapids Ophthalmology continue to provide the highest level of eye care to our patients." Dr. Norris is a board-certified ophthalmologist. She performs routine eye exams and oculoplastic surgery, and also treats patients with medical issues, including: glaucoma, diabetes, and post-operative care for cataract and other surgical procedures. She received her Doctor of Osteopathy from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, completed her residency at Hillsdale Community Health Center as part of Michigan State Consortium, and is a graduate of Taylor University. Dr. Norris is a member of: American Osteopathic Colleges of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology (AOCOO), American Academy of Ophthalmology, Michigan Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, and American Osteopathic Association. Dr. Norris currently serves as clinical faculty in ophthalmology for Michigan State University. GRO is proud to support the West Michigan community by providing on-call services for our local hospitals, and this will be a key focus for Dr. Norris in addition to practicing at the Walker and East Beltline locations. Dr. Norris is currently accepting new patients. About Grand Rapids Ophthalmology Founded in 1982, Grand Rapids Ophthalmology (GRO) is the largest fully-integrated eye care medical group in West Michigan. It offers a full suite of eye care services from routine eye exams, contact lenses and glasses, to pediatrics and the most advanced medical and surgical treatments such as LASIK, cataract, cornea, retina, glaucoma, and oculoplastics, including cosmetic and reconstructive eyelid surgery. GRO employs the largest number of eye care specialists and professionals in the region: 11 ophthalmologists, 20 optometrists, and 50 certified opticians; with a total of 400 employees at 12 locations. For more information, visit: http://www.seeitclear.com. City of Camden "Adopt-a-Family" program. Image Credit: Sherie Persons New Jersey based Para-Plus Translations, Inc. (http://www.para-plus.com), a global provider of translation and interpretation services, recently donated to the City of Camdens Office of Youth Services for its Adopt-a-Family Program. The Adopt-a-Family program helps underprivileged families during the holidays with financial assistance. A joint effort with many area companies, the program is run by the Office of Youth Services, which uses the financial donations to take families shopping for retail goods and food. More than 100 families have benefitted from the program. Para-Plus Translations has participated since 2009. We look forward to participating in this program every year, said Robert Santiago, Chief Operating Officer. The program helps the Camden community and it is great to see how our contributions help families who otherwise would be going without. Founded in 1980 by Sonia Santiago to address the need for high-quality interpretation and translation services in the legal community, Para-Plus can manage effective translations in 124 languages from Afrikaans to Yoruba. The company has been recognized with many honors and awards over the years, most recently being named among the top providers of translation services to the legal profession in The Legal Intelligencers Best of 2017 Survey. Para-Plus also has been named to the Inc. 5000 ranking as one of the fastest growing, privately owned companies in the country and was named a SmartCEO100 Best-Run Company. Nearly 40 years after its founding, Para-Plus Translations continues to help clients around the world better communicate and form strong, lasting relationships. The company is operated by Sonia Santiagos two sons, Robert Santiago, Chief Operating Officer and Carlos Santiago, Vice President. About Para-Plus Translations, Inc.: Para-Plus Translations is a leading provider of comprehensive global translation, interpretation, transcription, voice-over, sign language and Braille services in more than 100 languages. Founded in 1980, Para-Plus Translations has been offering a wide range of foreign language services to businesses, individuals and organizations for more than three decades. Para-Plus Translations takes pride in delivering outstanding service and personal attention, representing a wide array of industries including businesses, law firms and legal service providers, governments and municipalities, health care, education, financial and insurance institutions. National and international clients rely on Para-Plus Translations to provide document translation, business and trade translation and interpretation, conference translation and interpretation, criminal justice and law enforcement translation and interpretation, medicine and health care translation and interpretation, educational translation and interpretation, and multimedia and voice-over translation and interpretation. The dedicated team of foreign language linguists assists clients in breaking down communication barriers to build lasting relationships with multicultural contacts. For further information, please visit http://www.para-plus.com. Sometimes simple is the answer. Docubase will help our customers streamline what can often become a complicated process for institutions at a very affordable price," said Cameron Pforr, Vice President of Strategy at Jenzabar. Jenzabar, Inc., higher educations trusted software and services advisor, has announced a new partnership with DBS Software and Services Inc., a leading provider in document management services to sell Docubase. The partnership provides all Jenzabar clients with the option to support their fundamental electronic administration needs at a competitive price point, without sacrificing the advanced functionality required to succeed in todays digital landscape. Aligning ourselves as a partner with Docubase provides our customers with a modern, straightforward document management solution option, said Cameron Pforr, Vice President of Strategy at Jenzabar. Sometimes simple is the answer. Docubase will help our customers streamline what can often become a complicated process for institutions at a very affordable price. For over 15 years, DBS Software and Services Inc. has worked with select Jenzabar colleges and universities providing out-of-the-box document management solutions. With 3,000 clients worldwide and over 50 years of experience within higher education, DBS Software and Services has become a trusted vendor throughout the industry. This new partnership opens Docubase as an option for all Jenzabar institutions. As a partner, Docubase offers Jenzabar institutions: High-value document management tailored for a variety of needs and budgets Unlimited customer service and support for users Hosted and on-premise solution options A strong document management solution is essential for higher ed institutions today, said Dane Clarke, President, DBS Software and Services Inc. We look forward to strengthening our presence within the Jenzabar community. About Jenzabar Jenzabar is higher educations trusted advisor, offering technology solutions and services that are tailored to fit the evolving needs of institutions both today and in the future. We collaborate with our clients to ensure our software and services drive performance across campus and throughout the full student lifecycle. Exclusively serving higher education, more colleges and universities selected a Jenzabar student information system over any other SIS during the past six years. About DBS Software and Services Founded in 1996 in Clearwater FL. DBS is the North America supplier of Live Forms and Docubase information Suite of products. We offer a full range of Electronic Contents Management products and service that create effective business processes for better customer services and more productive workers. Live Forms (e-forms) and Docubase (EDMS) products are offered as either in-house or fully hosted solutions for IT and budget flexibility. The DBS Software and Services Inc. management has over 120 years combined experience and are customer focused. Through both inhouse and partner capabilities we offer a full service bureau for all your Electronic Document and Content Management Service needs from document scanning to customer consulting. Our company mission is to supply the latest technology in the industry along with unmatched product support to ensure our customers have the greatest return on investment possible. Job Fair on March 17th at Pittsburg High School Pittsburg Unified has made it a priority over the last four years to increase teacher compensation and professional development opportunities. We value our teachers. Recruiting and retaining top talent is a priority for us, said Norma Gonzales, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources, PUSD. School Services of California, Inc., an independent school finance organization, issued a recent report on teacher salaries and benefits that ranks Pittsburg Unified School District as a top unified school district in total compensation in Contra Costa County. The report is based on official data submitted by school districts to the State of California and analyzes statewide, regional, and county data on teacher compensation and benefits for the 2016-2017 fiscal year. The comparative analysis by School Services of California, Inc., Salary and Benefits Report (SABRE), lists detailed salary, benefit, and total compensation data for school district statewide averages, county averages, and districts in Contra Costa County. The report includes unified school districts, elementary school districts, and high school districts. In terms of total compensation, which includes salary and a district's average contribution for teachers health benefits, Pittsburg Unified School District came in at $68,044 for BA+30 Step 1, $90,151 for BA+60 Step 10, and $108,024 for Maximum Salary. These are the highest among the unified school districts in Contra Costa County, and are also well above the regional and comparative group averages. Pittsburg Unified has made it a priority over the last four years to increase teacher compensation and professional development opportunities. We value our teachers. Recruiting and retaining top talent is a priority for us, said Norma Gonzales, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources, Pittsburg Unified School District. As teacher recruitment for the 2018-2019 school year ramps up, Pittsburg Unified School District is thrilled to share with prospective teachers that we are a destination district in Contra Costa County in total compensation and an environment where we value and support our teachers as professional educators. Pittsburg Unified School District is actively seeking top talent and will have a table at the 2018 Teacher/Certificated Staff Recruitment Fair hosted by Contra Costa County Office of Education on Saturday, February 24, 2018 from 9:00am 11:30am. The Recruitment Fair will take place at Alhambra Highs Gymnasium, 150 E. Street in Martinez. Additionally, Pittsburg Unified School District is hosting its annual Job Fair on Saturday, March 17, 2018 from 9:00am 12:00pm at Pittsburg High Schools Gym, located at 250 School Street in Pittsburg. For information about job opportunities at Pittsburg Unified, please check out our website. About Pittsburg Unified School District Awarded the College Boards Gaston Caperton Opportunity Honor Roll award in 2016 for expanding access to college, Pittsburg Unified School District (PUSD) is one of 130 school districts across the nation recognized for creating opportunities for traditionally underrepresented students. PUSD is a K-12 district serving the diverse community of Pittsburg, California. Founded in 1933, the school system is committed to providing an excellent opportunity for all students to learn. Comprised of eight elementary schools, three junior high schools, one comprehensive high school, one alternative education high school, an adult school, independent study options, and a preschool program, the school district serves more than 11,500 students. PUSD is located in the San Francisco Bay Area, fifty minutes outside of downtown San Francisco. Diamond Orthopedic, a medical device company that is pioneering the use of an innovative faceted threadform in orthopedics, today announced that their faceted technology was successfully used in an intercalary tibial allograft. The surgeon who utilized Diamonds faceted bone screw noted that, stable, durable fixation was paramount to this type of reconstruction. I chose the Diamond threadform for its superior fixation and pullout strength, and for what I like to call its bone friendly design. The faceted threadform not only made insertion of the screws easier, but also gave me confidence that the innovative biomechanical features of this technology will help lead to a successful patient outcome. Diamonds patented faceted design allows surgeons to insert faceted screws into bone with less insertional torque and lower compressive stress, which can be particularly important when working with osteopenic bone. The faceted thread design enables an improved bone-screw interface versus traditional helical threadforms. Roy Bivens, CEO, stated, Faceted bone screws offer unparalleled fixation that is especially valuable in compromised bone. Diamond Orthopedic was proud to support a case of this type. Better patient outcomes are our ultimate goal. This technology has the potential to change numerous paradigms within orthopedics including with plate and screw applications and with uni-cortical fixation possibilities. About Diamond Orthopedic Diamond Orthopedic, LLC, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is a medical device company that offers a revolutionary fixation technology to achieve better patient outcomes at a lower total cost. Diamond Orthopedic is the exclusive provider of faceted threadform technology for orthopedic applications worldwide. With proven superiority over traditional helical threadforms, Diamond Orthopedic is the new fixation standard in orthopedics. Media Contact: Guillaume Viallaneix MedTech Momentum Phone: 407-960-2994 Email: guillaume@medtechmomentum.com Diamond Orthopedic Contact: 1600 Camden Road Charlotte, NC, 28203 Phone: 704-585-8270 Email: info@diamondortho.com Safe Harbor Statements All statements included in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements and may be identified by their use of words such as believe, may, might, could, will, aim, estimate, continue, anticipate, intend, expect, plan and other similar terms. These forward-looking statements are based on our current assumptions, expectations and estimates of future events and trends. Forward-looking statements are only predictions and are subject to many risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our businesses and operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted. These risk factors contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements relate to the Companys future plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. The Companys actual results could differ materially from those discussed in these statements. It is difficult to accurately predict the impact of each of these risks on the Company due to the dependence on many factors outside the Companys control. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, factors affecting our financial results, our ability to manage our growth, our ability to sustain our profitability, demand for our products, our ability to compete successfully (including without limitation our ability to convince surgeons to use our products and our ability to attract and retain sales and other personnel), our ability to rapidly develop and introduce new products, our ability to develop and execute on successful business strategies, our ability to comply with laws and regulations that are or may become applicable to our businesses, our ability to safeguard our intellectual property, our success in defending legal proceedings brought against us, trends in the medical device industry, general economic conditions, and other risks. It is not possible for us to predict all risk factors and uncertainties, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, events or circumstances or other factors arising or coming to our attention after the date hereof. We are thrilled to announce Workspaces, which we believe is a critical collaboration component within Postman, said Abhinav Asthana, CEO and co-founder of Postman. Postman, the only complete API Development Environment, today announced the release of Postman 6.0, which includes the introduction of Workspaces, a new construct to enhance collaboration on connected software. Postman Workspaces is a development resource that significantly changes and improves organization and collaboration within the Postman API dev environment. Developers can better organize their API work and speed up and improve the development process by gathering the appropriate team members and API resources within a targeted Workspace. Postmans Workspaces are defined as either Personal (for use by an individual developer) or Team (for a defined team of developers). For an individual API developer or developer team using Postman, Workspaces makes it even easier to organize API development work, enhance collaboration on APIs, and save valuable developer time. "Tools that support API development are a key factor for successful API usage," said David Intersimone of Evans Data Corporation. "Evans Data's Developer Program survey report found that formalized programs have become a necessity for companies wishing to have their APIs adopted, and access to developer tools is one of the top four reasons why developers join, and stay, in a developer program." All Postman users have access to Personal workspaces immediately. Free Postman users without a Postman account have one default Personal workspace; free users with a Postman account can create as many Personal workspaces as they wish. Customers of Postmans paid plans, Postman Pro and Postman Enterprise, can also create an unlimited number of Personal workspaces. In addition, they can create an unlimited number of Team workspaces for collaboration with other customers. We are thrilled to announce Workspaces, which we believe is a critical collaboration component within Postman, said Abhinav Asthana, CEO and co-founder of Postman. This latest feature serves our mission of becoming the developer platform for an API-first world. This newest release caps a year of significant product innovation and user adoption for Postman. The companys growth has exploded over the past year; Postman closed 2017 with nearly five million installed instances deployed at more than 100,000 companies worldwide. Postmans ubiquity among the developer community is a key element to its success with API publishers who are looking to onboard developers. The company is further ensuring the success of that growing customer base with investments in customer service technology and staff. In addition, the company has created a new position of VP, Customer Success, and announced the hiring of Sanjeev Sisodiya to fill the role. Sisodiya brings the combination of a strong technical background and a passion for customer success to the position and commented, The Postman community has grown entirely organically over the past year, and we want to build on that. Im looking forward to establishing a world-class customer success function. About Postman Postman is the only complete API development environment, used by nearly five million developers and more than 100,000 companies worldwide. Postman is an elegant, flexible tool used to build connected software via APIs quickly, easily and accurately. Postman is headquartered in San Francisco and has an office in Bangalore, where it was founded. Postman is privately held, with funding from Nexus Venture Partners. Learn more at http://www.getpostman.com or connect with Postman on Twitter via @postmanclient. If you want high retention the next time you change broker dealers, talk up the benefits to your clients and they will be much more likely to follow you. In his latest article, How to Conquer Your Top Fear When Changing Broker Dealers: Client Retention, independent channel broker dealer recruiter Jon Henschen looks at financial advisor fears over losing clients during a broker dealer change and offers advice on how to successfully communicate the change. If you change your broker dealer, youre going to lose 30% of your book, is a fairly common fear expressed by financial advisors when thinking about changing their broker dealer, according to Jon Henschen. And while it is possible to lose clients, Henschen points out that the devil is in the details: where are you leaving from, where are you going to, and why. A move from a bank to an independent broker dealer has a different impact on client retention, for reasons such as non-compete clauses and legal maneuvers to prevent clients from moving with their advisor. Retention rates may in fact be lower when moving from the bank. Besides type of broker dealer, other factors come into play, such as the quality of an advisors relationship with their clients. Or, in the case of wirehouse advisors, did the advisor build their foundation based on the broker dealers name, or because of their own abilities, qualifications and reputation of being trustworthy? How a move benefits the client versus the advisor varies, with many an advisor being tripped up on how to communicate the move. In the case of wirehouse-to-wirehouse movement, historically it has been the advisor who benefits most from a large sign-on bonus, while the client benefit is marginal at best. Henschen looks at a variety of broker dealer changes and provides advice on how to manage the client communication in each scenario, providing talking points to frame reasons for the move that will demonstrate to clients that their best interests are in sharp focus. Examples include: Moving from Wirehouse to Independent Broker dealer: With an independent broker dealer, we will have many more product choices to offer you, with lower, transparent costs. Most importantly, with no conflicts of interest, we can be truly objective in our recommendations. From Captive Insurance Broker dealer to Independent Broker dealer: Insurance-owned broker dealers have been getting sold at an increasing rate over the last 10 years, to the point where I need to be proactive and find a stable, solid foundation for my clients before my firm is sold out from under me. Moving to an independent broker dealer will give me the ability to greatly expand the product choices I can offer you, which are especially restricted on insurance products at my current firm. From Independent Broker Dealer to Independent Broker Dealer: Changing to a broker dealer will lower advisory administration fees will save clients thousands of dollars and open up choices to hold advisory assets with outside vendors such as Schwab or TD Ameritrade. Joining a larger broker dealer at a time when many smaller firms are getting squeezed out of the market due to regulatory expenses will help ensure that my clients and I arent caught with accounts frozen due to a firm closing or net capital violation. Henschen continues his article with the story of an advisor who was able to retain 98% of his clients when he changed broker dealers. This advisor moved $90 million of assets from a smaller broker dealer that was closing due to financial/compliance issues, to a well-capitalized broker dealer with 1,500 advisors. The advisors talking points addressed todays regulatory environment and the need for a bigger firm with more resources, his investment philosophy and his teams 83 years combined service delivering results. He was also able to highlight the fact that there would be minimal account disruption by staying with their current clearing firm, and the new firms competitive fee scale and ticket charge reduction. In closing, Henschen observes that when you reconnect with clients regarding a broker dealer change, its quite common to uncover new assets to invest or get referrals to new clients that will breath new life into your practice. For advisors contemplating broker dealer change, Henschen advises ,If you want high retention the next time you change broker dealers, talk up the benefits to your clients and they will be much more likely to follow you. Jon Henschen is President of Henschen & Associates, an independent broker dealer recruiting firm located in Marine on St. Croix, Minnesota. With more than 20 years of industry experience, Jon is a staunch advocate for independent financial advisors, and is widely sought after by both reps and broker dealers for his expertise and advice on independent broker dealer topics. He is frequently published and quoted in a variety of industry publications, including ThinkAdvisor, Investment Advisor Magazine, Wealth Management Magazine, Financial Advisor IQ, Financial Advisor Magazine, Investment News and others. You can read more by Jon Henschen at http://www.henschenassoc.com IAOP Top 100 Swiss Post Solutions (SPS), a leading outsourcing provider for business process solutions and innovative services in document management, announced today that it has been named to the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) Global Outsourcing 100 list for the sixth consecutive year. The 2018 Global Outsourcing 100 recognizes the worlds best outsourcing service providers across the full spectrum of outsourcing solutions, including business process outsourcing, facilities services and information technology. Judging is based on a rigorous scoring methodology that includes a review by an independent panel of IAOP customer members with extensive experience in selecting outsourcing service providers and advisors for their organizations. In todays economy, it is more important than ever for outsourcing buyers to be able to easily identify and select the right company for their outsourcing needs, said Debi Hamill, IAOP CEO. The Global Outsourcing 100 and Worlds Best Advisors lists are the essential tools companies reference to make smarter decisions. They provide companies with valuable insights into the outsourcing industry, leading and emerging service providers and advisors, and key developments to watch. Joerg Vollmer, CEO of Swiss Post Solutions, stated, "Most companies have experienced the BPO hype of cost reductions, labor arbitrage, the standardization and streamlining of existing processes. But gaps in end-to-end solutions, as well as quality issues remain. At the same time companies must improve productivity and efficiency, in combination with reducing costs, to compete in a competitive market environment. As a leading outsourcing provider for business processes solutions and innovative services in document management, Swiss Post Solutions addresses these challenges with innovative digital technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Robotic Process Automation. In addition to increasing customer satisfaction levels, the use of these digital technologies is opening up further new possibilities as they are capable of screening and investigating processes, and they offer transparency and a solid basis for productive data analysis. We are honored that IAOP has once again recognized SPS as a top global provider of document management and business process outsourcing solutions. The official listing, which is composed of the top 75 Leaders and top 25 Rising Stars, is expected to be released in June. About SPS We connect the physical and digital worlds Swiss Post Solutions (SPS) is a leading outsourcing provider for business process solutions and innovative services in document management. A strong international client base relies on SPS ability to envision, design and build end-to-end solutions and to be its trusted advisor for the key value drivers in BPO: location strategy, process optimization and technology, such as intelligent automation. Part of the Swiss Post Group headquartered in Bern, Switzerland, SPS 6,800 employees and specialized partners span the full range of the industry with focus on banking, insurance, telecommunications and healthcare, addressing customer needs in more than 20 countries. For more information: http://www.swisspostsolutions.com About IAOP IAOP is the global association that brings together customers, providers, and advisors in a collaborative, knowledge-based environment that promotes professional and organizational development, recognition, certification, and excellence to improve business service models and outcomes. Our members and affiliates worldwide are digging deep at IAOP conferences, learning at IAOP chapter meetings, getting trained and certified at IAOP courses and workshops, and connecting through IAOP social media, all with one goal: better business results. Whether you are a customer, provider or advisor, new to collaborative business models like outsourcing, or you are an experienced professional, IAOP connects you and your organization to our growing global community and to the resources you need to get the results your company deserves and demands. For more information and how you can become involved, visit http://www.IAOP.org. About The Global Outsourcing 100 As the global, standard-setting association and advocate for outsourcing professionals and the organizations they support, the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP) annually produces The Global Outsourcing 100, a listing of the worlds best outsourcing solutions providers, to help companies in their outsourcing decisions. The Global Outsourcing 100 and its sub-lists are essential references for companies seeking new and expanded relationships with the best companies in the industry. The lists include companies from around the world that provide the full spectrum of outsourcing services not just information technology and business process outsourcing, but also facility services, real estate and capital asset management, manufacturing and logistics. They include not only todays leaders, but tomorrows rising stars. Over the last couple of years, ZPower's rechargeable microbattery technology has steadily gained traction in the hearing aid market, which led to 2017 being our most successful year in history. The Camarillo Chamber of Commerce (California) announced the winners of its 51st Annual Top Ten Community Awards. The Community Awards recognize organizations and individuals whose deeds and actions have contributed to the betterment of Camarillo. ZPower was named Business of the Year. ZPower opened in Camarillo in 1996 with the goal of innovating and commercializing rechargeable silver-zinc batteries for use in small battery applications. ZPower's first commercial application is the award-winning rechargeable system for hearing aids, and starting in 2017, nearly every major hearing aid manufacturer is offering select products with ZPower rechargeable microbatteries built in. ZPower batteries offer the highest energy density and exceed the safety and environmental benefits of any other rechargeable microbattery on the market today. ZPower proudly manufactures all of its products at its headquarters in Camarillo, CA, where it employs over 275 people. "We are extremely honored to receive this recognition from the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce," said Ross Dueber, President and CEO of ZPower. "Over the last couple of years, ZPower's rechargeable microbattery technology has steadily gained traction in the hearing aid market, which led to 2017 being our most successful year in history. We see this success as just the beginning; we are capitalizing on the momentum we've generated in the hearing aid market to establish our batteries as a power source for the greater wireless earbud market and small consumer electronics in general." ZPower, along with the other award winners, will be honored at the Celebrate the Camarillo Stars Gala and Awards Ceremony on Friday, March 23, at Spanish Hills Country Club. To learn more about ZPower, visit http://www.zpowerbattery.com. About ZPower, LLC ZPower, with headquarters and a manufacturing facility in Camarillo, California, is a leader in the development of rechargeable silver-zinc batteries for microbattery applications. ZPower batteries deliver unmatched performance, improve user experience and are better for the environment. ZPower is ISO 13485:2016 and ISO 9001:2008 certified, and its facility and devices are registered with the FDA. For more information, visit http://www.zpowerbattery.com. StartApp, a leading mobile media and data company, today announced the opening of their South Asia office in Bangalore, India, investing in the nations growing mobile market and expanding the companys international presence. Headquartered in New York City, the company has additional offices in San Francisco, Beijing, Shanghai, Kiev and Israel. Bikram S. Sohal, a seasoned entrepreneur and technology business leader, has been appointed Head of StartApp India. Mr. Sohal brings over 20 years of experience working with leading companies in the Asia-Pacific region, focusing on business development, product strategy and global sales management in the digital media, technology and e-commerce industries. Prior to joining StartApp, Mr. Sohal was the CEO & Co-Founder of GoSavvy, a mobile commerce marketplace for unsold hospitality inventory. He was also the Vice President & General Manager of Turner Broadcasting in Hong Kong, leading the global expansion of CNNGo, a digital travel business. Sohal was also previously the General Manager of APAC Portal Operations for AOL where he launched AOL products and digital media brands across Asia Pacific. "StartApp's Ad Platform is already well-known to the Indian app developer community," said Sohal. "I am looking forward to working with the StartApp team to grow the demand side of the business. We will assist marketers in India in connecting to their customers through StartApp's data-powered advanced media platform. StartApp, a pioneer in understanding the intents, behavior, and preferences of mobile consumers, leverages its database of over one billion mobile users to deliver innovative, mobile-driven solutions to its partners. "Our new office in Bangalore, the hub of technology innovation in India, is crucial to expanding our business within the South Asian market," said Gil Dudkiewicz, CEO and Co-Founder of StartApp. We are confident that pairing Sohals professional expertise with StartApps global insights will assure a successful launch, securing StartApps presence in one of the most competitive and largest mobile markets in the world. About StartApp StartApp is a mobile media and data company that leverages its rich insights into mobile users' intents and behaviors to power innovative mobile-driven solutions that help partners optimize and better execute their business strategies. StartApp partners with over 400,000 applications, reaching over 1 billion MAUs worldwide. Founded in 2010, the company is headquartered in New York with offices around the world. This has been an incredibly fulfilling way to let our community know how much we care. ARS/Rescue Rooter of Indiana, a provider of air conditioning, heating and plumbing services, gave back to the community by donating and installing furnaces, water heaters, and Google Home Minis to local families this winter. Area residents were prompted by radio commercials and social media posts to nominate families on arsindianapolis.com. The families received their installations just in time to beat the cold snap this winter. The first recipients are Chad and Maggie Hasler, and they were nominated by their aunt, Jan Isengole. The Haslers assisted Isengole when she needs support after a stroke, aiding her financially and with the care of her two adopted children, one of whom has special needs. Their fifteen-year-old furnace was not enough to keep the home warm. Likewise, 24-year-old Ashley Cavett-Bemis lost both of her parents last year and, subsequently, found herself struggling emotionally and financially. She was using a space heater and affording a new furnace is out of her budget. A total of five Indianapolis households were nominated for the ARS Cares: an initiative that donates hot water heaters and furnaces to local families in need. Nominations were made by the recipients friends and family members, and in keeping with the spirit of giving, the ARS/Rescue Rooter staff nominated homes as well. Kerry Tidwell, the General Manager of ARS / Rescue Rooter Indiana, was able to surprise a customer on the spot. Our Plumbing Manager, Larry Hughes, noticed the family struggling and unable to afford the new equipment for their home in the middle of winter, says Tidwell. She knew she was getting a new water heater but was surprised by the plumbing manager taking care of the costs associated with it. This has been an incredibly fulfilling way to let our community know how much we care. In addition to the efforts in Indianapolis, ARS service centers across the country will be donating HVAC units and water heaters to families in need in their communities. To learn more about ARS Cares, visit ars.com. ABOUT AMERICAN RESIDENTIAL SERVICES: Based in Memphis, Tenn., privately-owned ARS operates a network of more than 70 locally-managed service centers in 23 states, with approximately 6,500 employees. The ARS Network features industry-leading brands including, A.J. Perri, Aksarben ARS, Allgood, Andys Statewide, ARS, Aspen Air Conditioning, Atlas Trillo, Beutler, Blue Dot, Bob Hamilton, Brothers, Columbus Worthington Air, Comfort Heating & Air, Conway Services, Efficient Attic Systems (EAS), Florida Home Air Conditioning, Green Star Home Services, Irish Plumber, McCarthy Services, Rescue Rooter / Proserv, Rescue Rooter, RighTime Home Services, RS Andrews, The Irish Plumber, Unique Services, "Will" Fix It, and Yes! Air Conditioning and Plumbing. As an Exceptional Service Provider, the ARS Network serves both residential and light commercial customers by providing heating, cooling, indoor air quality, plumbing, drain cleaning, sewer line, radiant barrier, insulation and ventilation services. Each location has a knowledgeable team of trained specialists. ARS requires background checks and drug tests on all employees. We hire professionals with the highest level of integrity. Providing exceptional service and ensuring the highest standards of quality, ARS has the experience to do any job right the first time, with all work fully guaranteed. ARS: "Making it work. Making it right." We've worked hard to make the academic credential more actionable and impactful for the learner and the institutions who serve or recruit them. Parchment, the industry leader in academic credentials management, is celebrating a significant milestone. In the last 12-month (LTM) period, the company processed 10M individual credentials requested by learners, including high school students and alumni, GED graduates, and college students and alumni, all looking to turn their education experiences into opportunities. In 2011 Parchment was processing one million transactions in a twelve month period. Today, the 10M LTM orders are processed by more than 5,000 K12 schools, 750 postsecondary institutions, 22 GED states and other organizations representing more than 9 million learners. Fifty percent of learners credentials are delivered to approximately 5,800 registered receivers, including admissions offices, government agencies, employers and background check companies while the other fifty percent were delivered to email or paper mail destinations. We're a company guided by a core mission: to help turn credentials into opportunities, said Parchment CEO Matthew Pittinsky, Ph. D. Ours is a mission that touches most Americans at some point in their lives. We have all experienced the feeling of achieving an education milestone and can reflect on the impact that newly earned credentials, whether transcript, certificate or diploma, has on taking the next life step. Driven by that principle, we've worked hard to make the academic credential more actionable and impactful for the learner and the institutions who serve or recruit them. Parchment is the most widely-adopted academic credential management system available, allowing learners, academic institutions, and employers to request, verify, and share credentials in simple and secure ways. The platform has helped millions of people and thousands of schools and universities exchange more than 40 million transcripts and other credentials globally. Founded in 2003, Parchment Inc. is headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ, with offices in Roseville, CA, Denver, CO, Grand Rapids, MI, Toronto, ON and Washington, DC. Follow Parchment on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. "The Los Angeles region has been surging, and "Silicon Beach" is now the place to go for the best speakers in the country," says Richard Greenberg, President, ISSA Los Angeles. The Tenth Annual Information Security Summit [#SummitX], hosted by ISSA-LA, the Los Angeles chapter of ISSA, is scheduled to take place on May 2nd - May 4th at the Universal City Hilton in Southern California. This elite event, headlined by 2 keynote speakers - Robert Herjavec and Marcus Ranum - also offers several interactive tracks, leadership forums, and four on-site training sessions. Given its long track record of successfully driving meaningful conversations around information security, privacy, technology, and diversity, this year's event will certainly keep with the tradition of attracting an audience upwards of 1,000, comprised of the country's top public and private sector leaders. "The Los Angeles region has been surging, and "Silicon Beach" is now the place to go for the best speakers in the country," says Richard Greenberg, President, ISSA Los Angeles. "And don't forget about the excellent and heavily discounted one and two-day training classes that are being offered this year. World renown trainers Jim Manico, Kevin Cardwell, and Aaron Guzman will be sharing their expertise with the attendees." Robert Herjavec, a leading shark on ABC's Emmy Award-winning television series Shark Tank and Founder & CEO of the Herjavec Group, is slated to speak as the opening keynote at 8:25 AM on May 4, 2018. A dynamic entrepreneur, Robert Herjavec has built and sold several IT companies. In 2003 Robert founded Herjavec Group, and it quickly became one of North America's fastest growing technology companies. Today, Herjavec Group is a global leader in information security specializing in managed security services, consulting, delivery and incident response for enterprise-level organizations. Robert's ability to interpret industry trends and understand enterprise business security demands has helped him achieve the profile of a global cybersecurity expert. He has served as a Cybersecurity Advisor for the Government of Canada, participated in the White House Summit on Cybersecurity and recently joined the US Chamber of Commerce Task Force for Cybersecurity. His views on the threat landscape, on emerging technologies and on the need for a proactive security framework are regularly profiled across print, digital and television mediums. Marcus J. Ranum, a world-renowned expert on security system design and implementation, is slated to speak at the closing keynote at 5:45 PM on May 4, 2018. He is recognized as an early innovator in firewall technology, and the implementer of the first commercial firewall product. Since the late 1980's, he has designed a number of groundbreaking security products including the DEC SEAL, the TIS firewall toolkit, the Gauntlet firewall, and NFR's Network Flight Recorder intrusion detection system. He has been involved in every level of operations of a security product business, from developer, to founder and CEO of NFR. Marcus has served as a consultant to many FORTUNE 500 firms and national governments, as well as serving as a guest lecturer and instructor at numerous high-tech conferences. In 2001, he was awarded the TISC "Clue" award for service to the security community, and the ISSA Lifetime Achievement Award. Marcus is Chief of Security for Tenable Security, Inc., where he is responsible for research in open source logging tools, and product training. He serves as a technology advisor to a number of start-ups, established concerns, and venture capital groups. The ISSA-LA Information Security Summit is the only educational forum in Los Angeles specifically designed to encourage in-person participation and cross-industry engagement among all three vital information security constituencies: (1) Business executives, senior business managers, and their trusted advisors; (2) Technical IT personnel with responsibility for information systems and the sensitive data they contain; and (3) Information Security Officers and professionals from all walks of life with responsibility for ensuring the security of sensitive information. By popular demand, the event will again be host to three exclusive all-day forums: Chief Information Security Officers Forum Healthcare Security and Privacy Forum Women in Security Forum "The need for education in infosec is critical," said Herjavec. "It's important we bring people together from all roles and maturity levels to raise the bar on cybersecurity and get everyone on the same page. We are investing heavily in the SoCal market with our offices and Security Operation Center in the LA area and are looking forward to sharing our experiences and insights with everyone that attends." During Summit X, attendees will learn about the latest attacks and best response, as well as preventative measures. Learn what your colleagues are struggling with and what they have had success with. See what Law Enforcement is dealing with, and how it could affect your world. In addition to the fantastic presented content, attendees will also be invited to join each other under the stars for a gala opening reception and a prize-filled closing reception, giving attendees and sponsors an excellent opportunity to network with the world's leading information security executives, researchers, and practitioners. If there is interest in connecting with this knowledge-hungry audience, a few sponsorship spots are still available, both for the media and for vendors. For more details and the full range of sponsorships, please visit: https://summit.issala.org/become-a-sponsor/ to learn more. Since ISSA-LA is all about the community, Summit X is open to anyone interested in learning more about information security. In particular, it is recommended that the following attend the event so they can keep abreast of the latest in information security and privacy: Business executives and senior managers Business professionals in law, accounting, insurance, healthcare, banking, retail, and manufacturing Information Systems Directors, systems administrators, and IT practitioners Information Security Directors, managers, researchers and practitioners Privacy and forensics professionals Aspiring students interested in the business and information technology sector The regular ticket price is $165 when purchased online and $295 when purchased at the door. However, for a limited time, to save some money, register now to get an amazing early bird price of only $45 which expires at midnight on Sunday the 11th of March! The Information Security Summit is part of ISSA-LA's important community outreach program. The goal of the program is to help our community stay safe from cybercrime and fraud by enabling collaboration and driving conversations between business and community leaders, technical IT professionals, and the information security community at large. For more information about the ISSA-LA Summit X and for registration details, please visit https://summit.issala.org/. Register today to ensure you reserve your place at the table. About the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA): The Information Systems Security Association is a not-for-profit, international organization of information security professionals and practitioners. It provides educational forums, publications and peer interaction opportunities that enhance the knowledge, skill and professional growth of its members. The primary goal of ISSA is to promote management practices that will ensure availability, integrity and confidentiality of information resources. For more information or to register, please visit: http://www.issala.org/. Join the movement today! Elite Contractors, Arlington Virginias Top-rated Home Remodeling Contractor, Announces New Post on How to Boost the Value of Older Homes Each home can be a personal experience, but when a Virginian wants to sell their place, they have to think about what others are looking for. Elite Contractor Services, a well-respected home remodeling contractor serving Northern Virginia, including Arlington, is proud to announce a new blog post on the timely topic of how to boost property value. Property owners could be searching for ways to increase the value of a home as the summer "sell" season approaches. Home buyers may be looking for something extra before making an offer. A top home remodeling contractor can offer tips and details to help improve value easily. Each home can be a personal experience, but when a Virginian wants to sell their place, they have to think about what others are looking for, explained Ana Blanco, marketing manager for Elite Contractor Services. We know what buyers want in todays homes. Investing in specific home additions and remodels can help sellers get the offer they want, even if in the short-term a person wants to stay in the home and get the value of the addition even long before a sale. To read the new blog post for tips and details about Arlington, Virginia home renovations please visit: http://elitecontractorservices.com/many-arlington-homes-old-side-need-remodeling/. To visit a page specific to Arlington, Virgina, visit - http://elitecontractorservices.com/services-areas/arlington-va/. Northern Virginia residents looking to raise the value of a property can learn about popular home remodel projects. A bathroom upgrade, attic conversion or kitchen renovation may improve the chances of getting the price a seller wants for a home. A top home remodeling contractor can assist choosing the right upgrade. TOP HOME REMODELING CONTRACTOR IN ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA BRINGS SOMETHING EXTRA TO THE TABLE. Here is the background for this release. Recent reports may give the public the impression it is a sellers market in the real estate business. New developments can reflect the assumption, yet selling an older, outdated home could turn into a struggle for an Arlington, Virginia homeowner. Buyers searching the Northern Virginia area for a home could like the charm of an established property, yet desire modern conveniences attributed to newer homes. If a property owner has decided to sell, a smart remodel project could bring in the offers expected. Contacting a top home remodeling contractor in Arlington Virginia for a consultation could be the first step. For these reasons, Elite Contractors has announced a new blog post. Arlington, Virginia residents considering the sale of an older home may have a price in mind. Dated kitchens and bathrooms could hold a buyer back from making the desired offer. An expert home remodeling contractor could help sellers choose the right renovation project to entice buyers to make an acceptable offer. A new bathroom with modern fixtures can turn a simple bedroom into a master bed and bath. Tearing down the wall between a kitchen and living room can result in a more open floor plan. A basement remodel, attic conversion or garage addition could also boost a houses value. Speaking to a home remodeling contractor in Arlington, Virginia can help a seller get the price desired. ABOUT ELITE CONTRACTOR SERVICES Elite Contractor Services (http://elitecontractorservices.com/) is a family owned home remodeling company serving cities as diverse as Washington DC, Alexandria and Fairfax Virginia, Bethesda Maryland as well as Falls Church home contractor services. Persons looking for a custom home builder for a home remodel or kitchen remodel in Northern Virginia can reach out for a no obligation consultation. The company consists of expert contractors for kitchen remodels, home remodels or additions, and even specific jobs such as basement remodels or attic additions. The company has been recognized as a top-rated home remodeling contractor for the Northern Virginia region. Communities served include Arlington, Herndon, Washington DC and up to Vienna, Fairfax County or even Rockville, MD. Media Relations Tel. 703-813-1678. A VIP Preview Party and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony will be held for Silver Birch of Muncie, a new affordable assisted living community for older adults that opened this month. The event will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 27 at the community, which is located at 2500 W. Kilgore Ave. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 5 p.m. This multimillion-dollar development was designed for seniors who have a financial need and need some help to maintain their independence. We will be providing older adults with a wonderful alternative to a nursing home or to struggling alone at home, said Silver Birch of Muncie Administrator Mellissa Carpenter. The community will combine residential apartment-home living with the availability of personal assistance, help with medications, and a variety of convenience and support services, such as meals, housekeeping, laundry and transportation. Residents will live in private apartments that they will furnish and decorate to their tastes. Each of the apartments will feature a kitchenette, spacious bathroom with shower and grab bars, individually controlled heating and air conditioning and an emergency alert system. In addition, Silver Birch of Muncie offers several areas for residents to enjoy, including an activity room, beauty salon/barber shop, convenience store, fitness room, library and computer room, TV lounges, a recreation room and theater. Certified nursing assistants, working under the direction of a licensed nurse, will be on-duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "Residents also will benefit from all of the opportunities that will be available to socialize with friends and neighbors and to participate in activities and special programs," says Carpenter. When fully occupied, the community will provide dozens of full-time and part-time jobs. Annual payroll with benefits is projected to be over $1 million. Silver Birch of Muncie will be certified to operate through the Division of Aging and regulated by the Indiana State Department of Health. "Our focus," says Rod Burkett, CEO of Gardant Management Solutions, the company that will manage the community "is to provide Silver Birch residents with the love, compassion and dignity they deserve and the help and assistance they need. Our emphasis is on helping each resident achieve and maintain as much independence as possible for as long as possible." Two other Silver Birch communities expected to open this year are located in Kokomo and Michigan City. A third Silver Birch property opened in Hammond last year. Indiana communities managed by Gardant include Belvedere Senior Housing in Merrillville, Oasis at 30th in Indianapolis and The Lodge at Summers Pointe in Winchester. Other Gardant-managed projects under development in Indiana include Evergreen Village at Bloomington, Glasswater Creek of Lafayette and Hellenic Senior Living of Indianapolis and New Albany. Individuals interested in reserving apartments at Silver Birch of Muncie should call (765) 254-0329. For more information about the community, visit https://silverbirchliving.com/location/silver-birch-muncie/, http://www.facebook.com/silverbirchmuncie/ or send an email to administrator@silverbirch-muncie.com. The collective efforts of mesh and connectivity projects can help to accelerate deployment to the underserved RightMesh AG announces today that they have partnered with BlockMesh and Althea to establish the Universal Connectivity Alliance (UCA). This alliance seeks to accelerate the deployment of connectivity to the nearly 4 billion people who do not have internet access today by encouraging collaboration between members, investigating interoperability opportunities, and conducting academic research. The issue of global connectivity is a massive problem that affects more than half of the worlds population, as such, it will require the collaborative efforts of multiple parties to solve. Isolated efforts could hinder the growth of these technologies, while working together could greatly accelerate progress towards enabling connectivity for humanity as a whole. The Universal Connectivity Alliance aims to ensure every person has equal access to the socio-economic benefits enjoyed by many in developed regions with reliable access to internet and information. Through the combination of hardware and software solutions, and working towards interoperability of connectivity solutions, the members aim to provide universal internet access through innovative mesh networking technology or other technological innovations. Initial founding members of the alliance include: RightMesh A decentralized, mobile mesh networking protocol and platform, using blockchain technology and tokenization, which allows apps to easily become mesh enabled to provide last mile connectivity. BlockMesh A decentralized platform utilizing the latest innovations in mesh networking software and custom hardware solutions that are powered by blockchain technology to create a cost-free data ecosystem which rewards its community to be a part of it. Althea A system enabling individuals and businesses to participate and invest in decentralized ISPs, providing higher speeds and lower prices than incumbent monopolies. John Lyotier, CEO of RightMesh says, The collective efforts of mesh and connectivity projects can help to accelerate deployment to the underserved, and were excited to explore these possibilities with BlockMesh and Althea. We look forward to also exploring how projects outside of mesh technology can be incorporated in this alliance, such as censorship resistance. Bjorn Guido Dingemans, CEO of BlockMesh says, The Blockchain, cryptocurrencies and associated disruptive technologies will never truly be decentralized until we decentralize the communications rails they exist on. Our partnerships and founding of the Universal Connectivity Alliance is a step in the right direction by increasing access to all in the global village. We are proud to be associated with like minded endeavours that have integrity such as RightMesh and Althea. Jehan Tremback, CEO of Althea says, Rightmesh and Blockmesh are our allies in the fight to take back the internet from monopolistic ISPs and oppressive governments. Were proud to found the Universal Connectivity Alliance alongside them. If your organization is interested in supporting global connectivity efforts by joining the Universal Connectivity Alliance (UCA), please email us partnerships(at)rightmesh(dot)io. -- To schedule an interview or for additional information, please contact Nikki Brown at Melrose PR; nikki(at)melrosepr(dot)com or call (310) 260-7901. About RightMesh RightMesh AG (a Swiss Company in incorporation), incubated by multi-award winning parent company Left, who itself is a certified B-Corporation located in Canada, is on a mission to bring connectivity to the next billion users by multiplying the combined power of blockchain, mesh networking, and its own RMESH tokens. RightMesh wireless networks are self-forming, self-healing, and self-regulating, using various technologies in existing smartphones and IoT devices rather than relying on traditional infrastructure and Internet Service Providers. RightMeshs networking technology is already used in a content-sharing and local messaging app called YO! which has received over 1 million installs and is actively used in emerging markets. Further applications are being developed via the RightMesh SDK, a free platform and protocol for use by others who want to build or retrofit additional mesh applications. About BlockMesh Ltd BlockMesh Ltd was founded in 2016 and utilizes the latest innovations in mesh networking and blockchain technology to create a cost-free data ecosystem that rewards the community to be a part of it. BlockMesh is both a hardware and software company with patent pending technology. Among other things, the patent pending hardware boosts the limited range of mobile devices from 100m up to 15 km. BlockMesh - a registered company in Mauritius - has developed a functional blockchain-based peer-to-peer ecosystem that can be used to communicate, transact, transfer data and enable the last mile of connectivity - all offline and at next to no cost. About Althea Althea is a system developed by San Francisco-based Hawk Networks. Althea allows internet routers to pay each other for bandwidth, in an automatically competitive local bandwidth marketplace. This gives individuals and businesses the ability to come together to provide their communities with high-speed (100mb/s-1gb/s) internet access. Althea operates on the infrastructure level, creating a decentralized ISP which is usually faster than incumbent monopoly ISPs. Altheas architecture enforces privacy and net-neutrality on a technical level, making it impossible for bandwidth resellers operating within an Althea network to spy on traffic, or throttle specific types of traffic. Althea is currently being deployed in communities in the United States and around the world. San Francisco tax service Ironically, the new tax changes have focused our clients' attention on taxes yet the impact is not for last tax year, 2017, but for the coming tax year. Safe Harbor LLP, a top San Francisco Accounting Firm with a focus on tax services for businesses, international tax, and high net worth individuals, is proud to announce a new post to their blog on business tax issues in light of the Trump tax code changes. It should be noted that the firm is in the midst of tax preparation season for both individuals and businesses in San Francisco, but the post focuses on upcoming tax changes in the new year. Ironically, the new tax changes have focused our clients' attention on taxes yet the impact is not for last tax year, 2017, but for the coming tax year, explained Chun Wong, Managing Partner at Safe Harbor LLP. That said, we are always looking to the future, and use our lively blog to focus attention on opportunities and challenges such as the deduction for pass-through income in the next tax law." To view the blog post, visit http://www.safeharborcpa.com/business-tax-preparation-in-san-francisco-changes-to-the-deduction-for-pass-through-income/. To view information on business tax preparation in San Francisco, visit http://www.safeharborcpa.com/business-tax/. TAX PREPARATION FOR 2017 AND 2018 Here is background on this release. With the recent tax legislation out of Washington as the biggest change to the US tax system in decades, people have been awakened from their slumber about taxes. Many new pitfalls and new opportunities have been created by the changes, but these impact the 2018 tax year and not the 2017 year, for which tax preparation is currently underway. Among the big changes are changes to how small business pass-through income can be calculated and many savvy San Francisco businesspeople are already planning ways to take advantage of the new tax law. Any person who has a business in the San Francisco Bay Area is urged to read the new post, and to reach out to the CPAs and tax professionals at Safe Harbor LLP for a consultation. While everyone is in the midst of doing taxes for last year, the smart money is focused on preparing their business strategies to take advantage of the tax changes in the current year of 2018. ABOUT SAFE HARBOR LLP - A PROFESSIONAL CPA FIRM IN SAN FRANCISCO Safe Harbor LLP is a CPA firm that specializes in accounting and tax services for individuals and businesses throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and greater California. Safe Harbor CPAs helps both individuals and businesses with tax preparation, IRS audit defense, and audited financial statements. The firm prides itself on friendly yet professional service and utilizes state-of-the-art Internet technology to provide quality customer service. Safe Harbor CPA http://www.safeharborcpa.com Tel. 415.742.4249 6th generation Rigaku MiniFlex X-ray diffraction system Rigaku Corporation is pleased to announce its attendance at the 69th annual Pittsburgh Conference on Analytical Chemistry and Applied Spectroscopy (Pittcon 2018), being held Monday, February 26, 2018 through Thursday, March 1, 2018 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL USA. Pittcon is the worlds leading annual conference and exposition on laboratory science, attracting attendees from industry, academia and government from over 90 countries worldwide. Rigaku is exhibiting its benchtop lines of X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and Raman instrumentation at Booth # 2000-2002. Rigaku (The Woodlands, TX) is showing the Rigaku Supermini200 benchtop wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) spectrometer, the new sixth generation Rigaku MiniFlex benchtop X-ray diffractometer, and the Rigaku Micro-Z ULS wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence sulfur (S) analyzer at booth # 2000. The Rigaku Supermini200 analyzer is the world's only high-power (200 W) benchtop sequential wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometer for elemental analysis of oxygen (O) through uranium (U) of almost any material. It uniquely delivers low cost-of-ownership with high resolution and lower limits of detection (LLD). Ideally suited for today's fast-paced XRD analyses, the sixth generation MiniFlex delivers speed and sensitivity through innovative technology enhancements such as the optional D/teX high-speed detector coupled with a powerful 600 W X-ray source. The MiniFlex comes standard with the latest version of PDXL, Rigaku's full-function powder diffraction analysis package. Designed for measurement of ultra-low level sulfur in diesel, gasoline and other fuels, the Rigaku Micro-Z ULS wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence (WDXRF) instrument is a benchtop spectrometer with fixed optics optimized for sulfur analysis. It features a novel design that measures both the sulfur peak and the back-ground intensity. Applied Rigaku Technologies, Inc. (ART, Austin, TX) is introducing the new Rigaku NEX LS Scanning Multi-element Process Coatings Analyzer at booth # 2001. Featuring advanced third generation energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) technology, the Rigaku NEX LS analyzer represents the next evolution of scanning multi-element process coatings analyzers for web or coil applications. The measuring head, mounted on a rigid beam is equipped with a linear traversing mechanism ensuring constant head-to-surface distance. The ART division is also presenting the Rigaku NEX QC series of low-cost benchtop EDXRF spectrometers. The NEX QC and NEX QC+ systems are compact elemental analyzers with intuitive icon-driven touch screens interface and built-in printer for easy operation and convenience. The Rigaku NEX QC+ QuantEZ analyzer, engineered for heavy industrial use, runs on Microsoft Windows-based QuantEZ analytical software. The Rigaku NEX DE series of high-performance, direct excitation energy dispersive XRF (EDXRF) elemental analyzers is also available. The newest addition to the NEX DE series is the Rigaku NEX DE VS direct excitation variable spot X-ray fluorescence elemental analyzer. The NEX DE VS is uniquely suited for small spot analysis. It features a high-resolution camera combined with automated collimators allowing for precise positioning of a sample for the analysis of 1 mm, 3 mm, and 10 mm spot sizes. For on-line elemental analysis, the ART division presents the NEX OL process elemental analyzer. The NEX OL enables real-time process elemental analysis for liquid stream applications. It is also designed to service web and coil applications, with the ability to analyze multi-element composition and/or coating thickness. Handheld and portable spectrometers from Rigaku Analytical Devices (RAD, Wilmington, MA) are displayed at booth #2002. RAD is featuring their latest Raman and laser induced breakdown (LIBS) analyzers, including the Rigaku Progeny ResQ1064nm handheld Raman analyzer and the new Rigaku KT-100S handheld LIBS spectrometer. About Rigaku Since its inception in Japan in 1951, Rigaku has been at the forefront of analytical and industrial instrumentation technology. Rigaku and its subsidiaries form a global group focused on general-purpose analytical instrumentation and the life sciences. With hundreds of major innovations to their credit, Rigaku companies are world leaders in X-ray spectrometry, diffraction, and optics, as well as small molecule and protein crystallography and semiconductor metrology. Today, Rigaku employs over 1,400 people in the manufacturing and support of its analytical equipment, which is used in more than 90 countries around the world supporting research, development, and quality assurance activities. Throughout the world, Rigaku continuously promotes partnerships, dialog, and innovation within the global scientific and industrial communities. For further information, contact: Michael Nelson Rigaku Global Marketing Group tel: +1. 512-225-1796 michael.nelson(at)rigaku.com In order to reach a wider range of websites and establish a global presence, the Cloudbric team is constantly evaluating and exploring new opportunities to optimize our service and create value for investors. Website security provider Cloudbric has announced its split from web and data security enterprise provider Penta Security Systems, thereby creating two independent companies with distinct business strategies beginning December 1, 2017. With over 20 years of IT expertise, Penta Security Systems first created Cloudbric as an in-house venture with the idea of bringing accessible security to all. The separation best positions Cloudbric and Penta Security Systems to capitalize on their respective expertise in the rapidly changing cybersecurity landscape. The decision to separate has provided Cloudbric with the independence and flexibility it needs to grow its cloud-based web security services, as it strays away from traditional software and hardware appliances. Following this current trend in cloud computing has enabled Cloudbric to have a more competitive edge by allowing it to react to market and consumer demands more quickly. The split will advance Cloudbrics growth trajectory and also allow both companies to develop their own vision and core values. Cloudbric has already seen tremendous growth, acquiring 27 IDCs (Internet Data Centers), 50 partnerships, and 8,000 user sign-ups all within the span of the past fiscal year. Consisting of young and talented core members, developers, security analysts and researchers, Cloudbric was able to realize these accomplishments and more. With the Korean government pouring millions into funding startups and small businesses with grants and other tax incentives, Cloudbric, too, has successfully received its first round of investments from not only the Korean government but also secured investments from a local venture capital firm. Currently at a $10 million business valuation, Cloudbric expects to see even more venture capital funding in the near future. In order to reach a wider range of websites and establish a global presence, the Cloudbric team is constantly evaluating and exploring new opportunities to optimize our service and create value for investors. Because we now have the opportunity to fully realize our growth potential, our commitment to helping users become secure online is now greater than ever. Our goal is to generate long-term value for our customers, says TJ Jung, newly named CEO of Cloudbric. Cloudbric is looking to take on creative approaches to grow its service in the upcoming year through innovative projects that incorporate elements of deep learning and blockchain technologies. With a mission to help even the smallest organizations attain accessible security, Cloudbric is moving closer to achieving that goal with its projects and global partnerships. The company will continue to explore alternative business opportunities for its global expansion. About Cloudbric Corporation Cloudbric is a cloud-based web security provider based in Seoul. It offers WAF (Web Application), DDoS protection, and free SSL. Please visit http://www.cloudbric.com for more information and direct all partnership inquiries to partners(at)cloudbric.com. Forward-looking Statements The above press release includes forward-looking statements intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the separation of the two independent companies, the nature and impact of such a separation, and the capitalization of the two independent companies, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are based on the current expectations of the management of the Company and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements typically containing words such as intends, expects, anticipates, targets, estimates, should, plan, seek, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict, potential, continue, likely, will, would and variations of these terms and similar expressions. By their nature, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance or results and involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. We undertake no obligation to update publicly any of these forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, new information or future events, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable laws. Dominicans can save on their international calls with the offer and the Facebook contest powered by LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com. LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com, the service dedicated to the Dominican community worldwide, supports calls to the Dominican Republic on Independence Day with a 30% OFF. The discount applies to both calls to landlines and mobile phones in the Dominican Republic on February 27, 2018. To benefit of the Independence Day 30% discount, one needs to have a free account on LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com and a PIN, in order to be able to make the calls using the KeepCalling app or an access number (no Internet needed). A PIN will be received immediately after placing the first order on the website. The minimum order value to get a PIN is $2 Voice Credit. The Voice Credit balance, be it as little as $2, never expires, so it can be used any time necessary. A $10 Voice Credit prize can be gained on Facebook. The Independence Day contest is running between Feb 27 - March 5, 2018, in the community of the Dominicans living abroad: https://www.facebook.com/LlamaRepublicaDominicana All Facebook comments to the question "What makes you feel proud of your country?" enter the race for credit. The winner will be picked randomly and announced on Tuesday, March 6, 2018. The discounted rates on February 27, 2018 are 2.4 cents/minute to call landlines in the Dominican Republic, and 6.9 cents/minute to call friends and family on their cell phones. The regular rates to call the Dominican Republic are the lowest on the global market. It's 3.5 cents/minute to call landlines in the country, and 9.9 cents/minute for international calls to cellular phones. Every time these rates drop, subscribes are informed by email. There are at least 3 advantages that existing customers favor about this service, as shown on Trustpilot, a popular review platform. There are 4 calling features that anyone using the service can activate for free; PINless and Speed Dial for example. Anyone buying Voice Credit balance for international calls on LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com, automatically receives Thank You points, that is loyalty points that anyone can turn independently turn into free Voice Credit balance for future calls. 24/7 human Support. Calls can be placed using WiFi or cellular data via KeepCalling app, or using an access number that requires no Internet connection. More information about how to call can be found on the website. Besides the Voice Credit, LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com also facilitates mobile top ups for family members and friends in the Dominican Republic. The process takes few seconds only. More details are available on the website. LlamaRepublicaDominicana.com is a platform created for the Dominican diaspora, that offers calling credit for Dominicans abroad and facilitates top ups to mobiles in the Dominican Republic. It is a brand of KeepCalling, which is a global telecommunications company registered in 2002 in the USA, listed by Inc 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the USA for 5 consecutive years. Presently, KeepCalling provides its services to hundreds of thousands of consumers , with a focus on customer satisfaction. In 2015 the company registered a revenue increase of over 200% from 2011 to 2014. Dr. Ellen Ovson Dr. Ovson has shown great leadership since joining Lakeview and its evident why she is one of the most highly recognized and respected physicians in the treatment of addiction. Lakeview Health, a nationally recognized leader in the treatment of substance use disorders, is pleased to announce Ellen Ovson, M.D., F.A.S.A.M., has been promoted to medical director for the Jacksonville addiction treatment center. Ovson joined the medical team at Lakeview Health in July of 2017 and had been focused on working with the female patients at the Rose of Lakeview, the womens gender-responsive treatment program. Ovson will now lead the entire medical team and will serve as the authority on all medical issues. Dr. Ovson has shown great leadership since joining Lakeview and its evident why she is one of the most highly recognized and respected physicians in the treatment of addiction, said Roy M. Serpa, CEO of Lakeview Health. Dr. Ovsons compassion for patients is second to none and our team looks forward to working alongside her as she leads our medical staff. Ovson is board certified in internal medicine and certified in addiction medicine by the American Society of Addiction Medicine and the American Board of Addiction Medicine. She has more than 17 years of experience in addiction medicine and more than 41 years in internal medicine. I am honored to be chosen to serve as medical director of this esteemed treatment facility, said Ovson. We have such an amazing team of experts on our staff and I am lucky that I get to work with them on a daily basis. Providing the highest quality of care to individuals who are changing their lifes direction, to a life of recovery is a collaborative effort. I am thankful I have been given the opportunity to lead this remarkable team. Lakeview Health utilizes the servant leadership approach to management, which is the belief that staff members are the experts at their jobs. The leadership team puts the needs of others first to help them develop and perform as highly as possible. The sharing of power helps to provide the best plan of care for the patient. Ovson will be working with the administration and medical staff to maintain Lakeview Healths high quality of medical care. She will be responsible for assisting in the creation, development and compliance of medical policies, directives, rules, regulations and performance standards of the government, hospital and accrediting bodies, as well as seeing patients. Ovson earned her undergraduate degree at Emory University and graduated from medical school at the University of Alabama. She did her internship at Charlotte Memorial Hospital in North Carolina and her residency at Carraway Methodist Medical Center in Birmingham, AL. Ovson is a member of numerous professional organizations including the American Board of Internal Medicine, the American Board of Addiction Medicine and the American Society of Addiction Medicine, where she has held several leadership positions. Ovson previously served as the medical director at Bradford Health Services in Madison, AL and as staff physician and eventually medical director for the Gentle Path program at Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Center. Ovson is a published author whose works focus on various aspects of addiction. She is frequently invited to speak on the topic by numerous organizations and medical centers throughout the country. About Lakeview Health Lakeview Health serves individuals with addiction and psychiatric disorders. The staff offer an integrative health approach that addresses the medical, psychological, physical and spiritual aspects of recovery. They offer gender-responsive detox and inpatient services at the flagship location in Jacksonville, Florida. They also offer IOP & PHP treatment in The Woodlands, Texas, which opened earlier this month. Their continuum of care at both facilities allows patients to move successfully toward a life in recovery. To learn more, visit http://www.LakeviewHealth.com. Dr. Rod J. Rohrich, Dallas Rhinoplasty Surgeon One of the essential motivations for a primary rhinoplasty surgeon should be maximizing odds for a good outcome. Get it right the first time. In a recent issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, renowned Dallas rhinoplasty surgeon, Dr. Rod J. Rohrich, has published a video series focusing on the most recent advances, developments, and recommendations to rhinoplasty surgeons. The video series, published for subscribers to Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, details emerging techniques and refinements used for very fine, detailed work addressing specific areas of nose reshaping. "Through a series of videos, this case represents the evolution of the open rhinoplasty technique, demonstrating a wide range in the complexity of maneuvers to achieve the desired correction in rhinoplasty," the accompanying article explains. "The aim is to provide the rhinoplasty surgeon with examples of basic and sophisticated techniques and also to demonstrate minutia and nuance of open rhinoplasty." Different parts of the video series address the evolution of new and refined techniques to approach specific anatomical corrections in rhinoplasty. One area of special interest in the series is the nasal dorsum that is often a major point of concern among both patients seeking rhinoplasty, and surgeons performing it. Nasal tip refinement is another area addressed by the video series, and one which Dr. Rohrich says can be an especially sensitive area for many rhinoplasty surgeons. "One of the essential motivations for a primary rhinoplasty surgeon should be maximizing odds for a good outcome. Get it right the first time," says Dr. Rohrich, who treats a large number of revision rhinoplasty patients after having poor outcomes from previous surgeries. "If revision rhinoplasty is required because of a poor outcome in the primary rhinoplasty, the surgical options become more limited and the chances for a great outcome drop substantially." To that end, Dr. Rohrich is a longstanding advocate of what is known as the open approach to rhinoplasty. In the open approach, a small incision is made in the columella, the bridge of cartilage between the nostrils, allowing rhinoplasty surgeons to have direct access to the delicate, underlying tissue and nasal structures granting them more precise control of the surgery and outcomes. This is the approach used in the video series and the one Dr. Rohrich teaches as chair of the world famous Dallas Rhinoplasty Meeting, and at medical conferences around the world. Dr. Rohrich is also co-author of one of the leading textbooks on the subject, "Dallas Rhinoplasty: Nasal Surgery by the Masters", now in its third edition. "Rhinoplasty remains one of the most difficult procedures in all of plastic surgery," says Dr. Rohrich, who hopes these educational resources can help plastic surgeons to continually refine their techniques for better patient outcomes and help reduce the need for revision rhinoplasty surgery. "Rhinoplasty is a surgery of millimeters. It is a surgery of great finesse and takes years to master." About Rod J. Rohrich, M.D., F.A.C.S. Dr. Rod J. Rohrich is a board certified plastic surgeon in Dallas, Texas. He is a Distinguished Teaching Professor and Founding Chairman of the Department of Plastic Surgery at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. Dr. Rohrich graduated from Baylor College of Medicine with high honors, and completed his Plastic Surgery training at the University of Michigan Medical Center and fellowships at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard (hand/microsurgery) and Oxford University (pediatric plastic surgery). He is Chairman of the Dallas Rhinoplasty Symposium, Founding Chairman of the Dallas Cosmetic Symposium, President and Founding Member of the Alliance in Reconstructive Surgery, and a Founding Partner of the Dallas Plastic Surgery Institute. Dr. Rohrich has also served as president of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the largest organization of board certified plastic surgeons in the world. He repeatedly has been selected by his peers as one of America's best doctors, and on three occasions has received one of his profession's highest honors, the Plastic Surgery Foundation Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes his contributions to education in plastic surgery. Dr. Rohrich participates in and has led numerous associations and councils for the advancement of plastic and reconstructive surgery. H500P Mesh White The H500P represents what building a PC is to us and our communityits fun, rewarding, and self-expressive, said Matteo Stracciari, Case General Manager for Cooler Master. Cooler Master, an award-winning computer hardware manufacturer, today announces the launch of the MasterCase H500P Mesh White. Designed for users wanting to push their system to its limits, the H500P Mesh White offers unrestricted airflow. The H500P Mesh White offers builders a full-mesh front panel with acrylic top panel. Behind the mesh sits two, pre-installed, 200mm RGB fans that propel air into an all-white interior chassis. The space and capacity inside ensures that the case is easy to build in and cable management is as streamlined as possible. The combination of tempered glass and industrial lines gives the H500P a refined, functional appeal for your build to look as great as it performs. The H500P represents what building a PC is to us and our communityits fun, rewarding, and self-expressive, said Matteo Stracciari, Case General Manager for Cooler Master. Upon closer inspection, the mesh on the front panel is not just steel mesh. There is a second layer, or screen, that is finer and purposed to filter dust and keep builds clean. Two 200mm RGB fans behind Mesh front panel Optimized airflow is guaranteed with a complete mesh front panel providing plenty of air intake for the two pre-installed 200mm RGB fans. Users can manipulate the RGB lighting to create a captivating build in any desired color theme. Covers for Clean Building A PSU shroud, CPU cut out cover, and additional cable covers take clean cable management to the next level. Users can assemble clean builds like a pro. Show Off Your Graphics Card Two additional PCI slots at the rear enable builders to show off one graphics card in the vertical position. All of this is seen through a light grey tinted tempered glass side panel, ideal for showcasing your build with (RGB) lighting. Liquid Cooling Ready The MasterCase H500P Mesh White accommodates up to 360mm radiators on the top and front. RGB controller and 1 to 3 Splitter Cable for RGB LED Fans The included RGB controller can be connected to the reset switch to manage the lighting of the two 200mm RGB fans. Also, the RGB Connector Splitter and 4 pin male to male adapters are included. Airflow is not just about cramming air into the case, it is also about efficiently directing the air to move through the system. The particular placement of vents on the top cover is key in channeling the flow of air to reduce system temps. Along with directing airflow, the H500P Mesh White provides ample room for advanced builders looking to house complex components like custom liquid cooling. Whether builders decide to use air cooling, closed loop, or open loop system(s), the H500Ps layout offers room for development. To learn more about the H500P Mesh White visit: http://www.coolermaster.com/ Pricing & Availability The H500P Mesh White will be available for pre-sale starting on February 27, 2018, in North America, for a starting MSRP of $149.99 USD. ### About Cooler Master: Cooler Master is a Taipei-based, global computer components and peripheral company with a 25-year track record in releasing innovative products that truly advance the industry. We are driven by a passion for the things that make building a PC such a unique, rewarding experience, and sustained by a vision that we can reinvent the way these machines are designed, made and used. From our landmark release of the first ever aluminum PC case to our groundbreaking switch to the modular format, Cooler Master is committed to bringing our customers and fans the utmost in choice and control. For more information on Cooler Master, please visit http://www.coolermaster.com or follow us on http://www.facebook.com/coolermaster Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Public discourse on gun violence has followed a familiar pattern in the wake of a deadly high-school shooting in Florida. Gun-control advocates immediately demanded sweeping measures like assault weapons bans, and their opponents predictably shot them down as Second Amendment violations. But a growing bipartisan group of lawmakers and advocates have begun championing "red flag laws" as a potential gun-control measure that could both prevent potentially dangerous people from possessing firearms and preserve gun rights. The laws function similarly to those that govern common restraining orders. Someone who fears a family member or acquaintance is a threat to themselves or others can ask police to seize their weapons temporarily and bar them from buying more until a judge determines the person is no longer a risk. They're called gun-violence restraining orders or extreme risk protection orders, and Connecticut, California, Washington, Oregon, and Indiana have implemented them in recent years to some success. Were the laws in place in Florida during Cruz's upbringing, advocates speculated that he could have been barred from buying or owning the AR-15 he used to allegedly gun down 17 students and staff members. This shooting may have been averted Police and media reports revealed that a number of people close to Cruz were so disturbed by his behavior and violent outbursts that they contacted local or federal authorities to warn them he could snap. Records of nearly two dozen 911 calls released by the Broward Sheriff's Office show that authorities responded to a variety of reports where Cruz had become violent, run away from home, harmed himself, and even threatened to shoot up a school. But none of those calls resulted in Cruz's arrest, or had him committed to a mental health facility and he got to keep his guns. "I heard the [Broward County] sheriff lament the fact that he did not have the tools to remove the firearms from the shooter," Joshua Horwitz, the executive director of the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, told The Washington Post. "Had he lived in one of those states where this law is in place, he would have had the tools, and this shooting may have been averted." There's reason to believe other states' red flag laws have been effective. Though it's difficult to count the number of mass shootings that were prevented, a 2016 study found that Connecticut's red flag law appeared to avert some suicides since it was enacted in 1999. In California, the San Diego City Attorney's office has already filed 10 such retraining orders since it began issuing them in December 2017. The office issued its first order to a man whose neighbors had called police when he drunkenly shot at raccoons and rats in his backyard. An order in San Diego lasts 12 months enough time for the person time to seek mental-health treatment before a court decides whether to lift the order. But in other parts of the state, the orders can last as little as 21 days. Right to due process Already, Florida's Republican governor has indicated support for similar laws, and states like Rhode Island and Maryland are also mulling them over. "I want to make it virtually impossible for anyone who has mental issues to use a gun. I want to make it virtually impossible for anyone who is a danger to themselves or others to use a gun," Gov. Rick Scott said at a press conference last week. Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida has also touted the laws, citing a recent National Review column by conservative writer David French. "Not just me calling for conservatives to consider 'red flag' gun law," Rubio tweeted February 18. "It's called gun-violence restraining order & can be crafted to respect 2nd Amendment & right to due process." French's column argued that the federal government has consistently failed to prevent mass shootings, even when officials are tipped off, as the FBI was with Cruz. But gun-violence restraining orders would instead empower family members, local authorities, and judges to act, French argued. "The great benefit of the [gun violence restraining order] is that it provides citizens with options other than relying on, say, the FBI," French wrote. "Let's place accountability on the lowest possible level of government: the local judges who consistently and regularly adjudicate similar claims in the context of family and criminal law." The National Rifle Association has previously opposed red flag laws, arguing that Oregon's version could "deprive someone of their Second Amendment rights without due process of the law." But NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch indicated at a CNN town hall that local authorities should have had better tools to deprive Cruz of his weapons. "We have to develop better protocol to follow up on red flags. This monster carrying bullets to school, carrying knives to school, assaulting students, assaulting his parents, 39 visits in the past year," Loesch said. "That should never have been allowed to get that far." Michael Mteite, a Senior Resident Magistrate for the Mbeya Resident Magistrate's Court in southern Tanzania, jailed Joseph Mbilinyi, an MP for opposition party Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) and the party's secretary for southern highlands zone, Emmanuel Masonga. Authorities explain that it was proven beyond reasonable doubt that the duo were guilty of delivering a hate speech against Magufuli at Mwenge primary school grounds in Mbeya city on December 30 last year. On Sunday, the two politicians urged their supporters to remain calm as they awaited the ruling. "All you need to do is be calm and wait for the court's decisions. This isn't the time of mourning. We need to evaluate where we are taking the region to for the interest of the people," he told residents of Mbeya region. Mbilinyi was elected by the highest number of votes out of all the 264 elected MPs during the 2015 general election. In an interview on Accra-based Peace FM, Dr Opoku Prempeh said the Ministry has rather been employing Teachers with Diploma Certificates. This is due to the automatic appointment policy the Ministry has with the teachers. Dr Opoku Prempeh described this situation as wrong and unacceptable. He added that all teachers must be given a basic education qualification so that the country employs as much of teachers that it can. Dr Opoku Prempeh further disclosed that the Nana Addo-led government will soon upgrade all Colleges of Education into Degree awarding Universities. READ ALSO: AG supports call for probe into mass Law School failure According to him, this forms part of the governments programme to empower teachers to give off their best. A family member told the Ghana Crusader that Francis Vondee said the burial service will be held at Mafi Adidome in the Volta Region where he hails from. This means that Francis Atsu Vondee will be buried a week after Ebony. Francis Vondee met his untimely death on Thursday, February 8, 2018. He accompanied the Maame hwe hit maker and Franky Kuri to Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo region. READ ALSO: Countryman Songo takes over Ebony memorial The jeep they were travelling in, slammed into an oncoming VIP bus on the KumasiSunyani road. There were reports, his body had been detained to serve a sentence after a court-martial after his demise but the Ghana Armed Forces refuted the claims, saying they were inaccurate and malicious speculations. An exclusive report by Variety reveals that a letter was written from Hardys attorney and addressed to Seacrest, E! and its corporate parent NBC Universal, stating that the job went well enough at the beginning. According to the letter, Seacrest began rubbing his penis up against Hardy while in his underwear, groping her vagina, and once slapped her buttock so hard a" large welt" appeared for hours. The letter also revealed that Hardy endured the abuse because of her child, but later lost her job in 2013 after reporting the abuse to human resources executives at E!. E! has, however, stated that an internal investigation has been carried out and it was found that there was insufficient evidence to support the claims against Seacrest. Representing Seacrest, Andrew Baum, while speaking to Variety, said that Hardy had asked Seacrest for the sum of $15 million, after which she would not go forward with the false claims. He said: "It is upsetting to us that Variety is electing to run a story about untrue allegations that were made against my client after they were told that the accuser threatened to make those false claims against him unless he paid her $15 million. "At that time, the claimant threatened to issue a demonstrably false press statement unless she was paid. Instead, my client proactively and publicly denied the claims and agreed to fully cooperate with E!s investigation about the matter." "On January 31st the network notified us that their independent third-party investigation had concluded that there was insufficient evidence to support her claims, effectively, clearing my clients name. "Its telling that after my client refused to pay her money, and the E! investigation resulted as it did, that she is now coming forward to share her debunked story to the press." Sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry Recall that Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual harassment by several women, putting an indelible stain on his glittering career. The Oscar-winning movie mogul, who was able to make or break careers, was forced out of his own company on Sunday, October 8, as the scandal bloomed. The board of Weinstein Company's said it had sacked him "in light of new information about misconduct" in an explosive New York Times article detailing decades of legal settlements stemming from sexual harassment allegations by numerous women. Some popular actresses who also accused Weinstein of sexual misconduct include Angelina Jolie, Lupita Nyong'O, Ashley Judd amongst others. The 65-year-old tycoon, who was said to have been fighting to remain at the company, issued a bizarre statement apologizing for his actions without addressing any specific allegations. Appearing in part to justify his behavior and misquoting the rapper Jay Z,he said: "I came of age in the '60s and '70s, when all the rules about behavior and workplaces were different. That was the culture then," said Weinstein, a prominent Democratic Party donor whose personal wealth is estimated at around $150 million. Kevin Spacey As soon as Hervey Weinstein's sexual misconduct case hit the media, even more victims of sexual harrasment came out of the wood works to accuse other celebrities, such as Kevin Spacey of lewd sexual behaviour. A man accused Kevin Spacey of attempting to rape him when he was 15, amid mounting allegations of sexual harassment and assault against the "House of Cards" star. In an interview with the Vulture website, the man, speaking on conditions of anonymity, said he took part in an acting class taught by Spacey when he was 12. Two years later, they began what the man described in the interview as a "sexual relationship." ALSO READ:Dealing with this menace in the Nigerian workplace Then when he was 15, Spacey attempted to rape him at his apartment, the man said, after which he ended the relationship. "I would call him a pedophile and a sexual predator," he said. According to report, eight people who worked on the "House of Cards" political drama told CNN that the actor engaged in sexual harassment on set, typically targeting young men, while one of the eight said Spacey sexually assaulted him. Netflix has indefinitely suspended production of "House of Cards" in the wake of allegations against Spacey, after already announcing that the upcoming sixth season of the show would be its last. Finally firing the movie guru, Netflix reportedly lost a whooping $39 million. About 8 seconds video clip making the rounds online shows the man leading the bride to the stage and suddenly grabbed her from the back and did what the son was waiting anxiously to do. He kissed the elegant lady as the Master of Ceremonies described her, apparently against her will. Chinese local media reported that the family posted a note online three days later to explain that the man was drunk at the time and later expressed regret for his action. READ MORE: Parents conspire to fake their own death just to make sure their son goes to jail Host of the wedding ceremony who pleaded anonymity reportedly confirmed to FaZhi Evening Post that the embarrassing incident took place at Wuzhou International Plaza in Yancheng of Jiangsu Province. He said I was introducing the bride as they were walking on the stage and the father kissed his new daughter-in-law suddenly. Father forcibly kisses son's bride at wedding Meanwhile, another information circulating on Chinese instant messaging app, WeChat indicate that the son had beaten up his father and the father committed suicide, according to Africanspotlight.com. There are also social media reports that relationship between families of both the bride and the groom have not been good after the incident. The unnamed young man was positively betrayed by a friend he had confided his diabolical plans in. He revealed the secret to the police. As it is said, prevention is better than cure, so, police proactively hatched a plan to dispatch an officer to meet him and pretend to be a contract killer. Shockingly, when the police officer met the man, he admitted having plans to kill his parents and offered the undercover police officer 3 million rubles ($54,000) for the murder of each family member. Odditycemtral.com reported that the young man then provided the undercover police officer with all the necessary information he required to enter the parents house and kill them. READ MORE: Single women marry tress in a lovely mass wedding He equipped the murderer with the location of the security cameras and of their guard dog, as well as a plan of the home. Eventually when the police officer made his way into the said house with the help of the direction he got from his contractor, he narrated the entire plot to the family, but the suspects parents could not believe him. They then plotted to fake their death and take photos that would convince the young man that his parents had been wiped out successfully. The parents and sister then posed as though they had been stabbed and their throats slit with semblance of blood flowing around them. When the fake photos were shown to the weird son, he could not hide his joy over the murder of his family. He then promised the undercover police officer to pay for his services out of his inheritance. Police sources reportedly told local media that: He wanted to get rid of parents because they were not giving him money. Parents conspire to fake their own death to make son go to jail When arrested, the suspect corroborated the claim as he told police during interrogation that: I had been planning it for several months. Im so done with them, they didnt understand me, so, I found a contract killer. Reports say the suspect had been attempting several times to kill his parents, but to no avail. He first tried to commit the murder by himself, but his parents noticed the mischief and he run away. He followed it up by pouring a poisonous substance into their tea cup, but his father noticed it and the tea was thrown away. After that, he reportedly planned to break the mercury thermometer in his parents car to make them die of mercury poison, but decided to get a contract killer to render him that service. It is not clear why the suspected criminal chose to come back to the same house he and colleagues had robbed not too long ago. Maybe he had spotted something valuable that the gang left behind. Officials are reported to have said that the bodies of the deceased stowaways were found on the southern end of the runway of the Jose Joaquin de Olmedo Airport in Guayaquil. Though officials were being economical with information regarding the incident, the deceased are believed to be age 25 and 30. READ MORE:The way to a man's heart is sex according to this beautyThe way to a man's heart is sex according to this beauty Prosecutor Carlos Bustamante also reportedly told the media that the airplane in the center of the incident had come to Guayaquil from Peru and was again enroute to New York. The incident, according to Civil Aviation Office brought operations to a standstill for about an hour before activities were resumed. Photos of his wife, Mrs. Owusu Bempah has sparked some social media conversations with a host of people talking about her physique. She is seen oozing in a gold-laced apparel, which flushes her voluptuous stature. Moments of her dancing was captured to which shows her stunning physique this has caused tons of tongues to wag on social media. READ ALSO: Prophet Owusu Bempah marries for the third time The photos of his wife from what looked like the marriage ceremony has popped up online and social media folks seemed amazed at the voluptuous stature of his wife. Abena Animas curvy physique is totally worth the wagging tongues. This is after CIAL became the worlds first airport to be fully powered by solar energy. CIAL is expected to help Ghana set up 1.5 megawatts of solar power projects. Reports published suggest that CIAL will provide the technical assistance for the project. The 3 airports involved are Kotoka International Airport at Accra, Kumasi International Airport, and the Navrongo Domestic Airport. A memorandum of understanding has been signed between CIAL and the consultant of the airport authority in Ghana. CIAL was in the news worldwide for becoming the worlds first airport to be fully run by solar power. The airport started with a 12-megawatt project which expanded to 15.5 megawatts. The airport will eventually increase the capacity to 40 megawatts, including a solar-powered carport. READ ALSO: Research shows every Ghanaian ate 143 eggs in 2017 India has announced that other airports in the country also have plans to set up solar power capacities. Kolkata, for instance, commissioned project to set up a solar power capacity of 15-20 megawatts. The project was commissioned in December 2017. Delhis airport already operates a ground-based solar power project. Airports in Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Jaisalmer were reported to have been planning rooftop solar power projects. This is a plea from some market women in Accra. The women told Accra-based Adom FM that it is difficult for them to understand the president when he rattles in English. They argue that they voted for him to become President and are therefore pleading for him to speak what they called the form 4 English so they can understand. "The last time I saw him on TV, I had to be extra attentive to hear the word 'police'," a trader said. "We don't understand his American English. Nana Addo's English is too much. He should speak 'Form 4 English like the man is going'," another woman added. Some of the women also argued that President Akufo-Addo does not open his mouth wide enough to speak. READ ALSO: Just a small embarrassing handshake moment involving Nana Addo Another said she often feels embarrassed if she has to ask people to repeat or explain Nana Addos statements to her. She fears it may show she is English deficient. This comes as a surprise since many people have often praised the president for his eloquence and great command over the English language. This led to the shooting of two people, one in a car and one on a motorbike. The identified victims, Kwasi Danso and Emmanuel Kofi Boadu, were quickly rushed to the Nsawam Government Hospital to which they were later transferred to Accra. The court, presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh, held that it was best to deny the suspects bail in order to protect them. Justice Tandoh said although the accused are entitled to bail, the interests of the state must come first in such circumstances. He argued that the trial cannot also delay further at the expense of the human rights of the accused. He further urged the prosecutor, Superintendent Kweku Bempah, to speed up his investigations so that the case can be swiftly concluded. Justic Tandoh subsequently adjourned the trial of the accused to March 9, 12, 14 and 15. Background A gang of armed men stormed the Kwabenya District Police Headquarters on January 21 to free some suspected armed robbers who were in custody. The assailants shot and killed the policeman on duty, before freeing seven other suspected criminals who were being held in the cells. The Police launched a manhunt for the criminals and managed to apprehend each one of them, before processing them for court. The suspect arrived at KIA on board Ethiopian Airline flight ET 921. When some officers asked for her check-in luggage, she became apprehensive and confronted them. A search conducted in the luggage revealed a big parcel wrapped with a black polythene material containing an off-white powdery substance weighing 3kg. A further test conducted by the Ghana Standards Authority on the substance proved positive to speedball, a mixture of cocaine and heroin with an estimated street value of $90,000.00. The suspect admitted the offence and claimed ownership of the luggage. READ ALSO: Chief threatens to leak sex tapes of teachers and their students She, however, explained that one Benson her boyfriend in Kenya bought the air ticket for her and gave her the travelling bag to pack her things and meet him in Ghana with the bag. Agbodzi was arrested at Danquah Cirlcle in Accra when the police went under cover as the buyers of the girl upon a tip off. READ ALSO: Murdered Kwabenya policeman to be buried on March 3 Narrating the details, the Head of the CID, DCOP Maame Yaa Tiwaa Addo Danquah, said ncident happened on February 22, 2018 when the Anti Human Trafficking Unit had information that Agbodzi was offering his granddaughter for sale. She said, "Intelligence gathered indicated that the suspect had actually contacted some people to help him to get a buyer.Police then feigned interest and approached the suspect for negotiations." The suspect was about collecting the money when the police apprehended him. Chief Supt Yakubu told Accra-based Citi FM that the sex scandal can be attributed to poor leadership. He added that such grievous acts must not be condoned. Ill highly commend the police administration if they are fired. This is a major offence I think that such people should be fired. They should be fired entirely. READ ALSO: Ghana police cooperating with UN over sex abuse allegations What went wrong, Ill attribute it to weak leadership. Did this matter just occur in a day? I dont believe so and I think there was a series of it it means that there might have been a build-up to all these things, he told Accra-based Starr FM. What we dont know is that were there any indication that these people were misconducting themselves and if so what did leadership on the ground do? he added. His comments come after Ghanas 46-member team to South Sudan has been recalled as investigations are conducted into the allegations of sexual abuse by the contingent. A statement from UN said The information received indicates that some members of the FPU (Formed Police Unit) allegedly engaged in transactional sex. This is a clear breach of the U.N. and UNMISS Code of Conduct which prohibits sexual relationships with vulnerable individuals, including all beneficiaries of assistance. The escapee who was identified as Alex Boakye Ansah, was recaptured at Dichemso, a suburb of Kumasi. The Airport District Commander, Iddrisu Abdulai indicated that the suspect will be arrainged for court very soon. He said, "Well still prosecute him for the offense that he committed prior to his escape, and he has actually escaped from lawful custody so that one too is a count; a fresh charge that will be leveled against him. He is being prepared for court." Alex Boakye Ansah was part of three suspects that broke through the wooden ceiling of the Asawase police station cell at about 12 midnight on 17th August 2014, where they were being kept, pending their trial for various criminal offenses. ACP Abdulai also said, "His escape led to the reduction of the rank of about two of my personnel, so we think that it is not a case that we should joke with. We are going to take it seriously but allow the law take its course. However, Mr Adjei-Banin said the speculations were not right and called on the public to ignore the false suggestion being peddled as a result of a skewed interpretation of what transpired in the video. Mr Adjei Banin in a statement added that Hassan Ahmed is a well accomplished and meticulous diplomat, who is well versed in protocol. President Akufo-Addo delivered the keynote address at the National Governors Association (NGA) Winter Meeting was introduced by the Nevada Governor, Brian Sandoval. Hassan Ahmed was seen in the video stretching his hand towards the Governor. Many thought he did so to shake the hand of the Governor who also moved his hand in a different direction. However, the statement clarified that As part of the protocol discussions prior to the Presidents speech, it was agreed that Ambassador Hassan will accompany the President on stage to show the President his seat. That is exactly what Ambassador Hassan was doing and not reaching for a handshake. A critical look at the video will show that Ambassador Hassan was pointing to the seat where the President was supposed to sit. Read the full statement below Our attention has been drawn to a video circulating on social media purporting that the Director of State Protocol, Ambassador Ahmed Hassan, was denied a handshake by Governor Brian Sandoval of Nevada, and further that Governor Sandoval instructed Ambassador Hassan to resume his seat in the audience, at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting over the weekend. The suggestions and interpretations given to this video is misleading and completely false. As part of the protocol discussions prior to the Presidents speech, it was agreed that Ambassador Hassan will accompany the President on stage to show the President his seat. That is exactly what Ambassador Hassan was doing and not reaching for a handshake. A critical look at the video will show that Ambassador Hassan was pointing to the seat where the President was supposed to sit. After the President shook the hands of Governor Sandoval, there was a debate as to whether the President should sit or go straight away to deliver his keynote address. What ensued was Governor Sandoval pointing to the podium for the President to deliver the speech because they were running behind schedule whilst Ambassador pointed to the seat of the President because that was the agreement at the pre-event protocol discussion. The Governor was not directing Ambassador Hassan to resume his seat. Ambassador Hassan is a well accomplished and meticulous diplomat, who is well versed in protocol. We, therefore, entreat the public to disregard the false suggestion being peddled as a result of a skewed interpretation of what transpired in the video. Thank you. Signed: Joseph Adjei-Banin Assistant to Director of State Protocol He said he was supposed to be murdered like the late NPP MP for Abuakwa North, JB Danquah. He said, "My informant is my savior and I hold him in high esteem because he saved my life. The same style they used in killing J.B that was what they intended to use in finishing me. READ ALSO: Speaking on Oman FM's "Boiling Point", Agyapong further narrated how the incident happened. He said, They deceived them I live at Cantonments and dressed like a Muslim because I seldom dress that way. They stormed the house, put off the lights and started shooting but the police returned fire and killed three of them. I am told the house belonged to a former IGP. Kofi Adams says Prempeh talks anyhow and he is not fit for office. "Clearly, this gentleman is not qualified to be Minister of Education. Look, he talks by heart whenever he gets the opportunity and that is unbecoming of a Minister", he blasted. He said, "Mahama as Vice President and President for eight years did not provide Senior High Schools with a single textbook, let alone when he started his progressive free SHSToday, we have had a government who has provided the Senior High Schools with textbooks, exercise books and notebooks but John Mahama is still not pleased with it But Kofi Adams believes the Minister of Education could be decorous in his response to Mahama and said the ex-President did a lot for education in Ghana. READ ALSO: SHS candidates to write WASSCE in April Mr. Pele was jailed six years for pursuing a corrupt agenda during his time as Coordinator for Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA). The debate concerning his conviction took another twist after Nii Lante suggested the NDC will free the former GYEEDA Coordinator if the party returns to power. However, the party has now come out to distance itself from the utterances of the MP, insisting Nii Lantes comments do not reflect the views of the NDC. In a statement signed by General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, the party said it would be absurd to free the Mr. Pele since his trial was began by former President John Mahama. The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the NDC wishes to place on record that the sentiment expressed by the Honourable Member on the above cited statement do not reflect in any remotest sense the position of the party regarding the fight against corruption in the country on the matter involving the conviction of Honourable Abuga Pele in particular, the statement read. We wish to remind Ghanaians that the investigation and prosecution of Honourable Abuga Pele was initiated by the NDC as part of our strategy to rid the country of corruption, and this strategy involves measures to prevent corruption and how to deal with corruption when it has already occurred. They include exposure, investigation, prosecution and punishment of corruption.It will therefore be absurd that after a successful conviction has been achieved in this particular case, the initiator will turn around to free any person who has been convicted as a result. "He is well," Ezgulik's Abdurakhmon Tashanov told AFP. "He wants to rest a while and undergo some health checks," he said, adding that Kholdarov planned to return to the eastern city of Andijan. Kholdarov was a member of the Erk political party banned for its opposition to late Uzbek leader Islam Karimov and documented rights abuses in Andijan. In 2005, the Uzbek government violently suppressed a popular uprising in Andijan, leaving hundreds dead, according to some estimates. The bloody crackdown marked a watershed moment in the Central Asian country's descent into authoritarianism under Karimov. Kholdarov initially escaped the country but was then brought back from neighbouring Kyrgyzstan in 2006 in circumstances his supporters likened to a kidnapping. His six-year sentence was extended twice while he was in jail. Steve Swerdlow, Central Asia researcher for Human Rights Watch, called Kholdarov's release "a real moment of joy" but he also urged the Uzbek government to do more to break with the past. "The government should move swiftly to end the practice of politically-motivated prosecutions and release all others held for peacefully exercising their freedom of expression," Swerdlow said in a statement. "If the government is serious about changing the paradigm and moving beyond the dark Karimov legacy, jailing perceived critics has to become a thing of the past." Kholdarov is the second prominent political prisoner released by Uzbekistan this month after journalist Dilmurod Said was freed after nearly a decade behind bars. Uzbekistan's leader Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who was elected president in 2016 after serving as prime minister for 13 years, has moved to distance himself from Karimov's hardline policies. Nevertheless, analysts do not expect Mirziyoyev to push through genuine political reforms that would lead to the emergence of a free press and political opposition. Puigdemont wants to govern Catalonia remotely but Spain's Constitutional Court has made his appointment conditional on his physical presence in regional capital Barcelona -- and he faces arrest if he returns over his role in the attempt to break from Spain. "A deal is imminent," said Carles Campuzano of Puigdemont's PdeCAT party on Spanish radio late on Monday, as Catalonia remains without a regional government and under Madrid's direct rule following a failed declaration of independence on October 27. Asked whether Sanchez, head of the ANC, a hugely influential pro-independence citizens' group, was being considered as candidate for the Catalan presidency, he said: "This is an option that is being worked on." According to Spanish media, Puigdemont would take on a "symbolic" role from Belgium. Leading from jail? But choosing Sanchez, 53, is likely to cause further problems as he has been in prison for more than four months, charged with sedition over his role in the secession attempt. He is accused of encouraging a major protest in September as Spanish police raided the Catalan administration's economic offices in the run-up to a banned independence referendum. The October bid to break from Spain prompted Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to sack the region's government, dissolve its parliament and call snap elections in December. Sanchez, who was second on Puigdemont's Together for Catalonia list in the polls, was elected as a regional lawmaker. If he is chosen as candidate to lead Catalonia, it will be up to a Supreme Court judge to allow him out of jail to be officially appointed at a parliamentary session in Barcelona. This in theory is possible, even if the judge previously refused such a request made by jailed, former Catalan vice president Oriol Junqueras. Security was high for what is expected to be a lengthy trial, with forces guarding a 200-metre (yard) cordon around a banquet hall which has been transformed into a military tribunal. Bassole and Diendere -- key allies of former president Blaise Compaore who was chased from power in October 2014 -- are among a total of 84 people on trial, including 66 military officials and 18 civilians. They face a variety of charges including treason, undermining state security and murder over the coup launched in September 2015 by Compaore's old presidential guard against the transitional government that took power after the veteran leader's fall. The elite unit known as the RSP briefly took the country's leaders hostage before the coup was thwarted by street protesters and support from the army which attacked the plotters' barracks. Fourteen people died and 270 were injured in the unrest. 'Time for truth' The defendants risk heavy penalties, including the death sentence, which has not been used in the former French colony for 30 years. "We have witnessed a lot of impunity in this country and we hope that it is the time for truth," Oscibi Joel, an artist and member of a civil society group known as Balai Citizen, told AFP. The Burkinabe Movement for Human and People's Rights (MBDHP) described the case as a "life-size test of the credibility of the Burkinabe judiciary", often accused of being under the control of those in power in a country blighted by numberous coups and mutiny since independence in 1960. In 2016, Burkina Faso said it thwarted another plot by forces loyal to Campaore to seize power in the impoverished Sahel state and to try to free comrades detained over the 2015 coup. For Tuesday's hearing, the authorities blocked traffic in the courthouse area, while mobile phones were banned, including those of journalists, and people entering the zone were searched. The measures angered Abdoulaye Diallo, director of the Norbert Zongo press centre, named after a slain investigative journalist. "It still makes me sick that for such a historic trial, we cannot allow the media to capture even the beginning to allow people at least to see what is going on." 'Arbitrary decisions' Dienere, the former head of the RSP, has reportedly hired five lawyers for the case and called for a host of top political and military leaders to appear in court. "He is ready for this trial, he is ready for everything to come out," a member of his entourage said last week. Bassole said in an interview published last week that he did not believe he would receive a fair hearing. "Too many unfair and arbitrary decisions have been made against me in flagrant violation of my rights for me to be able to have confidence in military justice," he told private newspaper Le Pays. Some analysts say the trial could also shed light on other non-resolved high-profile cases in Burkina Faso, such as the assassination of Thomas Sankara in 1987 or the journalist Zongo in 1998, where the names of Diendere or Campaore's presidential guard often come up. From Boni to Sambisa forests, jihadists have kidnapped, raped girls, recruited boys for battles in 16-years For a period of 16-years and counting, Islamist militant groups, parading themselves as jihadists, have continued to wreck havoc on African nations. The Eastern and Western regions of Africa have been bedevilled with the nefarious activities and attacks carried out by these two deadly Islamist militant groups. From Boko Haram, the earliest group formed in Maiduguri, Northern Nigeria in 2002 to Al-Shabaab, which was founded in 2006, these militant groups have become some of the most dangerous in the world. The question on the lips of many is will these jihadists quit 16-years after the launch of terrible attacks on Africans. Similarities between Boko Haram and Al-Shabaab It is interesting to know that both Boko Haram members and Al-Shabaab members believe an austere form of Islam that insists on a literal interpretation of the Koran, known as Wahhabism. In the same vein, both claim to be jihadists organisations although Boko Haram didnt align itself with such until 2015. While Boko Haram started out as Jama'at Ahl as-Sunnah lid-Da'wah wa'l-Jihad, a Group of the People of Sunnah for Preaching and Jihad, Al-Shabaab started out as an offshoot of the Islamic Courts Union, which splintered into several smaller factions after its defeat in 2006. Both insurgent groups have at different point pledged their allegiance to international and dreaded terrorists organisations - Boko Haram pledged allegiance to Islamic State (IS) while Al-Shabaab pledged allegiance to Al-Qaeda. Al-Shabaab is synonymous with its hideouts in the dreaded Boni forest situated in Somalia and Boko Haram made the Sambisa forest in Borno a dreaded site for humans. Kidnap, abuse of girls and recruiting boys for attacks and suicide missions Like Al-Shabaab, like Boko Haram when it is time to kidnap young girls, rape and abuse these girls and recruit young boys for attacks and suicide mission. These jihadists attack innocent citizens in various villages and towns and wreck uncontrollable havoc. In a 2017 report on BBC, Salama Ali, who was investigating the disappearance of her two brothers kidnapped by Al-Shabaab, narrated how some females were abused and repeated raped by the jihadists after abduction or trick into getting a better life. "Men used to come and have sex with me - I can't tell you the number. For those three years, every man was coming to sleep with me," says one female as she recounts her ordeal. Another said: "They'd bring two or three men for each woman every night. We would be raped repeatedly." Some women were forced to become the "wives" of al-Shabab militants, it appears, while others were held as slaves in a brothel. Another report by Daily Beast in 2016, narrated how Boko Haram members taught their recruits how to rape females at gunpoint. 15-year-old Ahmed, who was kidnapped from his hometown, Baga in Northern Nigeria, narrated how he was kidnapped along with two of his neighbours and taken to Sambisa where he was forced to become a soldier. Ahmed further narrated that just after two months training with the jihadists, his recruiters took him on a mission and just before they set off for the attack, he was told alongside other recruits to capture as many women and children as they could, and that they would be allowed to have fun when they returned to their base. Ahmed said: At first I didnt understand what they meant by you are going to have fun and nobody thought to explain. Days before we left for Gwoza, they began to show us what they wanted us to do. After the abduction of girls and women, Ahmed said heand other young recruits, watched as their commanders raped women and young girls abducted for two days. The girls will scream and cry for help, but [the militants] didnt care. Sometimes theyll be slapped and threatened with guns if they didnt cooperate, Ahmed said. It could be inferred that with such freedom to abuse women at gun point and, it might be hard to end this battle anytime soon. Affiliation with world renowned terrorist organisations The insurgents have in 16-years ravaged various countries in eastern and western Africa that include Somalia, Kenya, Nigeria, Camaeroon, Niger, Chad and Republic of Benin. However their ties with Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as well as the Al-Qaeda has fuelled the intelligence and well laid out attacks that have claimed several lives and properties. In 2012, Al-Shabaab pledged allegiance to the Al-Qaeda and in February 2012, some of the group's leaders quarreled with Al-Qaeda over the union and quickly lost ground. However, this didnt stop Al-Shabaab as the troop strength was estimated at 7,000 to 9,000 militants in 2014. Between March 2015 and August 2016, Boko Haram aligned with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. And just like the case of Al-Shabaab, this broke the group and splinter groups were formed. However, the strength of the foot soldiers increased killing tens of thousands and displacing 2.3 million from their homes. After tasting the fame and accrued fortune from their loots and ransoms, it might not be totally out of place to say these militants aren't looking at quitting soon. Some of the major havoc wrecked in Nigeria and Somalia Al-Shabaab and Boko Haram have been ranked world's deadliest terror groups by the Global Terrorism Index following their deadly and unforgettable attacks. Boko Haram is famous for the launch of a string of IED attacks against soft targets but had its first vehicle-borne IED attack in June 2011, when it attacked the Police headquarters in Abuja killing 6. In August same year, Boko Haram bombed the United Nations (UN) headquarters in Abuja, killing 11 UN staff members died as well as 12 others, with more than 100 injured. In april 2014, the insurgents kidnapped female students in a school in Chibok town, Borno and in 2015 heightened their attacks by extending to cameroon and Niger. 2016 and 2017 saw the jihadists breeding female suicide bombings to wreck havoc in North East Nigeria. According to WBRC Fox6 News, the university instead of refunding the students the money they didnt use, allegedly kept the excess money to itself. The suit against the university was first initiated in May 2016 by a group of Nigerian students who accused Alabama State University, ASU of denying them access to the money sent to them by the Federal Government. One of the students, Success Jumbo, who has now graduated from the university recounted the hardship he went through when he was a student of the university. Jumbo said he was denied access to his scholarship funds when he needed money to buy books and other supplies for school. "We went as far as asking our government to give us authorization for them to release the funds to us, which they did. On several occasions, they wrote two letters, which ASU bluntly declined. This is supposed to money that has been made available for us, Jumbo said. Its not like we are asking him to pay us or give us monies from his personal pocket. This was monies already made available for us when we need them, he said. Alabama State University reacts However, the university through its general counsel, Kenneth L. Thomas has responded to the allegation saying the university management complied with the instruction given to the university by Nigerian government regarding the funds. ALSO READ: The agreement regarding the education of the Nigerian students dates back to 2013 and has always been between the government of Nigeria and Alabama State University, not the individual students. Since the initiation of the agreement, ASU has adhered to and complied with every instruction and direction given to the University by the Nigerian government regarding that agreement. ASU has advised the Nigerian government through several letters that as a result of the Universitys accounting over the last four years, the government is entitled to a $202,009.50 credit, which was deposited last year into a trust account at the federal courthouse in Montgomery, Ala. The University has yet to receive a response from the Nigerian government regarding the credit." She is survived by her parents Bill and Camille as well as her siblings Erika, Erinn and Evin. TMZ reports that the Cosby family revealed that Ensa passed away suddenly. The deceased was 44-years-old and reportedly died in Massachusetts from unknown causes. Earlier reports had revealed that she had significant medical issues in the past and was reported to have had a kidney transplant coming up. Hotnewhiphop reports that Ensa was one of Cosby's biggest supporters during his sexual assault and rape allegations trials. She said: "My father has been publicly lynched in the media and my family, my young daughter, my young niece and nephew have had to stand helplessly by and watch the double standard or pretending to protect the rights of some but ignoring the rights of others. "I strongly believe my father is innocent of the crimes alleged against him and I believe that racism has played a big role in all aspects of this scandal." Bill Cosby and his trials Ensa's death comes barely one-month to her father's retrial on rape charges in Pennsylvania. She is also the second child Cosby has lost. His son EnnisCosby was shot in the head and died after a failed robbery attempt in 1997. Ensa once played a role in an episode of The Cosby Show. She is seen wearing orange pants and opting out of underage drinking. May her soul rest in peace. Embattled Bill Cosby Ensa's death must have come as a shock to the already embattled Cosby following his sexual assault and rape allegation trials. The mother of the main accuser in Bill Cosby's sexual assault trial told the jury that the disgraced US megastar admitted in a telephone conversation 12 years ago that "he was a sick man." In one of America's biggest celebrity trials in years, the 79-year-old pioneering black comedian faced three counts of aggravated indecent assault, which each carry a maximum sentence of 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine. Around 60 women have publicly accused the Emmy-winning television star and comedian of being a serial sexual predator in remarkably similar accusations that span four decades, ending his career and shredding his reputation. But his fate rests on the allegations of just one, 44-year-old Canadian massage therapist Andrea Constand, who alleges that he drugged and sexually assaulted her at his Philadelphia mansion in January 2004. ALSO READ: Singer, other celebs bash Bill Cosby on Twitter However, several months after Bill Cosby was dragged to court on sexual assault charges, a US judge declared a mistrial on Saturday, June 17, 2017. This came after the jury deadlocked following more than 50 hours of deliberations over whether to convict the embattled TV star. According to a Facebook post shared by The Lord's Chosen Bayelsa State, Kagbara who is the pastor of Okogbe branch of Mbiama Autonomous, Rivers State, performed this amazing feat after declaring himself a chosen and "calling on the God of his pastor's powers." See the post below: Kagbara was reportedly overcome with power and overpowered the robbers, taking their guns during their attempt to shoot him. As if that was not enough, he managed to hand over one of the robbers to Ahoada Divisional Police headquarters, while the others took to their heels. The area commander also reportedly commended him for his show of bravery, adding that he had never seen such in Ahoada East and West of Rivers State. She was caught when security guards manning the boutique suspected her of shoplifting which prompted a search and subsequent discovery of the dead baby report says. The smell which oozed out from the bag reportedly gave her away. In a Facebook message to a friend, an unremorseful Rodriguez talked about burying the child and heading for a take-out with her company. "Take this s*** and dig a hole, put it somewhere then we can go and eat some pancakes," the woman who has been resigned to prison for a period of 16 years wrote. She reportedly pleaded guilty to first degree manslaughter under extreme emotional disturbance in January 2018, prompting a sentence from a judge. During trial, it was gathered that Tiona Rodriguez has been pregnant three times, her first encounter happened when she was 14. Foul odour gives suspected ritualist away, found with stinking baby corpse The foul odour of a decomposing baby concealed in a polythene bag blew the cover of Ajiboye Olusola, a 42-year-old man who was apprehended by the policemen in Ogun State at the Sapade Motor Park on Friday, December 22, 2017. Commuters who boarded a vehicle with the suspect raised an alarm which invited the presence of the police due to the offensive smell that oozed out of the carriage. Abimbola Oyeyemi, the Police Public Relations Officer for Ogun state noted that Olusola mentioned that he was taking the corpse of the infant for a burial in Lagos when questioned, Punch News reports. A statement offered by the PPRO disclosed that the suspected ritualist had embarked on a trip from Kwara state until he was arrested. The suspect who has been on the run after allegedly strangling his wife, Ajoke, to death in their apartment in Agemowo area of Badagry, in December, has been arrested by officers of the Lagos State Police Command. Vanguardngr reports that he was apprehended by the officers around Lagos Island, where he had been hiding out since the incident took place. During the interrogation, the suspect stated that he had carried out the act he blamed on jealousy, following what he described as his late wifes adulterous acts. According to the reports, there had been a lingering quarrel between the couple until the shocking incident. Speaking of his wife's murder, the suspect said: I strangled her at night while she was sleeping. She was sleeping around with other men because she felt I am a poor man and she did not hide it. That fateful night, I suffocated her with pillows. "When I discovered she was dead, I dumped the body inside a well close to our apartment. I ran away to make it look like I was not around when the incident happened." On Tuesday, February 20, Koja was reportedly charged before a Magistrates Court 12, Ebute Meta, for murder. He was subsequently remanded in prison custody by the Magistrate, Mrs Bola Folarin Williams, while the case was adjourned to March 28 for hearing. Jealous rage Recall that Pulse reported that Koja Edgar, was on the run after strangling his wife to death. She was murdered beside a according to a report. The alleged murder occurred on Thursday, December 14, 2017, at their residence located in Mowo. The police were notified of the killing through a local chief known as 'Baale'. The efforts of law enforcement officers in a bid to apprehend the suspect have so far been fruitless. Kalejaiye, who was pictured lying dead near the well, was a mother of three children before her passing. This factor is probably why some Instagram users didn't have a lot of nice things to say about the suspect. Thormylorlarh Bethel, who commented on a post shared by Instagram on the matter, criticized the abusive behaviour of men in the treatment of their wives. "Thunder fire all men who think woman are their property they can't do whatever they want with them," the user wrote. Husbands are killing their wives for petty reasons Violence against women in their marriages is sadly one of the major themes of a Nigerian society which still sees people of the female gender as objects. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in a report published in the year 2017, revealed how a man named Bamaiyi Tanko killed his wife, Auta, because she refused to serve him a meal. ALSO READ:Woman kills stepson because her children were neglected by husband This occurred in Niger State, where the suspect, 50, employed the use of a cutlass to commit murder. She shared the submission on personal page on Saturday, February 17, 2018. Her post saw her attempt to redirect notions about sexual intercourse which is believed to be unholy according to Christopher who encouraged creativity in bed. The woman backed up the Bible's position about faithfulness in marriage and painted feisty pictures about what the experience should feel like when it concerns sex. "A lot of people dont associate sex with God they associate it with Satan and darkness, as if sex is not holy.!! "The bible is explicit when it comes to sex. Sex is holy within marriage, and there is no prescribed style. "Nowhere in the Bible does it say that the missionary position is the only sexual style. Not discussing sex in a marriage is a bad thing. "Women wake up from your slumber, if he's not doing the styles with you, he's definitely doing it with someone else, gone are those days when they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, now is the way to a man's heart is how you respect and satisfy him in bed. "Men love sex!!!! #Gudnyt," writes Christopher. The writer's submission is a reflection of a Nigerian society that has placed a high value on men. Societal norms have put women at the receiving end of harm facilitated by members who feel a need to service the dictates of culture. This has ensured the existence of a movement of feminist who have passionately preached for more right and freedom to women. For failed unions, divorce is an option that is commonly being explored. Bedridden woman, 75 seeks divorce from husband who stopped servicing her Marcella Mukami, a 75-year-old Kenyan woman has asked a court to dissolve her marriage to her husband Peter Kinyugo, over claims that he hasn't been giving her enough attention. According to reports, Kinyugo prefers to stay with his second wife ignoring the bedridden complainant who also accused the defendant of adultery despite participating in the traditional marriage that welcomed a union between him and an unnamed woman. You are accusing your husband of failing to provide services to you; do you still need those services now?Waiganjo Gichuki a lawyer to the defendant asked Mukami. When my husband married my co-wife we lived happily under one roof, we had allocated duties to cook and household chores, but it is because my husband is such a clever man that I did not raise an objection, He (Kinyugo) also forced me to participate in the traditional marriage to his second wife," Mukami told the court. ALSO READ: Mom checks into hospital to prevent son from marrying divorcee This form of protest serves to suggest that racism is a major factor in their expulsion, implying that they are being sent back to home countries where their lives are in danger because their black lives are of no value to the Israeli State. In recent months, Prime Minister Bejamin Netanyahu has spoken about how Israel is struggling to cope with what he calls a migrant crisis. Israel wants no illegal immigrants Now, weeks after offering its citizens 9,000 dollars to capture African immigrants, Israel is making good on its promise to arrest and expel unregistered African immigrants, albeit a month early. Presently, the United Nations estimates that there are nearly 40,000 African migrants in Israel, the bulk of them being Eritreans and Sudanese. Most of the refugees have fled adverse conditions in their home countries which, like Sudan, have been ravaged by war, economic hardship and in the Eritrean case, corruption. However, in the eye of Israeli officials, these reasons do not validate the influx of Africans into the country. The Israeli public claim the immigrants came instead to steal jobs and economic opportunities. To show that it is desperate for them to leave, Israel has proposed giving each migrant $3,500 to leave it borders, either to their home country or an alternative country where they are welcome. The country had previously stated that it would begin sending dissenting migrants to prison by the end of March. But recently, seven Eritreans who refused to be deported to Rwanda were arrested and detained, suggesting the process has been accelerated. Protests have followed the imprisonment of the Eritreans in the Saharonim Prison in the south of Israel. "Do black lives matter in Israel?" Across the streets of Israel, African migrants have turned out in protest carrying cardboard sheets with messages such as "DO BLACK LIVES MATTER IN ISRAEL?" and "DEPORTED TO DEATH BECAUSE I'M BLACK". Many of them do not know what their fates will be come the end of March. The influx of Africans into the Middle East and Europe has created one of the worst migrant crises in recent history. Across Eupoean countries, many Africans, Nigerians included, scurry at night to evade law enforcement and avoid being deported. The biggest story out of this crisis has come out of Libya. As 2017 wound down in its final weeks, first-person accounts and footage of Nigerians and other African nationals being sold into slavery in slave markets across the North African country shocked the world. As it stands, there are no benefits to this sad trend. It is clear that the migrants' lives do not matter to the Israeli government as it should in their home countries. Upcoming wedding The billionaire's daughter, Fatima Dangote with Jamil Abubakar in March 2018, according to reports on several media outlets. The groom-to-be is the the first son of the former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko Abubakar who held the position from 2012 to 2014. Wedding plans The most recent update on the forthcoming ceremony is news that the brides father has banned alcohol from being consumed at the celebration[s]. Several media outlets say that the decision is religion-based. The billionaire father of the bride and the grooms father are both Muslims, as is the couple. In accordance with Islamic doctrines, guests will reportedly not be entertained with alcohol when the ceremony happens next month at the convention centre of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. News of the couples nuptials have been floating around in media space especially with hashtags like #fatjam2018 #jamfat2018 #abudan2018 #dafa2018 #jafa2018. Nigeria is no stranger to religious violence as it has plagued Nigeria for decades. The incident in Kaduna has grabbed the headlines unfortunately because of the scourge of religious intolerance. If you haven't caught up with the religious violence that happened in Kaduna 24 hours ago, here is a listicle that will bring you up to speed. Kaduna has always been a flash point for religiously tinged violence. Hundreds of people were reportedly killed after herdsmen attacked communities in September of 2017. There have also been incessant conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and farmers in Southern Kaduna. A document obtained by SaharaReporters indicated that the Defence Headquarters (DHQ) was notified by the Defence Intelligence Agency (DIA) of plans by Boko Haram militants to carry out a massive attack in February 2018. The confidential memo dated February 6, 2018, and titled was signed by Brigadier-General E.A Adeniyi. The military, however, disregarded the instruction to stay on high alert, as troops were withdrawn from Dapchi in Yobe state, where over 100 school girls were kidnapped. Deputy Director, Public Relations, the Theatre Command, Colonel Onyema Nwachukwu in a statement, said the military should not be blamed for the latest round of horror, as troops handed a peaceful and calm situation to the Police. However, the Nigerian police has denied the claim, stating there was not proper handing-over done to their men. The Commissioner of Police, Sumonu Abdulmaliki, said the military never handed over Dapchi town to the Police. . In a personally signed statement, Abdulmaliki explained that Yobe State remains a security emergency being monitored by security agencies. Local reports say Kasuwar Magani community in Kajuru Local Government Area of Kaduna State was the theater of pandemonium as many shops were looted and razed, leaving residents to scamper in different directions for safety. A youth leader in Kaduna, Dan Najeriya, told Premium Times that the crisis has a religious undertone. Some girls wanted to change their religion but were scolded by some youth in the community, Najeriya said. Tempers flared thereafter and that snowballed into the crisis. Kasuwar Magani lies some 31 kilometres from the Kaduna metropolis. Latest reports say law enforcement has been deployed to the troubled communityto keep the peace. Seven killed I can confirm to you that shops and houses have been set ablaze by a group of youth in the area. Many people have been injured and we also feared some even lost their lives because I saw three dead bodies with my eyes,Dan Najeriya added. Channels TV reports that the crisis arose after youths belonging to two different religious groups in Kasuwa Magani village clashed. It added that as many as seven persons were killed during the crisis. Spokesman for the Kaduna State Police Command, Mr Aliyu Mukhtar, confirmed the figures to ChannelsTV. Kaduna Governor El-Rufai has asked security agencies to get to the bottom of the incident and rein in perpetrators. At the time of filing this, relative calm appears to be returning to the community. Kaduna has always been a flash point for religious tinged violence. Hundreds of people were reportedly killed after herdsmen attacked communities in September of 2017 A statement issued on Tuesday in Birnin Kebbi by Abubakar Dakingari, Chief Press Secretary to Gov. Atiku Bagudu, said the governor made the disclosure when he visited Yeldu, Gandu Wala and Mai Kali communities in the state. He said that work on one of the roads is being undertaken by Shinco Nigeria Limited. We are going to link places like Niamey, Bachaka, Madanfara, Kare, Dadin Kowa, all border villages between Nigeria and Niger Republic. We are in the area to inspect the project, which when completed would link Nigeria with Benin, Niger and other West African countries, creating immense economic benefits to the people, the governor said. The governor also interacted with dry season farmers in Makera on how to assist them maximize their output. The Cable reports that Kanu and his wife, Uchechi are said to be living at an estate, Cantonment, also in Accra, called Arabella. Security sources say the IPOB leader was ferried to the Niger Delta creeks by militants at the height of Python Dance II, from where he found his way to Ghana by sea. Sources also say Kanu regularly patronizes suya joints in remote parts of the city. Army accused of killing Nnamdi Kanu The IPOB had accused the Nigerian Army of killing Nnamdi Kanu during the raid of his father's house during the Exercise Python Dance 2 in Abia state. On September 14, 2017, soldiers stormed Kanus Afaraukwu Umuahia residence in Abia State; as clashes between the army and IPOB members boiled over. Kanu who was caught on tape asking his supporters to leave the compound on the day, hasnt been seen since then. The group spokesman, Emma Powerful, claimed that they were searching for Kanu whose whereabouts remained unknown after the raid. Nnamdi Kanu in London Former Abia state governor, Orji Uzor Kalu had alleged that Nnamdi Kanu fled to London via Malaysia. Kanu was not taken away by the military. Kanu went to Malaysia from where he travelled to the United Kingdom. Nnamdi Kanu is in London right now as we speak, Kalu told Punch newspaper in an interview in January 2017. He added that Nnamdi Kanu was not arrested by anybody. He left the country on his own. One of his relations has spoken to me and explained everything because I wanted to see him and talk to him wherever he was and see how I could meet some Federal Government officials on his issue," the former governor said. Produce Nnamdi Kanu Meanwhile it has not been all rosy for Senator Enyinnaya Ababribe, the Abia state lawmaker who stood surety for Nnamdi Kanu before his release from custody. The court has asked Senator Abaribe to produce Kanu or face the full wrath of the law. The lawmaker however, said he does not know the whereabout of the IPOB leader. Saraki stated this at a roundtable on migration and human trafficking in Benin city, Edo state. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Nigeria currently ranks 23 on the Global Slavery Index of 167 countries with the highest number of slaves. This rating, according to Saraki, has caused lawmakers sleepless nights. Nigeria currently ranks 23 on the Global Slavery Index of 167 countries with the highest number of slaves. Human trafficking is third in the ignoble hierarchy of the commonly occurring crimes in Nigeria, according to UNESCO. "We are losing sleep over irregular migration and human trafficking; and we are determined, as representatives of the people, to do something about it," Saraki said. He lamented that Nigeria has lost too many young people - who have died in the desert and in the sea - on the unpredictable treks who otherwise would have led productive lives in their home country. "We have seen the bleak images of coffins of who were laid to rest in Italy last November. This is what brings us today to ancient Benin. The trafficking of young males has overtaken females in this state for the first time, and now stands at 63 per cent," he said. The Senate President stated that it is the expectation of the leadership of the Senate that the roundtable would serve as a springboard to efforts to stem the tide of illegal migration and human trafficking. "Clearly, something is wrong in the way we manage citizens security, border security as well as international cooperation and collaboration," he said. "This Roundtable is designed to help answer some of the niggling questions. To identify root causes and the various dimensions of the problem, and work out a way forward." Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki; the Minister of Interior, Abduraman Dambazzau; the European Union (EU), United Kingdom, International Organization on Migration, the National Agency for the Prohibition on Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and Civil Society Organizations were also present at the event. Avoid Libya Meanwhile, the federal government has cautioned Nigerians seeking greener pasture outside the shores of the country to avoid going to Libya. Sani stated this at plenary on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, while condemning the killing of about seven people in Kasuwar Magini, Kaduna state, yesterday. He noted that the unity of Nigeria is not about reciting the national anthem but by strict observance of the laws of the land. I want to draw the attention of the senate t an unfortunate situation that happened yesterday Kasuwar Magini in Kaduna state, Senator Sani said. The violence claimed the lives of over 6 to 7 people. Houses were burnt and it was all a season of mayhem. The violence was attributed in every possible way to have youth s who decided to take the law into their hands. It has all the elements of a religious violence. Every day you wake up in this country defaced with one form of violence or another. This country is accepting the reality that violence is becoming way of life. It is so unfortunate that every day we wake up to killings, kidnappings and series of violence that shakes the stability and unity of this country in every aspect. ALSO READ: 5 things we know about the violence in Kasuwar Magani I use this opportunity to urge on all people who are parties to crisis and violence to know very well that we cannot achieve any meaningful progress as a nation without peace. We should prioritize peace and unity or cohesive between ourselves. The unity of a country is not simply about the reciting of anthems and coat of arms but determination of the people to ensure justice to them and live in harmony with each other. I enjoin this senate to sympathize with us Kaduna state and identify us in this trying moment and in any possible way commend the security agencies for the prompt response in bringing an end to mayhem. We must live together as Muslims and Christians as people from different ethno-religious background, he said. The parents, who spoke in separate interviews with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), gave several reasons why they felt having British accent would help the children, with some regarding it as proper education. The classes, developed to satisfy parents, were named Phonics, Elocution, Enunciation and Diction. These classes were most times separated from the normal English and Literature lessons commonly found in schools and wereallocated special times in the timetable. Classes in the schools go for cumulative prices between N10,000 and N25,000 per term, added to the standard school fees. Some schools visited by NAN said such classes were optional but pressure from some parents was gradually making it popular. According to some parents, having their children speak in British accent gives them a feeling that they are receiving proper formal education; unlike the standard they (parents) had in their time. They said since English originated from Britain, it was important that children learned to speak it in the proper accent, adding that it would help the children to relate better with people abroad. Mrs Christina Ayuba, a businesswoman with four children said she was glad that her children were being taught British accent in school. She said although she did not fully understand the way the children speak lately, she was proud that they speak that way, as it madeher feel like she was giving them the best education. I feel the pride of a parent when my children go to Church and people envy the way they speak smartly, at least I wont be bothered if they go abroad. They will be able to interact with white people and understand them when they talk. It is something every parent should pay for to improve the childrens English language. Another parent, Mr Oyietari Oboro, an engineer with two children told NAN that he hired a tutor to teach his children the accent at home; in addition to lessons they receive in school. He added that it was a necessary skill as the world was going global and people needed to be armed with the right conversational skills; noting that British accent had become an added advantage. We did not have these kind of lessons growing up and it affected us. When you hear people speaking with British accent, you start to feel your grammar isnt correct. We dont want our children to suffer these things and so these lessons are important as part of equipping them for the future. Most of us do not want our children to stay in this country for long and also do not want them to feel left out when they go abroad. The practice led to a surge in private diction tutors who teach children in their homes or act as resource persons to schools. Some of the tutors told NAN that they charge between N15,000 and N30,000 per month, depending on the intensity of the lessons. Mr Charles Ajobi, a tutor, said he started the business in 2017 after a friend told him that his British accent could fetch him money. He works as a private tutor in homes and also acts as resource person in schools, after interaction with other tutors led him to develop a complete course curriculum. He said parents pay a lot and teaching this accent is the thriving business in Abuja now. The craze is very high and it is almost like competition. Some of these children have poor grammatical structure and you have to work on that before you start to teach the accent properly, Ajobi added. However, some other parents were against the teaching of British accent to children; saying it was another form of neo-colonialism and now a status thing among parents. They insisted that learning proper grammar was essential and not English flavours. Mrs Vera Alikan, a mother of two, said she was contented with proper English taught to her children and would not force them to take on any accent. She added that it was preferable for children to learn foreign languages rather than accent. My children are normal and speak good English without an accent and I am okay with it. The situation is alarming as parents are competing with it, even in Churches. You hear some parents bragging that their children can speak in British accent, to them, education is complete. It just shows that our mentality is still very low in this part of the world. I see it as inferiority complex. Mrs Abiola Kayode-Apampa, an Educationist with over 20 years experience and a school administrator, said the trend had heightened as parents continued to pressurise schools on British accent lessons. She said the trend was creating more room for inferiority complex among children and parents who could not afford the extra charge. She said parents encourage the teaching of British accent and most schools have to take this into consideration so as to maintain the relationship. However, teaching should be focused on imbibing the right grammatical structure so the students can speak well. Most schools are trying to copy and pander to pressure, without focusing on impacting real knowledge that the children can become better with, Kayode-Apampa said. She added that an accent could be cool but it was not a yardstick for grading the intelligence of a child as erroneously done today by parents and schools. The abduction is a sad commentary on how much security we provide to vulnerable persons in our society and how much value we place on human life. Yobe is a heavily militarized zone; an unfortunate status it shares with Borno, Adamawa and a few other States in the north of Nigeria. We knew that schools in the north are Boko Haram targets for obvious reasons. We knew that after Chibok drew worldwide attention to them and earned them some hard currency from prisoner-swap deals, the terrorists were going to do everything for a repeat. We knew that Boko Haram would love nothing more than the publicity another mass abduction would hand them. We knew that for Boko Haram, more abduction means more money for their depraved souls and bellies. We knew that the very least we could do was police schools a lot more, secure our girls and boys who are only looking for an education in the midst of bombs and guns. Chibok all over again But like Chibok, the girls of Dapchi were left to their fatesleft as easy pickings for Boko Haram. The terrorists still had to drive their creaky trucks through town after abducting the girls. In a State milling with soldiers and police officers; in a State where a state of emergency was once the norm; Boko Haram was able to abduct over a hundred schoolgirls, load them in trucks and drive them awayunchallenged. That a "thoroughly degraded" or "technically defeated" Boko Haram is still able to pull off a mass abduction of this nature tells you all you need to know. Four years after we failed the Chibok schoolgirls, we have managed to fail another batch of schoolgirls whose only offence was seeking an education in a society that doesnt care about or for them. Now we have to find them when we could have prevented it from happening in the first instance. Its how we run this country, after all. We allow the small problems become big and unmanageable and then we leave our hands firmly on the panic button. And then after a while, we move on with our lives. Inertia and inaction follows. Its been ten days since the Dapchi girls unwillingly left their families and friends for some Boko Haram infested forest. We were first told they had been rescued. That turned out a big fat lie; very much like the first few days of the Chibok saga. It shows we never really learn a thing in this country. He said his administration will also ensure the safe return of all those abducted by the terrorists. The Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Femi Adesina disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday, February 26, 2018. He said the President gave the assurance at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Monday, when he received three lecturers and nine women that were released by ISIS and Boko Haram, respectively. Adesina quoted the President as saying, "President Buhari said the ongoing negotiations for the release of more abducted Nigerians will be given utmost attention and care, with priority on safety. "Let me say that this Government treasures all human lives, particularly that of its citizens, and following your abduction, the security agencies were directed by me to do everything possible to ensure the safe release of every one of you and other persons." Adesina said the Buhari told the rescued lecturers and women that the negotiation for their release was "painstaking and protracted" because their abductors were in groups, staying in different locations, which necessitated more diligence and care in ensuring the safety of their lives. The President also directed all the security agencies to take more measures in protecting schools and students. He expressed sadness over the recent kidnap of the students of the Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State. He said, "While thanking the security agencies and all those who facilitated this, let me clearly reiterate the resolve of this Administration to ensure all persons abducted by the insurgents, are rescued or released safely. "This is especially against the backdrop of the recent sad incident where another group of girls were abducted on 19th February, from Government Girls Science and Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe State. "I have since directed all security agencies to immediately ensure that every effort is directed to ensure the safety of our schools and students, as well as bringing back the abducted girls to their families." President Buhari also commended all the various security agencies, government agencies and international organisations for their professionalism throughout the rescue process According to the statement, Director-General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Lawal Daura, also confirmed the ongoing negotiations for the release of more abducted Nigerians. The statement said that the government considering cessation of all hostilities and amnesty for the insurgents who choose to embrace it. A lecturer, Dr. Solomon Yusuf who was one of the released persons, said he was impressed with the government's intervention. "While we were in captivity, there were lots of analyses if we will ever make it out; with 180 million Nigerians, we were thinking who will remember us. We are happy you came for us. It shows that the life of every Nigerian is important," he said. The three lecturers were abducted by Boko Haram terrorists in Magumeri, Borno, while the police officers' wives were kidnapped in a raid by the militant group on a military and police convoy on Damboa road, near Maiduguri, in June 2017. The ruling party arrived at this decision during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting on Tuesday, February 27, 2018. Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state said the extension would take effect from June 30, 2018. The NEC met today and major decisions in line with the constitution of the party. We all aware that the tenure of current NWC and the executive members of this party both elected and appointed come to an end June this year, Bello said. Considering the time left for the party to conduct all the congresses and conventions and considering that our leader Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been charged with the responsibility of reconciling all aggrieved members of our party, we cannot afford to approach the general election with more disputes and crises adding that party have decided on line with article 13 which empowers the NEC to carry out the functions of its convention and the NEC has decided to extend the tenure of current NWC other executive committees at various levels for another 12months starting from June 30, he added. Oyegun recently was in the eye of the storm recently when the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu accused him of sabotaging his reconciliation assignment. Oyegun, however, replied pledging his support to Tinubus presidential assignment. Duke made the statement in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). Duke said he had not officially declared for the number one seat in the country for strategic reasons. Sometime ago, I said I will run for the presidency of the country if the opportunity presented itself. Yes, my presidential ambition is still intact, I am only waiting for the opportunity to present itself to make the right move, he said. Asked on what platform he would run, especially as he was a member of former President Olusegun Obasanjos inspired Coalition for Nigeria Movement (CNM) , he said it was too early to decide. He, however, said he was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). I am still a member of the PDP, at the same time a member of the coalition which is not a political party. The coalition will definitely align with a political party to achieve its goals, otherwise it will make no sense. I cant say yet the platform on which I will run if the opportunity presents itself. We are still watching and will take the right step at the right time, he said. On the spate of abductions and killings in some parts of the country, Duke described the situation as disturbing. He said this when he hosted top members of the party at the presidential villa in Abuja. on Monday, February 26, 2018. He expressed gratitude to the party members for standing by him despite the "antics of the opposition." The President said, "I must heartily thank the party officials and members for the successes we have achieved in the 2015 elections in securing majority of the states, majority in the national assembly and majority in the state assemblies. "We must remember that this resounding success would not have been achieved without the unity of purpose we exhibited in challenging and defeating an incumbent government. "Those outstanding successes would not have been possible without your hard work, dedication, and above all, sacrifice. I wish to individually and collectively thank you all sincerely for believing in me and remaining steadfast party members despite distractions and antics of the opposition. This unity and success are needed now more than ever, because elections are now looming. "Now that INEC has come out with the timetable for elections in 2019, the party should prepare itself for congresses at A. Wards, B. Local Governments, C. States and D. Centre. "We should strictly follow the constitution of the Party in undertaking these party elections. We should ensure internal democracy and avoid shortcuts and illegal maneuvers which have characterized the opposition party with the consequences that they are now divided. "The APC has a history of conducting free and fair primaries whenever consensus about any candidacy is not reached. Regardless of the outcomes of the primary processes, it is imperative that we all work together to ensure the victory of our party." Buhari also used the opportunity to, again, list the failures of his predecessor Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a whole. He said Nigeria was on the verge of collapse before he took over, adding that Jonathan's government was characterized by monumental fraud. The President further said, "I must state at the outset that to succeed we must in all our actions and decisions follow strictly the constitution of our party. It is easy to forget that we succeeded a government with a record of unprecedented theft and systematic mismanagement. "Nigeria was fast heading for a state of collapse. It is easy to forget the fuel subsidy fraud, arms fund diversion, depleted excess de Account savings, depleted foreign reserves, massive unpaid debts to contractors and suppliers amidst failure to invest or even maintain our infrastructure namely railways, roads, electricity, inspite of having earned over US$500 billion from Oil & Gas alone, during the 16 years of PDP rule. "Lest we forget, we must always remind ourselves of the dire situation in which we came to office. "Therefore we must not be shy in projecting our tremendous achievements from 2015 to date. The territorial integrity of Nigeria longer under threat. A number of security challenges still exist, but they exist in even the most well policed and well-secured countries. I am confident that the measures we are taking will tackle the acts of rural banditry, herdsmen/farmers conflicts, communal clashes, kidnappings and other crimes." ALSO READ: 5 young candidates who want Buhari's job in 2019 Although Buhari is yet to formally announce if he would be seeking a re-election in 2019, it is widely believed that he would run. 13A Isaac John serves as SaharaReporters office in Nigeria. But you wouldnt have guessed so from the exterior of the property. There is no sign that reads SaharaReporters or stuff like that on the gate or on the walls of 13A. It was an address as nondescript as they come. You could have missed the address if you were a first time visitor. I did. After zooming past 13A, I had to park somewhere in the distance in order not to end up on a one-way street and become guest of the police. I made the journey back to the right address on foot. Let the insults rain Good afternoonmy name is..I am a journalist with , I muttered to the chap standing like a statue at the gate; not so sure what to expect. He had a pained look on his face. Oga, enter he commanded, without asking for any kind of identification. A few steps in and I could hear Sowore insulting Buhari, Saraki and every name he could come up with at the time. He was saying something about how he had declined offers to work for CNN and BBC to pursue his dream of exposing the corrupt and the wicked in Nigeria. He had a small crowd before him. The young, the old and the not-so-old. They were holding on to his every word in this charged atmosphere. They were about 50 persons crammed into a corner of the parking lot for this special town hall. I had a hard time finding my way to the front row seats. But I eventually did. I would spend the rest of the evening listening to Sowore tear past and present Nigerian leaders apart before putting himself forward as the candidate to beat in the 2019 presidential contest. The aspirant bemoaned how tissue papers are rationed at the nation's airports ("Why don't you just give me your hand to wipe my ass, then?") and how he'll fix Nigeria's infrastructure problems in a heartbeat. Sowore was wearing a blue suit on sky blue long sleeved shirt. On his neck was a trademark cowry necklace that made him look invincible. He was fiery in his delivery. Every word was a jab at the establishment political class and President Buhari. "If I should run this country, Nigerians will be happy. I can run this country in my sleep better than Buhari can do. Ambode can't govern a county in the US", Sowore said at one point. "Jagaban ( has taken every piece of land you can find in Lagos. Saraki has taken over Kwara. Analogue For the SaharaReporters publisher, Buhari has no brain. If you ask Nigerians about the economic plans of Buhari, they'll point to the British accent of the finance minister. How does accent create jobs? " Sowore wondered how Nigerians handed over the running of their country to someone who cant operate his own smartphone. "Buhari is not even analogue. He is worse. He can't even use a telephone by himself", Sowore stated. There were intermittent cheers and jeers from the crowd. Cheers for the activist turned politician and jeers for those the man of the moment was directing his diatribe at. Sowore was a student union leader back in university before journalism took him abroad. There were strong words for those who say activists like him cant become Nigerias president. "As activists, we can run Nigeria. If a goat gets the kind of waiver Dangote gets, the goat will be rich," he said. Another round of cheers engulfed the meeting here. The meeting drew to a close around 4pm. I embarked on the trek to my car as the presidential aspirant stopped to say hello to everyone. In a statement posted late Monday, the Taliban said it "calls on American officials to talk directly to the Political Office of Islamic Emirate regarding a peaceful solution to the Afghan quandary", using the name it calls itself. The statement referenced local reports that said US envoy Alice Wells had suggested during a recent visit to Kabul that a window was still open for talks. It came days before the second round of a regional peace conference in Kabul, where representatives from 25 countries will discuss counter-terrorism and conflict resolution strategies in the war, which US officials have described as a stalemate. Washington has long called for talks with the Taliban, but historically insisted that any dialogue must include the Afghan government in Kabul. There has been no response to the Taliban's offer from US officials. Kabul urged the militants to take "practical steps", with government spokesman Haroon Chakhansori adding that "all doors for peace talks are open". "If they are Afghans they should come and talk to the Afghan government, the US will not talk to them," he told a press conference. But a senior Taliban commander told AFP Tuesday that the group had little interest in including the Afghan government -- or Islamabad, the militants' historic backers -- in the potential sit down. "We are the real parties, so let's sit and talk directly, without the presence of any third party, either Pakistan or Afghanistan," the commander said. The apparent openness to negotiations is unusual for the militant group, which has repeatedly stated that it will not enter talks until foreign troops leave the country. Afghan political analyst Abdul Bari said increased US pressure on the Taliban and on Pakistan in recent months had forced the militants' hand. But he urged caution, saying that both the US and the Taliban have used such carrot and stick policies for years. "It is too soon to know whether they are very honest this time. The group has always rejected any talks offer in the past," he said. Escalation More than 16 years since the US invasion, less than 60 percent of Afghanistan's territory is under the Afghan government's control or influence, NATO figures have shown, with the rest controlled or contested by the Taliban and other militant groups. Unveiling his new Afghan strategy last August, Trump said the US presence in Afghanistan would remain open-ended, as Washington dramatically stepped up strikes on militant strongholds. The US has also increased pressure on neighbouring Pakistan, which it accuses of supporting the Taliban, freezing millions in aid in January and last week pushing to have the country included on a terror financing watchlist. Analysts have suggested that the pressure may be driving a surge in attacks on soft targets including a spate of deadly assaults in Kabul in January, including on a luxury hotel and a massive ambulance bomb which detonated in a crowded street. Trump ruled out holding talks with the Taliban in the wake of those attacks, though State Department officials have insisted they still hope to bring the insurgents to the negotiating table. The Afghan capital will host the latest Kabul Process conference Wednesday, with President Ashraf Ghani vowing Tuesday his government will "present a comprehensive peace plan for Taliban and Pakistan". The closest Kabul has come to direct peace talks with the Taliban was in 2015 in Pakistan. If the federal government wont act, states need to do more to prevent the gun violence that has become far too common, Raimondo, a Democrat, said in signing the measure. Many of these measures to address gun violence come as students around the nation, accustomed to inaction in Congress, have begun protesting. The most vocal have been the outspoken survivors of the shooting, which left 17 dead in Florida on Feb. 14. Still, not all states are moving to toughen gun laws. Some states are considering action to loosen regulations. Here is a roundup of what states are considering doing or have already done. Rhode Island: Raimondos move by executive order was the first of its kind. Five other states Connecticut, California, Washington, Oregon and Indiana have passed similar extreme risk laws, sometimes known as red flag laws, having done so either in the legislature or by voter referendum. After the shooting, a dozen other states are considering similar measures. Rhode Island has also joined with Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York in a coalition to combat gun violence. The group plans to create a multistate database to trace and intercept guns used in crimes or transported across state lines. Florida: Lawmakers have proposed a package of gun measures that defy the powerful National Rifle Association but fall well short of the more restrictive measures, like an assault weapons ban that the shootings survivors favor. Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, proposed raising the minimum age to buy assault rifles to 21 and called for a raft of measures he said could keep mentally ill or violent people from purchasing weapons and keep schools safer. Republicans in the House and Senate, who appear supportive of Scotts proposals, also called for a three-day waiting period on the purchase of those weapons, which already exists for those who wish to purchase handguns. Scott proposed $450 million in new funding for school security and $50 million in mental health funding and called for a law enforcement officer to be posted in every public school. Vermont: Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, has done an about-face in his rural state, where hunting is a major pastime and which has some of the most lax gun laws in the country. Even after the shooting, he told the Vermont publication Seven Days that he saw no need for changing laws. I believe our gun laws are balanced, said Scott, who has a 93 percent rating from the NRA. But shortly after, a student at a Vermont high school was foiled from carrying out a planned mass shooting. Scott said he was jolted by the prospect of such a disaster so close to home. The reality of how close we came to a devastating tragedy underscores the threat of violence that faces the entire country, he said. As a result, Ive been asking myself, Are we doing everything we can to protect our kids?' Now, he said, Everything should be on the table at this point. The state Senate is expected to pass two measures this week to tighten gun controls. The Senate Judiciary Committee last week unanimously passed one bill to allow law enforcement to remove guns from people considered at extreme risk of harming themselves or others. The committee was divided on the second bill, which is more controversial to expand background checks but in an unusual step, appears ready to allow it to move to the Senate floor without a committee vote. The state House is likely to take up the two measures next month. Oregon: The day after the shooting, Oregons House passed a bill making it illegal for individuals convicted of domestic violence or those with restraining orders against them to possess weapons, even if they are not married to, do not live with, or do not have children with their victims. One of the three Republicans who joined Democrats in voting for the bill said pressure from groups like the NRA made him want to crawl under my desk in the fetal position, according to the Oregonian. The state Senate passed the bill late last week; Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, is expected to sign it. It took the voices and outrage of youth devastated by gun violence to hold decision-makers feet to the fire, she said in a statement. Washington: A bill filed in Washington state on Friday would raise the minimum age to purchase a semi-automatic rifle or shotgun with tactical features to 21, which the bills sponsors said would align rules to purchase those guns with existing rules for handguns. It would also make the sale of those weapons subject to state and federal background checks. The bill would also create a program to allow students to report threats or potentially violent activity anonymously to the attorney generals office and would require the state to give out grants to school districts for emergency response systems. Lawmakers in Washington are also working a ban on bump stocks, which accelerate the rate of fire on semi-automatic firearms. The legislation passed the Senate in January and the House on Friday, with a final Senate vote remaining. Ohio: Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, has appointed a committee to propose concrete actions and urged it to make its recommendations quickly. Meanwhile, several bills, some restricting access to guns and some expanding it, are pending in the statehouse. Illinois: House Speaker Michael J. Madigan said he would schedule votes this week on two gun-related bills that were filed before the shooting. One would require gun dealers to be licensed, much like car dealerships or beauty salons. The other, similar to the extreme risk laws in other states, allows a judge to bar a person from possessing weapons if family members or law enforcement officers ask the court to do so. Madigan said lawmakers this week would also introduce legislation to raise the minimum age to purchase a military-style assault rifles to 21. Indiana: Some bills loosening gun restrictions have advanced in the state since the Florida shooting, according to The Indianapolis Star. A Senate committee last week advanced a bill that would do away with a $125 fee for a lifetime license to carry a handgun, and would increase to five years from four a permit that exempts holders from background checks when purchasing a handgun. In the House, a committee passed a bill last week allowing people to carry firearms on a school property if they are working for or attending a church that does not prohibit weapons on those grounds. This month, before the shooting, the measure was passed by the full Senate. Kansas: The state is considering legislation to lower the age at which individuals can carry hidden, loaded guns in public to 18 from 21, while also requiring anyone under 21 to get a permit, including for carrying their weapons on college campuses. The state House passed the measure this month. It is now before the state Senate. Texas: After the shooting, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas, a Republican, sent a letter to Mike Morath, the Texas Education Agency commissioner, ordering safety information to be distributed to all schools, and asking him to take steps to ensure that all schools have completed safety audits and that all have a multihazard emergency plan in place. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. They provide detailed evidence that Manafort and Gates alleged financial crimes continued while they were running Trumps campaign. And despite the White Houses insistence otherwise, the felonies that Manafort is accused of, and the two that Gates pleaded guilty to on Friday, bear directly on the question of Russian collusion. Its certainly possible that Trump himself didnt personally connive with Russia for campaign help. Perhaps, through a combination of carelessness and miserliness, he unwittingly allowed his campaign to be infiltrated at the highest levels by both alleged and admitted criminals with Russian ties. Such a scenario, however, would not be exculpatory. Thanks to Muellers indictments and some revelatory journalism, we have a decent picture of the desperate straits Manafort was in when he joined Team Trump. In the charges unsealed last week, Muellers team described a two-part criminal scheme by Manafort and Gates. First, they laundered tens of millions of dollars while working for Viktor Yanukovych, then the Kremlin-aligned president of Ukraine, and his political allies. In 2014, Yanukovych fled into exile in Russia, and according to Muellers indictment, Manafort and Gates Ukraine income dwindled. Thats when the second part of their scheme began. From 2015 to 2017, in what looks like a frantic scramble for cash, the indictment says, they fraudulently secured more than $20 million in bank loans by lying about their finances. We dont know why they needed all this money. But we do know that in 2014, lawyers for Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska filed a petition in the Cayman Islands claiming that Manafort and Gates couldnt account for almost $19 million that a company controlled by Deripaska had given them to invest. Deripaska, who is reportedly very close to President Vladimir Putin, has been denied entry to the United States because of his suspected ties to Russian organized crime. One would not, presumably, want to owe him a debt that could not be paid. By 2015, Manafort was in despair; according to Franklin Foers exhaustive profile of him in The Atlantic, one of his daughters feared he would commit suicide. But in 2016, he seems to have glimpsed salvation in Trumps presidential campaign. Manafort wrote to Trump offering to work free, and Trump, famously tightfisted, accepted. He joined the campaign in March, and in May was promoted to campaign chairman, with Gates as his deputy. Immediately, Manafort sought to use his role in the campaign to repair his relationship with Deripaska. In April, as The Washington Post reported, he emailed an employee in Kiev about his new job, and wrote, apparently in relation to Deripaska, How do we use to get whole? In July, Manafort offered to give Deripaska private briefings about the campaign. Of course, Manafort wasnt the only figure in Trumps campaign with questionable Russian connections. On Saturday, the House Intelligence Committee released a memo written by Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who is its ranking member, responding to Republican claims about the surveillance of former Trump foreign policy adviser Carter Page. Buried inside was an important new detail about the Russia investigation. According to Schiffs memo, when the Justice Department sought a warrant to surveil Page in 2016, it presented the court with contextual information about Russian election interference. The court was told that Russian agents previewed their hack and dissemination of stolen emails to George Papadopoulos, another Trump foreign policy adviser. Papadopoulos has since pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his Russian contacts, and we knew hed been told that Russia had emails that could embarrass Hillary Clinton. But this is the first public confirmation that Papadopoulos had advance notice of a Russian plan to release these emails. The language in the memo is new, and I think significant, Schiff told me. When Manafort, Donald Trump Jr. and Jared Kushner had their infamous meeting with Russian emissaries at Trump Tower on June 9, 2016, at least someone on the campaign was aware that not only did the Russians have dirt on Clinton, they had emails, and they were prepared to disseminate them in anonymous fashion. Perhaps Trump didnt realize that his campaign was being run by alleged Russian money launderers, that at least two of his foreign policy advisers had entanglements with Russian intelligence, and that his campaign had a heads up about Russian plans to dump stolen Clinton emails online. None of last weeks new information proves that Trump is too disloyal to his own country to be president. But the only alternative is that hes too clueless. The New York Times Despite the rancor over that resolution, which was drafted by Britain and strongly backed by the United States, the council then unanimously approved a Russian-drafted resolution that renewed the embargo and the panels mandate. That resolution conspicuously avoided the issue of Iranian weapons in Yemen. The United Nations has called the nearly 3-year-old civil war in Yemen the worlds worst man-made humanitarian disaster. Millions of Yemenis have been displaced, a majority of the population lacks food and aid agencies have struggled to supply assistance. A military coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been bombing the Houthis since March 2015 in an effort to expel them from areas they have seized from the Saudi-backed government, including the capital, Sanaa. The conflict is widely seen as part of a broader power struggle between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which supports the Houthis. Iran has denied providing military aid to the Houthis. But the U.N. panel of experts found in January that missiles fired by the Houthis into Saudi Arabia, including one that landed near the capital, Riyadh, appeared to have been manufactured in Iran. Security Council diplomats struggled unsuccessfully to reach a compromise over the Russian objections to Britains draft, which identified Iran as an embargo violator. Jonathan Allen, Britains deputy ambassador, told reporters that the draft had conveyed the very serious concerns relayed by the panel of experts and had made clear Iranian noncompliance with the embargo. The Russians have said the evidence of Irans malfeasance is inconclusive. Iran has described the evidence as a fabrication concocted by the United States and Saudi Arabia. The New York Times Her joy was however short-lived. On Sunday afternoon, Interpol officers took Aluel from Embakasi Police Station and took her back to South Sudan. Aluel had experienced a relatively normal life growing up in South Sudan. The firstborn and only girl in a family of three boys, Aluels parents had treated her just as they did their sons, even giving her an education. Disruption Although Aluel has not completed her education, she has reached the third year of secondary school. The peace and normalcy Aluel had known since childhood, however, disappeared last year. It was the year Deng Abiem Deng, a Sudanese national working in Australia as a doctor, returned to South Sudan to find a wife. While on his quest, he met Aluel and the two fell in love. Deng then approached Aluels parents and discussed the terms. It was agreed that the man would marry Aluel and give her parents 150 cows as bride price. After the agreement, Deng returned to Australia, as he and a delighted Aluel set on planning their wedding. More liquid However, after Aluels engagement to Deng last year, a rich and older Sudanese with three wives already approached Aluelsparents, expressing interest in marrying her, and they reached an agreement. The minister was speaking at the launch of a new board for the Zimbabwe Private Sector HIV and Aids Wellness Coordinating Programme (ZPSHAWP) in Harare. According to All Africa, Parirenyatwa said most of the condoms available in the country are imported from China. Local men found them unsatisfactory as they were too small. Zimbabwe is one of the few African countries to meet the United Nations Population Fund's (UNDP) regional mark of 30 male condoms per man per year. In 2016, 109.4 million condoms were distributed, averaging to 33 male condoms per man per year. Prophylactics have been the most effective method at preventing spread of HIV in Zimbabwe. The programme of hiring graduates was suspended in 2005 over concerns that most of those hired at the inspectorate level lacked requisite experience to manage police operations, but CS Matiangi on Monday affirmed the new directive while at GSU Training College in Embakasi in Nairobi. We want more elite team to join the service. We are ratcheting the caliber of management in the police, the CS said adding that the Interior Ministry had already stepped up the quality of training of officers to address challenges the service faces. Key qualifications To qualify, a graduate would be required to have bachelors degrees in criminology, law, public administration, sociology and psychology, police science, leadership and security management, education, architecture or an equivalent qualification from a recognised institution. ALSO READ: Why KDF recruits are checked if they have all 32 teeth In essence, successful candidates would then undergo nine-month training before being posted to various work stations. The system was abolished when it emerged many holders of the offices lacked practical experience on police work, including manning the report office and cells, booking reports, patrols and even interrogation. Thus, most of the specialists recruited directly as inspectors left the service. The members have started a special investigation into how Dr Evans Kidero used Sh48 million while at City Hall as the Governor. An earlier audit by the office of the Auditor General has revealed that Sh48 million overdraft withdrawal was done from City Halls Co-operative Bank accounts. The county public accounts committee is seeking to establish the expenditure of the money that was not captured in the budget and shed light on exactly what was procured to inflate the bill to Sh48 million. The committee needs to be furnished with details on whether the money was captured in the budget and who authorised the expenditure of the said money, stated Kilimani MCA Moses Ogeto as quoted by the . Kidero Grass In 2015, City Hall announced that Countys committee on Budget and Appropriations had set aside Sh 40 million to beautify the city with about 1000 youths hired for the project. Renovations were done in various parts of the city, notably the 15km stretch between Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and the Central Business District. The MCAs are set to evaluate whether the beautification was necessary at the time in the latest onslaught by the incumbent Sonko against Dr Kidero, after he vowed to fight cartels at City Hall in his tenure. Who determines whether beautification of the city was necessary? I do not understand why the environment department felt the need to re-do the exercise yet the city had already been beautified, argued Kwale South MCA, Rose Oganda, the chairman of the Pubic Accounts Committee. Just last week Thursday, Public Accounts Committee questioned City Halls finance department on why the county undertook the exercise twice, citing waste of public resources. NASA had called for a National Peoples Convention (NPC) slotted for February 28 (Wednesday) which Odinga stated would mark the beginning of his official duties as the People's President. The meeting was scheduled to offer a platform for constructive dialogue between stakeholders and reinforce NASAs campaign for electoral justice and self-determination. However, with only a few hours to the historic convention, a section of NASA politicians have dismissed the event as unlikely to happen. Wiper Secretary General Peter Mathuki appeared to shift blame to ODM for failing to consult partner parties in making plans for the convention. The initial plan was for the process to be undertaken in stages. We were first to have the peoples assemblies, then hold the convention where issues of reforms were to be deliberated upon before the swearing in of the peoples president, Mathuki stated. Mathuki stated that Wiper did not see any need for a convention since the swearing had already taken place. Ford Kenya also appeared to read from the same script as Wiper, claiming Odingas swearing in had created confusion in the coalition. At their Feb. 26 meeting, Quay County commissioners took the following actions: Commission Chair Franklin McCasland was not present during this meeting. A public hearing was held for the closing of Quay Road 56, blocks 275-500. There was no objection to the closure by the residents neighboring the road. The hearing was closed and in regular session the commission approved the road closure. Presbyterian Medical Services Administrator C. Renee Hayoz gave the monthly Rural Primary Health Care Act report for the local clinics. Quay County Manager Richard Primrose requested the approval of a housing agreement with Chavez County for juvenile detention. Primrose said the agreement is for $165 a day. The commission approved the agreement with Chavez County. Quay County Fire Marshall Don Adams requested the approval of the submission of eight of the counties Fire Departments application for the Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico. District 1 Commissioner Sue Dowell elected to abstain from the motions, voting due to her name being among the applications. Commission Chair McCasland was contacted via phone and motioned for the approval of the applications, District 2 Commissioner Mike Cherry second the motion. The applications were approved. Quay County DWI Preventionist Susan Lease requested the approval of New Mexico Department of Transportation Grant Agreement application for $200,000. Lease said she has applied for this grant before in the past but was not approved. The commission approved the application. Quay County Finance Director Cheryl Simpson requested the approval of Resolution No. 25 for a budgetary increase to the Community Development Block Grants Planning funds. Simpson said the increase of $2,000 ($1,000 for per diem, $1,000 for advertising) was needed to align with program requirements. The resolution was approved. Primrose requested the approval of the donation of an ambulance from the Forrest Fire Department to Quay Fire Department. Primrose said Forrest had received an ambulance from the City of Clovis. The donation was approved. The Commissioners approved the canceling of the March 26 regular meeting due to scheduling conflicts with the Commissioners and County Clerks Office. The Commission approved the payment of any bills that would have been presented at that meeting (Indigent Claims and Accounts Payable). Those bills would be reviewed and discussed at the April 9 regular meeting. Feb. 4 DWI charge of Joe Dominguez under investigation. TUCUMCARI - The New Mexico Supreme Court suspended Tucumcari Municipal Judge Joe Dominguez without pay Thursday pending the criminal proceeding of his recent arrest and driving while intoxicated charge. Dominguez, 71, was arrested Feb. 4 by the New Mexico State Police after he failed a field sobriety test. Dominguez was charged and booked for DWI following a subsequent breath test determined his breath alcohol content was .09. The New Mexico Judicial Standards Commission filed a petition in the State's Supreme Court for the temporary suspension. The commission requested the suspension be in place until the conclusion of the criminal proceedings and its investigation into Dominguez's conduct. The commission argued in its petition that Dominguez's alleged acts may constitute willful misconduct in office. According to a release from the New Mexico State Police: On Sunday, a state police officer on patrol in Tucumcari saw a white pickup fail to properly stop at a stop sign on the corner of Second and Robinson. The officer stopped the vehicle for the observed traffic violation. As the officer conducted the traffic stop he smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from inside the vehicle. The driver, identified as Dominguez, admitted to consuming alcohol prior and performed poorly on sobriety tests. During the course of the investigation Dominguez identified himself as a Tucumcari Municipal Court judge. Dominguez was booked into the Quay County Detention Center and charged. Dominguez has declined to comment, directing questions to his attorney Don Schutte, based in Tucumcari. Schutte could not be reached immediately for comment. Dominguez is running unopposed in the March 6 city municipal election. The only requirements a municipal judge candidate meet are declaration of candidacy, residence in the city and no felony convictions. A DWI first offense is a misdemeanor in New Mexico. City officials were not available for comment on if or how the suspension would affect the election. Tucumcari City Clerk Angelica Grady said there are alternates who can serve as municipal judge during the suspension. The search has begun to replace the 5-year president. Mesalands Community College has begun the process of searching for a new president after accepting the resignation of Thomas Newsom, who served as head of the institute for five years. "I want to thank the board of trustees for giving me the opportunity to serve as Mesalands president," Newsom said. "It has been a pleasure working with the faculty and staff to provide a quality education to the students." Newsom said the board of trustees accepted his resignation Feb. 20, with his last official day set for April 6. He said he has accepted a position at a institute closer to his family home in McKinney, Texas. "Mesalands owes a lot to Dr. Newsom, he has done so much in the past five years to advance the college," said J. Bronson Moore, Trustee Chair. "Newsom came in and saved the college during a tumultuous time." Newsom was hired after the previous president Mildred Lavato was fired by the board of trustees in Oct., 2012. Before Newsom was hired in July 2013, the college had been jointly run by Natalie Gillard, vice president of academic affairs, and Aaron Kennedy, vice president of student affairs. Moore said Newsom worked to get the college back on track, creating new opportunities with university partnerships and distance education programs. He said the dual enrollment programs with area high schools have given students a head start in their secondary education. "It is going to be a difficult task to replace Dr. Newsom; he will be truly missed," Moore said. Moore said a presidential selection committee has been formed, that committee is being headed up by Trustee Jim Streetman. He said it is the hope of the board of Trustees to have a replacement selected and hired by the first of June. Moore said the board of trustees will discuss and approve the appointment of a interim president to serve after Newsom's departure on April 6 and until the hiring of a new president during the March 20 regular meeting at Mesalands. TUCUMCARI To make schools safer, we should consider locking doors, installing security cameras, tightening procedures and protocols, planning and drilling for active shooters, and maybe even hiring armed security guards. Please, do not arm teachers. Having taught for a year at Tucumcari High School and a year at the Guadalupe County Correctional facility, I am speaking from experience only a year of it, but from experience. Teachers have a hard enough time maintaining working relationships with students without students knowing the teacher has a firearm. Teachers with guns would further complicate the balance of friendliness and authority. Arming teachers would make them the equivalent of police to many students. Many students regard police with suspicion, and suspicion does not enhance learning. Further, the teacher would bear the new burden of knowing that he or she would be expected to gun down an active shooter, if it became necessary. This is not the job teachers are trained for. Military personnel and police tend to be inclined toward physical defense and protection and spend their lives training for confrontation and combat. Not teachers. Teachers are inclined toward service through education and should be trained in defusing tensions and demonstrating to students that their chief jobs are to teach and help students learn. Teachers should not be required to be security guards. In fact, having an army of teachers exchanging fire with an active shooter is likely to be more dangerous than protecting students in other ways. Better to train teachers in how to get the kids to safety, as many are. Further, the teachers gun would become a prime target of kids seeking to make names for themselves through acts of toughness and defiance. Im not saying teachers are careless. They arent. But a momentary lapse and a very aware student are going to coincide somewhere and suddenly a school will become needlessly dangerous again. Another inevitability: A teacher somewhere is going to get fed up, lose control in the face of an unruly class, and pull the gun. I am not in favor of gun control. I think gun control ignores our nations too-common cultural and behavioral dysfunctions that lead too many people to glorify violence. The call to arm teachers seems to originate from the National Rifle Associations romanticizing of both gun ownership and the need to blow away bad guys into some kind of heroic cause. I agree with their goal of maintaining the right to keep and bear arms but not their tactics. In the right hands, which means a vast majority of us, guns are tools for hunting, target shooting and yes, self-defense, especially in rural areas where police protections are limited. They should no longer be the stuff of legend or a proof of manhood. The Wild West ended early in the 20th century. Steve Hansen writes about our life and times from his perspective of a retired Tucumcari journalist. Contact him at: stevenmhansen @plateautel.net Back-To-School Wish List Monday was the first day of classes for everyone attending NYC public schools for the 2021-2022 school year. Many parents are happy about it, some... Letters to the Editor 34th Anniversary Party To The Editor: Hello allI hope everyone had a great end to the summer and are looking forward to the fall. As... Ruling to return case against businessman Mikhalchenko to prosecutors upheld RIA Novosti, Yevgeny Blinov 10:50 27/02/2018 MOSCOW, February 27 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court has upheld a ruling of a lower court returning a criminal case against CEO of Forum Holding Company Dmitry Mikhalchenko, who stands charged with alcohol trafficking, to prosecutors, the courts press-service has told RAPSI. The ruling of the Basmanny District Court of Moscow has come into force. According to a representative of the court, one of the reasons for this decision is absence of evidence presented in the indictment. In particular, there was no mention of time and place of the crime as well as evidence of alleged organization of a criminal group. Mikhalchenko, CEO of Forum Holding Company, was arrested and detained in late March 2016. Investigators believe that he has organized trafficking of alcoholic products from countries of the European Union. Allegedly, in 2015, products were obtained in European shops, collected in the port of Hamburg and then smuggled into Russia. Reportedly, the caused damage is estimated at more than 61 million rubles ($1 million). Forum Holding Company established in 2011 is one of the largest multibusiness companies in Saint-Petersburg. The company has united several dozens of the citys enterprises and organizations. Forum Holding consists of industrial enterprises, such as "Spinning Mill named after S.M. Kirov", the oldest textile industry enterprise in Russia, "Izmeron" factory, one of technological leaders of Russias downhole equipment market, according to the companys website. Ukrainian officer charged with murder of Russian TV journalist RIA Novosti, Maxim Blinov 11:47 27/02/2018 MOSCOW, February 27 (RAPSI, Yulia Glozman) Russian investigators have charged Nikolay Malomen, Lieutenant Colonel of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF), with killing a cameraman for Channel One TV Anatoly Klyan in 2014, the Investigative Committees press service reports Tuesday. Charges against Malomen have been brought in absentia. Russian investigators accuse him of organizing the murder committed by a group of people in conspiracy, on grounds of political hatred. According to investigators, on June 29, 2014, Malomen equipped the UAF servicemen based in the Donetsk Regions town of Avdeyevka with firearms and ammunition, and ordered them to open unwarned effective fire on all civilians and armed people near the military unit. On the night of June 29 to 30, 2014, Ukrainian and Russian TV journalists including Klyan, and soldiers mothers willing to hold talks on their childrens returning home, came by bus to the military unit in Avdeyevka. Malomen intentionally ordered his soldiers to open fire on unarmed civilians in the bus, the statement reads. As a result, Klyan was shot and wounded, and later died in an ambulance car. Energy Minister of Donetsk People's Republic arrested in embezzlement case RIA Novosti, Evgeny Biatov 13:37 27/02/2018 MOSCOW, February 27 (RAPSI) Eduard Golenko, Minister of Coal and Energy of self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic, has been arrested as part of a criminal case on embezzling 100 million rubles ($1.8 million), the press service of the local Interior Ministry reports Tuesday. Along with Golenko, other 21 officials were arrested; 17 of them were put in detention, the statement reads. According to the Interior Ministry of self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic, Golenko has organized a gang to embezzle funds of government enterprises subordinated to the Ministry of Coal and Energy under the guise of inventory supplies and provision of services. Investigators claim that starting January 2017, Golenko and his alleged accomplices stole over 100 million rubles. Ex-mayor of Vladivostok Pushkarev pleads not guilty in bribery case RAPSI 18:23 27/02/2018 MOSCOW, February 27 (RAPSI) Former mayor of Vladivostok Igor Pushkarev has pleaded not guilty in a criminal case over large-scale bribery and abuse of office, RAPSI correspondent reports from the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow. I dont understand the charges, Pushkarev said after a prosecutor read out the indictment. On Tuesday, the court opened hearings in the criminal case against the former mayor. Pushkarev is charged with commercial bribery, abuse of office by a person who holds public office in Russia and taking bribes on a large scale. His brother Andrey Pushkarev, head of Vostokcement group, and Andrey Lushnikov , head of Roads of Vladivostok company, are also defendants in the case. According to investigators, between 2009 and 2016, Pushkarev acting as a mayor of Vladivostok from mercenary or other personal motives organized the acquisition by Roads of Vladivostok of a large volume of construction materials from Vostokcement controlled by his relatives. Construction materials were allegedly purchased only from these companies and at inflated prices. Pushkarev allegedly received upwards of 75 million rubles ($1.3 million at the current exchange rate) in money, goods and services from Andrey Pushkarev. Lushnikov was allegedly aware of the brothers plans and aided them in exchange for financial rewards. In total, Vostokcement received over 1.2 billion rubles (about $21.4 million) for the delivered construction materials while Pushkarevs relatives received dividends in the amount of more than 500 million rubles ($8.5 million), according to the Investigative Committee. Pushkarev has been removed from his post by court order. Later, he filed in resignation. Hambastagi.org (Translated by RAWA), February 23, 2018 By Parween On February 1, 2018, a 22-year-old woman named Suraya was beaten publicly in Rabaat Amdeen village of Chah Aab district in northern Takhar province. The womans husband is living in Iran, and the woman was accused of having relations with another man. Based on this accusation, Faiz, a local commander and one of Bashir Qanets (belonging to Gulbuddin Hekmatyars Hezbe-Islami or Islamic Party) thugs, ordered her to be beaten brutally in public, in a mock court ruling. In a video circulated on Facebook, a woman in a burqa is seen trembling with fear. She is forced to sit on the ground and then a group of angry men attack her with sticks, hitting her savagely, and calling her lewd names. According to the local people, this woman had also given birth to a baby and that innocent being was killed a few hours after its birth by the same criminal hooligans. More details on the condition of this suffering woman is not available. She is currently living in her in-laws house. It is worth mentioning that this crime did not occur in an area under the domination of the Taliban or ISIS, it occurred under the nose of this brutal unity government, by men belonging to the murderous Gulbuddin, who is painted as a peace ambassador now. Originally published on Feb. 3, 2018 Property details: Big Bar Placer Item Description Wonderful Image Of The Beautiful Scenery On The Claim Seen Below!! Trophy Trout Fishing On The Claim In The East Carson River Actual Gold From The Claim, Every Pan Had Gold!! 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Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Katy Perry gave a surprise performance for first responders and survivors of January's deadly mudslide in the California community of Montecito during a benefit concert. ADVERTISEMENT The upcoming "American Idol" judge, a native of nearby Goleta, performed hits including "Roar" and "Firework" at Sunday's One 805 Kick Ash Bash fundraiser at the Bella Vista Polo club in Summerland, Calif. More than 2,000 people attended the concert, People magazine reported. The fundraiser was named after the area code that was devastated by the mudslide, which killed more than a dozen people. "This means the world to me," Perry told CNN. "This is where I flourish. My heart was broken by the tragedy, the mudslide. I'll do anything to help this community." The benefit concert's lineup also included Katharine McPhee David Foster , Dishwalla, Wilson Phillips and Ellen DeGeneres The event raised $2 million for survivor relief, emergency services and equipment. "The news has moved on, but we have not moved on," DeGeneres said. Currently, confiscation can be done through multiple laws, but it is a complicated process. Arup Roychoudhury and Indivjal Dhasmana report. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Stung by the Rs 114 billion scam at Punjab National Bank, the government is considering fast-tracking the draft fugitive economic offenders Bill. The draft law might soon be placed before the Cabinet before being tabled in Parliament in the post-recess Budget session. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had first spoken of such a Bill in the 2017-18 Budget. The draft Bill, which has the law ministry's approval, allows the government to confiscate the properties of economic offenders and defaulters who flee India. Currently, confiscation can be done through multiple laws, but it is a complicated process. Even existing cases could come under the proposed law, which means that cases relating to Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi will also be covered. But the law would not cover earlier cases, sources said. The Bill also proposes to give greater powers to investigative agencies. It allows quicker attachment and disposal of properties and assets, helping recovery. Currently, properties of offenders can be attached by courts. The Bill proposes having special courts to attach these properties, sources say. The Bill has provisions for appointing an administrator to dispose of the property to pay creditors. Besides, the provisions of the proposed law will override the provisions of existing laws, say sources. As of now, the laws under which such offenders are tried are the Securitisation and Reconstruction of Financial Assets and Enforcement of Security Interest Act, 2002, the Recovery of Debts Due to Banks and Financial Institutions Act, and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. According to the draft law, a fugitive economic offender is an individual against whom a warrant for arrest in relation to an economic offence has been issued, and the person has left the country and refuses to return to face criminal prosecution. The authorities have to prove the individual concerned is a fugitive economic offender. The jewellers and companies linked to Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi had allegedly colluded with PNB officers to obtain fake bank guarantees to get loan from overseas branches of Indian banks including Allahabad Bank, Axis Bank and UCO Bank. Punjab National Bank (PNB) has said that the alleged fraud perpetrated by jewellers Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi may be around $2 billion, over $204 million more than previously estimated. In a Monday night filing to stock exchanges, the state-owned lender said that "the quantum of reported unauthorised transactions can increase by $204.25 million." The bank had earlier put the defrauded amount at Rs 11,394.02 crore ($1.77 billion). Adding another Rs 1,323 crore would take this to Rs 12,717 crore. PNB said it has not received any instruction from the government to compensate other lenders for losses arising out of the fraud. The jewellers and companies linked to them had allegedly colluded with PNB officers to obtain fake bank guarantees to get loan from overseas branches of Indian banks including Allahabad Bank, Axis Bank and UCO Bank. The bank has enough capital/assets to pay for such liability in case of eventuality in accordance of law, PNB said in a separate statement to stock exchange made on Monday night. In filings earlier this month, PNB said it stumbled upon the scam on January 25, 2018, and a fraud report was filed with the Reserve Bank of India on January 29. On that day, a criminal complaint for registration of FIR was also made with the Central Bureau of Investigation. Stock exchanges were informed of the fraud on February 5. This was followed by another fraud report being submitted to the RBI on February 7, the day one more complaint was filed with the CBI. On February 13, an FIR was filed with the CBI against Nirav Modi Group, Gitanjali Group and Chandri Paper & Allied Products Pvt Ltd, as also a complaint filed with Enforcement Directorate. Stock exchanges were informed the next day, PNB had said in the filings. In the complaint, PNB alleges that Modi and companies linked to him colluded with some of its officers including a former deputy general manager Gokulnath Shetty, who was posted in the foreign-exchange department of its Mumbai branch. They fraudulently acquired guarantees to obtain loans from the overseas branches of Indian banks, claiming to need the cash to import pearls. "On January 16, 2018, the partnership firm of Nirav Modi group approached our branch at Brady House, Mumbai, and presented a set of import documents with a request to allow buyers' credit for making payment to the overseas suppliers," PNB had said. This happened after Shetty had retired. And since there was no sanctioned limit for the firms, the branch officials asked them to furnish at least 100 per cent cash margin for issuing Letter of Undertaking (LoU) for raising buyer's credit. "On denial, the firms contested that they have been availing such transactions since past several years," PNB had said. On scrutiny, it was found that earlier LoUs were issued previously and internal messaging system was bypassed by placing instructions via the SWIFT global payment system asking overseas branches of Indian banks to fork out the cash as loans. PNB said this followed a series of meetings with representatives of Nirav Modi group and Gitanjali group at Delhi and Mumbai "to impress upon them to pay the amount." "Upon confirming the first maturity of LoUs liabilities on January 25, 2018 as fraudulently credit against bank, an FMR-1 (fraud report format of RBI) was submitted to the RBI on January 29, 2018 amounting to USD 44.22 million equivalent to Rs 280.70 crore (related to three group firms of Nirav Modi)," it had said. On that day, a criminal complaint for registration of FIR was also made to CBI. On February 7, another fraud report was submitted to the RBI on confirming the maturity of LoUs liability of USD 10.20 million (Rs 65.25 crore) relating to two companies of Gitanjali group promoted by Mehul Choksi. Further, LoUs of $59.23 million (Rs 279.28 crore) also matured for Nirav Modi group, it said adding while investigation was on 10 officers/employees were suspended. Hong Kong branches of Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank were asked to provide all communication with borrower, PNB said. "On February 12, 2018, on the basis of investigation report, total fraud of Rs 11,394.02 crore in case of unauthorised issuance of Letters of Undertakings, Foreign Letter of Credits and Inland Letter of Guarantees in the group accounts of Nirav Modi Group and Gitanjali Group and in account of Chandri Paper and Allied Products Pvt Ltd was reported to RBI," it had said. Image: The PNB scam is already one of the biggest in the Indian banking sector. Photograph: Danish Siddiqui/Reuters 'Case closed,' Dubai public prosecution says about Sridevi's death. Photograph: Kind courtesy Sridevi/ Instagram The Dubai public prosecutor's office has closed the investigation into Sridevi's death and cited the forensic report to say she accidentally drowned following a loss of consciousness. According to local media reports, the family has taken custody of the body and given it for embalming. The Dubai media office, the Dubai government's official Twitter handle, in a series of tweets said the decision to release the body was taken after thorough investigation. 'Dubai Public Prosecution has approved the release of the body of the Indian actress Sridevi to her family following the completion of a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of her death,' it said. 'Dubai Public Prosecution stressed that all regular procedures followed in such cases have been completed. As per the forensic report, the death of the Indian actress occurred due to accidental drowning following loss of consciousness. The case has now been closed.' Photograph: Pradeep Bandekar Earlier in the day, Arjun Kapoor -- Boney Kapoor's son -- had taken a flight to Dubai to be with his father as he wrapped up the formalities to bring Sridevi home to Mumbai. 'Arjun has gone to Dubai this morning to be with his father at the hotel while the formalities are being wrapped up and to oversee the return journey,' a statement from the family in Mumbai said. The Dubai police Twitter handle said Sridevi drowned in the hotel bathtub after she lost consciousness. A forensic report circulated on various media outlets used the term 'accidental drowning' as the cause of her death. The 54-year-old actor passed away in her hotel room in the Jumeirah Emirates Towers late on Saturday. The Dubai police tweeted it had transferred the case to the Dubai public prosecution which will carry out the legal procedures followed in such cases. 'Following the completion of post-mortem analysis, Dubai police headquarters stated that Sridevi's death occurred due to drowning in her hotel apartment's bathtub following loss of consciousness,' it said. The police recorded the statement of her film-maker husband Boney Kapoor who reportedly discovered Sridevi unconscious in a bathtub filled with water. She was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. The Dubai-based Gulf News newspaper alleged that the actor was under the influence of alcohol. Gulf News also posted a copy of the UAE government's forensic report on its Twitter handle. The report, citing accidental drowning as the cause of death, has a stamp of the 'Ministry of Health UAE' and the director of preventive medicine, Dubai, Dr Sami Wadie. The report mentioned the actor's full name, Sreedevi Boney Kapoor Ayyappan, her passport number, date of the incident (February 24, 2018) and the cause of death. India's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Navdeep Singh Puri earlier asked the public not to speculate about the cause of Sridevi's death. 'We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well-wishers. We share their pain,' Ambassador Puri tweeted. 'Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise. Let's be responsible,' the diplomat said. Sridevi was in Dubai for a family wedding and had stayed back after the ceremonies. Her husband had flown back to India with their younger daughter Khushi, but returned to Dubai to surprise her. The news of her death, first reported at around 3 am IST on Sunday, sent shock waves across India and the world with those who knew her at a loss to explain how the star, who was present at several wedding functions in Dubai last week, could suddenly breathe her last. A close finish is predicted in Meghalaya. Two exit polls on Tuesday predicted that the Bharatiya Janata Party will dethrone the Left front from power in Tripura. According to the exit polls, the BJP will also consolidate its position in two other northeastern states of Meghalaya and Nagaland. JanKiBaat-NewsX has predicted that the BJP-IPFT (Indigenous Peoples Front of Tripura) alliance in Tripura will win 35-45 seats with a vote share of 51 per cent. While another exit poll by AxisMyIndia predicts 44-50 seats for the BJP-IPFT with a vote share of 49 per cent and others may get 0-3 seats with a vote share of 11 per cent. The ruling Left front in Tripura is likely to get 14-23 seats with vote share of 45-46 per cent, while AxisMyIndia poll predicted the Left to win 9-15 seats with a vote share of 40 per cent. The CVoter Exit Poll has predicted a close finish in Tripura, with the Communist Party of India-Marxist likely to get 26 to 34 seats with 44.3 per cent vote share, the BJP and its allies 24 to 32 seats with a vote share of 42.8 per cent, while the Congress may win only 0-2 seats with a vote share of 7.2 per cent. In Meghalaya where the Congress is in power, the JanKiBaat-NewsX exit poll shows that the National People's Party (NPP) is set to gain with 23-27 seats while the BJP will get 8-12 seats, with vote shares of 39 and 12 per cent respectively. The Congress is predicted to win 13-17 seats with a voteshare of 21 per cent and others are likely to get two to six seats. In Nagaland, the BJP-Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party alliance is likely to storm the ruling Naga People's Front bastion as it is predicted to win 27-32 seats with a vote share of 48 per cent, against NPF's 20-25 seats and a vote share of 42 per cent, according to the JanKiBaat-NewsX exit poll. The Congress in Nagaland is likely to get 0-2 seats with a vote share of 4.4 per cent and others are likely to get 5-7 seats with a vote share of 5-6 per cent. In Meghalaya, the CVoter exit poll predicts a close finish, with the Congress likely to get 13-19 seats and the NPP 17 to 23 seats, with vote shares of 36.5 and 29.4 per cent respectively. The BJP in Meghalaya is likely to get 4-8 seats with a vote share of 16.6 per cent. The United Democratic Party-Hill State People's Democratic Party likely to bag 8-12 seats and 8.8. per cent vote share, while others may get 5-9 seats and a vote share of 8.7 per cent, the poll said. In Nagaland, the exit poll claimed a victory for the NDPP-BJP which is likely to get 25-31 seats with 38.4 per cent vote share and the NPF likely to bag 19-25 seats with a vote share of 27.1 per cent. The Congress in Nagaland is set to lose a lot with the poll predicting 0-4 seats with a vote share of 19.7 per cent, while others may get 6-10 seats with a vote share of 14.8 per cent, according to CVoter. Each of the three states has a 60-member assembly and a party would need 31 seats to get a clear majority. The results for the three states would be out on March 3. While Tripura went to polls last Sunday last, voting was held in Meghalaya and Nagaland on Tuesday. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi waves to his supporters as he arrives to address an election campaign meeting ahead of Tripura state assembly elections, in Agartala. Photograph: Jayanta Dey/Reuters King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, who arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday on a three-day visit, was accorded a grand welcome with Prime Minister Narendra Modi receiving him at the airport, in a special gesture. The Jordanian King's visit comes nearly three weeks after Modi travelled to Jordan as part of his trip to West Asia, including Palestine. 'Welcomed His Majesty King Abdullah II to Delhi. Its wonderful to meet him again, after my brief halt at Amman earlier this month. His visit to India will further deepen bilateral ties between our nations. I look forward to our talks on Thursday,' Modi tweeted. The prime minister and the King will hold extensive talks on Thursday covering entire expanse of bilateral ties, official sources said adding, the Palestinian issue and ways to deal with terrorism, radicalisation and extremism are likely to figure prominently in the deliberations. 'India welcomes His Majesty @KingAbdullahII Ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of #Jordan on his State Visit. Deviating from protocol, PM @narendramodi welcomes His Majesty at the Airport. India attaches great importance to its ties with Jordan,' External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Modi received the Jordanian King at the airport, a week after his absence there to welcome Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had triggered questions over whether it was a snub by India to the visiting leader. The King, a 41st generation direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad, will also deliver a special address on Islamic heritage and promoting moderation on Thursday morning which is expected to be attended by Modi. Diplomats, representatives from Islamic institutions of all denominations, academicians, think-tanks and representatives from across the country are expected to attend the event. The King is known for his global initiative to fight radicalisation and terrorism. He is also the custodian of the Al-Aqsa mosque, the third holiest site in Islam, located in the Old City of Jerusalem. India considers Jordan an 'oasis of stability and harmony' in conflict-ridden West Asia and New Delhi would like to deepen bilateral ties with the country during the King's visit, official sources said. Both sides will also look to finalise a framework for defence cooperation, they said. The sources said both sides are expected to ink a number of agreements to expand cooperation in several key sectors including healthcare, IT, customs and will look to firm up a framework pact for defence and security cooperation. In their talks, Modi and the King are also likely to explore ways of deepening trade ties. Twenty textile industries from India have invested around USD 300 million in Jordan. Jordan's royal helicopters had flown Modi and his delegation from Amman to Ramallah and back during the visit. The Jordanian King is accompanied by a high-level business delegation. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi receives King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, the king of Jordan, in New Delhi on Tuesday evening. Photograph: Kind courtesy @narendramodi/Twitter The Centre on Tuesday sought to downplay the issue of presence of dreaded terror group Islamic State in Jammu and Kashmir saying it has no existence in the Valley. "There is no physical infrastructure or manpower of the IS in the Valley. It does not exist in the Valley," a Union home ministry spokesperson said in New Delhi. The central government's assertion came after the terrorist group claimed responsibility for the killing of a policeman, Farooq Ahmad Yatoo, in Jammu-Kashmir on Sunday. Jammu and Kashmir police chief S P Vaid said that there are no visible signs of IS presence in Kashmir, even as a possibility does exist of it carrying out a lone wolf kind of attack. Admitting that it was a matter of concern, the Director General of Police said the terror outfit's claim would be verified. Amaq and Al-Qarar, the propaganda wings of the notorious IS, claimed the terror outfit was responsible for the killing of Constable Farooq Ahmad in Srinagar and warned that a 'war' had just begun. Ahmad was killed and the assailants decamped with his service rifle. "The IS has claimed on its website Al-Qarar, that they are here (in Kashmir). This needs to be verified on the ground. It is matter of worry," Vaid told PTI. The police will probe and verify the claim, the DGP said. They have not only claimed the killing of the policeman but have shown the weapon as well, he said. "They had also made a claim in November last year. This needs ground verification. There is an element (of suspicion) in it," Vaid said. The Jammu and Kashmir police chief said that as of now, there was nothing visible on ground suggesting a major IS presence in Kashmir. "Although there are no visible signs on the ground, but there could be a lone wolf type of attack.There is possibility (of its presence)", he said. Vaid said that some may have got influenced by IS propaganda on social media like Zakir Musa was attracted to Al Qaeda. Another official said Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Tayiba could be behind the attack on the policeman, and Esha Fazali, a local terrorist who first joined the Hizbul Mujahideen and later shifted his allegiance to LeT, has emerged as the prime suspect. In November 2017, there were reports that the global terror organisation was involved in an encounter with security forces in Srinagar where a terrorist, identified as Mugees, was killed and a sub-inspector, Imran Tak, lost his life. Pictures of Mugees with an IS flag in the background surfaced on social media. Even his body was wrapped in the flag of the banned terror group during the funeral. However, security officials had then claimed that Mugees belonged to an extremist group called Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen and was its Pulwama district commander. The Tehrik-ul-Mujahideen was among the first few terror groups that emerged at the onset of terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir in the early 1990s. However, police have found no logistical connection between the two, another official said. The cadre strength of the group is very small and it has been facing an extreme shortage of weapons, officials said. The Tehrik-Ul-Mujahideen was founded much before the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen came into existence, they said. After the killing of Mujees, Adil Ahmed has been appointed the group's commander in Pulwama district. Tearing into the Siddaramaiah government, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday dubbed it a 'seeda Rupaiya sarkar' (money first government), a reference to corruption, and said it should not be allowed to continue 'even for a minute'. Modi, who has been accusing the state government of corruption, intensified his attack on his third visit in less than a month to the poll-bound Karnataka, saying there was public anger against the regime. "It is now certain that this Karnataka government will go," he told a Bharatiya Janata Party farmers' rally in Davangere. "You have such a chief Minister here. Some people feel that in Karnataka there is Siddaramaiah government. But the fact is here there is seeda rupaiya sarkar. In every thing there is seeda rupaiya, only then work happens," he said. The rally in the Lingayat belt here was organised to coincide with the 75th birthday of state BJP chief B S Yeddyurappa, who is being projected as the party's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming assembly polls. With the prime minister himself in attendance, the rally was also seen as an attempt by the BJP to set at rest any doubts about the choice of Yeddyurappa, a Lingayat strongman, for the chief ministership in the event of BJP winning the polls. The Lingayat community forms a strong voter base for the BJP. The Saffron party is seeking to unseat the Congress with its 150-plus seats target in the 224-member assembly, polls to which are expected to be held in coming April or May. In his earlier rallies, Modi had called the Siddaramaiah dispensation 'a 10 per cent commission government' and later said his information was not correct and came to know that it was much more. Hitting back at the prime minister, Siddaramaiah had last week charged him with being 'the great facilitator of corruption' while referring to the two billion dollar Punjab National Bank scam allegedly involving diamond businessman Nirav Modi. In Davangere on Tuesday, Modi said everything was being done for a price in Karnataka. Dubbing the Siddaramaiah government as 'a seeda rupaiya sarkar', he asked the crowd whether they wanted such a government. "You tell me do you want this seeda rupaiya culture? Do you want seeda Rupaiya kaarnaama? Will a common man get justice only from this seeda rupaiya?" "This seeda rupaiya government has to go," Modi said, adding, there should be an honest government in Karnataka. "That is the reason now, that in Karnataka instead of seeda rupaiya business there should be a government that listens to its people and does their work." Blaming the Congress culture for the ills facing the country, Modi said the situation had now come to such pass that because of the 'weight of their own sins, let alone Karnataka, they will not be able to save the Congress'. In Karnataka, Modi claimed, the people were eager to see the exit of the Siddaramaiah government. "I have travelled to a couple of places in the state. I have seen the mood of the people. I have seen the anger against this government. Every one is worried about this government. There is such anger against this government... such governments are very less." Apparently referring to the income tax raids on a state minister and a close aide of the chief minister last year, he said: "In this country there was never a raid on residence of any sitting minister. "Here in their houses you get diaries, money. You get bundles of notes from houses of leaders. Where did this money come from?... Whose money is this? If this is not seeda rupaiya what it is?" Modi said. "The kind of destruction that has happened in Karnataka, such a government should not be allowed to continue even for a minute," Modi said. Modi also hit out at the state government for not utilising the funds from the Centre for various schemes. He said Gujarat known as a drought-hit area achieved 10 per cent agriculture growth due to BJP government's water conservation measures there. "But there is such a government in Karnataka that it has not been able to utilise about Rs 100 crore money given by the Centre for watershed scheme," Modi said. Funds given for smart cities and 'Swachch Bharat' schemes among others, had also not been utilised, he charged. "There is such a government here that it does not work for people. It does only two things -- one keeping its aakas (lords) in Delhi happy and second giving share (money) to please those who are unhappy," he said. Stating that Centre was supporting the state government in every way possible for development, Modi said unless 'the 10 per cent matter is sorted out, work doesn't happen here'. "First 10 per cent, 12 per cent, 15 per cent is discussed, every one in Karnataka knows about this business.," the prime minister alleged. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi hands over a model of plough to Karnataka BJP president and chief ministerial candidate B S Yeddyurappa during the party's Farmers' Convention at Davanagere on Tuesday. Photograph: Shailendra Bhojak/PTI Photo Its not easy to be a spy. The job requires a unique set of skills, including mastery of a wide range of gadgets and devices. Now, at the new Spyscape museum in New York, one can not only experience what being a 007 spy entails, but also learn about the history of espionage. Designed by UK architect David Adjayes firm Adjaye Associates, the 60,000-square-foot exhibit located on West 55th Street in Midtown Manhattan has dark concrete walls, polished concrete floors, LED lighting and kinetic, high-tech information displays. All photographs: Skyscape museum/Facebook A $39 ticket to the new museum takes you to seven galleries -- dedicated to deception, encryption, surveillance, hacking, intelligence, cyber warfare and special ops. At the museum, visitors can also take part in multi-sensory interactive experiences where they can pretend to be spies, and after the tour, one gets an assessment of which of 10 spy roles youd best be suited for. At the museum, one is also introduced to the incredible stories of some of the greatest, and most infamous, names in the history of spying -- from World War II codebreaker Alan Turing to daring undercover operative Virginia Hall to Soviet FBI mole Robert Hanssen -- and can get up close to artefacts including genuine Nazi Enigma encryption machines. Furthermore, other amenities that Spyscape offers is a cafe, a book shop with over 1,000 rare spy books, and a gift shop filled with spy gadgets and smart technology. The architect of the museum said that they coordinated with former members of renowned hacking collectives, station chiefs and directors of intelligence agencies to contribute with the design. We hope this will be a really empowering experience for people to start to see their world differently, see themselves differently, and understand how the types of skills that spies use can be relevant to their daily lives, Shelby Prichard, Spyscapes chief of staff was quoted as saying. We show how the world of espionage is all around you, he added. At the museum, weathering steel drums are utilised to house a themed exhibition focused on surveillance, hacking, deception and intelligence operations, while a blend of smoked glass, cement, grey acoustic paneling, mirror-polished steel and dim lighting create the overall espionage-like vibe and mysterious atmosphere. So hurry up and make your way to the spy museum -- open seven days a week from 10am to 8 pm -- to find out if you have what it takes to be a spy! IMAGE: Khasi tribe women show their ink-marked finger after casting their votes during the state assembly elections, in Ri-Bohi district of Meghalaya. Photograph: PTI Photo Around 75 per cent voters exercised their franchise on Tuesday in the assembly polls in Meghalaya and Nagaland, where sporadic violence claimed one life in a clash between the ruling Naga Peoples' Front and Bharatiya Janata Party, officials said. The voting percentage is likely to go up as complete data is yet to be received, the chief electoral officers of the two states said. IMAGE: Women line up to cast their vote in Meghalaya. Photograph: Rediff.com Nagaland Chief Electoral Officer Abhijit Sinha said the violence in Akuluto constituency in Zunheboto district left one dead and two injured. Police fired to disperse the clashing party workers and voting resumed after the situation was brought under control. A village council member received minor leg injury in a blast in a room adjacent to a polling station in Tizit constituency in Mon district. Polling was, however, unaffected, he said, adding some arrests were made in both cases of violence. IMAGE: A young voter shows his finger marked with indelible ink after casting his vote during Nagaland assembly elections in Dimapur on Tuesday. Photograph: PTI Photo Polling was held in 59 out of the total 60 constituencies as Neiphiu Rio, the three-time former chief minister and Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party candidate, was elected unopposed to Northern Angami-II seat. Rio's party has an alliance with the BJP, which snapped ties with its long-standing ally the Naga People's Front. Sinha said voting could not be held at Ladigarh polling station in Tamlu constituency in Longleng district along the Nagaland-Assam border due to the tension there. Voting could not be held also at a polling station at Suthotsdu village in Meluri sub-division of Phek district as a mob forcibly entered and damaged an electronic voting machine. IMAGE: Elderly women show off their inked finger after they have cast their vote in the Meghalaya assembly election. Thirty one women women candidates are standing for the elections in the state. Photograph: Rediff.com In Tizit constituency, a group of people snatched EVMs and the Voter-verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) machine at a polling booth. The EVM was retrieved but the VVPAT has still not been found, he added. Of the 195 candidates in fray in Nagaland , NPF has fielded 58, Congress 18, BJP 20, NDPP 39, National People's Party 25, Nationalist Congress Party 6, Janata Dal-United 13, Aam Aadmi Party 3, Lok Janshakti Party 2 and 11 Independents. Five women candidates also contested. Meghalaya CEO F R Kharkongor said polling in 59 out of the 60 constituencies was by and large peaceful and the election office is awaiting data from remote places in the Garo and East Jaintia Hills districts. Polling was countermanded in the Williamnagar constituency in the state due to the killing of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma on February 18. He said polling had to be stopped in one booth of Raliang constituency in West Jaintia Hills district due to EVM-related problems. In two polling stations in South Garo Hills and South West Garo Hills districts, officials forgot to delete the mock poll data from the machines. The ruling Congress, which had won 29 seats in the 2013 elections, is facing challenge from a buoyant BJP after the latter's successes in Assam, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. The Congress, in power in Meghalaya for the last 10 years, has fielded 59 candidates. The chief minister is contesting from two seats. Although the BJP drew a blank in 2013, it has put up candidates in 47 seats, including four MLAs of the current House who joined the party last month. The United Democratic Party, which has eight members in the outgoing House, and the Hills State People's Democratic Party with four MLAs forged a pre-poll alliance and are together contesting 45 seats. The other major parties contesting the polls are the National People's Party, the Nationalist Congress Party and the People's Democratic Front, a new entrant. Counting of votes would be taken up in both the states on March 3. 'May it be the guardian which calls for breaking down narrow walls of the mind.' 'May it continue to invite everyone to celebrate the possibilities of humanity's one-ness.' Claude Arpi salutes 50 years of Auroville, a Grand Experiment in Living. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi interacts with an old-timer at Auroville, February 25, 2018. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Old timers will remember the famous journalist and editor Russi Karanjia who founded Blitz, a national weekly. Started as early as 1941, India's first tabloid focused on investigative journalism and 'hot' news; sometime the frontier between 'investigative journalism' and fake news was tenuous. Sometime at the end of the 1970s, Blitz published a double-page article entitled 'Auroville, the Snake Pit. It was full of 'news' about the bunch of forengi hippies living near Pondicherry (now Puducherry). The reporter (I don't remember his name) spoke of drug addicts and peddlers who were trying to create a new sect, in the form of a city with Vatican-like status. It was the worst place on earth. All of it was obviously absolute fake news. Those of us who lived in rather rustic conditions on the arid plateau were understandably, deeply, upset, but we soon decided to continue doing our work and did not even contact the editor to make a fuss about the article. On Sunday, February 25, the prime minister of India arrived on the now afforested plateau to celebrate the golden jubilee of the project, the Blitz title flashed in my mind. The times had certainly changed. Speaking in the Bharat Nivas auditorium, Narendra D Modi declared: "Sri Aurobindo's vision of India's spiritual leadership continues to inspire us even today." "Indeed, Auroville is a manifestation of that vision. Over the last five decades, it has emerged as a hub of social, cultural, educational, economic and spiritual innovation." The prime minister described Sri Aurobindo, the Rishi of modern times, as "A man of action, a philosopher, a poet, there were so many facets to his character. And each of them was dedicated to the good of the nation and humanity." He spoke of the five high principles for Auroville, beginning: "Auroville belongs to all humanity, a reflection of India's ancient credo of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam -- the world is one family." "The very fact that Auroville has brought together such a huge diversity of people and ideas makes dialogue and debate natural," Mr Modi continued. "Auroville showcases the ancient Indian tradition to the world by bringing together global diversity." He spoke of a "Yagna" for unity performed 50 years ago: "Men and Women brought soil from all parts of the world. In the mixing of the soil began the journey of one-ness." On February 28, 1968, some 5,000 people gathered on a barren plateau of red laterite, north of the former French establishment in Pondicherry. That day marked the birth of a 'Dream' which had rarely been attempted; to bring people from different countries, races, religions, backgrounds in one single place to build a city together, 'a Tower of Babel in reverse', in the Founder's words. Perhaps the most astonishing part is that the 'dream' still exists; and nobody today thinks to call it a 'snake pit'. On the contrary, the prime minister prayed, "May Auroville serve as a beacon to the world. May it be the guardian which calls for breaking down narrow walls of the mind. May it continue to invite everyone to celebrate the possibilities of humanity's one-ness." What a journey it has been. Not always an easy one for the early settlers. IMAGE: Prime Minister Modi at Auroville, February 25, 2018. Photograph: Press Information Bureau In 1968, as the world was churning (it was three months before the May 1968 students revolution in Europe), the utopia of a universal city began to take shape. Instead of destroying 'an old world', the idea was to construct a 'new' one; it was undoubtedly far more difficult, because it meant building new men and women. Indeed, this apparently crazy 'lab' had all chances to explode under the pressure of human egos. The person who had this 'strange' utopian idea was the French-born Mother, Sri Aurobindo's collaborator, who had set up the Sri Aurobindo Ashram in 1926. Young couples -- representing 124 countries and 23 Indian states -- placed a handful of soil from their respective countries or states in a lotus bud-shaped foundation urn at the centre of the future city. In the midst of this barren area, the banyan tree nearby would become the geographical centre of the city. From her room in Pondicherry, the Mother announced: 'Greetings from Auroville to all men of goodwill; are invited to Auroville all those who thirst for Progress and aspire to a higher and truer life.' She later read the Charter of Auroville through an All India Radio broadcast, giving, in her frail voice, the first direction to the new project: 'Auroville belongs to nobody in particular. Auroville belongs to humanity as a whole. But to live in Auroville, one must be a willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness.' The fact that it received the unanimous endorsement of the general assembly of UNESCO did not change the lives of the pioneers, who had to 'survive', often on millet, during the scorchingly hot summer of South India, living in rudimentary thatch huts. In many ways, life is today easier than during the first years of the City of Dawn. At first, only a couple of hundreds heard the call, to what the founder called a 'Great Adventure'. However, after the Mother passed away in November 1973, life changed drastically. The Aurovilians were then left to stand on their own feet, materially and spiritually. But they knew that they had to carry on the mission given to them by their mentor, to build the 'City the Earth Needs', a smart city before its time. The task was immense, but the most immediate need was down-to-earth, to create shade from the scorching sun. Aurovilians started to rejuvenate the arid land. They planted trees, built bunds and dams to stop the soil being washed away with the cyclonic monsoon rains and constructed the first primitive houses. It is how the first pioneers became 'experts' in the environment, giving Auroville the reputed expertise it has today. But the problems began accumulating and with recurrent shortage of funds, the Mother's words came back to everybody's mind: 'Auroville wants to be a self-supporting township.' She had also said that in Auroville 'money would be no longer the Sovereign Lord, individual merit will have greater importance than the value due to material wealth and social position.' Money had nevertheless to be generated for the project to survive and develop. It is J R D Tata -- a great supporter of the concept of Auroville since its early days -- who thought that Auroville crafts could become Auroville's best ambassadors. In 1980, the Tata Group sponsored an exhibition Auroville Today which toured the major cities of India through the year. The exhibition was a tremendous success. Nobody could have guessed then that just over three decades later, Auroville would be visited by thousands of people every day. IMAGE: Prime Minister Modi, flanked by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, left, and Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi releases a stamp to honour Auroville at Auroville, February 25, 2018. Photograph: Press Information Bureau Auroville may not yet have succeeded in all its objectives, but the way of life chosen by the pioneers is today acknowledged by many, including the senior-most functionary of the Indian State. The fact that Mr Modi was accompanied by the governor of Tamil Nadu, the lieutenant governor of Puducherry, as well as the Union Territory's chief minister and other dignitaries, was a homage to Auroville's founders and to the settlers, old and young, who have made the Dream the beginning of a reality. For me, one of the best compliments Auroville received over the years came from an official at the Controller and Auditor General, which annually goes through Auroville's accounts. Having read too fast the Charter, he wrote in his report (later filed in Parliament), that Aurovilians are the 'living survivors of the Divine Consciousness'. 'Survivor' had replaced the original 'servitor'. An apt description indeed. Let us hope that Auroville continues to survive, and the 'survivors' remain true to the Dream. Tailpiece: I am grateful to Mr Karanjia for having given me my first chance as a journalist to write for Blitz on China affairs in the early 1990s. This is called the 'Irony of Life'! Title Report to the Portuguese Government on the visit to Portugal carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 27 September to 7 October 2016 Publication Date 27 January 2018 Country Portugal Citation / Document Symbol CPT/Inf (2018) 6 Cite as Council of Europe: Committee for the Prevention of Torture, Report to the Portuguese Government on the visit to Portugal carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) from 27 September to 7 October 2016, 27 January 2018, CPT/Inf (2018) 6, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5a951b3e4.html [accessed 18 September 2021] Houston, TX -- (ReleaseWire) -- 02/27/2018 --Integrity Images is delighted to have earned a position as the premier professional photography resource in the greater Houston area. The talented photographers at Integrity Images possess the knowledge and industrial expertise to elegantly preserve countless personal memories by using modern photographic technology. When it comes to commercial photography, Integrity Images provides a comprehensive slate of services to suit every type of enterprise. With more and more business owners focusing on marketing for businesses which required attention-getting photographic images, the company delivers quality result for the same. They understand the fact that high definition photography will often be at the core of printed marketing brochures, flyers, pocket folders, signs, banners, menus, etc but there is another part of the equation. One can discuss the requirement with the expert photographer in Spring and The Woodlands, Texas. With rising popularity of internet marketing, businesses are hunting for professional photographers who can make their website sparkle with clarity and professionalism. They also provide product photos for e-commerce business to bring the offerings to life. One can also rely on them for corporate headshots, industrial photography, and real estate images that will attract potential buyers. Apart from handling the professional photography work for commercial enterprises, they will also be standing by to provide professional photography for a school, a team, a club, or any other community group. With years of experience upon the sleeve, the company can also satisfy all one's personal photography needs. Be weddings or graduations, retirement ceremonies or any other important occasions, Integrity Image is the ideal choice to have such moment appropriately captured. With commitment to work and excellence to customers, the experts have been doing great job since the establishment of the company. They are standing by right now to help. Apart from photography, the company also provides graphic design service, video production, web design, SEO, virtual tour, and digital printing in Houston and The Woodlands, Texas. About Integrity Images Integrity Images specializes in helping our clients captivate their target audiences with powerful videos and photography while providing same and next day design and printing services with an average accuracy rate of 99.3%. Share Tweet Pin 586 shares Note all articles are independently researched and written by myself. However, if you buy via one of the links it may be an affiliate and I may earn a small commission. I have featured a few of these in the past, not least a number of eBay finds. But if you want new, check out my top 50 retro record and vinyl storage units available right now. In fact, its never been a better time to be looking for designs like this. Well, unless you have a time machine to go back to the mid-1960s. Right now, you can find some in mainstream retailers (some good ones too) as well as some more niche pieces available handmade from small sellers. In fact, the majority are to be found courtesy of small sellers. Handmade is the byword here. With that in mind, it has actually been a tough job keeping it down to just 50. But hopefully, there is something here for you with enough style and depth for your record collection and perhaps room for a record player if you need it. 1. PlattenKreisel circular vinyl storage and record deck unit Now, this is the big one. Quite literally. if you have the budget, space and the vinyl, this is the unit for you. Designed by collectors, each of the circular units is produced in Germany with the aim of having everything to hand, bags of storage for your music and room for your deck. Just sit back in your swivel chair and lose yourself in your vinyl collection. Depending on the configuration you opt for it can around 1,500 LPs and 450 singles in protective sleeves or up to 1900 singles and 850 LPs. Obviously not cheap, each one goes for between 34,248 and 40,947. Find out more at the PlattenKreisel website 2. Ronda 1960s-style vinyl cabinet at La Redoute It would have been unthinkable to have something like this at a high street retailer just a couple of years back. But here we are, a dream of a retro design at La Redoute. The Ronda, part of a larger 1960s-inspired furniture collection, is a wonderful throwback design, offering room for your vinyl below, a separate section up above, a place for a deck and an extra space for other bits and pieces. All with some 1960s style, including contrast panels and tapered legs. Very popular and if often goes out of stock with the retailer but does come back regularly too. Expect to pay 339, although La Redoute trends to have some kind of discount running across its range. Find out more at the La Redoute website 3. Midcentury-style vinyl storage unit by Vintage House Coruna I am actually going to feature two designs by this maker as they really do have so many to choose from. A company that specialises in vinyl storage. My first pick it a unit that could pass for a midcentury modern sideboard. Handmade, this is available in various colours., with the cupboard perfectly sized for 12-inch vinyl and the surface able to support a deck. Functionality and style. Expect to pay between 470 and 500 depending on your finish. See all of those on the sellers Etsy page. Find out more at the Etsy website 4. Stor New York record storage sideboard A hugely popular design and for good reason. An obvious pick for the top 20 rundown. Again, a design that could pass as a midcentury sideboard and able tho double up as one. But the option of those vinyl storage slots at the end is the killer feature here, especially with the more traditional storage option too. Love the tapered legs with brass tipping as well, always a nice touch. A step up in price, with this one going for around 1,700. Find out more at the Etsy website 5. Portishead Reclaimed Timber Record Storage Unit by Urban Grain Something very different, but possibly familiar at the same time. Yes, this is the kind of racking you would expect in a record shop, with the bins perfect for flicking through. But the finish is unusual as its a mix of scaffolding board and gas pipes, with the unit produced by hand in an old Victorian hat factory in Manchester. 895 for this one, with each made specifically to order. Find out more at the Not On The High Street website 6. Retro record storage units by Urban Editions Not just a single unit, this is a complete range of similar designs. Storing your vinyl is at the heart of each one, with plenty of capacity within those slots for your records. At least, there is if you go for the large ones. If space is tight, there are smaller ones, as well as different wood finishes and different options for the legs. That makes pinning down a price for these handmade units difficult, but as a guide, they start from around 600. Find out more at the Urban Editions Etsy website 7. Midcentury-style storage unit by Moutinho Store This one isnt just about the vinyl. But a good option if thats what you need. A midcentury design that is (again) made to order, it can handle vinyl, books, CDs or pretty much anything within reason, with a surface deep enough to hold a record player too. Different designs again, some being open like this one and others having the option of doors. But best of all with these designs is the price. One of the more affordable larger units, prices hover around the 250 mark. Find out more at the Etsy website 8. Handmade midcentury record storage by Department Home This is a serious option, both in terms of storage and price. Not that you have to go for one pictured here. There is a smaller one if your room and your budget is a little smaller, as well as a compact unit the size of a bedside cabinet. All have a strong midcentury look and like many here, handmade and built with enough strength to holds lots of records. Prices are between 357 and 948, depending on the one you opt for. Find out more at the Department Home Etsy website 9. Le Connaisseur retro vinyl storage unit by Kopo Perhaps not the winner when it comes to storage capacity, but this storage unit. It has an asymmetrical design, with room for a record deck at the centre of the unit and space for your vinyl at either side. Perhaps more than you might think at first glance. You can actually fit up to 200 vinyl records in this one, with the hairpin legs a lovely finishing touch. You can tweak the finish of the design if you want to, although that might mean a jump up on the starting price of 985. Find out more at the Kopo website 10. Sonor record storage unit by Derelict Design Theres no ambiguity about this design and there is a similarity to others on the page. The selling point here is 12-inch vinyl storage. Again, room for a player and in this case, industrial-style hairpin legs. But at the end of the day, you are buying this for the ample space for that vinyl over those four slots. 600 or so for this unit ad do check out the rest of the range as the maker has so many variations on this particular theme. Find out more at the Etsy website 11. Gimmick midcentury record cabinet at Maisons Du Monde Gimmick by name, perhaps by nature too? Ill let you make up your own mind. This is a new design, but one based on the kind of units you might well have found in the 1960s. A kind of sideboard-meets-storage, with an emphasis on your music collection. Someone mentioned that the area with the glass lid might fit a record player, but you will need to check the dimensions if thats your intention as it might be a squeeze. But thats the kind of look this one is going for regardless. 812 is the price if you want one of these in your life. Find out more at the Maisons Du Monde website 12. Hi-Phile retro record cabinet If something compact is on your list, this one is certainly worthy of a mention. The unit here certainly is compact, as well as flat pack record storage. No tools are required though, youll be pleased to hear. You just slot these units together, which offer ample storage for both 7-inch and 12-inch records over a small footprint. Different finishes too, although some have already sold through. Prices are from $725 if you want a weekend putting together some flat pack for your records. Find out more at the Hi-Phile website 13. Luno midcentury-style audio system with built-in drinks cabinet Much more to this than simply record storage. This is the perfect night in. Described as a Mad Men inspired audio system, this custom-made unit offers a Pro-Ject Debut Carbon deck, wireless connectivity, a two-way speaker system, as well as storage for 150 records. Oh yes, this also houses a minibar too. All of that in a cabinet made of American walnut. Price is $9.995 if you fancy this as the centrepiece of your hip 1960s living room. Not cheap, but it is amazing. Find out more at the Luno website 14. The Vinyl Stand by HRDL Maybe you dont want a full-on cabinet to keep your records in. With that in mind, I have a couple of options, kicking off with this good-looking piece. A minimal design, this one is available in different wood finishes, although the angular frame is the selling point. Just 32 albums will fit in here, so not for a big collection, but if you want something eye-catching for your favourite titles, this might be for you. 224 is the price of this. Find out more at the HRDL website 14. Vinyl storage unit with hairpin legs by Vintage House Coruna A second entry from this Spanish design team, which pretty much specialises in the concept. There are more too, but hopefully, the ones I have featured here give you an idea of what the company offers. This time its a storage space, a good amount of area for your vinyl and the ever-popular hairpin legs. Compact enough for smaller spaces but large enough to host a record player and a good few records too. Around 473 for this one if it ticks the boxes Find out more at the Etsy website 16. The Modern HiFi Stereo Console This was a Kickstarter project, but you can order it now. Another piece by Department Chicago, a maker I mentioned earlier in this piece. Another stunningly attractive unit, it has room for your records (at least 120) as well as hosting a Bluetooth-enabled amplifier, connecting wirelessly to all your enabled devices. Inputs also here for your TV, record deck and other old school audio if you need it. Did I say it looked good? I think I did. $1,695 is the asking price for this beauty. Find out more at the Kickstarter website 17. Korgis record cabinet and bookshelf by Mitz Takahashi This one is an absolute gem, although I dont know much it retails for sadly. Everything about it ticks the boxes of a vinyl lover. Just look at it, an unashamedly retro unit with as much presence as anything on this listing, not least because of that lovely walnut grain and the brass legs. Within the unit is a mix of vinyl storage and bookshelf space (which might even work as even more record storage). The dedicated vinyl area is a drawer-style affair, which looks to offer a serious amount of capacity, although the bottom line isnt listed. Nor is the price. You just need to contact the maker or seller for a quote. Find out more at the Mitz Takahashi website 18. Compo Vinyl Storage Unit in Oak at La Redoute This is similar to the earlier Ronda in terms of functionality, but with a very different look. It tones down the 1960s look (which might be a bit much for some) and instead focuses on the storage, which is plentiful both below and at the side of the area given over to a record deck. That added flexibility of the look is probably a selling point, as is the price of 350. It does come up cheaper in the occasional sale though. Find out more at the La Redoute website 19. Bespoke vinyl storage units by Hello Retro Something a little less austere and dare I say it fun. Functional, affordable and with different colours to choose from in terms of the legs and the exterior. But at the end of the day, the storage is the selling point and the capacity is decent if you dont have a huge collection that needs housing. Prices are from 195 if you fancy one or more of these. Find out more at the Hello Retro Etsy website 20. Midcentury vinyl storage units by Scott Cassin Another option if you want a unit that looks like a vintage piece from the 1960s. Various options in fact as the maker, all of which follow a similar pattern in terms of design, but differ in terms of the size, the finish and the legs. Although the one pictured here, one of the large ones with tapered legs is my personal favourite. As for price, you are looking at 565 upwards. Find out more at the Scott Cassin Etsy website 21. Melanie Vinyl Record Storage Shelf Something a little cheaper off the high street? This one is a little more affordable and a little more compact. After all, not everyone has huge collections. Different colours for these stands, which are designed very much for purpose. Room for a decent amount of vinyl, a place for a typically small record player and an extra shelf for whatever you like. 95 is the price of this one, making it cheaper than any of the top 20 retro record and vinyl storage units featured above. Find out more at the Urban Outfitters website 22. Budget retro vinyl stands at Wayfair In fact, heres another cheaper option. Actually, that should say options as there are a few of these with different finishes. So different colours, different sizes, drawers and room for a record player on top. Some hairpin legs that might appeal too. Yes, there are more substantial units out there, but they dont sell for under 100. Find out more at the Wayfair website 23. Vinyl storage racks by Design Atelier Looking to maximise your storage and minimise your footprint? This could be the vinyl storage solution for you. Like many of these options, there are different sizes, from a single rack design that fits on a table to multi-level record racks that should be more than enough for a large collection. All made of metal, some angled, some more traditional and some with wheels. Different colours too. Thats the joy of handmade. You get to choose before you buy. Prices start at around 120, moving up to 326 for the biggest unit. Find out more at the Design Atelier website 24. Vinyl holder display shelving by The Urban Editions Not one for big collections, but this option takes your vinyl and shows it off as art. So with that in mind, perhaps dont hang these in the way of the sun. Once youve done that, show off your vinyl in a variety of configurations, with a choice of two, three or four runs and different colours for these minimalist design racks. How much vinyl? Thats between 40 and 80 records, with prices from around 60 directly from the maker. Yes, these are handmade. Find out more at the Urban Editions Etsy website 25. Midcentury modern record player tables by BnE Studio Like some of the others featured, there are various configurations of these available to buy. Handmade and primarily made to host your record player, these midcentury modern designs also double up to carry some vinyl too. Some more than others but none for a huge collection. This is more for your current spins and for the player. Lovely things though and priced between 200 and 300. Find out more at the BNE Studio Etsy website 26. Record player stand and storage by Krud Furniture A similar idea to the above, but more rustic and as you can see, with more vinyl storage too. Again, various options in terms of size and functionality, with this one being my favourite as it can store more than just vinyl. But if you want just vinyl, there is an option for that. That rustic look is because it is made from scaffold-style solid wooden boards, which have been cleaned up and finished for your home. 410 for this one, but prices vary depending on what you are looking at. Find out more at the Krud Furniture Etsy website 27. Handmade vinyl storage stand by Sussex Wood Furniture Another fairly rustic finish from a maker that just makes the one vinyl storage unit. But they do accept custom orders if you want to tweak things. Again, this one uses wood that has been recycled and reclaimed from scaffold boards to great effect, adding in hairpin legs and offering a good amount of vinyl storage and space for your player (or anything else) above. 255 gets you one. Find out more at the Sussex Wood Furniture Etsy website 28. Midcentury modern vinyl cupboards by Elizabeth Dot Design Different colours are available for the finish of these wonderful cupboards/cabinets. I have featured the upcycled designs of Elizabeth Dot Design previously, which was incredibly popular. But these are not upcycled. The designs here are handmade to order, so you can choose your colour and legs to suit the room. Plenty of room for your records, an eye-catching piece and adaptable as general home storage too. 210 is the price of one of these. Find out more at the Elizabeth Dot Design Etsy website 29. Floating vinyl storage shelves by Krovel Furniture I like this idea. Keep your floor space free by storing your vinyl on the wall. Not that its much different, but the floating shelf concept is very midcentury modern and looks great when done well. The only problem is that you will need a few to maximise your storage and impact. Each of the handmade units is made from solid American black walnut but can be ordered in different finishes and sizes from the ones shown if you prefer. Price is around there 225 mark. Find out more at the Krovel Furniture Etsy website 30. Midcentury modern vinyl cabinet by DB Furniture Not the biggest capacity, but this unit more than makes up for it in style. I love the angled design here and whether you have vinyl to store or not, Im sure you could find a good use for this in your home. But if you do have vinyl, there are three slots below for it, with space for the record player above. Handmade of course, with this wooden cabinet selling for 499. Find out more at the DB Furniture Etsy website 31. Scandinavian vinyl cabinet by DK Displays Maximising your storage with a midcentury Scandinavian look. That pretty much sums up this one. Traditional rack storage below and flip browsing above, just like you would do in a record store. All with a small footprint and tapered wooden legs. If it appeals you are looking at around 415 to pick one up. Find out more at the DK Displays Etsy website 32. Industrial wooden vinyl cabinet by Colour Furniture Low standing storage, but with plenty of capacity for your records. You could use it as a TV stand, but its prime focus is keeping your vinyl in place. How much? Im not sure, but quite a lot. And if you need more, theyll do a custom design for you too. Wood finish, metal hairpin legs and price starting at 180. Find out more at the Colour Furniture Etsy website 33. Vinyl storage unit by Wicker WoodWorks Similar to the Scandi one a few places above in terms of functionality. But certainly, not in look. In fact, you can choose the finish for this one in terms of colour. Or you can go for a plain wood finish. Hairpin legs too. But you want to know about the storage. Not sure how much, but I would guess we are talking about vinyl storage in the hundreds here on both the lower rack and the upper flip racks too. All in a modest footprint. Around 226 for one of these. Find out more at the Wicker WoodWorks website 34. Vinyl wall cabinet by Lee Furniture I featured one wall-based solution earlier. This is another, more substantial one. The company does other storage solutions, but this is my favourite, Again, one that could adapt beyond vinyl storage. But also one thats ideally suited to it. Nope that the wall unit does have wall hangers, but due to the heavy load of vinyl, it must be fixed to brick or solid timber battened wall. There will be a lot of weight here if you fill it. However, if you prefer, you can order if with hairpin legs and is on the floor. Lots of storage whatever you do and for a price of 495. Find out more at the Lee Furniture Etsy website 35. Classy Vinyl midcentury modern unit by Pastform Furniture I had to do a double-take on this one as it looked like a vintage piece. Thats not true. This one is new. I dont know much about Pastform Furniture, except that it is based in Poland and specialises in design from the golden age of interior design. The mid-20th century. This one is lovely. A midcentury modern sideboard with drawer storage and of course, six slots for your vinyl too. A lovely look and lovely grain, with good storage space on the top too. If you want one, it sells for 677.50. Find out more at the Pastform Furniture website 36. Handmade retro vinyl cupboards by Made By Raphael Two design variations are available for these handmade retro vinyl cupboards by Made By Raphael. Both rather appealing. Different woods and with the option of drawers or not, each made from birch plywood and with the oversized legs adding in some design to a largely functional unit. Room for a turntable on top too, should you be looking for something with that in mind. In terms of price, thats 499 for the open unit and 530 for the closed cupboards. Find out more at the Made By Raphael Etsy website 37. Turntable stands and record storage by Kunsst Furniture A mix of storage, functionality and good looks. Thats pretty much what the turntable stands and record storage by Kunsst Furniture have on offer. Love the colours and if you are after a compact unit, this one offers that too. Each one is a handmade cabinet, which has room for a player, easy access to records via the upper bin, storage options below for your records, space for an amplifier and a straightforward wood finish throughout. So a well-thought-out design. Prices start around the 700 mark. Find out more at the Kunsst Furniture Etsy website 38. Graphic vinyl cupboards by Elizabeth Dot Design I know I featured some open units earlier in the round-up, but I thought these graphic cupboards are worth a mention too. They are similar to the other units, with similar legs and dimensions. Although there are some subtle differences, so do have a browse. Some interesting retro colours and designs to choose from too, all of which will add some brightness and a talking point to your living room, as well as somewhere to stick your vinyl. If you get something else for vinyl, this will adapt as a sideboard sort drinks cabinet too. Prices start at a reasonable 290. Find out more at the Elizabeth Dot Design Etsy website 39. Couzens LP Console by Tomfoolery Wood If you have a good amount of vinyl and a love of midcentury modern then this is for you. A solid hardwood unit thats handmade by craftsmen and available in a variety of different wood finishes. Love the wood finish and love the angled legs. All of that storage space too, which is pretty much the point of this unit. Fancy it? This one retails for around 860. Find out more at the Tomfoolery Wood Etsy website 40. Allnighter 7-inch vinyl storage cabinet Youll be covered for an all-night party and beyond with the Allnighter 7-inch vinyl storage cabinet. There are two key selling points with this one. First off, the design course. It looks stunning. But also, the fact that is designs for 7-inch singles. Most cabinets out there focus (perhaps rightly) on the larger LP format. Not here. This midcentury modern wooden cabinet can hold 1,300 singles with around 160 sitting in each of those drawers. Its all about the storage, but the design hasnt been forgotten. The downside? This doesnt come cheap. 1,525 if you want one of those in your home. Find out more at the Button Uo Furniture website 41. Burke and Marshall bespoke vinyl storage cabinet This is a classy piece of furniture. And it can be built just got you. Burke and Marshall is a handmade furniture partnership between brothers Sam Burke Phillips and James Marshall Phillips, producing premium pieces made to order. Like this vinyl storage cabinet. A lovely wood grain, bags of storage in drawers for your 12-inch or LP vinyl and the knowledge that you are getting a pice of furniture that is built to last. Want one? You will need to contact the maker for a price and further details. Find out more at the Burke and Marshall website 42. Luxe 4-bay record stand by Symbol This one is another that doesnt come cheap. But you have to appreciate the look of this one. Unashamedly midcentury modern in terms of look and inspiration, this one holds up to 700 LPs in flip-style bins, not unlike the kind of set-up you would see in a record shop. Except record stores dont use solid wood units like this finished with tapered dowel legs. This is a seriously stylish piece. If you can stretch to the $2,995 price, then perhaps you should, Find out more at the Symbol website 43. Record Cube Stand by Hifi Woodworks Lets get back to so thing smaller both in size and in asking price. There are different sizes available for this, as well as different wood finishes. See the website for a full list of options. They also do some nice vinyl shelving thats worth a look too. But lets focus on this one, which is a handcrafted cabinet with hairpin legs and a capacity of between 120 and 240 records. Reasonably priced too, starting from around 200. Find out more at the Hifi Woodworks Etsy website 44. Vinyl storage cabinet range by Komoda Furniture Theres a good number of these units available covering various sizes. But all are wooden vinyl cabinets. It all comes down to the size and configuration you want. Make your choice then it is handcrafted in the makers Nottingham workshop. But all are consistent with the wood finish and hairpin legs. Its really just about how much vinyl and hi-fi kit you have. Prices are from around 300. Find out more at the Komoda Furniture Etsy website 45. Double row record storage cabinet by Department Home I did feature another by this maker earlier in the rundown, which was a more stylised cabinet. This one is all about maximising storage. As you can see, this is still a midcentury modern design and as such, perfect for a home or room in that style. The difference here is that the vinyl storage is front and centre. This is all about getting as much vinyl filed away as possible. Up to 750 LPs in fact, depending on the width of the LP sleeve. The price for this one is around 1,579. Find out more at the Department Home Etsy website 46. Record player stand with vinyl storage by Lumi Wood More a stand than storage. But if you need both, worth considering. Another handmade item, this wooden unit offers space for your record deck and amplifier, as well as storage space for a modest amount of vinyl. Basically, the ones that are currently spinning on a regular basis. If you need more storage, see the rest of this listing. Sat on some hairpin legs, this unit is one of the more affordable at 294. Find out more at the Lumi Wood Etsy website 47. Unison Sonos record stand by Symbol Old and new collide with the Unison stand. Again, a maker I have featured before if you want to can back up the list. But this one is a slight detour, taking in the modern world. This is about storing your vinyl and catering for your kit. In fact, if you have a Sonos music player (a Sonos Five ideally) and a deck then this is for you. The unit has a built-in vibration isolated turntable platform, a ventilated back panel and an adjustable shelf that can be used to store audio gear, or alternately be removed to allow for storage of up to 130 records in the cabinet. Door handles are custom made with Wickett & Craig vegetable-tanned natural leather and vinyl sits both above and below. $2,895 if you want one in your life. Find out more at the Symbol website 48. 1950-style record racks at Magpie For more modest vinyl storage needs, have a look at the 1950-style record racks at Magpie. Two colours to choose from, with each one designed to sit on a flat surface or unit and with the slots capable of holding up to 50 records singles or LPs. A design feature as well as a practical piece, they sell for 15 each. Find out more at the Magpie website Or you could just go for cases and crates 49. Lenco retro record cases Yes, you can still get the old school record cases your parents might have kept their vinyl in. If your storage needs or more modest or you have the need to make your collection portable, they are worth a look. A few available, but in terms of a retro look, I like these Lenco cases. Retro shades, retro design and a fake leather finish for a full-on 1970s vibe. Each one holds about 30 LP records, so not exactly huge. But they do cater for people with modest storage needs. Grab one for 59. Find out more at the Urban Outfitters website 50. Wooden 7-inch record storage cases If you just want to store some 7s, then have a look at these. Different labels and designs are available for the outer design but these are handmade crates for your singles, made in a Sussex workshop out of pine. Not that they look like pine, with each one given an antique wax finish for that vintage look. LP cases are available too if you prefer, although they do sell for more. If the singles crate is that you need, they sell from around 27 each. Find out more at the Little Stable Workshop Etsy website A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. A SPRING fair will raise funds for end-of-life care facilities at Rotherham Hospital. The craft event, to be held at the hospital on March 20, will support Rotherham Hospital and Community Charity's Purple Butterfly Appeal. Volunteers will staff stalls between 10am and 1pm, selling handicrafts and home baking to fund the suite for terminal patients. The charity is still seeking keen cooks and amateur artisans to contribute their skills, as well as donations of Easter eggs for young patients. Gabby Atmarow, chair of the charitable funds committee, said: We had such a wonderful time at the charitys Christmas Fair, with members of the public, volunteers and fundraisers raising more than 800. "Our amazing volunteers and colleagues from Unison Rotherham have already pledged to sell home-made cakes, crafts, woolly baby blankets, crafts and books but the more the merrier. Community growers Rotherham In Root will also sell sunflower seedlings and purple-hued flowers and vegetables, while crafter Zoe Green will peddle perfect artisan gifts. The Purple Butterfly Appeal raises money to fund Purple Butterfly rooms, which provide privacy, dignity and space for patients, their families, friends and carers. For more information about the Charity Spring Fair or to register interest, contact Suzanne Rutter on 01709 426821 or email charity@rothgen.nhs.uk. Easter eggs and raffle prizes can be donated by visiting the charity office, based in the corporate secretariat on Floor D of Rotherham Hospital. POLICE community support officers will be hosting monthly drop-in sessions at Rotherham Hospital from next month (March) after a successful trial period. Officers will be on hand to talk about neighbourhood policing and offer crime reduction advice from the community corner area which is in the main entrance of the Moorgate hospital. The first session will be on Thursday, March 15, from 11am to 1pm. Insp Jenny Lax said: Our drop-in sessions within the hospital launched earlier this year and the first two were really well attended. By hosting them within the hospital, we are hoping to speak to people from across the community, from visitors to hospital staff, who may not ordinarily have the opportunity to come and chat to us. We are on hand to address any neighbourhood issues, from hate crime to antisocial behaviour, but also offer free crime prevention advice whether its around protecting your belongings, burglary or any other crime type. The following session will be on Wednesday, April 18, bookings are not required. A WOMAN was due in court this morning after being arrested following the stabbing of a man in Mexborough over the weekend. Jaymea McDonald (21), of Albert Road, Goldthorpe, was due at Barnsley Magistrates this morning charged with section 18 wounding. Ambulance staff called police after a 22-year-old man was treated at a property in Goldthorpe. The man was taken to hospital where his injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. The beleaguered Indian diamantaire, Mehul Choksi of Gitanjali Gems, has virtually declared he has downed shutters, as per a report in TOI. Mehul Chosksi, along with his nephew Nirav Modi, who is wanted in the Punjab National Bank scam, has told his employees to look for jobs elsewhere as he was in no position to clear his dues. He claimed that his operations have come to a standstill because 'investigating agencies have started to create a havoc'. Choksi said he was feeling insecure about the safety of himself and his family members. Choksi said he was writing with a heavy heart, and promised to clear his employee's past dues once things return to normalcy. He also said employees could keep the laptops/mobiles issued from his group firms. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished The 61st Bangkok Gems and Jewelry Fair (BGJF), organized by the Ministry of Commerces Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) of Thailand, was held on February 21-15 under the theme Heritage & Craftsmanship. It highlighted Thailands cultural heritage and the exquisite craftsmanship of Thai artisans while setting the stage for local and international companies to engage in trade negotiations. According to Sontirat Sontijirawong, Minister of Commerce, the gems and jewelry industry is a high-potential industry that is key to the Thai economy; and the government is committed to implementing measures to ensure continuous growth of the industry while setting a goal of propelling Thailand to become the Worlds Jewelry Hub. Insightful seminars and consultation workshops from Thai and international experts were offered as well as a mobile gems analyzing unit from the Gem and Jewelry Institute of Thailand and other world-leading institutes. The Ministry estimated that this edition welcomed 20,000 visitors from 130 countries, generating over THB 2 billion sales. Around 900 leading companies in Thailand and abroad were participating in the fair, occupying over 2,000 booths. Aruna Gaitonde, Editor in Chief of the Asian Bureau, Rough & Polished Zimbabwes former mines minister Obert Mpofu refused to give evidence before a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Mines and Energy concerning diamond mining activities in Marange under his watch. Diamond mining in Marange was marked by leakages and poor revenue inflows to the treasury, a move that forced Harare to consolidate concessions in 2016. Mpofu, who was now the countrys home Affairs minister, said he should not be questioned on matters that were no longer under his purview. Mpofu also said that the chairperson of the committee Temba Mliswa was conflicted and had been using the platform to denigrate him. Mliswa insisted on chairing the meeting and that there was nothing wrong for them to seek answers about issues that transpired under his watch as the mines minister. Prior to the fiasco, the committee had heard evidence from Lovemore Kurotwi, who was a shareholder of Canadile, a firm that briefly mined diamonds in Marange. He claimed that Mpofu asked for a $10 million bribe from Canadile for approving a special grant to operate in Marange. Kurotwi also said Mpofu gave them a directive to pay Harare lawyer Farai Mutamangira $600 000, but they refused as no legal service had been rendered to them. He took the matter to former President Robert Mugabe, who only chastised his minister verbally in his presence, but failed to investigate him. Mugabe famously claimed in February last year that the country only received $2 billion from about $15 billion realised from the selling, although clandestinely, of Marange diamonds since 2008. Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished Free and Open to the Public, Refreshments Provided NDSUs Northern Plains Ethics Institute and ThinkND are set to host a conversation about What is Good Government in North Dakota? on Wednesday, March 7th, from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Rough Rider Center in Watford City. The Bush Foundation and the North Dakota Humanities Council have awarded ThinkND grants for this project. The discussion will feature moderators Dana Whippo, Assistant Professor in Political Science and Economics at Dickenson State University, and Cecile Wehrman, President of Journal Publishing, which prints The Journal of Crosby and the Tioga Tribune. The moderators will give opening remarks and then engage in audience conversations about: What makes good government? What makes a good elected official? What makes a good citizen? According to institute director Dennis Cooley, North Dakotans have reported that trust in government has eroded. They feel that rapid changes in everyday life and government at every level have left many disconnected, if not reeling, Cooley said. Facts seem often to contradict one another. Legislators are not as accessible as they used to be. Concerned citizens attending government hearings often feel dismissed, as if decisions have already been made. There are concerns about out-of-state money influencing government decisions. This comes at a time when trust is needed to pursue success for each citizen and the state. The discussion is part of a multi-faceted initiative to engage North Dakota citizens and academic experts in a discussion about ethics and trust in government. The elements of the initiative include: Five gatherings of academics and citizens around the state A culminating event at the Heritage Center in Bismarck Participation in statewide conference programs and radio talk shows A series of Dakota Datebook programs on Prairie Public Radio The project focuses on academic collaboration, participant engagement and preserving or creating content for re-use. Scholars will address such topics as the role of ethical behavior in the history of North Dakota government, how ethical government affects a states economy, the cost of mistrust and other matters related the requirements of good government. The gatherings will focus on local thought leaders; teachers; students; people involved with township, city and county government; rural residents and the Native community. By providing an opportunity to engage in conversations with each other and experts from the academic community, a grass works-based framework for possibly rethinking government can be sketched out, Cooley said. Nominated for Best Social Media and video blogger, Dani will attend the Global Beauty Awards on March 10, in Bellevue, Washington, along side numerous stars of the beauty, fashion, and pageant industries. As the creator of a positivity-centered youtube channel, Walkers notoriety stemmed from her Road to Miss Montana USA vlog series, earning her subscribers from around the world. Her humorous weekly vlogs and content range from communications lessons and inspirational stories, to recaps of pageants, which led to her appearance on a talk show in Thailand with Miss Thailand Universe. Walker will compete at the nationally televised 2018 Miss USA competition, later this year, which is an official preliminary event for the Miss Universe pageant. Short line Chicago South Shore & South Bend Railroad (CSS) is offering expanded capacity for railcar storage. The carrier, a unit of Anacostia Holdings and headquartered in Michigan City, Ind., said railroad customers needing to store empty or loaded freight cars can take advantage of new railcar storage opportunities, part of the railroads ongoing, increased service offerings. The initiative is the result of new investments in track capacity and will help third-party, off-line customers that require short- and long-term storage of railcars. For on-line customers, CSS continues to offer a separate, existing storage program. The new program, in effect since January, leverages South Shores connectivity across the spectrum of Chicago-area railroads, which includes interchange with six Class I carriers and several regional and switching railroads. The need for railcar storage capacity located close to Chicago fluctuates based on ebbs and flows of storage space in the industry, says CSS President Todd Bjornstad. We are offering this because we believe South Shores easy access to multiple Chicago railroads gives third-party customers a chance to take advantage of our strategic location. Under the program, CSS offers interchange service daily except Saturday. The railroad offers short- or long-term rates daily, weekly, monthly, or annually based on how long cars might sit in storage. Customers require temporary car storage for a variety of reasons, Bjornstad explains. In some cases, car-leasing companies have equipment coming off lease for which new lessees have not been secured. Or, some customer-owned fleets might require off-site storage during a plants scheduled maintenance outage. Office of New York State Senator James L. Seward State Sen. James L. Seward, representatives from Hoober Feeds and officials from Schoharie County announced a $200,000 state grant Feb. 26 that will pay for improvements to the rail line in Central Bridge, the New York State Senate announced. The funding Seward secured will be used to install rail siding along Norfolk Southern rail and is intended to allow Hoober Feeds, a feeds and services provider in animal agriculture, to receive ingredients via rail. Seward said maintaining modern, functional infrastructure is key as businesses compete and grow. This $200,000 grant will pay immediate dividends by boosting employment at Hoober Feeds and will create additional expansion opportunities at other Schoharie County businesses, Seward said. This project has the added bonus of enhancing two heritage industries agriculture and freight rail that have meant so much to our region. Hoober Feeds President Bradley Wagner described the rail siding project as being vital to expanding the companys operations in the county. Senator Sewards support is greatly appreciated and will help us build on our commitment to providing high quality feeds to hard working farmers, Wagner said. We are dedicated to the agriculture industry and this grant allows us to take another step forward in providing affordable feed and eventually food to our country. We are thankful for the warm welcome extended to Hoober Feeds from Senator Seward, Supervisor Tague, and our neighbors in and around Schoharie County. We work in a great industry with great folks. Town of Schoharie Supervisor Chris Tague said carrying out upgrades to the towns infrastructure will help local businesses succeed as Schoharie businesses and residents work to compete economically with other parts of the state and the country. Senator Seward is a strong proponent of growth in Schoharie County and this grant is another prime example of his consistent support, Tague said. I look forward to continuing to partner with Senator Seward to keep Schoharie moving forward. Seward said he has consistently partnered with businesses and local economic agencies throughout his district. State government must work with our job creators to increase opportunities for growth by investing state dollars where there is a demonstrated need and by advancing policies that lower the cost of doing business and encourage economic development, Seward added. The grant is made available through the New York State Department of Transportation multimodal program and will be administered by Schoharie County, officials said. CNN President Jeff Zucker has called the internet giants Google and Facebook "monopolies" and has asked government to pay closer attention to their power. "Everyone is looking at whether these combinations of AT&T and Time Warner or Fox and Disney pass government approval and muster, the fact is nobody for some reason is looking at these monopolies that are Google and Facebook," Zucker said in a speech to the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, Variety reports. "That's where the government should be looking, and helping to make sure everyone else survives. I think that's probably the biggest issue facing the growth of journalism in the years ahead." "In a Google and Facebook world, monetization of digital and mobile continues to be more difficult than we would have expected or liked. I think we need help from the advertising world and from the world to find new ways to monetize digital content, otherwise good journalism will go away." According to CBS news, the dominance of Google and Facebook in the digital advertising space has severely impacted other online content providers. According to eMarketer, Google and Facebook will account for 63.1 percent of all U.S. digital media ad spending in 2018. The report says that Google's ad revenue is expected to hit $35 billion in 2018, up nearly 19 percent from a year ago, whiel Facebook's total digital revenue will jump more than 40 percent to $17.4 billion. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News (Agencia CMA Latam) - The National Liberation Army (ELN) guerrilla group announced that as "a message of respect to those who vote" it will observe a temporary ceasefire during the legislative elections in Colombia. The rebel organization also asked the government to set a date for the resumption of the peace talks, suspended last month. "Due to the March 11 elections, even if we do not share these flawed processes, as a sign of respect to those Colombians who are going to deposit their vote, the ELN will observe a halt in its offensive military operations, between March 9 and 13," the group said in a statement. On March 11, the members of both Houses of Congress in Colombia will be elected. For the first, former members of the disbanded Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia guerrilla will run. The group was converted into the political party Revolutionary Alternative Force of the Common (FARC). by Agencia CMA Latam For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. The European Union is preparing itself to regulate cryptocurrencies if risks emerging from the sector are not handled at the international level, European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said Monday after a roundtable on cryptocurrencies. The financial services commissioner stated that the EU will take the decision on addressing the issue of cryptocurrencies later this year or early in 2019. Further, he said blockchain holds a strong promise for financial and urged the nations to accept it to remain competitive, but by checking problems that expose investors to substantial risk. The European Commission in early this month had unveiled the EU Blockchain Observatory and Forum to highlight key developments of the blockchain technology, as well as to consolidate related activities within the EU. Talking about the cryptocurrencies and initial coin offerings or ICOs, Dombrovskis said the craze over digital currencies is a global phenomenon and that there needs to be an international follow-up at the global level. Dombrovskis told reports that the EU does not exclude the possibility to move ahead with the plan of regulation at the EU level if a clear international response is lacking to face the emerging risks. The roundtable was attended by the European Central Bank, industry bodies, and the Financial Stability Board that writes and coordinates regulation for the Group of 20 Economies. The finance ministers of G20 countries and central bankers might discuss cryptocurrencies while they meet in Buenos Aires in March. Reuters reported that there is no strong consensus among G20 countries to regulate digital currencies closely, as these are considered to be a tiny part of the financial system despite risks. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Technology News Persimmon plc (PSN.L), a British housebuilding company, reported Tuesday that its fiscal 2017 profit before tax increased 25% to 966.1 million pounds from last year's 774.8 million pounds. Underlying profit before tax was 977.1 million pounds, compared to 782.8 million pounds a year ago. Underlying basic earnings per share were 258.6 pence, compared to last year's 205.6 pence. Revenue for the year grew 9% to 3.42 billion pounds from 3.14 billion pounds a year ago. Legal completions increased by 872 new homes to 16,043 from 15,171 last year and average selling price increased 3.2% to 213,321 pounds. The company reported 7.5% increase in forward sales to 2.03 billion pounds. The company declared interim and Final dividends of 125p and 110p per share, respectively. The Board confirmed that the scheduled capital return of 110 pence per share, or c. 340m, will be paid, subject to shareholder approval, on July 22018 as a final dividend in respect of the financial year ended 31 December 2017 Following this further improvement of the payment schedule the total value of the Capital Return Plan is estimated to be 13.00 pounds per share, over double the original plan value of 6.20 pounds per share. The company said its Board is progressing its search for a new Chairman and will make an announcement when the process has been concluded. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Levi Sanders, the son of Senator Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., announced Tuesday he is running for Congress in New Hampshire's 1st District. "This is a unique opportunity to listen to the hard working men and women of New Hampshire about the issues that matter to them," Sanders said in a statement. Sanders, who has worked as a legal services analyst, joins a crowded Democratic field in the race to replace retiring Congresswoman Carol Shea-Porter, D-N.H. A report from CNN described New Hampshire's 1st District as one of the nation's most competitive open-seat races in the 2018 midterms. While Sanders is running as a Democrat unlike his Independent father, the two men have very similar policy ideas. The younger Sanders called for a "Medicare For All" healthcare system, free college tuition, an increased minimum wage, and equal pay for women. "For over 17 years, I have represented the working class who have been beaten up by the system," Sanders said. "It is time to demand that we have a system which represents the 99% and not the 1% who have never had it so good." He added, "This campaign is about each and everyone of us, who strive each and everyday, to make this great state and country a better place in which to live." (Photo: Gage Skidmore) For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News The RORC Caribbean 600 has grown up to become a 'must do' offshore classic. Now celebrating its tenth anniversary, the 600-mile race around 11 Caribbean islands is on the bucket list of any serious offshore sailor. This year, any remanence of its stature as a Caribbean cruise was totally extinguished. 25 knots of solid trade winds with gusty squalls and a confused sea state delivered a challenge to over 800 sailors from six different continents. The 2018 edition of the race was the coming of age of the RORC Caribbean 600.The importance of the race to Antigua & Barbuda was recognised at the prize giving where guests of honour included: The Governor General Deputy, Sir Clair Roberts and his wife, The Hon E.P. Chet Greene, Minister for Sports; Shirlene Nibbs, Consultant to the Ministry of Tourism; Shamoy Richards, Cruise marketing manager for the Antigua & Barbuda Tourism Authority; Admiral of Antigua Yacht Club, Sir Hugh Bailey, and Commodore of Antigua Yacht Club, Franklyn Braithwaite GOH.The RORC Admiral, Andrew McIrvine, RORC Chief Executive, Eddie Warden Owen were both in attendance along with most of the RORC Committee. RORC Commodore Steven Anderson, who took part in the race with his family on board Gemervescence, was quick to praise the army of volunteers and the race committee for their hard work, as well as all the competitors - pointing out that the vast majority were passionate corinthians, the heart and soul of the Royal Ocean Racing Club.George David's American Maxi Rambler 88 scorched around the 600-mile track to set a new monohull course record of 37 hours 41 minutes and 45 seconds, beating the record set by David's previous boat, Rambler 100 in 2011. After setting the best corrected time under IRC, Rambler 88 remained unbeaten, winning the RORC Caribbean 600 Trophy.George David commented. "In 10 years the '600 has gone from a handful of boats in its first edition, to 84 on its tenth anniversary. It's a great race all around; congratulations to the RORC and everyone involved. We're delighted to have won overall in IRC and better yet to have broken our own record at the same time."Ron O'Hanley's American Cookson 50 Privateer came the closest to beating Rambler 88 for the overall win, finishing the race in just under 52 hours, but falling short of the best IRC corrected time by just over one hour. This was an excellent result for a 50 footer in what was regarded as a big boat race because of the epic weather conditions.Third place overall was shared by two boats - Stephen Murray's Volvo 70 Warrior and Jens Kellinghusen's German Ker 56 Varuna. Warrior's corrected time gave her third overall and Varuna was awarded time allowance for the assistance she gave in the successful rescue of Greg Slyngstad's Fujin crew after she capsized on the first night, and this equalled Warrior's corrected time. A special mention should go to the crew of Stephen Cucchiaro's Gunboat Flow, which also assisted in the rescue.The first boat around the 600 mile course was Peter Aschenbrenner's 63ft American trimaran Paradox which was in scintillating form, finishing the race in just 37 hours, 5 minutes and 16 seconds to take multihull line honours and beating Rambler 88 to the line. After MOCRA time correction, Paradox also claimed the overall win for the Multihull Class. "All-in-all, the conditions were just perfect for Paradox; she loved it," commented Peter Aschenbrenner. "This is what we dream about doing in the boat. The conditions we had in those big reaches was intense; the wave state was really big and there was a lot of wind. Eleven is a great fleet of multihulls and this is a great place to race them; you are going to be wet and it might as well be warm. It is a combination of great wind and great scenery, it is a wonderful course."Jason Carroll's American Gunboat 62 Elvis impressed in their first race, taking second in the Multihull Class. Gilles Lamire's French Multi50 French Tech Caraibos, also competing for the first time, completed the multihull podium. The smallest yacht in the 84-boat fleet was Shaun Carroll's Australian modified Sea Cart 30 Morticia, which finished fourth. After three days and nights, Morticia crossed the finish line to a hero's welcome. Described by many as a beach cat, the crew lived off chocolate bars, got soaking wet, with virtually no sleep; it was an incredibly tough ordeal.Catherine Pourre's Earendil took line honours for the eight-strong Class40 division in an elapsed time of 2 days 13 hours and 15 seconds, breaking the previous record set by Gonzalo Botin's Spanish Tales II in 2016 by over three hours. Earendil, with a French, Spanish and Italian crew also won the Class40 division for this year's race by just under three hours. Louis Burton's BHB was second in class and Arnt Bruhns, racing his German Class40 Iskareen was third. John Niewenhous racing his American Class40 Loose Fish with Josh Hall was the only Two-Handed team to complete the race."It is one of the fiercest and most challenging races for Class40 because of the number of manoeuvres, and this year because of the weather conditions," commented Catherine Pourre. "I hope we will have many more boats next year. There are 58 potential candidates for next year's Route du Rhum which will finish in Guadeloupe."Philippe Frantz's French NM43 Albator was the victor in IRC One; Lombard 46 Pata Negra, led by Michael Wright and a crew from Howth Yacht Club Ireland was second, with Kevin McLaughlin's American J/44 Spice was third."This is my first RORC Caribbean 600 and it has been amazing," exclaimed Frantz. "It was unexpected to have this wind and sea; it was a tough race I can tell you. We are all smiling because we have finished the race and everybody is in good shape. Fun is one thing and safety is another. You feel like you deserve to finish! It will be a great memory for us. The difference was the team - they have been absolutely fantastic."In IRC Two, Ossie Stewart's British Dufour 45 Scarlet Island Girl (sailing with Ross Applebey) crossed the finish line after over three days and nights of hard racing to win the class. Andrew Allner's Swan 53 Ballytrim was second ahead of Susan Glenny's First 40 Olympia's Tigress, skippered by Chris Preston.That was just relentless," commented Olympic medallist Ossie Stewart. "Day and night we had strong conditions with really confused seas, but we never had wind and waves we couldn't handle. We lost the steering a couple of times, but Ross handled the problem superbly, fixing the issue whilst we steered with the emergency tiller. On a personal note, I am really proud to have finished and win the race with my son Cameron."In IRC Three, Conor Fogerty's Irish Sun Fast 3600 Bam! returned to the RORC Caribbean 600 having won the class in 2016. Conor's team from Howth Yacht Club, Dublin were victorious once again, winning the class after a tough race."This was definitely a wet and wild ride," commented Conor Fogerty. "The last race I won was the OSTAR single-handed and I came down to do this race for therapy to get back into sailing, but after experiencing this event, it didn't feel like therapy! We had a fantastic welcome with about 20 people on the dock. Getting that respect just lifted us after a tough race."Andrew Eddy's Oyster 48 Gaia was the last boat home, completing the race with his daughter, son and young friends over three days after Rambler 88. "The crew never gave up, never mentioned the night club as we passed St.Barths, or the chance to visit the frigate bird colony of Barbuda. We came here to finish the race and that is exactly what we have done!" commented Andrew Eddy. Did Gaia get a welcome? Of course, this is the RORC Caribbean 600.List of 2018 class and special prize winnersThe 11th edition of the RORC Caribbean 600 will start on 18th February 2019. For more news, pictures and video about the classic Caribbean offshore race visit: Sec. Mark Villar delivering his message during the instructional meeting held last January 22, 2018 at the DPWH Central Office in Manila. DPWH Samar I to uphold integrity in 2018 project implementation By MAE ANGELICA R. COMOTA February 5, 2018 CALBAYOG CITY On Monday, January 22, 2018, sixteen Regional Directors (RDs) and 183 District Engineers (DEs) from all over the country attended an instructional meeting regarding the FY 2018 and Proposed FY 2019 DPWH Budget conducted at the DPWH Central Office in Manila. Among them was Samar First District Engineer (DE) Alvin Ignacio. Before the meeting proper, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar delivered his message by expressing his support to the RDs and DEs, Huwag kayong matakot gumawa ng tama, susuportahan ko kayo. Im aware of the pressures you are facing but in the end, it is our duty to protect the budget. I will make sure that under my watch, we will not sink but shine. The instructional meeting mainly focused on the general and special provisions of the FY 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA) as well as its modification and augmentation which was discussed thoroughly by DPWH Undersecretary for Planning and PPP Maria Catalina Cabral. Additionally, Usec. Cabral mentioned that 2018 will serve as a transition period because there will be a shift to annual, cash-based appropriation for the FY 2019 budget compared to the obligation-based approach used in the previous years. Meanwhile, Project Monitoring Division Chief, Melrose Pailma, encouraged those in attendance to religiously update the projects in the Project and Contract Management Application (PCMA) which is a system used as a tool for inspection by reflecting the accomplishment of infra projects real-time in compliance with DPWHs transparency efforts. How much is too much? Thats a good question to ask ourselves as we continue to discuss and debate the issue of debt and whether this country can really afford the mountain of foreign debt incurred by Prime Minister Tuilaepas administration over the past 36 years. Dont get us wrong; we are proud and patriotic Samoans, just like all Samoans out there. We are also grateful for the work that has been done by the government to bring Samoa to where it is in the world today. But that pride in ourselves and our country should also bring about a sense of responsibility in as far as preparing Samoa today for future generations and more. Looking at what is happening today, we cannot be ignorant of the fact that our mounting foreign debt is threatening to bury us all one day in the future. It is a concern that continues to bubble beneath the surface despite the charade and all these impressive structures we see. Speaking of those, to be fair to the government, it does have a valid point about the need to borrow money for developments to materialise. The reality is that for a small country like Samoa, we simply dont generate revenues sufficient enough to fund the absolute basic infrastructural developments. This is why borrowing becomes necessary. That we understand. Now every time the issue of Samoas foreign debt is raised and debated, the Government through Prime Minister Tuilaepas response is almost always the same. Assuring that all is well, weve always been told that its not the amount of the debt that matters but rather our ability as a nation to repay it. Fair enough. But how much is too much? That is the question. For a nation of less than 200,000 people, is it necessary to continue to borrow far beyond what we can afford? Now here is what really worries us. Folks we understand that we need to borrow money now and then. But the real issue for Samoa is excessive borrowing and this governments inability to control spending, which has forced them to continue to borrow. Were talking about the leakages in finances created by corruption, collusion, abuse of power and public properties that continues to pile up, given the lack of accountability and transparency in the way these public finances and resources are managed. Indeed, over the years, weve seen how this menace called corruption has been allowed to fester so that today it looks incurable. And its not just the major instances of wrongdoing that are alarming. Its the small things that add up. It involves the blatant abuse of public properties such as the practice of pimped-up government vehicles heading to the farm with loads of talo shoots and gallons of water in the middle of the afternoon of a weekday while workers at some Ministry are driving rental vehicles to do the work. Its the abuse of government fuel, maintenance costs and the dishonesty in collecting revenue that is vital for development. It is about the public service misusing the internet, printers, phones and basic equipment during work hours and even after work hours. And then there is the reckless spending by certain Cabinet Ministers in buildings that end up becoming white elephants, draining millions of tala that could have been better spent. We could go on and on but you get our drift. The point is that the government as do many businesses need to borrow money from time to time to prop up its plans and keep the country afloat. But this must be done in the most sensible way, taking into account the consequences on our people and the future of this country. In the past, many people say that Samoas debt is nothing compared to other countries like the United States. This is beside the point. Comparing Samoas debt to that of the U.S.A. or any other big country is no different from comparing oranges with apples. The fact is debt especially it reaches the point where it is unmanageable will affect everyone. It is our children who will ultimately shoulder the burden. It is they who will be begging for mercy from the lenders. They are the ones who will have to deal with the mess that is our foreign debt today. They are the ones who might have to give up things that are theirs by birthright as they struggle to front up to the debtors. Let me leave you with a parting thought. Back in the days, the colonialists came with guns and weapons. Thats not happening anymore. Today, they are offering finances, funding and lots of loans. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the new type of colonialism. It is subtle, more insidious and it feeds on greed, corruption and hunger for power and more. The reality is; give the current leadership another 10, 15 years or even less to continue their defiance and they will pass on eventually. At six feet under, they wouldnt have to worry about anything. The worst part is they cannot be held accountable then. And many of us might not even be around then when the chickens come home to roost. It is the future generations of this country who will suffer. Do we care about them? Have a wonderful Wednesday Samoa, God bless! The Samoa Shipping Corporation is celebrating some fantastic results for the financial year 2015-2016. According to a statement issued by the Governments Press Secretary, the Corporation, headed by General Manager, Papali'i Willie Nansen, had increased its net profit by more than 200% compared to the previous financial year. The figures are contained in the S.S.Cs annual report approved by Parliament in January upholding the recommendations forwarded by the House Infrastructure Sector Committee which reviewed the Corporations annual performance for the year in question. Compared to the previous fiscal year (2014-2015) the S.S.Cs financial year under review (2015-2016) noted the following; Increase in revenue from $23.9 million to $29.2 million Increase in net profit from $1.9 million to $4.5 million Increase in shareholder fund from 20.9 million to $37.8 million Decrease interest bearing liabilities from $7.6 million to $6.6 million Expenditure increase from $21.2 million to $22.2 million Dividend increase from $0.925 million to $2.3 million Increase to total assets from $88.5 million to $100.9 million Increase in return on Equity Form from 9.1% to 12.0% Domestic services dominated the S.S.Cs revenue acquisition for the fiscal year in question and contributed 55%towards her total revenue of $29.2 million. Charter services also posted another solid performance with a significant increase in charter revenue by $7.9 million, which translates to an increase of 125.8% compared to the 2015 financial year and 45.5% better than the annual budget, the report noted. And for the same year, 48 graduates from the Maritime Academy are now employed on the Corporations Vessels reaffirming SSCs commitment and made to securing job opportunities for graduates as seafarers. And there will be no increase in fares in the immediate future with the House Infrastructure Sector Committee denying a request from S.S.C. to increase fares to offset increase costs of imported fuel and maintenance the vessels coupled by dire improvements for the two domestic wharves at Mulifanua and Salelologa. Founded 30 December 1974, the company started from a single barge, the MV Limulimutau bought from the Philippines that served travel and vehicular services between Upolu and Savaii, to 15 vessels with VIP and air-condition seating for the same route as well as Apia and American Samoa. Twenty students have received a tremendous helping hand with their school costs thanks to Business Systems Limited Ambassador Programme. The recipients for 2018, from all different age groups, will be awarded a cash contribution towards each scholarship to assist with school fees and stationery. Since its inception many of the Ambassadors have progress and benefited from the assistance B.S.L. has provided. One of them is Hemara Muliaga, who attends St. Marys Primary in Savalalo. Hemara is an original member who joined in 2016. She has continued to improve and achieved her goals. Her mother, Kesia Leilua, is grateful for the assistance. Selecting Mara as a B.S.L. Ambassador had motivated her to do her best with her school work, she said. She didnt want to waste the opportunity given to her. Hemara gained 1st place in English, Social Science, Written Expression, Music, Samoan Language among other accolades in 2017. B.S.L. has been a great supporter and a strong shoulder to lean on, she said. Jennifer Coffin is another original member. She is now studying for a Bachelor of Commerce at U.S.P. in Fiji. Hemara and Jennifer are but two of the Ambassadors reaching their potential to pursue their goals, which is what the programme is all about. B.S.L. will provide additional support throughout the year to the Ambassadors that have demonstrated the ability to study hard and shown improvement in their grades. B.S.L. has again selected 20 Ambassadors that will assist with their education and development in a real life working environment by been part of the B.S.L. family whether it be promotional or in a team within the company. The Ambassadors Programme is one of the initiatives that B.S.L. is carrying on forward for 2018 which includes the Win a Van Project themed Everyone can drive this promotion by earning points from any cash purchases at B.S.L. The Ambassadors for Upolu in 2018 are: Hemara Muliaga St Marys Primary, Mario Fouvale Pula Samoa Adventist Primary, Charity Saipele Pesega Fou Primary, Sifusi Leti Seiuli Ah Mu Academy, Etena Pouli Faleata College, Enleyra Maiava Avele College, Irae Tanuvasa Samoa College, Jimmy Lavasili Leausa LDS Church College, Lalovi Peter Tau N.U.S., Tilomai MarilynGatoloai N.U.S. The Food Science and Technology Division of the Scientific Research Organisation of Samoa (S.R.O.S.) is doing its part to improve employment opportunities for youth in Samoa. It has implemented the first phase of its Letter of Agreement (L.O.A.) consultancy work with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (F.A.O.) to Build capacity of youth and young farmers on value added food processing practices. The agreement and associated activities are a part of the technical assistance funded through F.A.O. for Strengthening capacity of Youth for employment and livelihood in Agriculture. A survey conducted in 2012 revealed that employment opportunities for youth in Samoa are very limited with 40.3% of young people leaving school without graduating. The majority are falling out of the school system during secondary education. Employment in the Agriculture sector has been reported to have decreased from 60per cent to 36per cent with limited solutions. This highlights the urgent need to implement policies and programmes on skills development and entrepreneurship and this work is part of the identified interventions. The programme was conducted by Tuimaseve Kuinimeri Finau, a Food Scientist of the Food Science and Technology Division and her staff. The partners, namely the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (M.A.F.) and Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (M.W.C.S.D.) selected the youth and young farmers from around Savaii and Upolu who participated in the two lots of one week training conducted in late January and early February this year. The training included introduction to theory and general principles on value adding, food processing and preservation, food hygiene and safety, and H.A.C.C.P. The core activities, however, focused on practicals for processing actual products through the preservation methods of freezing (taro, fai Samoa, pumpkin, breadfruit), dehydration for producing tea and spices (using turmeric, ginger and lemongrass), as well as making fruit jams from papaya and oranges. The main objective was to build the capacity of young farmers for simple value adding activities using agricultural produce grown and available locally with an overall aim of building the capacities of participants for income generating activities. The programme included presentations from the Ministry of Commerce Industry and Labour (M.C.I.L.) as well as Small Business Enterprise Centre (S.B.E.C.) and also a visit to the M.A.F. pack house at Atele to observe first hand the facilities used for processing frozen crops for export. The programme ended with the participants conducting a sensory evaluation of all the products produced by the mock companies established for the training. An evaluation undertaken at the end indicated a great appreciation by the participants for the opportunity provided to them to learn about value adding utilising the different crops, and also learning about the different processing techniques and equipment used. The second activity for the project to be implemented in March will be the production and marketing trials conducted by selected trained farmers for at least two products included in the training. The aim is to produce, package and market prototype products so young farmers and prospecting business entrepreneurs can experience first hand the issues involved in such an endeavour. The results of this activity will be shared through an end of project workshop for all the trained young farmers to complete this work. Having a local tour guide show you around is one thing. But if your tour guide is a former All Black and Manu Samoa rugby player, well that can only really enhance your holiday experience like it did for one New Zealand couple. Aaron and Jo Fergusson from Hamilton not only scored a trip to Samoa from Kiwibank by taking out a home loan with them, they also managed to persuade well known former international rugby player, Vaaiga Tuigamala, to be their tour guide. Purely by chance we met Inga Tuigamala, we saw him at Taumeasina and being a sporting fan, I had to go up to him and say hello and shake his hand, said Aaron. I play for Marist Rugby Club in Hamilton. From there we got chatting, Inga is a great bloke and he had time to show us around and we are here at the markets with him. The couple was rewarded with a five nights stay at the Taumeasina Island Resort by New Zealand-owned bank Kiwibank. We are here on a bank sponsored holiday actually, said Aaron. We took a loan out with Kiwibank and they have sent us to Samoa to see the sights. Its a fantastic promotion and its an opportunity to have some u time that we wouldnt normally take. We are staying at the Taumeasina, its a lovely place to base ourselves and from there we have gone out into the islands and explored. The couple wanted to cover Samoa at their own pace and really wanted to get as close to experiencing real Samoa by mingling with the locals. We went at our own speed, which gave us the opportunity to go at our own pace and get a good sense of the island, said Aaron. If you stop and ask the locals in terms of directions and local knowledge, it just adds to getting to know Samoa. Just experiencing the local culture and seeing what life is like here. Theres the tourist side which is the resorts and the attractions and things like that, but thats not the heart of Samoa. These stuff (looking around Fugalei Market). One of the highlights was visiting the magical To Sua trench. I had seen a picture of To Sua before online in a promotional video of the island so we made sure that we visited there and also the Piula Cave Pools and that was great, said Aaron. Lalomanu was a beautiful beach to go snorkeling from, its been fantastic. Weve hired a car and we went around and that was really nice, Added Jo. The To Sua Trench has been a favourite for me on this trip; its very beautiful and a magical place. Jo and Aaron are leaving tonight to return to New Zealand, but the couple was adamant that they were going to return to Samoa for another holiday because they realised that five days just wasnt enough. Definitely, absolutely, we will be back. PR - Samoa Chamber of Commerce held its first members meeting of 2018 on Monday at the Tanoa Tusitala Conference Centre, Sogi. The meeting was chaired by Samoa Chamber of Commerce Vice President, Jennifer Fruean, who provided an update on upcoming Chamber activities. Some of the exciting upcoming events are a seminar on Bitcoin and the Block Chain by Tony Willenberg as well as the Samoa Chamber of Commerce Annual General meeting set for 26 March 2018 at the Tanoa Tusitala Conference room. Executive Director for Samoa Law Reform Commission, Teleiai Dr. Lalotoa Mulitalo, gave a special presentation on the Review of the Property Law Act 1952. Teleiai highlighted that this is the first review for this Act since its establishment in 1952. For the Private Sector, pertinent issues arise regarding property when mortgages and leases are involved. The Samoa Law Reform Commission ensured that the review of the Act should reflect and enable the current environment for not only businesses but parties who will be affected. Members were urged to provide any additional feedback or recommendations that would support Samoa Law Reform in this review. Seven new members were introduced and they were Talofa Airways, Scanlans Family Restaurant, Huanan Fishery Samoa, Taumeasina Restaurant, Island Hopper Vacations Samoa, Apex Pacific Solutions and Agape Global Car Rentals. Samoa Airways (O.L.) has announced that it has opened a temporary Travel Centre at Samoa House at the Mangere Town Centre. Chief Executive Officer Seiuli Alvin Tuala said the airline is pleased to be able to open the office in what is a strategic location. Seiuli added that the temporary Travel Centre will make the Airline more accessible and help it to better cater to the needs of the important Samoan-community in and around the greater Manukau region. With the support of the Government of Samoa through the Office of the Consul General, the Airline has secured prime retail space on the ground floor of the new Complex, where the Airlines new Travel Centre and Call Centre will be located. The Manukau region plays an important role in Industry and is home to the main gateway to Aotearoa (Auckland International Airport) as well as many expatriate Samoans living and working in New Zealand. The temporary Travel Centre is now operating from the second floor of Samoa House during the following times and days and may be reached on +6427 5959 702: Monday to Friday: 9:00am-4:00pm Saturday: 9:00am-12:00pm UC San Diego researchers have developed an artificial intelligence system to quickly and accurately screen patients with potentially blinding retinal diseases to see if urgent treatment is needed. The system used machine learning to identify macular degeneration and diabetic macular edema within 30 seconds with more than 95 percent accuracy, said Kang Zhang, MD, a professor of ophthalmology at UCSDs Shiley Eye Institute. The accuracy is similar to that of a skilled ophthalmologist, said Zhang, founding director of the Institute for Genomic Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. Plans are in the works to deploy the system in Haiti, whose ophthalmologists are overwhelmed, he said. Moreover, the AI system was effective in diagnosing different types of childhood pneumonia, Zhang said. It distinguished between viral and bacterial pneumonia with more than 90 percent accuracy. Advertisement The distinction makes a big difference in care. Bacterial pneumonia is treatable with antibiotics, while care for viral pneumonia consists of treating symptoms while the body fights off the infection. A study on the findings was published last week in the journal Cell. Zhang was senior author of the study, which appeared on the journals cover. It can be found at j.mp/zhangai. The study is cautiously exciting, said Fei Sha, an associate professor of computer science at the University of Southern California. Sha specializes in machine learning and artificial intelligence. However, the system still needs some improvement to be truly equal to experts, Sha said. And some technical questions remain to be answered. The AI system made retinal disease diagnoses based on data from hundreds of thousands of images and disease data from patients. And the system also included in its diagnoses the pertinent section of an image, giving doctors an understanding of how they were made. AI systems are known for finding solutions to problems that go beyond human expertise. But without a way to understand how the solution was arrived at, the system becomes a black box, Zhang said. That means human experts cant gain insights. Zhang said the AI system could find its first use in resource poor areas, where personal access to medical experts is limited. Retinal photos taken of patients in those regions could be examined by the system, which would identify patients at high risk. The goal is that you take a picture, upload it to the (Internet) cloud, and within 10 seconds well give you a diagnosis, anywhere in the world, Zhang said. Advertisement The researchers are working with several imaging companies to plan initial deployment, he said. We want to send some machines to Haiti, where the whole country has only 60 doctors (who are ophthalmologists), Zhang said. They were overwhelmed by the number of diabetic patients seen there. We hope the platform will help them to triage the patients. Advertisement Science Playlist On Now In a first, scientists rid human embryos of a potentially fatal gene mutation by editing their DNA On Now Space station flyovers visible from San Diego this week 0:55 On Now UCSD's 'ghost drivers' begin testing people's reaction seemingly empty cars 1:29 On Now 10 interesting facts about Mars On Now Kids can add years to your life On Now LA 90: SpaceX launches recycled rocket On Now Big passions, big giving: Malin Burnham 2:30 On Now Big passions, big giving: Darlene Shiley 2:40 On Now Big passions, big giving: Joan and Irwin Jacobs 2:45 On Now Ocean temperatures warming at rapid rate, study finds bradley.fikes@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1020 Knowing that California motorists are already paying more at the pump because of a recently passed bill increasing the states tax on gasoline, the Board of Equalization on Tuesday turned down a recommendation to increase the gasoline excise tax 4 cents a gallon. I do not see the equity in this, said board member Jerome Horton, who along with Diane Harkey cast a no vote that resulted in a 2-2 tie that prevented the increase from passing. The mechanics behind the vote are complicated and come after the Legislature passed Senate Bill 1 last spring. Dubbed the Road Repair and Accountability Act , SB1 is aimed at raising money to fix the states estimated $130 billion backlog in repair and replacement projects for roads, highways, bridges and transportation infrastructure. Advertisement The first iteration of SB1 went into effect last November when it raised the gasoline excise tax by 12 cents (to 41.7 cents a gallon). Why is the Board of Equalization even involved? Back in 2010, the Legislature and then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger created what was called a gas tax swap to deal with the states budget crisis. In order to get more money flowing to the states general fund, the swap adjusted the rates of sales and excise taxes on gasoline. Every year, around March 1, the Board of Equalization meets to calculate a revenue-neutral way to set the excise tax to equal what the state would have collected under the sales tax rules in place before things were changed in 2010. The board looks a number of factors when it sets the tax, including whether the price of gasoline has gone up or down in a given year as well as projections on the amount of gasoline the states drivers will consume. Leading up to Tuesdays meeting board staff recommended an increase of 4 cents a gallon, which would have bumped the excise tax to 45.7 cents per gallon, effective at the start of the coming fiscal year in July. But Harkey wanted none of it. Advertisement I understand the states budget is in a surplus so I dont know how anyone can justify increasing gas taxes, Harkey said. A staff analyst said not passing the 4-cent increase may result in an under-collection of revenue but Horton questioned whether the passage of SB1 already solved many of those matters. Those that fall into the category of poverty, they are sort of pushed out into the suburbs in order to afford housing, Horton said. Now the cost of them driving to work has been increased significantly. But theres more Advertisement Despite Tuesdays vote, another increase to the gas tax is still coming. Under the provisions of SB1, a second and final iteration will go into effect in July 2019. The excise tax will increase from 41.7 cents a gallon to 47.3, an increase of 5.6 cents a gallon. But that does not mean the gasoline excise tax will stay at 47.3 cents a gallon. Under SB1, starting in 2021, the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration will adjust the tax according to the fluctuations in the Consumer Price Index. The members of the Board of Equalization will catch a break though. Under SB1, this is the last year the board will have to vote on adjusting the excise tax. Advertisement SB1 has been controversial. Supporters say its needed to upgrade the states roads, bridges and highways. Critics say legislators have taken funds previously earmarked for road repair and applied them to other projects. Former San Diego City Council member Carl DeMaio is gathering signatures from registered voters to try to get a repeal of SB1 placed on the ballot this fall. Advertisement Business rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski Sempra Energys bid to acquire the largest utility in Texas took another step toward the finish line Monday afternoon when a federal bankruptcy judge in Delaware confirmed a reorganization plan for the parent company of Dallas-based Oncor. The decision leaves just one hurdle remaining for Sempra to sew up the largest deal in the companys 20-year history approval from the Public Utility Commission of Texas, which may come as soon as March 8. The deal is worth $9.45 billion and has an enterprise value of about $18.8 billion, including debt. Serving 10 million customers in Texas, Oncor is 80 percent owned by Energy Future Holdings (EFH), a Texas company that declared bankruptcy in 2014. Despite the problems of its parent, Oncor has been a steady money maker, posting a $431 million profit in 2016. Advertisement Todays action by the bankruptcy court paves the way for EFH to end its long-running bankruptcy case and advances our proposal to acquire a majority stake in Oncor to the final stage, Sempra CEO Debra Reed said in a statement. The Texas utilities commission indicated earlier this month that it would approve the deal when commissioners called on staff members to prepare an order on the Sempra acquisition. Executives with the San Diego-based Fortune 500 company worked for months and lined up all 10 of the intervenors such as consumer advocates, business interests and government groups to sign off on the deal. The acquisition has been in the works since last August, when Sempra swooped in and bested a $9 billion offer from investment guru and billionaire Warren Buffetts company, Berkshire Hathaway. Sempra has promised to keep Oncors headquarters in Dallas and maintain the independence of Oncors board of directors. While Sempra has other assets in Texas, the deal will greatly expand the companys footprint in the Lone Star State. Oncor is a regulated electric transmission and distribution service provider made up of about 134,000 miles of line and more than 3.4 million advanced meters. It employs more than 3,900 workers. Sempra posted more than $10 billion in revenues in 2016 and has a workforce of more than 16,000 employees serving about 32 million customers worldwide. Its subsidiaries include San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Gas Co. Advertisement Business rob.nikolewski@sduniontribune.com Advertisement (619) 293-1251 Twitter: @robnikolewski A national security panel that can stop mergers that could harm U.S. security has begun looking at Singapore-based chipmaker Broadcoms plan to take over rival Qualcomm, according to three sources familiar with the matter. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an opaque inter-agency panel, has been in touch with at least one of the companies in the proposed merger, one source said, and met last month to discuss the potential merger of the two big semiconductor companies, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Sen. John Cornyn of Texas, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday to have CFIUS officially review the proposed transaction before a key shareholder vote expected on March 6, according to a letter seen by Reuters. The pre-deal discussions by CFIUS -- which are extremely rare -- suggest Broadcoms plans to move its headquarters to the United States before it completes its proposed purchase of San Diego-based Qualcomm may not be enough to sidestep a national security review that could threaten the deal. Advertisement Related: Qualcomm proposes more talks with Broadcom over possible sale Part of the CFIUS current concern, which is echoed in Cornyns letter, could lie in the fact that Broadcom has failed to strike a deal with Qualcomm and has resorted to what is essentially a hostile takeover by putting forward a slate of six Broadcom nominees for Qualcomms 11-member board. If the six are elected on March 6, the vote would give control of Qualcomm to Broadcoms nominees. That would happen before a CFIUS review or antitrust review is complete. I urge CFIUS to promptly review Broadcoms proposed acquisition of control of Qualcomms board, and to act prior to the March 6 Qualcomm meeting to address any national security concerns that may be identified, Cornyn wrote to Secretary Mnuchin, according to the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. A spokesman for CFIUS declined to comment. Representatives for Cornyn were not immediately available for comment. Last week, San Diego Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, sent a letter to President Trump urging him to order CFIUS to review the national security implications of Broadcoms proposed takeover of Qualcomm. Hunter cited concerns that the deal would make Broadcom the third-largest global chipmaker with market leadership in key areas of the mobile communications supply chain such as Wi-Fi and cellular modems. Such a company could, if motivated by a nation or groups not friendly to the United States, compromise critical communications and install lock out features that would prevent U.S. security teams from monitoring mobile data, wrote Hunter. The potential impact on U.S. security in critical situations are numerous. Advertisement Hunter also pointed out the potential layoffs of Qualcomm workers as a major loss for our nation. If Broadcom is successful in gaining control of Qualcomms board on March 6, Hunter urged Trump to block the deal pending a full security review. Need to watch Broadcom Ltd proposed takeover of Qualcomm. If allowed to occur, this would create a significant national security problem and could mean the loss of thousands of jobs here in SD. Read my letter to President Trump urging him to order a national security review: pic.twitter.com/upyYdpQinf Rep. Duncan Hunter (@Rep_Hunter) February 23, 2018 Qualcomm has argued a Broadcom-Qualcomm transaction would face a difficult and lengthy regulatory review for as long as 18 months with the potential that the deal could be rejected. Broadcom contends that it has a good track record of receiving regulatory approvals with the five technology companies that it has acquired since 2013. Advertisement Still, the letters from Cornyn and Hunter suggest that the potential deal is being watched in Washington. A CFIUS review in itself does not mean a deal will be halted. CFIUS, under former President Barack Obama and current President Donald Trump, has soured on high tech deals, particularly involving semiconductors, or involving sensitive information about American citizens. Microprocessor expert Linley Gwennap, of the Linley Group, noted that Qualcomm had world-leading chips in several areas. Advertisement Related: What wins over shareholders? Qualcomms promise or Broadcoms track record? Qualcomm is a crown jewel of the American semiconductor industry, he said. I would think that CFIUS would be very protective of that. Singapore is nominally a friendly country but it still seems dangerous for that level of technology to go overseas. Broadcom, which is based in Singapore, struggled to win CFIUS approval to buy Brocade Communications Systems late last year. In the end, that approval came just weeks after Broadcom CEO Hock Tan announced in an Oval Office ceremony with Trump that Broadcom would return its headquarters to the United States. Advertisement Broadcom declined to comment on the CFIUS process for this deal but reiterated that it intends to move forward with its move to the United States after receiving approval to do so, which is expected on May 6. Lawyers who take deals to CFIUS and know how the panel thinks said that it was unusual, if not unprecedented, for a company to move to the United States to avoid CFIUS scrutiny. But they also said that the strategy could work. Broadcom could very well establish its position as a U.S. person, one expert said privately to protect business relationships. Would CFIUS want to look at it They would want to be comfortable that Broadcom is actually a U.S. person within the meaning of the statute. Others cautioned that CFIUS could also look at the make-up of Broadcoms board and who the major shareholders are as a way to determine if control of the company resides outside the United States. Advertisement U-T reporter Mike Freeman contributed to this report. Advertisement Nukem is ready to bang heads in Mexico again. The El Cajon-based band wowed judges at the Audiorama El Trompo Tijuana on Feb. 24, rocking out with more than a dozen bands and earning the right to play at the opener of a springtime music festival in Tijuana called Fronterizo Fest 2018. The event is set for April 27-29 in Estadio Caliente, the stadium formerly known as Agua Caliente Racetrack. The festivals headliners are the Scorpions, Megadeth, Sepultura and Suicidal Tendencies. Nukem and another band called Cicuta will perform on the April 27 bill with Sepultura. Sepultura is a Brazilian thrash metal band thats been around since 1984 and has released 14 albums. Advertisement I was just as happy doing the show we just did without winning anything, said Nukem drummer Norm Leggio, a Granite Hills High School alum. I got to do what I love to do play drums for our band in front of people and supply them with having a good time. But this gig came with perks; we get to play in a festival with Scorpions, Megadeth, Sepultura and Mastadon. How bad ass is that? Winning opening slot for jamming out! The bands Versus Me and Never Again will perform on April 28 with Mastadon and the bands Sentinel and Palaco Blues will perform on April 29 with Scorpions and Megadeth. The Fronterizo Fest lineup also includes DS Legacy, a Dire Straits-based band that features several former touring members of that English band. We were super stoked to play in TJ on the 24th for the Guerra de Bandas, and we had an amazing time, said Nukem guitar player Steve Brogden, a Santana High School alum. We played great, with 13 other great local acts and if thats where it ended we would be very happy campers. (With the) news that we get to play the main stage with the big boys, we are ecstatic. We cant wait to get back down to TJ to uphold our current reputation with the metal heads of Mexico to represent our city, country and local music scene. Nukem features Leggio, Brogden and bass player Don Lauder, with an occasional appearance by second guitarist Laura Christine. The bands first CD, The Unholy Trinity, was released in 2016. Lauder, who lives in Mira Mesa, said the artists that influenced Nukem include such old classic thrash bands as Metallica, Slayer, Exodus, Testament and Overkill, as well as new thrash acts like Havok and Evile. Leggio also drums with the local metal band Psychotic Waltz. He worked for the heavy metal-oriented Blue Meannie Records in El Cajon from 1989-1996, where he met Brogden. Nukem plays at various San Diego venues, including Brick by Brick, The Casbah, Ramona Main Stage, Soda Bar, Tower Bar and SOMA. It has opened for metal bands from around the globe, including Saxon, Kreator, Voi-Vod, Death Angel and Marty Friedman, former lead guitarist for Megadeth. Advertisement Advertisement karen.pearlman@sduniontribune.com For nearly half of his life, John Sears has lived outdoors under the stars, traveling the Western U.S. with a trio of pack mules to promote the free and unfettered use of public lands and roadways. But in recent years, times have been harder for the 70-year-old traveler who calls himself Mule and Monk. One of his pet mules, Babe, was put down after breaking her leg in a stream two years ago and a second, Lady, grew too old for the road and retired. Things got even tougher for Sears on Monday morning, when he woke up in Escondidos Grape Day Park and discovered his last mule, Little Girl, had been stolen overnight. Fortunately, this story has a happy ending. Video obtained by the Escondido Police Department shows two men, one on foot and one on a bicycle, untying Little Girls halter strap from a fence 12 feet away from where Sears was sleeping and leading her away just after midnight. Advertisement But by Monday afternoon, Little Girl was found safe in east Escondido. Officers spotted a man on a bicycle leading Little Girl down a street in the area of East Valley Parkway and El Norte Parkway. The man, 28-year-old David Martinez of Escondido, was arrested on suspicion of grand theft, according to Escondido Police Lt. Ed Varso. My whole life is my mules, Sears said. Theyre my companions and my spiritual counselors. So when they stole Little Girl, they stole a lot. Escondido Police officials pose with Little Girl, who was found in Escondido on Monday afternoon, about 13 hours after she was stolen. (Escondido Police Department ) Sears is the founder of 3 Mules (3mules.com), a mission to encourage a return to the old ways of the pioneers who freely explored and camped in nature. We claim the right to use all public space to stop and rest for the night, he said. The public space is our freedom. Public space must be used and enhanced for us not to lose it. If we dont do something now, youll have to pay for the right to open your eyes. Thirty-four years ago, he loaded up three pack mules and hit the trails of Arizona and New Mexico. Twenty-five years ago, he resettled in California and purchased Little Girl. Now 28, shes been traveling the state with him ever since. Over the years, Sears has moved continuously throughout the state from Chula Vista to Eureka, marking his travels with a GPS tracker on his website. He returned to the North County area on Feb. 5, a little over two years since his last visit to the region. Over the decades, Sears has amassed a loyal following of more than 43,000 Facebook fans who will visit him and bring donations of cash and food whenever he arrives at a local park or campground. Advertisement Hes happy to accept invitations to camp on private land as well as cash and snacks for his mule, but he takes little else. He and Little Girl easily survive on his Social Security check of $263 a month and they like to travel light. Everything he owns, packed in two green plastic tubs marked 3mules.com, weigh just 170 pounds. Much of that is Little Girls feed. What more do you need when you have the stars? he said. But not everyone is a fan of Sears lifestyle. A police blotter page on his website logs the many times hes been arrested and cited by law enforcement for illegal camping or traveling along interstate highways. His most recent arrest was last week, when the California Highway Patrol stopped him on northbound Interstate 5 as he and Little Girl were walking toward San Clemente. He said he went to jail for five hours and Little Girl had a comfortable two-day stay at a Escondido Humane Society shelter. Advertisement Sears always insists on his day in court so he can fight for his right to public access. In most cases, the charges have been dismissed, reduced or appealed. Lt. Varso with Escondido Police said that officers went back to Grape Day Park to pick up Sears and drove him out to where Little Girl was waiting, so they could continue on in their travels. Sears said publicity about the theft of Little Girl has brought out a number of local fans who have offered them a place to stay in the coming days. The publics support of his mission is what has kept him going all these years. Im so grateful to the public, he said. They go out of their way to make us feel welcome. Advertisement pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com A request for a preliminary injunction that could have halted the implementation of new by-district elections for city councils and school boards statewide was denied Friday by a federal judge and the lawsuit it was based upon has been dismissed. Although the lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA) was discharged, representatives for the plaintiff say they will either appeal the decision or refile the case. Either way, they say, it is far from over. Filed by former Poway Mayor Don Higginson, the lawsuit specifically challenged the Poway City Councils decision last year to switch to by-district rather than at-large city council elections. The council made the change after being threatened by a Malibu attorney who said he would take legal action against Poway to enforce the CVRA. Attorney Kevin Shenkman sent similar letters to numerous school boards and cities in San Diego County last year including the cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista and San Marcos, and all have converted, or are in the process of converting, to by-district elections. Advertisement The 2001 voting rights act has been used to address concerns that at-large voting systems too often dilute the voting strength of minority groups. District-based election systems help under-represented groups elect representatives of their choice from their own communities to city councils, school boards and other local governmental bodies. When maps are drawn to create districts, an effort is made to have at least one of them composed of a minority-majority population. In Poway, where the Latino population is about 15 percent, it was not possible to create such a district. Members of the Poway City Council made it clear they didnt want to go to district elections and didnt think they were necessary, but did so to avoid costly litigation the city had little chance of winning. The lawsuit, which listed California Attorney General Xavier Becarra and the City of Poway as defendants, was filed in October by Higginson after a column he authored in the Poway News Chieftain lamenting the voting method change was read by Edward Blum, a politically conservative legal strategist known for his activism against laws involving race and ethnicity. Blum, the director of the nonprofit Project on Fair Representation, is funding the lawsuit that contends the CVRA is unconstitutional because it denies voters the right to elect all their local representatives. U.S. District Court Judge William Q. Hayes ruled Friday that Higginson did not have standing to sue in federal court because he couldnt show a direct enough connection between the citys conversion to district elections and the voting rights act. Alan Fenstermacher, a lawyer representing Poway, said the judge indicated that the citys decision was voluntary and essentially a financial one they didnt want to enter costly, unwinnable, litigation. The Court concludes that the Complaint must be dismissed as to the City because Higginson has failed to allege sufficient facts to establish that the Citys decision to switch to by-district elections is fairly traceable to the requirements imposed by the CVRA on the City or that the Citys decision to pass the ordinance changing to by-district elections was otherwise driven by race, the judge ruled in his 21-page decision. Advertisement The judge also said Higginson failed to show that he was being harmed by the district election process. Because the lawsuit has been dismissed, the preliminary injunction that sought to suspend recently enacted district elections until the lawsuit was settled was denied. Had the injunction been granted, cities about to try district elections for the first time in November would have had the choice whether to proceed with the voting change or not. Poway has chosen to take a neutral legal position concerning the lawsuit. Advertisement The city is not interested in spending the taxpayers money on this issue, Fenstermacher said on Monday. Blum said his legal team has not yet chosen how to approach the issue next, but said we intend to appeal this decision in some manner. I was befuddled by this opinion and I think our legal team was befuddled, as well, Blum added. It basically renders any citizens participation in a lawsuit moot. How does one go about challenging this action that has directly effected Don Higginson? If no one can do that, then the State of California can pass laws willy nilly that literally can never be challenged in federal court. Advertisement jharry.jones@sduniontribune.com; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones When Ryan Meoni complained about a city-owned church directory in Coronado, he never expected the city to remove the sign. My whole problem was just one word church, said Meoni, 20. I never pushed for the sign to be taken down. But thats exactly what the city of Coronado plans to do to a sign thats been on Orange Avenue and Sixth Street since the 1960s. Mayor Richard Bailey cited possible First Amendment lawsuits in a Facebook post announcing the decision to remove the sign. Advertisement I understand this is a sensitive topic; however, a new directory/signage will be reinstalled after this project is complete and it will be inclusive of all organizations, including our faith-based ones, Bailey wrote Concerns over First Amendment lawsuits came after the Freedom From Religion Federation sent Coronado a letter about the church directory shortly after Meoni reached out to the organization. The letter states that Coronados church directory raises serious constitutional concerns under the Establishment Clause. Specifically, because the sign only lists Christian churches, it could give the appearance that Coronado promotes Christianity over other faiths, said Liz Cavell, the lawyer who wrote the letter. The Freedom From Religion Foundation is the nations largest non-theist advocacy organization. They promote the separation of church and state and have sued municipal governments over religious displays in public property. News of the church directory got the attention of Charles LiMandri, the lawyer who represented the city of San Diego in the the Mount Soledad lawsuit. Im not sure at this point why they need to do anything, Li Mandri said. The lawyer offered to represent Coronado free of charge in any potential litigation but never heard back from the city. Not only does LiMandri believe the sign should stay, he thinks removing it could open the city to a different kind of lawsuit. Advertisement Removing it could be a violation by showing hostility toward a religion, he said. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment prohibits governments from doing things that a reasonable observer would perceive as endorsing religion, said Steven Smith, a professor at the University of San Diegos School of Law who specializes in law and religion. This is a very subjective and fact-specific doctrine, and its hard to predict the outcome of particular cases, Smith said. But a sign listing churches along with other organizations is surely less vulnerable than one that lists only churches, so it seems that the city has acted in a prudent way. Maimon Schwarzschild, another law professor who specializes in law and religion, believes the directory is legitimate as long as it is open to all religions and denominations. Advertisement There is a tendency in the country, of late, for advocacy groups to threaten litigation, and/or to threaten boycotts, often -- as I think in this case, on slender grounds -- and for people and businesses and towns and cities to be intimidated and to stop doing perfectly legitimate and useful things, out of fear for what might happen if, for instance, they are sued, Schwarzschild said. This can be very divisive, it seems to me, in a society which is already all too polarized and divided. Meoni grew up in Coronado, played for the high school baseball team, and is currently in college outside of San Diego. Even though he spent most of his life in Coronado, he first noticed the sign in December while walking by the park with his sister. Meoni didnt like the word churches because, in his opinion, they exclude religious institutions that meet in temples or mosques. He didnt expect this issue to get so much attention. If they wouldve just changed one word on the sign, I wouldve been fine with that, he said. Advertisement Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter David fought only one Goliath. Imperial Beach is fighting several. Mayor Serge Dedina reaffirmed Imperial Beachs commitment to protect the citys coast line from multibillion-dollar fossil fuel companies accused of contributing to climate change and federal governments that fail to stop sewage from spilling into the Tijuana River. In 2018, we will be as aggressive as possible in both the United States and Mexico to keep our beaches clean, the mayor said during the State of the City address Monday at the Imperial Beach Library. Dedina, founder of the nonprofit Wildcoast, made environmental protection the citys top priority since becoming a public servant. Advertisement In July, Imperial Beach sued several fossil fuel companies for what it said are billions in property damages tied to climate change and in August, the city filed a notice of intent to sue the federal government for failing to stop sewage spills. People have asked Dedina whether the lawsuits are too drastic. He doesnt see it that way. What is drastic and unacceptable is that this problem keeps happening over and over and over again, he said, noting that there have been 320 spills in the last three years about one every three days. Chronic spills had become so common in Imperial Beach that some residents considered them an unavoidable part of life. Sometimes, we even start to take it for granted that the attacks will happen and theres not much we can do about it, said council member Mark West. West attributed a change in attitude to Dedinas leadership. Apart from committing to continue the environmental fight, Dedinas State of the City gave Imperial Beach an opportunity to highlight last years economic development. There is more development happening in Imperial Beach than at any point in the citys history, the mayor said. Advertisement Last years growth accounts for an 8.5 percent increase in sales tax revenue compared with a 2 percent increase countywide and a $150 million increase in property valuation, according to the city. New developments include 200 units of market rate housing, a new shopping center on Palm Avenue and Ninth Street, and several new restaurants along Seacoast Drive. When you look around Imperial Beach, you see evidence of investment in our town everywhere you look, said Port Commissioner Dan Malcolm. IB has never looked better; our future has never looked brighter. Contact Gustavo Solis via Email or Twitter Nearly six dozen operators of the countrys largest new car retailer which has two facilities in San Diego County have been ordered to pay a total of $2.1 million in civil penalties, a settlement in a lawsuit that included allegations of illegal disposal of hazardous waste, the San Diego County District Attorneys office said Monday. San Diego will receive $100,000 from the settlement, the office said in a news release announcing the resolution of the lawsuit. The fines are part of a nearly $3.4 million settlement of the lawsuit, which the Santa Clara County District Attorneys office filed in 2013 against subsidiaries of AutoNation, which has 57 dealerships and collision centers in California. Seven other counties, including San Diego, joined in the suit. Advertisement Prosecutors accused the defendants of illegally disposing of hazardous waste, as well as violating laws regarding storing hazardous materials and disposing of customer records. On top of the $2.1 million in penalties, the defendants agreed to pay $380,00 in costs. The defendants will also spend $900,000 to enhance compliance with hazardous waste laws, including establishing a full-time environmental director who will monitor compliance and training. Authorities said the stipulated judgment resolves a case that began in 2013, after Santa Clara County environmental health inspectors found hazardous waste violations inside the service departments of several AutoNation dealerships. That led to a string of undercover inspections of the dealerships trash containers in several counties. The inspections uncovered illegal disposal of automotive fluids, non-empty aerosols, used oil filters, and electronic waste, authorities said. At one dealership, inspectors found used motor oil, according to the news release. The trash also contained invoices and other documents with personal information of customers. State law requires businesses to take reasonable measures such as shredding or erasing when disposing of personal information. AutoNation cooperated with the investigation, and took steps to improve its compliance with the environmental and consumer protection laws brought to its attention by the prosecutors, according to the news release. Advertisement teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Advertisement Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT The California Supreme Court decided Monday that juveniles may not be sentenced to 50 years or longer in prison for kidnapping, rape and sodomy. In a 4-3 ruling that came after review of a San Diego case, the state high court said a 50-year sentence for minors was functionally equivalent to life without parole. A young person who knows he or she has no chance to leave prison for 50 years has little incentive to become a responsible individual, wrote Justice Goodwin Liu, citing a 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision that severely restricted life sentences for juveniles. The California court ruled in favor of Leonel Contreras and William Rodriguez, who were 16 when they attacked two teenage girls in San Diego County in 2011. Advertisement Rodriguez was sentenced to 50 years to life and Contreras to 58 years to life. The court majority said the sentences constituted cruel and unusual punishment by depriving the inmates of a chance of parole until their senior years. The U.S. Supreme Courts observation that juveniles have limited ability to consider consequences when making decisions applies to a sentence of 50 years to life just as it does to a sentence of life without parole, Liu wrote. A judgment that a juvenile offender will be incorrigible for the next 50 years is no less questionable than a judgment that the juvenile offender will be incorrigible forever, Liu continued, citing the high court. He was joined by Justices Ming W. Chin, Mariano-Florentino Cuellar and Leondra R. Kruger. Liu said the decision did not minimize the gravity of defendants crimes or their lasting impact on the victims and their families. Rodriguez and Contreras have plenty of work to do if they want to persuade a parole board some day to release them, the court said. Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, in a dissent, argued that lengthy sentences for juveniles are lawful as long as there is a chance for parole within their lifetimes. Profound life experiences still may lie ahead of someone released from prison at age 66 or 74, she wrote. Advertisement She also argued that Rodriguez and Contreras might be able to obtain parole at the age of 60 under Californias Elderly Parole Program, designed to release aged inmates to save the state the costs of their healthcare. Even without that program, she said, Rodriguez might be eligible for parole at the age of 57 by earning credits for good conduct. A sentence affording an opportunity for parole at age 60 offers a juvenile offender a substantial likelihood of spending not just a few, but many productive years outside of custody, if he or she demonstrates sufficient maturity to secure parole, wrote Cantil-Sakauye. She was joined by Justice Carol A. Corrigan and Los Angeles-based Court of Appeal Justice Sandy R. Kriegler, filling in because of a vacant seat on the state high court. Advertisement On Sept 3, 2011, the girls best friends who were 15 and 16 years old at the time had been attending a party in a Rancho Penasquitos neighborhood. They left the gathering to take a walk and sat under a tree in nearby park. Two boys accosted the girls, forcing them to a secluded area. One of the assailants had a knife. For the next 30 to 40 minutes, the girls pleaded for their attackers to stop as they were subjected to a variety of sex acts. Contreras and Rodriguez were convicted at trial in 2012. Advertisement In sentencing the teens, San Diego Superior Court Judge Peter Deddeh noted that because they were minors and it was a not a homicide case the law would not allow him to hand down terms that amounted to life without the possibility of parole. An appellate court upheld the convictions, but reversed the sentences, finding that they fell short of giving the two defendants a realistic chance for release. Staff Writer Teri Figueroa contributed to this report. Advertisement maura.dolan@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @mauradolan The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit in San Diegos federal court today alleging that immigration officials had unnecessarily and unjustly separated an asylum-seeking woman from her then-six-year-old daughter. The woman, who fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo with her daughter, has been held at Otay Mesa Detention Center, since the child was taken from her in early November, according to the lawsuit. They had asked for asylum at the San Ysidro port of entry on Nov. 1 and were detained for a few days together before immigration officials split them up to go to different, longer-term custody facilities. When the officers separated them, Ms. L. could hear her daughter in the next room frantically screaming that she wanted to remain with her mother, the complaint says, using the lawsuits nickname for the Congolese woman. The daughter spent her seventh birthday away from her mother at a facility in Chicago where she doesnt know anyone, according to the lawsuit. Shes been able to talk to her mother on the phone six times in the last four months, it says. Advertisement The lawsuit calls on ICE to reunite the mother with her daughter either by detaining them together in a facility that houses families or by releasing the mother on parole while she waits for her court date. A spokeswoman from Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond in time for publication. ICE generally doesnt comment on pending litigation. The complaint argues that officials separated the family without reason. It says the government should not be able to split families without a court hearing where officials have to justify a reason such as negligent parenting for the separation. Over the first year of the Trump administration, officials at the Department of Homeland Security have suggested at times that they might make a policy to separate asylum-seeking families when they arrive at the border. They have not made a formal announcement that such a policy is now in place. Individual cases of parents and children being separated so the parents can be placed in an adult detention facility have surfaced in both California and Texas. Four fathers who said ICE took their children away from them after they asked for asylum at the San Diego border filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security in December over the issue. Advertisement Immigration Videos On Now New developments in family separation case 9:53 On Now A San Diego woman volunteered as a medic in Texas helping migrant families 2:35 On Now Immigration policy protests in Carlsbad nearly cancelled after permit issue 1:38 On Now When children are separated from their parents at the border, here is where they go next On Now Prospects of a deal for 'Dreamers' may hinge on separating Trump from hard-liners on his staff On Now What is DACA? On Now Border wall prototype contractors selected On Now Video: Ukrainian boxer wins asylum in U.S. On Now 30 apprehended after Border Patrol agents discover tunnel On Now Video: Kurdish diaspora prepare to vote on independence Follow me on Facebook for live updates about immigration news kate.morrissey@sduniontribune.com, @bgirledukate on Twitter The San Diego City Council unanimously confirmed David Nisleit as the citys new police chief on Monday after questioning him about immigration enforcement, homelessness, racial profiling and the ethnic diversity of officers. Nisleit, a 30-year veteran of the San Diego Police Department, was nominated by Mayor Kevin Faulconer last month to replace Chief Shelley Zimmerman, who is retiring this week. He will be sworn in at 10 a.m. Tuesday at police headquarters downtown. Councilman Chris Cate of Mira Mesa hailed the promotion of Nisleit to chief as a smart decision, despite many community leaders lobbying for an external hire to bring new ideas and leadership strategies. I think having someone from within is the right move for us today, Cate said during a two-hour public hearing before the confirmation vote. I think that your experience in a multitude of different neighborhoods and divisions and operations within the department is going to fit well. Advertisement Cate was referring to Nisleit, 52, having completed assignments focused on gangs, sex crimes, robbery and narcotics, while also working in some of San Diegos most diverse neighborhoods such as Logan Heights and City Heights. Councilwoman Georgette Gomez of City Heights was more measured in her support, but still upbeat about Nisleit. Ive only heard positive things about the relationships you have had throughout your career in the community, Gomez said. Actions speak louder than words, but so far everything Ive heard has been positive. On immigration, Nisleit said he will continue a longtime city policy of not having officers check the immigration status of crime victims or witnesses so they feel comfortable coming forward. He said status checks also arent done for people arrested for misdemeanors or involved in minor car crashes. On homelessness, Nisleit said he will create a new Neighborhood Policing Division on March 9 that will allow the department to expand both its homeless outreach team and psychiatric emergency response team, while also centralizing support services. On racial profiling, Nisleit said he plans to fully comply with a new state law requiring the department to more thoroughly analyze its traffic stops and how different ethnic groups are being treated. On the diversity of officers, Nisleit said hes committed to an increase and that he expects a greater focus on hiring from local neighborhoods to help. He said more than half of the 43 people starting the citys next police academy next month are minorities. Advertisement Nisleit said hes enjoyed meeting with council members and community leaders since Faulconer tapped him as the next chief on Feb. 1. Ive been listening and Ive been taking everything in, he said. I am committed to working with everyone. Together we can make a positive difference. Before the council vote, many community leaders spoke in favor of Nisleits confirmation, while a few raised questions and said they plan to hold him accountable. District Attorney Summer Stephan said shes confident Nisleit will be a great partner on providing her strong cases for felony prosecutions. Advertisement Public safety cant be an experiment, she said. Chief Nisleit is not just competent, hes humble, he listens and Ive seen him care just as much about the murder of a La Jolla rich man as a homeless man. Labor leader Michael Zucchet, who served on a community panel that interviewed six finalists for chief, said Nisleit was the obvious choice. He blew it out of the water, said Zucchet, general manager of the 5,000-member Municipal Employees Association. He was just as quick to articulate whats right with the department as what he would change. Norma Chavez Peterson, executive director of the local chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, listed 10 areas her group would like Nisleit to focus on, including racial profiling and immigration. Advertisement Were ready to meet with you and work with you and move the city forward, and were also ready to hold you accountable when youre not doing the right thing, she said. Nisleit, who lives just west of Poway in Sabre Springs, will receive an increase in annual salary from $147,790 to $205,000 as a result of being promoted to chief. Hell be the 35th chief in the history of the San Diego Police Department. Advertisement david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick A pedestrian killed early Saturday in a hit-and-run crash on Interstate 5 near Old Town has been identified by authorities and family as a UC San Diego student. Andres Perkins, 21, studied neuroscience and was in the process of applying to medical schools, his sister wrote on a GoFundMe page to raise funds for his family. Friends and acquaintances who wrote comments on the page remembered Perkins as a funny, selfless and kind young man who had a bright future as a doctor. According to online posts, he was involved in several clubs at UCSD, including the Flying Samaritans, a student-run organization that provides free health services to underserved communities in Mexico. Advertisement About 3 a.m. Saturday, Perkins was struck by at least one vehicle in the southbound lanes of the freeway just south of Old Town Avenue, authorities said. Officers found a license plate registered to a 2004 Honda Accord at the scene, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Brent Lowry told reporters. Investigators later found the car abandoned at a Shell gas station on Pacific Highway, NBC 7 reported. No arrests had been reported as of Monday night. Breaking News Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Advertisement Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez Despite their frequency, school shootings often feel like a punch to the gut. Many people have described the incidents as unforeseeable, but local law enforcement officials said research has shown that there are usually warning signs. In about 80 percent of school shootings, at least one person had information that the assailant was thinking about or planning an attack, according to statistics compiled by the FBI. And in nearly two-thirds of cases, more than one person knew about the plan before it occurred. San Diego County District Attorney Summer Stephan has studied school shooting for years. Advertisement Stephan prosecuted the gunman who wounded two second-grade girls during a 2010 shooting at Kelly Elementary in Carlsbad. She said it was clear the man had told his brother exactly what he wanted to do repeatedly. But the brother didnt report it to anybody because he thought his brother was just bluffing, she said. After the Columbine High School massacre, which left 12 students and one teacher dead, investigators determined there had been warning signs, according to media reports. Eric Harris, one of the shooters, wrote on his website about the arsenal of weapons he and he friend Dylan Klebold had amassed, and their plans to use them. Harris also threatened to kill specific students. A 249-page report on the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting found 23-year-old Seung-Hui Cho had exhibited a number of troubling behaviors before he killed dozens of students and faculty members and then himself. There were years of violent writings, and disturbing comments and emails to fellow students. I think its a really important reminder to our community to invest in taking action and reporting, Stephan said. its well worth it to keep in mind that as much as the community feels helpless when a shooting happens, that we actually have power to interrupt and disrupt and potentially save lives by reporting and intervening. A close look at school shootings also reveals that about 75 percent of shooters felt bullied or persecuted or threatened by others. That should motivate everyone to disrupt bullying and other things that make people feel isolated, Stephan said. Advertisement Twitter: @LAWinkley Advertisement (619) 293-1546 lyndsay.winkley@sduniontribune.com Bill Nye the Science Guy one of the nations best known popularizers of science will visit UC San Diego on Friday to help the university dedicate the new Halicioglu Data Science Institute. The institute will train students to gather, analyze and apply data, enabling them to do everything from better operating music streaming services to routing commercial aircraft around large storms. Bill will talk about the importance of data and how it is used in our daily lives, said Rajesh Gupta, a UC San Diego computer science professor. Were trying to connect with young people. Gupta played a key role in convincing Taner Halicioglu, a UC San Diego graduate who helped pioneer Facebook, to donate $75 million to establish the institute. Halicioglu (pronounced Haw-li-dji-o-loo) also recently helped the university to renovate its computer science building, particularly for the benefit of undergraduates. Advertisement Nye, who is 62, is currently chief executive officer of the Planetary Society in Pasadena. He also hosts the Netflix series, Bill Nye Saves the World. He will speak at an invitation-only event on Friday morning. Sen. Scott Weiner, D-San Francisco, is once again pushing bold housing legislation meant to end the shortage of shelter that has turned California into the poster child for American poverty. With some exceptions, Weiners Senate Bill 827 would end restrictions on the number of houses that could be built within a half-mile of major transit routes and hubs and would prevent cities from forcing the new homes to meet parking requirements. The new housing could be no taller than 45 to 85 feet, depending on its proximity to a station and whether it was on a main or side street. This is even more far-reaching than Weiners Senate Bill 35, which was enacted last year. That law puts limits on what local governments that havent met housing commitments can do to prevent housing projects on properly zoned parcels. The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board will let the legislative process play out more before taking a position on the bill. But so far the howls that have met it from politicians in Los Angeles and San Francisco have amounted to the same old parochial not-in-my-back-yard arguments that have driven Californias housing shortage for decades. Weiner is trying to use fresh thinking to deal with the housing crisis. His critics need to do so as well. If they dont like his approach, what would they suggest? No, doing nothing is not an acceptable answer. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Advertisement Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion Encinitas has a long history of NIMBYism on housing, which helps explain why it is the only city in San Diego County that doesnt have a state-approved Housing Element a plan that formally explains how city leaders intend to address housing needs, especially for poor families. It also explains why in 2015, the city paid $200,000 to the Building Industry Association of San Diego County to cover its legal expenses after the association sued the city for passing regulations that appeared to defy a state law meant to prod local communities to approve affordable housing. Encinitas voters embraced this defiance anew in November 2016 by voting 56 percent to 44 percent to reject Measure T, which would have complied with state mandates by allowing for new housing construction in five areas near busy roads in the city. Thats led to new lawsuits. Against this backdrop, the recent actions of the City Council look downright enlightened. On March 14, council members are expected to give final approval to rules making it much easier to add so-called granny flats to existing housing parcels by lifting fees and streamlining rules. At a recent council meeting, Mayor Catherine Blakespear said shes really excited about the measure because it will really make a huge difference in our housing stock. Such enthusiasm is deeply welcome. But in Encinitas, it may pose unfortunate political problems for the first-term mayor. As The San Diego Union-Tribune columnist Logan Jenkins noted in December 2016, Encinitas complying with housing laws is likely to trigger a rebellion, legal and/or political. Thats sad because what Californians need is not another NIMBY revolt, but a revolt against NIMBYs. Twitter: @sdutIdeas Advertisement Facebook: San Diego Union-Tribune Ideas & Opinion As authorities investigated at least 20 threatening messages that had been spray-painted around the campus of a San Diego-area high school on Monday so soon after the mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, parents and students shared their fears along with images of the threats on social media. The words Florida was nothing a reference to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting that left 17 people dead and at least 14 others injured on Feb. 14 were found spray-painted on walls of Rancho Bernardo High School along with a date and time 2/26 12:00. Students were returning to school after a week-long break, and authorities say the graffiti was left at some point during their absence when no one was on campus. Wow, never thought the day would come where I was scared to go to school, one person under the Twitter account, @SpaceDweeb180, wrote. Fearing my friends safety along with my own, but mostly pissed at whoever was sick enough to do this. Threats to the Rancho Bernardo high school come amid a surge in school shooting threats reported all over the San Diego area, Southern California and the nation in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting. At least seven threats of violence have been made in San Diego-area schools, all within the last two weeks. Police did not deem the threats against the Rancho Bernardo school credible, a Poway Unified School District official told The San Diego Union-Tribune. Meanwhile, classes resumed as normal and parents were alerted about the graffiti via email. The school shared that email message via Twitter by 11 a.m. This morning we discovered threatening messages spray painted throughout our campus. We immediately contacted San Diego Police Department who are on campus investigating. At this point, the (police) do not believe this to be a credible threat. We will continue to have police presence on campus for the remainder of the day and throughout the week, the school told parents in a message. Schools and police are on high alert, as they always are after incidents like this, but the level of awareness that students are bringing to the national conversation seems higher this month. In Florida, many of the students from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School who survived the shooting have become fixtures on TV and Twitter, where they have been advocating for gun control. In San Diego, some students shared their own fear, frustration and anger. Some even tweeted directly at President Donald Trump. Some parents used social media to share their frustrations with the school district, too. One person tweeted that there were hundreds of parents concerned about what was happening at the high school and that they should not have to hear things through the grapevine or on the internet. Some parents wanted more attention paid to the problem. As of Monday afternoon, San Diego police continued to investigate the threats. In a public plea for help, the police said the threat is a felony crime and that those responsible will be held accountable. Have some thoughts to share? Join me in a conversation: Shoot me a private email with your thoughts or ideas on a different approach to this story. As always, you can also send us a tweet. Email: luis.gomez@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @RunGomez Read The Conversation on Flipboard. Snow blanketed the higher elevations of San Diego County on Tuesday, sending people across the region to social media to share and stare in awe at photos and videos of a decidedly un-San Diego look. A winter storm brought some rain and even hail to San Diego overnight and was expected to bring as much as 6 inches of snow to the mountains in elevations as low as 2,500 to 3,000 feet throughout the day. Heres a look at the wave of precipitation that arrived in the county from Alaska. The storm slowed traffic on Interstate 8 Tuesday morning, and five rural school districts canceled classes. The countys Department of Public Works crews began plowing the roads in the dark to prepare for commuters. The snowfall was captured on Monday night at Palomar Mountain by Michael Fila on Twitter. The San Diego Union-Tribune photographer John Gibbins captured these videos and images as he explored Descanso and other parts of East County on Tuesday. NBC 7 reporter Liberty Zabala shared this amazing photo from Mount Laguna. Stay warm, Liberty! Check out these other wintry images from Alpine, Palomar Mountain and Cuyamaca Rancho State Park. Do you have pictures you want to share with us of the snow in San Diego County? Email them to abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com or tweet them to @sdutideas and we may add them to this page. Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @abbyhamblin ALSO Heavy snow is slowing traffic along eastern Interstate 8 Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join This series by American studies professor Ben Railton explores the connections between Americas past and present. Fifty years ago this evening, on February 27, 1968, legendary CBS News anchor Walter Cronkite concluded a special report on the ongoing conflict in Vietnam with a striking three-minute commentary. The special report had cast a long and searching look at the haphazard progress and challenges of the police action in Southeast Asia, but Cronkites closing commentary went much further still. Acknowledging that his analysis must be speculative, personal, subjective, he nonetheless laid bare the stark realities of the situation in Vietnam: For it seems now more certain than ever, that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate. To say that we are closer to victory today is to believe in the face of the evidence, the optimists who have been wrong in the past. Cronkites sober realism wasnt just an overarching attempt to counter such optimistic narratives of the warit was also quite specifically adversarial to the perspectives coming out of the American military and political leadership. With as much restraint as I could, Cronkite narrated, I turned to our own leaders whose idea of negotiation seemed frozen in memories of General McArthurs encounter with the Japanese aboard the Battleship Missouri. Weve been too often disappointed by the optimism of the American leaders. As he so often did, Cronkite presented this adversarial stance in a restrained and civil way, a tone befitting his role as an elder statesman of American journalism. But his opposition to the narratives coming out of Washington was clear and crucial nonetheless. That restrained, civil, and statesmanlike form of rebuke could be called public adversarial journalism, and was a key facet of Cronkites voice and role throughout his decades on the air. It had the ability to shift national conversations in a gentle but very real way, framing a new way of understanding unfolding histories and issues for both Cronkites listeners and the powerful figures to whom he was speaking his truths. Building on the legacy of influential predecessors like Edward R. Murrow, and making this critical tone a more consistent part of his efforts as anchor than any of his contemporaries, Cronkites public adversarial journalism became a vital component of the television news landscape throughout the 1960s and 70s. Yet while such public adversarial journalism has vital roles to play in changing national conversations by speaking uncomfortable truths, it is not necessarily as well-equipped for investigating and uncovering such truths. For that, a more private adversarial journalism is needed, one that confronts leaders and spin artists directly, calls them out on their partial or false representations, and works to find the truth that lies behind them. In the same period as Cronkites public stance on the Vietnam War, a young investigative journalist named David Halberstam modeled this form of private adversarial journalism, helping shift the relationship of war journalists to the military effort in the process. Halberstam told the story of his most striking and inspiring moment of private adversarial journalism in a 2005 speech to the Columbia School of Journalism: Probably the moment I am proudest of in my career is this: By the fall of 1963, I was one of a small group of reporters in Saigon we had enraged Washington and Saigon by filing pessimistic dispatches on the war. In particular, my young colleague, Neil Sheehan, and I were considered the enemy. The president of the United States, JFK, had already asked the publisher to pull me. One day that fall, there was a major battle in the Delta (the Americans were not yet in a full combat role; they were in an advising and support role). MACVthe American military command tried to keep out all reporters so they could control the information. Neil and I spent the day pushing hard to get therecalling everyone, including Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge and General Paul Harkins. With no luck, of course. In those days, the military had a daily late afternoon briefing given by a major or a captain, called the Five Oclock Follies, because of the generally low value of the information. On this particular day, the briefing was different, given not by a ajor but by a major general, Dick Stilwell, the smoothest young general in Saigon. It was in a different room and every general and every bird colonel in the country was there. Picture if you will rather small room, about the size of a classroom, with about 10 or 12 reporters there in the center of the room. And in the back, and outside, some 40 military officers, all of them big time brass. It was clearly an attempt to intimidate us. General Stilwell tried to take the intimidation a step further. He began by saying that Neil and I had bothered General Harkins and Ambassador Lodge and other VIPs, and we were not to do it again. Period. And I stood up, my heart beating wildlyand told him that we were not his corporals or privates, that we worked for The New York Times and UP and AP and Newsweek, not for the Department of Defense. I said that we knew that 30 American helicopters and perhaps 150 American soldiers had gone into battle, and the American people had a right to know what happened. Through this and many other moments of private adversarial journalism, Halberstam and colleagues like Sheehan were able to uncover the truth of what was happening with US forces and efforts in Vietnama truth that became a crucial influence on shifting the perspectives on the war of public journalists and figures like Cronkite. While they differ in tone, role, and other specifics, Cronkites and Halberstams public and private adversarial journalism are ultimately complementary, each a necessary part of a journalistic enterprise that pursues truth and presents it to its audiences and society. The legacies of both these men and moments remain vital models for American journalism. Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join Sometimes Id just lean back against the edge of the broken chair in which I was seated and watch her standing there in La Petite Maison in Saigon alternately laughing loudly and pouting with a mock look of disappointment. Of course, I wasnt alone in my attentions, but I was certainly apart. Even the bartender, Tam, a small, nervous man in his fifties with a lock of graying hair bending over his narrow, wrinkled forehead, moved to the farther end of his short and dampened counter to be included in the admiring circle of acquaintances. It was never a large cluster, but it was a perpetual one, with only the individual faces changing occasionally. She would stand among the tables, resting her ample posterior now and then against one or another of the surface edges, and exchange all the newest local gossip and off-color jokes with the men about her. Invariably, it seemed, whenever one of the more enjoyable stories neared its climax, someone would shout out an order to Tam, and the unhappy little bartender would go scampering back to his regular post to prepare the particular bit of refreshment in demand. Subscribe and get unlimited access to our online magazine archive. Subscribe Today After a while the girl, too, would sit, sometimes on the top of a table, her legs crossed, and her tight dress caught around her knees, sometimes on one of the several chairs that stood unused near the tables. She did not, however, often take advantage of the formal seating arrangements, perhaps because she sought to maintain the only-a-minute-longer posture that kept the others all the more anxious. But when she did, it was a truly grand production. She would pull hard on the end of her skirt with the thumb and two fingers of each hand until she had seated herself snugly against the back of the chair. Then, having made her overtures to modesty and propriety, she would raise her legs to rest atop one of the tables, preferably with her feet barely brushing against someones face, and her back to as many others as possible. As soon as shed chosen her victim for the sport, she would begin twisting her right foot in a clockwise ellipse, pretending not to notice this automatic gesture, just to see how long it would be before the officer across the table would raise his face and hurry it back in retreat. (Occasionally, in one of her still-gayer moods, she would manage to kick off her shoes beforehand.) The victim would smile painfully, and all the other men would laugh at his surrender without seeming to realize that they, too, had given in by moving their own chairs around to face the dark Asian beauty. All this I observed from my dimly lit corner of the room, occasionally ordering another drink when all their laughter had subsided, thus causing her to turn her head slightly toward me. It wasnt so much a look of reproach as one of curiosity, even puzzlement, that I, presumably a normal and stimulable young man, should impose upon myself exclusion from the fun-and-games circle of which she was the charming and surely stimulating center. I would nod politely back to her, adding a thin, tired smile of thanks for her unspoken, but nonetheless apparently issued, invitation. Then Tam would bring my drink, and I would go on watching. It beat working. Outside there was always the dull ache of a terrible excitement, everyone wondering where the next big blow would come and just how much longer the fighting could possibly go on. Older women had forgotten what it was like to endure peace, their husbands and sons at their sides, the streets filled only with their compatriots, the sounds of the jungle replacing the sounds of jungle warfare as they slept; young children had never known. The past was like a world that never was, something only faintly remembered, the way one remembers a tale told years ago and, of course, the ending is past recall. Thousands upon thousands of French soldiers longed to go home, to win this ugly mess of a war and return to the families they had either left or planned. Meanwhile, they would curse the hot sun and filthy marshes and deceptive shrubbery where any attacker could lie in easy wait. They would hate these dirty little people whom they were sent to defend but who cared little for defending themselves. They would taste their homemade white wine and long to hold the bottle; touch the pretty girl with the soft, red mouth and long to feel her breath; smell the brandy-polished crepes in a Paris cafe and long to taste their sweetness. It was all so long ago. But that was far outside, beyond the barely open door. From my corner, one late Thursday of my remembrance, it began to look just a bit less awful. My story had been filed after a hot, sticky and seemingly interminable wait at the cable office and, unless something big broke soon, I was through working for the day. I could afford to sit quietly, and sip my watered drink, and watch. I had never understood exactly why they called her La Bleue. For some reason, however, it did fit her admirably. Every movement of her lithe body, every decibel of her coarse laugh seemed to betray a sense of loneliness and endless, though quite vain, searching. Running my fingers along the rim of a wet glass, so as to produce a soft, high-pitched whirring sound, I considered at length the inner workings of the girl before me. And it occurred to me that I knew her by no other name than that of her ambiguous title, which would hardly have served as a form of chance address. I worked awhile on that, certain after my fourth drink that she was nothing she would seem to be and was thus unfit for any name that might sound otherwise suitable. I called her Charlie. Suddenly, without a hint of warning even to myself, I called her Charlie. When she got up from her chair and walked slowly across the dusty floor to size me up at closer range, I rose half out of my seat and greeted her knowingly. Why do you call me that? she asked in a rough, but not really broken, French. Why? I replied. What is your name? She paused for a moment, presumably in meditation, meanwhile getting herself comfortably situated on the torn cushion of the chair on which she had placed herself in rather elaborate fashion. She glanced about at the uninhabited spaces of the room, then brought her focus sharply back to me. Charlie, she said effortlessly. She repeated it twice more, as though to get the true sense of it, then admitted with obvious pleasure, Why, yes, its a lovely name. It feels so nice on me. Tam had come from behind his chest-high barrier to bring her unfinished drink to her. He bumped into the table next to mine on his hurried way. Excusing himself two or three times for the accident, he nervously dropped the glass onto the table, spilling a few droplets and offering again the same profuse apologies for his clumsiness. The girl looked at him with what I took to be something of a cross between outright boredom and utter contempt, and he went running back with the look of a scorned puppy. Silly man, is he not? she asked without caring at all for an answer. I wouldnt come here, except that I feel so sorry for him. And I am good for his business, you know. If I ever deserted him, every French officer in Saigon would quit coming here just like that. She clicked her thumb and third finger together. Dont you think Im pretty, not a little bit? I had every intention of assuring her that I found her most attractive, but she had already taken that much for granted. Then why, she went on, do you never join me at my table? Certainly, I realized, I could not explain to her my preference for disengaged viewing while she acted out her role. Consequently, I had no answer at all for the unexpected question. Yes? she asked again, then quickly backed off. Oh, never mind. Its probably that youre just shy. Big ears, you know. They say that men with big ears can be awfully shy. But theyre cute, big ears, so you shouldnt really be. I was so taken by surprise with this shameless unmasking that I emitted a short but deep and clearly audible laugh. There, she said, thats much better. Now what would you like to buy me to drink? What would you like? I asked her. Oh, it makes no difference. Tam makes them all so bad, you know. But I like to help his business, so you just pick one for me. I motioned to the little bartender and sent him rushing back to fetch an arbitrary selection from among his offering. When he returned, drink in hand, he was exceptionally careful to avoid that same adjacent table; and he set the glass down with great deliberation, easily. Then, that feat accomplished, he went back to his own station with the satisfaction of graceful maneuvering. Do you like it here? she asked, explaining further, I suppose I really mean, how much do you despise it? She allowed no time for any reply, but traveled on in her verbal wanderings. You know, its a funny thing, but men like you always come out here expecting all kinds of excitement and ah, the romance of war, the virility of combat, the intrigue of bullet-pierced politics. She had deepened her voice to heighten the dramatic sarcasm of her rhetoric. But it only takes a few weeks or months for the glamour to wear off, eh? Then you begin to get moody and melancholy, even bitter a little bit. Trouble is, you dont ever stay long enough to get like the rest of us, resigned to it, I mean. You too, no? I began thinking how close she had come. After six months, there was little enough of the glamour left. When I went home, everyone would be duly impressed with the tales of my exploits, to be sure. But I was living them now, and I hadnt yet had time to recapture the romantic beauty I had ascribed to them at the outset of my assignment. I began thinking, too, of how my slim period of involvement compared with the years she and her countrymen had lost in the struggle. Could one ever really come to be reconciled with the agonies of those years of terror, as she had indicated? Perhaps. It would not be for me to know, since mine was only a tour of limited duty. But this is such depressing talk. Let us speak of more pleasant things, she offered generously, reinstating for my uplift that wide smile which almost parted her deep red, fleshy lips. Quickly, scarcely aware of it myself, I cast a curious glance at the small group of uniformed men with whom she had been mingling just a moment earlier. They were still as she had left them, looking a little more serious as they spoke but speaking quite a lot nevertheless, continuing their alcoholic intermission from the martial drama of the outside world, joking still as they had been, going on as if they entertained not a single lack although each of them undoubtedly wanted dearly to have La Bleue return to keep him company in her diverting and delightfully feminine way. She was surely missed but never recalled; for to recall, even if possible, would have been to spoil the charm. For instance, she went on, let us speak of you. Are you married, by the way? No. Oooh, that is too bad. I mean, it is good for a man to have someone to think of going home to, no? I lifted my shoulders into a slight shrug. Indeed, yes, she explained. A man, he goes away to another country, and he does not know exactly when he will come home again, or even if he will, and he needs the memory of a good woman who will be waiting for him all the while. Are you not lonely? It was such a simple question after shed spoken it aloud; and yet it was the very one Id always seemed myself to miss, or from which Id shrunk, the single question needed to arrange neatly all the miscellaneous and misplaced answers I had accumulated over the longest short period of my life. That was precisely what I was, lonely. Funny how you can feel an emotion so deeply, any emotion but particularly one of a more melancholy flavor, and never come to recognize it for what it is until you no longer possess it, but it possesses you instead. Lonely. Yes, thats just what I was, above all else in the world; no more the bitterness I had felt or the cynicism I had professed or the realism in which I had cloaked them both. Only the most natural sentiment of all; it was mine to endure. In an absurdly sudden way, I began to feel deeply sorry for myself. Then, almost before I had got used to it, my cozy mood of self-indulgence was intruded upon, and I heard her speaking to me again. There had, I knew, been only a moments pause. Yes, of course, you are lonely. How stupid of me to mention it. Tell me about your work instead. It must be so exciting, being a war correspondent and all that. I replied with a vague gesture which, however polite, refused to commit me to an opinion of my work. It was, after all, my work, such as I had chosen. Choosing it was itself my final commitment. Look, Ill tell you what. Why dont you come round to my place this evening? I do have to go now, but I want to talk with you some more. Youre so well, I like talking with you. You come over tonight. You know where it is, dont you? My place, I mean. Everyone does. But By the time I had managed to express even that single sound, she had risen, patting my shoulder lightly, and turned her back to walk away. She glanced behind her. But, I continued stubbornly, everyone also knows that your evenings are usually taken. Are you quite sure? Of course, silly. Do you perhaps think I dont run my own life? And in my own home especially? You just be a sweet thing and visit with me, eh. I enjoy your company ever so and her voice trailed away as she resumed walking briskly toward the door. She waved to the others on her way out, extending only the forefinger of her right hand and the one next to it. And at once I felt very alone. A buzzing sound again made itself heard, as the party nearby resumed the hum of its own conversation; and I went back to my cupful of now dull warmth, trying to decide quietly rationally how I should spend my evening after all. The colonel, of course, was foremost in my mind. It was he who had set up La Bleue in the comparative comfort which she currently enjoyed, and it was he who regularly commanded the flow of her nocturnal attentions. It was he who, in one rage of jealousy particularly notable for its theatrical absurdity, had promised instant death to any man who might dare to tread upon the sacred ground of his preserve. Monsieur Marais. Monsieur le colonel. Loyalty was to him supreme; he demanded it of his troops and would not suffer the traitor to whom this virtue was any the less important. Of all his legion the finest and the most dear was La Bleue, and from her, then, this loyalty was the more precious. Still, I knew, as did most others, that it was not he who kept the girl but she who possessed him and could, because of his very obsession with her, lead him and drive him and put him in her pocket when she wanted a recess between the periods of their companionship. She did, in fact, as she had so stoutly insisted, conduct her own life. Of this there was no doubt. In less than a month after the start of their familiarity she had moved into a new residence and showed herself outfitted with even finer marks of prosperity than she had previously known in clothing, flashing jewelry and scents of Parisian perfumes. As an enterprise she was beginning to flourish. For all this she was willing to pay the price of fondness, like so much overhead expenditure; it was the cost of doing business. But she was, nevertheless, in business only for herself; and when Monsieur le colonel presumed to take her over, she set him down at once. He had objected, it seems, to her almost daily forays into the jungle of masculine desire. If she were his, she must show to him the troop loyalty he expected. Her answer, of course, was a stern refusal to see him further, to admit him through the portal behind which he himself had installed her. Needless to say, he was stunned by the force of her sudden reply. He begged her to reconsider, to try to understand his position, to remember the fervor with which he loved her. In the end, however, he came round if not to her way of thinking, at least to her style of living. He wrote to her his deepest apologies and included among them his promise never again to interfere with what he now professed to recognize as her private life. If she would only allow him to come to her, he would be grateful for the opportunity to beg her forgiveness; for he realized how hed wronged her. Monsieur le colonel, indeed! Expressing her inborn sense of boundless generosity, she returned to him the message that she would receive him at her home that very night at eight oclock sharp. The audience could not, unfortunately, be a prolonged one; surely he would understand that she had made other arrangements for the remainder of the evening. He understood. He delighted only in the thought that once again she would be his, and he hers, if not so completely as he might have wished. He poured himself a reassuring cognac and began to practice what he would say to her that night, something properly self-effacing, a statement of deep love which would place her on the pedestal of his imagination. He worked at it all the rest of the afternoon, ignoring even his dinner out of nervous anticipation of the hour of his confessional. At precisely eight oclock he arrived at her home, his hands moist with anxiousness and his knees quivering just the least bit. When he entered, for the first time in weeks, he saw her sitting on the familiar couch, propped up on her legs with the soles of her feet exposed alongside her. She was dressed in a tight, white sheath of a dress which, because of her casual posture, could not entirely cover her soft, beige thighs. Around her, much to Maraiss great surprise, was scattered a handful of other men chatting amiably and drinking cheerfully the liquors he himself had stocked for her. She raised her hand as the colonel came through the door and manually ordered him closer to her. Dismissing the formalities of introduction with a few half-spoken words and a short wave of her arm, she turned to the new arrival and bade him fetch her a fresh drink. He performed the service graciously. Handing her the glass with one of his hands and a present he had brought for her pleasure with the other, he tried to whisper to her quickly an abridged version of the speech he had prepared, but she would have none of it. Oh, dont stand there and mutter, she admonished him. These are friends, after all. Anything you feel you must say can surely be said before them. Of course, it could not, he thought. All the intimacy he wished to convey in the notes of his rhythmic voice, the emotion of his carefully chosen words, would be made but a mockery aloud before these others. It would be a romantic farce, a cheap barroom melodrama, with himself the leading the only player. But, then, was that not exactly what she wanted? In an instant it became painfully clear to him that his audience was to be only a public forum at which he might open himself to the debasement of her whim. Could he allow her to make sport of him so wickedly? He would undoubtedly have considered this question carefully had it not simultaneously occurred to him to ask, Can I live without this woman? the latter being more to the point. Clearly, he felt, he could not. He bent his head and began to address her, raising his eyes to hers only when she insisted she could not hear him. He straightened, cleared his throat and began anew. He could hear the muffled snickers of the men around him as he went along, but he cared little about them once he had got well into his recantation. By the time he had finished, he felt somehow the better for it. He awaited her reply. I accept, she said simply, and it appeared to him that it might be all she intended to say. But there followed her benignant assent a tender promise for the morrow. Eight oclock again; and she would cancel all her other plans, which meant they would then be alone. Still, for now it was good night. And he left her laughing and drinking and showing various portions of her lovely self to those remaining. When he had got far enough from the scene of his humiliation to recover a bit of his composure, Marais found that his unsure legs were carrying him directly to La Petite Maison on their own authority. About a dozen paces from the door, where the blistered and peeling paint seemed to pose for him an image of his inner self, he stopped short and refused to be swept further along. He brought his shoulders up high, set his jaw firmly almost to a fault, and turned leftward for his own quarters. This was the man of whom I now thought, the tortured instrument of a young womans successful rise, the latest among a list of successively brighter stars. And now it was my turn, or so I imagined; there had to be a reason. Surely I was not equal to the position of her current suitor. She had passed my level long ago, and there was nothing I could any longer offer her. Or was there? Here was a girl given to the steady enjoyment of living, seemingly carefree and radiantly alive with beauty and spirit. But if life were for her pleasure, it was also to be made good capital of: the one, in fact, stemmed from the other, and there was no greater joy than the accomplishment of strained endeavor. No, she was not about to fill a void with just any specimen of male matter. Her days were crammed with purpose. She had worked her way up literally through the ranks, starting at the outset of the war as a sixteen-year-old waitress with the fluid sort of hips that would alternately lull and attract the enlisted men who began to fill this place, Saigon, in rapidly increasing numbers. As her popularity rose, so, too, did her fortune; these French boys she thought of them always as growing children, whereas she had fully blossomed at an early age had more money than she had ever imagined. In only a short while she was able to give up her regular to her, distasteful and even degrading job in favor of being retained by a constantly shifting group of uniformed patrons. Her own little Company X, she called them. Life was easier then, fun to be with, and she was in complete charge of it. When one of her men got out of hand, he was instantly court-martialed, banished from the field of amorous endeavor. Not many of them, therefore, showed her the least insubordination. In time, and not too long at that, she had made the necessary acquaintance of ranking soldiers, men instead of mere youths, and she let them ease her into their own circle. She continued to amuse herself with the little ones, for they were used to serving, which was as she would have it; but she focused her real attentions on increasingly senior representatives of the military. That, of course, was how she finally got around to Monsieur le colonel. Now it was my turn, and I could not keep myself from wondering why. Should I accept her gracious nod? I understood full well that I should not, but my curiosity kept nagging from within. At last I reached the reluctant but sensibly firm conclusion that I must not keep the rendezvous, that I must avoid at all costs becoming ensnared like so many others only to end as a possessed and fondness inebriated discard. Whatever her appearance, I knew, her selfish purposes were never far away. I could not allow myself the luxury of deception. I would not go to her. It was already late when I arrived; and I was immediately struck by the exhausting closeness of the room in which she greeted me. Not that there was any measurable lack of space, but something in the atmosphere about me seemed to compress that area into a narrow, almost choking single path leading to the girl in dull white, with the only egress closing in behind me as I moved forward. Hello, she saluted me mildly. I was wondering whether you would come, but I think I knew you had to. Something about that vague suggestion of some inner compulsion on my part perhaps the hint that I could not resist her charm, that I was neither more nor less than any other man seemed to annoy me more than it should have, and I felt the skin of my cheeks draw tighter. You newspapermen are all the same, you know have to satisfy your little curiosities on every point. Oh, Ive met a few in my time, and theyre each one the same as the other, just simply must know everything about everybody. I think its something of a disease, an obsession, you know, with finding things out. Her voice was clinically soft as she spoke. But it melted my resentment into plain amusement. You might, she went on in that same tone, at least fix us something to drink as long as youre just standing there, I mean. All right, I agreed, walking across to a small table covered with brandies and whiskey and such. She leaned across the edge of the couch, twisting her body like a lovely serpent, and put a record on the old phonograph beside her; and the scratchy sound of a tired trumpet straining to keep up with the beat of the jazz music it accompanied fast became an integral part of the setting in which it played. You dont like me very much, do you? she asked, as if it were the next logical matter of business on the evenings agenda. Does it really interest you? I replied. Im not sure. After I had asked you to come here today, I thought that I cared very much. But now that you ask me so directly, Im no longer certain that I do. There was a moment of silence not embarrassing, just still. Oh, well, no matter, she offered. Tell me about yourself. I began to think of our conversation that afternoon and laughed quietly, thinking that it was she who had just considered me the one filled with inquisitiveness. Do you like your work here? she persisted. Its my job. I was sipping slowly from my glass of cognac as I watched her variously turn positions in her couch. Her legs were up high now, the snugly fitting dress fallen back to the curves of her middle. For as long as it lasts. Ah, yes, she reflected, for as long as it lasts. And then you will go home, no doubt. Certainly. And it just did not occur to me that I had answered in the worst possible way. What a wonderful thing, to be able to witness the tragedies of life as a spectator and then to leave them and go home when youve had enough. Thats not quite the way it is, I protested mildly. You see, I I see only that you come and go. She was sitting upright now, her legs crossed and her arms partly outstretched, not so much out of anger as from determination. As you please, come and go. But this is your home, not mine, really. My home? Yes, of course, my home is here. In the midst of all this, she waved about her lightly, while men shoot each other like small animals, and no one is sure he will live to see the coming month. The gutter of the world to you, no doubt, but my home still. You will leave, and I will stay; for God knows how many more years of just the same I must stay. But what, I scratched the back of my head in puzzlement, has all this to do Ill tell you what it means, what it has to do with you. She raised her voice considerably. It means that you, while you stand by and look down your polite, well-educated nose at the likes of me, you can take comfort in the fact that for you this place is only a tour of duty which will have a definite ending soon perhaps. You can afford your disapproval. But me, I must make it here for myself, right here. There will be no one to recall me when Ive had enough. I must get what I can while I can. Thats what it means. I thought I understood her position well enough, but I could not at all imagine her reasons for troubling to explain it to me. Nor could I comprehend the sudden sharpness of her voice. It was an ambush surely, and I wanted to stage my cautious retreat without even bothering to locate the source of this burst of verbal gunfire. Im sorry, I whispered, which was my mistake. She scooped up the reply as it fell. Yes. Yes. Youre terribly sorry. Rome burns to nothing, and you fiddle eagerly on your sorrow. Well, I suggested in my own defense, its not my fault, you know. But she didnt seem to hear me. Anyway, now Ive said it. I suppose you thought I asked you up tonight for other reasons, no? You would, of course. You are that charming, are you? And me, Im just a little putain? Is that what you were thinking? Is that why you sit so smugly and watch me in Tams restaurant for hours? Does it make you feel so good to see the dirty brown prostitute plying her ugly trade and you, all the time, smacking your sophisticated lips in reproach? Does it make you feel that good? It was an unfair attack, I thought, and I was about to counter it boldly when she interrupted once more. Go away, she fairly begged. I didnt mean it to be like this, but it is perhaps better that it is so. You did come here tonight to sleep with me, did you not? So, go home now and dream about it. But go home, please. I left quietly, without a single word. Outside the door I stopped to light a cigarette and listened for a moment to the muffled sobs from within. I wanted badly to feel sorry for her, but I kept feeling sorry for myself instead. She, after all, had been honest with herself. What was there for me to say? Next morning at nine I was ready to leave for Hanoi. Almost ready, anyway. I was in my room packing a battered piece of light-brown luggage that had never really been unpacked in all the years Id had it. I was preparing to have a look at the other end of the war. I knew, of course, in my own mind that this savage war was the same at both its ends, that its only borders were of desperation and hopelessness, that as before I would find nothing in the northern sector that I did not already know from elsewhere. Still, there were the small details concerning the administration for mass killing, and these ought responsibly to be covered firsthand; at least, that was the theory behind the move. I flung a shirt into my bag and mumbled a simple curse. I hadnt slept particularly well that night, and my head was more than a little groggy, and my eyes burned at the least touch of cigarette smoke. Inside myself I could see a brain that looked strangely like a childs toy kaleidoscope, except that all its fragments were rendered to the vision through a cast of black and white. At intervals, spaced involuntarily and not at all according to my own moods, this cranial tube was shaken, and a new thought displaced the old one quickly, without even the hint of any resistance. Each new consideration I accepted in its turn, unable to refuse it admission. Consequently, I did not remember having heard a knock when, after clamping the baggage shut, I turned for my coat and saw her standing there. I do not recall how she looked, except perhaps that her head was slightly lowered, and there was an almost-tear in one eye. The door was open, she excused herself, so I just came in. I hope it was not very wrong of me. No, I assured her, managing to maintain the doubtful security of my verbal distance, not at all. Wont you sit down? In my eagerness to keep up propriety for proprietys and my own sake, I had not noticed as I spoke that the only chair in the room was covered with notebooks, cameras and a large gadget bag filled with various optical complexities and accouterments, some of which Id yet to use at all. One moment, I added hastily, as I scooped the seat clean, and then I waved my arm hospitably from her downward. I came to say that is, well, I did not know you were leaving, she spoke softly, apparently suspecting that she might otherwise rouse the world. Nor did I until yesterday. But, as you said so well, here today and Thats why I came, she broke in. Im feeling quite a lot better today, and I so wanted to apologize for the way I behaved last night. It was cruel of me, and it was wrong too. Yes, certainly cruel, I thought aloud. And wrong, terribly wrong. No, I corrected her, definitely not that. The cruelty lay only in the correctness of your words. It was true. Oh, you mustnt feel that way. What I said was foolish, like a young girl temperamentally shouting nasty protests at her disapproving father. Anyway, regardless of the reasons why, it was something that need not have been said. I smiled lightly. Id offer you a drink or something, but Im afraid its rather early. Besides, theres really nothing to offer. Yes, I see youre leaving. Probably in a great hurry too, and here I am keeping you No, please, I said as she moved to rise; I said it so suddenly as to startle even myself. For some vague reason I was beginning to feel unpardonably close to her, bathing in the radiance of her presence, much as I had wanted it to be quite the other way. It wasnt anything she had said, I knew, perhaps only that shed come to me to say it. Sitting quietly in that chair, her knees drawn near to each other and her long, slender hands folded neatly in her lap, she looked the very picture of the mischievous child atoning for her minor wrongs. I felt close to her, indeed something of a paternal attitude had been sparked inside me. No, really, I must, she answered. I only came to ask you to forgive me for oh, I just wasnt myself. You must understand. She appeared to be regaining the poise of her former confidence. You are leaving for the North, no? I shall miss you. Perhaps when you return you will return? we can keep that appointment we should have had last night? I was not myself then, you know. I promise you it will not be the same again. Now you must promise me to call when you get back. I promise. But she was already halfway through the door. She stopped, took a few steps back into the room, and gave me a small kiss on the right side of my freshly shaved face. Then she was gone. I walked over to a clouded window and looked briefly out at the long miles of Asian misery, wondering what it held for me. In a moment I, too, would be gone. I was away for several weeks, observing in detailed prose the action on another front. And although I had covered it before, I had never before stayed so long. It was the same, the same as previously and the same as elsewhere in the world of abandoned morale. The same people kept dying in the same dirty way. Skinny little men with boys faces clinging to the shrubbery like human stalks, small-scale raids quickly done, ambiguous sympathies strewn along that countryside of peasants whose hopes of peace mingled with an increasing sense of independence, these would beat back the illustrious forces of the French Union; and no one would ever understand why. It had been years now since the bloody contest was begun, and still neither side could claim its certain victory. Soon, I thought. How much longer can it go on? It did, to be sure, go on just the same for the while I was in Hanoi. When I returned south, then, I had already sensed within me a bitter, selfish frustration of my own. I was tired. For myself, I wanted a quick ending. Sudden death! And then there was Dien Bien Phu: Eight weeks of resistance, the long battle approaching the heroic proportions of utter tragedy. The entire war rolled into a month of nights and then some; and when dawn broke, the defenders were badly beaten, ten thousand of their number taken prisoner. The glory of the bewildered French was covered with thick, heavy, plasma-soaked mud. It was here, too, that my La Bleue lost her general. Although I never really met him in that while before the holocaust, I did see her a number of times. As she had vowed, that solitary incident that had once come between us was no more. If anything, it was as if that night of stormy bitterness had joined us forever in our loneliness. What confronted me now was only the loveliness Id remembered, determined never to forget, when we had been apart. It should have been difficult, indeed, to reconcile the two: the girl whose calculating charms I had known earlier only from my chairborne distance and the pure, unbathed beauty of my presently interminable daydream. That it was not at all so was perhaps a measure of my own lifes unreality, at least for then. She was truly a friend, an old friend and wonderful. And any desires I may once have held for her in that far-gone world of lifetime moments had melted in their own heat into a perfect love. We met at Tams, appropriately enough, my first afternoon back and spent hours exchanging bits of unrelated narrative to cover over the period of our separation; or, really, I must admit, I listened for hours to her disjointed discourse on the various subjects of her fancy, occasionally offering a line or two of my own. She rambled steadily along, recounting in time every conceivable aspect of her life for my pleasure. Every now and then, apparently becoming aware of the tone of her voice and the turn of her conversation, she would throw back her head of darkened hair in laughter and jokingly address me either as mon pere or as Papa; and the confessions would resume immediately. Gradually nearing the present day, she turned suddenly to one side and thrust her arm across the table. Before me flashed a golden bracelet brilliantly highlighting the tender contours of her thin wrist. I am doing well for myself, no? she asked in a voice filled with childish glee, adding with a certain disdain, Better than before, anyway. The before referred, of course, to Colonel Marais, whose own well of generosity she had long ago begun to exhaust. The instant of his implied admission that he could no longer afford extravagance naturally dictated his dismissal from among her ranks and with it the erasure from her mind of all but the barest image of the man. This one was surely better. An untapped reservoir of circumstantial power and wealth, La Farge Gen. Claude La Farge had baited his own trap with the unabashed anxiousness of a schoolboy. He held out to her gladly the offer of his position and his fortune, and she was only too respectful of his kindness. After that first day I saw her on several equally grand occasions, sometimes in my hotel, sometimes at her newly acquired and quite handsome residence. But each time was only as the time before, perhaps even a little more so; and my feeling for her leaped with each encounter. It was as if our life together had been lifted above the locus of objective existence from the very ashes of destruction our beautifully billowing smoke had risen and reached out now for all the heavens. Who could account for this change in our relationship, in every sense surely a reformation? Who would even try? For with her there was a liveliness to life, even in that world of death, especially in that world of death. For we were bound in a universe apart from all others, one remote and distant from the roles we played, each of us in a strictly individual manner. Which is not to deny the essence of those roles and the meaning formerly attached to them, but simply not to take them at all into account, as we performed them but routinely. Each day was a life in itself, the next entirely uncertain. She as she was yesterday was too many lifetimes ago to be but dimly perceived in the recesses of a debilitated memory. Myself I had never known well enough to recall. Even today, as we went about our own pursuits, would be forgotten by the next rising of the sun. And all that would be remembered in tomorrows reminiscence would be the unaccountable joys of those precious moments apart, alone, forever alone. The rest, it did not matter. A child, a dear and dependent child, I took her by the hand and led her along what ways I know not and knew not then. The going was itself the destination. The long walks, the repose between, so long as they were joined with the others, were happy. Only to have her in my care, to have her at my side as a shadow follows its guardian to the setting of a gold and crimson sky, this was my simple delight. I did not realize the extent of my own reliance on the protection of her love, that which had so readily transported me from within the confines of the absolute and beyond the reach of the actual. Then, in the summer, I got my notice to return home as soon as the already accepted cease-fire program had gone into effect. But I was not fully anxious for that moment of departure. Somehow the misery and love I had known there in Indochina had been grafted onto my life in the real world, and they suddenly seemed as much a part of me as any other. I saw her at Tams on the tenth of August. She was sitting alone; the first time I could remember ever having seen her wanting for the company of her male admirers. Her back was to the door, and she did not hear my approach. Hello. I spoke low and watched her swing around in her chair, dropping her feet loudly from the table to the floor in turning. Oh, hello, she returned with a vague smile and the swallow of her remaining drink. There was a moments pause, then, I hear you are leaving us, no? Yes, I answered. You dont sound very pleased. Im not really sure I am. Oh, but you must be, she urged, apparently noting the dejection of my quiet reply. You were not meant for a place like this. You must go back to your own life. You will see, it will be better. Yes, I know, I said. Its just that I cant help She didnt seem to have heard me at all. Do you still perhaps remember that night I was so cruel to you? As if either of us was ever likely to forget it entirely. I condemned you for being only a visitor to our well, anyway, I was wrong, you know. I told you so next day. I was wrong, you see, because I did not stop to realize that it was as it should be. Everyone, I think, is made for his own time and place even if he does not seem to fit into it very well. She laughed a thin laugh at this last, and I knew I had to leave. Most likely I should never have come. You must not feel you are wrong to go, she concluded, sensing within me the problem I had not myself yet understood. You have done your job here, and it is time to leave. That is the way of the world, my dear, and for that the world is filled with memories. Only be sure, if you will, to include me among your own. A hundred thousand words filled my head at once, but none of them was to be spoken. There was, after all, nothing more to say. I leaned over and kissed her lightly on her cheek. There was a small, pearl-like tear refracting the colors of the stark light beneath her eye, I saw, but the rest of her face maintained the structure of stubborn serenity. Au revoir, she called to me as I was leaving. Until we meet Outside there was only scattered noise, and I walked slowly back to my room. Every now and then I received an affectionate letter from her, reminding me of our friendship and recounting for my delight one or another of her further exploits; her words were chosen, it seemed, for their pleasantness and their joy, and her verbal manner held secure the increasingly tenuous bonds between us. But eight years is still a long time, and after a while even her mail stopped coming. I hadnt heard from her in more than a year, our lives seeming to have grown farther apart, when there arrived at my office one morning a thin, gray envelope addressed in her own graceful hand. Hurriedly, almost impatiently, I tore it open October 11, 1962 My Dear, Well, my time is finally running out, and I must write this last letter with great haste. Please bear with any faults of penmanship which illustrate my hurriedness. Please forgive also my inexcusable lapse in writing to you these past several months my God, it must be even longer than that by now. Never feel, please, if only for the sake of my eternal peace, never feel that even for an instant could I bring myself to forget you. Surely you must know that, as my few treasures are counted up, you are by far the most precious. The short while that I knew you here was, for me, a lifetime of happiness. I have no right to ask for more. And, before I forget, I must offer you my congratulations on your new position. You see, I keep in touch with you without your even knowing it. (Really, I learned the good news from Charles Vosse, the one you always said looked like a kangaroo, when he was back briefly in Saigon right after that horrid palace bombing.) It must be an awful responsibility being the foreign news editor of a big newspaper, but I havent the least doubt that you are performing admirably in the job. You see, I once told you that each of us has his own place. At last, you have found yours, and for that I am so glad. Now I will go to find mine although a little reluctantly, of course. Its funny when you stop to think about it, I who was forever uncommitted now having my commitments made for me. I should have been more careful, I suppose, of my associations, but who expected so high-ranking a man to be involved? Alas, my greatest conquest and my surest defeat! And to be made the loser when you have not even played the silly game, what a true pity! There is so very much that I want to tell you but cannot. This short note, this last, must be sent on its devious way while there is still the time, and I must close it here (oh, how I hate the very thought). Soon, they will be coming for me. Do not feel sorry, please, for we have shared too much happiness to have it spoiled by this. You must go on with your own life and your work. That is the important thing. Please, please, no regrets. Only memories. Think of me as you will, but think of me forever as I will dream of you in my eternal reverie. A demain, Charlie Suddenly I had a queer, nagging need for the taste of a cigarette. I wanted, too, to uncross my legs, now tingling with the brisk sensations of muscular drowsiness. I wanted to stand and stretch my back and wave my arms and shake my head and shout that it could not be so. Instead, I simply sat. Gazing out the window that clear autumn day, I let my mind drift freely with the flow of time. It was a long moment of divorce from the awareness of present time, of swimming through a sea of sentimental bliss and bathing in the delights of another unappreciated day; but it could be no more than a mere pause in the march away from yesterday. I looked again at the date of the letter. It was five days old. Obstinately refusing to believe what it implied, I immediately contacted our correspondent in Saigon, one Louis Graff, inquiring as to recent arrests and possible executions by the government. I specifically mentioned a lead we had supposedly received on a young woman known to us only as La Bleue. My cable was answered that same evening: ONLY FEW ARRESTS RECENTLY INCLUDING WOMAN CALLED LA BLEUE LATE LAST WEEK STOP UNKNOW OFFICIALLY HER FATE BUT GOVERNMENT SOURCES INDICATE EXECUTION OVER WEEKEND ON CONSPIRACY CHARGES STOP NO RPT NO MAJOR FIGURES AMONG RECENT ARRESTS FINIS GRAFF When I reached the street that night, it was raining not a heavy rain but a sort of steady, misty spray that covered my head as I walked idly along. A few small droplets began independently to roll down the sides of my face; and strangely, I felt all the better for them. Each of us has his time and place, I unconvincingly and almost mournfully repeated over and over to myself. Every sight, every sound, every bare sensation, all seemed to remind me of that girl Id once been able to know. Or perhaps, I thought, I had never really known her at all. Perhaps she had been only the beautiful fantasy of my own spiritual lust. No matter. It was over now, swept away as the incoming tide tears down the sand castles of a childs dreams. And I was very tired. MOL is already involved in the Yamal LNG project which plans to use the NSR for exports to Asia and the company's first icebreaking LNG carrier is due to go into service at the end of March. The MoU on the development of the NSR the Russian Far East is with FEIA, which comes under the Ministry of the Russian Federation for the Development of the Far East (MINVR). MOL is undertaking a feasibility study aimed at establishing an LNG transshipment terminal and marketing complex in the Kamchatka area with PAO Novatek. The Japanese shipowner also sees opportunities in other shipping markets from Europe to Asia with the NSR offering a much shorter route than the traditional trade via the Suez Canal. The Russian Far East is located at the entrance of the Northern Sea Route, making it an important gateway once the anticipated increase in trade via the Northern Sea Route is realized. This is the key element behind the signing of this Memorandum of Understanding between MOL and FEIA, MOL said. General Director of FEIA Leonid Petukhov said: We hope that MOL will be effectively using the Northern Sea Route for transporting cargos to Japan and other Asia-Pacific countries and jointly we will be able to attract significant investments into the Northern Sea Route infrastructure development. The Agency is ready to help MOL in implementing all its current and future projects. With a Frost & Sullivan report projecting over 10% compounded annual growth in revenue of the port logistics service industry in the Yangtze River Delta from 2017 to 2021, the port, which has a good location within the region looks set to benefit. Domestic consumption is gradually picking up, thanks to greater local purchasing power and improved consumer confidence, Xinghua Port said in an announcement. Hence the Group expects demand for pulp and paper and NZ logs to increase and we want to maintain our market leading position in these cargo segments, it added. The group noted that China has increased forestry controls in the country and as such this would intensify the countrys dependence on pulp from overseas sources and further drive the port logistics service industry in this sector. With about 60% of Chinas logs imported from overseas revenue in this segment is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate of 15% from 2017 to 2021 to reach RMB1.5bn in 2021, Xinghua said. Further citing Frost & Sullivan, Xinghua pointed out that the market for port logistics in the pulp segment in the Yangtze River Delta is expected to reach RMB485.9m ($77m) by 2021, at a compounded annual growth rate of 12% from 2017. Pulp and paper imported into China increased by 12.5% to 23.7m tonnes in 2017, from 21.1m tonnes in the previous corresponding period, driven by increasing demand for tissues paper, packaging paper and adult diapers. Xinghua managed to outperform the market, with a 15% increase in volume of pulp and paper to 4.7m tonnes in 2017. And while the total number of New Zealand logs imported into China grew by a fifth to 14.4m cubic metres in 2017, the group lost market share in that segment due to increased competition and its volume of logs handled decreased by 6% to 2.4m cubic metres. Xinghua was able to do well from the segment despite the increased competition however, and managed to improve its handling fee by 8% to RMB34.9 per cubic metre through value-accredited measures for customers. In other key segments, steel exports fell, and in line with Chinas 31% decrease in exports to 75.2m tonnes in 2017, the groups steel export volumes also fell 14% to 3.2m tonnes. Other general cargo increased, but off a very low base rising 12% to 330,000 tonnes mainly due to increasing volumes of borax and Calcium Chloride cargo. The ports relatively small container volumes rose slightly by 5% to 125,362 teu due to increasing container businesses from the vehicle parts logistics centre set up to support the local car assembly plant. Significantly, the project equipment cargo segment saw volume slide 10% to 530,000 cubic metres due to delays in some projects on the Belt and Road initiative, illustrating how fragile dependence on this market can be. The Group will continue to diversify its cargo mix to ensure sustainable cargo and revenue growth and to tap into higher margin markets. We also want to align our growth in handling export equipment cargo with the Chinese One Belt, One Road initiative, Xinghua concluded. While a degree of uncertainty is still hanging over a recovering shipping industry, the June 4-8 exhibition gathering sees an ideal opportunity to the rub shoulders with industry leaders who flock to Greece every two years to catch-up with the latest industry innovations and generally talk shipping. Posidonia 2018 is set to feature over 1,850 companies from a wide range of maritime industry sectors that are currently preparing and planning their participation, which is expected to attract over 22,000 shipping executives and government delegation members. With those making Greek shipping the industry leader out in force, the biennial Athens fair is a magnet for the global industry, with shipyards, shipping companies, mechanical equipment producers and shipping hubs vying not only to attract the interest of the worlds biggest shipping community, but also listen to what it has to say about an industry facing huge challenges. Compared to the same month ahead of the previous record breaking edition in June 2016, organisers have already taken 10% more bookings. A new feature is the 4th Energy & Shipping Seminar, organised by the Institute of Energy of South East Europe (IENE) on June 8. This will provide an in-depth analysis of global oil and gas markets and examine the factors that define the correlation between energy cargoes and shipping. In all some 28 seminars and conferences will be held in parallel with the exhibition. Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabias state oil company, and its partners; Lamprell; Bahri; and Hyundai HI have chosen Posidonia for the global unveiling of the International Maritime Industries (IMI) jv. When the yard is fully operational in 2022, IMI will offer new build and maintenance, repair and overhaul of vessels, including VLCCs and offshore rigs, indeed, to date IMI has committed orders for 20 rigs and 52 VLCCs to be built over the next decade. Some 20 national pavilions have been booked, anchored by shipbuilding nations, China, Japan and South Korea while maritime centres such as Hong Kong, Singapore, Dubai, Denmark, the US and The Netherlands will be present. But national participation is not only reserved for traditional maritime nations, as newcomers Luxembourg, Georgia and Poland will make their debut alongside traditional flag states. ANGARA TELLS GOVT: THE POOR SHOULD BENEFIT FROM NFA RICE Senator Sonny Angara has called on authorities to ensure that the poorest consumers truly benefit from government-subsidized rice amid allegations of irregularities in the distribution of rice by the National Food Authority (NFA). Based on the study by the Senate Economic Planning Office, the government policy of stabilizing price of rice--both for producers and consumers--has cost the government P45 billion in subsidy for the past 10 years. "Napakalaking halaga na ang nagugol ng gobyerno sa subsidiya sa bigas. Sigurado ba tayo na ang pinakamahihirap nating kababayan na direktang nakikinabang dito?" said Angara, questioning the reported leakages and poor targeting of the agency. The senator has filed a resolution seeking to look into the NFA's effectiveness in ensuring the food security of the country, and the stability of supply and price of the staple grain-rice. Early this month, the NFA said it only has 64,000 metric tons or two days worth of buffer stock. The NFA is required to maintain a buffer stock of at least 15 days worth of consumption at any given time. The NFA said it had decreased its distribution in the market and prioritized distributing stocks in calamity-prone areas and highly-depressed regions. Given the low supply of NFA rice, the price of commercial rice has already increased by P3 to P5 per kilo in some areas. Agriculture Secretary Manny Pinol said, however, that the reported shortage in NFA stocks is being used "to justify the increase in the price of rice in the market" and the "additional importation of rice." Pinol stated that there was no need to import rice because the country is 96% rice sufficient--with a record harvest of 19.4 million metric tons last year. "Dapat ay batid ng publiko na walang nagaganap na rice shortage sa bansa. Ang ilang pagtaas ng presyo nito ay kagagawan lamang ng mga mapagsamantalang rice traders na kailangang panagutin ng gobyerno," Angara said. "Rice is the most important staple food for every Filipino family. Dapat ay siguruhin na ang supply nito sa merkado ay sapat at abot-kaya lalo na ng ordinaryong mamamayan," he added. Press Release February 27, 2018 WHATEVER HAPPENED TO DAVID BANGAYAN? POE WANTS TO KNOW Sen. Grace Poe today said it was important for the government to haul to court suspected big-time rice smuggler Davidson Bangayan, aka David Tan, and other members of syndicates or smugglers operating under the nose of the National Food Authority (NFA). "Matagal na nating naririnig ang pangalan ni Davidson Bangayan/David Tan. Nasa hearing natin yan noon. Mismong ang ating Presidente, sinabi na siya ay dadakpin. May kaso ba yan o hanggang ngayon wala pa rin? Hindi pa rin matunton?" Poe asked on Tuesday during the hearing of the Senate committee on agriculture on rice shortage. During the Senate inquiry in 2014, it was established that Bangayan and Tan were one and the same person even as the businessman insisted that he was not the one named in intelligence reports as the prime mover in the rice smuggling industry. Then Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte told the Senate that there was no doubt that Bangayan and Tan were the same person. Customs officials told Senate probers they do not hold any record of Bangayan nor Tan. NFA officials, for their part, told senators that based on their records, there was no David Bangayan who participated in their biddings and that the NFA did not issue rice import permits to Bangayan. Poe also cited a number of individuals who have continuously cropped up as having been involved in alleged illegal activities in the NFA. NFA Administrator Jason Aquino admitted some of them were employed in the agency. Poe moved to invite the Department of Justice and the National Bureau of Investigation in the next hearing to shed light on cases filed against the purported big-time rice smuggler. The government had so far filed three cases against suspected rice smugglers and illegal importers in Cebu, Subic, Zamboanga under Republic Act No. 10845 or the Anti-Agricultural Smuggling Act of 2016, a result of the earlier Senate inquiry under the previous Congress. It was also revealed that the Bureau of Customs still failed to fully account for the smuggled sacks of rice in Zamboanga after two months, which, according to Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura chair Rosendo So were only 40,000 bags from the original 60,000 at the time the government flagged the shipment. Meanwhile, Poe scored the NFA chief's decision to recall NFA-designated personnel assigned to check rice imports at ports. "Hindi na natin mache-check ang quality ng rice na ini-import," said Poe. The senator also said a certain Marigold De Castro is in charge of rice-related businesses in Region 3 who acts as "front" for the NFA chief, while a certain Ritchie Carpio, De Castro's cousin, allegedly acts as an "enforcer" of Aquino's directives who has a direct hand in employees' transfer if they defy Aquino's orders. Aquino denied this, saying he does not meddle in local procurement. The NFA was put on a spotlight after it said its buffer stocks of cheap rice were running low. Aquino said it only has 1.7 days of existing stock, as against the mandated 15-day buffer stock at any given time and 30 days at the onset of the lean months of July to September. The heavily subsidized state-run grains agency will import 250,000 metric tons of rice mainly from Vietnam and Thailand to replenish its stock. #NCT 127 NCT 127 drops 3rd studio album 'Sticker' K-pop boy band NCT 127 released their third studio album "Sticker" Friday, offering a mix of genres from hip-hop and R&B to pop and dance in a total of 11 tracks. In an onli... Bernie Sanders and an aide brush back questions about Mueller indictments of the Russians - and how they allegedly helped his campaign. One of his aides stepped in front of me to shield the senator and prevent me from asking questions. Aide bumped into me, saying Not right now. New Zealand Refining chief executive Sjoerd Post will leave the Marsden Point refinery operator at the end of July after five years in the role. The Whangarei-based company announced Post's decision, saying the five months until his departure provides time to recruit a new CEO and allow for an orderly transition. Post came on board at the start of 2013, coinciding with a squeeze in global refining margins. Under his watch, the company completed its $365 million Te Mahi Hou upgrade and extension to boost production, and more recently dealt with the outages on the refinery-to-Auckland pipeline. The share price has declined 6.3 percent, or 16 cents, since then, recently trading at $2.38, and has paid 47 cents per share in dividends, not including whatever it declares in tomorrow's annual earnings result. "Sjoerd has made an outstanding contribution over the length of his tenure, building a culture that is now strongly evident in the performance and resilience of the business," chair Simon Allen said in a statement. "The board is pleased that Sjoerd has confirmed he will remain in the business for the next few months, seeing us through the succession process and a number of critical work programmes - including our impending refinery shutdown and the government inquiry into the pipeline incident." Forsyth Barr analyst Andrew Harvey-Green forecasts NZ Refining will report a 73 percent gain in annual profit to $81.6 million tomorrow on a 16 percent increase in revenue to $410.6 million. He also predicts the board will declare a final dividend of 8 cents per share, up from 6 cents a year earlier. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 17th September 2021 Morning Report NZ Automotive Investments Limited (NZX: NZA) Proposed Sell Down by NZA Founder to Improve Liquidity 16th September 2021 Morning Report 15th September 2021 Morning Report Seeka Limited (NZX: SEK) Announces Further Kiwifruit Acquisition Briscoe Group Limited (NZX: BGP) Half Year Results Announcement 14th September 2021 Morning Report Stride Property Ltd & Stride Investment Management Ltd (NZX: SPG) Office Fund Established and Conditional Acquisition Third Age Health Services Limited (NZX: TAH) Announces Acquisition of Belmont Medical 13th September 2021 Morning Report State-owned broadcaster Television New Zealand reported a 17 percent improvement in operating earnings for the six months to Dec. 31. At $30.2 million, earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and movements in the value of financial instruments are already well ahead of the $14.7 million full-year target operating earnings target accepted by shareholding ministers in its 2018 statement of performance expectations. The result compared with $25.8 million in the same period the previous year. Net income after tax for the half-year was $17.2 million, up 34 percent, or $4.3 million on the previous comparable half-year, and also well ahead of the $2.2 million target in the 2018 statement of expectations. Assuming no repeat of the previous year's writedown on the value of onerous contracts, which knocked a $12.4 million hole in earnings for the 2017 full financial year, and strong advertising demand during broadcasting of the Commonwealth Games in the second half of the current financial year, TVNZ appears likely to end the current financial year with results far outstripping its official targets. TVNZ today declared a $9 million dividend for the 2017 financial year, down from $13.4 million in the 216 financial year, reflecting the impact of the writedown. The improved result reflected a combination of 1 percent growth in total revenues from traditional and online broadcasting to $170.4 million for the half-year, and a 2 percent decline in operating expenses, at $140.1 million, following restructuring in the previous financial year. The company's TV linear broadcasting audience - traditional TV - rose to a five year high during the period and there was 16 percent growth in streaming of on-demand TVNZ content. "TVNZ plans to build on its current business momentum by growing its share of TV, accelerating growth of on-demand and is actively exploring adjacent market opportunities to fund its future growth," said chief executive Kevin Kenrick in a statement. "Over time, TVNZ will tilt its content investment more towards local content" as this was its "strategic focus and competitive advantage" in a market "increasingly contested by global scale international players". While direct competitor MediaWorks, owner of the TV3 network, is lobbying against the new government's plans to expand news services by RNZ, TVNZ's statement today made no mention of the initiative. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 17th September 2021 Morning Report NZ Automotive Investments Limited (NZX: NZA) Proposed Sell Down by NZA Founder to Improve Liquidity 16th September 2021 Morning Report 15th September 2021 Morning Report Seeka Limited (NZX: SEK) Announces Further Kiwifruit Acquisition Briscoe Group Limited (NZX: BGP) Half Year Results Announcement 14th September 2021 Morning Report Stride Property Ltd & Stride Investment Management Ltd (NZX: SPG) Office Fund Established and Conditional Acquisition Third Age Health Services Limited (NZX: TAH) Announces Acquisition of Belmont Medical 13th September 2021 Morning Report Foley Family Wines returned to a first-half profit as the food and beverage firm controlled by US businessman Bill Foley lifted sales 21 percent and didn't face a repeat of Kaikoura earthquake-related costs. The Marlborough-based company reported a profit of $298,000, or 0.5 cents per share, in the six months ended Dec. 31, turning around a loss of $323,000, or 0.54 cents, a year earlier, it said in a statement. The year-earlier result was weighed down by a $989,000 charge on damage caused to its Grove Mill Winery after the Kaikoura quake. Still, a 21 percent increase in revenue to $20.1 million underpinned a more than doubling of underlying earnings to $1.6 million. The company also bore $227,000 of costs associated with its $55 million acquisition of Mt Difficulty Wines, although the transaction isn't expected to settle until June this year. Cases of wine sold rose 24 percent to 222,000, which chief executive Mark Turnbull put down to an "exceptional period" in competitions and accolades with eight trophies and 26 gold medals. "These accolades lead to a significant increase in sales for the Dashwood range on wines," he said. "Our challenge moving forward is to ensure we capture more value for the quality of our wines we produce." The new acquisition adds the premium Mt Difficulty and Roaring Meg brands to a suite which already includes Vavasour, Grove Mill and Te Kairanga, and Turnbull said the company's registering "genuine interest in our high quality portfolio from around the world". "Once the Mt Difficulty purchase is completed, we will have the ability to satisfy the portfolio needs of any customer around the world requiring high quality New Zealand wine," he said. The NZAX-listed shares last traded at $1.51, and have increased 0.7 percent so far this year. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 17th September 2021 Morning Report NZ Automotive Investments Limited (NZX: NZA) Proposed Sell Down by NZA Founder to Improve Liquidity 16th September 2021 Morning Report 15th September 2021 Morning Report Seeka Limited (NZX: SEK) Announces Further Kiwifruit Acquisition Briscoe Group Limited (NZX: BGP) Half Year Results Announcement 14th September 2021 Morning Report Stride Property Ltd & Stride Investment Management Ltd (NZX: SPG) Office Fund Established and Conditional Acquisition Third Age Health Services Limited (NZX: TAH) Announces Acquisition of Belmont Medical 13th September 2021 Morning Report Reporting season was a tale of two islands for the electricity sector as dry South Island conditions sapped first-half earnings for Contact Energy and Meridian Energy, forcing them to lean on backstop Genesis Energy, while Mercury NZ's North Island hydro schemes were inundated with rain. Forsyth Barr analyst Andrew Harvey-Green said the results "were in line with what we were expecting given what the hydrology had done". "Obviously, it's very different from what we had been expecting at the beginning at the financial year but then the rain came in the right places or the wrong places, depending on how you look at it and that changed the expectations quite a bit." New Zealand's spring and summer months left hydro-lakes in the South Island at levels below average, meaning Meridian and Contact were more reliant on elecricity purchased from the wholesale market, where prices more than doubled. that was a boon to Genesis and its Huntly back-up supply, while heavy rainfall in the North Island bolstered Mercury's nine hydro generation stations on the Waikato River. Auckland-based Mercury today lifted first-half profit 17 percent to $132 million in the six months ended Dec. 31 on record generation, driven by favourable North Island rainfall. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and fair-value adjustments rose to a record $301 million from $270 million. It also operates five geothermal plants in the North Island. Earlier this month, Genesis reported a 28 percent gain in first-half earnings, underpinned by a 29 percent gain at its wholesale division to $106.4 million as low South Island hydro-lake levels swelled demand for wholesale electricity. Genesis provides access to back-up supply in the event of a dry year and during periods of peak demand. Its portfolio of thermal generation and renewable generation assets located in different parts of New Zealand, including the Huntly Power Station, which runs on both natural gas and coal. In contrast, Meridian, the country's biggest generator, posted a 7 percent fall in first-half earnings as low inflows into its South Island hydro catchments reduced its electricity output. Meridian has seven hydro stations on the South Island and also generates power from wind and solar. Contact Energy's first-half earnings fell 11 percent and its earnings from generation dropped 13 percent to $173 million in the half due largely to a 21 percent decline in hydro generation to 1,635 GWh due to record low inflows to the Clutha dam. Trustpower didn't report first-half results this month as its financial year ends March 31 but in January the Tauranga-based company affirmed annual earnings guidance, having raised its outlook three times this financial year on strong wholesale electricity prices. Harvey-Green said most companies cannot easily buffer themselves from weather-related issues. "The one company that has more stability around that is Genesis in terms of its own portfolio and the plants it can run which to support the rest of the market," he said. Overall, he noted while earnings got pushed around, the sector as a whole registered little volatility on the share market. Mercury recently traded at $3.22 and has gained 2.9 percent over the past 12 months while Genesis was recently at $2.345, up 9.6 percent over the past year. Meridian shares were at $2.835 and have lifted 5.2 percent since this time last year while Contact is at $5.28, up 9.3 percent on the year. Looking ahead, Harvey-Green said it is impossible to predict whether companies will meet their full-year guidance as it all depends on "where it rains." (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 17th September 2021 Morning Report NZ Automotive Investments Limited (NZX: NZA) Proposed Sell Down by NZA Founder to Improve Liquidity 16th September 2021 Morning Report 15th September 2021 Morning Report Seeka Limited (NZX: SEK) Announces Further Kiwifruit Acquisition Briscoe Group Limited (NZX: BGP) Half Year Results Announcement 14th September 2021 Morning Report Stride Property Ltd & Stride Investment Management Ltd (NZX: SPG) Office Fund Established and Conditional Acquisition Third Age Health Services Limited (NZX: TAH) Announces Acquisition of Belmont Medical 13th September 2021 Morning Report Officials from Punjab National Bank have said that the impact of Nirav Modi's fraud is set to rise by 11% or Rs 1300 crore. The total value of the Nirav Modi scam stands at Rs 12700 crore. The bank in its previous regulatory filings had reported the fraud at $1.77 billion or nearly Rs 11,400 crore. "We have to inform that quantum of reported unauthorised transactions can increase by $204.25 million (approximately), read a filing from the state-run lender. A filing report from Punjab National Bank. The fraud, unearthed at the bank's Brady House branch in Mumbai, is at the centre of a scam that is nearly one-third of the total market capitalisation of the bank. So far, nearly ten executives from the bank have been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The bank's management alleged that executives from its Mumbai branch colluded with Nirav Modi and his accomplices. Fraudulent Letters of Undertaking were credited to Nirav Modi. The bank officials did not report transactions in the bank's official banking software, even as transactions were routed through a SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication) system. Other vigilant officials sniffed something amiss during a Core banking system upgrade and subsequently an internal investigation was started during the last week of January 2018. Suspicious transactions pegged at Rs 280 crore were unearthed. But this was merely the tip of a huge iceberg. A subsequent filing from the bank on 14th February, clarified that the value of the suspicious transactions had grown to a whopping $1770 million. The current estimate of Rs 12700 crore is also an approximation, and there is possibility that this number could still increase. The fraud has rocked the prospects of State-run banks. 2018 was supposed to be a good year for state-run banks, with the government about to implement a Rs 80,000 crore recapitalisation package for state-run banks. The recap-bonds were offered to help banks tide over rising NPAs and wilful defaulters. The Nirav Modi fraud has not only swindled off Rs 12700 crore from Punjab National Bank, but has also resulted in a wide-exposure for other state run banks. The exposure is estimated to run into Rs 20,000 crores. Major banks impacted by the exposure include State Bank of India, Allahabad Bank, UCO Bank, Bank of Baroda, and Union Bank of India. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When cousins Sal Basille and Francis Garcia were kids, they'd drop their backpacks in the back room of their family's restaurant, Basille's on Forest Avenue in West Brighton, throw on an apron, and "get to work." "After school it was work. Weekends it was work. We literally grew up working in the restaurant together," said Garcia, noting Basille's parents opened the restaurant in 1988, and Garcia's mother took it over in 1994. "Our grandparents worked there. My sister was a waitress; Sal and I were busboys. We all worked in the front making pizza. It was a real family affair," he added. Since they grew up making pizza, it's no surprise they now own 12 restaurants across New York City, California and Florida. And now, work on their 13th restaurant -- to be located in Empire Outlets, New York City's first outlet mall being build on the St. George waterfront -- is about to commence. And they plan to bring back many of the favorite menu items their loyal patrons remember from Basille's. STATEN ISLAND 'SPECIALS' They plan to create some special pies for the Staten Island location to complement their signature Artichoke Pie, which is made with artichoke hearts, spinach, cream sauce, mozzarella and pecorino romano. "We plan to do some things that started on Forest Avenue, our regular pie, which we offer in Bay Ridge; we call it a Basille pie. We've also been talking about doing a couple of items we did on Forest Avenue," said Garcia. "We will have some items that will separate the Staten Island location from the other Artichoke Basille's, just because it's home," he added. And the new pizzeria can't open fast enough for many of their loyal patrons, Basille said. "We get four or five messages per week on our website from Staten Islanders asking when we are coming back," said Basille. With Garcia's parents still living on the Island, the pair are hoping many family, friends and loyal patrons of Basille's will return to their new restaurant. "We were in business for so many years on Staten Island. ...We knew we had to come back, but it has always been a question of 'when' and 'where'," said Garcia. NEW RESTAURANT The cousins hope to have their 3,000-square-foot space turned over to them by Empire Outlets within the next three months. Then, they will outfit the space in rustic decor, including tin ceilings, a mosaic tile floor, dark wood, and red mahogany bar. "Empire Outlets is a long time coming, and it's really going to change Staten Island with St. George going through its renaissance. We are native Staten Islanders, and this is the right place for us," said Garcia. The restaurant will be located adjacent to Shake Shack on the Richmond Terrace side of the outlets, said Basille. "We have a space that has an outdoor patio built into it," said Basille, noting that it faces the courthouse on Richmond Terrace. ARTICHOKE BASILLE'S HISTORY When Basille's on Forest Avenue in West Brighton closed in 2008, the pair opened Artichoke Basille's in Manhattan's East Village. Since opening the first Artichoke Basille's on Manhattan's 14th Street, the cousins have expanded to 12 restaurants across Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens, as well as Berkeley, Calif., and Miami. The Staten Island natives, who wrote a cookbook, "Staten Italy," also were the subjects of Pizza Masters, which aired on the Cooking Channel. Artichoke Basille's Pizza comes home 8 Gallery: Artichoke Basille's Pizza comes home FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER (EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was updated to reflect additional in-district donations received by Democrat Max Rose's campaign that were not itemized in Federal Election Commission filings.) STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- All politics may be local, but in New York's 11th congressional district political fundraising seems to be another story. Some of the top candidates have raised the majority of their money from outside the congressional district, according to the most recent Federal Election Commission filings. Of Rep. Daniel Donovan's 966 campaign contributions, 271 come from within the district. The GOP congressman had 221 contributions from Staten Island and 50 donations from South Brooklyn neighborhoods within the district. His primary opponent Michael Grimm, the former congressman, had 72 campaign contributions from Staten Island and 12 from Brooklyn. However, Grimm's in-district donations were $91,620 in comparison to Donovan's $75,375, a difference of $16,245. Max Rose, who has drawn attention from national Democrats to his campaign in part for his prolific fundraising, received 167 contributions from Staten Island, 57 from South Brooklyn neighborhoods within the district, and 1,209 coming from outside the district. Of all the Democratic candidates, Rose has raised the most money out and inside the district. KEEPING IT LOCAL One candidate, Michael DeVito Jr., has raised a little over 54 percent of his campaign contributions in district. He received 164 Staten Island donations and 19 from Brooklyn neighborhoods in the district. DeVito -- who has worked helping Staten Island youth for the past decade -- has 334 contributions in total. BIG MONEY About 35 percent of Donovan's donations in this election cycle has come from political action committees (PACs) as well as a handful from other campaign committees. Among some of Rose's other donations, the veteran received 67 donations from California, including from tech executives from Google and Facebook. He also has 30 contributions coming from Illinois and 16 from Florida. His 220 donations from Manhattan addresses feature a slew of attorneys, financiers, and executives, including an NBC Universal Vice President, according to Federal Election Commission filings. Rose has also raised $397,000 through the digital political fundraising platform, Act Blue, and has made a pledge to never take corporate PAC money. Richard Flanagan, a political science professor at the College of Staten Island, said that aggressive fundraising has become so routine, that it's difficult for opponents to make a campaign issue out of particular donations. "Unless someone's getting a check from Darth Vader, it doesn't resonate," Flanagan told the Advance. "A lot of those criticisms get drowned out." But, Flanagan later added that for Rose "It could leave a candidate vulnerable to the carpet bagger charge," referencing Rose's relatively short time as a Staten Island resident. "If they want to have a discussion about which candidate represents the best values of Staten Island, then we're happy to have that debate," said Kevin Elkins, Rose's campaign manager. Elkins also mentioned Rose's work as chief of staff at Brightpoint Health, a network of healthcare clinics. DOING IT ON THEIR OWN Among the seven Democrats running, several congressional hopefuls are largely self-funding their campaigns through a combination of loans and donations from the candidates themselves. Omar Vaid, a former Bay Ridge resident, took out $105,031 last September. Radhakrishna Mohan, who's heavily involved in Staten Island community and Democratic groups, took out $50,000 in loans. Zach Emig, a Tompkinsville bond trader, took out a $5,000 loan last June and has given $24,888 to his own campaign. Michael DeCillis, a former NYPD officer and teacher, took at $17,000 loan. Rose and Michael DeVito Jr., who has raised about $31,000, are the only Democratic candidate who aren't self-funding their campaign. (Paul Sperling's campaign didn't reach the $5,000 in donations or spending needed to warrant filing from the FEC.) Flanagan said that Trump's victory in November 2016 has led to a rush of Democratic candidates who normally wouldn't have tried to run for office and are unfamiliar with fundraising. "The perception now is that you can undermine an incumbent," said Flanagan. "In the old days that was pretty impregnable, but national politics flows through districts now making beating an incumbent more pliable. So a lot of challengers see an opening." STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- As this year's flu season continues to rage, the city Health Department on Monday announced it is partnering with Walgreens to offer 1,000 vouchers for flu shots in areas with high rates of people without health insurance and low flu vaccination rates. The flu vouchers are available on a first-come, first-served basis while supplies last, and will allow uninsured and underinsured individuals to receive the flu vaccine at no cost. The vouchers are available for New Yorkers 7 years of age and older who do not have health insurance. This voucher is being offered at 11 Walgreens and Duane Reade locations across New York City. On Staten Island, the voucher is being offered at the Duane Reade at 630 Forest Ave., West Brighton. "Our surveillance has shown that influenza activity remains elevated throughout the city, and expanding access to this potentially life-saving vaccine is one more step we can take to ensure New Yorkers remain healthy," said Health Commissioner Dr. Mary T. Bassett. "I thank our partners at Walgreens for working with us on this vital issue." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the vaccine as a key factor in avoiding the flu. "The flu shot remains the safest and most effective way to protect yourself and your neighbors from the influenza virus," said Bassett. "Flu season is not over, and I urge New Yorkers to get vaccinated as soon as possible." It takes about two weeks after vaccination for antibodies to develop in the body to protect against the flu. Symptoms of the flu include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue. CITY HALL -- The city still plans to bring shelters to Staten Island, but has not yet identified any locations for the facilities. While the additional shelters won't be coming to Staten Island anytime soon, borough officials are already expressing strong opposition. Last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced a plan to open some 90 new homeless shelters across all five boroughs over the next five years in an effort to house the city's 61,000 homeless population. In the last year, the Department of Homeless Services has opened 11 shelters across the city in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan. So far, mayor's effort has been met with immense pushback in some areas. On Manhattan's "Billionaire's Row," residents say they felt blindsided by the city when they heard of plans to open a 150 resident men's homeless shelter in the former Park Savoy Hotel, various news outlets reported. The building at 158 W. 58th St. stands against one of the city's most expensive apartment buildings -- One57 -- and is reportedly set to open in March. At the end of last year, DHS said there were 593 households, or 1,327 individuals, from Staten Island in the city's shelter system citywide. Meanwhile, the Island currently has capacity for just 46 families at a single shelter for families with children, the department said. Staten Island has the fewest beds for the homeless people and is the only borough with more people to shelter than available space. 30 DAYS NOTICE, STRATEGY Before a shelter opens, the city gives the community 30 days notice to voice any potential concerns about a site. However, before that notification, the public can't immediately see what the plans entail, because the city's procurement rules do not require contracts to be made available to the public until they are reviewed and finalized. DHS said they cannot discuss proposals that are in the procurement process because discussing any proposals in review could impact the evaluation process. Local elected officials told the New York Daily News they learned of plans for the ''Billionaire's Row'' homeless shelter from constituents last month and not from City Hall. The paper also reported that residents said they were given conflicting information about the $60.8 million contract, which can only be reviewed in person. Councilman Joe Borelli (R-South Shore) thinks the mayor's homeless shelter strategy is clear. By opening a shelter on ''Billionaire's Row,'' the South Shore councilman says it will likely be easier for the city to bring additional shelters to other boroughs. "[The mayor's] going for some of the highest valued real estate in the city so that he can say eventually 'if we can do it there, we can do it anywhere,'" Borelli said. "I think this is going to be a fight that people should be paying attention to and how much input the community there has." ISLAND POLS SAY NOT IN MY BACKYARD Borelli and the Island's other two council members all say they have not yet heard of any plans to bring shelters to the borough. And none of them want the shelters in their districts either. Councilwoman Debi Rose (D-North Shore) says that although she personally does want homeless shelters on Staten Island, she is aware of the Island's homelessness problem and thinks politicians needs to talk seriously about the issue and shoulder the burden fairly. "I too don't want homeless shelters brought to Staten Island, but the reality is that we have homeless Staten Islanders that are in shelters in the Bronx, and we have children who are commuting from the Bronx to attend their neighborhood schools in Staten Island," Rose said. "So there has to be some conversation about this issue." Rose said her district is "saturated" with community services already and that Island officials need to have a discussion about "fair share." Meanwhile, Councilmen Borelli and Steven Matteo (R-Mid Island) said they are vehemently against shelters coming to Staten Island and say the plan to oppose them at every turn. "I'm not sure if it would serve the city's purpose to put more homeless people on Staten Island considering the fact that much of it is inaccessible to public transit and far away from social services that often go hand in hand with homeless services," Borelli said. Matteo doesn't think it's likely the shelters will open on Island in the "near future." "[The city] has to come back to us and have discussions, they have not had that," Matteo said. "There's totally going to be pushback there's no question about that." RESIDENTS' OPPOSING VIEWS Long-time St. George resident Richard Humphrey who lives near Project Hospitality -- a provider of street outreach and shelter services -- says he is open to helping the homeless, but thinks the city simply can't just provide beds for homeless people to sleep on every night. He said the city needs to give them the tools to turn their lives around. Humphrey said he often sees homeless people loitering in his neighborhood, sometimes attacking neighbors or kids. "You can't just dump people who are so troubled with no pathway out, I mean what's the end of that?" Humphrey said. Stapleton resident Edna Jimenez said she was in a homeless shelter in the city in 2011. Although she said the conditions in the shelter were rough -- she was bullied and got into a fight -- the shelter helped get her off the streets and turn her life around. She was eventually able to get herself an apartment and says she thinks bringing shelters to the Island is a "great idea." "We gotta get people off the streets," Jimenez said. Merkel sees 'no violations' in Chinese stake in Daimler Berlin, Feb 27 (AFP) Feb 27, 2018 Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday said she saw "no violations" in a major investment by a Chinese billionaire in German car giant Daimler which has reignited concern over Chinese influence on European firms. "We are open to trade partners and at first glance do not see any violations," Merkel told reporters in Berlin, days after Chinese billionaire Li Shufu bought a near 10-percent stake in the Mercedes-Benz parent company, making him the group's largest shareholder. She noted that there are Kuwaiti investors at Daimler and stressed that the overall objective is to ensure that the automobile industry in Germany stays competitive. China's increasing interest in German companies has sparked unease in Europe's biggest economy. Li's latest investment in Germany's powerful auto company prompted Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries to warn Monday that Berlin will be "especially watchful" over the new major investor. Daimler confirmed Friday that Li, who chairs auto giant Geely Automobile Holding, had quietly bought a 9.69-percent stake in the Stuttgart firm worth around 7.2 billion euros ($8.9 billion). Worker representatives on Daimler's board said they too would scrutinise Li's plans, looking to defend factory sites and jobs in Germany. Some politicians see the investment in a broader context of Chinese cash winding around the sinews of the European economy. The distrust is all the greater as EU nations are more open to investment from abroad than Beijing allows on its territory. Just last week, the Handelsblatt financial daily reported Berlin hopes to block State Grid Company of China (SGCC) from investing in 50Hertz, which operates the electricity grid in Germany's northeast. German ministers agreed last year to expand government powers to scrutinise takeover bids from abroad, especially in sectors affecting critical infrastructure, and to extend the range of deals eligible for official probes. The move followed the 2016 Chinese takeover of industrial robotics firm Kuka and US-based Tesla Motors' buying-up of factory automation specialist Grohmann Engineering. That same year also saw Washington block a Chinese acquisition bid for German microchip maker Aixtron, warning its products could have military applications. bur-mfp-hmn/spm DAIMLER PHILIPSBURG:--- Eligible voters will be heading to the polls on Monday, February 26th, 2018 to cast their votes to elect the 15 Members of Parliament. The anticipation as to which political party will take over power will come to an end Monday night into early Tuesday morning. Contesting the election are six political parties, namely: United Democrats (UD), St. Maarten Development Movement (SDM), National Alliance (NA), Peoples Progressive Alliance(PPA), United St. Maarten Party (USP), and the St. Maarten Christian Party (SMCP). SMN News will be bringing you the live updates as it begins on Monday morning from the house of parliament. At around 11 pm readers of this news site could watch the life announcement that will be made by the main voting bureau, as well as the interviews given by those that postulated themselves for this years parliamentary election. Early Tuesday morning a detailed article on the February 26th Parliamentary Election will be posted. Photos of the days proceedings will also be available on the SMN News Facebook page. Click here to view Parliamentary Election Hourly Turnout Results. ~ Reporters were barred from entering some polling stations~ PHILIPSBURG:--- Elections on Monday seemed more orderly as political party supporters could not linger close to the polling stations. Police Officers that were manning the polling stations and the Dutch officers that were assisting ensured that supporters and candidates that postulated for the February 26th snap elections stayed as far as 200 meters from the polling stations. Police Officers such as the one that MPC even prevented reporters from entering that polling station stating that he was given those orders from the management team of KPSM. However, Governor Eugene Holiday along with Chief of Police Carl John visited that polling station reporters were allowed to enter at that moment. Other polling stations that barred reporters are those in Cape Bay and the Cole Bay area. While the snap elections were conducted in an orderly manner some voters did express their outrage when they visited some of the polling stations to cast their votes and was told that errors were made on the voting cards. A number of voters that are registered to vote at Hope Estate showed up in Belvedere because their voting card indicated that they are to cast their vote in that district. Upon reaching Belvedere Community Center they are told that they voted already because the number on their card bore the name of another voter in that district. After lengthy discussions, those voters are told that they should to the polling station that they normally vote since the voting cards have a number of errors. Another observation on Monday is that voters heeded the call of the politicians went out and cast their votes. By 7 pm some 57% of voters cast their votes. Registered voters are 22,559. One hour before the polling stations closed some 12,807 voters voted. 5G wireless race heats up Barcelona, Feb 27 (AFP) Feb 27, 2018 The race to bring super-fast 5G wireless services to market is heating up with the first commercial deployments of the much-anticipated technology expected at the end of the year. Talk about 5G's potential to pave the way to a world of self-driving cars, lightening-fast video downloads and smart cities have dominated the Mobile World Congress for years. But at the event in Barcelona this year, companies were full of concrete announcements of early versions of 5G uses. The first commercial 5G roll-outs begin this year and next in the United States, Korea and Japan, and the wireless industry is counting on the new technology to trigger a wave of growth in equipment sales and mobile services. China's Huawei unveiled in Barcelona what it said is the world's first commercial chipset that meet the standards of 5G wireless networks, which are better suited for virtual reality and high definition video. KT Corp, South Korea's largest telecoms firm which exhibited several 5G services at the Pyeongchang Winter Games, displayed at the congress what it said was the world's first 5G tablet. The telecoms industry only agreed to the first common 5G standards in December and analysts cautioned that the development of the network still has a long way to go. Much of what is being billed as 5G in fact "resembles more LTE++", or an improved version of the existing 4G network in use in most developed nations, said Carole Manero, director of studies at IDATE, a French think tank on the digital economy. "There is a lot of marketing use of 5G," she added. - Huge investments - The next common 5G standards will only be announced later this year so "what is being proposed now is just a first version, many evolutions will follow, as was the case with 4G," said BMI Research analyst Dexter Thillien. Tech firms are spending heavily to develop products that take advantage of the network's possibilities. "We are investing heavily in 5G, nearly 600 million dollars per year in research and development," said Huawei executive director and president of products and solutions Ryan Ding. Telecoms operators are also investing heavily to develop 5G networks for fear of falling behind their competitors. 5G will account for 14 percent of global wireless connections by 2025, according to GSMA, the global mobile operators association. Deutsche Telekom CEO Timotheus Hoettges has estimated the cost of providing 5G networks in Europe alone will be EUR300-500 billion ($370-615 billion). The telecoms industry will invest $275 billion in the United States to develop 5G networks there, Sprint chief executive Marcelo Claure said Monday at the mobile congress in Barcelona. - Europe lagging - While the European Union wants European companies to start offering 5G in 2020, spending to develop the network has been lower than in Asia or the United States. "The timescales vary widely on a country by country basis but the USA and China are the most likely winners to be the first" in 5G deployment, Nokia chief executive Rajeev Suri said on Sunday. He said he still believed some European operators would start to move up to 5G next year. In Europe telecoms firms are focusing their 5G efforts on business uses instead of by the general public as in other regions. European telecom operators are more cautious because the move to 4G by consumers was lower in Europe than elsewhere, said Thillien of BMI Research. "European operators know that demand will be low by the public. The y were burned by 4G and see that European consumers are more sceptical," he added. els/ds/jta DEUTSCHE TELEKOM KT CORPORATION High Arctic temperatures break records Paris, Feb 27 (AFP) Feb 27, 2018 Even as Europe descends into a deep freeze, the Arctic region is seeing record high temperatures, with the North Pole recently 30 degrees Celsius above normal for this time of year. At the same time, sea ice is covering the smallest area in the dead of winter since records began more than half-a-century ago. A weather phenomenon called a "sudden stratospheric warming" has produced North Pole temperatures at or above freezing. "In relative terms, that's a 30 C (54 degrees Fahrenheit) temperature anomaly," Robert Rohde, lead scientist at Berkeley Earth in Washington, tweeted Monday. There are no permanent sensors at the North Pole, but weather services in the United States and Scandinavian countries reported temperatures peaking on February 25. "Positive temperatures near the North Pole in winter are thought to have occurred during four winters between 1980 and 2010," Robert Graham, a climate scientist at the Norwegian Polar Institute, told AFP. "They have now occurred in four out of the last five winters." A growing body of evidence fingers climate change as one of the drivers of such winter weather anomalies, several experts said. At the Longyearbyen weather station on the Island of Svalbard in the Arctic Ocean, temperatures were 10 C above average over the last 30 days, according to Zack Labe, a climate modeller at the University of California Irvine. "Today's mean temperature was 3.9 C -- the climate average for the date is minus 16.3 C," he tweeted Tuesday. As for sea ice, January saw the record minimum coverage since records began. In one area, around Svalbard, the ice extent -- 205,727 square kilometres -- on Monday was less than half below the average for the period 1981-2010, the Norway Ice Service reported. A Siberian cold front, meanwhile, has sent temperatures plunging across much of Europe, leading to several deaths from exposure as snow carpeted cities and palm-lined beaches along the Mediterranean. "This pattern that we are seeing -- warm Arctic, cold continent -- could be linked to climate change," said Marlene Kretschmer, a climate scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2018 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement Air strikes and rockets hit Syria enclave despite truce Beirut, Feb 27 (AFP) Feb 27, 2018 A fledgling "humanitarian pause" announced by Russia in Syria's rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta was rattled Tuesday by fresh air strikes and rocket fire, several sources said. "Fighting continues this morning. That is what our reports from Eastern Ghouta tell us," a spokesman for the UN humanitarian office, Jens Laerke, told reporters in Geneva, adding that it was premature to discuss any relief operations for desperate civilians given the persisting clashes. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group reported air raids, including the dropping of two barrel bombs, as well as rocket fire, while state media accused rebel forces of shelling humanitarian corridors to keep civilians hostage. The Britain-based Observatory said two barrel bombs -- crude, improvised munitions that cause indiscriminate damage -- on the Shaifuniyah area of Eastern Ghouta. Rockets were also fired on several areas in the enclave but the head of the Observatory, Rami Abdel Rahman, said no deaths were immediately reported as a result of the fresh violence. The toll for the deadly blitz against Eastern Ghouta continued to mount nonetheless when five bodies were found in the rubble of destroyed buildings, he said. A woman also died Tuesday when the roof of her home, damaged by earlier bombardment, gave in and collapsed on her, an AFP correspondent in the main town of Douma reported. The Syrian state news agency SANA also accused the rebels of firing several rockets on the path of the corridor declared by Russia to allow for the evacuation of civilians. It specifically accused the former Al-Qaeda affiliate present in some parts of the enclave of trying to prevent civilians from leaving "to use them as human shields". The latest violence rattled the first five-hour pause that is due to take place daily, according to the terms of a deal announced by Russia on Monday. The violence remained significantly lower than at any point since February 18, when Syria and Russian forces intensified their bombardment of Eastern Ghouta. Two Nigerian soldiers killed in Boko Haram attack Kano, Nigeria, Feb 27 (AFP) Feb 27, 2018 Two Nigerian soldiers were killed and four injured in an ambush by Boko Haram militants in the country's northeastern state of Borno, the army said Tuesday. The attack on Monday happened as soldiers were travelling between the towns of Biu and Damboa. Borno state has been at the heart of the jihadist insurgency that has killed 20,000 people and displaced 2.6 million more since 2009. "Our men fell into an ambush by Boko Haram terrorists while on their way to Damboa from Biu," a military officer told AFP. "They fought the terrorists and we lost two men in the fight." A military vehicle was also seized in the attack, he added. Despite repeated claims from the authorities in Abuja that they have "crushed the terrorists", attacks and suicide bombings persist in hard-to-reach rural areas and outlying towns. Last week Boko Haram militants stormed a girls' school in Dapchi, in neighbouring Yobe state, and abducted more than 100 schoolgirls. The raid comes four years after 276 girls were taken from a school in Chibok, in Borno state. Syria's Eastern Ghouta: 10 days under attack Beirut, Feb 27 (AFP) Feb 27, 2018 Syria's army unleashed daily air strikes on the Eastern Ghouta region outside Damascus on February 18 in a bid to root out Islamist rebel groups and jihadists but killing more than 550 civilians. Despite orders for a five-hour daily humanitarian truce from Tuesday, the attacks have continued. Here is a timeline: - New round of rockets, raids - Government forces open their latest military campaign against Eastern Ghouta with a volley of more than 260 rockets and intense air raids. The strikes continue on February 19 when 127 civilians are killed in the highest death toll over a single day there since 2013, when it was besieged by regime forces. On February 20 Russian air strikes reportedly target Eastern Ghouta for the first time in three months, hitting the key regional Arbin hospital. Six other hospitals are also hit in the bombardments over a 48-hour period, putting three out of service, according to the United Nations. Hundreds of injured flock to makeshift hospitals where the beds run short and patients are treated on the floor. - 'Hell on Earth' - On February 21 raids target several areas and planes drop barrel bombs -- crude, improvised munitions that cause indiscriminate damage. Several residential buildings are destroyed. People take cover in basements and underground bomb shelters. The Kremlin denies involvement in the air strikes as "groundless accusations". UN chief Antonio Guterres calls for an immediate ceasefire, saying the region's 400,000 residents "live in hell on Earth". - 'Another Aleppo' - The chaos deepens on February 22 as the Syrian regime rains rockets and bombs on the enclave, killing at least 19 people. After weeks of talks at the United Nations on a truce, Russian ambassador Vassily Nebenzi says there is no progress. Russia has been pressing for a negotiated withdrawal of rebel fighters and their families, like the one that saw the government retake full control of Aleppo in December 2016. "Yes, Eastern Ghouta will become another Aleppo," says Syria's US representative Bashar al-Jaafari. Doctors Without Borders says 13 of the facilities it supports in Eastern Ghouta were damaged or destroyed in three days. - Ceasefire agreed - On February 23 US President Donald Trump slams the actions of the Syrian government and its Russian and Iranian backers. "What those three countries have done to those people is a disgrace," he says. In February 24 the UN Security Council finally gets unanimous backing for a 30-day ceasefire to allow for aid deliveries and medical evacuations. But there are new air strikes the following day and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor reports that Syrian forces engaged in heavy fighting with rebels, with many dead. There are also claims of the use of "chemical weapons, probably a chlorine gas attack", a doctor says, with one dead. Russia dismisses this as "bogus". - Daily 'pause' ordered - On February 26 the regime carries out more bombings, in spite of the UN-agreed truce, killing at least 22 civilians. Frustrated, the UN and European Union demand the immediate implementation of the ceasefire. Moscow then announces that President Vladimir Putin has ordered a daily five-hour "humanitarian pause" from February 27 and the opening of protected corridors to allow people to leave. Hours after the truce is meant to come into effect, the United Nations says fighting continues, making relief operations impossible. The Observatory reports air raids, including the dropping of two barrel bombs, as well as rocket fire, even if the intensity of the bombardment was reported to have eased. State media says rebel forces shelled humanitarian corridors to keep civilians hostage. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. Brussels, Feb 26, 2018 (SPS) The EU imports of products from the occupied Western Sahara is a source of worry to the European deputies who demanded from the Commission to explain the legal basis for authorizing those imports after the decision of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) of December 2016. In a question sent to the European commission, twenty Euro-deputies from various political groups at the European Parliament, said that in 2017, the Commission has authorized the companies operating in the occupied Western Sahara to export foodstuffs of animal origin to the European Union (EU). Those European deputies like Ivo Vajgl, Norbert Neuser, Javier Couso Permuy and Ana Gomes demanded from the Commission to explain the legal basis those companies have been allowed to export their products to the EU." The Court of Justice of the European Union has however concluded that the EU-Morocco Association Agreements are not applicable in Western Sahara, stressing the "distinct" status of this territory from Morocco. (SPS) 062/SPS/APS Chahid El Hafed, Feb 27, 2018 (SPS) - The Frente POLISARIO expressed its satisfaction with the European Court of Justice ruling today, which excludes the territorial waters of Western Sahara from the fishing agreement between Morocco and the European Union. POLISARIO, in accordance with the decision of the European Court of Justice, called on all vessels fishing in the territorial waters of Western Sahara to withdraw immediately from their positions. It also called on EU to stop all funding in Western Sahara under its agreements with Morocco, calling on him to immediately start negotiations with the Frente POLISARIO, the legitimate and sole representative of the Saharawi people to prepare legal fishing agreements. Frente POLISARIO will undertake all legal procedures, including legal proceedings and appeals on the responsibilities of the European Union, to recover all the money it had paid to Morocco over the past decades under their bilateral agreements. He considered that the decision of the European Court today is the greatest gift to the Sahrawi people on the occasion of the 42nd National Day, says Emhamed Khadad, POLISARIO coordinator with the Minurso. Under the European Court's judgment, Morocco and the Western Sahara are separate and different regions, and reaffirm that Morocco has no sovereignty over Western Sahara and its territorial waters.SPS 125/090/TRA Wilaya de Smara, Feb 27, 2018 (SPS) - The President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Frente POLISARIO, Mr. Brahim Ghali, praised the steadfastness of the masses of the occupied territories, southern Morocco and the university sites that today reflect their struggles, sacrifices and courageous resistance. In his speech during the celebration of the 42nd anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic, President Ghali greeted the Saharawi masses in the occupied territories, southern Morocco and the university sites that never ceased to make wonderful chapters of peaceful resistance in the face of repression, brutality and the siege of the Moroccan occupation state. "We warn the United Nations and the world of the consequences of the dangerous policies pursued by the Moroccan occupation state against the defenseless Saharawi citizens in general, and human rights activists and political prisoners in particular," he added. President Gali reiterated that these policies warn of a new chapter in the systematic genocide that Morocco has committed since the military invasion of our country on October 31, 1975, especially in view of the deplorable situation of political detainees due to conditions of detention, torture, harassment and neglect.SPS 125/090/TRA Wilaya de Smara, Feb 27, 2018 (SPS) - The President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Frente POLISARIO, Mr. Brahim Gali, praised on Tuesday the "firm" position of Algeria towards the Sahara issue. President Ghali said in his speech during the celebration of the 42nd anniversary of the declaration of the Republic, "The Sahrawi state celebrates its forty-two-year anniversary today, proud of its broad international relations and its brothers, friends and allies all over the world." The President of the Republic cannot pass such an event without renewing the gratitude, to the sisterly Algeria, under the leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The proud Algeria - says President Ghali - who has not hesitated to adopt the Saharawi cause and support, like all issues of emancipation in the world, in a position consistent with its ideals and principles and with African and international legitimacy. He also expressed his satisfaction with the level of fraternal relations, friendship, neighborliness, cooperation and coordination between the Sahrawi Republic and neighboring Mauritania. President Gali paid tribute to all the members of the International Solidarity Movement for the struggle of the Saharawi people in Spain, Europe and the world, stressing the legal, historical and moral responsibility of the Spanish state towards completing the process of decolonization and self-determination in Western Sahara. SPS 125/090/TRA Wilaya de Smara, 27 February 2018 (SPS) - South Africa renewed its steadfast stand on the side of the Saharawi people and their just cause, said the head of the political affairs of the Embassy of South Africa in Algeria and the Saharawi Republic. Our participation at this event and all other events marking the anniversary is in keeping South Africas principled position on the Sahrawi Peoples inalienable right of self-determination and independence as provided for by international law. As beneficiaries of international solidarity during the dark days of Apartheid, we here to pledge our continued sipport and solidariry with you he said He added that "our participation in this event is a message to the world that we support this issue, which we consider a reference to the fight against colonialism in the African continent." SPS 125/090/TRA Nouakchott, Feb 27, 2018 (SPS) - The Special Envoy of the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelkader Taleb Omar, received on Tuesday morning BY the Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz at the Presidential Palace in the Mauritanian capital of Nouakchott. The Special Envoy of the President of the Republic made the following statement: "The reception by the President of the Republic, Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, was an opportunity for us to express our satisfaction with this reception and to convey a message from Mr. Brahim Gali, as an expression of the excellent relationship between them and the Sahrawi and Mauritanian peoples and the important role played by Mauritania in the region and the continent. " "The meeting was an opportunity to extend congratulations to the Mauritanian president and Mauritania in general on the confidence that Mauritania received to host the next African summit," said Abdelkader Taleb Omar. The message of Mr. Gali to his Mauritanian counterpart, Mr. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, focuses on the latest developments of the Sahrawi issue, the peace process and the importance of assistance to advance this process and achieve concrete results on the ground to put an end to the stalemate and obstruction that has characterized this process for a long time and to avoid any future tensions in this region, which cannot bear more tensions.SPS 125/090/TRA English27/02/2018 SRNA News Roundup /I/ - February 27, 2018 REPUBLIKA SRPSKA BANJALUKA The Republika Srpska Parliament reconvened today to debate a draft bill amending and supplementing the Law on Strike. BANJALUKA The Republika Srpska Minister of Labor and Veterans Affairs, Milenko Savanovic, has said that the reason behind enacting the draft bill amending and supplementing the Law on Strike is in the need to harmonize it with regulations of the new Labor Law and the new Law on Peaceful Labor Disputes Resolution. BANJALUKA - Lawyer who lives in Serbia, Great Britain and Australia, Janko Nikolic, feels that it is important to concretize future cooperation between Republika Srpska, Serbia and the Serbian Diaspora in the economy, culture and science based on long-term strategic goals and timely set steps with the aim of gradual fulfillment of these goals in the spirit of important national interests and with a sober approach to future challenges that will face the Serbian people. VIENNA The president of the Republika Srpska Alliance of Municipalities and Cities, Ljubisa Cosic, Banjaluka Mayor Igor Radojicic and Prijedor Mayor Milenko Djakovic are taking part in a two-day conference on Sustainable and Inclusive Development in SE Europe Cities for Humans, which is being organized by the World Bank in Vienna. ISTOCNO SARAJEVO Posters with the picture of the former commander of the Republika Srpska Army, Gen. Ratko Mladic, were put up last night in Istocno Sarajevo. BANJALUKA The president of the Banjaluka Tobacco Factory Union, Miroslav Marinkovic, expects that the problem of this factory will be solved at a meeting today in the Republika Srpska Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management. KRUPA NA UNI New snowfalls in Krupa na Uni additionally worsened the situation in this municipality, where snow depth is more than 110 cm in some neighborhoods, Mayor Mladen Kljajic told SRNA. NOVI GRAD Winds created snowdrifts of up to two meters in higher parts of Novi Grad Municipality where the majority of roads are not passable, said the Head of the Municipal Department for Spatial Planning and Housing, Zoran Mijatovic. BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA SARAJEVO The Chairman of the BiH Presidency, Dragan Covic, and the Chairman of the BiH Council of Ministers, Denis Zvizdic, tomorrow in Sarajevo will present the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Junker, with answers to the Questionnaire. SARAJEVO The Chairman of the BiH House of Peoples, Barisa Colak, has said that he expects support from the president of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Junker, during his upcoming visit to Sarajevo in terms of acceleration of reforms, but also expects criticism, since much more should have been done. BANJALUKA BiH Foreign Minister Igor Crnadak has recently approved a BiH visa to the Deputy Minister for the Diaspora of self-declared Kossovo, Cerim Bajrami, so that he could take part in the marking of the 10th anniversary of the unilateral declaration of Kossovos independence in Sarajevo, a source from the Foreign Ministry told Glas Srpske. BANJALUKA The Prosecutors Office of BiH did not want to issue an order for the exhumation of bodies in 29 locations where missing Serbs are buried, even though Republika Srpska institutions filed a request for the exhumation of some of them ten years ago, reports Glas Srpske. FEDERATION OF BiH SARAJEVO Eight deaths from flu were reported to the FBiH Public Health Institute this year, and the majority of these people already suffered from some chronic disease, sources from the Institute told SRNA. SERBIA BELGRADE Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic will meet today in Berlin with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. BELGRADE Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic has said that he is ready to withdraw his signature from the Brussels Agreement if the Alliance of Serbian Municipalities is not formed. VRANJE Two persons were killed last night in a serious traffic accident on the railway near Vranjska Banja. NOVI SAD The Week of Kossovo and Metohija in Matica Srpska event opened in Novi Sad. The event, which will present cultural creativity of authors from this southern Serbian province, will last until March 2. /end/sg TO VIEW MORE NEWS STORY, PLEASE CLICK ON NEWS TAB ON MAIN MENU BAR Courtesy University of New England(WINCHESTER, Mass.) -- The first-year medical student stabbed to death at a Massachusetts library this weekend was a "sweet, warm, gentle" person who "would have been a really amazing doctor," according to her friends. Deane Kenny Stryker, 22, was sitting at a table at the Winchester Public Library Saturday when she was attacked by a man with a 10-inch hunting knife, the Middlesex District Attorney's Office said. Jeffrey Yao is accused of coming up behind her and stabbing her unprovoked, prosecutors said. A man who tried to intervene was stabbed in the arm and survived, prosecutors said. Stryker suffered about 20 wounds, prosecutors said in court. Friends of Stryker, a first-year student at the University of New England's College of Osteopathic Medicine, are now left reflecting on her short life. "She was just really unapologetically herself," friend Liza Simmons told ABC affiliate WMTW in Portland. "You have to be so brave to be like that." Simmons said it's "really sad that she never got to work with children. She would have been a really amazing doctor." "There was a moment of shock and disbelief," friend Emily Schaffer said, according to WMTW. "There's just no way that this sweet, warm, gentle human being who would not hurt anyone, that this could happen to her. And we've just suffered a huge loss from this one person." Stryker "was just beginning her journey toward becoming a physician and showed great promise as a student doctor who was passionate about medicine and helping others," university President James Herbert said in a statement. "She was an advocate for domestic violence and mental health awareness, and an active member of her college community," Herbert said. "She served as an orientation leader and was part of a student organization that provides confidential peer support to other students who need a place to turn when they are struggling." Yao, 23, who was known to police, was arrested and charged with murder and armed assault with intent to murder, prosecutors said. Yao appeared in court Monday and was ordered held without bail. A not guilty plea was entered on his behalf. Yao's defense attorney told reporters Monday that his client has a long history of mental illness including hospitalizations, adding that Yao's parents are devastated for the victims family, ABC affiliate WCVB reported. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Shares is the leading weekly publication for retail investors. It is packed with investment ideas, news and educational material to help build and run portfolios and get more from your money. Shares puts on free Investor Events throughout the year across the country. They provide an opportunity for investors to learn more about companies on the stock market and hear from a range of investment experts including fund managers and Shares journalists. Nick Rodrigues, deputy editor of the Sunday Times, with Anjna Chouhan and Jessie Petheram from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. (Submitted photo) THE Shakespeare Birthplace Trust has been named among the countrys Top 100 Not-for-Profit organisations to work for. The charity was 75th on the Sunday Times Best 100 Companies list, climbing 19 spaces since last year. Representatives were at a ceremony in London last week to celebrate their third year on the list. The trust is a major employer in the area with 230 staff and 100 active volunteers at its historic properties. Becky Cund, director of HR and administration, said: "This is the third year that we have been recognised in this prestigious list. "One of our key objectives is to be recognised as a great place to work in and with by our people, neighbours, stakeholders and partners. "The results this year show that our staff have high levels of engagement, with 76 per cent saying they love working at the trust and 88 per cent describing their team as fun to work with. Warwickshire Scouts being presented with their 2,000 cheque recently by Wasps players Guy Armitage and Alex Rieder. (Submitted photo) WARWICKSHIRE Scouts will host a major recruitment drive this weekend with the help of rugby union side Wasps. The organisation will be taking over the Wasps Nest Fan Village at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry ahead of Wasps Aviva Premiership clash against London this Sunday, 4th March. The clubs average attendance this season is around 10,000. Scouts groups across the county currently have a combined waiting list of around 500 people, including 120 in Stratford district, and need at least 50 additional volunteers to clear this list. National membership numbers across the UK are around 618,000 youngsters, aged six to 18-years-old. Between 12.30pm and 2.30pm on Sunday, families will be able to try their hand at soft archery, indoor caving, a 70ft obstacle course, and a challenge to build the tallest spaghetti and marshmallow tower. Wasps also recently donated 2,000 to the Scouts via the clubs cashback scheme, which enables them to claim back a percentage of every ticket that they sell. Wendy Williams, deputy commissioner at Warwickshire Scouts, said: The Scouts are experiencing a surge in popularity, fuelled by celebrity endorsement, and as such we are desperately seeking adult volunteers who can give up some of their spare time to help make a difference to young people in the region. We are grateful to Wasps for giving us an opportunity to showcase what we are all about to thousands of new people. The activities we have on display at the Ricoh Arena will show that Scouting is all about a physical challenge, team work, trying new things and having lots of fun and adventure as a fully inclusive organisation for young people and adults alike. Some 4,000 Scouts will also host a three-day camp at Bramcote Barracks, between 18th and 20th May. OMAHA (AP) The U.S. Department of Agriculture says small and midsize farms across Nebraska have lost much of their land and revenue to bigger operations over the past two decades. Many of these farms have been caught between falling prices and rising costs, the Omaha World-Herald reported . As a result, the number of smaller farms in the state has decreased while the number of larger farms has risen. Farms with more than $500,000 in annual sales more than tripled between 1997 and 2012. But farms with revenue between $100,000 and $499,999 decreased 20 percent. Josh Hladiks family operates a farm in Saunders County. The farm has about 1,000 acres, but Hladik said it likely wont be a sustainable business until they acquire an additional 500 acres. While Hladik has bid on land in at least three auctions, hes consistently been outbid by larger or more experienced operations. A publicly traded business would probably not be operating on the margins were making now, Hladik said. If the cost of business gets too high, the business decision would be to step aside. Hladik works a second job selling seed and fertilizer to help make ends meet. If we didnt take pride in what we do and in our land we wouldnt be in the business, he said. We like seeing tangible results from the hard work and the process we go through all year. It makes it worth it. Farm consolidation means there are more efficient and productive farms, which give consumers a variety of low-priced food options, said Jay Rempe, a senior economist at the Nebraska Farm Bureau. The consolidation of farms and ranches has been occurring for years, at least since the end of (World War II), driven largely by adoption of new technology and economies of scale, Rempe said. Beginning farmers dont have the resources to compete with larger farmers. Jameisha Stanford. Provided photo by family Syracuse, NY -- A Syracuse defense lawyer today noted the $100,000 bail set recently for a man accused in the drunken hit-and-run fatal of three young people while arguing for lower bail in another fatal hit-and-run case. Felix Santos, 18, is being held in jail on $250,000 bail after a crash that killed 2-year-old Jameisha Stanford last May in Syracuse. Santos was on the lam for more than a month before being found in North Carolina. Defense lawyer William Sullivan argued that Santos's bail should be lowered to $50,000. After all, he argued, there's no indication that Santos was drunk when he's accused of jumping the curb on a Near West Side street, killing the toddler and injuring two others. By contrast, Anthony Saccone, 30, of Camillus, was allegedly drunk early Friday when he crashed into a car in the town of Onondaga, killing Baylie Rose, 19, Michael Walker, 18, and Samra Osmanovic, 20. Walker and Osmanovic were Onondaga Community College students; Rose was a former student. All three were former students at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Saccone fled the scene and was found a short time later at his mother's house, authorities said. Saccone was charged with DWI and fleeing the scene of an accident, police said. Authorities have said more charges are possible. If Saccone got $100,000 bail, then Santos shouldn't get $250,000 bail, Sullivan argued. (Incidentally, Sullivan also represents Saccone, though he did not argue bail in Saccone's case.) Today, County Court Judge Matthew Doran declined to change Santos's bail. He called the evidence against Santos "significant." Prosecutor Chris Bednarski noted that Santos fled and was now facing a manslaughter charge for recklessly causing the toddler's death. That carries a possible 15-year prison sentence, the prosecutor said. Sullivan did not appear to question that Santos was involved in the crash. He called the situation a tragedy in court today. (An apology was posted on Santos's Facebook page after his arrest.) Sullivan also provided a few more details of what he said caused the crash. Santos was trying to pass another driver on the left, Sullivan said. The other vehicle turned left, leading Santos to lose control, strike a utility pole and then jump the curb. His car struck and killed Jameisha. The lawyer argued that Santos didn't act recklessly enough to be charged with second-degree manslaughter, as indicted by a grand jury. The standard of recklessness required far more than carelessness, Sullivan argued. Doran did not dismiss the manslaughter charge, saying there was enough evidence presented to the grand jury to sustain the charge. That doesn't mean Santos is guilty of manslaughter; only that a jury can consider that charge at trial. Santos will return to court next month. He will remain in jail unless he can afford the $250,000 cash or bond bail. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Three school districts in Central New York are investigating threats today. The threats were made in the Cato-Meridian Central School District in Cayuga County, Madison Central School District in Madison County and Phoenix Central School District in Oswego County. All three districts alerted parents and community members about the threats. Cato-Meridian school district officials reported today that police are investigating potential threats involving the district's high school. Superintendent Terry Ward announced the investigation on the district's website. "The alleged threats have come from a student who currently does not attend our high school," Ward said in the post. Ward said the community would be kept informed as new information becomes available. The Cato-Meridian school district has cancelled after-school activities for today as a precaution. The Madison school district was on a lockout today after remarks made by a student were reported to administrators, according to the district. "During the school day, a couple of our students went to the principal to inform him of some remarks another student made," the district said in a news release. "Due to these remarks, the sheriff's department was called." The student in question was not in school so the district went into a lockout until the student was in the custody of authorities, the Madison school district said. The student was later charged with making a terroristic threat, according to the Madison County Sheriff's Office. "At no time were our students in harm and classes went on as usual with the exception of no outside activities," the district said. The Phoenix school district investigated a high school student Tuesday for making a threatening comment about a teacher, the superintendent said. The Phoenix Police Department and New York State Police determined the student had not committed a crime, said Superintendent Christopher Byrne. But the student's comments were inappropriate, Byrne said, and violated the district's code of conduct. The district is having a meeting today to review safety protocols, Byrne said. "We're always looking to make our schools safer than they already are," he said. Reporter Samantha House contributed to this report. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- New York State Police said they've received "several tips" about Anthony Saccone, a Camillus man charged in a fatal two-vehicle crash early Friday morning in the town of Onondaga. Police had asked the public for information on where Saccone was prior to Friday's deadly crash that killed three people. Trooper Jack Keller, a spokesman for the state police, said Monday officers are following up on the tips that they've received and they ask anyone else with information to call. Baylie C. Rose, 19, was driving a 2014 Chevrolet Impala south on Onondaga Road when she drove into the intersection of Onondaga Boulevard and Onondaga Road at about 3:40 a.m. Friday, police said. Her vehicle was struck by a 2015 GMC Acadia operated by Saccone, 30, 235 Gulf Road, Camillus, police said. Rose and two passengers, Michael S. Walker, 18, and Samra Osmanovic, 20, were all pronounced deceased at the scene, police said. Following the crash, Saccone was seen fleeing the scene and was later located by using a state police bloodhound at his mother's residence on Onondaga Boulevard. Saccone was charged with leaving the scene of a fatal accident and driving while intoxicated. Further charges may be pending, police said. Saccone was released from jail around 11:35 p.m. Friday night, according to the victim identification service. He's next due in court for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday. The GMC Acadia that Saccone was driving was owned by the Bill Rapp car dealership, Keller said. A member of Saccone's family was having their car repaired at the dealership and the Acadia was on loan while the work was being done, Keller said. State police ask anyone has information to contact state police at 315-455-2922, 315-366-6000 or on the Onondaga County Tips 411 app. PHOENIX, N.Y. -- The Phoenix Central School District is investigating a threat a student made about an employee, the district said Tuesday. The district launched an investigation after receiving a report that a high school student made a "threatening statement" about a staff member, said Superintendent Christopher Byrne. The district called parents about the incident and posted a statement on Facebook. The student, who attends John C. Birdlebough High School, was not identified. The threat was not described. After the investigation is complete, Byrne said the student will be disciplined under the district's code of conduct. "In light of recent events and student concerns, please be assured that any and all allegations of student threats are taken very seriously by the district and that the school district administration is investigating this incident along with local law enforcement," the superintendent said. More information will be posted when it is available. COOPERSTOWN, NY -- The hottest ticket in the annual line-up of Upstate New York beer festivals has a theme this year that may help answer a question. What does "Ommegang' mean, anyway? The hot ticket is to the annual Belgium Comes to Cooperstown festival, held in early August each year at Brewery Ommegang, just south of Cooperstown. Online tickets go on sale at noon April 1. Typically, they sell out in minutes. This year's BCTC is Aug. 3 and 4. The fest always has a theme, often tied to movies or some other bit of pop culture. But for 2018, the theme is Ommegang itself. Ommegang is a street fest or pageant held each year in the Belgian capital of Brussels. It's dates back to at least 1549, when the first Ommegang was held to celebrate a visit by Emperor Charles V. In Dutch, the word "ommegang" means, roughly, "walk around." There are Ommegang pageants held throughout Belgium and the Netherlands, but the one is Brussels is among the largest. The original owners chose the name Ommegang for the Belgian-style brewery they opened in late 1997. Soon after, they began an annual beer fest, in which they celebrated all things Belgian, served their own Belgian-style beers and invited others to do the same. Crowds for Belgium Comes to Cooperstown started to get out of hand, so several years ago Brewery Ommegang started the online sales to limit the number of attendees. The 3,000 people who score tickets will be able to sample beers from about 100 Belgian or Belgian-style brewers (or breweries who make a Belgian just to get into the fest). There's also food, activiites and music. Camping on the grounds is available. Events include a five-course beer dinner Aug. 3 for VIP tickets holders only. Brewery Ommegang is partnering in the dinner with food from Beekman 1802 of nearby Sharon Springs (made famous in TV's "Fabulous Beekman Boys"). The main Belgium Comes to Cooperstown event is the 2:30 to 7 p.m., on the Ommegang grounds. More information. Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. Phish is returning to Central New York for a three-day concert festival. The jam band will headline the "Curveball Festival" on Aug. 17-19 at Watkins Glen International. According to Pollstar, the weekend event will feature attractions, activities, art exhibits and the Trey Anastasio-led band. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon through curveball.phish.com. Weekend passes are $250 per person plus fees; children ages 5 and under are free. Camping packages are also offered for an additional cost; campers must be age 18 or older. "If you are bringing Terry, you must also purchase snacks or he'll never shut up about it," the band's website says. This will be the third Phish festival at Watkins Glen International, following the sold-out "Magnaball" festival in 2015 and "Super Ball IX" in 2011. WGI President Michael Printup told the Star-Gazette that he expects 50,000 to 60,000 fans to attend each day this year, with up to 35,000 camping on site. "The excitement is through the roof," Printup said. "We've been waiting for this announcement just so we could start bursting at the seams. They're a special group, and this is their third festival that they've held here -- the first one was 2011 and the last one was 2015, and now Curveball for 2018. It couldn't have a better name, and I just can't wait for August." Phish has no other Upstate New York concerts scheduled this year. If you can't wait until August, you can see Phish drummer Jon Fishman, a Syracuse native and the band's namesake, perform at the Westcott Theater on April 13 with The Mallett Brothers Band. Anastasio performed in Ithaca earlier this month as part of a solo acoustic tour. Phish previously performed at the Lakeview Amphitheater in 2016, drawing an over-capacity crowd of 19,000 to 20,000 fans. STC musical to be featured at Iowa Thespian Festival Into the woods, its time, and so I must begin my journey. Into The Woods by Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine. And so, the STC Music ... Welcome, DISH customer! Please note that we cannot save your viewing history due to an arrangement with DISH. Watchlist and resume progress features have been disabled. ACCEPT HMD-owned Nokia has just unveiled a bunch of smartphones during the Mobile World Congress, one of them the gorgeous looking Nokia 8 Sirocco, an upgraded version of the Nokia 8 with some pretty significant design changes. Right off the bat, HMD has opted to make the phone a whopping 95 percent glass, with the display now curving to the side similar to the Samsung Galaxy S8. The company really wanted to reduce the phone's bezels as much as possible, so it's moved the fingerprint sensor to the back of the phone, and the home button and navigation keys for that matter. The Verge says it feels small, light, and thin as a result of the drastic design changes. For some, the curved display might take some getting used to, but it certainly gives the illusion of a larger "infinite" display. Nokia 8 Sirocco Specs Its specs put the Nokia 8 Sirocco up there with the best flagships of 2017, that is. A disappointing aspect of the phone is its Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 chip, given that 845 seems to be the new normal for 2018, but nevertheless, it's still a powerful top-of-the-line chip, so probably only a few will complain. The phone gets 6 GB of RAM and 128 GB of storage. The 5.5.-inch pOLED screen boasts a resolution of 2,560 x 1,440. On the back is a dual camera system including a 12-megapixel primary shooter and Zeiss optics. The selfie camera is disappointingly only 5 megapixels, though it's wide-angle, so more people can squeeze in for a photograph. HMD says the phone will come with "bothie" mode support, a feature that lets users take two photos using the front and rear shooters simultaneously. Nokia Drops The Headphone Jack Because HMD wanted the phone to be as thin as possible, it unfortunately decided to remove the headphone jack altogether, which is sure to anger some fans who thought Nokia won't cross over to the dark side. There's a USB C-to-3.5 mm adapter included in the box, though. The Nokia 8 Sirocco will launch this coming April and will cost 749 about $920. That puts it close to the iPhone X's $999 price point, it's worth noting. What do you think about the Nokia 8 Sirocco? Is going for a curved display a good design choice by Nokia? As always, if you have anything to share, feel free to sound them off in the comments section below! 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A doctor in Orlando, Florida, has been arrested and charged with vaccine fraud, with her malpractice placing hundreds of children at risk. According to a statement from the Florida Department of Health, parents who had their children vaccinated by the arrested doctor should consult with another physician. The department is working with the Agency for Health Care Administration and health plans to send notifications to all the families potentially affected by the situation. Orlando Doctor Places 500 Children At Risk A joint investigation between the Florida Department of Health and the Office of the Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit resulted in the arrest of Dr. Ishrat Sohail, a pediatrician practicing in Florida, for fraud. It was first discovered that Dr. Sohail administered Vaccines for Children Program vaccines, intended for Medicaid and uninsured children, to patients covered by private insurance. A raid on her office revealed that Dr. Sohail may have also administered only partial vaccine doses to children but billed insurance companies the cost of a full dose. There is also the possibility that the doctor did not follow the medical standards to maintain the sterility of the vaccines. Partial doses will not provide the necessary protection from the diseases that the vaccine is supposed to protect the children from, and unsterile vaccination may result in severe adverse reactions or infections. The Florida Department of Health estimated that Dr. Sohail's fraudulent activities have placed 500 children at risk. Dr. Sohail was released from jail on bond, but her medical license in Florida has been suspended due to her alleged malpractice. Based on recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the department suggested parents who had their children vaccinated by Dr. Sohail from 2016 to 2018 contact a new physician. The parents may want to consider revaccination to ensure that their children are protected. The Importance Of Vaccination The malpractice of Dr. Sohail should not undermine the importance of vaccination. Flu vaccination remains the best option for defense against the flu, which has already tallied 63 pediatric deaths as of Feb. 3. HPV vaccination may help prevent cancer caused by the human papillomavirus, but most of the teens in the United States have not availed of it. There are other advancements in the field of vaccination that will hopefully help in the fight against cancer in the near future. A report from earlier this month revealed an experimental new cancer vaccine that eliminated all traces of cancer in animals, while another experimental vaccine may be used to train the body's immune system to prevent the development of tumors. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The New York State Department of Health issued a warning for New York City and surrounding areas that an Australian tourist known to have measles stayed at various hotels and also visited the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The tourist stayed in the city from Feb. 16 to 21. Measles can be a highly contagious disease for those who don't have immunity to it. Potential Measles Exposure The New York State Department of Health put out the warning on Friday, Feb. 23, advising those without immunizations to seek medical attention if they develop symptoms of measles. Those who have already received the immunization have a low chance of contracting the disease. In the warning, the New York State DOH included a rundown of the locations where the tourist was known to have traveled. This included hotels, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and medical facilities as the disease worsened. Here is the list of locations visited by the tourist: Feb. 16-19 - La Quinta Inn - 31 West 71st St. New York Feb. 16-17 - Oasis Bible Tours at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 5th Ave., New York Feb. 19 - Watchtower Educational Center, 100 Watchtower Dr., Patterson, New York Feb. 19-20 - Best Western Hotel, 1324 Atlantic Ave. Brooklyn, New York Feb. 20-21 - Comfort Inn & Suites Goshen - Middletown, 20 Hatfield Lane, Goshen, New York Feb. 21 - Excel Urgent Care, 1 Hatfield Lane, Goshen, New York Feb. 21 - Orange Regional Medical Center, Emergency Department, 707 East Main St., Middletown, New York New York City's large population and density are a cause for concern against a possible measles outbreak. Measles has a two-hour lifespan when the virus is airborne. There has been a problem keeping measles under control with the growing "anti-vaxxer" movement that has created pockets of resistance to children receiving the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccines, a common cocktail that people receive against such illnesses. Known Measles Outbreaks Measles infections have grown over the last few years. In Europe alone, at least 35 children died of measles in 2016. Cases of measles in the continent grew from 5,273 in 2016 to 21,315 in 2017. In 2015, an outbreak occurred in a hotbed of the anti-vaxxer community, Disneyland in Orange County, California. There were 62 confirmed cases of measles, including five Disneyland employees. Health officials warned those who were not immunized against measles to avoid visiting the theme park. Visitors from Utah, Washington state, Colorado, Oregon, and Mexico contracted measles from visiting Disneyland at that period of time. The growing anti-vaxxer movement is making it harder for children to be immunized against dangerous diseases. Anti-vaccination science has been disproved, and it's been shown that anti-vaccine websites use "distorted" science. Those in the anti-vaccination movement makes claims such as vaccines giving children autism or mercury being present in vaccines. Government bodies such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had to put out statements refuting the claims made by anti-vaxxers with the hope of stopping the spread of false information. This movement poses a threat to children. Parents are keeping the children from being properly immunized. There are some parents who choose to vaccinate their children but opt to remove them from the regular vaccine schedule by adding more space between vaccines. Before the introduction of the measles vaccine in 1960, nine out of every 10 children got measles before the age of 15. Two million people died each year from measles. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As the threat of climate change escalates, king penguins around Antarctica will have a difficult choice to make: move or die. The Impending Doom For King Penguins A study published on Monday, Feb. 27, in Nature Climate Change revealed that if climate change models continue to develop at their current pace, the results could be disastrous for 1.6 million king penguins. Roughly 70 percent of king penguin breeding pairs would be forced to relocate by the end of the century. Failure for these king penguins to relocate away from their homes in islands around Antarctica would likely result in death. "If global warming continues at its current pace, the species may disappear," Celine Le Bohec, co-author of the study and scientist from the University of Strasbourg, told Agence France Presse. A Shattered Ecosystem Most scientists consider greenhouse gas emissions from humans as the main cause behind the melting polar ice caps and the disappearing Arctic sea. This entire process is warming the oceans and endangering animals like king penguins across the planet. Unlike other species of penguins, these animals typically avoid living on ice-based lands. Although melting ice doesn't directly impact king penguins, it does impact their food chain. Their main source of food is fish. When climate change warms up the ocean, the fish will move further south to colder water. Adult king penguins will be forced to swim farther just to reach their food. With adult king penguins traveling to new places to get their food, their offspring will be left alone longer. This decreases the king penguins' chances of setting up an established mating colony. It also increases the chances of their offspring perishing. What Can Be Done To Help The King Penguin Population Greenhouse gas emissions are the main culprit behind the eventual demise of the king penguins. In order to save these animals, humans need to make some serious changes. "If no actions aiming at halting or controlling global warming, and the pace of the current human-induced changes climate change, overfishing stay the same, the species may disappear in the near future," Le Bohec added. The scientists also admit that there is a chance that the king penguins might survive their changing ecosystem if they colonize other nearby islands to get more fish. The problem, however, is that the pace of change might prove to be too much for the king penguins to handle. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Everything in our universe is made up of atoms, from the human body to the air we breathe. Based on existing theoretical models, a unit contains three smaller subatomic particles, namely protons, electrons, and neutrons. Protons and neutrons, which are the heaviest among the three, are found within the center of the nucleus of an atom. It is surrounded by a cloud of lightweight electrons with a radius measuring around 10,000 times larger than the nucleus. With all this space, electrons are able to move freely at a distance, leaving an empty void that scientists at the Vienna University of Technology and Harvard University attempted to fill with other smaller atoms. According to a paper published Feb. 22 in the Physical Review Letters journal, the team reports creating a computer-generated model of a giant atom filled with more than a hundred other smaller atoms. Notably, this modified unit is characterized by an "exotic" interaction that occurs only in extremely low temperatures, giving scientists a deeper understanding of the unexplored field of "ultracold atoms." Creating Giants Out Of Rydberg Atoms To create this entirely new form of giant atoms, scientists had to start out with Rydberg atoms, which are comprised of one or more electrons that are highly excited. As a result, they orbit the nucleus from a larger distance, producing more vacant space. The intricate process began with the production of a Bose-Einstein condensate from strontium atoms by cooling a diluted gas of subatomic particles named "bosons" to a temperature closest to absolute zero. Using laser technology. the energy was transferred into one of the atoms in the condensate, turning it into a Rydberg atom with a larger radius. Neutral atoms were then scattered inside the empty space. A total of 170 strontium atoms can be placed inside a giant atom. This number depends on two factors, such as the Rydberg atom's radius and the Bose-Einstein condensate's density. Surprisingly, these neutrally charged atoms hardly make an impact on the atom's existing electrons due to their lack of electrical charge. However, the electrons are still somehow affected because they are blocked from changing into a different state. Computerized models reveal that overall, the interaction weakens the energy of the entire system while forming a bond between the Rydberg atoms and the smaller atoms scattered along with electrons. "Normally, we are dealing with charged nuclei, binding electrons around them. Here, we have an electron, binding neutral atoms," claims coauthor and VU professor Shuhei Yoshida in a report, describing the interaction as "highly unusual." Exploring The Nature Of Ultracold Atoms Scientists call this irregular state of matter as "Rydberg polarons." It could only be detected in extremely cold temperatures, but if it gets warmer, subatomic particles would start moving faster, causing the bond to break. "For us, this ... is an exciting new possibility of investigating the physics of ultracold atoms," shares coauthor and VU professor Joachim Burgdorfer, adding that through such field, scientists can finally investigate the smaller components of a Bose-Einstein condensate. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A woman from Baltimore spent $19,000 on a kidney transplant for her 17-year-old cat, showing just how far people will go to save the life of pets that they already consider as family. Cats and dogs are very different from one another, but a study last year showed that cats love humans more than food. This has made them great companion to humans as far back as the late eighth century, when they sailed with Vikings during sea voyages. For the mother-of-two from Baltimore, saving her cat meant more than anything else in the world. Woman Pays $19,000 To Save Her Cat Betsy Boyd, a part-time writing professor from Baltimore, spared no expense in saving the life of her 17-year-old cat named Stanley. Stanley was suffering from end-stage kidney failure, and according to the veterinarian, a kidney transplant was the only way to save him. Boyd agreed to push through with the procedure, leading to costs of $19,000. The amount was a significant amount for Boyd, who earns only $46,000 per year. Her friends insisted that she instead spend the money on something else, such as starting up college savings for her twins Texas and Miner, who are 3 years old. Boyd, however, did not flinch. She used up a significant portion of her savings and decided to no longer buy a new car to replace her 2009 Toyota. Boyd also made drastic changes to her spending habits to save enough money for Stanley's operation. "Stanley loves me as much as any human being has ever loved me and I love him the same way," Boyd told PEOPLE. "I want him around." Stanley underwent the kidney transplant in November last year and is now back in Baltimore with Boyd. Betsy Boyd Saves Another Cat Boyd was able to save the life of Stanley, but in the process, also saved the life of another cat. One of the conditions of the kidney transplant procedure was that Boyd would have to adopt the cat that donated the kidney to Stanley. The cat was named Jay, a 2-year-old cat who was rescued from the streets and was in a shelter. "We are just as concerned with the life of the donor as the recipient," said Dr. Lillian Aronson from the Ryan Veterinary Hospital at the University of Pennsylvania. "They are saving another animal's life and we owe it to them to save their life and give them a good home." Boyd not only gave Stanley more years at life, but she also gave Jay a new home. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Updated guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics call for all adolescents to go through yearly depression screening. Depression Screening For Kids 12 To 21 Years Old The AAP, which represents 66,000 pediatricians, recommended depression screening to all kids between 12 and 21 years old, citing research that show only about 50 percent of adolescents with depression get officially diagnosed before they become adults. As many as two in three depressed teens neither get the care that can help them. The guidelines are intended to assist primary care clinicians to identify and help adolescents with depression. "Guidelines were updated for youth aged 10 to 21 years and correspond to initial phases of adolescent depression management in PC, including the identification of at-risk youth, assessment and diagnosis, and initial management," the guidelines read. When And Where Screening Could Be Done Pediatricians are encouraged to talk to their patients alone. Rachel Zuckerbrot, from Columbia University, who helped write the guidelines, said that the screening could be done during visits to the doctor or a sports' physical. She said that teens are often most honest when they do not look in the face of the person asking questions about their emotional health so they could fill out self-reported questionnaire themselves. "It's an opportunity for the adolescent to answer questions about themselves privately," she said. Families Encouraged To Help The new recommendations also call for families with depressed teens to come up with a safety plans to restrict these kids' access to lethal means of harm. Suicide is a leading cause of death for children between 10 and 17 years old, and the risk is strongly linked to the availability of firearm. Pediatricians are also urged to spend time with parents to identify risk factors and the potential symptoms. 20 Percent Of Adolescents Have Depression CBS News medical contributor Tara Narula said that 20 percent of adolescents have a history of depressions, and half of these go undiagnosed. Of those who get diagnosed, only about half receive the appropriate treatment. Narula said that pediatricians need to be trained so they can help identify signs of depression. Undiagnosed depression may lead to social problems, substance abuse, and self harm. Link Between Depression And Smartphone Use Studies suggest a potential link between depression in teens and the prevalence of mobile devices. A new study have suggested that social media, internet browsing, and gaming are linked to increase in depressive symptoms in young people. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. . , , . , - . , , , -. , ... Only one sheriff's office in Louisiana has used a self-insurance program for sheriffs to pay sexual harassment and discrimination claims over the last decade. That's the Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office, and it did so on two occasions. The Sheriffs Offices claims totaled $431,500, with most of that going to the plaintiff in a 2015 federal lawsuit who claimed her superior repeatedly harassed her and retaliated when she complained. The plaintiff also claimed that Sheriff Louis Ackal tolerated and participated in the retaliation. Judge decries 'lousy leadership' of Iberia Parish Sheriff's Office in sentencing seven former deputies Seven former deputies who agreed to cooperate with federal prosecutors in a broad federal probe of abuse and coverup in the Iberia Parish Sher That lawsuit settled in August 2016 for $409,000 and was paid from the Risk Management Program of the Louisiana Sheriffs Law Enforcement Program. The risk management program is a voluntary self-insurance pool set up via state law to protect against public liability. The Advocate requested records pertaining to settlements of any sexual harassment and discrimination claims since 2008, and the Iberia Parish settlement records were the only ones returned. Forty-five of the 64 sheriffs offices in Louisiana participate in the self-insurance program, so its possible that non-participating sheriffs offices separately settled sexual harassment and discrimination claims. It's also possible that participating sheriff's offices used other insurance to pay settlements. The plaintiff in the 2016 Iberia Parish settlement claimed that, starting in January 2013, the chief of the criminal department at the time, Bert Berry, egregiously harassed her for 10 months. The alleged harassment included rubbing himself against her, unwanted kisses and vulgar comments and gestures. The day after the plaintiff complained to human resources, Ackal read a letter to the plaintiff containing false allegations against her, according to the lawsuit, including that she had exposed herself in public. The lawsuit further alleges that Berry then gave raises to three employees who intimidated her by following her around with a video camera, falsely accusing her of forgery and blaming her for egging on Berry. Top stories in Acadiana in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The plaintiff complained to Ackal, according to the lawsuit, but the sheriff did nothing to stop the retaliation. Berry retired about two years after the alleged harassment began, and the plaintiff left the Sheriffs Office soon after. The Advocate generally does not name alleged victims of sexual harassment without the consent of the alleged victim. Lafayette lawyer Jason Welborn, who represented the plaintiff, did not return multiple calls. Berry did not return calls for comment about the claims made against him in the lawsuit. The other claim from the self-insurance fund to the Sheriffs Office pertained to a 2009 sexual harassment lawsuit in 16th Judicial District Court in which three plaintiffs accused a chief deputy, Toby Hebert, of sexual harassment. The plaintiffs settled their claims four years later for $7,500 apiece. Ackal temporarily fired Hebert, who later testified against Ackal in his 2016 criminal trial on civil rights charges, according to KATC. A jury acquitted Ackal. +7 Innocent man or 'gangster with badge'? Racially divided New Iberia not sure about acquitted sheriff NEW IBERIA When Louis Ackal first ran for sheriff, in 2007, Patricia Hypolite canvassed the West End here with a bullhorn, trying to assure Attempts to reach Hebert were unsuccessful. Sheriff's Office spokesman Wendell Raborn declined comment. The mayor and police department of a popular spring break destination for Louisiana college students have issued a stern warning. "If you are looking for a party town, the City of Orange Beach is not it," a recent statement from the city's police department said. "Underage drinking, illegal drug use, disorderly conduct or any other breach of the peace will not be tolerated. If you choose to violate the law, you will go to jail. THIS IS YOUR WARNING." Orange Beach Mayor Tony Kennon echoed that message. In nearby Gulf Shores, for the third-straight year, there'll be alcohol ban in place, forbidding anyone from possessing or drinking alcohol on any part of the beach south of protected sand dunes within the city limits. Law enforcement in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores reportedly saw spring break arrests trending downward in 2017. LSU's spring break runs March 25-April 1. Tulane's spring break runs March 25-April 2. Louisiana-Lafayette's spring break runs March 30-April 8. East Baton Rouge Mayor-President Sharon Weston Broome said Tuesday she hasn't given up hope of passing an infrastructure tax at some point, while she and New Orleans mayor-elect LaToya Cantrell said they want to work together for regional goals. Broome, Cantrell and Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker explained how they see their roles in transforming communities during a panel at the Baton Rouge Area Chambers Economic Development Summit. Each said they want to beautify their cities, train a workforce and gain the trust of the people in their communities. While Walker shared his success in passing an infrastructure sales tax in 2016 in Ruston, both Broome and Cantrell said they need to build buy-in from their communities before they can reach similar milestones. +3 BR no longer pursuing downtown-LSU tram, will instead focus on express buses, mayor says Baton Rouge is no longer pursuing the downtown-LSU tram and will instead focus on working with the Capital Area Transit System on improving ex Broome referenced her failed bid last year to pass a Better Transportation and Roads tax, which the East Baton Rouge Metro Council blocked before it reached ballots. She said the failure has forced her administration to come up with alternative ways to pay for infrastructure projects, such as using tax credits from the state that the city-parish received through a road transfer program. She said she hopes to eventually return to the Metro Council and to voters with what she described as robust initiative for traffic and infrastructure. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up We build the trust of the citizens and hopefully the tax fatigue will end, Broome said. Cantrell, who does not take office until May, said cleaning up communities is one way local government can show it does not take its taxpayers for granted. She said its low hanging fruit that can make a major difference in neighborhoods. Don't talk to anyone: LaToya Cantrell transition bars members from speaking on work Following a campaign built around the themes of transparency and community involvement, one of the first orders given to members of Mayor-elec Definitely getting the trash out of peoples eyes will be my top priority, Cantrell said. In addition, Broome said she will soon tour Baton Rouges industrial corridor and petrochemical plants to talk to representatives there about their roles in workforce development and ways the city-parish can help. She said Baton Rouge Community Colleges process technology program is one of the most important workforce training programs in Baton Rouge. Broome and Cantrell said they are open to working together in the future and coming up with regional projects, though neither offered specifics that are in the works. Cantrell said New Orleans recent win in attracting DXC Technology should also help to create work for people in Baton Rouge. A Baton Rouge-based state appeals court wrestled Tuesday with the thorny legal question of whether felons on probation and parole should be allowed to vote in Louisiana. Attorneys for the state and a group of felons challenging current Louisiana law debated the phrase "under an order of imprisonment" before a three-judge panel of the state 1st Circuit Court of Appeal at the LSU Law Center. +2 Felon voting-rights case appeal lands at Baton Rouge court Ashanti Witherspoon served 27 years at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola for armed robbery and has been on parole since 1999, but because The 1974 Louisiana Constitution bars people "under an order of imprisonment" for a felony conviction from voting. A 1976 state law that is under attack expanded the definition of that phrase, saying felons on probation and parole cannot vote. Bill Quigley, who represents a group of felons who challenged the 1976 law, argued Tuesday that the plain language and meaning of "under an order of imprisonment" should control the outcome of the case. "Imprisonment means you are in prison," he told Circuit Judges Toni Higginbotham, Allison Penzato and Guy Holdridge. "You are not under an order of imprisonment (if on probation or parole) because you are not in prison." Lani Durio, an attorney for Louisiana Secretary of State Tom Schedler, argued to the appellate court panel that the dispute is a question of law, not semantics. "You can define imprisonment all you want," she said. "`Under an order of imprisonment' means more than imprisoned. `Under an order of imprisonment' does not mean actual imprisonment." The state contends that felons on probation or parole remain under an order of imprisonment because they can be sent back behind bars if they violate the terms or conditions of their probation or parole. Quigley, while arguing to the 1st Circuit panel, called that reasoning a "tortured interpretation." The panel took Tuesday's arguments under advisement. The American Probation and Parole Association has sided with the felons, arguing in documents filed in the case that the same is true of people who are on probation without ever serving any jail time. If those people violate the conditions of their probation they may be sent to prison, according to the association of probation and parole officers. +2 National group joins fight to repeal four-decade-old Louisiana law on felons voting A national association of probation and parole officers has come to the aid of a group of Louisiana felons challenging a four-decade-old state Seventeen professors from the law schools at LSU, Southern and Tulane universities, and Loyola University New Orleans also have called on the 1st Circuit to "protect the constitutional right to vote for the non-incarcerated, including probationers and parolees." Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The plaintiffs in the case a handful of felons and a group called Voice of the Ex-Offender say the 1976 state law is preventing more than 70,000 felons on probation and parole in Louisiana from voting. Holdridge peppered Quigley and Durio with questions from the bench. In one exchange with the judge, Quigley argued that a person on parole is no longer under an order of imprisonment. "What changes the order of imprisonment?" Holdridge asked. "The order doesn't change. The judge doesn't issue another order." Holdridge later posed a hypothetical to Durio: If a person is sentenced to five years in prison, but the judge suspends the sentence and puts the person on supervised probation for five years, when can that person vote? Durio responded that the person can vote when the period of probation has been completed. Holdridge disagreed, saying that the order of imprisonment is over at the time the judge suspends the sentence. Durio acknowledged there are people on probation in Louisiana who are voting, but who were not first sent to prison. Holdridge asked Durio why the panel should not simply send the case back to state District Judge Tim Kelley for a full evidentiary hearing with testimony. "Because this is a question of law," Durio replied. Kelley reluctantly upheld the 1976 law last year, saying he agreed with the plaintiffs but could not bend the law. Baton Rouge judge upholds Louisiana law barring some felons from voting A Baton Rouge state judge on Monday reluctantly upheld a 1976 Louisiana law that prohibits roughly 71,000 felons on probation and parole from voting. "They should be voting," Quigley said to the 1st Circuit panel of felons on probation and parole. "They should be voting today." Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission Letters: Louisiana court should protect the 1974 Constitution and give probationers, paroles the right to vote President Donald Trump, accompanied by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt, third from left, and Vice President Mike Pence, right, is applauded as he hold up the signed Energy Independence Executive Order, Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at EPA headquarters in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) A group of local immigrant workers is the latest critic of Mayor Mitch Landrieus $40 million crime-fighting surveillance plan, saying that federal immigration officials could use the cameras to track the whereabouts of people living in the city illegally and eventually deport them. New Orleans' latest weapon in fighting crime? Surveillance cameras with blue, red flashing lights A slew of new city-owned surveillance cameras are popping up around New Orleans as officials continue the roll-out of a $40 million security p At a protest in Duncan Plaza last week, the Congress of Day Laborers blasted the Landrieu public safety initiative, which focuses on boosting surveillance through city-owned cameras and by gathering feeds from cameras owned by hundreds of private individuals and businesses. The plan would require all businesses that sell alcohol to have at least one exterior camera. Though city-owned cameras are already perched in targeted areas across various neighborhoods, the plan to require and monitor private cameras still requires City Council approval. The activist group is urging the council to reject it. Our fear is based in real-life situations that happen everyday, said Jose Torres, an El Salvadoran construction worker who has taken refuge in First Grace United Methodist Church in Mid-City to avoid deportation. In places like Kenner, the police regularly do collaborate with immigration (officials). In New Orleans it has not happened, but we have a fear that it could. A spokesman for the New Orleans Police Department said the camera system is meant to keep citizens safe, not to monitor people living here illegally. Police Superintendent Michael Harrison has made it clear that the camera system is intended to help deter and prosecute violent crime, spokesman Beau Tidwell said. This is not a surveillance operation that will have any role in immigration enforcement." The Police Department, under the terms of a federal consent decree governing its operations, specifically forbids officers from inquiring about the immigration status of suspects, victims and witnesses. ProjectNOLA plans to expand crime camera network, work more closely with New Orleans officials City officials aren't the only ones working to beef up their network of crime cameras on the streets of New Orleans. The Orleans Parish Sheriffs Office has also refused to honor detainer requests from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, except in cases of immigrants facing felony charges. Both of those policies have prompted critics to label New Orleans a sanctuary city, although local officials have denied it, and the U.S. Justice Department in the fall removed New Orleans from its target list of cities it says refuse to comply with federal statutes requiring information-sharing with federal authorities. Still, the activists point to more aggressive enforcement of immigration laws by the New Orleans ICE field office under President Donald Trump, who made limiting immigration a key focus of his campaign and has pledged to build a wall along the Mexican border. Rather than prioritizing the arrests of immigrants who have committed serious crimes, as it did under President Barack Obamas administration, the ICE office has begun to target all residents who entered the country illegally, in line with a Trump directive. The office, which covers Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee, made four times as many arrests of immigrants without a criminal record in the 2017 fiscal year as it did in the prior year, according to an analysis of federal data by the Pew Research Center released this month. The office also deported 6,665 illegal immigrants through the first three-quarters of the 2017 fiscal year more than the total of the previous three years combined, according to statistics released to The Advocate last year by federal immigration officials. It was unclear how many of those arrests and deportations were made in the New Orleans area. In criticizing the mayor's plan, the Congress of Day Laborers joins the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, the Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans and the office of the citys independent police monitor. The monitors office has warned that cameras could be used to track residents and that images and videos could be improperly released, either by the police or by hackers. It has also raised questions about whether the plan will have a significant impact on crime. Torres, who crossed the border illegally into the U.S. in 2005 and who hopes to avoid being separated from his daughters, who are U.S. citizens, remains unconvinced that the Landrieu plans benefits will outweigh its dangers. So does Santos Canales, a Honduran native who is allowed, under a federal program, to live and work in the U.S. for a limited time. Both are asking the City Council, which is expected to consider the plan next month, to consider a different option. The reality is cameras arent going to change anything regarding crime, Canales said. If people want to commit a crime, they are going to do it regardless of whether there is a camera there. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Istigfaro Anjaz Ajizi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 16:30 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c78ab40 3 Opinion China,citizens,monitoring,privacy,big-data Free China has great ambition to take advantage of big data in the government system with the aim of organizing all their people in all activities of people's lives, not only in the economic sector but also in political behavior. The great program is named China's Social Credit. China's Social Credit is a new approach system for the Chinese government to monitor, assess and manage the behavior of all individuals, companies and non-governmental organization in China. This large project is a response to the collapse of confidence in the public institutions and the need to ensure the Chinese population remains on the right track according to the country's vision. This assessment is based on monitoring every peoples social behaviors such as obedience paying off debt, social interactions, and spending habits. It will then be ranked to get a national ranking as the basis of the trustworthiness. Each entity will be assessed in a certain scoring method which will then be rewarded and punished. For example, in Suzhou city, every person who donates blood will earn six points on the credit system. Each point will be used to obtain prizes such as discounts on public transport or a short waiting time while queuing in line at the hospital. Meanwhile, people with low scores will be classified in blacklists and get punishment like restricted access to travel out of the region. The system has been carefully crafted with testing in several cities in China. The outline plans of this program are made in 2014. Then, the Chinese government has made guidelines to clarify the system by 2016. It will be implemented throughout the country at the latest by 2020. However, the program appears to have a disguised purpose from the Chinese government. China's Social Credit is predicted as a new tool to monitor and regulate market behavior. Mercator Institute for China Studies (Merics) accused that the program would legalize the principle of self-restriction of companies, which is the government's strict monitoring of the economic and non-economic behavior of the company through big data technology. That is, the government will influence the company to take policy or business decisions in line with the government's policy strategy. Some companies that act and make policies that conflict with the vision of the Chinese government will be given a lower rating. It will make the company will get a penalty, such as unfavorable conditions to apply for new loans, higher taxes, no license to issue securities or listing on the stock exchange, and loss of opportunity to participate in government-funded projects. The most important element of China's Social Credit program is the integration of all data. The data will make it easier to direct the economy of the country and make it easier to allocate resources more intelligently than the market price mechanism. In conclusion, a very fragmented and unfounded long-term liberal economic strategy will be difficult to compete with a directed Chinese economy. In this case, Indonesia will be faced with two important issues. First, what is the impact of China's Social Credit on Indonesia? and what Indonesia's next plan to maximize the big data technology for the national interest? These two issues will be closely related to the development of our regulations. It is clear that China's Social Credit implementation is also binding on foreign companies operating in China. In fact, China is one of Indonesia's strategic partners in trade relations. The Central Statistics Bureau (BPS) data shows that in January 2018, China occupies the first position as a major supplier of non-oil goods and the main export destination of Indonesia. The existence of China's Social Credit system which must also be obeyed by foreign companies has serious consequences for Indonesian companies that have business relations with the China to make adjustments and learn the technical rules more deeply. Complex problems will arise if Indonesian companies operating in China are required to report their internal business information to the Chinese government. Similarly, if a Chinese company operating in Indonesia is required to disclose its business data from Indonesia to the Chinese government then how Indonesia's law protects it. So, it allows for a legal conflict and it takes a lot of in depth-study to find a way out of the case. We have to admit that China has created decades of effectiveness through the setup a top-down ruling system based on big data. So, their government has dubbed the digital totalitarian state. Indonesia should also be able to benefit from this big data revolution in the context of the prevailing democratic system. At least there should be a clear direction for the legal regime related big data not only able to protect the national interest, but should open the ease for the progress of the domestic business. In addition, big data can provide guarantees for the creation of our government transparency and increase public participation in any government policy making. Quick steps are needed to immediately provide certainty for the business do not hesitate to participate in maximizing this great potential for the prosperity of our country. *** The writer is a graduate of Faculty of Law, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta. He is interested in the legal, social, and economic aspects of big data, artificial intelligence and internet of things. --------------- We are looking for information, opinions, and in-depth analysis from experts or scholars in a variety of fields. We choose articles based on facts or opinions about general news, as well as quality analysis and commentary about Indonesia or international events. Send your piece to academia@jakpost.com. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 09:03 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c7733b8 4 Editorial #Editorial,central-bank,bank-indonesia,agus-martowardoyo,perry-warjiyo Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo made the right decision by nominating a sole candidate, Perry Warjiyo, to be the new governor of Bank Indonesia (BI) to replace Agus Martowardoyo, who will end his term in mid-May. There is always the risk that the House of Representatives, which has yet to confirm the nomination, will reject the sole candidate out of disillusionment of not being given the leeway to choose from several candidates. After all, the current House-Jokowi relationship seems to be testy, especially with the latest tussle over the new law on legislative institutions. But we think if the House assesses the sole candidate in good faith with the sole purpose of selecting the most capable leader for our monetary management, they should confirm Warjiyo, currently a deputy governor at the central bank. First of all, Warjiyo will be the first fully fledged BI career executive to become the governor of the central bank in the past ten years. In fact, he is the first BI career executive nominated to become the BI governor since 2008. This will be quite a psychological boost for the central bank, which between 2003 and 2008 was tainted by a series of corruption scandals that saw three former governors and several other deputy governors sent to prison. Warjiyo, 59, was the best among the four candidates submitted to the President, which also included incumbent Agus, former finance minister M. Chatib Basri and current National Development Planning Minister Bambang Brodjonegoro. Warjiyo began his career at BI in 1984 and has since gained rich experience in monetary management and international finance in numerous positions at the central bank. He was the assistant to the governor for monetary management before he was confirmed by the House as a deputy governor in 2013. From 2007 to 2009 Warjiyo was an executive director at the International Monetary Fund in Washington DC. Given he also has vast experience in macro-prudential management, Warjiyo can meet all the tough requirements needed of a new leader of the central bank in the face of the uncertainty in the financial market and global economy and the new bout of monetary tightening in the United States and Europe. Yet more importantly, he will be a good partner for Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati for managing the economy, especially during the next 12 months, when macroeconomic management will enter autopilot mode in view of the preparations for the April, 2019, presidential and legislative elections. Strong monetary and fiscal cooperation and coordination is set to become even more of an imperative because of the vulnerability of the two portfolios to pressure from vested-interest groups during the upcoming election year. The market will be more stable if it perceives that the central bank chief and finance minister have impeccable integrity, high technical competence and strong personalities, willing to stand up against political pressure to launch populist measures at the expense of the long-term foundations of the economy. Imlek festivities are far from over in Singkawang, where a lantern parade will light up Wednesday night for Cap Go Meh, which is observed 15 days after Chinese New Year. Tempo.co reported that Singkawangs mayor will be present at the event, along with other local government officials and students. There will be nine dragon displays arranged by the Saint Yosep Singkawang Group, which made it into the Indonesian Museum of Records (MURI) for the highest number of dragon displays for the celebration of Chinese New Year and Cap Go Meh. Singkawang Traffic Police chief Priyanto said there would be no traffic detours while the parade was on. This is due to the large number of parade participants using vehicles, while only marching band members and the bearers of the nine dragons will be on foot. Read also: Thousands of lanterns light up Singkawang for Chinese New Year The parade will start at the mayors office and pass along Jl. Firdaus, Jl. Pangeran Diponegoro, Jl. Niaga, Jl. Budi Utomo, Jl. Nusantara, Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, Jl. Kalimantan, Jl. Niaga, Jl. Stasiun and Jl. GM Situt to end at the Happy Building. After the parade, Jl. Diponegoro en route to Pontianak will be closed to make room for a stage for the Cap Go Meh festival. Bong Sin Fo from the Saint Yosep Singkawang Group said MURI would issue the record-breaking certificate on Wednesday morning, followed by the eye-opening ritual of the dragons at the Tri Dharma Bumi Raya temple. After the ritual, the dragons will be paraded to the temple, close to Jl. GM Situt, he said. The dragons will also be displayed at the Cap Go Meh festival on Friday. At least 400 people were involved in the making of the dragons. (wen) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 09:00 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c772a7a 1 City reservoir,development Free The Jakarta administration has decided to continue its plan to build 10 reservoirs this year in a bid to create more water absorption sites amid the threat of floods across the city. The planned locations include Jagakarsa and Lebak Bulus in South Jakarta, Kaja, Dogol, Cimanggis and Pekayon in East Jakarta, Kesatriaan, Rawa Kendal and Marunda in North Jakarta and Kendal in Central Jakarta. Jakarta Water Resources Agency head Teguh Hendarwan said on Monday the plan showed sluggish progress due to land clearance issues. He mentioned that for the Marunda reservoir, the agency had only obtained 50 hectares of land for the project. He added that the project would need Rp 75 billion (US$5.25 million) and was expected to finish by year-end. "Accelerating reservoir projects is one of our focuses," he said, as quoted by kompas.id. He added that if the land clearance issues remained a problem, he would find other locations. According to the agency, there are 108 lakes and reservoirs spread across the capital. (fac) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 15:39 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c786078 1 City West-Jakarta,drug-raids,drug-dealer,arrest Free The Central Jakarta Police detained 19 suspected drug dealers from January to February, with most of the drugs seized being crystal methamphetamine and ecstasy. Central Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Roma Hutajulu said on Tuesday the police had seized 4.5 kilograms of crystal meth in January and 285 grams of crystal meth, 28 grams marijuana and 111 ecstasy pills in February. The 19 suspects are being processed, said Roma on Tuesday. The police plan to destroy the 4.5 kg of crystal meth on Tuesday, Roma said as reported by kompas.com. The suspects reportedly distributed the drugs by transporting them in items that would not attract suspicion, such as a suitcase. The suspects have been charged under the Narcotics Law, which carries a maximum prison sentence of 20 years. (wnd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Rizal Harahap (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru, Riau Tue, February 27, 2018 20:27 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c7978ed 1 National sun-bear,conservation,protected-animals,protected-species,ProtectedSpecies,BKSDA,Riau Free Worried about the legal sanctions he might face for keeping a protected species, Adi, 28, a resident of Sungai Buluh village in Bunut district, Pelalawan regency, Riau, handed over a pair of sun bears to the Riau chapter of the Natural Resources Conservation Agency. Agency spokesperson Dian Indriati said Adi had voluntarily handed over the sun bears that he had kept for three years. The agencys ranger team led by Murmaiddin Putraper fetched the bears in Bunut on Monday evening. The bears are now in Pekanbaru and are undergoing a medical assessment by a medical team, Dian said on Tuesday. She said that the two bears, a male and a female, were about 4 years old and in good condition. Information collected by the agency revealed that the bears were found by Adi when he was working on an oil palm plantation in Bunut about three years ago. When they were found, the bears were still very young and had been abandoned by their mother. Adi later decided to take care of them until he was made aware that under the prevailing laws, it is prohibited to keep protected wildlife and this might lead to legal sanctions, said Dian. Law No.5/1990 on the conservation of biodiversity and its ecosystem stipulates that anyone found guilty of hunting, keeping and trading in wildlife may face a maximum of five years in prison and a maximum fine of Rp 100 million (US$7,310). (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 13:22 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c77b29d 4 Business BPJS-Ketenagakerjaan,fund,growth-assumption,2018 Free The Workers Social Security Agency (BPJS Ketenagakerjaanan) expects the fund it manages to grow by 16 percent to Rp 367.8 trillion (US$ 26.8 billion) this year from Rp 317.26 trillion recorded in 2017. BPJS Ketenagakerjaan president director Agus Susanto said in Jakarta recently that the agency would invite more companies to include their workers in its insurance programs so that more dues could be collected from the agencys members this year. To expand the number of participants, we will promote the programs to workers and enforce existing law," said Agus as quoted by kontan.co.id. Under presidential regulation No.109/2013, companies are required to include their employees as members of BPJS Ketenagakerjaan. Agus said the agency expected to have 29.65 million active members from 700,000 companies by the end of this year, up from the current figure of 26.24 million active members from 488,000 companies. The annual contribution of dues is expected to increase by approximately 24.3 percent to Rp 64.37 trillion in 2018, he added. In addition to dues from its members, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan also sourced funds from the turnover of its investments, which were estimated to contribute Rp 32 trillion, a 20 percent increase, last year. Last year, BPJS Ketenagakerjaan, previously known as Jamsostek, invested 58.70 percent of its funds in bonds and 19 percent in stocks. (roi/bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 14:20 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c77f8c4 1 City food-poisoning,#Tangerang,#wedding Free Dozens of residents from Sukadamai village in Cikupa district, Tangerang, Banten, suffered alleged food poisoning after attending a wedding in the area on Sunday. A top official from the Tangerang Health Agency, Hendra Tarmizi, said on Tuesday that at least 78 guests attending the wedding had been referred to hospitals after experiencing diarrhea and vomiting. Thirty nine of the 78 people are currently receiving treatment at hospitals, with 22 at Permata Hati Hospital, 16 at Hermina Bitung Hospital and one at Ciputra Hospital. The remaining 39 people only received outpatient treatment. Hendra explained that the guests ate pempek (fish cakes), fried fish and fish curry (known locally as gulai) at the wedding. Food samples have been taken for further investigation, Hendra said, as quoted by tempo.co. (vny) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 17:38 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c78e3e1 4 Business Christine-Madeleine-Odette-Lagarde,visit,Sri-Mulyani-Indrawati,comments Free Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati has said the visit of International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director Christine Lagarde to Indonesia was not to offer loans, but to prepare for the IMF-World Bank meeting in Bali in October. Many netizens asked me if Lagardes visit was to offer loans to Indonesia. I said no, Sri Mulyani said in Jakarta on Tuesday as quoted by kompas.com, adding that Lagarde was only visiting to monitor the progress of preparations for the IMF-World Bank Group Annual meeting. During her stay in Jakarta, Largade also spoke at the 2018 High Level Conference Annual Meeting, met with President Joko Jokowi Widodo and visited a hospital and a market, accompanied by the President. During the meeting with Lagarde, President Jokowi informed her about the country's progress in the economic sector. Meanwhile, Lagarde praised the strong foundation of the Indonesian economy, but she stressed the importance of fiscal reform to boost economic growth. She also stressed the importance of responsible government spending, not only in financing infrastructure projects, but also to improve welfare and strengthen the Indonesian position in exporting more value-added products. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Pekanbaru Tue, February 27 2018 Four local residents have been named suspects in land burning cases, with hundreds of hectares of land and forest in several regencies and cities in Riau having burned down since mid-January. Riau Police spokesperson Sr. Comr. Guntur Aryo Tejo said 233 out of 680 hectares of burned land in Riau had been sealed off by the police. Land cultivation in the sealed off area is prohibited until the police complete their investigation. Meranti Islands and Indragiri Hulu were the regencies worst hit by the fires, which burned 135 ha and 121 ha of area, respectively. Dumai City and four regencies, namely Indragiri Hilir, Pelalawan, Rokan Hulu and Siak, were also hit by fires. Throughout January and February, the Riau Police handled 13 land and forest fires. All of the fires occurred on individually owned land, said Guntur on Monday. He said three out of the 13... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jimbaran Tue, February 27 2018 The South Kuta Police have arrested three Chinese tourists for allegedly beating a freelance driver on Monday. The three men face a maximum sentence of seven years in prison. Arrested in Jimbaran, Bali, Cheng Gong, 27, Hao Peng Ye, 31, and Zhao Ning Ning, 34, allegedly beat Nyoman Gede Mudiasa, 30, in front of a convenience store near the beach early on Monday. The three suspects collectively assaulted the victim, causing him injury, South Kuta Police general crimes investigation unit head First Insp. Andi Yaqin said. The incident began when Mudiasa drove two Chinese women, Li Yi Dong and Jia Jing Jing, to a Coco Mart on Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai in Taman Mumbul, Jimbaran, at around 1:30 a.m. Mudiasa then saw the two women argue with Cheng Gong, one of four Chinese tourists who later arrived to the store in a black minibus. Mudiasa tried to stop the a... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 18:00 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c78f13f 1 City city-budget,absorption Free Jakarta Council deputy speaker Muhammad Taufik has criticized the administration for low budget expenditure in the first three months of the year, as the city disbursed only 6 percent of the total budget of Rp 77.1 trillion (US$5.3 billion). Taufik said the administration should evaluate its spending, so that the use of city funds could be more effective. "The city administration should evaluate the spending as soon as possible. We have learned that the absorption plan is not good," Taufik said on Tuesday, according to kompas.com. The Gerindra Party politician is a staunch supporter of Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan. Taufik added the city council would communicate with the city's relevant agencies to discuss the issue. He then referred to the Finance Minister's statement that the city still had Rp 20 trillion saved at the bank in November last year. "A lot of violations can happen if the money is not well absorbed at the beginning of the year," he said. (cal) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Marguerite Afra Sapiie (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 19:19 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c793643 1 Politics Jokowi,Joko-Widodo,running-mate,jusuf-kalla,2019-elections,2019-presidential-election,PDI-P Free President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo has called on all parties to stop speculating over who his running mate might be in the 2019 presidential election, saying that the process of determining eligibility needed to first conclude. Jokowi said his administration was having discussions with political parties over issues concerning the criteria of possible vice-presidential candidates. "[We] have not yet talked about names. So let's just wait," Jokowi told journalists on Tuesday. Parties supporting Jokowis re-election bid next year are now looking for the right person to be paired with Jokowi. Several names have been mentioned as potential candidates, including Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Jokowi's running mate in the 2014 election. Officials from the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) seem to be divided over the issue, with one party official, Hasto Kristiyanto, saying it was impossible to nominate Kalla again. Another party official, Coordinating Human Development and Cultural Affairs Minister Puan Maharani, said the party was still determining whether Kalla was eligible to run. When asked about a recent statement made by Kalla that many interpreted as indication he will not run -- the Vice President said Monday it was important to respect the term limits of the president and vice president -- Jokowi said such questions should be directed to Kalla himself. In addition to the PDI-P, four other political parties -- the Golkar Party, the United Development Party (PPP), the Hanura Party and the NasDem Party -- have also endorsed Jokowi for the 2019 election. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan, North Sumatra Tue, February 27, 2018 11:55 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c779540 1 National whirlwind,natural-disaster,BPBD,North-Sumatra,Dairi-regency Free One person has been killed and five others injured in Dairi, North Sumatra, after a whirlwind roared through the regency on Monday afternoon, destroying buildings and homes. The deceased victim is Rikson Girsang, a resident of Siboras village in Pegagan Julu I subdistrict, while the injured victims are from Rangkom and Parbuahan villages. Dairi regent KRA Johny Sitohang Adinegoro said Rikson's death was caused by the collapse of a building. The regent said the Dairi administration had provided financial assistance to the family of the victim. All injured victims have received treatment from medical teams. Johny said the whirlwind had been reported to Social Affairs Minister Idrus Marham. Many houses and houses of worship have been damaged, he said, Tuesday. According to Regional Disaster Mitigation Agency (BPBD) data, the number of buildings damaged reached more than 100, including houses, churches and schools. Sarmalia br Sagala, 45, a Rangkom village resident, told The Jakarta Post that she was working on her farmland not far from her house when the incident occurred. She was shocked when she heard a booming sound coming from the roof of her house. Sarmalia said the whirlwind had destroyed the roof of her house and damaged her grocery store and several electronic devices. The incident happened very fast but destroyed many things. Every house in our neighborhood was hit, she said, adding that she hoped the government would help the residents to repair their houses. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Viriya P. Singgih (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 17:43 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c78e49a 1 Business Pertamina-EP,capital-expenditure,2018 Free Pertamina EP, one of the upstream subsidiaries of state-owned energy giant Pertamina, has set a target to increase its annual capital expenditure by 8.7 percent to US$700 million this year, in line with its plan to drill more exploration wells. We want to drill 13 exploration wells [this year], including in North Sumatra, South Sumatra, West Java and in Sulawesi, Pertamina EP president director Nanang Abdul Manaf told reporters on Tuesday, adding that the companys operating expenditure would soar by around 9 percent to $1.2 billion in 2018. Last year, Pertamina EP drilled 10 exploration wells with a capital expenditure of $644 million. Pertamina EP produced a total of 77,200 barrels of oil per day and 1,018 million standard cubic feet of gas per day throughout last year, down 7.7 percent and up 2.9 percent respectively. At the same time, the company booked $2.7 billion in revenue and $615 million in net profit, climbing 12.5 percent and 4.23 percent respectively following an increase in global crude prices. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 17:10 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c78d5fa 1 City Lake-Sunter,trash,festival,North-Jakarta Free The Sunter Lake Festival, which featured a watersport race between Jakarta Deputy Governor Sandiaga Uno and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti on Sunday, has left piles of trash scattered around the lake. Used food and beverage packaging as well as banners of the festival were seen mostly in the northern and southern part of the area. Public Facility Maintenance Agency (PPSU) officials were busy cleaning up the mess on Monday. "We didnt get a chance to clean up the area right after the festival, a PPSU worker who wished to remain unidentified told tempo.co. Susi outraced Sandiaga at the opening event of the Lake Sunter Festival on Sunday, following the latters promise to clean up the lake so that the two of them could have a race across it. North Jakarta Mayor Husain Murad said littering at Lake Sunter would continue as long as the people visiting the area still had a trash issue. Murad went on to say that he had deployed officers from the North Jakarta Sanitation department to take care of the lakes cleanliness. "Were working on it now," Murad said. The North Jakarta Environment department has set up 41 garbage bins in the lake area. The bins allow to separate trash into three categories, namely wet, dry and toxic. (vla) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 20:05 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c79636f 1 City suicide-bombings,Jl-Thamrin,trial Free The defendant in the Thamrin suicide bombing trial, Aman Abdurrahman, has always maintained that he knew nothing about the case, since he was in prison when the attack took place. The South Jakarta District Court has so far held three hearings and heard witness testimony from four victims of the attack, which took place on Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta on Jan. 14, 2016. In the second hearing, held last Friday, the prosecutor presented one of those victims, police officer Second Insp. Denny Mahieu, and in the third hearing on Tuesday, the prosecutor presented three more victims: civilian John Hansen and two more police officers, Second Insp. Dodi Maryadi and Second Insp. Suhadi. I am not connected to this case. I have been in prison since 2010, Aman said after the hearing. The radical cleric, who is known as a supporter of the terror group Islamic State (IS), is alleged to be the mastermind behind the Thamrin attack, which left three civilians and five alleged bombers dead. At the time of the attack, Aman was still serving a sentence at the Nusa Kambangan prison in Cilacap, Central Java. In the first hearing in the case on Feb.15, prosecutor Anita Dewayani claimed one of Amans followers, Saiful Munthohir, had visited the cleric in prison in November 2015. Saiful allegedly told Aman that a caliphate leader in Syria had ordered him to carry out an attack similar to the one in Paris, which had taken place that same month. Aman, she added, had told Saiful to recruit a field coordinator to execute the plan. (wnd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Riyadh Tue, February 27, 2018 07:38 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c771899 2 World Saudi-Arabia,king-salman Free Saudi King Salman has sacked the military chief of staff and a host of other top commanders, state media said Monday, in a major shake-up of the defence establishment. The monarch also replaced the heads of the ground forces and air defences, as well as senior officials at the interior ministry, in a series of late-night royal decrees. No official reason was given for the sweeping overhaul, but it comes as the Saudi-led coalition's military intervention in Yemen against Iran-aligned Huthi rebels nears the end of its third year. "Termination of the services of General Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, Chief of Staff," the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) said, adding that Fayyad al-Ruwaili had been appointed as his replacement. Al-Bunyan's sacking came after he inaugurated a major exhibition this week by the Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI), the state-owned defence company, which illustrates ongoing efforts to reform the sector. "These Saudi royal decrees appear to be part of the kingdom's national defence strategy," Theodore Karasik, a senior advisor at the consultancy Gulf States Analytics, told AFP. "A military transformation is under way in Saudi Arabia. The changes come on the heels of the SAMI exhibition, which is a critical part of the Prince Mohammed's reform plan to create an indigenous defence program." Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne and the son of the monarch, is the country's defence minister and has been consolidating his grip on power in recent months. The changes come in the midst of an ever-worsening conflict in Yemen. A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government has been fighting the Huthis since 2015 in a conflict that has led to what the United Nations describes as the world's worst humanitarian crisis. More than 9,200 people have been killed in the conflict and another nearly 2,200 Yemenis have died of cholera amid deteriorating sanitation conditions, according to the World Health Organization. Separately, a series of civil appointments were announced in other decrees late Monday. In an unprecedented announcement, a Saudi woman, Tamadar Bint Yousef al-Ramah was appointed the deputy minister of labour and social development. And Prince Turki bin Talal the brother of billionaire Prince Al-Waleed bin Talal, was appointed deputy governor of the southern Assir Province. Prince Al-Waleed, dubbed the Warren Buffett of Saudi Arabia, was among princes, ministers and tycoons detained in Riyadh's luxury Ritz-Carlton hotel in an unprecedented crackdown on what the government called elite corruption. The Ritz-Carlton reopened for business on February 11, more than three months after becoming a gilded prison for Saudi elites. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 18:15 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c7904d8 1 City terrorist-attack,Jl-Thamrin,trial,Aman-Abdurrahman Free A survivor of the January 2016 Thamrin suicide bombing has told a court he still worries whenever he passes through the Central Jakarta area. Thirty-one-year-old John Hansen, who suffered wounds on his left ear in the bombing, testified in a trial against the alleged mastermind of the terrorist attack, Aman Abdurrahman, at the South Jakarta District Court on Tuesday. Yes, I feel anxious [whenever passing the bombing spot], at least until 2017, John said, responding to prosecutor Mayasaris question. He was inside the Starbucks cafe in the Sarinah shopping complex on Jl. MH Thamrin, where a suicide bomber killed eight people, five of whom were identified as the attackers. Some 20 others, both police officers and civilians, were injured. Meanwhile, two officers from the Jakarta Polices traffic directorate, Second Insp. Suhadi and Second Insp. Dodi Maryadi, who had been shot during the attack, said the perpetrators had shot at both civilians and police officers. Suhadi said he had been on patrol in the Thamrin area when he heard the explosion. Not long after that, a person holding a silver gun shot him when he looked back. Amid the chaos, Suhadi did not realize immediately that he had been shot, until someone told him he was bleeding. At that time, I knew I was shot and asked to be taken to the hospital, Suhadi said. Dodi had been at the nearby Menteng Police office during the incident. He decided to go to the location after hearing about the attack on the radio. When Dodi arrived, he saw some victims on the street and he was ordered to evacuate them to the Starbucks. He then drove the police car to the cafe, but a gunman shot at the cars window, and the bullet hit Dodis stomach. As he was not carrying any weapon, Dodi rushed to get help and was delivered to a hospital to have a surgery. (wnd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Tue, February 27, 2018 19:00 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c7928b2 1 City becakayu-toll,accident,suspects Free The East Jakarta Police have named two people suspects in the collapse last week of pier-head formwork on the Bekasi-Cawang-Kampung Melayu (Becakayu) toll road, where construction was taking place. One of the suspects is the chief executive officer of state-owned construction company Waskita Karya while the other is a supervisor for state-owned engineering and management consultancy Virama Karya. East Jakarta Police chief Sr. Comr. Tony Surya Putra said on Tuesday that the investigation revealed that the accident, which occurred near the Kebon Nanas toll gate in East Jakarta on Feb. 20, occurred due to human error. From witness accounts and crime scene investigation results, as well as explanations from construction experts, we named two people suspects, Tony said as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com. Last week, pier head formwork on the Becakayu toll road collapsed, injuring seven workers. Investigation results indicate worker negligence. Due to the negligence, the pier head collapsed and the result was a work accident, Tony said. (wnd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Wed, February 28 2018 Two Yogyakarta-based universities, Gadjah Mada University (UGM) and the Islamic University of Indonesia (UII) are throwing their weight behind a proposal to the government to name education figure Sardjito a national hero. Sardjito, who served as the first rector of UGM and also served as a rector at UII, was known for his major contributions to medical research and education development during the countrys struggle for independence and afterward. UGM, the alma mater of President Joko Jokowi Widodo, puts forward Sardjitos name for the national hero title for the second time after a failed attempt in 2012. His name was among several figures proposed as national heros in 2012, but then-president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono decided only to grant the title to the founding fathers, first president and vice president Soekarno and Mohammad Hatta, who proclaimed... Two Singaporean men pleaded guilty Tuesday to letting out apartments on Airbnb without official permission, the first such case in the city-state under new rules against short-term rentals. Housing is a sensitive issue in rich but land-starved Singapore where more than 80 percent of the population lives in government-subsidised apartments. Singaporeans Terence Tan En Wei, 35, and Yao Song Liang, 34, pleaded guilty in court to four charges of illegally renting out four apartments in a luxury private condominium in central Singapore. Prosecutors said the pair, who were property agents, had listed the apartments on Airbnb, which allows homeowners to share their homes for a fee by marketing them online, and other vacation rental sites. The duo made Sg$19,000 ($14,500) from renting the apartments between May 15 and June 21 last year, prosecutors said. Read also: Airbnb expands offerings with new upscale categories They will be sentenced in April. Deputy public prosecutor Selene Yap called for them to be fined Sg$80,000 each. The pair were charged under regulations introduced last May banning homeowners from leasing property for less than three months without approval from authorities. When the men were first charged, an Airbnb spokesman said rules in the city-state do not reflect how Singaporeans use their homes and travel, and the company hoped to work with local authorities to find a way forward. Airbnb has become a popular and often cheaper alternative to hotels for many travelers. But the company has faced mounting criticism that it worsens housing shortages and squeezes the long-term rental sector, with cities including New York, Miami and Berlin cracking down on the service. In central Paris, rentals are limited to 120 days a year and apartments must be registered with city authorities. A similar limit applies in London. The modest gray brick museum is located on Xingye Road in Shanghai, or Rue Wantz in its French name. The first National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party was held in that location in July 1921 and attended by Chinese founding fathers including Mao Zedong. The Communist Party was born here. The museum is surrounded by capitalist restaurants offering French and Italian cuisine. As Indonesians who had been told by Soehartos government since childhood that communists are Indonesias most dangerous enemy, we initially felt scared to enter the historic site. Security checks were tight but carried out in a relaxed mood. Tens of young Chinese students were waiting in line with us. Our passports were also checked. Read also: China: A trip to remember It was relaxed inside the museum. Young people were listening attentively to their teachers or guides. I could not understand their language, but their body language showed they did not have any special sentiment. It was just like visiting any other museum. Elderly visitors, however, showed a different attitude. They expressed deep respect and even admiration when the history was explained to them. I saw an old man who refused to wave his hand as his daughter requested when she was taking his picture. He stood like a soldier instead. There was a relief sculpture of the partys founding leaders. The role of Mao was very dominant from the very beginning. We needed about a one hour tour to gain a better understanding of the role of chairman Mao in Chinas history. China was very poor under Maos revolution. We were more or less in a poverty situation similar to that faced by North Korea now, said a young woman. She had just finished her studies at a state university in Beijing. People here are very proud of Chinas rising role in the global economy and of the fact that it is just a matter of time before they can replace the United States as the worlds largest economy. My impression is that Chinese young people are no longer very interested to join the party. Apparently, only civil servants or those who work for Chinese state companies are still obliged to become a party member. Those we met during our time in China were not interested in communism as an ideology, such as was the case two decades ago. How about Indonesia? Communism is apparently still very effective in attacking the government or people from different political camps. Is it a real ghost? Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Sydney, Australia Tue, February 27, 2018 08:10 1298 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9c772637 2 News Australia,Education,assault-case Free New students in major Australian universities are subjected to violent hazing rituals, a report said Monday as its authors called for the practice to be criminalized to protect victims against injury or death. The "Red Zone" report by activist group End Rape on Campus focused on orientation week before the start of classes and covered 12 Australian universities. "The rates of hazing and sexual assaults at colleges in Australia are incredibly high," the study's co-author Anna Hush told AFP, adding that some of the rituals dated back decades. "It's a self-perpetuating culture in that the same people that experience hazing or harassment will go on to perpetrate that when they are older students," Hush said. The report's authors recommended the criminalization of hazing rituals "requiring an individual to undergo any act which is likely to cause bodily danger or physical punishment to any student or other person". Read also: Can we end school violence, once and for all? The 162-page report detailed alleged bullying, harassment and assault incidents, including male students masturbating into the shampoo bottles of female residents at a University of Sydney college. Other cases allegedly involved male students consuming live goldfish, and feces smeared on the walls of common areas at University of Sydney colleges. The University of Sydney's Vice Chancellor Michael Spence said late Monday that no one would be able to read the report "without being appalled". "This is deeply concerning, a long-entrenched culture", Spence told ABC radio, adding that the university was working on implementing recommendations made last year by Australia's former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderick. Broderick led an 18-month review into the university's culture following allegations of hazing and has also advised the Australian Federal Police and defence academy on similar issues. The report comes after a national study released in August said more than half of university students in Australia were sexually harassed in 2016 and seven percent sexually assaulted on at least one occasion. Hush said the new survey underlined the need for external scrutiny to tackle abusive behavior at universities. Read also: Australia helps improving education in East Nusa Tenggara The report called for the creation of a national government taskforce to investigate sexual assault and harassment at colleges. "What we've seen in the past two years is increased scrutiny on the colleges due to media reporting and people who have had these experiences speaking out about them", Hush said. "What's changed now is there's significant degree of public pressure on the colleges to take action and for other institutions... to intervene in college activities", she added. Posted Sunday, February 25, 2018 11:00 pm Several local families have joined forces with 30 million Americans and health care advocates around the world for Rare Disease Day on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Rare Disease Day is an annual awareness day dedicated to elevating public understanding of rare diseases and calling attention to the special challenges people face. Several local families are joining together this February to raise awareness for rare diseases in this area. Dalton Tefteller, a senior at Hillsboro High School, is the 18-year-old son of Travis and Angie Tefteller of Hillsboro. He has been diagnosed with Aicardi-Goutieres syndrome, which is a rare genetic disorder characterized by a progressive decline in head growth, weak or stiffened muscles and cognitive and developmental delays that range from moderate to severe. Tefteller is currently participating in a clinical trial in Philadelphia, PA, to treat some of his symptoms. Camden Hendricks, a sixth grader at Hillsboro Junior High School, is the 13-year-old son of Brian and Jennifer Hendricks of Hillsboro. He was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome, which is characterized by mild to moderate intellectual disability or learning problems, unique personality characteristics, distinctive facial features, and heart and blood vessel (cardiovascular) problems. His family and friends participate each year in the Walk for Williams in Belleville, which raises funds for the Williams Syndrome Association. Grace Herschelman is the six-year-old daughter of Kyle and Mary Herschelman of Hillsboro. She is currently battling a rare genetic disorder called INAD (infantile neuroaxonal dystrophy). This disease affects about 50 children worldwide, causing them to unlearn skills like walking and talking. Most children with INAD do not live to see their tenth birthday. Grace and her family continue to raise money for an ongoing research study at Washington University in St. Louis, MO. Camden Burke is the two-year-old son of Jason and Gina Burke of Irving. He has been diagnosed with Cri du Chat syndrome, which is characterized by delays in both physical and cognitive function stemming from a deletion on one arm of the fifth chromosome. For some living with Cri Du Chat, the effects are profound, while for others, it is more mild. To help Camden catch up on some of his skills, he attends a variety of therapies in this area, as well as an alternative therapy in Chicago and Indiana. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), a disease is rare if it affects fewer than 200,000 people. Nearly one in ten Americans live with a rare disease, affecting 30 million people, and nearly half of these patients are children. There are more than 7,000 rare diseases and only approximately 450 FDA-approved medical treatments. Rare Disease Day takes place every year on the last day of February (Feb. 28 or Feb. 29 in a leap year), the rarest date on the calendar, to underscore the nature of rare diseases and what patients face. It was established in Europe in 2008 by EURORDIS, the organization representing rare disease patients in Europe, and is now observed in more than 80 nations. Rare Disease Day is sponsored in the U.S. by the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD), the largest and leading independent, nonprofit organization committed to the identification, treatment, and cure of rare diseases. For more information about Rare Disease Day in the U.S., go to www.rarediseaseday.us. The Lower East Sides new state senator, Brian Kavanagh, is helping to lead a coalition in Albany in support of new gun control laws. Two weeks after the tragedy at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, the lawmakers unveiled a package of 12 bills. The various pieces of legislation championed by New York Legislators for Gun Violence Prevention would strengthen background checks, close loopholes for out-of-state gun permit holders, prevent those convicted of certain domestic violence offenses from buying guns, among other measures. Kavanagh was elected this past November to serve as state senator in the 26th Senate District, including Lower Manhattan and sections of the Brooklyn waterfront. Hes chair of the gun control coalition. Kavanagh is sponsoring three of the bills, including a measure that would establish a new court-issued order of protection barring anyone from acquiring a gun if they are found likely to harm themselves or others. Even if the gun industry lobby and its allies in Washington continue to block federal progress on this issue as they have for so long, said Kavanagh I believe that New York lawmakers can and will step up. The Parkland students are calling for change, and here in New York were answering their call. In 2013, the State legislature enacted the Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement ACT. As the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday, Senate Republicans are likely to oppose new gun control legislation, focusing instead on beefed up school security. Gov. Cuomo has been non-committal on the new proposals. I am part of the Harry Potter generation. I was born the year before the first book was released and by the time the final book was published in 2007, I was 11 years old. I watched every movie as it was released, and when Fantastic Beasts came out in 2016, I went to the midnight showing in town with my friends. All this is to say, that I am a huge Harry Potter fan and JK Rowling has been an idol of mine for many years. However I can't say I've been thrilled with the way that she has retconned details into the Harry Potter canon long after the series has ended. It's all well and good wanting to keep the magic alive, and as a writer, I know that we know far more details about our characters than we reveal on page. However, if you are not willing to live up to your word when it comes down to it, then you have no business adding those details in. This is exactly what has happened with Dumbledore's sexuality. Likely, when Rowling revealed in 2007 that Dumbledore was gay, she never thought anything would come of it. The books were finished, and as it wasn't included in the books, it wouldn't be in the remaining movies, so she didn't need to worry about it. Until now.I can completely understand the outrage on behalf of fans when the news came out from director of the second "Beasts" movie, David Yates, that Dumbledore's sexuality wouldn't be addressed "explicitly" in the film. In a movie that from the title seems to be all about Grindelwald, and that it has been heavily hinted Dumbledore will play a huge role in, it seems completely ridiculous that their relationship will not be front and centre of the movie. The relationship informs every aspect of the character's reactions to each other, why wouldn't you address that? The deep conflict that Dumbledore feels facing his former lover would add a huge layer of complexity to the story, without it, the tale will lose some of its biggest emotional impact. The Potterverse is a huge franchise. It would be a massive deal to see a gay relationship at the centre of one of the world's biggest movie franchises and JK Rowling certainly has the clout to make it happen, being the writer of the screenplays, and you know, the creator of the whole thing! Ignoring Dumbledore's sexuality is not only an act of cowardice on the part of the filmmakers, it also shames the very community that Dumbledore is supposed to be a part of. Harry Potter is supposed to be based on tolerance and acceptance of others and by sweeping Dumbledore's sexuality under the carpet, Rowling is ignoring the entire message of her beloved works. Perhaps the team behind "Beasts" were worried about the potential international backlash of markets such as China and Russia, huge markets who have been known to shun LGBTQ+ movies in the past. However by ignoring Dumbledore's sexuality, Rowling runs the risk of alienating a whole lot more fans. People who once felt welcome in the Harry Potter community will not anymore. Perhaps they were offput by the furore created by the tiny two second "gay moment" in Beauty and The Beast (which let's be honest you could have blinked and missed) and didn't want the same for their movie. Being coy about Dumbledore's sexuality in a movie all about the man he had a relationship with, a relationship that is central to Dumbledore's character and who he became, will not cut it. The fans deserve better and we should demand better. If JK Rowling were a real ally of the LGBTQ+ community she would include Dumbledore's sexuality. If she always imagined him that way, then she should write him that way. Words are completely empty if you never act on them. Quite frankly, her reactions to the criticisms have been less than acceptable, with one being an inflammatory tweet using digital blackface. Sure, the Potter team has three more movies to correct this. But I for one am not holding my breath. It seems that even in 2018, when facing the choice between what is right and what is easy, as Dumbledore himself once said, JK Rowling and her team have gone with what is easy; ignoring Dumbledore's sexuality completely. Hollywood has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years, with 2017 bringing the fall of Harvey Weinstein, the #MeToo and the Times Up movements, which challenged sexism and gendered power dynamics in the industry. Prior to even this however, and continuing today, Hollywood has been called out for its lack of minority representation, and the Academy particularly for being overwhelmingly white. The #OscarsSoWhite movement was started by activist and writer April Reign in 2015, after that years nominations featured no individuals of colour in the acting categories, despite the fact Selma came out that very year. 2016 was unfortunately, and after attention was drawn to the problem, more of the same. The next year finally saw a record number of nominees from diverse backgrounds, with Moonlight receiving eight nominations and winning Best Picture, beating La La Land; A gay, black coming-of-age story won against a film that featured no leading actors of colour. Change was happening. Today, Oscar nominations in the acting categories include Daniel Kaluuya, Denzel Washington, Mary J. Blige and Octavia Spencer, and Guillermo del Toro, Kumail Nanjiani, Jordan Peele, Yance Ford and Dee Rees gained recognition in the original screenplay, director, and other categories. It continues to look like Hollywood is embracing diversity. Many were quick to celebrate the diversity of nominees this year, undoubtedly because comparatively to previous years, it appeared an unprecedented win for minorities. And yes, this inclusion of traditionally marginalised groups into film should be applauded. However, some have gone as far as to ask whether the era of #OscarsSoWhite is over No, it isnt. Women of colour were still shut out of the Lead Actress category, despite nomination suggestions including Salma Hayek for her subtly powerful performance in Beatriz at Dinner, and Hong Chau for her performance in Downsizing. This reflects a broader, more worrying, and historic lack of Latinx and Asian nominations across all major categories, with the only notable exception being Coco for best Animated Feature. In excluding these groups from such a central industry celebration, Hollywood is signalling that despite their being more open to celebrating Black talent, stories, and experiences, they are not yet ready to let other people of colour take their seat at the table. There is still such a long way to go before underrepresented communities achieve a level footing with white individuals in Hollywood, both in front of and behind the camera. Just because progress is made does not mean that equality has been achieved; the Oscars, and the film industry, remain dominated by white males. In 2012, the LA Times had reported that The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the body behind the Academy Awards, was 94 percent white and 77 percent male. This year, its 7000 voters are now made up of 28 percent women and 13 percent people of colour, hinting that the body is taking steps towards rectifying the systematic and institutionalised discrimination that has thus far prevailed. Despite these changes, who remains the dominant demographic? Older white men. Once again, progress is good, but only if it is recognised as just one step of what must become many more. The most significant change weve seen this year is undoubtedly in the sorts of stories that are being told and recognised. The nine nominations for Best Picture include a love story between two men (Call Me by Your Name), a horror satire about racism in America (Get Out), a teen coming-of-age story celebrating female relationships (Ladybird), and one that embodies the female rage of injustice that drove #MeToo (Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri). Even I, Tonya, which is represented in the Lead Actress and Supporting Actress categories, wonderfully depicts a survivor of domestic violence in a manner that successfully evades the perfect victim stereotype, and opts for a nuanced and agency-lending narrative. The kinds of stories we tell are just as important, have just as much an impact in shaping the world, as the people who tell them. The Academy, and Hollywood, must continue to get better at diversifying both. As we celebrate greater inclusion and recognition of traditionally ignored and marginalised groups, let us not forget that a few nominations cannot undo decades of womens, peoples of colours, and other minorities exclusion. And as Reign pointed out, Until we are no longer lauding firsts after a 90 year history, until we can no longer count a traditionally underrepresented communities number of nominations in a particular category on our fingers, #OscarsSoWhite remains relevant. The fight continues. The fight isnt over until pioneering exceptions become the rule. The 90th Academy Awards will take place on March 4th. At the Brit Awards grime artist Stormzy won both best British male and best British album. But it was his acutely insurgent performance at the close of the live BBC broadcast that really got people talking. Amid the usual glitz, glamour and perfect lifestyles portrayed at such events, Stormzy delivered a powerful and passionate verse that built up to a direct challenge to Theresa May: Yo Theresa May, wheres the money for Grenfell? What, you thought we just forgot about Grenfell? You criminals and youve got the cheek to call us savages You should do some jail time, you should pay some damages This is not the first time Stormzy has exploited a media platform to state his position on the Grenfell disaster , which claimed the lives of 71 people in June 2017. At Glastonbury festival last summer he criticised the May governments response to the tragedy, while he also featured on the Grenfell charity single. Grime music provides a means for the younger black generation to deliver first-hand experiences and express their anger toward the disparity of social and political structures. The MCs of grime have developed a strong vocal position and style of their own over the past 15 years. Since the early noughties, the genre has matured into the UKs principal expression of rap culture, but its cultural roots are firmly anchored in the urban sounds of British hip hop pioneers prolific at the turn of the 1990s. Artists such as London Posse, Katch 22, and MC MellO embraced their own accents and vernacular, and developed the first true sounds of UK hip hop coupled with a strong socio-political agenda. These artists drew upon African and African-Caribbean heritage and the context of living in Britain, sonically inspired by reggae sound systems and the power of American hip hop. Tracks including London Posses Live Like the Other Half Do, Katch 22s Final Judgement, and Subtraction by MC MellO carried messages of awareness about ones cultural history and identity, and the blatant racism and police harassment regularly suffered by black British people. This voice of revolutionary UK hip hop may have remained too underground and marginal to permeate mainstream media and have much impact on broader society, but it has had a lasting influence on the grime MCs of today. MCs control their own message Grime is immediate and it is its closeness to its audience that supports the dissemination of the new voices of working-class black culture. An artists output can be delivered, captured and presented within minutes to an almost limitless audience and established artists such as Skepta, Wiley and Fekky draw literally millions of YouTube views and Soundcloud hits. By embracing the speed and impact of social media, music production and everyday sonic technologies, grime MCs take a lead from Afrofuturist thought to frame their position within the socio-political context of present-day Britain. The big grime artists are paving the way for more MCs to convey their own message, often anchored in the veracity of working-class life. The fluid delivery of Octavian , and emerging UK drill stars such as K-Trap and Zone 2, extend much of the vexations expressed by their predecessors, and are also gaining huge hits online. It is here these new voices have subverted the tradition of media representation. Grime extends past the metropolis and MCs in the north such as Afghan Dan epitomise the working-class nature of this genre. During a Noisey YouTube special on Blackpools grime scene , and on the question of broader talent in the city, Afghan Dan replies: Thats survival. Thats what you see there. You know, families are devastated by drugs and drink. Thats what happens. With more than 5m views, the video shows the messages of the marginal can no longer be ignored by mainstream. Through its success as a music and its modes of delivery, the narratives carried by grime artists are bringing the issues directly to a much broader audience. In turn, this is contributing to a seismic shift in public discourse, illustrated by the positive reaction to Stormzys Grenfell comments. Gunn defended Chris Pratt's prayers for Kevin Smith. Source: The Hollywood Reporter Over the weekend, Kevin Smith suffered a massive heart attack, which is no laughing matter. Smith's dozens of fans came out in support of him, with even Chris Pratt offering up his prayers to the director that he pulls through. Kevin we dont know each other too good but I have loved you since Clerks and Im praying my ass off for you cause I believe in the healing power of prayer. Can you please pray with me people!? https://t.co/syB7BiQaoY chris pratt (@prattprattpratt) February 26, 2018 As with most tragedies, people are quick to offer thoughts and prayers, but as the old saying goes, pray in one hand and shit in the other. See which one fills up first. Plus if you don't tell the world you prayed for someone, did it ever really happen? Some took offense to Pratt's offer of prayer for Smith, citing the lack of evidence that prayer saves lives. That's cool and everything but Doctors and nurses save lives not prayer. Retro Bigfoot (@RetroBigfoot) February 26, 2018 Meanwhile, James Gunn came to Pratt's defense. 2 There is nothing wrong with sending someone positive thoughts & prayers. But when this is coupled with inaction when action will benefit the situation, its empty. James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 26, 2018 4 And if youre going to offer prayers to the folks suffering in Puerto Rico, you might consider adding a link for a donation or calling on your representatives to take action, in addition to those prayers. Prayers alone will not change the world. James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 26, 2018 6 Im not tweeting this to defend Chris - hes a big boy and can take care of himself. But for me, personally, prayer and meditation are great boons to my life and help me navigate my way through this world, and I dont want to dissuade others who find those things useful. James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 26, 2018 8 I dont think that means YOU need to pray. I dont. There are many ways to navigate this life. Mine is only one of them. Prayer isnt for everyone but, in the face of helplessness, its often meant as a acknowledgement that one cares (and we all care about @ThatKevinSmith). James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 26, 2018 9 If I am ever sick I will gratefully accept any of your thoughts and prayers. And will not be as grateful for some random fan knocking down my doctor and performing his own brand of kick ass surgery on me. Love to you all. Have a great week. James Gunn (@JamesGunn) February 26, 2018 It's unclear what entity Pratt was praying to, but for Smith's sake, we hope it's the Golgothan. Meanwhile, we can EXXXCLUSIVELY reveal that instead of money, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol 3 will be funded entirely with thoughts and prayers as they're in such great abundance. As an additional bonus, Disney will likely pay even less taxes as they can file as a religious organization. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close : - "" - : - , , . ? : , . , , . . , -, . , . , , . : , ? : , . , , . - . - , , . - , , , - , . -, - . . : ? : . , . - , . - . , , , , . , . , . - . - . , , - . . . : ? : , , , . - . - . , , . , , , , . . , , . . : ? : ? . . , , . . , . , , . Did You Know Our Quarterback Used to be a Golfer? Posted Tuesday, February 27, 2018 4:44 am In votes with veto-proof wide margins, state Legislators made themselves exempt from public records disclosure laws. The legislation, SB 6617, was passed through both the Senate and House in a three-day sprint with no public hearing as an emergency measure following a January court ruling found the Legislature subject to state public disclosure laws. The law takes effect immediately and exempts the state lawmakers from the Public Records Act retroactively, shielding from disclosure information on sexual assault incidents in the Legislature that a group of news organizations had sought and sued for last year. Now members of the state Senate and House can opt not to disclose a variety of documents, such as correspondence with anyone they consider to be their constituents. The bill would allow disclosure of some records, such as communications between lawmakers and registered lobbyists, if created after July 1, 2018. The bill was introduced on Feb. 21 and was rushed to floor vote two days later. It passed the Senate 41-7 with no debate and, shortly after, was approved in the House by 83-14wide margins that preempt a potential veto from Governor Jay Inslee, who does not use executive privilege to shield his correspondence from public disclosure. The fast-tracked legislation follows a January 19 ruling from Thurston County Superior Court Judge Chris Lanese who decreed that the legislature is subject to state public disclosure laws. Last year, the Associated Press, the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association, and other regional news organizations sued the Legislature after it denied their requests for documentation of any sexual assault and harassment complaints filed against all 147 lawmakers. Lawyers for the Legislature promptly appealed the ruling to the state Supreme Court then lawmakers set to work re-writing the public records law. Government transparency advocates and journalists criticized the bill and the breakneck pace that it was pushed into law as a cynical attempt by the elected officials to get around the judges January ruling. I think that both the process and the bill itself are abominations. The process demonstrates the utter contempt that legislators hold for public participation in the legislative process, said Toby Nixon, president of the Washington Coalition for Open Government. The bill has so many things wrong with it. Michele Earl-Hubbard, the attorney representing the news organizations in the ongoing court case, said on Feb. 22 that there will absolutely be litigation if the Legislature passed SB 6617. The state legislature thinks they need something special and that they need to operate in secrecy, she said. Its really despicable what theyre doing. Six members of the public were briefly allowed to testify on the bill during a work session with members of the Senate and House committees concerning state government the day before legislators voted it into law. The testimony was unanimously opposed to the legislation. Youre running the risk of demonstrating to the people that youre setting up an imperial legislature that is not subject to the people, said the publisher of The Olympian and The Tacoma News Tribune, David Zeeck. You dont shove through something this important with that short of a time frame, no public hearing, no committee meetings on it, said Gordon Padget, a Vancouver resident who drove up to Olympia on the morning of Feb. 22 to attend the work session. Do you think the people are going to trust you as state legislators if you enact this? Prior to Fridays floor vote in the Senate, the legislations two primary sponsors, Senate Majority Leader Sharon Nelson, DMaury Island, and Senate Minority Leader Mark Schoesler, RRitzville, framed the legislation as boosting government transparency. This is a step forward in transparency, said Sen. Nelson. Minutes after the bills passage in the Senate, it was transmitted to the House where it was given similar praise by members. Rep. Matt Shea, RSpokane Valley, said the bill is a response to the January court order and that the Legislature is not subject to public disclosure laws because it is not a state agency. We're the ones that have oversight over state agencies. We are a separate branch of government and this bill restores, very clearly, the separation of powers, he said. Other government elected officials, including members of city councils, county commissions and school boards are still subject to public disclosure laws and are not affected by SB 6617. Rep. Mike Pellicciotti, DFederal Way, who was one of the House members who voted against the bill, said after its passage that he was disappointed in the vote. We could do a better job that better meets the expectations of the public related to open government, he said. The vote breakdown by member in both the House and Senate can be found here: http://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=6617&Year=2017 Posted Tuesday, February 27, 2018 7:05 am Last fall the Vancouver City Council was briefed on Oregons value pricing. The stated purpose of value pricing (tolls to us) is to reduce congestion. They were told that 72 percent of Oregon citizens say congestion is a very serious problem. Southwest Washington citizens agree. The Interstate 5 corridor is now congested over 12 hours a day, with 35 bottlenecks in the region. Portland has the 12th worst traffic congestion in the nation. Oregon and Washington each have transportation projects in the Portland Metro area to relieve congestion. Both are two-lane highways. Both are two miles long. Thats where the similarity ends. State Route 14 gets congested every morning as traffic pours onto the highway at the 164th Avenue onramp. Traffic moves a bit faster for a brief time, until just before the Interstate 205 exit. In the evening, its just the opposite as traffic exiting I-205 heading east begins merging with state Route 14. The Legislature and the Washington State Department of Transportation have approved the addition of two lanes, one in each direction, on state Route 14 between 164th Avenue and I-205. The state of Washington will spend $25 million to add one new lane in each direction. Thats four miles of highway lanes being added. Its new vehicle capacity to help reduce congestion. Oregons Rose Quarter interchange is a two-mile, two-lane section of interstate freeway that has the highest accident rate of any section of road in Oregon. Its a safety issue, first and foremost, besides being the primary bottleneck on I-5 in the region. Oregons HB 2017 would spend just over $1 billion on three projects, including $450 million at the Rose Quarter. The Oregonian reported Sept. 2017, The state originally proposed a much larger expansion of the freeway. Whats proposed today represents years of negotiations that curtailed those earlier plans. It will indeed help the operations of the system, but its not designed to be a substantial expansion of the capacity. The core of Oregons proposal are two concrete lids built over I-5. Theres also a Clackamas Bicycle & Pedestrian Overcrossing which an Oregon Department of Transportation spokesman said will cost $30 million to $50 million, up to 11 percent of the total. Neither will relieve traffic congestion. An Oregon Public Broadcasting reporter told me these two pieces, labeled community redevelopment by politicians, will cost half of the $450 million project. What are they proposing on I-5 to reduce traffic congestion? They are closing one on-ramp and relocating another on-ramp. They will build two auxiliary lanes, one in each direction, where vehicles merge on and off the interstate. These auxiliary lanes should reduce rear-end accidents that happen as a result of vehicles not having enough distance to merge. The Oregon Department of Transportation indicates these additions may reduce accidents by 30 percent to 50 percent. They are not adding any new through lanes to I-5 at the Rose Quarter. Kudos to WSDOT $25 million to add vehicle capacity vs. $450 million. Sadly, theres minimal value for Washington drivers in the Oregon Department of Transportatios proposal. We shouldnt pay for Oregons community redevelopment via tolls. Job Title: Project Finance Officer Organization: Oxfam International Duty Station: Uganda About US: Oxfam is a worldwide organisation that employs works in more than 90 countries. We seek to overcome poverty and suffering. Oxfams global strategic goals include contributing to achieving more profound and lasting change in the lives of people living with poverty and injustice. Were creating a worldwide influencing network to unite the power of local organizations, who share a common vision for change. Adequately resourced, local organizations are bestpositioned to influence and actively participate in the fight against the injustice of poverty. Job Summary: The Project Finance Officer will be in charge of the financial aspects in relation to the Building Resilience Education Opportunities in Fragile Crisis Affected Environments project. He/she will be responsible for all financial management aspects of the project. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Keenly checks and appraises the financial aspects of the project on internal and external risks and opportunities to ensure compliance; communicates on the findings with the Project Manager and counterparts and makes proposal on the (method of) financing. Checks and appraises the financial reports and audits of counterparts; communicates on the findings with the Project Manager and counterparts, and where necessary makes proposals for follow-up. Checks and appraises together with the Project Manager the organisational structure, the (financial administrative) capacity and the used management systems of the counterparts. If necessary, makes proposals to counterparts and/or works out ideas for their improvement and strengthening. Actively contributes to the drawing up and implementation of the annual (partner) contract and makes proposals in this regard for approval and spending targets. Monitors periodically the approvals, spending and performance at country level and revises the (financial) planning where necessary. Records this in the management information systems. Regularly monitors the trends in the external environment and contributes to financial management/policy (such as the quality of audits, opportunities for getting advice in the financial area and the quality of financial traffic). Monitors project expenditure and in collaboration with the donor accountant helps in preparation of donor financial reports Prepares the financial management reports in line with the standards of the back-donor(s), including a (first) analysis, and submits them to the project leader for his/her approval. Manages and updates project information in SAP Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The ideal candidate for the Oxfam Project Finance Officer job must hold academic qualifications in Accounting, financial management, commerce, economics or related field (A degree in Finance, Business Administration or Commerce) and professional certification in accounting an added advantage. Three years of relevant professional experience in an NGO setting. Significant knowledge and experience of all core financial management activities, including accounts payable, cash management, budget development, statutory requirements (particularly related to Ugandan standards) and standard accounts Proficiency in numeracy skills and good computer skills (Excel especially, Word) Ability to prioritise work issues to meet deadlines with minimal supervision and adjust to constantly changing situations while maintaining focus on delivery and follow-through Good analytical and conceptual thinking skills with a proven proactive approach to identifying and resolving problems and suggesting improvements that continuously seek to provide a better service to Oxfam. Excellent personal communication skills, in written and verbal English A high level of self-awareness, personal energy, stamina and flexibility. Ability to work creatively, effectively and under own initiative Pays attention to detail Commitment to Oxfams overall aims and policies and experience of promoting womens rights and the interests of marginalized people in all aspects of Oxfams work How to Apply: All suitably qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to send their updated CVs and cover letters ONLY to oxfamuganda-jobs@oxfam.org indicating the position name in the email subject line. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Deadline: 9th March, 2018. Job Title: Protection Associate Organisation: United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Position No.: UNOPS 2 Vacancy Notice: 007/2018 Reports to: Protection Officer Duty Station: Uganda Post Grade: GL6 About UNHCR: The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees was established on December 14, 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly. UNHCRs mandate under the Statute of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees is to lead and co-ordinate action for international protection to refugees; seek permanent solutions for the problems of refugees and safeguard refugee rights and well-being. UNHCR has an additional mandate concerning issues of statelessness, as it is given a designated role under Article 11 of the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness. Job Summary: The Protection Associate monitors protection standards, operational procedures and practices in protection delivery in line with international standards and provides functional protection support to information management and programme staff. The Protection Associate is expected to coordinate quality, timely and effective protection responses to the needs of populations of concern and identify opportunities to mainstream protection methodologies and integrate protection safeguards in operational responses in all sectors. The incumbent contributes to designing a comprehensive protection strategy and liaises externally with authorities and partners on protection doctrine and policy as guided by the supervisor. The incumbent also ensures that persons of concern are involved with the Office in making decisions that affect them, whether in accessing their rights or in identifying appropriate solutions to their problems. To achieve this, the incumbent will need to build and maintain effective interfaces with communities of concern, local authorities and protection and assistance partners. Key Duties and Responsibilities: Keep abreast of political, social, economic and cultural developments that have an impact on the protection environment. Consistently apply International and National Law and applicable UN/UNHCR and IASC policy, standards and codes of conduct. Assist in providing comments on existing and draft legislation related to persons of concern. Provide advice on protection issues to persons of concern; liaise with competent authorities to ensure the issuance of personal and other relevant documentation. Assist in conducting eligibility and status determination for persons of concern. Actively contribute to measures to identify, prevent and reduce statelessness. Significantly contribute to a country-level child protection plan as part of the protection strategy. Contribute to a country-level education plan as part of the protection strategy. Regularly monitor Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all protection/solutions activities. Manage individual protection cases including those on SGBV and child protection. Monitor, and intervene in cases of refoulement, expulsion and other protection incidents. Provide support in identifying durable solutions for the largest possible number of persons of concern through voluntary repatriation, local integration and where appropriate, resettlement. Contribute to the design, implementation and evaluation of protection related AGD based programming with implementing and operational partners. Significantly contribute to effective information management through the provision of disaggregated data on populations of concern and their problems. Actively participate in initiatives to capacitate authorities, relevant institutions and NGOs to strengthen national protection related legislation and procedures. Key Performance Indicators: The protection of populations of concern is met through the application of International and National Law, relevant UN/UNHCR protection standards and IASC principles. Protection activities are guided by the UNHCR country protection strategy. The participation of persons of concern is facilitated through continuous assessment and evaluation using participatory, rights and community based approaches. Protection incidents are immediately identified and reported. Qualifications, Skills and Experience: The ideal candidate for the United Nations UNHCR Protection Associate job placement should have completed secondary school. Additional certificate/training in International Law, Political Science or related field is required. At least six years of related work experience Good computer skills (MS Office, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access). How to Apply: All interested Ugandan nationals who wish to join the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in the aforementioned capacity are encouraged to click on the link below and follow the application instructions after reviewing the job details. Deadline: 2nd March 2018 The aviation industry is expected to immensely benefit from technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, big data and blockchain. For instance, the aviation giant Airbus is constantly working on technologies such as Artificial Intelligence(AI), big data and blockchain to bring out quick solutions. According to Dr Dwarkanath, President, Airbus India, said that over the next 20 years, air traffic will increase by 4.5 per cent a year and the centre of gravity for this growth will be the Asia Pacific region particularly India. According to Dwarkanath the domestic air traffic in India had grown at around 27 per cent over the last three years. Make in India' is at the heart of Airbus India strategy and the company was in the process of setting up its first training centre in Asia in Delhi, remarked Dwarkanath. On the same lines Vinay Dube, CEO of Jet Airways, pointed out that Indian aviation industry, has great growth opportunities and he mentioned that transportation can drive the economy and building airports will play a significant role in this growth story. We need to get better at the use of data and analytics in aviation. There is no dearth of data but a scarcity of analytics capabilities. Over time Indian aviation industry will be up for consolidation. We have seen consolidation in Germany, China. etc. It will be healthy because aviation is a business of scale. Business traffic and high end leisure traffic is going to grow tremendously. We are going to have too many airports and too little airport capacity. Airports in metros already have too little capacity such as in Delhi and Mumbai. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel, but adopt from countries, with a developed aviation sector, to manage the increased demand in this sector, pointed out Dube. He further added that airports have the potential to drive the economy of a city or a state or a country. These aviation experts were speaking on the sidelines of an international conference on Future of Aviation and Aerospace 2018, in Bengaluru. The event was organised by the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB), in collaboration with Toulouse Business School (TBS), France and was targeted at senior aviation and aerospace management professionals. Interestingly, given the immense opportunity that the aviation sector offers in India, IIMB along with TBS is providing a General Management Programme for Aerospace and Aviation Executives (GMAE) for professionals to combine technical skills with managerial acumen to take up leadership roles in this sector. On the sidelines of the event there was a special panel discussion on Startups: Their Role and contribution to Aerospace and Aviation Industry which focused on the fact that the big aviation companies were mentoring startups by giving them real time projects. It was also highlighted that starts up were finding it challenging to identify the right team and stakeholders to take the technology forward, turnaround time and budgets for the technologies in the aviation sector. Financial scandals enveloping Fortis Healthcare could eventually sink Indias second largest hospital chain and put it in the league of infamous defaulters, while promoters Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh say they need time to resolve the crisis. They have not answered why they let the crisis happen, in the first place. They even said they would not leave the country, like many have done recently. They did not say efforts to raise more cash from public sector banks in the last one month failed totally. But no bank was keen to offer cash to the financially-plagued healthcare giant. But the Finance Ministry is clearly not pleased and some vigorous lobbying by the Singh brothers has had no effect on the Ministry which has not assured anything to the brothers, who even addressed a presser in the Indian Capital this week to highlight why they feel the problems plaguing their company are complex in nature and cannot be solved overnight. We wish to say that given the circumstances and immense challenges facing us today, we assure all our stakeholders that we are doing whatever it takes to resolve the issues and will not shy away from current responsibilities, the two said in a statement. But the government, worried that the Fortis issue could add one more to the ever bulging kitty of business gone wrong because of promoters' greed, is not ready to give the Singh brothers any lenient hearing. The Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) is inquiring into cases of alleged siphoning of funds by Fortis Healthcare and Religare Enterprises by the Singh brothers. In an exchange filing, two truckloads of documents have been sought from the duo by the Registrar of Companies for Punjab and Chandigarh by March 3, 2018. The deadline is zooming close and if the RoC does not get the papers, Singhs would not remain the Kings for long. In Mumbai, the National Stock Exchange (NSE) said all existing F&O contracts will expire on March 28, 2018, and no fresh contracts will be available if the firm fails to submit results for quarters ended September and December 2017 by March 1, 2018. Fortis Healthcare has sought time two weeks to declare earnings citing statutory auditors' inability to complete the audit before the stipulated board meeting. They have not explained why the auditors failed to complete the audit, raising speculation of illegal cash transfers to promoters without the notice of the shareholders, Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and NSE. A senior SEBI official said he would not be in a position to comment on the case as the matter was sub-judice. The investors trust, claim those in the know, has been totally eroded because of past actions at Fortis Healthcare, plagued with frequent resignations, restructuring and complaints about the day to day operations at the healthcare group. In what looked to many like a l'affaire Satyam, Fortis Healthcare recently admitted having deployed Rs 473 crore with companies that became promoter owned companies by terming them as secured short-term investments in normal course of treasury operations. Strangely, this is not the first time Fortis has utilised company funds to fund promoters own business interests. Last week, a Bengaluru-based proxy voting advisory firm, InGovern Research Services Private Limited, said the following: The issue of transferring funds to a wholly owned subsidiary which in turn lends to promoter entities, in order to skirt the shareholder approval requirement, seems to be a blatant fraud. Much like the Satyam cash, the cash and cash equivalents on the books of the company seem to be non-existent. The companys subsidiary has conveniently given the loans to related parties without seeking shareholder approval and regulatory filings. SEBI has instituted an investigation and has reached a logical conclusion on the basis of Companies Act and Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements (LODR) Regulations. The statutory auditor has a responsibility to the shareholders and should have reported to the regulator the reason for not signing off on the second quarter (Q2) statements, said InGovern in its report. InGovern said further: If Fortis had made these advances directly to the promoter entities, it would have required minority shareholders approval through a special resolution and there was a high probability that the resolution could have been defeated. However, by routing the advances through Fortis Hospitals Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary, Fortis did not bother seeking shareholders approval and also did not have to even make a public disclosure about the transaction. Although the 2017 annual report of Fortis mentions a related party transaction with the subsidiary, there are no details till today of the ultimate beneficiaries. The link to the subsidiarys financial statements in the companys website throws up the statements of another subsidiary namely Fortis Hospotel Ltd. Finance ministry officials say Fortis said deployed funds in secured short-term investments with promoter entities in normal course of treasury operations. So this should be classified as current loans and advances and reflect on the assets side of the balance sheet. But the consolidated balance sheet of Fortis shows a cash and equivalents amount of Rs 544 crore in 2017 compared to Rs 142 crore in 2016. Asked InGovern: Has the company classified the advances of Rs 473 crore as cash & equivalents? If yes, shouldnt this be considered as a violation of the Indian Accounting Standards? InGovern also drilled the statutory auditors for not reporting the fraud to government as mandated under Section 143(12) of the Companies Act. SEBI (LODR) Regulations require quarterly financial results to be published within 45 days of the quarter ending date. It says, The statutory auditors Deloitte Haskins & Sells have a responsibility to the shareholders and should have reported to the regulator the reason for not signing off on the Q2 statements. The auditors should also have flagged off the entry of advances to promoter entities as cash and equivalents in the consolidated balance sheet of Fortis. On basis of Section 143, isnt it the responsibility of Deloitte to report this fraud to the Central Government? This is not all. Let us see what did Fortis say when it skipped the Q2 and Q3 results, the brothers offered a totally absurd rationale that the board was busy deliberating acquisition of certain Religare Health Trusts assets and stated the results were to be taken up in the Board meeting on February 13, 2018. The meeting was held but the quarterly results was not finalised. Now, an extension has been sought till February 28, 2018. A livid SEBI, no wonder, has pushed in an investigation, seeking Fortis to furnish information by February 26, 2018. No wonder the brothers are panicking. Because in the past, Fortis had transferred company cash to fund promoters personal business. InGovern even compiled a list on similar transactions carried out by Fortis: In 2010, Fortis Mauritius, 100 per cent subsidiary of Fortis acquired 25 per cent in Parkway Holdings Singapore Fortis raised $100 million through FCCBs. In the same month it gave Rs 395 crore loan to Fortis Mauritius In second round, RHC Healthcare submitted bid to increase Fortis Group shareholding in Parkway Holdings RHC Healthcare was 49 per cent owned by Fortis Mauritius and 51 per cent by Fortis Promoters Gradually, the promoters came to own 100 per cent of shareholding in RHC Healthcare RHC Healthcare then underwent name changes twice to finally become Fortis Healthcare International (Fortis International) During 2010-11, Fortis promoters bought 6 overseas assets through Fortis International As per Fortis Healthcare, Fortis International paid $580 million for the acquisition In 2011, Fortis acquired Fortis International for $665 million Here, a question is what happened to the loan of Rs 395 Crore given to Fortis Mauritius? Fortis Internationals annual returns for FY2011 showed a pending loan of $121 million from a related company Was this amount the loan given by Fortis to Fortis Mauritius and then possibly by Fortis Mauritius to RHC Healthcare to fund the second-round bid for shares of Parkway Holdings? If this loan was indeed out of Fortis Healthcares FCCB proceeds of $100 million, it was a clear case of FCCB funds being diverted to fund promoters private businesses Also, Fortis International was paying only 4.4 per cent interest on that loan while Fortis was paying 5 per cent interest on FCCBs Finance ministry officials in Delhi said they are evaluating seriously the InGovern report which said frequent restructuring create confusion and sometimes, are catalyst to destruction of shareholders wealth in any company. A look at the recent history of Fortis will show that its promoters love restructurings and have treated the company like a game of Lego, it added. The company, it is reliably learnt, appointed independent directors as if there is no tomorrow. As a result, noted InGovern, there has been a high turnover of Independent Directors, no one was appointed with any logical explanation. InGovern said the issue of diversion of funds from the company was not limited to Fortis alone. The auditors of promoter groups Religare Enterprises (Religare) have also qualified its Q3 financial statements for similar issues. Statements by the company auditors make it clear that the modus operandi of Religare been the same as of Fortis in the matter of movement of funds to Group companies. Instead of advancing loans themselves, both Religare as well as Fortis have routed the funds through subsidiaries; Fortis through Fortis Hospitals Ltd and Religare through Religare Finvest Ltd. This has helped them avoid seeking shareholder approval. Also, Religare has tried to keep these irregularities under radar by not conducting any impairment study on Religare Finvest Ltd, said InGovern. Arguing it was unfair for InGovern compare Fortis Healthcare with companies like Satyam and UB, Fortis said the report, instead of providing a fair view has instead stated events that have taken place as way back as 2010. The company has and will continue to fully co-operate with all regulatory authorities and continues to furnish all information as required by them, Fortis said in a press note. The Finance Ministry officials are not responding. First, Fortis must comply, only then they will reply. Till then, the brothers will have to live in some heat. Two years after it hit theatres in India, Salman Khan-starrer Bajrangi Bhaijaan will be released all over China on Friday, state media said on Tuesday. The film, which was directed by Kabir Khan and also starred Kareena Kapoor Khan, tells the story of Bajrangi, an ardent devotee of Hindu deity Hanuman, who takes a six-year-old Pakistan girl to her homeland to reunite with her family. "The story shows that love between people can transcend ethnicity, religion and nationality," state run Xinhua news agency quoted Salman as saying. Aamir Khan's Dangal and Secret Superstar became major hits in China after their release in the country recently. Secret Superstar raked in more than 700 million yuan (about USD 110 million) since its release on January 19. "Drawing lessons from Hollywood films and innovation, the Indian film industry has been focusing on disclosing social realities," Ding Yaping, researcher with the Chinese National Academy of Arts told Xinhua. Superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, all of whom worked with veteran actor Sridevi, visited her brother-in-law Anil Kapoor's house last night to offer their condolences on her sudden demise. Sridevi's mortal remains are yet to be brought back home from Dubai, where she died last week. She was 54. As per the Dubai police, the actor died "due to drowning in her hotel apartment's bathtub following loss of consciousness." On Monday, mourners visited Anil Kapoor's bungalow, where Sridevi and her husband Boney Kapoor's daughters, Jhanvi and Khushi, are staying since Sunday. Anil Kapoor is Boney Kapoor's younger brother. Bollywood actor Shruti Haasan with her sister Akshara and mother Sarika at Anil Kapoor's house | Amey Mansabdar A number of fans also waited outside Anil Kapoor's Juhu bungalow as well as Sridevi's Lokhandwala residence, in a hope to catch a last glimpse of their screen idol. Shah Rukh Khan, along with his wife Gauri Khan, paid a visit to Anil Kapoor's residence last night. Incidentally, Sridevi's last on-screen appearance would be Shah Rukh-starrer "Zero", slated to release in December this year. Veteran superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan also visited the Kapoor bungalow to pay their condolences. Actors Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, considered close to the Kapoor family, Arjun Kapoor and his sister Anshula Kapoor, Boney Kapoor's son from an earlier marriage, also paid a visit. Prominent personalities like Anant Ambani, Harshvardhan Kapoor, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, Karisma Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Manish Malhotra, Anupam Kher, Divya Dutta and Satish Kaushik had also visited Anil Kapoor's house. However, there is still no clarity as to when the mortal remains of the Chandni star will arrive in India. Following a spate of rumours that surfaced after the Dubai police claimed Sridevi died of "accidental drowning" and also questions raised by the Indian media over the delay in bringing her body back home, India's ambassador to UAE, Navdeep Suri, tweeted last evening that it was normal for such procedures to take two-three days. "The media interest in untimely demise of Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help. Important to note that: 1. We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job," Suri said. "2. We are in regular contact with the family of Sridevi and other well- wishers. We share their pain. 3. Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes 4. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise. Let's be responsible," he tweeted. The Dubai government on Monday said in a tweet that the police have transferred the case to the "Dubai Public Prosecution" which will carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases. Sridevi was in Dubai for a family wedding and had stayed back after the ceremonies. Her husband had flown back to Mumbai with their younger daughter Khushi, but returned to Dubai to surprise her. The news of her death, first reported around 3 am IST on Sunday, sent shock waves across the country with those who knew her at a loss to explain how the star, who was present at several wedding functions in Dubai last week, could suddenly breathe her last. Her family has not commented beyond their initial statement yesterday to announce the death, and has requested the media not to contact them as they grapple with the tragedy. Meanwhile, the Dubai police on Monday recorded the statement of Boney Kapoor, according to a media report. Kapoor reportedly discovered Sridevi unconscious in the bathtub filled with water. She was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. The Dubai police called in Kapoor on Monday to the Bur Dubai police station and recorded his statement after which he was allowed to go back to his hotel room, sources were quoted as saying by the Gulf News. BJP president Amit Shah on Monday took on Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for his attacks on the prime minister over the PNB scam, saying no other government had acted as promptly and taken stringent action against frauds as the Narendra Modi government. Shah also hit out at the Sidaramaiah government, accusing it of following "'three Ds -- Dhokha (cheating), Dadagiri (intimidation) and dynastic politics". The BJP chief said the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI have taken prompt action in the case. "There has been no government other than Modiji's government, that has taken prompt and most stringent of actions against any frauds committed in the past," Shah told reporters here. His reply came when he was asked about Gandhi's remarks against Modi in the multi-crore PNB fraud case. At public rallies at Vijapura and Bagalkote districts in North Karnataka, Gandhi had been targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on corruption, asking as to why Modi, who had described himself as the country's chowkidar (watchman), was "silent" on the bank fraud allegedly involving jewellers Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi. Shah said, "The ED has already taken action (filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act). Prior to it, the CBI had registered an FIR early this month." The ED had also conducted raids on the properties of Nirav and seized jewellery and some shares besides freezing his bank accounts, Shah said. In his opening remarks, Shah said BJP was certain to form the next government in Karnataka because the Siddaramaiah administration had "failed" on all fronts including checking corruption and by meting out injustice to temples and religious institutions. "Corruption and Siddaramaiah government have become synonymous," he alleged. Moreover, the people of the state were angered over the Siddaramaiah government's "nefarious" intentions of dividing a community by according separate religion status, Shah said. "If the BJP is voted to power, we will repeal the proposal (to give separate religion status to Lingayats)," he said. Lingayats/Veerashaivas form a major and influential community in Karnataka, sections of which are seeking a separate religious tag. The Siddaramaiah government is being accused of trying to divide the community by forming a panel to make a recommendation on the issue to the Centre. "The Siddaramaiah goverment has been cheating the people of the state by not fulfilling its promises. The people of Hyderabad-Karnataka region are saying they have not seen such 'goonda' government and thirdly, are unhappy with the rule of two families in this part of the state," he said. "If anyone wants to see the governance of the Congress, then go to the constituency of Kharge sahab," Shah said. The dynastic politics jibe was apparently a reference to Congress leader in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge from Kalaburagi, whose son Priyank Kharge is a state minister. The BJP chief said he received feedback from party workers that there was too much of backwardness. "There is no such backwardness in any place of Karnataka, but in Kharge sahab's own constituency," he said. Shah said after winning the election, the very first thing that the BJP government would do is to restart the local sugar mills, which are closed at the moment. There are no visible signs of an ISIS presence in Kashmir even as a possibility does exist of the group carrying out a 'lone wolf' kind of attack, Jammu and Kashmir police chief S.P. Vaid said on Tuesday, following the terror group's claim of having killed a policeman on Sunday. Admitting that it was a matter of concern, the director general of police said the terror outfit's claim would be verified. Amaq and Al-Qarar, the propaganda wings of the notorious ISIS, claimed the terror outfit was responsible for the killing of constable Farooq Ahmad in Srinagar and warned that a 'war' had just begun. Ahmad was killed and the assailants decamped with his service rifle. "The ISIS has claimed on its website Al-Qarar that they are here (in Kashmir). This needs to be verified on the ground. It is matter of worry," Vaid told reporters. The police will probe and verify the claim, the DGP said. They have not only claimed the killing of the policeman but have shown the weapon as well, he said. "They had also made a claim in November last year. This needs ground verification. There is an element (of suspicion) in it," Vaid said. The Jammu and Kashmir police chief said that as of now, there was nothing visible on the ground suggesting a major ISIS presence in Kashmir. "Although there are no visible signs on the ground, there could be a lone wolf-type of attack. There is possibility (of its presence)," he said. Vaid said that some may have got influenced by ISIS propaganda on social media like Zakir Musa was attracted to Al Qaeda. In the past also, ISIS has made claims of having a hand in attacks in the valley. ISIS flags have occasionally surfaced in the valley, especially at the funeral of slain terrorists. At the funeral of a militant in mid-November last year, the body was wrapped in an ISIS flag. In the past, security agencies have brushed aside the claims of ISIS presence in the valley. The police have been dismissive of such claims, terming them propaganda. Vaid maintained that as of now, there seemed to be no substantial presence of ISIS on the ground and hoped that it doesn't happen. People of Kashmir will be vigilant enough to not allow it to become another Syria, he added. Amidst political turmoil, Maldives has declined Indian government's offer to join its navy's multilateral exercise, Milan, scheduled for March in the Andaman sea. We invited Maldives, but they declined it. They did not give any reasons but I think it is due to the current situation there, Navy Chief Adm Sunil Lanba said, while speaking on the sidelines of the Indo-Pacific Maritime Dialogue jointly organised by the Indian Navy and the National Maritime Foundation. Maldives has been regular participants of Exercise Milan in its previous editions Milan is a congregation of littoral navies conducted biennially by Indian Navy under the aegis of the Andaman and Nicobar Command. It began in 1995 with participation of four countries. Maldives has been opposition to India's repeated appeal to withdraw the declaration of emergency in the island nation and follow the order of Supreme Court and restore democracy. Despite New Delhi's appeal, Maldives government has even extended the state of emergency citing security concerns. Navy Chief Admiral Lanba, however, dismissed concerns over the presence of Chinese ships near Maldives. He said that China has been conducting anti-piracy patrols in Indian Ocean and that India has been monitoring their movements. They have a standard pattern of operating; there has been no change in it, he said. Milan is scheduled to be held from March 6 to 11. This year, 23 countries have been invited of which 16 have confirmed so far. Speaking on the occasion, Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman insisted on freedom of navigation and that it should be never be challenged, without mentioning Chinese navy's dominated behaviour in the South China sea. Meanwhile, speaking at the dialogue, Chief of Defence Staff of Sri Lanka Navy Admiral R.C. Wijegunaratna talked about rumours on Hambantota port related to Chinese navy's activities, while stating that their leaders had assured India that Sri Lanka would not enter into any military alliances for the security of Hambabtota. It will be done by Sri Lanka's armed forces and navy, he added. I can assure that no action whatsoever will be taken which will jeopardize Indias security concerns, he said. In December last year Chinese companies took over Hambantota port on a long term lease which has raised concerns in Indian establishment. Sridevi had never made a political comment or participated in a prominent national role, in, say, the way late actor Sunil Dutt did. In addition to entertaining troops during the 1962 and 1965 wars, Dutt had marched from Bombay to the Golden Temple in Amritsar to pray for peace in 1987, when militancy in Punjab was at its peak. His daughter, the Congress leader, Priya Dutt, was also part of the march. But Sridevi, perhaps unwittingly, may have played a larger role in bringing peace to Punjab! It was sometime in 1993, when the actor was shooting in Chandigarh. 'Supercop' K.P.S. Gill, then the director general of police, had the charge of ensuring her security. Sridevi was provided accommodation in the Punjab Police's G O Mess, which was also where Gill lived. He hosted a dinner in Sridevi's honour and invited a few of the city's opinion makers, as well as a few reporters with their spouses to the off-the-record event. The next morning, he told Sridevi that there was total peace in Punjab and took her for a walk along the Sukhna Lake to let her see and feel the peace. While she was a big star, he was the legendary police officer, and for the locals, a bigger star. People on their morning walks and those who had heard of it thronged to see the walk that lasted for over 90 minutes, with Gill's armed security men nowhere visible. But every news cameraman in town was there! As they crowded around the duo, Gill told Sridevi that he had seen Chandni over 50 times! The photo of the police chief taking a beautiful leading lady for a walk along the lake made it to the front page of every major daily in English, Hindi and other languages the next morning. Sridevi's visit came at a time when Punjab was coming out of the woods, and many top militant leaders had been gunned down by the police. Gill was telling the world that Punjab was safe for investors and people who had fled and for the country, he was saying that militants had been flushed out and finished. But that one photo of Gill and Sridevi sent out a strong message that Punjab was so peaceful that the police chief had the time to almost openly flirt with a Bollywood star. It was indeed one photo that spoke more than the police chief's thousand words. Much later, reminiscing about the turbulent years, Gill confessed that he had no idea what Chandni was about. The last film he had seen then was Mother India! In recent times, several associates of Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee have earned her wrath by crossing over to the BJP. Now, another aide, Kolkata Mayor Sovan Chatterjee, has angered Banerjee, but not because he's moved closer to the saffron party. Chatterjee has earned Banerjee's ire because of his troubled relationship with his wife, another early TMC member. Last year, Chatterjee, also cabinet minister in charge of fire service, moved a divorce petition against his wife, Ratna, at a court in Kolkata. Chatterjee said in his complaint, I was mentally harassed by her. Her demand was very difficult to fulfil for me. And the demand was increasing day by day. Chatterjee and his wife have been living separately since last year. The mayor left his house for his wife to move to a flat at Alipore, which Ratna alleges belongs to her brother. Banerjee had warned Chatterjee that his domestic problems should not affect his political life given the important positions he holds in the government and party. When Banerjee's warnings were not heeded, she stopped inviting Chatterjee for many important government meetings. Ratna is also a member of Trinamool Congress and both of them were known to Banerjee during their student days. On Sunday, Chatterjee lodged a complaint with Kolkata Police that a close female friend of Ratna tried to get inside his flat forcibly despite there being a strong security presence at the gate of the apartment. And in his complaint, Chatterjee claimed he had tried to draw attention of the police twice about being harassed by his wife. My life would have been at stake had the woman (friend) been able to get inside the flat. I am amazed why police did not respond despite my complaint, Chatterjee reportedly wrote in his complaint. Chatterjee refused to say anything about what is happening in his personal life. Ratna is also keeping silent on the matter. But the war between husband and wife has ruffled feathers inside the party. Banerjee asked the administration to distance itself from what was going on between husband and wife. That perhaps led the mayor to talk about police action, said a TMC leader. However, there are no indications that Chatterjee will move away from the party after his breakup with his wife. Chatterjee had recently said, Without Mamata Banerjee, I am nothing in politics. A five-hour truce called by Russia started on Tuesday in the Syrian rebel-held eastern Ghouta near Damascus with the stated aim of allowing people to escape the area which is being targeted in a fierce offensive by the Moscow-backed government. Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the daily truce from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (0700 GMT to 1200 GMT) and the creation of a humanitarian corridor to let civilians leave the area, where government bombardment has killed hundreds since Feb. 18. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said calm had generally prevailed in the eastern Ghouta since midnight, though four rockets had hit the town of Douma in the morning. The Russian defense ministry said on Monday the measures, decided in agreement with Syrian forces, were intended to help civilians leave and to evacuate the sick and wounded. But the spokesman for Failaq al-Rahman, one of the main rebel groups in the eastern Ghouta, accused Russia of presenting people with the choice of forced displacement or being killed in bombardment and siege, and called this a Russian crime. Eastern Ghouta is the last major stronghold near Damascus for rebels battling to topple President Bashar al-Assad, who has driven insurgents from numerous areas with military backing from Russia and Iran. A UN Security Council resolution passed on Saturday had demanded a 30-day truce across Syria. Fighting has escalated on several fronts in Syria this year. As Assad has pressed the offensive against eastern Ghouta, Turkey has launched an incursion against Kurdish fighters in the northwestern Afrin region. Tensions have also flared between Iran and Israel, which is deeply alarmed by Tehrans expanding influence in Syria. Syrian air defenses shot down an Israeli F-16 earlier this month as it returned from a bombing raid on Iran-backed positions in Syria. The Syrian war, which is approaching its eighth year, has killed hundreds of thousands of people and driven half of the countrys pre-war population of 23 million people from their homes. The US State Departments special representative for North Korea policy, Joseph Yun, plans to retire for personal reasons, amid signs Pyongyang may be willing to talk with Washington. Yun has led the US diplomatic outreach to North Korea since taking his post under former US President Barack Obama in 2016. Yun traveled to North Korea last June to help secure the release of American student Otto Warmbier, whose subsequent death further soured relations between Washington and Pyongyang. US President Donald Trump has charted a more confrontational approach to North Korea and its nuclear weapons program, forcing Yun to often operate under mixed White House messages of impending military strikes as well as diplomatic overtures. Ambassador Joe Yun, a respected member of the Senior Foreign Service, has decided to retire for personal reasons, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said in a statement. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has reluctantly accepted his decision and wished him well, she added. Yun told CNN it was completely my decision to retire at this time. The Womens Lobby in Israel is fuming over comments made by the Chief Rabbi of the IDF, Rabbi Eyal Karim, regarding the drafting of female soldiers. According to a report that appeared in Israel Hayyom, the Chief Rabbi addressed the issue of female combat soldiers during a speech he was making to students in a pre-military academy. Instead of drinking coffee in Dizengoff, they are willing to sacrifice of themselves and protect a border that no terrorist has crossed for the past 2,000 years. The Chief Rabbi also angered womens rights organizations when he referred to brigadier general Ofek Buchris as, A man who had served in the most important of roles and is a true God-fearing person. Buchris had been convicted of committing serious acts of assault after agreeing to a plea bargain. Following the remarks, the womens lobby sent a letter to IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot demanding Karims resignation. In a public statement spokespeople for the Womens Lobby said: The Cheif Rabbi of the IDF made degrading comments regarding the value of the work that female combat soldiers perform in the IDF in front a group of future soldiers. In doing so, he exposed his chauvinistic views, the time form which has long since passed, with regards to the place of women in society at large. There is no place for these comments in the IDF, and no place for them in any government-supported institution. It seems that the Chief Rabbi of the IDF n longer recognizes his place nor his responsibilities to all of the soldiers in the IDF, including the female ones. Based on his previous comments, and the resistance that was provoked by the appointments which he makes, it appears that the ugly truth has once again reared its head: The IDF appoints traditionalist and dangerous men to sensitive positions, whose influence harms the good name of the female soldiers who serve their country proudly. MK Merav Michaeli also called for the IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Eyal Karim to be fired: He said disparaging, humiliating, and offensive things toward women, and encouraged the separation of men and women and turning the army into a religious army, she claims. Speaking with the Srugim dati leumi website, Michaeli added, It encourages the separation of men and women and turns the army into a religious army. Later, it places the responsibility on the chief of staff and the senior command, who are dismissed by Netanyahu, who is selling everything to stay in power. Srugim: Why dismiss the Rabbi Karim? Regarding matters of controversy, he simply stated his opinion, speaking out reasonably. Michaeli does not agree, insisting Rabbi Karim speaks out in a defamatory tone regarding women, and even more, as is the norm for these rabbis, this is their way of preparing students in prepatory programs, speaking out to influence their attitude towards women serving. She adds that she can document Rabbi Karim has prohibited soldiers from ordering food they wish from outside the army (not referring to the kitchen), encourages separation between men and women, encourages turning the IDF into a religious army, he has exploited his authority for sexual assault, promotes inequality in the army not only for women, but also for non-religious soldiers, and promotes preferences and privileges for religious soldiers. In a democratic nation also a Jewish state a person receiving his salary from the state made not speak and do such things. I am calling for his dismissal as I called for the dismissal of other rabbonim who spoke out in a similar fashion. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) La Perla has been bought by the investment house owned by entrepreneur Lars Windhorst La Perla has been bought by the investment house owned by entrepreneur Lars Windhorst as losses at the luxury lingerie retailer continue to mount. Windhorst's firm, Sapinda Holdings, did not disclose how much it paid Italian entrepreneur Silvio Scaglia for La Perla. According to its accounts, La Perla's losses rose by 35 per cent to 103million in 2016. The deal comes after talks between La Perla and Chinese conglomerate Fosun broke down over plans to move manufacturing to China. Sapinda has pledged to keep La Perla's manufacturing in Italy and Portugal. Windhorst, 41, said: 'We are prepared to further invest, to improve the performance of the company and to continue implementing Silvio's vision for La Perla.' La Perla is best known for its lacy and silk underwear, with bras selling for up to 500. More recently it launched womenswear and menswear ranges. DIAMOND BOSS The chief executive of Lucara Diamond Corp, William Lamb, is retiring and will be replaced by co-founder and director Eira Thomas. MINING DEATH Following an accident during the night shift on February 23, Caledonia Mining has announced the death of a worker at its Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe. SALES RECORD Engineering firm Senior has announced a 12 per cent boost in revenue to more than 1billion, an all-time high. But profits fell 13 per cent to 52.2million. OIL LOSS Texas-based oil firm Kosmos Energy made an 87million loss during the final quarter of 2017. But chief executive Andrew Inglis said the firm is stronger than ever. TAKEOVER BOOM Private equity firms are snapping up businesses at the fastest rate since the financial crisis, with 128billion of deals in 2017 nearly double the level a year earlier. FRANKFURT FLOAT Struggling German lender Deutsche Bank is forging ahead with a 1.8billion float of its asset management arm DWS next month on the Frankfurt exchange. BANK BILL The big banks were last year forced to set aside an extra 3billion to compensate victims of payment protection insurance mis-selling, a study by think-tank New City agenda has revealed. FINANCE FIRST Online finance firm Revolut broke even for the first time in December thanks to growing customer numbers, bosses said. TECH BOOST Reforms which help customers share their bank details with tech firms could boost the UK economy by 1billion, according to a study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research and Trustpilot. ACCOUNTS PROBE South Africas accounting watchdog is launching an in-depth inquiry into Deloittes work for scandal-hit retailer Steinhoff. EXPANSION DRIVE Shared office provider Mixer has won an extra 28.6million of funding, which the Israel-based firm will use to help expand in Europe and the US. AIRPORT VOTE The Government has been urged to kick off expansion of Heathrow Airport by scheduling a Parliamentary vote before the summer. The airport said the expansion is vital in establishing key trading routes after Brexit. Provident Financial shares rocketed 70 per cent today after its results were warmly welcomed by investors who clearly feared much worse. The astonishing rally came despite Provident's Vanquis Bank arm being slapped with a 2million fine and ordered to pay 169million in compensation to customers lumbered with its pricey repayment option plan. The Financial Conduct Authority, which dished out the fine, said Vanquis failed to inform customers that the full cost of the product included an interest component 'where there was an end of the month unpaid balance on their credit card.' Provident Financial shares rocketed 70% today after its results were not as bad as feared Vanquis' customers who were charged for using the repayment option plan (ROP) from 1 April 2014 will now get their share of the 168.8million compensation package and will be contacted by Vanquis 'in due course.' Vanquis had already voluntarily agreed to pay back the interest customers were charged on the ROP from June 2003 to 31 March 2014, which is the period before the FCA took over as the UK's financial watchdog. In response to the fine and compensation payout, embattled sub-prime lender Provident has announced a 331million rights issue in a bid to drive up its cash reserves. The rise in the share price was good news for star fund manager Neil Woodford, who had seen his fund's holdings take another beating when Provident shares dived yesterday. In its latest preliminary annual results, Provident said the rights issue will help bolster its bruised balance sheet, cover the cost of the Vanquis settlement and provide a boost amid a predicted 20million hit from an investigation into its car financing arm, Moneybarn, over affordability checks. Provident's rights issue has received support from Invesco Limited and Woodford Investment Management Limited, who hold 48.3 per cent of the companys shares between them. Penalty: Provident Financial's owner, Vanquis Bank, has been slapped with a 2million fine and ordered to pay 168.8million in compensation Malcolm Le May, Provident's chief executive, said: 'When I became group CEO, I stated my key objective was to execute a turnaround of the group. 'Today we have made progress on that objective by agreeing a resolution with the FCA in relation to Vanquis Bank and we now have a clear view on the estimated cost of the FCA investigation of Moneybarn. 'To grow the business and deliver long-term sustainable returns to our shareholders, PFG needs to strengthen its balance sheet. 'Today we have announced a proposed rights issue to raise net proceeds of 300m which the Board believes will allow the group to implement its strategy and restart paying a progressive dividend in 2019.' Share price jump: Provident's share price has jumped 34.76 per cent to 792.40p He added: 'The recovery in Provident home credit is on track with collections performance continuing to improve. In 2018, the group will continue to rebuild trust with our customers, regulators, shareholders and employees.' Provident posted an annual loss of 123million last year, compared to profits of 343.9million in 2016. Stripping out the hit from the Moneybarn saga, Provident's underlying profits were still down 67 per cent to 109.1million. The company suspended its dividend last year, when it first flagged that it would be recording a loss for the year. The slump also came as the group started work on its drive to replace its self-employed door-to-door sales agents with full-time 'customer experience managers.' Neil Wilson, a senior analyst at ETX Capital, said: 'Usually its best to get all the bad news out at once and Provident Financial is now a specialist in this kind of fare. CALL VANQUIS Affected Vanquis customers will be contacted by the company 'in due course.' But, if you would like to speak to Vanquis about your compensation, call 0330 099 3000. 'But actually todays update is not entirely all bad the total FCA misconduct provisions of around 200m are well below the 300m that some touted and the 300m cash call is a lot less than then 500m that was being talked about in the press. 'At least rumours of investor apathy towards a cash call seem to be unfounded not because there is no cash call, but because at the very least the 331m rights issue (net 300m, or about a third of market cap) is fully underwritten. 'Management had to really low-ball their offer here the new shares have been flogged at 315p, which represents a discount of 46% to yesterdays closing price of 588p, or about a tenth of where the shares were before the botched reorganisation was revealed less than a year ago.' Virgin Money has hiked its total dividend for 2017 by 18 per cent to 6p a share after pre-tax profits smashed expectations and hit 273.3million. The 28 per cent profit boost came after customer banking deposits and mortgage balances increased by 10 per cent and 13 per cent respectively, while the lender's total income for the year swelled by 14 per cent to 666million. For its investors, the group recommended a final dividend of 4.1p per share, bringing its total dividend for 2017 to 6p per share. It marks a 17.6 per cent increase on a year earlier. Boost: Virgin Money's annual underlying pre-tax profits increased by 28 per cent to 273.3million Credit card balances increased by 24 per cent to 3billion over the year, with the lion's share of growth coming from customers who already had deposit accounts. The bank's share price is up 5.95 per cent or 15.75p to 280.25p. As Virgin Money continues its quest to prize customers away from the country's bigger banks, like HSBC and Barclays, its annual statutory profits rose by 35 per cent to 262.6million. With the sum on its mortgage books rising to 8.4billion in the last year, the lender now has a 3.3 per cent slice of the mortgage market. In charge: Virgin Money's chief executive Jayne-Anne Gadhia While the bank reported strong results for the year, it's outlook for the year ahead remained cautious. 'Our central planning scenario for the year assumes a continuation of resilient economic conditions and modest economic growth', the bank said. The bank warned that returns this year would be at the lower end of guidance as competition in the lending market grows. Virgin Money, which has 3.34 million customers, pushed into small business banking in January in an attempt to narrow the gap on Britain's biggest lenders. It launched an SME savings account and set its sights on securing 5billion of SME deposits within five years. Commenting on the group's performance, Jayne-Anne Gadhia, Virgin Money's chief executive, said: 'We generated market-beating growth across our core products as we continued to capture high-quality market share in mortgages and credit cards. 'We maintained our uncompromising focus on asset quality and we continued to improve our operating leverage. In doing so, we met or exceeded all of our financial targets for the year. 'We continue to experience robust customer demand and stable customer behaviour in a resilient housing market, and we expect to maintain solid double-digit returns in 2018.' MBABANE Good news is the air for SMEs. JM BUSHA Investment Group (Pty) Ltd, a social enterprise focusing on solution-driven investment management and investment banking, has set an ambitious target to list an investment fund with the Swaziland Stock Exchange (SSX) to provide access to finance to already existing local enterprises to help them achieve their growth agendas. Joseph Busha, the Group Managing Director, said the firm has set its eyes at establishing an entity to be called Swaziland Entrepreneurs Limited (SEL). He said the primary goal of the organisation which would assists businesses across all spheres would be to provide access to finance for Small, Medium Enterprises (SMEs). We have already invested about E240 million towards financing businesses in the country and would love to see other companies grow by providing access to funding, said Busha during the Annual Investment Seminar convened at Happy Valley Hotel yesterday. When probed to state the names of companies that had already benefitted in their SMEs finance programme, Busha said they were bound by bi-lateral agreements with the benefitting firms not to publicly disclose their names without their prior consent. The MD said the company which also deals with long-term insurance, financial risk management solutions and general financial advisory services had set a target to be submitting the application to be listed in SSX by next month. He said they had also set aside E40 million to be disbursed as funding for businesses when they go live on SSX. JM BUSHA, established in July 2000 in South Africa - initially focusing on derivatives trading, structured investment products and quantitative investment research; he said the company had decided to venture into funding small businesses because access to finance remains a key challenge to growth. Busha explained that SEL would be divided into three categories, companies generating revenue above E100 million; E50 to E100 million together with those between E5 million and E50 million. The qualification criterion for the businesses that will get access to the funding will include, but not limited to, annual turnover, operational strategy, profit margins, credit history, corporate governance and overall sustainability of the business. In the same vein, Swaziland Chairman of the Chartered Secretaries of Southern Africa Sandile Mbhamali strongly emphasised on the importance of adhering to standard corporate governance principles to achieve growth. He advised that businesses may have access to finance but if they do not practice good principles of corporate governance they were bound to face serious challenges that could highly threaten profitability. MBABANE Two years after its release it is still trending! The video of the hit song Khulula Ugcobo by Nothando Hlophe has amassed over 2 million views on YouTube. This is the first time ever a Swazi artist has reached that number of views on this digital platform. This is a song that is led by a Swazi in Hlophe, written by a Swazi in Siyabonga Sukz Sukati, and recorded live in Swaziland at Mavuso Trade Centre. It is part of the Women in Praise Live in Swaziland project which went on to get Crown Gospel Awards and SAMA nominations in 2016. The artist is currently signed under Leserato Events Management, and they could not hold back their excitement. We are really excited for Nothando on this milestone she has achieved. This is a great platform to build on for sure as it shows the direction her music is taking. It has already opened so many doors for her in the industry, said Sphiwe Nxumalo who is a Manager at Leserato Events. Nxumalo said with more hard work, dedication, and focus she definitely had a bright future. From the day she won the Women in Praise auditions, she has never looked back and we, as her management team, are proud of her and we look forward to seeing her realising her full potential, she added. Speaking to the artist herself , this is what she had to say, I am really excited about the milestone in the early stages of my career. Being on this platform has really opened many doors for me as a musician and surely has laid strong foundations for my upcoming DVD recording. To the amazing team that keeps pushing boundaries for me to experience new and greater heights, I truly appreciate your efforts. Our efforts will soon be rewarded in a big way.Without all the media houses, I would not be known at all, so I truly appreciate and I am humbled by what you have done and continue to do for me. Hlophe has taken the lead from local afro soul sensation Sands who recorded one million views in 2017. LOBAMBA Colonialism no longer manifests itself in the taking of land for countries but through crushing their cultures. This was said by traditionalist Bongani Sigcokosiyancinca Dlamini when making his submission before the Senate Portfolio Committee of the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Bill yesterday. With the controversial Bill having been passed by the House of Assembly at the end of last year, all hopes rest with Senate to conclude the process so that it would eventually be passed into law. As per the procedure, stakeholders are usually invited to make their submissions and Dlamini was one of those who showed up yesterday. In his submission, he requested Senate to encourage the respect for culture and tradition whenever issues of rights were discussed. He made reference to a popular adage, culture is dynamic which he said he understood clearly but that it had an element of being a sweeping statement. According to Dlamini, it would be dangerous to pass into a law a bill that did not consider the vital importance of Swazi culture. Asingatikhandzi sesemuka nemfula solo sitsi culture is dynamic, he said in vernacular. He began his submission by touching on the clause that talks about unlawful stalking and said he wished that it would be defined clearly. He explained that in his understanding, it would be dangerous for the country to treat the courting of a woman by a man as stalking. Kusoma umuntfu lomsikati kulilungelo lakhe. Uma singasasomi sesemuka loyo muntfu lomsikati lelilungelo lekutsi agcine atfole indvodza, he said which means, It is the right of a woman to be courted by a man. If we no longer allow it then we are depriving the woman the chance to eventually get a man to marry her. Being the traditionalist that he is, Dlamini spent some time sharing his knowledge on how the whole process of courting a woman goes until the time when she becomes a wife to that particular man. On the clause that talks about incest, Dlamini submitted that such did not exist in Swaziland and said there was no law that allowed it. He made examples of different countries which he said were known to allow marriages between related people and said Swazis were clear that it was not the right way to go. Like a teacher in class, Dlamini also took his time to explain in detail the topic of a traditional wedding (kuteka) and said he was doing it so that people would be able to understand the term abduction which was in the bill. After concluding his submission, Dlamini addressed questions that were posed by the senators who wanted clarity on certain issues that he had touched on. LOBAMBA Are Members of Parliament (MPs) gripped by fear now? This question arose during the first sitting of the House of Assembly which took place yesterday. The sitting was focused mainly on thanking His Majesty King Mswati III for his presence during the official opening of Parliament, where he delivered the Speech from The Throne. Deputy Prime Minister Paul Dlamini moved a motion calling for the House to select a committee that would go and thank His Majesty for the speech. When the turn for the MPs to make their submissions came, Matsanjeni North MP Phila Buthelezi was the first to speak and instead of focusing on the speech, he requested the speaker to give them assurance that they were safe when making submissions in the House. I had thought that since we have just returned and the speaker is welcoming us, he would at least start by giving us assurance that we are safe here. I say this because we have heard stories lately which have made us worry. As I am standing here, I am not sure, Buthelezi said. Even though he did not mention any incident, it is a known fact that currently there is tension in Parliament following an issue involving the Prime Minister, Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, and Nkwene MP Sikumbuzo Dlamini. The latter irked the PM during a sitting at the end of last year, where he made accusations about the head of government. This led to the PM retaliating against the MP. The issue became serious recently when it was reported that the PM had taken it to his lawyers, who have since written a letter to the MP to repeat all that he said outside Parliament this time. Buthelezi was still emphasising his point, stating that he found it proper that the speaker assured them that they should not be deterred by ongoing issues when he was stopped dead on his tracks. The speaker first asked the MP if he would talk about the topic on the Order Paper or he had moved to something else. He then assured the MPs that all of them were safe so long as they were inside the chambers. You are all protected in this House, unless of course you go and talk issues outside, said the speaker. As the MPs continued to make their submissions, it became clear that they were worried about the state of teamwork in the House, as they emphasised that it was needed as the perfect way to ensure the success of all government plans. Capsules processed in Swaziland using Swazi dagga but branded in South Africa. MBABANE Hidden in one of Swazilands thick forests, this publication has uncovered two factories that manufacture dagga products, including cancer medication. Medicinal products being processed in the country from readily available dagga are finding their way to European markets but yet Swaziland is not benefitting. It has been argued that dagga is the one source of income that can generate the much needed revenue for the country, however, since it remains illegal to possess, sell, transport and cultivate, Swaziland is losing out in generating billions of Emalangeni. This publication has uncovered that the two Swaziland-based establishments are processing the dagga to extract the much-needed oils. The oils are used to manufacture drugs and creams which can be used to treat various forms of cancer including that of the cervix known as cervical cancer. Cervical cancer kills most women among all the cancers in the country. Through an investigation, reporters from this publication met with *Miles who is one of the producers of the drugs. His identity will not be revealed because the possession of dagga is currently illegal in Swaziland under the Pharmacy Act as well as Opium and Habit Forming Drugs Act. The location of the processing centres will also not be revealed as it is illegal. In fact, their locations are so secret that even some nearby residents have no idea what exactly gets processed there. The process begins with growers delivering the dagga, including some leaves also known as the trim. Several people queue to deliver the dagga depending on the quantity required but no one is allowed to go into the processing centre for security reasons. This also gives some of the residents an opportunity to earn as much as E200 or more per day. The process continues whereby a mixture of the dagga, as well as other substances and ethanol, are treated in a process similar to boiling. This is then distilled to extract the much-needed oil. Locally grown dagga, also known as the real Swazi Gold, is preferred due to its high TCH (Tetraydrocabinol) content. THC is also the compound which gives dagga its feel good effect for smokers or recreational users. This compound is crucial in producing the oils as the more the THC, the higher the yield of the oil. Health Minister Eric Hoskins resignsAntonella ArtusoMore from Antonella ArtusoPublished:February 26, 2018Updated:February 26, 2018 4:40 PM ESTDr. Eric HoskinsThe doctor is out.Health Minister Eric Hoskins announced Monday that he is resigning, effective immediately.I am announcing my resignation as Minister of Health and Long-Term Care of Ontario and Member of Provincial Parliament for St. Pauls, he said in a statement. It has been a profound privilege to represent the residents of St. Pauls, a diverse and vibrant community in the heart of Toronto. I have tried my best to serve them well these past eight years.Hoskins is one of several high-profile Ontario Liberal cabinet ministers including Deb Matthews and Brad Duguid to step down prior to Junes election.In his statement, Hoskins thanked Premier Kathleen Wynne for her trust in him and the opportunities she offered.In leaving Queens Park, I am determined to continue building better health care for all Canadians. That path and journey will become clearer in the days ahead, he said.The MPP first came to office in a byelection in 2009 and was re-elected two more times.Hoskins backed Wynne in the 2013 Ontario Liberal leadership race.The family doctor, along with his wife, Dr. Samantha Nutt, founded War Child Canada to help children in war-torn regions of the world.Wynne said in a statement that she was grateful for Hoskins work improving the provinces health-care system.Eric has always been one of the most vocal advocates for our universal health-care system and has played an active role in lowering surgical wait times across Ontario, increasing access to primary-care providers, including family doctors, expanding the availability of services for people with mental illnesses and building new hospitals in communities across the province, she said.He has also been instrumental in making sure Ontario is leading the effort to expand our system with historic initiatives like OHIP+, which has made prescription drugs free for everyone under the age of 25.MPP Helena Jaczek, also a medical doctor, will assume the role of Minister of Health and Long Term Care, she said.Michael Coteau, meanwhile, will take on the position of Minister of Community and Social Services in addition to his current role as Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Anti-Racism, Wynne said. MARIN: Misconduct in Ontario AG's office demands scrutinyAndre MarinPublished:February 24, 2018Updated:February 24, 2018 2:06 PM ESTYasir Naqvi, Attorney General of Ontario, talks at the Somerset West Community Health Centre, November 08, 2017. Photo by Jean Levac ORG XMIT: 127910Jean Levac / Postmedia NewsWhile the Progressive Conservatives appear stuck in endless mayhem, Premier Kathleen Wynnes government has been laying low and presumably enjoying the spectacle despite the PCs soaring even higher in the polls.But a recently leaked third-party report of dysfunctionality in Yasir Naqvis Ministry of the Attorney General is a good reminder of the rotting turmoil in Wynnes government.Naqvis carefully nurtured and cultivated public image is one of selfless devotion to the public interest. All of which is rounded out by ear-to-ear smiles and endless Naqvi photo ops. Hes the kind of politician whod call a press conference for opening an envelope.Youd think given his lust for media coverage, hed be out there bravely facing the reports findings. Not a chance. The reports been kept secret and Naqvis issued a platitudinous boiler plate statement that Everyone has a right to feel safe and respected in their workplaceall employees are respected.He was last seen hiding under his desk.According to a report concluded in the summer of 2017 called Turning the Ship Around, Naqvis ministry is a bloody mess. It doesnt surprise me that the AGs office is in such a disarray. Over the last few years, Ive had many Crowns approach me about how bad things had become. Some grin and bear it. Others have taken early retirement.Although staff from across the province have been mistreated, ground zero is the AGs headquarter at 720 Bay Street where Naqvi has his office on the 13th floor.The 115-page report was written by lawyer and former bureaucrat Leslie Macleod after she interviewed 250 lawyers and administrative staff. It contains a litany of acts of misconduct (see sidebar).She writes: The descriptions of inappropriate conduct that I heard through consultations were alarming and the fact that it continued unabated for so long makes it doubly so.To me the most damning allegation is that government lawyers are at times forced to redact their own opinions by senior managers on whether or not to charge individuals or companies to protect the special interests of other provincial bodies. That, in itself, could constitute an obstruction of justice. Instead of keeping the report top secret and threatening leakers that they would be fired, Naqvi should have called in the OPP to investigate.And what about the top bureaucrats who were at the helm at the time? Didnt they see fit to intervene? Au contraire, Macleod concludes. They were part of the problem. Both attorney general senior management and deputies at other ministries knew that the situation was a festering sore but allowed it to persist.Former deputy attorney general Patrick Monahan flew the coop to become a judge last summer just as the report was concluded.Whats happened since then to rectify the problems identified? Apparently not much.The role of the AG has traditionally been viewed by the courts as one above other ministers.Naqvi should read his own website and learn more about his job. It correctly states: The Attorney General is the chief law officer of the Executive Council. The responsibilities stemming from this role are unlike those of any other Cabinet member. The role has been referred to as judicial-like and as the guardian of the public interest.Naqvi should get from under his desk and fix his ministry.**********Among the reports findings:A senior government official was described as a classic bully drunk on her own powerMany employees work in an atmosphere of constant fear and retribution and a culture of silence prevailsNaqvis ministry has a deeply embedded dysfunctional cultureAllegations made during the consultations included various forms of belittling, gossip-mongering, bullying and a tendency to unduly to unduly punish employeesDeputy ministers (at other ministries) knew that the situation was a festering sore Karix.io Comes to Market By Maurice Nagle - Web Editor This week, Barcelona is playing host to one of technologys largest annual events, Mobile World Congress (MWC). This gathering of industry thought leaders and innovators offers those in the space what to expect well into the future. And, its no surprise to see cloud communications taking top billing. Today, Karix Mobile announced the arrival of karix.io, its CPaaS (Communications Platform as a Service) solution. The newly unveiled offering will begin market presence with offering programmable SMS APIs to deliver developers a new tool for the sandbox. Commenting on the launch, CEO of Karix, Jay Sheth said, With the rapid proliferation of mobile application and web-based services, customers are no longer restricted to nearby geographies but expand across cities and countries. To service and communicate with a global customer base, businesses have a growing need for reliable and scalable communications partners. Karix.io is equipped to offer outbound and inbound SMS APIs with the launch, and in the coming months roll out voice and video services, as well. In leveraging APIs, developers will be able to craft customizable solutions to meet the communication needs of the modern SMB or enterprise. Deepak Goyal, COO at Karix said, With karix.io, we will cater to a global clientele. We have made significant investments in the latest cloud technologies to make this platform enterprise-grade, secure, scalable and ensuring 99.995% availability. We have arrangements with over 800+ operators across the globe to ensure that there is enough redundancy built into the network. Mobile World Congress is just getting underway, and this Mumbai-based company is but one of the many cloud communications companies set to make a stir this week from Barcelona. Are your business communications in the cloud? Please enable JavaScript to view the Edited by Mandi Nowitz [February 27, 2018] Basilea reports significantly improved financial results in 2017 54% increase in total revenue, amounting to CHF 101.5 million Operating loss reduced by 68% to CHF 14.1 million Cash position as of year-end 2017 increased to CHF 310.7 million License and distribution agreements in 2017 for Cresemba and Zevtera cover more than 100 countries with CHF 80 million in upfront payments and up to USD 1.1 billion potential milestone payments Basel, Switzerland, February 27, 2018 - Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN) announced today its financial results for the financial year 2017 with total revenue increased to CHF 101.5 million (2016: CHF 66.0 million; +54% year-on-year), including product sales from Cresemba (isavuconazole) and Zevtera (ceftobiprole) of CHF 16.3 million (2016: CHF 7.1 million; +130%) and royalties on U.S. and European Cresemba sales by Basilea's license partners of CHF 15.0 million (2016: CHF 7.3 million; +105%). Basilea reported CHF 310.7 million (year-end 2016: CHF 289.0 million; +7.5%) in cash and investments as of December 31, 2017 and a significantly reduced operating loss of CHF 14.1 million (2016: CHF 43.9 million; -68%). Chief Executive Officer Ronald Scott said: "2017 marked a successful year in the implementation of our strategy to maximize the value of our commercial-stage drugs Cresemba and Zevtera through partnerships. At the same time our revenue from sales, royalties and revenue recognition increased to over CHF 100 million while our operating loss reduced by 68% to approximately CHF 14 million bringing Basilea closer to profitability. We received approximately CHF 80 million in upfront payments from our new partners in 2017. Our license and distribution agreements now cover more than 100 countries worldwide. In addition, potential regulatory and sales milestone payments under our licensing agreements amount up to USD 1.1 billion." Anti-infectives: New partnerships create the basis for accelerated commercial success During 2017, Basilea entered into major partnerships for its two marketed anti-infective drugs, the antifungal Cresemba (isavuconazole) and the antibiotic Zevtera (ceftobiprole). In June, Basilea announced a license agreement with Pfizer for Cresemba for more than 40 countries in Europe (excluding the Nordics) plus Russia, Turkey and Israel. The transaction completed in July, providing Basilea an upfront payment of CHF 70 million. This agreement was then extended to cover China and sixteen countries in the Asia Pacific region. Basilea receives mid-teen royalties on sales by Pfizer in these territories and is eligible for up to USD 650 million in regulatory and sales milestone payments. Following the partnering of Cresemba with Pfizer, Basilea entered into a distribution agreement with Cardiome Pharma Corp. for Zevtera for Europe (excluding the Nordics) and Israel. Basilea also entered into a distribution agreement with Avir Pharma Inc. for isavuconazole and ceftobiprole for Canada in June and a license agreement with Shenzhen China Resources Gosun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for ceftobiprole for China in September. Further distribution partnerships for both Cresemba and Zevtera are in place for Latin America with Grupo Biotoscana S.L., the Nordics with Unimedic Pharma AB and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with Hikma Pharmaceuticals LLC. Cresemba sales by our partner Astellas Pharma Inc. showed continued strong growth in the second full year on the U.S. market. Astellas reported sales of USD 77 million for the calendar year 2017, which is a 67% increase year-on-year. The strong sales performance in the U.S. triggered a first sales milestone payment to Basilea of CHF 5 million in 2017. In 2017, Pfizer launched Cresemba in Spain, and Unimedic launched Cresemba and Zevtera in the Nordics. Overall, Basilea expects product sales to grow significantly over the coming years based on both the growing demand in existing markets and contributions from new markets as the drugs gain regulatory approvals and are launched in additional countries. In Japan, license partner Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation is conducting an abbreviated clinical development program for isavuconazole to support a potential registration. Asahi Kasei Pharma successfully completed a phase 1 study in healthy volunteers and intends to start a phase 3 clinical study in the first half of 2018. Working towards accessing the U.S. antibiotics market with increased BARDA funding for the development of ceftobiprole The U.S. market is an estimated 70% of the global market for branded hospital antibiotics based on value1 and therefore plays an important role in Basilea's strategy for ceftobiprole. In 2017 Basilea agreed on Special Protocol Assessments (SPAs) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for two cross-supportive clinical phase 3 studies to support a potential regulatory filing in the U.S.: one in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and a second in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). In 2017, ceftobiprole also received Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation from the FDA for the treatment of SAB, adding to its QIDP designation for ABSSSI and community-acquired pneumonia. QIDP status extends the market exclusivity in the U.S. to ten years after approval. Following the agreement of the SPAs with the FDA, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) allocated a second tranche of USD 58 million in June 2017 to support Basilea's clinical phase 3 program under BARDA's existing contract with Basilea.2 BARDA allocated a first tranche of approximately USD 20 million in 2016. The total value of the BARDA contract could reach approximately USD 108 million if pre-defined milestones are met. In 2017, Basilea received reimbursements from BARDA of CHF 10.5 million. The ABSSSI study has started and Basilea anticipates commencing patient enrollment in the SAB study by mid-2018. Expanding clinical testing of tumor checkpoint controller BAL101553 into brain cancer Significant progress has also been achieved in the clinical-stage oncology projects. Basilea entered into a clinical study collaboration with the Adult Brain Tumor Consortium (ABTC), which is funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute. A phase 1 study with tumor checkpoint controller BAL101553 in combination with radiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who have a reduced sensitivity to standard chemotherapy was started at the end of 2017. In addition, Basilea is also exploring BAL101553 as once-daily oral administration in patients with recurrent or progressive glioblastoma in a separate arm of the ongoing phase 1/2a study. Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of primary malignant brain tumor and is an area of high medical need where very few treatment options are currently available. In 2017, Basilea completed the phase 1 dose-escalation and established the clinical dose ranges for BAL101553 in two clinical phase 1/2a studies in patients with advanced solid tumors with daily oral administration and weekly 48-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion, respectively. Basilea plans to initiate a phase 2a expansion with weekly 48-hour i.v. infusion in patients with recurrent glioblastoma and ovarian cancer. BAL3833: potential first-in-class cancer therapy in phase 1 clinical testing The oral dosage form of BAL3833 is currently being investigated by Basilea's partner and licensor of the drug candidate, the Institute of Cancer Research, in a clinical phase 1 dose-escalation study in patients with solid tumors including metastatic melanoma. The study is being sponsored by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. BAL3833 blocks BRAF and CRAF and also inhibits the SRC kinase family, which play an important role in the transmission of cell growth and proliferation signals. If deregulated, they are associated with tumor growth and the development of resistance to current therapies. BAL3833 is to Basilea's knowledge the only panRAF/SRC kinase inhibitor in clinical testing. Focus on growing revenue and expanding pipeline CEO Ronald Scott stated: "We are focused on further growing revenue from our marketed drugs Cresemba and Zevtera. We expect our partners to launch in additional countries in Europe and other parts of the world in 2018, driving sustainable top-line growth. We are expanding our clinical programs in oncology and we have initiated patient recruitment in our ceftobiprole phase 3 program with the goal to enter the U.S. market upon regulatory approval. We are actively exploring opportunities to further strengthen our pipeline in our focus areas of anti-infectives and oncology through internal and external innovation." Key figures (In CHF million, except per share data) 2017 2016 Product revenue 16.3 7.1 Contract revenue 74.0 57.7 Revenue from R&D services 0.3 0.2 Other revenue 10.8 0.9 Total revenue 101.5 66.0 Costs of products sold (9.0) (5.3) Research & development expenses, net (53.5) (48.4) Selling, general & administration expenses (53.1) (56.1) Total cost and operating expenses (115.7) (109.9) Operating loss (14.1) (43.9) Net loss (19.4) (51.3) Net cash provided by/ (used for) operating activities 19.0 (75.0) Basic and diluted loss per share, in CHF (1.79) (5.07) (In CHF million) Dec 31, 2017 Dec. 31, 2016 Cash and financial investments 310.7 289.0 Notes: Consolidated figures in conformity with U.S. GAAP; rounding was consistently applied. The consolidated financial statements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. for the financial year 2017 can be found on the Company's website at http://annualreport.basilea.com. Financial summary In 2017, Basilea substantially increased its revenues and significantly improved its financial results. Full-year 2017 total revenue increased by 54% to CHF 101.5 million (2016: CHF 66.0 million) driven by product revenue of CHF 16.3 million (2016: CHF 7.1 million), contract revenue of CHF 74.0 million (2016: CHF 57.7 million), including CHF 37.7 million (2016: CHF 37.7 million) related to the global agreement for Toctino and CHF 31.9 million (2016: CHF 19.3 million) related to the license agreements with Astellas and Pfizer for isavuconazole, and other revenue of CHF 10.8 million (2016: CHF 0.9 million), including CHF 10.5 million BARDA reimbursements (2016: CHF 0.7 million). Research and development expenses amounted to CHF 53.5 million (2016: CHF 48.4 million), representing the Company's investment in the U.S. phase 3 program for the antibiotic ceftobiprole (before BARDA reimbursements), the phase 1/2a development of oncology drug candidate BAL101553, the phase 1 clinical development of oncology drug candidate BAL3833, activities for the pediatric program for ceftobiprole, and activities related to isavuconazole as well as other compounds in the Company's research portfolio. Selling, general and administration expenses amounted to CHF 53.1 million (2016: CHF 56.1 million), and mainly include costs related to the commercialization of Cresemba and Zevtera in major European markets. The license agreement with Pfizer and the distribution agreement with Cardiome executed in 2017 mainly drive the decrease in expenses by CHF 3.0 million as compared to 2016. The significant increase in revenues in 2017 resulted in a substantial decrease in operating loss by 68% to CHF 14.1 million from CHF 43.9 million in 2016. Net loss in 2017 was reduced to CHF 19.4 million (2016: CHF 51.3 million), resulting in a lower basic and diluted loss per share of CHF 1.79 (2016: CHF 5.07). Operating activities in 2017 generated net cash of CHF 19.0 million as compared to a cash consumption of CHF 75.0 million in 2016. Combined cash and investments amounted to CHF 310.7 million as of December 31, 2017, compared to CHF 289.0 million as of December 31, 2016. This improvement in comparison to 2016 is mainly due to upfront and milestone payments received in the amount of CHF 86 million from licensing and distribution partners as well as higher revenue from product sales and royalties. 2018 Outlook In 2018 Basilea will focus on: Growing revenues from Cresemba and Zevtera together with its partners including increasing contributions from markets outside of Europe and the U.S. Initiating ceftobiprole phase 3 study in bacteremia under BARDA contract Expand clinical programs in oncology Strengthen anti-infectives and oncology pipeline through internal and external innovation Reflecting these key priorities, Basilea anticipates total revenue of approximately CHF 105-115 million with contributions from Cresemba and Zevtera increasing to approximately CHF 60-65 million. The operating loss in 2018 is estimated at approximately CHF 10-20 million. Portfolio Cresemba (isavuconazole) - an i.v. and oral azole antifungal addressing the urgent medical need for new options to treat invasive mold infections Isavuconazole is commercialized under the trade name Cresemba. Basilea has entered into license and distribution agreements for isavuconazole covering the U.S., Europe, China, Japan, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Canada, Russia, Turkey and Israel. To date isavuconazole has been granted market authorizations for the treatment of the mold infections invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis in the U.S., 28 European Union member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.3, 4, 5 Isavuconazole has orphan drug designation for the approved indications in Europe and the U.S. and was designated a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) by the U.S. FDA under the Generating Antibiotics Incentives Now (GAIN) Act. Outside European countries and the U.S., isavuconazole is currently not approved for commercial use. Zevtera (ceftobiprole) - a cephalosporin antibiotic for i.v. administration, for the treatment of severe bacterial infections in the hospital Ceftobiprole is commercialized under the trade name Zevtera in major European countries.6 It has demonstrated rapid bactericidal activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including methicillin-susceptible and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA) and susceptible Pseudomonas spp.7 Ceftobiprole is currently approved for sale in major European countries and several non-European countries for the treatment of adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), excluding ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).7 Basilea has entered into license and distribution agreements for the drug covering Europe, Latin America, China, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Canada and Israel. Ceftobiprole has QIDP status for the potential treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI), Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) and CAP. Ceftobiprole is not approved for commercial sale in the U.S. BAL101553 - a small-molecule tumor checkpoint controller in phase 1/2a clinical testing in patients with advanced solid tumors including recurrent or progressive glioblastoma The drug candidate BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862)8 is being developed as a potential therapy for diverse cancers. The molecule binds the colchicine site of tubulin with distinct effects on microtubule organization,9 resulting in the activation of the "spindle assembly checkpoint" which promotes tumor cell death.10 It demonstrated in-vitro and in-vivo activity in diverse treatment-resistant cancer models, including tumors refractory to conventional approved therapeutics and radiotherapy.11, 12, 13 BAL101553 efficiently distributes to the brain, with anticancer activity in glioblastoma models.14, 15, 16 BAL3833 - a potential first-in-class cancer therapy (panRAF/SRC kinase inhibitor) in phase 1 clinical testing, which targets tumor growth and therapeutic resistance across diverse tumor types including melanoma BAL3833 (also known as CCT3833) is an orally available small-molecule drug candidate which interferes with the transmission of growth and proliferation signal cascades through so-called kinases. If deregulated, these signaling pathways may lead to uncontrolled growth, i.e. cancer, and also to the development of resistance to current therapies. BAL3833 is called a panRAF kinase inhibitor because it not only blocks the BRAF and CRAF kinases but also inhibits the SRC kinase family. In particular, melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer, is often linked to a mutated BRAF kinase. BAL3833 demonstrated activity in preclinical studies in a range of patient-derived melanoma models with intrinsic or acquired resistance to selective BRAF inhibitors, as well as in tumor models derived from colorectal, pancreatic and lung cancers associated with genetic changes resulting in activation of the RAF pathway.17 The compound originates from The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London, where it was developed by scientists funded by Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust. Conference call Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. invites you to participate in a conference call on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, 4 p.m. (CET), during which the Company will discuss today's press release. Dial-in numbers are: +41 (0) 58 310 5000 (Europe and RoW) +1 (1) 866 291 4166 (USA) +44 (0) 207 107 0613 (U.K.) A playback will be available 1 hour after the conference call until Thursday, March 1, 2018, 6 p.m. (CET). Participants requesting a digital playback may dial +41 (0) 91 612 4330 (Europe and RoW) +1 (1) 866 416 2558 (USA) +44 (0) 207 108 6233 (U.K.) and will be asked to enter the ID 18917 followed by the # sign. Note to shareholders The shareholders of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. are informed that the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. for the business year 2017 will take place on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 2 p.m. at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Basel, Switzerland. The invitation will be published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (Schweizerisches Handelsamtsblatt, SHAB). Shareholders who are recorded in the share register with voting rights on April 10, 2018 will be entitled to participate and exercise their voting rights. About Basilea Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company developing products that address the medical challenge of increasing resistance and non-response to current treatment options in the therapeutic areas of bacterial infections, fungal infections and cancer. The company is committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products to meet the medical needs of patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Additional information can be found at Basilea's website www.basilea.com. Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please contact: Peer Nils Schroder, PhD Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations +41 61 606 1102 media_relations@basilea.com investor_relations@basilea.com This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com. References 1 QuintilesIMSHealth SMART MIDAS, May 2017 2 Contract No. HHSO100201600002C, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response 3 Isavuconazole is approved in the U.S. for patients 18 years of age and older in the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and invasive mucormycosis. Cresemba U.S. prescribing information [Accessed: February 26, 2018] 4 In the 28 European Union member states, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, isavuconazole is approved for the treatment of adult patients with invasive aspergillosis and for the treatment of adult patients with mucormycosis for whom amphotericin B is inappropriate. European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) Cresemba: http://www.ema.europa.eu [Accessed: February 26, 2018] 5 In Switzerland, isavuconazole is approved for the treatment of adult patients with invasive aspergillosis and for the treatment of mucormycosis in adult patients who are resistant to or intolerant of amphotericin B and in adult patients with moderate to severe renal impairment. Full indication in: Swissmedic-approved information for healthcare professionals as of August 2017 6 The trade name for ceftobiprole in Europe is generally Zevtera, except for France and Italy where the trade name is Mabelio, and Ireland, where the trade name is Adaluzis 7 U.K. Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) Zevtera: http://www.mhra.gov.uk/ [Accessed: February 26, 2018] 8 J. Pohlmann et al. BAL101553: An optimized prodrug of the microtubule destabilizer BAL27862 with superior antitumor activity. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2011, abstract 1347; Cancer Research 2011, 71 (8 Supplement) 9 A. E. Prota et al. The novel microtubule-destabilizing drug BAL27862 binds to the colchicine site of tubulin with distinct effects on microtubule organization. Journal of Molecular Biology 2014 (426), 1848-1860 10 F. Bachmann et al. BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862): the spindle assembly checkpoint is required for anticancer activity. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2015, abstract 3789 11 A. Broggini-Tenzer et al. The novel microtubule-destabilizing drug BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862) sensitizes a treatment refractory tumor model to ionizing radiation. EORTC-NCI-AACR symposium 2014, abstract 202 12 G. E. Duran et al. In vitro activity of the novel tubulin active agent BAL27862 in MDR1(+) and MDR1(-) human breast and ovarian cancer variants selected for resistance to taxanes. Cancer Research 2010, 70:8 (supplement 1, abstract 4412) 13 F. Bachmann et al. BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862): A unique microtubule destabilizer active against drug refractory breast cancers alone and in combination with trastuzumab. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2014, abstract 831 14 R. Berges et al. The novel tubulin-binding checkpoint activator BAL101553 inhibits EB1-dependent migration and invasion and promotes differentiation of glioblastoma stem-like cells. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2016 (15), 2740-2749 15 A. Schmitt-Hoffmann et al. BAL27862: a unique microtubule-targeted agent with a potential for the treatment of human brain tumors. AACR-NCI-EORTC conference 2009, abstract C233; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2009, 8 (12 Supplement) 16 A. C. Mladek et al. The novel tubulin-binding 'tumor checkpoint controller' BAL101553 has anti-cancer activity alone and in combination treatments across a panel of GBM patient-derived xenografts. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2016, abstract 4781 17 G. Saturno et al. Therapeutic efficacy of the paradox-breaking panRAF and SRC drug CCT3833/BAL3833 in KRASdriven cancer models. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2016, abstract LB212 Attachment: //www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/a1d698bc-10e9-4d27-9b11-e06772a9b7af [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 26, 2018] Nozomi Networks Discusses Visibility and Threat Detection for Industrial IoT at Fortinet Accelerate 2018 SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nozomi Networks Inc., the leader in real-time cybersecurity and operational visibility for industrial control systems (ICS) announced today that it will be at Fortinet Accelerate this week to show how Nozomi Networks and Fortinet are working together to deliver advanced cybersecurity solutions for Industrial IoT. The increased connectivity of ICS and OT (Operations Technology) applications have helped drive optimization of automation and critical networks across various industries. However, the trend of connectivity has also exposed these critical networks to new operational risks and cyber threats. Such attacks as Industroyer/CrashOverride and Triton underscore the vulnerable nature of the ICS and the need for OT networks to increase their security posture. At Fortinet Accelerate, Chet Namboodri, Nozomi Networks Vice President of Alliances and Business Development will lead a special breakout session to demonstrate how Fortinet and Nozomi Networks are working together to address this need with an innovative approach to OT/IT cybersecurity. With Nozomi Networks SCADAguardian, Fortinets Security Fabric has been extended to offer increased visibility and operational intelligence for ICS and OT applications. The session will give participants a chance to see first hand how these two technologies are working together to deliver detailed behavior-based anomaly detection, comprehensive IT/OT threat detection and better-informed policy enforcement. Who: Chet Namboodri, Nozomi Networks Vice President of Alliances and Business Development What: Extending the Security Fabric: Visibility and Threat Detection for ICS When: 1:55 p.m., Wednesday, February 28, 2018 Where: Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas A Fortinet Fabric Ready Partner, Nozomi Networks hasteamed with Fortinet to provide ICS environments a holistic security solution. Nozomi Networks SCADAguardian non-intrusive monitoring for ICS network, protocols, and device behavior joins forces with Fortinets FortiGate enterprise firewall that provides a secure gateway between OT and IT networks. Designed to minimize system downtime and limit data loss, the Fortinet-Nozomi Networks solution optimizes productivity and business continuity for organizations reliant on ICS networks. Fortinet secures the largest enterprises, service providers and government organizations around the world. Accelerate 2018 is February 26 March 1, at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. The sold-out event brings together thought leaders, technical experts, and IT professionals to share and learn the latest in network security technology. About Nozomi Networks Nozomi Networks is leading Industrial Control System (ICS) cybersecurity with the most comprehensive platform to deliver real-time cybersecurity and operational visibility. Since 2013 the company has innovated the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to secure critical infrastructure operations. Deployed across five continents, in hundreds of the worlds largest industrial installations, customers benefit from advanced cybersecurity, improved operational reliability and easy IT/OT integration. Amid escalating threats targeting ICS, Nozomi Networks delivers one solution with real-time ICS monitoring, hybrid threat detection, industrial network visualization, asset inventory, and vulnerability assessment. Nozomi Networks is headquartered in San Francisco, California www.nozominetworks.com Press Contacts: Jil Backstrom, Gamut Public Relations jbackstrom@gamutpublicrelations.com - 303.913.1650 Follow the Nozomi Networks Blog Follow @nozominetworks on Twitter Visit and Follow the Nozomi Networks Corporate Page on LinkedIn Gamut Public Relations jbackstrom@gamutpublicrelations.com 303.913.1650 Follow @nozominetworks on Twitter Visit and Follow the Nozomi Networks Corporate Page on LinkedIn [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 26, 2018] EQUITY ALERT: Rosen Law Firm Files Securities Class Action Lawsuit Against Kraton Corporation - KRA Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of the securities of Kraton Corporation (NYSE:KRA) from October 25, 2017 through February 21, 2018, both dates inclusive ("Class Period"). The lawsuit seeks to recover damages for Kraton investors under the federal securities laws. To join the Kraton class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-1299.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. or Daniel Sadeh, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or dsadeh@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. NO CLASS HAS YET BEEN CERTIFIED IN THE ABOVE ACTION. UNTIL A CLASS IS CERTIFIED, YOU ARE NOT REPRESENTED BY COUNSEL UNLESS YOU RETAIN ONE. YOU MAY ALSO REMAIN AN ABSENT CLASS MEMBER AND DO NOTHING AT THIS POINT. YOU MAY RETAIN COUNSEL OF YOUR CHOICE. According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Kraton was transitioning customers to Brazilian-produced Cariflex even though certain customers had already rejected that product; (2) Kraton's Brazilian-produced Cariflex was available to customers when in fact certain customers had already rejected that product; (3) Kraton lacked effective internal controls over financial reporting; and (4) as a result, defendants' statements about Kraton's business, operations and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 27, 2018. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. If you wish to join the litigation, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-1299.html to join the class action. You may also contact Phillip Kim or Daniel Sadeh of Rosen Law Firm toll free at 866-767-3653 or via email at pkim@rosenlegal.com or dsadeh@rosenlegal.com. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn (News - Alert) : https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter (News - Alert) : https://twitter.com/rosen_firm. Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Since 2014, Rosen Law Firm has been ranked #2 in the nation by Institutional Shareholder Services for the number of securities class action settlements annually obtained for investors. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180226006614/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] ADDING MULTIMEDIA Lenovo Sees Intelligence Transforming Everything at MWC 2018, From Devices to Data Center Today, at MWC 2018, Lenovo reinforced its 2018 vision for technology innovations, moving its core strategy to Augmented Intelligence. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180226005492/en/ Lenovo Sees Intelligence Transforming Everything at MWC 2018, From Devices to Data Center (Photo: Business Wire) With its roots in the PC space, Lenovo has created one of the most complete collections of smart AI devices, giving it a unique advantage to provide the three key elements of Intelligence: Data, Computing Power and Algorithm. Through new AR, VR and voice-activated technologies demonstrated at the show, Lenovo gives you powerful new ways to live, work and play. From intuitive new voice-enabled Yoga 2-in-1 laptops launched today, to transformative Moto Mods, to advanced data center solutions, Lenovo makes all the critical human connections to AI, from devices to data center. A Different Smartphone Experience At MWC, Motorola (News - Alert) will be illustrating how it continues to challenge the industry with premium smartphone features at great value price points, and how innovation lives in our DNA with transformative Moto Mods that help you monitor your wellness, among other things. The Motorola Health Mod will be showcased, which allows you to easily measure five vital signs including accurate systolic and diastolic blood pressure, all via your moto z device. Motorola will be sharing insights around its recently released global Phone-Life Balance Study which has been developed in partnership with Dr. Nancy Etcoff, renowned expert in Mind-Brain Behavior and the Science of Happiness at Harvard. The study identifies problematic behaviors that are impacting relationships with others and ourselves and shows how people are putting their phones before those they care about, with the most alarming findings tied to younger generations who have grown up in a digital world. Motorola believes technology should enrich our lives, rather than distract from them and is offering intelligent solutions to help people manage their phone life balance. This includes a partnership with SPACE, an app that helps to make you more mindful of your phone usage, and Moto Experiences that support more intuitive mobile interactions. A Different Approach to Voice Lenovo's PC and Smart Devices business is developing new products to transform commercial and consumer experiences through Augmented Intelligence. At MWC, Lenovo will be introducing the new Yoga 730 (in 13-inch and 15-inch models) and the new 14-inch Yoga 530 - the latest additions to its 2-in-1 family designed for the mobile generation. The new Windows 10-based convertibles feature modern designs, powerful laptop performance and tablet portability that have made the Lenovo Yoga an iconic premium laptop brand since it first pioneered the convertible form factor. The new Yoga 730 harnesses the power of AI to give you intelligent assistance hands-free. With both Cortana and Alexa built-in, it offers more choice and recognizes voice commands from across the room.1 Lenovo's new trio of ruggedized Lenovo 500e, 300e 2-in-1's and 100e Chromebooks built for education are now available for consumers. Beyond the protective designs to guard against spills and drops the 300e Chromebook features Lenovo Enhanced Touch technology that allows the use of everyday objects to interact with the screen and the 500e Chromebook provides an EMR Pen with Google (News - Alert) 's innovative near lag-free algorithms for writing and sketching. For smarter living, the new Lenovo Smart Display announced at CES (News - Alert) 2018 makes using technology at home more convenient, intuitive and shared. It combines the voice capability of the Google Assistant with a vibrant, full HD touchscreen display.2 As the command hub for connected smart home devices, from lighting to heating and more, it can be controlled with just your voice or a quick glance at the display. A Different Way to Experience Reality Also launched at CES 2018, Lenovo will showcase how Augmented Intelligence continues to make its devices different and more immersive. The Lenovo Mirage Solo standalone VR headset and Lenovo Mirage Camera, a VR180 camera, lets you to create and consume your own VR content using Daydream, Google's mobile VR platform, while Star Wars: Jedi Challenges with its Lenovo Mirage AR headset and Lightsaber controller breaks the boundaries of what's possible by letting fans experience Jedi training in AR. A Different Way to Improve the World Lenovo's Data Center Group continues to power the Intelligence Revolution by expanding into two new segments in Telecommunications and IoT. As innovations in mobile and smart devices rapidly grow, the telecom industry is undergoing massive changes with 5G networks. Lenovo is uniquely positioned to disrupt the traditional telecom installed base and provide a seamless transition for communication service providers to the software defined world. Lenovo is launching a performance optimized offering based on Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650/SR630 servers and switches, Red Hat (News - Alert) OpenStack Platform, and Mellanox ConnectX-4 NICs for accelerated packet processing. In addition, Lenovo is joining the 'Intel Select Solution for NFV' program and offering a solution specially optimized for encryption and compression based NFV workloads. The solution is comprised of Intel (News - Alert) QuickAssist Technology (QAT) and Intel XXV710 NIC enabled on Lenovo SR650/SR630 servers. Leveraging its #1 position in x86 server reliability3, Lenovo will also demo the industry's first 5G-ready base station with software and virtualized implementation of the centralized and distributed units (CU/DU) - made possible through customer-led, joint collaboration with China Mobile. Demonstrations of Lenovo's 'device to datacenter' solutions can be seen at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, February 26 - March 1 at the Lenovo Showcase in Hall 3, Space 3N30. In the Intel booth, Lenovo will showcase a 'self-optimizing 5G network' solution based on Lenovo ThinkSystem SR650 servers. Pricing and Availability See http://news.lenovo.com/MWC2018 for information about pricing and availability for products. Additional Blogs 1 Cortana and Alexa are available on the Yoga 730 with far-field voice-recognition technology supporting up to 4 meters away and in standby mode. Alexa capability is expected to be available in the US, Canada, UK and Germany. List of countries may expand over time. 2 FHD touchscreen display is available on the Lenovo Smart Display 10-inch model. 3 Information Technology Intelligence Consulting (ITIC) 2017 - 2018 Global Server Hardware, Server OS Reliability Report LENOVO, LENOVO MIRAGE and YOGA are trademarks of Lenovo. GOOGLE, GOOGLE ASSISTANT and DAYDREAM are trademarks of Google, Inc. STAR WARS and related properties are trademarks and/or copyrights, in the United States and other countries, of Lucasfilm Ltd. and/or its affiliates. & TM Lucasfilm Ltd. EMR is a trademark of Wacom Co., Ltd. 2018, Lenovo Group Limited. About Lenovo Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a US$43 billion global Fortune 500 company and a leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial, and data center technology. Our portfolio of high-quality, secure products and services covers PCs (including the legendary Think and multimode Yoga brands), workstations, servers, storage, networking, software (including ThinkSystem and ThinkAgile solutions), smart TVs and a family of mobile products like smartphones (including the Motorola brand), tablets and apps. Join us on LinkedIn, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@Lenovo) or visit us at http://www.lenovo.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180226005492/en/ [February 26, 2018] GENERAL ELECTRIC INVESTIGATION INITIATED by Former Louisiana Attorney General: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Investigates the Officers and Directors of General Electric Company - GE Former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., Esq., a partner at the law firm of Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF"), announces that KSF has commenced an investigation into General Electric Company (NYSE: GE). On October 20, 2017, GE revealed disappointing Q3 2017 results including EPS of $0.29, well below estimates of $0.49/share, and lowered 2017 earnings expectations to $1.05-$1.10 from $1.60-$1.70, its largest earnings miss in many years. On November 13, 2017, the Company revealed it was cutting its annual dividend in half, from $0.96 to $0.48 per share, only the second time it had cut its dividend since the Great Depression. On January 16, 2018, GE announced a $6.2 billion after-tax charge for Q4 2017 following a review of its GE Capital insurance portfolio as well as a $15 billion contribution spanning seven years to shore up the portfolio's reserves. Then, on January 24, 2018, GE announced an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the company's accounting practices and the previously disclosed charge. The Company has been exposed to significant financial losses, incuding losing billions in market capital over the last year, investigations by the U.S. SEC (News - Alert) and Justice Department, as well as securities class action lawsuits. KSF's investigation is focusing on whether GE's officers and/or directors breached their fiduciary duties to GE's shareholders or otherwise violated state or federal laws. If you have information that would assist KSF in its investigation, or have been a long-term holder of GE shares and would like to discuss your legal rights, you may, without obligation or cost to you, call toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or email KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nyse-ge/ to learn more. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include the Former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is a law firm focused on securities, antitrust and consumer class actions, along with merger & acquisition and breach of fiduciary litigation against publicly traded companies on behalf of shareholders. The firm has offices in New York, California and Louisiana. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180226006656/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 26, 2018] Thailand's Siam City Cement Group Strengthens Green Credentials With Avaya Communications Foundation DUBAI, UAE, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Siam City Cement Public Company Limited (SCCC) is transforming its communications infrastructure with the support of Avaya Holdings Corp. (NYSE: AVYA), enabling Thailand's leading cement manufacturer to continue reducing its carbon footprint as it expands across the Asia-Pacific region. SCCC has been supporting Thailand's development for more than 47 years and was the first Thai cement producer to be certified for Green Industry Level 5, by the Ministry of Industry, for all its three plants - Siam City Concrete Co., Ltd., Conwood Co., Ltd., and INSEE SUPERBLOCK Co., Ltd. The company has expanded rapidly to more than six offices across the region, including operations in Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Vietnam, and needed a robust communications infrastructure to support its digital transformation objectives while maintaining its commitment to sustainable development. The company is deploying Avaya's next-generation solutions to streamline communications for customers and employees. Loxley Public Company Limited, a leading Thai technology company and Avaya channel partner, designed nd implemented the project. As a result, SCCC has transformed customer experience and improved employee productivity and collaboration across its 1,500 workers in the head office and regional plants. The Avaya solutions enable employees in different regions to connect seamlessly on the devices and channels of their choice, regardless of the quality of Internet connection in different countries. Employees can now use video conferencing to collaborate, reducing the need for travel. "With our rapid expansion across the region, we wanted a cost-effective solution that would enable us to meet our sustainable development objectives while driving our digital transformation journey. Avaya's communications solutions are empowering our employees to work and collaborate with each other effectively, regardless of their location, without driving up our carbon footprint. We have worked with Avaya for many years and we see Avaya as a key technology partner going forward," said Khun Ittaya Sirivasukarn, CEO of INSEE Digital Company Limited. "We are extremely proud of how SCCC is using communication technologies to deliver not only on its business goals, but also on its social mission. Avaya's communications technologies mean companies don't have to compromise on their environmental goals when they embark on their digital transformation journey. We congratulate SCCC for its forward-thinking approach and look forward to many great and innovative ideas in the future," said Bundhit Vongbuntoon, Country Director of Thailand, Avaya. SCCC has won numerous awards linked to innovation in energy management and technology usage, and to corporate brand values, including the Excellence in Energy Management Award from Thailand's Department of Energy. According to a recent survey by YouGov, half of all consumers in the APAC region believe businesses have a responsibility to ensure their supply chain doesn't harm the environment. Media Inquiries: Iman Ghorayeb +971-4-404-8275 ighorayeb@avaya.com SOURCE Avaya Newsroom [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] GreyOrange to unveil new Butler XL for end-to-end supply chain automation in larger warehouses HANNOVER, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Robotics and supply chain automation company GreyOrange is set to unveil at the 16th edition of LogiMat 2018 in Germany, its expanded range of Butler robots capable of managing a variety of payloads from 100 to 1600 kgs (220 to 3500 lbs). The goods-to-person ButlerTM system lets warehouses run high-speed operations by automating inventory storage (putaway) and order fulfilment. It has been deployed in distribution centers in Japan, Hong Kong, India, Europe and the Americas for industries such as 3PL, e-commerce and retail. The robotics systems handle a variety of items including apparel, home furnishing and personal care, reducing cost per shipment and enhancing productivity of warehouse operations by more than four times. The new Butler XL handles payloads of up to 1600 kgs (3500 lbs). Its versatility is ideal for handling bulk inventory in factory warehouses, omnichannel fulfilment centers and large distribution hubs. A wide range of loads from raw materials to finished goods, including automotive components, manufacturing material and liquids can be moved on and put or picked from pallets, drums, sacks, crates and cases. Sid Chatterjee, Vice President - Products, GreyOrange said, "We are delighted to add the Butler XL to the growing Butler family. The entire Butler range operates with minimal supervision using our software platform, GreyMatter, developed by GreyOrange to revolutionise warehouse operations by connecting pople, process and technology more efficiently using Artificial Intelligence. In real-time, it integrates and delivers all of the functionality, intelligence and services required for optimum warehouse operations." At every step of the order process, from receiving to storage, picking to fulfillment, the orders are managed by the software platform GreyMatterTM. One of the key advantages of the expanding Butler family is its ability to manage multi-floor operations with the use of an elevator. This provides greater flexibility in handling material and inventory on multiple floors, and optimises space utilisation vertically in a warehouse; visit www.greyorange.com Large and heavy pallets or slow moving inventory may be stored on one floor, while fast moving goods may be stored on another level. The software platform, GreyMatter, manages the Butlers across floors. Such auto-fulfilment improves order-to-dispatch time tremendously, with enhanced inventory traceability, increased fulfilment accuracy and minimising order returns. Putaway and picking processes often take up the majority of resources of warehouse staff -- between 50-70%. Using the Butler system can lead to faster stock availability, improving efficiency multifold and shortens delivery times from days to just hours. It is easy to add the Butler system to existing operations as it requires minimal changes to infrastructure. The Butler range shares a similar footprint and can navigate within the same width of aisles. This versatility makes it easy to configure the Butlers to work in different parts of a warehouse for end-to-end autonomous fulfilment. Several units of the new Butler XL will be integrated in sites by mid-year. It is expected to set new standards in operational efficiencies in picking velocity and productivity. The Butler system conforms to applicable international safety and regulatory standards like CE Marking, ANSI/ITSDF B56.5 (US standard), JIS D6802 (Japanese standard), RoHS emergency response to fire and earthquake. The superior chemistry of lithium-ion batteries used in the Butler XL -- similar to those of high-end electric vehicles provide a continuous and long runtime on a single charge to complete a 24-hour shift, with a fast charge when necessary. Based on the workload and schedule during a shift, its Artificial Intelligence assigns Butler robots for Opportunity Charging to ensure the system delivers the optimum uptime. Meet with GreyOrange on 13-15 March 2018 at Hall 7, Stand F49, LogiMAT 2018, Stuttgart, Germany; register here . Contact info@greyorange.com About GreyOrange GreyOrange is a multinational technology company that designs, manufactures and deploys advanced robotics systems for end-to-end supply chain automation in warehouses, distribution and fulfilment centres. With deep domain expertise, world class hardware and software engineering and the passion to solve complex business problems, the company is advancing the way logistics and supply chain processes across the world are being optimized. Founded in 2011, GreyOrange is headquartered in Singapore with offices in India, Hong Kong, Japan, Germany and UAE, and a state-of-the-art Research and Development centre in Gurgaon, India. Contact info@greyorange.com To know more, visit www.greyorange.com Media contact: Christina Loh GreyOrange Pte Ltd +65 6589 8380, christina.l@greyorange.com Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180227/2063053-1-a Photo - https://photos.prnasia.com/prnh/20180227/2063053-1-b SOURCE GreyOrange [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] CompTIA to Explore Impact of Key Disruptive Technologies in National Security at ISNR ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The upcoming International Exhibition for National Security and Resilience (ISNR), has today confirmed one of its leading topics to be the role of disruptive technologies in national security. The annual trade show, running in Abu Dhabi from 6th 8th March 2018, is expected to welcome around 25,000 local and international attendees, as well as 600 exhibitors from 55 countries. CompTIA, the voice of the world's Information Technology industry, will be exhibiting at the event (stand 5001), raising awareness of the association's Cybersecurity Career Pathway, an initiative encouraging IT pros and career seekers to achieve mastery in the much-required cybersecurity domain. CompTIA will also host an interactive live hacking sessio on the first day of the exhibition. The workshop, titled 'Avoiding a Cyber Offense', will demonstrate an SQL Injection attack, an Android attack and a Wi-Fi attack, as well as teach methods to prevent such cyber offenses. CompTIA will also deliver an interactive presentation on the Cybersecurity pathway at the live session. As well as national security, other key topics highlighted at the exhibition include the latest developments in artificial intelligence, connected vehicles, smart wearable technologies, unmanned solutions and robotics, virtual and augmented reality, digital forensics, crowd management and safe city control centres. The major themes covered at ISNR 2018, will include innovation, thought leadership, career development, edutainment and public awareness, as well as business. The exhibition is expected to demonstrate how artificial intelligence will revolutionise national security, signalling a shift from traditional physical security and law enforcement towards a more transformative and digital future. In line with the UAE National Innovation Strategy, ISNR Abu Dhabi 2018 will also present CyberX, developed in collaboration with Scenarios4Summits. Making its debut at the event, the interactive roundtable will feature high-impact immersive videos as well as scenario-based policy moderated discussions, introducing new security training techniques for the future. The upcoming event will also be launching the Safe City Control Centre, an innovative platform powered by Safe City Group that seeks to demonstrate state-of-the-art security technologies in operations. Catering to UAE first responder operators, the simulation will showcase specially designed consoles and control room solutions. About CompTIA: The Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) is a leading voice and advocate for the $4.8 trillion global information technology ecosystem; and the more than seven million technology professionals, who design, implement, manage, and safeguard the technology that powers the U.S. economy. Through education, training, certifications, advocacy, philanthropy, and market research, CompTIA is the hub for advancing the tech industry and its workforce. Visit www.comptia.org to learn more. For further information, please contact Olivia Lee Ray: olivia@houseofcomms.com Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130107/DC38135LOGO [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] written by Andy Ngo I held my breath as the protesters stood up and began their walk-out. Please, let it be peaceful, I said to myself. In the weeks leading up to the event, we had received threats of violence. One person on social media said he would bring explosives. The university administration found the threats credible enough to send a team of armed campus police to patrol the lecture hall. As the protesters neared the exit, a woman suddenly lunged for the audio equipment, pulled leads out indiscriminately, and knocked some of the equipment to the floor. The microphones stopped working. Another protester shoved a student volunteer into the door.What caused this extreme reaction?Ex-Google engineer James Damore had been invited to speak as part of a panel discussion on diversity, held at Portland State University on February 17. As I had previously written in the, we were anticipating controversy. After the incident, however, the disruption and violent misconduct were downplayed., a left-wing alternative newspaper, was dismissive: [The Freethinkers] expected controversy. They warned of violence. None arrived. Perhaps not the kind of violence that had been threatened, but there was intentional criminal mischief, hundreds of dollars in property damage, and unnecessary disruption lasting just over four minutes (not the 30 seconds theincorrectly reported).I belong to Freethinkers of PSU, the skeptic student group that organized the event and was responsible for inviting Damore. To correct the record,didnt warn of violence; those who threatened us did that. The papers scornful editorial surprised me, particularly given the timing of the event. Only days earlier the nation had learned that the Florida school shooters violent social media threats hadnt been taken seriously. We werent about to take any unnecessary chances and nor were the campus police. Organizing a student event to discusstopic including diversity should not be a safety hazard. In the present climate, however, security measures have become a regrettable necessity.A protest campaign to hoard free tickets claimed more than half the seats, suppressing turnout. Nevertheless, surrounded by officers and protected by an entourage of private security, James Damore spoke to an audience of 270 people. He was joined on the panel by former Evergreen State professors Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein, PSU philosophy professor Peter Boghossian, and critic of third wave intersectional feminism Helen Pluckrose.Explaining what had moved him to write the Google memo, Damore said that he found the analyses of the companys sex disparity, offered during a conference on diversity and inclusion, to be unsatisfactory. They went through these different things, like microaggressions and unconscious bias, and said that is why we only have 20 percent women, he recalled.After the conference, Google solicited feedback from staff. Damore obliged with a ten page document entitled Googles Ideological Echo-Chamber, in which he argued that sex differences on average may help explain the male/female disparity at the company. He also offered suggestions about how the workplace environment could change to appeal to more women. But when his memo was leaked to the press and published, it was stripped of important nuance and links to supporting data, and Damore was viciously mischaracterized as a misogynist and a racist.James argues, accurately, that there are differences between men and women, evolutionary biologist Heather Heying said during the panel discussion. This is a strange position to be in, to be arguing for something that is so universally and widely accepted in biology. . .You can be irritated by a lot of truths, but taking offense, here, Heying paused as hecklers shouted and began to walk out is a response that is a rejection of reality.A non-student protester then yanked the cables from the sound system and shoved the equipment to the ground, breaking an antenna. She was promptly detained by police. [Damores] a piece of shit! she screamed as she was issued a citation for criminal mischief in the second degree. Even the women in there have been brainwashed! Another protester stated: Nazis are not welcome in civil society.Undeterred, Peter Boghossian said to the audience: Fringe elements of society do not have the right to hold you hostage. The speakers pressed on in spite of the disruption. First Boghossian and then Heying stood and projected their voices to the back of the auditorium. If your belief system cannot stand up to scrutiny, Heying told me later, it is weak, and attacking those who say so will not change that fact. Fortunately, the sound was restored just over four minutes later.Heying explained how variation is distributed in the sexes. Male and female arent a binary but they are strongly bimodal, she said. We cannot change what may be true at a societal level unless we understand why things are true.Helen Pluckrose added that denying the existence of sex differences may paradoxically help confirm sexist attitudes. If we are assuming that the choices men make are the ultimate, best, absolute choices, [then] we are making men the default humans, she said. The areas that women dominate healthcare, education, psychology, publishing these are all hugely influential areas on society.In his closing remarks, Damore said that he doesnt regret writing the memo but conceded that using technical language from psychology literature made his writing more susceptible to misinterpretation. There are definitely still issues of discrimination happening in many sectors, Damore said. [But] men and women tend to approach the workplace differently so maybe if we changed the workplace then we could actually solve the problem.The discussion was followed by a Q&A. A PSU alumna from the womens studies department complained that the stage-to-audience dynamic presented an intimidating power imbalance. You guys are high [up]. You have microphones. We dont, she said. This is perpetuating the status quo in the hierarchy. Boghossian invited her to join him at his next (stageless) panel on intersectionality the following Monday. She didnt come.After the event, police and security escorted the speakers out of a back entrance. I caught up with them and asked for their reactions. Helen Pluckrose recalled what one of the police officers had told her: So why are you so radical and extreme and dangerous that I have to escort you off campus? You seemed very reasonable to me. She still doesnt have an answer.Reflecting on the evenings events, the panelists discussed how they didnt recognize the picture of themselves that the protesters were painting. The mob acts against a fiction of its own creation, Bret Weinstein told me.Our event was titled We Need to Talk About Diversity. On stage, Boghossian had strongly criticized the institutionalization of diversity as a mechanism to enforce ideological conformity. The current understanding of diversity, he said, demeans people and reduces them to their immutable characteristics. The panelists also discussed how ideologues have appropriated morally important terms like inclusion, and given them different meanings. I experienced this firsthand last year when a high-level student government leader and intersectional activist confronted me on campus. He said he could not celebrate me as a person of color in higher education because of my conduct and worldview. To activists like him, diversity means color plus conformity.No thanks. Ill pass.A video of the entire event is now available on YouTube. [February 27, 2018] WISeKey Announces Integration of MasterCard's Wearable End-to-End Payment System at the Mobile World Congress 2018 (#mwc2018) WISeKey Announces Integration of MasterCard's Wearable End-to-End Payment System at the Mobile World Congress 2018 (#mwc2018) WISeKey offers a proven turnkey solution for wearable payments, allowing credit card payments to be securely embedded in portable accessories and devices Mobile World Congress 2018 - Barcelona, Spain - February 27, 2018: WISeKey International Holding Ltd (WIHN.SW) ("WISeKey"), a Swiss based cybersecurity and IoT company, today announced the availability of its complete solution for manufacturers looking to securely implement credit card payments into wearable devices such as fitness bands, watches, or portable consumer devices. Two years ago, WISeKey and MasterCard partnered to enable contactless payments on select luxury brand watches and wearables. Using its WISeWatch as a technology demonstrator, WISeKey developed a platform to embed its Europay-MasterCard-Visa (EMV) certified MICROPASS banking chip in small consumer objects, and allow simple remote provisioning of the chip over a smartphone to make it a valid payment device. As the result of this cooperation, WISeKey now offers a consistent end-to-end payment system from the Root-of-Trust to the security chip that turns any consumer gadget, accessory or wearable - from fitness bands to refrigerators - into a payment device. According to MasterCard's recent figures, 24 percent of Europeans expect to start using "tap and go" contactless payments with a smartwatch, bracelet, keyring or other forms of wearable payment. WISeKey's MICROPASS 6323CL isa MasterCard and VISA certified NFC secure chip and firmware that has been used for many years by the major card makers and issuers. It offers the convenience and flexibility of contactless payment that is already proven with consumers worldwide. Through years of working to meet the needs of the banking industry, WISeKey has developed the right technologies and technical expertise to move secure chips from credit cards into virtual any object. Since 2010, WISeKey has supplied more than 1 billion secure chips for various payment and IoT security uses. More recently, WISeKey has added the MasterCard Digital Enablement Service (MDES) to allow the remote personalization of the payment chips through a regular smartphone. This last brick permits the full and easy deployment of wearable payment from anywhere with any device. "Imagine turning your car into a payment device to easily pay your gas without being obliged to find your wallet," said Olivier Debelleix, Director of Brand Protection & Wearable Security Business Unit for WISeKey. "WISeKey's 360 payment solution allows this, plus much more. WISeKey's recognized security offerings - from Root-of-Trust to certified chips - offers other highly secured functions such as digital authentication, e-signature or the management of crypto currencies. Use of these proven secure chips opens the door to a trustable Internet of Things." About WISeKey: WISeKey (SIX Swiss Exchange: WIHN) is a leading global cybersecurity company currently deploying large scale digital identity ecosystems with a patented process. WISeKey's Swiss based cryptographic Root of Trust ("RoT") provides secure authentication and identification, in both physical and virtual environments, for the Internet of Things, Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence. The WISeKey RoT serves as a common trust anchor to ensure the integrity of online transactions among objects and between objects and people. For more information, visit www.wisekey.com . To receive WISeKey's latest news, subscribe to our Newsletter or visit the WISeKey Investors Corner. Press and investor contacts: WISeKey International Holding Ltd Company Contact: Carlos Moreira Chairman & CEO Tel: +41 22 594 3000 info@wisekey.com WISeKey Investor Relations (US) Contact: Lena Cati The Equity Group Inc. Tel: +1 212 836-9611 lcati@equityny.com Disclaimer: This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning WISeKey International Holding Ltd and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of WISeKey International Holding Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. WISeKey International Holding Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities, and it does not constitute an offering prospectus within the meaning of article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or a listing prospectus within the meaning of the listing rules of the SIX Swiss Exchange. Investors must rely on their own evaluation of WISeKey and its securities, including the merits and risks involved. Nothing contained herein is, or shall be relied on as, a promise or representation as to the future performance of WISeKey. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Epson Joins Almo Professional A/V's 2018 E4 AV Tour LONG BEACH, Calif., Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Epson, the number-one selling projector brand worldwide, today announced it will join Almo Professional A/V, North America's largest professional audio visual distributor, during the 2018 E4 AV Tour. Epson will provide demonstrations of its high-lumen and large-venue laser projectors, meeting room and interactive display solutions. The E4 AV Tour kicks off in Washington D.C. on March 6. "We value the distribution experience that Almo Professional A/V provides to customers, including ours, on a local and a personal level, and we look forward to joining the E4 AV Tour for another year," said Gavin Downey, senior product manager, Epson America, Inc., "The tour provides an opportunity for us to deliver hands-on demonstrations of our projector and display technology solutions to new and existing resellers and installers ultimately resulting in long term customer partnerships." The E4 AV tour has traveled to cities around the country to provide product, technical and business training needs to thousands of resellers and installers, while creating the ideal forum for professional networking. The events bring together the industry's top educators and manufacturing partners to create a one-day event with CTS certified courses, the latest AV technology and networking for resellers, end-users, consultants, and integrators. "Epson always plays an integral role in the success of the E4 AV Tour, every year and in every city, we visit," said Melody Craigmyle, vice president of marketing for Almo Professional A/V. "Attendees know they will see the newest Epson projector and display products and that they will be able to spend quality time with the Epson team." Epson will be showcasing several projector and display solutions throughout the tour, including two of its newest Pro L large-venue laser projectors featuring flexible connection options, high native contrast ratio, and 360-degree installation. Both projectors combine a laser light source and 3LCD technology and feature native WUXGA performance with Epson 4K Enhancement Technology1 for powerful, uncompromising images. Pro L1505UHNL delivers up to 12,000 lumens of color brightness and 12,000 lumens of white brightness 2 and offers a laser light engine that provides virtually maintenance-free operation up to 20,000 hours 3 . The projector's exceptional integration capabilities include diverse connectivity, such as HDBaseT , and nine optional powered lenses. and offers a laser light engine that provides virtually maintenance-free operation up to 20,000 hours . The projector's exceptional integration capabilities include diverse connectivity, such as HDBaseT , and nine optional powered lenses. Pro L1755UNL delivers up to 15,000 lumens of color brightness and 15,000 lumens of white brightness2 and operates from a standard 120V power outlet a breakthrough feature at this high level of brightness. The projector offers a laser light engine for virtually maintenance-free operation up to 20,000 hours3 and includes built-in edge blending and integration capabilities like 3G-SDI and HDBaseT, plus nine optional powered lenses. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and are entirely free for Almo Pro A/V's reseller, integrator and consultant partners. Following is the full 2018 schedule of shows and locations: March 6 Washington D.C. April 24 Dallas, Texas Sept. 21 Boston, Mass. Oct. 26 Nashville, Tenn. For more information, or to register for an E4 AV Tour visit https://e4avtour.com/. About Epson Epson is a global technology leader dedicated to connecting people, things and information with its original efficient, compact and precision technologies. With a lineup that ranges from inkjet printers and digital printing systems to 3LCD projectors, smart glasses, sensing systems and industrial robots, the company is focused on driving innovations and exceeding customer expectations in inkjet, visual communications, wearables and robotics. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corporation, the Epson Group comprises more than 80,000 employees in 86 companies around the world, and is proud of its contributions to the communities in which it operates and its ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impacts. Epson America, Inc., based in Long Beach, Calif., is Epson's regional headquarters for the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. To learn more about Epson, please visit: epson.com. You may also connect with Epson America on Facebook (facebook.com/Epson), Twitter (twitter.com/EpsonAmerica), YouTube (youtube.com/EpsonAmerica), and Instagram (instagram.com/EpsonAmerica). 1 4K Enhancement Technology shifts each pixel diagonally by 0.5 pixels to double the resolution and surpass Full HD image quality. 2 Color brightness (color light output) and white brightness (white light output) will vary depending on usage conditions. Color light output measured in accordance with IDMS 15.4; white light output measured in accordance with ISO 21118. 3 20,000 hours is the estimated projector life when used in Normal Mode in an ordinary environment. Actual hours may vary depending on mode and usage environment. The Pro L-Series projectors have a limited warranty of three years or 20,000 hours, whichever comes first. EPSON is a registered trademark, EPSON Exceed Your Vision is a registered logomark of Seiko Epson Corporation. All other product and brand names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Epson disclaims any and all rights in these marks. Copyright 2018 Epson America, Inc. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/epson-joins-almo-professional-avs-2018-e4-av-tour-300604632.html SOURCE Epson America, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Scala Showcasing In-house Retail Analytics Platform and Immersive Store Environment at EuroCIS SITTARD, Netherlands, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Scala, part of the STRATACACHE family of digital media/marketing technology companies, is bringing its next generation store environment to EuroCIS, giving retailers an immersive look at how marketing technology improves every aspect of retail engagement. Each experience is represented in unique "departments" throughout the booth, and they all have a common goal using marketing technology, sensors and artificial intelligence to directly improve the in-store experience from the customer, the retailer and the brand's points of view. Retailers can find Scala in Hall 10 Booth C70 at EuroCIS, being held 27 February 1 March in Dusseldorf. In the booth, Scala is demonstrating the power of the Walkbase in-store retail analytics platform by displaying data gathered from booth interactions in real time on several displays throughout the booth. The real time software stack enables shopping experience personalization through highly advanced mobile tracking, mobile messaging and artificial intelligence-based mobile ad targeting systems. "The Walkbase platform aligns with our shopper experience strategy which has been resonating strongly with retailers they want to know how to create a memorable shopping experience by driving highly targeted, relevant messages that are based directly on deep customer learning and insights," said Harry Horn, vice president of marketing and GM of EMEA. "Every aspect of the customer's experience can be anonymously analyzed, customized and mapped from moving throughout the store to what's being viewed and, ultimately, what results in a sale." In Scala's in Hall 10 Booth C70, visitors will find solutons including: Fashion: As brand value and sense of community become increasingly relevant and important to shoppers, digital can play a pivotal role in conveying the message. This solution invites shoppers to learn more about quality and brand story by interacting with the apparel, which triggers embedded sensors to display detailed information on a nearby screen. Electronics: This interactive experience, featuring high-performance Razer gaming mice, highlights guided selling strategies for high end specialty products. Shoppers control the product discovery process, either by filtering choices or building their personal search criteria, to learn more about the features and compare multiple gaming mice. Cafe: Ordering - and waiting for! - coffee is as entertaining as it is efficient with our cafe experience. Shoppers use a tablet to send baristas their gourmet coffee order and take a selfie, which pops up on displays when their order is ready for pick up. Guests are entertained while waiting by using tablets to play a quick, fun game on large format screens behind the counter. Wellness: Our in-aisle wellness kiosk provides shoppers with a convenient way to navigate the medicine aisle and quickly identify the most appropriate OTC medications for their needs. Using an intuitive touchscreen interface, shoppers select their symptoms and medication preferences, and are presented with a list of relevant OTC results and detailed medication information as well as the option to receive the results via text message. Beauty: Transform the in-store experience with an engaging, interactive solution that guides shoppers through the product selection process while creating new sales opportunities. Shoppers lift products from the display shelf which triggers the screen to update with detailed information. Lifting a second product helps the shopper compare the products and, when an upsell opportunity exists, triggers content to promote the higher-margin item. Grocery: Improve store operations and optimize pricing in a high-volume retail environment. This solution allows store managers to use a tablet to monitor and manage store products via inventory database integration or set minimum or maximum price limits. When alerted to low or expiring stock, the price can be instantly, easily adjusted directly from the tablet, promoting faster sales and reduced food waste while mitigating revenue loss. For more information visit www.scala.com/EuroCIS-2018. About Scala, Inc. Scala solutions deliver engaging retail experiences by connecting networks of digital signs, kiosks, mobile devices, websites and Internet-connected devices. Scala, a STRATACACHE company, provides the platform for marketers, retailers and innovators to easily create and centrally manage deployment of shopping experiences while retaining the flexibility to rapidly adapt to local business conditions and preferences of customers in the store. With 30 years of experience entertaining, informing and educating audiences, Scala is well-known for its innovation and leveraging best-of-breed technologies, such as mobile and predictive analytics, to create award-winning solutions that are easy-to-use, yet infinitely customizable. Headquartered near Philadelphia, PA, Scala's network of partners and developers located in more than 90 countries drives more than 500,000 screens worldwide. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/646499/Scala_Inc.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/457388/Scala_Logo.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Hurricane Electric Brings Global IP Transit to Central Europe with Opening of First Point of Presence in Slovakia Hurricane Electric, the world's largest IPv6-native Internet backbone, announced today that it has established a new Point of Presence (PoP) at Sitel's Bratislava data center. Located at Kopcianska 20/c, Bratislava, 851 01, this is Hurricane Electric's (News - Alert) first PoP in Slovakia. As Hurricane Electric continues to satisfy the IP transit demands of thousands of enterprises across the European Union, the company's most recent Central European expansion comes at an important time. Continued growth in IoT technology is expected to result in an estimated 20 billion internet connected devices globally in 2018, further increasing the demand for high-speed bandwidth throughout Europe and beyond. Locally, Bratislava has seen significant growth in the tech sector and is anked third among its European counterparts in housing fast-growing start-ups. With the launch of Hurricane Electric's newest PoP, customers of the Sitel data center and others in the area now have a variety of new connectivity options as well as the ability to improve fault tolerance, load balancing, congestion management and transit of next-generation IPv6 traffic. Additionally, tenants at the facility are able to exchange IP traffic with Hurricane Electric's vast global network, which offers over 20,000 BGP sessions with over 7,000 different networks via more than 180 major exchange points and thousands of customer and private peering ports. The Slovakian PoP also provides access to Hurricane Electric's extensive IPv4 and IPv6 network through 100GE (100 Gigabit Ethernet), 10GE (10 Gigabit Ethernet) and GigE (1 Gigabit Ethernet) ports and as a result, both new and existing customers will be able to experience increased throughput, reduced latency and improved reliability. "Hurricane Electric is delighted with the continued growth of our global network through this new Point of Presence and we remain committed to further expanding across Europe in 2018," said Mike Leber, President, Hurricane Electric. "Because the region is so well connected, Slovakia has proven itself to be an important technological hub for Central Europe and beyond. Our newest site will allow customers of the Sitel data center to tap into the bandwidth and reach of Hurricane Electric's rich global network and we are grateful for the opportunity to support them." About Hurricane Electric Fremont, California-based Hurricane Electric operates its own global IPv4 and IPv6 network and is considered the largest IPv6 backbone in the world as measured by number of networks connected. Within its global network, Hurricane Electric is connected to 180 major exchange points and exchanges traffic directly with more than 7,000 different networks. Employing a resilient fiber-optic topology, Hurricane Electric has no less than five redundant 100G paths crossing North America, four separate 100G paths between the U.S. and Europe, and 100G rings in Europe and Asia. Hurricane also has a ring around Africa, and a PoP in Australia. In addition to its vast global network, Hurricane Electric owns and operates two data centres in Fremont, California, including Fremont 2, its newest 208,000 square foot facility. Hurricane Electric offers IPv4 and IPv6 transit solutions over the same connection at speeds including 10 Gbps and 100 GbpsEthernet. For more information on Hurricane Electric, please visit http://he.net. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227005497/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] ChartIQ and Trading Central announce partnership, provide financial community with most advanced trading and technical tools on the market CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va., Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ChartIQ, leader in HTML5 solutions for capital markets, partners with Trading Central to offer the most powerful technical insights to traders within ChartIQs award winning interface. Trading Central, a leading provider of real-time investment research, brings to ChartIQ vast technical insights that complement ChartIQs WebTrader for MT4 and HTML5 Charting Library. Our partnership with ChartIQ is an important example of the growing interoperability between applications and how we as an industry can work together to deliver value for investors, says Kathryn St. John, Senior Director of User Experience at Trading Central. We're bringing actionable analysis to world-class charts, where so many traders spend their time. This means traders can craft orders from important key levels directly from the charts, enabling faster decisions and more timely trades. Trading Centrals Featured Ideas tool is now live within ChartIQs WebTrader for MT4 and provides transparent and education-based trade ideas derived from each traders unique preferences. Featured Ideas educates traders by tailoring trade ideas towards preferred currency pairs, times, and monitors portfolios to identify and notify when technical events occur. Together, ChartIQ and Trading Central offer the most intelligent white-label trading solution on the forex market. The Technical Events Plugin by Trading Central allows traders using ChartIQs HTML5 Charting Library to mark directly on their chart when major events occur. The event marker then becomes a future reference point for marking when similar events occur, or have the potential to occur, that can impact the price of a certain asset. The Technical Events Plugin paired with ChartIQs 100+ indicators, features, and Trading from the Chart integration makes ChartIQs HTML5 Charting Library a complete technical analysis suite for any level trader. To celebrate the partnership, a private VIP reception was held in New York City February 26th in the midst of the TradersEXPO, the largest event for active traders. We welcome ChartIQ as our newest technology partner that brings our actionable market research to traders within its sleek, modern interface, says Alain Pellier, co-founder and CEO of Trading Central. We're proud to support investment decisions, and alongside ChartIQ, more traders can benefit from world-leading innovation." "We are excited to be partnering with Trading Central to further provide a better user experience to our clients. Having their expertise in market research and integrating their tools into our HTML5 Charting Library and WebTrader for MT4 products will better help our joint customers differentiate their offerings in the market," says Dan Schleifer, CEO and Co-founder of ChartIQ. About ChartIQ: ChartIQ builds powerful, lightweight financial applications that redefine consumer experiences for over 200 capital markets institutions, investment banks, and retail brokerage firms around the world. Delivering the most intuitive front end software, ChartIQ provides APIs and toolkits that make it easy for financial institutions to move away from core systems and towards HTML5. ChartIQ is headquartered in Charlottesville, Virginia with offices in New York City, London, and Limassol. Find us at www.chartiq.com or @chartiq. Contact us at info@chartiq.com. About Trading Central: Trading Central has been successfully supporting investment decisions through innovation since 1999. Our broad portfolio of market solutions combines awarded analyst research and patented pattern recognition with 24H global multi-asset coverage. Collectively, these provide technical and fundamental analysis on 75,000+ instruments every market day to offer timely and actionable insight. Markets never sleep and with offices around the world, Trading Central is always there in the moments that matter. Find us at www.tradingcentral.com or @TRADINGCENTRAL. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] University of the Rockies Announces Gold Sponsorship of Downtown Denver Partnership for 2018 DENVER, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- University of the Rockies, along with parent company, Bridgepoint Education, and sister school, Ashford University, has announced it is a gold sponsor of the Downtown Denver Partnership for 2018. "We are grateful to University of the Rockies, Bridgepoint Education, and Ashford University, for their continued investment in Downtown Denver through sponsorship of the Downtown Denver Partnership," said Jim Kirchheimer, Downtown Denver Partnership senior vice president of member experience. "We are part of the downtown community and, as a university focused on social and behavioral sciences, getting involved in creating solutions that work for all members of the community is a top priority," said Dr. Dawn Iwamoto, president and CEO of University of the Rockies. Formed in 1955, the Downtown Denver Partnership was created to plan, manage, and develop Downtown Denver as the unique, diverse, and economically healthy urban core of the Rocky Mountain Region. In addition, the Partnership manages the Downtown Denver Business Improvement District that provides enhanced services to make Downtown Denver a cleaner, safer, and more vibrant place. To learn more about the Downtown Denver Partnership, visit www.downtowndenver.com. About University of the Rockies Universty of the Rockies is a leading graduate school of the social and behavioral sciences that offers programs for students seeking their PhD, PsyD, or Master of Arts degree. Based in Denver, Colo., the University provides students with the convenience of an online education. While working toward a degree from anywhere in the country, students enjoy access to industry professionals, research, and publishing opportunities. For more information, please visit www.rockies.edu/, www.twitter.com/URockies, www.facebook.com/UniversityoftheRockies, or call Jana Mathieson, Sr. Communications and Community Relations Manager at 866.621.0124 x11870. About Ashford University Where heritage meets innovation that's Ashford University. At Ashford, students discover relevant degree programs, innovative technology, and cherished tradition. Ashford offers associates, bachelor's, and master's degree programs online, allowing students to balance life by providing the flexibility to do school work anywhere, anytime. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu, www.facebook.com/ashforduniversity, www.twitter.com/AshfordU, or call Kathleen Park, Public Relations and Social Media Specialist, at 858.513.9240 x11636. About Bridgepoint Education Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE:BPI) harnesses the latest technology to reimagine the modern student experience. Bridgepoint owns two academic institutions Ashford University and University of the Rockies. Together, these programs, technologies, and resources represent a unique model for advancing education in the 21st century. Bridgepoint stands for greater access, social learning, and exposure to leading minds. For more information, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com, www.facebook.com/BridgepointEducation, or call Kathleen Park, Public Relations and Social Media Specialist, at 858.513.9240 X 11636. Contact: Jana Mathieson, Sr. Communications/Community Relations Manager 866.621.0124 x11870 jana.mathieson@rockies.edu View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/university-of-the-rockies-announces-gold-sponsorship-of-downtown-denver-partnership-for-2018-300604476.html SOURCE University of the Rockies [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Hemispherx to Present at the Inaugural LD Micro Virtual Conference ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc. (NYSE American:HEB), focused on pharmaceutical research, announced today that it will be presenting at the inaugural LD Micro Virtual Conference on Wednesday, March 7, 2018 at 10:00 AM PST. Thomas K. Equels, M.S. J.D., Chief Executive Officer of Hemispherx Biopharma, will be giving the presentation and answering questions from investors. The conference will be held via webcast and will feature over 60 companies in the small / micro-cap space. To join Hemispherx Biopharmas webcast please use the following link: http://www.investorcalendar.com/console/conference/?id=26373 About LD Micro LD Micro was founded in 2006 with the sole purpose of being an independent resource in the microcap space. What started out as a newsletter highlighting unique companies has transformed into an event platform hosting several influential conferences annually (Invitational, Summit, and Main Event). In 2015, LDM launched the first pure microcap index (the LDMi) to exclusively provide intrday information on the entire sector. LD will continue to provide valuable tools for the benefit of everyone in the small and microcap universe. For those interested in attending, please contact David Scher at david@ldmicro.com or visit www.ldmicro.com for more information. About Hemispherx Biopharma Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc., is an advanced specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the clinical development of new drug entities for treatment of seriously debilitating disorders. Hemispherxs flagship products include Alferon N Injection and the experimental therapeutic rintatolimod (tradenames Ampligen or Rintamod). Rintatolimod is an experimental RNA nucleic acid being developed for globally important debilitating diseases and disorders of the immune system, including myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Hemispherxs platform technology includes components for potential treatment of various severely debilitating and life-threatening diseases. Because rintatolimod is experimental in nature, it is not designated safe and effective by the FDA for general use and is legally available only through clinical trials. Cautionary Statement Some of the statements included in this press release may be forward-looking statements that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. For those statements, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Any forward-looking statements set forth in this press release speak only as of the date of this press release. We do not undertake to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the date hereof. This press release and prior releases are available at www.hemispherx.net. The information found on our website is not incorporated by reference into this press release and is included for reference purposes only. Contact Hemispherx Biopharma Phone Number: 800-778-4042 Email: IR@hemispherx.net [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] MSTS Taps World Fuel VP as Head of Business Development for APAC OVERLAND PARK, Kan., Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MSTS, a global B2B payment and credit solutions provider, today announced the appointment of Piers Gorman as its head of business development for the APAC region. In this new role, Piers will focus on scaling operations and business development in the Australian and Singapore markets. Formerly the VP of business development for World Fuel Services in Africa, he will be responsible for leading the companys sales and expansion strategy for the region. Based in Singapore, Piers will report directly to Jim Goge, Senior Vice President, Global Sales at MSTS. At MSTS, we are continuously expanding and globalizing our portfolio of credit and payments solutions, blending them with a unique local touch that drives deeply into geo-specific business processes and payments, said Brandon Spear, President of MSTS. Moving money across borders is still a logistical and regulatory challenge and one that we excel at. Thats why Piers is such a great addition to our team, as he will spearhead globalization, expansion and loclization efforts in APAC. Before joining World Fuel Services, Piers served as Managing Director at Dascam Consulting, which was acquired by Ultra Electronics Plc in 2008 and prior to that, he served as Chairman of Sarum Trading, a regional beauty distribution business. Piers began his career serving in the UK Armed Forces before co-founding a defense and security consulting firm, which he helped grow into a 200+ consultant business. Piers is a graduate of Durham University, the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and Junior Staff College. In this era of globalization and ecommerce, the ability for brick and mortar businesses to compete and win utilizing an omnichannel approach is paramount, said Piers Gorman, VP of business development for APAC at MSTS. We are uniquely positioned to accelerate business to business commerce with our blend of global and local market expertise, and I am delighted to take the lead here in APAC. MSTS will be at this weeks Inside Retail Live: Festival of Retail in Melbourne, Australia, Feb. 28-March 1. To schedule a meeting with Piers Gorman please email pgorman@msts.com. About MSTS MSTS, a wholly-owned subsidiary of World Fuel Services Corporation, is a global billing and payments solution company that specializes in commercial transaction management. MSTS currently facilitates transactions for its customers in over 190 countries and territories. MSTS has over 35 years of experience underwriting businesses for credit and is currently providing underwriting in 52 countries. MSTS has a long history of creating and supporting closed-loop commercial billing and payment programs that include both proprietary, branded card products and white-labelled, net-pay and pre-paid card programs around the world in a number of industries, including aviation. For media inquiries contact: Michelle Faul Global Director of Marketing mfaul@msts.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Revzi's Denver Office Reaches a Milestone and Now Supports 100 Local Businesses in the Area DENVER, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Just after six months of opening, Revzi's Denver office announced that it now supports 100 local businesses in the Greater Denver Area. This milestone is not just an accomplishment for Revzi, but all small to mid-sized businesses in the community that have been looking for a solution to better understand their customers as well as improve products, staffing, and general business efficiencies. As a new startup in Denver's River North (RiNo) district since September 2017, the rapid success of Revzi's Denver office is due to the value of its product in an area made up of small to mid-sized business owners. The company's software has left an impactful footprint in the success of Colorado businesses; local owners and general managers are now equipped with cloud-based technology that links to existing processing hardware and captures actionable customer data with every payment transaction. "[Denver] business owners put it all on the line to invest in the growth of their business. It's important that we're giving them the tools to continue to succeed," said Antonio Frausto, District Sales Manager. "Businesses in the Denver area are very receptive to what we have to offer. They're starting to understand that there are better point-of-sale and software solutions out there and that Revzi has these products to help them keep customers coming back." Frausto moved from Revzi's headquarters in Chicago to open the company's Denver office, and since then has seen noticeable growth in the company's influence over the community with increased referrals and brand recognition. Now with a portfolio of over 100 small to id-sized businesses, Revzi's Denver team hopes to continue to expand its local impact. The branch will continue to help restaurants and bars, but also retail, service, and healthcare businesses grow within the area with customized analytics software that generally, is no additional cost to what businesses are currently paying in processing fees. As an established part of Denver's economy, Revzi will also be heavily involved in community efforts that support and foster the growth of local businesses, such as the Eat Colorado Food Show this March 6 at the National Western Complex. The team is also avid customers of their own clients, and always finding opportunities to support the businesses that use their services. Overall, Frausto looks forward to Revzi's Denver location playing a huge role in the community's rapid development. "The restaurant industry in Denver is constantly changing, and we're seeing it grow and develop right in front of our eyes. Revzi is growing as fast as the city is growing, and it's nice to walk into a local business and know that they have already heard of us," said Frausto. Revzi's industry-leading products and services are ideal for local Denver businesses, including bars, restaurants, retail, healthcare, and service-based small businesses. The company also has offices in Chicago, IL and Newport Beach, CA. For more information about Revzi, visit www.revzi.com or contact (303) 416-4823. With the office also rapidly growing, Revzi's Denver branch is always looking for new talent. Anyone interested in joining Revzi is encouraged to visit www.revzi.com or contact (303) 416-4823. About Revzi Founded in 2014, Revzi is one of the industry's fastest-growing point-of-sale technology and analytics software companies that provides local businesses with the industry's leading payment processing software, tools, and customer insights to make them successful. Revzi adds value to the payment processing experience by listening to the challenges of each individual business and making recommendations on the industry's best software solution to help local businesses turn payments into profits. With locations in Chicago, Denver, and Orange County, Revzi supports more than 1,500 bars, restaurants, retail, healthcare, service, and other local small businesses to make better-informed decisions on $1.5 billion dollars in annual sales. Media Contact Vicki Hoang Marketing Director (949) 329-2491 190823@email4pr.com View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/revzis-denver-office-reaches-a-milestone-and-now-supports-100-local-businesses-in-the-area-300604038.html SOURCE Revzi [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Sentera Licenses University of Minnesota Crop Nitrogen Status Technology MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sentera has signed an agreement to bring novel University of Minnesota-developed corn nitrogen deficiency technology to the market. The technology allows growers to more precisely match applied nitrogen fertilizer to the optimal needs of the crop. Minimizing over-application of nutrients saves money, reduces the risk of fertilizer runoff into lakes, streams, and rivers, and preserves crop yield. Under an exclusive agreement, Sentera will integrate the capability into the Sentera FieldAgent Platform and begin field trials with several of its largest customers this year. Commercial rollout is planned for 2019. Benefitting Growers, Environment "Nitrogen management is one of the primary controllable cost components for corn growers," said Sentera CEO Eric Taipale. "This technology enables tailored management practices aided by a real-time estimate of nitrogen status. Real-time feedback into existing prescription models delivers further refinement and reduces risk to the grower while improving their bottom line." Leaves Tell the Story The technology, developed through University of Minnesota research with support from the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, detects nitrogen stress in corn using computer vision techniques that recognize characteristic features on plant leaves. The frequency and appearance of these features correlate directly to nitrogen deficiency. Deficiency information is subsequently fed into models that incorporate other weather, soils, and similar information to generate a prescription to address the issue. "The correct application of nitrogen is a critical variable in crop success and keeping agricultural practices from harming our environment," said David Mulla, professor and Larson Endowed Chair in soil and water resources at the U's College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Scieces. "Working with Sentera allows us to move the research we've done at the University of Minnesota into the hands of farmers quickly and efficiently. Producers will be able to be far more accurate in their fertilizer application, saving them money and keeping nitrogen out of the water." Next Generation Nitrogen Detection Nitrogen stress in crops has generally been identified via more expensive manual techniques, or by using remote sensing technology that cannot distinguish between nitrogen and other crop stressors, such as diseases, pests, or other nutrient problems. In contrast, this technology can diagnose a nitrogen issue directly. "The University of Minnesota is a leader in automated sensing technology, pioneering new methods for solving difficult problems," said Nikolaos Papanikolopoulos, McKnight Presidential Endowed Professor in computer science and engineering at the U's College of Science and Engineering. "It's exciting to see this technology being licensed and developed locally, and it's another indication of Minnesota's growing strengthacademic and commercialin the area of sophisticated sensing and analysis." Dedicated Trial Sentera has launched a dedicated trial program with some of its largest customers through its FieldAgent Platform. Nitrogen Deficiency Detection Analytics will be rolled out to all FieldAgent subscribers during the 2019 North American growing season. Click here to read the University of Minnesota's technology write-up. About Sentera Sentera is a leading supplier of integrated remote sensing, analytics, and IoT solutions to the agriculture industry. Sentera makes it easy for users to integrate in-field real-time data with many digital ag platforms. Sentera's equipment has flown tens of millions of acres all over the world, and the company manages terabytes of new data for its customers every year. For more information, visit www.sentera.com. About the University of Minnesota Founded in 1851, the University of Minnesota is ranked among the nation's top public research universities. The University's Office for Technology Commercialization facilitates the transfer of University of Minnesota research to licensees for the development of new products and services that benefit the public good, foster economic growth and generate revenue to support the University's research and education mission. Media contact information: Sentera: Sarah Ritzen, 952-242-9245, 190941@email4pr.com University of Minnesota: Kevin Coss, 612-625-1453, 190941@email4pr.com View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sentera-licenses-university-of-minnesota-crop-nitrogen-status-technology-300604695.html SOURCE Sentera [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Intelenet Global Services: US Online Travel Agency Market Takes to the Skies with Adoption of Technology Today, Priceline report their annual earnings which have been forecasted to slightly elevated expectations.1 Together with Expedia, they both control 95% of the US Online Travel Agency (OTA) market. 2 According to a Phocuswright report, the total travel market is expected to reach over $400 billion in 2020.3 But the online travel agency (OTA) market faces tough competition from vendors such as Airbnb, as well as tech giants Google (News - Alert) , Alibaba and Amazon.4 Skift Research found that Google travel business is worth as much as $100 billion, outpacing the earnings of OTAs like Priceline, which has a $90 billion market cap.5 In response to the rising competition, OTAs are turning to digital solutions which help reduce costs and improve time to market through, among other things, automation of manual data entry processes such as contract and rate loading, and property content management. Intelenet Global Services has developed iLoadTM, which eliminates manual uploading and verification of property rates and information by automating a major portion of the activities involved, resulting in huge savings in time and resource availability. William Hoppe, Travel & Logistics Practice Leader at Intelenet Global Services, comments: "As the lines between technology and travel increasingly blur, travel and hospitality companies need to prioritize providing hassle-free and timely booking options to retain their market share from agile technology competitors. Throughout the year, one of the biggest challenges for OTAs and hospitality companies is manually inputting rates, booking and property information, including promotional rates and daily changes to availability, while adhering to each contract's policies. This practice can be time consuming and result in human errors, which can lead to huge retail losses. "Submitting this data by hand is a time-intensive process which is prone to a number of errors that impact the overall end-customer satisfaction. For instance, if a $400 hotel rate is mistakenly entered as $40, the travel service provider has to honor the advertised rate, which in turn can hurt profits. iLoad, a next-generation automation solution, however, is capable of reading data off any source and can, using artificial intelligence to process business rules, accurately upload it, capture relevant information, perform company and property-specific calculations, and output the resulting data into client reservation systems. Deployment of iLoad can positively impact cost and time-to-market, driving an on-average 30 percent improvement in productivity, while practically eliminating the errors that result in retail losses. Mr. Hoppe continues: "In an 'always-connected' world, customers expect fast and accurate results and smooth transactions. Through automation, travel companies can ensure that they provide the highest level of service, using the most reliable and cost-competitive data available. In a brand agnostic age, especially during busy travel periods, attention to customer care is more important than ever in order to ensure customer longevity." Intelenet has a suite of travel technology solutions developed by digital experts who have over 15 years of experience in the travel and hospitality space. Intelenet has recently been recognized as a high performer by HFS' Travel and Hospitality Blueprint Report for 2017, in its ability to drive speed, efficiency and cost-effectiveness for its clients through innovative technologies. ENDS About Intelenet Global Services: Intelenet is a large global Business Process Outsourcing player, committed to delivering its client's strategic goals and helping in enhancing, broadening, and deepening the relationship to add value. Backed by The Blackstone Group, a leading Global Private Equity player, with a current portfolio of clients that includes several Fortune 500 companies, Intelenet Global Services is a 55,000 people organization spread across 70 global delivery centers across America, UK, Europe, Middle East, Philippines and India; supporting 100+ clients in over 25 languages. Intelenet provides innovative, cutting-edge solutions, supporting customers across Contact Center solutions, F&A, HRO, IT solutions and security & compliance across Banking and Financial Institutions, Healthcare, Travel and Hospitality, Telecom, Retail, Manufacturing, Logistics and Utilities & Energy verticals. Intelenet Global Service's range of integrated BPM services deliver transformational benefits to clients through reduced costs, ongoing productivity improvements, and process re-engineering. 1 https://www.streetinsider.com/Analyst+Comments/The+Priceline+Group+%28PCLN%29+PT+Raised+to+%242%2C045+at+Deutsche+Bank+Ahead+of+4Q+Earnings+on+227+AMC%3B+Investor+Expectations+Slightly+Elevated+on+Strong+3rd+Party+Data/13849317.html 2 https://www.forbes.com/sites/francistapon/2018/02/12/what-winding-trees-ico-and-its-blockchain-based-technology-mean-to-the-travel-industry/#a0063e444dcf 3 https://seekingalpha.com/article/4058828-competition-heating-online-travel 4 https://www.bloomberg.com/professional/blog/consolidation-in-online-travel/ 5 http://www.travelmarketreport.com/articles/In-Battle-of-Online-Booking-Versus-Travel-Agents-Most-Consumers-Still-Rely-on-Agents https://www.intelenetglobal.com/travel-solutions/ View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227005740/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Global Wound Care Product Market to be Worth USD 21.79 Billion by 2022 Netscribes, Inc., a global market intelligence firm, released the Global Wound Care Market report today. According to Netscribes, the Global Wound Care Market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 5.9% and expected to be worth $21.79 billion by 2022. Factors such as rise in disposable income, increasing access of better healthcare, advancements in technology and increasing awareness have contributed to the growth of the global advanced wound dressing market. Netscribes observed the practice of home health care trending in emerging markets like Asia-Pacific and Latin America. Although the global wound care market is expected to grow progressively, there is a ack of expert healthcare professionals who can adopt new advanced technologies. Additionally, the average price for wound care products is quite high, which can hamper growth in price-sensitive markets. Other key highlights from the report are as follows: North America is the market leader in global wound care product market. Asia-Pacific region is the fastest-growing region. Surgical wound care products is the largest segment within the wound care product market, while the advanced wound care products is the fastest-growing segment. Chronic wound care is the largest and the fastest-growing segment due to the rising prevalence of diabetes. For more information, download the Netscribes Global Wound Care Product Market Report. Netscribes offers custom market research solutions based on specific business needs. To request for custom research contact info@netscribes.com. About Netscribes Netscribes is a global market intelligence and content services provider that helps corporations achieve strategic objectives through a wide range of offerings. Our solutions rely on a unique combination of qualitative and quantitative primary research, secondary/desk research, social media analytics, and scientific research. For more than 15 years, we have helped our clients across a range of industries, including technology, financial services, healthcare, retail, and CPG. Fortune 500 companies, as well as small- to mid-size firms, have benefited from our partnership with relevant market and competitive insights to drive higher growth, faster customer acquisition, and a sustainable edge in their business. Netscribes is backed by Helix investments, a US-based private equity fund. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227005826/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Record-Setting Growth Builds Momentum for Vector Solutions' Continued Success in 2018 TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Vector Solutions, a leader in eLearning and performance support solutions, announced record-setting growth in 2017, positioning the company for continued growth and expansion this year. Since January 2016, the company has more than doubled in size and increased its revenue by 60%. "Our growth and success are a reflection of the internal strength and structure of our business," said Jeff Gordon, CEO of Vector Solutions. "Our company is filled with people who understand our mission and feel passionate about achieving it. We aim to bring the very best in training technology and SaaS services to the everyday heroes we serve and to do this, we start within our own organization." Vector Solutions added nearly 150 employees in 2017, increasing its total employee count to 312. The increase in size also mirrors its geographical expansion with three new locations in Boston, MA, Cincinnati, OH, and Salt Lake City, UT and expanded facilities in its Tampa, FL and San Diego, CA offices. The company's growing strength and achievements have been nationally recognized this past year with four Brandon Hall Awards, two for Excellence in Learning and Development and two for Excellence in Technology, and by topping the Training Industry's Top 20 Health and Safety Training Companies list. The Bandon Hall Award is one of the most coveted in the Learning industry and is often called the "Academy Awards" by learning, talent and business executives. "Our dedication to delivering the industry-leading training solutions shines through in our work and our employees," said Victoria Zambito, SVP of Content & Communications with Vector Solutions. "We are very proud of our achievements, and looking into 2018, we have set the stage to drive our company, our team members and our clients into much more success." In 2017, the online training company's course library grew from 4,000 to almost 7,000. Through its industry-specific brands, Vector Solutions now reaches over 6 million professionals across the country. More information and resources can be found on Vector Solutions'website and Newsroom. About Vector Solutions Vector Solutions, a leader in eLearning and performance support, provides award-winning SaaS solutions for the architecture, engineering, construction (AEC), industrial, facilities management, public safety, IT and education industries. Its brands,RedVector, TargetSolutions, and SafeSchools, deliver continuing education (CE), training, technology and performance management solutions using the latest innovations in learning and technology to create safer, more capable, more compliant organizations. Its extensive online and mobile learning library exceeds more than 6,600 courses written by over 250 subject matter experts and reaches almost 6 million professionals worldwide. The company was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit www.vectorsolutions.com. Follow us on twitter @VectorPerform and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/VectorPerformance. Media Contact: Victoria Zambito SVP, Content and Communication Victoria.Zambito@vectorsolutions.com 813.864.2664 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/record-setting-growth-builds-momentum-for-vector-solutions-continued-success-in-2018-300604820.html SOURCE Vector Solutions [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Pony.ai Launches Autonomous Vehicle Fleet in China, Announces Strategic Partnership with Top OEM Guangzhou Automobile Group FREMONT, Calif., Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Earlier this month, Pony.ai held a special event in China during which it launched its autonomous ride-sharing fleet, becoming the first company to offer self-driving car rides on city roads to the general public in China. Event attendees were able to experience Pony.ai's fully self-driving cars on a 2.8km route (roughly 1.7 miles). The event took place on Feb. 2nd in downtown Nansha, Guangzhou, where the company has recently established its China headquarters. In addition to trial rides, the event also consisted of a signing ceremony that solidified a strategic partnership between the young company and China's second-largest carmaker, Guangzhou Automobile Group (GAC Group). Since Pony.ai established its presence in Nansha, the company's autonomous cars have already undergone rigorous road tests covering thousands of kilometers in distance. Within the span of three short months, Pony.ai's autonomous driving platform has already learned to deal with unique road scenarios such as congested city streets, inclement weather, and unexpected road behavior more typical of an urban Chinese driving environment. These scenarios have pushed the Pony.ai team to further enhance and refine their algorithms, creating a more sophisticated AI system that is capable of handling more complex road conditions. Pony.ai showcased six cars at their Friday morning event: Four Lincoln MKZs (large four-door sedan) Two GAC Chuanqis (compact SUV) Various local government officials, Pony.ai partners, and key investors attended the event. District Secretary of Nansha, Mr. Chaolin Cai, experienced Pony.ai's technology for a second time when he participated in the launch event. As Director of the 2017 Executive Committee for the Fortune Global Forum in Guangzhou, Mr. Cai had visited Pony.ai's California office last September, during which he rode Pony.ai's autonomous vehicle for the first time and was highly impressed despite its relatively nascent state. This launch's trial route was an opportunity for Pony.ai to showcase some of its technological progress. The route featured several challenging scenarios, including three consecutive lane changes on Phoenix Boulevard, large multi-lane intersections, and bridge-crossings involving sloped roads. Starting at the Nansha Government building, the cars immediately turn onto Phoenix Boulevard, the major traffic roadway of Nansha. The route then leads to Jiao Xi Road before reaching its final destination at the civic square where Nansha's Lantern Festival takes place. A number of Guangzhou citizens were able to experience a trial ride with Pony.ai engineers. While on the ride, the engineers provided an overview of the technology, helping citizens engage more directly with the innovations that are revolutionizing the transportation system. During Pony.ai's time in Guangzhou, the team has also developed a specific software module that enables the cars to handle inclement weather and heavy rain conditions. This technical breakthrough has enabled Pony.ai to achieve new heights in reliability and safety. GAC Group and Pony.ai join forces to realize a self-driving future On the morning before the trial rides took place, Pony.ai and GAC Group, the second-largest automaker in China and a Fortune 500 corporation, establihed a strategic partnership to collaborate in four key areas. These four areas include further development of self-driving technology, autonomous vehicle operationalization, broader mobility development, and capital partnership. Together, the two companies will work closely to make progress in research, development, and manufacturing. President of GAC Group Xingya Feng expressed, "the current global automotive industry is in the process of undergoing profound change. Automotive products are rapidly becoming smarter, more connected, and more lightweight while harnessing innovations in alternative energy. Against an ever-progressing backdrop of smart mobility and intelligent transportation, I believe this partnership between GAC Group and Pony.ai will spearhead innovations in automotive and beyond. Leveraging unique advantages that both organizations bring to the table, this partnership will greatly contribute to the development of China's smart car industry as well as the Nansha district of Guangzhou." James Peng, Co-founder and CEO of Pony.ai, agreed that "the combination of Pony.ai's world-class capability in software development and GAC Group's exceptional capability in vehicle technology and production will undoubtedly yield an unparalleled autonomous driving system." Harry Hu, COO of Pony.ai, adds: "this partnership between GAC Group and Pony.ai has the potential for meaningful global impact and influence. We look forward to working with GAC Group to deliver the most reliable, safe, and comprehensive autonomous vehicle experience to the public." Pony.ai continues to work closely with the Nansha district, partners, and investors Peng, Pony.ai CEO, expressed gratitude for the Nansha government's unwavering support and revealed plans to establish an autonomous pilot zone for citizens to experience the convenience and safety of autonomous vehicles. Peng said that in a three-month period, Pony.ai was able to successfully modify and test its vehicles, achieving a level of maturity that enables everyday citizens to try out the technology themselves. Pony.ai was supported at the event by several key partners that also attended, including LiDAR company Velodyne, autonomy enabler AutonomouStuff, and sensor company BDStar Navigation. Working with new and existing partners, Pony.ai will build on Nansha's automotive foundation to create a leading city in innovative mobility. Tiancheng Lou, Co-founder and CTO of Pony.ai adds, "this year we continued our efforts in research and testing, and ultimately realized a breakthrough in autonomous vehicle technology. Starting today, we are thrilled to give Guangzhou citizens their first opportunity to experience self-driving cars. We hope that this moment marks a pivotal point towards a safer and more efficient mobility future." Hu, Pony.ai COO, concludes: "Pony.ai has captured advantages in terms of talent, capital, research and development, and commercialization. We look onwards with excitement as we work with Nansha and our partners to deliver world-class autonomous driving solutions." Wenji Jin, Managing Partner of A-round lead investor Legend Capital, believes that Pony.ai will continue to stand at the forefront of this industry and create a leading brand. Fisher Zhang, Managing Partner at A-round lead investor Morningside Ventures, congratulates Pony.ai on being the first to officially introduce autonomous cars to the public [in China]. He says, "this is a cornerstone not just for Pony.ai but for the entire industry of Autonomous Vehicles, and I look forward to seeing what else the incredible team at Pony.ai has in store." Though not present at the event, Founding Managing Partner of Sequoia Capital China, Neil Shen, sent in a video to express his congratulations to the team. He congratulated the team on the significant strategic partnership with GAC Group as well as the historic milestone of the fleet's official launch. He said, "We at Sequoia believe that such a wonderful team will continue to surprise us as they make a name for themselves in this unique intersection of industries." About Nansha As a part of Guangzhou's broader technology development effort, the Nansha district is leading the charge on advancing the local AI industry. Deputy Director of Nansha Development Zone, Ming Xie, revealed that the district is rapidly building out its intelligent urban ecosystem and is striving to become a Ministry of Transportation test base for autonomous vehicles. The district is experiencing an in-pouring of economic and capital resources, including 33 investment projects in partnership with Fortune 500 companies such as Haier, China Life Insurance, China Petroleum, JD.com, and others. About Pony.ai Founded in late 2016, Pony.ai aims to build the safest and most reliable self-driving technology and deliver it at a global scale. Pony.ai's fully self-developed software algorithms enable a vehicle to accurately perceive its surroundings, predict what others will do, and maneuver itself accordingly. The team is deeply passionate about bringing the latest breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence to the future of transportation. In January 2018, Pony.ai announced a $112M funding round led by Morningside Ventures and Legend Capital, with seed investors Sequoia Capital China and IDG Capital also participating in the round. The funding round represents the largest single round ever raised by a Chinese autonomous driving company. Pony.ai is a privately held company headquartered in Fremont, California and Guangzhou, China, with an R&D center in Beijing, China. Media Contact Erin Lumley GoGo Comm on behalf of Pony.ai 925-899-1355 191013@email4pr.com View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ponyai-launches-autonomous-vehicle-fleet-in-china-announces-strategic-partnership-with-top-oem-guangzhou-automobile-group-300604884.html SOURCE Pony.ai [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Power generation in Canada's north just got a lot greener PETERBOROUGH, ON, Feb. 27, 2018 /CNW/ - On January 28, 2018, Northwest Territories Power Corporation (NTPC) went live with Innovus Power's Variable Speed Generator (VSG) Project in Aklavik Northwest Territories, Canada. The remote northern community's more than 300 households are now being powered with Innovus' 590kW converter-based VSG platform which is expected to save the community an estimated 80,000 litres of fuel per year. Innovus' technology seamlessly integrated the existing 52kW solar PV system, and will provide the ability to add significantly more renewables in Aklavik. Innovus' technology ushers in a new era in smart generation while addressingCanada's northern energy Crisis. It allows the engine to operate at its most efficient speed for any load. At low engine speeds, Innovus provides healthy low-load operation, while achieving up to 40% higher efficiency. Innovus' platform also allows renewable penetration up to 90% without the added complexity and cost of storage normally required for grid stabilization. The result maximizes fuel savings and greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions. In the future, as battery cost decrease, Innovus' inverter based platform can readily integrate storage and accelerate its cost effective use for time-shifting. At the core of Innovus' platform is its proprietary embedded software control system, configured to incorporate a wide range of engines, fuels, and energy technologies. The system is built on proven and bankable major components. With major partnering OEM's, the Innovus platform carries a global network of world class service and support. "With the launch of NTPC's Aklavik project, we are witnessing the beginning of a revolution in smart power generation," states Marc Hoffman, Innovus' CEO and President. "Our technology brings proven efficiency, resiliency, and dispatchability and we look forward to playing an important role in achieving Climate Change goals in remote communities across Canada and the US." A 2017 study by the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy (WISE) independently evaluated Innovus' technology, and determined it provides the best solution to address the needs of Northern remote communities in Canada. According to WISE, pairing Innovus with renewable energy sources reduces GHG emissions by 60% to 89% and fuel consumption by 53% to 83% while providing the lowest levelized cost of energy. Innovus provides superior operating results in all distributed primary power applications including Mining, Oil & Gas, and Island grids in addition to Northern Remote Communities. SOURCE Innovus-Power [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Sun Biopharma, Inc. Files United States Patent Protecting the Manufacturing Process for Its Lead Drug Candidate, SBP-101 MINNEAPOLIS, MN, Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sun BioPharma, Inc. (OTCQB:SNBP), a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing disruptive therapeutics for the treatment of pancreatic diseases, today announced the acceptance by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office of a provisional application (No. 62/623,641) for its novel manufacturing process developed for its lead drug candidate, SBP-101, currently being studied for the treatment of patients suffering from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA). This filing of a provisional patent marks a key milestone in Sun BioPharmas Intellectual Portfolio strategy providing further protection of our proprietary manufacturing process, said Thomas X. Neenan, PhD, Sun BioPharmas Chief Scientific Officer. This new process will greatly simplify the synthesis of SBP-101, reducing costs and manufacturing time as we continue to move forward with the clinical development of SBP-101 for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. PDA is a multi-billion dollar market, the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the US and a significant unmet medical need. SBP-101 is a novel small molecule that functions as a polyamine metabolic inhibitor. Exploiting the natural affinity of the exocrine pancreas for polyamines, SBP-101 selectively targets the cancerous cells derived from the exocrine pancreas while minimizing toxicity to pancreatic islet (insulin producing) cells and other non-target tissues. Results from an initial Phase 1 safety trial demonstrated that SBP-101 was well tolerated at dose levels below the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD). In addition, early signals of efficacy in the form of stable disease, reduction in the tumor marker CA19-9 and overall survival were observed in the study and the independent Data Safety Monitoring Board evaluating the study recommended further clinical development. As we move forward with our next clinical trial, a first-line Phase 1a/1b study of SBP-101 in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in previously untreated patients, this new manufacturing process positions us to produce SBP-101 to better support patient enrollment on a more timely and cost efficient basis said David B. Kaysen, President and CEO. The filing of this provisional patent is important next step in developing our patent portfolio and signals the importance of our commitment to develop additional patents in the future. About SBP-101 SBP-101 is a first-in-class, proprietary, polyamine compound designed to exert herapeutic effects in a mechanism specific to the exocrine pancreas. Sun BioPharma originally licensed SBP-101 from the University of Florida Research Foundation in 2011. The molecule has been shown to be highly effective in preclinical studies of human pancreatic cancer models, demonstrating superior activity to existing FDA-approved chemotherapy agents. Combination therapy potential has also been demonstrated. SBP-101 is expected to differ from current pancreatic cancer therapies in that it specifically targets tumors originating in the exocrine pancreas and has shown single-agent and combination efficacy against primary and metastatic disease in animal models of human pancreatic cancer. Management believes that SBP-101 may effectively treat both primary and metastatic pancreatic cancer, while leaving the insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells and non-pancreatic tissue unharmed. The safety and metabolic profile demonstrated in our first-in-human safety study further supports evaluation of the potential for additive or synergistic effects when used in combination with current standard pancreatic cancer treatment. About Sun BioPharma Sun BioPharma Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing disruptive therapeutics for urgent unmet medical needs. The Companys development programs target diseases of the pancreas, including pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis; the Companys initial product candidate is SBP-101 for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. SBP-101 was invented by Raymond Bergeron, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the University of Florida. Sun BioPharma has scientific collaborations with pancreatic disease experts at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, the University of Miami, the University of Florida, the University of Minnesota, the Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, the Austin Health Cancer Trials Centre in Melbourne, Australia and the Ashford Cancer Centre in Adelaide, Australia. The Companys independent Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) is Chaired by James Abbruzzese, MD, Professor of Medicine, Charles Johnson, M.D. Professor of Medicine, a member of the Duke Cancer Institute and Chief, Division of Medical Oncology at Duke University School of Medicine. Further information can be found at: www.sunbiopharma.com. Sun BioPharmas common stock is currently quoted on the OTCQB tier of the over-the-counter markets administered by the OTC Markets Group, Inc. under the symbol: SNBP. Forward-Looking Statements Safe Harbor This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For example, statements regarding the Companys next study, the timing and effects of the reverse stock split and potential eligibility and approval for listing on a national securities exchange are forward-looking statements. Any other statements that are not historical fact (including, but not limited to statements that contain words such as will, believes, may, anticipates, expects, estimates or plans) should also be considered to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by, which such performance or results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time the statements are made and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from the information expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, our need to obtain additional capital, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all, risks inherent in the development and/or commercialization of potential products, uncertainty in the results or timing of clinical trials or regulatory approvals, timing of necessary regulatory processes relating to the reverse stock split, and other material changes in our business that could jeopardize our ability to qualify for listing on a national securities exchange. Actual results may differ materially from the results anticipated in these forward-looking statements and as such should be evaluated together with the many uncertainties that affect the Company and its business, particularly those disclosed from time to time in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Stockholders and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements. Contact Information: Investor & Media Contact: Tammy Groene Sun BioPharma, Inc. 952 479 1196 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Maropost Makes Mobile Marketing Personal TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Maropost, the innovating force in Marketing and Sales technology, introduced all-new mobile features to Maropost Marketing Cloud. Designed to captureand keepcustomer attention, the platform's new personalization and content capabilities are the latest in a long history of innovation. Through an advanced personalization engine, users can now continuously optimize in-app adsas campaigns run. Unlike traditional mobile marketing, Maropost's adaptable push and in-app campaigns incorporate data from unique user profilesfor unparalleled individualization. "We're always looking for opportunities to create more meaningful interactions with customers," says Peter Gold, Chief Digital Marketing Officer at Market America & SHOP.COM. "And now that we can do that on mobile, Maropost is putting us an extra step ahead of our competitors." To further enhance messages, newly supported rich contentincluing images, videos, GIFs, and sound filesis designed to capture ever-shrinking audience attention spans. Increasing engagement and improving experiences, rich content provides a whole new medium for mobile marketing. "Engagement, conversion, and retention all come down to one thingpersonalization, says Maropost CEO, Ross Andrew Paquette. Adaptable messaging is an essential part of that, which is exactly what these enhancements provide." To learn more, visit Maropost Marketing Cloud online. About Maropost Maropost is a B2C cloud-based sales & marketing suite that enables companies to increase cross-channel customer engagement and maximize revenue. Through integrated marketing and sales automation, Maropost provides the essential tools, strategic guidance, and support needed to create personalized customer experiences through a 360-degree business viewfrom marketing automation, to CRM, commerce, and customer support. Headquartered in Toronto, Canada, Maropost is trusted by brands like DigitalMarketer, New York Post, Mercedes-Benz, RollingStone, SHOP.com, and Yext. Learn more at www.maropost.com . For more information, please contact: Christine Glossop Marketing Communications Manager Maropost 1-888-438-3152 x239 christine@maropost.com [February 27, 2018] Five Blocks Names Howard Opinsky President Amid Growing Demand for Digital Reputation Solutions NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Veteran communication and reputation strategist Howard Opinsky has been named President of Five Blocks, a fast-growing digital reputation consulting and technology firm. Howard will provide strategic counsel to clients and lead the company's growth and expansion as more corporations and high-profile individuals seek innovative solutions to build, promote, and defend their digital reputations. Five Blocks provides ethical and effective digital strategies to help clients take control of their reputations in good times and in crisis. They have a brand enhancement approach to reputation management that utilizes data, proprietary technology, and authentic search strategies rather than relying on technological tricks or manufactured content. They work directly with clients and partner with communication consultants and PR firms to bring effective and reliable results. "We are pleased to have Howard join Five Blocks as we quickly scale our offering to help even more clients effectively control their digital reputations," said Sam Michelson, CEO and Founder of Five Blocks. "From fake news o bots and competitive content, Howard understands the latest challenges faced by corporations and individuals seeking fair and honest representation of their brand. Howard's mix of communication, reputation management, and business expertise will benefit our company and our clients as we continue to innovate and adapt to the ever-changing digital environment." Howard is a veteran digital communication strategist, crisis counselor, and corporate brand builder. He utilizes a combination of experience from politics, business, and the highest levels of major global corporations to deliver value and insight to clients. For over 15 years, Howard has been a senior executive at Hill+Knowlton Strategies and Weber Shandwick where his clients included several global corporations, NGO's, high-profile individuals, and governments. Howard began his career as a political strategist and communication advisor to candidates and causes including U.S. Senator John McCain's presidential campaign. "It's never been more difficult to build a good reputation, nor easier to lose it, than in today's digital world," said Howard. "The Five Blocks team is the most experienced partner to help brands navigate this challenge with effective strategies and outstanding client service. I'm delighted to join Five Blocks and eager to help bring our services and technology to even more clients." About Five Blocks: Five Blocks is a digital consulting and technology firm focused on reputation management. We offer proprietary technology solutions and personalized, confidential advisory services to corporations and high-profile individuals who want to build, promote, and defend their reputations. We are experts at digital search with over a decade of experience adapting to its ever-evolving parameters, rules, and best practices. Our team of analysts, technology developers, researchers and advisors come to us from the fields of technology, academia, communications, and business. With our headquarters in New York City and a development team in Israel, Five Blocks works with corporations and high-profile individuals around the globe. Learn more at www.fiveblocks.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/five-blocks-names-howard-opinsky-president-amid-growing-demand-for-digital-reputation-solutions-300604517.html SOURCE Five Blocks [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Klas Telecom Adds 6th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor to TRX Connected Transportation Platform DUBLIN, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Klas Telecom announced today the addition of the 6th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor to the available CPU options for the TRX Connected Transportation Platform. The 6th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor increases the performance of the company's onboard communications gateway, server, storage and switching product line for the railway industry. "Adding the 6th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor to the TRX R6 onboard communications gateway/server creates more scalable solutions for enhanced delivery of services," Klas Telecom Chief Technology Officer Frank Murray said. "The availability of eight virtual CPUs allied to the product's industry-leading 32 GB RAM means that TRX R6 can host a range of applications including Mobile Cellular Gateway, TV/Movie content, CCTV and Wireless LAN Controller on a single easy-to-manage platform. This scalability allows railway operators to add features over the life cycle of their onboard solution." TRX provides the ideal slution for rolling stock with the new quad core processor boasting an impressive 2.0 GHz clock rate, while featuring improved thermal efficiency due to reduced power consumption. TRX is also an inherently rugged platform that is rigorously tested and is certified to comply with the international standards for railway applications. Klas Telecom has been utilizing Intel Core processors in the TRX Connected Transportation Platform since the product line's launch. The latest addition of the 6th Generation Intel Core i7 Processor to TRX demonstrates the company's commitment to providing its customers with the latest technology available in the market today. About Klas Telecom Klas Telecom is an engineering and design company with over 25 years of experience developing innovative communications solutions for the network edge. Klas Telecom delivers connectivity to remote and austere environments where low size, weight, power and ruggedization are required. The company specializes in integrating enterprise networking capabilities from global IT leaders with in-house hardware and software platforms designed to meet market demands and the most stringent environmental requirements. Klas Telecom leverages the latest technology to stay on the forefront of the deployable communications industry. Klas Telecom operates in the public safety, transportation and U.S. and international government and defense markets. The company employs staff across four offices located in Washington, DC; Herndon, VA; Tampa, FL; and Dublin, Ireland. www.klastelecom.com. For media inquiries, please contact: Carrie Sarver Hall | VP of Marketing and Communications Klas Telecom carrie.hall@klastelecom.com 202-288-6342 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/klas-telecom-adds-6th-generation-intel-core-i7-processor-to-trx-connected-transportation-platform-300605017.html SOURCE Klas Telecom [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] NeverBounce Releases New White Paper on Email Attrition CLEVELAND, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- NeverBounce, the industry leading email verification and list cleaning service, today released a new white paper examining the average attrition rate of B2B versus B2C email addresses. Based on user data analyzed over a 12-month period, the white paper "The State of Email Attrition 2018" looks at the average attrition rate, or "churn rate" of B2C email addresses, addresses featuring consumer domains such as "@aol.com," "@gmail.com," "@yahoo.com," "@rr.com," etc., and B2B email addresses, addresses containing unique domain addresses specific to a business or organization. A sample set of 40 million records of valid user B2C and B2B email data gathered during a five-month period was reevaluated after a year to determine the average attrition rate of both subsets. To view the white paper in full, visit here. "Compiling this research and data is a part of our ongoing commitment to analyzing the email marketing industry and tracking the changes to email technology over time," said Brad Owen, CEO and Founder of NeverBounce. "We have not previously released our findings on the attrition of email data publicly and we are excited to share this study, among other insights, that can be learned from NeverBounce's extensive user data." Email lists must be cleaned and maintained to ensure that messages reach the inbox. Spam complaints, undelivered messages, and unsubscribes can all impact email deliverability, as Internet Service Providers (ISPs), Email Service Providers (ESPs), anti-spam advocates, and email protection services set thresholds for bounced emails, spam complaints, and unsubscribe requests. If your email marketing efforts are consistently being sent to invalid or unwanted email addresses, you could find your messages filtered as spam, your account blocked or suspended from sending mail. To check the health of your email list, visit NeverBounce.com for a free instant bounce analysis. About NeverBounce Over 60,000 users trust NeverBounce for their real-time email verification and list cleaning services. NeverBounce ensures you reach your customers by dramatically increasing the delivery of your emails to the inbox. By removing outdated email addresses and checking if an email is valid, NeverBounce improves deliverability and helps businesses adhere to strict email provider guidelines. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, a dedicated team of engineers are available to assist with integrations. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/neverbounce-releases-new-white-paper-on-email-attrition-300604541.html SOURCE NeverBounce [February 27, 2018] SecureCircle Welcomes Eric Schrenker as Vice President of Global Alliances MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SecureCircle, a leader in unstructured data security for cloud-first enterprises, today announced Eric Schrenker as its new Vice President of Global Alliances. Schrenker brings extensive consulting and alliance experience to SecureCircle, including deep relationships with many global systems integrators. In his new role, Schrenker will focus on developing SecureCircle's system integrator partnerships and delivery capabilities. Schrenker will report to George Teunissen, SecureCircle's Chief Operating Officer and EVP of Sales. "We are excited to leverage Eric's expertise to further develop SecureCircle's global alliance program," said Jeff Capone, SecureCircle co-founder and CEO. "His robust background and insight into developing teams and programs is exactly what we need to continue our partnership expansion strategy." Schrenker coes to SecureCircle after spending seven years developing and leading the Global Systems Integrator programs at HPE/Voltage, where he was responsible for building the alliance program as well as recruiting, training, business development, field engagement and eminence development. Schrenker also served in several software leadership and management consulting positions over the course of his 25-year career, including as an officer in the U.S. Army. Eric is a graduate of West Point where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in computer science. About SecureCircle SecureCircle was founded in 2015 to help solve pressing industry challenges in cybersecurity. Its patent-pending Transparent File Encryption solution helps organizations ensure the security, visibility and control of unstructured data from internal and external threats, regardless of format or storage location. Unlike existing technologies, SecureCircle provides a completely transparent solution which is always encrypted, trackable, and retractable, helping organizations to effectively secure data in today's cloud-first environment. SecureCircle helps companies within healthcare, finance, manufacturing, pharma, media, and government organizations meet data security and compliance requirements. Learn more at SecureCircle.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Press Contact: Brooks Wallace, Hollywood Agency brooks@hollywoodagency.com (781) 749-0077 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/securecircle-welcomes-eric-schrenker-as-vice-president-of-global-alliances-300604873.html SOURCE SecureCircle [February 27, 2018] Nokia and T-Mobile leading the way with nationwide 5G multi-band network rollout across the United States Press Release Nokia 5G network solution to be deployed in 600MHz and 28GHz mmWave spectrum this year Enables T-Mobile to meet consumer demand for massive broadband and address new opportunities for the industry Leverages Nokia commercial AirScale radio platforms and cloud-native core, utilizing AirFrame hardware, CloudBand as well as 5G Acceleration Services 27 February, 2018 Espoo, Finland - Nokia and T-Mobile are to roll out a nationwide 5G multi-band network in the United States using the commercial Nokia 5G solution. Nokia will also further advance T-Mobile's existing 4G LTE network, providing advanced radio access network (RAN) support for 4G and 5G subscribers. Nokia will begin building the network during the second quarter of 2018, completing the deployment during 2020. By the end of this year, the 5G RAN will be deployed using both 600MHz and 28GHz mmWave AirScale solutions for the delivery of multi-gigabit speeds and ultra-low latency in some of the most heavily populated areas of the country, including Dallas. This will enable T-Mobile to introduce innovative services for its customers at home, work and on the move. Deployment of the 5G network in the 600MHz and 28GHz mmWave spectrum will be compliant with 3GPP 5G New Radio (NR) standards supported by the Nokia AirScale radio platform, powered by the new ReefShark chipset family and Nokia's cloud-native core portfolio. Nokia's 5G Acceleration Services will assist T-Mobile in launching 5G services in early 2019 in select key cities. Neville Ray, chief technology officer of T-Mobile, said: "T-Mobile customers will get 5G in more places than anyone else. Working together with Nokia, the Un-carrier will be the first to roll out a nationwide 5G network. Our customers already have the fastest LTE network, and it will work simultaneously with 5G to bring even faster speeds." Nokia's President and Chief Executive Officer Rajeev Suri said: "We are excited to work with T-Mobile for their groundbreaking nationwide 5G rollout. Nokia's 5G solution combines our high-capacity New Radio, Core and SDN controlled 'anyhaul' transport and software, and incorporates innovations such as the new in-house silicon ReefShark chipset to deliver a new level of network performance. 5G is happening now, and no company is better placed to deliver than Nokia." About the network Nokia 5G NR incorporating Nokia AirScale baseband and reote radio heads, and ReefShark-enabled portfolio in the 600MHz and 28GHz mmWave spectrums. The Nokia 5G-ready AirScale radio access portfolio, which is software upgradable to full 5G services will provide enhanced RAN support for 4G and 5G T-Mobile subscribers Nokia installed Core technologies will be enhanced to support 5G, implementing a cloud-native architecture, powered by the Nokia AirFrame data center solution , Subscriber Data Management, CloudBand and Cloud Packet Core Subscriber Data Management, CloudBand and Cloud Packet Core Nokia Mobile Anyhaul framework to enable ultra-broadband connectivity Nokia Digital Experience and Monetization solutions will support 5G device management and Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) solutions Nokia CloudBand Management and Orchestration (MANO) software suite will automate cloud application deployment and lifecycle management Nokia NetAct virtualized network management software provides capabilities for troubleshooting, assurance, administration, software management and configuration, and managing the smooth evolution to 5G Nokia Global Services expertise, including automation to speed the rollout and analytics to help optimize network performance Tags: 5G, LTE Connect with Nokia Subscribe to receive information on specific areas of interest Website Blog Twitter LinkedIn Facebook About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry's most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing. Nokia is enabling the infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things, and shaping the future of technology to transform the human experience. nokia.com Media Inquiries: Nokia Communications Phone: +358 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com [February 27, 2018] James Drug Store Wins Team of the Year Award at Pharmacy Development Services Super-Conference Patrick Brian, R.Ph., of James Drug Store, a Health Mart pharmacy in Denham Springs, Louisiana, received the Team of the Year Award from Pharmacy Development Services (PDS). Chris Dimos, president of retail solutions, McKesson, presented the award at the PDS Super-Conference, Feb. 22-24, 2018. The Team of the Year Award recognizes a PDS member pharmacy that has exemplified leadership and teamwork. The recipient serves as a shining example of how a model pharmacy team should work. The James Drug Store team, a Health Mart pharmacy, received the award in recognition of their resilience in the face of adversity. "Health Mart and McKesson are proud to recognize the outstanding team at James Drug Store for their resilience and outstanding performance in the face of both natural disasters and business setbacks," said Chris Dimos. "Pat Brian and his team banded together to not only meet these challenges, but exceed expectations for the pharmacy's ongoing clinical and business performance. They are very deserving of this recognition and I hope that they will continue to serve as a role model for how pharmacies can perform at their best - during good times and challenging times." In 2016, a severe flood devastated Denham Springs, destroying nearly 400 businesses and damaging more than 75 percent of the homes, including Brian's and the store's owner, Herman Crotwell. Despite the fact that many of the staff had lost everything in the flood, the store was open the next day serving customers. The team's resilience was tested again in 2017 when their thriving prescription long-term care (LTC) business, in partnership with another organization and due for expansion, was unexpectedly terminated. As a result, the team went from filling 42,000 prescriptions per month to 17,000. Tapping into the tools provided at the Super-Conference, Brian was encouraged to replace the business with an in-depth focus on compounding and the launch of a weight loss protocol. These steps added 62 percent to the store's net profit in 2017 and the team replaced 75 percent of the lost income. Brian expects they will soon replace all lost income and create a clinic in the space initially dedicated to the LTC expansion. As a premier sponsor of the 2018 Super-Conference, McKesson participated in key sessions throughout the program. Dimos moderated a customer panel, which included Josh Borer of Rex Pharmacy, Bob Lomenick of Tyson Drug Company and Jeff Sherr of Apple (News - Alert) Discount Drugs, focused on key trends defining the market for independent pharmacists in 2018 and the importance of partnering for success. Panelists discussed how to leverage their wholesaler relationship and specific tools available to help them grow and thrive. The annual Super-Conference brings nationally recognized and relevant speakers to share their experience and expertise with conference attendees. The goal is to encourage pharmacy entrepreneurs to dispose of preconceived notions about doing business in the industry, rethinking what success looks like, and how to achieve it. McKesson's Health Mart supports a network of nearly 5,000 independent pharmacies with solutions that help pharmacists improve clinical performance, manage operational changes and discover additional revenue opportunities to build and maintain a thriving business. Today's challenging market demands a strong partner for success. Visit join.healthmart.com to learn how Health Mart can help your business continue to succeed. About Health Mart Health Mart is America's fastest-growing independent pharmacy franchise with more than 4,800 locally owned community pharmacies across all 50 states. Health Mart pharmacists provide personalized care and take the time to help patients understand their prescription-drug coverage, how to safely manage multiple medications, and how to take advantage of lower-cost medication options. As an important member of the healthcare team, Health Mart pharmacists possess strong clinical knowledge and partner with their patients, and their patients' other healthcare providers, to help them manage and improve patients' health. The Health Mart franchise is owned by Health Mart Systems, Inc., which is an affiliate of McKesson Corporation. Pharmacists interested in learning more about joining Health Mart can explore join.healthmart.com. Consumers can find a locally owned Health Mart pharmacy by visiting healthmart.com. About McKesson Corporation McKesson Corporation, currently ranked 5th on the FORTUNE 500, is a global leader in healthcare supply chain management solutions, retail pharmacy, community oncology and specialty care, and healthcare information technology. McKesson partners with pharmaceutical manufacturers, providers, pharmacies, governments and other organizations in healthcare to help provide the right medicines, medical products and healthcare services to the right patients at the right time, safely and cost-effectively. United by our ICARE shared principles, our employees work every day to innovate and deliver opportunities that make our customers and partners more successful - all for the better health of patients. McKesson has been named the "Most Admired Company" in the healthcare wholesaler category by FORTUNE, a "Best Place to Work" by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, and a top military-friendly company by Military Friendly. For more information, visit mckesson.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227006017/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Braze (formerly Appboy) Announces Integrations with Microsoft and AccuWeather to Expand Partner Ecosystem NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Today at Mobile World Congress 2018 in Barcelona, Braze (formerly Appboy), leading marketing automation and customer engagement platform, announced technical integrations with Microsoft Azure and AccuWeather adding to the company's existing partner ecosystem platform. These integration partnership announcements were made live from the world's largest mobile technology event, alongside existing partners including Appsflyer, global leader in mobile attribution and marketing analytics, and Foursquare, location intelligence business solution. The company announced an integration with Microsoft Azure, that will offer a new multi-cloud hosting option for Braze clients. In addition, Braze is expanding capabilities to its high-volume data export product, Currents, with integrations directly into Microsoft Azure in active development. AccuWeather, the fastest growing provider of forecasts and warnings with Superior Accuracy and global leader in digital media and weather-related big data, will partner with Braze to allow for seamless data connection from external APIs to support responsive, real-time personalization related to weather updates. With the Braze platform, brands can utilize the dynamic weather content from the world's most trusted weather brand to create relevant messaging experiences across channels. For example, an eCommerce company can send daily morning style and fashion recommendations based on local weather, or a travel company can use snowfall accumulation predictions in the Alps as an opportunity to prompt customers to book a ski trip. "The Braze partner ecosystem is open and flexible and we're excited to build on our existing technical integrations with the addition of Microsoft Azure and AccuWeather," said Bill Magnuon, CEO and Cofounder at Braze (formerly Appboy). "The use of real-time data streaming across technologies can be the difference between a cohesive product experience and one that harms your brand. Cross-channel messaging should feel like a conversation between two people ultimately, that's what leads to long term value and ROI." "Engaging with users in today's mobile and digital savvy world is the most critical component of modern marketing," said Brian Lavery, European Managing Director at AccuWeather. "As the world's leading weather data provider, AccuWeather has unique insights about the potential of weather to enrich customer engagement for a more custom user experience. We're excited to partner with Braze to help brands reach customers with relevant and highly personalized dynamic content." The Braze partner ecosystem platform and technical integrations is comprised of existing partnerships with Appsflyer, Foursquare, Amplitude, mParticle, Segment, Lob.com, Facebook Messenger, Twilio, Remerge, among others. Additionally, Braze clients Gett, Microsoft Office 365, and AccuWeather joined SVP of Marketing, Marissa Aydlett, at Mobile World Congress in a panel discussion on assembling the right team, tools, and partnerships to deliver transformative experiences for customers across industries. For more information on the Braze partner ecosystem visit braze.com/product/integrations/. About Braze (formerly Appboy) Braze (formerly Appboy) is a customer engagement platform that delivers messages across earned and owned channels (push, email, etc.). Braze is built specifically for today's mobile-first world and tomorrow's ambient computing environment. Braze is set apart as the platform that allows for real-time and continuous data streaming, replacing decades-old databases that aren't built for today's on-demand, always-connected customer. With data, technology, and teams working together in unison, the Braze platform makes marketing more authentic, brands more human, and customers more satisfied with every experience. Braze is a venture-backed company with hundreds of employees. Our offices are located in New York City, San Francisco, and London. Most recently, we've received the Digiday Signal Award for Best CRM, in addition to being named a "Top 10 Upstart" by Business Insider, a Cloud100 Rising Star in Forbes, and #21 in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 List. Learn more at Braze.com. About AccuWeather, Inc. and AccuWeather.com More than 1.5 billion people worldwide rely on AccuWeather to help them plan their lives, protect their businesses, and get more from their day. AccuWeather provides hourly and Minute by Minute forecasts with Superior Accuracy with customized content and engaging video presentations available on smartphones, tablets, free wired and mobile Internet sites, connected TVs, and Internet appliances, as well as via radio, television, and newspapers. Established in 1962 by Founder, President, and Chairman Dr. Joel N. Myersa Fellow of the American Meteorological Society who was recognized as one of the top entrepreneurs in American history by Entrepreneur Magazine's Encyclopedia of EntrepreneursAccuWeather also delivers a wide range of highly customized enterprise solutions to media, business, government, and institutions, as well as news, weather content, and video for more than 180,000 third-party websites. For information, visit AccuWeather.com. Contact Information: Stephanie Cortez Communications Manager press@braze.com View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/braze-formerly-appboy-announces-integrations-with-microsoft-and-accuweather-to-expand-partner-ecosystem-300605063.html SOURCE Braze [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] CircusTalk attends FRESH CIRCUS & FESTIVAL UP! NEW YORK, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In March 2018, a year when the world is celebrating the 250th anniversary of circus, Brussels is gathering the international circus community for a special program. Circus Talk will attend FESTIVAL UP!, the 15th International Circus Biennial. In addition to providing press coverage of shows, Circus Talk will be part of a group of international press invited by INCAM (International Network of Circus Magazines) to attend the FRESH CIRCUS#4 conference to discuss the image of circus. https://circustalk.com/event/festival-up-biennale-internationale-de-cirque-3 FRESH CIRCUS is an international seminar for the development of circus arts and the flagship event of Circostrada, the European network, which fosters the development of circus and street arts. This year's event collaborators are Espace Catastrophe and Wallonie-Bruxelles Theatre/Danse. The theme of the conference is "MORE THAN CIRCUS!" and is designed to encourage the circus community to critically examine the motifs and stereotypes that are associated with this rapidly evolving art form. As a perfect coollary to FRESH CIRCUS, Espace Catastrophe will run Festival UP, offering the public a large program of more than 30 shows in Brussels (March 15-28, 2018). Circus Talk will be involved by reviewing shows, participating in the International Network of Circus Arts Magazines (INCAM) meeting, attending and reporting on the seminar and hosting a "Day in the Circus Life" takeover on Instagram on March 13th, thus embracing this annual opportunity to share full-scale contemporary circus performance-- a universal art form that is always reinventing itself, blending a wide range of artistic disciplines. To allow circus journalists from around the world to participate in coverage of the events, INCAM is having its annual meeting, kindly hosted by Brussels tourist agency, Visit Brussels. Directors of media projects, coming from 11 different countries will meet to cover these events and to draw connections between one artwork and another, between artists and audiences, as well as between people and vital industry information. INCAM members will take an active role in co-curating and facilitating one of the 9 topics of Fresh Circus program. Circus Talk is honored to be among the INCAM members invited to participate and will be sharing articles about the artistic works and the conference over the coming months. About CircusTalk: CircusTalk.com is the international circus community's professional online network, resource center and marketplace. CircusTalk.News publishes articles of interest to the international circus community. View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/circustalk-attends-fresh-circus--festival-up-300604505.html SOURCE CircusTalk [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Qlik Positioned in Leaders Quadrant of Gartner's Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms for Eighth Consecutive Year Qlik, a leader in data analytics, today announced it has been positioned by Gartner (News - Alert) , Inc. in the Leaders quadrant of the Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms*. This designation marks the eighth consecutive year that Qlik has been positioned in the Leaders quadrant. A complimentary copy of the full report is available for download from http://www.qlik.com/mq2018. "We are delivering immense value to customers while expanding the definition of what it means to be a leader in the BI industry," said Mike Capone, Qlik CEO. "With an enterprise-class platform that can expand into every part of their business, Qlik is helping to drive customers to leadership positions in the Analytics Economy. As the market pioneer, Qlik has continually invested in innovation and our modern, cloud-ready platform is the foundation for transformational disruption in our customers' enterprise-wide analytics strategy." Different at the Core Early on, Qlik set out to solve the biggest problem with modern BI tools - restricted linear exploration. Qlik's unique associative technology brings all data together without complex data warehouses, and enables users to freely explore in any direction they want, leaving no data behind, and no path uncovered. The ability to combine all data sources quickly and easily, search and explore without limitation and pivot your line of thinking based on what you see is the core differentiator at the heart of Qlik's leadership in the industry. This free form exploration is valuable because insights com from truly understanding the data from all angles. To do so across an organization, it is critical to elevate the level of data literacy of all users. Qlik offers free courses to help business users capitalize on the unprecedented economic opportunity available in the Analytics Economy. Over years of continued innovation and changing the face of BI, Qlik maintains its belief that all people need to drive analysis from any data source - on premise, in the cloud, in a hybrid environment, internal or external - without restriction or limitation. Qlik continues to expand the market by delivering an extensible, cloud-ready platform that companies of all sizes can consider the centerpiece of their analytics strategy. Qlik Sense is built on a fully integrated, cloud-ready platform powered by the patented Associative Indexing Engine. Qlik Sense combines enterprise readiness and governance with intuitive visualization and exploration, advanced analytics and self-service data preparation capabilities. This breadth and depth allows organizations to meet the broadest range of BI use cases from a single platform leading to consistent, data-driven decision making. With a flexible, low-cost monthly subscription, streamlined administration and a fully web-based experience, customers can benefit from Qlik Sense Cloud Business with no capital costs or commitments. And through its open APIs, Qlik offers integration with best-in-class natural language generation and processing, advanced predictive analytics, and an immersive experience including augmented intelligence. *Gartner "Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms" by Cindi Howson, Rita L. Sallam, James Laurence Richardson (News - Alert) , Joao Tapadinhas, Carlie J. Idoine, Alys Woodward, February 26, 2018. Gartner Disclaimer Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Qlik Qlik is the leading data analytics platform and the pioneer of user-driven business intelligence. Its portfolio of cloud-based and on-premise solutions meets customers' growing needs from reporting and self-service visual analysis to guided, embedded and custom analytics, regardless of where data is located. Customers using Qlik Sense, QlikView and Qlik Cloud, gain meaning out of information from multiple sources, exploring the hidden relationships within data that lead to insights that ignite good ideas. Headquartered in Radnor, Pennsylvania, Qlik does business in more than 100 countries with over 45,000 customers globally. 2018 QlikTech International AB. All rights reserved. Qlik, Qlik Sense, QlikView, QlikTech, Qlik Cloud, Qlik DataMarket, Qlik Analytics Platform, Qlik NPrinting, Qlik Connectors, Qlik GeoAnalytics, Qlik Core and the QlikTech logos are trademarks of QlikTech International AB which have been registered in multiple countries. Other marks and logos mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227006190/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] JNJ INVESTORS ALERT: Lieff Cabraser Announces Securities Class Action Against Johnson & Johnson The law firm Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP announces that class action litigation has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or otherwise acquired the publicly traded securities of Johnson & Johnson ("J&J" or the "Company") (NYSE: JNJ) between February 22, 2013 and February 7, 2018, inclusive (the "Class Period"). If you purchased or otherwise acquired J&J publicly traded securities during the Class Period, you may move the Court for appointment as lead plaintiff by no later than April 9, 2018. A lead plaintiff is a representative party who acts on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your share of any recovery in the actions will not be affected by your decision of whether to seek appointment as lead plaintiff. You may retain Lieff Cabraser, or other attorneys, as your counsel in the actions. J&J investors who wish to learn more about the litigation and how to seek appointment as lead plaintiff should click here or contact Sharon M. Lee of Lieff Cabraser toll-free at 1-800-541-7358. Background on the J&J Securities Class Litigation J&J, headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey, together with its subsidiaries researches and develops, manufacures, and sells health care products worldwide. The action alleges that, throughout the Class Period defendants failed to disclose that: (1) J&J has known for decades that its talc products include asbestos fibers and that exposure to such fibers can cause ovarian cancer and mesothelioma; and (2) as a result, defendants' statements about J&J's business, operations, and prospects were materially false or misleading when made. According to an internal Company memorandum made public in recent lawsuits against J&J, in the 1990s, J&J outlined a plan to hike lower sales of its powder "by targeting" black and Hispanic women. On September 21, 2017, after the market closed, Bloomberg (News - Alert) reported that "documents indicate that J&J has known for decades that its talc products include asbestos fibers and that the exposure to those fibers can cause ovarian cancer." On that news, the price of J&J shares fell $2.28 per share over the next five trading days, or 2.81% from the closing price of $130.94 on September 20, 2017, to close at $129.47 per share on September 28, 2017. On February 5, 2018, CNBC reported that lawsuits filed against J&J claiming that its talc products caused cancer "could expose potentially damaging documents." On that news, the price of J&J shares dropped $7.29 per share, or 5.29% from the previous closing price of $137.68 on February 2, 2018, to close at $130.39 per share on February 5, 2018, on elevated trading volume. After the market closed on February 7, 2018, the Beasley Allen law firm announced that "[i]nternal Johnson & Johnson documents from 1972 note that asbestos was found in 100 percent of talc samples tested at the time, but this information was never released publicly." The firm's press release also stated J&J ceased funding for a project designed to test talc samples for asbestos contamination after a majority of sample batches tested positive for asbestos. On that news, the price of J&J shares dropped $5.06 per share, or 3.67% from the closing price of $131.42 on February 7, 2018, to close at $126.36 on February 8, 2018. About Lieff Cabraser Lieff Cabraser Heimann & Bernstein, LLP, with offices in San Francisco, New York, Nashville, and Seattle, is a nationally recognized law firm committed to advancing the rights of investors and promoting corporate responsibility. The National Law Journal has recognized Lieff Cabraser as one of the nation's top plaintiffs' law firms for fourteen years. In compiling the list, the National Law Journal examines recent verdicts and settlements and looked for firms "representing the best qualities of the plaintiffs' bar and that demonstrated unusual dedication and creativity." Law360 has selected Lieff Cabraser as one of the Top 50 law firms nationwide for litigation, highlighting our firm's "laser focus" and noting that our firm routinely finds itself "facing off against some of the largest and strongest defense law firms in the world." In late 2016, Benchmark Litigation named Lieff Cabraser one of the "Top 10 Plaintiffs' Firms in America." For more information about Lieff Cabraser and the firm's representation of investors, please visit http://www.lieffcabraser.com. This press release may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions under the applicable law and ethical rules. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227006290/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] PixarBio Corporation Clarifies Pathways to FDA Approval for NR14 to Treat "Trigeminal Neuralgia" and Post-Surgical Pain PixarBio Corporation, developers of NeuroRelease NR14, a 14-day post-surgical pain treatment, clarifies its position on NR14 treating "Trigeminal Neuralgia" and post-surgical pain. We want to clarify any confusion with respect to our early 2016 decision to terminate the US FDA Orphan Drug Designation application process for TN. In January 2016, we had decided to prioritize NR14 with a US FDA New Drug Application (NDA) approval pathway for post-surgical pain vs. NR14 as an Orphan Drug Designation (ODD) US FDA approval pathway for Trigeminal Neuralgia NR14. We believe that NR14 will be able to treat pain, for the most common TN patient groups who suffer from TN. The post-surgical pain market exceeds 90,000,000 surgeries per year. Trigeminal Neuralgia is a fragmented market, but it is believed to effect between 65,000 - 275,000 patients living in the USA. We believe clinical studies will prove that NR14 will safely provide benefit to both severe pain conditions TN and PSP so we intend to file two seprate NDA's. We intend to file a US FDA NDA in late 2019 for NR14 to treat the estimated 90,000,000+ annual post-surgical pain (PSP) patients in the USA. We also intend to file an NDA in early 2020 for NR14 to treat Trigeminal Neuralgia. According to NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke (NINDS) Trigeminal neuralgia (TN), also called tic douloureux, is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal or 5th cranial nerve, one of the most widely distributed nerves in the head. TN is a form of neuropathic pain often associated with nerve injury or nerve lesion. "Management believes NR14 will become an important treatment in pain management to 'break the cycle of pain' for both TN and PSP chronic pain markets," said CEO Frank Reynolds. The NeuroRelease Platform: Non-Addictive and Non-opiate Treatment of Pain NeuroRelease is a morphine replacement, and non-addictive pain platform for post-surgical pain. First product FDA approval is anticipated in late 2019 for a 14-day post-surgical pain treatment. About PixarBio Corporation Our lead R&D product platform, NeuroRelease, has achieved sustained therapeutic release of non-opiate drugs for post-operative, acute and chronic pain in pre-clinical models. For more information, visit www.pixarbio.com. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227006296/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] PumaPay Surpasses the Soft Cap Weeks Before the Crowdsale PumaPay (https://pumapay.io/), the blockchain-based payment protocol startup has already exceeded its Soft Cap of $15 Million. The Cyprus-based company is committed to making crypto payments available to all merchants through its blockchain-based PullPayment protocol. While the Crowdsale is scheduled to take place on March 22, 2018, the project has been confirmed to proceed after the success of the PMA Token Pre-Sale. 'We are humbled by the positive response and support PumaPay has received from our partners and contributors worldwide, - says PumaPay CEO Yoav Dror. - The Pre-Sale has exceeded all our expectations, letting us surpass the Soft Cap by an impressive margin. This puts us in a strong position to proceed with our development schedule.' PumaPay's innovation lies in its 'PullPayment' protocol and its architecture of smart contracts that redefines the payment process by reversing the mechanics of transactions. This enables payment practices, such as recurring payments and subscriptions, pay-per-use, direct debit, shared payments (affiliate programs)and more, which have been impossible or infeasible on the blockchain before. 'PumaPay's strength lies in the fact that our token (PMA) will not exist in a vacuum. It is supported by the strong infrastructure, enabling our contributors to use the tokens from the onset. We already have an impressive list of Early Adopters - successful businesses that have committed to implementing PumaPay. Among them are Fashion TV, Backpack, ImLive - to name a few' - says Yoav Dror. 'The PumaPay team is looking at the transactions from the merchants' perspective. This is what sets them apart from many others, - says Muly Litvak, a high-profile entrepreneur and one of PumaPay's Advisors. Businesses have been hungry for the payment solution that would relieve them from their pains, such as high fees from the credit card companies, chargebacks and associated fines, as well as limited cashflow due to the long consolidation timelines of the payments. Customers will benefit from PumaPay, too, but it's the merchants who will make the protocol soar.' 'There is over $500 Billion worth of cryptocurrency in the world today, with no real usability behind it. PumaPay can funnel these funds into the economy, giving both online and offline merchants the boost they need,' says Litvak. PumaPay's Crowdsale will start on March 22, 2018 and will be uncapped. For details: https://pumapay.io Enquiries: pr@pumapay.io About PumaPay: PumaPay offers an open source free-of-charge blockchain-based protocol that decentralizes a whole layer of transaction processing services. The comprehensive and flexible protocol allows adaptors to process transactions using nearly all the familiar billing methodologies and combines the best of traditional methods (credit cards) and blockchain-based solutions. View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180227006521/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [February 27, 2018] Cubic Executive Appointed to Tourism and Transport Forum Australia's Advisory Board SAN DIEGO, Feb. 27, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced its Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) senior vice president and managing director of Asia-Pacific, Tom Walker, has been appointed to the advisory board of the Tourism and Transport Forum Australia (TTF), one of Australia's leading transportation industry groups. TTF is a national member-funded CEO forum, advocating the public policy interests of leading corporations and institutions in Australia tourism, transport and aviation. "Tom brings more than 30 years of experience working in transportation on three continents and we look forward to his contribution and insights, particularly into the new technologies that Cubic is developing and implementing around the globe," said Margy Osmond, chief executive officer for TTF. "His expertise in advanced ticketing and transport tehnology, tolling and traffic management is well recognized and respected within the industry." "We are delighted that one of our most senior executives with such strong industry credentials has been invited to join the TTF board, further strengthening the long association Cubic has enjoyed with the organization," said Matt Cole, president of Cubic Transportation Systems. "Under Tom's leadership Cubic and Transport for New South Wales successfully installed and rolled out Sydney's Opal card, one of the world's top smart card ticketing systems, on time and on budget. "Among his many contributions, Tom also oversees the Cubic team that has brought London-style contactless ticketing to Australia for the first time, with Transport for New South Wales's successful trial conducted on the Manly ferry fleet," added Cole. About Cubic Corporation Cubic is a market-leading, technology provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, defense C4ISR and training customers worldwide to decrease urban congestion and improve the militaries' effectiveness and operational readiness. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions, special operations and intelligence for the U.S. and allied forces. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cubic-executive-appointed-to-tourism-and-transport-forum-australias-advisory-board-300605194.html SOURCE Cubic Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Eric Greitens Remains Defiant, Who Knows What Happens Next Maybe a story of the pot & kettle but an important local declaration on statewide politics nonetheless . . .Thursday's shocking, although not surprising, news that Governor Eric Greitens was indicted on felony invasion of privacy charges in St. Louis is still shaking the Missouri political world. What will happen next is still a mystery though. Here's what we know:- Greitens and his attorneys say he is going to fight the claims and that he will not resign- The argument to dismiss the indictment claims the victim had no expectation of privacy since their affair was consensual, basically admitting that Greitens did photograph her wile partially nude and bound- The House of Representatives will be launching it's own investigation that could potentially lead to impeachment down the road- Members of both parties believe Greitens cannot lead at this point and have asked him to step aside- The best that the Republican State Party could come up with to defend their Governor is a ridiculous assertion that George Soros is somehow behind all of thisNo Governor in Missouri history has been impeached and only one has resigned (he was elected to the US Senate). How this is going to play out is anyone's guess but there is no doubt that we do not have a functioning government in Jefferson City right now. Beyond this indictment, Greitens is still involved in investigations around use of the Confide mobile app possibly deleting state records and potential illegal coordination with a political non-profit working on his behalf. We are in truly uncharted waters.########Developing . . . A recent poll on Griekenland.net among 1.511 visitors of the website shows that May (18%) and June (14%) are the favorite months to book a holiday to Greece For a few years now, the trend is that Dutch people book their holidays shorter and shorter before departure. January is traditionally the busiest month in the travel industry in The Netherlands, because there is still plenty of choice in destinations and prefered accommodations. A recent poll on Griekenland.net among 1.511 visitors of the website shows that May (18%) and June (14%) are the favorite months to book a holiday to Greece. So it seems to be a busy last minute season for Greece this year in Holland. May and June favorite to book holiday May and June are the months in which the Dutch prefer to book a holiday to Greece. 32% of the total number of votes went to these two months together. January follows third place with (13%) of the votes and also September (11%) and April (10%) score well. Striking are the months of February (4%) and March (2%), which are relatively unlikely to book a trip to Greece. The last three months of the year gathered together a total of 12% of the votes to book a holiday to Greece very early. At the end of October, the direct holiday flights will stop from Holland to Greek holiday destinations and in these three months holidays will be booked already for the next year. First holiday flights already to Greece In February the first direct flights from Schiphol Amsterdam to Heraklion in Crete started. In early April the first flights go to many other Greek holiday destinations such as Kos, Rhodes, Corfu and Zakynthos. Via Athens and Thessaloniki people can travel all year round to the Greek islands, including in the winter months, with domestic flights. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Source: griekenland.net Brevard Music Center (BMC), in association with Brevard College and Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, has announced its March program of chamber concerts as part of BMC's free Community Concerts Series. "This month, we are delighted to continue our valued collaboration with the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra (HSO)," said BMC president and CEO Mark Weinstein. "This important partnership unites BMC and HSO in our shared passion of offering exceptional chamber music to audiences of all ages and means. Don't miss these free concerts in March, April and May, as well as the distinctive opportunity to experience world-class artists in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina." On Monday, March 5, at 12:30 p.m., trumpeter Neal Berntsen and trombonist David Jackson - both BMC faculty members - will be joined by pianist David Gilliland at the First Mondays concert in Scott Concert Hall at the Porter Center on the Brevard College campus. The afternoon's concert will feature a delightful and varied program of works including Stepjan Sulek's "Sonata Vox Gabrieli," Maurice Ravel's "Piece en forme de Habanera," Isaac Albeniz's "Tango," Blacher's "Trio" and Eric Ewazen's "Pastorale." March's local charity partner is United Way of Transylvania County. On Tuesday, March 6, at 12:30 p.m., all three musicians will travel to the First United Methodist Church in Hendersonville for Chamber Music Tuesdays. Berntsen joined the trumpet section of the Pittsburgh Symphony in 1997, after previously serving as a member of the Chicago Lyric Opera and the Grant Park Symphony. Berntsen teaches at Carnegie Mellon University and has presented master classes and recitals around the world. Berntsen holds degrees from the University of Puget Sound and Northwestern University, and has studied with Adolph Herseth, Vincent Cichowicz and Manuel Laureano. Jackson, associate professor of trombone at the University of Michigan School of Music, enjoys an active career as a performer and teacher. He is a member of the Detroit Chamber Winds and Chicago's Fulcrum Point New Music Project, and has performed with orchestras throughout the United States, including the Detroit Symphony, Dallas Symphony and Chicago Symphony. Jackson is a Conn-Selmer artist and clinician. Gilliland has been the collaborative pianist for the Sphinx and William C. Byrd Competitions along with the National Flute Association. Gilliland joined the Davidson College Music Department as artist associate of accompanying in 2014. Since moving to North Carolina, he has performed with the North Carolina Baroque Orchestra and Charlotte Symphony. Previously, he was a staff pianist for the University of Michigan, pianist for the Michigan Men's Glee Club, and Collaborative Piano Coordinator for the Interlochen Summer Arts Camp. For more information, visit http://www.brevardmusic.org or call (828) 862-2130. All Community Concert Series performances are free. Through its Share the Warmth program, Duke Energy has provided the Transylvania Christian Ministry $3,044 to aid qualified senior citizens, families and other customers with financial assistance. Transylvania County has endured a very cold winter. Sharing House is grateful for the partnership with Duke Energy in helping to keep people warm this season. The funds Duke Energy provided will help us meet the January 2018 heating assistance cost of $32,163 for neighbors in critical need, said Rev. Shelly Webb, executive director of Transylvania Christian Ministry. For more than 30 years, Duke Energy has provided more than $35.6 million in heating bill assistance through Share the Warmth. Funding for the program comes from Duke Energy customers, employees and the Duke Energy Found-ation. The company annually matches up to $500,000 in employee and customer contributions during the heating season. We recognize that many of our neighbors will struggle to pay their winter heating bills, said David Fountain, Duke Energys North Carolina president. Its important to us to provide support to those customers who need it most through assistance programs like Share the Warmth, and we greatly appreciate those who partner with us on contributions. In 2017, Duke Energy, its employees and customers provided $1.2 million in bill assistance to North Carolina and South Carolina customers through Share the Warmth. More than 80 local agencies across the Duke Energy Carolinas service territory receive funds from Share the Warmth. A team of student pharmacists from Wingate University School of Pharmacy in Hendersonville will present new shingles information at Silvermont Opportunity Center. Student pharmacists will present the information as part of a community health outreach program that addresses current public health issues. The seminar will be held on March 7 at 10 a.m. Associate professor of pharmacy and clinical pharmacist, Michelle DeGeeter, PharmD, BCACP, CDE will accompany the students during the seminar. This seminar will address the current public health concern of the shingles virus. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has recently updated guidelines that include a new vaccine for the prevention of shingles. The presentation will address what shingles is, the vaccine who is eligible for the new vaccine, and where a vaccine can be obtained. This presentation is open to the public and specifically targets those 50 and older; however, everyone is welcome to learn about the current public health concern. A free blood pressure cuff will be raffled off at the end of the presentation. This seminar will be held at Silvermont Opportunity Center located at 364 E. Main St., in Brevard on March 7 at 10 a.m. Call the center at 884-3166 to reserve your seat. Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) will host an event on Tuesday, March 6, for all high school students and parents interested in BRCC offerings. From enrolling while students are still in high school to attending BRCC after graduation, this event will connect students and parents with all the opportunities high school students have at Blue Ridge Community College. Students will learn how to earn both high school and college credit simultaneously in tuition-free classes, as well as the necessary job skills for higher-paying jobs. This event will feature Blue Ridge Community Colleges career focused degree, diploma and certificate programs. Important details and tips on scholarship and financial aid opportunities will be discussed as well as how to enroll in a four-year transfer program. Admission representatives will be on site to answer questions on placement testing, registration and orientation. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Blue Ridge Conference Hall in the Technology Education and Development Center on the Henderson County Campus. For more information or questions, call (828) 694-1800 or visit http://www.blueridge.edu. On Thursday, Feb. 15, Cub Scout Troop 701 and family members enjoyed a private tour of the WNC Military History Museum from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Museum Curator Emmett Casciato escorted his guests through the museum, explaining interesting artifacts from WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Middle East. The curious and well-behaved scouts and their siblings asked lots of questions. Courtesy photo Scouts examine a WWII Japanese rifle. During Red Cross Month in March, the American Red Cross encourages eligible donors to join in its lifesaving mission by giving blood. The following blood drives will be held in Brevard in March: March 5: 1:30 p.m. - 6 p.m., Brevard Community Church, 417 Morris Road; and March 15: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m., Brevard High School, 747 Country Club Road. Since 1943, every U.S. president has designated March as Red Cross Month to recognize how the Red Cross helps people across the country and around the world. Red Cross Month is a celebration of supporters, who are the face of the Red Cross in their communities and bring hope to people facing emergencies. The Red Cross depends on blood donor heroes across the nation to collect enough blood to meet the needs of patients at approximately 2,600 hospitals nationwide. Donors of all blood types, especially type O, are needed to help those rely on blood products. Make an appointment to become a hero to patients in need by downloading the free Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcross blood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients. A blood donor card or drivers license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states (16 with parental consent where allowed by state law), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements. Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site. editorial@tribune.com Mumbai, February 27 South Korean auto giant Hyundai today unveiled two electric vehicles (EVs) Nexo and Ioniq at a business summit in New Delhi. The next-gen fuel cell EV Hyundai Nexo and battery-powered global EV Hyundai Ioniq were showcased during the second edition of the India Korea Business Summit in the national capital. Hyundai has a long-term commitment towards Make in India for the past 20 years and today we are proud to showcase SUV Nexo for the first time along with global EV Ioniq at the India Korea Summit 2018, Hyundai Motor Companys Namyang R&D Centre vice-president SH Kim was quoted as saying. The Nexo SUV model is set to spearhead Hyundais plans to accelerate development of low-emission vehicles globally, it said. The Ioniq reflects the commitment of Hyundai towards clean mobility solutions without compromising on driving dynamics and performance, the release said. PTI vinaymishra188@gmail.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 27 Union Minister for Civil Aviation P Ashok Gajapathi Raju today said there was no controversy over the naming of Chandigarh international airport and that a procedure for its christening was in place. Speaking to mediapersons on the sidelines of the inauguration of a skill-development centre at the old airport terminal in Behlana, the Union Minister said, There is no controversy. There is a process of naming, which has to be followed. The Punjab Government had made a request and the Haryana Government too has made a request. Everyone feels there is no need for a controversy because Shaheed Bhagat Singh is a national hero and not the hero of a small community. When asked whether it meant that the airport would be named after Shaheed-e-Azam, Rajus reply was cut short by MP Kirron Kher, who said, What is wrong with Chandigarh? Dont you like Chandigarh as the name of the airport? The Punjab Government had demanded that the airport should be named as Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali and passed a resolution for the same in the Assembly. The Haryana Government had objected to the use of Mohali in the airports name. Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra said, The name could be Chandigarh Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport, Mohali.. At this, Kirron said, Yeh naam hai ke chitthi (Is it a name or a letter?); it is too long. Earlier, the Union Minister said India was the fastest growing domestic aviation market and the government remained committed to making flying accessible under UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) regional connectivity scheme by reviving unserved and underserved airports. Under two rounds of auctions in UDAN, we aim to connect to 80 destinations. Over 900 aircraft are expected to be inducted in the coming years and many more destinations would be connected. When asked the reason behind a fewer direct flights from Chandigarh to northern states, the minister said economic viability and demand were crucial determinants, saying that sometimes growth varied in a region, citing that Bhuntar and Kangra airports were active while Shimla airport in Himachal Pradesh remained relatively inactive. The Union minister said the aviation sector had a multiplier effect in terms of investment in other sectors. Flight to Nanded Anandpur Sahib MP Prem Singh Chandumajra claimed that the minister had assured of starting a direct flight from Chandigarh to Nanded soon. I have been informed that after the runway repair work is concluded, a direct flight to Nanded would become operational from Chandigarh. sanjiv@tribunemail.com US President Donald Trumps fulmination against high Indian tariffs on Harley-Davidson bikes is cornering the news space, but the BJP governments continuing infatuation with cow politics may have opened up another trade front with the US. India has banned US dairy products on grounds that it is indirectly contaminated by animal protein fed to the milch cattle. The use of animal protein feed for dairy animals has agitated environmental and ethical food activists. The Indian stance is, however, predicated on persuasion by gau bhakts. The BJP government attaching extraordinary political significance to the cow is not just burdening the Commerce Ministry. For over a year, the Ministries of Law and Environment have been grappling with the fallout of a whimsical and quixotic anti-slaughter law. It was meant to be a clever, backdoor ploy to ban beef slaughter under the garb of regulating cattle trade. As is the fate of laws incubated with the focus solely on political messaging, it badly tripped and was struck down by the Supreme Court. Since then, both ministries have been engaged in a largely meaningless hunt for an equally politically eye-catching alternative. Instead of quietly dropping the move, the government is determined to brave it out with changes that would only allow the system to inconvenience cattle traders of all shades at will. The governments walk back from the law has not dimmed its preoccupation with political theatrics. The census on livestock is conducted with humdrum regularity for the past 100 years. It is now projected as the epitome of PM Modis signature Digital India drive because tablets will be used for the first time. The fact is they have been used for censuses in the past. The irony is the Modi regimes first livestock digital census has run aground because of shortages of precisely such tablets. The deployment of the cow in creating a communally charged atmosphere was Modis key endeavour in 2014. But, the attempt to bring in the cow in every calculation is complicating his attempt to crank up governance in time for the 2019 elections. sanjiv@tribunemail.com Prime Minister Narendra Modi affirms that India is one of the most open economies in the world. It seems that his ally and US President Donald Trump is not convinced. Apparently, a commercial interest of Harley-Davidson Inc. threatens their mutual admiration. This is despite the claim of the iconic mobike manufacturer Harley-Davidson unites people deeply, passionately and authentically. Ill-informed President Trump mimics PM Modi to press his demand for removing the import tariff on the super-luxury brand. In fact, Harley-Davidson does not pay 100 per cent tax as portrayed by the President. The import duty has already been slashed by 50 per cent. Besides, the bike manufacturer has an option to escape the levy by assembling the two-wheeler in its Haryana plant. So, the US President must do some soul-searching before attacking India since his country has been creating several non-tariff barriers to deny visas to professionals. PM Modi should learn from this episode and shun optics with heads of state. No country, however mighty it may be, can take the worlds largest democracy for granted and mock its Premier. Therefore, the need of the hour is to strengthen the internal systems and make our institutions efficient for an effective reciprocal relationship. It is necessary for the PM to accept the ground reality and react accordingly instead of only making statements; We have worked towards creating a stable business environmentWe are widening areas of trust; rather than digging into doubts. The reality is, however, different. Banking frauds, complex GST and deteriorating law and order situation do not tell the story of a stable business environment or create an atmosphere of trust. Lets stop self-glorification and walk the talk. Another assertion of the PM at the India-Korea Business Summit appears to be inconsiderate. It is good to transform India into a modern society, but an informal economy into a formal economy is not desirable. Informal economys vast cast of chai wallah, pakode wallah, rickshaw wallah, street hawkers, landless labourers, has already been devastated by the mindless demonetisation. Any other move to rein in the informal sector would push over two-third of the population into a permanent state of penury. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 27 The Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar here today, approved the proposal of the Power Department to waive surcharge amount of Rs 45,543.40 lakh on outstanding electricity bills against government departments. The Cabinet also approved amendment of the Punjab Police Rules, 1934, to introduce additional qualification for direct recruitment of constable and sub-inspector and abolish interviews. The surcharge waiver would benefit urban local bodies and panchayats and help facilitate settling of these outstanding bills. This was in keeping with the framework of the tripartite MoU signed by the state government with Haryana discoms and the Government of India under UDAY Scheme. It was decided to freeze the surcharge amount on outstanding electricity dues of all government departments as on December 31, 2017, after reconciliation provided the government departments cleared their outstanding principal amount as on December 31, 2017, by April 30, 2018. This would be done after notification of the policy by the Power Department. The current electricity bill, along with surcharge, for the period January 2018 onwards would be cleared. The frozen surcharge would be waived on March 31, 2019, subject to regular payment of electricity bills, including surcharge if any, by the government departments, failing which this amount would be revived. The Cabinet also gave its nod to the proposal of the Home Department to amend Rule 12.16 of the Punjab Police Rules, 1934, to introduce additional qualification (10 per cent weightage) and miscellaneous (10 per cent weightage) in case of direct recruitment of constable and sub-inspector and abolish interviews. These amended rules would be known as Punjab Police (Haryana Amendment) Rules, 2018. As per the amendment, all vacancies in the rank of constable and 50 per cent of posts (temporary and permanent) in the rank of sub-inspector would be filled by direct recruitment through the Haryana Staff Selection Commission (HSSC). Three per cent vacancies would be filled by direct recruitment from outstanding sportspersons. In case of sufficient number of vacancies for direct recruitment, the DGP would, after government approval, send the requisition to the HSSC. On receipt of requisition, the HSSC would notify vacancies at least 15 days prior to the last date for submission of applications. Another proposal of the Home Department to make amendment in the Haryana Police (Non-Gazetted and Other Ranks) Service Rules, 2017, was approved. This amendment would specify measurement in height and chest for the post of sub-inspector and enable departmental candidates to apply in the rank of sub-inspector. These Rules will be called the Haryana Police (Non-Gazetted and Other Ranks) Service (Amendment) Rules, 2017. These Rules provided for relaxation in upper age limit for recruitment in the rank of sub-inspector to all departmental candidates with a minimum of three years of continuous service. To further strengthen the process of checking of vehicles and curb the practice of carrying weight more than permissible limits by goods vehicles, the Cabinet gave ex-post facto approval to increase the number of challaning officers. The government also appointed some more officials of the Motor Vehicles Department under Section 213 for the area covered within 5 km of mining or crushing zones notified by the Mines and Geology Department for such a period and such specific roads as specified by the DC or ADC concerned. The Government also gave powers to the officers of Motor Vehicles Department for challan in respect of certain offences under Section 213 for offences for which penalty or fine was provided. A draft of the Haryana Group D Servants (Conditions of Service) Bill, 2018, got the Cabinet nod. The new Bill had been necessitated because selection and appointments of Group D posts were governed by Service Rules of departments concerned. The government also decided to issue guidelines regarding necessary amendment in the ongoing recruitment process for Group C and D posts by the HSSC. The Cabinet approved the policy for grant of licence for plotted commercial colony in commercial and residential zones in all development plans except the Gurugram-Manesar Urban Complex. As per the policy, the maximum saleable area would be 35 per cent on which 100 per cent ground coverage as per Haryana Building Code, 2017, would be permitted. The remaining 65 per cent area would be kept for parking, open space and provision of services. editorial@tribune.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, February 27 Irked over the foiling of their march to Delhi on February 23 and several arrests after cane-charge, farmers organisations have now decided to gherao the state Assembly on March 12, the day the Budget is scheduled to be presented. Besides their earlier demands of implementation of Swaminathan Commission report and waiver of farm loans, the farmers organisations have now demanded release of farmers after withdrawal of criminal cases and release of tractor-trolleys impounded by the police. Earlier, we had a plan to gherao the Assembly on March 6. After we learnt that the Budget would be presented on March 12, we rescheduled our programme, said Gurnam Singh Charuni, state president of the BKU. He said farmers would start a motorcycle yatra tomorrow from Radaur in Yamunanagar, where the police lathi-charged peaceful farmers. After passing through Karnal, Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Kaithal, Ambala and Panchkula, the farmers would reach Nada Sahib on the night of March 11 for their protest outside the Assembly the next day. Farmers from across the state owing allegiance to the Rashtriya Kisan Sangthan, Kisan Sangharsh Samiti and BKU would participate in the protests, he said. This has never happened in the state earlier. Farmers trying to march peacefully towards Delhi were beaten up by the police and booked under serious offences like attempt to murder, Charuni alleged. Farmers will not seek bail from courts or release of their tractor-trolleys on superdaari (possession or recovery of an impounded vehicle on court orders). We will force the state government to withdraw all criminal cases and release all tractor-trolleys, he added. Terming the BJP governments at the Centre and in the state as anti-farmer, Charuni claimed that farmers were merely reminding Prime Minister Narendra Modi of his promises made before the 2014 elections, but the government was using tyrannical means to suppress them. He alleged instead of fulfilling its promise of implementing Swaminathan report and waiving farm loans, the government was misleading people by saying it had already started giving MSP 1.5 times the input cost. Lathicharge on farmers: Murder bid charge deleted Yamunanagar: Under fire from various quarters for booking protesting farmers, the district police have removed Section 307 (attempt to murder) of the IPC from the FIR lodged against farmers at the Radaur police station on February 22. Rajesh Kalia, Yamunanagar SP, today said they had removed Section 307 from the case registered against protesting farmers. The preliminary investigation suggests that no employee received serious injury and no farmer made attempt to hit any employee with his tractor during the protest on February 22. The police have removed Section 307 from the FIR, he said. The police did not fire any bullet. We had to use mild force to disperse the agitating farmers, he pointed out. District Congress leader Satpal Kaushik demanded action against officials who had got a false case registered against farmers. tns amansharma@tribunemail.com Chandigarh, February 27 The Haryana government on Tuesday gave its nod to a proposal to bring in a legislation that would have a provision awarding death penalty to those guilty of raping girls aged 12 years or less. In a meeting of the state Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, it was also decided to make the existing criminal laws related to sexual offences more stringent. The Haryana Cabinet, which met under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Khattar here today, decided to amend legal provisions like Section 376A (Intercourse by a man with his wife during separation), 376D (rape by one or more persons constituting a group), 354 (Assault or criminal force against woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 354 D(2) (stalking) of Indian Penal Code (IPC). In case of rape or gang rape of a girl up to 12 years of age, there will be a punishment of death or rigorous imprisonment of not less than 14 years which may extend to imprisonment for life that is for remainder period of person's natural life, the Cabinet decided, an official release said. Another provision approved is under Section 376D A of the IPC, where a girl up to 12 years of age is raped by one or more persons constituting a group, each of those persons shall be deemed to have committed the offence of rape and will be punished with death or rigorous imprisonment for a term which will not be less than 20 years, but which may extend to life along with a fine, the release said. "Such a fine shall be just and reasonable to meet the medical expenses and rehabilitation of the victim. Any fine imposed under this section will be paid to the victim," the release said. According to the proposal that received the state cabinet's nod, the punishment under Section 354 of the IPC will not be less than two years (earlier not less than one year) but may extend up to seven years (earlier up to five years) and shall also liable to fine. Also, under Section 354D (2) of the IPC, whoever commits the offence or stalking will be punished on first conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to three years and be punished on a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment for not less than three years, but which may extend to seven years (earlier up to five years), the statement said. Significantly, Chief Minister Khattar, who had expressed anguish and concern over recent incidents of rape, had said provisions of "harsher punishment for rape" were required in the state. PTI editorial@tribune.com Deepender Deswal Tribune News Service Hisar, February 27 Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will take up the issue of raising the level of the Bhakra Main Line (BML) with his Rajasthan counterpart Vasundhara Raje at a meeting in Delhi tomorrow so that the state gets its share of water to feed perched furrows in the catchment area of the Barwala branch canal. The Chief Minister assured a delegation of farmers in this regard at a meeting held in Chandigarh today. He had invited the delegation of the Jal Sangharsh Samiti, which is leading a dharna for the last 44 days in Hisar. The samiti suspended the dharna after the Chief Minister sought six months to ensure adequate water supply in the region by taking a number of steps, including repair and desilting of canals. Kurda Ram, pradhan of the samiti, said, We are satisfied with the assurance given by the Chief Minister. He has assured us that there will be no shortage of funds to ensure smooth flow of water. A nine-member committee comprising five farmers, two irrigation officials and two BJP leaders will oversee the implementation of the measures required to tackle water shortage, he said. The Chief Minister told the farmers that the government had written a letter to Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia and would discuss the issue of raising the BML level at a meeting of the BJP Chief Ministers called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi tomorrow. It may be recalled that a joint inspection by states and members of the Central Water Commission in 2012 had recommended maintaining the level of the BML canal at 19.4 feet as against 18 feet to feed the Barwala link channel. After its completion, it was estimated that the water capacity of the Barwala canal would rise from 1,200 cusecs to 1,400 cusecs and possibly more. Haryana had given around Rs 4.88 crore to Punjab for executing the BML work that had started. However, Rajasthan objected to the project and Punjab stopped the work midway in 2015. Prof Sampat, a former minister, claimed that the availability of more water in the BML would increase the flow in the Barwala branch and thus help in restoring the two group systems in the area. Meanwhile, farmers alleged that around 40 villages in the Nalwa and Adampur segments are the worst affected due the change in the group system of the Barwala branch. editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Hamirpur, February 27 Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur today said leaders of the Congress also wanted amendments to the Land Sealing Act 118, but they refrained from speaking in the public owing to political compulsions. He was talking to the media at Sujanpur after inaugurating the national-level Holi Utsav there. He said amendments to Section 118 would open vistas for investment in the state. The interests of the people and the state, however, would be a priority of the government. Speaking on slashing tax rebate to two gold refineries, the Chief Minister said anything undue done by the previous government would not continue. He said the review of decisions of the previous government was on cards and soon more issues might surface. Earlier, Jai Ram Thakur performed the age-old rituals and paid obeisance in the Murli Manohar temple and led the Shobha Yatra. The Chief Minister said such festivals depicted rich cultural heritage. Notably, the historical Sujanpur Holi festival was the initiative of the erstwhile king of Sujanpur Raja Sansar Chand, who had set the tradition of celebrating the festival of colours with the public. The Chief Minister also launched a website www.hamirpurpride.com for popularising and projecting the culture and customs of the district besides highlighting the importance of various fairs and festivals with a detailed reference of the historical places, including forts, temples and palaces of importance of the district. Deputy Commissioner , Hamirpur, Rakesh Prajapati said the website would help in the promotion of tourism. Former Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, MP Anurag Thakur, MLAs Narendar Thakur and Ravi Dhiman, Rakesh Thakur, chairman, Zila Parishad, former MLAs Baldev Sharma and Vijay Agnihotri, former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Urmil Thakur, district BJP president Anil Thakur were also present. Colourful start to Holi Utsav Palampur: Health and Family Welfare Minister Vipin Singh Parmar was also present at the inauguration of a four-day state-level Holi Mahotsav at Palampur. The event began with the beating of traditional drums tamak, unfurling of the Holi Mahotsav flag and lighting of the ceremonial lamp at Martyr Vikram Batra Stadium here. The minister claimed that there was no doubt that the BJP would win in the coming Parliament elections in 2019. Sujanpur MLA Rana stays away Hamirpur: Rajinder Rana, MLA from Sujanpur, stayed away from Holi Utsav, which was inaugurated by the Chief Minister. Although Rana welcomed Thakur at the Rest House, he did not attend the function. The event was given the international status by the former Virbhadra Singh-led government two years ago. Rana also urged the Chief Minister to undertake development works in the constituency. OC editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, February 27 A special court today sent a businessman, arrested in connection with around Rs 7 crore money laundering case against former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh and others, to two-week judicial custody. Special Judge Santosh Snehi Mann sent Vakamulla Chandrasekhar, director and promoter of Tarini Group of Companies, to custody till March 13 after he was produced before the court through EDs special public prosecutor N M Matta. The accused, arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), was produced before the court through agencys special public prosecutor NK Matta on expiry of his three-day ED custody. The accused was arrested on February 15. The court had on February 24 sent him to the ED custody after the prosecutor said he was required for custodial interrogation. While producing him from the custody today, the agency had sought extension of his ED custody for two more days. The agency had alleged that Chandrasekhar had provided an amount of Rs 5.9 crore to Virbhadra and his family members through his three personal bank accounts. It said when the source of funds was inquired into, it came to light that the amount was received through a web of firms indulging in accommodation entry operation. The court had on February 12 summoned Virbhadra, his wife and three others as accused in the case, after taking cognisance of the ED charge sheet against them and others, saying prima facie there enough evidence against the accused and had directed them to appear before on March 22. The ED had chargesheeted 83-year-old Virbhadra, accusing him of projecting around Rs 7 crore proceeds of crime as agricultural income in connivance with his wife and others and invested them in purchasing LIC policies. Besides him and his 62-year-old wife Pratibha Singh, the court summoned Universal Apple Associate owner Chunni Lal Chauhan and two other co-accused, Prem Raj and Lawan Kumar Roach. The final report had also named as accused Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) agent Anand Chauhan, against whom a charge sheet was earlier filed by the agency. All six have been chargesheeted under relevant provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Chauhan, arrested on July 9, 2016 by the ED under several provisions of the PMLA, was granted bail on January 2 in the case. PTI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jammu, February 27 Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti called on Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi today. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the prevailing situation in the state particularly the plight of residents of border villages who have been suffering due to continued shelling in the state. The Chief Minister sought immediate construction of more individual and community bunkers, besides other relief measures for the victims of border firing in the state. Since the Uri terror attack in September 2016, followed by surgical strikes across the LoC on terror launch pads by the Indian Army, the situation along the LoC has become dangerous. The Pakistani army continues to violate the ceasefire agreement to which the Indian Army responds. This has led to killing of civilians as well as security forces, besides huge damage to houses and civilian population gets affected whenever shells land in their vicinity. Thousands of people had to migrate to safer places amid heavy shelling and their life has become difficult. People have been demanding community as well as individual bunkers at safer places. Keeping all in mind, Mehbooba discussed these things with the minister and demanded relief measures for border victims. She also discussed with Rajnath the implementation of Agenda of Alliance (AoA) in the state and the necessary steps to be taken for its expeditious execution. Mehbooba calls on Jaitley The Chief Minister also met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley here this evening. The two leaders discussed in detail the economic issues confronting the state besides implementation of Rs 1 lakh crore Prime Ministers Development Package (PMDP). Mehbooba sought timely and expeditious release of funds and reimbursement claims under the package. Demands funds for flood victims The Chief Minister also met Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley. She sought timely and expeditious release of funds and reimbursement claims under the package. She also made a case for making special funds available to the state government to meet the liabilities of left-out affected persons of 2014 floods editorial@tribune.com New Delhi, February 27 A month after it scrapped subsidies for Haj pilgrims, the government today announced a significant reduction in airfares for devotees travelling to Saudi Arabia, with the prices of round tickets being slashed by Rs 20,000 to Rs 97,000. Union Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi described the move as a major step that would end the political and economic exploitation of Haj performers as was being done during the Congress-led UPA regime, allegedly in the name of offering subsidies. The minister said the move sought to address concerns about airfares going up after the Haj subsidy was abolished last month. The PMO took keen interest in this (bringing down the rates). The decision is in line with our empowerment without appeasement policy, Naqvi told reporters here. The government made available details of the 2014 airfares to highlight the price difference. The 18-49 per cent reduction in rates will be available on tickets for Jeddah and Medina on national carrier Air India, Saudia and Flynas, an air carrier based in Saudi Arabia. The maximum difference of about Rs 97,000 is on the Srinagar fare, which has almost been halved. A round ticket from the Kashmir city cost Rs 1,98,350 in 2014 and will now come for Rs 1,01,400. The minimum cut of around Rs 20,000 will be on a ticket from Varanasi, which is down from Rs 1,12,300 to Rs 92,004. Haj pilgrims can leave from 20 embarkation points (EPs). Indore is another EP but there are no devotees flying out from the Madhya Pradesh city this year. Air India will serve pilgrims from seven EPs Chennai, Goa, Mumbai, Nagpur, Varanasi, Kolkata and Srinagar. PTI Rs 97,000 relief The maximum difference of about Rs 97,000 is on the Srinagar fare, which has almost been halved. A round ticket from the Kashmir city cost Rs 1,98,350 in 2014 and will now come for Rs 1,01,400. rchopra@tribunemail.com Srinagar, February 27 A Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant, believed to be from Pakistan, who was injured in a gunfight with security forces in north Kashmir's Bandipora district, has succumbed to injuries, police said on Monday. There was exchange of fire between the militants and the security forces in Bon Mollah village of Hajan in Bandipora district yesterday. After the firing stopped, a search was conducted, but no dead body was recovered, a police spokesman said on Tuesday. Later, it was learnt that one LeT militant was injured in the encounter and this morning police came to know about the death of the said militant, he said. Since the body was already in the village, a request was made to the villagers to handover the body to police, the spokesman said. Meanwhile, the body was buried amidst a procession led by some miscreants, he said. The police are ascertaining the identity of the militant who is understood to be not a local, the spokesman said, adding necessary legal action has also been initiated against the people who led the protest and instigated the public. PTI. editorial@tribune.com Ishfaq Tantry Tribune News Service Srinagar, February 27 After reviewing the situation in the villages along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri, the local administration today decided that the shelling-affected families cannot return as the situation is not yet conducive. Earlier, the administration had on Monday said the families may start returning to their houses. The decision not to shift over 130 families was taken by the civil and police authorities after visiting the affected villages in the Uri sector today. The Uri Sub-Divisional Police Officer and I went to the affected villages and even travelled to the areas beyond the fence to evaluate the situation. But, we are of the opinion that the people should stay in the camps for some time. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate whether it was safe for the villagers to return. We have decided to wait for two more days before deciding whether the villagers living in camps can return to their homes, Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), Uri, D Sagar told The Tribune. Over 130 families have migrated from the seven most-affected villages, including Silikote, Tilwari, Churanda and others, along the LoC in the Hajipir sector as Indian and Pakistani armies exchanged mortars and heavy artillery shells since last Monday. The villagers are putting up at makeshift camps at two government schools in Uri town. With fear looming large, the displaced residents also refused to go back to their homes, saying they wanted an assurance regarding their safety before going back to their homes, sources said. The sources said some residents were taken in ambulances to the affected villages. However, they returned as they wanted an assurance from the Army about their safety, they said. On the other hand, the authorities in Uri have decided to relocate the affected families to new camp sites at Town Hall and Industrial Training Institute at Lagama as the schools, where the villagers are currently putting up, are opening from next Monday. We dont want to disrupt education of the students. So it has been decided to relocate the affected families, the SDM said. Relief material distributed vinaymishra188@gmail.com Gauri Chhabra Come March, students and parents all over the country suffer from peaked stress levels. They have to deal with two major decisions of their lives which colleges to apply and which one to finally enroll in. Over the time, the process has become more complex. Also, the pressure on students has intensified over the past decade or so, owing to the soaring cut offs and beeline for admissions to some of the top-notch universities of the country. Students fill the forms of as many as 20-25 colleges to ensure they have a fall-back option in place. The result is a whopping number of applications leading to chaos at all levels. On the other hand, there are students who only aim to get admission in their dream college, and don't fill the forms of any other institute. And in case they don't make it to the desired college, they waste a year. So, how do you decide on the number of application forms you should buy? How do you zero in on a college? How do you trade off a college for a subject of your interest? These and many other questions need to be answered. Here is discussing some of them. Getting admission in a reputed college is what most students aim at. The national Capital houses five major universities Delhi University (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Ambedkar University and Indraprastha University but most school pass-outs prefer DU. There are over 4,000 institutes that prospective college students can apply to, but deciding on the number of colleges to pursue can take time, research and a little soul-searching. Here is a list of common factors that you need to keep in mind while filling up the admission forms. This can work towards your advantage. Number of applications Applicants should carefully weigh the number of colleges where they will submit applications to maximise their chances of being a strong candidate. Applying to too many or few colleges can have some drawbacks. While there isn't any ideal number of colleges that applicants should aim for, there is a specific range for sure. Prospective students should have between four and eight colleges on their list. Ideally, you would want to have at least two 'safety' colleges. So you have got three target colleges, and two reach colleges to go with those two safeties. Safety colleges are institutions that are almost certain to admit applicants. Target colleges are likely to trigger some competition among students. Students can usually determine which category an institute falls into based on the average test scores and GPA for its incoming students. Applying takes effort and submitting applications to a large number of colleges may ruin the quality of the prospective student's applications. Proximity Youngsters seek freedom and in a bid to achieve that they may pick a college far from hometown. They believe this might give them independence. Always remember that what was served on a platter at home will become a thing of luxury on the campus. You might have to wait for a long vacation to visit your hometown. And it would be a long struggle. I have seen many students taking admissions in a frenzy and then filling up the migration forms after they have tasted the first semester. Proximity to hometown is a very significant factor while zeroing in on a college. Thus, many students go to college in their home state. Academic excellence and reputation Although academics offered at a college are important, one can't undermine the importance of faculty. Experience and credentials of faculty can influence a student's choice of college. If students get an opportunity, they must make an effort to interact with the faculty. Marketing Websites with comprehensive details about the institutes is one of the most reliable tools of marketing. Institutions' websites are heavily-accessed online resources. A study suggests 97 per cent of students view college websites on their phones. On the contrary, majority of students confessed that they wouldn't download a university's app. Scan a college's website to know the courses these offer, campus infrastructure and facilities. Also, you can explore a microsite aimed specifically at prospective students. Comfort You have to decide if you want to choose the college considering the level of comfort it will promise or the challenges you have to deal with. Environment of the college is important to consider when making a decision. After all, you won't attend classes here occasionally! Rather, the college will be the place where you will spend a few years of your life. For instance, if you have lived all your life in the comfort of the countryside, you would feel lost if you get admission in the colleges of metro cities. In case, it is possible, make sure you visit the campuses. If a campus feels like home, take it as a good sign. If you can't imagine yourself living in a particular climate, cross that college off your list immediately. Cost You should also think about money when deciding on where to apply. When narrowing down to a college, students should also consider which colleges will really prepare them for success. It is important to 'fit in' an institution. If the student is excited about the community that she will be surrounded by, the institute should be zeroed down on. Also keep in mind the ideal campus size and if it is urban or suburban environment that the student is looking forward to. Applicants should put their best foot forward to leverage their chance at an acceptance letter from a college that embodies what they value most in an institution. It's always about the quality of your applications and the quality education provided at institutes that will make you take a call ultimately. vinaymishra188@gmail.com Pervin Malhotra Q.I completed my MBBS from Dr. Rajendra Prasad Govt Medical College, Kangra, in 2015. Although I wish to go for MD, I do not presently have the finances to pay for the hefty fees or the facility to obtain a bank guarantee for doing so. Im very keen on getting a government job for various reasons. DR R P Jhamb A.Perhaps youre not aware that the Himachal government has recently decided to hold walk-in interviews to fill 200-vacancies for the post of medical officers (MBBS) in the D/o Health & Family Welfare on a contractual basis. As this is being done to meet the shortage of Doctors particularly in the rural and far-flung areas within the State, youll obviously have to be prepared to go the extra-mile. Another welcome development thats emerged from a recent HP Cabinet meeting is that the policy for tendering bond money for pursuing higher courses i.e. MD/MS, PG Diploma and Super Specialty courses (DM/MCH/DNB) is being amended. This will come as a major relief to MBBS graduates like you who were facing hardship in obtaining a Bank Guarantee for pursuing such courses. What is my chance of getting a seat in DU? Q. I am a student of GNDU. I now wish to do my MSc in Forensic Science from Delhi University. But Ive heard that 50 per cent of the seats in DU for masters courses are reserved for students of the university. So what are my chances? Tanmay Gupta A.Well your chances are as good as any as far seeking admission to this or any other PG course in DU is concerned provided you perform well in your entrance exam. DU undergrad students may no longer enjoy the 50 per cent reservation privilege when it comes to admission to PG courses in the university. Moreover, the Universitys Academic Committee has decided to conduct entrance exams for all the 45 PG programmes through a centralised platform. The decision has been sent to the DU VC for approval. So lets keep our fingers crossed! You havent specified what you are studying at the bachelors level. Nonetheless, your varsity offers a specialised M.Sc. (Information & Network Security) programme which is also a highly valuable sub-set of Forensic science. And your University has been granted special Category-1 status thanks to a 3.51 NAAC (National Assessment & Accreditation Council) score thats marginally higher than that of Punjabi University (3.35) and Punjab University (3.34). This means that GNDU, Amritsar can now set up Departments, Courses, schools, Off-campus facilities and Distance learning programmes. Its also free to hire foreign faculty without having to seek UGC approval. Neither will it require UGC inspection as per privileges granted to Category-1 institutions. CBSE norms for admission to Class XI Q.Can a student who scores less than 60 per cent marks in Class X secure admission in Class XI with PCM subjects? And, what is the age criterion for taking the Class X CBSE exam? Kritika Handa A. As per the Boards rules, a candidate obtaining minimum Grade D in all the subjects (Excluding the additional subject) is eligible for admission in class XI. However, the schools affiliated to the CBSE Board follow different practices which suit their own context for admissions to class XI. The CBSE has not fixed any specific age criteria for appearing in the Class X exam. However, at the time of admission the student should satisfy the requirements of age limit (minimum & maximum) as determined by the State/UT government and applicable to the place where the school is located. Also do check with the school directly to be doubly sure. email your queries to careers@tribunemail.com rajivbhatia82@gmail.com Beijing, February 27 Two years after it hit theatres in India, Salman Khan-starrer "Bajrangi Bhaijaan" will be released all over China on Friday, state media said on Tuesday. The film, which was directed by Kabir Khan and also starred Kareena Kapoor Khan, tells the story of Bajrangi, an ardent devotee of Hindu deity Hanuman, who takes a six-year-old Pakistan girl to her homeland to reunite with her family. "The story shows that love between people can transcend ethnicity, religion and nationality," state run Xinhua news agency quoted Salman as saying. Aamir Khan's "Dangal" and "Secret Superstar" became major hits in China after their release in the country recently. "Secret Superstar" raked in more than 700 million yuan (about USD 110 million) since its release on January 19. "Drawing lessons from Hollywood films and innovation, the Indian film industry has been focusing on disclosing social realities," Ding Yaping, researcher with the Chinese National Academy of Arts told Xinhua. PTI. shalender@tribune.com Marvel Studios' owner Disney Inc. will share the box-office success of recently released Black Panther with the Boys and Girls Club of America by donating 1.1 million dollars to their cause. The donation will be in support of their STEM Science, Technology, Engineering and Math programmes for the youth, fields that have been a key focus of the Boys and Girls Club. The nonprofit organisation provides programmes for children with an emphasis on education, future success and general well-being. The centres also give children access to hands-on technologies, including 3-D printers, robotics and video production. Disney CEO Bob Iger said in a statement, It was thrilling to see how inspired young audiences were by the spectacular technology in the film. It's fitting that we show our appreciation by helping advance STEM programs for youth, especially in underserved areas of the country, to give them the knowledge and tools to build the future they want." The organisation will establish new STEM centres using the donation, particularly in Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, New York, Philadelphia and Washington. Black Panther has been a huge hit worldwide and has already grossed over 700 million USD in box-office collections. ANI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 27 Students of the MCA, PCTE Group of Institutes celebrated Holi on the campus. Along with the Indian students, the students from foreign countries also celebrated the festival of colours with a lot of enthusiasm. I am amazed to see the energy the festival brings along. Moreover, studying in the PCTE has not only helped me widen my knowledge base but also has helped me to explore the Indian culture as well, said Hyden, a PCTE student from Papua New Guinea. The students said such celebrations fill students with energy. Gurpreet Kaur, assistant professor, said, it was great to see that students are organising events like these which help them connecting with their culture and help the students of other countries to enjoy our culture fest as well. editorial@tribune.com Ananya Panda Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 27 For the first time since he was allegedly assaulted by AAP legislators, Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash along with his fellow bureaucrats today attended a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, convened to decide dates for the Assembly budget session. This came on a day when Lt Governor Anil Baijal, in a letter, called for introspection by the AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) dispensation over the prevailing administrative crisis and urged Kejriwal to reach out directly to the citys employees who were feeling insecure following the alleged assault. A joint forum of Delhi Government employees, meanwhile, said today that officers involved in the budgetary work attended the Cabinet meeting in the interest of the people. The forum said employees otherwise would continue to communicate with the political executive through written channels until the Delhi CM and his deputy Manish Sisodia tendered a public apology and took steps for ensuring safety and dignity of employees. The decision was taken on the assumption that CM Arvind Kejriwal will ensure no verbal and physical assault happens on officers and their dignity is protected, said the Chief Secretary in a letter to Kejriwal, released hours before the meeting. Finance Secretary SN Sahay and General Administration Department Secretary MK Parida were among other top officers who attended the meeting. Following the Cabinet meeting, Sisodia told reporters the Chief Secretary had been directed to submit a report in two weeks on the alleged discrepancies in the distribution of ration and a proposal on doorstep delivery of ration on March 1. The top bureaucrat, in turn, is understood to have agreed to do the needful. Pointing out that despite his advice to the elected government in the last meeting on February 24, Baijal lamented, .... on the same day the elected representatives met him, reports in the media surfaced of another MLA allegedly threatening the officials in the presence of the CM. Observing that there was a need to introspect how this deplorable state of affairs had developed, Baijal noted, Mutual trust and respect have to be the foundation of the relationship between the government and employees. Baijal observed that in the prevailing circumstances, he would urge the CM to reach out directly to the employees, and that a greater responsibility lied on him as the purported attack on CS took place in his presence in his house. On his part, the Lt Governor assured of all efforts to restore a sense of security among the employees while also noting that this was the first instance of so much rift between the elected government and the bureaucracy in the national capital he could recall. L-G cautions govt Lt Governor Anil Baijal has cautioned the Arvind Kejriwal government that not providing safe and dignified work environment could spell havoc for governance and rule of law, and that all sections of the bureaucracy look up to the CM to provide leadership. editorial@tribune.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 27 The BJP leadership is believed to be working on a strategy to beat anti-incumbency and underlying anger at the grass-roots, especially in the farming community in three poll-bound states it currently holds Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan. Apparently, apart from changing a sizable chunk of sitting MLAs, as many as 50 to 60 claim sources, the party is also considering fielding several of its sitting MPs from the states in the crucial elections preceding the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. The strategy, party managers believe, can have several advantages. The BJP would be able to stem some amount of anger against sitting MLAs and also promote fresh talent in the Lok Sabha polls from the states. Apparently, the need for a new strategy is fuelled by Congress partys recent political gains, especially in Gujarat which the BJP managed to save by a whisker, almost. Though party leaders claim the BJP is in a comfortable space in all the three states, the fact of the matter is that the Congress recent performance in Lok Sabha and Assembly bypolls and civic body elections can no longer be ignored. The three states are due for polls around the year-end and the current status reports from the ground are not so conducive for the saffron party. Despite their personal popularity with people, Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh) and Raman Singh (Chhattisgarh) are facing 15 years of anti-incumbency. editorial@tribune.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, February 27 As elections in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh draw near, the Congress is in no particular hurry to announce a chief ministerial candidate in any of the states. Party sources say Congress president Rahul Gandhi is more comfortable betting on collective leadership in both poll-bound states rather than field a face. Gandhi is also learnt to have indicated to leaders in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh that they should concentrate on winning assembly elections first and bother about the CM-ship later. Collective leadership is actually emerging as a rule in the Congress, which has followed the pattern in recent organisational restructurings in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. In both states, the party will fight the upcoming elections on the strength of its organization rather than individuals. The thinking is said to be rooted in recent Gujarat Assembly election results where the potential CM-ship hopefuls lost elections, including strongmen Shakti Sinh Gohil and Arjun Modhwadia. The Congress president is very clear in his mind. State leaders should first deliver victories in areas they belong. So if a leader is a strongman in a particular constituency, the voting turnout should bear that out. Its all too well to demand chief-ministership but will the CM hopefuls win seats for the party. Performance has to matter and now it will. The larger thinking is to hold leaders accountable against their word, see if their so-called popularity translates into votes for Congress and then elect a CM after the election results, a senior Congress leader said. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Mumbai, February 27 At least five people were killed and seven others injured when a speeding car rammed into a parked SUV in Solapur district of western Maharashtra early on Tuesday, police said. The car hit the sport utility vehicle (SUV), which was parked after a tyre burst, on Tuljapur-Pandharpur road at Haglur village, around 4.30 am, an official in-charge of the Solapur rural police station said. The passengers of both the vehicles were heading towards Solapur, located over 400 kms from here, after attending a religious event in Aurangabad, he said. Following the mishap, the 12 victims from both the vehicles were rushed to a state-run hospital in Tuljapur where five of them were declared dead, the official said. The deceased included three passengers of the parked SUV and two from the other car, he said. The seven injured people were undergoing treatment in the hospital, he added. sanjiv@tribunemail.com New Delhi, February 27 Maldives has declined Indias invitation to participate in the eight-day mega naval exercise Milan beginning March 6, in what is seen as a diplomatic snub to New Delhi, which has been critical of the imposition of emergency in the Indian Ocean island nation. Maldives was invited to join the exercise but they have declined, Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba said. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) The Maldives embassy in New Delhi issued a statement: Maldives is unable to participate... due to the current circumstances of a state of emergency. During such a time especially, security personnel are expected to be at a heightened stance of readiness. The Maldives and India enjoy a long history of excellent defence and military cooperation and it is a tradition that we are confident that will endure and continue indefinitely. India will host navies from at least 16 countries for the exercise at the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. TNS rchopra@tribunemail.com Mumbai, February 27 Superstars Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan, all of whom worked with veteran actor Sridevi, visited her brother-in-law Anil Kapoors house on Monday night to offer their condolences on her sudden demise. Sridevis mortal remains are yet to be brought back home from Dubai, where she died last week. She was 54. As per the Dubai police, the actor died due to drowning in her hotel apartments bathtub following loss of consciousness. Mourners on Monday visited Anil Kapoors bungalow, where Sridevi and husband Boney Kapoors daughters, Jhanvi and Khushi, are staying since Sunday. Anil Kapoor is Boney Kapoors younger brother. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) A number of fans also waited outside Anil Kapoors Juhu bungalow as well as Sridevis Lokhandwala residence, in a hope to catch a last glimpse of their screen idol. Shah Rukh Khan, along with wife Gauri, paid a visit to Anil Kapoors residence on Monday night. Incidentally, Sridevis last on-screen appearance would be Shah Rukh-starrer Zero, slated to release in December this year. Veteran superstars Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan also visited the Kapoor bungalow to pay their condolences. Actors Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, considered close to the Kapoor family, Arjun Kapoor and sister Anshula Kapoor, also paid a visit. Prominent personalities like Anant Ambani, Harshvardhan Kapoor, Javed Akhtar and Shabana Azmi, Karisma Kapoor, Ishaan Khattar, Manish Malhotra, Anupam Kher, Divya Dutta and Satish Kaushik had also visited Anil Kapoors house. However, there is still no clarity as to when the mortal remains of the Chandni star will arrive in India. Following a spate of rumours that surfaced after the Dubai police claimed Sridevi died of accidental drowning and also questions raised by the Indian media over the delay in bringing her body back home, Indias ambassador to UAE Navdeep Suri tweeted on Monday evening that it was normal for such procedures to take two-three days. The media interest in untimely demise of Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help. Important to note that: 1. We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job, Suri said. 2. We are in regular contact with the family of Sridevi and other well-wishers. We share their pain. 3. Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes. 4. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise. Lets be responsible, he tweeted. The Dubai government on Monday said in a tweet that the police had transferred the case to the Dubai Public Prosecution which would carry out regular legal procedures followed in such cases. Sridevi was in Dubai for a family wedding and had stayed back after the ceremonies. Her husband had flown back to Mumbai with their younger daughter Khushi, but returned to Dubai to surprise her. The news of her death, first reported around 3 am IST on Sunday, sent shock waves across the country with those who knew her at a loss to explain how the star, who was present at several wedding functions in Dubai last week, could suddenly breathe her last. Her family has not commented beyond their initial statement to announce the death, and has requested the media not to contact them as they grapple with the tragedy. Meanwhile, the Dubai police on Monday recorded the statement of Boney Kapoor, according to a media report. Kapoor reportedly discovered Sridevi unconscious in the bathtub filled with water. She was taken to a hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. The Dubai police called in Kapoor on Monday to the Bur Dubai police station and recorded his statement after which he was allowed to go back to his hotel room, sources were quoted as saying by the Gulf News. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com New Delhi, February 27 BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday said veteran actress Sridevi was murdered, even as the forensic report rules out any kind of foul play in her death. Swamy also pointed a finger at the underworld terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, saying we should take serious cognizance of the illicit relations between cinema actresses and Dawood. It doesnt appear to me the facts that have come out in the media are consistent. She never drank hard liquor, so how did it enter her system? Was she forcibly fed? What happened to the CCTV, we have not heard a word about that, Swamy told ANI, adding, It suddenly appears in the media that she died of heart failure as if its planned. (Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd) At length, he concluded, If you ask my opinion Ill tell you that I think its murder. The mystery around the death of the Indian actress has taken the country by storm since the forensic report stated that she died of accidental drowning after losing balance and falling in a bathtub full of water, contrary to initial reports that the cause of her death was cardiac arrest. Traces of alcohol were also found in the actors body. Sridevi passed away on Saturday night in Dubai, where she was attending a family wedding. After the postmortem, the body was reportedly sent for embalming. Her mortal remains will depart for India after the completion of necessary paperwork. It has also emerged that Sridevis husband, Boney Kapoor, was summoned by the Dubai police for an investigation into the case. The police recorded his statement, after which he was allowed to go back to his hotel room. ANI monicakchauhan@gmail.com Washington, February 27 Miffed with the high import duty imposed by India on the Harley-Davidson motorbikes, United States President Donald Trump yet again imitated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, sans the Indian accent, this time. The high import duty on Harley-Davidson bikes has been a sore spot for the US President, who reiterated his displeasure, saying the US was "getting nothing" out of the recent tariff cut from 100 per cent to 50 per cent. He added the US wants fair and reciprocal trade deals. "When they (Harley Davidson) send a motorcycle to India, as an example, they have to pay 100 per cent tax -- 100 per cent," Trump said in his remarks to a gathering of governors of all the states at the White House. Referring to his recent conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said the "fantastic man" informed him that India has reduced tariffs on imported motorcycles, but the US was "getting nothing". "Now, the prime minister, who I think is a fantastic man, called me the other day and said we are lowering it to 50 per cent. I said okay, but so far we're getting nothing. So we get nothing. He gets 50 (per cent), and they think we're doing -- like they're doing us a favour. That's not a favour," he said. President Trump went on to imitate Prime Minister Modi by folding his hands and taking on a soft and serious tone,"I wasn't sure -- he said it so beautifully. He's a beautiful man. And he said, 'I just want to inform you that we have reduced it to 75, but we have further reduced it to 50'. And I said, huh. What do I say? Am I supposed to be thrilled? And that's not good for you people, especially as governors. It's just not right. And we have many deals like that. He said the US gets "zero" when it buys an Indian motorcycle. "So when they have a motorbike -- a big number, by the way -- they have a company that does a lot of business. They have a motorcycle or a motorbike that comes into our country -- the number is zero. We get zero. They get 100 per cent, brought down to 75; brought down, now, to 50. Okay," Trump said. "It's a great company. When I spoke with your chairman or the president of Harley, they weren't even asking for it because they've been ripped off with trade so long that they were surprised that I brought it up. I'm the one that's pushing it more than they are, but it's unfair. And India sells us a lot of motorbikes," Trump said. This is for the second time in a month that Trump raised the issue of high import duty on motorcycles by India. Earlier, he had called it "unfair" and threatened to increase the tariff on import of Indian motorcycles to the US. PTI/ANI editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Ropar, February 27 A government schoolteacher allegedly tried to molest a 14-year-old student here last week. Even a week after the incident, the school authorities failed to either lodge a police complaint or take disciplinary action against the accused. The Principal claimed that the victim did not want to flare up the issue. In any case, the accused teacher would be transferred in a few months from here as the Punjab Government has decided to shift male teachers from girls schools, said Principal Manjit Kaur. On February 21, a Hindi teacher at Government Senior Secondary School in Ropar allegedly took the 14-year-old victim to the mid-day meal room and caught hold of her. The victim, however, resisted and fled from the spot. She informed about the incident to another teacher and subsequently the incident was brought to the notice of the Principal. On why action was not taken against the accused, the Principal said the accused had apologised for the incident and the victim also didnt want to bring the incident to her parents knowledge, so she decided not to proceed further. editorial@tribune.com Harshraj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 27 Prominent Congress leaders were able to win their respective wards of the local municipal corporation, the results of which were announced today. Among them are MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashus wife Mamta Ashu, who won from Ward No. 67; MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaids son Harkarandeep Singh Vaid Ward No. 44; district Congress president (urban) Gurpreet Gogi Ward No. 76; and district Congress president (rural) Gurdev Singh Laprans son Parvinder Singh Ward No. 48. The prominent loser is Shallu Dawar, daughter-in-law of MLA Surinder Dawars brother, from Ward No. 59 District Akali Dal president (urban) Ranjit Singh Dhillons wife Ninderjit Kaur, SAD former MLA Darshan Singh Shivaliks wife Paramjit Kaur Shivalik and BJPs Ludhiana district vice-president Parminder Mehta lost the election. The SAD had contested from 48 wards, while the BJP 47. Lok Insaaf Party chief and MLA Simarjit Singh Bains alleged that the Congress won the election with gunda gardi, booth-capturing and bogus voting. The common voter was afraid of their high handedness due to which low polling percentage was recorded. At all, we are thankful to the people of Ludhiana who supported us, he said. Denying the allegations, Ashu said the elections were held in a peaceful manner. In 2012 elections, several violent incidents, including a murder, had taken place. Even I was attacked. But this time, the elections were held in a free and fair manner. All allegations are baseless. He said: "We are thankful to the voters for this historic win. As people showed faith in us, we will ensure development of the city. The civic issues and people's grievances will be taken up on priority basis." In the 2012 Ludhiana corporation elections, the Akali Dal had won 27 wards, BJP 12, Congress 19 and Independents 17. The total number of wards were 75. Voters faith in Cong Chandigarh: Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has hailed the win as a vindication of the Congress governments policies and an endorsement of the pro-people initiatives undertaken by it in the past year. State Congress chief Sunil Jakhar and Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu also lauded the partys performance, saying that it marked the end of mafia raj. Outcome of rigging Jalandhar: Akali Dal chief Sukhbir Singh Badal said the Congress win was the outcome of rigging. The real test of the Congress popularity would be the Lok Sabha elections, Sukhbir said at a pol khol rally at Nadala in Bholath constituency. He said: They have won the MC polls by resorting to booth-capturing. Their leaders will lose security deposits in the parliamentary elections. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Minna Zutshi/Harsh Raj Singh Tribune News Service Ludhiana, February 27 The Congress swept the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation election by winning 62 out of 95 wards, the results of which were declared on Tuesday. The BJP-SAD alliance won 21 seats and Lok Insaf Party led by MLA Simmerjit Singh Bains won 7 seats whereas independents bagged four seats, an election office spokesperson said here. For the first time AAP, which contested 31 seats, opened its account when its one woman candidate was declared elected from ward no-11. The election for Ludhiana MC was held on February 24. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has hailed the Ludhiana MC results as a clear vindication of the Congress governments policies and an endorsement of the pro-people initiatives undertaken by it in the past one year. In a statement welcoming the poll results, Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar and Cabinet Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu also lauded the performance of the party in the MC polls, which they said marked the total annihilation of the opposition parties in the state. While the chief minister congratulated the party workers and leaders, including Cabinet Minister Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, and Ludhiana MP Ravneet Bittu, for steering the sweeping victory for the Congress, Jakhar said it had once again underscored the faith that the people of Punjab had in Amarinders leadership. Amarinder termed the victory as a befitting reply by the people of Punjab to the misdeeds and fabrications of the opposition, which had been trying to mislead them with baseless allegations against the Congress government. Opposition SAD-BJP and AAP had accused the ruling Congress of rigging the polls. He described the results as the proverbial last nail in the political coffins of SAD, AAP and other parties in the fray. Sidhu welcomed the three independents who had extended support to the Congress. With the AAP being reduced to a single seat, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) relegated to a poor second, winning just 11 out of 55 seats contested, and the BJP losing all but 10 of the 47 seats contested, it was clear that the political antics of these parties since their defeat in the Assembly polls a year ago had failed to impress the people, Jakhar said. Meanwhile, the Congress high command has also lauded the partys victory in the MC polls and congratulated Amarinder Singh, for it. editorial@tribune.com Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, February 27 Ramanjit Singh alias Romi (29), the Nabha jailbreak accused who was recently arrested in Hong Kong in connection with a robbery there, was reportedly close to striking a deal with the Punjab Police to give information about then most-wanted gangsters Vicky Gounder and Prema Lahoria. The deal was almost through, but fell flat after he demanded more than Rs 50 lakh, a senior police official said. Officially, the state police deny the reports of such a deal. During investigations into the Nabha jailbreak case, Romis name surfaced as a facilitator. Later, he was in touch with the police to allegedly strike a deal for getting the gangsters arrested. A senior cop told The Tribune that they were were in touch with the Interpol authorities. The police believe that Romi regularly received money from gangsters for investment and also helped them when they needed funds. His interrogation is necessary to ascertain where he invested money he got from gangsters and other links, said a top police officer. Crimes in Hong Kong Media reports emerging from Hong Kong suggest that Romi went to Rosary Hill School on Stubbs Road, Hong Kong Island, in his early years. He is charged in a case in which more than 450 million Japanese yen (HK $32 million) was stolen in Tsim Sha Tsui. He was later charged with another robbery of HK $3.2 million in Hung Hom in March last year. We all know he was involved in many various crimes in India. He travels between India and Hong Kong frequently. At a point he got so rich and he then went low-profile in the city. We know his money is dirty, the foreign media quoted his acquaintance in Hong Kong. Terror connection Romi, it is believed, coordinated between Punjab gangsters and terrorists. His name had also figured in the killing of RSS, Shiv Sena and Dera Sirsa men. He had close links with Pakistans ISI and was coordinating between terror groups and Punjab gangsters, the police claimed. A senior official said Romi came in touch with Jagtar Singh Johal alias Jaggi, a UK national and key conspirator in the terror module that carried out targeted killings of Hindu leaders in 2016-17, through Harmeet Singh alias PHD, a KLF terrorist based in Pakistan. Govt files extradition case The Union Government has filed an official request for the extradition of 29-year-old Ramanjit Singh, alias Romi, who was arrested in Hong Kong in connection with a robbery there. However, the government has been briefed that the extradition could only be processed once his legal proceedings in Hong Kong are over. Will oppose extradition Moga: US-based attorney Gurpatwant Pannun, legal adviser for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), has said he will legally defend Romi. Charges against Romi are politically motivated. We will oppose his extradition from Hong Kong as he might be tortured in custody in Punjab, he said. TNS vermaajay1968@gmail.com Tribune News Service Dehradun, February 27 Leader of the Opposition Indira Hridayesh today attacked the TS Rawat-led BJP government for plunging the state into a financial crisis as a result of poor financial management. Teachers are on the streets, so are the nursing staff and the contractors as the government has not paid their dues. The government has no money even under the committed expenditure to pay the salaries of the employees, said Indira Hridayesh, while addressing a press conference today. She said that the nursing staff had not been paid their dues for the last one year. Their representatives met me two days ago and apprised me of their problem, she said. Hridayesh said all the announcements being made about development were hollow as the government had no money. These only find mention in the news papers as the governments focus is on the Char Dham road project which has already been done by the Congress government, she said. Uttarakhand Congress chief Pritam Singh said the party also held a meeting with the legislators to chalk out a strategy for nailing the BJP government during the forthcoming Vidhan Sabha session in Gairsain. The UPA government had announced a package of Rs 8,000 crore for initiating reconstruction in the aftermath of the 2013 natural disaster but so far only Rs 2,000 crore have been spent. We demand that the remaining money be released immediately, he said. Singh said the development activity had come to a standstill as the entire focus of the BJP government had been on Ajivan Sahyog Nidhi. rchopra@tribunemail.com Boston, February 27 A rare signed letter written by American writer Ernest Hemingway, conveying Christmas wishes to his mother, may fetch over USD 2,500 at an auction in the US. Signed Ernie, the letter dated December 22, 1938 was written from Key West in Florida, US. The letter connects members of the Hemingway family--he mentions his sisters Marcelline and Madelaine (Sunny), as well as his brother Leicester. Much love and a very merry Christmas from us all. Your package has come and we are looking forward to opening it on Christmas Day, Hemingway wrote in the letter. Im so sorry poor Marce is ill. Its marvellous about Sunnys child and that Les has such a fine job and doing so well. Everyone well here and sends much love. Thank you too for the Kipling book I had for my birthday. It was so thoughtful of you, he wrote. Please forgive my not writing more often. Everyone sends love and best Christmas wishes, he wrote. The letter is accompanied by the original mailing envelope addressed in Hemingways hand, according to US-based RR Auction. The recipient, Grace Hall Hemingway, shared a complex and often contentious relationship with her son. In later years, Hemingway became estranged from his mother, blaming her for his fathers suicide, and then neglecting to attend her funeral in 1951. At the time of this letter, Hemingway had just returned from covering the Spanish Civil War for the North American Newspaper Alliance, and was soon to depart for Cuba, spending the next 20 years of his life at the Finca Vigia, or lookout farm. PTI laxmi@tribune.com Lahore, February 27 Shehbaz Sharif was unanimously elected as interim president of Pakistans ruling PML-N today while his elder brother and ousted PM Nawaz Sharif was made the beleaguered partys Quaid (top leader) for life time. The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) elected its new head days after the Supreme Court disqualified 68-year-old Nawaz as the chief of his party and struck down all decisions taken by him as the party head. Shehbaz, the 66-year-old chief minister of Punjab province, has been elected as the partys president for 45 days by its central working committee (CWC) at a meeting held in Sharifs Model Town Lahore residence today. At the meeting, Nawaz proposed the name of Shehbaz for the partys interim president which was unanimously approved by the CWC. The meeting also approved making Nawaz PML-N Quaid (top leader) for life time and also paid tributes to his service for the party, country and democracy. PML-N elects Nawaz as its Quaid for life. Raja Zafarul Haq, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharifs proposal elicited a resounding approval from the CWC, Nawazs daughter Maryam tweeted. PML-Ns information secretary Senator Mushahidullah Khan told PTI there was no candidate for the slot of interim president of PML-N other than Shahbaz Sharif. Nawaz proposed Shehbazs name for the partys interim president and all more than 100 CWC members approved his name unanimously. Shehbaz will continue as the partys full-time president after the general council elects him at a meeting in Islamabad next month, he said. Under the partys rules, the PML-Ns CWC is supposed to elect an acting party head within a week of its chiefs removal. Then the partys general council is required to elect a president within 45 days. Nawaz was removed from the post of PML-N president by the apex court on February 22. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Beijing, February 27 In a rare public expression of dissent in China, a well-known political commentator and a prominent businesswoman have penned open letters urging lawmakers to reject a plan that would allow President Xi Jinping to rule indefinitely. Their impassioned statements on a popular messaging app were circulated widely after the ruling Communist Party announced a proposal on Sunday to scrap term limits on the president and vice president. In a statement on Monday on WeChat to Beijings members of Chinas rubber-stamp parliament, Li Datong, a former editor for the state-run China Youth Daily, wrote that lifting term limits would sow the seeds of chaos. If there are no term limits on a countrys highest leader, then we are returning to an imperial regime, Li told The Associated Press on Tuesday. My generation has lived through Mao. That era is over. How can we possibly go back to it? Wang Ying, a businesswoman, who has advocated for government reforms, wrote on WeChat that the Communist Partys proposal was an outright betrayal and against the tides. I know that you (the government) will dare to do anything, she wrote, and one ordinary persons voice is certainly useless. But I am a Chinese citizen, and I dont plan on leaving. This is my motherland too! An official in the information department of the Standing Committee of the legislative body, the National Peoples Congress, said on Tuesday that he was not aware of the open letters. The congress is all but certain to pass the constitutional amendment when it meets for its annual session early next month, at which it will grant Xi a second five-year term and appoint new ministers and other government officials. Under the 1982 constitution, the president is limited to two five-year terms in office, but Xi already Chinas most powerful leader since Mao appears to want additional terms to see through his agenda of fighting corruption, eliminating poverty and transforming China into a modern leading nation by midcentury. Government and party spokesmen have yet to offer any detailed explanations on the reasoning and motivation behind the dropping of term limits. Nor is it clear whether Xi will seek to remain president for life or will only stay on for a set number of additional terms. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang on Monday said the proposal was made in accordance with new situation and the practice of upholding and developing socialism with Chinese characteristics in the new era. In a commentary on Tuesday, the official China Daily newspaper mentioned the proposal to strip out language in the constitution limiting the president and vice president to two five-year terms, saying it was necessitated by the need to perfect the party and the states leadership system. While Chinese censors have moved swiftly to delete any satirical online commentary on the move, a range of opposition views continue to be shared. The Global Times, a newspaper published by the Communist Party, said outside forces were trying to challenge the partys leadership. AP The domain turkeytelegraph.com may be for sale. Please click here to inquire President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov attended the inauguration ceremony of the international airport in the city of Turkmenabat in the administrative center of Lebap province (eastern region of the country). The new airport meets all modern requirements, including the 3800-meter long and 60-meter wide runway for any type aircrafts. Speaking at the opening ceremony, representative of the Guinness Book of World Records Sheida Subashi-Gemidji noted that the star-shaped passenger terminal of the new airport is the largest in the world. Sheida Subashi-Gemidji confirmed it by handing a special certificate over to the head of Turkmen Airlines. At the end of the ceremony, aircrafts of Turkmen and foreign airlines landed in the new airport. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021 Santiago/New York, 27 February 2018 Over 450 CEOs, government leaders and gender, labour and development experts from 25 countries kicked off the two-day IV Global Forum Business for Gender Equality today in Santiago, Chile, committing to take concrete action to achieve equality for women and men in the labour force. Leaders vowed to take key stepssuch as eliminating gender pay gaps, increasing the number of women in decision-making positions and eradicating sexual harassment in the workplaceto unleash huge benefits to businesses and to economies as a whole. We believe in the power of public-private partnerships to reduce inequalities, including gender inequality and its key role to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said President Michelle Bachelet of Chile, opening the event today, a Government of Chile-UN Development Programme (UNDP) initiative, in partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UN Women. The Vice President and Minister of Womens Affairs of the Republic of the Gambia, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang said that empowering women and enabling equal opportunities for both women and men in the workforce is a key pillar of our National Development Plan, so from micro-credit, small and medium enterprises to the big companies these are crucial steps to reduce inequalities, boost productivity and improve our economy as a whole. Gender equality in the workplace is both a matter of womens human rights and a smart stepfor business and overall sustainable development gains; but there is no time to lose, said UNDPs Director for Regional hub for Latin America and the Caribbean, Richard Barathe. If the world to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 companies have a crucial responsibility to place gender equality as a central business pillar that can spark growththat is inclusive, sustainable and leaves no one behind. Barathe stressed that equality for women in the labour force could add up to US$28 trillion to the global economy by 2025, according to a McKinsey Global Institute report. But the challenges are dire: fewer than half of women have paying jobs outside their homes, compared to 77 percent of men. Moreover, and women earn on average 23 percent less than their male peers. Women also carry a disproportionate burden of unpaid care work, which deprives them of opportunities to earn income, start businesses and participate in public life, while depriving economies of womens talents and contributions. One solution on the agenda is the UNDP-supported Gender Equality Seal programme, an initiative that certifies companies that have eliminated pay gaps, increased the number of women in decision-making positions, and worked to end sexual harassment on the job. UNDP has been supporting partners in 17 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, Asia, Eurasia to certify public and private companies for meeting gender equality targets. Through the Gender Seal initiative, certified businesses have committed to eliminating gender pay gaps, boosting the number of women in decision-making positions, improving work-life balance, eradicating sexual harassment in the workplace and boosting the participation of women in non-traditional industries. In Chile, Gender Seal certified state-owned copper mining company Codelco boosted mixed gender groups in this traditionally male-dominated industry, resulting in increased productivity. Similarly, Costa Ricas National Bank increased womens representation in decision-making positions through a leadership programme, enabling 70 women to assume managerial posts, while Canadas Scotiabank identified potential employees for a Talent Pool offering mentorship programmes and improving womens access to senior-level positions. For a full list of details including panellists and participating companies visit https://businessforgenderequality.org Media contacts: Government of Chile: Andrea Figueroa: afigueroa@sernam.gob.cl UNDP | In Chile: Magdalena Provis at Magdalena.provis@undp.org and Sergio Garcia at Sergio.garcia@undp.org In New York: Carolina Azevedo at Carolina.azevedo@undp.org (in Chile 26-28 February) Khaleda Begum (in red scarf) surrounded by refugee familes living on her farm where she cut down trees to accommodate their shelters, a child friendly space and a clinic. UNHCR/Roger Arnold KUTUPALONG REFUGEE CAMP EXTENSION, Bangladesh A few years ago, rising sea levels and land erosion forced Bangladeshi farmer Mohammed Karim to abandon his familys smallholding on Saint Martin's Island and start over on the mainland. As thousands of Rohingya refugees streamed into the Kutupalong area from Myanmar last September, he did not hesitate when a group of exhausted families asked if they could use some of his land for temporary shelter. Seeing their sufferings, I couldnt bear it any more, which is why I agreed to let them stay on my land, says the father of three. Many of them brought rice on their own, I provided them firewood and vegetables and fish. At first Karim allowed 40 of the families to stay in his home, surrounded by rice paddies, mangrove trees and vegetable plots. After nine days, the newcomers were able to build their own makeshift shelters with materials provided by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. Among those Karim sheltered was 26-year-old Abul Manzur, who fled attacks by Myanmar troops and militia. He trekked for weeks in search of safety before finally settling on Karims land. We have never been disturbed by anyone since we got here, says Manzur with evident relief. We feel safe and secure." More than 688,000 women, children and men have fled Myanmar since violence erupted there in late August and Bangladeshis have been at the forefront of a huge relief effort, donating food, clothing, shelter materials, and, in this corner of south-east Bangladesh, the use of their land "I could not bear the sorrows that they were going through. A short distance away from Karims home in the patchwork of villages around Kutupalong lives mother-of-four Khaleda Begum. She is among many local people who responded to the needs of footsore refugees in need of shelter by opening up their homes. They came with absolutely nothing and I was truly shocked at seeing their condition, recalls 26-year-old Khaleda, who shared her familys food, kitchen and beds with 36 refugee families. I felt their pain I could not bear the sorrows that they were going through. Mohammed Karim stands in part of his farm now used to house Rohingya families in makeshift shelters. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Khaleda Begum (left) with Mohammed Kausar, his wife Safita Begum and daughter Rumi. Khaleda allowed the family to stay on her farm when they arrived from Myanmar. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Khaleda Begum (in red scarf) at her home surrounded by refugee children now living on her farm. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Safita Begum holding her baby daughter, Rumi. Khaleda Begum allowed Safita and her husband Mohammed Kausar to stay on her farm after they arrived. Rumi was born days later. UNHCR/Roger Arnold Khaleda Begum cut down some of the fruit trees on her farm to accommodate refugee families. UNHCR/Roger Arnold On their land, Khaledas family cut down more than 250 fruit-bearing mango, jackfruit and guava trees to accommodate the newcomers, among them several heavily pregnant women, four of whom gave birth in the first few days. Among the new parents were Safita Begum, 18, and her husband, Mohammed Kausar, 22, who sought shelter at Khaledas home on 2 September after barely escaping Myanmar with their lives. Their daughter Rumi was born five days later. I am just happy and grateful to Allah that I have escaped a tragic end to my life, says Safita, who says she wants a safe and secure future for her daughter. Bangladesh is one of the worlds poorest and most densely populated countries. The refugee influx in the past six months has transformed the area of low hills peppered with villages and hamlets around Kutupalong into the largest refugee settlement in the world. The relief efforts of residents like Karim and Khaleda are supported by the Bangladeshi government, in tandem with UNHCR and its local and international partners. Until they feel safe to go back, I will host them in my land. Nearly six months into the displacement crisis, Khaledas family smallholding also hosts other facilities including a child friendly space provided by Save the Children International and a clinic operated by the Bangladesh-based development agency BRAC. Both are well used. Every day over 100 people come here to use the health services, said Mohammed Naimur Rahman, medical assistant from BRAC. Though we provide very basic services, it is still very useful for the refugees as it is very convenient to them. On Karims land, UNHCR and its implementing partner Caritas have helped build shelters, tube wells, latrines and bathing spaces to improve conditions for the refugees and reduce the risk of waterborne diseases. See also: Rohingya refugees on frontline of fight to contain diphtheria Several small engineering projects are also under way to build bamboo-reinforced footpaths and stairs, bridges and retaining walls for soil stabilization, and drainage networks. Caritas has also installed street lights, which benefit residents and newcomers alike. With the influx, refugees outnumber Bangladeshis in the settlement area. Their presence has contributed to rising prices of staple foods, fuel and building materials and has caused concern about pressure on the environment, leading to some protests. Neither Karim or Khaleda doubt that they have done the right thing. Every day many Rohingya refugee women and children come to our house now, and we enjoy their company, says Karim. My children play with their children. They have new friends. Until they feel safe to go back to Myanmar I will host them in my land. Khaleda says that before they arrived, her neighbourhood was isolated and quiet. She feels safer with new neighbours living around her and enjoys hearing the laughter of their children. I feel happy that I could help them when they needed it the most. Seventeen-year-old Kenyi John, in the white shirt, takes care of his siblings. UNHCR/Catherine Robinson IMVEPI REFUGEE SETTLEMENT, Uganda In the shade of a teak tree, teenager Kenyi John sits on a mat with his four siblings and raises his arm. He throws a dice on to a colourful board and the children laugh and cheer. He has scored a six and their board game can start. Kenyi, 17, and his younger brothers and sisters are among more than 5,000 unaccompanied South Sudanese refugee children who have fled their countrys civil war and arrived in Uganda without parents. In July, they left their village with their uncle and walked for seven terrifying days until they reached the border. The journey was so hard, says Kenyi. The sun was very hot and we had trouble finding food and water. We also met soldiers and rebels along the way. Our uncle decided to turn back but we continued on because we wanted to go to school. Last year, an unprecedented number of South Sudanese refugees arrived in Uganda, now estimated at more than one million. The number of unaccompanied children or those separated from their parents has also continued to grow. The journey was so hard. The number of child refugees travelling alone to escape fighting is rising in alarming levels, says Suwedi Yunus Abdallah, a UNHCR child protection specialist. Many of these children saw family members killed or were separated from them when they went on the run. They have been forced into adult lifestyles, by having to become responsible for themselves and their siblings. On arrival at the Ugandan border, UNHCR and its partners, including the non-governmental organization World Vision, identify unaccompanied children, interview them and determine their status. Because Kenyi is 17 years old, it was decided he was old enough to act as the head of the household and the family would live independently. They were given a plot of land, materials to build a shelter and kitchen utensils. We get food donations and go to school, he says. And, I make sure everyone works together at home to collect wood and water, so our sister can cook our food. Many of these children saw family members killed." UNHCR partners such as World Vision, Save the Children and the Danish Refugee Council send out case workers to monitor child-headed households. Staff shortages and the size of the settlements make it difficult to provide regular, coordinated visits. As a result, children risk being exposed to hazards and abuse, such as illness, rape, pregnancy, forced marriage and forced recruitment into sexual slavery or armed groups. UNHCRs child protection partners have worked with communities and child welfare groups to create foster banks, families who are willing to care for young children unable to look after themselves. Foster parents who volunteer are vetted and sign an agreement to care for the children. We dont want to break up families, so we try to keep siblings together, says Evelyn Atim, World Vision child protection coordinator. If children arent happy in a foster home, they have the right to leave. Foster parents are refugees themselves, so we support them by providing a one-time cash grant, basic personal effects to fostered children, household items, plus a makeshift homestead for the entire family. At Bidi Bidi refugee settlement, the worlds largest, 32-year-old Betty Leila fosters six, in addition to her own four children and two of her nieces. Betty fled South Sudan last year with her children and nieces. During their journey, they came across six unaccompanied children, aged between 10 and 16, hiding in a burnt-out car. They joined Bettys group and, by the time they arrived at the Ugandan border, they had bonded with her children. I took them in because they had no one and nowhere to go, Betty says. Its a mix of hardship and joy to keep these children because its hard to meet all of their basic needs. When they need medicine, clothing or school supplies they look to me. I work as a care worker at a child friendly space to make extra money, but I often need to borrow from my neighbours to buy food. In order to improve conditions for the most vulnerable families in the Imvepi settlement in northern Uganda, UNHCR decided to make cash payments to some 463 households by the end of 2017, including foster families and child-headed households. A first payment helps pay for necessities and a second goes towards training and funding families to start their own businesses. As war rages on in South Sudan, the Ugandan government and UNHCR are seeking increased funding from the international community to cope with the refugee influx, to provide schools, as well as medical and psycho-social care for children who make up more than 60 per cent of new arrivals. At Kenyis plot of land, where the board game is in full swing, he and his siblings have temporarily forgotten their troubles. As they move their counters around the board, they are children again, safe in a place they now call home. The backers behind a major new office development in Glasgow city centre have shared their indicative plans for a 13-storey tower on the corner site. . Page\Park Architects have completed a 1.25m refurbishment of a C-listed Bishopbriggs church, originally designed by Gillespie Kidd & Coia.. A disused church in the inter-war garden suburb of Bellahouston, Glasgow, is to be redeveloped to provide 35 homes for social rent and associated amenity space.. A burgeoning residential neighbourhood at Granton Harbour has taken a step toward greater cohesion with the completion of 104 affordable waterfront homes.. The University of Strathclyde has taken possession of a new Learning and Teaching Building at the heart of its Rottenrow Campus following handover by BDP Glasgow.. The JR Group have debuted their first private housing development with the release of ... Hopes that a 15bn physical connection between Scotland and Ireland could lead t... A fire-ravaged five-star Loch Lomond resort is to throw open its doors to guests from ... An innovative self-build development at Dullatur Golf Course is to break ground this... AMA Studio has signalled a shift away from city centres after completing a rebranding ... Hotel specialists Ica have rebranded their practice in response to mounting clamour ... A burgeoning residential neighbourhood at Granton Harbour has taken a step toward grea... In collaboration with COWI and Burroughs, Moxon Architects has designed and delivered Hams Way Footbridge, a new pedestrian and cycle crossing ove... Blogs Latest Thursday - 09/09/21 1 comment University of Dundee architecture degree show Jamie Brown wrote: When we left the studio in the Matthew Building in March 2020 we couldnt have imagined that... Thursday - 19/08/21 No comments Natural Health Service Felicity Steers wrote: [image:1828::.border] Glasgows dear green places have never felt so important. We have... Thursday - 19/08/21 No comments Why did Spaces for People fail? Mark Chalmers wrote: What went wrong with the Scottish Governments flagship Spaces for People programme? It was... Published: February 27, 2018 Four Authors From Cover Stories Anthology to Give Reading at UT March 8 In Cover Stories, 16 of the best contemporary writers take classic stories as their starting point, crafting new stories from familiar tales. On Thursday, March 8, The University of Tampa will welcome four authors from the anthology for a reading in the Scarfone/Hartley Gallery. The event begins at 2:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. Edited by Stefan Kiesbye, Cover Stories demonstrates that originality springs from listening closely to previous generations of authors. Along with the 16 new stories in the anthology are the originals each author selected as a starting point. For the event, authors Jane Dykema, Derek Nikitas, Jeff Parker and Terese Svoboda will read their stories from the anthology. Dykemas work has appeared in Electric Literature, Cosmonauts Avenue, Volt and elsewhere. Dykema is a Massachusetts Cultural Council Fellow, and she teaches writing at Clark University and Grub Street. Nikitas is the Edgar Awardnominated author of the novels Pyres and TheLongDivision (St. Martins Press) and ExtraLife (Polis Books). Nikitas teaches fiction writing at The University of Rhode Island. Parker is the author of several books, including Where Bears Roam the Streets: A Russia Journal, Ovenman and The Taste of Penny. Svoboda is the author of six books of fiction, seven books of poetry, a memoir, a biography and a book of translation from a South Sudanese language. She has won a Guggenheim, the Bobst Prize in fiction, the Iowa Prize for poetry, a National Endowment for the Humanities grant for translation and the O. Henry Award for the short story. This event is part of the Association of Writers and Writing Programs conference taking place March 710 at the Tampa Convention Center, for which UT is a premier sponsor. For more information, contact Erica Dawson, associate professor of English and writing, at (813) 257-6311 or edawson@ut.edu. Dutch poultry farmers have been hit by another outbreak of bird flu AFP/SCOTT OLSON "An outbreak of a variant of H5 bird flu has been detected in a poultry farm in Oldekerk, Groningen province," the ministry said in a statement, adding that it is "likely a highly pathogenic variant". To prevent the virus spreading, the ministry ordered an immediate ban on the transportation of poultry, eggs, meat and manure within a ten-kilometre zone around the farm in the north of the country. The government has ordered poultry farmers to keep their livestock indoors since December, when a bird flu outbreak at another farm led to the slaughter of 16,000 birds. Dutch poultry farmers, already reeling from a contaminated egg scandal, were also hit by another outbreak in December which saw thousands of hens destroyed. While imports are falling, a huge wave of investment goes into domestic car manufacturing The issuance of Decree 116 Three months ago, Decree 116 has tightened controls for imported automobiles in terms of origin, types, technical safety, and environment protection requirements. The government has confirmed that Decree 116 aims to develop the Vietnamese automobile industry. Besides the tightened regulations and high standards, there are many opportunities for firms to develop the automobile industry, raise localisation rate, and create jobs. However, there are still many arguments around Decree 116. The tightened regulations, along with Circular No,03/2018/TT-BGTVT which came into effect on January 1, 2018, have set various challenges for automobile importers. Recently, automobile branches like Toyota and Honda have announced stopping bringing cars to Vietnam because they cannot obtain a Vehicle Type Approval (VTA) certification issued by authorities in the exporting country. Without such a document, a separate certificate of quality, technical safety, and environmental protection of the automobile or engine must be provided. In addition to this, while examining technical safety and environmental protection, automobile importers will have to submit a number of dossiers, such as the registration certificates of imported cars for technical safety and security, and environmental inspection, certified copies of the types of tires, rearview mirrors, and front lights issued by competent agencies or organisations, and the original certificates of automobile quality inspection issued by foreign automakers or automobile-assembling enterprises for each type of car. Thereby, the number of completely built units (CBU) in the first months of this year dropped sharply. Up to February 15, 2018, as many as 32 CBU vehicles (under nine seats) were imported to Vietnam with a value of $1.1 million. During the week-long Tet holiday, only one vehicle was imported. Speaking at the meeting chaired by Minister and Head of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung yesterday, chairman of the Vietnam Automobile Manufacturers Association (VAMA) Toru Kinoshita said: Decree 116 raises costs and time for all auto imports, resulting in higher vehicle prices and longer waiting times for customers. The decree also creates unfair competition among domestic and foreign manufacturers. Some VAMA members have been operating in Vietnam for more than 20 years, but they may stop manufacturing because of an unexpected regulation on road testing. Pham Van Dung, chairman and general director of Ford Vietnam, said the regulations in Decree 116 do not follow international practices because exporting countries do not grant VTA certificates for the vehicles. Decree 116 has created a fair competitive environment between automotive manufacturers and importers. I do not think to delay the enforcement of the decree. However, Tran Ba Duong, chairman of Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco), confirmed that this certificate is necessary to protect the environment and the safety of drivers and passengers. Decree 116 has created a fair competitive environment between automotive manufacturers and importers. I do not think to delay the enforcement of the decree, he added. Le Ngoc Duc, general director of Hyundai Thanh Cong, agreed and stressed: If the cars produced domestically must pass the test, imported vehicles should also have to. New development orientation for automobile industry Despite the tightened conditions of Decree 116, a wave of investment into the automobile industry has been forming at foreign invested and domestic firms. Leaders of Mitsubishi Motors have just met with relevant Vietnamese agencies to inform them and discuss their plan of constructing the second automobile factory in Vietnam. The facility would have an investment value of $250 million and capacity of 50,000 vehicles per annum. It is expected to launch in the middle of 2020 and create 1,000 jobs. Additionally, the corporation also signed a memorandum of understanding with the government on the development of electric automobiles in Vietnam. Ford also intends to strengthen automobile assembly in Vietnam to be applied zero per cent preferential tax for spare parts, as per Decree 125. Domestic firms like Truong Hai Auto Corporation (Thaco) kicked off the construction of the new Thaco-Mazda automobile manufacturing factory with the capacity of 100,000 vehicles a year and total investment of VND12 trillion (approximately $530 million). Earlier, Vingroup has invested $3.5 billion into an automobile manufacturing complex to develop a Vietnamese automobile brand. Hyundai Thanh Cong not only poured billions dollar into the automobile industry, but also expects to export to the ASEAN. Foreign agencies, associations, and enterprises support Vietnam's policy to develop the automotive industry in order to step-by-step become autonomous and increase the localisation rate through mechanisms and policies. At the meeting yesterday, Minister Dung said that foreign agencies, associations, and enterprises support Vietnam's policy to develop the automotive industry in order to step-by-step become autonomous and increase the localisation rate through mechanisms and policies. According to statistics from the General Department of Vietnam Customs, as of February 15, 2018, the import turnover of automobile components hit $332 million as compared to the $387 million of the same period last year. Thereby, domestic production still remains stable. Against the forecast that the automotive industry will "submerge" after removing the import tax on CBUs from the ASEAN from early 2018, the current production activities still remain and develop. At the end of 2016, there were 173 firms producing and assembling automobiles with the total capacity of around 500,000 vehicles per year. The Toulouse airport had a record 14.6 per cent increase in traffic last year to 9.2 million passengers, making it the fifth-largest in France. (AFP/PASCAL PAVANI) Casil Europe, a holding company created by China's state-owned Shandong Hi-Speed Group and the Hong Kong-based Friedmann Pacific Asset Management, bought 49.99 per cent of the airport in 2015. The French government had an option for selling Casil an additional 10.01 per cent stake from April, as part of a wave of sales of state-owned assets. But in December a group of local officials asked Prime Minister Edouard Philippe to refrain from selling the stake, accusing Casil of using the airport's cash reserves to maximise dividend payments instead of investing in its operations. "We will not cede the 10.01 per cent," a government source told AFP, confirming a report by BFM television. "For now we're not going to move." Local governments and the Toulouse Chamber of Commerce, which together own a minority 40 per cent stake in the airport, argued that even though Casil had indeed embarked on a modernisation plan, the airport needed to have a "public majority for the long term." President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to raise 10 billion (US$12.3 billion) by selling state assets and stake-holdings to fund a programme to promote innovation. The government has not tipped its hand on which companies and stakes might be for sale, but analysts say they could include holdings in energy giants EDF and Engie as well as an additional stake in Aeroports de Paris (ADP), which runs the Orly and Charles de Gaulle airports. The Toulouse airport had a record 14.6 per cent increase in traffic last year to 9.2 million passengers, making it the fifth-largest in France. That was driven mainly by the growth of low-cost European airlines like EasyJet and Ryanair, with international flights now making up half of its traffic. Casil Europe has said it wants to boost traffic to 18 million passengers by 2046, in large part by developing connections to Chinese destinations. An industrial zone needs to be well-equipped with auxiliary facilities and public utility services, such as free housing for staff and workers Solid grounds for development Dang Van Quang, associate director of real estate services firm Jones Lang LaSalle Vietnam, said that if we look at the general picture of the Vietnamese real estate market, the growth potential of the industrial real estate segment is absolutely astounding. Specifically, Vietnam has an ideal population structure for manufacturing, characterised by young, highly educated but competitive labour force living in a stable political and social environment. In addition, the country has attractive tax incentives and land rent for foreign investors. Moreover, Vietnams GDP has been growing at a high pace, and the government is fostering the establishment of new startups and encourages them to invest more in production and business activities. As a string of multinational corporations has left China or at least withdrew part of their business since the competitiveness of the economy has been declining and labour costs are no longer cheap, I believe Vietnam will attract more investors with its advantages, Quang said. According to data from the Ministry of Planning and Investments (MPI) Foreign Investment Agency, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into Vietnam have set new records both in 2016 and 2017. In 2016, Vietnam attracted $24.86 billion of FDI, while 2017 marked a high of $35.88 billion, a 44.4 per cent increase compared to 2016. The amount of disbursed capital in these two years was $15.8 billion and $17.5 billion, respectively. Given the strong influx of foreign investment into Vietnam, along with the increasing number of local businesses expanding their production-business activities, the occupancy rate of industrial zones (IZs) is quite high nationwide. In particular, according to MPIs Economic Zones Management Department, there are 328 IZs across the country at present, taking up a total area of 96,300 hectares of natural land. Of this, 223 zones have been put in operation and 105 more are in the process of site clearance and compensation. Occupancy reached 51.5 per cent overall, and 73 per cent at operating IZs. In addition, Vietnam also has 17 coastal economic zones (EZs) established on a land and water surface area of approximately 845,000ha, not to mention Ninh Co EZ in the northern province of Nam Dinh, which is included in the planning but has not been established yet. IZs with high occupancy rates include Vietnam-Singapore Industrial Park III in the southern province of Binh Duong, or Que Vo I, Que Vo II, Tien Son, and Yen Phong I in the northern province of Bac Ninh, with an average occupancy rate of 85 per cent. Ha Chan Ho, strategic advisor to Samsung, said that apart from proximity to airports and seaports, one of the top criteria for the South Korean group in choosing the location of its factories was to find an environment that facilitates the enterprises stable and long-term production activities and features sufficiently good supporting industries. We are very pleased now because Bac Ninh authorities have implemented numerous policies to attract supporting industry businesses. When we need product packaging or plastic shells, we can turn to many firms in the province, Ho said. Industrial zone developers are being pressed to create linkages with enterprises and authorities Action needed Although there are solid grounds for the further development of industrial real estate, especially the huge demand from newly-established enterprises, there will not be many IZs that can achieve positive results if IZ developers and local authorities do not take drastic actions. We can consider the management Authority of an industrial zone as a waiter inviting customers to his place. Thus, he should serve customers in a friendly and efficient manner to please them all the time. The occupancy rate is a good measure of his services. Tran Xuan Duong Director, Ha Nam Industrial Zones Management Authority According to industry insiders, the key issue in IZ development is the sharing of benefits as well as creating linkages between enterprises, authorities, and IZ developers. Many IZs only focus on the construction of infrastructure, such as sewage treatment or fire protection systems, but overlook additional services to retain their tenants. Nguyen Thanh Ha, chairman of SB Law, stressed that IZ developers must build zones with good infrastructure and affordable prices. Besides, local authorities need to establish a number of consumption and production centres, attach greater importance to supporting industries, and create favourable transport links to facilitate the production and export activities of the manufacturers in the zones. Increasing the number of supporting industry enterprises would help manufacturers achieve huge savings on production and transportation costs. Sharing the same viewpoint, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Van Hung, former principal of Hanoi University of Civil Engineering, said that success largely rides on the sharing of benefits between IZ developers and their tenants because setting up a complete and fully-functioning infrastructure system is only one of the necessary conditions, not the main factor in retaining their tenants. While it is true that IZ developers can set rental or service fees and if the prices are unaffordable or unreasonable, businesses will not bother to come, other factors such as poor transport infrastructure and underdeveloped supporting industries will also discourage the establishment of new businesses in the zone, Hung emphasised. According to Tran Xuan Duong, director of the Ha Nam Industrial Zones Management Authority, another factor in attracting and retaining businesses is the IZs management authorities. Besides improving the business environment and reforming administrative procedures, such as issuing investment certificates or licences related to employment, construction, land, and environment, the management authority of an IZ needs to support the simplification and completion of procedures at higher levels to save more time for investors. In addition, they need to assist enterprises in recruiting new employees and carry out necessary procedures for the registration of corporate seals and tax codes. Meanwhile, the authority has to fulfil its management duties, actively acting as a focal point for granting land use right certificates and certifying the assets on land for enterprises in the IZs. Also, they need to promptly respond to every inquiry of the businesses. We can consider the management authority of an IZ as a waiter inviting customers to his place. Thus, he should serve customers in a friendly and efficient manner to please them all the time. The occupancy rate is a good measure of his services, Duong said, adding that most management authorities that can please their customers have achieved high occupancy rates and significant benefits, with Bac Ninh a typical example. As other real estate segments are almost saturated, the potential of industrial properties need to be fully exploited. This inevitably depends on the capacity of the management authority in each IZ, which will be demonstrated through its management performance and the provision of auxiliary facilities and supporting services. Kido to conduct an M&A deal in food sector This was announced by Tran Le Nguyen, the general director of Kido. Nguyen added that in 2018, Kido expects to achieve a breakthrough in business results with the aim to acquire VND12 trillion ($527.68 million) in revenue and VND800 billion ($35.2 million) in pre-tax profit, signifying increases of 68 and 40 per cent. According to Nguyen, this year, the company estimated to earn an additional VND2.5 trillion ($109.9 million) in revenue from instant noodles, beverages, and sauces. Especially, in the instant noodle segment, Kido will co-operate with an unidentified Thai firmto expand manufacturing and distributing operations. Besides, Kido will partner up with another Thai firm to establish a joint venture company specialising in manufacturing tea and drinks mixed with milk. Furthermore, in order to realise these targets, Kido spent massive efforts to integrate Vocarimex and Tuong An, which had different corporate cultures as well as working processes. The highlight of Kidos business results last year was the soaring revenue thanks to the contribution of newly acquired Vocarimex and Tuong An. The highlight of Kidos business results last year was the soaring revenue thanks to the contribution of newly acquired Vocarimex and Tuong An. Notably, Kido reported a net revenue of over VND7 trillion ($308.2 million), doubling the 2016 figure, with a gross profit of VND1.49 trillion ($65.6 million) and pre-tax profit of VND569 billion ($25.05 million). Along with the acquisition of Vocarimex and Tuong An, Kido teamed up with TTC Group to produce and distribute sugar. The two signed a strategic partnership in Ho Chi Minh City to increase market presence. Accordingly, Kido will distribute 60,000 tonnes of Bien Hoa Sugar in 2018. The sum is projected to reach 200,000 tonnes by 2020. Under the plan, Kido will exclusively distribute some of TTCs refined sugar products via its network of 200 distributors and 450,000 retail points. In addition to distribution, Kido will be responsible for achieving annual sales targets and expanding product coverage. Meanwhile, TTC will produce sugar and grant distribution rights over some of its products to Kido. No longer will SCIC be run by MoF after the approval of decree prescribing the funtions, tasks, powers, and organisation structure of the Committee for State Capital Management According to the draft decree prescribing the functions, tasks, powers, and organisation structure of the committee, it will represent the owners of 21 groups and corporations. Thereby, State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC) will no longer be under the Ministry of Finance (MoF). SCIC will be brought into the hands of the super committee. The remaining 20 groups and corporations that will be shifted to the super committee are: From the Ministry of Industry and Trade Vietnam National Petroleum Group (Petrolimex), Vietnam Electricity Corporation (EVN), Vietnam National Chemical Group (Vinachem), Vietnam National Oil and Gas Corporation (PetroVietnam), Vietnam National Coal-Mineral Industries Holding Corporation Limited (Vinacomin), Vietnam National Tobaco Corporation (Vinataba) From the Ministry of Transport Vietnam Airlines Vietnam National Shipping Lines (Vinalines), Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR), Vietnam Expressway Corporation (VEC), Airport Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), Cuu Long Corporation for Investment Development and Project Management of Infrastructure (Cuu Long CIPM) From the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development Northern Food Corporation (Vinafood 1), Southern Food Corporation (Vinafood 2), Vietnam Rubber Group (VRG), Vietnam Forest Corporation (Vinafor), Vietnam National Coffee Corporation (Vinacafe) From the Ministry of Information and Communications Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), Vietnam Multimedia Corporation (VTC), Vietnam Mobile Telecom Services One Member Limited Liability Company (Mobifone) Additionally, the committee will manage state capital at other corporations where the state holds 100 per cent of the charter capital or has long-term controlling shares, according to the prime ministerial decision. Also according to the draft decree, MoF will manages the state capital at Bao Viet Group, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HNX and HSX), AASC Auditing Firm, Vietnam Lottery Company (Vietlott), Vietnam Securities Depository (VSD), and Vietnam Valuation and Finance Consultancy Company (VVFC). The State Bank of Vietnam will be in charge of state capital at commercial banks, including Co-operative Bank of Vietnam (Co-opBank), National Banknote Printing Plant (NBPP), and Vietnam Asset Management Company (VAMC). Other ministries, agencies, and peoples committees will manage other state holdings on their own, following regulations. Earlier, the prime minister issued Decision No.66/QD-TTg on setting up the working group tasked with establishing the Committee for State Capital Management and appointing Deputy Minister Vuong Dinh Hue as head. Then, PM Phuc handed over the appointment of Nguyen Hoang Anh, former Secretary of the Cao Bang Party Committee, as Chairman of the Committee for State Capital Management. At present, the committee is responsible for managing state assets and capital of around VND5.4 quadrillion ($239 billion). Committee established to rule over VND5 quadrillion state capital The new committee will put forward mechanisms and policies to ensure the highest effectiveness of state property and capital invested at enterprises. Working group set up to create state asset management committee The prime ministers Decision No.66/QD-TTg has set up the working group tasked with establishing the Committee on State-Owned Capital Management. Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh ... New regulations issued over operation of SCIC The Government has issued two new decrees over the operation mechanism of the State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC). Alleged drug smuggler and ringleader, Tran Van Bang, 31, standing with a large pile of heroin bricks after five arrests were made in a bust in northern Vietnam. (Photo: AFP/Vietnam News Agency) The men were caught in northern Cao Bang province on the border with China with nearly 100kg of heroin from Laos in their truck, state-run Thanh Nien newspaper reported. Vietnam is a key trafficking hub for narcotics from the "Golden Triangle" covering Laos, Thailand and Myanmar, one of the world's largest drug producing regions, and the latest bust is one of the largest in Vietnam in recent months. The five Vietnamese men were arrested between Friday and Saturday as they tried to drive past police in the northern province, prompting "authorities to open fire", Thanh Nien reported. Photos on state media showed the alleged ringleader, 31-year-old Tran Van Bang, standing with a large pile of heroin bricks. The bust follows a similar seizure last month in northern Vietnam, where police confiscated 170kg of heroin worth US$3 million also from Laos, reportedly the largest-ever drug haul in the one-party state. Vietnam has some of the toughest drug laws in the world. Anyone caught with more than 600g of heroin or more than 20kg of opium could face the death penalty. These 34 countries account for $42.6 trillion in bank assetsmore than 85 per cent of the total bank assets in emerging markets. Some are wealthier than others, but all of them have made progress in advancing sustainable finance. Vietnam, together with Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Colombia, Indonesia, Mongolia, and Nigeria, have reached an advanced stage by implementing large-scale reforms and putting in place systems to measure results. These reforms require banks to assess and report environmental and social (E&S) risks in their lending operations and put market incentives in place for banks to lend to green projects. SBV's 2015 Directive has been largely effective to promote green credit This progress is an important step towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, said Ethiopis Tafara, IFCs vice president for Legal, Compliance Risk and Sustainability. It shows that both middle and low-income countries can adopt sustainable finance reforms. SBN has demonstrated in a short time how much can be achieved when regulators, policymakers, trade associations, and development institutions collaborate to advance sustainable finance. The report provides practical indicators and tools for countries to apply to their own domestic markets, regardless of their size or stage of development. This is important because it facilitates learning by all members and accelerates the pace of change. It is based on an innovative results-measurement approach that has been agreed on by all 34 member countriesa remarkable achievement that is breaking new grounds for measuring progress at the global level. The report recognises the comprehensive nature of the efforts of the State Bank of Vietnam (SBV), including the Directive on Promoting Green Credit Growth and Environmental and Social Risks Management in Credit Granting Activities released in 2015. The directive seeks to promote the green economy and encourages all credit institutions to incorporate E&S risks into their transactions. The report notes that the Directive also includes a reporting template through which credit institutions can make quarterly quantitative data reports to SBV. This reporting covers the E&S risk evaluation of credits, other financial products, and green finance flows. The directive covers the banking sector, but could be extended to other financial industry activities, such as insurance and asset management. In addition, SBVs efforts, including training programs on sector-specific E&S checklists, have provided specific guidance to banks in managing E&S risks in ten high-risk sectors. For the first time, the report provides a concrete picture of what Vietnam has been doing in the area of sustainable finance reform. To further stimulate green lending, SBV has released a Green Project Catalogue which defines green sectors and plans to publish guidelines on reporting green finance flows. Additional financial incentives, such as a grant programme, are under consideration to increase green lending. For the first time, the report provides a concrete picture of what Vietnam has been doing in the area of sustainable finance reform, said Ha Thu Giang, deputy director of SBVs Department of Credit Policies for Economic Sectors. We appreciate that the report also identifies areas of further focus for Vietnam to continue to promote the growth of finance for green projects. Apart from acquiring a significant minority stake in the company, VOF said that it may also invest moderate additional capital during the next twelve months as the company delivers on mutually agreed milestones. According to Andy Ho, managing director of VOF, the private equity investment is consistent with VOFs strategy of focusing on companies operating in fast-growing sectors. Vietnamese food and beverage companies have tremendous growth opportunities ahead as consumers spend more on high-quality, healthy products. Ba Huan is well-positioned to capitalise on these trends, and we are excited to work with them to realise their potential, said Ho. Food safety is a concern in the country, and Ba Huans growth is due to its reputation for producing high-quality and safe food. It has a history of innovation, a management team with a clear vision for expansion, and a market that is rapidly growing. Holding more than 30 per cent of the pasteurised egg market, Ba Huan is a popular household name in Vietnam. The company has made significant investments in its operations, importing modern production lines from Europe and adhering to international standards. The company has implemented a fully-integrated and enclosed value chain from feed production and farming to producing fresh, safe, and clean meat, eggs, and processed foods, enabling it to fully control product quality across the value chain and allowing it to fully trace its products. In 2018, the company expects its revenue to surpass $90 million. Ba Huan has become one of the strongest fresh food brands in Vietnam. Food safety is a concern in the country, and Ba Huans growth is due to its reputation for producing high-quality and safe food. It has a history of innovation, a management team with a clear vision for expansion, and a market that is rapidly growing. We look forward to working with Ba Huans management team to help implement new management practices, improve governance, and otherwise help take the company to the next stage of growth, Ho noted. Poultry World forecasts great growth in both chicken and duck egg consumption in Vietnam According to Poultry World, egg consumption is on the rise in Vietnam, with both chicken and duck eggs gaining popularity. Chicken consumption is also increasing, growing at an compound annual growth revenue (CAGR) of 8.6 per cent, according to DBS Bank, and local producers struggle to meet the demand. By 2021, the average consumption of chicken is forecast to expand to nearly 17 kilogramme per year from around 8kg in 2015, driven by urbanisation and a growing middle class with greater disposable income. Additionally, poultry production continues to be dominated by small family farms, with limited resources to scale up. Ba Huan JSC was founded in 2001, growing from a family business to become the leading supplier of pasteurised poultry eggs in the Vietnamese market. The company operates two fully enclosed industrial poultry farms, including a layer farm with over 1.5 million chickens for commercial egg production and a broiler farm with over 400,000 chickens for meat production. Each day, Ba Huan supplies over 1.7 million eggs, delivers over 15,000 chickens, and processes over 25 tonnes of fresh poultry meat. These farms are qualified for local and international food safety standards and practices, such as Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) and VietGap. They are also well-organised to ensure proper distance between sub-farms and equipped with semi-automated systems for feeding, watering, ventilation, and heating. Each day, Ba Huan supplies over 1.7 million eggs, delivers over 15,000 chickens, and processes over 25 tonnes of fresh poultry meat. Ba Huans products are distributed through both the general and modern trade channels, such as major grocery chains and major international fast food businesses via a comprehensive distribution network of more than 2,000 agents and points of sale throughout Vietnam. VinaCapital injects $45 million into oil and power stocks VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund has taken initiative to invest nearly $45 million in Binh Son Refining and Petrochemical Company and PetroVietnam Power Corporation (PV Power) ... VinaCapital becomes strategic shareholder of Viglacera By purchasing an additional five million shares in Viglacera Corporation JSC (ViglaceraTicker VGC on HSX), VinaCapital now holds 5 per cent and became a major ... Pro-independence protesters gathered in Barcelona to protest against a visit by Spain's king to the ceremony inaugurating Mobile World Congress. (Photo: AFP/Pau Barrena) The king is a divisive figure in the northeastern region since he made a stern speech in October denouncing the secession attempt by Catalan leaders. On Sunday evening, several small pro- and anti-monarchy protests hit the Mediterranean seaside city during an inaugural ceremony for the Mobile World Congress (MWC), highlighting divisions in the region over independence. During the ceremony, Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau and regional parliament speaker Roger Torrent, a separatist, refused to follow protocol and officially welcome the king. On her Facebook page, Colau - who is not a separatist - said it was due to his October speech denouncing Catalonia's bid to break from Spain, just days after a banned independence referendum was marred by police violence. "The king didn't make even the smallest gesture of empathy towards people who suffered and made a hardline speech endorsing the repressive line instead of trying to ease the conflict and bring serenity, as expected of a head of state," Colau wrote. But she did accompany him to MWC on Monday. The failed bid to break from Spain brought huge uncertainty to the northeastern region, with more than 3,000 companies moving their legal headquarters out of Catalonia. At the time, there had even been speculation that this year's MWC would be delayed with organisers saying they were "continuing to monitor developments" in Catalonia's secession crisis. Following a declaration of independence by regional leaders on Oct 27, Madrid imposed direct rule on Catalonia, sacked its separatist government, dissolved its parliament and called snap regional elections. Separatists once again won a majority in the December polls but they are currently struggling to form a regional government, with deposed Catalan president Carles Puigdemont in self-exile in Belgium and other separatist leaders in jail over the independence bid. In Barcelona, independence supporters went to the airport to welcome participants in the global congress with signs reading "Shame on Europe," referring to the European Union's support for the government of Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES TORONTO, Feb. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magnolia Colombia Limited (Magnolia or the Company) (TSXV:MCO) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement financing of up to 10,000,000 units of Magnolia (the Units) at a price of $0.15 per Unit for gross proceeds of up to $1,500,000 (the Offering). Each Unit shall be comprised of one common share of Magnolia (each a Common Share) and one common share purchase warrant (each a Warrant). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at a price of $0.20 for a period of 24 months following the closing date of the Offering. If at any time after four months and one day from the closing of the Offering, the Common Shares of the Company trade at $0.30 per Common Share or higher (on a volume weighted adjusted basis) for a period of 15 consecutive trading days, the Company will have the right to accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants to the date that is 30 days after the Company issues a news release announcing that it has elected to exercise this acceleration right. The proceeds of the Offering will be used for general corporate purposes and to pursue new opportunities. The closing of the Offering is expected to occur on or about March 30, 2018. All securities issued by Magnolia will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and one day from the closing. Completion of the Offering is subject to a number of conditions, including TSX Venture Exchange approval. In connection with the Offering, Magnolia may pay finders fees in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange. About Magnolia Colombia Limited: Magnolia Colombia Limited is a Canadian independent oil exploration company. For further information, please contact: Jaime Lalinde, President & CEO Email: jlalinde@fmresources.ca Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains "forward looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the Offering, timing of closing of the Offering and the use of proceeds of the Offering. Generally, forward looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "plans", "expects" or "does not expect", "is expected", "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or "does not anticipate", or "believes", or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-looking information is subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to: financing not being available at desired prices; general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; the actual results of current exploration activities; timing and availability of external financing on acceptable terms; conclusions of economic evaluations; competition; future prices of mineral prices; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry; and, delays in obtaining governmental approvals or required financing or in the completion of activities. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. 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. Eleanor Langhoff, age 95, of Villard, formerly of St. Paul, died Monday, September 6, 2021. A memorial service will be held at 11 AM, Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at First Lutheran Church in Alexandria. Visitation will be from 10 to 11 AM Wednesday at the church. Arrangements are with the A WINNIPEG, Manitoba, Feb. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kane Biotech Inc. (TSX-V:KNE) (OTCQB:KNBIF), (the Corporation or Kane Biotech) today announced that it has filed a lawsuit against Nestec, Ltd., a/k/a Nestec, S.A. (Nestec), and Nestle Purina Petcare Global Resources, Inc. (Nestle Purina), (collectively Nestle) for breach of agreements between the parties, and misappropriation of Kane Biotechs trade secrets and intellectual property. In the six-count complaint filed under seal in U.S. federal court in Missouri, Kane Biotech alleges, amongst other improper activities, that a Nestle patent application makes improper use of Kane Biotechs patent rights for oral care, personal care and wound care antimicrobial and anti-biofilm technologies that the Corporation developed. Mark Ahrens-Townsend, President & CEO of Kane Biotech, said, "Kane Biotech has invested significantly in its intellectual property and it will vigorously protect and defend its interests and the interests of its shareholders against anyone who seeks to profit from it without proper compensation to our Corporation. About Kane Biotech Inc. Kane Biotech is a biotechnology company engaged in the research, development and commercialization of technologies and products that prevent and remove microbial biofilms. The Corporation has a portfolio of biotechnologies, intellectual property (75 patents and patents pending, trade secrets and trademarks) and products developed by the Corporations own biofilm research expertise and acquired from leading research institutions. StrixNB, DispersinB, Aledex, bluestem, AloSera, coactiv+ and Kane are trademarks of Kane Biotech Inc. The Corporation is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol "KNE" and on the OTCQB Venture Market under the symbol KNBIF. For more information, please visit www.kanebiotech.com or contact: Mark Ahrens-Townsend President & CEO, Kane Biotech Inc. ir@kanebiotech.com +1 (204) 477-7592 Glen H. Waldman Waldman Barnett, P.L. gwaldman@waldmanbarnett.com +1 (305) 371-8809 Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. (FILE PHOTO) Commissioner Casellius (in black) was greeted by this class at the Miltona Science Magnet School on Tuesday, October 20th. The school is one of a few dozen the Commissioner plans to visit because of their repeat status as Reward Schools. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRE SERVICES VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Feb. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Red Eagle Exploration Limited (TSX-V:XR) (XR) is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of units (the Units) at a price of $0.12 per Unit (the Issue Price) (the Offering). Each Unit will consist of one common share in the capital of XR (a Common Share) and one common share purchase warrant in the capital of XR (a Warrant) for aggregate gross proceeds of up to CDN $1,500,000. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one common share (a Warrant Share) at a price of $0.25 per Warrant Share until June 23, 2022. Closing of the Offering is anticipated to occur on or about February 28, 2018 and is subject to receipt of applicable regulatory approvals including approval of the TSX Venture Exchange. The net proceeds of the Offering will be used for general corporate and working capital purposes. The securities offered have not been, and will not be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any U.S. state securities laws, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or any applicable exemption from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and applicable U.S. state securities laws. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in the United States, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Red Eagle Exploration XR is a precious metals exploration and development corporation majority owned by gold producer Red Eagle Mining Corporation. XR has an experienced exploration and mine development team focused on building shareholder value through acquiring and developing high grade gold and silver projects in Colombia, a jurisdiction with prolific historic production but until recently limited modern exploration. XR owns 100% of the Vetas Gold, California Gold and Santa Ana Silver Projects, which consist of numerous historic and existing mines and where exploration is currently underway to delineate high-grade vein resources exploitable by modern underground mining. For further information, please contact Ian Slater, Chief Executive Officer or: Patrick Balit Vice President Corporate Development Red Eagle Mining Corporation Suite 2348 666 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC, V6C 2X8 +1 778 372 2558 balit@redeaglemining.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Information set forth in this news release includes forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "expect", and "intend", statements that an action or event "may", "might", "could", "should", or "will" be taken or occur, or other similar expressions. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation; statements about the terms and completion of the proposed sale transaction are forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, among others, the following risks: failure to satisfy all conditions precedent to the transaction, including disinterested shareholder approval and stock exchange regulatory approval, and the additional risks identified in the management discussion and analysis section of the Companys interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with Canadian securities regulators. Forward looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and the respective companies undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. New location offers non-intimidating Judgement Free Zone, extremely low prices, free unlimited fitness training included in all monthly memberships, and more Join now for just $1 down and then $10 a month with no commitment CHEYENNE, Wyo., Feb. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Planet Fitness, one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the U.S. and home of the Judgement Free Zone, today announced its new location in Cheyenne will open its doors on February 26. Located at 1400 Dell Range Blvd (in the Frontier Mall), the 20,000 sq. foot location will offer state of the art cardio machines and strength equipment, 30-Minute Express Circuit, fully equipped locker rooms with day lockers and showers, 17 60 HD televisions, HydroMassage beds*, massage chairs*, tanning beds, a Total Body Enhancement booth*, and more. The facility will be open and staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Planet Fitness is celebrating the opening with an all day grand opening party on February 26 which will include: onsite music from KAZY 93.7 FM, free pizza and drinks, prize giveaways every hour, including a grand prize of a 60 HD TV and a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2pm. New members can now join for just $1 down and then $10 a month with no commitment. All membership fees at the grand opening will be donated to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cheyenne, with a minimum donation of $1,000. "Were thrilled to bring the Judgement Free fitness experience to Cheyenne, said Planet Fitness franchisee Carla Jamieson. Whether youve never belonged to a gym before or youre an existing gym member looking to try a new facility, we encourage you to come check out the Cheyenne club, meet our friendly staff, get a tour and see what the Judgement Free Zone is all about. Were confident that our encouraging and hassle-free environment will be a welcome addition to the community. Planet Fitness prides itself on providing a high-quality experience at an exceptional value and being home of the Judgement Free Zone, where members experience a hassle-free, non-intimidating environment. Membership includes a variety of other benefits, including free small group fitness instruction by a certified trainer through the pe @ pf program. In addition, as a member appreciation gesture, Planet Fitness provides free pizza on the first Monday of every month, and free bagels on the second Tuesday of every month while supplies last, as a reminder that its okay to treat yourself. The PF Black Card membership, which is $21.99 a month, includes additional amenities such as the ability to bring a guest every day at no additional charge, access to all 1,500+ Planet Fitness locations, as well as access to massage beds and chairs and tanning, among other benefits*. Planet Fitness also provides members with an opportunity to connect and support each other with Planet of Triumphs, an online community that celebrates all accomplishments and inspirational stories of Planet Fitness members. The Planet of Triumphs online platform allows members to recognize their triumphs (big or small), share their stories and encourage others, reinforcing the Companys belief that everyone belongs. Check out real Planet Fitness member stories and accomplishments at PlanetofTriumphs.com. Additionally, Planet Fitness has extended its judgement free philosophy outside of its gyms and into communities that need it most with its national philanthropic initiative, The Judgement Free Generation. Together with Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), the nations leading youth development organization, supporting millions of kids and teens during the critical out-of-school time, Planet Fitness aims to empower a generation of teens to grow up contributing to a more judgement free planet a place where everyone feels accepted and like they belong. For more information or to join online, please visit www.PlanetFitness.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/PlanetFitness) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/PlanetFitness). *PF Black Card amenities may vary by location About Planet Fitness Founded in 1992 in Dover, N.H., Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness centers in the United States by number of members and locations. As of December 31, 2017, Planet Fitness had approximately 10.6 million members and more than 1,500 stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Canada, the Dominican Republic and Panama. The Company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, which we call the Judgement Free Zone. More than 95% of Planet Fitness stores are owned and operated by independent business men and women. Initiative created by Ricardo Salinas to achieve a national cultural change for the benefit of a cleaner and healthier Mexico 4.5 million volunteers participated in the ninth annual Limpiemos Nuestro Mexico campaign Thousands of brigades were organized to clean rivers, streets, forests, parks, and beaches across Mexico MEXICO CITY, Feb. 26, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com), a group of dynamic, fast-growing and technologically advanced companies, deeply committed to the modernization of the countries where they operate and founded by entrepreneur Ricardo Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), announced that last Sunday, Mexico came together to clean up litter and raise awareness about the serious problem of garbage in our country. The ninth annual Limpiemos Nuestro Mexico campaign met the goal of cleaning up streets and raising awareness that littering is unacceptable. During the campaign, 4.5 million volunteers participated in more than 88,000 organized brigades that collected garbage in forests, schools, beaches, parks, streets, and rivers, picking up in just 4 hours, more than 22,000 tons of garbage. Limpiemos Nuestro Mexico is a project created by Ricardo Salinas in 2009, with the central objective of achieving a national cultural of change for the benefit of a cleaner and healthier Mexico. It is also a call to action to unite companies, governments, schools, unions, organizations and society to work, shoulder to shoulder, in favor of this social and ecological cause. On this occasion, government agencies such as Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources joined Bimbo, Fundacion Azteca and Grupo Salinas, as well as other social organizations and citizen groups, to demonstrate that when we work together we generate change. Grupo Salinas will continue to promote this type of initiatives to create value and generate inclusive prosperity in Mexico. About Grupo Salinas Grupo Salinas (www.gruposalinas.com) is a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating: economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value, to create social capabilities to improve the communities conditions; and environmental value, by reducing the negative impact related to its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include: TV Azteca (www.TVazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Advance America (www.advanceamerica.net), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), Punto Casa de Bolsa (www.puntocasadebolsa.mx), Totalplay (www.totalplay.com.mx) and Totalplay Empresarial (totalplayempresarial.com.mx). TV Azteca and Grupo Elektra trade shares on the Mexican Stock Market and in Spains' Latibex market. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance. The group companies operate in Mexico, the US, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Panama and Peru. Press Relations: Luciano Pascoe, +52 (55) 1720 1313 ext. 36553, lpascoe@gruposalinas.com.mx Daniel McCosh, +52 (55) 1720-0059, dmccosh@gruposalinas.com The plan was announced three years ago, during the Obama administration, when Pentagon officials declared: "In front of Russian aggression, the United States is considering the deployment of ground-based missiles in Europe" [1]. Now, with the Trump administration, the plan is officially confirmed. In the 2018 fiscal year the Congress of the United States authorized the financing of "a program of research and development of a ground-based mobile Cruise missile". It is a nuclear missile with an intermediate range (between 500 and 5500 km), similar to the 112 Cruise nuclear missiles deployed by the US in Comiso in the 1980s. They were eliminated, along with the Pershing 2 ballistic missiles deployed by the US in Germany and the Soviet SS-20 deployed in the USSR, by the Treaty on Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF), stipulated in 1987. It prohibits the deployment of ground-based missiles with a range between 500 and 5500 km. Washington now accuses Moscow of deploying missiles of this category and declares that, "if Russia continues to violate the INF Treaty, the United States will no longer be bound by this treaty", ie the United States will be free to deploy ground-based intermediate-range nuclear missiles in Europe. However, a decisive fact is ignored: the Russian missiles (assuming their range is intermediate) are deployed in a defensive position in the Russian territory, while the US intermediate-range missiles would be deployed in an offensive position in Europe close to the Russian territory. It is as if Russia deployed nuclear missiles pointed at the United States in Mexico. As the US / NATO escalation continues, the deployment of such missiles in Europe is increasingly likely. Meanwhile, in early February, Ukraine tested a ground-based intermediate-range missile, which was certainly produced with US assistance. The new US nuclear missiles - much more precise and faster than the Cruise missiles of the Eighties - would be deployed in Italy and probably in Eastern countries too, adding to the B61-12 nuclear bombs that US will deploy in Italy and other countries since 2020. In Italy, the new Cruise missiles would probably again be positioned in Sicily, although not necessarily in Comiso. On the island there are two US installations of primary strategic importance. The MUOS ground station of Niscemi, one of the four on a world scale (2 in the US, 1 in Australia and 1 in Sicily) of the satellite communications system that connects all US forces, even nuclear, anywhere of the world they are. JTAGS, a satellite reception and transmission station for the US anti-missile shield, which is about to become operational in Sigonella. It is one of five worldwide (the others are in the United States, Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Japan). The station, which is transportable, is used not only for anti-missile defense but also for attack operations, launched from forward-deployed bases such as those in Italy. In the Nuclear Posture Review 2018" the Pentagon declares: "The United States commit nuclear weapons forward-deployed to Europe, to the defense of NATO. These forces provide an essential political and military link between Euro-pe and North America". By linking us to their strategy not only militarily but politically, the United States increasingly transform our country into a forward-deployed base of their nuclear weapons pointed at Russia, therefore into a forward-deployed target at which Russian nuclear weapons are pointed. Photo: Matthew Eisman/Getty Images M. Night Shyamalan is the latest Hollywood creative to join forces with Apple. The Silicon Valley giant is on a green-lighting spree to amass original content, and Shyamalan has been given a straight-to-series order for ten episodes of a psychological thriller series. Bucking the trend of very long everything, each of those episodes will only be 30 minutes. The show, which was created and will be written by producer Tony Basgallop (24: Live Another Day), will be co-produced by Shyamalan, and he will also direct the first episode. Shyamalan joins other top talents like Steven Spielberg, Reese Witherspoon, Ronald D. Moore, and Damien Chazelle, who are also creating new programming for Apple. Theeb co-writer Bassel Ghandour will pen the new series. Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for BFI Netflix is expanding the reach of its original programming by ordering its first original series in Arabic. According to Deadline, the six-part drama will be called Jinn, and it will be a young-adult fantasy drama that centers on a group of teens who encounter a jinn, or evil spirit, in the ancient city of Petra, and must stop it from destroying the world. The series comes from Elan and Rajeev Dassani, who are best known as VFX specialists. The two have worked on huge shows like Scandal and Justified. Lebanese director Mir-Jean Bou Chaaya will helm the series, which will be written by Bassel Ghandour (co-writer of the Oscar-nominated Theeb from 2014). I love that Netflix is investing a lot in the region, its a real turning point, Ghandour told Deadline. We have such a rich storytelling culture, and well finally be able to enjoy Arabic content with Netflix quality. The Alienist Ascension Season 1 Episode 6 Editors Rating 3 stars * * * Previous Next Photo: Kata Vermes/Turner Entertainment Networks, Inc. There are ups and downs in any relationship, and its to The Alienists credit that even the rough patches have been pretty good. This weeks installment is half a coda to last weeks episode, and half a prelude to whats about to come next. Its accordingly uneven, but its still got something for everyone: Romance! Terror! Teddy Roosevelt! That said, the saving grace is the focus on the young boys that have, thus far, mostly just been accessories and devices to move the plot along. The young actors that the show has assembled are terrific, and lend the proceedings a weight beyond the intellectual need to figure out the killer. They really are young, instead of the youthful 20- and 30-year olds playing teens gimmick usually seen on shows featuring younger characters, to the point that its more unsettling to watch them than it is watching the adults twist themselves into knots. With the next religious holiday coming up fast, the team has recruited Stevie (Matt Lintz), one of Kreizlers wards, to pose as one of the working boys to try to lure the killer out of hiding. As they plan the stakeout, it becomes apparent that two of them are going to be left out of the action: Howard, because shes a woman, and Kreizler, because hes a cripple. So its the Isaacsons, Moore, and Cyrus who hit the streets. As has been made clear by now, Moore is a big old softie, so when he sees Joseph (Jackson Gann), the boy hed warned earlier about watching out for a silver smile, sitting at the soda shop counter with an egg cream, he stops in to say hello. Their conversation is brief, but affecting: When Moore asks Joseph if hes ever considered doing anything else, its clear that the boy hasnt ever seen any other way of getting by. He laughs when Moore explains what an illustrator does, saying that its stupid that he gets paid for drawing pictures, but agrees to be careful in the coming days as the investigation escalates. Unfortunately, the operation is a bust. Stevie stands on the street corner all night, but no man with a silver smile ever appears. Worse still, unbeknownst to the would-be detectives, the operation has been compromised. One of Stevies acquaintances sees him and asks what hes doing all dressed up, to which Stevie retorts that hes working for the police. The killer overhears, discovering both what the police plant looks like and what the police are up to in one fell swoop. As is probably unsurprising, Kreizler is a sore loser, a trait thats compounded by how much stress the case has been putting on him. As soon as it becomes evident that they wont catch the killer that night, he starts unraveling his own theories, saying that he must have been wrong about the religious holidays and their significance. Its Howard who then takes up the reins, noting that the next religious holiday is in just nine days. She sets up another sting operation, this time installing Stevie inside one of the brothels instead of out on the street. In those nine days, though, theres plenty still afoot. Kreizler and Howard, for instance, are still dancing the line between will they and wont they. After he tells her that the state of his arm is the result of a congenital disease, she does a little digging and discovers that hes been lying to them all. He had full use of both arms once, as evidenced by an old society piece that reports that hed performed a piano concerto that wouldnt be possible with just one arm. She shares the discovery with Moore, who (naturally) makes a jab at her having gone looking in the first place, suggesting that she must be in love. She answers that she might be. Of course, shes got competition in Mary, who shares a moment with Kreizler after accidentally cutting her finger while preparing his food. He tenderly inspects the wound, even going so far as to lick his own finger and then touch the cut, saying that saliva is a natural coagulant. I cant say I find that a good, non-creepy flirt, but, hey, whatever lights your fire. Roosevelt, meanwhile, is having his feet held over the coals as even J.P. Morgan goes out of his way to tell him to keep his nose out of high-society business, even if it is costing children their lives. Willems being sent out of the country to Buenos Aires, anyway, so best to leave it alone because if he doesnt, Roosevelt will have no job, no friends, and no goddamn future. With the gift of foresight (or I guess hindsight) in our favor, we know that this isnt what fate has in store for Roosevelt, and Roosevelt seems to know, too, as its only the fact that he cant make a scene at a society function that keeps him from hulking out right then and there. Unfortunately, Connor doesnt have the same kind of restraint. After being dismissed from the force, hes become something of a social pariah, and its only making him more volatile. As the next operation kicks off, he goes off on an operation of his own. When Willem flees his mother, determined not to leave New York, its Connor whos on his tail. He chases Willem up to the top of an unfinished bridge and, when hes finally cornered, shoots him in the head and dumps his body in the river below. Hes become something of a nega-Kreizler: He has absolutely no interest in understanding whats going on around him, and hes become a killer himself as he spirals out in the wake of his firing. Youre a filthy, murdering pederast, he tells Willem before killing him. Youve no right to live among decent people. Despite everything, its an obvious failure in the carriage of justice, as is the crumbling of the latest sting operation. The killer once again evades the grasp of the police, after distractions render them all a little too slow on the uptake. Moore and Marcus are too busy talking to the boys in the brothel (out of concern, not untoward intentions) to notice that Stevies been engaged, and Kreizler and Howard get into a fight after Howard accuses him of hypocrisy. She tells him that he lacks the courage to face the truth despite demanding it from others, which infuriates him so much that he slaps her. By the time they get to chasing the killer, its already too late: Hes gotten away, and killed another boy in the process, this time leaving the body at the foot of the Statue of Liberty. Photo: Tor Lundvall Every episode of S-Town led to a new twist about the life of John B. McLemore, the charismatic, mercurial focus of the hit podcast. He had his hobbies and obsessions repairing antique clocks, building a hedge maze, mentoring local kids, getting tattoos and piercings, caring for his dogs, and trying to get to the bottom of a murder that never happened in his shit town. In the last few years of his life, he also dabbled in composing and remixing the ambient music of an artist hed never known. His songs can be heard on Tor Lundvall Presents: Witness Marks The Works of John B. McLemore, and the story behind the five-song album is just as mysterious and heartbreaking as everything else on S-Town. In fall 2012, Lundvall, a New Yorkbased painter and musician, received a note. I got emails from John just out of the blue, he says. The subject was Tor Lundvalls greatest hits. Im like, What the hell is this? It turns out that John B. had recently gotten a computer and wanted to let Lundvall know about these songs he was trying to upload to YouTube. Some tracks were reworkings of Lundvalls songs while others were field recordings of the chimes of John B.s clocks, the bugs, birds, and frogs that surrounded his remote Alabama home, the low din of the air outside, and sometimes simply silence. They exchanged emails, and John B. eventually sent over CDs of his mixes, with handwritten labels, and included liner notes. He apologized for the quality, and explained that it was recorded just a few days before his father died in 2003. It should be heard After Midnight, he said, in the Late Fall of the year, and, not surprisingly, a Very Long Attention span is a Prerequisite. Lundvall was struck by the mixes. It made a big big impact, especially with the clock chimes, and this long sweeping remix he did of a track from my album The Mist called Dark Spring. The pair kept up their correspondence for about two months. What began as a discussion of art turned more personal. We discussed his depression and concerns about the future, taking care of his mom and so forth, says Lundvall. Pretty much, what I was getting from our communication was that he felt very frustrated and very much alone. In April 2017, Lundvall thought about how much he loved John B.s remixes. He actually enhanced the sound quality of some of those tracks. I dont know what he was using [for the recordings] but some actually sounded better. So Lundvall looked for his CDs, and then to check John B.s work was still on YouTube. It was, but when he looked at the comments section, he saw various versions of rest in peace. Thats how he found out his old friend was dead, having killed himself by drinking potassium cyanide in June 2015. After some Googling, he found out about S-Town and asked some of his collaborators at his record label, Dais, if they knew what an S-Town podcast is, as he told Red Bull Music Academy. They were practically incredulous that he didnt know about this hugely popular show, which had premiered a month or so earlier. After Lundvall pieced the story together, he decided to work on releasing Witness Marks, the name of which comes from the podcast. Its a reference to the scratches and stains found on antique clocks, used to date them and, in a way, help tell their story. Despite months of communication, Lundvall never heard John B.s voice until he listened to the podcast, and never knew just how deep his mental-health issues went. He looked up images of the maze and the house both major plot points in the podcast and was moved. The buzzing insects and cool winds hed heard suddenly had a visual sense of place attached to them. I was pretty stunned when I saw that. Theres just so much more about him I wish Id known. Brian Reed, the host of the podcast, was similarly astonished to hear about the existence of the album. Id heard after he died that he was classically trained and that was kind of the extent I knew, Reed says. I never really got his music taste that well, but I was listening to it this morning and I was surprised how much I liked it. It is pretty excellent. Hearing the music brings back many sensations of visiting John B.s house for Reed. I just have this picture of him late at night, tinkering around his workshop, he says. He also recalls that, in a moment that didnt make it into S-Town, he showed up one day at the house to find an old friend of John B.s there. The men had somehow met through a music trade magazine in the 90s and ended up going to concerts together or listening to albums together at home. I think John really liked the people who took the time to pay attention and listen to him, he says. Thats the thing that everybody who connected with him in that way shares. I was reminded about that [when] talking to Johns music friend, and thats the sense I get reading about Tors experience, never having met John but having corresponded with him about this real thing, which is music. It reminded me, Yeah, this is what was so cool about the story. Lundvall thought twice about whether releasing this album would be an exploitation of a troubled person, but came to the conclusion that it was John B.s way of telling his story, a desire to be remembered and to make sure people knew what he knew. Through a lawyer, hes made sure that the royalties will go to those who stand to inherit John B.s money (his mother, Mary Grace, is supposedly doing well, according to Reed). At the end, Lundvall says Witness Marks is a tribute to a friend he never met, wholl tragically never know that he made an impact on millions of people. I just hope this release respected his memory because he was a really special guy, he says. Im just glad other people can hear another side of a pretty incredible personality. Hamza Namira. Photo: YouTube/Hamza Namira If SoundCloud, as a platform, has become synonymous with any genre of music, its undoubtedly rap. In any given week, a peek at the sites top 50 songs shows at least 90 percent to be hip-hop. From the howlingly cartoonish to the despondently evil, from rote invocations of promethazine to rote invocations of Xanax, from major artists to artists still rising, from fake artist accounts to real ones, rap runs SoundCloud. Its no accident that SoundCloud rap has become a phrase and SoundCloud country or SoundCloud techno hasnt; only in rap has the sites community of artists and listeners grown large enough to create a distinctive subgenre of its own. Yet for most of the past month, the most-streamed song on SoundCloud wasnt by a rapper. Though dethroned last night by an XXXTentacion squib attached to the Parkland shooting (dont ask), Hamza Namiras Dari Ya Alby found itself in the coveted first position on the SoundCloud home page, leading runner-up tracks by the likes of Drake, Migos, and 6ix9ine by a margin of millions. Namira is 37 years old, over twice the age of many a bubbling SoundCloud rapper. Unlike SoundCloud R&B, none of his singing bears the slightest influence of hip-hop. A native Egyptian, Namira sings entirely in colloquial Arabic; within the ranks of English-speaking SoundCloud, his song doesnt even crack the top 100, let alone hold first place. SoundCloud only displays national charts for a handful of Western countries, and the highest Namira places is 41st in Germany, with a mere 9,000 streams less than 1/500th of the total streams the artist is pulling in. His fans are clearly from somewhere else. A closer look at Namiras career shows his current success to be anything but surprising. Born to a middle-class family, Namira immersed himself in a variety of Egyptian and foreign genres while studying to be an accountant at the University of Alexandria. His 2008 debut album, Ehlam Maaya (Dream With Me in English), struck a chord with college students, many of whom attended the Arab Spring protests early in 2011 that brought down the nations long-serving dictator Hosni Mubarak. Namiras music was, quite literally, the soundtrack to a revolution. Lyrics from Ehlam Maaya were sung loudly and often among the crowds in Tahrir Square, like the ones from the song Ehlam Maaya: Dream with me Tomorrows coming And if it doesnt come We will bring it ourselves Namira, who attended the protests and performed at them, found himself catapulted into the role of national spokesman. When Britains thenprime minister David Cameron met with a select delegation of Egyptians in the days following Mubaraks fall, Namira was among them. His second album, Insan (Human in English), released in July 2011, shot to the top of the Arab pop charts. Combining consummate musicianship with lyrics focused squarely on social issues, Namira had become the ideal artist for an era where political possibility had been renewed. The largest country in the Arab world, Egypt had ceased to be an independent power since making its peace with American and Israeli power in 1979; Namiras songs, gently charged with nationalism, held out the hope that Egypt, once freed, could speak and act for itself. Events would prove the hope to be mistaken. The liberal, secular, middle-class nationalism espoused by Namira and his core fans lacked a popular base and party organization strong enough to win the post-revolution elections, and the presidency went to Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood, a powerful, transnational party of pious conservatives. Morsis brief, awkward, and misguided reign would open the door for a military coup against him that returned the networks of the Mubarak era to power, albeit minus Mubarak himself. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, head of the army, was declared the new president in June 2014, and a violent crackdown against all opposition commenced that extended to Namira: Though too popular to be arrested himself, Namiras music was banned from national radio in November 2014 for criticizing the authorities. It was around this time that Namiras music began appearing on SoundCloud, which, as it turns out, has come to host a vibrant scene in Arab music, housed under the rubric of world music, which brings in tens of millions of streams each week; 49 of the top 50 songs on the #World charts have Arabic titles. (The 50th is an XXXTentacion song posted by a fake account under the hashtag; 80 percent of its streams come from the States.) Though completely different in sound, SoundCloud rap and SoundCloud Arab music seem to share a similar social position: In both cases, the platform offers a large, hungry audience access to artists barred from official channels. If Namira is catching a particularly huge wave on SoundCloud with Dari Ya Alby, much of the reason is political. Even filtered through sometimes clunky YouTube subtitles, its clear that Dari is an exceedingly melancholy tune, and that its mournfulness is rooted in a defeat at once individually experienced and generally held: From how theyve humiliated you, you tire / But where do you find solace? In the songs video, when Namira is seen walking alone through empty public spaces, the contrast with the days of protest is implicit and poignant. The seaside setting of the video and boy protagonist harkens back to the Ehlam Maaya video. But where the boy in the former video built paper boats to send out on the waves, the boy in the Dari video sits on the shoreside rocks and does nothing. Its a beautiful song, but Namira leaves no doubt in the listeners mind that hed trade it for a better world in an instant. A young Michael B. Jordan. Photo: HBO Michael B. Jordan didnt see his death on The Wire coming, but he knew it had to happen. As a teenager, Jordan had a small but meaningful role on the HBO drama, playing 16-year-old Wallace, a young drug dealer selling to buyers from Baltimores low-rise projects. Wallace was the heart of the show, Jordan says in All the Pieces Matter: The Inside Story of The Wire, Jonathan Abramss oral history of the show. [The Wire creator David Simon] wanted to rip that heart out and really use Wallace as a harsh example of sometimes being the victim of your circumstances. As recounted in All the Pieces Matter, Wallaces murder takes place in the first season episode Cleaning Up, when he is shot by his fellow low-rise dealers Bodie and Poot: To see that end so viciously with his two boys, his two best friends That death scene is something people always come up to me and talk about and say how they were crying and how much it affected them, Jordan told Abrams. Years later. Its just a testament to the writing and the crazy performance. It was awesome. Heres Jordan recalling his final day on set, which he said he asked his mom not to show up for: I kind of knew it was coming. Especially when you get that knock on your trailer door from David Simon. Ill never forget it. He said I love you. The audience loves you. Weve got to kill you. Weve got to kill you off. I remember telling my mom not to show up on set that day. My mom gets extremely emotional, and this was kind of too much. I didnt want her to see it. It was a long time to shoot that shot. We definitely overshot that for sure. I remember them having to duct-tape the windows, so the lights wouldnt go through, because were were going so late into the night, to the morning. But it was really quiet. The crew knew. Everybody showed up. Even if they werent working, they kind of showed up on set. I knew Andrew Royo did, for sure. He was definitely a mentor of mine on that show. He showed up to help me get into the mindset and really talk me through it. I remember getting the squib under my shirt. They had a tube running down my leg with warm water for when he peed himself, when he got scared and shit. Me and J. D. Williams, who played Bodie, were both from Newark, New Jersey, and we both spent a lot of time on that show together, and I learned a lot from him over that show. We was just talking to each other, and then [when we started shooting the scene] it was like I didnt even know him. Simon said he told Jordan that Wallaces final scene was really a gift: I said it to Michael, People are going to remember Wallace. Wallace is going to bother them for a long time after the whole show is forgotten. Youre going to work. Youre going to have a career. You did great with this. Additional reporting by Basil Sitaras. Finnish English Orava Residential REIT plc Notice of Annual General Meeting 27 February 2018 at 10.00 a.m. NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF ORAVA RESIDENTIAL REIT PLC The shareholders of Orava Residential REIT plc are invited to the Annual General Meeting, which is held on TUESDAY 20 March 2018 at 10:00 a.m. in the 'Balder-sali' at Aleksanterinkatu 12, Helsinki. The reception of those registered for the meeting will start at 9:00 a.m. Before the meeting, coffee will be served for the attendees and after the meeting, a salad lunch will be served. A. Matters dealt with at the Annual General Meeting 1. Opening of the meeting 2. Organisation of the meeting 3. Election of the examiners of the minutes and supervisors of vote counting 4. Establishment of the legality of the meeting 5. Verification of attendees and confirmation of the list of votes 6. Presentation of the financial statements, Board of Directors' report and auditor's report for 2017 Presentation of CEOs review 7. Adoption of the financial statements 8. Use of the profit shown by the statement of financial position and deciding on payment of dividends The Board of Directors proposes to the GM that the loss for the financial period ended on 31 December 2017 is posted in retained earnings and no dividends be paid. 9. Deciding on discharge from liability for members of the Board of Directors and the CEO 10. Deciding on the remuneration of members of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes that the remuneration of Board members be as follows: chairman EUR 2,000 and members EUR 1,200 per month, plus a meeting-specific fee of EUR 600 for the chairman and EUR 300 for a member for attendance at meetings. 11. Deciding on the number of members of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes that 5 members be elected for the Board of Directors. 12. Election of members of the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposes Taina Ahvenjarvi, Petri Kovalainen, Tapani Rautiainen, Eljas Repo and Petri Roininen be re-elected. All the candidates have given their consent for the election. 13. Deciding on the remuneration of the auditor The Board of Directors proposes that the fees of auditors be paid according to the invoice accepted by the company. 14. Election of the auditor The Board of Directors proposes that PricewaterhouseCoopers Oy, Authorised Public Accountants, with Tuomas Honkamaki, Authorised Public Accountant, as the chief auditor, be elected as the company's auditor. 15. Proposal by a shareholder Johan Holmberg for amending the Articles of Association Companys shareholder Johan Holmberg has proposed, that an addition is made to the second paragraph of Article 10 of the Articles of Association and the following Article numbers are adjusted accordingly. The proposed change would be as follows: 3. Annual summary of business transactions exceeding EUR 12,000 between the company and its Board members, or organisations controlled or represented by them Additionally, the shareholder has proposed that a new Article 14 is added to the Articles of Association, which would be as follows: Article 14. Business transactions between the company and its Board member The General Meeting must discuss in advance the business relationship if the business transactions between the company and its Board members, or organisations controlled or represented by them, appear to exceed EUR 12,000 during the year. The General Meeting may, at its discretion and having first considered whether the transactions take place at market terms, give its consent for such a business relationship. 16. Closing of the meeting B. Annual General Meeting documents The aforementioned decision proposals concerning the agenda of the Annual General Meeting and this notice of meeting are available on the website of Orava Residential REIT plc at www.oravaresidentialreit.com. The financial statements, Board of Directors' report and auditor's report of Orava Residential Real Estate Investment Trust plc are available on the aforementioned website no later than on 27 February 2018. The decision proposals and other aforementioned documents are also available at the Annual General Meeting, and, on request, copies of them and this notice of meeting will be sent to shareholders. The minutes of the Annual General Meeting (in Finnish) will be available on the aforementioned website as of 3 April 2018. C. Instructions for meeting attendees 1. Shareholder registered in the shareholders' register A shareholder who is registered in the company's shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date of the Annual General Meeting 8 March 2018 has the right to attend the Annual General Meeting. A shareholder whose shares are entered in their personal Finnish book-entry account is registered in the company's shareholders' register. A shareholder registered in the shareholders' register who wants to take part in the Annual General Meeting shall register with the company no later than on 15 March 2018 at 5:00 p.m. Registration may take place: at address www.oravaasuntorahasto.fi ; by email to yhtiokokous@oravarahastot.fi by letter to Orava Residential REIT plc, Annual General Meeting, Fabianinkatu 14 B, FI-00100 HELSINKI, Finland. In connection with registration, the name of the shareholder, personal identity code/business ID, address, telephone number and the name of any potential assistant, authorised agent or legal representative shall be notified. The personal information disclosed by the shareholder to the Orava Residential REIT plc will only be used in connection with the Annual General Meeting and the handling of the related necessary registrations. The shareholder, their representative or agent shall be able to prove their identity and/or right of representation at the place of the meeting. 2. Owner of nominee-registered shares The owner of nominee-registered shares has the right to attend the Annual General Meeting pursuant to shares on the basis of which they would have the right to be registered in the shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd on the record date of the Annual General Meeting on 8 March 2018. Attendance also requires that the shareholder is temporarily entered in the shareholders' register maintained by Euroclear Finland Ltd no later than 15 March 2018 by 10:00 a.m. With regard to nominee-registered shares, this is considered as a registration for the Annual General Meeting. The owner of nominee-registered shares is instructed to well in advance request the necessary instructions from the administrator of their property concerning the registration in the temporary shareholders' register, provision of powers of attorney and registration for the Annual General Meeting. The account manager entity of the administrator of property shall announce the owner of nominee-registered shares who wants to take part in the Annual General Meeting to be temporarily registered in the company's shareholders' register no later than at the aforementioned time. 3. Use of an agent and powers of attorney A shareholder may take part in the Annual General Meeting and exercise their rights there through an agent. A shareholder's agent shall present a dated power of attorney, or they must otherwise in a reliable manner prove that they are entitled to represent the shareholder. If a shareholder participates in the Annual General Meeting using several agents that represent the shareholder using shares on different book-entry accounts, they shall in connection with registration announce the shares based on which each agent represents the shareholder. It is requested that any potential powers of attorney be delivered in the original to Orava Residential REIT plc, Shareholders' register, Fabianinkatu 14 B, FI-00100 HELSINKI, Finland, before the end of the registration period. 4. Other instructions/information A shareholder present at the Annual General Meeting has the right to pose questions on matters dealt with at the meeting in accordance with chapter 5, section 25, of the Limited Liability Companies Act. On the date of the notice of meeting, 27 February 2018, Orava Residential REIT plc has a total of 9,598,910 shares that represent 9,598,910 votes. Helsinki 27 February 2018 Orava Residential REIT plc Board of Directors Additional information Pekka Peiponen, CEO, tel. +358 (0)10 420 3104 Veli Matti Salmenkyla, CFO, tel. +358 (0)10 420 3102 From An Ordinary Muslim, at NYTW. Photo: Suzi Sadler I dont want to be tolerated. I want to be respected. So says Azeem Bhatti, the angry, suffering man at the center of Hammaad Chaudrys potent An Ordinary Muslim, under the assured direction of Jo Bonney at New York Theatre Workshop. Azeem in a fierce performance by Sanjit De Silva is a recently married, 30-something bank employee in West London. Hes also a first-generation British Pakistani Muslim, the son of a couple who immigrated to England in the long wake of Partition, the bloody postwar division of India and Pakistan that displaced 15 million people and killed over a million, as Hindus and Muslims alike were forced to resettle their families along newly drawn and hostile religious and political boundaries. Azeems father, Akeel Bhatti (the affecting Ranjit Chowdhry), often reminds his son of the hardships he endured so that Azeem and his sister, Javeria, could grow up with more opportunities, earning their livings not on buses or stalls but in offices. I raised this family, insists Akeel in a moment of torment, I worked, penny by penny, I built this home, I sacrificed, I, I did right, I did, Im a good man The Bhatti patriarchs stammering protest is an awful thing to hear, coming as it does after he has knocked his wife to the ground. Its not the first time. Akeel has a history of domestic violence, which hes managed to control in recent years but which has flared up again. Chaudrys play begins with the Bhatti siblings attempt to manage their parents: Akeel and his wife, Malika, have argued; hes hit her, which has aggravated her heart condition and sent the house into a panic. Now Javeria has arrived from Manchester, where she lives with her husband and kids, to take her father away for a few weeks an intervention disguised as a vacation. But the Bhattis cant make it 24 hours without another outburst. Before Javeria can pack her father off to the train, old resentments have bubbled up, accusations have been thrown, tears have been shed, and once again Malika ends up on the floor, with Akeel shaking and guilty and the adult siblings frozen like terrified children, powerless to end the cycle of domestic strife. An Ordinary Muslim is its playwrights professional debut, and its an impressive one. Chaudry, a graduate of Columbias playwriting MFA where the play was his thesis project, worked under the mentorship of Tony Kushner to bring the story of the Bhattis to life, and the development process shows. The play feels solid, nurtured, strong-boned. It participates in a long Western tradition of Unhappy Family dramas, from Long Days Journey Into Night to August: Osage County, but its power comes from its playwrights and its central characters struggle with this very tradition, with the Western-ness theyve been brought up in and encouraged to embrace (the Bhattis live in London; Chaudry grew up in Edinburgh). A good Muslim is an invisible Muslim, snaps Azeem when his wife Saima (the excellent, understated Purva Bedi) mentions her desire to start wearing her hijab to work, You go in wearing your headscarf theyll never accept you. Chaudry has created a meticulous, empathetic ensemble drama all eight of his characters feel nuanced, human but the heart of his pain is located in the father and son, Akeel and Azeem. Hes looking at the way in which displacement and prejudice has shaken the core dignity of generations of Muslim men, ground down their self-worth so effectively that violence has begun to fill the gap. Azeem is disgusted by his fathers treatment of his mother, yet he derides and condescends to his own wife. Hes overcome with justified frustration at a superior at his work, whose behavior he interprets as ignorant and bigoted, but his fury leaks over into every relationship in his life whether with his friend and co-worker David, or with Saima, or his parents, or especially the Jameels, cousins of the Bhatti family who are leaders in the Tablighi Jamaat, a devout Muslim revivalist movement focused on helping practicing Muslims gain a deeper understanding of Islam. Too Muslim for some, not Muslim enough for others, Azeem laments bitterly, Story of my life. His defenses are so sharpened that theyve become a form of attack, whether on those within his religious community or outside it. Every interaction is a fight. No one can escape his vitriol because Azeem cant escape himself. On the outside, hes a smart, sarcastic jokester with a mean streak inside, hes eaten up by anger. At the start of Grief Lessons, her translations of four plays by Euripides, Anne Carson writes, Why does tragedy exist? Because you are full of rage. Why are you full of rage? Because you are full of grief. Azeem, like his father, is constantly grieving wrestling with the loss of a homeland he never even knew, an identity and a dignity that never had a chance to become fully formed before they came under siege. I dont have a history, I dont have a heritage, Azeem fumes as he sits at the pub with David, having fallen off the wagon (again). And I hate you so much for that. David (Andrew Hovelson in a sturdy performance as the bluff, liberal white guy whos still, slowly, learning) is shocked by his friends fury, and so, to an extent, are we. You can hear the intake of breath in the audience when Azeem continues, speaking of the attacks carried out in Britain by British Muslims, with their British passports: Truth is, he whispers, to Davids horror, when I see a Muslim go after you fuckers, however big or small it may be I get it. Its hard not to. Its a hard line to hear, and one of the most important to listen to. Though Chaudrys play is concerned with much more ordinary matters than bombings and battles, the playwright is delving intently into root causes: What is it that turns people, human beings with hearts and histories, into terrorists an unforgivable, inhuman word in our modern parlance, a word that might as well be monster? As An Ordinary Muslim follows the saga of the Bhatti family focusing on Azeems growing desperation and the deterioration of his marriage we can sense the swelling torment that comes from feeling rootless and worthless for too long. Azeem may feel like he has no history, but his anger does. The potential tragedy is that he might not find a way out: His rage might become his future as well as his past. But Chaudry isnt writing a tragedy. At least, not one that feels fatalistic and final in the Greek sense. The plays heartbreaks are the heartbreaks of life real and lasting, but survivable and theres humor and even hope to be found in the Bhattis story. Bonney does precise, powerful work with the entire cast, and its particularly wrenching in that half-funny, half-excruciating, wholly recognizable way when the generations lock horns. Rita Wolf gives a fine, often chilling performance as Malika, the complicated Bhatti matriarch who has suffered abuse but also inflicted it (she beat her daughter even as her husband beat her, and to Javerias lasting vexation she openly prefers her son and grandson to her daughter and granddaughter). And the plays climactic scene between Akeel and Azeem both guarded, both ashamed, both afraid they have failed as husbands and as men is both terrible and tender. You sound like me, mourns Akeel, listening to his sons roiling discontent, But, but for you, it, it shouldve been different Chaudry is a young playwright, but his play has a sad wisdom to it, an aching sense of the cruel cycles of history and of families, and a deeply felt question at its heart: Whats to become of all this anger? Without a real home, where can one go to feel whole? Photo: Vulture and Paramount Pictures Theres so much to get mad about these days that it can be hard to know where to throw your outrage. On Twitter? To your senator? Weve devised a handy rage calculator to help you determine the appropriate amount of outrage to express on social media. Get out your TI-89 outrage calculators, because its time to calibrate the proper amount of emotion to expend on another instance of Hollywood whitewashing. On the docket is Annihilation, a trippy, LSD-infused sci-fi film by Ex Machinas Alex Garland starring Natalie Portman as a biologist exploring a top-secret zone called Area X. The movie is an adaptation of a Jeff VanderMeer book of the same title, the first part of the Southern Reach Trilogy. The film diverges from the books in several ways. In the books, Portmans character is known first as the biologist and then goes by a nickname, Ghost Bird; in the movie, she goes by Lena. But the more significant departure for our purposes is that in the second book, Authority, VanderMeer describes her character as being of Asian descent. (Portman is white). Furthermore, another character, known simply as the psychologist (and played by Jennifer Jason Leigh in the movie), is described as halfNative American, half-white. (Ditto, Jennifer Jason Leigh). Garland and the actors have said that the whitewashing wasnt intentional, and that they didnt realize the characters werent written as white. But does this explanation hold up? Well, hold onto your angry hats, because were crossing into the Shimmer to find out. All right, so is it fair to call this whitewashing, or is this an Iron Fist situation? While many terms whitewashing, white-savior complex, etc. have gotten conflated over the past couple of years, this is a clear-cut case of whitewashing: The characters in the book are not white, but the actors who play them in the adaptation are. Heres the relevant portion of the text from Authority, the second book of the trilogy, where another character known as John Rodriguez, a.k.a. Control, describes the biologist as follows: The biologists hair had been long and dark brown, almost black, before theyd shaved it off. She had dark hair, thick eyebrows, green eyes, a slight, slightly off-center nose (broken once, falling on rocks), and high cheekbones that spoke to the strong Asian heritage on one side of her family. Later in the same book, he says this about the psychologist: No real hints of the personal, no pictures of the director with her Native American mother, her white father or with anyone who might matter in her life. While you could argue these descriptions fall into another common trope of dystopia narratives sometimes called But Not Too Foreign where characters in sci-fi or futuristic situations are often mixed race, its explicit that they are not written as white. So what was writer-director Alex Garlands explanation? He says he simply didnt know. He released a well-crafted statement that read: This is an awkward problem for me, because I think whitewashing is a serious and real issue, and I fully support the groups drawing attention to it. But the characters in the novel I read and adapted were not given names or ethnicities. I cast the film reacting only to the actors I met in the casting process, or actors I had worked with before. There was no studio pressure to cast white. The casting choices were entirely mine. As a middle-aged white man, I can believe I might at times be guilty of unconscious racism, in the way that potentially we all are. But there was nothing cynical or conspiratorial about the way I cast this movie. Portman also said something similar during an edited on-camera interview with Yahoo! When asked the question, she said that its the first shed heard of the whitewashing allegations. She acknowledges that it sounds problematic and delivers a poised response: We need more representation of Asians on film, of Hispanics on film, of blacks on film, women and particularly women of color, Native Americans I mean, we just dont have enough representation. Okay, do you buy that? Well, theres a few things to unpack here, so lets start with Garlands claim that he didnt know. (I think its fair to say that this decision is on him, in this case.) Garland told Nerdist that he adapted the first book before the rest of the trilogy came out, and that it was a really weird process that involved discussions with VanderMeer, but the nature and extent of those conversations is unclear. All we can do is speculate on how much people knew and when, which is inevitably a losing game, and distracts us from the fact that the people who were erased dont have much of a say in their own disappearance. But lets follow his reasoning to its logical end. VanderMeer presents Annihilation as a journal the biologist left behind in Area X, and theres no mention of her ethnicity (theres no like, Korean mom making her soup), so its fair to say that theres no reason Garland would have known from reading that book. By nature, the book is an internalized and foreclosed experience, limited to the biologists perspective, whereas the film presents a much more streamlined narrative and birds-eye view of whats happening that extends well beyond the text of Annihilation. So the question is whether Garland really didnt know about the narrative arcs of the second and third books. Its questionable, because many of the films plot points indicate that, even if Garland had begun adapting the film after the first book, he knew the general arc. The film begins where Authority does, with Lena (the biologist) back in the Southern Reach facilities, being detained and questioned. There are other extremely specific and extremely spoiler-y details from the other books that make up the spine of film: for instance, that the psychologist Dr. Ventriss (Leigh) is dying of cancer; that shes actually the director of the Southern Reach; that this whole Area X business possibly started when a comet hit the lighthouse; and that there are aliens that can create human clones that they send out into the world. Thats a lot of similarities! Indeed. The similarities seem more than incidental and indicate that the conversations between Garland and VanderMeer went well beyond the first book. If so, then, its fair to ask whether the question of race and ethnicity ever came up. (Its here, in these banal conversations about craft, that these other political dynamics come into play.) While VanderMeer has been enthusiastic about the adaptation, he has sidestepped the question of whitewashing. In response to the whitewashing question, he told Syfy Wire: I think that as the process of making the movie went along, as they became aware of books two and three, they kind of took that into account in the casting, but really thats a question for Alex I think. What does that mean? Your guess is as good as ours. This comment indicates there was a problem that Garland recognized and tried to address retroactively. It also gestures to another way in which the film has been presented: That it is a win for diverse casting, because its a predominantly female cast with two actresses of color, Tessa Thompson as a physicist named Josie Radek and Gina Rodriguez as a medic named Anya Thorensen, in prominent roles. This creates a familiar dynamic in cases of whitewashing, where people of color are pitted against each other. Theres no reason why Garland couldnt have cast Thompson and Rodriguez as well as cast the other characters true to their ethnic descriptions in the book. In these conversations around representation, Asian-Americans and Native Americans consistently get sidelined. (The list of recent grievances from The Martian to Pan to Doctor Strange to the unfortunate Johnny Depp movie is long and injurious.) This gets to the larger point: These systems are exactly that, operating within the status quo unless decision-makers actively work against it. Talking about intention (sure, its good to know someone is not actively making racist casting choices) makes things more about your feelings and is sort of beside the point. Well, are there any actors who could have played those parts? Sure! For Lena, theres Olivia Munn, Maggie Q, Sandrine Holt, just to name a few. For Dr. Ventriss theres Tanaya Beatty, Leah Jones, Alex Rice, and any number of actors who just havent gotten their big breaks. More interesting, though, is the fact that Sonoya Mizuno, a half-Japanese actress, is actually in the film. She appears briefly as a student of Portmans in the beginning, and then appears again, major spoiler alert as a humanoid in the films thrilling final act. In that scene, shes a psychedelic rubber monster with no mouth, literally miming Portmans character. Wait, wasnt Sonoya in Garlands first film, Ex Machina? Good eye. Yes, this isnt their first collaboration. Mizuno played the other robot on Oscar Isaacs island: the one apparently programmed so she cant speak English. Instead, shes the silent, subservient sex-slave robot whose actions seem inscrutable/sad and not her own, whereas her white robot counterpart, played by Alicia Vikander, is the one gifted with consciousness and free will. The role mimics all kinds of uncomfortable stereotypes about docile Asian women and the availability of their bodies/services without doing much to subvert it. (All of this of course again, spoiler alert for Ex Machina now only gets worse when the Alicia Vikander robot peels off the skin of another decommissioned Asian robot to use as her own.) Yikes! Should I watch Annihilation? Sure! If you love being terrified by insidious structural racism and also aliens. OSLO, Norway, Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NEXT Biometrics (Oslo Bors:NEXT) today announced that the company is joining Arrow Electronics this week at Embedded World 2018 to demonstrate the latest in fingerprint sensor technology. NEXT will be part of the Arrow booth at Embedded World where a broad range of boards and development tools will be featured. NEXT will be sharing details and providing a first look at its fingerprint sensor development kit based on the Qualcomm DragonBoard 410c. The NEXT development kit provides developers the opportunity to create complete biometric solutions that deliver reliable and accurate fingerprint template extraction along with ultra-fast matching capabilities. Were pleased to be part of the Arrow booth at Embedded World, said Radek Matyasek, senior vice president of Sales for NEXT. Joining forces with Arrow as one of the key players using the powerful Qualcomm DragonBoard highlights the strengths of our fingerprint sensor technology and is an important advantage for NEXT as we work with our customers to develop ever more powerful, secure and successful products. The NEXT development board includes modules and readers featuring NEXTs unique large sensor technology for increased security and accuracy. Initial versions have been created that work with both SPI and USB interfaces. Systems based on the board are ideally suited for access control and IoT applications. The development kit is expected to be available for purchase in March. Embedded World runs February 27 through March 1 in Nuremberg, Germany. Arrow and NEXT will be located in booth 340 in hall 4A. About NEXT Biometrics NEXT provides advanced fingerprint sensor technology that delivers uncompromised security and accuracy for the best possible user experience in the smart card, government ID, access control and notebook markets. The companys patented NEXT Active Thermal principle allows the development of large, high quality fingerprint sensors in both rigid and flexible formats. NEXT Biometrics Group ASA (www.nextbiometrics.com) is headquartered in Oslo, with sales, support and development operations in Seattle, Silicon Valley, Taipei, Prague and Shanghai. Media Contacts: Tom Beermann, NEXT Biometrics, tom.beermann@nextbiometrics.com Brian Dobson, DobsonPR.com, BD@DobsonPR.com Monobank ASA will make temporary changes in its management team. Monobank ASA has employed Torbjrn Botnevik as acting CFO during Lene Sjbakks parental leave expected to start in May 2018. Botnevik comes from the position as Head of of Reporting, Financial analysis and forecasts in Nordea Life & Pensions Norway. For further information contact: Bent H. Gjendem, Chief Executive Officer at Monobank, phone: +47 996 11 996 About Monobank ASA: Monobank is a digital bank offering unsecured lending to qualified private individuals in Norway and Finland. Operations started out of Bergen, Norway, in November 2015 after Monobank received its banking license from the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway. The bank also offers attractive deposit rates on its savings accounts. Deposits up to NOK 2 million are guaranteed by the Norwegian Banks Guarantee fund, of which Monobank is a member. For further information, please visit the company web page www.monobank.no Boston, Massachusetts, Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FEBRUARY 27, 2018 Today, a new life begins for two lions. Lions that have experienced the horrors of war. Simba was rescued from a zoo in Mosul, Iraq, while Saeed came from an amusement part in Aleppo, Syria. However, the two lions have been transported to a sanctuary in South Africa, leaving their brutal past behind. After more than half a year of rehabilitation in Jordan, Simba and Saeed were ready for their final journey. FOUR PAWS, the international animal welfare organization, relocated the former war lions to Johannesburg, South Africa yesterday, February 26. There, the two male lions will find peace and refuge in the 12-square-kilometer big cat sanctuary: LIONSROCK. The 33-hour transfer took place by passenger planes and trucks. This last transfer concludes delicate rescue missions to crisis areas in the Middle East as well as months of intensive care at the Jordanian wildlife rescue center Al Ma'wa for Nature and Wildlife. The two lions have endured much suffering in their young lives. Believed to be about four-years-old, Simba was born in the Montazah Al-Morour Zoo in the eastern part of Mosul during the ongoing war in Iraq. The majority of the 40 animals at the zoo died of starvation or were killed by bomb attacks. The lucky few escaped from their damaged enclosures. When the FOUR PAWS rescue team visited in February 2017, they found only two animals alive in the zoo: bear Lula and lion Simba. After weeks of difficult negotiations in Iraq, the animal welfare organization successfully evacuated both wild animals in April 2017 and brought them to Jordan. Saeed, however, was rescued in a group of 13 other animals. In July 2017, FOUR PAWS took over the remaining animals from the neglected zoo at the Magic World amusement park near Aleppo. International security companies and the Turkish Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs supported the evacuation. After a two-week stay in Turkey, the Turkish government approved the departure of the 13 injured and traumatized animals to Jordan. Because of his young age, it is believed that two-year-old lion Saeed was born in captivity during the war in Syria. "Simba and Saeed had a difficult start to life but thanks to the tireless efforts of the animal caretakers and vets involved, the health of the two lions has improved enormously," explained FOUR PAWS Big Cat Expert Barbara van Genne. "They are now ready to begin a new chapter at our big cat sanctuary LIONSROCK. There, we have the chance to bring Simba and Saeed together with other rescued lions. We will immediately begin our socialization project for both lions, as young lions feel comfortable in prides." Without their initial rehabilitation period, the improvement of the lions could have been greatly inhibited. The Jordanian wildlife rescue center Al Ma'wa for Nature and Wildlife, a joint project of FOUR PAWS and the Princess Alia Foundation, has become a species-appropriate home for most rescued zoo animals from crisis areas in the Middle East. Due to their good health and young age, FOUR PAWS decided to transfer Simba and Saeed. Approximately 100 rescued big cats, including lions and tigers, live at LIONSROCK. With 79 other lions, we are confident Simba and Saeed will find themselves a pride and a happy ending to their chaotic upbringing. Please find the photos of the transfer in Jordan here ( FOUR PAWS/Freedom Media Production): Click Here Photos of the release in South Africa can be found here ( FOUR PAWS/Daniel Born): Click Here ABOUT FOUR PAWS FOUR PAWS is an international animal welfare organization with headquarters in Vienna, Austria and US headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded by Heli Dungler in 1988, the organization strives to help animals in need with sustainable campaigns and projects. The work is based on substantiated research and scientific expertise as well as intensive national and international lobbying. FOUR PAWS focuses on animals that are directly under human influence: stray dogs and stray cats, farm animals, companion animals and wild animals including bears, big cats and orangutans kept in inappropriate conditions. With offices in Austria, Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Romania, South Africa, Switzerland, United Kingdom and USA, FOUR PAWS aims to help animals in need directly and quickly. About LIONSROCK FOUR PAWS Big Cat Sanctuary LIONSROCK, a project by FOUR PAWS, provides an appropriate, lifelong home for over 100 big cats that were kept in inadequate conditions in zoos, circuses or private captivity. The facility, founded for the big cats in 2007 in South Africa (Free State province, 18 km from the town of Bethlehem) offers the highest standards, including large areas for family groups; facilitation of natural behaviour through enrichment; and the highest standards of medical care and enclosures. In LIONSROCK hunting, trading or breeding of big cats is strictly prohibited. The park encompasses a total area of 1,250 hectares. The enclosures for the big cats cover an area of 60 hectares. In the rest of the park, other typical South African species live freely (e.g. zebras, wildebeests and other antelopes, etc.). ### Attachments: A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c2b2c539-69e6-4d91-927b-5bec0fb27d59 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b9a3b635-e3dc-4a00-bbb6-98019380841c Climate scientists are used to seeing the range of weather extremes stretched by global warming but few episodes appear as remarkable as this week's unusual heat over the Arctic. Zack Labe, a researcher at the University of California at Irvine, said average daily temperatures above the northern latitude of 80 degrees have broken away from any previous recordings in the past 60 years. "To have zero degrees at the North Pole in February - it's just wrong," said Amelie Meyer, a researcher of ice-ocean interactions with the Norwegian Polar Institute. "It's quite worrying." The so-called Polar Vortex - a zone of persistient low-pressure that typically keeps high-latitude cold air separate from regions further south - has been weakening for decades. The Lord only knows how Malcolm Turnbulls ban on funny business in Parliament House might have been applied in the complicated time of Ainsley Gotto... Ms Gotto, you may be aware, is gone now, having died on Sunday, and thus finally permitted to rest in peace. She was, however, given no peace by busybodies in 1968 and for years after. "The girl who passes notes to the Prime Minister in Parliament is Ainsley Gotto" said the caption in 1970. The hair on the nape of Liberal bluebloods and rednecks everywhere lifted skywards when it was announced that Ms Gotto, then aged just 21 - she was a month shy of her 22nd birthday - was to be appointed the personal private secretary to Prime Minister John Gorton. Beijing: As Chinese censors worked overtime to block social media dissent at Xi Jinping's move to scrap the presidential term limit, a number of intellectuals have tried to circulate an open letter calling for the proposal to be voted down. Former Chinese newspaper editor Li Datong's letter was addressed to the 52 Beijing deputies of the National People's Congress, the annual parliament which opens this weekend, and it had a very focused message. Porcelain cups featuring portraits of Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, and former Chinese leader Mao Zedong in a store window in Beijing, Credit:Bloomberg "The 1982 constitutional stipulation that the term of office of Chinese state leaders should not last more than two consecutive terms is a landmark political reform measure taken by the [Chinese Communist Party] and all the Chinese people through the great suffering of the Cultural Revolution," the letter, posted on WeChat, stated. "It is an attempt to prevent individual dictatorship." House Speaker Todd Richardson named seven members to a special committee that will lead the unprecedented probe of a Missouri governor. The hastily formed panel will be chaired by GOP state Representative Jay Barnes of Jefferson City. Greitens, who was not governor at the time, allegedly photographed the partially nude woman and threatened to disseminate the photograph if she exposed their relationship. The investigation could lead to the impeachment and ouster of Greitens from office. Jefferson City, Missouri: The Missouri House launched an investigation of Governor Eric Greitens, just days after Greitens was charged with felony invasion-of-privacy, stemming from an extramarital affair in 2015. "We have worked over the weekend and through today to formulate that committee. I've asked the committee to begin its work this week," Richardson said. Barnes said the committee's work would be limited to looking at the alleged crime. "Our focus is going to be on the underlying facts of the indictment and the circumstances surrounding them," Barnes said. Neither he nor Richardson would say whether that might include calling on the woman to testify at any hearing. She has not been identified since the story of the relationship broke in January. "This committee's task is going to investigate facts. We're going to do so in a way that is fair, thorough and timely," Barnes said. "And we're going to do it without any preordained results, which means we are going to be asking questions of witnesses on both sides and hope to have a process with full involvement from everyone involved in this matter." MONROVIA, CA, Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Immunotech Laboratories, Inc. (OTC Markets "ECPO", Immunotech or the Company) announced today that negotiations have begun with one of the Worlds premier providers of state of the art Clinical Trial Supply services, for a Quality Person (QP) for the receipt and distribution of the Companys validation order. Securing a delivery and disbursement partner is one of the last steps in receiving the Permit process. In addition, the newly appointed Advisory Board Member, Dr. Hui, reported that his representation of the Company at the 2018 Asia -Pacific Precision Medicine Forum was successfully received by the many of the Pharmaceutical and Medical professionals attending the Symposium. Dr. Hui is an expert on metabolic diseases, oncology and wellness. He also serves as an active consultant for government and industry in medical and biotechnological areas. He is the author of over 150 scientific papers and dozen patents on metabolic and cancer studies. He is an associate editor of Pancreas and Frontier in Gastrointestinal Science, and serves as editor board on 8 professional journals. The Company continues to make strides in its efforts to bring its Immunotherapy to Market in Eastern Europe and is pleased with the first steps it has taken in exploring the receptiveness to its technology in Asia, stated Harry Zhabilov, CEO. About Immunotech ; Immunotech, Inc. is a drug development company committed to the commercialization of its proprietary proteins for the treatment of debilitating infectious diseases. Immunotech is committed to creating drugs for the better health of mankind Immunotechs flagship compound ITV-1 (Immune Therapeutic Vaccine-1) is a suspension of Inactivated Pepsin Fraction (IPF), which studies have shown is effective in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. IPF is the active drug substance of ITV-1 and is a purified extract of porcine pepsin. ITV-1 has been shown to modulate the immune system. Safe Harbor Statement: This news release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties associated with financial projections, budgets, milestone timelines, clinical development, regulatory approvals, and other risks described by Immunotech Laboratories, Inc. from time to time in its periodic reports filed with the SEC. IPF is not approved by the US Food and Drug Administration or by any comparable regulatory agencies elsewhere in the world. While Immunotech believes that the forward-looking statements and underlying assumptions contained therein are reasonable, any of the assumptions could be inaccurate, including, but not limited to, the ability of Immunotech to establish the efficacy of IPF in the treatment of any disease or health condition, the development of studies and strategies leading to commercialization of IPF in the United States, the obtaining of funding required to carry out the development plan, the completion of studies and tests on time or at all, and the successful outcome of such studies or tests. Therefore, there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, Immunotech or any other person that the objectives and plans of Immunotech will be achieved should not regard the forward-looking statements as a representation. New York: The United States has threatened unilateral action against Iran after Russia vetoed a western bid for the United Nations Security Council to call out Tehran for failing to prevent its weapons from falling into the hands of Yemen's Houthi group. "If Russia is going to continue to cover for Iran then the US and our partners need to take action on our own. If we're not going to get action on the council then we have to take our own actions," US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told reporters during a visit to Honduran capital Tegucigalpa. A Saudi soldier guards an aid flight at an air base in Marib, Yemen earlier this month. Credit:AP Haley did not specify what kind of action could be taken. The Russian veto was a defeat for the United States, which has been lobbying for months for Iran to be held accountable at the United Nations, while at the same time threatening to quit a 2015 deal among world powers to curb Iran's nuclear program if "disastrous flaws" are not fixed. ). Cinder Wines impresses with its 2015 Syrah Snake River Valley ($29, 91 points). Idahosimpresses with its). ($75, 90 points) and History 2014 Elise Vineyard Pinot Noir Columbia Gorge ($65, 91 points). ($22, 90 points) and L'Ecole No. 41 2016 Old Vines Chenin Blanc Columbia Valley ($15, 90 points). December 1, 2017, the Ashan 2016 Barrel Fermented Chardonnay Columbia Valley ($25, 91 points) brings outstanding quality and value. Winemaker Chris Gorman also hits a home run with the Gorman 2015 The Devil You Know Red Blend Columbia Valley ($28, 91 points). From, the) brings outstanding quality and value. Winemaker Chris Gorman also hits a home run with the). Pamplin Family Winery 2014 Red I.Q. Columbia Valley ($14, 90 points) brings a lot of quality and value. Meanwhile the) brings a lot of quality and value. November 2017, winemaker Brennon Leighton continues to impress with his From, winemaker Brennon Leighton continues to impress with his ($45, 92 points). also has a strong set of releases (Baer 2014 Malbec Columbia Valley $29, 91 points; Baer 2014 Callisto Red Blend Columbia Valley $39 91 points; Baer 2014 Arctos Stillwater Creek Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Columbia Valley $43, 90 points). Cadence Winery 2014 (and one 2015) wines are impressive, including the Cadence 2014 Ciel du Cheval Vineyard Red Mountain $45, 93 points; Cadence 2015 Coda Red Mountain $28, 92 points; Cadence 2014 Bel Canto Cara Mia Vineyard Red Mountain $60, 92 points. If youre not already familiar with Ben Smiths wines, seek them out. All of the2014 (and one 2015) wines are impressive, including the. If youre not already familiar with Ben Smiths wines, seek them out. continues to quietly make some stunning wines (Delmas 2015 SJR Vineyard Syrah Walla Walla Valley $NA, 93 points). Dowsett Wines shows continued mastery of Gewurztraminer (Dowsett Family 2015 Celilo Vineyard Gewurztraminer Columbia Gorge $22 91 points). This is perhaps the best example of this variety made in the U.S. Give it a look. Chris Dowsett atshows continued mastery of Gewurztraminer (). This is perhaps the best example of this variety made in the U.S. Give it a look. make too many high quality wines from the 2014 vintage for me to reasonably list here. Check out the reviews! has two very impressive whites, including Lobo Hills 2015 Roth Rock Farm Chenin Blanc Yakima Valley ($22, 90 points) and Lobo Hills 2016 Inland Desert Auxerrois Yakima Valley ($22, 90 points). The latter is the only example of this variety in the state that I am aware of (leave a comment below if you are aware of others). produces a series of top quality reds (Maison Bleue 2014 Voyageur Yellow Jacket Vineyard Syrah Walla Walla Valley $50, 94 points; Maison Bleue 2014 Bourgeois Grenache Walla Walla Valley $45, 93 points; Maison Bleue 2014 Coureur des Bois Red Blend Columbia Valley $40, 93 points; Maison Bleue 2014 Frontiere Waliser Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Walla Walla Valley $65, 93 points). Walla Walla Vintners. also has a strong set of releases as does October 2017 reviews are largely devoted to the wines of Christophe Baron (Cayuse Vineyards, Horsepower Vineyards, No Girls). There are numerous extremely high quality wines here, as always. Of note, these wines include the first release from Barons new Hors Categorie 2014 Syrah Walla Walla Valley $240, 96 points) was the wine of the vintage and one of the best wines Ive tasted in my time at Wine Enthusiast. Finally, theare largely devoted to the wines of Christophe Baron (). There are numerous extremely high quality wines here, as always. Of note, these wines include the first release from Barons new Hors Categorie Vineyard near the North Fork of the Walla Walla River. This wine () was the wine of the vintage and one of the best wines Ive tasted in my time at Wine Enthusiast. instructions about how to search the Wine Enthusiast database for monthly scores (as well as specific varieties etc). Direct links to all of the reviews I posted today are below. Thats it! I will try to be more timely getting these scores posted. However, scores are always freely available in the manners in which Ive described at the top of each of these posts. Additionally, don't wait for me! See here forfor monthly scores (as well as specific varieties etc). Direct links to all of the reviews I posted today are below. I put up a series of posts today catching up onreviews from the last several months. Here are some highlights, starting from the most recent reviews and working backwards.From, the) comes from the oldest vines on Red Mountain and allows you to taste a piece of the states history. The) provides a lot of quality and value. In terms of value wines, look no further than theFrom, new wineryhas two strong white wines, both of which are now unfortunately sold out (). Keep an eye out for future releases.From, the) is a complete showstopper. Yes, that vintage is correct. This wine is a full ten years old and its absolutely singing right now with a long life still ahead of it. I cant recommend this wine more highly if youre interested in seeing the ageability of Washington whites in the right hands and in the right vintages. Its one of the best white wines I had all of last year and one of the best Washington whites I've had period.The History project from the folks atis an incredibly intriguing one. Here winemaker Melissa Burr uses fruit from some of Washingtons oldest vines, including 1935 Muscat, 1957 Cabernet Sauvignon, and 1968 Pinot Noir plantings. The most successful of these wines are themakes a series of strong white wines from the 2016 vintage, including the NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO THE U.S.A. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION TO THE U.S.A. CALGARY, Alberta, Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Groundstar Resources Limited (TSXV:GSA) (the Company) is pleased to announce that, in conjunction with a reorganization of its short-term debt, it is conducting a non-brokered private placement of a maximum of $70,000 aggregate principle amount of convertible debenture units (the Convertible Debenture Units or CDUs) at a price of CAD$1,000 per Convertible Debenture Unit. Each CDU will consist of a debenture in the principal amount of CAD$1,000 (the Convertible Debenture) and bear interest at 12% and include warrants (the Warrants) exercisable into 33,333 common shares in the capital of the Company (the Offering). Each Warrant will be exercisable to acquire one common share in the capital of the Company (each, a Warrant Share) at an exercise price of $0.05 per Warrant Share for a period of two years following the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined). The Convertible Debentures will bear interest from the Closing Date at 12.0% per annum, payable semi-annually on June 30 and December 31 of each year and will expire on February 26, 2020 (the Maturity Date), will be secured by the assets of the Company and be subordinate to any existing secured parties of the Company. The Convertible Debentures are convertible into common shares in the capital of the Company (Debenture Shares) at the option of the holder at any time prior to the close of business on the earlier of: (i) the last business day immediately preceding the Maturity Date; and (ii) the date when the Common Shares are consolidated as set forth below, at a conversion price of $0.03 per Common Share (the Conversion Price), subject to adjustment in certain events. The Company intends to effect a share consolidation of its common shares at a ratio to be determined in order to ensure that the conversion pricing meets the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV). All share prices in this press release are pre-consolidation amounts and will be adjusted in accordance with whatever exchange ratio is ultimately approved by the shareholders of the Company at its next annual meeting of shareholders and any such post-consolidation share price will be compliant with the pricing parameters set forth in the policies of the TSXV. Subsequent to the issuance of the Convertible Debenture Units, the Company proposes to proceed with an additional financing (the Second Financing) of up to 20 million units in the capital of the Company (the Common Units) at a price of $0.01 per unit, each unit consisting of a common share in the capital of the Company (Common Share) and a common share purchase warrant (a Warrant) for gross proceeds of up to CAD$200,000. Each Warrant will permit the holder to acquire one additional Common Share at a price of $0.05 in the first year from closing and at $0.075 in the second year from closing. Closing the Second Financing is contingent on completion of a proposal to renegotiate the debt due to the Companys major creditors into long-term obligations. Changes in Management and the Board may also occur upon closing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that demand for the Offering or the Second Financing is greater than anticipated, the Board of Directors of the Company may increase the size of the Offering or the Second Financing to such amount as they may determine in their sole discretion, subject to approval of the TSXV regarding same. In addition, while the Company intends to seek an exemption for the anticipated pricing of the Offering and the Second Financing, the granting of such exemption is subject to approval of the TSXV. The aforementioned financings will be completed in two tranches over the next month, with the Offering expected to close on or about March 15, 2018 and the Second Financing expected to close on or about March 30, 2018 (each, a Closing Date). The Company will utilize the net proceeds from the Offering and the Second Financing (collectively, the Financings) for general corporate purposes and to seek different corporate opportunities, which may involve drilling new wells, seeking a farm-in opportunity or acquiring producing assets. The Convertible Debenture Units and Common Units will be issued on a private placement basis in the Provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and such other jurisdictions as the Company may determine in its sole discretion and will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months and a day from the applicable closing date of each tranche of the Financings. Closing of the Financings and the applicable pricing thereof are subject to approval of the TSXV. The Financings are open to all existing shareholders of the Company and such other individuals or entities as the Company may determine in its sole discretion. It is currently anticipated that insiders of the Company will subscribe for a significant amount of the Offering. In conjunction with the proposed Financings and the restructuring the Company as described herein, the Company further wishes to announce the appointment of Stephen Hughes to the position of Interim President and CEO relieving Ty Pfeifer of his responsibilities as acting CEO. The Company wishes to thank Mr. Pfeifer for his efforts and valued assistance and looks forward to continuing to work with him as he remains on the board of directors of the Company. Mr. Hughes has over 10 years of investment banking experience. For the majority of his career, he focused on small-cap resource companies where he completed a wide variety of advisory and capital market transactions while working at Canadian independent investment banks. Since 2014, Mr. Hughes focus has been on business development, corporate advisory and restructurings of private and publicly listed companies. Presently he is a director of the Company and co-founder of Burmis Capital Partners. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the U.S. Securities Act) or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. About Groundstar Resources Limited Incorporated in 1968, Groundstar Resources Limited is a publicly traded oil and gas company actively growing a portfolio targeting producing oil and gas assets with development opportunities and exploration upside. The Companys current portfolio of resource assets provides both near term and longer-term potential. Groundstar is quoted and trades under the ticker symbol GSA on the TSX Venture Exchange. Contact Information: Groundstar Resources Limited, Suite 430, 440 - 2nd Avenue SW, Calgary, Alberta T2P 5E9 www.groundstarresources.com Stephen Hughes 587.580.9344 shughes@groundstarresources.com This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including expectations regarding the anticipated closing of the Financings and the timing thereof, the gross proceeds expected to be received in connection therewith, the price at which the securities are being issued and the anticipated use of proceeds from the Financings. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. These statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and may be based on assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks include, but are not limited to: the risks associated with the oil and gas industry (e.g. operational risks in development, exploration and production; delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the uncertainty of reserve and resource estimates; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to production, costs and expenses and health, safety and environmental risks), commodity price and exchange rate fluctuation, uncertainties resulting from potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures and uncertainties regarding whether regulatory approval for the Financings will be received and if received, on the timelines expected and at the anticipated pricing, as well as the intended use of the net proceeds of the Financings. The Companys forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company undertakes no obligations to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements or information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws. 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 press release. At least 36 Vermont towns are expected to vote next week on resolutions seeking action on climate change at the municipal level. 350Vermont organized the effort to get the on Town Meeting Day agendas across the state. Organizer Jaiel Pulskamp says there is not enough action at higher levels of government. She said the resolutions seek a ban on new energy pipelines, a call for 90-percent renewable energy, and an energy policy that is fair and equitable to all residents. "Vermont is not taking the essential steps to reduce its carbon output. This inaction from the state and federal leadership motivated 350 Vermont to look for solutions at the local level," Pulskamp. "Historically, resolutions have been instrumental in shaping policy and fostering change in Vermont." Pulskamp says the goal is to spur action at the state level on climate change. TORONTO, Feb. 27, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Datametrex AI Limited (the Company or Datametrex) (TSXV:DM) (FSE:D4G) is pleased to announce an update for its Nexalogy subsidiary. Nexalogy is working on a number of substantial government contracts in the public policy research and social data monitoring areas. The government vertical is growing substantially and Nexalogy anticipates significant growth over the next few years. Nexalogys repository of data collected, over half a billion tweets a year and access to other data sources such as 85 million blogs and 8.8 million Facebook pages, gives the company a unique advantage when analyzing profiles and other unstructured data. Nexalogy is continuing to accumulate rich data sets that will position itself most effectively with brands and government agencies. Nexalogy is growing their presence in Asia and Europe along with a diversification of their revenue stream with ad buy offerings targeted at small cap public companies. Nexalogys patented solutions provide valuable insight and analysis from a variety of data sources, giving governments and corporations a unique tool to analyze information and make informed decisions in the following areas; policy making, stakeholder analysis, social risk assessment, social license to operate, marketing, and overall operations. Nexalogys proprietary algorithms, when merged with traditional business intelligence, provide an innovative platform leveraging machine learning, social data intelligence and social Internet of Things (IOT) technology to redefine data analysis. Nexalogy is emerging as a leader in the Business Intelligence (BI) marketplace with a strong focus in social data analysis. According to Markets and Markets, a flagship competitive intelligence and market research firm serving 1700 global fortune enterprises, the Social Media Analytics Market is forecast to grow to 5.4 Billion USD by 2020. This rapid growth is due to the transition from traditional BI techniques to advanced analytics as well as the surge in the number of social media users and data. Rich datasets provide our unique AI algorithms with a platform that is in great demand with the Fortune 1000 and major Government agencies, says Andrew Ryu, Chairman and CEO of the Company. In addition, the company is still conducting further diligence on the Shoptalk transaction and will provide an update shortly. About the Company Datametrex AI Limited is a technology focused company with exposure to four exciting verticals. Big Data, collecting data from retail point of sale environments, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning through its wholly owned subsidiary, Nexalogy (www.nexalogy.com). Implementing Blockchain technology for secure Data Transfers through its joint venture company, Graph Blockchain (www.graphblockchain.com). and Industrial Scale Cryptocurrency Mining through its wholly owned subsidiary, Ronin Blockchain Corp. (www.roninblockchain.com). Additional information on Datametrex is available at: www.datametrex.com. To stay informed about Datametrex, please join our Investor Group on 8020 Connect http://bit.ly/2fPUNwF for all upcoming news releases, articles comments and questions. About Nexalogy Nexalogy AI solutions unlock valuable insights from social media data. Through its proprietary semantic clustering algorithms, it provides insights and analysis that arent available through traditional business intelligence technology. This technology makes data more relevant and is the missing link in providing actionable social media intelligence to governments and organizations all over the world. For further information, please contact: Jeffrey Stevens President & COO Phone: (647) 400-8494 Email: jstevens@datametrex.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking information and statements are not representative of historical facts or information or current condition, but instead represent only the Company`s belief regarding future events, plans or objectives, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Companys control. Generally, such forward-looking information or statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or may contain statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, will continue, will occur or will be achieved. The forward-looking information contained herein includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the terms, timing and completion of the Public Listing, the anticipated use of proceeds and the Review. By identifying such information and statements in this manner, the Company is alerting the reader that such information and statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such information and statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing, and the expectations contained in, the forward-looking information and statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information and statements, and no assurance or guarantee can be given that such forward-looking information and statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information and statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking information or statements contained in this press release. The forward-looking information contained in this press release is made as of the date hereof, and the Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking information that is contained or referenced herein, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking information and statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in its entirety by this notice. The 19th meeting of the SAFE Working Group (SWG), held from 21 to 23 February 2018 at the WCO headquarters in Brussels, brought together over 100 delegates from Customs administrations, partner government agencies, the Private Sector Consultative Group (PSCG), international organizations and academia. In her opening remarks, Ms. Ana B. Hinojosa, WCO Director Compliance and Facilitation, welcomed the new Customs Co-Chairperson Ms. Suzanne Stauffer (the EU) and all the SWG delegates, appreciating their commitment and hard work towards updating the SAFE Framework of Standards and developing new tools over the last two years. Given the global security concerns and the fresh impetus on trade facilitation, she underlined the importance of the SAFE Framework of Standards and associated tools with regard to enhancing supply chain security and facilitation through enhanced partnerships based on trust, transparency and technology. The key outcome of this concluding meeting of the 2018 review cycle is the finalization of the 2018 SAFE Framework of Standards. Some of the notable features of the updated SAFE Framework include the requirement of advance electronic data on postal items; addition of text on data quality; provision for certain minimum tangible benefits to AEOs; harmonization of data filing requirements and Single Window concept, as well as strengthening of cooperation with other government agencies entrusted with regulatory authorities over certain goods (e.g. weapons, hazardous materials) and passenger control, and revision of the definition of the term Validation. Other highlights of this cycle had been the development of AEO and MRA Packages that included a number of new and updated tools (e.g. comprehensive list of AEO benefits; AEO Validator Guidance; Updated AEO Template, MRA Strategy Guide, MRA Implementation Guidance, MRA Templates, FAQ on MRA, and Advance Cargo Information (ACI) Implementation Guidance) to provide guidance and further support to Members and partners stakeholders in effective and harmonized implementation of AEO programmes and MRAs. The SWG also developed a Trader Identification Number (TIN) Package including a Recommendation and Guidelines that would further facilitate an efficient implementation of MRAs, greatly benefiting traders and Customs administrations. Furthermore, the SWG discussed and endorsed the AEO Validators Training Modules, the Guidance on the use of data analytics, a FAQ on the linkages between the SAFE AEO programme and the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) Article 7.7, and the updated Integrated Supply Chain Management (ISCM) Guidelines. Throughout the meeting, a number of interesting and very informative presentations and interventions were made by several delegates on the implementation of AEO, MRA, ACI, and data analytics. Delegates also exchanged views on various projects/pilots concerning the implementation of the ISCM concept, such as smart and secure seal pilot, AOLIX project, and PROFILE project. Finally, the SWG, through a panel discussion, explored and provided suggestions on how the SAFE Framework of Standards and associated tools could further contribute to enhancing supply chain security and facilitation by providing a fair, stable, predictable, secure and sustainable trade environment, in line with the WCO theme of the year : A secure business environment for economic development. The updated SAFE Framework of Standards and the newly developed and updated tools will be presented to June 2018 Policy Commission and the Council for their potential consideration and adoption, before their publication. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. Four R-cut intersections in McCracken, Graves County to be finished soon Williamson, WV (25661) Today Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies this evening will give way to occasional showers overnight. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. WiGBits Headline News Would you like to receive our WiGBits? Signup today! WiG Entertainment News Would you like to receive our WiG Entertainment News? Signup today! Digital Issue Would you like to receive our Digital Issue? Signup today! Close Get email notifications on Lisa Neff daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. Whenever Lisa Neff posts new content, you'll get an email delivered to your inbox with a link. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Esmond Allcock has six children, 17 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren and 12 great-great-grandchildren. But to his dismay, none of them were named for him. That finally changed last year when his great-granddaughter Jenna Lehne decided to name her second son Esmond, prompting a tender moment when Allcock met his namesake for the first time. "As he held my son, he kissed his head and said over and over again, 'You don't know what this means to me. You don't know what this means to me,'" Lehne wrote in a post published last week on Love What Matters, a site that celebrates real-life stories of love and compassion. At 108, Allcock is one of Canada's oldest residents. The widower lives in an assisted-living facility in Kerrobert, Saskatchewan. "When I got pregnant with my second, he mentioned to my grandmother that he was responsible for 71 descendants and no one had named their son after him," Lehne wrote in her post. "My husband and I had wanted to name our new son after family, and that just sealed the deal." Lehne and her family live about five hours away in Okotoks, Alberta. When little Esmond was born on January 11, 2017 -- nearly 107 years after his great-great-grandfather -- Canada's bitter winter weather made a visit difficult. But once the snow started to melt last spring, Lehne decided to travel to Kerrobert to surprise Allcock and introduce him to his namesake. "He takes such joy in his family and his decedents. He's met all of his great-great-grand-kids and he loves each and every one of them," she told CNN. It's not clear why it took so long -- 78 years -- for Allcock to get a namesake. According Lehne, some of her family members carry Esmond as a middle name. His was mentioned in a pool of family names that relatives could choose from in naming their children, she said. When they arrived in Kerrobert, Allcock didn't recognize them at first. But he quickly became attached to young Esmond. And when he finally recognized them and learned the baby's name, his reaction was truly priceless, Lehne said. "I wish I could fully explain how much it meant to me," she wrote. Lehne told CNN she was inspired to write the blog post to showcase her family's joy and to update the rest of her relatives on the happy news. "Our family tree is more like a family forest," she said. "We're spread out all over the country, but social media makes it easy for us to share family updates and keep in touch." Now the family will have to wait and see if little Esmond's name gets passed along again someday. A former employee at the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center in Utica has pleaded guilty to using false medical records to get time off of work, according to New York State Inspector General Catherine Leahy Scott. Gregory Jones, 42, of Utica, pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument in Utica City Court on Monday. Jones, who worked as a safety and security officer for the state Office of Mental Health, also submitted his letter of resignation from state employment on Monday. According to Leahy Scott, Jones filed a Standard Medical Certification form in Sept. 2017 justifying time off from work, which came from the office where his wife, 42-year-old Brooks Jones, works as an office manager. Leahy Scott says that the physician whose signature was on the form said he never treated Gregory Jones, and that the signature was not his. Brooks Jones is charged with second-degree criminal possession of a forged instrument, and her case, which is in New Hartford Town Court, is currently pending further court action. Mr. Jones brazenly concocted a fraudulent scheme deceiving his employer and getting taxpayers to subsidize paid time off to which he was not entitled, Leahy Scott said in a news release. I will continue using all of the resources at my disposal to pursue any public employee who falsifies documents in a fraud against the government. CLINTON COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - Frankfort police are increasing efforts to crack down on drug dealers. Starting next month, Frankfort police officers will investigate all overdoses as crime scenes to try and build strong cases against dealers. On Monday night, the community came out to a public forum to hear more about the initiative. "I don't think people realize how hard it is tracking these people back," said Frankfort Police Chief Troy Bacon. "When the drugs get to the United States, it goes through multiple people before it even gets to Frankfort." "There were just over 110 drug offenses in 2016 and there were 201 drug offenses in 2017," said Clinton County Prosecutor Anthony Sommer. The new guidelines require responding officers and detectives to treat every incident as a medical scene first. Then, if the overdose is believed to be caused by an opiate, officers will administer Narcan and treat the situation as a potential crime scene. The idea is to try and recover evidence that could lead to drug dealers. "Hopefully, the policy that we've enacted and those guidelines will slow everything down for us," said Bacon. "Officers can now collect the right information they need to give to the narcotic detectives." Bacon said in 2017, police officers responded to 57 overdoses with Narcan administered 24 times. So far this year, there have been nine overdoses with Narcan administered four times. "If we use it and we revive someone, our ultimate hope is that they will cooperate with us," said Bacon. "Because these investigations won't happen unless there's cooperation." Despite the uptick in cases, Sommer said, "We're not experiencing nearly the number of cases here in this county that other communities are dealing with." Also starting next month, the department is hiring on two full-time narcotic detectives. Police urge anyone to report an anonymous drug or crime tip by texting TIP FRANKFORTPD followed by the message to 888777. INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) A bill to define what cannabidiol oil is legal in Indiana and how its marketed advanced Tuesday. The House of Representatives passed the bill 93-0. On Feb. 5, a similar measure passed Feb. 5 in Senate 35-13. A conference committee will work out a few differences between the two versions before it goes to Gov. Eric Holcomb for his consideration. State Rep. William Friend, a Republican from Macy, last week said, We want to make it legal here in Indiana for people to own, possess, market this CBD oil with a 3-tenths-percent or less THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) level. Friend and State Sen. Mike Young had championed their Low THC hemp extract CBD oil bill. Young, a Republican from Indianapolis, said last week, CBD oil. Its an amazing product. It doesnt harm you. All it can do is help you. Cannabinoids have been studied for anti-inflammatory effects that may play a role in pain relief, according to WebMD. Indiana had passed a law last year to allow the use of CBD oil, but Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill said the law legalized CBD oil only for patients of treatment-resistant epilepsy. Their caregiver can also possess it. They had to register with the states Department of Health. LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Ivy Tech's week of service kicked off Monday. Volunteers gathered to pack meals for the Rise Against Hunger Service Project. Ten thousand meals were prepared and will be sent around the globe to families in need. One out of nine people in the world are malnourished and today's meals will go to 40 different countries. Steve Bush is in charge of leadership developement at Ivy Tech and loves seeing the campus get involved. "Ivy Tech's montra is "changing lives" and it feels great to be a part of more of the global picture," said Bush. "Not just the United States but all over the country and world." On Wednesday at 10:00 am, Ivy Tech will hold a donation drive for Almost Home Humane Society. The Indiana Blood Center will host a blood drive on Thursday at 10:00 am as well. China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page Government Mismanagement or Miscommunication? The Puzzle Unfolds Something strange is going on at the Stone Symphony natural monument in Garnis Azat River Gorge. The 5,000 square meter site, protected as a national landmark, is a hard place to reach. The lack of adequate roads has kept it off the major tourist circuit for years. Just days ago, photos appeared in Facebook showing construction at the site. Someone started to build wood scaffolding near the Stone Symphony Many were concerned that something illegal was going on at the site. The reality, it turns out, is much more bizarre; even for Armenia. The Symphony of Stone site, along with many other cultural heritage sites in Armenia (including Khor Virap, the Haghpat and Sanahin monasteries, Zorats Qarer (Stonehenge), the Mozrov Cave, Geghardavank, the Garni Preserve) were slated for improvement under the 2015 World Bank US$68.75 million Local Economy and Infrastructure Development Project (LEIDP). Simply put, the project was envisaged to improve infrastructure services and institutional capacity for increased tourism contribution to the local economy in five selected regions of the country. The World Bank (WB) committed to granting a $55million 25-year loan if Armenia promised to kick-in $13.75 million in co-financing. Armenia has failed to do so, and the project, slated to begin in 2016, hasnt gotten off the ground. To date, only $270,00 has been spent, mostly on preparing project drafts and announcing tender bids for the envisaged work. It may be a bit mind boggling to many, but while this multi-million-dollar project is on hold, a Garni resident, who had leased a parcel of land with government financing near the Stone Symphony monument, decided to start building what in Armenia is commonly known as a tourist relaxation zone nearby. The Ministry of Nature Protection, responding to the concerns raised by the public, investigated and found that the construction was too close to the landmark site. The ministry has issued a decree obligating the resident to halt the illegal construction on land zoned for agricultural usage. When the construction photos appeared in Facebook, many believed it might be construction undertaken by the government as part of the above-mentioned WB project. As stated, that project remains on paper, even though the Armenian government has long since drafted a plan to spur tourism at the Stone Symphony site. If it ever gets off the ground, the Stone Symphony project will be managed by the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments. Those plans include improving the roadway from the village of Garni to the Stone Symphony; organizing the trails leading from Garni Temple down into the Azat River Gorge; improving the roadway from the Garni Visitors Center to the Khosrov National Forest Tourist Center; reinstalling primary drinking water pipes; and the installation of lighting and seating at the Stone Symphony site. Armenias Association of Professional Tour Guides sent a team of volunteers down to the site to investigate recent developments. They learnt that Garni resident Shmavon Hambardzumyan and his daughter had started to build the tourist relaxation zone on the banks of the Azat River, some 12 meters from the Stone Symphony. To make matters worse, the construction has been financed by the Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development National Center of Armenia (SME DNC), which in turn is co-financed by the Armenian government and the UNDP. The SME DNC, it turns out, is an arm of the Ministry of Economic Development and Investments the very same ministry thats supposed to be coordinating the Stone Symphony improvement project co-financed by the World Bank. Moreover, the Minister of Economic Development and Investments, Suen Karayan, chairs the SME DNCs Board of Trustees and should have been aware about the loan project planned for that territory. It appears that the ministry, and by extension the government, cant juggle two projects at the same time. Since the World Banks $55 million loan is on hold, the government has gone ahead and issued an AMD 5 million loan ($10,400) to the Hambardzumyans to build some dinky touristy monstrosity in the Azat River Gorge. Talk about priorities Armenian Minister of Economic Development and Investments Suren Karayan had nothing to say on the scandal when the matter was raised at a recent government cabinet session. In response to Hetqs inquiry about how a private business project managed to get a loan for a territory where a state project is planned to be implemented, SME DNC Deputy Executive Director Karen Gevorgyan said that Hambardzumyan had submitted a business plan without showing where the plot was located, and they had no way of knowing that it was an area adjacent to the Azat Gorge and the Stone Symphony. Gevorgyan is convinced that the project complied with loan criteria and that is why they approved it. Theyve already provided half of the approved five million drams loan to Hambardzumyan. Gevorgyan says they havent decided what they are going to do next. The Armenian Minister of Nature Protection has told reporters that they were studying if the wooden structure now installed is within the boundaries of the natural monument or not. He also mentioned that there are some sanitary conditions and requirements to comply with, since its on the bank of the Azat River. Garni Mayor Aharon Sahakyan, meanwhile, has told reporters that the construction is illegal and was suspended in December 2017. Official miscommunication? Government mismanagement? The Stone Symphony saga continues to unfold. Ignalina 2 free of used fuel 27 February 2018 Share Ignalina Nuclear Power Plant (INPP) in Lithuania has announced the removal of the last used fuel assembly from the reactor of unit 2. Some of the used fuel was removed from the reactor after its final closure in 2009, but the remainder was left pending the launch of an Interim Spent Fuel Storage Facility (ISFSF). The Ignalina used furl transfer machine (Image: Ignalina NPP) INPP restarted unloading of used fuel from the unit 2 in June last year after receiving a licence for the industrial operation of the ISFSF, known as Project B1. The state-run company said it has unloaded 1134 fuel assemblies from the reactor in a very short time, 15 months ahead of schedule. It is now focused on accelerating the transfer of used fuel to the ISFSF, with full adherence to international safety standards, and on ensuring the most efficient of state targets for decommissioning. The B1 project is financially supported by the Ignalina International Decommissioning Support Fund (IIDSF), which is managed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The European Union is by far the biggest contributor to the IIDSF, providing 96% of contributions. Other contributors include Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK. Lithuanian State Nuclear Power Safety Inspectorate, Vatesi, said in May last year that it had issued a permit for the start of commercial operation of the ISFSF. The announcement followed INPP's successful completion of hot tests with ten new design casks. The facility is at the plant site in Visaginas municipality. Used fuel will be stored in specially designed Constor RBMK1500/M2 casks that will each weigh 118 tonnes when fully loaded. It is expected that about 190 containers with 17,000 used fuel rods will be stored in the facility for up to 50 years. Lithuania agreed to shut down Ignalina units 1 and 2 as a condition of its accession to the European Union. Unit 1 was shut down in December 2004 and unit 2 in December 2009. Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics Police in Thailand were called to a hotel, where a group men and women attended a class on how to spice up their sex lives while they were on vacation. Pattaya police chief Apichai Krobpet said that the group of 33 people who came to the country from Russia had paid 20,000 baht (about $635) each for the course where they were being taught how to spice things up in the bedroom. The police raided the class, which was held in a hotel conference room in Pattaya after staff heard odd noises coming from the room. Officers raided the room and arrested 10 instructors, 3 women, and 7 men. They were identified as Russian citizens who were working in the country. Some of the instructors were wearing T-shirts with the words sex animator. The instructors were booked into jail. All 10 instructors face charges of working without a permit. One person was also was charged with overstaying his visa and 3 others were charged for entering Thailand illegally, police said. The participants of the class were not charged and were allowed to walk free. Welcome to #5 Vazgen Sargsyan Street, Gyumri, Armenia. If it wasnt for the lettering on the facade of a new building on the side of the road, a first-time visitor would be hard pressed to find the A.Nazarov Institute of Geophysics and Engineering Seismology (IGES). From the outside, the place looks like a new private residential building. In our prior coverage of Armenias scientific institutions, all the buildings weve visited have been Soviet holdovers in need of renovation. Its also one of the few scientific/research institutions located outside Yerevan, Armenias capital. The scientists working in huts were heroes John Karapetyan, whos served as director of IGES since 2013, notes that the institute, was founded in Gyumri in 1961 out of necessity. The region, particularly Gyumri, lies within an active seismological zone. The institute also felt the effects of the 1988 Spitak Earthquake. The IGESs former building, located at the same site, was destroyed. For the next 25 years, researchers were forced to work in makeshift huts. Those structures still stand not far away. To point out the disparity, Karapetyan escorts us there along a muddy road. The institutes laboratories and offices were housed in these units. The hut once housing the library is full of water. The insides are rotted. Karapetyan says that scientists were still able to come up with new and innovative ideas despite the terrible conditions. Their most difficult chore was to host international guests at the IGES. Outside visitors couldnt comprehend how Armenian seismologists could work and produce in such conditions. Our people working in those conditions were heroes, says Karapetyan, who has worked at the IGES since 2004. The IGES director says that the new building provides all necessities for scientific research. The building is centrally heated, and wheelchair accessible ramps have been installed. Karapetyan shows us the conference room, an auditorium for various functions, the dining room and library. The IGES has everything needed to organize and hold a conference; nothing is ordered from the outside. A Rich History Armenak Nazarov (1908-1983), the Paris-born seismologist who founded the IGES, and who its named after, not only bequeathed a wealth of theory but also equipment that is still being used. Seismology is an important discipline. Full-time monitoring apparatus is a must to keep an eye on seismic activity. Theres also the issue of monitoring strategically important sites like reservoirs, the atomic power plant, and electric power stations. These are the institutes main tasks, Karapetyan says. The ISGEs eleven laboratories are divided into five divisions. Ashot Gasparyan, whos worked at the Geo-Physical Equipment Production Division for 45 years, recounts that the unit had some 150 employees during the Soviet period. Every month, the unit churned out 150 seismic counters, to be sent to other Soviet republics. They were so busy, says Gasparyan, that they couldnt fill all the orders on time. Back then, the IGES collaborated with Moscows Shirshov Institute of Oceanology. Gasparyan proudly points out that their manufactured equipment has been installed at one of Syrias reservoirs and in Cubas atomic power station, thats since defunct. From Theory to Business Director Kara[etyan takes pride in the eight pieces of IGES-produced equipment that bear the label Made in Armenia. Not only can the institutes scientists transform theory into practical application, but theyve also made improvements on previously produced equipment. For example, their seismic measuring apparatus used to weigh some eight kilos per unit. Now they weigh less than two. The IGESs research is also being applied in the housing, environmental, military manufacturing and other sectors. Karapetyan points out that serious work is underway to ensure the seismic safety of buildings in Armenia. Institute equipment is also used to measure and manage water levels in the countrys reservoirs. An automated cableless monitoring system is now available that provides daily reservoir data. We can install that system, for example, at the Marmarik Reservoir, says Karapetyan. In case of an accident, we receive an SMS message. Its like an early warning system. This system is currently only installed at the Geghardalitch Reservoir. As to why only one out of Armenias 85 reservoirs is outfitted with this technology, Karapetyan says the institute proposed the idea, but its ultimately up to the government to prioritize the top problems facing the country and draft a road map to solve them. This would take a lot of money. There are reservoirs where seismic counters are installed, but theyre dated. Science advances yearly. We must produce at the same rate. A tragedy only needs to happen once, says Karapetyan. Sinkhole activity also must be monitored in Armenia, he says, adding that the institute has crafted sensors to do just that. A Shortage of Young Researchers and Wages, Coupled with Old Equipment Director Karapetyan says the institutes main problem is holding on to young scientists. Only 35 of the institutes 90 staffers can be considered young. Wages are low. Fifteen staffers receive a minimum monthly net salary of 55,000 drams (US$ 115.00). The highest net salary is 140,000 drams. State Financial Assistance to the IGES (2012-2017) (in AMD) Red - Maintenance and Advancement of Infrastructure Blue - Thematic and Targeted Research To compensate for the low salary levels, Karapetyan says the institute actively seeks grant money. In 2015-2017, employees received some twelve grants. The largest international donors are the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research (Russia), the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and Germanys KfW Development Bank. The IGES also provides graduate education in the fields of Seismology and Seismic Resistant Construction, Geo-Physics, and Urban Construction. The second challenge facing the IGES is a lack of equipment corresponding to international standards. 40% of the IGESs 2016 budget derived from contractual work with various organizations and institutions. Much of the money is used to purchase modern equipment and to offer young professionals an enticing adequate salary. Director Karapetyan also plans to market equipment produced by Armenian scientists to Europe. Photos: Narek Aleksanyan The Maryland Transit Authority (MTA) announced earlier this month the closure of the entire Baltimore Metro SubwayLink for emergency repairs until March 11. Transit officials had been holding out for a scheduled August 2018 closure that would see major track replacements, but were made aware that 17 of 19 previously known worn segments of track had now reached black condition exposing the metros 40,000 daily passengers to imminent derailment if service continued. In an interview with the Washington Post, Rob Puentes, a rail safety and transportation expert at the Eno Center for Transportation, called the sudden month-long shutdown of an entire major urban metro system unprecedented in US history. Its the whole system and for a long time, Puentes said. Theres nothing like it in the country. On Friday, February 9, MTA chief executive Kevin Quinn announced a temporary shutdown that would go through the weekend in order to investigate reports of extreme wear on 19 segments, including 11 curves in the metro tracks 15.5-mile run. On Sunday, February 11, the MTA announced a shutdown of service for one month ending on March 11. Riders were blindsided by the last-minute announcement, leaving many stranded waiting for a way to get to work. One Johns Hopkins Hospital worker, Edward Marshall, told a Baltimore Sun reporter, This is a real inconvenience. You got hardworking people trying to get back and forth to work. Ive been here 30 minutes waiting for a bus, and every bus that came is packed. The current repair work is mainly rail replacements; 33,000 feet of new rail above ground in addition to 6,000 feet to be installed in curves within tunnels, according to the MTA. These repairs along with the still planned shutdown in August are estimated to cost the city $20 million. On February 12, Governor Larry Hogan announced $2.2 million would be used to run shuttle buses and connect Metro passengers with existing county and city bus routes and stations. At the time of the announcement Quinn said he was presented with a report that left him no option but to shut down the entire subway. At the same time, according to the Washington Post, Quinn assured reporters that the MTA was aware of wear levels and that the decision for the closure was out of a pure abundance of caution. A report from January of this year, carried out by an outside firm, alerted MTA officials to previously unanticipated levels of wear on the tracks, particularly the curves. The inspection that led to the announced emergency shutdown on February 11 followed up on the January report. However, an earlier 23-day partial closure in 2016 revealed 17 parts of the track were in clear violation of MTA safety standards. Yet instead of scheduling emergency maintenance on those segments, the MTA opted to continue to run the metro until the scheduled summer 2018 repairs. Quinn, quoted in the Baltimore Sun, stated, We made an engineering decision that the tracks were still safe to operate on. ... Our riders were never in any danger. It just so happened that this physical inspection was the one that really revealed that the track simply would not last another six months for us as originally anticipated, Quinn told the Sun, adding, Safety is our complete priority, and we are not going to take any risks with our passengers. Quinns feigned concern notwithstanding, the shutdown has attracted wide criticism from public transit and rail safety experts across the country. Keith Millhouse, a public transit consultant who oversaw the implementation of new safety standards at the California MetroLink after a deadly rail accident claimed 25 lives, told a Sun reporter, To wait a year is inexcusable and shows a tremendous amount of disrespect for the value of your customers time and, more importantly, your customers safety. Its absolutely unforgivable, and heads should roll. Whoever makes the appointments to these agencies should rethink whether these people are doing a correct and proper job. In the same article the Sun interviewed an airport and railroad engineering expert, Gus Ubaldi of Robson Forensic, who questioned how the wear could have crept up on the MTA if they had been keeping up regular inspection as they claimed. In all these years beforehand, you can start seeing whats happening to your rail, he said. You can see if, over the last five years, the angle has been increasing by such-and-such. It doesnt happen overnight. While the Baltimore Metro consists of only a single line a significant number of workers rely on the service. The system was originally conceived as part of a mass transit development plan put together by city officials in the mid-1960s. It called for six lines running through the city and into surrounding counties. The plan was reduced to two lines in the 1970s, to serve northwestern and southeastern sections of the city and surrounding counties. However, financial limitations and push back from upper middle-class sections of suburban elites kept the south line, which would have connected downtown to the BWI airport and Anne Arundel County, out of the final plan. In the end, one line was built, in three phases, between 1983 and 1995, with 14 stops connecting parts of northwest Baltimore County to the citys core, ending underneath Johns Hopkins Hospital at a total cost of $1.4 billion. Eighty percent was funded through federal mass transit grants and 20 percent from the state of Maryland. At the time it was the states largest public works project. The month-long closure of a major urban area metro system happens within the context of the Trump administrations recent budget 2019 proposals. Under Trumps plan, funding for the Department of Transportation would be cut by $3.4 billion. One program targeted for elimination is the TIGER grant program which funds a variety of road, rail and transit efforts. Other US cities are also struggling with decaying infrastructure on public transportation systems including nearby Washington D.C., where the Washington Metro and Transit Authority (WMATA) has been plagued by train derailments and other accidents, including a January 2015 incident in which smoke filled a tunnel in downtown Washington D.C., leading to the death by asphyxiation of one commuter and the hospitalization of others. Most recently a derailment occurred in the D.C. Metro on January 15 and, last week, D.C. Metro officials announced that two stops on the commuter-heavy Red Line will be closed for 45 days due to needed repairs. The cladding used in the refurbishment of Grenfell Tower was never subject to legally required fire safety tests. According to the London Times, no record of independent testing of the cladding/insulation system has been found by three separate investigations into the Grenfell fire, including the governments own expert panel on fire safety, the Metropolitan Police and the Hackitt Review into building regulations. The potential risk extends to 299 other high-rise buildings in England that use similar cladding and insulation, including at least nine hospitals, 160 social housing blocks, 31 student residences, 13 public buildings and 95 private residential blocks. The Times quotes a source with knowledge of the investigations saying, The question has to be asked is how on earth did this material come to be installed on all of those buildings. Somehow or other, those materials have got on to 300 buildings without any tests being done or test results being produced. The refurbishment of Grenfell Tower, in which 71 lost their lives in the June 2017 fire, was signed off by building control managers at the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea council in 2016. However, if the report by the Times is correct, the cladding system never underwent mandatory safety testing. An article in Fire Engineering magazine, published for nearly 140 years to provide training, education and management information for fire and emergency services personnel worldwide, concludes that a major factor in the spread of the fire at Grenfell Tower was the large size of the air-gap between the external cladding and the insulation layer attached to the building facade. According to the author, Vyto Babrauskas, a fire safety science expert and US delegate to the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) in the late 1990s and early 2000sworking to develop international standards for facade testingthe rapid spread of the fire at Grenfell was due to the Schylter effect. This occurs in a fire when two panels on a building facade are separated by a small gap though which air can flow. As Babrauskas writes, some materials may show limited burning and no significant flame spread when ignited as a single panel but yet show severe burning when a second panel is used. The effect was first demonstrated as long ago as 1939 by Ragnar Schylter, then head fire safety researcher at the Swedish National Testing and Research Institute. Babrauskas notes that although this effect is known to some fire scientists, it is not generally well known in the fire safety area. The best way to stop air flow is not have a gap in the first place. But if a gap has to exist for some moisture engineering purpose, then it is essential that it be less than 25mm or one inch and be fully fire stopped along the bottom and the sides by materials that cannot fail in the heat of the fire. If these precepts are not understood or are ignored, a bad situation can quickly be made much worse. Schylter had found that an air-gap of 25mm (1 inch) provided the optimum spacing to promote upward flame spread in a cavity. At 50mm (2 inches), the gap at Grenfell Tower was twice this width. In the late 19th century, the first high-rise buildings had facades made of concrete, stone, brick, steel or glass. There was no need of a test for combustibility since these materials are inherently non-combustible. The situation changed 30 or 40 years ago with the introduction of exterior insulation and finish systems (EIFS). These are generally cheaper and often employ combustible materials with only a thin protective aluminium skin, which can soon melt in a fire. Non-combustible insulation alternatives, such as mineral wool, are available, but cost more. The existing fire testing regimes for such cladding systems are generally inadequate, according to Babrauskas. In the case of Grenfell Tower, he comments that even a novice fire safety functionary should have questioned a 150-mm (six-inch) layer of plastic foam, used as insulation, adding that although it ostensibly carries the best flame spread rating in the UK testing methodology the UK system for flame spread classification does not do an acceptable job of classifying foam materials. Research carried out earlier by Canadas National Research Council (NRC) into the Schylter effect indicated that the most minimal levels of combustibility would suffice to create a disaster when a cavity is created in a wall, especially one twice the width of the maximum 25-mm gap found acceptable by the NRC researchers. A tall facade using a combination of combustible materials, such as plastic and insulation foam, together with an air gap is, in Babrauskas view, a design that trifles with the public safety. After the Grenfell Tower fire this is incontestable. For the sake of saving a few thousand pounds, an inherently unsafe form of cladding was used on a building without a proper fire warning or sprinkler system, and with inadequate escape routes. Culpability extends from those responsible for proposing such cladding, to the local authority for signing off on its use, and the building contractors for fitting such dangerous materials. The lack of a rigorous testing regime, despite known contributing hazards such as the Schylter effect, points to a criminal conspiracy at the heart of what are supposedly called building standards. These exist primarily not for the protection of the public, but to enable the use of the lowest cost materials and hence the greatest profits for the construction giants and property speculators. Armenias Court of Appeals today sustained a lower courts verdict sentencing former Artsakh Defense Minister Samvel Babayan to six years behind bars for money laundering and attempting to smuggle a portable surface-to-air missile into Armenia. Babayan and two others, Sanasar Gabrielyan and Armen Poghosyan (who were sentenced to 3 and 2.5 years respectively) had demanded that the Court of Appeals overturn the lower courts verdict against them. Babayan and the others sentenced have pleaded not guilty. Babayan and six others were arrested on March 22, 2017. On Monday, the US Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the case of Janus v. AFSCME [American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees], which deals with the collection of so-called agency or union security fees from public service employees who opt out of joining a union. Currently, about 20 states permit contracts involving public employee unions that require those who decline to join the union pay agency fees instead of regular union dues. If the Supreme Court votes to strike down agency fee laws, it could deprive unions of tens of millions of dollars in revenue, a large portion of which is currently funneled behind various campaigns of the Democratic Party. Mark Janus, a child care specialist with the state of Illinois, brought the case before the court. Januss attorneys argue that payment of agency fees to AFSCME violates his free speech rights since a large portion of the unions activity is directed toward political activities. The suit asks the Supreme Court to overturn a 1977 decision in which it ruled that it was up to individual states to decide on whether or not to allow agency shop contracts. In 2016, the Supreme Court split 4-4 in another case challenging agency shop fees brought by a number of California teachers. That vote left the previous decision in place. The justices had been expected to rule against the unions by a 5-4 margin, but the death of Justice Antonin Scalia left a divided court. With the addition of Trump appointee Neil Gorsuch, the high court is expected to rule against the agency shop. There is nothing democratic or progressive in requiring workers to pay agency fees to the right-wing, pro-capitalist unions. These organizations long ago abandoned any defense of the interests of workers and collaborate openly with employers in driving down the living standards of the working class. The Supreme Court fight over the collection of agency fees reflects differences within the ruling elite over the best means of policing the working class. One faction, aligned primarily with the Democratic Party, is in favor of working through the labor bureaucracy, seeing the unions as the most efficient mechanism for imposing the dictates of the ruling class. Another faction, aligned primarily with the Republicans, is in favor of eliminating the unions altogether, viewing them as costly and unnecessary middlemen. Among those backing Januss challenge are a host of right-wing groups including the Liberty Justice Center and the National Right to Work Committee. A central aim of these forces is to cripple funding for the Democratic Party, which receives substantial donations from the unions, as well as foot soldiers to mobilize voters each election cycle. Those defending the agency shop fees argue that those workers who refuse to join unions are free riders, enjoying the supposed benefits provided by the unions without paying dues. In testimony Monday, lawyers for both sides appeared to pitch their arguments to Gorsuch, who for his part remained silent. The opponents of Janus focused much of their arguments on the disruptive impact the overturning of agency shop fees would have on collective bargaining agreements. Also attending was Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner, a Republican, who sparked the case by filing an executive order banning the collection of agency fees that set up a court challenge. A lower court ruled he did not have standing to challenge the agency shop rules, so another plaintiff, Janus, was found. In a particularly telling comment, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg conceded that workers would likely opt out if not compelled to pay dues. I would rather keep the money in my own pocket, she noted. Indeed, the unions, which have long ceased to have any significant attractive power for workers, are dependent on state support to maintain their dues base. In states such as Wisconsin, where the state government ended agency shop fees, union membership has fallen by one third by some counts. On Saturday, the AFL-CIO held a series of rallies across the US billed as a Working Peoples Day of Action. Speaking in Philadelphia, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka fraudulently evoked the memory of civil rights martyr Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He declared, Today, we are fighting for those very same things Dr. King gave his life for: freedom...freedom from want, freedom from hate, and freedom to join together in strong unions. It has been decades since the unions waged any serious struggle on behalf of working people. These organizations long ago abandoned any connection, however limited, with the class struggle and embraced a program of corporatism, the identification of the interests of workers and management. The unions work to suppress strikes, and when struggles break out, to isolate and betray the workers, while seeking to line workers up behind the big business Democratic Party. They serve as the vehicle for a privileged apparatus that works systematically with the employers to lower the living standards of workers in the interests of US capitalism. The role of the unions in suppressing the class struggle was spelled out in an amicus brief against Janus filed by the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). In a statement accompanying the brief, AFT President Randi Weingarten extolled the virtues of agency fees for helping to preserve labor peace. She noted the AFT brief shows how fair share [agency] fees are central to an efficient and effective public sector and describes how labor-management partnerships have thrived under their use. Among the most enthusiastic supporters of the unions are a host of pseudo-left organizations oriented to the Democratic Party. They have described the possible revocation of agency fees in near apocalyptic terms. Sherry Wolf, a member of the pseudo-left International Socialist Organization (ISO) and herself on the payroll of the American Association of University Professors as an organizer, recently contributed to a piece in Socialist Worker on the Janus case. She called the upcoming Supreme Court ruling the culmination of the ruling classs long game to destroy workers most effective means of asserting some control over pay and conditions, which are unions. In fact, the ISO has a direct financial interest in bolstering the unions, with members, like Wolf, directly integrated into the union apparatus. Along with other pseudo-left groups, the ISO works to uphold the authority of the unions, celebrating every rotten betrayal as a victory and insisting that the working class subordinate its struggles to these anti-working class organizations. Workers need to be organized, but in genuine fighting organs of struggle, not corporatist dues-collecting agencies. The Socialist Equality Party calls for the formation of factory and workplace committees democratically elected and controlled by workers, independent of the unions and the Democratic Party. These committees would seek to unify the struggles of all workers, in public and private sectors, with their brothers and sisters nationally and internationally. This fight requires a new political leadership and strategy. Workers must not accept their subordination to the parties of big business, the Democrats and Republicans, which means servitude to the interest of Wall Street. What is posed is the necessity for the development of a mass political movement of the working class based on a socialist program aimed at securing guaranteed and decent paying jobs for everyone, and a halt to the endless wars and the assault on democratic rights. On Sunday, the Parti de l'egalite socialiste (PES), the French section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), held a meeting in Paris titled No to the Merkel-Macron axis! For a socialist struggle of the European working class! It exposed the militaristic plans underlying the attempt to form a Grand Coalition government in Germany under Chancellor Angela Merkel, which would work closely with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The Parti de l'egalite socialiste (PES) meeting in Paris Several dozen people attended the meeting, including readers of the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) and a layer of immigrant youth concerned about Macron's increasingly brutal and anti-democratic policies. The main speaker was Johannes Stern, a leading member of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP), the ICFI's German section. Stern reviewed the SGP's comprehensive analysis of the coalition pact drafted by the Christian-Democratic (CDU/CSU) and Social-Democratic (SPD) parties. The Grand Coalition, he noted, would be the most right-wing German regime since the fall of the Nazis. Quoting from the pact, Stern exposed Berlin's plans for mass detention, adopting the far-right Alternative for Germany's (AfD) anti-refugee policy, broadly building up state surveillance and police state measures, and building an army of Europeans. These plans involve doubling German military spending and exerting military influence across a vast area of the world's surface where Germany has economic interestsincluding the Balkans, the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia, and Russia, as well as Asia, Africa and Latin America. He pointed to the rising danger of major wars, which are increasingly discussed in the media as all the great powers rearm, as well as support for the war drive from the entire German political establishment, including the Left Party. Stern explained the central points of the SGP's campaign calling for new elections and opposition to the Grand Coalition. The SGP is demanding the publication of the secret agreements underlying the Grand Coalition pact, including between Germany and France on the use of France's nuclear arsenal, and calling on SPD members to vote to reject the pact and the attempt to form a Grand Coalition government. Above all, this perspective is based on the mobilization of workers across Europe and internationally on the basis of a socialist program of struggle against capitalism and war. Alexandre Lantier, a leading member of the PES, spoke after Stern on the close collaboration between Merkel and Macron on this militarist agenda. Pointing to the Macron government's 300 billion military spending program for 2018-2024 and its attacks on immigrant rights, bringing it ever closer to the far-right forces, he stressed that Macron's historic austerity measures and attacks on the working class are designed to fund France's military machine. The only way to oppose these attacks is to fight militarism and the international drive to war. He added that this vindicates the call of the PES for an active boycott of the second round of the French presidential elections last year, between Macron and neo-fascist candidate Marine Le Pen. The right-wing, militarist megalomania underlying plans for a Berlin-Paris axis shows that Macron is not a lesser evil than Le Pen, as a number of pseudo-left parties indicated by refusing to oppose Macron in the run-off. These parties support Macron's militarism and his plans to draft youth into wars in Africa, the Middle East and beyond. Lantier played videos of a recent press conference by leading members of Jean-Luc Melenchon's Unsubmissive France (LFI) calling for increased military spending, supporting Macron's call for the draft and demanding that it be lengthened, and calling for a nuclear deterrence policy aimed at the rest of the world. Lantier stressed the class gulf separating pro-imperialist middle class parties like LFI, which emerged from the post-1968 student movement, from the ICFI's struggle for Trotskyism and a revolutionary orientation to the international working class. The remarks were followed by a lively question and answer session and discussion. There were many questions about what is behind the drive to war, discussions of German remilitarization, the spread of European military bases and deployments worldwide, including in India, and close ties between Macron and politicians like Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, who rules in coalition with the far right. Pierre, who had read the WSWS for several years before coming to his first PES meeting on Sunday, said the quality and objectivity of the ICFI's writing distinguishes it from other news sites and political organizations active in France. High school students were concerned about the growing danger of war and asked what could be done to avoid being drafted to fight in wars they oppose in the Middle East, Africa or beyond. Maybe in five years we might be forced to fight wars against another country. War is rotten, you can die. Many people can die because of that, one high school student said. The meeting was good, her friend said. You talked about essential problems like the fact there could be the draft soon. On television, they don't tell us everything. They don't tell us that there are plans for war. Members of the PES explained that there is broad opposition to war and police state measures in the population in every country in Europe, but that it must be mobilized, unified and given a revolutionary perspective. The discussion progressed to the need to build branches of the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE), the ICFI's youth movement, and attendees proposed that PES meetings should be organized in other cities across France. The rifts tearing apart both coalition partners in the Liberal-National Coalition government are set to worsen following last Fridays forced resignation of Barnaby Joyce as deputy prime minister and National Party leader. It is now clear that Joyce was not removed because of an untested complaint of sexual harassment, as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, his key ministers and the corporate media have all claimed. Rather the government and the mass media manipulated and seized upon that allegation to politically execute Joyce. It was a calculated #MeToo-style operation of unsubstantiated accusations of sexual misconduct. None of the sordid details now emerging about the high-level plotting to knife Joyce can be understood outside the broader political context. As underlined by Turnbulls trip to Washington, where the prime minister escalated the governments commitment to US war preparations, the real reasons for Joyces ouster lie in the immense tensions wracking the government, driven by both geo-strategic and domestic crises. There is the growing danger of trade war, and ultimately war, between the US and China, which would have massive consequences for the Australian capitalist class. This is being compounded by the financial elites mounting discontent with the Coalition governments failure to carry through the full corporate agenda of sweeping cuts to company taxes and social spending. The bitterly divided vote by National Party members of parliament to replace Joyce by a virtually unknown junior minister, Michael McCormack, highlights the fact that these stresses are not just engulfing Turnbulls government. The Liberal-National Coalition itself, a vital mechanism of capitalist rule, is coming apart, underscoring the fragility of the deeply unpopular parliamentary elite as a whole. The National Party is split down the middle. Reportedly, McCormack was within one vote in the 21-member party caucus of being defeated by a staunch Joyce supporter, David Littleproud, whom Joyce had elevated into Turnbulls inner cabinet last year. Despite public calls by the partys deputy leader Bridget McKenzie for the ballot to be uncontested, Littleproud only pulled after it became evident that McCormack had the numbers. Nevertheless, right-wing populist George Christensen, who openly called last weekend for the Nationals to withdraw from the Coalition, stood as a protest candidate against McCormack. In an effort to maintain the image of a united front, the National Party refused to divulge the final vote count. But on Facebook Christensen had declared he would rather see a full cabinet of Liberal ministers than have to compromise our values and the welfare of the good people we represent. Christensen threatened to cross the parliamentary floor last year, in order to force the government to call a royal commission into the predatory practices of the major banks and finance houses. Like Joyce, Christensen has long been alarmed by the danger of the National Party losing its base among impoverished rural residents, especially in his home state of Queensland, to the nationalist, anti-immigrant and protectionist Pauline Hansons One Nation party. Inflaming these fissures is the fact that Turnbull and the political establishment, including the big business wing of the National Party, were determined to depose Joyce by any means whatsoever. Yesterday, Turnbull revealed in parliament that last Wednesday, just after he landed in the US, he ordered an investigation by his department head into Joyces supposed breach of a ministerial code of conduct by having an affair with his media advisor, Vicky Campion, who is now Joyces partner, expecting his child. That investigation was dropped once Joyce quit. Moreover, to ensure his political demise, the prime minister also made public an inquiry being conducted into Joyces official travel expenses claims during the period in which he was often travelling with Campion. Today, Fairfax Medias Mark Kenny reported that National Party president Larry Anthony, a former cabinet minister and scion of the partys corporate establishment, asked a woman who made the harassment complaint against Joyce to put her accusation in writing. Anthony then flew across the country, from Western Australia to Joyces home in Armidale, northwest of Sydney, accompanied by a lawyer, to warn Joyce that the complaint was about to become known publicly. In effect, Anthony delivered an ultimatum to Joyce: quit or be disgraced. National Party supporters of Joyce are doubly furious because the woman who made the original complaint to the National Party, Catherine Marriott, has stated that she never intended it to be made public. At least one Nationals member of parliament, Andrew Broad, has accused an unnamed Liberal MP of being involved in leaking Marriotts name to the media. Kenny reported: The sexual harassment complaint that triggered the downfall of Barnaby Joyce continues to stoke division inside the Nationals, with some senior party figures believing the allegations were weaponised to blast the former deputy prime minister from cabinet. Todays Australian Financial Review editorial identified some of the underlying political issues behind Joyces ouster. Under the headline, McCormack must herds Nats out of the populist paddock, it demanded that he steer the Nationals out of the populist sideroad that forced the governments hand on the banking royal commission. The editorial insisted that McCormack must restore some discipline and order to the government, so it could prosecute its modestly ambitious plan to cut the company tax rate from 30 to 25 percent, and stop wastefully spending so much taxpayer money. The newspaper insinuated that this years federal budget in May, just 12 weeks away could be the governments last chance to prove itself. Interviewed by the same publication, McCormack vowed to deliver on the required agenda. Im not Barnaby Joyce, he stated. He said the Nationals realise that we still are in a fiscal position that requires restraint and responsibility, and we will maintain that economic responsibility. As McCormack indicated, his main attraction, as far as the ruling class is concerned, is that he is not Joyce. Otherwise, he is, as the editorial put it politely, little known. A former regional newspaper editor, his record since entering parliament in 2010 has been lacklustre. He has been a parliamentary secretary, assistant minister or junior minister, shifted from one portfolio to another, without ever being elevated into cabinet. Twice he stood unsuccessfully for the National Party deputy leadership, indicating that he has no base of support. McCormack said he would discuss with Turnbull renegotiating the still-secret Coalition agreement that Turnbull had to sign in 2015, when he ousted his Liberal Party predecessor Tony Abbott. That pact reportedly gave key concessions to the Nationals, who were opposed to Turnbulls takeover, including control of major cabinet portfolios such as infrastructure and water supply. Now Joyce has joined Abbott on the parliamentary backbench, from where Abbott increasingly has been openly criticising Turnbull. Abbotts socially conservative faction of the Liberal Party is aligned with Joyces populist wing of the National Party, ensuring further instability. One crucial issue is not being mentioned in the media, despite Joyce being removed on the eve of Turnbulls warm political embrace of President Donald Trump in Washington. Joyce is fully committed to the US alliance. However, in addition to his populism, he was regarded in ruling circles, and no doubt in Washington, as unacceptably susceptible to pressure from the National Partys backers in the mining and agricultural export industries that depend heavily on Chinese markets that would be jeopardised in the event of trade war and war. Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill issued a report last week exposing the financial connections between the major opioid manufacturers and ostensibly independent patient advocacy groups. The report, which is the outcome of a nearly year-long investigation, was released amidst the ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States where more than 600,000 people died from drug overdoses between 2000 and 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In 2016 alone, over 42,000 Americans died from opioid drug overdoses, 40 percent of which involved prescription painkillers. In other words, on average 115 Americans die every day from opioid overdoses. Based on disclosures by the manufacturers of the five major opioid productsPurdue Pharma, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Mylan, Depomed and Insys Therapeuticsmade in response to requests by McCaskill, the report found that these companies donated nearly $9 million to 14 patient advocacy groups between 2012 and 2017. These companies paid doctors affiliated with these groups an additional $1.6 million, bringing their total funding to over $10 million. The report did not include information on other major opioid manufacturers, such as Allergan, Pfizer, Teva Pharmaceuticals and Endo Health Solutions. Purdue Pharma, maker of the painkiller Oxycontin, gave the greatest amount to these organizations, totaling $4,153,554. Insys Therapeutics, maker of the fentanyl product Subsys, gave more than $3 million. Both companies are known for aggressively and deceptively promoting their highly addictive products to doctors. Not surprisingly, these patient advocacy organizations, whose policy positions are given more credibility since they are supposedly independent of drug companies, favorably promoted the treatment of pain with opioids. Only a handful of advocacy organizations working on pain-related issues do not accept donations from the drug industry. These groups, notes the reports executive summary, have issued guidelines and policies minimizing the risk of opioid addiction and promoting opioids for chronic pain, lobbied to change laws directed at curbing opioid use, and argued against accountability for physicians and industry executives responsible for overprescription and misbranding. Opioid manufacturers are interested in these groups because advocacy organizations can influence health policies that impact the drug industry. According to the report, they play a significant role in shaping health policy debates, setting national guidelines for patient treatment, raising disease awareness, and educating the public. However, the financial relationships between the drug companies and advocacy organizations are not always transparent. For example, one study published in the New England Journal of Medicine last year and cited by the report found that at least 83 percent of the 104 organizations examined received industry funding and 39 percent included a former drug industry executive on their board, but only 57 percent disclosed donation amounts (often given in ranges, rather than exact figures). Similarly, a study published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that while 67 percent of the 245 organizations it looked at received industry funding12 percent received more than half their funding from industryonly 65 percent of the organizations released information on their funding from for-profit sources. Moreover, 8 percent of the respondents reported [that] pressure to conform their organizations positions to the interests of industry funders is of concern. Among those patient advocacy groups receiving the most funding from opioid manufacturers were the Academy of Integrative Pain Management, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Chronic Pain Association and the American Geriatrics Society. Around 30 percent of the total contributions made by the major opioid manufacturers, and the largest donation category, went towards restricted grants that specify the use of their money. Non-education grantsdespite the name of the category, these funds are used for initiatives related to patient and public education and scientific researchconstituted 26 percent of all donations, followed by payments for advertising (18 percent) and sponsorship (14 percent). The report also detailed payments from the opioid companies to physicians affiliated with these advocacy organizations totaling over $1.6 million. For example, based on data from CMS open payments, between 2013 and 2016 Dr. Steven Stanos of the American Academy of Pain Medicine received over $90,000 in payments, while Dr. Charles Argoff, president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine Foundation, received over $600,000. The report notes that these groups, financially supported by opioid manufacturers, amplified or issued messages that reinforce industry efforts to promote opioid prescription and use, including guidelines and policies minimizing the risk of addiction and promoting opioids for chronic pain. According to a complaint from the City of Chicago cited by the report, the Academy of Pain and Medicine and the American Pain Society allegedly issued guidelines to physicians in 2009 that promoted opioids as safe and effective for chronic pain. That same year, the American Geriatrics Society issued guidelines for patients with persistent pain recommending that they use opioids instead of aspirin or ibuprofen if acetaminophen (Tylenol) proves insufficient. It looks pretty damning when these groups were pushing the message about how wonderful opioids are and they were being heavily funded, by the manufacturers of those drugs, Lewis Nelson, a professor of emergency medicine at Rutgers University and expert on prescription drug misuse, told the Center for Public Integrity after the release of the report. The advocacy groups also lobbied to defeat legislative measures that would have restricted the over-prescription of opioids and opposed the 2016 guidelines issued by the CDC recommending non-opioid therapies for chronic pain (outside of active cancer treatment and end-of-life care) and generally limiting opioid prescriptions for acute pain to three to seven days. The report states that these groups registering opposition with the CDC while receiving funding from the opioids industry raises the appearanceat the very leastof a direct link between corporate donations and the advancement of opioids-friendly messaging. This conclusion coincides with that of a 2017 article in JAMA Internal Medicine, which looked at more than 150 organizations that submitted comments to the draft CDC guidelines, and found that opposition to the guidelines was significantly more common among organizations with funding from opioid manufacturers than those without funding from the life sciences industry. Some of the advocacy groups even challenged efforts by the government to hold accountable physicians overprescribing opioids and industry executives engaged in fraudulent marketing. For example, the National Pain Foundation defended Dr. William Hurwitz after he prescribed excessive amounts of oxycodone, up to 1,600 pills in one day: The conviction [in the trial court] broke ground by holding that a doctor acting in the good faith belief that he was serving the best medical interest of his patient could be found to be a drug dealer. The report concludes by quoting from a 2011 study in the American Journal of Public Health that a tension exists between the status of advocacy organizations as among the most influential and trusted stakeholders in U.S. health policy, and the reality that their positions closely correspond to the marketing aims of pharmaceutical and device companies. Thirty-three death row inmates in Tennessee have filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality and legality of the states new execution protocol. The challenge follows state Attorney General Herbert Slaterys request to the state Supreme Court to schedule eight executions by June 1, before one of the states lethal injection drugs expires. Tennessee has not carried out an execution since that of Cecil Johnson in 2009. If carried out, the states efforts to fast-track eight executions would be the most since 1939, when Tennessee sent 10 prisoners to their deaths between January and August of that year. As Tennessee moves ahead with plans for assembly-line state killings, one study shows prosecutorial misconduct in capital punishment cases that ranks one state prosecutor as among the four worst in the nation. Tennessee is not only a state rushing to execute but one where misconduct by prosecutors in death penalty cases are being overturned, the Death Penalty Information Center (DPIC) reported. Three inmates had already been scheduled for execution at the beginning of this year, with two being scheduled after the June 1 deadline. None of the three are referenced in Slaterys court request. In his court statement, Slatery wrote, Years of delay between sentencing and execution undermines confidence in our criminal justice system. Supreme Court spokeswoman Barbara Peck confirmed Slaterys filing was received, stating, In all of these cases, previous execution dates have been set and the defendants have completed the three-tier appeals process: direct appeal, post-conviction relief, and federal habeas corpus. The motion will be reviewed and the court will issue an order with its decision. The eight inmates referenced in Slaterys request are Donnie Johnson, Stephen Michael West, Edmund Zagorski, Leroy Hall, Abu-Ali AbdurRahman, Charles Walton Wright, Nicholas Todd Sutton and David Earl Miller. A notice filed on behalf of the eight inmates disputes Pecks statement, claiming that the appeals process is ongoing for some of the eight men. They are seeking 14 days to file an opposition to the attorney generals request. The three-drug combination Tennessee is prepared to use is rife with controversy due to instances when it has left inmates in intense pain and alive. A recent example is the execution of Kenneth Williams last year in Arkansas, who was reported coughing, convulsing, lurching, jerking, for a 10- to 20-second period during his execution. In addition to lethal injection, the state can also carry out executions with the electric chair, which was last used in 2007 in the execution of Daryl Holton. In March 2017, the Tennessee Supreme Court ruled against dozens of death row inmates who had filed suit against the practice of execution by lethal injection. The intended result of an execution is to render the inmate dead, Chief Justice Jeffrey Bivins said in upholding the states procedure to execute the condemned with one shot of pentobarbital. Four counties in the United States that rank among the most aggressive users of capital punishment have prolonged patterns of prosecutorial misconduct, according to a report by the Harvard-based Fair Punishment Project. One was Shelby County, which is in West Tennessee and includes Memphis. The report, titled The Recidivists: Four Prosecutors Who Repeatedly Violate the Constitution, examined state appeals court decisions in Tennessee, California, Louisiana and Missouri, between 2010 and 2015. The research found that prosecutors in Orange County, California; Orleans Parish, Louisiana; St. Louis, Missouri; and Shelby County, Tennesseeall of which currently face allegations of significant misconductranked among the most prolific perpetrators of misconduct in their respective states. The report concluded: The prosecutors in these jurisdictions, all of whom are elected officials, are imbued with the publics trust. And each and every one of them has violated it, not just on one or two occasions, but repeatedly. They have illegally concealed important evidence from the defense, made highly unethical statements and arguments, and committed other types of misconduct that undermines the integrity of criminal convictions in serious cases, and of the justice system itself. The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit last year overturned the conviction and death sentence of Tennessee death row prisoner Andrew Lee Thomas, Jr., ruling that Shelby County District Attorney Amy Weirich withheld evidence that a key prosecution witness had been paid for her cooperation in the case. Weirich then elicited perjured testimony from the witness lying about the payment. Weirich is also facing ethical charges from the Tennessee Board of Professional Responsibility in another murder trial, in which the Tennessee Supreme Court found that Weirich failed to disclose exculpatory evidence to the defense and had improperly commented on the defendants decision not to testify, the appeals court ruled. In 2014, Weirich defended the conduct of Tom Henderson, a veteran homicide prosecutor in her office who had been censured by the Tennessee Supreme Court for misconduct in the capital trial of Michael Rimmer. A judge had found that Henderson made blatantly false, inappropriate and ethically questionable statements to the court and defense counsel about the existence of exculpatory evidence, purposefully misled counsel with regard to the evidence, and withheld exculpatory evidence he was required to disclose, according to deathpenaltyinfo.org. According to the report, as of January 2013, Orange and Shelby counties ranked 7th and 13th respectively among the 2 percent of counties responsible for a majority of death-row prisoners in the US. These two counties had more individuals on their death rows than 99.5 percent of all counties in the country. In 2017, 23 people were executed in the US states that practice capital punishment, the second fewest in the past 25 years, according to DPIC. Tennessee is apparently attempting to go against the flow in sending eight prisoners to their deaths in less than three months. Tennessee also imposes draconian sentences for those convicted of first-degree murder committed as a juvenile. Dan Birman, a filmmaker whose documentary, Me Facing Life: Cyntoias Story, highlighted Tennessees brutal sentencing laws, said: Unless sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, a juvenile offender in Tennessee could be released after serving 51 yearsthat is, if they are still alive. In all likelihood, they wont be. In 2004, Cyntoia Brown, then 16 years old, shot and killed a 43-year-old man who had allegedly hired her for sex. Tried as an adult, she was convicted of first-degree murder and received a mandatory life sentence with the possibility of parole after 51 years. The life expectancy for youth serving life sentences is roughly 50 years. This means that juveniles are, in effect, receiving a death sentence, Birman said in an opinion piece for the Tennessean newspaper. Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri has accepted an invitation to visit Saudi Arabia, his office said, in what would be his first trip to the kingdom after he resigned under mysterious circumstances from the Saudi capital last year. The announcement came at the end of a meeting Monday in Beirut that Hariri held with Saudi envoy Nizar al-Aloula and advisers to the Saudi royal court. Hariri said he would visit Saudi Arabia "as soon as possible" and that the talks had been "excellent," according to the statement. Last November, Hariri announced he was resigning in a televised address from the Saudi capital, plunging Lebanon into a political crisis. During his 17-day stay in the kingdom, Lebanon's President Michel Aoun accused Saudi Arabia of orchestrating the resignation and holding the Prime Minister "hostage," a view that was widely held in Lebanon. Riyadh has denied the claim. After returning to Lebanon, Hariri withdrew his resignation, but questions remained about his relationship with Saudi Arabia, previously seen as his primary political patron. Hariri attempted to answer some of those concerns in comments to journalists Monday. "Saudi Arabia's main objective is for Lebanon to be sovereign. It is also keen on the full independence of Lebanon," the Prime Minister said. Hariri said shortly after his return that his government, which he shares with Iran-backed Hezbollah, would reaffirm the so-called disassociation policy that stipulates that Lebanon stay out of the affairs of other Arab states. Hezbollah has come under fire in recent years from local political groups and regional powerhouses including Saudi Arabia for its involvement in Syria, where it has helped prop up President Bashar al-Assad. Saudi Arabia has also accused the group of supporting Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, a charge Hezbollah denies. WAYLAND, Mass. (AP) A team of firefighters from Wayland, Massachusetts, is being praised for coming to the aid of a woman about 800 miles away in Wayland, Michigan, who contacted them via Facebook in a panic to say her son was choking. The Massachusetts departments Facebook page isnt monitored 24/7, but firefighter Patrick Walkinshaw happened to be looking at it about 10:30 p.m. Saturday when the woman, who didnt have access to a phone, sent her desperate plea to the wrong Wayland Fire Department. Firefighters Dean Casali and William Tyree knew something was wrong because they didnt recognize the address. While one Massachusetts firefighter did a search for the womans address, another stayed with her on Facebook, and a third called the Michigan communitys fire department, which sent an ambulance. The 16-year-old boy survived. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - Many have died across the country due to the flu this season. For patients, complications from the flu can play a large role in that. The CDC says deaths from pneumonia and flu are up in Indiana this week. Resident Jane Totten says she's especially careful this time of year. Wabash Valley resident and pulmonary rehab patient, Jane Totten, shares more about the certain risks she faces during cold and flu season. (WTHI Photo, Lacey Clifton) Wabash Valley resident and pulmonary rehab patient, Jane Totten, shares more about the certain risks she faces during cold and flu season. (WTHI Photo, Lacey Clifton) She says, "I'm kind of unique. I have one lung. I had a lung removed when I was 20 due to histoplasmosis, which is the fungus from pigeons." The Centers for Disease control says the worst of the flu season may be behind us. The number of doctor visits for flu symptoms fell to about one out of 16. But again, the concern is still flu-related complications like pneumonia. Totten says, "For me it's especially a trying time. I have to be really careful about what I do. Make sure I get my pneumonia shot, my flu shot, and just try to have good hand washing techniques." If you've had the flu, you know it takes a lot out of you. Union Hospital Registered Respiratory Therapist Jimmy McKanna says someone battling both diseases are at greater risk of being hospitalized or death. He says, "So you have a weakened immune system and maybe you stopped drinking as much, so your mucus in your airways gets kind of thick, it's hard to get up. Everything stops working the way it should." As far as pneumonia is concerned, the disease targets lung function. McKanna says this can have a horrible impact on your body. He says, "When that system gets taxed with a virus or bacterial infection, you're going to become short of breath. That's going to decrease the amount of oxygen you get to your blood cells, therefore the rest of your organs are going to be affected by that." Of course pulmonary rehab patients like Jane are at a higher risk of having complications. But McKanna says the usual flu-affected age groups need to stay on their toes. McKanna says, "They don't have as much functional lung tissue at the upper ages, and then at the younger ages, just smaller size of airwaves. It doesn't take a whole lot to clog them up, or inflammation inside of them to close them off." McKanna adds another risk factor to the equation, which is smoking. "The number one thing that will increase somebody's probability of getting pneumonia is if they smoke. Because you're no longer using your cilia in your air way the way you should. You're deadening them, so that mucus is not pushed out the way it should." Jane herself had pneumonia a few years ago and she says it really took a toll on her. She shares what she learned from the experience. Totten says, "Im one of these people who wait until the very last minute. I will use everything in my cabinet before I make the trip to the ER, and that's not a good thing. Don't be a hero whenever you know you're in trouble and need help." McKanna says there are three types of pneumonia, and they're all treated differently. For that reason he says reach out to your doctor for testing as soon as possible. To view the latest flu and pneumonia data from the Centers for Disease Control, click here. WASHINGTON (AP) Ivanka Trump says she believes her fathers denials of sexual misconduct, arguing that questions to her on the topic are pretty inappropriate. Trump serves as a senior adviser in President Donald Trumps administration and just led the U.S. delegation at the closing ceremony for the 2018 Pyeongchang Games. She made the comments in an interview with NBC that aired Monday. Asked about the allegations of inappropriate behavior against the president, Ivanka Trump said: I think its a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter if she believes the accusers of her father when hes affirmatively stated theres no truth to it. I believe my father, I know my father, she said. I think I have that right as a daughter, to believe my father. The president has denied accusations of misconduct. His daughter has promoted herself as an advocate of women and families within the administration a role that has come with unique challenges and calculations, given the allegations against her father and some of his public comments about women. She played a diplomatic role on her visit to the Olympics, visiting the Blue House in Seoul before heading to Pyeongchang. In her remarks, Ivanka Trump said she was in South Korea to celebrate the Olympics and to reaffirm the U.S. commitment to a maximum pressure campaign to ensure that the Korean Peninsula is denuclearized. Armenian Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan met today in Yerevan with Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian to discuss economic and cultural bilateral projects. Ardakanian is in Armenia to attend the 15th Joint Economic Iran-Armenia Commission session. The Iranian minister said his country is ready to increase gas exports to Armenia, adding that the price of that gas could be lower than supplied by Russia. He said Irans Petroleum Ministry and Armenias Ministry of Energy will soon hold talks on the issue. INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (WTHI/AP) - Metallica has announced they will be launching a tour and Indianapolis is one of their stops! The World Wired tour was announced Monday morning. Metallica, formed in 1981 by vocalist James Hetfield and drummer Lars Ulrich, have sold more than 125 million albums worldwide. The tour will start in September with their first stop being at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wisconsin on Sept. 2. They won't make it to Indianapolis until March 11 of 2019 where they will be performing at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Presale information available, click here for that! For information on the entire tour, click here! TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - All Terre Haute Street Department employees will be filling potholes for the foreseeable future. That's according to the department's foreman, who spoke with News 10 on Monday. It's also in response to the dozens of potholes reported to the city's 311 Citizen Contact Center. Bobby Deakins found a massive pothole trying to get to his son early Sunday morning. Ironically, his son had also hit a pothole on Fruitridge, a city a street littered with potholes. Bobby told us the pothole caused $200 worth of damage. "We just got the car in December," Bobby told us. "It doesn't even have 5,000 miles on it." The Street Department found and filled this pothole on Monday afternoon. So far, the city has used 75 tons of cold patch to fill potholes this winter. That's double what the department typically uses. So why are we seeing more potholes this winter? The Street Department says it starts with the sub-zero weather we saw earlier this winter. "When you get below freezing like that, then you get a 30 degree temperature swing, you get the expansion and contraction of the asphalt, with the compact soil underneath," said Bryan Driskill of THSD, "and then we got all of that rain on top of it, and it just makes things worse." Driskill said six crews will be out everyday filling potholes. Meanwhile, Bobby has filed a claim with the city in hopes of being reimbursed. "They're going to send me a form," Bobby said. He has to send that form back along with two estimates. VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) The search continues for the new superintendent of Vigo County Schools. Monday night, school board members officially hired the University Placement Team to help with the search. The team is made up of four professors from four state universities in Indiana. Dr. Terry McDaniel represents Indiana State University. He was at Mondays meeting to bring others up to speed on whats currently happening and what to expect regarding the search process. The board has already looked at the application, we have a template that we use in terms of the application, he said, Theyve looked at that, theyve started identifying questions that they want on the application. We asked for attributes that were put on the application as well, what you want in your superintendent and theyve identified some of those. McDaniel says the board has also looked at sample surveys, which he expects the board to decide on very soon, as well as the advertisement of the position. The search to replace current Superintendent Dr. Danny Tanoos will be nationwide, McDaniel says. In order to find the best candidate for the job, McDaniel says theyll be looking at a variety of factors such as traits like honesty and integrity, as well as knowledge of budgets, referendums and facilities. Mainly we look at the people skills as well, he added, A good superintendent, as Dr. Tanoos has done very well, communicates with their people, listens to what they have to say and acts in that manner. In the search to find Tanoos replacement, McDaniel says its important that residents of Vigo County become engaged with the process. A school cant survive without the community, he said, Students cant progress without the community being behind them and parents supporting the school and what theyre doing. McDaniel says they anticipate to post the application in March for about a month. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - An inmate at the federal prison in Terre Haute has been sentenced for assaulting a correctional officer. The United States Attorneys Office reports Jackson J. Horrison, 49, was sentenced to 42 months. The correctional officers at the Bureau of Prisons have a very dangerous job managing the inmates there, said United States Attorney Josh Minkler. Protecting them is a priority of this office and we will not tolerate violence directed toward them. Horrison was already serving a 15 year sentence at the Federal Correctional Facility in Terre Haute for being a felon in possession of a firearm. His conviction came from the Northern District of Alabama. According to court documents, on March 19, 2017 Horrison caused a disturbance in the facility by smearing feces on his cell door and forcing the feces under his door and on to the range walkway. Horrison was ordered by officers to show his hands so he could be handcuffed and then to move to the back of the cell. The officers entered his cell and was charged at by Horrison. Officials report he punched the officer in his eye, bit the officer on the left bicep and held the bite for 15-20 seconds. Horrison later told the officer, I have Hepatitis Cand now you got it too. BOP medical records verify that Horrison does have Hepatitis C but the officer did not contract any diseases from the bite. Officials report Horrison must serve his 42 month sentence consecutive to his prior sentence. It aired for just a second, but footage purportedly showing a Russian jet attacking a truck in Syria immediately raised suspicions among users of social media Pikabu. As it turns out, the short clip is actually from a computer game. The footage was part of the weekly Voskresnoye Vremya-program on state-run Channel One TV. Sunday's edition was a tribute to Russia's armed forces in occasion of Defender of the Fatherland Day, and an entire section was dedicated to Alexander Prokhorenko, a Russian pilot who was posthumously awarded the title of Hero of the Russian Federation. Prokhorenko was battling to free the ancient Syrian city of Palmyra, but he found himself surrounded by Islamic militants, so he called in an airstrike on his own position. As the video package moves swiftly to show how Su-25s operate in Syria using archive footage, a gun-sight clip that visually appears to be from a video game is edited in. A Pikabu user posted a still image of the short footage with the simple comment "Arma 3 on Channel One." Arma 3 is a tactical shooter video game released in 2013. Its developers, Bohemia Interactive, claims it offers "true combat game play in a massive military sandbox." Later, Channel One acknowledged the mistake in a statement to radio station Govorit Moskva, claiming the editor wrongly used a clip from a previous story on computer games: "The use of this shot was a mistake made by the editor who took it from the archive. Earlier this frame was used in a package about computer games," the statement reads. Users on Pikabu -- which some call the Russian equivalent of Reddit -- started debating about the spectacular blunder and whether it was intentional. DildaN3 wrote: "This shot wasn't needed there at all, it appears only for a fraction of a second, it doesn't have any meaning. Why did they add it in? Maybe it is a hidden message from the employees of Channel One? Like: 'They are making us do this, help!'?" Another user pointed out that it's not the first time it happened. Last November, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed the US is supporting the Islamic State, using a number of aerial images to support its stance. The pictures turned out to be from a 2015 promotional video for a gunship simulator video game. Most of us may need one or two bank accounts. But Sinisa Mali, the mayor of Belgrade, appears to have had control over 45, according to a report obtained by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) and Serbian investigative journalism outlet KRIK. The November 2016 report by the Serbian Administration for the Prevention of Money Laundering (APML) details suspicious transactions involving Mali, his wife, and companies he owned or worked for. The mayor held at least 42 accounts registered under himself, his wife, and his three underage children, into some of which he deposited large sums of money. He also had the power of attorney over three accounts registered under other names. The origins of the damning report lie in an earlier scandal involving Mali. Serbias Anti-Corruption Agency opened an investigation into the mayor in 2015, immediately after KRIK/OCCRP discovered and reported on his involvement in the purchase of 24 apartments on Bulgarias Black Sea coast in 2012 and 2013. The Agency outlined its suspicions about Malis money-laundering in a document which was then sent to the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade alongside APMLs report, which had been requested during the investigation. According to the Agency, Mali was handling sums which far exceeded his official paycheck, which amounts to 107,000 dinars ($1,100 a month). In one case, the APML report shows, he received more than half a million euros in his private bank account from an offshore company under his control thanks to a fake business deal that involved him, essentially, buying a company from himself. But after receiving the reports containing evidence of Malis money laundering, prosecutors dismissed the case, saying that they saw no evidence of criminal activity and therefore no grounds to open an investigation. The decision wasnt so surprising; in recent years, Serbia has not seen a single criminal case opened against a powerful politician. (See OCCRP and KRIKs article: Serbia's Corrupt Politicians Need not Fear the Prosecutor) When contacted by reporters, the Higher Public Prosecutor's Office in Belgrade refused to provide KRIK/OCCRP with justification for the decision and declined to share the APML report. Nevertheless, journalists obtained a copy from another source which cannot be named because they were not authorized to provide it. Independent auditor Ljubisa Stanojevic, who learned about the reports content from reporters, described the many transactions detailed as a classic case of money laundering. Theres no question about it, explained Stanojevic. APML clearly indicated elements of money laundering. [On that basis], the prosecution could have done a serious investigation. You Cant Get Rid of Him Sinisa Mali became mayor of Belgrade in April 2014. After KRIK and OCCRP published a series of stories that exposed his engagement in corruption (including the Bulgarian apartments and an interview with his ex-wife, who divulged further information), it seemed for a moment that his political career was done for. Serbian president Aleksandar Vucic promised the public that he would fire the disgraced mayor by summer 2017 at the latest. But Belgrade is still waiting. Vucic changed his mind, saying that he had made the promise in a moment of weakness, and that Sinisa Mali was the best mayor the city has ever had. In fact, Mali may stick around for a while yet. The city holds elections for the members of the City Council on March 4, and whichever party wins a majority of 110 seats will be able to nominate its choice for mayor. Political analysts anticipate that the countrys ruling Serbian Progressive Party (SNS), which has held a majority on the council since 2014, is likely to win the race. Sinisa Mali is in third place on the partys list of potential city council members but the SNS isnt keen to advertise that fact. In fact, the ruling partys campaign materials for the elections seem to feature every conceivable candidate but Mali. The first name on the partys list is Zoran Radojicic, a doctor at the prestigious Tirsova pediatric clinic in central Belgrade. The second is the ballerina Aja Jung. Normally, the candidate at the top of the winning partys list becomes mayor. In theory, Sinisa Mali is only the third choice. But in practice, he could get lucky; both Radojicic and Jung have openly said in interviews to Serbian media that they are not enthusiastic about careers in politics. As Radojicic put it, he wouldnt give up his job for any other. The SNS promotion of such celebrated, but reluctant, public figures in the race has led observers to suspect that the party is setting Mali up for yet another term as mayor. Theres a logic to this approach Malis involvement with controversial projects such as the Belgrade Waterfront and his alleged corruption scandals has led to his becoming deeply unpopular with many of the capitals residents. Political analyst Cvijetin Milivojevic says that the electoral system in Serbia in which citizens vote for an electoral list, not for an individual candidate enables the ruling SNS party to keep a place to hide. You dont have to put the person who will actually run the city administration as the candidate you hide them behind a group of aldermen said Milivojevic in an interview for OCCRP partner KRIK. Right now, Mali is not the favorite hes hidden behind non-party people. If citizens voted directly [for the mayor], then that person for sure wouldnt be Sinisa Mali, continues Milivojevic. But if the SNS has a majority in the [municipal] assembly, they can put Mali in as mayor and nobody needs to ask the citizens anymore. Prominent Connections Belgrades citizens may soon have some questions themselves, since Malis last tenure as mayor seems to have been quite lucrative. Almost half of the 45 bank accounts described in the APMLs report were opened under his name, while others were opened under the name of his wife, other people or companies. In the latter cases, Mali had power of attorney to control the accounts under unclear circumstances. The accounts over which Mali had power of attorney were associated with companies and people he had dealt with in the past. One personal account was opened under the name of a Belgrade architect named Bosko Urosevic. Since Mali had power of attorney over the account, he would be able to freely make payments and withdrawals, though in this case the report does not include information about any transactions. (The account was held at Telenor bank, indicating that it must have been opened after Mali became mayor, since the bank only opened in Serbia in September 2014, six months after he came to the position.) The connection between Mali and Urosevic is unlikely to be accidental. Reporters found that the two men share the same business partner -- the international construction company GTC, which is currently building a 100-million-euro shopping mall in Belgrade. KRIK reporters tried to contact Urosevic through his company, but his employees responded that the architect never gives interviews for media, and will not do so now. read more In a lurid pink hotel room in Edo State, southern Nigeria, a trafficker is arranging to smuggle us across the continent to Libya -- and ultimately Europe. Fluorescent lights flicker intermittently inside the hotel, which doubles as a brothel and serves as the headquarters of tonight's operation. We are posing as would-be migrants attempting to reach Italy with the help of our "pusherman" -- one of an army of brokers who work alongside smugglers on the Nigerian end of the migrant route from Africa to Europe. Edo State is Nigeria's trafficking hub and one of Africa's largest departure points. Each year, tens of thousands of migrants are illegally smuggled from here. They're refugees fleeing conflict or economic migrants in search of better opportunities in Europe, most having sold everything they own to finance the journey. But as CNN revealed in an exclusive report last year, they often never get beyond Libya. When they arrive, they're told by smugglers they will need to pay thousands of dollars more to continue their journey across the Mediterranean. When the migrants fail to pay, they are held in grim living conditions, deprived of food, abused by their captors, and sold as laborers in slave auctions. Footage obtained of a slave auction in Libya -- in which young men were sold by smugglers for as little as $400 each -- caused international outrage. The 'VIP' package Three months later we wanted to see whether that outrage had translated into action. CNN producer Leposo and I went undercover as two wealthy women paying for the "VIP" travel package from Nigeria to Europe, which includes a smuggler who will meet us in the northern city of Kano and escort us across the border into Libya. We gave scant detail about our situation, saying only that we hoped to reach Italy and then travel from there to London. The smugglers were mostly interested in our money, and asked few questions. In reality, our plan was to secure a deal, set off from Auchi in the north of Edo State, and then quit the journey as soon as we were safely out of the sight of smugglers. Setting up the deal was incredibly easy. Hassan, another CNN producer, worked undercover to negotiate a deal with the pusherman in Ekpoma, also in Edo State. Hassan negotiated 500,000 Nigerian naira for each of us, roughly $1,400. The money was due on our arrival in Libya. Hassan was the guarantor of our journey and would be held accountable if we became frightened and backed out of the deal. He was told by the pusherman that the price to smuggle women is higher than for, say, small boys, because women's journeys are "even more difficult -- they are molested there (in Libya)." As part of our "VIP" travel package, we were offered condoms for the journey. The pusherman later expressed dismay that I hadn't packed any myself. "We give you contraception," he told me. "You need men in Libya to be kind to you. They will have things you want. Do you understand?" When I said "yes," he laughed. "Of course, you understand," he continued. "You don't get something for nothing in this life. You're lucky, the men sometimes wait six months before they're put on the boat to Europe." "Women though -- if they're like you -- sometimes you can be put on a boat the very next day." He has a warning for me: "Listen, don't struggle if you're raped." Sexual abuse on the migrant route Women and children routinely face sexual violence, abuse and detention along the Central Mediterranean migration route from North Africa to Italy, according to a 2017 UNICEF report. "Nearly half the women and children interviewed had experienced sexual abuse during migration -- often multiple times and in multiple locations," said the report, which compiled testimony from 122 migrants. The attorney general of Edo State, Yinka Omorogbe, is leading a taskforce that was set up last August to combat modern slavery and human trafficking. "We are actively involved in investigation and have commenced several prosecutions," she told CNN in a written statement. "Like I have said, we have just started. We are awaiting a state anti-trafficking law which will further strengthen us. We have a destination and we'll get there." "Trafficking in Edo is neither solely about economic issues nor underdevelopment, but has deep cultural roots that must be exposed, examined and pulled out." Meeting the pusherman Within one day of Hassan securing a deal, we met the pusherman at the hotel to embark on the first stage of the journey. Floral curtains adorned the room's barred windows, and not much was explained to us by the traffickers. Very quickly we were taken to the local bus depot in Auchi, where the pusherman flagged down a bus traveling north to Kano. Public transport offers good cover for smugglers in Nigeria. It's far more difficult for authorities to keep tabs on buses running through their usual routes, laden with people and legitimate goods, then it is to chase down vehicles specially used by the traffickers. We squeezed down the aisles of the busy overnight bus before the doors were locked shut from the outside as a safety precaution against potential hijackers. Once out of sight of the smugglers, we disembarked on the outskirts of the city, where Hassan was waiting for us. We were relieved to see him. Had we kept going -- as our traffickers intended -- we would have arrived in Kano 14 hours later. From there, the plan was that a member of the smuggling network would have put us on a second bus destined for Agadez in Niger. From Agadez we would have traveled to Sabha in southern Libya -- a place where survivors of the slave trade have previously told CNN they were marched off the bus at gunpoint, later to be sold at auction. Luckily for us, none of that is our future. For others, it is a horror they cannot escape. And as our rapid quest from contacting a pusherman, to negotiating a deal, and setting off on a bus towards Libya showed, it is a still a journey all too easy to make. BOSTON (AP) Bill Cosby's 44-year-old daughter Ensa Cosby died Friday in Massachusetts from kidney disease, a spokesman for the comedian said Monday. Spokesman Andrew Wyatt asked for prayers for the Cosby family and that the family be given peace at this time. He didn't provide any other details. Bill Cosby lost another child in 1997 when his son Ennis was shot to death during a robbery attempt in Los Angeles. Ensa Cosby appeared on one episode of The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984-1992. UPDATE 02/27/18 - Lowndes County Superintendent Lynn Wright says attendance at New Hope School has returned to normal Tuesday. This comes after approximately 50 percent of the school's students didn't come to school Monday following a reported threat. MGN Online MGN Online See the original post below. NEW HOPE, Miss. (WTVA) - School attendance was extremely low in one local school district following a reported threat. Lowndes County Superintendent Lynn Wright says about 50 percent of New Hope students didn't show up to class today. In total, Wright estimates about 1,200 students didn't show up Monday throughout the elementary, middle and high schools. He said attendance at Caledonia and West Lowndes was close to normal. However, he expects attendance to be back to normal Tuesday. On Sunday, the Lowndes County Sheriff's Department was made aware of a social media post targeting New Hope School. RELATED: Lowndes County responds to possible school threat There were extra law enforcement officers on New Hope's campus Monday. Wright says nothing credible was found and students were questioned. Lowndes County Sheriff Mike Arledge says the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and FBI are assisting with the investigation. Severel persons-of-interest were questioned, but no arrests have been made. Increased security in all Lowndes County schools will continue. CORINTH, Miss. (WTVA) -- A Corinth woman is accused of delivering a Bible laced with cocaine to jail. Jolona Lambert now faces an introduction of contraband charge. Alcorn County sheriff investigators say the incident unfolded on Friday. They say Lambert was delivered a Bible to an inmate at the Alcorn County jail. A sheriff deputy found some pages of the Bible glued together. Once the deputy took apart the pages, he saw a powdery white substance that later tested positive for cocaine. Lambert was given a $5,000 bond. However she is being held for the Mississippi Department of Corrections. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Former Miami Beach Mayor Philip Levine, a Democratic candidate for governor, led a rally of more than 1,000 people on the Capitol steps on Monday. He called for a ban on assault rifles and criticized the National Rifle Association for advocating to arm teachers. Twenty buses from around the state brought protesters to the Capital City. They wore orange t-shirts that said #gun reform now. After the rally, participants met with lawmakers and sat in on some committee meetings. PARKLAND, Fla. (WTXL) - The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is investigating how officers responded to the shooting at Stoneman Douglas High School. Deputy Scot Peterson resigned Thursday after Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel suspended him pending an investigation. According to Peterson's lawyer, when he arrived at Building 1200, where authorities say all of the killings took place, Peterson said he heard gunshots but believed the gunshots were originating from outside a building on the schools campus. Some experts question his version. Seventy-four Republican Florida state lawmakers are now calling for Gov. Rick Scott to suspend Israel for incompetence and dereliction of duty. Israel says he will not resign. CHEYENNE The Wyoming Republican Party on Saturday selected a former Wyoming Speaker of the House, a local attorney and a Cody farmer as the three finalists for Secretary of State. Torringtons Ed Buchanan, Cheyennes Darin Smith and Codys Richard George are all vying to fill the spot left vacant by former Secretary of State Ed Murray. Murray resigned earlier this month after two women publicly accused him of sexual misconduct. Now, Gov. Matt Mead will select the replacement to serve the remaining 10 months of Murrays term. That appointee will oversee the August primary elections and November general elections; supervise business and trademark registration; and would be first in line to replace the governor if he couldnt complete his term. Among the other candidates vying for the spot were former Secretary of State Max Maxfield, Wyoming Auditor Cynthia Cloud, former state Rep. Pete Illoway and Hot Springs County Clerk Nina Webber. Each candidate presented a 3-minute speech to the Republican committee and answered eight questions about election policies, voting equipment, public lands and public investment. The following is a brief summary of the major policy positions discussed by each finalist: Ed Buchanan The Laramie County prosecutor and former Wyoming Speaker of the House focused on the issue of voter fraud during his question-and-answer session. This is something weve seen a lot in the news lately, and I can tell you that its happened in a lot of states, Buchanan said. The topic of voter fraud has become more prevalent in recent years as largely Republican states such as Kansas and Wisconsin have passed strict Voter ID laws requiring people to carry a government-issued photo ID to polls. But critics of those proposals say those laws target poor people as part of a growing effort to roll back progress on voting rights. Buchanan said he doesnt buy that argument because the state would make government-issued IDs available to help people vote. To me, its not an inconvenience to show up to the polls, show an ID, get checked off, match your address so that we can have confidence that the people who are voting are eligible to vote, he said. He also said hed crack down on people who no longer live in Wyoming casting out of state ballots. If you lose the integrity of your elections, nothing else really matters, he said. In addition to voter fraud, Buchanan also advocated for using better technology to make customer service better for filling, educating the public about regulatory processes and finding more efficiencies to save the state time and money. Richard George The Cody farmer and Republican National Committeemen for Wyoming said he felt God was pushing him toward the vacant seat in the Secretary of States office. We need to have people in the Secretary of States office who care about elections and weve got to have conservatives filling these seats, he said. George talked frequently about the good people that currently worked in the Secretary of States office and how he would try to equip them with tools they need to do the job. He said if the state were to adopt a vote-by-mail approach, the Secretary of States office would need to take a heavy-handed approach to make sure that people didnt abuse it. In response to a question about the Secretary of States role on the State Loan and Investment Board, which manages land funds and administer grant and loan programs to cities, towns and counties, George said he would be efficient with state money and prudent in awarding contracts. He said hed be ready to ask tough questions about grants awarded to communities. Theres nothing better to change Wyomings financial situation than a farmer with a sharp pencil, he said. Darin Smith The Cheyenne attorney and former Christian Broadcasting Network executive said he would bring Wyoming into the future by trying to attract technology businesses. Because of weather and energy needs, Wyoming is an ideal place for data centers and crypto-currency miners, he said. There are literally thousands of companies that could and should have their data centers in Wyoming. He lauded the Wyoming Legislature for introducing bills that would enable cryptocurrency trading in the state. Wyoming is one of the few states in the country that doesnt currently allow people to trade virtual tokens such as Bitcoin. Those two bills were approved by committees last week and wait passage of the full House. Like Buchanan, Smith said he worried about the integrity of elections. He said imposing some kind of ID requirement would be absolutely essential. When asked whether he would support a vote-by-mail proposal that has been adopted in other states, Smith said he was 100 percent, diametrically opposed. He said that allowing people to send mail-in ballots instead of voting in person would breed corruption. iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump is insisting that Congress will respond legislatively to the school shooting in Parkland, Florida. I have spoken to many senators and congressmen today, yesterday, the day before, and I think we'll have a great bill put forward very soon strong do with background checks, having to do with getting rid of certain things and keeping other things, and perhaps we'll do something on age, he said Saturday in an interview with Fox New. It was not clear what bill Trump was referring to. The nation has been stirred by the calls of young high school student activists demanding reform and Trump is slated to meet with senators on Tuesday to discuss ways to address gun violence. However, Capitol Hill is not expected to move immediately on any number of bills addressing gun violence, mental health and background checks that are already available. For one, lawmakers are returning from a week-long recess, and leaders would have to discuss what their rank and file would support. Theres also a scheduling challenge in the House due to the shortened work week to honor the late Rev. Billy Graham. Still, there are the rumblings of movement. Some Republican rank-and-file members have voiced support for various gun control measures. Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., and Pat Roberts, R-Kan., all said theyd support raising the rifle purchasing age to 21. And Army veteran Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., said he would support an assault weapons ban. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer expressed optimism last week that shifts among individual Republicans might lead to policy changes. Republicans in Congress and in the White House, led by President Trump, have held fast to the belief that better laws wont curb the epidemic of gun violence in this country. That they are now reversing that belief and exploring policy changes to curb gun violence is a welcome shift, he said. Heres a look at some of the existing measures lawmakers could consider. IMPROVE EXISTING DATA COLLECTION FOR BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM The FIX NICS act is a bipartisan bill cosponsored by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, Senate Democrats leading voice on gun safety. It would strengthen the existing background check system using a stick-and-carrot approach to get federal agencies to do a better job in uploading relevant records to the system, but it would not expand background checks at places like gun shows. While this bill has probably the best chance of getting to the presidents desk, a House-passed version was attached to a bill Democrats consider a non-starter: concealed carry reciprocity, allowing concealed permit carriers to bring their weapons across state lines. Schumer has indicated the concealed carry provision makes this bill unacceptable to his party: We strongly urge our Republican colleagues in the Senate to avoid the cynical and dangerous approach that the House took with this legislation, he said in a statement. GRANTS FOR SCHOOL SAFETY/AWARENESS This bill, the Stop School Violence Act, was introduced before the shooting happened. Its a bipartisan bill (6 of 11 cosponsors are Republicans) and would create grants to help schools put together programs for teachers and school administrators even students - to detect warning signs and report it to local law enforcement. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., whose district includes Parkland, is planning to hold a press conference Tuesday afternoon to discuss the measure. RIFLE PURCHASE AGE INCREASE Two days after the Parkland shooting, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., announced she planned on introducing a bill which would require all firearms purchases from gun dealers to be restricted to individuals who are at least 21 years old. While Trump and a few Senate Republicans have expressed support, the NRA is opposed. Cornyn said last week he doesnt think this bill can get 60 votes in the Senate. BUMP STOCK BAN Sen. Feinstein introduced one version of this measure in October after the Las Vegas shooting. It would ban the sale and possession of bump-stock equipment, which that shooter possessed and allowed him to simulate the action of a fully automatic rifle. There are two bipartisan measures in the House as well. Those bills never got a vote, as Republicans and the National Rifle Association insist that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has the authority to regulate bump stocks. Some states have passed their own bump stock bans. REVISITING COMPREHENSIVE BACKGROUND CHECKS Sen. Pat Toomey said over the recess that he would re-introduce the bill he and Sen. Joe Manchin co-wrote after the 2012 Newtown, Connecticut school shooting. It would expand background checks on firearm purchases including on unlicensed gun-show dealers and online sales. That bill failed narrowly in the Senate, 54-46, last time. Toomey suggested yesterday during a Sunday show appearance that the 60 votes needed could be there if the Senate tries again. I think there are some members who were not supportive in the past and are reconsidering. TRAINING AND ARMING TEACHERS Trump has made it clear in recent days that he thinks teachers should be able to voluntarily receive training and carry a firearm in school to protect their students and receive yearly bonuses as a result. If we would have had some great teachers that were gun adept meaning really understood weaponry and guns, if they had concealed permits, you wouldn't have this problem today, he said, referring to school shootings. But several Republicans including Rubio and Florida Gov. Rick Scott have indicated they wouldnt support this effort. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 02:49:54|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2018 shows the entrance of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Longyearbyen, Norway. More than one million seed samples from gene banks worldwide have been stored in a vault on Norway's remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard as it marked the 10-year anniversary of its opening on Monday. (Xinhua/Liang Youchang) LONGYEARBYEN, Norway, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- More than one million seed samples from gene banks worldwide have been stored in a vault on Norway's remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard as it marked the 10-year anniversary of its opening on Monday. As part of its anniversary celebration, over 76,000 new seed samples were carried into the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which is located deep inside a mountain near the town of Longyearbyen and called by some as the "doomsday vault." "I am extremely happy to announce that today for the first time more than one million seeds will have passed through these doors to be secured forever," Norway's Minister of Agriculture and Food Jon Georg Dale said just outside the entrance to the seed vault. As he made the speech, representatives from 23 international gene banks carried their seed samples in sealed boxes to the seed vault. The purpose of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, which opened on Feb. 26, 2008, is to provide safe storage for duplicates of seeds stored in national, regional and international gene banks worldwide. The goal is to maintain the genetic variation within the world's food plants, ensuring that agricultural and industrial crops are not eradicated in local or global disasters such as war, terrorism and natural disasters. The parties that finance and operate the Svalbard Global Seed Vault are the Norwegian Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the Bonn, Germany-based Global Crop Diversity Trust and the Nordic Genetic Resource Center (NordGen), whose main office is in Alnarp, Sweden. As the seed vault offers its services to all types of gene banks seeking security storage for unique seed samples, seed samples in the vault remain the property of the gene banks that deposit them. The full capacity of the Svalbard Global Seed Vault is 4.5 million different seed types and it can therefore house duplicates of all the unique seed types found today in the gene banks around the world, as well as new seed types that will be gathered in the future. In September 2015, Syria's war led to the first-ever withdrawal of seeds from the vault. The seeds had initially sent to Svalbard from a gene bank in Aleppo, Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 03:45:03|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2018 shows a view of the joint press conference of Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) and Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) in Berlin, capital of Germany. GTAI and DIHK on Monday jointly published a study on Belt and Road Initiative, intending to help German businesses benefit from the initiative. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) BERLIN, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) and Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce (DIHK) on Monday jointly published a study on Belt and Road Initiative, intending to help German businesses benefit from the initiative. "China's Belt and Road Initiative has triggered the impulse for modernization in the areas far beyond Asia," Volker Treier, deputy CEO of DIHK, told the press. The initiative has great importance to the whole Germany, he added. According to the study, the initiative creates a huge economic zone between Asia and Europe, and is an important driving force for globalization. German businesses should not hesitate to seize the chances to grow with it. Treier suggested German businesses to focus more on connectivity to the new joint market created by the initiative in a medium to long term. And he said, thanks to this concept, the central Asian countries come into consideration of western investors. GTAI CEO Jurgen Friedrich said there are plenty of cooperation opportunities between German and Chinese companies along the new silk road, especially for those in sectors of infrastructure, energy and consulting, etc. He pointed out that the rules and regulations of Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), a major financing institution for the Belt and Road Initiative, are "transparent and fair", which serves great help and guide for German companies that are interested in the projects. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 04:15:16|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations on Monday said that the political environment in Burundi is not conducive to credible elections. Michel Kafando, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Burundi, said at a Security Council meeting on Burundi that the political situation "remained tense" in the country and was characterized by some measures to restrict freedom, as only the majority party and allied political groups could freely conduct political activities. He said the economic situation was not improving in this political context, adding such an environment "can't be conducive to the organization of credible elections." Kafando noted that the security situation was improving, although human rights violations continued to be reported. Burundi's President Pierre Nkurunziza, assuming office since 2005, is leading a push for a referendum in May on amending the constitution that would allow him to run in elections in 2020. In a report presented to the council this month, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres criticized Nkurunziza's move to hold a constitutional referendum, saying changes to the charter must be done in an "inclusive" manner. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 07:26:38|Editor: pengying Video Player Close = Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2018 shows people's daily life at a marketplace in Damascus, capital of Syria, several days after UN's resolution on Syria's ceasefire. A recent UN Security Council resolution called for a 30-day humanitarian ceasefire in Syria, mainly in Damascus' rebel-held Eastern Ghouta region, but excluded military operations against the terror-designated groups. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 07:21:09|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close NEW YORK, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese traditional cough syrup, called Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, is becoming even more popular among New Yorkers in this flu season, following a U.S. news report. According to an article published by the Wall Street Journal last week, Alex Schweder, an architect and professor of design at Pratt Institute suffering a cough about ten days, felt better only in 15 minutes after he drank a bottle of Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa, which was recommended by his girlfriend who first learned about the herbal supplement nearly 30 years ago when she was living in Hong Kong. Schweider was shocked by the magical effects of the herbal supplement, and recommended it to many people, which, combined with other factors, afterward made the Chinese medicine popular in New York City. The remedy, often referred to simply as Pei Pa Koa, is sold as much as 70 U.S. dollars online through third parties for a 300-milliliter bottle, the Wall Street Journal said. Shares of Kingworld Medicines Group, a Hong Kong-listed Chinese pharmaceutical company that produces the remedy, soared 25 percent on Monday following the report. The medicine in the form of 300-milliliter bottle now is sold at 13.29 dollars apiece on Walmart's online platform, which is more than double of its price in some pharmacies located in Manhattan's Chinatown, selling at about 6 dollars per bottle. "The amounts of Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa we sell over the past few days are much more than usual," Winnie, a sales staff at Buy-rite pharmacy located in Chinatown, told Xinhua on Monday. More and more Westerners are accepting this remedy not only because it is truly effective, but also because its individual packaging characteristic is very convenient, she said. "Much more people, including many foreigners, have come to our store buying Pei Pa Koa recently," a sales staff at another Chinatown drugstore named Centre Care Pharmacy echoed, citing that the flu season also gives some support to the sales. As of the week ending Feb. 17, a total of 97 influenza-associated pediatric deaths have been reported for the 2017-2018 flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "I think that (the report) is a good thing, which will make Chinese traditional products more acceptable among western countries," Winnie added. "In fact, we also sold more other related Chinese traditional medicines during the past few days." "Nin Jiom Pei Pa Koa is made of precious Chinese herbs and honey, and has remarkable effects in relieving coughs, eliminating phlegm and soothing sore throats," the Kingworld Medicines Group says on its official website. However, taking herbal supplements can involve health risks, including when they are used with medicines, consumed in excess or taken instead of prescription medication, warned some experts. The Kingworld Medicines Group managed a portfolio of 60 pharmaceutical and healthcare products, general foodstuffs and other medical products, many of which are established brand names, such as Pei Pa Koa, Taiko Seirogan, Kawai Product Range, etc. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 07:36:12|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A warplane with the U.S.-led anti-terror coalition struck a Syrian military position in the country's eastern province of Deir al-Zour on Monday, activists and al-Jazeera TV said. The U.S.-led warplane reportedly struck the Syrian position in the northern countryside of Deir al-Zour, according to the report, which spelled no further details. There has been no immediate comments from Damascus. If true, the attack would be the second U.S.-led assault on government forces this month. Earlier this month, the U.S.-led coalition struck a position of pro-Syrian government forced in Deir al-Zour, killing dozens of them. The Syrian government condemned the attack, while the U.S. coalition said it was a retaliatory action against the Syrian forces' attack on pro-U.S. force in Syria. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 08:21:19|Editor: pengying Video Player Close CANBERRA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A coalition of Australia's leading climate scientists have called for a hydraulic fracturing ban in the Northern Territory (NT) to be made permanent. Hydraulic fracturing, commonly known as fracking, is the process of injecting liquid at high pressure into fissures in subterranean rocks so as to force them open for oil and gas exploration. The NT Government's fracking inquiry will decide in March whether fracking of major shale gas reserves will be allowed to resume after the practice was temporarily banned. In an open letter to the inquiry, 31 of Australia's leading climate scientists called on the panel to declare shale gas projects too risky for the sake of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. "The NT is in the region likely to experience the most severe impacts of global warming, for example it is highly susceptible to temperature increases," the scientists, including Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Climate Change Hub leader David Karoly, wrote. "In Darwin the number of days over 35 degrees Celsius is expected to increase from 11 per year currently to up to 308 in 2070 if emissions are not reduced. "Heatwaves have killed more Australians than any other extreme weather events." In its draft report released in December, the inquiry found that developing a single shale gas field in the NT would increase Australia's total greenhouse gas emissions by 5 percent. "This is a large and unacceptable increase in Australia's emissions. It is completely incompatible with Australia's carbon budget and our commitments under the Paris agreement," the letter said. "Any new fossil fuel development is incompatible with the goal of the 2015 Paris climate agreement that aims to limit the rise in global temperature to well below 2.0 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels and to make every effort to limit the rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius." Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 08:31:21|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close GUAYAQUIL, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Ecuador international winger Jefferson Montero has rejoined his original club Emelec on loan from Swansea City. The 28-year-old will be tied to the Ecuadorian outfit until July after a disappointing loan spell with Spain's Getafe. "We can officially say that Jefferson Montero will return to Emelec ... after we reached an agreement with Getafe's directors," Emelec president Nassib Neme told reporters. Montero, whose contract with Swansea expires in 2020, made just four substitute appearances for La Liga outfit and failed to score. Capped 63 times for Ecuador's national team, Montero made his professional debut for Emelec in 2007 after being promoted from the club's youth ranks. His career has also included spells with Villarreal, Levante and Real Betis. CANBERRA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Commissioner of the Australian Border Force (ABF) has been on paid leave for nine months while an investigation into his personal conduct takes place, it has been revealed. Roman Quaedvlieg, who has been Commissioner of the ABF since it was created in 2015, agreed to take paid leave in May 2017 while the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) investigated allegations that Quaedvlieg tried to intervene on behalf of his partner who had applied for a job at Sydney Airport. Senate estimates hearings have revealed that the probe has still not been finalized despite two separate reports being completed. In the meantime, Quaedvlieg has earned almost 400,000 U.S. dollars. Mike Pezzullo, secretary of the Home Affairs Department, told Senate estimates on Monday night that the ACLEI completed its investigation in the third quarter of 2017. A second report on whether Quaedvlieg should lose his job was completed in December. However, a final decision on Quaedvlieg's future has been delayed by a series of political conflicts of interest. The reports are now with Attorney-General (AG) Christian Porter who will make the decision. Porter said that Prime Minister (PM) Malcolm Turnbull asked him to make a decision to remove bias from the equation since Quaedvlieg had a professional relationship with Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. "I sought legal advice from the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) to satisfy myself that I can consider and determine this matter," Porter said in a statement on Tuesday. "The AGS confirmed I am able to undertake this task." In a rare interview during his leave, Quaedvlieg on Tuesday told News Corp Australia that he is frustrated by the process. He said he had nothing to say about the investigation "other than ... regarding the extraordinary time it has taken for this matter to be resolved and to restate my commitment to return to the role at a time which is critical to the security of Australia's borders and to the establishment of Australia's national security architecture." Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 09:51:34|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close by Luis Alberto Sierra G. PANAMA CITY, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Located in the heart of the Americas, Panama aspires to become a gateway to Latin America for Chinese tourism, the country's tourism minister said. "Due to its strategic location, Panama automatically becomes a gateway to the entire region," Minister Gustavo Him told Xinhua prior to flying to Beijing with a 10-member delegation, including experts in destination marketing. This week, the Central American country will hold its first promotional event ever in China to attract more travelers from the Asian nation, with which it established diplomatic ties in June, 2017. As part of new cooperation agreements, Air China, a major Chinese airline, is expected to begin operating direct flights to Panama twice a week, with a stopover in Houston in the U.S. state of Texas, starting in March. "The future of tourism in Panama is going to be its opening up, not just to visit Panama, but to visit different countries," said Him. The direct flight to Panama from China may just be the start. "We really like the multi-destination aspect, and are in fact initiating discussions with different places to see how we can create this destination and offer different products," Him said. Potential tourism routes could be developed in conjunction with nearby countries such as Mexico, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Cuba and Colombia, he said. The idea is something he will discuss during his trip with Chinese tourism operators. "The possibility of (combining Panama with) Cuba sounds very attractive to us, because it gives you this combination of Cuba's history with Panama's wildlife and modern Panama City," said Him. Panama will feature as guest country at the International Tourism Fair on March 1-3 in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province in southern China. "It's something new, since it's the first time we are going to present the country in China, and hopefully we will be well received," said Him. "We are going to make a very visual presentation with ... videos on what our country offers in nature tourism, rural tourism, folklore, culture, gastronomy and everything else." With a growing number of Chinese traveling abroad each year, China has become a coveted tourism market for destinations around the globe, he said. The minister said Panama has a lot to offer visitors, from eco-tourism to the unique Panama Canal and "shopping, given the excellent availability of brands in Panama at competitive prices." As a small country located on the other side of the world, Panama is largely unfamiliar to the Chinese, the minister acknowledged. However, "there is a point of reference, and it's that there is a very large Chinese community in Panama, so we know what their tastes are," said Him. "And I am also a Chinese descendent and know what they like and what their idiosyncrasies are." Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 09:56:35|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- "Bajrangi Bhaijaan," Indian director Kabir Khan's 2015 production, will be shown on the Chinese mainland starting Friday. The film, starring Indian film icon Salman Khan, tells the story of Bajrangi, an ardent devotee of Hindu deity Hanuman, who takes a six-year-old Pakistan girl to her homeland to reunite with her family. "The story shows that love between people can transcend ethnicity, religion and nationality," Khan said Monday. Indian films have extended their fanbase in China in recent years. "Secret Superstar," an Indian musical drama film produced by Aamir Khan, has raked in more than 700 million yuan (about 110 million U.S. dollars) since its release on the Chinese mainland on Jan. 19. "Drawing lessons from Hollywood films and innovation, the Indian film industry has been focusing on disclosing social realities," said Ding Yaping, researcher with the Chinese National Academy of Arts. YANGON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi has called for exploring diverse ways of surmounting the country's challenges, while looking to friends across the world to join in the country's ventures and adventures. Aung San Suu Kyi, in her capacity as the chairperson of the Development Assistance Coordination Unit (DACU), made the call in her opening address at the Development Effectiveness Roundtable held in Nay Pyi Taw Monday, Myanmar News Agency reported Tuesday. "This is one of the most challenging periods in our nation's post-transition process. These challenges present us with opportunities to strengthen our commitment to peace and national reconciliation as a foundation for democratic consolidation in Myanmar," she said. She noted that DACU is keenly aware of the new global reality and are looking at how best the government can position Myanmar to take advantage of this brave new world. During the sessions of the roundtable involving foreign diplomats, United Nations officials and World Bank officials, Myanmar's socio-economic issues, sustainable development plan and its policy and the role of non-governmental organizations in providing assistance for development were discussed. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 10:36:42|Editor: pengying Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Two civilians were killed and another was injured in the armed clashes between tribes in the southern Libyan city of Sabha, the country's National Human Rights Commission confirmed Monday. "The National Committee is concerned about the resumption of armed clashes and escalation of violence between gunmen of the tribes of Awlad Sulaiman and Tabu in the city of Sabha, which killed two civilians and wounded a third by random heavy shelling and shooting," Ahmed Abdul-Hakim Hamza, the commission's rapporteur, told Xinhua. "We are concerned about the worsening humanitarian and living conditions due to the continuing and escalating acts of tribal violence in the city, as well as deterioration of medical conditions at Sabha Medical Center and the lack of emergency medical equipment and supplies in the center," Hamza said. The rapporteur called on all parties of the conflict to immediately cease fire and violence and resort to reason and wisdom. He also called on the tribal elders and leaders to "intervene urgently to cease fire and calm the conflict between the fighting parties, and to work on preserving national stability and security and social fabric in southern Libya." The city of Sabha, located some 800 km southwest of the Libyan capital Tripoli, is witnessing unprecedented insecurity, with rising levels of crime and kidnappings by armed groups, as well as frequent tribal clashes. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 10:51:45|Editor: pengying Video Player Close RIYADH, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud replaced several top military commanders in a series of royal decrees, the state media reported Monday. The military's chief of staff and the heads of ground and air forces were terminated. Fayyad al-Ruwaili had been appointed as Chief of Staff in replacement of Abdul Rahman bin Saleh al-Bunyan, who was retired. The king also named new personnel at several ministries, including selecting a woman as deputy minister for labor. The major shakeup was carried out on recommendation of Minister of Defense Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the heir to the throne and the son of the monarch. The changes came in the midst of an ever-worsening conflict in Yemen. A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemen's government has been fighting the Huthis since 2015. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 10:51:46|Editor: pengying Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- U.S. State Department Monday said the United State will host an international conference on mobilizing law enforcement efforts to defeat the Islamic State (IS) on Tuesday and Wednesday. Hosted in cooperation with the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law, the meeting that will be held in Washington, DC will bring together senior-level justice and law enforcement officials as well as their diplomatic counterparts responsible for counterterrorism from approximately 90 countries and organizations, the State Department said in a statement. Participants of the two-day conference are expected to seek to establish a common understanding of "the depth and breadth" of the evolving IS global threat. It will also discuss how to enhance law enforcement and other civilian tools to counter IS. In addition, the conference will also identify specific actions to help countries disrupt potential attacks, according to the State Department. The agency said that although the IS has lost nearly all of its former territory in Iraq and Syria, the international community cannot underestimate the evolving threat IS networks and local adherents pose elsewhere. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 10:56:48|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close by Raimundo Urrechaga HAVANA, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Sales of Cuban premium cigars increased in China by 33 percent in 2017 compared with the previous year, showing China has become the main emerging market for Habanos S.A., the company that commercializes the exclusive Cuban cigars. In an interview with Xinhua, Jose Maria Lopez, vice president of Habanos S.A., said China is currently the third largest market worldwide for the company, which saw a 500-million-U.S.-dollar sale last year, or a 12-percent growth. "China is today our biggest emerging market with a potential for growth that is already materializing year after year. It is a market that is opening up to our products and in which we have placed many hopes of future growth," he said shortly after the opening of the 20th Habanos Festival on Monday. Lopez highlighted the agreement signed in July 2017 between Habanos and the China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC) to increase sales and work together to promote knowledge and taste in China for Cuban cigars. "We have established a work group and held periodic meetings to develop the Chinese market for premium cigars. We will also facilitate technical exchanges so that China can develop its own cigar industry," he added. He added that the key to increase sales in China is to hold constant promotion activities for Cuban cigars. In this context, Lopez said Chinese consumers are choosing to smoke these cigars because of their "excellent quality." "We are also promoting the culture of Cuban cigars in China. Therefore, our customers there want to smoke this type of tobacco because it is the best in the world," he said. The Spanish executive said global brands like Montecristo, Cohiba, Partagas, and Romeo y Julieta are currently sold in China and are key to increasing sales there. Spain and France continue to be the two top markets for Habanos S.A worldwide. Last year, 450 million Habanos cigars were sold, dominating the worldwide market with 70 percent of units and 80 percent of value, though they are not able to be sold in the United States due to the economic embargo. Held at Havana's Convention Center, the Cuban cigar festival is attended by 2,000 businessmen, sommeliers, collectors, artists, executives, producers and cigar aficionados from around 70 nations. The first "Habanos World Challenge" contest will also be held this week for contestants to demonstrate their knowledge in the field of cigars with practical elements. As part of the event scheduled until March 2, participants will visit tobacco plantations in the western province of Pinar del Rio as well as cigar factories in the capital. SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- No one was injured in a shooting at a high school in Tacoma, a city in Washington state, local media reported on Monday. The local Tacoma News Tribune said a gunshot was fired into the floor of a men's restroom earlier in the day at the Oakland High School. The bullet went into the room below. "No one was injured," the media quoted police sources as saying. Three boys were in the men's restroom when a gun was fired. Video showed that they immediately exited the room and school, said police spokeswoman Loretta Cool. The Tribune said two students were detained after the shooting. Oakland is an alternative high school with 250 to 300 students aged 14 to 21 in the Tacoma School District, according to the district's website. U.S. schools have been on alert since a series of shooting on campus killed dozens of students in the past months in the country. The latest gun-related violence occurred on February 14, when 17 students were killed and 14 more injured in a massing shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. It was one of the world's deadliest school massacres perpetrated by a 19-year old man who was charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. LISBON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Portuguese government is to establish a working group to combat illegal overland fuel imports from its neighboring country Spain, the finance ministry said Monday in a statement. The aim of the working group is to "defend competition and the supervising and monitoring of economic activities," said the statement published in the official daily Diario da Republica. The group will investigate the "irregular entry of fuel into the national territory with a special focus on road fuel, diesel and petrol." The issue revolves around the price differential between fuel bought in Portugal and Spain. Taxes levied on diesel and petrol in Spain are considerably lower than those in Portugal. Big profits can therefore be made by buying fuel in Spain and importing it undeclared for sale in Portugal. The new working group will include members of the government's Energy and Fiscal Affairs departments, as well as officials from the National Entity for the Fuel Market, Portugal's Tax and Customs authority and the Food and Economic Security Authority. The group has until July 31 to present its findings and recommendations. In January, Portugal issued summons to five companies involved in importing fuel by land, claiming 48 million euros (59.22 million U.S. dollars) in lost revenue. In October 2017, the Portuguese Association of Petroleum Companies (Apetro) told the Lusa Portuguese News Agency that it suspected a quarter of all fuel imported by land from Spain is undeclared. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 12:07:02|Editor: pengying Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Firefighters extinguished a fire on Monday at an exploded fuel pipeline in Zawiya, a city which is some 45 km west of the Libyan capital Tripoli. "As a result of leveling work of a farmer in Jodaim area in Zawiya, the 16-inch pipeline between oil storage depots of Zawiya and Tripoli has been damaged, causing the explosion and fire in the place," Brega, Libya's state-run oil company, said in a press release. As a precautionary measure, the company closed the pipeline, unloaded it and surrounded the site with a sand barrier in order to prevent the fire from spreading. The fire was later controlled by firefighters, safety personnel of Brega and the safety and security authority of Zawiya, in cooperation with the oil company Akakus and some residents, Brega said. The exploded pipeline transports more than two-thirds of Tripoli's fuel supply. The precautionary closure caused panic in the city, as many vehicles lined up in front of fuel stations. Local media reported images of a dense smoke cloud in western Tripoli as a result of the explosion. LUSAKA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Zambia successfully raised the country's tourism profile to over 1,000 U.S. travel agents and potential tourists though the annual U.S. Travel and Adventure Shows, a government official said on Monday. Ngosa Simbyakula, Zambia's ambassador to the United States, said in a statement that Zambia has made the most of the opportunity to promote its tourism to the U.S. market, after the African country set stands in three major shows in Washington, Chicago and Los Angeles. As one of the strategies to attract more tourists to Zambia, Simbyakula said the tourism shows have set the tone for this year's tourism sales and such promotions should continue. Paula Newton, a sales director at South African Airways, said in the same statement that Zambia was a wonderful tourism destination for most tourists from the United States. The Travel and Adventure Shows are U.S. largest series of travel shows with a history of over 14 years. CANBERRA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A vast majority of Australians are employed within five years of finishing school, data has revealed. The Australian Bureau of Statistics' (ABS) Australian Census Longitudinal Dataset (ACLD), published on Tuesday, found that "72 percent of those finishing secondary school around 2011 were employed in 2016." Phillip Gould, ABS Data Integration Partnerships Branch Program Manager, said that the most common industries for those within five years of leaving school were retail trade and accommodation and food services. "Forty-one percent of school leavers had completed a qualification, such as a diploma or degree by 2016, with Management and Commerce, and Society and Culture being common fields of study," Gould said in a media release on Tuesday. The ACLD is compiled using data gathered from the Census of Population and Housing. Data released on Tuesday brought together a random sample of Census data gathered from 1.2 million Australians from 2011 and 2016. In addition to providing an insight into school-leavers, the ACLD also analyzed the employment status of older Australians. "The data shows that 57 percent of Australia's working age population who were unemployed in 2011 had moved into employment by 2016, with the most common industries of employment being Health Care and Social Assistance, and Retail Trade," Gould said. "The ACLD is a unique safe and secure data resource, allowing researchers and government to study a range of population groups over time. The ACLD will be updated in mid-2018 to include data from the 2006 Census. SEOUL, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The high-ranking delegation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) returned back home Tuesday, ending its three-day visit to South Korea, Seoul's unification ministry said. The DPRK delegation, led by Kim Yong Chol, vice chairman of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, crossed the heavily guarded inter-Korean border via land route to the DPRK side at around noon (0300 GMT). Kim was accompanied by Ri Son Gwon, chairman of the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of the Fatherland, and six other support staff. Before heading toward the DPRK, the high-ranking delegation had a breakfast meeting with senior officials of South Korea, including Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Suh Hoon, and Vice Unification Minister Chun Hae-sung. During the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue efforts to improve inter-Korean relations and build peace on the Korean Peninsula after the Olympic period. The DPRK delegation came here Sunday to attend the closing ceremony of the 23rd Winter Olympics. Before the closing ceremony, the senior DPRK delegates met in PyeongChang, east of the capital Seoul, with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, saying Pyongyang had "enough" willingness to talk with Washington. On Monday, the chief DPRK delegate said doors are open for talks with the United States without elaborating on any precondition. The remarks were made during a closed-door meeting with Chung Eui-yong, top national security advisor for President Moon at an unidentified hotel in Seoul. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 13:52:19|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close China's new bullet train "Fuxing" departs from Beijing South Railway Station in Beijing, capital of China, June 26, 2017. The new bullet trains, also known as electric multiple units (EMU), boast top speeds of 400 kilometers an hour and a consistent speed of 350 kilometers an hour. China's annual political sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) are scheduled to convene in March, 2018. During the two sessions, development agendas will be reviewed and discussed, and key policies will be adopted. Year 2018 marks the first year of fully implementing the spirit of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, in which innovation has been labeled as the primary driving force behind development and the strategic underpinning for building a modernized economy. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese people were inspired by the famous calling: "Science and technology are primary productive forces" three decades ago, and have now promoted innovation to achieve continuous development. Unsatisfied with being the world's factory, China's leaders on various occasions have called on the country to transform from a "Made in China" to a "Created in China" model, with innovation clearly playing an important role. In October 2017, a report at the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China stressed that innovation was the primary driving force behind development. Over the past few years, the Chinese have been inspired by the country's landmark achievements in science and technology. China successfully cloned macaques from somatic cells, launched the world's first quantum satellite and quantum experiments at space scale, and created the world's fastest supercomputers Sunway TaihuLight and Tianhe-2. The list goes on and on, and the innovation progress does not stop at national level. Chinese innovators are also changing people's everyday lives. Every minute during the morning rush hours, China has 40,000 car-hailing journeys; 70 percent of Chinese mobile netizens are using mobile payment, and China is now the world's largest online shopping market. Dockless shared bicycles, high-speed trains, mobile payment and e-commerce have earned a reputation as China's "four great new inventions" in modern times. These innovations have reshaped the way of living in China. And now they are entering foreign markets. Two leading Chinese bike-sharing companies ofo and Mobike are competing in Singapore, Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, the United States and the Republic of Korea. GCash, a Philippine mobile wallet service provider for conducting payment and money transfer, resembles China's Alipay established by e-commerce titan Alibaba Group. There were 3.87 million scientists and researchers across China in 2016. China has set the aim of becoming an "innovation nation" by 2020, an international leader in innovation by 2030, and a world powerhouse in scientific and technological innovation by 2050. Cities nationwide are also joining the race. Southwest China's Guiyang City, a pioneer of the application of big data technology, decided to use cloud computing to develop modern agriculture. Shenzhen in southern China, the pioneer city in innovation for the past 40 years, has set the goal to become a world-class sustainable innovative city by 2035. The Global Innovation Index has shown that China rose three places to 22nd on the list of the world's most innovative nations in 2017, the only middle-income country to join the top 25 innovative economies. SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least six militants affiliated to the Islamic State (IS) group have been killed and five others injured as clashes erupted in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province on Tuesday, police said. A group of IS militants attacked some security checkpoints in villages including Awlad, Dinar and Sajal Qashlaq of Darzab district at 01:30 a.m. local time Tuesday, spokesman in the northern region Sayed Sarwar Hussaini said. Police retaliated, forcing the militants to flee after leaving six bodies behind, the spokesman said. He also confirmed that five police sustained injuries in the firefight which lasted for a few hours. IS militants have yet to make comments on the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 14:52:28|Editor: pengying Video Player Close RIO DE JANEIRO, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Marcelo Crivella, mayor of the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro, said Monday that the administration is considering installing electronic-controlled storm sewers against floods which plague the city every summer. Crivella said the major problem about floods in Rio is the excess of garbage blocking the drains, and suggested the installation of 2,000 electronic sensors in sewer drains to control the passage of detritus. The mayor did not clarify how the installation would be carried out and where necessary resources would come from. In his first year of administration, Crivella reduced the budget for the sewage system's cleaning. According to him, it was due to the financial problems in the city. However, local media recently reported high expenditures in publicity during Crivella's administration. Luiz Paulo, an opposition state representative, criticized the measure and told local daily O Globo that the idea is merely a guess of the mayor. The representative, who is a civil engineer, said the drainage system in the city is insufficient and old, and that installation of the electronic system will only serve to alert about the blockade with no teams to make the cleaning. In February, the city had some of the worst floods in recent times. On Feb. 14 and Feb. 15, some areas in the city registered 150 percent of the amount of rain expected for the entire month. Four people died and hundreds had to leave their homes. A week later, another storm caused significant damage in the city. In some areas, electricity services had not even been re-established after the first storm. PYONGYANG, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The official media of the Democratic People's Republic Korea (DPRK) have accused Japanese government of "spoiling the atmosphere for peace and driving security uneasiness to the extremes." In a commentary on Monday, the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) said Tokyo is "displeased with the trend of reconciliation and peace on the Korean Peninsula." "Because such trend would offer no justification and pretext for them to advance toward militarism so as to turn Japan into a 'country able to conduct a war'," said the KCNA. The DPRK and South Korea agreed to continue efforts to improve inter-Korean relations and build peace on the Korean Peninsula after the PyeongChang Winter Olympics witnessed a momentum of inter-Korean detente. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 15:17:34|Editor: ZD Video Player Close KABUL, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Up to 32 insurgents have been killed over the past three days as government forces intensified crackdowns against anti-government militants including the hardliner Islamic State (IS) group in the northern Jawzjan and the neighboring Faryab provinces, security officials said Tuesday. In the latest operations against IS outfit in Darzab district of the relatively troubled Jawzjan province, nine militants were killed and 13 others sustained injuries over the past 24 hours, said a statement of the 209th Shaheen Corps of the Afghan National Arnmy in the northern region. A major offensive of the radical Islamic State outfit has been repulsed and several villages liberated from the clutches of the hardliner group, the statement asserted. Earlier, police spokesman in the northern region, Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, told Xinhua that Afghan government forces killed six IS militants and injured five others in Darzab district of Jawzjan province in a clash flared early Tuesday morning. According to Hussaini, the government forces backed by air power would continue to pursue the armed militants elsewhere in the northern region to ensure durable peace there. In similar crackdown against armed opposition groups, the government forces targeted Taliban positions in Pashtun Kot and Dawlatabad districts of Faryab province since Sunday killing 23 insurgents, according to an army spokesman in the northern region Nasratullah Jamshidi According to security officials, the government forces would continue to mount pressure on militants to shrink militants' ability ahead of spring and summer commonly known as fighting season in Afghanistan. PHNOM PENH, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Cambodian bus driver died and 15 foreign tourists injured early Tuesday when their tour bus crashed into a cargo truck on a highway in Cambodia's Kampong Cham province, a local police chief said. The bus was heading to Phnom Penh from Siem Reap province when it collided with the truck on National Road No. 6 in Bateay district, about 120 km east of Phnom Penh, said police chief of Bateay district Sam Nal. "The two vehicles drove in the same direction, and the bus crashed into the middle part of the truck when the truck carelessly made a U-turn," he told Xinhua. Sam Nal said the injured foreigners included four Germans, three Britons, two French nationals, two Israelis, three Thais and one Chinese. He said the victims had been sent to a hospital in Phnom Penh soon after the accident. "Five of them got seriously injured," he said. Death toll from road traffic accidents remains high in Cambodia. In 2017, 1,780 people had been killed in the accidents, while 5,539 others got injured, according to a government report. File photo shows Nigerian police officers beef up security during the governorship primary elections in Lagos, southwest Nigeria, Dec. 8, 2014. (Xinhua/Idowu Ogunleye) LAGOS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The police in Nigeria on Monday embarked on intensive recovery of firearms in the possession of unauthorized persons and security outfits across the country. Nigeria's Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has directed his officers to commence the recovery of prohibited firearms across the country. The measure is part of efforts to contain sectarian violence in parts of the country which has claimed many lives. In southern Enugu State, the police on Monday set up a joint task force to mop up illegal fire arms and ammunition in the state. State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Danmallam, told reporters that the task-force comprised personnel from State and Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department and mobile police units. The commissioner urged all persons with fire arms and ammunition to re-verify and re-validate them in the command within 14 days. He said anyone caught with illegal fire arms and ammunition would henceforth be prosecuted. In southwest Ondo State, the police gave residents of the state a 21-day ultimatum to submit all illegal fire arms to the nearest police station. In the same vein, Don Awunah, the Commissioner of Police in oil rich Bayelsa, said it has set up a task force to mop up illegal firearms across the state. The commissioner warned that the command would henceforth treat and prosecute persons arrested for unlawful possession of firearms and trafficking in illegal weapons as terrorists, armed robbers, kidnappers and cultists. Also, in the restive northeast Adamawa state, police gave illegal firearms owners two weeks to surrender their arms or face arrest and prosecution. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 15:52:00|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Tourists visit a lantern fair to greet the upcoming Lantern Festival at Nanhu Park in Tangshan City, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 26, 2018. The Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month, or March 2 this year. (Xinhua/Dong Jun) Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 15:37:40|Editor: ZD Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 73 suspects in telecom and online fraud cases have been brought back to China from the Philippines, the Ministry of Public Security said Tuesday. The suspects have been linked to more than 40 cases, covering more than 10 Chinese provinces and involving 20 million yuan (about 3.17 million U.S. dollars), the ministry said in a statement. Chinese police sent a team to the Philippines in 2017 to work with local police. They busted six dens earlier this year and later decided to send the suspects, all Chinese citizens, to China. Another 78 suspects are still under investigation in the Philippines, according to the statement. Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (1st R) meets with the Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Chang Wanquan (1st L), who arrived here Sunday for a two-day visit, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, on Feb. 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Qiao Benxiao) MALABO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo met Sunday in the capital Malabo the Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Chang Wanquan, who arrived here Sunday for a two-day visit. Obiang hailed the steady development of the traditional friendship between the two countries since the establishment of their diplomatic relations. He stressed that there has been fruitful bilateral cooperation in the political, economic and cultural fields, and that in international and regional affairs, the two countries have worked closely together, putting forward mutual support. According to the president, Equatorial Guinea attaches significant importance to the traditional friendship between the two countries, and is ready to strengthen political, economic and security cooperation with China in order to deepen their comprehensive cooperative partnership. For his part, Chang said the friendship between the two countries has been steadily consolidating since the establishment of diplomatic relations 48 years ago. Chang recalled that in 2015 Obiang and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping jointly established a comprehensive cooperative partnership of mutual trust and win-win cooperation, providing a roadmap for the development of bilateral relations. Chang said he was pleased with the strengthening of the pragmatic cooperation between the two armies over the years, and reaffirmed that China is willing to strengthen the friendly and pragmatic cooperation and work together to maintain peace and security in the region. Equatorial Guinean Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue attended the meeting. Chang then met with Equatorial Guinea Defense minister Leandro Bacale Ncogo Ayingono on Monday. KABUL, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Afghan Taliban has announced that the insurgent group was ready to talk with the United States over Afghan crisis, amid ongoing national and international efforts to initiate a political settlement for the war-battered country's lingering crisis, the outfit said in a statement on Tuesday. "The Political Office of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (name of ousted Taliban regime) calls on American officials to talk directly to the Political Office of Islamic Emirate in Qatar regarding finding a peaceful solution to the Afghan quandary," the Taliban on-line statement read out. The statement came days after U.S. Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian Affairs Alice Wells visited Afghanistan and met with Afghan leaders. The Taliban said that the statement was in response to Wells recent remarks that the U.S. has kept the doors of dialogue open for the Taliban. "It must now be established by America and its allies that the Afghan issue cannot be solved militarily. America must henceforth focus on a peaceful strategy for Afghanistan instead of war. Military strategies, which have repeatedly been tested in Afghanistan over the past 17 years, will only intensify and prolong the war. And this is not in the interest of anyone." the statement said. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and other Afghan leaders have repeatedly offered peace talks with the Taliban. However, the insurgent group has categorically rejected the offer, saying there will be no talks until foreign troops leave the country. Since Jan. 1, 2015, Afghan security forces have assumed the full security mission from NATO and U.S. forces. Around 16,000 foreign troops have remained in Afghanistan to train and assist local security forces in their fight against the insurgents. PYONGYANG, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The official media of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) said on Tuesday that the United States should dismantle its nuclear arsenal first if it truly desires a nuclear weapons-free world. The official Rodong Sinmun said in a commentary that the United States was the first country in the world to make a nuclear weapon and the only one to ever to use it. It called the United States a "nuclear criminal." U.S. President Donald Trump recently said that his country needed to expand nuclear arsenal and modernize nuclear weapons because other countries were doing so. "It is the United States that must abandon its nuclear ambitions before others," said the official daily of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea. During a meeting with American governors and mayors at the White House recently, Trump said if other countries abandon their nuclear development, the United States would do so "in two minutes," according to media reports. Accusing Washington of cherishing a "wild ambition to dominate the world with an absolute nuclear upper-hand," the daily said that "if the United States opts for nuclear dismantlement, the denuclearization issue of the world will be easily settled." SYDNEY, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of people are believed to have been killed in the 7.5-magnitude earthquake that hit Papua New Guinea (PNG)'s central highlands region early Monday, local media reported Tuesday. The quake hit the provinces of Southern Highlands and Hela, a heavily forested region about 560 km northwest of the capital, Port Moresby, at around 3.45 a.m. local time (1545 GMT Sunday), according to the U.S. Geological Survey. "Although communication network into the two provinces have been cut off, reports through satellite communication by Hela Provincial Administrator William Bando said there had been unconfirmed reports of more than 30 deaths," the PNG's Post Courier newspaper reported. More than 300 people were reportedly injured, most of whom are local villagers. The death toll from the quake could be as high as 20, Acting Director of the Department of Mineral Policy and Geo-hazards Management Chris McKee was quoted as saying by local newspaper The National. Prime Minister Peter O'Neil said "I have ordered the chief of the Defence Force to initiate an immediate response to the earthquake." "There are communities that have suffered from this natural disaster, and we are sending our soldiers and other government agencies to support our people in their time of need," the prime minister said in a statement. The energy-rich region is home to oil and gas production. Energy giant ExxonMobil Corp has shut its liquefied natural gas plant in the wake of the powerful earthquake. Papua New Guinea is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, to the east of Indonesia. Earthquakes are common in the country, which sits on the Pacific's "Ring of Fire", an arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 17:02:59|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 73 suspects in telecom and online fraud cases have been brought back to China from the Philippines, the Ministry of Public Security said Tuesday. The suspects have been linked to more than 40 cases, covering more than 10 Chinese provincial-level regions and involving 20 million yuan (about 3.17 million U.S. dollars), the ministry said in a statement. Chinese police sent a team to the Philippines in 2017 to work with local police and locate suspects in the capital Manila and the northwestern city of Vigan, according to the statement. They busted six dens earlier this year and later decided to send the suspects, all Chinese citizens, to China. Another 78 suspects are still under investigation in the Philippines, it said. The ministry said that the telecom and online fraud, in which people pretended to be police, prosecutors and court officials, severely infringed on people's property rights and interests. It said that Chinese police will maintain a tough crackdown on such crimes, enhance cooperation with other countries, and bring criminals to justice. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 17:02:59|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Relative calm prevails in Damascus as the Russian-proposed humanitarian pause of fighting in Syria's Eastern Ghouta went into effect on Tuesday morning. The pause entered into force at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) and is expected to continue until 2 p.m. in the conflict-torn area. Such humanitarian pause, however, will take place every day within the same period of time to allow evacuation of civilians from the rebel-held zone. The location of the humanitarian corridor was set to be the Wafidin crossing, the only crossing between Damascus and Eastern Ghouta. Local media said the crossing has been prepared with ambulances and buses to transport the civilians who will leave into safe places. It's not yet clear if the rebels will allow the civilians to leave Eastern Ghouta, as Muhammad Alloush, the political chief of Islam Army, said a day earlier that only the wounded will leave, not the regular civilians. State-run al-Ekhbaraia TV said the rebels fired at an area near the crossing Tuesday morning to prevent the civilians from leaving. The humanitarian pause comes just days after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2401, which requires all parties in Syria to immediately cease clashes and provide a sustained humanitarian break for at least 30 days. But terror-designated groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front are excluded from the resolution, as the battles against them continue. The UN organizations have already sounded the alarm about the situation in Eastern Ghouta, where 400,000 people are believed to be trapped in the sprawling area east of Damascus. The military showdown started to intensify between the Syrian army and rebels 10 days ago, with mortar shells from rebels hitting Damascus while the Syrian forces continued their massive bombardment against rebel positions in the area. SUVA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Fijian government announced on Tuesday to appoint an independent investigator to carry out investigations of the missing plane which lost communication with airport tower Monday afternoon. While announcing this, the Fijian government also pledged that the search and rescue operations would continue until the crash site was located. On Tuesday, 29 Fijian military and police personal together with 10 villagers were part of the three teams leading the ground search in the area, but heavy rain and fog hampered Tuesday's aerial search with the rescue helicopter only able to conduct one flight over the search area. Earlier Monday, a small plane, Cessna 172, with two people on board was missing in Vanua Levu, a northern island of Fiji. It is confirmed that the missing persons were a male flying instructor and a 21-year-old female trainee pilot. The plane, which belongs to the Pacific flying school, left early Monday from Nadi, the third largest city of the South Pacific island state, and headed to Labasa, capital of the northern island of Vanua Levu. TOKYO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Japan's minister in charge of Okinawa and Northern Territories affairs will step down after suffering a stroke, government sources were quoted as saying Tuesday. Esaki, 74, a seventh-term lower house member from the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), was admitted to hospital on Monday again one week after being hospitalized for a minor stroke, Japan's top government spokesperson said. Esaki, according to sources familiar with the matter, was initially diagnosed with having had a transient ischemic attack that causes temporary disruption of blood flow to the brain. He was admitted again on Monday this week for treatment for a suspected stroke and will remain at the facility and at home for around a week, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga had told a press briefing. Teru Fukui, 64, a former senior vice education minister, is likely to be picked by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to replace Esaki, government sources said. Fukui is serving his seventh term as a lower house member of the LDP. Esaki, known for being gaffe-prone, took up his first ministerial portfolio in August last year which pertains to issues related to Okinawa -- often in the spotlight for U.S. military-linked accidents and mishaps, and for the tiny island hosting the bulk of U.S. bases in Japan -- and for a group of islands in the north which Japan claims but are controlled by Russia. Esaki was elected to the lower house for the first time in 1993. He took over from his father Masumi Esaki who was trade minister for the LDP. Esaki has also held the senior vice transport minister position. On Feb. 19, Esaki had said he felt unwell in the evening and did not attend a Cabinet meeting a day later. His symptoms matched those of a minor stroke and he was hospitalized and underwent treatment until he was discharged from hospital on Feb. 24. only to be readmitted on Monday. CAIRO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Three Egyptian army officers and 11 militants were killed in the recently launched "Sinai 2018" major anti-terror campaign, the military spokesman announced on Tuesday. "Three army officers were killed and other four soldiers were wounded in exchange of fire, in the past four days" said military spokesman Tamer al-Refaay in a statement. "The air forces destroyed 20 targets used by the terrorist elements as a base for launching attacks, as well as two explosive-laden vehicles," he added. The forces also raided 185 targets used for sheltering terrorists and for hiding their weapons, it added. Also, 641 militants have been arrested, raising the number of detained to 2,235 since the beginning of the operation, the army spokesperson added. Since the launch of "Sinai 2018" operation on Feb. 9, ten army men were killed 13 were wounded, while the death toll of the terrorists reached 82. President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi ordered the armed forces in November to uproot terrorists within three months after an attack on a mosque killed more than 300 people in Sinai city of Arish. Bordering Israel and the Palestinian Gaza Strip, Egypt's North Sinai province has been the center of terrorist attacks that killed hundreds of policemen and soldiers following the military ouster of former Islamist President Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 in response to mass protests. Attacks later expanded to reach several other provinces including Cairo and started to target the Coptic minority via church bombings and shootings. ANKARA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been criticized after telling a six-year-old girl that she would be honored if "martyred" in fighting, with the remarks regarded as "child abuse" by some. "Her Turkish flag is in her pocket ... If she's martyred, she will be wrapped with it, God willing," he told the weeping child during a congress of his AK Party in Southern city of Kahramanmaras over the weekend. In the broadcast event, the girl dressed in military uniform and was invited by Erdogan to the stage. It remains unclear who she is and why she was wearing like a soldier. "Glorifying children's deaths? Promoting child soldiers? Sick." Andrew Stroehlein tweeted. Russian TV network RT called Erdogan's remarks "a bizarre act of patriotism". Erdogan made the speech in the party event attempting to boost confidence in the fight in Syria, as Turkish forces have been in mire on the battle ground. Last week, Turkish Presidential Spokesman Ibrahim Kalin rejected the possibility of any political dialogue between Ankara and Damascus, which is suggested by Russia. On Saturday, the U.N. Security Council adopted a resolution demanding a ceasefire for at least 30 days across Syria to allow humanitarian access and urgent medical evacuations. On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear Kurdish militia People's Protection Units (YPG) from Syria's Afrin. Ankara sees the YPG to be the Syrian affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers' Party, a terrorist organization listed by Turkey, the United States and the EU. NAIROBI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- African governments should harmonize their laws to safeguard countries from the invasive species, an expert said on Tuesday. Martha Byanyima, expert on Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) at the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), said many countries have experienced devastating economic losses due to attacks from invasive pests in the recent years. "We need to have a harmonized law that enables countries to trade in a liberalized economy and also protect them from invasions by unwanted species," Byanyima told Xinhua in Nairobi. She called for a harmonized approach since regulations that are being applied in almost all countries are not coordinated. Byanyima said that although most African countries have signed both the World Trade Organization (WHO) SPS agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), legislation, enforcement is still weak or in some countries lacking. "As a result, the weakness has allowed the introduction of Invasive Alien Species at a faster rate," she added. Byanyima said the impacts of the loss on livelihoods undermine the trends made on trade liberalization in the region. She urged the countries to integrate their model and strengthen their bio-security to safeguard internal and external trade. According to Byanyima, COMESA has embarked on strengthening bio-security of Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia and Burundi with aim of equipping them to respond to their needs on safeguarding their territories from invasive species. Byanyima noted that the regional economic body has entered into a working relationship with the Australian government on how best the member countries can leverage their resources in tackling the general problems. She called for investment in agriculture since it is the mainstay of most economies in the continent. According to experts, with climate change becoming the biggest challenge in the continent leading to erratic rainfall patterns and adaptation of crops that survives under stressful conditions, old pests and diseases, new biological risks and the invasive alien species are now threatening economies of most countries in the continent. Scientists have referred to invasive alien species coupled with climate change as a "deadly duo" as they are regarded as one of the biggest threats to plant species. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 18:08:20|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The rebels in Syria's Eastern Ghouta fired five mortar shells on a safe corridor prepared for the evacuation of civilians under a Russian-proposed humanitarian pause on Tuesday, the state-run TV reported. The rebels fired the mortar shells on the Wafidin crossing, the only corridor for civilians to evacuate the rebel-held areas in Eastern Ghouta toward government-controlled parts in Damascus. The firing comes to thwart the evacuation of civilians, said the TV. It added that five women were wounded when the mortars slammed areas around the crossing. Meanwhile, activists inside Ghouta said there are no signs of any preparations for the evacuation of civilians from Eastern Ghouta. The Russian Defense Ministry said the rebels firing on the crossing is preventing the civilians from leaving. The Russian-proposed humanitarian pause entered into effect at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Tuesday and is expected to continue until 2 p.m. in the conflict-torn area. Such humanitarian pause, however, will take place every day within the same period of time to allow evacuation of civilians from the rebel-held zone. Despite the failure of civilians evacuation so far, relative calm prevailed in Damascus after the humanitarian pause went into force. Local media said the crossing has been prepared with ambulances and buses to transport the civilians who will leave into safe places. It's not yet clear if the rebels will allow the civilians to leave Eastern Ghouta, as Muhammad Alloush, the political chief of Islam Army, said a day earlier that only the wounded will leave, not the regular civilians. The humanitarian pause comes just days after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2401, which requires all parties in Syria to immediately cease clashes and provide a sustained humanitarian break for at least 30 days. But terror-designated groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front are excluded from the resolution, as the battles against them continue. The UN organizations have already sounded the alarm about the situation in Eastern Ghouta, where 400,000 people are believed to be trapped in the sprawling area east of Damascus. The military showdown started to intensify between the Syrian army and rebels 10 days ago, with mortar shells from rebels hitting Damascus while the Syrian forces continued their massive bombardment against rebel positions in the area. WASHINGTON, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. special envoy for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) policy Joseph Yun will resign from his post for personal reasons, media outlets reported Monday. Yun, special representative for the DPRK policy and deputy assistant secretary for Korea and Japan, told the CNN that "it was completely my decision to retire at this time." Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has reportedly "reluctantly accepted his decision and wished him well." State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said diplomatic efforts will continue "based on our maximum pressure campaign to isolate the DPRK until it agrees to begin credible talks toward a denuclearized Korean peninsula." Yun, in his 60s, joined the U.S. State Department in 1985. Once the U.S. Ambassador to Malaysia, he was appointed by former President Barack Obama onto his current post in 2016. He came to the DPRK last June and brought back released U.S. citizen Otto Warmbier to the United States. U.S. media said the departure of Yun, who has been supportive of solving the Korean Peninsula issues through dialogue, was due to his long disappointment over Donald Trump administration's provocations against the DPRK, and diplomats' lacking of speaking in the government's decision-making process. Washington has pushed forward its "maximum pressure" campaign against the DPRK. Trump on Friday announced what he called the "heaviest sanctions" on the DPRK, a move that came amid signs of a growing rapprochement on the Korean Peninsula. NEW DELHI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- India on Tuesday announced a reduction in airfare for minority Muslims who wish to go on Haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. "The decision is in line with our empowerment without appeasement policy," Indian Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told the media. The reduction in airfare will be available to Muslim pilgrims taking airlines like national carrier Air India, Saudi Airlines and Flynas, another Saudi carrier, from 21 airports in India. In January the Indian government scrapped subsidies for Muslims going to Haj pilgrimage in accordance with a Supreme Court order some six years back. NAIROBI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan public debt ballooned in the past months to cross above the 45 billion U.S. dollars mark as the cash-strapped government accelerated borrowing. The debt stood at 45.1 billion dollars at the end of December, 2017, the latest Quarterly Economic and Budgetary Review report from the Treasury released on Monday evening revealed. At the end of 2016, the East African nation's debt stood at 38 billion dollars, with the government accelerating borrowing from both domestic and external sources last year. The debt does not include funds borrowed internally through Treasury bills and bonds in the past two months and the 2 billion dollars Eurobond Kenya sourced from the international market last week. "During the period, 51.9 percent of the total public debt was foreign loans while 48.1 percent domestic," said Treasury in the report. External debt stock, including the 2013 International Sovereign Bond, stood at 23 billion dollars for the period ending December 2017. "The debt stock comprised of multilateral (35.8 percent), bilateral (33.3 percent), suppliers credit (0.7 percent) and commercial banks (30.3 percent)," said the Treasury. On the other hand, total gross domestic debt stock increased from 19 billion dollars billion as at end December 2016 to 22 billion by the end of December 2017. "The overall rise of the debt was due to increased external debt mainly arising from exchange rate fluctuations and disbursement of external loans during the period," said Treasury. The Kenyan shilling ended 2017 at a low of 103.20 to the greenback, having declined, albeit gradually, for the better part of the year. With increased borrowing from the domestic market and through the Eurobond this year, the East African nation's debt can now be estimated at about 47 billion dollars, which is over 56 percent of the gross domestic product. The government has defended the mounting debt, which has caused concern with economic experts warning that it is surging to unmanageable levels. "We ask the government to seek measures to reduce the debt as it is reaching unsustainable levels," International Monetary Fund resident representative to Kenya Jan Mikkelsen told parliament last week. LOS ANGELES, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. film studio the Weinstein Company announced late Sunday that it will file for bankruptcy after a buyout deal collapsed. In the announcement, the company's board said while they recognize "this is an extremely unfortunate outcome" for the employees, creditors and any victims, the board "has no choice." The studio also accused the investor group it has been talking to for a month of "failing to keep promises." The investor group, which had offered to pay roughly 275 million U.S. dollars for the studio, was led by Maria Contreras-Sweet, former head of the U.S. Small Business Administration. "It appears that this transaction has now ended," Contreras-Sweet said in statement on Monday, adding the company's move "surprised" her. "While our efforts did not materialize as we had hoped, I am grateful for my investors who saw the compelling value of a women-led board." The Weinstein Company is one of the most successful independent film studios in the United States. It has produced Oscar-winning films like "The King's Speech," "Django Unchained," "The Reader" and so on. But it has been struggling financially ever since its founder Harvey Weinstein was accused of sexual harassment and assault by dozens of women in 2017. Weinstein has denied ever engaging in "non-consensual sex" but was ousted from the company last October. To avoid bankruptcy and keep the company intact, it made talks with various potential buyers and chose to enter exclusive negotiations with Contreras-Sweet's group in late January. The two sides were very close to finalize the deal on Feb. 10 when Eric Schneiderman, New York's attorney general expressed his concerns over the deal: adequate compensation for Weinstein's victims, protection for the company's remaining employees and no financial rewards for executives who knew about Weinstein's alleged acts. On Feb. 17, the two sides discussed plan to create a full-fledged victim compensation fund of 90 million dollars. But on Sunday the Weinstein Company said the deal was dead. It is believed that the studio will file the bankruptcy in the next few days. Syrians walk down a destroyed street in Arbin in the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta on February 25, 2018. (AFP Photo) DAMASCUS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The rebels in Syria's Eastern Ghouta fired five mortar shells on a safe corridor prepared for the evacuation of civilians under a Russian-proposed humanitarian pause on Tuesday, the state-run TV reported. The rebels fired the mortar shells on the Wafidin crossing, the only corridor for civilians to evacuate the rebel-held areas in Eastern Ghouta toward government-controlled parts in Damascus. The firing comes to thwart the evacuation of civilians, said the TV. It added that five women were wounded when the mortars slammed areas around the crossing. Meanwhile, activists inside Ghouta said there are no signs of any preparations for the evacuation of civilians from Eastern Ghouta. The Russian Defense Ministry said the rebels firing on the crossing is preventing the civilians from leaving. The Russian-proposed humanitarian pause entered into effect at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Tuesday and is expected to continue until 2 p.m. in the conflict-torn area. Such humanitarian pause, however, will take place every day within the same period of time to allow evacuation of civilians from the rebel-held zone. Despite the failure of civilians evacuation so far, relative calm prevailed in Damascus after the humanitarian pause went into force. Local media said the crossing has been prepared with ambulances and buses to transport the civilians who will leave into safe places. It's not yet clear if the rebels will allow the civilians to leave Eastern Ghouta, as Muhammad Alloush, the political chief of Islam Army, said a day earlier that only the wounded will leave, not the regular civilians. The humanitarian pause comes just days after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2401, which requires all parties in Syria to immediately cease clashes and provide a sustained humanitarian break for at least 30 days. But terror-designated groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front are excluded from the resolution, as the battles against them continue. The UN organizations have already sounded the alarm about the situation in Eastern Ghouta, where 400,000 people are believed to be trapped in the sprawling area east of Damascus. The military showdown started to intensify between the Syrian army and rebels 10 days ago, with mortar shells from rebels hitting Damascus while the Syrian forces continued their massive bombardment against rebel positions in the area. by Yoo Seungki SEOUL, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- The 23rd Winter Olympics ended successfully with the participation of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), but challenges were left for South Korean President Moon Jae-in who was seeking to build a lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula through the dialogue mood created by the Olympics. The high-ranking DPRK delegation, led by Kim Yong Chol, vice-chairman of the Central Committee of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea, returned home Tuesday via land route, wrapping up a three-day visit to South Korea. The visit by Kim, who also serves as director of the United Front Department in charge of inter-Korean affairs, boosted hope for improved inter-Korean relations and the denuclearized Korean Peninsula as he expressed DPRK's willingness to talk directly with the United States. Kim made the remarks during a meeting in PyeongChang, where he attended the Olympic closing ceremony, with President Moon Sunday, conveying the message of top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un to the South Korean president. The DPRK leader sent his younger sister, Kim Yo Jong, to the Winter Olympic opening ceremony earlier this month, delivering his letter to Moon inviting the South Korean president to visit Pyongyang. In response, Moon asked the DPRK side to actively engage in a dialogue with the United States, hinting that if relations between Pyongyang and Washington make progress, the proposed inter-Korean summit between Moon and Kim could be possible. The DPRK leader positively responded to Moon's call as the chief DPRK delegate to the Winter Olympic closing ceremony said Monday that "doors are open" for talks with the United States. It indicated the top DPRK leader's intention to start talks with the U.S. side, possibly about the denuclearization. Moon faced a challenge of persuading U.S. President Donald Trump to have a direct dialogue with the DPRK as the Trump administration imposed the heaviest-ever sanctions on Pyongyang just a day before the arrival of the high-ranking DPRK delegation in South Korea on Sunday. U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Kim Yo Jong were seated just a few meters away during the Olympic opening ceremony, but they avoided each other, quashing expectations for a historic moment between the U.S. No.2 official and a senior member of the DPRK's ruling party. Ivanka Trump, the daughter of President Trump who serves as a White House advisor, also took her seat just a few meters away from the chief DPRK delegate during the closing ceremony, but they did not talk. The U.S. government set a precondition for any possible talks with the DPRK, demanding Pyongyang's commitment to denuclearization first. The DPRK side had yet to attach any condition to talks with the United States. Another challenge facing President Moon is the scheduled joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States, which Moon and Trump agreed to delay during the Olympic and Paralympic period. If Moon fails to persuade Trump to suspend, or at least scale down, the joint war games, which the DPRK denounces as a rehearsal for northward invasion, the dialogue mood on the Korean Peninsula could be disrupted. The Paralympics is slated for March 9-18 in PyeongChang. South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo told a parliamentary defense committee last week that schedules for the South Korea-U.S. war games would be announced by the end of March after the Paralympics. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 18:38:31|Editor: ZD Video Player Close NAIROBI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya is to give an official go-ahead to insurance companies and other investors to start selling low-cost insurance products as the country seeks to increase the number of its nationals covered by insurance policies. Kenya's regulator Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) said on Tuesday that it is holding consultations with all the stakeholders following successful development of the proposed law to guide the establishment of low cost insurance companies known as micro insurance. "The laws that we have proposed are based on the best global practices on microinsurance," said Godfrey Kiptum, the Chief Executive Officer of the IRA during consultations with the industry at the Kenya's College of Insurance in the capital Nairobi. Kiptum called on the industry to prepare to offer Kenyans affordable insurance products that meet their most relevant needs. He said insurance companies must change their perception to accommodate the needs of low income earners who are expected to be the main buyers of low-priced insurance products. "The insurance industry in Kenya is still very traditional and rigid in its practice. We need a paradigm shift," he said. Statistics by IRA show that insurance industry in Kenya contributes 3 percent to the national economy every year. Although this is the highest contribution in East Africa, with the rest of economies gaining less than one percent from the industry, it is still seen as low as because in markets like South Africa, insurance contributes 14 percent to the economy. He said companies venturing into micro insurance must get out of conventional thinking and invest in high level of innovation to create the best understanding of the new market. The proposed law comes just days after President Uhuru Kenyatta committed to register about 26 million Kenyans to the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) from the current seven million Kenyans, as part of his legacy of providing universal health insurance. The insurance regulator in Kenya has also proposed regulations to guide banks that sell insurance products under what is known as bancassurance. Kiptum said one of the key concern the proposed law addresses is the complaints that banks are forcing clients who take loans with them to take insurance from the same banks. "Kenyans must be given a right to choose and therefore the proposed regulations prohibit banks from insuring loans to their customers," said Kiptum. But he said the prohibition is an optional measure if the banking industry can come up with a proposal that will help to end this aspect of clients being forced to take credit insurance by banks. WELLINGTON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand recorded its largest deficit for a January month since 2007, the country's statistics department Stats NZ said on Tuesday. This deficit in January 2018 contrasts with last December's surplus, which was the largest ever for a December month, Stats NZ said. The January 2018 trade balance was a deficit of 566 million NZ dollars (413 million U.S. dollars), which was larger than January 2017 deficit as imports rose more than exports, it said. "Both imports and exports reached new highs for January month," international statistics manager Tehseen Islam said in a statement, adding that import growth remains strong while export growth didn't carry on at the same rate as the record-setting December 2017 month. Imports rose 713 million NZ dollars, or 17 percent, from January 2017, with increases across a range of commodities including turbo-jets, diesel, and ships, Islam said. The 373 million NZ dollar or 9.5 percent rise in exports was led by milk powder, butter, and cheese, he said, adding that values were down 21 million NZ dollars to China, due to lower exports of milk powder, which is the first fall for milk powder, butter, and cheese to China since November 2016. ULAN BATOR, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia has become the second country to meet all the requirements of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) standard among the 51 implementing countries, the Mongolian authorities said Tuesday. Mongolia was assessed as meeting all the requirements of the EITI standard by the EITI Board, second to the Philippines, which passed the assessment last October. "Mongolia has made remarkable progress since their first validation eighteen months ago, in particular bringing transparency on state participation in the extractive sector," said the EITI board chair Fredrik Reinfeldt, describing the Mongolian achievement as "a significant milestone." The EITI, launched in September 2002, is a global standard to promote the open and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources, seeking to address the key governance issues. The EITI international secretariat is based in Oslo, Norway. ISLAMABAD, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's ruling party the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) appointed Shahbaz Sharif as its interim chief on Tuesday to fill the post left vacant after the top court disqualified former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to lead the party last week. According to a statement issued from the party's Twitter account, Nawaz Sharif proposed to name his younger brother Shahbaz Sharif for the post of interim president, which was approved unanimously during a meeting of the party's central working committee in Lahore. The party will also hold another meeting on March 6 for intraparty elections to elect Shahbaz Sharif as the permanent president. Shahbaz Sharif, 66, is currently serving as the Chief Minister of Pakistan's Punjab Province. The party's meeting also approved the appointment of Nawaz Sharif as its leader for life. However, he will not have any specific position in the party. Last week, the supreme court gave the decision while hearing petitions against the Elections Act 2017 passed by the parliament, which paved the way for Nawaz to resume his position as party chief following his disqualification from the public office in a corruption case last year. The court said a person who is disqualified under the Constitution is not eligible to keep any position in a political party. WELLINGTON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- An event celebrating the Chinese New Year was held at the New Zealand parliament on Tuesday. "Chinese New Year is celebrated around the globe wherever Chinese people have settled and started communities and it's no different here in Aotearoa (New Zealand)," said Minister for Ethnic Communities Jenny Salesa who hosted the event. Guest speakers of the event included New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Political Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy Qu Guangzhou. Chinese New Zealanders account for 4 percent of New Zealand's total population and are the third largest ethnic group in New Zealand, Salesa said. The first Chinese New Year event was celebrated at the parliament in 2002, and has been celebrated annually since then, she said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 19:18:47|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- China on Tuesday expressed support for Pakistan's fight against terrorism, urging the international community to view the country's anti-terrorism efforts in an objective and impartial way. The government and people of Pakistan have contributed and sacrificed a lot in their fight against terrorism and made great efforts in ground operations as well as combating terrorism in the financial sector, said Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang at a routine press briefing. He called on the international community not to criticize Pakistan with prejudice. Lu's comments came after some countries persuaded members of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) last week to place Pakistan back on the "grey list" of nations with inadequate efforts to control terror financing. China, as an all-weather strategic cooperation partner of Pakistan, will continue to strengthen communication and coordination with Pakistan in anti-terrorism cooperation, Lu said. ULAN BATOR, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs Randall Schriver will pay an official visit to Mongolia from Wednesday to Friday for talks with Mongolian officials on bilateral defense cooperation. Schriver will hold an official meeting with Mongolian Defense Minister Nyamaa Enkhbold on defense cooperation between the two countries, the U.S. embassy in Mongolia said Tuesday. It is expected that an agreement on providing health service to military personnel and their families of both countries will be introduced. Schriver previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, covering Mongolia. RIGA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Shareholders of Latvia's troubled ABLV Bank, which U.S. authorities accused of involvement in money laundering and bribery, decided on Monday to wind up the bank in order to better protect the interests of the bank's clients and creditors. "The bank is in a great financial shape, so we need to take care of each client and protection of their rights," said ABLV Bank's co-owner and CEO Ernests Bernis after the decision was made at a meeting on Monday night. "Taking into account previous insolvency and liquidation processes that have taken place in Latvia we believe that this is the best possible decision that could be taken after the European Central Bank's (ECB) announcement on the start of the wind-up process," Bernis said. "It is a very tough decision to make, but the most appropriate in the given circumstances," Bernis said. On Feb. 23, ECB decided against rescuing ABLV Bank and told it to wind up in line with Latvian laws. Under the Latvian Credit Institutions Law, the bank has five days to inform the national banking regulator, the Finance and Capital Markets Commission, about its decision. In a report released on Feb. 13, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network said that the ABLV management "used bribery to influence Latvian officials when challenging enforcement actions and perceived threats to their high-risk business." It also proposed sanctioning ABLV for its money laundering schemes by banning the bank from opening or maintaining correspondent accounts in the United States or fully blocking the bank from the U.S. financial system. PHNOM PENH, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia is projected to receive about 1.7 million Chinese tourists in 2018, an expected increase of 40 percent from 1.21 million in 2017, Tourism Minister Thong Khon said Tuesday. "There has been a rise in the middle class in China. Chinese people are now rich, and they are keen to spend their holidays overseas," he told reporters on the sidelines of a Tourism Ministry's annual conference. Thong Khon also attributed the remarkable rise in Chinese tourists to Cambodia to excellent ties between Cambodia and China, Cambodia's attractive tourism sites and increasing direct flights between the two countries. The Southeast Asian nation attracted 5.6 million international tourists last year and was expected to receive 6.1 million this year, said the minister. Tourism is one of the four sectors supporting the economy. The country has three world heritage sites, namely the Angkor Archeological Park, the Preah Vihear Temple, and the Sambor Prei Kuk Archeological Site. Besides, it has a pristine coastline stretching in the length of 450 km in four southwestern provinces of Preah Sihanouk, Kampot, Kep and Koh Kong. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 19:58:22|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Performers take part in a folk art parade during an activity to greet the Lantern Festival in Suning County, north China's Hebei Province, Feb. 27, 2018. This year's Lantern Festival falls on March 2. (Xinhua/Yuan Liwei) Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 19:53:55|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak speaks during a luncheon in celebration of the Chinese New Year, which was organized by Malaysia-China Business Council, of which he is a patron, on Feb. 27, 2018. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has reiterated his welcoming attitude for investment from China on Tuesday, describing China's business community as "one of our partners in building the high-income, high skilled Malaysia of the future." (Xinhua) KUALA LUMPUR, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak has reiterated his welcoming attitude for investment from China on Tuesday, describing China's business community as "one of our partners in building the high-income, high skilled Malaysia of the future." Najib made the remarks when attending a luncheon in celebration of the Chinese New Year, which was organized by Malaysia-China Business Council, of which he is a patron. He told the hundreds of guests in attendance, including Chinese Ambassador Bai Tian, that total bilateral trade between Malaysia and China in the last year remained strong at 96.3 billion U.S. dollars. Najib said it was right for Malaysia to become the first ASEAN country to establish diplomatic ties with China in 1974, and "we are right to welcome Chinese investment now." Najib listed Alliance Steel, the first entrant in the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park, as an example that engagement with China can bring win-win results. He said workers at the factory -- 70 percent of the 4,000 new job opportunities will be Malaysian citizens -- received skills transfer, got better payment, which provides for a better standard of living for them and the local economy also got boosted. "The government more than welcomes this partnership and strong bond of friendship. We cherish it. Because we know that it is good for Chinese firms and investors, and it is good for the Malaysian people," he said. The prime minister also talked about other major achievements among mutually beneficial bilateral ties, including the Malaysian campus of Xiamen University, first for a renowned Chinese university to set up a branch campus overseas, the Digital Free Trade Zone, jointly developed by the Malaysian government and Alibaba, as well as Geely's investment in Malaysian carmaker Proton. He also noted better people-to-people exchanges, as seen in a total of 1.89 million Chinese tourists visiting Malaysia from January to October last year. "We welcome investment, whether it is from China, Japan, India, Saudi Arabia or any of the many countries with which we have friendly relations," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 19:58:56|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close MACAO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 1,381 meetings and exhibitions were held last year in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR), up by 105 year-on-year, the SAR's statistics service said on Tuesday. Information from the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) indicated more than 1,200 meetings and conferences, as well as more than 50 exhibitions and expos were held last year. The number of participants and attendees increased by 10.4 percent to 1.9 million. Meanwhile, the revenue of exhibitions and expos reached 184 million patacas (about 22.89 million U.S. dollars), with the majority of revenue generating from rental receipts of exhibition booths. The exhibitions and expos attracted 5,533 exhibitors, with 28.6 percent of them coming from the Chinese mainland and 35.9 percent from the Macao SAR. SHIBERGHAN, Afghanistan, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 13 militants of the Islamic State (IS) group, including a key commander, have been killed in Afghanistan's northern Jawzjan province, spokesman for the provincial government Mohammad Reza Ghafori said Tuesday. "A total of 13 IS rebels including their key commander Qari Jalal and his lieutenant Mullah Rasoul have been killed and seven others injured in Darzab district over the past two days," Ghafori told Xinhua. Three security personnel have also been injured over the past two days in clashes with IS insurgents in Darzab district of the province, the official added. Clashes between security forces and IS militants have intensified in Darzab district recently, the official said. The IS group has yet to make comment on the latest report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 20:03:59|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese lawmakers will meet in Beijing in about a week's time for an annual session of the national legislature, during which a highlight is the anticipated revisions to the Constitution. If adopted, the amendments will be the first in more than a decade. The inclusion of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era in the Constitution will be a compass to guide China's course toward modernization. Prescribing the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) as "the defining feature of socialism with Chinese characteristics" as well as the creation of constitutional space for a new anti-graft system will ensure the journey is a smooth one. "The proposed revision is a timely answer to the calls of the new era," said Jiang Ming'an, director of the constitution and administrative law research center of Peking University. Major theoretical achievements, principles and policies formulated over the past years are likely to be added to the Constitution. Candidates for inclusion are the vision of a community with a shared future for humanity and the five-sphere integrated plan for coordinated economic, political, cultural, social and ecological advancement, according to a proposed constitutional amendment unveiled by the CPC Central Committee on Sunday. Other possibilities include adding core socialist values, and listing the supervisory commissions as a new type of state organs. A constitutional change requires the approval of two thirds or more of deputies to the National People's Congress (NPC) during the full annual session. The first annual session of the 13th NPC is scheduled to begin on March 5. The proposal comes as China's modernization drive picks up speed and the economy shifts toward high-quality development. A report delivered at the 19th CPC National Congress in October declared the opening of a new era for socialism with Chinese characteristics. The report offered two clear objectives: socialist modernization basically completed by 2035, and a "great modern socialist country" built by the middle of the century. "Only by constantly adapting to new situations can the Constitution have lasting vitality," Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said on Dec. 15 at a symposium on constitutional revisions attended by representatives of non-Communist parties. The first Constitution of the People's Republic of China was enacted in 1954. The current Constitution has been in place since 1982 and has undergone four amendments in 1988, 1993, 1999 and 2004. While the reform and opening-up drive which began 40 years ago has made amazing progress, it brought with it various problems, but with each new problem comes a new solution. From 1988 to 1999, amendments included reform of land-use rights, a legal status for the private economy, the theory of building socialism with Chinese characteristics, replacing the phrase "planned economy" with "socialist market economy" and incorporation of Deng Xiaoping Theory. The most recent amendment in 2004 protected private property and human rights and gave the Theory of Three Represents constitutional authority. The amendments were both necessary and in line with China's day-to-day reality, according to Jiao Hongchang, law professor at the China University of Political Science and Law. "They ensured the current Constitution has remained effective for decades," he said. The CPC has, through the people's congress system, led the Chinese people both in enacting and revising the Constitution and in observing the fundamental law. The NPC is the highest institution through which the Chinese people exercise their state power. During the 19th CPC National Congress, the Party made it clear that the goal of reform is to improve and develop socialism with Chinese characteristics and modernize China's system and capacity for governance. "The Constitution is prerequisite to law-based governance and fundamental to the modernization of China," Jiao said. "The CPC and government will find ways to strengthen constitutional authority and apply the Constitution to resolving the major problems facing the country," he noted. ALGIERS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Algeria and Turkey signed seven partnership agreements in various sectors, as part of the official visit of the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the north African state, local official source said on Tuesday. The signing ceremony was co-chaired in Algiers by President Erdogan and Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia. The agreements concern the sectors of energy, higher education, diplomacy, culture, tourism and agriculture, aiming at reinforcing partnership between the two nations in these domains. Erdogan is accompanied by a group of Turkish businessmen and investors to participate in the Turkish-Algerian Business Forum which is set to be held in Algiers on Tuesday. This Business Forum will bring together a large number of Algerian and Turkish companies and businessmen, as it aims at giving a new impetus to bilateral trade exchanges. Erdogan is also due to hold talks with his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika later on Tuesday on bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism. The visit of Erdogan to the North African nation is the second of its kind after that of Nov. 2014. MOSCOW, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The visa-free tourist flow from China to Russia rose 23 percent year on year to 944,000 people in 2017, the Russian travel association "World without borders" said Tuesday. A total of 1.24 million Chinese tourists visited Russia in the first nine months of 2017, it said in a statement. Group tourists from China and Russia can visit each other's country visa-free. "China is our strategic partner in the sphere of tourism and the leader in terms of visitor numbers," the statement quoted Oleg Safonov, head of the Russian Federal Agency for Tourism, as saying. "We pay great attention to the creation of comfortable travel conditions for Chinese citizens in our country, developing special routes and programs for them and training Chinese-speaking guides," he added. According to the association, the most popular routes among Chinese tourists on the visa-free basis were Moscow and the second-largest city St. Petersburg, which attracted 52 percent of the visitors, followed by border regions and some parts of Siberia. The number of Russians who visited China visa-free last year was 415,000, an increase of 20 percent from a year ago, it said, adding that most of them were residents of the bordering regions. File photo shows a boy waiting for the relief food to be distributed in Harores Wereda, Southeastern Ethiopia, April 12, 2017. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia has reaffirmed its open-door policy for refugees that are flocking into the East African country mainly from its unsettled neighboring countries. The Ethiopian refugee agency (ARRA) said Monday that even though the country presently shelters more than 900,000 refugees, it will maintain its open door policy towards refugees and "continue to receive new arrivals from several of its neighbors, notably from South Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan and Yemen." Ethiopia, which is home to the second largest refugee population in Africa next to Uganda, further affirmed its commitment to improving refugee lives through the Comprehensive Refugee Response Framework (CRRF) and the Nine Significant Pledges it has made in September 2016. "As a country proud for its long-standing history of hosting refugees and home to the second largest refugee population in Africa, our commitment to improving refugee lives will continue unabated in light of the CRRF and the Nine Significant Pledges we made in September 2016," Zeynu Jemal, Deputy Director of Ethiopian Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs (ARRA), told journalists on Monday. Jemal also revealed Ethiopia's plan to formulate a strategic plan that envisaged to help refugees both through support packages and prevention of challenges towards bringing lasting solution. "We are now in the process of formulating a Ten-Year Strategic Plan to comprehensively respond to the multifaceted needs of refugees that is creating strong linkages between humanitarian assistance, development and of course peace-building," Jemal said. The Ethiopian government, through ARRA and other governmental institutions, is currently implementing a program of protection and hospitality of refugees in several refugee camps across the country. The protection program guarantees, among other things, education for children and youth, health services and the distribution of basic needs, food and security. Filippo Grandi, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, in his recent visit to Ethiopia's Gameblla regional state, which is housing most of the South Sudanese refugees, had praised efforts made by the Ethiopian government in handling the regional refugee crisis. "Ethiopia is a very good model of how a country with a limited resources and a great challenge of its own keeps its doors open, its arms open to people from neighboring countries that are in trouble and seek protection here," Grandi said during his visit. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 20:39:09|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- China said Tuesday that it hopes for direct dialogue between the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the United States, and hopes such dialogue will commence soon. Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang made the comment responding to reports that U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that talks with the DPRK would be possible "only under the right conditions," after the DPRK side expressed its willingness to talk with the United States. Lu said that there is a relaxation of tension on the Korean Peninsula recently, and China hopes that the detente could be sustained after the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, which conforms to the common aspiration of the DPRK and ROK, countries in the region and the international community, and will help push relevant parties back to the track of solving Peninsula nuclear issue via negotiations. China hopes the dialogue between the DPRK and the ROK could be expanded to direct dialogue between the U.S. and the DPRK, Lu told a routine news briefing. "After all, the core of the Korean Peninsula issue is about security, and the U.S. and the DPRK hold the key to solving the issue." "The dialogue between the U.S. and the DPRK is not only China's hope, but the common wish of the international community," Lu said. "We hope such dialogues can be held at an early date, and that the U.S. and the DPRK will work together towards achieving beneficial results through effective dialogues." Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 20:49:11|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close BISHKEK, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese Culture Week opened at Manas Kyrgyz-Turkish University here Tuesday, with various activities involving Chinese calligraphy, films, cuisine and songs and dances expected to be held within the week. The event, organized during the Chinese Spring Festival, is aimed at enhancing cultural cooperation between China and Kyrgyzstan and promoting Chinese culture among Kyrgyz students and teaching staff, chief of the Oriental Languages Department of Manas Kyrgyz-Turkish University, Osmonakun Ibraimov, told Xinhua. He said that the Chinese Culture Week was organized by the Oriental Languages Department of the university with the financial support of the Confucius Institute in Kyrgyzstan. Though the university started to teach Chinese language long ago, such an event is being organized for the first time, Ibraimov said. The Chinese Culture Week will last till March 2. ANKARA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey has not been engaged in any diplomatic talks with the U.S. over the ongoing military operation in Syria's Afrin, the Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Tuesday. Spokesperson Hami Aksoy told reporters that the Pentagon's statement regarding Syria's Afrin is not true. On Monday, The U.S. Defense Department spokesperson Adrian Galloway said that Ankara and Washington are holding diplomatic talks to ease tensions in Afrin. "There are diplomatic discussions ongoing right now to de-escalate the situation in Afrin," he told reporters in a press briefing, adding the move is "to focus on the fight against the Islamic State(IS)." During U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson's visit to Ankara on Feb. 15-16, the two countries agreed to establish a new mechanism to handle problematic areas, including Syria issue. The two sides will hold first working group meeting by mid-March as part of the mechanisms. Manbij will be on the top of the agenda of bilateral talks, according to the joint statement. On Jan. 20, Turkey launched Operation Olive Branch to clear the People's Protection Units (YPG) militia from Syria's Afrin. Ankara sees YPG as the Syrian affiliates of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a terrorist organization listed by Turkey. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 20:59:12|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The launch of oil transit project between Iran and Iraq has been put off due to safety problems, an Iranian trade official said on Tuesday. "We need to check the safety of the trucks that are supposed to arrive in Iran, and we are having problems in this regard because we do not have X-ray machines," secretary of the Iran-Iraq Chamber of Commerce, Hamid Hosseini, was quoted as saying by Press TV. "In this regard, we are talking with the Iraqi side, and if they agree, we will use their facilities and gradually complete our equipment," Hosseini added. Iran and Iraq signed a deal in December 2017, under which Iraq is about to truck 60,000 bpd of oil from its northern fields to Iran. The two neighbors also plan to build a pipeline to carry oil from Kirkuk to Iranian refineries in Kermanshah, Tabriz, Tehran and Arak. ISTANBUL, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese expo of ceramic, bathroom and kitchen items kicked off in Istanbul on Tuesday. The expo is seen as part of the efforts to promote economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between China and Turkey. The expo coincides with Istanbul Ceramic, Bathroom and Kitchen Fair, the second largest of its kind in the world, which brings together the leading players in the ceramic, bathroom and kitchen industries for five days untill March 3. A total of 42 Chinese firms attend the expo, covering an area of nearly 1,000 square meters at Istanbul's CNR Expo. The Chinese firms are displaying a wide range of products including ceramic machinery, raw materials and accessories, ceramic products, sanitary ware products and accessories, sauna and swimming pool equipment, shower cabin systems and kitchen furniture. Chinese Consul General in Istanbul Cui Wei and Wu Zhengping, the director general of Trade Development Bureau of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, the organizer of the Chinese expo, made a tour of the Chinese exhibition area. KIEV, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 police officers were injured in clashes with protesters near the Ukrainian parliament here Tuesday, authorities said. The clashes occurred when a group of activists brought tires to the square outside the parliament building and attempted to set them on fire, the press service of the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The police tried to prevent the demonstrators from starting the fire, but the protesters pelted the officers with stones and Molotov cocktails, the statement said. Nine demonstrators were detained following the clashes, it said. Earlier in the day, several separate groups of protesters rallied outside the parliament, demanding the lawmakers adopt a law on creating an anti-corruption court, appoint a new chief of the central bank and raise pensions for retired military personnel. LONDON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least three people were killed on Tuesday morning in a house fire in a village in Northern Ireland, the British police said. Firefighters from Lisnaskea, the second-largest settlement in County Fermanagh and the county town Enniskillen, were called to what the local fire service described as a "well-developed" blaze at a detached bungalow in Derrylin, Fermanagh, at 7:14 a.m. local time (0714 GMT). The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service tweeted two hours later that the blaze had been extinguished. The cause of the blaze at the bungalow is being investigated and people have been told to avoid the area, said the police. Some local politicians offered their condolences to the victims and their families. "This is absolutely tragic; God help them all," tweeted Michelle Gildernew, an Irish Sinn Fein Member of Parliament for the area. Britain's Democratic Unionist Party leader Arlene Foster tweeted, "Horrific news coming from Derrylin ... My thoughts and prayers are with the family and local community." Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 21:04:13|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Rinqen Tongdru, Party chief of a remote county on the eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau, is looking forward to the important political meeting next month. Rinqen will be among the 2,980 national lawmakers at the annual legislative session, during which the issue he cares about the most - poverty alleviation - should be a highlight, as the country is closing in on its goal of becoming a moderately prosperous society in 2020. For years, many farmers and herders in Rinqen's hometown in Debo County, Gansu Province, have lived tough lives in the mountainous area. The poverty alleviation campaign has compiled profiles of poor villagers since 2013. "We try to understand the particular conditions of individuals, and make plans accordingly," Rinqen Tongdru said. "For example, we found one village where it was easy to grow the cash crop angelica, so the government grew some and that encouraged the farmers to grow it, who were then offered loans and training," he said. A total of 11,334 rural people have made the step up out of poverty in Rinqen Tongdru's county, lowering the poverty rate from over 34 percent to 6 percent. "There are still over 2,000 people to go. Helping them within three years is a task for the whole county," Rinqen Tongdru said. He will discuss the issue with deputies from other rural regions at the upcoming session, learning what he can. WEALTHIER PEOPLE Lifting all people out of poverty is the baseline of the endeavor. A total of 68.53 million rural people over the past five years have seen their fortunes transformed, with the national poverty rate falling from 10.2 percent to 3.1 percent. This year alone, China will lift 10 million people out of absolute poverty, including 2.8 million who will be relocated. "China's remarkable progress in reducing extreme poverty has significantly contributed to the decline in global poverty," noted Hoon S. Soh, World Bank Program Leader for economic policy for China. "Poverty alleviation embodies the Chinese approach to human rights," said Chen Fengying, a research fellow at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations. There has been a major impact on the distribution of national income, said Chen, noting that the ultimate goal of poverty alleviation is to avoid the middle-income trap. Besides rooting out poverty, other key tasks include doubling GDP and per-capita income from 2010 levels. After decades of development, a large middle-income population has emerged in China, perhaps the biggest in the world, giving rise to a vast domestic market. As the world's largest source of outbound tourists, Chinese people made over 131 million overseas trips last year. As a top market for products such as automobiles and clothes, China saw its imports volume surge 18.7 percent in 2017. In November, the China International Import Expo in Shanghai is expected to attract thousands of enterprises from more than 100 countries. CLEANER ENVIRONMENT Along with poverty relief, financial risks prevention and pollution control have been identified by the Chinese leadership as "tough battles" to fight before a moderately prosperous society can be established. To make the sky bluer and the waters clearer, the country has been intensifying its efforts in pollution control. China has passed its toughest-ever environmental protection law, and introduced a "river chief" system to protect water resources. It is also pushing ahead with the efforts to draw the ecological "red lines." On Jan. 1, China started collecting the environment protection tax in order to more effectively cut pollutant discharge. China's economic restructuring will improve the quality of growth and reduce dependence on resources, easing the burden on the environment, said Wang Yiwei, a professor at Renmin University of China. China has been actively countering the climate change and honoring the Paris Agreement. The country will be actively involved in global environmental governance and fulfill its commitment on emission reduction, according to the report to the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. HEALTHIER FINANCIAL SYSTEM A moderately prosperous society cannot exist without a stable financial market. The parliamentary session is expected to work out policies against irregular and illegal practices in the finance industry. Deputies will be aware of the rising importance of China in the world economy, especially the spillover effects of China's economy. Throughout 2017, Chinese authorities have taken real steps to curb widespread malfeasance in the rapidly expanding financial market. Banks, insurance and securities companies have received heavy fines for flouting market rules, and Internet finance companies once prospering on easy profits are having a difficult time to survive with enhanced rules. Ten years after the global financial crisis, the world economy is still struggling to recover. China's resolution to defuse financial risks stabilizes the Chinese economy. As China's economic growth accounts for over 30 percent of the global growth, a healthy Chinese economy contributes significantly to the world. The annual sessions of the national legislature and the top advisory body, are expected to come up with concrete measures to fight the battles. "I will put forward my suggestions and opinions on poverty relief, the environment and infrastructure in poor areas," said Rinqen Tongdru. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 21:09:14|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close NANCHANG, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Jinggangshan, the revolutionary cradle of the Communist Party of China (CPC), witnessed rapid growth and improving livelihoods after it was removed from the country's list of impoverished areas a year ago. The per capita income for rural residents in the remote and hilly city in east China's Jiangxi Province reached 9,606 yuan (1,521 U.S. dollars) in 2017, up 12 percent year on year, a well-deserved first anniversary gift for bidding farewell to poverty. Jinggangshan was the first region in China to be taken off the "impoverished counties" list. With 28 counties casting off poverty in 2017, China shortened its list of poorest counties for the first time in more than 30 years, a concrete step toward delivering the country's goal of completely eliminating poverty by 2020. Zuo Xiufa, a 67-year-old emphysema patient, had one of his happiest ever Spring Festivals this year, as his family last year earned more than 50,000 yuan from their adobe-house-turned restaurant. "Tourists have swarmed in since the first day of Spring Festival," said Zuo, who offers tourists hand-made ciba, a traditional cuisine of cooked glutinous rice pounded into paste. Zuo's restaurant is among 16 rural guesthouses in Shenshan Village, a remote village that was listed as a 4A scenic spot by the provincial tourism administration in December, the second highest rank in a five-level evaluation system. Jinggangshan was home to the CPC and its army in the 1920s, both young at the time. The cultural heritage left by the revolutionary era has catalyzed a booming travel industry with a revenue of 13.89 billion yuan in 2017, up 14.7 percent year on year. To ensure farmers do not return to poverty, the Jinggangshan municipal government invested 460 million yuan mainly on social security, health care, resettlement and industrial development to consolidate poverty-alleviation achievements in 2017, 40 million yuan more than that in 2016, said Wu Taiming, head of the rural work department of the CPC Jinggangshan municipal committee. "We already cast off poverty and are on the way to a well-off life," Zuo said. The poverty rate fell from 1.6 percent in 2016 to 0.42 percent in 2017, according to Jiao Xuejun, mayor of Jinggangshan. A county can be removed from the list if less than 2 percent of its population lives below the poverty line, defined as a per capita annual income of 2,300 yuan at 2010 prices. "We only eliminated extreme poverty, but those who were lifted out of poverty might still be living in difficulties," said Huang Changhui, deputy head of the municipal poverty alleviation and resettlement office, adding that the poverty line was low. Mayor Jiao said that industrial development was key to the prosperity of the countryside and consolidating poverty reduction. In a trial, a yellow peach base in Maoping township invited 102 households, lifted out of poverty in 2016, to become shareholders. Without any cash input but land and a government poverty alleviation fund as investment, they will enjoy 22.5 percent of the profit after harvest, according to Liu Xiaoquan, the township Party secretary. "Farmers can also take part in the planting and management of the peaches, with a daily income of 100 yuan," Liu said. "Each household is expected to receive nearly 30,000 yuan as a dividend this July." ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government warned on Tuesday it will take measures against individuals and groups who are harassing members of parliaments. The press statement by the Ethiopian government martial law command post said individuals and groups have been calling and even physically confronting parliamentarians especially those from Oromia regional state to warn them from ratifying the martial law. The Ethiopian parliament is set to convene from its year recess on Friday, with the ratification of martial law across the country expected to be a top priority. Ethiopia council of ministers imposed martial law on February 15 amid sporadic protests and ethnic clashes especially in the two most populous regional states Oromia and Amhara. According to Ethiopian law, the federal parliament must approve by two thirds majority the institution of martial law within 15 days of the council of ministers to give it legal cover. Exiled activists especially from Oromia and Amhara regional states have in recent days been posting phone contact details and physical addresses of parliamentarians to pressure them to reject the institution of martial law. Parliamentarians from Amhara and Oromia regional states make up more than 60 percent of Ethiopia's 547 seat federal parliament giving them the power to potentially nullify the martial law decree. Ethiopia had previously declared martial law in October 2016 in the wake of widespread protests in parts of the two most populous regional states. The martial law was lifted in August 2017, after the easing of protests. The unrest in 2016 led to the deaths of hundreds and was dubbed by analysts as the gravest challenge the ruling coalition Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front faced in 25 years. However, sporadic deadly protests especially in Amhara and Oromia regional states in recent months have renewed fears about Ethiopia's stability, East Africa's largest economy. Protesters accuse the central government based in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa of marginalizing their political and economic demands. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 21:24:18|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The first day of the Russian-proposed humanitarian pause ended with no civilians leaving the rebel-held Eastern Ghouta area east of the capital Damascus. The humanitarian pause specifies a five-hour pause on a daily basis starting Tuesday to allow civilians to evacuate Eastern Ghouta through a humanitarian corridor at the Wafidin crossing northeast of Damascus. The state TV said no civilians have left on Tuesday, accusing the rebels of firing five mortar shells at the crossing to prevent people from leaving. The Russian Defense Ministry also said the rebels' mortar fire on the crossing is preventing civilians from leaving. However, opposition activists accused the government forces of shelling areas in Eastern Ghouta during the pause, saying one was killed by the government shelling. In a live broadcast at the Wafidin crossing, sounds of mortar shells striking nearby were clearly heard. In a briefing in Geneva, UN humanitarian spokesman Jens Laerke also confirmed the continuing fighting in Eastern Ghouta. "We have reports this morning that there is continuous fighting in Eastern Ghouta. Clearly the situation on the ground is not such that convoys can go in or medical evacuations can go out," he said. The pause entered into force at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) and is designed to continue until 2 p.m. in the conflict-torn area. Such humanitarian pause, however, will take place every day within the same period of time to allow evacuation of civilians from the rebel-held zone. Despite the failure of civilians evacuation so far, relative calm prevailed in Damascus after the humanitarian pause went into force. The humanitarian pause comes just days after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2401, which requires all parties in Syria to immediately cease clashes and provide a sustained humanitarian break for at least 30 days. But terror-designated groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front are excluded from the resolution, as the battles against them continue. The UN organizations have already sounded the alarm about the situation in Eastern Ghouta, where 400,000 people are believed to be trapped in the sprawling area east of Damascus. The military showdown started to intensify between the Syrian army and rebels 10 days ago, with mortar shells from rebels hitting Damascus while the Syrian forces continued their massive bombardment against rebel positions in Eastern Ghouta. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 21:24:19|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Intelligent and high-end equipment will be a highlight at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in Shanghai in November, authorities said Tuesday. Global enterprises such as Dell, Nokia, GE and Emerson have signed up to attend and will display advanced technology and products at the intelligent and high-end equipment exhibition zone, according to the expo's organizer. The zone covers sectors such as artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, energy conservation, 3D printing and new energy equipment. Tawara Kazuyuki, chairman of the board at Nachi (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., said that he hopes to show and improve the company's robotic products and technology through the expo. China has promised to boost imports, announcing plans to purchase more than 10 trillion U.S. dollars of goods and services in the next five years. The first CIIE will be held in Shanghai in November, which is expected to bring together thousands of enterprises from more than 100 countries. by Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, Feb. 27 ((Xinhua) -- Greek Economy Minister Dimitris Papadimitriou rendered his resignation on Tuesday along his wife Rania Antonopoulou, who served as Deputy Labor and Social Solidarity Minister, over a state subsidy they received to rent an apartment in Athens. Both resignations were accepted by Greek Minister Alexis Tsipras, according to e-mailed statements released from his office, after the strong reactions of the opposition parties, local media and citizens on the streets. Both multi-millionaire professors in universities in the United States, according to their income declarations which have been made public, Papadimitriou and Antonopoulou moved to Athens and served in the government since the Left-led ruling coalition assumed office three years ago. Based on a 2015 law which stipulates that non-parliamentary members of the government can receive a residence allowance if they do not have a privately owned residence in Athens, Antonopoulou had been receiving 1,000 euros per month in state rent subsidy, a Greek daily revealed this weekend. Although legally there was no issue, the couple was strongly criticized for receiving the subsidy while the country was teetering at the brink of default. On Monday evening Antonopoulou stepped down followed by her husband a few hours later, triggering scenarios of a cabinet reshuffle in coming days. SARAJEVO, Feb.27 (Xinhua)-- A total of eight people have died of flu in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) over the last two months, FBiH Public Health Institute (ZZJZ FBiH) confirmed to local media on Tuesday. "The greatest number of registered deaths have had some chronic illnesses, mostly unvaccinated or of unknown vaccine status," FBiH Public Health Institute explained further. From the beginning of flu season, a total of 19,632 people with flu-like symptoms have been reported to hospitals in BiH, ZZJZ FBiH, a government body responsible for all the public health services in BiH said. That the situation in BiH is not alarming is explained by the epidemiologist in the FBiH Public Health Institute, claiming that after the analysis of the last four flu seasons is done, the results showed similar situation, but a lower number of death cases caused by the flu. "I would not say that the situation is alarming. Every year, 10, 11 or 8 cases are registered and connected with flu-like symptoms as it is the case this season in the Federation of BiH, one of the entities in BiH," an epidemiologist, Mirsada Mulaomerovic, told local media. In this flu season, two deaths caused by swine flu (H1N1) were registered in BiH, one in Zenica cantonal hospital, some 70 kilometers northwest of the capital Sarajevo. The other case was registered in Tuzla University Clinical Center, some 120 kilometers northeast of Sarajevo. The flu season usually begins in December, with the largest number of people infected registered in January and February. "I would not be surprised to see the second wave of flu, this form of flu virus, that is A H1N1, or some other type, will dominate. The only preventive form is vaccination,"an expert in infectious diseases, Jurica Arapovic, told local media. Due to the increased number of flu cases in Sarajevo, Sarajevo University Clinical Center Intrahospital Infection Commission decided to suspend visits to patients hospitalized there, an official press statement said Tuesday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 21:34:22|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close DAMASCUS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Three rebel groups in the capital Damascus' Eastern Ghouta pledged Tuesday to drive out the al-Qaida-linked groups from that region during a 15-day timeframe in an obvious bid to halt the government forces' operations against Eastern Ghouta. In a statement circulated by opposition activists, the Islam Army, Ahrar al-Sham Movement and Failq al-Rahman group have pledged to the UN Security Council and the UN to drive out the al-Qaida-linked Levant Liberation Committee (LLC), previously known as Nusra Front, as well as their families and affiliates out of Eastern Ghouta within 15 days. The signatories also vowed to facilitate the work of the UN humanitarian work in terms of the entry of humanitarian and medical aid to areas in Eastern Ghouta. In return, the rebel factions called for "actual halt" of all military operations by the Syrian army and the Russians in that rebel-held region east of Damascus. It also demanded a safe exit for the sick and wounded to hospitals in nearby countries or areas out of the Syrian government control inside Syria. This announcement comes as Russian side has called for a daily humanitarian pause in Damascus and designated a crossing for the evacuation of civilians from Eastern Ghouta into government-controlled areas in Damascus. The humanitarian pause entered into effect at 9 a.m. (0700 GMT) on Tuesday and is designed to continue until 2 p.m. in the conflict-torn area on a daily basis for 30 days. However, no civilians evacuated on Tuesday, the first day of the humanitarian pause, with government and rebels trading accusations. The state TV said the rebels fired five mortar shells at the Wafidin crossing between Damascus and Eastern Ghouta, adding that five women were wounded. The opposition activists, meanwhile, said the Syrian airstrikes and shelling continued to target Eastern Ghouta during the five-hour-long humanitarian pause on Tuesday. The humanitarian pause comes just days after the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2401, which requires all parties in Syria to immediately cease clashes and provide a sustained humanitarian break for at least 30 days. But terror-designated groups such as the Islamic State (IS) and the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front are excluded from the resolution, as the battles against them continue. The UN organizations have already sounded the alarm about the situation in Eastern Ghouta, where 400,000 people are believed to be trapped in the sprawling area east of Damascus. The military showdown started to intensify between the Syrian army and rebels 10 days ago, with mortar shells from rebels hitting Damascus while the Syrian forces continued their massive bombardment against rebel positions in Eastern Ghouta. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 22:19:29|Editor: Jiaxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The adoption of a Russian-drafted resolution on a technical rollover of the Yemen sanctions regime on Monday was "another defeat" for the United States, an Iranian deputy foreign minister said here on Tuesday. On Monday, a UK-drafted text was blocked by Russia in the UN Security Council. The text contained language of Iranian "non-compliance" with the UN sanctions regime against individuals and entities deemed to be engaging in or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen. The failure of the UK-drafted text to gain vote was another defeat for the United States in the past year, the Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Abbas Araqchi said. "That was also the sign of U.S. isolation," Araqchi added. Besides, Iran's Ambassador to the United Nations Gholamali Khoshroo said Tuesday that the UK-drafted text aimed to cover up Saudi Arabia's crimes in Yemen. Khoshroo rejected the allegations that the Islamic republic has violated arms embargoes to the Shiite Houthi militants in Yemen. Saudi Arabia is leading a mostly Arab military coalition to fight Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen since March 2015. Houthis have been controlling much of Yemen's north by force, including the capital Sanaa since 2014. The war has killed more than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, and displaced over 3 million, according to humanitarian agencies. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 22:29:31|Editor: ZD Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) in collaboration with its partners have trained at least 300 agricultural officers and farmers in Tanzania on control of fall armyworms, IITA said in a statement on Tuesday. "The training is part of concerted efforts by the government and stakeholders in Tanzania's agricultural sector to reduce losses being suffered by maize farmers across the country due to this highly invasive pest," said the IITA statement issued in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam. It said the training was held in the country's southern highlands between January and February and was conducted by staff of the Africa RISING-NAFAKA Partnership and Scaling Project which is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Tanzania. The Africa RISING project is led by IITA and NAFAKA is led by ACDI-VOCA, an international development nonprofit organization based in the United States that fosters broad-based economic growth, raises living standards, and creates vibrant communities. The agricultural officers and farmers were trained on how to scout for and identify the armyworm, appropriate control methods such as the safe and correct use of pesticides, and cultural practices for managing the pests, said the statement. The fall armyworm devours everything on its path before turning into a moth and is native to Central America, was first reported in Africa in Nigeria in early 2016. Since then it has spread rapidly across the continent attacking maize farms with no regard for country borders. It was confirmed in both Tanzania and Kenya in early 2017. The pest attacks economically important crops such as maize, wheat, millet, sorghum, sugarcane and rice at all stages and can cause up to complete crop loss. According to a report published by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in August 2017, the pest had been reported in 14 regions in Tanzania and already caused a 3 percent reduction in maize yields in 2017. "We expect that each of the trainers will train at least 200 farmers in each village on how to control the fall armyworm and design spraying programs as well as support the spray service providers made up of youth, producer organizations, and village-based agricultural agents," said IITA Technology Scaling Specialist, Haroon Sseguya. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 22:29:31|Editor: ZD Video Player Close WINDHOEK, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Namibian president Hage Geingob said Tuesday that his government was going ahead with its black economic empowerment plan aimed at addressing inequality, despite industry resistance. Speaking at a Cabinet workshop on the National Equitable Economic Empowerment Framework (NEEEF) in the capital Windhoek, Geingob said government was busy with the final leg of consultations before the draft bill is tabled in Parliament this year. Under NEEEF, Namibia will make it mandatory for white-owned businesses to sell a 25 percent stake to blacks. "We have to address the underlying structural impediments which make it difficult if not impossible for Namibians to effectively participate in the economy," Geingob said. He emphasized that although Namibia will draw comparative experiences from other countries such as South Africa, its economic empowerment legislation will be unique. The government of neighboring South Africa has a regulation that at least 26 percent of the ownership of mining companies be in black hands. Companies say they should be considered to have met the rule even after black owners have sold their shares, which has become a bone of contention. Last year, rating agency Fitch cited the empowerment plan as one of the reasons it had downgraded Namibia's Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating to junk, saying the policy would scare away potential investors who might not be willing to cede stakes in their companies. The Construction Industries Federation (CIF), the Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Namibian Employers Federation have all expressed concern about the empowerment plan. Geingob encouraged businesses to already start the process of implementing NEEEF before the bill is passed. Whites make up only about 6 percent of Namibia's population of 2.4 million, but overwhelmingly dominate business ownership. MALE, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Maldivian government on Tuesday reiterated its invitation to opposition parties to participate in all-party talks as the government had received no response to its multiple invitations. "The government notes with disappointment that despite issuing invitations a total of eight times... no response has been received from these political parties," the President's Office said in a statement. "The government stands ready and willing to engage in open and frank dialogue with all relevant stakeholders in the hopes of alleviating some of the political discord present in the Maldives today," said the statement. The Maldivian parliament on Feb. 20 approved extending the state of emergency by 30 days following a request by President Abdulla Yameen. The President's Office said the president had requested for an extension as the threat to national security had not diminished following the Supreme Court ruling on Feb. 1 ordering the release of detained opposition leaders, including self-exiled former President Mohamed Nasheed. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 22:39:34|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Liang Junqian BEIJING, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese auto company Geely has recently acquired a 9.69-percent stake in German carmaker Daimler AG for 9.2 billion U.S. dollars, making the Chinese investor the single largest Daimler shareholder. The cooperation has won relatively positive overseas media and market responses, a sign of a closer economic bond between China and the rest of the world. The Wall Street Journal described Geely's investment in Daimler as a "milestone for China," saying "a closer association could be a boon for Daimler, too." The German government also maintained a relatively open attitude, saying that the purchase was a business matter and Germany is "an open economy that welcomes investments." Yet when Geely paid 1.8 billion dollars to buy Swedish automaker Volvo from U.S. auto manufacturer Ford in 2010, many Western media outlets expressed doubts and fear, viewing the Chinese firm's takeover as an opportunistic move at the height of the euro debt crisis. Behind the change of rhetoric are several years of successful overseas ventures by Chinese enterprises that have helped gradually gain a more favorable reputation for Chinese investors. Geely's investment in Volvo is no doubt one of these examples that have benefited all parties involved. In 2017, Volvo Cars has reported a strong 27.7 percent increase in operating profit, earning a record 1.8 billion dollars, and the company itself, which was struggling when Geely took it over eight years ago, is thriving. As for Geely, it has seen substantial improvements in technologies and management after buying Volvo, and quickened its progress in making itself a global brand, which has set the stage for its investment in Daimler this time. However, as Chinese companies are going increasingly global, a sentiment of suspicion is growing in some Western countries, and occasionally, Chinese investments are still unfairly rejected and smeared as being opportunistic and merely geared towards short-term profit. Though in some Chinese overseas projects investment risks are indeed underestimated, yet the bigger picture is that most of the Chinese investors are rational enough to conduct business with their foreign partners in a mutually beneficial way with a long-term view. Today, as trade protectionism is on the rise, China is, through investment, playing an active role in promoting international cooperation, which has brought real profits to local businesses and populations. Let's reexamine the example of the Volvo investment. With Geely's take-over, Volvo has in recent years seen its sales rebound, and that has led to the creation of thousands of new jobs for the local workers in its Gent factory in western Belgium. Nowadays, more and more people around the world have begun to see that Chinese entrepreneurs do have long-term visions and are serious about creating profits for all partners involved. It is believed that as China becomes increasingly connected to the rest of the world, Chinese investors are going to play an increasingly active role in an increasing number of sectors and help promote a more robust global economic growth. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 22:44:36|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese conglomerate Fosun International Limited announced Tuesday it had acquired a Brazilian institutional brokerage and wealth management firm. Fosun said it would pay about 52 million U.S. dollars for the acquisition of Guide Investimentos, based in Sao Paulo, and up to an additional 37 million dollars depending of the company's future performance. Guide Investimentos, founded in 1967, was a subsidiary of a Brazilian bank, Banco Indusval. The bank will continue to own up to a 20-percent stake in Guide Investimentos after the transaction. Shanghai-based Fosun said the purchase is in line with the company's strategy to invest in emerging countries, especially in Latin America. In 2016, Fosun purchased Brazilian asset management company Rio Bravo. The acquisition of Guide Investimentos will help Fosun build a financial group platform in Brazil, serving the country's customers with richer investment products and services. Completion of the acquisition is pending approval from the Central Bank of Brazil. PYONGYANG, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday rejected a recent public statement by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which said Pyongyang has deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime. The official Korean Central News Agency quoted a spokesman of the DPRK National Coordinating Committee for Anti-Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism as saying that the FATF statement is a "habitual act of the United States committed by misusing the FATF." Besides blaming Pyongyang for failing to curb money laundering and financing terrorism, the FATF said in the statement, adopted by its plenary meeting in Paris on Feb. 21-23, that all jurisdictions should terminate the DPRK's financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD). "The 'public statement,' a direct reflection of the U.S. sophistry, is no less than a worthless document totally distorting the reality of the DPRK where a proper AML/CFT system is put in place and into normal operation," said the spokesman. He said the DPRK and FATF have been cooperating well, but such cooperation has been disturbed by the United States, which misused the "international standard" to justify financial sanctions against the DPRK by charging the latter with money laundering and financing terrorism and proliferation of WMD. He also called on the FATF to condemn the United States and put sanctions on it for "having the largest stockpiles of nuclear weapons in the world and pouring an astronomical amount of funds into their maintenance and modernization." The FATF is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1989 on the initiative of the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering. LUSAKA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- It is time that member states of the African Union (AU) showed commitment by going full throttle to implement a program of the continental body aimed at silencing guns by the year 2020, a senior Zambia government official said on Tuesday. Susan Sikaneta, Zambia's Permanent Representative to the AU, said it was unfortunate that illegal weapons were found in many African countries and that the year 2018 should be used as a symbolic occasion for silencing the guns. She said countries should show commitment by embarking on massive collection of illegal guns which were a threat to the continent's peace and stability and that more publicity during the months leading to September which has been designated by the AU as the amnesty month for surrendering illegal weapons should be undertaken. "We need wide publicity in 2018 so that the messages of surrendering illegal weapons can reach all corners of Africa unlike last year when there was insufficient publicity from the media," she said during a meeting with the Chairperson of the AU Moussa Faki Mahamat and members of the AU Peace and Security Council in Ethiopia, according to a statement from the Zambia embassy in Ethiopia. According to her, member states should take effective measures to holistically address all root causes of violent conflicts, including the sources of illicit supply of weapons and ammunition. She added that it would do well for the weapons to be surrendered so that the continent concentrated on development. Zambia, she said, has demonstrated unflinching support to the AU flagship program of silencing guns in Africa by putting in place a program for voluntary surrender of illegal firearms. A master roadmap on silencing the guns by 2020 and approved by leaders in January 2017 was crafted in Zambia during a peace and security retreat in November 2016. MOSCOW, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday warned of dangers which may emanate from a revision of the Iran nuclear deal. "We, like France, consider it necessary to fully implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and it would be extremely dangerous to break the deal," Lavrov said at a press conference following talks with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian. "If there is a desire to discuss some issues concerning Iran in the same format that coordinated the JCPOA, or some other format, it should be done with the obligatory participation of Iran and on the principle of consensus, not ultimatums," he added. Iran and six international mediators -- Russia, the United States, Britain, China, France and Germany -- in 2015 reached the historic agreement on the settlement of the long-standing problem of Iran's nuclear energy. Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to halt its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic aid and the lifting of international sanctions. However, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Iran of violating the deal and threatened to abandon the pact unless it was revised. Despite the Iran nuclear deal, the United States has kept on slapping separate sanctions on Iran, accusing the country of having a ballistic missiles program as well as human rights abuses. At Tuesday's press conference, Le Drian expressed Paris' concern about Iran's missile program. "As for ballistic missiles, I'm talking about Iran, this situation worries us very much. I will soon go to Tehran, next Monday," he said. "I will clearly tell the Tehran authorities: This is a treaty and it must be implemented. Secondly, there is a risk and it is necessary to do everything to avoid this risk," Le Drian said. After signing the JCPOA, Iran has conducted several ballistic missile tests, repeatedly stressing that its missile program was purely defensive and that Tehran was not going to discuss with anyone issues related to its defense. Policemen clash with supporters of former Georgian President Mikhael Saakashvili based in a tents camp in front of the Ukrainian parliament in Kiev on February 27, 2018. (AFP PHOTO) KIEV, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 11 police officers were injured in clashes with protesters near the Ukrainian parliament here Tuesday, authorities said. The clashes occurred when a group of activists brought tires to the square outside the parliament building and attempted to set them on fire, the press service of the Interior Ministry said in a statement. The police tried to prevent the demonstrators from starting the fire, but the protesters pelted the officers with stones and Molotov cocktails, the statement said. Nine demonstrators were detained following the clashes, it said. Earlier in the day, several separate groups of protesters rallied outside the parliament, demanding the lawmakers adopt a law on creating an anti-corruption court, appoint a new chief of the central bank and raise pensions for retired military personnel. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 23:44:54|Editor: yan Video Player Close ANKARA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey slammed on Tuesday a decision by a Czech court to release former Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) leader Salih Muslim, saying it is "a mistake" and "politically motivated." Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and government spokesperson Bekir Bozdag criticized the Czech court's decision as "a clear support of terrorism." The ruling was against international law, and would have a negative impact on Turkish-Czech relations, he said. "Turkey considers the Czech court's decision as null and void," Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gul said. "We expects the Czech authorities to correct this mistake," Gul noted. Muslim was detained on Saturday in the Czech capital Prague upon Turkey's request and its detention order on charges of "disrupting the unity and territorial integrity of the state." The Turkish Interior Ministry had offered a bounty of nearly 1 million U.S. dollars on Muslim who is listed as a most wanted terrorist by Ankara. Turkey regards the PYD as the Syrian affiliate of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) which has been engaged in an armed campaign against the Turkish government since 1984. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-27 23:49:59|Editor: yan Video Player Close GENEVA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN migration agency, International Organization for Migration (IOM), said Tuesday that 10,114 migrants and refugees entered Europe by sea through the first eight weeks of 2018, down on the figure for last year. Despite a significant drop in arrivals this year, IOM said that its missing migrants project has reported 414 deaths in the Mediterranean so far this year, fewer than the 483 reported at this time in 2017. IOM spokesperson Joel Millman said at a UN briefing that just over 50 percent of those arriving came to Italy and the remainder divided almost evenly between Greece and Spain. This compares with 16,806 arrivals across the region through the same period last year. The arrivals for the past two years are, however, tiny compared to this time in February 2016 when "there were already 116,005 arrivals -- roughly 100,000 more than at this point this year and last," said Millman. IOM Athens reported Monday that over six days from Feb. 15-20, the Hellenic Coast Guard reported there were at least three incidents requiring search and rescue operations off the island of Samos. The Coast Guard rescued 152 migrants and transferred them to that island. Most of the Mediterranean arrivals in Europe this year have landed in Italy with the Ministry of the Interior saying 5,247 migrants have arrived by sea to Italy this year. That is 61 percent fewer than last year during the same period. Millman said that worldwide, IOM's missing migrants project has recorded 651 migrant fatalities in 2018, compared with 936 at this time last year. YEREVAN, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Armenia and Iran on Tuesday pledged to tap their bilateral cooperation potential in trade, economic relations and specifically energy. "Armenia and Iran have not been utilizing the full potential of their cooperation," Armenian Minister of Energy Infrastructures and Natural Resources Ashot Manukyan said at the 15th meeting of the Armenia-Iran Intergovernmental Commission held in Yerevan, reported local News.am Agency. Despite the current good relations between Armenia and Iran and the high trade turnover between the two nations, which in 2017 amounted to 363 million U.S. dollars, Manukyan believed that enhancing trade and economic relations still requires more efforts. Iranian Energy Minister Reza Ardakanian agreed with his Armenian counterpart. "I am confident that the implementation of joint projects in the field of energy, particularly the construction of the third power transmission line between Armenia and Iran and also the hydropower plant in Meghri, would facilitate the development of business relations," the Iranian minister was quoted as saying by News.am. Armenia and Iran have a long history of cooperation in the energy sector with Armenia providing electricity in return for natural gas. The economic blockade imposed on Armenia by Turkey and Azerbaijan have left Armenia's other two neighbors, Iran and Georgia, as Armenia's only two land routes to the outside world. WINDHOEK, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's economic growth rate is projected to improve steadily to 1.4 percent and 2.1 percent in 2018 and 2019 respectively, according to the country's central bank. The Bank of Namibia (BoN) in the February 2018 Economic outlook update released on Tuesday said the domestic economy is estimated to have contracted in 2017, but is expected to recover gradually in 2018 and 2019. Growth for 2017 is estimated at -0.6 percent in 2017, from a growth of 1.1 percent in 2016, according to the update. The reduction in growth is due to contractions in sectors such as construction, wholesale and retail trade and public sector, as well as slower growth rates for manufacturing and electricity and water, said Kazembire Zemburuka, deputy director of corporate communications at the bank. Zemburuka said in the medium term, growth is projected to improve, due to the expected moderate contractions in wholesale and retail trade and construction sectors. Meanwhile, risks to the domestic economic outlook remain, mainly in the form of persistently low uranium prices and unpredictable rainfall and possible further credit rating downgrades for the domestic economy as well as for the South African economy, he said. DHAKA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese consortium's bid to acquire 25 percent stake in Bangladesh's biggest stock exchange and become its strategic partner has been given the green light by the country's regulator. Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) Managing Director Majedur Rahman told Xinhua on Tuesday that BSEC (Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commissions) has given its go-ahead in favor of the Chinese consortium. He said BSEC is now merely evaluating the Chinese investment proposal which they sent to the regulator last week. The DSE board on Feb. 10 approved the proposal of the Chinese consortium but reportedly faced pressure to reconsider the proposal of the second highest bidder- the National Stock Exchange of India (NSE). Against this backdrop, a DSE board again in a meeting on Feb. 19 unanimously approved its previous decision which confirmed the Chinese consortium's proposal. DSE's hunt for a strategic partner comes as it turned into a demutualised stock exchange on Nov. 21, 2013. The DSE in June last year floated tender and received proposals including those two Chinese and Indian consortiums. A DSE official who preferred to be unnamed said in consideration of all the aspects the the proposal of the Chinese consortium was the best offer in terms of value and technical support. The Chinese consortium offered 22 taka per share for 25 percent of the DSE's total shares and asked for a seat on the board. It also offered technical assistance worth nearly 37 million U.S. dollars and added that it would not seek any return on its investment for a period of 10 years. On the other hand, the other consortium, led by NSE, offered 15 taka per share for 25 percent of the DSE's total shares. The Indian consortium reportedly wanted two posts on the exchange's board although the denationalization law created only one post for a strategic partner. Apart from this, the Indian consortium offered technical support, but it did not clarify how much money it would spend. (1 U.s. dollar equals about 83 taka). Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 00:20:09|Editor: yan Video Player Close ALGIERS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei is set to help Algeria build e-government by digitizing a large volume of official documents of various ministries, a senior manager from Huawei told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Algeria has launched a performance improvement program of its administration, and Huawei hopes to participate in this project with local partners," said Gao Jie, the general manager of Huawei Telecoms Algeria. The use of information and communications technology by government, commonly known as e-government, aims at making public services more accessible to customers and improving their internal operations. Many Algerian ministries, such as the defense ministry, the interior ministry and foreign ministry, are working to these ends and some of them have made remarkable advances. For Huawei Algeria, it is also interested in the ambitious projects of e-commerce and e-banking in the North African country. "Such projects require the existence of a very high-speed internet hitting 20 megabits per second instead of the current 1 or 2 megabits that most Internet users in Algeria have," Gao noted. "Once all platforms required for online commerce are deployed, Algerians will be able to do business transactions with a single click on their personal computers or smartphones," he added. According to Gao, only some large state-run companies, such as Air Algeria, Algeria Telecom and Sonelgaz, are offering this service to their customers. Another project on which Huawei Algeria is working is deployment of infrastructure networks in the country, he said. Huawei Algeria, which employs 100 Chinese and 400 Algerians, entered the country in 2008, and has since been in close cooperation with local phone operators. In addition to solutions and services, Huawei Algeria also provides high-level training programs to Algerian engineers and university teachers. HuaWei trained more than 2,000 young Algerians in 2017 alone, Gao said, adding that his company also selects 10 local engineers every year for further training in China. Citing multiple projects underway or under consideration, Gao revealed that Huawei is now studying the possibility of establishing a smartphone assembly plant in the North African country. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 00:20:09|Editor: yan Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- For 57 years, every winter around the time of Spring Festival, many of the finest pigs born in Shanghai embark on a long trip to Hong Kong, the first and last journey they will ever make. The piglets' purpose is to satisfy the gourmands of Hong Kong who long for the taste of roast suckling pig, a much favored delicacy at celebrations across the city. On Monday, 105 pigs from Chongming Island became the first to start the journey this year. The four-month old pigs each weigh about 50 kg. They are a cross between Duroc swine from the United States and the Shanghai white pig. They have passed more than 30 health checks, but will be little more than crackling by Lantern Festival on March 2. In 1961 when the first pigs made the trip, the journey took weeks. Today it takes just one day. Back then, the old-fashioned "green-skinned trains" the pigs took had to depart from Shanghai early, in case the heavy New Year traffic halted them halfway. "It was common to depart on the day of Chinese Lunar New Year," said Chen Jian of Shanghai Foodstuffs Import & Export Corp. Chen joined the company after graduating from a Shanghai agricultural school in 1987. In the era of the planned economy, his job was considered "fat" as he could earn foreign currency through the trip, a near impossibility for most people on the Chinese mainland. "A single trip would last several weeks so we were very strict in choosing only the healthiest pigs to ensure they did not get sick on the way," Chen said. Instead of being crammed into a stuffy rain carriage for weeks, the porkers now travel by road in comparative luxury. Hong Kong has long relied on the Chinese mainland for porky goodness. Guangdong, Hainan, Hunan and Zhejiang all sell live swine to Hong Kong, but the hybrid pigs from Shanghai are the only mainland source of suckling pigs. Before Chen started his work as a pig tour guide, an average of 220,000 pigs were delivered to Hong Kong from Shanghai every year. The service was almost canceled recently when Shanghai restricted the raising of livestock and poultry in the city proper. "In the 1990s, there were more than 50 pig farms in the city. Last year, there were only two, and they will close soon," said Li Chunyang with the Shanghai Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau. Three years ago, attention turned to Chongming Island, about 80 km from the city center, as a new base for raising pigs for the Hong Kong market. The farm now produces about 50,000 pigs a year. BANGKOK, Feb. 28 (Xinhua) -- The National Research Council of Thailand (NRCT) together with Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced here on Tuesday the establishment of an international center for the Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) project. The Digital Belt and Road (DBAR) International Center of Excellence Bangkok will focus on cooperation on climate change, disaster risk reduction, environmental research, capacity building, among others. NRCT's secretary-general Professor Sirirurg Songsivilai said during the opening ceremony that the center is a pioneering one in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in connection with the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative. Guo Huadong, an academician with the CAS, said the Belt and Road Initiative's extensive geographical scope requires research and monitoring capacity that can address a vast array of development issues. By using Earth observation and big Earth data from satellites and other sources, the project can offer information for decision-makers to refer to in the implementation of Belt and Road Initiative, Guo said. The DBAR program was established in 2016 by Chinese scientists, in cooperation with experts from more than 20 countries and international organizations to promote global sharing of expertise, knowledge, technologies and data through Earth observation and big Earth data from satellites and other sources. The information will be applied to research, decision making, project development and monitoring in seven primary areas: environmental protection, disaster risk reduction, water resources management, urban development, food security, coastal zone management and the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. DBAR's international centers of excellence are also expected to help narrow the capacity gap among nations participating in the Belt and Road Initiative. The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by China in 2013, aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa based on ancient land and maritime trade routes. MOGADISHU, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- At least five Al-Shabaab militants were killed on Tuesday during heavy fighting between the group and Somali National Army (SNA) in Gedo region of southwest Somalia, local authorities said. Deputy Governor of Gedo region, Sheikh Mohamed Hussein, told reporters that Somali National Army carried out the operation that targeted the militants' strongholds near Bardhere town in the region. "Somali National Army killed five Al-Shabaab terrorists and injured several others today. They attempted to resist and fought with SNA forces, but were defeated. Two of our soldiers sustained minor injuries," Hussein said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 00:40:16|Editor: yan Video Player Close GENEVA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) on Tuesday urged people to check on neighbors, relatives and friends who could be at risk as a deep freeze sweeps Europe. IFRC Regional Director for Europe, Simon Missiri, said here, "We are calling on the public to help us protect people who could be in danger -- that could be an elderly neighbor, a young family, someone you know who's ill." He said it is crucial that communities come together and work closely to stay safe. "Just knocking on someone's door to check they have everything they need can make a huge difference. It could even be the difference between life and death," said Missiri. The end of winter is seeing "rare but not unprecedented" weather conditions, with the extended cold spell in much of Europe alongside unusually high temperatures in the Arctic, the World Meteorological Organization said at the end of last week. Snow and freezing temperatures are expected to continue into early March. Red Cross emergency teams are running shelters, providing hot food, blankets and medical treatment for thousands of people across Europe. Volunteers from Belarus in the east to Britain in the west are on the ground after snow carpeted swathes of the continent and temperatures plummeted to almost minus 30 degrees Celsius in some places. The IFRC has also issued winter weather advice to help people stay safe. The Red Cross in Belgium is staffing several shelters for hundreds of homeless people. In France, the Red Cross is appealing to the public for more than 10,000 blankets and in Poland, an emergency team in Warsaw is helping in a rest center. The Red Cross of Serbia is running a homeless shelter close to the Hungarian border and providing hot food and drinks. In Croatia, teams have been digging out homes from the snow and providing health care, medication and emergency supplies to people cut off by the weather. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 00:40:18|Editor: yan Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The French luxury department store Galeries Lafayette will open a store in Shanghai, its second outlet in China. The store will be located in Lujiazui, a commercial and financial center, and is expected to open within the year, said Lu Qixing, deputy director of the commerce commission of Shanghai Pudong New Area, Tuesday. The outlet, covering about 23,000 square meters, will sit in a shopping mall in Lujiazui, according to a cooperation agreement signed between Galeries Lafayette (China) Limited and Shanghai Lujiazui Finance and Trade Zone Development Co., Ltd, a local property company. The cooperation will last 19 years and 11 months, the agreement said. Galeries Lafayette opened its first China store in Beijing in 2013. The six-floor facility, covering 47,000 square meters, is in Xi'dan, a vibrant shopping area. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 00:45:21|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close Chinese peacekeeper Han Zhuoqi (L) hugs his wife upon his arrival at the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, Feb. 27, 2018, after conducting a one-year mission in South Sudan. The sixth team of Chinese peacekeeping police to South Sudan, with seven members all selected from Zhejiang, arrived in Hangzhou Tuesday evening. In South Sudan, the police officers fulfilled a variety of tasks in the capital Juba and Wau, including patrols of refugee camps, humanitarian aid and community-based police services. (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi) HANGZHOU, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Seven Chinese peacekeepers returned from South Sudan Tuesday after successfully finishing a one-year mission. The sixth team of Chinese peacekeeping police to South Sudan, with members all selected from east China's Zhejiang Province, arrived at the Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport Tuesday evening, according to the public security department of Zhejiang. In South Sudan, the police officers fulfilled a variety of tasks in the capital Juba and Wau, including patrols of refugee camps, humanitarian aid and community-based police services, said a statement from the department. Thanks to their outstanding performance, the team earned a medal from the United Nations in November 2017. ALGIERS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The volume of trade exchange between Algeria and Turkey will gradually be raised to 10 billion U.S. dollars in the future, said visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday. In his opening notes at the Turkish-Algerian Business Forum, Erdogan hailed Algeria as "Turkey's largest partner in Africa," vowing to raise bilateral trade exchange volume. The volume of trade exchange, currently around 3.5 billion dollars annually, would be raised to 5 billion dollars within a short period, Erdogan said, before hitting the goal of 10 billion dollars in the future. Erdogan specified such a goal could be reached especially thanks to all the facilities offered by Algeria to Turkish businessmen wishing to enter the North African nation's market. Erdogan said "cooperation between the two countries will be reinforced after the signing of seven cooperation agreements in various sectors, such as tourism, energy and agriculture." The Turkish leader further noted that Algerian energy giant Sonatrach and a group of Turkish energy companies will cooperate in a 1 billion-dollar project to establish a plant for the production of 450 tons of propene per year. Erdogan expressed his satisfaction with the quality of the projects carried out by the Turkish companies in Algeria, including those related to iron, steel and textile. Erdogan co-chaired the business forum with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia. This business forum brought together a large number of Algerian and Turkish companies and businessmen, as it aims at giving a new impetus to bilateral trade exchanges. Earlier on Monday, Algeria and Turkey inked seven partnership agreements and memorandums of understanding in the sectors of energy, higher education, diplomacy, culture, tourism and agriculture, aiming at reinforcing partnership between the two nations. Erdogan is also due to hold talks with his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika later on Tuesday to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fight against terrorism and ways to boost political and economic relations. Regional and international issues, including the war in Syria, will also be on the agenda. BUCHAREST, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Snowstorms have led to the cancellation of trains and flights, as well as the closure of motorways and ports in southern and eastern Romania, while the National Meteorological Administration on Tuesday issued new Code Orange for heavy snowfalls and blizzard. A2, the most important motorway in the eastern part of the country linking the capital city of Bucharest to the Black Sea Port of Constanta, was close to traffic as of Monday night, as well as tens of national roads in almost all the southern counties, according to the Infotraffic Center with the General Inspectorate of the Romanian Police. The road workers with the National Roads Company have intervened with over 1,400 vehicles and spread over 6,000 tones of anti-skid material. Over 120 trains were annulled in the southern part of the country as of Tuesday, while at least 15 flights were canceled in airports in Bucharest, Craiova and Sibiu. Classes will be suspended in Bucharest throughout the week because of the bad weather, General Mayor Gabriela Firea announced Tuesday at the Winter Command meeting at the City Hall. Meanwhile, the flu season's death toll hit 62 as of Tuesday, announced the health authorities in a news alert. The arctic blast will persist in Bucharest until March 2 with temperature plunging at night to minus 19 degrees Celsius, according to the weather watchdog. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 01:20:35|Editor: Mengjie Video Player Close Greek Minister of Culture Lydia Koniordou (1st L) visits the temporary exhibition "Eleusis, The great mysteries" at the Acropolis Museum in Athens, Greece, on Feb. 25, 2018. A new temporary exhibition dedicated to the Elefsinian Mysteries opened at the Acropolis Museum in the Greek capital on Monday, taking visitors to a journey back to one of the most important religious sites of ancient Greece which remained a secret through the centuries. (Xinhua/Lefteris Partsalis) ATHENS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- A new temporary exhibition dedicated to the Elefsinian Mysteries opened at the Acropolis Museum in the Greek capital on Monday, taking visitors to a journey back to one of the most important religious sites of ancient Greece which remained a secret through the centuries. Until mid-May this year, people can admire some 60 ancient works of art from the Athens Antiquities Ephorate, the West Attica Antiquities Ephorate and the National Archaeological Museum which were brought together for first time under the title "Eleusis, the Great Mysteries". Eleusis is the ancient Greek word for Elefsina, a town which is still situated about 18 km northwest from Athens. The Elefsinian mysteries, a major festival as early as the 6th century BC to Roman times, represented the myth of the abduction of Persephone from her mother Demeter, the goddess of agriculture and fertility in ancient Greek mythology, by the king of death and the underworld, Hades. The rites, ceremonies and beliefs of those initiated in the Elefsinian mysteries were kept secret. Participants in the mysteries had to swear a vow of secrecy. The exhibition at the Acropolis museum has been set up so as to resemble the Telesterion, while the corridor leading to the temporary exhibition's gallery features a video presentation and aerial photographs of the Sacred Way that was used by the procession of worshippers, the museum's director Prof. Dimitris Pantermalis said. "This symbolism of the goddess which brings sorrow and joy reflects the joy and sorrow of people who live and die, but life goes on for eternity," he added. "The exhibition at the Acropolis museum is very important, because it is the first time that very significant findings from Elefsina's sanctuary are put on display at the museum," archaeologist Kalliope Papaggeli, head of the archaeological site and the museum of Elefsina, and co-curator of the exhibition told Xinhua. Among the most important artifacts put on display are the statue of the "Fleeing Persephone" (around 480 BC) and ceremonial vessels depicting the leading figures of the great mysteries, Hierophant and Dadouchos, a priest leading initiates holding a torch, Papaggeli said. Many of the items come from the museum of Elefsina, others are loans from the National Archaeological museum, while some have been stored for years at the Antiquities Ephorates. Papaggeli expressed hope that after seeing the items at the Acropolis museum visitors may be intrigued to visit the places the exhibits originated from. In Elefsina's case, they will discover a modern town which was declared European Capital of Culture for 2021. "Worshippers received strict instructions to not say a word about the mysteries. This is why there was no room to reveal much information about the ancient mysteries," Greek Culture Minister Lydia Koniordou said while addressing the event. CHICAGO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Starting from Feb. 16, the first day of Chinese New Year, Chicago Fashion Outlet near Chicago O' Hare Airport has been giving out "Exclusive Lunar New Year Red Envelopes" with complementary savings pass enclosed. The promotion, which offers customers 800 dollars in savings at participating stores, will last until March 4. Chicago Fashion Outlet is not the sole retailer in Chicago celebrating Chinese New Year. To celebrate Chinese New Year, the Year of Dog, the Art Institute of Chicago opened an exhibition titled "Mirroring China's Past: Emperors and their Bronzes," and to complement visitors' experience, it is offering premium loose-leaf teas in their natural form, highlighting the rich heritage and culture of the Chinese tea experience, until May 13. This is the fifth year in a row for Bloomingdales to mark Chinese Lunar New Year. The retailer's store in downtown Chicago put out an exclusive "Year of the Dog" small tote with a red dog on a gold background, which was quickly sold out. The high-profile department store has also put on shelf Giorgio Armani Chinese New Year Highlighting Palette, Yves Saint Laurent Chinese New Year Palette, and Sisley-Paris Phyto-Lip twist matte Chinese New Year 2018 limited edition. The world's largest department store, Macy's, also participated in China's New Year celebrations. It put on sale a "Year of the Dog" gold compact from Estee Lauder, a key in Chinese traditional red and gold from Michael Kors, a special edition of satchel from Radley London, and a Lunar New Year gift card. Thanks to efforts from both sides to promote people-to-people exchanges, more Chinese tourists are coming to U.S. Midwest. According to statistics provided by Choose Chicago, visitors to Chicago reached record 55.2 million in 2017, a 2.5 percent increase from 2016. Chicago's tourism industry supported an estimated 146,500 jobs in 2017, a 17 percent increase from 2011. Chinese tourists to Chicago reached 192,561 in 2016, up 22.7 percent from 2015. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) meets with Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in Sochi on November 22, 2017. (AFP Photo) MOSCOW, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Tuesday warned of dangers which may emanate from a revision of the Iran nuclear deal. "We, like France, consider it necessary to fully implement the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and it would be extremely dangerous to break the deal," Lavrov said at a press conference following talks with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian. "If there is a desire to discuss some issues concerning Iran in the same format that coordinated the JCPOA, or some other format, it should be done with the obligatory participation of Iran and on the principle of consensus, not ultimatums," he added. Iran and six international mediators -- Russia, the United States, Britain, China, France and Germany -- in 2015 reached the historic agreement on the settlement of the long-standing problem of Iran's nuclear energy. Under the JCPOA, Iran agreed to halt its nuclear weapons program in exchange for economic aid and the lifting of international sanctions. However, U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Iran of violating the deal and threatened to abandon the pact unless it was revised. Despite the Iran nuclear deal, the United States has kept on slapping separate sanctions on Iran, accusing the country of having a ballistic missiles program as well as human rights abuses. At Tuesday's press conference, Le Drian expressed Paris' concern about Iran's missile program. "As for ballistic missiles, I'm talking about Iran, this situation worries us very much. I will soon go to Tehran, next Monday," he said. "I will clearly tell the Tehran authorities: This is a treaty and it must be implemented. Secondly, there is a risk and it is necessary to do everything to avoid this risk," Le Drian said. After signing the JCPOA, Iran has conducted several ballistic missile tests, repeatedly stressing that its missile program was purely defensive and that Tehran was not going to discuss with anyone issues related to its defense. ZAGREB, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Croatian government on Tuesday appointed Fabris Perusko as the new state's extraordinary manager for the indebted company Agrokor. Agrokor, the biggest private company in this southeastern European country with some 60,000 employees, was handed over to state control in April 2017 under a special law when its debt crisis was revealed. According to the law nicknamed Lex Agrokor, a new management has to propose a debt settlement to the court by April 10, 2018. There is a possibility of extension for three months and ex-manager Ante Ramljak already said that extra time would be needed. Perusko was the Chief Financial Officer of Agrokor Group's affiliate Tisak, Croatia's leading distributor of print and tobacco products. He was already consulting Agrokor on the restructuring process. "I expect that Croatia's Commercial Court will soon approve Perisko's nomination as extraordinary manager. The Government's goal remains the welfare of our economy, our financial system, as well as the quality functioning of Agrokor, preservation of jobs and a debt settlement," Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic said at a government meeting on Tuesday. Agrokor's primary activity is production and distribution of food and beverages and retail trade, among others. ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Tuesday disclosed that more than 880,000 job opportunities that targeted Ethiopian youth were created during the past six-month period. The reported job opportunities were created as part of the Ethiopian government's job-creation initiative during the first half of the current Ethiopian 2016-2017 Ethiopian fiscal year, according to the report by the Ethiopian Ministry of Youth and Sports. The ministry, however, stressed that security-related problems that are witnessed in the East African country have created challenges in its job creation endeavors, in which only 68 percent of the initial target was achieved during the stated period. The Ethiopian government, among other things, provides trainings, raw materials and creates value-chain for youngsters as part of its job-creation initiative. According to the Ethiopian Urban Job Creation and Food Security Council, the East African country had created over 1.7 million job opportunities through the government's initiative during last fiscal year. The council, which had been implementing a platform to register job-seekers across the country, had an initial plan to benefit 2.1 million citizens through the initiative during the reported period. Ethiopia's manufacturing sector, followed by the construction industry, was said to be at the forefront in creating jobs for the burgeoning working class Ethiopians. From the total of 1.7 million Ethiopians who had secured jobs last fiscal year, 71 percent of them were youngsters, while 61,000 were graduates from higher education institutes and 128,000 others were graduates of technical and vocational schools across the country. Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation with a population of more than 100 million, has a plan to construct some 15 industrial parks across the country during the second five-year Growth and Transformation Plan (GTP-II) period from 2016 to 2020. The construction of industrial zones across the country is considered as an impetus to create more jobs for the country's burgeoning youth population. BUCHAREST, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Romania wanted to increase its investment in the Republic of Moldova and welcome the progress made in connection with the energy connectivity in the natural gas, Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Tuesday while visiting Moldova. The Iasi-Ungheni-Chisinau gas pipeline reconfirms Romania's role as Moldova's main partner, Dancila told her Moldovan counterpart Pavel Filip at the end of their meeting. The operation of the pipeline, Dancila said, is "a priority not only for Bucharest and Chisinau, as it is a major project with regional relevance on the agenda of the European Union, within the framework of the Eastern dimension policy". Moldova will receive loan of 41 million euros (50 million U.S. dollars) from the EIB for the construction of a 120-km pipeline connecting Chisinau to the Romanian gas network via Ungheni (Moldova)-Iasi (Romania) interconnection that was completed in late 2014. Romania is the Moldova's top partner "not just in terms of trade exchanges, but also of investments", said Moldovan Prime Minister Filip for his part. "Last year, we reached 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in trade exchanges with Romania ... companies running on Romanian capital are the most numerous when we talk of foreign capital in Moldova," he said. The visit in Moldova is the first one Dancila made to a foreign country as a prime minister. The visit was aimed at "reviewing both the ongoing projects and identifying new initiatives aimed at advancing bilateral cooperation, as well as the European agenda", Dancila said. ABUJA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Nigerian authorities on Tuesday gave a description of each of the 110 missing schoolgirls in the country's northeastern state of Yobe. Government spokesman Lai Mohammed, who gave the girls' details in Abuja, said the government has also set up a 12-member committee to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the teenage girls' abduction on Feb. 19 at the Government Girls' Science and Technical College in Dapchi area of Yobe. The description of the abducted girls contained the name, age, and class of each of the 110 students, Mohammed said. The list was provided by the local government in Yobe. The girls' ages range from 11 to 19 years, according to Mohammed. The tragedy of the missing girls has brought back memories of a similar occurrence four years ago in Africa's most populous country when more than 200 schoolgirls, also from an all-girl college, were abducted by Boko Haram in the northeastern town of Chibok. The Nigerian military on Sunday said it deployed air assets, including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance platforms, in search of the missing schoolgirls. As of Monday, the Nigerian air troops had already flown a total of 200 hours while conducting the search for the girls. The country's air force chief Sadique Abubakar arrived in Yobe on Tuesday to superintend the search for the girls, Mohammed added. The outlawed Boko Haram group has been trying since 2009 to establish an Islamic state in northeastern Nigeria. They have killed some 20,000 people and displaced millions of others. Kampala, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan Chief of Defence Forces, Gen David Muhoozi on Tuesday held talks with David Gressly, the Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General for the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in Kampala. A statement released by the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) deputy spokesperson, Lt Col Deo Akiiki quoted Gressy for appreciating efforts by the UPDF to wipe out the allied Democratic Forces rebels currently hiding in the jungles of the DRC. "The recent areal and artillery bombardment by Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) inflicted heavy casualties on ADF and we shall continue to give the Congolese forces enough logistical support to continue with the current operation," Gressy said. Gressy also promised to work with the UPDF and the Ugandan government to ensure that citizens both in DRC and Uganda are not attacked by remnants of the ADF. Gen Muhoozi said UPDF will continue to give unlimited support to DRC forces whenever called upon. Last December, the Ugandan army claimed it had attacked and killed more than 100 ADF fighters in DRC using air strikes. The UPDF also claimed that eight of the ADF stronghold bases were totally destroyed. The ADF started operations in Uganda in 1995 and by 2013, hundreds of innocent civilians had been killed. NAIROBI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- African countries should harness market-based initiatives supported by the local private sector to bridge a yawning water and sanitation access gap in the continent, experts said at a forum in Nairobi on Tuesday. According to the experts attending the two-day Aid and International Development Forum Africa Summit, harnessing capital, skills and technologies from industry could offer durable solution to water and sanitation crisis in the world's second largest content. Tobias Omufwoko, the Country Director of the Wash Alliance Kenya said a market driven approach should be adopted to boost access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation in Africa. "Countries in Africa should rethink their models of tackling water and sanitation challenges. The business sector could present more innovative and long-lasting solutions if it is given the right incentives," Omufwoko said. Delegates attending the Pan African Aid Summit in Nairobi who included policymakers, industry executives and scholars agreed that the continent's prosperity hinges on universal access to clean water and sanitation. Omufwoko noted that private sector investments in water and sewerage infrastructure have improved access to these critical services in Africa's urban centers. "The private sector has also been supplying innovations like solar based water treatment gadgets to communities in remote areas," said Omufwoko. "Small and medium sized businesses have also supplied affordable water harvesting technologies in rural Africa," he added. Experts stressed that political goodwill combined with friendly policies is key to stimulate investments in water and sanitation sectors across the sub-Saharan African region. Alberto Ibanez Llario, Solar and WASH Specialist at the Eastern Africa Regional Office for International Organization for Migration, said that mobilizing resources from the local private sector is an imperative in order to expand water supply and sanitation infrastructure in Africa. "The market based mechanisms to address water and sanitation access gap can work in Africa in the light of higher investor confidence, reforms and political stability in most parts of the continent," Llario said. UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The members of the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday expressed concern at the ongoing clashes between armed groups in the Central African Republic (CAR) and the attacks against civilians. In a press statement, the members of the Security Council also expressed concern over the attacks on UN peacekeepers and humanitarian workers, as well as incitement to ethnic and religious hatred and violence, which continue to destabilize the country and cause heavy civilian casualties and significant population displacements despite agreement by parties to the conflict to an immediate cessation of hostilities. "In particular, they strongly condemned the recent violence that took place in Paoua, in the north-west part of the Central African Republic, and led to the displacement of nearly 60,000 internally displaced persons and 20,000 refugees," said the statement. They called on the CAR authorities to continue their efforts to implement transparent and inclusive measures that will address the root causes of instability... to establish a functioning public financial management in order to meet the expenses related to the functioning of the State, implement early recovery plans and revitalize the economy, the statement said. The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their support to the African Initiative for Peace and Reconciliation in the CAR and its road map that was adopted in Libreville on July 17, 2017 and which constitute the main framework for a political solution in the CAR, as agreed by the CAR authorities and under their leadership. The members of the Security Council met on Feb. 22 to discuss the situation in the CAR and the activities of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the CAR (MINUSCA). BUDAPEST, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Central and Eastern European countries expressed their intent to enhance their relations with Central Asian countries in the fields of politics, economy and security, Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto said here on Tuesday. "A bridge between the Visegrad Countries and Central Asia needs to be built so that mutually beneficial cooperation between the two areas may be achieved in the fields of politics, economy and security," Szijjarto said at a conference gathering his counterparts from the Visegrad Countries (Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic and Slovakia) and the foreign ministers of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The Visegrad Countries, commonly referred to as V4, joined the European Union in 2004. "The two regions are facing similar challenges, and share a similar stance concerning religious radicalism, terrorism as well as illegal migration," he added. The Central Asian countries' vast reserves of raw materials and water industry investments could be the basis of cooperation, according to Szijjarto. Szijjarto explained that the Central Asian region could play a key role in the diversification of the European energy supply in the near future. He also recalled that these countries had significant hydropower resources, but used only a small portion of them, hence "Mutually beneficial investments could be made by Central European companies in the region, as there is a large variety of water technology in Hungary and Central Europe." "One of the points of the Hungarian V4 presidency program is the Global Visegrad, meaning that the V4 - the closest and most effective alliance within the EU - wants to make it clear: the European Union needs external allies and friends to reintegrate world politics and occupy the world economy at the right place it deserves," he stressed. Kazakh Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov declared that V4 can be one of the most crucial and promising partners for the Central Asian countries, for whom it is very useful to study this successful group. Abdrakhmanov, who called the meeting "based on openness and mutual understanding", mentioned energy, water management and education as potential areas of cooperation. Kazakhstan contributes significantly to peace, stability, cooperation and sustainable development in the Eurasian region, he added. Kyrgyzstan's Foreign Minister Erlan Abdyldaev explained that a new chapter in co-operation between the Visegrad and Central Asian states could benefit both sides. Economic co-operation is paramount, but much attention is also given to educational co-operation, for example, they have pledged to expand the number of student scholarships in Hungary to Kyrgyz students, he said. JOHANNESBURG, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The stakeholders in the poultry industry on Tuesday held a special forum in Johannesburg and recommended that imports be reduced by 50 percent and local producers asking for protection against dumping. The forum was attended by representatives from government, poultry producers, research institutions and civil society lobby groups in the poultry sector. It was revealed during the forum that the poultry sector faces high input costs (like grain feed) and large volumes of cheap imported chicken, mostly from the EU, Brazil and the US. It was said the imports from the EU are highly subsidized. Imameleng Mothebe, director of agri-processing in the Department of Trade and Industry, said they are proposing some measures to make the poultry sector viable. These include trade measures, a review of technical tariff structures, competitiveness and a lowering of input costs. "The government is doing what it can, but the important thing is to ensure that the public is aware of the issues in order to pay allegiance to locally grown and produced products. This, in turn, will also assist the distressed poultry industry," said Mothebe. The sector was organized by Proudly South Africa (SA) which advocates for the local products to be bought and used. Fair Play, a poultry lobby organization called for anti-dumping measures to be put in place. Fair Play CEO Francois Baird called for the the zero VAT (value added tax) rating of South African poultry products to help poor South African consumers. The country imports about 90 percent of mechanically deboned meat. BELGRADE, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Serbia, Italy and Albania agreed to advance relations, exchange high-level visits and strengthen regional cooperation, infrastructural interconnection, and cooperation on European integration and security, Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic said here on Tuesday. In a statement following a trilateral meeting with his Albanian and Italian counterparts in Belgrade, Dacic said Serbia and Albania were grateful for the Italian support in the process of European integrations, and were interested in looking for more cooperation over joint interests. The trilateral meeting of foreign ministers of Serbia, Albania and Italy was held for the third time -- the first was in 2015 in Rome, and the second in Tirana in 2016. This time, it focused on ways to cooperate in prospects of the two Western Balkan countries to become members of the European Union. The three foreign ministers also talked about the upcoming Western Balkans summit in London, within the so-called Berlin process. Italian foreign minister Angelino Alfano said that the trilateral meeting will prove to be of key importance for strengthening of dialogues among the three countries, and suggested that business people and the NGO sector should get involved in order to advance this political process. "We support the integration of Serbia and Albania in the European Union," Alfano said. Albanian foreign minister Ditmir Bushati said that one of the topics at the meeting was the recently-adopted strategy of the EU commission for the Western Balkans, as well as the upcoming summit in London. "Serbia and Albania have proven their loyalty to the European values by coping with the refugee crisis," Bushati said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 03:31:13|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN special envoy for Yemen on Tuesday called for political will of the decision-makers in Yemen to end the war, which has resulted in the world's worst humanitarian crisis. "Only Yemeni decision-makers are able to stop the war and the bloodshed," Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN secretary-general's special envoy for Yemen, told the Security Council. He said the parties backed away from a peace proposal at the last minute due to lack of political will. "I would like to announce, for the first time, that we were about to reach agreement on a peace proposal developed in consultation with the parties, but they refused to sign in the last minute," said Cheikh Ahmed. "In the end of the consultations, it became clear that the Houthis were not prepared to make concessions on the proposed security arrangements. This has been a major stumbling block toward reaching a negotiated solution," he added. The decision-makers in this conflict perceive concessions as weakness and dissent as a threat, he noted. Regrettably they have consistently taken irresponsible and provocative actions, disregarding the daily suffering of Yemenis, he said. "We do have a peace roadmap for Yemen. The practical suggestions to launch it and build confidence among the parties have been agreed upon. The only part missing is the commitment of parties to make concessions and give priority to the national interests. This is what makes us doubtful of their real intention to end this war," he added. He called on the parties to cease hostilities, reactivate negotiations, make the culture of coexistence prevail over the language of war so that Yemen becomes a beacon of light in the Middle East and a model for peace and security. Cheikh Ahmed was briefing the UN Security Council for the last time as he is to step down at the end of the month. He will be succeeded by Martin Griffiths of Britain. NICOSIA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities of Cyprus are not yet ready to resume peace negotiations stalled months ago, a United Nations official clearly implied on Tuesday. "The United Nations remains available...Once the UN Secretary General hears that both sides are ready with the common approach to move forward, then the UN will be ready to move," the UN General Secretary's special representative in Cyprus Elizabeth Spehar said. "For the time being we have preliminary discussions," Spehar added. The Canadian born diplomat who heads the UN mission and peace force in Cyprus was speaking after meeting Turkish Cypriot leader Mustafa Akinci in the Turkish occupied part of the capital Nicosia. Sources said Spehar conveyed to Akinci a proposal made by Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades last week to resume the negotiations on the internal aspects of the Cyprus problem from the point they were left off last July. These relate to governance, power sharing, territorial adjustments and reinstating properties left behind by both Greek and Turkish Cypriots when Turkey sent its troops to occupy part of Cyprus in 1974, in reaction to a Greek junta inspired coup. But Turkish Cypriot officials, in an apparent change of policies after Turkey blocked natural gas exploration by Italian ENI, said they would return to the negotiations after Greek Cypriots accept Turkish Cypriots as a talking partner over natural gas exploration licensing and resources sharing ahead of any other agreement. Anastasiades has said it has already been agreed upon years ago that the energy issues will be managed by the central federal government and not the communities and that the proceeds will be shared in an equitable way. Spehar said that UN Undersecretary General Jean-Pierre Lacroix will be visiting Cyprus later this week to familiarize himself and talk to the Cypriot community leaders on the resumption of the negotiations. Stefanos Stefanou, spokesman for the main opposition left wing AKEL party told Xinhua in an interview recently that the first step towards resuming negotiations is to avoid stirring up tension. He said the impasse caused by recent Turkish intervention in the Cypriot exclusive economic zone can only be broken by the resumption of the negotiations, but at the same time the resumption of the negotiations is being blocked by the crisis caused by Turkey. "Our main preoccupation now must be to prevent an escalation of tensions and bring back normality," said Stefanou who heads AKEL's Press Office. He said it was very important to restart negotiations from the point they were left more than seven months ago so as to take advantage of important points adopted by the United Nations, such as the termination of intervention rights by the guarantor powers -Greece, Turkey and the United Kingdom and agreements on managing of energy resources. He said the despite the looming crisis, it is still possible to overcome obstacles and resume a productive dialogue, provided that both communities avoid actions which would increase tension. "We believe that a solution is still possible on the parameters adopted by the United Nations and the agreed basis for a solution, that is a bi-zonal, bi-communal country by evolving the Cyprus Republic into a federal state," said Stefanou. BUJUMBURA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Burundi on Tuesday refuted claims by UN human rights chief, describing the east African country among "the most prolific slaughterhouses of humans in recent times." "It's very surprising, especially considering what we currently observe countrywide and considering the progress made in all aspects of the human rights sector," Jean Baptiste Baribonekeza, chairman of the Burundian National Independent Human Rights Commission said in Burundian capital Bujumbura. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein on Monday at a session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva decried "some of the most prolific slaughterhouses of humans in recent times", including Burundi, some areas in the countries of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Yemen, Myanmar and Syria. Baribonekeza said there are no signs of mass killings or activities jeopardizing the human rights sector underway in Burundi. "His claims were full of exaggerations. Considering figures at our disposal for 2017 and at the beginning of 2018, we assume that the human rights situation is good in the country," said the chairperson. VIENNA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Austrian government is planning to reach a zero budget deficit starting from 2019 on the back of a number of cost-cutting measures, its two most senior leaders announced at a press conference Tuesday. Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache told the media in Vienna their planned savings measures will amount to 2.5 billion euros (3 billion U.S. dollars). Cuts are to be seen across all ministries other than security and education. "The goal is a slim state, whereby the tax burden can be reduced for the working population," Kurz said. The "ambitious" plan will see the government cut taxes to the tune of 2 billion euros (2.4 billion U.S. dollars). The chancellor noted that a zero-budget deficit has eluded Austrian governments for decades, but that "this government will manage it." BUJUMBURA, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Burundian First Vice-President Gaston Sindimwo on Tuesday said the Burundian government wants the repatriation of the Inter-Burundi Dialogue, aimed at finding a solution to the political crisis in Burundi. The Inter-Burundi Dialogue is a process led by East African Community (EAC) under the mediatorship of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni. EAC also appointed former Tanzanian President Benjamin Mkapa as the facilitator of the dialogue to support the Museveni. Sindimwo said the government wants the dialogue to be repatriated on the Burundian ground, adding that the government will always support the dialogue held by political parties. "We encourage political parties to sit together under the auspices of the facilitator. We will be there as the government to accompany the facilitator in his activities. And if an agreement is reached, we will implement it," he added. During the summit of the EAC heads of state and government held last week in the Ugandan capital Kampala, the mandate of the facilitator was renewed in order to allow him to continue his assignment as the facilitator in the Inter-Burundi Dialogue. Launched in December 2015, the Inter-Burundi Dialogue talks at the external level under the EAC auspices has made no concrete progress. Burundi plunged into a crisis in April 2015 when Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza decided to run his controversial third term bid, which he won in July 2015. His candidature, which was opposed by the opposition and civil society groups, resulted in a wave of protests, violence and even a failed coup in May 2015. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 04:46:30|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The UN special envoy for Yemen on Tuesday called for the political will of the decision-makers in Yemen to end the war, which has resulted in the world's worst humanitarian crisis. "Only Yemeni decision-makers are able to stop the war and the bloodshed," Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed, the UN secretary-general's special envoy for Yemen, told the Security Council. He said the parties backed away from a peace proposal at the last minute due to lack of political will. "I would like to announce, for the first time, that we were about to reach agreement on a peace proposal developed in consultation with the parties, but they refused to sign in the last minute," said Cheikh Ahmed. "In the end of the consultations, it became clear that the Houthis were not prepared to make concessions on the proposed security arrangements. This has been a major stumbling block toward reaching a negotiated solution," he said. Decision-makers in this conflict perceive concessions as weakness and dissent as a threat, he noted. Regrettably they have consistently taken irresponsible and provocative actions, disregarding the daily suffering of Yemenis, he said. "We do have a peace roadmap for Yemen. The practical suggestions to launch it and build confidence among the parties have been agreed upon. The only part missing is the commitment of parties to make concessions and give priority to the national interests. This is what makes us doubtful of their real intention to end this war," he added. He called on the parties to cease hostilities, reactivate negotiations, make the culture of coexistence prevail over the language of war so that Yemen becomes a beacon of light in the Middle East and a model for peace and security. Cheikh Ahmed was briefing the Security Council for the last time as he is to step down at the end of the month. He will be succeeded by Martin Griffiths of Britain. Yemen has been in civil war since 2015, pitting Houthi forces loyal to former President Ali Abdullah Saleh and forces loyal to the government of Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. The civil war has taken a heavy toll on the country and deepened the economic and humanitarian crisis, he said. "The parties have continued the destructive pattern of zero-sum politics which has led the country to plunge into more poverty and destruction." Since 2015, Yemen's economy has shrunk by almost 40 percent. In 2017 alone, the Yemeni riyal lost more than half of its value, said the special envoy. The decline of the currency and the related sharp price hikes have negatively affected the economy and therefore hampered the delivery of basic supplies. Currently, 22.2 million Yemenis are in need of some form of humanitarian assistance, compared to 15.9 million in March 2015, he said. The last two months witnessed a renewed and large-scale escalation of military confrontation in parts of the country and the Houthis continued to fire ballistic missiles into Saudi Arabia, he said. In December 2017, conflict erupted between Houthi rebels and Saleh's supporters, leading to the killing of Saleh. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 04:56:33|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika (1st R) meets with visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (1st L) in Algiers, Algeria, Feb. 27, 2018. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday held talks with his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika on promoting cooperation in a range of fields. (Xinhua) ALGIERS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday held talks with his Algerian counterpart Abdelaziz Bouteflika on promoting cooperation in a range of fields. The two leaders discussed Tuesday ways to enhance bilateral cooperation and other issues of common interest, including the Syrian crisis, local media reported. Erdogan also co-chaired with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia the Algerian-Turkish Business Forum, which brought together a large number of Algerian and Turkish companies and businessmen to give a new impetus to the bilateral trade. As a result of Erdogan's visit, Algeria and Turkey inked seven partnership agreements and memorandums of understanding in the sectors of energy, higher education, diplomacy, culture, tourism and agriculture. This is Erdogan's second visit to the North African nation as president. Soldiers from the Philippine Marine Battalion Landing Team (MBLT) and Marine Special Operation Group (MARSOG) gather their belongings after their send-off ceremony from their combat duty against pro-Islamic State (IS) militants in Marawi City, the Philippines, Oct. 21, 2017. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) WASHINGTON, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. State Department on Tuesday said it has designated seven Islamic State (IS)-affiliated groups and two leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs). Three of the seven groups, namely the IS-West Africa, IS-Philippines and IS-Bangladesh, were also designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs). U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in transactions with them, and their property and interests in property subject to U.S. jurisdiction are blocked. In addition, it is a crime to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to these organizations. A soldier arranges the confiscated weapons used by pro-Islamic State militant groups at the Fort Bonifacio in Taguig City, the Philippines, Dec. 13, 2017. Hundreds of weapons from pro-Islamic State militant groups were gathered and destroyed by the government. (Xinhua/Rouelle Umali) The other four groups designated as SDGTs were IS-Somalia, Jund al-Khilafah-Tunisia, IS-Egypt, and the Maute Group, and the individuals are Mahad Moalim and Abu Musab al-Barnawi. Among other consequences, all property and interests in property of the SDGT designees are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with them. In announcing these designations, U.S. Coordinator for Counterterrorism Nathan A. Sales emphasized that "these designations target key ISIS-affiliated groups and leaders outside its fallen caliphate in Iraq and Syria. Today's actions are a critical step in degrading ISIS's global network and denying its affiliates the resources they need to plan and carry out terrorist attacks." Iraqi armored vehicles take part in a parade in Mosul, Iraq on Dec. 14, 2017. Ninevah Operation Command of the Iraqi military paraded in Mosul to celebrate the full liberation of Iraqi lands of the Islamic State(IS) group. (Xinhua/Khalil Dawood) The State Department also said that the latest designations aim to notify the U.S. public and the international community that these groups and individuals have committed or pose a significant risk of committing acts of terrorism. "Terrorist designations expose and isolate entities and individuals, and deny them access to the U.S. financial system. Moreover, designations can assist the law enforcement activities of U.S. agencies and other governments," it added. These designations were also part of a larger comprehensive plan of the United States to defeat IS in coordination with the Global Coalition. In addition to designating IS as a FTO and a SDGT, the Department of State has also designated over 40 IS leaders and operatives so far. U.S. State Department Monday said the United States will host an international conference on mobilizing law enforcement efforts to defeat the Islamic State (IS) on Tuesday and Wednesday. Participants of the two-day conference are expected to seek to establish a common understanding of "the depth and breadth" of the evolving IS global threat. It will also discuss how to enhance law enforcement and other civilian tools to counter IS. In addition, the conference will also identify specific actions to help countries disrupt potential attacks, according to the State Department. The agency said that although the IS has lost nearly all of its former territory in Iraq and Syria, the international community cannot underestimate the evolving threat IS networks and local adherents pose elsewhere. TRIPOLI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Libya's UN-backed government on Tuesday announced measures to support its forces in the southern city of Sabha to fight so-called "mercenaries." The government said in a statement that "any attack on the army's camps and headquarters is an attack on the national sovereignty as a whole." "All Libyans will not give up their duty to defend the south, and will thwart all attempts aimed at creating a new demographic reality," it said. The government also called on the people in southern Libya to support the army. The Libyan National Human Rights Commission on Monday confirmed that two civilians were killed and another was injured in armed clashes between rival tribes in Sabha, some 800 km southwest of the capital Tripoli. Two days ago, Hamed Al-Khiali, head of the municipal council of Sabha, said the airport of Sabha was "occupied by an armed group that has nothing to do with Libya." Al-khiali said the armed group carried the flags of African countries. Sabha is controlled by both the government's forces and the eastern-based army led by General Khalifa Haftar. The city has witnessed unprecedented insecurity due to the rise in crimes and kidnappings by armed groups, as well as frequent tribal clashes. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 05:06:36|Editor: yan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- The head of the United Nations Peacekeeping Operations on Tuesday called on leaders of both Lebanon and Israel to find political solutions to their conflict with the help of the UN peacekeeping force. Wrapping up his visit to Lebanon, the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, said "it is important for the leaders on both sides to take advantage of the window of opportunity that UNIFIL (UN Interim Force in Lebanon) has helped provide to work towards a permanent ceasefire and long-term solution to the conflict as envisaged in UN Security Council resolution 1701." "A peacekeeping operation helps create the space for political solutions," Lacroix said. He made the call after ending a Middle East tour that included a visit to the UNIFIL, and meetings with high-ranking government officials in the region. While in Lebanon, Lacroix met with President Michel Aoun and other senior officials, and saw first-hand the crucial work done by UNIFIL, in close coordination with the Labanese national armed forces. UNIFIL was established in 1978 following Israel's invasion of southern Lebanon after the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) carried out a deadly attack on its territory. Some 10,500 peacekeepers from 41 countries are still serving in its area of operations. Lacroix praised the Lebanese government's continuous support and cooperation in implementing the UNIFIL mandate, which includes monitoring the cessation of hostilities in the wake of the July 2006 conflict. Security Council resolution 1701, which mapped out steps for a permanent ceasefire and a long-term solution between Israel and Lebanon, was adopted in August 2006. KIEV, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko discussed the preparations for the first forum between their countries' regions over phones on Tuesday, Poroshenko's press service said. According to the statement issued by the Ukrainian presidential press service, the first Forum of regions of Ukraine and Belarus will be held later this year in Belarusian southeastern city of Gomel, which lies near the border with Ukraine. During their talks, Poroshenko and Lukashenko noted that the forum will intensify the trade, economic and cultural cooperation between the regions of Ukraine and Belarus, the statement said. Ukraine and Belarus agreed to hold the forum during the visit of Lukashenko to Ukraine in July last year. The trade turnover between Ukraine and Belarus increased by about 18 percent to 4.3 billion U.S. dollars last year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 06:32:03|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Visiting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (L) and Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia attend the Turkish-Algerian Business Forum in Algiers, Algeria, Feb. 27, 2018. Turkey and Algeria vowed Tuesday to increase their annual trade to 10 billion U.S. dollars in the near future, during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the North African country. (Xinhua) ALGIERS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Turkey and Algeria vowed Tuesday to increase their annual trade to 10 billion U.S. dollars in the near future, during Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to the North African country. This goal was revealed by Erdogan in his opening remarks to the Turkish-Algerian Business Forum Tuesday, which he co-chaired with Algerian Prime Minister Ahmed Ouyahia. The annual volume of Turkey-Algeria trade, currently around 3.5 billion dollars, would be raised to 5 billion dollars within a short period, Erdogan said, before hitting the goal of 10 billion dollars in the future. Erdogan specified such a goal could be reached especially thanks to all the facilities offered by Algeria to Turkish businessmen wishing to enter the North African nation's market. Erdogan said cooperation between the two countries will be reinforced "after the signing of seven cooperation agreements in various sectors, such as tourism, energy and agriculture." The Turkish leader further noted that Algerian energy giant Sonatrach and a group of Turkish energy companies will cooperate in a 1-billion-dollar project to establish a plant for the production of 450 tons of propene per year. In this regard, Erdogan assumed that such a project will help Algeria overcoming its balance deficit. Erdogan expressed his satisfaction with the quality of the projects carried out by the Turkish companies in Algeria, including those related to iron, steel and textile. More than 200 businessmen from both countries activating in sectors of textile, food industry, petrochemicals, electronics and agriculture took part in the forum to seek cooperations. Earlier on Monday, Algeria and Turkey inked seven partnership agreements and memorandums of understanding in various sectors including energy, diplomacy, culture, tourism and agriculture, aiming at reinforcing partnership between the two nations. Ouyahia said the Algerian government will endeavor to accelerate the implementation of all the agreements that have been signed. The prime minister further assumed that the meetings and exchanges between Algerian and Turkish delegations, as well as the bilateral business forum offer new opportunities to develop bilateral partnership. Hailing the existence of 800 Turkish firms activating in Algeria, Ouyahia said Turkey is the sixth customer and the seventh largest commercial supplier of Algeria, with an overall trade volume of some 4 billion dollars in 2017. Later on Tuesday, Erdogan was received by Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, as they discussed the outcome of this state visit and ways to further boosting bilateral cooperation. The two officials also discussed prevailing issues of common interest, including the war in Syria. The visit of Erdogan to the North African nation is part of his African tour, as he is due to visit Mauritania, Senegal and Mali. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 06:42:05|Editor: yan Video Player Close CHICAGO, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) agricultural commodities continued to rise over adverse weathers across the world with wheat prices reaching seven month highs on Tuesday. The most active corn contract for May delivery rose two cents, or 0.53 percent to settle at 3.7925 dollars per bushel. May wheat delivery went up 4.25 cents, or 0.90 percent to close at 4.77 dollars per bushel. May soybeans were up 3.5 cents, or 0.33 percent to settle at 10.495 dollars per bushel. CBOT brokers reported that funds bought 4,700 contracts of corn, 3,300 contracts of wheat and 4,700 contracts of soybeans. Dryness in wheat growing U.S. plains has affected crops there. New crop ratings released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on Monday afternoon referred to big problems in Kansas and Oklahoma particularly. The latest USDA data confirmed continued damage to winter wheat crops from the dryness, with only 12 percent of Kansas' crop being rated in "good" or "excellent" condition. Joe Vaclavik of Standard Grain deemed the ratings "some of the worst in recent memory," maybe "record lows" in some instances. Severe cold front in the European continent also triggered worries that wheat crops there may be under threat as well. Meanwhile, drought in Argentina has not eased, with February rainfalls set to be the lowest in almost four decades. This has pushed CBOT soybean prices to one year highs. Source: Xinhua| 2018-02-28 06:47:07|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi (L, Front) shakes hands with Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo (R, Front) during a welcome ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Tunis, Tunisia, Feb. 27, 2018. Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo announced here Tuesday that his country will open its embassy in Tunisia soon. (Xinhua/Adel Ezzine) TUNIS, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Equatorial Guinea's President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo announced here Tuesday that his country will open its embassy in Tunisia soon. He also announced an entry visa exemption for Tunisian citizens. The president is on his first state visit to Tunis, during which eight bilateral cooperation agreements were signed. The Equatorial Guinean President hailed his visit to Tunisia as "historic and successful," saying such a "South-South cooperation will only strengthen the weight of our continent in the world." He said during a joint press conference with his Tunisian counterpart Beji Caid Essebsi that Equatorial Guinea will be able to benefit greatly from Tunisian experience in the social and economic fields. Essebsi expressed his gratitude for Equatorial Guinea's decision to open its embassy in Tunisia and the visa exemption, saying Tunisia's relations with Equatorial Guinea should be strengthened. Diplomatic relations between Tunisia and Equatorial Guinea date back to 1972. However, the economic links between them are limited. Delivered to your home Selections by Sagemoor, http://selectionsbysagemoor.com. Features wines made with grapes grown at Sagemoor Vineyards in Pasco. Prices vary, but recent three-bottle packages ranged from $68 to $210. Pacific Northwest Fresh, https://pacificnorthwestfresh.com. Weekly produce delivery with the option to add products made by local artisans including Buhrmaster Baking Co., Basalt Roasters and Ahtanum Berry Patch. Three box sizes are offered, ranging from $30 to $40 per shipment. McIlrath Family Farms Produce Delivery, http://www.mcilrathfarms.com/fresh-produce-delivery. Weekly produce delivery with option to add items from local artisans including Basalt Roasters and Light Delight. Three box sizes are offered, ranging from $30 to $40 per shipment. Public records are just that: documents that detail how our public servants conduct business on behalf of the citizens whom they represent. Emails, text messages, memos, calendars and disciplinary records can prove enlightening as to how lawmakers develop policy and which interest groups may have influenced that policy. In the era of #MeToo, the documents also can reveal troubling behavior that could compromise a lawmaker's ability to serve constituents. Hundreds urge Inslee to veto bill exempting Washington legislators from public-records law OLYMPIA More than 540 people have emailed Gov. Jay Inslees office in recent days urging him to oppose a bill overwhelmingly approved by the Public Records Act attack To the editor Our state Legislators just exempted themselves from the Public Records Act (PRA). The bill was introduced one day before the v The Washington Legislature last week took extraordinary steps to exempt itself from the Public Records Act, the state law that applies to city council members, county commissioners and other elected officials. There are many problems with Senate Bill 6617, which bypassed the usual deliberative process and sped through the Senate and House in two days. Legislators conducted no committee hearings and instituted an emergency clause, which means it could not be subject to a public referendum. The bill removes the option of challenging a records request denial in court, leaving that decision to one of two legislative committees. These reasons are why the Yakima Herald-Republic Editorial Board feels compelled to take the rare step of publishing a Page One editorial on this critical issue. The bills main intent is to stop the release of records being sought in a lawsuit filed by a coalition of media groups including The Seattle Times, parent company of the Yakima Herald-Republic. The bill, in fact, would apply retroactively to those records. A Thurston County Superior Court judge ruled in January that the Legislature violated the Public Records Act by declining those records requests. But this is not a skirmish between the news media and lawmakers. This is a battle to maintain basic and essential open government in line with the Public Records Act, which arose out of a ballot initiative that won overwhelming voter approval in 1972. Legislators arent saying much in defense of this bill. Some have argued that constituent communication sometimes involves sensitive information about private citizens. That may be, but the deliberative process could have arrived at a way to address the concerns; those deliberations were absent on this bill. Our all-Republican legislative delegation should heed forceful opinions by its allies that this legislation was unwarranted. Opponents of this lack of transparency and disrespect for the democratic process include the pro-business Washington Policy Center, former Republican Attorney General and gubernatorial candidate Rob McKenna, the Freedom Foundation, and Toby Nixon, a former Republican legislator and president of the Washington Coalition for Open Government. We call on Gov. Jay Inslee, who has been transparent about his offices records, to veto SB 6617, and we urge our legislators to sustain the veto. We also urge readers to contact the governor and legislators to advocate rejection of this bill. The names and contact information for the governor and Yakima Valleys legislators can be found on Page 4A. The Legislature considers this an emergency. The true emergency lies in stopping this misguided measure from becoming law. Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Bob Crider and Frank Purdy. Nicole Wolter is finding a way to nearly double the speed and efficiency of the multi-national companys food processing machines in order to meet their customer demands. That current test is similar to ones business owners face every day: how to fulfill a customers latest demands. WAUCONDA - Nicole Wolter has a huge challenge facing her and HM Manufacturing - the business she and her father Ken Wolter, now own as partners. Weve been expanding our customer base, going from just the automotive industry into food and beverage processing, packaging, aerospace, marine and medical, she said. That means more shafts, more gearboxes, more demands, and more business. Wolters vision for HM Manufacturing to expand and reach new production levels is even more inspiring considering all the companys been through in the last nine years. HM faced bankruptcy in 2011, after the Wolters discovered several of their longtime employees were using company materials and machinery to establish a competing entity. I came to HM when my dad asked me to join him in 2009, the 32-year-old told News Bulletin. Wolter had worked a year after college at a commodities firm at her dads suggestion and was ready for a job change. Wolter joined her father at HM, started doing shipping and secretarial work - which led to quoting job costs and time estimates. When jobs failed to meet deadlines she promised customers, she began asking questions. I found materials and packaging missing, and delays that couldnt be explained, she said. I kept hearing about a competitor. Customers would say they just ordered from a competitor that beat us by a couple of cents by pennies and in a slightly shorter time. Losing one job after another led Wolter to a private investigator that found what was going on. He found that HMs new competitor was working out of HM Manufacturing early in the morning, before the owner arrived. They were chipping away at our business, using our materials, packaging, tooling and customer list, she said. 2011 was one of toughest for the power transmission components business her father founded in 1979. Besides the automotive industry going through hard times, HM had only three months of capital to survive. All that HM had left was office staff and the shipping clerk. The situation called for hard work and sacrifice on the part of the Wolters. Ken Wolter & daughter Nicole My father and I would come in at 5 in the morning and stay until midnight, going through machine manuals, reviewing how to code them to get those jobs we had done. I was tasked with calling customers and getting them back. I was helping my father salvage the company and learning the industry at the same time, she said. It became clear that the automotive industrys gears and shaft work was beginning to taper off, so the Wolters looked for the next big industry they could serve. We decided we would go into food processing machine parts everything is processed these days, Wolter said. The hard work and investment paid off. In the past seven years since those dark days and nights, things dramatically changed. HMs business grew from $80,000 in 2011 to $3 million in 2017. They now have 20 employees. Now HM is challenged to find skilled people to run their new machines. We need two machinists right now, today, Wolter said. During those rebuilding days, Wolter herself took classes to learn precision machining, Autocad and SolidWorks. Now she sends employees to TMA to improve their skills and grow the companys services. Shes also invested in promoting manufacturing education at local high schools and through TMAs Education Foundation Board. Germany provides a good support system for those going into the trade, she said. We need more of that here in America and we need more girls to pursue STEM careers. Wolter, now HMs president and CEO, says her five-year plan includes adding a subsidiary to build fully assembled units. Wed like to mill, turn, hob and produce more gear boxes, then ship them the way customers need them, she said. Wolters father Ken stepped away at the beginning of 2017 from his daily work at HM to launch a research and development phase product line for quicker hobbing and turning machine changeovers. Wolters father, the company founder, emphasized to News Bulletin the company survived those tough times due to perseverance and his daughter, Nicole. Not only was she crucial in saving the company he founded, he said, She is my partner. HM Manufacturing is located at 1200 Henri Drive in Wauconda, IL, and features a new e-commerce section on their website at HMManufacturing.com. _____ Written by Fran Eaton for Technology & Manufacturing Association's February 2017 News Bulletin. Used by permission. Since the tragedy in Parkland, Florida, a number of companies have decided to sever their relationship with the NRA, in an effort to punish our members who are doctors, farmers, law enforcement officers, fire fighters, nurses, shop owners and school teachers that live in every American community. We are men and women who represent every American ethnic group, every one of the worlds religions and every form of political commitment. The law-abiding members of the NRA had nothing at all to do with the failure of that schools security preparedness, the failure of Americas mental health system, the failure of the National Instant Check System or the cruel failures of both federal and local law enforcement. Despite that, some corporations have decided to punish NRA membership in a shameful display of political and civic cowardice. In time, these brands will be replaced by others who recognize that patriotism and determined commitment to Constitutional freedoms are characteristics of a marketplace they very much want to serve. Let it be absolutely clear. The loss of a discount will neither scare nor distract one single NRA member from our mission to stand and defend the individual freedoms that have always made America the greatest nation in the world. Latest News Washington, DC - Remarks by Vice President Pence at the 2018 White House Business Session with Governors: THE VICE PRESIDENT: Well, thank you for the warm welcome. And I trust you all have had a productive and meaningful morning. And to Governor Sandoval, to Governor Bullock, and to all of Americas governors who are gathered here for this important national meeting, on behalf of the First Family and our entire Cabinet, thank you for being here today. And, more importantly, thank you for your service to the people of your state and to the people of this nation. We are proud of our governors across America. (Applause.) One year ago, President Trump told all of you at this gathering that, in his words, Under this administration, were going to have a true partnership a true partnership of collaboration and cooperation with governors in America. And as a former governor, Im very proud to see the progress that we have all made together for the American people. Since day one of this administration, weve been partnering with each and every one of you, in good times and in challenging times. Weve been working on the issues that matter most to the American people jobs, energy, combatting opiate abuse, land management, and so much more. Weve been inspired. Weve been inspired by the leadership of governors of our states and territories in the midst of hurricanes and wildfires. And we commend our governors for your outstanding leadership in these challenging times. (Applause.) Through all of it, weve generated real results for the American people. Thanks to the Presidents leadership and all of your efforts, weve made remarkable progress in the past year: 2.5 million new jobs; unemployment at a 17-year low; wages are beginning to rise all across America; business confidence is soaring; and the American economy is roaring back. We all share the credit for that. We all share the responsibility of serving all the people of this great nation. So we thank you for your collaboration and your partnership in the progress that weve made. But today is about partnering with you for what matters most: ensuring the safety and security of our children and schools. As President Trump said in the immediate aftermath of the horrific attack in Parkland, Florida, No child, no teacher, should ever be in danger in an American school. And President Trump, as he will reiterate to you today President Trump has made school safety our administrations top priority. (Applause.) One week ago, in this very room, the President and I met with the family of Meadow Pollack, a beautiful young lady who lost her life in the terrible attack in Florida. We met with other students and families reeling from that attack. We also sat with families from Sandy Hook and from Columbine, who still bear the scars in their hearts from similar incidents that took place in their communities. And as the President said, and I can echo, well never forget that time. President Trump has been busy listening to law enforcement officials. But at the bottom line, he recognizes that public safety and education are principally a state and local function. So today, we want to hear from you, Americas governors. We want to hear what youre doing. We want to hear your ideas for reform at the federal level. Its good for me to be among some former colleagues and friends. And let me share with each and every one of you Ive now served with this President for over a year, weve become very close. I cherish our friendship. What I know of this President is hes got broad shoulders and a big heart. And like governors all across America, I also know that this President is all about results. As the President said, Its not enough to simply take actions that make us feel like were making a difference. We must actually make that difference. And I promise you he means it from the bottom of his heart. So today, I urge you to bring your candor and your counsel to this President, and know that hes listening hes listening with the respect thats generated from knowing the jobs that each and every one of you do every day for the citizens of your states all across this country. And I know in my heart that with President Trumps leadership, with your leadership in your states, and with Gods help, well end this evil in our time. So now it is my high honor and distinct privilege to introduce to you my friend and a leader who is absolutely committed to working together with each and every one of you to advance the safety and the prosperity of the American people, the 45th President of the United States of America, President Donald Trump. (Applause.) Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - On Monday, February 26, 2018 at approximately 8:10 p.m., the Yuma Police Department started receiving calls reference to a possible school shooting that may happen on Tuesday, February 27th at Gila Ridge High School, located at 7150 E 24th Street. At this time the Yuma Police Department is actively investigating this threat and is working closely with Yuma Union High School District to determine the source and validity of the threat. Gila Ridge High School has canceled all classes and events on campus for Tuesday, February 27th. The Police Department started receiving numerous calls and Facebook instant messages last night around 8:10 p.m. The messages related to concern about a possible shooting to take place at Gila Ridge High School. School Resource Officers and other YPD employees were called in and took over monitoring social media to help identify names and addresses of persons/students posting the messages. After contacting several parents and students, it was determined the original post was actually a non-threating message on a social media network called Snap chat. After learning the identity of the student who made this post, the student was contacted at his residence and interviewed at the Yuma Police Department. Other students believed to have information were also contacted and interviewed. The Investigation has revealed that after viewing and misinterpreting the original post on Snapchat, several social media participants made a number of secondary posts with inaccurate or false information. The nature of social media led to additional unfiltered and widespread distribution of misinformation throughout the Yuma community. The department is working to identify the persons making and spreading these inaccurate/false posts. The Yuma Police Department has been working closely with Yuma Union High School District, Yuma Elementary School District and Crane School District staff throughout this investigation. We have received countless calls from our community related to this matter, and have fully investigated all information as it comes in. In response to social media posts about weapons or ammunition on the Gila Ridge High campus, the Yuma Police Department Special Enforcement Team and law enforcement partners conducted a search of the school grounds last night. Contrary to some social media posts, no weapons or ammunition were located. We would like to re-state that at this time, we have been unable to find any information to support the circumstance of threats made by any student(s) towards other students or persons. At this time, no one has been arrested or charged regarding this incident. This case is still an active investigation. The Yuma Police Department is continuing to verify all information coming in. The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call the Yuma Police Department at 928-373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous. Pune: Luxury car brand Mercedes-Benz has launched the new S-Class 350 d touted to be Indias first BS VI compliant vehicle. The Mercedes-Benz S 350 d is priced at Rs 1.33 Crore, while the petrol version S 450 is priced at Rs 1.37 Crore The new Mercedes-Benz S-Class features a raft of changes, both externally and internally. The new S-Class 350 d is fitted with a new inline-6 that delivers an output of 210 kW (286 hp). Mercedes said that the OM 656 motor is the first BS VI compliant diesel engine that is capable of running on BS IV fuel. On the exterior, the car features radiator trim with three twin louvres and vertical bars in high-gloss black, new lower bumper with large, sporty air intakes and multibeam LED headlamps. It also has rear bumper with integral tailpipe trim elements for all engine variants and new LED tail lights with crystal-look tail lamp. The new S-Class comes with an advanced panoramic sliding sunroof with an obstruction sensor. It is fitted with a new multi-function steering wheel with ergonomic touch control buttons. The car has electrically operated roller sunblind for the rear glass and side windows. The new S-Class comes with Burmester surround sound system with 13 speakers, a 9-channel DSP amplifier and a total output of 590 W. The new S-Class 350 d comes with new safety features using sophisticated radar-based technology, active distance assist distronic, active steering assist, active braking assist and blind spot assist. "By launching the first ever 'Made in India, for India' BS VI car, we have set a benchmark among all car manufacturers to support the government in mitigating the rising pollution levels in the country," said Roland Folger, Managing Director and CEO, Mercedes-Benz India. PATNA: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar on Monday said that he will not celebrate Holi on March 2 in the wake of the death of nine children in Muzaffarpur hit-and-run case and the death of JDU leader Manibhushan Nishad. Nine people were killed and 20 were injured after they were run over by a speeding vehicle in Bihar's Muzaffarpur district. The incident took place on Saturday afternoon. The speeding car belongs to Manoj Baitha - a BJP leader from Sitamarhi district. On Monday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suspended Baitha from the party's primary membership for six years. He has also been booked by Bihar Police. The car had lost control and ploughed through them outside Dharmpur Government School building. The children were returning from the school located in Meenpur police station area when the accident happened. Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had on Monday announced the cancellation of Holi celebrations at PNT Community House in Patna slated to take place on March 1. Muzaffarpur Senior Superintendent of Police Vivek Kumar had said the speeding vehicle mowed down the children when they were crossing the road. Angry over the death of school children, local residents had vandalised the school, beat up teachers and set ablaze chairs and benches there. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had expressed sorrow and grief over the incident. The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of each victim. WASHINGTON - Monday, Illinois Governor Bruce Rauner attended oral arguments before the Supreme Court of the United States on Janus v. AFSCME, a landmark court case that, his office says, "aims to restore free speech to public employees and forever alter the relationship between taxpayers and public unions." Shortly after taking office in 2015, I took action to protect the free speech and free association rights of government employees who are forced to pay union dues and fund political causes they dont agree with, said Rauner. Today, as these arguments are heard before the United States Supreme Court, I am proud of what we started three years ago. The gravity of the courts decision will be felt not just in Illinois, but across America and I am confident that they will side with free speech for the people of our great nation. But not all involved in the case recall the lawsuit beginning with Rauner. The Liberty Justice Center sent a letter to the governor last week, calling him on exaggerating his part in the effort as he campaigns for re-election. "You have made the Janus case a centerpiece of your re-election campaign. In numerous interviews, you are falsely claiming involvement in the case and making predictions about its success even though the justices of the Supreme Court have yet to hear oral arguments," the Chicago-based group said. Liberty Justice Center said they have represented the plaintiff in the litigation process, along with the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation. The federal district court dismissed Rauner from the case in 2015, ending Rauner's involvement. "Ironically, there was an official role for you to play in the lawsuit. Elected officials from Michigan, Alabama, Indiana, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Nevada and other states all submitted amicus briefs in support of the lawsuit. You could have filed an amicus brief or joined theirs, but you did not...," Liberty's letter said. Rauner's office defies Liberty's claims, saying that in 2015, the Rauner administration issued an executive order and filed Rauner v. AFSCME in federal court making it illegal for public sector unions to collect dues from government workers who opted out of a union. When a federal judge ruled that, as governor, Rauner didnt have standing to represent workers in the suit, Mark Janus, an employee of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services stepped in. The Rauner administration says it "wants to change a law that requires public employees to pay dues even if they arent in the union, a practice that has gone on in America for the last 40 years." No person should be forced to give up a portion of their pay each month to fund public sector union activity, Rauner said. Its a fundamental violation of cherished American rights to free speech and free association. Liberty Justice Center representatives, who also attended the oral argument hearing cautioned the governor, "...Claiming involvement in a case and then speaking unsolicited on behalf of those actually charged with winning the case is irresponsible and grossly misleading. Its also inappropriate to make predictions about a cases likelihood of success." Patna: Opposition parties on Tuesday stage protest outside Bihar Legislative Assembly over Muzaffarpur hit and run case. BJP leader Manoj Baitha's vehicle was reportedly involved in an accident on Saturday, in which nine school children died. On Monday, a FIR was lodged against Baitha over the children`s death. "Why hasn't Manoj Baitha been arrested yet? The news was spread that he surrendered before police. But we do not know that for sure. Only administration can say if he surrendered, was arrested or fled to Nepal. Neither Nitish Kumar (CM) nor Sushil Modi (Deputy CM) have spoken on this or sought apology yet. Government is trying to brush this under the carpet." RJD leader and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Tejashwi Yadav said. Earlier too, the Opposition RJD in Bihar had alleged that the person driving the SUV was "a drunk BJP leader" whom the Nitish Kumar government was trying to shield. "Prohibition in Bihar is a farce and the ghastly incident of Muzaffarpur, where a drunk BJP leader crushed nine children to death and left more than 20 others injured, proves our point," Yadav had told reporters on February 26, 2018. He had later led a march to Raj Bhawan and submitted a memorandum to Governor Satya Pal Malik. Rubbishing the charge, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi asserted that the police has been directed to take "sternest possible action" against the accused, "irrespective of political affiliations". "Even if the person is found to be associated with the BJP, he will not be spared. I have spoken to the district police chief of Muzaffarpur and asked for sternest possible action, irrespective of political affiliations of the accused," he had said. Meanwhile, Station House Officer of Meenapur Police Station Sona Prasad Singh had said, "We registered a FIR against Baitha on Sunday on the basis of a complaint by Mohd Ansari of Dharampur village, who lost five grandchildren in the tragedy on Saturday," Daroga Ansari, whose granddaughter was among those killed, had in a written complaint to police named Manoj Baitha, said to be the state general secretary of the BJP's "Mahadalit" cell and a resident of Sitamarhi district, as the culprit. On Sunday, angry villagers had staged a protest by blocking the National Highway to demand Baitha`s arrest. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: The Mukesh Ambani owned telecom firm Reliance Jio along with its technology partner Cisco, won the "Best Mobile Operator Service for Consumers award at the Global Mobile (GloMo) Awards at 2018 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, Spain. In addition to that, the companys JioTV app won the Best Mobile Video Content category, it said in a statement. The telecom firm in its statement credited the Ministry and Department of Telecommunications for creating "the right platform and framework for operators to differentiate and innovate for delivering inclusive value to all of India". The telecom company, which was launched in September 2016, has garnered more than 160 million subscribers. Telecom Minister Manoj Sinha said, "It is a matter of national pride that an innovative new mobile service from India has been recognized at the most prestigious global platform. We are particularly satisfied that India is being propelled to global digital leadership with this". Telecom Secretary, Aruna Sundararajan said, "I am pleased that Indias efforts to harness technology and digital platforms to bring inclusion and progress across the length and breadth of India is now a reality." The Telecom Secretary further said, "We are happy that the world acknowledges Indias technology leadership and hope it will inspire many more leading tech companies and innovators to join the Digital India mission as we march towards 5G." New Delhi: The Income Tax Department has said it has filed six charge sheets against Rotomac owner Vikram Kothari for alleged tax evasion. The prosecution complaints were filed in a special court in Lucknow under various sections of the Income Tax Act, they said. The taxman had earlier attached four immovable assets of the Rotomac group and its promoters in this case. It had attached 14 accounts of the group in various bank branches in Uttar Pradesh. These assets were attached to "recover outstanding tax demands" of about Rs 106 crore from the group, they said. The Kanpur-based group is being probed by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the alleged swindling of Rs 3,695 crore of loan funds advanced by a consortium of seven banks. The CBI had filed a criminal case against Rotomac Global Pvt Limited, its director Vikram Kothari, his wife Sadhana Kothari, son Rahul Kothari and unidentified bank officials based on a complaint from Bank of Baroda and conducted raids against them. The ED also registered a money laundering case against them. It will probe if the allegedly defrauded bank funds were laundered and the proceeds of crime subsequently used by the accused to create illegal assets and black money. This is the second major financial scam to break out after the sensational Rs 11,400-crore fraud allegedly committed by billionaire jewellery designer Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi, who is a promoter of Gitanjali group of companies. New Delhi: Marathi Language Day is celebrated each year on February 27. The festival marks the birthday of Marathi Poet Vi. Va. Shirwadkar. Mainly celebrated across the Indian states of Maharashtra and Goa, the day is regulated by the State Government. Bollywood celeb Riteish Deshmukh and other social media users took to Twitter to extend their wishes on this special day: Marathi Language Day is celebrated on February 27 every year across the Indian states of Maharashtra and Goa. This day is regulated by the State Government. It is celebrated on Birthday of eminent Marathi Poet Vi. Va. Shirwadkar.#Marathi #MarathiBhashaDin Asif Ansari (@As_if_M_ansari) February 27, 2018 #marathibhashadin the day to celebrate my own language pic.twitter.com/EbndwvIm8j Gajendra Pawar (@TheGpawar) February 27, 2018 New Delhi: The official Twitter handle of Delhi Lt Governor Anil Baijal was hacked late on Tuesday, the LG Secretariat said. A complaint has been filed with the Delhi Police and the matter is being investigated, an official said. "The LG's Twitter handle was hacked tonight," the official said, adding that a complaint has been filed with the Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police and it has been asked to take a strict action in the case. However, it later emerged that L-G's Twitter handle suffered a technical glitch. In a separate development. Lt Governor Anil Baijal today said that Delhi government employees felt insecure in the presence of elected representatives. "Government employees in Delhi feel physically insecure, sadly in the very presence of those who have been elected to uphold democracy and rule of law," the Lt Governor said in a statement. Baijal was responding to a letter by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia that bureaucrats were not attending meetings called by Ministers after the February 19 attack. Baijal said this more than a week after Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash alleged assault by two AAP MLAs. Last week, Delhi employees` associations said officers will not meet the Ministers or MLAs till the Chief Minister tenders an apology for the alleged attack. New Delhi: A young man was stabbed to death on Sunday evening for allegedly resisting a pickpocketing in a Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) bus by a group of men near Pragati Maidan. As per media reports, the man, said to be one Amarjeet, was dragged out of the bus and allegedly stabbed by a gang of pickpockets. The man was reportedly returning home with his wife, brother, and minor son after visiting the Delhi zoo. When Amarjeet saw two men taking the mobile phone from his brother Sandeeps back pocket, he raised an alarm. At this point, the pickpockets jumped off the bus. The man's wife, said to be one Manju, was attacked when she tried to catch hold of the men. On seeing his wife bleed, Amarjeet rushed to save her, but one of the men, reportedly called Ajit, the last to get out of the bus among his gang, dragged him out and stabbed him. Reports further say that the bus had stopped when the incident occurred, however, nobody came to the rescue of the family. Nonetheless, Manju is said to have chased the other two pickpockets - Sumit and Suraj - and caught them. This is when some people stopped to help her and subsequently two policemen who were patrolling the area caught hold of the two men. Amarjeet, reportedly is from Uttar Pradesh originally and was living with his family in a rented home in Delhis Nilothi. Patna: The Nitish Kumar government on Tuesday presented the Bihar Budget for 2018-19 with a projected expenditure of Rs 1.76 lakh crore and no proposal of fresh taxes for the fiscal. Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi, who tabled the Budget in the Legislative Assembly, said, "We have presented a Budget expenditure of Rs 1,76,990.27 crore for 2018-19, which is Rs 16,904.58 crore more than the current year Budget (2017-18)." The state has the revenue surplus of Rs 21,311.74 crore during 2018-19, 4.13 percent of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) which is estimated to be Rs 5,15,634 crore, he said. "The biggest relief for the common man is that the Budget does not propose any fresh taxes," he told reporters here. Sushil Modi, who also holds the finance portfolio, read out the 45-minute-long Budget speech amid slogan shouting by RJD members, led by Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, over the death of nine children in a hit-and-run case allegedly involving a BJP worker. The minister said Bihar's fiscal deficit has been estimated at Rs 11,203.95 crore in the Budget, 2.17 percent of the GSDP projected at Rs 5,15,634.00 crore. The state government has accorded top priorities to education, road and energy besides laying emphasis on 12 departments associated with "agriculture roadmap", such as cooperatives, rural development, etc, he said. The education sector got the highest allocation of Rs 32,125.64 crore in this year's Budget against an allocation of Rs 25,251.39 crore in 2017-18, he said, adding the state government intends to spend Rs 17,397 crore on road construction. The Budget also gave thrust on the energy sector, with an allocation Rs 10,257.66 crore. The health department's share has been increased to Rs 7,793.82 crore as against Rs 7,001.52 crore for the current financial year ending April. Bihar government has set a target of providing electricity to all households by December 2018, besides creating a separate agriculture feeder for providing irrigation facility to every field by the end of 2019, Sushil Modi said. The estimated revenue receipts of the state government have been pegged at Rs 1,58,051.41 crore in 2018-19, compared with Rs 1,37,158.41 crore in the current fiscal. The revenue receipts include the state's share in Central taxes, grants-in-aid from the Central government, the state's own tax and non-tax revenue. On Bihar's share in Central taxes, he said it is estimated at Rs 76,172.37 crore in 2018-19 as against Rs 65,326.34 crore in 2017-18. The grants-in-aid from the Centre to the state is pegged at Rs 46,431.12 crore in the fiscal year 2019 compared with Rs 36,956.00 crore in 2017-18, the minister said. The outstanding public debt is estimated at Rs 1,37,900.82 crore in 2018-19, amounting to 26.74 percent of the GSDP, Sushil Modi added. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said that India has all three factors of democracy, demography and demand adding that India is one of the most open economies in the world. Addressing the 2nd India-Korea Business Summit in New Delhi, Modi said, If you see around the globe, there are very few countries where you have three important factors of economy together. They are - Democracy, Demography and Demand. In India, we have all the three together. The PM added that the relations between India and Korea dates back centuries. We are also bound by our Buddhist traditions. Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore composed poem 'Lamp of the East' in 1929 about Korea's glorious past and its bright future, he said. Modi also added that he admired the way Korea has created and sustained a global brand. I visited Korea when I was CM of Gujarat. I used to wonder how can make such progress! Korea has given exemplary products to the world, he added. This year, the theme of the summit is "India-Korea: Scaling up the Special Strategic Relationship through Trade and Investments". The summit aims to create the framework for an open and action-oriented dialogue between top business leaders and the government officials from India and Korea. The agenda of the summit is to focus on specific sectors where new and immediate opportunities exist for Korean and Indian companies such as Infrastructure, ICT, Power, Smart Cities, Manufacturing and other strategic areas of collaborations. Over 200 business delegates including top executives of some leading Korean business conglomerates and Government officials are participating in the Summit. With Agency Inputs Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana governments are locked in a war of words over the naming Chandigarh international airport after legendary freedom fighter Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh. According to reports, the ML Khattar government in Haryana has raised objections to the Punjab government naming the new airport as Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh International Airport Mohali. Stepping into the controversy, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Tuesday said that a war of words over the naming of the Chandigarh international airport was uncalled for. "Punjab government had made a request and Haryana government has also made a request, and everybody feels that there is no need for a controversy... Shaheed Bhagat Singh is a martyr of the country and not a small community,'' Raju said. "In that sense, I don't see a controversy but there is a procedure and it has to be followed," the Civil Aviation Minister said. However, when the union minister was asked to respond if he was in favour of naming the international airport named after Shaheed Bhagat Singh, the Chandigarh MP Kiron Kher intervened and brushed aside the question. "What's wrong with Chandigarh, why don't you like Chandigarh as the name of the airport?", Kher asked in a lighter vein. The Punjab government had in 2017 demanded that the airport should be named as 'Shaheed-e-Azam Sardar Shaheed Bhagat Singh International airport, Mohali'. It also passed a resolution for the same in the Punjab Legislative Assembly. And though the Haryana government had no objection over the use of Bhagat Singh's name, it later raised concerns about the use of Mohali in the airport's name. With PTI inputs NEW DELHI: Officers of the Delhi government will on Tuesday afternoon attend a cabinet meeting related to the budget, a week after they decided to boycott all meetings with Ministers in protest against an alleged attack on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash by two AAP MLAs. Last week, the Chief Secretary alleged that on February 19 night he was beaten up by AAP MLA Amanatullah Khan and another AAP MLA in the presence of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal at the CM`s residence where he had been called for a meeting. Addressing media after a meeting of the Delhi Government Employees Joint Forum here on Tuesday, Pankaj Kumar, a member of the association, said they would continue to not attend meetings or talk to Ministers over phone and the exemption is only for the cabinet meeting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The cabinet meeting is scheduled to be attended by the Chief Secretary also. The association said they would continue to contact Ministers and MLAs only through written channel till Kejriwal tenders a "written public apology" for the alleged attack. Meanwhile, Prakash wrote a letter to the Chief Minister that the meeting is being held on the "assumption that the CM will ensure that there is no physical attack and verbal assault on the officers". New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has won all the five seats of Arrah-based Veer Kunwar Singh University (VKSU) of Bihar in varsity elections. The results were declared by officials on Tuesday evening. Following the declaration of results, the ABVP members started celebrating with Abir-Gulaal. A total of 15 candidates were in the fray for the post of president, vice-president, general secretary, joint secretary and treasurer. There were a total of 105 voters out of which 103 cast their vote, while two did not participate in the elections. Amit Kumar, the student of S B College has been elected as the president while Sonali Kumari of Women's College bagged the post of vice-president. Anu Kumari of MBI college became the general secretary, Ganesh Tiwari became joint-secretary and Santu Mitra of D K College became the Treasurer. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged people of Meghalaya and Nagaland to vote in large numbers in the Assembly polls on Tuesday. I urge the people of Meghalaya and Nagaland to vote in large numbers in the Assembly Elections taking place today. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 27, 2018 The Northeastern states of Meghalaya and Nagaland are voting to elect a new Assembly. Polling will be held between 7 am and 4 pm. The two states have a 60-member House each, but voting will be held for 59 constituencies in both. In Meghalaya, the election has been countermanded in Williamnagar in the wake of the killing of NCP candidate Jonathone N Sangma in an IED blast in East Garo Hills district on February 18. In Nagaland, NDPP chief Neiphiu Rio has been declared elected unopposed from the Northern Angami-II constituency. The results of the polls in the two states, along with that of Tripura, will be declared on March 3, 2018. A high-decibel campaign for the polls in the two states came to an end on Sunday. In Meghalaya, the Congress and the BJP are pitted against each other. While the former has fielded 59 candidates, the latter has put up nominees in 47 constituencies. Though they are contesting the polls separately, in Meghalaya, the National People's Party (NPP) of Conrad Sangma, son of former Lok Sabha speaker PA Sangma, is the BJP's partner in the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA). In Nagaland, BJP's hope hinges on its alliance partner NDPP (the Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party) of Neiphiu Rio, which is contesting from 40 seats. The saffron party has fielded candidates from the remaining 20 seats. The Congress, which has given three chief ministers to Nagaland since the state's inception in 1963, is contesting from only 18 seats, two less than the BJP, an emerging entity in the north-east. There are 370 candidates in the fray in Meghalaya. A total of 18.4 lakh voters are eligible to exercise their franchise in 3,083 polling stations in the state. In Nagaland, a total of 11,91,513 voters - 6,01,707 (50.50 per cent) men and 5,89,806 (49.50 per cent) women - will exercise their franchise. There are also 5,925 service voters. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) has refuted the rumours that its founder Prashant Kishor is planning to join hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party for the next Lok Sabha elections scheduled in 2019. There were some reports that Prashant Kishor and his team will strategise for BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi just like they had done for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections which catapulted I-PAC to national consciousness after he met some party leaders a few days ago. But, a senior I-PAC member and Kishors close aide told Zeenews.com that there is no truth in such news reports. The I-PAC member said that Kishor keeps meeting leaders from all the major parties and nothing should be read in his recent talks with BJP members. Kishor and I-PAC have been associated with a host of political parties over the last four years. Their journey into the Indian political strategy space started with BJPs 2014 Lok Sabha election campaign. Later he joined hands with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and the Janata Dal-United in Bihar in 2015. Both the elections were as massive success for Kishor and I-PAC as the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance swept to power at the Centre with a brute majority and then Nitish Kumar led Mahagathbandhan, which included the JDU, Rashtriya Janata Dal and Congress, won by a handsome margin in the 2015 Bihar Assembly elections. His team also teamed up with the Congress in the 2017 Punjab Assembly elections that saw Captain (retd) Amarinder Singh decimating the rival parties to give his party something to cheer following a string of electoral losses over the last few years. But Kishors decision to go with the Congress-Samajwadi Party alliance in Uttar Pradesh ended in a humiliating rout as the BJP won more than three-fourths seats in the state. At present I-PAC is working with the YSR Congress in Andhra Pradesh where the party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy is hoping to win power in the next Assembly election. NEW DELHI: Maldives has declined India's invitation to take part in the 16-nation naval exercises. The island nation, which is undergoing political turmoil, did not give any reason for its decision. The move also comes at a time when Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen is seen to be taking his country closer to China in return for infrastructure loans under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The naval exercise in question is Milan 2018. These exercises have been organised by India once every two years. Navies of a number of nations in the Indo-Pacific region are invited to take part in the joint security exercises. This year, navies and coast guards from 16 countries will take part in the exercises in the seas off the coast of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, close to the entrance to the Malacca Strait. Milan 2018 will take place for eight days, from March 6 to 13. Indian Navy chief, Admiral Sunil Lanba, confirmed that India had extended an invitation to Maldives, which lies in the Indian Ocean, not too far from India's shores. In what it probably intended as a snub to India, the Maldivian government declined the invitation. The Abdullah Yameen dispensation has been miffed ever since India referred to the emergency he imposed as unconstitutional. China meanwhile has engaged in posturing of its own that appears to favour Yameen. Yameen had recently, and suddenly, signed his country on to Chinese President Xi Jinping's Belt and Road Initiative. The project, which involves infrastructure building along one land corridor and a naval corridor, using massive loans from the Chinese. This has sparked accusations of debt trap diplomacy, as has been seen with Sri Lanka's struggle over the Hambantota Port, and Pakistan's rising debt over the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). (With inputs from ANI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi broke protocol yet again as he went to the airport to receive Jordan's King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein, who arrived here on a three-day state visit to India on Tuesday. Modi welcomed King Abdullah with a warm hug as he alighted from the aircraft Later, in a tweet, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar confirmed that PM Modi, deviated from protocol to welcome His Majesty Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein of Jordan at the airport. "India attaches great importance to its ties with Jordan," Kumar said. India welcomes His Majesty @KingAbdullahII Ibn Al Hussein, King of the Hashemite Kingdom of #Jordan on his State Visit. Deviating from protocol, PM @narendramodi welcomes His Majesty at the Airport. India attaches great importance to its ties with Jordan. #DelhiAmman pic.twitter.com/ZfHKGfv5D6 Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) February 27, 2018 This is King Abdullah's second visit to India after his visit along with Queen Rania in 2006. #WATCH Delhi: King Abdullah II of Jordan arrives in India, received at the airport by PM Narendra Modi pic.twitter.com/tieDKXRiFO ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 Abdullah is scheduled to hold talks with PM Modi on Thursday during the course of which the two sides will discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest. President Ram Nath Kovind will host a banquet in honour of King Abdullah while Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will call on the visiting dignitary. On Wednesday, the King will visit IIT Delhi to explore collaboration with Jordan technical institutes. During the day, the King will also participate in a CEO Round-table followed by India-Jordan Business Forum jointly organised by Industry bodies Ficci, CII and Assocham. India-Jordan trade stood at UD 1.35 billion in 2016-17, according to figures provided by the External Affairs Ministry. Jordan's King will also deliver a special address on "Promoting Understanding and Moderation", organised by the India Islamic Centre at Vigyan Bhawan on Thursday. Earlier this month, King Abdullah hosted Modi at his residence in Amman. Jordan had facilitated Modi's transit to Palestine in what was the first ever prime ministerial visit from India to that West Asian nation. (With Agency Inputs) NEW DELHI: Stung by a spate of banking frauds, the finance ministry on Tuesday asked public sector banks (PSBs) to probe all NPA accounts of over Rs 50 crore for possible fraud and accordingly report them to the CBI. They have also been asked to come up with "pre-emptive" action plan within a fortnight to combat rising operational and technical risks, and assign clear accountability to senior functionaries. These directions come amid Punjab National Bank reporting Rs 12,700 crore fraud through the misuse of letters of undertaking (LoUs) allegedly by billionaire jeweller Nirav Modi and associates. Besides, other frauds involving jewellers and other companies too have surfaced in quick succession recently, spurring the ministry into action. Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar, through a tweet informed that managing directors of PSBs have been directed to detect bank frauds and refer the cases to the CBI. "PSB MDs directed to detect bank frauds & consequential wilful default in time & refer cases to CBI. To examine all NPA accounts > Rs 50Cr for possible fraud," the secretary said in the tweet. PSBs have also been asked to involve Enforcement Directorate (ED)/ Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) for violations of PMLA, FEMA or Export-Import norms. Kumar further said that the chief vigilance officer of the bank concerned will have to vet complaints and coordinate with CBI for frauds exceeding Rs 50 crore. Also, banks will have to seek borrower status report from Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) on the account turning to a non-performing asset (NPA) or bad loan and CEIB will have to revert in a week. Banks have to involve ED/DRI if conditions warrant, under the framework for timely detection, reporting and investigation of large value bank frauds. In this context, a senior official pointed out that the mere fact of referring NPA to National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) will not absolve either the banks or the promoters and companies of wrong doings. The 12 large NPA accounts referred to NCLT at the behest of Reserve Bank of India have outstanding loans of Rs 1.75 lakh crore. In the second list, RBI identified 29 large NPA accounts and asked banks to resolve them under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC). In another directive, the finance ministry asked PSBs to come out with "pre-emptive" action plan to combat rising operational and technical risks, and assign clear accountability to senior functionaries. Executive Directors and chief technology officers (CTOs) of PSBs have been asked to prepare a blueprint to enhance preparedness for combating increasing risks, Kumar said in another tweet. "15 days deadline for PSBs to take pre-emptive action and identify gaps/weakness to gear up for rising Ops and Tech risks; To learn from best practices and pinpoint strategies including tech solutions; clear accountability of senior functionaries," he said. The PSBs will have to come out with comparative assessment of their banks' operational risk management practices with best practices and "identify gaps and areas for improvement", he said. The EDs and CTOs, he added, will have to prepare reports based on best practices and minimum acceptable standards and suggest action points including technological solutions. The Boards of banks have been asked to assign clear accountability to senior functionaries for implementation and compliance of the report. The 15-day deadline to PSBs comes as part of government's ambitious reform agenda, under the rubric of an Enhanced Access and Service Excellence (EASE) programme. Indian Banks' Association (IBA) would soon be convening a meeting of the of banks to prepare an action plan, sources said, adding that the large lenders would be asked to handhold smaller banks to making the system foolproof. The banks, the officials further said, would be required to implement the suggested changed within a time frame after taking necessary approval from their respective boards. MUMBAI: In the wake of the alleged multi-million Punjab National Bank (PNB) scam involving celebrity jeweller Nirav Modi and his family, another fraud of Rs 1,251 crore has been detected in respect to Gitanjali Gems. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday said that PNB has informed the agency about a further scam involving Rs 1,251 crore. "PNB has informed us that further scam of Rs 1,251 crore has been detected in respect to Gitanjali Gems. CBI is now probing Rs 12,636 crore which is (Nirav and Gitanjali) PNB scam, up from Rs 11,421 crore," said CBI. Meanwhile, PNB's former managing director Usha Ananthasubramanian is being questioned in Mumbai. The two serving General Managers have also been called for questioning. In a related development, Executive Director of ICICI bank N S Kannan has been called for questioning. Kannan is the leader of the consortium of the bank that lent money to Gitanjali Group. Earlier this month, it had emerged that the fraudulently issued Letters of Undertaking (LoUs) from Brady Road branch in Mumbai of PNB were issued in favour of Hong Kong branches of Allahabad Bank and Axis Bank. These letters helped facilitate Rs 280.7 crore fraud by jewellery designer Nirav Modi and his maternal uncle Mehul Choksi. As per the FIR lodged with the CBI, Shetty and Kharat had transmitted SWIFT instructions to the above-mentioned banks for raising buyers credit and for funding the Nostro accounts of PNB, without due procedure. The LoUs were issued on behalf of Diamond R US, Solar Exports, Stellar Diamonds. However, ICICI Bank informed Zeenews.com that the bank has no exposure to the Nirav Modi group of companies. "We have not issued any Letter of Undertaking (LOU) nor do we have any buyers credit exposure against LOUs with respect to the Nirav Modi group of companies as well as the Gitanjali group of companies. We are working capital lenders to the Gitanjali group of companies along with several other banks in the consortium. Our exposure to the Gitanjali group of companies is not the largest among lenders in the consortium. We are fully co-operating with the investigating agencies in their efforts," said ICICI Bank in an official statement. New Delhi: February 27, 2018, marks the 87th death anniversary of the Indian revolutionary Chandra Shekhar Azad. Azad was killed on this day in 1931 in Alfred Park, Allahabad after an associate betrayed him. For quite some time, he held the well-armed police that circled him at bay, single-handedly with a small pistol and a few cartridges. However, left with just one bullet, he shot himself in the head and lived up to his resolve that he would never be arrested and dragged to the gallows to be hanged. Check out a rare picture of the moment when India lost one of its heroes below: (Video courtesy: SmallScreen BigDhamaka) Below are some facts on the freedom fighter who sacrificed his life for the nation: Chandra Shekhar Azad was born on July 23, 1906, in Bhavra village, Jhabua district, Madhya Pradesh to Pandit Sita Ram Tiwari and Jagrani Devi. He received his early schooling in Bhavra. He went to the Sanskrit Pathashala at Varanasi for higher studies. Young Chandra Shekhar was fascinated by and drawn to the great national upsurge of the non-violent, non-cooperation movement of 1920-21 under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi. When arrested and produced before the magistrate, he gave his name as 'Azad', his father's name as 'Swatantra' and his residence as 'prison'. The magistrate sentenced him to 15 lashes of flogging. The title of Azad stuck thereafter. After the withdrawal of the non-cooperation movement, Azad was attracted towards revolutionary activities. He thereafter joined the Hindustan Republican Association (HRA). Azad reorganized the Hindustan Republican Association under its new name of Hindustan Socialist Republican Army (HSRA) after the death of its founder, Ram Prasad Bismil, and three other prominent party leaders, Roshan Singh, Rajendra Nath Lahiri and Ashfaqulla Khan. He was involved in the Kakori Conspiracy (1926), the attempt to blow up the Viceroy's train (1926), the Assembly bomb incident, the Delhi Conspiracy, the shooting of Saunders at Lahore (1928) and the Second Lahore conspiracy. Alfred Park is now known as Chandrasekhar Azad Park. He used to fondly recite a Hindustani couplet, his only poetic composition: 'Dushman ki goliyon ka hum saamna karenge. Azad hi rahein hain, azad hi rahenge' NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash has written to Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that officers will attend a meeting on the annual budget under the assumption that the CM would ensure they are not physically or verbally attacked. The letter begin with Prakash noting that the Tuesday meeting was meant to finalise the dates for the budget session of the Delhi Assembly. "The Delhi Government employees are working with full vigour and want that normal functioning of the Government should not suffer. Since finalizing dates of Budget Session and passing of the Budget are important for the functioning of the Government, I, along with my concerned colleague officers, will be attending the said meeting. However, this is based on the assumption that the CM will ensure that there is no physical attack or verbal assault on the officers," read Anshu Prakash's letter, addressed to Arvind Kejriwal among others. "It is also hoped that in the said meeting, proper decorum will be maintained and dignity of the officers will be protected," Prakash added. The letter comes in light of the controversy that erupted after Prakash alleged that he had been manhandled by AAP MLAs at a meeting at Kejriwal's house on the night of February 19. This had started a chain of blame and counter-blame between government officials and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party. Delhi government officials had gone on a mass strike protesting the attack on their top officer. They wore black bands and demanded a written apology from Kejriwal for the behaviour of his MLAs and aides. The AAP for its part refused to back down, with some leaders continuing to say that officers like Prakash deserved to be beaten up. Reports also emerged that the AAP would consider live streaming all meetings with officials. This kerfuffle is only the latest run-in between the AAP regime with another branch of government. AAP and its leaders have repeatedly picked fights with the Centre and its Lieutenant Governor over control of the Delhi government, executive authority over which courts ruled lies in the hands of the LG. The AAP's belligerence comes as a result of its poll promise in the 2015 elections that it would ensure Delhi received full statehood. The Delhi government at present has no control over police or land, both of which reside with the Ministry of Home Affairs, considering it includes the national capital. NEW DELHI: The application process of Karnataka State Police Recruitment 2018 to fill 164 vacancies for the post of Sub-Inspector (SI) has begun. The candidates who are willing to apply can visit the official website of Karnataka State Police (KSP) at psi18.ksp-online.in. The last date for applying is March 12. Aspirants who are applying for the posts must possess a bachelors degree or equivalent from a recognized university or institution. The application fee for General and OBC candidates is Rs 250 while for SC and ST candidates the fee is Rs 100. The selection process involves three stages - ET (Endurance Test) and PST (Physical Standard Test), Written examination and Viva. The pay scale will range between Rs 20,000 to Rs 36,300 per month. How to apply for KSP Sub-Inspector Recruitment 2018: - Visit psi18.ksp-online.in - Click on 'New Application' - Fill the application form, pay the application fee and complete the application process The candidates are suggested to download the confirmation page and take a printout for further reference. MUMBAI: Mumbai Police has identified a woman who was found dead on a railway track between the Sion to Kurla Railway stations. The deceased has been identified as Pratiksha Vishal Shinde, a native of Vijayawada or Yashavantnagar in Solapur district. She was associated with the Local Arms-1 unit of the Mumbai Police. Police said Shinde was possibly hit by the Hyderabad DN Express while crossing the railway track. Kurla Railway Police station officials have visited the site of the incident and shifted Shinde's body to the Rajawadi Hospital for a post-mortem. A case under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code has been registered at the Kurla Railway Police station. New Delhi: Legendary actress Sridevi's untimely demise and shocked the entire nation. From politicians to celebrities, everyone has expressed their grief about the sudden death of a veteran star. Internet sensation Priya Prakash Varrier has several fan clubs dedicated to her on social media. One such fan handle shared a video where Priya is singing 'Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna' song from Karan Johar's film by the same name. The caption of the tweet reads: History never really says goodbye. History says, 'See you later. WATCH video: History never really says goodbye. History says, 'See you later. pic.twitter.com/uGnRF0y77m Priya Prakash Varrier (@priyapvarrier) February 27, 2018 A tweet below that is on Sridevi's death and how certain sections of the media have sensationalised it. What's this??? Confusion in reporting, without having any proper first hand information media is going over gaga. #Sridevi #SrideviDeathMystery Priya Prakash Varrier (@priyapvarrier) February 26, 2018 In another tweet, she posted: This song by Priya looks like a perfect tribute to the first female superstar of Indian cinema. The 18-year-old Priya got her instant fame after a small clip from her debut Malayalam film 'Oru Adaar Love' went viral. It was a clip taken from the song 'Manikya Malaraya Poovi' where Priya got the big thumbs up from the viewers for her expressions. Her 'winking' act won many hearts in the song. The legendary actress breathed her last in Dubai on February 24, 2018. She was there to attend the wedding of actor-nephew Mohit Marwah. While initial reports suggested that he suffered a cardiac arrest, an autopsy report revealed that she died because of 'accidental drowning' in the bathtub of her hotel room. Because of the findings of this autopsy, Sridevis death was referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution for further investigation. The officials have given clearance letters to the family and the body has been sent for embalming. Sridevi's mortal remains reached Mumbai around 10.30 pm on Tuesday from Dubai in a private plane. The actress's mortal remains were then taken to her husband Boney Kapoor's Lokhandwala residence. Sridevi's final journey will commence at 2 pm from Celebration Sports Club to Pawan Hans and the last rites will be performed at the Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery. New Delhi: Bollywood actor Sridevi Kapoor passed away in Dubai on Saturday night at the age of 54. Ever since the news broke, people all over the country are in a state of shock. The death of the superstar triggered waves of condolences and tributes not just from her fans in India but also from her fans in China. Taking to Twitter, the Chinese fans have expressed their grief over the actor's passing away. "Can't believe the newsShe was so radiantly beautiful in English Vinglish," wrote Sina Weibo user Leguan Movie on Sunday. "One of my favourite Indian actresses the news is so sudden," netizen Buzuo Liuxing posted on Sina Weibo. "She was so, so beautiful when she was young, R.I.P.," wrote Sina Weibo user Kadirya. Many Chinese fans first came to know about her through her blockbuster film in 1987 'Mr. India', which featured Sridevi as Seema Soni, a "fiery" journalist. The film was once screened in some Chinese mainland cinemas and on TV in the early 1990s, it was also dubbed in Putonghua (Standard Chinese) "I watched the film when I was in primary school still remember how the heroine walks on the shattered glass, really impressive," wrote Douban, a Twitter user. New Delhi: Bollywood lost its 'first female superstar' on the tragic February 24, 2018. Iconic actress Sridevi, who was in Dubai, passed away around midnight. The actress was there to attend the wedding festivities of Mohit Marwah and Antara Motiwala. As soon as reports of her death started floating around, the entire nation was gripped in shock. Amul Cooperative, best known for its humorous/thought-provoking sketches, took to Twitter and gave a heart-warming tribute to the late actor. Check out Amul's tweet right here: Sridevi died of ''accidental drowning'' in the bathtub of room number 2201 of Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel after ''loss of consciousness'', the Dubai Police stated on Monday following the completion of post-mortem autopsy conducted on the late actress. Her mortal remains were brought to Mumbai last night and the cremation will take place on February 28. The actress's mortal remains were then taken to her husband Boney Kapoor's Lokhandwala residence. Sridevi's final journey will commence at 2 pm from Celebration Sports Club to Pawan Hans and the last rites will be performed at the Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery. Legendary actress Sridevi will be cremated with full state honours. The actress passed away on February 24, 2018, in Dubai. While earlier it was said that she suffered a cardiac arrest, an autopsy concluded that she had 'accidentally drowned' in the bathtub of her hotel room. Mumbai: Bollywood actress Sridevis death case which was referred to the Dubai public prosecution by the Dubai police for further investigation on Monday, has been closed. Sridevi - Indias first female superstar - died of ''drowning in the bathtub'' of room number 2201 of Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel after ''loss of consciousness'', the Dubai Police stated on Monday following the completion of post-mortem autopsy conducted on the late actress. The Dubai Media office took to Twitter to post the following: The Public Prosecutor's Office in Dubai said: 'The decision to release the body came after all the investigations and procedural matters followed in such incidents were completed, in order to determine all its circumstances and ensure that justice was done within the framework of the law'. Dubai Public Prosecution has approved the release of the body of the Indian actress Sridevi to her family following the completion of a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of her death. Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) 27 February 2018 Dubai Public Prosecution stressed that all regular procedures followed in such cases have been completed. As per the forensic report, the death of the Indian actress occurred due to accidental drowning following loss of consciousness. The case has now been closed. Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) 27 February 2018 Sridevis mortal remains will be brought back to India tonight. Her step-son Arjun Kapoor has flown to Dubai to be by his father Boney in this hour of immeasureable grief. According to a Gulf News report, Sridevi, who was under the influence of alcohol, lost her balance and fell into the bathtub and drowned. Sridevi was in Ras Al Khaimah in UAE last week, along with husband Boney Kapoor, daughter Khushi and other relatives to attend nephew Mohit Marwahs wedding ceremony. She had posted pictures of her family from the ceremony just a few days before she passed away. Her untimely death has stunned her family, friends and fans. NEW DELHI: Iconic Bollywood actress Sridevis body is likely to reach India on Tuesday. The Dubai Police has handed over the letters for the release of Sridevi's mortal remains to the Indian Consulate and the family members of Boney Kapoor. The body can now proceed for embalming, as per The Khaleej Times. Update: Dubai Police has handed over the Consulate and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Indian cinema icon Sridevi Boney Kapoor so that they can proceed for embalming. India in Dubai (@cgidubai) February 27, 2018 Police have recorded the statement of her husband, Boney Kapoor, and local media reports say he is not likely to be interrogated. Sridevi had died on February 24, and it was initially reported that she died of cardiac arrest. An autopsy concluded that she had accidentally drowned in the bathtub of her hotel room. Because of the findings of this autopsy, Sridevis death was referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution for further investigation. Follow LIVE updates on Sridevi's funeral UAE media reported that these are part of regular procedures and categorically stated that Boney Kapoor or any other family members are not being interrogated, as had been reported earlier. Boney had flown to Dubai from Mumbai and went to Sridevis room at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel at around 5:30 pm on Saturday to surprise her with dinner, a source close to the family told the Khaleej Times. He reportedly woke her up and the couple chatted for about 15 minutes. The reports said Sridevi then went to the washroom. After 15 minutes, had passed and Sridevi did not come out, Boney knocked on the door to check on her. When he got no response, he forced open the door to find the legendary actor lying motionless in the bathtub full of water, the source said. Sridevi, Boney Kapoor, and their younger daughter, Khushi Kapoor, were in Ras Al Khaimah, another emirate of the UAE, last week to celebrate the wedding of her actor-nephew Mohit Marwah. The frenzied reporting over the case had earlier prompted Indias Ambassador to the UAE, Navdeep Suri, to call for restraint. The media interest in untimely demise of #Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help. Imp to note that: 1. We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job. 1/2 IndAmbUAE (@navdeepsuri) February 26, 2018 2. We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well- wishers. We share their pain. 3. Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes 4. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise Let's be responsible IndAmbUAE (@navdeepsuri) February 26, 2018 "The media interest in untimely demise of #Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help. Imp to note that: 1. We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job. 1/2" "2. We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well- wishers. We share their pain. 3. Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes 4. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise Let's be responsible" Mumbai: Sridevis mortal remains are expected to arrive at the airport here by around 10.30 PM on Tuesday at Gate No 8 by Anil Ambani's private jet, reports Khaleej Times. The last rites of Indian cinemas first female superstar will be held tomorrow. The mortal remains will be taken to Celebration Sports Club Garden No 5, Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri West, at around 9.30 am for condolences and last respects. The final journey will commence at 2 pm from Celebration Sports Club to Pawan Hans and the last rites will be performed at Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery. The veteran actress breathed her last on Saturday at around 11 pm. She died of ''drowning in the bathtub'' of room number 2201 of Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel after ''loss of consciousness'', the Dubai Police stated on Monday following the completion of post-mortem autopsy conducted on the late actress. The case was then referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution for further investigation. On Tuesday, the Prosecution completed the probe and approved the release of the body. Her mortal remains are expected to reach the city shortly. Sridevi was in Ras Al Khaimah in UAE last week, along with husband Boney Kapoor, daughter Khushi and other relatives to attend nephew Mohit Marwahs wedding ceremony. She had posted pictures of her family from the ceremony just a few days before she passed away. Born in Sivakasi in Tamil Nadu on August 13, 1963, Sridevi began her career at the age of four in the devotional film Thunaivan in which she played Lord Murugan. Besides Tamil, Sridevi worked in Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam and Hindi productions. She went on to become one of the most formidable actresses of the 1980s and 1990s in Hindi cinema. From a child artiste, she became Indian cinemas first female superstar. She is remembered for her spellbinding performances in some of the iconic Bollywood films like Mr. India, Nagina, Lamhe, Sadma, ChalBaaz, Chandni, Khuda Gawah, among many others in different Indian languages. Sridevi, who made a comeback to Bollywood in 2012 with English Vinglish after a long break of 15 years, was last seen in Mom in 2017. She shot for a cameo appearance in October for Shah Rukh Khans upcoming film Zero which is expected to release in December this year. New Delhi: The first female superstar in Bollywood, Sridevi breathed her last on the unfateful night of February 24, 2018, in Dubai's Jumeirah Emirates Towers, leaving the entire nation in a state of shock. The actress was in the UAE for actor-nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding along with her producer husband Boney Kapoor and younger daughter Khushi. Sridevi's mortal remains would be kept at Celebrations Sports club in Mumbai between 9:30 am to 12:30 pm tomorrow, cremation will take place at Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium after 3:30 pm, according to an ANI report. Last respects to late actress #Sridevi will be paid at Celebrations Sports club in Mumbai between 9:30 am to 12:30 pm tomorrow, cremation will take place at Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium after 3:30 pm ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 The case has been closed and Sridevi's mortal remains have proceeded towards the Dubai Airport from the embalming centre in Muhaisina. The family is likely to reach India with her mortal remains later in the evening, reports The Khaleej Times. The Dubai Police has handed over the Consulate and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Indian cinema icon Sridevi Boney Kapoor so that they can proceed for embalming. Update: Dubai Police has handed over the Consulate and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Indian cinema icon Sridevi Boney Kapoor so that they can proceed for embalming, the Khaleej Times reports. India in Dubai (@cgidubai) February 27, 2018 Here's the complete timeline of how things have shaped up so far: -There have been no visible developments in Sridevi's repatriation to India yet. Her family is still waiting for Public prosecutor's nod, according to Khaleej Times. -The longer it takes for the formalities to get over, lesser the chances of her funeral taking place on Tuesday. -Contrary to the rumours, Boney Kapoor or any another family member was not being interrogated, confirmed the UAE media. - Actor Arjun Kapoor had flown to Dubai to be with his dad Boney Kapoor. -Sridevi died due to accidental drowning in the bathtub of her hotel room and not because of cardiac arrest, her autopsy report has revealed. Sridevi's autopsy report was released by the Ministry of Health, UAE on Monday. -Traces of alcohol were found in Sridevi's blood and hence she lost her balance and fell into the bathtub, Gulf News report stated. -Reportedly, Boney Kapoor was present in Dubai at the time of her death. Although he came back to India post the wedding along with his daughter. Reports stated that he went back to surprise her on the same day she died. -Sridevi was reportedly getting ready for a surprise dinner but when she didn't come out of the washroom for 15 minutes, Boney broke open the door. She was found unconscious and was rushed to Rashid Hospital, which is approximately 7-8 mins away from the hotel where she was residing. However, the actress was declared brought dead by the doctors. -Both her daughters Janhvi and Khushi were in India at the time of her death. -Ever since the news of her death has flourished, Bollywood celebrities have been visiting Anil Kapoor's residence to pay their respects. Both Janhvi and Khushi are also there since that day. New Delhi: Veteran actress Sridevi's untimely demise has sent a shock wave across the nation. The legendary actress breathed her last in Dubai on February 24, 2018. She was there to attend the wedding of actor-nephew Mohit Marwah. While initial reports suggested that he suffered a cardiac arrest, an autopsy report revealed that she died because of 'accidental drowning' in the bathtub of her hotel room. Because of the findings of this autopsy, Sridevis death was referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution for further investigation. Her mortal remains will reportedly be flown back today after the investigations are completed. Meanwhile, a video from Mohit's wedding has gone viral where Sridevi can be seen enjoying the wedding and dancing with brother-in-law Anil Kapoor. Sridevi and Anil Kapoor starred in many blockbuster films together and their on-screen pairing was a huge hit. Several fan clubs have shared it on Instagram and Twitter. Watch video here: A post shared by Southindianfilmz (@southindianfilmz) on Feb 26, 2018 at 4:42pm PST Another video from the same wedding too caught attention as it had the actress dancing with her husband Boney Kapoor. Several Bollywood stars have visited Anil Kapoor's residence at this hour of grief. New Delhi: Fans haven't been able to come to terms with the passing away of the legendary actress Sridevi, who left for her heavenly abode on late Saturday evening in Dubai's Jumeirah Emirates Towers. Since yesterday the fans have gathered outside her residence to pay their last respects to someone they have grown up watching. The actress who went to Dubai for a happy occasion didn't see it coming either. Just a few days ago, we were admiring her elegant sense of style and how poetic she looked in all of Manish Malhotra's ensembles at her nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding. A few of her dance videos have also flourished on the internet, which proved that the actress was in a really happy space. Have a look at the last pictures of the actress with her husband Boney Kapoor and daughter Khushi Kapoor, that were clicked in the airport while they were leaving for Dubai to attend nephew Mohit Marwah's wedding. Here is the picture: By looking at them, nobody in their weirdest dreams would have imagined that this would be the last time they would see her alive on the Indian soil. In the pictures, Sridevi, dressed in a stylish tracksuit is seen in a touristy mood. Born in Shivakasi Tamil Nadu, Sridevi was regarded as Bollywood's first female superstar, At times, when equal pay was a myth in Bollywood, she took home more money than her male counterparts. Although she started off with Tamil films, Sridevi has fairly contributed to the Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam film industry as well. She went on to become one of the most formidable actresses of the 1980s and 1990s in Indian cinema. She is remembered for her humungous performances in some of the iconic Bollywood films like Mr India, Nagina, Lamhe, Sadma, ChalBaaz, Chandni, Khuda Gawah, among many others. Her death is not only a death of an actor, it is also an end of an era that began with her. New Delhi: The Central government employees waiting for the increased pay, allownances and rise in fitment factor under the recommendation of 7th Pay Commission may not see parity in distribution of wages, media reports have said. Media reports quoting senior Finance Ministry official, said that the government is only focusing at the higher and the lower end of the pay scale, implying that middle-level employees will not see much of a raise under the Pay Commission's recommendation. Meanwhile, on the implementation of enhanced pay scale and fitment factor hike under 7th Pay Commission, reports have said that employees may hear some good news in April. The Finance Ministry also reportedly has set up a panel that will take a final call on demands of these employees by April this year. Reports have also added that the central government is working on a strategy to accomodate the concerns of lower-level employees of pay matrix between level 1 and 5 with reports coming in that it is contemplating hike in pay with fitment formula 3.00 times of basic pay of 6th pay commission. The new scales of pay provide for entry-level basic pay going up from Rs 7,000 per month to Rs 18,000, while at the highest level i.e. Secretary, it would go up from Rs 90,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. For Class 1 officers, the starting salary will be Rs 56,100. However, the central government employees unions had demanded for hiking minimum pay of Rs 18,000 to Rs 26,000. They also demanded that fitment factor be raised from 2.57 times to 3.68 times. The Union Cabinet had in June approved recommendations of the CPC with 34 modifications, which will mean an additional annual burden of Rs 30,748 crore on the exchequer. All allowances are given effect from July 1, 2017. The recommendations benefit over 1 crore employees. This includes over 47 lakh central government employees and 53 lakh pensioners, of which 14 lakh employees and 18 lakh pensioners are from the defence forces. New Delhi: This appraisal season, salaries will see a marginal increase as the companies in India will give an average hike of 9.4 percent, while key talent are expected to get appraisals of as much as 15.4 percent as companies increases focus on performance, a survey said. According to HR consultancy Aon Hewitt's annual salary increase survey, that analysed data across more than 1,000 companies from over 20 industries, said the average salary for India Inc stands at 9.4 percent this year. Aon believes that average pay increases in India will remain between 9.4-9.6 percent. As per the survey, companies in India gave an average pay increase of 9.3 percent during 2017, marking a departure from the double digit increments given by organisations since the inception of this study. Even as salary hike remained at the same level on a year-on-year basis, India continues to lead the Asia-Pacific region. China is expected to dole out a salary raise of 6.7 percent, Philippines 5.8 percent, Malaysia 5.1 percent, Singapore 4 percent, Australia 3.2 percent and Japan 2.5 percent. The survey noted that the focus on performance is getting sharper year-on-year. A top performer is getting an average salary hike of 15.4 percent, approximately 1.9 times the pay increase for an average performer. Anandorup Ghose, Partner at Aon India Consulting, said, "With critical skills shortage highlighted as a key concern, companies are becoming more cautious while recognising and remunerating their key talent." Ghose further said, "With increasing maturity, HR budgets are being realigned towards top performers as opposed to the broader population." Sectors such as professional services, consumer internet companies, life sciences, automotive and consumer products continue to project a double-digit salary increase for 2018. Despite an improvement in macro-economic forecasts salary increases remain at the same level as was projected in the last fiscal and this is because salary increases are becoming more "nuanced". "We are increasingly seeing a multitude of factors impacting salary increases such as a size of the company, business dynamics within the sub-industry, nature of talent requirements and quite obviously, performance," Ghose said. Meanwhile, the attrition rate in India is seeing a continuous downward trend as the overall attrition has come down from an average of 20 percent in the previous decade to 15.9 percent in 2017. Ludhiana: The Congress on Tuesday swept off the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation election results, winning 62 out of 95 wards. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) combine won a total of 22 wards while LIP-AAP alliance secured eight wards. Independent candidates won four wards. Detailed list of winning candidates from each ward The civic elections for Punjab's largest civic body Ludhiana is witnessed as a prestige battle for the contesting parties. These elections come two months after polls were held for Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar Municipal Corporations. Captain Amarinder Singh-led Congress, which is currently in power in Punjab since March 2017, also won Amritsar, Patiala and Jalandhar local body polls. A total of nine counting centres with 108 tables were set up on counting day. A massive layer of security was deployed around these centres. By 10 am, Congress party had surged in initial trends. A clear scene emerged by 11 am. List of winning Congress candidates List of winning BJP-SAD candidates List of winning AAP-LIP candidates A total of 494 candidates are in the fray for the polls which were held on February 24. Over 59 per cent people voter turnout including 57.66 per cent female turnout and 59.70 per cent male turnout was recorded. The third gender turnout was recorded at 4.17 percent. During the Ludhiana civic polls on Saturday, a scuffle broke out between SAD and Congress workers. This led to SAD-BJP calling for re-polls in all 95 wards. The State Election Commission on Sunday ordered re-polling in two booths - booth 2 and 3 of Ward number 44 - for the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections. A difference cropped up between the number of votes in the register and the voting machine. LUDHIANA: As Congress swept the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation 2018 on Tuesday, party cadres broke into celebration mode. The party is currently leading in more than 61 wards. The BJP-SAD could secure a lead in just 18 wards while the LIP-AAP alliance is leading in 10 wards. The votes are being counted at nine centres with 108 under a heavy layer of security. Ludhiana Municipal Corporation Election 2018 Result Live Updates: Congress sweeps polls Here's a detailed list of winners/leading Congress candidates from 95 wards: Ward 3 Pallavi Vinayak Ward 4 Sukhdev Bawa Ward 7 Ravinder Kaur Ward 9 Gulshan Kaur Ward 10 Harjinder Pal Singh Ward 12 Naresh Kumar Ward 13 Mandeep Kaur Ward 14 Kuldeep Janada Ward 15 Kanchan Malhotra Ward 16 Umesh Sharma Ward 18 V Bhatia Ward 19 Manisha Taparia Ward 20 Navneet Singh Ghayal Ward 21 Kitty Ward 22 Raj Kumar Ward 23 Sandeep Kumari Ward 24 Paul Grewal Ward 25 Satinder Kaur Ward 27 Baljit Kaur Ward 33 Sunita Rani Ward 35 Sarabjit Kaur Ward 39 Jaspreet Kaur Ward 43 Reet Kaur Ward 44 Harkarandeep Singh Vaid Ward 45 Barjinder Kaur Ward 47 Priya Ward 48 Parvinder Singh Gill Lapran Ward 49 Rajinder Kaur Ward 51 Amrit Kaur Ward 52 Gurdeep Singh Neetu Ward 53 Pinky Bansal Ward 56 Shyam Sunder Malhotra Ward 58 Rajesh Jain Ward 60 Anil Parti Ward 63 Luxmi Devi Ward 64 Rakesh Parashar Ward 65 Poonam Malhotra Ward 66 Narinder Sharma Kala Ward 67 Mamta Ashu Ward 68 Baljinder Singh Ward 69 Kulwinder Kaur Ward 70 Dilraj Singh Ward 71 Rupinder Kaur Sandhu Ward 72 Hari Singh Brar Ward 73 Seema Kapoor Ward 74 Pankaj Ward 75 Varsha Rampal Ward 76 Gurpreet Ward 78 Balkar Singh Ward 80 Mahraj Singh Ward 81 Rashi Aggarwal Ward 82 Sunny Bhalla Ward 83 Indu Raju Thapar Ward 86 Ashwani Kumar Ward 87 Kulwan Kaur Ward 88 Manpreet Grewal Ward 90 Jai Prakash Ward 91 Gurpinder Kaur Sandhu Ward 92 Harvinder Pal Singh Ward 93 Loveleen Kaur Ward 94 Gurpreet Singh Gopi Ward 95 Gurdeep Deepa LUDHIANA: The counting for Ludhiana Municipal Corporation 2018 will begin at 9 am on Tuesday morning. The voting for the civic polls took place on Saturday. Nine counting centres have been set up in the city. Early trends are expected to emerge around 10 am to 10:30 am. A clear picture is expected to emerge by noon. A massive layer of security has been set around the nine counting centres, with senior police officers posted on spot. A total of 494 candidates are in the fray. The chief contest is between Congress, Lok Insaaf Party (LIP)-Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alliances Ludhiana is the biggest municipal body in Punjab. The Congress, which is currently in power in Punjab since March 2017, won the civic polls in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala in December. The Congress party had also emerged victorious in 20 out of 29 Municipal Councils and Nagar Panchayats. The State Election Commission on Sunday ordered re-polling in two booths - booth 2 and 3 of Ward number 44 - for the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation elections. A difference cropped up between the number of votes in the register and the voting machine. LUDHIANA: Who will be the king of Ludhiana Municipal Corporation in 2018? As counting for the largest municipal body in Punjab begins, all eyes are on Congress, Lok Insaaf Party-AAP alliance and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) alliance. You can watch the Live streaming of the results of the 95 wards of the Ludhiana MC on Zee Punjabi. Click Here Follow Ludhiana Municipal Corporation Election 2018 Result Live News Updates A clear trend of results is expected to be available by noon. A total of nine counting centres with 108 tables have been set up. A massive layer of security has been deployed around these centres. Congress, which is currently in power in the state, won the municipal elections of Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala in December last year. The voting for Ludhiana civic polls took place on Saturday. Over 59 per cent people voter turnout was including 57.66 per cent female turnout and 59.70 per cent male turnout. The third gender turnout was recorded at 4.17 percent. A total of 494 candidates are in the fray. New Delhi: Google on Tuesday announced a deeper integration with the State Bank of India (SBI) for its digital payment app "Tez". The integration will allow users to now create a SBI UPI Id -- @oksbi and get access to exclusive offers for the SBI customers. Launched in September last year, Tez app is available in English and seven other languages -- Hindi, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu. The app is built on the Unified Payments Interface (UPI), allowing users make payments from their bank accounts to other accounts from over 70 UPI-enabled banks. Google has tweeted: A new partner joins us on our journey towards making money simple for India. It's great to be working together with @TheOfficialSBI. pic.twitter.com/k8RwNIYI9z Tez by Google (@TezbyGoogle) February 27, 2018 This is how Google Tez works The user interface is fairly simple and the user is asked to sign into the application using the mobile number that is registered with the bank account. The user then receives an OTP via SMS and the registration is completed after an email id is provided. The app lets the user pay bills, send money and receive payments directly into their bank accounts (after the app is linked to their bank account to verify ownership). There is also an option to send a text message from their registered phone number through Google "Tez" app. The user is then asked to add a UPI PIN and then they can start making payments. To ensure the security of the user, "Tez" makes use of either Google`s 4-digit security PIN or screen/pattern lock to open the app each time. The app`s "Cash Mode" works quite like the NFC feature and lets the user send or receive payments to anyone nearby without sharing details such as their bank account number or mobile number. The app makes use of QR scan and lets the user make or receive payments after they find the other user. Muzaffarnagar: A 16-year-old girl was allegedly raped by a 22-year-old man, whose sister made a video of the incident. The incident took place yesterday in the Civil Lines area. The girl has alleged that she was taken to a house by the man's sister and raped. The accused also threatened her of dire consequences if she reported the matter, police said, PTI reported. The police have registered a case on the complaint of the girl. The man and his sister are at large. Earlier, in almost a similar incident, a Ghaziabad-based man allegedly raped a woman and filmed the act in February 2018. The man was later arrested by cops. The accused, Mehtab, was pursuing the victim an undergraduate student for marriage. On February 7, 2018, the accused along with two accomplices had called the victim at a hotel, where she was served a cold drink laced with sedatives. After the girl lost consciousness, Mehtab raped her while the accomplices recorded the entire act on video, station house officer (SHO), Sihani Gate, Vinod Kumar Pandey had said. The accused had then threatened to release the video online if she did not marry him by changing her religion, the officer had added. On February 15, 2018, accused Mehtab had once again attacked the girl and had snatched her mobile, before throwing her out of a moving auto. Next day, the victim had lodged a complaint with the police. She had further named three other persons in the complaint. Subsequently, Mehtab was arrested by cops. (With Agency inputs) Rome: Dubbed 'The Beast from the East', a blast of Siberian weather sent temperatures plunging across much of Europe on Tuesday. Freezing temperatures have claimed at least seven lives across the continent in recent days with particularly acute fears for rough sleepers in the bitter cold. An Arctic cold front, which Britain`s tabloids have christened "The Beast from the East", has swept in from Russia, causing widespread travel disruption and school closures. The frozen temperatures in Europe are in stark contrast to the Arctic itself which is experiencing an unusually warm period despite it being the depths of winter when the sun never even rises above the horizon. Meteorologists have documented temperatures above freezing in some parts of the Arctic, causing astonishment among many scientists, AFP reported. Yet hundreds of miles further south, temperate Rome woke to its first snowfall in six years on Monday thanks to the Polar Vortex. The mercury dipped as low as minus 4 C (24 Fahrenheit) early Tuesday morning according to the Italian Meteorological Service. In Poland, where at least two people have died of exposure since Saturday, temperatures dropped overnight to minus 12 Celsius while parts of Lithuania saw the mercury fall below minus 20. Temperatures in France are forecast to drop to minus 10 C and feel as low as minus 18 C over the coming days. In Belgium, a local mayor in a municipality of Brussels ordered homeless people to be forcibly detained if they refused to go to shelters. Etterbeek mayor Vincent De Wolf said the cold was a "major risk", stressing that it was his responsibility to avoid potential deaths with temperatures set to drop to minus 15 C on Wednesday night. In Berlin, local authorities said homeless shelters were already at 95 percent capacity with temperatures dropping to minus 20 C in some parts of Germany. Icy temperatures have caused travel disruption in the Netherlands while in Croatia snow drifts have forced authorities to close numerous motorways. "This week looks like being the coldest period we have had in the UK for a number of years," Britain`s weather service, the Met Office, said on Sunday, warning of travel delays. "Parts of England and Wales are likely to see their coldest spell of weather since at least 2013 - perhaps 1991," said the Met Office`s chief forecaster Frank Saunders. (With AFP inputs) US President Donald Trump is not a happy with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. For the second time in two weeks, Trump complained about India's tariffs on the import of motorcycles. This time, however, Trump mimicked Modi's 'namaste' while delivering his complaint. Trump had on February 14, complained during a meeting with US lawmakers that India's tariff on the import of American motorcycles - specifically Harley-Davidsons - was too high. He returned to the complaint on Monday. "When I spoke to PM (Modi) he said we are lowering it to 50% but so far we are getting nothing. He gets 50%, he thinks, he is doing us a favour, but that is not a favour," complained Trump at a meeting of the governors of US states at the White House. "I wasn't sure - he said it so beautifully. He's a beautiful man. And he said, 'I just want to inform you that we have reduced it to 75, but we have further reduced it to 50'. And I said, huh. What do I say? Am I supposed to be thrilled?" said Trump, imitating Modi by holding his palms in a 'namste' and speaking in a low and serious voice. Thankfully, the insults stopped there and he did not do his 'Indian accent' this time. Trump had earlier threatened to descend to an 'eye-for-an-eye' solution to the impasse over the import tariff on American motorcycles in India. He had threatened to impose a reciprocal tariff on the import on India-made motorcycles in the US. Trump is no stranger to making threats to other countries when it comes to trade, and complaining that every country on earth takes advantage of the US. He had done so throughout his campaign, against China for instance. But he is not known for following up on his threats, and has done little to bring his threats to fruition so far. Trump's complaining and threatening against India on the issue of motorcycle import tariffs is part of his blow-hot-blow-cold relationship with the Asian giant. He is as prone to hyperbolic praise of New Delhi as he is to complaining about it, as seen by his blaming India and China for the US pulling out of its commitments to the Paris climate accord. (With inputs from agencies) ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Tuesday appointed Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif as its acting president while former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was named the party`s "Quaid (leader) for life". The announcement was made in PML-N`s Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Lahore which was presided over by Nawaz Sharif. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, the former Prime Minister`s daughter Maryam Nawaz and the Punjab Chief Minister`s son Hamza Shehbaz were also present, Geo News reported. Shehbaz Sharif, said to be a consensus choice for the top party position, would become permanent president after intra-party elections are held within 45 days, the report said. Nawaz Sharif put his weight behind his younger brother for performing well in Punjab and keeping the party united by dint of his "exceptional qualities". Soon after the decision was taken, Maryam Nawaz tweeted a picture of her father and uncle embracing one another. "We are Alhamdolilah ONE. We stand united. PML-N stands united," she tweeted. Meanwhile, the proposal to elect Nawaz Sharif as "Quaid" of the party for life was pitched by PML-N Chairman Raja Zafarul Haq, Abbasi and Shehbaz Sharif. The office of the party president fell vacant last week after the Supreme Court revoked clause 203 of the Election Act, 2017, holding Nawaz Sharif "ineligible" to retain the PML-N presidency owing to his disqualification on July 28 as the Prime Minister as well as a member of the Parliament in the so-called Panama Papers scandal. According to Dawn newspaper, the top court ruling had rendered all decisions Nawaz Sharif had taken in the capacity of the party chief as "null and void". This raises a question mark over the legal status of PML-N`s CWC, which has 109 members nominated by the former Prime Minister while he was party president. However, the PML-N`s Information Secretary said that only those CWC members who were elected before the July 28 decision had been called for Tuesday`s meeting. Ukraine's government intends to allocate 10,8 million USD for the families of Heroes of Heavenly Hundred and victims of the Revolution of Dignity. Read the original text at 112.ua. Ensuring benefits for the victims, injured during the Revolution the Dignity, the same as for the participants in the hostilities; disability pension (regardless of length of service) and cash payments for the families of the Heavenly Hundreds all these incentives were introduced by the state to support those who took part in the protests from November 21, 2013, to February 21, 2014. Since December 19, 2015, Law No. 804-VIII is in effect, according to which a survivor's pension is awarded to disabled members of the family who died during the Revolution, regardless of the length of his insurance period. It is not just about the death of a person on Maidan, but also about death due to injury, concussion or other damage to health during the public protests. The children are appointed such payments irrespective of whether they were dependent on the breadwinner. Parents and spouse of the deceased, who were not dependent on him, are entitled to a survivor's pension if they lose their livelihood. The pension for one able-bodied person is 50% from the pension (depending on the age of the deceased); for two or more - 100%, but the amount is distributed equally. The survivor's pension is paid until the person is considered incapacitated (until the child grows up, and the mother does not take care of the child until his 8th birthday). But when it comes to pensioners, their pension is for life (Article 36 of the Law "On Compulsory State Pension Insurance"). Husband/wife, parents and children who became disabled before the legal age, of those who died during the Revolution of Dignity, would have a right to retire earlier than others. Men - at the age of 55 years (if they have 25 years of experience), women at the age of 50 years (if they have 20 years of experience). February 8, Verkhovna Rada has adopted the corresponding bill. The document has already been signed by Parliament Speaker Andriy Parubiy, and it should be signed by the president. The law will enter into force on the day after the official publication. Since March 13, 2016, a disability pension to the participants of the Revolution of Dignity has been appointed despite the insurance experience - in accordance with Law No. 1010-VIII. The condition was, the person had to seek medical help from November 21, 2013, to April 30, 2014. Such a pension is appointed on the basis of extracts from the inspection report in the Medico-Social Expert Commission (MCEC), which indicates the cause of the disability - "wounds, injury, concussion or other damage to health." The size of the pension for a person with a disability of the first group is 100% of the pension by age, of the first group - 90%, of the third group - 50%. February 24, Law No. 2203-VIII came into force. It introduced a number of benefits for the Revolution of the Dignity participants, who received severe, moderate or light injuries that did not lead to disability. The condition was to seek medical help from November 21, 2013, to April 30, 2014. Benefits are the same as for military operations participants: free receipt of medicines on the doctors prescription; first-priority free dentistry (exception - prosthetics using precious metals); free vouchers to the sanatorium or compensation for the cost of such permits; 75% discount on the rent, if the housing is not too large (the norm is 21 sq. m per person); 75% discount on utilities (gas, electricity, etc.) and liquefied gas for household use; for residents of houses without central heating - 75% discount on fuel, including liquid fuel; free use of all types of transport, electric trains, buses of suburban and intercity routes; after retirement or changing of the place of work, the right to apply to hospitals for the previous place of work is preserved; annual medical examination and medical examination. first-priority services in medical institutions, pharmacies; first-time hospitalization; payment of the average salary as a temporary disability allowance; an additional leave for a period of 14 days a year, with salaries remaining; preferential right to remain at work with a reduction in the number of employees; pre-emptive right to employment in case of liquidation of an enterprise, institution, or organization; if there is a need to improve housing conditions - priority provision of housing or land for construction; a loan for construction, repair, joining the house to engineering networks or communications, and the debt could be repaid within 10 years; every two years the right to take a train, plane, intercity bus or once a year at a 50% discount (round trip); an extraordinary establishment on favorable terms of apartment phones and a 50% discount on a subscription fee; priority services for housing, public catering, intercity transport services; every year until May 5, a payment is allocated for this category, the sum is determined by the Cabinet within budgetary assignments. In addition, the wounded during Euromaidan would get the certificates "Affected party of the Revolution of Dignity." The above benefits are not intended for policemen, special forces, military servicemen of internal forces and representatives of the Armed Forces, injured during the Revolution of Dignity. Starting in 2014, the Cabinet of Ministers decided to provide financial assistance to the families of the victims as a result of participation in the Revolution of Dignity, as well as to those who were wounded during clashes on Maidan. According to the Ministry of Social Policy, the state should pay such amounts to the victims and members of their families: in the case of the death of a participant of the Revolution of Dignity 1 million UAH (37 thousand USD); in case of serious bodily harm - 700 thousand UAH (25 thousand USD); in the case of bodily injuries of medium gravity - 500 thousand UAH (18 thousand USD); in the case of light bodily injuries, beatings, torture - 200 thousand UAH (7,5 thousand USD). January 11, 2018, Prime Minister Groysman said that the government intends to allocate 294 million UAH (10,8 million USD) for the families of Heroes of Heavenly Hundred and victims of the Revolution of Dignity. The Investigative Committee of Russia charged Mykola Malomen, the Ukrainian military with the involvement in the murder of Anatoly Klyan, the camera man of Channel One in summer 2014 in absentia. The press service of the committee reported this on February 27. According to the investigation, the bus with the mothers of the involuntary soldiers and journalists, including Anatoly Klyan, the camera man of Channel One arrived to the checkpoint of the military unit A-1428 in Donetsk region on the night of August 29th to 30th. Malomen ordered twice to the subordinates to perform the sight shooting at the bus. Klyan was wounded in the result of the shelling and later he died in the ambulance car as the Investigative Committee confirmed. Ukrainian lieutenant colonel is accused of 'the organization of the murder of the person due to the performance of the official activities by this person, committed by the group of people by the previous concert on grounds of the political hatred'. The Investigative Committee of Russia constantly opens new criminal proceedings against the Ukrainian military for the supposed attacks on the civilians in the east of Ukraine, infrastructure objects, crimes against the Russian-speaking population. Four attacks on the Ukrainian Army have been reported in Donbas so far Open source The Russian mercenaries continue violating the cease-fire agreement in Donbas, as the Ukrainian Army HQ on the conflict in Eastern Ukraine reports. In Donetsk sector, the enemy used 82-mm mortars to attack the Ukrainian side near Lebedynske. 120-mm mortars were used to attack the Ukrainian strongholds near Pisky. The name also attacked the Ukrainian soldiers near Kamianka with small arms. Four attacks on the Ukrainian Army have been reported in Donbas since midnight. As a result of the enemy fire, three Ukrainian soldiers were wounded. The response of the administration of the colony proved this Open source Oleh Sentsov, the Ukrainian movie maker illegally detained in Russia, is not listed in the correctional colony in Labytnangi and it is proven by the response of the colony's administration. Yana Goncharova, the human right activist got this response and Natalya Kaplan, the sister of Sentsov published it on Facebook. 'There is the information that Oleh Sentsov is not in the correctional colony-8 in Labytnangi. It is stated in the letter of the Federal Penitentiary Service of Russia (FSIN) for Yana Goncharova. The duty room refused to give the information and the telephone of the head of the colony does not answer', Kaplan wrote. She noted that the letter was sent on February 25 through the electronic system of the FSIN and the response came on February 27. Kaplan also claimed that she begins searches for her brother. The letter from the administration of the colony states that 'Administration of correctional colony-8 Labytnangi informs you that the letter cannot be delivered as the addressee is not kept here. Try to specify the address data'. As it is known, Ukrainian movie director Oleg Sentsov and Crimean activist Oleksandr Kolchenko were detained by the Russian FSB in the annexed Crimea. Both were taken to Russia. Sentsov was charged with preparing a terrorist act in Crimea and sentenced to 20 years in the high-security penal colony. Kolchenko was sentenced to ten-years-long imprisonment. It was considered that Oleh Sentsov, the citizen of Crimea, was detained in the Russian prison in Labytnangi until today. Poltorak thanked for the possibility to discuss the current issues on the conflict Sauli Niinisto, the President of Finland thinks that the Donbas Conflict is the biggest problem on the European continent. He claimed this during his meeting with Stepan Poltorak, the Defense Minister of Ukraine as the ministry reported. 'We pay close attention to all events that take place in Ukraine and with the deepest condolence, we consider that the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine continues and the people suffer. This crisis is the biggest problem on the European continent', Niinisto noted. In his turn, Poltorak expressed the gratitude to Finland for the support of Ukraine on the international stage. 'I am thankful to the president of Finland for the consistent and constructive support of Ukraine in the international platforms, un-indifference to the fate of our citizens who defend the independence of the country', Poltorak emphasized. The defense minister also informed the present people at the meeting on the current situation in the east of Ukraine and view of the Ukrainian side on the settlement of the crisis. The issue on the possibility to attract the UN peacekeepers to the stabilization of the situation and position of Ukraine toward the organization of the UN peacekeeping mission in the east of the country were discussed. Earlier Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine claimed that Russia may start trying to escalate the conflict in Eastern Ukraine any time. Russia did not fulfill any of the Minsk Agreement points during three years and it needs the destabilization of Ukraine. The Normandy Four (Ukraine, Germany, France and Russia) signed the agreement 'Minsk II' at the leaders' level on February 12, 2015. The agreements also provide the ceasefire, disengagement of forces and heavy weaponry observed by the OSCE. The Coordination Council for TV- and Radio-broadcasting (CCTR) of the Republic of Moldova fined the TV channel 'RTR-Moldova' for the non-observance of the law on the fight against the foreign propaganda as Realitatea.md reported. 'The CCTR held the monitoring of the TV channel for a few days and got to know that it broadcasted the same footages as TV channel 'Russia 1'. Moreover, the introductions to some footages were also the same in some cases. They were broadcasted in the local news and took from 28% up to 41$ of the whole newscast', the message said. The session of the CCTR made a decision to fine the TV channel for about $3, 000 and to increase the fine in the case of the repeated violation. Evgeny Sergeev, the Director of 'RTR-Moldova' claimed that he does not agree with the decision of the council. The law that bans the re-broadcasting of the Russian news was signed in Moldova on January 10, 2018. The speaker of the parliament signed it instead of Igor Dodon, the President of the country. Budapest accused Ukraine of the impairment of the rights of the Hungarians in Zakarpattia once again The Ambassador of Ukraine to Budapest was called to the Foreign Ministry of Hungary due to the attack at the office of the Hungarian Culture Association (KMKSZ) as the press service of the country reported. Peter Szijjarto, the Foreign Minister already talked to Laslo Brenzovych, the Chairman of the KMKSZ. Szijjarto claimed that the so-called 'wonderful process' takes place in Ukraine; particularly the extremist political ideas are spread. Also, he expressed the confidence that the attack at the KMKSZ aimed to intimidate the members of the Hungarian national community and connected to the law on the education that seriously limits the rights of the national minority according to Budapest. The Hungarian Foreign Ministry reports due to the incident that the Ambassador of Ukraine will be called for the talk today. Also, Szijjarto planned a meeting with the OSCE High Commissioner for Human Rights and he will offer to organize the special observing commission in Zakarpattia. As we reported the office of Hungarian Culture Association was burning again. According to the information, the fire happened at night on February 26, about 3:00 pm. At 3:50 the units of the State Emergency Service liquidated the fire. It destroyed furniture and part of the property on an area of 25 square meters. 112 Agency The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (MFA) condemned the arson of the Hungarian Culture Association office in the Transcarpathian region. This was reported in the press service of the Foreign Ministry. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine resolutely condemns the arson of the premises of the Hungarian Culture Association in Transcarpathia, condemning the use of the theme of national minorities as a means of inciting ethnic hatred from the outside. Ukraine will further resolutely oppose all attempts to undermine the domestic political situation in the state, including through interethnic relations, " reads the message. The department added that the law enforcement agencies have already begun an investigation and are taking all necessary measures to promptly resolve this crime. We recall, on the night of February 27 in Uzhgorod, the building of the Society of Hungarian Culture was set on fire. Fire damaged 25 square meters of the building area. No casualties reported. Later, the Ukrainian ambassador in Budapest was summoned to the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs because of an attack on the office of Hungarian Culture Association. Related: Hungarian Foreign Ministry called Ukrainian Ambassador due to attack at Culture Association SBU The US Senate introduced a bill on strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and the United States in the field of cybersecurity. This is reported in Facebook by the embassy of Ukraine in the United States. "A bipartisan group of US senators led by Democrat Sherrod Brown and Republican Patrick Toomey submitted to the Senate a mirror version of the draft law on cooperation with Ukraine on cybersecurity, approved by the House of Representatives on February 7," the embassy said. It is noted that the document is aimed at providing assistance to Ukraine in improving its own cybersecurity strategy, in particular, with regard to strengthening the protection of computer networks of public authorities, reducing Ukraine's dependence on Russian information and communication technologies; promoting the expansion of Ukraine's participation in cybersecurity information exchange programs and international efforts to counter threats in the worldwide Internet network. "The bill confirms the commitment of the United States of America to the Charter on Strategic Partnership between Ukraine and the United States, the Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances, the support of our state's cooperation with NATO," the report said. We recall, recently director of the US National Intelligence Daniel Coates said in his report presented at a hearing in the US Senate Intelligence Committee that within the next year Russia will conduct more powerful cyber attacks and, obviously, will apply them against Ukraine. On February 5, the US Congress introduced the bill on assistance to Ukraine in the field of cybersecurity. In order for the law to enter into force, it must be approved by the House of Representatives, the Senate and signed by the President of the United States. A couple of days before, NSDC Secretary Olexander Turchynov announced the launch of the Coordination Center for Responding to Cyber Threats, which will cooperate with colleagues from NATO countries. Related: Court refuses to suspend Odesa Mayor from duty 112 Agency The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) ordered Ukraine to pay EUR 4,000 to Ukrainian Anna Sinkova for her arrest after she fried eggs on the Eternal Fire memorial in Kyiv. This is stated in the decision of the ECHR, issued on Tuesday, February 27. "The court decided that the respondent State (Ukraine) must pay the applicant EUR 4,000 plus any tax that may be recoverable as compensation for moral damage in the currency of the respondent State," the ECHR decision said. In addition, the European Court of Human Rights in its decision of February 27 rejected the complaint of Sinkova on key points. The ECHR did not see sufficient arguments in favor of the fact that the case has signs of political persecution. Also, the Strasbourg court found no violations in the initial arrest of the girl. At the same time, the fact that she was kept in the isolator for almost a month after the arrest period had expired was sufficient reason to claim a violation of the European Convention on Human Rights. We recall, Anna Sinkova is a member of the organization "Brotherhood of St. Luke". She was detained on December 16, 2010, in the Park of Glory in Kyiv. At the memorial of the eternal fire, Sinkova and several people fried eggs and sausages. The girl shooted a video, positioning it as a protest and patrioti action. She was arrested on charges of hooliganism. Sinkova spent three months in custody. The court found her guilty of desecrating the grave and sentenced to three years probation. In 2011, the girl complained to the ECHR of violating her rights for a number of episodes. She considered her initial arrest unlawful; complained that she remained in custody even after the arrest had expired; she considered the conviction to be a violation of the right to freedom of speech; and the whole matter, in her conviction, had signs of political persecution. Related: Naftogaz lawsuit regarding Crimean assets to be heard in Hague in May 2018 This is the second arson in the last month In Uzhhorod, the office of Hungarian Culture Association was burning again. This was stated by the regional department of the State Emergency Service, as Transcarpathian police reported on Facebook. According to the information, the fire happened at night on February 26, about 3:00 pm. At 3:50 the units of the State Emergency Service liquidated the fire. It destroyed furniture and part of the property on an area of 25 square meters. The regional police department informed that an investigation is underway. Police received the message about the incident from the rescuers. It is reported that a bottle with a combustible mixture was thrown into the building through the window - the rescuers found it broken. The damage inflicted will be determined later. Fortunately, no one was hurt. The police is finding out what was the reason, "Tatiana Shogoleva, spokesperson for the Transcarpathian police said on air of 112 Ukraine TV channel. Now, a criminal case has been opened for deliberate destruction or damage to property by arson. The perpetrators will face from 3 to 15 years of imprisonment. There were no victims as a result of the fire. As it was reported earlier Ukraines Security Service has identified two suspects who attempted to set fire in office of the Transcarpathian Union of Hungarians in Uzhhorod. According Viktor Kononeko, Deputy Chairman of Security Service of Ukraine, a far-right organization of one of the EU member states did this. he individuals were identified. The Security Service will demand prosecution. Russian intelligence agencies, which selected performers among foreigners, are involved in this. The suspect, who enlisted foreigners for this, is a Russian citizen Ponomariov. He also organized provocations in Chernivtsi region ordered by Russian intelligence agencies. Earlier, a bottle with an incendiary mixture was thrown into the building of the Transcarpathian Union of Hungarians. Minister of Foreign Affairs condemned people, who did this in the building of Hungarians Union. The arrest of Hennady Kapkanov does not provide for an alternative of bail The District Court of Poltava arrested a suspect in the organization of the Avalanche international cyber network Hennady Kapkanov for two months. This was announced by the Speaker of Ukraines Internal Ministry Artem Shevchenko in Twitter. "60 days in custody without the alternative of bail for Poltava hacker Hennady Kapkanov, the organizer of the international criminal cyber network Avalanche. He should not have hidden from the cyber-police for more than a year with a fake passport," Shevchenko wrote. Earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported on the arrest in Kyiv of the organizer of the international criminal cyber network Avalanche. During the searches in the apartment of the offender, the laptop, flash-cards and money were seized. It was reported that the court hearing that was to choose a measure of restraint for him should have been held on February 27. Hennady Kapkanov detained on February 25 is accused of the attempted murder of the law enforcer in Ukraine and of the participation in the international criminal organization Avalanche in Germany. The Avalanche network existed for about 7 years. Law enforcement officers from 30 countries of the world were involved in the operation to eliminate it. In 2016, on November 30, as a result of an international special operation, the cyber-net was liquidated, and in Poltava, a 33-year-old local resident, the organizer of Avalanche, was detained. The Kyiv District Court of Kharkiv announced a break until March 1 on the hearing of the case on the fatal car accident that took place in the downtown of Kharkiv on October 18, 2017. Ihor Omelchenko, the prosecutor read out the charging document during the court session as Interfax-Ukraine reported. Accused Zaitseva pleaded guilty and the civil lawsuits filed by the suffered, answering the questions of the court. She agreed to testify. Hennady Dronov, the second accused in this case refused to admit his guilt, however, he agreed to testify. The court determined the order of the consideration of the proceeding: the questioning of the sufferer, the questioning of the accused and then the familiarizing with the case papers. The next court session will take place on March 1. As we reported earlier Lexus ran over a group of pedestrians in Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine, on Wednesday evening. Alyona Zaitseva who drove the car violated the road traffic, crashing into Volkswagen Touareg driven by Gennady Dronov which threw her car towards the pavement. Both drivers survived, but Lexus ran over eleven passing by people. Five pedestrians received lethal injuries; another six were taken to a hospital with injuries of various degrees of severity. Zaitseva was detained for two months without a right for bailment. The court revoked her driver license and arrested both cars that participated in the accident. The prosecution stated that Zaitseva used opiates not long before the tragedy occurred. According to the information of the defense, the suspect took the sedatives. The version of Zaitseva defense is that the driver of the Touareg is guilty as he moved on the yellow traffic light. The defense of Gennady Dronov denies the accusation and claims that the driver of the Touareg moved on the green traffic light. Dronov was the witness in this case but the police claimed that his status can change. Later, the court refused to recognize Dronov sustained. Gennady Dronov was served with charge papers on November 2. The Court arrested Gennady Dronov for 42 days without the right to bail on November 8. It was established on December 6 that Zaitseva used substances containing codeine. On February 7, the court prolonged the arrest of two suspects in the car crash that killed six people - Olena Zaitseva and Hennadiy Dronov for two months without a right for bail. Earlier it was reported about 13 law enforcers who got injured; the number of detained people remains unchanged, - there are nine 14 police officers were injured in the clashes near the Verkhovna Rada. The speaker of Ukraines Internal Ministry Artem Shevchenko reported this to the journalists on air of 112 Ukraine TV channel. Earlier it was reported about 13 law enforcers who got injured. "There are nine detained people and 13 injured policemen. According to the version I heard from the police - it all started with provocation of people who allegedly carried out a peaceful protest, they wanted to set the tires on fire," he explained. Shevchenko added that he considers events that happened under the Verkhovna Rada a provocation. Answering about the number of law enforcers under the parliament building, the speaker of the ministry replied: "As many as it is necessary. We always have adequate security measures here ... We maintain a normal European level of security." As it was reported earlier as a result of the clash that took place today under the building of Verkhovna Rada, two law enforcers were injured and nine people were detained. People's Deputy Anton Herashchenko said this at the parliament. Herashchenko said that the protesters under Verkhovna Rada were supporters of the former head of the Odesa State Reginal Administration and the former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili. They tried to set tires on fire, according to him. As the People's Deputy Iryna Gerashchenko later said, the soldiers of the National Guard were injured and, according to them, stones at them were thrown also by deputies of the Verkhovna Rada. The Verkhovna Rada intends to decide Tuesday on the issues of social protection of servicemen and instruct the committee to prepare for the urgent consideration a draft law on the Anti-Corruption Court. PLEASE NOTE! Due to the March 23, 2020 NM DOH Public Health Order, These Event Listings Are Not Accurate! All non-essential businesses are closed, public gatherings are prohibited! (One day some of these events will be rescheduled or will resume, but they are not happening now!) The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said the U.S. and Peru have an active record on engagement in timber issues under their trade deal, but serious concerns regarding illegal logging in Peru remain, despite improvements in some areas. The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) on Monday called on the Peruvian government to verify three timber shipments exported to the U.S. in 2017 complied with all Peruvian laws and regulations, USTR said in a Monday statement. The timber verification provision is a monitoring tool inscribed in the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement to ensure enforcement of Peruvian forestry laws throughout the supply chain. Strong monitoring and enforcement of our trade agreements is a top priority for the Trump Administration, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer said in a statement. We are committed to using all available tools to ensure illegal timber from Peru is not entering the United States at the expense of American timber producers and workers. USTR added that the U.S. and Peru have an active record on engagement in timber issues under the trade deal, but serious concerns about illegal logging in Peru remain, despite improvements in some areas. In October, USTR took the unprecedented action of blocking timber imports for three years from the Peruvian company Inversiones Oroza, which was found in 2016 to have violated Perus laws, regulations and other measures concerning the harvest of, and trade in, timber products. Todays action will provide an opportunity to test Perus progress in addressing this continuing challenge and help ensure that Peruvian timber is legally harvested and violators are held accountable, USTR said Monday. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 24, ARMENPRESS. Statements by Azerbaijans president calling for a return to historical lands in Armenia have landed Baku in hot diplomatic water, with Russia and France pointedly calling out Baku for the provocative comments, writes Bradley Jardine for Eurasianet information platform in an article titled Azerbaijani Presidents Claims on Armenia Spark International Backlash. Jardine mentions how Ilham Aliyev referred to the Armenian capital Yerevan as part of Azerbaijans historic land during a speech at his ruling partys congress. [To return Azerbaijanis there] is our political and strategic goal, and we need to work step-by-step to get closer to it, Jardine quoted Aliyev as saying. The article then mentions that Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan was quick to respond: Until Azerbaijanis reject their maximalist, unrealistic expectations about the negotiations, but instead rave about seizing Yerevan or Zangezur, we will not harbor much hope that the issue will be resolved, he said at a press conference on February 12. The international community also waded in. Reports about Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyevs speech at a congress of the ruling party have certainly been seen in Moscow, the Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Maria Zakharova, said. We are well aware that Azerbaijans relations with neighboring Armenia are extremely tense. The comment in question will clearly not help to reduce the tensions, Bradley Jardine writes. The article mentions that afterwards the French foreign ministry warned Azerbaijan to refrain from such statements which will harm the NK conflict peaceful settlement process. Jardine notes that Armenia however found the international communitys response to be not enough. Armenian MFA spokesman Tigran Balayan said the international response was insufficent and may jeopardize regional security. Absence of an adequate reaction by the international community toward President Ilham Aliyevs territorial claims on Armenia have encouraged [Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir] Hasanov to reiterate the threat to use force, he said. The statement refers to a February 19 meeting with Tovio Klaar, EU Representative for the South Caucasus, in which the Azeri defense minister warned that a war may break out at any moment. Aliyev has made similar public statements in the past. Commentators link the recent surge in hostile rhetoric to Aliyevs electoral campaign. The president will be seeking a fourth term in office in a snap presidential election slated for April 11, Jardine writes. The author also draws attention to the fact that the Azeri presidential election will be held two days after Armenian President Serzh Sargsyans term in office ends. The Armenian leader is widely expected to become prime minister immediately after the country adopts a new parliamentary system in April. Both leaders have pledged to intensify the Karabakh peace process. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. 2017 was successful for Armenias Kotayk province. Nearly 60 billion AMD investments through private funds were made in the province which led to creation of more than 2000 jobs. Significant achievements are also expected this year. Karapet Guloyan, Governor of the Kotayk province, gave an interview to ARMENPRESS, presenting the prospects of the province. -Mr. Guloyan, how can you describe the year of 2017 for Kotayk province? What achievements will you mention? -2017 was a successful year for Kotayk province. The province recorded significant achievements. By the assistance of the Armenian President and the government we had positive developments in almost all spheres of the public life. Last year a noticeable increase in investment programs was registered. Nearly 60 billion AMD investments through private funds were made in 2017, as a result more than 2000 jobs were created. Investments were mainly made in industry, agriculture, information technologies, tourism, energy, trade and construction of service centers, as well as in many different sectors. For the first time solar power plants were installed in the province which gave new style to the provinces energy features. I also want to state that last year the production enterprises of the province released 162 billion 100 million AMD products compared to the 136 billion 300 million AMD of the previous year, or the volumes increased by about 19%. The gross agricultural production volume comprised 85 billion 100 million AMD which increased by 30% compared to 2016. -What are going to be the governorates priorities for 2018? On what issues and programs are you going to focus in the future? -The governorate has developed the main organization program of provincial procedures for 2018 which includes the provinces development strategy goals and main priorities. They are the followings: ensuring economic growth, community development, improvement of territorial and local administration systems, development and modernization of industry, agriculture and tourism. About 86 billion 700 million AMD, including state budget resources - 16 billion 500 million AMD, community investments about 853 million AMD, private investments 66 billion AMD and funds by different international organizations 3 billion 300 million AMD are necessary for implementing the aforementioned programs in 2018. -What is the level of unemployment in the province and what investment programs are expected which will directly or indirectly contribute to creation of jobs? -Of course, the employment issue is a priority in the province. While talking about the unemployment level lets mention the statistical figures, at the same time noting that any our initiative, program is first of all aimed at creating new jobs and providing people with new employment opportunities. I have already said that we have a significant progress in the field of investment programs. This year it is expected to increase the volume of private investments by nearly 10% compared to 2017 and reach it almost 66 billion AMD. According to preliminary predictions, we will have nearly 2100 jobs in 2018 as a result of these investments. -In the recent period the government pays a specific attention to the development of tourism. What are the tourism development prospects of the province? I would like you to present the recent dynamics in this sphere? -In fact, there is a specific focus on this field. And I also want to state that tourism plays a key role in the economy of the province. We have concrete instructions by the President of the Republic concerning the constant improvement of this field the main focus of which are the constant development of different tourism infrastructures, making them in accordance with the contemporary demands, as well as creating attractive and favorable conditions for tourists. There are more than 80 hotel and resort complexes in the province. Moreover, the number of hotels increases every year. Im happy to inform that the number of tourists visiting the province comprised more than 490.000 people in 2017 compared to 420.000 of 2016: the increase was 16.7%. Interview by Anna Gziryan Full version of the interview is available in Armenian. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The UN Security Council has unanimously adopted a Russia-tabled draft that will see a technical extension of sanctions against Yemen. It comes after Russia vetoed a rival resolution that blamed Iran for fueling the conflict there, RT reports. All 15 UNSC members voted in favor of the draft resolution on Yemen, put forward by Russia as a compromise after it vetoed a rival, antagonizing draft submitted by the UK, that also drew criticism from China. The UK had proposed to include a provision that would call out Iran for allegedly violating an arms embargo on Yemen, imposed at the onset of its civil war in 2015. However, that draft gained only 11 votes in support, with Russia and Bolivia voting against and China and Kazakhstan abstaining. Having said that Russia fully endorses the majority of the provisions set forth in the UK-sponsored resolution, Russian UN envoy Vassily Nebenzia noted ahead of the vote that Moscow cannot concur with uncorroborated conclusions and evidence which requires verification and discussions within the Sanctions Committee. Defending the purely technical proposal, that omits any mention of Iran and extends sanctions up to February, 2019, Russia envoy Nebenzia said that its apolitical nature is what is necessary to achieve the much-needed unity at the UNSC. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Germanys Chancellor Angela Merkel, who serves as the leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, has said that the party needs new and young politicians. Certainly rejuvenation must take place, new people are needed, Merkel said on air for RTL. We [CDU] are ruling for already 12 years, and people are saying that it is time to involve forces who didnt have responsibilities in the past, she added. According to her it is necessary to use talents. We have such [people] among the prime ministers of federal regions, she said. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The February 27 session of the 4-day sitting of the Armenian parliament kicked off with 92 lawmakers in attendance. During yesterdays session the Parliament Council recommended to convene an additional session on February 27 from 18:30 to 20:00. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. South Korean prosecutors are seeking a 30-year jail term for former President Park Geun-hye who was ousted last year amid an influence-peddling scandal, Reuters reports. Park, 66, was dismissed in March after being impeached and is standing trial on charges of bribery, abuse of power and coercion. She denies wrongdoing. Prosecutors are also seeking a $127.1 million fine. Parks trial began in May and a verdict is expected before April. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. American political scientist Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group research and consulting firm, says Armenian President Serzh Sargsyans participation in and speech at the Munich Security Conference was important and welcomed. In an interview to ARMENPRESS, Ian Bremmer said it was visible and clear to everyone that his speech was trying to bridge the yawning gap between Brussels and Moscow. As a small, landlocked country, thats a really big challenge. President Sargsyan showed a perspective that is often forgotten in Brussels and in Washingtonthat countries in the South Caucasus, Central/Eastern Europe, and Central Asia face difficult and sometimes restricted choices in their relationships with large neighbors, and must find unique ways to preserve their foreign relationships, the American political scientist said. As for Armenias role acting as a bridge between the Eurasian Economic Union and the European Union, Ian Bremmer stated: Lets be honestintegration between the EAEU and the EU is not going to happen. Instead, pressure is needed from within both the EU and the EAEU to work out rules that mitigate the economic barriers of each organization. Arguably this is a more urgent matter for smaller members like Armenia. On the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference Ian Bremmer was holding a discussion which was attended by Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan, Prime Minister of Moldova Pavel Filip, Johannes Hahn, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy & Enlargement Negotiations and Konstantin Kosachev, Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Federation Council of Russia. Ian Bremmer said the Munich Conference was a constructive panel where opinions can be expressed about the Eurasian vs European integration models. I think both Russia and Europes approaches to one another lack mutual understanding, and thats important to air, which is what this panel did, he said. Commenting on the Nagorno Karabakh conflict, Ian Bremmer said the international community still needs to push for the finalization and ultimately the implementation of the basic principles of settlement agreed a decade ago, in keeping with the mission of the OSCE Minsk Group, which, according to him, means a real peacekeeping operation. The goal cannot be to cast blame, but to establish peace and work out the historical grievances afterwards. The basic principles of settlement already provide a roadmap to conflict settlement. A real and sustainable ceasefire needs to be the first priority, he said, adding that the main priority behind the settlement needs to be a top-level political agreement between Yerevan and Baku on how to implement these ground rules. Interview by Syuzi Muradyan English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Algerian writer Kamel Daoud has written an open letter to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan ahead of the latters visit to Algeria, Cumhurriyet newspaper reported. Erdogan, on behalf of all the arrested, killed and tortured, I tell you that you are not welcome in our country. No, Erdogan, you are not welcome in Algeria, the letter says. Daoud slammed the Turkish president for transforming Turkey into a market for his allies, and into a prison for opponents. He expressed hope that the people will survive Erdogan and stay alive. You are simply an illusion. You know it, we know it. You are continuously citing the values and beliefs which we love in order to present yourself as savior, but on the contrary you are a gravedigger, first of all for your own country and them for the neighboring countries, Daoud wrote. He stressed that Algeria needs true friends and allies, not Erdogan whose hands are covered in blood. Kamel Daoud is an acclaimed Algerian writer, laureate of the Prix Franois Mauriac 2014 and Prix des Cinq Continents de la Francophonie 2014. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. A daily humanitarian pause has been enforced in East Ghouta, Syria, starting from February 27, the Russian Defense Ministry has said. That will give civilians an opportunity to flee the fighting areas, RT reports. As ordered by the Russian president, a daily humanitarian pause from 09:00 to 14:00 (local time) is being introduced starting February 27 to avoid civilian casualties in East Ghouta, the ministry said in a statement. The Russian military then suggested introducing similar measures for some other Syrian regions that remain hotspots of tensions. Russian military police and Syrian soldiers are deployed at the exit of the humanitarian corridor. A mobile medical unit and passenger transportation vehicles have been placed near the Al Duveyr settlement. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Gladys Berejiklian, the ethnic Armenian Premier of New South Wales, Australia, has received a special welcoming in the United States not only from President Donald Trump, but also the local Armenian community, the Voice of America reports. Berejiklian arrived in the US as part of the delegation of Australias Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. I represent the biggest state of our country, but I will never forget, I will feel my Armenian [roots] every day, Berejiklian told the youth at the Aramian House in Washington D.C., presenting her life story. Being Armenian isnt easy, our struggle isnt easy, but we will all move forward with same steps, we have a big family all over the world, and I really feel it, she said. According to Berejiklian, the 50,000 Armenian community of Australia has a history of nearly half a century and although it isnt as influential as the community of the US it plays an important role in the country. Armenians are always grateful to the countries which have given us asylum in difficult times throughout history, and have expressed gratitude with response work, the NSW Premier said, adding that there are many Armenians among leading doctors of Australia today. Regarding the preservation of Armenian culture and language abroad, Berejiklian said her family and the Armenian community played a main role in her life from this perspective. We can live in any country but it is very important that our struggle for preservation of Armenian identity continues, she said. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Iran will soon hold talks on issues relating to gas and electricity exchange, Iranian energy minister Reza Ardakanian told reporters in Yerevan, reports Armenpress. In response to a question that the Iranian side has repeatedly said that it is ready to supply gas to Armenia at affordable prices, what is that affordable price, is it cheaper from the gas price supplied from Russia, the minister said: As for now a very good talks on gas and electricity exchange were held, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to increase the gas volumes exported to Armenia. I think in the near future talks will be held between the Iranian and Armenian sides, in particular, between Irans oil ministry and Armenias ministry of energy infrastructures and natural resources. The Iranian minister expressed hope that the results and news of these talks will be available to the broad circles in the near future. Armenia and Iran cooperate in the field of energy within the frames of Gas Against Electricity program by which Armenia supplies electricity to Iran and receives gas instead. The session of the Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission is being held in Yerevan. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Armenian Organizations of the Netherlands will hold a march-protest in Hague on February 27 at 13:00 (16:00 Yerevan time) on the 30th anniversary of the Sumgait Pogroms and the Artsakh liberation war. Mato Hakhverdyan, chairman of the Federation of the Dutch-Armenian Organizations, told ARMENPRESS that the protesters will start the march from Hagues Peace Palace to the embassy of Azerbaijan. Our main demand is directed against the Azerbaijani aggression. We demand to respect the right of the Artsakh people. The Netherlands, of course, is not part of the OSCE Minsk Group, but with its European structures it can have an influence. The march participants will raise their voices over this issue by posters and calls, Mato Hakhverdyan said. Masis Abrahamyan, chairman of the Armenian National Committee of the Netherlands, told ARMENPRESS that he plans to deliver speech outside the embassy. I will present a part of my speech in Azerbaijani, with the hope that by this the Armenians demands will be more understandable. Usually, the embassy staff follows the events by cameras. The protesters are going to present their demands with great shouts, Masis Abrahamyan said. It is expected that speeches will be delivered by the Federation of the Dutch-Armenian Organizations, the ARF Garegin Njdeh Youth Union of the Netherlands and etc. The officials informed that they have submitted a letter to the Parliament of the Netherlands recently demanding to make maximum efforts to affect Azerbaijans rhetoric which aims at distorting the unstable ceasefire. Masis Abrahamyan said every year by such letters the Dutch-Armenians try to deliver the fair demands of the Artsakh people to the countrys leadership. Mato Hakhverdyan stated that a similar letter has also been submitted to the foreign ministry. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The European Union has approved an additional 3,7 billion Euros for battling the migration crisis, the Council of the European Union said. The Council has approved the allocation of an additional 3,7 billion Euros for struggling against the migration crisis, the EU said in a statement. The resources allocated from the European Investment Bank will be directed to projects aimed at strategically eliminating main causes of migration. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Vahram Baghdasaryan, leader of the ruling Republican partys (HHK) faction in the parliament says he is convinced that if the party decides to nominate the candidacy of Serzh Sargsyan for PM, he will accept the political decision. Baghdasaryan made the remark in response to a question from opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan who cited a 2014 statement of President Serzh Sargsyan who had said that he will never be nominated for president again and if the parliamentary administration model comes into force then he would not aspire for PMs office also. In addition to being the leader of the Republican Party of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan is also an ordinary party member and must comply with decisions of the political power. Naturally I treat every statement of the president seriously, but one must take into account the we dont move forward with aspirations and desires. Today, the HHK has taken the responsibility of the country and the people, and we must find it to be appropriate as to who can assume that leadership, he said, adding that any politician is free to make statements and voice opinions, however any decent politician is obliged to comply with political decisions. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenian minister of nature protection Artsvik Minasyan on February 27 received the delegation led by Irans minister of energy Reza Ardakanian, the ministry told Armenpress. Welcoming the guest, minister Minasyan briefly touched upon the process of ongoing works in the sphere of nature protection between the two countries. In his turn the Iranian minister thanked for the meeting opportunity directed towards the constructive dialogue. The meeting focused on water resources management issues. In particular, a wide range of issues relating to the water quality of Araks river, its pollution prevention, conducting monitoring were discussed. The meeting also touched upon the program of establishing Friendship and Peace Park on the border between Armenia and Iran, as well as the need to develop ecotourism. At the end of the meeting the sides highlighted the need to implement substantive, concrete, short-term and long-term programs affirming the readiness to develop the cooperation. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenia and Iran have not yet utilized the existing potential of bilateral cooperation, but they want to fill this gap as a result of the 15th session of the Armenian-Iranian intergovernmental commission, Armenias minister of energy infrastructures and natural resources Ashot Manukyan and Irans minister of energy Reza Ardakanian, who are also the co-chairs of the commission, said at the session in Yerevan, reports Armenpress. The session agenda covered a wide range of issues in the fields of energy, infrastructures, transport, nature protection, agriculture, banking and insurance system, healthcare, education and etc. Over the past year the programs outlined within the intergovernmental commission were quite ambitious, but realistic, and this required a daily consistent work. Today, without waiting for the results of expert discussions, it already can be stated that we managed to propose solutions to issues set before us, Ashot Manukyan said. The minister highlighted the importance of high-level mutual visits for the development of the relations between the two states, reminding several agreements that were reached during the Armenian Prime Ministers visit to Iran in October 2017. Minister Manukyan told reporters that nothing hinders expanding the bilateral cooperation. Of course, our potential is not fully utilized yet, and the sessions of the intergovernmental commission, such meetings contribute to solving the issues that exist on this path, the minister said. As for the issues voiced by the businessmen from both sides concerning the need for legislative harmonization in the two countries, minister Manukyan assured that the Meghri free economic zone, on the one hand, and the Aras free trade zone, on the other hand, can contribute to settling these issues. I am convinced that the cooperation between these two free economic zones will contribute to harmonizing these legislative issues you are talking about. Of course, our countries have different legislations, but the two FEZ will contribute to solving such issues, the official said. In his turn the Iranian minister noted that the good relations between Iran and Armenia contribute to further intensifying the ties with the remaining states of the region. Iran with worth 80 million market considers Armenia as a window to the EAEU 170-million market. We think that there is a greater potential between the two countries which has not been fully utilized, and we as co-chairs have a great responsibility to carry out this work, Reza Ardakanian said. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Information Center of Public Relations of the Presidential Staff is presenting two new projects the book Sumgait: Azerbaijani Witnesses Speak Out and the film Sumgait: Murdered Generation. Marina Grigoryan, author of the Ordinary Genocide project, told a press conference that the Sumgait topic is one of the main directions of their work. She finds the creation of the archive to be one of the most important achievements of the recent years. Many materials have been collected and digitized and later used in various projects. These new two projects look at the Sumgait genocide from a slightly different point of view. The Sumgait: Azerbaijani Witnesses Speak Out book is a unique work. We are presenting the Sumgait tragedy through the eyes of Azerbaijanis, people who have seen it all and later have presenting it in testimonies during investigative and judicial processes, Grigoryan said. She highlighted the fact that the Azerbaijanis themselves confirm the reality that the Sumgait tragedy was premeditated and implemented by the Azerbaijani authorities. Only a part of enforcers were later punished and the real organizers of this crime were not discovered. Azerbaijanis themselves testified during judicial processes that these actions were directed exclusively against Armenians, they are clearly saying they were searching for Armenians, they were killing Armenians, the slaughterers had the list of addresses of Armenians, they were armed with knives. After the instructions from Baku, an attempt was made to eliminate the consequences of the cruel murders, they were quickly destroying material evidence, she said. According to her, the Azerbaijanis are stating that the death toll in Sumgait is much higher than the official data. Grigoryan says the figure is a few hundred. There is no propaganda here, there is no fiction, something our neighbors like very much. This book has been published based exclusively on judicial, investigative materials. There were more than 10 judicial cases over the Sumgait events, but we only have 3 materials available to us, she said. Larisa Alaverdyan, executive director of the Against Legal Arbitrariness NGO, says theyve put two meanings behind the words of the films title. We put two meanings in these words. First of all we meant the Armenian victims, second of all the Azerbaijani young boys and girls who were involved in these actions. The footage shows that theyve been included in horrible crimes. The footage shows even children running in front. The actions were carried out demonstratively, before everyones eyes. We underline the methods, the ways, by which a generation is being brought up, a generation which is ready to repeat the same. These people are in Azerbaijan today, and theyve remained unpunished, Alaverdyan said, stressing that the film is about prevention of genocide. The film includes a call on vigilance. Alaverdyan reminded that Azerbaijan is preparing for such actions even today. The Azeri president is openly saying that their strategic goal is to capture Yerevan and other Armenian areas. Alaverdyan stressed that many of the organizers are unpunished, and according to Azerbaijanis, some of them are serving in the parliament. Criminal prosecution wasnt launched against them. I am convinced that this work must be started and completed by Armenian law enforcement agencies. International arrest warrants are needed, she said. She urged all Armenian establishments to pay tribute to the victims with a moment of silence on February 28. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Major shareholders of Lydian International have responded to concerns of Armenian nature preservation activists over environmental hazards, businesshumanrights.org reported. Recently the Armenian Nature Preservation Front, a nature protection organization, addressed an open letter to Lydian Internationals major shareholders citing the concerns of independent experts over the Amulsar gold mine. According to the concerns, the Lydian International mine project threatens the environment, a high risk of negative impacts exists, and drinking water resources are jeopardized. The London-based Business and Human Rights Resource Center published the concerns and invited Lydian shareholders to respond to the issue. Major shareholders of Lydian International include two American funds, several European companies, as well as the European Bank For Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). RBC Asset Management, European Bank for Reconstruction & Development (EBRD) and Resource Capital Funds responded to the offer. The issue concerns todays largest international investment in Armenia, and this time a wholly new quality of dialogue is presented. EBRD responded: We would like to emphasize that the Amulsar Gold Mine Project is being developed in line with the policies of its shareholders through which the shareholders, including the EBRD, commit to integrating environmental, social and governance matters into their investment processes and ownership activities in line with international best practice. EBRD has carefully assessed any potential environmental and social impacts of this project, as is the case for any mining operation, rigorously assessing expected benefits and potential risks, and ensuring that appropriate mitigation measures are put in place where necessary. The application of standards and performance requirements is monitored regularly by EBRD staff and independent specialists, which have confirmed that all aspects of the ESP are met in the Amulsar Gold Mine Project. An Independent Panel of Experts (IPoE), which is comprised of distinguished professionals from across the world, including Armenia, has been convened to provide oversight to the project, independent of the Company and the shareholders. With specific regard to the reports produced by Mr Bronozian and associated specialists, in particular the concerns relating to the potential for Acid Rock Drainage (ARD), Lydian International has presented a technical paper responding to the claims point by point. EBRDs internal specialists have reviewed these responses and also sought independent technical and environmental advice. The experts have confirmed that the potential for ARD occurring has been appropriately addressed and that the Companys response was based on sound technical and environmental grounds. Overall, EBRD is confident that the Amulsar Gold Mine Projects design, management systems and stakeholder engagement activities align with industry best practice and Lydian International has committed to continue to comply with international standards throughout construction, operation and closure of the mine. The EBRD also reminds the fact that Lydian International had offered the experts who raised concerns to meet and discuss the results of the research, but the offer was refused by Bronozian and his colleagues. Lydian International also responded to the accusations and said that they have accepted the Armenian governments invitation to meet and hold discussions with the authors of the reports criticizing the Amulsar project, but the latter have refused to participate in the discussion. The Amulsar project has been subject to an extraordinary amount of compliance oversight and review to ensure it meets or exceeds best international practice. Five external audits were carried out in 2017 alone and found the project to be compliant, Lydian International said in the response. One of the largest shareholders of Lydian International, Resource Capital Funds, said in its response that the RCF is a signatory to the United Nations-supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) since 2013, and it understands the inherent risks associated with mining. [RCF] therefore proactively engages its portfolio companies regularly to ensure that strategies are in place to mitigate ESG-related risks and recognize opportunities. RCF monitors Amulsars ESG activities on a regular frequency and actively engages with its environmental and social team. RCF believes that the Project design and management systems align with industry best practice and that Lydian continuously strives to create a transparent process for information sharing with its stakeholders, Resource Capital Funds said. Some of the shareholders of Lydian didnt respond to the letter, but from the abovementioned responses it is obvious that the raised concerns werent unexpected for them, they were aware of its content and they have answers as to why they are funding the Amulsar project and what grounds they have to be certain that it will be a project realized with international nature preservation standards. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Eduard Sharmazanov, Vice Speaker of the Armenian Parliament, head of Armenia-Lithuania friendship group, on February 27 received Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Lithuania to Armenia Erikas Petrikas, the Parliament told Armenpress. Welcoming the guest, the Vice Speaker positively assessed the development level of the Armenian-Lithuanian relations, highlighting the Ambassadors personal efforts on expanding the inter-state and inter-parliamentary ties. Eduard Sharmazanov congratulated the Lithuanian people on the 100th anniversary of restoration of independence. He noted with gratitude that Lithuania is the first country that recognized Armenias independence and now is the only one from the Baltic countries that recognized the Armenian Genocide. The Vice Speaker also touched upon the condemnation of genocides and refusal of denialism. He said the Armenian Parliament initiated exhibitions titled Parliamentarians against genocide in several countries. It was stated that a similar exhibition against the Turkish denialism will be held in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia on April 30. The meeting also touched upon the opportunity to organize a similar exhibition in Lithuania. Issues relating to the development of the Armenia-EU relations were discussed. Eduard Sharmazanov said Lithuania, as an EU member state, can be a reliable bridge in the Armenia-EU relations. As for the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, he highlighted the ratification of the agreement by the Lithuanian parliament as soon as possible. The Lithuanian Ambassador attached importance to the signing of this new agreement which creates broad opportunities for development of different spheres. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Azerbaijani authorities carry out anti-Armenian propaganda, radicalize their public, trying to consolidate it over the struggle against the enemy, ARMENPRESS reports Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian told tert.am. Asked to comment on the situation that Baku and Ankara continue using various international platforms for propaganda purposes, referring to the so-called Khojaly events, FM Nalbandian said, Probably, their slogan of one nation- two states is displayed as one propaganda - two microphones. Khojaly is used as a propaganda trick that pursues a number of goals. First, its known that Baku and Ankara act against the international recognition of the Armenian Genocide. By spreading falsified accusations about violence committed by Armenians, they try to justify their denialist policy that has last over 100 years, spreading a fiction that allegedly Armenians are not victims, but are criminals and that they have not been slaughtered, instead they have slaughtered others and other similar awful lies. Ankara even went so far that had erected a monument on the Armenian-Turkish border symbolizing the massacres of Turks by Armenians, something that shook the international community for its cynicism. Second, the 30th anniversary of the Armenian massacres of Sumgayit is commemorated these days in various parts of the world. In this context the uproarious steps of Baku and Azerbaijan are aimed at leaving under shadow the international sounding of the commemorative events Third, Baku, resembling the example of Turkey, tries to present itself as a victim, as if violence has been committed against its people. It tries to pretend to be a victim. Baku thinks this policy can bring benefits. Forth, Baku tries to distract attention and avoid responsibility for massacres committed by itself against Armenians not only in Sumgayit, but also in Baku, Kirovabad, Maragha Fifth, the Azerbaijani authorities carry out anti-Armenian propaganda, radicalize their public, trying to consolidate it over the struggle against the enemy. Reputable international organizations have touched upon this issue numerous times. FM Nalbandian assured that Azerbaijani attempts to avoid responsibility are useless, as sooner or later they will be held responsible. Edward Nalbandian added that Baku spends millions on this multilayered propaganda, but its impossible to hide the truth even under this multilayered deception. He emphasized that its proven that Azerbaijanis have slaughtered their own people, the residents of Khojaly in the context of domestic political infighting. The residents of Khojaly used the humanitarian corridor and abandoned their settlement and reached Aghdam region, a few kilometers away from Khojaly that was under the control of Azerbaijani armed groups, where they were slaughtered. This is proven by Azerbaijani sources testimonies of Khojaly survivors, witnesses, journalists, Nalbandian said, emphasizing that even the then president of Azerbaijan Ayaz Mutallibov claimed that Azerbaijani armed groups stood behind the massacre. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, 27 FEBUARY, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 27 February, USD exchange rate up by 0.15 drams to 480.99 drams. EUR exchange rate down by 0.20 drams to 593.20 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 8.62 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 4.70 drams to 671.22 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price up by 92.23 drams to 20621.49 drams. Silver price up by 1.01 drams to 257.79 drams. Platinum price up by 113.02 drams to 15417.79 drams. YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Karen Karapetyan received on February 27 the delegation led by Minister of Energy of Iran, Co-Chair of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission Reza Ardakanian. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Government of Armenia, the PM highly assesses the present level of political relations between Armenia and Iran and emphasized that there are good preconditions for strengthening bilateral cooperation in different spheres. Particularly, in the context of deepening economic partnership he highlighted the effective works of the Intergovernmental Commission, the regular session of which took place in Yerevan on February 27. Reza Ardakanian conveyed the warm greetings of Irans First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri and expressed conviction that the Yerevan session will give new impetus to the strengthening of bilateral economic cooperation. Reza Ardakanian presented to the Armenian Premier the issues discussed during the session of the Armenian-Iranian Intergovernmental Commission. The Minister particularly informed that the document on cooperation in the customs sphere has been finalized and is submitted for signing. The works of Iran-Armenia 400 kW third power transmission line are also successfully underway and its expected to be put into operation at the end of 2019. Reza Ardakanian highlighted the deepening of the cooperation between Aras and Meghri free economic zones, stressing that Iranian investors are interested in this issue. PM Karen Karapetyan highlighted the implementation of projects aimed at increasing trade turnover volumes. The current level of trade turnover is not satisfactory. We are interested in bringing to life major projects and are ready to take relevant measures, including organizing an open-day for Iranian businessmen to answer all their questions, Karapetyan said, adding that its necessary to develop the economic relations to match the political relations. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The members of France-Armenia parliamentary friendship group have issued a statement over the 30th anniversary of the tragic events of Sumgayit. ARMENPRESS reports the statement runs as follows, Sumgayit this name reminds of a far away area, unfamiliar to everyone. But this South Caucasian (Azerbaijani) area passed through violence and barbarism against women, children and men for three days (February 27-29, 1988) just because they were Armenians. AT that time 18 thousand Armenians used to live in Sumgayit. But since they were Armenians by origin, since they did not live in a good country, since the rapid weakening of the Soviet Union led to rise of nationalism, hatred and violence against others, women, children and men went victim to the massacres, victim to manhunt against Armenians. This was followed by the mass deportation of Armenian from Azerbaijan. During the years of 1988-90 nearly 400 thousand Armenians abandoned that Caucasian region, left their homes, numerous villages became empty. On September 27, 1990 many intellectuals, such as Jacques Dirand, Luc FerryJurgen Habermas, Emmanuel Levinas, Paul Ricur, condemned those massacres of Armenians implemented under the racist ideology that justifies the crimes. As members of the France-Armenia friendship group of the National Assembly (of France-edited), we wish to remind about the massacres that took place 30 years ago in Sumgayit. Those evil deeds cannot be forgotten. Justice has not won yet. Those massacres were resonated in Nagorno Karabakh region, where violence had become regular. This later led to war and hatred against others. On this day when we commemorate the Sumgayit massacres our friendship group urges to reach a peaceful, negotiated settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict based on the principles of non use of force, territorial integrity of states and right to self-determination of nations. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Edward Nalbandian gave a speech at the High Level Segment of the 37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, Nalbandian particularly said, Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen, I congratulate Ambassador Vojislav Suc on his election as President of the Human Rights Council and wish success in his mission. This year we mark the 70th anniversaries of two fundamental documents in the field of human rights protection, namely the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The Universal Declaration is widely acknowledged as a milestone document in the history of human rights. Nevertheless, its provisions have not only been continuously ignored, but grossly violated in many parts of the world. Thirty years ago, during these very days in February 1988 anti-Armenian pogroms broke out in Azerbaijani Sumgait leaving numerous Armenians killed, maimed and deported. They were perpetrated by the authorities of Azerbaijan with the aim to punish Armenians for the peaceful aspirations of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh for self-determination. Those atrocities were the very reason why Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Andrei Sakharov wrote that even if some doubted it before Sumgait, no one sees a moral opportunity to insist on territorial unity of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan after this tragedy happened. The Sumgait massacre was widely condemned by the international community, including by the resolution of the European Parliament. Regrettably, the masterminds and perpetrators of this crime were not duly punished. As it happened many times in the human history, impunity opened the door for new atrocities, including Armenian massacres and ethnic cleansing in Baku, Kirovabad (Gandzak), Maragha and many other places. By all means Azerbaijan attempts to conceal these atrocities, to avoid responsibility and to shift attention from them through fabricated accusations, including by the so-called Khojaly campaign, trying to portray themselves as victims and discredit Armenians as alleged perpetrators of the violence. It is a part of Azerbaijans xenophobic anti-Armenian policy. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance and many other organizations in charge of human rights expressed concern at constant cases of hate speech in Azerbaijan used against Armenians by political leaders, educational institutions and media and that an entire generation of Azerbaijanis has grown up listening to this hateful rhetoric. It is this kind of anti-Armenian propaganda that has incited continuous atrocities against Armenians, including the gross violations of international humanitarian law committed by the armed forces of Azerbaijan in April 2016 in Nagorno-Karabakh - killing of children, women, elderly people, mutilation of the corpses, beheadings of captured soldiers in the style used by notorious terrorist organizations. Ladies and Gentlemen, When there is an imminent threat to life the unhindered access of the relevant United Nations agencies and special procedures, provision of humanitarian assistance to the people residing in conflict areas gains utmost significance. It is perplexing that the perpetrators of such horrendous crimes are consulted for their consent on the engagement of international organizations and the provision of the humanitarian assistance. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh should not be deprived from cooperation with the human rights organizations due to the objection of Azerbaijan, a country notorious for the violations of the very human rights. Universal Declaration stipulates that the realization of the individual and collective human rights and fundamental freedoms must not be dependent on the status of the territory where peoples live. This should serve as a guiding principle for all those who are committed to the universal application of the Declaration without leaving any grey zones where the people are deprived from the international assistance in exercising their rights. Belated reaction, delayed assessment of the situation, the absence of preventive measures constitute gaps between proclaimed commitments and their implementation on the ground. Indeed, a right delayed is a right denied. I want to recall the words of Eleanor Roosevelt one of the authors of the Universal Declaration we could not have peace, or an atmosphere in which peace could grow, unless we recognize the rights of individual human beings. Mr. President, In 2015 upon the initiative of Armenia the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a unanimous Resolution on the Genocide Prevention. In its development, again upon our initiative, the UN General Assembly assigned December 9th as an International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Genocide. As recently the United Nations Under Secretary General Mr. Michael Mller stated, Armenia has become a leading voice for safeguarding the importance of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. What is happening in front of our eyes in different parts of the world, related to the identity-based crimes against ethnic and religious groups vividly manifests that the world is not immune from this odious scourge and that it remains imperative to redouble the international efforts aimed at reinvigoration of the prevention agenda. During this session of the Human Rights Council Armenia presents a resolution on Genocide Prevention which will mark the 70th anniversary of the Convention with specific recommendations for actions and reflect on the activities of the UN and its member states in this regard. On December 9th we will host the Third International Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide in Yerevan. It will stand as a solid platform for manifestation of our collective resolve against the recurrences of this heinous crime, for raising awareness and promoting education for the prevention of Genocides. Mr. President, Armenia continues to implement National Plan of Action for Human Rights Protection, the main objective of which is to formulate a unified policy document in the area of human rights protection. We have a good record of submissions of national and follow-up reports to the UN treaty bodies. Armenia supports the Universal Periodic Review process and we are going to submit our UPR second mid-term report on a voluntary basis. Our country is completing its transition to parliamentary system of governance. Throughout the whole process of transition including the Constitutional referendum, the subsequent amendments of the key laws in Armenia and the parliamentary elections were conducted in an inclusive manner, in close cooperation with our international partners and have demonstrated that the progress achieved in upholding fundamental freedoms is sustainable and irreversible. We will continue the reform process in our country also making use of the good offices provided by our partners, including the United Nations. Mr. President, I would like to assure Armenias continued commitment for the further consolidation of democratic institutions, rule of law, strengthening of judiciary, good governance, which remain high among our priorities. Thank you. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The protest-march of the members of the Armenian organizations in the Netherlands that kicked off from the Peace Palace of Hague ended successfully. The participants reached the Azerbaijani embassy chanting Azerbaijanis are aggressors, We want peace, Protection for the people of Artsakh. President of the Federation of Armenian Organizations of the Netherlands Mato Hakhverdyan told ARMENPRESS that a speech was given in Armenian and Azerbaijani languages in front of the Azerbaijani embassy in relations with the events that took place 30 years ago which continue up till now. We mentioned how the conflict escalated and about our desire to solve the conflict through peaceful ways. We also applied to the state bodies of the Netherlands, the parliament, the foreign ministry, so as they contribute to the implementation of the monitoring along the Artsakh border aimed at ceasing fire, Mato Hakhverdyan said. He added that they also voiced about recognizing Artsakh by all the countries. The representatives of the Federation of Armenian Organizations of the Netherlands, the Armenian National Committee, the ARF Garegin Njdeh Youth Union of the Netherlands took part in the march in connection with the 30th anniversary of Sumgayit massacres of Armenians and the Artsakh liberation war. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 27, ARMENPRESS. The Georgian Apsny.ge news website published a statement of the Azerbaijani embassy in Georgia on February 26 over the so-called Khojaly events. The Armenian embassy in Georgia responded to the Azerbaijani statement and presented a statement denying the Azerbaijani statement in the same news website. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the Armenian embassy in Georgia, the statement of the Armenian embassy runs as follows, It is endemic for the leadership of Azerbaijan to voice only their own interpretation of history in a way that easily resembles to the Goebbels-like ideology: if you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. Since the waning years of the USSR, the people of the self-determined Nagorno-Karabakh have been fighting for the recognition of their status guaranteed by the international law. The lawful demands of the people of Artsakh to exercise their right to self-determination were met with anti-Armenian pogroms on February 27-29, in the Azerbaijani city of Sumgait - 26 km away from Baku. Those events, carried out under the motto Death to Armenians, were the embodiment of Azerbaijani leaderships policy of xenophobia, ethnic cleansing and deportation of Armenians. Those atrocities were the very reason Andrei Sakharov, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, wrote that even if some doubted it before Sumgait, no one sees a moral opportunity to insist on territorial unity of NKAO and Azerbaijan after this tragedy happened. If official Bakus response to the aspiration of people of Nagorno-Karabakh to exercise its right to self-determination were pogroms and ethnic-cleansing of the Armenian population, the reaction to the implementation of that right in 1991, based on then existing USSR legislation and norms of international law was the large-scale war against the newly-independent Artsakh, accompanied by gross violations of the international humanitarian law. Exactly 25 years ago Azerbaijani Armed Forces commenced the months-long shelling of the capital of Nagorno-Karabakh - Stepanakert, which at that time had become a shelter for the refugees fleeing the pogroms in Sumgait, Baku and other cities in Azerbaijan. On February 13 of 1992, in violation of international conventions, Azerbaijan started using BM-21 Grad multi rocket launchers on the residential areas of Stepanakert. Khojaly was one of the seven fire bases, used for the shelling of Stepanakert. Even back in Soviet time Khojaly had an important strategic importance, as it was situated on the crossroad connecting Stepanakert to other regions of Nagorno-Karabakh. Moreover, in 1970s the only airport of Nagorno-Karabakh was built next to Khojaly, which during the Artsakhs blockade was the single gatepoint to the outside world. Thus, by 1992 it became evident that the neutralization of Khojaly firepoint was an imperative for the physical preservation of the population of both Stepanakert and Nagorno-Karabakh as a whole. The operation to neutralize the Khojaly firepoint started on February 25, 1992. For months, the Nagorno-Karabakh self-defense forces had been informing the Azerbaijani side through all the possible means about this operation, its objectives and the humanitarian corridor left for the evacuation from Khojaly. Azerbaijan continues to distort the facts surrounding the bloody events near the city of Agdam, which they call the Khojaly tragedy. The mere facts of those events raise many questions, and the Azerbaijani leaderships, even after 25 years, still prefers to keep the answers behind seven locks. So why did Azerbaijan fail to organize the evacuation of the people of Khojaly? Here is a citation from Ramiz Fataliev, Chair of the Committee Investigating the Events of Khojaly: Four days left until the events of Khojaly. On February 22, in the presence of the President, the Prime Minister, the Head of the KGB and others, a National Security Council session took place at which a decision was taken not to evacuate people from Khojaly. As mentioned, the Nagorno-Karabakh self-defence forces left a humanitarian corridor for the people of Khojaly, the majority of whom safely reached Agdam. The former mayor of Khojaly even reached Baku and is currently a deputy in Milli Mejlis. Unfortunately, a group of residents of Khojaly, who successfully crossed the territories under Armenian control, did not reach Agdam in the territories controlled by the Azerbaijani side. Heres an excerpt from the words of Azeri journalist Cingiz Mustafaev, a witness to the events: On 29th [of February], when I was heading to Agdam from another side, from the village of Umudlu, in a military helicopter, I saw that in 10 kilometers from Khojaly and approximately in 700 meters from our military post, dead bodies of our people were scattered on the ground. What horrified me the most was when I was filming these corpses, there were around 10 people from our side, strolling around easily in military uniforms. I was told that there were no corpses, it was impossible to get there, there were Armenians and there was shooting. But when we eventually landed there on our helicopters, three helicopters unexpectedly and immediately flew to Agdam; those 10 people left, too. I still cannot understand why in 700 meters from our posts, where there were our soldiers roaming calmly, nobody was picking up these dead bodies? Mr. Mustafaev also speaks of the main crime committed during the Agdam events - the mutilation of bodies, discovered couple of days after the events. Who has done all this? I was filming here just yesterday, there was nothing like that there. Its worth to repeat, that the territory where the bodies were discovered was under the Azerbaijani control. It comes as no surprise that there is zero tolerance in Azerbaijan towards the doubt, suspicion or investigative journalism on the official version of those events. Those who dare to openly speak about these events were either killed like Cingiz Mustafaevs, or imprisoned like journalist Eynulla Fatullayev, or exiled like the first President of Azerbaijan. Ayaz Mutalibov, President of Azerbaijan in 1990-1992: The disappointing events happening around, you know clashes, death of people, arouse the feeling of bitterness and sorrow, as well as suspicions that someone is certainly unsatisfied with the process. You see, I am uncertain about the goals, but nonetheless I have this feeling that there are forces which are against [the process]; they want the situation to become worse, for these things to continue, because, you know, it is always convenient to take advantage of troubled waters. Many here seek these waters. Some people do not care whom to shoot at. Ayaz Mutalibov: According to the surviving residents of Khojaly, all of this was organized to be used as an excuse for my resignation. Some forces were struggling to discredit the President. ... Ayaz Mutalibov: We are just tired, tired of this confrontation. Common people are dying every day, while someone is building his ambitions on it and pushing forward his political goals. Lets not forget that more than 700 residents of Khojaly did not leave the village and were taken to Stepanakert, where they were provided with food and medical aid. Two days later they were transferred to the Azerbaijani side, without any preconditions. The Azerbaijani leadership has not answered yet to those questions raised by Azerbaijanis themselves. Meanwhile it has almost mastered the art of distorting the abovementioned facts in order to blame others for their crimes and escape the responsibility, while attempting to creating a fictional counterbalance to the massacres that it has perpetrated against Armenians in Sumgait, Baku, Kirovabad, Maragha. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan SAN FRANCISCOSex workers and advocates from the Erotic Service Providers Legal Education Research Project (ESPLERP) have expressed disappointment that the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has denied its request for an en banc hearing (before the full Ninth Circuit) of its decision to dismiss ESPLERP v Gascon, which challenged Californias anti-prostitution law as being unconstitutional. Were disappointed that the Ninth Circuit missed this opportunity to declare that the Constitution protects the right of consenting adults to engage in private sexual activity, even if they are paying for it or getting paid, said Louis Sirkin, ESPLERPs lead attorney, and one of the nation's preeminent First Amendment and criminal defense attorneys. Were mindful that, in our nations history, other constitutional issues have taken a persistent and continuing effort until the courts get it right. This case is not over and we are seriously considering an appeal to the Supreme Court. This is an important issue that affects all Americans, and it deserves further consideration by the courts. Its outrageous that the Ninth Circuit decision relied on a 1998 case (IDK, Inc. v. Clark Cnty.), said Maxine Doogan, President of ESPLERP. IDK has since been clearly superseded by Lawrence v Texas, the 2003 Supreme Court case which struck down sodomy laws nationwide and established a constitutional right to sexual privacy. ESPLERPs court case is mostly funded by individual small contributions, but its opponents (essentially the government of the State of California) have very deep pockets, essentially using taxpayer dollars to deny us our rights. Contributions to support the court case can be made at ESPLERP's fundraising site LitigateToEmancipate.com. Pictured: H. Louis Sirkin and ESPLERP's Maxine Doogan after Ninth Circuit hearing. PARISAffil4You has signed on to attend The European Summits first-ever show in Portugal. TES kicks off on March 2. Generating new business relationships is always a priority, but Ive learned that all introductions are valuable in one way or another hence our teams determination to meet as many people as we possibly can! said Affil4Yous CEO Laurent Baquiast. In addition to attending, Affil4You is a platinum sponsor of The European Summit due to the extensive schedule which includes educational seminars for which Affil4Yous CEO Laurent and Traffic Director Brian are a part of. Be sure to check out their SMS panel Dead or Alive? on Saturday 3rd March at 1pm in Room C to gain valuable insight on SMS and its current status in todays market. To learn more about the mobile solutions that Affil4You can provide or to schedule a meeting during The European Summit, email [email protected] or visit Affil4You.com. Krispy Kreme has launched a mini version of its iconic Original Glazed doughnuts. Called Doughnut Bites, theyre made from the same recipe as the original doughnuts and are described as perfect for gifting, sharing, or enjoying on the go. They landed in Krispy Kreme stores yesterday (26 February) and are available in boxes of eight for 3.95 until 8 April. And, consumers will be able to get warm OG bites as part of Hot-Bite hour at factory stores each weekend from 1-2pm. Canadian bakery business Tim Hortons, which made its UK debut in May last year, also offers customers mini versions of its doughnuts called Timbits. The bite-size doughnuts are available in ten different flavours including Apple Fritter, Chocolate Glazed, Lemon and Raspberry. Krispy Kreme currently operates 105 stores in the UK, with further expansion planned for the future. Last year, it celebrated the opening of its 100th UK store in Nottingham. Now that it is fully apparent, to all who have the ability to pay some modicum of attention, that Imposter President Biden has extreme cognitive issues, in addition to being an inveterate liar: Can OUR Republic continue with this Executive Office that has completely failed, so many times, on far too many issues here at this early date in this abysmal presidency? No, Joseph R. Biden is completely unqualified, morally and cognitively, to represent real Americans, and lead this Republic of disparate peoples. Yes, Joseph R. Biden has started whispering again, even softer now than before; so, I know he still cares, plus, OUR media will soon stop reporting on Afghanistan in favor of OUR Socialist issues. Just finding an attorney to challenge a solar installation is difficult, in large part because land use issues involving solar farms are a relatively new legal field Solar project opponent Keith Gatlin checks out weather-worn headstones in an old slave cemetery that would abut a proposed industrial-scale generating station in Cool Springs. (CJ photo by Dan Way) STATESVILLE Iredell County opponents of an industrial-scale solar project continue facing roadblocks in their goal to prevent the facility from getting a permit.Two days before the county held a hearing on the permit, the state Court of Appeals overturned a local government ruling against a solar development in Currituck County. It was the third time in relatively quick succession the appellate court rejected Superior Court rulings based on local ordinances that upheld community decisions to bar large solar installations. Robeson and Lincoln counties experienced similar setbacks.A band of neighbors worried those precedents might sway the Iredell County Zoning Board of Adjustment to rule against them as they headed into the second round of quasi-judicial hearings Dec. 21. They wanted the county to reject a special-use permit application allowing a large solar development in Cool Springs, a crossroads community near Statesville.California-based Cypress Creek Renewables wants to turn more than 400 acres of farmland, fields, and forests populated with wildlife - bumping against a slave cemetery - into a sea of glass and metal generating 80 megawatts of solar electricity at peak performance.After taking hours of testimony from the company Nov. 16, and many hours more from opponents Dec. 21, the zoning board Jan. 4 unanimously denied the permit application.Board members had to vote separately on four criteria the developers had to meet for approval. They favored the developers twice, but cast 4-3 votes saying the project would reduce the value of adjoining properties and would not be in harmony with the community.Neighbors don't expect the David versus Goliath victory to end here. Cypress Creek Renewables can appeal the decision to Iredell County Superior Court.But, as history shows, the solar developers' position is getting stronger, as they are flush with cash, as well as technical and legal experts who testify on their behalf.said Clark Tew, who represented the Iredell County opponents.In the Currituck County case, neighbors hired their own attorney. But funding, and their private legal representation, ran out before the case reached the Court of Appeals.Just finding an attorney with the proper skills to challenge a solar installation is difficult, in large part because land use issues involving solar farms are a relatively new legal field. Although Tew has experience in land use trials, Iredell was his first solar case.While legal challenges to solar plants are becoming more common, Tew isn't aware of any growing movement among attorneys to specialize in that area of law.Lawyers representing solar developers typically come from large firms in metropolitan areas who are likely to represent clients on a repeat basis. They have developed a consistent playbook to use in court. Attorneys representing opponents usually have to build their case from the ground up.But lawyers aren't the only pivotal element in fighting solar developments. Land use cases involving special-use permits have gotten more technical as the financial stakes have risen.Tew said it was rare for technical experts to carry so much weight 20 or 30 years ago. Today's experts with the most clout are real estate appraisers, who testify about a project's impact on surrounding property values.Without financial backingTew said.Historically, zoning cases have involved situations such as asphalt plants, strip malls, gravel pits, or adult businesses. But because solar fights are of recent vintage, opponents must find knowledgeable experts able to testify to something, Tew said, quantifiable, substantial and material."But that gets to be harder when you don't have much of a data set to back you up."for an applicant to obtain a special use permit, Tew said. That low bar feeds into the Court of Appeals overturning local decisions.Opponents have to counter applicants withrather than just making cursory or emotional appeals, Tew said. The Court of Appeals makes fact-based decisions, and opponents are not meeting that burden.Currituck County Manager Daniel Scanlon said county commissioners are considering how to respond to the Court of Appeals decision in their case.Scanlon said.County commissioners have amended their zoning ordinance to restrict where these projects would be allowed in the county, Scanlon said. The new ordinance was approved after the application for the solar development was received, so the project legally fell under the prior regulation.Lincoln County attorney Wesley Deaton said the case there is still alive. The Court of Appeals remanded it to the Board of County Commissioners, which made additional findings in favor of neighbors and against a property owner who wants to lease his land to a solar facility. The case likely will be before Superior Court for the third time in February or March.The county commissioners ruledDeaton said.Robeson County officials failed to return phone calls seeking comment about their solar case. Contact: White House White House Press Office Thank you Wolfgang. You and your entire team have done a wonderful job organizing this important conference. I also want to thank Chancellor Merkel, the German Government, and the German people for their generous hospitality and gracious welcome. For me, visiting Germany feels like coming home. And I know I speak for the entire American delegation when I say we all wish that Senator John McCain, a great advocate for this conference, could join us.It is a great honor to be here. The Munich Security Conference convenes an unmatched assembly of distinguished leaders and thinkers. For over five decades, this conference has fostered open dialogue, candid debate, and lively discussion about how we might build a more peaceful and prosperous future together. This year, we meet at a critical time for our nations-and indeed for all humanity.Critical, because we face a range of common threats. Rogue regimes that already imperil international security in the Middle East and northeast Asia are developing the most destructive weapons on earth. Revisionist powers are challenging the stability of the postwar international order through military force and other pernicious forms of aggression. And, jihadist terrorist organizations continue to use mass murder of innocents as their principal tactic in their evil war against all civilized people.Although distinct, these three threats often intersect as they do, for example, in Syria.To address these threats and improve international security, we must renew our faith in the principles that have made our nations strong, increased worldwide prosperity, and prevented Great Power conflict for over 70 years.The United States, its allies, and its partners are proud nations of patriotic people, who cherish the ideals of liberty, individual rights, free enterprise, equality, and the rule of law. In our free and open societies, artists, intellectuals, and inventors expand our hearts, enliven our imaginations, and push us to new frontiers of science and exploration. We should be proud of what we have achieved around the world to safeguard our principles, defend our security, and unleash human potential.This month, we are celebrating that the Berlin Wall-and the barbed wire fences that once divided the German people-have now been down longer than they stood. I was here, in Germany, when the wall fell. Our cavalry regiment was patrolling the border near Coburg when East German travel restrictions lifted. That day, we experienced an invasion of an unanticipated kind, as joyous East Germans brought us flowers and wine to celebrate reunions with friends and family-and their newfound freedom. Those moments remain among my fondest memories-when Freedom triumphed over oppression.Our shared history reminds us of our common principles, our democratic values, and our enduring commitment to peace. Ewald von Kleist founded this conference in 1963, following two horrific world wars, in the hopes of preventing future conflict.To realize his noble vision, we must all share responsibility. International peace and prosperity depends on all nations.For this reason, President Trump has called for stronger alliances and partnerships based on shared values, shared interests, shared responsibilities, and shared burdens.Today, I would like to highlight three priority areas that demand our collective efforts: first, ensuring the non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and deterring their use; second, defeating jihadist terrorist organizations; and third, strengthening the international foundations for peace and prosperity.Over the past four years, we have commemorated various 100-year anniversaries of World War I-a war that witnessed the routine use of chemical weapons, causing immense human suffering. In the wake of that war, nations came together and agreed not to use these horrifying weapons on the battlefield.In April of 2017, when the Assad regime again used these heinous weapons against innocents, the United States responded. We acted to deter future chemical attacks and to ensure that the use of these weapons never again became routine. Public accounts and photos clearly show that Assad's chemical weapons use is continuing. It is time for all nations to hold the Syrian regime and its sponsors accountable for their actions and support the efforts of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.The non-proliferation regime is under tremendous pressure-not only from the use of chemical weapons, but also from the development and proliferation of nuclear weapons. It needs our unequivocal support.Last year, nations gathered here initiated an international campaign to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. We must pressure the Kim regime-using all available tools-to ensure that this cruel dictatorship cannot threaten the world with the most destructive weapons on earth.Many of us can be proud of the successes we have had in uniting behind United Nations Security Council resolutions. Today, let us resolve not only to enforce existing sanctions, but also to commit to downgrading diplomatic relations, cutting off all trade, military, and commercial ties, and expelling so-called guest workers.Nations that evade full enforcement and fail to take these steps are acting irresponsibly. Now is the time to do more-a nuclear North Korea poses a direct threat to all of us and seriously undermines the non proliferation regime.We know that Syria and North Korea are not the only rogue states developing and spreading dangerous weapons.Now is also the time to address serious flaws in the Iran deal and counter Iran's destabilizing activities, including its development and proliferation of missiles-and its support for terrorist proxies and militias that fuel destructive conflicts across the greater Middle East. The Iranian regime foments this violence with support from commercial entities affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or IRGC-including Mahan Air, which lands right here in Munich Airport.As a matter of international security and moral conscience, we must stop doing business with IRGC-affiliated interests, encourage the development of a true commercial sector in Iran, and pressure the regime to respect the rights of its people.The second area that deserves our continued attention is defeating terrorist organizations that threaten our citizens and our way of life. In recent months, working together, we have made enormous strides in preventing terrorist attacks, denying terrorists control of their territory and populations, cutting off their funding, and discrediting their wicked ideology.Over the past year, we have come together in partnership to create two new centers in Saudi Arabia dedicated to countering jihadist ideology and inhibiting terrorist financing.In Syria and Iraq, our Coalition to Defeat ISIS has liberated territory previously held by these terrorists. We will continue our efforts to pursue ISIS fighters, secure populations, stabilize areas, and facilitate the safe return of those who have suffered under the grip of this evil organization.And in Afghanistan, our heroic Afghan partners are working alongside American, NATO, and international forces to ensure a better future for their children. If we all work together, we have an opportunity to act against Taliban and Haqqani Network leaders, many of whom live in safety and luxury outside Afghanistan while plotting the murder of innocents.To ensure progress in counterterrorism and non-proliferation, we must ALSO focus on a third area that transcends all efforts: strengthening the international foundations of peace and prosperity.In this arena, we have much work to do. International institutions created to foster peace and facilitate cooperation are under threat by nations that subvert and corrupt their intended purpose. For example, some of the most egregious human rights abusers sit on the United Nations Human Rights Council. And trade organizations, like the WTO, have been unable to constrain countries that ignore its stated principles and refuse to follow its rules.We must actively cooperate to protect, reform, and strengthen these institutions so that they honor their original aims-and serve the interests of states that value the rule of law and human dignity.As President Trump noted in his address to the UN General Assembly, the success of international organizations also depends on the strength of their independent, sovereign members.Unfortunately, respect for sovereignty is under siege around the world.Some of the most dangerous forms of aggression fall below the threshold of military action.We cannot allow repressive and revisionist powers to diminish our confidence in our sacred principles, to undermine our free market system, or to interfere in our democratic processes. As you have seen in recent days, the United States will expose and act against those who use cyberspace, social media, and other means to advance campaigns of disinformation, subversion, and espionage.We are already improving our ability to defeat these pernicious threats. For example, in April of last year, nine countries, including the United States, established the new European Center of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats. This center will help free nations defend against cyber attacks and political subversion-preserving our way of life through common action.Our nations are safer when we cooperate to advance shared goals. We are only as strong as our faith in our values, our pride in our heritage, and our resolve to do our part for peace.If we renew our commitment to our noble principles, together, we can face down today's threats and defeat them. We can uphold the non-proliferation regime. We can defeat jihadist terrorist organizations. We can protect our way of life. And we can fulfill the visionary dream of this conference's founder: that even in the wake of two devastating world wars, our nations might come together to build a future of hope, light, and promise. Thank you. On Thursday night, the American public learned two bombshell pieces of information regarding the Parkland, Florida mass shooting. First, we learned that the Broward County Sheriff's Office was told in November that the Parkland shooterbut deputies didn't bother to write up a report; that reportThen, in even more shocking news, we learned that an armed school resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School sat outside and waited for four minutes during the six minute attack that ended in the deaths of 17 human beings.So, here's what we know.We know the FBI was warned specifically about the Parkland shooter not once, but twice - and did nothing.We know the Broward County Sheriff's deputies were called to the home of the Parkland shooter at least 39 times since 2010 We know that the Broward County Sheriff's Office was warned multiple times about the Parkland shooter.We know that an armed officer was present during the shooting and did nothing - and that JROTC students showed far more courage.And yet we are told that the solution to mass shootings is for law-abiding citizens to give more authority to the authorities that failed, and to turn over our only way of protecting ourselves?Why in the world would a single law-abiding gun owner hand over his or her weapon to the same authorities that did nothing to protect the children of Parkland? Why would a single law-abiding gun owner turn over his or her capacity for self-defense to people who were incapable of defending children at every step of the way?And why in the world should we blame the NRA, which literally had nothing to do with Parkland, for the failures of every institutional barrier to a massacre? Why should we blame law-abiding gun owners who didn't shoot up kids for the failures of those who are paid to do stop evil monsters like the Parkland shooter? Why should we take Sheriff Steve Israel seriously when he blames lack of gun control, Dana Loesch, and the NRA, rather than his own radical incompetence and the radical incompetence of those under his authority?Children are dead not because millions of good citizens own AR-15s, but because dozens of pathetic incompetents and cowards in a position to do something instead did nothing. All the misdirection in the world isn't going to change that inconvenient fact. Contact: White House White House Press Office Well, thank you, thank you, Governor Sandoval. Thanks for your leadership, and your leadership of the people of Nevada, particularly during the trying times through which your state passed. I think the nation was inspired by the people of your state and by the strength and compassion. And we are truly grateful for your leadership as Chairman of the National Governors Association. Brian, thanks. It's an honor. (Applause.)It is great to be back among so many friends for what now has become an annual tradition. (Applause.) When right after we were elected and inaugurated, governors were headed to Washington, D.C., and Karen and I, cherishing our time serving the people of Indiana, simply asked the question whether we could invite the governors over. (Laughter.) The President readily encouraged us to do that. And we found out that last year was the very first time.And let me just thank all of the Republican and Democrat governors and spouses who are gathered here today. We are honored to have you here at the Naval Observatory. (Applause.)And I just hung up the phone from a great champion of our state-based innovation and federalism. And I want to bring greetings - I bring greetings from the 45th President of the United States of America - who looks forward to his time with you this weekend greatly - President Donald Trump. (Applause.)And before I make a few very brief remarks - because today is really about just an opportunity to extend hospitality to each and every one of you. It's going to be a busy weekend. We have important matters to discuss. And I and the President both believe that the timing of the National Governors Association meeting this year is particularly important.And we're grateful to hear of that record turnout. I know the President - who you'll be seeing on Sunday and we'll be having a significant discussion at the White House on Monday - is grateful for your presence and grateful for your participation.But today is really about fellowship and encouragement. And I just wanted to give you a chance to thank the Second Lady of the United States of America who was passionate about opening this home back up to all of you. Would you thank my wonderful wife, Karen Pence. (Applause.)You know, it is a truism in our home - and you saw who she was focused on at the beginning of her introduction - that those of us that have the privilege to serve these roles most often serve them as families. And while those of us in public life get a lot of attention, a lot of times our families don't get the credit they deserve.So let me, on behalf of my wife and our entire administration, just say thank you to all the spouses who are here that serve your states along with your governors with such distinction. (Applause.) We appreciate you all.The President told you all at last year's NGA meeting, in his words, "Under this administration, we're going to have a true partnership of collaboration and cooperation" with America's governors. And I hope and trust that you've seen that partnership over the course of this last year.Over the last 12 months, our administration has been proud to work with states to promote greater flexibility on healthcare, to expand opportunities to give states a greater voice in land management. We've been working with each and every one of you in combatting the scourge of opiate abuse and addiction that every governor in America has made a priority. And we've worked with many of you to open our natural resources to responsible development.And I want to pledge to you going forward that President Trump and I are absolutely committed to continue to rebuild America, to rebuild our roads, our bridges, our infrastructure, and rebuild this economy in full partnership with the governors of America. (Applause.)But while we've worked with you on all of those things that impact people's lives and the strength of our economy, I know I speak for the President when I say how inspired we've been to see the way our governors have stepped forward and led in times of crisis and challenge in your states and in the life of our nation.We traveled to Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey, and stood with Governor Abbott and the First Lady, who did such a remarkable job with their state. We were in Florida, and Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands after Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria, with Governor Scott, and Governor Rossello, and and Governor Mapp.And also, we saw in those moments the critical role that your leadership plays in times of crisis. And let me just - in the wake of those storms, let me just join all of their colleagues in commending these great governors for the extraordinary job they did in the wake of this incredible - (applause) - (inaudible).And, of course, I stand before you today - on my heart, on our hearts, what's on the hearts of the American people - in the wake of the terrible attack that took place at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Sadly, it is only the latest in a series of mass shootings over the last year that have claimed innocent lives in Las Vegas and in Sutherland Springs, Texas.And then, as in those moments of natural disasters, the President and I have marveled at the courage and the compassion of our governors. And we've been inspired by your commitment -your commitment in the wake of these terrible moments.Let me just say that our administration, in the wake of what occurred in Parkland, Florida, will continue to bring the full resources of the federal government to bear to get to the bottom of what happened, and support state and local law enforcement, as we did in Nevada and as we did in Texas.And I know you'll hear from the President this weekend, and in our significant discussion on Monday, that the time has come for us to work together to find new and renewed ways to put the safety and security of our children and our schools first. And as President Trump said, "Working with our governors, we are going to make school safety our top national priority." (Applause.)As most of you know, the President has already taken action in this regard. Two days ago, our President - President Trump - and I met with the family of Meadow Pollack, a beautiful young lady who lost her life in that terrible attack in Florida. We met with other students and families reeling from that attack. But we also sat with families from Sandy Hook, families from Columbine, who still bear the scars in their hearts from similar incidents that took place in their communities. As the President said, we'll never forget that conversation.Yesterday, the President met with state education and safety officials and talked about how we might move forward. The President told them what he told the nation in the immediate aftermath of what took place, that "no child, no teacher, should ever be in danger in an American school." And we are absolutely determined, working with all of you and working with leaders in the Congress, to bring this evil, in our time, to an end. (Applause.)As you know - as I'm sure you know, earlier this week, the President called on Congress to strengthen background checks. We've already been in touch with leaders in Congress to move legislation to improve our NICS system. The President has also called for raising the age for the purchase of certain firearms. And he directed the Department of Justice to expedite the regulation and banning of bump stocks. (Applause.)The President has also called for the Congress to take strong action to make our schools safe, to make sure that we give law enforcement, and our families, the tools that they need to deal with those struggling with dangerous mental illness. And we'll be working with our governors at the local level to encourage and to support your efforts to create new tools and new pathways as well.The President also called today for a hardening of our schools and engaging in a conversation about reconsidering a policy first established in the 1990s. And the President is calling on us to consider, and discuss, and debate allowing qualified and trained individuals to be able to carry firearms in our schools so that they can protect our students in a time of crisis. (Applause.)But now we want to hear your ideas. The President has been listening to families. He's been listening to students. He's been listening to law enforcement officials. But we want to hear from you. And so we want to encourage you to bring your best counsel in our discussions in the days ahead.And we look forward, very much, to the discussion this weekend, starting informally in the White House on Sunday night and then in a deep discussion that begins - not ends - on Monday. It's absolutely imperative that each of us do all that we can to support safe schools and security for our children.So on behalf of the First Family and the Second Family, thank you. Thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your deep love for your states and the devotion that you show each and every day - the difference that you're making in the lives of the people that you serve.We know there are sacrifices in public service. We're well familiar with them. But as we see a growing economy, as we face new challenges, I look out at this group and I'm more confident than ever that with your counsel and continued leadership, and with President Donald Trump in the White House, we'll face these challenges together and we'll bring real and renewed solutions for the American people.So thank you. Thank you for your service to your states. Thank you for your service to the United States of America. And God bless you. And God Bless the United States of America. (Applause.) Drone pilots have assumed an increasingly valuable role in military operations. Soon they may be able to leverage their unique experience into academic credits through the North Carolina Community College System.That is just one among a multitude of military occupations and training modules for which the UNC System and Community College System might one day award credits to smooth the time-and-money path for veterans and active-duty service members to earn degrees. It is not just a good idea in a state with a large military population to recognize real-world attainment as academic credit transfers-it is also the law.The North Carolina General Assembly unanimously passed Senate Bill 761 in 2014 directing the community college and university systems to develop a uniform system for awarding course credits based on military occupational and aptitude skills.said state Sen. Wesley Meredith, R-Cumberland, primary sponsor of S.B. 761 and who was a sergeant in the 82nd Airborne at Fort Bragg.Compliance with the new law has not happened with a snap of the fingers, however; there are many procedural hurdles to surmount. Susan Barbitta, associate director of special projects at the Community College System, and Chuck Gross, director for prior learning assessment and military credit with UNC General Administration, say they have made important foundational steps to comply with the legislation.But they admit the process is bedeviled by challenges, not the least of which is cost. The legislation is an unfunded mandate. Complex technical issues of incompatible computer programs and recording methods must be hurdled. Software programs must be developed for tracking military students and the number of credits awarded. There are challenges evaluating military training to determine if it is comparable coursework meriting academic credits.But there are successes, and Western Carolina University might hold the shining star.Gross said. The university has an agreement with Fort Bragg, and the Army medics are awarded more than 50 credit hours for their work in medicine, humanities, foreign language, and other training.The North Carolina systems follow American Council on Education guidelines and principles and rely on ACE's Military Guide for credit recommendations. The Military Guide contains all evaluated courses and occupations for all service branches since 1954. Military personnel have a Joint Services Transcript much like a college transcript showing which of those credit recommendations they completed.said Michele Spires, ACE director of military programs. Translating military education to a college education can be tricky.ACE evaluates military programs for creditworthiness by sending out teams of higher education faculty throughout the country to do hands-on site visits to military facilities and observe the training. North Carolina's education systems are among those where faculty volunteers periodically evaluate the recommendations in their subject areas to determine which they should adopt, and at what level.Gross said the process of choosing which military credits to add to North Carolina colleges and universities must be faculty driven to comply with standards of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, which accredits North Carolina higher education institutions. Faculty use the same evaluation principles when considering ACE recommendations as they apply to their own courses to ensure they meet equivalency standards.Barbitta said many of the community college system's 15 academic panels reviewing the ACE recommendations choose not to issue credits above ACE allotments. The number of military credits that could transfer to North Carolina systems would not necessarily increase if the state required all Military Guide recommendations to be included, Barbitta said. That is because some do not align with degree courses in the state, some courses have lower credit values than are required at North Carolina institutions, and some would not help students meet degree requirements.Despite the mandate under S.B. 761 to create a more uniform structure of awarding credits, lawmakers did not require universities or community colleges to track the number of military credits awarded or break that number down to individual students. Neither North Carolina higher education system has aggregated the number of military personnel enrolled or counted the total number of students receiving military credits.Since the UNC System started working with S.B. 761 up through mid-February, it issued 3,851 individual credit hours across 63 individual military occupations, Gross said.after he calculates the credit recommendations from the most recent faculty review, he said.So how well is North Carolina performing at making the transition to a more military-friendly articulation system?Relatively speaking, it is hard to find out. Spires said ACE does not have a measurement system to rank individual states' performance. "It's a challenging trend across the country" to design systems with appropriate metrics for tracking data, Spires said. That does not mean that no college has created a strong tracking system, however. Fayetteville Technical Community College has a good model, Spires said. That's likely because of its proximity to Fort Bragg, and the high number of active-duty soldiers who receive tuition assistance dollars as military benefits.Strict government reporting requirements are attached to that money, so Fayetteville Tech has to have a reliable tracking capability. Dr. Rosemary Kelly, associate vice president of student services, provided data showing 892 military personnel are using tuition assistance dollars this spring semester. There were 5,846 active-duty military personnel and veterans enrolled in the 2016-2017 school year. Fayetteville Tech awarded 118,409 hours of military credit for 4,513 individuals that year.Barbitta said UNC-Greensboro has also designed a system that tracks military credits by individual. That enables compilation of longitudinal data for nursing students.to ensure military students are acclimating and succeeding, she said.because listing military service has been optional.to fill in the blanks, even though S.B. 761 doesn't require it, Barbitta said.She hopes a recommendation would be made sometime in 2018 to the State Board of Community Colleges and member institutions on how to uniformly record the data for tracking purposes. That likely will include an automated computer program with a military section that allows the user to click on buttons to input military occupations and courses. The screen would then show which institutions would accept those military credits.Barbitta said.Those working toward better military and college integration have high hopes.Gross said. Admiral Mike Rogers, America's Cyber Command chief, told lawmakers today that President Donald Trump and his administration have not granted him the 'authority to disrupt Russian election hacking operations where they originate.' Huh. Wonder why. NSA Director Mike Rogers: "I believe that President Putin has clearly come to the conclusion there's little price to pay here, and that therefore I can continue this activity." pic.twitter.com/JE7Um9ocbo J.D. Durkin (@jiveDurkey) February 27, 2018 From a CNN report: Asked by Democratic Sen. Jack Reed if he has been directed by the President, through the defense secretary, to confront Russian cyber operators at the source, Rogers said "no I have not" but noted that he has tried to work within the authority he maintains as a commander. While he did not agree with Reed's characterization that the US has been "sitting back and waiting," Rogers admitted that it is fair to say that "we have not opted to engage in some of the same behaviors we are seeing" with regards to Russia. "It has not changed the calculus or the behavior on behalf of the Russians," Rogers said about the US response to Russia's cyber threat to date. "They have not paid a price that is sufficient to change their behavior," he added. NSA Director Mike Rogers testifies he has not been authorized by President or Mattis to retaliate against Russian cyber operators who attacked 2016 election Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) February 27, 2018 I could retweet Mike Rogers' testimony re: not having the authority to disrupt Russian cyber threats all day. This is an abomination. https://t.co/oTqSxMJIYA Nicole Perlroth (@nicoleperlroth) February 27, 2018 This should be the biggest story in the land. A foreign adversary launches a cyber attack on America and the President refuses to protect the country because he is likely to benefit from another such attack https://t.co/8RQ5lIv5aC Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) February 27, 2018 NSA Director Mike Rogers tells Congress that he would need to be granted the authority by Trump or secdef to stop Russian meddling at its source, but he hasn't yet been given that day-to-day authority Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) February 27, 2018 NSA Director Adm. Mike Rogers says he has not received specific direction from the Trump admin to disrupt Russian cyberattacks targeting U.S. elections at their source. https://t.co/JVOEYNnoTW Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) February 27, 2018 NSA chief MIke Rogers says Russia has "not paid a price" for meddling in U.S. election and WH has not told him to confront Russian cyber threat | https://t.co/11EAlEj7jZ Tim Carter (@TimCarterCNN) February 27, 2018 Breaking right now @clairecmc and other Senators in both parties asking outgoing NSA Director Adm Mike Rogers why no one is ordering a response to Russian hacking. McCaskill says "Russia is winning and that is disgusting" Andrea Mitchell (@mitchellreports) February 27, 2018 "We face threats that have increased in sophistication, magnitude, intensity, volume & velocity" per @USCommandCyber's Adm Mike Rogers at #SASC pic.twitter.com/YvE9wgPMMp Jeff Seldin (@jseldin) February 27, 2018 In case you're wondering how seriously Trump is taking Russian interference, NSA director Mike Rogers told Congress today that the Trump administration has not granted him authority to take measures to prevent election meddling pic.twitter.com/9jFnWZ6iTr Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 27, 2018 News / National by Staff reporter ORAL evidence from different witnesses who appeared before the Mines and Energy Parliamentary Portfolio Committee last week to speak on the alleged missing $15 billion diamond revenue showed that deposed President Robert Mugabe did not take action as the corruption was reported to him.Businessman Lovemore Kurotwi, who appeared last week before the committee and narrated how his diamonds worth $150 million (1.7 million carats) were confiscated by former Mines minister Obert Mpofu for refusing to pay him a $10 million bribe, told the committee that as an investor, he felt abused by government."As a person, I feel I was abused. It is not normal to be subjected to such a situation by your own government. Those in power can do whatever they want with you with impunity, and I am really down," Kurotwi told the Mines Committee."Mpofu told me he will not introduce my investors (Canadile Miners) to mine in Marange because I had not paid him the $10 million. So, what it implies is that those that were allowed to mine in Chiadzwa paid him (Mpofu).Asked by Fanny Chirisa (MDC-T proportional representative legislator) to explain what steps Mugabe took after he heard that Mpofu had asked for a bribe from Kurotwi, Mliswa said it would be a question that the Mines Committee would pose to Mugabe himself."It is a question for Mugabe to answer. The committee can summon anyone, except the current President, to appear before Parliament to give oral evidence. We have a right to question Mugabe and it only makes logical sense that the committee asks Mugabe to respond to that," Mliswa said.Another matter, where Mugabe was said to have failed to take action as chaos ensued in the mining sector, is when the Mines ministry under former minister Walter Chidakwa introduced the consolidation of diamond mining.Russian investors with Ozgeo were said to have been illtreated when 80 heavily-armed police officers sent everyone packing and took over their mine after they had invested millions into the project.DTZ Ozgeo managing director Victor Kusyla told MPs that the takeover of his diamond mine during Mugabe's era was in breach of security of tenure."Such issues must not be repeated because we might want to invest in another project, for example, livestock, and our hands will be tied because we were ill-treated," Kusyla said.He said the contract which they were made to sign with Zimbabwe Consolidated Diamond Company to take over their equipment and mine was under duress, as they were blatantly told by Chidakwa that if they failed to sign it, they stood to lose out. News / National by Staff reporter PEOPLE'S Rainbow Coalition (PRC) presidential candidate and former Vice-President, Joice Mujuru, has dared President Emmerson Mnangagwa, to come clean on a number of electoral-related concerns, amid allegations that government has deployed over 3 000 soldiers in civilian clothes to campaign for the ruling Zanu-PF in rural and urban areas ahead of this year's general elections.In a letter dated February 23 and addressed to Mnangagwa, Mujuru's lawyers, Hamunakwadi and Nyandoro, said her coalition partners feared that the deployment of soldiers by Zanu-PF compromised the integrity of the upcoming polls."Zanu-PF political commissariat and government have deployed an estimated 3 000 military officials in civilian clothes into both urban and rural communities to campaign for Zanu-PF ahead of the election," Mujuru said."These and other security personnel deployed in various institutions including the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec) should be weeded out urgently."The PRC, which comprises Democratic Assembly for Restoration and Empowerment (Dare), Mujuru's National People's Party (NPP), and Zimbabweans United for Democracy (Zunde), is one the three opposition alliances contesting this year's elections against Zanu-PF.The other coalition - MDC Alliance, led by Nelson Chamisa - is made up of MDC-T, MDC, Multi-racial Christian Democrats, ZimPF, Zanu Ndonga, People's Democratic Party (PDP), and Transform Zimbabwe.Renewal Democrats of Zimbabwe leader Elton Mangoma also leads another opposition coalition, Code, but comprising fringe political parties.In her correspondence, Mujuru also challenged Mnangagwa to stop paying lip service to electoral reforms.She argued that despite making several public pronouncements to reform the electoral roadmap, Mnangagwa had done nothing tangible to level the political playing field with less than six months before the polls."Our client is worried that despite your office's pronouncements to that effect, there are no indications that since you assumed power, sufficient steps and programmes of engagement with all the necessary stakeholders has been done in order to ensure the promotion of a conducive environment for free, fair and credible elections," the lawyers wrote.Mujuru claimed that the State media remained captured by the ruling party to the detriment of the opposition.She warned that failure to free media space, confine soldiers to the barracks and reform legislation to ensure compliance with the Constitution would result in disputed election results."Without the necessary and much-needed electoral reforms by Zimbabweans, hope for a free, fair and credible election is diminished on a daily basis," she said."We call on the demilitarisation of the electoral process. All members of the security forces, in adherence to the Constitution, must first and foremost protect the Zimbabwean citizens despite their political affiliation."Contacted for comment yesterday, government and Zanu-PF spokesperson Simon Khaya Moyo dismissed Mujuru's claims as "hogwash"."That is nonsense, absolute hogwash. Why would we do that? We are the people's party, we have support and strong structures that can campaign for us. The army has no business in elections. If she has deployed her army, then she can talk about that army because we have no knowledge about what she is talking about," he said.Moyo said the party's political commissar, Retired Major-General Engelbert Rugeje, had no powers to commandeer soldiers to campaign for Zanu-PF."Rugeje is not part of the army. He retired and is, therefore, no longer part of the command element. He has no powers to deploy or command any section of the army," he said. News / National by Simbarashe Sithole Norton house of Assembly member Temba Mliswa has said former President Robert Gabriel Mugabe (RGM) was removed from power for failure to take advice on his corrupt Ministers.Mliswa said Mugabe was the last person to give Zimbabweans advice when he could not listen to advice."RGM's the last person to give Zimbabweans advice when he himself couldn't listen to advice he was given.He was told Chombo was corrupt, he did nothing, he was told Mpofu & many others were corrupt, he did nothing until he was finally shown the exit door as a result of not acting," said Mliswa via micro blogging Twitter.According to Mliswa, the nonagenarian President should allow the law to prevail after he failed to listen to advice on his wife who grabbed many farms, which she should surrender and apologise for her many wrongdoings."RGM did not listen when people advised him against what his wife was doing and he should now just allow the laws of the land dictate goings on."If anything he should be surrendering the many farms she took and ask her to apologise for her many misdemeanours," tweeted Mliswa. News / National by Staff reporter More than five National University of Science and Technology (NUST) students were on Monday injured after clashing with anti-riot police during a demo.The demonstration, which started in the morning, was targeting the university's administration that is being accused of failing to pay its lectures who have been on strike for close to four weeks.In a statement, Students Representative Council (SRC) Minister of Student Affairs Lesley Maniwa said they had no other option but to engage in mass demonstration."Dialogue between the SRC, administration and NUSTEDA has failed to bring back normalcy to our institution and it's now almost four weeks without lectures."To that end the only apt solution at our disposal is to confront the administration."Allow me to state with precision, certainty and without any intention of throwing you into jeopardy that the only medicine to cure this perennial administration neurosis is unity of purpose and direction amongst the NUST students," he said.All NUST gates were closed by 4am on Monday and no one was allowed to get into the campus. The Gwanda road was also closed.However, the demonstration took a twist when riot police came leading to more than five students getting injured.An anonymous student said they had to hide when police entered their premises."We had to hide in the shower undressed when we heard the police coming."They destroyed most of our things including our kitchen cardboards."This should stop; I think it's high time for the administration to take action. We are tired of mismanagement," she said. News / National by Staff reporter Good to welcome Patrick Chinamasa, Zimbabwe's Special Envoy to the UK, to @ForeignOffice today. Great hope and optimism for Zimbabwe's future, we discussed need for free & fair elections this year & opportunities ahead of us pic.twitter.com/0i7HzbnifU Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) February 26, 2018 President @edmnangagwa sent Cde Chinamasa to Britain as a Special Envoy. This is part of ED's efforts to normalise relations with the UK & take Zim back into the Commonwealth. Don't worry folks, Zim is in good hands. Forget the 40 yr old unstable Dictator Wamba dia Wamba. pic.twitter.com/kMM8pMv1cP Kudzai Mutisi (@KMutisi) February 26, 2018 Presenting at the Business Council for Africa yesterday. Really good discussion on prospects for Zimbabwe under the "new dispensation" pic.twitter.com/AB1TlBEKtS Catriona Laing (@CatrionaLaing1) February 27, 2018 Good to welcome Patrick Chinamasa, Zimbabwe's Special Envoy to the UK, to @ForeignOffice today. Great hope and optimism for Zimbabwe's future, we discussed need for free & fair elections this year & opportunities ahead of usPresident @edmnangagwa sent Cde Chinamasa to Britain as a Special Envoy. This is part of ED's efforts to normalise relations with the UK & take Zim back into the Commonwealth. News / National by Staff reporter President Emmerson Mnangagwa has landed at NDjili International Airport in the Democratic Republic of Congo this Tuesday afternoon.The President, accompanied by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Retired Lieutenant General Dr Sibusiso Moyo, Environment, Water and Climate Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo, Energy and Power Development and Acting Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Simon Khaya Moyo and Permanent Secretaries George Charamba and Martin Rushwaya, touched down to a warm welcome by the President of the National Assembly of the DRC Obey Minaku, Advisor to the President Mr Kikaya Bin Karubi, Zimbabwe's ambassador to the DRC Mr Raphael Faranisi and embassy staff as well as diplomats accredited to the vast central African country.Mnangagwa was also given a taste of pure Congolese African welcome by a group of traditional dancers at the airport as part of the welcoming ceremony.From there he was whisked away to his hotel in central Kinshasa.Congolese nationals holding flags lined up the road leading to the hotel. News / National by Staff reporter Independence in Zimbabwe was not a time for jubilation for most ex-combatants as some found homes they had left intact destroyed and families killed, leaving them with nowhere to go.For the majority of Zipra cadres, independence in 1980 was not good news as their political wing Zapu had lost the first elections to Zanu-PF.Scores of Zipra combatants were butchered or incarcerated for no apparent reason between 1981 to 1984 and some disappeared never to be seen again.One former notorious dissident Tennyson Ndlovu, who was widely known as Thambolenyoka, told Southern Eye from his base in Fiabusi, Insiza district, that 1980 evokes pain and misery Zipra combatants suffered for liberating this country.Ndlovu, whose guerrilla name was Hezel Magendlela, said when he returned to Zimbabwe after independence, he found nobody at his former home, but only the smell of gun powder as his family had been killed during the war."I had to start afresh begging from here and there. Those that were alive expected something from me, but life was just difficult for me and everybody at that time," Ndlovu said.He said becoming a bandit or an insurgent was not by choice, but was caused by the prevailing political situation at that time as Zanu and Zapu were at each other's throats.Ndlovu said after independence in 1980, he entered the country through Livingstone, Zambia, and became commander of a battalion after their leader was killed by the Rhodesia Special Branch at the border town.He assumed command and led his men and women to the Gwayi River Mine in Matabeleland North.While in Gwayi, the battalion was put on identification parade where some combatants were picked up by the special branch and were never seen again.He said the remaining members of his battalion were sent to Llewellyn Barracks (present day Imbizo) in Bulawayo where others were integrated and some were sent to a camp called Juliet in Gwanda.Some were absorbed into the Zimbabwe National Army and the rest were sent back to Gwayi."I got to Zimbabwe via Livingstone and my battalion commander was killed along the way and l took over the command. We proceeded to Gwayi River Mine where some of my members disappeared after an identification parade by the special branch," Ndlovu said."I left for Bulawayo where l thought we were going to be integrated, but was later sent to Gwanda and back to Gwayi. I was demobilised in 1982."Ndlovu said he found a job at National Foods where he worked until 1985 at the height of the Gukurahundi genocide.One day going home after work, Ndlovu said he saw a long queue of people forced to line up by soldiers who were identifying Zipra and Zapu cadres.Sensing danger, Ndlovu said he and a colleague he only identified as Sibindi went to the late Vice-President Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo's Pelandaba house to enquire about what was going on."The queues stretched from Lobengula West to the city centre and soldiers were trying to identify former Zipra and Zapu cadres. I and a colleague went to Nkomo's house in Pelandaba to ask the way forward after realising the harassment and we were advised that if we had ulomklampunzi, usebenzise (a knobkerrie, use it)."l went to Thenjiwe Lesabe in Gumtree where l was directed to go and join some revolutionaries at Silobini in Esigodini," Ndlovu said.He operated with 30 other ex-combatants in Matabeleland South."This time l was not reporting to anyone anymore, but to my conscience as l did not want to tarnish the name of Zapu and in the group l was the commissar where information was always at my fingertips," he said."We fought to bring the two parties to talk and we achieved that. The type of operation was different because Zapu was responsible for organising civilians for us to get what we needed as guerrillas, but as revolutionaries we had to use money and calves stolen from the whites to get what we wanted."I remember one day I got to tall grass and when I was clearing the way using my hands in the Halisupi area of Gwanda, l touched an elephant which trumpeted, but it did not attack me."During that time, we were everywhere; you could hear of my presence in Plumtree and in Filabusi within a day.During the operations we had to apply commando tactics whereby we operated in threes or at times individually depending on the situation on the ground. We constantly monitored the goings-on through newspapers, radio and through people."We also monitored parliamentary sessions up to the time of the signing of Unity Accord and the declaration of our amnesty," Ndlovu said.He said a total of 116 dissidents laid down their weapons in 1988 after the announcement of an amnesty and of the 30 that operated in Matabeleland South, 24 returned while the others died in action.After the amnesty, Ndlovu integrated well into the society and held several posts in the war veterans' association and in Zanu-PF.Presently, Ndlovu is a farmer and a Zanu-PF councillor for Ward 14 in Insiza serving a second term.Ward 14 covers Fort Rixon and Makhandeni.He is married with 12 children and 20 grandchildren. News / Press Release by PDP The regime has gone to town celebrating their first 100 days, a period of mediocrity and a total failure to break from the past.In ZANUPF the more things change the more they remain the same, ZANUPF has a DNA of violence.In a space of five days the police have killed three people, brutalised students and set dogs on them of course under the instruction of the ZANUPF administration.Amid pomp and fanfare Mnangagwa was sworn in a hundred days ago, sold false hope, promised reforms including the return of civil liberties and political freedoms.100 days later nothing has changed repressive laws are still in place including POSA and AIPPA laws which are totalitarian, draconian and fascist.The default mode of brute force and coercion continues to flourish the so-called new administration has failed to break from the past.Not surprising, the head of the snake was mentored by the king of autocracy Robert Mugabe, he idolised him and agreed with him 99% percent of the time, Zimbabweans must not take a 1% chance on change.Most in the new administration are struggling to distance themselves from Gukurahundi during the day, a dark part of our history, yet at night they order the police to kill our people in cold blood and set dogs on poor students.Young innocent people demonstrating in expression of genuine concerns. You cannot criminalise complains when there has not been lectures going on for weeks due to a Lecturers strike.A proper government fixes the strike not beat up people and even setting dogs indiscriminately on students.What also concerns us is the disrespect of constitutional rights, in this case the right to demonstrate and petition provided in section 59 of the constitution.We urge Zimbabweans to unite against this dictatorship, our plight is not over yet we need to finish off the business of 18 November 2017.The next election gives us the chance to uproot oppression and set Zimbabwe on a new trajectory.To create an atmosphere of a mutual respect, a contract between the people and those in power and with power itself.The recreation of a social contract, a free society free of draconian laws and the use of force by those who control guns and police dogs.Together Another Zimbabwe is PossiblePDP Spokesperson, MDC Alliance Information Committee Opinion / Columnist Killing of innocent Matabeleland people Chaotic and Barbaric Land Reform Destroying the Jewel of Africa Operation Murambatsvina Denying the late Morgan Tsvangirai the keys to the state house Knowledge Hakata is a cutting edge political analyst and the co-founder of Demos Cratos a political think tank organisation. He can be contacted on knowledgehakata@yahoo.com I call upon the African Union, European Union whichever intergovernmental body to stop tolerating this 94 year old man who is crying every day that her wife is being tormented for attaining a fake PhD at one of Zimbabweans prestigious universities. It is with an agony heart that I have chosen to remind the world what this old man, once a strongman of African politics who ruled Zimbabwe with an iron fist did to his country man. For starters this is the man whom his wife once said Mugabe would rule in a wheelchair and even in grave, he misinterpreted his popularity within the army bosses to the one he had towards the masses of Zimbabweans, In general the 'povo' did not like you Mr. Mugabe you caused untold suffering to the masses, the health system in Zimbabwe is so bad to the extent that all your grandchildren were born overseas not even mentioning you Mr. 'globetrotter' who spent millions of dollars seeking medical attention in Singapore while failing to revive the health system at government hospitals such as Mpilo Hospital.This man inherited a sound economy but latter destroyed it because of being power hungry, however this man thought that the masses loved him not knowing that it was only those whom he shared the 15 billion with loved and cherished his dictatorship as for the public it was through instilling fear into them by ruling with an iron fist in which he was known for eliminating his political opponents to the extent of abducting an innocent Itai Dzamara, who was renting a two roomed apartment in Glen View. Instead of this old man lamenting for 'Gucci' Grace's fake degree, he better thank President Mnangagwa for affording him immunity from prosecution. This is the same man you fired from government and had to walk some kilometers into Mozambique fearing for his life but today you are now criticizing him for trying to bring justice towards a bogus degree which was afforded to your wife without following proper procedures, When your wife was persecuting former cdes where were you Mr. globetrotter. Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. The fallen dictator was so power hungry to the extent of telling former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, I quote 'so Blair keep your England and let me keep my Zimbabwe'. Robert Mugabe took Zimbabwe as his first born and he actually wanted to be a life president just like other toppled African Dictators. It is the greediness he developed towards state power that the man ended up being corrupted by power and absolute power being a pivotal tool towards his demise.Robert Mugabe should thank his gods for evading the courts of justice through the help of the junta who afforded him immunity, this old fellow should rather keep quiet and spend his last days in peace, how on earth was he thinking when he ordered the 5th Brigade to massacre the defenseless Ndebele people, It is believed that more than 20 000 people lost their lives, all in pursuit of power from this political demagogy. The famous Gukurahundi has been one of the causes of tribal differences in Zimbabwe's social and political spheres as up to now its god father has remained mum on this burning issue, but has rather choose to complain of a bogus degree which was afforded to his wife. I call on those aspiring to form the new government especially those in opposition circles that they should bring these culprits who include Robert Mugabe to justice, because the Ndebele people all they want is not an apology but justice and closure of the matterMy question to Robert Mugabe is why is it your predecessor is willing to compensate the white farmers who lost their farms during your barbaric land reform programme? It is through this so called land reform programme (ivhu kuvanhu) that ignited the suffering of the majority of the Zimbabweans at the expense of those Zanu Pf folks who were close to you. Without doubt giving back the land to the black majority was a noble cause but the way in which it was conducted it went to ignite some sanctions which latter paralyzed our economy and up to the time of your ouster from power cde 'globetrotter', you had failed to resuscitate the economy that you inherited while it was flourishing. Instead of this old fellow complaining about being removed unconstitutional he should zip his mouth because he was the 'god father' of overriding the same constitution at his and folks benefit.Robert Mugabe inherited a working and sound economy when he came to power, in which the health system, social services, industries, the currency, education, state owed enterprises where all functioning at their best, however the old man cum dictator destroyed it all and many analysts have argued that the late Ian Smith was far much better than Mugabe. I quote, "You have the jewel of Africa in your hands," said President Samora Machel of Mozambique and President Julius Nyerere of Tanzania to Robert Mugabe, at the moment of independence, in 1980. "Now look after it." Thirty seven years later, the "jewel" is ruined, dishonoured, disgraced. Zimbabweans are now all over the continent especially in South Africa where even the degreed are working in the kitchens not because they want but because of the economic hardship back home that were caused by the deposed political demagogueThousands of families were displaced at the hands of this murderous old man of African politics who is now complaining that the current government is not taking good care of him and his family, During the start of the month of May 2005 many families especially in urban areas were left homelessness as a tool of removing dirty in the major towns and up to now some of the victims of this so called clean-up campaign are still to come to terms with how their own government labelled them filthy rubbish occupying the urban towns. According to the United Nations report more than 100 000 people were displaced as the Mugabe government was doing its operation restore sanity in the major towns. However it is in the best interest of Robert Mugabe to stop this nonsense of complaining that the Mnangagwa government is ill treating him, rather he should take a look back on how he ill-treated his own people when he was still in power.Without doubt Mugabe lost the 2008 presidential elections to the late Morgan Tsvangirai and during their compromised marriage in the G.N.U the late Tsvangirai proved to every Zimbabwean that a sound economy was possible to attain as many industries were resuscitated and both the educational and healthy systems were thriving once more. Robert Mugabe hindered democracy and development in Zimbabwe through manipulation of elections results which kept him in power for so long until when he was kicked out in November last year. I suppose if Morgan Tsvangirai had been given the keys to the state house the economy will be functioning at its best and Zimbabwe will be on its course towards sustainable development.It's time for you old man to chew your sour grapes.Rest in peace Morgan Tsvangirai Opinion / Columnist All those who doubted whether the Zimbabwe Defence Forces did the right thing, Robert Mugabe's rambling on Saturday is your answer. Countries are ruled via constitutions, but what if the ruler is breaking every aspect of that country's constitution, do they have a right to claim that they were removed unconstitutionally?!We have citizens who love hearing the sound of their own voices without stopping to think what their messages actually mean. Some are even saying that Robert Mugabe is right without looking at the opposite of what he is saying.Robert Mugabe is essentially saying that he should have been in power and should have been allowed to pass on the reigns of power to his scurrilous wife, Grace and her G40 cabal led by Jonathan Moyo.Robert Mugabe never allowed any criticism of his rule at all, constructive or otherwise.Many people big and small died for doing so at Mugabe's instruction. In my view he has NO right to talk about being removed unconstitutionally when he ruled us unconstitutionally, rigging elections, beating up citizens, killing opponents, stealing money from the state coffers, presiding over clan based corruption, destroying state institutions the list goes on.I know that part of that Mugabe repressive machinery is still in place and is part of the governing class today, this we must accept as part of the process needed for rebuild our country. The same happened in Nigeria when Sani Abachi died, his henchmen took over and brought the country back to normalcy.This was not a people's revolution but a removal of a dictator by his colleagues who feared for their own lives. So anybody who advances the argument that Mugabe was removed unconstitutionally and that the current government is illegal is failing to understand the relatedness of things.Mugabe could never have been removed by anything else other than force.We will have our chance at the ballot box to put in place a government of our choice. So it is a waste of time singing after Mugabe about how the current administration is illegal.We can't compare what we have today and Robert Mugabe's rule. The freedoms that many enjoy today to insult the government didn't exist under Mugabe. He was a ruthless man.Mugabe insulted soldiers as uneducated' and yet the same uneducated men and women are protecting him from harm to this very day. They are the same uneducated' folk that he used to rig elections, kill opponents and oppress the country wholesale.You can just see how he thinks of nobody else as important and worthwhile except himself. He is a thoroughly selfish man who is there to use and abuse and then ridicule. This is the true portrait of Robert Mugabe the narcissist!He complains without irony that the army chose to take a side in party issues and he forgets that he was the one who brought the security services into party politics using them to campaign for him, intimidate the opposition electorate for him and in 2008 kill for him.It was ok when it was being done for him but suddenly became unconstitutional when someone else gets a little help from the same army. What a hypocritical little man Mugabe is.Mugabe promised not to hold back in his meeting with Mnangagwa this week, adding that he will tell ED that what he did is not good for democracy.I hope and wish that the people that will meet Mugabe with ED will tell him that democracy and constitutionalism that Mugabe has recently discovered requires him to be behind bars for the lives lost through state sponsored violence that he signed off, the lives lost in hospitals from easily treatable diseases like cholera, the looting of the state that he allowed through political patronage, the list is endless!He accuses Vice President Constantino Chiwenga of taking sides with Mnangagwa, he forgets that the same Chiwenga took sides with him in 2008 and Mugabe saw nothing wrong with it! The same security services took political sides with him from 1980 through Gukurahundi, 2000 Farm violence, Murambatsvina and 2008, and yet Mugabe saw nothing wrong with it then.The very private media that he terrorized with his side kick Jonathan Moyo is the one giving him space, all that of course is lost on Mugabe.He talks of his rights. Today he has access to a Boeing 767 jet to fly him four time a year to Singapore for his health check ups and yet he forgets that he denied basic health access to millions of Zimbabweans through corruption and looting of tax dollars by his wife, his henchmen and of course himself.His wife bought diamond rings worth $1,5million each whilst mothers were dying giving birth because they couldn't afford access to public health, the very soldiers he mocks today were school drop outs because they had no money to pursue their education and yet he drove around in a $1Million Mercedes Pullman.What a hypocrite, what a revolutionary fraudster, what a liberation imposter, what a crooked old man.I have heard people talk about Mugabe's legacy, in my book Mugabe did not fight for the independence alone. As Ian Smith once said mocking him, he couldn't even fire a gun to save his own life.He was a political opportunist who took advantage of the goodwill abound everywhere he went and screwed up a relatively wealthy African country and had to be removed by force after 37 years when he tried to impose his own wife.That is Mugabe's legacy and history will remember him for the millions who died unnecessarily. Those who want to rewrite history can go ahead and do so but the beauty of history is that Mugabe's lies will one day disappear and the truth will emerge!As Mugabe says in this video, he intended to firmly rule Zimbabwe. That he did with wholesale cruelty and reckless viciousness! Thank God someone stopped him when they did, Mugabe's intended outcome would have created another 37 years of pain and suffering for future generations.A man who was given a $10million hand shake, house allowance, a trailer load of aides, water tight security, access to the Air Zimbabwe Boeing 767, cars and immunity from prosecution, his million dollar hospital bills paid by the struggling Zimbabwean tax payer, and he still thinks that he is being mistreated?Robert Mugabe has even been allowed to keep his stolen wealth and yet he talks about wanting more.Hopewell Chin'ono is an award winning journalist and documentary filmmaker. He is a CNN African journalist of the year and a Harvard University Nieman Fellow. His next film, State of Mind looking at mental illness in Zimbabwe is coming out in March.He can be contacted on hopewell2@post.harvard.edu Opinion / Columnist Writing in his own personal Capacity Fanuel Kaseke is the, Vanguard Movement UZ Secretary General| Spokesperson|Political Analyst|Human Rights Activist|Author|Poet|Orator|Motivational Speaker. He can be contacted for feedback on fanuel.kaseke4@gmail.com whatsapp +263774 815 970, or twitter @fanuelkaseke for more articles visit my blog fanuelkaseke.blogspot.com or my facebook page https://www.facebook.com/fanuelkaseke_* The leader of Zimbabwes oldest opposition political party MDC Morgan Tsvangirai passed away on the 14th of February 2018. His death revealed the deviltry by the men who fought beside him as power proved to be of essence than respect for the peoples president as he has been labelled. Whilst the MDCT claims to find itself in a constitutional dilemma, l find the situation in the MDC very clear and simple. l have seen a number of articles of late trying to justify the sheer student politics antics that transpired at Harvest House (MDCs Headquarters) on the 15th of February 2018 as constitutional that is in terms of the MDCs constitution. But the weakness of them all has been lack of full appreciation of the whole MDC constitution, the authors selectively looked for clauses that suited their line of arguments. In this article l will give a full appreciation of the MDCs constitution to see if Chamisa staged a coup and will his presidents legally holds water now that Morgan Tsvangirai has been buried since his rivals promised to return the house in order after burial. With Mudzuri who seem to have considered whilst Khupe has declared herself the legitimate acting president. The truth is there is nothing constitutional about Chamisas hungry grabbing of power, this is one of those common scenarios were law plays second fiddle to politics. Its called tyranny of the majority by Alexis De Tocqueville were the majority prejudice the minority not because the majority is right but just because they are many.In my article entitled opposition politics nursing a dead baby, l alluded to the need for the opposition political parties to hand over the stick also to the young generation. However it must be noted that within the MDC there is dire need to do this generational transition in the right way as we are close to elections failure to do that the party will crumble and break again. It is no secret that the MDC has had a traceable culture of functional breakouts towards elections coupled with violence. The weakness being they believe that the ruling party is always the architecture of the breakouts most probably true but they fail to identify the agents of ZANU PF who fuel this factions. The same history seems to be at play right now. Nelson Chamisa seems to be very confident that the MDC constitution accommodates three vice presidents but the last constitutional amendment of the very party's constitution was done at the Third Congress at Barbourfields Stadium, Bulawayo on April 30 2011. If he Chamisa has any new amendment he should make it public and well explain how that came to play. The three vice presidents by Tsvangirai was supposed to be approved by congress 2019.1. According to article _9.1.4 The President shall, with the exception of the Deputy President and Deputy Chairperson, appoint deputies to officers of Congress from a pool of National Executive members elected from provinces and other office bears where such is provided in this Constitution._ This clearly puts it to light that Tsvangirai had no constitutional power to appoint Mudzuri and Chamisa as VPs. So before l go any further the two Mudzuri and Chamisa are VP who serve at the pleasure of the president who is now late and are not VPs of the party. Which means MDC has one Vice president Thokozani Khupe elected by congress in 2014. On a telephone interview on Studio 7 on the 20th Of February Nelson Chamisa said that there is nowhere in the MDC constitution where it talks of an elected VP he was right there but he must note that the very constitution is clear that no VP should be appointed which makes his appointment by Tsvangirai invalid and unconstitutional.2. Chamisa claims that the partys constitution accommodates 3 VPs and l have read one article which cited article 6.4.4.1 as reference to that effect, point of correction the citation actually reads There shall be a National Executive Committee of the National Council.... This clause has nothing to do with three VPs and there is not even anywhere in the MDC constitution where it is written. Article 6.4.4.3 reads that *_The National Executive Committee shall be composed of the following office bearers and Secretaries;(a) President and Deputy President_ it acknowledges the president and deputy president not deputy presidents which means the use of singular refers to one vice president not three. The highest and most powerful organ of the MDC is the congress not Morgan Tsvangirai or Nelson Chamisa or the National Council. According to article 6.2.3 the functions and Powers of Congress shall be:*(c) Subject to this Constitution, to elect members of the National Council.and(e) To repeal or amend the Constitution; and(f) To review, ratify, modify, alter or rescind any decision taken by any organ or official of the Party.The following are the conclusions from these citationsi) The National Council is given life by the Congressii) Only the congress can repeal and amend the constitution.iii) Only the congress had power to make lawful the three VP by MT without which they remain unconstitutional and the two appointed VPs die with MT.This follows that after the death of MT the party supposed to simply invoke article 9.20.1 which reads that In the event of the death or resignation of the President, the Deputy President assumes the role of Acting President, pending the holding of an Extra-Ordinary Congress that shall be held to elect a new President which Extra-Ordinary Congress to be held no later than a year from the death or resignation of the former President. The clauses above illuminates that; In the event of the death of the President the vice president becomes the acting president not that the VP is appointed by the National council. According to article 9.21.3 the national council can only elect a member of the national council in the event of death or resignation not anyone of the National executive which renders article 16 as invalid which many have been using as a justification to the move by the national council to select Nelson Chamisa.3. Unfortunately here is the discrepancy within the MDC constitution article 18.1 reads in any place where the requirements of this Constitution cannot be satisfied because of an omission or oversight in draughtsmanship, or because a body provided for has not been established, or an officer provided for in this Constitution has not been elected or appointed, or because of a procedural problem; the National Council shall have the power to make such arrangements which, in their opinion satisfy the spirit of this Constitution and shall seek approval for such arrangements at next Congress. The NC has subsidiary power to make legally standing decisions up until the next congress. It is this clause that many including Chamisa are hiding behind. But what is key is that the decision should satisfy the spirit of the MDC constitution which is defined in the ARTICLE 3 on AIMS, VALUES AND OBJECTIVES and ARTICLE 4 which is on THE CHARACTER AND CULTURE OF THE MDC. If you will go through these values you will realize that the NC did not uphold its duty as prescribed in the constitution but they uphold politics rather than the law. Chamisas self-anointment had no respect for MT or the constitution. He claims he did that soon after the death of MT because there was leadership vacuum another lie because soon after appointing him the same NC went on to suspend all party business then what was the rush to have any acting president. Chamisa knew he was at the verge of losing power whilst others where mourning he was busy thinking about power. Luke Tamborinyoka and Welshman Ncube might what to make us believe that MT anointed Chamisa but the truth is MDC successor was not supposed to be anointed but selected by the constitution as well as the congress. Even if angel Gabriel was to anoint Chamisa it will not make Chamisa's ascendants legal according to the MDC constitution lest you amend it the constitutional way. So all those endorsements are a waste of time when it comes to legality. If MT was the father of democracy as you claimed then he understands that constitutionalism is a key tenant of democracy and he doesn't have supreme power so let the dead lie than to taint them black.In conclusion it is sad that the MDC we know has slowly died and according to article 3.3 (h.) which talks of eradication of gender and tribal discrimination believe it or not dirty politics is at play right now. Chamisa and his fanatics will have you believe otherwise but Khupe lost to politics not law. The funny thing is if it was the ruling party which had made such a decision the MDC would have labeled them devils yet they cant accept the same fate. Both Chamisa and Mnangagwa are younger to their predecessor and they both took power unconstitutionally this coming election is a battle of rebels. Both will employ their culprit skills but always the older in deviltry will win. Zimbabweans should shun expecting a free and fair election from rebels. Our once biggest opposition force is now another opposition party violence and disregard for constitutionalism a perfect march to ZANU PF. Khupe has a legal moral obligation to fight for what is right whilst Mudzuri and Mwonzora seems to have considered to politics. It might be a lost battle but when things go sour always know Khupe holds the right to say l told you so, so fight for democracy in its full appreciation. Chamisa loud social media youthful fanatics does not constitute the greatest population of voters. The highest number of voters are not in Harare something they might forget. If they are to bow graceful they need to start to make and arrangement. As we watch the drama unfold the greatest fear should that key partners in the MDC alliance will not try to capture the MDC through the Alliance. Opinion / Columnist The arrival of the Zimbabwean Finance Minister, Patrick Chinamasa, in London signals a new chapter for Zimbabwe's relations with its former colonial master.Britain's Foreign Minister, the sometimes clownish but intelligent Boris Johnson was happy to meet with Chinamasa, a point of departure from previous visits where NO British politician wanted to be seen in the company of a ZANU PF Government minister.This relationship building exercise has been in the making for years under the stewardship of the current British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Catriona Laing. She put her head on the block and openly supported Emmerson Mnangagwa when it was unfashionable to do so.Public intellectuals like Miles Tendi and Ibbo Mandaza ridiculed her for offering such support.Tendai Biti continuously embarrassed her at every corner and opportunity giving her a derogatory nickname, Kapfupi, The Short One. Other western ambassadors spoke in hushed tones about their disquiet around her overt support for the Lacoste faction.The military intervention made her the rock star of the diplomatic community. She had backed the right horse after all and Britain has since had 3 Government ministers dispatched to Harare.A feat no other government has achieved since November, not even African countries that are struggling to get appointments for their ministers and ambassadors approved by the Zimbabwean Foreign Service.Chinamasa's visit has further cemented that bond between the two countries, a bond of convenience of course. Britain needs a successful Zimbabwe but it doesn't have the resources to single handedly bank roll Zimbabwe's economic recovery. All it has for now are the endorsement credentials.Britain has a Brexit headache to deal with and Zimbabwe has to move fast whilst Britain can still get European Union consensus on issues like Zimbabwe before the United Kingdom exits the EU.Almost all western ambassadors that I have spoken to have told me that they would follow Britain's call on Zimbabwe, because they see Zimbabwe, as they called it, "as Britain's baby."Catriona Laing has been called names for supporting Lacoste and subsequently the Emmerson Mnangagwa administration. However, there is another truth that has not been told in order to understand what was happening in ambassadorial compounds. Britain realized that the sanctions were not working before Catriona was even appointed ambassador to Zimbabwe.With the permission of the previous British ambassador, Debora Bronnert, I will share some insights.I was one of the guests at a dinner hosted by Bronnert to welcome her British counterpart to South Africa, Judith Macgregor. Judith had recently been appointed Britain's Lady in Pretoria, so she was in Harare to familiarize herself with the region.We were joined at the dinner table by the World Bank Country Director, Mungai Lenneiye, the French ambassador, Laurent Delahousse and his Germany counterpart, Hans Gunter Gnodkte. We were later joined by the Malawian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Jane Kambalame.Malawi was key because its former President, Joyce Banda, was the SADC Chairperson at the time.We sat outside the British ambassador's residence in Greendale, as we ploughed through our mouthwatering dinner, it became clear that the Germans and French had grown weary of the EU sanctions against Zimbabwe.Mungai Lenneiye explained to the British ambassadors how the sanctions regime was a useless political gimmick which was counterproductive. Diplomats are always diplomatic, as a journalist I go straight to the point, I broke the ice by telling them how sanctions were an important tool in Robert Mugabe's electoral toolbox.I explained how Mugabe would find it hard to justify his incompetence without using the EU and US sanctions as an excuse. Before I had finished, the German and French ambassadors looked at each other as if to say, "we have been telling the Brits this same message."Unlike most actors that meet ambassadors, I am always asked to meet them for expert advice which hinges on my work in the media.All ambassadors do this, my first such meeting was with the then Zimbabwean ambassador to the UK in 2000, Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, in the Strand where he wanted to understand the impact of the the land seizures within the British media.I was not surprised when Emmerson Mnangagwa reappointed him a cabinet minister. I remembered that after our lunch at a Chinese restaurant, we stood outside the Zimbabwean embassy opposite the Charing Cross police station.I asked him about Mugabe's departure, he didn't want to disclose much to a journalist. Typical of journalists, I asked him who was likely to take over. "Emmerson Mnangagwa," he said emphatically."Interview him when you go back home, he is smart, shrewd and prepared for the job," he said as a parting shot.I never repeated this story when he was now serving as Mugabe's foreign minister, he would have been fired for something so innocent. I however told him that business considerations are what should drive the political agenda. A message which never got anywhere until Mugabe's removal.It is important to always tell these diplomats what they have to hear, not what they want to hear.By the time we got to deserts and coffee at Deborah Bronnert's home in Greendale, it was quite evident to me that the British were frustrated with the lack of traction on the Zimbabwean question.The Malawian envoy was honest and blunt, sanctions don't work and SADC would never support them.I volunteered to be the dinner secretary, the next morning I sent out an email to all who had attended the dinner, the sum total of my email message was that sanctions needed to be removed.I explained why they weren't working and why they never worked.I had also suggested the previous night the importance of engaging with sane and logical voices in ZANUPF. This had been happening but the British ambassador was talking to dishonest people.Basically, the British were tired of this never ending crisis. They wanted a solution.The 2013 election results convinced them that the MDCT was no longer the solution. Nations act in the interests of their own people not in the interests of foreigners. This is one thing that our opposition hasn't understood and mastered.They made noise at Britain's change of strategy instead of engaging them. Nelson Chamisa made some snide remarks at Catriona Laing's relationship with the present government at Morgan Tsvangirai's burial. You engage and not ostracize and ridicule them.When Catriona Laing replaced the affable Deborah Bronnert, she took over something that was already in motion. Sanctions had been removed except for Mugabe and his wife. This was essentially a bilateral dispute between Mugabe and Britain and the rest of Europe had been dragged into it.However, the Mugabe government was not smart, they seized properties under bilateral business agreements belonging to farmers from other European countries. This galvanized the support that Britain needed against Robert Mugabe.Farms and conservancies belonging to German and Dutch nationals were seized in the sometimes corrupt frenzy to grab lucrative properties by the ZANU PF political elites. The opposition whilst in the GNU also started behaving like Robert Mugabe.Former Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara kicked out of his office the former German ambassador to Zimbabwe Hans Gunter Gnodkte, when the later came to remonstrate against the seizure of the Save Conservancy.He did this in front of the then EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Aldo Dell'Ariccia. A German national, Wilfried Pabst was a major investor in the conservancy which was protected by Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (BIPPAs).Mugabe was isolated and so was his government and invariably the citizens suffered immensely.Some of his partners had started behaving badly like him too. This was to have negative consequences for some in the opposition.This German problem has now come to haunt the current Zimbabwean president and his administration. German has refused to welcome Patrick Chinamasa in Bonn because of the seizure of farms owned by their citizens which were taken by the Mugabe regime.This they say they want finalized first before any meaningful engagements. Zimbabwe has the goodwill of Britain but Albion has no capacity to bankroll the Zimbabwean government on its own.German is the biggest economy in Europe followed by France and as such, our government will have to to be strategic in the decisions it takes if it wants real growth in the economy.One western diplomat said to me that all Zimbabwe has to do is give back those farms to the Germans and reallocate land to the Zimbabwean farmers affected, otherwise we will be entering into another unnecessary ideological and counter productive battle with a country which we need more than it needs us.The realities of modern politics require pragmatism as opposed to the Mugabe politics of yesterday which put rhetoric first whilst people suffered. There is more to be gained by being practical and looking ahead at one's long term interests, something Robert Mugabe never understood.National interests should be long term and practical and should be measured against the alternative, the opposite of doing the right thing for country in pursuit of misplaced glory and unhelpful rhetoric!The former president of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo did this with the Bakassi peninsula border dispute.Instead of using Nigeria'a military prowess to determine the future of the disputed oil rich peninsula, he handed it over to Cameron. Interests should not be narrow and shallow and decisions should be balanced against economic repercussions.Mugabe punched above his weight and with disastrous economic consequences to the country and citizens. The British changed their strategy after realising that their years of waltzing with the MDC had produced nothing tangible. Zimbabwe continued to be a painful and festering wound on Britain, its citizens sought political and economic refuge in Albion.Together with the rest of the western aid agencies, it also had the burden of feeding Zimbabweans starving back home through food aid. This had to end and it had to be done in a way that saves face for both countries. The only hindrance was Mugabe.Catriona Laing invited me to her office last year. I asked her how she coped with all the attacks from people like Tendai Biti and Ibbo Mandaza. The rest of the conversation was confidential but she did say that the days of the activist ambassador were over.She said it was a mistake to ostracize the government of the day and she said that the role of the ambassador is to engage the government of the day and all stakeholders. She said that previously, Western ambassadors from about 2000, had shelved that international relations doctrine.So as Catriona prepares for her next assignment in West Africa, it will only take an incompetent and ungrateful government to undo all the work she did to bring Zimbabwe out of the cold.As a western diplomat said to me recently, "she means well and she is doing everything possible for Zimbabwe to succeed. She believes it will (succeed) although her confidence is sometimes misplaced and betrayed by the Zimbabwean government's failure to simply follow common sense."Our government has been talking politics for too long. It now needs to talk business, commerce and trade. A recent visiting American delegation remarked on how the people they met were bogged down in too much politics instead of commerce and trade.The delegation also remarked that the opposition was no different, all they offered were empty democracy platitudes. These delegations are compromised of seasoned political actors, they can see through the rhetoric.It is only commerce and trade that will see the realization of a new and successful Zimbabwe. That is the only language our political actors should be talking for now. We have had 17 years of experience to know that ideological outburst are just that, outbursts.The president's clarion call is that Zimbabwe is open for business, how he will deal with the German issue will show whether Zimbabwe is indeed open for business. Most western diplomats are convinced that ZANU PF will win the upcoming general election. It is what it will do with that mandate that will determine whether we have indeed put the Mugabe years behind us.Open for business will be determined by a free media, respect for the rule of law, an independent judiciary, adherence to constitutionalism, prosecution of corrupt government officials and so on.Capital is afraid of flowing where all the above are missing.The president will have to overhaul his administrative bureaucracy if he wins the elections.He can't expect change with the same people who drowned us into being a pariah state.He will need to retire a lot of the dead wood in the civil service.Failure to do so will see Catriona Laing's dream of seeing Zimbabwe succeed remain a dream deferred. A pipe dream only to be thought of, but never achieved. Her sceptic counterparts will be sending her messages to Abuja saying that "we told you so!"Let us hope that there won't be any need for such messages.Hopewell Chin'ono is an award winning journalist and documentary filmmaker. He is a CNN African Journalist of the year and a Harvard University Nieman Fellow. His next film, State of Mind looking at mental illness in Zimbabwe is coming out in March. By Fiston Mahamba GOMA, Democratic Republic of Congo (Reuters) - Botswana blamed Congolese President Joseph Kabila on Monday for his country's humanitarian and security crisis, in the sharpest criticism yet from an African government of his refusal to step down. Western powers have repeatedly criticized Kabila whose mandate expired in December 2016, but African countries have trodden more gently, urging progress toward long-delayed elections but avoiding direct condemnations of Kabila. Congo emerged in 2003 from a five-year war that killed millions, most from hunger and disease, and the current political crisis has contributed to a surge of conflict that has forced millions to flee their homes. At least 22 people, including 15 civilians, were killed in the past two days in inter-ethnic clashes in eastern Congo's North Kivu province, a local official said. "We continue to witness a worsening humanitarian situation in that country mainly because its leader has persistently delayed the holding of elections, and has lost control over the security of his country," Botswana's Ministry of International Affairs said in a statement. Congo's foreign minister, Leonard She Okitundu, declined to comment. Botswana's statement comes after the resignation of Kabila's close ally Jacob Zuma as South African president added to uncertainty about his standing among key African states. Kabila is facing mounting pressure in the streets to organize prompt elections. Security forces killed at least two people at a church-led march on Sunday. More than a dozen protesters have been killed since December. Police said on Monday that an officer had been arrested for violating orders by firing a rubber bullet at a protester from too close a range - less than 20 meters (yards), killing him. However, a doctor at the hospital where the man, pro-democracy activist Rossy Mukendi, died on Sunday, told Reuters he had been hit in the heart by a bullet that had entered and exited his body. The statement by Botswana, one of Africa's most stable democracies, urged "the international community to put more pressure on the leadership in the Democratic Republic of Congo to relinquish power and pave way for the ushering in of a new political dispensation". Kabila denies he is trying to cling to power but has refused to publicly rule out trying to change the constitution to remove term limits that prevent him from running for re-election, as the presidents of neighboring Congo Republic and Rwanda have done. Congo's political turmoil has emboldened the dozens of militia groups that operate in its mineral-rich eastern borderlands. Fifteen civilians and seven militiamen were killed in two separate attacks on Sunday and Monday by the Hutu-dominated Nyatura militia, local administrator Hope Sabini told Reuters. The Nyatura fighters were going after a Nande-dominated militia called Mai Mai Mazembe in the villages of Kalusi and Bwalanda, Sabini said. (Reporting by Fiston Mahamba; Additional reporting by Patient Ligodi and Amedee Mwarabu; Writing by Sofia Christensen; Editing by Aaron Ross and Alison Williams) The debate around whether Calgary city councillors should be allowed to take parental leave left some on council shaking their heads Monday and others "appalled" by comments from a colleague. Council voted to have administration explore the idea and report back by the second quarter of the year, looking at things like how much leave councillors should be entitled to, how their duties would be fulfilled while they are away and how much they would be paid. Council voted 13-1 in favour of the move, with Coun. Jeromy Farkas the lone opposing voice (Coun. Evan Woolley removed himself from the discussion as he and his wife are expecting later this year). Farkas raised the eyebrows and the hackles of some of his council colleagues when he questioned the need for elected officials to take parental leave, calling it a "betrayal" of those who voted for them. "I really respect and admire the intent of this proposal, I see it as attempting to remove barriers, especially for those looking at a career in politics," he said. "I don't see this as an ordinary job. I think we're elected to serve for a fixed term Every day we make really important decisions, if I'm not here and part of those decisions, I find that to be a betrayal of those who elected me." That left some on council flabbergasted, including Coun. Jyoti Gondek, who noted that before being elected to office, she delivered a report to a client, three weeks after delivering a child. "It didn't rob me of my decision-making ability, it didn't rob me of my mental capacity. In fact, it was a welcome diversion at times," she said. "Granted, I was sleep deprived, but I still enjoyed my work. Putting it in the context of this role ... if this conversation was around somebody with a disability or an injury that kept you out of council chambers, we would do everything we could to figure out a way that that person could join from home or their hospital bed or wherever it may be. We have the technology for god's sake, why don't we use it? Story continues "I am appalled someone would say you cannot represent your constituents because you have a child. Unbelievable to me." Edmonton city council voted unanimously last month to allow elected members to take up to 26 weeks of leave. Under that plan, councillors in the capital city receive full pay for the first 10 weeks of leave paid through the city budget then they can get a percentage of pay in the following 16 weeks, depending on what duties they are willing or able to perform. City councillors don't pay into the federal employment insurance program, and are therefore not eligible to collect EI. Written notice must also be given prior to the leave, along with a plan on how constituents will be represented in their absence. Asked about proxy voting one councillor voting on behalf of another City of Calgary solicitor Glenda Cole told council she's not aware of any language around that in the provincial Municipal Governance Act, which was a concern to some. "It's items we'd have to look at when it comes to actually putting it in place," said Coun. Shae Keating. "It may be down to one less vote would, in some cases, change a lot of the patterns in the future." - MORE CALGARY NEWS | These intersections are driving Calgarians crazy - MORE CALGARY NEWS | Expect new details on 2026 Olympic bid in next 2 weeks, Nenshi says One of Ottawa's busiest bar and restaurant strips will close to traffic next year while the street undergoes a major makeover. Alain Gonthier, the city's director of infrastructure services, told councillors in a memo that Elgin Street is in for two years of delays and closures, beginning next month. The first closures will start in March with Bell Canada doing upgrades to its facilities in the area, followed by the replacement of power poles by Hydro Ottawa. Both of those projects are set to occur during off-peak hours, and one lane will be maintained in each direction. "This work must be undertaken in advance of planned renewal of Elgin and is expected to be complete by fall 2018," Gonthier said. After that work is complete, Elgin will be closed entirely to traffic from Gloucester to Isabella streets beginning sometime in early 2019. Carina Salgado, night manager at the Lieutenant's Pump, said with the street closed it could be difficult for customers to get to the bar. "It is already a problem. Finding parking on Elgin Street is horrendous," she said She said she understands the work has to be done, and said the city has worked with business owners on the design. The city is offering up free parking in the garage underneath City Hall on evenings and weekends to offset the loss of street parking, but it's expected Elgin will remain closed throughout most of 2019. In addition to overhauling utilities and other major work, there are plans for more streetscaping, public art and new lighting. Students at Okanagan College unveiled an outdoor table that doubles as a charging station at Okanagan College's Kelowna campus this week. The table is the first creation by Project ReCharge an initiative aiming to integrate solar technology with everyday objects. The idea came when business students Nick Gallant and Cooper Simson joined with civil engineering student Josh Wiebe to find ways to charge their cellphones while enjoying the outdoors. "A few of us had wanted to do something with solar energy," said Gallant. "We were outside and wanted to charge our phones and work at the same time." They enlisted the help of three more engineering students on campus to design and perfect their idea. The group has been given the go-ahead to install similar tables at the college's Penticton, Vernon and Salmon Arm campuses. The team will be heading to Calgary on March 1 to compete with against twelve other regional finalists and could win a spot in the national Scotiabank EcoLiving Green Challenge, which asks student teams to showcase environmentally sustainable business ideas. They will also be competing for a $20,000 grant that will allow them to expand and get their product to market. "We're looking at restaurants and schools and bars and areas like that, that already have existing tables but they would like to allow customers to charge their phone at the same time," said Gallant. With files from Daybreak South and Dominika Lirette College Cost College Risk-Reward Index Flags High-Debt Schools College of the Ozarks is a small, Christian, liberal arts college that charges no tuition and has all students working on campus. While the average salary for graduates with between zero and five years of experience at this Missouri school is $38,300, the average debt is only $374. The college stands out among 994 private and public four-year U.S. institutions as having the highest college risk/reward indicator (CRRI) score: 102.41, calculated by dividing salary by debt. For the next highest scorer, Princeton University, the "early career pay" (ECP) is $69,800; and the "average debt per graduate" (ADPG) is $1,603. That calculates to a CRRI of 43.54, less than half of the value earned by the College of the Ozarks. At the other end of the rankings are three private institutions with CRRIs under 1.0: Philander Smith College in Arkansas, with an ECP of $34,700 and an ADPG of $36,633, giving it a CRRI of 0.95; Metropolitan College of New York, with an ECP of $41,400 and an ADPG of $46,889, resulting in a CRRI of 0.88; and Marylhurst University in Oregon, with an ECP of $44,700 and an ADPG of $51,833, calculating out to a CRRI of 0.86. This formula was developed by LendEDU, a marketplace for student loans and student loan refinancing. For the third year in a row, the startup has issued research findings on salaries and college debt. According to its findings, six in 10 graduates will "walk away from campus with diplomas in one hand and student loan debt in the other." The average debt for the class of 2016 was $27,975, the company noted. Private institutions gave average borrowers debts on average of $30,281, while for publics it was $26,828. The data used by LendEDU came from three sources: Peterson's CollegeData financial aid dataset, which was based on the class of 2016 and reported through a voluntary survey to the colleges and universities listed in the report; PayScale's College Salary Report for 2017-2018; and the company's own calculations. The study was limited to public schools, private nonprofits and private religious institutions. Among public institutions, which made up 38 percent of the collection of schools reported on, Troy University ranked at the top of the CRRI value list. While the ECP was $42,600, the ADPG was $2,464, resulting in a CRRI of 17.29. At the bottom of the list among the publics was Texas Southern University, with a CRRI of 1.13, based on an average salary of $44,400 and average debt of $22,930. However, students attending private institutions came out with a higher average debt $21,689, vs. $17,860 for those graduating from public colleges and universities. The CRRI findings are intended to help students identify those schools that are the best "risk-adjusted choices" for undergraduates. As the report's authors noted in an explanation of its research project, "The biggest key when it comes to being financially prosperous as a young college graduate is having a low student loan debt balance and a high early career pay. Contrarily, high levels of debt and low early career pay is a recipe for financial hardship." The findings, as well as versions of the data in downloadable formats, such as XLS, are available on the LendEDU website. A "student loan debt by school by state" report is also available. Research Survey: In an AI World, Retraining Will Come from Employers, Not Higher Ed When Americans think about the artificial intelligence "revolution," they expect it to have a positive impact on life and work, but a negative impact on the workforce and the economy. While only nine percent believe AI will "decrease inequality," seven times as many (63 percent) think it will increase inequality. And while 14 percent anticipate AI creating more jobs than it eliminates, five times as many (73 percent) predict just the opposite. However, while nearly a quarter (23 percent) are afraid they'll lose their job to AI, three-quarters (77 percent) have no fears about that. Also, 76 percent "agree" or "strongly agree" that AI "will fundamentally change" the way we live and work over the next decade. Those findings come out of a new report, "Optimism and Anxiety: Views on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence and Higher Education's Response," based on results of a Northeastern University and Gallup survey. A random sample of 3,297 American adults aged 18 and older was polled by mail between Sept. 15 and Oct. 10, 2017. (The survey was issued in both English and Spanish.) The question is how to help people get ready for this expected "sea change in the future of work," according to the report. "Colleges and universities have their work cut out for them," wrote Joseph Aoun, president of Northeastern, in a foreword to the report. Only a fifth of respondents (22 percent) with bachelor's degrees or higher feel their own education has "prepared them 'well' or 'very well' to work with AI in the workplace." Overall a slight majority (51 percent) among employed respondents agree that they'll need more training to get a new job at an equivalent salary. (This varied by region; while 60 percent of people in the west agreed, just 42 percent said the same in the midwest.) Given a list of retraining options, the largest number (49 percent) would look to employers for on-the-job training. Just one in five (21 percent) would pursue upskilling from a college or university through face-to-face instruction. Another 16 percent would go after online education from a college or university. Who would cover the cost of training? Six in 10 (61 percent) would expect employers to pay. Half would turn to the federal government for help. Just 27 percent said the workers themselves would pay. "Taken together, these results are a wake-up call for higher education," asserted Aoun. "The need for colleges and universities to adapt is clear. We must design and implement a curriculum that empowers humans to be 'robot-proof' to do the jobs only humans can do." The report is openly available on the Northeastern U website. When travel to Japan is possible for everyone again, were excited to have you back! While youre here, consider a longer stay in one of Japans many welcoming and culturally significant cities, and use the opportunity to gain deeper insight into Japans long history of traditional craftsmanship. Youll gain new perspective on Japan and maybe never leave! : , ; , ISIS-K Daman and Diu: Blue Revolution will help fishermen, launches project worth Rs 1000 cr February 27,2018 | Source: Hindustan Times Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched development projects worth Rs 1,000 crore at Daman and Diu and inaugurated air services connecting the Union Territory (UT)?to other parts of Gujarat. At a function in Daman, Modi, who was joined by administrator Praful Patel, congratulated the UT on achieving Open Defecation Free (ODF) status and lauded the efforts of the administration and the locals towards ensuring cleanliness. As he praised the efforts of locals in saving Rs 7 crore in electricity bills by opting for LED bulbs, the PM urged local fishermen to form small groups and register themselves to avail the benefits of the Blue Revolution. Modi said, The government is taking several steps for the welfare of fishermen. Our entire emphasis on the Blue Revolution is inspired by the commitment to bring a positive difference in the lives of fishermen. He added that the government would provide long boats to the community, which would help the fishermen venture into deep seas and get a bigger catch. Modi, who inaugurated Air Odishas flight connecting Ahmedabad with Diu under the Centres regional connectivity scheme UDAN, said the move would boost tourism in the region. Tourists who want to visit the Somnath Temple and the Gir forest (in Gujarat) can now go (there) from Diu, he said. Compared to the road travel between Ahmedabad and Diu, which takes 12 hours, the new flight will cover the distance in one hour. The PM also laid the foundation stone for a slew of projects, including a water treatment plant, a gas pipeline, an electric sub-station, a municipal market and a foot overbridge. From Daman, Modi travelled to Chennai to launch the AIADMK governments ambitious scheme of providing 50% subsidy to working women to buy two-wheelers. The Amma scooter scheme, a pet project of late chief minister J Jayalalithaa, was launched on Saturday to mark her 70th birth anniversary. Modi will be back in Gujarat on Sunday to inaugurate a marathon Run For New India in Surat. Meanwhile, the Congress released hundreds of black balloons to protest against the Prime Minister after police stopped them from carrying out a march to the venue of his programme. Police said some party workers also waved black flags as the Prime Ministers motorcade approached the venue from the helipad where his aircraft touched down. Police officials said no one had been detained for the protest. The president of the Daman and Diu unit of the Congress, Ketan Patel, however alleged that police had cordoned off his house and had detained party workers who had gathered there. Hundreds of party workers had gathered at my residence since morning. But a large posse of police was deployed outside to prevent us from marching out, Patel said. HypeUA head elaborates on test site construction costs for Hyperloop-type facility in Ukraine Ukraine may start building a test site for the high-speed system, using private investors' funds. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter The pair controlled as many as 1.1 million Bitcoins at the time of Kleiman's death, according to the suit. Craig Wright, the self-proclaimed inventor of bitcoin, is accused of swindling more than $5 billion worth of the cryptocurrency and other assets from the estate of a computer-security expert. Wright, who claimed in 2016 that he created the computer-based currency under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, allegedly schemed to use phony contracts and signatures to lay claim to bitcoins mined by colleague Dave Kleiman, another cryptocurrency adherent, who died in 2013, according to a lawsuit filed by Kleiman's brother, according to Bloomberg. Kleiman's family contends they own the rights to more than 1 million Bitcoins and blockchain technologies Kleiman mined and developed during his lifetime and that the assets' value exceeds $5 billion, according to the Feb. 14 filing in federal court in West Palm Beach, Florida. Read alsoBBC: Criminals hide 'billions' in crypto-cash Europol"Craig forged a series of contracts that purported to transfer Dave's assets to Craig and/or companies controlled by him,'' lawyers for Kleiman's family said in the complaint. "Craig backdated these contracts and forged Dave's signature on them.'' Wright, an Australian who lives in London, couldn't immediately be reached for comment on the suit, which also accuses the entrepreneur of violating partnership duties to Kleiman and unjustly enriching himself at his colleague's expense. There is no attorney listed for Wright on the docket. Wright and Kleiman formed a Florida-based company, W&K Info Defense Research LLC, in 2011 to focus on cybersecurity, according to the court filing. The pair also had earlier worked together on the development of Bitcoin and had extensive mining operations, according to the family' s lawsuit. The pair controlled as many as 1.1 million Bitcoins at the time of Kleiman's death, according to the suit. They were held trusts set up in Singapore, the Seychelles Islands and the U.K., the suit says. Wright said in a 2016 blog post and interviews that he was the main participant in a team that developed the original Bitcoin software under the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. After skeptics questioned the claims, Wright said that he decided not to present any further evidence to prove that he is the creator of Bitcoin. In the filing, Kleiman's brother includes what he says is email traffic between himself and Wright in which the entrepreneur indicates he may have been holding 300,000 of Kleiman's Bitcoins. Dave "mentioned that you had 1 million Bitcoins in the trust and since you said he has 300,000 as his part,'' the computer expert's brother wrote. "I was figuring the other 700,000 is yours," he added in the email. "Is that correct?" "Around that," Wright wrote back. "Minus what was needed for the company's use." The case is Ira Kleiman v. Craig Wright, No. 18-cv-80176, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida. February 24th marked the one hundredth anniversary of the founding the Republic of Estonia. The Estonian Declaration of Independence, also known as the Manifesto to the Peoples of Estonia, was drafted by the Salvation Committee elected by the elders of the Estonian Provincial Assembly.Originally intended to be proclaimed on 21 February 1918, the proclamation was delayed until the evening of 23 February, when the manifesto was printed and read out aloud publicly in Parnu. On the next day, 24 February, the manifesto was printed and distributed in the capital, Tallinn, and beyond. In a message of congratulations to Estonians this year U.S. Ambassador to Estonia James Melville noted: Contained in that declaration of an independent and democratic republic are affirmations of inalienable rights that ring just as true today as they did a century ago. Equal protection under the law for all irrespective of religion, ethnic origin, or political views. The guarantee of all civic freedoms, freedom of expression, religion, assembly, association, to strike, and the inviolability of each individual and of the home. The United States and Estonia are linked, wrote Ambassador Melville, by our shared commitment to democratic freedoms, our rock solid alliance, economic ties that bridge the Atlantic, and the many ties between our two peoples. Over my nearly three-year tenure as Ambassador, I have traveled to every corner of your beautiful land. I have had the honor to meet with your nations leaders, be motivated by your innovative use of technology, and inspired by the energy and boundless potential of your young people. The future is so bright for Estonia, and I feel honored to have shared this land with you during my time here. In this centennial year, the Ambassador added, I join all of my colleagues and friends from the U.S. Embassy in expressing our sincerest gratitude for your partnership and heartfelt congratulations on your 100th anniversary. Happy Birthday, Estonia! It is increasingly clear that no geographical area is more important to the future of the United States than the Asia-Pacific. It is home to one-third of the worlds population, produces one-third of global GDP, and boasts some of the largest and most dynamic economies in the world, said Acting Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Susan Thornton in recent testimony before the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. But there are very real security and economic challenges in the Asia-Pacific region, including the menacing threat of North Korea, the rise of an authoritarian China, and the spread of terrorism and extremism. The threat from North Korea continues to increase, tensions and extremism are on the rise, she said. Backsliding on democracy, governance and corruption, and human rights is also undermining prospects for stability and growth in some countries. These problems will not be resolved without strong, determined leadership, and the Administration of President Donald Trump is determined and up to the task. In response to Kim Jong Uns attempts to develop North Koreas nuclear and ballistic missile capabilities, the United States initiated a maximum pressure campaign of strong diplomatic actions and economic sanctions against North Korea.Many of our allies around the globe have followed suit, restricting or ending North Korean diplomatic activities, severing all trade ties and imposing or tightening economic sanctions on North Korea. We have also made clear to China our desire for a productive relationship, and that we must work to manage and resolve differences. But we will not tolerate any attempts to displace the United States in Asia, or to coerce or bully countries in the region. Finally, we continue our work with APEC to promote high standards and fair trade, and to support ASEAN-centered regional architecture. The administration, under President Trumps leadership, is working to expand and deepen partnerships throughout the region via our Indo-Pacific strategy, to ensure that countries have support to make their own decisions and dont feel pressured to take on obligations that undermine good governance or long-term growth, said Acting Assistant Secretary Thornton. The United States is a Pacific power and will remain committed to this regions success. U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Nikki Haley has released a statement condemning a scheduled appearance at the U.N. Human Rights Council by an Iranian official tied to serious human rights violations. Seyyed Alireza Avayi is Iran's justice minister but he is accused of having been involved in many deaths and persecution of political opponents for the last three decades. Haley in her statement said, "Mr. Avayi is responsible for some of the worst human rights violations in Iran, including preventing political freedoms and promoting repression, violence, and extrajudicial killings of political prisoners." The European Union and Switzerland have separately imposed financial sanctions on Avayi, alleging that as Tehran's former top prosecutor he was "responsible for human rights violations, arbitrary arrests, denials of prisoners' rights, and an increase in executions." Earlier, Iranian opposition groups and human rights defenders had also criticized the U.N. council for its decision to include Avayi as a speaker. Haley harshly criticized the UN body. The Human Rights Council should be ashamed to allow Mr. Avayi to address its membership. Yet again the Council discredits itself by allowing serial human rights abusers to hijack its work and make a mockery of its mandate to promote universal human rights. This does nothing but reinforce the United States call for much needed reforms at the Council for it to be viewed as a good investment of our time and money, said Ambassador Haley. (AFP) - Iran said on Tuesday that the vetoing of a UN resolution that would have criticized its role in Yemen represented another setback for the United States. Russia vetoed a resolution at the UN Security Council on Monday that would have expressed concern over Iran's failure to block supplies of missiles to Yemen's Huthi rebels and called for "additional measures". "Based on a one-sided report, they intended to pass a resolution that referred to Iran, but they failed," said Iran's deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, according to the official IRNA news agency. "This is yet another failure by the US government to drag Iran to the Security Council," he added. The resolution was drafted by Britain, but strongly supported by the United States. "Over the past year the US government has tried many times to drag Iran to the Security Council and it has failed every single time," said Aragchi, on the sidelines of an water conference in Tehran. In January, Washington called an emergency session of the Security Council to discuss protests in Iran, only to face strong criticism from other members who said the move was hypocritical and inappropriate. Later that month, a Security Council panel of experts released a report into missiles fired by the Huthis into Saudi Arabia, saying they were made in Iran. The report did not say Iran had supplied the missiles, but said the country was still in breach of an arms embargo on Yemen by failing to stop them reaching the rebel group. "The biased allegation was absolutely clear in the way the report was formulated," said Aragchi. The investigating team had "made its own judgement even before traveling to Iran and hearing what we had to say. It was clear how others had influenced the report," he said, without specifying who was to blame. After vetoing the British resolution on Monday, the Security Council unanimously adopted a Russian-drafted measure that extended the sanctions regime against Yemen for one year, but made no mention of Iran. "We will definitely continue our policies in the region in the way that serves our national interests," Aragchi said. Iran supports the Huthi rebels who seized control of much of Yemen including the capital Sanaa in 2014, but denies direct military involvement. Regional rival Saudi Arabia has been bombing Yemen almost daily since 2015 in an attempt to dislodge the rebels. Irans Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani has lashed out at President Hassan Rouhani for a recent speech in which he said the Iranian governments attempts to Islamize sciences has failed, calling Rouhanis argument vulgar. In a February 24 speech at the Kharazmi Science Festival in Tehran, broadcast live on Irans state-run news channel IRINN, Rouhani said spending large amounts of money on religious institutions has contributed nothing to the development of the country. Criticizing Irans hardliners for supporting the Islamization of universities, Rouhani said: There is no Islamic mathematics, physics, or chemistry, adding that Putting a Koran in a cars glove compartment will not make that an Islamic car. Rouhani called for separating science from ideology, as well as for scientific cooperation between Iran and the world. He said the heavy monetary investment in the Islamization of the sciences by the government has failed. Religious hardliners maintain that the seminaries can provide for the countrys scientific needs in place of Western-style universities. Following the 1979 Islamic revolution in Iran, hundreds of Islamic institutions were created with an aim to Islamize the sciences. The Academy of Islamic Sciences and the Imam Khomeini Research Center run by hardline cleric Mohammad Taqi Mesbah Yazdi in the city of Qom are among these institutes, which are often criticized for producing nothing of scientific value. The allocation of millions of dollars from this years national budget to such institutions elicited criticism in the media and enraged many Iranians who took to the streets during late December 2017 and early January 2018 to protest poverty and economic injustice, among other things. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his aides have repeatedly blamed Western sciences and humanities for negatively influencing Irans culture. In 2014, hardline politician and close relative of Khameneis, Gholamali Haddad Adel, said that attempts to Islamize the sciences have indeed failed, but he promised a new round of measures would be taken to Islamize the sciences and reform academic institutions. In his speech Rouhani also called on security and intelligence organization not to be suspicious of scientists and researchers. He criticized the pressure exerted on academics and students. Iranian media linked Rouhanis statement to the recent detention of several academics in the field of environment on charges of espionage. One of the arrested academics, Dr. Kavous Seyed Emami, died in custody in early February, with authorities calling his death a suicide, a claim human rights defenders reject. DUBAI, Feb 26 (Reuters) Saudi Arabia's King Salman reshuffled some of the kingdom's top military officers and several deputy ministers on Monday in a broad shakeup seen as elevating younger officials in key economic and security areas. The chief of staff was retired and replaced by First Lieutenant General Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwayli while new chiefs were appointed to the country's air defense and land forces, according to royal decrees published by state media. Several new deputies in economic and security-related ministries as well as a handful of new city mayors were appointed, including Tamadur bint Youssef al-Ramah as deputy labor minister, a rare senior post for a woman in the deeply conservative kingdom. The decrees also included the appointment of three deputy governors from among the descendants of Princes Ahmed, Talal and Muqrin - brothers of King Salman, some of whom may have felt sidelined by recent changes since his accession to the throne in 2015. One of them, new deputy governor of Asir province, Prince Turki bin Talal, is the brother of billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin Talal, who was detained in the government's anti-corruption campaign and only released last month. The way Saudi Arabia is run has seen major changes under 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who rocketed to the heights of power from near obscurity after his father became king following the death of King Abdullah in 2015 and is pushing big economic and social reforms. He is popular with many Saudi youths, who make up the vast majority of the population, but has irked some with his unconventional approach, including a palace coup last summer in which he pushed out his cousin to become heir to the throne. Saudi analyst Ahmed al-Towayan, speaking on Saudi state television, said the new appointments were "pumping young blood" into local government while elevating young commanders into top military posts. (Reporting by Sami Aboudi, Stephen Kalin and Omar Fahmy; Editing by Alison Williams) Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Nigar Guliyeva - Trend: Armenia, encouraged by silence of international community towards the crimes against humanity committed in Azerbaijan, continues to violate the basic human rights of Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. He made the remark during his speech at the High Level segment of 37th session of the Human Rights Council of UN on Feb.27. The minister stressed that strengthening democracy and protecting human rights are among top priorities of Azerbaijan.Azerbaijan implements large-scale programs to create necessary conditions for all citizens to fully enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms. "Education is a top priority in our domestic policy, because a well-established educated society is one of the guarantees of successful and sustainable development. Right to health is fully ensured in the country. Every year more than 5 million people half of the countrys population have their medical check-ups totally financed from the state budget," he said. The minister stressed that Azerbaijan has been the first country in the Muslim world granting women right to vote as early as in 1918. "Azerbaijan strives to ensure gender equality and empower women in public and social life. To give an example, 52 percent of staff members of my ministry are women. Since we live in a digital age, it is worth noting that currently about 80 percent of population of Azerbaijan have unimpeded access to internet, which has become the most favored and practical vehicle for information, media communication and free flow of ideas and thoughts," he said. Mammadyarov reminded that criminal justice system has also been reformed to be in full compliance with international human rights standards. One of the recent developments in this field was the executive order of the president of Azerbaijan of 2017 aiming at furtherance of legal reforms in penal field and humanization of penal policies, he added. Azerbaijan is one of the worlds recognized centers of multiculturalism, the minister continued. "All ethnic and religious groups live in Azerbaijan in peace and harmony. Azerbaijan had hosted numerous international events aiming at strengthening intercultural dialogue. Being a member of both the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan launched the Baku Process in 2008, the main goal of which is to strengthen dialogue, partnership and cooperation between the Muslim world and Europe. Azerbaijan attaches high importance to the right to development. I would like to confirm once again my countrys adherence to the principles enshrined in the Declaration on the Right to Development. Azerbaijan is actively participating in international development efforts, particularly through the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijani International Development Agency," he said. Mammadyarov further added that Azerbaijan recognizes that human rights and sustainable development are complementary and mutually reinforcing. "The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda recognizes the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that are based on respect for human rights, rule of law and good governance and effective public institutions. Proceeding from this, Azerbaijan together with Georgia, Kenya, Thailand and Turkey has submitted a draft resolution entitled Promoting human rights and SDGs through transparent, accountable and efficient public service delivery for adoption at the current session of the Council. Using this opportunity, I call on the HRC members to support the resolution," he said. The minister stressed that Azerbaijan fully supports the necessity of the advancement of the Human Rights Council activities. "Azerbaijan has issued a standing invitation to all special procedure mandate holders. We recognize their important role in promoting human rights through cooperation and dialogue with the Member States. Azerbaijan also attaches importance to the Universal Periodic Review and has submitted its mid-term report in 2016. Our third UPR report will be considered in May 2018. We are committed to engage with UN human rights treaty bodies. Last year Azerbaijan was named by the High Commissioner for Human Rights as one of the 33 Member States that have been fully up to date in their treaty body reporting," he noted. The minister further informed the participants about the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan. "As a result of armed aggression by Armenia 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan has been under occupation since more than a quarter of a century. Over 1 million Azerbaijanis were subjected to ethnic cleansing and have been forced to leave their homes to become refugees and IDPs in their own country. Today Azerbaijan with a population of 10 million hosts - in per capita terms - one of the highest numbers of refugees and IDPs in the world 1.2 million," he said. The minister pointed to the fact that Armenia continues the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by disregarding the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and related documents of other international organizations, which reaffirm the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and demand immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories. "Yesterday - 26 February 2018 - marked the 26th anniversary of Khojaly Genocide committed by Armenia, as a result of which 613 residents of this small town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan were killed, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly. The consequences of this genocide committed in 1992 made it clear that the intentional mass killings in Khojaly were not isolated or sporadic acts, but were part of Armenias systematic policy of ethnic cleansing commenced since 1988. Regretfully, those responsible for such grave offences still enjoy impunity and have not yet been brought to justice," he said. The minister noted that Armenia, encouraged by silence of international community towards the crimes against humanity committed in Azerbaijan, continues to violate the basic human rights of Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees. "Therefore, we urge the UN Human Rights Council, its mandate holders and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to finally ensure effective remedy for the violated human rights of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs as tasked by the relevant UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. The continued large-scale human rights violations have been steadily undermining the trust of the people of Azerbaijan in the primacy of international law and the efficiency of the UN human rights machinery," he concluded. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Ali Gasimov Trend: The Armenian leadership is responsible for the crime against humanity - the Khojaly genocide, spokesman of Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry Hikmat Hajiyev said in an interview with TRT World. The Khojaly genocide is a truly tragic event. The genocide was committed with the direct involvement of the Armenian armed forces and with the support of the 366th Soviet motorized rifle regiment stationed in Khankendi. For the Azerbaijani people this is a terrible event, but the most important is that we do not ask for revenge. We just want justice. Azerbaijan is a multicultural country, and we are proud of our tolerance. But at the same time, this can not be tolerated, because this is a crime, and the crime must be punished, he said. Hajiyev noted that the current political, military leadership of Armenia took a direct part in the Khojaly genocide. They commanded this operation. The Armenian President, as well as the leaders of the separatist regime established in the occupied territories, directly participated in this operation. Also soldiers, commanders and some paramilitary groups in Armenia participated in this. They knew that there were civilians in Khojaly, 7,000 civilians. And despite this they attacked the city using heavy artillery, tanks and missiles. If we apply international humanitarian law, then Armenia as a state is responsible for the Khojaly genocide. And also if to apply the generally accepted law, then some individuals of the Armenian leadership are responsible for this crime against humanity, the spokesman said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. On Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkeys Premier Minister Binali Yildirim and Chairman of Turkish Parliament Ismayil Kahraman will meet with a delegation headed by Chairman of Azerbaijani Parliamentary Committee on International and Interparliamentary Relations Samad Seyidov on Feb. 27, Turkish National Assembly told Trend. A meeting between Chairman of Turkish Parliaments Foreign Committee Volkan Bozkir and Samad Seyidov is also expected. Chairman of Azerbaijani Parliamentary Committee on International and Interparliamentary relations Samad Seyidov, MPs Sevinj Fataliyeva, Asim Mollazade and Javanshir Feiziyev will be in Ankara to participate in the trilateral meeting of the parliamentary committees on foreign relations of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia until March 1. A number of regional issues will be discussed at the meeting. The MPs will also exchange views on development of mutual relations of delegations within international organizations. Following the meeting, a protocol on cooperation among the foreign relations committees of the legislative bodies of the three countries will be signed. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Elchin Mehdiyev Trend: The level of professionalism of election administration in Azerbaijan has remained high, which led to the fact that the number of applications and complaints made during elections dropped considerably, Azerbaijans representative to the European Court of Human Rights Chingiz Askarov said. He made the remarks at an event on launching a three-day seminar dedicated to the investigation of election-related complaints in Baku Feb. 27. Askarov said that expert groups in election commissions can work more efficiently in Azerbaijan. He also noted that Azerbaijan fully fulfills its commitments under international conventions on elections. The European Court of Human Rights acknowledges that election legislation serves democracy in Azerbaijan, he added. Askarov stressed that as compared to European countries, it can be seen that the appeals on elections are of technical nature in Azerbaijan, and there are no serious violations at the legislative level. Next presidential election in Azerbaijan is to be held on April 11, 2018, according to an order signed Feb. 5 by the country's President Ilham Aliyev. According to the Calendar Plan of Azerbaijans Central Election Commission (CEC), pre-election campaigning starts 23 days prior to the voting day and is stopped 24 hours before the start of voting. Thus, the campaigning will start on March 19 and end at 08:00 (local time) on April 10. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov is on a working visit to Geneva, the Foreign Ministry told Trend on Feb.27. Within the framework of the visit, Mammadyarov will deliver a speech at the High Level segment of 37th session of the Human Rights Council of UN. The minister will also met with Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and current Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva and with other officials. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has attended commissioning of the drinking water supply system in Mingachevir city. Chairman of JSC Azersu Gorkhmaz Huseynov informed the head of state about the work carried out in the framework of the reconstruction project of water supply and sewerage system in the city of Mingachevir. The implementation of the project on reconstruction of drinking water supply and sewerage systems of the city of Mingachevir started in October, 2011 under the State Program on socio-economic development of regions. The project is designed to improve drinking water and sewerage services for 151,000 people in the city of Mingachevir. A 103km section of the 236km-long sewerage network was built. President Aliyev then pressed a button to launch the drinking water supply system of Mingachevir. Details added (13:44) Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Nigar Guliyeva- Trend: Azerbaijan implements large-scale programs to create necessary conditions for all citizens to fully enjoy human rights and fundamental freedoms, said Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov. He made the remark during his speech at the High Level segment of 37th session of the Human Rights Council of UN on Feb.27. The minister stressed that strengthening democracy and protecting human rights are among top priorities of Azerbaijan. "Education is a top priority in our domestic policy, because a well-established educated society is one of the guarantees of successful and sustainable development. Right to health is fully ensured in the country. Every year more than 5 million people half of the countrys population have their medical check-ups totally financed from the state budget," he said. The minister stressed that Azerbaijan has been the first country in the Muslim world granting women right to vote as early as in 1918. "Azerbaijan strives to ensure gender equality and empower women in public and social life. To give an example, 52 percent of staff members of my ministry are women. Since we live in a digital age, it is worth noting that currently about 80 percent of population of Azerbaijan have unimpeded access to internet, which has become the most favored and practical vehicle for information, media communication and free flow of ideas and thoughts," he said. Mammadyarov reminded that criminal justice system has also been reformed to be in full compliance with international human rights standards. One of the recent developments in this field was the executive order of the president of Azerbaijan of 2017 aiming at furtherance of legal reforms in penal field and humanization of penal policies, he added. Azerbaijan is one of the worlds recognized centers of multiculturalism, the minister continued. "All ethnic and religious groups live in Azerbaijan in peace and harmony. Azerbaijan had hosted numerous international events aiming at strengthening intercultural dialogue. Being a member of both the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and the Council of Europe, Azerbaijan launched the Baku Process in 2008, the main goal of which is to strengthen dialogue, partnership and cooperation between the Muslim world and Europe. Azerbaijan attaches high importance to the right to development. I would like to confirm once again my countrys adherence to the principles enshrined in the Declaration on the Right to Development. Azerbaijan is actively participating in international development efforts, particularly through the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Azerbaijani International Development Agency," he said. Mammadyarov further added that Azerbaijan recognizes that human rights and sustainable development are complementary and mutually reinforcing. "The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda recognizes the need to build peaceful, just and inclusive societies that are based on respect for human rights, rule of law and good governance and effective public institutions. Proceeding from this, Azerbaijan together with Georgia, Kenya, Thailand and Turkey has submitted a draft resolution entitled Promoting human rights and SDGs through transparent, accountable and efficient public service delivery for adoption at the current session of the Council. Using this opportunity, I call on the HRC members to support the resolution," he said. The minister stressed that Azerbaijan fully supports the necessity of the advancement of the Human Rights Council activities. "Azerbaijan has issued a standing invitation to all special procedure mandate holders. We recognize their important role in promoting human rights through cooperation and dialogue with the Member States. Azerbaijan also attaches importance to the Universal Periodic Review and has submitted its mid-term report in 2016. Our third UPR report will be considered in May 2018. We are committed to engage with UN human rights treaty bodies. Last year Azerbaijan was named by the High Commissioner for Human Rights as one of the 33 Member States that have been fully up to date in their treaty body reporting," he noted. The minister further informed the participants about the Armenian aggression against Azerbaijan. "As a result of armed aggression by Armenia 20 percent of the territory of Azerbaijan has been under occupation since more than a quarter of a century. Over 1 million Azerbaijanis were subjected to ethnic cleansing and have been forced to leave their homes to become refugees and IDPs in their own country. Today Azerbaijan with a population of 10 million hosts - in per capita terms - one of the highest numbers of refugees and IDPs in the world 1.2 million," he said. The minister pointed to the fact that Armenia continues the occupation of Azerbaijani territories by disregarding the relevant resolutions of the UN Security Council and related documents of other international organizations, which reaffirm the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and demand immediate, complete and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied territories. "Yesterday - 26 February 2018 - marked the 26th anniversary of Khojaly Genocide committed by Armenia, as a result of which 613 residents of this small town in the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan were killed, including 106 women, 63 children and 70 elderly. The consequences of this genocide committed in 1992 made it clear that the intentional mass killings in Khojaly were not isolated or sporadic acts, but were part of Armenias systematic policy of ethnic cleansing commenced since 1988. Regretfully, those responsible for such grave offences still enjoy impunity and have not yet been brought to justice," he said. The minister noted that Armenia, encouraged by silence of international community towards the crimes against humanity committed in Azerbaijan, continues to violate the basic human rights of Azerbaijani IDPs and refugees. "Therefore, we urge the UN Human Rights Council, its mandate holders and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to finally ensure effective remedy for the violated human rights of Azerbaijani refugees and IDPs as tasked by the relevant UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions. The continued large-scale human rights violations have been steadily undermining the trust of the people of Azerbaijan in the primacy of international law and the efficiency of the UN human rights machinery," he concluded. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of two yarn production plants owned by Mingachevir Tekstil LLC in the Mingachevir Industrial Park. Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev and project manager Mehriban Akhundova informed the head of state and his wife that the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support of the Ministry of Economy allocated a 10 million manat soft loan to create plants with a total cost of 144 million manats. The state-of-the-art plants are supplied with equipment of leading companies of Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Japan. The plants will have an annual production of 20,000 tons of yarn, including 10,000 tons made through Ring method and 10,000 tons through Open End method. The head of state and his wife posed for photographs together with employees. President Ilham Aliyev then launched the Open End method yarn production plant. President Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva toured a canteen. After familiarizing themselves with the new plants, the head of state and his wife met with employees and representatives of local public. Employee Huseyn Hashimov thanked the head of state for supporting construction of new plants and his attention to the development of the city. Details added (first version posted on 16:07) Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: Azerbaijan is a favorable place to put investments, said President Ilham Aliyev. He made the remarks at a meeting with employees of two yarn production plants of Mingachevir Tekstil LLC and representatives of local public of Mingachevir Feb. 27. This day is significant in the life of Mingachevir city," said the head of state. "Today, we celebrate the opening of Mingachevir Industrial Park. I heartily congratulate you on this wonderful occasion and wish you success. I remember that we laid the foundation of Mingachevir Industrial Park here in September 2016. At that time, there was nothing in this area. It was an empty area. I remember that a presentation was made then and it was shown that several yarn production plants and other plants will be built here in the near future. Of course, this is a very big project. This project will significantly strengthen the industrial potential of both Mingachevir and Azerbaijan in general, noted the president. I am happy that all the given promises have been fulfilled. Currently, the first two plants of Mingachevir Industrial Park are opening. This is a great example of public-private sector partnership, because the state does its best for development of the private sector - entrepreneurs are given preferential loans, methodological recommendations, and a great work is being carried out to create workplaces, said President Aliyev. The state creates opportunities for the private sector by creating industrial parks, he noted. If the state did not undertake this function, it would not be so easy for private sector and entrepreneurs to create such big plants, said the president, adding that the private sector, for its part, both benefits from the governments concessional loans and creates plants using its own funds. Therefore, industrial zones, industrial clusters and industrial parks, created in Azerbaijan in recent years, pursue this goal, he continued. I also said in previous years that Mingachevir should become one of the strong industrial centers of our country and we can see that now, President Aliyev added. President Aliyev emphasized that there are industrial clusters and zones in several cities of Azerbaijan, and Sumgait Chemical Industry Park is the biggest among them. The investments put in the park total $2.7 billion, he noted. Industrial zones will be created and are being created in Neftchala, Hajigabul, Sabirabad, Masalli and other cities, including Mingachevir, said the head of state. President Aliyev noted that 700-750 people are provided with jobs at these plants, and the vast majority of employees are women. In general, the plants will have a great role in eliminating unemployment in Mingachevir, the president said. "Big funds, 140 million manats, have been invested here. This shows that Azerbaijan is a favorable place, excellent country for making investments. More than $230 billion have been invested in the countrys economy over the past 15 years, he said, adding that currently, Azerbaijans main goal is to attract more investments to non-oil sector. The president reminded that six yarn plants currently operate in Azerbaijan. These two plants are being put into operation today. Thus, the number reaches eight. The production capacity of six plants is 24,000 tons of yarn. These two plants will produce 20,000 tons of yarn, said the president. "In other words, these modern plants will produce almost the same volume of yarn produced by plants commissioned previously. This will meet the domestic demand and will also be exported." Today, our main goal is to increase non-oil exports, and great work is carried out in this direction. At the same time, we see the comprehensive development of our country in the example of this plant, because this is a big industrial center, industrial enterprise, he added. Meanwhile, local cotton is the main raw material at these plants, noted President Aliyev, adding that the rapid development of cotton-growing in recent years has resulted in the creation of these plants. These plants would not have been created, if we were not serious about the revival of cotton-growing two years ago, because it would be a very expensive initiative to bring seedless raw cotton from abroad and to turn it into yarn here. Therefore, over the past two years, cotton production in Azerbaijan has risen from 35,000 to 207,000 tons. I hope more cotton harvest is expected this year, said the head of state. The main part of cotton and seedless raw cotton will be processed in Azerbaijan, thus creating additional value and job places, and the country will be able both to export finished products, textiles, fabrics, and meet the demand of the domestic market, added President Aliyev. He said the state greatly supports the rapid development of agriculture -- machinery is purchased, irrigation work is carried out, fertilizers, fuel, and subsidies are provided with preferential terms, as well as the state supports the development of cotton-growing and creation of industrial enterprises. The private sector is also very active in these efforts, said the president. Industrial production and agricultural production we see a combination of these two important areas in Mingachevir, and, as I said, Mingachevir is becoming one of the strongest industrial centers in Azerbaijan, President Aliyev added. Details added (first version posted on 15:12) Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony of ASAN Hayat complex in Mingachevir on Feb. 27. The president and his spouse cut the ribbon symbolizing the inauguration of the complex. Fuad Alasgarov, the assistant to the President for work with law enforcement bodies and military issues ,department head and Inam Karimov, the chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, informed the president and his spouse about Mingachevir ASAN Hayat complex. Then, President Aliyev and Mehriban Aliyeva toured the complex. Mingachevir ASAN Hayat complex is the 13th center of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The construction of the complex began in 2017 and ended in February, 2018. The complex consists of a three-storey administrative building and three public catering facilities. A total of 32 types of services will be provided to citizens by 10 state bodies in ASAN Service center. The center employs a 154-man staff, and 45 volunteers. The center will serve 337,767 citizens in the city of Mingachevir, as well as Yevlakh and Aghdash districts. The president launched the center. President Aliyev and first lady Mehriban Aliyeva familiarized themselves with the innovations in the center. The president and his wife viewed projects of other ASAN Service centers, which will be created in the future. President Aliyev and first lady were acquainted with ASAN Pesha, which is part of ASAN Hayat complex. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Number of those wishing to observe the April 11 presidential election in Azerbaijan has reached 168, the Central Election Commission told Trend Feb. 27. Thirty-six observers are willing to observe the election by personal initiative, 132 others are nominated by non-governmental organization (NGOs). All appeals received positive response. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Azerbaijan-Turkey relations are eternal, Chairman of the Committee on International Relations and Inter-Parliamentary Relations of the Azerbaijani Parliament Samad Seyidov said during a meeting with Chairman of the Turkish Parliament Ismail Kahraman in Ankara. Seyidov said that Azerbaijan-Turkey relations will never change. The level of Azerbaijan-Turkey relations is high, we do our best to further strengthen these ties, and we will continue to do so, he added. Samad Seyidov, MPs Sevinj Fataliyeva, Asim Mollazade and Javanshir Feyziyev will stay in Ankara until March 1 to participate in the trilateral meeting of the parliamentary committees on foreign relations of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia. A number of regional issues will be discussed at the meeting. The MPs will also exchange views on development of mutual relations of delegations within international organizations. Following the meeting, a protocol on cooperation among the foreign relations committees of the legislative bodies of the three countries will be signed. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order on additional measures to continue the replacement and repair of roofs of multi-apartment buildings in Mingachevir. In accordance with the order, three million manats will be allocated to the Executive Power of Mingachevir City from the Presidential Reserve Fund envisaged in Azerbaijan's 2018 State Budget for replacement of roofs of 60 multi-apartment buildings and continuation of the necessary repair work. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: Settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is inevitable, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said at the opening of a photo exhibition dedicated to the 26th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide in the Turkish Parliament. He said that Turkey always was and always will be with Azerbaijan. We are one nation, two states, the joy of Azerbaijan is our joy and the sorrow of Azerbaijan is our sorrow, he noted. He added that Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia have always worked for the prosperity of the region. Chairman of the Turkish Parliament Ismail Kahraman and Chairman of the Committee on International Relations and Inter-Parliamentary Relations of the Azerbaijani Parliament Samad Seyidov attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition. On Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown. Details added (first version posted on 17:52) Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Bakhtiyar Hajiyev Trend: The main task of diaspora is to convey the realities of Azerbaijan and the consequences of policy of the criminal Armenian regime to the international community, Azerbaijani Presidents Assistant for Public and Political Affairs Ali Hasanov said Feb. 27. He made the remarks at a congress of European Azerbaijanis in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Hasanov said the aim of Armenians, when committing the Khojaly genocide, was to intimidate Azerbaijanis, to drive them out of their native lands and to realize their evil intentions in those lands. The main task of the Azerbaijani state and diaspora organizations is to convey the realities of Azerbaijan and the consequences of policy of the criminal Armenian regime to the international community. This is not so easy to realize as Armenians have been carrying out anti-Azerbaijan activity for a long time; for this purpose they have built anti-Azerbaijan slots in different countries of the world, including European countries, and through various means they attract the leading media outlets, anti-Muslim, anti-Turkic politicians, NGOs operating in foreign countries with the support of the Armenian lobby. The anti-Azerbaijan coalition created by them is very strong. The Azerbaijani state, society and diaspora organizations representing Azerbaijan heroically operate against this power. He noted that Armenia celebrates the 30th anniversary of its aggressive policy in Nagorno-Karabakh region by holding the Recognition of Artsakh campaign. Big funds have been created in Brussels, London, Paris, Moscow and the US, said Ali Hasanov. Armenian diaspora organizations operating in foreign countries, the Armenian lobby, wealthy Armenians, that is, those who have become rich at the expense of taxpayers, are transferring money to these funds and holding the Recognition of Artsakh campaign using this money. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with Peter Maurer, President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on the sidelines of the working visit to the United Nations Office at Geneva. The sides expressed satisfaction with the development of the cooperation over more than 20 years and exchanged views on the works carried out and prospects of development of relations. In this regard, the assistance and support rendered by ICRC to Azerbaijan highly appreciated and pointed out that the ICRC remains a key international humanitarian partner for Azerbaijan. Minister Elmar Mammadyarov touched upon the humanitarian aspects of the Armenias military aggression against Azerbaijan and highlighted the importance of the release of Dilgam Askerov and Shahbaz Guliyev, illegally taken hostages by armed forces of Armenia while visiting their native territories in July, 2014. Minister pointed out that Armenia by changing the demographic situation in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, thus providing illegal settlement of ethnic Armenian refugees from Syria and carrying out illegal economic and other activities blatantly violates its commitments under the international humanitarian law, particularly Geneva Conventions. At the meeting the humanitarian activities carried out by the ICRC along the Line of Contact zone, DNA sample collection of the missing people as a result of conflict was praised. The necessity of continuing such efforts within the framework of effective mutual cooperation was emphasized. The sides exchanged views on the future perspectives of relations between Azerbaijan and ICRC. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: Azerbaijan's Minister Elmar Mammadyarov met with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi in Geneva. Mammadyarov said that the humanitarian assistance provided by the UNHCR to the refugees and internally displaced persons of Azerbaijan, as well as the current level of cooperation between the organization and the country is highly appreciated. At the meeting the minister briefed the interlocutor about the reconstruction works carried out in Jojug Marjanli village after the liberation from the occupation of Armenia as well as the measures taken for the return of internally displaced persons in safety. He stressed that the social efforts to improve the living conditions of the refugees and internally displaced persons will further be continued. Mammadyarov provided detailed information on the current status of the negotiations on resolution of Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. He added that, as it was agreed, the substantive and result oriented talks will be continued after the elections in both countries. Furthermore Mammadyarov emphasized that in order to change the status quo of occupation the armed forces of Armenia must be withdrawn from the occupied territories of Azerbaijan on the basis of demands of relevant resolutions of UN Security Council. Mammadyarov touched on the fact of illegal settlement of ethnic Armenian refugees from Syria into the occupied territories of Azerbaijan by Armenia and stressed the importance of serious attention by the international institutions and the international community on this issue. Grandi expressed his satisfaction with the cooperation between the UNHCR and Azerbaijan and highly appreciated voluntary donations of Azerbaijan to the UNHCR. During the meeting the sides exchanged views on prospects of cooperation between the UNHCR and Azerbaijan and the current issues on the agenda Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Ilhama Isabalayeva Trend: Cards have been prepared to use free or discounted access to public transport, city museums and cultural centers for tourists in Baku, the National Tourism Promotion Bureau told Trend. The Bureau said that Baku Card is a new product, which will help to make Baku more attractive to incoming tourists. Owners of Baku Card will be able to get discounts and special offers in stores, cafes, restaurants and various other locations. The National Tourism Promotion Bureau, Baku Transport Agency and PASHA Travel will sign a Memorandum of Understanding tomorrow to create an official city card of Baku. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: On February 26, the Heydar Aliyev Center hosted a classical music night titled Khojaly 613 which was dedicated to the victims of the Khojaly tragedy. Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, attended the event. The music night featured serious classic works of Azerbaijani and world composers, as well as symphonic poem of Khojaly 613, written by the famous French composer Pierre Thilloy. The "Khojaly 613" symphonic poem is dedicated to the memory of victims of the genocide committed by Armenians in Khojaly over the night from February 25 to 26, 1992, where 613 innocent civilians were killed by the Armenian armed forces. This outstanding work ably captures the horror of the Khojaly Massacre, featuring Azerbaijani folk tunes, including Lachin and Sari Gelin songs, set against a rich orchestral backdrop of military march rhythms and the sounds of conflict. The violin and balaban which has a plaintive quality, akin to the human voice represented the soul of the Azerbaijani people that fateful night, with the violin solo section gradually reaching a furious tempo until coming to a sudden, unexpected halt. Speaking about the piece, the composer said: The Khojaly Massacre ranks amongst one of the most vivid and nightmarish visions in the collective memory of the Azerbaijani people, stemming from the dark, insidious Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that continues to harm an entire people." The Khojaly 613 world premiere was held in Paris on February 21 and was screened in the cities such as London, Madrid, Strasbourg, Ruan, Kolmar, Brussels, Athens, Vilnius, Bern, Geneva, Dublin and Oslo so far. Works of famous Azerbaijani composers such as "Azerbaijan Capriccio", by Fikrat Amirov, Gara Garayev's symphonic piece of "Matem (Mourning)", "Travel", Don Quixote" by Gara Garayev and Adagio for Strings by the famous American composer Samuel Barber were also featured during the music night at the Heydar Aliyev Center. The classical music night was attended by state and government dignitaries, representatives of diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan, men of art and literature, public figures and survivors of Khojaly tragedy. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Azerbaijan is one of the countries ready to demonstrate commitment to gender equality in all spheres and at the highest level, Head of Office of the Council of Europe in Azerbaijan Zoltan Hernyes said in Baku Feb. 27. He made the remarks at a meeting dedicated to gender equality in media. Azerbaijan is one of the first states to give voting rights to women not only in the east, but also in Europe and the world, said Hernyes, adding that today, Azerbaijan demonstrates its commitment to gender equality, supporting the efforts of various structures and organizations in this direction, as well as projects. Vugar Salimov, an employee of the Department of Public and Political Issues of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, for his part, noted that the Presidential Administration actively supports projects of the Council of Europe on gender equality. Equality is one of the main directions of development for us, said Salimov. Head of EU Delegation to Azerbaijan Kestutis Jankauskas noted that Azerbaijan is on the way to ensuring a full balance in terms of gender equality. Azerbaijan pays due attention to gender equality by putting efforts to provide women with all rights and freedoms, both in the media and beyond, he added. Addressing the event, Representative of EU Delegations Media Division Lejla Dervisagis said that Azerbaijan is taking all the necessary steps to ensure gender equality. One of the projects actively supported today by the Council of Europe in Azerbaijan is dedicated to strengthening the rights of women and further ensuring their freedoms, she said. Dervisagis noted that the new project, supported by the Council of Europe and EU missions in Azerbaijan, aims to increase the role of women in the media structures as well as shape a new code of media ethics in Azerbaijan. She added that higher educational institutions play an important role in promoting the idea of gender equality in the media. Representative of the Azerbaijani parliament Aflatun Amashov and Head of the Office of Ombudsman Aydin Safikhanli also delivered speeches at the meeting. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: The representatives of Azerbaijani Public Relations Association (APRA) have met with IPRA President Bart de Vries within the framework of his visit to Baku. The parties came together to identify spheres for potential cooperation between the two associations and agreed on several important topics to influence the development of public relations discipline in Azerbaijan. One of the topics of discussion was IPRAs membership opportunities for local PR practitioners who seek access to the global PR industry and international exposure for their careers. The President of IPRA mentioned interest in broadening IPRAs membership geography across various parts of the world. According to him, Azerbaijan can be the first country in the Caucasus region to gain a representation in International Public Relations Association, and that could be achieved by authorising APRA to set-up a regional IPRA Chapter. Establishing an APRA-IPRA Chapter in Azerbaijan can be an excellent way forward for both organizations to grow their footprint and representation in the community of professional communicators, said Mr. De Vries. Participants also exchanged their views on the annual Golden World Awards (GWA), IPRAs global award scheme recognizing excellence in public relations practice in a wide variety of categories. APRA can help drive entries in the GWA from, first, Azerbaijan and the greater Caucasus region. Conversely, by participating in the GWA, professionals in Azerbaijan can gain valuable insights, experience and contacts. Both parties agreed to continue their constructive dialogue with a view towards exchanging documents and Guidelines and working toward setting up cooperation. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: A meeting of the Tajik-Belarusian intergovernmental commission on trade and economic cooperation will be held in Dushanbe on March 5-6, BelTA news agency reported citing Belarusian Foreign Ministrys press service. Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Belarus in Tajikistan Oleg Ivanov met with Tajikistans Agriculture Minister and Co-Chair of the intergovernmental commission Izzatulo Sattori. The parties discussed the organization of the 12th meeting of the intergovernmental commission and the preparation of visit of the Belarusian government delegation headed by the Minister of Agriculture and Food Leonid Zayats. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Anvar Mammadov Trend: One can already see Azerbaijani products in foreign markets, Azerbaijan Deputy Minister of Economy Sahib Mammadov said at the conference entitled "Support for small business" in Baku Feb. 27. Mammadov said that along with the work conducted by entrepreneurs, the reforms carried out in Azerbaijan played a big role in this issue. "Major reforms aimed at supporting entrepreneurship have been carried out at the initiative of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev since the end of 2015, he said. The licensing process has been greatly simplified. Entrepreneurs have been exempted from a number of taxes. Business has been exempted from inspections. A big mechanism was created to support and encourage exports and investments. All these greatly increased the competitiveness of the Azerbaijani economy." In conclusion, Mammadov added that the countrys government will continue to carry out reforms to increase the share of small and medium-sized entrepreneurship in the country's GDP. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Maksim Tsurkov - Trend: China has sent a thousandth freight train on the China-Europe route, Xinhua News Agency reported. The train left the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in north-west China and will pass through Azerbaijan, according to the report. The freight train carrying tomato sauce produced in Xinjiang, left Urumqi city, the administrative center of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the report said. For the first time, the cargo will be delivered to the Italian city of Naples, the report noted. The freight train will cross the state border at the Khorgos border crossing, proceed through Kazakhstan to the Kuryk port, from where it will travel on a roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) vessel via the Caspian Sea to the new Baku International Sea Trade Port in Alat settlement and further to the Georgian port of Poti. At the port, the cargo will be loaded onto a vessel that will take it to Naples via the Black and Mediterranean seas. A 10,500 km-journey will take 25 days, which is almost twice less than the travel time via sea alone. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmen State Bank for Foreign Economic Affairs (Vneshekonombank) participated in implementation of numerous investment projects in Turkmenistan, the Bank said in a message Feb. 27. The projects with Vneshekonombank's participation were realized in oil and gas industry (modernization of Turkmenbashi oil refinery, construction of a gas chemical processing complex in Saman-Tepe, repair of oil wells), agriculture, transportation and communication, energy, chemical and textile industries. In tourism sphere Vneshekonombank participated in construction of the Ak Altyn hotel in Ashgabat, reconstruction of the Turkmenbashi Sea Port etc. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Feb. 27 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: In January 2018, Turkmenistan allocated 81.3 percent of funds from the expenditure part of the state budget to finance the social sector, the Central Bank of Turkmenistan said in a message Feb. 27. In the reporting period, wages, pensions, state allowances and student scholarships were timely paid, the message said. In January 2018, as part of implementation of the National Rural Development Program in Turkmenistan, the work was carried out to construct 60 facilities for various purposes, 31 water and sewage treatment facilities, as well as engineering systems. Under the Law on State Budget for 2018, adopted by the Turkmen parliament, the state budget revenues were approved at 95.508 billion Turkmen manats. Expenditures were approved in the same amount. The official exchange rate of the Turkmen manat against US dollar has remained unchanged since January 2015 at 1 USD = 3.5 TMT. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.27 By Leman Zeynalova - Trend: SBERBANK of Russia (SBR) Moscow has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the private sector arm of the Islamic Development Bank Group, to help SBRs clients access Islamic finance products, Samir Taghiyev, ICD senior regional manager for CIS countries told Trend. SBR provides its services to more than 70 percent of the population of Russia and is one of the leading credit institutions in the world. It helps people's lives better by helping them fulfill their aspirations and dreams. The MoU will reinforce SBR efforts to develop Russia as a strong hub, hosting activities such as project development, structuring, and financing, catalyzing project opportunities for Russian companies and individuals to meet the needs in the region. ICD, strong with its experience in Islamic finance, will help share its knowledge to develop the corporate, retail and private banking as well as the training needed, said Taghiyev. The MoU was signed by Okan Altasli, the Director of Regional offices at ICD on behalf of the Acting CEO of ICD, Mohammed Al Ammari, and Oleg V Ganeev, Deputy chairman of the executive board of SBR. The document was signed on the sidelines of the 1st Russian Islamic Economy Forum co-organized by ICD, IAIB, Sberbank, KPMG and THIQAH in Moscow. The diversity of Russians individuals and companies will help them diversify their sources of growth, and bring much needed capital and expertise into these markets. ICDs places the private sector at the heart of development, not only to raise more capital but to drive innovation. Russians private sector is well positioned to help ICD unlock additional financing for global development challenges, noted Taghiyev. ICD is a multilateral organization and a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group. The mandate of ICD is to support economic development and promote the development of the private sector in its member countries through providing financing facilities and/or investments which are in accordance with the principles of Shariaa. ICD also provides advice to governments and private organizations to encourage the establishment, expansion and modernization of private enterprises. ICD is rated AA/F1+ by Fitch, Aa3/P1 by Moodys and A+ by S&P Ratings. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: Azerbaijan will change its approach to export delegations by expanding cooperation with the regions of foreign countries, a source in the Azerbaijani government told Trend Feb. 27. Presently, export delegations organized by the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO) are mainly focused on capitals and big cities of foreign countries, the source said. However, the Azerbaijani government plans to pay more attention to the regions as well, according to the source. In particular, Azerbaijans export delegations in Russia visited only big cities like St. Petersburg, the source said. From now on, Azerbaijans export delegations will visit other regions of Russia as well. The same goes for Kazakhstan - we want Azerbaijani entrepreneurs to establish cooperation not only with businessmen in Almaty or Astana cities, but also in other regions of Kazakhstan. The source noted that this year, along with Russia and Kazakhstan, special attention will be paid to the countries of the Persian Gulf. At the same time, the organization of export delegations to China will continue, the source added. China is a very big, important and promising market for us, the source said. AZPROMO is trying to find the appropriate niche for Azerbaijani producers in China. We started exporting wine to China, but we want to expand the range of exported products. However, there are certain difficulties, for example, we cannot supply agricultural products to China because of the peculiarities of the Azerbaijani legislation. Azerbaijan must have an appropriate agreement with China to supply agricultural products to the country. Therefore, last year, the State Committee for Standardization, Metrology and Patent of Azerbaijan signed a memorandum in China. This will allow us to enter the Chinese market. Details added (first version posted on 16:25) Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Anvar Mammadov - Trend: Azerbaijan will additionally allocate about 200 million manats to finance the increase of pensions and social benefits in the country this year, Azerbaijani Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population Salim Muslumov told reporters in Baku Feb. 27. The minister noted that pensions and social benefits of a total of 1.856 million people will be increased in Azerbaijan. He said that during February, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a total of 13 decrees and orders aimed at increasing pensions and social benefits, which shows the presidents special attention to the social protection of Azerbaijani population. Muslumov noted that on Feb. 9, Ilham Aliyev signed an order on indexation of the insurance part of pensions in Azerbaijan. The order covered 1.236 million people and 165.4 million manats were additionally allocated for the orders implementation, Muslumov added. Last week, the Azerbaijani president signed nine more documents that cover nine categories of persons receiving presidential pensions, Muslumov said. As a result, the pension of these categories of persons will be increased by 10 percent from March 1, 2018, he noted. Thus, the pension for the families of martyrs will grow from 220 manats to 242 manats, the pension for the families of servicemen who were killed and went missing while performing international duty as part of the Soviet troops in Afghanistan will grow from 200 manats to 220 manats. The pension for the first group handicaps of war and 20 January events will be increased from 165 manats to 181.5 manats, the pension for the second group invalids of war and 20 January events will be increased from 143 manats to 157.3 manats, and the pension for the third group of invalids of war and 20 January events will grow from 110 manats to 121 manats. This is while the pension of a certain category of persons participated in the Great Patriotic War of 1941-1945 will grow from 110 manats to 121 manats. In addition, allowances for invalids of the first group will be increased by 10 percent, the monthly amount of the presidential pension to the National Heroes of Azerbaijan will be increased from 1,300 manats to 1,500 manats, the personal presidential pension will grow from 1,300 manats to 1,450 manats, monthly scholarships for the Peoples honorary title will be increased from 100 manats to 150 manats, and monthly scholarships for the honorary title Honored will grow from 60 manats to 100 manats, Muslumov said. He added that these nine decrees and orders cover up to 60,000 people, and 9.7 million manats will be allocated from the state budget for their implementation by the end of the year. The minister also noted that the orders of Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev On increasing the amount of social benefits, On increasing the amount of benefits for women with more than five children and On increasing the amount of benefits for those on a partially paid social leave to take care of their children dated Feb. 23, 2018, will affect about 560,000 people. For the payment of the corresponding increments to the specified social benefits, about 23.2 million manats will be allocated from the state budget by the end of the year, while additional funds worth up to 1.7 million manats will be allocated from the budget of the State Social Protection Fund under the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population, he added. (1.7001 manats = 1 USD on Feb. 27) Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Anvar Mammadov - Trend: Azerbaijans Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population continues negotiations with Azerbaijani insurance companies to create a labor protection fund, Minister of Labor and Social Protection of Population Salim Muslumov told Trend Feb. 27. He said that the funds creation is envisaged by the Labor Code and would have significantly improved labor protection in Azerbaijan. There is a law in Azerbaijan on compulsory insurance against accidents at work and occupational diseases, but this law implies that insurance isnt carried out by state but by insurance companies licensed to operate in this sphere, the minister said. Muslumov noted that insurance organizations should actively participate in the creation of the labor protection fund. I believe that this system should be established in Azerbaijan, and insurance companies operating in this sphere should contribute to the creation of the fund, Muslumov said. This will also allow insurance companies to participate in the work of the fund and control the deductions from it. I also believe that a part of the income of insurance companies should be allocated to this fund. Presently, three insurance companies - Ateshgah Life, Qala Life and PASHA Life - render compulsory insurance services against accidents at work in Azerbaijan. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Kazakhstans FLY JET.KZ and Jet Airlines passed the authorization procedure for flights to Europe, the Civil Aviation Committee of Kazakhstan said in a message. Presently, seven Kazakh airlines implement regular flights to the countries of the European Union - Air Astana JSC, Prime Aviation JSC, Kaz Air Jet JSC, Comlux-KZ Airline LLP, SCAT JSC passed the authorization procedure of the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The committee also stressed that the EASA lifted all restrictions on flights to Europe for the Kazakh airlines. The European Commission introduced requirements for mandatory authorization of third-country operators in April 2014, for the operators, conducting flights from third countries to the EU countries. This authentication procedure is carried out by the European Aviation Safety Agency. According to the mentioned authorization procedure, the operator must independently submit an application to the EASA in advance of the commencement date of the flight. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Huseyn Valiyev - Trend: Russias VTB Bank within a month will present Azexport portal a mechanism of financing exported Azerbaijani products to the Russian market, Zaur Gardashov, head of Azexport portal, told Trend. The ready-made banking product will provide Azerbaijani entrepreneurs with a simplified method of money turnover when exporting goods to the networks of major Russian markets, he said. Presently, an Azerbaijani exporter that supplies its products to a network of Russian stores can receive its money in a period from 30 to 90 days, in other words, an entrepreneur cannot receive payment instantly, Gardashov said earlier. Big trading networks of Azerbaijan operate on a similar principle, he noted. The system that we plan to offer entrepreneurs will enable them to receive payment as soon as the exported products cross the border, he said. This, in turn, will allow entrepreneurs to increase exports of products, added Gardashov. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.27 By Nigar Guliyeva Trend: Roughly 50 representatives of more than 30 companies from the Netherlands will take part in the 13th international agricultural exhibition Agro World Uzbekistan 2018 scheduled for mid-March, 2018, the Uzbek Foreign Ministry reported. Many of these companies will present their stands at the expo. The majority of these companies are active in the horticultural sector, including construction of greenhouses. Another part of the participating companies are dealing with livestock, in particular production of dairy and poultry products. The agro food sector is a priority area of the Uzbek-Dutch cooperation. As the ministry reported, the Netherlands together with the state structures of Uzbekistan, research institutes, private sector and with the support of international financial organizations can contribute to further development of the horticultural and livestock sectors in Uzbekistan. AgroWorld Uzbekistan, held alongside WorldFood Uzbekistan, is one of the top international agricultural events in Uzbekistan. The exhibitions mission is to provide a platform for efficient communication between agriculturalists and leaders of processing equipment and agricultural machinery sectors, as well as related industries experts and government bodies. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Anvar Mammadov - Trend: The republican commission of Azerbaijans Agriculture Ministry has made a decision to allocate subsidies worth 22.505 million manats to 19,086 agricultural producers in the country, the ministry said in a message Feb. 27. The decision was made at a regular meeting of the commission under the leadership of its chairman, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Ilham Guliyev. The subsidies were allocated to producers of cotton, tobacco and sugar beet. The relevant documents for the payment of funds to producers were sent to Azerbaijans Finance Ministry, Kapital Bank OJSC and to the relevant regional departments of the Agriculture Ministry and local executive authorities. The subsidy to cotton producers for each kilogram of raw cotton sold to processing facilities in Azerbaijan is 0.1 manats, this is while subsidy to tobacco producers for each kilogram of dry tobacco and for every 10 kilograms of raw tobacco amounts to 0.05 manats. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) is the best way for gas supply to Montenegro, Economy Minister of Montenegro Dragica Sekulic said in an interview with Trend. Sekulic noted that the main activities in Montenegro related to the IAP implementation are the development of Preliminary Design of the Ionian Adriatic Gas Pipeline Montenegro and Albania sections, with relevant Environmental and Social Impact Assessments and independent technical reviews (project funded by the Western Balkans Investment Framework), adoption of Special Purpose Spatial Plan for Coastal Region of Montenegro (with IAP route) and the development and adoption of secondary gas legislation. The main activity of the Project Management Unit (PMU) for IAP in the coming period is the establishment of the project company, which will, as a legal entity take over the duties and activities from the PMU, which will in its current form probably take the role of the Steering Committee, added the minister. Sekulic pointed out that the first step in that direction is the signing of the Letter of Intent on the Foundation of Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline Project Company by Albanian, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatian and Montenegrin natural gas transmission system operators (TSOs). She recalled that ministries in charge for Energy of Montenegro, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia signed the Memorandum of Understanding and together with the Transmission System Operators for gas (TSO) from each country established the Project Management Unit (PMU) for the IAP Project, devoted to defining further steps leading to the facilitation of development and implementation of the IAP Project. PMU promotes the IAP project and uses every opportunity to present the importance and significance of IAP to the interested parties, decision makers within international community and potential partners/investors, added the minister. Sekulic said that each country has two members in the PMU, one from the government and the other one from the TSO, with the Energy Community Secretariat and SOCAR as observers. "The Permanent Secretariat of the PMU is hosted by the Ministry of Economy of Montenegro." "In addition to good cooperation we have in the field of tourism, energy cooperation between Montenegro and Azerbaijan is of strategic economic importance for us," said the economy minister. "Energy is one of the main pillars of development of Montenegro and in this field we've been implementing and we plan to implement several important strategic projects." She noted that one of them is certainly the IAP project that, when it comes to natural gas, for Montenegro has the same importance as submarine power cable between Montenegro and Italy, when it comes to electricity. "All our relevant documents and studies prove that the best way for Montenegro to be gas-supplied is through the Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline (IAP) and the valorization of its gas reserves from the Adriatic sea. IAP project will not only bring natural gas to Montenegro, but will link it with other countries of the region and enable natural gas, which is likely to be found in our offshore, be transported further to the Western Europe," said Sekulic. As for the Southern Gas Corridor, Montenegrin minister noted that it is of great importance for the European energy security, as pointed out in numerous European Commissions and Energy Communitys documents. "Security of supply has been, for number of years now, the focus of European institutions, and diversification of sources of natural gas certainly one of the priorities. As for Montenegro, where natural gas infrastructure is currently not developed, it is estimated that Ionian-Adriatic Pipeline, an integral part of the Southern Gas Corridor, is the only reliable and viable source of natural gas and all our efforts and activities in this field are directed towards speedy development of this project," she added. IAP is a proposed natural gas pipeline in Southeastern Europe (SEE) that will stretch from Albania through Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Split in Croatia. It will be connected with the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP). The capacity of the pipeline will amount to five billion cubic meters of gas per year. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Subscribers of Trend News Agency can read this and other exclusive materials before they are published in open access. More information on Trends news products can be found here. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.27 By Leman Zeynalova Trend: The Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP), which is expected to be connected with the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP), envisaging Azerbaijani gas supply to Europe, is a priority regional project, said Montenegros Prime Minister Dusko Markovic. He made the remarks during the Summit of the Western Balkan Six at the headquarters of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in London, said a message on the government portal of Montenegro. From Montenegro's standpoint, priority regional project is the Adriatic-Ionian Corridor, as well as the modernization and expansion of railway infrastructure as a precondition for better economic integration and movement of people and goods, and linking to European corridors, said the prime minister. Markovic pointed out that it is important to strengthen regional economic cooperation, which should reinforce the stability of the region, simplify the functioning of the economy in the region and contribute to faster economic growth. IAP is a proposed natural gas pipeline in Southeastern Europe that will stretch from Albania through Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to Split in Croatia. The capacity of the pipeline will amount to five billion cubic meters of gas per year. TAP is a part of the Southern Gas Corridor, which is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union. The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijan's Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries. The pipeline will connect to the Trans Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) on the Turkish-Greek border, run through Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea, before coming ashore in Italys south. TAP will be 878 kilometers in length (Greece 550 kilometers, Albania 215 kilometers, Adriatic Sea 105 kilometers, and Italy 8 kilometers). TAPs shareholding is comprised of BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent). --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.27 By Nigar Guliyeva Trend: Kazakhstan seeks to attract funds from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the construction of the gas pipeline in Astana, said the country's energy minister Kanat Bozumbayev. Speaking at the government meeting on Feb. 27, the minister said the issue of raising funds from EBRD for construction of the Saryarka main gas pipeline of KazTransGas JSC is currently being discussed. He said that the cost of all four stages of the project is 370 billion tenge including VAT. Supplying gas to Astana, northern and central Kazakhstan will provide consumers with economical and convenient heating system, and increase power generation. In addition, the use of natural gas will positively affect the ecological situation in the region. Consumer will get domestic natural gas via the new gas pipeline "Saryarka", which will be supplied from the "Beineu-Bozoy-Shymkent" main gas pipeline. Known for paying a special importance to the formation of young professional staff and development of their knowledge and skills, Nar continues to support the Microsoft Imagine Cup Innovation contest. The Microsoft Imagine Cup, traditionally supported by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Copyright Agency, Microsoft Azerbaijan, Pasha Bank and Nar, is one of the most large-scale innovation contests, held annually among the students all over the world. In the frames of the national stage, the teams will present their projects for consideration by the jury, composed of the experts in the relevant field. Winners of this round will get a chance to participate in the Imagine Cup 2018 final, to be held in the USA, and contest for the main prize of 100 000 USD, which is to be used for further development of the project. During the National round of the Imagine Cup 2018, the jury will evaluate the unique ideas, innovative technological solutions, and proper presentation skills of the contestants, along with supporting them in creating their Made in Azerbaijan products. This year, there will be 3 more nominations; the Mixed Reality, Artificial Intelligence and Big Data are the additional ones. Development of education, science, and culture is one of the main priorities of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy of Nar. Visit nar.az for more information about the mobile operators CSR strategy. Azerfon LLC (Nar) started its operations on March 21, 2007, and within a short period of time became one of the leading companies of the telecommunications and mobile communication industry of Azerbaijan. The Nar brand name was later selected as the symbol that resembles the cohesion of the rich cultural and historical heritage of Azerbaijan with the modern life. Being the first operator in the country to introduce the 3G technology, Nar provides the customers with a wide 4G network coverage. Moreover, within the frames of its strategy aimed at continuous improvement of the network quality, the operator has introduced the HD-Voice service, which ensures a significant increase of the quality and flawless transmission of voice. With a large network of over 6500 base stations, covering 93% of the countrys territory, Nar provides more than 2 million subscribers with the highest quality services. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Nigar Guliyeva - Trend: Kazakhstan has proposed a road map for implementing the Enhanced Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (EPCA) between Kazakhstan and the European Union, Kazakhstan's Foreign Minister Kairat Abdrakhmanov said at the 16th meeting of the Kazakhstan-EU Cooperation Council. The minister stressed that the implementation of the EPCA's full potential corresponds to Kazakhstan's interests as the document will facilitate the effective implementation of the comprehensive modernization strategy pursued by President Nursultan Nazarbayev. The Agreement, signed in 2015, has so far been ratified by majority of the EU Member States and received consent from the European Parliament. The EPCA is a next-generation document that covers 29 fields of cooperation. new collaborative structures have already been created the cooperation committee in the trade configuration", a subcommittee on customs issues, and a subcommittee on energy, transport, environment and climate change. The implementation of the new Agreement will let increase trade volume significantly firstly by high-tech products, and generate new opportunities for economic growth and job creation. In turn, the strengthening of trade and economic ties is inextricably linked with the free movement of citizens. In this regard, starting negotiations on facilitating the visa regime as soon as possible has become an objective necessity," Abdrakhmanov said. He expressed the hope that negotiations on visa facilitation will start this year. The European Union is Kazakhstan's largest trade and investment partner, accounting for about half of the country's foreign trade and direct investments. The volume of trade between Kazakhstan and the EU increased by 25 percent in 2017 over the previous year, amounting to about $30 billion. The Kazakhstan-EU Cooperation Council is the highest body for interaction established under the EPCA. The Council meets once a year at the level of foreign ministers of Kazakhstan and the Member State holding the EU presidency in order to carry out a regular review of the Agreement's implementation, and also to discuss bilateral and international issues. Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan Erlan Abdyldaev, within the framework of participation in the ministerial meeting in the format of Central Asia and the Visegrad Group, held a meeting in Budapest with Vice Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Janos Latorza, Kabar reports. The press service of the Kyrgyz Foreign Ministry reported that, during a constructive conversation the parties discussed a wide range of issues on the bilateral and international agenda, strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation for the further perspective. The Vice Speaker of the Hungarian Parliament expressed support for the democratic reforms being implemented in Kyrgyzstan. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 Trend: A regular meeting of the joint UzbekKazakh border demarcation commission was held in Almaty on Feb. 27, Uzbek Foreign Ministry said. During the talks, the sides continued the work on preparation of resulting documents on demarcation of the UzbekKazakh state border. The borderline is marked by 1,565 main and intermediary boundary posts, 776 of which have been installed by the Kazakh side. On Sep. 9, 2002, presidents of Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan signed an agreement, completing the determination of the interstate border. The document came into effect on Sep. 5, 2003. Tehran, Iran, Feb. 27 By Kamyar Eghbalnejad Trend: Former governor of Central Bank of Iran (CBI) , Tahmasb Mazaheri, has called for the unification of currency rates in the country. He further criticized a recent decision by the Central Bank of Iran on issuing bonds with an interest rate of 20 percent and said the decision would create larger problems for the balance sheets of banks. In an interview with Trend, he said that it is vital to introduce a single currency rate in the country, adding that postponing the plan would impose more damages to the countrys economic system. Valiolah Seif the governor of the Central Bank of Iran earlier said that the country's currency market has calmed down after a several weeks of turmoil that shot the rates of foreign currencies through the ceiling. Rial continued its gain against the US dollar in Tehran's foreign exchange market, as the Central Bank of Iran pushed through with its rescue package to stabilize the currency that had lost a quarter of its value within six months. The rial was trading at 44,674 to the dollar on Tuesday, strengthening from 45,391 a week ago. The stability comes after CBI combined its package, which includes a significant deposit rate increase, with a police crackdown on unregulated currency traders. The CBI since 2012 has repeatedly said it is going to eliminate the multi-tier exchange rate in the country but it has achieved no obvious results, so far. Tuesday, February 27, 2018 Probing ART: Transit Project Under Scrutiny Now From Three Different Sources, Plus: Should Pearce Make A Power Play And Endorse Herrell? We do not have allegations of fraud or corruption (bribery, conflicts of interest, etc.) involving the ART project, but based on a number of troublesome issues, I have decided to proactively review several aspects of this project. If during the process of the review, we discover potential misconduct, then we can spin off an investigation (which may include partnering with federal or state agencies). In fact, we will do that for one particular situation involving an employee. As a retired federal criminal investigator who focused on procurement fraud for 35 years, I am certainly sensitive to the possibility that civil or criminal wrongdoing might exist in the project; should information be developed that warrants an investigation, we will not hesitate to initiate an investigation and coordinate with appropriate authorities. My background in procurement fraud involved fraud perpetrated by large defense contractors and I am very familiar with the various fraud schemes that could occur. Meantime State Auditor Wayne Johnson says he has: . . . issued a letter to the City designating the Citys Rapid Transit Project, A.R.T., for a special audit engagement. The letter cited concerns about the funding and implementation of the project, and whether state, federal and local laws were followed. "We have directed the City to engage the services of an independent public accountant to conduct the special audit. While I recognize that the Citys independent Inspector General is also conducting a review, it is clear that the gravity of the situation warrant a special audit conducted by an independent accountant to ensure that taxpayer dollars have not been misspent. So we now have three watchdogs on ART--the IG, the state auditor and an independent public accountant. Some have suggested BernCo DA Raul Torrez conduct a grand jury probe and others have said because of the federally funded nature of the project the US Attorney's office should be poised to look at ART as the findings unfold. At City Hall they are not pushing the criminal angle, with one insider saying it appears that many ART problems were caused by Mayor Berry's rush to finish the project before he left office to further his legacy and that's what encouraged incompetence. Time will tell. . . ENDORSE HER? Herrell crushed Newman 58% to 26% at the convention but Newman, a former NM GOP chairman, vows to fight on. But a Pearce public endorsement of his rival could be tantalizing, He could ensure he is succeeded in the southern congressional district by an ally and he could also put Gov. Martinez and her political adviser Jay McCleskey in their places after they have allied with Newman and for years have scorned Pearce. Pearce and his forces have been in Herrell's corner since the beginning but one worry about taking it to the next level is that it could alienate some R's who are supporting Newman and the other lesser known primary candidates, but with Newman only getting a quarter of the convention support and the others even less the danger seems minimal. There is precedent for a Pearce endorsement. US Senator Pete Domenici cleared the field in the GOP primary for the ABQ congressional seat in 1998 when he openly endorsed Heather Wilson for the nomination. She went on to a primary and general election win and a long alliance with Domenici. Meanwhile, the Dems say that they are indeed targeting the conservative southern district for a takeover this fall. Their favored candidate is Xochitl Torres Small and she is on the We blogged that the national D's have not yet targeted the seat and we are not quite ready to walk that back. Small may be on the list but she still has to win THE BOTTOM LINES Arthur Castillo, the Republican candidate for state treasurer, survived a challenge to his petition signatures and will remain on the ballot under a court ruling. . . District Judge David Thomson dismissed a lawsuit that alleged Castillo had failed to gather enough petition signatures to make the ballot. That huge Trump corporate tax cut continues to have some NM trickle down. First PNM slahed its rate increase request and The NM Gas Co. is seeking a 1.4 percent rate hike, marking its first new rate request with the state Public Regulation Commission in six years. . . The amount requested is much lower than it would otherwise have been thanks to the federal tax reform approved last fall, which lowered the corporate income tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent. Here's This is the home of New Mexico politics. Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. ( c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018 The most worrisome aspect of the ART debacle is the citywide whispering over whether there has been criminal wrongdoing, akin to what happened with the notorious ABQ Metro Court building scandal that ended with indictments of prominent politicos. We and others questioned the statements of ABQ inspector General David Harper about his "review" of the ART project wondering if he would be too soft in his approach. His response:Meantime State Auditor Wayne Johnsonsays he has:So we now have three watchdogs on ART--the IG, the state auditor and an independent public accountant. Some have suggested BernCo DA Raul Torrez conduct a grand jury probe and others have said because of the federally funded nature of the project the US Attorney's office should be poised to look at ART as the findings unfold.At City Hall they are not pushing the criminal angle, with one insider saying it appears that many ART problems were caused by Mayor Berry's rush to finish the project before he left office to further his legacy and that's what encouraged incompetence. Time will tell. . . In the wake of her blowout win over Monty Newman at the state GOP pre-primary convention some R's are asking if Rep. Steve Pearce should formally endorse State Rep. Yvette Herrell. They say such an endorsement would essentially end the contest and show Pearce, the GOP candidate for Governor, as a decisive power player.Herrell crushed Newman 58% to 26% at the convention but Newman, a former NM GOP chairman, vows to fight on. But a Pearce public endorsement of his rival could be tantalizing, He could ensure he is succeeded in the southern congressional district by an ally and he could also put Gov. Martinez and her political adviser Jay McCleskey in their places after they have allied with Newman and for years have scorned Pearce.Pearce and his forces have been in Herrell's corner since the beginning but one worry about taking it to the next level is that it could alienate some R's who are supporting Newman and the other lesser known primary candidates, but with Newman only getting a quarter of the convention support and the others even less the danger seems minimal.There is precedent for a Pearce endorsement. US Senator Pete Domenici cleared the field in the GOP primary for the ABQ congressional seat in 1998 when he openly endorsed Heather Wilson for the nomination. She went on to a primary and general election win and a long alliance with Domenici.Meanwhile, the Dems say that they are indeed targeting the conservative southern district for a takeover this fall. Their favored candidate is Xochitl Torres Small and she is on the DCCC's list of 24 seats it is targeting to to switch from red to blue.We blogged that the national D's have not yet targeted the seat and we are not quite ready to walk that back. Small may be on the list but she still has to win a contested Dem primary . Also, to be truly targeted the D Trip will poll and then decide if the race is in play and whether significant money and resources will flow the nominee's way. So we are a ways off from the national Dems final stance on that contest. It will be no free ride after all for Dem State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg. His GOP opponent survives to fight another day:That huge Trump corporate tax cut continues to have some NM trickle down. First PNM slahed its rate increase request and now Here's an interview of interest with the "Arch-Activist" otherwise known as Archbishop John Wester This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Azer Ahmadbayli Trend: Kazakhstan, the world's leading uranium producer, and China, the prospective global leader in nuclear-based power generation, are looking to benefit from mutual energy cooperation in the foreseeable future. Air quality, especially in major industrial agglomerates, along with strong dependence on oil, and rapidly growing electricity consumption remain Chinas formidable energy challenges. However, for the last decade, a new tendency which is to gradually transform the Chinese energy pie, has been emerging development of nuclear industry. Describing overall situation at the International Petroleum Week conference in London last week, IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol indicated the fact that today there are about 60 nuclear power plants [in the world] under construction and more than one third of them are in China. He also said that China might soon overtake the US and EU in nuclear power production. At the same time, WNA (World Nuclear Association) has calculated three scenarios for the development of nuclear-based energy generation within the period up to 2035. Even with the worst forecast, power generation at nuclear power plants globally will continue to grow. Kazakhstan has 12 percent of the world's uranium resources. Some 50 uranium deposits are known, in six uranium provinces. So far 17 uranium projects have been developed in the country. In 2009 Kazakhstan became the world's leading uranium producer, with almost 28% of world production, then 33% in 2010, rising up to 41% in 2014, and 39% in 2015 and 2016, according to WNA. Kazakhstan exports all the extracted uranium, mainly under long-term contracts, as the country does not own its own nuclear power plants. China remains the main importer of Kazakh uranium, the share of which is usually at least 52-53 percent from the total Kazakh export. There are two major contracts between the countries: A long-term natural uranium purchase and sale contract signed in November 2010 between "Kazatomprom" and the Chinese CGNPC Uranium Resources for the period from 2011 to 2025; and a long-term natural uranium purchase and sale contract signed in December 2010 between "Kazatomprom" and the Chinese CNLIC for the period from 2011 to 2020. Kazakhstans total production in 2016 was about 24.6 thousand tU, from which 13.2 thousand tU costing $823 million was exported to China (according to Kazstat data). In 2017 Kazakhstan produced 23.4 thousand tU. The 2018 forecasted production is 23121 tU, according to data from the Ministry of Energy. The decrease is due to the relatively weak global market conditions associated with an overabundance of uranium supply (post-Fukushima effect). Energy Minister of Kazakhstan Kanat Bozumbayev believes that the excess of uranium in global market will remain until 2020, resulting in high volatility of prices and imbalance of supply and demand. In late 2017 "Kazatomprom" announced its intention to reduce by 20 percent the uranium production planned under the mining contracts, in order to bring its production level in line with demand. The cuts will be in effect for three years, beginning from January 2018. China is and will likely remain a guaranteed sales market for Kazakhstan. In 2017 Kazakhstan exported more than 12 thousand tU to China. When, after a couple of years, a number of new Chinese nuclear power plants become operational, Kazakhstan will be able to exploit the favorable circumstances and expand again the uranium production ensuring its competitive advantage in comparison with many other countries. Eight bilateral cooperation agreements were signed between Tunisia and Spain Monday in the economic and security sectors, during the state visit of Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy to Tunisia, Xinhua reported. Rajoy and his Tunisian counterpart Youssef Chahed co-chaired the eighth session of Tunisian-Spanish high-level joint meetings in which the cooperation agreements were signed. Among the agreements, there is one on fight against organized crime, one partnership deal in higher education and scientific research, one partnership agreement in agriculture, water, environment and climate change, and a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for the cooperation in informations technologies and communications. The two countries also signed a partnership deal on civil protection and a MoU of combating violence against women. "This meeting held under the sign of an innovative strategic partnership comes 10 years after the last session of 2008," said Chahed, adding it is "a timely opportunity to expand our bilateral partnership in all areas." "The high-level meeting has been crowned by a joint declaration that aims, mainly, at promoting Tunisian-Spanish cooperation in all fields," said Chahed. For his part, Rajoy said that there is a potential growth in trade between the two countries. "Spanish companies are becoming more global, and Tunisia benefits from its comparative advantage of strategic geographical position," said Rajoy. "Spain invests nearly 1.3 billion dinars (500 million U.S. dollars) in Tunisia, and it is Tunisia's fifth largest exporter and sixth largest importer," said the Spanish prime minister. According to official figures, by 2016, 64 companies with Spanish participation operated on Tunisian territory, generating 6,554 jobs. And no less than 4,000 Spanish companies engaged in trade with Tunisia. Rajoy also reiterated his country's support for the success of the democratic and economic transition in Tunisia. "Tunisia has been able to realize the structure of a pluralist democracy based on dialogue, consensus, the supremacy of the law and the enhancement of the role and rights of women," he said. The U.S. military says it has killed two extremists and wounded another in an airstrike against al-Shabab fighters in Somalia, Washington Post reports. A statement from U.S. Africa Command on Tuesday said the airstrike was carried out Monday near Jilib in Middle Juba region. The U.S. has carried out a growing number of drone strikes in the Horn of Africa nation in coordination with Somalias government. Most are against al-Shabab but a small number have targeted Islamic State group-affiliated fighters in the Puntland region in the north. Mondays strike is the sixth air attack against Islamic extremist fighters so far this year. The U.S. military reported two strikes last week. The U.S. carried out more than 30 drone strikes last year in Somalia after President Donald Trump approved expanded military efforts. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will begin a visit to Britain on March 7 which will include talks with Prime Minister Theresa May on topics such as extremism and societal reform, Mays spokesman said on Tuesday, Reuters reports. The visit will usher in a new era in bilateral relations focused on a partnership that delivers wide-ranging benefits for both the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the spokesman said. The visit will also provide an opportunity to enhance our co-operation in tackling international challenges such as terrorism, extremism, the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen and other regional issues such as Iraq and Syria. May discussed the visit with her cabinet earlier on Tuesday, including the much anticipated stock market listing of state oil company Saudi Aramco - potentially the biggest listing in history and the subject of a high profile tug of war between Britain and the United States. The fact that there is a potential listing of Saudi Aramco was discussed, but in no more terms than that, the spokesman said. In a separate statement issued after the meeting with her cabinet, May said the crown princes visit - his first since his appointment in June 2017 - would allow Britain to talk frankly and constructively about areas of concern like Yemen and security in the Middle East. Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The Istanbul police are conducting an operation against drug traffickers, the police said in a message Feb. 27. Previously, the Istanbul police confiscated 500 kilograms of drugs, including 150 kilograms of heroin. More than 20 drug traffickers were detained during the operation, according to the message. Earlier, it was reported that in total, 20,000 tons of heroin was confiscated in Turkey in 2017. The minimum age of Turkish citizens who start using drugs is 13, the average age is 36, and the highest age is 65. Thus, 2.9 percent of the country's population account for drug addicts aged 15-24, 2.8 percent - drug addicts aged 25-44, 2.3 percent - drug addicts aged 45-64. More than 300,000 people have been detained in Istanbul for using and selling drugs over the past four years. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Since the beginning of the Operation Olive Branch, 2,083 terrorists have been killed in Syrias Afrin district, the Turkish General Staff said in a message Feb. 27. In particular, 24 members of Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), Peoples Protection Units (YPG) and the Islamic State (IS) terrorist organizations were killed in Afrin on Feb. 25. A total of 113 settlements were liberated from terrorists as part of the Operation Olive Branch. On Jan. 20, the Turkish Armed Forces, together with the Free Syrian Army, launched the Operation Olive Branch in Afrin, Syria. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Armenia must know that Azerbaijan will liberate its lands from the occupation sooner or later, the Turkish media quoted Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Turkish Nationalist Movement Party, as saying Feb. 27. He added that Azerbaijan will liberate its lands from the Armenian occupation soon. "Turkey, as before, will support Azerbaijan in all spheres," Bahceli said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The Khojaly tragedy is a black stain in the history of mankind, the Turkish media quoted Prime Minister Binali Yildirim as saying Feb. 27. Despite that the Khojaly tragedy is one of the bloodiest in the history of mankind, the West does not want to see that, he added. "Double standards have become a norm for the West," Yildirim said. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. On Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 27 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: A former leader of the PYD Salih Muslims release from the Czech court will negatively affect the Turkey-Czech relations, Turkeys Vice Premier Bekir Bozdag said on Feb. 27 according to Turkish media. Bozdag said that Turkey condemns the decision of the Czech court, however it has been expected. The decision of the Czech court also contradicts the international law, he added. On Feb. 27, the Czech court released terrorist Salih Muslim, who had been detained two days ago. The Czech side said that they are ready to hold talks with Turkey on extradition of ex-leader of PYD earlier. The Turkish Interior Ministry included Muslim into the list of especially dangerous criminals. He is accused in infringement attempt against the integrity and unity of Turkey and in a number of other serious offenses. The Ministry announced a $1 million bounty for cooperation in his capture. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu The US Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will test new bomb detection technology at New York City's Penn Station on Tuesday, US Senator Chuck Schumer announced in a press release, Sputnik reported. "At long last and at not a moment too soon, the TSA has agreed to bring this new, potentially life-saving technology to New York City and Penn Station for testing, and so we thank the TSA for heeding the call," Schumer said on Monday. "The ability to detect concealed explosives worn by cowards looking to do us harm demands the federal government continue to put both the testing and the perfecting of this technology on the fast-track." The measure comes after a Bangladesh native Akayed Ullah brought a home-made explosive device to a subway tunnel in New York last year. The failed bombing attempt left the perpetrator seriously injured. Schumer said that the TSA already has technology to detect suicide vests, but it has not been officially tested in New York City. KYODO NEWS - Feb 27, 2018 - 21:59 | World, Urgent, All Kim Jong Nam, the estranged half-brother of North Korea's leader, told a Japanese friend in Malaysia that his life was in danger, six months before his assassination at a crowded Malaysian airport, a court heard Tuesday. Police investigating officer Wan Azirul Nizam testified in the Shah Alam High Court that the Japanese friend, identified in the witness list as "Tomie Yoshio," quoted Kim as telling him six months before his death, "I am scared for my life." Azirul, a key prosecution witness, said each time Kim came to Malaysia, his Japanese friend would arrange for his personal driver to pick him up from the airport and take him to wherever he wanted to go. Kim went to the Kuala Lumpur International Airport's budget terminal in that car on Feb. 13, 2017 to take a flight back to Macau, his base for several years since falling out of favor with his father, the late North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. When he died in 2011, Kim Jong Il was succeeded by his younger son Kim Jong Un, who is widely thought to have ordered his elder half-brother's assassination to prevent him from challenging his power. Two women, 26-year old Siti Aisyah from Indonesia and 29-year old Doan Thi Huong from Vietnam, are now on trial for killing Kim by swiping his face with the deadly VX nerve agent. They were charged together with four North Koreans, Hong Song Hac, Ri Ji Hyon, Ri Jae Nam and O Jong Gil, who are still at large, with the murder. All six were caught on airport security cameras at the crime scene that day. The four North Korean men were seen departing the country just hours after the murder. Aisyah's lawyer Gooi Soon Seng told the court that the four men were "the real killers" and Aisyah is mere "scapegoat," but Azirul disagreed. Aisyah had told the police that Hong had paid her $600 each time he asked her to perform a "prank," allegedly for a Japanese YouTube program. They first met at Phnom Penh International Airport on Jan. 21 last year through another North Korean, Ri Ji U. With Hong, she played several "pranks" at the Cambodian airport, as well as around Kuala Lumpur and at its airport. Gooi told the court that Hong was a North Korean diplomat based in Jakarta, citing document from Indonesian Foreign Ministry. The court was previously shown records of text messages retrieved from Aisyah's handphone where Aisyah communicated with Hong in the Indonesian language. KYODO NEWS - Feb 26, 2018 - 21:59 | Urgent, All, News, Japan Severed arms and legs and a torso were found in mountainous areas in Kyoto and Osaka on Monday after police discovered a human head during a search for a missing Japanese woman last seen with an American tourist. The police found the body parts in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture and Kyoto's Yamashina Ward based on information provided by the man, Yevgeniy Vasilievich Bayraktar, 26, who was arrested Thursday in connection with the case. The torso was found on the ground and the arms covered with soil at the same location in Shimamoto. Both legs were found in Yamashina. There were no traces of wounds besides the cuts made to sever the body parts. The U.S. national, who entered Japan in late January, was the last person seen with the 27-year-old woman from Sanda, Hyogo Prefecture. He has admitted to disposing of her body, according to the police. The head was found in a suitcase at a lodging facility in Osaka on Saturday. The police are set to serve a fresh arrest warrant on the man for the disposal and damaging of a body. He was first taken into custody over suspected imprisonment of the woman. Bayraktar is believed to have stayed in a number of condos rented to tourists since arriving in Japan. Video footage taken by a surveillance camera at one such condomiunim in Osaka's Higashinari Ward showed the man and the missing woman entering the building. She was not seen in subsequent footage, but he was seen repeatedly going in and out of the building alone with a travel bag, according to investigative sources. Since traces of blood were detected in the condominium, the police think that the man is likely to have dismembered the body there and carried the body parts out to discard them. A large amount of air freshener had been used in the condo and part of the woman's driver's license was found there also, the sources said. The man had been staying at the condominium from around Feb. 12, while the woman headed toward Osaka on Feb. 15 after leaving work. The two were in contact through a dating app matching the Japanese and foreigners, according to the sources. He had taken several other women to the same condominium, but the police have already confirmed the safety of all of them. KYODO NEWS - Feb 27, 2018 - 15:30 | All, Japan Japan on Tuesday successfully launched an H-2A rocket carrying a government intelligence-gathering satellite from the Tanegashima Space Center in southwestern Japan, with the rocket later releasing the satellite as planned. The optical reconnaissance satellite will be used for such purposes as monitoring developments at North Korean missile launch facilities, increasing the number of the nation's intelligence-gathering satellites to seven. The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. launched the H-2A F38 rocket from JAXA's launch site in Kagoshima Prefecture. The government is aiming to raise the number of reconnaissance satellites in operation to 10, consisting of radar and optical types. The radar satellites, which are not affected by weather conditions and can see through clouds, are suited to take photos at night, while optical ones capture images of the ground as the human eye does. The Japanese government does not reveal images captured by reconnaissance satellites, except for those taken at a time of natural disaster. When it releases data on disaster-hit areas, the government downgrades the image quality so as not to reveal the image-capturing capacity of the satellites. KYODO NEWS - Feb 27, 2018 - 08:10 | All, World Japan has softened its stance on talks with North Korea, and now plans to take part in informal meetings that do not include substantive negotiations on the North's nuclear program, Japanese government sources said Monday. The shift puts Japan in step with the United States, which tried to organize high-level talks with North Korea earlier this month on the sidelines of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in South Korea. The administration of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has repeatedly said that no meaningful dialogue can be held with the North until it takes concrete steps toward scrapping its nuclear program. But the new position is that such a commitment would not be required to hold talks in which the parties merely exchange greetings or repeat their existing positions on issues, the sources said. The shift does not mean Japan will let up on its campaign to raise economic and diplomatic pressure on North Korea. This, too, keeps Japan's position consistent with that of the United States, which rolled out new unilateral sanctions on Pyongyang on Friday. Reopening dialogue channels with North Korea could potentially lead to a resumption of stalled negotiations over Japanese nationals abducted by the North in the 1970s and 1980s. Japan will continue to refuse to take part in any dialogue that would acknowledge North Korea as a nuclear power, the sources said. "North Korea will play the nuclear card in its favor (if we enter into those negotiations). The United States won't engage in that kind of discussion either," a senior Japanese Foreign Ministry official said. The policy shift is the result of coordination between Tokyo and Washington. According to a diplomatic source, the two governments confirmed earlier this month that they will not engage in "dialogue" with North Korea, but could accept a "chat." At that time, the United States was attempting to set up a meeting between Vice President Mike Pence and Kim Yo Jong, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's younger sister, while both were visiting South Korea for the Pyeongchang games. Pence was reportedly planning to convey Washington's intention to keep up pressure on North Korea. The North Korean delegation pulled out "at the last minute," according to the U.S. State Department, but had the meeting gone ahead, it would have left Japan and the United States out of step with each other on how to interact with the North. "If the United States and North Korea go into negotiations (on their own), Japan will be left out of the loop and the abduction issue could be abandoned," a source close to Japan-North Korea relations said. In a hint at Japan's new stance, Abe shook hands and briefly exchanged words with North Korea's ceremonial leader Kim Yong Nam at a reception dinner ahead of the Winter Olympics. "Japan believes it is important to directly communicate our thoughts to North Korea," Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, the government's top spokesman, said Monday. But according to the Foreign Ministry official, there are "no plans at the present time" for further interaction between Japan and North Korea. The office of South Korean President Moon Jae In said Sunday that in talks earlier that day between Moon and the North Korean delegation, North Korea expressed readiness to hold talks with the United States. In response, the White House said in a statement Sunday, "We will see if Pyongyang's message today, that it is willing to hold talks, represents the first steps along the path to denuclearization." "In the meantime, the United States and the world must continue to make clear that North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are a dead end," it said. KYODO NEWS - Feb 26, 2018 - 11:26 | World, All The United States said Sunday it will take a wait-and-see stance on a surprising overture by North Korea to hold talks amid tensions between Washington and the nuclear weapons-pursuing Asian country. "We will see if Pyongyang's message today, that it is willing to hold talks, represents the first steps along the path to denuclearization," the White House said in a statement. "In the meantime, the United States and the world must continue to make clear that North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are a dead end," it added. North Korea's high-ranking delegation to the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics told South Korean President Moon Jae In earlier in the day that Pyongyang is willing to hold talks with Washington, according to South Korea's presidential office. The move came after the United States on Friday imposed sanctions against 56 vessels, shipping companies and trade businesses linked to North Korea in what President Donald Trump called the "heaviest" sanctions ever imposed on the country. During the meeting with the North's delegation, Moon touched on denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, a presidential office source said Monday in Seoul. South Korea's Yonhap News Agency reported that Moon also proposed creating a concrete roadmap toward denuclearization. The North Korean delegation did not give a specific response to Moon's proposal, the report said. The White House reiterated Sunday that any dialogue with Pyongyang must focus on the country giving up its nuclear weapons program. "The United States, our Olympic Host the Republic of Korea, and the international community broadly agree that denuclearization must be the result of any dialogue with North Korea," it said. Related stories: North Korea surprisingly expresses readiness to hold talks with U.S. Olympics: Message of peace sent out as Pyeongchang Olympics concludes North Korea criticizes U.S. for trying to bring dark clouds of war By KiMi Robinson, KYODO NEWS - Feb 27, 2018 - 12:14 | Feature, All "Nobody wants to take care of DACA more than myself and the Republican Party," President Donald Trump said Jan. 26 in a CNBC interview, referring to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. In September, urging Congress to replace DACA, Trump announced he was ending the program that protects so-called "Dreamer" children from deportation who had entered the United States more than a decade ago but ended overstaying. But for a former South Korean Dreamer, these words from the president ring hollow, as the Trump administration set a March 5 end date for DACA protections, with no Congressional solutions for pathways to citizenship in sight. "For (Trump), it's something on paper. But for (Dreamers), he's ruining lives," said Daniel, a 27-year-old consultant who gave up his DACA status to immigrate to Canada. He asked that his real name not be revealed to protect his identity while he works with lawyers on legal immigration back to the United States. Daniel was 10 when he and his family moved from South Korea to the United States and considers the latter his home. He is one of approximately 7,800 DACA recipients from South Korea, a country that by far leads other Asian countries in DACA numbers. In total, there are 800,000 Dreamers, a majority of whom were born in Mexico. When Daniel and his family came to the United States in 2000, his father was promised a job in Maryland as well as green cards granting them permanent residency. In a sequence of events that is not uncommon among immigrants, the company's promises went unfulfilled, he said, and Daniel's parents found themselves fighting in court to stay in the country legally -- a battle that they finally abandoned over a decade later. "It wasn't that we came here illegally in the beginning," said Daniel. "We got screwed over with the horrible sponsor and the horrible people that we had dealt with. It was a consequence of bad relationships, not that we had committed crimes." Then, on Daniel's birthday in June 2012, just as he was about to graduate from college, President Barack Obama introduced DACA, paving a way for Daniel to stay in the United States and work. "DACA was a huge game-changer in my life. It was literally one of the best things that could've happened," he said. "I didn't want to go back." His parents had returned to South Korea the previous year to settle down before he was due to join them. With DACA, Daniel was able to go to graduate school and get a well-paying job in California while renewing his status every two years. He was living what he described as a Korean's American Dream. He thought he would be able to renew his status indefinitely, so long as he gave the government his personal information and didn't acquire a criminal record, but that dream ended when Trump was elected as president. "All of my friends, all of my life was in the U.S....I was prepared to say, 'I don't ever want to leave the U.S.'," said Daniel. "But when Trump got in the picture, that wasn't conceivable anymore because he said he would get rid of DACA." On election day in 2016, Daniel was one of many people who researched how to legally immigrate to Canada, causing the government's website to crash. Though he didn't seriously consider moving, he applied for a visa, unsure of what would become of his legal status once Trump was in office. Daniel started looking into his options, all of which were hindered by a fact that had been looming over him since he'd turned 18: He had been postponing his required military service in Korea by going into undergraduate and graduate programs. He could take his chances on the president and stay in the United States but would have to apply for a doctorate program to further push back his military service. Or he could join his parents in South Korea and serve in the military of a country he hadn't been to in 17 years. The final option was to leave the United States, which prevents him from re-entering, due to DACA restrictions, and start a new life as a legal resident elsewhere. None of the options were appealing to Daniel, but with the uncertainty over what the new administration would do, he knew he couldn't stay. "I lived more than half of my life in the United States," he said. "But I had to leave everything behind." Last summer, exactly a month before Trump announced he would be rescinding DACA, Daniel immigrated to Canada. In the span of two weeks, he sold off all of his belongings at a loss, including the high-end rice cooker and mattress that he'd carefully selected, and moved to Toronto. "If I had actually stayed there and overstayed my military draft, and Trump had canceled DACA, I would have been devastated," he said. "Because of the situations I was stuck between, I didn't have much of a choice, but thankfully this choice was a good one, in the end." As a legal resident of Canada, Daniel is exempt from military service until he returns to Korea, where he retains his citizenship. Because he had been in the United States illegally between 2011 and 2012 -- after his parents halted their legal battle for green cards and before he was able to apply for DACA -- Daniel believes that he cannot return to the country for more than 10 years. But he is still worried about the fate of the rest of the Dreamers. "Maybe he'll actually pull through and do something nice," Daniel said of Trump, who on Nov. 25 announced he would be willing to give 1.8 million young immigrants a pathway to citizenship in exchange for an increased budget for the U.S.-Mexico border wall. The president also called DACA recipients "good people." The figure is more than the estimated number who receive DACA but fewer than those brought to the United States as children who are currently residing there illegally. The government is currently processing renewals but not accepting new applications. Due to two federal judges' recent rulings against the federal government, there is no concrete end date in sight until the U.S. Supreme Court issues a ruling. "Hopefully there will be a solution that'll be feasible for everyone," Daniel said. KYODO NEWS - Feb 27, 2018 - 19:45 | All, Japan The Japanese government is considering newly deploying to the main island of Okinawa a surface-to-ship missile unit to beef up defenses in response to China's maritime assertiveness, government sources said Tuesday. Tokyo has been proceeding with a plan to install a surface-to-ship missile unit on Okinawa's Miyako Island to enhance defense against threats to remote islands in the southwest. But it believes Okinawa Island should also have a unit as Chinese naval ships have frequently passed between the two islands in the East China Sea. Miyako is located about 290 kilometers southwest of the main island of Okinawa. The armaments to be deployed on the islands are expected to be the Ground Self-Defense Force's Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles, with a range of more than 100 km. By placing missile units on Miyako and Okinawa, the Japanese government believes they will be able to cover the entire sea area between the two islands. Since four Chinese navy vessels passed between Okinawa and Miyako islands for the first time in November 2008, a number of Chinese ships have traveled the sea area. Although navigating on the high seas does not infringe international law, Tokyo has been on alert over such moves. The unit deployment plan may be included in Japan's defense buildup guidelines and a new five-year defense spending and procurement plan, both to be crafted by the end of the year, the sources said. The defense plan may anger people in Okinawa, who are already unhappy over hosting the bulk of U.S. military facilities in Japan even though the prefecture comprises less than 1 percent of the country's total land area. The GSDF is currently in the process of overhauling its organization so it can more swiftly respond to attacks on remote islands and other situations, such as through the planned launch of an amphibious operations brigade at the end of March. The 2,100-member brigade, modeled after the U.S. Marine Corps, will be stationed mainly at Camp Ainoura in Sasebo, Nagasaki Prefecture, in southwestern Japan. The deployment of the antiship missile unit on Miyako is part of the reform. Similar units will also be set up on Okinawa's Ishigaki Island and Kagoshima's Amami-Oshima Island. If talks go smoothly with local people on Miyako, the surface-to-ship missile unit may be launched there in fiscal 2019 at the earliest. The deployment on Amami-Oshima may be at the end of fiscal 2018. "We're moving ahead to deploy units on remote islands so we can fill the void where there are no Self-Defense Forces members," a senior GSDF official said. The government sources said an administrative command center is also expected to be set up on Okinawa's main island, putting under control the surface-to-ship units stationed on Miyako, Amami-Oshima and Ishigaki islands. Miyako and Ishigaki islands are also not far from the Japan-controlled Senkaku Islands in the East China Sea, which China claims, calling them Diaoyu. Chinese government ships have repeatedly entered Japanese waters around the islands, creating tensions. KYODO NEWS - Feb 27, 2018 - 19:21 | World, Urgent, All South Korean prosecutors on Tuesday demanded a 30-year prison term for former President Park Geun Hye over her role in a high-profile corruption scandal that saw her ousted from office last year. At the trial at the Seoul Central District Court, the prosecutors also demanded that Park, 66, pay fines totaling 118.5 billion won (about $110.44 million). Park was indicted last year for allegedly colluding with her confidante Choi Soon Sil to solicit and take a total of 77.4 billion won in bribes from business conglomerates, including Samsung Electronics Co. Other charges include abuse of power, coercion and leaking confidential information. "She has not shown sincere regret and feelings of apology, although she has undermined public trust in state power and triggered confusion and split of the country," the prosecutors said in closing arguments. The prosecutors added they decided to request the severe punishment "taking into account the necessity of making rulers realize that they must not repeat such a tragic history." Park was not present in court on Tuesday. South Korea's first female president became its first democratically elected leader to be dismissed from office when the Constitutional Court in March 2017 upheld a parliamentary impeachment vote against her. The following month she was indicted on 18 charges. She is accused of letting Choi, a private citizen, meddle in state affairs and gain unauthorized access to classified documents. Later Tuesday, a spokesman of the main opposition Liberty Korea Party, which Park was affiliated with before her impeachment, said the prosecutors' sentencing demands are "cruel" to her. "The prosecutors appear to have decided the punishment in complying with the administration" of current President Moon Jae In, the spokesman said. The court said it will hand down its ruling on April 6. Earlier this month, the same court sentenced Choi to 20 years in prison. Park, the daughter of assassinated military ruler Park Chung Hee, is South Korea's first former president to be arrested and indicted since former leaders Chun Doo Hwan and Roh Tae Woo, who were both jailed on corruption and insurrection charges in the mid-1990s. Description The Kings Park St. Patrick's Day Parade is held on the first Saturday of March every year. The parade was founded in 2011 by Kevin "The Professor" Denis, the owner of Professor's Diner in Kings Park, New York and celebrates the Irish cultural roots of Kings Parkers. The parade features numerous bagpipe bands, floats, hundreds of marching community organizations, and a tribute to a Grand Marshal who has made great contributions to the Kings Park Community. Thousands of Kings Parkers and people from surrounding communities turn out on Main Street to see Irish eyes smiling with Kings Park Pride! The Parade steps off at the corner of Lou Avenue and Pulaski Road, continues down Main Street, turns onto Church Street, and ends down Old Dock Road at the William T. Rogers Middle School. 2018 Grand Marshal: Father Sean Gann Cloud Cloud vendors eye key Supreme Court case Microsoft is defending a case involving a 1986 law that will have consequences for technology vendors and law enforcement no matter how it turns out. United States vs. Microsoft Corp., set to be argued Feb. 27, addresses whether reach of U.S. law enforcement extends to electronic communications stored outside the physical borders of the United States. The case goes back to 2013, when U.S. law enforcement tried to serve a warrant to access the email account of a Microsoft user as part of a drug investigation. Because some of the data was stored on servers in Ireland, Microsoft said it was not bound by the order and refused to comply. The case hinges on a reading of the Stored Communications Act, part of the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Many in Congress have been seeking to update the ECPA statute, in part because it affords different sets of legal protections for communications stored on remote servers and those downloaded to a user's machine. The legislation allows state, local and federal law enforcement to access remotely stored communications "only pursuant to a warrant." This requirement, Microsoft argues, implicitly puts communications stored outside the jurisdiction of U.S. warrants beyond the reach of law enforcement. According to a 2017 report by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation, the case exposes "cracks in the foundation of the current framework used by law enforcement agencies to access digital information and determine jurisdiction on the internet." Microsoft argues that by complying with the warrant, the company would be violating the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation, which requires the use of an inter-governmental legal assistance treaty for obtaining private information as part of a legal case. The U.S. and Ireland are party to a 2001 mutual legal assistance treaty (MLAT). In its amicus brief, the government of the Republic of Ireland said the treaty represents "the most appropriate means to address requests such as those which are the object of the warrant in question." A consortium of trade groups and think tanks, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and New America's Open Technology Institute, are urging the court to reject the U.S. government's position, because of potential consequences to the cloud computing industry, while inviting retaliation. Amazon, Google, Verizon, HP, Salesforce, Facebook and many other vendors observed in their own brief that "the modern notion of 'cloud computing' was at least a decade, if not two, away when the SCA was passed in 1986." They argue that "Congress could not have contemplated that U.S. electronic communication providers would have the ability to store data belonging to hundreds of millions of foreign users on servers half-a-world away, and then be able to retrieve that data for U.S. law enforcement upon request." The U.S., which is appealing the case after losses in lower courts, argues that this particular request doesn't trigger extraterritorial problems, in part because U.S.-based Microsoft employees "could prepare [the requested] disclosure without leaving their desks." Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) is looking to pass new law to deal with the problems arising from using a 30-year-old law to govern modern data access by law enforcement. The CLOUD Act proposes new standards for cross-border investigative requests while extending the reach of U.S. warrants. Many cloud vendors are backing the bill, but privacy groups are generally opposed. A legislative fix is needed, Hatch argues, because a court ruling in the Microsoft case will create problems no matter who wins. "Either law enforcement will lack the ability to obtain in a timely manner email and documents in the cloud that are stored overseas, or providers will find themselves caught between conflicting domestic and foreign laws," the senator said. Congress What does the House retirement wave mean for tech? A wave of House retirements is thinning the tech and cybersecurity policy leadership ranks of powerful committee chairman in Congress. Thus far, nearly 40 House Republicans have either stepped down this session or announced they will not seek reelection in 2018. That group so far includes seven committee chairs: Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) of the House Oversight and Government Reform committee, Lamar Smith (R-Texas) of the House Science Committee, House Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-N.J.), Ed Royce (R-Calif.) of the House Foreign Relations Committee, Gregg Harper of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) of the House Judiciary Committee and Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas), who chairs the Financial Services committee. A few of these legislators would be losing their gavels even if they chose to seek reelection, thanks to the six-year term limit Republican rules put on individual members serving as committee chairs or ranking members. Additionally, some individual members with significant tech policy legacies -- such as Reps. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) and Dave Reichert (R-Wash.) have also announced their impending retirements, raising the specter of potential brain drain around government technology policymaking in Congress after 2018. Gowdy's committee is often the most active on government technology policy issues, providing oversight of the Federal IT Acquisition Reform Act, data center optimization and IT modernization. However, the committee has already seen change in chairmen this session after former Rep. Jason Chaffetz (R-Utah) stepped down in 2017; the stability in priorities between the two tenures has convinced some that the impact there will be more limited. "There will be a new [chair] there next year, but that's an area where you've already seen a lot of turnover and yet still seen continuity on a policy basis," said Kevin Cummins, a former Senate staffer on the Homeland Security committee. Cummins and others, however, said the potential for a parallel exodus of committee staffers could exacerbate any impact. A former senior Obama administration cybersecurity official speaking on background told FCW that the wave of retirements could significantly impact the government technology policy space, and that he expects to see a similar exodus among committee staff over the next year. "We will see a larger turnover in staff," the official said. "If the House changes hands [to Democratic Party control], it will be even greater." A current House congressional staffer speaking on background agreed with that assessment, saying that if Republicans lose the House in 2018, the retirements "will matter, but they will matter a lot less." Chairs determine how proactive the committee tends to be on certain policy subjects, while committee staff provide the intellectual and policy expertise that underpin those priorities. As an example, he pointed to the Foreign Affairs committee, saying it could become much more focused on cybersecurity issues if someone like current Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) takes over the gavel after Royce leaves. Yet even if Republicans hold on to the House, who gets picked to replace the outgoing chairs will have an impact on staffing continuity. "Some chairmen come in, they kick out all the staff, they say 'I want a clean slate, no one's going to be left,'" the staffer said. "In that case, there can probably be a pretty drastic shift if you lose both the chairman and all the staff...that can upend a lot of initiatives." Other chairs have used their perch to push cyber and tech policy issues not typically associated with their committee's purview. Those pet projects may not register as high priorities under new leadership. Goodlatte, for example, has spent his tenure pushing the Judiciary Committee's jurisdiction over encryption policy and FISA surveillance. Smith, chairman of the House Science, Space and Technology Committee, will also step down after 2018. Smith's committee had a hand in a number of tech issues this year, most notably approving a bill to audit the effectiveness of the NIST cybersecurity framework and overseeing a pair of hearings on the Department of Homeland Security's ban on Kaspersky Lab products. Not everyone is convinced the departures will have a major impact on congressional policy. Before Gowdy announced his retirement, Trey Hodgkins, vice president of the Information Technology Alliance for Public Sector, told FCW that turnover at the member and staff levels is "nothing new," and that he's not worried at this point about brain drain in Congress around government technology policy. "While this could lead to a change in institutional knowledge among members and staff, few government technology issues come before the committees you mentioned," said Hodgkins. Cummins said that while it's very likely that many of the new chairs might not have the experience or broad view of the chairs that are leaving, the onus is on staff and members of industry to educate new leadership and bring them up to speed. "It's not a crisis, but it's certainly something the [federal IT] community needs to pay attention to," said Cummins. Spectrum NTIA, DOD look at sharing out federal spectrum for commercial 5G The government announced plans to study the possibility of sharing or clearing a 100 megahertz swath of spectrum for high-speed mobile broadband. David Redl, administrator of the National Telecommunications and Industry Administration, said in a Feb. 26 blog post that 100 MHz in the 3450-3550 MHz band, used by the Department of Defense for military radar, could be a key asset in expanding the U.S. broadband spectrum inventory. Under the Spectrum Pipeline Act, passed in 2015 with the budget bill, agencies can seek funding for studies related to relinquishing or sharing spectrum for commercial use. The engineering study announced by Redl will examine whether the spectrum can be shared for mobile broadband, "without harming critical government operations." The Federal Communications Commission has already set rules for the adjacent 3550-3700 MHz mid-spectrum band for its planned Citizens Broadband Radio Service. FCC chairman Ajit Pai hailed the move as "great news" for next-generation commercial wireless services. "Altogether, this could unleash a contiguous block of hundreds of megahertz of valuable spectrum for new technologies and services, including 5G," he said. The news hit the same day Pai announced plans to tee up the 3.7 to 4.2 gigahertz band for terrestrial commercial use and to auction off spectrum in the 28 GHz and 24 GHz bands. Pai made those announcements in a speech at the World Mobile Congress in Barcelona. Workforce Public employee unions in the crosshairs of Supreme Court case The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on Feb. 26 in a case that could have major ramifications on the membership and power of government employee unions. Mark Janus, an Illinois government employee, is suing the union that represents him but of which he is not a member -- on the grounds that deductions from his paycheck go to fund activities for views he may not share. Janus's lawyers argued those contributions are a violation of the First Amendment because, even though those fees aren't allowed to be used for political purposes, the union's actions are inherently political. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit ruled against Janus. The case, Janus v. American Federation of State, County and Municipality Employees, is the third time in recent years that the high court has sought to reexamine union fees charged to nonmembers who work on union contracts. The practice was permitted under a 1977 case, but that precedent is at risk of being overturned. Jeff Neal, former chief human capital officer at the Department of Homeland Security and a 33-year veteran of the federal workforce, said that when it comes to the future clout of government employee unions, "it's going to be a pretty consequential decision one way or the other." Neal noted the decision in the Janus case is "more of a state and local issue than a federal issue," because the fees at issue here aren't paid by unionized feds. National Treasury Employees Union President Tony Reardon told FCW in an emailed statement that an adverse ruling for AFSCME "could weaken unions and result in fewer protections for our nation's state and local government employees." Solicitor General Noel Francisco, arguing on behalf of Janus, said in a friend of the court brief that federal union membership is just fine without fees similar to those required by some state and local unions. "Despite the absence of agency fees, nearly a million federal employees -- more than 27 percent of the federal workforce -- are union members," wrote Francisco. A group of American Federation of Government Employees members rallied outside the Supreme Court building while the case was being argued. The House Intelligence Committee late Saturday released a memo, drafted by the committees minority of Democratic members and seeking to rebut a parallel memo released earlier this month by its Republican majority and chair Devin Nunes. At issue in the dueling memos is the assertion by supporters of President Donald Trump that the ongoing investigation into Russian election interference, and the Trump campaigns possible collaboration in it, is a politically motivated and flimsy witch hunt. So what does the Democratic memo do to clarify that question? Quite a lot, including direct quotes from court documents that appear to contradict GOP claims. Here are the key takeaways. DOJ Did Disclose Christopher Steeles Political Backing A huge element of Republican attacks on the FBI and Department of Justice hinges on an application to the secret FISA court for permission to surveil Carter Page, a former Trump campaign adviser. The earlier GOP memo implied that the FISA applications concealed that researcher Christopher Steele was working for a political opponent of Trump when he assembled the infamous Steele dossier, one of the sources cited in the DOJs FISA request. The Democratic memo, though, quotes a substantial passage of the DOJ FISA application which clearly does exactly this although for security reasons, it does not identify American individuals or groups by name. The passage reads in part: The FBI speculates that the identified U.S. Person [a Democratic operative who Steele worked for] was likely looking for information that could be used to discredit Candidate #1s [Trumps] campaign. The Steele Dossier Was One Piece of Evidence Among Many The Nunes memo (full text here) asserts that Steeles research was an essential part of the Carter Page FISA application. But according to the new Democratic memo, only narrow use was made of Steeles work in the FISA application, which cited multiple other causes for surveillance. And the application did not make any use of the salacious elements of the document. Story continues The Steele Dossier Did Not Trigger The Russia Investigation The Steele document, the new memo says, didnt make it to the FBI until seven weeks after the investigation into Russian meddling began in July 2016. Get CEO Daily, Fortunes newsletter for leaders. The FBI Wasnt Spying on the Trump Campaign A major line of attack in efforts to discredit the Justice Department has been some variation on the claim that the Obama administration ordered politically motivated surveillance of the Trump campaign. The Nunes memo misleadingly supported this argument by omitting the fact that Carter Page left the Trump campaign in late September of 2016, weeks before the initial FISA application to surveil him was filed on Oct. 21. The FBI had reasons to monitor Page that had no direct tie with Trump the agency was aware of multiple attempts by Russian spies to recruit him, including one that was caught on tape in 2013. Whoever Was Paying Him, Steele Was Credible Attempts to undermine the Russia investigation have leaned heavily on the fact that Steele was working for Clinton supporters while researching Trumps activities in Russia. But this attack indulges in a logical error called the genetic fallacy the mistaken idea that information from a compromised source is necessarily false. The Democratic memo says that Steeles multi-year history of credible reporting on Russia, which was affirmed by senior FBI and DOJ officials, made his work trustworthy regardless of who funded it. Even following the logic of the Nunes memo, of course, efforts to undermine the investigation as a Democratic plot fall apart. For one, it was reported last October that the project that led to the Steele document was initially funded by the conservative Washington Free Beacon. Then theres the fact that the investigation into Russian meddling is currently spearheaded by Robert Mueller, a lifelong Republican who headed the FBI under George W. Bush. Mueller, moreover, was appointed by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is not only a lifelong Republican, but a Trump appointee. The FBI Found Evidence Implicating Page The FISA application was renewed three times, and such renewals require evidence that surveillance is getting results. A heavily redacted section of the Democratic memo says that Page repeatedly contacted unnamed actors while under surveillance, towards a purpose that is also redacted. This may be a reference to meetings with Russian officials during a December 2016 trip to Moscow meetings which Page denied for months. What remains unclear is whether Page acted as a go-between to convey Russian priorities and threats to the Trump campaign. That has been claimed by credible sources, but the Trump team has tried to downplay Pages role in the campaign, despite recent admissions that he was in touch with the campaign about the December Moscow trip. What may be oddest about the Nunes memo is that, by obscuring the fact that Page was not a Trump staffer by the time he was placed under surveillance, it inadvertently supports the idea that he was coordinating with the Trump team and, by extension, with Russian officials. Heres a look at some of the companies the Yahoo Finance team will be watching for you. Alibaba (BABA) is taking on Amazon (AMZN) and Microsoft (MSFT) in Europe. The Chinese tech giant launched eight new products today, including big data and Artificial intelligence services. In the past, Baba focused on helping Chinese customers working in Europe. Now, its shifting to provide quote true connectivity, both locally and globally. GM (GM) is set to resume wage talks with its South Korean labor union. Wage negotiations were originally suspended earlier this month after GM shut down one of its four factories in South Korea. Now there is increased pressure on the union to make wage concessions to prevent GMs complete exit from the region. GM employs 16,000 people in the South Korea. Sams Club (WMT) is partnering with delivery company Instacart in an effort to better compete with Amazon (AMZN). The deal will allow Walmarts Sams Club to provide customers with same-day delivery. Instacart customers also get an added perk of being able to shop at Sams without a membership. We already knew pre-orders for Apples (AAPL) HomePod were a rip-roaring success. Now, the NPD Group reports the device is one of the best-selling smart speakers ever, second only to Amazons Echo Dot. The tech giants AirPods and Beats headphones accounted for nearly half of all headphone sales last year. After the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida that killed 17 earlier this month, CEOs are beginning to respond. Several fast-acting companies have severed ties with the NRA, but is addressing such a problem the role of business? CEOs are judged for their competence, but also their character. Yes, leaders can be prompted or trapped by heroic myths. Tough-guy warriors John Wayne and Sylvester (Rambo) Stallone avoided military service while gunslinger Clint Eastwood served his country only as lifeguard at a pool in Californias Ft. Ord during the Korean War. Supposed rags to riches pillar Horatio Alger was actually a defrocked preacher who wrote a single novel and died penniless. And no, there really was no George Washington cherry tree. Similarly, some CEOs recycle the myth that walls divide their private business enterprise job and public leadership duty. Often chanting the 1970 quip of economist Milton Friedman, The only responsibility of business is the bottom line, some thus justify the current narrow commercial focus of their enterprise and the major trade associations. In reality, the sectors are hybrid todayand were in economist Adam Smiths day as well. The Business Roundtable was forged by progressive business leaders from IBM IBM , GE GE , GM GM , DuPont, and other top firms to address societal concernsthe very same year that Milton Friedman condemned such social missions. They wanted to burnish the bad image of business from the 1960s. I knew these industrialists who successfully championed the Superfund environmental cleanup, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, fair hiring practices here and abroad, and training for workers displaced through trade and technology. There is a myth that the NRA and the big business lobby always opposed business regulation and gun control. Earlier generations of business leaders promoted regulation in finance, interstate commerce, travel, telecommunications, and food safety. Business leaders, along with the NRA, actually favored historic gun regulation, such as the 1934 National Firearms Act outlawing assault weaponsthen gangster-revered submachine gunsTommy guns. They supported The Violent Crime Control Act of 1994, banning military-style semi-automatic assault weapons, but that act expired a decade later. Story continues Then the leaders changed. Through new angry ideological filters, the NRA flipped, lobbying against legislative renewal efforts. The Second Amendment became the only absolute right without boundaries. Now, a dozen states that even block cell phones, gum, and smoking in courtrooms allow deadly weapons. Is no backyard artillery banned under the Constitutions regulated militia? There is a big disconnect with the public. Last year, a national gun owner survey sponsored by Americans for Responsible Solutions suggested most gun owners, 67%, believe that the NRA has lost its historic mission promoting gun safety to one of lobbying for gun makers interests. According to a Quinnipiac poll released last week, 67% of Americans favor a ban on assault weapons. Even 97% of Americans favor enhanced background checks and other measures the NRA blocks. With the nation rattled by 345 mass shootings in 2017, plus, the deadliest year for such incidents, the public is looking to transcend NRA lobbying. With 5% of the worlds population, the U.S. has one-third of the worlds mass shootings25 times that of other affluent nations. While politicians and business leaders were stunned last August after President Trumps initial failure to condemn white supremacists in the wake of violent protests in Charlottesville, Va., ad-hoc actions by individual CEOs filled the void left by politicians and trade associations. The inspiring action of Merck MRK CEO Ken Frazier to quit President Trumps manufacturing council with a statement condemning the normalization of hate groups ultimately sparked the conscience of others and led to the collapse of several White House business advisory councils in protest. Last month, Blackrock CEO Larry Fink boldly proclaimed business must step up. He wrote: Society is demanding that companies, both public and private, serve a social purpose. To prosper over time, every company must not only deliver financial performance, but also show how it makes a positive contribution to society. Paradoxically, Blackrock is the largest owner of major assault weapon makers American Outdoor Brands (Smith & Wesson) at 11% and Sturm Ruger at 16%, but has demurred from demanding AR-15 discontinuance, claiming that the ownership stakes are merely passive holdings through its index funds. Those index funds, however, select stocks based on a mix of objective and subjective business conduct criteria. This is how the Florida Retirement System inadvertently owned stakes in these same gun makers that killed its teachers. Fink has to find a balance between those holdings and his call for responsible corporate citizenship. Some CEOs are fearful of taking a stand and triggering customer backlashes or shareholder revolts. But scores of customer establishments across the nation have long banned guns including: AMC Theaters; BBT Bank; Chipotle CMG ; Chilis; Costco COST ; Delta DAL ; Hooters; IKEA; Jack-in-the-Box JACK ; Jo-Ann Stores; Panera; Regal Theaters; Sonic; Starbucks SBUX ; Target TGT ; United Airlines; US Bank; Waffle House; and Walgreens WBA . Walmart WMT dropped the AR 15. In rapid succession, First National Bank of Omaha, Symantec SYMC , Alamo, Budget, Hertz, National, Enterprise, Twitter TWTR , and Wyndham WYN broke ties with the NRA late last week. Instead of fearing boycotts for snubbing the gun lobby, many business leaders now fear the opposite backlash, as those with continuing NRA ties are showcased by public safety advocates. And 66% of consumers believe it is important for brands to address socio-political issues like gun control. Nonprofits are taking to social media to encourage media and tech companies to block NRA ads. #BoycottNRA was the number one trending topic on Twitter Friday in the United States. Akin to the business leadership response to Mercks Frazier, the cracks in the dam spread slowly at first, and then there is a groundswell. Many corporate leaders are earning the business the old-fashioned way. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld is Senior Associate Dean for Leadership Studies and Lester Crown Professor of Management Practice at the Yale School of Management as well as author of Firing Back: How CEOs Rebound From Career Disasters(Harvard Business School Press). Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View. Delta Air Lines relationship with its home state of Georgia has been souring in recent days, after Delta announced it would end its discount program for National Rifle Association members and Republican Party leaders in the state responded by threatening to kill a tax break that benefits Delta. But top officials from Democratic states have a different message for Delta: move here. Virginia Governor Ralph Northam and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, as well as the lieutenant governors of New York and Washington states, have told the Atlanta-based carrier that it can move its headquarters to their states if Delta no longer feels welcome in Georgia. On Monday, Georgia Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle, who is running for governor, said on Twitter that he would kill any tax legislation that benefits @Delta unless the company changes its position and fully reinstates its relationship with [the] @NRA. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Virginia, New York and Washington officials all tweeted at Delta with a lifeline. Hey @delta--Virginia is for lovers and airline hubs. Youre welcome here any time, wrote Northam said Tuesday morning. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. .@Delta, if Georgia politicians disagree with your stand against gun violence, we invite you to move your headquarters to New York, Cuomo added Tuesday afternoon. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. .@Delta, as one of your most frequent flyers, know that the NY LG admires your principled stance, New York Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul said Monday afternoon. Let's continue our great relationship. NY is open for business & [loves] Delta - move HQ to where you're appreciated? This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. With all due respect to my fellow LG from Georgia, Id like to thank @Delta for joining the many companies that have ended their partnerships with the NRA, and let them know that they are certainly welcome in our state, Washington Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib said later Monday night. Story continues This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. Deltas move to end discounts for NRA members came in the wake of this months deadly school shooting in Parkland, Florida, which left 17 people dead and reignited the gun control debate in America. This content is not available due to your privacy preferences. Update your settings here to see it. The company also professed its neutrality in a statement Saturday: Out of respect for our customers and employees on both sides, Delta has taken this action to refrain from entering this debate and focus on its business. Delta continues to support the 2nd Amendment. Delta Air Lines is not the only corporation to break ties with the National Rifle Association following the Florida shooting. Competing carrier United, as well as major businesses like and Enterprise Rent-A-Car, have ended discount programs for NRA members. See original article on Fortune.com More from Fortune.com [caption id="attachment_6310" align="alignleft" width="245"] Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr[/caption] Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr has joined a challenge to the federal law commonly known as Obamacare pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. The Affordable Care Acts design was constitutionally flawed at the outset, Carr said in a news release Tuesday. Our office has pushed back against this overt form of federal overreach from the beginning, and we will continue to work with other states to see that it is resolved in a way that protects the interests of our citizens. Carr has united with a 20-state coalition urging a federal judge in Fort Worth to declare the ACAs individual mandate unconstitutional and to enjoin enforcement of the entire law. The complaint, filed late Monday, argued that the ACA, as recently amended, forces an unconstitutional and irrational regime onto the states and their citizens. In a 2012 decision in NFIB v. Sebelius, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the core provision of the actthe mandate that each individual must carry health coverage, or else pay a penaltyas a tax. However, Congress recently repealed the tax penalty tied to that mandate, while leaving the mandate in place. The attorneys general argue that, since the Supreme Court has already held that Congress has no authority to impose such a mandate without invoking its taxing power, the ACA in its amended form is unconstitutional. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel are leading the challenge. In addition to Georgia and Wisconsin, the following states also joined the coalition: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia. Texans have known all along that Obamacare is unlawful and a divided Supreme Courts approval rested solely on the flimsy support of Congress authority to tax. Congress has now kicked that flimsy support from beneath the law, Paxton said in a news release. The U.S. Supreme Court already admitted that an individual mandate without a tax penalty is unconstitutional. With no remaining legitimate basis for the law, it is time that Americans are finally free from the stranglehold of Obamacare, once and for all. By Joe Bavier ABIDJAN (Reuters) - Talks with Bayer to reintroduce genetically modified (GM) cotton in Burkina Faso are on hold pending the German drug and crop chemicals maker's acquisition of U.S. rival Monsanto, the head of the West African nation's top cotton company said on Tuesday. Burkina Faso - Africa's leading cotton grower in recent years - became a showcase for GM cotton technology on the continent when it introduced varieties containing Monsanto's Bollgard II trait in 2008. However, in 2016 it abandoned the Monsanto varieties, complaining they led to a drop in cotton fibre length resulting in around $85 million in lost earnings for Burkina Faso's cotton companies. Wilfried Yameogo, the director of Sofitex, Burkina Faso's biggest cotton company, said it initially approached Bayer in 2014 amid its troubles with Monsanto. Bayer produces cotton traits under the TwinLink Plus and TwinLink trademarks that, like Monsanto's Bollgard II, also use genes from the soil bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) to protect against pests. "We expressed our wish to establish a partnership with Bayer ... Bayer had shown its agreement in principle," Yameogo told Reuters. However, it subsequently launched a $63.5 billion bid to purchase Monsanto and talks to introduce Bayer's GM cotton traits in Burkina Faso were suspended, Yameogo said. "They said to wait because they were in the process of managing the purchase of Monsanto. So we're waiting ... Bayer will get back to us," he said. Bayer declined to comment on the talks. Faced with anti-trust concerns over the planned acquisition, which the European Commission has said risks reducing competition, Bayer agreed in October to sell a portion of its seed and herbicide businesses to BASF for 5.9 billion euros ($7.3 billion). Under that deal, which is contingent upon Bayer's successful acquisition of Monsanto, BASF would take over Bayer's global cotton seed business with the exceptions of the Indian and South African markets. Story continues Meanwhile, several African countries continue to test Monsanto's GM cotton varieties. A representative for Bayer said both the Monsanto acquisition and the deal with BASF required regulatory approval and the company therefore would not speculate on their outcome. "We had problems with Monsanto due to the fibre length. If we work with Bayer or any other technology developer, that issue of fibre length must be corrected," Yameogo said. ($1 = 0.8120 euros) (Reporting by Joe Bavier; Editing by Mark Potter) FILE PHOTO: Paul Manafort, former campaign chairman for U.S. President Donald Trump, departs after a bond hearing as part of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's ongoing Russia investigation, at U.S. District Court in Washington, U.S., December 11, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts/File Photo By Nathan Layne and Karen Freifeld (Reuters) - Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's indicted former campaign chairman, asked for court permission on Saturday for release from home confinement to attend the funeral of his father-in-law. In a filing in federal court in Washington, Manafort said his father-in-law died on Saturday and that he would like to travel from his Virginia home to Long Island, New York, to attend the wake, funeral and burial services. Manafort has been charged with conspiring to launder money, lying on his tax returns and failing to register as a foreign agent for lobbying work for a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine, among other charges. His request comes one day after Rick Gates, Manafort's longtime business partner, pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and lying to investigators. Gates is now cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his probe of Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign. Legal experts said the move by Gates would likely add to pressure on Manafort to strike his own plea deal with Mueller, although Manafort maintains his innocence and is preparing to go to trial. Saturday's court filing said that Manafort had notified the special counsel's office of his request to leave his home to attend the services on Monday and Tuesday, but had not received a response. A spokesman for Mueller declined to comment. Kevin Downing, a lawyer who represents Manafort, did not immediately respond to a call for comment. Manafort is married to Kathleen Manafort, whose father is Joseph Bond. Bond was 89 years old, according to public records. Mueller has accused Manafort of working with Gates to launder more than $30 million, duping banks into lending money, and using funds from secret offshore accounts to enjoy a life of luxury without paying taxes on that income in the United States. (Reporting by Nathan Layne and Karen Freifeld; editing by G Crosse) To its many critics, the National Rifle Association is a bottomless source of funds able to buy off politicians everywhere in order to protect gun rights. In reality, the NRA is a medium-sized interest group that is undoubtedly influential, but is nowhere near the biggest spender in politics. Its ability to stave off gun-control laws in the aftermath of school massacres may have more to do with its effectiveness as an advocacy group, honed over decades, than with the amount of money it spends. The NRA has one other advantage: The opposition is poorly funded. While polls show Americans generally favor stricter gun lawsand outrage seems to be mounting following the February 14 mass murder at a Florida high schoolthat hasnt generated a spending surge on gun-control candidates. In the 2016 election cycle, the NRA outspent the leading gun-control group, Americans for Responsible Solutions, by at least 4-to-1and possibly by much more. Among advocacy groups that tend to support Democrats and liberal causes, the big money goes toward environmental issues and womens rights, not gun control. The National Rifle Association, founded in 1871, in a nonprofit group with annual revenue of around $400 million. That might sound like a lot, but if it were a public company, the NRA would be much smaller than any firm listed on the S&P 500 stock index. Its CEO, Wayne LaPierre, gets paid like a big-league boss, however. In 2015, the last year for which the groups tax return is available, LaPierre earned $5.1 million in total compensation. Thats more than the CEOs of Alaska Air, CME Group, Church & Dwight, Dish Network or Garmin earned that year. Feb. 22, 2018 file photo. National Rifle Association Executive Vice President and CEO Wayne LaPierre, speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), at National Harbor, Md. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File) The NRAs political spending takes two forms: money spent on lobbying, and money spent on elections, whether direct donations to candidates or spending on their behalf through a political-action committee. The NRA spent $5.1 million on lobbying in 2017, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. That wasnt nearly enough to crack the top 20. Story continues The biggest lobbying group, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, spent $82 million last year, or 16 times what the NRA spent. Granted, the U.S. Chamber is corporate Americas biggest backer in Washington, funded by many of the nations largest companies. Unlike the NRA, it lobbies on a broad range of issues. But several individual companies, including Oracle, Amazon and Comcast, all spent at least twice as much as the NRA on lobbying. Blue Cross/Blue Shield spent nearly five times as much. The NRA spends a lot more on electionsat least $54 million during the 2016 cycle, including $30 million on ads and other activities that either supported Donald Trump or trashed his opponent, Hillary Clinton. That made the NRA the ninth biggest outside-spending organization. Still, dwarfing that tally were two Democratic groups at the top of the list, Priorities USA (which spent $133 million on Democratic candidates) and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ($104 million). NextGen Climate Action, funded largely by California billionaire Tom Steyer, spent $96 million on Democratic candidates who support efforts to combat climate change. There is no gun-control PAC or super PAC funded anywhere nearly that generously. The NRA may spend considerably more on political efforts than campaign finance reports suggest. According to an internal audit of its 2016 finances, the group spent $84 million in 2016 on legislative programs, and $55 million on public affairs, or $139 million in total. Thats how the NRA defines its spending, which could be broader than what federal disclosure rules require. Required disclosure forms show spending of $5.1 million on lobbying and $54 million on elections, or $59.1 million total. So if the groups annual political spending is really around $139 million, thats more than twice what it reported publicly for the entire 2015-2016 cycle. (Other groups may underreport in a similar way.) The NRA also has the dubious distinction of being the biggest dark money spender in American politics, which means part of its apparatus is organized in a form that doesnt require the group to disclose where the money comes from. About $35 million of its $54 million in election spending in 2016 came from the NRA Institute for Legislative Action, which is allowed to keep donations secret. Those could come from gun companies, ammunitions manufacturers, hunters groups or anybody else. Through an unrelated tax filing, the Center for Responsive Politics did uncover a $4.9 million donation to the group in 2014 from the Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce, a conservative group funded by the billionaire Koch Brothers. The other $19 million in election spending in 2016 came from the NRA Political Victory Fund, which is a different kind of political organization that does list donors publicly. The NRAs biggest source of income$164 million in 2016was dues paid by its roughly 5 million members, which start at $30 per year. Contributions, which presumably include money donated to the groups political-action committees, brought in another $104 million in 2016. Much smaller revenue sources include advertising in magazines the NRA owns, such as American Rifleman, and fees earned from shows and programs the group runs. Political activities appear to be one of the biggest single expenditure categories for the NRA. But it also spends $88 million on member services, $38 million on publications, $19 million running shows and exhibits, and $11 million on gun training and education. Fundraising cost the group $47 million in 2016. Revenue from dues and fees fell slightly from 2015 to 2016, perhaps reflecting modest declines in membership. But the amount of political contributions soared, most likely because it was an election year. Theres good reason to think theyll keep going up. Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com. Encrypted communication available. Read more: Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn MANILA, Feb 27 (Reuters) - The Philippines plans to announce the winner of an auction to become the country's third telecoms player in June, as it seeks to improve services and break the lock PLDT Inc and Globe Telecom Inc have on the market. Poor service quality has for years left Philippine consumers and businesses frustrated at the telecoms duopoly in a country that has 105 million people and one of the world's largest rates of social media usage in terms of average daily duration. So far, two domestic firms, Now Corp and Philippine Telegraph and Telephone Corp, have publicly said they are planning to bid. President Rodrigo Duterte has also opened up the auction for foreign firms to participate, albeit as a minority partner working with a domestic firm. He extended an invitation to China last year and Beijing has since given permission for China Telecom Corp Ltd to invest in the Philippines' telecoms sector. The National Telecommunications Commission said that a May 24 deadline for the submission of bids has been tentatively set, with a decision scheduled for the first week of June. Officials said they would be looking at which firm could offer the best range of cellphone services, network coverage and speed of internet services. The government is identifying frequencies not utilised by incumbent players and plans to re-allocate them, said Eliseo Rio, officer-in-charge at the Department of Information and Communications Technology. The NTC is also studying the idea of firms sharing cellphone towers and of allowing number portability, which would allow consumers to switch service providers while keeping the same phone number. Companies bidding in the auction are required to have a telecoms license. Around 30 domestic firms currently have one. Government officials have said that while Duterte extended an invite to China for a firm to participate, there is no guarantee a bid involving a Chinese firm will be chosen. PLDT and Globe, with market capitalisations of $6.4 billion and $4.4 billion respectively, say they welcome the competition. ($1 = 52.0000 Philippine pesos) (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales; Editing by Martin Petty and Edwina Gibbs) Feb 27 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the New York Times business pages. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy. - United Parcel Service Inc has sued European antitrust regulators for a decision they made five years ago that blocked its takeover of the Dutch delivery company TNT Express, according to a record of court proceedings published on Monday. http://nyti.ms/2HMhtXI - California's Department of Motor Vehicles said Monday that it is eliminating a requirement for autonomous vehicles to have a person in the driver's seat to take over in the event of an emergency. The state has given 50 companies a license to test self-driving vehicles. http://nyti.ms/2sWFx6Z - Speaking to a meeting of governors, U.S. President Donald Trump addressed ideas like arming teachers and reopening mental institutions but avoided any mention of raising the age requirement for purchasing a rifle. http://nyti.ms/2Cni5Uk - The lieutenant governor in Georgia, Casey Cagle, threatened on Monday to kill a proposed lucrative tax cut for Delta Air Lines Inc after the company eliminated a discount fare program for the National Rifle Association over the weekend. http://nyti.ms/2CLRYCm (Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom) FILE PHOTO: The Boeing logo is seen on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner airplane in Long Beach, California March 14, 2012. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo By Alexander Cornwell DUBAI (Reuters) - Talks between SaudiGulf Airlines and Boeing (BA.N) could include deals for the 787 Dreamliner, the Saudi carrier's chief commercial officer said on Monday. The privately owned airline signed a preliminary agreement for 16 Boeing jets last May during a visit to Saudi Arabia by U.S. President Donald Trump. SaudiGulf's Chief Commercial Officer Karim Makhlouf said that the agreement covers talks for the 787-9 and 787-10 or the 777-200 and 777-300 jets. The airline previously said the deal could include Boeing 777s. SaudiGulf operates a fleet of four 136-seat Airbus (AIR.PA) A320s on six domestic routes and will launch its first international flight to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on March 1. Two Airbus A320 or larger A321 jets will be added to its fleet this year to launch flights to Pakistani cities Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar and Sialkot. "We are in good talks with Boeing," Makhlouf told Reuters in an interview in Dubai. The wide-body aircraft could be delivered within the next three to four years, he said. SaudiGulf has not indicated exactly which aircraft it intends to take and the talks have not yet produced an order.The airline aims to fill at least 70 percent of its seats this year, up from 65 percent in 2017, and plans to increase usage of its planes to at least 12 hours a day in 2018, up from about 11 hours last year. The airline is also in talks with Airbus and Boeing to buy A320s or Boeing 737s to build a narrow-body fleet of about 30 jets, Makhlouf said. It is still considering whether to take delivery of 16 Bombardier (BBDb.TO) CS300s ordered prior to SaudiGulf's launch in 2016, he said. SaudiGulf, owned by the Abdel Hadi Al-Qahtani & Sons Group, is Saudi Arabia's youngest airline, having started domestic operations in October 2016. It competes against state-owned Saudi Arabian Airlines and discount operator Flynas, as well as smaller carriers, in a domestic market of 32 million people. (This version of the story has been refiled to remove reference to weekend in paragraph 3) (Reporting by Alexander Cornwell; Editing by Tom Balmforth) Starbucks (SBUX) executive chairman Howard Schultz has observed an abundance of empty storefronts across in prime locations in a number of U.S. cities. We are at a major inflection point as landlords across the country will be forced (sooner than later) to permanently lower rent rates to adjust to the new norm as a result of the acute shift (consumer behavior) away from brick and mortar retailing to e-commerce, Schultz wrote in a memo to his leadership team thats been reviewed by Yahoo Finance. Around four years ago, Schultz predicted that retail was going to witness a seismic change in consumer behavior. With the rise of e-commerce, customer foot traffic has fallen at many brick-and-mortar retailers, making it so many can no longer afford the rent rates that date back to leases signed 3-7 years ago, Schultz explained. Landlords will be faced with having to answer two questions: Do they maintain their current rent expectations while their storefronts remain unoccupied? Do they begin to significantly lower the rent?, Schultz wrote, adding, Trust me, rents are coming down! The good news is that lower rents create an opportunity for businesses to build out more stores. This is not going to be a cyclical change in our occupancy expenses, but a permanent lowering of the cost of our real estate, Schultz wrote. Since 2016, Starbucks has made a push to build out its premium Reserve brand, including opening 20 to 30 Roasteries, 1,000 Reserve stores, and converting 20% of the existing stores to Reserve bar locations. On Tuesday, the first Starbucks Reserve store opened to the public in Seattle located at the companys headquarters. This new format offers a marketplace-style environment with an immersive experience at the Roasteries. Roasteries are expected to open in Milan and New York later this year and Tokyo and Chicago in 2019. The company also recently invested in Princi, an artisanal Italian baker from Rocco Princi, which offers the food at the companys premium brand locations. Starbucks also plans to open stand-alone Princi stores in Seattle, Chicago, and New York. Julia La Roche is a finance reporter at Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter. The impending bankruptcy filing of The Weinstein Company will likely add a major twist to the on-going lawsuits against the company, many of which relate to the alleged sexual misconduct of Harvey Weinstein. The firm, which produced films such as The Kings Speech and Tulip Fever, revealed late Sunday that it would file for bankruptcy. If it follows through, it will probably have to be removed as a co-defendant in the suits where it is named. The Weinstein Company fired Weinstein, who co-founded it, after the allegations against the movie mogul emerged in October last year. However, several of the suits resulting from Weinsteins alleged conduct have since targeted the company, as well as him. A class action filed in December by actresses such as Louisette Geiss and Katherine Kendall claims that the production company and others enabled Weinsteins predatory behavior. The company filed a motion to dismiss the suit last week, arguing that Weinstein alone was responsible. Weinsteins former personal assistant, Sandeep Rehal, also named The Weinstein Company as a co-defendant when she sued last December, alleging that she had been forced to facilitate his sexual behavior and had herself been a victim of his harassment. British actress Kadian Noble, who claims that Weinstein assaulted her in Cannes, France, also sued the company along with Weinstein, back in November. And then theres the lawsuit from husband-and-wife production team Scott Lambert and Alexandra Milchan, who sued The Weinstein Company over the collapse of a planned Amazon series, which was supposed to be produced by the firm but was scrapped after the scandal brokethe pair said the company must have known the scandal was coming. And just a few days ago, the Swiss chocolatier Lindt and Sprungli sued The Weinstein Company for $133,333, over the cancellation of a Weinstein Golden Globes party for which it had already shelled out sponsorship money. All these plaintiffs now face a problem, in part, brought about by yet another lawsuit. Story continues The Weinstein Company is out of cash, and it had been hoping to sell itself for $500 million in order to stay afloat. But then, earlier this month, New York attorney general Eric Schneiderman launched a civil rights lawsuit against the firm (and Weinstein himself) for violating gender discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual abuse and coercion laws. The suit explicitly said that any sale must see Weinsteins victims compensated. And it seems that the saleto an investor group led by former Small Business Administration head Maria Contreras-Sweethas now fallen through. In a letter to Contreras-Sweet on Sunday, The Weinstein Company said that last week the investors asked the company to work with them as partners toward the common goal of saving the Company, preserving jobs and establishing a victims fund. The firm said this would have required urgent interim funding to stop it from going under, but this had not appeared. Instead, you increased the liabilities left behind for the Company, charting a financial path that will fail, The Weinstein Company said, alleging other failures on the investors part. While we deeply regret that your actions have led to this unfortunate outcome for our employees, our creditors and any victims, we will now pursue the Boards only viable option to maximize the Companys remaining value: an orderly bankruptcy process. In general, bankruptcies effectively end lawsuits against the company going bustthe New York attorney generals suit would be an exception here, as it is a law enforcement suit. As soon as a company files for bankruptcy, the suits seeking damages are suspended. The only way plaintiffs can continue the suit is to demonstrate that the bankruptcy was filed for in bad faith, for example by proving that the firm had no other liabilities. With The Weinstein Company reportedly in debt to the tune of $520 million (as calculated back in November), that probably means those suing the production firm will get no money from it. That said, many of the suits named The Weinstein Company as a co-defendant. With the other co-defendants including Harvey Weinstein himself and, in the class action, his brother Bob Weinstein and their former production company Miramax, the plaintiffs may potentially still see a payout. This article was updated to clarify that the New York AGs suit would go ahead, bankruptcy notwithstanding. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman expressed disappointment Monday at the collapse of the sale of the Weinstein Co., and defended its decision to intervene in the deal. In a statement from spokesman Eric Soufer, the attorney generals office said that the buyers led by Maria Contreras-Sweet and Ron Burkle had pledged up to $90 million for victims of Harvey Weinsteins sexual harassment. If true, that would mark a substantial increase from earlier proposals. We are disappointed that despite a clear path forward on those issues including the buyers commitment to dedicate up to $90 million to victim compensation and implement gold-plated HR policies the parties were unable to resolve their financial differences, Soufer said. The Weinstein Co. is now expected to file for bankruptcy and to lay off much of its workforce. The sale collapsed on Sunday night, as the Weinstein Co. board sent a letter blasting the buyers for not pledging to provide for the companys immediate cash flow needs. The failure of deal will likely lead to some finger-pointing at the attorney generals office. Two weeks ago, the parties were close to an agreement when Schneiderman filed a discrimination lawsuit, which sought oversight of the companys sexual harassment policies and management team. Since then, Schneiderman said that the office had engaged in very productive discussions with both parties about the issues raised in the suit. The statement is careful to pin the reason for the collapse of the sale on financial differences, though clearly the attorney generals intervention delayed the deal, increasing the financial pressure on the Weinstein Co. We will continue to pursue justice for victims in the event of the companys bankruptcy, and our investigation into the pattern of egregious abuse by Harvey Weinstein and his enablers is ongoing, Soufer said in the statement. Story continues Related stories Weinstein Co. Bankruptcy Plan Shocks Maria Contreras-Sweet Investor Group Weinstein Co. to Declare Bankruptcy After Sale Collapses Weinstein Co. Sued by Lindt Chocolatier Over Canceled Golden Globes Party Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts! An organization in Pakistans insurgency-wreaked regions says its preliminary lists have identified thousands of people who have disappeared over the past 15 years. The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) or Pashtun Protection Movement, is working with the families of those who have disappeared during more than 15 years of unrest in Pakistans northwestern Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, and parts of southwestern Balochistan Province. These regions are predominantly populated by ethnic Pashtuns, who comprise up to 20 percent of the countrys population. Mohsin Dawar, a lawyer and senior figure in PTM, says more than 4,000 people remain unaccounted for on the lists. These lists are still a work in progress, but the names various individuals in our movement have received now exceed 4,000, he told RFE/RLs Gandhara website on February 26. We expect to have a final list once we build a central database. Bilal Mehsud is in charge of collecting the raw data of names, places, occupations, and circumstances of how individuals disappeared. He says that based on their consultations, more than 8,000 Pashtuns remain untraceable. The data I have seen has more than 2,000 names, but we are constantly receiving more, he told Radio Mashaal. Mehsud says volunteers collect the data in Pashtun communities spread over 1,000 kilometers along Pakistans western border with Afghanistan. Some victims were based in Karachi and other major Pakistani cities where large numbers of Pashtuns have fled since the onset of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda insurgency in their homeland in 2003. He says the missing include victims of enforced disappearances -- civilians detained by security forces without a trial -- and many more who have been lost during the past 15 years of unrest. We want the victims of enforced disappearances to be released or presented before a court of law, he said. We also have victims whose families know nothing about them. We would like the authorities to establish their whereabouts so that their families can have closure. PTM emerged from a 10-day protest earlier this month in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. The protest was prompted by the murder of a young Pashtun shopkeeper and aspiring model, Naqeebullah Mehsud. His killing in an alleged staged gunbattle with police galvanized Pashtuns, prompting thousands to protest an end to enforced disappearances, unlawful killings, racial profiling, discrimination and unexploded bombs littering their homeland. Most of their grievances are rooted in 15 years of conflict. FATA became a front line in the global war on terrorism after the Taliban and allied groups retreated to the mountainous region following the demise of the Talibans hard-line regime in neighboring Afghanistan. More than 60,000 civilians and soldiers died in the ensuing violence that began in 2003 in Waziristan and gradually engulfed all of FATA and parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. While the Pakistani government agreed to immediately address the issue of landmines and promised justice for Mehsud, its response to other issues such as enforced disappearances was muted. The prime minister also said that genuine grievances raised by Jirga members from different quarters will be addressed as soon as possible, noted a February 6 government memo about a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and a delegation from the Pashtun protest. The issue of disappeared persons is a sensitive one for the authorities. For years, families of alleged separatists, militants, activists, and dissidents have accused Pakistani security forces and secret services of abducting and detaining their loved ones. The military and numerous Pakistan intelligence agencies, however, vehemently deny the enforced disappearances. In 2011, the government established the Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances to investigate the issue. By late 2017, it claimed to have traced more than 2,000 people. But lawmakers were not impressed. Many of the so-called recovered [people] were dead bodies. Did the commission initiate any investigation or prosecution against officials involved? asked Senator Farhatullah Babar. The commissions website lists thousands of names of victims of enforced disappearances. The database has an update on their status and indicates whether someone has yet to be located, has returned home, or is under investigation. Mehsud says that since the beginning of the protest more than 200 people have returned to their homes. Most were residents of South Waziristan, North Waziristan, and other districts in FATA. PTM leader Manzoor Ahmad Pashteen says they are determined to find all of those who have disappeared. Thousands of Pashtuns are victims of enforced disappearance while thousands more have been killed unlawfully, he said in a video posted on Facebook on February 26. He urged communities from all Pashtun regions to help their organization in collecting details about the victims. We will then ask the state why they have failed to protect us, he said. Trustwave launches proactive Threat Hunting service Trustwave, a Chicago-based cybersecurity company that has specialized in cyberattack response, has launched Threat Hunting for Government, a service designed to proactively and continuously search federal networks for intruders and malware. The company decided to develop Threat Hunting, Trustwave Government Solutions President Bill Rucker explained, after seeing in practice the numbers of attacks and malware that managed to evade perimeter defenses such as firewalls and other security measures. While the time between compromise and detection of an intruder on federal networks has been dropping, its still too long. Four years ago, it was 172 days, Rucker said. Last year it was 80 days. This year it was 49 days. So we are getting better. But still, 49 days from compromise to detection is a lot time during which significant damage to our critical infrastructure, to our national infrastructure, could be done. The problem, he said, is that most system operators arent actively looking for intruders. He noted that one federal IT official recently estimated that 70 percent of his cybersecurity spend last year was right of the boom, meaning post incident or post breach. According to Rucker, Threat Hunting flips the script. The premise behind Threat Hunting "is to assume you have been breached, said Brian Hussey, Trustwave's vice president of cyber threat detection and response. Assume you have an attacker right now in your system, and it is our job to go find it. After an overall vulnerability assessment is completed, the Threat Hunting endpoint detection and response tool monitors traffic between the network and devices that connect to it, whether locally or remotely. The EDR records that information in a database for further analysis, which can later be referred to after an unwanted event takes place. All good EDR tools that are worth their salt are going to have automated root cause analysis, Hussey said. If we find a piece of malware, they give you an automated chain of events that led up to it. An exploit might, for example, be traced back to a phishing email that came from a computer in Eastern Europe. By itself, however, thats not enough to allow researchers to be sure theyve got both the right culprit and have determined the extent of the intrusion. We need to take a look and do temporal analysis around each of these events, Hussey said. What other events happened? We need to be able to pull that malware out and do full reverse engineering on it. When we do that, we develop more indicators of compromise. Those IOCs fuel the rest of the hunt. Finally, we believe that an external look is as important as an internal look, Hussey said. His team also scans the dark web for signs of a client having been compromised. Are a clients credentials being sold on the dark web? he said. Are any of their products being sold? Are hackers discussing them? Of course, if an agency is going to subscribe to Trustwaves Threat Hunting service, it must open its networks to the companys research team -- known as SpiderLabs -- on an ongoing basis. While acknowledging the natural protectiveness of many system operators, Hussey said that heightened concerns about intruders has encouraged more openness to outside specialists who have appropriate security clearances. With a couple of really good threat hunting successes, word got around, said Hussey. They started coming to us and access issues started to go away. Editor's note: This article was changed Feb. 28 to correct the name of the Threat Hunting for Government service. VANCOUVER, Feb. 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SouthGobi Resources Ltd. (TSX:SGQ) (HK:1878) (SouthGobi or the Company) is pleased to announce that SouthGobi Sands LLC (SGS), the Companys subsidiary in Mongolia, has completely fulfilled its obligations under the previously disclosed judgment of the Mongolian Second District Criminal Court (the Tax Verdict) rendered against SGS in January 2015. SGS has been informed by the Court Decision Implementation Agency of Capital City in Mongolia that the enforcement procedure in relation to the Tax Verdict has been terminated and no party shall have any right to make any further claims in connection with the Tax Verdict. For details relating to the background of the Tax Verdict, please refer to the Companys Managements Discussion and Analysis for the quarter ended September 30, 2017 and, in particular, the section under the heading entitled Governmental and Regulatory Investigations, which is available under the Companys profile on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com and on the website of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange at www.hkexnews.hk. SGS and the Company will continue to comply with the laws of Mongolia and to contribute to Mongolias society, economy, and environment as a whole. About SouthGobi SouthGobi, listed on the Toronto and Hong Kong stock exchanges, owns and operates its flagship Ovoot Tolgoi coal mine in Mongolia. It also holds the mining licences of its other metallurgical and thermal coal deposits in South Gobi Region of Mongolia. SouthGobi produces and sells coal to customers in China. OAKVILLE, Ontario, Feb. 23, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Saint Jean Carbon Inc. (Saint Jean or the Company) (TSX-V:SJL) (OTCQB:TORVF), a carbon science company engaged in the design and build of green energy storage, green energy creation and green re-creation through the use of carbon materials is pleased to announce that the Company on January 25th 2018 has entered into an arms length non-binding term sheet with Great Lake Graphite Inc. to acquire a 95% ownership of the historical mining property known as the Lochaber claims located in South Western Quebec in the same general region as the Companys other flag ship properties. The Lochaber Graphite Deposit reports an Inferred Resource of 4,091,000 tonnes at 4.01% Cg using a cut-off grade of 2.45% Cg. Link to Resource: http://www.greatlakesgraphite.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/NI43-101-Res-Est-Lochaber.pdf Terms; The Company will issue to Great Lakes Graphite Inc. 3,000,000 shares, pay a 1.75% net operational operating cost royalty for 10 years, pay a fee of $425,000.00 divided equally into four payments over four years and enter into an offtake agreement to allow Great Lakes the first right of refusal to purchase up to 10,000 metric tons per year for the life of the mine. (The cost of the material will be a market value and the royalty will not be paid on offtake purchases). The proposed terms are subject to the TSX Venture approval and if deemed necessary shareholder approval. The transaction is subject to customary due diligence that will be completed in the coming weeks. Once completed, the Companies will enter into a definitive agreement shortly thereafter. Paul Ogilvie, CEO, commented: The relationship between our properties is directly in the same historical past producing zones, this will greatly increase our holdings. The ability to run mineralized material from other regional properties helps us to better understand how a multi pit plan could possibly provide a more stable mining signature. Our goal to be the largest holder of properties in SW Quebec continues to grow. Dr. Christian Derosier, P.Geo., President of C.D.G.C. Inc., is the qualified person (QP) as defined in National Instrument 43-101 and, acting on behalf of Saint Jean Carbon, has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release. About Saint Jean Carbon Saint Jean is a publicly traded carbon science company, with specific interests in energy storage and green energy creation and green re-creation, with holdings in graphite mining and lithium claims in the province of Quebec in Canada. For the latest information on Saint Jeans properties and news please refer to the website: http://www.saintjeancarbon.com/ On behalf of the Board of Directors Saint Jean Carbon Inc. Paul Ogilvie, CEO and Director Information Contact : Email: info@saintjeancarbon.com Tel: (905) 844-1200 Neither 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. FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS: This news release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of applicable securities legislation, concerning Saint Jeans business and affairs. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, intends budget, scheduled, estimates, forecasts, intends, anticipates or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, and are naturally subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances that may cause actual results to differ materially. The forward-looking statements in this news release assume, inter alia, that the conditions for completion of the Transaction, including regulatory and shareholder approvals, if necessary, will be met. Although Saint Jean believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that these expectations will prove to be correct. Statements of past performance should not be construed as an indication of future performance. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. A number of factors, including those discussed above, could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Any such forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is provided as of the date of this press release, and Saint Jean assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. English German 54% increase in total revenue, amounting to CHF 101.5 million Operating loss reduced by 68% to CHF 14.1 million Cash position as of year-end 2017 increased to CHF 310.7 million License and distribution agreements in 2017 for Cresemba and Zevtera cover more than 100 countries with CHF 80 million in upfront payments and up to USD 1.1 billion potential milestone payments Basel, Switzerland, February 27, 2018 - Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. (SIX: BSLN) announced today its financial results for the financial year 2017 with total revenue increased to CHF 101.5 million (2016: CHF 66.0 million; +54% year-on-year), including product sales from Cresemba (isavuconazole) and Zevtera (ceftobiprole) of CHF 16.3 million (2016: CHF 7.1 million; +130%) and royalties on U.S. and European Cresemba sales by Basilea's license partners of CHF 15.0 million (2016: CHF 7.3 million; +105%). Basilea reported CHF 310.7 million (year-end 2016: CHF 289.0 million; +7.5%) in cash and investments as of December 31, 2017 and a significantly reduced operating loss of CHF 14.1 million (2016: CHF 43.9 million; -68%). Chief Executive Officer Ronald Scott said: "2017 marked a successful year in the implementation of our strategy to maximize the value of our commercial-stage drugs Cresemba and Zevtera through partnerships. At the same time our revenue from sales, royalties and revenue recognition increased to over CHF 100 million while our operating loss reduced by 68% to approximately CHF 14 million bringing Basilea closer to profitability. We received approximately CHF 80 million in upfront payments from our new partners in 2017. Our license and distribution agreements now cover more than 100 countries worldwide. In addition, potential regulatory and sales milestone payments under our licensing agreements amount up to USD 1.1 billion." Anti-infectives: New partnerships create the basis for accelerated commercial success During 2017, Basilea entered into major partnerships for its two marketed anti-infective drugs, the antifungal Cresemba (isavuconazole) and the antibiotic Zevtera (ceftobiprole). In June, Basilea announced a license agreement with Pfizer for Cresemba for more than 40 countries in Europe (excluding the Nordics) plus Russia, Turkey and Israel. The transaction completed in July, providing Basilea an upfront payment of CHF 70 million. This agreement was then extended to cover China and sixteen countries in the Asia Pacific region. Basilea receives mid-teen royalties on sales by Pfizer in these territories and is eligible for up to USD 650 million in regulatory and sales milestone payments. Following the partnering of Cresemba with Pfizer, Basilea entered into a distribution agreement with Cardiome Pharma Corp. for Zevtera for Europe (excluding the Nordics) and Israel. Basilea also entered into a distribution agreement with Avir Pharma Inc. for isavuconazole and ceftobiprole for Canada in June and a license agreement with Shenzhen China Resources Gosun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. for ceftobiprole for China in September. Further distribution partnerships for both Cresemba and Zevtera are in place for Latin America with Grupo Biotoscana S.L., the Nordics with Unimedic Pharma AB and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with Hikma Pharmaceuticals LLC. Cresemba sales by our partner Astellas Pharma Inc. showed continued strong growth in the second full year on the U.S. market. Astellas reported sales of USD 77 million for the calendar year 2017, which is a 67% increase year-on-year. The strong sales performance in the U.S. triggered a first sales milestone payment to Basilea of CHF 5 million in 2017. In 2017, Pfizer launched Cresemba in Spain, and Unimedic launched Cresemba and Zevtera in the Nordics. Overall, Basilea expects product sales to grow significantly over the coming years based on both the growing demand in existing markets and contributions from new markets as the drugs gain regulatory approvals and are launched in additional countries. In Japan, license partner Asahi Kasei Pharma Corporation is conducting an abbreviated clinical development program for isavuconazole to support a potential registration. Asahi Kasei Pharma successfully completed a phase 1 study in healthy volunteers and intends to start a phase 3 clinical study in the first half of 2018. Working towards accessing the U.S. antibiotics market with increased BARDA funding for the development of ceftobiprole The U.S. market is an estimated 70% of the global market for branded hospital antibiotics based on value1 and therefore plays an important role in Basilea's strategy for ceftobiprole. In 2017 Basilea agreed on Special Protocol Assessments (SPAs) with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for two cross-supportive clinical phase 3 studies to support a potential regulatory filing in the U.S.: one in acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI) and a second in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB). In 2017, ceftobiprole also received Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) designation from the FDA for the treatment of SAB, adding to its QIDP designation for ABSSSI and community-acquired pneumonia. QIDP status extends the market exclusivity in the U.S. to ten years after approval. Following the agreement of the SPAs with the FDA, the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) allocated a second tranche of USD 58 million in June 2017 to support Basilea's clinical phase 3 program under BARDA's existing contract with Basilea.2 BARDA allocated a first tranche of approximately USD 20 million in 2016. The total value of the BARDA contract could reach approximately USD 108 million if pre-defined milestones are met. In 2017, Basilea received reimbursements from BARDA of CHF 10.5 million. The ABSSSI study has started and Basilea anticipates commencing patient enrollment in the SAB study by mid-2018. Expanding clinical testing of tumor checkpoint controller BAL101553 into brain cancer Significant progress has also been achieved in the clinical-stage oncology projects. Basilea entered into a clinical study collaboration with the Adult Brain Tumor Consortium (ABTC), which is funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute. A phase 1 study with tumor checkpoint controller BAL101553 in combination with radiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who have a reduced sensitivity to standard chemotherapy was started at the end of 2017. In addition, Basilea is also exploring BAL101553 as once-daily oral administration in patients with recurrent or progressive glioblastoma in a separate arm of the ongoing phase 1/2a study. Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive form of primary malignant brain tumor and is an area of high medical need where very few treatment options are currently available. In 2017, Basilea completed the phase 1 dose-escalation and established the clinical dose ranges for BAL101553 in two clinical phase 1/2a studies in patients with advanced solid tumors with daily oral administration and weekly 48-hour intravenous (i.v.) infusion, respectively. Basilea plans to initiate a phase 2a expansion with weekly 48-hour i.v. infusion in patients with recurrent glioblastoma and ovarian cancer. BAL3833: potential first-in-class cancer therapy in phase 1 clinical testing The oral dosage form of BAL3833 is currently being investigated by Basilea's partner and licensor of the drug candidate, the Institute of Cancer Research, in a clinical phase 1 dose-escalation study in patients with solid tumors including metastatic melanoma. The study is being sponsored by The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust. BAL3833 blocks BRAF and CRAF and also inhibits the SRC kinase family, which play an important role in the transmission of cell growth and proliferation signals. If deregulated, they are associated with tumor growth and the development of resistance to current therapies. BAL3833 is to Basilea's knowledge the only panRAF/SRC kinase inhibitor in clinical testing. Focus on growing revenue and expanding pipeline CEO Ronald Scott stated: "We are focused on further growing revenue from our marketed drugs Cresemba and Zevtera. We expect our partners to launch in additional countries in Europe and other parts of the world in 2018, driving sustainable top-line growth. We are expanding our clinical programs in oncology and we have initiated patient recruitment in our ceftobiprole phase 3 program with the goal to enter the U.S. market upon regulatory approval. We are actively exploring opportunities to further strengthen our pipeline in our focus areas of anti-infectives and oncology through internal and external innovation." Key figures (In CHF million, except per share data) 2017 2016 Product revenue 16.3 7.1 Contract revenue 74.0 57.7 Revenue from R&D services 0.3 0.2 Other revenue 10.8 0.9 Total revenue 101.5 66.0 Costs of products sold (9.0) (5.3) Research & development expenses, net (53.5) (48.4) Selling, general & administration expenses (53.1) (56.1) Total cost and operating expenses (115.7) (109.9) Operating loss (14.1) (43.9) Net loss (19.4) (51.3) Net cash provided by/ (used for) operating activities 19.0 (75.0) Basic and diluted loss per share, in CHF (1.79) (5.07) (In CHF million) Dec 31, 2017 Dec. 31, 2016 Cash and financial investments 310.7 289.0 Notes: Consolidated figures in conformity with U.S. GAAP; rounding was consistently applied. The consolidated financial statements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. for the financial year 2017 can be found on the Company's website at http://annualreport.basilea.com. Financial summary In 2017, Basilea substantially increased its revenues and significantly improved its financial results. Full-year 2017 total revenue increased by 54% to CHF 101.5 million (2016: CHF 66.0 million) driven by product revenue of CHF 16.3 million (2016: CHF 7.1 million), contract revenue of CHF 74.0 million (2016: CHF 57.7 million), including CHF 37.7 million (2016: CHF 37.7 million) related to the global agreement for Toctino and CHF 31.9 million (2016: CHF 19.3 million) related to the license agreements with Astellas and Pfizer for isavuconazole, and other revenue of CHF 10.8 million (2016: CHF 0.9 million), including CHF 10.5 million BARDA reimbursements (2016: CHF 0.7 million). Research and development expenses amounted to CHF 53.5 million (2016: CHF 48.4 million), representing the Company's investment in the U.S. phase 3 program for the antibiotic ceftobiprole (before BARDA reimbursements), the phase 1/2a development of oncology drug candidate BAL101553, the phase 1 clinical development of oncology drug candidate BAL3833, activities for the pediatric program for ceftobiprole, and activities related to isavuconazole as well as other compounds in the Company's research portfolio. Selling, general and administration expenses amounted to CHF 53.1 million (2016: CHF 56.1 million), and mainly include costs related to the commercialization of Cresemba and Zevtera in major European markets. The license agreement with Pfizer and the distribution agreement with Cardiome executed in 2017 mainly drive the decrease in expenses by CHF 3.0 million as compared to 2016. The significant increase in revenues in 2017 resulted in a substantial decrease in operating loss by 68% to CHF 14.1 million from CHF 43.9 million in 2016. Net loss in 2017 was reduced to CHF 19.4 million (2016: CHF 51.3 million), resulting in a lower basic and diluted loss per share of CHF 1.79 (2016: CHF 5.07). Operating activities in 2017 generated net cash of CHF 19.0 million as compared to a cash consumption of CHF 75.0 million in 2016. Combined cash and investments amounted to CHF 310.7 million as of December 31, 2017, compared to CHF 289.0 million as of December 31, 2016. This improvement in comparison to 2016 is mainly due to upfront and milestone payments received in the amount of CHF 86 million from licensing and distribution partners as well as higher revenue from product sales and royalties. 2018 Outlook In 2018 Basilea will focus on: Growing revenues from Cresemba and Zevtera together with its partners including increasing contributions from markets outside of Europe and the U.S. Initiating ceftobiprole phase 3 study in bacteremia under BARDA contract Expand clinical programs in oncology Strengthen anti-infectives and oncology pipeline through internal and external innovation Reflecting these key priorities, Basilea anticipates total revenue of approximately CHF 105-115 million with contributions from Cresemba and Zevtera increasing to approximately CHF 60-65 million. The operating loss in 2018 is estimated at approximately CHF 10-20 million. Portfolio Cresemba (isavuconazole) - an i.v. and oral azole antifungal addressing the urgent medical need for new options to treat invasive mold infections Isavuconazole is commercialized under the trade name Cresemba. Basilea has entered into license and distribution agreements for isavuconazole covering the U.S., Europe, China, Japan, Latin America, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Canada, Russia, Turkey and Israel. To date isavuconazole has been granted market authorizations for the treatment of the mold infections invasive aspergillosis and mucormycosis in the U.S., 28 European Union member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.3, 4, 5 Isavuconazole has orphan drug designation for the approved indications in Europe and the U.S. and was designated a Qualified Infectious Disease Product (QIDP) by the U.S. FDA under the Generating Antibiotics Incentives Now (GAIN) Act. Outside European countries and the U.S., isavuconazole is currently not approved for commercial use. Zevtera (ceftobiprole) - a cephalosporin antibiotic for i.v. administration, for the treatment of severe bacterial infections in the hospital Ceftobiprole is commercialized under the trade name Zevtera in major European countries.6 It has demonstrated rapid bactericidal activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including methicillin-susceptible and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA) and susceptible Pseudomonas spp.7 Ceftobiprole is currently approved for sale in major European countries and several non-European countries for the treatment of adult patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) and hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), excluding ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP).7 Basilea has entered into license and distribution agreements for the drug covering Europe, Latin America, China, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, Canada and Israel. Ceftobiprole has QIDP status for the potential treatment of acute bacterial skin and skin structure infections (ABSSSI), Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) and CAP. Ceftobiprole is not approved for commercial sale in the U.S. BAL101553 - a small-molecule tumor checkpoint controller in phase 1/2a clinical testing in patients with advanced solid tumors including recurrent or progressive glioblastoma The drug candidate BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862)8 is being developed as a potential therapy for diverse cancers. The molecule binds the colchicine site of tubulin with distinct effects on microtubule organization,9 resulting in the activation of the "spindle assembly checkpoint" which promotes tumor cell death.10 It demonstrated in-vitro and in-vivo activity in diverse treatment-resistant cancer models, including tumors refractory to conventional approved therapeutics and radiotherapy.11, 12, 13 BAL101553 efficiently distributes to the brain, with anticancer activity in glioblastoma models.14, 15, 16 BAL3833 - a potential first-in-class cancer therapy (panRAF/SRC kinase inhibitor) in phase 1 clinical testing, which targets tumor growth and therapeutic resistance across diverse tumor types including melanoma BAL3833 (also known as CCT3833) is an orally available small-molecule drug candidate which interferes with the transmission of growth and proliferation signal cascades through so-called kinases. If deregulated, these signaling pathways may lead to uncontrolled growth, i.e. cancer, and also to the development of resistance to current therapies. BAL3833 is called a panRAF kinase inhibitor because it not only blocks the BRAF and CRAF kinases but also inhibits the SRC kinase family. In particular, melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer, is often linked to a mutated BRAF kinase. BAL3833 demonstrated activity in preclinical studies in a range of patient-derived melanoma models with intrinsic or acquired resistance to selective BRAF inhibitors, as well as in tumor models derived from colorectal, pancreatic and lung cancers associated with genetic changes resulting in activation of the RAF pathway.17 The compound originates from The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) in London, where it was developed by scientists funded by Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust. Conference call Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. invites you to participate in a conference call on Tuesday, February 27, 2018, 4 p.m. (CET), during which the Company will discuss today's press release. Dial-in numbers are: +41 (0) 58 310 5000 (Europe and RoW) +1 (1) 866 291 4166 (USA) +44 (0) 207 107 0613 (U.K.) A playback will be available 1 hour after the conference call until Thursday, March 1, 2018, 6 p.m. (CET). Participants requesting a digital playback may dial +41 (0) 91 612 4330 (Europe and RoW) +1 (1) 866 416 2558 (USA) +44 (0) 207 108 6233 (U.K.) and will be asked to enter the ID 18917 followed by the # sign. Note to shareholders The shareholders of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. are informed that the Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. for the business year 2017 will take place on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 2 p.m. at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Basel, Switzerland. The invitation will be published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (Schweizerisches Handelsamtsblatt, SHAB). Shareholders who are recorded in the share register with voting rights on April 10, 2018 will be entitled to participate and exercise their voting rights. About Basilea Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is a commercial stage biopharmaceutical company developing products that address the medical challenge of increasing resistance and non-response to current treatment options in the therapeutic areas of bacterial infections, fungal infections and cancer. The company is committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative pharmaceutical products to meet the medical needs of patients with serious and life-threatening conditions. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland and listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Additional information can be found at Basilea's website www.basilea.com. Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd. is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For further information, please contact: Peer Nils Schroder, PhD Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations +41 61 606 1102 media_relations@basilea.com investor_relations@basilea.com This press release can be downloaded from www.basilea.com. References 1 QuintilesIMSHealth SMART MIDAS, May 2017 2 Contract No. HHSO100201600002C, Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response 3 Isavuconazole is approved in the U.S. for patients 18 years of age and older in the treatment of invasive aspergillosis and invasive mucormycosis. Cresemba U.S. prescribing information [Accessed: February 26, 2018] 4 In the 28 European Union member states, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, isavuconazole is approved for the treatment of adult patients with invasive aspergillosis and for the treatment of adult patients with mucormycosis for whom amphotericin B is inappropriate. European Public Assessment Report (EPAR) Cresemba: http://www.ema.europa.eu [Accessed: February 26, 2018] 5 In Switzerland, isavuconazole is approved for the treatment of adult patients with invasive aspergillosis and for the treatment of mucormycosis in adult patients who are resistant to or intolerant of amphotericin B and in adult patients with moderate to severe renal impairment. Full indication in: Swissmedic-approved information for healthcare professionals as of August 2017 6 The trade name for ceftobiprole in Europe is generally Zevtera, except for France and Italy where the trade name is Mabelio, and Ireland, where the trade name is Adaluzis 7 U.K. Summary of Product Characteristics (SPC) Zevtera: http://www.mhra.gov.uk/ [Accessed: February 26, 2018] 8 J. Pohlmann et al. BAL101553: An optimized prodrug of the microtubule destabilizer BAL27862 with superior antitumor activity. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2011, abstract 1347; Cancer Research 2011, 71 (8 Supplement) 9 A. E. Prota et al. The novel microtubule-destabilizing drug BAL27862 binds to the colchicine site of tubulin with distinct effects on microtubule organization. Journal of Molecular Biology 2014 (426), 1848-1860 10 F. Bachmann et al. BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862): the spindle assembly checkpoint is required for anticancer activity. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2015, abstract 3789 11 A. Broggini-Tenzer et al. The novel microtubule-destabilizing drug BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862) sensitizes a treatment refractory tumor model to ionizing radiation. EORTC-NCI-AACR symposium 2014, abstract 202 12 G. E. Duran et al. In vitro activity of the novel tubulin active agent BAL27862 in MDR1(+) and MDR1(-) human breast and ovarian cancer variants selected for resistance to taxanes. Cancer Research 2010, 70:8 (supplement 1, abstract 4412) 13 F. Bachmann et al. BAL101553 (prodrug of BAL27862): A unique microtubule destabilizer active against drug refractory breast cancers alone and in combination with trastuzumab. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2014, abstract 831 14 R. Berges et al. The novel tubulin-binding checkpoint activator BAL101553 inhibits EB1-dependent migration and invasion and promotes differentiation of glioblastoma stem-like cells. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2016 (15), 2740-2749 15 A. Schmitt-Hoffmann et al. BAL27862: a unique microtubule-targeted agent with a potential for the treatment of human brain tumors. AACR-NCI-EORTC conference 2009, abstract C233; Molecular Cancer Therapeutics 2009, 8 (12 Supplement) 16 A. C. Mladek et al. The novel tubulin-binding 'tumor checkpoint controller' BAL101553 has anti-cancer activity alone and in combination treatments across a panel of GBM patient-derived xenografts. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2016, abstract 4781 17 G. Saturno et al. Therapeutic efficacy of the paradox-breaking panRAF and SRC drug CCT3833/BAL3833 in KRASdriven cancer models. American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) annual meeting 2016, abstract LB212 Do you believe in climate change? Many people say they dont, but Chris Kucharik, a professor in the department of agronomy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has data that shows otherwise. During his presentation at the UW Discovery Farms Annual Conference, Kucharik talked about weather and climate, and shared some information from Wisconsin and beyond. He pointed out that we are setting many more record-high temperatures than we are record-low temperatures. In Wisconsin, the greatest changes are being seen during the winter months and overnight. In general, the country is getting wetter, and the frequency of heavy rainfall events are going up. By the middle of this century, Kucharik said the average temperature in Wisconsin could be 3 to 4 degrees warmer than it is now. There will also be more days over 90F in the next 40 to 50 years. This could translate into a one to two-week extension of the growing season. On average, spring planting in the Midwest has moved four to five days earlier per decade. In Wisconsin, planting is two weeks earlier than it was in the late 1970s. Kucharik explained that this is not entirely due to climate change, as modifications to agronomic practices and seed technology allow us to put seeds into cooler, wetter soils. Still, the earlier onset of spring certainly contributes to the ability to plant sooner. He reminded the audience that weather is the short-term variability that people notice and remember. Changes in climate are long term and more subtle. Climate changes impact production, the types of crops that are grown, and the hybrids that are used. Kucharik said we will have to adapt and mitigate these changes in climate on our system. Because agriculture is so diverse, it wont be a one-size-fits-all approach. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2018 February 5, 2018 Kolkata, Feb 27 (IBNS) Drinking tea is so common to us in India that only a personal choice, Darjeeling orthodox or Assams CTC, can become a debatable point. But in Japan, the process of tea making and drinking evolved into an elaborate ceremony that can stretch from 40 to 45 minutes. Though the breakneck speed of modern life may not allow the ceremonious procedure today, it is interesting to know about ritual and the philosophy behind the traditional Japanese tea ceremony. Connoisseurs of Kolkata had a rare opportunity recently to experience Chado the Way of Tea, in an event organized by the Consulate General of Japan, Kolkata, in collaboration with Paschimbanga Bangla Akademi at the Rabindra-Okakura Bhavan. Inaugurating the function, Masayuki Taga, Consul General of Japan, drew on the close ties between India and Japan and reminded how Rabindranath Tagore visited Japan five times beginning in 1916. He wrote about his experience in Japan Jatri. Tagore also wrote about the tea ceremony he had witnessed. The demonstration of the ceremony at the Kolkata event was presided over by Sosei Ajioka, tea master and instructor of the Urasenka school. In the traditional ceremony guests are invited with utmost courtesy who then sit on tatamis spread on the floor in an alcove and politely partake of sweets made at home while the host meticulously inspects every utensil to see that they are purified to his satisfaction. Even the bowls and tea accessories are chosen to keep to the harmony of the occasion. On the wall of the alcove usually hangs a scroll with calligraphy writings that mean peace, tranquility and harmony. The whole idea is to enjoy tea in good company in a relaxed way and enjoy the tranquility of the atmosphere, explained Ajioka. The tea ceremony was followed by demonstration of beating the Kotsuzumi, traditional hand-held small drum. It is usually played in Noh theatre performances to pray for peace and a good harvest. Genjiro Okura, grand master of Okura school of Kotsuzumi-kata, explained how the drums history goes back to centuries before Christian era. The axis that holds the two sides made of horse skin is fashioned from cherry tree wood and can last for hundreds of years. This one is 450 years old, Okura said pointing to his drum. Percussion is the oldest musical instrument the world over. We have lots of influence from India as Buddhism travelled from here and even in this drum we can detect some, he said. (Reporting by Ranjita Biswas) Shillong, Feb 27 (IBNS): I Love You Talang, generally we think that the words are linked to someone falling in love, but it is not true. Believe it or not it is a name of a person. A youth from Meghalaya's Nartiang assembly constituency, whose name is I Love You Talang, voted on Tuesday to choose his favourite candidate in the assembly poll. I Love You Talang had exercised his franchise at 25 Moorab Government LP School under Nartiang assembly constituency. Not only I Love You Talang, Argentina, Indonesia, Sweden, Italy have also exercised their franchise in the assembly polls in Meghalaya. Argentina, Indonesia, Sweden, Italy are the voters of Umniuh Tmar village under Shella assembly constituency in Meghalayas East Khasi Hills district. Not only countries names, some people of the village also have names of some states and cities like Tripura, Meghalaya, Goa, Bombay, Vellore, among others. Umniuh Tmar village, which is close to the Indo-Bangladesh border under Pynursla block, has a population of 593. Of which 294 are males while 299 are females, as per Population Census 2011. The area has 861 male voters and 918 female voters. The people of the area have also taken the names like Skip, Enjoy, Welding, Faithfull, Everyday, Rajdoot, April, July, Carefully, Dial, Circle, Sample, Credit, Study, Protein, Laid, Correction, Attention etc. Maximum people of the area have a fondness for English and so they use English words with their names. An interesting fact is that some candidates, who have contested in the elections, have also carried these types of funny and interesting names like Innocent, Couple, Moonlight, Hopeful, Defender, Witness Day, Comfort, Field Marshal, Process, Welborn, Councellor, Good Leaderson etc. 67% voter turnout in Meghalaya has been registered till 4pm. (Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath) New York, Feb 27 (JEN): Amid growing insecurity in Lake Chad, a senior United Nations relief official on Monday said the international community and the Government of Cameroon must step up support for humanitarian action in the country, which is most affected by regionwide violence sparked by Boko Haram. The Lake Chad crisis and violence in the sub-region are far from over said Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator Ursula Mueller as she wrapped up a four-day visit to Cameroon. The international community cannot spare any effort, she added. Violent attacks by armed groups, mostly affiliated to Boko Haram, have increased over the past year and I have seen its direct impact and growing humanitarian needs in the Far North of Cameroon. In Cameroon, Ms. Mueller met with the minister of External Relations and the governor of the Far North. Visiting the Zamai internally displaced people (IDP) site and Minawao refugee camp, she saw first-hand the impact of the deteriorating security situation in the Lake Chad basin. In the region, Cameroon is most affected by the Boko Haram conflict, which started in Nigerias northeast nine years ago. More than 60 suicide attacks were conducted in the Far North in 2017 a 50 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Mueller recounted the story of a family in the Zamai IDP camp, in which the mother, Sara, and her baby had been kidnapped by and escaped from Boko Haram, saying that she had no idea of her husbands whereabouts nor whether he was even still alive. We need to be able to provide food, water and other life-saving assistance, as well as protection, to women and men like Sara and her ten-month-old baby, explained Ms. Mueller. The response to increased forced recruitment and violent attacks should also be increased solidarity with those affected by crises. She underscored that this area needs greater attention, including from donors. Security and access are major challenges but the lack of funding remains, by far, the main impediment to humanitarian aid reaching those most in need, flagged Ms. Mueller. Currently, the Humanitarian Response Plan proposed by the UN and its partners have only received five per cent of the $305 million required. In Cameroon, 3.3 million people need urgent humanitarian assistance. In the Far North, one-out-of-three people, or 1.5 million people, are now food insecure at crisis and emergency levels. Between an increased influx of refugees from the Central African Republic and socio-political tensions in the northwest and southwest regions, the Deputy Relief Coordinators visit also provided an opportunity to discuss other crises facing the country. She emphasized that UNs deep concern about the situation in Cameroon, including in the south- and north-west. We are again calling on all parties to avoid further escalation of violence and to protect civilian populations, said Ms. Mueller. Further fact-finding missions will be taking place as early as next week and we are putting into place assistance to the internally displaced persons, who are estimated in the tens of thousands, she concluded. OCHA/Eve Sabbagh Afghanistan, Feb 27 (IBNS) : A major attack by the militants affiliated with the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria /ISIS) terrorist group was repulsed in northern Jawzjan province of Afghanistan, leaving 22 militants dead or wounded. Local Khaama Press quoted the Afghan National Army as saying that a large group of ISIS militants launched a large scale attack in Darzad district but their attack was repulsed by the security forces. The source further added that nine militants were killed and thirteen others were wounded after the Afghan forces responded to the militants attack. According to Shaheen Corps, the attack was launched on security posts of the Afghan National defense and security forces but did not elaborate further if the Afghan forces suffered any casualty or not. The anti-government armed militant and terrorist groups have not commented regarding the report so far. Renewing the mandate of the special rapporteur will send a strong signal to the Islamic Republic that the international community is watching and expects the government to produce tangible improvements, said CHRIs executive director. The organization also highlighted a number of specific problem areas that had been identified by the latest occupant of that UN post, the recently deceased Asma Jahangir. These included political imprisonment, forced confessions, executions of juvenile offenders, discrimination against women, religious and ethnic minorities, and so on. Coinciding with the CHRI statement, AFP reported that the imminent opening of the Human Rights Council session had itself become the focus of protests against Iranian human rights violations. This is because the list of speakers for that session included Iranian Justice Minister Alireza Avaie, who is under sanction by the European Union and Switzerland for participation in multiple human rights violations. The AFP noted that exiled member of the Iranian Resistance had identified Avaie as a key player in the massacre of political prisoners in 1988, which reportedly claimed upwards of 30,000 victims. Accordingly, Resistance activists are leading efforts to organize protests outside of the UN headquarters in Geneva on Tuesday, when Avaie is scheduled to speak. These general calls for international action on Irans past and present human rights violations were accompanied by statements on the particular human rights crises that are ongoing in that country. For instance, the UNs Office for the High Commissioner on Human Rights released a document on Friday which called attention to the regimes recent targeting of environmental activists. The statement cited multiple UN human rights experts as saying it is hard to fathom how such individuals could be portrayed as spies. The crackdown on environmentalists make international headlines earlier in the month when it was reported that at least 10 activists, including at least two dual nationals, had been arrested and accused of espionage. One of these, the Canadian-Iranian founder of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation, Kavous Seyed-Emami died in custody and was dubiously portrayed by Iranian authorities as having committed suicide after confessing guilt. The OHCHR statement says, Mr Emamis death is extremely disturbing. Not only was he arrested on flimsy charges, but his death in custody strongly suggests foul play. The Iranian authorities must urgently allow a prompt, impartial and effective investigation into the circumstances and causes of Mr. Emamis death. But many critics of the Iranian regime reject such appeals for internal Iranian investigations as naive and impractical. The Islamic Republic has a long history of covering up its human rights abuses, a fact that was highlighted by the CHRI statement when it made reference to the Iranian judiciarys High Council for Human Rights, which consistently issues public denials of reported human right violations, rather than investigating or directly addressing them. The same conspiracy of silence was also the subject of a report published by IW on Monday regarding the 2003 death of another Iranian-Canadian, Zahra Kazemi. The report notes that an advisor to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani made the unusual admission that the Iranian Intelligence Ministry knew that she was not a spy, and also that her death could have been avoided if she had been given medical attention after receiving the injury that later caused her to die from a cerebral hemorrhage. Although this statement from then-Intelligence Minister Ali Younesi acknowledges past wrongdoing, it breaks with years of false narratives about Kazemis death, including false narratives that had been presented in reports signed by Younesi himself. Furthermore, there is no evidence that the alteration of his story might be embraced by other officials, much less that it will spread to other instances of Iranian human rights abuses. In fact, the crackdown on mass protests in December and January of this year showcased the regimes persistent suppression of information. Initially, judiciary officials insisted that only a few hundred Iranians had been arrested as a result of those protests, but subsequent information leaks necessitated that these figures increased over a period of weeks, ultimately topping out around 4,000. However, the National Council of Resistance of Iran maintains that the actual number of arrests exceeds 8,000. The organization has also called attention to 50 shooting deaths in the midst of the protests, and a dozen subsequent deaths from torture. The regimes use of torture in this latest crackdown does not appear to be in dispute, but the still-emerging details suggest that the full scope of these incidents is not yet known. A principal reason for this is the regimes ongoing intimidation not only of dissident activists but also of their families. A report published by CHRI on Saturday provided one specific example of this phenomenon, noting that the civil rights activist Mahmoud Masoumi had been beaten and given electric shocks after his arrest in January, but his family had not filed a formal complaint out of fear they would face reprisals. Masoumi was released eight days after his initial arrest but was later re-arrested and has been held incommunicado in Evin Prison since February 1. This is indicative of the fact that crackdowns on the December/January uprising are ongoing. And that fact is also true of separate crackdowns on other activist movement including the environmentalist movement. According to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, the Iranian judiciary announced that three more environmental activists had been arrested on Sunday. Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei provided little detail about those arrests but once again linked them to vague accounts of infiltration by the United States and Israel. These arrests were preceded last week by at least two more arrests of participants in the Revolution Street campaign against Irans forced veiling laws. This was the subject of another RFE/RL report on Friday, which included video of one such protester being violently shoved off a utility box by a police officer, where she was standing with her hijab held at the end of a stick in imitation of dozens of other such demonstrations over the past two months. IW took up the story on Monday and reported that the woman had suffered a fractured knee as a result of the assault and had been denied access to medical treatment by arresting officers. The same report finds that all of the women known to have been arrested as part of this campaign have been beaten while in detention. At least one of these cases is now being handled by the Security Court, suggesting that these protesters, like the environmental activists, could soon be prosecuted for espionage and made subject to particularly harsh sentences. However, the IranWire report also points to encouraging public reactions to the protests and crackdowns. Social media users have reportedly begun using the hashtag #IfIAmThere to announce ways in which they plan to protest protesters against abuse by authorities. Such trends recall attention to various media commentaries on the January mass uprising which suggested similar protests would ultimately emerge in response to regimes violent repression. On this view, international actions like the renewal of the special rapporteurs mandate may be seen not only as pressure on the Iranian government but also a sign of political cover for Iranian activists themselves. The Fars report quoted Bahram Qasemi, the spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry as saying that Trumps demands would prove to be in vain and worthless. Tehran has consistently rejected any notion of reexamining the terms of the deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The ballistic missile issue is not part of that agreement, but a parallel resolution by the United Nations Security Council calls upon the Islamic Republic to avoid all new work on weapons that are designed to be capable of carrying a nuclear warhead. Trump and other critics of the JCPOA consider it and the ballistic missile issue to be inseparable. However, their technical separation into two different documents may be beneficial to ongoing efforts to toughen restrictions on Iranian missile activities without undermining the nuclear deal. This partly accounts for the New York Times claiming in a report on Monday that there has been some progress toward resolution of this particular issue among the US and its European allies. The US will certainly face push-back on this matter from Russia and China, fellow members of the Security Council who also appear to be increasingly close allies of the Islamic Republic. But while this may prevent the international body from modifying either the JCPOA or the associated resolution, it cannot stop the other two permanent members Britain and France from joining the US along with Germany and the European Union in imposing their own multilateral restrictions and penalties. Various recent public statements from European leaders have highlighted their apparent willingness to follow this course of action. In this way, those leaders have also suggested that European views on Iran policy are trending closer to those of the Trump administration. This has presumably been driven in part by consistent American outreach to those allies, which has aimed at focusing attention on Iranian misbehavior such as the apparent transfer of ballistic missiles and other arms to the Houthi rebels in Yemen, in violation of international embargoes. This particular issue was the subject of a British-drafted resolution that was introduced in the UN on Monday, which would condemn Iran, according to the Associated Press. It was not immediately clear what practical effect the resolution might have, but one might assume that it would serve as a meaningful gauge of overall UN attitudes toward Iran while also warning the Islamic Republic of Europes serious intention to work with the US in countering destabilizing activities. However, neither this resolution nor the underlying European statements point to broad-based agreement between those countries and the US. As the New York Times report emphasizes, the European are still broadly committed to the JCPOA, despite Trumps repeated descriptions of it as an embarrassment and the worst deal ever. Furthermore, this rhetoric has reportedly reinforced concerns that the Europeans might not be able fully satisfy Trumps demands. Recent reports have indicated that there is lingering uncertainty about precisely what those demands are, and that this has made US allies wary of committing to unspecified action subsequent to the May 12 deadline imposed by the White House. In other words, it remains possible that Britain, Germany, and France will ultimately agree with the Iranian Foreign Ministrys description of those demands as excessive. Even some conservative critics of the JCPOA have endorsed a compromise solution in which the US and its partners preserve the nuclear deal as it is currently written while also utilizing their own multilateral authority to enforce a tough line on Irans overall behavior. The Times specified that such an approach would constitute a successor deal that is separate from the JCPOA. But the same report speculated that Trump might reject an offer along these lines, in favor of preserving his campaign-trail promise to either tear up or conclusively renegotiate the agreement itself. But even in the face of these uncertainties, there are signs that Europe may continue its trend toward greater assertiveness. Certainly, the White Houses information campaign is part of the reason for this, but regional developments also serve to independently highlight the incompatibility of Iranian and Western interests. On Monday, this was particularly evident in the context of international dialogue on the Syrian Civil War and the effort to impose a nationwide ceasefire. On one hand, the Associated Press quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif as saying that Iran accepted the UN plan to halt hostilities for a period of 30 days. But whereas this was in keeping with the Western-educated diplomats role as a friendly face for the regimes international relations, his comments were undermined by public statements from other Iranian officials, and also from the conditions on the ground. Reuters reported on Monday that Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and his backers had escalated the conflict in direct defiance of the ceasefire, leading to more than 500 new deaths over the past week. Meanwhile, The Tower quoted General Mohammad Bagheri as providing the rationale for this defiance. The Chief of Staff of the Iranian army insisted that the areas of ongoing Iranian military activity are exempt from the ceasefire because Iran is conducting operations against terrorists. The UN ceasefire specifically states that the terrorist groups ISIL, al Qaeda, and the al Nusra Front are not included in the agreement. But since entering the conflict more than six years ago, Tehran has publicly characterized all opponents of the Assad regime as terrorists, and has excused all of its operations on that basis. The Tower notes that this approach has been largely responsible for the failure of numerous previous attempts to impose ceasefires on the Syrian conflict. Irans control over Shiite paramilitaries in both Syria and Iraq has been widely described as part of an effort by the Islamic Republic to establish regional hegemony spanning a Shiite crescent with its capital in Tehran. Separate from the concerns over Iranian nuclear and missile activities, the White House has been pushing for stronger Western policies in opposition to that Iranian design. While the US and its allies may still face an impasse over some aspects of the nuclear agreement, it is quite possible that efforts to confront this issue will be influenced by the multilateral response to broader concerns about Iranian foreign policy. But it remains to be seen whether Irans rhetorical defense of that policy will harden the face of joint US-European pressure, or whether it will begin to shift toward begrudging compromise. The police are currently identifying the detainees. Chief of the Ukrainian Interior Ministry's media liaison office Artem Shevchenko has reported 13 policemen have been injured in clashes outside the Ukrainian parliament's building. Shevchenko told journalists that the 13 police officers "had received injuries of varying severity," an UNIAN correspondent said. However, the ministry's spokesman did not specify whether there were injured among the protesters. Read alsoPolice, Nat. Guard should stop protecting Ukrainian courts interior ministerShevchenko noted that the police were identifying the detainees, as well as the purpose of their stay outside the parliament's building. According to him, after previous fatal incidents outside the parliament when national guardsmen were killed, the police will react "to violations of the law, namely to throwing tires, stones, Molotov cocktails." As UNIAN reported, clashes between law enforcers and protesters near the parliament's building were reported on February 27. At first, the police pushed back the protesters from the barriers installed near the Verkhovna Rada. The law enforcers also took away tires from the protesters. Several protesters threw smoke bombs toward the law enforcers. In addition, the law enforcers went to a tent camp near the parliament's building. The activists left the tents and defended themselves with sticks, as well as threw bottles at the policemen. Bill Cosbys daughter Ensa, 44, dies in Massachusetts Bill Cosbys 44-year-old daughter Ensa Cosby died in Massachusetts from kidney disease, a spokesman for the comedian said Monday. Spokesman Andrew Wyatt did not immediately offer other details about her death on Friday. Please keep the Cosby family in your prayers and give them peace at this time, he said. ADVERTISEMENT Bill Cosby lost another of his five children in 1997 when his 27-year-old son, Ennis, a graduate student at Columbia University, was shot to death while changing a flat tire near a freeway off ramp in Los Angeles. A 22-year-old man was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Bill Cosby, 80, owns a home in the western Massachusetts town of Shelburne Falls. Ensa Cosby spoke out on her fathers behalf before his trial last year on charges he drugged and molested a woman at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004. He has pleaded not guilty and remains free on bail ahead of his retrial scheduled for April 2. His first trial ended with a hung jury last year. Ensa Cosby and her sister, Erinn, recorded statements that aired on New York hip-hop radio station Power 105. Ensa Cosby said she strongly believed in her fathers innocence and believed that racism played a big role in aspects of the scandal. How my father is being punished by a society that still believes black men rape white women but passes off boys will be boys when white men are accused, and how the politics of our country prove my disgust. My father has been publicly lynched in the media, she said. Boys will be boys was an apparent reference to President Donald Trump excusing as locker room talk, lewd remarks he was recorded making in footage released during the 2016 presidential campaign by Access Hollywood. ADVERTISEMENT Cosby is due in court next Monday for a pretrial hearing as his lawyers and prosecutors clash over how many other accusers can testify at his retrial. In the wake of Ensa Cosbys death, Bill Cosby could ask to postpone the pretrial hearing or wave his right to be in court for it. Cosbys lead attorney, Tom Mesereau, did not immediately respond to messages. A defamation lawsuit filed by seven women who have accused Cosby of sexual misconduct also is pending in Massachusetts. Ensa Cosby largely stayed out of the public spotlight during her life though she did appear in 1989 in a single episode of her fathers popular sitcom The Cosby Show, which ran from 1984-1992. Associated Press writers Michael Sisak in Philadelphia, and Sarah Betancourt and Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston contributed to this story. The founder of a Los Angeles drug and alcohol treatment facility was convicted today of sexually assaulting eight women, the Los Angeles County District Attorneys Office announced. A jury deliberated for about a day before finding 56-year-old Christopher Bathum guilty of 31 counts, including forcible rape, sexual penetration by foreign object, forcible oral copulation and sexual exploitation. A sentencing setting hearing is scheduled for April 17 in Department 105 of the Foltz Criminal Justice Center. The defendant faces a maximum possible sentence of about 65 years in state prison and lifetime sex offender registration. Deputy District Attorney Reinhold Mueller of the Sex Crimes Division prosecuted the case. Bathum owned and operated Community Recovery of Los Angeles and other entities in Southern California and Colorado. Evidence presented at trial showed that Bathum preyed upon female patients between 2014 and 2016 by providing them with drugs as they battled to overcome their addiction. He then sexually assaulted them while they were under the influence, the prosecutor said. The victims ages range from their 20s to their early 30s. Several of the assaults happened at the facilities that he ran. Case BA451669 was investigated by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Development: On 24 February, Venezuelas President Nicolas Maduro launched two days of military exercises in the face of alleged US incitement of the Bolivarian armed forces (FANB) to carry out a coup detat. Significance: Maduro maintained that the military exercises demonstrated that the FANB was full square behind his government as it prepares to hold widely criticised elections. Maduro will stand in early presidential elections on 22 April, but his governments attempt to hold legislative, state, and municipal council elections concurrently has hit a glitch. Maduro inspected the military barracks at Fuerte Tiuna in Caracas. During a compulsory radio and television broadcast, Maduro claimed that imperialism is wrong about the FANB, in allusion to recent comments by US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Maduro said the FANB was loyal and committed to independence and the socialist fatherland. During his regional tour earlier this month, Tillerson sparked controversy by intimating that the FANB might step in to manage a peaceful transition back to democratic rule in Venezuela. The loyalty of the FANB has been called into question at various junctures in Maduros troubled tenure since 2012. Maduro is not a military man himself, unlike the government strongman Diosdado Cabello, and the rank-and-file is not immune from the countrys economic crisis. The military hierarchy, however, is heavily invested in the government. Seven of the 23 state governorships are in military hands, along with no shortage of cabinet ministries. And, last November, Maduro awarded control of the oil industry to the military, with Major General Manuel Quevedo appointed president of the state-owned oil company Pdvsa and oil minister, to satisfy a military demand for greater influence within the ruling Bolivarian movement in return for propping up the government at such a problematic time. Looking Ahead: Presidential aspirants have until 27 February to register before the national electoral council (CNE). Henri Falcon is the only opposition candidate of any stature considering whether to run. The CNE president, Tibisay Lucena, announced on 23 February that the body would be unable to organise legislative elections, brought forward from the end of 2020, to be held at the same time but she did say they could be held shortly afterwards. Argentina: Argentinas soy and corn crops have been blighted by a four-month-old drought. According to the February report from Argentinas board of trade (BCR), soy production for 2017/2018 harvest will fall to 46.5m tonnes (down 5.5m tonnes on January estimates) and maize production will fall to 35m tonnes (down 4.9m tonnes on January estimates). Argentinas agroindustry minister, Miguel Etchevehere, has said it is too early for the government to quantify the economic losses from the drought but admitted the country will suffer some losses. It is too soon to put a figure on it. There were fewer crops this year, but [maize and soy] prices have also recovered by 10%, he told local broadcaster Radio El Mundo. On 20 February, FS Bioenergia, a joint venture between Brazilian and US-based investors, announced it will build its second corn-based ethanol plant in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Located in the municipality of Sorriso, the plant, which is slated to produce 680m litres of ethanol per year, will require an investment of R$1bn (US$308m) and will generate more than 1,500 direct and indirect jobs. FS Bioenergia is the first ethanol producer in Brazil to use 100% corn in its production. A collaboration between the Brazilian agribusiness Tapajos Participacoes S/A and the US-based Summit Agricultural Group, the company was created to produce ethanol and coproducts of the cereal in the city of Lucas do Rio Verde, Mato Grosso. End of preview - This article contains approximately 566 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options This is Whats Trending Today The 90th Academy Awards are less than one week away. The event, also known as the Oscars, will take place March 4 in Hollywood, California. More than 30 million people are expected to watch the live television broadcast of the event. Ahead of the ceremony, people are getting to know this years nominated films and stars. Although this years event takes place in March, search interest in the Oscars usually peaks in February. The search engine Google recently created a special page that shows the most popular Oscar-related searches. Here is a look: Lead Actress Nominees Of the five women nominated for the best lead actress Oscar, Margot Robbie is getting the most attention, Google says. The search engine reports the Australian actress makes up 36 percent of Google searches among the five nominees. Robbie played American figure skater Tonya Harding in the film I, Tonya. Robbie also produced the film, which received three Oscar nominations. Yet many experts believe Robbie will not win. They say Frances McDormand of Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri is likely to take home the Oscar. In the film, McDormand plays Mildred Hayes, a woman filled with anger over the unsolved rape and murder of her daughter. McDormand received 8 percent of Google searches. English actress Sally Hawkins comes in with 5 percent of Google searches, the least of the five women nominated for the award. She stars in The Shape of Water, a fantasy film directed by Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro. The film earned 13 Oscar nominations, the most of any film this year. Saoirse Ronan stars in another of the years top films, Lady Bird. It received nine Oscar nominations. Ronan received 24 percent of the Google searches, just behind Meryl Streep. Streep earned the nomination this year for her work in Steven Spielbergs political thriller The Post. Streep has already won three Oscars and has been nominated a total of 21 times. Lead Actor Nominees Among the men nominated for Best Actor, Denzel Washington and Timothee Chalamet can each claim more than 30 percent of Google searches. Chalamet received the nomination for his leading role in the coming-of-age story Call Me By Your Name, while Washington earned it for Roman J. Israel Esq. But many movie experts say Gary Oldman is the most likely winner. He has earned critical praise for his portrayal of Winston Churchill in The Darkest Hour. Oldman brought in just 11 percent of Google searches. The other two nominees -- Daniel Day-Lewis and Daniel Kaluuya -- each come in with 13 percent of total searches. They are nominated for their work in the historical drama The Phantom Thread and the horror movie Get Out, respectively. Kimmel returns Another popular person on Google is this years host Jimmy Kimmel. He also hosted last years event. That is when presenters Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty famously announced La La Land instead of Moonlight as the Best Picture winner. After the mistake was corrected, Kimmel told television viewers, I promise Ill never come back to host another Oscars. But Kimmel will be back. On Google, popular Kimmel-related searches no longer mention last years Oscar mix-up. Instead, they include questions like, How old is Jimmy Kimmel? and How tall is Jimmy Kimmel? Best Picture Top Google Searches While we wont know this years Best Picture winner for a few more days, Google has published a list of the most-searched Best Picture winners of all time. The top five are: Titanic Gladiator The Godfather Forest Gump Moonlight And thats Whats Trending Today. Ashley Thompson wrote this report for Learning English. Hai Do was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story peak - v. to reach the highest level fantasy - n. something that is produced by the imagination : an idea about doing something that is far removed from normal reality thriller - n. a novel, movie, etc., that is very exciting : a story full of exciting action, mystery, adventure, or suspense coming-of-age- n. the time when a person becomes an adult horror - adj. intended to cause feelings of fear or horror portrayal - n. the way in which an actor plays a character Scientists say extreme warm air high over the Arctic Ocean this week is melting sea ice and sending very cold air to Europe. And they say such strange weather may become more common as temperatures continue to rise worldwide. The effects of the warming are clear on Greenlands north coast, where scientists have recorded 61 hours of temperatures above 0 degrees [Celsius] in 2018. That is a record for a place normally frozen at this time of year. And across the Arctic region, temperatures are now 20 degrees Celsius above the average. But far to the south, a rare snow storm struck Rome, Italy, on Monday. "Warm Arctic, cold continent" Scientists have suspected for more than 40 years that disappearing sea ice in the Arctic Ocean could make areas to the south colder. Climate scientists even use the phrase warm Arctic, cold continent. Ruth Mottram is a climate scientist at the Danish Meteorological Institute. Its never been this extreme, she said. Lars Kaleschke is a professor at the University of Hamburg in Germany. He told Reuters that it is unclear how often these warming periods will take place. The question is whether this weather will happen more often. This is just one event so its hard to make a causal relationship, he said. Over time, as sea ice melts, more ocean is being exposed. This releases more heat into the atmosphere. The warmer air may, in turn, change the flow of air currents high in the atmosphere called the jet stream. Nalan Koc is research director at the Norwegian Polar Institute. He said that the jet stream becomes wavier, meaning that colder air can penetrate further south and warmer air further north. The World Meteorological Organization, the U.N. weather agency, says the cold weather in Europe is being caused by a sudden stratospheric warming above the North Pole. This has forced colder air south. Arctic ice disappearing Ice in the Arctic Ocean is at its lowest recorded levels for late February. The U.S. National Snow and Ice Data Center says about 14 million square kilometers of the ocean is currently covered with ice. That is about one million square kilometers less than the long-term average. Scientists have used satellites to observe Arctic ice for more than 30 years. The head of the United Nations Environment Programme, Erik Solheim, says the weather shows that the earths climate is warming. What we once considered to be anomalies are becoming the new normal, he told Reuters. Temperatures rising Scientists want to know if the Arctic weather is being driven by human activities or natural forces. Satellite temperature measurements only date back to the late 1970s. The warming temperatures are already causing problems. On the Norwegian island group of Svalbard, temperatures are more than 13 degrees Celsius higher than the long-term average. Svalbard is home to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a center aimed at saving plant genetic material for future generations. The seed vault is located there partly because of Svalbards low temperatures. But unusually warm temperatures could threaten the collection. Mottram, of the Danish Meteorological Institute, said Europes winters have actually become less severe, although this years temperatures appear low. Its not actually that cold. Its just our perceptions have shifted from a normal winter, she said. Im Mario Ritter. Mario Ritter adapted it for VOA Learning English from a Reuters report and other sources. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story causal adj. having to do with a cause jet stream n. a strong current of fast wind traveling above the earth in one direction penetrate v. to go through or into something or someplace stratospheric - adj. relating to the upper layer of the Earth's atmosphere anomaly n. something that is not expected or unusual perceptions n. the way a person thinks about a something or someone A new study suggests that partial doses of the yellow fever vaccine can help protect communities against the disease. The study was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. It found that individuals given a one-fifth dose of yellow fever vaccine developed enough antibodies to protect them against infection. Erin Staples was one of the writers of a report on the study. She says this is good news in places where the vaccine is in short supply. "That was the encouraging thing, that this can be done as a potential way when there's supply limitations on the vaccine to help potentially control an outbreak." Staples works for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is an agency of the United States government. Yellow fever is a serious problem in parts of Africa, as well as Central and South America. People get the disease from infected mosquitoes. The term yellow in the name describes the yellow coloring of some patients skin. The World Health Organization says a small number of patients develop severe health problems and about half of them die within seven to 10 days. Staples noted that in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, health workers had to use partial doses of the yellow fever vaccine in 2016. At that time, the vaccine was in short supply. The World Health Organization suggested a one-fifth dose based on some experiments performed in Brazil. Staples said many experts wondered if a partial dosage would be effective against the disease. She noted that nearly 8 million people were targeted for vaccination in the city of Kinshasa. "It worked in small cohorts, in a well-controlled clinical trial situation. But when you go to do this large scale in the field, does it work?" The partial amount proved effective. Ninety-eight percent of people tested had protective antibodies to the virus one month after being vaccinated. In Brazil, more than 350 people have become sick with yellow fever since late last year. Vaccine supplies remain in short supply. Health officials have launched what they are calling the largest-ever partial-dose mass vaccination campaign. The goal is to vaccinate nearly 24 million people. Each person is being given a one-fifth dose of the yellow fever vaccine. Staples says the new research offers hope. "I think that's very encouraging for the short term, immediate control. We still need some information about how long immunity will last." A full dose of yellow fever vaccine provides lifelong protection against the disease. Researchers will continue to study how long people who received partial doses are protected. Im Jonathan Evans. Steve Baragona reported this story for VOA News. Jonathan Evans adapted his report for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. _____________________________________________________________ Words in this Story antibody n. a substance produced by the body to fight disease dose n. the amount of a medicine, drug, or vitamin that is taken at one time encouraging adj. causing a hopeful feeling outbreak n. a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease cohort n. a friend or someone you know clinical adj. related to a place where medical treatment is provided scale n. the size of something, especially when compared to something else The following companies are subsidiares of Franklin Resources: AdvisorEngine, AdvisorEngine Inc., Alumcreek Holdings LLC, Athena Capital Advisors, Balanced Equity Management, Balanced Equity Management Pty. 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GlaxoSmithKline Plc is a healthcare company, which engages in the research, development, and manufacture of pharmaceutical medicines, vaccines, and consumer healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Pharmaceuticals; Pharmaceuticals R&D; Vaccines and Consumer Healthcare. The Pharmaceuticals segment focuses on developing medicines in respiratory and infectious diseases, oncology, and immuno-inflammation. The Pharmaceuticals R&D segment focuses on science related to the immune system, the use of human genetics and advanced technologies, and is driven by the multiplier effect of Science x Technology x Culture. The Vaccines segment produces pediatric and adult vaccines to prevent a range of infectious diseases including, hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, measles, mumps and rubella, polio, typhoid, influenza, and bacterial meningitis. The Consumer Healthcare segment develops and markets brands in the oral health, pain relief, respiratory, nutrition and gastro intestinal, and skin health categories. The company was founded in 1715 and is headquartered in Middlesex, the United Kingdom. Read More The casino and retail shops at the long-delayed The 13 Hotel may open in March 2019, according to a filing by the operating company to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In the filing, The 13 Holdings Ltd. said it expected to operate 66 live dealer tables, with around a quarter designated VIP and three-quarters for premium mass. The filing noted that there may be substantial changes to these plans to accommodate the requirements of the Macau government. Last month, the opening date of The 13 Hotel was delayed to at least April 30 this year, with company representatives saying that the property was prepared to open with or without a casino. GGCT lowers the Travel Alert for Bali to Level 1 Given that the situation caused by the eruption of the Agung volcano in Bali has alleviated, the Tourism Crisis Management Office (GGCT) lowered the Travel Alert to Level 1. However, in a statement issued yesterday the GGCT alerts Macau residents who intend to travel to or those already in Bali to be aware and follow closely the development of the situation that might affect their personal safety there. UM scholar publishes paper in top linguistics journal Ronald Fong, an assistant professor from the Department of English at the University of Macau (UM), recently published a paper titled Chinese Motion-Directional Construction: A Conceptual and Cognitive Analysis in Studies in Chinese Linguistics. The journal, which is published by De Gruyter, is an international academic publication dedicated to the comparative study of Chinese language and linguistics. It provides a platform for research studies of comparative linguistics and dialectal grammar. Fong has been working at UM for more than 20 years. His areas of expertise concern a wide range of topics in linguistics, including syntax, sociolinguistics, and the interface between syntax and semantics, particularly in the constructionist models. Korea is third major visitor market, statistics show Visitor arrivals decreased by 4.7 percent year-on-year to 2,741,465 in January 2018. Compared with December 2017, visitor arrivals decreased 10.2 percent month-to-month. Same-day visitors (1,258,358) dropped by 16.8 percent year-on-year while overnight visitors (1,483,107) increased by 8.8 percent, the Statistics and Census Service (DSEC) stated. Visitors from mainland China decreased by 3.5 percent year-on-year to 1,927,642, with those travelling under the Individual Visit Scheme (896,088) dropping 20.6 percent. Visitors from Hong Kong (438,573) decreased by 16.8 percent, while visitors from South Korea rose 20.2 percent year-on-year to 97,861, exceeding those from Taiwan (83,591) for the first time and making South Korea the third major visitor market. IC to conduct book exchange As part of the 2018 Macao Library Week, public libraries will launch a book exchange from Thursday. The book collection period will last until April 8. Any residents interested in participating in the book exchange can bring their collection of books to the Cultural Bureaus (IC) libraries and receive a scorecard recording the value of their book contribution. During the exchanges promotional period between April 21 and 22, residents can exchange books of equivalent value to the value accrued on their scorecard at the Old Court Building. The IC has issued a reminder that certain books, including books about religion, comic books, IT books published more than one year ago, and travel books published before 2016 cannot be exchanged. Govt accused of manipulating taxi purchases The government has been accused of forcing the taxi industry to buy one specific model of electric vehicles for taxi operations, according to a report by Cheng Pou. Earlier, the government announced new regulations requiring the next 100 taxis purchased to be electric cars. Two models of vehicle have been proposed for use in taxi services. However, the president of the Associacao dos Comerciantes e Operarios de Automoveis de Macau, Leng Sai Vai, noted that the government is in effect promoting only one type of vehicle, as the two permitted models cost MOP300,000 and MOP800,000, and most owners would not be able to afford the more expensive vehicle. Chinese censors acted quickly yesterday to remove satirical commentary online about the ruling Communist Partys move to enable President Xi Jinping to stay in power indefinitely, while political observers weighed the possibility that China will return to an era of one-man rule. A day after the party announced a proposed constitutional change to be approved next month, Chinese internet users found themselves unable to signal approval or disapproval by changing their profiles. Key search topics such as serve another term were censored. Nevertheless, social media users shared images of Winnie the Pooh hugging a jar of honey along with the quote, Find the thing you love and stick with it. The Disney bears image has been compared to President Xi Jinping, prompting periodic blocks on the use of Pooh pictures online. Other online commenters wrote, Attention, the vehicle is reversing an automated announcement used by Chinese delivery vehicles suggesting that China is returning to the era of former dictator Mao Zedong or even imperial rule. Another widely circulated comment played on the intense pressure young Chinese often face from their parents to marry and produce grandchildren. My mother told me that I have to get married during Xi Dadas presidential term, it said, using a reference for Xi typically translated as Big Uncle Xi. Now I can finally breathe a long sigh of relief, the post read. Not all the censored posts were critical of the proposal to eliminate term limits. Some users pointed out that countries like Germany and Canada also do not have term limits for their leaders, while others simply commented on news of the announcement with, witnessing history. The countrys rubber-stamp parliament, the National Peoples Congress, is all but certain to pass the amendment when it meets for its annual session early next month. Under the 1982 constitution, the president is limited to two five-year terms in office, but Xi already Chinas most powerful leader since Mao appears to want additional terms to see through his agenda of fighting corruption, eliminating poverty and transforming China into a modern leading nation by mid-century. Or, some speculated, he may simply wish to retain near-absolute power for as long as possible. It is most likely that it will turn into a post of lifelong tenure, said Zhang Ming, a retired political scientist who formerly taught at Beijings Renmin University. A retired Beijing railroad worker, who gave only his surname, Liu, said he approved of Xis performance over his first five years in office and voiced no objection to the lifting of term limits. As the leader, he has done pretty well in terms of reform and economic growth, said Liu, 67. In foreign policy, he also did a good job by taking tough positions in the face of provocations from the U.S. Professor and political commentator Hu Xingdou said he doubted that Xi wants to be president-for-life, but there were concerns that China could slide into a kind of fascism or personal dictatorship which will cause very serious consequences. Many consider this a lifetime tenure, but I think it will probably be extended to three or four terms. Maybe an unspoken agreement has been reached inside the Chinese Communist Party that one has to step down after three or four terms, Hu said. However long Xi wishes to hold on to office, he currently faces little opposition from within the party or mainstream society. Xi already has a firm grip on power as head of the military and party general secretary, a position for which there are no term limits, and has eliminated all challenges to his leadership. China holds no competitive elections for leadership posts, and the body responsible for reappointing Xi to a second five-year term and amending the constitution next month generally approves the partys pre- ordained decisions. In its announcement Sunday, the official Xinhua News Agency said simply that the partys Central Committee proposed to remove from the constitution the expression that Chinas president and vice president shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. Xi appeared to signal his intention at last years party national congress by breaking with the convention of appointing an heir- apparent to the all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee. In addition, Xi has already won two highly significant victories in being named the core of the current generation of party leaders, and having his eponymous governing philosophy inserted into the party constitution at last years congress. Recent months have also seen a growing number of references in state media to Xi as leader, a minimalist title reserved up until now for Mao. People love the leader of the people, read a commentary on the website of state broadcaster CCTV yesterday. Yet, extending his rule while centralizing power also poses political risks for Xi, making him solely responsible for dealing with knotty problems including the ballooning public debt, an anemic public welfare system, unemployment in the bloated state sector and pushback against Chinas drive for regional dominance and global influence. In recent months, critics have pointed to two major policy missteps. An effort to cut winter air pollution in the frigid north by slashing coal use had to be reversed after factories were left idle and millions of people shivering in their homes. Around the same time, a push to clear unregistered residents from Beijing and other cities in the name of safety and social order was roundly criticized for throwing migrant families out of their homes in the dead of winter. Xis rule has been characterized by a relentless crackdown on critics and independent civil society voices such as lawyers netted in a sweeping crackdown on legal activists that began in July 2015. Following the passage of the constitutional amendment, there will be even less tolerance of criticism, said Joseph Cheng, a long-time observer of Chinese politics now retired from the City University of Hong Kong. The regime will be even more severe in all kinds of repression, Cheng said. Christopher Bodeen, Beijing, AP Family members of Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte visited both Hong Kong and Macau over the weekend to thank the migrant workers for their support for the administration of the countrys leader. In both SARs, a majority of the registered voters supported the former mayor of Davao City during elections in 2016, when he won the presidential election in a landslide victory. Although both international and local news have reported the cruel results of his anti-drug rampage and his frequent use of profane language, the president still has the support of millions of his compatriots working overseas. Despite multiple scandals, the leader has still managed to win the hearts of many, probably because of the attention he has shown to Filipinos working overseas. This is why on Saturday, migrant workers flocked to Chan Meng Kam Theater to show their support for the current administration of the Philippines, chanting Duterte, as his children walked into the room. His thousands of supporters in Macau have also been very vocal about their support for their president a move that was not seen during the former administration. It was also probably the first time that these overseas workers were assured that their government would work on proposals for them and in their interest. Although the president is not as eloquent as the countrys previous leaders, the tough-talking leader has become a favorite of migrant workers. In his nearly two years of leading the country, he has implemented and approved bills which would benefit migrant workers, including the recent Overseas Filipino Bank (OFB), a government-run bank that is dedicated to the needs of an estimated 10 million overseas Filipino workers and other Filipinos based abroad. The five-hour event on Saturday was held to demonstrate the administrations care and respect for the Filipino workers in the city, bringing in artists and other officials to entertain the audience. I suppose this is one of the activities which the community truly appreciates as they continue to feel the support and comfort of the government as they are away from their hometowns. The theater was full of positive vibes as the migrant workers expressed their trust that the current administration would call on their rights protections, particularly citing the death of a domestic helper whose body was found stuffed in a freezer. The body was reportedly kept for a year, sparking outrage not just amongst the community but throughout the country, as it highlights the plight of many domestic workers abroad. While Duterte had not yet disclosed which countries he plans to impose a deployment ban upon, following his recent order to ban deployment in Kuwait, he has called on countries hosting Filipino migrant workers to ensure their humane treatment. Nevertheless, many migrants in Macau continue to express their belief in the current presidency, because the president makes them feel secure while working overseas. During press interviews conducted on Saturday, these workers expressed that they are continually feeling the change promised by the president even in small ways such as how the Philippine Consulate General in Macau accommodates and conducts efficient consular services. They appreciate the significant tangible results of Dutertes administration, remembering the many promises he had made to his countrymen working overseas promises that are progressively being ratified. Two private clinics in Macau have received requests for flu vaccines from Hong Kong residents over the Chinese New Year period, as the neighboring region is facing a shortage of flu vaccines in the private sector. At least nine private clinics in Macau do not have flu vaccines in stock and one private clinic noted that it had been out of stock since late January, the South China Morning Post reported. Lawmaker Chan Lek Lap said that his Hong Kong relative had been looking for two or three doses but failed to find any due to the regional shortage. My cousin from Hong Kong sought help from me because of a flu vaccine shortage in Hong Kong this year. But she could not get any vaccine in the end as private clinics cannot order extra, said Chan, who is also a medic. The government acquired a significant amount of the available stock earlier this year, as the private market faces this acute shortage. The Health Bureau (SSM) said that it has a reserve of antiviral medicines for up to 180,000 people, and a three-month supply of epidemic-prevention stock. Hong Kong suffers from the shortage of flu vaccines, with private doctors complaining they have been out of stock for over two months. Although extra batches of foreign-made vaccines are due for delivery in the neighboring city, they will not arrive in time to immunize students who went back to school yesterday. Doctors are calling on the government to release the unused vaccines reserved for high-risk patients to the public sector. As Hong Kongers suffer through the worlds least affordable property market, their government is enjoying the flip-side of the real-estate and stock-market boom: One of the biggest fiscal surpluses anywhere. When the territorys budget is unveiled this Wednesday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam and Financial Secretary Paul Chan may have as much as HKD168 billion ($21.5 billion) left over from the 2017-2018 fiscal year to play with, according to an estimate by accountancy firm PwC. Thats 10 times the original government forecast of HKD16.3 billion, thanks to higher than expected revenue from land sales, profits tax and stamp duty, PwC said. On a quarterly basis, the budget surplus hit 8.6 percent of gross domestic product in the third quarter of 2017, the highest since at least 1999, Bloomberg data show. If carried through for the full fiscal year even close to that level, Hong Kongs surplus would stand among the biggest of any developed economy, according to Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development data. With Hong Kong now comparable to New York in terms of income inequality, and amid persistent worries that the citys role as a financial center is being eclipsed by the likes of Shenzhen or Shanghai, news of bumper fiscal takings is likely to prompt a barrage of calls on how to spend them. Lam has hinted that the first budget under her leadership would include more daring spending. They can use policy buffers to support growth in the long run, Mahamoud Islam, an economist at Euler Hermes, said in a phone interview. The windfall provides an opportunity to invest with an eye towards a more difficult global economic outlook potentially as soon as 2019, he said. Islam suggests the most immediate investments are in boosting research and development activity. The city should position itself as a source of professional talent for Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, encouraging education programs that nurture more architects, engineers, consultants and other commercial services providers, he said. The windfall should benefit some taxpayers too. PwC proposes widening salaries tax brackets and increasing deductions for child allowance by as much as 20 percent. The government could consider waiving stamp duty for first-time, local home buyers for purchases under HKD6 million, according to The Taxation Institute of Hong Kong. Bloomberg No cash handouts Speaking to reporters Feb. 17, Chan cautioned that while there will be a high level of surplus it may not be as large as analysts have predicted. He also disagreed with one-off cash handouts, such as have been made in Macau, Singapore and in Hong Kong, where residents received a HKD6,000 sweetener announced in 2011. Part of it may not be recurrent, so we have to be very careful, Chan said. As to long term requirements, innovation and technology is one sector we would give serious consideration because this will help across-the-board many industries in enhancing their competitiveness. The financial secretary added that Hong Kongs tax regime such as a 15 percent standard salaries tax rate is already competitive and he will not consider any across- the-board tax cuts, while targeted tax measures to help certain industries are on the table. Short-term rebates would also be considered, he said. In a blog post Sunday, Chan highlighted education, medical services, housing and innovation as among the most pressing issues in the city, with the government obligated to use prosperous years to prepare for bad ones. The philosophy has always been on the prudent side, Euler Hermes Islam said. Eric Lam The 29th Macau Arts Festival (MAF) will be held between late April and May. In a statement issued yesterday, the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) highlighted some of the programs. Exploring the theme Origin, which symbolizes the spring of life, the Shanghai Dramatic Arts Centre has been invited to present the play Das Kapital to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Karl Marxs birth. The play is a new version of Karl Marxs grand classic, which analyses the trajectory of capital, and incorporates Macaus elements and illustrates the duality of capital, making use of black humor. The festival will close with the performance 13 Tongues, a show that will be performed by renowned dance group Cloud Gate 2 and features dance, music and folklore. Meanwhile, contemporary Japanese playwright Tadashi Suzuki will present the play The Trojan Women, which expresses the misery and desolation of the post-war period through traditional Japanese visual elements and his artistic heritage. Belgian art group Peeping Tom will present the theatre play 32 rue Vandenbranden, inspired by the movie The Ballad of Narayama. This show incorporates elements of daily life in the dance, alternating between emotional states such as fear, loneliness and compassion. The MAF has also commissioned the Singaporean group Nine Years Theatre to co-produce the play Pissed Julie, an acclaimed work by the Swedish playwright August Strindberg. The play will be performed with an ironic touch by actors from both Macau and Singapore. Finally, local veteran Cantonese opera actor Chu Chan Wa will collaborate with local Cantonese opera artists to present the Cantonese opera, Dream of the Red Chamber. Icelandic lawmakers are considering a law that would ban the circumcision of boys for non-medical reasons, making it the first European country to do so. Some religious leaders in Iceland and across Europe have called the bill an attack on religious freedom. It is seen as a particular threat by Jews and Muslims who traditionally embrace the practice. Under the proposed law, the circumcision of boys removing the foreskin of the penis, usually when the child is a newborn would be viewed as equal to female genital mutilation and punishable by up to six years in prison. This is fundamentally about not causing unnecessary harm to a child, said Silja Dogg Gunnarsdottir, lawmaker for the centrist Progressive Party, who introduced the bill this month. The proposed law calls circumcision a violation of human rights since boys are not able to give an informed consent of an irreversible physical intervention. Circumcision is not common in Iceland, a small Atlantic Ocean island nation of 340,000 people that is overwhelmingly Lutheran or atheist, with an estimated 100 to 200 Jews and about 1,100 practicing Muslims. The bill has eight co-sponsors but is considered unlikely to get a majority in the 63-seat Iceland parliament. It does not have the formal backing of any government ministers but has drawn the support of 422 Icelandic doctors who favor outlawing the 4,000-year-old religious practice. They issued a joint statement Wednesday saying circumcision violates the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and also the physicians Hippocratic Oath that says: First, do no harm. In Western societies, circumcision of healthy boys has no significant health benefits, the doctors statement read, citing a 2013 paper in the American Academy of Pediatrics journal. The American academy itself says the health benefits of the practice outweigh the risks but not by enough to recommend universal male circumcision. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says doctors should educate infant boys parents about the health benefits of circumcision, which it says reduces the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV. Physician Eyjolfur Thorkelsson said the 422 signatures (a quarter of the countrys practicing physicians, based on numbers from the Icelandic Medical Association) were collected in just 48 hours. Since 2006, only 21 boys under the age of 18 have been circumcised at Icelandic hospitals or private clinics, according to Icelands Directorate of Health. The agency could not say how many were for religious reasons. Thorkelsson said the surgical procedure is painful, and its possible complications are well known to Icelandic doctors since most go abroad for training at hospitals in northern Europe or the United States where circumcision is more common. For many doctors, its an uncomfortable request from parents, he said. This view is not accepted in Jewish and Muslim communities. During Friday services at a prayer space above a home goods store, Imam Salmann Tamimi warned his multinational congregation about the proposed law. Circumcision is harmless if its done at a hospital, he said. This bill is appealing to peoples emotion, not evidence. He said circumcision was important to Muslims but even more so to Jews. This is an attack on all religion and especially Judaism, he said. Rabbi Avi Feldman of the Chabad Jewish Center, who last month became Icelands first permanent rabbi since World War II, says he hopes the bill does not become law. In a statement to the AP, he said circumcision is a core Jewish practice that serves as a bedrock of Jewish life. He was hopeful that the rights for people of all faiths will be preserved and respected. Parliament is to continue the first reading of the bill in the next week. Legislator Gunnarsdottir said many male victims of circumcision had reached out to share their stories and seek support since she introduced the bill. Its important for us as a society to discuss this, she said. The experience of many men who have had this done to their body without consent confirms that. Egill Bjarnason, Reykjavik, AP The Indonesian government is bringing together dozens of convicted Islamic militants and survivors of attacks in what it hopes will be an important step in combating radicalism and fostering reconciliation. About 120 reformed militants will apologize to dozens of victims including survivors of the 2002 Bali bombings and the 2004 bombing of the Australian Embassy in Jakarta, according to Irfan Idris, director of de- radicalization at Indonesias counterterrorism agency. The three days of meetings at a Jakarta hotel that began yesterday arent open to the media except for an event on the final day. Many militant convicts have changed and are taking the right course with us by drawing on their experience to prevent others from taking up violence, Idris told The Associated Press. These facts have inspired us to reconcile them with their victims. Indonesia, the worlds most populous Muslim nation and third-biggest democracy, has imprisoned hundreds of Islamic militants in the years since the Bali bombings that killed more than 200 people, mostly foreigners. But its efforts at convincing imprisoned militants to renounce violence have had mixed results. In overcrowded and understaffed prisons, militants have been able to convert other prisoners to radicalism and communicate with supporters on the outside to encourage new attacks that they believe will advance their cause of transforming Indonesia into an Islamic state. At least 18 former militant prisoners have been involved in attacks in Indonesia since 2010, including a January 2016 suicide bombing and gun attack in downtown Jakarta that killed eight people, including the attackers. Febby Firmansyah Isran, who suffered burns to 45 percent of his body from the 2003 bombing of the J.W. Marriot hotel in Jakarta, said to begin with he was so overwhelmed with anger that it worsened his health. At the urging of his fiance, now his wife, Isran, who is attending the meetings, said he accepted what happened to him as an act of God. I have forgiven them and it has even improved my recovery process and calmed me down, said Isran, who founded a support group for bombing victims. It now has 570 members, about 60 of whom suffer from total physical disability. However, many victims have refused to participate in the government event because they cant forgive the attackers or are still traumatized and are afraid to meet with convicted radicals, he said. We cannot force the victims to come as there are also some militants who are not willing to come, Isran said. Idris, the counterterrorism agency official, said families of those killed in attacks endure psychological scars and economic hardship and survivors are often left with debilitating physical disabilities. But he said the government-sponsored event wants to encourage support for militants who reject violence and try to become part of mainstream society after being released from prison. After release, they are often ostracized, unable to find work and their children are stigmatized, which contributes to some of them returning to their radical networks, he said. Masykur Abdul Kadir, who in 2003 was sentenced to 15 years prison for his involvement in the Bali bombing, said he believes the event will have an impact on both sides. We can hear their suffering and see directly the impact of what we did in the past to the innocent people, said Masykur, who was known as local boy in the Bali bombing for his role in reconnaissance and guiding militants who came to Bali from other parts of Indonesia. I really hope apologizing directly to the victims can ease the feelings of guilt that for years continually burden my life, said Masykur, a father of four. Hopefully this meeting can be a force for ex-militants to refuse committing violence. Niniek Karmini, Jakarta, AP A powerful earthquake rattled forest villages and a large gold mine in central Papua New Guinea yesterday, and the government sent officers to the region to assess unverified reports of fatalities and check the extent of the damage. Officials said that as of yesterday afternoon there were no confirmed deaths or injuries in the Pacific Island nation. Chris McKee, acting director of geohazards management for the Papua New Guinea government, said tens of thousands of people live subsistence lifestyles in the remote forested highlands region affected by the quake. There seem to be quite a few reports of the quake being felt strongly, he said. The magnitude 7.5 quake hit about 89 kilometers southwest of Porgera, the site of a large gold mine that employs more than 2,500 residents. The area also is home to a number of oil and gas operations and coffee plantations. ExxonMobil Papua New Guinea said it had shut down the Hides Gas Conditioning Plant, where there was damage to the administration buildings, living quarters and mess hall. The company said it had also suspended flights from Komo airfield, which it built to service its operations, and was planning to evacuate nonessential plant staff. Oil Search Managing Director Peter Botten said the company was closing down some production operations in the region as a precaution. Both Oil Search and ExxonMobil said there were no reports of any injuries to their staff, and ExxonMobil said its staff was accounted for and safe. An official at the Porgera gold mine wrote on Facebook that he planned to find out what caused power blackouts and other damage after the quake shook the whole area. Indonesias Disaster Mitigation Agency said the quake caused panic and damaged buildings in the Boven Diguel area of Papua province, which borders Papua New Guinea. Information was still limited because of the remoteness of the area and its lack of disaster response personnel, the agency said, adding that it didnt yet know if there were any fatalities. A mosque, military post, district office and a house were damaged in the border area, and photos of the Boven Diguel district office, provided by the agency, showed a heavily damaged roof and interior. The quake hit at a relatively shallow depth of 35 kilometers, and shallow quakes tend to be more strongly felt than deep ones. The area lies along an earthquake zone known as the Papuan Fold Belt, which is the fault responsible for the mountain range that forms the spine of the nation, McKee said. A series of strong aftershocks had rattled other parts of the fault line. McKee said the quake was caused by one side of the fault moving over the other side, squeezing the ground together and causing a thrust process. The Geological Survey website had dozens of reports of people feeling the quake, including some saying the shaking was violent. Papua New Guinea is located on the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, to the east of Indonesia. It is home to about 7 million people. AP In the Syrian city of Homs landmark Clock Square, where some of the first anti-government protests erupted in 2011, stands a giant poster of a smiling President Bashar Assad waving his right arm, with a caption that reads: Together we will rebuild. Four years after the military brought most of the city back under Assads control, the government is launching its first big reconstruction effort in Homs, planning to erect hundreds of apartment buildings in three neighborhoods in the devastated center of the city. It is a small start to a massive task of rebuilding Syria, where seven years of war, airstrikes and barrel bombs have left entire cities and infrastructure a landscape of rubble. The government estimates reconstruction will cost some USD200 billion and last 15 years. As in neighboring Iraq, which faces a similar swath of destruction after the war against the Islamic State group, no one is offering much to help fund the process. Moreover, destruction is still being wreaked. For the past 10 days, government forces have been relentlessly bombarding eastern Ghouta, a collection of towns on Damascus edge in an all-out push to crush rebels there. Hundreds have been killed and even more buildings have been blasted to rubble in a community already left a wasteland by years of siege. At the same time, only 10 kilometers away on the other side of Damascus, government workers have begun clearing rubble from Daraya, another suburb wrecked by a long siege, to begin reconstruction. The question of who will rebuild Syria has become part of the tug of war between Assad and his opponents. The government can cover $8 billion to $13 billion of the reconstruction costs, according to the Cabinets economic adviser, Abdul-Qadir Azzouz. So Damascus says it will need the international community. But it also says only those who stood by Syria will be allowed to participate, a reference to staunch allies Russia and Iran. That likely means lucrative rebuilding contracts will be handed to private companies from those countries, as well as probably China. The international community, in turn, faces a dilemma. It wants to stabilize Syria to allow for millions of refugees to return the longer it takes, the less likely it becomes that they will go back. But any support for reconstruction in Syria would buttress Assad and be seen as contributing to the normalization and legitimization of his government. Oil-rich Saudi Arabia, for instance, is unlikely to put money in a country that is backed by its regional archrival, Iran. There is little chance that any reconstruction process will happen unless a comprehensive political deal is reached, which is itself very unlikely, wrote Jihad Yazigi in Syria Deeply recently. The countries and institutions that have the money and which traditionally fund such large-scale financial efforts, namely the Gulf countries, the European Union, the United States and, through it, the World Bank, have, indeed, lost the Syrian war. American officials say the U.S. will not work with Assads government, whose leadership they describe as illegitimate. Until there is a credible political process that can lead to a government chosen by the Syrian people without Assad at its helm the United States and our allies will withhold reconstruction assistance to regime-held areas, acting Assistant Secretary of State David Satterfield told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last month. Even Assads allies Russia and Iran are too cash-strapped to fund a massive rebuilding. Chinas special envoy on Syria, Xie Xiaoyan, sounded a note of caution not to expect his country to carry the burden. The tasks ahead are daunting, he said during a round of the Geneva peace talks in December. A few countries cannot undertake all the projects. It needs a concerted effort by the international community. Meanwhile, tens of thousands of square miles remain a pile of bombed-out buildings and wreckage. Recent Associated Press drone footage from Daraya outside Damascus and the city of Aleppo in the north shows scenes of destruction reminiscent of World War II devastation. East Aleppo, home to nearly 1.5 million before the war, is still largely empty and in ruins a year after it was recaptured from rebels. Small-scale renovation of government buildings and historical sites has barely begun to scratch the surface. In eastern Ghouta an area with a pre-war population of some 400,000 the United Nations did an assessment of satellite imagery from six of its seven districts and found more than 6,600 damaged buildings, more than 1,100 of which were totally destroyed. And that was before the latest government offensive, which has leveled even more homes and structures. For reconstruction overall, the Syrian government is trying to scrape together financing from Syrian businessmen and expatriates as well as international allies. It has imposed a 0.5 percent reconstruction tax on some items, including restaurant bills. The Homs project gives an indication of the scale of the task. The plan, to begin later this year, focuses on three of the citys most destroyed districts Baba Amr, Sultanieh and Jobar and will rebuild 465 buildings, able to house 75,000 people, at a cost of $4 billion, according to Homs governor, Talal al-Barrazi. It was not immediately clear how many housing units that entails meaning individual apartments but assuming there is on average five people per household, that would be around 15,000 units. Thats under half of the 35,000 housing units that were estimated to have been destroyed in Homs. And its a small fraction of the 1 million housing units al-Barrazi said Syria will need. Homs saw some of the worst destruction of the war as government forces for months blasted the string of neighborhoods in the citys center that were held by rebels. The military retook almost all the city in the spring of 2014 but one rebel-held district, al-Waer, held out under siege until last year. For the past four years, any rebuilding has largely been the work of individuals, with some help from the U.N. In the devastated Khaldiyeh district, carpenters were fixing the windows and doors of Mohammed Bayraqdars charred apartment. The walls inside even the chandeliers were still blackened from the fighting years ago. The 38-year-old coffee vendor fled Khaldiyeh in 2011 and moved to his in-laws in a government-controlled part of the city. Late last year he informed the municipality that he wanted to return home. Once government architects checked that the building is suitable for living, repair work began with the help of a U.N. rebuilding program. Everyone should return to his home, even if it means living in one room only, said Bayraqdar, standing on the roof overlooking a vista of flattened buildings. Assads government controls more than half of Syria, including the largest cities and main population centers. Other than pockets still under rebel control, most of the rest of Syria is in the hands of U.S.-backed Kurdish-led forces that wrested territory in the north and east from the Islamic State group, including the militants former de facto capital, Raqqa. The Kurds have done some rebuilding, particularly in Kobani, a Kurdish-majority border town. Soon after Sunni Arab- majority Raqqa was freed from IS, a Saudi minister visited the city and promised the kingdom would play a role in rebuilding it, though no specific projects have been announced since. According to U.N. assessments, more than half the buildings are damaged in 16 of Raqqas 24 districts. Outside Damascus, Daraya was left an empty ruin after all its population was removed in a deal last year that ended a destructive and grueling siege by Assads military. The suburb once had a population of 300,000 and was famous for its furniture, textiles, wood and vineyards, which produced some of Syrias best grapes. Almost all houses, factories, stores in Daraya remain skeletons, said Darayas mayor, Marwan Obeid. He estimated rebuilding infrastructure alone will cost $160 million to $200 million. The government has so far allocated $70 million. The plan, he said, is to start move some 100,000 people back into the less damaged half of Daraya, which inspectors estimate can accommodate some 100,000 people. The rest of the community, however, is too ruined. Obeid said it was not known how long that will take to rebuild. In central Homs, Malek Traboulsi and his partner paid nearly $400,000 even selling off their wives jewelry to renovate their restaurant, Julia Palace, which suffered major damage in the war. It re-opened on Christmas Day 2016. Some people warned him he was investing in the unknown. But Traboulsi said he could never bear to sell off his property and leave Syria. This is my country, he said on a recent evening as he moved among the tables chatting with customers. Here is where I breathe, here is my life and I cannot live in any other place. Bassem Mroue, Homs, AP CHINA A prominent Chinese human rights lawyer died under mysterious circumstances in an eastern Jiangsu province military hospital yesterday, his close friend said, raising questions about the welfare of those who have defied the countrys authorities. EU-CAMBODIA The European Union is weighing whether to impose sanctions on senior officials in Cambodia over the erosion of democracy and a crackdown on the opposition and media there. They said they may consider specific targeted measures if the situation does not improve. KOREA South Koreas president said yesterday that the United States should lower the threshold for talks with North Korea and that the two countries should start a dialogue soon. PAPUA NEW GUINEA A powerful earthquake rattled forest villages and a large gold mine in central Papua New Guinea yesterday, and the government sent officers to the region to assess unverified reports of fatalities and check the extent of the damage. IRAN The UN Security Council is expected to vote on a British-drafted that will condemn Iran for violating a U.N. arms embargo by providing missiles and drones to Shiite rebels in Yemen. EGYPT Human Rights Watch sharply criticized Egyptian authorities yesterday for a series of arbitrary arrests of political opponents of President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi ahead of next months presidential election, which the watchdog considers unfair. ITALY is facing one of its worst epidemics of measles in recent years, reporting a six-fold increase in cases last year that accounted for a quarter of all the cases in Europe. BRITAINs main opposition party said yesterday that it wants the U.K. to remain in a customs union with the European Union after it leaves the bloc a small but significant shift that could push the government toward a softer version of Brexit. US The death toll has risen to at least five after severe thunderstorms swept through the central U.S., spawning a tornado that flattened homes, gale force winds and widespread flooding from the Upper Midwest to Appalachia. MEXICOs National Human Rights Commission has issued a warning over what it calls the possible collapse of the system for protecting refugees in the country. A February 16th article in Crains Chicago Business covered the increase in opioid-related overdoses and their impact upon hospitals in Illinois. The number of overdoses is rising, but so are the costs associated with treating these patients. Between January-September 2016, the number of opioid-related emergency room visits was 77% higher than that same time period just a year before. Nationwide, the average cost of an intensive care unit stay for an overdose was $58,517 in 2009. In 2015, the average cost per ICU stay jumped to $92,408. A representative for Cook County Health and Hospital System told Crains that they estimate they spent $25 million last year treating between 4-5,000 patients with opioid-related illnesses. As a point of comparison, they treated 1,000 of these patients in 2006. Loretto Hospital says that 1 out of every 3 patients in the emergency room is there to be treated for an opioid-related issue. They also estimate that nearly 40% of the patients admitted for treatment are later readmitted, something that costs them more than just writing off a single visit. Readmission rates have been a major quality indicator for hospitals and under the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Readmissions Reduction Program, hospitals who have high readmittance rates will see reduced payments from Medicare and Medicaid. For many hospitals, Medicaid reimbursements make up a large chunk of their revenue. Since 2010, Illinois hospitals have been able to manage costs associated with treating the increasing number of opioid users because the Affordable Care Act increased the number of insured Americans. Whether it was the fear of financial penalties or just those genuinely wanting health insurance, more insured patients meant smaller tabs for hospitals to have to write off. Cook County Health and Hospital System said that 84% of patients they currently treat in their hospitals and clinics have health insurance, compared to just 46% in 2013. However, with the Trump Administration removing the penalty for not having health insurance, hospitals fear that they will have to make cuts to other services in order to cover the exorbitant and increasing costs of treating patients who have overdosed or are seeking treatment for opioid-related illness and conditions. Where does Your County Place in Overdose-Related ER Visit Rankings? The list of top 10 Illinois counties with opioid-related ER visits in 2016 does not include Cook County, nor does it include the counties of DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, or Will, commonly referred to as collar counties. In the city, the top areas with overdose-related deaths were Burnside, North Lawndale and West Garfield Park. While it may seem surprising that the city (and Cook County in general) doesnt place in the top 10 for overdose-related hospital visits, experts suspect that there are several factors at play that lead to more overdoses in rural Illinois: The nature of work done by those in the top 10 counties tends to be more labor-intensive, leaving employees more prone to injuries that may require an opioid prescription. The number of physicians offices, clinics, and hospitals are more spread out in these areas, which may influence the way practitioners prescribe medicine. It is suspected that these providers prescribe larger doses, since follow up visits are less likely to occur. There are fewer specialists such as physical therapists, chiropractors, or acupuncturists to provide alternative methods for pain relief. Need for Treatment Clinics and Access to Anti-Overdose Drugs The concern of hospitals to be able to treat these patients without cutting back on other life-saving services is a valid one. It is against the law to refuse emergency medical care to someone for any reason, even if they are uninsured. Cook County Health and Hospital System described to Crains their plans to help combat the uptick in opioid overdoses. In addition to a newly-opened treatment center on the South Side, they also plan to open one on the West Side. Law enforcement and Illinois first responders are also doing their part to help combat opioid-related overdoses and deaths. In September 2015, Illinois passed a new law, officially called P.A. 99-0480, that requires police, EMTs, and firefighters to receive training and be supplied with Naloxone (more commonly known under the brand name Narcan), the overdose combatting drug. While a deadline for implementing this law has not been officially put in place, many police and fire departments have already undergone training and have begun using the drug. However, experts project that by the year 2020, nearly 3,000 Illinois residents will die from an opioid addiction. The short term fixes are just a small part in cutting back on the number of deaths, but health experts are concerned that without inpatient and outpatient treatment centers to address the root of the issue, the number of deaths might decrease slightly, but the number of those addicted will continue to rise. Carbon nanotube yarn embedded into the vagus nerve of a rat. Credit: McCallum et al, Sci. Rep. 2017 Ingested or injected pharmaceuticals can target specific molecules involved in disease processes, but get distributed throughout the body where they can cause unwanted side effects. An approach known as electroceuticals aims to avoid systemic exposure by using small wires to electrically monitor and manipulate individual nerves that control organ function and carry information about disease. Despite the promise of electroceuticals, it has been challenging to develop long-term therapies due to the lack of biocompatible wires. Now, NIBIB-funded researches have spun carbon nanotubes into flexible, nerve-sized wires or yarns capable of high-fidelity long-term connections in live animals. The development of these biocompatible yarns opens the possibility of new bioelectric diagnostics and therapies through regulation of internal organ function at the single nerve level. All the organs of the body such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys are automatically controlled by nerves that stretch from the brainstem to each organ. These nerves control organ functions such as heartbeat, breathing rates, and blood pressure, making constant adjustments in response to environmental and physiological changes. Variations in the electrical activity in this area of the brain, known as the autonomic nervous system, can also be predictors, indicators or causes of disease development. "Monitoring and manipulating the autonomic nervous system to both understand and potentially treat disease has been an intriguing yet understudied approach to medicine," explains Michael Wolfson, Ph.D., director of the NIBIB program in Rehabilitation Engineering and Implantable Medical Devices. "This is largely due to technical limitations in being able to insert wires into nerves that can reliably and safely record electrical activity over long periods of time and under different physiological conditions." In a study reported in the journal Scientific Reports1, bioengineers at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio describe the development of highly flexible carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn electrodes that were capable of months-long electrical recording in major nerves of the autonomic nervous system in rats. Individual carbon nanotubes are pulled from a substrate and spun into the flexible carbon nanotube yarn. Credit: McCallum et al, Sci. Rep. 2017 The CNT yarns are essentially, just that, yarns made from a "forest" of hundreds of carbon nanotubes that are pulled from the metal surface they are grown on and spun into a highly flexible, highly conductive wire 1/100th the size of a human hair. Current technologies for recording electrical signals from nerves include relatively large stiff tungsten needles used by neurologists to obtain readings from single nerves of patients for several hours, but must be removed before causing lasting nerve damage. Other wire electrode technologies can record nerve signals for short periods but because of their dimensions and stiff mechanical properties they are not suitable for long-term recording in small nerves. "The currently available electrode technologies simply do not match the mechanical properties of nerves," explains Dominique Durand, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western and senior researcher on the CNT yarn work. "With those types of electrodes, it's often like sticking glass into spaghetti. Our CNT yarns are similar in size and flexibility to actual nerves. These properties allow them to be stealthily inserted into specific nerves and remain there for months without destroying the tissue or inducing an attack by the immune system." The combination of the biocompatibility of the CNT yarns and their outstanding ability to carry an electrical signal that is 10 times stronger than current technologies makes them ideal for long term recording of specific nerve signals. Finally, the lack of nerve damage keeps the surrounding axons intact, which helps to eliminate background noise. Thus, the CNT yarns have an excellent signal to noise ratio (SNR), which is critical for this type of research. The carbon nanotube yarn is wound around a tungsten needle for insertion into a nerve. The coiling of the yarn causes it to remain solidly embedded in the nerve after the needle is withdrawn. Actual needle and yarn (top). Diagram showing detail of how yarn is wrapped around the needle for insertion (bottom). Credit: McCallum et al, Sci. Rep. 2017 The group tested the CNT yarns in two major nerves in the autonomic system in rats. One study involved the vagus nerve, which stretches throughout the body to connect to numerous organs. The nerve is known to control and monitor a range of functions including heart rate, digestive tract movement, sweating, and immune response. CNT yarn electrodes were also inserted into the glossopharyngeal nerve. The nerve is connected to a number of organs including the carotid artery, and parts of the ear, tongue and salivary glands where it is known to be involved in swallowing. In both nerves, recordings of stable electrical activity were maintained over a 10-week period. Pulses of nerve activity were also monitored while the animal responded to physiological challenges. The challenges included distension of the rat's stomach with saline solution, and short durations where the rats were in low oxygen environments. In each case, the physiological changes induced by the challenge resulted in easily detectable changes in electrical activity that were recorded using the CNT yarn implants over the entire 10-week period of the experiments. "Although this is early research, we believe the results demonstrate that this technology can be used for reliable long term electrical monitoring of physiological functions," says Durand. "This is an important step in pursuing monitoring of disease progression through the nerves that control the function of the diseased organ." Diagram of carbon nanotube yarn (blue) and site of insertion into one of the many axons that make up a spinal nerve. Credit: GA McCallum, Case Western Reserve University Durand explains that the goal is to learn what electrical signatures or profiles are indicative of disease development and to use that for early intervention, potentially by electrical stimulation or even blocking of the nerve. For example, one therapy for severe hypertension is the cutting of the renal nerve. This is obviously irreversible. Durand, explained that CNT yarn electrodes could be used to block the nerve impulse without cutting the nerve, making the treatment reversible. The group is also excited about the potential of this recording method to improve prosthetics. "When an arm has been amputated there are tens of thousands of neurons remaining," said Durand. "The approach would be to insert the CNT yarns into individual nerves and record the electrical signals that are created as the individual thinks about moving the missing armessentially learning the electrical signals that are formed by the intention to move the arm." The ultimate goal is to develop neural interfaces capable of translating those electrical signals into better control of the prosthetic by the user. Explore further Electrical nerve stimulation can reverse spinal cord injury nerve damage in patients More information: Grant A. McCallum et al. Chronic interfacing with the autonomic nervous system using carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn electrodes, Scientific Reports (2017). Journal information: Scientific Reports Grant A. McCallum et al. Chronic interfacing with the autonomic nervous system using carbon nanotube (CNT) yarn electrodes,(2017). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10639-w (HealthDay)Despite some promising reports in recent years, it seems the U.S. childhood obesity problem is not turning a corner. That's the finding of a study published online Feb. 26 in Pediatrics showing that hopes of a turnaround may have been premature. Over the past few years, studies have found that childhood obesity rates seemed to be leveling offand even decreasing among preschool children. Based on the new study, however, the good news was short-lived. Looking at the years 1999 to 2016, the researchers found no evidence of any sustained improvements in childhood obesity rates, for kids of any age. Instead, the long-range view showed a "continued upward trend." And what of the decrease in obesity among the nation's youngest children? That seems to have disappeared. In 2015-2016, almost 14 percent of 2- to 5-year-olds were mildly obeseup from 9 percent in 2013-2014. "So maybe it was going down before, but now it's increasing again," said lead researcher Asheley Skinner, an associate professor at Duke University in Durham, N.C. The study highlights the pitfalls of putting too much stock in short-term changes, according to Dr. David Ludwig, co-director of the New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center at Boston Children's Hospital. "We need to avoid overinterpreting short-term trends," said Ludwig, who wrote an editorial published with the study. More important, broad efforts are clearly needed to address the childhood obesity problem, both Ludwig and Skinner said. On the policy level, some steps have been takensuch as better nutritional standards for the national school lunch program. "But no one measure, alone, is going to make a big difference," Skinner said. "It takes a little bit of everything, on all levels." Encouraging parents to make changessuch as buying more fruits and vegetables, and replacing sugary drinks with milkis necessary. But the onus cannot be on parents alone, according to Skinner. For one thing, there are racial and ethnic disparities in the national rates of childhood obesity. Nearly half of all Hispanic children are now overweight or obese. Similarly, black children have higher rates of obesityincluding severe obesitythan either white or Asian-American kids. "I just don't believe that's because half of those parents are doing a bad job of feeding their kids," Skinner said. Instead, she said, some families may not be able to get affordable healthy food, for example. Or, kids may lack safe places to play and be physically active. Ludwig agreed, and added that factors such as chronic stress and poor sleep can help "drive" obesity, too. With all of those things coming into play, addressing the issue may be daunting, according to Ludwig. But, he said, it's also doable with the "political will." The new findings come from an ongoing health and nutrition study run by the U.S. government. Every couple of years, researchers conduct home interviews and physical exams with a nationally representative sample of Americans. By 2015-2016, the study found, 35 percent of all U.S. kids ages 2 to 19 were overweight or obese. That included more than 41 percent of 16- to 19-year-olds. About 18 percent of girls and 19 percent of boys fell into the mildly obese categorycompared with just under 15 percent in 1999-2000. About 2 percent of boys and girls fit the definition of the most severe stage of obesity, which was roughly double the rate in 1999-2000. Looking at the long term, there were no signs of a sustained improvement in any age group, the researchers said. But Skinner cautioned against a doomsday interpretation. It's not that there's no way to stem the tide, she said. There's evidence that certain policies, like more physical education in schools, do helpbut they may not have reached enough kids yet, according to Skinner. Ludwig agreed. "Let's adequately fund physical education and school lunches," he said. "And let's make sure food policy is aligned with public health." That, Ludwig said, would include subsidizing fruits and vegetables, rather than solely "commodity" crops such as corn and rice. As for parents, they too need to eat healthfully and exerciseto instill those habits in their kids, Skinner said. "That's critical," Ludwig agreed. "Keep the junk food out of the house." Explore further Newest data shows childhood obesity continues to increase More information: Asheley Cockrell Skinner, Ph.D., associate professor, population health sciences, Duke University, Durham, N.C.; David Ludwig, M.D., co-director, New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass.; Pediatrics, Feb. 26, 2018, online Asheley Cockrell Skinner, Ph.D., associate professor, population health sciences, Duke University, Durham, N.C.; David Ludwig, M.D., co-director, New Balance Foundation Obesity Prevention Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass.;, Feb. 26, 2018, online The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has advice on helping kids maintain a healthy weight. Journal information: Pediatrics Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. (HealthDay)If you're unlucky enough to come down with the flu, you can blame your own body for your fever, cough, muscle aches and head-to-toe distress, experts say. Most of influenza's misery is caused by the human body itself, or more precisely the immune system's response to the virus. "Many of the things that feel bad are the body's attempts to get rid of the pathogen that's causing the mischief," said Dr. Alan Taege, an infectious disease specialist with the Cleveland Clinic. When your body has prior experience with a flu virus, it already knows how to send the right antibodies out to fight off the bug, Taege said. In those cases, folks might not even notice they've had a brush with influenza. But when faced with a new invader, the immune system goes into overdrive. It floods the body with a host of immune system-stimulating biochemicals called cytokines. And that helps to explain why this year's flu season has been so severemany Americans haven't had enough prior exposure to the H3N2 flu strain that's causing such havoc, doctors say. According to Dr. Gregory Poland, "As a result of fighting off the infection, our body releases an army of chemicals, and those are meant to stimulate the immune system. Think of them as chemicals released into the blood to flog the immune cells of the body to rev up, divide, and attack these viral infidels." Poland is a vaccine expert with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. Cytokines also cause inflammation throughout the body, and that inflammation leads to many of flu's most wretched symptoms, Poland and Taege said. For instance, muscle, joint and body aches occur due to cytokine-prompted inflammation in the limbs. Inflamed air passages produce mucous, causing a runny nose, coughing and sneezing. Cytokines also cause the body to raise its temperature, resulting in fever. What's more, the cytokine interferon has been linked to symptoms of headache. It's also possible that blood vessels in the brain dilate in response to fever, creating a headache by increasing pressure inside your head. Taege likens this inflammation to your skin's response to a very hot object. You feel pain, and the place that's been seared will turn red and possibly blister. Over a few days, the burned spot starts to calm down and heal. "The cytokines produce an inflammatory reaction that doesn't necessarily cause a blister like a thermal burn, but if you look at the throat it can look red. If you look at the airways they can look red," Taege said. "This is inflammation, and how it interacts with the cells and injures the cells goes on to produce symptoms." Experiments have shown that people exposed to artificial cytokines will develop symptoms of flu infection, even though the virus isn't present, Taege said. This is not to say the virus can't do damage on its own, Poland added. "We recently had a young healthy boy die of influenza," Poland said. "Autopsy showed the virus had invaded his heart and he died as a result of that." Flu virus infecting the lungs can directly cause shortness of breath, fever and pneumonia, Poland added. But many deaths caused by flu occur due to a "cytokine storm"an overwhelming flood of immune chemicals prompted by first exposure to a new and dangerous influenza virus, Poland said. Many of the young and healthy people killed by the flu during the 1918 influenza pandemic are believed to have died due to cytokine storm. "The body is so massively activated in an attempt to fight off this virus that it releases too many of these internal chemicals," Poland said. That's why flu shots are recommended. They teach the body how to produce antibodies to fight off the flu without mounting a full-fledged cytokine defense, Taege and Poland explained. With flu activity still elevated across much of the United States, Taege said the vaccine can help limit its damage. "Should you encounter the flu virus, then it can control it much more quickly," Taege said. People treating flu symptoms most often are treating the inflammation produced by cytokine release. That's why nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) are recommended, Poland said. You should also rest, drink plenty of fluids and continue to eat, Poland said. Flu sufferers who remain active are adding to the body-wide inflammation caused by cytokines, Poland said. And those who stop eating are robbing the body of energy it needs to recover. "One of the effects of this cytokine release is it really revs up your metabolism," he said. "You actually need more caloric intake to sustain the body." Explore further What the flu does to your body, and why it makes you feel awful More information: Alan Taege, M.D., infectious disease specialist, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio; Greg Poland, M.D., vaccine expert, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Alan Taege, M.D., infectious disease specialist, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio; Greg Poland, M.D., vaccine expert, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about flu symptoms and complications. Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Screening for food insecurity at the pediatrician's office can be quite effective, but fear of Child Protective Services and a complicated referral process could be barriers to food insecure families getting the help they need, a new study shows. A two-question food insecurity screening was added to the visits of more than 7,000 families at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) over a two-year period to find out how useful it was. The evaluation of the effortrun by the Center for Hunger-Free Communities of Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health in collaboration with CHOP and Benefits Data Trustsought to determine what barriers there might be to implementing such screening and how it could be made most successful. "The screening itself worked very well: Providers could incorporate it into their workflow, and many parents and caregivers responded," said Molly Knowles, research and communications manager for the Center, who served the lead author of the study published in the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved. More than 1,000 familiesroughly 15 percentof the families involved reported food insecurity (meaning that they did not have enough money for consistent access to food). Of that group, more than half were referred to Benefits Data Trust for further services and resources. But the challenge came after these initial interactions. It was then that connections were dropped. "Because of patient privacy and confidentiality protections, there were several steps in between being able to identify a food insecure family and connecting them with resources," Knowles explained. "That meant that parentsmore than 60 percentweren't able to connect with the referral agency." Red tape wasn't the only major barrier discovered by the study. Parents were also initially reluctant to say that they were struggling to feed their families, for fear that they'd be reported as unfit caregivers. "Parents know that healthcare providers are mandatory reporters of child abuse and neglect, and although food insecurity is not a form of neglect, many parents described feelings of shame and fear of Child Protective Services involvement," Knowles explained. "They talked about how important it was for pediatricians and other providers to clarify the purpose of the screening, and connect with parents in a respectful, collaborative, and caring way." The study showed that medical professionals were eager to implement the hunger screening and parents reported interest in being asked about food needs: everything just came down to better communication. With that, any unfounded fears from parents might be alleviated, and other obstacles could be solved by health providers from the outset. Something that the researchers didn't expect to find was that of those who reported being food insecure and referred for help, 79 percent already participated in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as food stamps). "Parents recommended connecting families with immediate resourcesnot only food resources, but other resources that could free up household budgets for foodto supplement any public benefits they may already receive," Knowles said. So that fewer families are lost between their screening and being referred to an assisting agency, Knowles recommended getting families' consent to share contact info right away at the first screening. "Our study shows that the process of following up is just as important as the screening itself," said Mariana Chilton, PhD, Drexel professor, director of the Center for Hunger Free Communities, and study co-author. "We need better, more coordinated systems and processes to assist families." Although this study only took place at CHOP in Philadelphia, its results fall in line with others. The interest is certainly there for screening. "It's widely known that food insecurity is bad for child health and costs health systems more money," Chilton explained. "This is why every big health system in the Philadelphia and Camden areas are currently implementingor attempting to implementfood insecurity screening. If our region's health systems could screen and refer successfully, while also finding meaningful ways to prevent food insecurity, then these efforts could serve as a model for the rest of the country." Explore further Housing instability negatively affects the health of children and caregivers Prevalence of curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs)- chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasis -- among women aged 15 to 24 exceeds that of older women and similar-aged men in sub-Saharan Africa. Credit: Joshua Green, US Air Force Prevalence of curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs)- chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomoniasisamong women aged 15 to 24 exceeds that of older women and similar-aged men in sub-Saharan Africa, according to research published this week in PLOS Medicine. In one study, Elizabeth A. Torrone of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and colleagues performed a meta-analysis of individual participant data from 18 prior studies of HIV prevention. In the other, Suzanna C. Francis of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine and colleagues obtained new data within the structure of an established health surveillance project. The studies examine STI prevalence within age, sex, setting, and risk groups and further establish young women's sexual health as a priority issue in the region. STIs are often asymptomatic, but can have devastating consequences including infertility and pelvic inflammatory disease. They can also increase the risk of HIV infection. Better information on STI prevalence is difficult to collect, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where inexpensive, feasible diagnostic tests are not available in most clinical settings. To address this gap with available data, Torrone and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis using STI test results from 18 HIV prevention studies conducted in Eastern and Southern Africa between 1993 and 2011. In these studies, a total of more than 37,000 HIV-negative women were tested at baseline for curable STIs, the chronic, treatable STI herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), and the dysbiotic condition bacterial vaginosis (BV) to estimate the prevalence of STIs and BV by age, region and population-type. Meanwhile, Francis and colleagues tested a pragmatic approach for collection of new data, by conducting nested STI surveillance within the Africa Health Research Institute (AHRI), a health and demographic surveillance site (HDSS) in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Between October 2016 and January 2017, the researchers conducted home visits offering testing for STIs and BV to young people who were found at home and agreed to participate. The studies estimated that, in most groups, more than 10% of young, female participants (aged 15-24) were infected with one or more curable STI. Torrone et al report that estimated prevalence of curable STIs was generally higher in women aged 15-24 than in women aged 25-49. Both studies estimate higher prevalence of HSV-2 and BV, compared with curable STI, in most groups; e.g., Torrone et al estimate HSV-2 prevalence of 39% [95% CI: 34.3%, 44.6%] and BV prevalence of 42.1% [35.6%, 49.0%] among women aged 15-24 in South African clinic and community-based populations. Francis et al also provide some of the first population data for STI burden in young men (chlamydia: 5% of men, 11% of women; HSV-2: 17% of men, 29% of women; BV: 42% of women). In Francis' et al's study, most (75%) of the curable STIs in women were asymptomatic. The study heterogeneity observed in Torrone et al's meta-analysis, and the non-population-based sampling, underscore the need to strengthen surveillance efforts. The prevalence estimates gathered by Francis et al are also not fully representative; notably, successful contact with male and migrant individuals was low. However, the two studies provide broadly consistent findings, and demonstrate means of using existing data and established systems to obtain STI/BV prevalence estimates where routine surveillance is limited. More information: Elizabeth A. Torrone et al, Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis among women in sub-Saharan Africa: An individual participant data meta-analysis of 18 HIV prevention studies, PLOS Medicine (2018). Journal information: PLoS Medicine Elizabeth A. Torrone et al, Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and bacterial vaginosis among women in sub-Saharan Africa: An individual participant data meta-analysis of 18 HIV prevention studies,(2018). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002511 Bone marrow aspirate showing acute myeloid leukemia. Several blasts have Auer rods. Credit: Wikipedia A study at Children's Hospital Los Angeles is shedding new light on the best therapeutic approach for a rare and aggressive leukemia called mixed phenotype acute leukemia (MPAL). The studya quantitative synthesis of 20 years of scientific literaturefound that starting MPAL treatment with a less-toxic regimen is associated with clear benefits for achieving remission and possibly for long-term survival. The findings were published online in the journal Leukemia on February 27, 2018. MPAL accounts for 2 to 5 percent of leukemia cases and has been historically difficult to treat, with five-year survival rates of less than 50 percent. The disease affects both children and adults and contains characteristics of two more-common forms of leukemia: acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Physicians must decide whether to treat patients with therapy for ALL or therapy for AML, or a hybrid of both approaches. The problem: There's no clear consensus on which approach is best. "Because this disease is so rare, we haven't had clinical trials with thousands of patients to define the optimal therapy," says Etan Orgel, MD, MS, a specialist in MPAL and a physician in the Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases at Children's Hospital Los Angeles. "Instead, we have many small, isolated and often-conflicting case reports published in widely diffuse journals around the world. It's disjointed." To make better sense of the available research and provide clearer treatment guidance for physicians, Orgel and a team of CHLA researchers embarked on the first-ever systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies on MPAL. The team searched more than 17,000 published studies, eventually narrowing that list to 252 relevant papers from 33 countries covering 1,499 patients. Their review included studies using both the European Group and World Health Organization definitions of MPAL. Their key finding: Patients initially treated with ALL therapya significantly less-toxic regimenwere three to five times more likely to achieve a complete remission than AML-treated patients. Patients starting with ALL chemotherapy were also twice as likely to survivebut that benefit was only found in studies reporting patient results as a group. In studies reporting individual patient results, survival was similar in both the ALL and AML groupsa puzzling discrepancy researchers could not explain. Patients given hybrid therapy, though, fared the worst. "This makes a really convincing case that starting with ALL therapy is beneficial on all fronts, from remission to overall survivalif not from increasing survival, then from decreasing side effects," says Maria Maruffi, MD, the first author on the study. Researchers say the next step is a national clinical trial for this rare disease. "This research provides key insights to help guide physicians treating patients walking in the door today," says Orgel, associate professor of Clinical Pediatrics at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California. "But it also highlights the critical need for a clinical trial to definitively determine the best therapy for MPAL and help move treatment for this rare disease forward." More information: Maria Maruffi et al, Therapy for children and adults with mixed phenotype acute leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis, Leukemia (2018). Journal information: Leukemia Maria Maruffi et al, Therapy for children and adults with mixed phenotype acute leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis,(2018). DOI: 10.1038/s41375-018-0058-4 (HealthDay)Knee pain and functional impairments in elderly individuals are associated with the development of depressive symptoms, according to a study published online Feb. 14 in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. Keiko Sugai, M.D., Ph.D., from Keio University School of Medicine in Tokyo,, and colleagues performed a community-based prospective cohort study to examine the association between knee pain and function and depressive symptoms in 573 Japanese adults aged 65 and older without depressive symptoms at baseline. The researchers found that over two years of follow-up, 11.9 percent of participants developed depressive symptoms. Pain and functional impairment were associated with depressive symptom development. The factors most strongly associated with development of depressive symptoms included pain at night while in bed (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 2.6) difficulty putting on socks (aOR, 3.7), difficulty getting into and out of a car (aOR, 3.4), and difficulty taking off socks (aOR, 3.1). "Examining elderly people's responses to questions about pain at night and difficulties performing daily activities may be an efficient way of identifying those at high risk of developing depressive symptoms," the authors write. Explore further Depression ups mortality risk post aortic valve replacement Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Health authorities will need to focus on more than eating habits if they are going to combat the obesity epidemic. A study led by the University of Waterloo found it's generally a combination of unhealthy behaviours among youth that could be the greatest predictors of whether or not young people will experience obesity issues in adulthood. The study concluded that public health efforts focusing on obesity prevention must identify and correct poor behaviours that are often developed in early childhood. "Adolescents with obesity often maintain their weight status into adulthood, increasing their risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure," says Rachel Laxer, who formed part of the research team while doing her PhD at Waterloo. "Public health practitioners should be targeting clusters of risky behaviours using a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach." "Research tells us that while calorie intake has not dramatically changed over time, habits such as exercising, smoking, drug use and alcohol consumption have," said Laxer. "It's increasingly important to target these risky behaviours together, and early, before they become habits." The study involved Ontario students in grades nine and ten, ranging from 13 to 17 years of age and participating in the COMPASS Study, a nine-year study started in 2012 that is funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Research. Students reported risky behaviours at the beginning of the study, and their heights and weights were tracked for two additional years. Based on their reported behaviours, the teens were classified as Typical High School Athletes, Inactive High Screen-Users ("Screenagers"), Moderately Active Substance Users, or Health Conscious. The researchers found that although the four groups saw similar increases to their weight status over the years that they were followed, students in the Health Conscious group had the healthiest body weight at the beginning of the study. "It's important to try to improve behaviours before they become habits, which are much harder to correct," said Laxer. "This could have important implications for public health initiatives. Intervening and modifying unhealthy behaviours earlier might have a greater impact than during adolescence. Health promotion strategies targeting higher risk youth as they enter secondary school might be the best way to prevent or delay the onset of obesity, and might have better public health outcomes over the longer term." The study, done in collaboration with Professor Scott Leatherdale from Waterloo, was recently published in PLOS ONE. Explore further The importance of gender in cardiovascular health (HealthDay)Understanding nonadherence in patients and encouraging a change in attitude toward patients and their medication can improve medication adherence, according to a report published by the American Medical Association (AMA). An AMA STEPS Forward module has been developed to help decrease medication nonadherence in eight steps, through staff involvement, patient engagement, and behavior change. Physicians should be aware that forgetfulness or access/cost accounts for only a small amount of nonadherence. Most nonadherence is intentional and based on personal beliefs. Physicians and their teams should understand why patients decide not to take their medication. Physicians and their teams need to develop a blame-free environment in order to discover nonadherence, and allow patients to feel comfortable sharing their true medication taking behavior. After understanding the causes of medication nonadherence, physicians should thank the patient for sharing the information. Instead of being confrontational, physicians should encourage patients to open up, allowing for appropriate intervention and preventing the need for starting a new workout or prescribing second-line medications unnecessarily. "If physicians have effectively uncovered nonadherence and begin to improve the medication taking behavior of the patient, it is important to decrease or even discontinue some of the medicines in order to avoid over treating a chronic condition," according to the report. Explore further AMA: eight reasons for nonadherence to medications More information: More Information Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin, at podium, takes questions from the media at a news conference regarding the couple accused of starving and torturing their 13 children in Riverside, Calif., Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018. Authorities say David and Louise Turpin could face charges including torture and child endangerment. Credit: AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes A California couple charged with torturing their 13 children and holding them captive for years appeared in court again on Friday. The case has drawn international attention, with many wondering how such dark behavior was kept secret for so long. The terrified and malnourished Turpin siblings were only discovered after one of them escaped last month and called the police. Neighbors have expressed disbelief that so many children were living in such unthinkable conditions, right next door to their homes. "There are anecdotal reports now from neighbors asking, 'How did we miss this? How did we not see what was going on? Why didn't we pick up on this?'" said Beth Molnar, associate professor in the Department of Health Sciences at Northeastern. As a social and psychiatric epidemiologist, Molnar has been studying youth violence and child abuse for more than two decades. She said one factor known to protect against child abuse is the amount of intergenerational closure within a neighborhood. This concept refers to things like how well adults know the children in their neighborhood, or how well they know the parents of their children's friends. "Perhaps if that neighborhood had more of this intergenerational closuremore of the social network among familiesperhaps they might have seen signs earlier than when this young woman escaped," Molnar said. Most of the 13 children were homeschooled, making it even less likely that someone outside the family would learn about the abuse. "The system that we rely on to discover most of this is our system of what we call mandated reporters. Teachers, physicians, social workers, anybody that works with children in a social services agency or a children's center are mandated reporters," Molnar said. "It seems like this family was able to keep their children away from all of those categories." Molnar's work on neighborhood-level factors that could reduce child abuse was chosen as paper of the year in 2016 by the journal Child Abuse and Neglect. The paper describes Molnar's research examining families in Chicago over a 10-year period. One of the main findings was the importance of collective efficacy. "This is the way people have confidence that their neighbors can work together on issues that are plaguing the neighborhood," Molnar explained. For example, could the neighbors band together to prevent people loitering or committing crimes on a street corner? If the community fire station were at risk of being defunded, would the neighborhood convene to find a solution? "The degree that people have this confidence in their neighborhood having these strong tiesthat confidence is predictive of lower rates of violence," Molnar said. Explore further If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, report it (HealthDay)Those tangled blue varicose veins that can pop up on your legs as you age may be more than unsightly: New research suggests they might quintuple your risk of dangerous blood clots. Known as deep venous thrombosis (DVT), these clots in the legs can be life-threatening if they travel to the lungs or heart, Taiwanese researchers said. "Varicose veins are not merely a cosmetic or symptomatic concern, because they may be associated with increasing risk of more serious disease," explained lead researcher Dr. Shyue-Luen Chang, a phlebologist in the department of dermatology at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Taoyuan. Varicose veins are a common condition affecting about 23 percent of American adults, the researchers said. "Patients with varicose veins may warrant careful monitoring and early evaluation," Chang added. Among a group of more than 425,000 people, half of whom had varicose veins, Chang's team found that the condition was associated with 5.3 times increased risk of deep venous thrombosis. Whether varicose veins cause the clots, or are a real risk for them, however, is not known, Chang said. More research is needed since the study did not prove that varicose veins cause the clots, he said. "Not much is known about varicose veins and the risk for these other diseases," Chang said. "Elucidating potential associations between varicose veins and health-threatening diseases is important." The researchers also found a trend for an increased risk of pulmonary embolisms or PE (clots in the lung) or PAD (narrowing of the leg arteries) among those with varicose veins, but they weren't able to tell if varicose veins were a real risk for these conditions. For the study, Chang and colleagues used data from Taiwan's National Health Insurance program. Patients were enrolled in the database from 2001 to 2013, and they were followed through 2014. One weakness of the study is that insurance claims data do not include information on patients who don't seek medical care. Therefore, the findings may apply only to risk among patients with more severe varicose veins who needed medical attention, the researchers explained. One U.S. cardiologist called for more research on the possible connection. "Given the very high prevalence of varicose veins in the general population worldwide, the results of this trial should trigger future studies to further investigate the effect of varicose veins on the inflammation and formation of a blood clot, and to assess the link between the severity of varicose veins and DVT," said Dr. Maja Zaric. She's an interventional cardiologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. The study suggests that varicose veins should be taken more seriously and likely treated more aggressively, she said. "It is prudent to establish which category of patients with varicose veins is at the greatest risk and how aggressive and early the treatment should be to prevent serious complications, given morbidity and mortality associated with both DVT and PE," Zaric said. The report was published Feb. 27 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Explore further Varicose veins keep some in long pants all year More information: Shyue-Luen Chang, M.D., phlebologist, department of dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Maja Zaric, M.D., interventional cardiologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Feb. 27, 2018, Journal of the American Medical Association Shyue-Luen Chang, M.D., phlebologist, department of dermatology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Maja Zaric, M.D., interventional cardiologist, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City; Feb. 27, 2018, Visit the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for more on varicose veins. Journal information: Journal of the American Medical Association Copyright 2018 HealthDay. All rights reserved. The Taliban draft new Constitution of Afghanistan Thousands of Haitians are amassed near US borders Azeri policeman threatens Armenian children on Goris-Kapan road - "There is no more Nagorno-Karabakh" Turkey expects construction of first reactor of Akkuyu Nuclear Power Plant to end in May 2023 Armenia PM's assistant and daughter of deceased serviceman get into dispute Taliban forcing young Afghans to go to war Karabakh National Security Service says news about Azerbaijanis working with Iranian passports is false Armenia high-tech industry minister receives UK Ambassador Opposition "Armenia" alliance cancels Robert Kocharyan's visit to Moscow due to court decision Relatives of deceased Armenian soldiers demand that Independence Day event be canceled Assistant to Armenia PM: There is no Turkish equipment at Republic Square Azerbaijanis stop microbus transporting children of Artsakh, very obscenely tell them to get off Digest: Karabakh soldier injured near border, Azerbaijanis stop car carrying bread to Armenia soldiers Armenia PM's assistant to relatives of fallen soldiers: 30th anniversary of Independence Day event must be held Deceased Armenian officer's daughter: Pashinyan is causing relatives of the fallen servicemen pain again Armenia Freedom of Information Center hosts discussion on transparency of real owners Parent of deceased Armenian soldier: There won't be a vivid fireworks display Karabakh emergency situations service: Searches for remains of Armenian servicemen fruitless for 2 days Armenian cross-stone consecrated in Mariupol Armenia President at Summit of Minds: War was not only against Azerbaijan Armenia official: No company with dominant position in countrys liquefied gas market Kremlin assesses need for summit of "five" of UN Security Council Fallen soldiers families protesting at Republic Square in Yerevan Iran President: Countries of region need to create conditions for Afghanistan's development Armenia, France FMs discuss Karabakh conflict US Department of State approves defense treaty with Saudi Arabia Putin to vote in Russian State Duma elections online Armenia air defense trainings kick off Dollar still going down in Armenia Russia defense minister becomes a grandfather Putin: Russia supports process of Iran's accession to Shanghai Cooperation Organization Russian peacekeepers ensure safety during construction of road leading to mobile phone tower in Karabakh Ombudsman briefs Baroness Caroline Cox on Azerbaijan violations against Armenia border residents Armenia Deputy PM: I hope natural gas price stays the same Pashinyan: Armenia interested in effective restraint of threat of terrorism in CSTO, SCO regions Prosperous Armenia Party leader on upcoming local self-government elections Artsakh MOD: Azerbaijan violated ceasefire, Defense Army soldier wounded Russia company holding arms supply negotiations with Armenia Azerbaijan nominates occupied Armenian Shushi for cultural capital of Turkic world Armenia State Committee of Science has new General Secretary Deputy PM: Armenia is considering possibility of importing natural gas from other countries, but... Eurasian Economic Union minister: Armenia sees 19% growth of exports to EEU countries, 12% growth of trade Armenia deputy PM is for starting border demarcation, delimitation with Azerbaijan Azerbaijanis stop car carrying bread to Armenia soldiers Armenia opposition MP: Border demarcation occurs when countries have no problems with each other Armenia legislature majority faction: Yerevan, Baku must finally begin border delimitation, demarcation phase Opposition Armenia Faction MP: Lawsuit filed with UN against Azerbaijan was correct, logical Armenia deputy premier: Solution for unblocking regional communications more visible in terms of railways GeoProMining announces completion of 2nd stage of Agarak Copper-Molybdenum Combine modernization project Armenia deputy PM: Situation on Goris-Kapan road may affect economy Opposition Armenia Faction in parliament: Security crisis in country not overcome yet Armenia Police, Europol sign collaboration agreement (PHOTOS) Azerbaijan to also petition to UN International Court of Justice in response to Armenia appeal OSCE PA chair: Despite ceasefire in Karabakh much more needs to be done to guarantee durable peace 759 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Those displaced in Artsakh stage protest outside Armenia government Russia Central Electoral Commission info center launches Duma voting and other elections World oil prices dropping Armenias Pashinyan to Irans Raisi. Our two governments activities started at same time, this is very good nuance Armenia, India FMs discuss Karabakh conflict Newspaper: Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement details known Newspaper: Opposition Armenia Faction 2 MPs at focus of authorities attention Newspaper: Laborers with Iran passports are brought to Artsakh Armenia PM, Iran President meeting in Tajikistan Trump predicts disappearance of US Armenia institutes proceedings against Azerbaijan before International Court of Justice 3,000 French medical workers dismissed for refusing to get vaccinated against COVID-19 Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan affirm need to achieve national reconciliation in Afghanistan Armenia State Revenue Committee chief and Russian counterpart discuss cooperation in taxation sector Members of opposition "Armenia" parliamentary faction meet with delegation led by Baroness Caroline Cox Armenia Deputy PM: Gyumri's Shirak International Airport has everything to serve European low-costers Ambassador: I don't believe Belarus gives preference to Yerevan or Baku when it comes to relations Taliban's ad hoc government holds first session Armenia President appoints Chief of Staff of Special Army Corps-Deputy Commander of Corps Zakharova: Russia has told Baku about its position on the Turkish-Azerbaijani joint military exercises Armenia high-tech industry minister receives Head of EU Delegation Andrea Wiktorin Digest: Armenia assumes CSTO chairmanship, Armenian COVID-19 situation is tense Armenia Deputy PM: Government intends to end construction of alternative roads in Syunik Province in spring 2022 Armenia Parliament Speaker receives US Ambassador Armenia Deputy PM on current situation on Goris-Kapan road: Authorities didn't have a choice YEREVAN. The National Assembly (NA) of Armenia on Tuesday voted unanimously for putting the draft of the NA statement initiated by the opposition Way Out NA Faction, and with respect to the tragic events that occurred on March 1 and 2, 2008, on the agenda of the current NA sessions. Unexpectedly, ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Faction member, former Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan, motioned to put this draft on the agenda of the session and to debate on the matter. Although I consider the points of the statement senseless, I propose putting it on the agenda so that those points become a subject of public debate, he said. Subsequently, RPA Faction head Vahram Baghdasaryan motioned to vote for this draft so that this matter will be discussed at parliament. As a result, all parliamentary forces voted in favor of putting this draft on the NA sessions agenda. I believe the opposition will appreciate this step by the authorities, said NA Vice Chairman and RPA spokesperson Eduard Sharmazanov. The Way Out faction proposes to adopt an NA statement in connection with the tenth anniversary of the tragic events that occurred on March 1, 2008, in capital city Yerevan. On that day, the authorities used force against the opposition members that were rallying in downtown Yerevan. Eight demonstrators and two servicemen of the internal troops were killed. No one has yet been brought to account for these deaths. YEREVAN. I take each and every statement by the President of Armenia seriously; but we dont work through ambitions and wish. Vahram Baghdasaryan, head of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Faction, on Tuesday stated the abovementioned during the National Assembly debates on the election of the members of the Supreme Judicial Council. Baghdasaryan noted this commenting on President and RPA Chairman Serzh Sargsyans statementback in 2014that he will never formally run for Prime Minister. The RPA has assumed responsibility of the country, and we shall find it expedient as to who can assume that helm, and in which post, he said, in particular. In this case, Serzh Sargsyan, aside from being the RPA leader, he is a rank-and-file party member, and he must comply with the decisions of the political force. In Vahram Baghdasaryans words, even though every politician is free in his statements and views, each and every decent politician shall comply with the political decisions that are made. YEREVAN. The people of Karabakh should not be deprived from cooperation with the human rights organizations due to the objection of Azerbaijan, Armenian Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian said at the High Level Segment of the 37th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. The speech of Mr. Nalbandian is as follows: This year we mark the 70th anniversaries of two fundamental documents in the field of human rights protection, namely the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The Universal Declaration is widely acknowledged as a milestone document in the history of human rights. Nevertheless, its provisions have not only been continuously ignored, but grossly violated in many parts of the world. Thirty years ago, during these very days in February 1988 anti-Armenian pogroms broke out in Azerbaijani Sumgait leaving numerous Armenians killed, maimed and deported. They were perpetrated by the authorities of Azerbaijan with the aim to punish Armenians for the peaceful aspirations of the people of Nagorno-Karabakh for self-determination. Those atrocities were the very reason why Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Andrei Sakharov wrote that even if some doubted it before Sumgait, no one sees a moral opportunity to insist on territorial unity of Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan after this tragedy happened. The Sumgait massacre was widely condemned by the international community, including by the resolution of the European Parliament. Regrettably, the masterminds and perpetrators of this crime were not duly punished. As it happened many times in the human history, impunity opened the door for new atrocities, including Armenian massacres and ethnic cleansing in Baku, Kirovabad (Gandzak), Maragha and many other places. By all means Azerbaijan attempts to conceal these atrocities, to avoid responsibility and to shift attention from them through fabricated accusations, including by the so-called Khojaly campaign, trying to portray themselves as victims and discredit Armenians as alleged perpetrators of the violence. It is a part of Azerbaijans xenophobic anti-Armenian policy. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance and many other organizations in charge of human rights expressed concern at constant cases of hate speech in Azerbaijan used against Armenians by political leaders, educational institutions and media and that an entire generation of Azerbaijanis has grown up listening to this hateful rhetoric. It is this kind of anti-Armenian propaganda that has incited continuous atrocities against Armenians, including the gross violations of international humanitarian law committed by the armed forces of Azerbaijan in April 2016 in Nagorno-Karabakh - killing of children, women, elderly people, mutilation of the corpses, beheadings of captured soldiers in the style used by notorious terrorist organizations. Ladies and Gentlemen, When there is an imminent threat to life the unhindered access of the relevant United Nations agencies and special procedures, provision of humanitarian assistance to the people residing in conflict areas gains utmost significance. It is perplexing that the perpetrators of such horrendous crimes are consulted for their consent on the engagement of international organizations and the provision of the humanitarian assistance. The people of Nagorno-Karabakh should not be deprived from cooperation with the human rights organizations due to the objection of Azerbaijan, a country notorious for the violations of the very human rights. Universal Declaration stipulates that the realization of the individual and collective human rights and fundamental freedoms must not be dependent on the status of the territory where peoples live. This should serve as a guiding principle for all those who are committed to the universal application of the Declaration without leaving any grey zones where the people are deprived from the international assistance in exercising their rights. Belated reaction, delayed assessment of the situation, the absence of preventive measures constitute gaps between proclaimed commitments and their implementation on the ground. Indeed, a right delayed is a right denied. I want to recall the words of Eleanor Roosevelt one of the authors of the Universal Declaration we could not have peace, or an atmosphere in which peace could grow, unless we recognize the rights of individual human beings. Mr. President, In 2015 upon the initiative of Armenia the United Nations Human Rights Council passed a unanimous Resolution on the Genocide Prevention. In its development, again upon our initiative, the UN General Assembly assigned December 9th as an International Day of Commemoration of the Victims of Genocide. As recently the United Nations Under Secretary General Mr. Michael Mller stated, Armenia has become a leading voice for safeguarding the importance of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. What is happening in front of our eyes in different parts of the world, related to the identity-based crimes against ethnic and religious groups vividly manifests that the world is not immune from this odious scourge and that it remains imperative to redouble the international efforts aimed at reinvigoration of the prevention agenda. During this session of the Human Rights Council Armenia presents a resolution on Genocide Prevention which will mark the 70th anniversary of the Convention with specific recommendations for actions and reflect on the activities of the UN and its member states in this regard. On December 9th we will host the Third International Global Forum Against the Crime of Genocide in Yerevan. It will stand as a solid platform for manifestation of our collective resolve against the recurrences of this heinous crime, for raising awareness and promoting education for the prevention of Genocides. Mr. President, Armenia continues to implement National Plan of Action for Human Rights Protection, the main objective of which is to formulate a unified policy document in the area of human rights protection. We have a good record of submissions of national and follow-up reports to the UN treaty bodies. Armenia supports the Universal Periodic Review process and we are going to submit our UPR second mid-term report on a voluntary basis. Our country is completing its transition to parliamentary system of governance. Throughout the whole process of transition including the Constitutional referendum, the subsequent amendments of the key laws in Armenia and the parliamentary elections were conducted in an inclusive manner, in close cooperation with our international partners and have demonstrated that the progress achieved in upholding fundamental freedoms is sustainable and irreversible. We will continue the reform process in our country also making use of the good offices provided by our partners, including the United Nations. Mr. President, I would like to assure of Armenias continued commitment for the further consolidation of democratic institutions, rule of law, strengthening of judiciary, good governance, which remain high among our priorities. Home | News | General | Just in: PDP sends serious message to National Assembly over abduction of schoolgirls in Dapchi - The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wants the National Assembly to commence investigation into the abduction of schoolgirls from Dapchi in Yobe state - The PDP hinged their argument on alleged diverse information from different circles since the abduction of the girls - The party also asks the National Assembly to help rescue some parents of the girls who were reportedly arrested for protesting The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is asking the National Assembly to immediately, commence a full scale investigation into the circumstances leading to the unfortunate abduction of 110 school girls in Dapchi, Yobe state. The PDP said the investigation had become become very important in the face of rising speculations and conspiracy theories in the public space adding that the latter was fueled by conflicting reports, alleged attempts at cover-up and disagreements among government officials and agencies regarding the ugly incident. "The National Assembly must take a critical note of the allegation by Yobe state governor, Ibrahim Geidam, who insists that the abduction was preceded by the withdrawal of troops safeguarding the troubled area. READ ALSO: Dasukigate: Ex-army chief Kenneth Minimah refunds N1.7bn "The governor is the chief security officer of the state and his statement cannot be taken lightly or even dismissed by just a wave of the hand by anybody or any government agency under any guise whatsoever," a statement by the party's national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said. The PDP also urged the National Assembly to investigate the various conflicting reports that have characterized the abduction, particularly the alleged initial moves by the federal government to deny the occurrence of this incident. "Nigerians are indeed worried about the apparent deliberate design to hide the facts of this abduction and demand to know the truth. It is a common saying in Africa that thunder does not strike on the same spot twice. "We must not allow our national ambience to be filled with speculations from conspiracy theorists. Our lawmakers must therefore, in unraveling the matter, question all security agencies, particularly those operating in the area. "Furthermore, we urge the National Assembly to urgently come to the rescue of some of the parents of our abducted daughters, who were arrested and taken into custody for daring to demand to know the whereabouts of their children and wards. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app "The federal government must be made to live up to the basic responsibility of protecting lives and property and also to be truthful to Nigerians at all times. "We therefore demand a strong legislative action at the highest level to enable our nation know the truth on this matter and other issues directly affecting the safety and well-being of our citizens," the statement said. NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Nigerian government finally confirmed that not fewer than 110 schoolgirls are missing from a government girls college in Dapchi, Yobe state after a Boko Haram attack on the high school on Monday, February 19. The government confirmed this in a statement signed by Segun Adeyemi, the special assistant to information minister Lai Mohammed. Smartphones giveaway. Hurry up! 1 week until winner announced - on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... Home | News | General | Minister Ogbeh should tread with caution IT is dangerous to be overzealous and to run too far ahead of the pack when there is social tension. In a democracy, it pays for government officials to consult thoroughly, think carefully through policies and apply circumspection in their execution to carry the public along. True democrats are always mindful of conducting public affairs in a manner as to maintain legitimacy and public approval. Chief Audu Ogbeh, who is privileged to be appointed Minister for the second time, is repeating a mistake he made over 30 years ago when he was the Minister of Communications under President Shehu Shagari. At that time he had threatened to shut down the Radio Lagos FM station for reaching other states with its broadcasts. Meanwhile, he ignored the Radio Rivers FM which could also be picked up in Imo, Anambra and Cross River States. But, Lagos State was under the opposition Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN, while Rivers State was governed by the National Party of Nigeria, NPN, to which Ogbeh belonged. The legal battle which was brewing was only aborted when the military returned in 1983. Recently, Ogbeh announced the Federal Governments intention to create cattle colonies which he claimed would be established in every state of Nigeria. Ogbeh ignored the fact that the state governors have constitutional powers over land matters in their states. He made it appear as if the states had no choice over the matter. His enthusiasm was buoyed by the response of the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, who quickly volunteered to make land available for the project, though several interest groups across Kogi State angrily kicked against it. It was the same Minister Ogbeh who jumped into the fray as soon as he was appointed Minister of Agriculture, and promised that Nigeria would import grass from Brazil to feed our livestock without consulting stakeholders who would have told him that Nigerian researchers had already developed suitable improved grass varieties for the same purpose. On Saturday, February 10, 2018, President Buhari put the nail on the coffin of Ogbehs idea of establishing cattle colonies by declaring that he had no powers to create them. From all indications, the Minister acts alone on most of these knee-jerk plans. The result is always that he is forced to backtrack, and that is not a dignified way of exercising public authority. Minister Ogbeh is advised to be more sensitive to public opinion. This is what comes of effective consultation. It is the height of insensitivity for him to even propose the cattle colony idea without caring about the way his people of Benue State and other Nigerians would feel about it, especially for someone who claims to be a seasoned democrat. It pays to tread with caution. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... Home | News | General | Saraki, Obaseki, others task world leaders on illegal migration, trafficking in persons - The Senate President has vowed to make moves towards ending human trafficking in Nigeria - Bukola Saraki made the promise during a roundtable meeting with the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki, and other stakeholders in Benin - He said the Nigerian Senate and its members are losing sleep over the high rate of trafficking and illegal migration stories from Nigeria The Senate President, Bukola Saraki has promised to take more actions towards ending human trafficking and illegal migration across Nigeria. The Senate President made the promise alongside the governor of Edo state, Godwin Obaseki, at a Senate roundtable migration and human trafficking in Benin City, on Monday, February 26. Saraki while addressing stakeholders at the roundtable lamented the high index of Nigeria's population involved in illegal migration and human trafficking. The Senate President said: "We are losing sleep over irregular migration and human trafficking; and we are determined, as representatives of the people, to do something about it." The Senate President has vowed to make moves towards ending human trafficking in Nigeria. Photo credit: Nigerian Senate READ ALSO: EFCC arraigns banker for allegedly stealing N700million from customers' accounts (photo) He said Nigeria has lost too many young people - who have died in the desert and in the sea - on the unpredictable treks who otherwise would have led productive lives in their home country. "We have seen the bleak images of coffins of 26 Nigerian girls who were laid to rest in Italy last November. This is what brings us today to ancient Benin. The trafficking of young males has overtaken females in this state for the first time, and now stands at 63%. Clearly, something is wrong in the way we manage citizens security, border security as well as international cooperation and collaboration," he said. Saraki said the Nigerian Senate is losing sleep over irregular migration and human trafficking. Photo credit: Nigerian Senate READ ALSO: We are not interested in Igbo presidency now without restructuring - Southeast leaders tell FG He noted that the event is designed to help answer some of the niggling questions, to identify the root causes and the various dimensions of the problem, and work out a way forward. Also speaking, the Edo state governor commended the Senate President for the initiative of holding the session. Obaseki said the state will continue to fund programmes aimed at protection, prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration of trafficked victims. NAIJ.com earlier reported that a Nigerian envoy to China said that many Nigerians were in various prisons in Guangdong Province for overstaying their visas. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Wale Oloko said about 600 Nigerians arrested for overstaying their visas and in detention for other offences. Read more: He noted that some other Nigerians were also arrested for engaging in drug trafficking and other criminal offences that had led to their detention. Ex-prisoner turns advocate for release of former inmates - on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... Home | News | General | The abduction of 110 schoolgirls in Dapchi now confirms why Nigeria must adopt state police - Lawmaker says - Yinka Ogundimu laments that the police is now overwhelmed by the rate of insecurity across the country - Ogundimu, a member of the Lagos Assembly, says the abduction of 110 girls in Dapchi now proves Nigeria needs state police - The lawmaker complains that despite assisting the police with funds and equipment, states are still under-policed A member of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Yinka Ogundimu, said on Tuesday, February 27, that the abduction of some schoolgirls in Dapchi, Yobe, has confirmed the need for the establishment of 'state police'. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Ogundimu, the chairman of the committee on finance, made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Lagos. With the current realities in our security experience, coupled with the recent abduction of schoolgirls in Yobe, the police must be decentralised. READ ALSO: House of Reps summon Nigerias service chiefs of kidnapped 110 Dapchi girls We need this urgently because it is long overdue to improve our security; it is obvious now that we need state police. It is better late than never, Ogundimu, representing Agege constituency 2, said, adding that the All Progressives Congress committee on true federalism recommended state police in its report. We, in the Lagos state House of Assembly, have been clamouring for the creation of state Police. We believe that it is the way to go, he added, stating that there should have been no need for state courts of law if there was no need for state police. Since there are state courts, state police is necessary. We need police on the streets and in communities, he argued, saying although many states had invested much in funding federal police, some of them are still not well secured. Nigerias population requires more police personnel than we currently have; the federal police cannot do it alone, Ogundimu said. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app According to him, Lagos state introduced the neighbourhood safety corps to strengthen security as well as the security trust fund because "security remains an important need of Nigerians." NAIJ.com earlier reported that about 50 civil society and non-governmental organisations asked the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari not to pay any ransom to the Boko Haram sect for the release of the abducted 110 Dapchi girls. The girls were abducted from Government Girls Technical College, Dapchi, Yobe state by members of the sect. Smartphones giveaway. Hurry up! 1 week until winner announced - on NAIJ.com TV [embedded content] Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Loading... Home | World | Africa | Tsvangirai's father-in law finally speaks out Before she married the former Prime Minister, she had acquired a number of properties including one in Borrowdale and her businesses were doing quite well. I am saddened in burying my son-in-law, Morgan Tsvangirai. He was a good son-in-law with whom I had an excellent relationship. Despite coming from different political parties, we had a cordial connection which was filled with mutual respect. I did not expect that he would die, though he had been unwell for some time. I thought that he would pull through and come back home. My daughter gave me regular reports about his illness and she remained hopeful that he would get better. She was extremely stressed all the time, but I always encouraged her to remain strong and continue to play her role as a wife. In many of my interactions with the former Prime Minister, our conversations were filled with humour. On many occasions, our discussions centred on politics. We often joked about our political rivalry, him being leader of the main opposition and me being a National Consultative Assembly member for the ruling party Zanu-PF. He often joked that I should join his party, but I extended the same offer to him, to join Zanu-PF. Our modus vivendi on our political differences is something that other people can draw lessons from because belonging to different political parties should not be a cause for conflict. I often told him that I would never leave Zanu-PF to join MDC because that would not be a wise decision to follow a son-in-law's preferences because I have five daughters who can still get married to husbands from other different political parties. Mr Tsvangirai also told me that when his relationship with Elizabeth became known in the public, a delegation of the female leadership in the MDC asked him not to go ahead with marrying my daughter. The MDC leaders told him that marrying Elizabeth would be akin to getting into a marriage with Zanu-PF. But I admired his magnanimity because he remained humble and respectful to us, his in-laws, despite our political differences and the pressure he faced from his party. I feel very sorry for my daughter because the last few months have been shattering for her. She stood by her husband during his illness. She lost a lot of weight during this painful period and even though it was not easy, she soldiered on. I am convinced that as a wife, she played her role as best as she could and she really could not have done anything more. There was a time when Mr Tsvangirai suffered a bout of illness while on duty, it must have been in Kadoma, where he vomited profusely. To show her love, Elizabeth cleaned up the vomit with her bare hands. This shows how much she loved her husband. A lot has been said about how she was treated at the funeral, but for us as a family, we were not really focused on that. Our focus was on making sure that we did our part in giving our son-in-law a decent burial. We bear no grudges with anyone and we have no problems at all with the Tsvangirai family. I am particularly sad for Elizabeth because this is not the first time that she has lost her husband. She lost her first husband, Mabasa Simba Guma, in a tragic accident so it is dismaying that she is facing another tragedy when she is still relatively young (42). Growing up, Elizabeth was always a hardworking woman. She was always business minded and even before she met Mr Tsvangirai, she had acquired her own fair share of wealth which was a very commendable feat for someone at her age. Before she married the former Prime Minister, she had acquired a number of properties including one in Borrowdale and her businesses were doing quite well. She had a chain of stores in the city and she flew regularly to countries such as China and Dubai to buy merchandise for resale. Her entrepreneurial skills started at a very young age when she was very involved in the buying and selling of farm produce from farms surrounding Chitungwiza. From these humble beginnings she grew her business interests. It is painful that some people think that she married Mr Tsvangirai for his status. Nothing could be further from the truth. I know very well that is not the case because my daughter is a hardworking woman. She only married Mr Tsvangirai because she truly loved this man, whom I also developed to admire a lot because he was a good man. I know that the two loved each other and it was genuine love that was not driven by anything else. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Africa Loading... AH I remember this book from the 2nd grade. I wouldnt wanna be either of them. Like diamonds coming forth from the throat? Ouch & weird. Reply Parent Thread Link We should change the names of AR-15s to Marco Rubio because they are so easy to buy. Sarah Chadwick// #NEVERAGAIN (@sarahchad_) February 23, 2018 Reply Thread Link DAMN. lol Reply Parent Thread Link so cutting, so good Reply Parent Thread Link this is so good Reply Parent Thread Link zzzzzing Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Spongebob Youre an optimistic person with a unique ability to always see the bright side of any situation. You can be a little naive at times and it tends to get you into trouble but you have the perseverance and can-do attitude to always work your way out of it. Youre a hard worker passionate, and fun to be around. You can cheer up your friends like no one else. https://www.buzzfeed.com/hattiesoykan/everyone-has-a-cartoon-character-that-matches-their?origin=filqui&utm_term=.iyGYeVg4e#.sfq35KEq5 SpongebobYoure an optimistic person with a unique ability to always see the bright side of any situation. You can be a little naive at times and it tends to get you into trouble but you have the perseverance and can-do attitude to always work your way out of it. Youre a hard worker passionate, and fun to be around. You can cheer up your friends like no one else. Reply Thread Link lmao! You got: Daria Youre a highly intellectual, sarcastic cynic with no time for the idiocy that surrounds you. Although you appear to be entirely apathetic and pessimistic, you are a deeply complex person who is difficult to figure out. Youre smart and reserved and you often talk to yourself watching and commenting as madness ensues around you. Reply Parent Thread Link I got Daria too. Seems accurate - minus the talking to myself part. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Buttercup Youre a tomboy through and through, with a short fuse and a foul temper. You are quick witted, always speaking up with a sassy comeback in tow when someone sets you off. Youre tough and stubborn and unwilling to take anyones crap. Your relentless strength allows you to stand up for yourself and for others. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Spongebob Youre an optimistic person with a unique ability to always see the bright side of any situation. You can be a little naive at times and it tends to get you into trouble but you have the perseverance and can-do attitude to always work your way out of it. Youre a hard worker passionate, and fun to be around. You can cheer up your friends like no one else. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Arthur Youre one of those people who is quite good at everything, but sometimes lacks the motivation to fully commit to just one thing at a time. Youre generally polite, friendly, and easily likeable (although at times you do prefer to spend time alone reading a good book). Youre surrounded with great friends who often come to you for advice. Reply Parent Thread Link I got Daria. Reply Parent Thread Link lol oop some of this is true You got: Arthur Youre one of those people who is quite good at everything, but sometimes lacks the motivation to fully commit to just one thing at a time. Youre generally polite, friendly, and easily likeable (although at times you do prefer to spend time alone reading a good book). Youre surrounded with great friends who often come to you for advice. Edited at 2018-02-27 06:14 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Arthur Youre one of those people who is quite good at everything, but sometimes lacks the motivation to fully commit to just one thing at a time. Youre generally polite, friendly, and easily likeable (although at times you do prefer to spend time alone reading a good book). Youre surrounded with great friends who often come to you for advice. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Chuckie Youre loyal, morally conscious, and kind of anxious most of the time. You're always thinking of the million ways something could go wrong, and while you often save your friends from getting in trouble, theyre pretty good at getting you out of your comfort zone in return. You often surprise yourself with your bravery and the things that you are capable of doing when you actually put yourself out there. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I got Spongebob too Reply Parent Thread Link I got Blanche Devereaux! Everyone Has A Golden Girl Who Matches Their Personality Here's Yours https://www.buzzfeed.com/jennaguillaume/which-golden-girls-character-are-you?utm_term=.gqYa0PnJn&quiz_result=120587783_358181469#120587783 Reply Parent Thread Link Arthur, and I didnt even choose books! Reply Parent Thread Link I didn't even open the link or look at the comments and I was like, welp don't even really need to take this. I get Daria every time. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Arthur Youre one of those people who is quite good at everything, but sometimes lacks the motivation to fully commit to just one thing at a time. Youre generally polite, friendly, and easily likeable (although at times you do prefer to spend time alone reading a good book). Youre surrounded with great friends who often come to you for advice. Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Daria Youre a highly intellectual, sarcastic cynic with no time for the idiocy that surrounds you. Although you appear to be entirely apathetic and pessimistic, you are a deeply complex person who is difficult to figure out. Youre smart and reserved and you often talk to yourself watching and commenting as madness ensues around you. Sounds about right lol. Reply Parent Thread Link La la la la laaaaa La la la la laaaaa Reply Parent Thread Link You got: Buttercup Youre a tomboy through and through, with a short fuse and a foul temper. You are quick witted, always speaking up with a sassy comeback in tow when someone sets you off. Youre tough and stubborn and unwilling to take anyones crap. Your relentless strength allows you to stand up for yourself and for others. Reply Parent Thread Link Third IUI failed y'all. Going to a new doctor today to see what the fuck is going on with my body. Glad he seems interested in finding and fixing the problem instead of blindly pushing expensive treatments. Wish me luck! Reply Thread Link awh, oh my gosh! You are so strong! Good luck, bb<3 Reply Parent Thread Link Best of luck bb! Reply Parent Thread Link Noooooo. :( *big internet squishy hugs* I hope he finds the problem. And soon! Reply Parent Thread Link Aww, best of luck! Reply Parent Thread Link that's rough! :( good luck with the new doctor!!! Reply Parent Thread Link I'm sorry. Wishing you the best and I hope everything works out! Reply Parent Thread Link Sorry, bb, and wishing you the best of luck! Reply Parent Thread Link Whoa, good luck. I hope everything works out for you. Reply Parent Thread Link good luck bb! Reply Parent Thread Link New doctor is good! Always praying for you sis <3 Reply Parent Thread Link Good luck. Reply Parent Thread Link Good luck! I hope the new doctor helps Reply Parent Thread Link Aw bb, best of luck! Reply Parent Thread Link I was just listening to the 2nd soundtrack earlier Reply Parent Thread Link The soundtrack is perfect. The movie is perfect. Like everything involving it is perfect lol. Reply Parent Thread Link I'm glad to see you're still making icons! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link finally saw black panther, it was fabulous as expected I loved all the bad ass women in it, hope they get a lot of attention in sequels Reply Thread Link the bad ass women were my favorite part! fuck yeahhh. Reply Parent Thread Link "I loved all the bad ass women in it, hope they get a lot of attention in sequels" i hope they get spinoffs! honestly, black panther needs its own cinematic universe within the mcu. Reply Parent Thread Link Me too. I would like to see more of the Dora and Shuri. Reply Parent Thread Link It's hailing! It snowed earlier! Nothing is sticking yet Reply Thread Link man i just had a great nap Reply Thread Link Good luck! I <3 doxies Reply Parent Thread Link How exciting!! I have a dachshund, so I'm bias, but they are the best!!<3 Reply Parent Thread Link good luck!!! Reply Parent Thread Link Yay, I hope you get a dog soon! Reply Parent Thread Link Heelers are gorgeous but they do need a certain amount of stimulation. Reply Parent Thread Link Nothing is sticking here (Dublin). It snowed about 30m ago and its hailing Reply Parent Thread Link y'all, i had a really shitty group project experience this weekend, and i ultimately emailed my TA asking to do the project alone bc a) my group wasn't getting shit accomplished and b) i was the only girl in the group and they named our chat 'jizzinthapussss' which made me just a lil uncomfortable. now my actual prof emailed me saying he has to step in, and moved the meeting i had with my TA up to be with him and the director of undergrad studies instead, and i'm mortified. like on the scale of important things this is at the bottom, and i'm scared to even go to this class now bc i don't want these guys to be pissed at me. i have a small 15 person discussion class with them every friday. i'm so fucked. :( Reply Thread Link ughhhh sorry you're going through that, sounds awful Reply Parent Thread Link Oh god, that sounds horrible. Every day sexism really, really does wear you down. Reply Parent Thread Link don't be mortified. you aren't fucked. you need to be concerned about yourself and your grade. if the working environment is not productive, that's not on you and that groupchat name is absolute bullshit. good luck with your meeting! I'm glad your professor thinks it's a serious enough problem to get involved. Reply Parent Thread Link That sucks, but it's good your professor is taking things seriously Reply Parent Thread Link it's probably a worst case scenario formality that they're all getting together, colleges are ott, once you let them know you'd rather do the project alone and think that your peers behavior is unacceptable in an academic setting, they're probably going to agree and fuck those guys, they're fucking college NPC filth Reply Parent Thread Link thats awful, hope everything works out. you did the right thing telling your professor. be sure to go into that meeting knowing your worth and being able to recount what happened well. Reply Parent Thread Link omg their behavior is absolutely unacceptable. Do not be scared! Reply Parent Thread Link Why would you even name your group that? The fuck??? Glad they are taking it seriously but it sucks so much that you have to be worried about the rest of class with them when they are the ones being gross. Reply Parent Thread Link i hope your prof is taking it seriously. how the fuck do these people get jobs?! they can't even do fucking groupwork. fuck them, get your grades ~ ONTD has your back. also i love googling shit so i will look up academic articles if you need me to ! Reply Parent Thread Link i think this disgusting flu's finally leaving me, yay. that being said my iphone has the music skipping / voice control randomly activating bug which is honestly the most annoying bug apple managed up to date so kudos Reply Thread Link um Reply Parent Thread Link wow Reply Parent Thread Link Off with their head tbh. Reply Parent Thread Link Edited at 2018-02-27 06:31 pm (UTC) I saw this headline yesterday and was so irritated. Reply Parent Thread Link The human form of the emoji Reply Parent Thread Link Why does this read like someone's Google history? How hard is it to write something more flatting like "Comedy is a family affair for Oscar Nom Jordan Peele and wife Chelsea Peretti" Reply Parent Thread Link JFC Chelsea better drag this Reply Parent Thread Link I went back last night to get one more blood test because it had to be done at a certain time. I mentioned to the person checking me in that it was my second time that day and he put my order in as STAT! I got to skip 29 people! Mwuahahahaha I have two bruised arms though Reply Thread Link You should definitely bandage one arm and tell them its your second time that day the next time you go in Reply Parent Thread Link I see some non-Native readers looking for recommendations of works by Native writers who aren't Sherman Alexie. It's honestly pretty tiring to fight for attention and only get it at times like these, but I'm willing to take the opening and make some recommendations: Elissa Washuta (@elissawashuta) February 25, 2018 idk if we talked about the Sherman Alexie accusations here, but (a) uggghhhhh another one bites the fucking dust; #EndAllMen2k18 and (b) this thread is really good: Reply Thread Link Facebook Twitter Google RAMBLER&Co ID By logging in to LiveJournal using a third-party service you accept LiveJournal's User agreement Artist's conception of a different brown dwarf to the one studied by Jonathan Gagne and his team. The brown dwarf depicted here is also part of a moving group, although a different one than AB Doradus. Credit: NASA/JPL, slightly modified by Jonathan Gagne Brown dwarfs, the larger cousins of giant planets, undergo atmospheric changes from cloudy to cloudless as they age and cool. A team of astronomers led by Carnegie's Jonathan Gagne measured for the first time the temperature at which this shift happens in young brown dwarfs. Their findings, published by the Astrophysical Journal Letters, may help them better understand how gas giant planets like our own Solar System's Jupiter evolved. Brown dwarfs are too small to sustain the hydrogen fusion process that fuels stars and allows them to remain hot and bright for a long time. After formation, brown dwarfs slowly cool down and contract over timeat some point shifting from heavily cloud covered to having completely clear skies. Because they are freely floating in space, the atmospheric properties of brown dwarfs are much easier to study than the atmospheres of exoplanets, where the light of a central star can be completely overwhelming. In this paper, Gagne and his colleaguesKatelyn Allers of Bucknell University; Christopher Theissen of University of California San Diego; Jacqueline Faherty and Daniella Bardalez Gagliuffi of the American Museum of Natural History, and Etienne Artigau of Institute for Research on Exoplanets, Universite de Montrealfocused on an unusually red brown dwarf called 2MASS J13243553+6358281, which they were able to determine is one of the nearest known planetary mass objects to our Solar System. The redness of this object had previously been suggested to indicate that it was actually a binary system, but the research team's findings indicate that it is a single free floating planetary mass object. Why study brown dwarfs? What are they and what can they teach us? Credit: Carnegie Institution for Science. They confirmed that it is part of a group of roughly 80 stars of similar ages and compositions drifting together through space, called the AB Doradus moving group, which revealed that it is about 150 million years old. By knowing the object's age and measuring its luminosity and distance, the team could determine its likely radius, mass, and, most-importantly its temperature. They could then compare its temperature to that of another previously studied brown dwarf in the same moving groupone that was still cloudy while 2MASS J1324+6358 was already cloudless. This allowed them to figure out the temperature at which the cloudy to cloudless transition happens. "We were able to constrain the point in the cool-down process at which brown dwarfs like J1324transition from cloudy to cloud-free," explained Gagne The shift occurs about 1,150 degrees kelvin, or 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, for planetary-mass objects that are 150 million years old like 2MASS J1324+6358 and other members of the AB Doradus moving group. "Because brown dwarfs like this one are so analogous to gas giant planets, this information could help us understand some of the evolutionary processes that occurred right here in our own Solar System's history," Gagne added. Explore further Surprise! When a brown dwarf is actually a planetary mass object Young men in canoes in Northwest Malakula, Vanuatu. Credit: Russell Gray & Heidi Colleran The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution and led by a multidisciplinary research team at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (MPI-SHH) together with researchers in France, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Vanuatu, reveals that migrations of people from the Bismarck Archipelago in Oceania to the previously settled islands of the Pacific began as early as 2,500 years ago, much earlier than previously thought. The Remote Oceanian island nation of Vanuatu is the gateway to the rest of the Pacific and understanding its demographic history is critical to uncovering that of the wider region. The earliest inhabitants of Vanuatu, arriving about 3,000 years ago, were the Lapita peoples who spoke a form of Austronesian language and who had largely East Asian genetic ancestry. But Vanuatu's contemporary population has largely Near Oceanian heritage, showing that over time the genetic ancestry of the early inhabitants was mostly replaced by that of Bismarck Archipelago migrants, who began arriving very soon after initial settlement. Yet the original Austronesian language persisted and over 120 descendant languages continue to be spoken today, making Vanuatu the per capita most linguistically diverse place on Earth. Vanuatu therefore presents an unprecedented case, where a population's genetic ancestry but not its languages were replaced. Through analyses of new ancient and modern genome-wide data, the researchers show that rather than occurring in one wave, the genetic replacement was long and complex, likely the result of a sustained long-distance contact between Near and Remote Oceania. This provides demographic support for a model from historical linguistics, in which the initial Austronesian language of Vanuatu survived by being continually adopted by incoming Papuan migrants. The Austronesian Expansion, which began around 5,500 years ago likely in modern-day Taiwan, was the most geographically extensive dispersal of farming peoples in prehistory, ultimately carrying people as far west as Madagascar and all the way east to Rapa Nui. These seafaring Neolithic people initially expanded out across Island Southeast Asia, carrying farming technology and a major branch of the Austronesian language family, eventually reaching Near Oceania where they encountered the indigenous Papuan peoples of New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. The initial settlement east beyond the Solomon Islands and out into Remote Oceania only began around 3,000 years ago, with Austronesian-speaking groups associated with the Lapita pottery culture rapidly expanding east out to Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji and the islands of Western Polynesia. A previous ancient DNA study of Lapita burial sites has shown that these earliest inhabitants had East Asian ancestry with negligible evidence of Papuan genetic admixture. But the present-day genetic make-up of Remote Oceania suggests at least some degree of Papuan ancestry, meaning there must have been subsequent Papuan migration and admixture into the Pacific from Near Oceania. In order to understand this previously undescribed migration, a multidisciplinary team of researchers brought together different lines of evidence from the fields of genetics, archaeology and linguistics. They generated genome-wide data from the bones and teeth of 19 ancient individuals from across Vanuatu, Tonga, French Polynesia and the Solomon Islands, a significant addition to the ancient DNA record in a region whose environmental conditions generally leads to poor ancient DNA preservation. As co-lead author Kathrin Nagele of the MPI-SHH says, "The identification of the petrous bone, which has recently been shown to provide fantastic aDNA preservation, has been a real game changer for such regions that were previously considered to be almost inaccessible." The ancient DNA was complemented by new contemporary genome-wide data from 27 present-day inhabitants of Vanuatu, collected as part of a long-term linguistic and anthropological fieldwork project run by co-authors Professor Russell Gray and Dr. Heidi Colleran of the MPI-SHH. Maps showing the migrations in the area, including, in the final map, the migrations revealed by the current study. Credit: Hans Sell, adapted from Skoglund et al. Genomic insights into the peopling of the Southwest Pacific. Nature (2016). The ancient DNA provided direct evidence that Papuan people began arriving in Vanuatu soon after initial settlement by Austronesians. "We found a genetically Papuan-related individual dating to around 2,500 years ago in Vanuatu, far earlier than had been previously estimated using only modern genetic data," explains co-lead author Dr. Cosimo Posth, also of the MPI-SHH. The researchers were able to show that the ancestry of the initial Austronesian inhabitants of Vanuatu has been largely replaced by ancestry from Papuan peoples coming from the Bismarck Archipelago. But this genetic replacement was not straightforward, as Dr. Posth says, "Our analyses show that this replacement did not occur in a one-time mass migration event but rather happened incrementally over time, suggesting an enduring long-distance network between groups in Near and Remote Oceania." The authors also directly described ancient individuals with sex-biased admixture, where Papuan males intermixed with Austronesian women, as long assumed based on analyses of the modern genetic make-up of the South Pacific. Yet despite this genetic replacement, the people of present-day Vanuatu continue to speak languages descended from those spoken by the initial Austronesian inhabitants rather than any Papuan language of the incoming migrants. As Professor Gray, Director of the Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution at the MPI-SHH, says, "Population replacement with language continuity is extremely rare - if not unprecedented - in human history. The linguist Bob Blust has long argued for a model in which a separate Papuan expansion reaches Vanuatu soon after initial Austronesian settlement, with the initial, and likely undifferentiated, Austronesian language surviving as a lingua franca for diverse Papuan migrant groups." Dr. Adam Powell, senior author of the study and also of the MPI-SHH, continues, "The demographic history suggested by our ancient DNA analyses provides really strong support for this historical linguistic model, with the early arrival and complex, incremental process of genetic replacement by people from the Bismarck Archipelago. This provides a compelling explanation for the continuity of Austronesian languages despite the almost complete replacement of the initial genetic ancestry of Vanuatu." Dr. Frederique Valentin excavating at Uripiv Island, Malakula, Vanuatu. Credit: Stuart Bedford The study in particular highlights the importance of interdisciplinary work and the value that multiple lines of evidence can have in deepening our understanding of human history. As Professor Johannes Krause, a senior author and Director of the Department of Archaeogenetics at the MPI-SHH, explains, "This multidisciplinary work has begun to uncover the complex, localized demographic processes that drove the initial colonization of the wider South Pacific and formed the enduring cultural and linguistic spheres that continue to shape the Pacific today." Ongoing engagement with local communities in Vanuatu, as well as with the Vanuatu Cultural Center, has been critical to this success. As Dr. Colleran points out, "One strength of this study is the degree to which we are collaborating with communities in Vanuatu who have a real stake in these results and who generously volunteered their data to help answer these questions. We will be back in the field very soon to share the results with those communities and to hear their thoughts on the whole process." The progress of this continuing fieldwork can be followed on the Nature Ecology & Evolution Community website. Explore further Study reveals Asian ancestry of Pacific islanders Upper panel: ISIS spectrum of J0023+0307 and J1029+1729 (black line) and the best fits obtained with FERRE (red line). The bottom panels show a details of the Ca II H & K region (a) and the G-band (b), respectively. Main stellar parameters are shown. Image credit: Aguado et al., 2018. A group of Spanish astronomers has found a new primitive mega metal-poor star. The object, designated SDSS J0023+0307, is apparently one of the most iron-poor stars known to date. The finding is reported February 17 in a paper published on the arXiv pre-print repository. Metal-poor stars are rare objects as only few stars with iron abundances [Fe/H] below 5 have been discovered so far. Currently, SMSS J03136708, with metallicity below 7.1, is the most iron-poor star known to date. Astronomers are interested in expanding the still short list of metal-poor stars as such objects have the potential to improve our knowledge of the chemical evolution of the universe. During recent years, a team of astronomers led by David S. Aguado of the Institute of Astrophysics in the Canary Islands, has been searching for extremely metal-poor stars by analyzing low-resolution spectroscopic data provided by various instruments. This search has already resulted in finding a carbon-enhanced metal-poor red giant with iron abundance of -4.7 and a dwarf star with iron abundance below 5.8. Now, Aguado's team found an extremely metal-poor candidate in the SDSS/BOSS spectroscopic survey. Next, they conducted follow-up observations of this candidate using the Intermediate dispersion Spectrograph and Imaging System (ISIS) on the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope (WHT) and the Optical System for Imaging and low-intermediate-Resolution Integrated Spectroscopy (OSIRIS) at the Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC). "We have now identified a new mega metal-poor dwarf with [Fe/H]< 6.6, J0023+0307, from SDSS/BOSS spectra (/ ~2, 000). Follow-up spectroscopy with the 10.4m GTC and the 4.2m WHT telescopes confirms the metallicity determination based on SDSS data," the researchers wrote in the paper. As noted in the study, the newly detected metal-poor star, named SDSS J0023+0307, has an iron abundance below 6.6. Moreover, the astronomers found that this star has a carbon abundance below 6.3 and an effective temperature of 6,188 K. Although the scientists were only able to set upper limits for the iron and carbon abundances of SDSS J0023+0307, the results indicate that this object is one of the two most iron-poor stars known, and exhibits less carbon that most of stars with iron abundances below 5. "The spectrum of this star does not show the usual enhancement in carbon found in all other stars at [Fe/H]< 5," the paper reads. The authors of the paper noted that given that the iron abundance is only an upper limit, and since carbon does not appear enhanced at the levels found in other hyper metal-poor stars, J0023+0307 could well be the most metal-poor star so far identified. However, more observations at higher resolution and signal-to-noise ratio are required to validate this assumption. "Newer observations with higher spectral resolution and very high signal-to-noise ratio are required and can only be obtained with the largest telescopes in the world," the researchers concluded. Explore further Researchers discover a chemically primitive dwarf star in the galactic halo More information: J0023+0307: A MEGA METAL-POOR DWARF STAR FROM SDSS/BOSS, J0023+0307: A MEGA METAL-POOR DWARF STAR FROM SDSS/BOSS, arxiv.org/pdf/1802.06240.pdf 2018 Phys.org When black women report high levels of vigilancechronic, daily worry about having to encounter prejudicetheir health suffers. There's a difference between discrimination and vigilance, says Margaret Hicken, director of the U-M RacismLab. Discrimination entails day-to-day instances of prejudice whereas vigilance is a never-ending, daily anticipation of discrimination or prejudice. "Because you know or have heard of Trayvon Martin, you know when you go out, you need to make sure that you are not wearing a hoodie or that you don't walk in certain areas," said Hicken, also a research assistant professor at the U-M Institute for Social Research Survey Research Center. "Similarly, you have heard of friends or family who have been pulled over for traffic stops, so you know when you go out driving, your tags have to be up to date, or that you have your license on the seat and you don't have to reach into the glove compartment." Using data from the Chicago Community Adult Health Study which surveyed 3,105 adults age 18 and older, Hicken and her fellow researchers examined the levels of discrimination and vigilance among black and white women, and how those measures correlated to body mass index and waist circumference. Waist circumference in particular, the researchers say, is an important risk factor for chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Thirty percent of black women reported high levels of vigilance, while 9 percent of white women did. Black women also reported the highest level of discrimination, with 7 percent of black women and 2 percent of white women reporting high rates of discrimination. When the researchers looked at the women as a single group, discrimination stood out as an important stressor. Both black and white women in the high discrimination category showed a waist circumference 7.2 centimeters greater than those in the no-discrimination category. But when the researchers divided the group by race, they found that vigilance and discrimination affected the women differently. White women showed no association between vigilance and waist circumference, but those who reported discrimination showed a waist circumference 11 centimeters greater than those who reported no discrimination. In black women, the opposite was true. Discrimination had no effect on waist circumference, but vigilance did. Those who reported the highest levels of vigilance showed a 3.9 centimeter greater waist circumference than those in the no-vigilance category, and the women who reported low levels of vigilance showed a 6.1 centimeter greater waist circumference. But why the effect in particular on waist circumference? Previous research has shown that chronic stress may play an important role in obesity inequalities. Some research shows that eating high-calorie, high-saturated fat foods in response to stress results in the release of chemicals that reduce feelings of stress. Psychosocial stress also alters metabolism, which changes the way fat is deposited in the bodyoften concentrating it around the middle. "If we live in a society where one group is stigmatized so that you have to take these preventive measures chronically, differences in the way these groups of women internalize discrimination and vigilance become apparent," Hicken said. There are only a handful of studies that examine how psychosocial stress and racial inequality impact obesity or other weight-related measures of health, say the study's authors. Next, the researchers plan to study how vigilance affects immigrant communities, including North African and Muslim Americans as well as Latino immigrants. Explore further BMI is underestimating obesity in Australia, waist circumference needs to be measured too More information: Margaret T. Hicken et al. The weight of racism: Vigilance and racial inequalities in weight-related measures, Social Science & Medicine (2017). Journal information: Social Science & Medicine Margaret T. Hicken et al. The weight of racism: Vigilance and racial inequalities in weight-related measures,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2017.03.058 Inelastic neutron scattering data from Pelican instrument at 1.5 K (a) and 4.0 K (b). Spin gap is evident (lower blue band ) at 1.5 K (a) . Credit: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Nuclear techniques at ANSTO have helped to confirm a quantum spin phenomena, a Haldane phase, in a magnetic material, that has potential to be used as a measurement model for quantum computation. Although there has been experimental evidence of the Haldane phase in other types of one dimensional antiferromagnetic materials, it is believed to be the first evidence in a cluster-based material. "The neutron spectrum from Pelican provided the very data that confirmed Haldane state exists in fedotovite as proposed by our other measurements and theoretical studies. The neutron data showed both spin gap and dispersion, that are characteristics of the Haldane state," said lead author A/Prof Masayoshi Fujihara of the Tokyo University of Science. In an article published in Physical Review Letters as an 'Editors' Suggestion' , a large collaboration of researchers, led by physicists from Japan, ANSTO instrument scientists Drs Richard Mole, Dehong Yu and Shinichiro Yano of the National Synchrotron Radiation Research Centre in Taiwan (who operates the Taiwanese instrument Sika at ANSTO), shared experimental evidence of the Haldane phase in fedotovite. The framework for this unusual state of matter was predicted by Prof Duncan Haldane, who shared the Nobel Prize in Physics for the development of the 'topological phases of matter theory' with David Thouless and Michael Kosterlitz in 2016. Quasi one dimensional spin systems, such as fedotovite K 2 Cu 3 O(SO 4 ) 3 , have an unusual magnetic behaviour at very low temperature, in which the ground state is a one-dimensional chain in a triplet configuration with S=1 spin. The S=1 occurs because there are an even number of S=1/2 on the magnetic Cu2+ ions at the ends of spin chain, as predicted by Haldane. "Quasi-one dimensional chains such as fedotovite do not have a single spin but a group of spins forming a cluster. One cluster of atoms then weakly interacts with the neighbouring cluster of atoms," said Mole. Crystal structure of K 2 Cu 3 O(SO 4 ) 3 . Credit: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) Magnetic coupling occurs because of super exchange interactions between the spin clusters and small antiferromagnetic coupling within the cluster. "That gapped behaviour is observable in the Pelican spectrum, which is highly sensitive to weak magnetic interactions," said Mole. The fedotovite has a unique arrangement of magnetic ions and two-stage magnetic behaviour. Inelastic neutron scattering on the Pelican time-of-flight spectrometer captured the spin gap at 1.5 K with a magnitude of 0.6. meV which closes at 4.0 K. The measurements were in agreement with theoretical predictions. "We are talking about very small amounts of energy but the gap is real," said Yu. "The Haldane state will emerge whenever the number of tetrahedral in the spin cluster chain is even but not odd as predicted by our theoretical calculations in this paper," said Yano. The crystal structure of the mineral fedotovite was originally determined by Russian scientists in the 1990's, however the current work utilised a newly developed synthetic method in the Fujiahala lab at Tokyo University of Science. It allowed for large quantities of high purity sample to be made which was essential for the neutron scattering experiments. The crystal structure was determined by X-ray diffraction at the Photon Factory, High Energy Accelerator Research Organization (KEK) in Japan. Explore further Pelican instrument provides crucial experimental evidence of unusual quantum state More information: M. Fujihala et al. Cluster-Based Haldane State in an Edge-Shared Tetrahedral Spin-Cluster Chain: Fedotovite K 2 Cu 3 O(SO 4 ) 3 , Physical Review Letters (2018). Journal information: Physical Review Letters M. Fujihala et al. Cluster-Based Haldane State in an Edge-Shared Tetrahedral Spin-Cluster Chain: Fedotovite KCuO(SO(2018). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.077201 High-frequency oscillations and intensity of tropical cyclones. Credit: Shumin CHEN High-frequency oscillations, with a period of approximately two hours, generally occur within the eyewall of tropical cyclones. These oscillations in turn induce oscillations of the tropical cyclone intensity through the oscillation of convection. Associate Researcher Shumin CHEN, Professor Weibiao LI and their team from Sun Yat-Sen University simulated several tropical cyclones using mesoscale numerical models. As detailed in their paper, recently published in Advances in Atmospheric Sciences, they found that periods of high-frequency oscillations of tropical cyclones in the South China Sea are significantly shorter than those in the open water of the western North Pacific. They further examined the dynamic and thermodynamic characteristics of all the tropical cyclones. Associate Researcher Shumin CHEN explains their findings: "We examined the environmental vorticity, divergence, thermal winds, and the convergence winds in the lower layer. We found that the general features were similar in tropical cyclones in the South China Sea and the open western North Pacific, except that the convergence within the lower layer of tropical cyclones in the South China Sea was significantly larger than that in the open western North Pacific. Convergence enhanced by greater terrain friction in the South China Sea strengthened the disturbance and then contributed to the shorter oscillation periods". Professor Weibiao LI further explains that the study reveals the variations of high-frequency oscillation over different sea areas, and helps to improve the prediction of tropical cyclone intensity in different sea areas over the western North Pacific. Explore further Study highlights growing threat of intense tropical cyclones hitting East Asia More information: Shumin Chen et al, Variations in High-frequency Oscillations of Tropical Cyclones over the Western North Pacific, Advances in Atmospheric Sciences (2018). Shumin Chen et al, Variations in High-frequency Oscillations of Tropical Cyclones over the Western North Pacific,(2018). DOI: 10.1007/s00376-017-7060-z Teleworking can make people happier and more productive, but can also lead to feelings of isolation and job fatigue if implemented badly. Credit: Pxhere, licensed under CC0 1.0 Married people who work from home report feeling happier than they were before doing so, and the reason could be that it allows for a fairer distribution of chores, according to a scientist studying the impact of teleworking on wellbeing. For all the hype about how the internet could free us from the office, working from home is still the exception. Recent European figures are hard to come by, but a 2010 report from EUROFOUND says that between 1.6% and 15.2% of EU workers telework for at least a quarter of their working time. Globally, around 1 in 5 people frequently work from home, but the practice is most popular in non-European countries such as India, Indonesia and Mexico. But how does it affect the way someone feels about their job? Dr. Eleftherios Giovanis, from Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK, has spent two years crunching answers given by thousands of respondents to government-funded surveys in Switzerland and the UK. Some testimonies reach back as far as 1991, with workers filling out each year a questionnaire reaching 200 pages in length. He found that in recent years, teleworking has made some employees happier and more productive, while leaving others with feelings of isolation and job fatigue. He says that the true benefits of teleworking are largely defined by details in how the scheme is rolled out and by clues in the background of survey respondents. In aggregate, the data revealed few signs of teleworking improving job satisfaction a metric that social scientists commonly associate with productivity in the workplace. But digging a little deeper, he found that working from home made married couples perceivably happier, although there was no effect on the love life of single employees in the UK. Chores Dr. Giovanis, whose work was carried out under a project called TELE, explains this by pointing to another correlation in the data. Spouses working from home tend to spend more hours doing household chores. 'Since the turn of the century, teleworking has been helping to reduce social inequalities by rebalancing domestic duties in the UK,' said Dr. Giovanis. 'When men work from home, they tend to help more around the house. This increases the value that women place on their own wellbeing and frees them to work more themselves.' Dr. Giovanis also showed that working from home once a week made married employees in the UK more satisfied with their job and likely to stay longer with their employer. This is particularly true for workers with high skills, disabilities or online jobs. Insight of this kind is particularly valuable for companies and economies trying to boost the participation of women in their workforce. Though convinced of the potential benefits of teleworking, Dr. Giovanis says that policymakers should never force firms to adopt flexible employment schemes. Still, the government is well placed to show off their potential. In the Netherlands, Hanna de Vries from Erasmus University Rotterdam has investigated how teleworking could be used more widely in the public sector. Working as part of the LIPSE project she has helped conduct live interviews and written surveys in municipalities across the country to assess the drivers and barriers for civil servants to work from home. She notably asked managers, employees and human resource departments what they perceived as challenges for teleworking within their team. Answers ranged from concerns about technical infrastructure to worker productivity. Isolation De Vries advises caution in rolling out teleworking schemes. Some early adopters among her respondents reported insecurity and isolation when things went badly. Other organisations reaped benefits without these drawbacks. The LIPSE research has added to the body of literature detailing how to replicate benefits successfully. It is important for managers to talk though changes with employees, train them and run pilot schemes with less tech-savvy colleagues before expanding the practice to the entire office. De Vries says that good examples from neighbouring organisations, and support from enthusiastic managers are also crucial to the success of teleworking schemes. For de Vries, the question is not whether teleworking is good or bad. She is convinced that working from home can benefit society and employers, but it can also result in undesirable consequences when mismanaged. Organisations should take account of these pitfalls when designing their teleworking programmes as the ultimate goal of flexible work schemes is ultimately to offer employees more choice. 'It is vital that workers themselves want to telework,' she said. Explore further Working from home increases productivity A Chinook salmon pictured in Oregon's McKenzie River. This adult fish is smaller than its predecessors. Credit: Morgan Bond The largest and oldest Chinook salmonfish also known as "kings" and prized for their exceptional sizehave mostly disappeared along the West Coast. That's the main finding of a new University of Washington-led study published Feb. 27 in the journal Fish and Fisheries. The researchers analyzed nearly 40 years of data from hatchery and wild Chinook populations from California to Alaska, looking broadly at patterns that emerged over the course of four decades and across thousands of miles of coastline. In general, Chinook salmon populations from Alaska showed the biggest reductions in age and size, with Washington salmon a close second. "Chinook are known for being the largest Pacific salmon and they are highly valued because they are so large," said lead author Jan Ohlberger, a research scientist in the UW's School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. "The largest fish are disappearing, and that affects subsistence and recreational fisheries that target these individuals." Chinook salmon are born in freshwater rivers and streams, then migrate to the ocean where they spend most of their lives feeding and growing to their spectacular body size. Each population's lifestyle in the ocean varies, mainly depending on where they can find food. California Chinook salmon tend to stay in the marine waters off the coast, while Oregon and Washington fish often migrate thousands of miles northward along the west coast to the Gulf of Alaska where they feed. Western Alaska populations tend to travel to the Bering Sea. After one to five years in the ocean, the fish return to their home streams, where they spawn and then die. Despite these differences in life history, most populations analyzed saw a clear reduction in the average size of the returning fish over the last four decadesup to 10 percent shorter in length, in the most extreme cases. These broad similarities point to a cause that transcends regional fishing practices, ecosystems, or animal behaviors, the authors said. Chinook salmon, shorter in length than in earlier years, swim in Oregon's McKenzie River. Credit: Morgan Bond "This suggests that there is something about the larger ocean environment that is driving these patterns," Ohlberger said. "I think fishing is part of the story, but it's definitely not sufficient to explain all of the patterns we see. Many populations are exploited at lower rates than they were 20 to 30 years ago." It used to be common to find Chinook salmon 40 inches or more in length, particularly in the Columbia River or Alaska's Kenai Peninsula and Copper River regions. The reductions in size could have a long-term impact on the abundance of Chinook salmon, because smaller females carry fewer eggs, so over time the number of fish that hatch and survive to adulthood may decrease. There are likely many reasons for the changes in size and age, and the researchers say there is no "smoking gun." Their analysis, however, points to fishing pressure and marine mammal predation as two of the bigger drivers. Commercial and sport fishing have for years targeted larger Chinook. But fishing pressure has relaxed in the last 30 years due to regulations to promote sustainable fishing rates, while the reductions in Chinook size have been most rapid over the past 15 years. Resident killer whales, which are known Chinook salmon specialists, as well as other marine mammals that feed on salmon are probably contributing to the overall changes, the researchers found. "We know that resident killer whales have a very strong preference for eating the largest fish, and this selectivity is far greater than fisheries ever were," said senior author Daniel Schindler, a UW professor of aquatic and fishery sciences. While southern resident killer whales that inhabit Puget Sound are in apparent decline, populations of northern resident killer whales, and those that reside in the Gulf of Alaska and along the Aleutian Islands, appear to be growing at extremely fast rates. The paper's authors propose that these burgeoning northern populations are possibly a critical, but poorly understood, cause of the observed declines in Chinook salmon sizes. Scientists are still trying to understand the impacts of orcas and other marine mammals on Chinook salmon, and the ways in which their relationships may have ebbed and flowed in the past. It may not be possible, for example, for marine mammals and Chinook salmon populations to be robust at the same time, given their predator-prey relationship. "When you have predators and prey interacting in a real ecosystem, everything can't flourish all the time," Schindler said. "These observations challenge our thinking about what we expect the structure and composition of our ecosystems to be." Explore further Recovery of West Coast marine mammals boosts consumption of chinook salmon More information: Jan Ohlberger et al, Demographic changes in Chinook salmon across the Northeast Pacific Ocean, Fish and Fisheries (2018). Journal information: Fish and Fisheries Jan Ohlberger et al, Demographic changes in Chinook salmon across the Northeast Pacific Ocean,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/faf.12272 Trachemys haugrudi represents a new species of fossil turtle that lived in what is now eastern Tennessee more than 5.5 million years ago. Credit: Mary P. Williams A University of Pennsylvania paleontologist has described a 5.5 million-year-old fossil species of turtle from eastern Tennessee. It represents a new species of the genus Trachemys, commonly known as sliders, which are frequently kept as pets today. Steven Jasinski, author of the new study, is a doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania and acting curator of paleontology and geology at the State Museum of Pennsylvania. He is completing his Ph.D. at Penn under Peter Dodson, a professor of paleontology in the Department of Earth and Environmental Science in the School of Arts and Sciences and a professor of anatomy in the School of Veterinary Medicine. The study investigated a fossil turtle found around the Miocene-Pliocene boundary in the Gray Fossil Site, an area rich with fossils in eastern Tennessee near East Tennessee State University, where Jasinski completed his master's degree. The site represents an ancient sinkhole surrounded by a forest from which dozens of fossil animal species have been characterized, including new species of red panda, Eurasian badger, kinosternid turtle, and colubrid snake. Thorough examination of the dozens of turtle fossils from the site revealed important differences between this turtle and other known fossil and living species. Jasinski named the fossil turtle Trachemys haugrudi, after Shawn Haugrud, the lab and field manager and lead preparer at the Gray Fossil Site. "Shawn has spent an incredible number of hours working on these specimens," Jasinski said. "He cleaned and prepared the fossils and was able to essentially glue this turtle back to life, giving me numerous nearly complete turtle shells to use in this research. Without all that time and effort, I wouldn't have been able to determine nearly as much about this turtle as I did. "Shawn also didn't do this work alone, as numerous other people including volunteers worked on these fossils and got them prepared so that I could complete my research. They really did all the hard work, and I was then able to determine why it was new and what its implications are" he said. Turtles are best known for their shells, and indeed it is this feature of their anatomy that is commonly found as fossils. Yet the fossil shells are typically found in broken pieces. Often gaps or holes remain, or only single small pieces are found, and the whole must be inferred from other information, including other fossil and living creatures. "It is extremely rare to get more complete fossils," Jasinski said, "but Trachemys haugrudi, commonly called Haugrud's slider turtle, provides me with dozens of shells, and several are nearly complete." Haugrud's slider turtle was a fairly small turtle, not more than approximately 10 inches (25 cm) in total shell length, smaller than the modern-day red-eared slider turtle, Trachemys scripta elegans. Red-eared slider turtles are commonly purchased as pets, though they can grow large, and some owners release them into the wild. As a result, though native to the southeastern United States, red-eared sliders have become one of the most invasive animal species in the world today, found on every continent except Antarctica. "People tend to see all turtles as similar and release them into whatever pond or river is close by when they no longer want to care for them," Jasinski said. "Once released, however, they often outcompete native species. It is a problem that scientists are still dealing with." As part of the study, Jasinski sought to determine where Trachemys haugrudi was positioned in the evolution of similar turtles both within the genus and in related genera. He performed a phylogenetic analysis, a method that compares shapes and features of different species to determine how similar or dissimilar and therefore how closely related they may be. He found Haugrud's to be most closely related to a group of fossil Trachemys turtles from Florida and next most closely related to a distinct group of fossil Trachemys from the midwestern U.S. Together, these fossil Trachemys form a closely related group situated within other still-living species of Trachemys. Today, distinct, closely-related groups of Trachemys species dwell in Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. Jasinski's investigation, along with other information from previous studies, indicates that one group evolved in Mexico and Central and South America and evolved into different species within this geographic area, and another group evolved separately in the Caribbean. Species from the U.S., including the red-eared slider turtle, are found near the base of their "branch" of the Trachemys family tree; their fossil ancestors are still waiting to be discovered. The fossil Trachemys species in Jasinski's analysis are on a distinct part of the Trachemys tree, and current understanding suggests that they did not give rise to the modern species living today. The findings imply that there was once much greater diversity in Trachemys turtles than exists today. It seems that many of the ancient slider species died out without leaving any direct descendents, perhaps because they lacked the ability to adapt to different environments. "While Trachemys turtle species are considered plastic, implying they can adapt to and live in many environments, this adaptive lifestyle may be a relatively newer characteristic of these turtles," Jasinski said. "More fossils are needed to better understand if this aspect of their evolution is a recent addition." To get a handle on invasive turtles, understanding more about their ancient relatives could only be helpful, Jasinski said. "Trachemys haugrudi helps provide more information on Trachemys and begins to offer us insights into the evolution of an animal that has become a problematic invader in many areas of the world," he said. "Understanding how something evolved into its present form may help us understand why an animal is so adaptive and good at invading new areas and outcompeting native species. If we can see that Trachemys today are especially adaptive because evolution has allowed them to become more generalized through time, we can use that information to determine where they may invade, what species they may outcompete and what we can do to counteract those invasions or help native species compete against them." Jasinski is undertaking further study into the fossil species of not only Trachemys but other turtles within the family Emydidae, which includes Trachemys. He hopes that further data and fossils will help shed light on other turtle species and provide a clearer understanding of the evolution of this group of mainly New World turtles. Explore further Slow but steady: New study sheds light on the brain evolution of turtles More information: Steven E. Jasinski, A new slider turtle (Testudines: Emydidae: Deirochelyinae: Trachemys) from the late Hemphillian (late Miocene/early Pliocene) of eastern Tennessee and the evolution of the deirochelyines, PeerJ (2018). Journal information: PeerJ Steven E. Jasinski, A new slider turtle (Testudines: Emydidae: Deirochelyinae: Trachemys) from the late Hemphillian (late Miocene/early Pliocene) of eastern Tennessee and the evolution of the deirochelyines,(2018). DOI: 10.7717/peerj.4338 Scientists evaluate the photosynthetic performance of soybeans using these towers, which use hyperspectral cameras to capture light invisible to the human eye that may one day help us predict yield on a grand scale. Credit: Guofang Miao Twelve-foot metal poles with long outstretched arms dot a Midwestern soybean field to monitor an invisible array of light emitted by crops. This light can reveal the plants' photosynthetic performance throughout the growing season, according to newly published research by the University of Illinois. "Photosynthetic performance is a key trait to monitor as it directly translates to yield potential," said Kaiyu Guan, an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and the principal investigator of this research. "This method enables us to rapidly and nondestructively monitor how well plants perform in various conditions like never before." Published in the Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences, the Illinois team led by Guofang Miao, a postdoctoral researcher in ACES and the lead author of the paper, report the first continuous field season to use sun-induced fluorescence (SIF) data to determine how soybeans respond to fluctuating light levels and environmental stresses. "Since the recent discovery of using satellite SIF signals to measure photosynthesis, scientists have been exploring the potential to apply SIF technology to better agricultural ecosystems," said study collaborator Carl Bernacchi, an associate professor of plant science at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB). "This research advances our understanding of crop physiology and SIF at a local scale, which will pave the way for satellite observations to monitor plant health and yields over vast areas of cropland." Photosynthesis is the process where plants convert light energy into sugars and other carbohydrates that eventually become our food or biofuel. However, one to two percent of the plant's absorbed light energy is emitted as fluorescent light that is proportional to the rate of photosynthesis. Researchers capture this process using hyperspectral sensors to detect fluctuations in photosynthesis over the growing season. They designed this continuous study to better understand the relationship between absorbed light, emitted fluorescent light, and the rate of photosynthesis. "We want to find out whether this proportional relationship is consistent across various ecosystems, especially between crops and wild ecosystems such as forests and savannas," said Miao. "We are also testing the applicability of this technology for crop phenotyping to link key traits with their underlying genes," said co-author Katherine Meacham, a postdoctoral researcher at the IGB. "SIF technology can help us transform phenotyping from a manual endeavor requiring large teams of researchers and expensive equipment to an efficient, automated process," said co-author Caitlin Moore, also a postdoctoral researcher at the IGB. A network of SIF sensors has been deployed across the U.S. to evaluate croplands and other natural ecosystems. Guan's lab has launched two other long-term SIF systems in Nebraska to compare rainfed and irrigated fields in corn-soybean rotations. "By applying this technology to different regions, we can ensure the efficacy of this tool in countless growing conditions for a myriad of plants," said Xi Yang, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia, who designed this study's SIF monitoring system. "Our ability to link SIF data at the leaf, canopy and regional scales will facilitate the improvement of models that forecast crop yields," Guan said. "Our ultimate goal is to monitor the photosynthetic efficiency of any field across the world to evaluate crop conditions and forecast crop yields on a global scale in real time." Explore further Light green plants save nitrogen without sacrificing photosynthetic efficiency More information: Guofang Miao et al, Sun-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Photosynthesis, and Light Use Efficiency of a Soybean Field, Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences (2018). Guofang Miao et al, Sun-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Photosynthesis, and Light Use Efficiency of a Soybean Field,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/2017JG004180 Crayfish Faxonius eupunctus is rare and under consideration for endangered species status. Credit: Christopher Taylor As far as anyone can tell, the cold-water crayfish Faxonius eupunctus makes its home in a 30-mile stretch of the Eleven Point River and nowhere else in the world. According to a new study, the animal is most abundant in the middle part its range, a rocky expanse in southern Missouri - with up to 35,000 cubic feet of chilly Ozark river water flowing by each second. Because the crayfish is so rare, environmental authorities are considering listing F. eupunctus as an endangered species. But doing so requires a thorough accounting of its population size and distribution. To achieve this, researchers at the Illinois Natural History Survey at the University of Illinois used both old-school techniques and newer, high-tech methods. "The traditional way to find crayfishes in this type of river is a method called kick-seining," said graduate research assistant Christopher Rice, who conducted the study with Christopher Taylor, the INHS curator of fishes and crustaceans, and Eric Larson, a U. of I. professor of natural resources and environmental sciences. "You take a mesh seine attached to two poles and stand out in the stream, and someone else kicks rocks and flushes water and crayfishes down into the net," Rice said. Once caught, the animals can be counted, measured and sexed - all valuable data for those hoping to conserve them. In the new study, the team kick-seined a dozen 1-square-meter plots at each of 39 sites along the river and in several smaller tributaries feeding it. That effort found F. eupunctus at 21 of 39 sites sampled. None of the crayfish were found in any of the tributaries. The researchers also used a technique called environmental DNA. They collected river water at each of the 39 sites, taking it back to the lab to filter and test it for F. eupunctus DNA. "One of our goals was to compare eDNA with kick-seining, to see how these methods performed in relation to one another," Taylor said. Researchers looked for the crayfish at numerous sites along the Eleven Point River in Southern Missouri. Credit: Christopher Taylor Scientists are still trying to work out how to use eDNA to study animals in different habitats. Using the technique in streams and rivers can be especially tricky, Larson said. "An animal's DNA can degrade within hours or days in the water, depending on a lot of factors," he said. Temperature, ultraviolet light and the acidity of the water can influence the rate at which it degrades. "This makes eDNA a very useful detection tool," Larson said. If the DNA stuck around for years, scientists might mistakenly believe that an animal was present when it had died out years earlier. River water also moves, transporting the DNA away from where it was originally shed by the animal in the form of skin, other tissues or secretions. The team didn't know whether eDNA would be able to detect crayfishes in the portions of the Eleven Point River where they were present. The eDNA testing corroborated the kick-seining data, detecting F. eupunctus DNA at 19 of the 21 sites where the team had found it before. It also found no evidence of the critter in the smaller streams feeding the river. This adds to the evidence that F. eupunctus is very rare and lives only in the Eleven Point River, providing useful information for conservationists and resource managers, Taylor said. While eDNA could fairly reliably determine whether an organism was present, it was not useful as a way of measuring abundance at specific locales, the researchers found. "The ability of eDNA to work in this type of ecosystem is very exciting," Taylor said. "But our study also shows the value of doing traditional sampling. We did find the species at two locations where the eDNA did not. We also were able to directly measure abundance with the kick-seining method." Explore further Using eDNA to identify the breeding habitat of endangered species More information: Christopher J. Rice et al, Environmental DNA detects a rare large river crayfish but with little relation to local abundance, Freshwater Biology (2018). Christopher J. Rice et al, Environmental DNA detects a rare large river crayfish but with little relation to local abundance,(2018). DOI: 10.1111/fwb.13081 Credit: University College London Scientists at UCL have explained for the first time the mystery of why adhesive tape is so useful for graphene production. The study, published in Advanced Materials, used supercomputers to model the process through which graphene sheets are exfoliated from graphite, the material in pencils. Graphene is known for being the strongest material in the world, lightweight and with extraordinary electrical, thermal and optical properties. Unsurprisingly, it offers many benefits for commercial application. There are various methods for exfoliating graphene, including the famous adhesive tape method developed by Nobel Prize winner Andre Geim. However little has been known until now about how the process of exfoliating graphene using sticky tape works. Academics at UCL are now able to demonstrate how individual flakes of graphite can be exfoliated to make one atom thick layers. They also reveal that the process of peeling a layer of graphene demands 40% less energy than that of another common method called shearing. This is expected to have far reaching impacts for the commercial production of graphene. "The sticky tape method works rather like peeling egg boxes apart with a vertical motion, it is easier than pulling one horizontally across another when they are neatly stacked," explained Professor Peter Coveney, Director of the Centre for Computational Science (UCL Chemistry). "If shearing, then you get held up by this egg carton configuration. But if you peel, you can get them apart much more easily. The polymethyl methacrylate adhesive on traditional sticky tape is ideal for picking up the edge of the graphene sheet so it can be lifted and peeled," added Professor Coveney. Graphite occurs naturally, its basic crystalline structure is stacks of flat sheets of strongly bonded carbon atoms in a honeycomb pattern. Graphite's many layers are bound together by weak interactions and can easily slide large distances over one another with little friction due to their superlubricity. The scientists at UCL simulated an experiment conducted in 2015 at Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory in Berkeley, California, which used a special microscope with atomic resolution to see how graphene flakes move around on a graphite surface. The supercomputer's results matched Berkeley's observations showing that there is less movement when the graphene atoms neatly line up with the atoms below. "Despite the vast amount of research carried out on graphene since its discovery, it is clear that until now our understanding of its behaviour on an atomic length scale was very poor," explains Ph.D. student Robert Sinclair (UCL Chemistry). "The one reason above all others why the material is difficult to use is because it is hard to make. Even now, a dozen years after its discovery, companies have to apply sticky tape methods to pull it apart, as the Laureates did to uncover it; hardly a hi-tech and industrially simple process to implement. We're now in a position to assist experimentalists to figure out how to prise it apart, or make it to order. That could have big cost implications for the emerging graphene industry," said Professor Coveney. Explore further Researchers have fabricated two types of trilayer graphene with different electrical properties More information: Robert C. Sinclair et al. Graphene-Graphene Interactions: Friction, Superlubricity, and Exfoliation, Advanced Materials (2018). Journal information: Advanced Materials Robert C. Sinclair et al. Graphene-Graphene Interactions: Friction, Superlubricity, and Exfoliation,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/adma.201705791 Teachers who integrated engineering design projects, like this landslide model, observed higher engagement from their students. Credit: Sarah Bird/Michigan Tech A team led by Michigan Technological University set out to find what makes STEM integration tick. Their researchpublished in the International Journal of STEM Educationfollowed several case studies to observe the impacts of low, medium and high degrees of integration within a classroom. They found that across the board the greatest challenge that teachers face is making explicit connections between STEM fields while balancing the need for context and student engagement. Emily Dare, assistant professor of STEM education at Michigan Tech, is the lead author on the study. She says different teachers have different approaches to STEM integration. "This alone is not terribly surprising as we know that teachers conceptualize integrated STEM in multiple ways," Dare says. "What is new about this current study is that this degree of integration may be related to a teacher's understanding in making explicit and meaningful connections between the disciplines, as opposed to assuming that students will make those connections on their own." Dare and her co-authors-Joshua Ellis of Michigan Tech and Gillian Roehrig of the University of Minnesota-worked with nine middle school science teachers to assess STEM integration in their classrooms. The researchers relied on both reflective interviews with the teachers and classroom implementation data like the number of instructional days dedicated to two or more disciplines and the amount of time given each discipline. "The teachers who integrated more often in their class appeared to be more critical of their instruction," Dare says, "And after their first time implementing integrated STEM instruction, they were already considering ways in which to improve their practice." She explains that this speaks volumes about teachers' motivation and dedication to incorporating these approaches in their classrooms: If they find the integrated approach valuable, they may be more willing to spend time helping students make those content connections. STEM education calls for connecting science, technology, engineering, and math. Within that framework, three themes arose from the results of Dare and her collaborators' work that distinguished low, medium and high STEM integration. First, the nature of integration varied; that is, the role teachers perceived they should play in making explicit or implicit connections. A more active role in making connections reflected higher integration, though not without its challenges. Previously, Dare led research helping to clarify what STEM education, and therefore integration, means in practical terms for teachers. Second, classroom integration depended on whether a teacher chose to focus primarily on science or engineering. Dare and her team argue that science versus engineering is a false choice. Teachers with higher degrees of STEM integration wove in science concepts throughout engineering design projects, like connecting lessons on heat transfer and insulators to building solar ovens. Across the board, design-based projects tended to happen in the last few days of instruction. Teachers with lower degrees of integration tended to focus on the science first, then shift completely into engineering. Third, student engagement played a role-and an important one. Students tended to be motivated for engineering design projects; teachers explained that the work provided context, making the concepts more real and understandable. The challenge is that teachers felt pressed to balance the hands-on work with conceptual and reflective activities. Plus, maintaining a contextual example over several weeks became difficult. The paper authors point out that while the study subjects are middle school physical science teachers doing first-time STEM instruction, many of the identified themes are not content-specific. Because of that, the successes and challenges identified may shed light on general struggles that are common to educators who are integrating across STEM disciplines under new teaching standards. Teachers' primary challenges focused on trying to keep the lessons real for students and struggling with better integrating math. Dare suggests this may be because science teachers are just that, not math teachers or engineers. "For teacher educators," Dare says, "this means continuing to support teachers in their classrooms as they embark on testing out new strategies and curriculum units in their classrooms." Explore further What is STEM education? More information: Emily A. Dare et al, Understanding science teachers' implementations of integrated STEM curricular units through a phenomenological multiple case study, International Journal of STEM Education (2018). Emily A. Dare et al, Understanding science teachers' implementations of integrated STEM curricular units through a phenomenological multiple case study,(2018). DOI: 10.1186/s40594-018-0101-z Leech from the genus Haemadipsa. Credit: AMNH/M. Siddall A broad survey conducted across southern Asia reinforces the idea that the mammal biodiversity of an area can be determined by looking at the DNA found in leeches' blood meals. The new study, led by researchers at the American Museum of Natural History, also shows for the first time that DNA found in leeches can be used to identify certain ground birds and, possibly, some bats. The research was published this month in the journal Systematics and Biodiversity. "Our recent work has demonstrated that we can determine what mammals are in a protected area without hunting, without trapping, without the use of scat or hair samples, and especially without camera traps-all of which are problematic methods for one reason or another," said study author Mark Siddall, a curator in the Museum's Division of Invertebrate Zoology. "Instead, by sequencing the host DNA that remains inside of terrestrial jungle leeches for months after feeding, we can out-perform all other methods of biodiversity monitoring in terms of accuracy, completeness, speed, and cost. We even get the small mammals that most other methods miss." The usefulness of invertebrate-parasite-derived DNA, called iDNA, was first shown in a 2012 study on 25 leeches found in Vietnam. Siddall and lead author Michael Tessler, a postdoctoral fellow in the Museum's Sackler Institute of Comparative Genomics, were interested in examining how dependable leeches can be as an identification tool when surveying a broader range of geographic locations. The researchers led a team that collected and genetically analyzed about 750 terrestrial leeches in the genus Haemadipsa from the forests of Bangladesh, Cambodia, and China. They found that the leeches feed at least somewhat indiscriminately on a large variety of mammals, including small deer called muntjacs, macaque monkeys, wildcats, rodents like porcupines and rats, as well as a vulnerable species in the area, a gaur, or Indian bison. They also recovered DNA from three types of ground-dwelling birds and one species of bat-there are only a few previous and somewhat anecdotal reports of those animals being targeted by Haemadipsa leeches. A photo taken by the research team while collecting leeches in the field. Credit: AMNH/L. Berniker In addition, Siddall and Tessler were authors on a recently published study based on leeches in Bangladesh that compares the iDNA method to camera traps. They found that the methods complement one another, and that, when used together with camera trapping, leeches can be used to survey more rapidly and to more confidently identify small mammal species. "This work is turning out to be an extremely useful tool for conservation purposes, and it's quick and easy to survey a park in this way as you don't really need to search for the leeches-they come to you looking for a meal," Tessler said. "You just go on a casual hike and make sure you get the leeches before they get you. A snapshot of the vertebrates in an area can be taken with just one day's worth of sampling; the current standard for surveys, camera traps, takes months or longer." The new research also looks at the genetic diversity of the leeches themselves, revealing that there are most likely many new species yet to be described. A photo taken by the research team while collecting leeches in the field. Credit: AMNH/L. Berniker Explore further Using leeches to measure mammal biodiversity More information: Michael Tessler et al, Bloodlines: mammals, leeches, and conservation in southern Asia, Systematics and Biodiversity (2018). Michael Tessler et al, Bloodlines: mammals, leeches, and conservation in southern Asia,(2018). DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2018.1433729 We Already Arm Teachers in Public Schools By Rob Morse. February 25th, 2018 Article Original After the murders in a Florida public high school, President Trump said we should allow some school staff to be armed. The Socialists were entirely predictable in the way they responded. They projected their personal fantasies onto armed teachers. With one breath progressives said that school attacks were a new epidemic of dangerous proportions. Then they said that school shootings were so unlikely that an armed teacher would probably never be needed. Progressives said teaching is an honorable and valuable profession so teachers shouldnt have to carry guns..but if we did let teachers go armed then they would probably go nuts and shoot someone. We dont have to fantasize about what will happen when school staff are armed. We already know how armed teachers behave. It is too easy to make fun of the talking heads, so lets look at the facts instead. 10 states allow licensed gun owners to carry on college campuses. Some colleges in these states allow their staff to be armed and some prohibit it. In any case, no noteworthy increase in college campus shootings took place. You couldnt guess or cant remember which states allow armed college staff and which states forbid it. After Sandy Hook, some places put more armed teachers in K to 12 schools, for roughly the same reason we put armed pilots in planes after the 911 attack. Even before the murders at Sandy Hook, well before the murders at Parkland, some states already allowed armed staff in K to 12 schools. These school districts quietly sought teachers who had concealed carry licenses and were already carrying outside of school. For the record, No teacher has ever been ordered to carry a firearm in school. However, teachers who volunteered to carry at school, may be asked to take additional training. That training costs money. Most districts havent put physical security into their budgets. Fortunately, a few private organizations train teachers, at no cost to the teachers or the schools. In other words, training teachers is being accomplished without school districts spending a dime. Likewise, the firearms cost the school districts nothing. Teachers use their own firearms at school, the same one they are accustomed to carry outside of school. Each person has already chosen a firearm they are comfortable with, a gun that, fits their hand, they can conceal comfortably on their body, they have already trained with. Ive referred to teachers, but that is not the whole story. Not only teachers are armed in schools today. Bus drivers, custodians and school administrators are as well. Why? Why do the training slots fill up as soon as they are advertised? Why do thousands of school staff members compete for hundreds of training slots? Look at both the Sandy Hook and the Parkland attacks. Teachers used their bodies as human shields to protect their students. Teachers ran toward the sound of gunfire. They wanted to protect the people they loved at school the same way they protect the people they loved at home. They want to be armed at school because they want what we want, a chance for them and their students to survive. Today, we dont have to guess how staff would react if they carried a gun at school. We already know. These volunteers already knew their jobs with the school. They had already lived with a gun when they were off campus. Weve accumulated many thousands of man-years and woman-years of experience with armed school staff. Call it dozens of lifetimes of real world wisdom. We get more experience every school day and it never makes the news. The school staff carry concealed, and what is out of sight is out of mind. The sheriff and the school board knows. Parents and students dont know which teachers are armed. More to the point, neither does a prospective attacker. We know that teachers dont go nuts when they carry on campus. Believe me, the media would have made sure we knew about that if it ever happened. We dont have to guess what happens when teachers are armed. We already know. The people you trust with your children live up to that trust..every single day. Do you think we should have armed staff in schools? Back to Top Access to wood fuels for cooking must be considered when formulating policy to deal with food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa, according to researchers who advocate expanding the effort to improve wood-fuel systems and make them more sustainable. Although the health risks of collecting and using firewood and charcoal in traditional ways are real, policy makers, researchers and donors need to address the sustainability and viability of the biomass used by the majority of people, according to Ruth Mendum, director of gender initiatives in the Office of International Programs, College of Agricultural Sciences, Penn State. She collaborated with Mary Njenga, a research scientist who specializes in bioenergy at the World Agroforestry Centre in Kenya. Firewood collection in African society is a gender issue because it is done almost exclusively by women, noted Mendum, who said inadequate sources of cooking energy contribute to food insecurity, particularly for very low income, food-insecure individuals. She believes that that reality has been overlooked intentionally by decision-makers in countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Nairobi, Tanzania and Zambia in their efforts to advocate for progressive cooking energy. "It's not always a question of moneyin many cases people simply prefer cooking with wood," she said. "But we have literally been in places where people have food but don't have a way to cook it. It is an uncomfortable issue but it's an issue we need to understand better and learn how to make wood burning for cooking sustainable." Wood fuels are by far the most widely used for cooking in sub-Saharan Africa. On the continent as a whole, more than 90 percent of the population relies on firewood or charcoal. Charcoal is mostly used in urban centers while firewood is the predominant form of wood fuel used in rural areas. But because wood burning is seen as outdated and environmentally unfriendly, governments have tried to persuade their citizens to use other fuels, such as liquefied natural gas and electricity. Despite those efforts, the use of wood fuels is rising due to population growth and emerging urbanization trends, the researchers point out. For example, a 1 percent rise in urbanization has been linked to a 14 percent rise in charcoal consumption. They recommend that energy availability for household usespecifically wood fuelsshould be added to the short list of essential drivers of food insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa. "Before policy makers can integrate energy considerations into food security interventions, it is necessary to consider the state of wood fuel research and how it might be expanded to better serve social needs," Mendum said. "If we ignore this practice of wood burning, which is so widespread, particularly among the continent's poorest people, we risk putting together solution steps for food security that are not effective." After poring over the literature, Mendum and Njenga reported that little previous empirical research into wood burning in sub-Saharan Africa has been conducted, so policy makers have scant data to guide them in formulating best practices for sustainable biomass production and consumption. In their study, published this month in Facets, they have some recommendations. They suggest creating financial policy to support wood-burning systems and developing agroforestry to ease the burden on wood gatherers. In rural areas, encourage the planting of trees and then pruning them to use the branches for firewood. As a result, more trees would be in place and people could care for trees and collect firewood on their own properties instead of carrying it long distances. "That means all the negative impacts of hauling wood on women's backs would be eliminated," Mendum said. They also recommend conducting more research on the complex issues that connect the use of women's time, environmental degradation and competition for agricultural nutrients. There are a host of other factors surrounding wood-fuel energy use in sub-Saharan Africa that remain poorly understood, Mendum said. This research gap will not be filled as long as wood-fuel use remains ignored because the assumption is being made that a 21st-century economy must move up the energy ladder, the researchers concluded. Wood fuel is widely used, it has a long history of use, and there are food cultural barriers, widespread poverty and daunting geographic conditions that make other forms of fuel unpopular or unavailable. "We shouldn't wait until we know the exact nutritional or agricultural productivity impacts of wood-fuel usethat's information that we may never have the capacity to fully collect," Mendum said. "It is important to expand the work being done on improving wood-fuel systems with clear attention paid to the impacts of such improvements on food security and agricultural productivity." Explore further Fungal enzymes could hold secret to making renewable energy from wood XMM-Newton view of massive star Rho Ophiuchi A. Credit: ESA/XMM-Newton; I. Pillitteri. Credit: INAFOsservatorio Astronomico di Palermo In 2014, ESA's XMM-Newton spotted X-rays emanating from the massive star Rho Ophiuchi A and, last year, found these to ebb and flow periodically in the form of intense flares both unexpected results. The team has now used ESO's Very Large Telescope to find that the star boasts a strong magnetic field, confirming its status as a cosmic lighthouse. Stars like the sun are known to produce strong X-ray flares, but massive stars appear to be very different. In stars upwards of eight solar masses X-ray emission is steady, and no such star had been confidently observed to repeatedly flare in this part of the spectrum until recently. In 2014, a team of scientists used ESA's XMM-Newton space observatory to observe a massive star named Rho Ophiuchi A. This star sits at the heart of the Rho Ophiuchi Dark Cloud, a nearby region known to be actively forming new stars. Surprisingly, the data showed an abundance of X-rays streaming out from the star, prompting the team to look closer. "We observed the star with XMM-Newton for almost 40 hours and found something even more unexpected," says Ignazio Pillitteri of the INAFOsservatorio Astronomico di Palermo, Italy, and leader of the research team. "Rather than a smooth, steady emission, the X-rays pulsed periodically outwards from Rho Ophiuchi A, varying over a period of roughly 1.2 days as the star rotated like an X-ray lighthouse! This is quite a new phenomenon in stars bigger than the sun." Rho Ophiuchi A is far hotter and more massive than our parent star. It remains unknown how X-rays are generated in such stellar heavyweights; one possibility is a strong intrinsic magnetism, which would be observable via signs of surface magnetism. However, how such a magnetic field would come to be and how it would be linked to any X-ray emission remains unclear. "We guessed that there may be a giant active magnetic spot on the surface of Rho Ophiuchi A a bit like a sunspot, only far bigger and more stable," adds Pillitteri. "As the star rotates, this spot would come in and out of view, causing the observed pulsing X-rays. However, this idea was somewhat unlikely; spots on stars form when an interior magnetic field pops out to the surface, and we know that only one in ten massive stars has a measurable magnetic field." Another way the pulsing 'lighthouse effect' could be created is via a lower-mass orbiting companion that added its own copious X-rays to the light attributed to Rho Ophiuchi A; this X-ray emission would vary in strength as the hypothetical smaller star crossed in front of and behind Rho Ophiuchi A during its 1.2-day orbit. The team also considered this possibility: that Rho Ophiuchi A could have a small, unseen, lower-mass companion in a very tight orbit. X-ray flares from Rho Ophiuchi A. Credit: ESA/XMM-Newton; I. Pillitteri (INAFOsservatorio Astronomico di Palermo "To find out one way or another, we rushed to get magnetic measurements of Rho Ophiuchi A using one of the largest ground-based telescopes in existence: ESO's Very Large Telescope," says Lida Oskinova of the University of Potsdam, Germany, a member of the international team that conducted the study. "Excitingly, these measurements confirmed one of our predictions and showed that the X-rays are most likely linked to magnetic structures on the surface of the star." These measurements were made in visible light using a technique known as spectropolarimetry, which involves studying various wavelengths of polarised light emanating from a star. The data showed Rho Ophiuchi A to have an intense magnetic field some 500 times stronger than that of the sun. "Such a strong field is easily capable of producing the kind of flares we spotted," says Pillitteri. "This confirms that what we discovered using XMM-Newton were indeed X-ray flares on Rho Ophiuchi A, that massive stars can be magnetically active as shown by the optical observations and that this activity can be seen in X-rays." The combined data indicate that Rho Ophiuchi A is the only star of its type to have a confirmed active magnetic region on its surface that emits X-rays. Hunting for similar behaviour in stars like Rho Ophiuchi A will help scientists to understand how prevalent this phenomenon is, and unravel more about the magnetic properties of such stars. "This study is an important one in our exploration of massive stars there's much we still don't understand about these objects," says Norbert Schartel, ESA XMM-Newton Project Scientist. "Together, the extraordinary capabilities of XMM-Newton and the Very Large Telescope have now uncovered another piece of the puzzle." "As a bonus, it illustrates the process of science very well of finding something interesting or unusual, investigating and coming up with a few possible hypotheses, and following up with more observation to figure out which is correct. It's a wonderful example of an international collaboration between telescopes, both in orbit and on the ground, working together to explore and explain the phenomena we see throughout the cosmos." More information: Ignazio Pillitteri et al. Smooth X-ray variability fromOphiuchi A+B, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2014). Ignazio Pillitteri et al. Smooth X-ray variability fromOphiuchi A+B,(2014). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201424243 Ignazio Pillitteri et al. The early B-type star Rho Ophiuchi A is an X-ray lighthouse, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2017). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201630070 I. Pillitteri et al. Detection of magnetic field in the B2 star Ophiuchi A with ESO FORS2, Astronomy & Astrophysics (2017). DOI: 10.1051/0004-6361/201732078 Journal information: Astronomy & Astrophysics When it comes to Donald Trump, Stephen Colbert is starting to think hes seen it all. Butsomehowhe hasnt. None of us have. At this point I go to bed every night believing theres nothing he could say or do that could possibly surprise me, he said during Mondays Late Show. Then the sun comes up. And it happened again today. In this case, it was Trumps claim during a meeting with governors that he himself would have run in there during the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, with or without a weapon. Its impossible to know for certain, of course, but hes pretty sure he would have. Advertisement Theres a lot in there that I doubt, said Colbert. But the part I really dont believe is that he can run. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president is not exactly known for his bravery in combat situations, as Colbert pointed out. The man got five deferments to avoid fighting in the Vietnam War. Colberts parody of Trump on Vietnam sounds remarkably realistic after listening to him claim he would have confronted Nikolas Cruz at Stoneman Douglas. You know, I could have won Vietnam, I absolutely could have won Vietnam, no weapon, just run right up to Ho Chi Minh and karate chop him in the clavicle. Its all part of Trumps argument that to prevent school shootings, schools need more tough guys (like him), not fewer guns. Of course, there was an armed and trained sheriffs deputy on hand at the school who didnt run into the building during the shootingnor did multiple other armed deputies who arrived on the scene. These trained professionals didnt see fit to run in, either out of fear or caution. Colbert didnt pass judgement on these men, because its an impossible situation to comprehend. Who among us, really, could honestly say what they think they would do in that same situation? he asked. Donald Trump believes himself, as ever, to be the exception to the rule. Although hes always been less openly political than other late night hosts, Jimmy Fallon occasionally uses his platform to speak from the heart about issues that matter to him, and when he does, he usually forgoes the jokes. After the presidents disgraceful response to Charlottesville, for example, Fallons statement was comedy-free. (So was Seth Meyers; Kimmel and Colbert, on the other hand, mixed their moral disgust with a little humor.) On Monday nightFallons first full show after the Parkland shooting, because of NBCs Olympics coveragehe went joke-free again while expressing his support for the Parkland teens. And not just support: Fallon; his wife, film producer Nancy Juvonen; and their two daughters will be joining the March For Our Lives organized by Parkland shooting survivor Cameron Kasky. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fallon is not the first celebrity to support the March for Our Lives: George and Amal Clooney, Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg, Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, Eli Broad, and Oprah Winfrey have all donated money and/or pledged to attend. And its not much of a mystery how the rest of late night feels about the Parkland shooting or the Republicans wildly inadequate response to it: Seth Meyers and Trevor Noah both roasted the hell out of Trump the same night as Fallons statement. But its rare for Fallon to use his bully pulpit to speak out at all, much less announce he will personally be participating in a political demonstration, and his joke-free approach underlines how out-of-the-ordinary this all is. Advertisement The March for Our Lives will happen in Washington, D.C., on March 24, with simultaneous events taking place in cities around the country. The goala comprehensive bill to reduce gun violencewould be ambitious even if Republicans didnt control the House, Senate, and White House. Fortunately, the Parkland survivors arent particularly interested in what anyone else thinks is possible. Now Jimmy Fallon, too, is letting them lead the way. Advertisement Here are Fallons complete comments: This is our first full show back since the tragic shooting in Florida. And first of all, I want to say that our hearts go out to the families of the teachers and students that were killed. But our hearts also go out to the students who survived, because what they had to live through, and what they have to live with, is something I cant even imagine. And I think what the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are doing is unbelievable. Theyre speaking out with more guts, passion, conviction, and common sense than most adults. Theyre high school studentsits beyond impressive. That strength that they have, its inspiring. They are angry, and theyre doing something about it and creating change. This is a real revolution. And they have organized a peaceful march on Saturday, March 24, in Washington, D.C., to demand action to prevent gun violence. I just want to say I stand behind you guys, and I will be marching alongside you with my wife and two children in D.C. to show our support. So to every one of you who is speaking out, thank youIll see you March 24. Well be right back with more of The Tonight Show. Theres a moment in Morgan Jerkins debut essay collection This Will Be My Undoing: Living at the Intersection of Black, Female and Feminist in (White) America where she describes an assignment she received from Elle.com to write about Beyonces Lemonade. She describes the despair she felt at the task ahead. I was beside myself, she writes. [I] had no idea how I was going to form a cogent argument, let alone open an essay. The experience [of watching Lemonade] was similar to watching something in a foreign language that you understand, and yet as soon as you feel these words with your entire body you are no longer able to translate because in that process, something will be filtered and therefore lost. Advertisement That feeling is viscerally familiar not just to cultural critics writ large but specifically to black writers who are often tasked with dissecting films or movies or books that directly pertain to their identity. Trying to cannibalize your own instinctive reaction to a work of art and regurgitate it in deft sentences that offer something new seems at times singularly fruitlesssomething is always lost in translation. Doreen St. Felix once wrote, Engaging in criticism can feel like engaging in essentially pointless elective surgery. That feeling was the one that I had when I sat down (and got up and sat down again, rinse and repeat) to write this review. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This Will Be My Undoing is a uniquely disarming collection of essays. In their own way and in their own style, each of the 10 essays explores a single concept: that to be a black woman in America is, to borrow a phrase from James Baldwin, to be in a constant state of rage. In essays that gracefully connect the personal and the political, Jerkins demonstrates that to live at the intersection of black and female and feminist is to be both too loud and continually silenced, twice as good and still not enough, both invisible and hypervisible, stripped of humanity. Her own reconciliation with that fact, which is beat into her head over and over again not only by her white peers but by black men and women, too, forms the backbone of this collection. Advertisement To be young, gifted, and black in a white setting is to fight constantly between capitulating to institutions that were never meant for you, or proving yourself a stereotype. Theres a moment in most black peoples lives when they realize theyre blackand that to be black is to be undesirable. Sometimes its the moment when slavery is discussed in class and you realize the other kids are looking at you. Sometimes its when your childhood crush tells you that he doesnt think black girls are pretty. For Jerkins, it was when she tried out for her elementary school cheerleading team. At 10 years old, her only dream was to be a white cheerleader. By joining the team, she hoped that the white cheerleaders desirability could lather me like soapsuds to the skin, polishing me off until I was just as white as them. She intuitively understands both the boundaries placed upon her black girl body and her own attempts to flee to whiteness for freedom. As she describes the ways in which she contorts both physically and mentally to fit into the pristine, white, and coveted space of white girlhood, she touches on a running theme of the collection. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From its first sentence, This Will Be My Undoing is singularly preoccupied with whiteness. The parenthetical white in the subtitle dominates the narrative: It is the beginning and end of Jerkins self-examination, the yardstick that she measures herself against and eventually falls short of. To be young, gifted, and black in a predominately white setting is to fight constantly between capitulating to institutions that were never meant for you or saying, Fuck respectability politics, and proving yourself a stereotype. With her honors and advanced placement courses, preppy clothes, and clean hair Jerkins represented one kind of black girl. One of her childhood bullies, Jamirah, represented another: Boisterous and brash in her graphic design T-shirts and hip-hugger jeans, this black girl makes no attempt at appeasing whiteness. The tension between them is achingly familiarJerkins wants to see her rival destroyed for the pain that shes caused her by mocking her clothes and mannerisms with a profanity as poetic as lines from a Shakespearean sonnet. One of the more chilling moments comes when Jerkins describes a fantasy she has of calling the police on her tormentor: It would not have mattered to me that this officer was protecting me not because I was afraid, but rather because, out of the two of us, I was the closest approximation to whiteness and its rules. The incident is reflected in a later essay when Jerkins considers calling the police on a black man who harasses herin both instances she chooses to avoid confrontation, holding the trauma close to her heart as if it were something precious. Her reluctance touches on a fraught particularity of black womanhood: the experiences we bury to protect someone else at our own expense. Advertisement Advertisement Jerkins is at her strongest when she focuses on the violence [black women] hurl at one another and the ways in which we try to heal ourselves from that violence. She makes clear that though she never retaliated, the ways in which she herself looked down on Jamirah and black girls like her is a form of violence as well. In particular there are two essays that stand out from the collection in this vein. Both written as manifestos, they are mirror images of each other: The first, titled How to Be Docile, begins with a kick to the chest and never lets up. When your black girl child exits the womb and you hear her loud wailing, savor and remember it for as long as you can, Jerkins writes. Thats the loudest the world will ever allow her to be in a room where multiple people are present. How to Be Docile is a drumbeat of sorrow, of repression and heartbreak. It powerfully engages with both the question of how black women police black girls in an attempt to protect them and the way success and sexuality threaten black girlhood and womanhood: too much of either can doom you to a lonely life. Its inverse and complement is How to Survive: A Manifesto on Paranoia and Peace, in which Jerkins counsels black women and girls on the art of black girl joy, on building an impermeable wall of self-adulation whose foundation rests on the bonds of black sisterhood and the acknowledgment that youre not paranoid for bristling when a white child points at you on the train. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In her final essay, A Black Girl Like Me, Jerkins is all grown up. Shes survived online harassment as an opinion columnist at Princeton, her stepfathers dementia decline, neo-Nazi encounters in Russia, and a labiaplasty. She is coming into her own as a writer and trying to break into the seemingly impenetrable world of New York media. She takes a chance and reaches out to an influential black female writer who was in the circles Jerkins could only bounce around but never infiltrate. At this point, the writer had already commissioned an essay from Jerkins and written her an extremely adulatory email, so when she reaches out asking for a contact at the New Yorker, Jerkins is gobsmacked when the writer replies that it would be better if she let editors there reach out directly to her. I thought that if she didnt feel comfortable sharing contacts, then she could have let me know and I would have understood, Jerkins says. But then again, what would it benefit her to withhold contacts from me? The act of withholding is a part of the crabs-in-a-barrel theory that stymies black people in general and, in this case, black women specifically. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thus she opens up a conversation about the responsibility black women have to each other. Jerkins expected to be helped as she had been in the pastshe writes that, had she been approached by another young black female writer who had many bylines to her name, she wouldve given up the contact without any hesitation because it would be cruel for her to climb up a ladder and pull that ladder up as I go. The expectation that, as a black woman in a lofty position, you have a cultural duty to pull others up with you is a relatively common oneand for good reason. According to the annual American Society of News Editors survey, in 2017, minorities made up only 16.55 percent of employees reported by all newsrooms, and nepotism does indeed run deep through New York media. Advertisement Advertisement But Jerkins characteristic adeptness at recognizing the violences we impose on each other is strangely lacking in her analysis of this particular situation. What burden are we placing on other black women by demanding that their Rolodexes be open once we amass a certain amount of bylines? At what point does cultural duty become just another way that black women are required to give and give of themselves with no expectation for recompense? In what ways are we asking other black women to make their already precarious positions in predominantly white media scenes more treacherous? I dont have the answer to these questions. But as we move forward, as black women become less rare in the media world, hopefully we can begin to answer them. This Will Be My Undoing by Morgan Jerkins. Harper Perennial. Read the rest of the pieces in the Slate Book Review. On Monday, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 103 that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits anti-gay employment discrimination. The court found that Title VIIs ban on discrimination because of sex encompasses sexual orientation, protecting gay employees in all 50 states. Its decision, Zarda v. Altitude Express, closely tracked the reasoning of Hively v. Ivy Tech, a 2017 decision by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that also interpreted Title VII to bar anti-gay discrimination. Advertisement Greg Nevins, the director of Lambda Legals Employment Fairness Project, argued in favor of gay employees in both Zarda and Hively. On Tuesday, we spoke about 2nd Circuits ruling, the Trump administrations position, and Attorney General Jeff Sessions criticism of the courts decision. Our interview has been edited and condensed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The 7th Circuits Hively opinion was authored by Chief Judge Diane Wood. Zarda was penned by Chief Judge Robert Katzmann. How do you think Katzmanns opinion stacks up against Judge Woods? Thats like asking a parent which of their twins is more adorable! I thought they were both really strong. Katzmann is a guru when it comes to statutory interpretation, and that certainly shone through in the opinion. He also had a more lengthier dissent to contend with. Most majority decisions dont respond to everything in the dissents, but Katzmann was very conscientious. Advertisement Katzmann wrote that after marriage equality, a legal regime that allows gay people to get married on Saturday and fired for it on Monday is paradoxical. How do you think the Supreme Courts gay rights cases have affected Title VII jurisprudence? Before Lawrence v. Texas [which struck down sodomy bans], if a male employee asked why he faces discrimination for dating men but female employees dont, his employer could say, Because sodomy is illegal! After Lawrence, the employer could still point out that same-sex relationships werent recognized equally under the law. But under Obergefell v. Hodges [which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide], theres no question that gay employees are similarly situated to straight employees. I wonder if, when one of these cases reaches the Supreme Court, Kennedy will recognize how his own gay rights opinions compel a gay-inclusive reading of Title VII. I think he will. Advertisement Thats optimistic! I hope he recognizes how a cramped reading of Title VII threatens to undermine the equal dignity rationale that was the centerpiece of his marriage-equality opinion. Well, Im allowed to go through that ceremony and get the certificate and then I get a pink slip from my boss as a wedding present. Huh? That would, I think, be of some concern. Advertisement How can discrimination against someone in an interracial relationship be illegal, but discrimination against someone in a same-sex relationship not be? Greg Nevins Judge Dennis Jacobs, a George H.W. Bush appointee, joined only part of Katzmanns opinion, then dismissed the rest of it as woke dicta. What did you make of his concurrence? Judge Jacobs liked the associational discrimination claim, the idea that discriminating against a male employee for marrying a man is sex discriminationjust like discriminating against a white employee for marrying a black man is race discrimination. He pushed back on the stereotype claim; the Supreme Court has held that sex stereotyping is unlawful sex discrimination, and Katzmann wrote that anti-gay discrimination falls into that category by punishing employees for their failure to conform to gender norms. Advertisement Advertisement Jacobs resistance to that section surprised me, because it seemed like a pretty straightforward adoption of what Hively and other courts did. Gender nonconformity can be a woman who rides a Harley, or plays rugby, or dates women. Its all the same thing. Insisting that people behave in a traditional way can result in the sex stereotypes that Title VII prohibits. Judge Jose Cabranes, a Bill Clinton appointee, concurred only in the judgment, asserting that the case is so easy that it can be resolved with three sentences of analysis. He seemed to question Katzmann for devoting so many words to the subject, which I found a bit unfair. Im loath to criticize anyone who voted for me! Really, I cant criticize it, because if Im talking to somebody in an elevator, Im gonna say something along the lines of: It has to be sex discrimination if its OK for a woman to marry a man but not OK for a man to marry a man. And were done here! Saves a lot of trees. So I understood where Cabranes was coming from. Advertisement Advertisement Look, Katzmann set a table with all of the courses available. Some judges had their fill of everything. Some judges thought the macaroni and cheese looked delicious but didnt have enough room and decided to stick with the steak. Im OK with that. Advertisement The Department of Justice filed an unsolicited brief weighing in against employees and argued against you in court I do think the Justice Departments participation is what prompted the 2nd Circuit to invite me to oral arguments, so I cant be too upset! Sure. But I was surprised to see Judge Gerard Lynch, a Barack Obama appointee, take Jeff Sessions side. Yesthe DOJ beat some of the old dead horses, but it was interesting to see the extent to which Judge Lynch was on the same page as them. For instance, the DOJ brief said that workplace discrimination only violates Title VII if its based on some idea about the inferiority of men or women. It has to be sinister, invidious discrimination to be illegal. Advertisement But that is a radical rethinking of what constitutes illegal discrimination. I use this example to illustrate why. Title VII also bars discrimination on the basis of religion. Imagine if an employer said, Based on divorce statistics, were going to fire anyone who enters into an interfaith marriage, because those marriages are less stable. If they retain a Jewish employee who marries a Jew but fire a Baptist employee who marries a Jew, most people would look at that as illegal religious discrimination. And theyd be right! But its not necessarily based on any notion of inferiority. Advertisement Advertisement The DOJs theory runs into problems in the race context, too. If a black supervisor fires a black woman for marrying a white man, he has engaged in unlawful race discriminationeven if he doesnt think white people are inferior to blacks. Advertisement Advertisement Yep. And Jeff Sessions wants to open up a can of worms by saying it has to be evil racism to be race discrimination. But lookhe only persuaded three of the 13 judges. So I feel pretty good that we can push back against some of the arguments that Lynch made, which we didnt really know anyone was taking seriously. In a speech on Tuesday, Sessions criticized the courts decision, stating: I guess maybe the judges woke up that morning, read the New York Times or something, and decided their previous ruling was wrong. Wow! That wouldve saved me a lot of time and effort. But really, its pretty darn obvious that this was a thoughtful opinion that carefully considered, among other things, the way that Lawrence and Obergefell affected the decisions it overruled. How can discrimination against someone in an interracial relationship be race discrimination, but discrimination against someone in a same-sex relationship not be sex discrimination? The Supreme Court has really cemented that analogyno matter what Jeff Sessions says. Well, that was fun while it lasted. Sen. Bob Corker has decided that he will still retire after all. The Tennessee Republican had spent the past two weeks publicly flirting with the idea of making a late bid for a third term, but his chief of staff put an end to that speculation on Tuesday morning. At the end of the day, the senator believes he made the right decision in September and will be leaving the Senate when his term expires at the end of 2018, Todd Womack told the Tennessean. Advertisement In Team Corkers telling, the Republican senator had reconsidered his decision to retire only because so many voters had urged him to run again. But its not clear that Corker was a complete bystander in all this; past reports suggested he may have been having his own second thoughts and was the one to approach his fellow Republicans about the idea. Either way, the general consensus was that for Corker to have a clean shot at winning another termand with it, potentially preserving the GOPs control of the Senatehe was going to first need the blessing of Donald Trump, given the pairs very public feud late last year. Corker had suggested Trump was a child in need of constant supervision and Trump responded by taunting Corker about his height. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Politico reports that Corker had been speaking with the president with some frequency of late, possibly in hopes of mending fences, but that the White House ultimately made it clear that Trump would not help Corker in a primary against Rep. Marsha Blackburn. Blackburn, a proudly politically incorrect Republican who has branded herself a loyal Trump foot soldier, had a significant lead over Corker in recent primary polls. Regardless of the why, though, it is the what that matters most hereand that is Corkers Senate seat. Its one of three that Democrats are considered to have a decent chance of flipping from red to blue this fall (the others: Nevada and Arizona). And since they need to pick up at least two seats to take control of the Senate, each of those three carries outsize importance to both parties. Corkers exit spares Republicans a potentially messy primary fight, but it also likely leaves them with a far-right candidate in the general election against former Gov. Phil Bredesen, Democrats dream candidate in this race. A couple of weeks after they failed to make progress in a supposedly free-wheeling debate over immigration, the Senate returned to Washington on Monday afternoon facing an imminent debate on another delicate issue: guns. As of Monday night, the prospect of Senate votes on gun legislation in the near future is surprisingly optimistic. Which is not to say the outcomes are assured, in the least. Before any votes on gun legislation, Senate norms dictate that the institution spend one hundred million hours jousting over procedure. Advertisement Senate Republicans would be fine to pass the Fix NICS Act by itself, a bill co-authored by Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn that would beef up the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NCIS), and then return to their regular agenda of confirming judges and administrative personnel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Im for doing whats achievable, Cornyn told reporters Monday. He added that quickly passing the Fix NICS Act is the most obvious place to start. Though that bill would have enough support to pass, that doesnt mean everyone is onboard. Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy, for example, told reporters that incentivizing states and departments with more money to properly report information into the background check database isnt the right remedy; firing people for not doing their jobs is. Kennedy said that rather than more gun control, what we need is further idiot control. Advertisement Democrats wouldnt accept a quick vote on Fix NICS without the possibility of votes on other gun measures. Specifically, theyre looking at a revived version of the Manchin-Toomey proposal that failed in 2013, which would have expanded background checks to cover gun shows and online sales. The two senators behind that bill, Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey and West Virginia Sen. Manchin, have been planning another effort, and hope to present something to President Trump that he can support. Trumps endorsement, Manchin told me Monday, is necessary for the bill to have a chance. If all Congress does in response to the Parkland shooting is to pass the Fix NICS bill, it would be an abject failure and a dereliction of our duty, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement Monday afternoon. Democrats believe that, at a minimum, the Congressional response to the Parkland shooting should include universal background check legislation that would close the gun show and internet sales loopholes that allow guns to fall into the wrong hands. Advertisement Advertisement Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy, who became the Senate Democrats leading voice on guns after the Sandy Hook massacre in 2012, put that posture more plainly to reporters. I support Fix NICS, he said of the bill he co-authored, but it cant be the only thing we debate this week. And Im not going to support Fix NICS being rushed through the floor without talking about expanding background checks, assault weapons, or a host of other issues. Advertisement Democrats want an open floor debate during which they could vote on expanding background checks, an assault weapons ban, raising the minimum age for all firearms purchases to 21, and whatever else they might cook up. If those failed, and the only thing the Senate could find consensus on was the Fix NICS Act, then Democrats would grudgingly support it. Advertisement Fortunately, at least one member of the Senate leadership appeared ready to offer Democrats such a debate on Monday. Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt said Monday that the best way forward would be to put the Fix NICS Act on the floor and allow for amendments. Thatd be my view, he told reporters. Get a bill on the floor and see what happens. Shortly thereafter, Cornyn, according to Bloomberg, said discussions were underway about opening a gun debate, with multiple votes, on the floor as early as this week. After a grand, open, neutral, sprawling debate on immigration, the Senate could be immediately pivoting to the same on gun control. Its not obvious that it could produce a much grander result. RIFAT FAREED SRINAGAR, Indian-administered Kashmir On the morning of September 4 last year, Kamran Yusuf left his home in Kashmirs Pulwama for work, carrying his backpacks and cameras, but the photojournalist never returned, his family says. The following day, his family came to know through news channels that Yusuf, who has been working as a photographer in the small town known for its apple orchards, was arrested by Indian security forces and sent to New Delhi, the Indian capital. The arrest of Kamran Yusuf, a working photojournalist contributing to several media outlets, is clearly a violation of press freedom and journalists rights. LAXMI MURTHY, JOURNALIST The 22-year-old freelance photojournalist, who has been documenting the conflict in Indian-administered Kashmir, has been slapped with charges of stone throwing and waging war against India. He has been in jail since then. Irshad Ahmad Ganaie, Yusufs uncle, says the family is still in shock. His mother was divorced when he was two years old. Since then, they are living with us. He was just working hard as a photographer in his hometown; he used to freelance with many organisations, and has taken all kinds of photographs, he said. Ganaie, 38, says his nephew is being framed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He is being punished for his work. Not a real journalist In the charge sheet presented before a special NIA court in New Delhi, the anti-terror agency has said that Yusuf was not a real journalist, as he had not covered social work done by the army and paramilitary forces in the disputed Himalayan region. Mother of Yusuf at his home in Pulwama [Shuaib Bashir/Al Jazeera] Kamran Yusuf had hardly taken any video of such activity and video or image of any such activity can rarely be seen in his laptop or mobile which clearly show his intention to only cover the activities which are anti-national and earn money against such footages, the charge sheet has said. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters without Borders have called on Indian authorities to immediately drop charges and release Yusuf. Indias National Investigative Agency is way out of its league and has no business defining what a real journalist should cover, Steven Butler, CPJ Asia programme coordinator, said in a statement. He added that Yusufs work taking photographs of conflict in Kashmir is a public service in the best spirit of journalism. Rights groups, local journalists and media watchdogs have raised their concerns at what they call fabricated charges against the young journalist. Amnesty International, in its annual human rights report released on Thursday, said that if convicted, Yusuf might face life imprisonment. Amnesty International believes the charges against him to be fabricated and politically motivated, and part of an attempt to stifle journalism in Kashmir, the rights body said in its report. Threats and intimidation Journalists in Kashmir, one of the most militarised zones of the world, with more than half a million Indian forces, say threats and intimidation are routine. According to a report by the International Federation of Journalists, published last November, at least 21 journalists have been killed in the conflict either directly targeted or caught in the crossfire in Kashmir. Muneeb-Ul-Islam, a freelance photographer, told Al Jazeera that journalists are caught in the line of fire. He says that he himself has been beaten by security forces many times and had his cameras broken. Indias National Investigative Agency is way out of its league and has no business defining what a real journalist should cover. STEVEN BUTLER, CPJ ASIA PROGRAMME COORDINATOR Police think we side with stone-throwers and stone-throwers think we are covering from polices side, said the 27-year-old. Activists say the arrest of Yusuf will have a chilling effect on media freedom in the region, that has been on the boil since Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who came to power in 2014, adopted a hardline policy to quell anti-India protests. Yusuf Jameel has covered Kashmir for more than two decades. He says there is an indirect censorship on journalists in Kashmir. Indian-administered Kashmir has seen a rise in violence since the killing of a rebel commander in 2016 [Danish Ismail/Reuters] Though there is no official censorship, they create an atmosphere where it becomes difficult and sometimes impossible for a journalist to report, he said. His views are echoed by a prominent human rights activist in the Muslim-majority region. By arresting a photographer, the Indian government wants to create an example for the photo and video journalists in Kashmir who document gun battles and stone-throwing for the world to see, said Khurram Parvez. Evidence of stone-pelting Muhammad Aslam Chowdhary, a senior police officer in south Kashmir, admitted there was no direct case filed against Yusuf; however, his involvement in stone-pelting and other cases is under investigation. In one case, it has been found that a video where the burning of tricolor took place in south Kashmir was uploaded from his Facebook account, but we have not been able to question him yet, the investigation is still on, Chowdhary told Al Jazeera. The NIA spokesperson, Alok Mittal, however, told Al Jazeera that there is an evidence of stone-pelting against Yusuf. Involvement of accused Kamran Yusuf who claims to be a photojournalist in stone-pelting incidents was conclusively established. There is sufficient evidence on record, showing his participation in the incidents of stone-pelting, which has been submitted to the competent court. The Court has already taken cognisance of the charge sheet, he told Al Jazeera. But Laxmi Murthy, a journalist based in Bangalore and author of IFJs report, said the laws, in particular, counter-terror laws, with sweeping and vague provisions, have long been used to stifle the media. The arrest of Kamran Yusuf, a working photojournalist contributing to several media outlets, is clearly a violation of press freedom and journalists rights, she said. COURTESY/SOURCE: AL JAZEERA NEWS California Democrats last weekend sent what pretty much everyone agrees was a stinging rebuke to Dianne Feinstein, their states senior senator. A majority of the delegates at the state partys annual convention voted against endorsing Feinstein in her bid for a sixth term in the U.S. Senate. Instead, by a vote of 54 percent to 37 percent, they backed the challenger on her left, state Senate leader Kevin de Leon. Adding insult to injury, while Feinstein was addressing delegates earlier in the weekend, she was interrupted by music after she went over her allotted five minutes. A group of de Leon supporters quickly seized the opportunity to serenade the 84-year-old with chants of Times up! Advertisement And yet as embarrassing as this weekend was for Feinstein, it could have been much worse. Thats because under state party rules, a candidate needed to garner 60 percent of the vote to secure the coveted endorsementand with it, access to the resources of the state party and the ability to jointly raise funds with it. So while de Leon left the convention in San Diego with a moral victory and some needed momentum, he came up just short of leaving with what he really needs right now: access to cash, and lots of it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As I explained earlier this month, despite vocal and persistent criticism from progressives that Feinstein is too moderate for her states voters, she remains the odds-on favorite this November. In a recent Public Policy Institute of California poll, conducted late last month, Feinstein led de Leon by 29 percentage points among likely voters, 46 percent to 17 percent. Given the makeup of the convention crowd, Feinstein wasnt expected to clear the 60-percent threshold. But its also clear that shes doing just fine in the fundraising department without the help of her state party. At last count, she had $10 million on hand; de Leon had $360,000. Advertisement Thanks to Californias unique jungle primarywhich advances the top two finishers to the general election, regardless of partyde Leon still has time. No other candidate has emerged as a credible challenger, meaning the June primary will mostly just be a test run for the general election. But if de Leon is going to push Feinstein into retirement six years early as many progressives are hoping, something is going to have to change, and soon. Convincing liberals to donate their money and time to help him oust a sitting Democratic senator, as moderate as Feinstein is, is a serious challenge today; its going to be that much more of one after the primary, when everyones focus will increasingly turn to the races that will determine control of Congresssomething an all-Democrat Senate race in California wont impact. Advertisement Advertisement Its of course possible that, weeks from now, what just happened in San Diego will look in hindsight like an early signal that a shift in this race is on the way. At the least, it suggests that the progressive rage against Feinstein that can be found easily online can be found IRL as well. And it could also turn into a small fundraising boost for de Leon. But by itself, this one convention voteof less than 3,000 delegatesdoesnt fundamentally change this race. As rough a weekend as Feinstein just had, she can take solace in that. Remember George Papadopoulos? Hes the Trump campaign foreign policy adviser, pictured third from left above, who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI last October about his contacts with several individuals who were allegedly connected to the Russian government. One of those individuals was Joseph Mifsud, a middle-aged man (hes reportedly a Maltese national) who seems to have moved from job to job in the European academic/diplomatic world for decades without ever making it clear to anyone what his actual expertise or purpose was. Advertisement A court document filed by the special counsel says Mifsud told Papadopoulos in April 2016 that Russia had dirt on Hillary Clinton in the form of thousands of emails. Russia would later go on, of course, to release thousands of Clinton-related emails via Wikileaks, and it turns out that Papadopoulos drunken boast to an Australian diplomat about the Clinton dirt in May 2016 is what led the FBI to open its counterintelligence investigation into the Trump campaign. Which is all to say that it would be really pretty interesting to hear Joseph Mifsuds account of how it was that he knew about Russian-obtained Hillary email dirt well before almost anyone else in the world. Problem is, as BuzzFeed News reports today, no one has seen Joseph Mifsud in months, including a woman who says (and provides evidence) that he is the father of her newly born child: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement [Mifsuds] biography disappeared from one university where he taught and he quit his job at another university. His email and cell phones went dead. And politicians, colleagues and journalists cant find him. Neither can Anna, his 31-year-old Ukrainian fiancee, who says he is the father of her newborn child. Anna says she was seven months pregnant and engaged to Mifsud when he became the focus of world media attention as the professor who told Papadopoulos that Russia had dirt on Clinton. Shortly thereafter, he dropped from sight. He also cut off all contact with Anna, including phone calls and WhatsApp messages. That silence has held, even six weeks after the daughter Anna says he fathered was born. You should read the whole bizarre story here. You should also wonder what happened to Joseph Mifsud! Novelist and journalist Michael Idov grew up in Latvia before coming to the United States as a teenager. After spending several years at New York magazine, he decided to take quite the job offer: editor of GQ Russia. Idov moved to Moscow with his family in 2012 and observed Vladimir Putins rule firsthand. Within a couple years, he had gotten involved in the film and television businesses there, learned about the travails of Pussy Riot from the groups members themselves, and felt a deepening gloom after Russia annexed Crimea. He has now written an extremely colorful memoir about all of these experiences, Dressed Up for a Riot: Misadventures in Putins Moscow. Advertisement I spoke by phone recently with Idov, who now lives in Berlin. During the course of our conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, we discussed what the Moscow elite really thinks of Putin, why the Trumps and Putins see themselves as members of the same tribe, and compromising your principles to survive in modern-day Russia. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Isaac Chotiner: The title of the book refers to Putins Moscow. Normally, the phrase that we read is Putins Russia. Were you trying to say something about Moscow and how its different from Russia? Michael Idov: Im glad you caught that, because this was actually very deliberate. My experience was not an authentically Russian experience. My adventures and misadventures in Russia are specifically a Moscow experience. This is to say that I am very cognizant of being extremely privileged in the way I was treated in Moscow, the crowd I was running with, the social circles, and also the degree of relative safety that was afforded to me by my American passport and by being a semipublic person. I think its an important distinction that a lot of Russians immeasurably braver than myself were at the same time risking immeasurably more than I was. For me, it was a fairly low-risk situation there. Advertisement The thing to know about Russia is that its extremely centralized. Over 20 percent of its population, and probably far more, and probably 7080 percent of its money, is in one city, Moscow. Culturally speaking, Russia is actually a very small country. Theres a select group of maybe 500 people that produce almost all of its cultural content. Im talking about movies, television, books, restaurants, music. Once youre in that group, youre in it. Its a very strange phenomenon for a country as vast as Russia, but its true. When you crack the Moscow code, youve pretty much gotten into the bloodstream of Russian culture, whether you want it or not. Advertisement Advertisement Why does being in that central place afford the advantages you mentioned? What I was trying to say is that Moscow is basically the face that Russia shows to the world, and Moscow is where it has decided, several years ago, to build a kind of Potemkin village of an extremely Westernized, urbanized society with all the urban creature comforts that you could possibly imagine. This sort of ultra-Westernized and modern Moscow that sprung up, just as the screws were tightened over the opposition over the last five years, is the world where the book takes place. Its real and unreal at the same time, because its kind of a life-size theater set of a city. That is why its very important for me to identify the place Ive been to as Moscow and not Russia. Advertisement Advertisement What is Putins relationship like to that circle youre talking about? They obviously were joined at the hip. They couldnt exist without each other. But late 2011 was the moment when it felt like the urban intelligentsia had found its franchise, in a way, and might speak up, if not at an equal volume with the authorities, then at least try to start negotiating for more freedom, more concessions, more consideration from the regime. Advertisement It changed gradually, but if you want to look at the endpoint of that, its of course the Kirill Serebrennikov case. Serebrennikov is Russias foremost theater director and one of its most brilliant film directors as well, whose latest movie my wife, Lily, and I were lucky to have written. Despite being probably the most celebrated Russian theater director in the world, right now he is under house arrest on completely trumped-up charges, since August of 2017. Advertisement Whats interesting is not the very fact of his arrest but the fact that almost every Russian cultural eminence with whats perceived as some sort of pull in the Putin administration has vouched for Serebrennikov and/or written or signed letters to Putin asking for him to be released. Were talking about the people who have very carefully cultivated what they thought was a relationship with the regime where, in a situation exactly like this, they could ask for a favor exactly like this, or so they thought. Its remarkable how completely and utterly deaf the regime was to all of these people. Im sure a lot of them actually had to make hard bargains with their own conscience, cultivating that relationship with the regime that they thought they could cash in for saving one of their own when the time came, and so its remarkable how useless all of that maneuvering turned out to be. Even Serebrennikov himself, at some point, had cultivated a close relationship with Vladislav Surkov, the erstwhile great cardinal of the Kremlin, Putins main ideologue. He put on Surkovs play Almost Zero at his progressive theater, the Gogol Center, in, I believe, 2012. None of this, as we now see, has had any bearing on his fate. Advertisement Advertisement Everything points to Putins entire clique consisting of just very small, unimaginative men clinging to power by any means necessary. Michael Idov How do people in this circle look at Putin, and what did you learn about him? I have to point out that this is all second hand and hearsay, because I dont think Ive ever been in the same room as Putin, though I have been to the Kremlin, but not when he was there. I think the thing that comes up again and again is just the faceless smallness of it all, that everything points to a portrait of a man largely incurious, and with predictable and unimaginative appetites for tacky women, and massive amounts of money spent on tacky things, but then also with the brilliant, hard-boiled instinct, like street instinct for survival. That took him from being a purposefully faceless cog in the machine to basically becoming the machine itself, devouring everyone else and becoming the machine. Advertisement I realize that Americans are tempted to give him the backstory and the motivations of this sort of grand villain, because at the very least it elevates us by having a great menace against the hero, but the truth of it is that everything points to Putins entire clique consisting of just very small, unimaginative men clinging to power by any means necessary. Brilliant tacticians with zero strategy, whose goal is always just to live another day without letting go of the vast riches that theyve amassed. Thats really it. Its very sad. He is not a Bond villain. Hes a Coen brothers villain. Advertisement Advertisement How do people there see the Mueller investigation, and does what you just said affect the way you see it? Advertisement I think they see it primarily as being incredibly amusing, because finally the U.S. is as obsessed with Russia as the Russians have always fantasized that it was.* Because after spending years and hundreds of millions of dollars on trying to raise Russias profile abroad, suddenly they can just kick back, relax, and do nothing while the Western media do their jobs of glorifying Putin as this hypercompetent, brilliant villain for them. They absolutely dont mind being portrayed as scheming villains, because the only thing that the Russians hate is being accurately portrayed as largely incompetent. As long as we ascribe competence to them, they will be very happy. Advertisement So you are doubtful that there was any sort of competent plan to help elect Trump? Advertisement No, of course there was. Of course there was, just like there was a plan like that in the previous electoral cycle, and the one before that, and the ones predating the internet. Theyve always been screwing with or trying to screw with Western elections, just like the West has often tried to screw with the Russian elections. Remember that in the most recent French election, the Russians actively backed three candidates that lost and missed the only one that won. Advertisement What do you mean about previous electoral cycles? Obviously the means are different, because they figured out or theyve begun to figure out social media. The fact that we have created enormous networks for distributing anonymous, unattributable informationits silly not to use them. But before that there were always strategic leaks about who the Russians supposedly preferred as the American president so that the opponent of that person could use that in order to smear that person, and thats the person they actually wanted to win, etc., etc. That goes back to Cold War stuff. Advertisement You said in your earlier answer that all of these people in the Moscow circle had to make hard bargains with their consciences. You were involved in that circle, in both journalism at GQ and in filmmaking and art. Did you ever feel like you had to compromise your conscience, and if so, around what? I think in journalism there were several cases where, yeah, I had to obey completely unwarranted and ridiculous orders to strike this or that story, but I did make it my last stand when Id been told to remove the word love from a film review of Behind the Candelabra, Steven Soderberghs Liberace biopic, because according to Russias horrendous law against so-called gay propaganda, you can refer to gay sex, but you cannot call it love. You cannot call a gay relationship love because that creates false equivalence between traditional and nontraditional lifestyles. That was a moment where I said, OK, you can fine me if you want. Im not going to do that. There were other cases where somebody would write a column about Ukraine, and I would be told, This is too sensitive. You have to take it out of the issue. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Weirdly enough, I encountered almost zero censorship in Russian television. I have been extremely lucky. Believe me, I am hesitant to even keep bringing up this point, because I almost feel like maybe Ive been cultivated unbeknownst to myself as a Potemkin village of a man, so I could go around saying that there is no censorship on Russian television. Mueller will be looking into you soon enough. A lot of my friends have run into it headfirst, and I have a lot of examples of that, but both TV series that Ive done for Russian TV were written and directed without any regard for the politics of the moment, and both in fact ended up going squarely against what the mainstream of the Russian ideology was at the time. Advertisement Putin has developed an increasingly close relationship with the Russian Orthodox Church and adopted a certain social conservatism. Im wondering to what degree you think that is something that Putin legitimately feels, to what degree its him using the Church for his own ends, and to what degree theres legitimate conservative sentiment within the Russian population that Putin is trying to harness. I believe it was done as a cynical gambit when it was politically expedient, as a way to paint the protesting demographic as the other, to put the protesters at the center of this weird semiotic cluster of European, Jewish, American, gay, godless, all the bad things. In order to make that stick, Russia, with its sky-high divorce and HIV rates, had to suddenly pretend to be a conservative society beholden to traditional values, the last refuge of conservative values in Europe. It was a completely cynical gambit. Advertisement Advertisement It lasted while it was expedient, and then as soon as Ukraine provided a better foundation for this new Russian belligerence and patriotism, it was discarded. You heard a lot about the Russian Orthodox Church from 20122014, and Patriarch Kirill personally as one of the leaders. Youve barely heard about them since 2014. It was a short-term gambit. This is what the Pussy Riot trial was all about. Advertisement In the book, Im telling the stories of a few Western conservatives who bought into the hype about Russia supposedly being this haven for family values, and actually coming to Russia seeking this kind of idealized hard-right, parochial society. In most of the cases, they left [after] a month or two, because obviously Russia is nowhere near the image it was trying to project. What did you make of the Russian outreach to Don Jr., and how do you view the Trump family and their circle after seeing an oligarchic elite in Russia? I wasnt really surprised that Don Jr. didnt see an overture that was delivered through the manager of Emin Agalarovthe crooner, slash developer, slash another scion of another developer dynastyas something from a foreign or an alien type of actor, because the truth of it is, Russia has been run by people a lot like the Trumps, and the Trumps recognize their kind even more, I think, than they recognize themselves in most of their fellow Americans. The Agalarovs and the Trumps and the Putins and the Kushnersthey all exist in this supranational state of tacky wealth. They are absolute compatriots in that, and their allegiance to this global elite is I think, in fact, much stronger than their allegiance to America or Russia respectively. I normally ask anyone whos been in Moscow whether theyve seen the pee tape, but given that youre a filmmaker, I guess I should ask whether you had any role in producing or directing it. No. I couldnt have. Even as a screenwriter, I couldnt have made it up if I tried. I think it would have been killed in rewrites as too baroque. A South Carolina state legislator is raising money for a gun giveaway that would provide handguns to two teachers and one freedom-loving patriot who participate in the random drawing. Rep. Steven Long announced on his website Monday that he plans to give away 9-millimeter handguns to a K12 teacher or administrator and to an employee at a college or university. The educators, who must successfully pass a background check, will also be given a gift certificate to attend a class where they can earn a concealed-weapons permit. Advertisement Im giving away 3 handguns!! 1 to a K-12 teacher/staff, 1 to a higher ed faculty/staff, and 1 to a freedom loving patriot! Read all about it here: https://t.co/SDMGsdO6tT pic.twitter.com/mvAmObSHan Steven W Long (@StevenLongSC) February 26, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Republican from the northwestern city of Boiling Springs set up a donation page to pay for the three Smith and Wesson M&P Shield weapons, which cost about $500 a piece. Any remaining funds will be donated to South Carolina Carry, an organization that promotes Second Amendment policies and firearms education. Advertisement Allowing teachers or school staff members to carry is the most efficient and most effective way to (ensure the safety of children in schools), Long said on his website. Not every teacher will want to carry or needs to carry, but for those who are willing and able, we need to allow them this protection. It is undeniable that we must take action on this issue. The giveaway comes on the heels of the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. In the wake of that shooting, which left 17 people dead, President Trump and other Republicans voiced support for arming teachers. Long, who was endorsed by the NRA during his 2016 campaign, is organizing the gun giveaway to support state legislation that would allow teachers to carry concealed weapons in schools. Its a strategy he thinks will deter mass shooters, whom he called mentally defective cowards, from targeting gun-free zones, according to his website. By allowing trained adults to defend the students, we will send the message to those deranged psychotic degenerates that children are our top priority and we will protect them. Advertisement Advertisement Since January 2017, South Carolina legislators have introduced five bills in the state House of Representatives that would allow teachers to carry guns. The bills aim to end concealed-carry restrictions at K12 schools and on college campuses, including during sporting events. Among other goals, one piece of legislation also seeks to designate some school employees as school protection officers who can provide protection in active-shooter situations. Advertisement In the GOP-controlled state, many Republicans favor such measures instead of tighter gun regulations. Republicans have a 7944 advantage in the House in addition to a majority in the state Senate. The legislators also have the support of Gov. Henry McMaster, who said Thursday he would support a bill arming teachers. Advertisement Despite the GOP majority, the fractious issue has divided Republican officials, whose myriad views hinder any consensus on gun legislation. The legislature has not passed any of the 50 gun billssupporting both tighter and looser gun regulationsthat have been introduced since 2017. And in the previous session, only three of 68 gun-related bills became law. Although the majority of states have laws prohibiting guns at K12 schools, legislation allowing teachers to carry firearms exists in five states. The National Conference of State Legislators reports that since the 2012 mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, South Dakota, and Texas have passed laws that allow school officials to carry concealed weapons on campus. Five additional statesAlabama, Michigan, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Utahhave laws allowing gun owners with concealed-carry permits to have firearms at K12 schools. Advertisement Advertisement Anyone who has school permission can also carry guns at K12 schools in 19 other states: Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. Forty-four percent of Americans said they support arming more teachers, compared with 50 percent who oppose the idea. Many educators rejected the idea, with several teachers groups speaking publicly against it. We dont want to be, and would never have the expertise needed to be, sharp shooters, American Federation of Teachers president Randi Weingarten said in a statement. No amount of training can prepare an armed teacher to go up against an AR-15. Advertisement The National Education Association, which represents 3 million educators, also issued a statement opposing the idea. Bringing more guns into our schools does nothing to protect our students and educators from gun violence, President Lily Eskelsen Garcia said. Our students need more books, art and music programs, nurses, and school counselors. Advertisement As the debate around arming teachers has resurfaced in the national spotlight, teachers across the United States protested on social media with the hashtag #ArmMeWith in posts describing the resources they need more urgently than guns to serve their students. Speaking at CPAC on Friday, Donald Trump once again pushed the notion that ending family reunificationchain migration in the parlance of the presidentwill improve our immigration system. The speech, which came on the heels of news that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services had removed the phrase a nation of immigrants from its mission statement, cited a Manhattan attack to segue into a discussion of immigration policy. This guy came in through chain migration. And a part of the lottery system, the president said. They say 22 people came in with him. In other words, an aunt, an uncle, a grandfather, a mother, a father, whoever came in. A lot of people came in. Advertisement Trump then argued that his preferred immigration policy of keeping Americans apart from their families was a matter of making the system merit-based. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Lets see how those people are doing, by the way, he said. We have got to change our way. Merit system. I want merit system. The Trump administration, which has a habit of responding to accusations of prejudice with offense and indignation, has staunchly rejected the notion that its immigration agenda is driven by racial animus and instead peddled it using other terms. Ending chain migration and also ending the visa lottery will allow us to have common sense immigration rules that promote assimilation and wage growth, Trump has claimed. For Trump, assimilation is a particularly loaded code word. If his goal were truly to promote social cohesion, an immigration policy which privileges those with strong familial ties to current residents would seem an optimal tack. In speaking of assimilation as the ultimate virtue, though, the Trump administration is referring to something else entirely, harkening back to a time when citizenship was contingent upon whiteness. A series of cases from the early 1920s demonstrates what has happened when America has formalized assimilation as a legal concept, rather than a loose social constructionit is used to codify special privileges for whites and legitimize abuse toward people of color. Advertisement From shortly after the Civil War through much of the 20th century, law dictated that provisions of naturalization applied only to aliens, being free white persons and to aliens of African nativity and to persons of African descent. (Black people in that period, of course, could hardly be said to have practically enjoyed the benefits of this right to citizenship.) Advertisement For Asians living in the United States in the first half of the 20th century, who fell into neither category, their status remained in limbo. Many of them, like Japanese immigrant Takuji Yamashita, a law school graduate turned entrepreneur, had studied and worked in the United States for years. Others, like Indian immigrant Bhagat Singh Thind, had served in the armed forces. Expressing in 1922 a collective sentiment shared by many Asians living in the United States at the time, the Japanese immigrant Takao Ozawa said, In name, I am not an American, but at heart I am a true American. Ozawa was addressing the Supreme Court, where he, Yamashita, and Thind would all arrive at the pinnacle of their respective legal battles for the right to naturalize. Advertisement Advertisement For Ozawa and Yamashita, whose cases (Ozawa v. United States and Takuji Yamashita v. Hinkle) were decided in tandem, an important question in this legal battle became that of assimilation. Ozawa and the Washington state attorney general filed dueling briefs titled, respectively, The Japanese are Assimilable and The Japanese are Not Assimilable. In the latter, the respondent argued that what made Japanese, like the Negro, the Indian, and the Chinaman, unassimilable were their immutable marked physical characteristics. The brief continued: Advertisement If they were given an opportunity the Japanese are quite as capable as the Italians, the Armenians, or the Slavs of acquiring our culture and sharing our national ideals. The trouble is not with the Japanese mind but with the Japanese skinThe fact that the Japanese bears in his features a distinctive racial hall mark, that he wears, so to speak, a racial uniform, classifies him. Advertisement The brief goes on: It is no reflection upon the Japanese to say that they will never be assimilated until socially recognizedand that if social recognition be required as a condition precedent, they will probably never be assimilated. In their own brief arguing for assimilability, the petitioners outlined an extensive list of reasons why Japanese people ought to qualify as white, ranging from the adaptability of Japanese culture to the fairness of Japanese skin. For his part, Thind separately claimed that as a Punjabi of Aryan blood, he was not only Caucasian, but archetypically so. He stressed that Indias caste system closely mirrored Americas own rigid racial hierarchy, and his Aryan ancestors would never have mixed with others of alien blood. Advertisement All three lost their cases. Thind and Yamashita, who had previously been granted certificates of naturalization, had theirs revoked, and Ozawas petition for citizenship was denied. In case after case, the government and court recognized that each individual qualified for naturalization on his own merits, and that but for his race, and the distinctive racial hallmarks that accompanied it, he would have been entitled to citizenship. Advertisement Advertisement Thinds case is especially elucidating in that it illustrates how racist immigration restrictions can be used to effectively diminish the rights and question the very Americanness of current citizens. Thind had entered the United States lawfully, prior to the Exclusion Act of 1917, which subsequently restricted immigration from his country of origin. Still, the Supreme Courts opinion in United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind read, It is not without significance that Congress has now excluded from admission into this country all natives of Asia including the whole of India since it is not likely that Congress would be willing to accept as citizens a class of persons whom it rejects as immigrants. Advertisement The briefs filed and opinions delivered in these cases are fantastically racist. But at least, in its forthrightness, the American legal system recognized who was doing the rejecting, that the supposed inability of this nation to assimilate nonwhite immigrants was a direct result of American racism. This cycle is playing out again in the present day, fueled by those promoting racist immigration policies anew. The only thing missing is this straightforward acknowledgment of actual motives. Immigrants of color are still barred from accessing the privileges that accompany whiteness. But when this administration emphasizes assimilation in promoting its racist agenda, it is merely employing politically correct language to privilege whiteness furtherto pretend the exile of nonwhite immigrant communities is a self-imposed segregation and to use that exile as an excuse to fear, loathe, and punish entire races. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Trumps true definition of assimilation was made clear last month when the president reportedly referred to immigrants from Haiti, El Salvador, and nations in Africa as coming from shithole countries, and said he wanted more immigrants from places like Norway. The official White House response to Trumps shithole comments was perhaps even more revealing than the candid private remarks, however. Advertisement Like other nations that have merit-based immigration, President Trump is fighting for permanent solutions that make our country stronger by welcoming those who can contribute to our society, grow our economy and assimilate into our great nation, White House spokesman Raj Shah said in defending the reported comments. By treating capacity for assimilation as a criterion in merit-based immigrationby treating it as self-evident that Norwegians are better equipped for assimilation than Haitiansthe White House turns whiteness into merit without having to explicitly say so. And as Ozawa, Yamashita, and Thind illustrate, when becoming a citizen is tantamount to demonstrating whiteness, the endeavor is a futile one. Reading their pledges of fealty to Americanot just as an institution, but as a set of ideals one wonders what grand contributions they might have made to it if only theyd been given the chance. If America chooses to reject its identity as a nation of immigrants, it wont be because those immigrants failed to live up to their promises, but because a nation once again failed to know its own. On Wednesday, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Minnesota Voters Alliance v. Mansky, a case raising the question of whether Minnesota and other states can prevent people from wearing political apparel like a Make America Great Again cap or a pussyhat to the polling place. The question is a close one because it pits the First Amendment right to free speech against the right to vote free of intimidation and interference at the polling place. Considering a similar case in 1992, banning electioneering in areas around polling places Justice Antonin Scalia got it right: Polling places are and have traditionally been nonpublic forums, where the state can decide that the right to free speech needs to give way to the tranquility of the election booth. The point is even more urgent in our highly polarized times. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mansky concerns a complaint of a Tea Party group, the Minnesota Voters Alliance, that sent its members to vote at polling places in 2010 wearing political paraphernalia. This included T-shirts containing Tea Party messages, such as Dont tread on me, and a button saying Please I.D. Me, even though Minnesota has no voter ID law. Poll workers asked the voters to cover up their political messages while voting because of a state law, which bans electioneering at and around polling places. Among other things, the law says that a political badge, political button, or other political insignia may not be worn at or about the polling place on primary or election day. Political speech is perhaps the most protected form of speech under the First Amendment, but the right to vote free of intimidation and in tranquility is also compelling. The Supreme Court recognized this point in Burson v. Freeman, which upheld against a First Amendment challenge a 100-foot campaign-free buffer zone around polling places. The case was an unusual one in that a plurality of the court applied strict scrutiny to the Tennessee law and still upheld the law. Strict scrutiny is usually said to be strict in theory and fatal in fact, but in this case, it was the former. Advertisement The usual stalwarts of the First Amendment, including Justices Anthony Kennedy and Antonin Scalia, concurred separately to uphold the law. Justice Scalias opinion was especially notable, because he recognized that polling placesand the areas around themtraditionally were nonpublic forums, places where the government can stop political expression for important reasons so long as the government does not discriminate among viewpoints. If Minnesota had sought to ban Tea Party paraphernalia but allowed MoveOn.org T-shirts, that would have clearly been unconstitutional. Political speech is perhaps the most protected form of speech under the First Amendment, but the right to vote free of intimidation and in tranquility is also compelling. In upholding the Tennessee law, the court recognized that theres a time and a place for everything and that states are free to determine when someone who is trying to cast his ballot is allowed to be free from intimidation or even attempted persuasion. The dissentersJustices John Paul Stevens, Sandra Day OConnor, and David Souterthought the 100-foot area was too broad and that such a large buffer zone was unnecessary given the legitimacy of heightened regulation of the polling place itself. Stevens added that there is no disagreement that the restrictions on campaigning within the polling place are constitutional. Advertisement Advertisement In many ways this case is even stronger than Burson, because it involves not the area around polling places but polling places themselves, and because voting has only become more contentious in the intervening years. As a Brennan Center brief in Mansky points out, Please I.D. Me buttons are part of a political movement raising fears of voter fraud, and such buttons can both intimidate and confuse voters and poll workers. But more generally, a voter should not have to come into the polling place to face a group of votersor even poll workerswearing campaign buttons or shirts. No one should feel pressure at the polling place to vote one way or another. Advertisement The difficult part of this case comes with the discretion given to polling-place officials. The ban applies not just to campaign messages but also to other political T-shirts. So one poll worker may decide that someone wearing a #MeToo button is too political, but another may not. This could allow for selectivity and arbitrariness at the polling place. Advertisement One potential solution to this problem suggested by campaign finance opponent Jim Bopp is for the Supreme Court to construe the statute to apply only to messages of express advocacy, like Vote for Trump or Clinton 2016. This is no solution, however. Everyone knows that a MAGA hat is Trump campaign gear and a pussyhat opposition to Trump, even if they do not contain express words of advocacy. Indeed, if the court construed the statute to apply only to express advocacy, it would become totally ineffective. The solution here is for state officials to train election workers to recognize political statements and apply the ban evenhandedly. If there is any evidence of viewpoint discriminationsay against Tea Party messages at Democratic-leaning polling placesthen it would be time to bring a new lawsuit challenging the law as applied on the ground. There is a time for politicking and a time for voting. A ruling for Minnesota would ensure that states can recognize the tranquility of the ballot box, especially at a time where our national politics are heated to the point of inspiring violence at the voting booth. Justice Scalia is gone, but lets hope that the Supreme Courts remaining First Amendment stalwarts continue to recognize this sanctity. The Supreme Court denied an unusual request by the Trump administration to immediately rule on its executive action shuttering the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and launch the case to the highest court in the land without going through the full appeals process. According to the New York Times, that decision, announced Monday, was expected, as the process the administration proposed usingan obscure Supreme Court procedure called certiorari before judgmentis generally only used in times of crises. Advertisement For now, as the administration appeals an earlier ruling from a federal district court judge, the Department of Homeland Security will continue to accept renewal applications beyond the March 5 deadline the administration had imposed. The administration does not have to accept new applications or allow current Dreamerswho number almost 700,000back into the country if they leave. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Under the original administration decision in September, any of the Dreamers two-year work permits that expired after March 5 would not be renewed. The Trump administration justified its decision to end DACA by arguing that the Obama administration had overstepped its powers in creating the program in the first place. But in January, in deciding a case brought by four states and the University of California system, Judge William Alsup of the federal district court in San Francisco ruled that the administrations decision had been arbitrary and capricious. On Feb. 13, Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the federal district court in Brooklyn issued a similar ruling, finding the administrations justifications for ending the program insufficient. As the administration appeals that first ruling, the nationwide injunctions on the order remain in place. Advertisement When the administration appealed its case, it also asked the U.S. Supreme Court to grant an immediate review so that it could skip the appeals court. According to attorney and Harvard instructor Kevin Russell, writing for SCOTUSblog, the procedure, certiorari before judgment, was used in the past for cases involving presidential wartime powers, as well as presidential power and privilege in other emergency situationsthe Nixon tapes and the Iran hostage crisis, for example. In a brief, lawyers for the four states in the case argued that there was no national emergency in this instance to warrant the use of this procedure. According to the Times, the solicitor general wrote in the administrations brief that an ongoing violation of federal law being committed by some 700,000 aliens called for emergency action. On Monday, the Supreme Court heard arguments in Janus v. AFSCME, a case designed to let the courts five Republican appointees kneecap the Democratic Party. Everything about Janus reeks of illegitimacy. The legal claim is laughable, the outcome preordained; even the ostensible plaintiff, Mark Janus, is a puppet. At a recent event, Janus revealed that he does not understand the case at all and in fact supports collective bargaining but incorrectly thinks his union fees are supporting political campaigns. His lawyers seem to have lied to himmuch like the court will soon lie to us in proclaiming that the First Amendment somehow prohibits the agency fees at issue in this case. Dont believe it. The conservative justices can dress up their gibberish in whatever legalese they wish. The reality will remain that Janus is a partisan vehicle designed to serve partisan goals, carried across the finish line by five justices who might as well admit that the Constitution has nothing to do with it. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The background of this deeply cynical case is straightforward. In 1977, the Supreme Court rejected the exact argument being made in Janus. Its decision, Abood v. Detroit Board of Education, involved a virtually identical challenge to agency fees in public sector unions as compelled political speech. These dues, also known as fair share fees, support the cost of collective bargaining. Unions are prohibited from using this money to support political activity, like campaigns and candidate contributions. The Abood court found that these feesmeant to prevent free riders from benefiting from union negotiations without having to subsidize themdo not violate the First Amendment, because they do not compel political speech. Federal law allows, but does not require, unions to collect agency fees from nonmembers. Since Abood, a majority of states have passed right-to-work laws that outlaw these dues. Twenty-two states and the District of Columbia, however, still permit public sector unions to collect agency fees. In 2012, the Supreme Court indicated that it now believed agency fees infringe upon the First Amendment. In 2014, Justice Samuel Alito all but declared that the court was ready to overrule Abood and kill agency fees for public sector unions. In 2016, the court took a case crafted by anti-union activists to let Alito reverse Abood. But before he could hand down his decision, Scalia died, leaving the court deadlocked 44. Advertisement The legal claim is laughable, the outcome preordained; even the ostensible plaintiff, Mark Janus, is a puppet. As an alarming New York Times report illustrates, the conservative donors who funded the judicial assault on unions then sprung into action to ensure that the next blow against Abood would be fatal. Richard Uihlein, an Illinois magnate and Republican donor, spent millions underwriting the court battle against agency fees. In particular, Uihlein gave money to the Federalist Society, a network of conservative lawyers who select many of Trumps judicial nominees. The Federalist Society is run by Uihleins friend, Leonard Leo. It is Leo who chose Gorsuch to succeed Scalia, and it is Gorsuch who will decide this case. Advertisement Yet at arguments on Monday, Gorsuch was entirely silent. There are two possible explanations for his reticence. The first is that Janus is built upon such a preposterous First Amendment theory that Gorsuch saw no benefit in discussing it with counsel. If so, thats a wise choice. The plaintiff, as well as the Department of Justice, which weighed in against unions, assert that basic conditions of employmentlike health insurance and sick leaveare inherently political. When unions compel nonmembers to subsidize negotiations over these policies, this side claims, they are forcing these employees to associate with political expressions from which they dissent. Advertisement Advertisement This argument is nonsensical, as an amicus brief signed by the right-leaning libertarian law professor Eugene Volokh illustrates. Volokh, an avowed originalist and opponent of unions, explains that the government coerces Americans to fund speech they disagree with all the time. The government can spend tax dollars to promote messages that taxpayers loathe; it can require lawyers to pay state bar dues, then use the money to express ideas that certain lawyers dislike; it can collect a special assessment on teachers to advocate for policies that many teachers despise. Why cant it also let unions collect fees from nonmembers to cover the cost of collective bargaining? The obvious answer is that five members of the current court hate unions. And thats the second reason why Gorsuch may have kept mum: He recognized that any comment he made could be interpreted politically as a dis against unions. Janus poses a serious threat to the courts institutional legitimacy: Unions help Democrats win elections and implement progressive policy, and the courts attack on unions doubles as an attack on the Democratic Party. When the court hobbles unions, it will look like its doing the Republicans bidding. Indeed, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has already celebrated the fact that Janus will hurt Democrats 2018 fundraising efforts, citing the case as an example of why he held Scalias seat open for Gorsuch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In light of this unseemly background, you might expect all of the justices to shy away from the politics of the case. But Justice Anthony Kennedy embraced them head-on in a series of jaw-dropping exchanges. The first arose after Illinois Solicitor General David Franklin asserted that his state has an interest in being able to work with a stable, responsible, independent counterparty that can be a partner with us in contract negotiations. A look of disgust spread across Kennedys face, and he barked at Franklin: It can be a partner with you in advocating for a greater size workforce, against privatization, against merit promotion, for teacher tenure, for higher wages, for massive government, for increasing bonded indebtedness, for increasing taxes? Thats the interest the state has? Advertisement With this Rush Limbaugh rant, Kennedy revealed half of what this case is actually about: a deep conservative distaste for unions, which Kennedy, an apparent fiscal hawk, clearly blames for government glut. It is fascinating to compare the justices denunciation of unions with his encomium to corporations in Citizens United. To Kennedy, for-profit corporations are vital civic institutions that make key contributions to our political discourse, while unions are Democratic shills that bloat and destroy the government. Advertisement Advertisement Minutes later, in a colloquy with union lawyer David Frederick, Kennedy dug into the other half of the casethe existential threat it poses to Democrats. Do you think that this case affects the political influence of the unions? Kennedy asked Frederick. [Can I] find a union newsletter which says, Dont worry about the Supreme Court, our political influence will be exactly the same as it was before, if this case comes out against us? Im asking you whether or not in your view, if you do not prevail in this case, the unions will have less political influence; yes or no? Advertisement Advertisement Yes, Frederick responded, they will have less political influence. Isnt that the end of this case? Kennedy said curtly. This exchange is stunning. It reveals that Kennedy knows quite well how Janus will cripple the Democratic Partyand views it not as a reason to tread with caution, but as a justification to bring down the hammer with maximum force. And why? Because agency fees help unions, and unions help Democrats, because Democrats often enact union-friendly measures. As another conservative originalist, Michael Ramsey, has pointed out, this may be a compelling policy reason to oppose agency fees. But it is not a constitutional argument, unless Kennedy has convinced himself that his own political preferences should become constitutional law. Following Antonin Scalias unexpected death in 2016, the Judicial Crisis Network spent $7 million to ensure that President Barack Obama could not name the justices successor. After its success, JCN spent $10 million to help Republicans put Neil Gorsuch in Scalias seat. All of this money came from a single anonymous donor. With Janus, this donor is about to get what he paid for. Today in Conservative Media is a daily roundup of the biggest stories in the right-wing press. America is still talking guns and what to door not doabout them. President Trump weighed in (again) Monday, this time to ponder what he personally would have done if he were on the scene when the Parkland school shooting erupted. Conservative media also considered those who were paid to be there, with guns, and how they actually responded. The editors at National Review branded local law enforcement Browards Cowards in reference to Floridas Broward County, where the school is located. It is impossible to imagine circumstances under which Broward County sheriff Scott Israel could attempt to perform his duties with the confidence of the public, the editors write. He should resign immediately, and if, as he promises, he refuses to go quietly, then he should be shown the door by the people he professes to serve. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why the focus on local cops? The numbers tell the story, the editorial explains, 23 sheriffs calls involving the Parkland shooter; 18 sheriffs calls involving the shooters behavior directly (some of the others were principally about his brother); four sheriffs deputies, armed and trained, cowering outside the high school while the killer within carried out his massacre; 17 dead. The left, however, is ignoring this localized failure of law enforcement, Ben Shapiro writes for National Review. We now know what happened in Parkland, Fla.: the failure of law enforcement on every level, Shapiro explains. Yet ardent gun-control advocates continue to claim that the National Rifle Association and law-abiding gun owners across the country are to blame. How has the NRA responded to the onslaught? Better than anyone else, Jim Jamitis writes for RedState in a piece titled: Of All The Voices In The Aftermath Of Parkland, The NRA Is The Least Worthy Of Condemnation. Advertisement Why, then, is the NRA bearing the brunt of public criticism in the media? For starters, the students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School are compelling figures calling for reform, and Kyle Smith writes at National Review, the media is opinion laundering, or using these now-popular young figures as a mouthpiece for their gun-control message. You may find something dismaying about grieving students being exploited for the purpose of advancing a media crusade, Smith writes. Or you might call the Parkland students inheritors of a grand tradition of Americans who use their personal experience to push for social change. Either way, he concludes, Progressives dont have a plan for stopping mass shootings. So theyre falling back on venting at gun owners, and theyre using the children of Parkland to do it. Advertisement Advertisement When it comes to the idea of arming educators to combat school shooters, Townhalls Matt Vespa writes that teachers in Butler County, Ohio, have answered the call. At least 500 teachers signed up for a free course in order to obtain their concealed carry, but the cut off point was 300, Vespa writes. Ohio isnt the only state where teachers are looking to arm themselves; in fact, Katie Pavlich at Townhall writes, there are hundreds of school districts in America that already allow teachers and administrators to come to school packing heat. There are, for instance, 110 school districts in Texas that allow teachers carry a weapon at school, Pavlich writes, and 18 states allow adults with carry permits to be armed on campus so long as they get proper approval from school officials. Advertisement Advertisement While the semi-automatic AR-15 used by Nikolas Cruz likely wont be allowed in Americas schools anytime soon, Scott Morefield writes at Townhall that the gun is unfairly maligned in a post titled: The AR-15, a Tool For Good. Nine Powerful Real Life Examples to Counter the Lefts Empty Rhetoric. When it comes to public relations, the much-maligned AR-15 has had a rough go of late, Morefiled writes. Even though it has admittedly been used in several high-profile school shootings of late, the AR-15s involvement in overall crime in the United States is much less than the fear-mongers would have us think. The Trump Organization, on Monday, announced it had donated the 2017 profits it earned from foreign governments at its hotels to the U.S. Treasury, as promised by President Trump upon taking office a little over a year ago. In typical Trump fashion, however, the companys gesture was more of a head fake towards abiding by the law, in this case the foreign emoluments clause, which disallows presidents from receiving gifts from foreign states, as the Trump-owned and family-operated business refused to disclose how much money it donated or how much it had earned and from whom. Advertisement Although not a legal requirement, this voluntary donation fulfills our pledge to donate profits from foreign government patronage at our hotels and similar business during President Trumps term in office, George Sorial, the Trump Organizations chief compliance counsel, told the Washington Post. Critics and watchdogs pointed out if the Trump Organization donated anything at all, that amounted to a de facto admission the president had accepted money from at least one foreign state and therefore had run afoul of the Constitution. Trump, for instance, has held meetings with foreign dignitaries at his properties, like Mar-a-Lago, and foreign countriesalong with other domestic political groupshave moved events to Trump-owned hotels in Washington and elsewhere in an effort to curry favor with the president. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement From the Wall Street Journal: Since the presidents inauguration last year, the Trump International Hotel in Washington has hosted a series of foreign visitors. Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak and his delegation stayed at the hotel in September. A firm tied to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia paid the hotel $270,000 for lodging, catering and parking during a lobbying campaign last year to overturn a law allowing terrorism victims to sue foreign governments, according to Foreign Agent Registration Act documents. The Turkey-U. S. Business Council and the American Turkish Council, two groups connected to the Turkish government, held a conference in May at the Washington hotel. Among the myriad of ethical problems with Trumps consistent and willful lack of transparency, its not totally clear the organization even had the capacity to track which payments at Trump hotels were affiliated with a foreign government. Some larger expenditures by, say, an embassy might be easier to track, but even in good faith it would be a challenge to decipher what amounted to a foreign government-affiliated purchase each time a room was booked or a meal bought. So that means the Trump Organization was likely just guessing, or perhaps just making it up, we have quite literally no idea. Advertisement Advertisement If history is any indicator, however, lets just assume Donald Trump didnt pick up the full check. Before becoming president, Trump used his charity as a slush fund of sorts to take charitable donations from others and then dole them out in his own name without contributing any of his own money to the cause. During the campaign, Trump famously offered to donate $1 million to a veterans charity ahead of the Iowa Caucus, but failed to actually make that payment for months and months until he was hounded by the media about the details of his donation. This time, he wont have to worry about that. SRINAGAR: Thousands of people participated in multiple funeral prayers of a youth, Mushtaq Ahmad, in Tral while Indian forces killed another militant in Hajin town in Bandipora. Mushtaq Chopan was killed in Tral police station in Pulwama district, yesterday. At least four rounds of funeral prayers were held to accommodate the huge rush of mourners who had turned up from Aripal, Tral and adjoining villages to participate in the funeral of Mushtaq at his native Wagad village. He was laid to rest amid pro-freedom and anti-India slogans. Freedom songs were played through the public address systems during the funeral. Locals were demanding probe of this custodial killing. Reports said that some masked militants appeared in the gathering and fired many rounds in the air to offer gun salute to the slain youth. In the meantime, complete shutdown was observed in Tral, Aripal and other areas of Pulwama district to protest against the killing of Chopan in Police Station. All shops and business establishments are closed while traffic is off the road. The authorities had deployed police and troops in strength on various roads in Tral and Aripal areas to prevent protests over the killing of Mushtaq Chopan. HAJIN, Bandipora Complete shutdown was observed, today, in Hajin and adjoining areas of the district to mourn the killing of a militant, who was killed in a gunfight with Indian troops. All shops, business establishments and educational institutions are shut in Hajin. The authorities have suspended the mobile Internet services in the entire district. The slain youth was laid to rest in Hajin, but police is burying Pakistani slain youths in Uri. An Indian police officer has said that police would take action against burying of youth in Hajin. Nearly two weeks after the horrific shooting spree that ended with the deaths of 17 people in a Florida school, the national conversation about guns has stutter-stepped its way into intriguing new places. On the one hand, teen activists have redefined the terms of the gun control debate, sustaining media attention, organizing protests, and taking on the NRA in direct and powerful ways. These students wrong-footed the gun lobby a dozen times just last week, helping to drive gun advocates further down the darkest tunnels of authoritarianism, threats, and fabrication. Donald Trump, bungling his way into the conversation, has pushed the distracting and dangerous proposal to arm teachers in the classroom. Advertisement Lets put to one side all of the unequivocal and damning evidence suggesting that this is a dreadful idea from a practical and policy standpoint. Its worth standing back and thinking about what this would mean as a matter of personal liberty. Arming teachers in public schools (places children are required by law to appear each day) puts into the starkest possible relief the central flaw in our recent gun jurisprudence: privileging the freedom of gun owners over the freedom of everyone else to be safe from guns. The majorities in the U.S. Supreme Courts more recent Second Amendment cases almost completely ignored this countervailing liberty interest. Yet the idea of putting guns in schools highlights the problem. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The idea of putting guns in schools highlights the problem. When the court decided in 2008, for the first time in American history, that the Second Amendment created an individual right to own handguns in the home for self-protection, it left open as many practical questions as it resolved. Indeed, in the 10 intervening years the court has done little to clarify what Justice Antonin Scalia was doing in that case. In his dissent in District of Columbia v. Heller, Justice John Paul Stevens noted that the Second Amendment itself did not exist to give unfettered rights to gun owners at the expense of communal interests to be safe from guns via sensible regulation. Rather its purpose was to balance these rights, allowing for such regulations so long as they do not interfere with the preservation of a well-regulated militia. Advertisement Two years later, when the high court decided to extend the Second Amendment right discovered in Heller to states in McDonald v. Chicago, Justice Stevens expanded on this point. The problem, he explained, is that firearms have a fundamentally ambivalent relationship to liberty especially once they leave the home. When considering the right to possess a gun in the home for self-defense, Justice Stevens said the argument of gun owners has real force while the interest of the state to regulate the guns is somewhat weaker. The decision to keep a loaded firearm in the home to defend ones family or property, he wrote, is comparable to decisions about the education and upbringing of ones children. It is ultimately up to the head of the household, Justice Stevens noted, to make the calculation of whether the desired safety benefits outweigh the risks. Advertisement Advertisement This argument, however, loses significant quantities of punch once the gun owner steps outdoors and joins the rest of society in public spaces. At this point we must at least acknowledge that, as Justice Stevens put it, liberty is on both sides of the equation, because guns have a unique potential to facilitate death and destruction and thereby to destabilize ordered liberty. As Stevens then explained: Advertisement Your interest in keeping and bearing a certain firearm may diminish my interest in being and feeling safe from armed violence. And while granting you the right to own a handgun might make you safer on any given dayassuming the handguns marginal contribution to self-defense outweighs its marginal contribution to the risk of accident, suicide, and criminal mischiefit may make you and the community you live in less safe overall, owing to the increased number of handguns in circulation. Advertisement In other words, just because an individual might have a right to make a personal decision about how to protect his family at home does not mean he gets to override the rights of others who have reached a different conclusion. This brings us to the problems of placing guns in schools and, in particular, guns in the hands of our kids teachers. In the United States, of course, virtually all states have compulsory education laws that require almost all parents to send their children to school. Failure to comply with those laws, moreover, is punishable by fines or even prison. So, for parents with neither the money for private school nor the time for homeschooling, this means their kids are going to public schools. Advertisement Advertisement In the days since the president floated his ideas about arming public school teachers we have learned that, in fact, in jurisdictions around the country, teachers are already armed. We have also learned that parents dont always know which teachers are carrying weapons, and thatat least in Ohio and Utahparents are not even allowed to inquire which teachers are carrying. Which means that parents whose childrenas a result of race and income and genderare already susceptible to vastly higher rates of violence and discipline at school, are not able to make any kind of informed decision about the potential dangers in their childs classroom, and are also not at liberty to withdraw their child from school. They have precisely no freedom to know whether their childs teacher is armed, and they have become captives to a system in which they have no control as parents over the costs and benefits of having a gun near their children. That was exactly the cost/benefit Stevens conceded should be afforded to homeowners in McDonald. Stevens fundamental point, though, about the need to recognize the competing liberty interests of those who do not want to be captives to guns becomes all the more dramatic and prescient in a world where teachers are armed. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Whenever we talk about the issue of guns, far too much emphasis is put on the liberty interests and individual rights of the gun owners. But theres another side to the liberty coin that gets far too little attention, and that is the freedom of those who wish to live in a societyand send their children to schoolsto make their own considered decisions about personal safety and risk. Because, as Stevens was careful to caution in McDonald, guns do indeed cause permanent and irreversible harm. In addition to the teachers who are telling the president that they dont want to pack heat in the science lab, the rights of parents who dont want to send their kids into a war zone should have far greater force in this debate. The mindset: Why have conservativeswho didnt always hate gun control so much!fallen in love with guns in recent decades? Psychologist John Ehrenreich looks at the traits that have made some people on the right decide to defend gun ownership to the end. Not just the man: At CPAC, Osita Nwanevu observes that Trumpism is diversifying and thriving across all the nooks and crannies of American conservatism. (Dont miss Ositas photos of the booths set up for attendees to visit, and the amazing literature distributed for their enjoyment.) It helps: Even if the NRA doesnt shed members along with its corporate partners, the willingness of those partners to respond to pressure from gun-control activists is heartening to the movement, Jordan Weissmann writes. How that happened: Will Oremus spoke to employees of Newsweek, who told him a sordid tale of the mismanagement and click-chasing thats led to the publications current sorry state. For fun: Elva P. Higgins, age 96, has had quite a life. Rebecca One of the most important jobs of any national leader is to quit. Its almost as important as actually leading. National liberation heroes, from George Washington to Nelson Mandela, who stepped down without being forced to, ought to be venerated for that as much as for any good they accomplished while in office. Generally, rulers do not give up power unless they have to. In Africa, peaceful transfers of power are rare enough that a billionaire has set up a generous annual prize to reward leaders who step down voluntarily; many years it goes unclaimed. Around the world, cases like Bashar al-Assad, willing to watch his country crumble rather than give up power over it, or Robert Mugabe, forced out by his own military after 47 years, are more common. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This is an inherent weakness in authoritarian political systems. Even if youre lucky enough to have a leader who knows what hes doing and has the genuine support of the population, chances are very high that he will either stay in power far too long or be succeeded by someone much worse. Moreover, in the absence of democratic norms allowing for peaceful and predictable transfers of power, competition for leadership often takes the form on intra-elite plotting with unpredictable and often violent consequences. Citizens are often drawn to authoritarian government by the promise of order and stability, but the stability only lasts until the leaders rivals sense weakness. China, at least for the last three decades, seemed to be an exception, the country that had cracked the code of authoritarian succession. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, reformist Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, looking to avoid the chaos and intra-party power struggles of the Mao Zedong era, pushed to institutionalize the ruling Communist Partys succession system. Since Deng formally stepped down in 1992, power has passed to three leadersJiang Zemin, Hu Jintao, and Xi Jinpingwith little public drama and the identity of the successors known years in advance. Similarly, members of the partys highest body, the nine-member Politburo Standing Committee, have generally served for 10-year terms. The minimum age to begin a term, 50, and maximum age, 68, serve as an effective term limit. Advertisement Advertisement The effect has been two and a half decades of leadership by successive generations of mostly dull, middle-age men who have shepherded the worlds largest country through one of the most rapid and incredible economic transformations in human history. Now, however, the Communist Party has thrown things for a loop. It has announced the abolition of term limits for the presidency, paving the way for 64-year-old Xi to stay in power after his current term ends in 2023. He is also putting his personal stamp on the country by adding his official ideology, known as Xi Jinping thought, to the countrys Constitution. It was added to the party constitution last year. Advertisement Evidence that Xi was consolidating power and building something of a personality cult has been abundant for a while. And particularly after he declined to promote anyone young enough to succeed him to the Politburo Standing Committee last year, there was already rampant speculation that Xi didnt plan to exit the scene in 2023. The most common theory had been that Xi would remain on as chairman of the party, a position that doesnt have an official term limit, while anointing a figurehead to replace him as president. (The two positions have been linked together since the 1990s but could theoretically be held by different people.) Abolishing the presidential term limits altogether suggests that the norms put in place by Deng have been scrapped. Advertisement Advertisement In fairness, Chinas succession system was never quite as well established as it appeared. Deng played a part in selecting both Jiang as well as his successor Hu, meaning that Xi is in fact the first Chinese leader not blessed by one of Chinas founding fathers. In addition, Deng and, to a lesser extent, Jiang both retained significant power after formally leaving office, forcing their successors to struggle for legitimacy. Hus 2012 full handover of power to Xi now looks more like the exception than the norm. The countrys state media has defended the change as a means to maintain stable, strong and consistent leadership during a time of rapid global change and domestic modernization. And in the short-term, Xi might have a new mandate to carry out ambitious goals including projecting Chinese military power in the South China Sea and expanding economic influence abroad through his signature One Belt One Road initiative. But in the long term, past precedents suggest the move doesnt bode well for political stability. Without a rules-based system for succession, other elites will be more likely to take extraordinary means to seize power. For the moment, Xi is enormously popular and his vast corruption purges have eliminated most of his potential rivals, but that might not last. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The change could have an impact beyond China as well. As a result of Chinas growing economic clout, it is increasingly setting the political agenda in many parts of the world, with its stable authoritarian model providing an enticing alternative to Western-style democracy (all the more attractive now given the state of affairs in many Western democracies). Budding presidents-for-life throughout the developing world could very well take their cues from Beijing. For that matter, given the current U.S. presidents past seemingly envious remarks about Xis growing power, it may not just be the developing world we should worry about. The California Department of Motor Vehicles announced rule changes on Monday that would allow auto companies to test completely driverless cars on public roads beginning in April. Whereas the state previously required a person to sit behind the wheel in case the autonomous vehicle needed course correction, these cars now only have to have oversight from a remote operator and be capable of communicating with law enforcement and passengers in case anything goes haywire. This is a major step forward for autonomous technology in California, California DMV director Jean Shiomoto said in a statement. Safety is our top concern and we are ready to begin working with manufacturers that are prepared to test fully driverless vehicles in California. As of now, 50 companies are testing almost 300 licensed self-driving cars in the state. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Industry experts believe these new, more flexible rules will accelerate the development of a budding self-driving car industry thats largely based in California. Waymo and Uber have tussled with the states regulators in the past over what the manufacturers saw as draconian protocols, so they had been conducting much of their testing in Arizona where there are no regulations for autonomous vehicles. Waymo began operating cars without any contingency drivers in Phoenix last year. The DMVs latest move still doesnt quite create this devil-may-care regulatory climate in California, though the rule changes do bring the state more in line with Florida, where self-driving cars also only require a remote operator. CNBC has also reported that some investors believe China has an edge over the U.S. in jumpstarting its self-driving car industry because the countrys authoritarian government can more quickly loosen traffic regulations. Advertisement Cutting down mandatory human involvement, of course, could allow transportation companies to progressively employ fewer and fewer operators. Recode points to a California business called Phantom Auto that has developed technology allowing a single remote operator to monitor five cars at once. As autonomous vehicles advance and become less reliant on manual intervention, the number of cars that operators can simultaneously handle will presumably multiply. Waymo, GM, and Uber have also been developing remote control centers that would function similarly to an air traffic control base. Not everyone is applauding Californias pruned regulations. John M. Simpson, a director for Consumer Watchdog and persistent skeptic of self-driving cars, said, A remote test operator will be allowed to monitor and attempt to control the robot car from afar. It will be just like playing a video game, except lives will be at stake. The advocacy organizations press release further argues that autonomous driving technology is not sophisticated enough at the moment to eschew an in-car driver. Tide pods may have gotten more attention and inspired more intergenerational admonishment, but theyre not the only social media-fueled eating trend to take over our feeds over the couple months. Like the so-called challenge that saw kids consuming liquid laundry detergent packets, this one doesnt exactly involve food. In Chinaand maybe, soon, America?the craze du jour is eating ice. Search for ice eating or #iceeating on Instagram or YouTube and youll find ample video evidence of people chowing down on frozen waterbut not the basic cubed stuff. Instead, theyre chewing on fancy, colored ice of all different shapes and textures. Some of these ice creations could rightly be deemed ice sculptures, but their artistry doesnt save them from winding up down a vloggers gullet. The point of the videos, to the extent that there is one, is captured by titles like THE BEST CRUNCHY ICE EATING ( NO TALKING ): The sound of teeth gnawing and grinding on ice triggers a pleasing, ASMR-like response in some people. Different shapes, thicknesses, and levels of frozenness of ice result in different biting sounds, meaning that you can find a veritable orchestra of ice-eating noises for free on the internet. Theres an edible ice to fit your every mood: Heres a rose for Valentines Day, and here, for, well, frankly, Im not sure when these would be appropriate, are some frozen-solid baby shoes. Choose your own frozen bliss. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of the YouTube and Instagram videos are reposts of live-streamed content from other services in China, and even videos with view counts in the millions often come with messages below them claiming the material will be taking down if the owner requests removal. But its easy to miss such messages when youre watching a woman (loudly) munch on a giant frozen bear or an ear of corn made of ice. (One out of four ears of corn, in fact, each a different, eye-catching color and producing a pleasantly glacial noise when chewed on.) Accounts solely devoted to eating ice have also cropped up, suggesting a mercenary aspect to the trend. While the primary audience for these videos is in China and on live-streaming platforms, the profusion of well-followed and -watched content on Instagram and YouTube, both banned in China, shows that the rest of the world, too, is no stranger to enjoying the satisfying chomp of incisors on ice. So if youve come across a video of someone eating ice online and wondered why, there you go. Though it runs about even with the Tide Pod Challenge in terms of how much sense it makes (none), eating ice has got one big thing going for it over the detergent: You probably wont die from taking part in it. Which is about as ringing an endorsement a viral craze can hope for in 2018. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. Only 14 percent of respondents in a recent survey say their organizations currently use eve the most basic cybersecurity businesses. The survey was conducted by mobile carrier Verizon (NYSE: VZ) in an effort to raise awareness, not only of the mobile security landscape, but also of the growth of mobile computers among both consumers and businesses. Verizon Mobile Security Index 2018 The inaugural Mobile Security Index 2018 report from Verizon provides insights into the growing threats faced by mobile users as use of the technology expands. The study also makes recommendations to combat these threats in the mobile ecosystem. For small businesses, protecting the mobile ecosystem must now take equal precedence with protecting more traditional computer networks and technology, the report explains. With mobile being more important for the day-to-day communications, interactions and transactions of small businesses today, security must take top priority for these systems too. Thomas T.J. Fox, Senior Vice President of the Wireless Business Group at Verizon, explains how vital mobile has become. In a press release announcing the report, he says, As mobility becomes more integral to business operations in todays digital economy from supply chain management to IoT-enabled sensors to customer-facing mobile apps protecting mobile platforms is critical. The survey for the report was carried out in the second half of 2017. An independent research company was commissioned by Verizon to survey more than 600 professionals responsible for mobile technology in their organizations. Eighty-three percent of the participants were based in the US, and the remaining 17 percent were from the UK. The survey covered industries in financial services, government, healthcare, manufacturing, professional services, retail and hospitality and technology. Key Takeaways from the Report The vast majority or 85 percent of respondents said their businesses face at least a moderate risk from mobile security threats, and over a quarter or 26 percent said this risk was significant. As to the serious and growing threat mobile security presents, 93 percent of organizations agreed it was definitely an issue. Even with this high-level of recognition concerning the security threat, 32 percent of respondents admitted to sacrificing mobile security to improve business performance. When it came to protecting their mobile ecosystem, only 14 percent or one in seven reported having even the most basic cybersecurity practices in place. And when there was a system in place, best practices were not applied. Only 39 percent of respondents reported their organizations had even changed all default passwords, leaving almost two thirds or 61 percent of companies surveyed extremely vulnerable. Two-factor authentication was used by only 38 percent of these companies, and only 59 percent had restrictions as to what apps their employees could download on their mobile devices. Recommendations from Verizon In the report, Fox says, Nothing is 100 percent secure. However, he stated the goal is to lower the risk to an acceptable level for all organizations. In the process, businesses should make it as hard as possible for bad actors to breach the security systems they have in place. Verizon recommends restricting what apps can be downloaded by employees, improving device management and threat detection with endpoint security, and increasing employee awareness with best practices and strict governance. You can read the full report and the recommendations from Verizon here. Robert Gilpin, R.I.P. - The Washington Post : His greatest book was written in 1981, but the main theory in it is perhaps more trenchant now... Campaign for Roma sets out to make Nazis cry Only successful and educated Roma can both be role models for their peers and stereotype breakers to change prejudices, say managers of the organisation seeking support for young, talented Roma, explaining their controversial campaign. Only if there are more of successful and educated Roma in society, can we effectively fight against prejudices and extremism, Barbora Kohutikova, administrator of the Dive Maky (Wild Poppies) civic association, told a press conference on February 15, explaining a controversial campaign which which uses humour to show Slovak society the need to support Roma and their education, which will then fight extremism. The Young Roma Leaders project strives to show that the effort of Dive Maky has already proven successful in the 12 years of their existence, as evidenced in the Roma youth who stand out in one or another way as examples for both Roma from excluded communities and non-Roma faced with old stereotypes. The Rozplac nacka (Make a Nazi cry) campaign visual. (Source: Courtesy of Dive Maky) There is no harder thing that raising funds for talented Roma, partly due to staunch stereotypes, Kohutikova said. And thus, we would like to not just present our achievements that have occurred throughout our existence but also show that our young skilled scholarship students have not only the talents commonly associated with Roma, like music or dancing, but they also aspire to become a lawyer, a doctor, or a mobile-app designer with impressive language skills. The slogan of the campaign is Nothing can make a Nazi cry as much as a successful Roma and the website is named Make a Nazi Cry www.rozplacnacka.sk. The Dive Maky staffers explained that the social network discussions on their activities have always been controversial and passionate, evoking many emotions and different opinions. This time, they decided to take the upper hand and make the whole campaign controversial from the very beginning, both shaking the community to try and leave prejudices aside as well as seeing examples of well performing Roma. Life stories Rather than statistics or abstract lectures, the stories of real Roma attract attention and frame an image of students from excluded communities. The stories are of those who have already achieved many positive points and who have initiated not just the project itself, but also a platform on social media and who strive to make their cause known to the wider public, Dominika Csizmarova, aged 18, is one of the initiators of Young Roma Talents, who also administers their Generation of Revolution Facebook site while studying at the bilingual section of the Evangelical Secondary Grammar School in Banska Bystrica (and preparing for potential study of law). Dominika Csizmarova (Source: TASR) I definitely have no talent for music, she expressed, adding that although she listens to music passively, her ambitions are aimed in the academic direction. We want to give back what we have received so far, the Roma student said, explaining why the project was born in the first place. Dominika was also the coordinator of the international exchange of young leaders, a meeting of 50 young people from excluded communities from Norway, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia which took place in summer 2017 in Slovakia. The participants of the camp were not just Roma, but more generally young people with backgrounds suggesting exclusion or disadvantage, Maria Potocarova Rybaricova, senior manager of Dive Maky, told The Slovak Spectator. From our country, there were just our students present, while from Hungary and Bulgaria there were both Roma and non-Roma, and from Norway and Lithuania, only non-Roma attended who had grounds for some kind of exclusion, mostly the social one, she noted, adding that they exchanged experience, especially concerning work with disadvantaged groups, and also polished their language skills. As for Roma, we got the impression that all Roma from the neighbouring countries face more or less the same problems, Potocarova Rybaricova summed up. Five languages, self-learner and crowd-funding for Japanese studies Another young Roma leader, Daniel, busts another myth about the Roma that they can only ask the state (or others) to help them, without doing anything on their own. Daniel Bunda exhibited talent early on, but his family did not have the means to support him in cultivating them and so the Roma boy was a self-learner in several fields. He taught himself tricks in computer graphics, and at age 13, he became a PC developer. He also learned programming, and through videos on Youtube, online textbooks, apps and even online cooking programmes and Japanese manga series, he started learning languages. After some time, he understood it would be best for him to visit the country, and so he launched a crowd-funding project to travel to a camp in Japan, with the motto Send a Gypsy to Japan (www.generosity.com/education-fundraising/send-a-gypsy-to-japan-posli-romaka-do-japonska). Within four days, he collected 1,200 dollars, and some more money came in later. Daniel Bunda (Source: TASR) Currently, he studies at the English language LEAF academy in Bratislava and dreams of living in 10 different countries of the world, getting to know new cultures, and constantly learning something new. Other students who were presented as examples of the Dive Maky programme were Terezka Halgasova, a multi-talented girl aged nine whose parents cannot finance her studies but who would like to become a nurse or doctor, and Dalibor Cibula, a cimbalom player aged 15 who would like to study music at the Banska Bystrica conservatory of J.L. Bella but who still misses a sponsor to help him within the programme of Dive Maky. Terezka Halgasova (Source: TASR) 27. Feb 2018 at 6:20 | Zuzana Vilikovska Why Slovaks are drinking less beer Annual beer consumption has decreased by more than 60,000 litres over the past 10 years. Font size: A - | A + The consumption of beer in Slovakia has declined from over 436,000 litres in 2006 to 370,000 litres in 2016. Beer consumption was at 68.3 litres per capita in 2016. Beer market watchers see several reasons behind the decline. Primarily it is the introduction and later increase of the excise tax on beer, Tomas Vasuta from the specialised website dedicated to beer Opive.sk told the Hospodarske Noviny daily. The second factor that significantly affects consumption is the opening of the market and extension of what is on offer. While in the past Slovaks decided between beer, wine and spirits, today there are also premium distillates and mixed drinks as well as ciders on the market. Read also: Read also: Potent potables of Slovakia Read more Two major breweries - Heineken, which is based in Hurbanovo (Nitra Region) with its economic brand Kelt, and Topvar from Topolcany (Nitra Region), which offers the inexpensive Czech brand Velkopopovicky Kozel - dominate the Slovak beer market. In total, the Slovak market features some 70 breweries with Heineken and Topvar accounting for about 80 percent of the market. Among the most popular premium beers are the Heineken flagship Zlaty Bazant (Golden Pheasant) and the premium lager Pilsner Urquell from Topvar. 27. Feb 2018 at 6:17 | Compiled by Spectator staff 2 held in gang-rape case Police has arrested two persons for their alleged involvement in a gang-rape of a 15-year-old girl in Biratnagar Metropolitan City-5 in Morang district. New mens prison to be built as PPP project It should bring relief to overcrowded prisons and their poor technical conditions. Font size: A - | A + A new prison for men, with a capacity of 832 places, is to be built in the town of Rimavska Sobota (Banska Bystrica Region). The cabinet greenlighted the plan at its away-from-home session in Hnusta on Monday, February 26, the TASR newswire reported. The prison will be built via a public-private partnership, as a feasibility study has shown that this would be the most beneficial form of the project. At the session, the cabinet tasked Justice Minister Lucia Zitnanska (Most-Hid) with selecting a contractor to be in charge of design and construction as well as the operation and maintenance of the prison. Subsequently, Zitnanska and Finance Minister Peter Kazimir (Smer) will submit the definitive version of the concession contract. Based on estimates, a 20-year concession should cost the state a total of 222.7 million. Another 154 million will be spent as part of the increased expenditures of the Justice and Prison Guards Department (ZVJS). The concession contract for 2021-2041 will be signed after the construction of the prison. By building a new prison, the state is seeking to address long-term problems with overcrowded prisons, the poor technical condition of facilities and insufficient funding of the sector. 27. Feb 2018 at 5:59 | Compiled by Spectator staff Police search houses in connection with conspiracy magazine Its editor-in-chief is being prosecuted for inciting hatred against the Jewish community On Monday, February 26th, members of the National Criminal Agency (NAKA) made house searches in the districts of Galanta and Nitra in connection with the case of the editor-in-chief of the conspiracy magazine Zem a Vek (Earth and Time) Tibor E. R. He is being prosecuted for the incitement of hatred against the Jewish community. The police will provide further information if the case allows. The Special Prosecutors Office launched the investigation based on the offence of defamation of nation, race and belief as well as inciting national, racial and ethnic hatred, for a story entitled The wedge of Jews among Slavs earlier in 2017, the SITA newswire reported. Read also: Read also: Conspiracy magazine is prosecuted Read more The prosecutor claims that the culprit, who publishes under the name Tibor Eliot Rostas, used historical quotes to present readers with statements claiming that the Jewish community is the reason for the poor situation of society in the past and in the present and that it subverts contemporary society, said spokesperson for the Special Prosecutors Office, Jana Tokolyova. The criminal complaint against Rostas was submitted by Pavel Sibyla, executive director of the Stop Corruption Foundation, in mid-May. He claims that the quotes used are not accompanied by any commentary. Conversely, the context of the story indicates that its author identifies with the statements, the Sme daily reported on its website. 27. Feb 2018 at 5:43 | Compiled by Spectator staff The murder of a journalist concerns us all It is an attack on all citizens of this country, because journalists are the eyes, the ears, and the mouth of the public. The murder of Jan Kuciak, reporter of the Aktuality.sk news website, goes beyond the borders of the media community, because a country where they murder a journalist, experiences an attack on the freedom of press as such. This tragedy concerns every journalist, because its aim is to threaten everyone rather than silence just one. Read also: Read also: UPDATED: Investigative journalist killed in his house Read more At the same time, the murder of a journalist is an attack on all citizens of this country, because journalists are the eyes, the ears, and the mouth of the public. Politicians and representatives of this country should clearly condemn this act of cowardly aggression and send out a signal that it is not just a murder, but also an attack that makes our freedom bleed. We do not want Slovakia to get closer to being one of the countries where murdering journalists is commonplace and eventually swept under the carpet without stating clear support of the community of journalists. 27. Feb 2018 at 8:10 | Beata Balogova Slovaks and Czechs pay tribute to the murdered journalist Gatherings were organised on Monday night around the country as well as in Prague and Brno. This is what it looked like in Bratislava. People came out to the SNP Square in Bratislava on the freezing evening of February 26 to light candles in the memory of investigative reporter Jan Kuciak and his partner Martina Kusnirova, who were murdered. (Source: Sme) video //www.sme.sk/vp/36488/ People came out to the streets in the freezing weather on the evening of February 26 to light candles in the memory of Jan Kuciak, an investigative reporter for the Aktuality.sk news website, and his fiancee, Martina Kusnirova, who were found shot dead in their house in Velka Maca the day before. Police Corps President Tibor Gaspar admitted Kuciak might have been murdered in connection to his investigative work. The murder of a journalist is an unprecedented deed in Slovakia. Candles were lit at the SNP Square in Bratislava and in front of the editorial office of Aktuality.sk. Similar gatherings were also organised in other places around Slovakia, as well as in the Czech cities of Prague and in Brno. Slovak journalists are organising a march to commemorate the murdered journalist and his partner on March 13 in Bratislava. 27. Feb 2018 at 9:00 | Compiled by Spectator staff Beating, burning cars and paranoia - Slovak investigative journalists talk about their work Slovak journalists admit they were often afraid but hardly any of them thought their adversaries would dare kill a journalist. Slovak investigative reporters are used to threats and blackmail. Things get worse when they are physically assaulted or their cars are burnt. The news about the murder of their colleague Jan Kuciak has left them shocked. They say journalists have so far had to face lawsuits for their work, not shotguns. Arpad Soltesz Arpad Soltes (Source: Dusan Kittler) commentator of the noviny.sk website We were all startled and I think even he did not count on anything like that. This removed two psychological barriers. For the first time in Slovakia's history a journalist was killed. Secondly, he was killed along with his partner. Not even the mafia used to murder each other along with their families. That is a Moscowian signature. Now we will see if Andrej Kiska was right, whether we a mafia state. We will see how the state will handle this case. There were situations when I feared for myself or my close ones. I can even say that I had lived in fear for ten years due to my work. Everybody who does this job knows this fear and has to learn to live with it. I experienced an assault in the toilet of one bar, when a man approached me, broke my face, broke my ribs, and without a single shout or a single word walked away. It was a professional job. This kind of life has an impact on a person. At the time when I was receiving threats, it happened to me that two people wearing jogging suits and leather jackets followed me, one of them even put his hand under his jacket as if to reach for a gun. I almost soiled my pants, and if I had been armed, I would probably have tried to fire the first shot. But it turned out that the man was reaching for his police badge and he introduced himself as a member of the criminal police. He only needed to check on a banal incident that had happened near my home. Monika Todova Monika Todova (Source: Tomas Benedikovic) Dennik N reporter This murder is a shock for me and for all journalists in Slovakia. None of us probably thought that a journalist could be murdered here for doing his job. We thought we only risked a lawsuit or a police hearing. These things happen in the eastern countries. I knew Jan as a young and very clever journalist with enthusiasm for his job. He was a very decent, ordinary person, who liked to go in-depth, recently for instance to uncover the structure of tax fraud. It started back in 2016 with the Basternak case and the first suspicions that there are chosen people in Slovakia who face no consequences when they commit tax fraud despite the fact that the tax authorities are aware of it. Tom Nicholson Tom Nicholson (Source: SITA) journalist, writing for the Sme daily I have known Jan Kuciak since 2012. He wrote me after the Gorila case broke out, to support me and to say that he would also like to do this job. He was often very generous and would send me tips. He saw it all as a fight for the right thing rather than a fight between journalists. His death surprised me just like the murder of [a known lawyer] Ernest Valko did. But I thought it might not be like with Marian Kocner and with Ladislav Basternak, the way some media are alleging now. These people have been doing business in Slovakia for 20 years and there has never been a murder. Jan worked on information that we have had for a longer time, about Italians suspected of stealing EU funds here. This could be a trace. Information that comes from 2015 is probably from the secret service SIS and there is no doubt that the Slovak state bodies do have information about these frauds. These Italians were so self-confident that they publicly supported the politics of Smer on their Facebook page. If there is any proof of links with them, I do not see how some politicians could continue working. On the other hand, there have been many scandals linked with Smer in the past and they went on. When I worked in Slovakia in the past, I feared for my life several times. I would also ask myself if I weren't getting paranoid, but that is probably part of the job. I would also discuss with my then wife if it made sense to write about such things when one has children. But I would always console myself that journalists do not get murdered in Slovakia. My current wife is telling me to stop it. Zuzana Petkova Zuzana Petkova (Source: SME archive) Trend weekly reporter Jan Kuciak was my friend, we worked on several topics together. He did not care about exclusiveness, but mostly bringing scandals to the end. He was happy to share his information and help others. The last documents I gave him concerned the VAT returns of businessman Marian Kocner. He was able to find links in them that I would overlook, he had a great sense for detail. He probably found something big now and that is why he became the victim of a contract murder. I am very sorry about what happened and I think the negative mood towards journalists comes from above. About half a year ago, Interior Minister Robert Kalinak belittled the threats that Jan reported to the police and filed a criminal complaint. When politicians belittle the work of journalists and their social status drops, the social protection of journalists drops too. But I would never think that it could reach the point when I would have to attend the funeral of my friend. I have experienced several threats, but I never paid much attention to them. When I was writing about the series of VAT frauds that concerned several VIPs, my car did catch fire under peculiar circumstances. I did not report it to the police, I rather blamed the heat and the overheated engine. Now that I see what happened to Jan, I would probably treat it differently. Later on, the car of one of my sources who provided me with information about these topics also burned. Julia Mikolasikova Julia Mikolasikova (Source: Archive of J. Mikolasikova) Blogger, former reporter for Novy Cas and aktualne.sk I have followed the work of Jan Kuciak and I met him once. He also wanted to report on people from the underworld. When I learned about his murder in the morning, I could not believe it could be connected with his articles. I instead assumed it was a robbery. When the police admitted it was probably linked with his work, I was surprised. Jan Kuciak filed a criminal complaint in September about blackmail. Then I was surprised that the police let ordinary officers from a regional department deal with the case. It is in line with the law, but the police could have been more thorough and forwarded the case to a department with operatives. I was a victim of blackmail and I also filed two criminal complaints. Another case was the preparation of the murder of a prosecutor and the suspect talked about me, so they heard me as a witness. Both complaints were dismissed. The prosecutor argued when dismissing one that I was a journalist writing for a publishing house that also publishes a tabloid newspaper. I write about first-degree murders so I have to bear more criticism. I have been complaining about the methods of police officers but to no avail. Pavol Fejer Pavol Fejer (Source: RTVS archive) former host of Reporteri RTVS It is terrible what has happened. Even though it is being presented as a single case in Slovakia, it is probably part of a wider context. There is a general feeling that justice does not exist for all. Journalists who point it out get called various names. Politicians narrow down the space for their critics and tabloid and manipulative journalists are put forward. This is also seen from the power-related changes in RTVS and the cancellation of the Reporteri investigative show. I have felt fear as a journalist several times. On the other hand, I have never been a target of extreme attacks. It is probably due to the fact that as a journalist I have never dealt with big economic crimes. Also, when I worked out in the field, aggressive people always saw that there was a camera there and that discouraged them from assault. 27. Feb 2018 at 12:56 | Roman Cuprik Kuciak investigated links between politicians and mafia The Prime minister's assistant, Maria Troskova, worked with a man suspected of links with the mafia. This article was first published by the Sme daily on February 27. Read also the last, unfinished article of Jan Kuciak: Read also the last, unfinished article of Jan Kuciak: Italian mafia in Slovakia. Tentacles reaching out to politics Read more Investigative reporter Jan Kuciak, murdered by unknown offenders together with his fiancee, worked on serious topics concerning VAT fraud. He also dealt with the scandal surrounding the Five Star Residence apartment house, where the businessman accused of tax fraud, Ladislav Basternak, owned some flats. But in recent months, Kuciak had been dealing with the work of people close to the Italian mafia Ndrangheta in Slovakia and their past relations with the main state advisor of Prime Minister Robert Fico, Maria Troskova. Ndrangheta is the most powerful underground group in Italy. It has been known to do business with guns, falsify money and goods, engage in blackmail and usury. European police office Europol sees the group as one of the richest and most powerful criminal organisations in the world. Read also: Read also: UPDATED: Investigative journalist killed in his house Read more Tens of companies Maria Troskova briefly worked for Pavol Rusko in early 2011. But then she met a businessman of Italian origin who was involved among other things in photovoltaic power plants, and went to work with him, Rusko told Plus 7 Dni weekly in 2016. This description fits with the businessman of Italian origin, Antonino Vadala, who has activities in Slovakia. His name is listed with 32 companies in the business register, ten of them dealing with photovoltaic business. Today, his name appears in the business register linked to six companies. A man with the same name and birth date also appears in the arrest warrant of the Italian police. In another case, based on the court order that the Sme daily has at its disposal, Ndrangheta used Vadala to help with the transport of goods. The Italian police recorded a phone call between Vadala and Francesco Zindata, the regional boss of the group. Italian courts sent him to prison two years ago. The prosecution of Vadala has been halted due to lack of evidence. Troskova and Vadala Maria Troskova has been the partner and co-owner of the company GIA Management since August 2011 until June 2012. She co-founded the company with Vadala. After Vadala left the company in 2015, Pietro Catroppa became its owner. Catroppa has also owned the Prodest company since 2016. This company had as a partner the former Smer MP, Viliam Jasan, currently the head of crisis management and state security at the Government's Office. Jasan is also the secretary of the state security council that deals with secret information. The Slovak Information Service (SIS) monitored the Prodest company last year. The Sme daily has obtained the order of the Bratislava Regional Court to monitor the phone number of the Prodest company during six months of the previous year. The court did not disclose the reason why SIS monitored Prodest, because it is listed as classified. Close to the assistant, close to the PM Troskova first appeared in the political environment in 2014 as the assistant of MP Viliam Jasan of Smer. Jasan refused to talk about how she joined his team when asked by the Novy Cas daily; he only said it was a coincidence. The assistant that I had left and a friend recommended this woman, Jasan said in March 2015, shortly after Troskova started at the prime minister's office. It is not clear who recommended Troskova to Jasan. In 2016, the Plus Jeden Den daily wrote that Viliam Jasan was close to Italian citizen Antonio Vadala. The Plus 7 Dni weekly wrote that Vadala introduced Troskova to Jasan. Currently, Maria Troskova is the main state advisor at the Government Office which is just a formal name of the position that she is paid for. The media have repeatedly asked about what she actually does, but have never got an answer. PM Robert Fico has never explained what made him choose Troskova as his assistant. Sme daily reporter testified about these links in connection with the investigation of the murder of Jan Kuciak. The police entered them in the records. 27. Feb 2018 at 10:19 | Sme Poll: Slovaks trust EP and EC more than national institutions As many as 75 percent of Slovaks feel like citizens of the European Union. Font size: A - | A + Based on the results of two Eurobarometer surveys conducted in the spring and the autumn 2017, Slovaks trust the European Parliament (EP) more than the national parliament and consider the European Commission (EC) more trustworthy than the Slovak government. The survey also showed that some 48 percent of Slovaks believe in the European Union (EU) as a whole. Trust in the EU is a bit higher than it used to be, said Ladislav Miko, head of the European Commissions Representation to Slovakia head, as quoted by the TASR newswire. There is also a hike when it comes to trust in the EC, an increase to 44 percent between the spring and the autumn. In addition, trust in the European institutions and optimism for the future went up as well. Slovak attitudes are more pro-European than the EU average, Miko added. He welcomes the fact that trust in the EU and its institutions has been increasing. Weve managed to go from figures below 40 percent to above 40 percent, he said, as quoted by TASR. Slovaks above-the-average positive Among other things, the poll scrutinised Slovaks stance towards the EU flag: 97 percent of those polled know it, while 66 percent perceive it as a positive symbol and 72 identify with it. As many as 82 percent opine that it should be hung from all public buildings. In autumn, 75 percent of Slovaks said they feel like citizens of the EU compared to 72 percent in spring, the Sme daily wrote. Three quarters of respondents in Slovakia answered they feel like EU citizens, Alexander Karvai of the marketing research agency Kantar TNS said. Slovakia is above the EU average in this issue. Asked whether they feel connected with the EU, eight percentage points more respondents answered Yes than in the spring poll, TASR wrote on February 25. In autumn, as many as 60 percent said they feel connected with the Union, which is also above the EU average, Karvai added. Analysts comment Slovaks consider the free movement of people, goods and services and the euro currency to be the greatest benefits of the Union, Karvai noted for TASR. Conversely, red tape and the waste of money in the EU are the biggest disadvantages for Slovaks. Slovaks trust in the EU is relatively stable, Comenius Universitys Faculty of Arts analyst Pavol Babos claims, adding that the reason why Slovaks trust European institutions more than domestic ones can be explained by the fact that the EP and the EC are more distant than the Slovak parliament and government. These are closer and are connected to various scandals, while the EP and the EC scandals dont reach the people... lets say corruption scandals dont go public, Babos said, as cited by TASR. Therefore, trust in Slovak political institutions is lower. 27. Feb 2018 at 14:37 | Compiled by Spectator staff Period furniture with library will return to Hanusovce Museum The renovated historical building has a special meaning for Slovaks but the new acquisitions could make it attractive for foreigners. More information about travelling in Slovakia Please see our Please see our Spectacular Slovakia travel guide The renaissance mansion in Hanusovce na Toplou, in eastern Slovakia, is being renovated right now, the Korzar Presov regional newspaper wrote on February 24. The exterior of the former residence of the noble family Dessewffy will be renovated for 350,000, financed from Presov Region, head of the culture department, Veronika Fitzekova, informed the newspaper. Work on the facade and replacing or repairing of windows have just begun, she added. Period furniture to be added Apart from these works, the museum a branch of the Presov-based museum repaired four rooms, with own financing and subsidy form the Fund for Supprot of Art, in which a new exposition will be placed focusing on rural life of the nobles in the past, Fitzekova added. Already now, the rooms are ready to be filled with historical furniture. Also, a proposal will ask the Presov Region to give more money for the purchase of period furniture part of which originally belonged to the mansion owners. A library containing some books from the local noble family will also be opened here. This will be the first castle library in our region, Fitzekova told Korzar Presov. There will also be various clocks and decorative items exhibited. A specialty is the desk on which allegedly Andrej Sladkovic wrote his Marina. Sladkovic is famous Slovak writer whose iconic works, Marina and Detvan, are a pillar of the traditional literature. Archaeological exposition In the basement of the mansion, an archaeological exposition will be established, within the programme of cross-border cooperation Interreg. The summer season in Hanusovce mansion should be completely different, the head of culture department noted. Apart from a live archeao-park in the premises and the house of the keeper which will house ethnographic activities and craftsmen, there will be an archaeological exposition in the basement. The Hanusovce mansion was one of the residences of the Dessewffy family until 1940. Only sparse period furniture was preserved from the luxuriously furnished salons. During the World War II, the headquarters of the work camp to build a railway and a viaduct was located here, and for some time, a secondary school was situated here, the regional newspaper wrote. video //www.youtube.com/embed/sRmQLJAwOYA 27. Feb 2018 at 13:36 | Compiled by Spectator staff Diplomats in Slovakia shocked over murder of journalist Several embassies have extended condolences to the families of the two murdered young people. Font size: A - | A + Ambassadors active in Slovakia have expressed their shock and grief over the murder of journalist Jan Kuciak and his partner Martina Kusnirova. We note with special concern Police Chief Tibor Gaspars statements that the murder appears to have been premeditated and most likely connected to Mr. Kuciaks work as an investigative journalist, US Ambassador to Slovakia, Adam Sterling, stated in his official statement on the case. If true, we echo Prime Minister Ficos statement that the attack is an unprecedented attack on freedom of the press and democracy in Slovakia. In open, democratic societies journalists must be able to work freely and safely. This horrific crime calls for a determined investigation and the swift prosecution of those responsible. We are shocked and saddened by this terrible crime, the UK Embassy in Bratislava wrote on their Facebook profile. Our thoughts and prayers are with Jan and Martina's families and friends at this difficult time. The embassy noted that investigative journalists play a vital role in defending democratic societies and we condemn any violence against them, and declared the readiness of the UK to help the Slovak authorities in their investigation. French Ambassador to Slovakia, Christophe Leonzi, also sent his condolences to the families of the two murdered people and condemned the murders. We are shocked by their violent death, Leonzi said on Twitter, as quoted by the TASR newswire, and added that journalists through their everyday work fight for freedom and democracy. 27. Feb 2018 at 22:14 | Compiled by Spectator staff Slovakia drops in competitiveness of talents ranking Switzerland topped the international chart, while Slovakia ranked 40th. Last year, Slovakia was 37th. Font size: A - | A + In the international Global Talent Competitiveness Index, which ranks countries according to their abilities to make full use of talents, Slovakia placed 40th out of 119 states evaluated. In 2016, it placed 27th and last year 37th. Slovakias assets include relatively good results in professional and technical skills, the recruitment agency Adecco interpreted the results in individual sections of the index, as quoted by the TASR newswire. They are weaker in their ability to lure and motivate talents and enable their growth, it adds, as quoted by the TASR newswire. According to Adecco, Slovakia should also improve in tolerance towards minorities and migrants. The top place in chart went to Switzerland, followed by Singapore, and the USA. Ranking of cities Overall, 16 European countries are among the best 25 states worldwide. Of the neighbouring countries, Austria was better (18th), as well as the Czech Republic (25th) and Poland (39th). However, Slovakia placed better than several countries with comparable size or economic output such as Hungary, Greece and Croatia. Alongside countries, cities were also evaluated in the chart. Among them, Zurich topped rankings, followed by Scandinavian metropolises Oslo, Kopenhagen and Helsinki. Prague ended up 28th and Bratislava 45th, TASR wrote. 27. Feb 2018 at 22:22 | Compiled by Spectator staff 300m TIA runway extension project yet to take off The longstanding plan to extend the runway of Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) at its southern end by 300 metres looks like being delayed further as the contractor has not started work even though five months have passed since the deal was signed. Deckers Outdoor Corp. engages in the business of designing, marketing, and distributing footwear, apparel, and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance activities. It operates through the following segments: UGG Brand, HOKA Brand, Teva Brand, Sanuk Brand, Other Brands, and Direct-to-Consumer. The UGG Brand segment offers a line of premium footwear, apparel, and accessories. 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S.A., PSA Renting Italia S.p.A., PagoFX Europe S.A., PagoFX HoldCo S.L., PagoFX UK Ltd, PagoNxt Merchant Solutions S.L., PagoNxt S.L., Parasant SA, Patagon.com, Pereda Gestion S.A., Pingham International S.A., Popular Spain Holding de Inversiones S.L.U., Portal Universia Argentina S.A., Portal Universia Portugal Prestacao de Servicos de Informatica S.A., Prime 16 Fundo de Investimentos Imobiliario, Punta Lima LLC, Punta Lima Wind Farm LLC, Retop S.A., Return Capital Servicos de Recuperacao de Creditos S.A., Return Gestao de Recursos S.A., Riobank International (Uruguay) SAIFE (b), Rojo Entretenimento S.A., SAM Asset Management S.A. de C.V. Sociedad Operadora de Fondos de Inversion, SAM Investment Holdings S.L., SAM UK Investment Holdings Limited (b), SANB Promotora de Vendas e Cobranca Ltda., SCF Eastside Locks GP Limited, SDMX Superdigital S.A. de C.V., SMPS Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A de C.V, Sancap Investimentos e Participacoes S.A., Santander (CF Trustee Property Nominee) Limited, Santander (UK) Group Pension Schemes Trustees Limited, Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 1 S.A., Santander Ahorro Inmobiliario 2 S.A., Santander Alternatives SICAV RAIF, Santander Asesorias Financieras Limitada, Santander Asset Finance (December) Limited, Santander Asset Finance plc, Santander Asset Management - S.G.O.I.C. S.A., Santander Asset Management Chile S.A., Santander Asset Management LLC, Santander Asset Management Luxembourg S.A., Santander Asset Management S.A. Administradora General de Fondos, Santander Asset Management S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Asset Management UK Holdings Limited, Santander Asset Management UK Limited, Santander Back-Offices Globales Mayoristas S.A., Santander Banca de Inversion Colombia S.A.S., Santander Bank & Trust Ltd., Santander Bank National Association, Santander Bank Polska S.A., Santander Brasil Administradora de Consorcio Ltda., Santander Brasil Gestao de Recursos Ltda., Santander Brasil Tecnologia S.A., Santander Capital Desarrollo SGEIC S.A. Unipersonal, Santander Capital Structuring S.A. de C.V., Santander Capitalizacao S.A., Santander Cards Ireland Limited, Santander Cards Limited, Santander Cards UK Limited, Santander Chile Holding S.A., Santander Consulting (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Santander Consumer (UK) plc, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2013-B3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L4 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2018-L5 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2019-L3 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-B1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L1 LLC, Santander Consumer Auto Receivables Funding 2020-L2 LLC, Santander Consumer Bank AG, Santander Consumer Bank AS, Santander Consumer Bank GmbH, Santander Consumer Bank S.A., Santander Consumer Bank S.p.A., Santander Consumer Banque S.A., Santander Consumer Credit Services Limited, Santander Consumer Finance Benelux B.V., Santander Consumer Finance Global Services S.L., Santander Consumer Finance Oy, Santander Consumer Finance S.A., Santander Consumer Finance Schweiz AG, Santander Consumer Financial Solutions Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Finanse Sp. z o.o. (b), Santander Consumer Holding Austria GmbH, Santander Consumer Holding GmbH, Santander Consumer International Puerto Rico LLC, Santander Consumer Leasing GmbH, Santander Consumer Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.L., Santander Consumer Multirent Sp. z o.o., Santander Consumer Operations Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Receivables 10 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 11 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 3 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables 7 LLC, Santander Consumer Receivables Funding LLC, Santander Consumer Renting S.L., Santander Consumer S.A., Santander Consumer S.A.S., Santander Consumer Services GmbH, Santander Consumer Services S.A., Santander Consumer Technology Services GmbH, Santander Consumer USA Holdings Inc., Santander Consumer USA Inc., Santander Consumo S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Corredora de Seguros Limitada, Santander Corredores de Bolsa Limitada, Santander Corretora de Cambio e Valores Mobiliarios S.A., Santander Corretora de Seguros Investimentos e Servicos S.A., Santander Customer Voice S.A., Santander Digital Assets S.L., Santander Drive Auto Receivables LLC, Santander Equity Investments Limited, Santander Espana Merchant Services Entidad de Pago S.L. Unipersonal, Santander Espana Servicios Legales y de Cumplimiento S.L., Santander Estates Limited, Santander F24 S.A., Santander Facility Management Espana S.L., Santander Factoring S.A., Santander Factoring Sp. z o.o., Santander Factoring y Confirming S.A. E.F.C., Santander Finance 2012-1 LLC, Santander Financial Exchanges Limited, Santander Financial Services Inc., Santander Financial Services plc, Santander Finanse Sp. z o.o., Santander Fintech Holdings S.L., Santander Fintech Limited, Santander Fundo de Investimento SBAC Referenciado di Credito Privado, Santander Gestion de Recaudacion y Cobranzas Ltda., Santander Global Consumer Finance Limited, Santander Global Facilities S.A. de C.V., Santander Global Facilities S.L., Santander Global Operations S.A., Santander Global Services S.A. (b), Santander Global Sport S.A., Santander Global Technology Brasil Ltda., Santander Global Technology Chile Limitada, Santander Global Technology S.L., Santander Global Trade Platform Solutions S.L., Santander Guarantee Company, Santander Holding Imobiliaria S.A., Santander Holding Internacional S.A., Santander Holdings USA Inc., Santander ISA Managers Limited, Santander Inclusion Financiera S.A. de C.V. S.O.F.O.M. E.R. Grupo Financiero Santander Mexico, Santander Insurance Agency U.S. LLC, Santander Insurance Services UK Limited, Santander Intermediacion Correduria de Seguros S.A., Santander International Products Plc. (d), Santander Inversiones S.A., Santander Investment Bank Limited, Santander Investment Chile Limitada, Santander Investment I S.A., Santander Investment S.A., Santander Investment Securities Inc., Santander Investments GP 1 S.a.r.l., Santander Inwestycje Sp. z o.o., Santander Lease S.A. E.F.C., Santander Leasing LLC, Santander Leasing S.A., Santander Leasing S.A. Arrendamento Mercantil, Santander Lending Limited, Santander Mediacion Operador de Banca-Seguros Vinculado S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Operations S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Services S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions S.A., Santander Merchant Platform Solutions Uruguay S.A., Santander Merchant Platform SolucoesTecnologicas Brasil Ltda., Santander Merchant S.A., Santander Mortgage Holdings Limited, Santander Paraty Qif PLC, Santander Pensiones S.A. E.G.F.P., Santander Pensoes - Sociedade Gestora de Fundos de Pensoes S.A., Santander Private Banking Gestion S.A. S.G.I.I.C., Santander Private Banking UK Limited, Santander Private Banking s.p.a. in Liquidazione (b), Santander Private Real Estate Advisory & Management S.A., Santander Private Real Estate Advisory S.A., Santander Real Estate S.A., Santander Retail Auto Lease Funding LLC, Santander Rio Asset Management Gerente de Fondos Comunes de Inversion S.A., Santander Rio Trust S.A., Santander Rio Valores S.A., Santander S.A. Sociedad Securitizadora, Santander Secretariat Services Limited, Santander Securities LLC, Santander Seguros y Reaseguros Compania Aseguradora S.A., Santander Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., Santander Servicios Especializados S.A. de C.V., Santander Technology USA LLC, Santander Tecnologia e Inovacao Ltda., Santander Tecnologia Argentina S.A., Santander Tecnologia Espana S.L.U., Santander Tecnologia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Santander Totta SGPS S.A., Santander Totta Seguros Companhia de Seguros de Vida S.A., Santander Towarzystwo Funduszy Inwestycyjnych S.A., Santander Trade Services Limited, Santander UK Group Holdings plc, Santander UK Investments, Santander UK Operations Limited, Santander UK Plc, Santander UK Technology Limited, Santander Wealth Management International SA, Santander de Titulizacion S.G.F.T. S.A., Santusa Holding S.L., Services and Promotions Delaware Corp., Services and Promotions Miami LLC, Servicio de Alarmas Controladas por Ordenador S.A., Servicios de Cobranza Recuperacion y Seguimiento S.A. De C.V., Sheppards Moneybrokers Limited, Shiloh III Wind Project LLC, Sociedad Integral de Valoraciones Automatizadas S.A., Sociedad Operadora de Tarjetas de Pago Santander Getnet Chile S.A., Socur S.A., Sol Orchard Imperial 1 LLC, Solarlaser Limited, Sovereign Community Development Company, Sovereign Delaware Investment Corporation, Sovereign Lease Holdings LLC, Sovereign REIT Holdings Inc., Sovereign Spirit Limited (f), Sterrebeeck B.V., Suleyado 2003 S.L. Unipersonal, Summer Empreendimentos Ltda., Super Pagamentos e Administracao de Meios Eletronicos S.A., Superdigital Argentina S.A.U., Superdigital Colombia S.A.S., Superdigital Holding Company S.L., Superdigital Peru S.A.C., Suzuki Servicios Financieros S.L., Swesant SA, TIMFin S.p.A., TOPSAM S.A de C.V., Taxagest Sociedade Gestora de Participacoes Sociais S.A., Teatinos Siglo XXI Inversiones S.A., The Alliance & Leicester Corporation Limited, The Best Specialty Coffee S.L. Unipersonal, Time Retail Finance Limited (b), Tonopah Solar I LLC, Toque Fale Servicos de Telemarketing Ltda., Tornquist Asesores de Seguros S.A. (b), Totta (Ireland) PLC, Totta Urbe - Empresa de Administracao e Construcoes S.A., Trabajando.com Mexico S.A. de C.V. en liquidacion (b), Trabajando.com Peru S.A.C., Trans Rotor Limited (b), Transolver Finance EFC S.A., Tresmares Growth Fund Santander SCR S.A., Tresmares Santander Direct Lending SICC S.A., Tuttle and Son Limited, Universia Brasil S.A., Universia Chile S.A., Universia Colombia S.A.S., Universia Espana Red de Universidades S.A., Universia Holding S.L., Universia Mexico S.A. de C.V., Universia Peru S.A., Universia Uruguay S.A., Uro Property Holdings SOCIMI S.A., WIM Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., WTW Shipping Designated Activity Company, Wallcesa S.A., Wave Holdco S.L., Waypoint Insurance Group Inc., and Wirecard (Technological Assets). SRC Energy Inc., an oil and natural gas company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, and production of oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids primarily in the Denver-Julesburg Basin of Colorado. As of December 31, 2018, it had net proved oil and natural gas reserves of 88 million barrels of oil and condensate, 771.9 billion cubic feet of natural gas, and 89.1 million barrels of natural gas liquids; and operated 985 net producing wells, as well as had 95,200 gross and 86,200 net acres under lease in the Wattenberg Field. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. Read More Attempts to censor media draw flak Various organisations working in the field of human rights, freedom of expression and law have expressed serious concerns over Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajulis order to Press Council Nepal to probe news reports published by Kantipur daily. The following companies are subsidiares of Valero Energy: AIR BP-PBF DEL PERU SAC, BELFAST STORAGE LTD, CANADIAN ULTRAMAR COMPANY, COLONNADE TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY LLC, COLONNADE VERMONT INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LLC, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF CANADA INC., DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL HOLDINGS LLC, DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL LLC, DIAMOND K RANCH LLC, DIAMOND OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY L.P., DIAMOND UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., DSRM NATIONAL BANK, ENTERPRISE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT INC., GCP LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC, GOLDEN EAGLE ASSURANCE LIMITED, HAMMOND MAINLINE PIPELINE LLC, HUNTWAY REFINING COMPANY, MAINLINE PIPELINES LIMITED, MAPLE ETHANOL LTD., MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT GP LLC, MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT L.P., MRP PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, NECHES RIVER HOLDING CORP., NORCO METHANOL LLC, OCEANIC TANKERS AGENCY LIMITED, PARKWAY PIPELINE LLC, PENTA TANKS TERMINALS S.A., PI DOCK FACILITIES LLC, PICKARD PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, PORT ARTHUR COKER COMPANY L.P., PREMCOR USA INC., PROPERTY RESTORATION L.P., PURE BIOFUELS DEL PERU S.A.C., PURE BIOFUELS HOLDINGS L.P., Parkway Pipeline, Premcor, Pure Biofuels Del Peru, SABINE RIVER HOLDING CORP., SABINE RIVER LLC, SAINT BERNARD PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, SUNBELT REFINING COMPANY L.P., THE PREMCOR PIPELINE CO., THE PREMCOR REFINING GROUP INC., THE SHAMROCK PIPE LINE CORPORATION, TRANSPORT MARITIME ST. LAURENT INC., ULTRAMAR ACCEPTANCE INC., ULTRAMAR ENERGY INC., ULTRAMAR INC., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, V-TEX LOGISTICS LLC, VALERO (BARBADOS) SRL, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS GP LLC, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS LIMITED, VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ARUBA ACQUISITION COMPANY I LTD., VALERO ARUBA FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA HOLDING COMPANY N.V., VALERO ARUBA HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA MAINTENANCE/OPERATIONS COMPANY N.V., VALERO BROWNSVILLE TERMINAL LLC, VALERO CANADA FINANCE INC., VALERO CANADA L.P., VALERO CAPITAL CORPORATION, VALERO CARIBBEAN SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO COKER CORPORATION ARUBA N.V., VALERO CUSTOMS & TRADE SERVICES INC., VALERO EAST BAY LLC, VALERO ENERGY (IRELAND) LIMITED, VALERO ENERGY ARUBA II COMPANY, VALERO ENERGY INC., VALERO ENERGY LTD, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS GP LLC, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, VALERO ENERGY UK LTD, VALERO ENTERPRISES INC., VALERO EQUITY SERVICES LTD, VALERO FINANCE L.P. I, VALERO FINANCE L.P. II, VALERO FINANCE L.P. III, VALERO FOREST CONTRIBUTION LLC, VALERO GRAIN MARKETING LLC, VALERO H2 PIPELINE COMPANY LLC, VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD, VALERO HOLDINGS INC., VALERO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., VALERO LIVE OAK LLC, VALERO LOGISTICS UK LTD, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY (PANAMA) LLC, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPY INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO MARKETING IRELAND LIMITED, VALERO MKS LOGISTICS L.L.C., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEW AMSTERDAM B.V., VALERO OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONS SUPPORT LTD, VALERO PARTNERS CCTS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS EAST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS WEST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS EP LLC, VALERO PARTNERS HOUSTON LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LOUISIANA LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LUCAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MCKEE LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MERAUX LLC, VALERO PARTNERS NORTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS OPERATING CO. LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PAPS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PORT ARTHUR LLC, VALERO PARTNERS SOUTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS TEXAS CITY LLC, VALERO PARTNERS THREE RIVERS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WYNNEWOOD LLC, VALERO PAYMENT SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE LLC, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE OIL TERMINAL LTD, VALERO PLAINS COMPANY LLC, VALERO POWER MARKETING LLC, VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL PARTNERS LLC, VALERO REFINING AND MARKETING COMPANY, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-ARUBA N.V., VALERO REFINING COMPANY-CALIFORNIA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-OKLAHOMA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-TENNESSEE L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-MERAUX LLC, VALERO REFINING-NEW ORLEANS L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-TEXAS L.P., VALERO RENEWABLE FUELS COMPANY LLC, VALERO SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., VALERO SERVICES INC., VALERO SKELLYTOWN PIPELINE LLC, VALERO TEJAS COMPANY LLC, VALERO TERMINAL HOLDCO LTD, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO TEXAS POWER MARKETING INC., VALERO ULTRAMAR HOLDINGS INC., VALERO UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., VALERO WEST WALES LLC, VRG PROPERTIES COMPANY, VTD PROPERTIES COMPANY, WARSHALL COMPANY LLC, and ZELIG COMMERCIAL INC.. The United States could reliably meet about 80 percent of its electricity demand with solar and wind power generation, according to scientists at the University of California, Irvine; the California Institute of Technology; and the Carnegie Institution for Science. However, meeting 100 percent of electricity demand with only solar and wind energy would require storing several weeks' worth of electricity to compensate for the natural variability of these two resources, the researchers said. "The sun sets, and the wind doesn't always blow," noted Steven Davis, UCI associate professor of Earth system science and co-author of a renewable energy study published today in the journal Energy & Environmental Science. "If we want a reliable power system based on these resources, how do we deal with their daily and seasonal changes?" The team analyzed 36 years of hourly U.S. weather data (1980 to 2015) to understand the fundamental geophysical barriers to supplying electricity with only solar and wind energy. "We looked at the variability of solar and wind energy over both time and space and compared that to U.S. electricity demand," Davis said. "What we found is that we could reliably get around 80 percent of our electricity from these sources by building either a continental-scale transmission network or facilities that could store 12 hours' worth of the nation's electricity demand." The researchers said that such expansion of transmission or storage capabilities would mean very substantial - but not inconceivable - investments. They estimated that the cost of the new transmission lines required, for example, could be hundreds of billions of dollars. In comparison, storing that much electricity with today's cheapest batteries would likely cost more than a trillion dollars, although prices are falling. Other forms of energy stockpiling, such as pumping water uphill to later flow back down through hydropower generators, are attractive but limited in scope. The U.S. has a lot of water in the East but not much elevation, with the opposite arrangement in the West. Fossil fuel-based electricity production is responsible for about 38 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions - CO2 pollution being the major cause of global climate change. Davis said he is heartened by the progress that has been made and the prospects for the future. "The fact that we could get 80 percent of our power from wind and solar alone is really encouraging," he said. "Five years ago, many people doubted that these resources could account for more than 20 or 30 percent." But beyond the 80 percent mark, the amount of energy storage required to overcome seasonal and weather variabilities increases rapidly. "Our work indicates that low-carbon-emission power sources will be needed to complement what we can harvest from the wind and sun until storage and transmission capabilities are up to the job," said co-author Ken Caldeira of the Carnegie Institution for Science. "Options could include nuclear and hydroelectric power generation, as well as managing demand." Explore further Does energy storage make the electric grid cleaner? Billie Faiers joins sister Sam Faiers for a third series of The Mumm Diaries on ITVBe. The new series concludes tonight at 9PM on ITVBe. Advertisements For the third instalment of The Mummy Diaries, Billie joins sister Sam in opening up her home and sharing her day to day life and experience of being a mother. In this evening's series finale, Sam takes matters into her own hands and finally pops the question to Paul. Meanwhile, Billie tries to get things back on track with Greg, and Sue gets a little more than she bargained for at her birthday bash in the country. In series 3, Sam is pregnant with her second child and has just moved into her dream home, a mansion in Hertfordshire. Her son Paul is now walking and talking and Sams businesses are all thriving. Sister Billie and her partner Greg are making plans for their dream wedding whilst adapting to life with new baby Arthur. Billie wants to get married in the Maldives but Greg isnt convinced as he thinks it will be too expensive. Greg is also enjoying spending more time with daughter Nelly when Billie is kept busy with baby Arthur and Billie has asked Greg to up his game around the house. Also in the opening show, Billie and Sam attend a beauty awards evening where one of their Minnie beauty products is up for an award. Sam takes photos at a fashion shoot for her new clothes collection which she has designed herself. And her and Paul celebrate their third year anniversary by spending a night together in a London hotel away from baby Paul for the first time. Sam and Billie Faiers: The Mummy Diaries airs Wednesdays on ITVBe. Advertisements A fourth series has already been revealed. The new series airs at 9PM and has eight episodes. Bibeksheel Sajha Party criticises censorship on press freedom The Bibeksheel Sajha Party has said that its attention has been drawn towards a show cause notice and an interim order issued in the name of Kantipur Publication and Press Council by the bench of Chief Justice (CJ) Gopal Prasad Parajuli. 'CJ Parajulis order against Kantipur on contempt case vengeful and arrogant' Press Chautari Nepal has said that its attention has been drawn towards the Contempt of Court case against the Kantipur Daily filed for publishing a news article regarding discrepancies in the birth date mentioned by Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli in his official documents. Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship. The Commercial Joint Stock Bank for Foreign Trade of Vietnam (Vietcombank) is looking to sell 350 million shares, or a ten-percent stake, to foreign investors in the first half of 2018. The banks chairman Nghiem Xuan Thanh told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that the plan for the private placement had been approved by the relevant authorities. We have submitted our plan to the State Bank of Vietnam and the government for approval, Thanh said. The shares would be issued by way of public auction or private placement to a limited number of foreign investors, and sales of the issuance would be based on market prices but not lower than the valuation rate, the chairman added. Vietcombank is Vietnams top lender by market value, whose shares closed at VND71,900 (US$3) on Monday, having doubled in value since the end of 2016. The bank has a market capitalization of nearly VND258.68 trillion ($11.36 billion) as of February 2018. Thanh told reporters that Singapore's sovereign fund GIC was among the potential buyers, while Japans Mizuho Bank, the biggest foreign investor in Vietcombank with a 15-percent stake, would be allowed to buy additional shares to maintain its ownership ratio at the bank, Nikkei reported. Vietnam's law prevents one foreign investor from holding more than 30 percent of a state bank. Vietcombank is among a small number of banks that have a 9.12 percent stake reserved for foreign investors, Nikkei cited Linh Nguyen from Saigon Securities Research as saying. Thanh also announced plans to divest from Military Commercial Joint Stock Bank (MB) and Vietnam Export Import Commercial Joint Stock Bank (Eximbank) to avoid cross-ownership pursuant to Vietnamese laws. Vietcombank would reduce its ownership at these lenders to five percent by June 30, he said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Two Vietnamese students have become the winners of a competition for designing artificial intelligence (AI) systems in Japan thanks to a product that can decipher Vietnams ages-old type of script. According to the Mainichi, Japans national daily newspaper, the contest has been organized since December 2017 by the Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers. The event drew 23 groups from universities and colleges nationwide. Contestants were presented with the challenge to form the most effective system to read cursive hiragana, one of the two phonetic scripts in Japanese. The AI product by Ly Tuan Nam and Nguyen Cong Kha, 28-year-old students at the Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, was able to find the meaning of 96 percent of single characters, and 88 percent of three-character groups. The students, who used to learn at the Hanoi University of Science and Technology in Vietnam, have worked through good offices of Professor Masaki Nakagawa, and spent about four months developing the AI system, a three-layer neural net modeled upon human brain features. Their system was required to learn 300,000 hiragana characters contained in pictures from 14 handwritten texts, including "The Life of an Amorous Man" by author Ihara Saikaku, who lived in the Edo period, between 1603 and 1868. "We ran the test repeatedly to raise (the AI's) accuracy. That was really interesting," Nam said. Previously Kha also used AI to read writings on wooden tablets dug up from the ancient Heijo Palace remnants in Nara Prefecture, a region of many UNESCO World Heritage Sites. He expressed his intention to build an AI system that can decipher Nom, a Vietnamese writing system from the 10th century, for few people can read the script, leaving a number of texts using Nom awaiting interpretation. "I wish to do something useful for the Vietnamese people," he said. The students' product "will surely benefit the study of history," Nakagawa, his instructor, said. Nakagawa's lab is likewise developing systems to read handwritten test answers, including those for entrance exams. "I hope this may reduce the load on exam markers and allow for the wider adoption of handwritten test answers," Nakagawa said. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Southern Airports Services JSC (SASCO) has suggested investing VND15 billion (US$660,000) in renovating a part of the Saigon Railway Station in Ho Chi Minh City to improve the travel experience of rail passengers. The makeover will cover the entire first and second floors of the station, with the aim of transforming the location into an airport-quality services center where passengers can find all they need for a comfortable ride. This includes additions such as retail stores, coffee shops, restaurants and business lounges alongside existing ticket counters and seating areas. If approved, the project would break ground as early as in the first quarter of 2018 and be finished no later than Q2, according to SASCOs general director Doan Thi Mai Huong. No alterations would be made to the load-bearing structural design of the building, and normal operations at the station can still be ongoing during the process, Huong said. A model in perspective of the renovated interior of the Saigon Railway Station in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: SASCO According to the general director, the first floor of the Saigon Railway Station currently operates at its maximum capacity for only up to three months a year during peak travel seasons, while at other times it is almost empty. Therefore, SASCO suggests moving the ticket counters on the ground floor to the first floor and surround it with the aforementioned services to fully utilize the free space. The addition of business lounges is expected to attract more first-class travelers, who are willing to pay more for better services, to rail transport. A model in perspective of the renovated interior of the Saigon Railway Station in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: SASCO SASCO will pay around VND2 billion [$87,800] yearly to rent the entire area of the station for five years following the renovation, Huong said. The company can get to work immediately after getting the green light from the Ministry of Transport, she added. The current Saigon Railway Station, situated in District 3, was originally a baggage holding and shipping center constructed in the early 1930s, before being renovated into a passenger terminal in the early 1980s. The 3,000-square-meter station is the last stop on the North-South railway in Vietnam, capable of handling around 8,000 trains a year. A man walks past the Saigon Railway Station in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Here are todays leading news stories: Society -- Vietnamese State President Tran Dai Quang extended his greetings to doctors and workers of the healthcare sector during a ceremony marking the 63rd anniversary of Vietnamese Doctors Day (February 27) held at Bach Mai Hospital in Hanoi on Monday. -- The Peoples Committee in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre has asked the prime minister for an ODA (Official Development Assistance) or other forms of financial assistance to facilitate the construction of the Rach Mieu Bridge 2, which will connect Ben Tre and Tien Giang Provinces. -- Workers of the South Korea-invested KL Texwell Vina Company in the southern province of Dong Nai were not able to return to work on Monday following the Tet holiday as the firm remained closed, while its leaders did not show up. -- Three college students in Hanoi were hospitalized with multiple burns across their hands, faces, and necks on Monday evening after some Galaxy balloons, a type of transparent balloons wrapped in LED string lights, exploded. -- A 22-year-old man in the central city of Da Nang was arrested on Monday for breaking into a motel and stealing four iPhone 6s, along with VND10 million (US$440), from a couple. -- Police in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum on Monday captured Nguyen Ngoc Vien, 22, for causing serious injuries to another after shooting him during a quarrel. -- All bars and pubs in Hoi An, a popular tourist town in the central province of Quang Nam, will have to lower their music volume after 10:00 pm and close at midnight, the local Peoples Committee announced on Monday. -- The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Transport has set up a new plan which will increase the parking fees for automobiles along local sidewalks and roadways. Business -- A Vietnamese passenger has been banned from flying for 12 months after he failed to pay a VND7 million ($308) fine for using fake personal documents when boarding a flight last year. -- The Parkson Flemington shopping mall on Le Dai Hanh Street in District 11, Ho Chi Minh City, has been officially shut down after eight years of operation. This is Parksons fourth shopping center to have been closed since early 2015. -- The Southern Airports Services JSC (SASCO) and Vietnam Railways have submitted a proposal regarding the renovation of the first and second floors of the Saigon Railway Station, which is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2018. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Two new airports, in Van Don District in the northern province of Quang Ninh and in Phan Thiet City in the south-central province of Binh Thuan, will be inaugurated by the year 2020. The new openings are part of a Vietnamese government plan for air transport development, with a vision to have 28 operational airports by 2030. According to the plan, by 2020 Vietnam will have had a total of 13 domestic airports and ten international airdromes, including the four gateway airports of Noi Bai (Hanoi), Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Da Nang and Cam Ranh. By 2030, there will have been 15 domestic airports and 13 international airports in Vietnam, with the addition of Long Thanh International Airport, which is planned for construction in 2019 in the southern province of Dong Nai, as the countrys fifth gateway airport. The government plan looks to put Vietnam in the leading four countries in Southeast Asia in terms of air transport volume by the year 2030, with a total fleet size of 400 modern aircraft. Quang Ninhs Van Don District is one of three special administrative and economic zones Vietnam plans to develop that will incorporate specific policies and mechanisms in order to attract international investors. The special zones will function as a new model to stimulate growth and lure foreign investment, said Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung at a merger and acquisition forum last year. Phan Thiet is a popular resort city on the south-central coast of Vietnam, which attracted nearly 600,000 foreign visits in 2017, mostly from Russia, China and South Korea, according to the online portal of Binh Thuan Province. With the opening of the new airports, Vietnams air transport capacity is expected increase to around 64 million passengers and 570,000 metric tons of cargo yearly in 2020. By 2030, up to 131 million passengers and 1.7 million tons of cargo will have been transported by air each year in Vietnam, according to the plan. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Community TV will screen a comedy chat show that parodies 80s television, Good Afternoon Adelaide hosted by Jeremy Dome and business identity Norman Vine. According to a cheeky press release, Good Afternoon Adelaide was a South Australian chat show that aired live across SA and into the silver city of Broken Hill from 1989 to 1992 in an era when Adelaide truly was the place to be (before Victoria stole the slogan for their number plates, along with the Formula One Grand Prix). Hosted by journalist Jeremy Dome and business identity Norman Vine, the show featured news, celebrity interviews, live music, talkback callers, lifestyle segments, paid advertorials and a whos who of Adelaide royalty. Like a lot of local Adelaide telly, the show became a victim of increased networkisation from the eastern states and GAA was cancelled in 1992. As a final insult, the stations master tapes were later sold and used for episodes of Wheel of Fortune. Hence very few recordings of the show still exist today. However, when Hallett Cove amateur video archivist Ben Felixstove passed away last year, several Betamax tapes were uncovered by his family, featuring home video footage of Ben introducing some of his favourite Good Afternoon Adelaide clips recorded off TV. Bens tapes have been eagerly snapped up by C44 Adelaide and C31 Melbourne and six half- hour best-of episodes of Good Afternoon Adelaide will be broadcast for the first time in more than a quarter of a century beginning Monday 5 March at 9PM. RIP Good Afternoon Adelaide. Also Ben. 9pm Monday March 5 on Channel 44 Adelaide and C31 Melbourne & Geelong. New UK drama Innocent premieres on ABC on Saturday. The 2 part ITV drama stars Lee Ingleby (Our Zoo) as a man who fights to rebuild his shattered life after being imprisoned for the murder of his wife. It also features Cold Feets Hermione Norris. This has screened in the Netherlands and currently in NZ, but yet to screen in the UK. David Collins is unexpectedly acquitted on a technicality having served 7 years of a life sentence for the murder of his wife. He vows to bring to justice those who lied at his original trial & to see the real killer jailed. 8:30pm Saturday on ABC. Consultation meeting on Trade Policy Review held Nepal should formulate policy to address its trade potential and problems in order to benefit from the regulation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) requiring member countries to increase the transparency and understanding of their trade policies and practices, Tim Ferguson, Paul McDermott and Richard Fidler, better known as anarchic comedy troupe, Doug Anthony All Stars, have collectively apologised for abusive letters sent to a TV critic in the 1990s. Ferguson has apologised for five letters he reportedly faxed to Sun-Herald journalist Candace Sutton, whilst McDermott and Fidler (now a former member) expressed regret that they did not urge a retraction when they learned of his actions. Ferguson sent them over several months in 1990, at the height of the trios success on ABCs The Big Gig. and after a print review. They were faxed from ABC offices. My editor flick-passed me to the Fairfax lawyer, an old (and now dead) corporate solicitor unimpressed by my complaint, she writes. He told me to ring ABC management, which I did. The ABC boss expressed some sympathy and said hed have a word with the three comedians. But they were big stars, and the letters kept coming. Sutton today writes in News Corp her intent in publishing the letters is to explain that abusive letters do have an effect on women. I am not comparing myself with victims of actual physical sexual abuse like the women assaulted by Harvey Weinstein who began the #metoo campaign, or sexual assault victims in the community, she notes. But messages of hate are psychologically debilitating. After telling the trio she would be writing about the letters in the spirit of #metoo, they issued an apology: Tim Ferguson, Paul McDermott and their former colleague Richard Fidler, express an unreserved apology to journalist Candace Sutton for behaviour towards her when they were performing together as the Doug Anthony Allstars that was both offensive and unprofessional. Tim, who was responsible for the letter and drawing sent in 1990, says he deeply regrets sending them in response to a television review written by Candace, and acknowledges the hurt and offence caused by his actions. He apologises unreservedly. Paul and Richard were only made aware of the letter and drawings after Tim had sent them, and they expressed their dismay and disgust to him at the time. It was an appalling and stupid thing to do. However both Richard and Paul acknowledge that, having been made aware of their existence, they both should have urged Tim to retract these infantile messages and apologise for their content. Theyre sincerely sorry for their failure to do so at the time. Doug Anthony All Stars recently undertook a reunion tour with Ferguson, McDermott and Paul Flacco Livingstone. Season 2 of The Good Fight begins on SBS next week. The legal drama spin-off from The Good Wife will be fast-tracked to Wednesdays, 2 days after the US. It returns following the premiere of Safe Harbour. With the world going insane and the Chicago murder rate on the rise, Diane, Lucca, Maia and the rest of the law firm find themselves under psychological assault when a client at another firm kills his lawyer for over charging. After a copycat murder, the firm begins to look at its own clients suspiciously. Meanwhile, Diane battles with a new partner at the firm, Liz Lawrence-Reddick. Meanwhile, Maia becomes harder and tougher after her parents scandal puts her on trial. Finally, Lucca is brought back into Colins orbit. This thrilling series stars Christine Baranski, Cush Jumbo, Rose Leslie and Audra McDonald. Wednesday, 7 March at 9.40pm on SBS. Labours plan for Brexit was clarified by Jeremy Corbyn on Monday, he confirmed that a Labour government would seek a customs union but leave the single market. He further clarified that they would put jobs and living standards at the forefront of trade negotiations. The type of Brexit that Labour are after is perfectly doable, yet there have been those in the party, who represent the leave and remain camps who have condemned the plans. Prominent Labour leaver, Frank Fields, spoke out against a customs union with the EU and pro-EU MP, Chris Leslie, was outspoken against leaving the single market. Perhaps this shows he has found the perfect Middle Ground? The middle ground The problem with Brexit is the fact that the vote was almost split down the middle and whilst there were those who voted leave because they were misled, there were those who knew exactly what they wanted, with migration and sovereignty playing key roles in those decisions. Those two concepts playing a prominent role in peoples decisions underlines the lack of information and failures of the education system but thats a conversation for another time. Whoever had won the election last year was always going to need to find the middle ground with Brexit and run with it, but we have had a government who havent been able to come up with a coherent plan, despite key leave figures playing important roles within the government that encompass Brexit negotiations and post-Brexit Britain. Labour themselves have been lacklustre and have largely resorted to vague statements over Brexit. However, with the government agreeing to not pursue a customs union but trying to cherry pick that parts they want, Labours position puts them at odds with the Conservatives. The Labour MPs who have decided to speak out against the plans are simply using it to try and undermine Corbyn, because the plan is pragmatic, backed by business leaders and protects workers rights, jobs and lives. Finally, after months of procrastination, Jeremy corbyn has set out his party's stall on the exit from Brexit. Well, sort of, maybe; or perhaps the sound of screeching U-Turns that filled the streets of Coventry this morning, may herald a totally different view So he's nailed it then? Not exactly. Mr Corbyn a confirmed and very long-standing Eurosceptic has said that the Labour way forward is to remain in the Single Market and in the EU Customs Union, which will allow the UK tariff-free access to the EU, but only if we can have a say in how it is run. This would also allow a soft border with Northern Ireland thereby negating the problem of what to do to keep the North from returning to sectarian violence. Confused...well, of course, you are because so is Jeremy. His motives, to say the least, are a little suspect, a move that some would say is simply to put pressure on Theresa May and underwhelm her negotiating efforts in Brussels. Labour is caught between a rock and a hard place, swathes of their constituents voted to remain, while swathes of their constituents voted to leave; that is probably why he kept returning to the call for unity throughout his speech as he is walking an uncertain tightrope trying to keep the yeas and nays on the same side. The DUP The problem is the elephant in the room the DUP. They appear to be a party who could not agree on the colour blue, even if it was obviously blue, as the devolved government has been suspended because no one can decide if the Irish language is worthy of being taught in schools? They are undoubtedly the cement that is currently holding the Conservative government together, and although strongly pro-Brexit, they are equally as strongly against a hard border; so look out for trouble no matter the outcome. You should ask, if you want to remain in the single-market, then remain in the EU, for, oh dear, it is a case of cherry picking yet again. If one was cynical, the whole ruse could be taken as a ploy to force a General Election, for without it all Labour's proposals and posturing don't really mean very much. No doubt they are hoping for a parliamentary vote on the minutiae of the deal which will throw all the negotiations up in the air again and they can press for another general election. But at least there is now clear and distinct differences between the government and the opposition; watch the coming months and fasten your seatbelts, it's going to be a bumpy ride! Every day there is a Brexit story and with meetings and speeches coming thick and fast, it feels like it will never end, but until now the detail has been a little thin on the ground from both the government and Labour. But in a speech on Monday, Jeremy Corbyn laid out the Labours position on an economy first Brexit, with Theresa May set to make a speech on Friday and Liam Fox later today. What is Labours plan outlined by Jeremy Corbyn? How does it contrast to Theresa Mays after her dubbed war cabinet met at Chequers last Thursday to come to an agreement over the governments plans for Brexit? This came after 62 hard-line Conservative leavers sent a letter outlining their idea for a clean break What could a Labour Brexit mean? Jeremy Corbyn outlined that it was key to put jobs and the economy first over Brexit, protecting peoples jobs and living standards. The plan would see Britain maintain a Customs Union with the EU and prevent a hard border in Ireland and protect the Good Friday Agreement. He further stressed that freedom of movement will end, and Britain will leave the single market. He also stated that Labour would create fair rules on migration, designing a policy around the needs of the economy and reasonable management of migration. He further added that Labour would protect existing EU rights, give struggling firms state aid, nationalise industry and stop the posting of cheaper workers from overseas. There was also a suggestion that Britain would contribute to Brussels budget so that it could remain in schemes such as Euratom, the regulation of nuclear materials. This is rather than paying more to create and design new laws. He did confirm that Britain would leave the single market, but this would free Britain from EU rules on state aid and competition Cabinet agreement at Chequers? Last week senior members of Theresa Mays cabinet came to an agreement at a meeting at Chequers on Thursday over the plans for Brexit, although the meeting has since been labelled a mess. The agreement is that the government will pursue Britain leaving the customs union but matching EU rules in specific sectors in a bid to gain frictionless trade. Whilst there is a little bit more detail, there does seem to be a gaping hole in what Brexit will look like. Donald Tusk was blunt during a press conference after he said he was glad that there was more detail but went on to say that the position reported by the papers was pure illusion. Jeremy Hunt, who didnt attend the meeting, claims that it is possible to achieve what the government has set out to achieve. Whilst it is good that a position seems to be forming, this begs the question, why has it taken this long to get to this point? There isnt too much time and the government has been plagued with infighting over Brexit, with leavers sending demands in letters, remainers trying to keep Britain in the single market and customs union along with even voting with Labour on certain issues. Those who campaigned for leaving were given top cabinet positions to help iron out their vision yet failed to come up with a coherent plant between them and usually disagreeing with each other. So far, the whole thing has been a mess, but we can hope that things do improve now that there is at least some detail to build upon. Adding further insult to division, a former top government trade official has compared Brexit to giving up a 3-course meal for a packet of crisps. Sir Martin Donnelly has warned that to seek equal access to EU trade agreements without obeying the rules will not happen and he said that it is something for the fairy godmother. Donnelly formerly worked in the Department for International Trade and this was response to Liam Foxs insistence that Britain will leave the customs union and is expected to continue to say this in a speech later today. A group of scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have reported on their success in primate cloning. Using the technique which gave birth to the famous Dolly the sheep, they managed to create two identical copies of macaques. Named Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, the two baby monkeys are aged eight and six weeks respectively. It was thought this cloning technique would not work for primates Being completely identical in terms of their genetic makeup, they appear to develop in a way normal to their species. According to Cell.com, previously it was assumed that this cloning technique would not work for primates, yet the Chinese biologists managed to refine the tech to make it suitable for cloning monkeys. In 1999 scientists managed to "clone" a rhesus macaque by splitting an early-stage macaque embryo into multiple parts, but that attempt only resulted in creating a couple of identical twins, and not true clones. As reported by National Geographic, it took Mu-Ming Poo and his team from the Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology at the Chinese Academy of Sciences two years to improve the existing methodology. The scientists added matrix RNA and trichostatin A to the cloned genome in order to significantly reduce the probability the animals they cloned would die. This approach allowed the awakening of more than two thousand additional genes. An added feature was a stimulation by an electric current during the egg fertilisation process which enhanced the subsequent production of an embryo. Other primates can now be cloned, including humans Even though Mr Poo recognised they faced "a lot of mistakes and failures" on their journey, the authors of the study noted that now there are no more barriers to human cloning - at least in technical terms - and the only issues still outstanding are ethics. As he pointed out in his interview to National Geographic, "the reason we decided to break this barrier is the production of animal models that will help in the treatment of people." According to him, their research is primarily aimed at improving methods of treating cancer, immunity disorders and other genetically induced conditions. The cloning project was supported by the Chinese government, which promised further assistance in upcoming studies of primate cloning. The milestone discovery may usher in a brave new world of breakthrough biomedical research. It will unquestionably spark debate, however, over ethical aspects of potentially cloning yet another primate species, Homo Sapiens. Dark-horse Khatiwada is new finance minister Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli seems to be making all the right moves in selection of human resources for the new government. Although we are bound by faith to believe the existence of a religion, archaeological discoveries do help in strengthening rationale minds seeking answers to questions against it. Now proof of the existence of Isaiah, one of the most significant prophets of the Christian Bible may have been discovered in Jerusalem. Archaeologists of the Hebrew University led by Dr Eilat Mazaar have found a 2700-year-old clay Seal bearing the impression which they feel reads the property of Isaiah the prophet. The seal impression dating back to the 8th century BCE may have been made by Isaiah himself and was excavated from the remains of the First Temple in the vicinity of Jerusalems Temple Mount. What leads researchers to believe the seal belonged to Isaiah? The seal also called a Bulla was found during a renewed session of excavations at the Ophel beneath the southern wall of the Temple Mount. The oval-shaped Bulla was discovered partially intact but the writing on the seal is clear and legible. The inscription as translated by Dr Mazaar reads lYeshayah[u] (belonging to Isaiah). The line below it contains the partial word NVY which could presumably be a spelling of the word prophet. If the seal had not been damaged, it would have then been known if the last letter was indeed the Hebrew letter aleph that forms the last part of the Hebrew spelling of prophet (Nun-beit-yod-aleph.) It would then have been almost certain that the seal belonged to Isaiah. The details of the phenomenal discovery were published in the March-June issue of the Biblical Archaeology Review. Evidence points favourably to the seal belonging to Isaiah The clay impression seal also bears the image of a grazing doe which is a symbol of blessings and protection and common to Judah in Jerusalem. If the seal does turn out to be the property of Isaiah, it would be the first archaeology evidence of the biblical prophet who also prophesied the coming of Jesus Christ (ex: Isaiah 7:4, 9:7 among many). What is even more interesting to note is that the seal or Bullah of King Hezekiah of Judah was found in the same area in 2015. Isaiah served as an advisor to this very same King who ruled Israel between 727-698 BCE. According to the Bible, Isaiah influenced the king to fight against the invading Assyrian army who had besieged Jerusalem in 701 BC. They had even captured Northern Israel when Isaiah motivated the king not to surrender saying that God would help him by preventing Jerusalems capture. Hezekiah was successful in fighting off the Assyrians, ending the siege of the Holy City. Skepticism over the discovery but Dr Mazaar feels otherwise There is skepticism from various quarters of the scientific fraternity questioning if the seal is indeed that of the prophet Isaiah. Israeli Epigrapher Haggai Misgav has voiced his opinion on Facebook saying the absence of the complete inscription made it highly unlikely that the seal did indeed belong to Isiah. Dr Mazaar, on the other hand, provided some room in her published research for doubts on the find but in the same breath was highly optimistic of the discovery. Dr Mazaar felt that regardless of the Isaiah seal belonging to the prophet or not, it was still a fantastic and unique discovery.The research also provided insight into the close proximity Isaiah shared as an advisor to King Hezekiah in regards to his time as well as the influence over future events. Amur Minerals has upgraded its mineral resource estimate (MRE) programme as it evaluates the possibility of entering the electronic vehicle (EV) market, the company said on Tuesday. The nickel copper sulphide exploration company said that with "potential disruption" set to hit the nickel and cobalt markets related to EVs, additional opportunities and an increased field of strategic partners were becoming available. Nickel and cobalt are required for the fabrication of batteries for EVs. Robin Young, chief executive of Amur Minerals, said: "Presently, projections to source sufficient nickel product to meet the 4% annual growth from this sector alone could increase the current two million tonnes per year nickel consumption demand by as much as a million tonnes per year by 2025." A February MRE at the Kun-Manie project in Eastern Russia will be comprised of all drilling results from 2017, covering a mineralised strike length of approximately 4 km, a 2.3 km increase over the previous MREs scope. "We are actively reviewing all of our metallurgical test work with regard to nickel and cobalt and have generated a work programme to determine the optimal operational setup allowing the company to fully participate in the EV market. With potential modification to our downstream concentrate treatment plans, the ability to generate near battery ready or battery ready product could further enhance the economic potential of Kun-Manie," said Young. Amur Minerals holds a licence for production rights at the Kun-Manie project until 2035, allowing it 100% of the nickel, copper, cobalt, platinum, palladium, gold and silver recovered over the 36 square km area. As of 1410 GMT, Amur Minerals' shares were down 10.47% at 4.74p. Recruitment software supplier Dillistone Group announced on Tuesday that its new GatedTalent business has reached a further landmark. The AIM-traded firm said that GatedTalent, launched at the World Executive Search Congress in October, had now signed its 100th client contract. Contracts had been signed with organisations headquartered in more than 20 countries, the board reported, adding that the global nature of its clientele meant that the platform had been licensed for use in more than 40 countries. The company had previously stated that GatedTalent was the fastest growing new product in its history. Dillistone added to that on Tuesday, reporting that demand had accelerated in February, with close to two new contracts being signed each working day during the month. Subscription revenue for the product was now expected to be ahead of initial expectations. The take-up of GatedTalent by the search industry is a strong endorsement, said Dillistoone chief executive Jason Starr. Like us, they see that GatedTalent is an opportunity to transform how executives engage with recruiters. Starr said the international interest beyond the European borders was equally encouraging, demonstrating the global nature of the opportunity for GatedTalent. We have previously stated that we expect our clients - executive recruiters - to send significantly more than two million compliance messages through the platform. These messages are sent to executives for GDPR compliance reasons but can also double as an invitation for the executive to create a profile on the GatedTalent platform - it is these profiles which will drive long term revenue. Starr said a number of Dillistones clients had begun sending those messages, and a number of executives had created profiles as a result of that. We expect these numbers to increase significantly as the May deadline for GDPR compliance approaches. AIM-quoted software-as-a service firm Dotdigital saw revenue jump 25% in a "transformational" first half, as sales through its strategic partner network increased 1.8m over the previous half and set it on track to meet full-year expectations. Dotdigital saw revenue grow to 18.77m from the 14.98m posted a year earlier. Organic revenue grew 17% to 17.5m. Revenue from the US jumped around 44% to $3.3m, driven by channel partners and system integrations into the likes of Magento and Shopify, the company said. Its costly expansion into the Asia-Pacific region began to bear fruit, with revenue from the region soaring about 75% to AUD $0.9m from the AUD $0.5m in the first half of the previous financial year. EBITDA rose 8% year-on-year to 5.7m, while pre-tax profits moved ahead to 4.35m from 4.28m. After an expenditure of 13.1m, mainly due to its 10.7m acquisition of Comapi, an omnichannel messaging and cloud communications business, Dotdigital's net cash balance fell to 10.49m from 18.92m at the end of 2017. Chief exeutive Milan Patel said: "These results show Dotdigital is making good progress. We are expanding and strengthening the platform which underpins our growth while continuing to grow our presence in international markets." "We're also delighted to have further cemented our partnerships with Magento, Shopify, Microsoft and our other partners, which demonstrates their trust in our ability to drive revenue for their customers through our platform." As of 1120 GMT, shares had fallen off 12.09% to 83.51p. AIM-listed Kibo Mining said on Tuesday that it has received commitments to raise 750,000 before expenses through a placing of 17.6m shares at 4.25p each. Proceeds from the placing will be used to build on the companys plans to create a strategic regional electricity supplier. Chief executive officer Louis Coetzee said: "Our portfolio of power projects, including our flagship 300MW Mbeya Coal to Power Project, is rapidly advancing and I look forward to updating both new and existing shareholders on progress soon." The placing is being carried out by Kibos UK broker, Beaufort Securities and the company expects to pay an aggregate of 75,000 in expenses. Kibo is a Tanzania-based minerals exploration and development company. At 1550 GMT, the shares were up 2.5% to 5.79p. US broadcasting giant Comcast has put in a rival $31bn (22.1bn) bid to buy Sky , in a direct challenge to Fox and Walt Disney , with markets seemingly expecting that Rupert Murdoch and Disney will be forced to come back to the table with their own revised offers. America's largest cable TV operator offered 12.5 per share for the British outfit, trumping Fox's offer of 10.75 per share. "We would like to own the whole of Sky and we will be looking to acquire over 50% of the Sky shares," Comcast chief Brian Roberts said in a statement. Comcast's gambit also pits it against Walt Disney, which roughly two months before had agreed to pay $52.4bn (37.42bn) for Fox's film and TV units Significantly, as of 0834 GMT shares of Sky were already trading above Comcast's offer price, at 1,307.00, a possible indication that in anticipation of another counteroffer, traders weren't ready to change the channel just yet. "In a normal takeover situation, the potential acquirer would be extremely keen to have the support of the largest shareholder in an effort to ease the deal through. "Unlikely though it seems, this could yet happen, but it is equally plausible that Fox will need to return with an improved bid, which the market was beginning to anticipate in any event," said Richard Hunter, Head of Markets at Interactive Investor. Analysts at Olivetree expressed a broadly similar view, telling clients: "The body-language here says there is real competitive tension for Sky (rather than some cosy deal behind the scenes). "Comcast's timing is interesting, it allows them to start their regulatory filings, which could well conclude at a similar point to a Fox transaction being put in front of Sky shareholders. Comcast's approach should be very clean, the regulatory backdrop for them should be straightforward, and the 50% acceptance shows that they are happy to own the asset alongside Fox / Disney [as is the case in Hulu]. Whether Fox/Disney are happy to do the same remains to be seen." And in the background [...] Netflix? To keep in mind perhaps, according to a 7 December note from analysts at RBC, Walt Disney had roughly 22m reasons to go after Sky, namely its customer base (UK & Ireland (12.7m), Germany & Austria (5.0m) and Italy (4.8m )), which would allow it to leapfrog rival Netflix, which as of year-end 2016 had 19.7m subscribers in Europe. With content increasingly the critical factor in modern media wars, Sky also offered "substantial" European content, including a deal with Time Warner-owned HBO and distribution deals for the Continent with all the major movie studios, RBC said. As an aside, Comcast's decision to step into the fray comes ahead of a widely-expected provisional decision from the Competition and Markets Authority on Fox's proposed 11.7bn takeover, with the regulator reportedly sifting through the several thousands of submissions it received in response. On 6 December, the CMA said, "in this case, we have received a large body of evidence including numerous face-to-face hearings and more than 12,000 submissions so it is vital that we spend the time to reach an informed and considered provisional view." Indeed, press reports prior to that CMA announcement had indicated that Fox might be willing to step away from its bid, instead selling its 39% stake in Sky to Disney, given the possibility that its bid might fail. However, according to analysts, under UK Takeover Panel rules the long-stop date for Fox to pull-out from its offer - if it failed to obtain the 'green light' from CMA - was 15 August 2018. In any case, traders seem to believe there were still at least a chapter or two left to this story, with Laith Khalaf at Hargreaves Lansdown pointing out, "There may well be some reaction from 21st Century Fox. However, since the bid for Sky was launched, 21st Century Fox has agreed to sell many of its assets, including Sky, to Disney. It remains to be seen therefore what appetite Rupert Murdoch has to pursue Sky any further. "This isnt a done deal yet though. Sky shares are now trading 2% above the Comcast offer price, so the market clearly smells the scent of some more action before this saga draws to a close." Deutsche Bank has confirmed its plans to list its DWS asset management unit on the Frankfurt stock exchange. Seeking to take advantage of favorable market conditions, Deutsche Bank decided to bring forward the DWS flotation by several weeks. No date has been officially confirmed for the listing of the 700bn worth assets but sources close to the company said it would likely happen on 19 March, according to Citywire. The bank is expected to sell 25% of existing DWS shares for 1.5bn to 2bn (1,3bn to 1.7bn), the sources said. No official price average or estimated schedules were revealed as part of the IPO announcement. Deutsche Bank said in a statement it would hope to fund growth of between 3-5% and a fee margin of 30 basis points. DWS has assumed the legal structure of a partnership limited by shares. This means the bank can keep control even if the shareholding falls below the 75% that is needed to dominate German stock corporations. The business is looking for ways to bolster areas such as structured credit and real estate asset management. "The planned IPO will give us the opportunity to unlock the full potential of DWS for clients and employees, while targeting attractive returns for our shareholders," DWS chief executive Nicolas Moreau said in a statement. BGEO Group announced on Tuesday that its real estate subsidiary, m2 Real Estate , has opened a Ramada Encore hotel in Tbilisi - the company's first hotel under an exclusive development agreement with Wyndham . The FTSE 250 firm said the hotel featured a capacity of 152 rooms, a restaurant, offered conferencing and fitness facilities, and would cater the needs of the rapidly-growing market for budget travelers in Georgia. It said the average daily rate of the hotel in the stabilisation year was projected at $110, with an expected occupancy rate of 70%. The company's investment in the hotel, including the land value, totalled $14m. I am delighted that m2 has developed its first hotel under the Ramada Encore brand, which allows the company to specifically target the very lucrative budget travelers' segment in Georgia, said m2 CEO Irakli Burdiladze. This is a significantly underserved and, more importantly, very rapidly growing segment of Georgia's tourism sector, and m2 is successfully taking advantage of this opportunity. Irakli Gilauri, CEO of the BGEO group, added his congratulations to m2 for achieving what he said was the first milestone in its hotel development strategy. The company has made a significant step towards reaching its goal of creating a portfolio of 1,000 rooms throughout Georgia within the next two to three years, Gilauri explained. Tourism remains the engine of Georgia's economic growth and m2 is fully equipped to meet the growing demand generated by the increasing number of international visitors. Derwent London proposed a special dividend on Tuesday as it posted a rise in 2017 net asset value. In the year to the end of December 2017, net rental income increased 10.4% to 161.1m, while EPRA net asset value per share was up 4.6% to 3,716p from 3,551p at 31 December 2016. EPRA earnings rose 22.5% to 105m, while earnings per share increased 22.4% to 94.2p. The company lifted its final dividend 10% to 42.4p, giving a full-year dividend of 59.73p, up 14.1% on the year. In addition, it proposed a special dividend of 75p per share to be paid this June. The company achieved a record for new lettings, of 41.5m, while investment property disposals totalled 482.8m, up 11.8% from December 2016 values. Derwent said the London office market remained resilient in 2017 as both occupier and investor demand was strong. It said that while leasing incentives have increased in some instances and deals take longer to complete, prices remain firm. In the longer term, demand will depend on the continuing strength of the London economy, the impact of the UK's final Brexit settlement and what actions the country subsequently takes, it said. Chief executive John Burns said: "The London office market continues to be resilient with good occupier and investment demand. Our highly successful White Collar Factory development demonstrates Derwent London's innovative approach. "We have largely pre-let the office element at 80 Charlotte Street and are seeing good interest in our Brunel Building. We have now started work at Soho Place, one of London's most important Crossrail sites." At 0900 GMT, the shares were up 2.8% to 2,990p. Delhi wants rail links with Kathmandu: Koshiyari Bhagat Singh Koshiyari, India coordinator of the Eminent Persons Group, has said New Delhi wants rail links with Kathmandu. Drax 's underlying profits surged ahead last year and core earnings beat expectations, but the Yorkshire power station reported a swing into a statutory paper loss due to currency hedging. Consolidated revenue of 3.7bn for 2017 was up 735m on the year before, driven by higher power generation sales and the acquisition of Opus Energy. Electrical output of 20.0TWh was generated in power generation, of which 65% was from biomass units and 35% from coal. Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation grew 64% to 229m thanks to improving earnings quality from biomass generation and Opus. This beat the average analyst forecast of 225m. Power generation grew despite maintenance outages for two biomass units and the impact of low load factors on coal units during the summer. But 2017 saw the first year of generation under the government's contract for difference (CfD) programme, which contributed 248m of revenue. Power generation EBITDA increased 64m to 238m, while Opus saw B2B energy supply EBITDA of 29m, while pellet production EBITDA came out at 6m thanks to 35% growth in production. Net debt at the year-end was 367m, which was better than the consensus forecast of 462m, thanks to strong cash conversion and working capital inflows of 166m in the year. A total dividend of 12.3p per share was accompanied by the announcement of a 50m share buyback programme which analysts at RBC Capital Markets estimated will be 5% accretive to future EPS. A statutory loss before tax of 183m was principally driven by unrealised losses related to foreign currency hedging of 156m "The immediate impact on the Group was a weakening of sterling and an associated increase in the cost of biomass, which is generally denominated in other currencies," Drax said. "Through our utilisation of medium-term foreign exchange hedges the group protected the cash impact of this weakness. In 2017, sterling has generally strengthened, and we have been able to extend our hedged position out to 2022 at rates close to those that we saw before Brexit." Chief executive Will Gardiner said 2017 was the first time all parts of the business making positive contributions. "We also made good progress delivering our strategy, which is clear and unchanged. We are increasing biomass self-supply, developing projects to diversify our generation mix and growing our B2B energy supply business. "The UK is undergoing an energy revolution, starting with a significant reduction in carbon emissions, and to support that we are helping to change the way energy is generated, supplied and used." Looking forward, Drax expects to accelerate energy supply growth from Opus Energy, increased biomass self-supply through acquisition and commissioning of third biomass pellet plant, LaSalle Bioenergy, and has UK government support to convert a fourth biomass unit at its Yorkshire site. Future generation will be boosted by a coal-to-gas repowering option, with two open cycle gas turbines (OCGTs) to enter next capacity market auction in December 2018. Based on the results and our discussions with the company RBC said analysts said they believed Drax "remains comfortable with consensus EBITDA in 2018 of ~250m". Royal Bank of Scotland will be forced to supply funding to 'challenger' banks and allow access to its branches to help increase competition for SME business banking as part of a new deal by the Treasury with European regulators that means the bank will not have to sell off its 300-branch Williams & Glyn business. As RBS failed to agree a deal to sell the branches by the end of 2017, which the European Union demanded as part of the bank's 46bn state bailout in 2008, the government rushed to obtain a new agreement to allow RBS to meet its remaining State Aid obligations. On Monday RBS announced through the regulatory news service the same message it had released on Friday night, announced that it has taken a new 750m provision within its 2016 results as a consequence of the new proposal. As part of the Treasury's proposed alternative plan, RBS will create a fund, administered by an independent body, to be accessed by eligible challenger banks to increase their business banking capabilities. RBS, which this coming Friday is forecast to rack up ninth consecutive year of annual losses, will also deliver funding for eligible challenger banks to help them incentivise SMEs to switch their accounts fromRBS paid in the form of 'dowries' to eligible challenger banks. To support these measures, RBS will make its branch network open to business customers of eligible challenger banks for cash and cheque handling. Finally, the 73%-state owned bank will also set up an independent fund to invest in fintech "to support the business banking of the future". EC competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager will ask commissioners to look at the plans "in the coming weeks". RBS chief executive Ross McEwan said: Todays proposal would provide a path to increased competition in the SME market place. If agreed it would deliver an outcome on our EC State Aid divestment obligations more quickly and with more certainty than undertaking a difficult and complex sale and would provide much needed certainty for customers and staff. Analysts at UBS said the move looked positive for shareholders, reducing uncertainty and raising the prospect of dividend payments again. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has said on Tuesday that the UK could join the US military strikes against the Syrian government if there is proof that chemical weapons have been used against civilians in the Eastern Ghouta region. Johnson said that the UK and other western nations should not overlook chemical attacks if there is an incontrovertible evidence of the Syrian governments involvement in the strikes. If we know that it has happened, and we can demonstrate it, and if there is a proposal for action where the UK could be useful then I think we should seriously consider it, Johnson told BBC radio. If the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) produces incontrovertible evidence of further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime or their supporters, I will certainly hope very much that the West does not stand idly by, he added. Nearly 400,000 civilians are trapped as the Syrian armies and allies repeatedly bomb the region, which holds the last rebel enclave near the capital. Over the past week Syrian forces backed by Russian warplanes have carried out one of the heaviest bombardments of the war killing hundreds of civilians. Local doctors have said a suspected chlorine attack in eastern Ghouta injured 18 people and killed one child on Sunday evening in the latest attack. Britain is part of the U.S. led coalition involved in attacks on Islamic State in Syria and Iraq but parliament does not support attacks on the Syrian government. Johnson has said he supports attacks on Assads regime after almost 100 people died in a gas attack on the town Khan Sheikhoun, a rebel stronghold. Although the government has always denied using chemical weapons and says it targetes only armed rebels. What we need to ask ourselves as a country and what we in the the West need to ask ourselves, is can we allow the use of chemical weapons, the use of these illegal weapons to go unreproved, unchecked, unpunished, Johnson said. The media sector was the highest riser on Tuesday, led by a 20% rise for Sky 's shares as US cable network Comcast tabled a rival bid to that agreed with 21st Century Fox. Comcast tentatively offered 1,250p per share for the British outfit, trumping Fox's offer of 10.75 per share and valuing Sky at $31bn (22.1bn). Sky's shares shot up 20% to 1,330p, with the market seemingly expecting that Rupert Murdoch's Fox and Disney will be forced to come back to the table with their own revised offers. Analysts at Olivetree Financial said all signs point to Comcast's bid for Sky being "genuinely in competition with Fox & Disney", with the market "right to be pricing in real competitive tension now". Comcast's bid should be very 'clean' from an antitrust point of view, with the 50% acceptance showing that they are happy to own the asset alongside Fox / Disney. "Whether Fox/Disney are happy to do the same remains to be seen." ITV was also higher, lifted by M&A hopes on the back of the bidding war. Elsewhere in the sector, Barclays upgraded Ascential to 'equal weight' a day after the events and business information group's results saw better-than-expected 2018 guidance and raised the possibility of more portfolio changes. Analysts were impressed by management's confidence for better organic growth in 2018, hopes for Cannes Lions of "only a fairly modest year-on-year decline" and a strategic review of the exhibitions unit that "could create new headroom for inorganic reinvestment". A sum-of-the-parts (SOTP) price target was lifted to 395p. Pearson was also lifted by broker comment, as Citi reissued its 'buy' rating on the stock, without making any meaningful changes to its underlying assumptions. "We think the market has been too cautious on the long-term prospects of the US higher ed business and focused too much on it to the detriment of other parts of the business. We wouldnt say the group is out of the woods yet, but to the extent these results showed the higher ed business is smaller in the mix than many expected and with core leverage almost nil, we came away encouraged." Personal goods was the worst performing sector, having been the best the day before. Unilever and PZ Cussons, having driving the rise on Monday, were both down on Tuesday. Top performing sectors so far today Media +2.63% Industrial Metals & Mining +2.50% Financial Services +1.05% Industrial Transportation +0.82% General Industrials +0.56% Bottom performing sectors so far today Personal Goods -1.81% Tobacco -1.34% Real Estate Investment Trusts -1.29% Real Estate Investment & Services -1.27% Food Producers & Processors 7,514.95 -1.20% One of the reasons Elon Musk proposes a Mars colony is that it would serve as a backup for Human Civilization, just in case the worst happens to Earth. The idea has caused some controversy from environmentalists who suggest that Musk regards the home planet of humanity as disposable. Better, they suggest, that we bend all efforts to preserving the Earth before gallivanting off to someplace else. Robert Walker, writing for Science 2.0, is okay with the idea of a backup to Earth. However, he suggests that the moon is a better location. The reason he suggests this stems from the principle familiar with every computer user that the purpose of a backup is to restore the original if it should prove necessary. What does a lunar based backup look like? The first thing that needs to be protected from some planetary catastrophe on the moon would be the life that resides on Earth. A seed bank, similar to one that already exists in Norway, could be tucked away in one of the lava tubes that resides deep below the lunar surface. Likely some way would be found to preserve animal life as well, likely as frozen embryos and so on. The human colonists themselves, who would partly serve as caretakers for the backup system, would serve as the start of a restoration of Earths population should the human planet need restoration. The other thing that will need backing up will be the sum total of knowledge, history, and culture of the human race. Copies of the content of the Internet would be uploaded to a lunar based storage facility periodically. Copies of every book ever written would also be stored. 3D virtual reality images of culturally and historically significant places on Earth say the Pyramids of Giza, Angor Wat, and the Acropolis would also be stored away. Restoring Earth Suppose that some catastrophe were to wipe out all Life On Earth, say an asteroid impact, a thermonuclear exchange, or an environmental disaster. The lunar colonists will wait until the after-effects of such an event die down, even if it takes decades, and then go to work. New life would be seeded in appropriate locations. Then animals would be hatched and released into the wild. Human beings, as a reverse of what many assume the future to be, would recolonize Earth, either restoring wrecked cities or building new communities. The process would likely take centuries What about the Mars colony? None of what was described above precludes settling Mars. One of the most tiresome debates in space policy circles is, go back to the moon or go to Mars. Every good undertaking, especially preserving and backing up the Earth, benefits from redundancy. Earth, moon, or Mars? Why choose? 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. "Teen Mom OG" fans have been waiting for tonight's episode for months. Catelynn Lowell entered treatment in November, and the new episode will show what transpired to bring her to that decision. A lot has been revealed this season with her pregnancy being the biggest shock. Lowell and Tyler Baltierra did not publicly announce they were expecting, but it was shown on the show. Pregnancy reveal Catelynn Lowell surprised Tyler Baltierra with the news they were expecting. The moment was perfect as it played out in front of the "Teen Mom OG" cameras. Both had talked about expanding their family, but Baltierra had no clue Lowell had her birth control removed. Fans were confused about why there had been no pregnancy announcement from the couple. All of the pieces came together when it was leaked that Catelynn had suffered a miscarriage. That, coupled with the admittance to treatment, made everything make sense. Lowell had lost the pregnancy and became engulfed with thoughts of suicide. The road to treatment In the new Sneak Peek for tonight's "Teen Mom OG," Catelynn Lowell is shown on her way to the airport. Tyler Baltierra's mom, Kim, calls to find out what is going on. Her encouragement brings Lowell back to tears. The plan for treatment was 30 days, but Catelynn stayed longer and returned home only for a few short days before heading back. This was a significant point in their lives, and now, fans will have an inside look at the backstory. Rumors circulated that Catelynn Lowell may not attend the upcoming taping of the "Teen Mom OG" reunion. It is now being said that she will be able to make it, and has gotten clearance from the treatment facility. Tyler Baltierra spent a week with his wife earlier this month, and it appeared the two are working through this like they have in the past. They have beaten every obstacle thrown their way, and now, they are ready to conquer this one. Tonight's episode has been heavily anticipated."Teen Mom OG fans" are ready for the heartbreak when Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra face their miscarriage. A lot has happened since November, and now, everything is coming full circle. There are a lot of questions, and most of them should be answered with tonight's episode. Lowell and Baltierra are expected to be in New York this weekend, and fans hipe seeing their friends will help ease the pain of talking about it again. This will be one show you won't want to miss. The South Korean President Moon Jae-in, while on the election trail, had said that if required, he would go to North Korea to move the peace process forward. After he became president, he also said that there would not be any more war on the Korean Peninsula. But once in the president's chair, Moon realized that he was not an independent man and the real driving force of policy on the Korean peninsula was the United States. With Donald Trump hurling abuses on the North and threatening war, Moon became a hapless spectator. Now it is reported in the Quaint that Moon has gotten around the invitation extended to him by Kim Jong-un by stating that the North was ready for dialogue with the USA. There is no doubt that President Moon was surprised at the invitation by the North Korean leader to visit Pyongyang. The invitation was handed over by the sister of Kim at the opening of the winter Olympics in the presidential palace at Seoul. Kim Jong-un Kim Jong has proven that he is an adept diplomat. He sent the invitation knowing that Moon could not accept it in defiance of the US, as South Korea is hostage to US policy in the region. He scored brownie points with the invitation and proved that Moon is not an independent agent. Moon has now said that North Korea is ready to for dialogue with the USA. The reason for Moon's statement has not been published, as Kim is silent on the issue. To the credit of Donald Trump, it must be mentioned that despite all his rhetoric against North Korea, he had also said that he would be ready to meet Kim. The Korean dictator is basking in the sun for making North Korea a nuclear power. There is no way the USA can get the North to roll back their nuclear program. Trump has been hoping that the North will launch a strike but Kim is too shrewd a man to fall into this trap. Trump Donald Trump would like nothing better than to have a surgical strike on the North, but warnings by General Mattis of unprecedented destruction and casualties in the South has stopped him. Moon is skating on thin ice. His failure to respond positively to the invitation by Kim is a sign that he is hostage to American policy in the region. The Times of India has reported that Kim, by extending the invitation, has tried to drive a wedge between the South and the USA. This has not happened but many in Korea will be wondering how free Moon really is. Last word The US is wanting to tighten the screws on the North by enforcing a near-total blockade of the North, which Kim has called an "act of war." It looks highly unlikely that Kim will give up his nuclear development weapons program. Doti doctors leave district to protest attack on colleague Nepal Medical Association (NMA) has recalled all government doctors deployed in Doti after a District Hospital doctor was attacked by a patients relatives last Sunday. PEOPLE Deloitte adds former FAA acquisition chief Metts Deloitte said Tuesday it has hired three-decade aviation veteran and former Federal Aviation Administration acquisition chief Chris Metts as a specialist executive in the professional services firms federal practice. He will focus on work with clients to understand applications of technologies such as artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing and mobility for air safety and efficiency, plus customer service. Metts is a 31-year FAA veteran and held roles there such as chief acquisition officer and vice president of program management. After his retirement, Metts joined Harris Corp. and more recently was its vice president of global aviation and air traffic management. At Harris, he focused on knowledge of international aviation and future trends anticipated to impact the U.S. national airspace system and global air traffic management. CONTRACT AWARD LGS books $81M Army data network job LGS Innovations has won a five-year, $81.5 million contract to help the Army build a new single network for secure delivery of data across the Asia-Pacific theater. The NETMOD Pacific data project is intended to touch at least 100 sites with lower numbers of entry and exit points for the data, LGS said Tuesday. Herndon, Virginia-based LGS will perform engineering, furnish-and-install, security and testing work on non-classified Internet Protocol router network switching equipment and related components for the project. Additional services include regional support and delivery of unclassified network services, plus help to migrate the Armys data network into an IP packed switch-based infrastructure. Globalisation losing lustre As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was speaking against protectionism and expressing his arguments in favour of globalisation at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, CenturyLink's integrated team gearing up for EIS business The public-facing portion of CenturyLinks integration with Level 3 is now complete. In the fall, CenturyLink announced the structure of its public sector team and last week named the leaders of those organizations. Weve created an organized view for our customers, said David Young, CenturyLinks regional vice president of strategic government markets. All leaders of the five customer-facing units and three horizontal organizations are in place. Also, the integration has moved down through the organization to individual operators. Every customer knows who is in charge of their account; there is no longer a CenturyLink person and a Level 3 person. Everyone has a single face, Young said. That was our first goal. CenturyLink is still working on merging product lines and solutions. But as far as what the customer sees, it is a single organization, Young said. The merger of CenturyLink and Level 3 closed on Nov. 1 to create a $24 billion a year telecommunications provider. CenturyLink gets about 75 percent of its revenue from enterprise customers such as the government. The public sector group has 750 people coming together from heritage CenturyLink and Level 3 and Young said the integration moved quickly because that effort began as soon as the deal was announced in October 2016. It took a year for the merger to be completed because as a telecommunications provider, the companies had more regulatory hurdles to clear than an IT company faces. Nearly 20 state utility commissions had to approve the deal. While that was going on however, the companies planned their future structure and named several people as executives that would be leading operations of the new CenturyLink. In fact, Level 3 re-hired Ed Morche, who led the companys government business before leaving for a role at another company. Morche took on a post-close role as president of CenturyLinks strategic enterprise, federal government and state government business. Young announced his leadership team in the federal market on Feb. 15: Scott Barnett: vice president, Defense Department sales Zain Ahmed: senior director, civilian sales Cynthia Shelton: senior director, special programs sales Gil Brown: director, defense industrial base and federal carriers Craig Cupach: director, research and education sales Lisa Bruch: senior director, government strategy Seana Gilliland: vice president, program management office John Shuttleworth: director, sales engineering The first five are vertical groups are focused on specific customer sets and the last three work across all customer groups, Young said. One part of his structure that stood out to me is the defense industrial base and federal carriers unit. The group supports other contractors particularly defense contractors. This includes working as a subcontractor on projects but also supporting their own infrastructure needs. Young said this sets CenturyLink apart from competitors, who tend to turn that infrastructure piece over to their commercial enterprise business units. The integration work has come together at an important time in the market as the General Services Administration moves forward with the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions contract. CenturyLink and nine other companies won spots on the $50 billion telecommunications vehicle. The award came before the CenturyLink and Level 3 merger closed and both companies won a position. But those will be consolidated into a single contract for CenturyLink. Young said that by this summer he expects all of the EIS contractors to have their ATOs or authority to operate approved by GSA. Several agencies have already issued solicitations but awards cannot be made until the ATOs are in place. EIS will be an important vehicle over the next several years as agencies transition from the current Networx contract to EIS. The move from Networx to EIS is an opportunity for government customers to transform their infrastructure and how it is managed, Young said. Having that customer-facing organization in place is critical, he said. We are already out in the marketplace with our customers, Young said. Our people are in their roles. The following companies are subsidiares of Bristol-Myers Squibb: 1096271 B.C. ULC, 345 Park LLC, A.G. Medical Services P.A., AHI Investment LLC, AbVitro LLC, Abraxis BioScience Australia Pty Ltd., Abraxis BioScience Inc., Abraxis BioScience International Holding Company Inc., Abraxis BioScience LLC, Abraxis BioScience Puerto Rico LLC, Acetylon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Adnexus, Adnexus a Bristol-Myers Squibb R&D Company, Allard Labs Acquisition G.P., Amira Pharmaceuticals, Amira Pharmaceuticals Inc., Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Apothecon LLC, B-MS Generx Unlimited Company, BMS Benelux Holdings B.V., BMS Bermuda Nominees L.L.C., BMS Data Acquisition Company LLC, BMS Forex Company, BMS Holdings Sarl, BMS Holdings Spain S.L., BMS International Insurance Designated Activity Company, BMS Investco SAS, BMS Korea Holdings L.L.C., BMS Latin American Nominees L.L.C., BMS Luxembourg Partners L.L.C., BMS Omega Bermuda Holdings Finance Ltd., BMS Pharmaceutical Korea Limited, BMS Pharmaceuticals Germany Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals International Holdings Netherlands B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Korea Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Mexico Holdings B.V., BMS Pharmaceuticals Netherlands Holdings B.V., BMS Real Estate LLC, BMS Spain Investments LLC, BMS Strategic Portfolio Investments Holdings Inc., Blisa Acquisition G.P., Bristol (Iran) S.A., Bristol Iran Private Company Limited, Bristol Laboratories Inc., Bristol Laboratories International S.A., Bristol Laboratories Medical Information Systems Inc., Bristol-Myers (Andes) L.L.C., Bristol-Myers (Private) Limited, Bristol-Myers Middle East S.A.L., Bristol-Myers Overseas Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Investment Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (China) Pharmaceuticals Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Israel) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (NZ) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Proprietary) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (Singapore) Pte. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb (Taiwan) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb (West Indies) Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb A.E., Bristol-Myers Squibb Aktiebolag, Bristol-Myers Squibb Argentina S. R. L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Australia Pty. Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Axia Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb B.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Belgium S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Business Services Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada Co., Bristol-Myers Squibb Canada International Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Delta Company Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Denmark Filial of Bristol-Myers Squibb AB, Bristol-Myers Squibb EMEA Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Egypt LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Epsilon Holdings Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Ltda., Bristol-Myers Squibb Farmaceutica Portuguesa S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb GesmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb GmbH & Co. KGaA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holding Germany GmbH & Co. KG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings 2002 Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Germany Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Ireland Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Holdings Pharma Ltd. Liability Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Ilaclari Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb India Pvt. Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Company Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb International Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Investco L.L.C., Bristol-Myers Squibb K.K., Bristol-Myers Squibb Kft., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg International S.C.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb MEA GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb Manufacturing Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Marketing Services S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb Middle East & Africa FZ-LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Norway Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Nutricionales de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb Peru S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (HK) Ltd, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma (Thailand) Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Holding Company LLC, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Ventures Corporation, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharmaceuticals Unlimited Company, Bristol-Myers Squibb Polska Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Products SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico Inc., Bristol-Myers Squibb Puerto Rico/Sanofi Pharmaceutical Partnership Puerto Rico, Bristol-Myers Squibb Romania S.R.L., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.A.U., Bristol-Myers Squibb S.r.l., Bristol-Myers Squibb SA, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Holding Partnership, Bristol-Myers Squibb Sarl, Bristol-Myers Squibb Service Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Services Sp. z o.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Spol. s r.o., Bristol-Myers Squibb Theta Finance Ltd., Bristol-Myers Squibb Trustees Limited, Bristol-Myers Squibb Verwaltungs GmbH, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Colombia S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Costa Rica Sociedad Anonima, Bristol-Myers Squibb de Guatemala S.A., Bristol-Myers Squibb de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Bristol-Myers Squibb/Astrazeneca EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Pfizer EEIG, Bristol-Myers Squibb/Sanofi Pharmaceuticals Partnership, Bristol-Myers de Venezuela S.C.A., CHT I LLC, CHT II LLC, CHT III LLC, CHT IV LLC, CR Finance Company LLC, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals, Cardioxyl Pharmaceuticals Inc., Celem LLC, Celem Ltd., Celgene, Celgene A.B., Celgene AS, Celgene Ab (Finland), Celgene Alpine Investment Co. II LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. III LLC, Celgene Alpine Investment Co. LLC, Celgene ApS, Celgene B.V., Celgene BVBA, Celgene Brasil Produtos Farmaceuticos Ltda., Celgene CAR LLC, Celgene CAR Ltd., Celgene Chemicals Sarl, Celgene China Holdings LLC, Celgene Co., Celgene Corporation, Celgene Distribution B.V., Celgene EngMab GmbH, Celgene Europe B.V., Celgene Europe Limited, Celgene European Investment Company LLC, Celgene Financing Company LLC, Celgene Global Holdings Sarl, Celgene GmbH [Austria], Celgene GmbH [Germany], Celgene GmbH [Switzerland], Celgene Holdings East Corporation, Celgene Holdings II Sarl, Celgene Holdings III Sarl, Celgene Ilac Pazarlama ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Celgene Inc., Celgene International Holdings Corporation, Celgene International II Sarl, Celgene International III Sarl, Celgene International Inc., Celgene International Sarl, Celgene K.K., Celgene Kft., Celgene Limited [Hong Kong], Celgene Limited [Ireland], Celgene Limited [New Zealand], Celgene Limited [Taiwan], Celgene Limited [UK], Celgene Logistics Sarl, Celgene Ltd, Celgene Luxembourg Sarl, Celgene Management Sarl, Celgene NJ Investment Co, Celgene Netherlands B.V., Celgene Netherlands Investment B.V., Celgene Pharmaceutical (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Celgene Pte. Ltd., Celgene Pty Ltd, Celgene Puerto Rico Distribution LLC, Celgene Quanticel Research Inc, Celgene R&D Sarl, Celgene RIVOT LLC, Celgene RIVOT Ltd., Celgene RIVOT SRL, Celgene Receptos Limited, Celgene Receptos Sarl, Celgene Research Incubator At Summit West LLC, Celgene Research S.L.U., Celgene Research and Development Company LLC, Celgene Research and Development I ULC, Celgene Research and Development II LLC, Celgene Research and Investment Company II LLC, Celgene S. de R.L. de C.V., Celgene S.L.U., Celgene S.R.L., Celgene SAS, Celgene Sarl AU, Celgene Sdn Bhd, Celgene Services Sarl, Celgene Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Celgene Sp. Z.o.o., Celgene Sro [Czech Republic], Celgene Summit Investment Co, Celgene Switzerland Holding Sarl, Celgene Switzerland II LLC, Celgene Switzerland Investment Sarl, Celgene Switzerland LLC, Celgene Switzerland Sarl, Celgene Tri A Holdings Ltd., Celgene Tri Sarl, Celgene UK Distribution Limited, Celgene UK Holdings Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing II Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing III Limited, Celgene UK Manufacturing Limited, Celgene d.o.o., Celgene sro [Slovakia], Celmed LLC, Celmed Ltd., ConvaTec Divestiture, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals, Cormorant Pharmaceuticals AB, Crosp Ltd., Delinia Inc., Deuteria Pharmaceuticals Inc., DuPont Pharmaceuticals, E. R. Squibb & Sons Inter-American Corporation, E. R. Squibb & Sons L.L.C., E. R. Squibb & Sons Limited, EWI Corporation, EngMab Sarl, F-star Alpha, FermaVir Pharmaceuticals L.L.C., FermaVir Research L.L.C., Flexus Biosciences, Flexus Biosciences Inc., Forbius, Galecto Biotech, GenPharm International L.L.C., Gloucester Pharmaceuticals LLC, Grove Insurance Company Ltd., Heyden Farmaceutica Portuguesa Limitada, IFM Therapeutics, Impact Biomedicines Inc., Inhibitex, Inhibitex L.L.C., Innate Tumor Immunity Inc., JuMP Holdings LLC, Juno Therapeutics GmbH, Juno Therapeutics Inc., Kosan Biosciences, Kosan Biosciences Incorporated, Linson Investments Limited, Mead Johnson (Manufacturing) Jamaica Limited, Mead Johnson Jamaica Ltd., Medarex, Morris Avenue Investment II LLC, Morris Avenue Investment LLC, MyoKardia, O.o.o. Bristol-Myers Squibb, Oy Bristol-Myers Squibb (Finland) AB, Padlock Therapeutics, Padlock Therapeutics Inc., Pharmion LLC, Princeton Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Receptos LLC, Receptos Services LLC, RedoxTherapies Inc., Route 22 Real Estate Holding Corporation, SPV A Holdings ULC, Seamair Insurance DAC, Signal Pharmaceuticals LLC, Sino-American Shanghai Squibb Pharmaceuticals Limited, Societe Francaise de Complements Alimentaires(S.O.F.C.A.), Squibb Middle East S.A., Summit West Celgene LLC, Swords Laboratories, VentiRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Westwood-Intrafin SA, Westwood-Squibb Pharmaceuticals Inc., X-Body Inc., ZymoGenetics, ZymoGenetics Inc., ZymoGenetics LLC, ZymoGenetics Paymaster LLC, iPierian, and iPierian Inc.. En espanol | Oregon small-business owner Saleem Noorani had worried for years about his employees lack of retirement savings. So when he learned about OregonSaves, the nations first suchstate-sponsored program to help workers build a nest egg, he jumped at the chance to sign on. This gives my workers a level of assurance that theyre saving something for retirement, says Noorani, who employs about 15 workers ranging in age from 22 to 71 at three Cork & Bottle Shoppe liquor stores in Corvallis, Springfield and Albany. An estimated 55 million employees in the U.S. do not have access to employer-sponsored retirement plans. Many work for small businesses that dont offer traditional retirement programs because of high costs and administrative burdens. Washington state is planning to launch its Small Business Retirement Marketplace in late March. That service will feature a website aimed at small-business employees and designed to help them compare and enroll in low-cost retirement savings plans. California, Connecticut, Illinois and Maryland expect to phase in their own Work and Save programs over the next two years and several other states are considering efforts to stimulate retirement savings. In New York, state legislators are considering a bill, which Gov. Andrew Cuomo supports, that would create a Secure Choice Savings Program. This effort could help millions of New York workers who have no access to an employer-sponsored pension or 401(k) retirement plan. AARP has been actively supporting Work and Save initiatives across the country. Youve got 3.5 million workers in New York alone with no access to a workplace savings plan, says Elaine Ryan, AARP vice president for government affairs, state advocacy and strategy integration. Those lacking access to retirement savings at work number 7.5 million in California and 2.3 million in Illinois. Together with the other states where legislation has already been enacted, these programs will enable more than 15 million people to save at work. The goal is to provide a low-cost, simple way to have as many people as possible start saving for their future. AARPs Public Policy Institute estimates that workers are 15 times more likely to save for retirement when they have a payroll deduction program. A new AARP national survey found that 80 percent of private sector workers ages 18 to 64 support state-sponsored public-private partnerships designed to help employees save money for retirement. Most state-sponsored retirement savings programs automatically sign up workers for Roth IRA accounts and feature low-cost mutual funds or other savings and investment options, such as money market accounts. New Yorks program would be voluntary for employers and employees. Oregon ultimately will require all employers who dont offer a retirement plan to sign up, but participation among employees is voluntary. Every state doesnt have to be the same they can create programs that work best for them, Ryan says. The critical thing is to get the ball rolling, to get employers to provide a simple and easy way to provide employees a way to save and to help employees with future financial security. About 4,500 Oregon workers have put away a total of nearly $1 million through OregonSaves, which allows them to set aside up to 10 percent of their pay that theyve already paid taxes on. The first $1,000 is invested in a money market account and the rest in target-date retirement funds based on an employees age. Employees can opt out anytime and keep the accounts when they change jobs. Because contributions are made post-tax, individuals can access the money without any penalty. Noorani, 60, says all but two of his employees are in the program. About half of his workers are saving 5 percent of their pay, the automatic default savings rate. Some are saving less, and some are saving more. A majority of them live paycheck to paycheck, Noorani says of his employees. And for the younger ones, retirement isnt even part of their thought process. Govt set to develop new industrial area in Motipur As per its plan to establish one industrial area in each province, the government has proposed to develop an industrial area in Motipur of Rupandehi district with a provision for 150 new factories. A preliminary detailed project report (DPR) suggests 150 medium and large factories can be established in Motipur. The report has proposed separate buildings for such factories inside the industrial zone. SD school districts face staff shortages as COVID-19 drags on South Dakota's educator shortage has been made worse by COVID and political tensions surrounding COVID protocols in schools. TOPEKA, Kan. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach is urging the National Rifle Association to bring its annual convention to Kansas. The Kansas City Star reports that the Republican gubernatorial candidate tweeted over the weekend that hes reached out to the NRA to urge the group to bring the gathering to Kansas. Kobach earlier tweeted that Kansas is the most pro-gun state in America. This years NRA Annual Meeting of Members is being held May 5 in Dallas. But the citys mayor pro tem said last week that the organization should reconsider coming to Dallas after the Feb. 14 deadly mass shooting at a Florida high school. Kobach wrote in a column last week advocating for arming teachers provided they obtain a concealed carry permit and take appropriate training. ___ Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com Albuquerque has one of the nations highest volumes of cryptocurrency activity per investor, according to a recent report. The report was compiled by financial technology company Status Money, which said in a release that it tracked the volume of crypto transactions from a panel of millions of Americans to determine the ranking. The data was based on December 2017 transactions. Albuquerque was third on the list, with an average cryptocurrency investment of $12,479 per investor. Taking first place was Jacksonville, Fla., at $31,468, followed by Memphis, Tenn., at $15,748. Status Money estimates that 19,000 people living in Albuquerque purchased cryptocurrencies in December, according to CEO Majd Maksad. It does seem odd to have a city like Albuquerque on the list, said Maksad. But what we saw after Thanksgiving and through the holidays was this rush in mainstream interest of these fairly complicated investments. Nationally, 10 percent of the cryptocurrency transactions tracked by Status Money came from people making less than $50,000 a year, according to Maksad. The U.S. cities with the highest volume of transactions as a percentage of the entire cryptocurrency market were New York, Chicago and Jacksonville. Cryptocurrencies popular forms include Bitcoin, Ethereum and Litecoin are virtual assets not backed by a central authority like a government entity. Instead, the transactions are created and stored electronically in a public database known as a blockchain. Earlier this month, the Securities Division of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department issued a statement on cryptocurrency investments, warning investors to proceed with caution. Investors should go beyond the headlines and hype to understand the risks associated with investments in cryptocurrencies, as well as cryptocurrency futures contracts and other financial products where these virtual currencies are linked in some way to the underlying investment, said Mike Unthank, the departments superintendent, in the statement. MEXICO CITY Two kidnapped Americans from Texas were rescued near the northern city of Monterrey and their two alleged abductors arrested, Mexican authorities reported. The Nuevo Leon prosecutors office said Sunday in a statement that the victims traveled to the state on Feb. 17, and lost contact with their families in the United States the following day. On Feb. 19, the relatives began to receive ransom demands. The unidentified Texans were rescued by members of a special anti-kidnapping unit Saturday in the Monterrey suburb of Juarez, thanks to a tip that led them to locate the alleged kidnappers on a highway. Nuevo Leon prosecutors said the Americans were transported to the United States in collaboration with the U.S. Consulate. The U.S. Embassy in Mexico City said Monday that it was aware of reports of two U.S. citizens kidnapped and later rescued, but did not give further details. PANAMA CITY Last Thursday afternoon, the majority owner of the Trump International Hotel here in Panama arrived unexpectedly in the buildings swank Sky Lobby, with an entourage. He wanted to fire the Trump Organization, which has managed the hotel since it opened in 2011. But the Trump Organization has refused to leave. Since that first confrontation, police have been called multiple times to referee disputes between owner Orestes Fintiklis who blames Trumps poor management and damaged brand for the hotels declining revenue and the Trump Organization, which says it still has a valid contract to manage the place. Offices have been barricaded. Several yelling matches have broken out. The power was briefly turned off, in a dispute over the buildings electronic equipment. At one point, Fintiklis denied a chance to fire the hotel staff, or even check into a room played a tune on the hotels lobby piano as an apparent show of defiance. On Monday, Panamas federal prosecutors said they had opened an investigation into the Trump Organization, after Fintiklis complained that he had been unlawfully blocked from his own property. With that, this bizarre standoff had turned a theoretical concern about the Trump administration that, someday, the presidents private business might be investigated by a foreign government into a reality. The fear has always been that there would be an international incident involving the finances of the president, and the president would have his loyalties questioned, said Jordan Libowitz, of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. What kind of pressure would he be willing to place on them? he asked, referring to foreign authorities. On Monday, the White House press office did not respond to questions sent about the standoff at Trump Panama. The U.S. Embassy in Panama City and the Panamanian Foreign Ministry both declined to comment, saying they were not involved. Fintiklis also declined to comment. President Donald Trump says he has handed over day-to-day control of his companies to his sons Eric and Donald Jr. But the president still owns his businesses and can withdraw money from them at any time, documents show. On Monday, the Trump Organization issued a statement about the standoff in Panama, accusing Fintiklis and his allies of mob style tactics, and of ignoring ongoing court actions over the future of the property. It now appears as though Mr. Fintiklis has either lost patience with the pace of the proceedings which he commenced or simply lacks the financial backing he once claimed he had, the Trump Organizations statement said. The companys contract to manage the hotel extends to 2031. Mr. Fintiklis recently decided to take matters into his own hands and try and physically and forcibly remove Trump from the Hotel as manager. As of Monday afternoon, the Trump Organization was still managing the hotel which shares space with residential condominiums in a 70-story tower that resembles a billowing sail. But there were obvious signs of trouble: On the buildings service floor, which houses IT infrastructure, telecommunications equipment and surveillance monitors, a Trump guard blocked the door, and other guards circulated behind him. Since his election in November 2016, President Trumps polarizing politics appear to have taken a toll on a number of his businesses hurting those in liberal cities and some foreign countries. In two such places Toronto and Manhattans SoHo neighborhood last year the owners of Trump-branded hotels cut ties with the Trump Organization, found new managers and dropped the Trump name. But those endings were amicable. The dispute in Panama is not. The fight over this building began last year, when Fintiklis a Cypriot businessman now based in Miami bought 202 of the hotels 369 units. The hotel is structured as a hotel condominium, in which the rooms were sold individually, and the condo owners collectively contract with Trump to run the hotel. In his most recent personal financial disclosure, Trump said his company had received $810,000 in management fees over the preceding 15 1/2 months. The Trump Organization said that, when he bought the units, Fintiklis had explicitly agreed not to try to fire them as the hotels managers. But late last year, he did. Fintiklis took over the hotel condo owners association and moved to terminate the Trump Organizations contract. His argument made in letters to tenants has been that the hotels finances were so bad that the Trump Organization has effectively broken its promise to manage the hotel well. It should be clear to all of us, Fintiklis wrote a few weeks ago, that our investment has no future with Trumps brand on it. Some hotel-unit owners have reported that their properties are occupied less than 30 percent of the time. Until last week, the dispute seemed likely to play out at the glacial speed of legal proceedings. There was a lawsuit in New York, and an arbitration case. But then, Fintiklis made his move. Mr. Fintiklis arrived in Panama with a rogue private security team and others and launched a coordinated attack to physically take over the management of the Hotel, the company said in a statement, recounting last Thursdays attempted takeover. After the arguments, Fintiklis moved to the hotels lobby piano and played a loud tune, in an apparent show of defiance, according to a video seen by The Washington Post. Fintiklis does not appear to have obtained any courts permission to take over the hotel. Two people familiar with Fintikliss account said that, after his arrival, hotel employees barricaded office doors with furniture, and added that documents were shredded. The two individuals said Trump employees including an executive who flew down from New York City had also blocked access to a control room that houses servers and surveillance-camera monitors. This room, they said, is shared by the hotel operation and the residential parts of the same building, which is no longer operated by the Trump Organization. The two spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing legal proceedings. In response, building administrators who do not work for Trump cut power for a time Friday to the portion of the building that houses the surveillance room. Throughout the day there were problems with cable TV and internet service. On Monday afternoon, a lawyer for Fintiklis attempted to serve citations to nine hotel employees summoning them to the Labor Ministry, but hotel security guards denied him access, according to owners in the building with knowledge of the dispute. Fintiklis lawyer went to Panamanian prosecutors Friday, complaining that Trump staffers had used intimidation and threats to block him from his own building. That complaint was what triggered the prosecutors promise to investigate. In a letter to employees of the hotel, sent Sunday afternoon, Fintiklis sought to turn them to his side saying they had been misled and betrayed by a few officials who were serving Trump, rather than the hotels owners. Now it must be clear to all of you that the Trump Organization, in an effort to win some financial and strategic gains over me and the other owners, has lied to you and put your work at the hotel in grave risk, he wrote. You have been victims of a horrible lie. The man accused of calling a cab and then killing its driver last February pleaded no contest Monday to second-degree murder and tampering with evidence, according to court documents. Luke Waruszewski, 27, faces up to 15 years in prison in the death of 58-year-old Larry Mullin. According to police, Mullin, a Yellow-Checker Cab Co. driver was dispatched to Coors and Central around 9 p.m. Feb. 27, 2017, to pick up a man named Luke. A spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department said at the time that Mullin was killed senselessly and apparently without provocation. Police said they later found Waruszewski and the blood-covered cab at a travel center on Interstate 40 west of Albuquerque. Waruszewskis attorney said he felt the agreement was in his clients best interest, but could not comment on the facts of the case. NMC launches probe into Norvic case As the gross medical negligence of Norvic International Hospital has come to fore, the Nepal Medical Council (NMC) has launched an investigation into the doctor involved in the treatment. More than two years after a prominent Albuquerque doctor was killed in an early-morning wreck, the woman charged in her death was found not guilty of vehicular homicide Friday. After a weeklong trial, jurors found Sara Casados, 30, guilty of lesser charges: careless driving, a petty misdemeanor, and leaving the scene of an accident, a fourth-degree felony. But her attorney, Ousama Rasheed, said the outcome was a relief to his client, who he said was suffering a medical episode at the time of the wreck. We were really, really happy and really relieved, although we still feel horrible for the doctors family, Rasheed said. A spokesman for the 2nd Judicial District Attorneys Office declined to comment on the verdict. Police said Casados was driving her small pickup truck 70 mph in a 35-mph zone around 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday in January 2016 when she hit Teodora Konstantinovas Mercedes, which was stopped at a traffic light on Louisiana and Constitution. Konstantinova worked for the University of New Mexico School of Medicine as a physician and an associate professor of internal medicine. She died at a hospital hours after the crash. Casados fled to a nearby dialysis clinic, where police said they found her on the ground shouting all hell is going to break loose while flailing her arms and legs. Rasheed said his client was having a panic attack, and in the weeks before the wreck repeatedly sought medical care to try to deal with what was wrong. He said the crash took place days before she was scheduled to return for a follow-up visit. I would say that her mental health status at the time, not being handled appropriately, had a lot to do with this accident, Rasheed said. Casados is set for sentencing in early May. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Last August, police arrested a trio they suspect slit a mans throat, mutilated him and buried his body in a shallow grave near the Rio Puerco in Sandoval County. Now, Bernalillo County officials are worried the apparent ringleader, 30-year-old Chase Smotherman, might try to escape from jail after they say a scan revealed he had a handcuff key hidden inside of his body. And court documents suggest federal agencies are investigating him for crimes unrelated to his pending murder case. News of the federal investigation comes six months after police arrested Smotherman, his girlfriend Mariah Ferry, and Mitchell Overhand, who is notorious for killing his parents and burying them in the backyard of their Paradise Hills home in the 1980s. According to criminal complaints filed in Metropolitan Court, the suspects kidnapped a man, Matthew Tressler, and showed him a picture of his friend, John Soyka, dead and mutilated in the back of a truck. Investigators say Smotherman believed Soyka had stolen $2,500 worth of marijuana from him. Then last week, the county filed a motion asking a judge to move Smotherman to the Penitentiary of New Mexico in Santa Fe because he might try to escape. According to the motion, although jail officials saw the key in a body scan, it was never retrieved. Meanwhile, an informant inside the facility reported that Smotherman had been planning to escape during a trip to his attorneys office. He shaved off his full beard visible on his booking mug before a court setting, although by the time a hearing was held on the matter it had partially grown in again. The defendant, an alleged murderer, secreted a handcuff key within himself for some nefarious reason, Assistant County Attorney George Heidke wrote in a motion. Jail officials also were concerned in mid-February after they said Smotherman, through someone on the outside, sent friend requests on Facebook to the corrections officers who had searched his cell, suggesting he may be attempting to intimidate them. It would not be in the publics best interest if the Defendant did escape or attempted to escape from MDC, Heidke wrote in the motion. MDC cannot guarantee safe custody of the Defendant if he did escape from custody. Because of the actions of the defendant, his continued confinement in MDC is not in the best interest of the public welfare or the safe custody of the defendant. A hearing Thursday to determine whether Smotherman should be moved to another facility was postponed. A spokeswoman for MDC said she could not comment on the motion to transfer Smotherman or on the handcuff key, as the incident remains under investigation by the jail and the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office. But Smothermans attorney, Raymond Maestas, questioned the timing of the request to move his client, almost four months after the handcuff key was discovered. The county filed in retaliation to the defense putting their foot down against MDCs unconscionable behavior, Maestas wrote in a statement. Otherwise why wait? They dismissed their own internal investigation. The issue was closed until now many months later. Jail monitoring Jail officials and BCSO detectives appear to have started monitoring Smotherman more closely after they say someone smuggled drugs to him in his mail. That alleged discovery prompted the body scan in which officials said they saw the handcuff key. And a BCSO detective who later went through Smothermans incoming and outgoing mail said she found a treasure map that he sent to a woman in order to lead her to the place in a southwest Albuquerque yard where years ago he buried his sapphires. He marked with an X the spot near a shed where, he said, the sapphires would be buried 18 inches to 2 feet underground, according to court documents. Please be very, very careful while digging because they are made of glass and any cracks in them depreciate value, he wrote. In phone calls, he told friends that the sapphires were worth about fifty grand. During a search earlier this month, detectives used that treasure map to uncover 69 translucent items of various shapes and sizes from the backyard, according to court documents. It was unclear whether those are the items Smotherman referred to in his letters or what those items are. Later routine searches turned up several more bizarre finds in Smothermans cell, including a reference to smuggling drugs into MDC using religious items, a piece of paper indicating ways to try and destroy evidence, including blood evidence, and instructions to write like a female, according to court documents. Also found in his cell, a prosecutor said Thursday, were documents that appear to be in some sort of code along with what he said could be a potential hit list, though Smothermans attorney said that was actually a list of witnesses in the case. Maestas, his attorney, has said he believes that those searches are illegal. MDC personnel, in coordinating with the lead APD detective Jodi Gonterman in this case, have repeatedly and illegally searched Mr. Smothermans private, attorney-client privileged materials during his case, Maestas wrote in an emailed statement. And, worse, MDC has turned these illegally-obtained materials over to Detective Gonterman and the DAs office, who have in turn attempted to use these illegally obtained materials to their benefit. Ongoing investigations While Smotherman is going through two trials in state district court, charged in Soykas death and Tresslers kidnapping, he may also face charges in federal court. In testimony Thursday afternoon, Gonterman confirmed federal authorities including agents from the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are conducting ongoing separate investigations into Smotherman, whose last name is spelled Smothermon in some references. She said when DEA agents were serving a search warrant on a computer found in Smothermans hotel room, they found additional photos of Soyka and Tressler. Federal agents also (obtained) additional evidence of another crime which requires additional resources by the FBI and could delay the processing of the evidence for the federal investigation which would hinder the collection of evidence in the homicide case, Gonterman wrote in a report included in court documents. Spokespersons for the DEA and the FBI both said they could not confirm or deny an investigation or comment on what charges Smotherman may face. SANTA FE A state district judge on Monday upheld the disqualification of Democrat Angel Pena in the 2nd Congressional District race, keeping him off the ballot in the June primary. Judge David Thomson said he was bound to follow the plain language of a state law that bars any alterations to the header on a petition page. The case hinged on changes made to some of Penas petitions on which campaign volunteers had trouble printing the letter n on the document used for signature-gathering. In some cases, they wrote the letter in by hand and scratched out a character that had been printed incorrectly in its place. State election officials flagged other problems as well including one header that was partly obscured by unrelated text and one in which an address didnt match. Invalidating those pages left Pena without the 623 signatures required to make the ballot, according to the Secretary of States Office. Pena, a Las Cruces resident who works in land conservation, now has five days to appeal to the state Supreme Court. If Mondays ruling stands, it will leave just two Democrats seeking the partys nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, a Hobbs Republican. Remaining in the race are Democrats Mad Hildebrandt, an adjunct college instructor from Socorro, and Xochitl Torres Small, a water attorney from Las Cruces. The race is wide open because Pearce is running for governor rather than seeking re-election to Congress. Five Republicans are running: state Rep. Yvette Herrell of Alamogordo; Monty Newman, a former Hobbs mayor and former state GOP chairman; Gavin Clarkson, a Las Cruces professor who served in the Trump administration; former Eddy County Commissioner Jack Volpato of Carlsbad; and Lovington resident Clayburn Griffin, who works in digital marketing. Judge Thomson seemed genuinely torn. The state Supreme Court, he said, has generally ruled in favor of protecting voters right to support the nomination of their favored candidate, except in cases of bad faith or similar circumstances. But he also noted the plain language of the law that a nominating petition shall be invalid if any of the required information is altered. In a separate ruling Monday, Thomson rejected a challenge that sought to boot Republican Arthur Castillo off the ballot in the race for state treasurer. The ruling clears the way for Castillo to remain in a two-person race against Democrat Tim Eichenberg, the incumbent state treasurer. PROVIDENCE, R.I. Marine veteran Jeff Harris was among the first to sign up when the Providence VA hospital started offering acupuncture for chronic pain. I dont like taking pain medication. I dont like the way it makes me feel, he said. Harris also didnt want to risk getting addicted to heavy-duty prescription painkillers. Although long derided as pseudoscience and still questioned by many medical experts, acupuncture is increasingly being embraced by patients and doctors, sometimes as an alternative to the powerful painkillers behind the nations opioid crisis. The military and Veterans Affairs medical system has been offering acupuncture for pain for several years, some insurance companies cover it and now a small but growing number of Medicaid programs in states hit hard by opioid overdoses have started providing it for low-income patients. Ohios Medicaid program recently expanded its coverage after an opioid task force urged state officials to explore alternative pain therapies. We have a really serious problem here, said Dr. Mary Applegate, medical director for Ohios Medicaid department. If its proven to be effective, we dont want to have barriers in the way of what could work. The epidemic was triggered by an explosion in prescriptions of powerful painkiller pills, though many of the recent overdose opioid deaths are attributed to heroin and illicit fentanyl. Many opioid addictions begin with patients in pain seeking help, and acupuncture is increasingly seen as a way to help keep some patients from ever having to go on opioids in the first place. For a long time in the U.S., acupuncture was considered unstudied and unproven some skeptics called it quack-u-puncture. While theres now been a lot of research on acupuncture for different types of pain, the quality of the studies has been mixed, and so have the results. Federal research evaluators say theres some good evidence acupuncture can help some patients manage some forms of pain. But they also have described the benefits of acupuncture as modest, and say more research is needed. Among doctors, there remains lively debate over how much of any benefit can be attributed simply to patients belief that the treatment is working the so-called placebo effect. There may be a certain amount of placebo effect. Having said that, it is still quite effective as compared to no treatment, said Dr. Ankit Maheshwari, a pain medicine specialist at Case Western Reserve University, who sees it as valuable for neck pain, migraines and a few other types of pain problems. Many doctors are ambivalent about acupuncture but still willing to let patients give it a try, said Dr. Steven Novella, a neurologist at Yale University and editor of an alternative medicine-bashing website. He considers acupuncture a form of patient-fooling theater. Acupuncturists and their proponents are exploiting the opioid crisis to try to promote acupuncture as an alternative treatment, he said. But promoting a treatment that doesnt work is not going to help the crisis. Acupuncture has been practiced in China for thousands of years, and customarily involves inserting thin metal needles into specific points in the ears or other parts the body. Practitioners say needles applied at just the right spots can restore the flow of a mystical energy called qi (pronounced CHEE) through the body, and that can spur natural healing and pain relief. In government surveys, 1 in 67 U.S. adults say they get acupuncture every year, up from 1 in 91 a decade earlier. That growth has taken place even though most patients pay for it themselves: 2012 figures show only a quarter of adults getting acupuncture had insurance covering the cost. The largest federal government insurance program, Medicare, does not pay for acupuncture. Tricare, the insurance program for active duty and retired military personnel and their families, does not pay for it either. But VA facilities offer it, charging no more than a copay. Jeff Harris signed up for acupuncture two years ago. The 50-year-old Marine Corps veteran said he injured his back while rappelling and had other hard falls during his military training in the 1980s. Today, he has shooting pain down his legs and deadness of feeling in his feet. Acupuncture helped settled my nerve pain down, said Harris, of Foxboro, Mass. Another vet, Harry Garcia, 46, of Danielson, Conn., tried acupuncture for his chronic back pain after years of heavy pain medications. Acupuncture is just like an eraser. It just takes everything away for a brief period, and keeps pain down for up to 10 days, said Garcia. About a decade ago, the military and Veteran Affairs began promoting a range of alternative approaches to pain treatment, including acupuncture, yoga, and chiropractic care. In 2009, former Army Surgeon General Dr. Eric Schoomaker chartered a task force to re-evaluate the Armys approach to pain, which had centered on opioids. The focus was understandable nobody who has his leg blown off screams for acupuncture, said Schoomaker, who is now a professor at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, a military medical school in Bethesda, Md. But he added there was also openness to acupuncture and other approaches among soldiers and sailors who, while overseas, had tried non-drug approaches for chronic pain. Schoomaker said he was inspired to seriously consider alternative approaches by his wife, a yoga instructor. Now two-thirds of military hospitals and other treatment centers offer acupuncture, according to a recent study. The militarys openness to alternatives is because the need is so great there, said Emmeline Edwards of the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a federal scientific research agency. Perhaps some of the approaches have been used without a strong evidence base. Theyre more willing to try an approach and see if it works. Her agency is teaming up the Pentagon and VA to spend $81 million on research projects to study the effectiveness of a variety of non-drug approaches to treating chronic pain. While research continues, insurance coverage of acupuncture keeps expanding. California, Massachusetts, Oregon and Rhode Island pay for acupuncture for pain through their Medicaid insurance programs. Massachusetts and Oregon also cover acupuncture as a treatment for substance abuse, though scientists question how well it reduces the cravings caused by chemical dependency. WASHINGTON When the Republican-controlled Congress first approved its tax bill in December, most Democrats believed it would be a political loser for the GOP. Indeed, a New York Times poll found that just 37 percent of Americans approved of the plan. To pass a bill of tax cuts and have it be so unpopular with the American people is an amazing achievement for the Republicans its never been done before, Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, D-N.Y., crowed. Hes not crowing any more. In January, support had risen to 46 percent, and last week it reached a 51 percent majority. Meanwhile, disapproval has dropped from 57 percent in December to 45 percent today. That is a swing of 26 points. Why the change? Because taxes are personal. The tax bill is extremely complicated, and when it was passed, many Americans were confused about how it would affect them. A December poll found that only 17 percent believed they would pay less in taxes, while 32 percent thought they would pay more. In fact, about 80 percent of taxpayers will receive a tax cut this year averaging about $2,100, according to the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center. For the middle class, an even larger share benefit: More than 90 percent of taxpayers in the middle income quintile will receive a tax cut. It is taking time for voters to figure this out. In 2001, when President George W. Bush passed his across-the-board tax cuts, his message was simple: Every American who pays taxes will get a tax cut. But in 2017, Republicans overhauled more of the entire tax code. They cut tax rates and doubled the standard deduction but also eliminated many traditional deductions for those who itemize. As a result, a lot of taxpayers didnt know whether they would end up winners or losers. Now, more Americans are starting to discover that they are winners. Millions are starting to receive their Trump tax cuts as employers lower their tax withholdings, leaving more money in their paychecks. And the bill will become more popular as more people learn the good news. Even now, only one-third of Americans think they will see an income tax cut. Many voters are going to be pleasantly surprised when they discover their taxes are being reduced thanks to President Trump and Republican lawmakers. And that does not take into account the bonuses and raises that many Americans are receiving from their employers because of the corporate tax cuts or the wage increases they will get from the economic growth that tax reform unleashes in the months and years ahead. When House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., dismissed these tax savings as crumbs, she came off as an elitist. A couple of thousand dollars a year may be crumbs to a San Francisco multimillionaire, but to most hard-working Americans that is real money. Indeed, Pelosi is getting slammed by her fellow Democrats for her out-of-touch response. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver II, D-Mo., warned that language is important and we cannot be seen as patricians, while Joseph Crowley, D-N.Y., a member of the House Democratic leadership, said, I think for people making $40,000 a year, any increase in their take-home is significant for them. Democrats are in a bind because they voted against that increase in take-home pay. The growing public support for tax reform is especially a problem for the five vulnerable Senate Democrats running for re-election in states that Trump won by double digits. All of them will have a hard time explaining why they sided with the resistance and opposed giving their constituents a tax cut. The success is already bolstering GOP candidates. In North Dakota, a state Trump won by 36 points, the success of the tax bill has drawn Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp a strong challenger in Republican Rep. Kevin Cramer. Just last month, Cramer had announced that he was not going to run. Why did he change his mind? The Post reports that one reason was Cramers belief that Heitkamps vote against the tax bill was fatal for her. Expect to see a lot of other GOP challengers and purple-state voters come to the same conclusion. On Twitter, @marcthiessen. (c) 2018, The Washington Post Writers Group. Second Judicial District Attorney Raul Torrez isnt willing to sit on the political and prosecutorial sidelines as the gun debate plays out in Washington, D.C., in the wake of the horrific school shooting in Florida. Thankfully. Yes, Torrez wants to see some legislative changes at the state level, and those will take time. But in the meantime he says cracking down on gun violence will be the top priority of his office. And when it comes to gun crime in Albuquerque, his office is where the rubber meets the road. For starters, Torrez says he will seek pretrial detention of anyone charged with a felony while in possession a firearm meaning that if judges agree, those defendants would not be eligible for release while awaiting trial. Armed felons are the very definition of someone who does not belong on the streets of this community, he said. Amen to that. Stick a gun in a fast food workers face during a holdup and you should cool your heels in jail while awaiting trial. There is now room at the Metropolitan Detention Center, and recent decisions by the state Supreme Court give judges leeway to hold such defendants by allowing them to consider the nature of the crime charged. And lets face it: monitoring and ankle bracelets are a joke for anyone bent on committing harm. New Mexicos Democrat-controlled Legislature passed a law this year increasing the penalty for felon in possession of a firearm from a third-degree felony punishable by 18 months to a third-degree punishable by three years but it was watered down to apply only if the prior conviction was a capital offense or violent crime. Legislation that would have bumped the penalty for using a firearm during a crime from one to three years died in committee. Torrez, starting just his second year in office, also said he is devoting at least three more full-time gun prosecutors to refer any federally eligible case for potential prosecution by the U.S. Attorneys Office. These prosecutors would be cross-trained as assistant U.S. attorneys and be able to prosecute cases in federal court as well as state court. That would include crimes such as felon in possession of a firearm, which state law has treated as a slap on the wrist compared with tough sentences in federal court. In fact, like firearm enhancement during a felony, it is a charge that historically was often bargained away. Torrez also is calling on state legislators to pass laws supporting mandatory background checks before purchasing a gun, mandatory surrender of firearms of anyone convicted of domestic violence and a red-flag law that would allow family members or intimate partners to seek a civil court order removing guns from people the court deems to be dangerous. He also wants tougher penalties for people who make threats against schools. And weve had a rash of threats here, not to mention the arrests of three juveniles at Albuquerque High School last week after APS police found a handgun and a rifle in a car. Torrez, a Democrat, is a gun owner who has a concealed carry permit. And the Second Amendment isnt going away any time soon no matter how much some people wish it would. But even ardent supporters of the Second Amendment should be able to agree with Torrez when he says, One of the things I think everyone needs to finally come to terms with is that there are people in society, either by virtue of prior criminal acts or mental instability, that should just not possess a firearm. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. WASHINGTON Its been more than a year since Donald Trump held his one and only full-fledged news conference as president. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders emerges occasionally to not-answer questions. It is past time, though, to hear from the president himself, at length not just answering a few shouted questions or taking a few queries at a joint event with a foreign leader. Exhibit A: Fridays exasperating session with Australian prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, at which Trump took two questions, both from friendly news outlets, neither of whom asked about the investigation by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III even though Trumps former deputy campaign manager was entering a guilty plea at that very time. Here is a partial list of questions in the unlikely event Trump chooses to submit to a real news conference: Mr. President, you said the Mueller indictment shows there was no collusion. But the indictment alleges that Russia intervened with the intent of helping you get elected. Do you agree with that assessment? What is your basis for saying Russias actions had no effect on the outcome? You said last November about Russian President Vladimir Putin: Every time he sees me he says, I didnt do that, and I really believe that when he tells me that, he means it. Is that still your position? If so, why do you believe Putin? Why did you believe him previously? Please outline what steps you have taken to prevent Russia from repeating in 2018 or 2020 what it did in 2016. What meetings have you held on this subject with your intelligence chiefs or national security council? Last year, you tried to convince Congress not to enact new sanctions on Russia over its election interference. Recently, you declined to identify new targets of sanctions. In light of the Mueller indictment, what do you say to critics who believe you have been too soft on Russia? In the aftermath of the most recent indictments, you expressed anger at various people and institutions the FBI, Democrats and President Obama, among others. But you do not seem angry at Russia at least judging from your public statements. Can you explain? You tweeted that the FBI missed all of the many signals sent out by the Florida school shooter and suggested this was because they are spending too much time trying to prove Russian collusion with the Trump campaign. Do you really believe the two are related? How would you feel about that tweet if you were one of the victims parents? Given the latest indictments, would you still describe the Mueller investigation as the single greatest witch hunt in American history? Why? When did you become aware that former national security adviser Michael Flynn had spoken to former Russian ambassador Sergey Kislyak about lifting sanctions? When did you become aware that Flynn had lied to the FBI about those conversations? What did you do in response? Why did you describe Flynn as a good guy and ask FBI director James Comey to let this go, referring to the investigation of Flynn? Please outline what role you played in drafting your son Donald Trump Jr.s statement about the June Trump Tower meeting? Did you say that the statement should describe the meeting as being primarily about adoption? What was your basis for saying that? When did you become aware of the meeting? Do you believe it is appropriate for your EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt, to fly first-class at taxpayers expense? Do you believe that your Veterans Administration secretary, David Shulkin, should resign after an inspector general investigation found that he went on a 10-day junket to Copenhagen and London, including taking free Wimbledon tickets? Was it appropriate for Rob Porter to remain on the White House staff after officials there learned about allegations that he abused his former wives? If not, why was no action taken against him until the information became public? Why did you say you hope that Porter has a great career ahead of him? Why did it take you nine days to speak out against domestic abuse? Without delving into details of your personal life, did you know that your lawyer, Michael Cohen, arranged for the payment of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels to prevent her from speaking publicly about her assertion that she had an affair with you? When did you become aware of that payment? Did you approve it? Was it proper? Did any of the money come from you? If not, what do you know about where it came from? You said during the campaign that all the women who accused you of harassing or assaulting them were liars and would be sued. Do you still claim they were lying? Where are the lawsuits? Are your taxes still being audited? Mr. President, we have a lot of other questions on issues of substance, from the deficits that the United States faces as a result of new tax cuts and spending increases to your policies on guns. Your predecessors regularly made themselves available for news conferences. Will you come back? E-mail: ruthmarcus@washpost.com. Copyright, Washington Post Writers Group. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal WASHINGTON Children brought illegally to New Mexico and other states by their parents can still seek renewal of their legal status after the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Trump administrations request that it speed consideration of a lower court order that forced the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, to remain in place. The DACA program was created through an executive order by then-President Barack Obama in 2012. It was set to expire next week under an order signed by President Donald Trump in September aimed at forcing Congress to address the issue. About 800,000 of these so-called Dreamers are living in the United States, including about 7,000 in New Mexico, according to estimates. The DACA program allows Dreamers to gain legal status and avoid deportation while also obtaining work permits. A federal judge in San Francisco on Jan. 9 ordered the Trump administration to continue processing DACA renewal applications, despite its plan to cancel the program. But the administration is not required to continue accepting new applications under the District Court order. The Supreme Courts announcement Monday means the case will proceed to a federal appeals court. In a brief, unsigned comment Monday, the justices said they assume the court of appeals will proceed expeditiously to decide this case. Its extremely rare for the Supreme Court to take up a case without a review first by an appellate court. It has traditionally done so only when there was a case of monumental national importance, such as the Iranian hostage crisis or President Richard Nixons White House tapes controversy. Dreamers and their advocates in New Mexico and Washington cheered the courts DACA decision Monday. But a White House spokesman released a statement reiterating the presidents view that the DACA program is illegal. Meanwhile, advocates on both sides of the issue continued to press Congress to deal with the issue legislatively. The DACA program which provides work permits and myriad government benefits to illegal immigrants en masse is clearly unlawful, said Raj Shah, principal deputy press secretary at the White House. The district judges decision unilaterally to reimpose a program that Congress had explicitly and repeatedly rejected is a usurpation of legislative authority. The fact that this occurs at a time when elected representatives in Congress are actively debating this policy only underscores that the district judge has unwisely intervened in the legislative process. We look forward to having this case expeditiously heard by the appeals court and, if necessary, the Supreme Court, where we fully expect to prevail. Gabriela Hernandez, executive director of the New Mexico Dream Team and Southwest Regional Organizer for United We Dream, both of which advocate on behalf of Dreamers, called the court decision great news. This is great news for all undocumented youth dreading the March 5 deadline, Hernandez said. However, now more than ever, we need a permanent legislative solution that ensures the safety and well-being of young immigrants nationwide. Now is the time to call your members of Congress and demand a Dream Act. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a New Mexico Democrat who is chairwoman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, said the decision shouldnt reduce pressure on Congress to find a long-term solution for Dreamers. DACA recipients will continue to face uncertainty until Republicans and Trump can agree to a fair and narrow bipartisan solution for Dreamers, Lujan Grisham said. Not only do nearly 9 in 10 Americans believe that Dreamers should stay in the United States, but so do employers, universities, military and law enforcement officials, and the faith community. A narrow, bipartisan bill that offers an earned path to citizenship and certainty for Dreamers who are dutifully contributing to our nation has the votes to pass Congress, she said. Lujan Grisham and most other Democrats in Congress want to codify DACA permanently and provide Dreamers with an expedited path to citizenship. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., has proposed legislation that would allow Dreamers to apply for legal status lasting for a decade, at the end of which they would have to seek a renewal to stay in the U.S. legally unless they had achieved citizenship through normal channels. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Search warrant affidavits filed in Santa Fe District Court last week indicate a 13-year-old boy who was allegedly beaten to death by his mothers boyfriend in November may have also been raped and partly burned. Thomas Ferguson, 42, faces 18 counts, including first-degree murder, kidnapping, child abuse, tampering with evidence and obstructing a report of child abuse and neglect, in the death of 13-year-old Jeremiah Valencia. Jeremiahs mother, 35-year-old Tracy Ann Pena, and Fergusons son Jordan Nunez, 19, also face charges in the death in Santa Fe Magistrate Court, but they have not been indicted in District Court. Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office detectives have alleged in previous court documents that Ferguson punched Jeremiah several times in the face and body around Nov. 26 and slammed his head into the floor two or three times. Ferguson then put the boy in a dog kennel, where he is believed to have died. Ferguson, Nunez and Pena wrapped the body in plastic and stuffed it into a plastic storage container before burying it in a shallow grave just off N.M. 503 near Nambe. Jeremiahs disappearance went unnoticed until an inmate at the Santa Fe County jail came forward in late January and said Pena, who was in the lockup on a probation violation, had told her about the killing. Detectives recovered the body and sent it to the Office of the Medical Investigator. An autopsy, which the Journal has requested through a public records request, has not been released to news organizations. But an affidavit by Sheriffs Office detective Ernest Alderete says Jeremiah had injuries that were consistent with sexual activity and that parts of his body were possibly burned. When the body was found, Jeremiahs hands were wrapped in gauze and he was wearing a diaper that Nunez said Ferguson forced him to wear. Nunez previously told detectives that Ferguson used a 5-pound hammer, brass knuckles, a homemade spear and steel-toed boots to torture Jeremiah. Nunez said Ferguson would force the teen to stay in a dog kennel and would urinate on him. Jordan advised that Thomas would use the five-pound hammer to punish Jeremiah for stealing, Alderate wrote in the latest affidavits. Thomas would drop the five-pound hammer on Jeremiahs fingers and hands. Jordan told me he could hear the loud thud of the hammer hitting a hard surface when Thomas had Jeremiah confined in Thomas bedroom. Deputies asked a judge to allow them to search Fergusons house near Nambe, as well as a storage unit in Santa Fe. It is not currently known the exact extent and method as to how Jeremiah was injured, so any implements capable of causing injury are of evidentiary value, Alderate wrote. Investigators recently seized several smartphones belonging to Ferguson, as well as the dog kennel that Pena said was the one Jeremiah was forced to stay in. An attempt to bump Aubrey Dunn off the ballot for U.S. Senate might be grounded before it can even take flight. A lawsuit filed in District Court in Santa Fe claims that Dunn, who is the state land commissioner, failed to turn in enough valid voter signatures to qualify for the June 5 primary election ballot. However, the lawsuit was filed Feb. 20 four days after the deadline for challenging a candidates signatures. Dunn was elected land commissioner in 2014 as a Republican but recently changed his party affiliation and is running for U.S. Senate as a Libertarian. He said Monday that he was unaware of the court challenge and expressed confidence that he had submitted enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. The court challenge was filed by Steve Gendorn, a Bernalillo County resident. It asks a judge to disqualify Dunn for not listing his physical address on the voter signature forms he listed his mailing address instead. In addition, the lawsuit claims many of the voter signatures submitted by Dunn should be disallowed because they dont belong to registered Libertarian voters. The other major party candidates running for the U.S. Senate seat are incumbent Martin Heinrich, a Democrat, and Mick Rich, a Republican. HOLLOMAN BID: Lt. Gov. John Sanchez recently led a delegation to the nations capital aimed at securing a fighter aircraft mission at New Mexicos Holloman Air Force Base. Several Alamogordo civic leaders and Holloman Air Force Base officials joined Sanchez on the trip to the Pentagon, where they touted two bills passed in the just-completed 30-day legislative session. One of those measures, Senate Bill 99, would specifically grant a tax deduction for construction related to housing a fighter aircraft training mission project at Holloman Air Force Base, just outside Alamogordo. Landing the F-16 training mission could mean up to 100 additional airplanes being sent to the base and the creation of as many as 1,000 new jobs in the area, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill. New Mexico could have one thing working in its favor as it tries to secure the mission former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., who represented the Albuquerque area, is the current secretary of the Air Force. Dan Boyd: dboyd@abqjournal.com NMS urges SC to rectify its decision The Nepal Media Society (NMS) has urged the Supreme Court to rectify its interim order directing the Press Council to take action against Kantipur daily for reporting news highlighting the discrepancies in the birth date mentioned by Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajuli in his official documents. The ABQ BioPark is celebrating polar bears saluting brothers Koluk and Kiska during International Polar Bear Day today at the zoo. It is part of an annual global event designed to draw attention to the challenges that polar bears face in a warming Arctic and how people can help, organizers said in a news release. BioPark events are scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the zoos polar bear habitat. The event will include a keeper talk at 11 a.m. Attendees will learn about how their actions can make a difference to polar bears, said Audrey Lenzi, ABQ BioPark Zoo science education coordinator, in a statement. Even from New Mexico, there are many ways to help save this magnificent species. The event is included with regular admission. More information about the event and the corresponding Thermostat Challenge can be found at www.polarbearsinternational.org/get-involved/international-polar-bear-day. The ABQ BioPark 903 10th St. SW is an accessible facility and a division of the citys Cultural Services Department. We welcome suggestions for the daily Bright Spot. Send to newsroom@abqjournal.com. ISLAMABAD As Pakistan navigates its troubled relationship with the United States and scrambles to avoid being blacklisted for doing too little, too late to stop terror funding, regional alliances are shifting and analysts ponder whether a cozier relationship with countries like Russia will complicate efforts to move toward peace in neighboring Afghanistan. Russia, analysts say, is motivated by fears of a growing presence of Islamic State militants in neighboring Afghanistan and has warmed up to Pakistan as well as to Taliban insurgents battling the upstart Islamic State group affiliate known as Khorasan Province, the ancient name of an area that once included parts of Afghanistan, Iran and Central Asia. In the latest move to strengthen ties, Russia last week named an honorary consul to Pakistans Khyber Pukhtunkhwa Province, which borders Nangarhar province in eastern Afghanistan, where IS has established its headquarters. The IS is also present in northern Afghanistans border regions with Central Asia, causing further consternation in Moscow. Russias honorary consul, Mohammad Arsallah Khan, who belongs to a powerful business family in Pakistans northwest, said economic development is the best weapon against extremism. To that end he said he will promote increased commerce with Pakistans neighbors, including Russia, which currently accounts for barely $500 million in trade. I think this whole region is a bit of a mess, which I realize is one of the great understatements. Extremists have been taken lightly before and we are where we are because of that, said Khan in an interview in the Pakistani capital, Islamabad. Reflecting on his business-based strategy, Khan said, when you can give people a way of earning a living, they will turn away from terrorism, away from extremism. The appointment reflects a stark turnaround in Pakistans historical relationship with Russia. In the 1980s, Pakistan and the U.S. were united against Russia as the Soviet Union sent 150,000 soldiers into Afghanistan to prop up its communist ally in the Afghan capital, Kabul. At the time, Pakistan, with U.S. backing, used Peshawar as a staging arena to arm and deploy Islamic insurgents, referred to as mujahedeen or as President Ronald Reagan often called them, freedom fighters to wage war on Russia. After 10 years, Russia failed to win the war and on Feb. 15, 1989, left Afghanistan in a negotiated exit. For some, Russias cozying up to Pakistan is a bit of a poke in the eye to the U.S., still embroiled in the Afghan conflict that is now in its 17th year and is Washingtons longest war, costing more than $122 billion, according to its own special Inspector General on Afghan Reconstruction. Still, Petr Topychkanov, a senior researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, said Russia worries about the U.S. presence in Afghanistan. Russia is concerned about the long-term presence of the U.S. and its allies in Afghanistan, and therefore its in Russias long-term interests to have an inside view of the situation in Afghanistan, he said, saying that Pakistan provides the viewing platform. Daniel Markey, senior research professor in international relations at Johns Hopkins University, said Russian relations with Pakistan aim to solve two problems for Moscow. First, to blunt the threat of IS from Afghanistan. Second, to undermine U.S. influence, he said. The point is that Russia and Pakistan probably have more in common with respect to the war in Afghanistan than the United States has with either __ and this is a real turnaround from prior history. Last week Russias Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov accused Washington of failing to go after the Islamic State group in Afghanistan. In response, Washingtons senior diplomat for South Asia, Alice Wells, accused Russia of ignoring anti-IS offensives launched by U.S. and Afghan forces in eastern Afghanistan, while at the same time pursuing them in new havens, particularly in northern Afghanistan. Wells suggested Russia should unequivocally support the Afghan government, if it wants to end the conflict in Afghanistan, a thinly veiled reference to allegations of Russian support for the Taliban. The linchpin in Washingtons Afghan strategy is to put pressure on Pakistan to close safe havens used by Taliban fighters, most notably the Haqqani network, blamed for the more brazen and deadly attacks on Kabul. To that end Lisa Curtis, senior director for South and Central Asia on the U.S. National Security Council, quietly conducted a series of meetings in the Pakistan capital on Monday, before leaving early Tuesday. In the meetings, Curtis pressed Pakistan to put an end to the Haqqani network and other terrorist groups she said were operating on its territory, according to a statement issued by the U.S. Embassy. Pakistan denies organized camps exist on its territory, though it says insurgents move throughout the country among the Afghan refugee population of 1.5 million. Pakistan also assails Afghanistan for allowing anti-Pakistan militants to have territory from which they plot and carry out attacks against Pakistan. According to the U.S. Embassy, Curtis said the United States seeks to move toward a new relationship with Pakistan but she made it clear that wont happen until Pakistan moves on the Haqqani network and other militants. Despite closer ties with Russia and a heavily invested China, for Pakistan even a bad relationship with the U.S. is better than no relationship at all, said Andrew Wilder, Asia programs vice president at the U.S. Institute of Peace. Pakistan losing the U.S. as a strategic partner due to Pakistans Afghanistan policy, and ending up having to rely solely on China, is not a foreign policy success story for Pakistan its a major foreign policy failure, he said. Pakistans relationship with the U.S., even in its current weakened state, is still far more important in economic, diplomatic and security terms for Pakistan than its relationship with Russia. Although Pakistan was not mentioned in the final communique that followed last weeks Financial Action Task Force on terror funding, a motion by Washington to have Pakistan put on a global watch list prompted the task force to demand that Islamabad prove it is doing enough to curb terror financing by the time they meet again in June. Most analysts said the deadline was an indication that even its deep friendship with China was not enough to counter U.S. pressure. Curtis called U.S. concerns about terror financing as well as money laundering in Pakistan long-standing, and urged Pakistan to address what she termed ongoing deficiencies. Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lu Kang told a press conference on Tuesday that Beijing appreciates Islamabads efforts to crack down on terror groups and intends to continue to step up communication, coordination and collaboration with Pakistan in terms of counter-terrorism co-operation. We have been calling on the international community to objectively and fairly view and evaluate Pakistans efforts in fighting terrorism, and not keep criticizing the Pakistani side with prejudice, he said. Still Michael Kugelman, Asia Program deputy director at the U.S.-based Wilson Center, warned against overstating the support for Pakistan of both China and Russia. We shouldnt overstate how much Beijing and Moscow can compensate for U.S. aid cuts and sanctions, said Kugelman. China is not a charity and does not provide assistance on demand; it only provides support including to key allies like Pakistan when it serves its interests. Additionally, the extent of Russian support for Pakistan to this point is unclear. ___ Associated Press writers Matthew Pennington in Washington, Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow and Christopher Bodeen in Beijing contributed to this report. SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador More than 25 years after the end of its civil war, families in El Salvador are still searching for an estimated 3,000 children who disappeared in the fighting. The countrys military has so far refused to open its archives from that period to allow an investigation into the whereabouts of children separated from their families during combat between guerrillas and government forces. In a decision released in January, El Salvadors Supreme Court backed the demand of Nicolasa Rivas for a probe into the disappearances of her daughters, Gladys Suleyma and Norma Climaco Rivas, who were 6 and 7 years old when they went missing in San Vicente province in 1982. Rivas blames the military for taking her daughters. The U.N. Truth Commission created with the signing of the peace agreement in January 1992 estimated there were 5,000 forced disappearances during the war. Families and human rights advocates have documented about 3,000 more cases and estimate that about 3,000 of all the disappeared were minors. The Supreme Courts decision ordered the armed forces to release information related to a military operation called Mario Azenon Palma. It was during that operation that Gladys and Norma disappeared, according to their mother. The Defense Ministry has said that after having searched the institutional archives it has been established that no documents or registries of any kind related to the alleged operation have been found. The court responded that if the military continues to refuse, it will ask President Salvador Sanchez Ceren to exert pressure on it to open the archives. It also asked the prosecutors office to investigate the sisters disappearance. Eduardo Garcia, executive director of Pro-Busqueda, a group dedicated to the wars missing minors, said the operations existence has been confirmed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights. To think of reconciliation in the country it isnt enough to say that the wounds are healed, Garcia said. The wounds are merely suppressed. There are living people who are being denied freedom. The truth commission found that during the 1980-1992 war, government forces tried to isolate guerrillas and their supporters, cutting off access to food and medicine. When soldiers moved against communities and guerrillas fled, women, the elderly and children often fell behind. Fighters would return to look for their families, but often couldnt find them. Relatives and activists say children were sometimes taken by soldiers. We fled with a bunch of families when we were detected by the elite battalions. The army bombed us, shot at us and deployed troops, said Jose Lainez Ayala, a 61-year-old also from San Vicente. When the fighting was over, Lainez said, he returned to find the dead body of his 8-year-old daughter but there was no sign of his 6-year-old. We couldnt find her because the army took her. In its ruling supporting Rivas call for an investigation into the fate of her daughters, the Supreme Court said there was sufficient information to conclude they were involuntarily disappeared at the hands of soldiers. Pro-Busqueda said its own investigations indicate that soldiers took children and adopted them as their own, though its not clear how many. In some cases they were cared for and in others they were used as servants, Garcia said. In other cases, he said, they were turned over to other families or the Red Cross and ended up in orphanages. The practices echo what occurred during the dirty war in Argentina, where relatives spent decades searching for missing children. In 2013, the AP interviewed Gregoria Herminia Contreras, who was separated from her parents when she was 4. She was adopted by a soldier who registered her with his own last name. At that time, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights declared that Contreras disappearance and those of her two siblings and three other minors were perpetrated by armed forces members between 1981 and 1983. The government accepted responsibility and apologized. Pro-Busqueda believes even more cases could come to light if the military opens its archives. Since 1994, it has documented 881 reports from families of disappeared children and 200 more of children who were adopted abroad and are looking for their families. SILVER CITY In the wake of school shooting incidents, the Silver Consolidated School District has taken some steps to be proactive when it comes to safety in the schools. Superintendent Audie Brown has begun to address these type of situations especially after the shooting at Aztec High School. As was discussed during the December board meeting, immediately after the tragic incident in Aztec, I called an emergency meeting with all administrators to discuss our school safety procedures, Brown said. On Dec. 19, district administration met with chief Ed Reynolds and Captain (Ricky) Villalobos from the Silver City Police Department, to discuss and ask for their assistance and expertise on school safety and security as well as the need to conduct a threat assessment for each school in our district, within the town of Silver City. In Cliff, the State Police, Grant County Sheriffs Office and the Silver City Police Department have assisted in a similar process both recently and in the past. Last Thursday, a picture from Facebook sent Silver High School into safety mode. Parents were notified about a picture that was circulating on social media about not sending kids to SHS because there would be a shooting. Administration immediately contacted Silver City police and an investigation was done. The end result that was Silver wasnt the target and it came from Springfield, Ohio. But, the precaution wanted to keep students and staff as safe as possible. The School Messenger system was instrumental in helping notify parents of the situation. Brown said that administration is also going to ask the School Board to reallocate some money that was recently obtained by bonds that were allocated for specific capital projects to be used for updated safety and security measures with the Silver school system. Brown and administration met again with Reynolds and Villalobos and also Detective Manny Jaure to discuss procedures for the safety of those within the schools as well as the need to conduct and schedule a threat assessment at each school site. At the February board meeting, the board passed a Safety and Security Resolution in which a School Safety and Security Committee is going to be established, Brown said. The intent if assessing current and potential safety and security risks as well as formulating ways to reduce, and if possible, eliminate the risks identified. The committee will consist of members of the school district administrative team, representatives from local law enforcement agencies and staff/community members as deemed appropriate. Brown said the goal of this committee is to bring the specific expertise and experience of those on the team together to provide a safe and secure learning environment to all within Silver Consolidated Schools. To confirm you are able to receive important messages from your childs school and/or the district, I ask that everyone take a moment to ensure your email and phone information is current and up-to-date at your childs school to receive information via the School Messenger system, Brown said. Silver Schools would like to thank the Silver City Police Department, Grant County Sheriffs Office and New Mexico State Police for all of their invaluable time and assistance. 2018 the Silver City Sun-News (Silver City, N.M.) Visit the Silver City Sun-News (Silver City, N.M.) at www.scsun-news.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ FARMINGTON A 13-year-old girl has been arrested and accused of making a school shooting threat. Kirtland Middle School was placed on lockdown today in response to the threat, according to a San Juan County Sheriffs Office Facebook post. She is accused of a petty misdemeanor charge of interference with the educational process, according to Detective Lt. Kyle Lincoln of the Sheriffs Office. The school was cleared by Sheriffs deputies and detectives who located a hand-written note. The 13-year-old female student confessed to detectives and she was arrested, authorities said. A Kirtland Central High School 17-year-old male student was arrested Wednesday afternoon after allegedly issuing a bomb threat at that school. He was charged with a fourth-degree felony charge of creating a bomb scare. 2018 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ FARMINGTON A wild horse hunt aimed at thinning a herd in an Arizona trophy hunt area was abruptly cancelled today as opposition to the hunt grew and a protest was planned. The tribal governments natural resource regulators last week issued a proclamation declaring the 2018 feral horse management hunt. It was designed to remove 60 horses from the Carrizo Mountains near Teec Nos Pos in northeast Arizona. The Navajo Nation Division of Natural Resources this afternoon rescinded the proclamation, according to a notice on the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlifes website. President Russell Begaye said in an emailed statement that the hunt will be postponed and the proclamation was rescinded to allow for public input and education. Protest was planned Tens of thousands of feral horses roam Navajo Nation lands and the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife is seeking ways to reduce that population. Following the release of the hunt proclamation horse advocates, including members of the Facebook group Indigenous Horse Nation Protector Alliance, organized a rally for Friday morning in Window Rock, Arizona, to protest the hunt. Gloria Tom, the director of Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife, said the public outcry led to the cancellation. Hunt should go before tribal leadership In an email statement, Navajo Nation Speaker LoRenzo Bates said his office was not aware that the executive branch had made a decision to issue permits for hunting feral horses. As Navajo people, we are taught to respect all life forms and that includes horses, Bates said. Considering the cultural and historical factors and concerns over water shortages and overgrazing this is certainly an issue that should have been brought before Navajo leadership and medicine people to discuss and consider. If the hunt had not been rescinded, hunters accompanied by wildlife conservation officers would have been able to kill non-branded horses that were at least two years old. Hunters would not have been permitted to kill mares that have foals with them. Begaye said the Carrizo Mountains near Teec Nos Pos in northeast Arizona has been critically impacted by the feral horses. He said the Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlifes proclamation specifically targeted the Carrizo Mountains. The proclamation called for removing up to 60 horses over a six-day span from the Carrizo Mountains. Tom said the Corrizo Mountains is one of the trophy hunt areas of the reservation. She said the department was concerned about the impacts of the horses on the habitat, especially about the impact on mule deer. She said the severe drought in the region will increase competition for food and water. Were looking at a very severe outlook for lack of precipitation through July this year, she said. Tom said the drought was one reason the department hoped to remove horses to reduce the stress on the landscape and wildlife. A problem that cant be ignored With the hunt being called off, Tom said the department is looking at other ways to reduce the population. She said a roundup is one possibility, but rounding up the horses could be hard in the mountainous terrain. The problem of feral horses on the Navajo Nation is one that cannot be ignored, Begaye said. According to a 2016 study conducted by the Navajo Fish and Wildlife Department, there are more than 38,000 feral horses on the Navajo Nation. These numbers are tremendous when considering the amount of overgrazing that exists and the impact it has on the livestock and wildlife in the various ecosystems on the Nation. Its estimated that one horse consumes approximately 32 pounds of forage and 10 gallons of water per day to sustain its life. The estimated number on Navajo Nation exceeds the estimated populations of feral horses on lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in surrounding states. The BLM estimates there are about 59,500 feral horses roaming on federal lands in 10 western states. The majority of those horses nearly 35,000 are in Nevada. New Mexico has approximately 168 feral horses on lands managed by the BLM and Arizona has about 364, according to the BLM. Utah has an estimated 5,215 feral horses on BLM-managed land and Colorado has an estimated 1,693. Begaye said the tribes division of natural resources documented extensive damage to the land, wildlife habitat, vegetation and other natural resources by the overpopulation of feral horses on the landscape. He encouraged Navajo chapters to pass resolutions to address feral horse management in their regions. Begaye said the division of natural resources will implement a multi-pronged horse management strategy. Implementation of this plan is required to ensure a sustainable future while preserving the land and natural resources that sustain Navajo tradition and culture, Begaye said. Tom said the horse management strategy includes methods like regional livestock auctions on the reservation and increased education. I compare our horse problem to what were dealing with with our dogs and cats, she said. She said responsible horse ownership will help cut down on the population. Tom said the communities in Navajo Nation have shown interest in finding ways to reduce the populations, especially in light of drought conditions. Were seeing a lot of very difficult situations with horses trying to get to water, she said. When reached by phone Monday, chapter president Duane Chili Yazzie said the Shiprock supports humane methods for reducing the population. Feral horses roam the northern part of the chapter in an area called Palmer Mesa and travel to the river to drink, Yazzie said. He said this places the horses in competition with livestock for resources. He said the chapter favors luring horses into corrals with hay and water and then closing the gate behind the horses. The horses could be trained by Shiprock residents and adopted out. Yazzie said the sick and injured horses would be humanely euthanized. Yazzie does not know how the chapter would react to the plan for the horse hunt, but he said it was controversial. There is considerable objection to this method of dealing with the horse population, Yazzie said. The Navajo Nation has been searching for a way to reduce the population of feral equines for years. In 2013, Navajo Nation ended a practice of rounding up feral horses and selling them to be shipped to Mexico for slaughter. Patricia Irick, who trains wild horses at the Largo Canyon rescue Mustang Camp, said the hunt is a more humane method of population than shipping them to Mexico. Being hauled to Mexico is much more stressful, Irick said. She said while horse advocates are concerned about hunts, ultimately Navajo Nation will have to decide for itself how to manage the herds. Its their culture, she said. They have to decide for themselves what they want to do. Hannah Grover covers government for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4652 or via email at hgrover@daily-times.com. 2018 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ BEIJING Human Rights Watch says it has found new evidence that authorities in one of Chinas most repressive regions are sweeping up citizens personal information in a stark example of how big-data technology can be used to police a population. The rights group used publicly available government procurement documents, media reports and interviews to assemble details of the policing program, called the Integrated Joint Operations Platform, in Xinjiang, a sprawling area in northwest China that security officials say harbors separatist and religious extremist elements. Unidentified sources inside Xinjiang described to Human Rights Watch the computer and mobile app interfaces of the IJOP software that tracks almost all citizens of the Turkic-speaking Muslim Uighur ethnic minority and stores detailed information, including their travel history, prayer habits, the number of books in their possession, and banking and health records. Procurement notices show that the IJOP also deploys license plate tracking and facial-recognition cameras to follow people in real time and provide predictive warnings about impending crime, Human Rights Watch said. Although surveillance is pervasive in many countries, including the United States, and has the potential for abuse, the technology is being deployed far more broadly in Xinjiang, said Maya Wang, senior China researcher at Human Rights Watch and the reports author. In China the programs are very explicitly focused on people who are politically threatening or an entire Uighur ethnic group, Wang said. An official in the press office of Xinjiang police headquarters on Monday confirmed APs questions had been received but said leaders were out and he had no idea when or if there would be a reply. The official, like many Chinese bureaucrats, declined to give his name because he wasnt authorized to speak to reporters. Chinas 10 million Uighurs already face a raft of restrictions not imposed on people of the Han ethnicity, who are the overwhelming majority in China. Uighurs face multiple hurdles in procuring passports and those who have them are required to leave them with the police. Hotels are required to register their presence with the local authorities and frequently turn them away to avoid the hassle. Frequent road blocks and checkpoints across the vast Xinjiang region enable authorities to stop people and check their mobile phones for content that might be deemed suspicious. Such pressure was ratcheted up following a series of deadly attacks blamed on Uighur extremists seeking independence from Chinese rule. A 2017 investigation by The Associated Press showed that thousands of Uighurs in Xinjiang, and possibly many more, have been sent to an extrajudicial network of political indoctrination centers for months at a time for reasons including studying abroad and communicating with relatives abroad. The AP also found evidence in government documents and procurement contracts of the Xinjiang government compiling biometric and personal data and systematically rating its Uighur citizens political reliability. The Human Rights Watch report reveals for the first time that the disparate data collection efforts appear to be unified under one central digital database that calculates citizens political risk. Use of the integrated computer system has led to people being detained and sent to political indoctrination centers, Wang said, citing interviewees who were kept anonymous out of concern for their safety. Wang said she has found evidence that Chinese police are building similar big-data tracking capabilities in other parts of the country under a program called the police cloud, but do not deploy them to as such an extent as in Xinjiang. Convened to examine the causes of civil unrest in black communities, the presidential commission issued a 1968 report with a stark conclusion: America was moving towards two societies, one black, one white separate and unequal. Fifty years after the historic Kerner Commission identified white racism as the key cause of pervasive discrimination in employment, education and housing, there has been no progress in how African Americans fare in comparison to whites when it comes to homeownership, unemployment and incarceration, according to a report by the Economic Policy Institute released on Monday. In some cases, African Americans are worse off today than they were before the civil rights movement culminated in laws barring housing and voter discrimination as well as racial segregation. 7.5 percent of African Americans were unemployed in 2017, compared to 6.7 percent in 1968 still roughly twice the white unemployment rate. The rate of homeownership, one of the most important ways for working- and middle-class families to build wealth, has remained virtually unchanged for African Americans in the last 50 years. Black homeownership remains just over 40 percent, trailing 30 points behind whites, who have seen modest gains during that time. The share of incarcerated African Americans has nearly tripled between 1968 and 2016 one of the largest and most depressing developments in the last 50 years, especially for black men, researchers said. African Americans are 6.4 times more likely than whites to be jailed or imprisoned, compared to 5.4 times more likely in 1968. We have not seen progress because we still have not addressed the issue of racial inequality in this country, said John Schmitt, an economist and vice president of the Economic Policy Institute, citing the racial wealth gap and continuing racial discrimination in the labor and housing markets. One of the key issues is the disadvantages so many African Americans face, right from the very beginning as children. The wealth gap between white and black Americans has more than tripled in the last 50 years, according to Federal Reserve data. The typical black family had zero wealth in 1968. Today the median net worth of white families $171,000 is 10 times that of black families. The wealth black families have accumulated is negligible when it comes to the amount of money needed to meet basic needs during retirement, pay for childrens college education, put a down payment on a house, or cope with a job loss or medical crisis, Schmitt said. The lack of economic progress is especially startling given that black educational attainment has improved significantly in the last five decades, Schmitt said. African Americans are almost as likely as whites to have completed high school. In 1968, just 54 percent of blacks graduated from high school compared to 75 percent of whites. Today, more than 90 percent of African Americans have a high school diploma, just 3 percentage points shy of the white high school completion rate. The share of young African Americans with a college degree has more than doubled to 23 percent since 1968, though blacks are still half as likely as whites to have completed college. Yet the hourly wage of a typical black worker grew by just 0.6 percent a year since 1968. African Americans make only 82.5 cents of every dollar earned by the typical white worker, the report said. And the typical black household today earns only 61.6 percent of the annual income of white households, with black college graduates continuing to make less than white college graduates. A separate book, Healing Our Divided Society, to be released today at a forum in Washington, D.C., also examines how little progress has been made in the last 50 years. Housing and schools have become re-segregated, locking too many African Americans into slums and their children into inferior schools. White supremacists have become emboldened. And there is too much excessive use of force often deadly by police, especially against African Americans, notes the book, co-edited by Fred Harris, a former U.S. senator and sole surviving member of the Kerner Commission who now lives in Corrales. Whereas the Kerner Commission called for massive and sustained investment in economic, employment and education initiatives, over the last 50 years America has pursued massive and sustained incarceration framed as law and order, the book said. Mass incarceration has become a kind of housing policy for the poor. KATY, Texas A 29-year-old suburban Houston man has survived being shot nine times in a robbery outside his home. Janie Davis says she found her son, Chris Daniels, lying in the driveway and covered with blood a week ago outside their home in Katy, west of Houston. She tells Houston television station KPRC that Daniels told her he was smoking outside the homes garage when two men walked up and demanded his wallet. He was shot during the ensuing struggle. Daniels, a father of three who works as a diesel mechanic, is hospitalized with leg and arm wounds. Doctors also have had to remove his spleen and one of his kidneys. Harris County sheriffs deputies have some home surveillance video to possibly help them track down the attackers. ___ This story has been corrected to show attack occurred last week. ___ Information from: KPRC-TV, http://www.click2houston.com Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal A month ago, a retired prominent Albuquerque attorney and a young transgender woman who rented a room from him were reported missing. The Northeast Albuquerque home was in disarray, and police warned they could be in danger. They were right. On Feb. 19 a month and a day after friends and family last heard from 70-year-old Eugene Carrell Ray and 28-year-old Zakaria Fry two bodies were discovered a couple of miles apart, dumped off the side of the road in the small community of Stanley, about 45 miles east of Albuquerque. On Tuesday, police confirmed that the bodies were those of Ray and Fry. But the mystery continues to deepen. Police have released few details, and the victims families say they have no idea how Ray and Fry met, or how long she had been renting a room from him. In an interview Tuesday, Rays daughter, Alarie Ray-Garcia, said she was horrified to learn how they had been found. I dont understand how someone can do that to anyone, just dump them like if they are trash, she said. Its unfathomable to me. Ray, whose career as an attorney spanned 40 years, started as an assistant attorney general in the child support enforcement division, and then rose to the position of supervising attorney in the same division, Ray-Garcia said. She said her father left the state position and opened his own family law practice, often serving as a guardian ad litem for children and as a part-time judge for domestic cases. Ray-Garcia, who was communications director for Gov. Bill Richardson and now owns her own public relations firm, said the family is shocked by the loss. He always called me his little girl, Im 39 years old, and he still called me little girl every time he talked to me, Ray-Garcia said. Im just going to miss hearing that. Officer Simon Drobik, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department, said the case is being investigated as a homicide. He did not know how Ray or Fry were killed or any other details about how they were found. But a rancher told the Journal last week that he had found the body of a woman, presumed to be Fry, a transgender woman, stuffed in a garbage bin. Rays body was found some distance away, but the details of the discovery have not been disclosed. Detectives had been pursuing some leads in the case a couple of weeks ago, but say they are still investigating. Ray-Garcia said the last time she heard from her father, who had a wry sense of humor, was when he posted a meme on her Facebook page on Jan. 18 about the difficulties of parenting. When the family hadnt heard from him again eight days later, they went to check on his house near Moon and Constitution NE, and found it in disarray, raising suspicions of violence. They immediately reported him missing. When Frys family realized no one had heard from her either, she was reported missing, too. Ray-Garcia said that until that point she had not even known her father was renting out a room in his house. And Frys sister, Brittany Willis, also said she did not know how long Fry had been living in the home. She said Fry had moved to Albuquerque from Indiana several years ago to be closer to her family, although they did not always see each other that often. Willis said Fry was a fun-spirited, loving person and her family is saddened by how her life has been cut short. She said Fry was never without her 3-year-old Chihuahua-mix named Tinker Bell. The dog still has not been found. We will continue to pray and ask for prayers from others that justice will be served for my brother and (her) roommate Mr. Ray, Willis said. Frys death has not only hit her family, but has also left the transgender community disheartened and fearful, said Adrien Lawyer, the co-founder of the Transgender Resource Center of New Mexico. He said they dont know why Fry or Ray were killed. Lawyer said that every fall Albuquerque takes part in the nationwide Transgender Day of Remembrance by writing the name of each transgender victim of violence on a luminaria and arranging them around the duck pond at the University of New Mexico. Next November, there will be a candle lit for Fry. Tips: Police ask anyone with information about the case to contact Crime Stoppers at 843-STOP. Oli inducts four more ministers Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli inducted four ministers to his Cabinet on Monday. Two of them are from his party CPN-UML and two from the CPN (Maoist Centre). Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE More than 20 acequia and community ditch groups have filed a motion seeking to overturn a major ruling by retired New Mexico Court of Appeals Judge James Wechsler on Navajo Nation water rights. The motion says that Wechsler failed to disclose that he had worked years ago as an attorney for what the motion contends is a tribal entity. An attorney for the Navajo Nation called the motion ridiculous. Wechsler worked for a nonprofit legal services agency that serves individuals and often sues the Navajo government on their behalf, not the government itself, said attorney Stanley Pollack. The motion filed Monday at the Court of Appeals seeks to overturn Wechslers decision in 2013 approving an agreement between the Navajo Nation and New Mexico state government settling Navajo water rights claims on the San Juan River in northwest New Mexico. The ruling by Wechsler, who was sitting as a special presiding judge in state District Court for the water rights case, which dates to 1975, continues to be contested by other water users and is still pending at the appeals court. Wechsler retired last year after more than 22 years on the court. Wechslers 2013 ruling recognized the Navajo Nations right to divert 635,729 acre-feet of water per year, which translates to consumption of 325,756 acre-feet annually. Consumption is defined under state law as the total amount of water diverted, minus the amount returned for use by others downstream. A Journal analysis in 2013 found that the agreement Wechsler approved would increase the Navajo Nations share of the states water from 6 percent to 10 percent. Past legal work The new motion filed for other area water users by Albuquerque lawyer Victor Marshall says Wechsler lived on the Navajo reservation at Crownpoint from 1970 to 1976 and worked as a lawyer on several important cases while working for DNA Legal Services, which describes itself online as providing free civil legal services to low-income people who otherwise could not afford to hire an attorney. Marshalls filing maintains that the nonprofit DNA is an agency and instrumentality of the Navajo Nation. Wechsler and the Navajo Nation did not disclose a prior relationship, as required by the Code of Judicial Conduct, the motion argues. The cited section of the code says a judge should step down when the judge has a personal bias or personal knowledge of facts in dispute or has served as a government employee, public official or lawyer in the matter at issue. There can be no doubt that Mr. Wechsler acted as a zealous, effective, loyal, and dedicated advocate for his clients at DNA Legal Services, Marshalls motion says. But that is exactly why Judge Wechsler cannot sit on this case. As a lawyer for the Navajo Nation, he had a duty to act with zeal and undivided loyalty as a champion for the interests of the Navajo Nation. That is the polar opposite of the duty of impartiality which is imposed on every judge in every case. Motion disputed But Pollack, who is representing the Navajo Nation in this case, said Marshalls motion wrongly equates Wechslers work for the nonprofit firm with working for the Navajo government. Hes conflating working on or in the Navajo Nation with working for the Navajo Nation, Pollack said. Hes conflating working for individual members of the Navajo Nation, which is what DNA does, to working for the Navajo Nation, a governmental agency. If a judge had represented individuals in the state of New Mexico before becoming a judge, would he (Marshall) move to disqualify the judge because working for individuals is equated with working for state government? The whole thing is ridiculous, Pollack said. He said DNA regularly sues the Navajo government over issues including evictions from public housing, jail conditions and solid waste facilities. When DNA announced closure of three offices last year, it said its funding sources include the U.S. Department of Justice, the Indian Land Tenure Foundation and the Native American Rights Fund, but the majority comes from the Legal Services Corporation, a federal agency. No comment was available from DNA Tuesday. Santa Fe City Councilor Peter Ives, an attorney and DNA board member, said he would call it a stretch to refer to the organization as an instrumentality of the Navajo Nation. He said board members have included employees of the Navajo government, but to his knowledge, the nonprofit does not receive any funding from the nation. It is a nonprofit Arizona corporation that provides indigenous services for a number of nations, including Navajo, Ives said. A brief by Marshall in support of his motion cites major cases that were among many that Wechsler worked on while at DNA. In one, a federal court ruled that Gallup schools were discriminating against Navajo children and diverting federal dollars that were supposed to benefit them. Another was a tax ruling described as a landmark case in favor of Indian sovereignty, and another favored preference for Native American hires at the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The new motion says that under the settlement approved by Wechsler, the Navajo Nation can use more than six times as much water as the city of Albuquerque. The agreements defenders call that an apples-to-oranges comparison, because all of New Mexicos agricultural water agencies use substantially more water for irrigation than is used by cities. DENVER A lawmaker from Colorado accused of sexual misconduct could face an expulsion vote as early as Friday. Rep. Steve Lebsock, who represents a suburban Denver district, has been accused of sexually harassing a fellow legislator and four other women. He denies the allegations. House Majority Leader KC Becker introduced an expulsion resolution late Tuesday, saying an outside investigator had judged 11 harassment allegations against Lebsock to be credible. Becker called the claims serious and egregious in nature. Complaints and investigations into alleged misconduct are considered confidential under the Colorado Legislatures workplace harassment policy. Becker said she would release a redacted copy of the Lebsock findings to lawmakers. Debate on the measure was scheduled for Friday. If expelled, Lebsock would be the second state lawmaker to be kicked out of office since the #MeToo movement emerged last fall. Millions of women shared their experiences as victims of sexual harassment or assault on social media, prompting a wave of sexual misconduct allegations in statehouses nationwide. On Feb. 1, the Arizona House voted to expel Republican Rep. Don Shooter after an outside investigator determined he had engaged in a pattern of sexual harassment that created a hostile workplace. In California, Democratic Sen. Tony Mendoza resigned Feb. 22 just ahead of a possible vote to expel him. Mendoza called the investigation into alleged misconduct a farce and said he may run for the seat this fall. Lebsock, a Democrat, is running for state treasurer and says he will fight expulsion. Im willing to speak with any of my colleagues, Lebsock said, referring to a 28-page defense he presented to lawmakers about his conduct before the legislative session began in January. I dont think Ill be expelled. Colorado House lawmakers from both parties will caucus Thursday to consider the case before taking up the expulsion resolution. A two-thirds vote of the 65-member chamber is needed. Democrats hold 37 seats, including Lebsocks. Lebsocks alleged misconduct involves fellow Democratic Rep. Faith Winter, as well as a former legislative aide and a former lobbyist who also lodged complaints. Winter alleges that Lebsock acted aggressively toward her when she turned down his sexual advances during an end-of-session party in 2016. She said he grabbed her elbow and that she felt threatened. Lebsock insisted Tuesday that his party was lining up behind Winter in her bid to win a state Senate seat this November that could challenge the narrow Republican majority in that chamber. The last thing I was thinking of when I came forward was politics, Winter said Tuesday. My whole goal in coming forward was to make sure this behavior stopped and that women in this building felt safe and felt like their voices were heard. The case is one of several involving Colorado lawmakers first reported by Rocky Mountain Community Radio . Lebsock, another House Democrat and a Senate Republican have either been stripped of committee leadership positions or resigned voluntarily following claims of inappropriate conduct. All have denied wrongdoing. Rocky Mountain Community Radio has also reported that claims against two other Republican members of the GOP-led Senate were found to be credible but that leadership has not taken action on those complaints. WASHINGTON President Donald Trump never stopped campaigning after winning the White House, and now hes making fresh moves to establish his re-election effort. The president on Tuesday named former digital adviser Brad Parscale as campaign manager for his 2020 election bid, a sign he is prioritizing loyalty as he works to secure his own political future in what is shaping up to be a bruising 2018 midterm election cycle for the GOP. The rise of Parscale, largely unknown in politics until just two years ago, has been inextricably linked to Trumps own political success. In a statement, the Trump campaign said Parscale will lead advanced planning for the 2020 effort, and that the campaign also will be engaged in the midterm elections. The announcement turned heads on Capitol Hill, where Republicans have been lobbying the president for months to keep focused on the November 2018 contests with leaders and political aides warning Trump that Democrats could gain subpoena power over his administration if Republicans lose the House or Senate. The campaign also announced that former deputy campaign manager Michael Glassner will serve as chief operating officer, while the presidents daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, will serve as senior adviser. Trump, whose poll numbers have lagged recent predecessors, has left little doubt about his intention to seek re-election. He filed the paperwork to organize his re-election committee on Inauguration Day, held his first campaign rally on Feb. 18, 2017, and has mused publicly about potential Democratic challengers. Parscale has long been close with the Trump family, a priority for the president as he begins planning his re-election strategy, according to a person familiar with campaign planning but not authorized to speak publicly about private discussions. The Austin-based digital consultant, an ally of Trump son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner, ran the Trump campaigns digital operations in 2016, which included sophisticated social media targeting. Parscale entered the Trump orbit in 2011 by doing web design work for the Trump family including the presidents real estate firm and his son Eric Trumps charity before Kushner hired him for the campaign. Parscale and Kushner helped craft the 2016 teams digital strategy, which has been widely credited with helping Trump pull off his upset victory. Paracale also established close ties with Eric Trump and his wife, Lara, who in turn was hired by Parscales Texas-based digital firm. Working with Kushner, Parscale and Katie Walsh then the chief of staff of the Republican National Committee served as de-facto campaign managers, overseeing nearly all aspects of campaign. In an interview with CBSs 60 Minutes last year, Parscale described how a team that grew to 100 people created 50,000 to 60,000 ads on Facebook daily to reach different swaths of Trump supporters to maximize support and online donations. The selection of Parscale for the campaign comes as Kushners tenure in the White House has been cast into doubt in recent weeks. Chief of staff John Kellys crackdown on interim security clearances has called into question Kushners ability to access highly classified information. And Tuesday saw the third announcement in as many months of the departure of a top Kushner ally in the White House, deputy communications director Josh Raffel. Trump has placed high value on loyalty in his next campaign after feeling burned by some of his previous campaign staffers, according to multiple people familiar with his thinking. Trump has denounced and publicly marginalized Paul Manafort, his former campaign chairman, whom he blames for smearing the presidents reputation with his own entanglements in Russia. Manafort is now facing charges brought by special counsel Robert Mueller on money laundering and bank fraud relating to his past work on behalf of the Ukrainian government. And Trump later soured on a subsequent campaign force, Steve Bannon, who drew the presidents wrath inside the White House for taking too much of the spotlight and portraying his family in a negative light in interviews with Fire and Fury author Michael Wolff. Parscale himself is not without critics in Trumps factious political circle. A self-taught coder who wasnt involved in politics until the 2016 effort, some Trump allies raised doubts about his preparedness to run the campaign, suggesting he could be the political equivalent of a one-hit wonder. Parscale did not respond to requests for comment. The rollout of Parscales announcement was not without a hitch. A statement released Tuesday by the Trump campaign attributed to White House senior adviser Jared Kushner was in apparent violation of federal law prohibiting the use of official titles in political work. The campaign used Kushners title and his position as an assistant to the president in its press release announcing Parscales role. The title was removed from the copy of the release posted to the campaign website after questions from The Associated Press. The Hatch Act bars government employees from using their official titles in political work. Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Tuesday all senior official and Cabinet secretaries have been briefed on the prohibition. The White House says Kushner offered the statement in his personal capacity: The campaign committee inadvertently added his White House title when it drafted the announcement and subsequently removed the reference when instructed to do so by the White House. Trumps campaign remains based in New York, its headquarters just floors below the presidents penthouse in Trump Tower. Lara Trump has become, in many ways, the face of the re-election campaign in its early days. She has appeared in a series of online news videos meant to be an alternative to mainstream media outlets and, alongside Glassner, has helped steer Trumps initial fundraising efforts and schedule his signature campaign rallies. She and her husband, key members of Trumps first campaign, are expected to play an even larger role for 2020. Kushner also has been discussed as someone to return to leading the re-election effort, according to the person familiar with campaign strategy. In a statement, Eric Trump said Parscale has our familys complete trust and is the perfect person to be at the helm of the campaign. Kushner also praised Parscale in a statement. Brad was essential in bringing a disciplined technology and data-driven approach to how the 2016 campaign was run, he said, adding that Parscale will help build a best-in-class campaign. ___ Lemire reported from New York. AP writer Ken Thomas in Washington contributed to this report. In 2017, content marketing took center stage, and Indian marketers got a flavour of what new-age marketing looks like, powered by data and presented in video. As we enter 2018, Indian marketers are now faced with the challenge of using these tools to maximize ROI and gain a strategic edge over competitors. LinkedIn, the worlds largest professional network on the internet, today launched an e-book - The 7 trends in 2018 that will shape Content Marketing in India. Heres a glimpse into the trends that are likely to shape the Indian marketing landscape this year: Trend 1: Brands will move towards intelligent content marketing Brands that have invested in content marketing will now adopt an intelligent approach and publish well-thought and highly directed content. The focus will be on quality, not quantity. B2B brands, particularly, will employ greater creativity and storytelling techniques to get their messages across to their customers. Trend 2: Content marketing will be guided by, and evaluated on, data-driven metrics Marketers will now use intelligent algorithms to introduce new variables to measure and map the buyers journey and move beyond the cost-per-click or cost-per-thousand models. Instead they will adopt a cost-per-action or performance-based advertising model, where advertisers pay for a certain outcome or acquisition. Trend 3: There will be greater adoption of native video by B2B marketers Marketers will focus on enriching the video experience by experimenting with new formats, offering testimonials and tutorials, and building thought leadership. Each brand will need to figure out what serves their marketing goals better short, snackable videos, or longer ones. Trend 4: Visionary brands will create content franchises and become content brands A content brand focuses on the needs of the audience first as opposed to putting out branded content. To build loyalty among its audiences, brands will develop content franchise that helps increase credibility and offers different entry points based on the content consumption habits of the audience. Trend 5: Companies will use the power of employee advocacy to grow their own brand The cumulative value of the personal brand of employees is a lot more than what brands can achieve on their own, particularly in the B2B space. Brands will create plans and processes to involve their employees in content creation and distribution. Trend 6: B2B brands will use content marketing to unlock the true value of thought leadership and improve advertising impact B2B audiences rarely engage with ads without previously having read or seen something from that brand, which inspired or informed them. Thought leadership will become invaluable in that, it will help build trust with buyers; it will help brands come across as expert advisors to the buyers. Trend 7: Voice will make itself heard in the content marketing space Voice search queries are increasing year-on-year. Google rolled out voice search support for eight Indian languages in 2017. Going forward, search engine algorithms may prioritize audio content over other formats. In any case, marketers who use voice content will find themselves ahead of the curve. Learn more about the trends by downloading the e-book here and join the conversation using #INCMTrends18 To read more click here Spicing up things this summer, Rasna, worlds largest soft drink concentrate player with availability in 53 countries and 1.6 million outlets across India, today announced the launch of Rasna Masala Orange, a new spicy drink flavour with actor Kareena Kapoor Khan as its brand ambassador. Through Rasna Masala Orange, the company has taken a significant step towards innovation in Indias beverage landscape by creating a new category of spicy fun drinks. Speaking on the launch of Rasna Masala Orange and association with Kareena Kapoor Khan, Mr. Piruz Khambatta, Chairman & MD, Rasna Pvt Ltd, said, Over the years, we have unveiled unique, healthy and delicious fruit drink based flavours at affordable pricing. Rasna Masala Orange is healthy, got a unique spicy taste with well-known Rasna Nagpur Orange flavour. Kareena Kapoor Khan is a critically acclaimed actor, fearless and believes in quality. As we venture into this new era of spicy drinks, our association with Kareena Kapoor Khan as the brand Ambassador of Rasna Masala Orange will help reach out to more consumers. On her association with Rasna and tasting Rasna Masala Orange herself, Kareena Kapoor Khan, said, Be it in spicy burgers, pizzas or sandwiches, everyone in India is used to a spicy palette. It is for the first time in the country, we have a spicy soft drink in the form of Rasna Masala Orange. I am proud to associate with Rasna as they are giving India a chatpatta orange drink that all of us love. Rasna Masala Orange is a great digestive, appetiser for the tastebuds which grownups and kids can drink anytime or on any occasion. Rasna Masala Orange is a unique product created for the very first time by any company through an innovative combination of real juice with spices such as Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Ginger, Cumin, Red Chillies, Mint and Fennel Seeds. It took Rasna more than six months to get the right combination as part of its R&D efforts supported by extensive consumer research. Rasna Masala Orange will be available in four pack sizes comprising of 32 glass pack at Rs.40/-, 12 glass pack at Rs.10/-, 1 glass at Rs.5/- and 1 glass at Re.2/- (without sugar) Remarkably, Rasna has not increased the MRP of its product from its launch in last few years and is still available at Rs.2.37p per glass. In a research done by a well-reputed National Research agency, Rasna stood out with the highest recall orange drink - aided and unaided recall, which is another great achievement. Customer Logins Obtain the data you need to make the most informed decisions by accessing our extensive portfolio of information, analytics, and expertise. Sign in to the product or service center of your choice. One hacked to death by neighbor with axe in Rautahat A person was murdered by attacking with an axe in Katahariya Municipality in Rautahat district on Monday. Richard Perry told a crowd of more than 200 people Monday afternoon that he and his family were deeply, deeply, deeply grateful during a ceremony to dedicate and bless the Robert S. Skipper Perry, Jr. Bridges. Of all the things you could name to memorialize my father, these were the best, Richard said. Its so cool because these bridges are part of the fabric of this city. They are symbolic of divides being bridged, literally people being connected. And thats what my fathers life was all about, connecting people through politics and so forth. Skipper, who died last June, was a former state representative, a former Aiken city councilman and a former Aiken mayor pro tempore. In addition, he was the Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerces Man of the Year in 2016. The bridges are in an area on York Street between Park and Colleton avenues. That location is in a neighborhood where Skipper spent much of his life. He grew up five blocks from here on Marion Street, Richard said. And he worked his whole life just down this road, on Park Avenue, at the bank, at the liquor store, at the funeral home and at City Hall, of course. Every day, he was coming and going across these bridges. The structures used to be made mainly of wood, but last year, a contractor hired by the South Carolina Department of Transportation, or SCDOT, completed a project to replace them with wood and steel spans that were designed to be safer and last longer. Two days before his death, Skipper attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new bridges while riding his Segway. He would be overjoyed, said Richard, to know that the structures were named in his honor. He probably would have set up a bungee jump on one of the spans, added Richard, who is the chief of staff for U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. Skippers widow, Anne Perry, attended Mondays event, and so did Skippers other son, Stanley Perry, who lives in North Carolina. I am totally overwhelmed; my family is totally overwhelmed, and Skipper would have been totally overwhelmed, Anne said. Stanleys children, Anne Healy, 8, and Spence, 9, unveiled one of the bridges two new signs by pulling off the plastic that was covering it. Skipper served a community that he dearly loved, said Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon. He was a voice for the everyday man, whether he was at the State House or the Waffle House. His legacy will live on. The Rev. Grant Wiseman, rector of St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church, officiated during the blessing of the bridges. Then Vince Cloud sang God Bless the U.S.A. In addition to Osbon, S.C. Sen. Tom Young, R-Aiken, was among the many state, county, and City of Aiken officials who attended the ceremony. He and the other members of the Aiken County Legislative Delegation sent a letter to SCDOT asking the agency to remember Skippers contributions as a public servant by giving the bridges on York Street his name. Last October, the agency announced it had approved that request. It is fitting and proper that the bridges are named after Skipper Perry, and Im glad that I was able to be part of it, Young said. He did so much for this community. When we opened these bridges, he rode across them on his Segway, and it was the last place that many of us saw him in this life. There also were tributes to Skipper during Osbons State of the City address at the AECOM Center for the Performing Arts on Monday night. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. Putalisadak fire destroys property worth millions Property worth millions of rupees was destroyed in a fire that broke out on the fifth floor of the Share Market Complex building in the Capitals Putalisadak on Monday morning. There were no casualties. A top Syrian Kurdish leader detained on Saturday in the Czech capital Prague at Turkeys request was freed today, prompting angry reactions from Ankara. In a statement, the Turkish Foreign Ministry asserted that Salih Muslims release following a court hearing today displayed the insincerity of European countries in the fight against terrorism. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag went further, claiming that freeing Muslim was a violation of international law and amounted to support for terrorism. Relations between the two NATO allies would suffer, he added. According to Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkey sent a diplomatic note to the Czech Republic to protest the move and will continue to pursue the former co-chair of Syria's Democratic Union Party (PYD), counted among the most influential Kurdish political groupings in Syria, wherever he went. For us, Salih Muslim is a terrorist. His release is a scandal. Turkey has demanded that Muslim, a Syrian national, be extradited to Turkey. There were unconfirmed reports Muslim will have to wait for at least another hearing pending Turkey's submission of evidence against him before he can leave the country. Turkey insists that both the PYD and its armed wing the Peoples Protection Units (YPG), the US-led coalitions top ally in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, are terrorist groups that threaten its national security. On Jan. 20, Turkey launched a large-scale military operation against the YPG-controlled Afrin region and has vowed to eject the YPG from the long slab of territory it controls along the Turkish border. The accusations stem from the PYD and YPGs allegiance to Abdullah Ocalan, the imprisoned founder of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been fighting on and off for Kurdish self-rule inside Turkey since 1984. Speaking to reporters following his release, Muslim said he was holding meetings in Europe to explain what was happening in Afrin. "They tried to silence us. They failed," he said. Muslim was in Prague to speak at an international conference on regional security in the Middle East convened by the University of California's Center for Middle East Development and co-hosted by the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and the United States, The New York Times reported. Muslim was detained at the Marriott Hotel where he was staying a few hours after the conference ended. In a Feb. 22 interview with Al-Monitor, Muslim acknowledged that he had met Ocalan in Damascus before he was forced out of Syria in 1998 and makes no secret of his admiration for him. But the PYD and the YPG deny they are part of the PKK, saying Ocalan has inspired their thinking and nothing more. Although many PYD and YPG leaders were previously in the PKK, neither is listed as terrorist groups by either the United States and the European Union, paving the way for joint cooperation against IS. For a while, Turkey was similarly pragmatic in its approach. Until 2015, when peace talks and a 2-year cease-fire between Turkey and the PKK collapsed, Muslim used to meet with senior Turkish officials to discuss the PYDs role in the Syrian opposition. He helped plan a joint operation to retrieve the remains of the grandfather of the founder of the Ottoman Empire from a shrine near the town of Kobani and relocate them to a new site near the Turkish border. At the time, around 1,000 YPG fighters wounded in the battle against IS were treated in state-run Turkish hospitals. Turkey now claims that Muslim was involved in a March 2016 car bomb attack in the heart of Ankara that left at least 37 people dead and over a hundred wounded. The attack, which targeted police personnel, was said to have been carried out by PKK operatives who drove the bomb-laden car and perished in the blast. The Kurdistan Freedom Falcons, which is described in turn as a radical splinter faction of the PKK and its urban terror wing, claimed responsibility for the explosion. Muslim was added to the list of wanted suspects in the prosecutions indictment a year later. The precise nature of the allegations and evidence against him remain unclear, though the state-run Anadolu news agency reported charges against him include damaging public property and national unity, premeditated murder and transporting dangerous materials. Muslim said he had not traveled to Turkey since February 2015. Observers say Muslims indictment is likely part of Turkeys broader effort to convince the United States and European countries to end their support for the YPG. Muslim told Al-Monitor that he had offered to mediate between Turkey and the PKK when he still had contact with Turkish officials. "I told them I knew certain people [inside the PKK], we can go to Qandil." He said the offer to negotiate still stands, provided that Turkey halts its attacks on Afrin. The Egyptian government launched this month a first-of-its-kind renewable energy curriculum at technical schools in the southern city of Aswan and the Red Sea resort town of Hurghada, to encourage students to specialize in renewable energy and to train them for jobs in the countrys growing solar and wind power sectors. The three-year certificate program, which was developed by the Egyptian Ministry of Education and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), seeks to benefit over 300 technical school students. Now being piloted at two technical schools in Aswan and another one in Hurghada, the coursework will also be implemented in 57 schools in nine other governorates. According to a USAID statement, the program includes classroom instruction and hands-on, practical experience to produce technicians capable of immediately contributing to the renewable energy sector. Ahmed al-Geyoushi, the deputy minister of education for technical and vocational education and training, told local media that the program is part of the states plan to link technical education to the needs of the labor market by entering into partnerships with industrialists and investors and providing practical training opportunities for students. He also referred to a large renewable energy project now being carried out in Aswan and said investors in that project need at least 10,000 specialized technicians during the implementation and operation periods. The USAID statement said the program will provide skilled labor for power plants such as the Benban Solar Park in Aswan, where 40 solar stations will help Egypts increasing demand for electricity. The Aswan project, which has investments worth $3.5 billion, would generate a total capacity of 1.8 gigawatts. Its construction started in 2015 and the project is scheduled to be completed by 2018. Officials said the projects generated power will be equal to 90% of the electricity generated by the Aswan High Dam. The choice of Aswan and Hurghada to start such a program is excellent because these two cities have the countrys longest sunrise durations and are two of the most suitable places to implement renewable energy projects, Tarek Nour el-Deen, an education expert and former assistant to the education minister, said. He said the program would provide job opportunities for hundreds of young people in Hurghada and in Aswan, both of which have high unemployment rates. With Egypt moving ahead with an ambitious plan to start relying on renewable energy for power generation, having trained, well-educated workers is fundamental, Nour el-Deen told Al-Monitor. The launch of this new curriculum could not be more timely, USAID Egypt mission Director Sherry Carlin said during the launch of the program at the Benban Technical School, according to the USAID statement. Employers like engineering companies and renewable energy firms need to hire people with skills and experience, and this new technical education program trains students to become skilled technicians who are qualified for these jobs." Economists say that renewable energy projects can give a major push to Egypts economy, satisfy the countrys energy needs and reduce its imports. Turning to renewable energy is the best solution in Egypts case with its strategic location, having strong sunrays throughout the year, Ahmed el-Shami, an economist, told Al-Monitor. He added that training young people to take up jobs in the renewable energy sector is extremely crucial to ensure the success of these projects. In the past few years, Egypt has started to invest billions of dollars in order to modernize and expand its power plant networks. Also, the country has recently been moving ahead with several major renewable energy projects to meet increasing power demand, diversify its energy resources and reduce oil and gas imports. According to figures released by the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Egypt is aiming to secure 20% of its energy generation from renewable sources by 2022. The launch of the renewable energy curriculum program has also struck a chord with technical school students wanting to learn more about renewable energy. In Egypt, there are no classes on renewable energy although the sector is growing rapidly all over the world, Youssef Mostafa, a 13-year-old technical school student, told Al-Monitor. Mostafa said he hopes the curriculum is implemented in all schools nationwide in order to create a generation of young people aware of the importance of renewable energy. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip On Feb. 19, some Palestinians lashed out at Qatar's ambassador to the Palestinian territories, Mohammed Al-Emadi, during his visit to the Gaza Strip, sparking conflicting reactions. Some Arab media outlets that support the Gulf states' boycott of Qatar portrayed the demonstration as a Palestinian refusal of Qatars support for Gaza. Some angry cleaning workers at Al-Shifa Hospital who have not received their salaries for five months shouted and pushed each other toward Emadi as he headed toward his car after his press conference. Emadi was there to announce the details of a $9 million Qatari grant for the hospital, which is the largest medical complex in Gaza City. Emadi said the grant would include funding for medical supplies, food and fuel, among other things, but he added that the unpaid salaries issue does not involve his country. The workers expressed their objection to Emadi ignoring their payment issue during the press conference, and security forces had to escort Emadi away from the premises. The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has contracts with private cleaning companies handling the cleaning in hospitals and governmental health centers. Hamas handed the ministries over to the consensus government in Ramallah in the West Bank following the reconciliation agreement signed Oct. 12 in Cairo between Hamas and Fatah. The ministry in Gaza thus stopped paying the companies, thinking that the government in Ramallah would pay them. But Ramallah refused, saying the Ministry of Health in Gaza is not paying money it owes to the Palestinian Authority treasury, which amounts to about $20 million per month. The reconciliation has been stalled, but Egypt, which has acted as mediator between Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza, sent a delegation Feb. 25 to the Gaza Strip in an effort to move the process forward. To contain damage from the Emadi incident, the cleaning companies that have contracts with the Ministry of Health in Gaza released a statement Feb. 19 expressing their condemnation of the workers actions. The companies dismissed the incident as individuals carrying out irresponsible acts against Emadi, and the businesses officially apologized to him on behalf of the workers. Ministry of Health spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra in Gaza told Al-Monitor that the grant, which includes financial aid and medication, will revive hospitals and medical facilities in Gaza. Qudra said his ministry was thankful for the $9 million in aid that Emadi detailed during his visit. Qudra noted that the cleaning workers were protesting at the time of Emadis arrival at the hospital, and that their reaction was spontaneous. Qudra denied any attack on the ambassador, as some media outlets had reported. A cleaning worker who was there at the time of the incident told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, Objections escalated and turned into screaming and pushing because the workers were devastated about their tough financial situation due to slackening in paying their salaries [from the Ministry of Health]. The worker added, As soon as Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani announced the financial grant Feb. 9, cleaning workers in hospitals spread the news that Emadi would allocate part of the money given to hospitals to pay their salaries. But when Emadi concluded the press conference without discussing their problem, they threw a tantrum and blocked the path of Emadis car. The worker asked, Where are the millions of dollars that donor countries, including Qatar, are granting Gaza? We are only given the leftovers. He hoped the incident would not affect the Qatari aid to Gaza. The 835 cleaning workers at all hospitals of the Gaza Strip went on strike Feb. 10 because they did not receive their salaries. As the strike is ongoing, garbage is scattered around the facilities, and more than 860 surgeries have been delayed. The Ministry of Health warned against the spread of diseases. Adham Abu Salmia, the spokesman for the Popular Committee Against the Siege, told Al-Monitor that the incident with Emadi does not reflect the Palestinian peoples image. He said some hooligans had infiltrated into the cleaning workers group and caused a stir during the ambassadors visit. The security officers handled the situation and held them accountable. Salmia said Emadi understood the situation after governmental parties in Gaza and his advisers explained what happened. Emadi said the solution to the workers problem is in the hands of the consensus government rather than Qatar. Palestinian Minister of Works and Public Housing in Gaza Mufeed Al-Hasayneh and Palestinian faction leaders met with Emadi separately Feb. 20 at his residence in Gaza and apologized for what happened. They praised the Qatari role in helping Gazans. Popular and youth movements held rallies in front of the hotel where he was staying to express their gratitude to Qatar. Akram Atallah, a political analyst and writer at the Palestinian Al-Ayam newspaper, told Al-Monitor that Qatars support for the Gaza Strip has not yet helped to ameliorate the citizens' tough conditions. Atallah ruled out the possibility that the incident might affect Qatars support to the Gaza Strip. He said, Qatars support is not independent. US peace envoy Jason Greenblatt said Feb. 9 that Qatars efforts, with the cooperation of Israel, can relieve the humanitarian situation in Gaza. All aid and funds Qatar offers to Gaza have to enter through crossings with Israel, upon the approval of Israel, which monitors the details of how the money is spent to make sure none of it goes to Hamas, Emadi told Reuters on Feb. 22. Khaled al-Halabi, a media professor at Al-Aqsa University in Gaza, told Al-Monitor that Gulf media outlets, with their extensive coverage of the Emadi incident, intentionally tried to portray the incident erroneously to make it look as if Gaza had rejected Qatar. Halabi called on the media that support the Gulf countries' Qatar boycott to focus their efforts on helping citizens instead of distorting facts in Gaza. He said that their ongoing tarnishing of facts will weaken their credibility among Palestinians. Palestinians in Gaza hope the incident will not affect Qatari support to Palestinians, which has been the largest in the Arab world in the past few years, with about half a billion dollars offered since 2012. Following the Feb. 19 incident in Gaza, Palestinian Twitter users shared the hashtag #Shukran_Qatar, which translates to Thank you, Qatar to express their gratitude. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip The worsening humanitarian and public health situation in Gaza has prompted Arab countries to intervene with financial aid to avert a total collapse. The Arab Organization for Human Rights in the United Kingdom and the United Nations pressed countries in January and February, respectively, to step in to stop the unfolding humanitarian catastrophe. Palestinian factions warned against an imminent implosion on Feb. 20. As part of the Arab countries efforts, the United Arab Emirates made a $2 million donation on Feb. 7. A day later, Qatar contributed $9 million in aid, part of which will go toward supplying hospitals with fuel and medicines. Meanwhile, Egypt has resumed contact with both Hamas and Fatah to further the reconciliation process and find a quick solution to the humanitarian crisis. Israel agreed on Feb. 21 to grant entry permits to 3,000 Gazan merchants so they can obtain goods to bring into Gaza and to allow Gazan fishermen to work farther offshore, expanding the range from 6 nautical miles to 9 as of April 1. It has also allowed a large quantity of goods, including wood, cement and medical equipment, to enter Gaza through border crossings. The UN Security Council held a closed-door meeting Feb. 14 at the request of Kuwait and Bolivia to discuss the humanitarian situation. The next day, Stephane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN secretarygeneral, attributed the worsening conditions to funding cuts by the United States to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, the closure of border crossings and the state of Palestinian reconciliation. Fatah Central Committee member Abbas Zaki told Al-Monitor that the Palestinians, including the leadership, appreciate the efforts at halting the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, but he also said that emergency assistance only postpones resolving the situation. The only solution, he believes, is lifting the decadelong Israeli siege. Zaki called on international institutions to act immediately, before the situation implodes, rather than contenting themselves with appeals and cautionary statements. He said that Gaza is everyones responsibility. Hamas spokesman Hazem Qassem told Al-Monitor that Gaza's catastrophic setback has been caused not only by the Israeli siege, but also the punitive measures of President Mahmoud Abbas since April 2017. He explained that although Hamas is no longer in the government, movement officials are making contacts daily and holding meetings to help stop the growing crisis. Speaking to the press Feb. 14 in New York, Riyad Mansour, the Palestinian ambassador to the United Nations, urged representatives of UN Security Council member states to go to Gaza to see firsthand how much Gazans are suffering. The Popular Committee for Confronting the Siege had reported on Feb. 9 that the poverty rate stands at 80% for Gazas 2 million inhabitants while unemployment exceeds 50%. Yousuf al-Ghaziz, an adviser to Mohammed al-Emadi, who heads Qatar's Gaza Reconstruction Committee, told Al-Monitor that during a Feb. 18 visit to the Palestinian territories, Emadi inaugurated a number of construction projects. Ghaziz explained that $2.5 million of the $9 million Qatar has provided would be directed at reviving the health care sector and the rest will go toward food aid, home construction and rehabilitation, university tuition, and infrastructure. He noted that the Qatari commitments to reconstruction projects, relief and humanitarian assistance have totaled $90 million thus far this year. On Feb. 15 in Ramallah, Palestinian Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah met with Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai, the head of Israel's Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories. During their encounter, in the presence of Nikolay Mladenov, the UN special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, both sides discussed Gazas humanitarian crisis and agreed to reassess the reconstruction mechanism to accelerate reconstruction of houses destroyed in the 2014 war. Akram Atallah, a political analyst and writer for the Palestinian daily Al-Ayyam, told Al-Monitor that the Gaza crisis has reached the level of residents lacking the most basic necessities of life. He warned, as have others, that the financial aid provided by some Arab countries is a mere palliative and does not resolve the crisis, which requires ceaseless and efficient efforts to overcome. Atallah is convinced that everyone is aware that the situation in Gaza will soon implode and that they want to stop it or slow it. Given this, he asked, Why have the Arab countries, except for Qatar and the UAE, not supported Gaza, leaving it struggling all by itself? Isam Shawar, a columnist at the local daily Felesteen, told Al-Monitor, The [potential] angry [reactions] in Gaza and surprises by the resistance are alarming for all parties, which for this reason are looking for immediate solutions. The apparent [international] pressures are nothing more than a way to obtain concessions [from Hamas] before the siege is lifted. He explained that Israel and the rest of the international community have expressed concern about the siege and the worsening humanitarian situation, adding that the latest efforts by Arab states, the international community and Israel are a prelude to gradually ending the siege, because the United Nations stated in a July 2017 report that Gaza is not fit for living. The international and Arab aid provided so far is not even the minimum required. Fuel for generators has run out at some hospitals, where janitors are also on strike to demand payment of their salaries, and many medicines are unavailable. Furthermore, purchasing power has collapsed due to a liquidity crisis. Families are being forced to sleep in the streets because they cannot afford to pay their rent. As Iranian security agencies have been arresting a number of environmentalists, officials from President Hassan Rouhani's administration are pushing back against the agencies ability to charge that those arrested are spies. In an interview with Iran Newspaper, which is published by the administration, presidential adviser Ali Younessi said that only the Intelligence Ministry has the expertise to determine who is a spy. Only the counter-espionage department of the Intelligence Ministry can express an expert opinion on who is a spy and who is not, Younessi said. Just as we dont expect the Labor Ministry to perform the duties of the Industry Ministry, we have to accept that the Intelligence Ministry has proficiency in its work, and no other organization can enter that field and perform professional work. On the recent wave of arrests of environmentalists in Iran and claims by the judiciary that they were spying for foreign governments, Younessi said, Unfortunately, the Intelligence Ministry did not have any responsibility in these cases. He added that the cases should have been handed over to the Intelligence Ministry for further investigation. Since this did not happen, however, he said, Even if those arrested are convicted of spying, it will be hard to persuade public opinion [that they are actually spies]. Given that Younessi has experience in the judiciary as a prosecutor and also served as intelligence minister under President Mohammad Khatamis Reformist administration, he was asked how the Islamic Republic could avoid a new crisis of agencies interfering in others' jurisdictions. Its simple, Younessi replied. Everyone must follow the law. He then offered the example of the case of Zahra Kazemi, a Canadian Iranian photographer killed in prison in 2003. The prosecutor at the time insisted that she was a spy, Younessi said of prosecutor Saeed Mortazavi, who later went on to hold a number of important positions, including running the notorious Kahrizak prison, where people jailed for protesting the 2009 elections were killed. Younessi said that two counter-espionage agents had interviewed Kazemi and had determined that she was not a spy, but that Mortazavi was so adamant in his position that he transferred her case from the Intelligence Ministry to the intelligence department of the Law Enforcement Force. There, Younessi said, Kazemi was beaten, during which her head hit the ground, causing internal bleeding. Judicial officials delayed in providing her assistance, leading to her death. Younessis comments and his invoking the Kazemi case from 2003 are certainly relatable to deaths in prison in recent months, especially that of the environmentalist Kavous Seyed Emami in early February. They also highlight the power struggle within Iran over delineating areas of authority and Rouhani's fight against unelected entities. QAIM, Iraq Though no major attacks have occurred in months in the border town of Qaim, which was retaken from the Islamic State (IS) in early November 2017, there have been several reports of the militant group's vehicles and fighters entering Iraq through the countrys porous western desert border with Syria. In a Feb. 14 interview at the Husaybeh border crossing, Lt. Col. Aqeel Adnan from the Iraqi Armys 8th Division told Al-Monitor that some IS fighters are still across the border in Soussa and Hejin, but they are confined to an area of some 60-70 square kilometers (23-27 square miles). "The [Syrian Defense Forces] are north of the river, and the Syrian regime is south of it," he noted, saying that he was aware of the SDF withdrawing from several border positions to move toward the northwestern parts of the territory that it's held since the start of the Afrin offensive. He denied knowledge of any non-local Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in the town of Qaim or across the border. Several civilians and members of the security forces confirmed to Al-Monitor that non-local PMUs are still in the city. The Asaib Ahl al-Haq flags that had lined the main bridge into the city for weeks after its liberation from IS are gone, but multiple sources say that various non-local PMU factions are in the town and not just south of it in Akashat and near the phosphate mines. In local police chief Gen. Ayad Ahmad Hamids office, Al-Monitor was told the first phone call of the day Hamid received was from a member of the Tufuf PMU asking to meet with him at the group's headquarters in the city. A meeting was held Feb. 18 between tribal leaders, the army and some members of local PMUs to coordinate a joint demand that the non-local PMUs leave, according to two different security forces on the ground who spoke on condition of anonymity. Al-Monitor spoke to the head of the local Liwa Aaly al-Furat (Upper Euphrates Regiment) PMU, Col. Moussa Hamad Karbouly, a former police intelligence officer from Qaim. He said in a Feb. 14 interview in the city that some of the non-local PMUs "such as Kataeb Hezbollah and Harakat Nujaba are problems because they are in conflict with the US and the coalition forces. We are afraid that there might be a battle between them here" if they were to stay, he said, adding that there was no reason for them to be there any longer. Liwa Aaly al-Furat was trained by Danish special forces at the Ain Al-Asad air base in Anbar, has members from several local tribes and is led by the son of a Karbouly tribal sheikh who died at the hands of relatives who had joined al-Qaeda in Iraq. It worked alongside the Iraqi army to retake several cities in the province from IS as well as the border area. The local PMU now clears homes of explosives and monitors the area from several border positions in the Iraqi Bagouz area north of the Euphrates River, across from sections of Syrian territory held by IS and from border positions recently withdrawn from by the SDF. Meanwhile, a local 19-member SWAT team has recently received training in Ramadi from Spanish forces, its new commander told Al-Monitor. The team consists mostly of former SWAT members who fought with the local Kataeb al-Hamza PMU during anti-IS operations. There is a plan to raise their number to 31, according to Anbar regional police chief, Maj. Gen. Hadi Rizej Kessar. They were formerly led by Col. Rabaa, also known as Abu Aya, who until recently received a salary from the Interior Ministry as head of the local SWAT team while also acting as head of Kataeb al-Hamza. Abu Aya left the position of local SWAT team commander "about a week ago," the current head, Jassim Mohamed, said in a Feb. 14 interview at the headquarters in Qaim, a fresh coat of pink paint on the interior walls and Turkish brand names still stickered across the frames of imported doors and windows. The headquarters is along the main road running through the city, not far from where a bright white wall bears in red letters, "Al-Qaim intelligence and counterterrorism unit." Abu Aya told Al-Monitor in an interview that he had refused to go to the 20-day training course in Ramadi because he did not feel he could leave at such a precarious time. He said intelligence that had prevented several recent attacks in the city had come from his men. When asked about Abu Aya, the police chief called him a hero. Security sources working in the border area had told Al-Monitor that members of his PMU engaged in extrajudicial killings of individuals they said were affiliated with IS in mid-December. Abu Aya denied the allegations. Two women from the same tribe as most of its fighters Albu Mahal were reportedly killed in late February by other members of the tribe, who allegedly accused the women of having links to IS, according to the same security forces. The killings took place in the Saada area, where Al-Monitor was told the non-local PMUs have a base. Women wearing black abayas and niqabs can be seen in the main streets of Qaim again, fruit and bread shops are open in various areas, and children sell small perfume bottles in the market and cycle down the main road. Schools are open again. Many buildings have been destroyed and some have still not been cleared of unexploded ordnance, but "over 13,000 families" had returned to the town as of Feb. 12, said Hamid. Security is currently good, he said, but close coordination between all the various forces on the ground is essential to keep it that way. On Feb. 25, Channel 10 revealed that a judge and a state investigator had coordinated via text messaging to extend the detention of suspects arrested in connection with Case 4000, the investigation involving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus relations with the telecommunications tycoon Shaul Elovitch. For many, the revelation immediately brought to mind the findings of a recent Amnesty International report, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, 2017/2018. In fact, it is hard to ignore the similarities between Amnestys report which determined that Israel is holding hundreds of Palestinians in administrative detention for long periods without trial and the ease with which arrests were made in Israel by Israel Police in the Netanyahu-Elovitch case. The storm of arrests resulting from Case 4000 has finally put this item on Israels public agenda. Shlomi Eldar, in a Feb. 26 article for Al-Monitor, detailed the main points of the Amnesty report almost at the same time as the storm of text messages were sending shockwaves through Israel's legal system, leaving Israelis stunned. Most Israelis are typically apathetic to the human rights of Palestinian detainees, who are held for extended periods without trial, in many cases without being told what information the state might have against them. These methods, practiced for years in Israels backyard, on the West Bank, have now come to light as also being used within the Green Line. While the situation in Israel is not quite as severe, it is nonetheless disturbing. Channel 10s reporting on the judge and the investigator in Case 4000 revealed that they colluded using WhatsApp. Journalists and politicians alike were left aghast by the revelation that Justice Ronit Poznansky-Katz had apparently reached an agreement with an Israeli Security Authority attorney, Eran Shacham-Shavit, over how many days the arrest of three suspects would be extended before they were even brought before her to present their defense. That this is such a sensitive and high-profile case, which is expected to lead to the investigation of the prime minister himself, made the news all the more alarming. The investigations into Netanyahus affairs are already underway, replete with his claiming that he is being persecuted by the police. The texts between the judge and the investigator appear to prove that the way the investigation is being conducted is not so squeaky clean after all. Putting aside Netanyahu and the investigations into his affairs for a moment, the arrest of suspects in Case 4000 bought to the public's attention the intolerable ease with which arrests are made in Israel. It also shone a spotlight on the harsh conditions in which civilians are held in jails, even though most of them will be released from custody without being indicted. Netanyahus confidant Nir Hefetz and Elovitch, former majority holder in Bezeq, described the degrading conditions in which they are being held, including flea-infested mattresses and being allowed little sleep. Their descriptions left the impression that the police were trying to break them in an effort to convince them to turn state witnesses against the prime minister. The two men have now been held in detention for almost 10 days. On the evening of Feb. 26, Justice Alaa Masarwa responded positively to a police request to extend the remand of Hefetz and Elovitch by six more days. Masarwa, brought in to replace Poznansky-Katz after the scandal broke, was convinced that releasing the two men at this stage could be damaging to the investigation. The extension is exceptionally long for white-collar crimes, and Hefetz and Elovitch quickly appealed to the district court, claiming it to be illegal and an infringement of justice. The message scandal is particularly troubling and could be part of a larger, systemic problem. This is why it must not be ignored. The whole issue of extended detentions in Israel deserves to be investigated, in depth. The current iteration of the Detention Law (1996) lists three main reasons for detention: interference with an investigation, posing a threat to the security of the nation or individuals, and for the purposes of the investigation, that is, when the police want to engage in activities on behalf of the investigation that they would not be able to do if a suspect were free. This was done out of consideration for the Basic Law of Human Dignity and Liberty, which requires the state to protect the people's rights to life, physical security and dignity. This basic law also holds that the state cannot infringe on peoples freedom without just cause. According to press reports, Hefetz and Elovitch have not admitted to the charges against them, with Hefetz invoking his right to remain silent. As such, it can only be hoped that the secret findings of the investigation, which were brought before the judge, justify this kind of extended detention. Elovitchs lawyer claims that his client was humiliated and threatened during his interrogation and told that he would end his life as a supermarket security guard. Thus, it appears that there has been effort exerted in the interrogation room to flip the men by applying pressure to break them emotionally. Detention for this purpose conflicts with the Detention Law, which does not include activities to break the suspect as grounds for detention. Neither Hefetz nor Elovitch pose a danger to the public or to national security. As for interfering with the investigation, it looks like they had been given ample time to do so, if they so desired, before they were arrested. They were well aware that they were being investigated. Furthermore, the police had apparently been eavesdropping on them for the past three months. Police data show that the number of arrests in Israel has increased significantly over the past 20 years. In 1998, there were about 38,000 arrests made, with the number skyrocketing to 62,000 in 2015. One reason for this is the police using arrest and detention as a deterrent. What is even more disconcerting is that in two-thirds of these cases, there was no indictment, and the case was closed. In other words, a person could be taken into detention and denied his or her freedom. One could be imprisoned in the harshest conditions, with poor sanitation. In fact, the entire situation could cause emotional damage and leave a person traumatized. If coordination of detentions is systemic, then judges are automatically granting extensions of detention without first investigating whether there is just cause for arrests. It was known that Palestinian detainees are not given access to all the evidence against them. As it turns out, detainees in Israeli courts sometimes face a similar situation. How does a democratic state whose legal code glorifies the Basic Law of Human Dignity and Liberty attack the essential freedoms of its citizens day after day, without good cause? The answer should be sought in the pervasive influence of 50 years of occupation, the nature of Shin Bet interrogations, and the total disregard for peoples freedom and basic human rights. All of this has apparently made its way into police interrogation rooms in Israel. Jordan and Turkey are bolstering ties in a bid to unify positions toward regional challenges where the two countries share mutual interests, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the Syrian crisis. King Abdullah II hosted Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and Gen. Hulusi Akar, the commander of the Turkish Armed Forces, on separate visits to Amman over the course of two days, Feb. 19 and 20, respectively. Cavusoglu met with the Jordanian monarch to review bilateral relations and the latest regional developments, according to a Royal Court statement. The king stressed his keenness to continue coordination on issues of concern to the Islamic nation and enhance security and stability of the region. Moreover, the two sides discussed economic cooperation and bilateral trade. Cavusoglu announced that his government would revise the Jordanian-Turkish free trade agreement to facilitate the entry of Jordanian exports to Turkey. He also said Turkey was looking into using the Aqaba port as a regional hub for Turkish exports to various markets, including Africa, the Jordan Times reported. A day later, Abdullah and Akar discussed bilateral military cooperation and the fight against terrorism, according to the Royal Court. During a meeting with Turkish nationals in Amman on Feb. 18, Cavusoglu said that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan planned to visit Jordan in the near future. Erdogan last visited the kingdom in August 2017, and Abdullah had traveled to Ankara on Dec. 6, the day US President Donald Trump announced his decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital and relocate the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Erdogan shares Abdullahs opposition to Trumps decision on Jerusalem. On Dec. 13 in Istanbul, the king attended a special session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, where they rejected Trumps proclamation. The promotion of Jordanian-Turkish bilateral ties comes at a time when Amman and Ankara are recalibrating their positions in the wake of recent regional developments and in anticipation of the possible fallout of Trumps Middle East peace plan, which is expected to be announced in the coming weeks. The two countries are yet to react to the news that the US State Department had sped up moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem, now scheduled for May 2018. Abdullah is a strong supporter of the two-state solution as the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and he is committed to his role as custodian of the Muslim and Christian holy sites in East Jerusalem. Both issues could be affected by Trumps peace plan and Israels far right coalition government. Abdullah's pivot toward Turkey comes at a time when Jordan is worried that some key Arab states might be ready to embrace Trumps plan even if it rejects the two-state option. There is a belief in Jordan, supported by anti-Iran statements from the Saudis, that Riyadh considers the issue of Iran as a regional threat to be more important and pressing than the Arab-Israeli conflict. Egypts position is unclear but will be crucial in determining the fate of the US peace plan. It is no secret that relations between Amman and Riyadh have further cooled since Trumps decision on Jerusalem. According to local analysts, the Saudis resisted calls by Amman to hold an emergency Arab summit on Jerusalem after the US announcement. In addition, Saudi Arabia was not satisfied with Jordans reaction to its moves beginning last June to pressure and isolate Qatar. Amman did not cut ties with Doha, choosing instead to only downgrade diplomatic relations and close Al Jazeera offices. Other reasons for the cooling in bilateral relations concerns Ammans position on the war in Yemen Jordans participation in the Saudi-led coalition was symbolic and short-lived and courting of the Muslim Brotherhood, which has representation in the Jordanian parliament. Jordan is keen to avoid being seen as joining regional blocs or coalitions. Despite Amman's historically close relations with the Gulf states, especially Saudi Arabia, Abdullah has always followed an independent policy that shuns polarization. This is demonstrated in Amman maintaining low-key diplomatic relations with Tehran, despite its rejection of Irans controversial role in Syria, Iraq and Yemen. Abdullah was the first Arab leader to warn of a Shiite crescent, going back to 2004. Given Abdullah's approach to foreign policy, Jordans growing closeness to Turkey, which has sided with Qatar in the Gulf dispute, will be carefully managed. The two sides have shared interests in the outcome of the Syrian crisis, and they both back Palestinian rights and the two-state solution. Turkeys strong support for the Hashemite's role in East Jerusalem is of important moral value. Yet according to Jordanian political analyst Amer al-Sabaileh, both Jordan and Turkey are affected by the damaging US regional policies. In this regard, he told Al-Monitor, [For] Jordan, it is the peace process and Trumps derailing of the two-state solution, and for Turkey, it is the US backing of Syrias Kurds and the uncertainty over the latest Turkish incursion into northern Syria. In addition to deeper political coordination, Jordan, which has suffered economically as a result of the crises in Syria and Iraq in the past few years, stands to benefit from better commercial ties with Turkey. Former Jordanian Deputy Prime Minister Jawad Anani told Al-Monitor that the Turkish economy is around the 15th largest, and Turkey's political and economic standing in the region is beyond dispute. The boosting of ties comes at a crucial time for Jordan, since Turkey represents a huge market for Jordanian goods, as well as a source of incoming tourists, Anani said. After Cavusoglus visit, Turkey exempted over 500 Jordanian goods from customs duties, which is a major opportunity for local industries. He added that Turkish products and TV dramas are popular in Jordan, and Turkey is the No. 1 tourist destination for Jordanians. Erdogan, however, remains a contentious figure among Jordanians. Many admire him for standing up to Israel and the United States, and for dialing back Turkeys secular culture, but others view him as a demagogue and a political opportunist. Ironically, Abdullahs view of Erdogan has not always been positive. In April 2003, The Atlantic reported the king as perceiving the then-Turkish prime minister as merely promoting a softer-edged version of Islamism and saying that Erdogan had told him that democracy is like a bus ride Once I get to my stop, Im getting off. Since that time, the two leaders appear to have realized that they are better off working together to offset common challenges in their troubled region. SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq For the last four months, as Kurds and the central government in Baghdad have been busy with their toxic rivalry over the Kurdistan independence referendum and over control of disputed territories, including Kirkuk, the Islamic State (IS) propaganda channels on the messaging app Telegram have been buzzing with reports of dozens of assassination attempts on Iraqi security forces, mainly in the Hawija area in southwestern Kirkuk province. The litany of assassinations and warnings by some field commanders went generally unnoticed by the government in Baghdad, which is preoccupied with the upcoming elections in May. The government inertia continued until the afternoon of Feb. 18 when an intelligence unit of the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) was ordered to go to Saadouniya village near Hawija, 290 kilometers (180 miles) north of Baghdad. A group of IS militants had laid an ambush for the PMU unit, and within half an hour of the arrival of the unit near the village, the young PMU fighters who were mainly from Basra and unfamiliar with the area were decimated. A video published on IS Nasher news Telegram channel allegedly of the ambush shows fierce fighting between the PMU fighters and IS militants armed with AK-47 and PKM machine guns and their ubiquitous GoPro camera with a number of vehicles on fire. Two weeks earlier, IS Nasher news released a photo story from Hawija labeled "The Life of a Mujahid" in which around half a dozen IS militants casually gathered around a campfire at night. The underlying message was that the group has a permanent presence in the area. Many distraught families in Basra were startled to learn that IS could still stage such a daring raid in an area that Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi declared "liberated" in early October, and there were loud calls for a thorough investigation into the incident. How this group of PMU fighters fell into such an ambush and why no backup arrived on the scene to help them is not clear, but an investigation is underway and the government has launched an operation to clear the area of IS sleeper cells. It is not clear if this deadly attack is seen in Baghdad as a wakeup call to do something about the growing power of the IS militants in Hawija, which on top of Erbil-Baghdad tensions could bring further instability to the area. While Iraqi officials have attributed the attack partly to poor weather conditions, the lack of a clear security strategy in Hawija area given the large number of government-backed forces including Shiite and Sunni militias that have little coordination with each other and the destitution of the local population living still in camps for the internally displaced could potentially turn Hawija into a staging ground for the re-emergence of IS and other armed groups. We requested several times to form a military committee in order to draw up a thorough plan for Hawija area to eradicate Daesh [IS] sleeper cells in the area, Mohammad Mahdi Bayati, the head of Badr PMU forces in the south of Kirkuk, told Al-Monitor. But our efforts were fruitless. The Badr commander believes that there are still IS sleeper cells in the Hawija area with heavy guns, and unless there is a concerted effort to deal with the issue, the group will continue to cause problems in the area. One local official from the area who does not want to be named because of his government position said it is becoming increasingly dangerous to venture out at night in Hawija, and many officials prefer to spend the night in Kirkuk for fear of attacks from IS sleeper cells. Abadi announced the liberation of Hawija, the last urban stronghold of IS, on Oct. 5 describing it in a televised appearance as a victory not just for Iraq but for the whole world while the US-led coalition called the operation a swift and decisive victory. There was haste in declaring the victory in Hawija because they wanted to announce the end of Daesh altogether, Satar Tamimi, another PMU operational commander in Kirkuk, told Al-Monitor. But Daesh ceased to exist only in the center of Hawija [and not the countryside]. Tamimi said that this latest attack was expected and indeed it was a "big blow." But there are fears that the response by the PMU to the Saadouniya massacre could alienate the local Sunni population, which is brutalized by three years of IS' bloody rule. The PMU has deployed a large force from its notorious, Iranian-backed Asaib Ahl al-Haq (League of the Righteous) to the area, which is certain to cause a further rift with the small Sunni population that has returned to the area. The day after the attack, a number of houses in the village of Saadouniya were blown up by the PMU on the pretext of belonging to IS members. One popular PMU Facebook page displayed images of severed heads of alleged IS militants and called for revenge. Hawija has always been a flashpoint since the overthrow of Saddam Hussein in the 2003 Iraq War. Prior to the emergence of IS in Iraq, in the spring of 2013, the city was the scene of some of the harshest crackdowns by then-Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. This led to widespread resentment against the central government, which was seen increasingly as a sectarian government. The sense of powerlessness and marginalization by the Sunnis in the Hawija area was one of the main reasons why IS found a fertile ground and turned the city into one of its strongholds in a short amount of time. Sheikh Ahmad Obeid a member of the Hawija district council and the spokesman for a Sunni force in the Hawija area called Hashd al-Watani believes the ultimate solution is to form a force consisting of all the ethnic groups in the area to maintain security. We have been saying that only a force from the people of Hawija could maintain security, but we were accused of making election propaganda, Obeid told Al-Monitor, referring to the upcoming May national elections in the country. But tell me who will answer now to the families of the 25 heroic Hashd fighters who were martyred?" No ethnic force can be successful in the Kirkuk area; the time has come to form a national force consisting of Arabs, Kurds, Sunni, [Shiite] and Turkmens supported by the government to maintain security in Kirkuk, Obeid told Al-Monitor. MOSCOW After the UN Security Councils demand Feb. 24 for a cease-fire across Syria proved ineffective, Russian President Vladimir Putin on Feb. 26 called for a five-hour-daily humanitarian pause in fighting in rebel-held Eastern Ghouta beginning Feb. 27. Putins call came after humanitarian monitors said they suspected forces supporting Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had launched a chlorine attack on the battered city near Damascus. Russia, however, claimed terrorist groups in Eastern Ghouta such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham had been plotting to use chemical weapons themselves and blaming Assad supporters, according to Russia's state-run Tass news agency. The Russian Foreign Ministry said it is counting on foreign patrons of anti-government militant groups to ensure that their charges stop combat activities in the interests of the quickest and safe transit of humanitarian convoys. Commenting on the Security Council decision, Russia's UN envoy Vasily Nebenzya didnt mince words, calling on the United States to give up its occupation-driven attitude [on Syria]. His statement, if coupled with earlier claims by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, reflects Russias view on the issue, in which Moscow has seen attempts to impose a truce as part of the bigger plot to topple Assad. Days before the Security Council vote, Lavrov said the truce should not cover all of Syria, and fighting should continue against the Islamic State (IS), Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and "other groups who are shelling residential quarters of Damascus. Earlier, the Russian military reached out to the militants in Eastern Ghouta, suggesting they leave the area in goodwill similar to how the militants had been evacuated from Aleppo. According to Moscow, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and its affiliates dismissed the proposal and continued to shell [Damascus], holding the civilians of Eastern Ghouta as human shields. "Over the last two years, residential areas of Damascus have been regularly shelled from Eastern Ghouta. Every time this happened we called upon the UNSC [Security Council] to voice their assessment of these acts, but our American and European colleagues dodged any response. This raises certain flags, Lavrov argued. Recent escalations in Syria, including the US strike on pro-regime forces in Deir ez-Zor which killed Russian combatants is raising speculation about potential fallout from Moscows strategy in Syria and possible escalation between the Russian and American militaries. The strike occurred Feb. 7, yet the exact number of Russians killed in the fight with the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces has ranged in various news sources from 10 to 200 soldiers and mercenaries in Russias employ. The number of US airstrikes also has remained as a matter of speculation. Moscow denied that any Russian servicemen were even in the area, but it has been quiet about whether Russian citizens ultimately got hurt in the attack. Reports of Russian mercenaries, particularly from the well-known private military company Wagner Group, also emerged shortly after the incident and were backed up by personal stories of relatives and friends of alleged Wagner contractors, some of whom supposedly ended up in hospitals in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Two weeks after the battle in Deir ez-Zor, the Russian Defense Ministry recognized that several dozen citizens of Russia and other former Soviet states had been killed or wounded, but the ministry said the fighters had traveled to Syria of their own accord and for a variety of reasons. The fallout for Russia has been remarkable. Given the fast-approaching presidential election March 18, the potential costs of the incident for Putins reputation are high; thus, public discussion of the incident has mostly evolved in the framework of American aggression on the pro-government forces. As for the incidents implications for the US-Russia relationship in Syria, the lack of credible information about the attack gives life to abundant conspiracy theories and speculation. Perhaps this is the type of development where those who know what happened keep silent, as those who speak up dont necessarily know much. What we do know, however, is the Russian and American militaries were unconventionally in step with each other in playing down the incident and dismissing rumors of a wider war. The attack sets a new low in the threshold for a direct military collision of the two powers. Yet both Moscow and Washington evidently seek to dodge such an encounter. Two weeks after the incident in Deir ez-Zor, the Russian ambassador to Washington, Anatoly Antonov, signaled that Russia wasnt seeking to further confront the United States. Speaking at a reception at the Russian Embassy dedicated to Army Day, Antonov said confrontations between countries and groups of countries dont benefit anyone. Regardless of what anyone has to say, representatives of different states assembled here today are not adversaries, but partners, [and] today international military cooperation is at its highest demand, he said. Andrey Sushentsov, program director at the Valdai Discussion Club, told Al-Monitor he believes deconfliction has probably been the only working collaborative theme of US-Russia relations in Syria. Russias highest officials have been calling it the most reliable and trustworthy working channel. Therefore, I rule out that the incident [in Deir ez-Zor] was an intentional provocation meant to break the fragile trust. Russia seeks to avoid deterioration of its relations with the US in the theater of war where besides Russia and America Turkey, Iran, Israel, [Saudi Arabia] and Qatar have been active players, Sushentsov said. Outside of that particular episode, theres still enough reason to fear that Moscow and Washington might continue testing the flexibility of their respective red lines. Americas key goals at this point seem to involve three things: To ensure and justify its further presence on the ground under the pretext of fighting the remnants of IS. To cut Assad off from his oil and gas revenues by seizing Syrian facilities, thus making his standing less sustainable in the long run. To build political and military deterrents to the spread of Iranian influence in Syria and beyond. None of this may deliberately seek to counter Russia directly, but its clear that implementing at least two of those goals may be bound to a potential clash with Russia. Moscow may not necessarily feel it should burn its political capital by challenging this US administrations long-term objective of containing Iran. But the US military presence in Syria because of Assad increases pressure on Moscows political, financial and military assets. And pro-Assad forces may still be thinking of trying to take control of the oil and gas facilities. Lavrov said those pushing for adoption of the Security Council cease-fire which doesnt include Russias conditions to allow fighting to continue against IS and others attacking Damascus from Eastern Ghouta arent doing so because theyre concerned about humanitarian issues. Rather, he said, they want to shift the focus from the urgent need to restart the Geneva peace talks. They want to "promote Plan B," implying regime change. The incident in Deir ez-Zor was yet another indication that things in Syria arent going the way Moscow thought they would at the end of 2017. Russia has sought to turn the conflict over to the political realm, including through the Syrian National Dialogue Congress Russia hosted last month in Sochi. Russia started to wind down some of its military presence to put more focus on diplomacy. Now that the military situation is again deteriorating, Russia faces the unpleasant need to reassert its presence and take action to safeguard its political and other assets. Rumors have it that Putin is considering replacing the current commander of the Russian contingent in Syria, Col. Gen. Alexander Zhuravlev, with his predecessor, Col. Gen. Sergey Surovikin, who had served in this position from March to December and now heads Russian aerospace forces. On Feb. 22, Russia beefed up its military presence in Syria by deploying at Latakia at least two brand-new Su-57 stealth fighters as well as four Su-35s, four Su-25s and one A-50U advanced airborne early warning and control aircraft. Leonid Nersisyan, a military analyst and chief editor of New Defense Order Strategy magazine, told Al-Monitor that the move may be pursuing two objectives: to potentially contain Turkey now that the Syrian army has entered Afrin, and to beef up the Russian air force while testing the Su-57s. The fifth-generation Su-57s have been deployed to undergo combat tests. The Syria campaign may be important for further modification of the aircraft, including its stealth technology. In its current state, however, the Su-57 is likely to be used with great caution and is unlikely to have a big impact on the [Syrian] operations, unlike the rest of the just-deployed jets, Nersisyan added. Russian lawmaker Vladimir Gutenev had earlier said that the Su-57 deployment may serve as a constraining factor for aircraft of neighboring states that periodically violate Syrian airspace. The Pentagon reacted to the Su-57 deployment by saying it poses no threat to the US-led coalitions military operations and the United States will continue to deconflict operations with Russia as necessary. While deconfliction today is as needed as ever, the incident in Deir ez-Zor revealed it is neither a silver bullet for preventing military clashes nor a substitute for a broad political agreement. Such an agreement is nowhere to be seen at this point, and the more Syria teeters on the edge of a greater military shake-up, the more the United States and Russia risk polarization. SSF-N seeks amendment deal to join coalition govt The Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal has sought a concrete agreement with a time frame on constitution amendment to join the governing coalition of the CPN-UML and the CPN (Maoist Centre). Cracks appeared again in the alliance of convenience between Turkey and Russia last week following Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's call on Ankara and Damascus to sort out their differences over Afrin through dialogue. The call ruffled feathers in Ankara and prompted pro-government and independent Turkish analysts to once again question the extent to which Turkey can ultimately rely on Russian support in Syria. Lavrovs remarks came amid reports that pro-regime militias had entered Afrin in response to a call from the People's Protection Units (YPG), the group Ankara says is a Kurdish terrorist organization. Turkey launched its ongoing Operation Olive Branch Jan. 20 to expel the YPG from Afrin. What angered Ankara most was Lavrovs implication that Damascus is now party to the dispute between Turkey and the YPG in Afrin, adding a complicating and possibly obstructing dimension to the Turkish governments plans for territories under its control in northern Syria. During a joint news conference with his Pakistani counterpart Khawaja Muhammad Asif in Moscow Feb. 20, Lavrov was asked about reports that pro-regime forces had entered Afrin. He answered by first underlining the need to respect Syrias territorial integrity in what appeared to be a dig at Turkey, the only country presently conducting overt military operations in Afrin. After acknowledging Turkeys legitimate security concerns, Lavrov said Ankara could realize and protect its security aims through direct dialogue with the Syrian government. The general assumption among Turkish analysts is that Moscow could have prevented the regime's move in Afrin if it had wanted to. Nagehan Alci, a columnist for Haberturk who is known for her close links to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), noted that it was unthinkable that forces attached to the regime could have moved on Afrin without Russian knowledge and approval. She added, Seeing the regimes flag wave in Afrin would be to Russias advantage. Erdogan continues to adamantly reject the idea of dialogue with President Bashar al-Assad. Ankara, however, carefully refrains from any direct criticism of Russian proposals it does not like. Tellingly, Turkey is aiming all its barbs over the deteriorating situation in eastern Ghouta at Assad and is intentionally disregarding the Russian involvement there. Turkey is mindful that its operation in Afrin relies on Moscows tacit green light, especially with regard to using Syrian airspace for airstrikes. It also has to consider the vast economic interests involved in its relations with Russia, and Ankara's growing ties with Moscow are providing a counterbalance to its deteriorating ties with Washington. Russia is also careful in its statements regarding Turkeys policies in Syria. Moscow did not openly criticize Turkey for its incursion into Syria against the YPG even though it complicates its plans for Syria, preferring instead to blame the United States for forcing Ankara into the move. Retired Turkish Ambassador Ali Tuygan believes as many do that one of Moscow's principal aims in appeasing Ankara is to drag Turkey away from the United States and NATO toward its own orbit. In remarks to Al-Monitor, Tuygan noted, however, that Moscow is also aware of the need to ensure that it does not lose the Kurds to the United States. It is trying to chart a course accordingly. It does not, for example, recognize the YPG as a terrorist organization and has produced a draft constitution that also factors in the Kurds, he said. Responding to Lavrov with measured words, Erdogans spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said in Ankara that while direct dialogue between Ankara and Damascus was out of the question, there were indirect contacts through Russian and Iranian intercession. However, if extraordinary situations require it and when certain problems have to be resolved, our intelligence agencies can establish direct or indirect contacts, Kalin added in what appeared to be a diplomatic concession to Moscow. Many in Turkey also believe that Moscow turned a blind eye to Damascus' move in Afrin as a warning shot to Ankara following US Secretary of State Rex Tillersons recent visit to Turkey. It requires little imagination to guess that Moscow is closely monitoring fresh Turkish-US efforts aimed at arriving at some kind of an accommodation over northern Syria. Hilal Kaplan, a columnist for the pro-government Sabah, believes that Tillersons visit to Ankara forced Russias hand. She argued, however, that heeding Lavrovs call would drive the Turkish-backed Syrian opposition to seek US support. What is calling for Turkey to throw away its influence over the opposition, if not nonsense? Kaplan wrote. In the meantime, Ankara is still trying to fathom what Moscows often repeated assertion that it recognizes Kurdish aspirations means in plain terms. Turkish officials are aware that Russia is trying to get all the parties in Syria to accept a draft constitution that includes representation and some degree of autonomy for the Kurds. Having made itself the key player in this crisis, Russia is currently pushing hard for a political settlement in Syria that will have its own large stamp on it. A Russian Foreign Ministry statement last week following the Security Councils adoption of Resolution 2401 calling for a 30-day cease-fire in Syria reflected this goal, underlining Moscows determination to toughly oppose attempts to derail the political process in Syria. Turkey, however, remains equally determined in its opposition to any autonomous Kurdish region in northern Syria, whether it is set up by the United States or Russia. Mehmet Ocaktan is a former AKP deputy who writes for Karar, which represents the more liberal wing of the AKP. He was also direct in his assessment of Lavrovs call for dialogue between Ankara and Damascus. Saying it was an attempt to dynamite Turkeys aims in Syria, Ocaktan wrote, What Lavrov is openly saying is this: If you want to be in Syria, you have to agree with Assad. You can also forget about the US. He added that Russia would never give up on Assad and would also continue to protect the YPG and its mother organization the Democratic Union Party, which Turkey says is also a terrorist organization. Moscow created more disquiet in Ankara when Russias ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, told reporters in New York that the Security Councils cease-fire resolution in Syria also applied to Afrin. Ankara, which officially welcomed the resolution, did not respond to the Russian ambassadors remarks. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag was nevertheless quick to point out that it did not apply to Turkeys Olive Branch operation. Hurriyet's Taha Akyol believes that Moscows policy in eastern Ghouta which is supposed to be one of the de-escalation zones agreed on between Turkey, Russia and Iran in Astana also shows the limits of its relations with Ankara. He argued in his column, Russia will, at an as yet indeterminable stage, oppose Turkey. We should not forget that it is only acting positively today to cause fractures in NATO. As the Syrian crisis enters a new stage following the defeat of IS, Ankara is still not sure which world powers help it can rely on to realize its aims in Syria. It is also unclear whether it can achieve its aims on its own. These aims are mainly predicated on curbing Kurdish aspirations along its border with Syria. Ankara is also hoping to create a region under its protection in northern Syria, where it can house large numbers of predominantly Sunni Syrians who have taken refuge in Turkey. The only thing that is clear yet is that Turkish and Russian plans for Syria do not overlap to the extent that both sides would like the world to believe. The recent flood of news about instances of child abuse around Turkey has caused a backlash of anger among the public and politicians from different parties. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan instructed six ministers to work on more effective administrative and legal measures to address child abuse, including harsher penalties, such as the highly debated chemical castration for offenders. The commission held its first meeting Feb. 22. Two days earlier, on Feb. 20, Erdogan affirmed the governments determination to create harsher penalties for child abuse at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Then he unexpectedly mentioned adultery, announcing, By enacting legislation on adultery, all of those abuses would be treated within the same scope. He also referred to his own governments decriminalization of adultery back in 2004, when Turkey was actively and enthusiastically working on the accession process to the European Union. This is self-criticism, Erdogan noted. I must say that in the EU process, we made a mistake. We should now evaluate preparing legislation about adultery and perhaps consider it together with the issue of harassment and others. At the time, the EU had required Turkey to make some reforms to its penal code. Turkey shelved proposals to outlaw adultery, helping align the Turkish legal code with European human rights legislation. Today, 14 years later, Erdogan stated that it was a mistake, noting, This society holds a different status in terms of its moral values. On Feb. 21, presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin confirmed at a press conference that a new adultery law is on the Justice Ministry agenda. Some reactions were as expected. Conservative columnist Rahim Er wrote in support of the inclusion of adultery and the death penalty in criminal legislation, claiming, Divorce, drugs, irresponsible pleasure and immoral print and digital publications are as dangerous as terrorism. This perspective mirrors traditional Islamic views on the matter. Making a case against adopting EU norms, Er added, Laws and legislation should be native and national. On the other hand, deputy from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party Altan Tan, a prominent Kurdish politician who himself is also a religious conservative, 4said the state should not get involved in the lives of people who might have different religious or moral views. In my opinion, the appropriateness of the relations that two people will engage in with their own will should not be dwelt upon too much. Meanwhile, those who had maybe expected or anticipated a more heated immediate debate on the issue were surprised by the meek reaction of the main opposition, the Republican Peoples Party (CHP). Party spokesman Bulent Tezcan explained the reasons to the media: Introducing adultery when speaking about child abuse is diluting the problem. The CHP sees the discussion of adultery as Erdogans new instrument to polarize society. Rather than falling into this trap, the CHP would keep child abuse the main agenda rather than incorporating it with adultery. Professor of law Osman Can, a member of the Council of Europes Venice Commission and former AKP member of parliament for Istanbul, spoke to Al-Monitor about the timing and context of bringing adultery back to the Justice Ministrys agenda. He first explained the recent history of adultery legislation in Turkey, while mentioning that it was once a criminal offense in European countries (for example, in Germany in the 1950s), as it was also a crime in the old Turkish Penal Code. Until 1996, a man was deemed an adulterer only if he was proven to be in a prolonged affair similar to a husband-wife situation. On the other hand, a woman could be found guilty of adultery if she was unfaithful or engaged in sexual activity with another man only once. Then, through decision E 1996/15, the Constitutional Court canceled articles regulating adultery, although only for husbands at first. To enact such regulation, the parliament was given a one-year period. But as that was not done in time, the criminal status of adultery continued to be valid for women. It took almost two years for the Constitutional Court to also cancel the articles applicable to women and adultery through decision E 1998/3, saying it was unequally applied. Could the government indeed move forward with some legal formulation of criminalizing adultery anew? Can spoke of possible regulations. To not frustrate the secular segments of the population, he speculated, the government could criminalize adultery for both males and females equally. In that case, the government could propound to comply with the earlier decisions by the Constitutional Court. But, in that case, it is uncertain how all Islamists could support the criminalization of adultery. Some conservative men in Turkey have multiple wives, although only one of these wives is legally a spouse. So banning adultery without legally allowing polygamy would put these men in trouble. Canan Gullu, the head of the Federation of Women Associations of Turkey, stressed this fact to oppose the proposed law, asking, Will we be able to say that someone who is married to four women is committing adultery? Can believes Erdogan brought adultery back to the agenda today because of the strong influence religious beliefs have on the public. As the presidential elections approach in 2019, there is also the aim of rallying his base while creating a new agenda, but I think this is secondary, added Can. As far as Turkeys relationship with the European Union, Can believes that the EUs negative reaction to the adultery law could propel both Kemalist-nationalists and ultranationalists to support Erdogan. Similarly, Sinan Ulgen, a visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe think tank in Brussels and an expert on Turkish foreign policy, told Al-Monitor, The government is unlikely to back down for fear of a backlash by the EU. For the EU as well, it will be categorized as yet another political irritant. Ulgen interprets the revitalization of the adultery law as the total erosion of EU influence in Turkey. Its unclear whether this matter is something that would be discussed between the Turkish delegation led by Erdogan and the leaders of the EU, who are to meet March 26 in Varna, Bulgaria. But on Feb. 23, European Council President Donald Tusk said that the council will decide on March 22 and 23 whether the conditions are there for the EU-Turkey summit to take place. At the end of the day, it seems that todays Turkey is a far cry from the country that enthusiastically wanted to join the EU at the beginning of the century. The consideration of recriminalizing adultery, which was decriminalized to comply with the EU, is a highly symbolic testimony to that change. The growing nuclear threat from North Korea has rekindled American interest in looking for backup missile defense options, but several obstacles hinder the adoption of Israels US-funded, battle-tested system by the Pentagon. Over the past decade, the United States has invested more than a half-billion dollars into the Arrow 3 high-altitude anti-ballistic missile system as part of a 32-year-old agreement to jointly develop an indigenous Israeli anti-missile capability. Arrow 3 interceptors were delivered in January 2017, and the US and Israeli missile defense agencies successfully tested the system in central Israel last week. In a press statement, the US Missile Defense Agency called the success of the test a major milestone in the operational capabilities of the State of Israel and its ability to defend itself against current and future threats in the region. It wasnt the systems first flight, however: An Arrow defense battery was credited with shooting down a Syrian anti-aircraft missile targeting Israeli fighter jets in March 2017. That record has not escaped the attention of US defense hawks. Some experts have notably urged the United States to adopt the Israeli technology as a backup or complement to the US Armys Ground-Based Midcourse Defense (GMD) or Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, whose lack of real-world experience have raised concerns. The US has spent tens of billions on missile defense systems that dont seem to measure up to the scope of the threat, Stephen Bryen, a former US Defense Department official and ex-head of the pro-Israel Jewish Institute for National Security of America, wrote in August 2017. One solution: Consider an alternative to the GMD such as cooperation on Arrow 3 with Israel. This could make a big difference if the Israeli system turns out as good as it so far appears. US lawmakers have also periodically highlighted the promise of Israeli technology. Missile defense cooperation between the United States and Israel is tremendously beneficial to both countries, House Republican Israel Caucus co-chairman Peter Roskam, R-Ill., wrote in an April 2017 press statement highlighting his support for more funding for the program. This partnership enhances Israels ability to defend its citizens and gives our own armed forces access to the latest battle-proven technology. The George W. Bush administration helped create Arrow 3 in 2008 over the objections of the Pentagon, which wanted to sell Israel an American-made alternative. The Defense Departments interest in adopting the Israeli technology has been lukewarm at best ever since. Experts point to US domestic industry concerns and military inflexibility as key hang-ups. Arrow 3 is more capable than THAAD, Uzi Rubin, the former head of Israels Missile Defense Organization, told Al-Monitor. No chance that the US industries, Congress or [the Donald Trump] administration will allow US armed forces to buy Arrow instead of buying American. Rubin also pointed out that the Arrow 3 system is not as mobile as THAAD, which the United States has deployed to protect 35,000 American troops in South Korea. The US did not procure Arrow and will never do so because it is designed for homeland defense rather than for overseas deployment, Rubin said. Hence it is not air mobile, a key requirement for US air and missile defense systems. This is not just a snag, this is a show stopper. Nevertheless, Israeli missile defense systems are increasingly integrated with the US military. Since 2001, for example, the two countries have jointly participated in the Juniper Cobra exercise aimed at combining weapons and radar capabilities. The Pentagon announced today that more than 2,500 US personnel will participate in the biennial exercise next month. Arrow 3 and THAAD even employ similarly advanced warheads. More US support for Arrow could impact American weapons manufacturers such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin that have co-produced the projectiles alongside Israeli firms. Despite the similarities with American systems half of the Arrow parts are designed in the United States the US Missile Defense Agency may have trouble managing another addition to its layered missile defense system. This already includes the Patriot system, THAAD, GMD and the ship-launched Aegis BMD. There are perhaps two issues that have deterred the US from procuring Arrow, Michael Elleman, a senior fellow for missile defense at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, wrote in an email to Al-Monitor. One is interoperability. Getting Patriot PAC-3, THAAD and Aegis to link and transfer data seamlessly has been a great challenge. Adding another system would further complicate the situation. While THAAD units are already deployed to the Korean peninsula, becoming operational in May over the objections of Beijing and Pyongyang, Arrow 3 is still going through early-stage problems. In December, Israeli defense officials canceled a scheduled test when they couldnt get an Arrow 3 missile to conform to safety requirements. In addition, Elleman said, the US military may prefer the technical capabilities of THAAD to the Israeli system. The Pentagon probably prefers THAAD over Arrow, primarily because THAADs TPY-2 radar is far superior to Arrows Green Pine radar, Elleman added. During the experiences of the 1991 Gulf War and the 2006 Hezbollah war, Israel felt defenseless against the threat of short- and medium-range missiles and rockets. Unlike the long-range threat from North Korea, the multilayered Israeli system is specifically designed to ward off much closer threats from Iran, Hezbollah and Hamas. The US wasnt interested for a couple of reasons, Chuck Freilich, a former deputy national security adviser on Israels National Security Council from 2000 to 2005, told Al-Monitor. These were Israeli needs and not American needs. It doesnt help the American mainland, but it might be appropriate for [deployed] American forces. Even if the United States doesnt adopt Israeli technology, the co-development experiment itself is helpful, experts say. For instance, the Army's new multi-mission launcher was tested using an Iron Dome Tamir interceptor. And David's Sling's interceptor, the Stunner, is compatible with Patriot launchers and could be used as a cheaper supplement to the Patriot's loadout. The Pentagon has only dedicated an official agency to deal with missile defense since 1983, making it a relatively new discipline. The US is probably learning from the experience of what missile defense is all about, said Freilich. The US didnt do missile defense until now. Im sure there was thinking, but it was at more of a strategic level. Indias anti-terror agency says photojournalist is a stone-pelter but media watchdogs say charges are fabricated. Srinagar, Indian-administered Kashmir On the morning of September 4 last year, Kamran Yusuf left his home in Kashmirs Pulwama for work, carrying his backpacks and cameras, but the photojournalist never returned, his family says. The following day, his family came to know through news channels that Yusuf, who has been working as a photographer in the small town known for its apple orchards, was arrested by Indian security forces and sent to New Delhi, the Indian capital. The arrest of Kamran Yusuf, a working photojournalist contributing to several media outlets, is clearly a violation of press freedom and journalists' rights. Laxmi Murthy, journalist The 22-year-old freelance photojournalist, who has been documenting the conflict in Indian-administered Kashmir, has been slapped with charges of stone throwing and waging war against India. He has been in jail since then. Irshad Ahmad Ganaie, Yusufs uncle, says the family is still in shock. His mother was divorced when he was two years old. Since then, they are living with us. He was just working hard as a photographer in his hometown; he used to freelance with many organisations, and has taken all kinds of photographs, he said. Ganaie, 38, says his nephew is being framed by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He is being punished for his work. Not a real journalist In the charge sheet presented before a special NIA court in New Delhi, the anti-terror agency has said that Yusuf was not a real journalist, as he had not covered social work done by the army and paramilitary forces in the disputed Himalayan region. Mother of Yusuf at his home in Pulwama [Shuaib Bashir/Al Jazeera] Kamran Yusuf had hardly taken any video of such activity and video or image of any such activity can rarely be seen in his laptop or mobile which clearly show his intention to only cover the activities which are anti-national and earn money against such footages, the charge sheet has said. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters without Borders have called on Indian authorities to immediately drop charges and release Yusuf. Indias National Investigative Agency is way out of its league and has no business defining what a real journalist should cover, Steven Butler, CPJ Asia programme coordinator, said in a statement. He added that Yusufs work taking photographs of conflict in Kashmir is a public service in the best spirit of journalism. Rights groups, local journalists and media watchdogs have raised their concerns at what they call fabricated charges against the young journalist. Amnesty International, in its annual human rights report released on Thursday, said that if convicted, Yusuf might face life imprisonment. Amnesty International believes the charges against him to be fabricated and politically motivated, and part of an attempt to stifle journalism in Kashmir, the rights body said in its report. Threats and intimidation Journalists in Kashmir, one of the most militarised zones of the world, with more than half a million Indian forces, say threats and intimidation are routine. According to a report by the International Federation of Journalists, published last November, at least 21 journalists have been killed in the conflict either directly targeted or caught in the crossfire in Kashmir. Muneeb-Ul-Islam, a freelance photographer, told Al Jazeera that journalists are caught in the line of fire. He says that he himself has been beaten by security forces many times and had his cameras broken. India's National Investigative Agency is way out of its league and has no business defining what 'a real journalist' should cover. Steven Butler, CPJ Asia programme coordinator Police think we side with stone-throwers and stone-throwers think we are covering from polices side, said the 27-year-old. Activists say the arrest of Yusuf will have a chilling effect on media freedom in the region, that has been on the boil since Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who came to power in 2014, adopted a hardline policy to quell anti-India protests. Yusuf Jameel has covered Kashmir for more than two decades. He says there is an indirect censorship on journalists in Kashmir. Indian-administered Kashmir has seen a rise in violence since the killing of a rebel commander in 2016 [Danish Ismail/Reuters] Though there is no official censorship, they create an atmosphere where it becomes difficult and sometimes impossible for a journalist to report, he said. His views are echoed by a prominent human rights activist in the Muslim-majority region. By arresting a photographer, the Indian government wants to create an example for the photo and video journalists in Kashmir who document gun battles and stone-throwing for the world to see, said Khurram Parvez. Evidence of stone-pelting Muhammad Aslam Chowdhary, a senior police officer in south Kashmir, admitted there was no direct case filed against Yusuf; however, his involvement in stone-pelting and other cases is under investigation. In one case, it has been found that a video where the burning of tricolor took place in south Kashmir was uploaded from his Facebook account, but we have not been able to question him yet, the investigation is still on, Chowdhary told Al Jazeera. The NIA spokesperson, Alok Mittal, however, told Al Jazeera that there is an evidence of stone-pelting against Yusuf. Involvement of accused Kamran Yusuf who claims to be a photojournalist in stone-pelting incidents was conclusively established. There is sufficient evidence on record, showing his participation in the incidents of stone-pelting, which has been submitted to the competent court. The Court has already taken cognisance of the charge sheet, he told Al Jazeera. But Laxmi Murthy, a journalist based in Bangalore and author of IFJs report, said the laws, in particular, counter-terror laws, with sweeping and vague provisions, have long been used to stifle the media. The arrest of Kamran Yusuf, a working photojournalist contributing to several media outlets, is clearly a violation of press freedom and journalists rights, she said. Some 6,000 Iranians live in Scotland, including those who fled during the revolution, students, refugees, and Scots. Glasgow, Scotland I was not a dangerous person. I was not very active but in my community, there was a group of girls who were very active and together we just wanted some very basic things, says Tarooneh, who found herself in Glasgow in October 2007 after five months spent in London on a short-term visa. With a two-year-old son, she sought political asylum from her homeland after her husband informed on her to the intelligence and judicial services for her beliefs and political activities. Tarooneh, who is withholding her last name to protect her family, was not in a political party but worked with friends, other students, writers and cartoonists, seeking gaps in the Islamic Republics political space to open discussions about individual liberties in the country they love. But she was branded subversive and had to choose between imprisonment and a flight with her son to Scotland. She is now among around 6,000 Iranians who live in Scotland. Protests that have spread across Iran made memories of escape and homesickness flood back to the mathematics doctorate, who had to move nine times and had her son protected by Scottish police as he attended primary school. Hers is a story that represents the most recent of the waves of migration to Scotland for the community, which is made up of old emigres who fled in 1979, dual nationals, political refugees and second and third-generation Scots. For Tarooneh, who lives in Glasgow as a mathematician with her now 12-year-old son, the same things she fought remain important. We wanted to challenge the divorce rights and laws, the rules surrounding the hijab and freedom of practise and the right to change your faith, she says. We wanted the government to allow more rights for people with different faiths even no faith, she says. Reform? It is possible but Ayatollah Khomeinis revolution in 1979 was in many ways a rejection of the liberal Western narrative of womens rights as the bedrock of modernisation. His earlier objections to the Shahs White Revolution of reforms were that they disturbed the family and gave women a say in the political life of the country. Yet the Islamic Republic permits women the right to vote in elections and stand for the Iranian parliament, or Majles. However, Tarooneh is cautious about reform in the light of the recent protests, which she says are rooted in economic and social concerns. Figures from the countrys interior ministry claim more than 230 demonstrations took place in 80 towns and cities nationwide in December and January, with a majority in Tehran, Isfahan and Khuzestan. Of more than 100,000 participants, 94 percent were men. Analysts have claimed this was because harsher punishments were handed to women. Some 30 percent of slogans were about economics and 70 percent targeted the political structure, the ministry said. Saeed Hajjarian, a leading reformist strategist, predicted more anti-government protests over the next three years, saying the failure of reformist politics could spell a serious long-term threat. Reform? It is possible but the fundamentals need to change, they need to change these things, says Tarooneh. You can say that the republic changed from religious righteousness to pure politics. Claiming that she didnt support the monarchy, Tarooneh explains: What is important is you dont hear the same thing from Iranians. There is incredible political diversity. I am Glaswegian, but 75 percent of my thoughts are still in Iran From recent arrivals and dual nationals to old emigres and second-generation grandchildren, Irans recent protests ignite the same mixture of fear and hope. What unites the different sections in cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh is both a distinct national pride and the celebration of the cultural achievements of Iranians around the world. Shabi Forsyth, 24, is Scottish, Iranian and a law graduate. Her mother came to Scotland aged 14 and her view into the recent unrest is subtly political, but one of an intrigued and distant observer. Her family members are Bahai, a persecuted religious minority that has faced discrimination since the revolution. Forsyths focus is on womens rights. Like a lot of Iranians in Scotland, Forsyth shies away from the partisan nature of the debate around Iran that plagues the online forums and social media. In her view, the fight for better rights and understanding is clouded by the political competition between the Islamic Republic and its Sunni counterpart, Saudi Arabia. We know generally that if more women are in politics and their voices are heard on the streets and in power, then a society benefits, the country gets better, she said. Firooz, a former naval captain who fought in the Iran-Iraq war during the 1980s, believes the recent unrest could be the beginning of a larger movement. Young people are sick and tired of incompetence and corruption, he said. It doesnt matter where they sit on the political spectrum. I think this is the start of something. We dont know what, but it is the start. He runs the Scots Iranian Association from Glasgow, which connects Iranians of all ages and occupations and helps them relocate and enjoy cultural expression. Born in Irans northwest, he has worked for Glasgow City Council for 20 years as a chartered surveyor, having built a new life after seeking political asylum in the UK in 1985. Being second in command of a naval vessel comprising 130 men, he was docked in Glasgow at a shipyard now producing for BAE systems. On the last day, he was due to go back to sea, he left his ship dismayed at the conduct of the war by Iranian authorities. He grew to love Glasgow, living in the city as it underwent reconstruction during the 1980s with its many bypasses and regenerations. I am Glaswegian, but 75 percent of my thoughts are still in Iran. Although some nostalgia remains in older sections, there is a deep commitment to an Iranian identity that is democratic and inclusive. What most want is the chance for their home of Scotland and their Iran to both reach their potentials. Follow Robert Somynne on Twitter: @RobertJSomynne The recent sudden stratospheric warming event, whereby temperatures rose by over 50 degrees Celsius some 25km above the Arctic circle, has disrupted the movement of weather patterns that affect those at ground level. It is not fully understood what sets off the chain of events that leads to this warming but more often than not, it causes the weather systems in the northern hemisphere to stop their usual progression from west to east. The result over Europe is the building of a blocking high. A blocking high is an increasingly cold, heavy and spreading mass of air whose centre is usually in western Russia or Scandinavia. The current one is over northern Sweden where temperatures on the ground have dropped to -40C. Wind goes clockwise around and out from an area of high pressure, so this chill is spreading south and west into all of central and Western Europe. Where the wind flows over water, it will produce cloud, then snow, which makes the UK particularly vulnerable to travel disruption this coming week. In Croatia and the Balkan States in general, snow has been falling heavily as the Adriatic and Mediterranean have both been pumping moisture into the chill wind, as storm systems rotate over the water. One other consequence of a this blocking high is that relatively warm weather is being pumped up from the eastern Atlantic, over Iceland and beyond the Arctic circle to the North Pole itself. The temperature at 90 degrees latitude north, the true North Pole, was above freezing for at least 24 hours. The blocking high will last another few days but eventually, Atlantic weather systems will make progress eastwards and the big chill will be over, at least for Europe, by the second week of March. As the FARC is forced to fight for a place in mainstream politics, Colombias hard-earned peace is under threat. Back in September 2016, at the 71st United Nations General Assembly, Colombias President Juan Manuel Santos triumphantly announced the end of war in Colombia. Since 2012, Santos government had been negotiating with the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC), an armed group that fought the Colombian state for over 50 years. In August 2016, negotiators announced a final agreement to end the conflict that had left 220,000 people dead and displaced millions. Last year, the rebel group relaunched as a political party, changing their logo of rifles for a red rose. But the historic deal that brought peace to Colombia is now failing. This should come as no surprise after the political gymnastics Santos was forced to perform following the Colombian publics initial rejection of the treaty in an October 2016 referendum. For Colombia, this means an uncertain and problematic presidential election later this year and, worse, a possible end to an already wobbly peace. Electoral reform One central element of the framework established during negotiations between the Colombian government and the FARC held in Havana from 2012 to 2016 was electoral and political reforms. Negotiators grappled with how to include and recognise former guerrillas as formal and legal political actors. As a result, the peace deal at the end of the process failed to offer specific guidelines for electoral reform, only mentioning an abstract need to reform current electoral rules. An independent Special Electoral Reform Commission was established by Santos government in 2017 to move forward the electoral and political reforms discussed during the Havana dialogues. The government believed that such a commission had a chance to deliver substantial reforms because the political class was already cornered by corruption scandals and accusations of electoral fraud the thinking was that reforms put together by experts, instead of politicians, would be a less politically costly path to put pressure on members of Congress to accept changes to the electoral system. {articleGUID} The commission tried to present a strategy that would be acceptable to both Santoss government and the FARC, but despite their legitimate efforts, the outcomes have proven disappointing. The commissions proposal for electoral reform has not been accepted as a bill in Congress yet. This is why there have been no significant changes in the Colombian electoral process in the past year. The inclusion and recognition of former guerrillas as formal, legal, political actors was one of the major issues the commission tried to regulate. In its proposal, it offered to introduce two major changes to the electoral system beneficial to FARC candidates: The first grants 10 guaranteed congressional seats for members of the FARCs political party, and the second creates special electoral districts for areas mainly affected by the conflict prospects that are unlikely ever to be approved. The end of the peace process? For now, a comprehensive bill on electoral reform that would make all power blocs in Colombias fractured political arena happy seems to be a distant dream; but the problem facing the country at the moment goes beyond these legal and legislative struggles. Earlier this month, after four years of exhaustive negotiations, a disastrous referendum and an almost lame-duck president, Colombias peace process has finally reached its limits: The FARC announced that its party would be boycotting the upcoming presidential elections, saying its candidates had been attacked and felt unsafe. Since the signing of the peace deal, part of the rights electoral strategy has been to disseminate hate to hinder political insertion of the former guerrillas into the political game. Rodrigo Londono, former leader of the FARC and its current candidate for president, recently blamed former President Alvaro Uribes Democratic Centre Party of actively sabotaging his new-born partys electoral campaign in some regions. Although the FARC is undoubtedly a political phenomenon garnering considerable attention in the media, it is far from being popularly accepted. According to a recent survey by the National Consulting Center, Londono, known by his nom de guerre, Timochenko, has zero backing from the public. Of course, the electoral participation issue was never among FARCs main concerns, and its armed actions in the past frequently focused on sabotaging elections. But political participation was at the foundation of the peace deal the government signed with the FARC and the ousting of the former rebel group from mainstream politics seriously threatens Colombias already brittle peace. New political blocks Out of all the effervescence and political ambiguity created by the peace process, four frontrunners have emerged in the race to become Colombias next president. The first is German Vargas Lleras, a veteran centre-right politician who served as vice president to Santos until March 2017. The second is Ivan Duque, who is backed by right-wing former President Alvaro Uribe. The third is former mayor of Bogota, Gustavo Petro, who is representing the far-left in the elections. Finally the fourth, running on a promise to fix Colombias economy, is a left-leaning independent candidate, former mathematics professor and ex-governor of Antioquia, Sergio Fajardo. According to latest polls, Fajardo is leading the race, with Duque a close second. While Londono seems to have no chance of winning even if he reversed his decision to boycott the election -the FARC is betting on legal judgements to reinforce its legitimacy and protect its future in mainstream politics. The group is targeting Uribe, who it classifies as an antagonist of peace, while simultaneously seeking the guardianship of the Constitutional Court to protect its right to political participation. So far, the FARCs political adventure seems to be off to a weak start, and it seriously lacks societal support. What is more, the perceived lack of government compliance with the agreements it signed with the FARC has affected the ELNs (Ejercito Nacional de Liberacion) confidence in its ongoing peace negotiations with the Santos government. The left-wing armed group, which was formed in 1964 to fight for land rights and protection of poor rural communities, consequently returned to the dynamics of war after a bilateral ceasefire was violated by both the state and the insurgents. This subject will unquestionably contaminate the already poisoned political debate leading to the legislative elections on March 11 and the presidential elections later in May. While the policies of former President Alvaro Uribe focused on the fight against the guerrillas, President Santos assumed office in 2010 with a discourse around inclusion and a fight against inequality. For many, the divergence between Uribes and Santos policies was a surprise and caused divisions in Colombias political landscape. Santos third way, a pragmatic approach that seeks to reconcile a mediated liberal reformism with weak social redistribution, paved the way for the Havana agreements. But what was supposed to be a reconciliation and societal reboot pact has subsequently turned into political and electoral disappointment. Today the dream of a peaceful Colombia is miles behind, and peace in the country seems to be a mirage. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. Fighters from the armed group carry out raid on army base in Bula Gudud near the southern port town of Kismayu. Al-Shabab fighters attacked a military base near Somalias southern port city of Kismayu early on Sunday, a Somali army officer said, adding that he did not immediately have details of any casualties. The armed group claimed responsibility for the attack and said 26 Somali soldiers had been killed in the incident, but that could not be confirmed by other sources. We understand al-Shabab attacked the base and fierce fighting and a blast occurred, but still we have no details, Mohamed Isa, a military officer, told Reuters news agency from Kismayu. The attack was on a base in the village of Bula Gudud, near Kismayu. State radio also reported the base had been attacked but said casualties were not yet known. The base is jointly operated by the Somali national army and forces from the semi-autonomous Jubbaland region of southern Somalia, it reported. Residents in Bula Gudud said a blast was heard and an exchange of gunfire broke out shortly after the first Muslim prayer of the day. Abdiasis Abu Musab, al-Shababs military spokesman, told Reuters: This morning, we stormed the Jubbaland base near Bula Gudud. We killed 26 soldiers and burnt two cars. The group left the base after taking weapons, ammunition and several vehicles, he added. Al-Shabab is linked to al-Qaeda and wants to impose strict Islamic law in Somalia. The group routinely exaggerates casualty figures. Peru Dakar rally: Palaeontologists worry about geoglyphs In Peru, palaeontologists and archaeologists have warned that the Dakar rally poses a serious risk to parts of the countrys unique geological fabric, one of the worlds largest geoglyphs. The leader of Turkeys opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) has accused Armenias President Serzh Sargsyan of playing a role in a 1992 massacre of Azerbaijani citizens. Speaking to his partys legislators in parliament on Tuesday, Devlet Bahceli said that Armenia should be held accountable for the Khojaly massacre. The real trouble is that the traitors who had a hand in the Khojaly massacre have taken on key positions in Armenias political and state life, said Bahceli. In 1992, Sargsyan was chairman of a defence committee for Upper Karabakh, during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Bahceli also condemned a recent Dutch parliament motion recognising the Armenian narrative that the 1915 events were a genocide. Countries whose histories are stained by the slave trade cannot judge us, said Bahceli. If the Netherlands are looking for a crime of genocide, they should look at the Khojaly massacre. Khojaly massacre In the early stages of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, ethnic Armenians were expelled from Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijanis were expelled from Armenia. This forced population exchange was accompanied by pogroms and violence. Following the break-up of the Soviet Union, on February 26, 1992, Armenian forces took over Khojaly in Karabakh after battering it with heavy artillery and tanks, assisted by an infantry regiment. The two-hour offensive killed 613 Azerbaijani citizens, including 116 women and 63 children, and critically injured 487 others, according to Azerbaijani figures cited by Anadolu news agency. A 1997 letter from Armenias Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Human Rights Watch (HRW) organization accused Azerbaijani forces of having prevented the exodus of the local population through the mountain passages specifically left open by Karabakh Armenians and shot those who attempted to flee. HRW said it places direct responsibility for the civilian deaths with Karabakh Armenian forces. Genocide motion Last week, the Dutch parliament passed a motion backing the Armenian viewpoint on the 1915 events with 142 votes in favour. The genocide [allegation] is the occupation of ignoble people. The committer of genocides is the common name of Turkophobes. Bahceli said. Ankaras trigger button: Armenian genocide Turkish historians hold that the deaths in 1915 occurred after some Armenians sided with invading Russians and revolted against Ottoman forces. A subsequent relocation of Armenians resulted in numerous casualties. Turkey acknowledges there were casualties on both sides during World War I, and sees the 1915 events as a tragedy for both sides. Supreme offence Chief Justice Gopal Prasad Parajulis interim order on Sunday on a contempt of court case filed against Kantipur daily has raised some serious questions about his integrity and his ability to discharge justice independently. New Colombia News aims to offer a different post-conflict alternative to traditional media. By Turkey requested extradition of Salih Muslim, a former leader of Syrias Kurdish PYD, after he was arrested in Prague. A court in the Czech Republic has released Salih Muslim, a former Kurdish Syrian leader, despite Turkeys official request for him to be extradited. Muslim, a prominent former leader of the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria, was arrested in the Czech capital of Prague on Saturday at Turkeys request. We are very satisfied because the judge did not consider it necessary after hearing the arguments to decide to retain the custody of our client. Our client has promised that he would be at the disposal of the court. It is traditional this way, as the proceedings have only started. It will take some time, Miroslav Krutina, Muslims lawyer, told Al Jazeera. The crucial question was if our client should wait during the procedure in custody because of some kind of concern that he might disappear or not cooperate. In the end, we agreed this very peaceful person would probably not be a threat to the public and he, himself, promised to be at the disposal of the court. Krutina said that the extradition process could take a month or even half a year. For any judge, we are ready to cooperate with them. The police have done their job and have not done anything more than their mission in a professional prepared way. Turkey had asked authorities in Prague to extradite him with a file explaining the arguments for the request, Turkeys Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said on Monday. The Turkish foreign ministry said on Tuesday: The decision of the Czech court does not correspond with the Czech judiciarys responsibilities with the international law and combatting terror. Turkeys interior ministry had offered a bounty of nearly one million dollars for the arrest of Muslim, who is listed by Ankara as a most wanted terrorist. Charges against Muslim Speaking to Al Jazeera from Prague, Muslim said: They tried to keep me silent and I think it failed because everybody knows what is going on in Turkey. According to Turkeys state-run Anadolu news agency, the request for extradition recalls that a high court in Ankara had filed a case against Muslim for a deadly attack carried out in the capital in 2016. {articleGUID} The charges against him include damaging national unity and integrity, deliberate murder, damaging public property and transferring dangerous materials, according to Anadolu. The March 2016 attack at a popular shopping area in central Ankara had been carried out by an explosive-laden vehicle and left 37 people dead and dozens more injured. The court had also issued an arrest warrant for Muslim and requested that Interpol issue a red notice against him. Turkey considers the PYD and its armed wing, the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) terrorist groups with ties to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) active in Turkey. The PKK has waged a decades-long armed fight against the Turkish state that has killed tens of thousands of people. The arrest came after Turkey called on the Czech Republic to arrest the former coleader and sent warrants for his arrest to Prague, Turkish officials said. Turkey together with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel group last month launched an air and ground offensive into Afrin in the northwest of Syria to defeat the US-backed YPG fighters near its border. Severe flooding hits central parts of South America, leaving at least six people dead. At least six people have died in heavy flooding across the Andean nation of Bolivia, where days of rain have left thousands of people homeless, fields underwater and houses destroyed. One man died when he was dragged away by a swollen river and five people were killed in road accidents caused by the rain, said the mayor of Cotagaita in the southern Potosi department. Authorities have said that at least 50,000 people in seven of the countrys nine departments have been left homeless. The hardest-hit areas are near the southern border with Paraguay and Argentina. Rural and Land Development Minister Cesar Cacarico said the flooding has also damaged 33,000 fields. During a visit to the town of Tupiza in Potosi department, President Evo Morales promised to help victims rebuild and to provide farmers with seeds. Authorities have now activated the Emergency National Operations Committee (COEN) to coordinate efforts to provide flood victims with aid. South of the border, raging floodwaters washed away cars and homes in Argentina after heavy rains caused a river to overflow in the northwest. Around 10,000 residents were evacuated from villages along the Pilcomayo River on Friday. The stretch of the Pilcomayo which runs through Salta, in northwest Argentina, rose rapidly overnight after unusually heavy rains, such that some residents had to be plucked from waist-high waters. Officials said the river has risen at least six metres and is expected to continue rising until the middle of this week. Letter, signed by over 200 artists, writers and musicians, says governments should take steps to stop the bloodshed. Over 200 artists, activists, writers and musicians have issued an open letter calling for world governments to stop the Syrian genocide. The signatories come from across the globe, including many of the major actors in the conflict: Syria, Russia, the US and Turkey. The United Nations says it has run out of words on Syria, but we, the undersigned, still have some for the governments, parliamentarians, electorates and decision-makers of the world, the letter, published at the New York Review of Books on Tuesday, begins. The Syrian military, with support from Russian warplanes, is currently battering the besieged Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta. The UN, along with US diplomats, has called for an immediate end to the military campaign, which UN chief Antonio Guterres has called hell on earth. Eastern Ghouta is the last rebel stronghold near Damascus, the Syrian capital. It has been under siege since 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin called for a humanitarian ceasefire in the enclave that was set to begin at 9am local time on Tuesday, though activists told Al Jazeera the temporary truce was violated less than two hours after it began. Turkey has also mounted an assault on northern Syrias Afrin, which Kurdish forces freed from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group over the course of the five-year civil war. The campaign has stirred tensions between Turkey and the US. The US armed and supported Kurdish forces in the fight against ISIL. The Syrian air force is also bombarding Idlib, a northwestern province that is the last major population centre held by rebel forces. Dozens of civilians have been killed in recent air raids, according to monitoring groups. Today, as Idlib and Afrin burn, the inevitable is unfolding in Ghouta, the huge open-air concentration camp about to enter its fifth year under siege. What happens next is predictable, the open letter states. The writers called for UN member states to uphold the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) under the UN Office on Genocide Prevention. The R2P calls for signatories to take appropriate diplomatic, humanitarian and other peaceful means, in accordance to help protect populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. The measure was endorsed by all UN member states in 2005. The destruction of Syria was preventable, and can now only be ended by the elected and appointed members of democratic bodies if they fulfil their obligations under the R2P, the letter said. Iraq seeks to lure investors to boost oil, gas output Iraqi government ministers are meeting oil executives in Berlin to discuss how to exploit its vast oil and gas reserves. Following protests and international pressure, Israeli PM Netanyahu has suspended tax procedures on Jerusalem churches. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre has announced it will reopen its doors after Israel decided to suspend legislation regarding collecting taxes from churches and their properties in Jerusalem. Following international pressure and rising protests from Palestinian Christians, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the formation of a committee to discuss the imposition of the property tax, or arnona, on Jerusalems churches. The decision came following a meeting between Netanyahu and the Israeli mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barakat, and after one of the holiest sites in Christianity, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, closed its doors on Sunday in protest against the proposed legislation. The committee will be headed by Tzachi Hanegbi, the Israeli minister of regional cooperation. Al Jazeeras correspondent Walid al-Omari, reporting from the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, said that tax procedures on churches and their properties would be frozen under the new arrangement. Accounts belonging to churches and monasteries will be cancelled, he said. Furthermore, a new law proposed by Israeli right-wing politicians that will allow Israeli authorities to confiscate properties of the churches if they do not pay taxes, will be suspended. Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality said that the churches owed $53m in commercial back taxes. However, the three Christian denominations have countered that this was a plan to weaken the Christian presence in Jerusalem. The systematic campaign of abuse against Churches and Christians reaches now its peak as a discriminatory and racist bill that targets solely the properties of the Christian community, they said in a statement on Sunday. These actions breach existing agreements and international obligations, which guarantee the rights and privileges of the Churches. The statement was signed by the Roman Catholic, Armenian and Greek Orthodox church leaders. The leader of the Christian National Gathering in the Holy Land, Dimitri Deliani, said that the churches had won this battle against the Israeli occupation, which he described as a war. Hana Amira, the head of the Supreme Presidential Committee for Church Affairs, told Palestinian government news agency Wafa that the stance of the heads of the churches, as well as the closure of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, had foiled the Israeli plan temporarily. International pressure The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) had strongly criticised Israels decision to tax church property in Jerusalem. We reject these measures, which are part of ongoing efforts [by Israel] to change the status of Christian and Muslim holy places [in Jerusalem] and systematically restrict their existence, the OIC said in a statement on Tuesday. It voiced solidarity with Jerusalems churches, warning against the seriousness of these unprecedented Israeli actions which constitute a flagrant violation of international law and conventions. The OIC also urged the international community to exert pressure on Israel, the occupying power, to compel it to abide by its responsibilities under international law and the Geneva Conventions and immediately reverse these illegal measures and continued violations against the city of Jerusalem, its people and holy sites. The only solution is for the occupation to completely reverse its decision, he said. Earlier in the week, Jordan had expressed support for Christian leaders in Jerusalem. Mohammad al-Momani, government spokesperson, said his country was in full solidarity with the churches, and that Israels measures violate international and humanitarian laws. Bombardment of Eastern Ghouta, the opposition-held enclave, over the past week has been one of the heaviest of Syrias seven-year war, killing more than 550 people in eight days, according to a toll compiled by the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a UK-based war monitor. Two journalists based in Ghouta spoke to Al Jazeera about their experiences covering the air attacks and what life under a government-imposed siege since 2013 is like. Ammar Al-Bushi, 24, photographer Ammar al-Bushi: Journalism is more difficult than military confrontation [Al Jazeera] I work as a freelance photographer with Anadolu Agency. I previously worked with Reuters back in 2013, in addition to Al Jazeera English, and then with a number of other news agencies around the world. I also volunteer with local networks in Eastern Ghouta. I first started working as a photographer using my mobile phone. My brother and I transferred footage to media outlets of the peaceful protests in my town and the suppression of the demonstrators. The goal has always been to give a voice to those who did not have one in Syria under the ruling Assad gang. As long as media workers are targeted by the regime, journalism is more difficult than military confrontation. As journalists in the Eastern Ghouta, we did not have the opportunity to get training like in other Syrian areas because we are under a long siege. Therefore, our knowledge in journalism is limited to what we are able to access from the internet. At the end of the day, a photographer is a human being. I cannot forget when a demonstrator with a banner calling for freedom was killed in front of my eyes. We may get used to death, bombing and bidding farewell to those we love, but the regime surprises us by painting new colours of death. Being a journalist, I have been in a position where I photographed hundreds of dead children, as when the regime used chemical weapons on Eastern Ghouta in August 2013. I placed ice on their bodies and wrote numbers on their foreheads to document their deaths. You would think after that nothing on this Earth will be harder to witness, but then came the siege. The world may not be affected by our sufferings, but ultimately no one likes to die silently. Technical problems in Eastern Ghouta that we suffer prevents us from communicating with the outside world. We have difficulty sending videos abroad, as the 3G internet service is controlled by the government in many areas. We also have the problem of electricity and fuel access. We instead obtain electricity though solar panels, which we connect to the batteries of cars. We then use a device called the Inventor to attach to the batteries, and that is how we manage to charge our equipment for a short while. And so this is how we work to communicate with the rest of the world. Despite all the difficulties and risks to our lives, we continue to do our jobs because of our belief in the truth. Freedom comes at an expensive price and our lives are worth paying for it. Alaa al-Ahmad, 27, editor at the Damascus Media Centre Alaa al-Ahmad: Journalism has become something in my blood I cannot keep away from [Al Jazeera] I left Damascus University where I was a student at the media department because the security forces were always after me due to my activism. I count myself as a resident of Eastern Ghouta before a journalist. I can confirm that we have never witnessed this level of escalation before. Even when Ghouta was bombed by chemical forces in mid-2013, the escalation that followed was not at the level of what were witnessing today. In the last week, my family and I along with the rest of our neighbourhood have taken refuge in basements and lower ground floors in buildings that dont have basements. Living conditions are not good because of poor hygiene issues and lack of food and water, amid the severity of the bombardment we are exposed to. Despite this, I along with other journalists and photographers are always out in the field to cover what is happening here around the clock. We face some obvious difficulties such as electricity shortages. I move from one street to the other, sometimes while the missiles are raining down, in order to reach my friends in a different neighbourhood. I leave my equipment with them to recharge then I go back out again with my camera to photograph the aftermath of bombings, or of people fleeing their homes, or civil defence missions. We also face the risk of death because of our presence in the field, the streets, and on rooftops watching the warplanes and their missiles to see where they would land. We would then monitor the disasters that unfold at these bombing sites. We also suffer from lack of fuel, which the regime intentionally denies us. We use motorcycles to travel between the places that are bombed, and the lack of fuel makes our coverage of these areas impossible as it is difficult to keep track of every incident or massacre that takes place throughout Ghouta. The lack of adequate charging devices prevents us from capturing and photographing everything that happens. We can only pick up certain shots that make up only a small percentage of what happens every hour and minute in Ghouta. But despite all these difficulties, obstacles and daily dangers of bombing, journalism has become something in my blood I cannot keep away from. We document the suffering of civilians who have been besieged, as well as the places the regime bombs. Sometimes our morale is low because we are working to raise awareness in order to let the world see and know what is happening. Yet I continue my work and photography regardless of these difficulties. Lebanese PM welcomes Saudi invitation, in what would be his first visit since his resignation from Riyadh in November. Saudi Arabia has extended an official invitation to Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, in what would be his first visit since his rescinded resignation from Riyadh in November. Saudi envoy Nizar al-Aloula, who is on a four-day visit to Lebanon, delivered the invitation in a meeting with Hariri on Monday. The latter described the talks with the envoy as excellent and said he would conduct the visit as soon as possible, according to the prime ministers office. Al-Aloula, who was accompanied by the kingdoms new ambassador to Lebanon, Walid al-Yaacoub, is the first high-ranking Saudi official to visit Lebanon since Hariris abrupt resignation, issued from Riyadh, last November. Hariris televised address had then sparked outrage in Lebanon over what was publicly perceived as the abduction of a sovereign states prime minister by another country. The 47-year-old cited concern for his safety and Iranian meddling in his home country for the sudden decision but returned to Lebanon weeks later and agreed to retract his resignation. Hariri on Monday reiterated statements made earlier about Saudis stabilising role in the troubled country. Saudi Arabias main objective is for Lebanon to be sovereign. It is also keen on the full independence of Lebanon, and we will see how to cooperate with the kingdom regarding the upcoming international conferences. Turkeys prime minister on Tuesday commemorated the seventh anniversary of the passing of the countrys former Prime Minister Necmettin Erbakan, who passed away on February 27, 2011. Speaking to his partys parliamentary group, Binali Yildirim hailed Erbakan as a dignified politician, one who never used the language of hate but instead favoured the language of affinities. He brought soft words and a smiling face to politics, said Yildirim. Yildirim recalled how, at rallies, Erbakan called on people to swear by God to stand against people who harmed Turkish law or fellowship. Erbakan had to resign his post in 1997 after less than a year in office in what became known as the post-modern coup. In 1997 the Turkish military issued a series of recommendations, which the government had no choice but to accept. Erbakan agreed to a compulsory eight-year education programme (to prevent pupils from enrolling in religious schools), a headscarf ban at universities, and other measures. He was then forced to resign, and his government collapsed and was replaced by a new civilian government. The military had held a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss their concerns with the governments programme on February 28, 1997, after which their recommendations were issued. Erbakans Welfare Party was outlawed in 1998, and he was banned from politics for five years. National Vision Movement Erbakan, who was popularly known as the hodja, or Muslim scholar, brought his National Vision Movement ideology to Turkish politics in the 1990s. Former members of his party, including current prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, would eventually go on to found the Justice and Development (AK) Party. Anchoring his political viewpoint in ethics and spirituality, Erbakan led the way for many statesmen and civil servants who followed, including President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erbakan supported increasing national production and the industrialisation of Turkey. He also envisioned a common-market organisation made up of mainly Muslim-populated countries who would have similar trade goals and policies. That came to life with the establishment of D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation in 1997, with the participation of Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt and Nigeria. The D-8 was officially established at an Istanbul summit in June 1997, in another element of Erbakans enduring legacy. At least 1,130 civilians were freed, and 37 suspected Boko Haram militants were killed during a joint offensive by Cameroonian and Nigerian troops in communities around the Lake Chad region on Monday, according to a Nigerian army spokesman. In a statement on Tuesday, spokesman Colonel Onyema Nwackukwu said the offensives took place in border villages of Kusha-Kucha, Surdewala, Alkanerik, Magdewerne and Mayen, culminating in the destruction of several Boko Haram camps and seizure of weapons, including machine guns and anti-aircraft guns. Four improvised explosive devices were also destroyed. Nwackukwu said some 603 hostages were freed across Kusha-Kucha, Surdewala, Alkanerik, Magdewerne and Mayen villages; they were taken to the Nigerian Bama town for profiling and handing over to relief agencies. The troops also extracted 194 civilians held captive by the insurgents and destroyed makeshift accommodations erected by the insurgents. Additionally, the combined troops successfully cleared Miyanti and Wudila villages, where they rescued three men, 121 women and 209 children, the army spokesman added. On Tuesday, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Secretary-General Dr Yousef Al-Othaimeen condemned the abduction of some 110 schoolgirls from Nigerias northeastern Dapchi town Monday. Tikapur carnage suspect surrenders The Kailali District Court remanded Resham Chaudhary, an accused of Tikapur incident in judicial custody on Monday. Qatar and Chad have signed Memorandum of Understanding restoring diplomatic relations. Qatar and Chad have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) resuming diplomatic relations between the two countries, Qatars foreign minister has said. Relations were severed in August after the start of a Saudi-led blockade against Qatar. The agreement was reached after Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Qatari foreign minister, held a meeting with Cherif Mahamat Zene, Chads minister of foreign affairs, Africa integration and international cooperation, in Doha. During the meeting, both countries discussed developing and boosting bilateral relations. Lolwah al-Khater, Qatars foreign ministry spokesperson, said that both countries would return their ambassadors with immediate effect. Moments ago MOU was signed between #Qatar & #Chad; Diplomatic Relations to be resumed with immediate exchange of ambassadors. A victory for both countries' diplomacy;one that is based on the principles of dialogue & common interests that bring peace and prosperity to both nations pic.twitter.com/Zmz13fAXSD Lolwah Alkhater (@Lolwah_Alkhater) February 20, 2018 Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani congratulated the move on Twitter. We welcome the resumption of diplomatic relations between Qatar and Chad and the return of ambassadors between the two friendly countries, a memorandum of understanding was signed today in Doha. # .. pic.twitter.com/Hhld0kZryI (@MBA_AlThani_) February 20, 2018 Chad and Qatar Chad closed Qatars embassy in NDjamena in August, accusing Qatar of seeking to destabilise the country through its northern neighbour Libya. Qatar responded and ordered the embassy to close, and accused the African country of joining a political blackmail against the State of Qatar. More than eight months since the start of the crisis, the US and the EU have called on the countries to engage in dialogue. But the quartet issued a 13-point list of demands, including the shutdown of Qatar-based media network Al Jazeera, limiting ties with Iran and expelling Turkish troops stationed in the country as a prerequisite to lifting the blockade. Qatar rejected all the demands, denouncing them as attempts to infringe its sovereignty. A five-hour truce comes into effect in Syrias Eastern Ghouta, after intense government bombardment kills more than 550. A five-hour humanitarian pause called by Russia has come into effect in Syrias Eastern Ghouta to allow civilians to evacuate the area that has been under continuous aerial bombardment. Russias President Vladimir Putin had ordered a truce from 9am-2pm (7:00-12:00 GMT) on Tuesday, as air attacks and ground operations killed more than 550 civilians in the last eight days, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). On Monday, a suspected chemical attack killed one child, according to Syrias Civil Defence rescue team, also known as the White Helmets. The reported chlorine gas attack injured at least 18 others when it hit Eastern Ghoutas Al-Shifaniyah town close to the front lines, where rebels are fighting Syrian ground forces who have been trying to penetrate into the besieged enclave since Sunday. The bombardment of the rebel-held Damascus suburb has been one of the most intense in Syrias seven-year-old war, exacerbating a dire humanitarian situation in the enclave, home to about 400,000 people. A United Nations Security Council resolution passed on Saturday, calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria, but activists and locals said the shelling continued regardless. On Monday, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres called for the immediate implementation of the resolution, describing the situation in Eastern Ghouta as hell on Earth. Eastern Ghouta has been under rebel control since 2013, after which President Bashar al-Assads government imposed a siege on the area in an attempt to drive out opposition fighters. Fighting is continues elsewhere in Syria as Turkey presses its offensive against a Kurdish militia in Afrin, rival rebel groups fight each other in western Idlib province, and a US-led coalition targets Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in the east. Russia has vetoed a United Nations Security Council resolution based on a UN report condemning Iran for violating an arms embargo by sending weapons to Yemens Houthi rebels. Backed by the United States and France, the British-drafted resolution was supported with 11 votes in favour on Monday, before Russia used its veto and other member states abstained from voting. The US had repeatedly called for the imposition of a renewed embargo on Iran, claiming it was sending Iranian manufactured missiles to Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. It also claimed that these missiles were used to launch an attack on neighbouring Saudi Arabia which along with several Sunni Arab countries have been fighting against the Houthis since March 2015, when the Kingdom intervened to push back the rebels and reinstate the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The draft resolution specifically condemned a Houthi missile strike that was targeted at Riyadh in December 2017. It determined that Iran did not comply with a 2015 UN arms embargo on Yemen as it did not take action in preventing the direct or indirect flow of missiles to the Houthis. The draft also urged members of the council to take further action against Iran for breaching the arms embargo. Instead, the UNSC unanimously adopted a Russian-proposed resolution that did not mention Iran. Although the Russian-proposed one passed unanimously, criticism was traded among the councils members. Kelley Currie, the US representative to the UN, said the UK-drafted resolution was a simple, commonsense one which called out Iran. Russias ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said the wording in the British draft would have had destabilising ramifications if adopted, and warned about the effect it would have on Yemen and the region as a whole. Russia doesnt like the outcome of certain expert panel reports, Jonathan Allen, UK deputy ambassador to the UN, told reporters before the vote was scheduled to take place. Well be urging our colleagues for the good of the United Nations system, to vote in favour of our resolution. Earlier on Monday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed with his Saudi counterpart Adel al-Jubeir the drafting of a new UNSC resolution on Yemen, Anadolu news agency reported. Army chief of staff, ministers and top commanders of ground and air defence forces replaced, in series of royal decrees. Saudi Arabias King Salman has fired his top military commanders and reshuffled his cabinet in a shake-up of key security and government ministries. Those dismissed by royal decree overnight on Tuesday included the Saudi armys chief of staff, and the heads of the ground and air defence forces. First Lieutenant General Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwayli was appointed the new chief of staff, while Tamadur bint Youssef al-Ramah was appointed as deputy labour minister in a rare senior post for a woman in the kingdom. Prince Turki bin Talal the brother of Alwaleed bin Talal a billionaire businessman who was detained for months by the government on allegations of corruption was also appointed to a deputy governor position. {articleGUID} No official reason has been given for the overhaul, but it comes as Saudi Arabia faces growing criticism against the military coalition it leads in the Yemen war. The developments also come amid a series of changes led by countrys 32-year-old Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman (also known as MBS), who has vowed to transform both Saudi Arabias culture and economy. MBS was appointed crown prince in June 2017 when King Salman, his father, implemented a major government shake-up. MBS is coming soon Mahjoob Zweiri, a professor of Arab politics, said that while many see a link between the Saudi reshuffle and the war in Yemen, the move signals changes to come within the kingdoms internal politics. This development tells us one thing: the new king [MBS] is coming sooner rather than later, Zweiri told Al Jazeera. It seems that hes setting the platform for his son to rule weve witnessed serious changes to the economy, attempts to fight corruption and so on, he added. Zweiri further explained that Saudi Arabia has a strategy it is following in Yemen and that a government reshuffle does not necessarily mean its policy in the war would change. Saudi Arabia entered the Yemen war in 2015 when it launched a military offensive after Houthi rebels took over the capital, Sanaa, and large swathes of the impoverished country a year earlier. Due to the high civilian death toll, the kingdom has been under fire to alter its strategy in the war. Repairing Saudis image? Commenting on the appointment of Alwaleeds brother, Zweiri said he believes Saudi may be trying to repair its image, after it launched an arrest campaign of royal family members, ministers and top businessmen in November 2017. Its all political theyre trying to send a message that were not against him [Alwaleed] and that despite what we did, hes still one of us, said Zweiri. More importantly, said Zweiri, the government reshuffle is aimed at bringing those closer to MBS to power in a bid to promote a new way of thinking. Since MBS appointment as crown prince, Saudi announced it would end its long-standing ban on allowing women to drive, and major economic reforms seeking to privatise the economy have been introduced. I think we are going to see more changes in personnel both within [the] military as well as civilian administration, simply because he is putting in his own people and he wants to project a certain image of the kingdom, James Dorsey, senior fellow at the S Raja Ratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, told Al Jazeera. One has to keep in mind that in effect the crown prince has changed the government structure of Saudi Arabia, he said, adding that its a one-man rule as opposed to the past when decisions were taken by consensus. Ousted President Park stands trial on charges of bribery, abuse of power in case that rocked S Koreas political elite. South Korean prosecutors are seeking a 30-year jail term for ex-president Park Geun-hye in a corruption case which led to her impeachment, the Yonhap news agency reports. Park, 66, was dismissed in March and is standing trial on charges of bribery, abuse of power and coercion in a case that has rocked the countrys business and political elite. She denies wrongdoing. The prosecutions recommendation came two weeks after Choi Soon-sil, a longtime friend of Park who was at the centre of the scandal, was jailed for 20 years for taking bribes from chaebol, or conglomerates, including electronics powerhouse Samsung and retail giant Lotte. Prosecutors are also seeking a 118.5bn won ($127.1m) fine for Park, who has been detained since March 31 last year. Park Seung-gil, a lawyer representing the former president, tearfully pleaded before Seoul Central District Court for mercy, saying Park had tried her hardest in leading the country day and night. Parks trial began in May and a verdict is expected before April in a case that brought scrutiny to the cosy ties between South Koreas political leaders and its largest chaebol, the so-called Republic of Samsung. (Park) brought a national crisis by letting a person who has never been involved in state management rule the country, a prosecutor said. She and Choi took tens of billions of won in bribes and yet denied her crimes and obstructed efforts to establish the truth. Receiving bribes carries a penalty of up to life in jail. Harsh sentence Hundreds of supporters gathered outside the court, proclaiming Parks innocence. Immediately release our president, they chanted. The Liberty Korea Party, a conservative opposition party formerly led by Park, condemned the call for jail. What the prosecution is demanding is harsher than the death penalty, the party said in a statement. Supporters of former South Korean president Park Geun-hye protested in front of a court in Seoul [Reuters] Seoul Central District Court had also sentenced Shin Dong-bin, chairman of the countrys fifth-largest conglomerate, Lotte Group, to two years and six months in prison in the same case. Seoul High Court suspended a prison sentence for Samsung Group heir Jay Y Lee in early February a surprise decision that sent shockwaves through political and business circles. The court sentenced Lee to two and a half years in jail on charges including bribery and embezzlement reducing the original term by half but suspended the sentence for four years, meaning that he is unlikely to serve any more time in jail. Prosecution officials says actress body was handed over to family and will be flown back to Mumbai for funeral. The body of the Bollywood actress Sridevi has been handed over to her family, and the case of her death has now been closed, prosecution authorities in Dubai said on Tuesday. Dubai Public Prosecution has approved the release of the body of the Indian actress Sridevi to her family following the completion of a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of her death, the government of Dubai media office said in a statement. Dubai Public Prosecution stressed that all regular procedures followed in such cases have been completed, it said. Her body is being embalmed before being flown back to India. Her funeral, which was scheduled to be held on Monday in the Indian city of Mumbai the home of Bollywood was delayed after a forensic report said that the 54-year-old actress died of accidental drowning following loss of consciousness. Authorities in Dubai had said that the iconic actress was under the influence of alcohol when she lost balance and fell into the bathtub of her room at Jumeirah Emirates Towers. Earlier reports said that she died of a heart attack while attending a family wedding in Dubai. Fixture in Indian film industry The funeral will take place Pawan Hans crematorium in Juhu after her remains return to India. {articleGUID} Local media are reporting that several friends and family members have already arrived at the home of Anil Kapoor, Sridevis brother-in-law. The actress is survived by her husband, Boney Kapoor, and daughters Jhanvi and Khushi. Born Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, Sridevi started acting at the age of four with a role in the Tamil language film, Thunaivan. Her starring role in the 1987 adventure film, Mr India, earned her superstar status in South Asia. She went on to become a fixture of the Indian film industry, appearing in more than 300 movies, spanning five decades, and picking up scores of awards for her performances. The Bollywood star was awarded the Padma Shri, Indias fourth-highest civilian honour, in 2013. News of Sridevis sudden death shocked many of her colleagues and fans. Nobel trio: Suu Kyi responsible for Rohingya genocide Three Nobel Peace Prize laureates are urging Myanmars leader Aung San Suu Kyi, herself a Nobel laureate, to condemn the violence against Rohingya refugees or possibly face prosecution for genocide. The arrests of Fawzi Al-Junaidi and Ahed Tamimi shed light on Israels conduct towards Palestinian minors. At the end of 2017, during widespread protests against US President Donald Trumps recognition of Jerusalem as Israels capital, two Palestinian teenagers had run-ins with Israeli soldiers that went viral. Fawzi al-Junaidi was pictured blindfolded and surrounded by over 20 Israeli soldiers, his arms locked behind him as he was dragged away. The 16-year-old spent three weeks in detention and was released on bail, bruised and with a dislocated shoulder. {articleGUID} Ahed Tamimi was also 16 when she was arrested at her home in the middle of the night by Israeli troops in riot gear. She turned 17 in an Israel detention facility, where shes been held since December 19. While Fawzi and Ahed have become symbols of Palestinian resistance, theyre also minors navigating a military detention system thats been repeatedly accused of systematic abuse. The pair is not alone. The Israeli army arrested 1,467 Palestinian minors in 2017, according to local prisoner support and human rights group Addameer. Defense for Children International-Palestine (DCIP) says between 500 and 700 Palestinian children are prosecuted in Israeli military courts every year. So, how does the system work? Arrests The West Bank, except for East Jerusalem, has been under Israeli military law since 1967. Palestinians living in the West Bank are subject to this law, while Israeli citizens living in illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank fall under Israeli civilian law instead. Under military law, minors as young as 12 can be arrested, most for stone-throwing, which the Israeli army considers a security offence. The offence can get up to 20 years in prison, depending on the minors age. Many of the accused are arrested in night raids by armed Israeli soldiers and held in detention pending prosecution in military courts. It can be 3am or 2am Suddenly and without any previous alert, they just go inside the house and put all the members of the family in one room and then ask for the specific child that they want, explains Farah Bayadsi, a lawyer with DCIP. Ahed Tamimi faces a decade in prison [Reuters/Ammar Awad] The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs documented around 336 night raids by the Israeli army in January 2018 alone. Its a method to terrorise the youth and to make sure that system of control is asserted on people at a young age, says Addameers Dawoud Yusef. In testimonies collected by DCIP, minors reported the uses of handcuffs and blindfolds, as well as physical and verbal abuse during their arrest and transport. It starts from the very first minute of the arrest, and it may continue for four to five hours, and sometimes six hours, Bayadsi tells Al Jazeera, continuing, Until they get to the interrogation centres. Interrogation Minors arrested during night raids arrive at interrogation centres tired and disoriented and suffer abuses, reported by advocacy groups, including depriving those arrested of food, water, and access to toilets during questioning. Physical and verbal abuse, sleep deprivation, humiliation, threats of sexual assault, and threats against the childs family have also been documented. These interrogations can span hours at a time, and, while minors in military detention are legally entitled to certain protections, theyre not being upheld. {articleGUID} According to Israeli military order 1745, audio-visual recordings of interrogations with minors must be filmed, except when the minor is accused of committing a security offence, like stone-throwing, which is the most common charge brought against Palestinian minors. The right of parents to know their childs whereabouts, introduced in 2011 through military order 1676, is also often neglected. Parents are supposed to be presented with a form written in Arabic, detailing why their child is being arrested and where theyre being taken. But testimonies collected by DCIP showed that parents werent notified in most cases that were sampled. In the few times where the form was presented, it was in Hebrew. While children have the right to a lawyer under the same military order, few actually get one. Ninety-seven percent of the minors DCIP interviewed were denied access to legal counsel before and during interrogation. Children between 12 and 16 need to be brought to a judge within two days of arrest, and, for 16- and 17-year-olds, its four. We only see the children in the court after theyve taken the endless hell journey, says Bayadsi. We hear about the violations committed against them in the court hall. While they wait for court hearings, which can take months, the children are kept in detention. According to DCIP, 19 percent of children the group interviewed in 2017 reported being kept in solitary confinement, for an average of 12 days. The longest period of isolation documented was 23 days. Many minors end up signing confessions, which are often written in Hebrew, a language most Palestinian children dont understand. Despite this, the confessions can still be used as evidence in court. Military trials Minors in the occupied West Bank are tried in military juvenile courts, which were set up in 2009 in response to widespread criticisms of Israels ill-treatment of minors. The courts have certain requirements, like specially trained judges and closed-door hearings, but the requirements only deal with the trial process. Most abuses documented against children happen during their arrest and interrogation, before a trial starts. Imprisonment of minors after conviction is not used as a last resort, as it should be in accordance with the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which Israel has signed. The last conviction rate released by the military courts was 99.74 percent. In a system where the judge, prosecutor, and even witnesses in cases where a soldier is called to give evidence are all members of the Israeli army, most children end up taking plea bargains. Lets say that you seek to go against the charges, you seek to have a full, fair trial process. The military prosecutor will say, Ok, well, lets seek the full sentence,' Yusef explains. A full sentence for stone-throwing could be months or years, depending on the minors age. So when youre staring down a full sentence, with a 99.74 percent conviction rate, the military prosecutor will say, How about I give you a few months, if you just plea?' And once a plea bargain is taken, the children are taken to prison. Jail While tried in military juvenile courts, 16- and 17-year-olds like Ahed and Fawzi are considered adults under Israeli military law, which means that theyre sentenced as if they are adults. Ahed Tamimi has been indicted on 12 counts, which could put her in an Israeli prison for 10 years. While her trial is under way, Ahed is being held in HaSharon prison, one of the three prisons where Palestinian minors are kept, along with Megiddo and Ofer. But two of the three are in Israeli territory, which is a violation of Article 76 of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Keeping minors outside of the occupied territories means that family visits are difficult and rare. Family members with West Bank IDs have to apply for entry permits into Israel, which can take months to process, while others are refused on undisclosed security grounds. If a permit is received, a brief encounter with the minor separated through a glass barrier can take an entire day because visitors must go through several checkpoints and security checks. Minors arent just spending weeks or months away from family; they also miss out on a proper education. Teaching in prisons is lacking, with only two classes offered: Maths and Arabic. The Israeli Prison Service prohibits the teaching of other subjects, such as Geography or Islamic Studies, citing security concerns. Classes in prisons where both adults and minors are being held together tend to be taught by older inmates. Once released, studies show a 40 percent drop in school performance, with some former child inmates dropping out. However, a lack of educational infrastructure isnt the only reason. Post-detention A 2012 report showed that almost half of the children interviewed were mentally withdrawn after their arrest, with around 80 percent suffering from insomnia and 90 percent developing anxiety. When those kids are released they feel alienated into their own society being unable to concentrate on their studies, difficulty in their sleeping pattern and their appetite, they experience depressive symptoms, and are watchful and detached from reality, says Khader Rasras, director of the Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture in Ramallah. Ex-detainees show different signs of trauma, like developing eating disorders, bedwetting, having nightmares, increased aggression, and a loss of motivation. Addameers Dawoud Yusef recalls working with a child called Shadi from East Jerusalem whose experience of arrest, despite being processed through Israeli civilian courts, disrupted his growth. When those kids are released they feel alienated into their own society ... being unable to concentrate on their studies, difficulty in their sleeping pattern and their appetite, they experience depressive symptoms, and are watchful and detached from reality. Khader Rasras, Treatment and Rehabilitation Centre for Victims of Torture The time that he wasnt able to get education affected him profoundly. This notion that he now had to be strong, he had to now be all these things, and face up to the occupation because the occupation had come down so hard on him. It really just destroyed any semblance of a child, Yusef says. And speaking to Shadi, we couldnt speak past tomorrow. Asking him what he wanted to do with his life, asking him what he wanted to be, asking him about realising some kind of future for himself; he just couldnt. It was day-to-day struggle for Shadi after that. Shadi was eventually kicked out of school for fighting. These experiences dont help the kids focus on their academics, says Rasras. Rather, they shift their concentration to other issues like looking back into their own traumatic experience and feeling that the world isnt as safe as they once thought. Comments come amid reports in Kabul news media of efforts by Afghan government to shut down armed groups Doha office. The Afghan Taliban has called for direct talks with the US to take place in its political office in Qatar. A senior Taliban official based in Doha told Al Jazeera on Tuesday that the group invites US officials to its political office in Qatar to discuss a peaceful solution to end the bloodshed in Afghanistan. His comments followed local news media reports in Kabul on Friday, claiming that the Afghan government has been discussing with Qatari authorities the closure of the Talibans Doha office. The media reports cited government officials as saying the Doha office had no positive consequence in terms of facilitating the peace talks. In an apparent warning to the Afghan government, the Taliban official said further talk of shuttering the Doha office would scuttle the groups offer of talks altogether. The Taliban official also said that departure of American troops from Afghanistan remains a precondition for the groups talks offer. Our struggle is for the liberation of the country, he said. It is not a power struggle. How can a liberation struggle be deemed complete without foreign forces pulling out? Since it is [only] the US which can decide and implement a decision for the withdrawal of foreign forces from Afghanistan, that is why direct talks with the US are necessary in the first phase. During a second phase, we can sit with the Afghan government and discuss all of the domestic issues. The Taliban broached the possibility of direct talks with the US two weeks ago, with the group issuing a letter calling on Americans and peace-loving congressmen to convince US President Donald Trump to join negotiations. Government ready to talk Following the overture, Afghan officials said on Tuesday the Taliban should instead hold discussions with the Kabul government, adding that they were willing to meet the groups representatives anywhere. [The Taliban] have twice asked the US and said they are ready for direct talks with the United States. But the Afghan government is telling [the Taliban] that if you are Afghans, come and talk with Afghanistan. The Afghan government is ready to talk, Tolonews, a leading Afghan media outlet, quoted presidential spokesperson Haroon Chakhansuri as saying on Tuesday. The back and forth came a day before of the second round of the Kabul Process conference. About 25 countries and organisations, including the UN and NATO, will attend Wednesdays meeting in the Afghan capital. In December, General John W Nicholson Jr of the US army said his country would deploy more troops in an advisory role to Afghan forces in 2018, on top of the 14,000 American soldiers already stationed in Afghanistan. The increase follows Trumps pledge in August 2017, saying the US will continue to fight in the country. We are not nation building again. We are killing terrorists, Trump said. The US invaded Afghanistan in 2001 and has become the countrys longest military intervention since Vietnam. It has also been the costliest, with more than $100bn spent so far. No tangible results Despite the latest developments, ordinary Afghans remain resigned to the prospect of continued violence and sceptical about diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. If war took this long, peace will not come easy. The Kabul Peace conference will change nothing. As we have seen in the past, such conferences happen and end without any tangible results, Abbas Arifi, a graduate student at Ibn-e-Sina University in Kabul, told Al Jazeera. Politicians talk, smile and take photos at the end, and say they are hopeful about peace. [But] war is a fact and peace is a dream. Fatima Roshanian, a Kabul resident, believes women should be involved in the peace process, but added: The Taliban will not want any woman in such a position, so whats the point? Khalida Kazimi, a law student at Kabul University, says she does not believe in negotiating with the Taliban who have killed many innocent people. Taliban kill people and the Afghanistan government want to make the peace deal with them. I find this very strange, she told Al Jazeera by phone from Kabul. Surge in violence As the Afghan army and US-led coalition forces battle the Taliban for control of territory, the overall security situation shows no signs of improvement. At least 150 people were killed in suicide attacks in January alone. On January 21, the Taliban orchestrated a bloody siege at Kabuls Inter-Continental Hotel that left at least 20 dead. A few days later on January 24, fighters belonging to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group killed three people at the office of Save the Children, in the eastern city of Jalalabad. On January 27, a Taliban attacker drove an ambulance filled with explosives into the heart of Kabul, killing at least 103 people and wounding as many as 235. A day later, at least 11 soldiers were killed when fighters attacked a military academy, also in Kabul. How many conferences and peace processes have been held in Afghanistan and abroad? Why is fighting still ongoing in Afghanistan? Khalida Kazimi asked. Follow Shereena Qazi on Twitter: @ShereenaQazi Catholic cardinal leads walk for life and denounces throwaway culture, which he says has cost many Filipino lives. Demonstrators have taken to the streets of Manila to protest Philippine President Rodrigo Dutertes drug war, which has left thousands of people dead, and to express their opposition to plans to change the Constitution. Catholic groups held a predawn walk for life on Saturday against the drug killings, as well as the proposed restoration of the death penalty. In his message, Luis Antonio Tagle, the cardinal of Manila, denounced the growing throwaway culture, which he said has left many casualties including human lives. {articleGUID} We will not tire in walking for life even if the path ahead is winding and soaked in blood, Tagle said in Filipino, without directly referring to Dutertes drug war. The church-led protest took place as the country celebrated the anniversary of the 1986 popular revolt, which deposed Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos and ended his 20-year rule. Since Duterte came into office in 2016, the Catholic church has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of his deadly anti-drug policy. The death toll in the drug war already surpassed 20,000 in the first 20 months of the Duterte presidency, according to an opposition senator. The government insists the death toll is much lower at 3,967 between July 1, 2016, to November 27, 2017. In a video clip posted by online news site Rappler, Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo said Filipinos should not be indifferent, whether the number of drug war deaths is big or small. Its not about the numbers, because the policy continues, Pabillo told reporters. If we are not vigilant, its possible that the killings will escalate. So we should not ignore this. More than 80 percent of the 101 million Filipinos are Catholics. But Duterte has managed to fend off criticism from the church, calling church leaders hypocrites. Cardinal Tagle greets families of victims of extrajudicial killings in Manila on Saturday [AFP] High approval rating The president also enjoys high approval rating, with 71 percent satisfaction rate in December, according to the local polling agency Social Weather Stations. Elsewhere in Manila on Saturday afternoon, an assembly of left-wing groups, students, church workers and activists held a separate march calling for resistance against Duterte, whom they likened to the dictator, Marcos. Demonstrators raised their fists as they carried banners denouncing the dictatorship and Dutertes plan to change the Constitution. We are here to show that we are capable of fighting the dictator Duterte, a leader of the march said in a video clip posted on social media. The protesters partially blocked traffic along the route of the march. On Friday, thousands of students across the country also joined a school walkout. Harry Roque, spokesman of the president said, the anti-government protests are proof that democracy and freedom are very much alive in the Philippines. Roque said Duterte is open to constructive criticism. Meanwhile, thousands of uniformed police officers, their family members and supporters held a counter-march near the national police headquarters in Manila in support of the Dutertes drug war. Fight and defeat drugs, read one banner carried by the demonstrators. President Donald Trump ripped Russia on Monday by accusing Moscow of undermining US and international sanctions on North Korea. Addressing a gathering of state governors at the White House, Trump lauded China for its efforts to curb North Koreas economic activity but said Russia is sending in what China is taking out. The Trump administration has been leading efforts to curb Pyongyangs ballistic missile and nuclear programmes through robust United Nations and Washington-imposed sanctions regimes. Blaming predecessors In addition to Russia, Trump blamed previous presidents George HW Bush, Bill Clinton, George W Bush and Barack Obama for failing to reign in the North, saying they should have solved the problem long before I got here. The Bush administration did nothing, both, Trump said. The Obama administration wanted to do something. He told me its the single biggest problem that this country has. But they didnt do anything. And it would have been much easier in those days than it is now. The comments come three days after Washington imposed what it described as its heaviest set of sanctions on any country to date, seeking to halt what it calls North Koreas illicit oil and coal trade. Conditional talks They want to talk, and we want to talk also only under the right conditions. Otherwise, were not talking, Trump responded Monday. Theyve been talking for 25 years. The comments came after North Korea said it was willing to engage in talks with Washington, according to South Koreas presidency. South Korea has said such talks should begin as quickly as possible, but the US has continued to condition any prospective talks with Pyongyang on a halt to its nuclear and missile activities. Ahmet Keser says he would start in predominantly secular areas of Istanbul if he intended to kill civilian traitors. A Turkish conservative news anchor has caused outrage with televised comments he made while criticising claims that civilians were being killed in Turkeys ongoing offensive in northern Syria. In his morning show on national Akit TV, Ahmet Keser said he would start in the predominantly secular neighbourhoods of Istanbul and the Turkish parliament if he intended to kill what he called civilian traitors. [Claim is that] the army of Republic of Turkey is killing civilians Why would it? Why would army of Turkey be there if there were civilians there? Why would the army of Turkey go there to kill civilians? Keser said. If [we] had the intention to kill civilians, we would have started doing it from Cihangir, Nisantasi, Etiler, Right? I mean there are lots of traitors, there is the Turkish parliament. Cihangir, Nisantasi and Etiler are among Istanbuls predominantly secular neighbourhoods, where critical sentiment against Turkeys conservative government remains high. Kesers comments about the Turkish parliament were apparently targeting the parties opposing to the government. Turkeys army and officials have repeatedly denied that civilians were killed in the operation in Afrin, which was launched in January against the Kurdish fighters who Turkey sees as terrorists. Baris Yarkadas, an opposition MP, announced on Twitter that he appealed to Turkeys media authority RTUK to punish Keser over the comments. Eren Erdem, another opposition MP, also announced through a tweet that he has taken the issue to prosecutors, accussing Keser of inciting hatred. The anchors comments caused a stir on Turkish social media, with many condemning Keser for threatening parliament and secular Turks. Rock bottom is crowded these days: Akit TV Presenter: We Would Have Started from Cihangir if We Intended to Kill Civilians https://t.co/dvLpHTx0kQ Kareem Shaheen (@kshaheen) February 27, 2018 Alarming Andrew Gardner, Amnesty Internationals senior adviser on Turkey, said there has been an increase in such rhetoric in the country, which he called alarming. Everyone has a right to express their opinions, this is a fundamental right. But inciting to violence is something different and it is on the rise in Turkey. This is harmful for human rights and harmful for the society, he told Al Jazeera. He added that the government officials should act responsibly by avoiding such statements themselves and refrain from encouraging others to use rhetoric inciting violence. There are laws preventing hate speech in Turkey. However, when we look at the issue of investigations and prosecutions in the country, we see that minority, opposition or alternative opinions opinions not shared by the government are prosecuted, Gardner said. Targeting dissidents Akits television and newspaper are known to make targets out of dissidents, be them politicians, activists, media outlets and journalists. The newspaper last week used the word degenerates and of bad stock for Dutch politicians with Turkish ethnicity who reportedly voted for a bill to recognise 1915 massacre of Armenians as genocide by the hands of the Ottomans. Turkey denies the genocide claims, arguing that it was a collective tragedy in which people from both sides died. Turkey together with the Syrian opposition Free Syrian Army (FSA) rebel group last month launched an air-and-ground operation into Afrin in the northwest of Syria to vanquish the US-backed Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG) fighters near its border. Turkey considers the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) in Syria and its armed wing YPG to be terrorist groups with ties to the banned Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). The PKK has waged a decades-long armed fight against the Turkish state that has killed tens of thousands of people. Follow Umut Uras on Twitter: @Um_Uras Britain says terror, Yemen war, Iraq and Syria to be discussed as activists raise alarm over kingdoms rights record. Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabias 32-year-old crown prince, will visit the UK from March 7 on an official trip, according to Downing Street sources. A spokesperson for Theresa May, the UKs prime minister, said the meeting will tackle international challenges, such as terrorism, extremism, the conflict and humanitarian crisis in Yemen and other regional issues such as Iraq and Syria. Since the Saudi-led military intervention started in Yemen in March 2015, the Arab worlds poorest country has found itself on the brink of a devastating humanitarian crisis, with the UN warning of widespread famine and spread of disease. British arms companies are some of the biggest suppliers of weapons to Saudi Arabia, and the British government has approved billions of pounds in export licences over the past three years. Rights groups have repeatedly condemned the Saudi-led coalition over civilian casualties in Yemen, but the UK has yet to take any punitive measures against Riyadh. An official visit by Mohammed bin Salman (also known as MBS) had been anticipated for weeks, prompting groups such as Stop the War Coalition, the Campaign Against Arms Trade, and the Arab Human Rights Organisation to petition May to withdraw an invitation to the crown prince. In the kingdom, Mohammed bin Salman is credited with leading a series of social reforms, such as allowing women to drive and lifting a 35-year ban on cinemas. However, activists say Saudi Arabia still has a poor human rights record and have warned against interpreting these reforms as heralding new freedoms. Mohammed bin Salmans long overdue reforms in Saudi Arabia must not be used to mask the ongoing crackdown on the exercise of fundamental rights, Reprieve, a UK-based rights group that campaigns against the death penalty, said on Tuesday. Over the past few years, the kingdom has sentenced several protesters to death. Since his appointment as crown prince, the final death sentences of protesters, including a number who were children at the time, have been confirmed amid serious allegations of torture and an unprecedented number of executions, Reprieve said, calling on May to demand that Saudi Arabia abolish capital punishment for protest-related offences. The close relationship Theresa May trumpets has led to British police officers training Saudi agents in the kind of cyber-monitoring techniques which have been used to justify death sentences, Reprieve said. By Tuesday, more than 11,000 people had signed an online petition calling on May to cancel the crown princes visit. World Health Organization says that rain season could lead to an upsurge in cholera cases in the war-torn country. The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Yemens cholera epidemic could escalate in the next couple of months. Although the spread of the disease has been contained since its outbreak in 2016, expected rainfall in the coming months could lead to a surge in cholera cases, according to the UN agency. The real problem is were entering another phase of rainy seasons, WHOs deputy director for Emergency Preparedness and Response, Peter Salama, told reporters. Usually cholera cases increase corresponding to those rainy seasons. So we expect one surge in April, and another potential surge in August. The disease spreads through water and food that has been consumed by a contaminated person and that is then passed on and shared with other people. Preventable disease With a fatality rate of between 0.2 and 0.3 percent, the disease is widely considered to be preventable. Its manifestation is usually the result of poor sanitation and sewage infrastructure. Yemen has been mired in a proxy war pitting the internationally recognised and Saudi-backed government of Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi against Iran-linked Houthi rebels since March 2015. The conflict has led to a significant degradation of the countrys modest healthcare system. Were very concerned were going to go from a failing health system to a failed one thats going to spawn more infectious diseases and more suffering, Salama said. The number of cholera cases tipped over the one million mark in late December of last year and has killed more than 2,200 people. The UN has also voiced concern over food shortages, which it says could lead to a famine if the conflict is not brought to an end. In an exclusive interview, Hailemariam Desalegn tells Al Jazeera he is ready to speak to President Issaias Afeworki. Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopias prime minister, has said that he is willing to hold talks with neighbouring Eritrea, with whom Addis Ababa fought a border war that ended in 2000. If Desalgen follows through with Wednesdays statement, it will be the first time a leader in Addis Ababa has held talks with Issaias Afeworki, the Eritrean president, since the end of the conflict which left at least 70,000 people dead. If you ask me, Do you want to go to Asmara and sit down and negotiate with Isaias Afwerki? Then, I will say yes, Hailemariam said in an interview with Al Jazeera to be broadcast on Saturday. The two countries remain at odds over the flashpoint town of Badme, awarded to Eritrea by a UN-backed boundary commission, but still controlled by Ethiopia. The most important thing for us is to fight poverty to have regional integration. If we two do that, it will be much more productive, Hailemariam added. Eritrea won independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a 30-year struggle, that is considered among the continents longest and most bitter. Hailemariam, who took office after longtime ruler Meles Zenawi died in August, said that reaching out to Asmara was following the policy of his predecessor. My predecessor Meles Zenawi had asked for more than 50 times even to go to Asmara and negotiate with Mister Isaias Afwerki, he said. Ethiopia and Eritrea routinely accuse each other of backing armed groups to destabilise the other. In March, Ethiopia attacked an Eritrean military base after the killing of five European tourists it blamed on Asmara. DACA and the Politicization of the Courts As the immigration battle rolls on in Congress, the Supreme Court decided last week not to take up a District Court ruling that blocks President Trump from deporting those illegally in America who are covered by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program. This decision follows an appeal from the Trump administration after a second federal judge from the Eastern District of New York blocked President Trump from ending DACA protections earlier this month. Unsurprisingly, it was the Northern District of California in January that first blocked the Trump administration's efforts to end the program. The decision of the Supreme Court will leave DACA protections in place for the time being, as the District Court's decision will inevitably make its way through the Circuit Courts. Though this is a temporary setback for the Trump administration, we've seen this story unfold before. After President Trump rolled out his travel ban, it was almost immediately that groups challenged the ban in federal court. Despite clear constitutional authority for what President Trump wanted to do with a temporary moratorium on travel from certain high-risk areas, judges in the 9th Circuit Court prohibited the travel ban to be put in place as we overhauled our vetting system. It was a policy that many disagreed with on moral grounds. The judges, on what is considered a very liberal Ninth Circuit, looked for anything they could find in order to justify their ruling. This included the atypical decision to use comments from President Trump while he was on the campaign trail to bolster their position. What President Trump and Americans across America should take note of is the continued desire of certain courts to inject their personal feelings toward a policy decision that results in a decision divergent from the Constitution. The DACA program has allowed over 800,000 individuals who are illegally in America to have "discretionary relief from deportation." The program was created through a 2012 Obama administration policy from the Department of Homeland Security, not through law in Congress. While it may be up for debate whether the Obama administration had the authority to create DACA, what should not be up for debate is President Trump's authority to rescind it. Article II of the Constitution grants a president executive power. Additionally, it designates him the head of the executive branch of government. As such, the president has the authority to exercise discretion over the executive branch of government, under which the Department of Homeland Security falls. It is under this authority that the DHS was able to issue the DACA program. Because DACA was not passed through Congress, but was merely the product of executive authority, President Trump has the authority to reverse it. Traditionally, presidents have been granted broad executive authority. It is not uncommon for a president to overturn the executive order of a previous administration through an executive order of his own, which is exactly what President Trump attempted here. However, in the most recent decision blocking President Trump from ending the DACA program, Judge Nicholas Garaufis of the Eastern District of New York cited the Administrative Procedure Act (APA). The judge used this to review the Trump administration's reason for ending DACA, not whether he has the right to do so. Determining if President Trump had adequate reason for ending the program under the APA is a creative way to avoid having to rule based on President Trump's authority to end DACA. To see a judge use a roundabout way to reach his desired conclusion is not necessarily new or surprising. What is surprising is a newfound willingness to grandstand, from lower courts in particular, and to ignore clear constitutional authority because the policy at issue differs from their political ideology. Under the arbitrary and capricious standard analysis of the APA, an agency must be able to justify its policies by neutral principles. The Trump administration argued that the DACA program was unconstitutional to begin with, which the court disagreed with as a legal conclusion. Still, it seems hard to imagine that ending a program in order to better comply with federal law concerning deportable aliens would not be sufficient justification. Practically speaking, the federal courts blocking DACA serves only to take the deadline away from Congress. In today's political world, Congress doesn't get anything done unless it is up against a hard deadline. Even as President Trump continues to fill judicial vacancies through the country, we have seen an uptick in federal judges ruling based more on ideology than merit. It is a trend we should all be concerned with as Americans. Should a DACA case make its way to the Supreme Court, the Court will in all likelihood rule in favor of the Trump administration. President Trump knows that mass deportations would not be politically expedient, and it is a visual Democrats would love to run on in 2018. Regardless of the outcome, I doubt we will be seeing mass DACA deportations anytime soon. Evan Berryhill is a former communications staffer on Capitol Hill for Rep. David B. McKinley. Currently, Evan is a second-year law student at West Virginia University and works as a freelance writer. Her latest battle on behalf of Missourians is against identity theft. But the senator has a past where that issue is concerned. In a blast sent out to constituents , "Air Claire" crowed: Senator Claire McCaskill is stealing the identity of a crusader against identity theft, despite her role in the very scourge she bemoans. The embattled Democrat is once more facing a tough re-election battle (nobody likes her here), and she needs an issue that addresses the worries of her constituents, against which she can pose as a crusader. But now, scammers are using children's stolen Social Security numbers to open fraudulent credit cards before they even graduate high school. We need to stay ahead of the curve to protect Missourians' financial well-being, and we need the Social Security Administration to step up to the task. That's why I teamed up with {Republican} Senators (Bill) Cassidy and (Tim) Scott to push the Social Security Administration to crack down on this kind of fraud known as synthetic identity theft and protect Missourians by requiring financial institutions to confirm that the names and birthdates on credit card applications match Social Security numbers." Well, isn't she a peach? But what McCaskill fails to mention is her role in the very scourge she seeks to fix by forcing businesses to spend their own money to address it. First, what is driving the rise in the theft of Social Security numbers of children? Well, Ronald W. Mortensen gives us a clue: As my colleague Jessica Vaughn testified before the Senate Judiciary committee: [I]t would be appropriate to have [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals DACA] applicants disclose any misuse of Social Security numbers or other personal identifiers so that the system can be purged and corrected, and so that the true number holders can be informed. It would also be appropriate to impose an additional fine on the many DACA recipients who worked illegally before obtaining DACA status and improperly used false identity information. The fines could be used to establish a restitution fund for the victims. ... 43.9 percent of all surveyed DACA recipients had worked prior to gaining DACA status, and that percentage increases to 60.7 percent for DACA recipients over 25 years of age. However, these individuals were unable to legally obtain Social Security numbers for their pre-DACA employment, which means that they used fraudulently obtained Social Security numbers that all-too-often belong to American citizens, including American children. The use of unlawfully obtained Social Security numbers by individuals eligible for DACA status is so pervasive that the Obama administration instructed applicants not to disclose their illegally obtained numbers. That ensured that Americans who are the victims of DACA identity theft were left with destroyed credit, arrest records attached to their names, unpaid tax liabilities, and corrupted medical records while the DACA recipients walked away scot-free from multiple felonies[.] And that is just the DACA participants. In truth, it's worse: One in four illegal immigrants [sic] are working with stolen Social Security numbers and the IRS is not doing a sufficient job of informing Americans of the fraud, the Treasury Department's inspector general said in an audit released Thursday[.] ... The IRS was able to identify only half of the potentially 1.4 million people who were likely affected by such fraud in 2015, the Times reported[.] ... The immigrants then file tax forms using the ITINs, but their W-2 forms show valid Social Security numbers they have fraudulently given to employers to clear an initial work authorization check, the Times reported. The IRS estimated as many as 2.4 million illegals filing taxes every year with the Social Security numbers are not authorized to have them. That's as many as 2.4 million, based on estimates by a government that has regularly undercounted illegal aliens and makes every effort to downplay the damage they are doing. I suspect that the number is quite a bit higher. And how many of these stolen SSNs get sold on the dark web when the "immigrants" are through with them? Remember, illegal aliens may not be the only customers. Then, too, how many acts of identity theft has MS-13 perpetrated? Identity theft was one of the crimes that led the Obama administration to designate MS-13 a criminal group. If you want more proof that illegals are stealing our children's futures, just take a look at the states with the worst identity theft and credit card fraud. The survey ranks all fifty states, started with the worst to best. The worst states? Nevada, California, New Mexico, Florida, Texas, Michigan, Virginia, Illinois, Arizona, Washington, Maryland. Please note that these are all high immigrant and illegal alien states. So we know what the problem is, but does Claire McCaskill? While she supported E-Verify in the past (no doubt since it puts a burden on private businesses instead of holding the government accountable), she has been a good foot soldier for the Democrats' open border policy. She supports chain migration, sanctuary cities, funding for executive amnesty, and funding for processing centers for Central American unaccompanied minors. She voted for the DREAM Act, against a bill to prevent suing Arizona for immigration law, and against defunding sanctuary cities. According to Numbers USA: Sen. McCaskill opposed the Vitter Amendment to H.R. 627, The Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009. This amendment would have required the banks that issue credit cards to ensure that those granted credit cards are in the United States legally by obliging the banks to verify the identity of applicants using REAL ID-compliant documents. By opposing this amendment the Senator helped illegal aliens remain in the United States. The amendment failed 28-65[.] ... Sen. McCaskill voted against the Cornyn Amendment (SA 1184) to S. 1385 to establish a permanent bar for gang members, terrorists, and other criminals. The Cornyn Amendment would have permanently barred from admission into the United States, and denied immigration benefits (including legal status under the amnesty in this bill), to: (1) absconders (i.e., aliens already ordered deported); (2) aliens deemed inadmissible or deportable as security risks (e.g., terrorists); (3) aliens who fail to register as sex offenders; (4) aliens convicted of certain firearms offenses; (5) aliens convicted of domestic violence, stalking, crimes against children, or violation of protection orders; (6) alien gang members; and (7) aliens convicted of at least three DUIs. The Cornyn Amendment failed by a vote of 46 to 51. Claire has done this to the great displeasure of her Missouri constituents. So now she needs a red herring, and she will boldly work with Republicans to craft legislation forcing all businesses to do a pile of sleuthing to verify the identities of applicants for their products, and perhaps put those companies in danger of running afoul of civil rights laws by profiling. Claire doesn't care that this will cost the consumer, or that it is abusive to make a private business do the work the government just won't do. But then, why should she care? She defrauded taxpayers herself, using government money to finance flights on her airplane and then not paying taxes on it. But then, by her standards, doesn't everyone? Hat tip: Brian Birdnow Read more from Tim and friends at The Aviary: www.tbirdnow.mee.nu. Stalking an Active Shooter During the recent shooting in Parkland, Florida, four Broward County sheriff's deputies, including a school resource officer, allegedly waited to enter Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School while children were being murdered inside. If Sheriff Scott Israel's investigation confirms that those officers failed to take action, they should be fired for abrogating their most sacred duty. Police officers need to confront suspects immediately during an active shooter situation in a school or other public place. Ideally, there should be at least two officers present to clear even a single room. The search of a school is best done by a tactical team, but an active shooter is an exception to the rule. In exigent circumstances, when there is a serious risk of death or bodily injury to others, police need to respond immediately, even if that means searching with a less than optimal number of officers. The FBI has developed protocols for how law enforcement should respond to active shooters, and over 114,000 officers have already received Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training. This training is designed to give officers the basic tactical formations and other techniques needed to clear a school with a limited number of officers. When a mass shooting occurs, it is likely that the officers who respond will come from different departments and will have different levels of training, as was the case in Parkland. The training is designed to allow officers who never worked together to enter schools, locate the shooter, and eliminate the threat. All active shooter incidents are exigencies, where even a lone officer needs to take action. When the attack is in a school, as in Parkland, the need for swift action is even greater. Children are among the most defenseless and vulnerable people in our society, and the main role of government is to stop citizens from using force against each other. It may seem harsh to criticize those four officers for not risking their lives and entering the school, but it appears they failed to fulfill a duty on which the public depends. As a deputy sheriff with the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, I once received a domestic disturbance call just as our patrol zones shifted to the east, so I responded knowing that my backup would probably be several minutes away. As I approached the parking lot to the complainant's community, the dispatcher updated the call to say she heard shots being fired. I requested my backup to expedite and jogged to the townhouse. As I walked up to the front of the building, a terrified woman burst through the front door toward me. "He has a gun, and he's going to shoot my kids. Please, don't let him kill my kids," she pleaded. I radioed dispatch that an armed man was threatening to murder children, then I drew my gun and shouldered my way through the front door. I quickly cleared the bottom floor, then slowly ascended the stairs to the second floor. The house was completely dark, and I held my flashlight in one hand and a .45 semi-automatic handgun in the other. There was an open bedroom door at the end of the hall, so I moved toward it because it was the most immediate danger. My pulse accelerated as I approached the door, not knowing where the suspect was or if the children were still alive. I reached the room and saw a man lying flat on his back, blood pumping out of his chest, and a semiautomatic handgun on the floor near his right hand. I could smell the gunpowder in the room, and the man looked dead. I glanced around, but there was no sign of the children. "Sheriff's Office. Kids, are you here?" I shouted. A young boy, probably only five years old, popped up behind the bed, his eyes wide with fear. A moment later, a second child peeked over the bed at me. "Come to me," I said and stepped into the room positioning myself between the man and the children as they moved around the bed. "Run outside and find your mother," I said, and they fled the room in their pajamas. This was a crime scene, and I didn't want to disturb the evidence, but I had to secure both the handgun and the man and then finish searching the house. I bent down cautiously and grabbed the handgun. As soon as I stood up, the man who I thought was dead bolted upright and screamed. My knees felt weak from the surprise, and I took a step back, covering him with my gun. The man jumped up and ran from the room, blood spurting everywhere. I chased him down the hallway and radioed that the suspect was fleeing. I followed him down the stairs and out the front door, where the man stopped and confronted me. I stuffed his gun in my waistband, covering him with my own, and ordered him to "get on the ground," but he just babbled incoherently. A second deputy arrived and tackled him, and we quickly subdued and handcuffed him. I later learned that the gunshot was self-inflicted and that the man had had survived. This incident illustrates the need to act from a disadvantaged tactical position when children are at risk. I didn't wait for my backup or take cover behind a car. I knew that searching a dark two-story townhouse alone was dangerous, but the circumstances made this an exception, so I confronted the suspect alone. If I didn't, those children could have died. In Parkland, it is unclear how many children those four deputies could have saved if they entered the school immediately, but they may have been able to stop the attack much sooner. Even if the deputies who stayed outside the school while children died had poor training or little experience in lethal situations, they still failed to protect the lives of the innocent. Sheriff Israel needs to conduct a transparent investigation and quickly fire any officers who failed to respond properly. Not to harshly punish those officers for dereliction of duty is to undermine citizens' trust in the police. Jeffrey James Higgins is a retired DEA supervisory special agent and a former Hillsborough County sheriff's deputy, with over 25 years of total law enforcement experience. His recent writing and media appearances can be found at JeffreyJamesHiggins.com. The Left Is Going for Broke This Year. Good. Just up the street, my liberal neighbors still have their #WeBelieve yard signs out front from a year ago that declare that "Kindness is Everything." And the lesbians at the top of the hill still have their "Hate Has No Home Here" yard sign displayed. So I suppose the liberal anti-NRA hate-fest after the Parkland school shooting had nothing to do with them. Just a few yahoos at CNN going for ratings gold. Yes, liberals, we just need to give the administrative state yet more power, wave our hands, and declare guns illegal, and that will end the plague of young men aching to become "professional school shooters." Pay no attention to the fact that the administrative state is utterly useless and, as the Brits say, "not fit for purpose" and is not even that good at siccing the intelligence community on the opposition party. I thought conventional liberal wisdom was that their efforts to politicize gun control really had not delivered at the polls. I thought liberals were sadder and wiser now after failing to bury the NRA in previous massacre panics. And I thought it was conventional wisdom that you did not want to wake the gun nuts up from their slumber at election time. Yet here is Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) telling us that the panic is on, as the Tommy Dorsey song has it. The debate over guns, the "me too" movement against sexual misconduct and the federal government's handling of hurricane recovery in Puerto Rico will give Florida Democrats victories up and down the November ballot, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson predicted Thursday. No doubt he'll be right, unless the left's gun control and #MeToo rhetoric bring out the Trump voters in their millions, the kind of people who think Trump "cares about people like me." See, I think the Republican Party has the inside track right now because it is the unapologetic party of the nation. The party of the nation gets to say the U.S. is the best country in the world, that we are going to Make America Great Again, and we are all Americans here, love it or leave it, and jobs, jobs, jobs. But the Democrats really don't believe in America. They believe in America's Original Sin of slavery, followed by the Trail of Tears, lynchings, back of the bus, racism, sexism, homophobia, and their politics depends on dividing America. The liberal elite is too good for America, and the rank and file are the helpless victims of America. So my man Kevin D. Williamson is wrong when he tut-tuts that "An Enemies List Is Not a Philosophy." It doesn't work, Kevin, to suggest at a CNN town hall that we should cool the rhetoric and have a serious discussion of the issues. You need a take-no-prisoners advocate like Dana Loesch at such events and then have her raise the stakes by accusing the "legacy media" of whoring after white mothers mourning their dead children and ignoring black mothers in Chicago. You need someone to fight for "people like me." You need a party whose only concern is to Make America Great Again. It really is about time that the legacy conservative media get the Trump effect. Trump won the presidential nomination because he is a fighter, as Bush II and Romney clearly were not. Then he won the rust belt states because he persuaded the white working class that he cares about average Americans, people like them, as Bush and Romney had not. And now, a year after his inauguration, Trump's record is about as conservative as you can get, with a staggering corporate tax cut that seems to have jolted corporate America out of its overtaxed slumber and a search-and-destroy deregulation effort that makes Ronald Reagan look like a piker. Conservatism should be about ideas, not enemies lists, writes Williamson. But hey, how about both? If the left is deciding to put all its chips on guns and #MeToo and firing people who don't have the liberal-approved ideas on guns and gays and affirmative consent, I say bring it on. Yeah. Trump fights for people like me. You can call it enemies-list politics. But I reckon that when you find yourself in a knife fight, you should at least bring a knife. The lesson of my adult life is simple. The only reason the Democrats gave up on sixties leftism was that they lost four of the five presidential elections after 1968. We are New Democrats, moderates, Bill Clinton told us in 1992, and then he sicced his wife on the health care system in 1993. The only reason the Democrats will give up on the Obama lurch to the left will be a similar experience: two terms of Trump followed by you ain't seen nothing yet. Then all your liberal friends will swear they are nice, kind moderates. Until next time. Christopher Chantrill @chrischantrill runs the go-to site on U.S. government finances, usgovernmentspending.com. Also get his American Manifesto and his Road to the Middle Class. Elizabeth Warren says it's "deeply offensive" that Trump has a portrait of Andrew Jackson in the White House. Warren was the keynote speaker at a Dem fundraising dinner honoring Jackson in 2015. pic.twitter.com/VYi98sJyUR Faux outrage from Fauxcahontas. Sean Davis digs up an embarrassing bit of history that demonstrates the utter hypocrisy of one of the left's darlings, who evidently will claim anything so long as it helps her score points with an audience: It's also highly ironic given that there is some evidence to suggest one of Warren's ancestors may have helped round up Indians for the "Trail of Tears" forced march. And for Brian Kilmeade, Fox News anchor and author of "Andrew Jackson and the Miracle of New Orleans," it's highly outrageous[.] The Boston Herald adds another dimension to her hypocrisy: Warren concluded her speech with an attack on Trump: "It is deeply offensive that this president keeps a portrait of Andrew Jackson hanging in the Oval Office, honoring a man who did his best to wipe out Native people," Warren said. Her hypocritical remark came at the end : ... an unannounced appearance before the National Congress of American Indians, the oldest national organization that claims to represent the interests of Native Americans[.] Faux outrage from Fauxcahontas. Sean Davis digs up an embarrassing bit of history that demonstrates the utter hypocrisy of one of the left's darlings, who evidently will claim anything so long as it helps her score points with an audience: Elizabeth Warren says it's "deeply offensive" that Trump has a portrait of Andrew Jackson in the White House. Warren was the keynote speaker at a Dem fundraising dinner honoring Jackson in 2015. pic.twitter.com/VYi98sJyUR Sean Davis (@seanmdav) February 26, 2018 Warren's "deeply offensive" posturing took place at: ... an unannounced appearance before the National Congress of American Indians, the oldest national organization that claims to represent the interests of Native Americans[.] Her hypocritical remark came at the end: Warren concluded her speech with an attack on Trump: "It is deeply offensive that this president keeps a portrait of Andrew Jackson hanging in the Oval Office, honoring a man who did his best to wipe out Native people," Warren said. The Boston Herald adds another dimension to her hypocrisy: It rings hollow, given that she initiated her own sexual dalliances with then-president Bill Clinton, and then couldn't keep her mouth shut about them to others, and as that got around, she worsened her woes by lying about it to the prosecutors to protect Clinton, when she should have just told the truth and gotten it over with. Somehow, by Lewinsky's logic, that string of personal stupidities goes into the same category as actress Rose McGowan being spied on, threatened, and career-ruined totally against her will by the monstrously powerful Harvey Weinstein of Hollywood. Actually, she has nothing in common with #MeToo. She's arguably a reason why so many abuses went on. Monica Lewinsky is back again, in yet another new and improved incarnation (what is this, her eighth?), this time seeking relevance as part of the #MeToo movement. Before this one, she made comebacks as a champion for privacy, a champion against cyber-bullying, and a champion for impartial jurors, and probably some other stuff, as well as a comeback for selling handbags. Each comeback brought a big claim of being newer, better, and Over It...and well, she's doing it now. She's written a long piece for Vanity Fair attempting to say she was the first #MeToo recipient. Insecure as ever, she remains obsessed with presenting herself as still pretty in photos (in some of her previous comebacks, she posed glamorously for photographers, as she did in this one) apparently still traumatized by the New York Post dubbing her the Portly Pepperpot. She's also anxious to convince us she's smart, using great big William F. Buckley-sized words (epigenetic? pentimento?) in her new Vanity Fair piece, longing to live down her reputation as a ditzy strumpet first time we met her. Her argument that she's in the #MeToo club pretty much can be summed up with this: That I had made mistakes, on that we can all agree. But swimming in that sea of Aloneness was terrifying. Isolation is such a powerful tool to the subjugator. And yet I don't believe I would have felt so isolated had it all happened today. One of the most inspiring aspects of this newly energized movement is the sheer number of women who have spoken up in support of one another. And the volume in numbers has translated into volume of public voice. Historically, he who shapes the story (and it is so often a he) creates "the truth." But this collective rise in decibel level has provided a resonance for women's narratives. If the Internet was a bete noire to me in 1998, its stepchild social media has been a savior for millions of women today (notwithstanding all the cyberbullying, online harassment, doxing, and slut-shaming). Virtually anyone can share her or his #MeToo story and be instantly welcomed into a tribe. In addition, the democratizing potential of the Internet to open up support networks and penetrate what used to be closed circles of power is something that was unavailable to me back then. Power, in that case, remained in the hands of the president and his minions, the Congress, the prosecutors, and the press. Oh, really? As if the prosecutor, the president, the Congress, and the press were all on one side, the side of power, and she didn't have social media to tell her it was all OK? This sounds wretched. What Lewinsky doesn't get is that Bill Clinton is a leftist. And left-wingers of all stripes go out of their way to defend leftists in power, no matter what they do. If Clinton took advantage of a 20-something intern, it was worth smearing the intern rather than getting rid of the guy, with the risk of handing power to a Republican. The press, the Democrats, the feminists, and others were all into defending Clinton and throwing their principles out the window, declaring "it's just about sex" in their bid to undermine Special Prosecutor Ken Starr's job to get to the bottom of it. That she tried to defend Clinton in her own way, by lying to protect him, is what left her isolated. A social media group full of other leftists wouldn't have been likely to have called for Clinton to pay for his abuses of power because Lewinsky was on it. Seriously, she doesn't get this. She thinks lefties would have stuck up for her as a "victim" (which she wasn't) if it could cost them the presidency? It's just not the way leftists are wired. They will stick up for a left-wing president no matter what he does and smear anyone who gets in his way, which is exactly what they did. Monica Lewinsky, TV Mingle Media, CC0 2.0. Her first claim, in her Vanity Fair piece, that the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal changed America offers a clue as to why this is so, why sex harassment could go on so long in Hollywood, the press, and politics. She writes: Certainly, the events of that year did not constitute a war or a terrorist attack or a financial recession. They didn't constitute a natural catastrophe or a medical pandemic or what experts refer to as "Big T" traumas. But something had shifted nonetheless. And even after the Senate voted in 1999 to acquit President Clinton on two articles of impeachment, we could not escape the sense of upheaval and partisan division that lingered, settled in, and stayed. ...and this: As a society, we went through this together. And ever since, the scandal has had an epigenetic quality, as if our cultural DNA has slowly been altered to ensure its longevity. If you can believe it, there has been at least one significant reference in the press to that unfortunate spell in our history every day for the past 20 years. Every. Single. Day. What she means is something quite simple a lot simpler than a sentence that requires the use of the word "epigenetic." Bill Clinton and his impunity lowered the bar. And yes, society did change. Abuses of power did happen here and there, frequently with Democratic pols, but they also spread rapidly to the celebrity world and the media and became the norm. The idea was that leftists in power were to be protected at all cost, lest a Republican take power. With Republicans pretty well scrubbed from those worlds, the door was open to sex harassment just by default. Because it was "just about sex." What caused that? The lowered bar of Bill Clinton. Who helped lower the bar, defending him, lying for him, getting herself into legal trouble because she still was in love with him? Monica Lewinsky. Now she says she's part of the #MeToo movement newer and better than ever in her latest comeback. In summary, the Pennsylvania Department of State (DOS) refused the PILF's rights to inspect or be furnished documents related to noncitizen registered voters either reporting their own unlawful activities or discovered thanks to a joint study with the Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The latter effort has reportedly revealed 100,000 cases of noncitizens currently registered to vote in the Commonwealth. The DOS' actions constitute an apparent violation of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. A core concern for the lawsuit stems from a report by City of Philadelphia Commissioner Al Schmidt to the Pennsylvania Assembly in 2017, which detailed how a DOS/PennDOT study of noncitizen driver's license holders matched records belonging to roughly 100,000 current voters in the statewide registration database. The DOS/PennDOT study was triggered in September 2017 after Pennsylvania officials admitted to a "glitch" that offered voter registration opportunities to all PennDOT customers regardless of citizenship status since the 1990s. Prior to the study, election officials only took actions to remove ineligible noncitizens from the rolls after they self-reported their statuses. A full accounting of how many registered and voted remains unclear due to the DOS' intentionally limited transparency. "For months, Pennsylvania bureaucrats have concealed facts about noncitizens registering and votingthat ends today," PILF President and General Counsel J. Christian Adams said. "Before this lawsuit, the State admitted to a 'glitch' that exposed thousands of driver's license customers to voter registration offers despite their noncitizen status since the 1990s. The Secretary of State abruptly resigned. DOS officials blocked federal public inspection rights. The PILF hopes to finally get answers about the true scale of noncitizen voting in Pennsylvania and assist lawmakers in crafting reforms that fix it." Beginning in October 2017, the PILF began a formal dialogue with the DOS to inspect records related to noncitizen voter registrants. Requests were rejected twice, despite making them pursuant to Section 8 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA). The NVRA allows unfettered physical inspection rights to all records related to voter list maintenance. In December 2017, the PILF notified the DOS of its apparent violation of the NVRA. The lawsuit filed today seeks to compel inspection of the aforementioned records. For a detailed look at the fact pattern leading to today's lawsuit, click here. For some reason, the American media seem to be ignoring a major military challenge to China currently underway. The Australian media, closer to the scene by several thousand miles, get it: this is big news. They are able to read through the official story ("multinational disaster response exercises") and highlight the confrontational nature of the operation currently underway. ALONG the South China Sea, a giant fleet of American ships, including a nuclear powered American aircraft carrier and its jet fighters, is on the move. The $3.8 billion super ship is there for a specific reason the United States Navy says it's all part of its largest multinational disaster response exercises in the Indo-Pacific region. Yet while they are right, there seems to be another reason at play local press suggests the move is a big 'F-you' to China, which has continued to build military infrastructure in the disputed region that includes hangars, underground storage and missile shelters. This is despite a ruling from an international tribunal in The Hague that summarised China had no historic title over its waters. The ship has been sailing through the disputed waters and local media is reporting jet fighters and helicopters engaging in missions "day and night" in the area, for reasons "ship officials refused to divulge". The fleet centers on the USS Carl Vinson. The Vinson is the flagship of a strike group from the U.S. Third Fleet. The USS Carl Vinson carries 72 aircraft, some of which are surveillance planes. "When they put a carrier strike group somewhere it helps to show that the United States is interested," the ship's commanding officer, Captain Doug Verissimo, told the ABC. Adam Harvey of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (state-owned and generally leftist) is a bit less colorful: No-one on board will say it so bluntly, but the ship is sailing through the South China Sea to send a deliberate message: these waters aren't China's alone. China has built airstrips and ports on reefs and shoals throughout the sea in defiance of a ruling from an international tribunal in the Hague. "We want to keep laws and norms in place that we don't change the map along the way, to avoid frictions," Captain Verissimo said. "As you change maps it creates new frictions and new issues." He doesn't mention it by name, but the only nation trying to change the map out here is China, which has drawn a so-called "Nine Dash Line" around waters it claims as its own. It doesn't want anyone going near any of its artificial islands. My suspicion is that the American media don't want to publicize a measured show of strength by President Trump, because it makes him look strong but not reckless. The U.S. Navy is establishing a counterclaim to China's aggression, and in such a strong manner that China would be crazy to attack. Score one for Trump which is why you have to go to Australia to find out about it. Hat tip: John McMahon In the word of mobile power accessories, Anker is a company that needs little introduction and now its looking to have a similar impact on wireless charging with the introduction of two new wireless chargers. Thats according to a new announcement from the company, in conjunction with the ongoing MWC 2018 event in Barcelona. The new series of charging devices marketed under the PowerWave branding are an attempt to solve one of the problems that hold back the technology from reaching its potential. Namely, they are geared at preventing the overheating that can occur and slow down the charging process. The heating itself is, of course, the primary issue because safety is of paramount concern and an overheating battery can be dangerous. To fix the problem, the company introduced a built-in cooling system that it claims can speed up the process by as much as an hour. Both new entries into the PowerWave Series feature that cooling system, which Anker Innovations CEO Steven Yang describes as a specially designed cooling fan placed underneath the charging coils. Either can charge nearly any device that supports wireless charging thanks to an intelligent adaptable output rating of 5W, 7.5W, or 10W. The differences start with the two chargers form factor. The ANKER PowerWave 7.5W Pad, as its name suggests, is a wireless charging pad. It features a variable input rating of 12V/1.5A, 9V/2A, or 5V/3A, measures at just 110 x 110 x 18mm, and weighs in at just 180g. Anker introduced that charger with a price point of $42.99. The other device, the ANKER PowerWave 7.5W Stand, is a charging stand, allowing users a bit more versatility in how its used at a retail cost of $46.99. The stand has a smaller footprint in general at 82 x 68 x 116mm but, thanks to the additional materials used, weighs 200g. Input for the stand is set at 12V/1.5A. Its not really much of a surprise for Anker to take advantage of global mobile events to show off or announce new products and this latest is hardly revolutionary. However, it is a definite step forward in terms of wireless charging, which has consistently had issues with charging speed due to overheating that prevents a sustained high-power throughput. Anker says its new chargers will be available on Amazon as of March 15. Nokia is bringing back another iconic phone style with the official announcement of the 8110, which it unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2018. This is a device that many consumers who were around for this age of cell phones may remember. Though some may jokingly refer to the old version of this Nokia cell phone that featured this unique curved design as the banana phone, Nokias new style for this particular model coming in Yellow seems to really drive that home. The Nokia 8110 is a band new feature phone device from the Finnish manufacturer and HMD Global, the company behind Nokia. It keeps the sliding cover design that when closed hides the keypad, but still has an in-view display. Although this is a feature phone and isnt likely going to appeal to those who are used to having apps and the internet at their fingertips, the phone is 4G so itll be capable of connecting up to cellular networks with faster speeds and more reliable connections for better-quality voice calls. When it come to what the Nokia 8110 has to offer there is little to appreciate if you want something big, feature-rich, and full of smarts, as the phone will come with a more basic 2-megapixel camera, an FM radio, and a small but manageable color screen with a display size of 2.4-inches. That may not be suitable for anyone using a Galaxy S8 Plus, but for those who are used to a phone without smarts it might just be the perfect setup. Though it wont have the Play Store available as its not running on Android, it will have Facebook and some other apps that are available to download via its own app store and it will allow for internet connectivity, so it will technically be smart in some ways, and wont be entirely basic in terms of features. That said, consumers shouldnt expect to get the same rich experience from these apps as they would from the smartphone versions of them. If youre feeling nostalgic or you simply want a feature phone that has some extra features to use for times when you dont want to bring your expensive smartphone with you, Nokias 8110 might be the right device, though it may end up only being available to consumers in Europe. Advertisement It might seem like a bit of an odd move in this day and age to release phones like the Nokia 8110, as most phones these days are smartphones with larger screens, access to plenty of apps, and come with every feature under the sun from variable aperture cameras like on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus to streaming video and streaming music. Nokia look to launch this phone shouldnt be too much of a surprise though, as it announced a different feature phone at Mobile World Congress 2017 with the Nokia 3310. Taking that into consideration, the Nokia 8110 is yet another candybar phone with almost no smart features, focusing on voice calling as the main selling point of the device. Nokia plans to release this phone in May for the European market and it will come in Yellow or Black options. HMD Global took to the latest iteration of Mobile World Congress to announce a variety of new Nokia devices spanning all price segments, with its true mid-range offering being unveiled in the form of the Nokia 6 (2018). Much like its name suggests, the handset is meant to be a direct successor to the original Nokia 6 released last year, though it comes with multiple improvements over the first model, many of which are surprising given how the new product is only slightly more expensive than its predecessor and will retail at 279 ($343) in Europe. By far the biggest year-on-year improvement boasted by the Nokia 6 (2018) thats observable as soon as you start playing with the phone yourself is that everything is so much smoother. The first Nokia 6 was no slog but it was certainly on the lower end of the mid-range smartphone spectrum, being powered by the Snapdragon 430. Its successor has improved on that SoC with the Snapdragon 630, one of Qualcomms best-in-class chips to date. Apps now open faster, scrolling through the menus is more seamless, and games perform better, with none of those achievements increasing the overall energy footprint of the new product. Another thing thats contributing to the overall smoothness of the new Nokia 6 is its choice of an operating system. Even though the previous handset already ran a relatively stock version of Android with only some minor software tweaks, the Nokia 6 (2018) is launching as part of the Android One program meant to showcase all of the advantages of Googles ubiquitous mobile operating system. In other words, the product design philosophy HMD pursued while creating the Nokia 6 (2018) was that employed by Googles discontinued Nexus lineup, with the new device punching well above its weight in terms of raw performance while simultaneously delivering a vanilla Android experience. Unlike HMDs 2017 offerings, the bootloader of the Nokia 6 (2018) should be easy to unlock, opening the device to the modding community thats likely to support it for years to come. HMD itself pledged to at least two years of official software support that will be all the more easier by virtue of the fact its new offering runs Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, so its also compatible with Project Treble. Googles initiative to rework the mobile OS and separate its core framework from vendor-specific implementations will likely be more useful to original equipment manufacturers who opt for heavy skins but even a stock Android ROM should be able to benefit from it. In practice, you can expect monthly security patches for the Nokia 6 (2018) to actually be distributed on a monthly basis and HMD is unlikely to skip any of them like the vast majority of other Android OEMs do. Advertisement All things considered, the Nokia 6 (2018) is an extremely compelling offering that should be an attractive proposition to anyone looking for a solid mid-ranger this year. Its 5.5-inch FHD screen and Karl Zeiss-made lens supporting its 16-megapixel rear camera are also notable selling points, whereas the handset itself will be offered in two variants, one with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage space, and another model with double the flash memory and 4GB of RAM. The Nokia 6 (2018) will be released on a global level this spring. Ingenico has announced Google Pay Smart Tap integration for UK consumers with its payment terminals as part of a partnership between it and Google to make paying for goods and services even easier than it was before, thanks to enhanced functionality that will come along with the new integration. What this is going to mean for consumers is likely a better overall experience with the payment process during shopping as Google Pay Smart Tap allows for the use of loyalty cards, gift cards, and offers during the point of sale that have been saved to Google Pay. This will be in addition to all Ingenico terminals already supporting NFC-based wallet services, such as Google Pay, and will simply be extending that payment method by enhancing the loyalty programs, which Ingenico is hoping the use of will be increased once this rolls out for consumers. The company believes that more consumers will be convinced to opt into loyalty programs now that the Google Pay Smart Tap integration will be in place, as all of the personal information that consumers may want to keep private can be entered into Google Pay before the point of sale, and from there all consumers will have to do is tap their phones over the terminal where they would normally swipe a credit or debit card and alleviate the need to enter any information at the terminal. If consumer opt-in is increased then brand loyalty for retailers should also increase as consumers will have more of an incentive to use loyalty programs and gift cards, both of which bring consumers back to those locations through the use of special rewards for shopping more with the brand. Ingenico is only rolling this out in the UK for the time being but it is expected to roll out to other regions in the future, though it did not mention any sort of time frame for the roll out to countries outside of the UK so the expansion could still be further out. Google Pay is Googles re-branding of Android Pay which the company just recently started rolling out to users a little bit earlier this month. The image above is said to depict an upcoming smartphone from BlackBerry, which is currently being referred to as the BlackBerry Ghost. Besides the actual image, there is next to no details on the specs, pricing, or much else relating to this smartphone. Other than the visual suggestion this will be a smartphone featuring a bezel-less design, and one lacking in a physical keyboard one of the trademark (though not always present) aspects found on BlackBerry phones. While the details on this phone remain largely absent, the image did come courtesy of known tipster Evan Blass (aka @evleaks) and along with the image Blass did provide some insightful details worth noting. For example, Blass states this will be a premium Android handset suggesting it will look to cater more towards the high-end tier while also confirming Android will be the operating system in use. Although the last point seems more of a given these days with BlackBerry now fully embracing the use of Android. Blass also does state, however, this phone will be released as a licensed product (it is being designed and/or built) by Optiemus. This follows on from the announcement which came through in February, 2017, where BlackBerry confirmed it had inked a deal with Optiemus to release BlackBerry-branded phones in India. Which is another point Blass picks up on stating the Ghost will be coming soon to India. While not explicitly stated, this also likely means this particular BlackBerry device will only be available in India. Certainly, in the case of the Optiemus version. In other BlackBerry-related news, the company along with TCL, has been in attendance at MWC 2018 and speaking with various media outlets. As per those discussions, BlackBerry hopes to secure a greater degree of the premium smartphone space over the next few years. Something which presumably the Ghost smartphone detailed here will look to contribute towards. Also at MWC, the company was noted explaining its KEYone smartphone has proven to be a success for the company and this is in spite of industry trackers suggesting the actual number of units shipped in the last year are not what one might typically consider to be successful. Advertisement BlackBerry Ghost: a bezel-less, premium Android handset from licensee Optiemus; coming soon to India. pic.twitter.com/KTAvKbDl5v Evan Blass (@evleaks) February 26, 2018 As the first official day of MWC 2018 comes close to an end, prominent computer security company McAfee took the opportunity to unveil its newest Mobile Threats report and revealed several new partnerships. However, the most interesting news likely centers around McAfees newly announced partnership with Samsung since it partially centers around an effort to bolster security on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus even further. More specifically, the latest additions to Samsungs flagship family will arrive with two of the same features as the Galaxy Note 8. Namely, McAfee VirusScan will come pre-installed and they will feature Samsungs Secure Wi-Fi feature which is built on a VPN service provided by McAfee. For those who may not know, VPN refers to protective measures that direct Wi-Fi activity through a virtual network in order to allow internet access while protecting a users privacy. However, the new agreement extends even further to cover Samsungs smart TVs, PCs, and notebook computers. McAfee also announced two new partnerships with Amazon and Telefonica. For Amazon, the deal means the launch of the McAfee Secure Home Platform Skill for its Alexa platform. The platform allows for easier management of a connected homes network security and the option to enable parental controls via voice commands. On the other hand, the Telefonica partnership could have much wider implications since the telecom company actually has operations in Europe, Asia, and North America, Central America, and South America. Through the partnership, McAfees security platform will be built into all Telefonica routers for all customers so that the company can make an effort to provide the first line of defense for home networks. Meanwhile, McAfees endpoint solution will also be made available to keep Telefonica users safe outside of their home network. With regard to the new McAfee Mobile Threats Report, the security company says that the still rapidly growing IoT is increasing the overall size of targets for malicious entities. Effectively, with more devices on a given network, there are more opportunities for that network to be breached, highlighting the need for more comprehensive security measures to fend off threats. That increase is coupled with a spike in targeted attacks on mobile from governments and malicious actors alike. Meanwhile, a growing interest in cryptocurrencies has resulted in both a more widespread proliferation of shady cryptocurrency companies and virtual heists involving legitimate cryptocurrencies. Finally, McAfee noted the detection of more than 16 million malware infestations on mobile devices over Q3 2017. Threats on that front have come from nearly every portion of the world and primarily center on monetary gain. $160 billion is the price Qualcomm will be willing to strike a deal at, resulting in its acquisition by Broadcom. This is not an official figure as Qualcomm has yet to declare one, but is based on a new report out of the Financial Times which in turn credits people involved in the negotiations for the information, and is the latest development in the ongoing Qualcomm and Broadcom saga. To put this price into perspective, Broadcoms opening offer came in at a little over $120 billion. After a number of strategic moves between the two companies, Broadcom lowered its offer to roughly $117 billion, citing Qualcomms improved offer in its own acquisition of NXP Semiconductors as the reason. Qualcomm responded to this by stating the new offer was even more inadequate than the first, explaining how it does not take into account a number of aspects including the value added through the NXP purchase. In the detail, the report explains the $160 billion price (including $25 billion in assumed company debt) is based on Broadcom upping its per share offer by a minimum of 15-percent. At the share level, Broadcoms first offer came in at $82 while the second dropped down to $79. So the new negotiating price is said to represent a minimum increase to $90 per share. At present, it remains unclear whether the deal will go ahead. As while on the superficial level it would seem Qualcomm has come around to the idea of being acquired, there is the issue of whether Broadcom will be willing to raise its offer enough to satisfy Qualcomm. As the San Diego-based company has already very publicly dismissed previous offers as vastly undervaluing its business and therefore the bottom line figure Qualcomm will be willing to accept after negotiating will likely have a limit. When considering Broadcom more recently decreased its offer (instead of raising it), it too will likely have a finite limit in mind. Although, with Qualcomms annual meeting set to take place next week and shareholders set to vote on board member nominations, a lot could change depending on the outcome of the vote. In either case, If this was to go ahead at the new rate it is understood this would represent the biggest tech deal ever. Samsung is presently in the process of considering a rebranding of its Galaxy S lineup of Android flagships, the companys mobile chief Koh Dong-jin (DJ Koh) told reporters on the sidelines of Mobile World Congress 2018 on Monday. The executive reiterated Samsung is adamant to continue using the Galaxy name thats one of the most valuable product brands in the world but revealed the either the S moniker or the numbering system may be scrapped moving forward. Recent rumors suggested the Galaxy S10 series may actually be advertised as the Galaxy X and consist of three devices direct successors to the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus, as well as the companys first foldable smartphone that has already been associated with that name on numerous occasions. Samsung has a track record of rebooting some of its product lineups, which is what most recently happened with the Galaxy A8 (2018) series which bears the same name as the 2015 Galaxy A8 mid-ranger introduced in the summer of 2015. Regardless, the Seoul-based tech giant has yet to establish a precedented for doing a true flagship reboot, making the possibility of the Galaxy S9 successor having a unique name more likely. The next addition to the Galaxy Note family is expected to stick with the existing naming scheme and be launched as the Galaxy Note 9 in late summer but the device that follows it is likely to be rebranded along with the Galaxy S series. Mr. Kohs MWC 2018 appearance also saw him reference the companys foldable smartphone project and avoid questions about the planned timing of its release. According to the executive, Samsung isnt pursuing an industry-first strategy any longer and is instead now focused on delivering devices that are worth paying for regardless of whether theyre based on an unprecedented concept or not. While ZTEs Axon M released late last year is advertised as a foldable handset, neither consumers nor critics are describing it as such due to its relatively basic setup that saw the Chinese company connect two separate screens via a hinge. Mr. Koh also confirmed Samsung is still pursuing a Bixby-enabled speaker and will likely debut it in the second half of the year. Speaking at MWC 2018, Verizon has reasserted its intention to be the first to achieve a commercial 5G rollout in 2018. Thats according to Verizons executive director of device technology, Chris Schmidt, who went on to suggest that the mobile rollout would be fully compatible with 3GPP 5G NR standards. Thats good news for anybody who happened to be following news about the companys desire to use its own 5G Technical Forum (5GTF) specifications. Recent benchmarks of those have concluded that 5GTF is robust but not as fast as might be desired. However, the mobile carrier will reportedly be able to use a lot of the same network infrastructure that is already in place, with appropriate updates. As to where the network will roll out first, Schmidt points to Sacramento as a starting point and has planned between three and five fixed 5G rollouts in 2018. Other locations will be announced as plans are finalized. Unfortunately, Schmidt also pointed out that there wont be any specifics available with regard to the timing of the rollout until after chipset manufacturers begin to push out chips that support next-generation networks. Those arent expected to begin arriving until some point later in the year but the carriers plan could be put on hold if the chips dont arrive which would give the initiative for the first 5G roll out to AT&T. The latter companys own plans are quite a bit more ambitious than Verizons, with plans to launch as many as 12 markets in the same time frame. However, AT&T also plans to start with hotspot-like pucks instead of hinging on whether or not 5G-compatible smartphones hit the market. That could give an advantage to Verizon in terms of consumer awareness, even if AT&T manages to implement a commercially viable 5G network first. With that said, 5G is more than a mobile-capable network, so it wont just be smartphones taking advantage of the next-generation speeds on offer. In fact, it will likely be far more important to the emerging self-driving vehicles, smart cars, and IoT technologies industries than to the more generally considered smartphone market. Bearing that in mind, the competition between U.S. carriers to be the first with 5G may not depend on who arrives first at all. According to a Xiaomi executive recently cited by CNBC, the Chinese tech giant has yet to decide whether or not it should build its own AI chipsets. Last year, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun revealed that the company began investing in the development of AI, but while Xiaomis research on AI solutions seems to continue onward, the company has yet to push any AI-specific silicon into production. Meanwhile, Xiaomis international chief Wang Xiang revealed at MWC 2018 that the OEM will continue to use chipsets supplied by other manufacturers and strengthen its partnerships with other chipset companies. Xiaomi made its first step into the silicon business early last year when it announced the Pinecone Surge S1 SoC. This mobile processor used four ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 2.2GHz, coupled with four additional 1.4GHz Cortex-A53 cores employing the big.LITTLE architecture. Evidently, the companys solution lacks any AI-specific capabilities as the silicon was announced before the company made its first investment in the AI field. Meanwhile, companies like Huawei, Samsung, and Apple are developing their own AI hardware platforms. Apple has the new A11 Bionic chipset employed by the iPhone X, while the latest Exynos 9810 silicon powering the new Samsung Galaxy S9 flagship series features embedded AI capabilities as well. Another rival based in China who is now relying on its own AI solutions is Huawei, whose Kirin 970 SoC developed by its subsidiary HiSilicon takes advantage of an embedded neural processing unit. As Xiaomis intentions regarding the development of AI chipsets remain unclear, last Friday the company announced a new collaboration with Microsoft which will focus on the development of software-based AI solutions for smartphones, including computer vision, natural language processing and more. In January, Xiaomi also announced that the latest iteration of its in-house Android-based launcher, MIUI 10, will employ a number of AI features, though its still unclear when MIUI 10 will start being distributed. At the moment, the OEMs efforts regarding the development of AI seem to be focused on the software side of things, and only time will tell if Xiaomi will eventually create its own hardware solutions, presumably to cut costs in the long run. Albert Ginjaume is not the first, and he is unlikely to be the last. Finlands honorary consul in Barcelona was dismissed several days ago by the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs following diplomatic pressure from Spain. Ginjaume sees his dismissal as the result of a "purge" or a "witch hunt" within the diplomatic corps on ideological grounds. Latvias consul Xavier Vinyals, followed by the Philippines consul Jordi Puig, were 'purged' before Ginjaume. Speaking to ARA some months ago, Puig declared that the honorary consuls live in fear, especially those who are Catalan, since they are afraid their names feature on the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs list of diplomats who are sympathetic to Catalonias pro-independence cause. In spite of repeated attempts by ARA to contact Barcelonas consuls, virtually no one is willing to talk, not even off the record. One of the few who has agreed to speak admits that since news broke of what happened to Xavier Vinyals "Im very vigilant about what I say and where I say it". Meanwhile another diplomat declared that "the situation is really screwed up" and that they had agreed with their ambassador "not to say a word about the current political situation". What was Albert Ginjaume supposedly guilty of? As the general secretary of the consular corps in Barcelona he was also the intermediary between the consuls and government institutions, Ginjaume organised a lunch with Merce Conesa, who is both the president of the Diputacio de Barcelona [the Provincial Council of Barcelona] and the mayor of Sant Cugat del Valles. Is this such a crime? Apparently so, since Finlands ambassador in Madrid, Tiina Jortikka-Laitinen, called her consul in Barcelona the week before the infamous lunch which took place on 1 February to ask him why he was meeting with a "pro-independence mayor". Jortikka-Laitinen admitted that the Spanish Foreign Ministry had informed her of the meeting with Conesa, and the consul explained that it was one of the lunches the consular corps executive committee holds every month, and that Conesa was being invited in her role as president of the Diputacio. "At the time I thought she found the explanation satisfactory, but then I realised it was a warning, since I was dismissed a week later ". The previous consular lunch organized by Ginjaume and his team was with Josep Lluis Bonet, President of Freixenet and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce, who is well-known for his opposition to Catalan independence. The former consul of Finland admits that he is unaware of the existence of the lists which his colleague Jordi Puig mentions, "though if they exist, I must be at the very top". Another of the Catalan consuls declared that "I havent done anything which would warrant my name appearing on any list". Xavier Vinyals, the former consul of Latvia, was the first to face the chop in October 2016 for flying an Estelada [the flag associated with those who support Catalan independence] from the consulates balcony, a claim he categorically denies. Unlike Puig and Ginjaume, Latvia had no intention of sacking Vinyals, in spite of pressure from the Spanish authorities. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by Garcia Margallo, withdrew Vinyals accreditation as a consul to Spain. As a result, Vinyals warns that one neednt actually do anything to risk "facing the chop": "The Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs no longer judges specific actions (such as his or that of Jordi Puig, who posted a picture on Facebook of a demonstration on 3 October) but, rather, the views of specific individuals". Vinyals, who feels great sympathy for what his former colleagues in the diplomatic corps are going through, is also unaware of the existence of the supposed lists, "but I do know that the ministry wants to replace all the consuls who dont think the way they want them to think". Albert Ginjaume states that his conscience is clear. As a result, he has requested a one-to-one meeting with Enric Millo, the representative of the Spanish government in Catalonia, who has informed him that he will meet him when he is able. This Monday, however, the Speaker of the Catalan Parliament, Roger Torrent, held an official meeting with Ginjaume, during which the former diplomat was able to give his version of events. According to Ginjaume "If the Catalan independence process has been unsuccessful, it is due to a lack of foreign support. Spain realises this and remains watchful. Theyre afraid of a consul making any moves that could politically influence another. If they do, they give them the chop". One of the consuls who spoke to ARA admitted, however, that they and some of their colleagues have been doing whatever they can in support of the independence process and that they had been in contact with Catalan government advisers until they were dismissed following the imposition of direct rule by Madrid. It appears unlikely that the "purge" will end with Vinyals, Puig and Ginjaume, and in the coming months we are sure to see more changes within the ranks of honorary consuls. ARA's Editor-in-chiefBarcelona has never been a city of courtiers or subjects of the House of Bourbon. Few Catalans are present in the court in Madrid, which revolves around ministries, barracks and royal receptions. Nether have they achieved many successes. Ultimately, they end up being seen as dubious entrepreneurs due to the fact that they are Catalan: suspected of being insufficiently loyal to the Crown or ridiculed for their subordinate status. A large part of Catalonia, which at one time was supportive of the present kings father, ceased to have respect for the successor to the Bourbon crown on 3 October. King Felipe entered the Palau de la Musica on Sunday night between jeers, cassolades [a form of popular protest involving banging pots and pans] and the Himne de Riego, Spains former republican anthem written as a protest against the absolutist rule of King Ferdinand VII. The situation was somewhat incongruous. The opening ceremony of the largest gathering of the tech industry in the world with speeches in support of collaboration between governments, in favour of flexibility and the capacity of businesses to adapt, entrepreneurship and the freedom to face the future. 21st century words mixed with 19th century political primitivism. Outside, calls for freedom for political prisoners and the return of Catalonias institutions, the rejection of a military monarchy and police charges by the Catalan police force on the orders of Spains Ministry of the Interior. King Felipe could have been the king of a confederal Spain. Instead he will rule over the shrinking of Spanish democracy and the humiliation of the Catalan political majority. Both a personal and a political failure. But there is no need to worry: none of those around him will say a word. Everythings in order, Your Majesty. Dougs Picks Were Back: Pianist Denny Zeitlins New Trio Album for Sunnyside As Rifftides readers have undoubtedly noticed, it has been a long time since we posted. We are creating a new post in hopes that it will open the way to resumption of frequent reports as part of the artsjournal.com mission to keep you up to date on jazz and other matters. Pianist Denny Zeitlins stunning new trio album [] Recent Listening: The New David Friesen Trio CD David Friesen Circle 3 Trio: Interaction (Origin) Among the dozens of recent releases that deserve serious attention, a few will get it. Among those those receiving it here is bassist David Friesens new album. From the Portland, Oregon, sinecure in which he thrives when hes not touring the world, bassist Friesen has been performing at [] Monday Recommendation: Dominic Miller Dominic Miller Absinthe (ECM) Guitarist and composer Miller delivers power and subtlety in equal measure. Abetted by producer Manfred Eichers canny guidance and ECMs flawless sound and studio presence, Miller draws on inspiration from painters of Frances impressionist period. His liner essay emphasizes the importance to his musical conception of works by Cezanne, Renoir, Lautrec, [] Recent Listening: Dave Young And Friends Dave Young, Lotus Blossom (Modica Music) Young, the bassist praised by Oscar Peterson for his harmonic simpatico and unerring sense of time when he was a member of Petersons trio, leads seven gifted fellow Canadians. His beautifully recorded bass is the underpinning of a relaxed session in which his swing is a force even during [] Recent Listening: Jazz Is Of The World Paolo Fresu, Richard Galliano, Jan Lundgren, Mare Nostrum III (ACT) This third outing by Mare Nostrum continues the international trios close collaboration in a series of albums that has enjoyed considerable success. With three exceptions, the compositions in this installment are by the members of Mare Nostrum. It opens with one the French accordionist Galliano [] Monday Recommendation: Thelonious Monks Works In Full Kimbrough, Robinson, Reid, Drummond: Monks Dreams(Sunnyside) The subtitle of this invaluable 6-CD set is The Complete Compositions Of Thelonious Sphere Monk. By complete, Sunnyside means that the box contains six CDs with 70 tunes that Monk wrote beginning in the early years when his music was generally assumed to be an eccentric offshoot of bebop, [] More Doug's Picks Well, since the McLaren only returned to the road car business in 2011, the tuning market for these British missiles is still young. And the most extreme modded Maccas we've met so far come from America.We're talking about the creations of Charlotte-based specialist Hypercar Development. We've been keeping an eye on the company since 2016, when we noticed a proposal that demonstrated it would stay true to its name - we're referring to a 1,200 hp package for McLaren's twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8.Well, the tuner has recently headed over to an airfield, with one clear purpose in mind, namely hooning. As such, no less than three McLarens were thrown at each other.A standard 12C , with its 625 hp, was brought along as a benchmark machine, with this being accompanied by two Hypercar Development-massaged beasts. The first is a 650S that was pushed to 800 hp, while the second, a 12C, came in 1,000 hp form.The mid-engined trio engaged in a half-mile drag race and you can check out the result in the piece of footage at the bottom of the page.Alas, the camera work of the developer seems to sit way below its engineering efforts, so the clip has quite a few shortcomings.Speaking of the tuner's core business, we have to mention that the 1,200 hp pack we mentioned above is no longer the company's halo development. That title has been grabbed by a package that promises to double the factory output of McLaren's V8, be it the said 3.8L or the refreshed 4.0-liter motor animating the 720S and the Senna. That's right, we're talking about 1,500 horses here. SUV kWh kW First things first, the Kona Electric is the first electricin the subcompact segment on the European market, with its dimensions close to those of the internal combustion-engined Kona. In Portugal, however, the newcomer will be known as the Kauai Electric because Kona is a slang term for a womans you-know-what.The styling is just as expressive as that of the Kona that relies on suck-squeeze-bang-blow, though there are notable differences to be spotted, especially at the front. The charging port is located on the right-hand side of the front grille. Battery options? 39.2from the get-go, 64 kWh if youre prepared to pay more, both batteries being of the lithium-ion type.Driving range is another strong point for the Kona Electric , with Hyundai quoting nearly 470 kilometers (292 miles) and 7.6 seconds from zero to 100 km/h thanks to 395 Nm (291 pound-feet) of instant torque. Output of the electric motor, meanwhile, is rated at a not-so-impressive 135 PS (99), but who needs more in a vehicle such as this?The expressive looks of the Kona Electric are mirrored by the interior, which features a dedicated center console and a shift-by-wire module. The driver can control the intensity of the regenerative braking system on the go thanks to the paddle shifters located behind the steering wheel.Also on the technological front, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are offered, alongside wireless charging for Qi-enabled phones, Forward Collision Avoidance Assist with Pedestrian Detection, Intelligent Speed Limit Warning, and many more.Customization options? Of course, the Kona Electric has some of those as well. In addition to the two-tone roof, customers can take opt for no less than seven exterior colors: white, gray, dark gray, orange, blue-ish (pictured), red, and Acid Yellow. AMG And here we are, bringing you the freshest spyshots of the 2019 C63 Sedan, with a test car having shown up in Spanish traffic.The velocity-friendly dour-door, which is still wearing a respectable amount of camouflage, was spotted in Tarragona (pixel tip to Autogespot for the images). And, as you can expect, the super-sedan failed to blend in.As is the case with the non-version of the C-Class, the 2019MY revamp doesn't bring any revolution. Nevertheless, the facelift will deliver small updates on multiple fronts, which should have an important effect.The current C63 is offered in standard 476 hp form, while the S version comes with 510 ponies. Well, the facelift is expected to deliver a power bump for both incarnations of the machine's twin-turbo 4.0-liter V8.More importantly, the 2019 models will make use of the nine-speed multi-clutch transmission, which is based on the 9G-Tronic. And this will up the ante on both the velocity and the coziness fronts.The E-Class borrowed safety features and the S-Class-shared cabin changes, which we've already met on the 2019 C-Class will obviously also make their way into the Affalterbach models.We'll remind you that the Mercedes-AMG C63 badge can be found on a family of models and here are some spyshots of the Coupe and Wagon incarnations. And no, the Cabriolet form of the revamped C63 hasn't been spied yet, with this set to show up later in the model's life cycle. SUV ICE CRDi This is where this fellow comes on the scene, whatever its name may be. The indirect successor of the Veracruz, which some people expect to be called Maxcruz, rides on its own platform according to Won-Hee Lee, chief executive officer of the Hyundai Motor Company. The head honcho also let it slip that the sister model to the Kia Telluride will hit the market in mid-2019 with seating for eight, likely going on sale for the 2020 model year.Spied by the carparazzi for the first time, the full-sizedoesnt feature the drivers side mirror for one reason or the other. What it does feature, however, is a melange of Santa Fe, Nexo, and Kona styling, with the centerpiece coming in the form of a split-headlight design. Daytime running lights and indicators sit up top, with the main lamps located below.Moving on to the side profile of the Whats-Its-Name, its more than obvious that this thing is large even in comparison to the mid-size Santa Fe . Zooming in on the wheels reveals Nokian winter tires measuring 245/60R18, which in regard to the size of the wheel arches, appear to be on the small side of wheels. On the other hand, 18 inchers could be the standard wheel size.Regarding the rear of the yet-to-be-named Hyundai large SUV, the taillights dont appear to be ready for production, but the tailgate opening is reassuringly large and squared. The dual-exhaust system exiting from under the right-hand side of the bumper is an indicator were dealing withA close-up of the lower grille reveals what appears to be an intercooler, which might mean that youll find a turbocharged diesel under the hood. In all likelihood, it is the 2.2-literthat develops an estimated 200 horsepower and 320 pound-feet of torque in the Santa Fe . The oil-chugging engine is further expected to be connected as standard to an eight-speed auto.With lots of potential in SUV-driven markets such as the United States of America, the Whats-Its-Name is certain to offer a V6 option as well. With a bit of luck, some sort of electrification could also make the cut. The best bet is mild hybridization in the form of a 48-volt integrated starter generator.The fact that Hyundai is benchmarking this fellow against the award-winning Volvo XC90 is saying something about what's in the offing. This year marks the 70th anniversary of Jack Brabhams, companys founder, Australian competition debut. Its a perfect time, says the companys leader and founders son, David Brabham, to revive one of the most evocative names in motor racing history.It is unclear what exactly the new Brabham Project is. Traditionally, Brabham and Formula 1 racing are linked, as the man who founded the company became the competitions champion three times during his racing career.Aussie John Arthur Brabham established the Brabham marque in 1962, and became, in 1966, the first and only driver to have won Formula One while behind the wheel of his race car. When he died, in 2014, he was the last surviving World Champion of the 1950s.Since the creation of the company, Brabham built nearly 90 race car models and variants, which have competed in various competitions, starting with the Formula Junior and ending with the Formula One. The last car, the BT60, was introduced in the 1991-1992 season, powered by a Yamaha OX99 V12 engine and driven by Martin Brundle.My father had an incredible determination to succeed and, like him, I have worked tirelessly to bring the iconic Brabham name back to the global stage, said David Brabham.This new chapter of the Brabham story will continue in the same spirit, but with renewed direction, focus and vigor. This announcement makes me feel incredibly proud as we enter a new era for the legendary Brabham name.Until Tuesdays announcement, there was rumor and hope that the newest race car on the lot will be presented at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show. Sadly, thats not the case. But if on their own the Chinese are masters of imitation, they seem to do much better when they only provide the financial part and leave creativity to the masters in automotive design work. Really, take some time - as long as you need - to glance over every detail of this gorgeous sedan.Sure, it's a concept car and it will never be anything more than that - not in this form, at least - but the same can be said about dozens of others, and they don't look nearly as sexy as this. The vehicle is called Sybilla and it will be on display at the Geneva Show, so while it's not exactly production-ready material, it is at least more than just a collection of beautifully arranged pixels.If the first thing that comes to your mind when seeing the Sybilla is "what happens if you roll over," then you need to have yourself checked. That thought shouldn't take more than a lonely backseat in a dark corner of your brain, with the rest of it still trying to figure out how come it took so long for somebody to come up with it.Despite having partial rear gullwing doors, they're not the highlight of the Sybilla. That would be the front canopy that slides forward to allow access to the two front seats. Like any self-respecting concept these days, this one has an electric powertrain as well as autonomous driving capabilities.The interior hasn't been presented in detail but it seems to feature a panoramic display wrapping the entire width of the dashboard, with smaller ones embedded in the back of the headrests as well as the divider between the two rear seats.The Sybilla will be presented at the Geneva Motor Show right next to another one of Giugiaro's creations and one of the few other models to share its solution for the front seat access: the Chevrolet Corvair Testudo, a car Georgetto designed when he was only 24. SUV For college and university students, the simplest way to enter this industry is via the apprenticeship programs various manufacturers have in place. Rolls Royce is such a company, and it announced on Monday that for 2018 it would offer a record 24 positions to young talented people.The program will take place, for a period of up to four years, at the companys Goodwood, West Sussex headquarters. It includes recognized college and university courses and on-the-job training at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.To enter the program, apprentices must sign up for the selection process which will take place in August. Rolls-Royce looks for young talents in the fields of leather, wood, paint, engineering, and assembly.Since the creation of the program in 2006, Rolls-Royce says it has seen 140 people entering for a chance to start a new career. The carmaker did not say how many of them have gotten a job as a result, saying only many have done so.We are committed to developing future talent here at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, and I am especially pleased that we will welcome a record number of new apprentices to the business in 2018, said Torsten Muller-Otvos, CEO of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars.This is a particularly exciting year to be joining Rolls-Royce, as we launch our new high-bodied vehicle, Cullinan.The Cullinan is going to be the company's firstand will ride on the same platform as the new Phantom . The name chosen for the SUV is inspired by the largest diamond ever discovered, a 3,106.75 carats monster of a rock that showed up in a South African mine owned by Thomas Cullinan, in 1905. kWh kW Well, while the information is principally correct, the Bavarians are actually developing two separate architectures that will underpin all future BMW and MINI models (and probably Rolls-Royce as well), regardless of what it is that sets their wheels in motion.That could be a gasoline engine, a hybrid system, a plug-in hybrid system, one or more electric motors, and even the boogie man of the hour, a diesel engine. It may not be trendy right now to talk about oil burners, but car companies have to have the facts and realize there's still going to be a demand for them on certain markets for a lot of years to come.It's precisely this heterogeneity that pushed BMW toward this plan. From a financial standpoint, it's obviously the best solution (simpler, more cost-effective manufacturing), but it does present a risk: initial development takes more time, which means the carmaker might be a little late to the table with its competitive EVs.But the plan is in motion, and BMW invited some of the press to Munich to talk about its plans. To demonstrate the idea, it showed its guests three different miniature powertrains (gasoline, hybrid, and electric), and just the one sedan body that fit perfectly over each one. That's BMW's plan in a nutshell.The trend towards e-mobility is irreversible, BMW sales chief Ian Robertson said, quoted by whichcar . The press event also revealed the company's intentions regarding the electric motors as well as battery packs that will be powering its future models.It turns out the smallest capacity battery pack is 60, the top one has 120 kWh (larger than anything on the market right now) and there's also one dead in the middle at 90 kWh. The modular design of the vehicles makes it so that, as long as physical room isn't a problem, any combination is possible. According to BMW engineers, the ranges of its vehicles should vary between 450 (280) and 700 km (434 miles).The same flexibility allows for three electric motors to be mounted - two on the rear axle for easy torque vectoring, and one on the front one for all-wheel-drive. With power outputs ranging from 100 to 300and beyond, it's not all that difficult to imagine a Tesla -beater (but also M5-killer) wearing the BMW badge in the upcoming years. kWh The Utrecht-based company opened the order books for the electric 911 in 2017, and in 2018, only five examples will be produced and delivered. All of them are spoken for, with production confirmed to increase to 12 models in 2019. In 2020, Voitures Extravert expects to manufacture three such works of wonder per month.Two versions of the quintessenza are available to order. The SE replicates the looks of the original 911 offered until the mid-'70s, while the TE is inspired by the Carrera 3.2. Both models are bite-the-back-of-your-hand beautiful, and both feature the running gear from the Carrera 3.2, plus regenerative braking.With a perfect 50/50 weight balance, ventilated disc brakes, and adjustable dampers on all four corners, theres nothing old-school about the drivability of the quintessenza SE and TE. A pair of electric motors that take their mojo from a 60-lithium-ion battery enables a driving range of 400 kilometers (249 miles), zero to 100 km/h (62 mph) in under 6 seconds, and a top speed of 200 km/h (124 mph).The body shell, meanwhile, originates from salvaged bodies of otherwise unusable 911s . Voitures Extravert estimates that there are 150,000 such vehicles in the world, and each of them has something thats worth restoring for the sake of this project.Air conditioning is standard, as is a five-year/100,000-kilometer (62,000 miles) warranty. The asking price? Including the donor car, the quintessenza starts at 300,000 without even looking at the options list, translating to $367,500 at current exchange rates. The conversion from euros to U.S. dollars isnt mentioned by accident, with Voitures Extravert planning to kick off North American deliveries in 2019. And we've brought you a fresh sighting of the Rennsport Neunelfer, with this having been spotted in its home city. To be more precise, we're looking at a Voodoo Blue machine that has been spotted at Porsche Zentrum Stuttgart.This example of the track-savvy Porscha has skipped the Weissach Package, as you can notice thanks to the wheels - the W cars come with the magnesium wheels, which are missing here.Speaking of the Weissach Package, we'll remind you that this option can also be had on the 2019 Porsche 911 GT3 RS. Nevertheless, the pack doesn't have the same scale impact as in the case of the GT2 RS , with this serving more of an emotional purpose.Don't get us wrong - the Gen 2 GT3 RS is an uber-impressive machine and we can't wait to find out its Green Hell number. The German automotive producer enjoys making us wait between the official introduction of a beast and its Nordschleife lap time. And Porsche also has an excuse with the 2019 GT3 RS, since the Nurburgring opens its gates for the 2018 season next month.However, our expectations for the newcomer are sky-high. And it's enough to look at the 991.2-generation GT3 to understand why. The 500 hp machine, which still retains plenty of road assets, is able to blitz the infamous German track in 7:12.7.As always, the Rennsport treatment makes quite a difference, which is why we're expecting the 520 hp GT3 RS to be a member of the sub-7m club.This would allow the naturally aspirated Neunelfer to sit extremely close to the all-mighty 918 Spyder , with the hybrid hypercar having lapped the Ring in 6:57. Airlines are urging Boeing to move forward with the so-called 797, an aircraft they say passengers will love. Officially designated the new mid-market airplane by Boeing, the 797 would offer a big step forward in comfort, according to a report in PerthNow, with a 2-3-2 configuration in economy, 1-2-2 in premium economy and 1-1-1 in business class, plus extra-large storage bins. Delta, United and Qantas all are eager to fly the 797, according to the report. With a range of about 5,200 NM, the jet would fill a gap between the popular 737 and the long-range 787, providing an opportunity for airlines to establish new routes. Boeing said there are 30,000 city pairs that are not connected and could potentially be served economically with the 797. If Boeing moves ahead with the program, deliveries could start by 2026. Meanwhile, Boeing is making progress on a plan to create a new joint company with Embraer, according to a report in Mondays Globe and Mail. Boeing is trying to work around the demands and concerns of the Brazilian government, which holds a stake in Embraer that gives it veto power over strategic decisions, according to the report. Boeing and Embraer had no comment, but last week, Brazilian Defense Minister Raul Jungmann told reporters that negotiations on the creation of a third company were advancing well. The proposed plan would boost Boeings position relative to Airbus in the global jet market, analysts say. The $100 billion that has been proposed in the federal budget to fund the privatization of air traffic control should be spent on modernization and technology upgrades instead, nearly 250 advocacy groups said in a letter to Congress (PDF) released on Tuesday. The groups represent not only aviation advocates but also labor unions, consumer groups and management associations. We must move away from this divisive [privatization] debate so we can ensure that we maintain the largest, safest and most complex system in the world, said AOPA President Mark Baker, in a news release about the effort. AOPA stands with hundreds of other aviation organizations and groups across the political spectrum in opposition to effectively giving away control of our skies to the airlines. In a news release Tuesday about the letter, NBAA President Ed Bolen said: This growing and well-informed chorus of individuals and organizations remains united against any plan to give control of the nations aviation system to a private board beyond the reach of Congress. We will continue to support effective, bipartisan solutions to the challenges of modernization, so America can continue to be the worlds aviation leader five, 10 and 25 years from now. The letter was sent to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Speaker Paul Ryan and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. While the list of groups that signed on is lengthy, two key aviation groups, the Air Line Pilots Association and NATCA, did not join the effort. A Czech court has freed Saleh Muslim, the former leader of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD), while he awaits hearings over his possible extradition to Turkey. Muslim was detained in Prague on Saturday after Turkey, which considers him a terrorist, issued an Interpol arrest warrant. Why it matters: Turkeys relations with its NATO allies and the E.U. have deteriorated under the increasingly authoritarian Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and this case could exacerbate that tension. The latest Turkey has accused Muslim of aggravated murder and disrupting the state charges which he denied on Tuesday. Muslim pledged to the Czech court that he would remain in the EU pending further proceedings. He told reporters that he had not decided where he would go next, but added he had permission for residency in EU member Finland. There is speculation in the Czech press that Muslim could be exchanged for two Czech citizens, Marketa Vselichova and Miroslav Farkas, who were detained in Turkey over alleged cooperation with another Kurdish group, the YPG. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Tuesday that Turkey would follow Muslim wherever he goes after his release. Worth noting: One source of tensions between the U.S. and Turkey is the refusal of Washington to extradite Fethullah Gulen, a cleric living in Pennsylvania whom Erdogan has blamed for a 2016 coup attempt. President Trumps recent comments on energy and climate change have been, well, imprecise. Heres a handy glossary to make sure everyones got their semantics straight. Why it matters: Because words matter! Especially sloppy ones in an amped-up media landscape where many dont look past headlines. Its important to get this stuff right when extreme voices are louder than ever and the president openly doubts mainstream science. Global warming and climate change It used to be global warming, Trump said in a recent interview with Piers Morgan. That wasnt working too well, because it was getting too cold all over the place. To be clear, he got his facts wrong, but lets unpack what he meant by his words. The Washington Post has a nice explanation of the evolution from global warming to climate change to what we have today: a mix of the two. Trump is right that the terms have evolved, but not because of the reasons he cited. GOP polling in 2002 In 2005, the National Academies of Science issued a memo The terms cut both ways, climate scientists say. The argument that global warming is a bad term because sometimes the weather isnt warm, thats fine, said Anthony Leiserowitz, a climate scientist and communicator at Yale University. But its also true that when you use the term climate change, the deniers can come back and say the climate has always changed. Trump did that in a tweet during a December cold snap. My preference is to use climate change and always make clear that human activity is driving it. Believing in climate change Climate change isnt a religion, or anything else people choose to believe or not believe. Its a science backed up by data and evidence. A better word: acknowledge. Climate denier and climate skeptic These two terms are used, largely by climate activists but some news outlets too, to describe people who question or reject mainstream climate science. People labeled deniers claim theyre being wrongly lumped in with people who deny the Holocaust happened. Climate change is not in the same category as the Holocaust, and bringing that into this debate is unhelpful to say the least. A better way: avoid personifying labels. It takes a few more words, but its more accurate and less polarizing. Here's what I say about President Trump and EPA administrator Scott Pruitt: They dont publicly acknowledge the mainstream scientific consensus that human activity is driving the Earths aggregate temperature up. Alternative energy vs. conventional energy Alternative energy is a term generally known to represent any energy thats not fossil fuels: oil, natural gas or coal. Conventional energy is considered fossil fuels. Those two words alternative and conventional reinforce stereotypes by implying one is always the alternative to the conventional. A better way: Say renewable instead of alternative (or specify precisely what type of energy), and say fossil fuels instead of conventional. Clean energy, green energy Is it just renewables, like wind, solar and hydropower? Is it energy that doesnt emit carbon emissions? Is it everything but coal, like this Washington lobbying coalition described it? The term is ambiguous and politically expedient. A better way: Specify the energy type. Coal vs. clean coal We have ended the war on beautiful clean coal, Trump said at his State of the Union last week. Thats not true from a factual standpoint, but his words are also misleading. Coal, historically the worlds dominant and cheapest source of electricity, is a fossil fuel that emits the most traditional air pollutants, like nitrogen oxide, and carbon emissions. Clean coal is a term some use as shorthand to describe technology that allows facilities to capture and store carbon at facilities like a coal plant instead of emitting it into the air. But Trump never talks about that technology. Instead, he appears to use clean coal to describe plain coal, which is wrong and disingenuous. Fracking, hydraulic fracturing, horizontal drilling Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, is a controversial technique thats often paired with horizontal drilling, to extract vast reserves of oil and natural gas from deep rock formations in places like North Dakota and Pennsylvania. The media, myself included sometimes, environmentalists and others have used the word fracking to encompass the entire extraction process. It is the catchiest word, but fracking is just one part. Windmills vs. wind turbines The former is often a term critics of wind energy, including Trump, use to paint an inaccurate image in peoples minds. Wind turbines that generate electricity are huge and dont look anything like an image that possibly popped into your mind: windmills in the Netherlands. To be clear, my assessment here contradicts the dictionary, which does say windmills can generate power. We shouldnt look to Merriam-Webster for the most accurate energy lingo. What did I miss? This isnt comprehensive. I started with these terms because of their timeliness. Email me at amy@axios.com for more ideas for another installment someday sooner or later. There have been increased calls on regulators to look into the dominance of Facebook and Google. Most notably, CNN boss Jeff Zucker said yesterday that it's "where the government should be looking." George Soros made the same plea two weeks ago. Why it matters: While calls to regulate these companies in the U.S. seem newer, in Europe, competition regulators have been fiercely monitoring the regulation of American tech giants for years. At the heart of those probes is EU competition secretary Margrethe Vestager. Speaking to CNBC this morning, Vestager said the EU is currently eyeing three Google antitrust cases: Android: The use of the Android to stay dominant. Play Store: As a phone producer you cannot have the Play Store without taking a number of the other Google products. AdSense: What rules have Google set out in order to place ads. "What the three cases have in common is that here you have the dominant company when it comes to search and we find that this dominant position has been misused to do things that a competitor would never be able to do." Margrethe Vestager Go deeper: Why regulating Google and Facebook like utilities is a long shot A company planning to export liquefied natural gas from the Gulf Coast will warn lawmakers this morning that surging U.S. gas production could become "stranded" absent bigger investment in pipeline and LNG infrastructure. On the record: In testimony prepared for a House Natural Resources Committee hearing today on the geopolitics of LNG, Tellurian president Meg Gentle says the government plays a key role in both laying the infrastructure groundwork for exports and offering a supportive and efficient regulatory environment. "The U.S. clearly enjoys many advantages, but our valuable supply stands at risk of being left behind if we dont build infrastructure now." Tellurian president Meg Gentle By the numbers: Gentle says her company plans to invest $29 billion in infrastructure. But, she says more is needed an estimated $170 billion is required in initial investments industry-wide. Why you'll hear about this again: The U.S. is poised to become a key player in global LNG markets. Exports from the Gulf Coast that began in 2016 with Cheniere Energy helped the U.S. recently become a net gas exporter. Pipeline exports are currently much larger. But the Energy Information Administration's long-term forecast shows LNG increasingly dominating the nation's gas trade. Shell's global warning: In a report yesterday, Shell points out that final investment commitments in LNG projects worldwide have stalled since 2015. And, this creates the risk of a supply-demand gap opening in the mid-2020s. The problem, Shell says, is a "mismatch" customers want shorter and smaller contracts, but that does not bring the kind of certainty that supports investment commitments for massive new supply projects. Go deeper: CNBC breaks down Shell's analysis here. Energy Secretary Rick Perry is scheduled to hold talks with Saudi officials on Friday in London about a potential deal to build nuclear power reactors in the kingdom, Bloomberg reports, citing knowledgeable sources. The backdrop: Westinghouse has been negotiating with other U.S.-based companies on a bid worth about $12 billion. Per Bloomberg, Friday's meeting is an important step towards reaching a deal, and Perry has canceled a trip to India to attend it. Saudi Arabia reportedly plans to build 16 nuclear power reactors over the next 20 to 25 years, costing more than $80 billion. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Monday that in order to diplomatically resolve the crisis over North Korea's nuclear weapons program, all sides must be ready to make concessions. Moon said the U.S. must lower its threshold for talks and North Korea must demonstrate a willingness to denuclearize, reports Reuters. Why it matters: The Trump administration has said it is open to talks with North Korea, but only to explain that the U.S. will continue to apply maximum pressure on the country until it begins the process of denuclearization, per the AP. The U.S. says it will not enter formal negotiations until disarmament is officially on the table. Starbucks executive chairman Howard Schultz this morning batted down speculation that he plans to run for president, in an interview on Fox Business Network. No I'm not. Howard Schultz, after being asked if he'll run in 2020. Here's a transcript: FBN's Maria Bartiromo: Are you going to run for president in 2020, Howard? Schultz: No Im not here we are sitting at Starbucks because of my day job as executive chairman on the heels of opening the most successful Starbucks store in our history in China, now were opening reserve stores. Im trying to do everything I can to benefit our shareholders as executive chairman and I think as a private citizen, Im very concerned to doing everything I can to elevate the national conversation to things that are not based on ideology but really trying to walk in the shoes of the American people and doing everything I possibly can to try and get some real, sensible levels of conversation that represent both sides. Bartiromo: You are always seeing your position as a responsibility to bring people together. I know that, so just to clarify, you said you are not going to run for president? Schultz: I said I am doing everything I possibly can as a private citizen to advance the cause of the country. Bartiromo: It sounds like you are running for president, Howard. Schultz: No I didnt say that. Come on, Maria. Schultz also criticized the recent tax changes, saying it was a "corporate tax cut" instead of "comprehensive tax reform... [that] could have done a lot more to help so many Americans who are being left behind. The Trump administration on Tuesday said it would cut or suspend "several Treasury, USAID, and American military assistance programs" in Cambodia, citing "deep concern" over "recent setbacks to democracy. " The U.S. will continue "health, agriculture, mine clearance, civil society promotion and other programs." The details: The White House said the U.S. has allocated more than $1 billion to help Cambodia economically, socially and politically for the past 25-years. Press Secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters that a recent election "fails to represent the genuine will of the people. Last year, the country's highest court dissolved the main opposition party at the request of the ruling government which claimed victory Sunday removing the most significant challenge to authoritarian leader Hun Sen, per the New York Times. President Serzh Sarkisian hailed on Tuesday robust economic growth recorded in Armenia last year, while acknowledging that it did not have a serious impact on living standards. Sarkisian said the Armenian economy expanded by at least 7.4 percent in 2017 as het met with Prime Minister Karen Karapetian and other senior officials to discuss the socioeconomic situation in the country. This is certainly a good indicator, he said. But we must also bear in mind that one year of strong economic growth cannot have an impact on broad sections of our society. The rapid growth, the president went on, should continue unabated for two or three more years before its positive effects can be felt by most Armenians. He noted in that regard that the Armenian government achieved good economic indicators in January as well. The Finance Ministry made a more modest growth projection last month: 6.7 percent. It had originally forecast a 3.2 percent growth rate. It revised that target upwards to 4.3 percent in September. Armenias National Statistical Service (NSS) has yet to report an official growth figure for 2017. So far it has released only detailed separate data on the performance of different sectors of the economy. In particular, Armenian industrial output rose by over 12 percent, according to the NSS. In its five-year policy program approved by the parliament last June, Karapetians cabinet pledged to ensure that the domestic economy grows by around 5 percent annually. Sarkisian announced on Tuesday that his administration will finalize within several weeks a 12-year strategy for Armenias socioeconomic development. A statement on the meeting released by the presidential press service gave no details of that strategy. Sarkisian will complete his second and final presidential term on April 9. He is widely expected to become prime minister and thus extend his decade-long rule. By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijani ADO Theatre will take part in Its Liquid International Art Show to be held in Venice on March 1-30. The ADO team will stage the play The Voice of Woman in the Palazzo Ca 'Zanardi, a historic palace of the 16th century, located in the heart of Venice. Notably, Italian actors will also take part in the play. Initially named Oda, ADO Theatre Collective was founded by Emin Badalov on July 15, 2013. Oda was the first independent theatre in Azerbaijan ever created. By expanding on its action plan, it has now been transformed into ADO Theatre Collective and covers different branches of art. ADO Theatre is a unique platform for contemporary creativity in Azerbaijan and a space for new cultural practices. ADO offers new forms and is constantly in search of new formats, creative experiments and innovations. It strives to destroy the standards of classical productions and practices in the field of performing arts. The theatre went on tours to Georgia, Turkey, Italy, Iran, France, Belarus and Ukraine. Its Liquid International Art Show selects all interesting architectural projects, photos, paintings, video art, installations/sculptures and performance art works. Artists from Germany, Spain, Mozambique, Ukraine, USA, Denmark, Portugal, Brazil, Holland, Great Britain, Belgium, Lithuania, Slovenia, Greece, Poland, Jamaica, France and Switzerland will take part in the festival. --- Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Most people are used to seeing or hearing about mass murders in media reports, movies or documentaries. The tragedies feel like something distant, though they are actually much closer than we suppose. In his book I film a war A school of survival, famous Russian journalist Yuri Romanov talks about various hot spots across the ex-USSR territory. In the following excerpt from his book, we feel on our skin the chilling horrors of the massacre committed in the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly by the invading Armenian troops. I look through the window of the helicopter and the unbelievably frightening sight that opens in front of my eyes literally traumatizes me. Bodies of dead people are lying on the yellow grass lawn at the shadowy foothills of a mountain, where pellets of snow and hoar-frosts deposited in winter are melting. The entire vast area is strewn with the corpses of women, elderly men and women, boys and girls of all ages, from infant to teenager. My eyes pick out two bodies in this mess a grandmother and a little girl. The grandma, with grey hair uncovered, lying face down next to the tiny girl in a blue hooded jacket. Their feet for some reason are tied with barbed wire. The grandmother's hands are also tied up. Both shot in the head. In her last gesture, the small, four-year-old girl stretches her arms out to her dead grandmother. Stunned, I did not even think of the camera ... The Russian journalist arrived in Khojaly in a helicopter along with Azerbaijani reporter Chingiz Mustafayev two days later after the terrifying February 26, 1992 events. Romanov described in his memoir how he literally jumped back from an incredibly horrible view, because the scene was too gross for something that can or may happen during a war. It looked like a mass-murder from the Middle Ages, when occupying forces used to slaughter citizens of invaded settlements. Among the numerous corpses there was one of a six-year-old girl whose eyes had been burned out with cigarette stubs. During his latest speech at the Munich Security Conference, Armenias President Serzh Sargsyan talked about war victims as of something inevitable, because, as he claimed, no one serves pilaf in a war. Yes, wars may lead to casualties, but the death of the six-year-old Khojaly girl wasnt caused by a stray bullet or a bomb fragment. She was killed violently and intentionally, just as the other residents of the city. There is no doubt that the city population was subjected to carnage. It is obvious both from the disfigured corpses and statements of Armenians. For instance, Markar Melkonian, brother of the infamous Armenian terrorist Monte Melkonian, in his book My Brother's Road: An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia, which describes the life of his thug brother, admits that the date of the Khojaly massacre had been chosen intentionally and it had been carried out as a retribution to the 1988 Sumgayit events. We prefer not to speak about that aloud But the main point is quite different, I believe. Before Khojalu [Khojaly], the Azerbaijanis thought that they were joking with us, they thought that the Armenians were people who could not raise their hand against the civilian population. We needed to put a stop to all that. And thats what happened. And we should also take into account that amongst those boys were people who had ed from Baku and Sumgait, Sargsyan, a field commander back then, said in his interview to British journalist Thomas de Waal. Years later the Armenian side will claim that the quote was cut out of the context and Sargsyan wanted to say something different. They will even call Markar Melkonians book a fake produced by the Turkish and Azerbaijani special agencies. The tragedy itself is called in Armenia merely Khojaly events. Armenian media tends to write about anything on February 26, but the massacre. Their preference is articles defaming neighboring Turkey and Azerbaijan, and trying to prove that the truth is with Armenia. But how can the truth side with those who justify killing of 613 civilians by a necessity to put a stop to a belief that Armenians could not raise their hand against civilians. The Armenian authorities can try to assert just anything, but one thing is obvious: on February 26, 1992, a crime was committed, the biggest massacre in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and one of the most terrifying tragedies of the modern history. Incumbent ruling circles of Armenia were personally involved in the atrocities. Questions arise: how come that for the 26 years since the bloodbath none of the human rights organizations have thought about condemning Serzh Sargsyan and his criminal entourage for the atrocities? How come that such a person became a head of state and is allowed to speak on world tribunes in fruitless attempts to excuse the 30-year aggression? Are the international political circles really so blind and unprincipled to feel no difference who they are dealing with as long as he is obedient enough? Former president of Yugoslavia, Slobodan Milosevic, was tried in Hague tribunal and declared an enemy to the whole humanity in spite of the numerous evidences he had brought to prove the unfortunate role the NATO played in developments on the Balkans. Nobody listened to him and his accomplices, because killing civilians has no excuse. The Balkan operation of the Western forces had been presented fair at the time and their efforts looked plausible. But where had these champions of justice and defenders of the infringed been during the real ethnic cleansing in Karabakh? Where they are now and why their voices arent heard? One of the founders of the unified German state Otto von Bismarck in a speech made on September 30, 1862, at the time when he was Minister President of Prussia, about the unification of the German territories said: The position of Prussia in Germany will not be determined by its liberalism, but by its power [...] Prussia must concentrate its strength and hold it for the favorable moment, which has already come and gone several times. Since the treaties of Vienna, our frontiers have been ill-designed for a healthy body politic. Not through speeches and majority decisions will the great questions of the day be decided that was the great mistake of 1848 and 1849 but by iron and blood. The speech doesnt call for a war or bloodshed as one may think. It simply expresses the understanding of a mere political truth that hasnt changed since then, it seems: a power decides. The most powerful nations of our time decide who is right and who is wrong, whom to condemn and whom to have mercy on. Two centuries ago power was shaped by the actual iron and blood, but the time passed and the power changed its form. Today, it resides in economic strength, human resources, role on international scene, and dominance in information war. Azerbaijan is confidently developing in all these directions from year to year. The negotiations under the aegis of the OSCE around the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict have been underway for more than two decades already. The negotiations are fruitless so far. But 613 lives, lost that cold and dark night 26 years ago, are not to be brought back neither by the OSCE Minsk Group, nor by the UN, which is unable to solve just anything for a long time considering the current developments in Syria. Justice will prevail only when all the criminals answer at an international tribunal. That day is nigh, for Azerbaijanis are closer to return to their lands than ever. And murderers will pay for every life they took. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend An event dedicated to the Khojaly genocide was held in Melbourne city of Australia. Azerbaijans Honorary Consulate in Australia told Trend that the event organized by the Consulate was attended by Azerbaijanis living in Melbourne, public figures, media representatives and residents of the city. Participants of the event first observed a minute of silence to honor the memory of the victims of the Khojaly genocide. During the speeches, it was noted that the Khojaly genocide is one of the most terrible tragedies of the 20th century and the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict is a major threat to the region. It was also noted that Armenian nationalists continue their dirty deeds and increase the tension on the line of contact, violate the ceasefire regime regularly. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. On Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Numerous events dedicated to the 26th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide are being held in Germany, the Azerbaijans embassy to Germany told Trend. According to the information, one of the events was held in Berlin on Feb. 24, 2018 jointly by the Ataturk Think Association, the Azerbaijani Science Workers and Students Union, the Azerbaijani House and the TurkeyAzerbaijan Union. The event was opened by Ambassador Ramin Hasanovs speech, who spoke about the Armenian occupation of Azerbaijans territories and deep scars the Khojaly genocide has left on Azerbaijani peoples conscience. He noted that the Azerbaijani government and the Heydar Aliyev Foundation are working on bringing the truth about Armenian violence to the world community. The ambassador underlined the importance of the Justice to Khojaly campaign initiated by the Foundations vice-president Leyla Aliyeva and its results. Ramin Hasanov said that Azerbaijani and Turkish diasporas have to work together to remember the tragedy, bring it to the world communitys attention and called representatives of the diasporas to be even more active in the future. Turkish Consul to Berlin Muhammet Mustafa Celik said that the occupation of Azerbaijani territories and the expulsion of Azerbaijanis from their homeland are very concerning and it is very unfortunate that a number of states and media resources stay silent about the tragedy. He mentioned the necessity of Turkish and Azerbaijani diasporas actively working together on informing the world community about the occupation. Azerbaijans MP Rovshan Rzayev, former German MP, currently chairman of TurkeyAzerbaijan Union Haqqi Keskin and Turkish historian Kemal Ari participated in interactive discussions afterwards. The participants exchanged views on the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and reasons of the Khojaly genocide. A short film about the Khojaly genocide was shown during the event. Representatives of Azerbaijani and Turkish diaspora organizations, students educating in Germany and employees of the Azerbaijans embassy to Germany also participated in the event. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Rashid Shirinov Armenia, over the years, continues its aggressive policy against Azerbaijan, and undoubtedly, the bloody act of vandalism committed in Khojaly is a real genocide against peaceful Azerbaijani citizens. Turkish political scientist Sardar Kaya made the remarks in his interview with Day.Az on February 26. He noted that Armenia continues to pursue an aggressive policy against Azerbaijan by keeping 20 percent of its territories under occupation and daily violating the ceasefire on the frontline. By such destructive actions, the leadership of Armenia demonstrates to the world its unwillingness to resolve the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict through negotiations, which is the most acceptable way of solving this long-standing problem, Kaya said. The expert added that various international reports confirm that the war crimes of Armenia seriously violate the Geneva Conventions and the international law. This fact should seriously concern the ruling regime of Armenia. I believe that the perpetrators of this terrible tragedy must be held accountable before an international court for their atrocities in Khojali, Karabakh, Sumgayit, and suffer due punishment in accordance with the laws of justice, Kaya said, adding that the unresolved Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict poses a serious threat to the region and the world. The expert added that Turkey fully supports Azerbaijan in the issue of restoring the territorial integrity of the country and considers it necessary for Armenia to implement four UN Security Council resolutions demanding the unconditional withdrawal of Armenian armed forces from the occupied Azerbaijani territories. Azerbaijan and Armenia, for over two decades, have been locked in a conflict which emerged over Armenian territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign state with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The adoption of the statement on 26th anniversary of the Khojaly genocide by members of the newly created Friends of Azerbaijan Club at the European Parliament is the success of Azerbaijans parliamentary diplomacy, Azerbaijani MP Rauf Aliyev told Trend. He said that the initiative on adopting the statement was made by Andrejs Mamikins, a member of the European Parliament and a member of the European Parliaments Foreign Relations Committee, and co-chair of the Friends of Azerbaijan Club. The statement is the first document adopted by the European Parliament on Khojaly massacre. The statement reflects the brutal crime, genocide committed against the Azerbaijani people in Khojaly on Feb. 25-26 by Armenian aggressors and it is emphasized that the Khojaly genocide should be remembered in order to prevent crimes committed against humanity as this tragedy, the MP said. Particular attention paid to the Khojaly genocide by the European Parliament, and the political assessment of the crimes are a very important issue, Aliyev said. He added that significant steps have been taken in recent years for recognition of the Khojaly genocide in the world. As part of the Justice for Khojaly campaign being conducted by Vice-President of Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, significant steps are taken in many countries, including the European countries, in order to give true information about the tragedy to the world community, said the MP. Documents on Khojaly tragedy have been adopted in 21 US states and in 12 countries, added Aliyev. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has sent a congratulatory letter to President of the Dominican Republic Danilo Medina Feb. 26. "I extend my heartfelt congratulations to you and your people on the occasion of the national holiday of the Dominican Republic," President Aliyev said in his congratulatory letter. "On this remarkable day, I extend my best regards to you, and wish the friendly people of the Dominican Republic lasting peace and prosperity," added President Aliyev. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has been interviewed by the Russian Rossiya-24 TV channel`s correspondent on Feb. 26. The interview was featured in the channel`s story on Khojaly genocide on Feb.26. Correspondent: Ilham Heydar oglu, it is a gruesome morning. What were your thoughts when you came here? What were your thoughts when you woke up today? I should say that Russians in Russia recall this tragedy and commemorate this day with great reverence. What were your thoughts when you came here? President Ilham Aliyev: First of all, I would like to thank your television channel for coming to Baku on a day like this to be with us and to express your position on the tragedy of the Azerbaijani people. I appreciate this so much and I am grateful to you for this. Today marks one of the bloodiest pages in the history of the Azerbaijani people, the day of genocide of Azerbaijanis. 26 years ago Armenia committed genocide against Azerbaijanis. As a result of this, 613 civilians were killed, 106 of them were women, 63 were children. More than 1200 civilians were captured and tortured, nearly 500 became disabled, and there is no any information about 150 civilians. They are considered missing, but there is a high probability that they were killed. There are a lot of footages and images on that terrible day, on that bloody tragedy and witnesses who miraculously survived. This was manifestation of the Armenian fascism. This was manifestation of barbarism. Justice for Khojaly campaign is today spreading at a rapid pace all over the world. These days commemorative ceremonies are being held in many countries of the world. These days the Azerbaijani diaspora organizations, society are holding round tables, presentations and exhibitions. All the photo and video documents bore evidence of this large-scale tragedy. We remember this. We will never forget it. Azerbaijan must become stronger so that this tragedy is never repeated. You asked about my feelings today. My feelings are those that every Azerbaijani has it is grief and distress for the innocent people who were killed, pain for the victims, at the same time, determination to strengthen our country. We must strengthen economic, military potential of our country so that the people of Azerbaijan never again face a tragedy like that. Correspondent: Ilham Heydar oglu, thank you for this interview and for finding time to meet with us. President Ilham Aliyev: Thank you. Correspondent: This is extremely sad for the state. President Ilham Aliyev: I would like to once again thank you for being with us here today. Thank you very much. Correspondent: We were pleased to be involved. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend The Khojaly genocide is an example of cruelty, ruthlessness and impunity in the modern world, Azerbaijani MP Elman Nasirov told Trend Feb. 26. He added that the Armenians have not been punished for the committed atrocities yet. "The Khojaly tragedy showed that at the end of the 20th century the Armenian executioners purposefully committed this crime against the Azerbaijani population because they were Azerbaijanis, Khojaly people, Nasirov said. Therefore this genocide is a crime. Khojaly residents were killed because they were Azerbaijani Turks. The Azerbaijani government worked much to update the world about Khojaly genocide, as well as realized various projects to recognize it. "To recognize this tragedy, after coming to power in 1993, Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev immediately appealed to the UN Security Council, disclosed the essence of the Khojaly genocide and called on the entire world community to take actions against the occupiers," he said. In February 1994, the Azerbaijani parliament assessed this tragedy politically and legally. In 1998, Heydar Aliyev signed a decree on the Khojaly genocide, Nasirov said. Later, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva worked much in this sphere. In particular, "Justice for Khojaly!" campaign, which started on the initiative of Vice President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, which was launched in 2008, caused great resonance worldwide, he said. Thanks to this campaign, the parliaments of ten countries, 22 US states recognized the Khojaly tragedy as genocide." Nasirov said that sooner or later the perpetrators of the Khojaly genocide will be punished. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. On Feb. 25-26, 1992, the Armenian armed forces, together with the 366th infantry regiment of Soviet troops, stationed in Khankendi, committed an act of genocide against the population of the Azerbaijani town of Khojaly. As many as 613 people, including 63 children, 106 women and 70 old people were killed in the massacre. Eight families were totally exterminated, 130 children lost one parent and 25 children lost both. Some 1,275 innocent residents were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people still remains unknown. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend On February 26, the Heydar Aliyev Center hosted a classical music night titled Khojaly 613 which was dedicated to the victims of the Khojaly tragedy. Vice-President of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation Leyla Aliyeva, attended the event. The music night featured serious classic works of Azerbaijani and world composers, as well as symphonic poem of Khojaly 613, written by the famous French composer Pierre Thilloy. The "Khojaly 613" symphonic poem is dedicated to the memory of victims of the genocide committed by Armenians in Khojaly over the night from February 25 to 26, 1992, where 613 innocent civilians were killed by the Armenian armed forces. This outstanding work ably captures the horror of the Khojaly Massacre, featuring Azerbaijani folk tunes, including Lachin and Sari Gelin songs, set against a rich orchestral backdrop of military march rhythms and the sounds of conflict. The violin and balaban which has a plaintive quality, akin to the human voice represented the soul of the Azerbaijani people that fateful night, with the violin solo section gradually reaching a furious tempo until coming to a sudden, unexpected halt. Speaking about the piece, the composer said: The Khojaly Massacre ranks amongst one of the most vivid and nightmarish visions in the collective memory of the Azerbaijani people, stemming from the dark, insidious Nagorno-Karabakh conflict that continues to harm an entire people." The Khojaly 613 world premiere was held in Paris on February 21 and was screened in the cities such as London, Madrid, Strasbourg, Ruan, Kolmar, Brussels, Athens, Vilnius, Bern, Geneva, Dublin and Oslo so far. Works of famous Azerbaijani composers such as "Azerbaijan Capriccio", by Fikrat Amirov, Gara Garayev's symphonic piece of "Matem (Mourning)", "Travel", Don Quixote" by Gara Garayev and Adagio for Strings by the famous American composer Samuel Barber were also featured during the music night at the Heydar Aliyev Center. The classical music night was attended by state and government dignitaries, representatives of diplomatic corps accredited in Azerbaijan, men of art and literature, public figures and survivors of Khojaly tragedy. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has attended commissioning of a 424 MW Mingachevir hydropower plant after overhaul. President of Azerenerji OJSC Etibar Pirverdiyev informed the head of state about the work carried out in the power station. Major reconstruction work was done here in 2010-2017. A new control center was built in the power station. A bust of national leader Heydar Aliyev was installed in the building of the center. Then, the head of state launched the Mingachevir Hydroelectric Power Station. A 200-megawatt autotransformer was installed, substations with voltage of 330kV, 220kV and 110kV were reconstructed. After reconstruction, the capacity of the power station was increased from 284 megawatts to 424 megawatts. A new administrative building was also constructed here. There are 130 employees at the Mingachevir Hydroelectric Power Station. The large-scale landscaping work was carried out in the territory of the facility, which saw the planting of more than 5,000 trees. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva attended the opening ceremony of ASAN Heyat complex in Mingachevir on February 27. The head of state and his wife cut the ribbon symbolizing the inauguration of the complex, Azertag reported. Assistant to the President for work with law enforcement bodies and military issues department head Fuad Alasgarov and Chairman of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Inam Karimov informed the head of state and his wife about Mingachevir ASAN Hayat complex. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva toured the complex. Mingachevir ASAN Hayat complex is the 13th center of the State Agency for Public Service and Social Innovations under the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The construction of the complex started in 2017 and ended in February, 2018. The complex consists of a three-storey administrative building and three public catering facilities. A total of 32 types of services will be provided for citizens by 10 state bodies in ASAN xidmet center. The center employs a 154-man staff, and 45 volunteers. The center will serve 337,767 citizens in the city of Mingachevir, as well as Yevlakh and Aghdash districts. The head of state launched the center. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva familiarized themselves with the innovations in the center. The head of state and his wife viewed projects of other ASAN xidmet centers, which will be created in the future. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva were acquainted with ASAN Pesha, which is part of ASAN Hayat complex. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva have attended the opening of two yarn production plants owned by Mingachevir Tekstil LLC in the Mingachevir Industrial Park. Minister of Economy Shahin Mustafayev and project manager Mehriban Akhundova informed the head of state and his wife that the National Fund for Entrepreneurship Support of the Ministry of Economy allocated a 10 million manat soft loan to create plants with a total cost of 144 million manats. The state-of-the-art plants are supplied with equipment of leading companies of Germany, Switzerland, Spain and Japan. The plants will have an annual production of 20,000 tons of yarn, including 10,000 tons made through Ring method and 10,000 tons through Open End method. The head of state and his wife posed for photographs together with employees. President Ilham Aliyev then launched the Open End method yarn production plant. President Ilham Aliyev and First Lady Mehriban Aliyeva toured a canteen. After familiarizing themselves with the new plants, the head of state and his wife met with employees and representatives of local public. Employee Huseyn Hashimov thanked the head of state for supporting construction of new plants and his attention to the development of the city. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijan is a favorable place to put investments, said President Ilham Aliyev. He made the remarks at a meeting with employees of two yarn production plants of Mingachevir Tekstil LLC and representatives of local public of Mingachevir Feb. 27. This day is significant in the life of Mingachevir city," said the head of state. "Today, we celebrate the opening of Mingachevir Industrial Park. I heartily congratulate you on this wonderful occasion and wish you success. I remember that we laid the foundation of Mingachevir Industrial Park here in September 2016. At that time, there was nothing in this area. It was an empty area. I remember that a presentation was made then and it was shown that several yarn production plants and other plants will be built here in the near future. Of course, this is a very big project. This project will significantly strengthen the industrial potential of both Mingachevir and Azerbaijan in general, noted the president. I am happy that all the given promises have been fulfilled. Currently, the first two plants of Mingachevir Industrial Park are opening. This is a great example of public-private sector partnership, because the state does its best for development of the private sector - entrepreneurs are given preferential loans, methodological recommendations, and a great work is being carried out to create workplaces, said President Aliyev. The state creates opportunities for the private sector by creating industrial parks, he noted. If the state did not undertake this function, it would not be so easy for private sector and entrepreneurs to create such big plants, said the president, adding that the private sector, for its part, both benefits from the governments concessional loans and creates plants using its own funds. Therefore, industrial zones, industrial clusters and industrial parks, created in Azerbaijan in recent years, pursue this goal, he continued. I also said in previous years that Mingachevir should become one of the strong industrial centers of our country and we can see that now, President Aliyev added. President Aliyev emphasized that there are industrial clusters and zones in several cities of Azerbaijan, and Sumgait Chemical Industry Park is the biggest among them. The investments put in the park total $2.7 billion, he noted. Industrial zones will be created and are being created in Neftchala, Hajigabul, Sabirabad, Masalli and other cities, including Mingachevir, said the head of state. President Aliyev noted that 700-750 people are provided with jobs at these plants, and the vast majority of employees are women. In general, the plants will have a great role in eliminating unemployment in Mingachevir, the president said. "Big funds, 140 million manats, have been invested here. This shows that Azerbaijan is a favorable place, excellent country for making investments. More than $230 billion have been invested in the countrys economy over the past 15 years, he said, adding that currently, Azerbaijans main goal is to attract more investments to non-oil sector. The president reminded that six yarn plants currently operate in Azerbaijan. These two plants are being put into operation today. Thus, the number reaches eight. The production capacity of six plants is 24,000 tons of yarn. These two plants will produce 20,000 tons of yarn, said the president. "In other words, these modern plants will produce almost the same volume of yarn produced by plants commissioned previously. This will meet the domestic demand and will also be exported." Today, our main goal is to increase non-oil exports, and great work is carried out in this direction. At the same time, we see the comprehensive development of our country in the example of this plant, because this is a big industrial center, industrial enterprise, he added. Meanwhile, local cotton is the main raw material at these plants, noted President Aliyev, adding that the rapid development of cotton-growing in recent years has resulted in the creation of these plants. These plants would not have been created, if we were not serious about the revival of cotton-growing two years ago, because it would be a very expensive initiative to bring seedless raw cotton from abroad and to turn it into yarn here. Therefore, over the past two years, cotton production in Azerbaijan has risen from 35,000 to 207,000 tons. I hope more cotton harvest is expected this year, said the head of state. The main part of cotton and seedless raw cotton will be processed in Azerbaijan, thus creating additional value and job places, and the country will be able both to export finished products, textiles, fabrics, and meet the demand of the domestic market, added President Aliyev. He said the state greatly supports the rapid development of agriculture -- machinery is purchased, irrigation work is carried out, fertilizers, fuel, and subsidies are provided with preferential terms, as well as the state supports the development of cotton-growing and creation of industrial enterprises. The private sector is also very active in these efforts, said the president. Industrial production and agricultural production we see a combination of these two important areas in Mingachevir, and, as I said, Mingachevir is becoming one of the strongest industrial centers in Azerbaijan, President Aliyev added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has attended the opening of the newly-renovated 26km-long Aran-Garaghaji stretch of Mingachevir-Bahramtapa highway. Chairman of the Board of Directors of Azerbaijan Highway State Agency Saleh Mammadov informed President Ilham Aliyev about the technical indicators of the highway, Azertag reported. The two-lane highway is 26km in length and 12m in width. As part of the project, two new bridges and five underpasses were built. President Ilham Aliyev cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the Aran-Garaghaji stretch of Mingachevir-Bahramtapa highway. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Rashid Shirinov The climate of Azerbaijan is favorable for the cultivation of many fruits and vegetables, including potato, which is grown in large amounts in the country. However, there is a need for increasing potato farming since Azerbaijan imports this vegetable from abroad as well. Data by the State Statistical Committee says that last year the import of potatoes exceeded exports by $14 million ($40 million and $26 million respectively). Nevertheless, local potato production also increased in 2017, and newly created greenhouses seriously contributed to this. Potato farming is a profitable field for farmers, and therefore they prefer to grow potato in greenhouses and then to sell it profitably to Russia and large cities of Azerbaijan, says Bakikhan Bagirov, deputy head of the Tovuz region Agriculture Department. A local exporter Mehman Guseynov who transports potato to Baku and Russia, says that demand for his potatoes has increased two to three times. Thus, the high demand for potato makes local farmers increase the cultivation areas as well as use greenhouses for a faster harvest. Spokesman of the Agriculture Ministry Murtuzali Hajiyev notes that the number of greenhouses in Azerbaijan has increased in recent years, which is due to the state privileges to farmers and the fact that potato farming is a profitable business. In the west and north of the country as well as in the Jalilabad region, farmers interest in potato growing has increased. Potato cultivation in greenhouses has begun in order to provide markets with potatoes and increase export potential, Hajiyev says. Experts note that the creation of new greenhouses should be continued in the country. Azerbaijani economist Vugar Bayramov, for instance, assumes that local potatoes can enter new markets. The demand for potatoes is high in the countries of the Persian Gulf and the European Union they can become new markets for the export of Azerbaijani potatoes, he notes. The remarks, that the Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has recently made at the conference on the fourth year of implementation of the state program for socio-economic development of regions of Azerbaijan in 2014-2018, are noteworthy in this regard. The production of potatoes should be sufficient to rule out imports. We should be able to meet the domestic demand and export, the President said. Given the fact that local farmers have started a wider use of greenhouses as well as the increased demand for potatoes, there is reason to believe that by the end of this year, production of potatoes will reach such a level that Azerbaijan will be able to fully provide the population with this vegetable. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva Tajikistan increased imports of vehicles by 15.1 percent, while reducing its exports by 33.99 percent last year, according to the Statistics Agency of the country. Tajikistans imports of vehicles increased by $28.3 million in monetary terms compared to the same period in 2016. The total amount of imports of motor vehicles in 2017 amounted to more than $216.3 million. In 2016, this figure stood at the level of $187.9 million. Despite the increase in motor transport imports last year, car dealers argue that demand in the domestic market was weak. The growth of imports is most likely due to the import of heavy trucks for the implementation of investment projects. Tajikistan mostly imports used vehicles, and, accordingly, the prices for them are much lower than for the new ones. Motor vehicles, mainly passenger cars, are imported from the Baltic States and Europe. In the market of heavy-duty vehicles the leading place is occupied by Chinese manufacturers. At the end of January 2017, the Government of Tajikistan adopted a resolution banning the importation of vehicles produced before 2005. As previously reported, this ban entered into force on February 15. The ban on the importation of old cars into the country was introduced for reasons of environmental safety. The Customs Service under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country was instructed to ensure control, customs clearance and registration of imported vehicles in accordance with this decree. Meanwhile, in 2017, customs duties on the import of new cars in Tajikistan were reduced by 50 percent. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva Azerbaijans National Tourism Promotion Bureau has prepared special cards by means of which tourists will be able to use public transport, visit city museums and cultural centers for free or at a discount in Baku. The new product Baku Card is called upon to further increase the interest of tourists in our country, the National Bureau told Trend. Baku Card is the first and only official card of the city, thanks to which its owners may also receive discounts and special offers in shops, cafes, restaurants, museums of the capital as well as to use public transport services for free or at a discount. The cards can be purchased at special kiosks or online. A ceremony of signing a memorandum between the National Tourism Promotion Bureau, the Baku Transport Agency and PASHA Travel with the aim of creating Baku card will be held on February 28. The memorandum will be signed by the director of the National Tourism Promotion Bureau Fuad Nagiyev, the general director of the BTA, Vusal Karimli, and the general director of PASHA Travel operations Florian Sengstschmid. Earlier, Kanan Guluzade, the spokesperson for the National Tourism Promotion Bureau said that the use of such cards will be convenient for tourists, and at the same time will bring some profit to the National Bureau. He added that such tourist cards are used in many developed countries. Azerbaijan, the popular destination for many tourists, attracts millions of visitors every year. The country is popular for a number of archaeological and historical sites, decently depicting its past. The country views tourism development as a priority in its efforts to diversify the non-oil economy. A number of tourist facilities have been built in the regions, and cultural and historical reserves have been set up or restored. Thanks to all these, Azerbaijan has improved its tourism performance in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report 2017 released by experts of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The number of tourists who visited Azerbaijan in January 2018 exceeded 185,000 people, which is 17 percent more compared to January 2017, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. In general, for the past 10 years, the number of tourists visiting the country increased five-fold. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Rashid Shirinov Bahrains Gulf Air airline is planning to launch direct flights to Baku, the company informed on February 26. The airline plans to significantly expand its activities this year and open many new direct flights. One of the destinations is Baku. Gulf Air, the national airline of Bahrain, has been operating flights since 1950. The company is one of the first commercial airlines established in the Middle East. To date, Gulf Air is among the largest international carriers, serving 42 destinations in 25 countries across Africa, Asia and Europe. The airline's fleet consists of 28 modern wide- and narrow-body aircraft, which include six types of Airbus as well as Boeing 787-9 and Bombardier CS100. Next year the company will purchase another 39 aircraft. Its main base is Bahrain International Airport. Azerbaijan has lately become the most favorite place for travel of many Arab tourists. The majority of them are from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and Iraq. The growing interest to the country has several reasons, such as short distance to Azerbaijan, opening of more direct flights, beautiful nature of the country, halal foods in restaurants, etc. As for the tourism infrastructure, today Azerbaijan can accommodate about 40,000 tourists in its 575 hotels, which include a series of luxury ones Excelsior, Hilton, Four Seasons, Fairmont, JW Marriott as well as several budget hotels for cost-conscious travelers. Moreover, 25 hostels and 92 apartments for tourists operate in Baku. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz NWAI DM ma list intencyjny z Copernicus Securities dot. dziaalnosci maklerskiej NWAI Dom Maklerski podpisa list intencyjny oraz rozpocza negocjacje z Copernicus Securities majace na celu doprowadzenie do wstapienia w prawa i obowiazki Copernicus z umow o swiadczenie usug maklerskich - poinformowa NWAI Dom Maklerski w komunikacie. Stephens Mundy, president and CEO of Alice Hyde Medical Center in Malone, N.Y., and Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital in Plattsburgh, N.Y., is retiring at the end of June, according to a Press-Republican report. Here are six notes: 1. Mr. Mundy has served as president and CEO of Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital for 16 years. 2. He took over leadership at Alice Hyde Medical Center in May 2017, initially serving as interim president and CEO. He assumed the role permanently in October 2017. 3. Both hospitals are a part of Burlington-based University of Vermont Health Network. 4. During his tenure at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, Mr. Mundy helped create the CVPH family medicine residency and enhanced mental health offering by adding psychiatrists. 5. He is a past chair of the Healthcare Association of New York. 6. Prior to joining University of Vermont Health Network, he was CEO at St. Joseph's Hospital in Parkersburg, W. Va. Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital in Elko named Steven Simpson CEO, effective April 2. Here are four things to know: 1. Most recently, Mr. Simpson served as CEO of Tennova Lakeway Regional Hospital in Morristown, Tenn. 2. He previously held several leadership positions at University Medical Center in Lebanon, Tenn. 3. He is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives and American Association of Physician Liaisons. 4. Mr. Simpson will replace Rick Palagi, who is retiring in March. Utah legislators advanced a bill to the state Senate Feb. 26 that would prohibit hospitals and health systems in the state from testing a physician's competency through a cognitive test after they reach a certain age, according to Desert News. Here are five things to know about the bill. 1. The bill, SB217, prohibits healthcare facilities in the state from requiring physicians to take a cognitive test when they reach a specified age, unless the test conforms with national standards outlined by the American Medical Association. 2. Various healthcare experts statewide have since declared their support for the bill, claiming requiring physicians to take a cognitive test amounts to "just aging them out of the ability to practice," according to Utah Medical Association CEO Michelle McOmber. 3. However, some experts are in favor of administering such tests. A Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Healthcare official told the publication the health system mandates physicians undergo cognitive testing once they turn 71 years old. "The health care system that's conducting these tests is Intermountain Healthcare and we've implemented these tests for the purposes of safety. The number of physicians over 70 has increased by 347 percent since 1975," the official said. 4. Senate committee members also expressed reservations regarding the bill, arguing while the AMA has introduced standards for such a test, the organization has not established an actual cognitive test for physicians, the report states. Committee members reportedly agreed to advance the bill if a stipulation was made that called for the bill to go into effect once the AMA created a test comparable to the one currently in use at Intermountain Healthcare. 5. The bill was amended and committee members voted unanimously to advance the bill to the full Senate with favorable recommendation Feb. 26. Nurses at Greenfield, Mass.-based Baystate Franklin Medical Center withdrew their notice to strike Feb. 28. The Massachusetts Nurses Association, which represents about 200 BFMC nurses, said in a statement nurses agreed Feb. 23 to withdraw their one-day strike notice after hospital officials asked them to do so to return to negotiations Feb. 26. "Nurses agreed to bargain while hoping for progress toward a contract that must include improvements to RN staffing and patient care, along with decent health insurance," the statement reads. If BFMC nurses had followed through with the Feb. 28 planned strike, hospital officials said those who participated would not have been able to return to work until 7 p.m. March 2. Both sides have been in negotiations since November 2016. Negotiations have been contentious at times, resulting in a one-day strike in June. Most recently, the MNA authorized a potential one-day strike Feb. 8, and a strike notice was issued Feb. 16. Additionally, the hospital recently rejected an offer from U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Mass., to host negotiations between the hospital and union. The MNA said nurses could still decide to re-issue their strike notice if necessary. In the meantime, union officials told Becker's both sides went back to the bargaining table Feb. 26 and will continue negotiations Feb. 28. Becker's Hospital Review reached out to the hospital and will post additional details as they become available. More articles on human capital and risk: Baystate Franklin schedules 3-day lockout to coincide with planned nurse strike: 6 things to know Protests begin at Kaiser Permanente hospitals across California: 7 things to know US hospitals increasingly recruiting nurses from hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico: 5 things to know A 20-state coalition filed a lawsuit against the federal government Feb. 26 seeking to end the ACA. Here are five things to know about the suit. 1. The suit, filed in the in U.S. District Court in the Northern District of Texas, is led by the attorneys general of Texas and Wisconsin. The other states named as plaintiffs in the suit are Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia. 2. The legal action claims all of the ACA was deemed unconstitutional when President Donald Trump in December signed Republicans' tax law that repealed the ACA's individual insurance mandate. The mandate required people to have insurance or pay a tax penalty with the goal of creating a viable health insurance market. 3. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said in a statement: "The U.S. Supreme Court already admitted that an individual mandate without a tax penalty is unconstitutional. With no remaining legitimate basis for the law, it is time that Americans are finally free from the stranglehold of Obamacare, once and for all." 4. The U.S. Justice Department did not immediately respond to Reuters'' request for comment on whether the federal government would defend the ACA in court. 5. Republicans have previously made multiple attempts to dismantle the health law. Read the full suit here. More articles on legal and regulatory issues: Ex-director of finance pleads guilty to stealing $3M from North Carolina hospital Former CFO sues Chicago hospital to recoup $100k loan Scripps will pay $1.5M to settle billing fraud case A Tennessee judge issued an order Feb. 26 stating the former CEO of Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Lutheran Health Network improperly disclosed confidential information belonging to LHN and its parent company, Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems. Here are seven things to know about the order. 1. In his ruling Feb. 26, Circuit Court of Williamson County Judge Joseph A. Woodruff noted, "Mr. Bauer admitted he delivered LHN's confidential and proprietary information without authorization for the purpose of soliciting the recipients' participation in a transaction with certain minority investors in LHN affiliates to purchase LHN's majority interest in the network." 2. Mr. Woodruff's order, obtained by Becker's Hospital Review, prohibits former LHN CEO Brian Bauer from temporarily using and disclosing LHN's confidential or proprietary information, including, without limitation, financial data, operational results and physician recruiting strategies, among other information. He is also prohibited from entering into any commercial transaction for the purpose of developing a competing healthcare network with any person who received LHN and CHS' protected information from Mr. Bauer, and cannot recruit LHN employees to work at IU Health. 3. The judge also ordered Mr. Bauer must recover LHN's protected information from every person he provided it to without LHN's authorization. However, he will be legally allowed to continue working with IU Health, which hired him to advise in a consulting role last year, according to the News-Sentinel. 4. The order follows the judge's previous decision during a Feb. 14 procedural hearing to dismiss three core allegations against Mr. Bauer, which included trade and commercial disparagement, unfair and deceptive business practices, and breach of duty of loyalty. 5. LHN and CHS filed a lawsuit against Mr. Bauer last year, alleging he violated aspects of a nonqualified stock option agreement. Mr. Bauer filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in January, arguing the allegations against him can't be proven because they aren't true, among other reasons. In his ruling, Mr. Woodruff noted, "the court finds Mr. Bauer did accept the terms of the stock option agreement and it is therefore enforceable according to its terms." 6. Tomi Galin, senior vice president of corporate communications and marketing for CHS, told Becker's in a statement Feb. 26, "The courts rulings directly contradict [Mr.] Bauer's repeated and erroneous claims that the litigation against him is 'baseless' and 'without merit.' The court rulings not only demonstrate that the litigation has merit they also ensure that the litigation will proceed and prohibit [Mr.] Bauer from continuing to use Lutheran's confidential information for his personal gain." 7. In a statement to the News-Sentinel, Mr. Bauer said he was "tremendously gratified" to continue working with IU Health and is "excited to move forward with IU Health expanding access to high quality health care in Fort Wayne." Chicago-based Norwegian American Hospital is seeking approval to close its pediatric unit by March 31, according to the Chicago Tribune. In its application filed with the Illinois Health Facilities and Services Review Board, the hospital cited low demand for pediatric services. In particular, the application said NAH only treated nine patients in 2016 and last year the hospital treated no patients through the end of November, which is an occupancy rate of less than 1 percent. The hospital wants to convert the unit into administrative and storage space. Other Chicago-area hospitals have also made moves to stop pediatric inpatient services for similar reasons, including increased competition from specialty children's hospitals, the transition to outpatient services and low demand for the services as a result of improved treatment and preventive care. NAH said nearby hospitals would easily be able to absorb and care for its pediatric patients. The hospital will continue to offer outpatient pediatric services. In a move to save costs, Massachusetts officials opted to close Jamaica Plain, Mass.-based Lemuel Shattuck Hospital and relocate its inpatient services across town to Boston Medical Center, according to The Boston Globe. State officials said modernizing or building a new facility at LSH, which is 64 years old, would cost between $400 million and $500 million, whereas purchasing and renovating a building owned by Boston Medical Center would be half the price. The transition, which will allow for closer collaboration with Boston Medical Center, is scheduled for 2021. "The administration has carefully weighed many options and communicated with stakeholders about renovation needs," Elissa Snook, media relations manager for the Massachusetts Executive Office of HHS, told The Globe. Transitioning inpatient services to the building owned by Boston Medical Center is "the best option for patients that will also save taxpayers nearly $200 million," she added. LSH is licensed for 260 medical and psychiatric beds and employs 700 people. Massachusetts officials do not expect to lay off any employees in the transition. However, officials are unsure about the future of outpatient programs on the current site. The Massachusetts HHS will do a "comprehensive review" of outpatient services to determine which ones it will keep. Several facilities will remain at the LSH site, including a homeless shelter, residential addiction treatment sites and a methadone clinic. A judged tossed Molina Healthcare of New Mexico's lawsuit to stop New Mexico from moving forward with newly awarded Medicaid contracts, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports. Here are three things to know about the lawsuit. 1. Molina's lawsuit raises several allegations against how Republican Gov. Susana Martinez's administration awarded the contracts. Molina accused the state health department of using a consultant with a possible conflict of interest during the application process. Specifically, Molina claimed the consultant has a multibillion-dollar contract with a sister company of Western Sky Community Care, which won a contract to manage some of New Mexico's Medicaid recipients. 2. Molina, along with UnitedHealthcare and two other companies that lost bids to manage New Mexico's Medicaid beneficiaries, filed protests with the state's Human Services Department. Should those protests fail, more lawsuits could arise, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports. Molina also said it will ''likely'' exit New Mexico if the insurer isn't awarded a contract to manage the program. 3. New Mexico's multibillion-dollar Medicaid program covers 850,000-plus beneficiaries. New Mexico chose Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico, Presbyterian Health Plan and Western Sky Community Care to manage Medicaid beneficiaries. More articles on payer issues: 35.8% of Americans would use an Amazon health insurance plan Aetna CEO: CVS deal will open '10,000 new front doors to the healthcare system' Anthem cancels 25% cuts on some same-day services: 3 things to know The Old Schoolhouse Inn, Comber. Chef Will Brown at the Old School House Inn, Comber The multiple award-winning Old Schoolhouse Inn in Comber is up for sale. The restaurant and guest house complete with living accommodation in Co Down, boasts eight luxury guest rooms. Terry and Avril Brown purchased the premises in 1984 and renovated it. Meanwhile, a former riverside bar priced at 160,000, a quarter of an acre of land for 5,000, and a one bedroom loft apartment for 20,000 are all up for grabs at an upcoming property auction. More than 60 lots, including shops, parcels of land and residential properties, will be going under the hammer at the Osborne King property auction at the Clayton Hotel in Belfast on March 16. The combined value of all the properties up for sale is around 7.5m. Some of the highest priced lots include an 875,000 development opportunity up for grabs on the edge of Dundonald Village on Old Mill Grove, just off the Upper Newtownards Road in Belfast. Some of the lowest priced lots on offer include a quarter of an acre of land on Orchard Way in Antrim, which is going under the hammer for a minimum of 5,000. In Lurgan, Co Armagh, a one-bedroom loft apartment on William Street is up for grabs for 20,000, making it one of the cheapest residential opportunities in the auction. Mark Carron of Osborne King said he expects there to be a big turnout at next month's event. "Last year was our biggest year since the downturn in 2007 and we did 20m in auction sales alone, so they're very popular," he explained. Expand Close Lurgan attic flat: 20k / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lurgan attic flat: 20k "This time round we have about 7.5m worth of lots on offer. We have many clients coming from across Ireland and even as far afield as London, New York, everywhere. Where there is good value, people will come." No less than three former pubs are also on sale at the auction, ranging in price from 45,000 to 160,000. The former Embankment Bar on Old Market Place in Omagh is on sale, with a maximum reserve price of 160,000. Construction has stopped at the 250m Ulster University project in Belfast with dozens of workers laid off, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. Work came to a halt on the building of the new campus on Monday, with one contractor saying he now had 14 members of staff at home with nothing to do. The building of the campus has been dogged by legal troubles and contractual disputes between the university and Lagan Somague, a joint venture between Northern Ireland building firm Lagan Construction Group and Portuguese firm Somague. But Lagan Construction Group, led by Michael Lagan, last week announced it was putting four of its companies into administration - including the firm which was involved in the joint venture university construction. However, the university yesterday said it's in talks with Somague on the project. "The university is consulting with Somague as necessary to progress delivery of the project. "We await the formal appointment of an administrator to the relevant Lagan companies." One contractor, who employs a large number of workers on the site, said he was shocked to hear news of the administration of Lagan Construction Group when on holiday last week. "I'm taken aback by it all and I'm not happy. I only heard about it with a phone call from some colleagues when I was on holiday." Somague was not available for comment yesterday - however, it is understood the company is keen to take on the completion of the contract. But one property insider said he believed Somague would still need a partner. "I understand that Somague would struggle to deliver without a new agreement to supply labour and expertise." The Belfast Telegraph can reveal that accountancy firm KPMG is to be appointed administrator to the four Lagan Construction Group companies in a High Court hearing tomorrow. The administrators are then set to enter crunch talks with Somague on whether the firm is in a position to proceed with the job. Yesterday, major Northern Ireland construction firm Graham said it had not been approached. There was no comment from contractor O'Hare and McGovern. The new 250m Ulster University campus in Belfast has been mothballed and workers sent home over a litany of legal problems, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal. Work on the campus came to a standstill yesterday, two days after chief contractor Lagan Construction Group announced it was putting four of its companies - including the firm charged with building the university - into administration. And the Belfast Telegraph can reveal that business advisory firm KPMG will be appointed as administrator in a High Court hearing tomorrow. The university has said that joint venture partner Somague will pick up the work. However, staff at other companies on-site have been laid off as discussions begin over the site's future. The university said that it is "consulting with Somague as necessary to progress delivery of the project". "We await the formal appointment of an administrator to the relevant Lagan companies." It's understood senior directors from Somague in Portugal will visit Belfast for talks with the administrators tomorrow. KPMG is being appointed administrators to Lagan Construction Group Holdings, Lagan Construction Group, Lagan Building Contractors and Lagan Water. But the group has said 24 other companies are unaffected. No-one from Somague could be reached for comment, while Lagan Construction Group said it would not be commenting. But it's expected the parties may discuss finding another joint venture partner with KPMG. The practice was not available for comment. One smaller contractor who has been engaged on the site for three years said work stopped on the site yesterday. He said he was now left with around a dozen staff with nothing to do. "The whole thing is embarrassing for Northern Ireland - it's as embarrassing as the other big empty building on the other side of the city," he added, in a reference to Stormont. He said he was owed around 100,000. "I would need to be up and running by around next week as I have men sitting at home and I'm trying to find somewhere for them to go. I'm taken aback by it all and I'm not happy." He said the site was around 25% complete but that he hoped Somague would be capable of finishing it off. "They are a big company from what I believe. They are a big, worldwide company so I don't see why not. I hope it gets finished." But one property insider said he believed a new joint venture partner would be required. And the contractor said he feared that delays to the UU work could affect other major contracts in the city centre - particularly large developments of student accommodation being built in anticipation of the influx of students. Last month, the Belfast Telegraph revealed that Lagan and Somague feared the site would not be finished until 2022 due to contract disagreements with the university. The Outlet retail park in Banbridge will change its name next month as part of a rebranding phase. Set to become known as The Boulevard, the shopping destination will see new signage rolled out across the site in the coming months. The rebranding is the latest of several changes to the retail park in the last six months, including the installation of new mall covering to provide a sheltered walkway for visitors. A new guest services area was also developed in recent months to improve customer service. Since Lotus Group acquired the centre in 2016, the stores have seen a total investment of over 8m. The outlet shopping destination has also seen a rise in footfall of 20% since April 2016 and an increase in sales of 26% in the last two years. Brands added to the retail park in the last year include ProCook, Jack and Jones, Ulster Weavers and The Beauty Outlet. Other brands which operate from The Outlet include Nike, Timberland, Calvin Klein, L.K. Bennett, Paul Costelloe and Jaeger. Chris Nelmes, centre manager at retail park, said the launch of The Boulevard signifies a "real turning point" for the centre. "We feel that we now have a much stronger brand identity that reflects everything that we have to offer to both local and international customers," he said. "We can't wait for people to come down and experience the new look and feel of the centre for themselves throughout a series of events starting on March 24, which will officially mark the arrival of this new era in the shopping centre's history. "We are continually working on attracting further brands that shoppers want, and consumers can expect to see more exciting developments in the pipeline this year." Alastair Coulson, asset and property management director of The Lotus Group, said there are more improvements to be made this year. "We plan to build upon the success of improvements already made to the site throughout the course of 2018 and we are confident that our new brand will not only give us a competitive edge but will encourage new high-profile tenants to set up shop," he said. In December, 32 jobs were created at The Outlet as the result of a 500,000 investment which saw men's fashion outlet Jack & Jones, local home textiles firm Ulster Weavers and UK beauty retailer The Beauty Outlet open at the site. In January 2016, the Belfast Telegraph revealed that The Outlet and The Junction in Antrim were both to be sold to The Lotus Group in a deal thought to be worth around 40m, making it one of the largest retail transactions that year. Both centres were marketed together and were originally for sale for around 60m. The Outlet was owned by West Register - a firm set up by Ulster Bank's parent company RBS in order to manage distressed property assets following the financial crisis. Zero-tariff, frictionless trade with the European Union after the UK leaves the bloc is vital, the new National Farmers Union president has said. Minette Batters, who last week was elected as the first female NFU president in its 110-year history, said Brexit and the renegotiation of trade deals provided the opportunity to make British food the envy of the world. In her first speech as president, the Wiltshire beef farmer said she wanted to build on the success of businesses already selling British produce to all corners of the world to boost food exports. She said she wanted to see an increase in cereals being sold to Tunisia, Algeria and Morocco, more premium dairy products to the US and Canada, and more pork, lamb and beef to countries such as China and Japan. She added it was time to turbo-charge the Red Tractor the food and farming assurance mark to build up the British food brand and ensure people around the world valued and demanded UK produce. But she warned: This is not a time to turn our back on the EU market, it remains a crucial market for British farmers, with 40% of our lamb, 80% of our dairy exports and 75% of our wheat and barley exports currently going into Europe. It is vital we have zero-tariff, frictionless trade with the EU marketplace. She called on the Government to match its promotion of UK industry and defence interests abroad with support for farmers and pushing British agricultural goods. Amid debate over the future of farm subsidies, which the Government has said will be replaced after Brexit by payments for public goods such as protecting the environment and high animal welfare standards Ms Batters said: We believe that the food we produce is a public good. If were going to prioritise these standards and have the regulation that underpins them, that comes with a cost. If you want a green world, if we really are serious about the environment, and really are serious about feeding the nation, weve got to look at how were going to fund that, weve got to recognise its got a price tag attached in it, weve got to invest in it. The British public have said they want high welfare standards, theyve said they want high standards of environmental responsibility, and it comes at a price. Those bolt-ons, effectively, are a public good. Ms Batters also said it was a priority to secure access for seasonal workers from abroad to help with the harvest, warning growers are so worried about this future harvest and bringing it in. Shoe retailer Pavers has confirmed it will buy Jones Bootmaker in a move that will save hundreds of jobs at the high street chain after it faced adverse retail conditions. It is the second time the company has changed hands in the past year, having been bought by private equity investor Endless last spring for 11 million. Despite substantial investment and best efforts, the recent adverse retail conditions have meant that the Jones business could not be turned around and needed to be part of a larger group, Endless said in a statement. York-based retailer Pavers has struck a deal to buy 42 of the 47 stores from Endless, as well as the brand and website, saving 389 jobs. The deal excludes the head office where about 50 jobs will be lost. Despite substantial investment and best efforts, the recent adverse retail conditions have meant that the Jones business could not be turned around and needed to be part of a larger groupStatement from Endless A further 36 jobs will be lost from the five stores not being transferred into Pavers ownership. Pavers managing director Stuart Paver said he was happy to be able to secure the future of hundreds of employees. The Jones stores and people are a huge asset to Pavers and we look forward to developing the business, and the people, over the decades to come. Pavers is an independent family business, as Jones used to be, and we want to re-establish these traditional family values, returning the focus at Jones to exceptional product and friendly customer service hallmarks of what we try so hard to achieve at Pavers. Our plan is to grow and develop the Jones Bootmaker brand and product as a distinct offering separate from the existing Pavers retail business. We believe the Jones brand has an exciting future and are eager to invest in this. The deal comes after former private equity owner Alteri filed a notice to appoint administrators for the retailer last March. The 161-year-old British shoe brand was sold to Endless through another pre-pack administration, where the firm is placed in administration but the assets are sold immediately to a new owner. Pre-pack deals are controversial as they often see buyers ditch unprofitable stores and avoid taking on much of the debt. Sam Woodward of EY which was appointed as the administrator of Jones Bootmaker on February 26 before selling the business and assets to Pavers said: The pressures on high street retailers and the challenging trading conditions of recent years have been well covered in the media. This deal will ensure that Jones Bootmaker, a brand that has built a strong and well-recognised high street and online presence over many years, can continue to evolve and prosper. Most importantly it means that 389 jobs have been secured and that the vast majority of stores within the estate will remain open. How the border in Ireland will work after Brexit has been a major obstacle in the EU-UK talks. A leaked legal text set to be adopted by the European Union on Brexit will include a proposal Northern Ireland my be considered part of the EU customs territory after the separation, according to a report by RTE. The DUP has said such a proposal would be unacceptable to them and most likely the British Government. The draft legal text for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU will be published in Brussels on Wednesday. This fundamentally breaches the understanding reached in December and would undermine the constitutional status of NI in the Belfast Agreement. If the EU or Dublin believes the UK Government will be signing up to a border in the Irish Sea, they are deluded. Taoiseach knows that. https://t.co/77dUekdO0H Jeffrey Donaldson MP (@J_Donaldson_MP) February 27, 2018 Irish broadcaster RTE described the text as "carefully worded" alluding to a single regulatory space on the island of Ireland with no internal barriers in order to avoid a hard border. It is considered option C, or the "backstop" in the break-up talks. The draft text, it is understood, will not say Northern Ireland will remain in the single market but that would be implied through EU single market legislation which will be applicable. Option A, in that there will be no need for regulations given a future free-trading agreement and Option B which considered technological approaches were considered to have not been fully explored enough by the UK in order for the EU to go into them in detail. The leaked paper, it's claimed, says if there is agreement on those options - which are preferred by the UK - then the single regulatory space, option C, will not apply. Under option C, the leaked text goes into how it would work. It says there will be joint EU-UK customs teams to "apply checks on goods coming in from the UK into the new regulatory space". It does not say where these checks will take place. The Irish government has said it would prefer options A or B but until there was further detail on those, option C had to be considered. The European Commission, however, has expressed concern over the first two options saying they had the potential to undermine the integrity of the EU single market and customs union. It is simply unimaginable that there would be any barriers to trade across the Irish Sea. Diane Dodds Earlier Guy Verhofstadt, the EU's Brexit co-ordinator, said he would fight for Northern Ireland to be subject to EU law Its for us key that there will be in future, whatever the outcome of negotiations will be, no divergence in norms, rules or standards between the North and Republic of Ireland. That is our goal, he said. The DUP described his proposals as disastrous saying it effectively cut the region off from the rest of the UK. "For the EU 27 to effectively propose creating a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom is reckless," said MEP Diane Dodds. "Crucially for Northern Ireland businesses, there was a clear commitment that Northern Ireland would have unfettered access to and from the United Kingdom internal market. "The Government should rightly reject those aspects which don't reflect the balance of the agreement already made between the EU and Her Majestys Government. "Brussels negotiators have lectured the UK that there can be no cherry picking of the obligations and responsibilities of previous agreements however on this occasion it seems to be a case of do as I say but not as I do." Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said he was satisfied the text will ensure there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit. Since the political deal on the contentious issue was struck in December, Mr Varadkar said the Government had sought to turn a political commitment into a legal text. I am satisfied that it puts down in law how we can avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, the Taoiseach said. Simon Coveney, Irish Foreign Minister, met EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Tuesday to be briefed on the content of the text. The Taoiseach spoke by phone with Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday night, ahead of the publication. He said: We cannot automatically assume it will be acceptable to the United Kingdom or acceptable to all the parties in Northern Ireland so we could have an interesting few weeks ahead of us. The draft text needs to become legal by October this year. Earlier, Irish politicians rounded on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for comparing the border with Northern Ireland to divisions between London boroughs. Read More His suggestion that technology was the solution to the frontier question were mocked in political circles in Britain and drew disdain in Dublin and Belfast. Stephen Donnelly, the Brexit spokesman for the opposition Fianna Fail party, recalled his years working in London after hearing Mr Johnsons remarks. I lived in Camden for several years, and was never stopped crossing the border to Islington, he said. I have, however, had military rifles pointed at me when crossing into Northern Ireland in the 90s. Suggesting these borders are the same is extraordinary. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: When Boris Johnson decides to come down from the other planet that he clearly inhabits, he should visit the Irish border and see the scale of the challenge were facing with his own eyes before making further pronouncements. Under Londons post-Brexit trade plan the UK would examine existing regulations and decide whether it wanted to maintain, alter or abandon them in certain areas. Sinn Feins Brexit spokesman David Cullinane called the Foreign Secretarys intervention silly and ignorant. I do not think it will be a surprise for many people that Boris Johnson would make an ignorant observation when it comes to Ireland, he said. DUP leader Arlene Foster has rejected claims of difficulties within the ranks of her party in the wake of the talks break down. The former first minister also rejected claims she was unable to sell an Irish language act to her supporters - saying she had always been clear on her stance. After a leak of a draft deal to restore Stormont sparked controversy over plans for the Irish language, Mrs Foster said there was a huge difference between official status and official recognition and I think a lot of people have missed out on that. "There was no agreement, because in this process as in every process nothing is agreed until everything was agreed." Mrs Foster, speaking on UTVs View From Stormont, suggested there were instead problems within the ranks of Sinn Fein. She said her partys ruling body met on Thursday, and it was a very good meeting. People need to reflect on why Sinn Fein is coming out so hard in relation to propaganda and spin and in relation in some cases of a misrepresentation of what happened. The reality is they are doing that because there are difficulties within their own ranks. On tonight's programme @DUPleader gives us her take on the #Stormont talks collapse, including claims that an Irish Language Act 'is not acceptable to the majority of people in Northern Ireland.' Join us at 10.50pm pic.twitter.com/TlvM0YEEYd View From Stormont (@ViewFrmStormont) February 26, 2018 Mrs Foster again repeated there was no agreement on an Irish language act or that there were any side deals on legacy matters. I was willing to recognise Irish speakers and indeed respect them and said we could do that through a culture act and the way to go forward was that one culture would not dominate another and there was space for everyone in Northern Ireland." She continued: "What we were not going to do was foist an Irish language act on the people of Northern Ireland which meant that those that don't engage in the Irish language would have it impinge on their everyday life." Asked how talks could resume with Sinn Fein, Mrs Foster said the priority now was to get a budget in place to keep public services up and running. "It is important everybody reflects on the positions. We reflect on the position that an Irish language act is not acceptable to the majority of people in Northern Ireland, that it should not be given priority over the issues that matter to people like health, education, more and better jobs, better infrastructure." She added: "It is not a case of convincing Sinn Fein it is up to them if they want to continue to block devolution or if they want to come into devolution with us and to work on those issues that matter to everyone. "Why should we allow one party to block governance of Northern Ireland - that is wrong." Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) Time for Truth March takes place in Belfast City Centre on 25th February 2018 (Photo by Kevin Scott / Belfast Telegraph) A protest march by families of Troubles victims was "hijacked" by "victim-makers", critics have said. Thousands of people assembled in front of City Hall on Sunday for the Time for Truth march, demanding action on stalled efforts to deal with the legacy of the conflict. Several proposals are on hold due to the Stormont stalemate, such as an independent Historical Investigations Unit, a truth and recovery body, and increased funds for coroners' inquests and Police Ombudsman probes. The weekend event was billed as being open to both sides of the community, but did not include any unionist speakers. Most victims who attended were from the nationalist community. TUV leader Jim Allister criticised the attendance of former IRA members and current Sinn Fein MLAs Gerry Kelly and Caral Ni Chuilin, as well Sinn Fein councillor Deirdre Hargey. Ms Hargey was among 70 people present at Magennis' Bar on January 30, 2005, when Robert McCartney was murdered nearby, following a dispute inside the bar. However, in a statement to a solicitor, Ms Hargey said she saw nothing. "It's part of their brazenness that they are so corrupting the situation that they parade demanding truth when they have peddled lies around IRA involvement," Mr Allister said. "This was an anti-state event and it's no surprise that the Shinners were fronting it up - it was their show. "These people are talking about the need for truth when they represent those who have concealed and denied the truth for decades. "This would cause more hurt and anger for victims. Expand Close Colin Worton / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Colin Worton "Far from being a healing exercise, it will have opened up old wounds." Colin Worton, whose 24-year-old brother Kenneth was killed by the IRA at Kingsmill, said he "wouldn't have felt comfortable" attending a parade which had been "hijacked by Sinn Fein and the republican agenda". He said he "resented" the attendance of Gerry Kelly, Caral Ni Chuilin and Deirdre Hargey. "Anybody that has been a terrorist and a victim-maker, to say they are representing victims is odd, it's strange," he said. "How can they say they are representing victims when they have made victims? Everyone wants the truth, but they have to start with the ones they are standing with. "They have to prove they are sincere, and the only way to prove that to the unionist community is to tell what they did and admit what they know." One of the march organisers was John Teggart, whose father Daniel was shot dead by soldiers in Ballymurphy in 1971. His 15-year-old brother Bernard was abducted and murdered by the IRA in 1973. Mr Teggart said that it "wasn't the intention" for the march to be one-sided. He deemed the criticism an "attempt to make a division among victims" and defended the Sinn Fein members who attended the march for "supporting victims". "It was open to everyone - not just Protestants or Catholics, but all victims," he said. "There were no political banners and even I didn't know who would be there on the day. "I contacted people from the unionist community and asked if they wanted to take part, and they said they would love to but were unable to due to personal circumstances. "I also reached out to victims of Kingsmill, La Mon and the Shankill bomb." Mr Teggart said he "can't understand" the row over the Sinn Fein representatives' attendance. "On that march were people from Sinn Fein, Alliance, People Before Profit and the SDLP - everybody was invited," he continued. "The ones criticising it want to stop victims getting to the truth. "I would ask who was not on the march and why they were not supporting us. "I welcome the support of those who were there - there was no political agenda. "I'm really disappointed at comments on social media." A Sinn Fein spokesperson said: "The March for Truth saw thousands of people on the street supporting the victims and families who have been denied justice and truth. "There is an onus on the British government to begin the consultation on the legacy mechanisms agreed at Stormont House while ensuring the proposed section on statute of limitations/amnesty is removed. "They should also move immediately and release the money requested by the Lord Chief Justice for legacy inquests." Asked when the consultation on legacy proposals would begin, a Northern Ireland Office spokesperson stated: "This government has set out clear manifesto commitments to take forward the Stormont House Agreement legacy institutions and to support inquest reform. "As the Secretary of State has made clear, her preference would have been to launch the consultation in the context of a political agreement to restore devolution but will consider how to implement Stormont House legacy institutions as soon as possible. "The government announced 150m in 2014 to support legacy reform in Northern Ireland." Complaints are to be made to the Police Ombudsman about alleged failings by the RUC at the time to investigate reports of sexual abuse in 1996, it has been reported. Father Malachy Finnegan, a former teacher of St Coleman's College in Newry, was accused of sexual abuse by 12 people. The BBC reported that police had been alerted to the allegations in 1996 but failed to interview the priest who died in 2002. The Diocese of Dromore said it had been aware of the 12 allegations against the former teacher, but Finnegan was never prosecuted. The first allegation against Father Finnegan came to light in 1994 when the Bishop of Dromore provided pastoral support to one of the victims. The second allegation came in 1998. There were no further allegations until after his death in January 2002. The Police Ombudsman said it had been notified complaints will be made against the police service. We have received notification from solicitors acting on behalf of five victims that a complaint will be made to the Police Ombudsmans Office later this week," a spokesman added. The diocese reached a settlement with victims in October 2017, although details have only just emerged. A joint statement from the St Colman's board of governors yesterday condemned the abuse inflicted on pupils by Finnegan. The school has since ordered all images of Finnegan to be removed. Bishop of Dromore Dr John McAreavey said Finnegan's actions were "abhorrent, inexcusable and indefensible". The disgraced cleric was college president at St Colman's for 11 years before being transferred to Clonduff as parish priest in January 1988. Bishop McAreavey said the first allegations against him came in 1994, a year before his retirement. A second allegation emerged in 1998, but was not related to his time in St Colman's. All other complaints emerged after his death in January 2002. Arlene Arkinson has never been found (PA) A grave may be dug up during an investigation into the murder of a schoolgirl from Northern Ireland, a lawyer told an inquest. Arlene Arkinson, 15, from Castlederg in Co Tyrone, went missing in 1994 following a night out across the Irish border in nearby Co Donegal. She has never been found and an inquest in Belfast into her death began in February 2016. Legal proceedings have been stalled for months awaiting information from the Irish authorities, and a barrister also told a preliminary hearing a Danish woman may have further information to give to investigators. Ronan Daly said: There is an application currently for exhumation of a grave in relation to inquiries. Expand Close Police and forensics officers at farmland in Killen, around a mile from Castlederg (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Police and forensics officers at farmland in Killen, around a mile from Castlederg (Brian Lawless/PA) The coroner, judge Brian Sherrard, said: This is a matter that is of some considerable sensitivity and nothing of any great detail can be discussed in the environment with regard to it. Police have launched numerous searches for the victims body. In September 2016 they sent specialist teams to examine a new site in a field near Killen, outside Castlederg. Arlene was last seen with child killer Robert Howard, who died in prison in 2015. He was acquitted of the teenagers murder by a jury that was unaware of his previous conviction for murdering 14-year-old Hannah Williams, whose body was found in an industrial area close to the Thames Estuary. Howard always remained the Police Service of Northern Irelands prime suspect in the Arkinson case. Possible new information has been received from a Danish national, Mr Daly told Tuesdays hearing in Belfast. Expand Close Arlene Arkinson murder Press Association Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Arlene Arkinson murder It arrived at the Gardas Missing Persons Bureau from the Irish Embassy in Copenhagen, which had been contacted with alleged information about Arlene. The Bureau spoke to the Danish woman by telephone. Mr Daly added: That person essentially indicated that she had some information in relation to the death and she was asked to email the details to the Missing Persons Bureau but preferred to hand-deliver to the Irish Embassy at Copenhagen. He said that never happened. The PSNI tried to ring a phone number she gave and it did not exist, PSNI lawyer Mark Robinson said. Ivor McAteer, barrister for the Arkinson family, said the information was tenuous. He added: The families have received information which may or may not be relevant but certainly serves to pick the scab of this particular sore and therefore we would underline that call for expedition. It is important in circumstances this far removed that we have some clarity, if we can ask the Guards (Garda) to expedite matters. Mr Daly also said 63 new documents about the disappearance had become available for disclosure but may have some read across to previously disclosed items. Henry Toner QC, Arkinson family barrister, said events could go on and on but at some point there needed to be a conclusion. The case was adjourned to April 12. Irish politicians have rounded on Boris Johnson for comparing the border with Northern Ireland to divisions between London boroughs. The Foreign Secretarys suggestion that technology was the solution to the frontier question were mocked in political circles in Britain and drew disdain in Dublin and Belfast. Stephen Donnelly, the Brexit spokesman for the opposition Fianna Fail party, recalled his years working in London after hearing Mr Johnsons remarks. I lived in Camden for several years, and was never stopped crossing the 'border' to Islington. I have, however, had military rifles pointed at me when crossing into Northern Ireland in the '90's. Suggesting these borders are the same is extraordinary. https://t.co/I2H6Sy3VH9 Stephen Donnelly (@DonnellyStephen) February 27, 2018 I lived in Camden for several years, and was never stopped crossing the border to Islington, he said. I have, however, had military rifles pointed at me when crossing into Northern Ireland in the 90s. Suggesting these borders are the same is extraordinary. Mr Johnson suggested crossing the Irish border could be solved in the same way technology was deployed to collect congestion charges between Camden and Westminster when he was London mayor. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said he wanted to educate the Foreign Secretary about the border issues. Expand Close Stormont powersharing talks PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Stormont powersharing talks When Boris Johnson decides to come down from the other planet that he clearly inhabits, he should visit the Irish border and see the scale of the challenge were facing with his own eyes before making further pronouncements, the nationalist leader said. The SDLP said it sent a memo to the Foreign Office detailing the difficulties with a hard border and the realities faced by people, businesses and communities. Trivialising the very serious concerns relating to Ireland displays a dangerous ignorance that must be challenged, Mr Eastwood said. Mr Johnsons much-criticised analogy came hours after Prime Minister Theresa May and Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar spoke on the phone in what will be a hugely important week in Brexit talks. The two leaders held discussions as EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier prepares to publish a legal document expected to cement the December agreement that should ensure no hard border on the island of Ireland when the UK leaves Europe. Under Londons post-Brexit trade plan the UK would examine existing regulations and decide whether it wants to maintain, alter or abandon them in certain areas. Sinn Feins Brexit spokesman David Cullinane branded the Foreign Secretarys intervention as silly and ignorant. It is not surprising that Boris Johnson would make those kind of silly comparisons because he and the hard Brexiteers simply do not want to face up to the reality that any type of Brexit or any type of exit from the customs union and the single market for Britain and the north will mean a hardening of the border, he said. I do not think it will be a surprise for many people that Boris Johnson would make an ignorant observation when it comes to Ireland. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said he is satisfied the legal text for the withdrawal of the UK from the EU will ensure there will be no hard border on the island of Ireland after Brexit. The draft document from the European Union will be published in Brussels on Wednesday. Since the political deal on the contentious issue was struck in December, Mr Varadkar said the Government had sought to turn a political commitment into a legal text. I am satisfied that it puts down in law how we can avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, the Taoiseach said. Simon Coveney, Irish Foreign Minister, met EU chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier on Tuesday to be briefed on the content of the text. The Taoiseach spoke by phone with Prime Minister Theresa May on Monday night, ahead of the publication. He said: We cannot automatically assume it will be acceptable to the United Kingdom or acceptable to all the parties in Northern Ireland so we could have an interesting few weeks ahead of us. The draft text needs to become legal by October this year. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach for assurances that the agreement allowed for Northern Ireland to remain in the customs union and single market. She also claimed there were contradictions in Decembers agreement which needed to be resolved. The Taoiseach said he was not at liberty to outline the contents of the draft text but that it set out how a hard border could be avoided. Earlier, Irish politicians rounded on Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson for comparing the border with Northern Ireland to divisions between London boroughs. His suggestion that technology was the solution to the frontier question were mocked in political circles in Britain and drew disdain in Dublin and Belfast. Stephen Donnelly, the Brexit spokesman for the opposition Fianna Fail party, recalled his years working in London after hearing Mr Johnsons remarks. I lived in Camden for several years, and was never stopped crossing the border to Islington, he said. I have, however, had military rifles pointed at me when crossing into Northern Ireland in the 90s. Suggesting these borders are the same is extraordinary. SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: When Boris Johnson decides to come down from the other planet that he clearly inhabits, he should visit the Irish border and see the scale of the challenge were facing with his own eyes before making further pronouncements. Under Londons post-Brexit trade plan the UK would examine existing regulations and decide whether it wanted to maintain, alter or abandon them in certain areas. Sinn Feins Brexit spokesman David Cullinane called the Foreign Secretarys intervention silly and ignorant. I do not think it will be a surprise for many people that Boris Johnson would make an ignorant observation when it comes to Ireland, he said. Peers have backed legislation to publish the names of major political donors in Northern Ireland despite demands that it should be backdated to 2014. Northern Ireland minister Lord Duncan of Springbank said an Order allowing publication of all donations and loans received by Northern Ireland political parties after July 2017 would establish transparency and boost confidence in the electoral process. But the Liberal Democrats said the move should be backdated to 2014 and party member Lord Tyler warned there was "continuing suspicion of a case of very serious political money laundering". He said the basic facts were not in dispute. "The DUP received a sum approaching half a million pounds from an undisclosed source for its campaign in the 2016 EU referendum." Despite supporting Leave, the DUP chose to spend 425,000 paying for a wrap around advert in the Metro newspaper "targeted at electors on this side of the Irish Sea". Labour has claimed the Government's failure to backdate the naming of political donors in Northern Ireland was a bid to mask a huge Brexit-backing donation to the DUP. Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary Owen Smith alleged late last year that the decision to publish donations from 2017 onward, rather than exercising the power to backdate to 2014, meant the 435,000 donation to the DUP during the 2016 referendum campaign would not be covered by the law change. Lord Tyler asked in the Lords if it was a "complete coincidence that the ministerial decision to restrict the retrospectivity to carefully avoid any reference to this transaction came just days after the Government had to pay a price for DUP support in the Commons having lost its majority". He asked if it was part of the deal and whether the Northern Ireland Secretary had been briefed on the "potentially illegal donation that was involved" and whether it had been made "through any intermediary". Lord Tyler said: "We now know the Russians took a considerable interest in the outcome of our referendum. Perhaps it was Russian money that was being channelled by this means." Lord Browne of Belmont, a DUP peer, said the donation to the DUP from the Constitutional Research Council (CRC), a little-known Great Britain-based group of pro-union business figures, was declared. "The uses to which the money was put were fully disclosed to the Electoral Commission which accepted the bona fides of the Council." Lord Browne said retrospective legislation was acceptable only in exceptional circumstances and it was not fair to reveal the identities of those who made donations on the assumption of the law as it stood at the time. Lord Duncan said only the Alliance party had wanted to see the Order backdated to 2014 in a consultation with Northern Ireland's political parties. By establishing transparency now, the Government was "not ruling out the re-examination of that period that precedes July 1 2017". He said the Order allowed consideration of this, adding: "We won't rule anything in or out on that point." The data had been gathered from 2014 and would remain in place. "If it determined we should examine that in greater detail going forward there is an opportunity for us to re-visit this item itself." The Transparency of Donations and Loans (Northern Ireland Political Parties) Order 2018 was approved without a vote. 1. Yes. COVID-19 can only be stopped through vaccinations. A mandate is needed. 2. Yes. This is a major step, but were facing a national emergency. It is a justifiable move. 3. No. The government is right to promote vaccinations, but not to require them. 4. No. This is government overreach and legally questionable. A mandate is wrong. 5. Unsure. Its in the publics interest, but mandates infringe on individuals rights. Vote View Results The scene of the fatal fire in Magherafelt, Co Londonderry A man aged in his 50s has died following a fire at his home in Co Londonderry. Named locally as Terry McCann, the man was found dead by firefighters at his bungalow in Magherafelt. The firefighters were called to Highfield Road shortly after 3.30pm on Sunday. A small fire in the living room of the semi-detached bungalow had already burnt itself out by the time they arrived at the scene. Darren Totten, a Sinn Fein councillor in Magherafelt, expressed the community's sadness. He said: "It's sad to see the untimely loss of a member of our community under such tragic circumstances. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family. "It comes as a sharp reminder to us all to ensure our homes are safe and precautions - such as working smoke alarms and extinguishers - are in place." A spokesman for the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said the cause of the fire was accidental. "The thoughts and sympathies of NIFRS are with the family and friends of the man who died following a house fire in Magherafelt," the spokesman said. "NIFRS was notified by PSNI at 3.34pm about a fire in a house in Highfield Road, Magherafelt. "A small fire in the living room of the semi-detached bungalow had already burnt itself out prior to the arrival of the emergency services. "Tragically, a man in his 50s had died. "NIFRS Fire Investigation Officers attended the incident. No firefighting action was required. The cause of the fire has been confirmed as accidental." Christine McFlynn, an SDLP councillor in the area, said: "I was saddened to hear there was a fire in Magherafelt which resulted in the loss of life for a male resident and I sympathise with the family at this sad time. "It's a tragedy and I am sure the community will rally round the family to help in any way they can." The PSNI said the cause of the fire is being investigated but they are not treating it as suspicious. Police investigating the deaths of three people in a house fire in Fermanagh have arrested a man on suspicion of murder. The 27-year-old suspect was detained at the scene and transferred to hospital for treatment before his arrest. Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy said: At this time we believe the fire, which has claimed at least three lives, was started deliberately. We are continuing to thoroughly examine the scene along with our colleagues in the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service. Police tape seals off Molly Road in Fermanagh, where at least three people have died in an early morning house fire pic.twitter.com/AyMDkwmyaM Aine Fox (@aine_fox) February 27, 2018 The whitewashed rural bungalow in Derrylin, near the border with the Irish Republic, was destroyed in the blaze and the roof collapsed. The victims were members of the same family, Democratic Unionist leader Arlene Foster said. Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) said its officers took an emergency call about the fire at 7.14am on Tuesday. We received a call at 7.14am this morning (27 Feb) to a house fire in Doon Road, Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh. Firefighters dealt with a well-developed fire in a detached bungalow. 3 Fire Appliances attended the incident. The fire is now extinguished and NIFRS remains at the scene. pic.twitter.com/KZ7FRAu57B Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) February 27, 2018 The blaze occurred in a rural lane off the scenic Doon Road. It was well-developed when firefighters arrived in three appliances from Lisnaskea and Enniskillen, the service added. Police tape sealed off the entrance to Molly Road. It is the only house on the lane, surrounded by farm buildings and fields. The fire was extinguished and police and fire officers are determining if anyone else was involved in the incident. We can confirm that at least three people have died in a house fire in Derrylin, Co. Fermanagh this morning. Emergency services remain at the scene. We are working to definitively establish the cause of the fire at this time. People should avoid Molly Road area at present Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) February 27, 2018 A spokeswoman for the fire service said: The thoughts of NIFRS are with the family, friends and local community at this time. Mrs Foster added it was devastating news for the local community and there was widespread shock in the area. I understand that all those who have died are members of the same family. Expand Close Emergency services at the house in Derrylin, Fermanagh (Brian Lawless/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Emergency services at the house in Derrylin, Fermanagh (Brian Lawless/PA) It is important that the cause of the fire is established but my thoughts and prayers are with all those in the local area, friends and the wider family circle as they struggle to come to terms with this terrible tragedy. Michelle Gildernew, Sinn Fein MP for the area, also offered her condolences. Devastating news for the family concerned and the Derrylin community. This is absolutely tragic, God help them all. The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) is to appeal the six-and- a-half-year sentence handed down to loyalist supergrass Gary Haggarty for his involvement in over 200 crimes including five murders. Former north Belfast UVF chief Haggarty (46) pleaded guilty to five murders as his part of a controversial State deal that offered a significantly-reduced prison term in return for giving evidence against other terrorist suspects. One individual is to be prosecuted over two murders using his evidence. Given time spent on remand, Haggarty, who was a paid police informer for 11 years, was eligible to go before the Life Sentence Parole Commissioners and it was reported at the time of his sentencing at the end of January that he could be free within weeks and placed into a witness protection scheme with a new identity. There was outcry at the sentence from families of those killed by the UVF. Now, the PPS is challenging the sentence on the grounds it was too lenient. The former boss of the UVF's notorious Mount Vernon unit confessed to his crimes after signing a deal following his arrest in 2009. Haggarty provided information on 55 loyalist murders and 20 attempted murders in 1,015 police interviews. The vast majority of individuals named by Haggarty will not face prosecution amid state concerns about a lack of supporting evidence. Passing sentence, Judge Mr Justice Adrian Colton said Haggarty's was a case of "exceptional gravity". "The fact he was involved directly in multiple terrorist murders must be an aggravating factor," he commented. The judge acknowledged those who become informers face torture and execution if caught. But he said Haggarty's was not a Road to Damascus conversion, rather one motivated by self-interest, but said Haggarty had given "substantial" assistance to prosecutors. Prominent figures from across unionism have united in a call for an inclusive debate on rights that crosses the sectarian divide. In an open letter signed by 105 men and women from academia, politics, sport, arts and law, it is being seen as civic unionism's response to a similar call from nationalism, urging Taoiseach Leo Varadkar to defend their rights in Northern Ireland. Read More The 105 signatories say they are motivated by a desire to build a better society for all. "This cannot happen when such a commitment is perceived as being vested in one community or political persuasion," the letter says. "We find it frustrating and puzzling that civic unionism, pluralists and other forms of civic leadership have been rendered invisible in many debates focused on rights and responsibilities." The letter's convenor is Dr James Wilson, a freelance consultant, researcher and historian who served in the Army during the Troubles and later worked in corporate counsel in London's Square Mile. He was a founding member of the Belfast chapter of Veterans For Peace UK. He said the open letter offers "a positive challenge" to Irish nationalism to engage with civic unionism. One of the key figures behind the initiative is Professor Peter Shirlow of Liverpool University, formerly of both Queen's and Ulster University. He told the Belfast Telegraph last night that the impulse behind the letter came from a broad swathe of unionist opinion which was concerned about rights issues being conflated with attitudes to Northern Ireland's constitutional position. "We're trying to break this idea that a commitment to rights is somehow based upon one's constitutional allegiance," Professor Shirlow said. "We do not want a selective idea of who wants and who doesn't want rights. "What we're saying is that we believe that if we are going to have a rights based society, we need to do that across the constitutional divide. "How can you build a better society when people in this society think that only one section of society wants rights, and when you have evidence that tells you that that is not true? "We live in a society where significant numbers of our people that think it is only civic nationalists who support gay marriage and equal rights. "That's harmful - and means we are not getting beyond the sterile repetitive politics of Northern Ireland." One of the signatories, Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie, explained why he had signed the open letter, printed in full below. "I think for far too long there's been a narrative that unionism does not want to see a shared society," said Mr Beattie. "That is a false narrative, and that by publicly contradicting that idea we hope to engage civic nationalism with all of the things that are important in order to create a shared, fair society. "We want to engage with any groups who want to understand unionism better, who want to understand what we stand for." Another signatory, journalist and commentator Brian Walker, said he signed the letter "partly out of concern that especially in the present political turmoil, the Irish government as co-guarantor under the Good Friday Agreement could become the champion of nationalist interests to the exclusion of unionists, while the GFA requires the British Government, as sovereign, to act with rigorous impartiality". Last night Sinn Fein's Northern Ireland leader Michelle O'Neill described the letter as an "important intervention" in the debate over civic rights in Northern Ireland. "I welcome this initiative by those within civic unionism who insist that their views and voices are heard in the debate on the demand for rights and equality in northern society," she said. "The campaign for rights and equality belongs to everyone. There is no such thing as nationalist equality or unionist equality. There is just equality for all. "This space is common ground for all who cherish equality and rights. "Society can only be enriched if citizens come together in common cause to ensure that rights are acquired and protected." The signatories who say aim of a better society is shared by them too Brian Acheson Ian Acheson Irwin Armstrong Arthur Aughey Stuart Aveyard John Barry Doug Beattie John Bew Elizabeth Boyd Gavin Boyd William Boyd Glenn Bradley Michael Briggs Daniel Brown Jonathan Burgess Paul Burgess Jason Burke Alison Campbell Stevie Campbell Lesley Carroll Jim Crothers Jonny Currie Vince Curry Glenda Davies James Dingley Brian Dougherty Jeffrey Dudgeon John Dunlop Janice Dunwoody Aaron Edwards William Ennis Brian Ervine Linda Ervine Isabella Evangelisti Neil Faris Albert Flanagan Dean Farquhar Stewart Finn John W Foster James Gallacher Richard Garland Brian Garrett James Greer Trevor Hamilton Barry Hazley Helen Henderson Maureen Hetherington Chris Hudson Fiona Hutchinson Mark Irvine Kathryn Johnston Georgina Kee-McCarter James Kee Julia Kee Lauren Kerr John Kyle Paul Leeman David McAloanen Chris McGimpsey Shirley McMichael Lesley Macaulay William Matchett Andrew Mawhinney Lindsay Millar Lewis Montgomery Derek Moore Pamela Moore Steve Moore Gareth Mulvenna Mike Nesbitt George Newell Hannah Niblock Russell Orr Jenny Palmer John Palmer Len Peace Claire Pierson Andy Pollak Catherine Pollock Dawn Purvis David Ramsey Chris Reid Stafford Reynolds Trevor Ringland John Shackels David Shaw Stephanie Shaw Peter Shirlow Frank Shivers Philip Smith David Smyth Neil Southern Brian Spencer David Stewart John Stewart Robin Stewart Kyle Thompson Brian W Walker Garth Watson David Whiteside Robert Williamson Steve Williamson Andrew Wilson James Wilson Terence Wright Boris Johnson says he hopes the west will not stand by if evidence of further use of chemical weapons in Syria comes to light (Jonathan Brady/PA) Boris Johnson has said he hopes the west does not stand idly by if incontrovertible evidence comes forward of further chemical weapons use in Syria. The Foreign Secretary spoke of Britains failure to take action in 2013, when MPs rejected military action against Syrias President Assad. It came as Labour MP John Woodcock said the bodies of the latest violence in Syria should be piled up in this chamber as he urged ministers to do more. Foreign Secretary @BorisJohnson calls on Asad regime to respect Syria ceasefire and allow delivery of aid to #EasternGhouta. https://t.co/vqzk5r0cpR pic.twitter.com/lPKGDf25YG Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (@FCDOGovUK) February 26, 2018 Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of the capital Damascus, has been under intensive bombardment by government forces, backed by Russia, for weeks. UN chief Antonio Guterres has denounced the violence in the embattled region, describing it as hell on Earth. Answering an urgent question in the Commons from Mr Woodcock, Mr Johnson was asked by Tory MP Jack Lopresti about the use of chemical weapons in Syria and the possibility of limited strikes on the Assad regime. The Foreign Secretary said: I think that many people in this country will certainly share his sentiments and I think many people believe that the United States of America did exactly the right thing when they responded to the abomination of the attack at Khan Sheikhoun in April with the strike at the Shayrat airfield. I think that it is certainly the case that if the OPCW (Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons) produces incontrovertible evidence of further use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime or their supporters, then I will certainly hope very much that the west does not stand idly by. The latest round of violence has been marred by fresh reports of chlorine gas use, as well as indiscriminate bombing and the targeting of hospitals. The men and women of Ghouta who lie in pieces, deliberately targeted by Assads Russia enabled bombs, the dead children whose faces are altered by the chlorine gas that choked them, Mr Woodcock said. Pleased that my urgent question to the foreign secretary on the slaughter in Ghouta has been granted. 3.30pm today #Syria https://t.co/2PnQYPNJoC Lord Walney (@LordWalney) February 26, 2018 They should not be strewn in the rubble of Eastern Ghouta. Those bodies should be piled up in this chamber and lain at the feet of governments of every single nation which continues to shrug in the face of this horror. He added that the UN Security Council is broken while one of its permanent members flouts the basic laws and systems of order it was created to uphold. Mr Woodcock said: In these dreadful circumstances, being cowed into inaction by this strangulated body is a greater violation than seeking to act even without its own authorisation. Mr Johnson, in response to the Labour MP for Barrow and Furness, said: On his central point, which is that we in this country, the West, in the end did not do enough to turn the tide in Syria, that we missed our opportunity in 2013, no one can conceivably contradict him. I think that we all understand what took place in the gap that we allowed to be opened up for the Russians and the Iranians to come in and to support the Assad regime. We all understand the failure that took place then. Mr Johnson went on to say that he believed it was almost impossible for the Syrian regime to now achieve a military victory. The only way out of this mess, this morass, for the Russians is to go for a political solution, he added. The Duchess of Cambridge has joked that William is in denial about their third child and shared an emotional hug with her former midwife as she celebrated nursing worldwide. Kates light-hearted comment came as she visited a leading London hospital to launch the Nursing Now global campaign, aimed at raising the status and profile of nurses, and praised the health workers who look after us in our happiest and saddest times. Earlier she visited the London headquarters of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) as she was named patron of the organisation and gave her former midwife, Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, a hug. Expand Close The Duchess of Cambridge shares a few words with Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, who helped deliver both of her children (Peter Nicholls/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The Duchess of Cambridge shares a few words with Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, who helped deliver both of her children (Peter Nicholls/PA) Professor Dunkley-Bent, head of Maternity, Children and Young People at NHS England, who helped deliver Prince George and Princess Charlotte, said afterwards: It was a surprise and an absolute pleasure to be reunited with Kate again today. Supporting families at the birth of their baby including future kings and queens is hugely rewarding and were very grateful to have the Duchess of Cambridges support for the nursing profession. The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London. Pics: @VictoriaJonesPA pic.twitter.com/OzAF9YDQ1O PA Royal Reporters (@PARoyal) February 27, 2018 Before launching the Nursing Now campaign Kate met Lauren Kedwell, 36, and Jamie Parsons, 33, from Upper Beeding, West Sussex, whose daughter is being treated on the Snow Leopard ward at St Thomas Hospital where nurses, not doctors, take the lead in patient care. Mr Parsons said: I said congratulations, best of luck with the third one and she said Williams in denial. His 10-month-old daughter Amara Kedwell-Parsons has never been home but has been treated in six hospitals for Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a brain injury caused by oxygen starvation. Amara and Kim are two of the patients being cared for on the Snow Leopard ward. As part of their role here, the nurses teach parents how to use ventilation equipment so that they can care for their children at home. pic.twitter.com/M3wzYZnrUX The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) February 27, 2018 Kate put the couple at ease and made silly noises at the infant as she sat in a chair. Ms Kedwell said: She was gooing at my daughter, while her partner added: She was just very understanding but also you could tell that she did have empathy and could see it was just a scenario that was challenging for us. The duchess spoke about her family connection with the health profession when she addressed nursing organisations and medical leaders from a range of countries including Norway, Uganda, Bahamas and Thailand, as she launched Nursing Now. The Duchess joins a discussion at the @RCObsGyn about the ways in which the stigma around women's health, in particular maternal mental health, can be challenged. pic.twitter.com/fnXeeaa2fP The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) February 27, 2018 She said: This campaign means a lot to me personally. My great-grandmother and grandmother were both volunteer nurses. They would have learned first-hand from working with the Voluntary Aid Detachment and the Red Cross about the care and compassion that sometimes only nurses can provide. Kate, who wore a two-piece blue Jenny Packham dress and coat, praised nurses for their awe-inspiring dedication and professionalism adding: I was surprised to learn that to keep pace with the rising global demand, the world will need an additional 9 million nurses by 2030. In simple terms, thats about 2,000 more nurses every day for the next 12 years. This shows that we must act now to support and develop nurses with the skills and talent to cope with the future global health needs. The duchess, who earlier was named patron of the campaign, added: Nursing Now is a call to raise the profile of nursing internationally and to help grow the profession further so it can play a key role in meeting real health challenges across the world. Boris Johnson has said the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime should not go unpunished (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Boris Johnson has said Britain should consider joining military action against Syrian President Bashar Assads regime if there is fresh incontrovertible evidence he has used chemical weapons against his own people. The Foreign Secretary said that while the West could not intervene to change the odds in favour of the rebels fighting the regime, he believed the use of illegal weapons should not go unpunished. Its very important to recognise theres no military solution that we in the West can now impose, he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. The people listening to us, listening to this programme in eastern Ghouta cannot get the idea that the West is going to intervene to change the odds dramatically in their favour. If there is a proposal for action where the UK could be useful, then I think that we should seriously consider itBoris Johnson But what I think we need to ask ourselves as a country, and I think what we in the West need to ask ourselves, is can we allow the use of chemical weapons, the use of these illegal weapons to go unreprieved, unchecked, unpunished? And I dont think that we can. He went on: If there is incontrovertible evidence of the use of chemical weapons, verified by the Office of the Prevention of Chemical Weapons, if we know that its happened and we can demonstrate it, and if there is a proposal for action where the UK could be useful, then I think that we should seriously consider it. Mr Johnsons comments came as a five-hour pause in the regimes assault on the rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta, close to the capital Damascus, was beginning. Expand Close Syria Crisis PA Archive/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Syria Crisis The respite was ordered by Mr Assads chief backer Russia, which has said it would be repeated on a daily basis to allow civilians trapped by the fighting to leave. On Saturday, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution calling for a 30-day ceasefire, but it did not set a specific start date. More than 500 people have been killed since last week in eastern Ghouta, where activists on Sunday reported a suspected poison gas attack. Later on Tuesday, Russian ambassador Alexander Yakovenko was called to the Foreign Office to discuss the situation in Syria, when Europe minister Sir Alan Duncan stressed UK concerns about the crisis in eastern Ghouta and the need for a ceasefire. Today Im meeting @AlanDuncanMP to discuss Syria. I will say: Russia is firmly committed to UN-led peace process and political settlement. Save Syrians from terrorists and let them decide their future! pic.twitter.com/kNNHG045An Alexander Yakovenko (@Amb_Yakovenko) February 27, 2018 The Foreign Office said: Minister Duncan urged Russia to use its influence to ensure the Syrian regime adhered to the ceasefire in order to allow rapid, unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access and non-conditional medical evacuations which are urgently needed across Syria, but particularly eastern Ghouta. Ahead of the meeting, Mr Yakovenko said: Russia is firmly committed to UN-led peace process and political settlement. Save Syrians from terrorists and let them decide their future. A Czech court has ruled that the former leader of a Syrian Kurdish party detained by authorities in Prague will be released, despite an extradition request from Turkey. Salih Muslim, former co-chair of the Democratic Union Party, or PYD, was detained in the Czech capital on Saturday based on a Turkish request for his arrest. According to Mr Muslims Czech lawyer Miroslav Krutina, Pragues Municipal Court ruled to release him. The court officials did not immediately comment on the hearing, which was held behind close doors. Turkey considers the PYD a terrorist group linked to outlawed Kurdish insurgents fighting within Turkeys own borders. Mr Muslim was put on Turkeys most-wanted list earlier in February, with a one million dollar (714,000) reward offered for his capture. Expand Close Mr Muslim is the former co-chair of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Mr Muslim is the former co-chair of the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (AP) Ahead of the Prague ruling, Turkish prime minister Binali Yildirim said the courts decision would be a test for the Czech Republic on its sensitivity toward the fight against terrorism and its solidarity with a Nato ally. However, whatever the outcome (court ruling), these terrorist ringleaders will not be able to walk free, we will continue to make life unbearable for them, Mr Yildirim said. The PYD is the leading political Kurdish force in northern Syria, and Mr Muslim remains highly influential in the party, even after stepping down as co-chair last year. On January 20, Turkey launched an incursion into northern Syria, seeking to rout the US-backed Syrian Kurdish militia, known as the Peoples Protection Units or YPG, from the enclave of Afrin. The YPG is the armed wing of the PYD. Jan Kuciak and his partner Martina Kusnirova were shot dead at their home outside Bratislava (AP) Organised crime may have been involved in the fatal shooting of an investigative journalist in Slovakia, a Canadian reporter has claimed. Jan Kuciak, 27, is said to have been working on a story about possible Italian mafia involvement in fraud linked to EU subsidies in eastern Slovakia when he was killed. The countrys newspapers dedicated their front pages to Mr Kuciak, who was found dead alongside his girlfriend Martina Kusnirova at their house in the town of Velka Maca, east of the capital, Bratislava. Expand Close Slovakia's front pages were dedicated to the reporter and his partner (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Slovakia's front pages were dedicated to the reporter and his partner (AP) Mr Kuciak is the first journalist to be killed in Slovakia. The government is offering a one million euro reward (879,000) to anyone who helps authorities find the people responsible for the shootings on Sunday night. In an interview with the Sme daily, Slovak-based Canadian journalist Tom Nicholson said Mr Kuciak had told him shortly before his death that he was working on a story about possible Italian mafia activity in the east of the country. Mr Nicholson said he was ready to testify, but has not been approached by police yet. The countrys police said the slayings were likely linked to Mr Kuciaks reporting, which also covered tax evasion. Im not sure what caused Jans death but I bet my life that this is so, Mr Nicholson said. Expand Close Well-wishers light candles in tribute to the journalist (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Well-wishers light candles in tribute to the journalist (AP) Aktuality.sk, the news website that Mr Kuciak worked for, made the same claim as Mr Nicholson in their own story based on the late reporters work. Sme also reported that two Italian businessmen with possible ties to the mafia operating in Slovakia did business with a senior adviser to Prime Minister Robert Fico, as well as officials from Ficos leftist Smer-Social Democracy party. The opposition has called on national police force president Tibor Gaspar and Interior Minister Robert Kalinak to resign, and is planning a protest rally in Bratislava on Wednesday. Mr Fico dismissed the reports, saying: You link innocent people to a double murder without any evidence. Dont do it. The PM also criticised the opposition for using the case to smear his government. Expand Close Candles and flowers by the entrance to offices of news website Aktuality.sk (AP) AP/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Candles and flowers by the entrance to offices of news website Aktuality.sk (AP) Standing alongside Mr Fico and Mr Kalinak, Mr Gaspar said investigators are taking media reports of possible mafia involvement as seriously as any other version. The police chief said investigators have been co-operating with the Czech and Italian authorities on the case as well as with Europol officials. Analyst Milan Zitny said the killings place Slovakia in the company of undemocratic countries such as Ukraine or Russia where the murders of journalists are nothing exceptional. Government officials said: We will spare no effort in investigating this criminal act and in bringing the perpetrators to justice. A North Carolina man has been charged with a fatal shooting captured live on Facebook not far from a towns police department. Jail records show Douglas Cleveland Colson was being held without bond on a charge of first-degree murder. Union County Sheriffs Office spokesman Tony Underwood confirmed Colson was charged in the death of Prentis Robinson, but referred other questions to the Wingate Police Department. Wingate Police Chief Donnie Gay told media that Robinson had been to the police department minutes before the shooting on Monday morning and spoke with the chief about a mobile phone that had been stolen from him. According to video posted by The Charlotte Observer, Robinson was walking down a street and broadcasting himself live on Facebook with a selfie stick when the shooting happened. At one point, he was heard saying You on live, apparently telling another person the conversation was being recorded. The person is seen with a long black object and then shots ring out. The camera hit the ground after gunshots and showed sky and trees, and the gunman running away. A car pulled up and found Robinson. The shooting happened near Wingate University and Wingate Elementary School in the town about 30 miles south-east of Charlotte. Both were temporarily locked down on Monday during the investigation. Robinsons Facebook account described him as a musician who lived in Atlanta. The Charlotte Observer reported that Robinson lived in Charlotte during the previous decade but spent much of his adult life in Wingate and graduated from a local high school. Today I met Mary Hull. Forty-five years ago Mary became a widow with two young children when her husband, James, was killed in a sectarian attack. Mary says she is not and has never been bitter, though her life was hard for a long time. She feels strongly, though, about the continued failure of our political system to deliver agreement, to properly address the past and make sure that we build a more reconciled future. While it is deeply regrettable that Northern Ireland remains in a prolonged state of political uncertainty it would be a huge disservice to those I represent not to express the anger that would result from any continued delay in the launch of the legacy consultation and in implementing the legacy mechanisms outlined in the 2014 Stormont House Agreement. Since October 2017, the Victims and Survivors Forum and I have met with leaders from the five main political parties in Northern Ireland and the British and Irish governments. During these engagements forum members have demonstrated patience and understanding and have allowed the talks process to run its course in the belief that the best environment in which to proceed is with a functioning Executive. Northern Ireland now finds itself at a political impasse on victims and survivors issues that only the Secretary of State can now address. There are three main areas directly affected; the legacy bodies, a pension for the severely injured and the regional trauma network. With regards to legacy bodies, these have draft Westminster legislation in place meaning this element of the Stormont House Agreement can be progressed instantaneously. We would therefore urge the Secretary of State to demonstrate her commitment to their implementation by starting the consultation and making implementation time-bound, whilst omitting the proposed statute of limitations. No draft legislation currently exists for a pension and as it stands, this is a devolved matter. The Commission submitted its pension advice to ministers in 2014 and we have seen little progress since then. In the meantime we are seeing an ageing number of seriously injured people who face a very uncertain future and undetermined timeframes are not a luxury they can afford, nor should we as a society expect them to. Furthermore, I would like to echo the Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan's statement when he called for a process to deal with legacy inquests that it is "very difficult to see how ordinary people can be expected to wait much longer." We at the Commission are of the same opinion and would impress upon the British government the need to release this funding. Despite the politicisation that some of these issues will undergo, the fact remains that failure to act is to further harm and distress victims and survivors. I have requested a follow-up conversation with the Secretary of State and once again will engage with the main political parties. We owe it to thousands of people like Mary to find a better way to deal with the past. Judith Thompson is the Commissioner for Victims and Survivors What a pity it is that tough-talking Labour MP Kate Hoey cannot be co-opted into the Government to lead the UK's negotiating team in the floundering Brexit negotiations. This redoubtable Ulsterwoman, who now sits for a London constituency, would shake up and wake up UK negotiators, who are constantly giving the impression of being on the defensive and fighting on the back-foot. Hoey has been listening with increasing frustration to the litany of Whitehall jargon and excuses designed to explain how it is that the EU negotiators always seem to be in the commanding position. At one point, she was compelled to cry out: "Why don't we just say 'no'?" She shares the Margaret Thatcher attributes of not being afraid to say "no" in a very loud voice if needs be. And with her uncomplicated, and at times fierce, language she would alarm the Brussels team just as Thatcher did when she negotiated with them all those years ago. The UK team desperately needs to adopt a less compliant and far more aggressive attitude in talks which will have an effect on the United Kingdom for generations to come. At the moment, the British delegation is looking very much like the second eleven. Can't somebody be found from the ranks of the parliamentary Conservative Party to put some oomph into the British negotiations, and remind Brussels forcibly that we are not in this business to be pushed around or, worse still, to be punished? The Tories are already preparing the ground for the terrible results, which they fear could hit them in the local elections in May. Members are being warned to expect the worst, in the hope this kind of warning might at least serve to soften the blow when it comes. The Conservatives seem to have learned no lessons from the Prime Minister's disastrous general election, which had the opposite to the desired effect and merely put Labour and Jeremy Corbyn in the driving seat. The days when the Tories believed Corbyn would lead the Labour Party into oblivion are long since gone. Traditional Labour supporters may not like what they see is going on, but the uncomfortable fact remains for the Tories that Labour stand as runaway favourites for the polls this May. They have successfully harnessed the youth vote, something which has always eluded the Tories, while Corbyn, bizarrely, began to acquire the status of a pop star. The Tories have hardly any time left to swing things around in time for May, and they are already beginning to look forward to the next general election, with something approaching deep anxiety. There are no signs that things are improving for them, and the way the Brexit talks are being handled is not helping their case. Their only hope for the immediate future appears to be that the seeming takeover of Labour by the hard-left Momentum organisation may have the effect of frightening off otherwise Labour voters. But the signs are that the Tories will not be enjoying the spring sunshine this year. The Prime Minister appears determined to sort out what some have described as the scandal of higher education, including the present arrangements of fees being charged. But what is no less important is the type of 'degrees' which students are attaining in such strange 'subjects' as circus performing and The Beatles. Why should any kind of public money go into such absurd projects? Even media studies, so-called, need to be sorted out. If there was any occupation which you learn on the job, and not at university lectures, it is journalism. The current belief that everyone should go to university is seriously misplaced. A lot of people would benefit immensely from going straight into work from school, instead of often wasting time and money at university, and the ludicrous 'gap year' which many students seem to believe is their right. Ed Pearce, the formidable (in every sense of the word) political writer, who has just died, was the only journalist I know who managed to divert attention from the goings-on in the Chamber of the House of Commons to the normally staid and well-behaved Press Gallery above. He, and arts correspondent Godfrey Barker, used to write the Daily Telegraph's parliamentary sketch on alternate days. One day, when Pearce, assuming it was his turn, entered the Gallery, he found Barker already perched on their seat. Not a man to be trifled with, he grabbed Barker and flung him out, with a great clattering of desks - Barker finished up, legs in the air, in among the startled Hansard reporters. There was a brief battle involving sheaves of paper between the two combatants, before order was restored when Barker wisely backed off. The attendants seem to ignore this short but almighty fracas, and the MPs, briefly spellbound by this event, resumed their droning deliberations. Pearce once flung a teacup at a fellow journalist who had annoyed him in the press cafeteria. It was always best not to inflame the fellow who seemed capable, with his short fuse, of hurling an entire tea set in your direction if aroused! Indian Police on Tuesday admitted for the first time that there was a marginal presence of Islamic State in Indian-administered Kashmir, a day after the terror group claimed a weekend attack that killed a policeman in the disputed Himalayan region. Amaq News Agency, which is allegedly Islamic States media wing, said Monday that the terror outfits operatives carried out a daring daylight assault on the outskirts of Srinagar on Sunday, killing police constable Farooq Ahmad Yatoo, who was guarding a separatist leaders residence. On its website, the agency displayed an image of the slain policemans rifle, which, it claimed, the attackers seized, and warned that war has just begun alongside the image. The recent attack could be the handiwork of a lone wolf or a few indoctrinated individuals carried away by the Islamic State ideology, S.P. Vaid, Indian Kashmirs police chief, told BenarNews. But I can tell you with authority that the presence of IS in Kashmir is only marginal. We have already identified the suspect responsible for Sundays attack and a manhunt is under way to track him down, he said. Police would only be able to shed more light on the matter once the attacker is captured, Vaid said, adding that the IS foothold in Muslim-majority Kashmir was indeed a worrying sign. I am sure that with the peoples cooperation, we will not allow another Syria or Iraq in Kashmir, he said. Denials Claimed in its entirety by both India and Pakistan, the Indian side of Kashmir called Jammu and Kashmir state has been grappling with a separatist insurgency that has claimed more than 70,000 lives since the late 1980s. Although IS flags had surfaced during funerals of suspected militants and anti-India protests, authorities in Indian Kashmir consistently denied the groups presence in the region, calling it a conspiracy by fringe militant groups to create sensation and grab media attention. Last November, IS claimed an attack in Srinagar that killed a police officer. However, the police dismissed the groups claim at the time. In July 2017, global terror outfit al-Qaeda (AQ) announced the establishment of a new wing in Indian Kashmir with Zakir Rashid Bhat (alias Zakir Musa), a 24-year-old former leader of Kashmirs largest separatist faction, Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), to head the new group, called Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. Two months later, police claimed to have arrested more than 20 supporters of Musa, who were allegedly involved in raising IS flags and making pro-al Qaeda slogans in Srinagar. More than 90 Indian Muslims have been arrested and are on trial for alleged links with IS. According to intelligence agencies, more than 50 Indians have left the country to join IS in the Middle East and Afghanistan. Of them, at least 10 have been killed in battle. But the Indian government has never admitted to the groups presence in the country. Despite having a large Muslim population, Islamic State has been unable to establish a hold in India, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said in November. The Home Ministry on Tuesday contradicted the Kashmir police chiefs statement, with a spokesman telling Press Trust of India (PTI), there is no physical infrastructure or manpower of the IS in the Valley. It does not exist in the Valley. The term refers to the Indian-administered part of Kashmir. Not surprising One analyst warned that the admission by Kashmirs police chief should act as an alarm for Indias security establishment. It is not surprising that the global terror module has somehow established a foothold in Kashmir, considering that radicalization is rampant in the Muslim-majority region, retired Maj. Gen. G.D. Bakshi, a New Delhi-based security analyst, told BenarNews. I am certain IS will spare no efforts to increase its base and spread their operations following their defeat in Iraq and Syria. Our forces need to be extremely alert and ensure that operatives of this group are eliminated before it is too late, he said. Another analyst disagreed with Bakshi, saying the claim that IS was responsible for Sundays attack was baseless. It seems that such claims are only being made to create sensation and highlight such attacks at the international level, Ajai Sahni, executive director of the New Delhi-based Institute of Conflict Management, told BenarNews. Without paying much attention to these claims, security forces should focus on eliminating militants who are trying to disrupt peace in Kashmir, he said. A crowd awaits the decision of Malaysias highest court about which court can hear apostasy cases in Sarawaks capital Kuching, Feb. 27, 2018. Updated at 7:17 p.m. ET on 2018-02-27 Malaysias highest court on Tuesday ruled that only the countrys Sharia courts can hear cases on conversion from Islam, dismissing the petitions of four Muslims to be allowed to be Christians under the nations laws. In a unanimous decision, the five-judge Federal Courts panel, which included a non-Muslim member, ruled that the Sarawak Sharia court was the proper court for apostasy cases. Zulkefli Ahmad Makinudin, Malaysias Court of Appeal president and panel chief, said that while there was no provision in Sarawaks religious laws for the state Sharia court to handle such cases, there was legislation to allow it. Sections 68 and 69 in the Sarawak Islamic Ordinance council can be used by the Sarawak Shariah Court to hear apostasy cases, he said in the ruling. Malaysia has a dual legal system where its Islamic courts mostly hear cases of family disputes and inheritance involving Muslims. Islamic courts run parallel to the nations civil courts, but non-Muslims have no right to appear during trial. Apostasy is a sensitive matter among Muslims and the way to deal with it is embodied in the Islamic law. The Federal Courts decision is considered significant because it recognizes the power of the Sharia court, political analyst Azmi Hassan told BenarNews. Otherwise, when apostasy cases are judged in civil courts there would be a possibility of a decision not in accordance with Sharia requirements and this scenario would not be limited to apostasy but also other matters relating to Islam, he said. Tuesdays decision means the four appellants Salina Jau Abdullah, Jenny Peter, Mohd Syafiq Abdullah (alias Tiong Choo Ting) and Syarifah Nooraffyzza Wan Hosen will have to go to the Sharia court to hear their cases. Syarifah Nooraffyzza was born a Muslim, while the other three converted to Islam to marry Muslims. They renounced the religion after their spouses died or their marriages ended in divorce. The legal battle began in Sarawaks high courts in 2015 when the four petitioned to have their conversions from Islam to Christianity officially recognized by having their names and their religion changed on their national identification cards. Government lawyers objected on the ground that the civil high court had no jurisdiction over apostasy or religious cases that were usually reviewed by Sharia courts. Because their official documents identify them as Muslims, the four petitioners must first obtain Letters of Apostasy from a Sharia court before they can change their legal identities. But the Sharia Court in Sarawak created a dilemma for converts to Christianity after it ruled that it had the authority to approve conversions to Islam, but not from Islam to any other religion. Tuesdays ruling also means that the Sharia Court would act in accordance with the Federal Courts decision. Critic speaks out The ruling strengthened critics arguments that the lack of religious freedom in the Muslim-majority country violates one of the principles of the Malaysian constitution. More than 60 percent of Malaysias 32 million citizens are Muslims and religious matters are sensitive, even in Sarawak where Muslims are in the minority. Human rights activist Peter John Jaban called such religious laws to be scrapped, saying such matters should be a personal and family choice. We do not want our beloved country to be embroiled in a conflict arising from religion, Jaban said, reacting to the court decision. Hata Wahari in Kuala Lumpur contributed to this report. Agnes Callamard, the U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial executions, talks to a reporter after giving a speech at a drug policy forum at the University of the Philippines in Quezon city, May 5, 2017. The Philippines said Tuesday that the United Nations was welcome to investigate thousands of killings under President Rodrigo Dutertes war on drugs, but special rapporteur Agnes Callamard should not be involved. Callamard, the U.N.s special rapporteur on extrajudicial killings, had already prejudged the countrys case, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said. As I said, the effectivity of a special rapporteur depends on their character, their credibility, their trustworthiness, Roque said in a statement. Roque said U.N. investigators must be trustworthy enough so that member-states would consent to their visit, but that Callamard lacked this. The fact that there is no way that Agnes Callamard can be allowed to investigate in the Philippines proves that she has failed in this regard, Roque noted, adding that Callmards unannounced visit to Manila last year to attend an academic conference was an act of bad faith. As I said before, its her fault that the home state does not want her in, Roque said. Roque, a former human rights lawyer, said that any investigation to be carried out by the U.N. should be agreed to by the state. Under international law, no one can compel any country from agreeing to an investigation, he said. If theyre going to send a special rapporteur to the Philippines, it must be someone credible, someone who is an authority in the field that they seek to investigate in, and must be objective and unbiased, he said. At least 30 Western countries had earlier called on Manila to allow the U.N. to send an investigator to the Philippines to investigate thousands of killings carried out by police under Dutertes internationally criticized drug war. The police said that at least 4,043 suspected narcotics pushers and users had been slain in police operations carried out in the name of the drug war. This figure does not include thousands of others killed by pro-government vigilantes. Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have joined local rights activists in saying that the figure could very well go above 12,000 a staggering number of deaths considering Duterte has only been in power since July of 2016. The police and other authorities have said that those killed were suspects who resisted arrest and opted to fight it out in a gun battle, a claim that is widely discredited in the country. Earlier this month, the International Criminal Court in The Hague began a preliminary probe into a complaint made by a former policeman and a self-described hitman, who claimed that Duterte had ordered many killings when he was the former mayor of the southern city of Davao. Duterte had said that he welcomed the investigation, while Roque had said he believed it likely would not succeed. In a report released last week, Amnesty International said it believed that gunmen with links to the police were involved in the extrajudicial killings. It described the widespread killings as systematic, planned, organized and encouraged by the authorities. Philippine military chief Gen. Eduardo Ano holds pictures of Isnilon Hapilon (right), the acknowledged leader of the Islamic State in the Philippines, and Omarkhayam Maute, leader of the extremist Maute gang, who were killed near the end of the Marawi siege, Oct. 16, 2017. The United States on Tuesday declared Islamic State-affiliated groups in Bangladesh and the Philippines as Specially Designated Global Terrorists, which blocks any assets that they may have in American jurisdictions and bars U.S. citizens from making financial transactions with them. The pro-Islamic State (IS) Neo-JMB in Bangladesh and the Abu Sayyaf and Maute groups in the Philippines have been tagged as global terrorists, the State Department said in a statement. These designations target key ISIS-affiliated groups and leaders outside its fallen caliphate in Iraq and Syria, said Nathan Sales, the State Departments coordinator for counterterrorism, referring to IS by another name. Todays actions are a critical step in degrading ISISs global network and denying its affiliates the resources they need to plan and carry out terrorist attacks, he said. In its announcement, the State Department said the newly-designated terror group in Bangladesh began operating in August 2014, when a group of Bangladeshi nationals pledged allegiance to IS. Gunmen belonging to that group shot and killed an Italian aid worker in Dhaka in September 2015, the announcement said, adding that the group had since claimed numerous attacks carried out across the country, including an overnight siege at the Holey Artisan Bakery cafe in 2016. In all, 29 people, including the five militants, died when the gunmen who claimed to be members of the Neo-JMB stormed the upscale cafe on July 1, 2016, taking dozens of hostages and killing 20 of them using guns and knives, police said. Since the attack, Bangladesh government officials have adamantly rejected allegations that IS has a presence in the country. Denying access to financial system The State Department designations deny blacklisted groups access to the U.S. financial system, making it a crime for American citizens to knowingly provide, or attempt or conspire to provide, material support or resources to the organization. IS-affiliated groups in Somalia, Tunisia and Egypt also received the same classifications on Tuesday, the department said. In its news release, the department said that the Maute group, a ragtag band operating mostly in Muslim-populated towns on the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, had pledged allegiance to IS in 2014. The Maute group joined forces with Isnilon Hapilon, the acknowledged leader of IS in the Philippines, and attacked Marawi city in May 2017, leading to a battle that lasted five months and killed at least 1,200 people, most of them militants. Hapilon, who has previously been designated as a global terrorist, died in the fighting, as well as the leaders of the Maute group. The State Department said the Maute group had killed 15 people and wounded 70 others during a bombing of a market in the southern city of Davao in September 2016. Two months later, it said, the group also attempted to detonate a bomb near the U.S. Embassy in Manila. Washington conference The designations were announced as the State Department, together with Interpol and the International Institute for Justice, hosted a two-day conference in Washington about mobilizing law-enforcement efforts to defeat IS. Senior-level justice and law-enforcement officials and diplomats responsible for counterterrorism from about 90 countries and organizations were attending the conference, according to a State Department news release. The State Department has designated 40 IS leaders and operatives as global terrorists. Those designations, backed by a global coalition of 75 nations, form part of a larger comprehensive plan to defeat the extremists, the department said. This effort is destroying ISIS in its safe havens, denying its ability to recruit foreign terrorist fighters, stifling its financial resources, negating the false propaganda it disseminates over the internet and social media, and helping to stabilize liberated areas in Iraq and Syria, the department said. Moncks Corner, SC (29461) Today Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Abigail: Sunday School Lesson Introduction Abigail definitely belongs in this study of great women of the Bible. Of the seven women being reviewed, she is the one most people are less likely to know. Scripture presents her as a beautiful, intelligent woman whose lot in life is one of being married to a rich fool. Abigail reveals how wisdom and determined action need to partner in order to save good people from disaster. Being wise in itself may not be sufficient in some situations. Without taking immediate action, it is possible to simply stand by and watch destruction that could be avoided. Abigail's example points to the importance of the words chosen when speaking in tense situations. Harsh, loud words may become the catalyst to an unnecessary explosion. They may drive individuals to actions which will be regretted later. In contrast we see how calm, carefully calculated words can lead to a peaceful parting or solution. This lesson's golden text deserves careful attention: "A soft answer turns away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). Today's lesson revolves around the attitudes and actions of three persons. One doesn't hesitate to spout inflammatory words without any regard for the potential consequences. Another of the characters hears the words and, in haste, decides to retaliate in a manner with far-reaching implications. Fortunately, standing between them is a woman who immediately grasps the entire setting. Then she races to bring a peaceful end which, in the long run, will bring special benefit to her. This lesson also provides us with another area for consideration. What should be our attitude when crisis thrusts itself upon us? It's true we have differing personalities and emotional levels. However, every one of us should strive to be "calm, cool, and collected." This can be accomplished as we keep a tight rein on ourselves and allow the Holy Spirit to guide us. "Think twice before speaking once" is wise advice. A. David's request "And there was a man in Maon, whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great, and he had three thousand sheep, and a thousand goats: and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. Now the name of the man was Nabal; and the name of his wife Abigail: and she was a woman of good understanding, and of a beautiful countenance: but the man was churlish and evil in his doings; and he was of the house of Caleb" (2 Samuel 25:2-3). The story of Abigail is set in the years when David and his men are fugitives from King Saul. Repeatedly Saul's forces pursue David, but he successfully eludes them in spite of the spies located in various parts of the country. On one occasion David is in the wilderness of Paran, which was located west of the southern end of the Dead Sea. This vast area proves to be a good area for raising sheep and goats. A wealthy man named Nabal uses it for his very large flocks. Though Nabal lives in the town of Maon, he owns property at Carmel, a small nearby town. Verse 2 indicates by numbers how wealthy he is. Having this many sheep and goats will necessitate a number of shepherds to provide them with proper care. One can only imagine the effort to shear the sheep and then care for the wool. Besides the work, the shearing time also becomes a time for festivity. Nabal, more than likely, doesn't spend his time there during most of the year. Since shearing would be similar in importance to harvest for a farmer, he is there for this significant shearing event. The difference in personality between Nabal and his wife, Abigail, are pronounced. She is both beautiful and intelligent. Her name means "whose father is joy." Then there is her husband. He is "surly and mean" (v. 3, NIV). You wonder if his parents gave him the name Nabal ("fool") or if it was conferred on him later in life. How did these two ever get together in marriage? More than likely it came about as the result of an arranged marriage. Knowing Nabal is personally in the area, David sends 10 men to greet him and request provisions at this time of festivity. This representative group approaches him with wishes of health and long life for both himself and his household. They point to their treatment of his shepherds and that no animals are missing. This means David and his men did not simply take animals for their personal use like some fugitives would have. It also could indicate their protecting the unarmed shepherds from desert raiders. This will be verified later. It is suggested that Nabal should check the accuracy of their statements with his shepherds. Of course, that would be out of the question with such a personality as his. Notice, David makes no specific request other than what Nabal could spare at this celebration time. This isn't a "shakedown" or a blackmail attempt. B. Nabal's response "And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. And David said unto his men, Gird ye on every man his sword. And they girded on every man his sword; and David also girded on his sword: and there went up after David about four hundred men; and two hundred abode by the stuff" (2 Samuel 25:10-13). Nabal's harsh dismissal of David's request demonstrates his true nature. His question "Who is this David?" provides an immediate insult. Who wouldn't know of the hero who just a few years before brought victory to Israel by defeating Goliath? How could Nabal even pretend not to know of the one whom the women sang his praises (1 Samuel 18:7)? Nabal's response further suggests David's being a traitor to the king of Israel, a rebel. What a slap in the face to the messengers and their leader! In view of this portrayal of David, Nabal indicates there being no reason to take provisions from his shearers and give them to David and his men. He offers no appreciation for the services rendered to his men and property. Nabal chooses to serve only himself. Nabal's response infuriates David. He immediately orders two-thirds of his army (400 men) to strap on their swords and prepare for battle. Ellicott's Bible Commentary suggests, "The largeness of the force showed how terribly David was in earnest, and how bent he was on wiping out the insult of Nabal in blood. In Nabal, the rich sheep-master, the rude refuser of the fairly earned gift, David saw a deadly political advisory who would hunt him down like a wild beast." If this isn't the case, we are faced with a great difficulty in attempting to explain David's desire for such an extreme action. C. Abigail's efforts "But one of the young men told Abigail, Nabal's wife, saying, Behold, David sent messengers out of the wilderness to salute our master; and he railed on them. But the men were very good unto us, and we were not hurt, neither missed we any thing, as long as we were conversant with them, when we were in the fields: They were a wall unto us both by night and day, all the while we were with them keeping the sheep. Now therefore know and consider what thou wilt do; for evil is determined against our master, and against all his household: for he is such a son of Belial, that a man cannot speak to him. Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and a hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal" (2 Samuel 25:14-19). When one of the young men inform Abigail of the events, she understands this is a crisis. Immediately she mounts an effort to avoid an unnecessary catastrophe. It is interesting how this informant viewed what took place. David's men brought an appropriate greeting from David to Nabal. He in turn responded with no hint of expected Oriental hospitality and gratitude. Rather, Nabal hurled insults at them. This worker's description carries added weight due to his having personally seen and experienced the attitude and care of David and his men. In verse 15 he describes the protective care given by David's men to Nabal's shepherds. He describes them as being a wall shielding them day and night (v. 16). Having shared the story, this unnamed man places the future in Abigail's hands. He knows disaster will come on them. It is possible some had attempted to speak to Nabal about the situation. But if they did, it accomplished nothing. Stubborn, obstinate, egotistical men do not change their minds! Or, if they do, it is under considerable pressure of the more powerful. Abigail quickly gathers food supplies as a gift for David and his men. The availability of this amount of food indicates a sizeable number of individuals worked for Nabal. Once the donkeys are loaded, she sends them on ahead. Possibly she needed some extra time to be prepared properly for the meeting. All this takes place without Nabal's knowledge. More than likely he is out supervising or observing the shearing. II. Wise council (1 Samuel 25:20-31) A. David's intent "And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them. Now David had said, Surely in vain have I kept all that this fellow hath in the wilderness, so that nothing was missed of all that pertained unto him: and he hath requited me evil for good. So and more also do God unto the enemies of David, if I leave one male of all who belong to him by morning light" (2 Samuel 25:20-22). In these verses David's thought process becomes very evident. He realizes how worthless all his good deeds to Nabal really are. Caring for Nabal's property brought nothing more than the railing insults of a wealthy, self-centered person. This evil response deserves the most severe retribution in David's mind. He decides to attack Nabal's encampment and kill all the males. Then, David and his men could take all the needed supplies. In this vengeful environment Abigail meets David. It is interesting how Scripture describes the exact location of their meeting. The mountain ravine provides a narrow place guaranteeing their coming face-to-face. B. Abigail's intercession "And when Abigail saw David, she hasted, and lighted off the ass, and fell before David on her face, and bowed herself to the ground, And fell at his feet, and said, Upon me, my lord, upon me let this iniquity be: and let thine handmaid, I pray thee, speak in thine audience, and hear the words of thine handmaid. Let not my lord, I pray thee, regard this man of Belial, even Nabal: for as his name is, so is he; Nabal is his name, and folly is with him: but I thine handmaid saw not the young men of my lord, whom thou didst send" (2 Samuel 25:23-25) Wisdom and determination evidence themselves in Abigail's actions. This is a make-or-break situation. If she can intercept and persuade David from his intended purpose, there will not be the shedding of much innocent blood. Nabal probably deserves David's wrath; however, those working for him are simply pawns in this setting. Recognizing who David is, Abigail immediately dismounts from her donkey and offers the bow of greatest humility. Instead of remaining on her feet and bowing either her head or from the waist, Abigail prostrates herself at David's feet. Notice her intercession. In an attempt to ward off the bloodshed and save innocent lives, she asks for the blame to be hers. Though having nothing to do with what took place, she willingly offers herself as the culprit. Only after setting the stage does she ask David to disregard the words and actions of her husband. What a contrast between Abigail's wise humility and Nabal's foolish pride. Abigail's words in verse 25 indicate she knows the true nature of her husband. She understands him to be truly a "man of Belial"a person who is worthless or without profit. Yes, he amasses riches, but as a person he is a "no account." Abigail points out how his name fulfills his actions. A fool makes foolish decisions. Working as the intercessor and mediator, Abigail points to herself as being different than her husband. This is accomplished by stating she did not see the delegation of David's men when they came. Her insinuation is that things would have been different if she had. C. Abigail's counsel "And it shall come to pass, when the Lord shall have done to my lord according to all the good that he hath spoken concerning thee, and shall have appointed thee ruler over Israel; That this shall be no grief unto thee, nor offence of heart unto my lord, either that thou hast shed blood causeless, or that my lord hath avenged himself: but when the Lord shall have dealt well with my lord, then remember thine handmaid" (2 Samuel 25:30-31). A major shift now comes into the conversation. Abigail goes beyond a wife interceding for her husband and household. She suddenly becomes a messenger of the Lord. A much bigger picture comes to light as Abigail shares an understanding of God's purpose and future status of David. In verse 26 she, in essence, points to her coming as the action of the Lord keeping him from bloodshed. It's another instance of God's care and direction in David's life. For this reason the future king should be thankful. Abigail follows with a blessing on David, which is a condemnation of all enemies in the future. This does take place during David's reign. He defeats the enemies on all sides of Israel. When the kingdom passes to his son Solomon, there is an era of peace. Whom you associate with does make a difference! In this case Abigail wants the blessing for David to spread to the men with him (v. 27). They too have been saved from killing the innocent. She wishes for the future success of David to overflow to them. In verse 28 Abigail once again identifies herself with the actions of her husband as though they were her own. And then she moves beyond the present situation to assure David he will become Israel's king. The anointing of at least a decade earlier will be fulfilled. Reference to the establishment of a "sure house" speaks of a dynasty. Several years into David's reign, God assures him of an everlasting family member being on the throne (2 Samuel 7). The Lord will partner with David and fight his battles. This doesn't take away from David's involvement and efforts. David can be assured of the inability of Saul ("a man . . . risen to pursue thee," v. 29) to thwart his rise to the throne. Verse 31 urges David not to engage in vengeful actions which, in the future, would bring considerable grief. David would bear the stain of the blood of innocent victims on his hands. Now, thanks to the intervention of Abigail, he can face the future with a clean heart. Abigail concludes her words with a request referring to the time when David will have ascended to the throne. What she may have had in mind can only be a matter of speculation. This writer doubts she could have ever imagined her position in the near future. III. Courage rewarded (1 Samuel 25:32-42) A. David's acceptance "And David said to Abigail, Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand. For in very deed, as the Lord God of Israel liveth, which hath kept me back from hurting thee, except thou hadst hasted and come to meet me, surely by morning light no males would have been left to Nabal! So David received of her hand that which she had brought him, and said unto her, Go up in peace to thine house; see, I have hearkened to thy voice, and have accepted thy person" (2 Samuel 25:32-35). Abigail's plea begins an immediate positive response from David. We see instant gratitude, first to God and then to Abigail. David recognizes the hand of God in this situation. He praises this wise woman for taking action which will stop innocent bloodshed. Except for her intervention, the obliteration of Nabal and his household would surely be the result. She stands in the gap protecting both parties. Her decisive action allows life to continue. In verse 35, David accepts the provisions from Abigail and instructs her to go home in peace. There is nothing to fear. David heeds her words and request. B. Nabal's death "And Abigail came to Nabal; and, behold, he held a feast in his house, like the feast of a king; and Nabal's heart was merry within him, for he was very drunken: wherefore she told him nothing, less or more, until the morning light. But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. And it came to pass about ten days after, that the Lord smote Nabal, and he died" (2 Samuel 25:36-38). Upon arriving home from intercepting David, the situation is not right for Abigail to speak to Nabal concerning her actions and David's intent. Nabal is in the middle of a feast celebrating as though he were a king. Perhaps he is celebrating another successful sheep-shearing with the resulting profit. Or he may be thinking himself to be some special person for insulting and dismissing David's messengers. Regardless of the reason, it becomes his last riotous celebration. The next morning, once Nabal regains his sobriety, Abigail recounts the events of the previous day. Verse 37 indicates her telling him "all these things" (NIV). More than likely, this means she tells the story in detail and possibly recounts the exact words. Apparently, the stress of his foolishness, which nearly brought death to him at the hand of David, becomes too great. The description of his heart failing and becoming like a stone is probably what we would call a heart attack or stroke. He lingers for 10 days, and then dies. Verse 38 helps us put Nabal's death in perspective. God strikes the health of this man and takes his life. The failure of Nabal isn't just rudeness and hoarding. It's his insulting and dismissing the servants of David, who is God's anointed to be the next king of Israel. C. Abigail's future "And when David heard that Nabal was dead, he said, Blessed be the Lord, that hath pleaded the cause of my reproach from the hand of Nabal, and hath kept his servant from evil: for the Lord hath returned the wickedness of Nabal upon his own head. And David sent and communed with Abigail, to take her to him to wife" (2 Samuel 25:39). News of Nabal's death stimulates David to once again offer praise and thanksgiving for God's intervention. He recognizes the contempt and insult of Nabal deserved retaliation, but not in the way he was going to accomplish it. Instead, God allowed Nabal's own surliness to be the cause of his death. Wasting no time and apparently with no hesitancy, David begins the negotiations for Abigail to become his wife. Following the custom of sending an intermediary, David sends his servants. However, they aren't really asking; she is expected to accept. She does, with great humility. Her bowing and offering to wash the servants' feet shows her character (v. 41). It also shows her willingness to become David's wife. Abigail doesn't delay in going to David. There appears to be no lengthy time of putting the household in order or taking care of business. With her five maids, Abigail immediately joins David (v. 42). We do not know the rest of the story. Becoming David's wife definitely provides a change. Instead of living in an established home in one location, Abigail now becomes part of a group who move from place to place avoiding the forces of Saul. Plus, she will not be the only wife of David. However, Abigail apparently knows the position of being David's wife is better than any of the alternatives. The woman who stopped David from making a disastrous decision is now placed under his loving care. Abigail: Sunday School Lesson Conclusion This brief glimpse into the life of Abigail speaks so loudly as to the impact a wise woman can have on the life of a man. She protected both her current husband and the man who later would become her husband. Abigail seized the information given, understood what needed to be done, and then did it. Golden text challenge "A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grevious words stir up anger" (Proverbs 15:1). Will we respond to the angry person positively or negatively - pleasantly or bitterly? Will we be gentle and conciliatory, or will we cause more bitterness and anger? "A soft answer" is not a weak one. Often the most powerful response is given in the mildest tone. Even though the substance is firm, the language and spirit are gentle. Such an answer is hard to resent or refute. When we use a soft answer, wrath is turned away. Anger is silenced. These negative emotions or attitudes cannot burn without fuel to feed them. What are the effects of using grievous or bitter words? Hatred, cruelty and misery. Bitterness is more powerful than wrath. While rage thunders, bitterness stabs. It creates more ill will than the angry words that provoke it. To learn more about the annual Evangelical Sunday School Lesson Commentary, visit www.pathwaybookstore.com. Daily Horoscope: 27 February 2018 Life oi-Lekhaka Horoscope 27 February 2018 | 27 2018 | Daily Horoscope Astrology | Boldsky Do you ever wonder why you are moody at times or an introvert? Are you always confused about the direction your life is taking or do you know exactly where you want to be? Or things like, will my married life be good or will my new business venture be successful? Our personality traits are determined by the zodiac signs we are born under. Our moods and the way of thinking are all influenced by the stars. They also predict the best and the worst phases of our life. The science of astrology is so amazing that even western countries are hooked to it. Did you know that over 125 million people believe in astrology and 70 million people read their horoscopes daily in America? If you are the one whose day does not start without reading your daily horoscopes, then here it is! Here is your daily Horoscopes for February 27th, 2018. Aries : 21 March-20 April Your enemies will be dormant today. You will receive the fruit of your hard work. Your work flow will increase and it will be recognized by your seniors. Increase in wealth too is seen. Taurus : 21 April-21 May You will be happy by meeting your dear friends. Enthusiastic news is on its way. You will come across opportunities to earn wealth. Also Read : Women Of These Zodiac Signs Make The Best Partners Gemini : 22 May-21 June Things at your work front will see a raise. You are predicted to receive a gift or a present. Matters relating to travels, speculations or employment will keep your mind at peace. Cancer : 22 June-22 July You are advised to keep your valuables safely. Increase in losses is foreseen. Stay away from bad company. Do not add fuel to fire in case of arguments. Leo : 23 July-21 August You will recover some bad debts today. Business travels will be successful. Your work flow will increase. Things at home or work will be the cause of your trouble. Virgo : 22 August-23 September All your plans will culminate. There are some changes predicted at work. Increase in income is foreseen. You will have a hold on matters outside of work too. Libra : 24 September-23 October You will be inclined towards religious tasks and will also meet some high ranking priests. Business will be good. However, some domestic issues may trouble you. Scorpio : 24 October-22 November You will be worried due to an injury or robbery today. There may be few hurdles on your way. Loss of wealth is foreseen. You are advised to stay away from other's matters. Sagittarius : 23 November-22 December You may have to visit the court for some reason today. Business travels will be successful. Increase in wealth is foreseen. You will also receive the support of your spouse. Capricorn : 23 December-20 January Matters relating to inheritance will give you profits. You will move up in life despite the hurdles on your way. However, you are advised not to enter into any arguments with anyone at home as this may increase your troubles. Aquarius : 21 January-19 February Students will receive success today. You are predicted to enjoy some culinary treats. Your travels too will be entertaining. Also Read : Motivational Quote For Each Zodiac Sign Pisces : 20 February-20 March Your day will be particularly hectic. Bad news will keep you a bit worried. You may be surrounded with tensions. You are advised to stay positive and true to your word. To keep the rating score and review content relevant for your upcoming trip, we archive reviews older than up to 36 months. Only a customer who has booked through Booking.com and stayed at the property in question can write a review. This lets us know that our reviews come from real guests, like you. Who better to tell others about the free breakfast, friendly staff, or quiet room than someone whos stayed at the property before? We want you to share your story, both the good and the bad. All we ask is that you follow a few simple guidelines. 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Cookies also allow us and our partners to show you relevant ads when you visit our site and other 3rd party websites, including social networks.You can choose to allow all cookies by clicking Allow allor manage them individually by clicking Manage cookie preferences, where you will also find more information. Geoff Percival Bank of Ireland has said it has no plans to sell non- performing mortgages and continues to make progress in lowering the amount of borrowers in arrears. We have zero plans to be acquiring or disposing of non-performing exposures, said chief executive Francesca McDonagh, adding that progress has been made on reducing non-performing loans and improving the banks asset quality. Her comments followed last weeks news that Permanent TSB is set to sell around 14,000 loans and Ulster Bank is considering offloading around 7,000, amid calls for the Government to regulate vulture funds who buy up mortgages from Irish banks. Ms McDonagh was speaking on the back of Bank of Irelands latest set of annual results, which showed a flat underlying profit of 1.08bn, but strong lending growth and, as promised, a first annual dividend for a decade. That proposed dividend of 11.5c per share to be voted on by shareholders represents 18% of earnings. The bank said it intends to keep growing the dividend prudently and progressively over a number of years until it reaches 50% of earnings. Bank of Irelands share price fell by over 3.3% on the flat profit figure, a cautious outlook for net interest margin improvement and an expected slowing of loan impairment reversals this year. Analysts are awaiting a planned investor day in June, during which the banks management team is expected to expand on its strategic priorities and growth ambitions. The bank grew its new mortgage lending by 41% last year, upping its share of the residential mortgage market to 27%. Non-performing loans reduced by 31% to 8.3% of its loan book and the bank said it is planning to re-enter the mortgage broker market, which it said reflects the momentum in the market. Ms McDonagh said 92% of overcharged tracker customers have been offered redress and that the bank will incur a total tracker scandal charge of 170m, which is unlikely to increase. That charge meant after-tax profit rose from 692m to 799m last year, as overall impairment charges fell from 176m to 15m. Ms McDonagh said she wants to make Bank of Ireland the national champion bank in Ireland and to improve its business model and how it serves customers. She said she is very supportive of the normalisation of the banking sector and wants to see more diversification on the Bank of Ireland board. She said Bank of Irelands UK consumer banking arm hasnt been affected by Brexit uncertainty and that it will report in line with new UK banking laws its gender pay gap figures in April. Business groups are meeting in Dublin this morning to discuss how Ireland can turn Brexit challenges into opportunities. The British-Irish Chamber of Commerce wants to see the UK set out a customs partnership between them and the EU. By Padraig Hoare Over four-fifths of hotel owners have said rising insurance costs are negatively impacting business, according to a report from the Irish Hotels Federation. The cost of insurance for hotels has risen to 60m annually, the IHFs annual conference in Cavan heard. The situation is as grave as Brexit and needs addressing as a matter of urgency, said IHF president Joe Dolan. He said rising premiums and a growing compensation culture were having a detrimental impact on cost competitiveness. It is costing the equivalent of 1,000 per room annually. This is unsustainable, especially for the tourism and hospitality sector, which is so price-sensitive, he said. The IHF said it welcomed the report of the Cost of Insurance Working Group on employer and public liability insurance costs, which recommended increased transparency, a review of compensation levels, and improving the personal injury litigation process. Mr Dolan said capping damages would significantly help in ensuring consistency in awards made while giving some certainty as to the likely claim costs. Currently its like writing a blank cheque. We believe a cap would encourage insurance companies to take more cases to court, rather than settling them quickly, as happens too often now and to the detriment of our members, he said. Mr Dolan said hoteliers were concerned about the increasing fraudulent and exaggerated insurance claims as well as rising premiums. The IHF survey found over half its members believe a fraudulent claim was made against their property in the past three years. Mr Dolan said strong deterrents were needed to eliminate fraud. We have no issue whatsoever with genuine accidents where guests are rightly and properly compensated. However, we are concerned at the increasing number of opportunistic and fake claims. All too often such claims are viewed as a victimless crime when the reality is that every single guest pays the price, he said. The IHF represents almost 1,000 hotels and guesthouses nationwide, employing more than 60,000 people. Its annual conference at the Slieve Russell Hotel in Ballyconnell, Co Cavan, continues today. Update 11.37am: Ryanair is to vastly reduce flights from Glasgow Airport, making Edinburgh its main base in Scotland. The Irish budget airline currently operates flights from both airports and Prestwick in Ayrshire but will have only three flights from Glasgow this winter. Chief commercial officer David O'Brien said the decision was down to Air Passenger Duty. A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said: "We are bitterly disappointed at this decision by Ryanair, which is not only damaging for Glasgow and wider Scottish connectivity, it will impact approximately 100 jobs locally. "This is a result of the airline's review of its single aircraft bases; however, we have been left in no doubt it is also a consequence of the Scottish Government's inability to introduce its proposed 50% cut in Air Departure Tax (ADT). "Despite clear and repeated warnings from both airports and airlines about the potential impact of this policy not being implemented, we are now faced with a stark scenario that includes the loss of 20 services and a significant number of jobs. "This is the second example in as many months of an airline cutting capacity in Scotland because of the lack of movement on ADT." Earlier: Ryanair set to reduce Glasgow schedule Ryanair is expected to announce a reduction of its 23 routes out of Glasgow to "just a handful". It is believed some flights will go to Edinburgh instead. The budget airline is expected to make an announcement shortly. It comes as the flight operator celebrated passing 100,000 bookings by Erasmus Student Network members on its dedicated platform. The partnership offers Erasmus students a dedicated ESN booking platform where they can avail of 15% flight discounts on Ryanair's website, and a free checked-in bag with every flight booked, saving ESN members an average of 33 per flight. Since launching in August 2017, more than 100,000 ESN students have saved over 3.3m, with students from Milan, Madrid and Porto making the most bookings, and Germany, Portugal, Italy and Poland among the most popular destinations. Ryanairs Chief Marketing Officer Kenny Jacobs said: Any Erasmus student with a valid ESN card can sign up via the MyRyanair registration service and save even more while they travel on Europes biggest airline with the widest route network and the lowest fares. President of Erasmus Student Network, Joao Pinto said: Erasmus students have benefited immensely from this partnership - proof of it are the 100,000 bookings generated since the platform was launched 6 months ago. "Our cooperation with Ryanair has also helped the Erasmus Student Network to enhance the importance of travelling as a way to propitiate knowledge, intercultural understanding and self-development among the Erasmus Generation and beyond. By Talia Shadwell and Ben Woods Legislation designed to cap poor-value energy tariffs for 11m British households will be introduced, the UK Government has announced. The Domestic Gas and Electricity (Tariff Cap) Bill would allow Ofgem to limit tariffs until 2020, with the option to extend the cap annually until 2023. Prime Minister Theresa May said the bill, which the government hopes will become law before next winter, would force energy companies to change their ways. A 2016 report found consumers were paying 1.4bn (1.59bn) a year over the odds via energy companies standard variable tariffs. Ms May said: Its often older people or those on low incomes who are stuck on rip-off energy tariffs, so today we are introducing legislation to force energy companies to change their ways. Our energy price cap will cut bills for millions of families. This is another step we are taking to help people make ends meet as we build a country that works for everyone. The idea of energy price freezes was floated by then-Labour leader Ed Miliband in 2013 amid concerns over price hikes, and was criticised by Conservatives at the time . Plans for a universal price cap were announced in the Conservative manifesto last year, but after the election Ms May passed responsibility to Ofgem, which faced criticism for only coming up with proposals to protect the most vulnerable. Frustrated by the lack of progress from the regulator, Ms May announced legislation to rein in rip-off bills in her speech to the Tory conference in October. Press Association Boris Johnson has dismissed concerns that leaving the EU customs union after Brexit could lead to a hard Irish border by suggesting that crossings of the frontier could be monitored by technology like travel between London boroughs. The UK's Foreign Secretary said "there's no border between Camden and Westminster" as he suggested that goods crossing between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland could be subject to electronic checks, in an apparent reference to the congestion charge. But his suggestion was dismissed as "willful recklessness" and "unbelievable" by Labour MPs in England. Mr Johnson also said that the Britain's CBI business lobby group and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn were "wrong" to back a customs union with Brussels, as it would leave Britain a "colony" of the EU in a situation that would be the "worst of all worlds". Mr Corbyn's initiative has set the scene for possible defeat for Theresa May at the hands of Tory rebels and Labour in an upcoming Commons vote on the Trade Bill. But Mr Johnson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "You can't suck and blow at once, as they say, we're going to have to come out of the customs union in order to be able to do free trade deals." "There's no border between Camden and Westminster." Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson on the Northern Irish border debate #r4today pic.twitter.com/UMDixRaoji BBC Radio 4 Today (@BBCr4today) February 27, 2018 And with the EU set to publish a legal document containing commitments to avoid a hard Irish frontier on Wednesday, Mr Johnson dismissed the suggestion that leaving the tariff-free customs union would see the erection of border posts on the island. "There's no border between Camden and Westminster, but when I was mayor of London we anaesthetically and invisibly took hundreds of millions of pounds from the accounts of people travelling between those two boroughs without any need for border checks whatever," he said. "It's a very relevant comparison because there's all sorts of scope for pre-booking, electronic checks, all sorts of things that you can do to obviate the need for a hard border to allow us to come out of the customs union, take back control of our trade policy and do trade deals." Responding, Labour anti-Brexit MP David Lammy tweeted "God help us all this isn't just stupidity and ignorance but wilful recklessness", while Paul Blomfield said it was "unbelievable". Did our Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson really just compare the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland to the border between Camden and Islington on @BBCr4today just now? God help us all this isnt just stupidity and ignorance but wilful recklessness #r4today David Lammy (@DavidLammy) February 27, 2018 Mr Johnson's border comments were mocked by Tottenham Labour MP Mr Lammy, who said on Twitter: "When I was a young boy we were told to stay away from the Troubles on the Caledonian Rd & marching bands in Regent's Park. The Chalk Farm Peace Agreement has brought peace in our time. People can get the tube from Camden Town to Finsbury Park without being searched at the border." When I was a young boy we were told to stay away from the Troubles on the Caledonian Rd & marching bands in Regent's Park. The Chalk Farm Peace Agreement has brought peace in our time. People can get the tube from Camden Town to Finsbury Park without being searched at the border. https://t.co/Mok7Byylju David Lammy (@DavidLammy) February 27, 2018 Sheffield Labour MP Mr Blomfield said: "Stumbling, bumbling @borisjohnson compares north & south of Ireland with Islington & Camden on @r4Today while trying to explain his frictionless border without a Customs Union. Unbelievable!" Stumbling, bumbling @borisjohnson compares north & south of Ireland with Islington & Camden on @r4Today while trying to explain his frictionless border without a Customs Union. Unbelievable! Paul Blomfield MP (@PaulBlomfieldMP) February 27, 2018 And Walthamstow Labour MP Stella Creasy wrote: "A foreign secretary who literally has no conception of what foreign actually means - that is what brexit has brought us to as a nation. Please, please JUST MAKE IT STOP...." Mr Johnson spoke as Britain's International Trade Secretary Liam Fox prepared to give a speech in which he will describe Mr Corbyn's plan to stay in the customs union as "a complete sell-out of Britain's national interests" which will leave the UK in a worse position than it is now. In the latest of the Cabinet's "road to Brexit" speeches in London, Dr Fox will warn Tory rebels that the arrangement would constrain the UK from taking advantage of future trade opportunities and leave the country as "rule-takers" from Brussels. But his argument was dismissed by the former top civil servant in his department, who said leaving the customs union to strike free trade deals around the world was like "giving up a three-course meal for the promise of a packet of crisps". Sir Martin Donnelly, who left his role as permanent secretary at the Department of International Trade last year, said any divergence from Brussels' rules would deal a blow to British services which would not be compensated for through deals with nations such as the US. He told Today: "You're giving up a three-course meal, which is the depth and intensity of our trade relationships across the European Union and partners now, for the promise of a packet of crisps in the future if we manage to do trade deals outside the European Union which aren't going to compensate for what we're giving up. "You just have to look at the arithmetic - it doesn't add up I'm afraid." Mr Johnson said he disagreed "very strongly" with Sir Martin "of the Brussels commission", arguing that there is an "insatiable" market for UK services outside the EU. The Foreign Secretary also rejected reports that the EU is set to demand the European Court of Justice is the ultimate arbiter in treaty-related disputes as it would not amount to "taking back control". And he suggested he was growing weary of talking about Brexit, despite leading the Vote Leave campaign in 2016's referendum. "I think there's a very good deal to be done, one day we'll be sitting here not talking about Brexit, it's going to be fantastic, but one day we will be able to do a deal I think that reflects what the Prime Minister set out at Lancaster House and Florence and elsewhere, around which the whole Cabinet united last week." Councillors in Tallaght are opposing Scientology plans to build a playground in Firhouse. The church has applied for planning permission to add it to its recently opened Victory Centre. Child protection concerns have been raised because of its proximity to schools and request for CCTV. Local Fine Gael councillor Brian Lawlor outlines why people are opposed. He said "It's a change of planning for that particular site, that site was a place of worship for their own followers to come in there and worship. "That park is a diversity park, so people are against lights, cameras and all that." By Aoife Nic Ardghail A Dublin man who stabbed and bit his upstairs neighbour over incessantly reciting poetry has been jailed for two and a half years. John Paul Mulready (40) burst into his neighbour's flat brandishing a serrated peeling knife after hammering at the door shouting about music being played, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told. The injured party, Dermot Byrne, told gardai that there was a brief standoff after he picked up a frying pan to defend himself, but then Mulready tackled him to the ground, stabbed him in the leg and bit him on the face. Mr Byrne, who composes poetry, eventually got rid of the attacker by swinging a large bottle of vodka at him after another neighbour intervened. Detective Garda Stephen Homan confirmed to Judge Martin Nolan that Mulready admitted he had attacked Mr Byrne on the night because of poetry recited incessantly from upstairs. Mulready, of Camden Mews, Camden Street, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary with a knife at Haddington Road, Dublin, on September 4, 2015. He has 116 previous convictions, including drugs offences, possessing knives, assault and criminal damage. Det Garda Homan described Mr Byrne as having significant wounds where he had been bitten on the eye and nose on the night but added that these have since healed. He told Elva Duffy BL, prosecuting, that the injured party noticed that his phone had gone missing after the incident. The detective told the court this phone contained Mr Byrne's poetry. He agreed with Luigi Rea BL, defending, that Mulready had made a mess of his early life between alcohol and drugs but that he looked a lot smarter in court today. The detective further agreed that Mulready had support in court from a number of people from the New Hope residential drug treatment centre. Aidan Curran, of New Hope, told Mr Rea that Mulready was now drug and alcohol-free and that life was more positive for him in the four months he had been at the centre. Mr Rea submitted to Judge Nolan that Mulready had shown a lack of self control because of drink and prescribed medication and reacted in the wrong way when he burst in on Mr Byrne. He asked the judge to allow his client to continue at the residential treatment centre. Judge Nolan noted that Mulready had taken great steps to reform himself, but said he had to take into consideration the father-of-three's serious history of offending. He said that thankfully the injuries inflicted on Mr Byrne were minor and he made a full recovery. He described Mulready's attack as one of bad temper and intemperance, adding that the crime was too serious consider a suspended sentence. by Ruaidhri Giblin A man who was given a two-and-a-half year suspended sentence for forcing his young friend to have sex with him when he was 15 years old has lost an appeal against his conviction. The accused, who cannot be named to protect the identity of the victim, abused the boy when he was 10 or 11 years old. He told the child he would not let him leave the house and would set his dogs on him if he did not let him do sex. The now 23-year-old was convicted by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of defilement in his Dublin home on a date between January and July 2011. He had denied the charge. Judge Petria McDonnell said it was a heinous assault carried out on a much younger boy. At a sentence hearing, the accused handed in a letter to Judge McDonnell saying my sentence began the day I was accused of this disgusting crime. He said he did not think he could handle prison as he could feel himself becoming suicidal. He told the judge he had several family members in the police force and that, before his conviction, he had hoped to become a garda himself. He said he had to move abroad after being charged because neighbours kept calling me horrible things like paedo and rapist. Defence counsel Bernard Condon SC, submitted that the offence was at the lower end of the range as there was no evidence of pain, injury or threats after the fact. If the matter had been reported and processed sooner his client would be a minor and would likely receive a suspended sentence, Mr Condon had submitted. The Court of Appeal upheld the man's conviction today holding that the trial was satisfactory and the verdict safe. The man's junior counsel, Dean Kelly BL, had submitted that the case should have been withdrawn from the jury at the close of the prosecution case due to the improbability of the complainant's narrative. The complainant stated that he neither felt nor saw himself be penetrated. He couldn't remember his position at the time of the incident or whether he was sitting on the bed or standing. Dismissing the appeal, Mr Justice John Edwards, who sat with Mr Justice George Birmingham and Mr Justice Alan Mahon said these were issues for the jury to resolve. 10m in Government funding has been approved for rural roads including lanes and boreens. The Local Improvement Scheme is to help people access isolated homes and farms. The roads are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Michael Ring, said: This scheme is a lifeline for people living in rural areas because it directly improves their access to and from their homes and farms. "Its important to remember that many people living in rural areas use these roads on every journey they take, so when these roads fall into disrepair, it has a significant impact on them. By investing in the improvement of these roads we are helping to improve peoples quality of life in rural areas. My Department will be in contact with Local Authorities in the coming days and I would encourage each Local Authority to carefully compile a list of suitable roads for submission to the Department." He said their lists should be based on the authority's capacity to undertake and complete the works before the end of July 2018. He said: In 2017, I allocated an initial 10 million to participating Local Authorities and was able to allocate a further 7.4 million to the scheme before the end of last year. I cannot overstate how important local connectivity is in order to enable rural Ireland to function well. "I am delighted to see that in the recently announced National Development Plan as part of Project Ireland 2040, 4.5 billion has been allocated for the maintenance and improvement of local and regional roads. "Project Ireland 2040 also contains 1 billion extra funding for investment in rural communities through the Department of Rural and Community Development. This Rural Regeneration Fund will lead to significant investment in rural towns, villages and rural areas, meaning greater connectivity and enhanced amenities for rural communities." Update 2.55pm: Leo Varadkar has hit out at Fianna Fail saying they are in no position to give lectures about propaganda. A row erupted in the Dail over ads the government has taken out promoting the Ireland 2040 plan in national and regional newspapers. There have been allegations the Government told papers to make the ads look like part of regular news content and not sponsored items. In the Dail Taoiseach Leo Varadkar held up ads for the National Development Plan paid for by Fianna Fail when they were in government. Earlier: The taxpayer is footing the bill for State propaganda, according to Fianna Fail. The Government's Strategic Communications Unit has been called before an Oireachtas committee after questions were raised over advertorials placed in newspapers. There have been reports that newspapers were told to make ads for the Ireland 2040 project look like part of the regular news cycle, and not paid-for content. This is something the Taoiseach denied yesterday. Mr Varadkar said: "There is no direction from my department, or from anyone within my department, to people or to editors to blur the lines between the news and an information campaign." The Government also said in a statement they operated the ads through a third-party company, and the Strategic Communications Unit had no contact with individual titles. However, Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy has made an official complaint to the advertising standards authority about it: Ms Murphy said: "They are there to make sure that the unsuspecting person is covered, and that when somebody buys a newspaper, they know that when they are on a page, that it is a page full of news, and that they know when they are on a page that is full of advertising." Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley says there needs to be more accountability for taxpayers money. He said: "The abuse of taxpayers' money, which it is, is effectively the sale of State propaganda." The Strategic Communications Unit say they had no final sign-off or editorial input into the ads, but the opposition say it has blurred the lines between real and fake news. Organised crime may have been involved in the fatal shooting of an investigative journalist in Slovakia, a Canadian reporter has claimed. Jan Kuciak, 27, is said to have been working on a story about possible Italian mafia involvement in fraud linked to EU subsidies in eastern Slovakia when he was killed. What is being described as a "humanitarian pause" in airstrikes in a rebel-held area of Syria has just started. It is hoped the five-hour break in shelling will allow civilians to leave eastern Ghouta. More than 550 people have been killed in the last week after Syrian government forces started a renewed offensive. The Syrian government has arranged a safe exit route for residents of the besieged rebel-held suburb of Damascus, according to the Russian military. Major General Yuri Yevtushenko, the head of the Russian military's Centre for Reconciliation in Syria, said Syrian government forces will maintain daily ceasefires in eastern Ghouta from 9am to 2pm (7am to 12pm Irish Time). He said Syrian authorities had set up a "humanitarian corridor" for civilians' exit and would distribute leaflets with specifics about the evacuation. Maj Gen Yevtushenko said al Qaida-linked militants and some rebel groups in eastern Ghouta are preventing civilians from leaving and using them as shields while continuing to shell the capital. The announcement of the ceasefires comes two days after the UN Security Council unanimously approved a resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire across Syria. A civilian evacuation from eastern Ghouta last December. Pic: AP The UN ceasefire failed to take hold as air strikes continued and Syrian ground forces fought to push into the besieged area from the west. Civilians caught in the violence mocked Russian President Vladimir Putin's order of a limited, five-hour daily truce. "It is like legitimising the strikes on civilians," said activist Firas Abdullah, a resident of Douma, a town in the region where at least 13 members of a family were killed on Monday when their home collapsed after an air strike. "They will be so kind to grant us a mere five hours when they will not bomb us. Then the rest of the day, they will bomb us as usual. It is like a permission to kill," Mr Abdullah said. The carnage in the eastern Ghouta region has killed more than 500 people since last week. At least 34 were killed on Monday by air strikes and shelling, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The UN estimates that nearly 400,000 people live in dire conditions from the siege in eastern Ghouta, which has been under intensive bombing by government forces for weeks. Other Ghouta residents also scoffed at the Russian move, saying it reminded them of a similar one for a besieged eastern district of Aleppo in 2016. The political leader of the Army of Islam, the strongest rebel group in eastern Ghouta, called the Russian order "regrettable", saying Moscow sought to circumvent the Security Council's unanimously approved resolution. "This (Russian) decision nullifies the legitimacy of the United Nations," Mohammed Alloush said. "We want a total and lasting ceasefire in accordance with the UN resolution and one that opens corridors for humanitarian aid." A businessman sobbed as he told a jury in the UK he did not do anything "stupid" to cause a 1.2m Ferrari to crash, killing a 13-year-old boy. Matthew Cobden (aged 39) of Walton-on-Thames, Surrey, is on trial at Winchester Crown Court where he denies causing the death by careless driving of Alexander Worth on August 22, 2016. The court has heard that the defendant offered the teenager a ride in the Ferrari F50 after Justin Smith, the partner of the boy's mother, asked for a photograph of it. As the supercar drove down the farm access road in North Warnborough, Hampshire, where Cobden runs a car storage business, it hit a fence post and flipped in the air, throwing them out of the vehicle. Cobden said that after reversing the Ferrari out of the truck which had delivered it back to his premises, he needed to drive it a short distance to prevent damage to the spark plugs. He said: "I reversed it out, Justin asked me if they could take a picture of it, I try not to do things like pictures because things appear all over the internet and I didn't want that to happen. "I said to Justin I have to take it down the road and if Alex wants to come with me he can." He said he had not worn a seatbelt and had not asked Alex to put one on. Sobbing, he said: "It's something I think about all the time. If I had done, things could have been different." Cobden said he did not drive fast down the road, which has a 10mph speed limit, and drove carefully over a bridge to prevent the car's undercarriage from getting scuffed. He added: "I'm in my client's car and the last thing I want to do is cause any damage." Describing the crash, he said: "After that I am going along, I put my foot on the accelerator and it goes, the next thing I am not in the car. "I do not know what has happened. All I keep thinking is that if I had done something I wouldn't have hit the post. That is what frustrates me." He continued: "I was using the same accelerator I was doing up there, I used the same amount. "People are going to suggest I didn't know what I was doing but I used the same amount of pedal as I was driving around the corner. "I didn't do anything stupid, I was just trying to do my job. The next thing I remember is being out of the car." Describing Ferraris as "temperamental", he added: "It is a powerful car. They are dangerous cars. I am sorry to say it, they are dangerous things." The defence argues that the Ferrari had a latent defect that caused it to accelerate uncontrollably but the prosecution say the accident was caused by driver error. The trial continues. - PA A man attempted to run over a Muslim woman and a 12-year-old schoolgirl as revenge for a bombing at Parsons Green tube station, a UK court heard today. Paul Moore is alleged to have attempted to kill Zaynab Hussein with his Volkswagen car on September 20 last year and the court heard he admits he was the driver. The jury were told how Ms Hussein, a Somali national, was struck once and subsequently driven over again moments later on Acer Close in Leicester just after 8am as the defendant allegedly laughed. The 21-year-old is then alleged to have tried to cause the 12-year-old serious harm by driving the same vehicle at her on Butterwick Drive moments later. A jury of seven men and five women at Nottingham Crown Court were told Moore allegedly tried to kill Ms Hussein "purely because of the colour of her skin" and her "perceived Islamic faith". The prosecution said four other people were in the car with Moore during the incident and they begged him to let them out afterwards. Opening the case against Moore today, prosecutor Jonathan Straw said: "(Moore) carefully and deliberately, in an act of calculated evil, aligned his wheels so the front and back wheels were over her (Ms Hussein). "He did not know her. He tried to kill her purely because of the colour of her skin and because of her perceived Islamic faith as she was wearing a hijab. "It is no coincidence, we say, that there had been a bomb at Parsons Green Tube station in London, said to have been carried out by sympathisers of 'Islamic State'." Mr Straw continued to say it was only thanks to members of the public and medical professionals that Ms Hussein's life was saved. He continued: "She had received severe fractures to her pelvis, her spine, and one of the bones in her leg was broken. "Having deliberately, we say, tried to kill Zaynab Hussein, the defendant then drove at a second victim - a 12-year-old schoolgirl. "He did not hit her, he brushed her, but it is only by the grace of God and nothing more that she was saved." Mr Straw said Moore intended to offer no defence, adding: "It may well be he has no defence. He admits he was the driver." In a recorded interview played to the court, Reece Bishop, a passenger in the car at the time of the alleged attack on Ms Hussein, told police: "He was just driving like a maniac. "I thought we were going to be dead. He said: 'I feel like running someone over. Anyone.' "It all happened so fast. He turned the steering wheel and he just hits her out of the blue." On the recorded interview with police, Mr Bishop said Moore was laughing as he drove at Ms Hussein. Moore, of Letchworth Road, Western Park, Leicester, denies attempted murder, causing grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving. The trial continues. - PA First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said it is "very likely" the Scottish Parliament will not give consent to the EU Withdrawal Bill following Westminster's latest offer. Theresa May's UK government is at odds with Holyrood and Cardiff Bay about whether powers returned from Brussels after Brexit go to the devolved administrations or Whitehall. Cabinet minister David Lidington said yesterday that the UK Government had made a "considerable offer" to the devolved administrations with a commitment that the "vast majority" of powers returning from Brussels will start off in Edinburgh, Cardiff and Belfast rather than Whitehall. Ms Sturgeon said Holyrood is simply trying to protect the powers that the Scottish Parliament already has over areas such as agriculture, fishing, environmental policy, food standards, justice and health. She told BBC Radio 4: "After Brexit, in terms of the devolution settlement, those powers should return to the Scottish Parliament and it should be up to us how we exercise them. "What the Withdrawal Bill seeks to do is restrict and constrain the ability of the Scottish Parliament or the Welsh Assembly to legislate in these devolved areas . "Westminster effectively wants to be able to impose uniformity in these areas and that's not acceptable in terms of the broad sweep and fundamentals of the devolution settlement." She said they have tried very hard to find agreement but that it is likely Holyrood will not give consent to the Brexit Bill as it stands. She said: "We are still trying, through discussions, to reach agreement but if I look at the situation right now I think it's very likely that that's the position both the Scottish Government and the Welsh Government will be in, of saying to our respective parliaments we do not recommend approval of the Withdrawal Bill and we will introduce then our own legislation in devolved matters to give continuity to EU law in the Brexit scenario." Ms Sturgeon welcomed Jeremy Corbyn's announcement yesterday that Labour would seek to form a "new and comprehensive" UK-EU customs union to ensure tariff-free trade after Brexit as "movement" and said she hopes Labour is on a journey towards embracing a single market/customs union outcome. She said there is a chance of seeing a majority in the House of Commons that could keep the UK in the single market and the customs union. However, she said there is equally a "very real risk" that the UK could "crash out" of the EU without a deal. - PA A billionaire Russian businessman told to pay his Russian ex-wife 453m by a London divorce court judge has said he cannot get justice in Britain. Farkhad Akhmedov said he married Tatiana Akhmedova in Russia and the marriage was dissolved in Russia. He said British courts should not "interfere". Mr Akhmedov made complaints in a statement issued through a spokesman following the latest ruling in his fight over money with Ms Akhmedova. He said he had "always provided" for Ms Akhmedova's "lavish lifestyle" and said the British legal system was wrong to give her an opportunity to seek a "new settlement" in England. News of Ms Akhmedova's payout emerged during the summer of 2017 following a hearing in the Family Division of the High Court in London overseen by a High Court judge. Mr Justice Haddon-Cave revealed detail in a written ruling published on a legal website. The award he made to Ms Akhmedova is thought to be the biggest made by a divorce court judge in England. Three appeal judges today published a further ruling after considering legal issues involving a solicitor who worked for Mr Akhmedov at a Court of Appeal hearing in London a few weeks ago. Anthony Kerman, who had represented Mr Akhmedov at an early stage of proceedings, complained about an order made by Mr Justice Haddon-Cave during litigation in the Family Division of the High Court. He complained that he had been unfairly summonsed to give evidence at short notice. Appeal judges dismissed his challenge. "I am neither surprised nor disappointed by this ruling, even though I had hoped that the higher court might have shown some impartiality," said Mr Akhmedov. "Instead, its decision proves again that there is no justice for me in British courts. "That is why I withdrew from the original divorce proceedings. "The British courts should never have sought to interfere in a former marriage which took place in Russia, between two Russian citizens and which had long been dissolved in that country with generous provision for my ex-wife." Mr Akhmedov added: "I shall continue to defend all my rights in other jurisdictions, as will those responsible for the trust holding my family's wealth. "I believe other courts will act in a more reasonable and less partial manner than the British courts have done." - PA Poor sharing of information led to warning signs being missed before a 19-day-old boy was murdered by his mother, a serious case review in the UK has found. Nicola Brown (aged 43) was found guilty of the murder of her son Jake following a trial at Winchester Crown Court in 2016 and was sentenced to life imprisonment to serve a minimum of 14-and-a-half years. The serious case review, carried out by the Portsmouth Safeguarding Children's Board, found that information sharing between agencies, including hospital staff and GPs, was inadequate. Its conclusion states: "In this case, the exchange of information between agencies was left wanting, particularly in relation to the adults' respective histories. "Some incomplete exchanges of information between the police, children's social care and the health visitor about the historical and current issues relating to domestic abuse meant that more targeted services were not offered to the family at an early stage." The report stated that Brown had a history of anger management, anxiety and depression and the child's father, Jason Brown (aged 44), who was acquitted of causing or allowing the death of a child, had a "troubled childhood" and issues with excessive drinking. Dr Richard John, chairman of the PSCB, said: "Our review showed there were no major failings, all the agencies involved responded appropriately and promptly reacted to concerns. "We have made recommendations for improvements in sharing information between organisations, and are pleased to see that professionals across health, police and social care are now co-located in a multi-agency safeguarding team." The trial heard that Jake suffered 17 broken ribs during his short life, which ended while his mother was looking after him at their former home in Agincourt Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire. Nigel Lickley QC, prosecuting, said that Jake was subjected to such a severe injury that he would have suffered a "rapid collapse". The trial heard that Jake was given the nickname of Bungee because of his unusual and unexpected birth. The prosecutor told the court that Brown had not informed her doctor that she was pregnant prior to Jake's birth and she had not undergone a pregnancy scan or arranged for a midwife. The court heard that Brown described herself and her husband as "ticking time bombs" and said that she suffered from anxiety. Mr Lickley said that concerns were raised while they were in hospital for four days after the birth and social services were informed. He said that Jake was deemed at risk but not of "immediate harm" and mother and son were discharged from hospital but visited by midwives on December 5 and 10 at their home, although no concerns for the baby's well-being were raised during these visits. - PA Australias energy crisis is a puzzle that can be solved but it wont be simple and will require more than a few new power stations, EnergyAustralia head Cath Tanna says. Ms Tanna recently joined Australias energy sector leaders Origin Energy head Frank Calabria, WA-based Quadrant Energy chief Brett Darley, and the federal environment and energy minister Josh Frydenberg at the Citi A50 Australian Economic Forum to discuss how Australia can evolve the energy landscape and overcome the current supply issues. Ms Tanna said the energy crisis can be solved but it needed to be viewed as a system in transition rather than the basic problems of supply. EnergyAustralia operates the Yallourn brown coal-fired power station in Victoria. Im quite optimistic looking forward, and the reason why is because we have all the pieces of the puzzle, as a sector we know what all the things are that need to be put together, to resolve it for reliable and affordable energy in the future, Ms Tanna told Fairfax Media. A former stylist for American Idol host Ryan Seacrest accused him of sexual misconduct on Monday, although Seacrest denied the accusations last November. Suzie Hardy told Hollywood publication Variety that Seacrest, 43, sexually harassed her for six years, starting in 2007, when she became his personal stylist at E! News. Hardy was a single mother with a preschool-aged daughter when she landed a stylist job for E! News in 2006. The position provided good pay and a schedule that would allow her to pick up her child from school most workdays. Another round of fashion shows at New York Fashion Week bites the dust and the overarching beauty and hair trends to reckon with are inspired by the '80s. One of my favourite decades (yes I actually lived the dream) marked by makeup excess, big hair and loads of colour. The eighties revival is upon us where hair and makeup are all about more is more. My beauty hero: David Bowie as Ziggy Stardust. Bold eyes Preen gold dust. Credit:AP Glitter made an appearance at Preen by Thornton Bregazzi where makeup artist Val Garland modernised it by smearing it over the model's foreheads. Caution is suggested when attempting this one at home. What matters is that the majority of American people have become complacent in a senseless injustice that occurs all around them. What matters is that my friends are dead, along with hundreds upon hundreds of others all over the United States, she wrote for the publication. We are children who are being expected to act like adults, while the adults are proving themselves to behave like children. She now has more followers than the National Rifle Association, and their spokesperson Dana Loesch Following her speech in Fort Lauderdale, Gonzalez also was applauded her her question at the CNN town hall with NRA spokeswoman Dana Loesch over the organisations stance on automatic weapons and bump stock. Gonzalez now stands at 1.01 million followers while the NRA has 589,000 and Loesch has 784,000. I want you to know that will we support your [Loeschs] two children in a way that you will not, she told her. As Loesch responses were met with jeers, Gonzalez said If I cant hear her statement, I cant come up with a rebuttal. And when Loesch answer was off-topic, the student stopped her and reminded her of the question at hand. She sparked the March For Our Lives movement Gonzalez, alongside her Parkland community have created the March For Our Lives movement, which will see rallies across America, including a protest in Washington D.C outside the White House, with 500,000 people expected to attend according to The Washington Post. It has also garnered the attention of celebrities including George and Amal Clooney, and Oprah, as well as fashion house, Gucci who have all donated US $500,000. Gonzalez stressed in her Harpers Bazaar piece, that when their movement refers to the NRA, they mean the organisation, and not their members. Since then, the group has also put pressure on various companies to end their affiliation and deals with the NRA, with Hertz, Delta and United Airlines all severing ties to the organisation. In a statement the NRA said that it was a shameful display of political and civic cowardice. The time, these brands will be replaced by others who recognise patriotism. Her decision to have a buzz cut hairstyle is not just a statement While supporters might want to interpret Gonzalezs haircut as a symbol of feminism or non-conformity, the teenager said that her decision was more practicality-based than making a statement. People asked me, Are you taking a feminist stand?, the student explained in a recent interview with Sun Sentinel. No I wasnt. Its Florida, Hair is just an extra sweater I am forced to wear. But while her hair is not designed as a politiucal statement, as a new generation of activists are inspired by it as they prepare for a non-violent battle in the upcoming March protests. When you got work to do but your hairs gettin too long #StonemanStrong #BaldiesGetTheJobDone, she captioned the tweet. She also told her schools Instagram account, Humans of MSD, that despite her parents reservations, she convinced them with a powerpoint on why long hair is uncomfortable to maintain. Small businesses are telling the Digital Transformation Agency they haven't been able to find work on the government's online marketplace for IT contracts, its boss Gavin Slater says. Mr Slater told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday he wanted to increase their participation in government work and, in light of results, was not satisfied with the level of performance for Digital Marketplace. Digital Transformation Agency chief Gavin Slater. Credit:Rohan Thomson He also said the DTA needed to do more work with agencies that tended to award contracts to the same companies, educating them about other options when choosing IT contractors. "My view is that there is still a significant amount of work to be done with those individuals making those purchasing decisions in those agencies," he said. Sacked Queensland mayor Chris Loft has seized on a tribunals favourable decision to help argue the state government did not have the power to get rid of him. Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe dumped the former Fraser Coast mayor earlier this month for serial and flagrant breaches of local government principles. Fraser Coast Regional Council mayor Chris Loft has been dismissed. Credit:Facebook On Tuesday, a day later than first expected, Mr Loft applied to the Supreme Court for the decision to be reviewed, arguing the dismissal was "so unreasonable that no reasonable person could so exercise the power". "The decision was devoid of evident or intelligible justification," solicitor Angelo Vernados argued in the application. There was a fire and everything has burnt down. Everything. This afternoon something really awful happened, she said, her voice cracking. Lovestar owner Helen Bayley surveys the damage to her Moggill warehouse after a fire on Monday. Credit:Lovestar. Shocked Lovestar owner Helen Bayley shared the damage with her 50,000-plus Instagram followers on Monday afternoon as firefighters continued to hose down the embers. Fire has ripped through a beloved Australian designers business, destroying everything at her uninsured western Brisbane warehouse. So, this was my shed with my laser machine and all my acrylics and its all gone, all of it. Luckily no one was injured and everyone's OK. The fire, which broke out about 4.20pm, has been blamed on the laser cutter still used to create some of the rising lifestyle businesss products. Lovestar took off after Ms Bayley, a former lawyer, took inspiration from the walls of her typical Queenslander home to design a heart-shaped vase, made out of plastic. The design was a hit and Lovestar was born. Queensland Fire and Emergency Service Pullenvale station officer Craig Meade said the fire took off in minutes, destroying the storage and work shed on the semi-rural property. A worker has been "seriously injured" at a Brisbane construction site, leading to police closing the surrounding road and affecting the pick-up run at a local school. The 21-year-old man was working on the construction of a retaining wall when he fell down an embankment at the site on Wentworth Parade in Balmoral at 1.38pm. According to emergency services, he suffered serious abdominal injuries and was taken to the Princess Alexandra Hospital in a serious but stable condition. Police closed Wentworth Parade between Thorpe and Apex streets and warn it will impact school pick-up traffic for Bulimba State School. An inspector and investigator from Workplace Health and Safety Queensland have been called to the scene. Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton addresses the resignation of disgraced Assistant Commissioner Brett Guerin. Credit:Jason South Victoria Police faces mounting pressure to review the decisions made by the former head of professional standards following his resignation over racist online posts, which have damaged the force's reputation and further strained relations with Melbourne's African community. Human rights lawyers also say the turmoil created by the departure of assistant commissioner Brett Guerin demonstrates the need for an external integrity body separate to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission to investigate police misconduct in Victoria. Chief Commissioner Graham Ashton seemed visibly unsettled by the scandal that had engulfed force command as he faced the media on Tuesday after Mr Guerin, a man he said he thought he knew, resigned in disgrace the night before. The resignation came less than an hour after The Age revealed what have so far been the most damaging posts made under the Vernon Demerest alias used by Mr Guerin, which included racists references to jigaboo[s], cheating dagoes and third world dullards. A man who flashed his penis at a woman on a tram in Melbourne's CBD is being pursued by police. Police have released an image of a man they believe may be able to assist with their inquiries. The man boarded a route 57 West Maribyrnong tram outside Flinders Street Station on Sunday, 28 January about 4.30pm. Investigators have been told he sat opposite a woman and exposed his penis throughout the journey before disembarking at Abbotsford Street in North Melbourne. Police have released an image of a man they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries. Judge Hall said both women shared violent fantasies regarding death and killing, and were equally responsible for his death, even though Judge Hall found it more likely Lilley was the one who stabbed Mr Pajich. Lenon, left, buying hydrochloric acid from Bunnings. Lilley, right, the day of Mr Pajich's murder. Credit:Supreme Court of Western Australia Psychiatric reports described Lilley as "highly disturbed", sadistic and narcissistic individual who took pleasure in others' pain. Lenon was described in similar reports as having sexual masochism disorder, social anxiety and little empathy for Mr Pajich. As many as 300 people came out for the touching tribute to 18-year-old Aaron Pajich. Credit:Facebook Judge Hall said the killing was callous and thrill seeking. "Your motives... were the pitiless pursuit of your own desires," he said. Messages between the two women tendered in court. Credit:Supreme Court of Western Australia "You killed for your own pleasure. "It is likely [Aaron] never suspected what you intended to do to him until it was too late." The tiling used to hide Mr Pajich's buried body. Credit:Supreme Court of Western Australia The psychiatric report into Lilley, which assessed her as being a moderate risk of reoffending, led to Judge Hall taking the unusual step of ordering the report be given to prison officials. He mentioned the psychiatrist was concerned about a specific scenario in relation to Lilley's risk of reoffending that he chose not to mention, other than to say the prison should be notified of the report. Aaron Pajich. Credit:WA Police Her lawyer indicated Lilley, who continued to deny any involvement in Mr Pajich's death, may appeal the conviction. 'Such a lovely boy' Judge Hall said victim impact statements from Mr Pajich's family showed their loss was still raw and that losing a child in such circumstances was every parent's worst nightmare. "He was a very young man, only 18, his life in many ways was only just beginning... no sentence no matter how long, could possibly reflect the value of his life," he said. "This is a very serious case of murder... there are few if any cases in this jurisdiction which are comparable." Outside court Mr Pajich's step mother Veronica Desmond said she hoped Lilley and Lenon would rot for what they did. "Such a lovely boy, he really was, so much love for Aaron," she said. "I hope you rot, I hope you live to regret what you've done." Three months prior to his death, Lenon began living with serial-killer obsessed Lilley and had agreed to become her 'submissive' and help her fulfil a desire to claim her first kill. CCTV in the days leading up to Mr Pajich's murder showed the women buying large amounts of hydrochloric acid and sealable drums from Bunnings, while text messages between the pair detailed the "screaming, pleading victim" Lilley longed for. An unsuspecting Mr Pajich, whose Asperger's syndrome led to him having a trusting and innocent nature, received a call from Lenon to meet her at Rockingham shopping centre on the day of his death. From there, the trio left together and returned to Lilley's Orelia home, where Lenon had also been living with her children. Police believe Mr Pajich was killed shortly after arriving at the house. After several public pleas from his family to help find Mr Pajich, his body was found buried underneath a concrete slab in the home's backyard a week later. He had been stabbed multiple times, garrotted and had cling film around his face. 'Obsessed with serial killers and knives' Both women denied murdering Mr Pajich and blamed each other, leading to a five week trial in the Supreme Court of Western Australia in October 2017. Lilley claimed she was unaware Mr Pajich had been killed and that Lenon must have murdered him and concealed the crime while she was taking a three-hour nap in the next room. Lenon however admitted witnessing Lilley stab Mr Pajich to death, claiming she helped conceal the crime out of fear. She claimed she thought the murderous talk between her and Lilley was just 'role play'. During their trial, the jury heard how Lilley was obsessed with serial killers and knives, and had told a friend she wanted to kill someone before she turned 25. She often referred to herself as SOS, a serial killer character she created for a book she wrote as a teenager in 2007. Lenon once described Lilley as a "literal psychopath" who was "unnerving but addictive". A day after Mr Pajich's murder, Lilley sent Lenon a message saying: 'I'm seeing things I haven't seen before and feeling things I haven't felt before', to which Lenon replied: 'You're welcome SOS'. The pair were convicted of Mr Pajich's murder on November 1, 2017. Ms Lenon has since been attacked in Bandyup Prison after a fellow inmate allegedly poured a container of boiling water over her. A Qantas flight from Perth to Sydney had to turn back on Tuesday afternoon due to an issue with a sensor after take-off. Qantas flight 566 took off from Perth Airport at 3:44pm when an indicator light came on just 40 minutes into the flight, a Qantas spokesman said. Qantas flight 566 turned back after and indicator light appear in the cockpit. Credit:Flightaware.com The pilot made the decision to return to Perth to get the instrument of the Boing 737 inspected rather than continue on to Sydney. The issue turned out to be a faulty sensor and the small instrument was replaced immediately. The wetland is also teeming with birdlife. Credit:Peter Melling She said LandCorp's geotechnical and hydrological surveys had showed that earthworks and construction on the site would have been difficult, perhaps unviable. She had asked LandCorp to reconsider the development and the WAPC to consider reserving the site "for the community and for the future". Lot 603 (red outline) within Development Area 8 (blue outline). Credit:Emma Young While WAtoday understands the land value is not particularly high, the former government had budgeted $2.9 million of anticipated revenue for the development so there are potential financial implications to be worked through. "We are working through the issues to see how we can deliver a solution that represents the strong community views but does not hinder our finances in a significant way," Minister Saffioti said. The wetland is now considered potentially too unstable for the earthworks required for development. Credit:Save Garvey Park Ascot "Of course, the adjacent property owners have been looking forward to further development, so that is something we will need to address as well. "Hopefully, we will be able to announce a solution very soon." Lot 603 was identified as ideal for development in 2006 specifically because of the large public landholding, and the demand from surrounding landowners wanting to redevelop. The WAPC sold Lot 603 to LandCorp, and together with the surrounds the area was designated Development Area 8. LandCorp began public consultations in October and structural planning was intended to start in June. It has now written to residents saying that it had gone to great lengths to identify and understand community needs, environmental impacts and commercial viability. "The aim of the development was to balance all of these needs so that the project would sensitively integrate with the community and environment in a commercially responsible manner," the letter said. Chief operations officer Dean Mudford told WAtoday LandCorp was working closely with relevant Government agencies and the City of Belmont to explore the options for this land. Save Garvey Park Wetland spokeswoman Joanne Fabling said the Minister's actions were promising. "Now we'd like to see a timeline," she said. "The families surrounding that land just want a resolution one way or another." The City of Belmont may end up having to pay LandCorp compensation if the land ends up being zoned as parkland. Ms Saffioti said the City of Belmont had been pursuing infill and urban regeneration opportunities and the government was trying to ensure "sensible infill" associated with public transport development. "In the suburb of Redcliffe and around Redcliffe station, in the member for Belmont's electorate, the opportunity to get very sensible infill is enormous. This government is bringing to the table a plan and a strategy of how to get infill and making sure that we link it very well to new transport infrastructure. As I said, this plan has been underway for many years," she said. According to the last WA State of the Environment Report, 17 per cent of remaining wetlands on the Swan Coastal Plain have high conservation significance. But no WA government has released a new State of the Environment report since 2007. And no WA government has submitted any potential sites to the federal government to be considered for protection under the international Ramsar convention since 2001. The 1997 Wetlands Conservation Policy for Western Australia, which included a strategy, is considered out of date by scientists and a replacement strategy was drafted but never released. A wetlands buffer zone policy to guide developers and state and local government agencies was also never released. A mother and her two young children have been remembered as dearly loved members of their local church after they were found dead following a tragic and suspicious house fire last week. Anne Muhoro, 45, her son Ezvin, 8, and her daughter Furaha, 5, were found by fire crews inside the house on Peter Coppin Street, Bonner, following the blaze on February 19. Tributes of soft toys and flowers at the site of the triple death and house fire in Bonner. Credit:karleen minney Neighbours painted a picture of a reserved family who lived a quiet life in Canberra, while others spoke of the family's close ties to the Northside Life Church in Harrison. Northside Life Church Pastor Susan Miller said the family had been remembered at a private memorial service over the weekend. Authorities identified on Monday the three people who were found dead in the remains of a suspicious Bonner house fire as Anne Muhoro, 45, her son Ezvin, 8, and her daughter Furaha, 5. ACT Policing's Detective Superintendent Scott Moller would not comment on the cause of death on Monday, saying the results of the autopsies had not yet been released. But he acknowledged the impact the deaths had had those who knew the family. "This is a tragic situation and everyone gets affected by it," he said. "And everyone that we've spoken to is heartbroken." Australian Border Force head Roman Quaedvlieg has insisted there are always two or more versions of events as he faces an imminent decision by Attorney-General Christian Porter on whether he should be sacked over abuse of power allegations. Mr Porter is weighing up two reports - one from the corruption watchdog and one from the head of the public service - into allegations Mr Quaedvlieg abused his position by helping his girlfriend, a ABF employee, get a job at Sydney Airport. Two Senate hearings this week have revealed that a lengthy bureaucratic process has unfolded - which officials themselves have at times struggled to explain - while Mr Quaedvlieg has been on leave pending a decision about his future since late May. He has pocketed an estimated $500,000 while on leave. The head of the public service and secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Martin Parkinson, spent four months writing a report on Mr Quaedvliegs case, even though the facts of the case had already been investigated and reported on by the watchdog, the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity. Mr Quaedvlieg was given nearly four weeks over the Christmas and New Year period to respond to Dr Parkinsons report. Jerusalem: A former Melbourne school principal wanted on 74 charges of child abuse will remain in custody under psychiatric care in Israel, after her defence requested more time to review new evidence that had come to light. In an hour-long hearing in the Jerusalem District Court on Tuesday, Malka Leifer's lawyer dramatically threw his client's medications on a table to prove that the 54-year-old was not mentally fit to face trial and that a new report on her mental health was "rubbish". Former Melbourne school principal Malka Leifer is brought to a courtroom in Jerusalem on Tuesday. Credit:AP Leifer's case marks the first time in Israel that a criminal matter has been revived over claims of mental illness, after being frozen for almost three years. In the wake of the shooting, a growing movement led by student survivors and parents has demanded tighter restrictions on firearms and pressured Trump and Congress to reject the NRA. Several lawmakers and governors - including Florida governor Rick Scott, a Republican weighing a US Senate bid - have shifted away from NRA policy priorities and endorsed some hardening of state gun laws. But a divided Congress that has a long track record of inaction after previous mass shootings is struggling to agree on any significant step with primary season getting underway. Loading "These are feel-good measures that aren't going to solve the problem," said Republican Senator Steve Daines, referring to age limits, bump stock bans and universal background checks. The Senate could move on one modest but bipartisan gun measure backed by the NRA, the Fix NICS Act, which would create additional incentives and penalties to ensure that agencies report pertinent data on potential gun buyers to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System. The bill was written to plug gaps exposed by the November killings of 26 churchgoers in Sutherland Springs, Texas, perpetrated by a man who would have been prevented from purchasing his weapons had the Air Force properly reported a 2012 domestic violence offense to the database. Two Republican senators, Mike Lee and Rand Paul, have registered objections to bill, warning that it "could lead to the denial of constitutional rights without due process". A spokesman for Lee said that he had placed a hold on the bill, blocking its rapid consideration. Loading It is unclear whether the House, which is scheduled to end its workweek on Tuesday, would pass the bill as a stand-alone measure. House members passed the Fix NICS Act in December, but as part of a bill that would require states to recognise concealed-carry permits from other states - a measure favored by the NRA but strongly opposed by gun-control advocates. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy called for action on background checks but did not specify whether he would bring the stand-alone NICS bill to the floor. McCarthy said he had spoken to Trump over the weekend about potential action. "There are a number of actions he wants to take place," he said. "You're going to see more legislation." A bill aimed at beefing up background checks, first proposed in 2013 by senators Joe Manchin and Patrick Toomey, a Democrat and Republican respectively, could be revived, the two men said, but they maintained that Trump's support was a prerequisite. "President Trump has to find a pathway that he feels comfortable with," Manchin said. The Manchin-Toomey measure would mandate background checks for all gun sales between private parties, with exceptions for family members. Under current law, only federally licensed dealers must run checks, leaving many transactions exempt, including many conducted at gun shows and online. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on Monday that "at the very least" Congress should pass legislation mandating universal background checks, similar to Manchin-Toomey, in response to the Parkland shooting. Students hold their hands up during a moment of silence during a protest against gun violence following the Florida massacre. Credit:Bloomberg "My Republican friends face a simple choice: Do something real on guns, or please the NRA. Doing both is impossible," Schumer said. There appeared to be waning enthusiasm among Republicans, and some Democrats, for a measure more closely tailored to the circumstances surrounding the Parkland shooting: a higher minimum age for rifle purchases. Cruz, 19, bought his AR-15 rifle from a licensed dealer, passing a background check. Currently, long guns can be purchased at 18; some policymakers have floated raising the limit to 21, the current federal law for handgun buyers. The NRA opposes raising the age limit, and lawmakers of both parties - including Manchin - have expressed concerns, often citing the fact that tens of thousands of 18-to-20-year-olds are entrusted with firearms as members of the military. Donald Trump has focused his criticism on officers who didn't run into the Florida shooting, such as armed school deputy sheriff Scot Peterson, pictured. Credit:Broward County Public Schools via AP Democrats, meanwhile, are pushing to go further. Democratic Congressman Ted Deutch, who represents the district that includes the high school, co-introduced a bill Monday with Congressman David Cicilline and more than 150 other Democrats to ban semiautomatic assault-style weapons, like the AR-15, that have military-style features. Two other Democrats, Bill Pascrell and Carolyn Maloney, are set to introduce legislation on Tuesday reimposing gun-purchasing restrictions on Social Security recipients who are unable to manage their benefits for mental health reasons - a rule that was overturned last year by the GOP-led Congress. At the Monday meeting, Trump suggested he would act to regulate bump stocks even if Congress does not. The devices were not used in Parkland but were used by the gunman who killed 58 people last year in Las Vegas. "I'm writing that out myself. I don't care if Congress does it or not. I'm writing it out myself, OK?" Trump said to applause from some of the governors. Even that would be tricky, with some questioning whether the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has the authority to summarily ban the devices through regulations. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Trump had signed an executive order on Monday "directing the ATF and Department of Justice to work on outlawing bump stocks so we don't have to wait for a legislative fix". Sanders also said Trump favours "the concept" of raising the age to purchase some or all guns to 21, and she denied that the NRA had leaned on Trump to drop his previous vocal support for that idea. The president is waiting to see what Congress comes up with, she said: "A final determination and legislative piece has not been determined on that front yet." Trump, meanwhile, has discussed a host of responses apart from gun restrictions, ranging from a proposal to arm some teachers to calls for more aggressive restrictions on the gun rights of the mentally ill. Trump directed his most pointed remarks at former Broward County sheriff's deputy Scot Peterson, who remained outside the school during the Parkland massacre and resigned last week. An attorney for Peterson has denied that his client acted unprofessionally or cowardly during the shooting. Joseph DiRuzzo said Peterson didn't go inside the school because it had sounded as if the shooting was happening outside the building. Trump said he wanted to make it easier for law enforcement to take guns from mentally ill people, saying police should have "immediate access" to their weapons. The President also urged governors to revisit the closure of mental institutions, saying there should be a half-measure between institutionalisation and leaving potentially dangerous people unsupervised. Latest News La Trobe Financial reaches carbon neutral milestone Deputy CEO says they are aiming to be 100% carbon neutral by 2030 Greg Medcraft on markets, ASIC and how brokers are changing the mortgage industry in Australia Greg Medcraft on blockchain, brokers and the booming market for mortgages in Australia Brokers settled $52.24bn in residential home loans in the quarter to December 2017, giving them a 53.6% share of the home loan market, up from 51.9% in the December 2016 quarter, said MFAA yesterday. In total, finance brokers settled just under $200bn in residential mortgage loans in 2017. The industry association said it is the largest quarterly value recorded for third-party origination since data collection began in 2012. It is also the highest December quarter figure, period-on-period, in what is usually a slightly weaker quarter for broker share. Indeed, the quarter was relatively weaker when compared to the preceding one in 2017. As Australian Broker reported in November, finance brokers settled 55.7% or $51.8bn of all residential mortgages in the September 2017 quarter, up by 2.1 percentage points from the September 2016 quarter. MFAA expects brokers share of the market to surpass 60% in the next few years. The quarterly data, compiled by CoreLogic-owned Comparator, is derived by calculating the value of loans settled by 19 of the leading brokers and aggregators as a percentage of ABS Housing Finance commitments. MFAA CEO Mike Felton said the latest data is a strong affirmation of the service and solutions brokers deliver to customers, and that it indicates the broker channel is both healthy and an increasingly important part of the Australian economy This is a great result for brokers and is particularly important as it follows a period of increased external scrutiny of the industry and the introduction of a number of prudential measures which may have had a negative impact on the broker channel, he said. Noting the unprecedented level of regulatory change the industry has faced the past 12 months, Felton said the attention on brokers is not surprising given the systemic importance of mortgage broking to Australias economy. Brokers are constantly adapting to meet the changes ahead with the single focus of continuing to provide an excellent and personal service that meets the customers needs, he said. Related stories: The enforcement of foreign arbitral awards in India has been a little difficult due to challenges like all convention countries not being notified by the government and thus unable to get their awards enforced in India and other such hindrances. However, the recent development with the pronouncement of Delhi High Court in the case of Daichii Sankyo Co vs Malvinder Singh and Others has made a landmark transformation in the arbitration regime making it more flexible and friendly for enforcement of foreign arbitral awards. Case Summary Singh Brothers sold their stake in Ranbaxy to Daiichi Sankyo through a Subscription Agreement (SPSSA) dated June 11, 2008, whereby Daiichi agreed to purchase from Singh brothers their total stake in Ranbaxy Laboratories Limited for a transaction valued at Rs 19,800 crore (approximately $4.6 billion) which took place just months before the US Food and Drug Administration banned imports at two of the generic drug maker's Indian plants. That same year the US Department of Justice launched a probe, eventually resulting in a guilty plea by Ranbaxy and Daiichi Sankyo had to pay $500 million against settlement for selling adulterated drugs. The Singhs were not named in the Ranbaxy probe. In November 2013, Daiichi took the dispute over the alleged "concealment and misrepresentation" of information to the Singapore Arbitration Tribunal. The charges were of non-compliance with drug manufacturing quality norms and related falsification of data in filings made to the US Food and Drug Administration at least six years earlier. The Arbitration Tribunal passed an award of Rs 2,562 crore along with an additionally claimed Rs 1,000 crore in interest and lawyers' fees incurred in connection with the proceedings. The arbitral award is under challenge by Singh brothers in Singapore Court of Appeals. In May 2016, Daiichi moved the Delhi high court to enforce the arbitration award. After a year-long legal battle between Daiichi and the brothers over enforcement of the arbitral award, the verdict was reserved by Justice Nath in September 2017. The Respondent challenged the enforcement of the award on the following grounds: It falls within the grounds given in Section 48 and thus should not be enforced; Damages awarded are contrary to Section 19 of the Contract Act and thus cannot be enforced; The arbitral tribunal granted consequential damages beyond their jurisdiction; The claim of the petitioner was barred by limitation thus cannot be enforced; Award of interest on the awarded damages amounts to award of multiple damages thus making the award not enforceable. Justice Nath, examined the objections raised against the enforcement and dealt with each one of them in detail and upheld the award. While holding the award to be enforceable, Justice Nath concluded that the award was not enforceable against five minors, including Singh's children, as "Article 15, 39(e) and (f) and 45 of the Constitution of India empower the state to make special provisions for protection of children. Enforcement of Foreign Award: A backgrounder Foreign award are enforced in accordance with Part II of Arbitration and Conciliation Act, 1996. Section 44 of the Act lays down the definition of Foreign Award. The conditions for the enforcement, as laid down in the Act reflect Article V of the New York Convention. However Explanation to Section 48(2)(b) distinguishes it by adding the public policy condition which has then been further cemented and narrowed by the Supreme Court in the matter of Renusagar Power Co. vs. General Electric Corp. For enforcement of an award delivered in a foreign seated arbitration, the High Court having original jurisdiction to entertain questions forming the subject-matter will have jurisdiction to decide the application for enforcement as per Section 47 r/w Section 49 of the Act. Moreover, as per Executive Engineer v Atlanta Limited, the award holder is required to file the application in the court in whose jurisdiction the assets of the award debtor are located. Once the executing court is satisfied that an award is recognizable/enforceable, the award is deemed to be a decree of that court as per the provisions of section 49 of the Act. It may then be enforced under the relevant provisions of the CPC relating to execution of a decree. Interestingly, there is no scope for an appeal against an order of the court for the enforcement of a foreign award. If the court is satisfied that the foreign award is enforceable, the award itself would be deemed to be a decree of the court. The procedural formality for the court to pronounce judgment and a decree to follow on that basis is omitted. Further, the possibility of the decree being in excess of, or not in accordance with the award is also removed. It is for this reason that section 50(1)(b) of the Act provides for an appeal only against an order refusing to enforce a foreign award under section 48. It is settled law that enforcement of foreign award would be refused under Section 48(2)(b) only if such enforcement would be contrary to (1) fundamental policy of Indian law; or (2) the interests of India; or (3) justice or morality. The wider meaning given to the expression "public policy of India" occurring in Section 34(2)(b)(ii) in Saw Pipes is not applicable where objection is raised to the enforcement of the foreign award under Section 48(2)(b). Moreover, Section 48 of the Act does not give an opportunity to have a "second look" at the foreign award in the award enforcement stage. The scope of inquiry under Section 48 does not permit review of the foreign award on merits. Procedural defects (like taking into consideration inadmissible evidence or ignoring/rejecting the evidence which may be of binding nature) in the course of foreign arbitration don't lead necessarily to excuse an award from enforcement on the ground of public policy. Conclusion This judgment has definitely given hope to all the foreign seated arbitrations in making India more conducive to foreign awards and ensuring that the Indian laws are acceptable and supportive in enforcing the foreign awards in India. The Delhi High Court in the case of Daiichi Sankyo vs. Malvinder Mohan Singh has refused to intervene in the foreign arbitral award passed in the favour of Daiichi Sankyo and it observed that under Section 48(2)(b) of the Act, the enforcement could be refused only if the award was contrary to the (i) fundamental policy of India (ii) interest of India and (iii) justice or morality. Further, the Delhi High Court affirmed that an award could not be said to be against the fundamental policy of Indian law in case there was violation of provisions of a statute but only if there was a breach of a substantial principle on which is Indian law is based upon. The author is founding partner of Singh & Associates. The Delhi High Court has passed a judgment that would, in future, make health insurance contracts more transparent. The court asked Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) to check their exclusionary clauses to make sure that insurers don't reject insurance claims on the basis of genetic disorder. The court said that excluding people with genetic disorders from receiving health insurance is "unconstitutional" and "discriminatory and violative" of a citizen's right to health. Insurers usually put a 'hereditary diseases' clause while drawing up a contract, which also rejects claims for ailments that are contracted due to genetics. The court upheld a last year's trial court order that directed United India Insurance to pay a sum of Rs 5 lakh to the insured. "Suffering from a genetic disorder needs medical insurance as much as others," the court had said. The judgment was passed after one Jai Prakash Tayal approached the trial court as United India Insurance rejected his claims citing "general exclusion clauses". Tayal suffers from Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy, a condition that thickens portions of the heart reducing its capacity to pump blood. Tayal had taken a medical policy of Rs 5 lakh, which was renewed every year till 2012 from 2004. The complainant was hospitalised twice - in 2004 and 2006 - during which United India Insurance paid his claims but refused him the third time in 2011. Tayal also mentioned that this exclusion was not initially a part of the contract, but was added later in a policy document without notifying him. "In effect, it would mean that large swathes of population would be excluded from availing health insurance which could have a negative impact on the health of a country. Thus, it is necessary to determine the legality of such exclusion in insurance policies... Without doing genetic testing and prescribing what is the kind of genetic disorder which is excluded, applying a general exclusion would lead to arbitrariness," the court said, as mentioned in The Indian Express. "Thus, IRDA ought to have supervised the manner in which the term genetic disorders are being misused by insurance companies to reject genuine claims. Obviously the IRDA turned a blind eye to the functioning of insurance companies," Delhi High Court said. "Such contracts have to be based on empirical testing and data and cannot be simply on the basis of subjective and vague factors. It is for the lawmaker to take necessary steps in this regard. However, the broad exclusion of genetic disorders from insurance contracts/claims is illegal and unconstitutional," it said. The judgment looks like a welcome move as it ensures that health insurance contracts are drawn in a transparent manner. Google's parent company Alphabet has detailed how it makes decisions regarding its dozen different businesses, with India-born Sundar Pichai wielding a lot of power over the search giant, a media report has said. According to documents to the US Security and Exchange Commission (SEC), since Google blew up its corporate structure to form Alphabet in late 2015, it now separates its financials between Google and its "Other Bets". Other Bets currently include 11 different companies, like self-driving car unit Waymo and healthcare arm Verily, CNBC reported. Late last year, the SEC asked Alphabet for specific details around how much decision-making power Alphabet CEO Larry Page has on individual Google businesses, and the different kinds of information given to Page versus president Sergey Brin and Google CEO Pichai, among other things. Alphabet CEO Page receives regular financial information about every Alphabet company but doesn't allocate resources to individual product areas within Google or within individual Other Bets. That hands-off relations played out dramatically in the case of Nest, the company Google acquired for USD 3.2 billion in 2014. When Nest spun-out as an Alphabet unit, the two companies had no incentive to work together and ended up building similar products. Ultimately, Alphabet decided to roll Nest back into Google earlier this month. Pichai, 45, also does not have authority over Alphabet's overall resource allocation to Google. He has no authority over parent company's "Other Bets" nor has any decision-making power over them despite the search giant counted for all of Alphabet's profit and more than 98 per cent of its revenue in its last quarter. But Pichai has a lot of power over Google, the report said. He receives weekly and quarterly reports which include individual financial information for Google product areas, including YouTube, advertising, and hardware, and include operating results, capital expenditures, and headcount for Google as a whole. Neither Page nor his co-founder, Alphabet President Sergey Brin, receive the weekly and quarterly reports received by Pichai, the report said. Without Page's approval, Pichai can commit Google to non-standard licensing or similar arrangements, investments, mergers and acquisitions, and other commitments up to a set dollar threshold. Also, capital expenditures, real estate, commercial arrangements, including licensing, partnership and revenue generating agreements and other similar transactions and expenditures up to a set dollar threshold. Although Susan Wojcicki and Diane Greene both have "CEO" titles within Google, for YouTube and Cloud respectively, Pichai is the only Google executive who reports directly to and maintains regular contact with Page. Despite all earlier claims of the government that the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would force taxpayers to be more compliant, the number of returns filed in the first seven months since its launch belies this claim. The number of returns filed each month has not crossed 70 lakh though the number of tax payers registered with the GSTN has crossed one crore (64 lakh earlier indirect taxpayers who migrated to GST and 38 lakh new registrants). Out of over one crore registered taxpayers, around 18 lakh are under composition scheme, who have to file quarterly returns. According to figures quoted by GST Network's CEO Prakash Kumar, 63 lakh returns were filed in July, 67 lakh in August and 69 lakh in September. From there ownwards, the number of returns filed has started coming down - 65 lakh in October, 64 lakh in November and 63 lakh in December. Final numbers for January are awaited. Why are the rest of 15-20 lakh registered taxpayers not filing GST returns? Experts cite many reasons for the gap in number of registrants and filers. "Many taxpayers who migrated from the older systems to the GST regime may not have any business at all (even earlier), and hence they do not file returns," says Prateek Jain, Leader, Indirect tax, PwC. However, he admits that the number of non-filers is too big to be accounted for by this reason, and he says that the government would have to see the real reasons for this. M S Mani, Senior Director, Indirect Taxes, Deloitte India, says, "Under GST there is a concept of nil return where even if there are no sales in a month, the registered dealer has to file returns. Quite possibly, many dealers and businesses who think that they may not need to file return if they have made no sales." And the third reason could be, say experts, the habit of some taxpayers to file late returns. Mani of Deloitte says that there are some dealers and traders who are continuously on the wait and watch mode when it comes to filing returns. "In GST, there is no concept of revised returns, returns once filed is filed for good. So, these traders would be thinking that even if they delay it by a couple of month all they have to do is pay the interest and a fine of Rs 50 a day, a price they are ready to bear," he explains. The GST Council, the governing body of GST, has also relaxed the return filing rules, reduced the late penalty from Rs 100 a day to Rs 50 a day (Rs 20 for nil return), and extended the deadlines several times, in the process diluting the seriousness attached with the GST compliance. This also partly explains the continuous fall in the number of returns filed each month. Rajat Mohan, partner, AMRG & Associates Chartered Accountants firm, says that in the early couple of months there was fear among registered dealers and businesses that if they do not file returns on time, they may not be allowed to file returns. However, after many extensions that fear among businesses has reduced. For a second time in two weeks, US President Donald Trump raked up the issue of import duties on Harley-Davidson motorcycles in India. Speaking at a meeting with the nation's governors at the White House, Trump called for fair and reciprocal trade deals and repeatedly emphasised that the US was "getting nothing" from New Delhi's February 12 announcement slashing customs duty on imported high-end motorcycles to 50 percent. "When Harley Davidson sends a motorcycle to India, as an example, they have to pay 100 percent tax," Trump said, adding, "Now, the Prime Minister, who I think is a fantastic man, called me the other day and he said we are lowering it to 50 percent. I said okay, but so far we're getting nothing. So we get nothing, he gets 50 [percent], and they think like they're doing us a favour. That's not a favour." He was referring to conversation with Modi earlier this month, a conversation the president also brought up during a discussion with members of the US Congress on the steel industry on February 14. "And a great gentleman called me from India and he said, we have just reduced the tariff on motorcycles," Trump had said then, adding, "You know what our tax is? Nothing. So I say we should have reciprocal taxes for a case like that. I am not blaming India. I think it's great that they can get away with it. I don't know why people allowed them to get away with it." According to Trump, when he spoke with the chairman or the president of Harley - who he claims weren't even asking for it [duty cuts] "because they've been ripped off with trade so long" - they were surprised that Trump brought it up. "I'm the one that's pushing it more than they are," Trump said, adding that it was unfair. "That's not good for you people, especially as governors. It's just not right and we have many deals like that." Trump also took a dig at Modi while addressing the gathering of governors. Starting out by saying that India sells a "big number" of motorbikes to the US on which their country "gets zero", Trump called Modi "a beautiful man" before proceeding to somewhat imitate his soft, serious speech style - thankfully minus an Indian accent this time round - complete with clasped hands. "He said I just want to inform you that we have reduced it to 75 and we have further reduced it to 50. And I said, huh, what do I say? Am I supposed to be thrilled?" Earlier in January, the US media had reported that Trump has been known to affect an Indian accent and imitate Modi as he goes about his business in the Oval office. In the meantime, the trade friction between the two countries continues to heat up, which isn't good news for bilateral trade - pegged at about $115 billion in 2016, up from $20 billion in 2001. The US buys close to a fifth of India's goods and services exports. The U.S. Trade Representative's (USTR) office is "fairly negative" on India at this point and is analyzing the impact of the customs trade tariffs on various American companies, an industry source aware of the matter told Reuters recently. "They are more vigilant than earlier, they are in bulldog mode under Trump," the source added. India announced higher import tax on electronics products such as mobile phones and television sets in December, and then on 40 more items, ranging from sunglasses to auto components, in the Budget earlier this month. The move is aimed at giving local industry the chance to grow and is part of a broader plan to lift the share manufacturing makes up of GDP to a quarter, from around 15 percent, and create the tens of thousands of jobs needed for a young workforce. Even before this new round of hikes, India has been seen as one of the most protected major economies. In 2016, the US had an average tariff rate of 3.4 percent on imported goods compared with 13.5 percent for India, according to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Even China, which the Trump administration is targeting for its trade practices, had a lower average tariff rate of 9.9 percent. With agency inputs Pete Marovich/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Sen. Bob Corker is staying out of the Tennessee Senate race, his chief of staff tells ABC News. Corker announced his retirement in September in a statement saying, in part, After much thought, consideration and family discussion over the past year, Elizabeth and I have decided that I will leave the United States Senate when my term expires at the end of 2018. In recent weeks, however, ABC News reported that Corker has "been encouraged to reconsider his decision and is listening closely," according to spokesman Micah Johnson. At a Republican gala in Memphis, Tennessee, on Saturday night when asked if he was jumping back in the race, Corker told reporters, nothing has changed whatsoever. I really have, at this point, nothing to say. Just a few days later, Corker has something to say, Todd Womack, his chief of staff, released a statement Tuesday saying, the senator believes he made the right decision in September and will be leaving the Senate when his term expires at the end of 2018. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, who is viewed as the front-runner to replace Corker, thanked him for his dedicated service on behalf of Tennessee families. The news of Corker deciding against re-election was first reported by Politico. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Days after the PNB fraud worth over Rs 11,400 crore involving diamond merchants Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi came to light, another unpaid loan worth Rs 5,280 crore has cropped up against Choksi's Gitanjali Group. During the searches at Gitanjali Group, investigative agencies have seized crucial documents, including an agreement between Gitanjali and a consortium of 31 banks. The exclusive details, shared with India Today, mentions the 31-bank consortium sanctioned a 'working capital facility' of Rs 5,280 crore to the Gitanjali Group, which has not been repaid till now. The loan was cleared in October 2016, and the agreement was revised in October 2017. The document shows the Mehul Choksi firm has utilised the 'working capital facility'. "If the whole limit has been availed by the group, it is additional loan which has been advanced by the banks to the group. If it has not been repaid, which is most likely the case, it is going to be difficult for bank to recover this (loan amount)," a source from an investigative agency told India Today. As per the agreement, ICICI Bank was the "lead bank" in the consortium, which sanctioned the 'capital facility' to Gitanjali Group. The IDBI Trusteeship Services Limited was the "security trustee" to the agreement. A detailed questionnaire related to the so called 'capital facility' has been sent to ICICI Bank, which remains unanswered so far. The PNB has offered the highest loan amount of Rs 587 crore to the company, while ICICI, which is the lead bank in the consortium, has given Rs 405 crore. Corporation Bank has offered Rs 297 crore; Bank of Baroda Rs 265 crore; Central Bank of India Rs 206 crore; and Syndicate Bank Rs 231 crore among others. Agency sources say it'll be "very difficult" for these 31 banks to recover the additional Rs 5,280-crore loan offered to Gitanjali. A complete list of 31 banks that offered loans to Gitanjali Group in 2016. PNB: Rs 587 crore ICICI: Rs 405 crore Corporation Bank: Rs 297 crore BOB: Rs 265 crore CBI: Rs 206 crore Syndicate Bank: Rs 231 crore Canara Bank: Rs 195 crore IOB: Rs 176 crore BOI: Rs 173 crore SBH: Rs 140 crore Dena Bank: Rs 121 crore J& K Bank: Rs 121 crore OBC: Rs 121 crore UBI: Rs 121 crore EXIM Bank: Rs 109 crore IDBI Bank: Rs 99 crore Karnataka Bank: Rs 87 crore SBBJ: Rs 87 crore SBI: Rs 52 crore Vijaya Bank: Rs 63 crore Indusind: Rs 58 crore Karur Vysya: Rs 30 crore Lakshmi Vilas: Rs 30 crore Bank of Maharashtra: Rs 24 crore Allahabad Bank: Rs 419 crore Andhra Bank: Rs 240 crore United Bank: Rs 207 crore Standard Chartered Bank: Rs 100 crore Sbm Bank Mauritius Limited: Rs 75 crore Catholic Syrian Bank: Rs 50 crore Punjab And Sind Bank: Rs 29 crore Also read: Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi planned escape in November The Rs 11,400-crore PNB fraud has led to calls for privatisation of public sector banks (PSBs) which were reeling under gross non-performing assets worth Rs 7.34 lakh crore by the end of second quarter this fiscal. In order to control the situation, the Cabinet in October 2017 approved a recapitalisation plan for PSBs worth Rs 2.11 lakh crore. This is not the first time PSBs have required capital infusion. Between 2009 and March 2017, approximately Rs 1.5 lakh crore of taxpayers' money was infused into public sector banks in order to keep their books in proper shape. Also read: ED eyes Nirav Modi, Mehul Choksi's overseas assets in over dozen countries So the question arises. Why have these large lenders required capital infusion during regular intervals? The reason is evident from the Nirav Modi case where PNB has been defrauded off Rs 11,400 crore by taking loans in incorrect manner. Ever since the fraud came to light, other PSBs have also announced exposure to the bad loans which will lead to a strain on their book of accounts, thereby reducing their profitability. The fraud has led to calls for privatisation of public sector banks. Chief economic advisor Arvind Subramanian has advocated for more private participation in public sector banks. Industry body FICCI too has said the government should consider privatising public sector banks (PSBs) as over Rs 2.6 lakh crore capital infusion in the past eleven years has had limited impact in improving their health, and the move would also reduce drain on the exchequer. Disbursing loans to friendly industrial houses/companies has always been a practice that has been followed by all political parties in power. Public sector banks have been the channels through which governments have opted to grant loans to industrial houses/companies close to them. Subsequently, the inability to pay the amount by some of these players has led to mounting of bad loans in the books of public sector banks. So will the government losing majority stake (51%) in PSBs lead to the reduction in NPAs? Let's find out. Welfare schemes Public sector banks have become a channel for subsequent governments to extend benefits of their welfare schemes to the people. A recent example of the same is the opening of nearly 30 crore Jan Dhan accounts in PSBs for the purpose of financial inclusion. Privatisation of public sector banks will close this route for disbursing funds for welfare of the people. Development agenda Every year, the government announces in its Budget funds to be allocated for the overall development of economy. The government losing control over public sector banks will lead to the drying of pipeline of funds to different sectors for economic growth. Risky private banks loans The RBI came out with its list of 40 defaulter firms in two phases last year who are accountable for Rs 2 lakh crore of bad loans. Among the lenders who have taken the hit are private sector banks too. That also means not all loans granted by public sector banks go bad. There are private sector banks too which have followed public sector banks off late. Bad loans pile up for private lenders The RBI in its half yearly financial stability report in December 2017 observed while NPAs of the public sector banks increased by 17 per cent on year-on-year basis in September, the rate of increase was 40.8 per cent in the case of private sector banks during the same period. It can be noted that all the top private sector lenders, including ICICI Bank, Axis Bank and Yes Bank, and even HDFC Bank, have been found to have under-reported their dud assets in the recent RBI supervision, results of which were recognised over the first two quarters of the fiscal, it said. Big private banks like Axis Bank and ICICI Bank have shown sudden increase in NPA after 2015 on the lines of public sector banks. Hence, privatisation of PSBs is certainly not the only solution to the bad loans problem plaguing the banking system. The partnership formed last year between Reliance Jio and Samsung entered its next leg at the 2018 Mobile World Congress with something new thrown into the mix - internet of things (IoT). The Mukesh Ambani-led Jio and the Korean tech giant have joined hands to deploy a nationwide cellular IoT network in India. Both companies have also agreed to extend their collaboration to bring LTE coverage to 99 per cent of Indian population and improve network capacity across the country. The commercial NB-IoT (narrowband internet of things) has already been established in Mumbai by Reliance Jio and Samsung in February this year. The aim is to roll out India's first IoT network with new use cases for both the consumer and enterprises such as vehicle tracking, smart appliances, smart metering, security, surveillance and more. "Making sure that everyone benefits from mobile broadband that is both available and affordable to all is our top priority. We will once again partner with Samsung to offer a suite of innovative services for all users," said Jyotindra Thacker, President of Reliance Jio Infocomm. NB-IoT is a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) radio technology standard which allows a wide range of devices and services to be connected using cellular telecommunications bands. The NB-IoT network not only utilises the existing spectrum owned by Jio, but can also be enabled by a mere software upgrade to the already installed base stations. The company has also deployed a dedicated cellular IoT virtualised core. On the question of how long before Reliance Jio rolls out IoT in India, Tareq Amin, Senior VP (Technology), Reliance Jio said that the company will have to create an entire ecosystem before the rollout. "Rather than of doing city-by-city launch, we would launch IoT always pan India. We are not waiting for network readiness, but we are awaiting maturity of the IoT platform," he said. Moreover, Jio is hopeful of covering 99 per cent of country's population by Diwali this year. At present the company has a user base of 160 million subscribers in India. We are deploying around 8,000 to 10,000 towers every month, Thacker said. "We are delighted to contribute to Jio's success story and rapid growth. We have been striving to offer the best experience possible to all users at Jio. Jio's LTE network will unlock the potential of IoT and promise a much more convenient and safe environment for users," said Youngky Kim, President and Head of Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. Samsung revealed the much awaited Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ in Barcelona one day before the Mobile World Congress began. The Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 come with incremental updates in terms of aesthetics. However, there are notable changes in the internals of device which includes a new Snapdragon flagship chipset and an all-new camera. In fact, the camera on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ was the focus of the entire update. Apart from the new hardware, Samsung has introduced some nifty features in the new Galaxies. In terms of raw specifications, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are powered with Snapdragon 845. The smaller sibling will get a 4GB RAM whereas the S9+ will get 6GB RAM. In terms of the battery as well, the S9 will get a 3000mAh battery whereas the S9+ gets a 3500mAh battery. On the outside, the phones look similar to the outgoing Galaxy S8 and Galaxy S8+. However, there are certain refinements that make the latest phones smarter and better. Here's a look at the major changes you'll find with the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+: Design In terms of design, the smartphones come with the exact same externals, to the extent of a similar outlay of physical keys like the Bixby button and volume rocker. The only design cue that will give away a Galaxy S9 from a Galaxy S8 is the placement of the fingerprint sensor. The Galaxy S9+, however, comes with a more prominent give away in the form of a dual camera setup on the rear panel. The Infinity Display screen still comes with a tall 18.5:9 aspect ratio and a QHD+ resolution. The new lilac purple colour can be another give away for the new Galaxy devices. Other than the new colour the Samsung flagships will be available in midnight black, titanium grey, and coral blue. Camera The most talked about feature during the launch event was the Samsung Galaxy S9, Galaxy S9+ camera. The Galaxy S9 will come with a single lens camera but the Galaxy S9+ will sport a dual-camera setup. However, the primary module is still the same for both. The 'Re-imagined' bit lies in the aperture of the new primary module. Samsung, for the first time in a smartphone, has used dual-aperture to capture ultra low-light images with a range from f/2.4 to f/1.5. The Galaxy S9 camera adjusts immediately according to the ambient light. The camera also comes with enhanced Super Slo-mo videos at 960fps in 720p. These slo-mo videos can also be turned into GIFs. The Galaxy S9/S9+ camera comes with an integrated dual-pixel image sensor. What this means is that the camera can process 4 times more data to minimise noise. For camera enthusiasts, the Galaxy S9+ might be a better pick as it features the more-commonly found telephoto lens. Features The hardware of the new Galaxies was predicted long before the launch of the devices but the new quirky features were what kept the audience engaged during the launch event. The devices come with 'intelligent scan' that let's one use facial recognition to unlock the device. Taking a leaf from Apple's iPhone X, the new Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ get a new ARemoji feature. As the name suggests, the sensors on the smartphones can scan the contours of a human face to create animated emojis. These emojis can even be shared with other smartphones without this technology. On the audio front, Samsung has retained the 3.5mm jack and has used AKG-tuned speakers with Dolby surround which double the audio output from the new smartphones. Samsung will launch the new devices on February 16 but interested buyers can pre-order the devices on Samsung's official website. Samsung is also offering an Enterprise edition for businesses that will also go on sale from March 16. Xiaomi's Mi TV 4 was launched on February 14 and was made available for the first time on February 22. Today, the company is conducting the second sale for the Mi TV4 and it claims that the stock is limited. In the previous sale, Xiaomi claims that their TV went out of stock within 10 seconds of the sale going live. The Chinese company failed to give an accurate figure regarding the number of TVs they were able to sell. Similar to the new TV, The Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro also went out of stock within three minutes. Xiaomi claims that they managed to sell 3 lakh units in three minutes. The sale will begin at 12 pm today and can be accessed on Xiaomi's official website and Flipkart. The Redmi Note 5 and Redmi Note 5 Pro will go on sale tomorrow. The company is offering free installation and demo along with the purchase. Once the television set is delivered, a company executive will call the buyer and fix a time slot to install the TV. The 55-inch panel is Xiaomi's debut in the Indian TV industry. It is expected to disrupt the industry due to its aggressive pricing. Xiaomi has managed to undercut other popular TV brands like Sanyo, Vu, and Cloudwalker in terms of the price and features. Xiaomi made bold claims during the launch event, calling Mi TV 4 the world's thinnest LED TV at just 4.9mm. It comes with a brushed metal rear. However, the lower half of the display houses all the drivers and other hardware. The Chinese company has sourced a customised Samsung frameless panel for the TV. The TV comes with 3 HDMI ports, 2 USB ports, Bluetooth 4.1 and wireless connectivity along with SPDIF port. It is powered by 64-bit quad-core processor with 2GB of RAM and 8GB storage along with Dolby audio. The Mi TV 4 comes with PatchWall interface. The UI offers infinity scroll for searching content across apps and TV. Xiaomi has tied up with Sensara Technology (Sensy) that enables the set-top boxes to be controlled by the compact 11-button Bluetooth TV remote. Xiaomi has tied up with partners such as Hotstar, Alt Balaji, Sony Liv, Voot, Hungama Play and more for streaming content right on the TV, without connecting any media device. However, popular content providers like Netflix and Amazon Prime are out of the list. The President of the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF) today called for the 300 million allocated to tourism in Project Ireland 2040 to be frontloaded, saying that the actions set out within the plan will have a real and lasting influence on Irish tourisms future success. Speaking at the Federations 80th AGM and Annual Conference in Cavan, Mr Dolan said that sustaining Irelands tourism success depends on a strategic approach by Government and other state partners to marketing, tourism and hospitality skills provision, as well as a specific focus on regional tourism development, so that tourism benefits those rural areas outside the key urban centres and traditional tourism hotspots. Project Ireland 2040 contains a stated commitment to rural regeneration with a fund established to promote rural renewal. The Irish Hotels Federation say that they would like to be a positive stakeholder in that process. The Federation claims that hoteliers are finding it more difficult to find qualified staff and this will significantly hinder the prospect of achieving the target to increase tourism related jobs by in excess of 40,000 between now and 2021 never mind what could be achieved by 2040. Speaking today, President of the IHF, Mr Dolan said, "We have a great image abroad and high tourism visitor satisfaction with some notable new product developments such as the Wild Atlantic Way and Irelands Ancient East, which have helped to open up new parts of the country to the benefits of tourism. Nevertheless, we are missing opportunities. There are many areas in rural Ireland where tourism just is not providing a sustainable living and it could, with the right ideas and support." Source: www.businessworld.ie FutureScope, Irelands only conference that promotes collaboration between the entrepreneurial community and multinationals, today announces that it is taking applications for One2Watch 2018. The competition seeks to find Irelands most scalable business idea and award the winning company with a platform to support its growth. Start-ups and entrepreneurs across the country will compete for the opportunity to present their business idea on the FutureScope stage on 31st May to an audience of 1,200 including investors, multinationals, innovative Irish enterprises and entrepreneurs. The winner will receive a range of Dublin BIC supports, including three months free accommodation in the Guinness Enterprise Centre, and a cash prize. Entry to the competition is open to entrepreneurs and start-ups from any sector whose idea is beyond the concept stage, and is under five years since incorporation. The deadline for entries is 6th April 2018. To apply go to www.futurescope.ie/one2watch. FutureScope 2018 takes place on Thursday, 31st May in the Convention Centre Dublin with a special focus on driving collaboration and innovative solutions to address current and future challenges and concerns. The judges of this years One2Watch competition include Alison Cowzer (co-founder of East Coast Bakehouse and an investor on RTEs Dragons Den), PJ Dwyer (HBAN business angel) and Jim Joyce (CEO and co-founder of HealthBeacon). The judging panel will be chaired by John Phelan, National Director of HBAN. Speaking this week, CEO of Dublin BIC, Michael Culligan said, "One2Watch is a fantastic competition that offers experienced business support and guidance for ambitious start-ups looking to make their entrepreneurial ideas a reality. It provides the winner an amazing opportunity to pitch their idea to investors and business leaders from the most successful large Irish enterprises and multinationals. Technological advancements are presenting both huge opportunities and challenges in our world. FutureScope is all about recognising current trends and providing future insights on the most innovative future technologies." He added, "FutureScope also aims to provide the perfect stage for fostering collaboration, and One2Watch 2018 will bring a showcase idea to the exact people who can offer the required support and investment needed to scale." Source: www.businessworld.ie Comcast Corp, the biggest cable operator in the United States, offered on Tuesday to pay $31 billion to buy Sky, challenging Rupert Murdoch's Fox and Bob Iger's Walt Disney for the European pay-TV jewel. Comcast, a $184 billion media giant which owns NBC and Universal Pictures, said it was offering 12.50 pounds per share, significantly higher than the 10.75 pounds per share agreed by Fox. Shares in Sky soared 18%. Present in 23 million homes across Europe and known for its technological innovation, Britain's Sky has already agreed to be sold to Murdoch's 21st Century Fox but the takeover has been delayed by concerns over the media tycoon's influence in Britain. That has complicated a separate $52 billion deal by Disney to buy Fox assets including Sky. "Sky and Comcast are a perfect fit: we are both leaders in creating and distributing content," Comcast Chief Executive Officer Brian L. Roberts, 58, said. "We think Sky is an outstanding company." The latest round of major deals indicates the pressures being felt by traditional cable television networks which have been losing customers to streaming services like Netflix Inc and Amazon.com Inc.. Shares in Sky rose to 13.08 pounds as investors hoped the ensuing bid battle would push both sides to offer a higher price. "The initial share price reaction suggests that this story has further to run, with Sky's price leaping above the level of the already increased Comcast offer," said Richard Hunter, Head of Markets at Interactive Investor. The proposed offer pits Comcast's Roberts against Murdoch, the 86-year-old tycoon who helped to launch Sky in Britain, and who has been edging towards finally getting his hands on Sky after he first bid for the company eight years ago. It also pits Roberts against Disney's Iger, a long time rival after Comcast tried to buy Disney for $54 billion in 2004. Comcast said it had not yet engaged with Sky over the proposal and nearly 90 minutes after the statement came out, Sky was yet to respond. "We would like to own the whole of Sky and we will be looking to acquire over 50% of the Sky shares," Comcast CEO Roberts said. "Innovation is at the heart of what we do: by combining the two companies we create significant opportunities for growth," he said. Sky's chairman is Murdoch's son James, who is the chief executive of 21st Century Fox, so Comcast will have to gain the support of the independent shareholders for its better offer if it does not make a hostile bid. Fox agreed to buy the 61% of Sky it did not already own in December 2016 but the takeover has been repeatedly held up by regulatory concerns that Murdoch controls too much media in Britain. Some Sky shareholders have also started to complain that the offer was too low. In December, hedge fund manager Crispin Odey argued that Sky was being sold too cheaply. Britain's competition regulator said in January that Murdoch's planned takeover should be blocked unless a way was found to prevent him from influencing the network's news operation, Sky News. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) said that the deal would give Murdoch too much influence and so would not be in the public interest. Murdoch's news outlets are watched, read or heard by nearly a third of Britons and have a combined share of public news consumption that is significantly greater than all other news providers, except the BBC and commercial TV news provider ITN. Last week, Fox made further concessions, with a promise to maintain and fund a fully independent Sky-branded news service for 10 years. Comcast said it had only a minimal presence in the British media market and did not see any plurality concerns over its proposal. Comcast said it recognized that Sky News was an "invaluable part of the UK news landscape" and it intended to maintain Sky News' existing brand and culture, as well as its strong track record for high-quality impartial news and adherence to broadcasting standards. "Our strong market positions are complementary with Sky's leadership in Europe enhancing our preeminent position in the U.S.," Comcast's Roberts said. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie The captain of the refrigerator ship Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 (above) has been placed on a fishing-industry blacklist, six months after the vessel was found carrying 6,223 sharks in the protected waters around Ecuadors Galapagos Islands. Photo: VCG The Chinese government has suspended the distant-water fishing activity of a company involved a shark-smuggling case near Ecuador last year, Caixin has learned. The Ministry of Agriculture has temporarily halted the operations of all 78 distant-water fishing vessels owned by Fujian-based Fuzhou Honglong Ocean Aquatic Products. The move comes six months after a refrigerator ship owned by the company was caught in the Galapagos Marine Reserve with thousands of shark carcasses onboard, according to a document seen by Caixin. The company has also been ordered to suspend production, and the captain of the vessel involved in the Galapagos case the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 has been placed on an industry blacklist, the document said. In August, the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 was found carrying 6,223 sharks in the protected waters around Ecuadors ecologically rich Galapagos Islands. The ships cargo included baby sharks and endangered species like the scalloped hammerhead. The vessel and its crew were detained. Ecuadorean courts later found the captain and crew guilty of the possession and transport of protected species and sentencing them to prison and fined a total $5.9 million. According to the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture document obtained by Caixin, the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 had been authorized to transport squid in the high seas of the southwest Atlantic and southeast Pacific oceans. But the vessel had engaged in illegally activity by transporting unauthorized loads of tuna and sharks, including species considered threatened under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the document said. Fuzhou Honglongs vessels are part of Chinas growing fleet of distant-water commercial fishing waters, which the country is struggling to regulate. Chinese vessels are the most active and travel the most for their catch, far outpacing their nearest competitors, a recent international fishing industry survey showed. Contact reporter Teng Jing Xuan (jingxuanteng@caixin.com) Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Step 1 Log on to the HPPSC official website. Step 2 Click the Apply Online option on the left-hand side of the home page. Step 3 The registration form will appear on the screen. Click on the link that reads, Please read instructions carefully before applying. Step 4 The instructions to apply will be displayed on the screen. Step 5 Go back to the login page. Click the link on the top that reads - New user sign up here. Step 6 The registration form will be displayed on the screen. Fill your details in the space provided. Step 7 Press the Create User button and follow the subsequent pages. 'One good conversation can shift the direction of change forever.' It is based on this lasting effect of a deep conversation between two people that the concept of the human library evolved. Serving as outlets to those who've been on the receiving end of prejudice, social exclusion or stigma, 'human libraries' are places where readers get to 'borrow' 'human books' and converse with them, thus helping them understand various societal issues better. Being event-based, these libraries do not have a fixed physical location. Book: A person who's experienced the brutality of society Borrow: Conversing with human book for a period of 30- 40 minutes. Page: Every experience of the book can be considered a page. Cover: The appearance of the person can be compared to the cover of a book. The first human library was founded in the spring of 2000 in Copenhagen, Denmark as a brainchild of the organisation 'Stop the Violence', and was open for eight hours a day for four days. It featured over 50 'titles' and witnessed the participation of over a thousand readers. Chapters of the Human Library, established in over 70 countries since then, debuted in India in the city of Indore, eventually spreading to other cities such as Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi and their likes. With these libraries providing a unique solution to various societal problems by profoundly impacting the reader and giving the reader a different vantage point on the issue, participation in these event-based congregations will go a long way in bettering the society. Besides, India being a country where social standing plays a major role in the way people are perceived, it is highly essential that our mind's eye is not blocked by misconceptions of any sort. Containing an assortment of 15 books including a young Politician, an Urdu speaking brahmin, the dancing masculus, wonder woman and a liver of life in olive green, to name a few books, NIT Trichy is all set to host a human library during Pragyan 2018, the 14th edition of the institute's annual international techno-managerial festival. With 900 odd participants slated to take part, the congregation is to be one of the largest human libraries. Pragyan 2018 under the patronage of Make In India, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, CEE/ SAYEN and Indian National Commission in Cooperation with UNESCO, scheduled to take place from March 1 to 4, 2018, strives to make a difference in the mindsets of readers by enabling them to look at the endless issues plaguing our society, from a different, and fresher perspective, adding the next dimension of humanness in an increasingly insensitive world. Visit - www.pragyan.org Photo: CTV UPDATE 1:26 p.m. The controversy surrounding the death and subsequent consumption of a potbellied pig named Molly continues to live on even if the pig itself does not. BC SPCA says staff members at the Cowichan branch on Vancouver Island have endured withering public criticism after arranging the adoption of a potbellied pig, later butchered by its new owner. Spokeswoman Lorie Chortyk says workers at the Cowichan branch in Duncan were already upset about the death of the pig, named Molly, but are now being "inundated with nastiness" by callers and visitors. ORIGINAL 6:57 a.m. The Vancouver Island man accused of killing and eating a potbellied pig he adopted from the BC SPCA now says he's sorry after a major online backlash. Austin Manson Forget now says he did not set out to eat Molly the pot-bellied pig seized during a cruelty investigation last year. "I promise that I did not adopt Molly with the intention of killing her, it was only when she became aggressive with my partner's dog and had tried breaking through our glass door that I made the decision to have her put down," he wrote. "I understand and invite people to have their own opinions on the matter, but please understand that I am still human. I realize that what I did was wrong, and I cannot fix it, I can only continue to apologize. I don't want to justify what happened." Forget says he slaughtered Molly humanely. Molly was one of 57 pigs nursed back to health after being seized last year. She was adopted in January and the SPCA said it was informed earlier this month that she had been eaten. -with files from CTV Vancouver Island Photo: The Canadian Press Melania Trump has cut ties with an adviser whose firm was paid $26 million to help plan the president's inauguration. Mrs. Trump's spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, confirms Tuesday that the first lady's office has "severed the gratuitous services contract" it had with Stephanie Winston Wolkoff. Winston Wolkoff is a New York-based event planner and longtime friend of the first lady. She'd been working as an unpaid White House adviser to Mrs. Trump. The New York Times first reported on the termination of Winston Wolkoff's White House contract. The first lady's spokeswoman has said Mrs. Trump had no role with the inaugural committee and didn't know how the money was being spent. Recent tax filings show the inaugural committee paid two private companies more than $50 million for event planning. Anyone who reduces their electricity consumption between September and December of this year compared to the same period in 2020... Beyond Zero Emissions plans CO2 neutral Australian cement sector 27 February 2018 Beyond Zero Emissions (BZE) has set a plan for Australias cement industry to reach zero carbon emissions by the next decade. The Zero Carbon Industry plan Rethinking Cement foresees a five point strategy to this goal with the biggest reduction coming from a switch to geopolymer cements. The organisation believes that some 50 per cent of the domestic cement market could be replaced by geopolymer cements made from reacting a solid aluminosilicate material with an alkaline solution. A second strategy would be to use high-blended cements with low Portland cement volumes and a third strategy consists of carbon mineralisation. The fourth strategy would see the minimising of cement usage by 15 per cent and the final strategy would be to use carbon negative magnesium-based cements. Currently BZE calculates that the Australian cements sector releases 6.3Mta of CO 2 and geopolymer cements would reduce 2.7Mt of CO 2 from this total with high-blended cements taking a further 1.9Mt of CO 2 off. Geopolymer cements have increased in popularity in Australia and are based on fly ash and ground granulates blast-furnace slag. These byproducts form the coal and steel industries are not the only sources for geopolymer cements, which can be made with materials with high aluminosilicates. Current research is focussed on making certain clays and volcanic ash and waste glass and red mud from the alumina industry into geopolymer cements. BZE also states that silicon and aluminium are found in abundant amounts on Australia which can be used to make geopolymer cements. Current manufacturers of geopolymer cements in Australia are: Zeobond (E-Crete), Wagners (East Friendly Concrete), Rocla, Nu-Rock, Reinforced Concrete Pipes Australia eCP, Banah (BanahCEM), Ceratech Inc Ekkomaxx, Milliken Geopolymers, Murray & Roberts and National Metallurgical Laboratory. This could be the next challenge to the Portland cement poducers of Boral, Cement Australia, Adelaide Brighton Sunstate, BGC Cement and Independent Cement which currently dominate cement sales in Australia. Published under Duraton Cement distributes its first cement 27 February 2018 Asian Fine Cements Ltd has has launched its own flagship brand, Duraton Cement, having invested in a 1.5Mta greenfield cement plant in Rajpura, Punjab, India. Duraton Cement dispatched its first consignment of cement to the local Gurdwara in Rajpura and Mansa Devi Temple in Chandigarh. Following this, it will dispatch its cement to more than 100 dealers across Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh and Himachal, but the distribution will be expanded to cover nationwide. The cement plant features a high-pressure roll press in closed-circuit supported with a high-efficiency separator. The FLSmidth robotic lab automates all critical activities - cement sampling, sample transportation, preparation and analysis. Duraton Cement's Prime WR type cement will be launched in March 2018 and will be India's first vacuum-tight waterproof packaging, said Mr Satish Kumar Sharma, Duraton Cement's CEO. Published under Without Census Bureau data, it would be impossible to predict who we need to help, said George Glazner, Deputy Coordinator of Emergency Management in Newport News. It would be primitive compared to what we have. Redick agrees. Each year we have updated basic emergency operation plans with more accurate information, which helps detail what our community looks like whether its age, disability or homeownership, Redick said. It really gives us a better idea of how to plan for evacuation and emergency scenarios. The Know Your Zone website hosted by the Virginia Office of Emergency Management features a dynamic map that identifies evacuation zones for residents living in Hampton Roads. The initiative helps residents familiarize themselves with escape routes before disaster strikes. Because of the regions unique geography, getting to higher ground is complicated by the areas various waterways and relatively few bridges and tunnels. Theres limited egress for evacuation and limited access when it comes to getting help into here, Glazner said. Educating people on who needs to evacuate and not getting an over-evacuation is part of the challenge. Evacuating motorists who make it to Newport News frequently keep going north and west to seek safety, he said. There are times, though, when evacuation traffic is too bottlenecked to get people further out, forcing city officials to set up ad hoc emergency shelters. The city of Norfolk faces similar challenges. In emergencies, it scrambles to put together emergency shelters for motorists trapped in evacuation traffic. When disaster strikes and expediency matters, accurate demographic and housing data give emergency responders the picture they need to quickly identify which clusters of their community need the most help. While most emergencies require rapid action, rising sea levels are a longer-term threat. The eventuality of rising seas is forcing some Hampton Roads cities to rethink where they build. The city of Norfolk and other jurisdictions on the southern part of the region analyze Census Bureau demographic and housing data, overlaying them with topographical mapping data to identify which parts of their cities are most vulnerable. In a move to slow residential settlement and discourage future population growth in those areas, Steve Pyle, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator for Norfolk said the city is purchasing properties in areas where sea level rise is most likely to occur. To be more resilient to future flooding from sea level rise, the city has planned to build floodwalls, berms and tidegates, and raising roadways. Most of these projects are contingent on federal funding. Many residents, Pyle said, are not waiting for the city or the federal government to step in. There are a few areas now where youll see For Sale signs that are directly related to flooding, Pyle said. People are becoming smarter and better understanding their risk of living in these areas. Although Newport News is on relatively higher ground to the north and beyond the tunnels and bridges that are most prone to gridlock, the city still faces the threat of flooding. Ben Scott, the citys IT Manager, uses GIS technology to help him pinpoint trouble spots. Newport News is 26 miles long, Scott said. We can have hurricane or tropical storms come through that dump 60 inches of rain in the south side but only 8 inches to the north. Areas most vulnerable to flooding in Newport News are also among the most economically challenged, said Jay Bowden, an emergency planner for the city. Because the citys demographic and socio-economic profiles tend to be as diverse as its topography, Mapping the most vulnerable areas helps recovery efforts because lower-income areas tend to be disproportionally vulnerable to flooding and are slower to rebound. What we do with a lot of Census demographic data is to paint the picture of how many houses are destroyed, how many are damaged, and whether this happened in a disadvantaged neighborhood, Bowden said. When we turn these reports into the state for recovery purposes, were telling them how resilient we think these communities are going to be, based on the data. The 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting replaced Columbine as the deadliest high school shooting in the United States. While some people are taking action, others, such as conservative political commentator Tomi Lahren, are giving insults. Lahrens tweets were met with distaste by students at the Florida high school, and one girls tweet even went viral. 17 students were killed in the Valentines Day shooting at a Florida High School On Feb. 14, 2018, a former student opened fire at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, killing 17 people. Since then, the discussion of gun control has been rampant. Less than two weeks after the shooting, even President Donald Trump, a Republican who has always sided with the NRA, pushed for tighter gun laws, such as banning the use of bump stocks. But many people dont think that ban will be enough. Next: Lahren had choice words for the Left. Lahren was quick to call out those who want gun control In a tweet that most would consider highly insensitive to the victims and their families, Lahren wrote, Can the Left let the families grieve for even 24 hours before they push their anti-gun and anti-gunowner agenda? My goodness. This isnt about a gun, its about another lunatic. #FloridaShooting. Lahren was quick to defend her pro-gun stance with the tweet, claiming that the Left wasnt giving the victims families enough time to comprehend the tragedy before pushing a political agenda. Next: Lahrens tweet was insensitive to another group besides victims and anti-gun activists. Her words were extremely insensitive While most would agree that Lahrens words were insensitive to the families, the term lunatic is also insensitive to those living with mental health disorders. There are plenty of people who struggle with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorders, yet they dont harm others. The use of the word lunatic appears to encompass anyone struggling with any kind of mental health problem and its far from correct to compare everyone in this category to a school shooter. Next: Students did not hesitate to respond to the tweet. Students were quick to answer Lahrens tweet Students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School saw Lahrens tweet and didnt hold back their responses. One student replied with, A gun has killed 17 of my fellow classmates. My entire school, traumatized from this tragedy. This could have been prevented. Please [expletive] Tomi. One woman disclosed her painful experience with gun violence when she was younger. But this isnt the first time Lahren has spoken out against gun control. She also spoke out against anti-gun laws after the Las Vegas shooting in 2017. Next: One students response made everyone stop and think. One students response went viral Carly Novell, who was in the school during the shooting, had an eye-opening response to Lahrens tweet, which ended up going viral. I was hiding in a closet for 2 hours. It was about guns. You werent there, you dont know how it felt. Guns give these disgusting people the ability to kill other human beings. This IS about guns and this is about all the people who had their life abruptly ended because of guns, the tweet read. Novells words, You werent there, you dont know how it felt, should strike a chord with anyone who has been lucky enough to not have to go through something like this. Sometimes, there are a few people who dont understand tragedy when theyve never experienced it. Next: The students have already taken action since the tragic day. To these students, the shooting cant go unnoticed Since their worlds were turned upside down, the students are Marjory Stoneman Douglas have vowed to force a change. Students have spoken out about the need for change and have vowed to approach lawmakers about tighter gun control in the U.S. These students have also inspired schools all over the country to stage protests, walkouts, and more to show lawmakers that they are serious about making a change for the safety of their schools. Next: Lahren wasnt the only one who had something senseless to say. But there has been backlash from others on Twitter, too Lahren is not the only one who has had some harsh words for the friends and families of the Florida shooting. Dinesh DSouza, a conservative political commentator, replied to a tweet about Florida lawmakers voting down a bill to ban assault rifles. Worst news since their parents told them to get summer jobs, the tweet read. Others accused some of the victims of being actors and said the shooting was all a conspiracy put together by the Left. Once again, social media reared its ugly head in the wake of something tragic. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Meghan Markles ring wasnt the first royal engagement ring the world was obsessed with. Before there was Markle there were Kate Middleton and Grace Kelly paving the way for fairy tale royal love stories. Read on for a look at the most iconic royal engagement rings of all time. 1. Meghan Markle Meghan Markle is perhaps sporting the hottest engagement ring in the world right now. Prince Harry designed the Cleave and Company ring, which features a cushion diamond, a pair of round side stones, and a gold band. The trio of diamonds are as meaningful as they are magnificent. Two are from Princess Dianas personal collection, and the other is from Botswana, where the lovebirds spent time together, reports USA Today. Next: Kate Middleton ended up with Princess Dianas ring. 2. Kate Middleton Before there was Markles dazzling engagement ring, there was Kates. Kates ring once belonged to Princess Diana and holds a lot of emotional weight for the royal family. Valued at $650,000, the 12-carat sapphire and diamond cluster ring is one of a kind. According to Vogue, Prince William and Prince Harry were each allowed to choose a piece of their mothers favourite jewellery after her death. The rumour says Prince Harry originally chose the ring, and William chose a gold Cartier watch, but Harry later gifted William the ring to propose to Kate Middleton. The rest is history. Next: Princess Dianas original famous ring 3. Princess Diana Though the ring now belongs to Kate, its worth mentioning again as Dianas engagement ring. According to Us Magazine, Diana got to choose her own ring from a selection presented to her by Gerrard Jewelers. She chose the now world famous 12-carat oval sapphire surrounded by diamonds. Next: Queen Elizabeth IIs ring was made from Princess Alices tiara. 4. Queen Elizabeth II Queen Elizabeth IIs ring also goes down in history as one of the most iconic royal rings. It was made from diamonds from a tiara that originally belonged to Princess Alice of Battenberg. According to Order of Splendor, The ring is supposed to be one of the signs her staff watches out for: when she starts twisting it around her finger, The Boss has had enough. Next: Grace Kellys fairy tale ring(s) 5. Princess Grace Grace Kelly makes the list because the world seemed to stand still when she got engaged to Prince Ranier III of Monaco. She received two engagement rings from Prince Ranier. One was a cartier eternity band with rubies and diamonds and the other one was a 10.5 carat emerald cut Cartier diamond ring flanked by two baguettes. One of the rings even made a debut in Kellys last movie, High Society, which she starred in with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Next: This royals ruby red ring 6. Sarah Ferguson Duchess of York Sarah Fergusons brilliant ruby engagement ring also makes the list. Prince Andrew proposed to Sarah with a ruby engagement ring from Garrard Jewelers in February 1986 on his 26th birthday. Hes said to have chosen the ring because it matched her hair. According to Express, the ring is worth 71,350 today. Next: This royal is the queens favorite. 7. Sophie Rhys-Jones Prince Edward, Queen Elizabeth IIs youngest son, proposed to Sophie Rhys-Jones in January 1999. He gifted her a Garrard ring that contained three diamonds in a modern setting. Fun fact: Sophie is often rumored to be the queens favorite. Check out The Cheat Sheet on Facebook! Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In everyday life, we all understand that what you believe is no guarantee that your belief is true, or wise, or even helpful, no matter how sincerely you believe it. In fact, what you believe can be downright dangerous. If you spend thousands of dollars on alleged nutritional supplements that turn out to be worthless, it does not matter how sincerely you believed in them, you are out all that money and not one bit healthier for it. If you believe it is okay to sit in a broken chair, it does not matter how sincerely you believe in its sturdiness, you will probably end up with a bruise or two, and perhaps a broken bone. If you believe it is okay to ignore the warnings on the label of your prescription medication against mixing it with alcohol, perhaps one day they will inscribe on your tombstone how sincerely you believed in your own pharmaceutical opinions. This is just another way of saying that your faith is only as good as its object. It does not matter how sincere your faith is; if the object of your faith is unreliable, your faith will not help you, and could very well hurt you. This is just common sense, right? So, why is it that so many of us try to live by this truth in our day-to-day lives, until it comes to what we believe about God, Jesus, and salvation? Why do so many people say that, when it comes to religion, "It does not matter what you believe, as long as you are sincere?" Even worse: why do so many Christians, who say that they believe in the Bible, will also say this kind of thing? Why do so many who agree that the Bible is God's direct, infallible revelation also say that there is nothing to be concerned about even if you are completely wrong about the God who gave that revelation and about the Christ He sent to save us? The Apostle Paul and the Lord Jesus did not seem to think that we should be so unconcerned. Quite the opposite! In fact, Paul was very concerned about it: "But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough." (2 Corinthians 11:3-4, ESV) According to Paul, Satan will try to trick you the same way he tricked Eve. And we know why he did that: he wanted to plunge all humanity into eternal misery. We also know that even though Christ came "to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8), Satan still has not given up trying to destroy us. Just as he tempted Adam and Eve with the forbidden fruit, every day Satan tempts people with three kinds of counterfeits: counterfeit gospels, counterfeit Holy Spirits and counterfeit Christs. His purpose for passing these counterfeits is always the same: to keep people from receiving eternal life. Today, I am writing about how to avoid counterfeit Christs. Every cult and false religion has one. How can you make sure you are not tricked by one? Jesus gave us a warning that helps us out here. His warning tells us the most important thing about Him that distinguishes Him from all the false Christs that cults and false religions try to peddle. Here is what he said: "I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am He you will die in your sins." (John 8:24, ESV) You may be wondering what the phrase "I am He" means in this quote. The Pharisees, who were always trying to trap Jesus with His own words, suspected He was saying something here they could use against him, so they tried to get Him to be more specific. "So they said to Him, 'Who are you?'" (John 8:25 ESV) As we keep reading we see they eventually get what they were looking forand they use it as an excuse to try to kill Jesus. You see, several times in the Old Testament, God used the phrase "I am He" as a name for Himself (Deuteronomy 32:39; Isaiah 41:4; 43:10, 13, 25; 46:4; 48:12; 51:12). In each case God used that name to emphasize that He is the only God, and that salvation is found only in Him. And now, in John 8:24, Jesus warns us that unless we believe that He is the same One who called Himself "I am He," we will forfeit that salvation; we will die in our sins. No wonder Paul was so concerned that Christians do not put their faith in a counterfeit Christ! But the Pharisees would not be able to prove this until later, when Jesus expressed Himself more clearly. Meanwhile, the more Jesus spoke, the more the evidence of what He was really saying about Himself was piling up. The Greek phrase that Jesus used is the same throughout John 8. It consists of two simple Greek words: ego eimi, or "I am." The Old Testament was originally written in Hebrew, and later translated into Greek. In the Greek translation of the Old Testament that many ancient Jews read, these are the same two words they would have found God using as His name in those verses in Deuteronomy and Isaiah. Our English Bibles add the word "He" in an effort to make these verses easier for us to read. But the fact is that the way Jesus simply said, "I am" here sounded just as awkward in ancient Greek as it does to us in modern English. (Even translating it "I am He," without explanation, does not completely remove the awkwardness.) This is why the Pharisees responded by asking, "Who are you?" And yet, over and over in the Greek original of the Gospel of John, Jesus simply says, "I am" (John 8:24, 28; 13:19; 18:5, 6, 8). It was not something that He only said once or twice. He wanted us to remember it. And in two other gospels, Jesus warned that counterfeit Christs will apply this same title to themselves (Mark 13:6; Luke 21:8). There is one additional place in John 8 where we find this name, "I am," and most English Bibles properly leave out the word "He" when translating it. In John 8:58, Jesus said, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." (John 8:58, ESV) When Jesus said this, the scribes and Pharisees figured they had all the evidence they needed to condemn Jesus, so "they picked up stones to throw at Him" (v. 59). Why? Because Jesus was now making it clear that by repeatedly calling Himself "I am" He was intentionally applying to Himself one of the names of God from the books of Deuteronomy and Isaiah. This name reads the same way each time, in both the Hebrew original and the ancient Greek translation, so there could be no mistaking what the Lord meant. Only God could say, "Before Abraham was, I am." So, Jesus was effectively calling Himself God. As further evidence, there was another version of this name that occurs earlier in the Old Testament. When Moses encountered the Lord in the burning bush and asked God His name, God said, "I am who I am" (Exodus 3:14). In Hebrew, this name reads differently from the other versions in Deuteronomy and Isaiah, but it reads similarly to the translations of those verses in the ancient Greek Old Testament. Like those other verses, the first half of the God's name in the Greek version of Exodus 3:14 is ego eimi, "I am." In Christ's words, the Pharisees could hear echoes, not only of Deuteronomy and Isaiah, but also of God's answer to Moses from the burning bush, giving them yet another reason to be outraged by His claim. Many false teachers today confidently declare that Jesus never called Himself God. They are wrong. Not only do other biblical authors directly call Jesus God (Isaiah 9:6; John 1:1; 20:28; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:8; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 5;20), but the Lord Jesus repeatedly applied this important Old Testament name for God to Himself, while warning us that if we contradict Him on this point, we will be lost. He also warned us that, after He left, counterfeit Christs would come making the same claim for themselves. Many years ago, when I was a bank teller, I received training in how to detect counterfeit currency, but I was still concerned that I might fail to spot a fake bill. My supervisors assured me that the more I handled cash, the more familiar I would become with the real thing, and the easier it would be to spot the counterfeits. And they were right. I caught quite a few of them. How can you tell the difference between the genuine Jesus and a counterfeit Christ? The answer is by becoming more and more familiar with the real Jesus. And the only way to do that is by learning about Him in His word, the Bible, and putting your trust in Him. You can trust Him, because He is still the God who savesas Paul wrote: "our great God and Savior Jesus Christ," (Titus 2:13 ESV). Ron Henzel is the Senior Researcher at Midwest Christian Outreach, Inc, co-author of A Matter of Basic Principles: Bill Gothard and the Christian Life and co-host of The Unknown Webcast. He has an M.A. in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College (IL) and is an elder at Providence Christian Church, Cape Coral, Florida. 5 reason white evangelicals voted for Donald Trump Looking across the Atlantic from the UK, it's difficult to see how the millions of white evangelical Trump supporters (80 per cent of them voted for him, and 26 per cent of the votes cast in the 2016 election were from this base) reconcile his leadership with their faith. Surely American evangelicals are lovely warm people who offer hospitality to people in need and who take seriously the call in Matthew 25 to treat vulnerable people - homeless, prisoners, those in poverty - as though they were Jesus himself. Don't they? Well yes, they are. Very nice people indeed. I went to the US from London a couple of weeks ago to meet white evangelicals for the UnHerd documentary Believers in Trump. They are indeed very lovely, just as I expected. But this is America, and there's a difference between personal or church-wide acts of kindness and compassion, and expectations of government. Many of the evangelicals I met believed in small government; it's not the government's job to take care of people, it's up to people to take care of themselves and the church should step in when people aren't capable of self-management. It's a widely held view in the US, as the recent debates about universal healthcare have demonstrated. That 'divided by a common language' thing again. When the language extends to theological interpretations based on Scripture, though, surely that's going to be more consistent, wherever we are in the world? Yes and no. Firstly, it's important to remember that, while we don't hear very much about Trump other than his belligerent and pretty brutal rhetoric - which he posts on Twitter - Americans hear a different story. And American Christians, especially those who mistrust mainstream media, hear messages which don't usually make it across the pond. As Jim Wallis of Sojourners told us: 'Big megachurch pastors tell me, I have these people for two hours a week, Fox News has them all week.' (Just to be clear, Wallis is not a Trump fan.) And the Christian media industry is huge in the States. The 21st century version of 'why should the Devil have all the good music' is the highly sophisticated use of social media and online outreach to disseminate socially conservative Christian messages, both informing and reinforcing the views of the millions of faithful Christians. The late 20th century version was of course the huge Christian TV stations which set the agenda - spiritually, socially and politically - for millions of Christians all around the world, but particularly within the USA. But what are those views? And how do people who have traditionally valued moral character in their political leaders see the will of God being exercised through a man with a reputation for being adulterous and aggressive? Trump's evangelical supporters have knowingly embraced with open arms a man who makes no apology for his behaviour. While we heard people talk about 'past sins' and forgiveness, they also acknowledged that he hasn't said sorry. Despite it being classic evangelical doctrine to require repentance before God's forgiveness can be released, there seems to be a dispensation for Trump's known behaviour. Here are some of the things we heard: I didn't vote for a pastor, I voted for a president We heard a very consistent message from people in different states. Many white evangelicals decided that their priorities were not moral character, but the issues on which they wanted a president to deliver. And at a time when there was a vacancy on the Supreme Court and Hillary Clinton was making a lot of noise about putting a pro-abortion judge on the bench, millions of Christians decided to hold their nose and vote for Trump. This is new. In 2011, a poll found that only 30% of this group agreed that an elected official who commits an immoral act in their personal life can still behave ethically and fulfil their duties in their professional and political life. By 2016, this figure had jumped to 72%, right at the time a presidential candidate who bragged about assaulting women took centre stage. God has always used flawed people Taking this argument further, some of his evangelical supporters told us they recognise God's grace in the election of Trump as President. 'A miracle', we were told, and it was certainly unexpected. Biblical precedent in the life of David, who committed adultery with Bathsheba and then had her husband killed in battle when she became pregnant, is sometimes used to justify his position. It's just one of many similar Bible stories - the gospel message being that none of us can meet God's standards in our own strength but by God's grace we are able to be received into his family and used for his purposes - but the problem of an absence of repentance remains. Evil kings sometimes deliver This problem of Trump's revelling in his sinful behaviour is mitigated for some evangelicals by the 'evil kings' narrative. Jack Jenkins of Religion News Service described for us the Cyrus analogy of an evil king who comes through for God's people, so is tolerated and even thanked for having made provision for the needs and priorities of faithful believers. This is not uncommon in conversations with evangelicals; we heard from a 55-year old dad who struggled to justify to his daughter his support for Trump. For evangelicals who elected the president but don't see him as a role model for their sons, especially in relation to his treatment of women, their discomfort is partly assuaged by recognising that God uses unlikely heroes. Another compared the president of the United States to the prostitute Rahab who sheltered the prophets and made possible the taking of Jericho. David French, of the National Review, was quick to counter this. Listen to the documentary for his robust reminder that, in the Old Testament, God's people never directly elected their evil overlords. They found a way to make God's purposes come to pass while in exile, but that was the point: they weren't in their homeland; they were under the authority of their enemy, not their champion. Abundance of counsel Trump's presidency has brought full circle the mobilisation of white evangelicals which began in the 1970s with organisations like Moral Majority, founded by Jerry Falwell. Today, Jerry Falwell Jr (yes, his son) is known to have the ear of the president and is a regular in the White House. Trump has appointed white evangelicals to key Cabinet positions, strategic staff roles, and as informal advisers. He is literally surrounded by them. And for many of his supporters, who could not have countenanced voting for Hillary, that's enough. They point to Proverbs and the many Scriptures lauding people who take wise counsel. He might not be following the Lord himself, but his close advisers are, and so the Word will prevail, they say. God Bless America Which brings us full circle to the heavy overlay of broader American political assumptions on the white evangelical narrative. We started by looking at the emphasis on small government - pretty much a given in much of US politics - and conclude by recognising the prevalence of American exceptionalism. For many in this group, it comes in the form of Christian nationalism. Jack Jenkins has developed this analysis in some detail. Pointing to examples where Trump repeatedly uses phrases like 'we don't worship government, we worship God' (conflating small government and supremacy of faith over politics), Jenkins has identified a narrative which wraps up widely held concerns among millions of white 'flyover country' voters in religious language, and gives Trump a set of shibboleths which call the white evangelical faithful to him. He told us: 'if you claim to be a Christian nationalist, usually people don't define themselves as that. What they'll say is they believe America is a Christian nation and answer a few other questions similar to that. There seems to be a correlation with that identity and say anti-immigrant sentiment, anti-refugee sentiment, Islamophobia.; Fear of Muslims is very real, and we heard from white evangelicals who don't want any more to arrive. Their fear of attacks on their physical security are combined with fear that they will lose followers to Islam. Their zeal for evangelism is perturbed by the threat of immigration, and some of them see it as their mission to make sure they protect America from the deceit of 'false' religions. Listen to Believers in Trump at www.unherd.com Bollywood superstar Sridevi Kapoor dies at age 54 Bollywood actress Sridevi Kapoor died of cardiac arrest on Saturday, Feb. 24 in Dubai, where she was attending her nephew's wedding. Tributes and condolences have poured in from Bollywood figures, as well as the actress's multitude of fans. Her death came as a shock to her family, who stated that the actress did not have a known history of heart disease. Sridevi was 54. She is survived by her husband, Boney Kapoor, and daughters Jhanvi and Khushi. Boney and daughter Khushi were both at the actress's side when she died on Saturday, while elder daughter Jhanvi was in India, preparing for her own Bollywood debut. According to the actress's brother-in-law and fellow Bollywood star Sanjay Kapoor, Sridevi passed away at around 11 p.m. on Saturday night. "We are completely shocked. She had no history of a heart attack," Sanjay told Khaleej Times. He did not give much more details, but Navdeep Suri, Indian ambassador to the UAE, told NDTV that the actress was staying at Dubai's Jumeirah Emirates Towers hotel when she collapsed. She was then taken to the hospital, where she was declared dead. Asian News International also reported on Twitter that Sridevi's remains were expected to be brought home to Mumbai on Monday, Feb. 26. Mumbai: Latest visuals from outside the residence of #Sridevi; her mortal remains will be brought to India from Dubai today. pic.twitter.com/pAz2Xav4lG ANI (@ANI) February 26, 2018 Tributes from fans and other Bollywood actors poured in as news of her death broke. Some of her fans converged around her home in Mumbai, while others took to social media to express their shock and sadness over Sridevi's passing. Notable political figures, such as Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and London mayor Sadiq Khan, have also paid tribute to the actress on Twitter. I have no words. Condolences to everyone who loved #Sridevi . A dark day . RIP PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) February 24, 2018 Really enjoyed meeting Bollywood icon Sri Devi on my recent trip to India. So sad to hear the news of the death of such a terrifically talented actress, performer and producer. #SriDevi pic.twitter.com/5wDvH8xUwD Sadiq Khan (@SadiqKhan) February 24, 2018 Saddened by the untimely demise of noted actor Sridevi. She was a veteran of the film industry, whose long career included diverse roles and memorable performances. My thoughts are with her family and admirers in this hour of grief. May her soul rest in peace: PM @narendramodi PMO India (@PMOIndia) February 25, 2018 Sridevi, born Shree Amma Yanger Ayyapan in 1963, has had a long and fruitful career spanning five decades and over 300 films. She began acting at age four in a Tamil-language film and appeared in Hindu-, Telugu-, Malayalam-, and Kannada-language films as well. The actress landed her first lead role in 1978, eventually building a career that would see her become one of the Indian film industry's biggest names. According to the Associated Press, Sridevi was considered to be male-dominated Bollywood's first female superstar. The BBC also wrote that she was one of the few female actresses in Bollywood that can carry a film on her own, without the support of a male co-star. She won numerous awards for her achievements in acting and was also awarded the Padma Shri, India's fourth-highest civilian award, in 2013. She retired from acting in 1997 but eventually returned 15 years later to star in 2012's "English Vinglish." Her last film was 2017's "Mom," in which her performance met positive reviews. Even though she was not in any productions before she passed, she will appear in a small cameo role in an upcoming film called "Zero." Most Houston companies plan to use their tax savings this year to pay down debt and invest in their businesses, while a smaller number will raise wages, a new study shows. In a survey designed to check the pulse of corporate America, JPMorgan Chase & Co. found that eight in 10 of Houston's midsized businesses plan to either reduce debts or increase investments this year in the wake of the GOP's corporate tax cuts. About a third said they'll lift pay for workers. The New York bank found U.S. companies, as well as those in Houston, believe global economic growth will pave the way for faster business expansion this year, with 69 percent optimistic about the worlds economy - more than double last years reading. Eighty-nine percent were bullish on the U.S. economy and, in Houston, 76 percent believe the local economy will thrive this year. U.S. companies, the bank said, also reported feeling more optimistic than they have in years as the Trump Administration rolls back business regulations and as sweeping changes to the federal corporate tax rate set in. This trending positivity is confirmation that something real is happening in the economy, said Jim Glassman, a senior economist at JPMorgan, in a statement. Business optimism translates to business activity, which is why were seeing increased expectations across the board. But if the survey is correct, the financial benefits of the tax cuts wont be as widespread as the rising optimism. While almost every company surveyed expected to benefit in some way from lower taxes, slightly more than one-third of U.S. firms believe the tax cuts - which reduced the federal corporate tax rate from 35 percent to 21 percent - will help increase their profits. Another third said they dont expect any change to their bottom line. And this comes in a year when almost 90 percent of the surveyed Houston companies expect to see revenues rise, and two-thirds said they plan to increase the size of their workforces and lift compensation levels. The tax cuts, in other words, have little to do with that expansion. But other challenges remain. In Houston, companies are grappling with a shortages of skilled labor. Forty-three percent of local companies cited a limited talent pool as one of the most pressing challenges in 2018, behind growing sales (66 percent) and managing labor costs (44 percent). The toughest jobs to fill, local executives said, are technical and trade jobs (52 percent), professional salaried positions that require high levels of education (34 percent) and salespeople (34 percent). Another factor that makes Houston unique is that more companies are worried about energy and environmental regulations. Almost a third of Houston companies said they're concerned about environmental regulations and the Environmental Protection Agency, compared with 20 percent of U.S. middle-market companies. Meanwhile, 22 percent of Houston companies said they're "extremely or very concerned" about energy regulations, compared with 12 percent for the broader United States. 3 1 of 3 Cody Duty, Staff / Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Brett Coomer / Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Three meetings meant as the starting point for major changes to Interstate 45 north of Houston start Tuesday, offering the first chance for people to say what sort of options are needed in Spring, The Woodlands and Conroe. Texas Department of Transportation officials are in the early stages of improvement plans along I-45 from the Sam Houston Tollway near Bush Intercontinental Airport to Loop 336 South in Conroe. The 24-mile-long segment ranges from an average of 314,000 vehicles per day north of the tollway to about 160,000 at Loop 336, according to 2016 TxDOT surveys. WASHINGTON - Efforts by Sen. Ted. Cruz to find relief for refiners from the high costs of meeting federal ethanol mandates hit a wall Tuesday as Midwestern senators rejected his proposals at a White House meeting aimed at finding a compromise. Cruz has proposed capping the prices of credits that refiners must buy if they don't blend ethanol themselves. But after a meeting with corn-belt lawmakers and President Donald Trump, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, tweeted "no deal." Grassley later disputed Cruz's argument that the biofuels compliance system based on the credits - known as Renewable Identifications Numbers or RINs - was hurting oil refineries. "We haven't had any reputable economist say RINs was the most important problem," Grassley said. "I pointed that out to the president today." The ethanol mandates, known as the Renewable Fuel Standard was signed into law by former President George W. Bush in 2005, primarily as a way to reduce U.S. dependence on Middle Eastern oil. But as ethanol has taken a larger share he nation's fuel supply, so too have the prices of the biofuel credits. Many refiners complain that the market for the credits is thinly traded and subject to manipulation by Wall Street investors. The owner of the largest East Coast refinery recently blamed its bankruptcy on the high cost of ethanol credits. Cruz is urging the Trump administration to place a price cap on the credits. But Trump has told him he wants a plan that is a "win-win" for both the oil and ethanol industries. Cruz had blocked a Senate vote on Trump's nominee for undersecretary of agriculture, Bill Northey of Iowa, in an effort to get action on ethanol policy The Texas senator, however, removed that hold Tuesday in recognition of the Midwestern senators willingness to sit down with him and Trump.. He maintained there was still opportunity to reach an agreement with the White House. "This morning, we had a very positive and productive meeting on fixing the broken RINs system," Cruz said in a statement after the meeting. "I believe we are likely to arrive upon a win-win solution." Also at the meeting were Senators Joni Ernst, R-Iowa,, and Pat Toomey, R-Pa., along with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, according to sources briefed on the meeting. RIN prices have credits have increased in recent years, raising billions of dollars in costs on refineries across the nation. Both Cruz and Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, the Senate Majority Whip, are working on prospective remedies in how the government administers the mandate biofuels are blended into the nation's fuel supply. With Cruz up for re-election in November, he is not expected to let up on an issue that is important to Texas's powerful oil industry. "I wouldn't expect Senator Cruz to back off any position he has on any subject," Grassley said. Trump is expected to meet with ethanol producers at the White House later this week, Ernst said. Midwestern politicians are reluctant to make any change to the ethanol program, concerned it might reduce demand for a product on which corn farmers in their states have made a good living since the Renewable Fuel Standard was created more than a decade ago. "Any action that seeks to weaken the RFS for the benefit of a handful of refiners will, by extension, be borne on the backs of our farmers," a coalition of farmers' groups said. Some political momentum for a bipartisan solution appeared this week when Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., ranking member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, told Politico he would support changes to the RIN blending credit market. Such a move, he said, "would "not do harm to the Renewable Fuel Standard" but would "frankly help a number of refineries that are paying an arm and a leg for RINs when they never expected to do that," according to Politico. RELATED STORY: After years of rancor over ethanol, Cruz, Cornyn go head to head on reform Texas oil and gas producers paid more in taxes and royalties last year as oil prices climbed and drilling activity ramped up in the Permian Basin and elsewhere in the state. The industry paid more than $11 billion in royalties and state and local taxes in fiscal 2017, up from the $9.4 billion it paid the prior year. Texas school districts and counties received $1.1 billion and $336 million in mineral property taxes, respectively. The increase coincided with the so-called shale boom in West Texas that has produced enormous amounts of cheap oil and natural gas in the prolific Permian Basin and other reserves. In November, U.S. oil production topped 10 million barrels a day for the first time in 50 years. RELATED: U.S. rig count rises as inventories fall The boom has transformed the U.S. energy export market to rival that of the Middle East. American oil exports hit record levels late last year, and the U.S. Department of Energy expects that the nation will become a net exporter of natural gas this year for the first time since 1957. "These energy outcomes were unthinkable a decade ago," TXOGA president Todd Staples said in in a conference call. "American crude oil is a game changer in international trade." RELATED: China's environmental crackdown opening markets for Houston exports The production boom has prompted a major expansion in the state's pipelines, ports and refineries. Recently, the Trump administration included in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' civil works budget $13 million to expand the port of Corpus Christi. Much of the pipeline expansion has developed to support U.S. natural gas exports to Mexico, where demand has skyrocketed in the wake of a major reform of the country's energy policies. In 2013 and 2014, Mexico opened its energy market to private investment and pledged to rely on cleaner sources such as natural gas. Staples said his association supports the continuation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, from which the Trump administration has threatened to withdraw. Representatives from the U.S., Mexico and Canada convened in Mexico City this week for the seventh round of negotiations. Gregory Bull / Gregory Bull / Associated Press Qualcomm said Monday its willing to engage in negotiations with Broadcom, indicating the company is more open to being bought. Its hostile suitor dismissed those comments as a disingenuous attempt to avoid concluding a deal. Following a Friday meeting between executives of both companies, Qualcomm chairman Paul Jacobs sent a letter to Broadcom chief executive officer Hock Tan, published Monday, inviting him to enter into a nondisclosure agreement and conduct due-diligence talks in order to come to an agreement over price. Two people charged in a conspiracy to commit wire fraud involving their former employer have pleaded guilty U.S. attorneys announced Monday. According to court documents, Michell Garcia, 36, and Ray Torres, 46, both of Houston, were arrested and charged with fraud, which involved taking more than $1.6 million from their employer. On Monday, they admitted they electronically submitted falsified vendor requests for payment to divert money to themselves from their former employer's bank account, according to an announcement from U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick. Torres pleaded guilty on Monday, while Garcia pleaded guilty Feb. 16, 2018. A third member of the scheme - Sonja Martinez, 47 of Rosharon, entered her guilty plea Feb. 9, 2018. All three worked at the Houston branch of a Florida-based security company that installed, tested and monitored fire and security systems, according to court records. The Florida company had acquired the Houston branch from another company and Garcia, Torres and Martinez all worked at the predecessor firm. The company used third party vendors to install its alarm systems. Garcia, Torres and Martinez all worked in the accounting department. They were responsible for paying the vendors and recording payments in the company's accounting system. From November 2011 until May 2016, they participated in a scheme to divert approximately $1.6 million to themselves and their family members. The scheme involved the trio fraudulently imputing fictitious payment requests into the company's computer system to divert the false payments from the company's bank accounts. The trio would then release the money into their own bank accounts or their relatives. In one instance, Martinez and Garcia falsified more than $6,000 in vendor payments in Match 2012. The duo gave Torres the falsified payment request so that Torres could release the funds from the company's bank account, according to the U.S. attorney's statement U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison set sentencing for Torres on May 10, 2018, while Garcia and Martinez are set for May 3 and April 26, 2018, respectively. All face up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 fine. At Monday's hearing, the court also entered a money judgment against Torres for $174,647.48, while Garcia and Martinez have respective money judgements for $801,198.40 and $739,450.36. This year is the bicentennial of the founding of the University of Virginia, so it's a good time to visit what some say Thomas Jefferson considered to be his proudest achievement. Even for a college town with a sophisticated student population, Charlottesville seems to have a higher per capita ratio of foodies than other cities. There are enough restaurants that a local food writer creates the annual Charlottesville 29, and that list includes a diverse mix of farm-to-table, Mexican, Asian, new American and seafood restaurants. Perhaps thanks in part to Jefferson's own forays into winemaking and the climate of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the countryside around the city is home to a thriving wine scene, including the Monticello Wine Trail. Start the day at the Corner, the neighborhood that is C-Ville's main center of activity, just adjacent to the entrance to the grounds of the University of Virginia (which cognoscenti know is never called its "campus"). A friendly, homey choice is the Pigeon Hole (the-pigeon-hole.site123.me, 11 Elliewood Ave., 434-984-0078), in a boxy, periwinkle house. Its front patio, wooden porch and inside rooms are set up for dining. Some satisfying breakfast items are the Pigeons in a Hole, two eggs cooked over easy inside holed-out toast ($7); or the egg biscuits, eggs scrambled with cheese and tucked inside two fluffy biscuits ($8.50). Choose home fries, which are spicy enough that I had to ask the waitress what was in them. ("I think cinnamon?") The coffee is an endless cup ($3) and the chocolate chip pancakes are dark with chips ($8.50). Since this is a small place, it's a good idea to come early enough to beat out UVA students working off a night of partying, especially if a Cavaliers team won the day before. The salon that only opened 13 just months ago has expanded and gives clients with a one-stop shop for all their luxury beauty services. MY SALON Suite, which is located in the Braes Heights shopping center on Bellaire Boulevard, started out with 30 suites last January. The suites are rented out to independent professionals including hair stylists, cosmetologists, massage therapists, nail technicians and more. MY SALON Suite launched its soft opening for the expansion the week of Feb. 19 and now has 68 suites ready to serve residents from Bellaire, West University, Southside Place and beyond. The expansion increased the salon's upstairs space from 6,000 to 14,000 square feet, said Aaron Gillaspie, president and CEO of the Willis Park Corporation, the parent company that owns the location. In December, WPC opened its first San Antonio location Salon Plaza, and Gillaspie said the corporation plans to have 10 salons in the Houston and San Antonio markets by 2020. Two new MY SALON Suite locations are scheduled to open in The Woodlands in March and Pasadena by mid-summer. All of the salons are franchises. Gillaspie said the Braes Heights salon has had a waiting list of beauty professionals wanting to rent space since the first month it opened and that he tends to be selective when it comes to who he allows on to his team. "We are very picky about making sure that we get the right people and we help them succeed," he said. "We don't want to get people that don't have the same mission, vision and values as us of wanting to be great entrepreneurs in a professional environment." He also said because the location's average salon owner has more than 15 years of experience, renting a space is something some professionals would have to work toward. "We always say it's like hotel. Just because you have the Waldorf Astoria, the Holiday Inn and the Super 8, doesn't mean you should stay every time at the Waldorf Astoria," Gillaspie said. "From a buildout, this is definitely the luxury in the industry. While we want everyone to strive to get here, we help a lot of people out of school to find the right places, this might be from day one a stepping stone that they have to get to." Gillaspie said before he got into the business world, he used to be a teacher and a principal and that he enjoys being able to help people. He said his business offers a lot of support for the salon owners that lease there. "I believe that's what differentiates us we're all about the education side, supporting these people, bringing in outside experts. I know for instance that I know a lot about a lot of things, but I'm not a master of a lot of things. But I have a connection to people who are. So we bring in finance people at the end of the year to help them put on seminars about CPA work. We bring in color specialists to do classes on color, on massage, on aesthetician," Gillaspie said. He said spaces are 40 percent larger than ones at most competitor salons and come with luxury features like granite countertops, three stations, custom built-in tool racks and cash drawers, Ecoheads shower heads that offer 40 percent more power using 30 percent less water and more. According to Gillaspie, after the first year, 90 percent of the salon owners have signed new leases for three years. Sabrina Khan, owner of West U Eyebrows & Beyond, had her own salon before and said she signed the new three-year lease because she appreciates having her own business but not having employees. "I love being my own boss. Nobody tells me what to do. I just come in whenever I want to and leave whenever I want to. [Before] I had several employees. It was a lot of work. It was a lot of responsibility. Here I don't have any of that," she said. Khan said when she came to MY SALON Suite, she had no clients but now she is doing well with her business. MY SALON Suite salons across the nation raised money to help the salon owners during Hurricane Harvey. Since the location is on the second floor, no physical damage occurred, but the stylists lost income from not being able to work during the storm. Wyatt Christopher, owner of Wyatt Christopher Salon, said depending on how many other damages the salon owners had incurred, the they were each cut a check for a week's worth of rent. Christopher said he enjoys being an independent owner while getting the chance to learn from other salon professionals around him. "I get to create my own schedule and everything in a nice environment where it's not just me," he said. "There are people around me that collaborate with each other, but you still have that independence, which I love." Gillaspie said many clients come to the salon for one thing and realize how convenient all the other services are. "They come here to see the stylist who's doing their hair. They look across the hall, and someone's doing nails. So they go get their card. Now they're coming here for hair and nails," he said. "Next, they need a massage and they currently go to a competitor and realize they can do it all in one. There are people that come here and spend their entire day here and don't leave because they're getting three or four different services from independent owners. To learn more about booking an appointment or leasing a suite, visit www.mysalonsuite.com/west-university or call 832-930-1677. Houston is poised to get a new style of pizza when Pizza Motus stretches its dough in the West University neighborhood. A fast-casual restaurant specializing in "Roman-style street pizza," Pizza Motus is expected to open in summer 2018 at 6119 Edloe in the former Edloe Street Cafe. "The Pizza Motus concept takes inspiration from the Roman-style street pizza I grew to love while living there for many years," said Will Gruy, owner/operator. According to Gruy, this type of pizza is rarely seen in Texas. The theme of KnowAutism's fourth annual gala was "Reach for the Stars," and by Thursday evening's end, the organization dedicated to improving the lives of children with autism achieved several interstellar feats. Dr. Sippi and Ajay Khurana, power couple and recipients of the non-profit's premier humanitarian award, celebrated the inaugural honor with a surprise $50,000 donation during the fund-a-need segment. Initially, black-tie Briar Club patrons gasped at the steep opening figure, though as the auctioneer pointed out after-the-fact, "Hey, if you don't ask, you won't receive." KnowAutism's executive director Lauren Dawson proudly announced that gala chairs Donae and Rob Chramosta and Amy and Rob Pierce had raised a record-breaking $375,000, an impressive trajectory from the previous year's $219,000 soiree. Then again, it was 2017 when founder Tammy Nguyen first heard vocalist Kelly Levesque during her duet with Michael Bolton at UNICEF's Audrey Hepburn Society Ball. The two women spent the following year collaborating on an original song "I Won't Let You Down," which Levesque performed from KnowAutism's Lucite runway last week. Later, as Miles David fashion designer, David Peck, joined her on the catwalk to sing "The Prayer," a galaxy of cell phone screens lit up the shocked ballroom. Apparently, the multi-hyphenate Santa Fe native has pipes, too - who knew? And though Levesque and Nguyen toted Peck's handiwork all evening - both of their gowns were custom-designed - honorary chair and the Webster founder Laure Heriard Dubreil turned a few heads with her high-end fashion show produced by Todd Ramos. Valentino, Saint Laurent, Christian Dior, Dries Van Noten, Givenchy, Chloe and Gucci looks sashayed past on more avant garde models than Houston has seen in recent memory. Though if KnowAutism's success proves anything, it's to expect the unexpected. Mark Mulligan/Staff The University of Texas System is inching toward selling the controversial Houston property it purchased for a now-defunct idea of a new campus. Regent Jeff Hildebrand, who is leading a task force on unloading the property, said Tuesday morning at a board meeting that the system will submit a request for quotations to developers by the end of the first quarter of the year. A request for proposals will be issued by the end of spring 2018, he said. The top-ranked nursing program in Texas is University of Houston College of Nursing, according to RegisteredNursing.org, a nursing advocacy organization dedicated to promoting excellence in nursing. The organization made its selection based on the programs that supports students towards licensure and beyond. They ranked the top 50 nursing programs in Texas by analyzing current and historical pass rates of the Registered Nurse National Council Licensure Examination. UH College of Nursing boasts a 100 percent pass rate for the last three years, placing the program in the top 5 percent in the nation. The scores were very close to perfect for two years prior to that. "As one of the newer baccalaureate programs in the state of Texas, we've had a remarkable five years of growth and excellence," said Kathryn Tart, professor and founding dean of the college. For registered nurses who want to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing, UH offers the RN-BSN program online and at the UH Sugar Land and UH campuses. Additionally, students who currently hold an unencumbered Texas RN license may pursue the Master of Science in the nursing program online. The college also offers the Second Degree BSN program at UH Sugar Land for those who have completed a four-year university degree and want to become a nurse. For more information go to http://www.uh.edu/nursing/ See the full listing from RegisteredNursing.org here. About the University of Houston The University of Houston is a Carnegie-designated Tier One public research university recognized by The Princeton Review as one of the nation's best colleges for undergraduate education. Located in the nation's fourth-largest city, UH serves more than 45,000 students. A DWI suspect allegedly crashed into a deputy's patrol unit Sunday afternoon. A Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's deputy was driving south in the 12200 block of Veterans Memorial Drive just north of Antoine Drive when authorities say Lawrence Strong, 56, was turning left from the northbound lanes. In doing so, Strong slammed into the deputy's vehicle. While being checked out after the crash, authorities said Strong showed several signs that he was intoxicated and failed a field sobriety test. He was arrested and charged with Class-B misdemeanor driving while intoxicated, which could land him in jail for up to six months if he is convicted. MALL ATTACK: Woman choked with trash bag in Memorial City Mall bathroom The deputy suffered only minor injuries, according to Capt. Jonathan Zitzmann with the Harris County Precinct 4 Constable's Office. The deputy's patrol car, however, is irreparable, he said. A judge gave Strong a $500 bond but later released him on a personal bond, meaning he did not have to pay any money upfront for his release. He's due back in court on March 12. Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan. A recently retired Fort Bend county jail guard has been charged with pocketing 20 years worth of military pension checks sent to his long deceased uncle. Burnie Joseph Haynes, 67, of Sugar Land , is accused of theft of federal funds for taking $286,302 from a bank account for which he was a signatory with power of attorney. He is set to make an initial appearance in federal court Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Dena Hanovice Palermo. READ ALSO: 98 percent of transfers back to unit at center of prison heat lawsuit complete Haynes' eight-year stint as a detention officer for the Fort Bend Sheriff's Office ended on Feb. 12, one week before he was summoned to federal court under a criminal information. Haynes could not be reached for immediate comment. His former lawyer, Neal Davis, said he is no longer handling the case and did not know who is. But David Marcaurele, chief deputy for the Fort Bend Sheriff's Department, said he knew the Defense Department had initiated an investigation into a matter involving the guard and the sheriff was prepared to cooperate. READ ALSO: Judge cites 'tainted' arrestees who heed Black Lives Matter as problem Marcaurele said Haynes had no disciplinary issues as an employee at the jail. Haynes' uncle, Joseph McKinley Wells, retired on April 1, 1967, after 20 years of honorable service as a technical sergeant with the U.S. Air Force. From that point on, Wells began receiving retirement checks via direct deposit to a Bank of America account in Houston, court documents allege. Wells, unmarried and with no children, died in March 1996 at the Houston VA Medical Center, according to investigators. He had no listed benefactors on his retirement account nor did he name anyone to receive the funds after his death., the documents say. Haynes had signatory authority over his late uncle's account through a power of attorney. From March of 1996 through May of 2016, federal officials said he "did willfully and knowingly embezzle, steal, purloin and convert to his own use, money of the United States Government," in the form of retirement pay from the Defense Department. His property is subject to forfeiture, according to the charges. Gabrielle Banks covers federal court for the Houston Chronicle. Follow her on Twitter and send her tips at gabrielle.banks@chron.com. Jay Janner/MBO Houston ISD must surrender control over hiring and governance at any low-performing schools where it plans to form "partnerships" with outside organizations, which the district is considering to stave off potentially major sanctions, the Texas Education Agency said Tuesday. The ruling is a blow to Houston ISD leaders, who hoped they could maintain near-total control over several of the district's most challenging schools, while also receiving the benefits of forming partnerships. Under a new law, known as SB 1882, districts receive a two-year break in accountability ratings at any campus where they form partnerships with outside organizations. A Spring man has been charged with murder in the deadly shooting last month of someone he reportedly said was a "snitch." Roberto Alejandro Salinas, 36, is being held without bond in the Harris County Jail. He is accused of killing Florante "JR" Maglalang, whose body was found by a driver on Jan. 2 in an undeveloped field in the 13900 block of Sand Canyon Drive. Deputies said Maglaland was shot four times in back of the head and was struck at least once in the head by blunt force, a Harris County prosecutor told a judge in probable cause court Tuesday morning. Maglalang's ex-girlfriend told investigators that she received a call Jan. 1 from Maglalang, but not from his normal cell phone number. He asked her to pick him up at a game room he frequented known as the "Dragon Cafe" because he "owed some people something," the prosecutor said. The ex-girlfriend said she refused to pick him up. Investigators found surveillance of the game room and parking lot and saw that Maglalang went into the building around 6 p.m. Jan. 1 and left in a white panel van driven by a Hispanic male at 10 p.m., the prosecutor said. Officials circulated a photo of the driver throughout the agency, and people recognized him as Salinas. He was detained after being found through a search warrant. Salinas' phone records showed he was in the area of the killing the night before, the prosecutor said. Officials also found a witness who owned a white panel van. He was arrested on unrelated charges on Feb. 19 and was asked to speak about the shooting. The van owner said that Salinas was an associate who was borrowing his van around the time of the killing. When Salinas returned it, he said he sold the van owner's pistol because he "used it to kill a guy who was a snitch," the prosecutor said. The van owner told investigators that Salinas took him that night to the location Maglalang was buried and showed him the body, which was still on the side of the road, according to the prosecutor. Salinas took the van owner to the location sometime between 10 p.m. and midnight, which is consistent with the time he was last seen on surveillance, the prosecutor said. The van owner said that Salinas told him he shot Maglaland five times. Court records show that both men had lengthy criminal histories. Salinas was previously sentenced to three years in prison after being convicted for methamphetamine possession in 2015, court records show. Salinas also was sentenced in 2010 to one year in Harris County jail for shooting a firearm at another man in 2008. Maglalang also had multiple drug-related convictions, court records show. Robert Downen covers crime for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter or email him at robert.downen@chron.com. A San Antonio rapper was shot dead early Saturday while driving on Northwest Loop 410 near the Medical Center in what police said was a targeted attack. Christopher Polk, 25, died at the scene near the Callaghan Road entrance, shortly after 2 a.m. He and a friend had just left the Ice Lounge in 5500 block of Northwest Loop 410. Polk, also known as Chris P - OG Ape Life, was the driver, heading east on Loop 410 when a silver SUV pulled up beside Polks vehicle and opened fire on the drivers side, according to Officer Douglas Greene, SAPD spokesman. A second vehicle then got in front of Polks vehicle and also opened fire, Greene said. Polk was struck by bullets from several weapons, police said. The unnamed passenger, who also was hit, took control of the vehicles steering wheel and managed to bring it to a stop on the right shoulder of Loop 410, Greene said. He was taken by EMS to University Hospital in serious condition. RELATED: Rapper shot dead following show at popular S.A. hip hop club As soon as the public became aware of his death, Polks Facebook page was flooded with condolences from fans, people he worked with and those who knew him. We were shell-shocked when we heard about it, said Ron Hick, owner of the Ice Lounge, who said Polk had not performed at the bar Friday night but had came to meet up with friends. He hadnt made it mainstream yet but he was talented, an up-and-coming artist. According to Kasilo Choka, owner of the local music agency Grownhop, Polk had been mostly self-made and had hundreds of subscribers on platforms such as Spotify and YouTube. I believe he was selling CDs on the street in 2010 when I heard about him, said Choka, who has more than 30 years in the industry. I then met him around six years ago and followed his music, watched his numbers grow. Childhood friend Alonzo Spradley, 27, recalled growing up on the Northwest Side with Polk and seeing his career branch outside of San Antonio. A lot of people say they are gonna rap but never really go for it. He did and was really talented, Spradley said, adding, however, that Polk was not short on enemies. He was a good person, but doing what he does, people didnt want to see him successful. He definitely had enemies. (Warning: Graphic content shown in the video below) Polk became the center of a controversy last year after he appeared in a video cradling a semi-automatic machine pistol, showing off a large gold medallion on a heavy chain he said belonged to Baton Rouge comedian/rapper 22 Savage, now known as Young 22. In the profanity-laced video, which has nearly half a million hits, Polk tells the Louisiana rapper he can come get his necklace for $20,000. Young 22 said the chain was stolen from him when he was pulled off a San Antonio stage during a performance in May, a few days before Polks video hit the internet. In the video, Polk indicated he didnt take the chain but acquired it from the person who did. ALSO READ: Men tied to threats against Brooklyn-based rapper detained at S.A. airport Its not clear whether the chain was ever returned to Young 22, whose real name is MacArthur Johnson. In 2016, Johnson, then 19, was charged with second-degree murder, illegal use of a weapon and obstruction of justice in connection with a fatal shooting in Baker, Louisiana, reports from Louisiana media indicate. A grand jury indefinitely suspended the case against him in 2017. Court records show Polk was arrested in October 2014 on a possession of marijuana, more than 4 ounces but less than 4 lbs. He was sentenced to probation in January 2015. Friends said Polk had a daughter whos nearly 2 years old. Former and current faculty/staff of Lamar Consolidated High School (Rosenberg) will gather on Saturday, April 7, to celebrate memories and friendships of their days spent working at LCHS. The reunion will be from 3-7 p.m. at The Swinging Door Restaurant in Richmond. A group of retirees from Lamar CHS organized a reunion in 2010 and because many had such a good time reminiscing about their Lamar years together, they wanted to do it once again. Serving on the reunion committee are Veta Buzek, Kay Dawes, Dixie Moore, Penny Morris, Muffy O'Pry, Sharon Patterson, Maxine Phelan and Pat Wynne. Cost to attend is $25 per person, paid by March 15, by check or money order made payable to Lamar Staff Reunion. Payment should be mailed to Lamar Staff Reunion, 1400 Carlisle, Rosenberg, Texas 77471. Spouse/guest of attendee is also invited at $25/person. The ticket price includes a barbecue buffet dinner. Included with the payment should be the name of the attendee and spouse/guest, as well as a phone number and e-mail address. Attendees should also include the years worked at Lamar, i.e., 1975-1982. "Our biggest challenge is notifying everyone. While we have used regular mail, email, and social media to reach our colleagues, we know we have missed some. We want to ensure we reach as many LCHS employees as we possibly can," said Veta Buzek, former Lamar business/office education teacher (1976-2004). "Anyone who has ever worked at Lamar Consolidated High School as a faculty or staff member who has not received an invitation can call 281-610-2386 or email lchsstaffreunion@gmail.com for more details." Maxine Phelan, former LCHS English teacher (1971-2003), said, "Those who have worked at Lamar High for the last 50 years felt a special bond of friendship which for many has continued into our retirement years. We were good personal friends as well as colleagues. We shared a love of striving for excellence in our work with our students. "Mustang Pride motivated the staff as well as the students. We felt it a privilege and joy to work at Lamar, so it is no surprise we still want to come together to reminisce about our days at Lamar and the pride and fun we had in working together." Part of what has made Lamar High's staff special through the years is the fact that many Lamar graduates return to teach and work at their alma mater, including many on the current staff. Four of the reunion committee members are graduates of LCHS: Veta (Williams) Buzek, class of '67; Kay (Boucher) Dawes, class of '66; Sharon (Penkert) Patterson, class of '62; and Maxine (Cegelski) Phelan, class of '61. "In many ways, this reunion will be like a family reunion with lots of Lamar spirit and love to go around," said Phelan. Sugar Land Lions Club The Sugar Land Lions Club and Russo's Italian Restaurant, 403 Texas 6 S., joined forces and took part in White Cane Day drive for the Texas Eye Bank. All the money raised went directly to the eye bank where many will benefit in their eye care. To thank Mike Patel, the owner of Russo's, for his support of the drive, the club presented him with a plaque for a life membership in the eye bank. From left are Lion President Ray Lehrmann, Patel and Lion Angela Rankin. Police are investigating gunfire at a Sugar Land mall Monday evening. Officers got a report of gunfire around 7 p.m. at First Colony Mall, which is near the intersection of U.S. 59 and Texas 6. Two people were arguing, and one of them pulled a gun and opened fire on the other in the mall parking lot. No one was injured, according to Sugar Land Police Department spokesperson Doug Adolph. Police are still looking for the person who opened fire, Adolph said. Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan. The Oak Ridge North City Council met for a special session Monday night to discuss a master thoroughfare plan designed and executed by BGE, a Houston-based engineering firm. The study and resulting thoroughfare plan, first commissioned in April, 2017, by the city council and funded by the city's Economic Development Corporation, will be used to classify future roads as a tool to communicate between grant writers and developers as construction in the area increases. BGE representative Bill Kotlan said the map can also be used to relieve congestion on major roadways as Oak Ridge North continues to grow and can provide input to future capital improvement plans and potential solutions to the traffic tangles that choke Oak Ridge North at rush hour. "What's happening is people are trying to get to I-45 whichever way they can," Kotlan said. "It's like a flood where water goes anywhere it can." The plan also examined at possible road conditions in the city 20 years from now, when the number of cars on Robinson Road could be double what it is now, Kotlan said. Council Member Alex Jones the plan will be helpful to city officials as developers target Oak Ridge North. "If a developer comes in and says, 'I want to build in this neighborhood,' we'll point to this and say, 'Here are where the roads and right of ways need to be,'" Jones said. A draft of the thoroughfare plan, which was presented to city council for the first time Monday, assigned Robinson Road and Hanna Road as primary thoroughfares-defined as a road meant to collect traffic and deliver it to the freeway. Kotlan said primary thoroughfares are public streets with limited access to homes and businesses, but heightened mobility. Public Works Director Joe Sherwin said the lack of an effective thoroughfare grid is a challenge for the city as it grows. Oak Ridge North Mayor Jim Kuykendall said During rush hour, it becomes increasingly difficult for residents to move north and south on Hanna Road and gridlock on Robinson Road often renders it impassable. Kotlan explained how drivers circumvent heavy traffic during peak times. "People cut through (neighborhoods)," Kotlan said. "They use collectors as thoroughfares because they can't find another way out." In the future, other major and minor collectors-less public roads that feed into thoroughfares-in the area could be widened and developed, and the plan would allow developers and the city to agree on just how far the development should go. "Having a plan in front of you is a good way to go have a meeting," Kuykendall said. Council Member Paul Bond said he the issue is a challenge. "I have more concerns now than I did before," Bond said. "I'm not comfortable with what's going on around the county and us not knowing what the future plans are." Next on the thoroughfare agenda is the public presentation of the plans. Council Member Frances Planchard suggested an open house where the plans would be displayed and members of the community were invited to comment. Someone knows who killed Stephon Arnold. There were at least three other people inside the Westwood apartment unit when he was shot to death. But eight days later, no one wants to talk. That no-snitching policy was still firmly in place Monday as David Arnold stood outside the Forum Park Drive complex and begged for any information related to death of his 29-year-old son. He demands answers, and the justice and closure they could bring. Were past traumatized, he said in an emotional, street-side press conference. Were past upset. I havent slept 24 hours since last Monday. This is my son. I raised him from a baby. The Houston Police detectives investigating Arnolds death could not be reached for comment Monday. But police said last week that there were several people inside the apartment when Arnold was fatally shot in the chest. What happened before that is unclear. "We don't have any witnesses coming forward at this time," Detective Mike Cass told reporters at the scene. And in the absence of information, a grief-shattered father is left to wonder. I gotta visualize my son laying flat on his back, his mouth gasping for his last breath, David Arnold said. Its whats going through my head all day, every day. I havent even seen my son yet because Im scared to go look at his body. The violence that killed Arnold and the subsequent silence is hardly new to this area of southwest Houston, known among some as Little Baghdad because of how often bullets fly. An HPD spokesperson said itd be impossible to quantify how often witnesses clam up in killings like Arnolds or how such silence affects investigations, but noted the departments CrimeStoppers hotline allows for anonymous tips. We tell everybody routinely that we need information, spokesman Victor Senties said. Others say that old street attitudes about not cooperating with the police only worsen violence, keeping crime rampant while pushing jobs, development and opportunity away from neighborhoods that need them the most. That no-snitch policy is destroying the black community because its allowing crime to flourish and grow, community activist Quanell X said at the press conference. (Police) can only do their jobs as best as we allow them to do it, said Quanell, a longtime advocate for victims who has recently come under fire for allegedly not delivering services to families whove paid him. Last week, the New Black Panther Party in Houston said they had launched an investigation into the practices of Quanell, with whom theyve also split. David Arnold said Quanell volunteered to bring attention to Stephon Arnolds slaying. Arnolds family is left to speculate why no one has been arrested for killing their son and brother, a young man who loved to box and had a good heart. We live in a good city, but weve got to do more, said Jackie Arnold, who is Stephons stepmom. She talked briefly about a news story shed recently seen about a Chicago mother who lost all of her sons to gun violence. How can you survive after that? she wondered. We cant let Houston turn into that. A few feet away, Stephon Arnolds 20-year-old sister stood quietly on the sidewalk with her family. Sade Arnold didnt say much. She wore a black T-shirt with a photo of Martin Luther King Jr. printed on it. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter, it read. Of the 178 men arrested in Houston last year during a massive crackdown on prostitution, charges have been dismissed or are on track for dismissal in nearly 70 percent of the criminal cases a year later, according to a Houston Chronicle review of public arrest records. The high rate of dismissals for men arrested on charges of soliciting a prostitute has prompted the Harris County District Attorney's Office to sharply scaled back use of a pre-trial diversion program that allowed many defendants to avoid convictions. "We were treating johns in a much more gingerly fashion than the prostitute or seller," said JoAnne Musick, division chief of sex crimes for the district attorney's office. "On average, our sellers would end up spending anywhere from three to 20 days in jail. That's a pretty big difference because it takes two to tango. We did not like that disparity." TOPPING THE LIST IN 2018: Harris County leads nation in prostitution sting before Super Bowl Defense attorneys, however, say the diversion program has provided options for people who make mistakes. "I've got clients that are professionals that this is going to affect their lives and their family's lives because they are going to lose their jobs," said attorney Ed Chernoff. "Defense attorneys are angry for a real good reason. The DA can craft a program that would be used to benefit not just the defendant but the community." The February 2017 sweep which netted the Harris County Sheriff's Office national recognition was part of the 13th National Johns Suppression Initiative. More than 30 local police agencies participated in the sweep, including the Houston Police Department. Of the 178 men arrested, more than 95 enrolled in the diversion program, which typically offers a six month to one-year probationary term approved by the district attorney's office for first-time offenders. Defendants agree to undergo drug testing, pay fees and complete an AIDS awareness course, among other things. Once the probationary terms are fulfilled, the charge is dismissed. That allows those arrested to seek expungement, which leaves no evidence of the arrest or diversion. About 14 percent of all the February 2017 cases stemming from the sheriff's office sting have been expunged, according to the Houston Chronicle's analysis. READ MORE: Judge orders Houston strip club shut down for alleged prostitution, employment of minors Musick said prosecutors realized the expungement of records allowed some men to use the program over and over again, which was not the intended use. Officials then spent months meeting with the sheriff's office and other law enforcement agencies and community organizations such as the Houston Area Women's Center to get their input on prostitution arrests, she said. In August, the DA's office ordered prosecutors not to use pretrial diversion for johns, Musick said. 'Proud to lead the nation' Stings are the most common type of law enforcement tactic used around the world for targeting human trafficking and prostitution, said Michael Shively, a criminal justice expert who runs the DemandForum.net, a repository for information on sex trafficking. These stings are broken up into three types; street-level, web-based, and brothel-based. Most include officers "posing as women engaged in prostitution, awaiting approaches by people attempting to purchase sex," Shively states on DemandForum.net. It takes 30 deputies to run a sting with the Harris County Sheriff's. The February 2017 sting which targeted street-level activity required 1,970 hours of planning and execution, according to a open records request filed with the sheriff's office. "I'm exceedingly proud to lead the nation in targeting sex buyers and traffickers," Sheriff Ed Gonzalez proclaimed after the February 2017 sting. Defense attorney Nathaniel Pitoniak, however, called Musick's decision to cut back on pretrial diversions a "ham-fisted approach to address human trafficking." Paul Doyle, another Houston attorney who has handled more than 100 prostitution cases, echoed these sentiments. "These stings are not human trafficking stings," he said. "They are prostitution stings and the results reflect sloppy police work. It is a numbers game so the law enforcement agency can do a press conference." READ MORE: Houston police officer arrested in massive prostitution sting identified He said the busts have little impact on real trafficking. "I wonder how posing as an adult female in an advertisement identifies and targets predators seeking children," he said. "These are prostitution investigations and nothing more. Large amounts of tax dollars are spent on this and I wonder if those resources could be better spent for more serious crimes." Pitoniak, who has represented about 10 johns in the last few years, said the accused are often ordinary men in the community who may be going through personal troubles. 'Low-hanging fruit' Forty-nine-year-old Tony Bunch was among the men arrested in the 2017 sting, and he was busted again in October on the same charge. He told the Chronicle he had recently been divorced and was being treated for a gambling addiction when he was arrested a year ago. Bunch's first case was dismissed after completing 24 hours of community service and a course in decision-making. His second case is still active. "Prostitution is kind of like pot. It's low-hanging fruit. They're not out there trying to deter real crime," said Bunch, who had no prior criminal record before the arrest last year. "They are not stopping human trafficking ... They aren't going about it the right way." Shively agrees that while most men caught up in stings are indeed ordinary, these arrests are necessary in attacking demand. "People in prostitution are murdered, raped, assaulted and kidnapped at vastly higher rates than any other population," Shively said. "While many buyers are simply trying to get their needs met, and those that are abusive or intentionally seeking minors may be in the minority, the consequences of their actions are extremely severe. Every cent that changes hands in sex trafficking comes from the pockets of buyers, and without them there simply is no sex trafficking or prostitution." In Harris County, the number of men arrested while procuring prostitutes has grown steadily since 2014, from 146 to 433 last year a nearly 200 percent increase, according to Jason Spencer, spokesman for the sheriff's office. READ MORE: Texas police officer arrested and charged with misdemeanor prostitution This year, as part of a nationwide effort around the Super Bowl, the sheriff's office made 103 arrests between Jan. 7 and Feb. 4 the most of any of the 30 law enforcement agencies participating across 16 states. Harris County edged out the Houston Police Department, which reported 64 johns arrested this year; the New York Police Department, with 62; the Los Angeles Sheriff's Department, with 66; and the Boston Police Department, with six. "Our jobs are to build the case, make the arrest, and turn them over to the court system. We didn't track it down heavily, the disposition of the cases in the past years," said Timothy Navarre, a 29-year veteran of the sheriff's office who oversees the criminal investigations bureau. "It's now a more promising future when it comes to prosecuting prostitution." Out of options The impact on those arrested, however, has drawn sharp criticism. Bunch was particularly angry that his photo and identity were released by law enforcement before his case was adjudicated, allowing widespread distribution in the media. In Texas and across the nation, identities of people arrested and charged with crimes are public information, available to anyone who seeks the information. Bunch and others, however, believe it is a form of shaming. Navarre, however, thinks that's part of the effort. "I don't have a problem with shaming them," he said. "If we can save one sex-trafficking victim by shaming them, it's worthwhile." Musick disagreed. "It's not something we condone or participate in as a general rule," Musick said. "Any accused is innocent until proven guilty. I think anyone would be ashamed to have their face on TV. It's become part of the times. Everyone shares those photos and the media wants them." With the growing publicity for stings, however, attorney Chernoff said he believes the pretrial diversion program should remain a legal option for defendants. One client, he said, was ordered in the diversion program to tell his wife about his prostitution arrest and to have her write a letter to the court as a way of holding him accountable. Those options are no longer available. "The last time I requested a pretrial diversion I knew I would be denied," he said, "but you have to keep defending your client. I said, 'Your policy doesn't make any sense.'" Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on twitter at @fernalfonso. UPDATE: Houston Police report no threat inside campus. The lockdown has been lifted, but the investigation is still ongoing. Houston's Sunnyside High School has been placed on lockdown Tuesday morning, according to police. A Texas woman was drawn into an intense racial debate on Hobby Lobby's public Facebook page after she took offense to the company selling cotton stems. In what appears to be a now deleted Facebook post, Daniell Rider, of Killeen, claims the store's cotton stalks were "WRONG on SO many levels." "There is nothing decorative about raw cotton... A commodity which was gained at the expense of African-American slaves. A little sensitivity goes a long way," Rider wrote on Facebook, according to CBS 7. "PLEASE REMOVE THIS 'decor.'" A BAD LOOK: Florida 'hot cop' investigated for alleged jokes about Jews, putting people in ovens Rider's comment, and photo of the cotton, inspired thousands of comments on other Hobby Lobby Facebook posts, many of which were from people defending the store. "People are too sensitive," Pam Asbridge Reeder commented Saturday afternoon. "My mother picked cotton in Alabama as a young child. We are white as rice !! Get over yourself Daniell Rider. If it wasn't for that cotton, you might just be stuck in Africa without the opportunities or privileges you have as an American. Did you EVER think about that? Not all slave owners were bad just as not all whites are bad. Some slave owners actually deeded land and homes to slaves and their families." Hobby Lobby is still selling the cotton stems on its website, where they have been marked down from $29.99 to $15. A request for comment has been placed with Rider and Hobby Lobby. Two known MS-13 gang members, who were wanted in Harris County, have been arrested in a suburb of Austin. Bryan Funez, 17, and Jorge Alexander Cortez, 23, were arrested Wednesday in Hutto by the Lone Star Fugitive Task Force in Austin, CBS reported. Several dogs, including two born without front legs, were rescued Friday from filthy living conditions by Atascosa County Animal Control and Brush County Animal Advocates, officials said. An animal advocate called the animal control after she discovered several dogs were living in a filthy small trailer and suffered from skin disease as a result of the conditions, according to a Facebook post. A teenage driver was hospitalized Tuesday morning after crashing into two telephone poles on the North Side. Police said the pickup truck the girl was driving was old and suddenly pulled to the right around 8:10 a.m. as she was headed southbound on San Pedro Avenue on her way to school. President Donald Trump wants to launch Orion, the spacecraft designed to transport humans beyond the moon in 2022, but NASA officials first must make sure astronauts can escape in case of emergency. The space agency will be one step closer to that goal on Friday when the simplified crew module for the vehicle arrives at Johnson Space Center. This module was designed specifically for the test of Orion's launch abort system -- basically, a way for the crew to escape in case of emergency -- scheduled for April 2019. RELATED STORY: Trump's proposed NASA budget focuses on human exploration, eliminates education office. Before its trip to Johnson, the module was at NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., where it was built and subsequently weighed and balanced. The module must have the same shape and approximate mass distribution of the real Orion so that the abort tests are accurate. When completed, Orion will weigh about 22,000 pounds. Johnson will now begin outfitting the module with systems necessary to execute the test, which will last less than three minutes. When it is launched from Cape Canaveral, Fla., next year, the module will reach an average maximum speed of 1,020 mph. RELATED STORY: NASA takes Orion spacecraft out for a test return near Galveston. "This will be the only time we test a fully active Launch Abort System during ascent before we fly crew, so verifying that it works as predicted, in the event of an emergency, is a critical step before we put astronauts onboard," said Don Reed, manager of the Orion Program's Flight Test Management Office. "No matter what approach you take, having to move a 22,000-pound vehicle away quickly from a catastrophic event, like a potential rocket failure, is extremely challenging." Orion plays a large role in Trump's fiscal year 2019 budget proposal for NASA, which focuses on a robust human exploration program. In the $19.9 billion proposal, Trump tasks NASA with launching an unmanned flight of Orion in 2022, following by a launch of Americans around the moon in 2023. The budget still must be approved by Congress. Alex Stuckey covers NASA and the environment for the Houston Chronicle. You can reach her at alex.stuckey@chron.com or Twitter.com/alexdstuckey. WASHINGTON Texas Republican Kevin Brady, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, met with President Donald Trump Monday in advance of his weekend trip to Mexico City for talks on renegotiating the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "Because of tax reform not only can we buy American more, we can sell American more," Brady said after returning to Capitol Hill from the White House. "NAFTA was a good part of our discussion about how we can continue to grow customers for American workers and businesses." Brady, a congressman from The Woodlands, is expected to lead a congressional delegation to the next round of talks with Canada and Mexico in Mexico City. They will be joined by Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and the rest of the administration's trade team. "The president understands the importance of Congress and the White House working collaboratively on NAFTA and other free trade initiatives," Brady said. Brady, a free trade proponent and former Chamber of Commerce executive, had no comment on a recent U.S. trade proposal to tighten labor provisions to help American workers, something Trump has said is a priority for his administration. While Trump ran as a critic of NAFTA, Brady said he is working to improve the trade deal with Mexico and Canada. "I think there's potential for major wins for President Trump on NAFTA," he said. He singled out energy, intellectual property, agriculture and the flow of goods through customs. "Just stay at the table and find that common ground," Brady advised, swearing off any time-table to renegotiate a deal. While Democrats and Republicans have different priorities in the talks, Brady said he was encouraging the president to listen to both sides. "I'm encouraging the White House to listen to Republicans and Democrats to get the very best agreement," he said. Any deal, he noted, will come back to Congress. "Trade votes are historically competitive votes," he said. Ever since President Trump signed tax reform in late December, lowering corporate and personal income-tax rates, attention has centered on the efforts of legislators in high-tax places like New York and California to find a way around the new federal provisions. Facing a cap on the ability of taxpayers to deduct their state and local taxes, New York governor Andrew Cuomo has proposed creating charitable trust funds to which taxpayers could donate for education and health-care services, in exchange for state tax credits. Californias state senate has already passed a law permitting similar contributions, though the savings will depend on whether the Internal Revenue Service allows these payments to qualify as charitable donations. But the real news may turn out to be the way other states are looking to reform their own taxes in order to return to residents any windfalland morethat state governments gain from the impact of federal tax reform. At least 17 states estimate that taxpayers would have to pay more in state levies as their residents federal taxes go down, increasing their taxable income. In Georgia, South Carolina, Iowa, and Maine, officials have already begun revamping their tax codes to ensure that federal tax reform doesnt result in higher state taxes. Thats the right thing to do, Maine governor Paul LePage said in his recent State of the State address. Without changes, many states will see a boost in their own tax revenues because of how local tax codes are pegged to the federal code. Nebraska tax law, for instance, contains a personal exemption tied to the federal income tax. Residents can claim a credit for each household member on their state taxes, for a savings of $536 for a family of four. But federal reform eliminated the personal exemption and instead nearly doubled the standard family deduction to $24,000. While Nebraskans will pay less in federal taxes, their state bill will increase by $220 million. The dynamic is similar in other states. South Carolina officials estimate that residents will see approximately $1.6 billion in federal tax savings, but without changes to the states tax code, theyd also have to pay about $200 million more in local taxes. Iowans will net $1.5 billion from federal tax reform but could pay as much as $138 million in additional state levies. Not everyone wants to give the windfall back to taxpayers. In an opinion piece, Nebraska governor Pete Ricketts observed that some states legislators want to take this money and spend it. Instead, hes proposed legislation that would restore Nebraskas personal exemption even as the tax credit disappears at the federal level, preserving that $536 savings for a family of four. Georgia has gone one step further. The state anticipates one of the biggest bonanzas from federal tax reform: more than $1 billion a year in additional state taxes. But Georgia will give back that money, and an extra $100 million a year over the next five years, by cutting the states top income-tax rate from 6 percent to 5.5 percent and doubling the standard deduction to $6,000. New Iowa governor Kim Reynolds, who succeeded incumbent Terry Branstad when he became ambassador to China, is similarly going big. Iowa is one of three states that allows residents to deduct their federal tax liability from their state taxes; so as federal taxes fall, Iowans will face higher state taxes. Reynolds is proposing to give that money back, and more. Shes promoting a tax cut that would total about $1.7 billion over five years. It would slash personal income-tax rates by as much as 23 percent, eliminate the states alternative-minimum tax, and apply new federal deductions for businesses to the state level. Some states seem inspired by the brashness of the federal reform package. Missouri governor Eric Greitens has proposed a tax overhaul that would lower the individual rate for most state residents to 5.3 percent from 5.9 percent and cut the corporate rate to 4.25 percent. To offset some of the loss of revenues, the plan phases out some individual deductions for federal taxes and eliminates some business-tax credits. Sounding like President Trump, Greitens calls his plans the boldest reform in the nation. Whether he can effectively lobby for it in the wake of the personal scandal plaguing his governorship may determine if Missourians get that big tax overhaul. New York State would likely receive the largest windfall, estimated at $1.5 billion a year. Under current law, New York allows taxpayers to itemize their deductions if they also do so on their federal forms. But far fewer taxpayers are likely to itemize under the new federal law, and those New Yorkers who dont would lose their state deductions. New York officials dont want to see that happen, given how much they have complained about their citizens losing their federal SALT deduction. So Governor Cuomo has proposed adjusting the tax code to allow citizens to retain their state deductions. It hasnt made headlines in New York, though, because the press has been obsessed by Cuomos efforts to find loopholes in the federal law to preserve the SALT deduction. That effort is likely to be far less effective at saving the states taxpayers money than simply adjusting to the new reality in Washington. Whatever the individual circumstances, one thing is clear: radical federal tax reform is helping create the most vigorous state budget season in years. Photo: mediaphotos/iStock Mark Goldring, chief executive of Oxfam GB, has said that his charity has received 26 new reports of sexual assault and harassment in the last ten days He repeatedly apologised for his charities failing, and has set out his plans to "root out" people who exploited their positions in charities to take advantage of vulnerable people. Goldring was speaking alongside Caroline Thomson, the charitys chair, and Winnie Byanyima, executive director of Oxfam International. He revealed that 7,000 individuals had cancelled direct debits to the charity in the last 10 days, and said that of the 26 cases reported, 16 had taken place in Oxfams international programmes. Full inquiry to come Stephen Twigg, chair of the select committee, started the proceedings by announcing that the committee would conduct a full inquiry into safeguarding in aid, not just focusing on Oxfam, with full terms of reference announced soon. The committee has met in private and we have decided that after todays evidence we will be conducting a full inquiry as the International Development Committee into the issues that have arisen regarding sexual exploitation in the aid sector," he said. Goldring apologises He asked Goldring to apologise for comments he made during a Guardian interview over the weekend where he paralleled Oxfams actions with murdering babies in their cots, which he said many people felt was grossly inappropriate. He said: Certainly chairman, I do apologise. I was thinking under stress, I had given many interviews, I had made many decisions in response to this. I was thinking about the amazing work I have seen Oxfam do across the world. I should not have said those things. It is not for Oxfam to judge issues of proportionality or motivation. I repeat Oxfams broader apology and my personal apology. I am sorry, we are sorry, for the damage that Oxfam has done, both to the people of Haiti but also to wider efforts for aid and development by possibly undermining public support. Goldring also apologised over Oxfams initial communication with the Charity Commission, which has been accused by the regulator of not explaining in full the seriousness of the situation in Haiti when Oxfam employees were reported to have been paying for prostitutes. He told the panel that the charity had at the time did not describe what had happened in explicit terms, saying: They didnt describe the sexual misconduct and didnt describe the use of prostitutes. They did talk about bullying and intimidation, and serious breaches of Oxfams code of conduct. At the time people thought that was being transparent. We now know that was not enough. And under Carolines leadership she has now explained how we will handle things in the future. Golding acknowledged that the charity would have to work hard to earn back trust. "Telling half a story is not enough," he said. "We have to go further." Treating women and girls 'as trinkets' Pauline Latham, a member of the panel and Conservative MP for Mid Derbyshire, accused Oxfam of dealing with women and girls as though they are trinkets. She said: You are all supposed to be good people, but it would appear you are not as good as you should be. Thompson told the committee that Oxfam is ashamed of what happened in Haiti, and said that they dont think it was well handled. Goldring said the allegations would spur Oxfam to do better in the future. If any good can come out of horror of both Haiti and the last couple of weeks it is a more intensive commitment across the whole sector that we root this out, both in the practical way be encouraging reporting which Oxfam has tried to do but also in the way that Winnie was describing, which is to get to grips with culture and power relations, responsibility and values. Tracey Crouch, the minister for civil society, has today launched a 12-week consultation with a public call for evidence to inform the new civil society strategy. Crouch announced that there would be a new civil society strategy last year and it aims to improve how government and public bodies interact with the charity sector. She said: The civil society sector is incredible and works hard to deliver so much for people and communities. I want to bring these individuals and organisations together even more to improve communities and help tackle the everyday challenges that people face. The strategy will be important in our mission to build a fairer society and help secure a better future for the next generation. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport is leading the project but is working with the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government, and other government departments. Communities minister Jake Berry said: This strategy reaffirms our commitment to working alongside all sections of society to build a fairer future for all. This piece of work will shape how we work with communities and will encompass their views in order to create a society that works for everyone. Four themes The consultation has been split into four areas: our civil society, people, partnerships and places. Not everyone has to respond to all sections. Our civil society: is about the big questions of what civil society is, how it is working well and what needs to change to strengthen it further People: explores how more people could take action on issues that matter to them Partnership: explores the best ways to work across different sectors to make a better society Places: explores how we empower local people to improve the places they live and work The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said it will also hold events around the country where people will be invited to talk about civil society. Karl Wilding, director of public policy and volunteering at NCVO, said: "Were very pleased to see the launch of this consultation. The new strategy will be a potentially powerful tool, so its important that a large number of people and organisations, from right across the sector, feed into the consultation in order to help get it right. Were looking forward to engaging in the conversation in the coming weeks and beyond." Sir John Low, chief executive of the Charities Aid Foundation, said: We have been advocating for some years that the power of charities can be harnessed to improve the places where people live and involve more people in civil society, particularly in their local area. This call for evidence comes at a crucial time for the sector. It is vital that charities help the government build a strong strategy for civil society that commands support across communities and across political divides. It is also important that this strategy embraces and influences the whole of government from foreign policy to domestic reform, so that charities can play their full part as a vital part of the British society and economy. The consultation closes at 9am on 22 May. Anyone wishing to take part can respond online, email [email protected] or write to the department: Strategy & Partnerships Team, Office for Civil Society Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport 100 Parliament Street London SW1A 2BQ For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here. At Shelter, like many charities, we talk a lot about the people we help. We talk about them in political briefings, in annual reports, in fundraising materials. And each time we do, we adapt our language so that it resonates with our target audience. But, when we tailor our communications are we thinking enough about what this means to the people we are speaking about? Would they recognise themselves? Would they be offended by the way they are described? Are we misreporting their experience? Our new research, published today, shines a light on these challenging questions. We asked Kantar Public to interview almost 50 people who had experienced homelessness or struggled with paying housing costs, to better understand how they themselves would like to be represented. The first thing we looked at was how charities currently describe this group. We found that they describe them in a wide range of ways. For example, they relate the group to other sub-sections of the population e.g. typical families or people in poverty; they describe the day to day experience of having a low income e.g. families struggling to get by; or they describe the negative impacts of being in this situation e.g. vulnerable people or destitute. But when we asked people to define their own situation, two strong themes came through. Firstly, people characterised their situation as being hard work. They focused on the active choices they had made to try and overcome the challenges they faced. Therefore, people strongly preferred descriptions that were specific and active. For example, families that need to top up their income. On the other hand, vague adjectives like poor, destitute or vulnerable felt like passive labels, which contradicted their experiences of working hard to improve their situation. Secondly, the group we spoke to strongly related their situation to their own immediate environment, their own journey and people they know. Rather than seeing themselves as being in a relatively bad situation (compared to the rest of the population), people instead described their good fortune and luck. There was a strong feeling that there was always someone worse off than themselves, particularly within their own social networks. They downplayed difficult housing situations as normal and felt that homelessness could happen to anyone. As a result, terms which group people into sub-sets of the whole British population, such as people in poverty meant very little. Instead, people liked phrases that acknowledged housing struggles could be commonplace, but also acknowledged that peoples experiences are unique to them. Overall, the most popular communication style was one that brought these two together - active phrases that allowed people to project and infer their own personal circumstances. For example, the term hidden homeless not only described a physical action, but allowed people to project different meanings of hidden. This ranged from the idea of sleeping in a back street, to feeling that they were low (or hidden) on the political agenda. No one Kantar Public spoke to recalled feeling patronised or offended by a charity campaign, but all of us could do with the occasional prod to keep the views of the people we are there for at the front of our thinking. Weve made a conscious effort to listen to those we campaign for and reflect their thoughts in the way we communicate with public audiences. We would encourage others to do the same; to ensure our work remains truthful and so we can engage with, and draw on, peoples passion to create change for themselves and others. Jenny Pennington is a senior research officer at Shelter For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here. While the mind of Donald Trump remains opaque to many of usdespite a year in office and a lifetime in the public eyehe conveys a lot through his body language, from how he interacts with others to how he presents himself to the camera. Having looked at thousands of Trump photos, both straight editorial and more suggestive or artistic images, I found one element recurring throughout: fragmentation. An inordinate number of photos show Trump as just a mouth, or with his head cut off, bifurcated, distorted, or absent altogether. If mental health is equated with consistency and wholenesswe say a mentally well person has it togetherTrump is often depicted as anything but. RELATED: Ivanka Trump was interviewed by a magazine in 2016. One line of questioning caused her to lose composure. Some of these photos were taken to document major news events, such as the inauguration, a summit, or a holiday celebration. Still more, however, are more abstract or interpretive, published by the DC photo press on their Instagram feeds or used as illustrative leads for more general opinion articles. Some are more editorialized than others. Note: Many of the examples were analyzed on the Twitter account for Reading the Pictures, a non-profit media and visual literacy site I publish. The shape-shifter Sign up for CJR 's daily email A number of photos represent Trump as a shape-shifter, elusive by design, changeable, or makeshift. Some show him as a trickstertreating the presidency as a shell gameothers show him as transient or vaporous. Before he retired from the Washington beat, the great New York Times photographer Stephen Crowley displayed a special eye for this quality in Trump. This shadow photo from Poland in July 2017 shows Trump as a series of multiples: A post shared by Stephen Crowley (@crowleygraph) on Jul 6, 2017 at 2:11am PDT Another from Crowley shows Trump disappearing behind or melding into one of the columns in the West Wing colonnade: A post shared by Reading The Pictures (@readingthepictures) on Feb 4, 2017 at 2:01pm PST ICYMI: Headlines editors probably wish they could take back The two-faced In a recent New Yorker piece, Senator Lindsey Graham was quoted as saying there are two Trumps, one, the self-described dealmaker and the other recalcitrant and contemptuous. Using light, shadow, and other effects, a great number of photos capture Trump as conflicted, inconsistent, contradictory, vacillating, or duplicitous. In this photo, AP photographer Evan Vucci, with an assist from his photo management program, renders Trump as perpetually split: A post shared by Evan Vucci (@evanvucci) on Oct 13, 2017 at 10:45am PDT This photo by the Timess Tom Brenner was taken in January 2018 after Trump led lawmakers to falsely believe he would back a bipartisan proposal on immigration reform. The image draws an visual allusion to the classical Janus head. Only the latest news pic casting Trump as two-faced. After yesterdays startling Dreamer flip-flop, on the heels of the shut down about-face, a classic fit. #JanusHead @TomBrenner_PJ @nytimesphoto pic.twitter.com/G2l7rllUns Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) January 25, 2018 This photo by Leigh Vogel captures Trump aligned with a POW/MIA flag. The shadow, as it complements Trumps downcast expression, speaks to Trumps depressive side. It can also be seen as commentary, projecting disappointment over Trumps well-known avoidance of military service during the Vietnam war. A post shared by Leigh Vogel (@leighvogel) on Jan 18, 2018 at 6:41am PST RELATED: Donald and Melania Trumps relationship through a lens The demon There are so many photos of Trump in darkness, or split in half shadow. This one by Evan Vucci, of Trumps face half-shaded prior to the presidents first government shutdown, reflects Trump as torn or vacillating. This one, by Saul Loeb, leading a New Yorker piece, is more ominous, producing a zombie effect. Tom Brenners photo suggests a ghost, or something supernatural, a freak of nature: Photographer Tom Brenner caught another photographers flash at the same moment he made this photo, overexposing President Trump's face, creating this "ghostly silhouette." See other memorable images taken by photographers who routinely cover him. https://t.co/mbNH1eAVO0 pic.twitter.com/zS2x1JiQZ9 Bernadette Tuazon (@BPTuazon) January 20, 2018 Taken during the Republican convention by Daniel Acker for Getty Images, this image suggests an army of phantom followers. It incorporates Trumps fomenting of fear and prejudice: Embed from Getty Images The Confidence Man There are various photos that capture Trump, either covertly, or proudly and openly, in the role of the manipulator or deceiver. Hes the flim-flam man, the grifter, the con artist, the snake oil salesman. This multiple exposure created by freelance photographer Nate Gowdy during the campaign seems to amplify Trumps huckster status: A post shared by nategowdy (@nategowdy) on Mar 2, 2016 at 4:40pm PST The Narcissist This is a striking rendering of Trumps narcissism by photographer Gabriella Demczuk, a case where the movement and the peculiar timing of the image has everything to say. A post shared by Gabriella Demczuk (@gdemczuk) on Apr 22, 2017 at 11:12am PDT Last April, Donald Trumps first visit to Walter Reed generated a storm of criticism after he gleefully realized one of his duties as president was to convey the Purple Heart. Trump turned his first opportunity into a photo op. When I heard about thisI wanted to do it myself, Trump related during the ceremony. Demczuk, the pool photographer for the New York Times that day, elaborates on the experience in a CNN photo feature on Trumps first 100 days: The press was taken into the lobby of the hospital to wait for his entrance. Sgt. 1st Class Alvaro Barrientos came in with his wife, Tammy, followed by President Trump and the first lady a couple minutes later. The ceremony lasted only a couple minutes, with very brief remarks by the President. When it ended, Trump and Barrientos went their separate ways and we were ushered back into the motorcade while Trump toured the rest of the facility. That was the first time I had witnessed a president give a Purple Heart, as President Obama would always do so in private. To me, this photograph represents the disconnect between the administration and its citizens, as well as the disconnect between America and its service members, particularly the community of veterans. Far from giving Trump his moment, while the soldier serves little more than a prop, Demczuk renders the event literally pedestrian. RELATED: Tensions at The New York Times boil over The Volcano By now, people understand how thin-skinned and volatile Trump is. Although he hides it pretty well when hes in front of the cameras, there are many instances in which his temper comes through. In the photo below, taken by Kevin Lamarque for Reuters, Trump appears even more unhinged for being out of focus: The Simpleton Over course, plenty of images represent Trump as a know-nothing, non-reader. The visual press has not only not looked away, but has focused intently. Gettys Mark Wilson took the shot below: A post shared by Mark Wilson (@markphoto__) on Aug 21, 2017 at 12:55pm PDT The Outcast Perhaps Trumps most damaging quality is his capacity to alienate, to push staff and friends away from himself. Photographers continually communicate that estrangement, eager to capture him as hostile, aggressive, or chilly, even with his family. A great deal of photos show him exaggeratedly offset, barely there, just plain absent, or out-of-sync, separated from others by some kind of divider. The photo below involved a clever repurposing of a White House moment: To message that the Democratic leadership was being uncooperative, the White House left two chairs opposite Trump empty in front of name tags for Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. Their GOP counterparts, McConnell and Ryan, are sitting in the two chairs we cannot see below. The way AFPs Jim Watson framed the photo, however, it left the two Republican leaders out of it, implying that Trump alienates all who get close. The Unstable There are certain photographs captured by photographers, however, that seem more diagnostic. Reuterss Joshua Roberts shot this photo in the White House Diplomatic Room last October. It looks like Trump, his eyes closed, his hands rigidly stretched, is having a nervous system reaction: He is brilliant at shifting the focus, especially when the subject is his basic competency. Trump is Disturbed, But We Always Look Past It: https://t.co/HI5lZfp6fh pic.twitter.com/dqaEunZ0Q8 Reading The Pictures (@ReadingThePix) December 3, 2017 At the UN Its interesting to look at how much unsettling imagery one high visibility event can produce, especially when the performance of the president is at a premium. Take Trumps appearance at the UN in New York last September. That was the occasion of his bombastic speech rolling out the Rocket Man nickname for Kim Jong Un and his threat to completely destroy North Korea. In this shot, New York Times photographer Chang W. Lee makes an issue out of Trumps ability to see: In this shot by Gettys Spencer Platt, the photo functions like a gag over Trumps mouth (in both senses of the word). Finally, this shot by Roman Vondrous is the total brew, combining the shape shifter, the demon, the volcano, the confidence man, and the narcissist into something many fear with Trump in charge: the shattering. RELATED: Six images that capture Trumps TV addiction Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Michael Shaw is publisher of the nonprofit visual-literacy and media-literacy site ReadingThePictures, an analyst of news photos and visual journalism, and a frequent lecturer and writer on news imagery, photojournalism, and documentary photography. Follow ReadingThePictures via Twitter and Instagram. Tensions within The New York Times have been simmering for some time. The direction of the papers op-ed pages under Opinion Editor James Bennet is a favorite topic of complaint among many of the Timess critics, and Vanity Fairs Joe Pompeo has a new piece that captures a crisis in confidence within the newsroom. Conflict between the opinion section and hard news divisions at a newspaper isnt unusual, but the open sniping currently going on at the Times is notable in its intensity. People are worried. The newsroom feels embarrassed, one senior newsroom figure told Pompeo. The litany of controversies surrounding Bennets time as Opinion editor includes the hiring of columnists like Bret Stephens and Bari Weiss, as well as decisions to run editorials by conspiracy theorist Louise Mensch and Blackwater founder Erik Prince. But the current contention was catalyzed by the hours-long tenure of Quinn Norton, a tech journalist whose online past included friendship with neo-Nazis and use of derogatory slurs. Shortly after the Norton incident, HuffPost published leaked transcripts of internal conversations in which Times staffers criticized one of Weisss tweets about Olympian Mirai Nagasu. Bennet responded with 1500-word missive defending the role of the op-ed pages and requesting that Times employees keep any complaints about their colleagues in house. TRENDING: RIP Facebook Live Bennets return to the Times in 2016he had been Jerusalem bureau chief and a White House correspondent before leaving to lead The Atlanticfueled speculation that he could be in line to succeed Executive Editor Dean Baquet. Those predictions have cooled somewhat, Pompeo reports, though he notes that its too early to place bets. (Bennet is also a CJR board member.) Sign up for CJR 's daily email Newly installed Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger offered a vote of confidence for Bennets work, telling Pompeo, I hear the criticism, and we take this stuff seriously, but I do believe that when you look at everything as a whole, you see a section thats genuinely trying to wrestle with the ideas that are shaping America right now. Even though almost every news outlet now offers commentary on the biggest issues of the day alongside coverage, the opinion pages of the Times remain perhaps the most valuable piece of real estate in print media. Criticism of the voices published there is to be expected, but the escalated frustrations, both from within the newsroom and withoutare genuine. Sure would be a nice topic for someone like a public editor to weigh in on, but alas. Below, more on the opinions of the Timess opinion section. Judgment in the digital age: Splinters Alex Pareene focuses on a line in Pompeos story in which Bennet says he finds it difficult to determine which criticisms of the section are legitimate. If you dont know how to judge the legitimacy or seriousness of the internets response to your workthat is, the response of people, formerly known as readersyoure not qualified to be a top editor at a mass audience publication in 2018, Pareene writes. Splinters Alex Pareene focuses on a line in Pompeos story in which Bennet says he finds it difficult to determine which criticisms of the section are legitimate. If you dont know how to judge the legitimacy or seriousness of the internets response to your workthat is, the response of people, formerly known as readersyoure not qualified to be a top editor at a mass audience publication in 2018, Pareene writes. Nuance needed: New Yorks Jonathan Chait tweets, There needs to be more distinction between people critical of specific missteps by James Bennet and people who dont want any conservative opinions on the New York Times op-ed page. Both are sort of lumped together. New Yorks Jonathan Chait tweets, There needs to be more distinction between people critical of specific missteps by James Bennet and people who dont want any conservative opinions on the New York Times op-ed page. Both are sort of lumped together. Trump problems: Last month, CJRs Jon Allsop criticized Bennets decision to turn over the editorial page of the Times to letters from Trump supporters, calling it patronizing and circular. Last month, CJRs Jon Allsop criticized Bennets decision to turn over the editorial page of the Times to letters from Trump supporters, calling it patronizing and circular. Par for the course?: Last fall, Pompeo wrote about the civil war between news and editorial at The Wall Street Journal. At the time, one former editor described the Journals editorial stance opposing Robert Mueller as a different level of crazy. Other notable stories Varietys Gene Maddaus reports that The Weinstein Company will declare bankruptcy after a deal to sell the company collapsed. The bidding group was apparently unwilling to provide immediate financing to keep the company afloat. The Washington Posts Erik Wemple recaps an interview Fire and Fury author Michael Wolff did with an Australian broadcaster in which Wolff apparently pretended he couldnt hear a difficult question about his suggestion that Trump was having an affair. Accountability is descending on Wolff himself, and he is crumbling in theatrical fashion, Wemple writes. White House Senior Advisor Ivanka Trump faced criticism after she told NBCs Peter Alexander it was inappropriate to ask her about allegations of sexual harassment and abuse against her father. CJRs Mathew Ingram reports on The Disconnect, a new digital magazine that forces you to turn of your internet in order to read it. Ingram calls it the ultimate paradox. Gimmick or good idea? For Pacific Standard, Lucia Graves looks at how President Trump has weaponized the term fake news. Trumps campaign to transform fake news into an all-occasion put-down has worked, at least by some measures, Graves writes. ICYMI: Facing a sea of crises, Trump sticks to TV safe spaces Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Pete Vernon is a former CJR staff writer. Follow him on Twitter @ByPeteVernon. Idaho Man Sentenced for Insurance Fraud Attorney General Lawrence Wasden has announced an Ada County man was sentenced Friday, February 16, for one count of Insurance Fraud. Fourth District Judge Peter Barton sentenced 33-year-old Edward J. Castagno, of Boise, after he pleaded guilty in December. Judge Barton imposed a four-year prison sentence. He then suspended the sentence and placed Castagno on four years probation. Judge Barton also sentenced Castagno to a jail term of 180 days to run concurrently with his current prison term in an unrelated matter, and gave Castagno credit for 128 days served. The judge also ordered 60 days of discretionary jail time to be administered by a probation officer. Investigators determined that Castagnos vehicle was involved in an accident in Boise on February 3, 2015. At the time of the crash, Castagnos coverage through GEICO had lapsed. A short time later, he called GEICO to reinstate the policy. Later that same day, Castagno filed a claim with the company and falsely said the wreck had occurred after the policy was reinstated. The case was investigated by the Idaho Department of Insurance and prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Nicole Schafer in the Attorney Generals Special Prosecutions Unit. Massachusetts Trolley driver paid man $2K to attack him on job Authorities say a Massachusetts trolley driver paid a man $2,000 to attack him while wearing a Halloween mask so the driver could fraudulently collect workers compensation and disability insurance. A Suffolk County grand jury on Wednesday indicted Thomas Lucey on charges of insurance fraud, workers compensation fraud, misleading a police investigation and perjury. Prosecutors say the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority driver reported the man pulled him out of a trolley shortly after midnight on Oct. 30, 2016, and punched him repeatedly. The attacker wore a mask and carried a plastic pumpkin. Authorities say they lifted fingerprints from the pumpkin left behind at the scene to find the man and that he said Lucey paid him for the phony attack. An attorney for Lucey couldnt immediately be reached Thursday. Louisiana Restaurant Owner Accused of Arson After his Business Burns A Baton Rouge, La., man is accused of torching his new restaurant in a blaze that injured a firefighter and damaged nearby businesses. The Louisiana State Fire Marshals Office said 36-year-old Jonathan Paul Marino was arrested Wednesday after a months-long investigation. Authorities say Marino purposely set fire to his new restaurant, The Cast Iron Kitchen, in March and then fraudulently collected insurance money on the destroyed building. State Fire Marshal Chief Deputy Brant Thompson said Marino had been dealing with financial problems, and that authorities believe that motivated him to set the fire. East Baton Rouge Parish Jail records do not list an attorney who could be reached for comment. The jail records list Marinos first name as Johnathan. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Lying about your weight on an online dating site? Checking out who won the Falcons game from your work computer? Using your computer hacking knowledge as an ethical hacker? Those actions may become illegal if a Georgia bill gets voted into law, civil liberty advocates say. Supporters of a bill making its way through the state legislature say its designed to give law enforcement the ability to prosecute online snoopers hackers who break into a computer system but dont disrupt or steal data. The legislation came in response to a recent data breach at a Georgia university in which unauthorized cybersecurity experts noticed the vulnerability of Georgias voting records. But opponents say the legislation is so sweeping it could allow prosecutors to go after people who violate their user agreements or use a work computer for personal reasons. They also argue the bill will criminalize the gray hats of the cybersecurity world who use their hacking talents to find network weaknesses so they can be fixed, even if they never received permission to probe. This bill is not intended in any way, shape or form to criminalize legitimate behavior, said Republican Attorney General Chris Carr, whose office helped craft the measure. Carr said only three states Georgia, Virginia and Alaska have no law against online snooping, in which a hacker neither disrupts nor steals data. To remedy this, the measure criminalizes any person who accesses a computer or computer network with knowledge that such access is without authority. The bill is specifically meant to stop criminal hacking, Carr said. Lawmakers backing the bill, which passed the Senate on Feb. 12, point to the acts of two unauthorized cybersecurity experts who in 2016 and 2017 discovered that a server at Kennesaw State University had left Georgias 6.7 million voter records dangerously exposed. The men reported the vulnerabilities, but Carr said they should never have been snooping in the first place. If the research is legitimate, why should you not require someone to get permission on the front-end? Carr said, arguing that its hard to know what a snoopers intentions are. Carr said the bill was drafted with the help of business groups and after conversations with the University System of Georgia, which has not taken a position on it. Carr said he is open for more input, especially from academics concerned it could hurt their ability to conduct research. Andy Green is an information security lecturer at KSU. Green said that by alerting people at KSUs Center for Election Systems, the men prevented the data from falling into the wrong hands. Criminalizing such acts will only deter ethical hackers and not stop malicious ones, Green argued. Independent security research is the backbone of efforts to protect consumers data, said Camille Fischer, a fellow at Electronic Frontier Foundation, an international digital rights nonprofit advocacy group opposing the measure. Software vulnerability experts can be too expensive for some businesses, so the work of unauthorized researchers who may be trying to raise their professional profile is vital for the ecosystem to survive, she said. But the measures lead sponsor, Sen. Bruce Thompson, R-White, said some hackers have unethical or illegal intentions. When you go out and discover that theres a problem, but you arent going to freely give it youre going to make a business of it thats extortion, Thompson said. Fischer said many other states have anti-snooping laws that are modeled after the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act, which can be more narrowly worded by focusing on what cybersecurity experts do with the unauthorized access or what their intent was. Other opponents said the bill is worded in such a way that any time a user violates a websites terms-of-service agreement or an employers web-use guidelines, the user could be prosecuted. We should not be giving businesses the authority to determine what is criminal and what is not, Sen. Jen Jordan, D-Atlanta, told The Associated Press in an interview. She says the bill should only apply to those who act maliciously. The American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia has called the proposal draconian and unnecessary. Something as simple as fudging your age on social media could land you in jail, said Sean J. Young, Legal Director for the ACLU of Georgia. Jessica Gabel Cino, a professor at the Georgia State University College of Law, said user-agreement violations, technically speaking, would go against the letter of the law. But she doubted anyone would ever actually be charged for such innocuous acts, something Carr also called absurd. Our district attorneys with their limited time and resources are not going to spend any time trying to prosecute a roommate using the Netflix password, Carr said. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. A worker at an Amazon shipping center in Schertz, Texas. Amazon began selling its in-house delivery service to third-party vendors in Australia on Tuesday, taking on a major logistical challenge in the continent that invented the expression "tyranny of distance". Three months after opening in Australia, the world's number 1 online retailer said merchants could pay it to pack and ship their products through its new Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) program. Its fast-shipping paid subscription club for shoppers, Prime, would follow by the middle of the year. That means Amazon, not its thousands of Australian vendors, takes responsibility for meeting delivery estimates in a country of 24 million people spread over an island the size of the mainland United States, with little inland transport infrastructure. Some Amazon shoppers in remote Outback settlements places where doctors make house calls by airplane have already complained about slower delivery times than that suggested by the company's website. Though Amazon takes responsibility for FBA shipping, its main delivery partner is government-run Australia Post. Australia Post declined to comment. The service has said it had its busiest month in December, when Amazon started in the world's twelfth-largest economy. Amazon said its FBA service saved businesses time "as they will no longer need to individually purchase shipping materials, individually pack orders, and make multiple trips to the post office." So far, Amazon has run its Australian business from a single warehouse outside Melbourne city, on the country's east coast where most of the population lives. As with Canada, where it also launched its fulfillment service with only one warehouse, analysts now expect Amazon to open more warehouses to service far-flung Australian communities. "Australia is big. It's a signal that they're going to build more," Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter said. Marc Wulfraat, president of Montreal-based logistics consultancy MWPVL International, said it made sense for Amazon to open depots in Sydney, the country's most populous city, and Perth on the west coast. "The logic is that Sydney and Perth will follow," he said. Subscription fees from Prime would help offset any shipping losses that Amazon incurred, he added. Shares of Australian brick-and-mortar non-food retailers were higher in mid-session trading, in line with the broader market. Shares of the country's biggest stand-alone online retailer, Kogan.com, were down 4 percent. Every now and then, CNBC's Jim Cramer spots a stock market story that's being held back from glory for all the wrong reasons. One such story the "Mad Money" host noticed on Monday was General Mills' $8 billion acquisition of Blue Buffalo Pet Products, a high-end pet food brand. Shares of General Mills, the consumer packaged goods giant behind such storied brands as Cheerios and Betty Crocker, fell on news of the deal, sliding down to $51 and change from $55 on Thursday. The move itself didn't surprise Cramer. It's not uncommon for an acquirer's stock to decline on news of an acquisition, especially in the troubled food space. "But, and this is the mother of all buts, I think the Blue Buffalo deal is a brilliant move," Cramer argued. "This makes this pullback in General Mills a genuine buying opportunity. GIS already tumbled from $60 down to $55 during the big vortex of selling of these kinds of names. Now it's come down to $51 because of what I consider something that's smart. Call me a buyer at these levels." Besides the fact that Cramer's own dogs love Blue Buffalo's kibbles, the "Mad Money" host pointed to another Cramer-fave trend that would make the deal a win for General Mills. "General Mills is buying into a thesis that I've been pushing for years, and that's the humanization of pets," he said. With more and more people in the United States paying up for pet care, revenues for the industry have exploded in recent years. In 2001, the American Pet Products Association recorded that U.S. pet owners spent $28.5 billion on their pets. In 2016, their spending grew to $66 billion. "With the Blue Buffalo deal, General Mills will become the No. 1 player in the wholesome natural pet food category overnight," Cramer said. Better yet, Blue Buffalo adds another layer to General Mills' growing portfolio of natural and organic foods after the company's 2014 acquisition of Annie's Homegrown. Bearish analysts are concerned about General Mills' ability to execute on what many consider to be an expensive deal. But General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening has assured investors that the company will use its powerful supply chain, marketing chops and research segment to make the deal earnings-additive by fiscal year 2020. And after a number of weak quarters for General Mills, Cramer said this deal might be just what the pantry play needs to recover. "I like General Mills because it's a turnaround story," Cramer said. "Here's the bottom line: General Mills has been unjustly punished at this point for its delicious Blue Buffalo acquisition, and with shares at $51 sporting a 3.8 percent yield, you know what? Go 'hold' to 'buy' here. The stock's become simply too cheap to ignore." The stock market's multi-day sell-off two weeks ago reignited Jim Cramer's battle against the risky, volatility-related exchange-traded products that were responsible for the brutal decline. "I'm calling on Congress to investigate these instruments," the host of CNBC's "Mad Money" said on Monday. "I'm calling for the SEC's enforcement arm to look into whether there's culpability and manipulation, while the corporate finance department of the SEC should re-examine the reasoning behind allowing exactly these kinds of products ... to be in the first place." These products allow investors to effectively bet on the CBOE Volatility Index, often referred to as the VIX or the market's "fear gauge," which measures expectations of near-term volatility as conveyed by the S&P 500's option prices. When volatility is low, the returns on these products often exchange-traded funds (ETFs) or exchange-traded notes (ETNs) are bountiful. But when the VIX spikes, owners of these products become forced to shed other positions to compensate, sending stocks reeling. Cramer has railed against these products for years. On Monday, he weighed the consequences of getting rid of them for good. "What would really be lost? OK, some fees. Maybe a few strategies that failed," he said. "What will be gained? How about this. How about a restoration of the integrity of the system, a system that's been challenged, yet again, by instruments that should never have been created." Cramer's game plan: A retail earnings bonanza A customer looks at boots at a Macy's store in New York. Peter Foley | Bloomberg | Getty Images We can't keep it from you any longer, Cramerica. After two weeks of Olympic festivities, Cramer is back and ready to help you navigate the surging stock market. "Things have gotten a little crazy around here," the "Mad Money" host said. "That's why I think what we need, more than anything else at the moment, is to get right back in sync immediately." Without further ado, Cramer presented his game plan for a busy week of earnings, including reports from Macy's, Lowe's, Foot Locker and a special hearing with the new head of the Federal Reserve. One indicator to rule them all A van is seen in a sinkhole from Hurricane Irma on Monday, Sept. 11, 2017 in Winter Springs, Fla. Joe Burbank | Orlando Sentinel | TNS | Getty Images After an extended Olympics-induced break, Cramer wanted to get back to the market basics he has put forth for investors over the years. "We know that earnings can be ephemeral, bonds can be fickle and the Fed can be downright enigmatic, while currencies and commodities spook easily," the "Mad Money" host said. "We need something that's solid as bedrock, which is why I subscribe to a product called the S&P Short Range Oscillator I've been following it closely every single day of my life since back in 1987. It's the single best indicator of whether the market's overbought or oversold, meaning it tells you when we've gone too far too fast in one direction." Right now, the oscillator is signaling a potential buying opportunity, so Cramer advised investors on how to play any potential weakness. To pounce or not to pounce: General Mills and Blue Buffalo A woman shops for Cheerios cereal at a Price Chopper supermarket in South Burlington, Vermont. Robert Nickelsberg | Getty Images Every now and then, Cramer spots a stock market story that's being held back from glory for all the wrong reasons. One such story Cramer noticed on Monday was General Mills' $8 billion acquisition of Blue Buffalo Pet Products, a high-end pet food brand. Shares of General Mills, the consumer packaged goods giant behind such storied brands as Cheerios and Betty Crocker, fell on news of the deal, sliding down to $51 and change from $55 on Thursday. The move itself didn't surprise Cramer. It's not uncommon for an acquirer's stock to decline on news of an acquisition, especially in the troubled food space. "But, and this is the mother of all buts, I think the Blue Buffalo deal is a brilliant move," Cramer argued. "This makes this pullback in General Mills a genuine buying opportunity. GIS already tumbled from $60 down to $55 during the big vortex of selling of these kinds of names. Now it's come down to $51 because of what I consider something that's smart. Call me a buyer at these levels." Novocure executive discusses two-pronged strategy William Doyle, Executive Chairman, Novocure Scott Mlyn | CNBC If you ask Bill Doyle, the executive chairman of the board of Novocure, the two-pronged strategy for expanding his tumor-tackling biotechnology company is "relatively simple." In an interview with Cramer, Doyle told CNBC that the first part of the company's growth plan will stem from three sources: international expansion, domestic expansion and its patients, as more and more shift to using Novocure's therapy as their primary treatment. "The second part of the strategy, of course, is to use it in other tumors," Doyle told Cramer on Monday. Novocure's main focus to date has been treating glioblastoma, or GBM, a type of tumor that affects the brain. "The next one in the pipeline is mesothelioma," Doyle said. "This is the lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure, another terrible prognosis." And with three additional Phase 3 trials underway in Novocure's pipeline, including for pancreatic and ovarian cancers, one thing was clear to Doyle: "With the existing business, there's multiple avenues for continued growth," the executive said. Lightning round: Toying with the optics Ruth Porat, CFO of Alphabet, at the New York Economic Club on May 22, 2017. Don't expect Google Fiber to start announcing new target cities any time soon. Alphabet's once-ambitious plan to blanket the country with superfast internet service has been on hold of late, and it was up to Chief Financial Officer Ruth Porat on Monday to field questions about the unit's future. At the Morgan Stanley Technology Conference, where Porat was speaking, an analyst asked about Fiber's change in strategy and the company's new milestones. Porat said that Fiber's rollout has been paused until the company finds a way to make the service 10 times better. "As we were looking at our rollouts going back to 2015, 2016, our view was that we had not done enough," Porat said. She said that Fiber hadn't achieved its "10x moment," which is Google-speak for getting a 10-fold improvement over existing technology. It's been a tough couple of years for Fiber. Launched in 2010 with the promise of bringing fast and affordable internet service to municipalities across the country, the initiative has endured cost-cutting measures, layoffs and two CEO resignations since becoming part of the Alphabet unit Access. Porat said that Alphabet was holding off on pushing Fiber into new markets until it could find a better way to "bring technology to bear in a meaningful way." She said that the company won't start "accelerating the rollout" again until it can prove that it has a valuable new deployment and delivery method. Access acquired the home broadband company Webpass in 2016 to help it work on new delivery methods, but Webpass recently stopped accepting new customers in Boston. A national security panel that can stop mergers that could harm U.S. security has begun looking at Singapore-based chipmaker Broadcom's plan to take over rival Qualcomm, according to three sources familiar with the matter. CFIUS, an opaque inter-agency panel, has been in touch with at least one of the companies in the proposed merger, one source said, and met last month to discuss the potential merger of the two big semiconductor companies, according to two sources familiar with the matter. Senator John Cornyn, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, urged Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday to have the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, or CFIUS, officially review the proposed transaction before a key shareholder vote expected on March 6, according to a letter seen by Reuters. The pre-deal discussions by CFIUS which are extremely rare suggest Broadcom's plans to move its headquarters to the United States before it completes its proposed purchase of Qualcomm may not be enough to sidestep a national security review that could threaten the deal. Part of the CFIUS' current concern, which is echoed in Cornyn's letter, could lie in the fact that Broadcom has failed to strike a deal with Qualcomm and has resorted to what is essentially a hostile takeover by putting forward a slate of six Broadcom nominees for Qualcomm's 11-member board. If the six are elected on March 6, the vote would give control of Qualcomm to Broadcom's nominees. That would happen before a CFIUS review or antitrust review is complete. "I urge CFIUS to promptly review Broadcom's proposed acquisition of control of Qualcomm's board, and to act prior to the March 6 Qualcomm meeting to address any national security concerns that may be identified," Cornyn wrote to Secretary Mnuchin, according to the letter, a copy of which was seen by Reuters. A spokesman for CFIUS declined to comment. Representatives for Cornyn were not immediately available for comment. A CFIUS review in itself does not mean a deal will be halted. CFIUS, under former President Barack Obama and current President Donald Trump, has soured on high tech deals, particularly involving semiconductors, or involving sensitive information about American citizens. Microprocessor expert Linley Gwennap, of the Linley Group, noted that Qualcomm had world-leading chips in several areas. "Qualcomm is a crown jewel of the American semiconductor industry," he said. "I would think that CFIUS would be very protective of that. ... Singapore is nominally a friendly country but it still seems dangerous for that level of technology to go overseas." Broadcom, which is based in Singapore, struggled to win CFIUS approval to buy Brocade Communications Systems late last year. In the end, that approval came just weeks after Broadcom CEO Hock Tan announced in an Oval Office ceremony with Trump that Broadcom would return its headquarters to the United States. Broadcom declined to comment on the CFIUS process for this deal but reiterated that it intends to move forward with its move to the United States after receiving approval to do so, which is expected on May 6. Lawyers who take deals to CFIUS and know how the panel thinks said that it was unusual, if not unprecedented, for a company to move to the United States to avoid CFIUS scrutiny. But they also said that the strategy could work. "Broadcom could very well establish its position as a U.S. person," one expert said privately to protect business relationships. "Would CFIUS want to look at it? They would want to be comfortable that Broadcom is actually a U.S. person within the meaning of the statute." Others cautioned that CFIUS could also look at the make-up of Broadcom's board and who the major shareholders are as a way to determine if control of the company resides outside the United States. Disney will donate $1 million to help develop STEM programs in the U.S., following the runaway box-office success of "Black Panther," it was announced Monday. The company will give the grant to Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), a nonprofit organization that offers young people support and essential skills to help them reach their full potential. The donation is expected to help grow the group's national STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) curriculum, and establish new STEM centers of innovation in a dozen communities, including Atlanta, New Orleans and Washington, DC. BGCA's centers of innovation offer hands-on experiences with advanced technologies such as 3D printers and robotics. Air Force general officers salute the President of the U.S. as he departs April 20, 2016, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. The world's most famous aircraft, an 800,000-pound flying fortress that extends the power of the White House into the skies, just got a step closer to the assembly line. On Tuesday, the Trump administration confirmed a handshake deal with Boeing for the next Air Force One and its twin decoy for $3.9 billion. The current U.S. Air Force planes (VC-25A), which are highly modified Boeing 747-200 series aircraft, have served the presidency since 1990 as "airborne Oval Offices" and are quickly reaching the end of their lifespan. "The Boeing 747-200 ceased production in 1987 and is no longer operated in the U.S. commercial passenger-carrying industry. The Air Force is the only remaining domestic operator," according to a U.S. Air Force statement. What's more, the replacement parts for the current Air Force One jets are diminishing and therefore becoming an "ever-increasing problem that will continue to worsen." Alphabet's health-care unit Verily is moving ahead with plans in the insurance sector with new hires and partnerships. Three people familiar with the company's plans say Verily, the group formerly known as Google Life Sciences, has been in talks with insurers about jointly bidding for contracts that would involve taking on risk for hundreds of thousands of patients. In 2016, it mulled jointly putting in a proposal with Alphabet-backed insurer Oscar Health to manage care for thousands of low-income Rhode Island residents on Medicaid, one of the sources said, but ultimately decided against it. Now, it is moving ahead with plans to enter into this market, which health insiders often refer to as "population health" or "care management." The population health market is large and growing, but crowded. To enter this space, a vendor like Verily would put forward a proposal to a payor like the government, an employer or a private insurance company detailing how it can bring down costs. If a company like Verily can deliver on that, the payor would share some portion of the amount saved. If costs don't come down, it might make no money from that contract. (This is a simplification, and the details vary by contract.) A classic intervention might involve analyzing health data to figure out which patients would benefit most from having a nurse visit them at home so they don't end up in the emergency room, or figuring out whether patients are filling their medication scripts after getting discharged from the hospital. This opportunity represents about $20 billion to $25 billion in annual spending today with huge potential upside of up to $1 trillion as more insurers move to these kind of risk-based agreements, said Ari Gottlieb, a director at the research group PwC. A Verily spokesperson declined to comment. It's been nearly a year since Amazon bought smart doorbell company Ring for a whopping $1 billion. Ring which was once on the brink of going broke and got rejected by investors on ABC's "Shark Tank" is the ultimate Cinderella story. Founder Jamie Siminoff landed a coveted spot on "Shark Tank" (yes, the show where he was rejected) as a guest judge for season 10. As for working with Amazon, Siminoff told CNBC Make It in October that the experience has been incredibly positive. "It's a great place for an inventor to go who wants to continue to invent and impact the world," Siminoff said. "That's really all I wanted to do. At the end of the day, I called myself a 'chief inventor' at Ring, I didn't call myself a CEO for a very specific reason, which is that I like inventing and building product much more than building a business. "Now at Amazon, I have the ability to focus on that and not focus as much on the things of the business, like the funding of it." Siminoff has met personally with the world's richest man, Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, and while he admits his interaction with Bezos has been limited, he says he's learned a lot and been impressed by the famous entrepreneur. "I think the most impressive thing...[is that he's] a very real person who also you can tell has this like insatiable appetite for invention and learning and seeing what's out there and doing that, and like very curious," Siminoff told CNBC Make It. "So all of my interactions with him so far have been very fun...we've been sort of talking about these things that we can do...brainstorming with him on it, and he's been very valuable at that. So it's been really kind of cool." Amazon did not respond to CNBC Make It's request for comment. But before he was rubbing elbows with Bezos, Siminoff struggled. In fact, there was a time when he thought his company might go broke. Siminoff went on "Shark Tank" in 2013, pitching a business that was then called Doorbot. It sold a WiFi-enabled doorbell that allowed users to see video of and talk to people as they arrived at the front door. All of the investors but Kevin O'Leary passed, and he made what Siminoff considered an unacceptable offer. Doorbot didn't make a deal. "I remember after that 'Shark Tank' episode literally being in tears," Siminoff told CNBC Make It in a previous interview. "I needed the money, we were out of money at the time." He'd sunk $10,000 into building props for the pitch, and the company's staff of eight had spent a month preparing for the show, according to his blog. After leaving without an investor, it seemed the effort may have been a waste they couldn't afford. But Siminoff wasn't just upset about the money. The critiques from investors like Mark Cuban and Lori Greiner about the product's ability to sell were fresh objections mirroring others' doubts about his idea. "I can't count the number of people who didn't invest in this, who said 'no,' the number of people who said it was going to fail," Siminoff said. "I don't think [Microsoft] Excel could hold the number of records for it." Grocery store openings declined 29 percent last year as expansion plans cooled and some supermarkets prepared to file for bankruptcy in the year Amazon acquired Whole Foods, according to a new report from Jones Lang LaSalle. But investments in grocery-anchored shopping centers in 2017 climbed 5.3 percent from 2016, JLL found, making it one of the only retail sectors to see deal growth in a year of low transaction volume. "Traditionally, retail has such a reputation right now of everybody being afraid of disruption by e-commerce," James Cook, JLL's director of retail research in the Americas, told CNBC. "Grocery is considered to have a moat around it to defend against e-commerce, and because of that, these [assets] are seen by retail property investors as a safe investment." To be sure, these investors aren't interested in all grocery-anchored centers, Cook cautioned. Just this month, for example, Williamsville, New York-based Tops Friendly Markets filed for bankruptcy, and reports surfaced that Winn-Dixie owner Bi-Lo was preparing to do so, too. There's a glut of shopping centers built around weak tenants that risk going dark, just like many malls anchored by weak department stores. "In many U.S. markets you might have six or more grocery chains," Cook said. "In most cases, investors are only interested in the top one or two. Those are the most defensible." The short list for those top grocery contenders include Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Florida-based Publix, Wegmans and some of Kroger's brands. And for the most part today, these chains are opening few new stores. Instead, they are investing in their existing locations to fulfill online orders and ease the delivery of groceries to homes. The strongest U.S. markets for grocery stores, where the most businesses continue to expand, include California, Virginia and North Carolina, according to JLL. Texas, although it's still a top market for grocers, added fewer stores in 2017 than in 2016. The growth in that state has stemmed from a spurt of new residential development. Where there are homes, people need more grocery stores. Source: Jones Lang LaSalle "Retailers die but retail does not," Cook said about the ongoing evolution in the grocery space. "There's just churn as retailers are either disrupted by new business models, or they go out of fashion." Germany-based Lidl was one new player in the U.S. grocery market that everyone had their eyes on in 2017, when it began opening stores across the Southeast. Shortly thereafter, Lidl halted several of its construction projects, local news outlets have reported, as the company admitted it might have started expanding too quickly. Lidl opened nearly 50 stores across the U.S. last year. In turn, Lidl offered other supermarket chains a warning sign: Many markets weren't ready for another grocer in town. The German company also had to fix a few snags internally. It's still working out its private-label items, its layout of U.S. stores and its marketing strategy for American consumers. The most successful grocers today have well-known private labels, fresh food at affordable prices and digital platforms that allow for shopping online, Cook said. "We've got two types of classes in grocery right now: One is about offering the best goods at the lowest prices it's a price play that's targeted at the families in America shopping on a budget, so someone like Aldi is a part of that," he said. "Another avenue of success is offering a great shopping experience to shoppers who aren't as price sensitive those leaders are Whole foods and Wegmans." In the past week alone, similar headlines show that the social consequences of investing are only going to increase. In addition to Apple's news, we had major asset managers like BlackRock saying they will begin a dialogue with gunmakers in which they own stock, because of the latest school shooting, and Warren Buffett being asked on CNBC whether he supported the decision by many corporations to discontinue discounts given to members of the National Rifle Association. Buffett does not support "imposing my own views on 370,000 employees and a million shareholders." The Wakandans of Black Panther, as it turned out, discovered conflicts that they didn't even know they had. But they moved to remedy them, which is what superhero movies are all about. You can invest today in commodities, and relative to other spots in the market right now, I think, have a decent chance of realizing financial gains. Beyond that, though, you are on your own. And that's the way it should be. An investment advisor should be able to find investments that suit your portfolio if you want it to have a socially responsible component, but they can't be the one to define that responsibility for you. I'll leave off with a quote that I wish was from a fantasy movie but was actually from an expose about cobalt mining in DRC by The Washington Post. "He sat next to a series of small food stalls, stout squares of discarded mining sacks stretched over sticks, where a digger could buy a bread roll for 100 Congolese francs, equal to about 10 cents. The bread came with a free cup of water. 'You eat what you make,' Mboma said finally. And eating would have to wait." By Mitch Goldberg, president of ClientFirst Strategy More from Global Investing Hot Spots: Where Bill Gross is investing after calling bond bear market A fast-growing Asian country is slipping toward China North Korea is experiencing an entrepreneurial boom The U.S. Justice Department said Tuesday that a new task force will target the makers and distributors of prescription painkillers who, according to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, have contributed to an epidemic of fatal overdoses from opioids by selling too much of the addictive drugs. "We will use criminal penalties, we will use civil penalties," said Sessions in announcing the Prescription Interdiction and Litigation (PIL) Task Force. "We will use whatever laws and tools we have to hold people accountable if they break our laws," said Sessions, who also said that opioid abuse is "driving the deadliest drug crisis in American history." Sessions said he is ordering the task force "to examine existing state and local government lawsuits against opioid manufacturers to determine if we can be of assistance." "In fact, we are already getting involved in these cases. I am announcing today that the department will file a statement of interest in a lawsuit against a number of opioid manufacturers and distributors for allegedly using false, deceptive, and unfair marketing of opioid drugs," Sessions said. The Justice Department said that lawsuit is actually a multidistrict action involving hundreds of lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The plaintiffs include many cities, municipalities, and medical institutions "that have borne the costs of the prescription opioid crisis," the department said. "The plaintiffs seek to recover the costs associated with providing treatment and public safety measures relating to the opioid epidemic from those who allegedly used false, deceptive, or unfair marketing practices for prescription opioid drugs. "The Justice Department will primarily argue that the federal government through various federal health programs and law enforcement efforts has borne substantial costs from the opioid epidemic and seeks reimbursement." Sessions made the announcement at the Justice Department during a new conference attended by a handful of state attorneys general. Also in attendance was Kellyanne Conway, a senior advisor to President Donald Trump, who is in charge of the White House's campaign to stem opioid abuse. He noted that 2016 had seen the highest number of fatal drug overdoses by far in United States history, an estimated 64,000. And 2017 is expected to have recorded even more such deaths, Sessions said. Most of those deadly ODs are related to opioids, either prescription painkillers, synthetic drugs such as fentanyl, or heroin, the illegal street drug. The attorney general said a veteran federal prosecutor, Mary Daly, has been hired to lead the Justice Department's anti-opioid efforts. Daly, who held prosecutor posts in Brooklyn, New York, and in Virginia, has expertise in fighting transnational drug trafficking groups. Session said, "These are not our last steps." "We will continue to attack the opioid crisis from every angle," he said. "And we will continue to work tirelessly to bring down the number of opioid prescriptions, reduce the number of fatal overdoses, and to protect the American people." The European Commission is set to announce whether it approves the Bayer and Monsanto merger in the first part of this year, the EU's Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager told CNBC. Brussels opened an in-depth investigation into the proposed acquisition of Monsanto by Bayer back in August of last year, but its decision on whether to approve the merger has been postponed twice and suspended four other times. It is currently scheduled to take place on April 5th a deadline that Vestager wants to respect. "We have a legal deadline that we have to meet," Vestager told CNBC on Monday, when asked if her decision could be delayed once again. "When a decision is postponed, it's very often because the company gives us more time in order to discuss what remedies they have proposed in order to make our concerns go away," she said, adding that it is "very important that we are thorough, because it is for everyone, that food is well the most important thing, so for farmers to have a choice, affordable prices, not to be locked in with just one provider." The proposed acquisition, valued above $60 billion, would make Bayer and Monsanto the world's largest integrated pesticides and seeds company. In August, the commission opened an in-depth investigation due to concerns that such a significant merger could distort competition in three areas: pesticides, seeds and traits (a characteristic of a plant). Bill Gates is not a fan of cryptocurrency. During a recent "Ask Me Anything" session on Reddit, the Microsoft co-founder said that the main feature of cryptocurrencies is the anonymity they provide to buyers, and Gates thinks that can actually be harmful. "The government's ability to find money laundering and tax evasion and terrorist funding is a good thing," he wrote. "Right now, cryptocurrencies are used for buying fentanyl and other drugs, so it is a rare technology that has caused deaths in a fairly direct way." When a Reddit user pointed out that plain cash can also be used for illicit activities, Gates said that crypto stands out because it can be easier to use. "Yes anonymous cash is used for these kinds of things, but you have to be physically present to transfer it, which makes things like kidnapping payments more difficult," he wrote. Gates also warned that the wave of speculation surrounding cryptocurrencies is "super risky for those who go long." A man who has claimed to be the creator of bitcoin is being sued over an alleged scheme to steal $5 billion worth of cryptocurrency and other assets from a former business partner. Australian entrepreneur Craig Wright in 2016 said he was Satoshi Nakamoto, the mysterious inventor behind the world's largest cryptocurrency. But a lawsuit, filed earlier this month with the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleges that Wright plotted to swindle IT security expert Dave Kleiman out of hundreds of thousands of bitcoins and intellectual property rights to a number of blockchain technologies. Blockchain is the decentralized ledger that underpins bitcoin. Kleiman was left wheelchair-bound after a motorcycle accident. He died in April 2013 after suffering from an MRSA infection. The lawsuit was filed by his brother Ira on behalf of Kleiman's estate. According to the filing, Wright and Kleiman partnered to mine bitcoin, and owned and controlled more than 1.1 million bitcoins between them. Mattress start-up Casper has opened its first permanent store in the heart of downtown New York, on the outskirts of popular shopping destination SoHo. The direct-to-consumer business, which has been selling its items in Target stores and via its own temporary shops (16 of them), joins a growing list of e-retailers deciding to invest in bricks and mortar to build brand awareness and offer shoppers the opportunity to touch and feel products. Names such as Warby Parker, Allbirds, Away, M.Gemi, Everlane and Birch Box have also established a presence in SoHo within the past year. The opening comes as traditional mattress sellers, such as Mattress Firm, are in the midst of closing hundreds of stores. The differences between the old and the new are plentiful. For Casper, the company has created a store prototype that aims to make the mattress shopping experience enjoyable and educational. Its cozy layout and bright colors are a far cry from traditional mattress stores that showcase endless rows of mattresses lined up in one massive, open room. Casper CEO Philip Krim told CNBC the company's goal is to learn from the store opening, to see how shoppers react and plan from there. New York is Casper's top market, he said, followed by Los Angeles, San Francisco, Austin, Atlanta and Chicago. Here's a glimpse inside Casper's first store: People visit the Bund which is plagued by heavy smog on January 30, 2018 in Shanghai, China. China's regional governments need to take more responsibility for local pollution and stop blaming others, a senior environmental official said on Tuesday, following increases in smog in the Yangtze and Pearl river delta regions in January. While nationwide air pollution fell thanks to a tough winter crackdown in smog-prone northern regions, concentrations of small, breathable particles known as PM2.5 surged 20 percent in the Yangtze delta in eastern China, which includes Shanghai as well as the highly industrialised province of Jiangsu. A 3.9-percent increase in PM2.5 in the Pearl river delta near Hong Kong also raised fears that polluting heavy industrial output had moved to eastern and southern regions as a result of a crackdown in the north, which forced thousands of factories to curb production. Speaking at a press briefing on Tuesday, Liu Bingjiang, head of the air quality department at China's Ministry of Environmental Protection (MEP), said changes in industrial output could have been responsible for the spike, noting that steel output data for 2017 indicated a shifting "production structure and layout" for industry. "We will analyse more closely to see to what extent the rising PM2.5 is due to increasing industrial emissions," he added. "I am sure the Yangtze delta governments understand very well what their tasks are." The top steel producing province of Hebei, which surrounds the capital Beijing, has been at the heart of a campaign to improve northern China's air quality, and saw output fall 1 percent to 191.2 million tonnes last year, despite a 5.7-percent nationwide production increase. Over the same period, Jiangsu, the country's second biggest steel producer, saw steel production rise 4.64 percent to 104.3 million tonnes in 2017. It also saw nonferrous metals output surge 32.2 percent year-on-year, according to official data. Environmental group Greenpeace said the increase in emissions in both the Yangtze and Pearl river deltas was caused by a rebound in polluting industries beginning in 2016. But it also suggested that unfavorable weather conditions were partially to blame, with the wind that helped cut smog in northern regions responsible for delivering pollution to the eastern coast. Liu said at the Tuesday briefing that favourable weather was responsible for 30 percent of the improvements in air quality in northern China, but it was "irresponsible" to blame smog on wind or on other regions. "The (local) government should do its own job well and not focus on blaming other people," he said. "Otherwise they will miss the best chance to improve their own air quality." Liu also said China was preparing to introduce even tougher air quality targets to cover the 2018 to 2020 period, without giving specific figures. Following are excerpts from an interview with CNBC's Silvia Amaro and EU Competition Commissioners, Margrethe Vestager SA: Good morning Commissioner. Thank you for joining CNBC. MV: Good morning. It's a pleasure to be with you. SA: I would like to start by looking at Google's shopping services. Now, you've taken a decision on this case, you've issued a fine, Google has already taken some actions to address your concerns and I believe that at the moment you're hearing from rival companies on whether the actions that Google took were sufficient. What are these companies telling you? MV: Well, we've have that the first Compliance Report by Google. We, ourselves, are asking for quite a lot of data. And I meet with some of the people who are quite worried, to some degree frustrated. Saying well, there may be equal treatment but Google is so far ahead, because of the data, because there they are there already. Because they see what you will see with your own eyes that in the Google Shopping box it is quite rare that you find any competitors when it comes to, for instance, a price comparison. And of course, we take this very seriously. So we look into whether there is compliance or not. Having of course taken no decision yet, but very thoroughly. SA: In the past Microsoft failed to comply with a ruling from The European Commission and ended up seeing the original fine becoming nearly four times bigger. Similarly, could Google be found in the same position, if the commission believes that Google didn't take enough action? MV: On the concrete case, of course I will not speculate, because this is open. But as a matter of principle, you're right. That if a company is not complying, then we can issue day fines from the day where we get the suspicion that there is no compliance. And then issue day fines till compliance has been achieved. So as a matter of principle of course, it's a very serious matter. SA: There are two other investigations open against Google. Could you just give us an update on where you are on those two? MV: Well of course they are unrelated. One is about the use of the Android, we think to stay dominant. Also when we all go mobile, so that as a phone producer you cannot have the Play Store without taking a number of the other Google products. And the third case is about AdSense: how to place that; what rules have Google set out in order to place ads. And basically you can say what the three cases have in common is that here you have the dominant company when it comes to search and we find that this dominant position has been misused to do things that a competitor would never be able to do. SA: Can we foresee some sort of timeline when you will be able to come up with your opinion on the other two cases? MV: Well actually I've learned the hard way that we have hardly even sort of internal timelines, because we find that sometimes we cannot upheld (uphold) these. Because we get new evidence on board, we get new questions, there is a need to redo drafting in whatever decision we are preparing. So unfortunately no, I cannot give you the deadlines. SA: At the moment, society is super reliant on technology, to shop, to communicate, how hard is it for a regulator to keep an eye on digital services? MV: Well I think it is tricky because society is developing almost as we speak. Because it's also agriculture being now digitalised. Transport, health, administration, everything; our entire society. And of course we're learning on the go. We have learned a lot in the last couple of years, not only from the antitrust cases, but also from fake news and AI. And we are seeing sort of more and more the fuller picture. And in the commission we're drafting new proposals both on the platform to business relationship, or business to platform relationship, on how to deal with illegal content, and how to deal with copyright issues in order to use this now more fuller picture to sort of make the regulatory framework so we do not get into a situation where we have sort of a Wild West, since it is about the entire society what's going on right now. SA: I'd like to move on to the Irish case with Apple. Now last time that we spoke it was May of last year and at the time you told me that you would like to see Ireland recovering the 13 billion euros very soon. That hasn't happened. You've taken Ireland to the European Court of Justice. Still no money has been received. What's not working here? MV: Well, to some degree of course I respect that it's more complex to have an account of 13 billion euros, than to recover 250 million, 30 million of unpaid taxes and some of other cases. So it's more complex. You need to figure out what to do in the meantime while the court looks into their appeal and that has taken some time. In our opinion it has taken too long. But from what I hear from the Irish, they are getting there. So of course we hope that soon, the recovery can happen in full, because of course if that happens we will withdraw the complaint that we have filled with the courts. SA: Is there any other mechanism apart from taking the member state to the Court of Justice when we're coming to a tax ruling decision? MV: Well that is in itself actually a very serious step to take. And what I feel from the Irish is also that they have the same sort of, 'we're a citizen in a union based on the rule of law, we really want to do this'. So I do hope that it will happen in the near future. SA: And what are the consequences of such a delay in repaying the unpaid taxes? MV: Well it's a question of the level playing field. Because to recover unpaid taxes is of course to restore competition. And this is why for us it's very important because it gives other companies a better chance, and of course more competition ends up as a better market to serve the consumers. SA: Just one final question on this case, could Ireland be in trouble for not recovering the 13 billion euros on time or very quickly? MV: Well of course we have, there is some discretion. And of course we look of the difficulties that is related to the case but it is important for us that it happens and this is why we say well on the process alone of recovery, unpaid taxes, we have asked the court to look into it. And at the same time of course we hope that the court will also make it a priority to look into the appeal of the case, because it's important for us for the court also to take a decision on this question. Because fiscal aid, well it's a very important issue when it comes to fair competition and a level playing field. SA: On another specific case, on a merger, you're supposed to give your opinion on the merger between Bayer and Monsanto, but that decision has been delayed twice already, I believe. What could potentially delay this decision once again? MV: Well we have a legal deadline that we have to meet. When a decision is postponed it's very often because the company gives us more time in order to discuss what remedies they have proposed in order to make our concerns go away. And for us of course it is very important that we are thorough, because it is for everyone, that food is well the most important thing. So for farmers to have a choice, affordable prices, not to be locked in with just one provider, these are the things that we are looking into. And that has to be thoroughly done because otherwise well, there will be consequences for each and every one of us. SA: Is it realistic to expect an outcome in the first part of this year? MV: Well we have to do that actually, because we have a legal deadline. There's this difference between the U.S. system and the European system that we have very strict deadlines that cannot be surpassed. Neither for the business side nor for our side. SA: I believe that your mandate is coming to an end next year. What are you doing at the moment to ensure that there is going to be a smooth transition coming 2019? MV: Well you can say first of all since I'm a law enforcer, and only a very very small legislator, I will have one proposal in these five years, to empower actually national competition authorities. I will be enforcing to the very last day. So you know I hope that I can hand over the baton to my successor. And of course to make sure that we work as one, because all the businesses who played by the book should have course feel comfortable that that we are, you know, stringent, and that no time is lost between mandates when it comes to make sure that you have fair competition. SA: Is there any specific goals you have until 2019? Any specific cases that you would like to conclude before you leave this position? MV: Well as many as possible because I think that speed is of the essence. Our society develops faster and faster. So does the market. So if we can process cases then for all the law abiding companies we make it easy for them to compete on quality of their products at prices that they can offer. Of course we have to do a high quality because we live in a union based on the rule of law. And hopefully also to do the relevant cases where things are most harmful. But that being said I think speed is one of the things that we really should continue to focus on. SA: Given that we still have a little bit of time I would like to talk about the Gazprom case. I believe that you've done some market research. Based on that market discussions you've held, is there enough material to potentially open a formal investigation against Gazprom? MV: Well you know when we sent them the statement of objection; we found that they had been petitioning the markets, demanding excessive prices. Gazprom wanted to engage, to discuss commitments. Can this be solved in a way to allow gas to flow freely at affordable prices? Or will we have to take another route? And the first set of commitments; we tested those in the market. Asked competitors and customers, do you think that this will work? And the good thing was that a number of people engaged, also with great nuance. And said well this might work, but this won't work and you have to change this. And now we're in the process with Gazprom to see well are they willing to take sufficient steps in order for this to work and that still remains to be seen. SA: Lastly could we expect to see you as competition commissioner once again? MV: Well you know I try not to show how much I like this job. Because it is truly a great job. And it relies on other people, but if they found that it would make sense of course I would be available, it would be an amazing thing to be allowed to do. SA: Thank you very much, commissioner. MV: It was a pleasure. SA: Thank you SA: Looking at the Gazprom case, I believe that you've had some market research on how the company interacts in Europe. Is there enough material to open a formal investigation against Gazprom? MV: Well you know we sent them our statement of objections saying we found that we have the evidence to show that you have petitioned the market, yet you had demanded excessive prices. On that basis, Gazprom said well, we want to engage with you. And they sent a first set of commitments. Those of course we have tested with competitors and customers in Europe and specifically in the countries where we found that the abuse took place. And they came back, very nuanced, very broad comments, to say well this will work, that won't work, that will have to be improved in order to solve the case, which means that gas can flow freely at affordable prices. So now we are back with Gazprom to discuss and to see if they have the willingness to take the necessary steps actually to get this go, into real life that gas can flow freely at affordable prices. And it remains to be seen if we'll get there. SA: Any idea on the timing when it comes to this? MV: It's always tricky because it depends probably also on their decision making procedures but hopefully we'll get there sooner rather than later. SA: Thank you. MV: It's my pleasure. ENDS For more information contact Jonathan Millman, EMEA Communications Executive: Jonathan.Millman@CNBC.com About CNBC International: CNBC is the number one business and financial news network on the planet. Our mission is to help the influential and aspirational to make astute decisions to get ahead. CNBC International ensures no matter where you are you can keep up to date with the latest breaking business and financial news. With international headquarters in London and Singapore, we provide you with the perfect 24-hour global business briefing. In addition to our global TV channel, available in more than 410 million homes worldwide, CNBC is also available on mobile, tablet and desktop. CNBC.com is the preeminent financial news source on the web, featuring an unprecedented amount of video, real-time market analysis, web-exclusive live video and analytical financial tools. U.S. media giant Comcast announced a cash offer Tuesday to buy Sky for 22.1 billion pounds ($31 billion), raising the stakes for Rupert Murdoch's Fox to take over the pay-TV group. Comcast, which owns NBC and Universal Pictures, said it was offering 12.50 pounds per share. That proposal is significantly higher than the 10.75 pounds per share agreed by Twenty-First Century Fox. "We think Sky is an outstanding company. It has 23 million customers and leading positions in the U.K., Italy, and Germany," Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian L. Roberts said in a statement. "Sky has been a consistent innovator in its use of technology to deliver a fantastic viewing experience and has a proud record of investment in news and programming. It has great people and a very strong and capable management team." U.K.-listed shares of Sky surged 20 percent on Tuesday morning. Comcast indicated that it will be looking to acquire over 50 percent of Sky's shares. 'Maintain and enhance Sky's business' In a conference call with investors Tuesday morning, Roberts said a Comcast-Sky deal would be a "perfect fit" that could create a "unique leader" in entertainment and technology. He added that the U.K. will remain a great place to do business and said Comcast intends to use Sky as a platform for the company's growth in Europe. "We intend to maintain and enhance Sky's business. Adding Sky to the Comcast family of businesses will increase our international revenues from 9 percent to 25 percent. We believe that there are significant opportunities for growth by combining these businesses," he said in the statement. Comcast's offer pits the biggest cable operator in the U.S. against Murdoch's Fox. However, Disney has agreed to buy a string of assets from Fox including its current 39 percent share of Sky making the picture more complicated. Disney CEO Bob Iger declined to comment about Comcast's proposal, according to Reuters. Disney still views Sky as a desirable asset and shared ownership of the company is seen as less than ideal, sources familiar told David Faber. Late last year, Comcast reportedly approached Fox and expressed an interest to acquire some of its assets. The U.S. cable operator was thought to be interested in the same set of assets that Disney eventually agreed to purchase. The latest round of major deals comes at a time when traditional cable television networks have been losing customers to streaming services such as Amazon and Netflix. Fox had already agreed on a deal of 18.5 billion pounds ($25.8 billion at the current exchange rate) to buy the 61 percent stake in the U.K.-based broadcasting group it does not currently own. But last month, the U.K.'s competition authority provisionally found Fox's bid for Sky would not be in the public interest. The Competition and Markets Authority cited concerns the Murdoch Family Trust would have too much influence over public opinion and the political agenda if the deal went through. It added that spinning off or divesting Sky News, insulating Sky News from Fox's influence, or blocking the deal outright would be possible solutions. However, if Disney's acquisition of the Fox assets go through, that could lessen the Murdoch family's clout in the U.K. and possibly placate the regulator. In an emailed statement, Sky said its independent directors were mindful of their fiduciary duties and their obligations under the U.K. takeover code, adding that shareholders are being advised to take no action as no firm offer has been made at this point. Alex De Groote, digital and media analyst at Cenkos Securities, said Comcast's "opportunistic" bid would likely spark a "fully-blown auction." When asked whether Comcast's offer seemed a somewhat generous improvement from Fox's, De Groote replied: "(Sky) have just won the Premier League (soccer) rights for another three years. They are performing well operationally. They're performing well in Germany and Italy. I could see this stock price going way north of 12.50 (pounds) and counter approaches coming both from Fox and maybe even a third party." At the start of the month, Sky won a bulk of Premier League television rights for the 2019-2022 soccer seasons. But Michael Cavanagh, chief financial officer at Comcast, said while the Premier League auction was a factor, it had not been the driving force behind the firm's offer. When speaking about Sky News, Sky's international multimedia news organization, Comcast's Roberts said it intends to maintain Sky News' existing brand and culture. "While Comcast does own a substantial international operation in the U.K., with more than 1,300 employees, the company has only a minimal presence in the U.K. media market. Comcast therefore does not believe that this Superior Cash Proposal should create any media plurality concerns in the U.K.," he said in a statement. An oil well sits in the middle of a corn field near Norris City, Illinois. Top corn-state senators have rejected proposals by the Trump administration and fellow Republicans to overhaul a federal biofuels program fiercely opposed by oil refiners. The impasse signals that the long-burning battle will continue to divide two pillars of President Donald Trump's base: the fossil fuel industry and agricultural states. Ending the clean fuel program is also a top priority for a group of Trump supporters dedicated to rolling back environmental regulations. Trump has so far rejected calls to alter or scrap the program, but the issue took on greater urgency after Pennsylvania-based refiner Philadelphia Energy Solutions blamed its recent bankruptcy on the burden of buying credits. Iowa Republican Sens. Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst told reporters no deal had been reached following a White House meeting on Tuesday. The gathering was convened to discuss proposed changes supported by energy state Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, as well as Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt and Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. While Ernst said Trump signaled his desire to meet with representatives of the ethanol industry, perhaps as soon as Thursday, she indicated the issue likely won't be resolved quickly. "It's clear that this is going to be a very tough road ahead," Ernst said. "We're going to be fighting this out." Got stock options at work and have no idea what you should do with them? Join the crowd. A recent survey from Schwab Stock Plan Services shows most employees 76 percent have never exercised their stock options or sold shares that are part of their equity compensation. Close to half (48 percent) said they've held off due to fear of making a mistake. While it could make sense to hold onto company stock depending on your situation, be aware there's risk that comes with not evaluating whether or not to unload them. Photo by 101cats via Getty Images "You can end up having your assets heavily concentrated in one area your company's stock," said certified financial planner Douglas Boneparth, president of Bone Fide Wealth in New York. "How comfortable would you be if it takes a dive and a large portion of your net worth is tied to it?" An estimated 28 million workers participate in some form of equity ownership, according to the National Center for Employee Ownership. It comes in the form of stock options, restricted stock or employee stock purchase plans, among others. Overall, employees now control about 8 percent of corporate equity. The Schwab study shows that the average value of an equity compensation plan is $72,245, although not all of those workers are fully vested yet (more on what that means below). The median value half are above and half are below is much lower: $21,000. While it's common to have little understanding of how this part of your compensation works, it's worthwhile finding out in order to make the most of it. Why workers say they cash out 35% Needed the money 31% Thought market conditions favorable 28% Make a large purchase 24% Fully vested, wanted to cash out 22% Under financial stress 15% Worried about company's future 11% Wanted the money for retirement 8% Didn't know what else to do with it 3% Other reasons "Not enough people are sitting down to figure out how their company stock fits into their overall portfolio," said Marc McDonough, senior vice president at Schwab Investor Services. While the specifics of stock plans vary, here are some key things to know. The lowdown Generally speaking, whether you're receiving stock options or restricted stock, your employer is giving you the right to purchase company shares at a certain price at a certain future date. The employer's goal is partially to keep you from job-hopping. That future date could be based on length of employment or based on reaching performance or financial goals. Be aware that there can be expiration dates attached to these awards, so make sure you know if there's a deadline to take advantage of the granted equity. Confidence in making right decisions Millennials 58% Gen X 44% Boomers 39% Vesting date Typically, you face a delay between when you are awarded stock options or restricted stock and when you are fully vested. This is the point when you can exercise your right to purchase the shares. Leave the company before then, and you'll likely forfeit any unvested options. Tax implications Taxation of stock options depends on what kind you have, and how long you hold those options before selling them. There are incentive stock options (which must meet specific rules under the tax code) and non-qualified stock options (pretty much everything that isn't an ISO). For non-qualified stock options, generally speaking, you pay taxes when you exercise those options, based on the difference between the so-called exercise price the amount you were promised you could buy the stock for and the fair market value at that time. That difference is taxed as ordinary income and subject to payroll taxes, and gives you an adjusted taxable basis of that fair market value. Say you are awarded 100 stock options worth $50 per share ($5,000 total) and you exercise the options when they each are worth $100 ($10,000 total). You would pay tax on the difference, or $5,000 (your gain). Then when you sell the shares, you'll have either a short- or long-term capital gain or loss based on the difference between that adjusted basis and the sale price. For short-term gains, you pay your ordinary income tax rate. For long-term gains, the tax rate is either zero percent, 15 percent or 20 percent, depending on your annual income. Restricted stock is taxed differently from stock options and it can get even more complicated. Generally speaking, however, when those shares vest, it is considered compensation and you are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate. If you hold on to them for a while, you would incur capital gains taxes for any difference between the vested price and what you sold it for. Tax is typically withheld by your employer in both cases, although the methods are slightly different. "It doesn't mean it's the right amount withheld, but it's a good safety net," said Boneparth of Bone Fide Wealth. The big picture Before you do much of anything with your company stock, you should put it in the context of your full financial picture. "This is not a standalone thing," said Schwab's McDonough. "It's part of your overall portfolio and you have to consider the two together." Many experts recommend having no more than 10 percent or 20 percent of your assets in any one investment. The idea is that if one specific stock or asset tanks, it won't entirely upend your portfolio. More importantly, though, you should consider your financial goals and how owning your company's stock fits into that. As the Trump administration considers what action to take on trade tariffs on steel and aluminum, European Union and Chinese officials are considering taking aim at politically strategic products made in the U.S., such as bourbon and motorcycles. Of the options laid out by Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the administration is considering the most wide-reaching penalty: slapping tariffs on all steel and aluminum imported into the U.S., not just imports from specific countries. The EU is targeting products with political punch, revisiting a list compiled during George W. Bush-era trade disputes of symbolic American brands. Potentially in the EU's sights: items such as Harley-Davidson motorcycles, whose corporate headquarters is in House Speaker Paul Ryan's home state of Wisconsin. Bourbon is another target, having enjoyed a surge in exports to the EU. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's home state of Kentucky exported $154 million worth of bourbon to the EU, up from $128 million in 2016, according to data from the International Trade Commission. Agriculture products such as cheese, orange juice, tomatoes and potatoes are also targets for retaliation. "The EU stands ready to react swiftly and appropriately in case our exports are affected by any restrictive trade measures from the U.S.," a European Commission source tells CNBC. House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, speaks during a news conference following a tour of the Harley-Davidson Inc. facility in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, U.S. Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images The counterpunch from China could land harder because of the scale of trade between the two countries and the reliance of American farmers on China as an export destination. China's Ministry of Commerce is already investigating whether to limit imports of U.S. sorghum, a cereal grain used to feed livestock, in response to previous tariffs from the White House on solar panels and washing machines. Nicholas Lardy, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, called the sorghum investigation a "shot across the bow," and expects more reaction from China when the steel and aluminum actions are unveiled. In the weeks following the publication of the possible tariff options, Chinese high-ranking officials have visited Washington to try to smooth over trade tension. Li Qiang, an analyst at JCI Intelligence, said China is trying to mend trade relations with the U.S. while also preparing for a trade war. Qiang said China would target airplane manufacturing or U.S. soybeans "the ballast stone of Sino-U.S. trade" if the tariffs' cost to China exceeded $10 billion. The Commerce Department is using a provision of the 1962 Trade Expansion Act, Section 232, to make a case that the dumping of cheap steel and aluminum from China and other countries puts U.S. competitors out of business, risking national security. "One of the big concerns is if you use it just to impose trade restrictions for economic purposes, rather than national security purposes, then you are sort of defining our economic security as our national security and every other country can do the same thing," said Rufus Yerxa, president of the National Foreign Trade Council, which represents multinational companies on trade issues. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., sits behind a barrel of Kentucky bourbon. Bill Clark | CQ Roll Call | Getty Images The European Commission will withdraw its complaint against Ireland for not recovering 13 billion euros ($16 billion) in unpaid taxes from Apple, but only if the country recovers that amount in full, the EU's Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager told CNBC. The EU took Ireland to the European Court of Justice last October for failure to recover the sum from the technology giant, when it was ruled that Apple had benefited from illegal tax benefits in Ireland in August 2016. According to EU law, the recovery of funds should usually take four months after the Commission issued its decision. "In our opinion, it (recovery of unpaid taxes) has taken too long. But from what I hear from the Irish, they are getting there. So, of course, we hope that soon, the recovery can happen in full, because if that happens we will withdraw the complaint that we have filed with the courts," Vestager told CNBC in an interview Monday. Media reports last week suggested that Ireland is calculating how much money Apple needs to pay back and that such calculations should be done before the end of April. So far, the Irish authorities said that their estimations are close to the commission's 13 billion euro figure. Speaking to CNBC, Vestager said it has taken Ireland "too long" to recover the money, but she understands that the process is complex. "Of course, we look at the difficulties that (are) related to the case," she said. "But it is important for us that it happens, and this is why On the process alone of recovery, unpaid taxes, we have asked the court to look into it." The Trump administration's approach to a fair and open internet seeks a compromise between too much regulation and too little, FCC Chairman Ajit Pai told CNBC on Tuesday. "Some people said that we should maintain the rules we had, the heavy-handed regulations that were based in the 1930s," Pai said in an interview from the Mobile World Congress gathering in Barcelona, Spain. "Others said we should wipe the slate clean, have no regulations whatsoever. We charted a middle course." Making good on President Donald Trump's campaign promises to wipe out Obama-era regulations, the Republican-led Federal Communications Commission voted in December to eliminate the Open Internet Order, better known as "net neutrality" rules. The reversal of the 2015 order requiring internet service providers to treat all online traffic equally gives those companies more power to set pricing and prioritize different types of internet traffic. Pai said on "Squawk Box" that he's looking to counter the "misinformation" that's produced this is the "'end of the internet as we know it'" type headlines. "I think 2 months later people are still using the internet. The internet still works," he said. "The online experience is going to continue to get better." The FCC wants a "transparency rule" requiring internet service providers to disclose business and network management practices "backed up by Federal Trade Commission enforcement," Pai said. "That is the kind of careful approach that gave us the internet economy in the United States that's become the envy of the world." Pai said he hopes Congress can come together to craft the new rules of the internet that protect consumers and competition while making sure regulations don't stifle innovation. Critics argue the Trump administration's approach could lead internet service providers to block content, "throttle" down traffic, and charge for "fast lanes" to deliver certain types of content more quickly. Supporters of the FCC's move contend those concerns are unfounded and the marketplace will keep the industry in check. "I think as time goes on some of the fearmongering is going to be proven to be baseless," Pai said. "Everyone, I think, wants an open internet and more infrastructure investment in the United States and around the world." A German court has ruled in favor of allowing large cities to ban heavily polluting diesel cars. Tuesday's ruling came from the country's highest federal administrative court, and represented a blow to the automotive industry and the government of Angela Merkel, which opposes bans, Reuters reported. German states had appealed against bans imposed by courts in the cities of Stuttgart and Dusseldorf. The challenges, over poor air quality, had been launched by environmental group Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH). On Tuesday, the court rejected the appeals by the state governments and ordered Stuttgart and Duesseldorf to alter their anti-pollution plans, saying that city bans can be implemented even without nationwide rules, according to Reuters. "This is a great day for clean air in Germany," DUH managing director Juergen Resch said. Germany's central bank chief won't rule out the possibility of taking one of the top jobs at the European Central Bank (ECB) next year. Speaking to CNBC in Frankfurt Tuesday, Bundesbank President Jens Weidmann said: "My position is that all in the Governing Council are of course interested in monetary policy and want to shape monetary policy. That's why we're there That's why we're discussing together." Weidmann has long been mentioned as a potential successor to outgoing ECB President Mario Draghi. The German economist is one of the most vocal members of the ECB's Governing Council and has criticized the slow policy normalization in the euro zone. Last October, for example, Weidmann lambasted the ECB's decision to extend quantitative easing (QE). However, Weidmann's tendency to be outspoken about the impact of an extended period of monetary stimulus, especially when compared to several of his colleagues, could ultimately hurt his chances of becoming president. While Goldman Sachs has sent many of its senior executives into government service, rarely, has one of them boomeranged back with such lightning speed. Yet it seems Dina Powell will be circling back through the revolving doors at 200 West Street in New York after barely one year spent as an advisor in the Trump White House. A memorandum circulating inside Goldman on Tuesday says Powell is to join the bank's management committee and focus on "enhancing the firm's relationships with sovereign clients around the world" and "assume overall responsibility for the firm's corporate engagement initiatives." The memo was signed by CEO Lloyd Blankfein and co-presidents David Solomon and Harvey Schwartz. The 44 year old Egypt-born Republican advised President Donald Trump on foreign policy as U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategy. She had been a managing director of Goldman before that, running its Goldman Sachs Foundation. In a previous career move, Powell was Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs among other posts in the George W. Bush administration. Prepare to enlist an elder law attorney, an accountant and a financial advisor. Generally, you can't hold more than $2,000 in assets to qualify. PeopleImages | Getty Images It isn't every day that an older client might consult experts to help him become impoverished as he prepares for long-term care. Enter Medicaid planning, a corner of personal finance that brings together elder law attorneys, accountants and financial advisors to help seniors pay for nursing home care while protecting their family members. Think of it as a backstop for individuals who are unable to purchase long-term care insurance, which has grown increasingly expensive. Medicaid covers a range of long-term services for applicants who can pass its means test: States generally require that individual applicants have no more than $2,000 in assets ($3,000 to $6,000 for couples). States also subject applicants to income requirements, which vary by jurisdiction. Those who participate in Medicaid planning work with attorneys, accountants and advisors to shift their wealth to trusts or annuities in order to qualify. More from Advisor Insight: The bad things people do with 401(k) plans What sort of insurance do you need? Most consumers confused about credit, debt Consider that the national median cost of a private room in a nursing home is $97,455 annually, according to Genworth Financial. "The people who really need to be thinking about this are folks who aren't insurable for some reason," said Tom McCarthy, founder of McCarthy & Cox in Marysville, Ohio. "They have some assets, but if they needed care in a nursing home, they would be quickly wiped out," he said. Here's how to integrate Medicaid into your long-term financial plan. Time is an ally Time is the most valuable asset for individuals preparing for elder care. That's because in order to qualify for Medicaid and pass the means test, older individuals must transfer their wealth at least five years before they apply for the program. Asset transfers made during this so-called "five-year lookback" may be subject to penalties, making the applicant ineligible for Medicaid services for a period of time and requiring them to pay out of pocket. See below for details on assisted living expenses across the country. The right transfers This transfer of assets is one of the riskiest parts of Medicaid planning. An outright gift of assets to a relative could mean that the recipient doesn't get a step-up in basis. That means they could be on the hook for steep capital gains taxes if they try to sell the asset right away. "Giving the money outright is fraught with complications," said Bernard A. Krooks, founding partner of Littman Krooks LLP in New York. "Say you leave your daughter the money and she gets divorced; it's now part of the marital settlement," he said. "If she gets sued, some creditor gets the money." Tomas Rodriguez | Picture Press | Getty Images That's when an irrevocable trust may be the answer. Assets that go here are no longer under the control of the older person, and they are subject to protection from creditors. A single-premium income annuity is another way to help someone qualify for Medicaid. The applicant would use some assets to buy an annuity that will begin distributing income to that person's spouse. Tread carefully when purchasing the annuity: If you liquidated some investments in order to come up with the proceeds, you could face tax consequences. Further, once you've given a lump sum to an insurance company for an annuity, you can't get your money back. "We're not big fans of annuities, but they're a way to set the surviving spouse up for a stream of income and qualify for Medicaid," said Stein Olavsrud, executive vice president and portfolio manager with FBB Capital Partners in Bethesda, Maryland. A team approach Given all the elements of elder-care planning taxes, trusts and asset management expect to work with a team of professionals in order to come up with a strategy. Financial advisors should expect to collaborate with an elder law attorney who is well versed in the Medicaid laws in the client's state, plus an accountant. They have some assets, but if they needed care in a nursing home, they would be quickly wiped out. Tom McCarthy McCarthy & Cox "I find that the attorneys are really good at crafting different documents, but the problem a lot of them have is that they can't quantify for the client the tax cost if they do this sort of planning," said McCarthy of McCarthy & Cox. Clients should also already have handled their estate plans, particularly their medical directives, powers of attorney and any additional details on how they would like to be cared for once they are infirm. Other potential shakeups loom ahead for Medicaid planning. Legislative upheaval Elder law attorneys are keeping a close eye on any legislation coming out of Congress, and they are watching the White House for any sign that a pullback on Medicaid is coming. Recently, President Donald Trump's budget called for a rollback of Medicaid expansion. Prior to the expansion, states were able to deny coverage to people who didn't have children or who failed to meet very low income limits. Some states are making tweaks to their programs, changing eligibility requirements and other details. For instance, last year Iowa called to eliminate Medicaid's guarantee of retroactive coverage for many beneficiaries in that state. As Federal Reserve chairman, Jerome Powell oversees monetary policy and regulates banks. But members of Congress questioned him as if he were an omnipotent politician capable of addressing all sorts of issues that fell beyond the normal duties of central banking. The hot seat questioning reached its apex during grilling from Rep. David Scott, a Democrat furious over White House-backed tax cuts and reductions in entitlement programs like food stamps. Powell responded that Scott's concerns "are not issues that we have authority over." "There's nobody better suited. You are the chairman of the Federal Reserve," Scott responded. "Do you know when you sneeze, Wall Street crumbles?" Scott encouraged Powell to take his supposedly immense authority and use it to persuade President Donald Trump to change his agenda. "You are well-prepared for this. Your experience as I've read shows that you have deep compassion for people," Scott said. "All I'm asking you to do is every once in a while, if you can, say, 'Hold on, Mr. President, this isn't right to be shipping food to the poorest people in this country and denying them the right to go into the grocery store to buy food." Scott was referring to the administration's proposal to discontinue most SNAP benefits, or food stamps, that low-income recipients use to buy groceries and instead ship actual boxes of food to their homes. The line of questioning was repeated in various ways during the hearing, with Democrats assailing Powell with grievances over Trump-backed policies. Powell faced repeated hectoring from House Financial Services Committee Democrats about discrimination in home lending, which is in the Fed's purview. However, he also endured grilling from Rep. Gregory Meeks, D-N.Y., about how companies would spend the windfall from the recent tax-cut bill, something that is not. At one point, Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, conceded he was playing the "race card" because of his concern over persistent high levels of black unemployment. The hearing became a sounding for grievances about all sorts of Trump administration policies, particularly the tax cuts passed in December. "With their tax scam, Republicans have engineered a massive giveaway to corporations and the ultra-rich, at the expense of hardworking Americans," complained Rep. Maxine Waters, the California Democrat who serves as ranking member of the committee. Powell appeared flummoxed at times by some of the comments, though he tried to answer the wide-ranging questions as best he could. Rep. Michael Capuano, a Massachusetts Democrat, pushed Powell on whether he would be in favor of a U.K.-modeled law forcing companies to pay employees equally regardless of gender a legislative issue that seemed to have nothing to do with the hearing's topic at hand, though Capuano insisted it did. "These are the kinds of things that Congress should consider," Powell said. "We have a job, we have a really important job to do that you've assigned us to. For now, we're going to stick to that." WATCH: Rep. Al Green questions Powell over high levels of black unemployment If there's one thing we can finally all agree upon, it's that offering hopes and prayers mean absolutely nothing when it comes to combating gun violence. But other than politicians finally getting the message to stop with the platitudes, how much can realistically happen to address gun violence? And what can tech realistically do about it? Everyone's tweets and posts condemning the NRA and the politicians who carry their water are fine, but they don't do much more than make you feel a little better and demonstrate to your friends that you're on the right side of the issue. This is an incredibly difficult issue to impact politically, but there are three tangible ways where tech can make a difference. 1. Put our money where our mouth is. Under intense pressure, we've started to see major corporations like Delta and Enterprise back away from partnerships with the NRA. That's great. But it shouldn't apply only to the Fortune 500. Back in October, the property and casualty startup Lemonade (Disclosure: Tusk Ventures is an investor in Lemonade) restricted its coverage of guns, refused to cover assault rifles, and limited the amount it would pay out for damage or theft of firearms to $2,500. Lemonade is a highly valued startup, which means it faces tremendous pressure from investors like us to grow and scale as fast as possible. When you deliberately limit the number of homes you can insure solely for ideological and policy reasons, you're limiting your potential growth. That's very hard to do in this culture we've created. But to their credit, Lemonade did exactly that, its investors agreed with the decision, and it helped set a precedent for larger insurers like MetLife to follow suit. Today's Lemonades are tomorrow's MetLife's, so the more startups are willing to sacrifice customers and revenues to make a point, the more that becomes the norm down the road. 2. Continue to develop smart gun technology. Some startups and some VCs have invested real time and money in smart guns, but it's still a niche industry at best. And yes, creating new guns that only work when the proper owner is using them won't change the fact that we already have 300 million guns in this country. But eventually, today's new guns become tomorrow's standard guns. Expecting GOP-controlled states or Congress to require smart guns is unrealistic today. But continued development of the technology combined with a strong push in states like New York or California or Illinois that already are trying to address gun violence could translate into better rules in states like Nevada, Florida and Texas tomorrow. 3. Change the inputs. All of the talk about the NRA's political contributions is missing the point. The NRA's strength isn't in its wallet it's in its control of the small number of voters who actually participate in primaries. When only 10 to 20 percent of voters bother to cast a ballot in Congressional and local legislative GOP primaries, a very high percentage of those voters are NRA members. Politicians aren't stupid. They know who actually shows up to vote and their actions reflect it. If turnout were consistently 50 percent or 70 percent, the NRA would still have roughly the same number of members voting in each primary but their impact would be drastically diluted. The only solution to that (and, by the way, to all of the dysfunction and polarization plaguing our country) is mobile voting. If we use the tool sitting in all of our pockets to make it convenient and easy for people to vote, they will. We've already seen this when we've mobilized customers for startups like Uber and FanDuel to advocate against bad regulations. And by conducting voting over blockchain (as some startups like Voatz in Boston are now doing), we not only dramatically increase participation and change the inputs for elected officials, we also make our system far stronger and more resistant to hacking and interference. Virtually no one in politics is going to voluntarily support a new system that makes it easier for someone to come along and take away their job. So if mobile voting is going to happen, it's only because of tremendous effort and investment from tech. When it comes to gun violence, tweets and posts are just modern day equivalents of thoughts and prayers nothing. From changing business practices to forcefully advocating for better gun technologies to changing the way we vote to dilute the power of groups like the NRA and the same holds true for the many left wing groups that control Democratic primaries it takes material effort, involvement and action. There's not nothing you can really do. There's actually quite a lot you can do. Now we need to make it happen. Commentary by Bradley Tusk, venture capitalist, political strategist and founder and CEO of Tusk Holdings. Tusk is an investor in Uber, FanDuel, Circle, Ripple and others. He served as Mike Bloomberg's campaign manager, guiding Mayor Bloomberg to a third term. In 2016 he advised Bloomberg on a potential presidential run. Bradley has also served as communications director for U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer. Follow him on Twitter @BradleyTusk. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion on Twitter. US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Ben Carson speaks to employees on his first day at the Department of Housing and Urban Development March 6, 2017 in Washington, DC. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development spent a whopping $31,561 on a new dining set that will grace the executive dining room of Secretary Ben Carson. HUD disclosed that eye-popping purchase to CNBC on Tuesday when asked about a former top official's complaint that she was demoted last summer. The former official said the demotion came after she pushed back on an effort to help Carson's wife redecorate his office at a cost above a $5,000 legal cap. HUD whose responsibilities include providing affordable housing to more than 4.3 million low-income families said the only items purchased for Carson's office were window blinds, which cost about $3,400. That is well below the statutory maximum allowed to be spent on renovations for the secretary's office. "Secretary Carson, to our knowledge, is the only HUD Secretary to go to the subbasement of his agency to select the furniture for his office," a HUD spokesman said. "All the furniture in his office was purchased by the government prior to his arrival," the spokesman said. Carson played no role in ordering the dining room set, and was unaware of it until this week, according to HUD. The New York Times reports that the set includes a "custom hardwood table, chairs and hutch." The spokesman declined to comment on allegations in the complaint by former chief administrative officer Helen Foster that she was repeatedly told in early 2017 to "find money" for Carson's wife to purchase furniture for his office as he prepared to take over the agency. Acting HUD Secretary Craig Clemmensen in January 2017 allegedly told Foster that the "Administration has always found money for this in the past," and that "$5000 will not even buy a decent chair," according to Foster's complaint, filed in November by her lawyer Joseph Kaplan. Kaplan, in a letter to HUD's complaints unit, said Foster "was viewed as a thorn in management's side" because of her pushback on the office renovations, as well as for several other issues. Foster, Kaplan said, also had disclosed more than $10 million in budget shortfalls caused by "the mismanagement of her predecessor" during the Barack Obama administration and wanted those shortfalls disclosed to the staff of congressional appropriations committees. She also had objected to processing Freedom of Information Act requests made by the Democratic National Committee "outside of the normal FOIA process," Kaplan's letter said. After raising these issues, the lawyer said, Foster was reassigned to be HUD's chief privacy and FOIA officer, a position that reports to an official that was once her subordinate. "This is a long-time public servant who did well at her job, and now her reputation has been ruined," Kaplan said. According to HUD, the rotation of Foster out of her prior job to a new post is not unusual, since government guidelines encourage such transfers within agencies. HUD said the old furniture in the official agency dining room, which is near Carson's office, had been in service since 1967. The dining room is used for hosting visiting dignitaries and other events. After the old dining set was deemed unrepairable, a new set was ordered by career staffers in charge of the operations of HUD's headquarters building, the agency said. The dining room set, which will seat about 10 people comfortably, was ordered on Dec. 21 from a Baltimore, Maryland, company, Sebree and Associates, records show. HUD will pay $31,561 for the set, according to records. The owner of Sebree and Associates, Evelyn Sebree, immediately referred questions to HUD when contacted by CNBC, without a reporter telling her what the call was about. Correction: This story has been updated to clarify that the furniture purchased for $31,561 is a dining room set rather than a dining room table. A group of illegal migrants are processed by Italian officials and given basic health checks by members of the Italian Red Cross as they disembark from an Italian navy boat in the harbour at Messina. Last year's arrival figures were the lowest in four years, the IOM said. At the height of the European migrant crisis in 2016, 181,436 people made the journey to Italy and 4,581 were recorded as dead or missing. In 2017, 119,310 migrants arrived in Italy after traveling by sea, according to data released in January from the UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM). The organization recorded that 2,832 people died or went missing making the journey. Italy is a focal point of Europe's wider migrant crisis. The country has seen hundreds of thousands of people arrive from war-torn or poverty-stricken parts of Africa in recent years, its position across the Mediterranean Sea from the continent making it a first port of call for those arriving by boat. Immigration has become a central topic in the run-up to the Italian election on March 4 as tensions run high over the number of migrants arriving and living in the country. At the height of the crisis, public opinion in Europe was broadly sympathetic to the plight of many migrants, many of whom were fleeing war in the Middle East and poverty in Africa. That sentiment has been eroded due to the sheer number of arrivals, however. Italy - the euro zone's third largest economy, but slower to recover from the 2008 financial crisis than other European countries - has particularly struggled to deal with the influx and public and political opinion has turned increasingly negative towards the arrivals. The tense climate surrounding immigration came to a head in early February after a drive-by shooting that left injured a group of foreign nationals in the town of Macerata. The attack is believed to have been racially motivated and carried out by a neo-Nazi with previous links to the anti-immigration Northern League (Lega Nord) party. While the party's leader, Matteo Salvini, condemned the violence, he also noted in a Facebook post that "immigration out of control leads to chaos, anger, social confrontation." Also responding to the attack, former prime minister and leader of Forza Italia, Silvio Berlusconi, said that immigration was an "emergency" in the country. Speaking to national broadcaster Rai Tre, the right-leaning politician, whose party is an ally of the anti-immigrant Northern League, said the number of migrants arriving in Italy was causing "serious social alarm." He added that the current center-left's asylum policy was tantamount to a "social timebomb." That's not to say the center-left government has had much of a softer approach to the migrant influx. Italy's Interior Minister Marco Minniti, a member of the ruling Democratic Party (PD) has frequently expressed plans to expel more migrants, but doing so can prove difficult and costly in practice. Last July, Matteo Renzi, former prime minister and head of the PD, said Italy did not have any moral duty to take in migrants, prompting critics to accuse him of taking the position of his right-leaning rivals. "We need to free ourselves from a sense of guilt. We do not have the moral duty to welcome into Italy people who are worse off than ourselves," Renzi wrote in new book, excerpts of which were released last year ahead of publication on the PD website and reported by Reuters. The government has also put off reforms to citizenship laws in Italy, encompassed in the so-called "ius soli" bill, which would create an earlier path to citizenship for children of foreign parents born and schooled in Italy, amid pressure from center-right parties and ahead of the election. Italy's most popular singular party in the polls, the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement, has also expressed a tough attitude towards migration. Former leader Beppe Grillo has said undocumented migrants should be expelled from Italy and its current leader, Luigi Di Maio, likened sea rescues of migrants as a "sea-taxi service" that must be stopped immediately. Di Maio also said in January that the declining birth rate among Italians must not be a reason to favor immigration. It is hard to see when the five-year long investigation into Russian energy giant Gazprom will come to an end, the EU's competition commissioner told CNBC. The EU began looking at whether Gazprom, which operates in Europe, would be breaching antitrust rules in Europe in September of 2012, after concerns were raised that the Russian energy company would quash competitors in Central and Eastern Europe. In the meantime, there's been some back and forth between the two after Brussels said that its preliminary conclusions indicated that the Russian gas supplier had unfairly charged costumers. The Russian firm has taken some actions to address the complaints but market rivals have told the EU that these changes aren't enough to restore competition. "We have tested (Gazprom's concessions) with competitors and customers in Europe and specifically in the countries where we found that the abuse took place. And they came back, very nuanced, very broad comments, to say well this will work, that won't work, that will have to be improved in order to solve the case," Margrethe Vestager, the EU's competition commissioner told CNBC Monday. By Benjamin Jumbe. Finance minister Matia Kasaija has maintained that the Uganda government is committed to fighting corruption and several measures have been put in place to ensure success. This comes after anti-corruption Watchdog Transparency International last week during release of its annual corruption perceptions index accusing many African governments of not doing enough to fight the vice. The 2017 Global Corruption Index Report placed Uganda at position 151 in the ranking, the same position it was in last year, scoring only 26 percent. Speaking to journalists in Entebbe on the sidelines of the ongoing 25th Annual East and Southern African Association of Auditor Generals Minister Kasaija admitted that corruption remains a challenge but quickly added that great strides had been taken in curbing the vice with more to be done. The state minister for ethics and integrity, Rev Fr Simon Lokodo has also come out and accused the Transparency International of persistent negativity towards Uganda and its fight against corruption. Trump advisor and son-in-law Jared Kushner has lost the highest-level government security clearance for sensitive information, NBC News confirmed Tuesday. Kushner and other White House staffers who had the highest-level interim clearance found out Friday that it would get downgraded, NBC said. Kushner has not yet gotten cleared for a full clearance amid a prolonged background investigation, yet he worked on sensitive topics and previously saw the highly-classified president's daily brief. Politico first reported the news Tuesday. In a statement, a Kushner spokesperson said the the White House's clearance policy will not affect Kushner's work, adding that he did "more than what is expected of him" in the clearance process. "No concerns were raised" about the White House aide's application, the spokesperson said. President Donald Trump could have given his son-in-law a full clearance but let chief of staff John Kelly decide. "I will let General Kelly make that decision, and he's going to do what's right for the country, and I have no doubt he'll make the right decision," Trump said on Friday. Scrutiny focused on the clearance process following domestic abuse allegations against former White House staff secretary Rob Porter, who also had an interim clearance. Kelly vowed changes amid questions about his role in Porter's hiring. Last week, CNN, citing sources, reported that Kushner was unable to receive full clearance partly because of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election. Kushner is reportedly one of the key figures in the probe, which is also examining links between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign. The White House declined to comment on security clearances. Former stockbroker Jordan Belfort gained notoriety in the 2013 movie "The Wolf of Wall Street." The Martin Scorcese-directed film was based on Belfort's memoir, which detailed his life of debauchery and a guilty plea to securities fraud and money laundering that landed him in federal prison for 22 months. "I lost my money, I lost my freedom, I lost my children for some time," he tells Goalcast in a recent video interview. "My life bottomed out." Belfort says he managed to stay motivated and positive throughout his jail sentence (and beyond) because he did three things: created a vision, established a strategy and worked hard. Just days after his release from prison, Belfort began writing his memoir, which received a $500,000 advance from Random House. These days, he spends his time as a motivational speaker and consultant. According to Bloomberg, he receives about $30,000 per speech and also earns royalties from his best-selling memoir and the "Wolf of Wall Street" film, which grossed nearly $400 million worldwide. "You have to have a vision for your future that inspires you," Belfort tells Goalcast. "So when you think about it, it just makes you jump out of bed in the morning to really have a life that is far better [and] far greater than it is today." Belfort says his vision was centered around his two young children. As he went to bed in his jail cell every night, he'd swear to himself he would do everything in his power upon his release to right his wrongs and prove to his children that he wasn't a failure. "That was my why. It was all about my kids, and that's the secret," he says. "Your why is never about you." Belfort notes that people are willing to do "crazy things" for a cause that they believe in but will only go so far for themselves. That's why it's so important to have a vision, he says. The second step is to have a game plan. "You have to have a strategy or a plan that allows you to achieve your vision," he says, adding that most people miss this step. He gives this example: In 1978, Belfort went to a New York beach on a brutally hot summer day. As he was lounging with friends, he overheard fellow beachgoers complaining about having to walk over half a mile to the concession stand. So early the next morning, he found an ice cream distributor, took his "old beaten up car" and loaded up a cooler with an assortment of ice creams and popsicles. "The whole thing loaded up was $22, including the cooler," he recalls. He then drove an hour to the beach, walked to the edge of the water and started yelling out the products that he had for sale. "Within one hour, I'd sold out the entire cooler for $125, and I made 100 bucks in one hour," he tells Goalcast. "Back then, minimum wage was $1.20 an hour. I almost made more than my parents." The next day, he went back with four coolers and made nearly $500. Macy's CEO Jeff Gennette is determined the retailer will return to same-store sales growth this year, coming off a strong end to 2017. Department stores have struggled to hold their place in retail as more sales move online and brands increasingly opt to sell directly to consumers, bypassing middlemen. In turn, companies such as Macy's have been forced to rethink their store counts and merchandise mixes to meet shoppers where they are with the items they are searching for. "The customer is shopping, and we are committed to winning her business," Gennette told CNBC in an interview on the heels of the company's fourth-quarter earnings report. "We are executing better. ... We are committed to getting this right." January same-store sales were up 3 percent, he said. For the fiscal year, Macy's is calling for same-store sales to be flat to up 1 percent. The department store chain's shares soared more than 12 percent Tuesday morning on news that the company's turnaround plans are taking hold. The stock was last trading up about 5 percent. Some of Macy's latest initiatives to get back to growth include closing unprofitable stores, reducing promotional activity, opening more off-price shops under its Backstage banner and growing its Bluemercury beauty business. Gennette also told CNBC that new U.S. tax legislation has given the company "flexibility" to accelerate those plans. This year, for example, Macy's will invest more money in 50 locations, as part of a plan known as "Growth 50." The company has been using a New Jersey store as a "lab" to see how shoppers react to new lighting and mobile checkout, among other upgrades. Soon, those upgrades will hit more stores in a bid to keep shoppers interested in bricks and mortar. Meanwhile, by the end of 2018, Macy's will have opened 100 Backstage locations, some of which are planned to open inside its existing stores in "premium malls." Gennette told CNBC that the presence of Backstage in current locations is lifting sales "more now than before" roughly 7 percentage points per store. These moves are expected to be the "spine" of the company as it forges ahead in an evolving retail environment, the CEO said Tuesday on a call with analysts and investors. "Healthy stores mean a healthy business." Additionally, Macy's real estate strategy is one that aims to unlock cash from excess square footage for example, leasing space to other businesses or opening pop-up venues. In some instances, Macy's is closing entire stores (roughly 100 in total) that it deems unprofitable. In 2016, Macy's partnered with Brookfield Asset Management to allow the real estate firm to redevelop all or part of 50 properties. Macy's on Tuesday said it's reached agreements for nine assets, which would be worth about $50 million if sold. On a call with analysts and investors, CFO Karen Hoguet said: "2017 was a transition year for Macy's. ... There is a lot of work ahead of us but we feel better about the business today than we have in a long time." Other retail stocks including Dillard's, J.C. Penney, Kohl's, Abercrombie & Fitch and American Eagle were climbing Tuesday, as investors looked at Macy's results as a positive sign for the industry as a whole. Special counsel Robert Mueller moved Monday to dismiss more than 20 charges against former Trump campaign official Rick Gates, multiple outlets reported, after Gates pleaded guilty last week to conspiracy and lying. The charges being dropped were brought against Gates in a court in Alexandria, Virginia, in keeping with the terms of his plea deal. "The Office will move promptly to dismiss the remaining counts of the Indictment in this matter," the agreement says. "In addition, the Office will move promptly to dismiss without prejudice the charges brought against your client in the Eastern District of Virginia." Rick Gates, former deputy campaign manager for Donald Trump, exits Federal Court in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images If Gates breaks the terms of the agreement, he can be re-charged with the same crimes without having the option to fight his case in Virginia. Gates, 45, is being relieved of more than 20 criminal counts, all of which were announced Thursday in a second criminal indictment against him and former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Gates was a close business associate of Manafort, who is a longtime lobbyist for Ukrainian political parties supportive of pro-Russian former President Viktor Yanukovych. The former Ukrainian president is living in exile in Russia and wanted for high treason by his country. The superseding indictment charged Gates and Manafort with bank fraud and bank fraud conspiracy. The two defendants had previously been charged in October 2017 in a 12-count indictment including money laundering, lying to federal investigators and failing to register as foreign agents. On Friday, Gates pleaded guilty to two additional charges on the same day they were issued: conspiracy against the U.S. and lying to federal investigators. He still faces a prison sentence of nearly six years, but the special counsel has the ability to request a shorter sentence for him. That tool could be crucial for Mueller's team, who could use the leverage of a lighter prison sentence to yield more valuable information from Gates about the ongoing Russia probe. Gates was deeply involved in the inner workings of the campaign, and remained a part of Trump's election bid even after Manafort resigned in August 2016. Gates also worked as a liaison between the campaign and the Republican National Committee, and was involved in the presidential transition after the election. Manafort, on the other hand, has maintained his innocence even as he continues to rack up charges. "I had hoped and expected my business colleague would have had the strength to continue the battle to prove our innocence. For reasons yet to surface he chose to do otherwise," Manafort said following Gates' change of plea. The former campaign chairman, 68, was hit with five additional criminal counts on Friday, including lying, conspiracy to launder money and acting as an unregistered foreign agent. WATCH: Gates pleads guilty to lying & conspiracy against the US Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange Friday morning on Feb. 9, 2018 in New York City. Don't expect to see a flashing warning sign when you receive some terrible investing advice. The advice-giver could be a scam artist or simply misinformed, but the end result could be you losing a bunch of money. Even years later, these three people can vividly recall the worst investing advice of their lives. Reading the lessons they learned may help you steer clear of similar scenarios. Here's what happened: More from NerdWallet: Stock market outlook: More fear of missing out in February? How to max out your Roth IRA in 2018 5 personal finance books to read this year Tricked by a tape A cassette tape got Jason Escamilla into investing in the stock market. And he lost about $2,500. Let's rewind. In the early 1990s, Escamilla worked as a valet at a country club in the San Francisco Bay Area. During one shift, he hopped in a car and heard a cassette playing over the stereo system, touting the merits of a penny stock. "I felt like I got this inside edge, and that it was an edge I could act on and profit from," Escamilla recalls. He says he didn't have anyone to vet the idea with. Instead, the then-college freshman and first-time investor chased down an obscure penny stock broker, where a smooth-talking salesman sold Escamilla about $2,500 worth of stock. The get-rich scheme turned out to be anything but, and he lost his money. Fast-forward nearly 30 years, and Escamilla can't remember the name of the company but recalls how much he enjoyed talking with the salesman: "My interactions with him were great, except for the part where my money disappeared." Rather than shying away from the stock market after this costly misstep, Escamilla went on to pursue a career in finance. He's now the chief executive officer of a registered investment advisor that focuses on social-impact investing. Lessons learned: Escamilla realizes he fell for a pump-and-dump scheme, an illegal maneuver in which someone who holds a stock boosts its price through false or misleading statements and then sells, causing the price to fall. Moreover, what Escamilla perceived to be an "edge" wasn't and inexperience led to him being scammed. "This early mistake surely colored my distaste for the practices that are so common in the retail investing world," he says. 'Insane' gambling Sean Dodds sought help from a financial advisor because he was done "gambling" with his money. The irony? That same advisor eventually made a series of risky bets. Like many investors during the late 1990s, Dodds played the stock market, betting on companies like Qualcomm and Oracle. He made a lot of money and mostly escaped the bubble's ruinous effects, he says. In the mid-2000s, ready for a change and heeding a trusted recommendation, Dodds hired a financial advisor. Even though that advisor was "very slick," he earned Dodds' trust partly because the person who'd recommended him is a "very savvy guy," says Dodds, who works in software development and lives in Gainesville, Florida. As importantly, his investments fared well for a few years. When Dodds heard that the advisor was putting together a new investment fund one designed for people with a healthy tolerance for risk Dodds asked to be included. "[My advisor] didn't hunt me down and come get me saying, 'Boy, do I have a deal for you.' It wasn't like that; I had a sense of ownership in what happened," Dodds says. He invested a large sum in his advisor's new fund right before the market crashed. As stock prices fell in 2007 and 2008, so did Dodds' investment. But he didn't know the severity until his advisor called to say 14 percent of the original value remained, Dodds recalls. A few days later, another call: Only 1 percent was left. Dodds knew he was taking a risk but he didn't sign up for "insane gambling." Unbeknownst to him, Dodds' advisor had made leveraged bets (investments offering amplified returns and losses) that the market would rebound, even as it was falling, and repeated this losing bet numerous times. "I was a bit shocked and appalled," he says. Dodds withdrew his remaining money from his advisor's business (not all of it was invested in the fund "I'm not a total idiot," he says), but the damage was done. "The financial loss was a big, big, big heartbreak," Dodds says. Lessons learned: With hindsight, Dodds sees the red flags: a first-time money manager who didn't communicate how the money would be invested and whose qualifications went unverified. In addition, the two never spoke about how much Dodds could afford to lose. No longer the "swashbuckling" investor of his younger years, Dodds has re-imagined his risk tolerance. Initially, he adopted a too-conservative approach that left him on the sidelines, rather than invested in the market. He finally got his "head straight," he says, and for several years has stuck with a prudent and proven approach: investing in low-cost index funds. Unsolicited (and unheeded) advice Cybersecurity company Palo Alto Networks' quarterly revenue and profit topped Wall Street estimates and the company gave an upbeat third-quarter forecast, helped by better-than-expected growth in its product business. The company's shares rose 5.1 percent to $178 after the bell on Monday. Revenue in the company's product business, which includes firewall protection software Panorama, rose nearly 20 percent to $202.2 million in the second quarter, beating the average analyst estimate of $175 million, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S. Cybersecurity firms such as Palo Alto have been benefiting from the series of cyberattacks last year including Equifax and WannaCry. "I think it's the combination of the efficiency and newly introduced tools is what helping them drive results," Catharine Trebnick, an analyst at Dougherty & Co., said. The company, which added close to 3,000 customers in the quarter, said the new clients included one of Europe's largest manufacturing companies that was using Cisco Systems' security offerings. "Palo Alto has found a way to grow sales and margins despite the intense competition in the industry, especially from larger companies like Cisco," Keith Snyder, an analyst at CFRA Research, told Reuters. Total revenue rose to $542.4 million from $422.6 million beating analysts' estimate of about $525 million. The company's services revenue, which includes revenue from contract-based subscriptions for its security offerings and accounts for more than half of its total revenue, surged 34 percent to $340.2 million in the quarter. However, that number missed the average analyst estimate of $355.9 million. Palo Alto Networks forecast current-quarter revenue of $538 million to $548 million, and profit of 94 cents to 96 cents per share. Analysts' on average were expecting revenue of $532.7 million and profit 81 cents per share. Net loss narrowed to $34.9 million, or 38 cents per share, in the quarter ended Jan. 31, from $60.6 million, or 67 cents per share, a year earlier. Palo Alto Networks booked a one-time tax benefit of $6.2 million due to changes in the U.S. tax law. Excluding items, the company earned 86 cents per share, beating the average analyst estimate of 79 cents. Republicans are hoping to hold off an election disaster in another red pocket of the country. On Tuesday, election handicapper Cook Political Report changed its rating for next month's Pennsylvania House special election to "toss-up" from "lean Republican." The race for Pennsylvania's 18th District which President Donald Trump won by 20 points in 2016 appears close with only two weeks until voters head to the polls. A win by Democratic candidate Conor Lamb would give the minority party in Congress hope about its ability to compete in red districts and potentially win back the House in November. A victory for Republican Rick Saccone would curb Democratic optimism and show the GOP that a strong economy and its new tax law may help it hold both chambers of Congress. Cook's rating change came as Lamb announced a $3.2 million fundraising haul from Jan. 1 to Feb. 21. Lamb's campaign hits its final stretch without any more financial support from House Democrats' fundraising arm and facing a barrage of spending from Republican outside groups. Such outside organizations have shelled out $4.8 million opposing Lamb and $2.2 million supporting Saccone, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Conversely, outside groups spent only about $384,000 against Saccone and roughly $244,000 for Lamb. The only certainty with Italy's upcoming election will be uncertainty. Following Germany's vote in September last year, it's now the Italians who are headed to the ballot box this Sunday, with the outcome expected to be even messier than Berlin's which, incidentally, is still being pieced together by Chancellor Angela Merkel and her coalition partners. Polls have pointed to a hung parliament where no one party will gain a majority to govern alone; but voter surveys have tended historically to be misleading in Italy. A center-right coalition featuring Forza Italia, led by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, and Lega Nord, an anti-immigrant and anti-systemic party, is seen as being the strongest coalition, but the polls suggest that it will still not get sufficient seats to form a majority government. Lorenzo Codogno, an economist at LC Macro Advisors, put it bluntly in a research note at the end of last week: "The outcome of the Italian elections remains highly uncertain." Joe Daniel Price | Getty Images His note traced how Italy became the most Euroskeptic of all the euro zone nations and highlighted that immigration had become the main topic of this current political campaign. He also stated plainly that budgetary issues would be at the forefront of any winning party's plans, and reminded readers that Italy still needed to find a solution to an "undercapitalized banking system burdened by a mountain of non-performing loans." Italy's fragile economy is why this election is so very different to Germany's and why many analysts singled out this vote at the start of the year as being a major a risk factor for 2018. Germany's political mess caused little distress in European stock markets in 2017, but Italy is a different prospect. UBS, which as a bank is quite bullish on these elections, offered a warning for equity investors. A global research team at the Swiss bank has a central scenario that does not factor in any macro or political shock, but in a note Friday it said it "cannot fully rule out tail risk," which could trigger a 10 to 15 percent downside for Italian equities relative to other benchmarks in Europe. The bank suggested that Italian sovereign bonds should be carefully watched and any sharp rise, when compared to Germany's yields, is traditionally bad for the country's equity markets. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa speaks at a rally on February 11, 2018, in Cape Town. Rodger Bosch | AFP | Getty Images South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed investor favorites to key economic management roles in a cabinet reshuffle announced late Monday. Former Finance Minister Nhlanhla Nene has been reinstated, while Pravin Gordhan, a two-time former finance minister who was most recently sacked by former President Jacob Zuma in March last year, has been restored to the African National Congress (ANC) cabinet as minister for public enterprises. The reappointments of Nene and Gordhan "will be well-received by financial markets and ratings agencies, as will the significant clean-out of ministers with clouds of corruption and mismanagement and sheer incompetence hanging over them," Gary van Staden, senior political analyst at South Africa-based NKC Economics, wrote in a note Tuesday. Nene served as South Africa's finance minister from May 2014 to December 2015 until he was fired by Zuma and replaced by an unknown backbencher. He is keen to stem public spending for example by crushing plans to build nuclear power stations in South Africa, which could cost up to $100 billion. South African Minister of Finance Nhlanhla Nene delivers the 2015 budget speech at the National Assembly in Cape Town on February 25, 2015. Rodger Bosch | AFP | Getty Images Gordhan's new role in the Department of Public Enterprises means that he is responsible for some 300 state-owned firms, including the struggling South African Airlines and utility firm Eskom. Gordhan is "an iconic figure among investors due to his resistance to the state capture project and his record of sound fiscal management," Ben Payton, head of Africa research at consultancy Verisk Maplecroft, wrote in a note Tuesday. "Given that maladministration in state-owned companies such as Eskom threatens to generate a financial meltdown, Gordhan is now the most important official in the government, other than Ramaphosa himself." Nene was cautious about the budget delivered by his predecessor Malusi Gigaba last week, in which South Africa's value added tax was hiked for the first time in 25 years, up from 14 percent to 15 percent in an attempt to address the country's deficit. When Nene was asked by local station Talk Radio 702 if the move would deter ratings downgrades, he answered, "I wouldn't say that yet," Reuters reported. Gigaba is now home affairs minister. South Africa's newly appointed Public Enterprises Minister Pravin Gordhan Waldo Swiegers | Bloomberg via Getty Images Ransomware is the 21st century's answer to extortion and the number of cyberattacks involving the malicious software is surging, according to the chief executive of McAfee. "It is today's modern-day extortion, and it's something that criminals are going to continue to drive because they can make money, and that's something that we're very concerned about," Christopher D. Young told CNBC on Tuesday. Malware called "WannaCry" targeted a number of businesses, government entities and the U.K.'s National Health Service (NHS) in May 2017. WannaCry is a form of ransomware. It blocks access to a user's computer until a sum of money is paid to the attacker. The data come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which tracks firearms deaths, and a project at the Boston University School of Public Health, which tracks dozens of different provisions of gun laws in the 50 states. Other research has also found a clear connection between stricter state gun laws and a lower rate of firearms-related deaths. In 2013, researchers at Boston Children's Hospital and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health found that states with more gun laws had fewer gun-related deaths. The impact was seen for overall deaths, as well as for specific categories such as homicides and suicides. But while the researchers confirmed that states with tougher gun laws have lower gun-related death rates, the study did not explain whether gun laws were the reason for the difference. "As our study could not determine cause-and-effect relationships, further studies are necessary to define the nature of this association," they wrote. While the cause and effect may seem intuitively obvious, there are apparently other factors behind the difference in gun-related deaths from one state to another. In Maine, for example, where there are relatively few gun laws on the books, there were a little more than 8.3 gun-related deaths per 100,000. But Louisiana, with roughly the same number of gun laws, saw a firearms death rate of 21.3 in 2016. The White House has confirmed that the administration has reached a deal with Boeing for two new Air Force One planes. "President Trump has reached an informal deal with Boeing on a fixed price contract for the new Air Force One Program," a White House spokesman said. "Thanks to the President's negotiations, the contract will save the taxpayers more than $1.4 Billion." The deal between the Trump administration and Boeing is expected to total $3.9 billion. The Pentagon deferred to the White House. Some of the savings may have come after Boeing failed to secure a deal with its original buyer: Russia. The U.S. Air Force told CNBC that the two planes were originally supposed to be sold to Russia. When that deal fell through, the Air Force acquired the aircraft at a slightly discounted price. The planes never left U.S. soil, the Air Force said. Representatives for Boeing did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. In December 2016, Trump complained about the $4 billion-plus projected cost of building a new Air Force One plane. He threatened to cancel the "order" in a tweet at the time. Trump tweet: Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order! But the deal the White House now supports will carry costs barely below the $4 billion mark. The anticipated $1.4 billion in savings appear to come from a different estimate that totaled over $5 billion. The deal includes the two new planes and their development program, as well as the construction of a new hangar to house the aircraft. The White House credited Trump's negotiations with the aircraft manufacturer for the smaller bill in the final deal. Before his inauguration, then President-elect Trump met with the CEOs of Boeing and Lockheed Martin at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and discussed ways to lower the cost of the planes' development. After that meeting, Muilenberg gave Trump his "personal commitment" that Boeing would lower costs below $4 billion. In a tweet on Tuesday, Boeing celebrated the deal that it says will provide "American Presidents with a flying White House at outstanding value to taxpayers." Boeing tweet The aircraft themselves only account for about a fifth of the cost, said Richard Aboulafia, vice president of the aviation analysis firm Teal Group. Much of the cost comes from outfitting the planes for the president, including ensuring communication equipment is secure and the plane is self-sufficient. "The planes are just a minority cost of the program," Aboulafia said. The Boeing 747-8 was first selected to serve as the next Air Force One in January 2015. The 747-8 and France's Airbus A380 were the only two four-engine plane designs with a wide enough body to accommodate the needs of a presidential carrier, according to the Air Force. The planes in the deal announced Tuesday are VC-25Bs, the military counterpart to the 747. --CNBC's Leslie Josephs contributed to this report. President Donald Trump may tie his decision on steel and aluminum tariffs to a rally in southwestern Pennsylvania, currently in the works for March 10, according to three people with knowledge of the event. The announcement on tariffs closely watched by trading partners and global investors could be made in the lead-up to the event, these people told CNBC. The rally is tentatively scheduled for three days before a special election in Pennsylvania's 18th District to fill the seat of Republican Rep. Tim Murphy, who resigned last October after it was revealed the pro-life Murphy suggested his mistress seek an abortion. Trump's potential visit to the district to talk up a labor-friendly policy to restore American steel and aluminum production would be one way to help Republican candidate Rick Saccone solidify his support. "Rick is very pleased to have the President's support and would welcome him to the 18th," said Saccone's spokesman, Patrick McCann. McCann said Saccone would engage with voters on tax cuts and national security and would support steel and aluminum tariffs if "other countries aren't playing by the rules." The race to claim the seat, which Murphy had held since 2003, is heating up. The Democratic challenger, Conor Lamb, is trying to appeal to blue-collar sensibilities in an attempt to flip people who voted for Trump in 2016. Saccone had held a 12-point lead over Lamb in January, but it has been cut by at least half, according to mid-February polls by Gravis Marketing and Monmouth University. "There is nothing currently on the schedule for the president to go to Pennsylvania," according to White House deputy press secretary Lindsay Walters. One wild card in the scenario: Whether policy differences among Cabinet members can be reconciled before March 10, the prospect of which was doubted by two White House officials. The Commerce Department has offered Trump a menu of options global tariffs, targeted tariffs and global quotas to shore up American steel and aluminum production. A senior administration official called the final decision a "moving target," despite Trump's backing of global tariffs. A memo from the Department of Defense raised concerns "about the negative impact on our key allies" but suggested targeted tariffs would do the least harm. The White House trade pendulum appears to be swinging back toward the protectionist policies Trump praised on the campaign trail that have been diluted or shelved during his presidency. Recent evidence of this trend: The potential ascension of well-known trade hawk Peter Navarro, countered by the removal of staff secretary Rob Porter, who resigned earlier this month after two ex-wives accused him of domestic abuse. Porter was not often mentioned as a player on trade policy, but he was an influential force nonetheless. "Rob Porter controlled the information flow, and what he was good at was slowing things down when he needed to," said a former White House official with knowledge of the discussions. Porter and Trump's top economic advisor, Gary Cohn, bought time, this official said, to push beyond the White House's self-imposed deadlines on trade probes. While the steel and aluminum investigation carried a deadline of 270 days by law, "the initial goal inside the White House was to have Commerce weigh in within 60 days." The pursuit of tariffs isn't uniformly popular across Pennsylvania. Republican Sen. Pat Toomey has urged the president to tread carefully where tariffs are concerned. "I would just urge us to go very, very cautiously here," Toomey told Trump and White House officials Feb. 13. "Invoking national security when I think it's really hard to make that case invites retaliation that'll be problematic for us." The issue isn't one drawn along clear party lines, either: Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, who served as U.S. trade representative under George W. Bush, sent a letter to Trump co-signed by four Democratic colleagues urging action on tariffs and arguing that past negotiations were ineffective. "We believe a long-term enforcement approach is the only way to obtain the relief the American steel industry and its steelworkers need," the letter said. Trump has until April 11 to finalize his decision on steel and April 19 to finalize his decision on aluminum. Defense Secretary James Mattis, in his memo last week, suggested a delay on aluminum because the threat of action was enough. Whitney Hayward | Portland Press Herald | Getty Images As Europe prepares for the outcome of Italy's highly consequential election on March 4, emerging markets investors are keeping tabs on political movements further afield ahead of elections in several developing economies this year. One top investment bank has laid out the big ones to watch: Russia, Mexico, Colombia, Hungary, Malaysia and Brazil. These elections "have the potential to move markets," according to UBS' Chief Investment Office, which published the list this week in its EM Electoral Monitor. Ranging from the politically opaque like Russia's election, which has been widely criticized for being undemocratic to more free and fair, the bank presented its base cases for the contests' outcomes and how they might impact those country's assets. CNBC takes a look at the assessments of Russia, Mexico and Hungary. Russia Western governments and transparency organizations alike heavily dispute the legitimacy of Russia's upcoming election on March 18. Many question whether it should be called an election at all the most viable opposition candidates have been barred from running, dissent is often met with force and the press is heavily state-monitored. Russia's President Vladimir Putin at the Russian Security Council meeting on January 19, 2018. Mikhail Klimentyev | TASS | Getty Images The incumbent Vladimir Putin, having already served as president of the Russian Federation for 12 years in two separate terms and prime minister for eight year in between, has a virtually certain victory ahead of him. UBS reports his contenders poll at a combined total of 16 percent of the vote. Continuation of the status quo is the most likely outcome investors can rely on, with shifts in the Russian economy more likely to be influenced by global energy prices and economic sanctions than any upcoming elections. Russia's GDP growth, which saw mild recovery in 2017 after a two-year recession, is expected to improve at a modest rate. Still, its growth potential remains low due to structural issues, low oil prices and Western sanctions. Any chance of meaningful structural reforms, UBS believes, will rather come if reformist politicians are appointed to the role of prime minister or to the cabinet. Mexico July 1 will see both presidential and legislative elections in Mexico. While the outcome is still largely a toss-up, UBS predicts Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, or AMLO, from the leftwing Morena party as the most likely winner. This could move markets as the former Mexico City mayor plans to champion a turn against neoliberal economics and pursue greater state involvement in the economy. The president of the National Regeneration Movement (MORENA), Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, shows the document after registering himself as a pre-candidate for Mexico's presidential election in July, in Mexico City, on December 12, 2017. Ronaldo Schemidt | AFP | Getty Images AMLO's left-leaning agenda would aim to end the privatization of Mexican state oil company Pemex and the country's electricity industry, bringing "changes to the status quo and unorthodox macro policies" that would "likely weigh on Mexican assets," UBS said. Meanwhile, victories for either of the two other contenders Mexico's center-right PRI (Institutional Revolutionary Party) and PAN (National Action Party) would be more reassuring to investors. Either would imply continuity of the current macro policy, thereby entailing "smoother sailing for the Mexican economy and asset prices," the UBS investment office said. The bank expects Mexico to "exhibit resilience to shocks" and carry on with strong exports to offset lower oil output. Hungary The central European manufacturing hub is set to vote in parliamentary elections on April 8, and analysts have slated the right-wing party of firebrand incumbent leader Viktor Orban to win easily. This would cement the status quo, and investors so far don't expect asset prices to change. The country of 10 million enjoys a current account surplus and positive foreign investment flows. Orban's Fidesz Party has since 2010 pursued a nationalist-populist agenda that pushes hard against immigration and Islam, and is at frequent loggerheads with the EU. Hungarian Prime Minister and Chairman of FIDESZ party Viktor Orban delivers his state of the nation address in front of his party members and sypathizers at Varkert Bazar cultural center of Budapest on February 18, 2018. ATTILA KISBENEDEK | AFP | Getty Images Labeled by some as the "troublemaker of Europe", Orban has drawn criticism from international observers who say he's weakened the country's democratic institutions. Still, a Fidesz victory would ensure continuity for investors. UBS predicts no major changes to the government's policies, likely continuation of low budget deficit and "a further reduction of external vulnerabilities, but also likely continued differences with EU partners." In a surprising development, Orban's party lost a local by-election over the weekend in a small town whose votes are said to be the bellwether for future political outcomes. While less likely, an alternative victory by a coalition of opposition parties could still happen, creating uncertainty that would weigh on investor sentiment toward Hungarian assets, UBS said. Politics versus markets Deal talks between Walgreens Boots Alliance and AmerisourceBergen about an acquisition of the wholesale drug distributor have ended without an agreement, according to people familiar with the matter. Walgreens Chief Executive Stefano Pessina and Amerisource Chief Executive Steven Collis met to discuss a potential tie-up, but those early stage explorations ended without an agreement, the sources said. Such a deal would likely be valued at more than $25 billion given Amerisource has a market capitalization around $22 billion. CVS Health's $69 billion deal to acquire Aetna has forced corporate executives to consider a number of deals as they weigh the best means of fending off their new competitor. The Wall Street Journal reported earlier this month that Walgreens had made a takeover approach to Amerisource, cautioning a formal offer hadn't yet been made and that a deal may not materialize. Walgreens already owns a roughly 26 percent stake in the drug distributor. The sources, who cautioned the deal talks could once again resume, declined to be named because the information is confidential. Walgreens and Amerisource declined to comment. The early stage deal talks highlight the disruption confronting the retail and health-care industries. Amazon is encroaching into both, including its recently announced partnership with Berkshire Hathaway and J.P. Morgan to lower the cost of health care for its employees. The Seattle giant has also started selling its own line of over-the-counter drugs. CVS Health last year announced an acquisition of Aetna that would create the first health-care triple threat, combining CVS' pharmacy and pharmacy benefits manager platform with Aetna's insurance business. The deal also threatens to leverage Aetna's network of 22 million medical members to drive traffic to CVS stores, putting pressure on its retail competitors. Those competitors, which include Kroger, Walmart, Walgreens and Rite Aid, have been widely speculated as candidates for their own deal-making. Rite Aid last week announced plans to sell to grocery chain Albertsons, following its failed 2015 attempt to sell the entire chain to Walgreens. Of the remaining retailers, Walgreens arguably has the most to lose. It is the most similar to CVS in its business model and the most reliant on drug sales to drive shoppers into stores. The household and personal care products it sells can now be found online and often for less. The retailer generates 69 percent of its U.S. sales in its pharmacy. Abroad, where the retail industry is less competitive, it generates 35 percent of its sales in its pharmacy. Amerisource was in many ways a natural route for Walgreens; the two have partnered since 2013. Walgreens CEO Pessina, meanwhile, comes from the wholesale pharmaceutical industry. Should Walgreens forgo an Amerisource deal entirely, experts have suggested it could also more closely follow CVS' path, acquiring Humana, the remaining party from the abandoned Aetna-Humana tie-up. Regulators blocked the merger of the two insurance companies last year, citing antitrust concerns. Still, Walgreens many years ago set itself down a road different from that of CVS. Rather than diving into health care, as CVS did, Walgreens doubled down on real estate and international expansion. It acquired British pharmacy giant Alliance Boots in 2014, opening it up into Europe. It attempted to acquire Rite Aid a year later, in a $17.5 billion deal that looked to bring with it 4,600 stores. Regulators, though, in September whittled the deal down to a purchase of 1,932 stores for $4.37 billion. Rite Aid said it's one-third of the way through the process of transferring 1,932 of its stores to Walgreens Boots Alliance. [The stream is slated to start at 2 p.m., ET. Please refresh the page if you do not see a player above at that time.] Press secretary Sarah Sanders is scheduled to answer reporters' questions at the White House on Tuesday. Sanders will likely be asked to further clarify which gun control policies the Trump administration plans to pursue in the wake of a mass shooting at a Florida high school in February. President Donald Trump has floated numerous proposals and with varying levels of emphasis including raising the minimum age to purchase firearms, strengthening background checks, focusing on mental health and arming "gun-adept" teachers. Earlier Tuesday, it was revealed that media guru Brad Parscale, who managed social media for Trump's 2016 campaign, will be the campaign manager for Trump's reelection bid in 2020. Political debates over White House security clearances, immigration reform and the House Intelligence Committee's latest memo on the Russia probe are likely to be covered as well. Despite decades of studies and headline like the recent one claiming that "coffee can help you live past 90," researchers overall still aren't sure whether the caffeinated life-source for over half of America really is good for you. They think it might be, in some cases, but that's as far as they can go. A recent comprehensive overview published in the Annual Review of Nutrition and highlighted by Knowable Magazine is the latest to make that hesitant claim. The researchers from the University of Catania in Italy found "probable" evidence that drinking coffee can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes and some neurological conditions, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. It also might prevent common cancers, including breast, colon and prostate, they said, echoing a claim from the World Health Organization in 2015. Coffee beans contain caffeine and phytochemicals, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, Knowable points out, as well as "specific effects on enzymes that regulate liver function, insulin and glucose metabolism and DNA repair." That explains its probable benefits for most consumers, with some exceptions, such as pregnant women, since researchers found coffee may be associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. But of all the studies they looked at in their 127 meta-analyses, each comprised of groups of studies addressing the same coffee-related topic, none was ideal. As Knowable points out, "For each meta-analysis, the team calculated the strength of the study's designs and conclusions and then ranked its evidence for relationships between coffee and health on a scale from 'convincing' all the way down to 'limited.' No studies showed a 'convincing' level of evidence." Most of the studies were observational, and it's difficult to prove causality from an observational study, because the researchers have little control over the other variables in the experiment. Maybe coffee really does help you live past 90, as researchers from the University of California, Irvine, recently announced, noting that "people who drank moderate amounts of alcohol or coffee lived longer than those who abstained." Or maybe coffee drinkers live longer because they also happen to drink less sugary beverages or because, on the whole, they're better off socioeconomically. The UC-Irvine findings haven't been officially published yet but researchers will have to control for these factors before they can responsibly claim that coffee is a life-extending elixir. Frustratingly, there are also nuances that complicate most broad claims. Some findings, for instance, suggest that drinking very hot beverages at 149 degrees or more might increase the risk of esophageal cancer. Coffee contains the chemical acrylamide, a byproduct of the brewing process, which could cause cancer. The few studies that assess the risk of exposure of acrylamide in humans have been inconsistent and ultimately inconclusive. But it's currently the focus of a lawsuit in California deciding whether companies should have to provide cancer warning labels on their coffee cups. Several have settled and agreed to add a label, including most recently 7-Eleven. Another reason it's difficult to generalize about health benefits is that different people respond to coffee differently. A recent comprehensive overview of 700 studies about caffeine in the Atlantic pegged 400 milligrams as a safe daily limit, about the same amount the Italians claim provides the maximum benefit. That's two mediums at Dunkin' or a Venti at Starbucks. Any more, the researchers found, was associated with adverse effects: "Everything from depression and dysphoria (general unhappiness) to anxiety to hypertension to higher proportions of sperm with DNA damage," the Atlantic notes. "I like to think that we are all dreamers, and they need our help," said Valerie Berta-Torales, a social documentary photographer. "The fate of the Dreamers has a lot more to do with your fate than you think." The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Apple has launched a new subsidiary company tasked with providing healthcare clinics to Apple employees: AC Wellness. Healthy living through technology According to the AC Wellness website, the company is based at the Apple health center in Cupertino, California, between its original headquarters at Infinite Loop and Apple Park. CNBCs Christina Farr, who broke the news, claims the new primary care clinics will launch in earnest this spring at locations in Santa Clara County. To support the attempt, Apple is recruiting doctors, health coaches, nursing staff and designers. You can find ads on Glassdoor, Indeed, and LinkedIn. The company website states: AC Wellness Network is an independent medical practice exclusively dedicated to delivering compassionate, effective healthcare to the Apple employee and dependent population at the Apple Wellness Centers in Santa Clara Valley, including the new Apple Park Wellness Center. AC Wellness Network believes that having trusting, accessible relationships with our patients, enabled by technology, promotes high-quality care and a unique patient experience. For the Apple people Apple is starting small here. The clinics will only cater for the health needs of Apple employees and will be situated at several locations in the area, including Apple Park, the report claims. The idea makes sense Apple will already be coughing up significant fees to provide healthcare services for its employees, so actually launching its own service makes sense it can reduce running costs while leveraging the offer for future health insights. Apple is recruiting designers to help develop healthcare programs in collaboration with its operations and technology teams. These moves mean Apple employees will become the testing ground for what almost every Apple watcher now expects will become a big sector for the company. Patient records, activity data, software and future health-related services can now be deployed and privately tested against a huge population Apple Park hosts at least 12,000 staff, and the company has many more thousands across the area. We know Apple is working on a plethora of health-related solutions, spanning non-invasive blood glucose monitoring, and a variety of research and study attempts to identify and provide proof for ways in which technology can make a difference to health. Information is power Of course, as Apple continues to develop new solutions around connected preventative healthcare, it can also begin to explore connected medical intervention technologies. To do so, it will answer those questions currently drawing so much discussion across the industry, such as: How can data provide actionable insights to help deliver public health? How augmented reality (AR) and remote technologies can be used to provide better healthcare to remote communities? How connected solutions can improve elderly care? Healthy outlook Apple has been quite open about its ambitions in health. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently told shareholders he thinks his company can make a significant contribution in the sector. Thats no idle claim. As a company at the heart of the mobile transformation, Apple is absolutely in a good position to figure out how to use technology effectively for patient care. (We are seeing all the ideas I discussed in 2013 come through, and more.) The perfect storm of Apples mobile technologies and its capacity to work with large sample groups (ResearchKit helps also) mean it is going to have a huge impact on future health provision on a global scale. Patient engagement and effective tools for remote diagnosis are entering the mainstream at this time (even the NHS in the U.K. now offers some online diagnosis). Health is a huge issue around the world and we think its ripe for simplicity and a new view, Cook told a May 2016 conference in Amsterdam. If I have questions, as a U.K. resident who still enjoys NHS coverage, it is around the ethical application of these technologies: Will Apple seek to reap the kind of profits so commonly seen by private healthcare providers who ask the sick for credit card details before they look at them, or will it instead decide to improve the lot of the poorest and most disadvantages healthcare seekers in order to truly leave a better world? Another question surrounds privacy: If Cellebrite can truly break into any iOS device, just how secure will your patient data be? Is it appropriate that your confidential health data be left unprotected? I do expect Apple will eventually extend its new healthcare subsidiary to people outside of Apple, possibly through link-ups with insurance firms. I'm in no doubt at all now that the company wants to be good for your health. Google+? If you use social media and happen to be a Google+ user, why not join AppleHolic's Kool Aid Corner community and get involved with the conversation as we pursue the spirit of the New Model Apple? Got a story? Please drop me a line via Twitter and let me know. I'd like it if you chose to follow me there so I can let you know about new articles I publish and reports I find. Android upgrades have been a source of frustration for years now but it's rare to get a glimpse at just how extensively the various manufacturers' performance has been degrading over the past few years. I've been tracking Android upgrade progress closely since the platform's earliest days. Each year, I publish the results in an Android Upgrade Report Card that measures how long different device-makers take to get the most recent major Android OS update onto their current and previous-gen flagship phones (using the first availability of the software in the U.S. as a metric). With Oreo, to put it mildly, it wasn't a pretty picture. It was by far the worst overall result I've seen in all the years I've been measuring this stuff, with just a single passing grade followed by one D-level score and then a bunch of F's. Two of those F's were actually zero percent, too, due to a complete failure by the manufacturers to start any level of rollouts within the first six months of Oreo's release. Un-frickin'-believable. Android upgrades: A zoomed-out perspective Given all of that, I thought it'd be interesting to zoom out to a bigger picture view to pull together data from the past four years of Android OS updates and see how the major manufacturers' performance has evolved from the time of Lollipop, in 2015, to Oreo, now. Lollipop, you may remember, marked the first time Google provided an early preview of its software months ahead of the public release. The idea was that with more advance notice, manufacturers would be able to get a head start on prepping their devices and then be ready to roll out upgrades faster than they'd managed in the past. Google pushed the preview up earlier and earlier with each subsequent year, giving companies more and more time to work with the software. And yet well, let's turn to some telling visuals: JR Raphael (Click image to enlarge) This chart represents each major manufacturer's Android Upgrade Report Card score from Lollipop through Oreo. You can see the exact formula for the score's calculation here, but in short, 60% of it is based on how long it took for an update to reach a company's then-current flagship, 30% is based on its time to the company's previous-gen flagship, and 10% is based on the company's overall communication with customers throughout the process. Google, as you can see, has remained relatively consistent. Its scores stay steadily in A territory, with two 95's, a 93, and a 94. HTC was on a good streak from Lollipop to Marshmallow, meanwhile with respectable scores of 85% and 86%, respectively. Then, with Nougat, things started heading south, with a drop down to 77%. That trajectory picked up pace considerably with Oreo, which saw HTC earning a mere 49% grade. LG's baseline has always been lower, but it actually made a teensy bit of positive progress from Lollipop to Marshmallow moving from a 68 to a 71. After that, however, the downward slope hit hard. The company earned an underwhelming 47% for its Nougat performance and a big fat zero for its embarrassing failure to do anything within Oreo's first six months of existence. Motorola's been on a steady decline from Lollipop on not entirely surprising, perhaps, considering that Lollipop was the start of the company's Lenovo-owned era and the end of its Google-owned glory days. And as for Samsung well, it's always done pretty poorly with upgrades, but it's slumped further down the path from "bad" to "worse" with every passing year. (And yes, that almost-missing final bar in the green spot represents a zero, just like it did with LG.) Upgrade delivery times for flagship phones Those are composite scores, so let's break things down even further and look at the actual number of days it took each company to get an Android release onto its U.S. flagship and remember, this is measuring only the first appearance of the software on a U.S.-available device, so it doesn't even take into account the variance and additional delays we frequently see across multiple carriers and models. JR Raphael (Click image to enlarge) This should be pretty obvious, but it seems worth emphasizing: Here unlike in our first chart the lower the number (and the shorter the bar), the better. You can see that the same general progression more or less holds true in this domain: Google holds steady with very fast and reliable updates to its flagship devices, while HTC shows delivery times slowly but steadily growing worse. LG had that one year of mild improvement, then worsened a bit the following year and completely dropped the ball this latest go-round. Motorola actually did okay with Lollipop (on its current-gen flagship, at least you'll see the other part of the story in a moment) but then shot up considerably with its rollout time the following year and continued to get slower with its rollouts on each subsequent year. And Samsung started out underwhelming and got meaningfully worse, without exception, every single year. But again: My scores deliberately factor in both current-gen and previous-gen flagships because manufacturers should be providing timely and reliable support to their top-tier devices for a minimum of two years. And the data for those previous-gen phones is perhaps the most telling part of all: JR Raphael (Click image to enlarge) Basically, if you buy a phone from LG, Motorola, or Samsung, you really shouldn't hold your breath for an upgrade in your device's second year. LG completely failed its customers with its previous-gen U.S. flagship update for Nougat and has yet to deliver Oreo to its previous-gen device as of today, more than six months after the software's release. Motorola took 433 days to get Nougat onto its previous-gen flagship, meanwhile a device that was sold only unlocked, at that! and is also still currently a "TBD" for Oreo, half a year into that update's life. And Samsung's steady tick upward stays true in this realm, too, with another "TBD" in place for its previous-gen Galaxy S7 flagship as of this writing. One thing you can say for the major manufacturers is that, with a couple of glaring exceptions LG, as noted above, and also Motorola, which abandoned some of its U.S. flagship customers a few years back most of them do provide updates to their recent flagship devices eventually. But waiting in the dark for months upon months, not knowing if or when increasingly stale-growing software will reach you and receiving little to no communication along the way, isn't exactly an ideal experience. So where do we go from here? In discussing Android upgrades over the past several months, one thing I hear come up a lot is Project Treble Google's plan, as announced last May, to create a "modular base" for Android that should make it easier (at least in theory) for manufacturers to update their devices in a timely manner. Treble is something that'd apply mostly to devices released after that announcement so not most of the ones included in the Oreo analysis, in other words, but quite possibly some of the ones we'll look at with the upcoming Android P release. Early reports indicate the newly announced Galaxy S9 will support Treble, and other 2018 flagships seem likely to do so as well. We have to keep in mind, though, that Treble itself is not an end-all solution. Sure, it's another tool that'll help make the process of updating devices easier for Android manufacturers but we've seen such efforts before, and yet device-makers' performance has generally only continued to get worse. (See the discussion about the "early preview" program, above.) The real question in my mind revolves around motivation and whether, even with more tools at their disposal, manufacturers will have the incentive to make OS upgrades a priority. Even if Treble makes them easier, after all, it doesn't make them automatic. What it basically does is eliminate the need to update the "lower-level" parts of the code, namely the areas related to the silicon inside a device, with every new release. In real-world terms, that means a company like Samsung won't have to wait on Qualcomm to do its share of the updating every time a new Android version comes out. But Samsung will still have to do its own share of the work and that includes updating Android to incorporate all of its user-facing interface changes and feature additions, which are factors that Treble does not, by all counts, address. The level of effort and resources involved is certainly less substantial than it was before, but it's still not negligible. And the cold, hard reality is that despite the fact that they're investing time and money in managing software upgrades, most Android manufacturers don't make any additional revenue directly off of those efforts. In fact, if you think about it, providing fast and frequent OS updates to existing devices actively works against most device-makers' financial interests as if anything, it makes you less likely to feel the need to upgrade your hardware and plunk down cash for a new phone. Google is the sole exception to this rule, and it's probably no coincidence that it's also the sole company that takes Android upgrades seriously. There is actually an answer already in place for all of this, of course, but it's not the answer many people are hoping to see (nor the answer that'll cause these grades to go up). So for now, we'll have to just wait and see if this latest effort to give Android manufacturers a kick in the caboose actually does any good. I'd like to end on a positive note and say at least things can only go uphill from here but, well, I've thought that before, and look where we are now. Sign up for JR's new weekly newsletter to get this column along with bonus tips, personal recommendations, and other exclusive extras delivered to your inbox. [Android Intelligence videos at Computerworld] A better camera and personalized emojis might headline the new features on Samsung's Galaxy S9, but there are good reasons for enterprise users to take notice: a new version of its innovative DeX dock and upgrades to Knox. DeX was introduced with the Galaxy S8 last year and connects to a monitor, keyboard and mouse for a PC-like experience powered by the smartphone. Software in the phone detects when it's connected and replaces the typical smartphone homescreen with a computer-like desktop on the monitor. The idea is that business travelers can leave the PC at home and compatible apps include Microsoft Office, Gmail and Adobe Lightroom. In the new DeX the smartphone lies down horizontally instead of sitting up. That means the screen can be used as a touchpad so users don't need to pack a mouse. In a demonstration it appeared to work well. Martyn Williams/IDG A phone screen turns into a track pad with the new version of Dex. Samsung said it plans to add a toggle for an on-screen keyboard so even a keyboard can be left at home, but that wasn't working in the demo and might be a harder sell. The phone slides onto the Dex dock and connects to a USB-C plug. On the bottom are two USB-A, a USB-C and an HDMI connector. The dock can charge the phone if connected to power but otherwise doesn't require power. Martyn Williams/IDG The Dex dock includes 2 conventional USB sockets, an HDMI and a USB-C connector. Another bonus of the new dock is that the audio socket on the phone is now accessible when the phone is docked so a headset can be connected. Screen-resolution is also getting an upgrade. The previous version output a high-definition (1920 x 1080) video image while the new version ups that to 2560 x 1440 pixels, so users have more screen real-estate. Martyn Williams/IDG Samsung Dex in use during a demonstration in San Francisco. It's not just business travelers that are taking notice of Dex. Samsung said it's testing the system out in police cars as a smartphone with Dex could replace the current in-car computers. The new Dex is compatible with Android Oreo, the latest version of Android that's shipping in the S9. The S8 and Note 8, both of which work with the previous version of Dex, haven't been given the Oreo update yet. Also of interest to enterprise users will be a new version of Samsung's Knox security platform. There's a new biometric verification method called "intelligent scan" that is said to fuse iris scanning and facial recognition and a new feature called "dedicated fingerprint" that provides the option to specify a different fingerprint to gain access to the secure folder than the one used to unlock the phone. The Enterprise Edition of the phone, available from Samsung and channel partners, also packs Knox Configure, which allows remote provisioning and configuration of mobile devices with granular control of many settings. Enterprise customers can also send new firmware to phones on their schedule rather than that of a carrier. Adam Patrick Murray/IDG The Galaxy S9 (left) is a smidgen shorter top to bottom than the Galaxy S8 (right). But dsiplay size remains static at 5.8 inches. The Galaxy S9 is an evolutionary update of Samsung's current S9 and Note 8 smartphones. The S9 has a 5.8-inch screen, 12-megapixel rear camera and 8-megapixel front camera while the S9+ has a 6.2-inch screen, dual 12-megapixel rear cameras and 8-megapixel front camera. With those dual cameras, the S9+ becomes the second phone from Samsung to feature two rear cameras after the Note 8. One camera has a wide-angle lens and the other a conventional lens. A new imaging chip behind the camera integrates DRAM so it can capture bursts of images in fast succession: at 960 frames per second. When played back at 60 frames per second, you get a super slow-motion effect. Samsung's Bixby digital assistant is getting an update and can now do live translation with the camera. Just point it at a sign or letter or menu and it will attempt to translate it. Unlocked versions of the Galaxy S9 will cost from $720 and the S9+ begins at $840. They are both available from March 16. Brexit 1) Fox rebukes the CBI for clinging to the EU Liam Fox, the international trade secretary, will rebuke Britains largest business group today and call for the country to prioritise trading opportunities of the future above existing economic ties to the EU. In an attack on the Confederation of British Industry, which yesterday backed Labours new policy of remaining in a customs union, Dr Fox warns that such a move would leave the UK with one arm tied behind our back when negotiating future trade deals. Britain should move away from Europes economic and regulatory model altogether and seek new multi-country alliances of the like-minded. Dr Fox has held tentative discussions about Britain signing up to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that includes Australia, Japan, Canada and Mexico. He is understood to have been told that membership would not be possible while the country is tied into Europes regulatory framework. We cannot allow the practices and patterns of the past to constrain the opportunities of the future, he will say in a speech at Bloomberg in London. Our approach should not be premised on simply identifying how much of our current relationship we want to keep, but what we need to prosper in a rapidly changing global environment. The Times Editorials The great betrayal by Labour, egged on by the CBIs europhile fools The Sun Says Corbyns an unreconstructed socialist and we like him FT Leader Tory rebels must see right through Labours transparently cynical ploy Daily Telegraph Leader Its realistic and smart The Guardian Leader >Today: ToryDiary: Our survey. Party members overwhelmingly oppose the Norway option. The majority against a Swiss model is less emphatic. Brexit 2) Brussels wants the ECJ to retain power indefinitely The EU will demand this week that the UK remains subject to European court rulings indefinitely under its Brexit divorce deal, forcing Theresa May into another fraught battle over the writ of Luxembourg judges. Brussels will propose a draft Brexit withdrawal agreement on Wednesday that requires the UK to accept the European Court of Justice as the ultimate arbiter of treaty-related disputes, according to three officials who have seen the text. The uncompromising governance mechanism, backed up by sanctions that cut off market access if Britain ignored court rulings, is among a host of potentially explosive political issues included in the 160-paragraph document. A prolonged role for the Luxembourg court is expected to be rejected outright by the British prime minister, who has struggled to convince sovereignty-minded Brexiters to accept ECJ jurisdiction even for a time-limited transition after Brexit. Jacob Rees-Mogg, a Conservative MP who chairs the partys pro-Leave faction, said the commission plan would turn Britain into a convict state. FT The EU is trying to go back on its word over Northern Ireland Daily Telegraph Nobody wants a hard border, Brussels is just making it difficult as a tactic Leo McKinstry, Daily Telegraph The 27 will not split John Springford, The Times Juncker appoints crony to crucial job The Times Frustrated Italian voters prepare to go to the polls FT German economic engine fails to power rural areas FT The pint of champagne is set to make a comeback thanks to Brexit The Times >Yesterday: MPsETC: Wide-ranging devolution from Westminster as well as Brussels. Lidingtons Brexit and the Union speech: full text. Brexit 3) Wallace: Corbyn has decided he can afford to alienate Labour Leavers Ironically, while Mays election announcement speech rang hollow last April, it would be far more appropriate if she delivered it today. Now, the Lords really have dug in for a lengthy and bitter legislative battle. And Corbyns latest speech suggests that Labour truly is playing harmful games around the Brexit negotiations By flirting with the possibility of customs union, Corbyn is backtracking on Brexitthat seems unlikely to prove popular with the Labour Leavers whom May had hoped to win over last year. The essential question is whether there is any risk that they will abandon Labour as a result. Evidently Corbyn, or at least the colleagues who dragged him to the podium yesterday, is no longer scared of ignoring or angering them. Perhaps he thinks that May is no threat any more, and Nigel Farage is never coming back; or, alternatively, he calculates that the hipster vote is big enough to make the old working classes redundant as an electoral force. That seems like a dangerous assumption. Mark Wallace, the i paper >Today: The Moggcast. Should May make a Customs Union vote a confidence vote? Rees-Mogg says no: I dont think it works. >Yesterday: Gove plans to cut farm subsidies for largest landowners Farm subsidies could be capped at 100,000 a year for the largest landowners from 2021 to release 150 million for environmental projects and other public goods, under reforms proposed today by Michael Gove. The cap would affect about 2,100 landowners including some billionaires, with several losing more than 1 million a year. Farms owned by Sir James Dyson, the inventor who backed Brexit and is thought to be worth 7 billion, received 1.6 million in 2016 under the EUs common agricultural policy, according to analysis by Greenpeace. The environment secretary will publish a consultation document on post-Brexit farming policy that will commit to a new system of paying farmers public money for public goods. About two thirds of the 3 billion paid annually to British farmers under the EU system is paid per acre in basic payments, meaning that the more land farmers own, the more subsidy they get. The Times He wants a two-year transition to a new subsidy regime FT Women in Syria have been exploited by men delivering aid for the UN and various charities Cambridge students challenge college principal over her role with Oxfam The Times Mordaunt says taxpayers are sceptical about how aid is spent Daily Telegraph Take child abuse out of the shadows to prevent it Sarah Champion, The Times The Foreign Secretary says the West should not stand idly by if Assad is using chemical weapons again Daily Mail We need to speak with one voice on atrocities Champa Patel, The Times Two per cent is not enough, says defence minister The Times Former general warns our military is obsolete The Sun Ministers and Special Advisers accused of meddling in appointments to universities quango Women in Syria have reportedly been sexually exploited by men delivering aid on behalf of the UN and international charities. A new report has revealed that the abuse is still going on in the south of the country, despite warnings aid bosses three years ago. Aid workers said the men would ask for sexual favours in return for food and lifts and that the exploitation has led to some Syrian women refusing to go to distribution centres. It is the latest in a growing list of allegations which have rocked the charity sector, since the Oxfam sex scandal came to lightCharity humanitarian adviser, Danielle Spencer, held a focus group of Syrian women at a refugee camp in Jordan three years ago. She heard that male council workers in Daraa and Quneitra were offering aid to women in exchange for sex. Daily Mail The vetting process by which Toby Young was appointed to the board of the new higher education regulator was flawed and rife with political interference, according to the results of an investigation by an official watchdog. The commissioner for public appointments report castigates the Department for Education (DfE) and regulator the Office for Students (OfS) for failing to delve into Youngs controversial writings and social media postings, and uncovers a high degree of direct meddling by ministers in Youngs appointment and No 10 Downing Street in other nominations. The commissioner concludes that the OfSs board appointments, including Young, showed a clear disparity in the treatment of different candidates, and that parts of the process had serious shortcomings in terms of the fairness and transparency aspects under the code governing public appointments. The report reveals Jo Johnson, who was then the universities minister, contacted Young about applying for the post and that his nomination was later queried by Justine Greening, the education secretary at the time. The Guardian >Yesterday: Richard Tice on Comment: University lecturers and Vice-Chancellors more working, less whingeing, if you want sympathy Yet another moderate Labour council leader has been driven from office by the left Kensington and Chelsea launches 220 million housing plan FT Momentum and Unite battle over the Labour NECs chairmanship The Sun McCluskey repays 400,000 that Unite gave him towards the cost of his flat The Sun The Conservatives must grapple for the future old Hugo Rifkind, The Times Corbyn says he doesnt regret meeting with Czechoslovak diplomat Daily Telegraph If he was that naive, it disbars him from high office Norman Tebbit, Daily Telegraph GPs are fuelling the superbug crisis by wrongly giving out antibiotics to millions of people The Labour leader of Brighton & Hove council is stepping down in the face of opposition from left-wing local party members. Warren Morgan, a centrist, said he would resign from his leadership role in May and would stand down as a councillor at the next local elections in May 2019. He told the BBC that while he had wanted to lead the party into the ballot next spring, the local Labour Party have made it clear they do not want me to do so. Mr Morgan is the third centrist Labour town hall leader to step down in recent weeks. Claire Kober quit as leader of Haringey council in north London last month after opposition from left-wing groups. Jon Clempner then stepped down in Harlow district council, citing a vicious campaign by activists linked to Momentum. The Brighton leaders departure comes after The Times revealed this month that tensions had erupted in the citys Labour Party over public-private partnerships, prompting fears that leftwing activists would try to deselect moderate councillors. The Times One in five antibiotics prescriptions given out by GPs in England are to patients who do not need them. Overuse of antibiotics means many germs have evolved to resist them and some dangerous strains have become untreatable. The more antibiotics are used, the stronger superbugs become. Yet doctors continue to hand out antibiotics for minor conditions against which they do not even work. Nearly a third of patients registered with a GP in England were given antibiotics at least once a year, yet in 20 per cent of cases they were unnecessary, the study from Public Health England reveals. Daily Mail Child died after being turned away for being a few minutes late for appointment The Times >Yesterday: J Meirion Thomas on Comment: If we are to stop losing our best doctors, we must keep training and retraining them Four far-right terror plots thwarted last year Extremists should lose access to their children, argues counter-terrorist police chief The Times Saudi prince sacks generals on eve of UK visit The Times Why have their still been no FGM prosecutions? Cathy Newman, Daily Telegraph Labour MPs who cosy up to Russia are a disgrace Oliver Kamm, The Times Scottish police chief may not be appointed for months yet The Scotsman Electoral Reform Society warns cutting MPs but not payroll vote would make Government overmighty The outgoing head of counter-terrorism policing in the UK has used his valedictory speech to warn against the rise of the far-right as he revealed four extremist rightwing plots were thwarted in 2017. Mark Rowley, the assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan police, drew parallels between far-right groups and figures and the Islamist extremists they claim to despise in the annual Colin Cramphorn memorial lecture in central London. Speaking two weeks before his 31-year career in policing comes to a close, Rowley revealed four extreme rightwing-inspired plots were prevented last year. In a conference with journalists before the speech, Rowley said the far-right terror threat was significant and concerning and the public should be gravely concerned by the existence of National Action, the white supremacist, neo-nazi group banned under terror legislation. The Guardian An analysis shows that reducing the number of MPs while failing to cut the numbers within the overall government would destabilise the balance between the executive and the legislature. The Electoral Reform Society (ERS), a political pressure group, said that dropping the number of MPs from 650 to 600 would create the most powerful executive since at least 1990. The power of the government would grow because a higher proportion of MPs would be constrained from challenging policies due to the fact they rely on Downing Streets patronage for their positions, the ERS said. Mrs May has already been criticised for creating 12 new Tory vice-chairmen roles and appointing a high number of her MPs as parliamentary private secretaries (PPS). While the role of PPS is unpaid, it is considered the first rung on the ladder to ministerial office and MPs can be fired for disloyalty. The Times Thank you Constantin for the introduction. And thank you to Bloomberg for hosting us in these wonderful surroundings. It is a pleasure to be here today to talk about Britains trading future. The historic decision by the British people to leave the European Union has presented this country with a number of choices about its future global direction. It has generated a great deal of soul-searching and caused a number of important questions to be aired. Some of these relate specifically to the referendum decision itself, others are questions which needed to be addressed anyway but have been brought into sharper focus by that decision. Where do we see our place in the world? What sort of economy and what sort of country do we want to be? What should our influence be in global affairs and global trade? How will we generate the income we will need to ensure a prosperous and secure future for the generations that come after us? Since the referendum vote and the creation of the Department for International Trade, my Ministerial team and I have undertaken over 150 overseas visits, to all parts of the globe, to old friends and new allies alike and to markets large and small. From across the world, the keenness to deepen trade and investment ties with this country and once again hear us champion the case for free trade, is palpable. And why should that surprise us? The United Kingdom is one of the worlds largest and most successful economies. We are at record levels of employment. Our success is underpinned by a legal system whose reputation is second to none. We have a skilled workforce and a low tax and a well-regulated economy. We are home to some of the worlds finest universities, our research and development capabilities are cutting-edge and our financial institutions world-leading. We are in the right time zone to trade with Asia in the morning and the United States in the afternoon, and, of course, we speak English, the language of global business. In 2017, we saw the highest level of Foreign Direct Investment projects landing in the United Kingdom in our history as the worlds leading companies offered a strong vote of confidence in the future of our economy. This was matched by an increase of some 11% in the value of our exports. In 2017, 617 billion of UK goods and services were sold overseas, narrowing our trade deficit by just under 7 billion. The second half of 2017 also saw strong growth in manufacturing output. Partly as a result of this improved export performance, order books for British manufacturers remained well above their long-term average. This is testament to the hard work and dedication from British businesses up and down the UK. We also saw a continued explosion of interest in British tech and innovation. In the last year we had more than 58,000 tech start-ups in our country and more venture capital in tech was invested in London than in Germany, France, Spain and Ireland combined. All of this adds up to an extremely positive picture, one which should give us confidence in dealing with the global challenges that lie ahead and the opportunities that we must seize. This confidence is key to being able to take advantage of a dramatically shifting picture around the world where previous assumptions are being challenged, where influence is moving and where huge new markets are blossoming. I often repeat the fact that the IMF estimates that, in the next 10 to 15 years, 90% of global economic growth will originate from outside the European Union. This is not to diminish the importance of Europe as an economic market and partner, but merely to point out the scale of the shift in global economic activity so that we are orientated towards the most income generating parts of the global economy. The thriving economies of South and East Asia and, increasingly, Africa, are, and will become, even more important as their newfound prosperity drives demand for the goods and services of the developed countries prepared to interact with their markets. By 2020 Chinas middle class is expected to number 600 million, and by 2050 Africa, on its own, will represent 54% of world population increase. By 2030 China will have over 220 cities with a population greater than 1 million people. The whole of Europe will have 35. And on top of the vast Asia-Pacific growth it is predicted that there will be 1.1 billion middle class Africans by 2060. Such a shift, not just in global demographics, but in the rise of the collective wealth of developing countries, will determine where the golden opportunities of the future will be and where we must be too. Markets are already out there for the best that Britain has to offer. I see it on every overseas trade visit I make. For UK export goods from top end fashion to high-quality cars to Scotch whisky to high-end manufacturing, the demand is growing. For professional services too, from accountancy to law or education or life sciences or financial services, these newly emergent middle classes will need more of the skills where we are already world class. It is here that we will find the United Kingdoms unique comparative advantage. We must, as a country, set our sights on this future. We have to take a long-term view. And our future must be global. Because the pattern of our trade is changing. 57% of Britains exports are now to outside the EU, compared with only 46% in 2006. What is more, while our EU exports are still dominated by goods, our non-EU exports are evenly split between goods and services. Our approach should not be premised on simply identifying how much of our current relationship we want to keep, but what we need to prosper in a rapidly changing global environment. We cannot let the practices and patterns of the past constrain the opportunities of the future. We require an economic outlook that allows us to take advantage of the substantial opportunities that Europe will continue to bring but without limiting our ability to adapt to a changing and growing world beyond the European continent. The UK is perfectly placed to partner with the economic powerhouses of the future, and they in turn are eager for the mutual prosperity that such a partnership would bring. To do this, we need the ability to exercise a fully independent trade policy. We have to maximise our overall trading opportunities for the UK and secure the prosperity of our people. Now, in the first speech I gave as Secretary of State for International trade, I set out Britains proud tradition of defending both the concept and the practice of free trade. Time and again, studies have found evidence of a strong positive correlation between economic openness and growth. During the 1990s, per capita income grew three times faster in the developing countries that lowered trade barriers than in those that did not. That effect is not confined to the developing world, either. The OECD Growth Project found that a 10 percentage increase in trade exposure was associated with a 4% rise in income per capita. In other words, free trade works. Globalisation has been of huge and sustainable benefit to the world economy, including through trade, specialisation and innovation. Increased competition, economies of scale and global value chains have all contributed to a productivity revolution, boosting the output of businesses across the globe. And when free trade agreements are reached, the positive effect on businesses, industries and economies can be remarkable. The EU / Korea free trade agreement, which came into effect in July 2011, is just one example. In the year before the deal was agreed, the UK beer and cider industry sold almost nothing to Korea; exports were under 2 million. By 2017, however, sales to South Korea have exploded to over 93 million. Free trade can be particularly important for developing countries, as they gain access to new cutting-edge technologies and millions more consumers of their goods. As the worlds emerging and developing economies have liberalised trade practices, prosperity has spread, bringing industry, jobs and wealth where once there was only deprivation. According to the World Bank, the three decades between 1981 and 2010 witnessed the single greatest decrease in material deprivation in human history. A billion people were taken out of abject poverty in one generation. That is why it is morally unthinkable to reject free and open trade. And its not just in markets overseas that the benefit from free trade, we also feel them here at home too. Although it might not always be noticed, the wider benefits of a liberal trade policy are shared by consumers and households across this country, by providing a wider choice of goods at a lower price. It provides supermarkets with the ability to sell us a full range of foods all year round. It enables electronic retailers to sell us increasingly sophisticated technology at lower prices from TVs to computers to mobile phones. All this helps incomes go further. For example, in the decade to 2006, the real import price of clothing fell by 38%, a real help for families with children. But more than lower prices, open markets allow consumers the ability to choose where they source their goods to ensure sustainability and the propagation of our wider values, including our environmental agenda and maintaining the highest standards in the food we can buy. As with many freedoms, free and open trade can be taken for granted. But the reality is that these freedoms and the benefits that they bestow have been hard-won and have to be continually defended from the siren-call of protectionism and the anti-trade lobby. This is why our vision for a post-Brexit Britain is one of leadership. The UK is already a committed member of the World Trade Organisation a body which is the home of the international rules-based trading system that we support. Currently, our direction and action within the WTO is determined by our membership of the EU. But soon, the UK will regain the full authority of independent membership. We will establish our own trading schedules. We are taking the necessary steps so that, on leaving the EU, we will accede to the Agreement on Government procurement. And we will begin to exercise our independent voice. The UK stands ready to offer clear leadership, to be a staunch defender of trading rights and freedoms, not only at the WTO, but at other international bodies too. Moreover, we can help forge the way on the liberalisation of those areas of global trade where the WTO and other bodies have yet to extend their reach; services, digital trade and the knowledge economy. The digital economy is growing 32% faster than the wider economy and creating jobs three times more quickly. Digital trade is inherently transnational, and e-commerce offers previously unknown opportunities for SMEs and individuals, particularly women, to take part in the globalised economy. In many areas of this important agenda, the EU has not kept pace. There is a real opportunity for the UK to become a global leader in digital trade. If we are to lead, then we must ask ourselves what leadership looks like. As I alluded to earlier, part of the failure of current trading practices has been their rigidity. There is a tendency among some nations to cling to the known trading mechanisms more suited to the structures of the past than the digital age of the future. Flexibility and agility, then, are the key to any future trade policy. The ability to react quickly to new developments, to explore new opportunities and to nurture fledgling industries will be the key to growth and prosperity in the coming years. That is why my Department is pursuing a more flexible approach to our countrys trading future. There is a growing awareness that a full-blown, gold-plated free trade agreement may not be the only solution in a fast-changing global economy. Fortunately, there is a global toolbox from which we can choose the most appropriate mechanisms for liberalising trade. These range from being key members of multilateral agreements, to mutual recognition agreements and the sort of outcome-based equivalence approach recently advanced by the governor of the Bank of England. We will consider multi-country alliances of the like-minded, right down to bilateral arrangements, using all the advantages available from our diplomatic network to the system of Prime Ministerial Trade Envoys. All these options are available but only to countries with independent trade policies. In the 20 months of DITs existence, this work has begun in earnest. We have opened 14 informal Trade dialogues with 21 countries from the United States to Australia to the UAE. These will lay the groundwork for future FTAs, but will also work to identify those non-tariff barriers to trade that can be removed earlier. We have begun appointing a new network of Her Majestys Trade Commissioners based in market, able to maximise exports and investment, free from centralised Whitehall targets. With a presence in 108 countries and working across government, DIT is a fully integrated trade department bringing together investment, export promotion, export finance and trade policy. We are currently piloting a new Global Growth Service, increasing our support for those Medium Sized Businesses with international ambitions. And DIT also has an extensive range of resources available to SMEs and new exporters. For example, UK Export Finance has been recognised as one of the worlds most innovative and flexible Export Credit Agencies. Last year UKEF provided 3 billion in support, helping 221 UK companies sell to 63 countries around the world. 79% of these companies were SMEs. Our cutting-edge digital platform, great.gov.uk, was launched in November 2016, and has since been visited by over 2.8 million users. And we are reviewing our wider strategy on exports and investment, including undertaking an Exports Strategy review, working alongside the Industrial Strategy, to identify what more we can do to help exporters large and small across the whole of the UK to maximise their export potential. We are working hard to create the right framework for business, and especially our small and medium sized businesses, to enable them to make the most of their innovation, ingenuity and expertise that are the cornerstone of our economy. But what does all this mean for our future relationship with the European Union and beyond? For those firms that trade with the European Union, keeping all of the EUs regulations, the Customs Union, the Single Market and the external tariffs sounds like an easy option. But we cannot allow our future to be determined by our past. Instead, we should turn our sail and tack into the global trading winds of the future. We should fully exploit our own natural advantages to unlock the vital prosperity we need. We should be able to offer better preferential agreements and work more closely with a range of developing countries. And we should build a trade policy that works for the long-term interests of businesses, citizens, and future generations. There has been much debate in recent days about the EUs customs union. As we are leaving the European Union, necessarily, we cannot remain in the Customs Union which is open only to EU Member States. The alternative has been proposed that we enter a new customs union with the European Union. But what would this mean? First of all, for goods, we would have to accept EU trade rules without any say in how they were made, handing Brussels considerable control of the UKs external trade policy. Secondly, it would limit our ability to reach new trade agreements with the worlds fastest-growing economies. And thirdly, it would limit our ability to develop our trade and development policies that would offer new ways for the worlds poorest nations to trade their way out of poverty. And what would a customs union actually consist of? Which sectors would be covered? Would it be like Turkey which has a customs union but only for industrial goods and some agricultural products? Whatever it covered, should such a customs union be negotiated, we would be forced to allow goods from other countries into our market tariff-free, on terms set by Brussels, without any tariff-free access to the markets of other countries in return. And, if we were to disagree, Brussels could simply overrule us. Those on the political left who opposed TTIP the agreement between the European Union and the United States might want to consider that in a customs union, they would have to implement any elements of TTIP, whether they like them or not, in any sectors covered by a customs union. As rule takers, without any say in how the rules were made, we would be in a worse position than we are today. It would be a complete sell out of Britains national interests and a betrayal of the voters in the referendum. Then there is the issue of constraints on the ability to negotiate independent trade arrangements. A customs union would remove the bulk of incentives for other countries to enter into comprehensive free trade agreements with the UK if we were unable to alter the rules in whole sectors of our economy, as Turkey has now discovered. The inevitable price of trying to negotiate with one arm tied behind our back is that we would become less attractive to potential trade partners and forfeit many of the opportunities that would otherwise be available to us. And then there is a question of our ability to help developing countries in a way that we would like. Not only does the EU have a high average external tariff 5.1% compared to the US 3.5% but it continues to operate tariffs in a way that particularly disadvantage countries who want to add value to their primary commodities and move up value chains. As we leave the EU we are committed to maintaining preferential access for developing countries. Outside the Customs Union, we would have the freedom to expand access and tackle barriers to trade to enable poorer countries genuinely to trade their way out of poverty and become less dependent on our aid budgets. Many NGOs who look to Britain to take the lead in this area would find their aims frustrated by membership of a customs union. Remaining in a customs union of any type would only make sense if we were to abandon our global ambitions and limit our abilities to shape our trade policy to the changes in the global environment that I have outlined. Tomorrows choices would be constrained by todays status quo. We would deny ourselves the opportunity to shape Britains place in the future world economy and our ability to influence the direction of that economy itself. Of course, the Governments aim is to ensure that UK companies, as well as those from abroad, retain the maximum freedom to trade with and operate within European Markets. We want European businesses to do the same in the UK. That is why we want to develop customs arrangements which lead to trade being as frictionless as possible at our borders, in a tariff-free environment, with as few non-tariff barriers as possible. And on Northern Ireland, it is, of course, as precious a part of our United Kingdom as any other, so its vital that it has a full share in our future prosperity and our opportunities as a trading nation. The avoidance of a hard border in Northern Ireland is of crucial importance, as is the prevention of trade barriers between Northern Ireland and Great Britain. We believe that a comprehensive and liberal trading agreement with the EU is the best way to deal with the crucially important issue of avoiding that hard border. Britain has vigorously supported the trade agreements reached between the European Union and countries such as Canada and Japan. We have done so because we believe in the principle of free trade but also because we believe it is the best way to increase the prosperity of the people of Britain and the rest of Europe. We believe that the same principles should apply to the agreement between the UK and the EU itself as we move away from the political constraints of the union. We do so as one of the worlds largest economies with a strong alignment to the EU. We understand that outside the EU we will no longer have influence in the Council of Ministers, the Commission or the European Parliament, where EU rules will be made. But it would not be in the interests of the EU or the UK to introduce unnecessary restrictions on trade and investment across the European continent, and it would send a signal to global investors that Europe was less open for business than it is at present. We want an economically vibrant EU to be a major partner for the future in a deep and special partnership. Our negotiations must be focused on delivering a partnership that will support the prosperity, stability and security of UK and EU citizens. And it will need a bespoke relationship. We are not Canada or Norway or Switzerland. We are Britain, and whats more we want to be a truly global Britain. A global Britain with ambitions to maximise our trade opportunities both inside and outside the EU. A global Britain that wants the freedom to work with global partners. And a global Britain which seeks to minimise any barriers to trade because it all comes down to flexibility and agility in what will be an increasingly competitive global economic environment. The UK must regain the ability to negotiate our own trade arrangements with our own partners. To surrender this would be to endanger not only our long-term prosperity and the innovation and dynamism that will ensure that Britain remains a leading economic power, but also our ability to influence this new trading landscape in a way that reflects UK values and interests. We have been given an historic opportunity to re-orientate our economy. We will have to ensure that we put the prosperity, stability and security of our people first, but we must also remember that history, experience and values are vital navigational tools and that confidence, optimism and vision will always deliver more than pessimism or self-doubt. The prize at stake is not simply the future prosperity of the United Kingdom but our ability to participate in and shape the world economy at one of the most exciting and important points in history. It is about moving away from the concepts that defined our activities in the 20th century to new ways of viewing the opportunities of the 21st. It is about breaking down barriers, opening-up markets and providing opportunities so that the benefits of free trade can be enjoyed not only by the next generation in this country but so that some of the worlds poorest can share in the fruits of our prosperity. We are at a crossroads with a historic opportunity to help shape our global future for the better. We have a duty to grasp it. Sam Hall is a senior research fellow at Bright Blue. A bold tax reform bill has reinvigorated the Republican party in the United States. This was the first major legislative achievement of the Trump White House and Republican Congress, and has triggered a string of positive jobs and pay announcements from business. Despite initially unfavourable polling, the tax cuts have proved popular with middle America. But critics of the Bill are right to highlight the huge increase in the budget deficit and the concentration of the gains among the wealthy. In the UK, the Conservative Governments appetite for tax reform is low. Constrained by a challenging fiscal position, George Osbornes ambitious rhetoric in the early days of the Coalition translated in to only a handful of successful reforms. The most notable has been the rise in the income tax personal allowance from 6,475 to 11,850, giving a majority of people a tax cut and exempting the lowest earners from income tax altogether. The cut in the rate of Corporation Tax from 28 per cent to 19 per cent has given the UK the lowest headline rate in the G20. The carbon price support, a levy on power generators carbon emissions, is the main reason that coals share of electricity generation in Britain has fallen from 40 per cent to seven per cent in the past five years. There is a big opportunity for the UK Government to make its own bold reforms to the tax code. These reforms, however, should follow different principles from Trumps and have different objectives. Above all, tax reform should be fiscally responsible. Of course some expansionary tax cuts can increase government revenue by stimulating higher economic growth. But unfunded tax cuts on a grand scale will inevitably increase the budget deficit and pass the cost of todays spending on to the next generation. At a time of myriad and growing fiscal pressures, the Government cannot afford to forgo huge amounts of revenue. Similarly, as new technology and business models erode the tax base, the tax system needs to respond and adapt to ensure sufficient funding is raised for public services. Two other principles should apply. The first is that reform should clearly and primarily benefit lower earners. It is bad politics and bad policy for the Government to give tax cuts to the wealthiest at a time when low-income workers are, on average, struggling with shrinking real wages. Second, taxes should act more as price signals to deter behaviour that creates costs for society, such as climate change or obesity. So what would this look like in practice? The Government should tax income less on average, particularly low incomes. In recent years, this has been delivered by raising the income tax personal allowance. But to ensure the lowest earners benefit, the focus now should be on raising the salary threshold for paying employees National Insurance. At its current level of 8,164 per annum, this creates a high marginal tax rate for those on the lowest incomes. Additional revenue could be raised by addressing the growing unfairness in how different categories of employment are treated within the tax system. The Government should be brave and revisit its proposals to increase the National Insurance contributions of self-employed people, a growing form of employment in the modern labour market. It should also make owner-managers of for-profit companies pay income tax on any dividends they take out, rather than the current (lower) rate of tax. Its also time to reduce higher rate pension tax relief, an increasingly expensive policy for the Treasury that, by definition, solely benefits the better-off. The Government should proceed with its planned cuts to Corporation Tax to 17 per cent. As companies consider where to invest or where to place their headquarters after Brexit, the UK should make itself as attractive as possible with a low headline rate. It is also an important policy in the context of the industrial strategy which is encouraging more business investment. But in some areas where business has not delivered sufficient investment, such as skills training, the Government should consider a targeted levy. Bright Blue has argued for a graduate levy on large graduate employers to subsidise a new lifetime loan account to enable all adults to pay for several higher education courses throughout their lives. Property taxes should be shifted away from transactions towards higher value property ownership. At the last Budget, the Chancellor scrapped Stamp Duty for nearly all first-time buyers, a policy that Bright Blue had been campaigning for. This important reform reduced the amount of money that aspiring homeowners need to pay upfront to get on the first rung of the property ladder. Longer-term, however, Stamp Duty should be reduced further, or abolished entirely. By taxing transactions, it acts as a barrier to a more efficient distribution of the housing stock, for instance by disincentivising older people from downsizing. Given the huge increase in house prices since 1991 when council tax valuations were last carried out, councils should be permitted to add a couple of extra council tax bands, so that the most expensive properties contribute more. Another progressive step would be scrap the forthcoming cuts in Inheritance Tax that will eventually allow couples to hand on property worth up to 1 million tax-free. Consumption should be taxed more according to the external costs it imposes on society. Its time to unfreeze the carbon price support, fuel duty, and Air Passenger Duty, which in effect tax carbon emissions from electricity, road transport, and aviation respectively. The Government should develop new taxes for plastics, which are a growing concern to the public and harm marine wildlife. Similarly, the new sugar tax should be extended beyond sugary drinks to all food products to help combat rising rates of obesity. Some consumption taxes need long-term reform as a result of technological advances. A major source of government revenue currently is fuel duty, generating around 28 billion a year for the Exchequer. As internal combustion engines are replaced by electric vehicles, this figure will gradually disappear, leaving a major hole in the public finances. The Government should therefore start developing and phasing in a new road pricing mechanism that would charge motorists for their road use, as well as the air pollution, congestion, and carbon emissions they produce. Tax reform in the UK should not mean deficit-ballooning tax cuts for the wealthy. The Government should instead pursue a balanced set of changes that ensures public services are well-funded, hard work particularly by the low paid is rewarded, and activities that cost the taxpayer are discouraged. James Frayne is Director of communications agency Public First and author of Meet the People, a guide to moving public opinion. How will the Governments proposed new legislation on energy price capping do with ordinary voters? Perhaps surprisingly, the answer isnt clear. Polling and other markers of public opinion give conflicting guidance on whether or not people really care about the issue and whether theyd ultimately vote on it. Recent political interest in the energy market was sparked by Ed Miliband in the long run-up to the 2015 election. He secured positive traction in the media with a promise to cap bills and probably a brief corresponding lift in the polls (its hard to isolate the exact impact of the policy, given it came out as part of a wider set of announcements). And anecdotally, energy prices seem to be a point of concern and irritation for many ordinary families. The market for switching has surely grown as a result of this concern. However, recent polls pour cold water on the idea that price caps are a guaranteed vote-winning policy. One of the last detailed polls I can find on the subject a YouGov poll from 2017 showed relatively few people considered energy costs to be a significant personal hardship and that hardly anyone thought the cost of energy was an issue of national importance. That said, the poll also showed interventionist policy arguments played well with the electorate particularly the policy most closely associated with the Conservatives. Free market and non-interventionist arguments played less well although this 2015 poll showed people were open to the idea of developing new sources of energy that might keep prices down an arguably pro-market suggestion. If the opinion research is a mess, what are we to make of it all? Probably the following: a) the Governments new policy offer has a chance of cutting through to the public, even in its nuanced form; b) it will be well received by those that hear it but will probably act as a symbol the Conservatives are on your side as opposed to being an actual, material reason to vote Conservative; and c) to have any real impact it would need to be built up into a package of policy announcements on a broader theme boosting disposable income, fixing broken markets etc (although Im personally very sceptical about the power of the latter). This final point is the troubling one for Conservatives. If such a policy can really only be made to fly by making it part of a broader campaigning theme, it naturally suggests the Conservatives ought to consider a suite of more interventionist policies. Theres no question that, at one level, this would be immediately interesting and potentially popular with many voters in the short-term. Its the logical next step to what many Conservative commentators are saying about the future of the Partys economic policy. But such a path risks creating serious problems. Intervening in the economy in this way casts serious doubt on the merits of the free market economy and promotes the idea that politicians and technocratic advisers know best. Its hard to see what the Conservatives offer in this world that Labour cant offer in a more compelling way. I also dont believe most people think that capitalism needs reform in the way many commentators are suggesting and I cannot imagine ever hearing the words coming out of an ordinary voters mouth. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, developing policies along these lines risks undermining the Conservatives hopefully-long-term vision for Britain outside the EU. This is a country which is confident, innovative, pro-business and modern. This policy and similar ones like it risk making Britain look like a worried, failing, statist economy like many in the EU were leaving behind. We should all therefore hope the price cap is an isolated, opportunistic policy that doesnt signal any meaningful policy shift. The last three ConservativeHome Saturdays have also been EFTA Saurdays. Over the weekend, Stephen Hammond wrote in favour of joining EFTA. The week before that, David Campbell-Bannerman pronounced against it . And before that, we had Mark Burrows in favour . (See also James Cartlidge from last November .) Although the Government opposes the suggestion, there is support for it among Tory Soft Brexiteers. Hammond recently led a debate in Westminster Hall on the matter. The Wimbledon MP is also a supporter of joining the EEA, and it is important to grasp that, although the two overlap, they are not necessarily the same. Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland are all members of EFTA. But the last is not a member of the EEA. If our survey is right, Conservative Party members are set against continued or new EEA membership post-Brexit. Fourteen per cent back the option. Sixty-eight per cent oppose it. On EFTA pure and simple, opinion is more divided. Fifty-four per cent oppose the suggestion. Twenty-eight per cent support it. Eighteen per cent dont know not an insignificant proportion of the whole. Whatever you think of the idea, it cant fairly be said that, in the minds of a significant tranche Party members, the door to it is firmly closed. The panel revision for the monthly survey now gets enough returns on day one for us to be able to get some results out fast. More returns will doubtless arrive todaty but not enough to alter these findings significantly. 02/27/2018 Photo (c) Jacob Ammentorp Lund - Getty Images A series of studies over the last decade have concluded that too much sitting is as bad as smoking cigarettes, urging office workers to get up on their feet. Now an Australian study suggests we should all take a seat. Writing in the medical journal Ergonomics, researchers at Curtin University say they found that office workers who spend prolonged periods standing tend to suffer from leg pain and a slower mental ability. "Standing is being used to replace sitting by office workers; however, there are health risks associated with prolonged standing," the authors write. "In a laboratory study involving two hour prolonged standing, discomfort increased (all body areas), reaction time and mental state deteriorated while creative problem-solving improved. Prolonged standing should be undertaken with caution." Growing use of standing desks The researchers say their findings are relevant because of the growing use of adjustable desks in the workplace, which allow sedentary office workers to get out of their chairs and stand while they work. A number of different companies now market these desks as a way to improve health and productivity. Previous studies, like one from Kaiser Permanente in 2014, suggested that prolonged sitting significantly increases heart attack risks in men. The Australian research runs counter to a 2016 study at Texas A&M that suggested working while standing actually improved mental performance. Test results indicated that continued use of standing desks was associated with significant improvements in executive function and working memory capabilities, assistant professor Ranjana Mehta said at the time. Changes in corresponding brain activation patterns were also observed. 'Little evidence' Despite these studies, the Australian researchers contend there is little evidence to support the use of standing desks. In an admittedly small study, the researchers say they found people who used the standing desks for prolonged periods of time began having pain in their lower back and legs. They say the pain is likely due to swollen veins, posing potential danger to the heart. Despite the findings, health experts still appear to view too much sitting as more harmful than excessive standing. Dr. James A. Levine of the Mayo Clinic writes that too much sitting is known to be associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome, conditions that can lead to other serious health problems. Levine suggests office workers stand when they get the chance. Better still, he says taking short walks to interrupt sedentary activity will burn calories and break down fats and sugars within the body. CORNWALL, Ontario The SD&G Historical Society was intensely questioned by Cornwall City Council during a presentation at the Monday, Feb. 26 Council meeting. The presentation was made by Sue Holland-Lalonde, Chair of the SD&G Historical Society Board and Marc Denhez, a legal counsel who was retained by the Historical Society. During the presentation, Holland-Lalonde readily admitted that there had been controversy over this past winter regarding the governance of the Historical Society and the Cornwall Community Museum. Denhez said that these problems arose because the by-laws governing the museum were unhelpful when dealing with issues of personnel and governance. Denhez had been retained in part to re-write the museums by-laws to meet provincial standards. When former Curator Ian Bowering decided to retire, several issues arose around his retirement and replacement. Councillor Claude McIntosh raised the issue of there being an exit agreement for Bowering, essentially a payout. Denhez assured that this was normal for an organization of the character of the museum. Holland-Lalonde stated that the museum received an unsolicited application from a member of the public to replace Bowering, but that the Museum Board did not seek outside applicants for the job as they wanted an internal employee, Don Smith, to fill that role. Don Smith is currently the Manager and Associate Curator at the museum. Council questioned this hiring process, but Denhez asserted that the museum did nothing illegal. Councillor David Murphy questioned the choice of not having a full-time curator and asked if this choice would put funding applications at risk. In a conversation with media after the council presentation former SD&G Historical Society President Christopher Penney gave the analogy that it was like the difference between an Associate Professor and a full professor, that the title is different, but the ability to apply for funding is the same. It was emphasized that Smith had nearly three years of museum experience and training passed along to him by Bowering. Councillor Claude McIntosh also questioned Holland-Lalonde on the matter of membership to the Historical Society. He pointed out that his own application was rejected. Cornwall Mayor Leslie OShaughnessy said that he had also applied for membership but has yet to hear if it was accepted. Holland-Lalonde assured Councillor McIntosh that the rejection of his membership was rejected due to a misunderstanding and that if he re-applied, he would likely be accepted. Councillor Maurice Dupelle questioned as to why only members of the Historical Society could attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and vote on the societys new by-laws. When asked by Seaway News if, as an organization that receives $100, 000 of Cornwall taxpayer money if the media and members of the public should be allowed to attend the AGM, Holland-Lalonde said that the Museum Board would be meeting next week and will discuss the issue. The AGM is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 31 at the Museum, but the venue maybe changed as it might not be adequate to fit all those in attendance. As for the issue of membership, Holland-Lalonde assured that applications for membership will be reviewed prior to the AGM and that all were welcome to apply for membership but said that we have the right to refuse membership if we have evidence that they would be unsuitable. She pointed to the case of one former board member who was kicked out of the Society after an alleged personal issue with Bowering that was not expanded on. Councillor Andre Rivette said that he was not convinced that these governance issues were adequately resolved and asked for a report from Administration on the museum. Mayor Leslie OShaughnessy warned of two occasions where municipal funding was withdrawn from boards who had similar governance issues. As stated, the City of Cornwall provides $100,000 in funding for the museum. Holland-Lalonde stated that if that funding were withdrawn, they would also lose $8,000 in provincial funding and the museum would have to reduce hours. Councillor Elaine MacDonald brought up however that the Historical Society reported a $60,000 budget surplus. When asked by Seaway News where that money came from, if it was in the budget for the Historical Society or for the museum, and if that money came from city taxpayers if it would be repaid, Denhez replied to all that they did not know at this time. CORNWALL, Ontario Wednesday, Feb. 28 is Pink Shirt Day, a day where those who are against bullying wear pink to school. That day also marks the launch of a new School Bus Poster campaign aimed at raising awareness of the Kids Help Phone. Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario (STEO), the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB), the Catholic District School Board of Eastern Ontario (CDSBEO) and the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Champlain East are partnering together to put up 1,600 posters in 800 buses to reach 33,000 students. The goal is to raise awareness for Kids Help Phone and reach kids who are struggling to let them know that there is help and people that they can talk to. Angele DAlessio of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Champlain East said that the idea was formed after she was approached by a local bus driver who wanted to do more to help her passengers who might be struggling with depression or bullying. The students at Bridgewood Public School in Cornwall helped to create a video to raise awareness for the poster campaign. We were talking about things we would talk to Kids Help Phone about, said Grade 6 student Bianca Carnochan-Monette. I said I was afraid to meet new people. The topics the students talked about in the video came from the most common issues that Kids Help Phone has to deal with. The average age of a child using Kids Help Phone is 12 to 13-years-old. You should always get help when you need it, said Grade 5 student Anthony MacDonald. Steven Pasepathiesan a Grade 6 student at Bridgewood Public said that the Kids Help Phone was a good tool for kids who are too intimidated to talk face-to-face. The Kids Help Phone can be reached via email, text message and by phone at 1-800-668-6868. Crowdsourced security vulnerability testing was a completely uncharted business opportunity for the channel as recently as four years ago. But where other solution providers saw a competitive threat to the services they already provide, NCC Group saw an opening. The Manchester, England-based information security assessment and consulting firm is the first solution provider to offer services to help customers establish their own bug bounty programs. Software companies and other businesses use bug bounty programs to compensate outsiders for uncovering and reporting flaws in their hardware or applications. After enjoying some early success, NCC which has 11 offices in North America broke out its bug bounty activities into a separate practice in 2015. Today, the 2,000-employee company brings in millions of dollars in revenue each year by providing consulting, scoping, triage and remediation services for customers that have launched bug bounty programs. The net financial impact of NCC's services is almost incalculable, given that it is helping customers uncover hard-to-find security vulnerabilities and fixing them before those customers become the next big breach headline-maker like Equifax or Sony. [Related: The 25 Tech Bug Bounty Programs With The Biggest Payouts] One of NCC's enterprise software customers leveraged a bug bounty program to discover a flaw in its payments API. This bug report revealed that the customer's validation process failed to ensure the account number provided to the API in the final step of the payment process was a real account number, said NCC. Hackers could have exploited the flaw to supply their own account numbers, which would have resulted in the customer's account appearing to be properly paid, when in reality the funds would be transferred to the hacker's account, a scenario NCC's customer was happy to have avoided in exchange for a $5,000 bounty to the intrepid bug hunter. "It's all about transitioning clients from fear of vulnerabilities to embracing security vulnerabilities, and helping them understand that there are already bad people looking at their products and not telling them," said Adam Ruddermann, who joined NCC in late 2017 from Facebook, where he led the social media giant's bug bounty program. "It's way better to have that knowledge and insight and be aware of what's really happening out there." As part of NCC's managed bug bounty service, Ruddermann meets with senior management, product managers and public relations to help them understand what it's like to work with security researchers. NCC also walks the customer through the life cycle of a bug to prepare them from an operations standpoint, he said. NCC's internal security team, meanwhile, goes through the customer's product in detail to understand it better and capture any issues the customer already knows about, Ruddermann said. The company also examines the history of the product's security architecture so that NCC can better understand what it's looking at when doing triage work. The core of NCC's managed bug bounty offering is its triage service, which Ruddermann said is focused on determining whether a submitted vulnerability is a misunderstanding of the product, something that's mitigated elsewhere, or a legitimate security flaw. Some foreign researchers also struggle with creating a technical write-up in English, so NCC can help figure out what the researcher is getting at. From there, Ruddermann said NCC ensures it knows how to properly execute the vulnerability so that the company can fix it correctly. Finally, he said NCC completely rewrites the vulnerability report, providing more details on reproduction steps so that it's easier for a product team not familiar with security tools to re-create the bug. A look at some of the companies providing platforms on which to run bug bounty programs shows that the industry has hit an inflection point. One such platform, HackerOne, has paid out $23 million in bounties as of early 2018, up from $10 million two years earlier, with the number of registered users on the platform skyrocketing ten-fold during that time. Competing platform Bugcrowd has paid out $6.4 million to security researchers as of 2017, up 211 percent from a year earlier. The number of hackers on the platform has nearly doubled from 26,800 to 53,300 during that time. The opportunity to crowdsource the spotting of security bugs comes as the cost of exploited vulnerabilities continues to rise. The average financial impact of a data breach in North America in 2017 was $1.3 million for enterprises and $117,000 for SMBs with 50 or more employees, according to a Kaspersky Lab survey, up markedly from $620,000 for enterprises and $46,000 for SMBs in 2015. Putting Meltdown And Spectre In The Spotlight Bug bounty programs are nearly as old as the internet itself. Netscape launched the first-ever "bugs bounty" all the way back in October 1995 when it debuted the beta version of Netscape Navigator 2.0, offering cash prizes to users that reported significant security issues and Netscape merchandise to users finding any security flaws whatsoever. But it wasn't until the early 2010s that bug bounties really started to gain traction as companies like Microsoft, Google, Facebook and Mozilla rolled out programs of their own. The industry hit more milestones in March 2017 as Google increased its bounty awards by 50 percent, Microsoft doubled its top bounty award, and Intel started paying researchers $30,000 for spotting critical hardware flaws. Nine months after Intel established its bug bounty program, a team of security researchers from Austria's Graz University of Technology reached out to the Santa Clara, Calif.-based semiconductor giant and let it know that they had found a design-level flaw in its chips that could slow down almost every processor in the world. The vulnerabilities which had also been found independently months earlier by Jann Horn from Google Project Zero became known to the world in January 2018 as Meltdown and Spectre and are found in chips from other vendors such as IBM and ARM as well. Intel awarded the researchers a bug bounty for abiding by responsible disclosure guidelines and not revealing the issue prematurely, although it became public earlier than expected after it was reported by several media outlets. Six weeks after Meltdown and Spectre came to light, Intel said it was raising its bounty awards across the board and launching a new, limited-time program focused specifically on side-channel vulnerabilities. The side-channel program will run until Dec. 31 and offer awards of up to $250,000 for critical issues. In addition, the top reward in the regular bug bounty program (for critical hardware flaws) was increased from $30,000 to $100,000. Maximum awards for identifying firmware or hardware vulnerabilities in the regular program regardless of the bug's severity have at least doubled, and often tripled. "We believe these changes will enable us to more broadly engage the security research community, and provide better incentives for coordinated response and disclosure that help protect our customers and their data," Rick Echevarria, Intel's vice president and general manager of platform security, said in a Feb. 14 blog post. Why Pay For Bug Reports? Companies without a formal vulnerability disclosure policy often remain in the dark about known flaws in their architecture, with nearly one in four hackers not reporting a vulnerability they've found due in part to fear of reprisal for conducting unauthorized testing on a company's products. And if they do end up reaching out, they might do so through a suboptimal method such as a LinkedIn post or public Tweet. "It's super-undesirable, because it's visible to the whole world," said Michiel Prins, co-founder of HackerOne, San Francisco. "These things happen if there's no process in place." Vulnerability disclosure programs are therefore becoming accepted as an industry best practice, and are today recommended by everyone from the U.S. Department of Defense to the Food and Drug Administration. In fact, one of the Senate's first questions to Equifax following its disclosure of a massive data breach was, "Do you have a vulnerability disclosure program?" said Casey Ellis, founder, chairman and CTO of Bugcrowd, which partners with VARs, systems integrators, managed security service providers and security consultants to provide greater access to the company's offering. But despite the regulatory guidance, HackerOne has found that just 6 percent of the Forbes Global 2000 companies have a known vulnerability disclosure policy. Still, there are signs of progress, with the share of bug bounty programs from industries other than technology climbing from 28 percent in 2014 to 41 percent in 2016 as more government, media, banking and e-commerce players establish programs. Bug bounties weren't on the radar of San Antonio-based Denim Group or its customers as recently as 18 months ago. Today, bug bounty-related services account for roughly 5 percent of Denim Group's security revenue. "It's not yet a significant portion of our business, but it's growing quickly," said Dan Cornell, principal and CTO of the software security advisory company. "It's something that is very interesting to us." Denim Group's differentiator is fully understanding where a bug bounty program fits into the customer's overall security strategy, Cornell said. As a result, Cornell said Denim Group can effectively determine on a customer-specific basis which security issues should be addressed through threat modeling or internal penetration testing and which should be sent out to the broader researcher community via bug bounty. Cornell also has tasked some of his team with evaluating and providing context around the vulnerabilities being reported through HackerOne and Bugcrowd. Denim Group doesn't have a dedicated bug bounty practice today, but Cornell said that could certainly change in the next year or two. "Even with the stuff the bug bounty providers are doing, we've found that a number of organizations still need additional support on top of that in order to provide appropriate context and vetting of the reports that are coming in," Cornell said. Solution providers can help with sorting the wheat from the chaff, as roughly 30 percent of reports provided through HackerOne's public bug bounty programs in 2017 were marked as spam, not applicable, or something of a similar nature. Plus, vulnerability submissions as a whole have been on the rise, with a 67 percent increase in reports made through the Bugcrowd platform between 2016 and 2017. Is Your Customer Ready For A Bug Bounty? The first step any solution provider faces is determining whether or not the customer is ready to set up a paid program. Bug bounties are typically taken up by customers who are already engaged with specialized penetration testing companies, yet are still struggling to keep pace with changes in the application and infrastructure ecosystem, according to Francesco Faenzi, head of the cybersecurity business platform for Italian solution provider Lutech. High-profile organizations with mature application security programs are typically the ones to adopt bug bounties, said Denim Group's Cornell. Straightforward or obvious business flaws should be caught through internal testing programs, he said, meaning that the only thing companies are left having to pay bounties on are serious or more subtle vulnerabilities in applications that aren't self-evident. "Bug bounties are increasingly becoming a material portion of the testing market," Cornell said. The first couple of security tests against an organization's ecosystem should be carried out by an individual or small number of firms prior to initiating the bug bounty, according to Andrew Howard, CTO at Phoenix-based solution provider Kudelski Security. Customers that push the bug bounty before they're ready will be inundated with reports and end up paying out for rather obvious errors, Howard said. Businesses should understand what their overall security environment looks like before embarking upon a bug bounty program, as well as where their potential weaknesses might be, said Lisa Wiswell, a principal at security engineering and consulting firm Grimm. The organizations should have a test environment or virtual lab space where security researchers can poke and prod the ecosystem for flaws without jeopardizing the actual corporate environment, she said. Well under half of GuidePoint Security's customers would even consider something like a bug bounty program, said Andrew Johnson, vice president of innovative security assessments for the company, No. 134 on the 2017 CRN Solution Provider 500. Modern, agile, web-centric companies are typically the ones looking into bug bounties, he said, as well as a handful of progressive financial services and health-care firms. Bug bounties open to the general public are just the tip of the iceberg, though. Some 88 percent of HackerOne's programs and 77 percent of Bugcrowd's programs are actually private, meaning that only researchers that receive an invitation are allowed to participate in or even know about the program. Security vendor Sophos runs both public and private bug bounties, focusing its public effort around inspecting web interfaces and its private program around products, said Craig Paradis, application security architect for the Oxfordshire, England-based security vendor. Products are a better fit for the private program since it requires more time and investment from researchers to install and reverse-engineer them, Paradis said. Businesses often find it easier to get a private program off the ground with a small number of invited security researchers who are both vetted and more well-known, said NCC's Ruddermann. Public programs are likely to attract a much greater volume of vulnerability submissions, which Ruddermann said many companies lack the budget or staffing to support from the get-go. "There's a path to that maturity," Ruddermann said. "Private programs are a great place to start. And public programs might be an ideal place to end up." Click to expand. Selling Bug Bounties Outside IT Although public programs made up just 8 percent of the HackerOne bug bounties launched in the past year, they pay bounties and resolve issues at four times the rate of their private counterparts. But they require buy-in from a much larger share of the organization to get off the ground. Involvement in an organization's private bug bounty program is often limited to the product and security teams, according to Bugcrowd's Ellis. But with a public program, everyone from legal and purchasing to marketing and public relations must be looped in. Security teams aren't historically the most public-facing part of an organization, Ruddermann said, and working externally in a way that attracts media attention might be new for them. As a result, he said the security teams sometimes struggle to get senior management and public relations on board with a public program. "A public program could really stress the internal bureaucracy of a company," Ruddermann said. The biggest obstacle Lutech has encountered in getting bug bounty programs off the ground has been the purchasing office, Faenzi said. No RFP template currently exists for crowd-based vulnerability management services, according to Faenzi, and it's been difficult to fit bug bounties into the purchasing framework used for traditional penetration testing services. Lutech therefore needs to work with organizations that have a politically strong CSO who's able to convince the purchasing office to avoid all of the RFP issues and move forward without a tender. Once Lutech's bug bounty services offering becomes more established, though, Faenzi believes the sales cycle will become shorter and far less frustrating. "It's definitely not mainstream yet," Faenzi said. Organizations also must establish lines of communication and set expectations with the security researcher community before launching a program, said Justin Morehouse, founder and principal at GuidePoint Security. Specifically, Morehouse said researchers must understand the time frame within which the firm expects to work. Manning The Vulnerability Floodgates Prospects considering crowd-based security testing often turn to Lutech to ensure that approach makes sense for them, Faenzi said. Lutech is in a strong position to scope the bug bounty proposals since it knows the customer's applications and services as well as their business processes and the potential impact of any vulnerabilities on its operations, he said. Denim Group's focus out of the gate is on providing appropriate context and evaluation around the vulnerabilities submitted, Cornell said. Denim Group's staff has deep background in the security around software and system building, and Cornell said they're well-positioned to assess how much of an impact the vulnerability would have on systems and users as well as the actual risk associated with the flaw. "Everybody thinks that their vulnerability is the worst thing that has ever happened, and it needs to be addressed immediately," Cornell said. Sophos has tasked six individuals around the world with triaging vulnerabilities that come in through the company's bug bounty program and following them through to completion, Paradis said. The members of this team have a strong understanding of application security, he said, and excel at gauging the severity of a flaw as well as the impact it would have within a particular product organization. As far as remediation is concerned, Johnson said customers are increasingly turning to solution providers such as Guide- Point to serve as a liaison between the security team and the development team to help the customer work through all of the reported vulnerabilities. "Once these programs go into effect, usually during the first couple of weeks, there's just a ridiculous influx of findings," Johnson said. Exterminating The Bugs Some end users are only looking for help facilitating low-level tasks such as managing the ticketing system, Johnson said. But in many instances, Johnson said organizations find that the talented developers they employ aren't all that security-savvy, meaning they need outside guidance on how to actually fix the vulnerabilities. GuidePoint has expertise across network and application-related issues, including the two most commonly pursued bugs: cross-site scripting, where malicious scripts are injected into trusted websites; and SQL injection, which uses malicious SQL code to steal data. The company can set up conference calls to talk fixes, he said, or walk customers through how to address in more detail if many pieces are affected. Lutech is well-situated to support remediation efforts for telecom customers since the solution provider is a recognized subject matter expert in the domain. Faenzi said Lutech is very familiar with the best security practices around both the configuration and management of back-end telecom infrastructure and customer-premises equipment. NCC, meanwhile, can provide customers with a dedicated, on-site program manager to drive vulnerability remediation if the customer is expecting a large volume of bug reports from multiple sources, Ruddermann said. NCC also excels at analyzing highly complex, esoteric bugs to provide the customer with a deeper understanding of the vulnerability itself, he said. Ruddermann said NCC helps the customer drive security fixes by serving as a point of contact between a customer's security team and their product teams and ensuring the vulnerability is addressed in a time frame that's consistent with its severity. For its part, Cornell said Denim Group has a lot of back-end experience designing and developing systems, and is therefore able to provide customers with step-by-step advice around how to change code to deal with the vulnerabilities. The company can address both the business implications of the flaw as well as what constitutes proper mitigation from a technical standpoint, Cornell said. Denim Group stands apart from its peers in that the solution provider is willing to take over code bases and make the requisite fixes themselves, Cornell said. The company steps in when there's no value to the end user maintaining their own knowledge around how to build or evolve the application, which he said typically happens when an application is reaching end-of-life or isn't under active development. "One of the things that's rare about our services is that we will actually take over and fix vulnerabilities for organizations where that's a good fit," Cornell said. Good Dollars And Sense' One of the biggest selling points of bug bounties over hiring outside consultants to assess an organization's security posture is the cost associated with each, said Grimm's Wiswell. Before joining Grimm in April 2017, Wiswell worked at the U.S. Department of Defense and created the federal government's first bug bounty program, known affectionately as "Hack the Pentagon." The Defense Department spent roughly $150,000 on "Hack the Pentagon," with security researchers finding 138 flaws in the five publicly facing web domains included in the scope of the program. By chaining together a number of vulnerabilities, Wiswell said hackers were able to identify issues that were meaningful or mission-critical to the government. "It's really starting to make good dollars and sense," Wiswell said. Before launching "Hack the Pentagon," Wiswell said the Defense Department paid a third-party vulnerability defense firm $150,000 to find and report security flaws on the same five websites, but the company averaged just 11 submissions annually over a three-year period. The Defense Department tasked internal employees to think like adversaries and go after the same sites in a "red team" scenario, but Wiswell said they only ended up reporting 12 or 13 flaws during the three-week simulation. Breach simulations typically take between two and four weeks, though eight- to 12-week exercises aren't uncommon at larger firms, solution providers said. Bounty size factors significantly into which organizations security researchers decide to target, said HackerOne's Prins. Organizations might pay as little as $1,000 for critical flaws when first launching a bounty since hackers often enjoy considerable success finding issues in a program's early days, he said. But as organizations fix more vulnerabilities and their attack surface hardens, Prins said they also need to mature their bounty structure in order to keep the researcher community's interest. Google Chrome has exceled at this, HackerOne found, with the business increasing its top bounty from just $3,000 to $100,000 over the course of little more than five years. "Every time the bounty increases, a new caliber of researcher becomes interested in you," Prins said. Bugcrowd, meanwhile, advised in 2016 that highly mature security organizations pay $15,000 for critical vulnerabilities, somewhat mature companies pay $5,000 for critical flaws, and less mature firms from a security standpoint pay $1,500 for critical issues. Kudelski Security's Howard said companies need to offer a five-digit payout for major vulnerabilities to attract the interest of major research firms. Payouts for both average and critical vulnerabilities are up across the industry. The average overall vulnerability payout clocked in at $451 in 2017, Bugcrowd found, up from $295 in 2016 and nearly double the typical payout in 2015. Bounties associated with critical vulnerabilities, meanwhile, increased to $1,923 in 2017, HackerOne found, up nearly 20 percent from a typical dispersal of $1,624 in 2015. What's Next For Bug Bounties? Going forward, the greenest pastures for bug bounty programs might be beyond North America. Some $17.2 million or 72.6 percent of the $23.6 million in bounties paid thus far through HackerOne's platform come from companies based within the U.S. or Canada. Lutech started looking into providing crowd-based vulnerability management services in Italy last quarter, Faenzi said. The Cologno Monzese, Italy-based solution provider has actively explored the opportunity with two prospects, and Faenzi said the feedback from their high-level technical personnel has been strongly positive. Faenzi believes Lutech will be able to provide customers with a more intimate experience during the vulnerability validation phase since his staff will be able to converse with clients in fluent Italian. The company is therefore searching for opportunities where it can measure the effectiveness of its approach in the growing field. "I really want to try and be successful in this kind of service," Faenzi said. "It's one of the goals I have in mind for 2018." Like both Bugcrowd and HackerOne, new NCC bug bounty services leader Ruddermann is based in San Francisco. That's fairly par for the course, Ruddermann said, with California companies being the first major adopters of bug bounty and North American-based businesses receiving most of the attention thus far. But NCC has a truly global footprint, with 11 offices in the U.K., eight sites in Continental Europe, and four locations across Asia and Oceania. This leaves Ruddermann with a golden ticket to bring NCC's unique bug bounty services into some largely untapped markets. "There's tons of opportunity globally to expand the number of bug bounty programs in more traditional, non-technology companies overseas," he said. The downturn in the European cruise market is history as leaders from Carnival Corporation, Royal Caribbean Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings painted a picture of a strong and robust European cruise environment on year-end earnings calls. Capacity in the Mediterranean will be up significantly this summer, and the same goes for Northern Europe, according to independently-researched data in the2018-2019 Cruise Industry News Annual Report. You will recall that successive geopolitical events through the summer of 2016 resulted in a noted depressed demand environment for European sailings. 2017, however, saw an unprecedented turnaround in demand for Europe voyages from our core North American customer, particularly for the brands that were disproportionately negatively impacted in 2016, said Frank del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, on the companys year-end earnings call. The strength and speed of this turnaround was faster than anticipated, taking only one year for European itinerary pricing to recover and surpass 2015 prior peak levels. Royal Caribbean Cruises will position its newest hardware in the Mediterranean, with the Symphony of the Seas this summer followed by the Celebrity Edges 2019 summer program in the Mediterranean,. Recent trends have been particularly strong for North America, Europe and Asia Pacific itineraries, said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises. CFO Jason Liberty added: Demand for both Mediterranean and Northern Europe sailings has consistently surpassed our expectations with all key source markets booked nicely ahead of last year in both rate and volume. At Carnival Corporation, CFO David Bernstein said on the companys December earnings call that its seasonal Europe program was considerably ahead of the prior year on both occupancy and pricing. For our EAA (Europe, Asia, Australia) brands, for European deployment, occupancy is nicely ahead at higher prices, he said. We dont go into details by brands, but a number of times we have talked about seeing an improving economy in the southern part of Europe for a long time. We had talked about it bouncing along the bottom, but we have started to see some improvement, and we have seen that Costa has done very well in 2017, and we expect it to do well in 2018, Bernstein continued. So, we are comfortable and very confident and happy to see the improvement in that part of the world. Quote Sources: Cruise Industry News, SeekingAlpha Protecting the intellectual property (IP) of your company is every employees responsibility, says every CSO to both new hires and those long in the tooth. That said, perhaps there are instances where my mothers adage of dont tempt fate applies. Access controls may exist, but are access controls used or enforced? That is the quandary many employers face when bringing on interns. They want the internships to be productive and meaningful for both the intern and the company. But in doing so, should they entrust interns with access to the company's crown jewels? Here are two examples in which interns took advantage of access to companies' IP. Apple iPhone source code went to GitHub In early February 2018, Apples IP protection team went into an all-hands-on-deck mode when iOS source code was posted online to GitHub. The iBoot source code apparently would allow those who understood it to more easily manipulate the iOS to make iPhone jailbreaks easier and potentially discover vulnerabilities more easily. Apple's lawyers wasted no time in requesting GitHub take down the code, and GitHub complied. How did the iBoot source code find its way to Github? An intern shared the code with five friends who were active in iPhone jailbreak groups. Interestingly, the original sharing of the code and other Apple internal tools occurred in 2017. It was only when the iBoot source code was reposted to GitHub that Apple took action, as their confidential information was now available in the wild. While Apple may know the identity of this former engineering intern, it has not yet been made public. Valeos source code went to China Stepping back in history a bit, we recall the case of a Chinese university student, Li Lil Huang, who was arrested by the French for unauthorized access to trade secrets of automotive parts manufacturer Valeo. Huang was charged with economic espionage for sharing those trade secrets with China. Haung was an intern at Valeo. Post-arrest, the police searched her apartment and found six computers and two external drives that contained Valeos confidential IP. Haung began her internship at Valeo in February 2005 and found herself arrested by April 2005. Haung, reported to be a brilliant woman of exceptional competence, is multi-lingual and has multiple degrees in mathematics, applied physics and fluid mechanics. The information she was alleged to have purloined pertained to new models of vehicles from BMW and Renault for which Valeo was privy. As a major parts manufacturer, Valeo has confidentiality agreements with manufacturers on vehicles not yet in production. And while losing their customer's data was painful, the sting went deep, as they learned Huang had also taken Valeos own confidential production plans for China. Ultimately, the French courts found Huang guilty of IP theft in 2007. Interestingly, in the midst of the Huang incident, the European Strategic Intelligence and Security Centre reported an educational institution in Belgium "The Chinese Students and Scholars Association of Leuven" (CSSAL) was the epicenter of an economic spy network, according to SpaceDaily. Where are your trade secrets or source code going to go? Granted, the vast majority of interns and other employees are honest, and the likelihood of their breaking trust is low. Low they may be, but they are above zero. In looking at both Apples and Valeos instances where an intern broke trust, the pain may have been self-inflicted pain the type that stings the most. Both apparently granted to their interns far greater levels of trust than they deserved. Which drives home the point to all who hire and assign work to new members of the team: Be cautious. Vet those employees before you open up access to the crown jewels. BRIDGEPORT A freshman City Councilman has apologized for not reprimanding a colleague for her inflammatory comments about a two Jewish attorneys. It was a lapse on my part and, although no excuse, it stemmed partially from the shock of hearing such inappropriate comments from another council person. Lesson learned, Peter Spain wrote Tuesday to Hearst Connecticut Media. I hope I never hear such inexcusable comments again; but if I do, I will not be shy about immediately responding and objecting. Spains letter followed a complaint, filed by Russell Liskov, a municipal attorney, with the state Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO), accusing Spain and seven of his council colleagues of anti-Semitism. The councils ordinance committee is probing what critics call a too-aggressive sewer fee collection process, overseen by Liskov, who often sends delinquent bills of $2,000 or more to collections lawyer Juda Epstein to pursue. Sometimes homeowners who cannot clear their debt including legal fees charged by Epstein or other collections attorneys lose their homes to foreclosure. At a Dec. 27 meeting, Eneida Martinez, an ordinance committee cochairman, alleged a plot to between Liskov and Epstein: Both men are Jews and buddies and they go to the same synagogue and they are buying up these properties. Liskov, who has also threatened Martinez with a lawsuit unless she publicly retracts her statement, included Spain and six other council members present at that Dec. 27 meeting in his CHRO complaint. Liskov argued their silence was tantamount to a concurrence and wholehearted adoption of her statements. The ordinance committee had been scheduled Tuesday to hold a public hearing on proposals to reform the sewer fee system, but that meeting was abruptly canceled. More News Lawyer accuses council members of anti-Semitism Martinezs co-chairman, Marcus Brown, another freshman member who was also named in Liskovs complaint, said not enough members could attend the meeting. But Brown said the hearing will be rescheduled. BRIDGEPORT - Three cab drivers go on trial in federal court Tuesday morning charged with kidnapping and extorting money from recent immigrants to this country. Lucilo Cabrera, 44, Carlos Hernandez, 53, and Francisco Betancourt, 67, are accused of approaching women, men and children from Central American countries who did not speak English and were seeking asylum in the U.S. and taking them for a ride until the immigrants came up with the exorbitant fares. The cabbies lawyers, Gary Mastronardi, John Gulash and Chris Duby, declined comment on the case. The case is being prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys Vanessa Richards and Jacabed Rodriguez-Coss. The indictment charges each of the defendants with multiple counts of kidnapping and extortion. A fourth cab driver, Pascual Rodriguez, 49, is awaiting trial in the case. In one incident, according to the indictment affidavit, a woman with her infant and 6-year-old son from Honduras had ben granted temporary asylum after entering the U.S. at the Texas border. She was granted permission to travel to Hartford to stay with her sister while a permanent asylum application was pending. When the woman and her children arrived at the Port Authority bus terminal in New York City to transfer to another bus to Hartford she was approached by Betancourt who told her there were no buses to Connecticut but assured her he could take her to her sisters home, the indictment states. Instead, the affidavit states took the woman and her children to Brooklyn on the subway where they met Hernandez. The affidavit states that Hernandez took the womans immigration paperwork and over the next several hours drove them around the area refusing to let the woman and her children out. At some point Hernandez called the womans sister and arranged to meet her in a parking lot off the Merritt Parkway. Once there Hernandez offered to release the woman and her children to the sister for $900. Hernandez released the woman and her infant but held onto her son until the sister paid him $700 that she got from an ATM at a nearby store. He then refused to return the womans immigration paperwork until she gave him another $100, the affidavit states. Democratic Senate and House lawmakers said they may have enough support to pass legislation joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. In a news conference Tuesday, top Democratic legislators said there is enough momentum for Connecticut to join 10 other states and the District of Columbia in changing the way votes are counted in the presidential election. I fully reject the notion that the citizens of America in 2018 cannot be trusted to directly elect their president, said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven. The Electoral College is clearly an anachronism. If Connecticut joined the interstate agreement, it would promise to give all seven of its Electoral College votes to the winner of the popular vote in presidential elections if enough other states sign on. State Sen. Michael McLachlan, R-Danbury, chairman of the Goverment Administration and Elections Committee, argued the compact would weaken voters voices because the states Electoral College votes would go to the winner of the popular vote regardless of whether Connecticut voters support the candidate. That doesnt sound like the one voice, one vote proposal many people are being led to believe it is, he said. If we do away with the Electoral College, Connecticut voters may as well avoid going to the polls on Election Day, because someone else will be making the decision for them. State Rep. Michael Winkler, D-Vernon, said todays system leads legislators to focus their campaigning on battleground states instead of campaigning in all parts of the country. The states already signed onto the compact have promised their collective 165 electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote. For the compact to take effect, states with a combined total of 270 electoral votes a majority of the Electoral College must sign it. By joining the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, we can move our nation one step closer to truly honoring the will of voters, said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk. Legislators have considered the compact in the past but the movement has never had enough votes to pass. State Rep. Matt Lesser, D-Middletown, who sponsored the bill in the past, said he has never been more optimistic about passing the compact than this year. Something is different now, he said. The enthusiasm for the National Popular Vote Compact is palpable and extends far beyond polling showing three of four Connecticut voters support the measure, said Steven Winter, state coordinator at National Popular Vote CT. Thousands have signed petitions and postcards, rallied and lobbied and participated in phonebanking and canvasses, he said. Were thrilled and grateful that our states leaders have listened and made this an issue. BRIDGEPORT A Milford man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to raping a Stratford woman he met through an online dating website. Carmen Tragianese, 56, of Centennial Drive, pleaded not guilty before Superior Court Judge Robin Pavia to first-degree sexual assault, second-degree unlawful restraint and fourth-degree sexual assault. He requested a jury trial. He is presumed innocent and we look forward to vigorously defending against these allegations in court, Tragianeses lawyer, Edward Gavin, said as they left the Fairfield County Courthouse. Stratford police said the woman contacted Tragianese through a dating website last July and arranged to meet at a restaurant in Stratford for dinner. During the meal, the woman mentioned she had a new puppy, Tragianese told her he also had one, and she invited him to her home to play with the pet and watch television, police said. While they were watching TV, Tragianese began to kiss and grope the woman, police said. She told him no, police said, but he persisted, telling her he hadnt had sex with his wife in a long time and, Im a stud and Im ready to go again. He then held her down on the couch and raped her, police said. Police said the woman told them she later took photographs with her phone of bruises on her arm she claimed Tragianese caused, but felt ashamed and didnt immediately report the incident to police. Police said the womans former husband later saw the photographs on the womans phone and convinced her to file a complaint. When they later confronted Tragianese with the womans allegations, police said, he admitted having consensual sex with her but denied forcing himself on her. Asked about the bruising on the woman, police said, Tragianese told them she must have sensitive skin. Gov. Dannel P. Malloy decided he had more important things to do than attend a meeting with President Donald Trump, who once again called to arm teachers during the White House business meeting with the nations governors Monday morning. He thought about it for a while and ultimately decided he had things to do here in the state that were more pressing, said Leigh Appleby, a spokesman for the Governors Office. Malloy instead hosted a press conference where he announced the launch of a new campaign to combat the prescription drug and opioid crises. The meeting with the president wasnt the only White House event Malloy skipped during his weekend trip for the annual winter meeting of the National Governors Association. Malloy, a prominent Democratic opponent to Trump administration policies, skipped all events at the White House, including the governors ball. You would be hard-pressed to find anyone who is less alike than the president, Malloy said of himself at a Politico State Solutions forum. The president spent most of the Monday meeting addressing school safety, saying he plans to personally write out bump stocks, and calling for heightened school security in the wake of the Valentines Day shooting that left 17 dead at a high school in Parkland, Florida. This includes allowing well-trained and certified school personnel to carry concealed firearms, Trump said. At some point, you need volume. I don't know that a school is going to be able to hire a hundred security guards that are armed. Plus, you know, I got to watch some deputy sheriffs performing this week. And they weren't exactly Medal of Honor winners. All right? Malloy is part of a growing cohort of governors called States for Gun Safety, formed this month to combat gun violence through an agreement to share information between states about individuals who are prohibited from purchasing or possessing a firearm within that state. Malloy announced Monday that the governors of Massachusetts, Delaware and Puerto Rico have also pledged to join the coalition. In all the years Ive been reading the Connecticut Post I dont believe Ive ever read the phrase from the right in describing a political match. Republican yes, right no. I am certain that Ive never seen the phrase from the left in your paper. So what gives in this challenge from Connie Jagodzinksi for Kim Roses seat? Saying that Connie is a Republican carries hardly any negative connotations but branding her as coming from the right makes it sound as if she talks daily with Newt Gingrich and is responsible for union-busting and defunding Planned Parenthood. If we accurately described Kim Rose as being from the left could we then associate her with a disastrous Obama economy and also with a horrible Dannel Malloy economy? With Kim Rose being on the left, could we tie her to snowflakes on campuses weeping for safe spaces and coloring books? The portrait of Connie Jagodzinksi painted in the Connecticut Post was of someone who is a hater because everyone knows the right is all about hatred. Am I correct? In contrast, what was written about Kim Rose made her sound like a combination of Betsy Ross and Sergeant York the ideal bipartisan candidate who cloaks herself in her sons military service and stands for truth, justice and the American way. Im a life member of the VFW Post 7788 and I will always remember seeing Kim Roses car in the parking lot with the bumper sticker that read Had Enough? Vote Democrat, a clear antiwar protest against President Bush. So much for the bipartisan mantle, Ms. Rose. Kim Raseman Milford Several NAFCU-member credit union CEOs met at the White House Monday to discuss industry issues with President Donald Trump. It was an honor to meet with President Trump, and we are appreciative of the interest he showed in the credit union industry, its successes and challenges, said NAFCU Board Chair Richard L. Harris, president and CEO of Caltech Employees Federal Credit Union. My CEO colleagues and I had a very productive meeting during which credit unions top concerns were heard and understood. Along with Harris, other credit union leaders at todays meeting included: NAFCU Board Vice Chair Jeanne Kucey (president and CEO of JetStream Federal Credit Union), NAFCU Board Member Jim Kenyon (president and CEO of Whitefish Credit Union), Tyrone Muse (president and CEO of Visions Federal Credit Union), Angie Owens (president and CEO American Airlines Federal Credit Union) and Lynette Smith (president and CEO Washington Gas Light Federal Credit Union). NAFCU President and CEO Dan Berger also attended. Pakistan should have been put on the "grey list" by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) for failing to take required legal, regulatory and operational measures to choke off the funding networks of UN-designated terrorist groups operating from its territory. It did not merit any reprieve because of its deplorable record. Mixed signals It was widely speculated that with US, France, Britain and Germany supporting such a move, Pakistan would not escape inclusion. Until the end there was confusion because of mixed signals emanating from FATF deliberations. Pakistan has apparently been given three months more for taking steps as set out by the FATF to clean up its system. Pakistan was on FATFs grey list from 2012 to 2015. Why it was felt in 2015 that Pakistan had done enough to fulfil FATFs criteria to justify removal is unclear when in actual fact Islamabad has even thereafter continued to use terrorism to achieve its political objectives in India and Afghanistan. Pakistan has allowed Hafiz Saeed with a $10 million US (Rs 64.78 crores) bounty on his head to organise massive public rallies in Islamabad and elsewhere during which exhortations for jihad against the US, India and Israel were made. That funds are needed to organise such rallies is obvious. Masood Azhars Jaish-e-Mohamed (JeM) figures on the relevant list of UN-designated terrorist organisations but it collects funds openly for jihadi activities against India under the protection of the Pakistani establishment. Pakistans involvement in terrorism spans, in fact, at least three decades, with powerful jihadi organisations cropping up in the country with military and civilian support. These organisations have wide social support owing to the growing radicalisation of Pakistani society. The LeT, which has morphed into the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and which through front charity organisations musters grass roots support, the JeM, the Haqqani group which is at the forefront of US concerns, are so entrenched in the system and Pakistans foreign and security calculus that a three month reprieve by the FATF appears meaningless. The reprieve appears to be a failure of FATFs collective will to make Pakistan more accountable immediately. Pakistan cannot and will not take steps other than cosmetic to partially satisfy on paper the technical requirements of the FATF, and will then use that as an argument to get off the hook. It has successfully used these tactics to release US pressure on terrorism. It has extended selective cooperation so that expectations that it can and will do more are kept alive in US decision making circles, any serious punitive step by the US are avoided and space is retained to continue support for jihadi groups for larger strategic goals vis-a-vis Afghanistan and India. Mild raps Trumps personal castigation of Pakistans lies and deceit on terrorism, his administrations unusual bluntness on what it expects from Pakistan, the benchmarks laid out for Islamabad to achieve to avoid punitive consequences, all this would have suggested that the US would do more than merely withhold a limited quantum of military aid to be restored if Pakistan were to cooperate- and reduce the size of economic assistance. These are mild raps on Pakistans knuckles and Islamabad has reacted with disdain. The obvious gap between US statements and action only encourages Pakistan to believe that Americas stakes in Pakistan continue to be high enough for it to hold its hand despite provocations. With China now unswervingly behind it because of the Belt and Road Initiative of which the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is a major geopolitical component, Pakistan is doubly encouraged to believe that it has viable options to handle US pressure. FATFs failure to nail it will only reinforce Pakistani perceptions that it is too important because of its geopolitical location, its Islamic identity and nuclear capability to be pressured beyond a point, and that it will have room to play political cat and mouse games over terrorism with the US and Europe and continue using terror as state policy against Afghanistan and, of course, India. Nebulous process Why a combination of countries such as the US, France, Britain and Germany which constitute four of the G 7 countries that established the FATF in the first place could not ensure the immediate success of their initiative is puzzling. Why they have seemed willing to accept a diplomatic setback of sorts at the hands of China, Turkey and Saudi Arabia is unclear. This recalls the failure of the US to obtain NSG membership of India, an organisation set up at Americas initiative, as well as the failure of US and key European powers to ensure the designation of Masood Azhar as an international terrorist by the relevant UN committee by overcoming Chinas repeated opposition. The FATFs decision making procedures are nebulous. It works supposedly on the basis of a tacit consensus but also votes. Why three authoritarian powers that oppress their own people politically, with one a fountainhead of extremist ideology and another in league with terrorist organisations to achieve revived imperial objectives, should be able to thwart the US and major European powers is disquieting. So is the reported bargain with China to give it the vice-presidency of FATF in exchange for not opposing delayed action against Pakistan. The continuing ambivalence of those who would want to turn up the heat on Pakistan and the resoluteness of those who want to shield it gives Islamabad deadly room to manoeuvre. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: India must reach out to all neighbours, including Pakistan, to counter China The Narendra Modi government is like a phoenix. It has several faces, multiple stances and a virtually committed cadre, thanks to the Sangh Parivar. But Modis biggest bhakts are the media, especially the electronic media. There seems to be relatively little criticism about this among the citizenry, not to speak of the political class. The middle class either highly supports the Modi policies, or chooses not to take on an occasional policy which it does not like. The advertising agencies are making a killing. Initially from middle strata delight about the emperors new clothes to his purported panache when mixing with the high and mighty. Part of his political past which was much more questionable (like the Gujarat riots of 2002 in which some 2,000 people died, mostly Muslims) has been consigned to the political dustbin. Modi, therefore, has overcome serious hurdles, thanks to the increasingly active saffron machine. While he is the unquestionable and peerless mascot of the Sangh Parivar, his man Friday Amit Shah has played a major role in organisation, alliances, campaigns against the secular Opposition, further buttressing the Modi persona. Why arent the secular Opposition presenting more of a contest? Firstly, the Opposition is divided. For example, in Delhi both the Congress and the BJP have opposed the rise of the Aam Admi Party. The Congress, for some time, sidelined their redoubtable leader and former chief minister Sheila Dikshit. The rot is deep. The Left is unable to come to terms with the AAP politics, as they have not done the AAP kind of mass work for years. However, the CPI(M) did align with the breakaway Swaraj Abhiyan, but with little effect in the last Delhi Assembly elections. This despite the fact that major AAP leaders like Yogendra Yadav, Anand Kumar and advocate Prashant Bhushan were in the split away party. The BJP has had its breakaways, but also powerful parties joining it. For example, Nitish Kumar jumped on to the winning horse, and became part of the NDA. Nothing succeeds like success. But there have been serious shortcomings in Modis campaigns and governance. Demonetisation was a historical blunder. Announced on the midnight of November 8, 2016, it became the prime ministers rallying cry. Modi railed against his predecessors of the past 70 years. They were responsible for the mounting corruption, lost incomes and all other economic ills. The fact that this 70-year-period included Sangh stalwarts like Syama Prasad Mookerjee, (the founder of the Jana Sangh in 1951), Deendayal Upadhyay, MS Guru Gowalkar, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, LK Advani, among many, was passed off or considered adequate for such a speech. In the Uttar Pradesh elections, Modi hammered through his advantage by promising to have black money unearthed by demonetisation, put into the accounts of the electorate. This was, of course, an electoral inducement. But the Election Commission was unfazed. The demonetisation of 86 per cent of the currency was a disaster. The Rs 2,000 bill intended to increase the total value of the currency, was as the highest value note even more acceptable in the black market economy. The secular Opposition fought its battle in Uttar Pradesh, but the Congresss inordinate demand for 105 Assembly seats was the death knell of the coalition. It is not the that demonetisation was not controversial, but the Opposition failed to consult senior advocates and economists to impact the common man. But the massive impact is still there. There is no bridge currency note between the Rs 500 currency note and the Rs 2,000 note. It is also clear that since 99 per cent of the currency had been returned, there was no treasury of black money outstanding. According to Article 300A on the Right to Property, No person shall be deprived of his property save by authority of law. Where was the "authority of law"? Then GST. Once again Modis core group failed. There were too many slabs, too much paper work. In short, too much clerical work. The GST scheme is being jiggled with, but there are limits. The promise to reduce fuel costs by Rs 2 per litre in the GST was dropped because of rising oil import costs. The traders are not euphoric about GST, to put it mildly. The crackdown in Delhi and other cities on illegal construction was the last straw. Most shopkeepers believed that the Union and state governments were stocking up funds for the coming 2019 elections, or elections in municipalities and states in other areas. So what is the future? Despite all difficulties, the Modi government may be slightly shopworn, but it is very much in command. A lot depends on the Opposition. The question is, is the Opposition coming into a position to challenge Modi? The fact that the Congress and Rahul Gandhi are more confident after the Gujarat result, is evidence that the Opposition is gaining ground. But is has a fairly long way to go. This is the challenge before the Indian electorate. Also read: How we killed Sridevi twice Aurubis AG provides non-ferrous metals worldwide. It processes complex metal concentrates, scrap metals, and organic and inorganic metal-bearing recycling materials, and industrial residues to produce metals. The company produces continuous cast, directly cast, and oxygen-free copper rods, as well as various drawn products; a range of materials in round and square cross-sections, and various dimensions under the AURUBIS SHAPES brand; and copper-based architectural products and services for the building and construction industry, such as flat copper sheets, as well as prefabricated systems for facades, roofs, and rainwater systems. It also provides industrial rolled products, including connector strips, radiator strips, sheets, plates and circles, and pre-rolled strips; cathodes; bars and profiles comprising flat bars, round bars, segments, profiles, and hollow profiles; copper bars and profiles; precious metals consisting of gold and silver; and sulfuric acid, iron silicate, selenium, and lead. In addition, the company engages in the recycling of copper, precious metals, and other non-ferrous metals; and material recycling activity for copper. Further, it offers metals comprising tellurium metal, tellurium dioxide, selenium, lead-bismuth, and lead-antimony alloys. The company serves cable and wire, construction, machinery and plant engineering, transport, chemistry, and other industries. The company was formerly known as Norddeutsche Affinerie AG and changed its name to Aurubis AG in April 2009. Aurubis AG was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Hamburg, Germany. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Anthem: 1-800 Contacts, AIM Specialty Health, AMERIGROUP Community Care of New Mexico Inc., AMERIGROUP Corporation, AMERIGROUP Maryland Inc., AMERIGROUP New Jersey Inc., AMERIGROUP Ohio Inc., AMERIGROUP Tennessee Inc., AMERIGROUP Texas Inc., AMERIGROUP Washington Inc., AMGP Georgia Managed Care Company Inc., ATH Holding Company LLC, America's 1st Choice of South Carolina Inc., America's Health Management Services Inc., American Imaging Management Inc., Americas 1st Choice, Amerigroup, Amerigroup Delaware Inc., Amerigroup District of Columbia Inc., Amerigroup Health Plan of Louisiana Inc., Amerigroup IPA of New York LLC, Amerigroup Insurance Company, Amerigroup Iowa Inc., Amerigroup Kansas Inc., Amerigroup Mississippi Inc., Amerigroup Oklahoma Inc., Amerigroup Partnership Plan LLC, Amerigroup Pennsylvania Inc., Anthem Blue Cross Life and Health Insurance Company, Anthem Financial Inc., Anthem Health Plans Inc., Anthem Health Plans of Kentucky Inc., Anthem Health Plans of Maine Inc., Anthem Health Plans of New Hampshire Inc., Anthem Health Plans of Virginia Inc., Anthem Holding Corp., Anthem Innovation Israel Ltd., Anthem Insurance Companies Inc., Anthem Kentucky Managed Care Plan Inc., Anthem Life & Disability Insurance Company, Anthem Life Insurance Company, Anthem Partnership Holding Company LLC, Anthem Services Company LLC, Anthem Southeast Inc., Anthem UM Services Inc., Anthem Workers' Compensation LLC, Applied Pathways LLC, Arcus Enterprises Inc., Aspire Health Inc., Aspire Healthcare Corp, Associated Group Inc., Beacon Health Options, Blue Cross Blue Shield Healthcare Plan of Georgia Inc., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin, Blue Cross of California, Blue Cross of California Partnership Plan Inc., CareMarket Inc., CareMore Health Plan, CareMore Health Plan of Arizona Inc., CareMore Health Plan of Nevada, CareMore Health Plan of Texas Inc., CareMore Health System, CareMore LLC, Cerulean Companies Inc., Claim Management Services Inc., Community Care Health Plan of Louisiana Inc., Community Care Health Plan of Nevada Inc., Community Insurance Company, Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation, Crossroads Acquisition Corp., DBG Holdings Inc., DeCare Analytics LLC, DeCare Dental Health International LLC, DeCare Dental Insurance Ireland Ltd., DeCare Dental LLC, DeCare Dental Networks LLC, DeCare Operations Ireland Limited, Delivery Network LLC, Designated Agent Company Inc., EHC Benefits Agency Inc., EasyScripts Cutler Bay LLC, EasyScripts Hialeah LLC, EasyScripts LLC, EasyScripts Westchester LLC, Empire HealthChoice Assurance Inc., Empire HealthChoice HMO Inc., Federal Government Solutions LLC, Freedom Health Inc., Global TPA LLC, Golden West Health Plan Inc., Greater Georgia Life Insurance Company, HEP AP Holdings Inc., HMO Colorado Inc., HMO Missouri Inc., Health Core Inc., Health Management Corporation, Health Ventures Partner L.L.C., HealthKeepers Inc., HealthLink HMO Inc., HealthLink Inc., HealthLink Insurance Company, HealthPlus HP LLC, HealthSun Health Plans, HealthSun Health Plans Inc., HealthSun Holdings LLC, HealthSun Management LLC, HealthSun Physicians Network I LLC, HealthSun Physicians Network LLC, Healthy Alliance Life Insurance Company, Highland Acquisition Holdings LLC, Highland Holdco Inc., Highland Intermediate Holdings LLC, Highland Investor Holdings LLC, Imaging Management Holdings LLC, IngenioRx Inc., Legato Health Technologies LLP, Legato Health Technologies Philippines Inc., Legato Holdings I Inc., Legato Holdings II LLC, Living Complete Technologies Inc., Matthew Thornton Health Plan Inc., Memphis Supportive Care Partnership LLC, Meridian Resource Company LLC, Missouri Care Incorporated, NGS Federal LLC, Nash Holding Company LLC, National Government Services Inc., New England Research Institutes Inc., Optimum Healthcare Inc., Park Square Holdings Inc., Park Square I Inc., Park Square II Inc., Pasteur Medical Bird Road LLC, Pasteur Medical Center LLC, Pasteur Medical Cutler Bay LLC, Pasteur Medical Group LLC, Pasteur Medical Hialeah Gardens LLC, Pasteur Medical Holdings LLC, Pasteur Medical Kendall LLC, Pasteur Medical Management LLC, Pasteur Medical Miami Gardens LLC, Pasteur Medical North Miami Beach LLC, Pasteur Medical Partners LLC, Resolution Health Inc, Resolution Health Inc., RightCHOICE Managed Care Inc., Rocky Mountain Hospital and Medical Service Inc., SellCore Inc., Simply Healthcare Holdings, Simply Healthcare Plans Inc., Southeast Services Inc., State Sponsored DM Services Inc., The Anthem Companies Inc., The Anthem Companies of California Inc., TrustSolutions LLC, UNICARE Health Plan of West Virginia Inc., UNICARE Illinois Services Inc., UNICARE National Services Inc., UniCare Life & Health Insurance Company, UniCare Specialty Services Inc., Valus Inc., WPMI LLC, WellCare of Nebraska Inc., WellPoint Acquisition LLC, WellPoint California Services Inc., WellPoint Dental Services Inc., WellPoint Health Solutions Inc., WellPoint Holding Corp., WellPoint Information Technology Services Inc., WellPoint Insurance Services Inc., WellPoint Military Care Corporation, Wellmax Health Medical Centers LLC, Wellmax Health Physicians Network LLC, and Wisconsin Collaborative Insurance Company. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through four strategic business units: Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; and Capital Markets. The company offers chequing, savings, and business accounts; mortgages; loans, lines of credit, student lines of credit, and business and agriculture loans; investment and insurance services; and credit cards, as well as overdraft protection services. It also provides day-to-day banking, borrowing and credit, investing and wealth, specialty, and international services; correspondent banking and online foreign exchange services; and cash management services. The company serves its customers through its banking centers, as well as direct, mobile, and remote channels. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Covance a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Covance wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Leidos Holdings, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of scientific, engineering and information technology services and solutions in the areas of defense, intelligence, civil and health markets. It operates through the following three segments: Defense Solutions, Civil, and Health. The Defense Solutions segment focuses on deploying agile, cost-effective solutions to meet the ever-changing missions of the company's customers in areas of intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance, enterprise IT and integrated systems and cybersecurity and global services. The Civil segment focuses on seamlessly integrating and protecting physical, digital and data domains. The Health segment offers solutions to federal and commercial customers that are responsible for the health and wellbeing of people worldwide including service members and veterans. The company was founded by John Robert Beyster on February 3, 1969 and is headquartered in Reston, VA. Read More Sanchez Energy Corporation, an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the acquisition and development of U.S. onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources. It engages in the horizontal development of resources from the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. It also holds an undeveloped acreage position in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) in Mississippi and Louisiana. As of December 31, 2017, the company had assembled approximately 285,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale; and owned approximately 37,000 net acres in the TMS. Sanchez Energy Corporation was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Read More Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. The company's personal banking products and services include checking and savings accounts, credit cards, mortgages, and financial and investment advice services; and commercial banking products and services comprise business deposit accounts, commercial credit cards, business loans and commercial mortgages, cash management solutions, foreign exchange, specialized banking programs, treasury and payment solutions, and risk management products for small business and commercial banking customers. It also offers investment and wealth advisory services; digital investing services; financial services and solutions; and investment management, and trust and custody services to institutional, retail, and high net worth investors. In addition, the company provides life insurance, accident and sickness insurance, and annuity products; creditor and travel insurance to bank customers; and reinsurance solutions. Further, it offers client's debt and equity capital-raising services, as well as loan origination and syndication, balance sheet management, and treasury management; strategic advice on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, and recapitalizations, as well as valuation and fairness opinions; and trade finance, risk mitigation, and other operating services. Additionally, the company provides research and access to markets for institutional, corporate, and retail clients; trading solutions that include debt, foreign exchange, interest rate, credit, equity, securitization and commodities; new product development and origination services, as well as risk management advice and services to hedge against fluctuations; and funding and liquidity management services to its clients. It operates through approximately 1,400 bank branches and 4,800 automated banking machines in Canada and the United States. The company was founded in 1817 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Dividend 15 Split Corp. II a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Dividend 15 Split Corp. II wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Steelcase Inc. manufactures and sells integrated furniture settings, user-centered technologies, and interior architectural products. It operates through Americas, EMEA, and Other Category segments. The firm's furniture portfolio includes panel, fence and beam-based furniture systems, storage products, fixed and height-adjustable desks, benches, and tables, as well as complementary products, including work tools and screens. Its seating products comprise ergonomic task chairs; seating for collaborative or casual settings; and specialty seating for specific vertical markets, such as healthcare and education. The firm's interior architectural products include full and partial height walls and architectural pods. It also provides textiles, wall coverings, and surface imaging solutions for architects and designers; and ceramic steel surfaces for use in various applications, including static whiteboards and chalkboards through third party fabricators and distributors, as well as workplace strategy consulting, data-driven space measurement, lease origination, furniture and asset management, and hosted event services. The company markets and sells its products to corporate, government Read More The following companies are subsidiares of General Motors: 2140879 Ontario Inc., ACAR Leasing, ACAR Leasing Ltd., ACF Investment, ACF Investment Corp., AFS SenSub, APGO Trust, Adam Opel, Adam Opel GmbH, Aftermarket (UK), AmeriCredit, AmeriCredit Consumer Loan, AmeriCredit Consumer Loan Company Inc., AmeriCredit Financial Services, AmeriCredit Financial Services Inc., AmeriCredit Funding, AmeriCredit Syndicated Warehouse Trust, Annunciata Corporation, Argonaut Holdings, Argonaut Holdings LLC, BOCO (Proprietary), BOCO (Proprietary) Limited, Banco GMAC, Banco GMAC S.A., Baylis (Gloucester), Boco Trust, Boden Brussels, CHEVYPLAN, CHEVYPLAN S.A. Sociedad Administradora de Planes de Autofinanciamiento Comercial, Cadillac, Cadillac Europe, Cadillac Europe GmbH, Carve-Out Ownership, Carve-Out Ownership Cooperative LLC, Chevrolet Deutschland GmbH, Chevrolet Sales (Thailand), Chevrolet Sales (Thailand) Limited, Chevrolet Sales India, Chevrolet Sales India Private Ltd., Chevrolet Sociedad Anonima de Ahorro para Fines Determinados, Controladora General Motors, Controladora General Motors S.A. de C.V., Cruise, DCJ1, DCJ1 LLC, DMAX, DMAX Ltd., Dealership Liquidations, Dealership Liquidations Inc., Delphi Energy and Engine Management Systems UK, Delphi Energy and Engine Management Systems UK Overseas Corporation, EDS (Electronic Data Systems), FAW-GM, Fundacion Chevrolet, G.M.A.C., GCAR Titling Ltd., GM (UK) Pension, GM (UK) Pension Trustees Limited, GM APO Holdings, GM Administradora de Bens, GM Administradora de Bens Ltda., GM Asia Pacific Regional Headquarters Ltd., GM Auslandsprojekte, GM Automotive, GM Automotive Services Belgium, GM CME, GM Canada Holdings, GM Canada Limited, GM Components Holdings, GM Components Holdings LLC, GM Cruise, GM Cruise Holdings LLC, GM Cruise LLC, GM Defense LLC, GM Eurometals, GM Eurometals Inc., GM Europe Treasury, GM Finance, GM Finance Co. Holdings LLC, GM Financial, GM Financial AB, GM Financial Canada, GM Financial Canada Leasing, GM Financial Canada Leasing Ltd., GM Financial Colombia Holdings LLC, GM Financial Colombia S.A. Compania de Financiamiento, GM Financial Consumer, GM Financial Consumer Discount, GM Financial Consumer Discount Company, GM Financial Del Peru, GM Financial GmbH, GM Financial Holdings LLC, GM Financial Insurance Services, GM Financial Mexico Holdings, GM Financial Mexico Holdings LLC, GM Financial Real Estate, GM Financial de Mexico, GM Financial de Mexico S.A. de C.V. SOFOM E.R., GM Financial del Peru S.A.C, GM Global Business Services, GM Global Propulsion Systems -Torino S.r.l., GM Global Purchasing and Supply Chain, GM Global Technology Operations, GM Global Technology Operations LLC, GM Global Tooling, GM Global Tooling Company LLC, GM Global Treasury Centre Limited, GM Holden, GM Holden Pty Ltd., GM Holdings U.K. No.1 Limited, GM Inversiones Santiago Limitada, GM Investment Trustees Limited, GM Korea, GM Korea Company, GM LAAM Holdings, GM LAAM Holdings LLC, GM Mexico Holdings, GM Mobility Europe GmbH, GM PSA Purchasing Services, GM Personnel Services, GM Personnel Services Inc., GM Philippines Inc., GM Plats (Proprietary), GM Regional Holdings, GM Regional Holdings LLC, GM Retirees Pension Trustees, GM Retirees Pension Trustees Limited, GM Subsystems Manufacturing, GM Subsystems Manufacturing LLC, GM Technical Center Korea Ltd., GM Viet Nam Motor Company, GM-DI Leasing, GM-DI Leasing LLC, GMAC - Instituicao Financeira de Credito, GMAC Administradora de Consorcios, GMAC Administradora de Consorcios Ltda., GMAC Banque, GMAC Continental, GMAC Espana de Financiacion, GMAC Holdings (U.K.), GMAC Lease B.V. (aka Masterlease Europe), GMAC Nederland N.V., GMAC Prestadora de Servicios de Mao de Obra Ltda., GMAC Servicios, GMAC UK, GMAC de Venezuela, GMAC-Prestadora de Servios de Mo-de-Obra, GMACI Corretora de Seguros, GMACI Corretora de Seguros Ltda, GMAM Real Estate I, GMCH&SP Private Equity II, GMCH&SP Private Equity II L.P., GMF Australia Pty Ltd, GMF Europe, GMF Europe Holdco, GMF Europe LLP, GMF Floorplan Owner Revolving Trust, GMF Funding, GMF Germany Holdings, GMF Global Assignment, GMF Global Assignment LLC, GMF International, GMF International LLC, GMF Leasing LLC, GMF Leasing Warehousing Trust, GMF Wholesale Receivables, GMGP Holdings, General Motors (China) Investment Company, General Motors (China) Investment Company Limited, General Motors (Thailand), General Motors (Thailand) Limited, General Motors - Colmotores, General Motors - Colmotores S.A., General Motors Advisory Services LLC, General Motors Africa and Middle East, General Motors Africa and Middle East FZE, General Motors Asia, General Motors Asia LLC, General Motors Asia Pacific Holdings, General Motors Asia Pacific Holdings LLC, General Motors Asset Management, General Motors Asset Management Corporation, General Motors Australia, General Motors Australia Pty Ltd., General Motors Austria, General Motors Austria, General Motors Auto, General Motors Auto LLC, General Motors Automobiles Philippines, General Motors Automobiles Philippines Inc., General Motors Automotive Holdings, General Motors Automotive Holdings S.L., General Motors Belgique Automobile NV, General Motors Belgium, General Motors Chile, General Motors Chile Industria Automotriz Limitada, General Motors China LLC, General Motors Daewoo Auto and Technology, General Motors Daewoo Auto and Technology CIS LLC, General Motors East Africa, General Motors Egypt, General Motors Egypt S.A.E., General Motors Espana, General Motors Europe Holdings, General Motors Europe Limited, General Motors Financial Chile, General Motors Financial Chile Limitada, General Motors Financial Chile S.A., General Motors Financial Company, General Motors Financial Company Inc., General Motors Financial International, General Motors Financial Italia, General Motors Financial Suisse, General Motors Financial UK, General Motors Financial of Canada, General Motors Financial of Canada Ltd., General Motors Finland, General Motors France, General Motors GBS Hungary, General Motors Global Service Operations, General Motors Global Service Operations Inc., General Motors Hellas, General Motors Holden Australia, General Motors Holden Australia NSC, General Motors Holden Australia NSC Pty Ltd., General Motors Holden Australia Pty Ltd., General Motors Holdings LLC, General Motors IT Services (Ireland) Limited, General Motors India Private, General Motors India Private Limited, General Motors International Holdings, General Motors International Holdings LLC, General Motors International Operations, General Motors International Operations Pte. Ltd., General Motors International Services Company, General Motors International Services Company SAS, General Motors International Services LLC, General Motors Investment Limited, General Motors Investment Management, General Motors Investment Management Corporation, General Motors Investment Participacoes, General Motors Investment Participacoes Ltda., General Motors Investments, General Motors Investments Pty. Ltd., General Motors Ireland, General Motors Israel, General Motors Israel Ltd., General Motors Italia, General Motors Japan, General Motors Japan Limited, General Motors LLC, General Motors Limited, General Motors Manufacturing Poland, General Motors Nederland, General Motors New Zealand Pensions, General Motors New Zealand Pensions Limited, General Motors Overseas, General Motors Overseas Commercial Vehicle, General Motors Overseas Commercial Vehicle Corporation, General Motors Overseas Corporation, General Motors Overseas Distribution, General Motors Overseas Distribution LLC, General Motors Peru, General Motors Peru S.A., General Motors Poland Spolka, General Motors Portugal, General Motors Powertrain (Thailand), General Motors Powertrain (Thailand) Limited, General Motors Research Corporation, General Motors South Africa, General Motors South Africa (Pty) Limited, General Motors Suisse, General Motors Taiwan, General Motors Taiwan Ltd., General Motors Technical Centre India, General Motors Technical Centre India Private Limited, General Motors Treasury Center, General Motors Treasury Center LLC, General Motors Turkiye, General Motors UK, General Motors Uruguay, General Motors Uruguay S.A., General Motors Venezolana, General Motors Ventures, General Motors Ventures LLC, General Motors Warehousing and Trading (Shanghai), General Motors Warehousing and Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., General Motors de Argentina, General Motors de Argentina S.r.l., General Motors de Mexico, General Motors de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., General Motors del Ecuador, General Motors del Ecuador S.A., General Motors do Brasil, General Motors do Brasil Ltda., General Motors of Canada, General Motors of Canada Company, General Motors-Holden's Sales, General Motors-Holden's Sales Pty. Limited, GigaPower LLC, Global Services Detroit, Global Services Detroit LLC, Global Tooling Service Company Europe, Global Tooling Service Company Europe Limited, Go Motor Retailing, Go Trade Parts, Grand Pointe Holdings, Grand Pointe Holdings Inc., Grand Pointe Park Condominium, Grand Pointe Park Condominium Association, H.S.H., Haines & Strange, Holden New Zealand, Holden New Zealand Limited, IBC Pension Trustees, IBC Pension Trustees Limited, IBC Vehicles, Lease Ownership Cooperative, Lease Ownership Cooperative LLC, Lidlington Engineering Company, Lidlington Engineering Company Ltd., Limited Liability Company "General Motors CIS", Master Lease Germany, Maven Drive, Maven Drive LLC, Millbrook Pension Management, Millbrook Pension Management Limited, Monetization of Carve-Out, Monetization of Carve-Out LLC, Motor Repris Automocio, Motors Holding, Motors Holding LLC, Motors Properties, Motors Properties (Trading), Multi-Use Lease Entity Trust, North American New Cars, North American New Cars LLC, Omnibus BB Transportes, Omnibus BB Transportes S. A., OnStar Connected Services Srl, OnStar Egypt Limited LLC, OnStar Europe, OnStar Europe Ltd., OnStar Global Services, OnStar Global Services Corporation, OnStar LLC, OnStar de Mexico, OnStar de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Opel Bank, Opel Danmark, Opel Group, Opel Group Warehousing, Opel Leasing, Opel Norge, Opel Sonderdienste, Opel Southeast Europe, Opel Sverige, Opel Szentgotthard Automotive Manufacturing, Opel Wien, P.T. G M AutoWorld Indonesia, P.T. General Motors Indonesia, PIMS, PIMS Co., PT. General Motors Indonesia Manufacturing, Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center, Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center Company Ltd., Prestadora de Servicios GMF Colombia S.A.S., Rapid Motor Vehicle Company, Reliance Motor Car Company, Riverfront Holdings III Inc., Riverfront Holdings Inc., Riverfront Holdings Phase II Inc., SAIC GM (Shenyang) Norsom Motors Co. Ltd., SAIC GM Dong Yue Motors Company Limited, SAIC GM Dong Yue Powertrain Company Limited, SAIC GM Wuling Automobile Company Limited, SAIC General Motors Corporation Limited, SAIC General Motors Investment Limited, SAIC General Motors Sales Company Limited, SAIC-GMAC Automotive Finance Company Limited, SAIC-GMF Leasing Co. Ltd., Servicios GMAC S.A. de C.V., Shanghai Chengxin Used Car Operation and Management Company Limited, Shanghai OnStar Telematics Co. Ltd., Sherwoods (Darlington) Limited, Sidecar Technologies, Skurrays Limited, Stam-Terberg Autobedrijven B. V., Strobe Inc., VHC Sub-Holdings (UK), Vauxhall Defined Contribution Pension Plan Trustees Limited, Vehicle Asset Universal Leasing Trust, Vickers (Lakeside) Limited, Vision Motors Limited, WRE, WRE Inc., and Zona Franca Industrial Colmotores SAS. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at contact[email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. The following companies are subsidiares of The Sherwin-Williams: Acquire Sourcing LLC, CTS National Corporation, Comex North America Inc., Compania Sherwin-Williams S.A. de C.V., Contract Transportation Systems Co., Deep Pride Limited, Dongguan Lilly Paint Industries Ltd, Duron, EPS (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., EPS B.V., EPS Polidrox Industria e Comercio de Resinas Ltda, Geocel Holdings, Geocel Limited, Guangdong Valspar Paints Manufacturing Co Ltd., Guangdong Yuegang Dadi Paints Company Limited, Guardsman Australia Pty Limited, Guardsman Industries Limited, Inver East Med S.A., Inver France SAS, Inver GmbH, Inver Industrial Coating SRL, Inver Polska Spoka Z O.O, Inver Spa, Invercolor Bologna Srl, Invercolor Ltd, Invercolor Roma Srl, Invercolor Torino Srl, Invercolor Toscana Srl, Isocoat Tintas e Vernizes Ltda, Isva Vernici Srl, Jiangsu Pulanna Coating Co. Ltd., Leighs Paints, M.A. Bruder & Sons, Omega Specialty Products & Services LLC, Oy Sherwin-Williams Finland Ab, PT Sherwin-Williams Indonesia, PT Valspar Indonesia, Paint Sundry Brands, Pinturas Condor S.A., Pinturas Industriales S.A., Plasti-Kote Co. Inc., Plasti-kote Limited, Productos Quimicos y Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Quest Automotive Products UK Limited, Quetzal Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Resin Surfaces Limited, Ronseal (Ireland) Limited, SWIMC LLC, SWIPCO Sherwin Williams do Brasil Propriedade, Sayerlack, Sherwin Williams Colombia S.A.S., Sherwin-Williams (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Belize) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Caribbean) N.V., Sherwin-Williams (Ireland) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Company Limited, Sherwin-Williams (S) Pte. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Shanghai) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (South China) Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Vietnam) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (West Indies) Limited, Sherwin-Williams Argentina I.y C.S.A., Sherwin-Williams Aruba VBA, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Mexico S.de R.L.de C.V., Sherwin-Williams Balkan S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Bel, Sherwin-Williams Benelux NV, Sherwin-Williams Canada Inc., Sherwin-Williams Cayman Islands Limited, Sherwin-Williams Chile S.A., Sherwin-Williams Coatings India Private Limited, Sherwin-Williams Coatings S.a r.l., Sherwin-Williams Czech Republic spol. s r.o, Sherwin-Williams Denmark A/S, Sherwin-Williams Deutschland GmbH, Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands (Australia) Pty Ltd, Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands Limited, Sherwin-Williams France Finishes SAS, Sherwin-Williams Italy S.r.l., Sherwin-Williams Luxembourg Investment Management Company S.a r.l., Sherwin-Williams Norway AS, Sherwin-Williams Paints Limited Liability Company, Sherwin-Williams Peru S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Pinturas de Venezuela S.A., Sherwin-Williams Poland Sp. z o.o, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, Sherwin-Williams Realty Holdings Inc., Sherwin-Williams Services (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams Spain Coatings S.L., Sherwin-Williams Sweden AB, Sherwin-Williams Uruguay S.A., Sherwin-Williams do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., Spanyc Paints Joint Stock Company, Syntema I Vaggeryd AB, TOB Becker Acroma Ukraine, Taiwan Valspar Co. Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Acceptance Corporation, The Sherwin-Williams Headquarters Company, The Sherwin-Williams Manufacturing Company, The Sherwin-Williams US Licensing Company, The Valspar (Asia) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Australia) Corporation Pty. Ltd., The Valspar (Finland) Corporation Oy, The Valspar (France) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (France) Research Corporation SAS, The Valspar (Germany) GmbH, The Valspar (Malaysia) Corporation Sdn Bhd, The Valspar (Nantes) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (Singapore) Corporation Pte. Ltd, The Valspar (South Africa) Corporation (Pty) Ltd, The Valspar (Spain) Corporation S.R.L., The Valspar (Switzerland) Corporation AG, The Valspar (Thailand) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar (UK) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Vietnam) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar Corporation, The Valspar Corporation Limitada, UAB Sherwin-Williams Baltic, Valspar (India) Coatings Corporation Private Limited, Valspar (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Valspar (Uruguay) Corporation S.A., Valspar (WPC) Pty Ltd, Valspar Aries Coatings S. de R.L. de C.V., Valspar Automotive (UK) Corporation Limited, Valspar Automotive Australia Pty Limited, Valspar B.V., Valspar Coatings (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Valspar D.o.o Beograd, Valspar Inc., Valspar Industries (Ireland) Ltd., Valspar Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Valspar Industries GmbH, Valspar LLC, Valspar Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Valspar Paint (Australia) Pty Ltd, Valspar Paint (NZ) Limited, Valspar Powder Coatings Limited, Valspar Rock Company Limited, Valspar Specialty Paints LLC, Vantaco Oy, and ZAO Sherwin-Williams. Humans have harvested the oceans resources for millennia, but a new study published this week in the journal Science reveals, for the first time ever, a precise image of the massive scale of global fishing activity. The study builds on a dataset that is hundreds of times more detailed than previous global surveys, showing that fishing covers at least 55 per cent of the ocean. That's four times the footprint of agriculture. More than 40 million hours of fishing were observed in 2016 alone, with fishing vessels journeying more than 460 million kilometres during the year. Thats a distance equal to travelling to the moon and back 600 times. By showing in detail where and when fishing takes place over time, the dataset offers a valuable glimpse into the positive role well-enforced policy can play in conservation and resource-management efforts. This clearly showed us that marine management on a large scale is possible, explains Kristina Boerder, a Dal PhD student involved in the study. Global fishing activity, 2016, from the study. View the digital map: globalfishingwatch.org Boerder and fellow Dal ecologist Boris Worm are part of an international, multidisciplinary team that also includes researchers from sustainability advocacy group Global Fishing Watch, the National Geographic Societys Pristine Seas project, the University of California Santa Barbara, Stanford University, aerial monitoring group SkyTruth and Google. The team monitored the activity from more than 70,000 industrial fishing vessels between 2012 and 2016 using information beamed up to satellites from vessels automatic identification system (AIS) positions. AIS technology was first created to help prevent collisions between vessels in transit. When viewed from space on a world map, the plotted data shows clearly how different fisheries management regimes such as exclusive economic zones and marine protected areas can regulate fishing activity. Its working with national legislation and jurisdictions and the large protected areas when they are well set up and well enforced, says Boerder. That was really an eyeopener for us. Bringing transparency to an opaque industry While many national governments already track fishing activity using similar methods, the data and technology developed as part of this study by Google engineers (with input early on from Computer Science researchers at Dal) and other partners is unique in one key way: its publicly available and free to access online. Thats great news for academic researchers, conservation advocacy groups, consumers, and smaller governments that may currently lack ready access to such information. It also holds particular value for agencies involved in ocean governance on the high seas in tough-to-track areas beyond national jurisdictions. For instance, the dataset developed for this study shows that just five countries (China, Spain, Taiwan, Japan and South Korea) account for 85 per cent of the fishing observed in these remote parts of the ocean. (Photo credit: Laurenne Schiller) Boerder (pictured above) says such information offers a new level of transparency around commercial fishing, a traditionally opaque industry. We need to know what is going on to actually properly manage it. We need to have that understanding, overview and transparency, says Boerder. Understanding broader patterns Another of the studys key findings was that global fishing remains remarkably constant throughout the year. While fishing bans and holidays were shown to have a big impact on activity, natural phenomenon such as climate patterns and fish migration seemed to have less of an influence. The machine learning technology developed by the researchers enabled them to detect those ship positions and movements that represented fishing and also provided accurate information about vessel length, engine power and gross tonnage. It also showed that vessels called longliners that catch tuna, billfish and sharks typically undertake the longest journeys, while purse seiners and trawlers generally operate on a regional scale. With the study now published, the research team will continue making daily graphical overviews of global fishing activity available to the public. And anyone is now able access live data about fishing activity in real time using the web tool. The most exciting part is just starting, says Boerder. There are just so many questions. We are pushing for better regulations and to integrate that data more and more, so having it publicly out there will really help. logo_ddn_tag_Site JN with Tagline logo-sns_tag_Site Our apologies, unfortunately our website is currently unavailable in most European countries due to GDPR rules. The Allu Arjun starrer-Naa Peru Surya Naa Illu India is all set to release on May 4. The shooting is presently going on at a brisk pace and there are reportedly quite a few highlights in the action entertainer. Sometime back, the unit shot a key action episode in Ramanaidus Nanakramguda studio. The filmmakers erected a big tunnel set and shot an action episode in it with many extra artistes. This will be the highlight of the film and comes before the interval, says a source. Allu Arjun is playing an army officer in this patriotic film and both the teaser and a song from the film are already garnering a good response. Writer Vakkantham Vamsi turns director with this film, while many supporting actors like Rao Ramesh, Arjun, Boman Irani and others are playing key roles. Anu Emanuel is playing the female lead. Mums always agree that babies make them feel worn out and exhausted and that their bodies are no longer the same post-birth. (Photo: Pixabay) A new study now suggests that being a mum really does age a woman - faster than smoking and obesity. Mums always agree that babies make them feel worn out and exhausted and that their bodies are no longer the same post-birth. Now, a team of scientists believe having kids could actually age a woman's DNA. The study, conducted by the George Mason University in Virginia examined telomeres to look at how motherhood impacts a woman at a cellular level. Telomeres are essential parts of human cells that affect how our cells age and are the caps at the end of each strand of DNA that protect the chromosomes - like plastic tips at the end of shoelaces. As people age their telomeres shorten, therefore telomere length is linked to better health and longer life, experts believe. The new findings show the telomeres of women with kids are the same length as those 11 years older, and childless, Newsweek reports. According to researcher Anna Pollack, they were surprised to find such a striking result. She said, We found that women who had five or more children had even shorter telomeres compared to those who had none, and relatively shorter relative to those who had one, two, three, or four, even. They found the shortening of telomeres in mums was greater than smoking or getting fat. On average, the findings showed women in the study lost about 10 base pairs of DNA a year. But women with kids had 116 base pairs less than those the same age who hadn't given birth. The new findings were published in the journal Human Reproduction. London: Scientists are developing novel wearable sensors that could help speed up the recovery of stroke patients. The sensors send information to doctors continuously, and could allow them to more closely monitor the effectiveness of their care. "It is almost mechanically imperceptible to the patient who is wearing the device," said John Rogers, of Northwestern University in Chicago in the US, who developed the sensors. "And you can embed all sorts of advanced sensor functionality, microprocessor computing capability, power supplies and WiFi into this very unusual platform, and that is the uniqueness of what we do," said Rogers. The technology to put sensors on the body to assess which muscle groups work or not can pinpoint the areas affected by the stroke, Dr Lizzy McAninch told BBC News. The technology can help target therapies to specifically improve those issues. McAninch had a stroke two years ago. She could not move or speak or swallow for several weeks. She is testing the wearable sensors that might speed her recovery. The sensors continue to send back readings even after she has finished her exercises. This means that her therapist Kristen Hohl, from the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago, can monitor her progress at home. The complaint was registered after a youth reached to police and informed them about this invitation on the messaging platform. (Photo: File) Lucknow: An FIR has been registered in Lucknow's Cyber Cell after members of a WhatsApp group received an invitation to join another group named 'Lashkar-e-Taiba' on the messaging platform. The group named Lashkar-e-Taiba was allegedly created by a Class 9 schoolboy in Rajasthan's Bhilwada. The complaint was registered after a youth reached to police and informed them about this invitation on the messaging platform. Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) has been alerted to keep an eye on the case. Meanwhile, the Uttar Pradesh Police said, "A case has been registered on the complaint of a person who received a message relating to 'Lashkar-e-Taiba' on a WhatsApp group he was part of. The cyber crime cell will conduct an investigation." Investigation is underway. Hyderabad: A five-year multiple entry visa for Bangladesh will be issued to senior citizens to strengthen and deepen the relations between India and Bangladesh, stated the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to India, Syed Muazzem Ali, in his address to the Administrative Staff College of India in Hyderabad on Monday. Mr Ali was in town for the inaugural session of Capacity Building programme on Good Governance and Effective Public Administration. Bangladesh is keen to improve people-to-people contact between the two countries and for that reason is now opening an office in Chennai. The base in South India will allow people from the region easier access to Bangladesh for travel and business purposes. Increasing trade and allowing big Indian industrialists to set up units in Bangladesh are other objectives. India and Bangladesh share 54 common rivers and this is the most sensitive issue as it involves food production and also quality of life, said Mr Ali. India and Bangladesh worked out an interim water sharing agreement in 2011 but it could not be concluded due to the objection raised by West Bengal. The Indian government is working with their counterparts in West Bengal and we are looking forward to a favourable agreement, he added. Connectivity in terms of road, rail and coastal shipping links that existed in pre-partition days are being restored and new routes are also being created. This will help increase trade and commerce. Bangladesh is looking for co-operation in the energy sector and on security issues which are of prime concern. Mr Ali said, The present Bangladesh government has been very strict and has not allowed the land of Bangladesh to be used for any terrorist attacks on India. Security co-operation has been very high and there is no tolerance for terrorism. We are working hard to improve confidence on both sides. Bengaluru: It's bad news for Nalapad and his friends, who are currently cooling their heels in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, following the brutal attack on 24-year-old Vidvat at Farzi Cafe as the court adjourned the bail plea to Tuesday. As a result, Nalapad and his friends had to stay put in the hot house. Parameshwara Prasanna B, judge of 63rd City Civil and Session Court heard the arguments of both M. S. Shyam Sundar, Special Public Prosecutor and Tomy Sebastian, defence counsel appearing for Nalapad and adjourned the plea to Tuesday. Meanwhile, Tomy Sebastian, the defence counsel strongly argued in favour of bail as the brawl took place out of a sudden provocation and he had no intention of killing anyone. The victim, 'Vidwat' is recovering well at the hospital and has been shifted out of the ICU. However, the SPP is preventing him from recording his statement before the cops, he argued and demanded that he submit the medical reports on his health condition to the court. Interestingly, the SPP has projected the political influence of the accused's father, N.A. Haris. In reality, claimed Sebastian, it is Vidwat's father, an industrialist, who is powerful enough to influence the investigation at every level. Within 24 hours of the brawl, inspector of the Cubbon Park Police station and the SPP has been appointed within a week, which is unheard of, he said. The defence coulsel also argued that Nalapad had not made an assault with weapons or rods as claimed by the prosecutor. If he was assaulted with weapons, he argued, why wasn't it registered in the earlier police complaint? "There is no supporting evidence to prove their claims," he said. Although the accused abused the victim at hospital, they didn't assault him again. The accused surrendered to police of their own accord. Since they don't have any intention to kill, they can be given bail, he said. Special public prosecutor Shyam Sundar, who objected to the claims made by the defence counsel, submitted 19 pages of supplementary objections, pleading that bail should not be granted. "Since Nalapad is influential, there are possibilities of him destroying evidence using his money and muscle power. Further, they have threatened him and a formal complaint to this regard has been lodged with the police commissioner," he stated. Police have just made a start in the investigation and about 90% of the process is still pending. "Vidvat has sustained grave injuries and is still undergoing treatment. He is not in a position to give his statement, which is crucial to the case." Equating the heinous assault with the Nirbhaya tragedy, he said the accused should not be granted bail. There is evidence to prove that the accused tried to kill Vidvat by brutally assaulting him with knuckle rings, bottles and jugs. They even followed him to the hospital with intentions to threaten and kill him" he said. Fate of Farzi Cafe hangs in balance Bengaluru: Farzi Cafe, the scene of the fateful clash between Vidwat and Mohammed Nalapad Haris, has remained closed since the night of the incident, February 17. Various, contradictory reports stated that the cafe would stay closed until the investigation is complete, while others claimed it would reopen on February 27. A senior police officer, who is investigating the case, said, "The cafe was closed immediately after the incident to prevent the crime scene from being hampered with. We had even told cafe owners to ensure that nobody enters the premises until permission is given. The crime scene has been inspected and details collected." He added, about the reopening of the cafe, "We heard it might be open by the end of February. But there are procedures which need to be followed and we cannot confirm when exactly it will be." Haris at police meeting, Home Min faces BJP wrath Bengaluru: Home Minister Ramalinga Reddy has found himself under fire from the state wing of the BJP for allowing Shantinagar Congress MLA N.A. Haris to attend a police officers' meeting. The meeting had been called to discuss the brutal attack by his son Mohammad Nalapad Haris and his gang on a young man at a UB City restaurant. Speaking to reporters, BJP leader Suresh Kumar described the incident as "unique." Ramalinga Reddy "The father of the accused meets police officials and discusses his son's case. How can the Home Minister allow him to participate? This clearly shows the state government is going all out in its efforts to rescue Nalapad," Kumar asserted. Did vidwath trip and fall? possible but unlikely: Doctors Bengaluru: Nalapad's lawyer, Tony Sebastian, has constantly referred to the attack on Vidwath an "accident," claiming that he invited the injuries by tripping and falling. Trauma experts, however, have a mixed reaction to this. Dr Anand K, the doctor treating Vidwat and who is a consultant plastic surgeon in Mallya Hospital, says, "He is fine and all his vital signs, including oxygen rate, respiration rate and saturation rate are normal. The facial swelling has come down by over 90%. He doesn't need surgery as he has sustained only hairline fractures. In fact, we are contemplating discharging him." He added that Vidwat has "no problems talking. Vidwat was shifted out of ICU on Sunday morning. Could this happen after a fall? "It's possible," says Dr Anand. "If you on your face and strike a stone, a nasal fracture is possible. Anybody who hits his face can damage the skin, the subcutaneous tissue around the eyes. Dr Ravish Bheemaiah, consultant intensivist, Specialist Hospital says it is a classic case of blunt force trauma. "Unless he was drunk and fell down the stairs, such injuries are highly unlikely. I suspect major injury to the jaw bone as he had difficulty speaking. It's not just the Mandibular fracture but also trauma to the brain. Falling down and sustaining such injuries is highly unlikely." Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the NBFCs, which includes cooperative banks, are required to furnish details about their financial operations and transactions to the FIU. (PTI/Representational) New Delhi: The finance ministry's financial intelligence unit has categorised about 9,500 non-banking financial companies (NBFCs) in the country as "high risk" prone as they have not complied with a stipulated provision of the anti-money laundering law. A list of 9,491 "high risk financial institutions" has been published by the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) that works under the Union Finance Ministry to check crimes in the Indian economy and alert enforcement agencies against such instances. Check the full list of high risk companies here. The list, containing the names of the firms, has been updated till January this year. Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the NBFCs, which includes cooperative banks, are required to furnish details about their financial operations and transactions to the FIU. The FIU processed the data of these companies and found that they did not comply largely on one stipulated condition of appointing a principal officer who is responsible to check and report suspicious transactions and cash transactions of Rs. 10 lakh and above, and report it to the agency, sources said. The activities of these institutions -- post the demonetisation of large currency notes of Rs. 1,000 and Rs. 500 in November, 2016 -- were under the scanner of the FIU and it published their names after analysing their data from various information sources, they said. "The publication of names is primarily a step by the FIU to make aware the public that these NBFCs are not law compliant and that they should refrain from indulging into transactions with them," a senior official said. NBFC is defined as a company registered under the Companies Act which is engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares, stocks, bonds, debentures and securities issued by the government or local authority or other marketable securities. NBFCs lend and make investments and hence, their activities are akin to that of banks, however, there they cannot accept demand deposits and do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on itself. CHENNAI: DMK working president M. K. Stalin, who is visiting Malaysia, on Monday met Prime Minister Mohammad Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak in Kuala Lumpur. Stalin, who is on a visit to Malaysia on an invitation by Tamils in that country, said his meeting with Razak was a "courtesy call." "The Prime Minister sought to know about DMK president M Karunanidhi and people in Tamil Nadu. I wished him success in the upcoming elections in Malaysia," a DMK release quoted Stalin as saying. "I am happy to know that Malaysia has developed under Najib. It is also good to know that Indians, especially Tamils, are taking part in the country's growth," the release said. Malaysia is likely to elect new government this year. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said Sridevi had a 'fetish for health' and she 'never touched hard drinks'. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) Mumbai: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Tuesday opined that veteran actress Sridevi was murdered, even as the forensic report rules out any kind of foul play in her death. Swamy also pointed a finger at underworld terrorist Dawood Ibrahim, saying that we should take serious cognisance of the "illicit relations between cinema actresses and Dawood." "It doesn't appear to me the facts that have come out in the media are consistent. She never drank hard liquor so how did it enter her system? Was she forcibly fed? What happened to the CCTV, we have not heard a word about that," Swamy told news agency ANI, and added, "It suddenly appears in the media that she died of heart failure as if it's pre-planned." At length, he concluded, "If you ask my opinion I'll tell you that I think it's murder." Also, talking to news channel Times Now, Swamy said that Sridevi had a "fetish for health" and she "never touched hard drinks". "It is very difficult to die and drown in a bathtub unless somebody pushed you or prevent you from breathing," the BJP leader told the channel. The mystery around the death of the Indian actress has taken the country by storm since the forensic report stated that she died of accidental drowning after losing balance and falling in a bathtub full of water, contrary to initial reports that the cause of her death was cardiac arrest. Traces of alcohol were also found in the actor's body. Also Read: Sridevi died of accidental drowning, finds forensic probe: report On Monday, Rajya Sabha MP Amar Singh had dismissed speculations that Sridevi was intoxicated at the wedding ceremony. "In wedding ceremonies, as far as I know, Sridevi ji, she did not consume hard liquor. She used to have wine sometimes like me and like many others in public life," he had said. The statement given by writer Taslima Nasreen on Monday also seemed to be further deepening the alleged mystery around Sridevis sudden death. Taslima Nasreen had tweeted, Healthy adults dont drown in bathtubs accidentally. Sridevi was in Dubai for a family wedding and had stayed back after the ceremonies. Her husband, Boney Kapoor had flown back to Mumbai with their younger daughter Khushi but returned to Dubai to surprise Sridevi. The news of her death, was first reported late on Saturday night, sent shock waves across the country. The Dubai Police has recorded the statement of Bollywood producer Boney Kapoor, the husband of late veteran actress Sridevi. Sources told Gulf News that Boney was called to the Bur Dubai police station for questioning. The police took his statement after which he was allowed to return to his hotel. Also Read: Sridevi death row: Dubai cops say no foul play after speaking to Boney Kapoor Sridevi's mortal remains will depart for India after the completion of necessary paperwork. RJD leader and former deputy chief minister of Bihar Tejaswi Yadav also questioned the delay in the arrest of the accused BJP worker Manoj Baitha. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) Patna: Former deputy chief minister of Bihar and son of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, Tejaswi on Tuesday lashed out at Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Sushil Modi over their silence in an incident where BJP leader Manoj Baitha has been accused of mowing down nine children and injuring 20 others while driving an SUV in an inebriated state in Muzaffarpur district on Saturday. "Neither Nitish Kumar nor Sushil Modi have spoken on this or sought apology yet. Government is trying to brush this under the carpet," said Tejaswi Yadav. Tejaswi also questioned the delay in the arrest of the accused BJP worker Manoj Baitha. He said, "Why hasn't Manoj Baitha been arrested yet? News was spread that he surrendered before police. But we do not know that for sure. Only administration can say if he surrendered, was arrested or fled to Nepal." On Monday, Tejaswi reacted strongly against the incident and said, "Prohibition in Bihar is a farce and the ghastly incident of Muzaffarpur, where a drunk BJP leader crushed nine children to death and left more than 20 others injured, proves our point." Tejaswi had later led a march to Raj Bhawan and submitted a memorandum to Governor Satya Pal Malik. Former Bihar chief minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's wife Rabri Devi said that until Manoj Baitha is arrested, her party will not allow the Bihar Assembly to run. She said, "The government should be ashamed, there is no complete ban on liquor, it is available easily. Until Manoj Baitha is arrested we will not let the house (Bihar Assembly) run." The BJP suspended party leader Manoj Baitha, a district level leader of Sitamarhi, from primary membership of the party for a period of six year. At least nine children were killed and about 20 injured when the speeding vehicle, driven by Manoj Baitha, lost control and ploughed through them outside a government school building on the outskirts of Muzaffarpur on Saturday. The BJP leader from Sitamarhi allegedly got off the car and ran after he hit the children on Saturday. The complaint -- filed by a man who lost five grandchildren in the accident -- also said footage from CCTV cameras in the area showed Baitha was driving the car. Congress president Rahul Gandhi also took on Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and mocked him over prohibition in the state. In a tweet on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi hit out at prohibition - a project close to the heart of the Chief Minister, which also brought him a chunk of votes during the 2015 assembly elections in the state. He also took a dig at Nitish Kumar's "voice of conscience" -- a reference to the time he had dumped the Congress and the Lalu Yadav to partner with the BJP to form a new government in the state. His tweet, in Hindi, read: "In alcoholism-free Bihar, a drunk BJP leader crushed nine innocent children to death. Nitishji, is this the truth behind your prohibition? Who is your voice of conscience protecting today -- the accused BJP leader or the truth about alcohol in Bihar?" Opposition parties, on Tuesday, also staged protest outside Bihar Legislative Assembly over the Muzaffarpur hit and run case. Protests outside Bihar Assembly. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) The accident occurred on Saturday near Dharampur school on National Highway-77 in Minapur block when a Balero jeep hit the children while they were crossing the road. Angry over the deaths, area residents beat up teachers and set ablaze chairs and benches there. The state has announced Rs 4 lakh each to the next of kin of the killed children. CHENNAI: Strongly defending his government's policy of maintaining friendly relations with the Union Government, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday said the decision has resulted in Centre sanctioning thousands of crores of rupees to the Tamil Nadu Government for augmenting infrastructure. Addressing a public meeting at RK Nagar here on the occasion of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa's 70th birth anniversary, Palaniswami said the Centre has sanctioned maximum amount to Tamil Nadu for relaying and redeveloping of major highways across the state. Punching holes in suggestions that the AIADMK government was subservient to the Union Government led by BJP, Palaniswami said his administration was just being friendly to the Centre for the betterment of the state and not otherwise. "Our friendly ties has resulted in flow of funds from the Centre for several infrastructure projects. During his recent visit to Chennai, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised all possible assistance to the state government to augment infrastructure. All this was possible only because we have been maintaining friendly ties with the Centre," he said. The Chief Minister also needled the DMK seeking to know the projects that it brought to Tamil Nadu when the party was part of the UPA-I and UPA-II at the Centre for nine long years from 2004 to 2013. "What did they bring? Nothing. But the DMK is hell bent on criticising us. They don't want the state to progress under the AIADMK regime," he claimed. Since the water released by Karnataka from Cauvery river was "not enough" to meet the requirements of farmers in Delta region, the Chief Minister said, the state government has requested the Centre to transfer surplus water from Godavari river to Cauvery river. Since 3,000 tmc ft of water from Godavari goes waste into the sea, the state government wants water from the river to be transferred to it. "The Centre has agreed to the proposal. The Union Water Resources Minister Nitin Gadkari has assured the state government that the project will be implemented soon," Palaniswami said. The plan is to transfer surplus water from Godavari river to Krishna, to Pennar river (Karnataka) and finally to Cauvery. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao inspects construction works of Korata-Chanaka barrage, being taken up on river Penganga on the state borders on Tuesday. Ministers Jogu Ramanna, T. Harish Rao and Etala Rajender are also seen. (Photo: DC) Adilabad: Coming out openly against the Congress and the BJP, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday said that it is not good for the BJP to test farmers further as they might lose their patience since they are facing a lot of problems in the country. Rao was addressing Adilabad Constituency-level officials meeting here. TRS MPs will question the Central government over farmers issues, including Minimum Support Price (MSP) for various crops, in the coming Bud-get Session in Parliament while targeting the BJP and Prime Minister Nare-ndra Modi, KCR said and added that it was high time the national political parties at the Centre did something to help the farmers. KCR questioned as to why Mr Modi and the BJP failed to hike the MSP for maize and other traditional crops while they hiked the prices of consumer goods and DA for government employees. He said that the farmers will cultivate traditional crops if they get good MSP. Mr Rao warned that the farmers were not ready to listen to deceptive tales of the Congress and the BJP now and it is better for these national parties to start working for the welfare of the farmers. The CM made it clear that he has every right to criticise the Congress and BJP for their failures with regard to farmers issues as they both together ruled the country all these years and asked why the two parties were finding fault with the CM for criticising the damage they caused to the farm community. Mr Rao said he had promised to sanction an air strip or a mini- aerodrome in Adilabad district headquarters in the more than 300 acre land acquired for the purpose and the airstrip will enable to operate domestic air lines. He had also promised an agricultural college and a Marathi medium college for the benefit of the children of Marathi people who had settled here in Adilabad since long. The CM said they wanted to keep the cosmopolitan culture of Telangana alive by sanctioning the Marathi college. Chandrasekhar Rao announced that the local MLAs and MPs will distribute bank Cheques, for giving financial assistance as agriculture investment to the farmers, from April 20. Look closely and you will see that this baby Moto is taking major inspiration from the recently launched Moto X4 premium midranger. (Photo: Evan Blass) Motorolas budget midrange G series is due for an overhaul for 2018 and the Internet is getting flooded with Moto G6 leaks and rumours. However, the know-it-all man Evan Blass has recently shared leaked photo of a device claimed to be the new budget Moto E5 Plus smartphone. The leaked photo closely resembles the official shots used by Motorola on their website, which means that this could indeed be the final product we might end up seeing later in the year. Look closely and you will see that this baby Moto is taking major inspiration from the recently launched Moto X4 premium midrange offering. Theres a similar glass-like rear panel with a familiar camera module. However, dont be excited to expect a dual camera setup on this baby Moto Evan says that the second cutting in the camera module isnt for a secondary lens, i.e. its still a single rear camera unit. Theres a fingerprint sensor housed in the Moto dimple, which was something that fans have been demanding for a long time. Since this is supposed to be the Plus variant, theres a big 18:9 display with slightly narrower bezels. Its not the most good looking narrow-bezel design we have seen on a budget smartphone (the Honor 9 Lite has slimmer bezels than this one). It also seems that theres an LED flash accompanying the selfie camera on the top. The E5 Plus leaked render also carries the new motorola branding on the bottom lip. The E5 Plus is seen running a mostly stock version of Android, equipped with Motos personal touched. Hopefully, this should be launched with Android Oreo. The E5 Plus is expected to be launched after the mainstream G6 series debuts, sometime in April (the leaked image shows a tentative date of April 3 on the clock widget). When launched in India, the E5 Plus could compete with the likes of Redmi Note 5 and Honor 9 Lite. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. SALT LAKE CITY The Senate Education Committee gave unanimous support Monday to HB300, which would allow governors to remove for cause members of the Utah State Board of Regents and university and college trustees. The catch-all "Higher Education Modifications" bill will be substituted before it reaches the Senate floor to further clarify if and under what circumstances a governor can remove a sitting regent or remove a college or university trustee, said the bill's sponsor, Rep. Val Peterson, R-Orem. Governors appoint regents and trustees, which are then confirmed by the Utah Senate. Regents serve six-year terms. While some committee members raised concerns that a governor could purge the board of members with whom he or she had political differences, others like Sen. Lyle Hillyard, R-Logan, said the appointment process requires Senate approval. "I think there's enough protection in there that if someone went wild in doing that without the 'for cause,' I suspect theyd have some trouble in the Senate," Hillyard said. David Buhler, Utah's commissioner of higher education, said he would also like language on tuition waivers to be clarified in the bill. Currently, state law caps at 10 percent the total amount of tuition which, "in the absence of the waivers, would have been collected from all Utah resident students at the institution of higher education," the statute states. "There's no limit how much they can waive for nonresident students. As we look at tremendous growth in our system with many Utahns needing to access higher education, it seems there ought to be a way to also cap the amount of nonresident tuition waived and that doesn't appear to be in the language," Buhler said. State colleges and universities have increased total tuition waivers from $81 million in fiscal year 2014 to $138.1 million in fiscal year 2017, which is a 70.6 percent increase, according to a brief prepared by legislative fiscal analysts. The issue has been a hot topic of discussion before the Higher Education Appropriations Subcommittee this session, which at one point discussed establishing some means to encourage colleges and university's to rein in their use. Higher education officials say tuition waivers help keep college affordable and encourage students from out of state to attend college in Utah. However, costs of not collecting full tuition have to be covered elsewhere, generally through cost-cutting measures or tuition increases. There are 21 types of waivers approved by the Legislature for use by state colleges and universities. As an example, Utah State Universitys Alumni Legacy Nonresident Waiver forgives half of nonresident tuition for first-time undergraduate students from out of state whose parents or grandparent are USU alumni. "All in all, only about 12 percent of our students receive waivers. It's a very important tool for the presidents of the institutions but it can be very important for students in helping college to be affordable. This (HB300) would provide some additional oversight for the board of regents and focus the attention of the presidents on how much money is being waived and for what purposes," Buhler said. HB300 also formally establishes in state code the name UTech, when referring to the Utah System of Technical Colleges. The bill also would require the Utah Senate to confirm the student member of the Utah State Board of Regents. A new student member is appointed by the governor annually. Cookie banner We use cookies and other tracking technologies to improve your browsing experience on our site, show personalized content and targeted ads, analyze site traffic, and understand where our audiences come from. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019. By choosing I Accept, you consent to our use of cookies and other tracking technologies. SALT LAKE CITY Gov. Gary Herbert said Monday he believes the Utah Legislature will find money to put extra police officers in schools and they will act before the session ends next week. "Yes I do" think it will happen, he told the Deseret News following daylong meetings with the National Governors Association in which Herbert was one of the governors who spoke out on the issue of school safety. "We need to add some (money) for security aspects of school. It will be a topic before the session," he told the Deseret News. Earlier, Herbert sounded out over the national tragedy of school shootings, telling President Donald Trump during the governors meeting the answers begin with the states. "I think there are roles for the federal government, but I think most of the solutions are going to come from the states," Herbert said during a televised meeting in Washington. "Each state is going to have to find their own way, based on their own culture, based on their own politics, based on their own unique demographics, but we will learn from each other," he said. Herbert talked of the costs of embedding a contingency of law enforcement in every school leading him to ask about the costs of doing the business of education adding, "That is the result of society today. This is the problem of today: safety in schools." Herbert said he is against full-out arming of teachers in the classroom, saying "they should not be our first line of defense," but stressed the need for parents and teachers to have confidence in the safety of campuses statewide. He reiterated that a statewide review is underway to make sure Utah schools are prepared and up-to-date on responses to mass shooters and other emergency incidents. Last week, Herbert said he was in favor of banning bump stocks attachments that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire faster and said the public is demanding solutions to school shootings from their leaders. Monday, he told Trump that he met with legislators as recently as Sunday night to discuss ways to boost school safety while keeping law enforcement costs in mind. He also urged Utah's leaders to engage in thoughtful debate about additional steps that might be taken in the arena of gun legislation. "We need to have that discussion," he said. If Utah is contemplating raising the age of smoking nicotine to 21, why not discuss similar prohibitions when it comes to guns. "Should an 18-year-old be able to access an AR-15 or an assault rifle? There should be a willigness to have that debate," he said. "Whatever we decide, there needs to be some measurable benefit." Up for consideration are more comprehensive background checks and restrictions on the number of shots in a magazine, he added. What works in Texas or some other state, however, might not work in Utah, he said. "That is the beauty of the states," emphasizing that East Coast states may not have the tradition of hunting and fishing like those in the West, but policy leaders and lawmakers have to be willing to talk. "The time for action is now. We need to do what we can to provide safety in our schools," he said. Herbert also participated in panel discussions on workforce development and Medicaid reform, whirlwind meetings he said were extremely encouraging about the role of states in forming their own solutions to problems unique to their borders. He said he repeatedly heard the message that states rightfully, legally and practically should have more say in solving issues in their own backyard. "We hearing they understand that states need more flexibility and autonomy." SALT LAKE CITY A bill creating a new entity with the power to sell the 700-acre site at Point of the Mountain in Draper once the Utah State Prison is moved was endorsed Monday by a House committee. The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority would "plan, manage and implement the development" of the site, expected to be vacated in 2021, once the new prison under construction west of the Salt Lake City International Airport is completed. The state is "getting closer to that time," the sponsor of HB372, Rep. Lowry Snow, R-Santa Clara, told the House Government Operations Committee. Snow is the co-chairman of the Point of the Mountain Development Commission. That commission is winding up a study of how the prison move impacts high-tech development in the area from Sandy to Lehi that includes signficant recommendations, Snow said. Those include creating a legal entity "to begin the tough work," testified Robert Grow, president and CEO of Envision Utah, the nonprofit planning organization hired to coordinate the commission's outreach and research work. "I cannot overstate the complexity," Grow said of an effort that could add 150,000 high-tech innovation jobs throughout the Wasatch Front, including 50,000 on what will be the former prison site, "if we do this right as a state." He said the prison site, equal to 70 downtown Salt Lake City blocks, will serve as a catalyst of the development. Snow said the bill spells out the need to attract a nationally recognized research center. Ben Hart, deputy director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development, backed the bill as necessary to take advantage of the opportunity presented by the property. "We have to be able to move at the speed of business," Hart said. Snow said the 11-member authority board would be made up of four lawmakers, four appointments by the governor, one each by Draper and Salt Lake City, and one by higher education. He said the bill attempts to avoid conflicts of interest by board members, including by limiting property ownership by them and their family members within 5 miles of the site. Rep. Norm Thurston, R-Provo, questioned the amount of power the authority board would have, including to sell the 700-acre site. "I just want to be clear were giving this board fairly broad authority to act on our behalf," Thurston said. "We're putting a lot of trust in them." While Snow said the land board would have the ability to sell the site, he pointed out there are restrictions in the bill about what happens to the property. The alternative, he said, would be to leave the sale up to the executive branch. "Somebody needs that authority," Snow said. He said he has "a great deal of confidence" with four lawmakers serving on the board. He said lawmakers promised Utahns that when the prison was moved, the site "would be developed in such a way to create sustained, long-term economic growth. I believe we have tried to find the right balance here." The new authority's first report to lawmakers would be in November, Snow said. He said the nearly $11,000 price tag on the bill likely will have to be updated to cover the cost of consultants and other assistance. The bill now goes before the full House. This past year has been a tumultuous one for our nation. We have felt the effects of compromised values, vitriol, racism, heightened tensions between global powers, uncertainty for our future and the future of those we love, violence, death of innocents and the darkening cloud of corruption in the highest ranks of our government. Yet, in the midst of all of this, we have also seen extraordinary examples of kindness, courage and patriotism. Because the voices of racism, hatred and misogyny have too often been emboldened over the past months, we must be quick to recognize and praise all that remains good in this world. Mormon Women for Ethical Government does not endorse candidates, elected leaders or other political figures, but we do reserve the right to applaud ethical leadership when we see it. That kind of leadership has been apparent recently in Congresswoman Mia Love of Utah's 4th District. Without much support from her Republican colleagues, Love has on several occasions defied prevailing attitudes in an attempt to redeem the traditional values of her party. Though too many of her colleagues willingly (or at times reluctantly) buy into the Trump administration's messaging, Love has taken a strong moral stand on a number of issues, even if that meant standing in opposition to President Trump and many members of her party. Her actions remind us that our branches of government were designed to work independently and to balance and provide checks to one another, a fact that at times seems to have been forgotten. For example, Love spoke out boldly against Trump's vulgar outburst in January regarding Haiti, El Salvador and several African countries: "I can't defend the indefensible, she said. And in another statement, she called on the president to apologize for comments that were unkind, divisive, elitist, and fly in the face of our nations values. Her response to the tragic deaths of 17 students in yet another mass shooting just last week in Florida further highlights her courage in speaking against the party line and with integrity on controversial issues: Everything has to be on the table, she said. We have to address the issue. We can't put our heads in the sand and pretend that its not happening. We have to fix it, so Im open to listening to everything. We need political leaders who demonstrate that their most deeply held values will not be compromised under the immense political pressure of their office. The examples of a few outliers like Love, Congressman John Curtis, R-Utah, Senator John McCain, R-Ariz. and Senator Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., who are willing to speak truth to power, provides a spark of hope in these strange times. The GOP is not the party it once was, but we catch glimpses of what it used to be and can be again in these members of Congress who courageously put country over party. As Mormon Women for Ethical Government, we applaud these leaders and call for respectful, cooperative efforts to find practical and bipartisan solutions in a time that is too often defined by excessive and damaging divisiveness. Molly Hogan serves as an Immigration committee lead for Mormon Women for Ethical Government, a nonpartisan organization dedicated to the ideals of decency, honor, accountability, transparency and justice in governing. MWEG is not affiliated with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. On rare occasions, Utah is able to catch proverbial lightning in a bottle with a movie produced here. The High School Musical series of films actually led some tourists to come to Salt Lake City so they could visit East High School, where the Disney Channel films were shot. That was highly unusual, especially considering the films fictional location was New Mexico, not Utah. Utah has been home to major filmmaking since the earliest days of Westerns, but seldom have these movies generated that kind of cult-like response. We doubt many film patrons take note of a movies fine print to see where it was filmed, much less plan vacations around that information. And yet the state gives away millions to bring production companies to the state. Utah lawmakers currently are advancing a request to add $5 million to about $8.3 million already available as incentives for this purpose. The new money would incentivize companies to do post-production work in the state. Utahs film subsidies are saner than those in most states. Here, the incentives are given as rebates and credits only after film companies demonstrate they spent a certain amount of money in the state. That keeps the subsidies from becoming massive giveaways without requiring anything in return, but it still represents a cost to taxpayers. The state ought to study the effects of these subsidies, as well as the nature of the jobs they create, to determine whether they are worth the tax money involved. As the fiscal note to SB185 says, the extra money would reduce the amount available for education by about $5 million per year. A number of states and organizations already have studied this issue and determined that film subsidies are, to quote Variety, a giant waste of money. Utah is hardly the only state to offer incentives. Many other states do more, virtually throwing money at production companies that bring in temporary jobs and take most of their profits with them when they leave. A 2016 study by professor Michael Thom of the USC Price School of Public Policy found subsidies had little measurable effect on how much motion picture business ended up in each state. This makes sense, considering most productions have a particular type of landscape and setting in mind before they begin production. This makes some incentives absurd on their face. Steven Malanga, senior editor of the Manhattan Institute's City Journal, noted that The Wolf of Wall Street received a $30 million incentive to film in New York even though it would have been ridiculous to film a story about Wall Street anywhere else. A few years ago, the Tax Foundation in Washington conducted a study that concluded, Based on fanciful estimates of economic activity and tax revenue, states are investing in movie production projects with small returns and taking unnecessary risks with taxpayer dollars. In return, they attract mostly temporary jobs that are often transplanted from other states. Utah officials say film companies spent $64 million last year in the state and employed 2,400 people. That should be kept in perspective. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, Utahs gross domestic product in 2016 was $156.3 billion. Utah lawmakers have a responsibility to manage the taxpayer funds wisely. Incentivizing one industry over another is a serious matter. Lawmakers should study film subsidies to measure whether continuing them is a wise use of state resources. Rep. Val Peterson, R-Orem, casts a vote as he talks with Matthew S. Holland, president of Utah Valley University, on the House floor at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring Holland, who is resigning from the Orem-based school to become an LDS Church mission president in North Carolina. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Outgoing Utah Valley University President Matthew S. Holland acknowledges House members' applause after Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, presented a resolution honoring Holland at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The House and Senate unanimously passed the resolution honoring Holland, who is resigning from the Orem-based school to become an LDS Church mission president in North Carolina. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Outgoing Utah Valley University President Matthew S. Holland laughs as he talks with representatives on the House floor at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring Holland, who is resigning from the Orem-based school to become an LDS Church mission president in North Carolina. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News House Speaker Greg Hughes,R-Draper, smiles as Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, presents a resolution honoring Outgoing Utah Valley University President Matthew S. Holland on the House floor at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring Holland, who is resigning from the Orem-based school to become an LDS Church mission president in North Carolina. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Outgoing Utah Valley University President Matthew S. Holland hugs Rep. Keith Grover, R-Provo, on the House floor at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring Holland, who is resigning from the Orem-based school to become an LDS Church mission president in North Carolina. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Outgoing Utah Valley University President Matthew S. Holland talks with friends on the House floor in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring Holland, who is resigning from the Orem-based school to become an LDS Church mission president in North Carolina. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Outgoing Utah Valley University President Matthew S. Holland listens as Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, presents a resolution honoring Holland on the House floor at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring Holland, who is resigning from the Orem-based school to become an LDS Church mission president in North Carolina. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Outgoing Utah Valley University President Matthew S. Holland laughs at a good-natured jab as he is recognized for his service and legacy at UVU on the House floor at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Outgoing Utah Valley University President Matthew S. Holland waves as Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, presents a resolution honoring Holland on the House floor at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring Holland, who is resigning from the Orem-based school to become an LDS Church mission president in North Carolina. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, left, presents a resolution honoring outgoing Utah Valley University President Matthew S. Holland, right on the House floor at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring Holland, who is resigning from the Orem-based school to become an LDS Church mission president in North Carolina. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Outgoing Utah Valley University President Matthew S. Holland, left, visits with former Lt. Gov.Greg Bell and Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem on the House floor at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, Feb. 26, 2018. The House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution honoring Holland, who is resigning from the Orem-based school to become an LDS Church mission president in North Carolina. Scott G Winterton, Deseret News Paul Huntsman and his sister, Christena Huntsman Durham, hug as associates of the Huntsman Cancer Institute and others applaud a concurrent resolution recognizing the life and legacy of Jon M. Huntsman Sr., the institutes founder, on the House floor at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday. Utah lawmakers shared personal stories and shed a tear or two in honoring the late industrialist/philanthropist. The House and Senate unanimously passed a resolution recognizing his legacy in business, cancer research and charitable giving. The resolution notes Huntsman refused to retreat in the face of adversity. "Talk about an understatement," said House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper. "That's probably the most understated sentence we've ever put on a resolution." See the world through the eyes of award-winning photojournalists. Click through the gallery above to view the unique images our visual storytellers captured today. Don't forget to follow the official Deseret News Instagram account for more photographs and videos from the staff. KEARNS Yet another student is in trouble with the law for allegedly making a threat of violence against a Utah school, police said Monday. The incident marks the fifth Utah student in less than a week who has either been arrested or cited, and could face criminal charges for allegedly making unfounded threats on social media. On Sunday, Unified police were notified of a picture on Snapchat "which showed a rifle in the suspects lap and a warning to 'not come to school on Monday,'" according to a statement from Unified police. An hour later, detectives identified the student as a 13-year-old boy who attends Thomas Jefferson Junior High School in Kearns. Officers then went the boy's house. "It was determined that the gun pictured was an Airsoft rifle, and there was no immediate threat to the school," police said. The boy was arrested for investigation of making a terroristic threat. Rather than being taken to juvenile detention, he was returned to the custody of his parents. The incident marks the fifth school threat in Utah in less than a week. On Friday, a "concerning" Snapchat post from a 17-year-old girl at Timpanogos High School resulted in police interviewing the girl at her home. She faces a possible misdemeanor charge. On Thursday, a Springville High School student was arrested and booked into Slate Canyon Detention Center for allegedly posting a picture on Snapchat of a person holding a gun, along with a message that suggested violence. Springville Police Lt. Warren Foster said the boy told officers the post was meant as "a dark joke" and he appeared to have no real intention of carrying out the threat. The boy's parents handed over his Airsoft gun to police. On Wednesday, a Wasatch High School student was arrested and accused of threatening gun violence. Heber City police said the student was cooperating with them but they provided no details about the content of the post. On Tuesday, police say a student at Sandy's Eastmont Middle School who was apparently upset about a friend who had been expelled from the school, posted a comment on social media to the effect of getting revenge by shooting up the school. Police do not believe the threat was legitimate. The student was cited for investigation of making a false alarm. The wave of student threats comes on the heels of the tragic mass shootings at a Florida high school that left 17 people dead. OGDEN The Weber County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that it has been actively working a pair of cold case homicides from more than 35 years ago that are believed to be connected. No arrests have been made, but thanks to advancements in DNA technology and new interviews with people believed to have "run in the same circles" as the victims, detectives have started to "identify some persons of interest," said Weber County Sheriff's Lt. Nate Hutchinson. On Aug. 11, 1982, Joyce Tina Gallegos, 21, was last seen alive in the Weber County area. Her body was found Aug. 22 in the Ogden River. She died from two gunshot wounds to her head. Four days after Gallegos disappeared, 14-year-old Gabriel Distefano was last seen going to a party in Riverdale. It was the last time she was seen alive. Her body was found, wrapped in plastic, on Sept. 16, 1982, in a ditch near a construction site in Harrisville. She had been shot once in the head, according to police. Police believe the two cases are related. No one has ever been arrested for either crime. But according to a search warrant affidavit filed in 2nd District Court in December, sheriff's investigators who are working with Harrisville police have been busy over the past three months interviewing people, re-interviewing and collecting DNA. Hutchinson said detectives are taking advantage of advancements in forensic technology that weren't available in 1982, as well as re-interviewing everybody who was associated with the victims more than three decades ago. While investigators don't believe Distefano and Gallegos knew each other, they had common acquaintances. Detectives have been busy interviewing people who "ran in the same circles," Hutchinson said. Recently, detectives traveled to Texas to interview a man on parole there. That man was dating Distefano at the time of her death, the warrant states. On Aug. 15, 1982, Distefano was last seen in a car at the Paramount Theatre in Ogden with a group of people, including two men, according to the affidavit. The group then went to a party in Riverdale. A witness who was with the group claimed Distefano left the party with one of the men. The witness "also claimed that she saw a handgun in the glove box of the red car," the warrant states. Distefano was dating the man she left the party with, according to the warrant. Another witness said the two "were having an argument." That man was interviewed by police in 1984 "and denied having dated or seen Gabriel Distefano at any time in 1982," police wrote. In 2008, "the bullet recovered from Gabriel Distefano's body and the bullet recovered from Tina Gallegos' body were sent to the northern Utah crime lab. It was determined by the crime lab that the bullets in both homicides were fired from the same gun," the affidavit states. In 2012, the Utah State Crime Lab tested Gallegos' purse that was found near the Ogden River, and "verified that there was a combination of more than two males' DNA found by swabbing the purse," the warrant states. "Because the murders of Tina and Gabriel occurred in or near the same month of August 1982, because both bodies were shot in the same fashion, and because the bullet fired into each girl was fired from the same gun as determined by the state crime lab, it is my experience that most likely the same perpetrator was at least involved in each homicide," the detective wrote in the warrant. Investigators are asking anyone who remembers anything about either case from 35 years ago, not matter how small the information, to contact Weber County sheriff's detective Steve Haney at 801-778-6601. SALT LAKE CITY Utah restaurants would no longer have to inform customers that they are indeed restaurants not bars under a bill that sailed through a House committee Monday. "I didn't think they were making a difference," said House Majority Leader Brad Wilson, R-Kaysville. "Every time you run a bill of that size, about two weeks after it goes into effect you realize there's a couple of things you would have done differently. That was one of them." Wilson is referring to the massive alcohol reform bill he sponsored last year. It requires the more than 1,400 establishments licensed to serve alcohol in Utah to prominently display 8 -by-11-inch signs reading, "This premise is licensed as a BAR not a restaurant" or "This premise is licensed as a RESTAURANT not a bar." Utah appears to be the first state in the country to require such notice. State officials say the intent is to avoid any confusion about what customers are walking into. HB456, which the House Business and Labor Committee unanimously endorsed, would still require bars to post signs saying no one under 21 is allowed. No one spokes against the measure in the hearing. The restaurant industry, which opposed the signs, was more than pleased with the proposed change. "Oh my gosh, we're so excited. We're elated," said Melva Sine, Utah Restaurant Association executive director, adding the signs serve no purpose. "It's kind of almost an insult to your customers that they don't know what they're going into." Compliance officers are to check for the signs during regular inspections, which take place once a year for alcohol permit holders. The law doesn't spell out a specific penalty for not having the sign posted, but the state alcohol commission treats it the same as other violations that might result in a suspended liquor license or fine. SALT LAKE CITY Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sydnee Dickson met with U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos in Washington Monday to discuss Utah's proposed waiver from some student testing requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. On Feb. 14, Utah submitted its plan to the U.S. Department of Education on how it would comply with the federal program. Utah's plan came with a request for a federal waiver from a provision that require states to count students who opt out of statewide testing as zero scores for school accountability purposes. The meetings with DeVos and other Department of Education officials "went very well," Herbert said. They are going to work through this with us, the governor said. I am confident we can get this resolved. The waiver request could impact some or all of the funding Utah receives for federal title programs, some $123 million a year. However, education officials say funds for program administration are more vulnerable than funding for the programs themselves should federal officials determine Utah is out of compliance. The state receives about $1 million in federal administrative funds a year. The waiver request notes that "Utah policymakers strongly support parental rights in directing and overseeing a students education. State law authorizes parents to excuse a student from taking a statewide assessment." Department of Education officials "understand the uniqueness of the law that allows students to opt out of testing," Herbert said, which should bode well for a resolution. According to the waiver request, different groups of Utah students opt out of year-end testing at disproportionate rates. For example, students who are native English speakers and those who are not low-income tend to opt out of statewide assessments at higher rates than other student groups. On average, these students score proficient on statewide assessments in higher rates than many of the other student groups. "Counting the scores of students who are non-low-income and non-minority is likely to interfere with identifying the lowest performing schools and student groups," the waiver request states. Utah law permits parents, guardians or students over the age of 18 to request to be excused from tests administered statewide. In recent years, growing numbers have opted out of testing. In 2017, 5.9 percent of eligible students opted out of statewide testing, up from 3.1 percent in 2015. The opt-out rate among charter schools was 13 percent in 2017, and averages about 36 percent among virtual schools, according to state data. Federal law requires a 95 percent participation rate. CONTRIBUTING: Amy Joi O'Donoghue SALT LAKE CITY A House committee endorsed a bill Tuesday attempting to strike a balance between protected and unprotected speech on college campuses in Utah. "If you want to know if we have a problem in Utah, we absolutely have some questionable policies that reflect some limits on constitutionally protected speech," said Rep. Kim Coleman, R-West Jordan. HB398would put into law free speech standards established by the U.S. Supreme Court. The committee voted 7-1 to move the bill to the House floor. "In America, we have near limitless speech rights. There are very limited cases where speech is not protected. But what we do today with this bill is we identify sort of where that line is," she told the House Judiciary Committee. The bill defines harassing speech as oral or written communication that is so "severe, pervasive and objectionally offensive" that it undermines or detracts from a student's experience and denies access to education. It would prohibit a school from punishing a student whose speech does not rise to that level. Geoff Landward, Utah Board of Regents assistant commissioner for policy and planning, told the committee the standard in the bill conflicts with U.S. Department of Education guidelines for free speech on college campuses. He said he applauds the effort to find a clear line for when schools need to intervene when there might be harassment between students and when not to because the speech is protected. But the question, he said, becomes what is the right standard. If the bill becomes law while schools have other federal guidance in place, it puts them in the position of being sued over one or the other, so they're looking for more clarity from the federal government before accepting the legislation as the right standard, Landward said. Coleman said U.S. Supreme Court rulings trump federal guidelines and the bill does help clarify the standards. "This is legislation for our time," she said. Norway has invested an additional $13 million into its doomsday seed vault, which carries about a million different crop varieties that will help grow life after the end of the world, USA Today reported. The government called for the update after a permafrost thaw in 2016 led to some water leaking into the vault's building located on a remote island of Svalbard, an archipelago near the Arctic Circle. No seeds were damaged from the leaks, according to USA Today. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault works as a backup to the worlds gene banks in case of natural disasters, which could range from nuclear war to global warming, according to Reuters. The new investment would help with construction of a new, concrete-built access tunnel, as well as a service building to house emergency power and refrigerating units and other electrical equipment," according to a statement from Norways Ministry of Agriculture and Food. According to USA Today, the vault is expected to survive nuclear booms and earthquakes, so the government wanted to repair it just in case. In addition to repairs, BBC reported that 700,000 new seed crops will be added to the storage facility this week, including ones for the Estonian onion potato, among others. The vault opens about twice a year for deposits. This will raise the total amount of seeds to more than 1 million total. "The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is an iconic reminder of the remarkable conservation effort that is taking place every day, around the world and around the clock an effort to conserve the seeds of our food crops," Marie Haga, executive director of the Crop Trust, told BBC. "Safeguarding such a huge range of seeds means scientists will have the best chance of developing nutritious and climate-resilient crops that can ensure future generations don't just survive, but thrive." In 2015, Norway sent nearly 116,000 seeds from the vault to create seed banks in Morocco and Lebanon after the Middle Easts regional seed back in Aleppo, Syria, was damaged from the countrys ongoing war, according to Futurism. Two years later, the regional seed bank sent back seeds that came from the plants that grew from the original seeds. This demonstrates that the seed vault is a worldwide insurance for food supply for future generations, said Jon Georg Dale, Norway's minister of agriculture and food, according to Reuters. According to The Verge, the seed vault isnt alone in terms of end-of-the-world storage. The World Data archive, which holds storage for film, digital media and all data, also sits on Svalbard. Governments of Brazil, Mexico and Norway have already made deposits into the archive. Sridevi death LIVE updates: Dubai Police clears release of body, embalming to begin soon The mortal remains of Bollywood actor Sridevi are expected to reach India on Tuesday, as authorities in Dubai have handed over the letters for the release of the mortal remains of the actor. The body will now be sent for embalming. The body was to be repatriated on Monday but there was a delay in submission of post mortem and toxicology reports. Boney Kapoors son Arjun Kapoor has joined his father in Dubai and will oversee the return to India. Here are the LIVE updates: 2.50pm: Indian consulate in Dubai has confirmed that the body will now be sent for embalming. Their tweet said, Update: Dubai Police has handed over the Consulate and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Indian cinema icon Sridevi Boney Kapoor so that they can proceed for embalming. Update: Dubai Police has handed over the Consulate and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Indian cinema icon Sridevi Boney Kapoor so that they can proceed for embalming. India in Dubai (@cgidubai) February 27, 2018 2.34pm: Dubai police hands over release letters for Sridevis body to the Indian consulate and the Kapoor family. The body will now be sent for the embalming procedure, tweeted Khaleej Times. Update: Dubai Police has handed over the @cgidubai and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Indian cinema icon Sridevi Boney Kapoor so that they can proceed for embalming. Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) February 27, 2018 2.20pm: A senior prosecutor told Gulf News that the case is being treated like any other. Procedures in such accidental cases are very normal. Based on the findings and results of the police procedures and post-mortem report, prosecutors will decide on the next step. However, the public and the media should be aware that the law in such incidents require certain and very particular law enforcement procedures that has to be carried out prior to issuing a written approval to have the body of the late Indian actress or any other deceased persons body released. Primarily and principally speaking, the familys privacy must be respected and secondly, the authorities procedures and efforts must also be respected. This incident, is being treated like all other similar incident, since Dubais law enforcement officers and organisations treat all cases and involved individuals in the same manner ... law enforcement procedures are practised and applied justly and equally on all individuals present on the land of the UAE, the prosecutor said. 2.00pm: Simi Grewal has pointed out similarities between the deaths of Whitney Houston and Sridevi in a tweet. Read full story here. 1.40pm: Investigators in Dubai are looking into the circumstances of actor Sridevis death and have already spoken to hotel staff after taking husband Boney Kapoors statement. The official position is that the body will be released only after all questions are answered, reports India Today. 1.22pm: Kapoor family releases statement: Arjun has gone to Dubai this morning to be with his father at the hotel while the formalities are being wrapped up and to oversee the return journey. We will keep you posted with further updates when we receive more information from the family. Thank you 1.10pm: Ram Gopal Varma has written a note in which he talks about Sridevis early life as an actor in Bollywood. Read the whole story here: Ram Gopal Varma reveals details of Sridevis troubled, less than perfect life in new note 1.00pm: Arjun Kapoor to leave for Dubai to help his father and family. He is Boneys son from his first marriage to Mona Shourie. 12.55pm: Officials from the Consulate General of India in Dubai and Sridevis family members are still waiting for a clearance from the Dubai Public Prosecution. Reports say the clearance may come soon now. 12.30pm: Sanjay Kapoors wife Maheep Kapoor reaches Anil Kapoors residence where Sridevis daughters, Janhvi and Khushi, are also staying. 12.10pm: Farhan Akhtar tweeted about the insensitive media coverage on Sridevis death on Sunday. Theres no bottom in the barrel of the graceless, he tweeted. 12.00pm: Anupam Kher, Waheeda Rehman and more arrive at Anil Kapoors residence. 11.16am: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth and more visited Anil Kapoors residence on Monday evening. Heres who all were present. 11.06am: According to News 18, Sridevis funeral is likely to be further delayed as the Dubai police informed the Indian Embassy that another clearance was awaited before the body could be released. 10.54am: A video featuring Anil Kapoor and Sridevi dancing at a wedding has gone viral. The two can be seen swinging to Chittiyabn Kallaiyan while holding each others hands. Watch it here. 10.29am: Khaleej Times reports Sridevis body is still in the mortuary and needs clearance before it can be sent for embalming. 10.05am: Indian envoy to UAE, Navdeep Suri said they were waiting for the clearance from Dubai authorities for the body to be flown back to Mumbai, according to an NDTV report. 9.57am: With over 200 films to her credit across the four southern languages, Sridevi displayed her acting prowess quite early on in her career. Roles like Mayil and Yavanarani will be hard to forget: A look at Sridevis rise in southern cinema 9.40am: Dubai public prosecution has begun a probe into Sridevis death, according to a report in Khaleej Times.Her body is at the General Department of Forensic Evidence, Dubai, where it has been since Sunday. The Dubai Media Office Twitter account posted on Monday evening: Dubai police assert that the case file was forwarded to the Public Prosecutors Office in Dubai to take the necessary legal action in accordance with such cases. 9.00am: Indian ambassador to the UAE asked media to be responsible in reporting about Sridevis death. The media interest in untimely demise of #Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help. Imp to note that: 1. We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job. 2. We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well- wishers. We share their pain. 3. Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes. 4. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise. Lets be responsible, he wrote in a tweet. 2. We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well- wishers. We share their pain. 3. Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes 4. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise Let's be responsible IndAmbUAE (@navdeepsuri) February 26, 2018 7.00am: #Mumbai: Latest visuals from outside Anil Kapoor's residence; mortals remains of #Sridevi yet to be brought from Dubai to Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/JY6ETvWI7v ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 Feb 26: Sridevis husband Boney Kapoor was not questioned by the police, a report in Khaleej Times read. His statement was recorded on Sunday, after he reported Sridevis death, as part of due process. Feb 26: Actors Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh visited Anil Kapoors house on Monday night. Sridevi death LIVE updates: Dubai police say case closed, body handed to family The mortal remains of Bollywood actor Sridevi are expected to reach India on Tuesday, as the family has received her body from the authorities. The process of embalming will begin soon and is expected to take a few hours. The probe launched by Dubais prosecution department has been closed. The body was to be repatriated on Monday but there was a delay in submission of post mortem and toxicology reports. Boney Kapoors son Arjun Kapoor has joined his father in Dubai and will oversee the return to India. Sridevis funeral is expected to take place in Mumbai on Wednesday. Here are the LIVE updates: 4.06pm: Estimated time of departure from Dubai is 6.30pm IST as per filed flight plan. The family will return with Sridevis body on a chartered plane belonging to industrialist Anil Ambani. Her funeral is expected on Wednesday in Mumbai at Pawan Hans in the city. 3.47pm: Dubai police closes case in the death of Bollywood star Sridevi. Dubai Public Prosecution stressed that all regular procedures followed in such cases have been completed. As per the forensic report, the death of the Indian actress occurred due to accidental drowning following loss of consciousness. The case has now been closed, Dubai Media Centre tweeted. Dubai Public Prosecution has approved the release of the body of the Indian actress Sridevi to her family following the completion of a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances of her death, it added. 3.36pm: Kapoor family receives Sridevis body. It is now on its way to the embalming centre in Muhaisna. The process of embalming will take 4-5 hours after which, her body will be flown back to India in a chartered plane. 3.27pm: Amul releases a special artwork in the memory of Sridevi. 3.10pm: Members of the Indian consulate and the Kapoor family arrive at the morgue to collect Sridevis body, reports Khaleej Times. 2.50pm: Indian consulate in Dubai has confirmed that the body will now be sent for embalming. Their tweet said, Update: Dubai Police has handed over the Consulate and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Indian cinema icon Sridevi Boney Kapoor so that they can proceed for embalming. Update: Dubai Police has handed over the Consulate and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Indian cinema icon Sridevi Boney Kapoor so that they can proceed for embalming. India in Dubai (@cgidubai) February 27, 2018 2.34pm: Dubai police hands over release letters for Sridevis body to the Indian consulate and the Kapoor family. The body will now be sent for the embalming procedure, tweeted Khaleej Times. Update: Dubai Police has handed over the @cgidubai and the family members letters for the release of the mortal remains of the Indian cinema icon Sridevi Boney Kapoor so that they can proceed for embalming. Khaleej Times (@khaleejtimes) February 27, 2018 2.20pm: A senior prosecutor told Gulf News that the case is being treated like any other. Procedures in such accidental cases are very normal. Based on the findings and results of the police procedures and post-mortem report, prosecutors will decide on the next step. However, the public and the media should be aware that the law in such incidents require certain and very particular law enforcement procedures that has to be carried out prior to issuing a written approval to have the body of the late Indian actress or any other deceased persons body released. Primarily and principally speaking, the familys privacy must be respected and secondly, the authorities procedures and efforts must also be respected. This incident, is being treated like all other similar incident, since Dubais law enforcement officers and organisations treat all cases and involved individuals in the same manner ... law enforcement procedures are practised and applied justly and equally on all individuals present on the land of the UAE, the prosecutor said. 2.00pm: Simi Grewal has pointed out similarities between the deaths of Whitney Houston and Sridevi in a tweet. Read full story here. 1.40pm: Investigators in Dubai are looking into the circumstances of actor Sridevis death and have already spoken to hotel staff after taking husband Boney Kapoors statement. The official position is that the body will be released only after all questions are answered, reports India Today. 1.22pm: Kapoor family releases statement: Arjun has gone to Dubai this morning to be with his father at the hotel while the formalities are being wrapped up and to oversee the return journey. We will keep you posted with further updates when we receive more information from the family. Thank you 1.10pm: Ram Gopal Varma has written a note in which he talks about Sridevis early life as an actor in Bollywood. Read the whole story here: Ram Gopal Varma reveals details of Sridevis troubled, less than perfect life in new note 1.00pm: Arjun Kapoor to leave for Dubai to help his father and family. He is Boneys son from his first marriage to Mona Shourie. 12.55pm: Officials from the Consulate General of India in Dubai and Sridevis family members are still waiting for a clearance from the Dubai Public Prosecution. Reports say the clearance may come soon now. 12.30pm: Sanjay Kapoors wife Maheep Kapoor reaches Anil Kapoors residence where Sridevis daughters, Janhvi and Khushi, are also staying. 12.10pm: Farhan Akhtar tweeted about the insensitive media coverage on Sridevis death on Sunday. Theres no bottom in the barrel of the graceless, he tweeted. 12.00pm: Anupam Kher, Waheeda Rehman and more arrive at Anil Kapoors residence. 11.16am: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikanth and more visited Anil Kapoors residence on Monday evening. Heres who all were present. 11.06am: According to News 18, Sridevis funeral is likely to be further delayed as the Dubai police informed the Indian Embassy that another clearance was awaited before the body could be released. 10.54am: A video featuring Anil Kapoor and Sridevi dancing at a wedding has gone viral. The two can be seen swinging to Chittiyabn Kallaiyan while holding each others hands. Watch it here. 10.29am: Khaleej Times reports Sridevis body is still in the mortuary and needs clearance before it can be sent for embalming. 10.05am: Indian envoy to UAE, Navdeep Suri said they were waiting for the clearance from Dubai authorities for the body to be flown back to Mumbai, according to an NDTV report. 9.57am: With over 200 films to her credit across the four southern languages, Sridevi displayed her acting prowess quite early on in her career. Roles like Mayil and Yavanarani will be hard to forget: A look at Sridevis rise in southern cinema 9.40am: Dubai public prosecution has begun a probe into Sridevis death, according to a report in Khaleej Times.Her body is at the General Department of Forensic Evidence, Dubai, where it has been since Sunday. The Dubai Media Office Twitter account posted on Monday evening: Dubai police assert that the case file was forwarded to the Public Prosecutors Office in Dubai to take the necessary legal action in accordance with such cases. 9.00am: Indian ambassador to the UAE asked media to be responsible in reporting about Sridevis death. The media interest in untimely demise of #Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help. Imp to note that: 1. We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job. 2. We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well- wishers. We share their pain. 3. Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes. 4. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise. Lets be responsible, he wrote in a tweet. 2. We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well- wishers. We share their pain. 3. Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes 4. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise Let's be responsible IndAmbUAE (@navdeepsuri) February 26, 2018 7.00am: #Mumbai: Latest visuals from outside Anil Kapoor's residence; mortals remains of #Sridevi yet to be brought from Dubai to Mumbai. pic.twitter.com/JY6ETvWI7v ANI (@ANI) February 27, 2018 Feb 26: Sridevis husband Boney Kapoor was not questioned by the police, a report in Khaleej Times read. His statement was recorded on Sunday, after he reported Sridevis death, as part of due process. Feb 26: Actors Rajinikanth, Shah Rukh Khan, Kamal Haasan, Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh visited Anil Kapoors house on Monday night. Remote communication and IT Speedcast International Ltd has won a contract to provide satellite cellular backhaul services to Alpha Telecommunication Mali (ATEL). ATEL is part of Planor Afrique Group, provider of the newest third-generation mobile network in Mali, Africa. Under the terms of the multi-million dollar agreement, Speedcast will use satellite to connect all remote areas of the country to the Bamako main core infrastructure, allowing millions of potential consumers to benefit from the branded Telecel voice and data services. We chose Speedcast as our satellite solutions provider for its impressive track record and its world class quality of service. ATEL aims to become a leader in Mali and needs a best-in-class solution to support its subscribers, said Souleymane Diallo, CEO, ATEL Mali. Speedcasts cellular backhaul suite of solutions are designed to optimise satellite traffic in telecommunication environments, lowering the total cost of ownership and bringing unrivalled quality of service to our customers networks, added Erwan Emilian, EVP Enterprise & Emerging Markets, Speedcast. Speedcasts recent successes in Africa have demonstrated its technology leadership in the region. ATEL is Malis third cellular licence holder and has plans to invest $200 million to service the market, which will be able to support up to five million users. After successfully completing testing on calls, ATEL finalised a full commercial launch of the 3G cellular network, which will operate under the brand name Telecel. Speedcast International Ltd claims to be the largest provider of remote communications and IT services in the world. Speedcasts fully managed service is delivered via a global, multi-access-technology, multi-band and multi-orbit network of 70+ satellites and an interconnecting global terrestrial network, bolstered by extensive on the ground local support from 40-plus countries. This global network of networks allows customers to fully rely on the most robust, integrated infrastructure available in the market for their mission critical applications. Samsung and Reliance Jio today announced that the former will supply Jio with equipment for enhancing LTE network coverage and capacity, for deploying a next-generation cellular IoT network. Making sure that everyone benefits from mobile broadband that is both available and affordable to all is our top priority. We will once again partner with Samsung to offer a suite of innovative services for all users, said Jyotindra Thacker, President of Reliance Jio Infocomm. The NB-IoT service is enabled by a software upgrade of the already operational base stations. Read the complete press release below Reliance Jio Infocomm and Samsung Electronics today announced their continued partnership to bring LTE coverage to 99 percent of the Indian population and significantly improve network capacity across the country. Adding to the joint effort is the deployment of a nationwide cellular IoT network. It has not been long since Jio brought a radical digital revolution to India. Now, the company is ready to pave the way for a fully digital India, in which IoT will reach every corner of the countrys society and economy. The IoT network, the first of its kind in the country, will support a variety of consumer and enterprise use cases such as vehicle tracking, smart appliances, smart metering, security, surveillance and more. Making sure that everyone benefits from mobile broadband that is both available and affordable to all is our top priority. We will once again partner with Samsung to offer a suite of innovative services for all users, said Jyotindra Thacker, President of Reliance Jio Infocomm. We are delighted to contribute to Jios success story and rapid growth. We have been striving to offer the best experience possible to all users at Jio. Jios LTE network will unlock the potential of IoT and promise a much more convenient and safe environment for users, said Youngky Kim, President and Head of Networks Business at Samsung Electronics. The NB-IoT service not only utilizes the existing spectrum held by Jio, but is also enabled by a simple software upgrade of the already installed base stations. Further deployed is the new and dedicated Cellular IoT virtualized core. The commercial NB-IoT network successfully established by Jio and Samsung in Mumbai in February 2018 will soon impact other parts of the country with new and compelling use cases. The agreement represents another phase of collaboration between the two companies, in which the targeted outcomes are faster internet access for users across India, as well as the generation of unexplored services and business models for enterprises. H.R. Owen launches new Ferrari 488 Pista at flagship UK showroom in South Kensington H.R. Owen is celebrating the successful launch night of Ferraris latest track special the 488 Pista at famous London showroom in South Kensington. Previously awarded the prestigious title of Ferrari Global Dealer of the Year, H.R. Owens revered dealership is the perfect location to launch one of the most eagerly anticipated Ferraris of the 21st Century, with its squared-off angles and subtly aggressive lines hinting at the performance within. The 488 Pista launch was unusual in that it was shown via a live stream from Ferrari Headquarters. To ensure the showroom had the right ambience for the grand unveil the large presentation screen was surrounded by other Ferrari models, including a 488 Challenge car. The UKs leading luxury dealer group invited 50 VIPs and their guests to the showroom on launch night to sample the 488 Pista for the first time, with champagne and canapes served throughout the evening. H.R. Owen Ferrari Brand Director James Champion opened proceedings with an introductory speech on the new model, talking visitors through the exciting step forward by Ferrari in terms of motorsport-derived technology and overall driving ability. The Pista uses the current 488s 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8, yet with a significant weight saving and a power increase from 661bhp to 711bhp. All this contributes to a 0-62mph time of 2.85 seconds and a top speed of more than 211mph. James Champion said: As the 488 Pista is one of the most exciting Ferraris ever made, only the finest launch night would be good enough to honour such a car and we certainly delivered that. In true H.R. Owen style, we used our expertise and experience to deliver an elegant evening where our invited guests could relax and welcome the newest addition to the Ferrari family. Our valued customers and VIP guests were taken aback when the Pista was revealed, and its easy to see why; this is a truly stunning car and we look forward to the first customer deliveries. The Ferrari 488 Pista will be on display at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. Instantly delete email threats with 365 Threat Monitor 365 Threat Monitor scans all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Receive real-time phone alerts, get real-time security breach updates and instantly delete threats with just one click - for free! Learn More. Fraud is a major concern for 72 percent of businesses, according to Experian's Global Fraud and Identity Report. More than 5,500 consumers and 500 business executives in 11 markets around the world participated in the survey. The situation has not been improving, the report suggests, as six out of 10 businesses experienced the same losses to fraud as they did a year ago -- or more. However, pulling the plug on every suspicious transaction is not a satisfactory solution. In fact, 71 percent of businesses told Experian they denied more transactions than they should have. That not only cost specific sales, but also may have reduced the affected customer's lifetime value. SMBs More Exposed to Risk "Online fraud is on the rise, and retailers are under the constant threat of attack," noted Michael Graff, risk analytics manager at Radial. Small and mid-sized businesses are particularly vulnerable because they "lack the financial and staff resources of their larger counterparts, he told the E-Commerce Times. Also, they "often use basic, out-of-the-box tools that aren't tuned to their specific business and trends, leaving the door open to fraudsters to initiate heavy and quick attacks that go largely unnoticed until it's too late." Many sophisticated attack patterns are used repeatedly on SMBs, noted Vanita Pandey, VP of product marketing at ThreatMetrix. "Hackers are getting craftier and layering their efforts to make them harder to detect," she told the E-Commerce Times. "In this heightened risk landscape, 2018 must become the year of digital identity." Adding insult to injury, merchants have been left footing the bill for stolen merchandise, said Yana Zaidiner, COO of Token. Further, if an etailer is thought to have weak security, consumers will lose confidence in its brand, she told the E-Commerce Times. SMBs are "less equipped to deal with negative press," suggested George Avetisov, CEO of Hypr. Also, larger enterprises are better able to build in the cost of fraud, he told the E-Commerce Times. Still there are steps SMB etailers can take to confirm a customer's identity. 1. Team Up With Experts SMB etailers should partner with third-party security providers, suggested Token's Zaidiner. "Products such as Apple Pay and [Google] Pay or other apps that anonymize payment are a great way for consumers to keep their credit cards offline and out of harm's way," she said. Apple and Google ascertain the identities of users of their payment apps, which reduces the burden on etailers. 2. Train Staff to Scrutinize Orders "Having an experienced team that knows what to look out for and how to diligently dive into and research suspicious activity is important, so you're not rejecting every suspicious transaction but also not taking on the risk by fulfilling every order," Radial's Graff said. "Look at order level data daily," he recommended. This is tedious, Graff acknowledged, but it will let retailers spot and respond to high-level trends over time. However, this process is "not very scalable and needs to be layered in with other anti-fraud strategies." 3. Monitor Transactions Daily and Set Order Limits Keep an eye peeled for shipping and billing information that doesn't match, and check on the physical locations of customers, advised Graff. "If you have a billing address in one part of New York City and shipping at a different city address, and the IP address is coming from Germany and your credit card is from the UK, and the purchase is over $5,000 -- you may want a fraud investigator to look at it personally," he said. Imposing an upper limit on the number of purchases and total value of purchases from any one account on a single day will help keep down exposure to fraud. 4. Go Digital as Much as Possible "Analyzing transactions based on true digital identities is the most effective way to instantly differentiate between legitimate users and cybercriminals," ThreatMetrix's Pandey said. Organizations "need to invest in digital-first strategies that leverage automation ... to protect consumers facing downstream attacks from large-scale data breaches," she advised. The growing sophistication of cybercriminals' attacks means etailers must ensure that the tools they use will help them differentiate between trusted customers and fraudsters, Pandey noted. They must "go beyond legacy approaches that rely on simple device recognition or static credentials." 5. Balance Security and the Customer Experience It's important to balance customer experience with risk management, Pandey cautioned. Thirty-five percent of consumers would purchase more online if there were fewer security hurdles, Experian's report suggests. Twenty-five percent of the Experian survey participants said they had abandoned a transaction because setting up a new account required them to give out too much information. Richard Adhikari has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2008. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile technologies, CRM, databases, software development, mainframe and mid-range computing, and application development. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including Information Week and Computerworld. He is the author of two books on client/server technology. Email Richard. Instantly delete email threats for Office 365 365 Threat Monitor scans all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Receive real-time phone alerts, get real-time security breach updates and instantly delete threats with just one click - for free! Learn More. Hyperloop Transportation Technologies on Thursday announced an agreement with an Ohio agency to launch a study on creating its first interstate hyperloop project in the U.S., connecting Chicago and Cleveland. The agreement with the Northern Ohio Area Coordinating Committee puts in motion a regional feasibility study, to be carried out in conjunction with the Illinois Department of Transportation. Various routes have been identified for the Hyperloop service, which would operate a super high-speed system to accommodate transport at more than 700 miles per hour. The Hyperloop system works through the use of pressurized capsules that travel along a frictionless magnetic cushion inside tubes. The capsules are powered by rechargeable batteries, a linear induction motor and electromagnetic propulsion. The capsules hold 28 to 40 passengers, and the system would allow departures of capsules every 40 seconds. It therefore could move 164,000 passengers per day on each line. "Regulations are the ultimate barrier for Hyperloop implementation and we are excited to build the first real public private partnership to bring Hyperloop travel to the U.S.," said Dick Ahlborn, CEO of HTT. Economic Opportunity The market value of transit within the region is estimated at US$15 billion. HTT has been exploring additional routes within the region that would feed traffic from other major cities into the route, Cooke told TechNewsWorld. The company is in various stages of discussions with local governments and cities, he added, with plans to announce the additional routes in the future. HTT last year announced a new innovation center in Tolouse, France, which included plans to develop new offices and a new prototype early this year. It also inked agreements to develop services in India, South Korea and Indonesia. The company will disclose further project details on Feb. 26 at the Great Lakes Science Center in Cleveland, including additional members of the consortium. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, led a bipartisan group of legislators from Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Illinois in promoting the Hyperloop Transportation Initiative. The group last month wrote President Donald Trump, asking for the inclusion of $20 million in the fiscal 2019 budget to accelerate the project. Market Demand One key question for the long term success of hyperloop technology, is whether it would combine high-speed commuter travel and high-speed freight hauling, noted Steven Polzin, director of mobility policy research at the University of South Florida's Center for Urban Transportation Research. "There are folks who envision hyperloop offering something equivalent to a container shipping service to help amortize the project cost and more fully utilize hyperloop capacity," he told TechNewsWorld. "For a new technology like this, customer acceptance is an unknown." There are questions as to whether customers would feel claustrophobic in such a train system and be able to tolerate the g forces associated with such high speeds, Polzin added. Chicago is home to O'Hare International Airport, one of the world's biggest airports, and a major connection hub for connecting flights throughout the midwest. High-speed rail would only require duplicating what is already available in markets like Europe and Japan, noted Sharon Feigon, executive director of the Shared Use Mobility Center. It would not require the development of new technology, she told TechNewsWorld, and could be built before the Hyperloop study is completed. David Jones is a freelance writer based in Essex County, New Jersey. He has written for Reuters, Bloomberg, Crain's New York Business and The New York Times. Instantly delete email threats for Office 365 365 Threat Monitor scans all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Receive real-time phone alerts, get real-time security breach updates and instantly delete threats with just one click - for free! Learn More. In an open letter and a series of full-page ads in major newspapers, AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson on Wednesday urged Congress to enact an Internet Bill of Rights and to bring the Net neutrality debate to an end. Although AT&T supported the Federal Communications Commission's December vote to repeal its Net neutrality rules, the company has called on legislators to establish new laws to regulate the Internet. AT&T wants to make sure there is a transparent and open Internet for all consumers, Stephenson maintained. "Legislation would not only ensure consumers' rights are protected, but it would provide consistent rules of the road for all Internet companies, across all websites, content devices and applications," Stephenson wrote in the open letter. AT&T objected to regulation under Title II, but it supported the Net neutrality rules the FCC established in 2010, which did not rely on Title II regulations, noted company spokesperson Michael Balmoris. "The purpose of today's open letter calling for an Internet Bill of Rights was to begin a dialogue on a comprehensive framework for basic consumer protections on the Internet that applies to all Internet companies," he noted. Questionable Motives Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., who supports a bipartisan resolution that has the backing of 49 Democrats and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, criticized AT&T's call to action in a tweet on Wednesday. .@ATT wouldn't have to take out a full-page ad in the @washingtonpost to convince you that they support an open Internet if they did the one thing that permanently protects it: support my CRA resolution to restore #NetNeutrality. pic.twitter.com/dLsKsLKtvp Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) January 24, 2018 Open Internet advocacy groups also questioned how AT&T could reconcile its request for congressional action with past efforts to revoke Title II. Fight for the Future characterized AT&T's move a "cynical attempt at misinformation" and said "zero real Net neutrality supporters are fooled" by the open letter. "AT&T is full of it, and this latest push from them reeks of desperation," Evan Greer, campaign director at Fight for the Future, told the E-Commerce Times. AT&T's push for congressional action falls short, according to Public Knowledge vice president Chris Lewis, because concerns go well beyond pure Net neutrality issues, and it could take years for Congress to upgrade federal communications law for the modern age. "First things first," he told the E-Commerce Times. "Let's make sure consumers are protected with this basic Net neutrality protection." Uphill Climb AT&T is one of the few major broadband companies that will benefit from Net neutrality being overturned, according to Roger Kay, president of Endpoint Technologies Associates. Verizon and Comcast are also in that group. It's very unlikely that Congress will be able to roll back the FCC's decision, he told the E-Commerce Times, because the commission carried out a policy favored by the Trump administration, and the current Congress has done very little to push back. The AT&T campaign could be a reaction to the groundswell of opposition to the FCC repeal coming from consumers and Silicon Valley, argued independent analyst Jeff Kagan. "While I believe AT&T is happy with the recent FCC decision on Net neutrality, they see the writing on the wall that the other side will simply not stop," he told the E-Commerce Times. In the meantime, the U.S. General Accounting Office has agreed to investigate potential fraud in connection with the FCC's rules reversal. Net neutrality proponents have alleged that 2 million fake public comments were published in an effort to sway opinions during the process that led up to last month's FCC 3-2 vote. The investigation should begin in about five months, according to GAO spokesperson Chuck Young. "Once it gets under way, one of the first steps will be to determine the exact scope of what we will cover and the methodology to be used," he told the E-Commerce Times. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who is leading a coalition of 22 states that are suing to restore Net neutrality, praised the GAO decision to investigate. His office has been investigating the fake comments since last spring, as submitting comments using stolen identities of real people constitutes a crime under New York state law. David Jones is a freelance writer based in Essex County, New Jersey. He has written for Reuters, Bloomberg, Crain's New York Business and The New York Times. Instantly delete email threats with 365 Threat Monitor 365 Threat Monitor scans all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Receive real-time phone alerts, get real-time security breach updates and instantly delete threats with just one click - for free! Learn More. The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday will hear oral arguments in a landmark case over whether federal law enforcement can force Microsoft to hand over email stored in an overseas data center as evidence in a drug-trafficking case. The case, United States of America v. Microsoft Corporation, which dates back to 2013, is viewed as a potentially groundbreaking showdown over data privacy in an era when increasing amounts of information are stored in the cloud and reside in third-party jurisdictions. At the heart of this case is a data center in Dublin. The case has garnered attention from technology rivals in Silicon Valley, a host of privacy and open technology organizations, foreign governments, legal scholars, and public officials. Twenty-three amicus briefs had been filed on behalf of Microsoft as of last month. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals in 2016 ruled 3-0 in favor of a challenge brought by Microsoft, which argues that a U.S. warrant could not compel the company to hand over private email data stored in a foreign data center. The DoJ demand "ignores borders, treaties and international law," Microsoft Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith wrote in a post published online last month. It also poses a risk to the U.S. economy, he added, as the U.S. has led the way in the international growth of cloud computing and has a major stake in the integrity of the information stored in multinational data centers across the globe. Beyond the Law Existing law does not permit the U.S. government to intrude on the privacy rights of other nations, according to privacy advocates. "The Electronic Privacy Information Act was never intended to provide a basis for law enforcement agencies in the United States to seize personal data in a foreign jurisdiction," said Marc Rotenberg, president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center. "The Supreme Court should follow the presumption against the extraterritorial application of U.S. law." A ruling in favor of the DoJ in this case could trigger a trade war between the U.S. and the European Union over transborder data flows, he warned. The Electronic Frontier Foundation last month filed an amicus brief, as did the Brennan Center for Justice, the American Civil Liberties Union, Restore the Fourth, and the R Street Institute, raising major concerns about the impact a ruling against Microsoft would have on data privacy, noted Adam Schwartz, senior staff attorney at EFF. The federal government should be able to access that data only by using its existing treaty relationships with Ireland, which would provide additional protections against access, the EFF has argued. Cloudy Day The EFF also has raised concerns about a privacy-related bill introduced in Congress earlier this month. The Clarifying Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act -- sponsored by Sens. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah; Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Chris Coons, D-Del.; and Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. -- would give federal agencies and even local law enforcement the ability to access electronic data anywhere around the globe, regardless of where a person lived. The bill also would authorize the president to enter into bilateral executive agreements with other countries that would allow each government to access user data stored in the other country, without having to abide by its privacy laws. "Under the CLOUD Act, the president could unilaterally pick the countries they want to give this power to," the EFF's Schwartz told the E-Commerce Times. One concern is that the bill would allow the president to enter an agreement with a country that had a history of repressive behavior or free speech limits, like Turkey or Saudi Arabia. Such a country could intercept phone calls or other forms of communication to use against its citizens living in the U.S. David Jones is a freelance writer based in Essex County, New Jersey. He has written for Reuters, Bloomberg, Crain's New York Business and The New York Times. From January through March, an average of 6,000 dolphins are killed each year on France's west coast by large industrial trawlers and vessels fishing in pairs (nets dragged between two trawlers). That number could be as high as 10,000, according to the Pelagis Observatory, based in La Rochelle. That's more than the number of dolphins killed each year in the Danish Faroe Islands and The Cove in Taiji, Japan, combined. These vessels fish mainly for sea bass, targeting spawning grounds during the breeding season. This practice not only threatens sea bass populations, but is also deadly to dolphins trapped and drowned in the nets as by-catch. While on patrol in the Rochebonne plateau this weekend, Sea Shepherd's vessel the Bob Barker filmed the trawlers Jeremi Simon and Promethee pulling up their nets with two dolphins trapped inside. One of the dolphins seemed already drowned, but the other, still alive, emitted whistles of distress that can be heard on the video. Instead of discarding the dolphins back into the water in front of the Sea Shepherd crew, the two dolphins were brought aboard one of the two vessels. This macabre scene is repeated every night, all year round along the French coast, peaking between January and March. Will Dolphins Soon Disappear Completely From the French Coastal Waters? The Pelagis Observatory has been publishing alarming reports about the declining dolphin populations for several years, without being heard. In a 2016 report signed by the French National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), Pelagis and the University of La Rochelle, it is clearly stated that the mortality inflicted on dolphins by fishing vessels jeopardizes the survival of the population in the medium term. Marine mammals are particularly vulnerable. With low fertility rates and a high sensitivity to chemical and plastic pollution, they also face food scarcity due to overfishing. It is therefore urgent to take immediate measures to protect them. However, the French State has not yet responded to all the scientists' warnings on the subject, and the fishermen involved are taking advantage of the general public's ignorance. The Hellish Journey of Captured Dolphins Dolphins that typically live alongside sea bass are caught in fishing nets that capture everything in their path indiscriminately. From there follows an agonizing death as the trapped dolphins are drowned in the net. Any dolphins that are pulled up alive usually die from wounds inflicted by fishermen onboard the vessels. The corpses regularly washing up on French beaches show fractures, broken tails and flippers, and deep incisions cut into their skin by the nets. Intentionally Opaque Reporting of By-Catch Numbers That Are Hardly 'Incidental' "By-catch" is the nondescript term used to describe the hecatomb of dolphins taking place each year along French coasts, a slaughter that takes place in total and tightly-guarded opacity. In fact, although the law requires fishermen to declare their dolphin catches, in practice the State has not designated any regulatory body to receive this data. This vacuum prevents any monitoring of the mortality inflicted on marine mammals by trawlers. The Pelagis Observatory is qualified and capable of receiving this data but has not obtained the authorization to do so. Furthermore, no funds have been allocated to the implementation of more selective fishing techniques, even though these funds exist. Industrial fishing is heavily subsidized in France, but reducing dolphin mortality is not one of the priorities of the State's fisheries policy. How Can the Dolphins Be Saved? Sea Shepherd France President Lamya Essemlali has called on the French State to: 1. Prohibit trawling vessels from fishing in sea bass spawning grounds. France gives authorizations for particularly destructive fishing in sensitive areas, but does not apply adequate surveillance measures in parallel. 2. Establish better monitoring of fisheries and effectively prevent the sale of juvenile fish. France has already been fined several million euros for its tolerance to the sale of undersized fish, banned by the European Union, with the obvious aim of preserving populations. 3. Finally, designate an organization (like Pelagis) to receive data related to dolphin by-catch in fishing gear. What the General Public Can Do 1. Eat less fish. 2. Avoid undersized fish completely. 3. Boycott fish from trawling vessels, sticking exclusively to line-caught fish. Cybersecurity products, services and professionals have never been in higher demand. In fact, there remains a huge shortage of experienced security professionals available to fill open positions. A contributing factor to the cybersecurity skills gap is the large number of security startups that have been founded in recent years. According to a joint study by CBInsights and PwC, Cybersecurity startups received over $10.7 billion in funding in 2020. Overall cybercrime costs are expected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, up from $3 trillion in 2015, according to Cybersecurity Ventures. As a result, security is expected to more than double in size to $300 billion by 2025. As attack methodologies evolve due to AI, machine learning and nation-state hackers, security startups are receiving a lot of funding to develop products that can secure application access for remote workers, provide real-time visibility into cyber attacks and protect data as it travels from the cloud to IoT devices. In this article, well cover the top cybersecurity startups to watch in 2021. Top Cybersecurity startups to watch in 2021 This list was developed based on multiple factors, among them growth rates, recent funding rounds and innovations in new and emerging technologies. Jump to our section on what investors are looking for in startups for more information. Jump ahead: Axis Security Axis Security provides a Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) platform that uses policy controls based on dynamic directory integration, disarm and reconstruct capabilities and application-layer visibility for incident response investigations. The product was built on the zero trust security framework. In September 2020, Axis Security raised $32 million in Series B funding, for a total of $49 million over three rounds. Also last year, the company introduced the Axis Security Partner Program (ASPP) for VARs, systems integrators, MSSPs, OEM partners and distributors. The goal of this program is to help enterprises offer secure application access for their remote workforce. The two-tier program includes business development opportunities, training, joint marketing, partner collateral, marketing co-op funds, sales leads and field account planning. Bitglass Bitglass took the opportunity to increase its value by adapting its CASB product to focus on protecting organizations with a remote work ecosystem that has become commonplace due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its Total Cloud Security Platform combines CASB (cloud access security brokerage), on-device secure web gateways and zero-trust network access to secure endpoints across all devices in a network. Gartner has named Bitglass a leader in its Magic Quadrant for three years in a row. Bitglass secured Series D funding of $70 million in August 2019 bringing its total venture capital funding to $150 million. Cado Security Cado Security made a name for itself by offering the first cloud-native forensics and response platform. The Cado Response platform gives security teams the capability to rapidly respond to threat incidents in cloud or container environments. Most traditional tools used for investigating cyber-attacks cannot assess potential impacts on these environments. Cado Security is a young startup, founded in 2020, yet its already received $1.5 million in seed funding. Cato Networks Cato Networks is another SASE provider that has seen a huge boost in attention due to the pandemic. Catos platform experienced a 300% increase in remote workers connecting to cloud services over the span of three months. In November 2020, Cato closed on a $130 million round of funding. This comes after raising $77 million in a previous funding round just six months prior. This latest round brought its valuation up to $1 billion. Confluera The Confluera product has a strong focus on autonomy, another attractive factor for remote workforces. Its extended detection and response (XDR) solution tracks network traffic and automatically combines the information with machine-comprehended threat detection. It uses this data to show a complete narrative of an attack in real-time, rather than solely logging isolated alerts to help teams intercept threats before theyre able to do damage. Confluera raised $20 million in series B funding last year. They expect to see growth in the company as they use the money to expand their team. Cybereason Endpoint detection has never been more in-demand due to remote work. Cybereason offers endpoint detection and response (EDR), antivirus and managed detection and response services. It has an automated hunting engine that looks for unusual behavioral patterns, blocks known attacks and aggregates good and bad behavioral data to simplify investigation. Its behavioral approach earned it another $200 million in funding from Softbank, bringing its investment total to almost $400 million. This money has been used to expand its core platform into a full endpoint protection portfolio. Additionally, the company has expanded its partnership network into regional markets such as France and Brazil, as well as verticals such as healthcare. Cybereason also made eSecurity Planets list of top EDR solutions. Darktrace Threat detection Darktraces Cyber artificial intelligence (AI) platform detects and fights cyber threats in real-time. It combines the talents of IT specialists from the University of Cambridge with intelligence experts from MI5. Unsupervised machine learning, AI and self-learning technology are used to uncover previously unseen patterns in information. By detecting subtle deviations from an organizations regular patterns, it is quick to find impending attacks. It has raised $230 million through seven rounds of funding. Darktrace also made eSecurity Planets list of top IDPS solutions. Meanwhile, the company continues to pick up industry awards and has launched in the AWS Marketplace. enso enso is an application security posture management (ASPM) platform aimed at helping developers by providing comprehensive security during the app development process. Its common for developers and IT teams to run into security issues while building apps and testing them for bugs. The product increases automation security surrounding development to reduce risk. enso is a young startup, founded in 2020, but its niche focus has garnered plenty of attention. The company has already received $6 million in seed funding. Ethyca The foundational concept of Ethycas product is compliance. Maintaining regulatory compliance is an essential part of data privacy and should be a key focus for all enterprise organizations. Ethyca automates compliance tasks, including real-time data mapping, automated subject requests, consent management and subject erasure handling. Investors understand the growing importance of maintaining compliance. This knowledge helped Ethyca gain $13.5 million in funding in June 2020. Illumio Illumio developed adaptive microsegmentation technology to establish a zero trust framework that prevents the spread of breaches inside any data center and cloud. It ensures the correct provisioning of security policies by understanding and adapting to changes in infrastructure or applications. It has raised $332.5 million in funding from an impressive roster of investors: J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Andreessen Horowitz, General Catalyst, Formation 8, BlackRock Funds, Accel Partners, and Data Collective, as well as individual investors such as Microsoft Chairman John W. Thompson, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff, and Yahoo Co-founder Jerry Yang. The company received a number of industry awards, added container support, and was recognized as a leader in Forresters Zero Trust eXtended (ZXT) Ecosystem Providers Report. Illumio landed at #2 on our list of top zero trust vendors. Immuta Immuta is another vendor focused on regulatory compliance, specifically HIPAA, GDPR and CCPA. Its product automates data management, including access control, to maintain privacy compliance. The company raised $40 million in series C funding last year. Immuta was also given the 2020 ISV Rising Star Award from Databricks and was named one of Inc Magazines 2020 best places to work in 2020. Isovalent The flagship Isovalent product, Cilium, offers an infrastructure designed to provide networking, monitoring and security for organizations. Most importantly, it was built to be scalable. The aim is to help organizations secure mission-critical, complex workloads in cloud environments. Isovalent is used by large organizations, including Adobe, Capital One and Datadog. The company also has a number of impressive investors, such as Google and Cisco, who led Isovalent to $29 million in Series A funding. OneTrust OneTrust is a widely used privacy, security and data governance technology platform. The companys suite of products includes AI-powered discovery and classification, third-party risk exchange, ethics and compliance software, privacy management software and more. The aim is to provide a comprehensive solution to managing security in an increasingly complex regulatory environment. In December 2020, OneTrust secured $300 million in Series C funding. That makes a whopping $710 million in total funding the company has secured in just 18 months. Their valuation now sits at $5.1 billion, making the company a unicorn five times over. Orca Security Orca Security provides agentless security and compliance for AWS, GCP and Azure. The companys offering places it in a prime spot as the adoption of cloud computing continues to grow. Its patent-pending Side-Scanning technology uses environmental context to prioritize risks, including vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, malware, compromised passwords and more. Founded two years ago in 2019, Orca Security has already received $82 million in funding. A series B funding round that gave the company $55 million came only seven months after a Series A round. Perimeter 81 Perimeter 81 offers multiple security products but the one thats currently garnering attraction is their new Zero Trust Application Access solution. This product offers agentless, zero-trust accessibility, capitalizing on the least privileged access trend. In 2019, the company integrated with SentinelOne, another startup on this list, to ensure that endpoints are fully compliant and protected before theyre granted access to the Perimeter 81 cloud-based network. Perimeter 81 also teamed with SonicWall in 2020 to make it possible for businesses to connect to a single secure network and gain access to physical and cloud resources from any location. The company received $40 million in Series B funding in 2020. Gartner also named Perimeter 81 on their Cool Vendor list in 2019. Privafy The Privafy product was designed to secure data-in-motion. This is a valuable corner of the market, as an estimated 80 percent of all data breaches occur while data is traveling between cloud networks. Another aspect of the companys attraction is that it offers multiple products that specialize in a few key markets. These include CarrierEdge for telecommunications service providers, MicroEdge for the IoT industry and CloudEdge for enterprises. Privafy received $22 million in funding in 2020. Randori Randori is a unique vendor in that its product doesnt offer protection itself, but instead bills itself as the worlds first automated breach and attack simulation (BAS) platform. The companys mission is to ensure every organization has a trusted adversary to practice against. The Randori platform mirrors malicious attackers by emulating all stages of a real-world attack. This reveals vulnerabilities in networks and their potential impact. Randori hired big names in security in 2020, including former Qualys VP of Engineering Ken Shelton, hacker Aaron Portnoy and veteran CISO Aaron Fodisck. In the same year, the company received $20 million in Series A funding. SECURITI.ai is another vendor aiming to fight fire with fire against advanced cyber attacks that use AI and machine learning tactics. The company implements AI into its security product to help organizations secure data while automating privacy and compliance. This startup has experienced sizable growth recently, expanding its team from 160 employees up to 200 over the last year. SECURITI.ai secured $50 million in Series B funding last year after receiving $31 million in a Series A round in 2019. SentinelOne SentinelOne protects against executables, memory-only malware, exploits in documents, spearphishing emails, macros, drive-by downloads and other browser exploits, scripts such as Powershell, and credential encroachments. It harnesses behavioral-based detection, mitigation and forensics to attempt to stop threats in real-time. It is the top-rated endpoint protection platform on Gartner Peer Insights, has launched a research division and is now available on the AWS Marketplace. In 2020 it raised $267 million in Series F funding led by Tiger Global Management, with participation from Sequoia Capital Global Equities and existing investors, including Insight Partners and Third Point Ventures. To date, it has raised $430 million in funding, bringing its valuation to $3 billion. SentinelOne also made our list of top EDR vendors. SpiderSilk Whats impressive about this startup is SpiderSilks proprietary internet scanner. It maps out a companys assets and network attack surface to detect vulnerabilities. It can also simulate cyberattacks, making it a BAS system. SpiderSilk proved the effectiveness of the scanner by discovering some big data breaches in the last two years, including the following: The breach of the social network, Blind, that exposed private complaints by Silicon Valley employees A leak of highly sensitive Samsung source code A public code repository revealed app data, code and apartment building camera footage belonging to the facial recognition startup Clearview AI A massive leak of unencrypted customer card numbers held by MoviePass This achievement helped SpiderSilk secure $2.25 million in a pre-series A round of funding. Ubiq Security Ubiq Security offers an API-based platform that makes it quick and easy for developers to integrate data encryption directly into applications. When performed manually, this is a time-consuming task that often requires experienced developers. The company was founded in 2019 but has already amassed an impressive catalog of big-name customers, including the United States Army, the Department of Homeland Security, Verizon and Hitachi. In 2020, Ubiq Security received $6.4 million in seed funding. Vdoo Another vendor targeting the security of remote work ecosystems, Vdoo offers a device security platform to protect network endpoints. The solution provides security analysis, gap resolution, embedded protection, operations monitoring, compliance validation and actionable insights. Its also desirable because it can be tailored to specific use cases. Vdoo secured $32 million in series B funding in 2019. This amounts to a total of $55 million of funding for the startup. What are investors looking for in cybersecurity startups in 2021? Some of the biggest factors venture investors are looking for in startups are uniform across the board for any technology vertical. However, there are some factors that are unique in 2021, namely due to the pandemic. Startups with scalability and lean research and development Scalability will always be one of the most important factors for those looking to invest in a successful startup. When there are opportunities for growth, startups should be ready to capitalize on them immediately. Investors are also looking for startups that can continue to improve their products without the need for substantial capital investment. Lean research and development show efficiency, even with limited resources. This will also allow investors to watch the product and business model evolve over time before investing even more capital. Startups with a solid business plan Another factor investors have always looked for is an air-tight business plan. They want assurance that there is a real, widespread problem that the product solves. Investors also want to see financial reports and projections of revenue growth backed up by market analysis. Compliance Regulatory compliance, such as HIPAA, GDPR and CCPA are essential for organizations collecting and protecting user information, which includes virtually all enterprise-level companies. Investors will be looking for startups that can ensure customers will maintain compliance. Startups who can support remote work Remote work is and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a top-of-mind factor for venture capitalists. Even though vaccines are starting to be administered, a largely remote workforce is likely here to stay. Startups that can immediately impact the remote worker ecosystem will garner a lot of attention. Specifically, startups with SaaS (software-as-a-service), those that provide automation, and products that include endpoint protection will fall into this category. How Covid-19 impacted cybersecurity The impact of Covid-19 on the cybersecurity industry is reportedly expected to hit $230 billion this year, exhibiting a CAGR of 12% during the forecast period. This report also projected that because of the boom in remote work, endpoint security is expected to grow at the highest rate of any cybersecurity segment. Products like Endpoint Protection Platforms (EPP) and Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions secure the devices spanning a remote ecosystem and will continue to be invaluable. The healthcare segment, in particular, will likely see the largest investment in cybersecurity due to telehealth and teleworking models. 2018-02-27 Maeci In collaboration with the Italian government and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Young Ambassadors Society (YAS) is now recruiting the four delegates that will represent Italy at the Summit of the Youth 7 (Y7), the official engagement group of the G7 dedicated to young people. This year, the Y7 Summit will take place in Ottawa, Canada, in the third week of April. The three themes of the Y7 2018 will be broadly aligned with those of Canada's G7 Presidency. The delegates will be called to address the following topics: Gender equality Climate change & the environment Future of work The outcome of the discussions among delegates will be collected in a communique, which will be presented to G7 leaders. Profile of the delegates: Aged between 18 and 30; Deep knowledge of, at least, one of the above-mentioned three topics; Valid Passport, with Visa if necessary; Fluency in English; Commitment to work 10 hours per month on follow-up actions of Y7 over a period of 12 months; Understanding of global problems with a multicultural perspective; Strong academic background and/or volunteer and working experience. Board and accommodation in Ottawa will be provided by the Y7 organization. However, each delegate should cover the expenses for the round trip to Ottawa from their countries. Finally, each delegate is responsible to get the Visa, if necessary, to enter to Canada. The deadline for submitting the application is 8 March 2018. Please submit your application at the following link. A broad survey conducted across southern Asia reinforces the idea that the mammal biodiversity of an area can be determined by looking at the DNA found in leeches' blood meals. The new study, led by researchers at the American Museum of Natural History, also shows for the first time that DNA found in leeches can be used to identify certain ground birds and, possibly, some bats. The research was published this month in the journal Systematics and Biodiversity. "Our recent work has demonstrated that we can determine what mammals are in a protected area without hunting, without trapping, without the use of scat or hair samples, and especially without camera traps-all of which are problematic methods for one reason or another," said study author Mark Siddall, a curator in the Museum's Division of Invertebrate Zoology. "Instead, by sequencing the host DNA that remains inside of terrestrial jungle leeches for months after feeding, we can out-perform all other methods of biodiversity monitoring in terms of accuracy, completeness, speed, and cost. We even get the small mammals that most other methods miss." The usefulness of invertebrate-parasite-derived DNA, called iDNA, was first shown in a 2012 study on 25 leeches found in Vietnam. Siddall and lead author Michael Tessler, a postdoctoral fellow in the Museum's Sackler Institute of Comparative Genomics, were interested in examining how dependable leeches can be as an identification tool when surveying a broader range of geographic locations. The researchers led a team that collected and genetically analyzed about 750 terrestrial leeches in the genus Haemadipsa from the forests of Bangladesh, Cambodia, and China. They found that the leeches feed at least somewhat indiscriminately on a large variety of mammals, including small deer called muntjacs, macaque monkeys, wildcats, rodents like porcupines and rats, as well as a vulnerable species in the area, a gaur, or Indian bison. They also recovered DNA from three types of ground-dwelling birds and one species of bat-there are only a few previous and somewhat anecdotal reports of those animals being targeted by Haemadipsa leeches. In addition, Siddall and Tessler were authors on a recently published study based on leeches in Bangladesh that compares the iDNA method to camera traps. They found that the methods complement one another, and that, when used together with camera trapping, leeches can be used to survey more rapidly and to more confidently identify small mammal species. "This work is turning out to be an extremely useful tool for conservation purposes, and it's quick and easy to survey a park in this way as you don't really need to search for the leeches-they come to you looking for a meal," Tessler said. "You just go on a casual hike and make sure you get the leeches before they get you. A snapshot of the vertebrates in an area can be taken with just one day's worth of sampling; the current standard for surveys, camera traps, takes months or longer." The new research also looks at the genetic diversity of the leeches themselves, revealing that there are most likely many new species yet to be described. ### Other authors on this work include Douglas Yu, from the Kunming Institute of Zoology in China and the University of East Anglia in the United Kingdom; Sarah Weiskopf and Kyle McCarthy, from the University of Delaware; and Lily Berniker and Rebecca Hersch, from the American Museum of Natural History. This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation, grant #s EAPSI-1414639 and PEET-0119329, and the Niarchos Foundation. Systematics and Biodiversity paper: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14772000.2018.1433729 AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY (AMNH.ORG) The American Museum of Natural History, founded in 1869, is one of the world's preeminent scientific, educational, and cultural institutions. The Museum encompasses 45 permanent exhibition halls, including those in the Rose Center for Earth and Space and the Hayden Planetarium, as well as galleries for temporary exhibitions. It is home to the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial, New York State's official memorial to its 33rd governor and the nation's 26th president, and a tribute to Roosevelt's enduring legacy of conservation. The Museum's five active research divisions and three cross-disciplinary centers support approximately 200 scientists, whose work draws on a world-class permanent collection of more than 34 million specimens and artifacts, as well as specialized collections for frozen tissue and genomic and astrophysical data, and one of the largest natural history libraries in the world. Through its Richard Gilder Graduate School, it is the only American museum authorized to grant the Ph.D. degree. Beginning in 2015, the Richard Gilder Graduate School also began granting the Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree, the only such freestanding museum program. Annual visitation has grown to approximately 5 million, and the Museum's exhibitions and Space Shows are seen by millions more in venues on six continents. The Museum's website, mobile apps, and MOOCs (massive open online courses) extend its scientific research and collections, exhibitions, and educational programs to additional audiences around the globe. Visit amnh.org for more information. Follow Become a fan of the Museum on Facebook at facebook.com/naturalhistory, follow us on Twitter at @AMNH, on Instagram at @AMNH, and on Tumblr at amnhnyc. Can we stay young forever, or even recapture lost youth? Research from the laboratory of Professor Julian Chen in the School of Molecular Sciences at Arizona State University recently uncovered a crucial step in the telomerase enzyme catalytic cycle. This catalytic cycle determines the ability of the human telomerase enzyme to synthesize DNA "repeats" (specific DNA segments of six nucleotides) onto chromosome ends, and so afford immortality in cells. Understanding the underlying mechanism of telomerase action offers new avenues toward effective anti-aging therapeutics. illustration depicting the enzyme telomerase This figure depicts the enzyme telomerase as well as telomeres relative to a chromosome. Typical human cells are mortal and cannot forever renew themselves. As demonstrated by Leonard Hayflick a half-century ago, human cells have a limited replicative lifespan, with older cells reaching this limit sooner than younger cells. This "Hayflick limit" of cellular lifespan is directly related to the number of unique DNA repeats found at the ends of the genetic material-bearing chromosomes. These DNA repeats are part of the protective capping structures, termed "telomeres," which safeguard the ends of chromosomes from unwanted and unwarranted DNA rearrangements that destabilize the genome. Each time the cell divides, the telomeric DNA shrinks and will eventually fail to secure the chromosome ends. This continuous reduction of telomere length functions as a "molecular clock" that counts down to the end of cell growth. The diminished ability for cells to grow is strongly associated with the aging process, with the reduced cell population directly contributing to weakness, illness, and organ failure. The fountain of youth at molecular level Counteracting the telomere shrinking process is the enzyme, telomerase, that uniquely holds the key to delaying or even reversing the cellular aging process. Telomerase offsets cellular aging by lengthening the telomeres, adding back lost DNA repeats to add time onto the molecular clock countdown, effectively extending the lifespan of the cell. Telomerase lengthens telomeres by repeatedly synthesizing very short DNA repeats of six nucleotides -- the building blocks of DNA -- with the sequence "GGTTAG" onto the chromosome ends from an RNA template located within the enzyme itself. However, the activity of the telomerase enzyme is insufficient to completely restore the lost telomeric DNA repeats, nor to stop cellular aging. The gradual shrinking of telomeres negatively affects the replicative capacity of human adult stem cells, the cells that restore damaged tissues and/or replenish aging organs in our bodies. The activity of telomerase in adult stem cells merely slows down the countdown of the molecular clock and does not completely immortalize these cells. Therefore, adult stem cells become exhausted in aged individuals due to telomere length shortening that results in increased healing times and organ tissue degradation from inadequate cell populations. Tapping the full potential of telomerase Understanding the regulation and limitation of the telomerase enzyme holds the promise of reversing telomere shortening and cellular aging with the potential to extend human lifespan and improve the health and wellness of elderly individuals. Research from the laboratory of Chen and his colleagues, Yinnan Chen, Joshua Podlevsky and Dhenugen Logeswaran, recently uncovered a crucial step in the telomerase catalytic cycle that limits the ability of telomerase to synthesize telomeric DNA repeats onto chromosome ends. "Telomerase has a built-in braking system to ensure precise synthesis of correct telomeric DNA repeats. This safe-guarding brake, however, also limits the overall activity of the telomerase enzyme," said Professor Chen. "Finding a way to properly release the brakes on the telomerase enzyme has the potential to restore the lost telomere length of adult stem cells and to even reverse cellular aging itself." This intrinsic brake of telomerase refers to a pause signal, encoded within the RNA template of telomerase itself, for the enzyme to stop DNA synthesis at the end of the sequence 'GGTTAG'. When telomerase restarts DNA synthesis for the next DNA repeat, this pause signal is still active and limits DNA synthesis. Moreover, the revelation of the braking system finally solves the decades-old mystery of why a single, specific nucleotide stimulates telomerase activity. By specifically targeting the pause signal that prevents restarting DNA repeat synthesis, telomerase enzymatic function can be supercharged to better stave off telomere length reduction, with the potential to rejuvenate aging human adult stem cells. Human diseases that include dyskeratosis congenita, aplastic anemia, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis have been genetically linked to mutations that negatively affect telomerase activity and/or accelerate the loss of telomere length. This accelerated telomere shortening closely resembles premature aging with increased organ deterioration and a shortened patient lifespan from critically insufficient cell populations. Increasing telomerase activity is the seemingly most promising means of treating these diseases. While increased telomerase activity could bring youth to aging cells and cure premature aging-like diseases, too much of a good thing can be damaging for the individual. Just as youthful stem cells use telomerase to offset telomere length loss, cancer cells employ telomerase to maintain their aberrant and destructive growth. Augmenting and regulating telomerase function will have to be performed with precision, walking a narrow line between cell rejuvenation and a heightened risk for cancer development. Distinct from human stem cells, somatic cells constitute the vast majority of the cells in the human body and lack telomerase activity. The telomerase deficiency of human somatic cells reduces the risk of cancer development, as telomerase fuels uncontrolled cancer cell growth. Therefore, drugs that increase telomerase activity indiscriminately in all cell types are not desired. Toward the goal of precisely augmenting telomerase activity selectively within adult stem cells, this discovery reveals the crucial step in telomerase catalytic cycle as an important new drug target. Small molecule drugs can be screened or designed to increase telomerase activity exclusively within stem cells for disease treatment as well as anti-aging therapies without increasing the risk of cancer. ### Publication: Chen, Y., J.D. Podlevsky, D. Logeswaran and J.J.-L. Chen (2018). A single nucleotide incorporation step limits human telomerase repeat addition activity. EMBO. J. 37: e97953, DOI 10.15252/emboj.201797953. Grant: This work was supported by National Institutes of Health (NIH), grant number R01GM094450. The Colombian epidemiologists research enabled the development of an effective vaccine against cervical cancer, one of the main causes of death among women in developing countries The BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Award in the Development Cooperation category goes, in this tenth edition, to the Colombian epidemiologist Nubia Munoz, whose work was instrumental in establishing that infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) is the principal and necessary cause of cervical cancer. Her studies played a catalytic role in the development of anti-virus vaccines capable of preventing 70% of all cervical cancers, a disease where 80% of cases involve women in developing countries. Dr. Munoz (Cali, Colombia, 1940), says the jury, "established the epidemiological relationship between papillomavirus and cervical cancer," and her work "has been a true catalyst for vaccine development and subsequent application throughout the world, including the most affected countries." "This was the first vaccine," the citation points out, "specifically targeting the prevention of cancer." The new laureate has also participated in other research projects dealing with viruses and other cancer-causing agents that are rife in developing countries. In this respect, Munoz, the jury notes, "is an example of a woman scientist working on diseases that affect women, particularly in the developing world." The existence of the HPV vaccine "is like a dream come true," she commented by phone this morning at the awards press event. "I am keenly aware that I am a privileged researcher. Very few epidemiologists have seen their work become the definitive proof that resolves a major public health problem." The Colombian scientist has spent her professional life at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in Lyon, France. She is currently Emeritus Professor of the National Cancer Institute of Colombia and a visiting scientist at the Catalan Institute of Oncology (ICO). Part of her research on the epidemiology of HPV was carried out with Xavier Bosch, Chief of International Affairs at ICO and one of her nominators, with whom she continues to enjoy a working relationship. Munoz was also put forward for the award by Josep Maria Anto, Scientific Director of the Barcelona Global Health Institute. At the age of six, Nubia Munoz experienced first-hand the devastating impact of infectious diseases when her father, a farmer worker in Cali, died of diphtheria, leaving her mother alone to raise five children (four boys and Nubia, the baby of the family). It was this early loss that inspired her to devote her life to medicine. In an interview published in The Lancet, Munoz remarks that her father's death was particularly terrible, since it could have been prevented if he had received the right treatment with penicillin, which at the time was hard to come by in Colombia. Despite growing up in such modest surroundings, Munoz was an exceptional student. Not only did she win a place at the Medicine School of the University of Cali, but by consistently achieving the top marks in her class she was able to complete most of her degree without paying tuition fees. As a recent graduate, she began working with her mentor, Pelayo Correa, head of the pathology department at the University of Cali, who advised her to move into cancer epidemiology if what she wanted was, as she said, "to be somewhere with the most potential to benefit the community." Munoz would subsequently obtain an IARC grant to study public health at Johns Hopkins University, in the United States, and in 1970 was hired to work at the IARC headquarters in Lyon. Her first projects there involved research into infectious agents suspected of being linked to some kinds of cancer; among them the herpes simplex 2 virus, then under investigation as a possible cause of cervical cancer. This hypothesis, proposed by German scientist Harald zur Hausen, turned out to be untrue. But not long after, zur Hausen himself proposed another candidate: human papillomavirus. This time his intuition was correct, and his discovery, made at the start of the 1980s, won him the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 2008. In the mid-1980s, as head of her own team at IARC, Munoz launched a major international effort to confirm the link between papillomavirus and cancer of the uterine cervix. At the end of the decade, she and Bosch were able to confirm the presence of papillomavirus in patients in Colombia and Spain. The search was extended in the 1990s to another thirty countries, with the same result. These studies not only proved that HPV infection is the principal and necessary cause of cervical cancer. They were also able to show that in all countries it was the same HPV strains that were doing the damage, genotypes 16 and 18. "Nubia Munoz's work," said Bosch yesterday after hearing of the award, "provided the breakthrough information enabling the development of a universal vaccine against cervical cancer." As Munoz explained this morning, "Harald zur Hausen's group molecularly identified the first types of human papillomavirus and developed laboratory tests to detect patients' exposure. I continued the studies, which concluded that the virus was the main cause of cervical cancer (...) There are around 100 types of human papillomavirus, and just over twenty are linked to the disease. Knowing this was vital so pharmaceutical companies could start working on a vaccine." But Munoz did not stop at providing the basic input for the vaccine's development. In 1993, she organized the first international meeting on HPV vaccines. She also convinced the IARC to convene a group of experts to agree on the HPV strains to be classified as carcinogens, leading in 1995 to HPVs 16 and 18 being classed as group 1 human carcinogens. Since 1999, HPV infection has been accepted as a necessary cause of cancer of the uterine cervix, for as Nubia Munoz baldly explains it: "Without the virus, there is no cancer." She has carried on researching into the possible co-factors that increase cancer risk, because the immense majority of women infected with what is a fairly widespread virus are entirely asymptomatic, and only a small proportion go on to develop cancer. The HPV vaccine has been available since 2006. All versions on the market confer protection against HPVs 16 and 18, with some also effective against other strains. And it is commonly estimated that they can now prevent up to 90% of cases of cervical cancer, as well as other cancers where HPV is implicated. These include 80% of cases of anal cancer, 60% of vaginal cancer, 40% of vulvar cancer and also some cases of mouth and throat cancer. The vaccine is considered of paramount importance in developing countries, where few women have access to techniques to detect pre-cancerous lesions - through regular smear tests - meaning the disease only shows up in its later stages. As we write, over 80% of cervical cancer cases are in developing countries. And the disease is among the three top causes of cancer deaths among women living there. Munoz is at pains to stress the vaccine's safety and effectiveness: "We know that the biggest causes of cancer are smoking and infectious agents. Among this last group are papilloma, Helicobacter pylori and hepatitis B and C. We have had hepatitis vaccines for over thirty years and now have a comparable arm against papilloma. We know how to prevent 40% of cancer cases, and the tragedy is that we are not using that knowledge." The vaccine, she adds, is fully available in 84 countries, most of them in the developed world. So "the important thing now is to continue rolling it out in the developing countries, where it is most needed." A major step to achieving this would be if the studies now under way confirm that just one dose will suffice, instead of the current three: "That would mean the price could come down, which is an obstacle to the vaccine's implementation, and one of the reasons why few African countries have taken it up. We hope this will now change, with the help of GAVI, the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization." Talking about her devotion to science, the laureate explains "for me, it has never been a burden, but always a pleasure, because I am doing what I love. I went into research in order to help people." ### Bio notes Nubia Munoz (Cali, Colombia, 1940) earned a medical degree from the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia, going on to specialize in pathology. She completed a fellowship in pathology and virology at the National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, United States) and earned a Master's Degree in Public Health (Cancer Epidemiology) from the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (United States). In 1969 she joined the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Lyon, France), where she rose to the rank of Chief of the Unit of Field and Intervention Studies. She is currently Emeritus Professor of the National Cancer Institute of Colombia and a consultant to the Epidemiology Research Program at the Catalan Institute of Oncology (Barcelona, Spain), the Ministry of Health and Social Protection in Colombia and the Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica (Cuernavaca, Mexico). Development Cooperation jury and technical committee The jury in this category was chaired by Pedro L. Alonso, Director of the World Health Organization's Global Malaria Program in Geneva (Switzerland). The secretary was Jose Garcia Montalvo, Professor of Economics and ICREA-Academia Fellow at Pompeu Fabra University (Spain). Remaining members were Antonio Ciccone, Chair for Macroeconomics and Financial Markets in the Department of Economics at the University of Mannheim (Germany) and Professor of Economics and Business at Pompeu Fabra University (Spain), Isabel Noguer, Director of the National Center for Epidemiology at the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain); Vicente Larraga, Research Professor in the Vaccine and Gene Expression Unit at the Center for Biological Research of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Norman Loayza, Lead Economist in the Development Research Group of the World Bank (United States), Francisco Perez, Professor of Economic Analysis at the University of Valencia (Spain), and Research Director of the Valencian Institute of Economic Research (Ivie), and Joachim von Braun, Director of the Center for Development Research (ZEF) at the University of Bonn (Germany). The Technical Committee of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) was coordinated by Maria Victoria Moreno, Deputy Vice President for Scientific and Technical Areas, and formed by: Enrique Playan, Research Professor at Aula Dei Experimental Station (EEAD); Helena Gomez, Tenured Researcher at the Institute of Sustainable Agriculture (IASD); Francisco Tomas, Research Professor in the Segura Edaphology and Applied Biology Center (CEBAS);, Ramon Gonzalez, Research Professor at the Institute of Grapevine and Wine Sciences (ICVV), and Angel Ruiz, Coordinator of the Area of Agricultural Sciences and Research Professor at the Mountain Stockbreeding Institute (IGM). About the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards The promotion of knowledge based on research and artistic and cultural creation, and the interaction of these domains, forms a core strand of the BBVA Foundation's action program, along with the recognition of talent and excellence across a broad spectrum of disciplines, from science to the arts and humanities. In line with these objectives, the BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards were established in 2008 to recognize outstanding contributions in a range of scientific, technological and artistic areas, together with knowledge-based responses to the central challenges of our times. The areas covered by the Frontiers Awards are congruent with the knowledge map of the 21st century, in terms of the disciplines they address and their assertion of the value of cross-disciplinary interaction. The BBVA Foundation is aided in the evaluation process by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the country's premier public research organization. As well as designating each jury chair, the CSIC is responsible for appointing the technical evaluation committees that undertake an initial assessment of candidates put forward by numerous institutions across the world and draw up a reasoned shortlist for the consideration of the juries. Washington, DC-- Brown dwarfs, the larger cousins of giant planets, undergo atmospheric changes from cloudy to cloudless as they age and cool. A team of astronomers led by Carnegie's Jonathan Gagne measured for the first time the temperature at which this shift happens in young brown dwarfs. Their findings, published by the Astrophysical Journal Letters, may help them better understand how gas giant planets like our own Solar System's Jupiter evolved. Brown dwarfs are too small to sustain the hydrogen fusion process that fuels stars and allows them to remain hot and bright for a long time. After formation, brown dwarfs slowly cool down and contract over time--at some point shifting from heavily cloud covered to having completely clear skies. Because they are freely floating in space, the atmospheric properties of brown dwarfs are much easier to study than the atmospheres of exoplanets, where the light of a central star can be completely overwhelming. In this paper, Gagne and his colleagues--Katelyn Allers of Bucknell University; Christopher Theissen of University of California San Diego; Jacqueline Faherty and Daniella Bardalez Gagliuffi of the American Museum of Natural History, and Etienne Artigau of Institute for Research on Exoplanets, Universite de Montreal--focused on an unusually red brown dwarf called 2MASS J13243553+6358281, which they were able to determine is one of the nearest known planetary mass objects to our Solar System. The redness of this object had previously been suggested to indicate that it was actually a binary system, but the research team's findings indicate that it is a single free floating planetary mass object. They confirmed that it is part of a group of roughly 80 stars of similar ages and compositions drifting together through space, called the AB Doradus moving group, which revealed that it is about 150 million years old. By knowing the object's age and measuring its luminosity and distance, the team could determine its likely radius, mass, and, most-importantly its temperature. They could then compare its temperature to that of another previously studied brown dwarf in the same moving group--one that was still cloudy while 2MASS J1324+6358 was already cloudless. This allowed them to figure out the temperature at which the cloudy to cloudless transition happens. "We were able to constrain the point in the cool-down process at which brown dwarfs like J1324transition from cloudy to cloud-free," explained Gagne The shift occurs about 1,150 degrees kelvin, or 1,600 degrees Fahrenheit, for planetary-mass objects that are 150 million years old like 2MASS J1324+6358 and other members of the AB Doradus moving group. "Because brown dwarfs like this one are so analogous to gas giant planets, this information could help us understand some of the evolutionary processes that occurred right here in our own Solar System's history," Gagne added. ### This research made use of data products from the Two Micron All Sky Survey (2MASS), which is a joint project of the University of Massachusetts and the Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC)/California Institute of Technology (Caltech), funded by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the National Science Foundation; and data products from the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE), which is a joint project of the University of California, Los Angeles, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)/Caltech, funded by NASA. Based on observations obtained at the Gemini Observatory (science program number GN2017B-FT-21) acquired through the Gemini Observatory Archive, which is operated by the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy, Inc., under a cooperative agreement with the NSF on behalf of the Gemini partnership: the National Science Foundation (United States), the National Research Council (Canada), CONICYT (Chile), Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnologia e Innovacion Productiva (Argentina), and Ministerio da Ciencia, Tecnologia e Inovacao (Brazil). The Carnegie Institution for Science (carnegiescience.edu) is a private, nonprofit organization headquartered in Washington, D.C., with six research departments throughout the U.S. Since its founding in 1902, the Carnegie Institution has been a pioneering force in basic scientific research. Carnegie scientists are leaders in plant biology, developmental biology, astronomy, materials science, global ecology, and Earth and planetary science. Twelve-foot metal poles with long outstretched arms dot a Midwestern soybean field to monitor an invisible array of light emitted by crops. This light can reveal the plants' photosynthetic performance throughout the growing season, according to newly published research by the University of Illinois. "Photosynthetic performance is a key trait to monitor as it directly translates to yield potential," said Kaiyu Guan, an assistant professor in the College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences (ACES) and the principal investigator of this research. "This method enables us to rapidly and nondestructively monitor how well plants perform in various conditions like never before." Published in the Journal of Geophysical Research - Biogeosciences, the Illinois team led by Guofang Miao, a postdoctoral researcher in ACES and the lead author of the paper, report the first continuous field season to use sun-induced fluorescence (SIF) data to determine how soybeans respond to fluctuating light levels and environmental stresses. "Since the recent discovery of using satellite SIF signals to measure photosynthesis, scientists have been exploring the potential to apply SIF technology to better agricultural ecosystems," said study collaborator Carl Bernacchi, an associate professor of plant science at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology (IGB). "This research advances our understanding of crop physiology and SIF at a local scale, which will pave the way for satellite observations to monitor plant health and yields over vast areas of cropland." Photosynthesis is the process where plants convert light energy into sugars and other carbohydrates that eventually become our food or biofuel. However, one to two percent of the plant's absorbed light energy is emitted as fluorescent light that is proportional to the rate of photosynthesis. Researchers capture this process using hyperspectral sensors to detect fluctuations in photosynthesis over the growing season. They designed this continuous study to better understand the relationship between absorbed light, emitted fluorescent light, and the rate of photosynthesis. "We want to find out whether this proportional relationship is consistent across various ecosystems, especially between crops and wild ecosystems such as forests and savannas," said Miao. "We are also testing the applicability of this technology for crop phenotyping to link key traits with their underlying genes," said co-author Katherine Meacham, a postdoctoral researcher at the IGB. "SIF technology can help us transform phenotyping from a manual endeavor requiring large teams of researchers and expensive equipment to an efficient, automated process," said co-author Caitlin Moore, also a postdoctoral researcher at the IGB. A network of SIF sensors has been deployed across the U.S. to evaluate croplands and other natural ecosystems. Guan's lab has launched two other long-term SIF systems in Nebraska to compare rainfed and irrigated fields in corn-soybean rotations. "By applying this technology to different regions, we can ensure the efficacy of this tool in countless growing conditions for a myriad of plants," said Xi Yang, an assistant professor at the University of Virginia, who designed this study's SIF monitoring system. "Our ability to link SIF data at the leaf, canopy and regional scales will facilitate the improvement of models that forecast crop yields," Guan said. "Our ultimate goal is to monitor the photosynthetic efficiency of any field across the world to evaluate crop conditions and forecast crop yields on a global scale in real time." ### This work was supported by the NASA New Investigator Award, the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment (iSEE), a NASA Interdisciplinary Science Award and the TERRA-MEPP (Mobile Energy-Crop Phenotyping Platform) research project that is funded by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). The paper "Sun-Induced Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Photosynthesis, and Light Use Efficiency of a Soybean Field from Seasonally Continuous Measurements" is available online (DOI: 10.1002/2017JG004180) or by request. Co-authors also include Joseph A. Berry, Evan H. DeLucia, Jin Wu, Yaping Cai, Bin Peng, Hyungsuk Kimm, and Michael D. Masters. TERRA-MEPP (Mobile Energy-Crop Phenotyping Platform) is a research project that is developing a low-cost phenotyping robot to identify top-performing crops. TERRA-MEPP is led by the University of Illinois in partnership with Cornell University and Signetron Inc. and is supported by the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). An international team of astronomers has discovered that some stars located in the Galactic halo surrounding the Milky Way - previously thought to be remnants of invading galaxies from the past - are instead former residents of the Galactic disk, kicked out by those invading dwarf galaxies. One in a series of scientific papers contributing to this story appears this week in the journal Nature. "These stars are teaching us what happened to the Galactic disk - what happened to the Milky Way in the past," said Columbia University Professor of Astronomy Kathryn Johnston, a co-author on the current paper and co- or lead author of previous papers leading up to this finding. "We're simultaneously learning about our history and our future. This gives us a whole new window into our universe." The galaxy in which we live, the Milky Way, is a fairly average, spiral galaxy with the majority of its stars circling its center within a disk, and a dusting of stars beyond that orbiting in what's called the Galactic halo. About five years ago, researchers set out to study a set of structures - large over-densities of stars streaming in partial rings close to the Galactic disk. These clusters extend well beyond what is considered to be the edge of the disk and bulge above and below the halo where disk stars normally lie. The streams had been interpreted as signatures of the Milky Way's tumultuous past - debris from many smaller galaxies that are thought to have invaded the Milky Way galaxy and been disrupted by its gravitational field. Allyson Sheffield, a post-doc at Columbia University at the time, led the first project to measure the speed of stars in the most distant structures, known as the Triangulum-Andromeda Clouds, and demonstrated that those stars formed coherent sequences in speed, as well as in space. Johnston then produced simulations that could explain the positions and speeds of the stars. Researchers at Fermi Lab next collected and consolidated data on the closer structures, known as A13 and the Monoceros Ring, to show that they also followed clear sequences in speed and space. Further, that study showed that all of the structures followed the same sequences, suggesting they could be related to each other, perhaps through the same disruption event. The research team then looked at the composition of the stars in the over-densities. While previous studies had looked at "M giant" stars, which are relatively rich in elements heavier than helium, Adrian Price-Whelan, then a graduate student at Columbia University, proposed expanding this sample by also collecting speeds for "RR Lyrae" stars, which contain a much smaller fraction of heavy elements. This first data for the Triangulum Andromeda Clouds showed that none of the RR Lyrae stars followed the same sequence as the M giants. It also revealed that the Galactic disk contains much larger populations of M giant stars than RR Lyrae stars, which is the opposite of smaller galaxies falling into the Milky Way, which typically contain larger populations of RR Lyrae stars and few, if any M giant stars. The researchers realized that these stellar over-densities bulging from the Galactic disk were not remnants of an invading galaxy destroyed by the Milky Way's gravitational field, but that they were the result of an eviction of the disk itself. The current study confirms this emerging picture. The paper, which cites all of the team's previous work, reveals the compositions of several M giant stars burning in the rings around the Milky Way galaxy. As predicted, they are composed of a mixture of elements very similar to those in the Galactic disk and unlike the composition of stars located in the Galactic halo or in the still-invading satellite galaxies. "I'm excited to see the final piece of evidence slot into place to confirm this story of our galaxy being bombarded from the outside - a story that astronomers from all over the globe have contributed to piecing together over many years," Johnston said. "Many recent efforts in the field have concentrated on how our galaxy rips other, smaller galaxies apart. It's refreshing to find confirmation of the damage those smaller galaxies inflict upon the Milky Way." ### Researchers involved in this collaboration include: Maria Bergemann, Branimir Sesar. and Andrew Gould (Max Planck Institute for Astronomy); Kathryn Johnston and Chervin F.P. Laporte (Columbia University); Adrian M. Price-Whelan (Princeton University); Allyson Sheffield (City University of New York); Judith G. Cohen (California Institute of Technology); Aldo M. Serenelli (Institute of Space Sciences/IEEC-CSIC); Ting S. Li (Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory); Luca Casagrande (The Australian National University); and Ralph Schonrich (University of Oxford, UK). On Feb. 26,2018, the European Regional Office of Astronomy for Development (ROAD) was brought into existence at a signing ceremony at Leiden University in the Netherlands. It was preceded by a ceremonial address by Grace Naledi Pandor, South African Minister of Science and Technology. The occasion also marked the appointment of the Minister as honorary visiting Oort Professor of 'Astronomy for Development'. The ceremony signified the creation of the International Astronomical Union's (IAU's) tenth Regional Office, coordinated by the IAU's global Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD). The European ROAD will be operated jointly by the European Astronomical Society and Leiden University. Piero Benvenuti, General Secretary of the IAU was present to sign the agreement on behalf of the IAU: "Given their backgrounds, we expect a very fruitful partnership between the University of Leiden and the European Astronomical Society in hosting this 10th regional office." The global OAD was represented by Acting OAD Director, Vanessa McBride, who said "We are delighted to welcome the European Office to our family of regional offices of astronomy for development, and are excited about the opportunity this will present for a fresh perspective on the role of fundamental sciences in sustainable development." Regional offices work closely with the OAD to execute the vision of Astronomy for a better world, with a focus on a geographic or cultural region. The other regional offices are located in: Colombia, Jordan, Ethiopia, China, Portugal, Thailand, Armenia, Zambia and Nigeria. The newest regional office in Europe will carry out and coordinate relevant astronomy-for-development activities in all three Task Force areas defined in the IAU Strategic Plan -- Universities and Research, Children and Schools and Public Outreach, focusing on accomplishing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Europe. These tasks will be carried out in cooperation with existing activities of pan-European and national astronomical organisations. "Europe has its own unique development challenges. We look forward to working with the other regional offices in using astronomy and its related tools and skills to impact socioeconomic development" said Prof Roger Davies, President of the European Astronomical Society. The signing ceremony will be followed by a symposium on Science Diplomacy and International Development on 27 February, organised jointly by the European Commission Space Awareness project, Leiden Observatory, the Leiden African Studies Centre, the Leiden University Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs and the Leiden University Hague Campus. Minister Pandor will give a lecture on Science Diplomacy and the Square Kilometre Array. ### More information International Astronomical Union (IAU): The IAU is the international astronomical organisation that brings together about 11 000 distinguished astronomers from around the world. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its aspects through international cooperation. The IAU also serves as the internationally recognised authority for assigning designations to celestial bodies and the surface features on them. Founded in 1919, the IAU is the world's largest professional body for astronomers. Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD): The IAU established the Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) in partnership with the South African National Research Foundation (NRF). The OAD was officially opened on 16 April 2011 at the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) in Cape Town, South Africa. It is tasked with the implementation of the IAU Strategic Plan including the establishment of regional offices and three astronomy-for-development "Task Forces". The OAD coordinates an annual open Call for Proposals seeking innovative projects for each of the Task Forces: Universities and Research (TF1); Children and Schools (TF2); and Public Outreach (TF3). European Astronomical Society (EAS): Founded in 1990, the European Astronomical Society (EAS) promotes and advances astronomy in Europe. As an independent body, the EAS is able to act on matters that need to be handled at a European level on behalf of the European astronomical community. In its endeavours the EAS collaborates with affiliated national astronomical societies and also with pan-european research organisations and networks. Leiden University: Leiden University, founded in 1575, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It is one of Europe's leading international research universities and has seven faculties in the arts, sciences and social sciences, spread over locations in Leiden and The Hague. Leiden Observatory is the astronomical institute of the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. Established in 1633, it is the oldest university observatory in operation today. Links IAU website - http://www.iau.org/ OAD website - http://www.astro4dev.org European Astronomical Society - http://eas.unige.ch/ Leiden University - https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en The IAU Strategic Plan - http://www.iau.org/static/education/strategicplan_2010-2020.pdf The Announcement of Opportunity for new regional offices - http://www.astro4dev.org/oadregions/ Contacts Vanessa McBride Director, IAU Office of Astronomy for Development (OAD) Tel: +27-21-460-6297 Cell: +27-73-835-6243 Email: vanessa@astro4dev.org Lars Lindberg Christensen IAU Press Officer / ESO ePOD Garching, Germany Tel: +49-89-3200-6761 Cell: +49-173-3872-621 Email: lars@eso.org Roger Davies Philip Wetton Professor of Astrophysics & Director of the Hintze Centre for Astrophysical Surveys, University of Oxford Tel: +44-1865-273305 Email: roger.davies@physics.ox.ac.uk Pedro Russo Leiden Observatory Tel: +31-6-54-37-26-58 Email: russo@strw.leidenuniv.nl Diversification of two genera of the Annonaceae plant family in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America has occurred largely in parallel and in line with major geological transitions The tropical rainforests of Central and South America are home to the largest diversity of plants on this planet. Nowhere else are there quite so many different plant species in one place. However, the entire region is increasingly threatened by human activity, which is why researchers are stepping up their efforts to record this astonishing biodiversity and find out how it developed. In a project undertaken by Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in collaboration with Dutch research institutions, the causes of this plant diversity were investigated by studying two closely related groups of trees of the Annonaceae family. The researchers identified three relevant factors: the formation of the Andes mountain range, the disappearance due to natural causes of the extensive Pebas wetlands system that once existed in the Amazon region, and the formation of a land bridge between Central and South America in the form of the Panama Isthmus. Cremastosperma and Mosannona are two genera of the Annonaceae or custard apple family the habitat of which is neotropical rainforests, where they extend from the lowlands up to elevations of 2,000 meters. They are primarily found in the Andes region of South America, but also as far north as Central America. The team of botanists led by Dr. Michael Pirie, who joined JGU as a researcher in 2013, looked at the distributions of the various species of both genera and their phylogenetic history in order to determine the influence of the geological upheavals on the continent. For this purpose they compiled a time-calibrated phylogenetic tree based on DNA data, using the so-called molecular clock technique which is calibrated using the ages of the available fossils. In total, they analyzed 11 species of the genus Mosannona and 24 species of the genus Cremastosperma. Formation of the Andes, the Isthmus of Panama, and the drying-out of the Pebas wetland system all promoted diversification The research has produced a biogeographical scenario that confirms in this context the significance of the geological history of north-western South America during the late Miocene and early Pliocene periods about 5 to 10 million years ago. "We have actually discovered that the diversification of these two plant genera took place in parallel with major geological events, namely the formation of the Andes, the drying-out of the Pebas system, and the development of a land bridge to Central America," explained Pirie. Cremastosperma species, for example, were able to spread into what is today the Amazon basin and diversify, once the wetlands had silted up due to the deposition of material from the rising Andes. One way in which diversification can be stimulated is by migration into a new ecosystem while another is adaptation to new conditions. "Natural changes over longer periods provide plants with a chance to adapt," added Pirie. On the other hand, rapid changes, such as those that have occurred in the recent past, do not give plants sufficient time to evolve. While the development of the two genera in line with geological conditions could be said to be more or less as might be expected, the biologists did find one clear difference between them. Although their distribution patterns mostly overlap, Cremastosperma species and Mosannona species to some extent dispersed along differing routes. In the case of Cremastosperma, colonization of an area in what is now Guyana began from north-western South America at a time before the last parts of the Andes developed and could form a barrier. Mosannona, on the other hand, began to spread here at a far later date from its base in the Amazon basin. Taxonomic update to include five new species Dr. Michael Pirie will be continuing his research work in 2018 with the aid of a grant from the Heisenberg Program of the German Research Foundation (DFG). This will also involve publication of an extensive monograph in which a total of 34 Cremastosperma species will be described, including five new species that Pirie and his colleagues have recently discovered. ### The study, published in Nature Ecology & Evolution and led by a multidisciplinary research team at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History (MPI-SHH) together with researchers in France, Australia, New Zealand, Germany and Vanuatu, reveals that migrations of people from the Bismarck Archipelago in Oceania to the previously settled islands of the Pacific began as early as 2,500 years ago, much earlier than previously thought. The Remote Oceanian island nation of Vanuatu is the gateway to the rest of the Pacific and understanding its demographic history is critical to uncovering that of the wider region. The earliest inhabitants of Vanuatu, arriving about 3,000 years ago, were the Lapita peoples who spoke a form of Austronesian language and who had largely East Asian genetic ancestry. But Vanuatu's contemporary population has largely Near Oceanian heritage, showing that over time the genetic ancestry of the early inhabitants was mostly replaced by that of Bismarck Archipelago migrants, who began arriving very soon after initial settlement. Yet the original Austronesian language persisted and over 120 descendant languages continue to be spoken today, making Vanuatu the per capita most linguistically diverse place on Earth. Vanuatu therefore presents an unprecedented case, where a population's genetic ancestry but not its languages were replaced. Through analyses of new ancient and modern genome-wide data, the researchers show that rather than occurring in one wave, the genetic replacement was long and complex, likely the result of a sustained long-distance contact between Near and Remote Oceania. This provides demographic support for a model from historical linguistics, in which the initial Austronesian language of Vanuatu survived by being continually adopted by incoming Papuan migrants. The Austronesian Expansion, which began around 5,500 years ago likely in modern-day Taiwan, was the most geographically extensive dispersal of farming peoples in prehistory, ultimately carrying people as far west as Madagascar and all the way east to Rapa Nui. These seafaring Neolithic people initially expanded out across Island Southeast Asia, carrying farming technology and a major branch of the Austronesian language family, eventually reaching Near Oceania where they encountered the indigenous Papuan peoples of New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago. The initial settlement east beyond the Solomon Islands and out into Remote Oceania only began around 3,000 years ago, with Austronesian-speaking groups associated with the Lapita pottery culture rapidly expanding east out to Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Fiji and the islands of Western Polynesia. A previous ancient DNA study of Lapita burial sites has shown that these earliest inhabitants had East Asian ancestry with negligible evidence of Papuan genetic admixture. But the present-day genetic make-up of Remote Oceania suggests at least some degree of Papuan ancestry, meaning there must have been subsequent Papuan migration and admixture into the Pacific from Near Oceania. In order to understand this previously undescribed migration, a multidisciplinary team of researchers brought together different lines of evidence from the fields of genetics, archaeology and linguistics. They generated genome-wide data from the bones and teeth of 19 ancient individuals from across Vanuatu, Tonga, French Polynesia and the Solomon Islands, a significant addition to the ancient DNA record in a region whose environmental conditions generally leads to poor ancient DNA preservation. As co-lead author Kathrin Nagele of the MPI-SHH says, "The identification of the petrous bone, which has recently been shown to provide fantastic aDNA preservation, has been a real game changer for such regions that were previously considered to be almost inaccessible." The ancient DNA was complemented by new contemporary genome-wide data from 27 present-day inhabitants of Vanuatu, collected as part of a long-term linguistic and anthropological fieldwork project run by co-authors Professor Russell Gray and Dr. Heidi Colleran of the MPI-SHH. The ancient DNA provided direct evidence that Papuan people began arriving in Vanuatu soon after initial settlement by Austronesians. "We found a genetically Papuan-related individual dating to around 2,500 years ago in Vanuatu, far earlier than had been previously estimated using only modern genetic data," explains co-lead author Dr. Cosimo Posth, also of the MPI-SHH. The researchers were able to show that the ancestry of the initial Austronesian inhabitants of Vanuatu has been largely replaced by ancestry from Papuan peoples coming from the Bismarck Archipelago. But this genetic replacement was not straightforward, as Dr. Posth says, "Our analyses show that this replacement did not occur in a one-time mass migration event but rather happened incrementally over time, suggesting an enduring long-distance network between groups in Near and Remote Oceania." The authors also directly described ancient individuals with sex-biased admixture, where Papuan males intermixed with Austronesian women, as long assumed based on analyses of the modern genetic make-up of the South Pacific. Yet despite this genetic replacement, the people of present-day Vanuatu continue to speak languages descended from those spoken by the initial Austronesian inhabitants rather than any Papuan language of the incoming migrants. As Professor Gray, Director of the Department of Linguistic and Cultural Evolution at the MPI-SHH, says, "Population replacement with language continuity is extremely rare - if not unprecedented - in human history. The linguist Bob Blust has long argued for a model in which a separate Papuan expansion reaches Vanuatu soon after initial Austronesian settlement, with the initial, and likely undifferentiated, Austronesian language surviving as a lingua franca for diverse Papuan migrant groups." Dr. Adam Powell, senior author of the study and also of the MPI-SHH, continues, "The demographic history suggested by our ancient DNA analyses provides really strong support for this historical linguistic model, with the early arrival and complex, incremental process of genetic replacement by people from the Bismarck Archipelago. This provides a compelling explanation for the continuity of Austronesian languages despite the almost complete replacement of the initial genetic ancestry of Vanuatu." The study in particular highlights the importance of interdisciplinary work and the value that multiple lines of evidence can have in deepening our understanding of human history. As Professor Johannes Krause, a senior author and Director of the Department of Archaeogenetics at the MPI-SHH, explains, "This multidisciplinary work has begun to uncover the complex, localized demographic processes that drove the initial colonization of the wider South Pacific and formed the enduring cultural and linguistic spheres that continue to shape the Pacific today." Ongoing engagement with local communities in Vanuatu, as well as with the Vanuatu Cultural Center, has been critical to this success. As Dr. Colleran points out, "One strength of this study is the degree to which we are collaborating with communities in Vanuatu who have a real stake in these results and who generously volunteered their data to help answer these questions. We will be back in the field very soon to share the results with those communities and to hear their thoughts on the whole process." The progress of this continuing fieldwork can be followed on the Nature Ecology & Evolution Community website. ### Times are tough for 31 of Michigan's 45 varieties of freshwater mussels. Sporting evocative names like wavy-rayed lampmussel and round pigtoe, these residents of the state's rivers are imperiled by habitat disruption and pollution and are also threatened by climate change. Michigan State University (MSU) scientists' recommendation to figure out the best places to focus conservation efforts: Worry about fish. In this month's journal Hydrobiologia, researchers say that if you care about those wavy-rayed lampmussels and round pigtoes, then you also must care about Michigan's johnny darters and rosyfaced shiners. This research group for the first time creates models that acknowledge how tightly the fate of mussels and fish are entwined in the state's ecosystems and helps chart a path for conservation managers to save the mussels. Mussels filter water - a single one can clean up 20-30 gallons a day - as they eat, and excrete nutrients upon which other water organisms can feast. Their shells are important terrain for algae and insect larvae to attach, and mussels are an important food source for some aquatic critters. "Mussels need host fishes to spawn, and some mussels are obligated to just a few species or even a single species for their hosts," said Dana Infante, associate professor of fisheries and wildlife in MSU's Aquatic Landscape Ecology Lab. "The big message for conservation is that to protect imperiled mussels, we must also protect their host fishes." The research took a novel approach to understand the mussels - which live a long time, have limited mobility and because of that, are highly sensitive to different types of habitat and habitat disturbances. Physical habitat factors are commonly assessed in efforts to conserve mussels, but one of the most important parts of their early life, the paper notes, is rarely factored in. Mussels start life as larvae that must, after being expelled by their mothers, hitch a ride on fish gills. They usually don't harm the fish and simply fall off when they develop into juvenile mussels. But it's not any fish - different varieties of mussels are particular about what species of fish they hang with. So this group selected 11 of Michigan's imperiled mussels and created models that not only looked at prime habitat now and in the future for them, but also for their corresponding fish hosts. "Due to the complexity of threats we have identified in this study, conservation efforts in Michigan should prioritize both protecting the highly suitable mussel habitats that are left, and identifying any additional populations in under-sampled areas of the state," said Wesley Daniel, a former research associate in Infante's Aquatic Landscape Ecology Lab, and now Cherokee Nation Technologies contractor for U.S. Geological Survey in Gainesville, FL. The group notes that streams that have the optimal combination of several imperiled mussel species, low chance of a significant temperature swing with projected climate change and being in a protected area are few, but are a good bet to start conservation efforts. ### In addition to Infante and Daniel, "Predicting habitat suitability for eleven imperiled fluvial freshwater mussels" was written by Arthur Cooper of MSU and Peter Badra of the Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Infante also is a member of MSU's Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability. She also is supported by Michigan AgBioResearch and the Partnership for Ecosystem Research and Management program. The work was funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Geological Survey Aquatic GAP Program, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and Michigan Natural Features Inventory. Democrats and Republicans disapprove of Congress because members are paying attention to the wrong people and groups when casting votes, according to a recently released survey conducted by researchers from Stanford University, in collaboration with The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. Many Americans, regardless of political party, want lawmakers to vote on an issue by paying most attention to the preferences of the entire American public and those of their constituents. Few Americans want lawmakers to pay a lot of attention to elites, donors, political party leaders, or the president. Americans do not believe that members of Congress are taking into enough account the opinions of the public, instead voting based on the preferences of campaign donors, wealthy Americans, and lobbyists. "These results illustrate striking agreement between Republicans and Democrats about how they want government leaders to make decisions and how they believe government has gone off the rails," said Jon Krosnick, professor of communication, political science, and psychology at Stanford University and co-director of the study. Americans agree that Congress has paid little attention to the president when making decisions, both under President Donald Trump and former President Barack Obama, and approve. "We have known for some time that the public is not happy with Congress, and we wanted to explore why, going beyond generic explanations such as, 'they are not getting anything done,' said Trevor Tompson, director of The AP-NORC Center. "Large majorities in both parties report lawmakers should pay attention to the majority of Americans but believe lawmakers actually pay attention to donors and elites. Rare in 2018, both self-identified Republicans and Democrats agree." Key findings include: More than 6 in 10 Americans said members of Congress should pay a lot of attention to their constituents and the general public, while only 1 in 10 said they should pay a lot of attention to donors and lobbyists. However, 6 in 10 adults reported that representatives pay a lot of attention to people who donate money to their campaign, while only 2 in 10 believed that representatives pay such attention to the majority of Americans. Fifty-eight percent of Americans said members of Congress pay a lot of attention to party leaders, but only 18 percent said representatives should pay such attention to party leaders. The third of Americans most dissatisfied with the congressional decision-making process are more likely to disapprove of Congress (93 percent) than the third of Americans who are less dissatisfied with the process (72 percent). ### About the Survey This study was designed by researchers in the Political Psychology Research Group at Stanford University and at the University of California, Santa Barbara. The research was completed through a collaboration of The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, Stanford University, and the University of California, Santa Barbara. The data were collected by NORC at the University of Chicago using AmeriSpeak, which is a probability-based panel designed to be representative of the U.S. household population. During the initial recruitment phase of the panel, randomly selected U.S. households are sampled with a known, non-zero probability of selection from the NORC National Sample Frame, and then contacted by U.S. mail, email, telephone, and field interviewers (face-to-face). The panel provides sample coverage of approximately 97 percent of the U.S. household population. Those excluded from the sample include people with P.O. Box only addresses, some addresses not listed in the USPS Delivery Sequence File, and some newly constructed dwellings. The project was funded by the Woods Institute for the Environment at Stanford University and by NORC. Interviews for this survey were conducted online from September 17 to October 19, 2015, with adults age 18 and over from the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Panel members were randomly drawn from AmeriSpeak, and 1,021 completed the survey online. Interviews were conducted in English. The overall margin of sampling error is +/- 3.95 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level, including the design effect. The margin of sampling error may be higher for subgroups. A second survey to replicate the results was conducted online from August 29 to September 8, 2017, with adults age 18 and over from the 50 states and the District of Columbia. Panel members who elected to take surveys online were randomly drawn from AmeriSpeak, and 355 completed the survey. Interviews were conducted in English. Panelists who completed the 2016 survey were excluded from sampling. The overall margin of sampling error is +/- 7.03 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level, including the design effect. The margin of sampling error may be higher for subgroups. About The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research taps into the power of social science research and the highest-quality journalism to bring key information to people across the nation and throughout the world. http://www.apnorc.org The Associated Press (AP) is the essential global news network, delivering fast, unbiased news from every corner of the world to all media platforms and formats. Founded in 1846, AP today is the most trusted source of independent news and information. On any given day, more than half the world's population sees news from AP. http://www.ap.org NORC at the University of Chicago is an objective, non-partisan research institution that delivers reliable data and rigorous analysis to guide critical programmatic, business, and policy decisions. Since 1941, NORC has conducted groundbreaking studies, created and applied innovative methods and tools, and advanced principles of scientific integrity and collaboration. Today, government, corporate, and nonprofit clients around the world partner with NORC to transform increasingly complex information into useful knowledge. http://www.norc.org The two organizations have established The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research to conduct, analyze, and distribute social science research in the public interest on newsworthy topics, and to use the power of journalism to tell the stories that research reveals. About the Political Psychology Research Group at Stanford University The Political Psychology Research Group (PPRG) at Stanford University is a cross-disciplinary team of scholars who conduct empirical studies of the psychology of political behavior and studies seeking to optimize research methodology for studying political psychology. PPRG's studies employ a wide range of research methods, including surveys, experiments, and content analysis, and the group often conducts collaborative research studies with leading news media organizations, including ABC News, The AP, the Washington Post, and Time Magazine. Support for the group's work has come from U.S. government agencies (e.g., National Science Foundation, Bureau of Labor Statistics), private foundations (e.g., Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation), and institutes at Stanford (e.g., Woods Institute for the Environment). The PPRG also hosts the Summer Institute in Political Psychology, hat includes up to 60 international participants. Contact: For more information, Eric Young for NORC at young-eric@norc.org or (703) 217-6814 (cell); or Melissa De Witte for Stanford at mdewitte@stanford.edu or (650) 725-9281; or Lauren Easton for AP at leaston@ap.org. In a new study, NAIST scientists, in collaboration with researchers at the Osaka National Hospital and University of Tokyo, report that the L1 Cell Adhesion Molecule (L1-CAM) is crucial for directed axon migration. The study shows that L1-CAM grips and slips on laminin to steer axons to their final destination. It further explains how disruption of this L1-CAM system leads to CRASH syndrome, which describes an assortment of neural disabilities that are all attributed to an underdeveloped brain. The study can be read (open access) in the Proceedings of the Natural Academy of Sciences of the United States of America (PNAS). Axons sprout from neurons and then migrate to specific parts of the developing brain where they interact with other neurons to form neural networks. The axons move in response to gradients of attractants with extraordinary sensitivity; the sudden stops and sharp turns they make during their migration resemble cars stopping and turning at an intersection. "Laminins function as attractive chemical cues for haptotaxis of axonal growth cones," explains NAIST Prof. Naoyuki Inagaki, whose lab studies how forces are generated in the cellular microenvironment to create directed axonal migration. Axons migrate in response to laminin on the microenvironment. The new study by the Inagaki lab showed that neurons will produce four times more traction force when placed on adhesive substrates coated with laminin than those without laminin, assuring the axons reach their final destination. "The force reduced the F-actin retrograde flow," said Kouki Abe, a doctoral student in the lab who conducted the experiments. "We looked at the movement of L1-CAM because it is linked to F1-actin flow." Actin is a crucial molecule for cell motility throughout the body. However, in axons, it does not directly interact with laminin. Rather, L1-CAM acts as the intermediary. As expected, additional experiments by Abe showed that the F1-actin flow was dependent on L1-CAM interactions with laminin. "We found L1-CAM switches between an immobilized state, or what we call 'grip' state, and a 'slip' state. The ratio of grip state increased with laminin," said Inagaki. This increased grip state strengthens the traction force produced by the axon onto the adhesive substrate, allowing the axon to turn and change its direction on cue. The scientists further found that disrupting the increased grip ratio compromised the directional migration, a discovery that could explain the pathogenesis of several diseases. "We examined L1-CAM from a patient with CRASH syndrome in which L1-CAM was mutated. The different grip ratio seen between laminin and polylysine was lost, and the directional axon migration was disturbed (Figure)", said Inagaki. "L1-CAM controls migration not only in the brain, but also in cancer. Grip-and-slip is a new mechanism that could explain other diseases," he said. ### Resource Title: Grip and slip of L1-CAM on adhesive substrates direct growth cone haptotaxis Authors: Kouki Abe, Hiroko Katsuno, Michinori Toriyama, Kentarou Baba, Tomoyuki Mori, Toshio Hakoshima, Yonehiro Kanemura, Rikiya Watanabe, and Naoyuki Inagaki* Publication: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1711667115 *Author for correspondence Information about Prof. Inagaki lab can be found at the following website: http://bsw3.naist.jp/eng/courses/courses204.html About NAIST NAIST was founded in 1991 as a Japanese national university consisting solely of graduate schools in three integrated areas: information science, biological sciences, and materials science. In the early 2018, NAIST will transform its current structure into the one graduate school system to further promote the mission of cultivating global leaders in science and technology who will actively respond to social demands. At present, about 1,000 students -22% from overseas- are supervised by roughly 200 NAIST faculty. With its cutting-edge facilities and a 5 to 1 student-to-faculty ratio, NAIST's world-leading research and education are a direct result of its rich, global environment and supportive infrastructure. NAIST has quickly established itself as a world-class research and education center where young scientists and technologists become tomorrow's global leaders. For more detail please visit: http://www.naist.jp/en/ At a time when family doctors are at 'saturation point' and facing a crisis in recruitment, new research has revealed that they carry the burden of healthcare of our rapidly ageing population. A Newcastle University, UK, study has shown that people over the age of 85 are more likely to consult their GP for their medical needs. By the age of 90, most primary care consultations are with a GP. The findings, published in BMJ Open, indicate that it is essential current and future GPs are appropriately skilled, and supported by specialist geriatric colleagues, to improve patient outcomes and help primary care services cope with this workload. Growing concern Experts say these findings add weight to growing concerns that the NHS primary care system will struggle to meet the medical needs of a rapidly ageing population, particularly as the number of family doctors fall. Louise Robinson, Director of Newcastle University's Institute for Ageing, and Regius Professor of Ageing, led the Newcastle 85+ study into this research area. She said: "Our society is rapidly ageing. The fastest growing sector of our population is the very old and there is increasing concern about the impact this will have on the NHS. "Our study has looked specifically at healthcare by the very old, those aged over 85. It showed that the majority of their care falls on GP not hospital services. "This is particularly worrying as this group requires a complexity of care which GPs may not be trained in at a time when the NHS is under increasing strain. "It is essential that current and future GPs are appropriately skilled, and adequately supported by specialist colleagues, as the main healthcare provider for a rapidly ageing society with complex and challenging needs." Newcastle 85+ study The Newcastle 85+ study is the first of its kind to successfully recruit and retain a large cohort of people aged 85 years and over. Participants were sourced from GP registers in Newcastle and North Tyneside. The study was set up by Newcastle University in 2006 and has opened up a wealth of knowledge about the complex factors contributing to health in old age. A number of research projects have used the study for their findings. Between 2015 and 2035, the older population of England and Wales - people aged 65 years and over - is expected to increase by 48%, whereas numbers aged 85 years and older will rise by 113%. Findings of the study show that multimorbility (two or more chronic medical conditions) is the norm, yet the majority remain able to live independently although with family support. Between the ages of 85 and 90 years, the mean number of all consultations increased significantly by 2.9 extra consultations per patient and the mean number of GP consultations went up by 1.6. There was an increase in primary care consultations of 0.8 between ages 85 and 88, of which the majority were with the GP. In contrast, no significant changes were found for those aged 85+ in the use of secondary care services, including A&E and outpatient clinics. The study also suggests the provision of teaching geriatric care in the medical undergraduate curricula should be urgently reviewed to ensure the NHS is adequately prepared to deal with demands of an ageing population. Professor Robinson said: "The resulting larger proportion experiencing multimorbidity, cognitive decline and frailty will place considerable pressures on health and social care provision. "Better access to geriatric expertise, through community-based multidisciplinary assessment teams, may in future be beneficial to both patients and our primary gatekeeper healthcare services by providing easier availability to specialist knowledge and support." Increased workload Recent research, looking at more than 100 million primary care consultations for all age groups between 2007 and 2014, found GP workload rose by more than 16% compared with over 1% for practice nurses. Consultation rates were among the highest for the very old. In England, an average GP consultation is 10 minutes, but for people aged 85 and over, where there are high rates of sensory impairment and multimorbility is the norm, such consultations may be longer and more complex. Further research is required to explore how best to configure services to address the healthcare needs of older people while maintaining quality of care. ### This research was carried out with support from the NIHR School for Primary Care Research, as well as the NIHR Newcastle Biomedical Research Centre, awarded to the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Newcastle University. Reference Use of primary care and other healthcare services between age 85 and 90 years: longitudinal analysis of a single-year birth cohort, the Newcastle 85+ study. Mohammad Esmaeil Yadegarfar, Carol Jagger, Rachel Duncan, Tony Fouweather, Barbara Hanratty, Stuart Parker, Louise Robinson. BMJ Open. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019218 A new article in Military Medicine, published by Oxford University Press, indicates that military personnel are making extensive use of outside mental health services, suggesting that military health and mental health services do not meet the needs of active duty service members. The study aimed to determine the personal characteristics of military personnel who receive care from a civilian network of volunteer professionals; to ascertain the mental health diagnoses of these military personnel; to analyze the characteristics most closely associated with mental health disorders, and suicidal thoughts; and to clarify the experiences that led military personnel to seek care outside military institutions. Professionals working as volunteers in the Civilian Medical Resources Network received referrals of active duty GIs from the GI Rights Hotline, staffed by members of peace and faith-based organizations. A research team based at the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, as well as in Texas, Oregon, and Massachusetts, collected quantitative and qualitative data for 233 clients between 2013 and 2016. Military clients were located throughout the United States and also in Afghanistan, South Korea, and Germany. Clients showed very high rates of psychiatric disorders. Almost half, forty-eight percent, reported suicidal thoughts. Seventy-two percent of clients met criteria for major depression, 62% post-traumatic stress disorder, 20% generalized anxiety disorder, 25% panic disorder, and 27% alcohol use disorder. Thirty-eight percent of clients reported mistrust that their command would meet their needs. Twenty-four percent gave a history of pre-military mental health treatment. Many clients related a history of pre-military (46%) and military (73%) trauma. Of those with military trauma, 52% gave accounts of combat related trauma while 59% reported non-combat related trauma, e.g., physical or sexual assault. During recent years approximately 80% of referrals to Civilian Medical Resources Network involved mental health problems and 20% physical health problems, with an overlap of mental and physical problems in about 10% of cases. The majority of the clients were male (82%) and between 18 and 26 years of age (58%). Sixty-two percent identified themselves as White, 16% Black, 15% Hispanic, 2% Native American, and 4% Asian/Pacific Islander. Most clients were in the Army (64%), were of lower rank (82%), and had completed high school or some college (78%). Several themes emerged in clients' intake interviews as reasons for seeking civilian services. Clients reported lack of accessible and trustworthy services, as well as feeling afraid of peers. Multiple clients reported that they could not afford the services they needed. Guilt about killing or injuring others were common experiences. The most frequent themes arising in client narratives were insufficient and unresponsive services (93%), fear of reprisal for seeking services (56%), mistrust of command (48%), pre-existing mental health disorders (22%), military sexual trauma (22%), and cost as a barrier to receiving health care (19%). The mental health consequences of military service show themselves most dramatically in high rates of suicide, recently averaging 20 per day among veterans and over 1 per day among active duty military personnel. During recent wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere, more active duty personnel have been dying from suicide than from combat. The article indicates that military health and mental health professionals must balance obligations both to patients and to the military command and argues that ethical problems of trust and confidentiality become barriers to care. Other barriers include stigma, a negative impact of seeking care on one's career, beliefs that care would not be effective, and lack of appropriate services. "Current wars have led to a devastating public health epidemic of suicide and mental health problems among veterans and active duty GIs," said the study's coordinator, Dr. Howard Waitzkin, distinguished professor emeritus at the University of New Mexico. "The military should encourage and support GIs' use of civilian-sector services that do not involve the ethical conflicts inherent in military medicine and mental health care. Such civilian services should be based in not-for-profit organizations that do not benefit financially by restricting their services." ### The paper "Military Personnel Who Seek Health and Mental Health Services Outside the Military" will be available at: https://academic.oup.com/milmed/article/183/1-2/2/4838357 Direct correspondence about the article to: Howard Waitzkin, M.D., Ph.D.Health Sciences Center and Department of SociologyUniversity of New Mexico801 Encino Place NE, Suite C-14Albuquerque, NM 87102 To request a copy of the study, please contact: Daniel Luzer, daniel.luzer@oup.com Sharing on social media? Find Oxford Journals online at @OxfordJournals Notes: A preliminary version of this work was presented at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association, Denver, Colorado, November 1, 2016. A press release for the paper is scheduled for 1 PM on Tuesday, February 27 The United Methodist Building 100 Maryland Ave NE Washington, DC 20002 WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue University is leading a new center to overcome the challenges of critical parts needed for low-power, high-performance computer chips in consumer electronics, vehicles and national security. The NEW LIMITS center is a three-year project supported by $4.5 million from a collaboration between the Semiconductor Research Corp. (SRC) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). NEW LIMITS will be one of four centers in the SRC nanoelectronics Computing Research (nCORE) program, and the only center selected to receive NIST funding. The SRC consortium operates university research programs both in the U.S. and globally, connecting them with sponsors in the semiconductor research industry. NIST, a non-regulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, advances measurement science, standards and technology to promote U.S. innovation and competitiveness. Purdue is working on the project with researchers from Pennsylvania State University, the University of Michigan, the University of Texas at Dallas and Stanford University. Established in January, NEW LIMITS is named for three aspects of a computer chip that the center's researchers aim to improve: NEW materials for LogIc, Memory and InTerconnectS. "We won't be able to deliver a new chip to the industry, but we will provide viable solutions for these three major components," said Zhihong Chen, Purdue professor of electrical and computer engineering (ECE), who will be directing NEW LIMITS. Other Purdue faculty involved in the center are Joerg Appenzeller, the Barry M. and Patricia L. Epstein Professor of ECE, and assistant ECE professor Sumeet Gupta. As devices such as smartphones get thinner and more advanced, the chips that enable their "smart" characteristics need to adapt. Industries have so far downsized the basic components of computer chips so much that they struggle to provide the desired performance at low power that new technologies need. Major corporations rely upon university research centers to investigate ways to prepare chips for increasingly more complex uses. "There comes a point when conventional chip components can't be scaled down any further," Chen said. A computer chip is made up of silicon complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistors, which switch electrical signals, and copper interconnects that transfer those signals between transistors. Technological advancements have required smaller transistors that tend to overheat and more compact interconnects that do not pass currents as efficiently. The copper of interconnects also tends to diffuse into other areas of the chip and short out the transistors they are trying to connect. The redesign of interconnects is a priority for the center. "If the copper shorts out at the wrong spots, then the entire chip can fail," Chen said. Chen and other researchers believe that using ultra-thin 2-D materials with a thickness of merely a couple of atoms, as opposed to bulkier 3-D materials, enhance silicon transistor and copper interconnect performance while also maintaining a smaller size. "Logic" in this sense would refer to blanketing silicon and copper with a single layer of atoms to double or triple the current drive. This method would be more reasonable than replacing silicon in particular, Chen said, as 20 years of research still has not found a comparable replacement. "We actually do not need to replace it," she said. "We would instead largely enhance the performance of current technology." As the center addresses interconnect and logic aspects of a chip's performance, the researchers will also consolidate data storage and retrieval into a new type of memory cell. This would make computing and storage more efficient in a chip, and then for the computer as a whole. "Collaboration with notable partners like SRC, NIST and the leading research institutions involved on this project are crucial to realizing the transformational scientific breakthroughs that will power the future of electronics," said Suresh Garimella, Purdue's executive vice president for research and partnerships and the R. Eugene and Susie E. Goodson Distinguished Professor of Mechanical Engineering. Chen, Appenzeller and a University of Michigan professor will specifically design and fabricate logic and memory devices and interconnects. The center combines expertise in 3-D materials and faculty from other universities who will investigate and manufacture the 2-D materials needed for each of these chip components. Gupta will design circuits with logic in memory functionalities and help with a benchmarking device and circuit performance for the semiconductor industry's needs. "SRC's nanoelectronic computing research program offers important support to this exciting area," said Mung Chiang, Purdue's John A. Edwardson Dean of the College of Engineering. "As the name suggests, this center will develop new materials with unique electronic properties and push the limit of computing." Researchers have no choice but to push the limit of CMOS technology at this stage, Chen said. "Everything is counting on that chip's performance." ### Information about the SRC can be found at https://www.srg.org/, and the NIST at Using a helium ion microscope, QUT researchers are exploring the way materials change when exposed to helium ions. They have illustrated their findings with the creation of nano 'sieves' that can help separate molecules down to an unprecedented size 10,000 times finer than a human hair. The research, Superplastic nanoscale pore shaping by ion irradiation, was published in Nature Communications today and authored by Dr Morteza Aramesh, Dr Mayamei Yashar, Dr Annalena Wolff, and Professor Kostya (Ken) Ostrikov. Professor Ostrikov, from QUT's Science and Engineering Faculty and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, said this was one example of the possibilities of using helium ion beams generated in a helium ion microscope to change the behaviour of atoms and create new materials. "We discovered that a beam of energetic helium ions generated in a helium ion microscope rearranged a nanoporous anodized alumina material on the atomic scale and shrank its pores to various, unprecedented tiny sizes," Professor Ostrikov said. "These tiny pores mean scientists could potentially 'sift' molecules into different sizes to study them individually. It could open the way to early detection of cancer, for example, through a blood test that could detect DNA produced by a cancer before the tumour developed. "This new ion-assisted manipulation of matter on the tiniest of length scales completely changed the behaviour of the aluminium oxide: when we applied moderate exposure to helium ions, its pores shrank, when we increased exposure to the ions this normally brittle and porous ceramic turned into a superplastic and gained the ability to stretch more than twice without breaking." Dr Wolff, from QUT's Central Analytical Research Facility in the Institute for Future Environments, said the discovery would allow scientists to play with materials and see the materials' properties change in real time. "We can now play with atomic bonds and see how we can use them to influence the manipulation of matter on the nanometric scale," Dr Wolff said. Dr Aramesh, the lead author of the study, said that for researchers and engineers this finding offered potential new methods to engineer future smart materials. "This new way of re-designing materials will help researchers and engineers to create novel smart materials with different functions, for example, new pharmaceuticals, disease diagnostics and quantum computing," Dr Aramesh said. "We can use helium ion microscopes to image almost any material and to build structures that are as small as a DNA strand, so small that you could fit 64 billion of them in a single raindrop. "Now we can see and manipulate matter on the nanometre scale we are limited only by our imagination in material design." ### Researchers from RMIT University in Melbourne Australia have developed a new ultra-thin coating that responds to heat and cold, opening the door to "smart windows". The self-modifying coating, which is a thousand times thinner than a human hair, works by automatically letting in more heat when it's cold and blocking the sun's rays when it's hot. Smart windows have the ability to naturally regulate temperatures inside a building, leading to major environmental benefits and significant financial savings. Lead investigator Associate Professor Madhu Bhaskaran said the breakthrough will help meet future energy needs and create temperature-responsive buildings. "We are making it possible to manufacture smart windows that block heat during summer and retain heat inside when the weather cools," Bhaskaran said. "We lose most of our energy in buildings through windows. This makes maintaining buildings at a certain temperature a very wasteful and unavoidable process. "Our technology will potentially cut the rising costs of air-conditioning and heating, as well as dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of buildings of all sizes. "Solutions to our energy crisis do not come only from using renewables; smarter technology that eliminates energy waste is absolutely vital." Smart glass windows are about 70 per cent more energy efficient during summer and 45 per cent more efficient in the winter compared to standard dual-pane glass. New York's Empire State Building reported energy savings of US$2.4 million and cut carbon emissions by 4,000 metric tonnes after installing smart glass windows. This was using a less effective form of technology. "The Empire State Building used glass that still required some energy to operate," Bhaskaran said. "Our coating doesn't require energy and responds directly to changes in temperature." Co-researcher and PhD student Mohammad Taha said that while the coating reacts to temperature it can also be overridden with a simple switch. "This switch is similar to a dimmer and can be used to control the level of transparency on the window and therefore the intensity of lighting in a room," Taha said. "This means users have total freedom to operate the smart windows on-demand." Windows aren't the only clear winners when it comes to the new coating. The technology can also be used to control non-harmful radiation that can penetrate plastics and fabrics. This could be applied to medical imaging and security scans. Bhaskaran said that the team was looking to roll the technology out as soon as possible. "The materials and technology are readily scalable to large area surfaces, with the underlying technology filed as a patent in Australia and the US," she said. The research has been carried out at RMIT University's state-of-the-art Micro Nano Research Facility with colleagues at the University of Adelaide and supported by the Australian Research Council. Their findings have been published in Scientific Reports - Nature: http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1038/s41598-017-17937-3 How the coating works The self-regulating coating is created using a material called vanadium dioxide. The coating is 50-150 nanometres in thickness. At 67 degrees Celsius, vanadium dioxide transforms from being an insulator into a metal, allowing the coating to turn into a versatile optoelectronic material controlled by and sensitive to light. The coating stays transparent and clear to the human eye but goes opaque to infra-red solar radiation, which humans cannot see and is what causes sun-induced heating. Until now, it has been impossible to use vanadium dioxide on surfaces of various sizes because the placement of the coating requires the creation of specialised layers, or platforms. The RMIT researchers have developed a way to create and deposit the ultra-thin coating without the need for these special platforms - meaning it can be directly applied to surfaces like glass windows. ### For interviews: Associate Professor Madhu Bhaskaran 61-3-9925-0441, 61-422-658-431 madhu.bhaskaran@rmit.edu.au For general media enquiries: James Giggacher 61-3-9925-4143, 61-413-665-143 james.giggacher@rmit.edu.au The movements of marine mammals and other large animals that spend their lives in the ocean were largely unknown prior to the development of sophisticated tracking devices researchers could deploy on animals in the wild. Insights gained from this technology have revealed unexpected behaviors and migratory patterns in marine animals ranging from sharks and seals to turtles and albatrosses. Researchers from around the world have now pooled their data on the movements of a wide array of marine animals, enabling them to look for common features in how animals move throughout the world's oceans. The results, published February 26 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, show remarkable convergence in the movement patterns of different species, even those widely separated by geography, phylogeny (evolutionary history), or mode of travel. The biggest differences were between different habitats rather than between different species. In coastal areas, tracking tags revealed complex movement patterns dominated by search behavior, while in the open ocean they showed simpler, more predictable movements over longer distances. "It makes sense, because the coast is a much more complicated environment, whereas the open ocean is more homogeneous and the features are more spread out in space and time," said coauthor Daniel Costa, a distinguished professor of ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz. "Regardless of what species it is, the movement patterns match the oceanographic features of their environment." These insights can be useful, he said, for understanding how marine life will respond to climate change and for predicting the movements of species for which tracking data are lacking. "Many of these species are endangered and we have no tracking data, but we can extrapolate from other species to understand how they are likely to interact with fisheries, shipping, or other human activities," Costa said. Costa has been at the forefront of developing high-tech tracking devices and using them to study marine animals. UCSC's Long Marine Laboratory is known as a leading center for research on marine vertebrates, including seals, sea lions, sea otters, dolphins, and whales. The coauthors of the PNAS paper include six other UC Santa Cruz researchers in addition to Costa. "This paper is the result of a big international effort. We realized that if we all share our data and work together in a concerted manner, we can learn a lot more about these animals," he said. Costa and other UCSC researchers deployed the first satellite tracking tags on elephant seals at the Ano Nuevo rookery north of Santa Cruz in the 1990s. The initial results were astonishing. "Before we put tags on elephant seals, all the books said they were limited to the California Current. We had no idea they were traveling these incredible distances and using the entire North Pacific Ocean," Costa said. "We went from studying them where we could watch them to having the animals tell us where they were going." In 2000, Costa joined forces with Barbara Block at Stanford University and others to launch the Tagging of Pacific Predators (TOPP) program, a decade-long effort to track the movements of top marine predators in the Pacific Ocean. Costa oversaw the tracking of marine mammals, birds, and turtles for TOPP, which also included tracking of sharks and tunas. Costa's lab has carried out groundbreaking tracking studies of a wide range of species around the world, including albatrosses, sooty shearwaters, California sea lions, Galapagos sea lions, crabeater seals, Weddell seals, and southern elephant seals. Meanwhile, his team has continued to learn new things about elephant seal biology from ongoing studies of the northern elephant seals at UC's Ano Nuevo Natural Reserve. One recent study, published February 14 in Biology Letters, revealed the effects of pregnancy on the diving behavior of female elephant seals. Led by postdoctoral researcher Luis Huckstadt, the researchers found that the dives of pregnant seals became shorter, probably due to an increasing demand for oxygen for the fetus. "The only way we could do that is because we now have over 500 tracks of female elephant seals, and a small number of them didn't have a pup or lost it at sea, so we could compare and see the effects of pregnancy. It's not surprising, but nobody had been able to document it," Costa said. ### Huckstadt is also a coauthor of the PNAS paper, as is doctoral candidate Anthony Pagano, whose research on polar bears in the Arctic was recently published in Science, and associate researcher Ari Friedlaender, who has led tracking studies of blue whales. Other UCSC contributors include coauthors Patrick Robinson, Stella Villegas, and Elizabeth McHuron. The PNAS paper was led by first authors Ana Sequeira at the University of Western Australia and Jorge Rodriguez at the Institute for Cross-Disciplinary Physics and Complex Systems in Spain. The experience of the Second World War in Lapland was starkly different from the war experience elsewhere in Finland. Germans held the frontline in northern Finland from 1941 to 1944, and at the height of their military build-up, there were more German troops and their prisoners of various nationalities than local inhabitants. Once Finland had signed a cease-fire with the Soviet Union in 1944, the Lapland War (1944-1945) broke out between the one-time allies. The retreating Germans left behind hundreds of tons of war materiel in various states of repair. Objects ranged from tractors, gun carriages and motorboats to bottles of alcohol, canned food and personal effects. An enormous amount of explosives was also dispersed throughout the region by the Germans, claiming lives long after the war. Because the presence of troops from Nazi Germany in northern Finland in the role of comrades-in-arms has been a sensitive and downplayed subject in Finland, the related experiences of the region's inhabitants including the Sami people have also been sidelined. German material remnants have often been termed 'war junk', seen to tarnish Lapland's nature. The locals, however, have been living with these remnants for decades. To them, they are an important part of the local cultural landscape, as well as manifestations of individual and collective memories. The traces in the landscape are symbols of today's juxtaposition of northern and southern Finland Many residents consider themselves as custodians of their 'own past'. They want to control outsider access to wartime and other cultural heritage sites. Furthermore, they often feel that authorities are dismissive of their cultural heritage. Thus, traces of German presence in the local landscape have also become symbols of today's juxtaposition of northern and southern Finland, as well as the marginalisation of the north. These viewpoints also reflect the long-term colonialist history of Lapland. The public's role has been significant in locating the sites and in the communal lore related to them. As regards the latter, material remnants scattered over the landscape are important for the sustenance of cross-generational memories. Furthermore, they are linked with memories of colonialism and related issues, such as post-war reformatories where Sami was a forbidden language. "The differences between approaches to German relics from the Second World War seem to originate from fundamental differences between worldviews and the manners in which landscape is interpreted," says archaeologist Oula Seitsonen. "Those who advocate clearing Lapland's environment of 'war junk' appear to perceive the subject from a 'western' perspective, drawing a line between 'nature' and 'culture'. This viewpoint also labels the historical cultural landscape of the region as empty, natural wilderness, whereas the northern concept of nature does not differentiate between 'nature' and 'culture'. Instead, landscape with its various layers forms a whole that ties together the past, the present and the future." According to Oula Seitsonen, the different parties should be familiar with and accept each other's divergent starting points in order to conduct constructive debate on the issue. "Personally, I would like to see the wartime materiel documented on some level before it decomposes entirely. Then again, the slow merging of wartime structures and objects with nature creates a special atmosphere at these sites, emphasising their role as part of the local cultural landscape. The significance of war-related sites as part of the long cultural continuum of the region is underlined by supernatural stories and experiences associated with them. For one, they portray the sites as locales of memory and remembering, including related, unprocessed traumas." Seitsonen believes that the sites could be utilised for the benefit of Lapland's tourism industry, important to the region. "Opportunities for cultural tourism based on these sites could be developed in collaboration with local parties, providing alternatives to current tourism offerings and additional sources of income for locals." Oula Seitsonen's doctoral dissertation is the first comprehensive, theoretically informed study of the archaeology, materiality and heritage of the material remnants of German troops in Finnish Lapland. ### The University of Houston has been awarded $2.8 million from the National Science Foundation to prepare more teachers to lead the way in science, technology, engineering and math education (STEM). The grant bolsters the institution's effort to ensure students of all backgrounds have access to high-quality STEM instruction while helping to meet the large demand for qualified secondary STEM teachers. The award will fund tuition and fees for middle and high school teachers to pursue a Master of Education degree in curriculum and instruction with an emphasis in STEM education. To further the impact of the program, the grant will pay salary stipends for the graduates to train other teachers at schools serving significant populations of students who are underrepresented in high-demand STEM careers. The program, Enhancing STEM Teacher Leadership Through Equity and Advocacy Development in Houston (LEAD Houston), has the potential to impact over 150,000 students in the greater Houston area and beyond. "I think this collaborative partnership further solidifies UH's commitment to our community," said Paula Myrick Short, UH senior vice president for academic affairs and provost. "We are truly invested in the success of our students beyond their time at the University of Houston, and this grant helps students gain real-world experience while also positively impacting our community." LEAD Houston is a collaboration between the UH College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the UH College of Education. The two colleges also partner on the teachHouston program, which prepares secondary math and science teachers. "The opportunities for growth provided through this grant are numerous and transformational," said Paige Evans, a clinical professor in teachHOUSTON in the Department of Mathematics and principal investigator for the grant. "Our goal is to develop teachers to serve as leaders within their own schools, communities and even on a national platform." Selected candidates, known as master teacher fellows, will receive: Tuition and fees paid for a 14-month master's program with an emphasis in STEM education; Annual salary supplements of $10,000 for four years to lead STEM education trainings in their own schools following completion of the program; Professional development experiences that include culturally responsive teaching, instructional coaching and policy advocacy. "We look forward to building from the expertise of secondary STEM teachers in Houston and the surrounding areas and supporting teachers in becoming agents of change on their campuses," said Jennifer Chauvot, chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and co-principal investigator for the grant. "Our goal is to provide access to rigorous science and mathematics content to all children." The colleges will work with high-need school districts in Greater Houston and the National Math and Science Initiative, a Texas-based nonprofit, to recruit and prepare two cohorts of 15 secondary STEM teachers to take part in LEAD Houston. "We have the opportunity to cultivate teacher-leaders and empower them to advocate for policies that yield STEM education reform. Ideal candidates are passionate about their craft, embody a growth mindset and have the desire to impact change in their own classrooms and the classrooms of other in-service and preservice teachers," said Mariam Manuel, an instructional assistant professor in teachHOUSTON and co-principal investigator for the grant. The curriculum for the program will focus on best practices for eliminating disparities that exist in STEM education. "One way to help address this is culturally responsive teaching, which recognizes that culture has an impact on how students learn," said Leah McAlister-Shields, teachHOUSTON academic program manager and senior personnel for the grant. "The types of images you use in your classroom, the types of books that you reference, all of these are important for normalizing a student's experience through use of their own cultural references." Teachers interested in the LEAD Houston program can click here for more information. ### ANN ARBOR -- The rural physician shortage is well-established, and there's the notion that doctors don't necessarily establish their practices where need for health care is greatest--in poor and unhealthy communities. The issue becomes more interesting when you account for health care's changing provider landscape -- specifically, the growing number of physician assistants and nurse practitioners. "The U.S. health workforce is now an eclectic mix of different providers. We thought it'd be interesting to see if other providers such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants established their practices in more affluent communities such as medical physicians," said Matthew Davis, assistant professor at the U-M School of Nursing. Researchers compared the number of physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and chiropractors available in counties at different levels of income and health status. They used life expectancy as an indicator of the need for health care. They found that more physicians, physician assistants and chiropractors are available in the most affluent areas with already high life expectancy, which falls in line with conventional thinking. However, more nurse practitioners practiced in lower income areas with low life expectancy, which could to some degree offset a dearth of doctors in high-need areas. The researchers did not examine the reasons why practitioners chose their locations. There were 30 percent more physicians but 15 percent fewer nurse practitioners in the highest income areas, when compared to the lowest income areas, Davis said. When the researchers examined where nurse practitioners work, they found that the availability of nurse practitioners was about 50 percent higher in the least healthy counties compared with the healthiest. "That was nice to see," Davis said. "The nurse practitioner workforce appears to be having some positive effects. Our work shows that nurse practitioners are more likely to set up shop in areas of higher need and other studies have shown that they provide a substantial amount of care for individuals with chronic illness." The availability of physician assistants mirrored that of physicians, probably because these two disciplines are often tied together through licensure. Chiropractors were most likely to work in areas of high income and greater health. Most chiropractors are small business owners, so it makes sense that those providers would locate in higher income areas, where demand is probably greater. A study last year conducted for the Association of American Medical Colleges predicted a shortage of between 40,800 and 104,900 primary and specialty care physicians by 2030. One thought is that the growing number of physician assistants and nurse practitioners can help meet the growing demand for primary care. The Bureau of Labor statistics projects that the number of physician assistants and nurse practitioners will grow 37 percent and 31 percent respectively, which is much faster than the 7 percent average growth for other occupations. This is due to the aging population, demand for preventive care and overall increased demand for health care services. Employment of physicians and surgeons is expected to grow only 13 percent during the same time period. The study, "Supply of healthcare providers in relation to county socioeconomic and health status," appears in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. ### Davis also has an appointment at U-M's Institute for Social Research and is a faculty affiliate of the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation. PITTSBURGH, Feb. 26, 2018 - Critically ill patients who experience long periods of hypoxic, septic or sedative-associated delirium, or a combination of the three, during an intensive care unit (ICU) stay are more likely to have long-term cognitive impairment one year after discharge from the hospital, according to a new study from the University of Pittsburgh and Vanderbilt University. This is the first study to show more than half of patients with acute respiratory failure or shock, or both, develop multiple sub-categories of delirium with lasting effects. The results, published today in the journal Lancet Respiratory Medicine, indicate that clinicians should seek to minimize the duration of exposure of the three delirium groups. "Our findings show patients who are exposed to sedative-associated delirium are at similar risk for long-term cognitive impairment as patients exposed to hypoxic or septic delirium," said lead author Timothy Girard, M.D., M.S.C.I., associate professor of critical care medicine, Pitt School of Medicine. "We were surprised by this because, previously, clinicians believed that sedatives had short-term effects, which were eliminated once the patient regained consciousness. But our results show that clinicians should see it as a red flag when ICU patients respond to sedatives in an adverse manner." Sepsis is a condition that arises when the body's response to an infection injures its own tissues and organs, and hypoxia is a lack of oxygen reaching the body's tissues. Doctors often sedate ICU patients to help them relax and manage pain. All three conditions--sepsis, hypoxia and sedation--are common during critical illness and can cause delirium. Delirium was common in the study, affecting 71 percent of participants. Sedative-associated delirium, the most common subcategory, is of particular interest since clinicians control patients' exposure to sedatives. Researchers examined more than 1,000 adult medical/surgical patients across five centers with respiratory failure or shock, or both, for hypoxic, septic and sedative-associated delirium, as well as a fourth category, metabolic delirium, which can occur when patients have changes in metabolism due to kidney or liver failure. Researchers assessed 564 patients at a three-month follow-up, and 471 at a one-year follow-up. The study found duration of delirium as a key indicator of cognitive decline, with longer periods of multiple delirium subcategories predicting worse cognitive decline after one year of hospital discharge. Out of the four phenotypes, metabolic delirium was the only one that didn't affect long-term cognitive decline, after adjusting for age, severity of illness, doses of sedating medications and other factors. "Clinicians should be careful not to underestimate the importance of delirium in sedated patients," Girard said. "We recommend that clinicians focus on reducing delirium risk factors, including sedation, in addition to treating the critical illness that brought the patient to the ICU." ### Coauthors on this study are Jennifer L. Thompson, M.P.H., Nathan E. Brummel, M.D., Rameela Chandrasekhar, Ph.D., Brenda T. Pun, D.N.P., Leanne M. Boehm, Ph.D., and E. Wesley Ely, M.D., all of Vanderbilt University; Pratik P. Pandharipande, M.D., James C. Jackson, Psy.D., Mayur B. Patel, M.D., Christopher G. Hughes, M.D., Robert S. Dittus, M.D., Vanderbilt University, Mark R. Elstad, M.D., of University of Utah, AND VA Salt Lake City Health Care System; Richard B. Goodman, M.D., University of Washington, VA Puget Sound Health Care System This research was funded by National Institutes of Health grants AG034257, AG031322, AG027472, AG035117, GM120484, HL111111 and HL135144, and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. About the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine As one of the nation's leading academic centers for biomedical research, the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine integrates advanced technology with basic science across a broad range of disciplines in a continuous quest to harness the power of new knowledge and improve the human condition. Driven mainly by the School of Medicine and its affiliates, Pitt has ranked among the top 10 recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health since 1998. In rankings recently released by the National Science Foundation, Pitt ranked fifth among all American universities in total federal science and engineering research and development support. Likewise, the School of Medicine is equally committed to advancing the quality and strength of its medical and graduate education programs, for which it is recognized as an innovative leader, and to training highly skilled, compassionate clinicians and creative scientists well-equipped to engage in world-class research. The School of Medicine is the academic partner of UPMC, which has collaborated with the University to raise the standard of medical excellence in Pittsburgh and to position health care as a driving force behind the region's economy. For more information about the School of Medicine, see http://www.medschool.pitt.edu. http://www.upmc.com/media The largest and oldest Chinook salmon -- fish also known as "kings" and prized for their exceptional size -- have mostly disappeared along the West Coast. That's the main finding of a new University of Washington-led study published Feb. 27 in the journal Fish and Fisheries. The researchers analyzed nearly 40 years of data from hatchery and wild Chinook populations from California to Alaska, looking broadly at patterns that emerged over the course of four decades and across thousands of miles of coastline. In general, Chinook salmon populations from Alaska showed the biggest reductions in age and size, with Washington salmon a close second. "Chinook are known for being the largest Pacific salmon and they are highly valued because they are so large," said lead author Jan Ohlberger, a research scientist in the UW's School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. "The largest fish are disappearing, and that affects subsistence and recreational fisheries that target these individuals." Chinook salmon are born in freshwater rivers and streams, then migrate to the ocean where they spend most of their lives feeding and growing to their spectacular body size. Each population's lifestyle in the ocean varies, mainly depending on where they can find food. California Chinook salmon tend to stay in the marine waters off the coast, while Oregon and Washington fish often migrate thousands of miles northward along the west coast to the Gulf of Alaska where they feed. Western Alaska populations tend to travel to the Bering Sea. After one to five years in the ocean, the fish return to their home streams, where they spawn and then die. Despite these differences in life history, most populations analyzed saw a clear reduction in the average size of the returning fish over the last four decades -- up to 10 percent shorter in length, in the most extreme cases. These broad similarities point to a cause that transcends regional fishing practices, ecosystems, or animal behaviors, the authors said. "This suggests that there is something about the larger ocean environment that is driving these patterns," Ohlberger said. "I think fishing is part of the story, but it's definitely not sufficient to explain all of the patterns we see. Many populations are exploited at lower rates than they were 20 to 30 years ago." It used to be common to find Chinook salmon 40 inches or more in length, particularly in the Columbia River or Alaska's Kenai Peninsula and Copper River regions. The reductions in size could have a long-term impact on the abundance of Chinook salmon, because smaller females carry fewer eggs, so over time the number of fish that hatch and survive to adulthood may decrease. There are likely many reasons for the changes in size and age, and the researchers say there is no "smoking gun." Their analysis, however, points to fishing pressure and marine mammal predation as two of the bigger drivers. Commercial and sport fishing have for years targeted larger Chinook. But fishing pressure has relaxed in the last 30 years due to regulations to promote sustainable fishing rates, while the reductions in Chinook size have been most rapid over the past 15 years. Resident killer whales, which are known Chinook salmon specialists, as well as other marine mammals that feed on salmon are probably contributing to the overall changes, the researchers found. "We know that resident killer whales have a very strong preference for eating the largest fish, and this selectivity is far greater than fisheries ever were," said senior author Daniel Schindler, a UW professor of aquatic and fishery sciences. While southern resident killer whales that inhabit Puget Sound are in apparent decline, populations of northern resident killer whales, and those that reside in the Gulf of Alaska and along the Aleutian Islands, appear to be growing at extremely fast rates. The paper's authors propose that these burgeoning northern populations are possibly a critical, but poorly understood, cause of the observed declines in Chinook salmon sizes. Scientists are still trying to understand the impacts of orcas and other marine mammals on Chinook salmon, and the ways in which their relationships may have ebbed and flowed in the past. It may not be possible, for example, for marine mammals and Chinook salmon populations to be robust at the same time, given their predator-prey relationship. "When you have predators and prey interacting in a real ecosystem, everything can't flourish all the time," Schindler said. "These observations challenge our thinking about what we expect the structure and composition of our ecosystems to be." ### Co-authors are Eric Ward of NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center and Bert Lewis of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. For more information, contact Ohlberger at janohl@uw.edu or 206-999-0955 and Schindler at deschind@uw.edu or 206-794-1743. Health authorities will need to focus on more than eating habits if they are going to combat the obesity epidemic. A study led by the University of Waterloo found it's generally a combination of unhealthy behaviours among youth that could be the greatest predictors of whether or not young people will experience obesity issues in adulthood. The study concluded that public health efforts focusing on obesity prevention must identify and correct poor behaviours that are often developed in early childhood. "Adolescents with obesity often maintain their weight status into adulthood, increasing their risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure," says Rachel Laxer, who formed part of the research team while doing her PhD at Waterloo. "Public health practitioners should be targeting clusters of risky behaviours using a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach." "Research tells us that while calorie intake has not dramatically changed over time, habits such as exercising, smoking, drug use and alcohol consumption have," said Laxer. "It's increasingly important to target these risky behaviours together, and early, before they become habits." The study involved Ontario students in grades nine and ten, ranging from 13 to 17 years of age and participating in the COMPASS Study, a nine-year study started in 2012 that is funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Research. Students reported risky behaviours at the beginning of the study, and their heights and weights were tracked for two additional years. Based on their reported behaviours, the teens were classified as Typical High School Athletes, Inactive High Screen-Users ("Screenagers"), Moderately Active Substance Users, or Health Conscious. The researchers found that although the four groups saw similar increases to their weight status over the years that they were followed, students in the Health Conscious group had the healthiest body weight at the beginning of the study. "It's important to try to improve behaviours before they become habits, which are much harder to correct," said Laxer. "This could have important implications for public health initiatives. Intervening and modifying unhealthy behaviours earlier might have a greater impact than during adolescence. Health promotion strategies targeting higher risk youth as they enter secondary school might be the best way to prevent or delay the onset of obesity, and might have better public health outcomes over the longer term." The study, done in collaboration with Professor Scott Leatherdale from Waterloo, was recently published in PLOS ONE. ### Switzerland delivered war materiel worth CHF446.6 million ($477 million) to 64 countries last year, an increase of 8% on 2016 despite a 1% drop in commodity exports as a whole. The export of war materiel made up 0.15% of total Swiss exports, according to figures published on Tuesday by the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO). Almost half of all exports headed to Europe, although that proportion is dwindling. On the other hand, more are ending up in Asia, which currently buys around a quarter of all Swiss weapons. In addition, the share of exports to Africa dropped from 12.2% to 7.3%. Here is a breakdown of the top five export destinations for Swiss weapons exports: Other notable sales include to India (CHF8.9 million), Pakistan (CHF6.6 million) and Saudi Arabia (CHF4.8 million). For the full list of 64 countries, go to the SECO report. Reacting to the figures, Amnesty International Switzerland called on the government to not ease arms exports controls, as currently demanded by the weapons industry. Given the arms exports to countries that are known for conflict and serious human rights violations, any further loosening would be cynical and irresponsible, said Patrick Walder from Amnesty Switzerland in a statement. Switzerland was the 14th-largest arms exporter in the world in 2016, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The US and Russia are by far the largest. SDA-ATS/swissinfo.ch/ts Four people were feared dead Saturday after an avalanche hit the Swiss ski area of Vallon d'Arbi, with two bodies already recovered buried under six metres (20 feet) of snow. Police in Valais canton said rescue workers were still searching for two more skiers who are missing after Fridays avalanche, but that the operation had been suspended for the night. Those found dead are both French nationals aged, 20 and 25, the police statement said. The bodies were found underneath some six metres of snow, it added. A 32-year-old French citizen and a Swiss national, 57, had not yet been found. Police said rescue teams worked until 3:30 am on Saturday, then paused until 9:00 am before resuming work. They battled difficult conditions including continuous snow on Saturday before breaking for the night. A Valais police spokesperson told Swiss public broadcaster RTS that it was unlikely that anyone would still be found alive. According to RTS, the avalanche happened at an altitude of 2,200 metres. Vallon dArbi is a route best suited to skilled skiers, which is sporadically closed for safety reasons. Tourism sites recommend visitors ski with a guide. Police said the route was open at the time of Fridays avalanche. The accident is the latest in a series of fatal incidents affecting skiers in Switzerland this season, with a series of avalanches killing three in the Swiss Alps last month. Privacy Settings This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit. NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using. The Syrian government launched a ferocious assault on a rebel enclave outside Damascus on February 18, saying it wanted to crush Islamist and jihadist groups. The onslaught has since retaken 70 percent of Eastern Ghouta and killed nearly 1,260 civilians a fifth of them children, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. Here is a summary of events: New round of rockets, raids Government forces open a Russian-backed campaign against Eastern Ghouta with more than 260 rockets and intense air raids. The strikes continue on February 19, when 127 civilians are killed in the highest single day death toll in Eastern Ghouta since 2013, when it was first besieged by the army. On February 20, Russian air strikes reportedly target Eastern Ghouta for the first time in three months, hitting the key regional hospital in Arbin. Hell on Earth On February 21, raids target several areas and aircraft drop barrel bombs crude, improvised munitions that cause indiscriminate damage. The Kremlin denies carrying out air strikes. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres says the regions residents are living in hell on Earth. Another Aleppo On February 22 at the United Nations, Russia calls for a negotiated withdrawal of rebel fighters and their families, like the one that saw the government retake full control of Aleppo in December 2016. Syrias UN representative Bashar al-Jaafari confirms the comparison. On February 24, the UN Security Council unanimously adopts a resolution demanding a 30-day ceasefire to allow for aid deliveries and medical evacuations. But new air strikes and shelling batter the enclave for the following two days. Daily pause ordered On February 26, Moscow announces that President Vladimir Putin has ordered a daily five-hour humanitarian pause from February 27 and the opening of protected corridors to allow people to leave. Hours after the measure is meant to take effect, the United Nations says fighting has continued, making relief operations impossible. Noose tightens A first attempt at delivering aid to the enclave is made on March 5, but is cut short due to heavy bombardment. Despite the bombardment, on March 9 food aid is distributed in Douma, the largest town in Eastern Ghouta. The following day the regime cuts off Douma from the rest of the enclave, managing to split the region into three: Douma and its surroundings in the north, Harasta in the west, and Saqba and Hammuriyeh in the south. On March 11, it captures the town of Medeira, which lies between the three zones. The regime sets up shelters and food distribution centres for the hundreds of civilians it has evacuated from newly recaptured areas. First medical evacuations On Monday, the United States presents a new draft resolution to the UN Security Council demanding a 30-day ceasefire. The UN says more than 1,000 people, mostly women and children, are in urgent need of medical evacuation. On March 15, the third convoy of aid in 10 days arrives in Douma. Largest displacement Russia says it is committed to helping Syrias regime finish off rebels in Eastern Ghouta, leading the Pentagon to say Moscow is complicit in atrocities by Assad. The same day, the Observatory says around 20,000 people have fled the enclave in the largest displacement since the beginning of the assault on Ghouta. The UN is cautious about the number of displaced. Using a corridor through Hammuriyeh, which the Observatory says the army has seized after rebels fled, the displaced flee on foot, in cars and on motorcycles. Russia vetoed Monday a UN draft resolution presented by Britain that would have pressured Iran over its failure to block supplies of missiles to Yemen's Huthi rebels. The text, strongly supported by the United States, won 11 favorable votes at the 15-member Security Council but was blocked by Russias veto. China and Kazakhstan abstained, while Bolivia also voted against the measure. Nine votes and no vetoes from the five permanent council members Britain, France, China, Russia and the United States are required to adopt resolutions at the Security Council. After the veto, the council unanimously adopted a Russian-drafted measure that extended for one year the sanctions regime against Yemen, but that text made no mention of Iran. Britain had sought to include in its measure an expression of particular concern from the council over a UN report that found Iran had violated the 2015 arms embargo on Yemen. The report by a UN panel of experts in January concluded that Iran was in violation after determining that missiles fired by the Huthis at Saudi Arabia last year were made in Iran. After hours of negotiations to try to reach a compromise, Russia made clear it had strong reservations about the findings of the report and would not support a draft resolution that mentioned them. We cannot concur with uncorroborated conclusions and evidence which requires verification and discussions within the sanctions committee, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told the council. Iran has repeatedly denied arming the Huthis in Yemen, despite claims by the United States and Saudi Arabia that the evidence of an arms connection is irrefutable. After the Russian veto, US Ambassador Nikki Haley released a statement accusing Russia of protecting the terrorist-sponsoring regime in Iran and warned of further action targeting Iran. If Russia is going to use its veto to block action against Irans dangerous and destabilizing conduct, then the United States and our partners will need to take actions against Iran that the Russians cannot block, said Haley, who was traveling to Honduras. A Saudi-led coalition supporting Yemens government has been fighting the Huthis since 2015 in a war that has led to what the United Nations describes as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Britain's International Trade Secretary Liam Fox will use a speech Tuesday to criticise staying in a customs union with the EU following Brexit, a day after the opposition Labour Party announced a policy shift in favour of the move. Fox will argue that remaining in a customs union would limit Britains ability to agree future free trade deals and hand Brussels considerable control of the UKs external trade policy, according to advance excerpts of his speech. As rule takers, without any say in how the rules were made, we would be in a worse position than we are today, he will say. It would be a complete sell out of Britains national interests. Foxs address will come after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn called Monday for a new post-Brexit customs union with the EU that could force Prime Minister Theresa May to reverse her stubborn opposition to the idea. Just days before a keynote speech by May on the future trading relationship with the European Union, Corbyn drew a clear line between Labours policy and that of the government. Labour would seek to negotiate a new comprehensive UK-EU customs union to ensure that there are no tariffs with Europe, he said in Coventry, central England. Corbyn added this would also help avoid any need whatsoever for a hard border in Northern Ireland, where the prospect of a return of customs checks has prompted concern about the fragile peace in the province. Corbyn aligns with big business His commitment puts the veteran left-winger in the unusual position of aligning with the Confederation of British Industry, the countrys big business lobby. Britain is currently part of the EUs customs union, which has a common external tariff on imports, allowing goods to move freely inside the area. Fox will argue that maintaining a customs union would prevent Britain from setting the rules in sectors of its economy, handicapping free trade deals with non-EU countries. The inevitable price of trying to negotiate with one arm tied behind our back is that we would become less attractive to potential trade partners and forfeit many of the opportunities that would otherwise be available to us, he will add. However, Corbyn argued any future EU customs agreement would need to ensure the UK has a say in future trade deals, adding Britain should not become a mere rule-taker. He stressed Labours priority was protecting peoples jobs and living standards. Citing the example of integrated supply chains in the car industry, he argued that it makes no sense for Britain to turn its back on tariff-free trading rules that have served us well. Labours position ups the pressure on May ahead of a major speech on Friday and drew an immediately sharp response from leading eurosceptics in her Conservative party. Corbyns Brexit plan would leave the UK a colony of the EU unable to take back control of our borders or our trade policy, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said on Twitter. Referring to the trade talks in Brussels which are due to start in April, he added that the speech was a white flag from Labour before talks even begin. The UK will not be joining a customs union The prime ministers spokesman was unequivocal about Mays position, saying: The government will not be joining a customs union. We want to have the freedom to sign our own trade deals and to reach out into the world. But a group of Conservative rebel MPs disagree and have tabled an amendment to a draft bill going through parliament calling for a new customs union. Corbyn made an appeal Monday to MPs of all parties, prepared to put the peoples interests before ideological fantasies to join his position. The Conservatives only have a slim majority in the House of Commons, thanks to support from Northern Irelands Democratic Unionists (DUP). DUP lawmaker Sammy Wilson accused Corbyn of a blatant attempt to bring down the government. Some members of Corbyns own party are also unhappy, suggesting that maintaining close ties with the EU is a betrayal of the 2016 vote for Brexit. Its the latest wheeze by the well-oiled machine in this country to undo the referendum, eurosceptic Labour MP Frank Field told the Daily Telegraph. Indonesian authorities have excavated a cemetery to try to recover the remains of Dutch and British sailors which were illegally removed from World War II shipwrecks. Local officials, witnessed by representatives from the foreign affairs ministry and the Dutch embassy, dug up a cemetery at Brondong in East Java last week to search for the remains, which were dumped there after being taken from the shipwrecks. Workmen earlier admitted they had been hired to salvage scrap from the wrecks of Dutch and British warships sunk during the 1942 Battle of the Java Sea. Before they cut up (one of the ships), they cleaned it up and found human remains inside, the chief of Brondong sub-district Sariono told AFP Tuesday. The workers told officials they had buried some of the bones in the cemetery and threw the smaller pieces into the ocean. Based on their report, we dug up the cemetery on Thursday and found some bones, only enough to fill a small box, Sariono added. More than 900 Dutch and 250 Indo-Dutch sailors died during the Battle of the Java Sea, in which the Allied navies suffered a disastrous defeat by the Imperial Japanese Navy. The discovery in 2016 that the shipwrecks had been targeted for scrap shocked the Dutch and British governments, who urged Indonesia to investigate the issue. Jakarta initially refused to take the blame for the missing ships, saying it had not been asked to protect the wrecks and therefore was not responsible for them. But it later agreed to help with the Dutch investigation. Salvaging operations are rife throughout Indonesia, varying from large commercial operations using cranes and platforms to smaller ventures shipping scrap to dealers along Indonesias thousands of kilometres of coastline. Sariono said the workers had not known the wreck was a warship or that the remains were those of WWII sailors. The bones are now being kept in the port office for further investigation. Naval warships and war graves are protected under international law that makes the desecration of such shipwrecks illegal. Mayor Ron Nirenberg warned CPS Energys board Monday that a firefighter union proposal to amend the citys governing charter could threaten the utilitys credit rating. Nirenberg said one of the three proposed amendments, which would lower the number of signatures needed to get changes to city ordinances on the ballot, would cast a cloud over the credit ratings of CPS and other city agencies. That could cost the electric and gas utility tens of millions of dollars in additional interest if the move negatively affected its credit rating. The Voter Access proposal would lower the number of signatures required from 75,000 in 40 days to 20,000 in 180 days. The firefighters union launched its San Antonio First campaign on Feb. 20 and is gathering signatures for three separate proposals. The amendment would give voters power to approve public utility rates set by City Council. CPS currently has one of the highest credit ratings AA or higher with all three major credit rating companies: Moodys Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poors. Fitch is owned by Hearst Corp., which also owns the Express-News. We hear it all the time, Nirenberg said. Theyre watching the headlines, and so the fact that we could be contemplating this Im sure concerns them. CPS CEO Paula Gold-Williams agreed, saying that longer and more complicated decision-making would negatively impact its credit rating. Chris Steele, president of the San Antonio Professional Fire Fighters Association, didnt immediately return phone calls Monday afternoon. In a separate matter, Rick Luna, senior manager of products and services, updated the board on CPS solar rebate program. He said the utility had doled out $13.6 million of the $15 million it set aside for rebates. Another $15 million would be allocated when the current funds run out, which Luna estimated would be by April. The rebate, which is currently 60 cents a watt, pays an additional 8 cents a watt for the use of locally produced solar modules from San Antonio-based Mission Solar Energy and 2 cents for the use of inverters produced by San Antonio-based Kaco New Energy. Luna said that the local incentives will change to 10 cents for Mission Solar modules and the Kaco inverters incentive will be eliminated because no one had taken advantage of that offer. He said 32 percent of projects taking advantage of the latest funding had used Mission Solar modules. More than 11,000 customers have installed over 88 megawatts of solar on their homes and businesses since the rebate program began in 2008. Ben Rodriguez, executive director of the San Antonio Solar Alliance, commented that Mission Solar has been a very involved partner and supporter of the San Antonio solar industry, unlike other local solar product manufacturers. This is a great thing for local business, economic development, and renewable energy citywide. On the heels of state Sen. Carlos Urestis criminal conviction last week, his co-defendant in a bribery and money laundering case set for trial in May wants to be tried separately from him. Lawyers for Lubbock businessman Vernon C. Farthing III say in a Friday court filing that they want their own trial because they say there is substantial prejudicial evidence that would be admissible against Uresti that would not be heard by jurors if Farthing has his own trial. Farthings lawyers cite Urestis conviction Thursday by a federal grand jury on 11 felony counts over his involvement in FourWinds Logistics, a now-defunct oilfield company that defrauded investors. He was convicted of wire fraud, money laundering and securities fraud, among other charges. Farthings lawyers also referenced accusations that Uresti had extramarital affairs. A woman he represented in a wrongful-death case involving two of her children testified during his trial that she became sexually involved with the San Antonio Democrat and got her to invest some of the settlement money from the case with FourWinds. In their request, Farthings lawyers also say Uresti has been accused of sexual harassment and drug use. Cynthia Orr, one of Farthings defense lawyers, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment Monday. No evidence or testimony was presented during Urestis trial that he used drugs, though there was testimony that FourWinds CEO Stan Bates may have been using cocaine while running the company. San Antonio attorney Mikal Watts, a lawyer for Uresti, said in an email Monday that Farthings lawyers appear to be confusing Uresti with Bates. Last month, Bates pleaded guilty to eight felonies rather than stand trial with Uresti and FourWinds consultant Gary Cain. As for the sexual harassment accusation, The Daily Beast reported in December that multiple women said Uresti ogled them, made lewd comments and sent them inappropriate messages. The case against Uresti and Farthing, who were both indicted on a single count of conspiracy to commit bribery and conspiracy to commit money laundering, stems from a contract to provide medical services to a correctional facility in West Texas. The indictment says Farthing paid Uresti $10,000 a month as a marketing consultant and then gave half of the money to Jimmy Galindo, county judge of Reeves County from January 1995 to June 2006, in return for a favorable vote for Farthings company contract. Galindo pleaded guilty in June to conspiracy to commit bribery and failure to file a 2013 tax return. He admitted to splitting about $850,000 in bribes with Uresti and struck a deal with prosecutors that includes assisting in the case against Uresti. Watts, in the email, said he did not have time to fully review Farthings motion for a separate trial and therefore had no immediate opinion on the request. Farthings lawyers also simultaneously filed a motion to dismiss the governments case on various grounds, including that the conspiracy to commit bribery charge is barred by the statute of limitations. The alleged offense occurred more than 10 years before the indictment last May, they say. I agree with Farthings lawyers that the indictment against both Farthing and Uresti should be dismissed as there was no conspiracy between them whatsoever here, Watts said in his email. Uresti had sought to have the case tossed last year, but Senior U.S. District Judge David Ezra denied the request in September. Uresti had argued in a court filing that the charges of conspiring to commit bribery failed to state an offense because it does not allege the payment of bribes for future official actions, and instead only alleges gratuities allegedly paid for past actions alleged to have already been taken. It isnt a winner, Ezra said of Urestis argument last year. Farthings lawyers also are seeking the disclosure of the grand jury proceedings that led to last Mays indictment. They worry that if Farthing is acquitted of bribery, that the government could re-indict him for payment of an illegal gratuity. The disclosure of the Grand Jury testimony will alleviate this constitutional ill, by allowing Farthing to see what offense, either bribery or gratuity, was presented to the Grand Jury, the filing states. A family doctor from Seguin faces a capital murder charge in the shooting death of a couple at his familys gated compound while the victims three children were present. Robert Edward Fadal II, 56, is accused of killing Tiffany Leann Strait, 30, and Anthony Ray Strait, 27. He was booked into the Guadalupe County Jail on a charge of capital murder of multiple persons with bail set at $2 million. According to Lt. Craig Jones, a spokesman for the Guadalupe County Sheriffs Office, the Straits were helping Fadals mother move furniture Sunday morning at the Fadal family compound in the 800 block of Timber Elm. It was some kind of benevolent action, Jones said. Police say Fadal fatally shot the couple with a rifle around 11:40 a.m. They added that the couples three young sons were at the scene. At this time, there are no indications there was a feud, disturbance or anything precipitating or justifying the shooting, Jones said. Anthony Strait was pronounced dead at the compound. Paramedics rushed Tiffany Strait to a nearby hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. The husband and wife lived in the neighborhood and knew the Fadal family, Jones said. According to a joint Facebook profile for the couple, they operated Strait A Landscaping together. Jones said the Guadalupe County Sheriffs Office has never interacted with Fadal for any serious crimes. Nothing of this magnitude, he said. According to Jones and online public records, Fadal is a family practice doctor. According to his profile on HealthGrades.com, he has been practicing for 28 years and is a graduate of the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. As state authorities struggle to successfully prosecute more than 150 people indicted in the aftermath of the 2015 deadly biker clash in Waco, the feds are pushing forward here with a racketeering trial of two former leaders of the Bandidos for 16 years of alleged criminal conduct. An anonymous jury of eight men and four women, and four alternates has been picked for the trial in San Antonio of former Bandidos president Jeffrey Fay Pike, 61, of Conroe and then-vice president John Xavier Portillo, 57, of San Antonio. Opening statements are scheduled for Tuesday morning in front of Senior U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra for the trial that may last up to three months. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Eric Fuchs and John Gibson submitted a sealed list of 100 witnesses (not all may testify) that include former Bandidos, rival bikers, police officers, federal agents and gang experts, as the prosecutors try to prove that between January 2000 and up until their arrests in January 2016, Pike and Portillo were involved directly or indirectly in a host of racketeering crimes. The feds allege Portillo, who was vice president from 2013 until his arrest, and Pike directed or sanctioned extortions, beatings, even killings, of rivals in order to keep control of the Bandidos territory and profits. The Bandidos were formed in the Houston area in the 1960s and earned an outlaw reputation, using the motto: we are the people our parents warned us about. Law officers consider the Bandidos to be Texas ruling biker gang. But its current and former members say they just like motorcycles, particularly Harleys, and the biker lifestyle. Many pride themselves in the one percenter credo, a phrase coined by the former president of the American Motorcyclist Association who once stated that 99 percent of bikers are law-abiding citizens and 1 percent outlaws. Its not a gang, Royce Showalter,one of the Bandidos last surviving founders, told the Express-News in 2015. Its a motorcycle club. (The police) theyve always tried to say theres crime involved. But you can say that about any group. You get so many people in a group and there may be a few who might be bad eggs. Pike was national president of the group from February 2006 until he gave up the post when he, Portillo and then national sergeant-at-arms Justin Cole Forster, 32, were indicted and arrested in January 2016. Portillo and Forster have been jailed since, and others have moved into their posts within the Bandidos. The Bandidos have been in national headlines in recent years largely over the deadly 2015 confrontation in Waco, though the incident may only be briefly mentioned in the federal trial, Fuchs told Ezra last week. The May 2015 shootout involving members of the Bandidos and Cossacks motorcycle clubs outside a Twin Peaks restaurant in Waco left nine bikers dead including Jesse Delgado Rodriguez, 65, of New Braunfels and 20 injured. Local police there arrested 177 bikers after the mayhem, and more than 150 people were eventually indicted on felony charges of engaging in organized criminal activity resulting in the deaths and injuries. Ballistics evidence showed that police bullets struck four bikers, killing at least two of them. The three officers involved in the shooting were no-billed by a grand jury (not indicted) after being cleared by an internal investigation. Of the bikers indicted in Waco, only the president of the Bandidos Dallas chapter has gone to trial, and it ended with a hung jury. And in early February, McClennan County District Attorney Abel Reyna dismissed 13 other Twin Peaks cases and recused himself from two others, the Associated Press reported. We are not going to try the Waco case in here, Ezra said last week during a pre-trial motions hearing. Theyre having a hard time having it tried in Waco, let alone here. Im not going to spend valuable trial time on it. ...Its not part of this indictment. During last weeks hearing, Ezra ruled on other numerous pre-trial motions that included anything from objections by prosecutors to defense lawyers introducing evidence that the Bandidos are now a nonprofit organization to objections by the defense over the Bandidos being referred to as the Bandidos Motorcycle Organization. The Bandidos in May 2017 filed as USARG Inc. to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation with 123 licensed chapters in the United States, court records said. The judge denied motions to sever the defendants cases or to delay the trial despite objections from Dick DeGuerin, Pikes lead lawyer, and Mark Stevens, Portillos lead attorney. The latest indictment alleges Portillo declared war on rivals after becoming vice president in 2013 and outlines several clashes between the Bandidos and rival clubs. The indictment also accuses Bandidos bikers of harassing and attacking bikers across Texas, as part of the war that Portillo had declared, and lists the killings of three men in separate incidents: Robert Lara in Atascosa County in January 2002, Anthony W. Benesh III in Austin in March 2006 and Geoffrey Brady in Fort Worth in December 2014. Pike and Portillos defense lawyers have argued that the feds are wrongly holding Pike and Portillo accountable for conduct limited to within respective Bandidos chapters or to individual members. Theyre autonomous, DeGuerin argued about the chapters at a pre-trial conference in January. In October 2016, Forster pleaded guilty to federal racketeering, drug trafficking and extortion charges as part of a plea deal. That same month, Bandidos member Frederick Fast Fred Cortez, 49, pleaded guilty to murder in aid of racketeering for Laras killing. This past September, San Antonio Centro Chapter members Robert Romo, 45, and his brother, Johnny Downtown Johnny Romo, 47, Norberto Hammer Serna Jr., 36, and Jesse James Kronic Benavidez, 40, pleaded guilty to murder in aid of racketeering and discharging a firearm during murder in aid of racketeering. They admitted participating in the killing of Benesh, the Hells Angels rival. Howard Wayne Baker, 62, was convicted at a trial in Tarrant County of Bradys murder, the Dallas Morning News reported. Baker was the president of the Fort Worth chapter of the Bandidos motorcycle gang, according to the Morning News. Its not clear if any of them will testify. The feds witness list is sealed. If convicted, Pike and Portillo face up to life in prison. WASHINGTON - When Donald Trump Jr. received the first private message from WikiLeaks during a 10-month correspondence, he emailed senior officials in his fathers presidential campaign about the contact, among them digital director Brad Parscale of San Antonio, according to a published report. The Atlantic this week made public a portion of Trump Jr.s correspondence with WikiLeaks that took place during the time the transparency group was publishing hacked emails from Democratic officials. Trump Jr. later posted the messages on his Twitter account, noting that hed responded just three times. In the correspondence, exchanged via Twitters direct messaging, WikiLeaks urged Trump Jr. to publicize its stolen Democratic emails and advised his father to challenge the election results if he loses. Hey Donald, great to see you and your dad talking about our publications, WikiLeaks said in one of the messages. Strongly suggest your dad tweet this link if he mentions us. On another occasion, WikiLeaks wrote that itd be great if you guys could comment on/push this story - referring to a Hillary Clinton remark about wanting to just drone WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. Already did that early today, Trump Jr. responded. The messages were among many Trump Jr. turned over to committees on Capitol Hill investigating Russian influence in the 2016 elections. Citing a source, the Atlantic wrote that on the day Trump Jr. received the first message from WikiLeaks, he emailed others in the campaign to advise them of the contact. In addition to Parscale, the presidents oldest son reached out to Steve Bannon, Kellyanne Conway and Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner, the magazine said. Last month, CNN reported that the head of Cambridge Analytica, the data analytics company that worked for the campaign in Parscales San Antonio-based digital operation, contacted WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange last year seeking access to emails from Hillary Clintons private server. CNN cited multiple sources for its report and said it was unclear if Cambridge Analytica acted before or after being hired by the Trump campaign. Parscale did not respond to a message seeking comment on the WikiLeaks disclosures. WikiLeaks was a fixture in the 2016 presidential campaign, earning praise from Trump in his White House run. The website published emails stolen from the from the Democratic National Committee by Kremlin-connected operatives and more emails stolen from the personal account of Clintons campaign manager, John Podesta. Alan Futerfas, a lawyer for Trump Jr., said in a statement that his client had turned over thousands of documents to congressional committees. Putting aside the question as to why or by whom such documents, provided to Congress under promises of confidentiality, have been selectively leaked, we can say with confidence that we have no concerns about these documents, and any questions raised about them have been easily answered in the appropriate forum, the statement read. blambrecht@express-news.net Large-scale murals of three iconic U.S. Latino figures adorning interior walls of the now-closed Estelas Mexican Restaurant on the West Side have been erased by the buildings new owner, Delgado Funeral Home, sparking concern about the fate of historic assets amid new development. The artworks depicted U.S. Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez, which the late lawmaker signed; Tejano star Selena Quintanilla; and Grammy Award-winning musician Flaco Jimenez. Robert Salcido, president of the LGBTQ LULAC Council Orgullo de San Antonio, had reached out to owners to discuss the future of the murals, but they were painted over before a potential solution could be discussed. The letter was sent Feb. 17 and was copied to Mayor Ron Nirenberg, City Council members Shirley Gonzales of District 5 and Roberto Trevino of District 1, as well as the Westside Development Corp. and the Esperanza Peace & Justice Center. Estelas restaurant, at 2200 W. Martin St., had served as a de facto neighborhood center, where many Mexican-American and Democratic Party groups held meetings and celebrations. We acknowledge that these works are now your property to do with as you please, Salcidos letter to Delgado said. We are writing you respectfully, however, in the hope that these important works of art will not be destroyed. While not necessarily appropriate for the decor of a funeral home we are hoping you will meet with us to explore ideas for their preservation and for their possible display in a new venue. The mural of Henry B. is especially important historically, the letter added. Funeral home manager Amber Delgado acknowledged receiving the letter via email and said she responded quickly, but the letter arrived after the paintings were already painted on. She said the funeral home is moving quickly on remodeling because it must be out of its current Mitchell Street location by May. Delgado said she and the owner were unaware of the artworks significance. The business had requested rezoning for the property, and no neighborhood opposition surfaced, she said. Still, Delgado said, she attempted to call Salcido at the number listed in the LULAC letter, but reached a wrong number. Salcido acknowledged his number was listed incorrectly. As more and more new developments happen in historic neighborhoods, this is going to continue to happen, Salcido said. As a community, we have to talk about what can we do to protect these iconic places important to our community and to San Antonio. The funeral home had no ill intent, Salcido said. But they didnt take enough time to see the pieces they were destroying. Its the same problem that happened at Burbank, he said, referring to a mural painted over by Burbank High School in 2010 after the artists signature could not be found, administrators said at the time. The mural had been done by renowned painter Vincent Valdez, a graduate of the school. It has happened many other times, Salcido said. AUSTIN Democratic gubernatorial candidates Andrew White and Lupe Valdez are showcasing differing strengths in releasing their latest campaign finance figures. White, a Houston businessman and son of the late Democratic former Gov. Mark White, has $944,000 in cash on hand for the stretch to next weeks primary election. He raised more than $130,000 from about 340 donors from January 26 through Friday, the period covered by the latest report. White has a big chunk of money in the bank thanks largely to a $1 million loan he earlier made to his campaign. His expenditures were nearly $372,000 in the latest period, according to his campaign. He has spent $280,000 on a television ad that spotlights his rescue of people stranded by Hurricane Harvey last year that started out running in Houston. Valdez, former Dallas County sheriff, raised much less than White in the last reporting period at nearly $67,000, which includes a $20,000 loan she made to her campaign, according to her spokesman. She has consistently received less in contributions than White. She reported nearly $93,000 in expenditures and far less cash on hand than White, at nearly $58,000. But Valdez got a $17,000 in-kind contribution from Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, her campaign said. The group, an important one for Democratic candidates, has endorsed Valdez. The money was for targeted digital ads on her behalf, her campaign said. Valdez and White have received the most attention in a nine-way race for the Democratic nomination to face Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in November, an uphill task since a Democrat hasnt been elected statewide in Texas in nearly a quarter-century. Were grateful to the hundreds of donors who are connecting with our message of bringing common sense and sanity back to Texas. Lets keep the momentum going as we head into Election Day. Fairness and opportunity are on the horizon, White said in a statement. Valdezs campaign said in a statement, We're thankful to our many grassroots donors from across the state. Our report will show we're running a strategic campaign focused on winning this race. Last weekend, Valdez went to California to speak to Democrats state convention and reach out to potential contributors, a point emphasized by Abbott in a fundraising email. Even though Abbott showed more than $41 million in the bank on the latest report after raising $1.5 million and spending $4.8 million his campaign sounded an alarm. By traveling to one of the bluest states in the nation, this far-left candidate is going to raise massive amounts of funds from California liberals with deep pockets and this fundraising haul will be spent to turn Texas blue, said the Abbott campaign, asking supporters to pitch in to the fight to keep Texas red. AUSTIN Democrats trying to regain a foothold in Texas have upped their game with a top-of-the-ballot candidate who has money and savvy, a bevy of hopefuls in every congressional district some with national help and a registration and turnout initiative thats boosted by a Republican president who energizes his opposition. Theyre drawing encouragement from an increase in Democratic early voters, with Bexar County alone showing an increase of 3,762 people who voted in person and by mail in the first four days compared with the same period in 2014. The number of Republican voters in the county the first four days dropped by 2,716 voters compared with 2014. In the states 15 largest counties combined, Democrats who voted in person and by mail totaled 139,720 the first four days, up by 60,031, compared with the first days four years ago. Republicans totaled 134,505, up by 8,376. U.S. Senate candidate Beto ORourke an El Paso congressman who has raised millions of dollars and is drawing crowds around the state and other Democrats see a movement bubbling up from people worried about President Donald Trump and the leadership of Texas Republicans. What is so extraordinary this year, because we just havent seen it before, is the leadership that people are showing in their communities, said ORourke, who is pursuing the Democratic nomination for the long-shot effort of unseating Republican Ted Cruz. U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro of San Antonio, who has no re-election opponent and opted against a run for statewide office this year, is working to help those trying to make a move. I think it is possible to break through this year, Castro said, while conceding, Its still an uphill battle, because youre in Texas, and Texas has voted fairly conservatively the last few decades. Its not quite party time for Democrats, who havent won election to statewide office in Texas in nearly a quarter-century. The early-vote numbers dont necessarily portend a record turnout for Democrats for the March 6 election. Democrats remain at a disadvantage in terms of money and political infrastructure, since theyve been out of power so long and Texas isnt viewed as competitive enough yet for national groups to pour in money for statewide or presidential races. But the early-vote figures are a Democratic shot in the arm given the 2014 governors race featuring then-Sen. Wendy Davis, when the partys primary vote slid despite a national reputation earned by her filibuster against tighter abortion restrictions. GOP primary turnout also decreased four years ago, but it still was about 2 times the Democratic turnout. Republican Greg Abbott trounced Davis by more than 20 percentage points in the general election, becoming governor. But Democrats contend statewide races are single-digit contests this time, and they think they have a chance for an upset win. Aiding their effort, they say, are competitive races that are driving up interest in the election; ORourkes barnstorming campaign, with about a dozen staff members and, he said, thousands of volunteers statewide; and resources from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in targeted U.S. House districts, expected to help up and down the ballot. Destiny Molina, 23, is the DCCC-backed regional organizer for Congressional District 23, in which five Democrats have filed for the nomination to face Republican U.S. Rep. Will Hurd in November. She has organized voter registration initiatives, including in a high school; get-out-the-vote efforts including block-walking and phone banking; and has voters fill out pledge-to-vote cards that remind them to cast their ballots. We are building the groundwork for November, she said. The Texas Democratic Party has made a fresh digital push; conducted training sessions in eight cities to engage activists; doubled the number of the mail-in ballot applications sent out, to 700,000, compared with 2016; and enhanced its mytexasvotes.com site to ensure people can find their polling places and get information such as the type of identification they must bring. Hovering over it all is the impact of Trump, whose policy proposals and intemperate rhetoric are stirring people to action. We know that there is a lot of fear and anxiety because of what is happening across the country with Donald Trump and with the Republican Party. Its not enough to just have those negative feelings out there in the atmosphere. We need to make sure that we create a sense of pride, and a sense that you can do something about it, said Manny Garcia, deputy executive director of the Texas Democratic Party. The answer to this right now is to go vote in the Democratic primary. Elect your candidates, and declare your values. Democratic consultant Glenn Smith, senior adviser to Progress Texas, said the energy is clear. The organizations are sort of struggling to keep up with the demand, rather than having to go out and stir up the demand, he said. Their efforts are being met with vigor on the Republican side, where Abbott is running hard despite being heavily favored for re-election. Abbott has the money more than $43 million in his campaign account, according to the last report organization and drive to run up the score again this time. His campaign said it remains on track to nearly double its field operation from 2014 and has trained more than 4,800 volunteers statewide. In San Antonio, according to the campaign, it has nine full-time field staffers who have recruited 200 volunteers. Abbotts campaign also mounted a mail-in ballot initiative, although one that ran into issues when it neglected to fill in the GOP primary race for voters on a number of applications. His camp has long had a strong social media effort and is touting an app for people to keep up on campaign news. Its an effort that will help other Republicans on the ballot, as will already big spending by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The Republican Party of Texas also has staff working to administer the primary and get out the vote. We know Democrat interest in this election is going to be high, said Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey. I look forward to working with our Republican candidates and our grass-roots volunteers to make certain that in 2018 we send a resounding message to Democrats across the nation that Texas is not a swing state. Democrats cite particular hopes for their chances against Cruz and indicted Attorney General Ken Paxton and for their effort to gain the agriculture commissioners post. Trump-backing controversy-stirring incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Sid Millers strongest GOP primary challenge is coming from a former lobbyist, Trey Blocker. The Democrat running for the nomination for agriculture commissioner is Kim Olson. I think Beto could win. I think that (Democratic candidate) Justin Nelson in that AGs race can win. I think all of them have a fighting chance, Castro said. Some races are tougher than others. I think the governors race is a tougher race, but its still possible. Making sure voters cast ballots in that race and others by March 6 is the first step for Democrats hoping for a way back. Voting is a habit and a culture, said Garcia. The more we can instill this culture of voting the better the results will be in November. Jay Hulings was strolling through Washington, D.C. in mid-October when a political operative carrying a camera confronted him with a question about gun control. The woman, seeking to catch Hulings off guard, asked him if hed opt for stricter gun laws in Congress. Hulings reflexively offered a response thats become emblematic of his approach campaigning for Texas 23rd Congressional District: addressing policy questions by drawing on his time as a federal prosecutor. Explaining his support for universal background checks on firearm sales, Hulings, a Democrat, recalled a successful prosecution that traced a gun found in the hands of a highly violent Mexican drug cartel leader to a San Antonio gun show. The short answer to the question, he said, was yes. Hulings is one of five Democrats aiming to oust Rep. Will Hurd from one of Texas few vulnerable Republican seats, in a March 6 primary vote that will likely result in a runoff. Absent time in elective office, each candidate has crafted a message centered largely on professional, and at times personal, experience. On the ballot are former Agriculture Department administrator Judy Canales, Hulings, former Air Force intelligence officer Gina Ortiz Jones, former history teacher and Bernie Sanders delegate Rick Trevino, and Angela Angie Villescaz, who has not filed a campaign finance report with the Federal Election Commission, attributing her understated campaign to an emphasis on grassroots efforts. At a recent campaign event oriented toward military veteran entrepreneurs, Jones was introduced by U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a Massachusetts Democrat whose Serve America political action committee supports veterans running for Congress. Moulton, a former Marine, has endorsed 19 veteran Democratic House candidates, which he called a very selective group. He introduced Jones through her background as an intelligence officer in the Air Force, joking that Congress could use some intelligence. These are the kinds of people who I think can truly transform our politics in Washington, Moulton said. In an interview, Moulton said he thought Jones had the best shot at beating Hurd in the general election, part of his motivation for endorsing her. But he also pointed to the relevance of her military service in the district. I think Gina has national security credentials to prove that she can be a strong leader for this district that has so many veterans, and has so many military facilities, Moulton said. I'm incredibly impressed by her service. Asked about the difference between Hulings policy stances and her own, Jones argued that Hulings positions have been largely unknown for much of the campaign, including among voters with whom shes spoken. I'm just happy the conversation is moving to more substantive issues, because for a long time it wasn't clear where he was on a lot of issues, Jones said, later adding: Voting the right way is kind of like showing up to class on time. That's just basic. And that's not what's needed right now. We need somebody that's going to go to Congress, help set the agenda and fight for this district. Hulings, formerly legislative director and counsel for Rep. Jane Harman, a moderate California Democrat, has argued that his time on the Hill has positioned him to do just that. In that role, I drafted and ushered into law more pieces of legislation than Will Hurd has as a member of Congress, Hulings said at a recent debate. Meanwhile, Canales sees herself primed to specialize in both rural and urban development after a long history of federal employment in the Housing and Urban Development and Agriculture Departments. Recently, as a Barack Obama-appointed executive director of Texas Farm Service Agency, she oversaw the deployment of about $7.5 billion through a farm bill to Texas farmers and ranchers. Her time in the Agriculture Department dates to Bill Clintons administration, serving as a director in the Rural Development Texas office. "Agriculture's a business, Canales said. And that is business in both rural and urban American. So that, to me, is a very important component of what I bring to the table. Trevinos experience teaching U.S. history at Sam Houston High School, a public school on the East Side, has partly shaped his view on the importance of free public university tuition. Thats one peg of a platform that includes a $15 living wage, an aggressive push for renewable energy and, at the forefront, a single-payer Medicare for All system. I left the classroom to give this district the opportunity of voting for someone from the working class, Trevino said, pointing out that school districts represent the largest employer in Texas 23rd. This is a rare opportunity for this district. Now you're actually getting someone from the working class, someone who's only looking to represent the most vulnerable people. Trevino sees the current state of campaign finance laws as a barrier to enacting his Sanders-esque platform, arguing that the health care system is driven by a mix of profit motives and campaign contributions. He considers any sort of market-based health solution untenable. As a bit of an ideological outcast among the field, Trevino has not limited his attacks to Hurd and President Donald Trump, also knocking Hulings and Jones for their sizable fundraising advantage. A recent story in The Intercept, arguing that the Democratic establishment shuts out candidates like Trevino, has served for him as somewhat of a manifesto, as he tries to make the distinction that Democrat-aligned organizations like EMILYs List and End Citizens United, which have endorsed Jones and Hulings, respectively, personify the Democratic political machine. Trevino recently drew an endorsement from Sanders Our Revolution. In the first 45 days of the year, Jones has taken in $282,000, turning the fundraising tables on Hulings after he held a cash-on-hand edge in the year-end reports. She maintained $217,000, to Hulings $101,000, as of Feb. 14. Both candidates have raised more than the other three combined. Hulings and Trevino openly talk about their history of discourse on health care, with Hulings taking what he sees as a more pragmatic path to universal, affordable health care. Lawmakers must determine how to account for a multi-trillion tax increase needed to fund Medicare for All, hes argued. At the recent debate, Hulings told the audience to challenge lawmakers to provide specifics and explain health policy, saying easy slogans, one-liners arent good enough. Hes also previously said there are parts of the current system we will want to preserve. A lot of the innovations, technological developments, drug developments that happen in this country happen in part because there is a vibrant private sector driving innovation, Hulings said. I don't think we want to give that up. Jones has sided closer to Trevino, saying she believes the only incentive in health care should be the public's health, calling health care the moral courage issue of our time. She often mentions Texas high maternal mortality rate, and has at times has segued into the importance of electing diverse candidates as a way of providing wider health care access. We have to have the moral courage to say everyone in this country deserves health care, everyone in this country deserves to be healthy enough to take care of themselves, their family, their aging parents, Jones said. Trevino said Jones entertains some of the same ideas he does, without embracing them to the same extent. An example hes cited is one of Jones appearances on MSNBC, when Trevino noticed that Jones failed to mention support for the single-payer system listed on her campaign website. For me, it just tells me that her commitment to that issue is suspect, Trevino said. The campaign conversation has also revolved around immigration, with about 40 percent of the U.S.-Mexico border running along the district. The topic captured national attention through the January government shutdown tethered to a solution for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) program recipients. Around the same time, Hurd proposed a bipartisan immigration bill. The candidates have been largely critical of Hurds proposal, which includes protections for DACA recipients. The bill also requires federal officials to analyze whether physical barriers are necessary at certain parts of the border, though it does not fund an actual border wall. Criticizing the bill for being too moderate, the candidates have also taken exception to Hurds voting record, including a vote in 2015 in favor of an anti-DACA bill amendment. Will Hurd's proposal is kind of like if someone were to set your house on fire, and then they show up with a pail of water and look at you like you're crazy when you don't say thank you, Jones said. The candidates have found common ground on Hurd, with some seeing the race as a harbinger of the blue wave Democrats hope to see in November. We need to start winning seats like this one, Hulings said at a mid-February San Antonio rally with Julian and Joaquin Castro. The 23rd congressional district will be one of the seats that determine who controls the House of Representatives. For an ex-federal prosecutor, Trump has proven a natural target over his links to the ongoing special counsel investigation into Russian election meddling. Also, about 52 percent of voters in the district disapprove of Trump, compared to a 42 percent approval rating, according to a February survey by Public Policy Polling. Meanwhile, Hurd had a 46-31 favorable-unfavorable rating, the poll found, with a virtual tie 44 to 43 in a hypothetical matchup with a generic Democratic candidate. In a recent TV ad, Hulings fit about as many criticisms of Trump as possible into a 30-second bit. We know what our families need, Hulings said. And its not fear, or walls. Its education and jobs. I approve this message because Im running for Congress to stop Donald Trump from destroying the American Dream. Hulings has explained his opposition to Trumps proposed border wall in the context of his prosecutorial experience, noting that high-value narcotics typically flow into the U.S. through ports of entry, not on the backs of people crossing the Rio Grande. I've done hundreds of immigration cases, particularly on the border, Hulings said. I've worked with border patrol. I know what works with them and I know what doesn't. And a big, dumb wall in the middle of the desert isn't going to stop anything. Liberal billionaire George Soros earlier this month poured nearly $900,000 into the campaign of Joe Gonzales, a Democrat running to unseat Bexar County District Attorney Nicholas Nico LaHood in the party primary, according to reports filed Monday. The contributions, coming from the Soros-backed Texas Justice & Safety political action committee, came in the form of in-kind contributions, mostly for mailers, media buys including two TV ads and related expenditures. This campaign is about true criminal justice reform, Gonzales said Tuesday. Im proud to have the support of the Texas Justice and Public Safety PAC along with other national and local organizations who believe that it is time to have a true progressive Democrat in the Bexar County District Attorneys Office. The latest effort by Soros to swing the race in Gonzales favor in the March 6 primary comes after he kicked in more than $60,000 to the campaign in January, bringing the political financiers total in-kind contributions to $958,000. Soros PAC supplied Gonzales campaign with 22 donations, all but two of which came in February, that totaled $897,000. Gonzales received another $15,000 in individual contributions and spent $34,000. He reported about $1,000 in cash on hand. A prolific fundraiser himself, LaHood totaled $290,000 in contributions during the reporting period, which covered Jan. 26 to Feb. 24. In 2014, LaHood received about $1.2 million from Corpus Christi personal injury attorney Thomas J. Henry, which helped him end the 16-year reign of Republican District Attorney Susan Reed. LaHood said he found it alarming that Soros is attempting to push an unknown agenda. He put his faith in voters to root out the difference between his own campaign, which LaHood classified as grassroots, and that of Gonzales, whom he accused of essentially laundering money from Soros. My only agenda is to break the cycles of abuse/crime/hopelessness while trying to protect our community's children, he said in a text. I'll let the voters decide which agenda they want. He added: My opponent could not rub two pennies together with his local fundraising efforts, so he had to go out of state. Gonzales received $13,400 in cash contributions through the end of the year, before Soros PAC began contributing to his campaign. He raised another $5,200 through Jan. 25. Most of LaHoods contributions in the last reporting period came from individual cash donations, notably $100,000 from Martin Phipps PLLC. In October, Bexar County commissioners approved the Phipps Anderson Deacon LLP law firm to serve as co-lead counsel for the countys lawsuit against opioid drug manufacturers, on a recommendation from the DAs office. Gonzales, asked about the connection, said LaHood was selling out by accepting Phipps contributions. For his part, LaHood said the contributions from Soros and Phipps are not comparable, and that any campaign donations from Phipps have no bearing on his decision-making. I have never let a contribution influence a decision. Period, LaHood said. We are relying on Bexar County contributors. Joe sold himself to an out of town billionaire. In September, as LaHood announced his re-election bid, Henry flanked the district attorney on the steps of the Bexar County Courthouse. But he has yet to contribute to LaHoods campaign this cycle. Well before the most recent round of Soros funding, LaHood put out a video accusing Gonzales of trying to steal the district attorneys office away from you, the citizens of Bexar County. What do we know about George Soros? LaHood said in the video. We know that George Soros is a billionaire that has purchased at least 10 other district attorneys offices around the country, not to mention other political positions. A longtime backer of foreign political causes, including the growth of democratic institutions to supplant authoritarian regimes, Soros turned his attention to the U.S. in the mid-2000s. He contributed to several local prosecutor races in 2016. Texas conservatives, alarmed at the prospect of Soros influence spreading to other races here, have lashed out. In an email to supporters Wednesday, Gov. Greg Abbott, who is seeking re-election, warned of Soros donations to Gonzales. Whats the secret to a winning campaign? the email began. If youre a liberal running for district attorney, a truckload of cash from far-left billionaire George Soros seems to do the trick. It continued: Soros has been targeting district attorney races across the country and is shelling out MILLIONS to attack and defeat our conservative leaders. The email went on to mention the Bexar County district attorney race. Soros has often funded Democratic candidates running against Republicans, though in Harris County he initially supported the campaign of Morris Overstreet, who lost in the 2016 Democratic primary to Kim Ogg. Soros later contributed more than $583,000 to Oggs successful general election win. Early voting for the March 6 primary ends Friday. WASHINGTON The Supreme Courts announcement Monday that it will stay out of litigation over the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program for now marks a victory for DACA recipients but likely reduces pressure on Congress to find a permanent solution. The court declined to hear the Trump administrations extraordinary request to immediately review a lower-court decision that keeps in place protections for some 700,000 undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, including 124,000 in Texas. The ruling assures that the administrations March 5 deadline for ending the program will pass with key elements of DACA intact, enabling those who had already enrolled to continue applying for two-year renewals of their work authorizations. A lawyer involved in the case predicted that it could be June or July before appeals in two federal court injunctions, one in California and the other in New York, run their course. At least two other court challenges are in earlier stages in an array of litigation that could extend beyond the Supreme Courts present term. The Trump administration tried to skirt the rule of law, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra told reporters. This is a win for DACA recipients, a win for California and a win for the rule of law. The Trump administration responded by calling DACA clearly unlawful and accused a federal judge of wrongly intervening in congressional business. Referring to a ruling last month by U.S. District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco, a White House spokesman asserted that the the decision to unilaterally reimpose a program that Congress had explicitly and repeatedly rejected is a usurpation of legislative authority. In San Antonio, so-called Dreamers welcomed the ruling. The decision likely assures that Oziel Trevino, 23, a junior at Texas A&M University-San Antonio, will be able to renew his work authorization in two months, as he had hoped. Its a good thing to have a few more months of peace of mind knowing that deportation wont happen. But the issue should be resolved. They should not be stalling, he said, referring to failure in Congress to secure a DACA fix. David Rojas, a sophomore at Palo Alto College, said, Its always good when you find out that someone is trying to stop what Donald Trump is trying to do with DACA. Rojas, 24, brought to Texas from Monterrey, Mexico, at age 5, said the prospect of deportation hangs over his studies and his plan to become a journalist. I was raised here. I know the history of the United States, and I know the history of Texas. This is my home. If they send me to some place I dont know, Ill say I want to go home, he said. Laura Hernandez, a Baylor University law professor, said efforts aimed at a DACA solution should not stop because of what amounts to a temporary victory for Dreamers. No one should be lulled into thinking that with these renewals, we dont have to act quickly. Lets resolve this issue and clear up the fear and uncertainty, she said. U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said that despite the Supreme Court announcement, the reality is that thousands of DACA recipients have lost work authorizations and many others continue to be at risk of losing their deferred action status in the coming months if Congress does not act quickly. The courts refusal to step in likely brings a measure of relief to leaders in the GOP-run Congress, which remains unable to settle on a likely path to a DACA fix despite negotiations that began shortly after President Donald Trump declared in September that he was rescinding the Obama administration order establishing the program. This month, Trump effectively scuttled two bipartisan plans in the Senate by promising vetoes. The presidents own plan, which would give a path to citizenship to 1.8 million DACA-age immigrants in return for $25 billion in border wall funding and significant changes in legal immigration, drew just 39 supporters in Senate voting. Organizations pressing for immigration restrictions are getting behind legislation in the House that includes several of Trumps proposals, along with a mandatory E-Verify system requiring employers to determine work eligibility. The future of that bill is in doubt. The Federation for Immigration Reform asserted Monday that the court decision renders the March 5 deadline moot and that the next battle to protect Dreamers likely will take place in the run-up to the deadline for Congress to pass a spending bill to keep the government running. March 23 could be the last chance for open-border lobbyists and their allies to pass an amnesty for illegal aliens before the midterm elections, the federation said in a release. Immigrant advocates also are stepping up their efforts. On Monday, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops led a call-in to congressional offices that had been promoted Sunday in Catholic churches around the country. Callers were given a number that connected them initially with Bishop Joe S. Vasquez of the Diocese of Austin, who heads the bishops committee on migration. He instructed people to deliver this message when connected with congressional offices: I urge you to support a bipartisan, common-sense and humane solution for Dreamers. Protect Dreamers from deportation and provide them with a path to citizenship. On Tuesday, dozens of Catholic bishops, priests and nuns planned to get arrested in civil disobedience on Capitol Hill separate from the Conference of Catholic Bishops efforts as part of campaign by faith leaders to pressure Congress to act. The courts decision was expected, given that administrations have rarely succeeded in bypassing appellate courts except in matters of national security. The California case was brought by plaintiffs in four states along with Janet Napolitano, president of the University of California. In 2012 as Homeland Security secretary, Napolitano signed the document setting up DACA. Administration lawyers argued that the program was an unconstitutional exercise of authority. In his ruling, Judge Alsup wrote that the plaintiffs showed a likelihood of success that ending the program was arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion or not otherwise in accordance with law. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, the Senates No. 2 Republican, was among congressional leaders who have questioned rulings keeping DACA alive. I dont understand the basis on which the lower courts are saying that President Obama can create a program that his successor cannot end, Cornyn, R-Texas, told reporters recently. A previous version of this story mistakenly identified Oziel Trevino as a woman. Gathering last year at City Hall to discuss a potential diversion program for low-level marijuana offenders, city officials were surprised when an uninvited guest stormed into the room about 10 minutes into the meeting: Bexar County District Attorney Nico LaHood. Thats the only way to describe it he stormed in, said Jorge Estevez, former communications manager for Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales. He plops himself on the chair like he was upset that he had to be there. He starts asking questions like, What am I doing here? City officials were wondering the same thing. For months, Gonzales staff had been researching marijuana diversion programs at the councilwomans behest. They had tried to coordinate with LaHoods office, but his chief investigator abruptly canceled a meeting on the topic. Gonzales herself was under the impression that LaHood a Democrat whose party generally supports such programs was against it. She told us that, over the phone, he said that he basically doesnt want to do it, said Estevez, who left Gonzales office last month. LaHood, who is battling for re-election in the March 6 Democratic primary, did nothing at the meeting to dispel that notion. More than a dozen officials, including Police Chief William McManus and Councilmen Manny Pelaez and Cruz Shaw, were in attendance. Many who were there declined to discuss it on the record. Estevez, however, shared details of the meeting, which unfolded more like a confrontation. LaHood was upset that city officials were pushing the issue, insisting it was his exclusive jurisdiction. It starts escalating right away, Estevez said. He was basically giving us the impression that he thought it was a lame idea to move forward with cite-and-release. LaHood kept protesting, protesting, protesting about, how logistically do you think its going to work? At one point, (LaHood) started raising his voice, and Councilman Pelaez had to intervene. He said, Were all sitting here having a civil conversation. LaHood also performed a karate chop on the table to stress that he would never support legalizing marijuana, Estevez said. I had never been in a meeting with top officials who were that aggressive, he said. In the meeting, LaHood brought up two dramatic episodes in his own history: his arrest in 1994 for selling 200 Ecstasy pills at a strip club; and the murder of his brother, Michael, two years later. He was basically trying to tell us that he understood the (marijuana) issue, so he started bringing up, I used to sell drugs and my brother was murdered, Estevez said. He was basically giving himself street cred by mentioning those things. At the same time, he kept saying he felt like he was wasting his time there, he continued. He just kept rallying against it. He was basically saying we dont have a good plan in place. He stormed in, stormed out. About two weeks later, city officials turned on their televisions to see LaHood flanked by Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar and Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff; McManus was conspicuously absent announcing the creation of a future cite-and-release program. The news conference shocked city officials, who were given no advance warning. I dont know if Nico showed us his personal views in that meeting and in public hes showing us another face, Estevez said. LaHoods public face as creator of a new diversion program ought to serve him well in the Democratic primary. Currently, though, his program is barely operating; its restricted to the Bexar County Sheriffs Office as a pilot until the end of March. Reached for comment, LaHoods office did not address the contentious meeting at City Hall, saying only that the cite and release program is active with the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. In 45 to 60 days we intend to expand the program to our other local law enforcement agencies so they can decide if they wish to implement the program within their jurisdiction. A few weeks ago, McManus called a meeting with the district attorney to learn more information. I wanted to know what the plan was and if we could participate in the pilot, McManus told me. The answer was no, it was a county pilot, and wed hear from him down the road. On Monday, McManus still understood few details about LaHoods initiative other than it would allows officers discretion on whether to issue offenders a citation or take them to jail. As far as what happens after that, were not privy to that just yet, McManus said. In Houston, a similar initiative emerged with far more coordination. Last year, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg won the support of 56 local law enforcement agencies, including the Houston Police Department, for her pre-charge marijuana diversion program. We didnt get them all, mind you, but we did get the big ones, said Nathan Beedle, misdemeanor division chief in Oggs office. My boss had meetings with everybody and there were discussions. There was a collaborative discussion as to what they would be willing to participate in. Julian Castro told New Hampshire Democrats that he did an excellent job as mayor and an excellent job as HUD secretary (Ex-Mayor Castro raising profile; San Antonian pays a call on first presidential primary state, front page, Feb. 18:). LeBron James told reporters that he wont shut up and dribble because I mean too much to society. I mean too much to the youth (NBA ALL-STAR WEEKEND; LeBron thanks Ingraham for the attention, Sports, Feb. 18). Without going into the merits of such statements, I can only say Wow, arent they full of themselves? Chris Heinrichs Justified detention Re: Fiance of man legally in U.S. works to have him released, Metro, Feb. 16: The individual discussed, Jose Betancourt Rivera, is age 24, and in the U. S. from Mexico on a green card. He has been detained upon returning to the U. S. from Mexico. One thinks he would do everything in his power to maintain a clean record. However, at this young age, it appears he already has two convictions related to a controlled substance and a conviction for driving while intoxicated. Those are instances when he was caught. It is doubtful if most people are caught for every law violation of this type. To say that he is no danger to society may be a gross misstatement. Contrary to the impression the article seems to convey, it appears that his detention was entirely appropriate. It is also questionable if the article was worthy of its length and location in the paper. Kenneth E. Ratcliff, Cibolo Sorry, advertisers Re: Dilly Dilly! The story behind the Bud Light ad, Business, Feb. 4: The phrase Dilly, Dilly was not invented out of thin air by Budweiser advertising writers, as they stated in the article. It was a hit song in 1949 entitled Lavender Blue by Sammy Turner and has been performed by various artists, including Burl Ives. Its an English folk song and nursery rhyme. Its appropriate for the king of beers, since its about a man who says if he were king, his queen would wear a dress of lavender blue at their wedding, dilly, dilly. Tony Tucci, Boerne The city needs him Re: Brockhouse wrong, Your Turn, Feb. 6: Greg Brockhouse and his unadulterated nerve are exactly what this city needs. When our elected representatives go lockstep with the powers that be (mayor and city manager), the voices of the people are not heard. Ask your friends and neighbors about Sheryl Sculleys salary and bonuses, and then youll see that many San Antonians share Brockhouses views. The mayor also doesnt have the fans he had when elected, after weve had the opportunity to see him in action or inaction. I think Brockhouse is looking out for all of us, and Im happy he represents my council district. Daniel Torres A vote for honesty What would we do if the main requirement for public office was a little thing I call complete honesty? I think we would have to call new elections, for both males and females. Could we find someone who has not cheated on his or her spouse? Ann Dwyer Tax windfall House Speaker Paul Ryan tweeted that an extra $1.50 a week in a public-school secretarys paycheck would cover a Costco membership for a year due to the tax overhaul. He deleted it after criticism that he was out of touch. Shame on you, Paul Ryan! You also could have tweeted that it would cover a cheeseburger a week from McDonalds for a year. Or an extra box of cereal a month, the brand kind, not the generic brands. Or maybe the secretary could order some of that fine Wisconsin cheese from your home state. What a great surplus to find in your check. I for one am thrilled to see that Republican asininity is alive and well in the US of A! Thank you, Paul Ryan. Gabriel Fernandez National dilemma Considering the recent release of material by Rep. Devin Nunes, we Americans are confronted by a dilemma are we a nation living under the rule of law or are we a nation where the law and what is legal are determined by its ruler? Mel Waldgeir Sensible gun control May I respectfully recommend this great nation somehow regain its sanity and Congress seriously enact meaningful gun control legislation. If all the right-wing whackos and mindless NRA defenders of the Second Amendment are grieved, so be it. We will send them our thoughts and prayers. Jerry Thompson, Laredo Legalize marijuana I watched both MSNBC and Fox News one morning, and there was something everyone agreed on (Surprise!) There is no money to fix our old and failing infrastructure. Well, I have an idea Im sure would work but no one is talking about. Legalize recreational marijuana nationwide and tax it as the federal government does liquor. Not only would there be enough to rebuild the infrastructure, but it also would reduce crime and prison budgets as well. But hey ... thats just too easy an answer ... so it must be immoral, right? J. Kristi Hood Fashion designer Jennifer Butler cant watch the Oscars without mentally re-dressing the actors on the red carpet. I would love to dress somebody like Meryl Streep. I dont think shes properly represented, ever, says Butler, who works out of a studio and retail space in the Greenfield Hill section of Fairfield. I dont think she ever looks as great as she could. She also would love to go back in time and work with such Hollywood icons as Jean Harlow, Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. They represent Old Hollywood, a time when actresses dressed themselves as distinctive individuals. Today, too many personalities fall into the hands of stylists, and their fashion choices are disconnected. Its very bland now, Butler says. Just one nude, beaded dress after another. And dont get her started about those body-hugging gowns with the flair across the bottom hem. I hate all those tight mermaid-looking things; theyre so silly. Every time you think theyre going to stop, they just continue on. Unbelievable. She still appears shattered by an Oscar moment that happened almost 20 years ago. Look at Gwyneth Paltrow. When she won for Shakespeare in Love, she had that big pink dress on from Ralph Lauren that didnt fit her right in the top. And then, another year she has that white Gucci thing with the cape that was gorgeous, and then another year she wore that see-through T-shirt, where she looked like she just finished nursing. Thats just the idea that you have no style, youre just flip-flopping all over the place. She blames the stars over-reliance on stylists who dont necessarily get their client. The thing is now its all stylists, 100 percent stylists, so its very rare that someone would just go pick out a dress that is reflective of what they love, Butler says. Some stylists are great and they make it about the person, but a lot of it is just about the dress, or the moment, or whos paying them. It wasnt always so. Grace Kelly always looked like Grace Kelly. Givenchy understood that Audrey Hepburn was a person, not just walking out as a mannequin, Butler says. Among todays stars who get it right, theres Rooney Mara, who makes some interesting choices, and Kate Winslet, who looks beautiful all the time. Butler taught herself to sew by visiting the local library, which contained an archive of Vogue magazines from the 1930s and 40s. She would figure out how to achieve the looks she found in print. The thing I loved was thinking of what you wanted to wear and executing it, she says. She has been designing clothing since she was 15, selling her first garments in her hometown of Providence, R.I. Perhaps born too late, her career started in an era that made women look like clowns. The 80s were terrible, Butler says without hesitation. But there was at least one thing about the 1980s that was in Butlers favor: More independent shops inhabited the RISD-Brown neighborhoods of her hometown, and were receptive to a teenager looking for a start. There were a couple of places I would bring clothes into and youd come back in a couple of weeks, and if they sold, youd get money for them, she says. Her style was grounded in a past generation that she was too young to remember firsthand. It was definitely a mod-60s kind of thing, a little bit funky, short skirts and lot of A-line, Butler says. On campus, apparently, lots of shoppers agreed that mainstream styles were hideous. It was the second time the 60s were popular. Then I opened a little studio and started doing shows at different places. Butler breaks out of her nostalgic mood when thinking of how the #MeToo movement shaped the Golden Globes red carpet in January. United against the widespread prevalence of sexual assault and harassment, the vast majority of women in attendance wore all-black outfits. The gesture fell short, she says. I would have rather seen all the men do something, Butler says. I would have liked to see all the women wear tuxedos. If they really want to make that statement, why dont they wear tuxedos? You can do a lot with a tuxedo. Pants, overall, are overlooked, she says. Id like to see more jumpsuits at the Oscars. I do pants a lot for black-tie events. A fluid pant is just as elegant as a dress, but I think it brings in a masculine element and a lot of people arent comfortable with that when they dress for an event like that. For the actress who is sticking with a traditional gown, Butler says its OK to go big. There's nothing wrong with a giant dress that takes up the space of five people, if thats what you want to wear. Jennifer Butlers studio and retail space is at 75 Hillside Road, in the Greenfield Hill section of Fairfield; 203-256-5768; www.jenniferbutler.com. A year after lawn irrigation restrictions were put in place in Greenwich and other parts of Fairfield County, Aquarion Water Co. began sharing tips for water conservation for year two. Smart Watering Co. founder Ted Moriarty shared tips on cost-effective water conservation techniques to equip companies handle another summer of restricted water usage at a conference Tuesday morning at the University of Connecticuts Stamford campus. Members of his audience were experts in the field some wearing sweatshirts and hats with logos from Rainmaker Irrigation, Franks Inground Sprinklers, Sam Bridge Nursery and Greenhouses, Wetlawn Irrigation, the Connecticut Irrigation Contractors Association, and Gerbert and Sons Landscaping and Irrigation, among others. (Customers) are looking at us as an industry to do this, and I think we can, Moriarty said. We have a very educated group of contractors in this state. I think we have a good, solid industry knowledge (to help us) deal with these challenges. Some of the biggest issues in irrigation systems are easy to fix and can instantly improve the efficacy of water used conserving water and reducing costs at the same time, Moriarty said. When an irrigation system has a high level of water distribution uniformity, or covers an area evenly to provide sufficient water, less water is required, he said. When a systems pressure is too high or too low, he said, it can hurt the distribution of water, as can overspraying or off-target spraying. We have so many tools at our disposal, said Moriarty. To use a sprinkler and think its one-size-fits-all we cant do that anymore. Even tilted or sunken irrigation heads that have been beaten by winter weather can affect the distribution of water. If we can make sure nozzles are level to grade, he said, that can bring us to uniformity. Implementing these changes and ensuring that water usage is decreased 20 percent from 2015 can qualify property owners for high-efficiency designations in the form of plaques or signs on their properties and variances, or exceptions, to water usage restrictions based on their needs. Any homeowner who qualified for these exemptions last year will be automatically renewed for the upcoming season, Aquarion Director of Supply Operatios Jeff Ulrich said. But conditional variances must be reassessed. Last fall, local reservoir levels were lower than in 2016, but without water restrictions they would have been even lower, according to the Aquarion representatives. Although recent rainfall has brought the Greenwich reservoir system to 80 percent capacity slightly above the 75 percent level of this time last year water levels are still below the 20-year average, which for February stand at 92 percent. Were trying to justify the reasons why weve gone to the two-day system, said Ulrich. The water ban is a last resort and last year the reductions we got saved us. The watering restriction has been imposed in Greenwich as well as in Stamford, Darien, New Canaan, Newtown and Westport. HARTFORD A new Quinnipiac University poll found huge support for new gun control measures in the wake of the tragic high school massacre last week in Florida. According to the poll conducted from Feb. 16 to Feb. 19 and released Tuesday, 66 percent of American voters support stricter gun laws, with 31 percent opposed the highest level of support ever measured by Quinnipiac. The poll also found that 67 percent of those surveyed support a nationwide ban on the sale of assault weapons. "If you think Americans are largely unmoved by the mass shootings, you should think again," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "Support for stricter gun laws is up 19 points in little more than 2 years." Scott Wilson, president of the Connecticut Citizens Defense League, said support for gun control always rises after a mass shooting. Its on the tail end of an emotionally charged event, Wilson said of the poll. But it strikes me as peculiar that we consider forfeiting our constitutional rights as the first solution as opposed to looking at other solutions. Wilson noted police were called many times regarding the 19 year old Florida shooter before his rampage and the FBI failed to follow through on reports that he posed a danger. There are other things we can try to stem the violence, Wilson said, adding he supports a bill introduced in Florida that would allow teachers to carry guns. The polls also found that 50 percent of gun owners support stronger controls, compared to 44 percent opposed and support for universal background checks was almost universal 97 percent in favor compared to two percent against. The college noted that support for gun control is at its highest level since the Quinnipiac University poll began focusing on the issue in the wake of the Sandy Hook massacre. Other findings include: 83 percent support for a mandatory waiting period for all gun purchases, compared to 14 percent in opposition. 67 percent of voters said its too easy to buy a gun in the U.S. 75 percent of voters said Congress needs to do more to reduce gun violence. Malloy said support for new guns laws is growing among a key block of voters. "In the last two months, some of the biggest surges in support for tightening gun laws comes from demographic groups you may not expect, independent voters, men, and whites with no college degree," Malloy said. Place Your Advert Thousands of Active jobseekers are looking for new agricultural positions in 2020. Call us now to discuss the options for advertising your vacancy in our job section. Government proposals have been launched which could see 150m in support payments redirected to a new system of paying farmers "public money for public goods". It said that reducing direct payments could free up 150 million for the environment and other public goods. The consultation, launched today (27 February) by Defra Secretary Michael Gove, wants to see an end to direct payments based on the amount of land farmed. Instead, the money will be redirected from direct payments under the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP) to a new system based on work to enhance the environment and invest in sustainable food production. Defra said the current system of support for farmers and landowners shaped by the CAP is "inefficient and inequitable". The department said it does not secure the public goods needed to enhance the environment, such as resilient habitats, richer wildlife, healthier rivers and cleaner water. Other public goods which could be supported include investment in technology and skills to improve productivity, providing public access to farmland and the countryside, enhanced welfare standards for livestock and measures to support the resilience of rural and upland communities. The government has also again confirmed it will continue to commit the same cash total in funds for farm support until the end of this Parliament in 2022. 'Agricultural transition' It has today set out proposals for an agricultural transition lasting a number of years beyond the implementation period during which direct payments would continue,. Defra said this will provide "stability and certainty" for farmers as they prepare for the new system. At the same time, however, reductions to direct payments to the largest landowners first could free up around 150 million in the first year of the agricultural transition period, which could be used to boost farmers delivering environmental enhancement and other public goods. Mr Gove said it is an "historic opportunity" to deliver a farming policy which works for the whole industry. "Today we are asking for the views of those who will be affected to make sure we get this right so any future schemes reflect the reality of life for famers and food producers," he explained. "The proposals in this paper set out a range of possible paths to a brighter future for farming. They are the beginning of a conversation, not a conclusion and we want everyone who cares about the food we eat and the environment around us to contribute." National Farmers Union president Minette Batters told the BBC: "Michael Gove has committed now to launching a national food plan, we've been lobbying for that for a long time. "We feel that food has been taken for granted for far too long, and now is the time to take it seriously." Seeking views Mr Gove said the consultation is an opportunity for farmers to be "more central to government thinking". Among the range of proposals put forward by the government in todays consultation, the Government is seeking views on: Options for how to gradually phase out direct payments, starting with the largest landowners, whilst developing a new environmental land management scheme. The range of public goods that could qualify for government funding under the new schemes, such as high animal welfare standards, wildlife protection, public access, and new technologies. Measures to move away from heavy handed enforcement which penalises farmers for minor errors, including a more efficient inspection regime to uphold important environmental and animal welfare standards. New business models and incentives for industry to invest in innovation and new technologies to increase their profitability. The consultation will run for ten weeks, closing on 8 May 2018. A Lincolnshire farming estate spanning over 3200 acres, which has been developed over three generations of the same family, has come to the market. Rural agency Fisher German and Savills are marketing Rainthorpe Farms, one of the largest commercial farming enterprises on the outskirts of Lincoln. Spanning over 3,204 acres, the farm is available as a whole or in seven principal and sub lots and is one of the largest commercial arable holdings to come to the open market in Lincolnshire in the last 20 years. The two agency's say it is well served with residential dwellings and farm buildings, with grain storage facilities located within easy access of most of the major land parcels. The farm spans over 3,204 acres (Photo: Savills) The farm has been developed over three generations of the Rainthorpe family, whose achievements include the strategic acquisition of farms and land parcels and a detailed investment programme of under drainage, field amalgamation to increase the scale and allow for extensive use of modern farm machinery techniques, the establishment of new grain drying and farm building facilities. 'Fascinating history' The estate consists of grade 2 and 3 arable land (Photo: Savills) Robert Hurst, of Fisher German, said Rainthorpe Farm has a "fascinating history" and it is "very rare" to see something of this scale come to the market. It comprises a diverse commercial farming enterprise well serviced by extensive farm buildings and residential dwellings, including five cottages which are currently let on residential tenancies, Mr Hurst said. Some of the field enclosures are now in excess of 200 acres in size, making them very efficient for the use of modern farming machinery. The farm is likely to appeal to purchasers looking to acquire an established large scale commercial arable farm or indeed to others looking to acquire smaller parcels of land as investments or to add to their existing holdings. Traditional systems The farm is located on the edge of the villages of Welton, Scothern, Snelland, Wickenby, Holton cum Beckering, Snarford and Faldingworth. It focuses on traditional arable production systems, including cereal cropping with oilseed rape, sugar beet and potatoes, spring beans and peas, and over the years there has been a significant investment in increasing the efficiencies of the farm. Rainthorpe Farms is offered for sale by private treaty as a whole or in up to seven principal and sub lots, with a guide price of 25million in its entirety. Wealthy farmers and landowners should not face "sudden and dramatic cuts" to pave way for new support system post-Brexit, according to the CLA. According to the rural organisation, which represents landowners and farmers, no farming or rural business, no matter how wealthy its owners are perceived to be, should face "sudden and dramatic" cuts. The comments follow the release of the government's publication of the consultation on future farming policy released today (27 February). The CLA says it is "seriously lacking" in detail. It has reacted with disappointment to the "many unanswered questions" that remain following its release by Defra. The long-anticipated consultation paper is the pre-cursor to promised legislation that is required to manage the transition of the UKs farming industry out of the EU and the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). It proposes 150m in support payments redirected from wealthy farmers and landowners to a new system of paying farmers "public money for public goods". 'Open questions' CLA President Tim Breitmeyer said the organisation is "up for change", and British farming industry "can do better" than existing EU farming policy. However, Mr Breitmeyer said the consultation leaves "open questions, few decisions and no answers". "We can make our industry more productive and more profitable and we can deliver world-leading standards in animal welfare and environmental protection. But to do this we need certainty and time to plan," he said. "In just over a year from now we will be leaving the EU. Love it or hate it, the EU has shaped the way we farm, provided most of our customers and been a source of vital income for thousands of businesses." 'Clarity' Mr Breitmeyer said British farming businesses can "thrive" outside the EU, but only if there are plans and investment. "Government has a responsibility to provide clarity and as greater certainty as it is possible to give. We will be asking Ministers for urgent answers on when they will deliver this," he added. "The consultation sets out important areas where decisions are needed: how can we manage an effective transition out of the current system, how long should it be? If money is to be removed, how much and from whom? "Our message is that in the short-term, only money that is clearly necessary for transitional measures should be taken out of the system, and no business, no matter how wealthy its owners are perceived to be, should face sudden and dramatic cuts." Redirected The consultation wants to see an end to direct payments based on the amount of land farmed. Instead, the money will be redirected from direct payments under the CAP to a new system based on work to enhance the environment and invest in sustainable food production. Mr Breitmeyer added: "In a few months the Government will bring forward legislation that will set the direction for the next generation of farming and land management. It has promised a bold vision for a profitable industry which can deliver environmental management, one we consistently have supported. "But it is the detail, not the words, that will define farming's future and this is still seriously lacking." View on this page: FDA Announcements | On Video: How FDAs Medical Product Centers Are Working to Help Patients | Perspectives on Rare Disease Day Across the Agency | On Video: Remarks from Stakeholders and Patients | Celebratory Program on March 1, 2018 A Message from the Commissioner Scientists have identified nearly 7,000 rare diseases ranging from rare cancers to metabolic disease and in the United States alone, more than 30 million peopleor 1 out of every 10 Americanshave at least one rare disease. Tragically, more than half of these people are children. The United States observes the last day of February as Rare Disease Day to raise awareness among the public and decision-makers about rare diseases and their impact on patients lives. Here at FDA, the observance has been expanded to include a full week of activities to reflect on what progress we have madeand what more needs to be done. Thirty-five years ago, there were few drugs and fewer devices to treat these rare diseases. To spur drug development, Congress enacted the Orphan Drug Act in 1983, which provided financial incentives and other inducements. This was followed in 1990 with legislation establishing a rare disease path to market for medical devices. Since the original Act was passed, weve made great progress. Over the last 35 years, drugs and biologics have been developed and approved for 650 rare disease indications, and 72 devices have received approval for orphan indication under the humanitarian device program. In 2017, FDA had its most approvals yet for rare disease indications. Despite our successes, there are still no treatments for the vast proportion of rare diseases or conditions. FDA is committed to do what we can to stimulate the development of more products by improving the consistency and efficiency of our reviews, streamlining our processes and supporting rare disease research. We have developed a series of new videos and other materials that explain the scope of what FDA is doing to encourage the development of medical products for rare diseases. I invite you to take a look at them. Scott Gottlieb, M.D., Commissioner of Food and Drugs On Video: How FDAs Medical Product Centers Are Working to Help Patients Learn about a recently approved new therapy that helps treat a rare childhood cancer from Peter Marks, M.D., Director of FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. Janet Woodcock, M.D., Director of FDAs Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, gives her perspective on new therapies, along with a Batten disease advocate and other FDA staff. FDA has approved 72 devices for rare diseases under the Humanitarian Use Device program, notes Jeffrey Shuren, M.D., J.D., Director of FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health. Agency experts describe three of them. Perspectives on Rare Disease Day Across the Agency On Video: Remarks from Stakeholders and Patients These patient and stakeholder videos reflect the views of those in the videos and should not be construed to represent FDA's views or policies. and Sridevi passed away in Dubai on Saturday night after reportedly suffering from a cardiac arrest. The actress was in Dubai to attend a family wedding along with her husband Boney Kapoor and younger daughter Khushi. It's being said that Sridevis body was found in the bathroom of her hotel room. Boney Kapoors spokesperson said yesterday that the family is in a complete state of shock and require a little personal space to deal with the news. It was earlier reported that Sridevis body would reach Mumbai on Sunday itself, however, due to delays in clearance, the body is expected to be flown into Mumbai in Mukesh Ambanis private aircraft by evening today.The latest reports suggest that the Dubai Police has handed over the letter of releasing the mortal remains of first female superstar of Bollywood to her family. The family is all set to bring her mortal remains back to India by today evening. The entire film industry along with members of the media, Sridevi's familyfans are waiting for an opportunity to pay their last respects the soonest. Watch this space for more news on the same. Sridevi's Mortal Remains Released The Consulate General of India in Dubai confirmed that the Dubai police have handed over the letters for the release of Sridevi's mortal remains. Embalming Process The mortal remains of Sridevi is now being sent to embalming and the process might take 3 to 4 hours. Family Members It is reported that Sridevi's family members have arrived at morgue to claim her body. Indian Mission The Indian Mission is also with the family members of Sridevi at the morgue. Communicable Disease Embalming helps to protect the public from communicable disease which spreads through the mortal remains. Rare Situation Also, communicable disease spreading to the public is is a extremely rare situation. It's A Must Embalming is required when the mortal remains is transported by a plane or train from one country to another. Mortal Remains It is expected that right after the Embalming is completed, Sridevi's mortal remains will be flown to India. Three Full Days The entire legal process took three full days and finally the Dubai police have handed over the letters for the release of Sridevi's mortal remains. In Mourning Bollywood celebrities are currently mourning the death of Sridevi at Anil Kapoor's residence in Mumbai. The private jet carrying the mortal remains of legendary actress Sridevi has landed at the Mumbai airport. If reports are to be believed then an ambulance from Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital is at the airport to take her body to Boney Kapoor's residence. There were 10 individuals on board the flight, including Boney Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor, Arjun Kapoor, Reena Marwah and Sandeep Marwah. We hear that Anil Kapoor along with his daughter Sonam Kapoor have arrived at the airport to receive Sridevi's body. Here's the timeline of events- 10.40 pm- Sridevi's mortal remains reach her Lokhandwala residence. There is a lot of commotion outside the house, with hundreds of fans, a huge media contingent and heavy police presence. 10.14 pm- The ambulance carrying Sridevi's mortal remains leaves the the airport and heads towards her residence in Green Acres, Lokhandwala. 9.38 pm- The private jet carrying the mortal remains of actress Sridevi arrived in Mumbai. 9.09 pm- Anil Kapoor arrived at the airport to receive the body. Earlier, the family had issued an statement which read, "Khushi, Janhvi, Boney Kapoor and the entire Kapoor and Ayyappan families are deeply bereaved and shocked with the untimely loss of Sridevi Kapoor. Late Sridevi Kapoor passed away in Dubai, UAE, on Saturday February 24th. We thank the film fraternity, media, fans of late Sridevi Kapoor and all the well-wishers for their prayers, support and sensitivity during our moment of immense grief. We request you to kindly join us in paying our last respect to a remarkable actor, beloved wife and loving mother." The condolence meet for Sridevi will be held on February 28 at The Celebrations Club in Andheri, Mumbai from 9.30 to 12.30 pm. The funeral and last rites will be held at Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery from 3.30 pm onwards. Sridevi's sudden demise has left the entire nation in deep grief and left millions of her fans heartbroken. Reportedly 'cardiac arrest' was speculated to be the cause of death. However the autopsy report confirmed that the actress passed away due to 'accidental drowning'. Later the Dubai police officials had conducted an investigation and had transferred the case to the Public Prosecution. The case finally came to a closure today and the papers were handed over to the family to begin the repatriation process. After the embalming process was completed, the family left with Sridevi's mortal remains from Dubai in a private charted jet. Reporter Jumps Into A Bath Tub The Indian media has sensationalised the death of Sridevi and has gone overboard in reporting. While some outlets revealed the news, the others tried to add masala and spice in terms of reporting. Maut Ka Bath Tub A famous and reputed channel ran a 60 minutes segment with a bizarre title named 'Maut Ka Bath Tub'. Dramatic News If that was not enough, a reporter even jumped into the bath tub to make it even the more dramatic and absurd. Major Calculations Another news channel, carried a segment calculating the height and width of a bath tub against the height of Sridevi and her body structure. Even mathematicians might go crazy after watching the show. No Shoes In Washroom A Hindi channel, ran a segment on Sridevi's death with the backdrop of a washroom and the anchor, a well known woman in news business, reported the news without her shoes on! Of course, who would stand in the washroom with shoes on, folks! So precise, much awesome. Conspiracy Theories This is not fully over yet, many news channels carried segments with ridiculous conspiracy theories that'll even put Internet trollers to shame. Khaleej Times Dubai based news publication Khaleej Times lashed out against the Indian media, "Why jump to conclusions?" and asked them to be patient until the authorities get to the bottom of the case. Masala Is The Boss Well, Khaleej Times is wrong here! There is no such thing as "patience" and "get to the bottom of things" when it comes to the Indian media. TRP is always king! So True When it comes to masala and spices, the Indian media and also its film industry never fails to show who's really the boss. Dubai Public Prosecution Well, let's wait for the official confirmation from the Dubai Public Prosecution and not speculate Sridevi's sudden demise. Dubai Airport Sridevi's mortal remains reaches Dubai airport and might reach India by midnight. Mortal Remains The mortal remains were sent to the Dubai airport after completing the embalming process. Final Certificate The final certificate reads, Sridevi's body has "been sealed in a suitable coffin and is in a fit condition to travel by air or sea." Accidental Drowning The cause of Sridevi's death still reads as "accidental drawning" instead of drowning. Arabic Version However, the Arabic version of the certificate has no errors and the English version has the error due to translation mistake. Cancel Her Passport The Indian Consulate in Dubai will cancel the passport of Sridevi and complete the other few formalities. Family Members Sridevi's family members will also leave Dubai and reach Mumbai by midnight. DPP Case Closed The Dubai Public Prosecution revealed that Sridevi's death was due to "accidental drowning and loss of consciousness." Case Closed All the legal formalities of Sridevi's death has been closed in Dubai. Funeral Services The condolence meet for the late actres will be held on February 28 at The Celebrations Club in Andheri, Mumbai from 9.30 to 12.30 pm. The funeral and last rites will be held at Vile Parle Seva Samaj Crematorium and Hindu Cemetery from 3.30 onwards. Family Statement YRF issued an official statement which read- 'Khushi, Janhvi, Boney Kapoor and the entire Kapoor and Ayyappan families are deeply bereaved and shocked with the untimely loss of Sridevi Kapoor. Late Sridevi Kapoor passed away in Dubai, UAE, on Saturday February 24th. We thank the film fraternity, media, fans of late Sridevi Kapoor and all the well-wishers for their prayers, support and sensitivity during our moment of immense grief. We request you to kindly join us in paying our last respect to a remarkable actor, beloved wife and loving mother.' Forensic Science Explains Drowning In A Bath Tub "If they are near water, this can quickly lead to an accidental drowning. Additionally, simple fatigue or exhaustion could result in a person falling into a tub, unable to react in time after being submerged in water," revealed Bhoopesh K Sharma to Khaleej Times. Forensic Science Expert Bhoopesh K Sharma is a forensic science expert and an assistant professor and programme leader for forensic science at the Amity University Dubai. Downing In A Bath Tub Is Possible So as per the expert, one can drown in a bath tub all by themselves due to various different reasons and changes in the body. Emergency Situations Emergency situations like heart attack, stroke and sudden seizures can lead a person to drown in a bath tub. Unconscious Stage These type of emergency situations make a person fall into a semi-conscious or unconscious stage, thus resulting in drowning. Even Simple Reasons Can Cause Drowning Not only emergency situations, even simple exhaustion and fatigue can result in a person drowning in a bath tub, states Bhoopesh K Sharma. Incapable To React The drowning occurs as the person is incapable to react on time after being submerged underwater, thus causing death. Brain Vs Body Signals When the human mind is blocked and the body receives no signals from the brain and that too while being submerged underwater, the inevitable happens. Completely Possible So yes, all these reasons cause accidental drowning and it's really possible for a person to drown in a bath tub, all by themselves. Dubai Public Prosecution We will have to wait for the official report from the Dubai Public Prosecution (DPP) on what really caused Sridevi's death. Case Transferred To Dubai Public Prosecution The Dubai Public Prosecution (DPP) has asked the Indian Consulate to submit all previous medical records of Sridevi from India. Another Post Mortem Report The DPP has the authority to seek another post mortem report if they find any discrepancies with the previous medical record as against the accidental drowning, if it feels the need to do so. Recreate The Exact Sequence Of Events Sources claim that the DPP is planning to recreate the exact sequence of events that led to Sridevi's death in room no. 2201 at the Jumeirah Emirates Towers. Thoroughly Investigated, As Per Law As per the Dubai law, a death occurring anywhere in the Emirates must be thoroughly investigated, even if it's a natural death. Translation Error The official death certificate was first issued in Arabic, and a translated version was released thereafter in English with a translation mistake as "accidental drawning" which should actually be read as 'drowning'" Very Tedious Various levels of Govt official departments have to clear the NOC and only then can the mortal remains be flown out of the country. Dr. Sami Wadie The accidental drowning report was signed and sealed by Dr. Sami Wadie, a specialist in public health in Dubai. Police Interrogation Reports also claim that the police and the DPP have interrogated Boney Kapoor and Mohit Marwah and his family. However, the claims have been refuted. Not Cardiac Arrest, But Accidental Drowning It was previously reported that Sridevi died due to cardiac arrest, but the authorities had a twist in the tale stating that her death was caused due to accidental drowning. DPP Working On The Case The police and the DPP have questioned the hotel staff and it looks like we will have to wait until the DPP clears the case and only then will Sridevi's mortal remains be flown back to India. Dubai Police Confirms The Cause Of Sridevi's Death As Accidental Drowning In a series of tweets, the Dubai confirmed that the cause of actress Sridevi's death as accidental drowning and also posted a series of updates on the same. Case Transferred To Dubai Prosecution The Dubai Police officials told Khaleej Times that Sridevi's death was caused due to drowning in her room apartment 2201 Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel after losing consciousness. The case has been referred to the Dubai public prosecution for further investigation. What Could Be The Reason For Delay? As per Khaleej Times, 'Officials also stated that a formal medical committee, under the supervision of senior police officials, is supervising the investigation. The police department is working beyond the working hours. Until the time of print, the body was not released and only social workers are waiting in front of the forensic department. The exact reason for the delay cannot be ascertained, but as of now, papers are with the public prosecution department.' Boney Kapoor Was Not Interrogated According to few media reports, Boney Kapoor was summoned by the Dubai police to Bur Dubai police station for investigation. However, a Khaleej Times report denied these speculations and stated that per standard police investigation procedures, Boney, only provided his testimony on Sunday morning. The conversation between police and the director took place when her body was discovered at Jumeirah Emirates Tower Hotel on the night of her death. However, he was not called by the police on Monday for further interrogation. All media reports regarding further questioning are baseless. Investigation Is Still On Consul-General of India Vipul was quoted as saying, "The matters are currently entirely with the public prosecution at the moment. We are hoping that proceedings would be completed soon." Let's Be Responsible Indian envoy to UAE Navdeep Suri said they were waiting for the "clearance" from Dubai authorities for the body to be flown back to Mumbai. He had tweeted last night, " The media interest in untimely demise of #Sridevi is understandable. But the frenzy of speculation does not help. Imp to note that: We are working with local authorities to ensure that mortal remains can be sent to India at the earliest. We are on the job. We are in regular contact with the family of #Sridevi and other well- wishers. We share their pain." He had further added, " Our experience in similar cases tells us that it does take 2-3 days to complete processes. We leave it to the experts to determine cause of demise. Let's be responsible." Dulquer Salmaan At Vanitha Film Awards Dulquer Salmaan was adjudged as the Most Popular Hero in the recently held Vanitha Film Awards. The actor was present for the big function, which was held in Greenfield Stadium, Trivandrum on February 25, 2018. Dulquer Salmaan & Shruti Hassan Together Popular acress Shruti Hassan was one of the prominent guests of the function. In fact, it was Shruti Hassan who handed over the trophy for the Most Popular Hero to Dulquer Salmaan and the audiences got to see these two young sensations together on stage. The Special Request.. Interestingly, a special request came in for Dulquer Salmaan and Shruti Haasan. The much loved actors were asked to dance on stage and they didn't shy away either. A superhit song was played for the task. The Dance.. Any guesses on the song? Yes, the song Aaluma Doluma from the Ajith starrer Vedhalam, which featured Shruti Hassan as the leading lady was played for them. Both Dulquer Salmaan and Shruthi Hassan rocked on the stage with their smart moves and entertained the audiences in their own style.The video of the same was revealed through the official YouTube channel of Vanitha. VIDEO COURTESY: VANITHA The Different Get-ups Earlier, while speaking to Manorama News, producer Venu Kunnapilly had revealed that Mammootty will be seen in four different get-ups in this upcoming magnum opus. Well, Mammootty is one such actor who has brought in a uniqueness to each character that he portrays and his ability to adapt to different get-ups has always been amazing. So, we definitely can expect something special. The Big Surprise... In fact, it was also revealed that in one of the get-ups, Mammootty will be seen appearing with a feminine touch and this particular character will have good screen time in the film. It would be indeed a challenging task and the master actor is sure to pull it off with ease. Neeraj madhav about Maamaankam.. Young actor Neeraj Madhav will also be seen essaying a crucial role in this much awaited venture of Mammootty. Recently, Neeraj Madhav took to Facebook to express his excitement on working with Mammootty in the movie Maamaankam. On his Facebook post, the young actor has written that the film will be an epic venture. The Action Scenes.. According to the reports, Maamaankam will have some spectacular action scenes and the team has roped in Jaik Stunts from Thailand for the choreography of the sequences and Mammootty is expected to come out with a spectacular show in this aspect as well. Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A)(NYSE:BRK.B) is home to many excellent insurance companies. GEICO and its BH Reinsurance unit come to mind as some of the biggest, and certainly the best in their respective markets. But when it comes to underwriting profits, at least over the last decade or so, few have topped its fastest-growing insurance unit, Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group. The mashup of insurance companies that are reported on a combined basis as BH Primary Group don't get much press. Collectively, they're relatively small and relatively new. But they're also incredibly profitable, putting up the best underwriting results of any of Berkshire's insurers over the last decade. Profits in risk Last year was a dismal year for insurance, as Warren Buffett estimated that the industry lost $100 billion to catastrophes, primarily due to three major hurricanes (Harvey, Irma, and Maria). That figure would rival the losses experienced in 2005, when Hurricane Katrina tore through the Gulf of Mexico. But whereas most insurers posted underwriting losses last year, the insurers that make up BH Primary Group put up yet another year of underwriting profits, making them the only Berkshire insurers to do so. BH Primary Group is a small part of Berkshire's insurance businesses. Combined, this group earned premiums of $7.1 billion in 2017, or 12% of all premiums earned by Berkshire's insurance companies last year. But what these businesses lack in premium volume today, they make up for with growth opportunities The who's who Buffett has occasionally used his letters to shareholders to shine a spotlight on BH Primary Group's standout stars. Chief among them is BH Specialty Insurance (BHSI), which Berkshire launched in 2013. The specialty insurance unit is led by Peter Eastwood, who Berkshire controversially poached from AIG. Buffett recognized pretty quickly that in Eastwood, Berkshire Hathaway had yet another star executive in insurance. He wrote the following in his 2014 letter to shareholders: BHSI is led by Peter Eastwood, an experienced underwriter who is widely respected in the insurance world. During 2014, Peter expanded his talented group, moving into both international business and new lines of insurance. We repeat last year's prediction that BHSI will be a major asset for Berkshire, one that will generate volume in the billions within a few years. Later, in the 2016 letter, Buffett had even more praise for his new hire. Our first decision was to put Peter Eastwood in charge, a move that proved to be a home run: We expected significant losses in the early years while Peter built the personnel and infrastructure needed for a worldwide operation. Instead, he and his crew delivered significant underwriting profits throughout the start-up period. BHSI's volume increased 40% in 2016, reaching $1.3 billion. It's clear to me that the company is destined to become one of the world's leading P/C insurers. To be clear, this isn't just Buffett being a perennial optimist. In a sign of just how important Eastwood was to AIG, and how important he is to Berkshire, AIG made it very clear that it wasn't happy about having its employees poached by its competitor. Relations between AIG and Berkshire soured after his hiring. AIG stopped sending Berkshire its reinsurance business, and the two ultimately agreed not to poach employees from one another for one year, but by then it was already too late. Berkshire had the man they really wanted. A model for the future Buffett often talks about how Berkshire's hands-off approach attracts capable managers to the company. That model appears to be working in insurance, too. Eastwood described in his 2014 letter to BHSI employees how much latitude the company has in choosing lines in which it will compete for business. As you all know, when we started the company we were given a very broad and simple mandate... and told that we could build the business anywhere in the world, and enter virtually any product line area, as long as we felt and could demonstrate that we could produce a sustainable profit for Berkshire Hathaway. BHSI is one of BH Primary Group's fastest-growing insurance companies. It now employs 890 people, up from 82 at the end of 2013. And its underwriting has been spectacular, despite elevated storm losses last year. In a recent memo to employees, Eastwood said that BHSI has posted a since-inception combined ratio of 77% in its North American property business. Before the storm season, BHSI's property business had a combined ratio as low as 47%. BH Primary Group doesn't get the attention it deserves. Its performance last year caps a 10-year period in which it earned a pre-tax underwriting margin in excess of 10% in 9 of 10 years, and the sixth consecutive year in which earned premiums grew at a double-digit clip year over year. GEICO's best growth is in the rearview mirror, and Berkshire's reinsurance mastermind, Ajit Jain, is getting to an age where many worry he may be thinking about his own retirement. BH Primary Group, and its stars, like Peter Eastwood, age 51, may be the future for one of Berkshire's most important earnings drivers. Last year, McLaren managed just 69 laps across the first two days of pre-season testing. Their tally after the same time period this year stands at 88 after the team were once again limited in their running this time because of an exhaust clip issue. Having already lost out on the majority of running on the opening morning of the test on Monday when Fernando Alonso spun off due to a wheel nut failure, McLaren were struck down by further issues on Tuesday afternoon. Stoffel Vandoorne had managed 32 laps in cold conditions by 1.00pm local time - with the lunch break in Barcelona cancelled to maximise running opportunities - but he added just five laps to that total and finished the day in the garage after the car was seen with some burn marks on its rear bodywork in the afternoon. However, despite the setback the Belgian was far from dismayed with his day's work. Unfortunately we had this small issue with the exhaust clip just after lunch which obviously detached the exhaust and blew a lot of hot air on some of the wiring looms, he said. One of those wiring looms was the brake wire as well, so the team took a precautionary check which obviously meant things took a bit longer than expected. All in all its been a positive day with a lot of thing learned and it was not a big problem. With air temperature barely reaching 5C throughout Tuesdays running and snow falling during the afternoon session, Vandoorne highlighted the conditions as being of bigger concern during his first day in the MCL33. Obviously it was very nice to get back in the car after the winter, it felt like I hadnt left the cockpit so that was positive I think. Mainly what held us back was the weather conditions, obviously very cold and damp circuit, so that took a while to get the running started for everyone. So we took the opportunity to do some rake works and gather some aero data during this time, and after that the track got in a reasonable condition and we managed to do a few proper runs and try and understand a bit more the car we have this year. The first impression is very positive, felt very comfortable, no surprises - some good learning done. Despite the conditions, the Belgian was still encouraged after using the Renault power unit in anger for the first time. So far very positive, Vandoorne added of the work with Renault. There are no big things to say really, everything feels nice, drivability feels very good, every settings we change are working as expected, so so far theres nothing much to tell. Mosquito Squad Launches International Markets In East Africa America's Most Trusted Mosquito and Tick Control Company Begins Service in Africa RICHMOND, Va. - Feb. 27, 2018 // PRNewswire // - Mosquito Squad, the largest and most trusted mosquito and tick control franchise in North America, announced today it's expanding globally to Africa with the launch of its first operation in East Africa through an agreement that covers Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. These are the first international markets for Mosquito Squad, which currently has more than 240 operating territories throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. Owned and operated by Fred Rariewa, Mosquito Squad will initially focus on Nairobi, Kenya, by providing mosquito protection to areas where pest-borne illnesses are prevalent and growing. "We're thrilled to have selected a talented operator to represent our brand and provide Mosquito Squad service in this important international market. Our presence in East Africa will provide an important community service by helping to prevent citizens in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from being affected by dangerous mosquito-borne illnesses," said Chris Grandpre, chairman and chief executive officer of Outdoor Living Brands, parent company of Mosquito Squad. "As a long-time financial supporter of Malaria No More, we've worked for years to educate and prevent the spread of malaria throughout Africa where, tragically, more than 425,000 children still die every year from this preventable and treatable disease. Now, by bringing our mosquito control services directly to the people of East Africa, we'll have the opportunity to make an even greater impact. Fred Rariewa and his team have a proven track record of building successful businesses and opening new markets for U.S. companies. We're confident he'll thrive as our first international Mosquito Squad franchisee and we expect this to be the first of several international markets launched in the coming year." As the founder of Pulse Experiential Group, a marketing agency based in East Africa that specializes in health education, Fred Rariewa brings a wealth of experience and industry knowledge to Mosquito Squad. After living through and witnessing the significant rise in mosquito-borne illnesses in Africa, he wanted to expand his business portfolio with a concept that could help better the lives of the people of East Africa. Coupled with his extensive background in health education, the Kenya-native and first-time franchisee is a natural partner for the brand. "There are several key reasons why Kenya is in need of Mosquito Squad's services, one being its significant mosquito population and rise of associated diseases," said Fred Rariewa. "As someone who's been diagnosed with malaria, I've personally witnessed the impact this disease can have on families and truly believe we can help educate and prevent the spread of all pest-borne illnesses in Africa. While Kenya is our initial focus, we plan on expanding our Mosquito Squad business to Uganda and Tanzania within the next few years." Mosquito Squad uses a proprietary blend of the latest governmentally registered mosquito control insecticides and pesticides in its barrier treatments, in addition to larvicides and all-natural substances to eliminate mosquitoes from outdoor spaces. Founded in 2005 and proud supporter of Malaria No More, Mosquito Squad specializes in eliminating mosquitoes and ticks from outdoor living spaces so homeowners can enjoy their yards, and outdoor living and dining spaces. Since Mosquito Squad's partnership with Malaria No More, a nonprofit global health organization with the goal of ending malaria deaths around the world, they have raised more than $300,000 to help fuel the fight against malaria in Africa. For additional information on the services available through Mosquito Squad of Kenya, please visit Kenya.MosquitoSquad.com or email Kenya@mosquitosquad.com. About Mosquito Squad With over 240 franchise locations nationwide, Mosquito Squad specializes in eliminating mosquitoes and ticks from outdoor living spaces, allowing Americans to enjoy their yards, outdoor living spaces, special events and green spaces. For more information, visit http://www.mosquitosquad.com/, http://www.MosquitoSquadFranchise.com and http://www.OutdoorLivingBrands.com Contact: Ellie Mannix 954-893-9150 emannix@fish-consulting.com SOURCE Mosquito Squad ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Samsung joins the party Smart speakers have suddenly become a thing in the industry and it's no surprise that Samsung has plans to foray in the segment. That being said, the brain behind the reported device, Bixby, hasn't seen much growth since its launch and has been slightly improved on the newly launched flagships - the Galaxy S9 and S9+. Let's hope Samsung has plans for its voice assistant Bixby as well. How smart? The device by the South Korean tech giant will mainly focus on audio quality and the management of connected home appliances such as lights and locks, as per the report. As you may have guessed, the smart speaker will be controlled by Bixby, Samsung's voice assistant that rivals Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri. It will synchronize with TVs, Galaxy smartphones, and other Samsung devices. Samsung is planning to release the smart speaker in multiple markets, including the US. People familiar with the matter said it will cost around $200 (approximately Rs. 12,830). That being said, the pricing and release plans are still flexible and may change in future considering many factors. As of now, the company is still working on improving the speaker's ability to conduct voice-based web searches. The smart speaker project is being led by an executive named Patrick Chomet, who had joined Samsung last year. Expected pricing Current prices for smart speakers in the market range from $50 like the Echo Dot and Google Home Mini, to all the way up to Apple HomePod ($349) and Google Home Max ($399). The report also suggests that Samsung's smart speaker could come in different price tiers, so the company might take Google's approach of cramming in the best audio setup on the most expensive. MWC 2018: Facebook to upgrade existing networks to connect more people in future News oi-Rohit Facebook has announced some new initiatives at the ongoing MWC 2018. The company is building new tools to support faster deployments of new technologies to bring more people online Facebook wants to expand its reach to remote areas of world where internet connectivity is still not available or is just too bad to support a stable connection. In this bid to bring more people online, the social networking giant has unveiled some new initiatives at the ongoing MWC 2018. As per reports, Facebook is planning to upgrade existing networks for the future and plans to build new networks in under-connected regions and leverage new technologies to make this world more connected. The list of Facebook's new initiatives include partnerships to support Terragraph, which is a millimeter-wave, multi-node wireless backhaul system optimized to bring high-speed internet connectivity to dense urban areas. As per IANS, Facebook has mentioned that the new technology will be deployed for field trials in two locations serving customer traffic. However, a report published on Lightreading.com states that Facebook has completed the initial engineering validation of Terragraph technology, and is excited to enter the next phase of development by learning with partners in the field. Terragraph will be deployed into field trials in two locations serving customer traffic. Facebook is also announcing new partner trials for OpenCellular, a low-power base station optimized for rural and traditionally underdeveloped regions of the world. The company is carrying a joint trial with BT, Nokia and Cavium to demonstrate interoperability between the OpenCellular platform and the Nokia community hosted network, enabling cloud-based remote auto-connection, configuration and monitoring of the Open Cellular base station. Besides, the Telecom Infra Project (TIP) launched in 2016 by Facebook and a number of industry partners to bring more people online is said to have grown to more than 500 companies and is announcing new progress from project groups. Over the past few years, Facebook has shown a keen interest in bringing the unconnected online. Facebook recently posted that Global connectivity has increased 8.3%, and more people are connected than ever before. While this progress is encouraging, we are still far from achieving full internet inclusivity. Facebook also notified that fixed-line internet access is too expensive or inaccessible - that's why mobile services are critical. DIY: Turn Your Smartphone into a Home Security Camera - GIZBOT Facebook also mentioned that the company remains committed to work closely with the telecommunications ecosystem to help connect the 3.8 billion people who are not yet online and improve the experiences of those already connected. Facebook also said that Governments can help on the supply side, enabling new technologies and networks, and on the demand side, helping foster and develop e-government, public health, and education applications. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Contemporary design The Galaxy S9 has a 5.8-inch Infinity Display and the Galaxy S9+ has a larger 6.2-inch Infinity Display. The signature screen seen on the Galaxy S8 duo last year are Super AMOLED panels with Corning Gorilla Glass 5. The screen renders deep black to conceal the iris sensor and gives a minimalist and uniform aesthetic. The contemporary and sleek design is further complemented by the color options such as Titanium Gray, Lilac Purple, Midnight Black and Coral Blue. Super Slow-mo camera feature These Samsung smartphones feature the Super Slow-mo feature that is designed in order to let users capture stunning details and moments that you might miss out in a blink. Super Slow-mo will increase the shutter speed of the camera to a whopping 960fps and record videos that are four times slower than the other slow-mo mobile technologies. The Super Slow-mo clip that has been recorded can be saved as a GIF, customized with a tune or even set as a wallpaper. Low-light camera with f/1.5 aperture The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ smartphones have a variable aperture that supports f/2.4 to f/1.5 with the latter being the brightness in smartphones. The Galaxy S9's advanced Dual Aperture camera is claimed to adapt itself to the surrounding to let users click stunning shots even in the low-light conditions. AR Emoji The new AR Emoji feature is Samsung's take on the Apple iPhone X. The AR Emoji feature lets users create cartoon-like emojis with the help of the company's facial recognition feature. The smartphone can analyze a 2D image of your face by mapping over 100 distinct facial features and apply the image to a 3D model to create an avatar that will look like you. AR Emoji is customizable on the whole and those can be used once again. Bixby integration Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ are deeply integrated with the intelligence platform Bixby. With this integration, you can ask the phone to use AR and deep learning to offer a wide range of real-time information that is helpful for the users. When the camera is pointed at an object, Bixby will recognize what it is pointed at and will present information on the object instantly. Portrait shots that standout The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ have the best-in-class dual camera features with two 12MP rear cameras. One camera flaunts a Super Speed Dual Pixel image sensor and an aperture of f/2.4 and the other one has a telephone lens. The other features include dual OIS, Live Focus and Background Blur feature. Stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos effect Samsung Galaxy S9 duo let users get immersed into the content. Samsung has positioned AKG-tuned stereo speakers, powerful, Stereo speakers, and more. The Galaxy S9 comes with a Dolby Atmos effect that will carefully analyze the major issues in content's audio to give a sense of satisfaction. Biometric authentication The Galaxy S9 duo has an Intelligent Scan feature that combines both the collective strength of the iris scanning technology, facial recognition, and other technologies in order to create a seamless authentication solution offering secure access to their device. The smartphones are said to have a fingerprint scanner at their rear beneath the camera at the rear. The device has dedicated fingerprint scanning functionality to let users designate a fingerprint to offer instant access to their secure folder. Samsung DeX Besides the full-screen design, the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ come with a DeX Pad accessory that lets users enjoy a full-screen desktop experience that is powered by the smartphone. This platform lets users transform their smartphone's Infinity Display into a Touch Keyboard and Touch Pad. Airtel partners Google for Android Go smartphones News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Airtel and Google join forces for the Indian market. Bharti Airtel and Google have announced a partnership to bring low-cost smartphones powered by Android Oreo (Go edition) to the Indian market and enable more Indians to get online. With this, India will become one of the first countries to commercially roll-out smartphones running on Android Oreo (Go edition). Android Oreo (Go edition) is a configuration of the Android operating system specifically optimized for devices with 1GB of RAM or less. Android Oreo (Go edition) comes with a new range of apps designed to run faster while using less data. Devices running Android Oreo (Go edition) will also come with twice as much storage out of the box. Entry level 4G smartphones under Airtel's 'Mera Pehla Smartphone' program will be shipped with Android Oreo (Go edition) as standard OS starting March, 2018. Lava and Micromax, two Indian smartphone manufacturers, will introduce the first set of 4G smartphones powered by Android Oreo (Go edition). These smartphones with basic specs will also come pre-loaded with compatible apps, including MyAirtel App, Airtel TV and Wynk Music, to ensure a seamless online/app experience for users. Vani Venkatesh, Chief Marketing Officer - Bharti Airtel, said: "This partnership is a major milestone for the 'Mera Pehla Smartphone' initiative. Android Go will provide a massive boost to our efforts to bring affordable smartphone options to the market and potentially enable hundreds of millions of feature phone users and unconnected people to get online. We are excited to collaborate with Google and our device partners to work towards this shared vision of bringing smartphones within the reach of more people." Airtel Karbonn A40 first impression: A smartphone for the price of a feature phone? "Android's mission has always been to bring the power of computing to everyone. We're excited to see Airtel take a leading role in that effort through introducing a range of devices powered by Android Oreo (Go edition)." Said Jon Gold, Director of Android Partnerships. 'Mera Pehla Smartphone' program was launched by Airtel in October 2017 with the objective of bringing a 4G smartphone within the reach of every Indian. Airtel has partnered with multiple mobile handset manufacturers to build an 'open ecosystem' of affordable 4G smartphones and bring them to market at budget friendly prices. All smartphones under the program come with cash back offers and bundled plans that bring down the effective cost of device ownership. The program has received positive response from customers across India. Best Mobiles in India Micromax Bharat Go, Android Oreo (Go Edition) showcased at MWC 2018 News oi-Abhinaya Prabhu Micromax Bharat Go will be priced around Rs. 5,000. A few days ahead of the MWC 2018 tech show, Google revealed that it will announce Android Oreo (Go Edition) smartphones at the tech show. While a few such phones such as Nokia 1, Alcatel 1X and ZTE Tempo Go were unveiled over the past two days. Along with these, Google seems to have chosen to showcase a new one from Micromax. Well, the talk is about Micromax Bharat Go, an Android Oreo (Android Go) smartphone. Previously, there were claims that the company is teaming up with Google to come up with one such device. Going by a recent GizmoTimes report, Micromax Bharat Go is all set to be launched by next month in India. As its name indicates, the Micromax Bharat Go runs Android Oreo (Go edition), which is a toned-down version of Android OS meant for the entry-level smartphones with 1GB or lesser RAM. The software is optimized for instant apps and lighter versions of Google apps those are not resource hungry. Android Go will be preloaded with apps such as Gmail Go, Maps Go, Files Go, Chrome, Google Search Go, YouTube Go, Assistant Go, Play Store and Google Keyboard. The report further goes on stating that the Micromax Bharat Go will arrive with a 4.5-inch FWVGA LCD display. Under its hood, it is said to employ a quad-core MediaTek processor paired with 1GB RAM and 8GB storage space. This is not surprising as Android Go is designed for phones with 1GB or lesser RAM and helps in saving the storage space up to two times. Moreover, Android Go OS has inbuilt security options via Google Play Protect and helps in keeping your favorite apps and data safe all the time. The OS also comes with Files Go app that helps in saving the storage and optimizing the memory usage. For imaging, the Micromax Android Go smartphone will arrive with a 5MP selfie camera and a 5MP rear camera with LED flash as well. My Cloud Home: Unboxing and Set Up When it comes to the pricing and availability, we can expect the Micromax Bharat Go to be priced around Rs. 5,000. Along with this smartphone, Google has also showcased the Lava Z50 at its booth and this one is believed to be launched in March. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 6 (2018), Nokia 1, Nokia 8110 4G India launch revealed News oi-Samden Sherpa Ajey Mehta, Vice President India, HMD Global has revealed the launch schedule of the latest Nokia mobiles for India. MWC 2018 is underway and HMD Global has just announced five new Nokia mobiles - Nokia 8 Sirocco, Nokia 7 Plus, Nokia 6 (2018) (Android One smartphones), Nokia 1 (Android Go device), and Nokia 8110 4G feature phone. The company has revealed everything about the devices including the international pricing for the handsets. However, the thing that would be of interest to us is knowing about the India launch dates and at what price the new Nokia devices will be arriving in the country. While the company is yet to announce the details officially, we have some information about the possible launch dates. Ajey Mehta, Vice President India, HMD Global in an exclusive interview with Gadgets 360 has revealed the launch schedule of the latest Nokia mobiles for India. All this happened on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. According to the publication, the first device that will be arriving in India will be the Nokia 1 and according to the executive, the handset will be released in April. Some reports about this smartphone also appeared earlier, which suggested the same timeline for the launch. Additionally, the reports had stated that the device might cost around Rs. 5,000. Going by the report the second device that will make its entry into the market will be the improved Nokia 6 (2018). But the publication notes that there could be only one variant - the 3GB RAM/ 32GB storage that will be first introduced in the country. According to Mehta, the other variant could be launched around end-May or June. Talking about the new Nokia 8 Sirocco device, it is said to come sometime in May in India. Nokia 7 Plus is also expected to be launched by May end or starting of June. And finally the latest feature phone from Nokia - the 8110 will reportedly launch sometime in Q3 around July 2018 or later. Quick Trick: How to Chat With Your Friends Without Internet While the Executive has revealed these tentative timelines, he has not given any word about the pricing. As far as we know, the devices should be priced competitively. India is a very sensitive market when it comes to pricing. Best Mobiles in India Xiaomi Mi Band 2 price slashed in India: Mi Band 3 could be announced soon News oi-Samden Sherpa Xiaomi Mi Band 2 packs several improvements over its predecessor Mi Band and comes with a 0.42-inch OLED screen and a heart rate sensor. Xiaomi is one such company today that has remained loyal to the idea of a smartband that is truly a fitness tracker. While the company has already released two Mi Band series devices in the past, recent rumors suggest that the Chinese OEM is gearing up to unveil a new Mi Band in the market soon. The new wearable device touted to be Mi Band 3 has already appeared on several leaks and it was even spotted on the Bluetooth certification database. Popular tipster Roland Quandt had shared the link to the website just last week. While all this has been going on if you hadn't noticed the Xiaomi Mi Band 2 had been out of stock for sometime in India. But the situation has changed now. Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is finally back in stock and with a price cut. The device is now available via Mi.com at a price of Rs. 1,799. The device was originally priced at Rs. 1,999. So it is basically getting Rs. 200 price cut. If you are interested in purchasing the device you can definitely check it out. Xiaomi Mi band 2 is definitely one of the most affordable and competitively priced smartband in India. As for the features, Mi Band 2 packs in several improvements over its predecessor Mi Band and comes with a 0.42-inch OLED screen and a heart rate sensor. Mi Band 2 fitness tracker's OLED display shows time, steps taken, heart rate count and more. It comes with a PPG (photo plethysmography) sensor as a heart rate monitor. The device is backed by a 70mAh battery and the company has claimed that it provides up to 20 days of standby time. Talking about the compatibility, Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is compatible with devices running Android 4.4 and above as well as iOS 7.0 and above. Interestingly once paired with the smartphone, the smartband sends out alerts in the form of vibration to let users know about incoming calls, alarms, and notifications. The device supports Bluetooth 4.0 LE for pairing with smartphones. Xiaomi Mi Band 2 is also water resistant and is rated with IP67 certification. The device is quite small and measures 40.3x15.7x10.5mm and weighs 7 grams. The device is currently available in Black color. In any case, we should see the successor to the Mi Band 2 soon. It will be interesting to see what new features and design the alleged Mi Band 3 will bring. As far as the new certification goes, the Xiaomi device has been listed with a model number XMSH05HM and should support Bluetooth 4.2LE. Wearable manufacturer Huami is expected to manufacture the devices. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Thu Thursday 83 /50 Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the low 80s and lows in the low 50s. Central High to be first in state to earn national certification in science, technology, engineering and math education Iran Arrests Three More Ecologists For Spying February 25, 2018 Iran has arrested three more environmentalists on spying charges, the country's powerful judiciary has said. The arrests on February 25 came weeks after a wave of detentions and the death of a well-known Iranian-Canadian environmentalist who died in Iranian custody. Judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, quoted by the semi-official Fars news agency, said on February 25 that three people were recently arrested in the southern province of Hormozgan. "There is no doubt that infiltration by the United States and Israel is a serious matter," the spokesman said, without offering further details on the arrests. Iranian officials have said the activists who have been arrested were gathering sensitive information under the guise of scientific and environmental activities on behalf of the CIA and Israel's Mossad. The arrests come after the death of Kavous Seyed-Emami, the Iranian-Canadian managing director of the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation and a lecturer in sociology in Tehran, who was arrested on January 24 and died in prison two weeks later. The judiciary said Seyed-Emami, 63, had committed suicide. The Center for Human Rights in Iran (CHRI), a non-profit organization based in New York, said at least nine other members of Seyed-Emami's organization had been arrested on the same day as him. Seyed-Emami's death along with other inmate "suicides" have sparked a government probe and fueled tension between Iran's dominant hard-line institutions and its president, a relative moderate. Former Intelligence Minister Ali Yunesi, an advisor to Rohani, criticized the handling of Seyed-Emami's case and suggested the public did not believe the official explanation for his death. "Given the events that have occurred, if a competent and legal agency does not intervene and doesn't give its opinion on the dead individual or those under arrest, public opinion will not believe they are spies even if they are convicted," he said in an interview with the daily Iran newspaper published on February 25. Yunesi, who was a minister under reformist President Mohammad Khatami, said the case should be handed to the Intelligence Ministry. Seyed-Emami's case is said to have been handled by Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which runs an intelligence service that is separate from the government's Intelligence Ministry. Human rights activists have reported that at least six detainees have died in prisons in the last two months in Iran. The judiciary has confirmed three deaths in custody but said all three were suicides. With reporting by Fars and Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-arrests-more- ecologists-spying-charges/29061970.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Upcoming Joint U.S.-Israeli Exercise Aims to Improve Interoperability By Lisa Ferdinando DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2018 More than 2,500 U.S. personnel will take part in a joint exercise with Israel next month aimed at improving interoperability, a Pentagon spokesman told reporters today. Juniper Cobra is a U.S. European Command missile defense exercise with the Israel Defense Forces that will take place March 4 to March 15, Army Col. Rob Manning said. The exercise is the ninth in a series of biennial Juniper Cobra exercises conducted in Israel between Eucom and the IDF since 2001, he said. Manning said the exercise is part of a routine training cycle designed to improve the interoperability of U.S. and Israeli defense systems. More than 2,500 US personnel ashore and afloat will participate in the exercise, he added. "JC18 represents another step in the strategic relationship between the U.S. and Israel and contributes to regional stability," he said. In a news release on the exercise, Eucom officials described the exercise as a welcome opportunity for Eucom and the IDF to exercise together and learn from each other. "The United States and Israel enjoy a strong and enduring military-to-military partnership built on a trust that has been developed over decades of cooperation," said Air Force Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark, the commander of 3rd Air Force at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, who is the commander for the deploying Joint Task Force Israel. "The Juniper Cobra exercises continue to strengthen this relationship, providing us with the opportunity to bolster interoperability and develop seamless integration with our Israeli partners," Clark said in the release. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Exercise Cobra Gold Strengthens Interoperability, Regional Relationships By Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chuck Broadway DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2018 Some 5,800 U.S. service members, working in Thailand alongside forces from 29 partner nations, have wrapped up one of the largest security cooperation exercises in the Indo-Pacific region. Pentagon spokesman Army Col. Rob Manning told reporters today that Cobra Gold 18, which ended Feb. 23, sought to improve participants' capability to plan and conduct combined and joint operations, to build relationships among participating nations across the region, and to improve interoperability over a range of activities, including enhancing maritime security and responding to large-scale natural disasters. Three Phases to Success Exercise events included a command post operations event, six vertical construction projects as part of an engineer civic actions project, and a field training exercise consisting of nonlive and live-fire operations. The command post exercise featured coordination among participating nations in noncombatant evacuations, forcible entry tactics and United Nations peacekeeping operations to increase interoperability in a complex scenario and to identify and eliminate procedural differences. In addition to U.S. forces, representatives from Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea synchronized efforts to overcome the challenges of the exercise. Humanitarian civic actions also played a large role in the overall exercise operations. Combined task force engineers conducted six school-improvement projects at various locations throughout Thailand. In addition to improving relationships, the projects aimed to provide quality sustainment training for those involved, to build multipurpose facilities in underserved areas, and to promote security interests of the nations involved. The engineering efforts placed 124 pillars, more than 15,000 concrete blocks and poured more than 8,000 square feet of concrete. The field training exercise included a massive combination of forces in air, ground and maritime operations. In an effort to maintain readiness and sustainment training requirements while emphasizing security cooperation between partner nations, participants launched operations responding to a simulated large-scale natural disaster in a foreign country, and they completed processes and procedures to evacuate affected civilians. Acquiring Specialized Skills South Korean and U.S. reconnaissance Marines learned basic skills necessary to survive and thrive in a hot, dangerous environment from Royal Thai Marines, even learning to capture and kill a snake to drink its blood for hydration. They also learned how to identify local edible and inedible vegetation, how to locate water sources and techniques for building a fire with bamboo and trapping wild game. U.S. military units participating in the exercise included the 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division; the Army's 1st Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division; and Navy task forces 72, 75 and 76, along with a P-3C Orion detachment and the amphibious assault ship USS Bonhomme Richard. The Air Force provided six F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 13th Air Expeditionary Group. "This exercise was an integral part of the U.S. commitment to strengthen engagement in the region," Manning said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USNS Mercy Deploys in Support of Pacific Partnership 2018 By DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2018 The Military Sealift Command hospital ship USNS Mercy departed its home port of San Diego Feb. 23 in support of the 13th Pacific Partnership mission. Pacific Partnership is the Navy's humanitarian and civic assistance mission conducted with and through partner nations, nongovernmental organizations and other U.S. and international government agencies to execute a variety of humanitarian civic action missions in the Pacific Fleet area of responsibility. The Mercy will visit Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam from February through June to provide medical, dental, veterinary, public health services, engineering and disaster response to host countries who have invited the ship to visit and provide services to the local population. More than 800 military and civilian personnel from Australia, Canada, France, Japan, Peru Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom will join allied and partner nations for the mission. Building a Foundation of Trust "Through Pacific Partnership we are deepening integral ties with our allies and partners across the Indo-Asia-Pacific region," said Navy Rear Adm. Don Gabrielson, the commander of Task Force 73, the executive agent for Pacific Partnership 18. "The challenges we face with natural and manmade disasters do not respect borders or national sovereignty." Gabrielson added, "This dynamic mission enables many nations and subject matter experts to come together to pursue solutions to complex problems while enhancing preparations for disaster emergencies that reduce the severity of their impact. The foundation of trust created through Pacific Partnership engagement helps foster a cooperative environment that encourages collaborative approaches to improving the lives and conditions for the people of this region and beyond." Medical, dental, civil engineering and veterinary teams will partner with each host nation to conduct civic-action projects, community health exchanges, medical symposiums and disaster response training activities. Additional community relations engagements will occur in each mission stop to enhance relationships and camaraderie with citizens of the host nations. The Mercy will also visit Japan during its return transit across the Pacific Ocean. Mercy is joined on the Pacific Partnership mission by the expeditionary fast transport ship USNS Fall River. The Fall River will make separate mission stops in Malaysia, Palau, Thailand and Yap, supporting public diplomacy, community outreach and theater security cooperation initiatives. Amazing Experience "Being a part of the Pacific Partnership mission is really an amazing experience," said civil service mariner Barron Garvey, the Mercy's cargo officer. "What we do touches so many lives and you can't walk away from this deployment without having been impacted by the people we help and the experiences of the mission. People always talk about making a difference, but this is where that really happens -- on a Pacific Partnership mission. "I think about the other PP missions I have been on, and I look forward to the next one," Garvey continued. "This really is one of the best things I have been a part of since coming to MSC." This Year's Mission Pacific Partnership began in response to one of the world's most catastrophic natural disasters, the December 2004 tsunami that devastated parts of South and Southeast Asia. The mission has evolved over the years from emphasis on direct care to an operation focused on enhancing partnerships through host nation subject matter expert and civil-military exchanges. Pacific Partnership 2018 will have several other distinctions: -- A multinational command-and-control structure will be used to include a deputy mission commander from the United Kingdom and mission chief of staff from Australia. -- The mission will visit Sri Lanka for a second consecutive year to enhance ties with the Indian Ocean nation. -- Pacific Partnership will continue to leverage the U.S. National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, a plan backed by Executive Order 13595 and U.N. Security Council Resolution 1325. Integration of WPS into Pacific Partnership yields opportunities to engage with partner nations on the topic of gender integration and perspectives, as well as preparedness in dealing with vulnerable populations -- women and children, the elderly and the disabled -- during and in the aftermath of crises. -- This year's mission will return to Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam, where the United States continues its legacy of strong cooperation and defense ties with these nations. (Reporting from Combined Joint Task Force 73; Sarah Burford, Military Sealift Command Pacific; and U.S. Third Fleet contributed to this story.) NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran in focus as Security Council mulls rival Yemen resolutions Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:37AM The UN Security Council is to vote on two rival draft resolutions on Yemen after Russia proposed a measure to counter a UK motion against Iran over Houthi missiles. The council will vote later on Monday on extending sanctions against Yemen for another year, but the UK is pushing a resolution that calls for "additional measures" against Iran over accusations that it violated an arms embargo on the war-torn Arabian Peninsula state. A group of UN experts monitoring the sanctions on Yemen reported to the Security Council in January that it had "identified missile remnants, related military equipment and military unmanned aerial vehicles that are of Iranian origin and were brought into Yemen after the imposition of the targeted arms embargo." The UN experts, however, said they were unable to identify the supplier. Both Tehran and Sana'a have repeatedly rejected the allegations as a fabricated scenario, and said the armed forces of Yemen have strengthened their missile power on their own. The Houthi movement has been defending Yemen against a bloody Saudi-led military campaign, which was launched in 2015 with the help of the US and the UK to reinstall the country's former Riyadh-friendly government. The Saudi war on Yemen has so far killed around 13,600 people and reduced much of the country's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and factories, to rubble. Russia, which is expected to veto the UK-proposed text, submitted its own drafted text on Saturday which would renew the sanctions regime on Yemen until February 2019 without any reference to Iran. Moscow says the UN report's findings are not conclusive enough to justify action against Tehran. Negotiations continued Sunday and London, Paris and Washington initially sought a "condemnation" of Iran, but that was dropped later. The final draft resolution expresses "particular concern" that "weapons of Iranian origin were introduced in Yemen after the imposition of the targeted arms embargo" and that Tehran was in "noncompliance" with UN resolutions. The UN Security Council would express "its intention to take additional measures to address these violations," it says. The motion comes after Britain proposed a UN Security Council praise of Riyadh and the United Arab Emirates for pledging funds to allegedly ease the humanitarian crisis of their own making in Yemen. The proposal coincided with fresh criticisms of the Saudi-led military campaign against Yemen by UN experts and rights groups. Saudi Arabia has imposed an all-out blockade on Yemen's ports, depriving the Arab world's most impoverished nation of direly-needed food and medicine. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said on February 21 that instead of targeting Iran, the UN's proposed measure should focus on the issue of sanctions against Yemen. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Djibouti's ruling party claims majority of parliamentary seats Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 09:35AM Djibouti's ruling party has claimed a landslide victory in parliamentary elections, securing almost 90 percent of seats after the opposition largely boycotted the poll. Mohamed Abdallah Mahyoub, a senior member of President Ismael Omar Guelleh's Union for a Presidential Majority (UMP) and campaign spokesman, told media late Sunday that the ruling party in the tiny Horn of Africa nation had won 58 out of 65 parliamentary seats, an increase of three since the last vote in 2013. The UMP claimed every seat outside of the capital and all but seven seats in Djibouti City with the remainder going to the Djibouti Union for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) Party. There was no immediate figure for turnout from 194,000 registered voters. Guelleh was first elected as Djibouti's president in 1999. He was re-elected in 2005, 2011, and again in 2016 with no strong challenger. The incumbent won a fourth term of office with 87 percent of the vote. The UMP's resounding victory came after opposition parties refused to put forward any candidates, saying the elections would neither be fair nor transparent, accusing the election commission of bias. The law stipulates that 25 percent of seats must go to women, an increase from just 10 percent in the outgoing parliament. According to Mahyoub, this threshold was nearly met as 15 women won parliamentary seats, 14 of them from the UMP. Djibouti's strategic importance Lying on the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, Djibouti serves as a gateway to the Suez Canal and a chokepoint for oil tankers heading from the Persian Gulf to Europe. Djibouti's geographical location has made it a favorable spot for foreign military bases. A former French colony until 1977, France maintains a significant military presence. The country is also hosting military bases of the United States, Italy, Spain, Japan and China. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel approves bill paving way for annexation of West Bank Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 07:00AM Israel has approved a bill to expand the jurisdiction of Israeli courts over Area C of the West Bank, paving the way for the annexation of the region. The area is currently ruled by the military but an annexation would require Israeli law to be imposed and Palestinians living in the area to identify as Arab Israelis. The ministerial committee for legislation on Sunday approved the measure introduced by justice minister Ayelet Shaked who is known for her extremist views regarding Palestinians. Her office claimed in a statement that the bill aimed to minimize the caseload of the high court of justice which rules on property rights, building and construction, and restraining orders. Under the new provision, such cases will be adjudicated by the district courts. The legislation is also designed to treat Israeli settlers living in the West Bank like those living within the pre-1967 borders, or the so-called Green Line. The bill must be rubber-stamped by the Israeli parliament or the Knesset but it has already drawn condemnation for being part of a drive to annex Area C and deprive Palestinians living there of their rights. Yousef Jabarin, a member of the Joint List which represents Palestinian citizens of Israel at the Knesset, slammed the measure as another initiative by Israel to normalize the occupation and to advance "creeping annexation" over the West Bank. "The High Court of Justice has never treated the Palestinians in the territories justly," Jabarin said, noting that the legislation will complicate and prolong legal proceedings, leaving Palestinians with little legal recourse. Under interim agreements signed in the 1990s with Israel, the West Bank is divided into three zones. The Area C of the West Bank is the largest division in the occupied territory as it comprises 60 percent of the land, and is under full Israeli military control. The Israeli military almost never grants Palestinians living in Area C building permits. Palestinians want the West Bank as part of their future independent state, with East Jerusalem al-Quds as its capital. The presence and continued expansion of illegal Israeli settlements in occupied Palestine, however, has created a major obstacle to the establishment of such a state. More than half a million Israelis live in over 230 settlements built since the 1967 Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories of the West Bank and East Jerusalem al-Quds. The UN and most countries regard the Israeli settlements as illegal because they are built on territories captured by Israel in a war in 1967 and are hence subject to the Geneva Conventions, which forbid construction on occupied lands. Nevertheless, the Israeli regime continues to build new settlements and expand existing ones. US President Donald Trump on December 6 formally recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as the so-called capital of Israel and announced plans to move the American embassy to the occupied city. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UAE attempting to fragment Yemen by forging regional armies: Official Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 06:26PM An official in the government of Yemen's former president says the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is trying to fragment the impoverished country by creating separate "regional and tribal armies" in southern parts of the war-hit country. Yemen has been suffering grievously from a deadly war launched by Saudi Arabia and a number of its allies, including the UAE, since March 2015. The Saudi-led coalition has since been attempting unsuccessfully to reinstall Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh, and crush the popular Houthi Ansarullah movement, which holds large swaths of land in Yemen and that during the past three years has been running state affairs and defending Yemeni people against the Saudi brutal aggression. Hadi's minister of transportation, Saleh al-Gabwani, said on Monday that his convoy had been cut off by UAE-backed forces as he was on route to inaugurate a new port in Balhalf, situated in Yemen's southern province of Shabwah a day earlier. The industrial town of Balhalf, which hosts the largest natural gas plant in the Arab country and plays as a major terminal as well, is now occupied by the UAE forces. "There are tribal and regional armies set up by the Emiratis," Gabwani told a gathering of local and officials, adding, "We as a state can't accept continuation of this situation." He added that the so-called Shabwah Elite Force, one of several units that only answer to the UAE, had informed him that the Emiratis had ordered them to bar him from reaching the port. The UAE, which is a significant part of the war machine Riyadh unleashed against Yemenis, has reportedly trained and financed forces that only answer to the Emiratis, and also has backed a newly formed a pro-secessionist body known as the Southern Transitional Council (STC). On January 28, STC's separatists launched an assault in Aden, taking control of a number of sites and military camps run by forces loyal to Hadi following intense and deadly clashes. They swiftly seized the presidential palace in the southern port city, calling for the Yemeni self-declared government's resignation. Prior to the offensive, Hadi had resigned and fled to Riyadh and is reportedly under house arrest in the Saudi capital. However, the Saudi regime and its allies later managed to seize most parts of Aden. Given its economic importance, Aden's control would lend considerable leverage to any side exercising ultimate control over the port. Meanwhile, Lana Nusseibeh, the ambassador and permanent representative of the UAE to the UN, said that her country would retain its troops in Yemen as long as Abu Dhabi deems it necessary. At least 13,600 people have been killed since the onset of Saudi Arabia's campaign. Much of the country's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools and factories, has been reduced to rubble due to the war. Famine and outbreaks of cholera and diphtheria are other results of the Saudi-led war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Friendly Saudi airstrike kills 20 Riyadh-backed forces in Yemen: Military source Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 05:14PM A friendly airstrike by the Saudi-led coalition ravaging Yemen has killed at least 20 pro-Riyadh mercenaries in the impoverished country, reports say. The mercenaries, including three senior commanders, were killed on Monday in an airstrike on their base some 50 kilometers east of the Yemeni capital of Sana'a, a military source told AFP. This as a second military source based in Ma'rib said six pro-Riyadh mercenaries had been killed in the attack in the mountainous region of Nihm. "An erroneous strike by coalition warplanes killed six troops - one officer and five soldiers," said the source on condition of anonymity. He added that another 15 mercenaries were also injured in the attack. The Saudi-led coalition has made no immediate comment on the issue. Since March 2015, the Saudi regime, together with a coalition of its allies, has been heavily bombarding Yemen as part of a brutal campaign against its impoverished southern neighbor. It has been attempting unsuccessfully to reinstall Yemen's former president Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi, a staunch ally of Riyadh. The Saudi campaign has killed at least 13,600 people since its onset. Furthermore, much of the country's infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and factories, has been reduced to rubble in the Saudi war. A blockade imposed by the Saudi-led coalition on Yemen has also caused widespread famine in the already-impoverished country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Cambodia's Ruling Party Wins All Seats in Senate Election Radio Free Asia 2018-02-26 Cambodias ruling party won all seats in elections for the countrys Senate at the weekend, just over three months after Cambodias Supreme Court dissolved the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party, disenfranchising thousands of Prime Minister Hun Sens political opponents and forcing others into exile. All 58 seats in the uncompetitive election went to the CPP on Sunday in voting open only to lawmakers and commune officials, with a total of 11,670 out of a possible 11,695 votes cast, Cambodias National Election Commission (NEC) said. The Supreme Courts ruling in November, dissolving the CNRP for allegedly plotting a coup, banned 118 opposition lawmakers and senior officials from politics for five years, eliminating Hun Sens main competition ahead of general elections scheduled for July. More than 5,000 remaining elected CNRP commune chiefs and district counselors were also removed from their positions. Cambodias lower house, the National Assembly, meanwhile reallocated the CNRP's parliamentary seats to the ruling party and three smaller government-aligned political parties, while the CNRP's elected local officials were pressured to defect to the CPP or lose their positions. Speaking to RFAs Khmer Service on Monday, independent Cambodian election monitoring groups slammed Sundays vote, calling the outcome illegitimate and unfair. In a victory won without a real contest, the ruling party has now taken control of the upper house, Sam Kuntheamy, executive director of the Neutral and Impartial Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (NICFEC) said in an interview. This means that the CPP will now pass whatever law it wants without any challenge from the opposition. The senate is a very important body, with the power to cross-check any law proposed by the lower house. Now the CPP controls the senate 100 percent, he said. Results no surprise Speaking to RFA from Canada, Kul Panha, head of the Committee for Free and Fair Elections in Cambodia (COMFREL) said he was not surprised by the outcome of the vote. During this election, over 5,000 voters were deprived of their rights. This has huge implications in any free and fair election and calls into question [this votes] legitimacy, he said. On top of that, the only real opposition party has been dissolved and banned from competing in the elections, while lawmakers from the CNRP elected last year have all been barred from politics and were not allowed to run as candidates. This defies the principles of free and fair elections, he said. Cambodians both inside Cambodia and living abroad also criticized the election on social media on Monday, with one saying it would have been unusual for the ruling party not to have won all seats. The whole game was orchestrated entirely by the CPP, one man wrote. Everyone involved in this election belongs to the ruling party, including the election judges. Since the ruling party has already dissolved the opposition party, why did they even need to hold this election? another writer asked, adding, The CPP could just have claimed all seats without bothering to arrange a vote. Its a waste of the national budget to arrange such an election. Sentence upheld Also on Monday, Cambodias CPP-dominated Supreme Court upheld an 18-month prison sentence handed down in absentia to former Sam Rainsy Party senator Thak Lany, who later fled Cambodia and now lives in exile in Sweden. The Nov. 16, 2017 sentence followed her conviction for defamation and incitement to cause chaos after she accused Hun Sen in a private speech in 2016 of involvement in the murder that year of popular social commentator Kem Ley. Kem Ley was gunned down in broad daylight in Phnom Penh on July 10, 2016, 36 hours after discussing on an RFA Khmer call-in show a report by the London-based group Global Witness detailing the wealth of the family of Hun Sen, who has ruled Cambodia for 32 years. Reported by RFAs Khmer Service. Translated by Nareth Muong. Written in English by Richard Finney. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lithuania Special Operations Forces Deploy to Afghanistan Sputnik News 23:58 26.02.2018 The Lithuanian government has increased its support of NATO's Operation Resolute Support mission in Afghanistan following requests from NATO and other allies, the country's Ministry of National Defense announced February 22. An unspecified number of Lithuanian troops from Special Operations Forces will join the 21 Lithuanian soldiers currently serving in Afghanistan with NATO in April, the ministry noted. "Lithuania receives strong support from our allies, therefore we have to contribute according to our means to fight against issues of global character by helping prevent expansion of terrorism," Raimundas Karoblis, Lithuanian minister of national defense, said in the news release. Afghanistan affairs specialist Vishal Chandra of the Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses told Sputnik on February 23 that "there is a consensus that the Taliban needs to be engaged, but then there are various groups within the Taliban and Taliban at the moment are not in a mood to talk to the Afghan government, they don't accept this government, they do not accept this constitution." US President Donald Trump has increased the US troop presence in Afghanistan by about 3,000 service members since taking office. Despite Washington and NATO's extensive military incursion in Afghanistan "there are 21 terrorist groups acting in the country," Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani told reporters in mid-February. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Rearrests Alleged Mastermind Of Global Cybercrime Gang Christopher Miller February 26, 2018 KYIV -- Authorities in Ukraine have rearrested the alleged mastermind of an international cybercrime gang that was busted in international raids more than a year ago. Russian-born Gennadiy Kapkanov, who is believed to have headed the complex and sophisticated criminal network of computer servers known as Avalanche, was arrested in Kyiv by Ukrainian cyberpolice on February 25, a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry confirmed to RFE/RL. Artem Shevchenko, the spokesperson, said Kapkanov was found carrying a Ukrainian passport under a pseudonym, a copy of which was provided to RFE/RL. A laptop, a flash drive, and cash were also seized from the apartment he had rented in the Ukrainian capital, according to an Interior Ministry statement. A video published by Ukrainian police showed Kapkanov in custody and officers collecting evidence inside the apartment where he was found. Unlike during his first arrest, Kapkanov did not put up a fight with police, Shevchenko said. The cybercrime network Avalanche was active for seven years, and it took the efforts of law enforcement agencies from 40 countries to shut it down. That operation, which unfolded on the territories of four countries, took place on November 30, 2016. The FBI and its international partners described the operation as an unprecedented global law enforcement response to cybercrime. Kapkanov, then 33, was detained in the Ukrainian city of Poltava on the same day following a brief shootout with police. The following week, however, Kapkanov was released when a local judge said prosecutors had failed to properly file charges. The decision caused a firestorm among law enforcement agencies, and Prosecutor-General Yuriy Lutsenko threatened to have the judge removed. Kapkanov then disappeared. His whereabouts and movements between then and his rearrest remain unknown, but Shevchenko said he is believed to have been in Ukraine the entire time. Shevchenko said Kapkanov would appear in a Poltava court later on February 26. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-rearrests-alleged- mastermind-global-cybercrime-gang-kapkanov/29063336.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Norway Shelves Decision to Join NATO's Missile Shield Sputnik News 09:23 26.02.2018(updated 09:35 26.02.2018) The government study which was expected to provide Norway with guidance in its fateful decision on whether to join NATO's controversial missile defense was expected to be ready before the New Year, but has been delayed. The Norwegian Ministry of Defense cited "advanced calculations" and "time-consuming simulations" as the reason for the delay, the mathematics of the evaluation seemingly being more elaborate than first assumed. The expert group, established by the Norwegian government, is nevertheless still expected to complete the study at a later point during the year, the Norwegian daily newspaper Klassekampen reported. The analysis will be followed by a broader study led by the Defense Ministry. The missile shield has been a sensitive issue in Norwegian foreign policy for a number of years, and most of the documents on the case are classified. Nevertheless, Klassekampen cited the Norwegian Armed Forces journal, where a separate study of the role of Norwegian "**** **** class" frigates (name classified for security reasons) in the missile defense was conducted. Norway has currently five Fridtjof Nansen class frigates, the only frigate class in the Norwegian Navy. The first part of the NATO missile defense was declared operational in 2016. It consists of radars and missile bases controlled from NATO headquarters in Ramstein, Germany. As of today, NATO has radars across Europe, together will missiles based in Romania and on Spanish frigates. Additionally, a missile base in Poland is expected to be ready in 2018. Denmark and the Netherlands contribute to the missile shield with their vessels, but not will missiles. The same scenario may be applicable to Norway. Under a red-green coalition government in the 2000s, Norway was initially an opponent of NATO becoming part of the US missile defense plans, but changed its attitude and has been supportive of the missile shield since the 2010 NATO Summit in Lisbon. Ironically, NATO's incumbent Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (former socialist prime minister of Norway) himself used to be against the missile defense network, openly criticizing the plans during a visit to Moscow in 2007. NATO's plan for an US missile shield in Europe has been one of the most divisive issues in the relationship between Russia and NATO in the past decade. While the Norwegian Defense Ministry and NATO officials state that the defense network is not aimed at Russia, but rather at ballistic missiles fired from outside Europe, Moscow disagrees, arguing that the shield will topple the balance between the nuclear powers and lead to a new arms race. According to Julie Wilhelmsen, senior researcher at the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Norway's participation in the NATO shield would be a step back from the policy of equilibrium and in the direction of the US and NATO. Wilhelmsen argued that Norway would thus forfeit its status as a land of balance between east and west and become an "aggressive US ally," Klassekampen reported. Russia's Ambassador to Norway Teimuraz Ramishvili previously pointed out that joining NATO's missile shield would endanger Norway's borders, as it would incite a reaction from Russia. The analysis is carried out by investigators from the Norwegian Defense Research Institute (FFI) and the Missile Defense Agency under the US Department of Defense. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US says talks with North Korea must lead to end of nuclear program Iran Press TV Sun Feb 25, 2018 11:03PM The White House has responded to North Korea's willingness to hold talks with the United States, saying any talks with North Korea must lead to a complete end to its nuclear program. South Korea said on Sunday Pyongyang agrees that ties between the two Koreas and the US-North relations should improve together. The news of North Korea's interest in talks with the US followed a meeting between a high-level North Korean delegation and South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The North's delegation is in the South to attend the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics games. Reports say it includes diplomats in charge of the North's nuclear program. The US President's daughter, Ivanka Trump, along with White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Vice President Mike Pence, is also in the South, but there is no indication that the two sides would hold any meeting. "We will see if Pyongyang's message today, that it is willing to hold talks, represents the first steps along the path to denuclearization. In the meantime, the United States and the world must continue to make clear that North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are a dead end," said a statement issued by Press Secretary Sanders. Sanders also said that the US and South Korea "broadly agree that denuclearization must be the result of any dialogue with North Korea. The maximum pressure campaign must continue until North Korea denuclearizes. As President Trump has said, there is a brighter path available for North Korea if it chooses denuclearization." In response to the North Korean interest in talks, Pence said the US was open to talking but that "no pressure comes off until they are actually doing something that the alliance believes represents a meaningful step toward denuclearization." "So the maximum pressure campaign is going to continue and intensify. But if you want to talk, we'll talk," Pence said. New sanctions on North The United States announced on Friday it was imposing its largest package of sanctions aimed at getting North Korea to give up its nuclear and missile programs. The US followed through on its promise of intensification, announcing a new set of sanctions against 27 entities and 28 vessels either registered or flagged in several countries, including North Korea, China and Singapore. The measures target the "deceptive shipping practices that have enabled the Kim regime to fund its dangerous weapons programs," Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in a statement. US President Donald Trump described the measures as the "heaviest sanctions ever" levied on Pyongyang. On Sunday, North Korean state media accused the United States of provoking confrontation on the Korean peninsula with the sanctions. The UN Security Council also unanimously imposed new sanctions on North Korea in December last year following an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test, seeking to further limit Pyongyang's access to refined petroleum products and crude oil. North Korea has been under a raft of crippling UN sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear tests as well as multiple rocket and missile launches. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address White House responds to Pyongyang willingness for dialogue People's Daily Online By Gao Shi (People's Daily) 10:35, February 26, 2018 Washington (People's Daily) - White House on Sunday issued a statement that said North Korea's willingness to engage in dialogue must lead to an end to Pyongyang's nuclear and missile weapons program. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, "The Trump Administration is committed to achieving the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Sanders was in PyeongChang as part of the US delegation lead by Trump's daughter, Ivanka Trump. Pyongyang senior officials were in South Korea over the weekend for the closing of the Winter Olympics. And by early Sunday the North Korean delegation said they would be open to talks with the US, according to a statement released from South Korean President Moon Jae-in's office. The White House statement went on to say that, "The US and South Korea, and the international community broadly agree that denuclearization must be the result of any dialogue with North Korea." Meanwhile, the White House indicated it would follow through with the latest round of sanctions against North Korea announced Friday. "The maximum pressure campaign must continue until North Korea denuclearizes," said Sanders. "And will see if Pyongyang's message today represents its first steps along the path to denuclearization. The US and the world must continue to make clear that North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are "a dead end.," the White House statement concluded. The US announced its most severe sanctions against North Korea last Friday, which aim to prevent the country from further developing its nuclear program. The restrictive measures prohibit US citizens from conducting business with 56 vessels and companies. North Korea's foreign ministry condemned the sanctions is the "act of war." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump hints at talks with North Korea under right conditions Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 04:55PM President Donald Trump has given a cautious response to North Korea's offer of being open to negotiate with the United States, saying talks would only occur under "the right conditions." "We have been very tough with them," Trump said at a meeting with governors at the White House on Monday, after Pyongyang signaled its willingness to return to the negotiating table. "So they want to talk" the president. "We'll see what happens." However, Trump did not elaborate on what he meant by the right conditions. Trump claimed that China had done more to contain North Korea than ever following requests from his administration. The president also indicated that a lot of commodities were entering North Korea via Russia, despite sanctions on Pyongyang. The North Korean delegation, in Pyeongchang for the closing ceremony of the Winter Olympics, expressed a willingness to meet with US officials, according to a statement by the office of South Korea's president. The delegation said developments in relations between the two Koreas and between Pyongyang and Washington should go hand in hand. On Friday, Trump announced what he called the "largest ever" tranche of sanctions against North Korea, in an attempt to increase pressure on the nuclear-armed country. "Today I am announcing that we are launching the largest-ever set of new sanctions on the North Korean regime," he said. The White House subsequently said efforts at sanctions would continue. "We will see if Pyongyang's message today, that it is willing to hold talks, represents the first steps along the path to denuclearization," it said in a statement. "In the meantime, the United States and the world must continue to make clear that North Korea's nuclear and missile programs are a dead end," it added. North Korea condemned the latest sanctions as "an act of war," accusing the US administration of trying to undermine the thaw in inter-Korean relations triggered by the Olympic games in the South. The Trump administration claims it prefers a diplomatic solution to the crisis, but it has repeatedly threatened Pyongyang with military action. North Korea has vowed to keep up the development of its weapons programs as a deterrent against US aggression. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Trump: US Willing to Talk With N. Korea Under Right Conditions By Steve Herman February 26, 2018 U.S. President Donald Trump is expressing a willingness to talk with North Korea, but "only under the right conditions," while warning that if Pyongyang doesn't abandon its nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs there could be a potentially tremendous "loss of lives, numbers that nobody's ever contemplated, never thought of." Trump, speaking Monday to U.S. state governors at the White House, noted North Korea's offer in recent days, relayed through South Korea's President Moon Jae-in that "they want to talk" to the United States. "We'll see what happens," said the president, declaring that something has to be done to eliminate the threat to the United States and its allies from North Korea's weapons of mass destruction. At Monday's White House briefing Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said "denuclearization must be the result of any dialogue with North Korea." Talk about talks "Both Trump and (North Korean General and intelligence chief) Kim Yong-Chul have now indicated a willingness to talk. But there is not yet agreement on what the two sides are willing to talk about," notes Scott Snyder, senior fellow for Korea studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. An initial U.S.-North Korea meeting would essentially be "talks about talks and the only 'condition' that should be required is that there be a moratorium on missile and nuclear testing," says Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Robert Manning, noting Pyongyang has not conducted any such tests for nearly four months. The Trump administration "does not appear to have any diplomatic strategy other than demanding they give up their nukes," Manning tells VOA. "I fear, in regard to diplomacy, the administration is a bit like the dog chasing a car. When they catch it, then what?" As a precondition for bilateral talks, Research Professor James Przystup at the National Defense University suggests Pyongyang has to declare a moratorium on missile and nuclear tests, commit to denuclearization and implementation of the 1991 South-North Agreement on Reconciliation, Non-Aggression and Exchange. "Anything less and we'll be getting played," Przystup tells VOA, stressing that the only permanent end-state of negotiations has to be denuclearization. North Korea has repeatedly insisted its nuclear weapons are not a subject for negotiation. A "problem" to solve According to Trump, other U.S. presidents, over the past quarter of a century "should have solved this problem long before I got here." In his remarks to the governors, Trump specifically criticized the Obama, Clinton and both Bush administrations. All of them "didn't do anything," Trump declared, saying "it would have been much easier in those days then it is now." The president had kinder words for China, considered North Korea's closest ally. Trump said Beijing has done more on North Korea than at any time previously, and the president credited that to his personal relationship with President Xi Jinping. However, "Russia is behaving badly" regarding North Korea, "because Russia is sending in what China is taking out," according to Trump. Asked whether there would be any consequences for Russia's action, Sanders replied: "I'm not going to weigh in ahead of time and we certainly have never broadcast what we might do, but it's something the president does take very seriously." In a meeting Sunday with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, North Korea's intelligence chief, who headed his country's delegation to the Winter Olympics closing ceremony, indicated Pyongyang's willingness to hold talks with Washington. "We hope constructive talks will begin between North Korea and the United States at an appropriate opportunity," said Baik Tae-hyun, spokesman of South Korea's Ministry of Unification on Monday. General Kim was in the same VIP box for the sporting event's closing ceremony in Pyeongchang with the U.S. official government delegation, led by President Trump's daughter, Ivanka, and which included the uniformed commander of the American and U.N. forces on the Korean peninsula, U.S. Army General Vincent Brooks. "There was no interaction with the North Korean delegation. The U.S. presidential delegation's attendance at the closing ceremonies was the culmination of a successful trip where we celebrated the Olympic Games, U.S. athletes and our strong alliance with South Korea," according to a senior U.S. administration official. Earlier, North Korea's foreign ministry issued a warning about the imposition of the latest announced U.S. sanctions against Pyongyang. "As already proclaimed many times, we will regard all blockades as an act of war against us, and we will never try to stop the United States, if it really has pluck to confront us 'roughly,'" said a foreign ministry spokesman, who was quoted by the Korean Central News Agency. "In countering precisely this intimidation from the United States, we have possessed nuclear weapons, the treasured sword of justice, to defend ourselves," the statement added. Trump announced on Friday what he called the "largest ever" set of sanctions against North Korea and threatened a "phase two" if the measures aren't effective. The sanctions target one person, 27 companies and 28 ships registered in China and seven other countries with the intent of eliminating North Korea's illicit shipping and trade. They block assets held by the companies in the United States and prohibit U.S. citizens from interacting with them. China responded angrily Saturday to the new sanctions, maintaining they are counterproductive to efforts to halt Pyongyang's nuclear and long-range missile development programs. China's foreign ministry also demanded the U.S. immediately lift the sanctions "to avoid harming bilateral cooperation in the relevant area." Speaking to reporters on Monday, Sanders said "we are watching closely who joins us in fully enforcing United States' and United Nations' sanctions." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address India Tests Domestic Drones Modeled After General Atomic's Predator Sputnik News 22:03 26.02.2018 The Indian military has finished testing a drone that Indian news reports say will reduce New Delhi's reliance on unmanned aircraft imported from the US and Israel. India's Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO) recently conducted successful flight trials for the Rustom 2 unmanned aerial vehicle, the India Times reported Monday. The drone is developed after General Atomics' MQ-1 Predator model. The agency "successfully flew its Rustom 2 today at its Aeronautical Test Range in Chalakere," a town in western India, according to a Sunday statement. "This flight assumes significance due to the face that this is the first flight in user configuration with higher power engine," the India Times quoted DRDO saying. The UAV can fly at medium altitudes for 24 hours straight. The Times of India reported recently that India's military fields more than 200 drones imported from Israel. While most of the remotely piloted aircraft only conduct surveillance and reconnaissance missions, New Delhi has some Harop "killer" drones in its arsenal that can be used as kamikaze planes, the news outlet reported Saturday. The Indian Defense Ministry announced plans to buy 400 drones over the next decade on February 24. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqis Continue Security, Clearance Operations In Territory Once Held by ISIS By Terri Moon Cronk DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2018 With U.S.-led coalition forces in a supporting role, Iraqi security forces continue security and clearance operations in the campaign to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, the director of Pentagon Press Operations, Army Col. Robert Manning told reporters today. "In Baghdad, [Iraqi] patrol presence continues to lower lawlessness and criminal activity in that area," he said. In the Middle Euphrates River Valley, Iraqi forces destroyed an ISIS-held cave network and weapons cache, the colonel said. "In Kirkuk, an ISIS suicide bomber attack on a government building was foiled by the [Iraqis], resulting in the bomber's vest detonating, killing the terrorist but not injuring any friendly forces or civilians," Manning said. Strikes Near Rutbah During the past 72 hours, U.S.-led coalition dynamic strikes engaged ISIS targets near Rutbah in Anbar province, the colonel said, adding that the strikes resulted in several enemies killed and the destruction of two pickup trucks, a weapons cache and an encampment. In Syria, Manning said, Syrian Democratic Forces continue to achieve gains against ISIS in the Euphrates River Valley, and also fortified defensive positions in the Middle Euphrates River Valley. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU agrees to prepare sanctions on Myanmar generals over Rohingya plight Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 03:47PM European Union foreign ministers have agreed to prepare sanctions against senior Myanmar military officers over "serious and systematic" rights abuses against the country's Rohingya Muslim community. In a statement issued on Monday, the ministers tasked the bloc's diplomatic chief Federica Mogherini with drawing up a list of names to be hit with EU travel bans and asset freezes. They called for "targeted restrictive measures against senior military officers of the Myanmar armed forces responsible for serious and systematic human rights violations without delay." The EU ministers pointed to widespread abuses by the Myanmar military, "including rape and killings," against the Rohingya in the Southeast Asian country and called for an extension to the EU's embargo on weapons and equipment that can be used for political repression, imposed in the 1990s. No names of generals to be targeted for sanctions have been yet discussed. One EU diplomat, however, said the EU's list was likely to include more than just one senior military officer. The United States said in December it was sanctioning Major General Maung Maung Soe, who is accused of the crackdown on the Rohingya minority in Rakhine. Blacklisting senior military officers, freezing their EU assets and stopping them from traveling to the bloc would be the toughest step taken so far by Brussels in its efforts to halt the Rohingya crisis and hold the perpetrators accountable. Separately on Monday, the UN chief called on Myanmar authorities to "ensure unfettered humanitarian access" in Rakhine, where state-sponsored violence has forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. "The Rohingya community desperately needs immediate, life-saving assistance, long-term solutions and justice," Antonio Guterres said during a speech to the Human Rights Council in Geneva. Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an agreement late last year to repatriate about 700,000 Rohingya Muslim refugees who have crossed the border since August to escape the brutal military crackdown. The repatriation was set to start last month, but was delayed by a lack of preparation, as well as protests staged by Rohingya refugees against the plan to send them back to Myanmar while conditions were not safe for their return. Myanmar's government troops have been committing killings, making arbitrary arrests, and carrying out arson attacks in Muslim villages in Rakhine state since late 2016. Media reports have recently highlighted that dozens of Rohingya Muslim men had been buried in a mass grave in Rakhine after being hacked to death or shot by extremist Buddhists and soldiers. The Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations but are denied citizenship and are branded illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which likewise denies them citizenship. The United Nations has described the military crackdown in Myanmar as "ethnic cleansing." The UN has also described the 1.1-million-strong Muslim community as the most persecuted minority in the world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN chief calls for 'unfettered humanitarian access' in Myanmar's Rakhine hit by crackdown Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 03:03PM The United Nations has called on Myanmar authorities to "ensure unfettered humanitarian access" in Rakhine state, where state-sponsored violence has forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee to neighboring Bangladesh. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres made the plea during a speech to the Human Rights Council in Geneva on Monday. "The Rohingya community desperately needs immediate, life-saving assistance, long-term solutions and justice," Guterres said. The UN chief further noted that he had written an official letter to the Security Council about the plight of the persecuted Muslim minority group and the "ethnic cleansing" taking place in Rakhine. Human Rights Watch said last week that it had analyzed satellite imagery showing Myanmar had razed to the ground at least 55 Rohingya villages in Rakhine over the past months. The New York-based rights group said the demolitions could have erased evidence of atrocities perpetrated by Myanmar's security forces against the persecuted minority. Myanmar's military forces stand accused not just of torching and destroying Muslim villages, but of carrying out massacres, rapes and widespread looting. Backed by the government, Myanmar's military and Buddhist extremists launched a heavy-handed crackdown against the Muslim minority in Rakhine in late 2016. That campaign intensified in August 2017. The crackdown has forced nearly 700,000 Rohingya Muslims to flee to Bangladesh, where they face repatriation. Bangladesh and Myanmar signed an agreement in November last year to repatriate all Rohingya Muslims who have crossed the border to escape the brutal military crackdown. The repatriation was set to start last month, but was delayed by a lack of preparation, as well as protests staged by Rohingya refugees against the plan to send them back to Myanmar while conditions were not safe for their return. The Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations but are denied citizenship and are branded illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, which likewise denies them citizenship. The UN has described the 1.1-million-strong Muslim community as the most persecuted minority in the world. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian Military Developing Long-Range Supersonic Missile-Lobbing Drone Sputnik News 14:12 26.02.2018(updated 14:43 26.02.2018) Designed to infiltrate far into an enemy's territory, the new system will carry both guided and unguided munitions. Russia is working on a long-range unmanned strike system, Zvezda, the official television channel of the Russian Ministry of Defense, has learned. Speaking to the television channel, Alexander Nemov, deputy chief of the research department at the 30th Central Scientific Research Institute outside Moscow, confirmed that the large unmanned aircraft would appear sometime in the next few years. "Development work is currently underway on a long-range unmanned system capable of carrying out unmanned low-altitude supersonic flights, and striking both stationary and mobile targets at operational-strategic depth," the officer explained. Zvezda clarified that the aircraft will, on the one hand, be capable of performing low-altitude flights, much like a cruise missile, and will fly faster than the speed of sound, providing the Russian military with fundamentally new strategic capabilities not currently enjoyed by any other military in the world. Asked about the prospective aircraft's onboard weapons, Nemov was able to divulge only that the system "will have the ability to carry both guided and unguided air-launched weapons." The 30th Central Scientific Research Institute's other projects include plans to create a new strike chopper, combining the capabilities of the Kamov Ka-52 and the Mil Mi-28. The new chopper will feature an additional wing, and be capable of flying over 400 km per hour. The Institute is also working on unmanned helicopter systems, which will interact with conventional rotary-winged aircraft on the battlefield. Researchers are also engaged in an evaluation of the ergonomics of the new Sukhoi Su-57 multi-role fighter's control systems. In November, the Kalashnikov Concern reported that it would start production of heavy unmanned aerial vehicles capable of carrying up to several tons of cargo and operating for several days at a time without needing to recharge. The system is expected to be introduced this summer. The UAVs will work in a fleet consisting of heavy and light drones. In addition to cargo delivery, the remote-controlled aircraft are expected to engage in aerial photography, cartography, telecommunications, monitoring of viral diseases, protection of forests and property, weather conditions, and more. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Signs New State Arms Program Focused on Cutting-Edge Weaponry Sputnik News 05:11 26.02.2018(updated 07:16 26.02.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitri Rogozin has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had signed the country's new state arms procurement program, which includes, among other things, robotics, intelligence systems, UAVs and precision ammunition. "Yes, the document has been signed by the president," Rogozin said in an interview with the Kommersant newspaper, when asked a relevant question. The deputy prime minister noted that the new program had been prepared based on the experience of use of weapons and military equipment in combat conditions in Syria. New platforms and systems have been tested during deployment in extreme conditions, he said. In total, more than 200 types of weapons and equipment were tested, he noted. "Robotics, intelligence systems, combat and reconnaissance UAVs, anti-missile aircraft defense, precision ammunition all this is included in the new state arms procurement program. At the same time, one should not turn a blind eye to the build-up of NATO's military potential, the implementation of the global strike concept by the United States, the intention to deploy weapons in outer space, and the deployment of strategic non-nuclear systems of precision weapons. We will have a decent answer to all this, believe me," Rogozin said. In November, Russian Deputy Defense Minister Tatiana Shevtsova said that the program stipulated spending 19 trillion rubles ($325 billion) on military equipment procurement and one trillion rubles ($17 billion) on synchronization system. Previous year, a source at the Defense Ministry told Sputnik that the program, among other things, would include the S-500 air defense missile systems, the fifth-generation Su-57 fifth-generation fighter jets, Armata tanks and armoured vehicle. Dmitri Rogozin said that the share of modern equipment in service at the Russian Armed Forces will amount to 70% in 2021. The Deputy Prime Minister also noted that nearly 300 foreign-made weapons models have been replaced with Russian products since 2014, including 200 arms produced by the NATO and EU states and 100 models produced by Ukraine. "In total, since 2014 we have replaced Ukrainian products in more than 100 samples of armaments and military equipment, as regards the products of the NATO and EU countries the number of weapons, for which the import substitution measures were planned and carried out, is even bigger about 200. In 2017, there was no a single case of disruption of the fulfilment of the state defense order because of restrictions in the supply of foreign components, all these components were replaced by the Russian-made analogues," Rogozin said. The task was not to simply copy foreign-made products, but to produce new and more advanced arms, he noted. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran hopes to witness durable implementation of 30-day ceasefire in Syria ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency Mon / 26 February 2018 / 15:06 Tehran (ISNA) Iranian foreign ministry spokesman referred to the 30-day ceasefire in Syria approved by the UN Security Council, expressing hope that the ceasefire would be implemented and led to reduction in violence and beginning of delivering humanitarian aid to the Syrian people. In a press conference held on Monday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi said, "The issue of Syria is complex and old and there are different actors in it. For a long time, there is no security, stability and peace here and the conflicts continue in this country". "We hope the UNSC's new resolution can establish ceasefire across Syria and pave the way to deliver humanitarian aid to the Syrian people," he added. Elsewhere in his remarks, Qassemi said, "The nuclear deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) has many achievements in different fields for Iran although the Americans are trying to put obstacles in the way to prevent Iran from fully enjoys the interests of the nuclear deal". In a reaction to the statements made by some US officials at Munich Security Conference calling European countries not to invest in Iran, Qassemi said, "The policy that Americans adopt against Iran and Iranian institutions is clear to everyone. The international community decides independently of others and based on its own national interests". The spokesman also commented on Turkey's ongoing military operation in Syria's Afrin region, saying Iranian, Turkish, and Russian foreign ministers and presidents would be meeting in May to discuss the situation in the Arab country. "These negotiations are instrumental in resolving differences, and will contribute to efforts aimed at restoring calm and fighting terrorism in Syria," he said. Tehran and Ankara, Qassemi said, have shared common views on Syria at times and differed at others. "What is important is that we are cooperating" towards a resolution of the conflict in the Arab country, he added. "This is one of the United States' very wrong policies, for which it will pay the price in the future," Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi told reporters about US decision to formally recognized Jerusalem al-Quds as Israel's "capital" and announced plans to move the US embassy to the occupied holy city . "With the mindlessness which we see in American decisions, there is need for serious action in the Islamic world," the official added. Qassemi said a British resolution against Iran over the Yemen war, which is to be into a vote at the United Nations Security Council on Monday, would be helping "invaders and aggravate the invasion". "We do not send arms to Yemen. Such blame games are being waged by those who are fanning the flames of war and bloodshed in Yemen," he said, Press TV reported. The spokesman further said, "What is happening in Yemen is the result of arms exports by the United Kingdom and the United States to Saudi Arabia." Iran, he said, was observing "dishonest behavior" on the part of the British government, which is trying to use the international mechanism to support the invader despite its claims of seeking to end the Saudi war. End Item NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address France says Turkey must observe Syria ceasefire in Afrin Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 02:22PM French President Emmanuel Macron says Turkey must observe a United Nations Security Council resolution on a month-long ceasefire in Syria including its northwestern region of Afrin where Ankara is waging an offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). In a telephone call on Monday, Macron told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan that the ceasefire "involved all Syrian territory, including in Afrin, and must be put into effect everywhere and by everyone without delay", the French presidency said. The UN Security Council on Saturday unanimously voted in favor of a resolution demanding a 30-day truce in Syria 'without delay' to allow aid delivery and medical evacuations. The resolution was adopted by 15 votes to none, after several delays and a flurry of last-minute negotiations amid growing concerns about the humanitarian situation in Eastern Ghouta near the Syrian capital of Damascus. Turkey on Sunday welcomed the Security Council resolution, but said it would have no effect on Ankara's ongoing cross-border offensive in Afrin. "We welcome the resolution adopted by the UN Security Council in response to the worsening humanitarian situation all across Syria, in particular in Eastern Ghouta," Turkey's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Turkey launched the so-called Operation Olive Branch in Syria's Afrin on January 20 in a bid to eliminate the YPG, which Ankara views as a terror organization and the Syrian branch of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkey has warned that the Afrin offensive could expand to the nearby Syrian city of Manbij. During the phone conversation, the French president expressed concern over the ongoing military offensive in Eastern Ghouta. Macron told Erdogan that he was "deeply worried" about the bombardments of Eastern Ghouta, saying France would remain "vigilant" concerning humanitarian aid to the area and any use of chemical weapons. Eastern Ghouta has witnessed renewed violence in the past few days, where terrorists have mounted repeated mortar attacks on the Syrian capital in the face of an imminent rout. Western powers, however, blame the Syrian government and Russia for the crisis. A suspected new chemical attack has reportedly hit Eastern Ghouta just after Russia warned that militants were planning a gas attack there to pin it on the Syrian government. Militant sources were quoted as saying that several people suffered symptoms consistent with exposure to chlorine gas in the al-Shayfouniya area on Sunday, and one child was killed. Late in February, Russia warned that militants in Eastern Ghouta were preparing to launch a chemical attack. "The data at our disposal indicates the leaders of militant units are preparing a provocation that will involve the utilization of chemical weapons in order to accuse the government forces of deploying chemical weapons against peaceful civilians," said a report released by the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria. Operation Olive Branch has heightened tensions with the United States, which works closely with the YPG in fighting against Daesh terrorists in Syria. In a statement on Sunday, the Kremlin said the Russian, French and German leaders agreed to speed up their "exchange of information" on Syria. It added that Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the Syrian crisis with French and German leaders, Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, respectively. According to the statement, Putin, Macron and Merkel stressed "the importance of continuing common efforts in the interests of the full implementation of the resolution as soon as possible." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Chlorine attack reported in Syria after Russian warning Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 09:27AM A suspected new chemical attack has reportedly hit the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta just after Russia warned that militants were planning a gas attack there to pin it on the Syrian government. Militant sources were quoted as saying that several people suffered symptoms consistent with exposure to chlorine gas in the al-Shayfouniya area on Sunday, and one child was killed. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which is sympathetic to militants, said 14 civilians had suffered breathing difficulties after a Syrian warplane struck the village in the Eastern Ghouta region. The London-based center quoted victims, ambulance drivers and others as saying that they had smelt chlorine after "an enormous explosion" in the area. "At least 18 victims were treated with oxygen nebulizing sessions," Reuters news agency quoted an unidentified militant source as saying. The Syrian government has consistently denied using chemical weapons in the war that will soon enter its eighth year. For years, foreign-backed militants have appeared to release chemical substances in the areas close to the site of government airstrikes and capture the aftermath on videos. On Sunday, videos released by militants depicted a child's corpse wrapped in a blue shroud, and several bare chested men and young boys appearing to struggle for breath, with some holding nebulizers to their mouths and noses. The suspected gas attack came just after the Russian Defense Ministry warned Sunday that militants were preparing to use toxic agents in Eastern Ghouta so they could later accuse Damascus of employing chemical weapons. Last April, the United States fired 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at Syria in response to what it claimed was a chemical weapons attack that killed more than 100 people. The Syrian army is currently in the midst of an operation to drive violent Takfiri militants out of Eastern Ghouta from where they launch mortar attacks on Damascus. A ceasefire announced by the UN Security Council on Saturday does not apply to the areas held by Daesh, al-Qaeda and al-Nusra Front along with "individuals, groups, undertakings and entities" associated with the terrorist groups. On Sunday, Iran's Chief of Staff Major General Mohammad Baqeri said that the architects of the ceasefire had it passed at the UN in order to forestall the Syrian army's eradication of terrorists in the Damascus suburbs. "The West and supporters of the terrorists insisted that this ceasefire be put in place," he said of the resolution which demands a 30-day ceasefire across Syria to allow for humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations. "We will adhere to the ceasefire resolution; Syria will also adhere," Baqeri said, while noting that parts of the suburbs of Damascus, which are held by the terrorists, are not covered by the ceasefire and clean-up operations will continue there. The Syrian government surrendered its stockpiles of chemical weapons in 2014 to a joint mission led by the UN and the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which oversaw the destruction of the weaponry. Western governments and their allies however have never stopped pointing the finger at Damascus whenever an apparent chemical attack has taken place. In April, a suspected sarin gas attack hit the town of Khan Shaykhun in the northwestern Syrian province of Idlib, taking at least 80 lives. Accusing Damascus, the US then launched several dozen Tomahawk cruise missiles at a Syrian air base. Earlier in February, French President Emmanuel Macron said if the use of chemical weapons against civilians were proven in Syria, "France will strike." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin orders daily five-hour ceasefire in Syria's Eastern Ghouta Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 05:23PM Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the implementation of a daily ceasefire in Syria's Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta from Tuesday and the creation of a "humanitarian corridor" through which civilians can leave the militant-held area. "On the instructions of the Russian president, with the goal of avoiding civilian casualties in Eastern Ghouta, from February 27 -- tomorrow -- from 9.00 to 14.00 local time there will be a humanitarian pause," Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a ministry meeting in the capital Moscow on Monday. Putin was also quoted as saying that there should be similar pauses in the southeastern Syrian town of al-Tanf in Homs province and in Rukban, near the Jordanian border "so that civilians can return to their homes unhindered and begin to rebuild their civilian lives." The announcement came two days after the United Nations Security Council unanimously voted in favor of a resolution demanding a 30-day truce in Syria "without delay" to allow aid access and medical evacuations. The resolution was adopted by 15 votes to none, after several delays and a flurry of last-minute negotiations. Eastern Ghouta, a besieged area on the outskirts of Damascus which is home to some 400,000 people, has witnessed deadly violence over the past few days, with foreign-sponsored terrorists launching mortar attacks on the Syrian capital in the face of an imminent humiliating defeat. Western powers, however, blame the Syrian government and Russia for the crisis. In the meantime, a suspected new chemical attack has reportedly hit Eastern Ghouta just after Russia warned that militants were planning a gas attack there to pin it on the Syrian government. Militant sources were quoted as saying that several people suffered symptoms consistent with exposure to chlorine gas in al-Shayfouniyah area on Sunday, and one child was killed. The Syrian army launched a ground operation later in the day against al-Nusra Front and other terrorist groups in the Eastern Ghouta region, wresting control over some areas. The UN-brokered truce does not apply to operations against the Daesh, al-Qaeda and al-Nusra Front along with "individuals, groups, undertakings and entities" associated with the terrorist groups. It also allows the Syrian government's operation to continue against terrorists in Idlib province, the country's largest remaining militant stronghold. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Orders 'Humanitarian Pause' In Syria's Ghouta RFE/RL February 26, 2018 Russia says a daily "humanitarian pause" will be introduced in the Syrian rebel-held enclave of eastern Ghouta starting on February 27. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said on February 26 that President Vladimir Putin ordered a cessation of hostilities from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, Russian news agencies reported. A humanitarian corridor will be opened in Ghouta to allow civilians to leave, Shoigu also said. There was no immediate reactions from the Syrian government, rebel groups, or the United Nations. The announcement comes after the UN Security Council on February 24 passed a resolution demanding a 30-day cease-fire "without delay" to allow aid deliveries and medical evacuations in Syria's conflict areas. The move followed a week of intense bombardment by Syrian government forces in the besieged area near Damascus that killed more than 540 people, according to activists. The situation there led to a growing outcry from the United Nations, Western capitals, and humanitarian groups, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling it "hell on Earth." Speaking at the opening of the UN Human Rights Council's annual session, Guterres said earlier on February 26 that aid agencies were ready to deliver life-saving aid and evacuate critically wounded from the enclave. He added that Security Council resolutions were "only meaningful if they are effectively implemented and that is why I expect the resolution to be immediately implemented and sustained." The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said air strikes and shelling killed nine civilians there on February 26, a day after a suspected chlorine gas attack in the rebel-held territory. Speaking before Shoigu's announcement, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the situation in Ghouta was alarming and that "terrorists" there were using local civilians as "hostages." Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the proposed cease-fire in Syria would take effect once all sides had agreed on how it should be implemented and insisted that the truce does not apply to "terrorist groups." "We will never support any actions aimed at exempting terrorists from a legitimate strike," he said. The UN resolution affirmed that the proposed cessation of hostilities would not apply to military operations against the jihadist groups Islamic State (IS), Al-Qaeda, and Al-Nusra Front. Syria and its allies Russia and Iran often refer to Sunni rebels as "terrorists," including groups allied with Western countries and Arab states as well as extremist groups like IS. Lavrov also said that reports of an alleged chemical attack in eastern Ghouta were "fake stories." The Syrian government denies using chemical weapons. On February 25, Iran said attacks on "terrorists" outside the Syrian capital would continue but that Tehran and Damascus would respect the cease-fire elsewhere in the country. And Turkey said the truce would not affect its military offensive in the Kurdish-held enclave of Afrin in northern Syria. During a telephone on February 26, French President Emmanuel Macron told his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, that the proposed truce must be applied across Syria, including in Afrin, the French presidency said. Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel spoke by telephone with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on February 25 about the implementation of the cease-fire, the Kremlin said. A German government spokesman said Macron and Merkel urged Putin to put "maximum" pressure on the Syrian government to halt the fighting in eastern Ghouta, where the UN says nearly 400,000 people live. U.S. President Donald Trump on February 23 accused Russia, Iran, and the Syrian government of being responsible for a "humanitarian disgrace" in Syria. Russia, along with Iran, has given Assad's government crucial support throughout the 7-year-old war in Syria, which began with a government crackdown on protests. Moscow helped turn the tide of the conflict in Assad's favor by launching a campaign of air strikes in 2015 and stepping up its military presence on the ground. With reporting by Reuters, Interfax, and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/syria-hell-on-earth- guterres-ghouta/29063178.html Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia Proposes Creation of Int'l Commission on Syria's Raqqa - Minister Sputnik News 16:51 26.02.2018(updated 17:41 26.02.2018) Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu commented on the situation in Syria after the adoption of the UN Security Council resolution on Syria that stipulates introduction of a 30-day halt in fighting in the country. International Humanitarian Commission on Situation in Syria's Raqqa Russia is proposing the creation of a commission under the auspices of the UN humanitarian assessment in the Syrian city of Raqqa, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said. "That is why we propose to create as quickly as possible on the basis of the United Nations and under its leadership, an international assessment humanitarian commission that could look at and assess what is really happening in Raqqa, where, unfortunately, no one is allowed to neither the media, nor the humanitarian organizations," Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting of the board of the Russian Defense Ministry. He noted that, according to the Russian military department, there was a "severe epidemiological situation" in Raqqa. In December 2017, the Syrian Democratic Forces, with the support of the US-led coalition, started operations to liberate Raqqa. In October 2017, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the city had been completely liberated. The Daesh terrorist group seized Raqqa in 2013 and declared the city as its capital in Syria the following year. Humanitarian Pause in East Ghouta A daily humanitarian pause will be introduced in Syria's Eastern Ghouta on the order of Russian President Vladimir Putin, a humanitarian corridor will be established soon, Sergei Shoigu said Monday. "A humanitarian corridor will be opened to evacuate civilians. Location will be prepared and announced shortly," he added. Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with the members of Russia's Security Council to discuss the situation in Syria's Eastern Ghouta and the ongoing provocations by terrorists in Syria. The horrible humanitarian situation in that area had been addressed by the Russian president in a phone call with his counterparts from France and Germany. On Saturday, the UN Security Council adopted resolution 2401 that urges all parties to the conflict to immediately stop all clashes and obey to a long-term humanitarian pause on the entire territory of Syria. The resolution underlined that the ceasefire regime does not apply to military operations against the Daesh, al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups. Humanitarian Corridors in Syria's At-Tanf Area Russia proposes to establish humanitarian corridors in Syria's At-Tanf area where the Rukban refugee camp is located, Shoigu said. "We propose to establish similar humanitarian corridors, humanitarian pauses in the At-Tanf and Rukban, so that the civilians can freely return to their homes and begin to restore peaceful life," Shoigu said. Al-Rukban refugee camp is situated in Syria's Homs province around 11 miles south of the at-Tanf settlement and inside the US-controlled zone of the Syrian-Jordanian border. In November, the Russian Reconciliation Center for Syria accused the United States of creating a training camp near al-Rukban refugee camp to forge a new "moderate opposition" out of various militia groups. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Macron to Erdogan: Syrian Ceasefire Must Apply to Afrin Operation Sputnik News 16:33 26.02.2018 ANKARA (Sputnik) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has discussed the new UN Security Council resolution on the Syrian ceasefire as well as Ankara's operation in Afrin in a phone conversation with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron on Monday. During the conversation between the two leaders, Macron stressed that the 30-day ceasefire "covered all Syrian territory, including Afrin, and must be put into effect everywhere and by everyone without delay", according to the French presidency. Erdogan and Macron also touched upon the issues of bilateral relations. This comes as on Sunday Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said that the latest UN Security Council's resolution does not cover Turkey's military operation in the Syrian region of Afrin against Kurdish militias as it is being conducted against terrorists. On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2401 that urges all parties to the conflict to immediately stop all clashes and adhere to a long-term humanitarian pause on the entire territory of Syria in order to ensure the safe and unhindered humanitarian aid supplies as well as medical evacuation of those injured. The resolution underlined that the ceasefire regime does not apply to military operations against the Daesh, al-Qaeda, and Jabhat Fatah al Sham (formerly known as Nusra Front) terrorist groups. The Olive Branch operation was launched by Ankara on January 20. Ankara considers the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a Kurdish political party in northern Syria, and Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia affiliates of the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) listed as a terror organization in Turkey. Damascus has expressed its opposition to the Turkish operation, saying that such actions violated Syrian sovereignty. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Militants Preparing Poisonous Agents Provocation in Eastern Ghouta - Moscow Sputnik News 06:47 26.02.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The leaders of the militant groups are preparing provocation with the use of poisonous substances in the Eastern Ghouta enclave in order to accuse Damascus of using the chemical weapons, the Russian Defense Ministry said late on Sunday. "Evidence has shown that the leaders of illegal armed formations in the Eastern Ghouta are preparing a provocation using poisonous agents in order to accuse the government forces of using chemical weapons against civilians," the ministry's statement read. The ministry also said that the shelling of the Syrian capital had continued over the last 24 hours from the territory, controlled by the Jaysh Al-Islam militant group despite its pledge to comply with the ceasefire regime. On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2401 that urges all parties to the conflict to immediately stop all clashes and adhere to a long-term humanitarian pause on the entire territory of Syria in order to ensure the safe and unhindered humanitarian aid supplies as well as medical evacuation of those injured. "Despite reconciliation statements made by the Jaysh al-Islam, insurgents continue shelling from the controlled territory targeting the city of Damascus," the ministry's statement read. The ministry noted that Damascus' residential areas were attacked by 31 mortar shells over the last 24 hours, resulting in 13 civilians and one Syrian serviceman injured. Eastern Ghouta, located near Damascus, is controlled by Jaysh al-Islam and other armed opposition groups as well as by Jabhat al-Nusra terrorist group. The militant groups are trying to break the ceasefire by attempting to provoke the backfire from the Syrian army. The Russia Defense Ministry also reported that the illegal armed groups have targeted the Syrian army at various sites on the line of contact, while Damascus' positions near the Hazrama and Nashabiyah settlements were attacked by the car bombs. "In the morning of February 25, illegal armed formation tried to attack the Syrian government forces on a line of contact. The SAA [Syrian Arab Army] positions near the settlements of Hazrama and Nashabiyah were subject to car bomb attacks," the statement read. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Lavrov Calls on US-Led Coalition to Take Steps to Implement UN Syria Resolution Sputnik News 22:05 26.02.2018 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in phone talks with his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel on Monday called on members of the US-led coalition to take urgent steps aimed at implementing the recent UN Security Council resolution on Syria, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. "The ministers exchanged views on the Syrian peace process in the context of the development of the situation in Syria and the tasks of the practical implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution 2401. Lavrov provided detailed information on concrete steps taken by the Russian military in support of efforts to resolve humanitarian problems in Eastern Ghouta," the ministry said in a statement. In addition, the Russian minister urged the participants of the US-led coalition to urgently take similar actions to ensure the implementation of resolution 2401 throughout Syria, including the At-Tanf area, the Rukban refugee camp, and the city of Raqqa, according to the statement. On Saturday, the UN Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2401 that urges all parties to the conflict to immediately stop all clashes and adhere to a long-term humanitarian pause on the entire territory of Syria in order to ensure the safe and unhindered humanitarian aid supplies as well as medical evacuation of those injured. However, the violations of the ceasefire continue to take place in the crisis-torn country. Syria has been engulfed in a civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting numerous opposition factions and terrorist groups. Several rounds of talks have already been held in Geneva and Astana in a bid to find a peaceful solution to the conflict. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address EU Adds 2 Syrian Ministers to Sanctions List, Total of 257 People Now Targeted Sputnik News 18:10 26.02.2018(updated 18:11 26.02.2018) MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The Council of the European Union on Monday added the Syrian minister of industry and the minister of information to the anti-Syria sanctions list, bringing the total number of targeted persons to 257, the Council said in a statement. "On 26 February 2018, the Council added the Minister of Industry and the Minister of Information of the government of Syria to the list of those targeted by EU restrictive measures against the Syrian regime in view of the gravity of the situation in the country Today's decision brings to 257 persons the total number of persons targeted by a travel ban and an assets freeze for being responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria, benefiting from or supporting the regime, and/or being associated with such persons," the statement read. Additionally, 67 Syrian entities are targeted by the assets freeze. The EU restrictive measures are in place until June 1, 2018. Syria has been engulfed in a civil war since 2011, with government forces fighting numerous opposition factions and terrorist groups. The international community has taken a number of steps aimed at settling the crisis, including through negotiations in Geneva, Astana and Sochi. The European Union first imposed sanctions "against Syria and persons responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population" in May 2011. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Hell on earth' in Syria's eastern Ghouta must end - UN chief Guterres 26 February 2018 - Syria's war-battered east Ghouta, the troubled Kasais region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Northern Rakhine state in Myanmar, where violence has sparked a major exodus of Muslim Rohingyas, were all in the spotlight as the Geneva-based Human Rights Council opened its session today, with UN officials warning that these situations spiraled into crisis "because not enough was done, early and collectively, to prevent the rising horrors." The Geneva-based United Nations' Human Rights Council opened a regular session on Monday hearing calls to ensure that counter-terrorism efforts do not supersede international obligations to protect civilians and to end the harmful use of veto in the Security Council. "It is an honor for me to be here again today and this year, marking the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the opening of a four-week session in the Swiss city, referring to the landmark document adopted in 1948 proclaiming the inalienable rights of every human being. The session, which runs through 23 March, opens at a time of escalating violence in Syria, where civilian causalities have spiked, a development that prompted the UN Security Council over the weekend to adopt a resolution demanding a cessation of hostilities throughout the war-torn country for at least 30 days. It was Mr. Guterres' first opportunity to address a UN body after this action. "I remind all parties of their absolute obligation and international humanitarian and human rights law to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times," he said. "And similarly, efforts to combat terrorism do not supersede these obligations." The Human Rights Council is an inter-governmental body of 47 States responsible for promoting and protecting human rights around the globe. Mr. Guterres highlighted how human rights are fundamental to preventing conflict. "In today's world, it is also by ensuring the primacy of human rights that conflict can be prevented," he said, noting that all the crisis situations currently being examined by the Security Council are invariably accompanied by human rights violations and abuses and that his office is ready to help the 15-member body strengthen its preventive role. The UN chief also underscored that the goal of ensuring diverse, inclusive, peaceful and sustainable societies on a healthy planet under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can be achieved only by promoting and protecting human rights. Mr. Guterres went on to warn that the words of the Universal Declaration are not yet matched by facts on the ground, noting that gender inequality remains a pressing issue, there is a groundswell of xenophobia, racism and intolerance, including anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim hatred, and refugees and migrants are often denied their rights, including the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. "In my experience, the Rohingya are one of the most discriminated against populations in the world and that was even before the crisis of the past year," he said, stressing the importance of reconciliation. Further, Mr. Guterres pointed out that there is still some resistance to support UN action on human rights. "We must overcome the false dichotomy between human rights and national sovereignty. Human rights and national sovereignty go hand in hand. There is no contradiction," he said. "An emphasis on human rights lies at the heart of conflict prevention, which must be our highest priority." In his address, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, also welcomed the Security Council's unanimous decision on a 30-day ceasefire in Syria. However, he emphasized that the resolution must be viewed against a backdrop of seven years of failure to stop the violence: seven years of unremitting and frightful mass killing. Mr. Zeid said east Ghouta in Syria, Ituri and the Kasais in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Taiz in Yemen, Burundi, Northern Rakhine state in Myanmar have become some of "the most prolific slaughterhouses of humans in recent times" because not enough was done, early and collectively, to prevent the rising horrors. "Time and again, my office and I have brought to the attention of the international community violations of human rights which should have served as a trigger for preventive action," he said. "Time and again, there has been minimal action." Turning to the harmful use of veto in the Security Council, he said "second to those who are criminally responsible those who kill and those who maim the responsibility for the continuation of so much pain lies with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council." "So long as the veto is used by them to block any unity of action, when it is needed the most, when it could reduce the extreme suffering of innocent people, then it is they the permanent members who must answer before the victims," he said. He commended France for championing a code of conduct on the use of veto, noting that the United Kingdom has also joined the initiative, now backed by over 115 countries. "It is time, for the love of mercy, that China, Russia and the United States, join them and end the pernicious use of the veto," Mr. Zeid said, naming all the Council's permanent members. For his part, the President of the UN General Assembly, Miroslav Lajcak, spotlighted the role of the Universal Periodic Review a peer review mechanism for the assessment and advancement of human rights in all 193 UN Member States. "The Universal Periodic Review has now entered its third cycle. It has been over ten years since the General Assembly adopted the resolution to begin this important process of review. And, I believe that our multilateral system is stronger with this mechanism as part of it," he said. There are still opportunities to make it better. "When assessing the success of the Universal Periodic Review, what is most important is its impact on people's lives," he said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Putin Orders 'Daily Humanitarian Pause' in Airstrikes on Syrian Rebels By Ken Bredemeier, Chris Hannas February 26, 2018 Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered a "daily humanitarian pause" in Moscow's airstrikes on Syrian rebels, a five-hour window to let civilians escape from clashes near Damascus. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said starting Tuesday the Russian stand-down would run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. local time, "with the goal of avoiding civilian casualties." Putin's order comes two days after the shaky start of a 30-day cease-fire across Syria unanimously demanded by the U.N. Security Council. Fighting has continued in eastern Ghouta outside Damascus, the capital, with at least 10 people killed Monday, according to activists, as airstrikes and bombing resumed. French concerns In a phone call, French President Emmanuel Macron told Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of his "strong concerns" about the ongoing airstrikes aimed at civilians and hospitals in rebel-held eastern Ghouta. But the French leader also called on Erdogan to end Ankara's airstrikes in Afrin in northern Syria, which it launched last month against U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish militia it considers to be a "terrorist" group allied with Kurdish insurgents that have been fighting the government inside Turkey for three decades. On Sunday, Turkey said the U.N. truce would not affect its operations in northern Syria. Syria's state news agency and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said Turkish attacks early Monday killed five people. The Observatory said the dead included two children, in the village of Yalan Quz. Damascus and the Observatory said a Sunday airstrike by the U.S.-led coalition on an area held by Islamic State in the eastern part of Syria had killed at least 25 people, including seven children and six women. Guterres calls for end to fighting in Syria U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said resolutions issued by the Security Council "are only meaningful if they are effectively implemented," while reiterating that Syrians in the besieged area of eastern Ghouta "cannot wait" for humanitarian aid. The council on Saturday demanded a nationwide cease-fire in Syria for 30 days, while calling for a lifting of sieges and allowing access for medical and rescue workers. "I expect the resolution to be immediately implemented and sustained, particularly to ensure the immediate, safe, unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services, the evacuation of the critically sick and the wounded, and the alleviation of the suffering of the Syrian people," Guterres said. But violence has not halted, with the U.N. and a Syrian war monitor reporting fresh airstrikes Monday in eastern Ghouta, a rebel-held suburb of Damascus where more than 500 people have been killed during the past week. "We insist on its full implementation without delay, however we have every reason to remain cautious as airstrikes on eastern Ghouta continue this morning," U.N. human rights chief Zeid Ra-ad al-Hussein said. Zeid also cast a level of doubt on the prospects for the resolution, saying it "must also be viewed against a backdrop of seven years of failure to stop the violence, seven years of unremitting and frightful mass killing." Throughout the conflict that began in 2011, there have been several proposals at the Security Council to hold human rights violators accountable, but those resolutions have been blocked by Russia and China utilizing their veto power. The five permanent members of the council, which also includes Britain, France and the United States, can veto any resolution. Whom to blame? During his opening statement Monday at the start of the U.N. Human Rights Council's annual session, Zeid spoke generally about a failure of the council to address suffering in the world, saying the permanent members are responsible "for the continuation of so much pain." He specifically faulted China, Russia and the United States for their use of vetoes on a variety of issues. "So long as the veto is used by them to block any unity of action when it is needed the most, when it could reduce the extreme suffering of innocent people, then it is they the permanent members who must answer before the victims," Zeid said. European Union foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini also expressed her concern and that of European foreign ministers about an increase in violence across Syria, "from different actors, obviously first and foremost by the regime and its supporters." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UN Chief Guterres Calls for End to Fighting in Syria By Lisa Schlein February 26, 2018 U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is criticizing the failure of governments to implement a Security Council resolution for a 30-day cease-fire in war-torn Syria. Addressing the opening of the U.N. Human Rights Council's four-week session, Guterres called for an immediate end to the fighting. Syrian government forces began bombing the rebel-held enclave of Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus, only hours after the Security Council adopted a cease-fire agreement. Security Council resolutions Clearly stung by this event, U.N Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told delegates at the Human Rights Council that Security Council resolutions are only meaningful if they are effectively implemented and sustained. "And, that is why I expect the resolution to be immediately implemented and sustained, particularly to ensure the immediate safe, unimpeded and sustained delivery of humanitarian aid and services, evacuation of the critically sick and wounded and the alleviation of the suffering of the Syrian people... In particular, Eastern Ghouta cannot wait. It is high time to stop this hell on Earth," he said. Whom to blame? The U.N. high commissioner for human rights, Zeid Ra'ad al- Hussein, was frank about who he said was to blame for the ongoing carnage in conflict-ridden parts of the world. Zeid cited Eastern Ghouta and other besieged areas in Syria, the Kasais in DR Congo, Taiz in Yemen, Burundi, and northern Rakhine in Myanmar as some of what he termed today's most prolific slaughterhouses of humans. "The responsibility for the continuation of so much pain lies with the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council," he said. "So long as the veto is used by them to block any unity of action, when it is needed the most, when it could reduce the extreme suffering of innocent people, then it is they, the permanent members, who must answer before the victims." Zeid praised France and Britain for championing a code of conduct on the use of the veto; but, he denounced the three other permanent members of the Council China, Russia and the United States - saying they had derogated their duty. He called on them to end the "pernicious use" of the veto. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey gains control of border strip inside Syria's Afrin, sends special forces for new fight Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 06:33PM The Turkish army has taken control of the outer edge of Syria's northwestern region of Afrin during its ongoing cross-border offensive against the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG). Turkish state media reported on Monday that the military and its allied militants had pushed some Kurdish YPG forces back from the frontier near the Turkish border. According to the state-run Anadolu news agency, Turkey has captured 115 "strategic points" and 87 villages since launching its operation in the Syrian region. YPG forces said that five civilians were killed after Turkish warplanes struck a village near Jandaris in the southwest of Afrin. A YPG-led alliance said that fighting raged on multiple fronts around Afrin. The YPG forms the backbone of the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a US-backed anti-Damascus militant group. The so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said that Turkish troops now held a continuous strip on the edge of Afrin. The UK-based monitoring group also said that at least five Turkish soldiers were killed during fierce fighting in the space of 24 hours. The latest advance opens a corridor that links territory in Syria's Aleppo province under the control of militants backed by Turkey with Idlib province, the Arab country's largest remaining militant stronghold. On Sunday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan issued one of his strongest warnings meant for the US, pledging to "break the arms and wings" of Washington-backed militants in Syria. Turkey launched "Operation Olive Branch" in Afrin last month in a bid to eliminate the YPG, which Ankara views as a terror organization and the Syrian branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). Turkey's patience boiled over when the US announced last month to create a 30,000-strong force comprised of Kurdish militants, which would be deployed along the Turkish border. Operation Olive Branch in Afrin region is Turkey's second major military intervention in Syria during an unprecedented foreign-backed militancy that broke out in 2011. In August 2016, Turkey began a unilateral military intervention in northern Syria, code-named Operation Euphrates Shield, sending tanks and warplanes across the border. Ankara claimed that its military campaign was aimed at pushing the Daesh terrorist group from Turkey's border with Syria and stopping the advance of Kurdish forces, who were themselves fighting Daesh. Turkey ended its campaign in northern Syria in March 2017, but at the time did not rule out the possibility of yet another act of military offensive inside the Arab country. Turkey sends special forces into Afrin for 'new fight' In a separate development, Turkey said Monday that it had sent special forces into Afrin in anticipation of a "new fight" in urban areas in its operation against Kurdish militants. An unknown number of gendarmerie and police special forces entered the region on Sunday night. Senior Turkish officials say the forces would take part in urban fighting and holding villages that Turkish forces had seized. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag, who is also the government spokesman, told the broadcaster NTV that the deployment of police special forces "is in preparation for the new battle that is approaching." Turkey says Saturday's UN Security Council demand for a 30-day truce across Syria does not apply to its offensive in Afrin. "Some regions such as Eastern Ghouta are part of the UN's ceasefire decision in Syria, but Afrin is not one of them," said Bozdag, adding, "The decision will not impact our Olive Branch operation ... in Afrin region." But French President Emmanuel Macron told Erdogan during a telephone call on Monday that the ceasefire did apply to Afrin. The UN resolution demands all parties "cease hostilities without delay ... for a durable humanitarian pause for at least 30 consecutive days throughout Syria." The cessation, however, does not apply to military operations against the Takfiri terrorist groups such as Daesh and al-Qaeda. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey formally requests extradition of former PYD leader Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 05:05PM Turkey has formally asked Czech authorities to extradite Salih Muslim, a former leader of major Kurdish group the Democratic Union Party (PYD), who has been held in custody. Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said Monday that documents had been submitted to Prague to demand the extradition of Muslim, who was detained Saturday under an Interpol red notice based on a Turkey's request for his arrest. The state-run Anadolu news agency also cited Turkish Ambassador to Prague Ahmet Necati Bigali as saying that a court in the Czech capital would decide on Tuesday whether Muslim should remain in detention. Sources close to the PYD leadership said Muslim was attending a conference in Prague and authorities reportedly arrested him after a Turkish participant took a photograph of him. Turkey put Muslim on its most-wanted list earlier this month and said his arrest would be rewarded with a prize of $1 million. Prosecutors brought fresh charges against Muslim on Monday, saying he, along with 30 other people, was behind a bomb attack on a tax office in Ankara earlier this month. Turkey blamed the attack, which had no death casualties, on suspected Kurdish militants and arrested nine people in connection with the case. Turkey views the PYD, and its militant wing the People's Protection Units (YPG), as terrorist groups linked to Kurdish militants fighting for an autonomous region in the southeast of the country. The Turkish military launched an incursion into northern Syrian territories last month with the aim of clearing the Kurdish-dominated region of Afrin from YPG militants. Despite suffering significant losses and effectively failing to reach its objectives, Ankara has announced that its next step would be to push back Kurds from east of the Euphrates to drive a wedge between the Kurdish dominated regions. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkey to Deploy Special Forces to Syria's Afrin - Deputy PM Sputnik News 12:09 26.02.2018(updated 17:44 26.02.2018) On Saturday, the UN Security Council adopted the resolution stipulating a 30-day ceasefire in Syria. However, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag has said that the truce won't affect Ankara's ongoing operation against terrorists in Afrin. Turkey will deploy army and police special forces in Syria's Afrin with the aim of "successfully completing the operation and protecting civilians," Bozdag said on Monday. He also stated that the air strikes of the Turkish armed forces' on the positions of the Kurdish groups in Afrin would continue. Turkey's statement comes in the wake of the UN Security Council resolution on the cessation of hostilities in Syria, which was prompted by the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Damascus suburb of Eastern Ghouta. On February 18, the Syrian army launched an offensive in the region in order to eradicate the terrorist groups that remain there. The leaders of the extremist organizations which include Jabhat al-Nusra, Jaysh al-Islam, Failak al-Rahman groups, prevent civilians from leaving the battle zones and thus provoke Syrian troops to launch retaliatory operations, according to the Russian military. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said than a UN Security Council resolution on Syria ceasefire was not being implemented, adding that Turkey would continue dialogue with Russia and Iran on the issue. Meanwhile, since January 20, Ankara has been conducting its anti-terrorist operation in Syria's northern Kurdish enclave of Afrin. According to the Turkish deputy prime minister, the Syrian ceasefire regime, anchored in the UN resolution, will not affect Ankara's offensive, as the resolution doesn't cover military efforts against terrorist groups like Daesh, al-Qaeda, and the Nusra Front. On February 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin during a phone conversation with his German and French counterparts, Merkel and Macron, stressed that the cessation of military activity in Syria would not apply to the operations against terrorist groups. This position was also echoed by Iran, who supported the provision of the resolution, which says that the truce in Syria does not cover terrorists in Eastern Ghouta, adding that militants would continue to be targeted by the Syrian army. Turkey began its Olive Branch Operation in Afrin in the wake of the US announcement that a new border force largely dominated by the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Turkey considers to be terrorists, would be formed by Washington. Damascus strongly condemned Turkey's actions in Afrin, stressing the importance of the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pro-Turkish Kurds to Join Military Operation in Syrian Afrin Reports Sputnik News 09:46 26.02.2018 Ankara stated that the Turkish military operation in Afrin won't be affected by the 30-day nationwide truce in Syria. The "Kurds Falcons" brigade, formed by "Hamzi Division" members from the Syrian Free Army, will join the "Olive Branch" operation in Syrian Afrin on Monday, Anadolu reported. According to the news agency, the brigade will include 400 Kurds and 200 Arabs who have completed special forces training. They will take part in the siege of the city of Afrin and will assist the Turkish armed forces. According to the commander of the group Hasan Abdullah Culli, it consists of Kurds, inhabiting the Syrian region of Aazaz, and its purpose is to "release the Afrin population from the terrorists of the Workers' Party of Kurdistan (PKK)." Since January 20, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Turkey has been conducting the operation "Olive Branch" against the formation of Kurds in Syrian Afrin. Damascus strongly condemned Turkey's actions in Afrin, noting that this territory is an integral part of Syria. Moscow in connection with the situation in Afrin called on all parties to restrain and respect the territorial integrity of the country. On Saturday, the UN Security Council adopted on Saturday the resolution stipulating a 30-day ceasefire in Syria. However, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said that the truce won't affect the Turkish operation against terrorists. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish Army Reportedly Cuts Off Kurdish Troops From Border With Syria Sputnik News 21:50 26.02.2018 ANKARA (Sputnik) - The Turkish troops in cooperation with the Free Syrian Army (FSA) forces have cut off the troops of the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) from the borders between Turkey and Syria in the course of Ankara's ongoing military operation, local media reported Monday. According to the Anadolu news agency, the Turkish servicemen and the FSA troops loyal to Ankara have established control over two settlements in Afrin forming a crescent around the city of Afrin separating the Turkish territory and the area controlled by the Kurdish militias. On January 20, Turkey announced the beginning of the operation Olive Branch against the Kurdish forces in Syria's northwestern Afrin district. The operation has been conducted jointly with the FSA opposition forces. Ankara considers the YPG to be linked to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is listed as a terrorist organization in Turkey. Damascus has firmly condemned the operation as an assault on Syria's sovereignty. Moscow, in its turn, has urged all parties to exercise restraint and called for respect of Syria's territorial integrity. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Turkish President Heads to Africa in Bid to Extend Regional Influence By Dorian Jones February 26, 2018 On Monday,Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan starts a five-day visit to northern and West Africa. The tour is the latest effort by Turkey to project its influence across the continent and enhance its global presence. Observers are voicing concerns that the Turkish leader, with his emphasis on Islamist themes, could be stoking regional rivalries and even tensions. Erdogan is scheduled to visit Algeria, Mauritania, Senegal and Mali in his tour of the region. Since 2005, as then-prime minister, Erdogan has made developing deepening ties with Africa a priority, according to Emre Caliskan a Turkey, Africa analyst at Oxford University. "Since he became prime minister he has been in Africa 24 times. Since 2009, when he became president, he has been in Africa 12 times. There are several ambitions: economy, being a global leader, and the use of Islam," said Caliskan. Earlier this month, Istanbul hosted African ministers for a week of meetings. Such gatherings are a regular occurrence and are part of Ankara's efforts to court African leaders. Turkey has tripled the number of embassies across the continent in less than a decade. Despite such investments, the economic returns have been disappointing and that has led to Ankara to shift its priorities, says Africa expert professor Mehmet Arda of the Istanbul think tank Edam. "When you look at the Turkish trade with Africa its basically the same as ten years ago. So, it's more a way of projecting itself as a power in the world," said Arda. "Moreover, Turkey puts itself as the friend of the countries that are left behind, the destitute and all that. I think from the point of view it fits with that the model (of) projecting on the world stage." President Erdogan has in recent visits to Africa increasingly inserted Islamic themes in his speeches, which have sometimes been colored with anti-Western rhetoric and focused on the West's colonial past, even though the Turkish Ottoman empire once also extended to Africa. Analyst Caliskan says courting Africa Muslims offers Ankara potential important diplomatic gains, as well as risks. "50 percent of African countries come from the Muslim background and this gives leverage to Turkey in the eyes of Europe in the eyes of the West and in the eyes of Africa. But there is a rivalry between different Islamic groups," said Caliskan. "These countries are Iran ,Saudi Arabia and Egypt - historically these countries are very influential in the region among the Islamic communities. Now Turkey is a latecomer, but a newcomer and strong comer and Turkey wants to be more influential." Last September, Turkey opened its largest overseas military base in Somalia. The opening of the base has been interpreted as a signal that Ankara is sending to the region of its growing aspirations. The Turkish navy is rapidly expanding with even plans for the construction of an aircraft carrier. Ankara's agreement with Khartoum to redevelop the Sudanese Suakin Island that was once the Ottoman empire's main naval base, has sent alarm bells ringing in Cairo, which is concerned about increasing Turkish military encroachment. Ankara insists its development plans on the island are non-military. But analyst Caliskan says such denials will do little to defuse tensions given the level of mistrust between Erdogan and Egypt's President, Abdel Fattah el Sissi. "Turkey has a difficult relationship with Sisi regime and they are both trying to influence on the areas that actually historically Egypt had been powerful," said Caliskan. "So actually it is a direct challenge to Egyptian hegemony in the region. If Turkey would be moving to the region more then [there] will be more rivalry with the Egyptian government as well." Analysts warn the rivalry in the Middle East is already spilling into Africa, a process that is likely to continue with Turkey's growing commitment to the continent in its bid to become a global player. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Corbyn corners May with Labour Brexit plan Iran Press TV Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:33AM UK Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has piled more pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May by laying out a Brexit plan that he says would take Britain out of the European Union (EU) while keeping tariff-free access to the bloc's markets. Corbyn said on Monday that he supports establishing a new customs union deal with the EU after Brexit, a move that is expected to give a tough challenge to May and maybe even cause a major defeat for the Tory PM at the parliament. May has ruled out any customs union deal with the EU after Brexit, arguing that it would keep London from striking new trade deals with fast-growing economies like China and India. However, she has been struggling to unite her cabinet and offer a clear path to the divorce by its October deadline. She is also facing a rebellion by a small group of pro-Europeans inside the ruling Conservative Party. Corbyn hopes to use the division to undermine May's authority and get the chance to form the next government. "There will be some who will tell you that Brexit is a disaster for this country and some who will tell you that Brexit will create a land of milk and honey. The truth is more down to earth and it's in our hands: Brexit is what we make of it together," Corbyn said in his speech. "Labour would negotiate a new and strong relationship with the single market that includes full tariff-free access and a floor under existing rights, standards and protections," he added. This new customs union deal would only be possible if the UK gets a say in the future trade deals with the EU, he said. Making a case for a "future Labour government," Corbyn said his principles as the next PM would be "people's jobs and living standards." "We are committed to building a more prosperous and a more equal Britain, in which every region benefits and no community is left behind, as we set out in our manifesto. And that is what underpins our approach to Brexit," he said. To him, the opposition leader said, there was no difference between those who voted in favor of Brexit in the June 2016 referendum and those who voted against it. "Most people in our country, regardless of whether they voted leave of remain want better jobs, more investment, stronger rights and greater equality," he said. He accused May's "divided" government of keeping Britons "in the dark" over their Brexit strategy. Pointing to contradicting Brexit outlooks drawn by May, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and other cabinet members, Corbyn said it was not clear "where they are heading." Supporters of Brexit think the ability to strike new trade deals around the world is one of the big potential gains of leaving the EU. Staying in a customs union allows the UK to avoid paying tariffs for its exports to the bloc while curbing the risk of a return to a "hard border" between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, an issue that has hurdled talks with the EU. May was scheduled to lay out her own plans for a post-Brexit Britain and its relationship with the EU in a speech on Friday. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Nuclear Posture Review Looks to Deter War, Policy Chief Says By Jim Garamone DoD News, Defense Media Activity WASHINGTON, Feb. 26, 2018 The goal of the Nuclear Posture Review, unveiled earlier this month, is to deter war, David J. Trachtenberg, deputy undersecretary of defense for policy, said at the Heritage Foundation here today. "If nuclear weapons are used in war, it is because deterrence failed," he said. "The goal of the 2018 NPR is to make sure deterrence will not fail." Trachtenberg stressed that the review is not a break with the past, but rather a continuation of long-held nuclear doctrine.